6th Annual End Of The Year Survey -- 2015 Edition!

I'm usually always so late when it comes to bookish things whether is a meme, a tag, or you know anything, so I was a bit lost when a bunch of surveys flooded my bloglovin and twitter timeline. I had no clue who was hosting it, (the lovely Jamie from The Perpetual Page-Turner btw) neither did I even think I would be non-lazy enough to actually answer all the questions, but after being intrigued and amused by some of the answers I've seen, I decided to say fuck it, and get busy sharing my 2015 in books. Now keep scrolling folks, it's time to get this party started!

Number of Books You've Read This Year: 71 

Number of Re-Reads: EW, us cool kids don't re-read books

Genre You Read The Most From: Contemporary of course!

1. Best Book You Read In 2015? 

YA contemporary - The Anatomical Shape of A Heart

YA Sci-Fi - Illuminae 

YA Fantasy - A Darker Shade of Magic

NA Contemporary - Burying Water

Adult Contemporary - The Witch of Painted Sorrows

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

The Girl Who Fell by Shannon M. Parker. I hated this debut & everyone else loves it. MEH. 

3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read? 

Air Awakens by Elise Kova really surprised me! I loved the concept, the writing, the diverse characters. EVERYTHING

4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?

Definitely the Anatomical Shape of A Heart lol. I loved Jack, I meant that book so much to the point I shoved it down everyone's throat. It worked of course haha.

5. Best series you started in 2015? Best Sequel of 2015? Best Series Ender of 2015?

I haven't started a series this year . . . or have I lol? 

Best sequel goes to the Mime Order by Samantha Shannon. SUCH A DOPE SERIES GUYS.

I haven't finished a series, like ever since I started blogging lmao.

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2015?

K.A fucking Tucker!

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

I don't read alot of science fiction, but Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff blew me away!

8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

A Darker Shade of Magic by Victoria Schwab!

9. Book You Read In 2015 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

People re-read books, this is actually a thing? GROSS lol.

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2015?

Fire Falling by Elise Kova. Prince Aldrik looks so delicious on that cover!

11. Most memorable character of 2015?

Jack from The Anatomical Shape of a Heart.

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2015?

Hands down The Weight of Feathers by Anna Marie-McLemore.

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2015?

Mmm, ahh skip this question lol.

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2015 to finally read? 

BURYING WATER by K.A Tucker.

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2015?

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2015?

I honestly don't have favorite quotes from books lol.

17. Book That Shocked You The Most

No question Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)

Ezra and Kady from Illuminae!

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

ME DON'T KNOW.

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2015 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

Wandering Star by Romina Russell.

21. Best Book You Read In 2015 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater. 

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2015?

The Darkling from Shadow and Bone. Oh and Jack from The Anatomical Shape of a Heart.

23. Best 2015 debut you read?

The Weight of Feathers by Anna-Marie McLemore

24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

A Darker Shade of Magic by Victoria Schwab

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

YO Find Me I'm Yours by Hillary Carlip!

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2015?

I'll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios. I died mentally and spiritually reading this.

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

The Wrong Side of Right by Jenn Marie Thorne. This book was sooo good!

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

Fire Falling by Elise Kova. That cliffhanger, seriously, I'm dead. FORREAL

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2015?

Find Me I'm Yours by Killary Carlip. All the photos, websites, and videos made it such a cool read.

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)? 

The Girl Who Fell by Shannon M. Parker. This book pissed me tf off.

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2015?

EVERYONE!

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2015?

The intro to my ACOTAR review is my favorite, BUT I think my favorite review is The Weight of Feathers of Anna Marie-McLemore

3. Best discussion/non-review post you had on your blog?

Discussions? NON-reviews? WHAT ARE THOOOOSEEEE? haha

4. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?

Irish Banana Blog Tours hosted by Hannah! I absolutely love her!

5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2015?

I would say being recognized by others as their favorite blogger. That was pretty dope.

6. Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?

I think just staying ontop of posts, and participating. I hardly did meme's, tags, or anything other than reviews the second half of this year. I got super lazy yo.

7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?

My review for The Weight of Feathers. It has 43 comments and 333 views.  Thanks everyone MUAH

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

Mmm, none to be honest. You guys really show me love here on my blog and I appreciate it!

9. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

BOOKSTAGRAM.

10. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?

I completed my goodreads challenge! I set a limit for 50 books this year, and I surpassed that by 22 books!

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2015 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2016?

* Stares at TBR * Do you really want to know the answer to this? lol.

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2016 (non-debut)?

A Gathering of Shadows. Let's go Victoria!

3. 2016 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab. 

4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2016?

I haven't really started too many series to care about this just yet haha

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2016?

I really want to be more organized next year!

6. A 2016 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone:

I've only read two 2016 releases so far, and since they aren't ah-mazing, (one was cool, the other one was disastrous) I'll have to skip this question lol.

So that's all you guys, this year has been pretty decent reading wise, but I'm aiming for bigger and better in 2016! HUUURRAHHH!

Okay, I'm done being ridiculous  

This Raging Light Collaboration Review -- Q&A Time!

This Raging Light | Estelle Laure
Release Date: December 20, 2015 | HMHkids
Genre(s): Young Adult, Contemporary
Pages: 288
Edition: ARC
Source: Publisher
Rating:

Can the best thing happen at the worst time?

Her dad went crazy. Her mom left town. She has bills to pay and a little sister to look after. Now is not the time for level-headed seventeen-year-old Lucille to fall in love. But love—messy, inconvenient love—is what she's about to experience when she falls for Digby Jones, her best friend's brother. With blazing longing that builds to a fever pitch, Estelle Laure's soulful debut will keep readers hooked and hoping until the very last page.

I received a review copy courtesy of the author/publisher. This does not affect my opinion or views regarding the book whatsoever.

.

REVIEW

Did This Debut Novel Deliver

Or did it stink horribly like a piece of bologna that no one ever wants to eat? 

That was funny right? No? Okay whatever.

.

Outside of blogging, I don't have any friends that enjoy reading which is one of the many reasons why I started fangirlconfessions. I yearned to be able to chat about my love for books, and with my friends . . . that just wasn't happening. After being apart of the community for just a couple of weeks, I was already making new friends, and participating in fun bookish things such as buddy reads, which has become an absolute favorite of mine. I'm definitely one of those readers who loves to share my thoughts with others. I like the idea of reading in pairs or groups, knocking out chapters while we rant, rave, or stir up ridiculous (but very plausible) theories about the stories we're reading. I've noticed that just about every month, I'm buddied up with someone, and when I noticed my friends Tina and Erin were reading This Raging Light around the same time as I, well . . . you know what ensued. So instead of doing a traditional review, we've decided to team up to do a fun post, Q&A style!

Ready to get this poppin?

Q&A

What Were Your Initial Thoughts Prior To Reading TRL?

TIKA This Raging Light was one of my most anticipated reads for 2015, so I was pretty excited going in. Okay, I was more than excited, but that's a discussion for another time. My good friend Jocelyn had read and loved it, and since we have the same taste in books, I figured this would go on my " I-fucking-love-you " shelf, especially after being told the author covered the aspect of cheating. I'm always down to read realistic fiction, so to make a long story short, the only thought I had going in was, " I-need-to-read-this-like-now. " TINA

I wasn't sure what to expect since I've heard very mix things about TRL. It seemed like you either loved it or you hated it. I was curious to see what I would think about it.

ERIN

When I first saw the title, I was expecting an issue-heavy book. Maybe it's the title's reference to "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night" that really led me to believe that it would be a book full of hardships and struggles. I was also really hoping that it would have a really strong female lead character.

Concept & Writing: Raging Hit Or Flopping Miss?

TIKA
As strange as this may sound . . . both. While I felt the concept and writing were strong, there were instances where they didn't exactly work for me. It took me a couple of chapters to get used to the writing, (which was a bit over-bearing at times) but after a while it started to flow, and I eventually came to enjoy it's quirkiness. As far as the concept goes, it was definitely a raging hit. I enjoyed how the subject matter was relatable, even though there were scenes that were a bit far-fetched for my tastes. On the other hand, the story was so faced paced that situations and characters didn't get the opportunity to fully blossom, not to mention how the ending completely left us hanging. Grrr.

TINA

TRL has a very delicate subject matter. Sure, we've all read our fair share of crappy parents in YA but TRL has a whole different kind of shitty parents. The concept isn't unheard of but I was curious to see how the author would deliver the story. The writing was different and took a couple chapters to get use to, and with the pace being so fast, I think it really hurt the story. Things didn't develop the way they could've, but it did keep me interested because I had so many questions, and I had this need to know what was going on. Personally, I thought it was a bit sugarcoated but I do admire that the author took a chance on a subject that I have rarely read or seen in YA.

ERIN

It really took a while for me to get used to Ms. Laure's writing style. It's actually kind of awkward because I just felt like it didn't really represent how most teenagers speak. I think that Ms. Laure was trying for something poetic, especially because of the book's title, but she just missed the mark. It was a bit of a fusion between prose and how a teenager would actually speak. It was kind of weird, and I would have enjoyed something more reliable.

Now For Our Hottest Topic: Characters. Thoughts Ladies?

TIKA
I didn't develop a major connection with any of the characters, which was a big problem for me. I really liked how determined and fierce Lucille was when it came to taking care of her sister, but other than that, I found her to be a bit immature. I hate a wishy-washy person in general, and Lu often displayed hot and cold behavior, always snapping at weird times over stupid things. Maybe it was the pressure from her situation, maybe I'm just being insensitive who knows, I just wasn't her biggest fan. The secondary characters added to the story but not much. Digby was cool, but his " situationship " with Lucille happened too quickly, so I wasn't completely sold on them. You don't really get a chance to connect with Digby, his sister Eden, or Lu's younger sister Wren, so you're basically going through the motions, which isn't completely a bad thing, but it isn't a good one either.

TINA

I felt bad for Lucille, the girl was seriously handed the shittiest card in the parents department, but I also admired her, she was strong and stepped up when she could've easily broken down. What I didn't like about her was that she had this sense of entitlement like Eden and Digby needed to help her and would become upset when their life wouldn't allow them to help her. I personally wish we could've read the story through Wren's eyes or had her point of view somewhere in between. I think she would've added a fresh perspective. I thought Eden was a good friend to have but she wasn't present enough for me to really consider her a best friend. What little I did learn from her she seemed like the kind of character you want on your team. I didn't care for Digby, and it didn't really have to do with the cheating but more of the mixed signals never really knowing him, and I felt like he was just another mess in Lucille's life instead of helping her.

ERIN

I wasn't really impressed with the characters in This Raging Light because I feel like I know nothing about them! All of them - Lucille, Wren, Eden, Digby, and Shane - really aren't all that spectacular. It was kind of annoying to find such flat characters, especially in a novel that's full of all of these crazy issues.

Likes, Dislikes?

TIKA
The subject matter was probably my favorite thing about TRL. As a parent, I couldn't imagine leaving my son to fend for himself, not for a second, a day, or even years. It was tough seeing Lucille take guardianship over her sister at such a young age, but it definitely showed a side to her that I could relate to. She would do anything to protect her family, and that my friends is what we have in common. I don't have many dislikes, (I do wish the author pushed the envelop a bit on the " cheating aspect.") but what I had a problem with, (the pacing and how nothing really seemed to be resolved) hindered the story big time for me, causing me to chop a few points off of the rating.

TINA

The concept of the story! It was very interesting and one I would love to keep reading. I actually liked the writing style, and her little sister Wren. Like I mentioned before, if the story was told through her point of view it would've been amazing! The mystery surrounding the " guardian angels " really enhanced the story and kept you wondering who was helping to take care of the girls. As far as dislikes, I would definitely say the pacing! I felt like it could've been slower so that the ending and the story could have developed better. It seemed like everyone knew about Lucille's mom leaving but didn't say anything.
LIKE HOW DO YOU NOT SAY SOMETHING?! 

The unanswered questions, I felt like the ending left so many things open for interpretation with bit of a cliffhanger. Not too mention it was incredibly rushed and left me wondering about Eden, and for Pete's sake where is the Mom!? So much backstory was missing about the mother, and since she seemed to be the focus, I honestly knew nothing about her.

ERIN

I liked the idea of This Raging Light, but I don't think that Ms. Laure executed it in a way that will reach readers. The whole "older sibling taking care of a younger sibling" just seemed too easy. The romance between Lu and Digby was awkward, and it seems like it was forced. I also wasn't a fan of the plot twist at the end of the book because it felt like a way to shake things up instead of focusing on what's really at hand.

Rating & Recommendation?

TIKA
I'm still very conflicted when it comes to the rating, but after having time to collect my thoughts and break down the story, I think I'm settling on a 3.
This Raging Light is definitely for fans of Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell, especially if you like reading about sucky parents.

TINA

I am so torn. I enjoyed the book but things were missing. Something was missing. Is it a standalone? Is it a series? I guess if I have to pick I'd say three stars.

ERIN

Unfortunately This Raging Light wasn't really for me. I thought I liked it, and I really do think that there are some great aspects, but something about it was off. I ended up disliking more about the book than I liked, so I had to give it a low rating. I think fans of John Green's The Fault in Our Stars and Rainbow Rowell's Eleanor & Park would enjoy This Raging Light.

Burying Water Review -- Now This Is What I Call New Adult

Burying Water | K.A Tucker
Release Date: October 7th, 2014 | Atria
Genre(s): New Adult, Contemporary, Suspense
Pages: 368
Edition: Kindle
Source: Amazon
Rating:

Left for dead in the fields of rural Oregon, a young woman defies all odds and survives—but she awakens with no idea who she is, or what happened to her. Refusing to answer to “Jane Doe” for another day, the woman renames herself “Water” for the tiny, hidden marking on her body—the only clue to her past. Taken in by old Ginny Fitzgerald, a crotchety but kind lady living on a nearby horse farm, Water slowly begins building a new life. But as she attempts to piece together the fleeting slivers of her memory, more questions emerge: Who is the next-door neighbor, quietly toiling under the hood of his Barracuda? Why won’t Ginny let him step foot on her property? And why does Water feel she recognizes him?

Twenty-four-year-old Jesse Welles doesn’t know how long it will be before Water gets her memory back. For her sake, Jesse hopes the answer is never. He knows that she’ll stay so much safer—and happier—that way. And that’s why, as hard as it is, he needs to keep his distance. Because getting too close could flood her with realities better left buried.

The trouble is, water always seems to find its way to the surface.

.

REVIEW

Straight Out Of The Lifetime Movie Network 

Grab your snuggie, some popcorn, and a box of tissues for this book folks . . it's THAT good! 

.

Let's start this off by doing a little exercise. Nooo, sit down, sit down, no jumping jacks people, I want you to use your brains for justtttt a second.

Now, thinking back to all of the books you've read this year. Can you think of one that completely blew you away? One that grabbed you by your collar, sucked you into it's words, and consumed your soul with it's bookish greatness? One that was so picturesque, you could've easily been watching a movie in HD, imaginary nacho cheese dripping down your chin and all? Yes? Well good, you've now been inducted into the " how-do-I-live-a-normal-fucking-life-after-reading-this club because GUYS, when I say Burying Water did that and then some, I mean it . . .

 and now I don't know what the hell to do with myself.  

Even though this is my first book by K.A Tucker, I am no stranger to her work. I purchased Ten Tiny Breaths, (first book in the Ten Tiny Breaths series) about a hundred years ago, but like all the other titles I impulsively buy, it's collecting dust, impatiently waiting to be read. But there was something about Burying Water that called to me -- something that increased my urge to read it, forcing me to push aside all of my must-read-now arcs to do so. Making said choice was probably the best decision I've made this year, because following the lives of Alex and Jesse was a tragic, yet incredibly beautiful experience that I'm sure I'll never forget.

Now go, shoo, grab all of your movie snacks and let's get this poppin!

The Mind Can Be A Deceitful Thing. But It's No Match For The Heart.

Clutches Pearls
The story kicks off with an explosive opener that sets the tone for the rest of the book. I had no clue what to expect, (I hardly ever read a book's synopsis anymore lol) so from the start I was completely on edge, desperately trying to piece together the missing fragments. Very reminiscent to those dramatically epic lifetime movies, the plot gave us a delicious recipe of scandalousness -- I'm talking martial abuse, (not that this is delicious or anything) infidelity, hot mechanics, Russian mobsters, near-death experiences . . . look if you can name it, it had it. By the time I finished, I was literally one big ball of emotion, satisfied with such an amazing conclusion, yet completely heartbroken by some events. EMO-TIONAL rollercoaster folks.

The Ping Pong Effect
I don't know about you guys, but I loveeee me a dual or multi-perspective story! I enjoy reading through the eyes of more than one person, which for me not only adds depth, (especially if it's executed well) but brings me closer to the characters and events. Have you ever felt as if you knew more about the MC's because you were reading from not only their perspective, but from others as well? In my opinion, this increases my connection, which is exactly what happened this time around.
Tucker's take on what I call the " Ping Pong Effect " was brilliant! She brought in both the past and present setting, bouncing us from Jesse's perspective during " then " which consisted of all the agonizingly intense events that led up to the " now, " the present day perspective of Alex. Their stories rolled together like movie reels, and played out just as vividly.

Chemistry 101
Before reading Burying Water, I never actually rooted for a fictional couple. Sure I shipped some of our fave characters, but it wasn't a ship I was completely dedicated to or anything, so if it tragically sunk like the Titanic, then well, good riddance. HOWEVER, I fangirled so hard for Alex and Jesse. Normally I'm not into the whole " Hero Saves The Day " type of thing when it comes to guys, (I love me a badass anti-hero hehe) but there was something about Jesse's strong personality that I craved, something about Alex's fragile manner that intrigued me. From the start their chemistry was undeniable, setting off a spark that slowly grow into blazing flame, creating such an exquisite romance. Trust me, if you're searching for sexy and sensual, then this is your book.

I think it's safe to say that Burying Water is one of the best contemporaries I've read this year. The writing was simple yet gorgeous, nothing gimmicky or forced about it, and matched with a plot this suspenseful, mysterious, and heartwarming, it was no surprise I fell in love with it. With just one title alone, K.A Tucker has became one of my favorite new adult authors, completely topping others on my list, and I can't wait to devour more of her spectacular work!

Have any of you read The Burying Water series or other titles by Tucker?

.

Rules For 50/50 Chances Review -- The Eye-Opener

Rules For 50/50 Chances | Kate McGovern
Publisher: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux
Release Date: November 24, 2015
Genre(s): Young Adult, Contemporary
Pages: 352
Edition: Hardcover
Source: Publisher
Rating:

A heartrending but ultimately uplifting debut novel about learning to accept life's uncertainties; a perfect fit for the current trend in contemporary realistic novels that confront issues about life, death, and love.

Seventeen-year-old Rose Levenson has a decision to make: Does she want to know how she's going to die? Because when Rose turns eighteen, she can take the test that tells her if she carries the genetic mutation for Huntington's disease, the degenerative condition that is slowly killing her mother.

With a fifty-fifty shot at inheriting her family's genetic curse, Rose is skeptical about pursuing anything that presumes she'll live to be a healthy adult-including her dream career in ballet and the possibility of falling in love. But when she meets a boy from a similarly flawed genetic pool and gets an audition for a dance scholarship across the country, Rose begins to question her carefully laid rules

I received a review copy courtesy of the author/publisher. This does not affect my opinion or views regarding the book whatsoever.

.

REVIEW

The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly.

Now this is what I call realistic fiction . . .

.

Fantasy vs Contemporary. 

I've had this conversation about a dozen times with a million people, and my answer is always the same. Even though I've come to truly love the fantasy genre this past year, there's something about contemporary that tugs at my whole being, and no matter what genre I venture off to, it always manages to pull me right back. The question I'm often asked is why? Why choose contemp over a genre you can get lost in? A genre with magical worlds, magical people doing magical things? My answer: contemporary is magical too, just not in the sword wielding princess, fire breathing dragon, flying pigs that can see the future, sort of way.

I enjoy this genre because for the most part, it mirrors real life. Without even knowing it, you can be fictionally exploring the lives of anyone, your mailman, the Starbucks barista you think is cute with the shaggy hair, your next door neighbor that keeps digging through the trash, in fewer words, contemporary can open eyes to realities that are not always our own. So when I picked up Rules For 50/50 Chances, I had no clue just how close to someone's reality my experience would actually be.

What I Adored

Eye-Opening Experience. 

Before reading this book, I wasn't entirely familiar with Huntington's Disease. It was always just a diagnosis that I've seen in passing, in the doctor's office, on a random TV commercial, in health class on a day I was surely half paying attention, but never did I actually know what it was, and how damaging it is for an individual as well as their family . . until now. Reading this book was incredibly humbling. I learned so much about this ugly, horrible, terrifying disease to the point it opened my eyes to just how fortunate I really am.

Wait you have parentals?
Have you ever read a YA book where the main character lived at home but yet their parents were like . . . nowhere to be found? & if they do make an appearance, it's such a small role, that it's almost like they didn't exist at all? Well throw some damn confetti in the air, because the aspect of family in this story is so strong! Our main character Rose lives at home with her sickly mother who has HD, her father who is so over-emotionally hilarious, and her British grandmother. I loved seeing them interact, especially at times where the hardships of the disease affected them all. It's also pretty damn beautiful to see that the entire family played major roles within the story.

Jungle Fever 
I'm not even going to lie, I was so surprised to see that the love interest was an African-American. It's been a while since I've read a book with a POC, particularly black, and I was extremely pleased with how well he was portrayed. Caleb was such an all out nerd. He was a sweetheart, kind, goofy, and completely understanding of her mother's illness, especially since both his mother and twin sisters suffer from Sickle Cell. I loved his relationship with Rose because it felt so mature for YA. Sure they did things like eat icecream, and nerd out about illnesses, but there was something so genuine and not so cheesy about their affection for each other that I absolutely adored.

Growth
Through the entire book, my only dislike was that our main character Rose proved to be a bit selfish and difficult at times. I sympathized of course because her situation is definitely tough, but the girl sure had a way of always being so hard to deal with, so negative. Thank goodness for Caleb and his " tell-it-like-it-is " attitude which definitely helped set her straight a bit. She did end up showing some great character growth by the end of the book, I just wish it didn't happen so suddenly. 

Focused heavily on decision-making, family, love, and friendships, Rules For 50/50 Chances proved to be such an incredibly important read. I believe it's a strong contender in the YA genre, being incredibly diverse, well-written, and emotionally driven. By the end I was inspired, humbled, and certainly appreciative of the life I as well as my family were given. If you're looking for a contemporary that has a heartwarming message to deliver, I would highly suggest you pick this up!

.

One Step Too Far -- Promo Post

One Step Too Far | Tina Seskis
Release Date: January 27, 2015
Publisher: Harpercollins 
Genre(s): Adult, Mystery, Psychological Thriller
Pages: 304
Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

An apparently happy marriage. A beautiful family. A dream home. So what makes lawyer Emily Coleman—a woman who appears to have everything—get up one morning and walk right out of her life to start again as someone new?

Deliberately losing herself in London, Emily quickly transforms herself into Cat. Along with her new name, she finds a new home in a shared house in North London teeming with an odd assortment of flatmates, and a new job as a receptionist.

Soon Cat has buried any trace of her old self so well, no one knows how to find her. But she can’t bury the past—or her own painful memories. As the days turn to months, thoughts of all she’s left behind begin to consume her. She cannot outrun the ghosts that haunt her, no matter how hard she tries to elude them. And soon, she’ll have to face the truth of what she’s done—a shocking revelation that may push her one step too far. . . .

.

PROMO

I've always liked my books weird and crazy,

but lord knows I wasn't expecting this . . . 

.

Psychological thrillers have always been a top fave of mine. I crave the mystery surrounding the plot, and tend to be a bit obsessed with the characters that always seem to be unreliable as hell, and One Step Too Far isn't any different. Emily Coleman has ran away from her perfect life, completely starting anew. There are alter egos, flashbacks that uncover a dark past, and a plot twist that even I, Sherlock Holmes Jr, didn't see coming!

About The Author

Tina Seskis grew up in Hampshire, England, and after graduating from the University of Bath spent more than twenty years working in marketing and advertising. One Step Too Far is her debut novel, and was first published independently in the UK, where it shot to the #1 spot on the bestseller list. Her second novel is forthcoming. She lives in North London with her husband and son.

Find out more about Tina at her website, and connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.

.

The Confession Hour Episode 3 - The Giving Way To Happiness Blitz

.

TOUR

How I Give 

Join me as I share how my family and I give back year round, especially during the holidays.

.

To celebrate the release of The Giving Way To Happiness by Jenny Santi, I along with a few other bloggers, have decided to promote this title by sharing how we give year round or during the holidays with our readers. Yesterday was Thanksgiving, and with Christmas right around the corner, what better time to showcase how we give thanks, as well as lend a hand to those in need.

The Children's Aid Society has been an organization my family and I have been working with since I was a small child. Every year for the holidays we're assigned a family and given a list of 1.) Who the family is and where they're located 2.) How many members make up the family/ages & genders and finally 3.) What they need/wish to have. I absolutely love " adopting " the families, especially since it gives us the opportunity to fully provide for the less fortunate. Unfortunately, we're living in a different county now and the organization works completely different from what we're used to, so we no longer have a particular family we're assigned to. Instead, we go shopping for clothes, shoes, toys, books, food, etc and make multiple baskets to deliver to a local church where TCAS operates. While I still enjoy this method of giving back, I do miss being able to personally deliver gifts to families on Thanksgiving and Christmas day to see the joy that lights up their faces. However, knowing that I'm giving back to my community is all that really matters.

So what about you?

Do you volunteer throughout the year or during the holidays? Do you have a charity you donate to? This Tuesday use the hashtag #givingtuesday, to tell the world how you're giving back! & if you want more information on Giving Tuesday, head over to the website! (GT is linked just in case you didn't notice or something lol)

About The Book

We often focus on how our gifts can help those in need. But the act of giving actually improves our own lives as well. In The Giving Way to Happiness, Jenny Santi overturns conventional thinking about what it takes to be happy by revealing how giving to others—whether in the form of money, expertise, time, or love—has helped people from all walks of life find purpose and joy. Drawing on the wisdom of great thinkers past and present, as well as cutting-edge scientific research, Santi makes an eloquent and passionate case that oftentimes the answers to the problems that haunt us, and the key to the happiness that eludes us, lie in helping those around us.

This book is filled with inspiring stories told firsthand by Academy Award winner Goldie Hawn, Noble Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, supermodel Christy Turlington Burns, Teach for America founder Wendy Kopp, philanthropist Richard Rockefeller, environmentalist Philippe Cousteau, activist Ric O’Barry, bestselling author Isabel Allende, ALS survivor Augie Nieto, and many others from all over the world. Despite their diverse backgrounds, they have all found unexpected happiness and fulfillment through giving. This book tells us not just how they changed the world but also how their acts changed their very own lives

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Giveaway 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mother Bruce Blog Tour + Review - Brucey Goosey

Mother Bruce | Ryan T. Higgins
Release Date: November 24, 2015 | Disney
Genre(s): Children's Fiction
Source: Irish Banana Tours
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Rating:

Bruce the bear likes to keep to himself. That, and eat eggs. But when his hard-boiled goose eggs turn out to be real, live goslings, he starts to lose his appetite. And even worse, the goslings are convinced he's their mother. Bruce tries to get the geese to go south, but he can't seem to rid himself of his new companions. What's a bear to do?

I received a review copy courtesy of the author/publisher. This does not affect my opinion or views regarding the book whatsoever.

.

REVIEW

Toddler Takeover #2

What happens when a grumpy bear is mistaken for mother goose? A whole bunch of funny.

.

Would you believe me if I told you my son and I read this book 6 times in one day? Yep, 6. From the moment it came in the mail, to random times during the day, we both found ourselves unable to put the book down and leave it the heck alone. Maybe it was the awesome illustrations, or maybe it was just the incredibly cute + funny plot, (most likely both) either way Mother Bruce easily became a favorite for both my little monster and I.

In this story we follow Bruce, a grumpy, crabby, just plain ole' mean bear, who my son and I found absolutely hilarious. He was completely different from other furry animals we've read about, making his character such a pleasure to read about. He's what I would call a foodie (like myself.) He searches the internet for recipes he can cook up in his kitchen, particularly any recipe with eggs as it's main ingredient. On a mission to whip up something delicious, he heads over to mother goose's house to purchase some fresh eggs from her. I mean, who better to get them from right? But, after discovering that the eggs he was about to devour hatched a handful of baby goslings, Bruce's life is pretty much turned upside down. I mean, HELLO, they think Bruce is their mama!

Goslings always follow their mother, even if SHE is a HE and HE is a bear.

Since Tihamer shows an extreme interest in reading, and likes to think of himself as a blogger, I've noticed that now he's very picky with certain books. Some titles he used to love he now labels as " boring " or " yadda yadda ", so I had no clue what his reaction would be this time around. One thing I know for sure, is that he absolutely adores illustrations, (he certainly gets this from me) and like most children, any book that has graphics and or illustrations grabs his attention, but not all can actually keep it. Thank goodness he enjoyed what was displayed in Mother Bruce. He pointed out every color he seen, and was able to piece together what was happening on each page by looking at the pictures.


video-1448344131.mp4 from fangirltikaa on Vimeo.
UGH don't mind the quality, the app I used sucked lol.
With minimal text on each page, my " reader in training " was able to memorize certain parts of the story, which is excellent for beginner readers. He not only identified some sight words, but he was also able to act out what emotions Bruce expressed throughout the book. Every parent would agree that while we use reading as a method of escapism, it's beyond important for our little ones to learn while allowing their imaginations to sore.

To say my son enjoyed Mother Bruce would be an understatement. He laughed from beginning to end, and I certainly would be telling a fib if I said I wasn't entertained right along with him. It definitely wasn't what we were expecting, which added a nice element of surprise. If you're looking for the perfect title to give a small child during the holidays, I definitely recommend making the purchase. It's silly, heartwarming, and down-right tickled with fun, so yes this book gets the fangirlconfessions stamp of approval!

Fangirl Gallery

Fangirl Gallery

Don't forget to hover over the pictures!

Earth's End Cover Reveal - Badassery x1000

.

Reveal

Vhalla Boo, You Are Giving Me So Much Life

It's so satisfying to read a kick ass book that has a cover to match that kickassness. Not a word but it is now.

.

If you've read my dual review for Air Awakens + Fire Falling by Elise Kova, then you'd know just how much I am digging this series. & if you haven't . . . don't make me karate chop you in your neck, click that link and all shall be forgiven. Anywho, today is finally the day where we get to reveal to the world the cover of Elise's third title in the Air Awakens series, Earth's End. Shout out to her amazing artist Merilliza Chan for the amazing work she has done! If you wish to check out how cool she is, check out her website, Deviant Art page, and twitter 

Let's countdown to the badassery.

5 . . .
4 . . .
3 . . .
2 . . .
1 . . .

Earth's End - Air Awakens #3
Author: Elise Kova
Release Date: February 2016
Publisher: Silver wing Press

A woman awoken in air, a soldier forged by fire, a weapon risen from blood. 

Vhalla Yarl has made it to the warfront in the North. Forged by blood and fire, she has steeled her heart for the final battle of the Solaris Empire’s conquest. The choices before Vhalla are no longer servitude or freedom, they are servitude or death. The stakes have never been higher as the Emperor maintains his iron grip on her fate, holding everything Vhalla still has left to lose in the balance.

Exclusive Content 

Q&A session with Merlin

What attracted you to doing the covers for the AIR AWAKENS series?

The AIR AWAKENS series was my very first book cover series. I’m not going to lie that I first took interest on the project because it was an opportunity for me to finally work on the book industry. Any artist starting out would be uncontrollably excited when offered a project as such. And THEN I read the story, read about the characters, got to know an amazing client and author, a friend, and so there lies my true answer. It was the perfect project for me, I loved the world, I loved the characters and I loved the idea behind it all. And so I wanted to make sure that I make it very special.

What is your favorite cover so far?

That’s hard to say. I loved all of it so far! (Or I’m being extremely biased, because well, I worked hard on all of them! haha) But if I’m being asked as an artist I would probably say the first cover. It was simple, straight to the point, saying, ‘Hey, this is Vhalla, the Heroine for this amazing world/story’. I like covers that has that iconic, unique feeling to it and so I would say that the first cover definitely did it for this series.

(Without any spoilers) What did you like about the third book in the AIR AWAKENS series: Earth’s End?

Earth’s End is my favorite of the 3 books so far and my main reason is that it felt like everything was coming down together, finally! Especially for Vhalla. I loved the Vhalla in this book. The character has developed into something much more and although she’s still probably transitioning, she’s finally getting there. In general what I liked about Earth’s End is that there’s more action, more storyline focused on Vhalla and her world, there were more things learned about the other characters too such as Baldair, among many others. Elise has outdone herself with this one.

What’s one thing that you think would surprise people about the process of creating the AIR AWAKENS covers? Or, one thing people may not know?

Elise has always told me that she and her author friends never expect their artist to read the whole manuscript. And I read the whole thing because well, I just couldn’t help it. I have become very attached! She says I make the most ‘official-est’ fanart ever and I agree.

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About The Author

Elise Kova has always had a passion for storytelling. She wrote her first novella, a high-fantasy, in sixth grade. Over the years she’s honed her love of literature with everything from fantasy to romance, science fiction to mystery, and whatever else catches her eye.

Elise lives in Saint Petersburg, Florida, where she’s currently working on the next installment in her debut YA fantasy series: Air Awakens. She enjoys video games, anime, table-top role playing games, and many other forms of “geekdom.” She loves talking with fans on Twitter (@EliseKova) and Facebook. Visit her website, EliseKova.com, for news and extras about her books!

Air Awakens + Fire Falling ARC Review - The Epic DUO

Air Awakens | Fire Falling
Author: Elise Kova
AW Release Date: August 27, 2015
FF Release Date: November 19, 2015
Edition: E-ARC
Genre(s): Young Adult, Fantasy
Overall Rating:

A library apprentice, a sorcerer prince, and an unbreakable magic bond...

The Solaris Empire is one conquest away from uniting the continent, and the rare elemental magic sleeping in seventeen-year-old library apprentice Vhalla Yarl could shift the tides of war.

Vhalla has always been taught to fear the Tower of Sorcerers, a mysterious magic society, and has been happy in her quiet world of books. But after she unknowingly saves the life of one of the most powerful sorcerers of them all—the Crown Prince Aldrik—she finds herself enticed into his world. Now she must decide her future: Embrace her sorcery and leave the life she’s known, or eradicate her magic and remain as she’s always been. And with powerful forces lurking in the shadows, Vhalla’s indecision could cost her more than she ever imagined.

I received a review copy courtesy of the author/publisher. This does not affect my opinion or views regarding the book whatsoever.

.

DUO

An Epic Collision of Air & Fire

Hold on to your wigs and protect yourself against this new heat folks, Kova here is kicking ass and taking plenty of names. 

.

Captain Kova, she's our hero
gonna take . .  uhhh . .  gonna take . . 
the Northern Empire DOWN TO ZERO! 
Debut author Elise Kova has the fantasy genre at her fingertips. 
Crafting a series using elements of earth as her foundation, she has re-lit the torch of both Captain Planet and Avatar, creating a unique story that is sure to grab the attention of all readers alike. She reminds me of a puppeteer, her work swirling into pirouettes before my eyes, the words becoming invisible marionettes prancing along a fictional stage. I was completely captivated by her show, failing to keep my eyes from leaving the pages until I was finished.

Air Awakens swept me away within the pages, wrapping me in a zephyr of words. Vhalla's story wasn't a rare one, but was done in a way that was quite unique, making it nearly impossible to avoid being caught up in the windstorm of her journey. From a library apprentice, to a sorceress with the ability to manipulate air, Vhalla proved to be one of my favorite heroines to date. Kova avoided the typical stereotype of a heroine in YA fantasy by pushing the " Celaena's " aside to give us a character that was someone new, someone relateable, someone realistic. I'd take a sensible, down-to-earth, bookworm with a fiery attitude any day.

Vhalla's new found status as a Windwalker, opened her world to not only magic, but to other characters who possessed it as well, especially one in particular.

In a horrible way, he was like a song of death and flame.

He was light and darkness, night and day, cool water and ashes after a blazing fire, Prince Aldrik is the epitome of swoon. The chemistry between he and Vhalla was undeniable from the very beginning, a low breeze that over time formed a tornado, their romance ripping it's way through the pages and into my heart. I enjoyed not only their budding friendship, but the hand he played in Vhalla's character growth. He pushed Vhalla to believe in herself, which helped our bookworm blossom into a fluttering butterfly.

If you thought the first novel was a heart attack waiting to happen, wait until you dive into Fire Falling. The story picks up right after the cliffhanger of Air Awakens, but instead of slow and steady, Kova shifted the plot into gear, flying us through the pages at lightening speed. What I thought was going to be a " filler " novel, full of info-dumping and unnecessary scenes, surprisingly was a complete stepping stone from the last installment. 

Oh dear Vhalla, how you never cease to amaze me.

There was something severed and rough about her, something tainted and, yet, at the same time those jagged pieces were the makings of something fearsome. She'd wanted to become someone the Senate would fear, why not shatter the sky?

This time around our MC was more than just a butterfly. Broken and haunted by nightmares of the Night of Fire and Wind, Vhal is a phoenix rising from the ashes ready to protect the ones she loves. Now property of the crown, she finds herself in the midst of a war. Her ability as a Windwalker is being used as a weapon for the Emperor, forcing our heroine to fight alongside trained soldiers if she wants to claim her freedom.

This plot is smoking with battle scenes and twists, and with Prince Aldrik around, the intensity level is magnified x10. One of my favorite aspects of the story is the romance between our two main characters. What started off as a slow burn, turned into a blazing inferno, the passion they had for not only each other, but for those special around them completely melted my heart.

Everything in this novel is woven together perfectly. From the characters, to the marvelous world-building, down to the itsy-bitsy details of the sorcerers's magic, Kova has created something special, giving us readers a breath of fresh air, a rare break from redundancy. Both Air Awakens and Fire Falling showed up and out, packing a powerful punch with it's nostalgic magic system, fast paced plot, heart-thumping twists, and unforgettable characters, proving that this series will be a force to be reckoned with.

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway