Life of a Blogger [18]

Life of a Blogger is a weekly feature that I found through the amazing Rebecca at Vicariously! ,  hosted by the lovely Novel Heartbeat. Each week a subject will be chosen and we get to talk about it. The topics will be non-bookish so that you can get to know each other on a more personal level! Make sure to add your link on the linky list! 

This week's topic is: Dreams

This is easy because I have so many. I want to live in Europe. France. For enough time to relearn French and make some friends while gaining life experience. I also want to become a published author. I'd love for that to be what I do for a living but I know there will be a lot of other jobs in my life because I'm really not that lucky. Still, I will try. Also, (which is super lame), I want to marry a guy that can put up with me and that is awesome. I feel bad for the poor sucker but also wanna thank him for being great. Yay dreams!

- Kelsey

Top Ten Tuesday [20]

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list and everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

January 27: Ten Books I'd Love to Read With My Book Club/If I Had A Book Club (or you could pick a specific kind of book club -- like if you had a YA book club or an adult book club or a science fiction book club etc.)

Kelsey: My book club would be extremely open minded...
1. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
2. The Selection by Kiera Cass
3. Divergent by Veronica Roth
Because politics
4. Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover
5. If I Stay by Gayle Forman
Because love interests are interesting
6. Splintered and series by A.G. Howard
7. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
8. The Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Because interesting protagonists
9. Ruins by Dan Wells
10. Allegiant by Veronica Roth
Because bad endings 

Review: The Little Princess

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: Frances Hodgson Burnett
Format; ebook
Pages: 257
Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Summary (from the not so little Goodreads): Sara Crewe seemed just like a real princess... When Sara Crewe arrives at Miss Minchin's London boarding school, she seems just like a real little princess. She wears beautiful clothes, has gracious manners, and tells the most wonderful stories. Then one day, Sara suddenly becomes penniless. Now she must wear rags, sleep in the school's dreary attic, and work for her living. Sara is all alone, but keeps telling herself that she can still be a princess inside, if only she tries hard enough.

My Little Thoughts: I had to read this book for one of my English classes this semester so it started off on my hate list. I was glad to find out that the book wasn't school bad. It was actually super good. I found my heart breaking for little Sara, time and time again. But she was just such a good person that she continued to rise above everything that was thrown her way. There were not many surprises in the novel. There really was no big plot twist. The reader could figure out what was coming easily but that really wasn't the point of the novel. The point, I thought, was that she remained herself through terrible obstacles and that she helped people even when she didn't have that much to give.

I'd recommend this book to pretty much anyone. It's a children's book but not immature so it's good for both young and old alike. It's just a super good book about how people can do good things for others. Plus, I thought that Sara was adorable. It's a quick read so you should check it out.

Life of a Blogger [17]

Life of a Blogger is a weekly feature that I found through the amazing Rebecca at Vicariously! ,  hosted by the lovely Novel Heartbeat. Each week a subject will be chosen and we get to talk about it. The topics will be non-bookish so that you can get to know each other on a more personal level! Make sure to add your link on the linky list! 

This week's topic is: Achievements 

This isn't a very clear topic. Are we talking about awards or such we've managed to accomplish because they are very different questions. I count getting a job and finishing writing four novels as achievements. But I also got the Christian Living Award at gr. 8 graduation and that's sort of an achievement. I don't know what you people want for me. I'm counting keeping up with all these stupid lists and stuff as an achievement too. Deal with it.

- Kelsey

Top Ten Tuesday [19]

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list and everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

January 20: FREEBIE
[Books we've read that start with S because Kristen mocked me.]

Kelsey: 1. Splintered by A.G. Howard
2. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
3. Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
4. Sever by Lauren DeStefano
5. Stay With Me by J. Lynn
6. Sinner by Maggie Stiefvater
7. Signed, Skye Harper by Carol Lynch Williams
8. Swan Peak by James Lee Burke
9. Show no Mercy by Cindy Gerard
10. Son of a Witch by Gregory Maguire

Review: Revolution 19

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: Gregg Rosenblum
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 265
Rating: 4 out of 10
[The ratings have been low lately. I don't know what's up with that. Maybe I finally started reading our review policy. If something seems funny about my rating and you don't believe it, please feel free to check out my goodreads (link on the side) or our review policy here. We try to pride ourselves on having honest reviews but it seems like rating is harder than anything else that we have to do. Our deepest apologies if there has been any confusion.]

Summary (Via the Goodreads revolution): Twenty years ago, the robots designed to fight our wars abandoned the battlefields. Then they turned their weapons on us.

Only a few escaped the robot revolution of 2071. Kevin, Nick, and Cass are lucky —they live with their parents in a secret human community in the woods. Then their village is detected and wiped out. Hopeful that other survivors have been captured by bots, the teens risk everything to save the only people they have left in the world—by infiltrating a city controlled by their greatest enemies.

Revolution 19 is a cinematic thriller unlike anything else. With a dynamic cast of characters, this surefire blockbuster has everything teen readers want—action, drama, mystery, and romance. Written by debut novelist Gregg Rosenblum, this gripping story shouldn’t be missed. 

What I Think: The problem with this novel was not the central plot of the story. It equal parts scared and interested me. I thought that it was unique enough. It wasn't brand-spanking new, sure, but still. It seemed to make enough sense. The problem wasn't in the perspective which allows insights into the minds of most of the characters and also allows the reader to get a rather large picture of what is happening in the world. The problem was not that the main focus of the story was not a love story. It was refreshing to have a story focused on love of family, parents and siblings, over everything else. Actually, that may have been my favourite thing about this novel. I enjoyed the interaction between siblings. 

The problem was that the novel felt incredibly long when it was actually, after thinking on it, too short. The novel should have slowed down and expanded on...well, just about everything. It could have been so much more. I expected it to be so much more. I'd wanted to read this novel for so long and was disappointed that it didn't really get into too much. It could've slowed down a bit and still be alright. Maybe the solution to this problem could have been to put the first two books in this series together. I'll let you know after I read the next one but it probably won't be any time soon since I wasn't really too interested in this novel. 

I found that, due to the strange pace of the novel as well as the many, many characters that seemed thrown at me in the few pages that made up this novel, I was missing and/or ignoring huge hunks of description. This may have just been me. Actually, it's extremely likely that this is my own fault and nothing more but it still bothered me. 

Conclusion: I wish this novel had slowed down and gone into more detail. I liked the sibling interaction; it was different. This novel wasn't my cup of tea. I think that it would be more enjoyed by middle school or high school aged kids, boys in particular. In my mind, it just could have been more and that makes me very sad.

Life of a Blogger [16]

Life of a Blogger is a weekly feature that I found through the amazing Rebecca at Vicariously! ,  hosted by the lovely Novel Heartbeat. Each week a subject will be chosen and we get to talk about it. The topics will be non-bookish so that you can get to know each other on a more personal level! Make sure to add your link on the linky list! 

This week's topic is: Bad Habits

Oh... that's... brave. My worst habit is probably biting my nails (lame answer) or peeling the nail polish off of my freshly painted nails. That's a head scratcher. I spend time painting my nails, and then I peel it off within like the hour. Riddle me that, would ya?

- Kristen

Ummm...
I don't know...
I sometimes bite my nails but not so much lately. I eat horribly. By "horribly", I mean that I eat food that tastes good but is slowly killing me.
Oh, I touch my face way too much. 
That's all you get.

- Kelsey

Top Ten Tuesday [18]

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list and everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

January 13: Top Ten 2014 Releases I Meant To Read But Didn't Get To

Kelsey:
1. Rooms by Lauren Oliver
2. Mortal Heart by Robin LaFevers
3. Tsarina by J. Nelle Patrick
4. Twisted by Emma Chase
5. Tamed by Emma Chase
6. Three by Kristen Simmons
7. Such Sweet Sorrow by Jenny Trout
8. Tied by Emma Chase
9. Reborn by C.C. Hunter
10. The Haven by Carol Lynch Williams

COVER REVEAL: Desolate Mantle by LK Hill

I just had the privilege of reading the first of L.K Hill's new series Street Games, and holy hot damn it was amazing! If you liked (ok let's be real... loved because how could you not?) Persistence of Vision you'll want to check this new series out. Seriously. It's amazing. And you need to read it. Like yesterday. Anyway, if that didn't convince you, here's the synopsis of the first one: 

Dark Remnants (Street Games #1)

In the most dangerous city in the country, one controlled by a sadistic gang called the Sons of Ares, Kyra Roberts is searching the deep places for someone…

Kyra has come to Abstreuse city to find someone she’s lost, but walking the underbelly—a dark alley system residents call t

he Slip Mire—even in disguise, is rife with dangers. Kyra must stay on her toes if she intends to live. After crossing paths several times with the same detective, she wonders if his work and hers might be connected.

Gabe Nichols has worked homicide in Abstreuse for three years. Dead prostitutes and gang violence are part of the night shift. When a woman who looks like a street junkie but acts like an intellectual saves his life, he’s intrigued. Another woman shows up at his crime scene, and Gabe’s instincts kick into high gear when she clams up. Two cases involving strange women who won’t tell what they know are too coincidental.

If Gabe and Kyra can’t find a way to collaborate, they may not live to see the sunrise. Doomed, like so many others, to become gray, unmarked graves in a forgotten fracture of the Slip Mire.

And, I'm so excited to reveal the cover for the second in the Street Games series:

Are ya ready for this?

Desolate Mantle (Street Games, #2) 

In the most dangerous city in the country, one controlled by the sadistic Sons of Ares gang, Kyra Roberts recently crossed paths with detective Gabe Nichols. She dismissed any liaison with him as impossible, but telling him the truth may prove inevitable...

Walking the Slip Mire nightly, dressed in her disguise and trying to infiltrate a homicidal gang, Kyra sees plenty of things she can’t explain. When she begins to suspect a serial killer might be at work, she decides to approach Gabe again.

Gabe has plenty to keep him busy: a bizarre missing persons case, a new development in his brother’s cold case, a new neighbor, and the grisly murders that are a nightly ritual in the Slip Mire. When Kyra shows up unexpectedly, he jumps at the chance keep her around, but it’s harder than he bargained for. She’s not an average source any more than she’s an average Mireling. Gabe wishes she would be sensible about her own safety.

Their partnership crumbles, but when things become even darker than usual in the Slip Mire, they’ll need one another get survive a hellish situation. If they can’t work together to shoulder their burdens, they’ll find themselves utterly alone. In Abstreuse, it’s not a matter of not coming out of the darkness, but of being absorbed by the darkness itself…

Guys, I'm so excited and I hope you all check this out! 

REPOST Review: The Deep

Reviewer: Kristen
Author: Nick Cutter
Pages: 400
Format: Paperback (provided by Simon & Schuster for a fair and honest review)
My Rating: 8 out of 10

Expected Publication: January 13th, 2015

Summary (thanks Goodreads): A strange plague called the ’Gets is decimating humanity on a global scale. It causes people to forget—small things at first, like where they left their keys…then the not-so-small things like how to drive, or the letters of the alphabet. Then their bodies forget how to function involuntarily…and there is no cure. But now, far below the surface of the Pacific Ocean, deep in the Marianas Trench, an heretofore unknown substance hailed as “ambrosia” has been discovered—a universal healer, from initial reports. It may just be the key to a universal cure. In order to study this phenomenon, a special research lab, the Trieste, has been built eight miles under the sea’s surface. But now the station is incommunicado, and it’s up to a brave few to descend through the lightless fathoms in hopes of unraveling the mysteries lurking at those crushing depths…and perhaps to encounter an evil blacker than anything one could possibly imagine.

My Thoughts: So, have you ever read anything that's so horrifying that you actually just cannot for the LIFE of you put down? Because, yeah, this is totally one of those books. This is a classic horror novel; a straight up keep-you-awake-all-hours-of-the-night, looking in dark corners, genius of a horror novel. Because seriously, the last, oh, quarter of this novel, I stayed up reading because I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. It was crazy; my heart was pounding and I was straight up nervous about how things would end.   After having read both The Troop and now The Deep, I think it suffices to say that Nick Cutter knows just what fears to play on - fears the plague almost every body - and, almost subtly, reminds you  how scared of the dark you actually are. At least, that's what this did for me. The story follows Luke, whose crazy smart brother has asked him to join him in the search for a cure for the 'Gets. And, because the thought of a crazy plague like illness isn't horrifying enough, 'Gets attacks people's memories. The disease literally attacks what makes us fundamental humans, and from there, we see the often grotesque - but not too grotesque... it's done with... class? It's not unnecessary, I guess is what I'm trying and failing to say - side effects, and the descent into madness. Nick Cutter does a phenomenal job at twisting reality into something straight from a childhood nightmare - that one nightmare that stuck with you, and that you still constantly think about. If you're a fan of horror, you're going to love it. Even if you're not a fan of horror, pick this up and try it out. The writing is something spectacular and you should not miss out on it. 

Final Thoughts: If you read The Troop, you know that Nick Cutter has a special kind of writing magic that manages to terrify you and make you crave more at the same time. The Deep exceeded every expectation that I had, and you'll definitely want to make sure this is on your 2015 to-read list!

Follow Friday

Do you have any other fun collections? (Other than books)

Sadly, I do not. I'm not really a knick-knacky person. What about you guys? 

- Kristen

Okay, so here is the problem:
Doctor Who, Masquerade masks,
The Nightmare before Christmas,
Turtles, Movies                         - Kelsey

Life of a Blogger [15]

Life of a Blogger is a weekly feature that I found through the amazing Rebecca at Vicariously! ,  hosted by the lovely Novel Heartbeat. Each week a subject will be chosen and we get to talk about it. The topics will be non-bookish so that you can get to know each other on a more personal level! Make sure to add your link on the linky list! 

This week's topic is: Scars You Have
I have two big scars. By big I mean relevant because they actually have stories that is more than me being a big ol klutz. The first is right beside my left eye. I have this ugly little scar from a surgery I needed when I was like... three. I'm sure if I could remember it, I'd consider it to be a traumatic experience. The next one, though, that was definitely a traumatic experience. I was camping (which is traumatic in itself) and we decided to go for a bike ride (exercise definitely = trauma) and someone (I won't lie, it was probably me - I always have grand ideas, and they never ever work in my favour) decided we should bike up the little hill (it was more like a CLIFF - though this could be my memory distorting reality to make me feel better about myself). And, as all you physicists know, what goes up must come down, and apparently this rule applies to my ass too. So, we were biking down the hill and I fell. Bad. Over my bike handles. If it didn't hurt so much, it would have been hilarious. I'm sure it was quite the sight. Anyway, as a result I have this fugly circle scar on my right hand right on my wrist. That was my only battle wound from that day, believe it or not. 

- Kristen 

I have a random scar on my right index finger. I have no clue where it's from. I have like 12 chickenpox scars. Oh, I have this two inch long scar on the side of my thigh.  I was at a friend house when I was like 11 or so. My brother locked her and I in this really high tree house. After about 45 minutes locked in the stupid building, I was freaking out and had to pee and wanted to be out. So, we pushed open the window and I started to climb out. Little did I know that my brother and his friend were waiting outside on the house's deck. They didn't want to let us out so my brother shoved me back through the window. I ended up falling onto a volleyball net spike that was next to the window. I just remember bleeding all over the place and screaming for them to let us out for five minutes before they did. I went inside and bled all over the parents white bathroom. I was super pissed at my brother, as you can imagine. 

- Kelsey

Winter Holiday Book Haul

Since we return to school tomorrow (At least, Kelsey does. Kristen gets another three days!), we thought we should share with you all the marvelous books that we got during Christmas vacation.

So here is our Christmas book haul!

Kelsey:

Christmas Day Awesomeness:

Bones Never Lie by Kathy Reichs
Atlantia by Ally Condie
Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover
     - I wanted my own copy because I love it
The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Chapters Trip Fun:

A Thousand Pieces of you by Claudia Gray
Ensnared by A. G. Howard
     - Released early by accident
     - Already started reading it
Winterspell by Claire Legrand

I also got Harry Potter but it was for school so I'm not sure if it counts or not...

Kristen:

So, I don't actually get books from my parents or family. I get giftcards - they never know what I have already - and I'm totes ma goats okay with that. So, this is some of the awesomeness that I bought myself!

 Chapters Trip with Kelsme: 
A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray because seriously, how pretty is that cover?
The Young Elites by Marie Lu I've wanted this baby for a longgggggg time
Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch because erryone is rantin and ravin about this baby and I wanna be in the know

Christmas Gifts to Myself: 
Clipped Wings by Helena Hunting 
Let the Sky Fall by Shannon Messenger
How To Love by Katie Cotugno
Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck




What pretties did you guys get this holiday season?
P.S Stay tuned for an epic giveaway comin up soon!

Top Ten Tuesday [17]

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list and everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

January 6: Top Ten Most Anticipated Debut Novels For 2015

Kelsey: (Not really sure what qualifies)
1. Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
2. The Girl at Midnight by Melissa Grey
3. City of Savages by Lee Kelly
4. The Conspiracy of Us by Maggie Hall
Man, I'm finding a lot of novels right now.
5. The Storyspinner by Becky Wallace
6. Mindwalker by A.J. Steiger
This is where I run out...
7. The Witch Hunter by Virginia Boecker
8. The Creeping by Alexandra Sirowy
9. Shutter by Courtney Alameda
10. Becoming Jinn by Lori Goldstein 
That was actually kind of hard.

Review: Maybe Not (Maybe Someday #1.5)

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: Colleen Hoover
Format: ebook, novella
Pages: 129
Rating: 9.5 out of 10

**Part of a series**Itty Bitty Spoiler Alert**

Summary (Maybe from Goodreads): When Warren has the opportunity to live with a female roommate, he instantly agrees. It could be an exciting change.

Or maybe not.

Especially when that roommate is the cold and seemingly calculating Bridgette. Tensions run high and tempers flare as the two can hardly stand to be in the same room together. But Warren has a theory about Bridgette: anyone who can hate with that much passion should also have the capability to love with that much passion. And he wants to be the one to test this theory.

Will Bridgette find it in herself to warm her heart to Warren and finally learn to love?

Maybe.

Maybe not.

My Thoughts: I love Colleen Hoover, I love Maybe Someday. I knew I'd love Maybe Not. It was great to see into the lives of minor characters in a novel that I love. Plus, I wasn't ready to let go of the story or the characters just yet. It was a fantastic way to get more. 

I have to be honest with all of you. I don't really have a whole lot to say about this novella. It wasn't a full length novel and it wasn't like I was suddenly learning all about brand new characters. Since it was so short, I don't want to spoil good moments like how Warren's nephew was adorable when he played dead or all the pranks or the sexy times. It was just fantastic. The whole entire book was fantastic. I loved it and want to read it again...like right now. I think that you should probably read this book but it is definitely not for young eyes. No but, like, for real. Age appropriate, enjoy the sex but otherwise, wait a few years. It's not young adult.

Enjoy!