On the Move

So you might have heard on Twitter or Facebook that I've been working on moving over to Wordpress! I am still tweaking a few little things, and I am sure I will be for a while because I'm a perfectionist like that. But for the most part it's all ready for you guys to move on over! Check it out here! I've managed to move some followers over and am trying to move over more, I don't know if I can move all of you guys over, but my bloglovin' should move and RSS followers at the least. So make sure that you are still listed as a follower, and if not besure to re-follow! Sorry for any inconvenience! My relationship with technology is not the best ever, but I do try.

20 Briana Facts

1. How tall are you?

5'6" Although, most doubt the accuracy of that statement. The doctor told me I was 5'6" so that is what I'm going with. I guess I slouch.

2. Do you have a hidden talent? If so, what?

Oh, my NO. I was just having a discussion with some friends about this. I am perfectly average or mediocre at everything. Granted, I do TERRIBLY at certain things, but I never really excel at anything more than any other person or have any interesting talents or abilities.

 3. What is your biggest blog-related pet peeve?

I don't really have any major ones that I can think of right now. When I see one though, oh boy, suddenly I am reminded of all kinds of related pet peeves I have.

I guess it would be really REALLY poor design. (It's the only one I can think of at the moment) I mean design isn't really my thing, but when the font is wild, and the color is impossible to read, and the background is crazy too, it gets to the point where it is such a distraction and such a pain to read it that I don't want to read it.

4. What's your biggest non-blog-related pet peeve?

As mentioned above, it is hard to think of them now, but when something happens I am reminded of how much I hate when it happens.

5. What is your favorite song?

Oh come on! This is just as bad as picking a favorite book! I am just going to list favorite artists and a few songs that I enjoy.

Mouthwash by Kate Nash
Riptide by Vance Joy
Budapest by George Ezra

Regina Spektor
Hozier

6. What is your favorite Etsy shop that isn't yours?

I don't use Etsy that much unless I am looking for a specific type thing as a gift. Although, I must say Amanda Pate has a FABULOUS shop! ;)

7. What is your favorite way to spend free time when you're not alone?

Free time when I am not alone? What?

Ok, in all seriousness, I feel like when I am with people we are going somewhere to do something specific. I guess I enjoy watching a movie, baking, talking, I don't know! I prefer to just hang out and do as we fancy when the mood strikes us. Spontaneous.

8. What is your favorite junk food?

Again with the picking just one. *tsk tsk*

All the ice cream.

Seriously. Ice cream. Specifically cookie dough in combination with mint chocolate chip, spumoni, and Tilamook's marionberry pie ice cream. Although, I am still open to all flavors.  

9. Do you have a pet or pets? If so, what kind, and what are their names?

I currently have two dogs. An aussie who drops fur balls the size of her entire body, named Lucy, and a lab/aussie/husky/? that enjoys keeping at least one cheek puffed out at all times, his name is Mario.

10. What are your number one favorite nonfiction and fiction books?

Ok this picking favorites thing is really just getting to be too much. I don't really like non-fiction. Like at all. Unless I need to learn about a specific thing. 

Fiction, my top picks are: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and The Darkest Part of The Forest by Holly Black.  

11. What is your favorite beauty product?

I don't wear too much make up but I enjoy playing around with it. 

This is one thing however that I have a definite favorite for. Posie. Tint. I get it from Sephora and it is so perfect. Blush and lip tint that looks more natural, is faster, easier, and less messy, than any blush I've ever used before. It is perfect for my porcelain skin as well. 

12. When were you last embarrassed? What happened?

Today. Not majorly though. My teacher was passing forms out to a select few who didn't already get one. She wasn't really clear about the process and changed it up when she got to me, deciding to pass a stack back to one girl to pass to two of us in the back, I didn't realize there was more than one, so I started walking down (it is a choir room so there are little mini stairs and kind of a curved orchestral lay out) and then people were all like "ohp! She's got one for you!" So then everyone was looking at me. It was really not that  bad but it was not fun. 

13. If you could only drink one beverage (besides water) what would it be?

Tea. All the kinds of teas. I don't really like drinking anything that much, but I really enjoy tea. Iced tea, green tea, chai tea, the list goes on!

14. What's your favorite movie?

I enjoy movies, but none seem to ever really stick with me. My default answer tends to be Pitch Perfect. But I also really love Hitch (because earlier years Will Smith).  Also, although I don't feel that it is the same quality as Hitch and Pitch Perfect, I have a weird and newly discovered obsession with Mortal Instruments: City of Bones. I don't know why but if I am board or sick, that is just what I want to watch.  

15. What were you in high school: prom queen, nerd, cheerleader, jock, valedictorian, band geek, loner, artist, prep?

I am in my second year of highschool right now, and honestly I don't know. We have a few jocks, some geeks, some band geeks, and some stoners, but everyone else just kind of floats uncategorized. I am a floater, I guess. 

16. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?

Ireland. Ireland for life. Ever since I visited, I have sincerely missed it, I frequently get "homesick" for it. Weird I know, but true. 

17. PC or Mac?

I am only really familiar with PC and I see benefits to both and I try to remain neutral. 

18. Last romantic gesture from a crush, date, boy/girlfriend, spouse?

*snort* Well, I guess guys have like complimented me before when they liked me, but other than that. Wait, actually when my crush and I liked each other (a long time ago) we sent each other songs and awkwardly swayed danced once...

19. Favorite celebrity?

I actually don't really like or understand the whole celebrity obsession is, I don't follow celebrities at all. But I enjoy Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Stone. 

20. What blogger friends do you secretly want to be best friends with?

Oh goodness. I kind of want to be besties with everyone but at the same time I don't. (don't take that the wrong way folks. That's just what I am like.)

Skylar from Life of a Random (you lovely nominator you!) and I have become pretty good friends which is super awesome. Not to mention Catherine over at Stray Imaginations is my absolute bestie in real life and blogging. <3 nbsp="" p="">

I feel like I am vaguely friends with Amanda Pate, Aneta, and Emily, but would find it fun to be better friends.

I would love to besties with Cait because she is hilarious. Also, Sophia seems like my kind of girl. 

Tag you're it!

Catherine @ Stray Imaginations 
Tansie @ Totally Tansie
Amanda @ Spectacles and Books 
Emily @ Forever Literary 

Also anyone else who wants to join!

The Book that Made Briana Flail

I Remember You

by Cathleen Davitt Bell

Expected Publication Date: February 10th, 2015

Source: Liberty Bay Books

Form/Edition: Paperback ARC

Lucas and Juliet couldn’t be more different from each other. But from the moment Lucas sees Juliet, he swears he remembers their first kiss. Their first dance. Their first fight. He even knows what’s going to happen between them—not because he can predict the future, but because he claims to have already lived it.

Juliet doesn’t know whether to be afraid for herself or for Lucas. As Lucas’s memories occur more frequently, they also grow more ominous. All Juliet wants is to keep Lucas safe with her. But how do you hold on to someone you love in the present when they've begun slipping away from you in the future?

The romance of this book is just like it looks on the cover. It is dramatic and sweet and practically made me ache with the rawness of it. I was so excited because there were actual relationship problems that the couples had to work through, and for once a YA book showed relationships not working. They were crazy and dysfunctional and that just made them so much more stunning.

Then the romance is combined with the rest of the almost inception-esque storyline. It was nothing like I've ever read before and I still am not sure I really know what happened. I mean I understood what happened but I am not totally sure what caused it, or what really happened in reality. I understand what happened, but I don't. That was confusing, I'm sorry. The book isn't confusing but I was left with some questions, much like inception, was the end in reality or in a dream? What is reality anymore? It made me question my existence, just a smidge.

The plot was so painful! In the best possible way! It will tear. You. Apart. Slowly. It is like you get punched in the face my an event then once you start to recover, something else happens and a knife stabs through your leg, and then you are getting over that and the ending comes and it is just like:

And yet I loved every second of it. It was absolutely stunning and so raw and dramatic. Also, the plot leading up to it and the way it was written just really built up to it. The entire time there is just this immense shadow, this gut feeling, that it is all going to fall apart. It kept me on the edge of my seat waiting for that explosive moment, and even though I knew it was coming, it was still shocking! Speaking of shocking, THAT ENDING! *screams hysterically and runs about while flailing*

Note: I almost cried, I made it through though. Honestly, I loved this and it provoked so much more emotion than TIFIOS did for me, even though I sobbed my way through that one. Unbridled.

I don't even feel like I need to talk about the writing. I feel like I have said all I need to say so...peace out! *sassy snaps*

Last Words: Go. Go read it. Now. Have tissues and chocolate ready. Also, clear your schedule. This is a one sitting read that needs your full attention.

Oh right, a star rating 4.75... I guess I'll make it a 5.

Goodreads and Liberty Bay Books!

Gif Consensus: 

Dust

Dust

by Sarah Daltry

Source: Publisher

Format: ARC PDF

Who makes YOUR choices?

"I was once the type of person who was impressed by starlight; the type of person who would dance beneath glass ceilings and let the world swim in its loveliness. The sky reminds me of the parties we used to throw - parties like the one last night. The memories bring back the trill of harps and endless ripples of satisfied laughter. Now, though, when I try to recall what I felt, all I hear is screaming."

In a world ravaged by war and oppressive forces of evil, a princess must fight to claim her bloodright and save her people.

When the princess, Alondra, falls for the beautiful, blue eyes of a hooded stranger, it awakens in her a taste for freedom and an escape from her duty.

But her parents have other plans; they have a kingdom to protect and Alondra must marry to ensure the peace between nations. Only what happens when your parents choose a cold-hearted assassin as your betrothed? 

As lies, illusions, and long hidden vendettas surface, the princess has to confront a very secret history. One that makes her realize that she not only risks losing her liberty, but also everything she has known and loved.

Issues:

-Alondra. As a character she was kind of a juxtaposition. She was originally portrayed one way, but then acted quite the opposite for the rest of the story. 

-The romance. The pacing of the romance made it a bit unbelievable, and everything escalated quickly.

Also, the original situation with the blue eyed stranger felt a bit ridiculous.

-The plot. It was strangely paced. The action got started really early on (which is fine, I like that.), but then it was like it hit this point where all that was happening was action and honestly I got a little bit bored.

-The action. The action got to be a bit excessive and monotonous for my taste.

-The flashbacks. Sections flipped back and forth from "now" and "then" I found it to be unnecessary for the most part and a bit confusing at times.

-The world building. I was really confused a lot of the time and couldn't figure out what the world was supposed to be like or how parts of it worked.

Pros:

-Alondra. I liked the personality she had for the majority of the time. She was kind but fiery upon occasion. Unfortunately the original portrayal of her was a bit more spoiled brat. 

-Romance. It was cute, if unrealistic. 

Last Thoughts:

Honestly, I was not a fan. It was an interesting concept but it fell short for me.  There was way too much going on and I couldn't find any reason to care about any of it. I give it a weak one star out of five and sadly, wouldn't recommend it. 

Gif. Consensus: 

A Month of Giving: Week Four

Oh my! We are already in the end of December! Shocking isn't it? If you remember from my first post  I mentioned that this week's would be special. Part of the reason is that I am doing my first international giveaway! The other part is that there are some twists to the US giveaway but I'll talk about those down below.

So here's what you need to know:
- I will be giving away two books a week every week in December.
-The books being given away are lightly used and well taken care of ARCs, some of which have come out/been published already, while others have yet to be released/published.
-These weekly giveaways only run for one week. So enter ASAP.

(NOTE: since this is my first international giveaway, please enter it only if you are NOT a US resident so that international readers get a chance to enter and win. US residents can enter the specifically US giveaways. Also I am not responsible for anything after the prizes leave my hands!)

International Giveaway:

So I have to be kind of stingy here, so I am only giving away ONE book (via the book depository), but I promise that I'll try to do a few more giveaways like this throughout the year instead of doing one big giveaway for you guys, I hope that is ok.

Sometimes I don't get around to reviewing books or my review doesn't show how much I really adored the read. So I am letting you guys pick one from a selection of my favorite books (most of which I never reviewed) from the past few years.

Options:

1) Dragonswood: This is a super fun read I read all the way back in 2012! I must have really enjoyed it because it has stuck with me, and I still remember it quite fondly. It had a lot going on, but it never felt like there was an overwhelming amount of things happening at once.

2) Darker Still: I love Leanna Renee Hieber and I love this series. It is just stunning! Magical, twisted, and totally swoon worthy. You can see my review with here here. And my review from 2012 is over here.

3) The Replacement: This is a really special book. It is unlike anything I've read before and is dark, but not at the same time. It is indescribably unique and quite the trip.

4) Shadows: I actually have reviewed this one, along with the second book you can see those reviews here. It is one of the best angel/nephilim books I've read in a while!

So, pick one, and if you win I'll have the book depository send one your way!

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US Giveaway:

Giveaway one:

-One ARC copy of Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige. (I had a fun time reading this one a while back, you can see my mini review here.)
-One ARC copy of Please Excuse This Poem: 100 New Poets for the Next Generation by Brett Fletcher Lauer, and Lynn Melnick, forward by Carolyn Forche
-One rainbow candy cane that is cherry flavored

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Give away two:

-One ARC copy of Midnight Thief  by Livia Blackburne
-One ARC copy of Silent Alarm  by Jennifer Banash
-One rainbow candy cane that is cherry flavored

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A Month of Giving: Week Three

It's the third week in a whole month of giving! See my first post for more detail and specifics, but the list below will tell you what are the real necessities.

One change/note: I won't be able to send out the prize from this giveaway for at least a week after the winner is announced.

So here's what you need to know:
- I will be giving away two books a week every week in December.
-The books being given away are lightly used and well taken care of ARCs, some of which have come out/been published already, while others have yet to be released/published.
-The weekly giveaways only run for one week. So enter ASAP.
-Said weekly giveaways are only open to US residents. (Yes, yes, international readers I hear you just hold on and keep reading.)
- There will be special giveaway the week of the 21st.
* This same week, there will be a giveaway (using the book depository) for INTERNATIONAL Readers only! (I'm finally doing it for you guys!)

This week's prize is...

An ARC copy of Seeker by Arwen Elys Dayton. It has an expected publication date of  February 10th 2015. I have really enjoyed it and it is undeniably unique. It is interesting and something that will intrigue Sci-Fi lovers everywhere.

And an ARC copy of Now That You're Here by Amy K. Nichols! This one came out the beginning of this month and it was one of my favorite books in the past few months. It was really cool and you can read my deeper thoughts in my review here.
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The Darkest Part of The Forest

The Darkest Part of the Forest

by Holly Black

Date of Expected Publication: January 13th, 2015

Source: Liberty Bay Books

Format: Paperback ARC

Children can have a cruel, absolute sense of justice. Children can kill a monster and feel quite proud of themselves. A girl can look at her brother and believe they’re destined to be a knight and a bard who battle evil. She can believe she’s found the thing she’s been made for.

Hazel lives with her brother, Ben, in the strange town of Fairfold where humans and fae exist side by side. The faeries’ seemingly harmless magic attracts tourists, but Hazel knows how dangerous they can be, and she knows how to stop them. Or she did, once.

At the center of it all, there is a glass coffin in the woods. It rests right on the ground and in it sleeps a boy with horns on his head and ears as pointed as knives. Hazel and Ben were both in love with him as children. The boy has slept there for generations, never waking.

Until one day, he does…

As the world turns upside down, Hazel tries to remember her years pretending to be a knight. But swept up in new love, shifting loyalties, and the fresh sting of betrayal, will it be enough? 

At first all I wanted to do was spill my guts out about this book as soon as I finished the last word. Actually, I was dying to blog about it after the first word, but I've been putting it off for a while now because now that I sit to write a review for it, I have absolutely no clue where to start, or what to say. I have never been at as much a loss for words as I am right now. This book gave me an unsatisfiable book hangover for a full week and still haunts me. As soon as I finished it I wanted to read it over again. I didn't really want a sequel or a series, one book summed everything up perfectly, but I loved the story so much that I wanted to read it over and over again until my eyeballs fell out. I couldn't read anything else for a really long time because it wasn't as good, and I just wasn't in the mood for any other type of book. I just wanted The Darkest Part of The Forest again. Thankfully, I am back on track now, but I must say, this book destroyed me like no other.

When I finished the book:

Me:Everyone:

As soon as I read the first word, I knew I wasn't going to be able to put it down and I was right. The way Holly Black wrote and the style she used couldn't have been more perfect for the type of story it was, It was thoroughly enchanting. Holly Black's writing is bewitching.

The plot was the perfect pace and kept me on my toes the entire time and I was able to follow it all without any horrible info dumping or anything because the world building was flawless.

There is nothing I can say to fully explain and sum up my complete obsession with both the characters and the concept. Really just the whole book. Anyways, I didn't have any problems with any of the characters. Sure Hazel and Ben had kind of strange and absent parents, but that was part of their character and it was recognized that their family was kind of an anomaly so I was ok with it, and there were moments of involvement. Jack's parents played a surprisingly large role and it worked with everything else very nicely.

All of these characters were unique and a bit weird, but without being horribly quirky. Holly Black does an amazing job of making her characters some of the realist feeling that I've read. They all have this inexplicable tangibility. I don't want to say too much about Hazel or the romances because I want to talk about them in a later post. However, I will say that I loved Hazel's romance and will sing it high praises into eternity. Ben's on the other hand was abrupt and felt more logical and less real on an emotional level. It was like a lightning strike, there was a bit of thunder before but that was your only warning, there was no development, or gradual progression to it. So I couldn't ship it quite like I wanted to.

The concept was to die for! A true fairy tale like no other. It was a mix of so many classic elements, knights and fair folk, and all the superstitions that come with it all. It was a really interesting and fun blend that felt oddly natural and wonderfully fresh.

I also really enjoyed that she incorporated and addressed real and difficult issues that people face and are especially prominent in teen lives. There are mini existential crises, struggles to define who they are, mistakes, betrayals, and general struggling with a bit of learning how to be a human, and it is great.

Last Thoughts: 
It's like I keep saying, it is indescribable, words don't do it justice. This book is bewitching and will probably eat your soul (in a good way, I promise). I just...I don't even know what to say. It took my breath away. It was love at first word. I give it the ultimate five out of five stars and my highest recommendation. Read it. Read it now. No regrets.

Goodreads and Liberty Bay Books!

General Gif Consensus: