In My Mailbox: Here's what I got in my mailbox last week
TUESDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SATURDAY
Monday, September 29, 2014
In My Mailbox- September 29, 2014
In My Mailbox: Here's what I got in my mailbox last week
TUESDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SATURDAY
Sunday, September 28, 2014
The Sunday Salon- September 28, 2014
This week was another, wait for it...busy week. Shocker, huh? On Monday I met up with some friends at the Boardwalk hotel then had a softball game and dinner with the team. On Tuesday, I had a Yelp event at Hawkers. On Wednesday I had amazing free dinner at Eddie V's with a friend. On Thursday I had a Fit2Run fun run. I bailed on my Friday night plans so Kory and I could stay home and watch a movie. Yesterday I had the 5k at Oakland Park and then dinner out with the girls. Then today I had to work at Disney. Whew!
I finished and reviewed the following book last week:
I am currently reading White Hot Kiss (The Dark Elements #1) and up next is Stone Cold Touch (The Dark Elements #2) by by Jennifer L. Armentrout.
Friday, September 26, 2014
Book Review- Bitter Sweet Love
I finished reading Bitter Sweet Love (The Dark Elements #0.5) by Jennifer L. Armentrout on Wednesday.
From Goodreads:
In a sizzling prequel novella to her new series The Dark Elements, #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout draws readers into the extraordinary, irresistible world of Wardens and demons.
Dez wasn’t just Jasmine’s crush. A gargoyle Warden like Jas, he helped her come to terms with her destiny—fending off demons and maintaining the balance between good and evil. He was her everything…right until the moment he disappeared without a trace. It didn’t help that Jas’s father had just announced that she and Dez would one day be mated. Hard not to take that personally.
And now he’s back, three years older, ten times hotter, ready to pick up exactly where they left off. But Jas isn’t taking that risk again. Dez has seven days to meet all her conditions and earn back her trust. Seven days filled with terrifying danger and sweet temptation. Seven days to win her heart—or shatter it all over again…
Don’t miss White Hot Kiss, book one in Jennifer L. Armentrout’s The Dark Elements series from Harlequin TEEN!
Ok, I'm not sure why, but I had NO idea this book was a paranormal. Which is in no way a bad thing since I love paranormal books. But it's like when you take a drink of something, thinking its something off. Throws you off for a few seconds. I guess I had just never read the premise of the series.
But I really enjoyed this short little novella. Gargoyle Wardens are something new! (at least to me!) I liked getting a little taste of this world that I'll be diving into for the new two books. Yup! I have White Hot Kiss up next and then Stone Cold Touch right after. I can't wait!
I gave this book a rating of 4/5.
*FTC Disclosure: I bought this book.
From Goodreads:
In a sizzling prequel novella to her new series The Dark Elements, #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout draws readers into the extraordinary, irresistible world of Wardens and demons.Dez wasn’t just Jasmine’s crush. A gargoyle Warden like Jas, he helped her come to terms with her destiny—fending off demons and maintaining the balance between good and evil. He was her everything…right until the moment he disappeared without a trace. It didn’t help that Jas’s father had just announced that she and Dez would one day be mated. Hard not to take that personally.
And now he’s back, three years older, ten times hotter, ready to pick up exactly where they left off. But Jas isn’t taking that risk again. Dez has seven days to meet all her conditions and earn back her trust. Seven days filled with terrifying danger and sweet temptation. Seven days to win her heart—or shatter it all over again…
Don’t miss White Hot Kiss, book one in Jennifer L. Armentrout’s The Dark Elements series from Harlequin TEEN!
Ok, I'm not sure why, but I had NO idea this book was a paranormal. Which is in no way a bad thing since I love paranormal books. But it's like when you take a drink of something, thinking its something off. Throws you off for a few seconds. I guess I had just never read the premise of the series.
But I really enjoyed this short little novella. Gargoyle Wardens are something new! (at least to me!) I liked getting a little taste of this world that I'll be diving into for the new two books. Yup! I have White Hot Kiss up next and then Stone Cold Touch right after. I can't wait!
I gave this book a rating of 4/5.
*FTC Disclosure: I bought this book.
Sunday, September 21, 2014
The Sunday Salon- September 21, 2014
Mark another one down as a busy week--softball, Open House, Dance Trance Class, Pirates Dinner Adventure, Magical Dining Month at Fogo de Chao, Miracle Miles 15k, Gator Game, and working at Disney. Whew!
I finished and reviewed the following book last week:
I am currently reading Bitter Sweet Love (The Dark Elements #0.5) by Jennifer L. Armentrout and up next is The Fine Art of Pretending by Rachel Harris.
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Book Review- Catch a Falling Star
Last night I finished Catch a Falling Star by Kim Culbertson.
From Goodreads:
A deliciously charming novel about finding true love . . . and yourself.
Nothing ever happens in Little, CA. Which is just the way Carter Moon likes it. But when Hollywood arrives to film a movie starring former child star turned PR mess Adam Jakes, everything changes. Carter's town becomes a giant glittery set and, much to her annoyance, everyone is starry-eyed for Adam. Carter seems to be the only girl not falling all over herself to get a glimpse of him. Which apparently makes her perfect for the secret offer of a lifetime: playing the role of Adam's girlfriend while he's in town, to improve his public image, in exchange for a hefty paycheck. Her family really needs the money and so Carters agrees. But it turns out Adam isn't at all who she thought he was. As they grow closer, their relationship walks a blurry line between what's real and what's fake, and Carter must open her eyes to the scariest of unexplored worlds - her future. Can Carter figure out what she wants out of life AND get the guy? Or are there no Hollywood endings in real life?
Okay. So I'll admit it. I'm one of those girls that loves Hollywood. I've always been into acting and came thisclose to moving to L.A. So I was excited about reading this book.
And yes, it's mostly fluff (although there is slight discussion of gambling addiction). But it was right what I needed.
Most of the characters were enjoyable. Carter was a great small-town girl who never wanted to leave. I do wish we knew more about the dancing thing, but that's okay. Chloe was a great sidekick. Funny and true. And Adam. There was more to him than just movie star-ness. But Alien Drake bugged me. I mean, I guess I kind of get it, but he didn't seem like the nicest guy.
As for Carter and Adam's relationship--I think Carter was good for Adam. Brought him back down to Earth. That being said, I didn't really see the chemistry between them. I thought they came off more as friends. But no matter. I still really enjoyed this one!
I gave this book a rating of 4/5.
*FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher for a review.
From Goodreads:
A deliciously charming novel about finding true love . . . and yourself.Nothing ever happens in Little, CA. Which is just the way Carter Moon likes it. But when Hollywood arrives to film a movie starring former child star turned PR mess Adam Jakes, everything changes. Carter's town becomes a giant glittery set and, much to her annoyance, everyone is starry-eyed for Adam. Carter seems to be the only girl not falling all over herself to get a glimpse of him. Which apparently makes her perfect for the secret offer of a lifetime: playing the role of Adam's girlfriend while he's in town, to improve his public image, in exchange for a hefty paycheck. Her family really needs the money and so Carters agrees. But it turns out Adam isn't at all who she thought he was. As they grow closer, their relationship walks a blurry line between what's real and what's fake, and Carter must open her eyes to the scariest of unexplored worlds - her future. Can Carter figure out what she wants out of life AND get the guy? Or are there no Hollywood endings in real life?
Okay. So I'll admit it. I'm one of those girls that loves Hollywood. I've always been into acting and came thisclose to moving to L.A. So I was excited about reading this book.
And yes, it's mostly fluff (although there is slight discussion of gambling addiction). But it was right what I needed.
Most of the characters were enjoyable. Carter was a great small-town girl who never wanted to leave. I do wish we knew more about the dancing thing, but that's okay. Chloe was a great sidekick. Funny and true. And Adam. There was more to him than just movie star-ness. But Alien Drake bugged me. I mean, I guess I kind of get it, but he didn't seem like the nicest guy.
As for Carter and Adam's relationship--I think Carter was good for Adam. Brought him back down to Earth. That being said, I didn't really see the chemistry between them. I thought they came off more as friends. But no matter. I still really enjoyed this one!
I gave this book a rating of 4/5.
*FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher for a review.
Monday, September 15, 2014
In My Mailbox- September 15, 2014
MONDAY
THURSDAY
Sunday, September 14, 2014
The Sunday Salon- September 14, 2014
I had another busy week. I had softball, a Fit2Run Fun Run, a happy hour for charity, Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, Hit and Run 5k, Gator game, and working at Disney! And with the exception of one more day, I have something every day in September!
I finished and reviewed the following book last week:
I am currently reading Catch a Falling Star by Kim Culbertson and up next is Death Date by Victoria Laurie.
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Book Review- Atlantia
I finished Atlantia by Ally Condie last night for an Around the World ARC Tour.
From Goodreads:
Can you hear Atlantia breathing?
For as long as she can remember, Rio has dreamt of the sand and sky Above—of life beyond her underwater city of Atlantia. But in a single moment, all her plans for the future are thwarted when her twin sister, Bay, makes an unexpected decision, stranding Rio Below. Alone, ripped away from the last person who knew Rio’s true self—and the powerful siren voice she has long hidden—she has nothing left to lose.
Guided by a dangerous and unlikely mentor, Rio formulates a plan that leads to increasingly treacherous questions about her mother’s death, her own destiny, and the complex system constructed to govern the divide between land and sea. Her life and her city depend on Rio to listen to the voices of the past and to speak long-hidden truths.
I thought the idea of an underwater city was so neat. But I would have liked more details about what it was like. I could never really picture it in my head. It was mostly just like a tunnel with silver leaves. I would have loved to have been able to envision it more fully.
The idea of the siren and how they came about was also interesting. But I never really grew attached to the characters. Rio was nice and all, as were Bay and True (what's up with the names???), but I just didn't seem to connect with them for some reason. There needed to be more emotions and feelings behind everything that I didn't get.
But because I liked the premise of the story, I enjoyed it, although not as much as the Matched trilogy.
I gave this book a rating of 3/5.
Atlantia will be released on October 28, 2014.
*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.
From Goodreads:
Can you hear Atlantia breathing? For as long as she can remember, Rio has dreamt of the sand and sky Above—of life beyond her underwater city of Atlantia. But in a single moment, all her plans for the future are thwarted when her twin sister, Bay, makes an unexpected decision, stranding Rio Below. Alone, ripped away from the last person who knew Rio’s true self—and the powerful siren voice she has long hidden—she has nothing left to lose.
Guided by a dangerous and unlikely mentor, Rio formulates a plan that leads to increasingly treacherous questions about her mother’s death, her own destiny, and the complex system constructed to govern the divide between land and sea. Her life and her city depend on Rio to listen to the voices of the past and to speak long-hidden truths.
I thought the idea of an underwater city was so neat. But I would have liked more details about what it was like. I could never really picture it in my head. It was mostly just like a tunnel with silver leaves. I would have loved to have been able to envision it more fully.
The idea of the siren and how they came about was also interesting. But I never really grew attached to the characters. Rio was nice and all, as were Bay and True (what's up with the names???), but I just didn't seem to connect with them for some reason. There needed to be more emotions and feelings behind everything that I didn't get.
But because I liked the premise of the story, I enjoyed it, although not as much as the Matched trilogy.
I gave this book a rating of 3/5.
Atlantia will be released on October 28, 2014.
*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.
Monday, September 8, 2014
In My Mailbox- September 8, 2014
In My Mailbox: Here's what I got in my mailbox last week
TUESDAY
FRIDAY
The Sunday Salon- September 7, 2014
I celebrated my 34th birthday on Monday with a great day with my hubby! We saw a movie, ate great food, and saw the Frozen fireworks at Hollywood Studios! I only got a little bit of reading done this week. I need to get with it!
I finished and reviewed the following book last week:
I am currently reading Atlantia by Ally Condie and up next is Catch a Falling Star by Kim Culbertson.
Saturday, September 6, 2014
Book Review- After I Do
Yesterday, I finished After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid for a BookSparks Summer Reading Blog Tour.
About the book:
When Lauren and Ryan’s marriage reaches the breaking point, they come up with an
unconventional plan. They decide to take a year off in the
hopes of finding a way to fall in love
again. One year apart, and only one rule: they cannot contact each other. Aside from that,
anything goes.
Lauren embarks on a journey of self-discovery, quickly finding that her friends and family have their own ideas about the meaning of marriage. These influences, as well as her own healing process and the challenges of living apart from Ryan, begin to change Lauren’s ideas about monogamy and marriage. She starts to question: When you can have romance without loyalty and commitment without marriage, when love and lust are no longer tied together, what do you value? What are you willing to fight for?
This is a love story about what happens when the love fades. It’s about staying in love, seizing love, forsaking love, and committing to love with everything you’ve got. And above all, After I Do is the story of a couple caught up in an old game—and searching for a new road to happily ever after.
Wow. Right from the beginning I completely felt for Lauren. The backflashes of their relationship when they were still in love and the scenes in current day where you could feel how they'd grown apart. And I got it. It hit home in some ways. I miss the days where you get butterflies hearing you significant other's voice. The days where he/she tried to impress you and make you happy. The days where you'd primp for him/her instead of wearing pajamas for most of the days on weekends. Luckily, we've never had the "I can't stand each other feelings" and I can't imagine being as okay as Lauren was when they split. I know marriage takes a lot of work and I hope ours never reaches that point.
I liked that Lauren grew so much during their one year apart. There are some things that happen during the separation that I think would bug me if it were happening to me and I'm not sure I'd ever get over it. You'll have to find out for yourself if Ryan and Lauren do. I'd definitely recommend this book. I think everyone can relate in some way.
I gave this book a rating of 4.5/5.
*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the BookSparks Summer Reading Challenge Book Tour.
Praise for the book:
“Moving, gorgeous and, at times, heart-wrenching. Taylor Jenkins Reid writes with wit and true emotion that you can feel. Read it, savor it, share it.” – Sarah Jio, New York Times bestselling author of The Violets of March
Buy the book
~Amazon Paperback
~Amazon Kindle
About the author:
Taylor Jenkins Reid
is an author and essayist from Acton, Massachusetts. She graduated from Emerson
College with a degree in Media Studies. Her first novel,
Forever, Interrupted,
was named one of the “11
Debuts We Love” by
Kirkus Reviews.
She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Alex, and her dog,
Rabbit. Her forthcoming novel,
After I Do
, will be published July 1, 2014.
Connect with the author:
~Facebook
~Twitter
~Website
~ Goodreads
About the book:
When Lauren and Ryan’s marriage reaches the breaking point, they come up with an
unconventional plan. They decide to take a year off in the
hopes of finding a way to fall in love
again. One year apart, and only one rule: they cannot contact each other. Aside from that,
anything goes.Lauren embarks on a journey of self-discovery, quickly finding that her friends and family have their own ideas about the meaning of marriage. These influences, as well as her own healing process and the challenges of living apart from Ryan, begin to change Lauren’s ideas about monogamy and marriage. She starts to question: When you can have romance without loyalty and commitment without marriage, when love and lust are no longer tied together, what do you value? What are you willing to fight for?
This is a love story about what happens when the love fades. It’s about staying in love, seizing love, forsaking love, and committing to love with everything you’ve got. And above all, After I Do is the story of a couple caught up in an old game—and searching for a new road to happily ever after.
Wow. Right from the beginning I completely felt for Lauren. The backflashes of their relationship when they were still in love and the scenes in current day where you could feel how they'd grown apart. And I got it. It hit home in some ways. I miss the days where you get butterflies hearing you significant other's voice. The days where he/she tried to impress you and make you happy. The days where you'd primp for him/her instead of wearing pajamas for most of the days on weekends. Luckily, we've never had the "I can't stand each other feelings" and I can't imagine being as okay as Lauren was when they split. I know marriage takes a lot of work and I hope ours never reaches that point.
I liked that Lauren grew so much during their one year apart. There are some things that happen during the separation that I think would bug me if it were happening to me and I'm not sure I'd ever get over it. You'll have to find out for yourself if Ryan and Lauren do. I'd definitely recommend this book. I think everyone can relate in some way.
I gave this book a rating of 4.5/5.
*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the BookSparks Summer Reading Challenge Book Tour.
Praise for the book:
“Moving, gorgeous and, at times, heart-wrenching. Taylor Jenkins Reid writes with wit and true emotion that you can feel. Read it, savor it, share it.” – Sarah Jio, New York Times bestselling author of The Violets of March
Buy the book
~Amazon Paperback
~Amazon Kindle
About the author:
Taylor Jenkins Reid
is an author and essayist from Acton, Massachusetts. She graduated from Emerson
College with a degree in Media Studies. Her first novel,
Forever, Interrupted,
was named one of the “11
Debuts We Love” by
Kirkus Reviews.
She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Alex, and her dog,
Rabbit. Her forthcoming novel,
After I Do
, will be published July 1, 2014.
Connect with the author:
~Website
~ Goodreads
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
In My Mailbox- September 1, 2014
In My Mailbox: Here's what I got in my mailbox last week
MONDAY
The Sunday Salon- August 31, 2014
This is a busy weekend! Yesterday I took my dog Bella to a special event at the Magic Kingdom! Yay! Then the Gator game got rained out. Boo! Today I'm going out with some girlfriends to dinner and then to Jellyroll's to kick off my birthday (which is tomorrow!)
I finished and reviewed the following book last week:
I am currently reading After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid and up next is Atlantia by Ally Conde.
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