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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A Second Week of Giving

If you read the post last week, you already know how this all works, but here is a little reminder just incase!

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..,

An ARC copy of Far From You by Tess Sharpe! This one already "came out" but I really enjoyed it and you can check out my review here!

AND an ARC copy of Zodiac by Romina Russell. I haven't gotten to write a review of it yet and I may never, but it was quite enjoyable! It "comes out" December 9th 2014!





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Sunday Swoons

by Skylar Finn!

If you don't know what Sunday Swoons is, it's a weekly feature where Skylar @ Life of a Random and I (and anyone who links up) chat about all things swoon worthy every spectacular Sunday!

Rules:

1. You're welcome to use the button Skylar designed as long as you cite her as the source/give her all the loving credit she deserves!

2. You can post in whatever style you would like: list, discussion, etc. as long as what you are talking about goes with the topic for the week.

3. You either must follow the topic given OR you can do a post on the opposite of the topic we give. (Example: Our topic-- Top 5 Favorite Couples, Your topic-- Top 5 Least Favorite Couples.)

4. Your posts don't have to have anything to do with books you are reading right now. If you reference specific books, they can be past or older reads. (It's nice if you put in the Goodreads link to the book, or another site that will take readers to the book's synopsis, cover, and other information.)

5. Please remember to link back to us in your post, giving us credit for the feature! Also, you can add your link to the link-up tool at either of our posts ( it may only work on mine the first time because we are still working that part out.).

This week's topic is: Creepy Couples

I'm keeping it short today and just listing my favorite couples from creepy, horror, thriller, and ghostly books. 

Anna and Cas

They have to be my all time favorite (not like I've read that many in this genre that involve romance...) "creepy couple." Their romance is just so unique and heartbreaking and just adorable. Of course it's a bit creepy too but they are both so strange and creepy that it works together!

I loved them just as much, In book one as in book two!

I feel like there were times when they both felt like this:

Violet and River

Ahhh Violet and River! There are no words for how much I love this book, Violet, River and their romance. It could very well rival Anna and Cas. They are so tastefully quirky and sweet. I've never read a romance quite like theirs. I loved every min. of it!

The romance of the second book was pretty painful for me (and the last part of BtDatDBS) but I was still happy with the book overall and everything else about it.





Callie and That one Kid

I didn't like Callie and Oh-golly-gee-I-don't-remember-his-name as much as Viole/River and Anna/Cas, but the love triangle was handled pretty darn well. Also, they were a cute couple. They supported each other and were really there for eachother when it counted.

(By the way I am talking about the second guy introduced, the one from her school. The one that was kinda preppy, not sketchy.)

Sunday Swoons

by Skylar!

If you don't know what Sunday Swoons is, it's a weekly feature where Skylar @ Life of a Random and I (and anyone who links up) chat about all things swoon worthy every spectacular Sunday!

Rules:
1. You're welcome to use the button Skylar designed as long as you cite her as the source/give her all the loving credit she deserves!

2. You can post in whatever style you would like: list, discussion, etc. as long as what you are talking about goes with the topic for the week.

3. You either must follow the topic given OR you can do a post on the opposite of the topic we give. (Example: Our topic-- Top 5 Favorite Couples, Your topic-- Top 5 Least Favorite Couples.)

4. Your posts don't have to have anything to do with books you are reading right now. If you reference specific books, they can be past or older reads. (It's nice if you put in the Goodreads link to the book, or another site that will take readers to the book's synopsis, cover, and other information.)

5. Please remember to link back to us in your post, giving us credit for the feature! Also, you can add your link to the link-up tool at either of our posts ( it may only work on mine the first time because we are still working that part out.).

This week's topic is: The Everybody Loves Me Syndrome

You'd think I was going to talk about love triangles with a topic name like that right? Well I'm going to be funky and tackle this one from a different angle. I've mentioned this before in previous Sunday Swoons posts but it is something that has always really bothered me so here we are talking about it again.

I'm talking about that classic best friend (typically a girl) that both goes for all the guys, and gets all the guys (or girls, I said guys because I have seen it most frequently with a girl friend hunting guys). They are fabulous and they know it, They flaunt it, they own it, they work it.

That's all fine and good. I think it is GREAT that they have that confidence! However, sometimes it goes to their head a bit and they get cocky. The worst thing is when they decide that it is impossible for someone to not be interested in them let alone interested in someone else or their best friend. 

How do you guys feel about these confident besties? Are some of them too full of it? Does their ego get in the way sometimes? What characters have you recently read that sound like this? Do you write characters like this?

Next week's topic: HELP! We need you guys to help us come up with some ideas! Pretty please with a cherry on top?

Sunday Swoons

by Skylar Finn

If you don't know what Sunday Swoons is, it's a weekly feature where Skylar @ Life of a Random and I (and anyone who links up) chat about all things swoon worthy every spectacular Sunday!

Rules:
1. You're welcome to use the button Skylar designed as long as you cite her as the source/give her all the loving credit she deserves!

2. You can post in whatever style you would like: list, discussion, etc. as long as what you are talking about goes with the topic for the week.

3. You either must follow the topic given OR you can do a post on the opposite of the topic we give. (Example: Our topic-- Top 5 Favorite Couples, Your topic-- Top 5 Least Favorite Couples.)

4. Your posts don't have to have anything to do with books you are reading right now. If you reference specific books, they can be past or older reads. (It's nice if you put in the Goodreads link to the book, or another site that will take readers to the book's synopsis, cover, and other information.)

5. Please remember to link back to us in your post, giving us credit for the feature! Also, you can add your link to the link-up tool at either of our posts ( it may only work on mine the first time because we are still working that part out.).

This week's topic is: Romantic Writings! (AKA let's chat about all the relationships we've written!)

I am going to talk about/ list all the different types of relationships I have written and which one I am the happiest with. Brace yourselves. As you all know by now, I have written A LOT but never finished or stuck with anything for any long period of time. As mentioned in this throwback Figments Friday post, I have started to write roughly 18 pieces (now about 19-20 at the least) I won't talk for ever and a day about all of them, and some might not even be mentioned so don't worry that this post will go on for all eternity.

Un-named and Inspired by Sinister Kid by the Black Keys: 

The situation: Popular and typical teen girl falls for a "bad" guy who is really not so bad and sticks with and truly falls for him when the whole town decides he murdered someone.

My thoughts (now): What was I thinking? Can you say cookie cutter? Stereotypes!?! No. Although I did write a really great party scene to set it all up....

Daemon Blood: 
The situation: Daemon hunter/nephilim boy is supposed to kill a girl that is part daemon but then decides not to because she doesn't seem to know about daemons and they fall in love. Immediately.

My thoughts (now): Again, what the heck did you think you were doing Briana? INSTA-LOVE REALLY?! Not just any insta-love, one with a cheesy over done background and one that couldn't have happened more instantaneously if you'd tried?!

Island Killer: 
The situation: A boy moves to a small island and a local girl is forced to show him around. She doesn't really like him. It's nothing personal, she just doesn't really do the whole people and social interaction thing. But hey feelings change sometimes?

My thoughts (now): I tried not to give away the entire plot because I am actually really happy with this one right now and plan on continuing it. I love the book and their relationship right now. I want it to be reasonably paced, realistic and awkward, but I am worried that I am getting so excited about it that I am making it happen a bit too fast. Hopefully I will finish and then I can just go back and fix the pacing of their relationship. Wish me luck.

Working Title of Dreams of Death:
The situation: A girl has lots of nightmares. Her family takes in this boy who just got orphaned because her parents were good friends of his. He finds out about her nightmares because he hears her crying out from down the hall, comforts wakes her up (even thought she'd like to push him off a cliff and he feels similarly. So he really does it mostly just to get her to shut up.) and eventually they happen to always have to be there for each other and love blooms.

My thoughts (now): I don't have much to say because I only wrote like one page. (Surprise, surprise!) However, I feel like although the full plot was really weird, and that their relationship was slightly cliche, it would have been better than the first one mentioned, Daemon Blood, and 98% of all the other things I have written.

WIP 2 (current):
The situation: A girl is in a very dark place after loosing her best friend to suicide and begins to find her way back to normal with the help of a boy. (NOTE: he doesn't save her! He opens her eyes and supports her as she saves herself!)

My thoughts (now): I am starting all over on this one so we'll so where it goes (if anywhere) I liked him and I liked their relationship, it is just that the rest of the story was all wrong.

Next week's topic: Everyone Loves Me Syndrome 

Sunday Swoons!

by Skylar

If you don't know what Sunday Swoons is, it's a weekly feature where Skylar @ Life of a Random and I (and anyone who links up) chat about all things swoon worthy every spectacular Sunday!

Rules:
1. You're welcome to use the button Skylar designed as long as you cite her as the source/give her all the loving credit she deserves!

2. You can post in whatever style you would like: list, discussion, etc. as long as what you are talking about goes with the topic for the week.

3. You either must follow the topic given OR you can do a post on the opposite of the topic we give. (Example: Our topic-- Top 5 Favorite Couples, Your topic-- Top 5 Least Favorite Couples.)

4. Your posts don't have to have anything to do with books you are reading right now. If you reference specific books, they can be past or older reads. (It's nice if you put in the Goodreads link to the book, or another site that will take readers to the book's synopsis, cover, and other information.)

5. Please remember to link back to us in your post, giving us credit for the feature! Also, you can add your link to the link-up tool at either of our posts ( it may only work on mine the first time because we are still working that part out.).

This week's topic is: Diversity in Relationships

I got really excited when Skylar came up with the idea to talk about race in relationships, and then it sparked a different idea for me. What about religion in relationships? (We decided on just Diversity so that people could come at it from any angle they'd like.) That's always been something I hear a lot about because I am a Roman Catholic Christian and grow up in a family that is (almost all) super religious. and same with my community. A big "rule" or part of that is that you are supposed marry and date people of the same religion as you.

I understand why. There are lots of good reasons. It makes it so that you can support each other on a faith and spiritual basis, you don't have as many religion or spiritual belief conflicts, if you have kids together you won't have arguments about their religious upbringing, ect. However, I have never ever "discounted" a guy because of his religion. (sorry family) By that I mean that I don't really care what a guys religion is. It's nice if we share the same religion, but as long as he respects my beliefs and we can calmly work out any religion based differences I don't mind him not sharing all my religious beliefs.

So now that we have talked about me, let's connect this to literature. I don't read super religious literature most of the time, but still, religion never really comes up. I'm ok with this, but I think it is interesting that when that message is pushed so hard in reality that it never seems to come up in our most popular novels.

Also, I've never read a book where the culture or race of the two people in the couple has played a significant role, clashed, or even been brought up. That's not a bad thing per say, but I feel like we need more diversity in our modern and popular literature. It is a real and prominent issue in life today and it doesn't get very much recognition in books today (at least the ones I read).

What do you guys think about mixing religions, races and cultures in real life relationships? What diverse relationships have you read and what have you thought about them? Do you feel like we need to address differences in literary relationships and have our characters work out intense and deep differences/disagreements?

Next week's topic is based on: Couples we've Created

Stacking The Shelves

I haven't had time recently to get, let alone read new books. So I haven't really racked up the books in the past few weeks of my absence, however, I have a super-duper awesomesauce older sister and she sent me a bunch of her old books! Here they are, and don't forget to share your haul and link up with Tynga @ Tynga's Reveiws  !

The End of Mr. Y : All of these books are a bit outside my usual, but I'm excited to try them! Mystery has always interested me so despite the chunky size of this one.

Her Fearful Symmetry: This one seems like it could end up being really weird in either a bad or a good way, so we shall see!

The 100-Year-Old-Man: This is a huge step outside my comfort zone, almost more than any of the others, but I thought I should give it a try and hope that it surprises me.

The Book of Tomorrow: I picked this one mostly because it sounded like buckets of fun.

Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.: I'm typically not into non-fiction or biographies but I love Breakfast at Tiffany's and Audrey Hepburn so I thought I'd give it a try. 

Thanks again sissy!

What did you guys add to your shelves? 

Sunday Swoons

by Skylar Finn

We love having you guys involved! If you don't know what this feature is about here is the deal, Sunday Swoons is an original feature hosted by myself  and the spectacular Skylar Finn from Life of A Random. Every Sunday we bust out a different swoon worthy topic and discuss it, swoon about it, and chat it up!

Rules:
1. You're welcome to use the button Skylar designed as long as you cite her as the source/give her all the loving credit she deserves!

2. You can post in whatever style you would like: list, discussion, etc. as long as what you are talking about goes with the topic for the week.

3. You either must follow the topic given OR you can do a post on the opposite of the topic we give. (Example: Our topic-- Top 5 Favorite Couples, Your topic-- Top 5 Least Favorite Couples.)

4. Your posts don't have to have anything to do with books you are reading right now. If you reference specific books, they can be past or older reads. (It's nice if you put in the Goodreads link to the book, or another site that will take readers to the book's synopsis, cover, and other information.)

5. Please remember to link back to us in your post, giving us credit for the feature! Also, you can add your link to the link-up tool at either of our posts ( it may only work on mine the first time because we are still working that part out.).

This Week's Topic Is: Sassy Spoofs

You have the option to make a spooftastic new title for a book (We aren't trying to steal your idea Cait. Your Honest YAs are awesome and we love them! Ya'll should check them out!) and/or re-write the first sentence of the blurb. (write a first sentence that is as sarcastic as it gets, or brutally honest, or horribly humorous, or whatever you want.) Have fun with it!

(I only had time to do covers for two sorry!)

(The Redemption of Mara Dyer by 

Michelle Hodkin)

Life and Death, Love and War, Yin and Yang, these things all go together, but at what price?

(Heartbeat by Elizabeth Scott)

Emma is angry and her mother is dead, but the love of a hot bad boy might just make being angry ok, because love and misery and physical attraction solves all problems.

Insanity Games

(White Space by Ilsa Bick)

In the Insanity Games, anything goes. Will you survive your worst fears, or will the people you thought you knew take you down first? Can you survive the insanity of humanity?

Survivor In Space

(These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner) 

For this season of Survivor, two unsuspecting participants will "accidentally" get dumped out into space, left to love, hate, and survivor all on their own. It's Martians vs Man this season.

The Hungry Hungry House

(Amity by Micol Ostow)

Amity is one hungry, hungry house. It's been quite a few years since her last all you can eat buffet, and she is starving, and oh so glad you could join her for one meal you won't ever forget. She finds you to be utterly delicious, mind, body and soul. CRUNCH!

I had been trying to do romance books but two of them aren't because I got off track. (Oops!)

There you have it folks! I can't wait to see what you guys come up with! Sorry it has been so chaotic and late these few weeks, I'm still working everything out so bear with me! One of these days I'll get a schedule figured out. 

Sunday Swoons

Skylar Finn's creation

We love having you guys involved! If you don't know what this feature is about here is the deal, Sunday Swoons is an original feature hosted by myself  and the spectacular Skylar Finn from Life of A Random. Every Sunday we bust out a different swoon worthy topic and discuss it, swoon about it, and chat it up!

Rules:

1. You're welcome to use the button Skylar designed as long as you cite her as the source/give her all the loving credit she deserves!

2. You can post in whatever style you would like: list, discussion, etc. as long as what you are talking about goes with the topic for the week.

3. You either must follow the topic given OR you can do a post on the opposite of the topic we give. (Example: Our topic-- Top 5 Favorite Couples, Your topic-- Top 5 Least Favorite Couples.)

4. Your posts don't have to have anything to do with books you are reading right now. If you reference specific books, they can be past or older reads. (It's nice if you put in the Goodreads link to the book, or another site that will take readers to the book's synopsis, cover, and other information.)

5. Please remember to link back to us in your post, giving us credit for the feature! Also, you can add your link to the link-up tool at either of our posts ( it may only work on mine the first time because we are still working that part out.).

This Week's Topic Is: Dancing in Love

For The Friend-zoned (but sexy) 

Now I'm not very far into it (read that as Briana is only a few pages in and doesn't know what she's talking about), but I understand what the friend-zone looks like. So Althea and Oliver's song is: Crave You by Flight Facilities 

For the Sob Worthy Romances (I'd say more but spoilers)

This one is a heart breaker of a book so I picked a heart breaker of a song. Well, if you aren't looking at it in a certain way it's not a huge heart breaker but still. The Civil Wars's song, Sacred Heart.

                                 













For Lovers of Bad Boys

It's not a perfect fit word for word, but Devil's Backbone by the Civil wars certainly works for Anna and Kai from the Sweet Trilogy. And all those other good girl falls for bad boy romances out there. 

For All the Guys That Love Mean Girls

I loved Celaena, I really did. But even her biggest fan's have to admit she could be cruel and that she was pretty vain and arrogant. So She's so Mean by Matchbox Twenty works for her and her triangle, as well as the other rare occasions where the girl was not sugar, spice and everything nice. 

Another One for all Those Good Girls and Bad Boys

Pushing the Limits is a classic, good girl falls for bad boy who maybe isn't so bad, I enjoyed it all the same. There are a lot of books like this, so again this book is just one example that fits Lana Del Ray's Diet Mountain Dew.

Add your own song and literary romance combinations! Link up and share your thoughts in the comments below! Oh, and don't forget to check out Skylar's post!

P.S. If you saw the tweet where I mentioned lady jams, this is what I was referencing...

Can you guess the movie?

Briana is sorry that she complains about all her homework on twitter all the time, but it is a lot and she doesn't like that there is so much. She's trying not to complain so much. She is also sorry that all her little blog minions have been so neglected lately and blames it furiously on those teachers that are giving her all that nasty homework. When she isn't doing homework or blogging her fingers off, she has been playing tennis with her mother and watching her latest Netflix obsession, Arrow. 

Stacking The Shelves

I allowed myself one Liberty Bay Books spree trip yesterday and have come home with a respectable stack, so I'm linking up with Tynga @ Tynga's Reviws and sharing the glory! Don't forget to link up too, and share your thoughts and your haul in the comments below!

Althea and Oliver: This one was one of those round two picks. I saw it once and glanced over the synopsis and wasn't too impressed. The second time around I still wasn't that impressed, but I figured, hey what the heck, why not give it a shot. I'm only a few pages in but I'm really liking it so far.

Zodiac: This one didn't have much of a synopsis on the back but I picked it up anyways, not really knowing what it was about. I just read the synopsis on Goodreads and it sounds super cool. I don't read a lot of Sci-Fi  but Zodiac signs? How cool does that sound?

The Beige Man: As you probably know by now, I love crime novels and shows, so this one was a no brainer. I only now realized it is book SEVEN in a series. So, I'm just crossing my fingers that it will still make sense without the rest of the series.

Far From You: I loved the concept, and of course that cover. I enjoy stories with that whole, "no one believes me, everyone is against me" thing going on. (When it is done well/right.)

Midnight Thief: I've been hearing really great things about this one and it sounds really good. I love the occasional fantasy and the entire premise sounds simply epic. My one qualm, every time Kyra's abilities are mentioned in the synopsis, they are described as uncanny. There was an uncanny amount of uncanny being used.

So, what does your haul look like?

Figments Friday: Throwback Addition

This is my picture so please give me credit, also I would like to give credit to the Brooklyn street artist who created this. 

You probably have read this in a different post, or an interview or something (I've mentioned it a few times) but I have never finished a piece of writing. I counted and discovered that I have started roughly 18 different stories and never finished them. So I'm going to do a little something fun today and give you a clip of my embarrassing early writing and then a bit of my newer stuff so we can laugh at my lack of skill from years ago and then smother a chuckle at my slightly improved but still novice writing from this week. 

Figments Friday is an original feature for writers, wherein they share something about their writing, a character interview, an excerpt, a conversation between a character from one WIP and a character from another WIP, ect.  Feel free to join in!

Rules:

1. If you use my image please give me credit!

2. You DON'T have to do the same style post as me and can post in what every style you want about whatever you want as long as it has to do with sharing your writing. (Not advice)

3. Please remember to link back to me in your post, giving me credit for the feature and make sure to link up by using the button at the bottom of this post!

Note: I reserve all rights to all of my original work. If you quote or reference any of it I ask that you give me credit. Any snippets and excerpts are works in progress and may have typos or need more editing, for the most part they are first drafts.

First up a clip from what might have been the first story I ever tried writing. It was a lovely gem called "The Queen's Circle." It was based in Ireland with a crazed plot that went ever where at once. I haven't corrected any grammar or changed anything from what it was like before. (I will forgive you if you laugh. I laugh at myself so that makes it ok.)

As you can see, subtly was not my forte, The Island Killer is the first time I've attempted it since and I feel like it is going a lot better this time but I may be blind to my own flaws. Foreshadowing didn't work for me. (I'll give you three guesses what the attempt at foreshadowing was trying to "hint" (*cough* screaming *cough*) about.)

Here is a second, more recent and hopefully more subtle attempt at foreshadowing. Hopefully it worked out better. Weather it did or not you are only permitted to quietly chuckle at that one because it is recent and it may wound my pride. I do not however have so much pride that I would not permit you to laugh even a little bit. So chuckle away my friends. (P.S. That last one was from The Island Killer)

And don't forget your writing and link up!

Sunday Swoons

Created by Skylar Finn

I hope y'all are having a swell Sunday! Feel free to join up this week and every week! We love having you guys involved! If you don't know what this feature is about here is the deal, Sunday Swoons is an original feature hosted by myself  and the spectacular Skylar Finn from Life of A Random. Every Sunday we bust out a different swoon worthy topic and discuss it, swoon about it, and chat it up!

Rules:
1. You're welcome to use the button Skylar designed as long as you cite her as the source/give her all the loving credit she deserves!

2. You can post in whatever style you would like: list, discussion, etc. as long as what you are talking about goes with the topic for the week.

3. You either must follow the topic given OR you can do a post on the opposite of the topic we give. (Example: Our topic-- Top 5 Favorite Couples, Your topic-- Top 5 Least Favorite Couples.)

4. Your posts don't have to have anything to do with books you are reading right now. If you reference specific books, they can be past or older reads. (It's nice if you put in the Goodreads link to the book, or another site that will take readers to the book's synopsis, cover, and other information.)

5. Please remember to link back to us in your post, giving us credit for the feature! Also, you can add your link to the link-up tool at either of our posts ( it may only work on mine the first time because we are still working that part out.).

This Week's Topic Is: Couples on Covers

I'm going to make my own "awards" for covers involving couples, and list the first three words or phrases I think of upon seeing it. 

Most Artistic

Romance. Dream. Northern Lights.

Most Awkward

Awkward. Trying hard. Crush.

Most Photo Shopped

Dramatic. Blended. Fitting.

Deja Vu Award

Words. Two worlds, Gasp. 

Silhouette Award

Fireflies. The forehead touch. Ombre.

Best Job Photo Shopping

Why isn't he little and green? Gravity where are you? Contrast.

Hope y'all enjoyed and I can't wait to see what you guys do! 

What are your favorites? Least favorites?

Next Week's Topic is: Dancing in Love: Songs that Represent Fictional Couples we Love

Stacking The Shelves

Sorry this post is so late and that there haven't been posting more. School has officially taking over my life and even though I've spent 90% of my day doing homework (which was 95% of which was reading two textbooks) and I am still not even halfway done with it all.

I have also been not so fearlessly not vanquishing a newt that was living underneath a pair of socks on my floor. That basically consisted of me screaming bloody murder every time it so much as breathed and covering my eyes and screaming some more as my plucky, lion-hearted mother scooped it into a bucket and relocated it to the great outdoors. These newt, lizard, salamander things invade our house nonstop every fall, everyone (the small group of people I socialize with)  thinks I'm crazy because no one has ever heard of such a problem. Please tell me one of you guys out there have this problem or have heard of it at the very least!

I only grabbed a few books this week from Liberty Bay Book's stash, but I'm still linking up with Tynga @ Tynga Reviews. I was too tired to take pictures of them so I'm just using the cover images. 

This one has already come out and it has been on my TBR list since I was a Goodreads novice. I had forgotten about it until I saw it in the stack, but when I remembered I was instantly thrilled and re-intrigued. I mean really, look at that cover, how can you not be intrigued?

I have to bring up that cover. Is that not the most beautiful, romantic, wistful, whimsical, artistic cover ever? I know I've talked a lot about covers today but both of these books have covers that spark certain emotions which I find impressive. Now, about the book. I actually passed on I Remember You the first time I found it in the stacks because it is just a huge romance and it has hockey, neither of which are my kind of thing. The second time around I still had my doubts but then I thought, "Eh what the heck." and threw caution to the wind and decided to give it a fighting chance. 

Do you get newts? What books did you get? 

P.S. Don't forget about the giveaway!

Figments Friday

The above picture is mine. I give permission for feature participants to use this picture IF they give me credit. I also wish to give credit to the amazing Brooklyn street artist who created this scene.

You guys get double snippets today because I forgot to post last night and because I want to. :)

Figments Friday is an original feature for writers, wherein they share something about their writing, a character interview, an excerpt, a conversation between a character from one WIP and a character from another WIP, ect.  Feel free to join in!

Rules:

1. If you use my image please give me credit!

2. You DON'T have to do the same style post as me and can post in what every style you want about whatever you want as long as it has to do with sharing your writing. (Not advice)

3. Please remember to link back to me in your post, giving me credit for the feature and make sure to link up by using the button at the bottom of this post!

Note: I reserve all rights to all of my original work. If you quote or reference any of it I ask that you give me credit. Any snippets and excerpts are works in progress and may have typos or need more editing, for the most part they are first drafts.

WIP II:

WIP I: