Top 10 Series I Want To Start :D

Top Ten Series I Want To Start was started (I Believe) by The Broke and the Bookish  in her Top Ten Tuesday and it has been taken on by many booktubers. Do correct me if I'm wrong though! :)

Saz101 Shadow and Bone Review

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Series Mentioned

The 5th Wave Series by Rick Yancey

The Grisha Series by

The Divergent Series by Veronica Roth

The Dust Land Series by  Moira Young

The Tiger Saga by Colleen Houck

Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes 

Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor

Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

The Time Between Us Series by Tamara Ireland Stone

 The Personal Demons Series by Lisa Desrochers

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Book Haul (49)

 

Books Mentoined

too many.

The Rules For Disappearing - Ashley Elson + GIVEAWAY and Dream Cast

The Rules For Disappearing by Ashley Elston
Date Released:  May 14th 2013
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Format: ARC
Date Read: May 21, 2013
Source: Netgalley

Summary:
She’s been six different people in six different places: Madeline in Ohio, Isabelle in Missouri, Olivia in Kentucky . . . But now that she’s been transplanted to rural Louisiana, she has decided that this fake identity will be her last.

Witness Protection has taken nearly everything from her. But for now, they’ve given her a new name, Megan Rose Jones, and a horrible hair color. For the past eight months, Meg has begged her father to answer one question: What on earth did he do – or see – that landed them in this god-awful mess? Meg has just about had it with all the Suits’ rules — and her dad’s silence. If he won’t help, it’s time she got some answers for herself.

But Meg isn’t counting on Ethan Landry, an adorable Louisiana farm boy who’s too smart for his own good. He knows Meg is hiding something big. And it just might get both of them killed. As they embark on a perilous journey to free her family once and for all, Meg discovers that there’s only one rule that really matters — survival.

From Goodreads

My Review:
I felt like a lost Chihuahua when I finished reading this. Yep, that's totally a feeling.

Let me explain. From the summary you gather that "Meg" is in witness protection but she doesn't know why, after the sixth move she gets tired of not knowing and she sets out to find the truth. Now, I just want to say that I did read the summary of this book before I read it/requested it, but I kind of forgot the summary or more like didn't really absorb the summary - I'm selecting my words wisely here - the thing is, I understood she had been in witness protection and that she was tired and that she was trying to cope, but I didn't really get the main point: She wanted answers. We were looking for answers.

Meaning: I approached this book in a different way. I thought it would be a normal contemporary where we see the girl deal with her emotions; I never once saw it as a mystery or a journey, so to say I was really taken aback for how things turned out, is an understatement.

There were a lot of mysterious people and situations going on in the book, with little unexpected turns here and there, and I never EVER saw any of them coming, there was only one thing that I vaguely thought was suspicious (and I was right) but it was just one thing. Everything I discovered I did it slowly and along with "Meg" I was never one step ahead of her, which actually made me feel really naïve.

I saw a lot of reviews where they mentioned that it was all very predictable and that it was stressing to watch how 'Meg' didn’t realize all the stuff that was happening around her- this being what makes me feel naïve- but I just don't get it. When I started with The Rules For Disappearing, I wasn’t expecting it to be such an addicting and engrossing story. I started to read it and could not get it out of my mind and I just had to keep reading. The story was so incredibly easy to follow, being with 'Meg' was effortless. Her decisions never seemed irrational or stressed me out, because had I been in her situation I would have done the same; it all basically felt so real and I was genuinely worried for her, her little sister and whatever it was that had them running away. 

I honestly thought that this would be a nice average read. I don’t know why, I was just expecting a normal maybe-even cute story, not at all what it was. 'Meg' wasn’t a plain average character, had I know her before she started moving, I probably would not have been able to stand her, but when you see all that she’s had to go through and how much she’s changed, you just can’t help but feel a little bit sorry for her. She was strong and determined – well kinda determined, it was really amusing to watch her sketch all of this plans in her mind to keep people away, and see how she always gave in, because honestly, all she wants is to feel normal and fit in.

Another thing that was really surprising and really great was the lovely romantic parts. Yeah well... that happened 'cause I didn’t even know there was any romance. I just went back to read the summary and yes, they mention Ethan, and I swear I had read the summary before, way before when I featured this book in my WOW, but for some odd reason the romance part was also not registered in my brain. So to say I was super super SUPER pleased with how things turned out, and how Ethan turned out to be is putting it lightly. I LOVED Ethan, he was so sweet and so supportive and he never really gave up on her, even when it seemed like he did, he still had faith in her and he still wanted to help her.

Conclusion: I Loved this story. The ending was just so BAM! and just the whole story was really BAM and I still feel like a lost Chihuahua, but a very satisfied very happy lost Chihuahua. Would recommend to anyone that wants something a little bit different, yet entertaining, intense and with just the right amount of romance.

Video Review Here.

My Dream Cast

'Meg'

For Meg I went with Alexandra Daddario, I think she would look great with 
short hair and blond hair also suits her. She has beautiful piercing eyes - even
if she has to wear contacts. There's just something about her as an 
actress that I think really pulls you in, a sort of quiet straight. 
I think she would make a great Meg :)

Ethan

Josh Hutcherson. I just have a big crush on the guy, and come on, he could totally be Ethan.
I want him to be like Ethan. He would make a great Ethan. He's Ethan.

Teeny

I think Bailee Madison would make a great Teeny! I love her as an actress and I think
she easily fits the description (at lest with dark hair)

Emma

I immediately thought of Victoria Justice with Emma. I just think she could
easily pull of a bitchy cheerleader ^_^


****

About the Author

Ashley Elston lives is North Louisiana with her husband, three sons and two cats. She worked as a wedding and portrait photographer for ten years until she decided to pursue writing full time. Ashley is also a licensed Landscape Horticulturist and helps her husband run a commercial lawn and landscaping business. They also custom harvest pecans and have cows. Yes, cows.

ashleyelston.com | twitter.com/ashley_elston 

GIVEAWAY!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Haul (48)

 

Make sure to visit The Itzel Library!

Books Mentoined

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

In Honor by Jessi Kirby

Walking Disaster (Beautiful #2) - Jamie McGuire

Walking Disaster (Beautiful #2) by Jamie McGuire 
Date Released: April 2nd 2013
Publisher: Atria Books
Format: ARC
Pages: 433 pages 
Date Read: May 15, 2013
Source: Netgalley

Summary:
Finally, the highly anticipated follow-up to the New York Times bestseller Beautiful Disaster.

Can you love someone too much?

Travis Maddox learned two things from his mother before she died: Love hard. Fight harder.

In Walking Disaster, the life of Travis is full of fast women, underground gambling, and violence. But just when he thinks he is invincible, Abby Abernathy brings him to his knees.

Every story has two sides. In Beautiful Disaster, Abby had her say. Now it’s time to see the story through Travis’s eyes.

From Goodreads

My Review:

NO SPOILERS for anyone who hasn't read Beautiful Disaster yet, and if you are thinking of starting this series, even if they are both sort of the same, I do recommend you start with Beautiful Disaster first :)

My Review of Beautiful Disaster can be found here.

This is a dysfunctional Romance.

And just like in my review of [book:Beautiful Disaster|11505797], I will quote Deb Caletti

“Love at first sight should send you running, if you know what's good for you. It's your dark pieces having instant recognition with their dark pieces. You're an idiot if you think it means you've met your soul mate.“ -Stay by Deb Caletti.

This happens to so so so many people, to many us and we do not even realize it. Foe example, someone who had an alcoholic parent and swears they will never be caught up with someone like that, only to grow up and marry and alcoholic – it happens.

Let’s think of [book:Twilight|41865] for a moment. I hate using Twilight for this example -Many people loved that story (me included) Why? It’s not a healthy relationship, Edward is a manipulative and extremely old person, and that’s reason enough for it being bad; BUT still, many people loved it and it is a good love story. It shows that no matter how many obstacles you face love triumphs in the end.

Now, what does this have to do with Walking Disaster or Travis? Edward and Travis are complete opposites. Edward is this good and nice old school guy, he doesn’t sleep around with a bunch of girls, he wants to protect Bella’s virtue, he’s beautiful and simply put: perfect. Travis, on the other hand, is completely tattooed (which is not a bad thing, but in the eyes of our society these days, it isn’t exactly the best thing) he’s messy, temperamental, sleeps around with many girls and most definitely wants to be with Abby. They're opposites, and the same goes with Bella and Abby, not much in common.

So... what was the point of this? The one thing both stories seem to have in common: Both argue that true love will triumph in the end. That even if you are a hundred freaking years old or you’re a crazy mess that seems to be way beyond repair, or you have a troubled past or you're and awkward plain and boring mess; there is still someone out there to love you, you still get a shot at that happy ending – or never ending, in Twilight’s case.

Abby and Travis are a disaster, both separately and together- and yes I know everyone keeps emphasizing this, and that it is the title, but it's the truth. This is what we all want, not exactly the disaster thing but what I believe we all want, deep at heart, is to know that no matter how flawed we are or how hopeless and disastrous we can be, we can still find someone to love us. And sometimes that means that the other person will be just as much of a disaster, maybe if we’re lucky that will not be the case. The one goal is to try and be better, try to become the best version of ourselves, be as good as we can be, become Beautiful.

This is why I think the stories are so popular. I don't think they are a good example to follow, or that their relationship is good. But it's a fun, intense, passionate, addictive and entertaining love story.

Now let's talk about Travis's Point of View. This book was a really interesting and refreshing experience for me. I have re-read books before, but never fully and completely, I usually skim the pages and focus on my favorite parts. I have also read sequels where the book is now told from the guy’s point of view, but they usually are a continuation to the story, no the exact same one but with a different POV. Walking Disaster was really the same as Beautiful Disaster, but with Travi’s thoughts and showing what he did or where he went when he wasn’t with Abby, and it was Great. I loved it, I also re-read Beautiful Disaster at the same time, so comparing them and looking at both their thoughts was fascinating, plus, it seems like Jamie McGuire already had in mind to make Travis’s book when she originally wrote Beautiful Disaster, it just all connected perfectly, and not once did it felt forced. I don't really know if those were her intentions from the beginning, but it was all just done really well. Bonus points for that.

Oh and... I sort of hated really disliked Abby in this book? Travis’s point of view was a little bit difficult to read. From Beautiful Disaster I knew Abby was really bitchy and stubborn and also very irrational at times, but it was easy to follow her, especially knowing that Travis would do anything for her. In Walking Disaster you can see how it all hurts Travis and I really, honestly could not help but wish that he would leave her alone because Abby was not good for him. And really neither was him for her. I basically wanted the to break up. I really really wanted them to break up.

But the ending had already been written before, so there wasn't much to be done there, I just got a little bit frustrated.

All in all it was a good book, and I definitely recommend it to anyone that enjoyed Beautiful Disaster, it really helps you understand Travis and see this love story from a new perspective :)  more wara wara

Bout of Books Read-a-Thon 7.0

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 13th and runs through Sunday, May 19th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 7.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

This will be the first time  I participate in a Bout of Books Read-a-Thon, so I'm very exited! And I know I'm posting this a little bit last minute but I really didn't think I would be able to join, but school is killing me and I have been desperate lately to read something and just trying to read every single second I can read, so I thought I'd join and make it official :3

My Goals / Updates

Walking Disaster by Jamie McGuire

Beautiful Disaster by Jame McGuire

Held by Edeet Ravel ( 50% Left )

The Rules for Disappearing by Ashley Elston

Basically just finish with the Beautiful Series and read two more books. Here's hoping I can make it! If you will be participating let me know in the comments :)

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Book Spine Poem Challenge

Stay just one day, every day,
please forget me not,
'cause between here and forever
and the time between us
finding someone like you
won't be easy.

Remember our love story.

******

Stay just one day, every day,
please forget me not,
'cause between here and forever
and the time between us
finding someone like you 
won't be easy.

Remember our love story.

9 Books, 9 extra words :) 

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Create A Cover

I re-designed the cover of Choker by Elizabeth Woods! PAY CLOSE ATTENTION, it's me and my best friend, I'm in the background :P  if you can't see me click on the image to enlarge, I'm there ;) 

Book Haul 47

BOOK HAUL

*Shades of Earth by Beth Revis
*This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith
*Wallis and Edward Letters 1931-1937. The intimate correspondence of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. Edited by Michael Blogh

OTHER BOOKS MENTIONED

*Across The Universe Series by Beth Revis

*The Statistical Provability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith