Diary Entry

Diary Update 

November 22th 2013
It's Friday yet again. 

Tonight the hubby for date night the hubby is taking me to Catching Fire the new Hunger Games movies. We both are really excited. I may watch the first movie today just to refresh my memory. Can't deny dinner and a movie without the kiddo's. I have onion bloom and lettuce wedge from Outback in my future.

Currently reading 

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight
by Jennifer E. Smith
(Goodreads)

I'm just starting so not very far in but I'm looking forward to reading it today pre movie.

I'm also going to read Stone Guardian by Danielle Monsch (Goodreads) next.

Cover Reveal 
I saw today this one today. I still need to read the first one but this series looks awesome.

Rebel Nation
By Shaunta Grimes
(Goodreads)

Synopsis

Sixteen years ago, a plague wiped out nearly all of humanity. The Company’s vaccine stopped the virus’s spread, but society was irrevocably changed. Those remaining live behind impenetrable city walls, taking daily doses of virus suppressant and relying on The Company for continued protection. They don’t realize that everything they’ve been told is a lie…

Clover Donovan didn’t set out to start a revolution—quiet, autistic, and brilliant, she’s always followed the rules. But that was before they forced her into service for the Time Mariners. Before they condemned her brother to death, compelling him to flee the city to survive. Before she discovered terrifying secrets about The Company.

Clover and the Freaks, her ragtag resistance group, are doing their best to spread the rebellion and stay under The Company’s radar. But when their hideout is discovered, they are forced, once again, to run. Only this time, The Company has special plans for Clover, plans that could risk her life and stop the uprising in its tracks….

It's Feature and Follow Tag so be sure to join in. (here)

Follow Friday

Follow Friday

Hosted by:

Parajunkee's View 

&

Alison Can Read

The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee’s View and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it’ll allow us to show off more new blogs!
Each week a new question, new answer, and new blogs to follow. 
If you want to follow via GFC just in case it goes away I ask you follow a second way, email, Linky, Bloglovin'. 
Thanks

Featured blogs this week:

Stalked! Reviews by Melissa
&
Hopeless Devoted Bibliophile

This Week's Question:
You Are It! We are playing #FF tag this week. Comment on as many blogs as you can, even if they aren’t participating in #FF. Just say Happy #FF! At the end of your comment. Keep a running total if you want and update your post with it. The bigger the number the more impressed we will be!

My Current #FF # Number: 20 and still going

From the Review Pile

From the Review Pile November 22nd 2013

From the Review Pile is a meme hosted by Stepping Out of the Page every Thursday.

The aim of this meme is to showcase books that you've received for review (or if you don't receive review books, any book that you own and really want to read/review) but haven't yet got around to reading, in order to give the book some extra publicity.

I know that a lot of you have a huge pile of books that you want to read/review, but it understandably takes a while to get around to reading them all - here you can give a book (or two!) some of the publicity that it deserves, even if you haven't read it yet!

It's Friday but I was too busy yesterday to get my posts up. 

My choice this week is one that I purchased several weeks ago and just haven't gotten around to but I keep seeing the ebook on my kindle teasing me. 

Skulk
by Rosie Best
(Goodreads)

Synopsis

When Meg witnesses the dying moments of a shapeshifting fox and is given a beautiful and powerful stone, her life changes forever. She is plunged into the dark world of the Skulk, a group of shapeshifting foxes.

As she learns about the other groups of shapeshifters that lurk around London – the Rabble, the Horde, the Cluster and the Conspiracy – she becomes aware of a deadly threat against all the shapeshifters. They must put aside all their enmity and hostility and fight together to defeat it.

I think it sounds awesome but I'm a huge shapeshifter fan plus it has creepy cover. 

Review: Witches of East End

Title - Witches of East End 

Author - Melissa de la Cruz 

Series - The Beauchamp Family #1 

Genre - Urban Fantasy Witches

Format - Ebook

Published - June 21st 2011

(Goodreads)(Amazon)

Synopsis

From the author of the highly addictive and bestselling Blue Bloods series, with almost 3 million copies sold, comes a new novel, Melissa de la Cruz's first for adults, featuring a family of formidable and beguiling witches.

The three Beauchamp women--Joanna and her daughters Freya and Ingrid--live in North Hampton, out on the tip of Long Island. Their beautiful, mist-shrouded town seems almost stuck in time, and all three women lead seemingly quiet, uneventful existences. But they are harboring a mighty secret--they are powerful witches banned from using their magic. Joanna can resurrect people from the dead and heal the most serious of injuries. Ingrid, her bookish daughter, has the ability to predict the future and weave knots that can solve anything from infertility to infidelity. And finally, there's Freya, the wild child, who has a charm or a potion that can cure most any heartache.

For centuries, all three women have been forced to suppress their abilities. But then Freya, who is about to get married to the wealthy and mysterious Bran Gardiner, finds that her increasingly complicated romantic life makes it more difficult than ever to hide her secret. Soon Ingrid and Joanna confront similar dilemmas, and the Beauchamp women realize they can no longer conceal their true selves. They unearth their wands from the attic, dust off their broomsticks, and begin casting spells on the townspeople. It all seems like a bit of good-natured, innocent magic, but then mysterious, violent attacks begin to plague the town. When a young girl disappears over the Fourth of July weekend, they realize it's time to uncover who and what dark forces are working against them.

With a brand-new cast of characters, a fascinating and fresh world to discover, and a few surprise appearances from some of the Blue Blood fan favorites, this is a page-turning, deliciously fun, magical summer read fraught with love affairs, witchcraft, and an unforgettable battle between good and evil.

Review

I’ve been watching the Witches of East End on lifetime and recently learned it’s a book. So of course when the option came up to read a witch book I jumped at it. The book revolves around three witches Joanna, Freya and Ingrid living in North Hampton. They had made a deal to no longer practice magic anymore they were living just like everyone else. Yet after thousands of years it’s gotten harder to keep up their side of the deal. It’s not like they use their magic to hurt people who’s going to really know if they help a few people out.

As each of them is tested in their own ways they begin to use their magical gifts to help others. Freya is your party girl working at the local pub, Ingrid is working at the library and Joanna is taking care of the house and Tyler. While the girls are young their mother Joanna is in her sixty’s but she feels as young as the girls. If one of the girls was to accidentally pass away than Joanna would become young and pregnant with her daughter. After all immortality does have its benefits. Ingrid sets up shop on her lunch breaks at the library using her gift to help people as well as save her library. Freya uses her gift at work making a love potion, and Joanna fixes a burned pie in front of Tyler. Yet not all of their help is reciprocated when things start to go wrong the women are blamed.

I think the characters are interesting in. This is my first book by the author but I’ve heard that Freya is in her Blue Bloods series so I feel like I missing out on her. I think Ingrid is my favorite because she’s willing to risk it all to save her library which is what I would do if I was here. I wanted to love them but I didn’t they had their moments but for the most part I wasn’t able to connect with any of them.

The idea is also captivating very Practical Magic but the story just doesn’t flow along smoothly. Unfortunately I found myself losing interest right away but kept on plugging along hoping the story would pick up. I’m not sure if I just had to high of expectations or if the story just falls short. If I hadn’t been so determined to finish the book I’m afraid it would have made it onto my DNF shelf but I believe every book deserves a fair chance. I think part of the problem was that we kept bouncing between the women and that there was so much information to a point of overload. I’ve not read a lot of witch books but this one isn’t my favorite. I’ve not read anything by the author before but I still want to check out her other series. 

2 out of 5 Stars

W...W...W... Wednesdays

W...W...W... Wednesdays November 20th 2013

W...W...W... Wednesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Be sure to link up to her so others can see what your reading.

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions...

1.What are you currently reading?

2.What did you recently finish reading?

3.What do you think you'll read next?

Books

1.What are you currently reading? Witches of East End by Melissa de la Cruz (Goodreads)

2.What did you recently finish reading? Darkness Falls by Jessica Sorensen (Review)

3.What do you think you'll read next? I'm torn on this one so I've got a few choices but leaning towards this one
Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor (Goodreads)


What are you reading?

Wishlist Wednesday

Wishlist Wednesday

Wishlist Wednesday is a book blog hop where we will post about one book per week that has been on our wishlist for some time, or just added (it's entirely up to you), that we can't wait to get off the list and onto our wonderful shelves. 

Hosted by Pen to Paper

The Scorpio Races 

by Maggie Stiefvater 

(Goodreads)

Synopsis

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

I'm a fan of horses so this one sounds like one I need to read. 

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday November 20th 2013

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating. In my case not so patiently waiting for the new releases, which I lack.


As a kid I loved the fairy tale East of the Sun, West of the Moon. It's one of my favorites I can't wait to get a copy. It's so beautiful I hope I can get a hardback to join the rest of my collection.

Mistress of the Wind
by Michelle Diener
(Goodread)

Synopsis

Bjorn needs to find a very special woman . . . 

The fate of his people, and his own life, depends on it. But when he does find her, she is nothing like he imagined, and may just harbor more secrets than he does himself.

Astrid has never taken well to commands. No matter who issues them . . . 

She's clashed her whole life with her father, and now her lover, the mysterious man who comes to her bedroom in darkness and disappears to guard his mountain by day as a bear, is finding it out the hard way. And when he's taken by his enemies, no one is prepared for Astrid's response. 

It is never wise to anger the mistress of the wind . . . 

This novel is a retelling of the fairy tale East of the Sun, West of the Moon.

What are you waiting on?

Diary Entry

Diary Update 

November 20th 2013

Just finished 
Darkness Falls by Jessica Sorensen (Review)
I enjoy my kick ass heroines so Kayla fit the bill. Plus the vampire aren't sparkly which is also a plus. Add in a amazing cover and I was sold.

Currently reading:
The Witches of East End by Melissa de la Cruz
(Goodreads)

I'm not very far but after learning the lifetime show I've been watching is based on the book I just had to read it. So far I'm only 40% in but I like it. I hope to be done this morning.

New to my shelves today:
(I've been a shopping beast lately)
Just picked up a copy of Soar by Alyssa Rose Ivy (Goodreads) It sounds like a good one and I love her work so super excited. Plus I love the cover.

Broken by Kelly Elliott (Goodreads) This one sounds really good but I'm quickly falling in love with the whole New Adult genre.

Something Secret This Way Comes by Sierra Dean (Goodreads) One of the girls read this one for Bingo and it sounds like my kind of book.

Super Excited

Mistress of the Wind
by Michelle Diener
(Goodread)

Synopsis

Bjorn needs to find a very special woman . . . 

The fate of his people, and his own life, depends on it. But when he does find her, she is nothing like he imagined, and may just harbor more secrets than he does himself.

Astrid has never taken well to commands. No matter who issues them . . . 

She's clashed her whole life with her father, and now her lover, the mysterious man who comes to her bedroom in darkness and disappears to guard his mountain by day as a bear, is finding it out the hard way. And when he's taken by his enemies, no one is prepared for Astrid's response. 

It is never wise to anger the mistress of the wind . . . 

This novel is a retelling of the fairy tale East of the Sun, West of the Moon.

As a kid I loved the fairy tale East of the Sun, West of the Moon. It's one of my favorites so when I saw this one I just had to request it. I love the cover and the synopsis sounds amazing. I got approved late last night!!!

New December Mandy Challenge
Since I was approved for Mistress Of The Wind I'm going to read all the East of the Sun, West of the Moon retellings. I've got copies of all of them but I've only read one of the four. Super excited for this personal challenge.

East by Edith Pattou (Goodreads)
Ice by Sarah Beth Durst (Goodreads)
Once Upon a Winter's Night by Dennis L. McKiernan (Goodreads)
Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George (Goodreads)

Tv & Movies

The hubby and I have gotten caught up in the HBO series Game of Thrones. I'm thinking of reading the series before season four starts. So far I'm hooked yet season three was a shocker the author killed off everyone. I hate getting attached.

For date night this week we are planning on dinner and seeing Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. I still haven't read this series I keep saying I will be haven't gotten around to it yet.

Favorite cover

Dollhouse by Anya Allyn (Goodreads)
 I can't seem to get enough I am always finding myself going to back it yet I've not started the book yet.

Challenges 
I'm going to update all my challenges and see what I need to finish off before the end of the year in the next week. I also want to use pinterest more often. My cousin uses it a lot so I'm going to follow her example.

Randomness 
It's been raining for two days which in a perfect would be find but I have a 100+ pound puppy who loves the water and it's muddy footprints the size of my palm all over the floor. Such a stinker.
I've turned my hubby into a coffee addict.
I'm on a baking kick. Going to make bread when I'm done with this post.
Looking forward to Turkey day I've never roasted one before and the family is starting our own new tradition at the movies. Since it will be just the four of us this year. Looking forward to turkey sandwiches.

Off to read and make bread.
Have a fantastic day!

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday November 19th 2013

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

~Grab your current read

~Open to a random page

~Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on the page

~BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! ( make sure that what you share doesn't give away too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)

~Share the title & author too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

Witches of East End

by Melissa de la Cruz

(Goodreads)

I picked this one out for my bingo Witches shelf this week. I've been watching the tv show and just found out it was a book series. 

Teaser

Freya Beauchamp was made of magic. Without magic she was just someone who poured drinks. She had been so good for so long, all of them had, and for what? What was the point of it all, really? It was a waste of their talents; were they really supposed to just live in the shadows and fade away? Act as if they were ordinary for the rest of their immortal lives?

Freya thought of everything they had given up: flying, for one; she still remembered how it felt, zooming through the skies, the wind in her hair. She missed the midnight capers in the woods as well, the powerful rituals that were taboo now that pagan was a bad word. The world had moved on, of course, that was to be expected; maybe it would have happened even without the restriction, but now they would never know. Like the rest of her family, she was stuck on this side of the bridge, with no way to return home.

What's your teaser today?

Cover Characteristic - Short Hair

Cover Characteristic - Short Hair

 Hosted by Sugar & Snark

Each week we will post 5 of our favorite covers to go with the theme of the week. 

I'm a huge cover fan so this is a great meme for me.

This ones a little tough but I found five really great covers. You never realize how many covers have long hair. 

Runner ups

Heist Society by Ally Carter (Goodreads)
Paper Towns by John Green (Goodreads)
Fade Out by Rachel Caine (Goodreads)
Early to Death, Early to Rise by Kim Harrison (Goodreads)

My Favorite

Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen (Goodreads)

What's your favorite this week?