Reading Goals: Weekend Edition

Good Saturday morning weblets! I has weekend reading plans! Yup! Grand plans that will probably fail, but I will do my best to make sure that they fail BEAUTIFULLY! Are you ready for them?

Read-a-long Plans

• Rebecca-Ch. 1-4 (whole book should be done by July 17th)
• Anna Karenina pt. 1 & 2 (read these by July 7th
• Middlemarch (this should have been finished by the end of June, but I'm going to shoot for Friday)

Review Books and Library Books: 

• The Death Cure (library)-finish
• Wishbone-(ebook) start..review due July 6th
• Going Bovine-(library) start

 So yes, my plans are grand, but I will do what I can do! What are your plans for this weekend?

Quick Review: Shatter Me

From Goodreads.com
Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.
 

My Thoughts: 

I had heard lots of things about this book over the last year. There seems to be a 50/50 mix of people that love it or people that hate it. I guess I'm forming a new group for the "meh" vote. I didn't dislike the story. Just the annoying strikeouts. I do not think that they help any at all to progress the story or to help the reader get the book, or Juliette. I understand the point, but it just looks like sloppy editing and is totally jarring.

Oh yeah and the annoying INSTA-LOVE...wtf is up with that? WHY do they love each other? WHY does Adam fall for her so quickly? I mean I totally got the back story, but still..didn't compute for me.I just can't get behind those kind of cliches. It just didn't work.

I do realize that this was just a starter book. (At least that is my impression) I realize it's also a start of a series. SOOO...I may just give the second book a chance. I am not sure yet.

All in all, it wasn't horrible.

Review: Blackout by Mira Grant

Rise up while you can. -Georgia Mason

The year was 2014. The year we cured cancer. The year we cured the common cold. And the year the dead started to walk. The year of the Rising.

The year was 2039. The world didn't end when the zombies came, it just got worse. Georgia and Shaun Mason set out on the biggest story of their generation. The uncovered the biggest conspiracy since the Rising and realized that to tell the truth, sacrifices have to be made.

Now, the year is 2041, and the investigation that began with the election of President Ryman is much bigger than anyone had assumed. With too much left to do and not much time left to do it in, the surviving staff of After the End Times must face mad scientists, zombie bears, rogue government agencies-and if there's one thing they know is true in post-zombie America, it's this:

Things can always get worse.

My Thoughts: 

This is the last book of the Newsflesh series, and I gotta say. What an ending! I loved every single page of this book. When I started reading about cloning George I instantly became all eyerolly and "Oh Mira Grant..why you take easy way out?" But it turned out to not be worthy of any kind of snarkery! None whatsoever!

I'm not gonna be all spoilery, but the George and Shaun twist was not something I saw coming. I am soooo happy about that too! Mira Grant, you totally got me! *kneeslap* It was perfect and after thinking back through the previous books I totally saw all the Se7en (movie reference)-like clues. I love that shizz!

This book was a great finish. I think it wrapped up all the questions in a great way. There didn't seem to be any "reaching" in relation to the finish. No grasping at straws or anything of that nature, that make me wanna hurl a book across the room.

I cried like a biatch you guys! There is one point in the book that I swear made me a weepy pantsed baby. I UGLY CRIED you guys! My husband wandered into the living room, saw me crying with a book in my hands and quickly scrambled out of the room. Yeah..that's how sad it was! I won't give away too many things, but it involves one of my favorite characters and the fate of said character. You do the math!

The only problem I have with this book is that it's over. :( Shaun and George may continue to have imaginary adventures together but I won't be along with them and that makes me SO SAD. 

I refuse to believe that this series is over! I want MOAR! Please :( ...*sniffle* pwease.....

Book Feature: In Leah's Wake by Terri Giuliano Long

Protecting their children comes naturally for Zoe and Will Tyler -until their daughter Leah decides to actively destroy her own future.

Leah grew up in a privileged upper-middle class world. Her parents spared no expense for her happiness; she had all-but secured an Ivy League scholarship and a future as a star athlete. Then she met Todd.

Leah’s parents watch helplessly as their daughter falls into a world of drugs, sex, and wild parties. While Will attempts to control his daughter’s every move to prevent her from falling deeper into this dangerous new life, Zoe prefers to give Leah slack in the hope that she may learn from her mistakes. Their divided approach drives their daughter out of their home and a wedge into their marriage.

Twelve-year-old Justine observes Leah’s rebellion from the shadows of their fragmented family. She desperately seeks her big sister’s approval and will do whatever it takes to obtain it. Meanwhile she is left to question whether her parents love her and whether God even knows she exists.

What happens when love just isn’t enough? Who will pay the consequences of Leah’s vagrant lifestyle? Can this broken family survive the destruction left in Leah’s wake?

You  can buy this book here:
@ Amazon 

Genre - Women's Fiction / Contemporary
Rating - PG13
More details about the author
View the trailer for this book

Connect  with Terri Giuliano Long on Twitter & Facebook
Website  http://tglong.com/site/

What are you Reading...Late Edition

Yup it's Monday again. And what better way to start off the bitchiest day of the week? A stomach ache! Yup! That's why this post is a little later than usual. :( Plus I hate Mondays. Really. So this is me right now:

Because I just want to go back to bed and sleep this stomach ache off. I don't even know what I did to deserve it. :( But anyhoodle..back to the posts point. What am I reading this week?

To Review:

• Blackout by Mira Grant
• Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

To Read: 

• Middlemarch-(still trying to finish it but I probably won't before the end of the month)
• A Monster Calls
• This Dark Endeavor
• My Swordhand is Singing
• Rebecca (Starting on this) ..again.
• Wicked Lovely   

I seem to be on a lovely reading streak so I won't hold back. What are you reading? Oh and how are you all feeling? Hopefully no one has the belly ache from hell?

Wicked Wildfire Read-a-Thon 3rd and 4th Updates

Today I have waay more time on my hands to read! YAY! It's technically my day off, but I'm putting in a few hours here and there. THUSLY, I will win finish a book!

Book: Blackout by Mira Grant
Page Started: 313
End Page:Finished!!!! BOOYAH!


Book: Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
Page Started: 1
End Page:112
Challenges: none

Wicked Wildfire Read-a-Thon 2nd Update

Book: Blackout by Mira Grant
Page Started: 241
End Page: 313


Challenges: NONE

Wicked Wildfire Read-a-Thon First Update

Book Started:
Black Out by Mira Grant
Start Page: 112
End Page: 241

Challenge:
Hosted by Kindlefever
“A wildfire is quickly coming your way! What thing/s do you grab when you only have a few minutes to make it out?”
(I’ve saved any people or pets in there already!)
My Answer: My purse (fully stocked), my mom and dad's picture, and my laptop!

I know it's blasphemy but books and clothes can be replaced!

Wicked Wildfire Read-a-Thon

 

It's READ-A-THON time again!You know what that means? I'm totally gonna read my brains out! :) Yup! I do have work and some other commitments this week but I will read til my eyes cross and my brain starts oozing out of my ears! Now technically this  officially started at midnight, but I was asleep in my cozy bed drooling into my pillow and dreaming of Daryl Dixon..erm..My sweet and loving husband! :) So none of that nonsense for me!

I'm starting this morning at 7:00am (CST) sharp!

What am I going to be reading you ask?

Check it out!

• Shatter Me
• Blackout
• Middlemarch
• Rebecca
• The False Prince

I might get a bit feisty and toss in a few extras! oooh I live on the edge! :)

So look for my first update coming soon! Probably in a few hours. I'll also try to do some of the challenges too! So much fun! 

Quick Review: The Walking Dead book 1

First things first...*EEEK* I got this book! :) Second, I don't think this needs a blurb. If you don't know what The Walking Dead is then you must have been living under a rock the last two years! This is the whole of the first book, or the first 12 issues of the comic, all pressed into one awesome book!

There are TONS of differences between this and the show. I'm a HUGE HUGE fan of the show and have really wanted to get my hands on a copy of this book so I can see what started the awesome. I knew starting off that there would be differences. The show takes a few liberties, creates new characters *AHEM..SIR DARYL DIXON* and deletes a few characters (Tyrese.) Which I didn't mind.

The artwork is awesome. It's dark and creepy in all the right places. Nothing too "cutesy." It's a pretty quick read too. I thoroughly enjoy it and hope to collect the rest of the books!

*I received a copy of this book as a #RAK gift from Beth 
Thank you! 

It's Monday ...So What're You Reading Melissa?

Well interweblets, I'm glad you asked me that amazingly awesomesauce question, because I have a chunk of DELIGHTFUL!

"How delightful do you mean, Melissa?"

Well check this mess out:




And also I am read-a-longing with these:









Plus later on this week I'm participating in the

So stay tuned for my pre-thon post!

Pick Your Thon: Day 3: Progress

Progress:I've finished 1 book (First Drop of Crimson) -posted review!

Today:
I hope to finish The False Prince and schedule the review!
Also, I want to read a good chunk out of Middlemarch

I have a 4 day "vacation" coming up starting tomorrow so I'm gonna have a lot more reading time! Yay!

Quick Review: First Drop of Crimson

The night is not safe for mortals. Denise MacGregor knows all too well what lurks in the shadows—her best friend is half-vampire Cat Crawfield—and she has already lost more than the average human could bear. But her family's past is wrapped in secrets and shrouded in darkness—and a demon shapeshifter has marked Denise as prey. Now her survival depends on an immortal who lusts for a taste of her.

He is Spade, a powerful, mysterious vampire who has walked the earth for centuries and is now duty-bound to protect this endangered, alluring human—even if it means destroying his own kind. Denise may arouse his deepest hungers, but Spade knows he must fight his urge to have her as they face the nightmare together . . .

Because once the first crimson drop falls, they will both be lost.

My Thoughts:

Okay so this description makes Spade sound like a total creeper. He's not. He is rather conflicted by a very sad past event. He's kind of kept himself from ever possibly falling in love with a human again. Denise is recently widowed and fighting PTSD.  These too have such amazing chemistry from the start, it's not surprising that they get together.

I LOVED this book. Seriously loved it.  I loved the writing and the developments of Denise and Spade as characters. They are definitely just as hot as Cat and Bones! The plot is fun and fast paced, and amazingly hot. First Drop of Crimson is  a delicious addition to the Night Huntress world.

I definitely will recommend this book to those that love paranormal romance or just a hot sexy actiony story! My only beef is how often Spade calls Denise "darling"...and that's not even enough to make me gag..just a smallish eye roll. lol

Pick Your Thon: Day 2 Update and Mini Challenge

I got a book read already!

My selections:
I want to read these:

1. (finish) First Drop of Crimson
2. The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielson (STARTED)
3. City of Bones
4. and get all caught up with MiddleMarch 

Today I will be focusing on reading MiddleMarch so I can be all caught up by tonight's meeting. :)

Mini-Challenge:
Was supposed to be about cleaning up your shelves and organizing. I did that just the other day so I will take a pic of the after. The before was getting on my nerves! LOL

 This  doesn't look very clean but trust me..there is a method to my madness! LOL You should have seen it before! :(

Blog Tour: The Grim

Strain in the neck, pulsating and bleeding eye. Jaycee Baynes awakens in the hospital with the sound of gun fire echoing in her head. She doesn't remember much about May 23rd. All she knows for certain is that she did indeed kill her ex-lover-and isn't the slightest remorseful. Now, incarcerated at an in-patient psychiatric facility, she must attempt to regain her memory of the event that shattered her world to its very core. Gripped by both psychosis and her desperation to know the truth, Jaycee faces the long dark of recovery to seemingly endless obstacles of doubt and mystery. Haunted daily by the presence of her bullet-riddled ex, Jaycee teeters on the edge of reality, knowing that, without her ex's help, she may never escape the prison that has become...The Grim.

My Thoughts: 
This wasn't an easy book to get into, but after a few chapters you are instantly drawn in. This is a book about mental illness, mystery, murder, and healing. After the initial slow start this book begins to pick up the pace and really get going. Jaycee is someone you want to learn about. Her situation is a bit messed up, so she's got a LOT to deal with.

The cast of characters range from friendly to despicable and each have their secrets. Don't let the cover fool you, this was a well written book that has plenty to sink your teeth into.

Pick Your Thon: Begins Today

1. Which thon are you choosing? Readathon, Reviewathon or both? And why? I'll probably do a read-a-thon. Why? Because I'm a slut for any sort of read-a-thon! LOL

2. Where are you from? You can be vague or specific, up to you. I'm from a place called Anniston in Northeast Alabama.

3. Say a little bit about yourself so we can get to know you if we don't already! Well I've pretty much already introduced myself in a few posts, but here's the basics: 31, married/mother of 1, have book ADD like crazy!, love read-a-thons, and work full time from home! Please to meet cha!

4. What are you currently reading or about to pick up to read? I'm  currently reading First Drop of Crimson by Jeaniene Frost.

5. What are your goals for this Pick Your Thon?

I want to read these: 

• (finish) First Drop of Crimson
• The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielson (STARTED)
• City of Bones
• and get all caught up with MiddleMarch 

Those are my plans! :)

Review: This Side of the Grave

Danger waits on both sides of the grave.

Half-vampire Cat Crawfield and her vampire husband Bones have fought for their lives, as well as for their relationship. But just when they've triumphed over the latest battle, Cat's new and unexpected abilities threaten to upset a long-standing balance...

With the mysterious disappearance of vampires, rumors abound that a species war is brewing.  A zealot is inciting tensions between the vampires and ghouls, and if these two powerful groups clash, innocent mortals could become collateral damage. Now Cat and Bones are forced to seek help from a dangerous "ally"--the ghoul queen of New Orleans herself. But the price of her assistance may prove more treacherous than even the threat of a supernatural war. ...to say nothing of the repercussions Cat never imagined.

My Thoughts: 

Remember in my last review for this series, that I said something felt "off?" Well this book brought everything back on track! I loved the action and of course the hot romancey stuff with Cat and Bones. It's purrty hot actually! Love that they are so much in love that they can't help but wanna..well..YOU KNOW..*wink wink* ALL The time!

I love the side characters. Mencheres and Vlad are both pretty interesting. I would love for either of them to have a spin off series! *Please please please* Denise and Spade are good too, but I haven't yet read any of their books. I was sad to see Cat's Uncle go. I feel really sad about her Mother's turning too. I am anxiously awaiting the chance to read the next book and see what happens!

Now here's the grumpy part of my review, just a warning!

I didn't know that you HAVE to read the Spade/Denise series before you read this book. Sooo whatever happens in that book, it's kind of spoiled for me. This book kind of goes on like you've read them, and there's like NO warning whatsoever about it! If I had known that I would have picked up First Drop of Crimson and read it before starting this. It didn't ruin the plot of THIS book, but the Spade/Denise books might be ruined *pout* I'll still read them though.

Other than this, I liked the book. Things are definitely getting interesting for Cat and the shizz is hitting the fan and splattering all over the place!

Review: Summer Fit Workbooks!

Summer Fit is a great program to keep your kid's mind and body active during Summer break. My son loved it last year and he's loving it so far this year! Trent is going into the 3rd grade, but he's testing advanced in areas like Math and Reading, so I requested the 4th-5th grade book. So far so very good! He's loving the math sheets and I can see the wheels turning when he's  doing the reading comprehension pages!

What I love about this program is that it is pretty much an all encompassing system. You have suggestions for reading, physical exercises, and it's a good way to prepare for the upcoming year! My son is in karate now, so we don't always get a chance to do the daily exercises. He actually BEGS me to let him make them up the next day! He loves it!

I've found myself being a cheerleader off-blog about these work books. They are a simple and fun way to help your kid not fall behind while he or she is out of school, OR you can use them to help them catch up with subjects they may need extra help with! They are even online!

Summer Fit Facebook Page

**I received a copy of this workbook in exchange for an honest review.***

Impromptu Weekend Read-a-Thon!

*Updated: I'm doing this thang all weekend! :)
I decided to spend all day today like this young lass ^! Reading my booty off and having a day of nerdy like fun! I'm going to start reading at Noon CST. I've got a handful of little chores to do, but then it's reading tymes!

I'll read til my eyes droop, take a break, then read some more!

Friday 6/8
Start Time: Noon CST
This Side of the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
End Time: 11pm CST
 Pages: 316-Didn't finish TSotG, but got darn close !

Saturday 6/9
Start Time: Noon CST
This Side of the Grave by Jeaniene Frost (Finished) The Grim by Raynetta J. Stocks (FINISHED!!!) First Drop of Crimson by Jeaniene Frost (started)
End Time:
 Pages: 41 (tsotg)357 (the grim)
 Books Read: 2

Saturday 6/10
Start Time: Noon CST
First Drop of Crimson by Jeaniene Frost (started)
End Time:
 Pages:
 Books Read: 2

Review: Insurgent

One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

My Thoughts: 

I LOVED Divergent. I thought it was a breeze of fresh air into the YA genre. I loved the action and the thought provoking aspects too. Tris is a great character to get to know. She's got a little bit of everything, and definitely has that "real" quality about her.  She's no unbelievably beautiful, or super redonkulously smart. She's just normal. Well, minus that little issue where she can fit in with three different factions.

Insurgent, is a solid second part of a series. I can't quite put my finger on the problem but I didn't LOVE it. Now, please don't get me wrong I liked it a lot. I just didn't feel the same OOMPH that I did when I opened read Divergent. Tris evolves in a way that to me felt slow. Four seems more hulking figure in the background in this book, even though I know he's pretty much always in the middle of things. It just felt like he wasn't quite all there? Maybe that was the point?

The plot does however satisfy immensely! I thought the bickering factions, the background politics, and the OMG! What's going on!? aspect was super! I don't have any complaints about that at all! I know this is a second part of a story, I know that characters can't go through major evolutionary changes every five seconds, but there was something a little off about this one. I'm probably the only person in the world that feels this way!

All in all, Insurgent was fun. The story is great and I DO recommend it. I just had that one beef about it, which is probably just my nitpicky imagination!

Quiet House...Me Time

yes that is some mofo'ing Chocolate and Strawberry mud mask on my face! it smells like dessert! sadly i can't eat my face, but I can enjoy losing the ability to move my face while I read my book! Middlemarch..in case you can't read backwards.

Quiet time activate!

Quick Review: The Midwife of Venice

Hannah Levi is renowned for her gift at coaxing reluctant babies from their mothers using her secret “birthing spoons.” When a Christian count implores her to attend his dying wife and save their unborn son, she is torn. A Papal edict forbids Jews from rendering medical treatment to Christians, but the count’s payment is enough to ransom Hannah’s husband, Isaac, who has been captured at sea. Can she refuse her duty to a woman who is suffering? Hannah’s choice entangles her in a treacherous family rivalry that endangers the child and threatens her voyage to Malta, where Isaac, believing her dead in the plague, is preparing to buy his passage to a new life.

My Thoughts:

I really didn't expect to like this book as much as I did! It's not my usual cup of tea, but I still was impressed by the summary.  This felt like the classic, "bucking authority" kind of story that I usually like, just set in the 1500's. Hannah knows what she has to do to save her husband, and so she does it. She risks her life and all the lives of the Jews in her ghetto, all for the love of her husband, Isaac. Isaac, does what he has to, as a slave, to get back to his beloved Hannah. I found this heartwarming and sweet. A bit too sweet, to be honest. Yes, Hannah is a skilled woman. She knows how to give birth to babies, but in that time period, if a woman was barren she was nearly worthless. I'm sure there were exceptions, but that fact was a bit hard to swallow. Maybe I'm a cynic? :( I hope not. The book was decent, and a quick read. It kept my attention all the way up til the end, which was a bit too saccharine for my taste. The book wrapped up a bit too neatly for it to be believable.