Waiting on Wednesday (#143)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Morning swooners!

This week pre-publication "can't wait to read" selection is:

Stars Above (The Lunar Chronicles 0.5, 0.6, 1.5, 3.1, 3.6) by Marissa Meyer

Expected Release Date: February 2, 2016

Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads

Synopsis:

The enchantment continues....

The universe of the Lunar Chronicles holds stories—and secrets—that are wondrous, vicious, and romantic. How did Cinder first arrive in New Beijing? How did the brooding soldier Wolf transform from young man to killer? When did Princess Winter and the palace guard Jacin realize their destinies?

With nine stories—five of which have never before been published—and an exclusive never-before-seen excerpt from Marissa Meyer’s upcoming novel, Heartless, about the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland, Stars Above is essential for fans of the bestselling and beloved Lunar Chronicles.

-- The Little Android: A retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid,” set in the world of The Lunar Chronicles.

Glitches: In this prequel to Cinder, we see the results of the plague play out, and the emotional toll it takes on Cinder. Something that may, or may not, be a glitch…. The Queen’s Army: In this prequel to Scarlet, we’re introduced to the army Queen Levana is building, and one soldier in particular who will do anything to keep from becoming the monster they want him to be.

Carswell’s Guide to Being Lucky: Thirteen-year-old Carswell Thorne has big plans involving a Rampion spaceship and a no-return trip out of Los Angeles. The Keeper: A prequel to the Lunar Chronicles, showing a young Scarlet and how Princess Selene came into the care of Michelle Benoit.

After Sunshine Passes By: In this prequel to Cress, we see how a nine-year-old Cress ended up alone on a satellite, spying on Earth for Luna.

The Princess and the Guard: In this prequel to Winter, we see a game called The Princess

The Mechanic: In this prequel to Cinder, we see Kai and Cinder’s first meeting from Kai’s perspective.

Something Old, Something New: In this epilogue to Winter, friends gather for the wedding of the century...

I can't wait to get my hands Stars Above!!! I'm dying to get my hands on these stories that haven't been released yet!!!

What are you "Waiting on?"

Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Cinder 
(The Lunar Chronicles, #1)
Author: Marissa Meyer
Release Date: January 3, 2012
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Source: Library
Review by: Nahomi

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless Lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . . Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg.

She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

Rating: 5 stars out of 5 stars

Leydy from Once Upon a Twilight recommended the Cinder audio book to me and I am so glad she did! I'm obsessed with the story! Rebecca Soler did a fantastic job with the narration. In the beginning I was a little skeptical because I am not a fond of retellings. I've had some bad experiences in the past, but this was definitely not the case with Cinder.

There are parallels throughout the book that are reminiscent of Cinderella but the story really takes a life of its own. I love this book from beginning to end but there are some elements in particular that I would like to single out. The book is separated in sections and in the beginning of each section is a quote from the original story, I absolutely love that! It sets the tone for the next sections of the story. The pacing and the plot twists really set the story a part from the original story and that is partially why I love the story so much.

The characters… I adore that Cinder is a damn good mechanic and that she is beautiful but not perfect. She is a cyborg which means parts of her are metal and that she has a computer in her head, which I find, would be useful all the time. Her friendship with Iko a droid is heart warming and strange at the same time. I love Iko’s quirkiness; she is such a funny character. Prince Kaito I am on the fence about him after finishing the story. I love all of his and Cinder’s interactions together, and I get where he is coming from there at the end but I still wanted him to act differently.

Cinder is emotional at the end and man I definitely can’t wait to get my hands on Scarlet which is the next book in The Lunar Chronicles.

Quotes (#141)

Source

Morning Swooners,

The weekend went by much too quickly for my taste. So much adult stuff done and not a lot of fun. I'm currently listening to Twilight by Stephenie Meyers on audio and I miss being in the Twi world. It been years since I read the books and wanted to revisit in a different medium. So today's quotes are all about Twilight.

“About three things I was absolutely positive. First, Edward was a vampire. Second, there was a part of him-and I didn’t know how potent that part might be-that thirsted for my blood. And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.” - Stephenie Meyer, Twilight

"Twilight, again.  Another ending. No matter how perfect the day is, it always has to end.” - Stephenie Meyer,  Twilight

“You are my life now.” - Stephenie Meyer, Twilight

“What if I'm not a superhero. What if I'm the bad guy?” - Stephenie Meyer, Twilight

“I am not really breaking any rules. Charlie said I could never take another step through the door again... I came in through the window... Still, the intent was clear," said Edward.” - Stephenie Meyer, Twilight

“And so the lion fell in love with the lamb.” - Stephenie Meyer, Twilight

"If I could dream at all, it would be about you. And I'm not ashamed of it.” - Stephenie Meyer, Twilight

That's it for me. Have a great day!

Stacking the Shelves (#28)

Stacking the Shelves, which is hosted by Team Tynga's Reviews, is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This mean you can include books you buy in a physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course, ebooks.

Happy Sunday!

For the month of December and January these are the books we received/bought/borrowed. 

For review I received:

Finished copy of SMART GIRL by Rachel Hollis

Finished copy of THE ONE FOR ME by Sydney Landon

Finished copy of WICKED SEXY LIAR by Christina Lauren

WALK THE EDGE by Katie McGarry

Nahomi got these for Christmas:

A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSE by Sarah J. Maas
QUEEN OF SHADOWS by Sarah J. Maas
HEIR OF FIRE by Sarah J. Maas
CROWN OF MIDNIGHT by Sarah J. Maas
THRONE OF GLASS by Sarah J. Maas
THE ASSASSIN'S BLADE by Sarah J. Maas

Audiobooks we borrowed from the library:

LAST SACRIFICE by Richelle Mead

TWILIGHT by Stephenie Meyer

ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS by Stephanie Perkins

MINI SHOPAHOLIC by Sophie Kinsella

SHOPAHOLIC TO THE STARS by Sophie Kinsella

SHOPAHOLIC TO THE RESCUE by Sophie Kinsella

THE ALCHEMIST by Paulo Coelho

THE MOON AND MORE by Sarah Dessen

CINDER by Marissa Meyere

SCARLET by Marissa Meyer

CRESS by Marissa Meyer

FAIREST by Marissa Meyer

WINTER by Marissa Meyer

Whooo! It been busy over here! What have you added to your shelves?

Favorite Friday (#54) - Smart Girl by Rachel Hollis

Have a favorite book? Series? One that you've just read or are currently reading? Favorite Friday is a bi-monthly meme hosted by Books and Swoons where we spotlight some of our Favorite Reads. Everyone is welcome to join. Just enter your information on the linky or leave us a comment!

This week pick is: Smart Girl by Rachel Hollis.

Brilliant designer Miko Jin is a hopeless romantic. She’s spent most of her life falling in love over and over again…with the men she finds in the pages of her favorite novels.

When Miko meets Liam Ashton, it’s love at first sight. At least, for her. Sure, the two of them are polar opposites, and yes, he seems to be dating someone new each week. But Miko knows what true love is and that you can’t rush it—after all, what she lacks in real-world experience, she makes up for in book smarts. With novels as her guide, and her best friends by her side, she knows she can get Liam to love her back. But just like any good romance novel, fate has a few plot twists in store. Will Miko get her own happy ending? Will she find the strength to stand up for what she deserves even if it means breaking her own heart?

I really love Rachel Hollis's writing style. I have loved both of her previous books Party Girl and Sweet Girl, but Smart Girl takes the cake! It was funny and had a ton of book references! At times it was painfully real and I hurt for Miko. This is just such a great story and definitely a must read!

About the author:

Rachel Hollis founded the LA-based event planning firm Chic Events at only 21. Six years later Inc. Magazine named her one of the Top 30 Entrepreneurs Under 30. She went on to turn Chic into the extremely popular lifestyle website The Chic where readers log in daily for the tips and tricks she acquired after years of planning fancy parties for celebrities!

She has designed and produced fabulous events for many of Hollywood's elite including Bradley Cooper, Al Gore, Rashida Jones, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Ivanka Trump, Jamie King, Sara Rue and Cuba Gooding Jr… just to a name a few.

Rachel grew up in a big loud Okie family. Daddy was a Pentecostal minister and Mama was the church pianist… and PS, she knows the words to all the old-timey hymns in case you want to break into three-part harmony later.

She moved to Los Angeles to go to college and promptly met a boy named David who was as handsome as he was funny. First she made that boy her best friend, and then she made him her husband. 10 years later they have three equally handsome/hilarious little boys named Jackson, Sawyer, and Ford. They live in LA where they spend their time doing super cool/sexy things like going to soccer practice and hitting up any restaurant where kids eat free with the purchase of an adult entrée.

Author's links: Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

I hope you can join us in sharing and talking about some of your favorite reads. Book talk always make me happy. 

What are one of your favorite reads?

Mini Review: Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

Mini Shopaholic (Shopaholic #6)
Author: Sophie Kinsella
Release Date: September 21, 2010
Publisher: Dial Press
Source: Library
Review by: Nahomi

Sophie Kinsella has dazzled readers with her irresistible Shopaholic novels--sensational international bestsellers that have garnered millions of devoted fans and catapulted her into the first rank of contemporary storytellers. Now her beloved heroine Becky Brandon (nee Bloomwood) returns in a hilarious tale of married life, toddlerhood, and the perils of trying to give a fabulous surprise party--on a budget! Becky Brandon thought motherhood would be a breeze and that having a daughter was a dream come true: a shopping friend for life! But it's trickier than she thought. Two-year-old Minnie has a quite different approach to shopping.

Minnie creates havoc everywhere she goes, from Harrods to her own christening. Her favorite word is "Mine!" and she's even trying to get into eBay! On top of everything else, Becky and Luke are still living with her parents (the deal on house #4 has fallen through), when suddenly there's a huge financial crisis.

With people having to "cut back," Becky decides to throw a surprise party for Luke to cheer everyone up. But when costs start to spiral out of control, she must decide whether to accept help from an unexpected source--and therefore run the risk of hurting the person she loves.

Will Becky be able to pull off the celebration of the year? Will she and Luke ever find a home of their own? Will Minnie ever learn to behave? And . . . most important . . . will Becky's secret wishes ever come true?

3.5 stars out of 5 stars

       It's been a while since I've read any books from the Shopaholic series and I had forgotten how exasperating Becky and her antic can be. True to form Becky was up the usual in Mini Shopaholic except now she has her daughter Mini to join in on the shopping. It was really hard to get through some parts because man Becky puts herself in some very awkward situations. Also say about 50% of her excuses had me rolling my eyes. This is mainly why my rating is lower than usual.

      I do however admire Becky's ability to pull off her big surprise in the end. She has this uncanny ability to pull everything together and make things work. I was so nervous for her throughout the entire book and during certain parts I had to stop reading because of the vicarious embarrassment I felt. Apart from her lame excuses and over the top antics I really enjoyed reading Mini Shopaholic.

Waiting on Wednesday (#142)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Morning swooners!

This week pre-publication "can't wait to read" selection is:

Rebel Bully Geek Pariah by Erin Jade Lange

Expected Release Date: February 16, 2016

Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads

Synopsis:

"The Breakfast Club" gets a modern, high-stakes reboot in this story of four very different teens and a night that changes them forever.

The Rebel: Once popular, Andi is now a dreadlocked, tattooed wild child.
The Bully: York torments everyone who crosses his path, especially his younger brother.
The Geek: Tired of being bullied, Boston is obsessed with getting into an Ivy League college.
The Pariah: Choosing to be invisible has always worked for Sam . . . until tonight.

When Andi, York, Boston, and Sam find themselves hiding in the woods after a party gets busted by the cops, they hop into the nearest car they see and take off—the first decision of many in a night that will change their lives forever. By the light of day, these four would never be caught dead together, but when their getaway takes a dangerously unpredictable turn, sticking together could be the only way to survive.

With cinematic storytelling and compelling emotional depth, critically acclaimed author Erin Jade Lange takes readers on literary thrill ride.

Once I read "The Breakfast Club" I knew I had to know more. This sounds like something right up my alley and I can't wait to dive into this beauty.

What are you "Waiting on?"

Review: Paige in Progress by Brighton Walsh

Paige in Progress
(Reluctant Hearts #3)
Author: Brighton Walsh
Release Date: January 19, 2016
Publisher: Bright Publishing
Source: Brighton Walsh
Review by: Jenn

She wanted a one-night stand…and then he moved in next door.
Paige Bennett is more than content with her life and what she does—and does not—have in it. She’s got a supportive family, a great apartment, and the best friend a girl could ask for; so what if her relationships expire faster than a carton of milk? After a disastrous detour courtesy of poor judgment in the boyfriend department, her plan is back on track and her dream job is finally within her grasp. Nothing can make her lose focus now. Well, nothing except the one-night stand she had with her best friend’s surrogate brother. The one-night stand she can’t stop thinking about.
Adam Reid has always been reliable…the responsible son, the loyal friend, the steady boyfriend. Two years ago, he graduated Magna Cum Laude and is well on his way to making a name for himself at an accounting firm in Denver—a far cry from working as a helper in the Mom and Pop store his parents own in Michigan. But when said store starts failing, he’s the only one who can step in and help. So reliable Adam does what he always does, and he comes to the rescue.
Paige thought Adam was a safe bet because he lives halfway across the country. But then suddenly he’s moving back to their town, and then into her apartment building, and soon he’s worming his way right into her life. If she’s not careful, he might sneak his way into her heart, too…

5 stars out of 5 stars

*I received an eARC of this book by the author but it did not influence this review in any way.*

Paige in Progress might be Brighton Walsh's best book yet. Which is saying something considering how much I loved Tessa Ever After. But this book had me in a laughter and swooning like loon like no other of Brighton's books.

Paige and Adam come to us from the previous books. Paige is Tessa's best friend and in the glimpses we get, her being a wonderful and honest friend to Tessa, I knew I wanted her to have her own book.  Adam, we get small glimpses but I never really but much thought of him. However, in Paige in Progress, I quickly learn how much I was missing out on with Adam.

Paige is a take-no-prisioner, ball buster. She has no qualms about telling it like it is and about being straight about what she likes. Adam, on the other hand, is quiet, reliable, and responsible. They are complete opposite but their attraction to other is off the charts. We learn that they had a one night stand and they both can't stop thinking about that night and the other. However, while Adam is looking to learn more about her and what they could potentially be together, Paige is trying to avoid a repeat performance.

I completely adore this book. I love the chemistry that Paige and Adam share and how well they played off of each other. Brighton knows how to do banter with lots of sexual tension and in this book, it worked so well. I love how Paige was scared of getting closer to Adam but being who she is, she can't back down. Adam also opened himself up to new feelings and experiences. Also, their sexual chemistry, HO-LY CRAAPPPPP. Adam is one talented man. Their foreplay and actual acts, all were everything I was expecting from a Brighton Walsh's book.

My only complaint was towards the end. There is a reason why Paige is the way she is towards relationships. She was burned in the past and Adams learns about the reason. However, he then asks something of Paige which terrifies her and in turns, pushes Adam away. I didn't like how Adam just expects Paige to do what he wanted considering what he was asking of her and how he leaves town without saying anything. It was a real shitty move considering where Paige was at that moment in her life. It didn't have to be all or nothing for him and I'm sure they could have figured something out.

Aside from that, Paige in Progress is now my new favorite from Brighton. I enjoyed each and every word and getting to see what Tessa, Jason, Haley, Cade and Winter were up to. I can't wait to see what else Brighton is working on because knowing her, her new hero might just be my new favorite. So if you haven't already picked up this series or any of Brighton's work, I seriously ask you to reconsider because her books are the best.

Quotes (#140)

Morning Friends, 

It's Monday again and the weekend went by a little to fast for my taste. I always wish I had a little more time but to no avail the week has begun again. So, I just finished the Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer which I am totally obsessing about. In honor of this wonderful series todays quotes are all from the Lunar Chronicles!! I hope you enjoy!

“I know you must want nothing to do with me. I don’t blame you.” Wolf scrunched up his shoulders, and met her with an expression full of regret. “But you’re the only one, Scarlet. You’ll always be the only one.”
~ Marissa Meyer, Scarlet

“Maybe there isn’t such a thing as fate. Maybe it’s just the opportunities we’re given, and what we do with them. I’m beginning to think that maybe great, epic romances don’t just happen. We have to make them ourselves.”
~Marissa Meyer, Cress

“Have you given any thought to your wedding vows?” Kai snorted.
“Delete anything that has to do with love, respect, or joy, and I’ll sign on the dotted line.”
~Marissa Meyer, Cress

“It’s not proper for seventeen-year-old princesses to be alone with young men who have questionable intentions.”
She laughed. “And what about young men who she’s been best friends with since she was barely old enough to walk?”
He shook his head. “Those are the worst.”
~Marissa Meyer, Winter

“She would be brave. She would be heroic. She would make her own destiny.”
~Marissa Meyer, Winter

“You think I’m perfect?”
He didn’t look away.Didn’t look bashful or even nervous. Just stared at her, like she’d asked him if Luna orbited the Earth.Then he leaned over and brushed a kiss against her forehead.
“Just sort of,” he said.“You know.On a good day.”
~ Marissa Meyer, Winter

“I can’t believe this is happening. I can’t fight like this, or start a revolution, or be a queen. I can’t do anything like this. I’m broken. I’m literally broken.” Iko settled a hand on Cinder’s shoulder. “Yeah, but broken isn’t the same as unfixable.”
~Marissa Meyer, Winter

Happy Monday!

Let's Chat - Did Not Finishing Books

Let me paint you a picture. It time to pick your next book. You happily stare down your shelves, bouncing around excitedly, thinking which world you’re going to inhabit next. A book blogger might go by their review schedule and pick something that needs to be reviewed soon. Or if you’re not a blogger, you just want to read whatever catches your attention. The point is, after doing the hard work of choosing your next read, you are excited because NEW BOOK. Time to READ. SO EXCITING. You start reading, but hmm…you kind of don’t seem to really to be into it. In fact, you’ve done the rounds of checking Twitter/Instagram/Facebook twice and you’re only in page 17. What does it mean that you would rather check out the hot mess that is your Facebook feed than read? Should you give up? Read a few more pages? And if you do read a few more pages, how many pages should you read until you figure out that it just not the book for you?

Those are the questions I was asking myself just a few weeks ago. I had a picked up a book that was sent to me by the publisher and I was happy to start it. Once I started it, I would read a page, then next thing I knew, I had picked up my phone to do a social media run. I realized I had wasted 20 minutes doing so and went back to my book. Again, my mind and eyes started to stray. I found myself unable to focus on the book because I couldn’t click with the main character and nothing about the book was calling to me. But figured I just hadn’t read enough about the story and pressed on. I read a few more pages but finally had to the closed book, put it back on my shelf, feeling like I didn’t want to read.

Let me clarify, I closed the book feeling like I didn’t want to read that specific book anymore. I wasn’t liking the main character and the story wasn’t pulling me in. So after 17 pages, I went to the back of the book and read the last 3 chapters. Yes, I read the ending. I decided I wasn’t going to read the book anymore because why should I read something that I wasn’t enjoying? It would only result in me having a bad reading experience, anyway. I used to read and finished books even if I wasn’t enjoying them all the time. After having a lot of bad experiences when I had originally wanted to give up on it, I ended up writing a negative review. I’ve had to learn to just let it go and move on to the next book.

So what I’m trying to say is let’s chat about this! At what point do you give up on a book? After a certain amount of chapters? Pages? Or do you just power through it? Tell me down below.