Monday, August 31, 2015

Musing Mondays (38) All the Weekly Questions I've Missed

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme hosted by Jenn at A Daily Rhythm, that asks you to muse about something book related each week.

My Musings for the Week...

And I’m back from my blogging break. So for my musings today I’m going to answer the random weekly question I missed on the 24th and for today.

Does your local library ever have book sales? What are the prices like? Tell us about any great finds you have found there!


I wouldn’t know if my current library had a sale recently because like I’ve said before, it’s kind of far and I haven’t been to it yet. But the library in my last area did, but I didn’t go to it so I wouldn’t know what the prices were like.

What is your favorite book? (or, one of your favorites!)

I have a lot of favorite books and it would take all day to list them, so I’ll stick with the more recent ones. The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken is definitely one of my favorite books of 2015 (I’m kind of late to the series). And Space Exploration for Dummies by Cynthia Phillips & Shana Priwer—I really enjoyed reading about things I already knew and some facts that I’d never heard about. Space Exploration was definitely one of my favorite reads this year.

What are you reading this week?

Monday, August 24, 2015

Quick Announcement...

Some things are coming up so I'm going to take a break this week. I'll probably be around on Twitter, pinterest, & Tumblr (kind of). Anyway, I look forward to coming back next week. Thanks for taking the time to visit the blog, and I hope everyone has a great week.

Thursday, August 20, 2015

Review: Splintered by A.G. Howard

Splintered (Splintered, #1)Title: Splintered
Author: A.G. Howard
Source/Format: Purchased, Paperback
More Details: Young Adult, Fantasy, Retelling
Publisher/Publication Date: Amulet Books, January 1, 2013

Goodreads     Amazon     Barnes & Noble     Book Depository      

Synopsis from Goodreads...

Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now. When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family. She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own...
“I’ve been collecting bugs since I was ten; it’s the only way I can stop their whispers…”

I have to say that Splintered was definitely an interesting read. Initially I had my reservations about it since I was unfamiliar with the author, but as far as a retellings go this was definitely one of my favorites.

There were a lot of things about the novel that I enjoyed. The setting started off relatively normal but shifted focus as the story progressed, with some scenes reminiscent of Lewis Carroll’s Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, only twisted to fit with the world in Splintered. It was pretty cool to see all of the changes Howard made. Besides the setting, the plot is what kept me reading. The very first page introduced the main character Alyssa Gardener, who has the unfortunate ability to hear the whispers of insects and plants—a theme that played a big part in the story. I found it interesting to see how Alyssa dealt with all of the unnecessary noise while trying to live her life, and it was easy to see why she considered it to be a curse. And even if they weren’t around for most of it, Alyssa’s relationship with her parents was a nice touch to the story along with her friendship with Jenara. The few interactions they did have were nice to read about, but I wish there was more.

Really, my main complaint with Splintered was Jeb, Alyssa’s friend and Jenara’s brother. At some parts of the story I felt like he was holding Alyssa back—that he was the only one who wanted to believe that she couldn’t do anything for herself. And sometimes—ok, a lot of the time, actually—I felt like he was more annoying than helpful with his controlling tendencies.

Overall, I think A. G. Howard did a good job with putting a different spin on Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland that I think fans of the classic tale would enjoy. Despite my one main issue with it, I really liked it and I would definitely consider reading another novel by Howard.

Monday, August 17, 2015

Musing Mondays (37) Books...

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme hosted by Jenn at A Daily Rhythm, that asks you to muse about something book related each week.

My Musings for the Week...

For my musings this week I'm just going to answer the random weekly question: Have you ever won a copy of a book (other than for review)? What was the book, and what were the circumstances?

I have won a lot of books through giveaways, but most if not all of them go towards reviews for the blog. So I can’t really say that many of them specifically fit the question.

What are you currently reading?

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Weekend Tidbits {#5} The Sequel!

Wow, it has been some time since I did a Weekend Tidbit. So, as usual I'll talk about anything at all (Book, food/interesting news related) and at the very end I’ll name a place that I wish was a book setting and my choice of tea for the day. (Links for Weekend Tidbits can be found on the Features Page.)
On Monday August 10th, Kimberly Karalius and Swoon Reads announced the title and synopsis for her second novel, the sequel to Love Fortunes and Other Disasters. I'm really excited for it and can't wait to get a copy next year. You can check out the announcement post HERE 

About Love Charms and Other Catastrophes (Synopsis from Goodreads)...

Aspiring love charm maker Hijiri Kitamura is excited to be back in Grimbaud for her sophomore year-she's heard that several new love charm makers have set up shops in town, and she's eager to see if she can learn anything from them. Yet, the news of an upcoming charm making competition fills her with dread. Grimbaud has just started to recover from the tyranny of Zita's love fortunes and it would be too easy for the winning charm maker to step into Zita's shoes. The only solution is for Hijiri, with the support of her friends and fellow rebels, to win the contest herself.

Unfortunately, that's easier said than done, especially when Love itself has decided to meddle in Hijiri's life. Concerned that it's favorite charm maker has given up on finding a boyfriend of her own, Love takes matters into its own hands and delivers the perfect boyfriend to her in a gift-wrapped box...literally...

Don't forget to check out my review of the first book, Love Fortunes and Other Disasters, and my Interview with Kimberly Karalius.

Today's pick is Balboa Park, San Diego, California. This is one place I have been (the picture for my Goodreads account is one that I took). As usual, you can check out the Places I Wish Were Book Settings board over on Pinterest to see today's location.
My choice for today is Jasmine Green Tea, which is one of my favorite flavors.

Friday, August 14, 2015

The Friday 56 (34): Oleah Chronicles: Truth

The Friday 56 is a weekly meme hosted by Freda's Voice where every Friday you pick a book and turn to page 56 or 56%, and select a sentence or a few, as long as it's not a spoiler. For the full rules, visit the the page HERE

Synopsis from Goodreads...

What would you do if everything you thought to be true in your life was a lie?

Sixteen-year-old Angel Seriki must face overwhelming truths about her family when she meets Zander Black, a new student to her high school who is smart, charming and devastatingly beautiful. The revelations he uncovers to her about her family's past changes everything, and as her relationship and feelings for Zander deepen, so do the risks involved. She must now accept her fate and face the true reality of who and what she is. Even if that means giving up everything, including being human...

Oleah Chronicles: Truth"But as much as I wanted to forget everything that has been happening, I had to find out what my parents were hiding, and why Mom was trying so hard to put on this show like everything was fine."--Oleah Chronicles: Truth by Michelle Johnson

What's on your page 56 this week?

Monday, August 10, 2015

Musing Mondays (36) Simple Sort Of Bookish Projects…

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme hosted by Jenn at A Daily Rhythm, that asks you to muse about something book related each week.

My Musings for the Week...

First I'm going to start with the random weekly question: Do you read in the water (bathtub, pool, etc)? Why, or why not?

My answer to that question is a resounding no. I might dog-ear the tops of the pages and break the spines, but the only water I would take my books around is a water bottle.

Simple Sort Of Bookish Projects…

I’ve been on Pinterest for a while now and I’ve come across some interesting and very simple projects that I would like to try one day when I have the time. So below is a short list of links…
I think I would want to try the Safety Pin Bracelet first. But what about you? Do you have any favorite projects/ones you would like to try?

Friday, August 7, 2015

The Friday 56 (33) Splintered by A.G. Howard

The Friday 56 is a weekly meme hosted by Freda's Voice where every Friday you pick a book and turn to page 56 or 56%, and select a sentence or a few, as long as it's not a spoiler. For the full rules, visit the the page HERE

Synopsis from Goodreads...

Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now. When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family. She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own...

Splintered (Splintered, #1)"Several tendrils of dark pink hair have fallen from her upswept do. The strands coil like pink flames over her black tube dress, bringing back what they did to Alison's hair at the asylum."--Splintered by A.G. Howard


What's one of your favorite retellings?

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Release Day Launch & Giveaway: Sweet Madness by Trisha Leaver & Lindsay Currie

Today we’re celebrating the release of Sweet Madness (ebook) by Trisha Leaver and Lindsay Currie. Find out more about the book below and don't forget to enter the giveaway at the bottom of the post!

About the book...

Seventeen-year-old Bridget Sullivan is alone in Fall River, a city that sees Irish immigrants as nothing more than a drunken drain on society. To make matters worse, she's taken employment with the city’s most peculiar and gossip-laden family—the Bordens. But Bridget can’t afford to be picky—the pay surpasses any other job Bridget could ever secure and she desperately needs the money to buy her little sister, Cara, passage to the states. It doesn’t hurt that the job location is also close to her beau, Liam. As she enters the disturbing inner workings of the Borden household, Bridget clings to these advantages.

However, what seemed like a straightforward situation soon turns into one that is untenable. Of course Bridget has heard the gossip around town about the Bordens, but what she encounters is far more unsettling. The erratic, paranoid behavior of Mr. Borden, the fearful silence of his wife, and worse still...the nightly whisperings Bridget hears that seem to come from the walls themselves.

When Bridget makes a horrifying discovery in the home, all that she thought she knew about the Bordens is called into question...including if Lizzie is dangerous. And the choice she must make about Lizzie’s character could mean Bridget’s life or death.


“This thrilling novel will keep readers on their toes until the last page. Fans of historical fiction and horror will thoroughly enjoy this book.” —VOYA Magazine

“The portrait of the claustrophobic, creepy Borden household and its denizens, Lizzie especially, is grippingly vivid.”— Kirkus

“Engaging historical novel that gives readers another glimpse into the infamous Lizzie Borden.”— YA Book Central

“Dark, creepy and overall fantastically moody; SWEET MADNESS remains firmly entrenched in the Hitchcock side of horror.”— Fangirlish


Trisha Leaver lives on Cape Cod with her husband, three children, and one rather disobedient black lab. She is a chronic daydreamer who prefers the cozy confines of her own imagination to the mundane routine of everyday life. She writes Young Adult Contemporary Fiction, Psychological Horror and Science Fiction and is published with FSG/ Macmillan, Flux/Llewellyn and Merit Press.

Trisha is a member of the SCBWI, The Cape Cod Writers Center, and the YA Scream Queens—a group of nine female authors who are deathly serious about their horror.


Lindsay Currie lives in Chicago, Illinois with one incredibly patient hubby, three amazing kids and a 160 pound lap dog named Sam. She's fond of tea, chocolate and things that go bump in the night. An author of young adult and middle grade fiction, Lindsay is published with Flux/Llewellyn, Merit Press and Spencer Hill Contemporary.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram
To celebrate the ebook release, the authors are giving away a very special swag pack: A custom, exclusive bookmark, an exclusive image of the Borden house taken by photographer Frank C. Grace, and signed bookmarks.

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Review: The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

The Darkest Minds (The Darkest Minds, #1)Title:The Darkest Minds
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Source/Format: Purchased, ebook (iBooks edition)
More Details: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy
Publisher/Publication Date: Disney Hyperion, December 12, 2012

Goodreads     Amazon     Barnes & Noble     Book Depository     Audible 

Synopsis from Goodreads...

When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed...


Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that’s killed most of America’s children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.

When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she’s on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents.

When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living
For a while I had no idea what I wanted to read next but in the end I decided to go with The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken. I know I’ve had it for at least a year so I finally decided to just give it a try. And actually, I was really surprised by how much liked it.

For one thing, the concept was something I could easily get into, with a mysterious disease (IAAN, "Idiopathic Adolescent Acute Neurodegeneration") targeting kids exclusively, and ended up giving some of them strange abilities—it was basically a story about kids trying to survive in a world that was determined—if not obsessively so—to destroy them.Things quickly turned into a wide spread case of paranoia, and those unfortunate enough to develop abilities were sent to camps. That's where the story picked up, and these camps were absolutely terrible to read about. However, they did fit with the concept of the story and I thought that Bracken did a good job of handling it. So I definitely enjoyed the details put into developing the story, setting, and characters.

I found the characters  interesting because of the friendship/relationship dynamics that developed across the span of the story—and I liked seeing how well the secondary characters were developed with as much personality and faults as the main character. I enjoyed seeing how Liam, Zu, Chubs, and Ruby interacted with one another. So, of course, Zu and Ruby's friendship was definitely one of my favorite parts of The Darkest Mind's. Although some of Ruby’s decisions/actions had me scratching my head or just outright confused for the most part she was a pretty good main character. And with everything she went through I could understand why she was so reserved.

So while I had no idea what to expect going into The Darkest Minds, I was really surprised by how much I ended up enjoying it. And I would be interested in checking out more books by Alexandra Bracken.
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