Top Ten Tuesday:

I haven't been super consistent when it comes to posting Top Ten Tuesday lists. I have been all over the place when it comes to blogging, but this week I am very excited about the topic and I knew I had to participate. Top Ten Tuesday is hosted over at The Broke and Bookish

Top Ten Books I Would Love To See As A Movie/TV Show 

(set in a perfect world...in which movies don't butcher the books we love)

1) The Black Dagger Brotherhood series by JR Ward- I want HBO to produce it and I want it to be perfect. I love these books- they are gritty, sexy and full of f bombs and sh*t kickers. And I think the stories would transfer well onto TV.  Maybe now that True Blood has only one season left HBO will be looking to fill it's vampire hole.

2) The Chemical Garden Trilogy by Lauren DeStefano- I think this series would make an interesting trio of films. For this to work they would need a stellar screen play and the casting would be important. 

3) The Summer I Turned Pretty Trilogy by Jenny Han- I kind of would like to see this as a TV series. I feel like it would resonate well with teens these days. In saying that I would rather not see the CW pick it up. I am not a fan of the way they do contemporary stories. They over dramatise them. 

4) Daughter of Smoke and Bone Trilogy by Laini Taylor- This would make a fantastic set of movies. But it would need to be done right. The books (well, the two that are out) are so beautifully written and are so magical, and I would hope that any on screen production of them would be able to express that. 

5) Pivot Point by Kasie West- This would make a really fun movie (it would actually probably do well as a tv series as well). The concept of two realities is always a fun one and seeing it on screen would be entertaining. 

6) Altered by Jennifer Rush- I just want to see who they would cast as the boys. The book has four very attractive men as the leads, just think about all the eye candy. the story also has a number of plot twists and action to make a good television series. But at the same time, they could also make it really corny. But this list is a fairy tale world where that wouldn't happen. 

7) Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys- This would make a fantastic movie. New Orleans in the 1920s. Not just that, the bookstore setting and the brothel. So much fun. 

8) The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer- Again, if done right, this series would be great movies. Cinder was fantastic book and Scarlet was even better. I think that sci-fi is becoming more popular these days and this would tip the scale. 

9) Bumped and Thumped by Megan McCafferty- These two books had such a weird plot and I think that would make a great TV show. Imagine a society were girls were trying to get pregnant in high school cause that's when they were the most fertile. A society that encouraged it. It'd be cool to see. 

10) The Bride Quartet by Nora Roberts- This is a set of four books and they are so extremely romantic and feel good, that I am sure they would be great on screen. I would think more as a TV show versus four separate movies though.

Honourable Mentions:

1) The Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo- It would be awesome to see these in movie form.
2) Across the Universe Trilogy by Beth Revis- Need I say more? Sci Fi futuristic themes are all the rage right now.
3) Dreamland by Sarah Dessen- This is a major issues novel and I think there are some great books out there that explore these situations and I think they should be considered for movies as well. Dreamland is just one of many that I think would be good to make. 

My Thoughts: The Truth About You & Me by Amanda Grace

Smart girls aren't supposed to do stupid things.

Madelyn Hawkins is super smart. At sixteen, she's so gifted that she can attend college through a special program at her high school. On her first day, she meets Bennett. He's cute, funny, and kind. He understands Madelyn and what she's endured - and missed out on - in order to excel academically and please her parents. Now, for the first time in her life, she's falling in love.

There's only one problem. Bennett is Madelyn's college professor, and he thinks she's eighteen - because she hasn't told him the truth.

**ARC received from Publisher for review**

There is something oddly fascinating about a forbidden relationship- specifically one between a student and a teacher. Maybe it's because 99.9 % of the time the relationship is doomed and I don't understand how anyone involved would think otherwise. So when I read the blurb for Amanda Grace's newest novel The Truth About You & Me I knew right away that I had to read it. This was even after I read Grace's novel, But I Love Him, and was not impressed with the way she approached such a sensitive subject. So I wasn't sure what I was going to get from The Truth About You & Me but I was curious enough to read it. For the most part I enjoyed this novel, however, a few weeks after reading it I am a little hazy as to why. This may be an indicator as to how unmemorable the story was. And funnily enough I remember thinking that as I read the book. Nothing really amazing happened that stayed with me, that made me go 'woah!"

The story begins with Madelyn our protagonist taking college classes as part of a program her highschool is offering. It is here that she meets Bennett, her biology professor. They are instantly attracted to one another and slowly begin this affair that is doomed from the start. However, Bennett doesn't know that. He has no idea that Madelyn is only sixteen years old.

The book is told through a letter from Madelyn to Bennett after their relationship is discovered. The purpose of this was to express Madelyn's reasons for keeping her age a secret from Bennett, and what their relationship gave her.  I actually really liked this part of the book. I have read a few reviews in which a number of people didn't appreciate that letter component. But it worked for me. What I found really interesting about this idea, was how readers were meant to sympathize with Madelyn and understand her need to be independent and break away from her family's high expectations of her. This was maybe her way of rebelling, but it was not a concious act. However for me, I found Madelyn a little selfish and not very mature. Knowingly keeping secrets (like huge make or break secrets) from someone you claim to love and you are fully aware that it's wrong is not a mature thing to do. In the end, I think you wind up more concerned/rooting for the teacher, rather than Madelyn herself.

In saying all this, while I enjoyed the novel while reading it I did find that it was a very surface level read. The story had no depth and it fell very flat for me. Grace did a lot of telling instead of showing. Maybe that's what you get with this style of story telling, but I don't know if I believe that. The characters were okay, but like I said earlier Madelyn's decision making skills needed work.

Overall, The Truth Between You & Me was enjoyable while reading it and was dramatic enough to keep me reading. But after I put the book down it was hard to remember what I liked about it.

~Happy Reading Everyone!

August Wrap Up

Well hello there,

It's the end of August already is it? That is craziness! I can't believe that the summer is already over and real life starts again soon. Well real life for me. I am back to school next week and that means I won't have as much time to read as I would like. But anywho more on that later.

I read eight books in August, which for me is absolutely epic. I am pretty proud of myself for that one. But in turn I only reviewed ONE (1) book! Who am I? Anywho here's goes.

Books Read:

Asunder by Jodi Meadows (Finally)
The Truth About You and Me by Amanda Grace
The Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp
The Edge of Never by JA Redmerski
The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks (for bookclub)
Rainshadow Road by Lisa Kleypas
The Boy Who Sneaks Into My Bedroom Window by Kirsty Moseley
Arranged by Cahterine Mckenzie

Books Reviewed:

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tcholke (My Thoughts)

Random:

-I took part in the Bout of Books Read-A-Thon this month. I did okay during the week and completely lost it on the weekend. But what can you do. I really participating in the read-a-thon.

-I also posted the A to Z survey that Jamie from The Perpetual Page Turner/ Broke and Bookish came up with. It was fun thinking up the answers to that one.

-I saw The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones movie last week. I really liked it and will maybe talk about why little in the month.

Challenges:

Debut Author Challenge: 9/20 I barely read any YA in August never mind a debut. We'll see how goes with this one.

YA Audiobook Challenge: 5/12 I have a review coming soon. I still don't think that I am going to get 7 more YA audio books "read" and reviewed this year.

2013 Reading Challenge: 57/75 I am currently eight books ahead, that is 10% and I am feeling pretty stoked about that. I can DO this!

Little Announcements:

I am back at school this week and as it is right now I am registered for five classes (this is A LOT). At this point I am trying to figure out some kind of blogging/commenting schedule. I would like to post one (1) review a week and perhaps some other post- like Top Ten Tuesday, or some other discussion post thing. We shall see. I would also like to take the time get the whole comment pact thing going again, with commenting on ten posts a day. I think this is achievable. However, there may be weeks where I will disappear into the abyss of academia. We shall see though.

Anywho, that's it for me this month. I hope you enjoy.

~Happy Reading Everyone!

A to Z Survey

So by now you all have seen this little survey going around. It was created by Jamie over at The Perpetual Page Turner as a way to stave off blogger/blogging bordem. I think it's a brilliant idea and so today, may I present to you my A to Z survey.

Author you’ve read the most books from:

Nora Roberts- This is a little embarrassing- I haven't read a novel by Nora Roberts in a few years and still according to Goodreads she's who've I've a lot by. Megan Hart comes in second though and I'm okay with that.

Best Sequel Ever:

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer- I liked Cinder (a lot), but I really liked Scarlet. I think it took the story to a whole new level. 

Currently Reading:

Arranged by Catherine McKenzie

Drink of Choice While Reading:

Tea! I am a BIG tea drinker! It makes me happy. My favourites are Red Rose (Orange Pekoe) and Celestial Seasons Madagascar Vanilla (Rooibos). 

E-reader or Physical Book?

I absolutely prefer physical books. But since I got my new Kobo Aura I have found that I have been using it more often. But I like the way books look on my shelf.  

Fictional Character You Probably Would Have Actually Dated In High School:

Hmm- Probably Conrad from The Summer I Turned Pretty. I had the biggest crush on all the older boys when I was in HS. They all seemed so mature and mysterious to me. 

Glad You Gave This Book A Chance:

Witchlanders by Lena Coakley 

Hidden Gem Book:

45 Pounds (More of Less) by KA Barson

Important Moment in your Reading Life:

The moment my grandmother went through her book boxes with me and showed me how to read the genre tags on the spines of books. It was than that I could finally tell the difference between her "fiction" "suspense" and "romance novels. 

Just Finished:

The Boy Who Sneaks In My Bedroom Window by Kirsty Moseley

Kinds of Books You Won’t Read:

I don't know that there are any books that I won't try. I am not a huge fan of non-fiction. I generally only read them for school. 

Longest Book You’ve Read:

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by JK Rowling (870 pages). 

Whoop whoop! I knew Harry Potter would find itself onto my list. 

Major book hangover because of:

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling. 

I devoured this book. I read it the first week it came out and it took me two days. While working eight hours a day on both days. This may be why I have only read it once. 

Number of Bookcases You Own:

Two- But it certainly isn't enough. I also have a dresser in which I use the drawers to house my books. 

One Book You Have Read Multiple Times:

The Hunter's Moon by OR Melling- I read this for the first time when I was in the fourth grade and have reread it a number of times since then. It's one of my favourites. 

Preferred Place To Read:

My chair in my room. It's big and cozy. I can easily snuggle up into it and read for hours. 

Quote that inspires you/gives you all the feels from a book you’ve read:

"I'm in love with you, and I'm not in the business of denying myself the simple pleasure of saying true things. I'm in love with you, and I know that love is just a shout into the void, and that oblivion is inevitable, and that we're all doomed and that there will come a day when all our labour has been returned to dust, and I know the sun will swallow the only earth we'll ever have, and I am in love with you.”

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

This book did something to me when I read it. I can't pinpoint what it is. But it was something. I actually have this passage as the screen saver for me phone. 

Reading Regret:

I think my biggest reading regret is getting caught up in the hype of a novel. And feeling like I ABSOLUTELY need to read it right away because it seems like EVERYONE is reading it and loving it. In my experience when a book is overly talked about I kind of don't like it. This is not the rule, but it happens to me more often than not. Make sense? 

Series You Started And Need To Finish (all books are out in series):

1) Across the Universe (I've only read the first one)

2) The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini (I've read the first two)

Three of your All-Time Favorite Books:

1) Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta 

2) The Fault in Our Stars by John Green 

3) Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult 

Unapologetic Fangirl For:

Megan Hart- The first book I ever read by her- Dirty- was amazing. It is absolutely up there in my top five favourite books. I think she's a brilliant writer and if you want to try something that is out of your comfort zone, check her out. 

Very Excited For This Release More Than All The Others:

I get a little over excited at the prospect of a new Black Dagger Brotherhood novel. But coming in March of 2014 is The King which is a different spin on the series. I am very excited about it. 

Worst Bookish Habit:

I don't think that I have bad bookish habits. But you know. While I do make it a habit of using a bookmark if I can't find one I just break the spine of my book and lay it flat. Doesn't matter if it's a paperback or hard cover. This is usually why I break the spines of my books (oh yeah, I do that too).

X Marks The Spot: Start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th book:

Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff

Your latest book purchase:

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

ZZZ-snatcher book (last book that kept you up WAY late):

Boundless by Cynthia Hand- I absolutely needed to know what was going to happen and I lost HOURS of sleep.

Thanks so much to Jamie for coming up with this fun survey. You can find the original post here. 

~Happy Reading Everyone! 

Stacking the Shelves (11)

So it has been MONTHS since I last posted a book haul! Like SO long. I don't know why it's taken so long. I guess I didn't realize that I was getting so many books. So here I am with a collective book haul for you all. I hope you enjoy. 

Stacking the Shelves is hosted over at Tynga's Reviews. 

Books Mentioned: 

Cinder by Marissa Meyer 

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpartick

Fire with Fire by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivan 

Ten Tiny Breaths by KA Tucker

To Be Perfectly Honest by Sonya Sones 

Darkbeast Rebellion by Morgan Keyes 

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff

Birthmarked by Caragh O'Brien

Perfect Ruin By Laura DeStefano 

Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella 

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo 

Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor 

Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan 

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes 

I know that's a lot but that's what I got. 

Happy Reading Everyone! 

Bout of Books 8.0- Sign Up & Goals

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, August 19th and runs through Sunday, August 25th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 8.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team.

Hello there,

I hummed and hawed about whether I was going to participate in the Bout of Books read-a-thon that begins on Monday. I take part in May and had a blast and read SO much but I wasn't working then and could spend all day reading. I am not working full time and can sometimes feel pretty exhausted when I get home. But alas, here I am signing up- Because I want to. 

Goals: 

Because I am working and have would like to enjoy the rest of my summer outside I am going to set realistic goals for myself.  

• I would like to read at least seventy-five (75) pages per weekday & one hundred (100) on the weekends
• I would like to start and finish two (2) books during the read-a-thon 

Really those are the only goals that I have. I do have a couple of books that I could like to read during the week though: 

1) How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff

2) Fire With Fire by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian 

3) Arranged by Catherine McKenzie 

Not a a lot but I am keeping these goals simple to so that my chances of success remain high. I will be keeping track of my progress on this post. So stay tuned. I'm excited for this to get started now.

Updates 

Monday
Currently reading: The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

What I've read: The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

Pages read: 92 (which is more than I planned).

Tuesday
Currently reading: How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff

What I've read: How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff

Pages read: 43 (fail)

Wednesday
Currently reading: How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff/ Rainshadow Road by Lisa Kleypas

What I've read: Rainshadow Road by Lisa Kleypas

Pages read: 95 (much better) 

Thursday
Currently reading: Rainshadow Road by Lisa Kleypas

What I've read: 

Pages read: 169 (Boo Ya!!)

Friday
Currently reading: Rainshadow Road by Lisa Kleypas (I'm almost done).

What I've read: 

Pages read: 

Saturday
Currently reading:

What I've read:  

Pages read: 

Sunday
Currently reading:

What I've read: 

Pages read:

~Happy Reading Everyone!  

My Thoughts: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke

You stop fearing the devil when you’re holding his hand…

Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White’s sleepy, seaside town…until River West comes along. River rents the guest house behind Violet’s crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard. Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more? Violet’s grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery...who makes you want to kiss back. Violet’s already so knee-deep in love, she can’t see straight. And that’s just how River likes it.

**Review copy received from publisher**

There have been loads of people talking about the cover of this novel. And why shouldn’t they, it has an absolutely stunning cover. It has an air of mystery and really it’s a little frightening. I have been wanting to read Between the Devil and The Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke just from the cover alone and all the initial buzz that it has been getting. It felt like my kind of book. The synopsis makes the story sound so thrilling and a little bit scary. That and the cover…. Hello.

The fist thing I have to say about Tucholke's debut novel is that it was weird. Like really strange. There were times where I had definite WTF moments. This doesn't mean that I didn't enjoy the story, because I did. A lot. There were so many good things about Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea. The writing was beautiful and I was absolutely mesmerized by all that was taking place. I could never pin point exactly what was happening and sometimes that bothered me, but for the most part I just went with it. 

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea begins with Violet our protagonist and her brother having been abandoned by their parents to look after and maintain their crumbling estate- Citizen Kane. The pair are left totally broke and are forced to rent out their guest house in order to sustain themselves. This brings them River. What a mysterious boy this River turns out to be. Upon his arrival a number of EXTREMELY strange things begin to happen.

This book is difficult to review because I am still unsure if I thought it was brilliant or not. In some sense the book was all over the place and with all the strange things occurring the individuals involved were very well adjusted. They seemed to take it all in stride. In saying that, I loved the characters in this story. Every single one of them. Violet was wonderful in that she was a pretty simple character except that she never fell flat. She had her complexities and her ways about her. She was SO interesting to read about. Some of her reactions to things would have me baffled, and other times she was be so calm about something and I would think it was out of character for her- but in actuality it was just the way she was.

River, oh River. Jenny at Supernatural Snark says it beautifully in her review, that as readers try and fit River into this little box of perfect love interest when in reality he doesn't belong there. There is a darkness to him and as much as we try to find some good in him there might not be any. But because of how he presents himself we can't help but be drawn to him. He's a provocative character and we can't help but be addicted to his charm.

Overall, Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is a whirlwind of a story, with a lot going on. And I think it's worth a try. April Genevieve Tucholke's writing is beautiful and her story telling breath taking. I am SO curious about how the rest of the story is going to play out and I am looking forward to it.

Happy Reading Everyone!