These Are a Few of my Favourite Things (2)

Where has the month gone? November went by in a flash, and it's been busy. SO, in saying that, I don't have a lot of favourites this month, but I have enjoyed a few things this past month, and I am here to share them with you.

TV:

DOCTOR WHO!!!

OK, so if you follow me on Twitter or Instagram, you surely know about my obsession with all things Doctor Who. But November brought us The Day of the Doctor (The 50th Anniversary Special). But it goes further than that. The show FINALLY found it's way onto Canadian Netflix, and I thought it would be a good idea to rewatch the series. There were a couple episodes here and there that I chose to skip, and all of season four- I am sorry, I don't like Martha Jones. Anywho... Doctor Who has taken up the majority of my month- I didn't blog or really read, because I was spending time with David Tennant and Matt Smith.

I suspect Doctor Who might make next months favourites as well. With the Christmas special and Matt Smith's exit from the show (oh, my heart feels sad just thinking about it).




Music:

Don't Judge Me...

Miley Cyrus- Bangerz

While, I may not like Miley's personal life decisions and I may think she looks absolutely ridiculous- I actually kind of like her album. She's got a pretty amazing voice and I am kind of a pop junky. So I've been enjoying this album. I have enjoyed the song FU a bit (oh, I can feel all of your judging me!).



Lorde- Pure Heroine

This little girl is seventeen years old. For some reason I find this crazy. This album is really good. I am not sure I like Lorde's cocky attitude. She;s said some things that are not great. But, none the less. This is a good album. Tennis Court is one I have enjoyed.







Beauty:

I got a new job this past month (I am working retail in the mall- just to pass the time). This new job requires that I put a little more effort into my appearance. So I have a few beauty favourites:

Revlon Color Stay Top Coat- I love nail polish and I I have been painting my nails a bit this past month. I had initially tried a top coat by Sally Hansen and it was so bad, that I wanted to cry, because it destroyed my beautiful manicure. I then went back to my old faithful and I probably will never try anything again. I love this stuff. It makes my manicure last all week, with minimal chipping, and it's shiny. It's brilliant.

Teddy (eye kohl) by MAC- I love this pencil. I have been using it for years and it's beautiful. I like to be low maintenance, so I can sweep this across my lash line put on some mascara and I look presentable and able to be at the mall. Teddy is a beautiful brown colour with gold flecks in it. It makes me boring brown eyes look okay.





And because this is a book blog after all:

Book:

Crash Into You by Katie McGarry (My Thoughts), I loved this book. I wasn't expecting to enjoy it as much as I did. You should just read my review. It explains everything.









That's all for my favourite things this month. I hope you all are enjoying this little feature and seeing some of the things that I love (aside from books). I have been having fun sharing. Til next month.

My Thoughts: Crash Into You by Katie McGarry

The girl with straight As, designer clothes and the perfect life-that's who people expect Rachel Young to be. So the private-school junior keeps secrets from her wealthy parents and overbearing brothers...and she's just added two more to the list. One involves racing strangers down dark country roads in her Mustang GT. The other? Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Walker-a guy she has no business even talking to. But when the foster kid with the tattoos and intense gray eyes comes to her rescue, she can't get him out of her mind.

Isaiah has secrets, too. About where he lives, and how he really feels about Rachel. The last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a rich girl who wants to slum it on the south side for kicks-no matter how angelic she might look.

But when their shared love of street racing puts both their lives in jeopardy, they have six weeks to come up with a way out. Six weeks to discover just how far they'll go to save each other.

**Review copy received through Netgalley

Whew!!! Did I ever love this book. Just to warn you, this may be more of a gushy, "ermergerd, you need to read this book," kind of deal. Crash Into You was fantastic!

Ok- So I first read Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry last fall. And I loved it. I thought it was brilliant and I loved how she tackled contemporary YA (you can read my review here). Not long after that I read Dare You To (My Thoughts) and McGarry's novella Crossing the Line.  Both were good, and I enjoyed reading them, but I didn't adore them like I did Pushing the Limits. I was certain that Pushing the Limits was a one off and that McGarry's books would be good (really good even), but nothing would be like that first time. Then came Crash Into You, and I take back everything I ever thought about Pushing the Limits being an isolated incident.

It was hard not to be excited for this book. Isaiah was a much loved character and I was eager to read his story. In the previous two books, Isaiah was an endearing guy, who was incredibly loyal to those he cared about. But he was lonely and I desperately wanted him to have his happy ending.

Crash Into You begins with Rachel preparing to give a speech at a charity function her parents host in memory of her older sister, Colleen, who passed away from leukaemia before Rachel was born. Because Rachel has always felt like a replacement daughter she does her best to please her parents and make them proud. Even if it means hiding an anxiety disorder (brought on by public speaking) that leaves her physically ill. It also doesn't help that Rachel has four older brothers who constantly feel like it is their job to "protect" her and they always know what's best for her, claiming that she is too weak to know better. It is after this even that Rachel needs an escape- one she often finds driving her car at top speeds. This is when Rachel finds herself at a drag race and meets Isaiah.

Isaiah is at this race to make some quick cash. But things change when the cops show up and he finds himself saving Rachel's butt and in turn Rachel saving Iasiah's butt. And thus, they fall in love.  No, not really. But this is where their relationship begins.

Lets talk about why I loved this book. Rachel- she was fantastic. She was SO sweet. Especially when it came to Isaiah. Rachel was incredibly insecure, this is partially due to her brothers, and partially due to her anxiety. But for some reason when she's around Isaiah, she becomes this brave girl who says what's on her mind. This is constantly surprising her and I loved that. Sometimes Isaiah would say or do something that he thought was in her best interest and she would shut it down, she turned into a sassy pants with him. If only she could be that way with her brothers. There were a few times during the reading of this book that I would find myself saying that it would suck to have brothers like her. They were so patronizing and selfish and almost uncaring when it came to her feelings. It absolutely frustrated me.

Crash Into You introduced us to to Abby. Katie McGarry knows how to write characters that hit you where it hurts. Abby made me want to weep. She seemed snarky and confident, but she was also very lonely and her immediate friendship with Rachel told a deeper story. I am hoping that we get to see more of her soon (I am feeling certain that we will).

Overall, Crash Into You was amazing and I think it's my new favourite by Katie McGarry. I was so invested in this story and the characters that I found myself up until 7:00 am one morning finishing it, and as soon as I was done, I was ready to start all over again. It was that good. I have already ordered a couple copies as gifts, because this book needs to be shared. SO read this boys and girls. It's so worth it!

~Happy Reading Everyone!

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I'd Recommend To...

I am excited about this week's topic. Why? Because I get to talk about all these books that I can recommend books to someone... back in the day my mum was a pretty big reader. Not at into it and myself or my grandmother. But she would read a lot. In the past decade (maybe the last nine or so years- since my brother was born), my mum hasn't read as much as she used to. Well prepare yourself mum, cause I've got a list for you.

Disclaimer- I really don't think that my mum would read the YA that I am so fond of. So there is little of that here.

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted over at The Broke and Bookish.

Top Ten Books I'd Recommend To X Person (your choice -- could be to your mom, to a reluctant male reader, to your teenage sister, to dog lover's, to sports lovers, etc.)

1) Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult- This is the kind of book my mum would eat up. She would get caught up in the drama of it, the mystery of it all. The plot twists would through her for a loop and she would love it. I know she would.

2) Outlander by Diane Gabaldon- I just finished reading this one myself, and I think it's right up my mum's alley. It's the kind of story she could really through herself into and love. Jamie Fraser is a stud and Claire is sassy. My mother would love them together.

3) Lullabies for Little Criminals by Heather O'Neill- I read this book a number of years ago, and ever since I have been thinking that this is a book my mum should read. It's a heartbreaking story, but kind of hopeful as well. She loves things that and she wouldn't be able to put it down.





4) Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma- Gotta have a book in there that would definitely make my mum go WTF?!? Haha. Gotta expand your horizons mum.

5) Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas- I loved this book/this series and if I know my mum, I bet you she would too. She enjoys romance and fluff as much as the next woman.

6) The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson-  My mum in the past has enjoyed a mystery/thriller novel here and there. I don't really read those. But... The Gargoyle is one that I am pretty certain she would enjoy. It's wonderfully written and it's a really great story.

7) The Taker by Alma Katsu- I think my mum would really enjoy this book. It's suspenseful and mysterious and it's got a paranormal essence to it. She'd like it.

8) All Fall Down by Megan Hart- This is a book I am certain my mum would love. This is exactly her kind of book and I am sure she would withdraw from life just to finish this one.

9) Bared to You by Sylvia Day- I hated this series. But for some reason I want my mum to read it. I think she would probably like it. But I really disliked Gideon Cross and thought he was a controlling ninny. My mum would probably find him swoon worthy though.

10) The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins- I am pretty sure that my mum has seen the movie. But I think she should read the book. It's a great book... actually. I think she would enjoy the whole series. She should get on that.

Well there you have it. Ten books I would suggest my mum read. I hope you enjoy.

~Happy reading everyone!

Top Ten Tuesday: Most Anticipated Sequels

Not sure if I'll make it to ten again this week. I've been trying to avoid starting new series lately. This is mostly because I don't tend to finish them and also because I really can't stand waiting for them to finish, so I don't start a series until all the books are out. So, in order to make this TTT worth it this week worth it, I am going to add a few sequels that are already out as well as third books (they're also sequels- sort of- right?)

TTT is hosted over at The Broke and Bookish

Top Ten Sequels I Can't Wait To Get My Hands On

1) Split Second by Kasie West- This is the sequel to Pivot Point and I loved Pivot Point, and I am SO curious as to where West is going to take us from here. Bring on the parallel universes.

2) Shadowplay by Laura Lam- This is the sequel to Lam's debut, Pantomime. I really liked Pantomime is was an interesting novel set in the circus. There were some crazy things that happened at the end of the first novel and I am eager to see what happens next.





3) Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi- I know very well that this book has been out for ages and that I could have read it by now. But I haven't, and I have heard SO many things about chapter 62, that I need it in my hands. It's just finding the time with all the other books I can't wait to read. I think I am also holding out for Ignite me. I really hate waiting for series to end. Waiting for that last book is killer.

4) The Retribution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin- I am pretty excited about this one. I can't wait to see how everything ends. Particularly because Michelle has known how it was going to end from the very beginning. She had the end before everything else and I want to know what it is. June 2014 seems so very far away!!

5) Between the Spark and the Burn by April Genevieve Tucholke- This is the sequel to Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea (which I think has the best title ever). Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea was one of the weirdest books I had ever read. But I enjoyed it, and I really liked Tucholke's writing and I want more of it- In August.

6) Erased by Jennifer Rush- This may be the sequel I am the most excited about! I absolutely loved Altered (if you haven't read it, get on it).  Hot boys, lost memories, adventure, what more can you ask for?

7) Cress by Marissa Meyer- This is the third instalment of the Lunar Chronicles, and I am pretty pumped. Scarlet introduced us to some pretty amazing characters and I am eager to meet up with them again. This series has been a wonderful surprise to me, as I generally stray away from sci fi. But, both Cinder and Scarlet were SO good.




8) Burning Kingdoms by Lauren DeStefano- This is the sequel to Lauren's newest trilogy which began with Perfect Ruin. Perfect Ruin ended in such a way that I wanted the next book right then and there. However, Burning Kingdoms doesn't come out for a little while. Sigh.

Well it looks like it's only a top eight tonight guys. I just don't have that many new series on the go.

~Happy Reading!

These Are a Few of my Favourite Things (1)

Last month I did a little introduction to this new thing I am featuring on the blog, where I share some of my non-bookish favourite things. I have a couple of things to share with you today, and I hope you enjoy.

Movie:

Don Jon

I am slightly obsessed with Joseph Gordon Levitt- I think he's a great actor and just so freaking adorable. So I knew I wanted to see Don Jon for a number of reasons. Because not only did Joe star in it, he also wrote and directed it, and because Scarlett Johansson also starred and I really like her to. 

Don Jon did not disappoint. It was fantastic. Super clever and incredibly witty. But I warn you- this movie can get pretty raunchy at times. But I think the movie tells a deeper story than what is presented in the trailer. It's totally worth seeing- especially if you like movies and JGL. 

TV: 

The Originals

I have been watching The Vampire Diaries since the middle/end of the first season. And while the show is entertaining I probably would have quit watching had it not been for Klaus. I think he's an absolutely brilliant character. I was both excited and apprehensive when the CW announced that they were developing a spin off series based on Klaus and his family. While the pilot presented in the last season of The Vampire Diaries had me intrigued with this new series, I was disappointed with the second pilot for the show itself. However, with the second the third episodes I was totally hooked and I am absolutely loving the show. Joseph Morgan is kind of a brilliant actor and he does Klaus SO well. Klaus is a complex character and sometimes you love him and other times you hate him (well not me, I love him all the time).




Music:

Lana Del Rey- Paradise Album

I've been obsessed with this album lately. Well Lana herself. I've just discovered her and I absolutely love her voice. I've been listening to this whole album non stop. My favourite songs have been Born to Die and Blue Jeans.

Justin Timberlake- 20/20 Experience 2 of 2

The second part of JT's album came out at the end of September and I didn't buy it right away. While I liked the first part well enough. I wasn't totally thrilled with it.  But I love JT so I knew I would get it eventually. I have to say that it's pretty fantastic. Way better than the first edition. It sounds more like the JT of Future Sex Love Sound., but not exactly the same. I am loving it and when I am not listening to Lana I am probably listening to Justin. My favourite song on this album at the moment is 'Only When I Walk Away'- It's pretty good.



Beauty:

C.O. Bigelow Rose Salve- This stuff  has been amazing for me this last month. It's getting pretty cold in my part of the world and this means that everything dries out. My lips, my cuticles, my elbows. Everything. And this magic little product has been amazing. I use it for all three areas (but mostly my lips and cuticles) and it's been a saviour! I got mine from Bath and Body Works in the US (I know you can get it here in Canada from there as well).


And because I am a book junkie, there was no way I could not add a book.

Book:

Perfect Ruin by Lauren DeStefano

I read a lot of book this month. But Perfect Ruin was by far the best book I had read. Which is interesting considering it was the first book I read this month. You can check out my review here, and find out why I enjoyed it so much. DeStefano is a brilliant writer and she did a good job with this one. 

My Thoughts: Six Months Later by Natalie D. Richards

Chloe didn't think about it much when she nodded off in study hall on that sleepy summer day. But when she wakes up, snow is on the ground and she can't remember the last six months of her life. Before, she'd been a mediocre student. Now, she's on track for valedictorian and being recruited by Ivy League schools. Before, she never had a chance with super jock Blake. Now he's her boyfriend. Before, she and Maggie were inseparable. Now her best friend won't speak to her.

What happened to her? 
And why can't she remember?

** EARC received from Netgalley

You know what's great? Reading a book that you think is going to be a "meh" kind of book, finishing it and realizing that it was actually pretty great. That's what happened when I read Natalie D. Richards Six Months Later. For some reason going into this book I was expecting some clichéd book with an incredibly predictable outcome. But I found none of this while reading Six Months Later. Generally I am not a fan of mystery/thriller type novels. I tend to get a little stressed out and become way to involved with the plot that my own life takes the back seat while I am reading. But I had seen enough good things about this one to give it a try.

The story begins with Chloe being at school with her and her bestie Maggie talking about SATs and study groups and what not, it's just a regular day. But then Chloe goes to class and falls asleep. When she wakes up she is no longer in class and it is no longer spring. Chloe quickly learns that six months have passed and she has no recollection of what went on during those months or why she can't remember.

What initially intrigued me about Six Months Later was the reason behind the memory loss. I automatically assumed that it was something supernatural-like. But as I read the novel,  I soon realized that this wasn't necessarily the case. This made for a very intense and interesting read. At one point I was sure aliens were involved and then I was sure that this chick was just losing it. Whenever I thought that I had things figured out something would happen and I would be just as clueless again.

The characters in this book were good. I loved Maggie, Chloe's best friend. She was one kick ass character. During the time of Chloe's lost time, her and Maggie have some kind of fall out and are no longer speaking. But Chloe needs her friend and I appreciated how Maggie was able to be assertive with her former friend, but not mean or rude. I may not be making sense but that's what I liked. Maggie was not a push over. Adam was a also pretty cool. I liked the mysterious relationship he had with Chloe.

Overall, the characters in Six Months Later aren't hugely memorable and I can't say that I connected that much with any one of them, but the story as a whole made up for that. If you are looking for a fast paced, mysterious thriller this book is for you. And it's a stand alone so you don't have to worry about any sequels.

~Happy Reading Everyone!

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I was forced to read

This week's topic is kinda fun and made me think of all those books I read prior to blogging. I hope you enjoy. Top Ten Tuesday is hosted over at The Broke and Bookish. 

Top Ten Books I Was "Forced" to Read (either by teachers, friends, other bloggers, book club)

1) In Lake of the Woods by Tim O'Brien- I read this WAY back in high school and I really liked it. I was surprised with how much. It's a mystery novel that is pretty trippy. You are never sure what's the truth and what's made up. When I first heard the synopsis of Gone Girl, it immediately made me think of this novel. I haven't read Gone Girl so I don't know if they are similar. But In Lake of the Woods is a good story. 





2) The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffennegger- I was browsing the book store one day years ago and my friend saw this book and told I absolutely HAD to read it. Because it was SO good. So I read it. Loved it, hated the movie though. I thought it was JUNK! 

3) Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta- When I read this book every blogger and their cousin had been talking about it. Saying that it was amazing and their favourite book. I needed to know what all the hoopla was about. SO I did it, and it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Jellicoe Road is one of the book I recommend the most to people. I love it. 

4) Lullabies for Little Criminals by Heather O'Neill- I can't remember why I read this one. I think one of my teacher friends was teaching it to her grade 12 class and wanted me to see if it was appropriate. It's a heavy novel but VERY good. And it's by a Canadian author. 

5) Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keys- I read this book back in the tenth grade I believe. I loved this book and it made me ugly cry. A lot of books that I read in school made me cry. But this one particularly. Flowers for Algernon is about a mentally disabled man who becomes a genius through an experiment. It breaks me heart just thinking about it. 

6) Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan- I specifically remember Farrah from I Eat Words talking about how much she loved this one, and if possible to experience the book via audio. I took her advice and absolutely loved it. The audio book is hysterical and the story is so endearing. Loved it. 

7) The Outsiders by SE Hinton- Read this book in the eight grade. I distinctly remember finishing it on the morning of my 14th birthday and bawling my eyes out. My mum came into my room and was like "what? What happened?"  This was a required reading for us that year and while I loved this book, once again, I was SO sad at how hopeless is made me feel. Oh the emotions of teenagers. 

8) The BFG by Roald Dahl- I can't remember what grade I was in when this was a required reading. But I know it was in elementary school sometime. But it was this book that fuelled my love for all things Roald Dahl. 

9) Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safron Foer- This was a book club read from a couple month ago and I think it's my favourite so far.  I loved Charlie, the little boy and how messed up he was after the death of his father. I loved the perspective the author gave in terms of 9/11. How it affected the families involved. It was an intense novel and I am glad to have read it. 


10) Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt- My mum had to read this one for a class she was doing and she enjoyed it so much she insisted that I read it as well. I don't normally read non fiction because I don't usually like it. But this book was amazing and completely heartbreaking. But it's more hopeful than one might think. I really appreciated what it had to say.