Reason To Breathe

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Book: Reason To Breathe by Rebecca Donovan

Book Info: Published by Smashwords; 374 pages

Source: Purchased for my Nook

Genre: YA/Contemporary

Find Out More: Goodreads~Barnes And Noble~Amazon~Rebecca Donovan

Goodreads Summary: “No one tried to get involved with me, and I kept to myself. This was the place where everything was supposed to be safe and easy. How could Evan Mathews unravel my constant universe in just one day?”

He knows there’s something more to the girl sitting in the back of the class the moment he sees her. She’s beautiful, intelligent, and athletic – but she slips quietly through the crowded halls, trying not to exist. Determined to get to know the elusive girl, Evan soon discovers…

Emma Thomas is hiding a terrible a secret. 

Reason to Breathe is an electrifying page turner from start to finish, a unique tale of life-changing love, unspeakable cruelty, and one girl’s fragile grasp of hope.

This book is heartbreaking and yet so hard to put down.  I just…there are no words.

I just had to know how it ended for Emma, and if she’d make her escape from the hell she was living in.  Her aunt has some serious issues, and I can’t even imagine doing what she did.  Cruel would be an understatement.

It’s such a beautiful, emotional book, and my emotions were all over the place. I smiled, I laughed, I was angry and sad and cried by the end.  It was hard to read at times, and it’s definitely dark, so if that’s not your thing, this might not be the best book for you.  But it is such an amazing book, and I don’t think I’ll forget it anytime soon.

Donovan did a great job at showing what Emma was going through and why her aunt treated her the way she did.  The characters were so real that you almost forget that it’s fiction and not reality.

The ending…wow.  I didn’t see it coming, but it was fitting.  I just knew I had to get the sequel.

It gets a 5 out of 5, and if I could give it a higher rating, I would.  Even now, my heart aches for Emma.  It’s unforgettable, scary real and an emotional rollercoaster.

A Beautiful Dark

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Book: A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies

Book Info: Published by HarperCollins; 400 pages

Source: Purchased for my Nook

Genre: YA/Paranormal

Find out more: Goodreads~Barnes And Noble~Amazon~Jocelyn Davies

Goodreads Summary: On the night of Skye’s seventeenth birthday, she meets two enigmatic strangers. Complete opposites—like fire and ice—Asher is dark and wild, while Devin is fair and aloof. Their sudden appearance sends Skye’s life into a tailspin. She has no idea what they want, or why they seem to follow her every move—only that their presence coincides with a flurry of strange events. Soon she begins to doubt not just the identity of the two boys, but also the truth about her own past.

In the dead of a bitingly cold Colorado winter, Skye finds herself coming to terms with the impossible secret that threatens to shatter her world. Torn between Asher, who she can’t help falling for, and Devin, who she can’t stay away from, the consequences of Skye’s choice will reach further than the three of them could ever imagine.

A Beautiful Dark was just okay for me, yet I can’t wait to read the next book!  I was really bored reading about Sky trying to figure out her powers and picking a side.  It didn’t get interesting until the end, when things actually happened.

It was a really predictable story, and I can’t say I was surprised by anything that happened.  It was a little too detailed and I didn’t care for all the minute details of Skye’s life.  And even with all those details, I didn’t really feel like I got to know her very well.  For the most part, I just wanted Davies to get to the point.

I sort of liked the two different sides and how it wasn’t clear which side was the true bad guy in the grand scheme of things.  It is a slightly different take on the good angel versus fallen angel fighting for someone’s soul…but unfortunately, it wasn’t different enough.

It gets a 2 out of 5, but I still can’t wait to read the next book.  Especially after the way things ended.

Top 10 Posts That Represent Me As A Person And A Reader

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Top 10 Tuesday is hosted by the lovely folks over at The Broke And The Bookish.  Every week, bloggers from all over share their lists based on the topic of the week.  You can find all past Top 10 Tuesday topics here.

Top 10 Posts That Best Represent Me As A Person And A Reader

This topic was a little hard at first.  I’ve talked about a lot of stuff in almost 2 years of blogging, so picking the 10 posts I’d want every potential reader of my blog to read was a little overwhelming.  But it was fun, because which posts really represent me?  My list is random…just like me.  I love books, but I’m also a baker and a writer and someone who crochets.  With a hint of brightly-colored nail polish, of course.

  1. One of my NaNoWriMo posts would have to be on the list.  My blog started out as a way to chronicle my attempt to write 3 50,00 word novels in one month.  I had fun picking out which post to go with but settled with my very first post.  It’s not my best post by any means but without that post, there’s a good chance I wouldn’t be blogging today.
  2. The next post I want to share is the 100 Book Challenge.  I came across it last year, in 2011, and thought reading 100 books in a year would be a great way for me to get back into reading.  And it’s what got me into book blogging, back when I had no idea book blogs even existed.
  3. I crochet!  I do more than read and blog, so here’s a picture of a scarf that I really need to finish.
  4. Hate List by Jennifer Brown is one of those books I can’t stop thinking about.  It’s had such an impact on me, even after a year.  In the last year and a half, I’ve come across quite a few books that I’ll never forget.  This is one of the first.
  5. If you want to know about the time I wanted to jump off a cliff, you should read this post.  See, sometimes, weird things just happen when you’re not paying attention to what you’re writing…and this is one of those weird things.  Good thing I don’t live near any cliffs.
  6. You know what’s cool?  Searching for the right Harry Potter post.  Harry Potter is one of my favorite things ever, and if I can work it into a post or a list (or anything really), then I will find a way to do so.  Harry Potter…I can’t help but love it!  The post I picked?  The one where I talk about how much the series means to me.
  7. Since I should probably share some more book reviews, here’s my review of Wintergirls.  It’s another book I can’t stop thinking about, long after I’ve read it.  I ust love Laurie Halse Anderson, and it’s one of the few books I’ve hers I’ve actually reviewed.
  8. I love baking, and while I don’t talk about on this blog anymore, I thought I’d share my review of Baking: From My Home To Yours by Dorie Greenspan.  Which I still need to get a copy of.  (On an unrelated note, I love the Joy The Baker cookbook…which I really should review one of these days).
  9. For good measure, check out my Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone review.  Because I clearly can’t limit myself to one HP post.  I’m obsessed, what can I say?
  10. I love history, especially Tudor England, and I’ll read anything I can get my hands on.  Sometimes, it’s great, like reading The Wives Of Henry VIII by Antonia Fraser.  Sometimes, it’s so frustrating I want to throw the book at the wall…like the time I read 6 Wives: The Queens Of Henry VIII by David Starkey.
  11. Here’s a bonus: you know you’re weird when you blog about nail polish.  Because I’m random like that.

The Olympics Are Exhausting

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For the last week, I’ve been up until midnight watching the Olympics.  And it’s been exhausting, because I haven’t been sleeping much.  But it’s been worth it, because I love the Olympics.  Or maybe I’m just really weird or something.

I’ve been watching swimming, and even watched Michael Phelps’ last race.  It was exciting, and cool that he went out with a bang. Speaking of swimming…I watched synchronized swimming.  One, I didn’t want to watch tennis, and two, when else am I going to watch synchronized swimming.  I’m really impressed by how well they can hold their breath underwater.  And 8 to 10 hours training in and out of water?  I wouldn’t think that much training goes into it.

I watched track and field…and immediately wondered why I WAS WATCHING PEOPLE RUN.  Oh, right, because it’s on, and I have this insane need to watch whatever’s on when it comes to the Olympics.  But it was still fun.  Because this is pretty much the only time I care enough about track to watch.

Of course, I watched gymnastics and was glad to see Gabby Douglas win!  It’s too bad Aly Raisman didn’t win the bronze, but she still did really good!  Of course, I’m looking to event finals, which should be fun to watch.  The vault final was great to watch but the girl from Canada falling was scary.

I was really impressed and super-surprised by the fact that one of the gymnasts was 37.  That’s ancient for a gymnast, because most of them are 17 or 18.  Why isn’t this a story?  I totally thought I misheard the commentators, but then realized I did indeed hear her age correctly.  McKayla Maroney falling on vault was bizarre…and just shows that even though she was the clear favorite to win, anything can happen.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get to watch any of the trampoline finals, but maybe I catch them in 2016.

At least they’ve played those annoying P & G sponsors moms commercials less.  Because, you know, dads don’t support their kids or anything.  If it were reversed, and they sponsored just the dads, people would be freaking out and talk of boycotting them would likely come up.

Before I start ranting, here are some random thoughts.

  • Volleyball: the changing sides thing doesn’t make a lot of sense.  The hats/visors/sunglasses at night (for beach volleyball) is a little strange, but kind of makes sense given the sand.
  • The female marathon runners look a lot skinnier than the women over in track.  I’m sure they’re all in great shape, but is it a distance and training thing?
  • The obstacles in the equestrian competition are really cool.  And now I want to go horse-back riding.
  •  I can’t imagine swimming without Michael Phelps.  It’s a strange thought.

I seriously can’t think of any other thoughts right now but I’m sure I’ll think of something as I continue to watch the Olympics.

Unknown

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Book: Unknown by Rachel Caine

Book Info: Published by Roc; 322 pages

Source: e-book via the library

Genre: Adult/Paranormal

Find out more: Goodreads~Barnes And Noble~Amazon~Rachel Caine

Goodreads Summary: Living among mortals, the djinn Cassiel has developed a reluctant affection for them—especially for Warden Luis Rocha. As the mystery deepens around the kidnapping of innocent Warden children, Cassiel and Luis are the only ones who can investigate both the human and djinn realms. But the trail will lead them to a traitor who may be more powerful than they can handle…

I just loved Unknown!  I really like how the story is going, and there is so much going on.

I find Pearl to be really interesting, especially how she’s using children to get to Cassiel.  Like, how did she not die the first time, and how did she stay hidden for so long?  And how will the children’s powers play out?

Unknown is just as exciting as Undone, and Caine is really good at keeping things moving.  The action just doesn’t stop, and it’s impossible to get bored reading it.  I think my only complaint is that it moves a little too fast- it would be nice to see Caine slow things down just a little.

Cassiel is an interesting character too, and I like seeing her adjustment to living in a human body.  I can’t wait to see how she deals with it in the rest of the series.

I also love the playlist at the end of the book.  It’s really cool to see what music got her through the book, and I’m hoping it continues throughout the rest of the series.  There are some great songs on it.

It gets a 5 out of 5.  It’s been a fun series to read, and I can’t wait to see if Cassiel can save humanity or if she has to destroy it.

Breathless

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Book: Breathless by Jessica Warman

Book Info: Published by Walker Books; 333 pages

Source: Purchased for my Nook

Genre: YA/Contemporary

Find Out More: Goodreads~Barnes and Noble~Amazon~Jessica Warman

Goodreads Summary: When Katie Kitrell is shipped off to boarding school by her distant father and overbearing mother, it doesn’t take her long to become part of the It Crowd. She’s smart, she’s cute, and she’s an Olympic-bound swimmer who has a first class ticket to any Ivy League school of her choice. But what her new friends, roommate, and boyfriend don’t know is that Katie is swimming away from her past, and from her schizophrenic older brother, Will, who won’t let her go. And when he does the unthinkable, it’s all Katie can do to keep her head above water.

I don’t know what to think about Breathless.  I thought her relationship with her schizophrenic older brother was interesting, as was her relationship with her parents.  And I really liked the swimming aspect of the book, even if it wasn’t as important as the summary made it seem.  Speaking of the summary, it is a little misleading…I thought swimming and her brother would be the focus of the book, not Katie getting shipped off to boarding school.

It’s really more about her time at boarding school than anything else.  It’s like her brother’s schiophrenia and her swimming were randomly thrown in as a way to move things along.  There were times when the story dragged, but at the same time, huge chunks of time were completely glossed over and things seemed really random.

It gets a 2 out of 5.  There wasn’t anything wrong with it, but there wasn’t anything right about it either.

The Diary Of Anne Frank

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Book: The Diary Of Anne Frank

Book Info: Published by Random House Publishing Group; 352 pages

Source: E-book via the library

Genre: Non-fiction/Auto-biography

Find Out More: Goodreads~Barnes And Noble~Amazon

Goodreads Summary: Discovered in the attic in which she spent the last years of her life, Anne Frank’s remarkable diary has since become a world classic—a powerful reminder of the horrors of war and an eloquent testament to the human spirit. In 1942, with Nazis occupying Holland, a thirteen-year-old Jewish girl and her family fled their home in Amsterdam and went into hiding. For the next two years, until their whereabouts were betrayed to the Gestapo, they and another family lived cloistered in the “Secret Annex” of an old office building. Cut off from the outside world, they faced hunger, boredom, the constant cruelties of living in confined quarters, and the ever-present threat of discovery and death. In her diary Anne Frank recorded vivid impressions of her experiences during this period. By turns thoughtful, moving, and amusing, her account offers a fascinating commentary on human courage and frailty and a compelling self-portrait of a sensitive and spirited young woman whose promise was tragically cut short.

I finally read The Diary Of Anne Frank!  I liked it, but not as much as I thought I would.

I liked seeing her experiences of what it was like living in the Secret Annex, and the one thing I was struck by was how things don’t really change.  I mean, I could totally relate to how she felt and the relationships between her and her family.  Some things really are universal.

I’m glad I read it.  But I think I really built it up as this totally amazing book.  Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s an important, must-read.  But it didn’t really do anything for me either.

It’s great as diary, and seeing her own thoughts and life in hiding.  There were times when I was bored out of my mind reading it, but when you’re in hiding and have to be careful about how much noise you make and that sort of thing, it is to be expected.  I think it’s really more of a coming-of-age story than anything else.

It gets a 3 out of 5.

August Sneak Peak

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Today…let’s talk about what’s in store for August and what happened in July.

I’ll be talking about the Olympics (because who isn’t paying attention to the Olympics?) and reviewing a bunch of books.  Hopefully, I’ll finish Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter, Breathless, A Beautiful Dark, The Diary Of Anne Frank, and Unknown.  I just started Their Eyes Were Watching God, so I should be reviewing that one too.  Other than that, I have no clue what I’ll be reading.  Possibly another audiobook but I really should read some of the books I have on my nook that I haven’t read yet.  Maybe I should go with a series, so that I can get some of them out of the way…

I reviewed a ton of books (no surprise there).  Such books included Cinder, Identical, An Abundance Of Katherines and 13 Reasons Why.  I also talked about Pottermore and the Opening Ceremonies.  And I did Top 10 Tuesday all month.  The topics for next month are really interesting, so expect that.

That wraps up July plus what’s coming this month.  Happy Wednesday!

Gymnastics Is Turning Me Into A Crazy Woman

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I’ve been reminded of how much I love watching gymnastics the last few days, and I’ve noticed something.

It’s turning me into a crazy woman.

It’s entirely possible that I was already like this, and the crazy is just amplified by watching the Olympics.  But I’d like to blame it on gymnastics.

Vault.  OH.  MY.  GOD.  Completely speechless after MyKayla Maroney’s vault.  I’m curious as to what the deductions were, but it was a great vault.

I really liked the Romanians on beam.  Unfortunately, we only saw glimpses of the Romanians and the Chinese.  It’s too bad we didn’t see any of the other teams.  Seeing Great Britain once or twice would have been nice.  And Japan.  And whoever else competed.

Russia just fell apart on both beam and floor, and seeing them cry made me want to cry for them.  I really liked their leotards and the glitter in their hair.  What really did it was floor!  There are no words.  I cried.

That’s right, the seeing the U.S. win gymnastics team gold- for the first time since 1996- made me cry.  There was a lot of nervousness and excitement in wondering if it would happen.  (Of course it happened, I’d have been really surprised if it didn’t).  Lots of waiting while they posted the official score.  And then the jumping up and down screaming.  Then a happy dance.  And finally, crying.  It’s just so exciting!

All-around and event finals are coming up, and that will be exciting too.  I can’t wait!

10 Characters I’d Like To Switch Places With For 24 Hours

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Top 10 Tuesday is hosted by the lovely folks over at The Broke And The Brokish.  Every week people share their lists based on the topic of the week.  You can find past Top 10 Tuesday topics here.

Top 10 Characters I’d Like To Switch Places With For 24 Hours

There are so many characters I love and yet it was hard to think of 10 characters I’d want to switch places with.  It did get easier once I didn’t take it so seriously.  It is amazing how many characters who I wouldn’t want to switch places with…which is a really good idea for a future blog post.  So who would I want to switch places with?  Find out below!

  1. Grimalkin from The Iron Fey.  I think it would be easier to assume that I’ll keep mentioning the Iron Fey a lot.  But I love how Grim explains everything with one simple explanation: “I am a cat.”  And I love how he randomly disappears and then randomly appears.
  2. Hermione from Harry Potter.  In a lot of ways, I’m like Hermione.  And if I could be Hermione for a day, I’d love to wander around Hogwarts and see what sort of books wizards read.
  3. Luna from Harry Potter.  I feel like I have some Luna-like qualities, but to be her would be completely amazing.  She’s just…her, and I’d love to see what a typical day for Luna is.
  4. Mary Anne from The Baby-Sitters Club.  I’m going way back to my childhood with this one, but I loved the BSC when I was in elementary school and wished there were more kids in my neighborhood so I could start my own club.
  5. Mary Boleyn from The Other Boleyn Girl (and various non-fiction books).  So, TOBG was my first introduction to Anne’s sister.  There were times I wouldn’t want to be her, of course, but considering she was really the only one in her family who ended up unscathed after Anne’s fall…can you imagine what that would have been like?  Still, I find her an interesting character (and real-life person, of course) and I’d like to see her life.
  6. Jessica Wakefield from the Sweet Valley books.  Another childhood favorite of mine.  I decided to go with Jessica (instead of Elizabeth, who is my favorite from the 50 million SV books out there) because she usually got involved in some crazy adventure.
  7. Any of the girls from Pretty Little Liars.  I did get tired of the series by the 10th one, but I’d still want to switch places with any of them for a day.  Mostly because I’d love to know what it’s like to be rich and get whatever I want but also because of all the shit they get away with.  It would be nice.
  8. Scarlett from Suite Scarlett.  It would be cool to live in a hotel, and while it’s probably not that glamorous or cool, I’d like to think it is.
  9. Cassia from Matched.  It would be nice to have a day where others made my own choices for me.  Seriously, just one day where I’m told what to read, eat and listen to.
  10. Tally from The Uglies.  I’d love to switch places with her for a day.  I’m not sure why, but it seems like she’s having fun.  I do love that world so it would be cool to hang out there for a day.