Friday, November 30, 2012

Scarlet Read-Along: Weekly Link Up--Week Four


Welcome to the Scarlet Read-Along!

Marie at Ramblings of a Daydreamer and I are proud to present this read-along event to you.

Today we are going to discuss what we thought during week four of reading Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen. Our fifth, and final, assignment in the read-along was to read the chapters fourteen through sixteen. Meaning, we've finished this amazing book. ^_^ Please link up your post in the comments below so I can read and discuss the book with you too!

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Week Four: Chapters 14-16...

Now did this story end with a bang, or did it end with a bang?! Wait, that's a statement. It DID end with a bang. Wow. It was just totally insane. Scarlet's secret past was exposed and there seems to be only one thing to do to fix the situation... and it's not pretty. What is it? You have to read it to find out! Scarlet and Robin are an epic love story. Very epic in a way you'd never expect. The action sequence is so intense, it was perfect. I can't wait to see what else A.C. Gaughen has in store. If she can write a retelling of Robin Hood that is this good, she can do anything. :)

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Share your thoughts on Twitter with the hashtag #Scarlet!

Want more details about the read-along? Check out this post for all the details. ^_^


Thursday, November 29, 2012

Winners of The Game Changer Prize Packs are...


.....(drumroll please).....
 
CONGRATULATIONS
 
Mary Preston
&
Leocadia
 
 
You will both be receiving an email from me shortly for more info.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the giveaway! *many hugs*


Jessica

Update Thursday #87


Welcome to Update Thursday, my own personal meme of sorts where I post an update of the goings on at my blog, with reading and writing. Feel free to borrow the idea from me for your own bookish musings.

Reading...

Books I Finished:


Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell (-Goodreads-)
Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen (-Goodreads-)
Dark Waltz by A.M. Hargrove (-Goodreads-)

Books I'm reading:


City Of Bones by Cassandra Clare (-Goodreads-)
Among The Nameless Stars by Diana Peterfreund (-Goodreads-)
All The Broken Pieces by Cindi Madsen (-Goodreads-)


923 of 1026 E.E. Cummings poems finished (17 this week)

Writing...

~ If Only We ~ 41,429 ~
~ Before We Knew ~ 11, 449 ~
~ Whatever This Is ~ outlining ~
~ Under Enchanted Skies ~ 1,550/plotting ~
~ Beyond The Horizon ~ plotting ~
~ So I Thought ~ plotting ~
~ Hold Your Breath ~ plotting ~

The latest = At least I did SOMETHING this week. ^_^ And, actually, I've been working on something ELSE too... remember that story idea I've been talking about and how I was trying to figure out a title for it? Well... I finally did come up with a title... want to know what it is? Well... you'll have to wait! I am really excited about this new idea and once I get the basics worked out (and I get much closer to finishing If Only We), I will do a little reveal for you all! I actually was looking through some pictures on Dreamstime recently and I think I've already got a cover for it. Sorry, couldn't help myself... you know what happens when you get into a loop online, you just can't get out! Anyway, I'll tell you more soon.

Until next time!


Jessica

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Scarlet Read-Along: Quote or Teaser of the Week (4)


Welcome to the Scarlet Read-Along!

Marie at Ramblings of a Daydreamer and I are proud to present this read-along event to you.


Today we are going to share the quote or teaser from Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen that we liked in the last week. It can be from any part of the story. Please link up your post in the comments below so I can read your favorites!

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Quote Or Teaser...

I have two to share this week... The first had me rolling... so, as usual, I must share it. You know me. The second sounds like something I would say. You can add the first on Goodreads here, and the second one is here (I didn't add this one, so it has additional dialogue on it).
Rob looked a little shocked. "Don't you look at me like that," I snapped at him. "Just because I can't trim a beard don't mean I can't swear."

"Like a sailor," he added. "I've never heard so many curses in my whole life. All combined."
"I'm saying that some girls slap, but I have knives."
~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~

Share your thoughts on Twitter with the hashtag #Scarlet!

Want more details about the read-along? Check out this post for all the details. ^_^


Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Review: Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Title: Under The Never Sky
Author: Veronica Rossi
Published: January 3rd 2012
Source: Purchased
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian
Buy: Amazon ~*~ Barnes & Noble
Add to your Goodreads shelf
Caution: May contain spoilers
Since she'd been on the outside, she'd survived an Aether storm, she'd had a knife held to her throat, and she'd seen men murdered. This was worse.

Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland - known as The Death Shop - are slim. If the cannibals don't get her, the violent, electrified energy storms will. She's been taught that the very air she breathes can kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He's wild - a savage - and her only hope of staying alive.

A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile - everything he would expect from a Dweller. But he needs Aria's help too; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, Aria and Perry must accept each other to survive. Their unlikely alliance forges a bond that will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky.


~synopsis from Goodreads

My Thoughts:

I’ve heard amazing things about this book over and over and over again. When you hear amazing things, you can’t stop yourself from wanting to see it for yourself. So I had to snag a copy of this book. This story was a little different than I anticipated from the descriptions and reviews I read. But, not different in a bad way. It’s more like, I didn’t expect the story to be the way it was, the way it happened and developed.

The characters, all of them, have amazing depth. I liked being able to see from both Aria and Peregrine’s point of view. You could see and understand what it is like on each side of the spectrum--those on the outside versus the ones on the inside. The way the two of them interacted with each other was just priceless. At first they want nothing to do with each other, then they discover that the opposite is the truth. The love story was brilliantly handled. There was this intimacy between them where a touch was unwelcome and desired at the same time. Other characters, like Talon and Roar, were such great people. So much to say, so little time!

What I found most interesting was the paranormal aspect with people on the outside. I didn’t expect that to be the case in what I thought was a dystopian novel. But it was a very intriguing addition to the premise. There was so much to glean when it came to the different types of people, not just with the paranormal aspects, but also different outsiders that exist. Not only that, but the action was powerful and emotionally charged. Being outside of the Realms is seriously dangerous in many ways, but you know that being inside isn’t as safe as they claim either.

Under The Never Sky was amazing. Aria and Perry are in the top ten best literary couples of all time. There was something about them that just drew you in and you never wanted to look back. The action and the suspense and the people you meet… it was just perfect. Veronica Rossi has seriously impressed me. And now I need to read not only the next book in this series, but also the novella.

My Rating:


Monday, November 26, 2012

Scarlet Read-Along: Could you be one of the merrymen?


Welcome to the Scarlet Read-Along!

Marie at Ramblings of a Daydreamer and I are proud to present this read-along event to you.

Today we are going to discuss whether we could be one of the merrymen. While we read Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen, you have to be wondering if you could be there in the midst of everything yourself. Please link up your post in the comments below so I can read and find out if you could be one of the merrymen too!

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Could you be one of the merrymen?

You know, I've thought about this often over the month. It's a toss-up for me. I like to believe that I could be, because I am strong-willed and a fighter for justice. Plus, I would love to be the girl who can kick the butt of anyone at any time with awesome knife and fighting skills. But, part of me feels guilt over the idea of stealing, even if it is for a worthy reason. Then again, I'm one who takes things way to literally. If I were placed into this time period with these circumstances, HECK YES I could be one of the merrymen. And I would want to be. ^_^

~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~

Share your thoughts on Twitter with the hashtag #Scarlet!

Want more details about the read-along? Check out this post for all the details. ^_^


Sunday, November 25, 2012

Sunday Replay #14 + Oh eBay... + 2013


Sunday Replay is a weekly recap of the postings on this blog. I will also be sharing other articles and newsworthy items I've found interesting. I may even showcase some pictures I've uploaded.


Stuff from the blog this week:

In other news elsewhere on the internet..

~Oh eBay...~

So, I spent four hours yesterday listing 69 items on eBay. Yes, four hours; and yes, 69 items. I had to do it. My room is not extraordinarily spacious. Well, it's big, but, I own too much stuff. I have come to the conclusion that this means I need to buy a house. Lol. Actually, no, I just need to get rid of things. And over the next couple weeks, that is what shall happen.

~2013~

After the Scarlet Read-Along, I am going to need a bit of a break. I have barely been able to do any writing or reading this month (partially due to the eBay thing, and the attempt at reorganizing my room, which will not be complete until the eBay stuff has been shipped, also partially due to working 5 days a week instead of 3 like I was at the old job). So... I need a break to get caught up with everything. I will have reviews scheduled the whole month of December, and you'll still get Update Thursday and Sunday Replay (along with a couple of yearly wrap up posts), but that's about it. Instead, I will be working on some 2013 plans.

I took a gander at my 2012 plans and found myself slightly amused. I thought I took on a reasonable amount of reading challenges... which it WOULD have been had I not purchased so many that didn't count toward them. *facepalm* Also, I promised myself I would have my book published by the end of this year. It's not going to happen. I'm a mix of irritated and okay with it. I wish I could have been more dedicated earlier in the year, but, I don't think my draft would be what it is now had I done more of it then.

Back on point... I'm going to spend the first couple weeks in December figuring out what I want to do for 2013. Then I'll be sharing these changes with you middle of the month. Based on the thoughts I've already been having, it's going to be some pretty big changes. But, that's all I'm gonna say! Muahahaha! ^_^


Much love to all!


Friday, November 23, 2012

Scarlet Read-Along: Weekly Link Up--Week Three



Welcome to the Scarlet Read-Along!

Marie at Ramblings of a Daydreamer and I are proud to present this read-along event to you.

Today we are going to discuss what we thought during week three of reading Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen. Our fourth assignment in the read-along was to read the chapters ten through thirteen. Please link up your post in the comments below so I can read and discuss the book with you too!

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Week Three: Chapters 10-13...

Still so much going on. When Scarlet got upset over somebody not approving of what she does to get the things she gives away, that has to hurt. It leads to finding out more about her past--the heartbreak and the emotions all stirred up. It was intense. I have to say that I agreed with Scarlet when she was saying that it felt like everything was going too well and she could feel something bad coming around the corner. Been there... it's a bad feeling to have. I'd say especially so with the dangers they are exposed to.

One thing I'm NOT going to comment on... those who are reading the book know what I'm talking about... so I am not going to mention it in specifics to not ruin it for those who haven't read it yet. So... I'll leave it at that... *punches fist into pillow*

And then... how that last chapter ended... Whoa... just WHOA... If I had more time to read, I probably would have out of sheer curiosity. I so cannot wait to see how this ends. It's just too awesome and crazy and scary all at once. I love it.

~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~

Next Week...


November 1st - 2nd: Chapter 1
November 3rd - 9th: Chapters 2-5
November 10th - 16th: Chapters 6-9
November 17th - 23rd: Chapters 10-13
November 24th - 30th: Chapters 14-16

Share your thoughts on Twitter with the hashtag #Scarlet!

Want more details about the read-along? Check out this post for all the details. ^_^


Thursday, November 22, 2012

Update Thursday #86


Welcome to Update Thursday, my own personal meme of sorts where I post an update of the goings on at my blog, with reading and writing. Feel free to borrow the idea from me for your own bookish musings.

Reading...

Books I Finished:


The Waiting Sky by Lara Zielin (-Goodreads-)

Books I'm reading:


Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell (-Goodreads-)
Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen (-Goodreads-)
City Of Bones by Cassandra Clare (-Goodreads-)


906 of 1026 E.E. Cummings poems finished (30 this week)

Writing...

~ If Only We ~ 40,496 ~
~ Before We Knew ~ 11, 449 ~
~ Whatever This Is ~ outlining ~
~ Under Enchanted Skies ~ 1,550/plotting ~
~ Beyond The Horizon ~ plotting ~
~ So I Thought ~ plotting ~
~ Hold Your Breath ~ plotting ~

The latest = Nothing. That's right. Nothing. Well, nothing on If Only We. I did write a couple notes on things I need to adjust/change with regard to certain details in the beginning, but that was it. I haven't had much of a chance to sit down and get back to writing and revising that this week. I've been too busy getting eBay and Etsy stuff up for sale. It's the time to sell so I must get it going! I have, however, been working on a NEW story idea that came to me recently. I wrote several notes in my phone (I think there were 20 of them) with ideas for the general plot PLUS a few specific scenes. Then I typed them into my computer so I wouldn't forget them. It's going to be awesome! I can't wait to work on this new one when If Only We is complete. I'm still working on a title. I hope to have one soon and put it on the above update.

Until next time!


Jessica

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Scarlet Read-Along: Quote or Teaser of the Week (3)


Welcome to the Scarlet Read-Along!

Marie at Ramblings of a Daydreamer and I are proud to present this read-along event to you.


Today we are going to share the quote or teaser from Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen that we liked in the last week. It can be from any part of the story. Please link up your post in the comments below so I can read your favorites!

~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~

Quote Or Teaser...

This one, to me, was a very inspiring quote. It's one that really touched me because it's so very true to life that you want to just nod in agreement. It was spoken by Robin. Add it on Goodreads here.

“Because we always have a choice, even when it feels like we don't.”

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Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Review: Confessions of an Angry Girl by Louise Rozett

Title: Confessions of an Angry Girl
Author: Louise Rozett
Published: August 28th 2012
Source: Purchased
Genre: Young Adult
Buy: Amazon ~*~ Barnes & Noble
Add to your Goodreads shelf
Caution: May contain spoilers
Freshman Rose Zarelli has rage issues.

First of all, her father lost his job, took work as a contractor in Iraq...and never came home.

Second, she likes the wrong guy and his super-intense, scary cheerleader girlfriend is now her nemesis.

Third, her fashionista best friend, Tracy, is suddenly infinitely cooler than she is—and talking about losing her virginity. (What?!)

Rose is ahead when it comes to studying for the PSAT, but she’s so far behind socially that she might as well be moving backward. She needs Tracy’s help choosing the right clothes, she likes all the wrong extracurricular activities, and she can’t even make a decision about which photo of her father to put on the memorial website she’s making (and hiding from her adolescent-shrink mother).

With her brother away at college and her mother always locked in her office with her messed-up teen patients, Rose struggles to get through each day without inflicting bodily harm on anyone.


~synopsis from Goodreads
My Thoughts:

It’s funny. I claim to loathe drama, yet I am drawn to reading and watching it. When I read the synopsis on the back of this book (not the Goodreads above), I knew I would be drawn into the drama. There was something underneath the surface that was amusing in a way, because people in high school have mixed priorities. But there was a lot, A LOT, more to this book.

Rose may be angry, but it’s relatively justifiable, to a degree. Of course, her reactions are a little over the top. She is fourteen, so I factored that into the equation. And although she had those moments of saying the wrong things, mean things, I still liked her. Why? She was coping with the sudden death of her father, which has been rough on the whole family. And despite the way she sometimes treated them, she was still a good person.

This comes out when she makes a choice that causes many of her classmates to hate her. She did the right thing, but they don’t see it that way. Rose begins getting bullied, and in some pretty harsh ways. Her best friend Tracy is caught in the middle of it all, trying to get on the good side of the cheerleaders. The meanest of mean girls, Regina (yes, giggles ensue due to the fact that the first thing I thought of here was Mean Girls), is behind the misery brought upon Rose. Then there is Jamie, Regina’s boyfriend. He’s suddenly there for Rose, reaching out to her as a friend. And when they kiss, everything is changing. What does it mean?

Confessions Of An Angry Girl was a deep story of youth mired in various losses and mixed emotions. Rose’s story was portrayed in a very true to life way. I could understand her. And those kisses? Very well done. This is only the first book, and it sort of ends in a way that makes you desire answers. Louise Rozett really pulled off a great debut. I can’t wait to see Rose continue to grow in the next book.

My Rating:

Monday, November 19, 2012

Scarlet Read-Along: Who is your favorite character?


Welcome to the Scarlet Read-Along!

Marie at Ramblings of a Daydreamer and I are proud to present this read-along event to you.

Today we are going to talk about who our favorite character is in Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen. Please link up your post in the comments below so I can read and learn who your favorite is too!

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Who is your favorite character?

Favorite? Like one? Um... no, I'm picking two. Scarlet and Robin. Hands down. I love them. Apart they are so multifaceted in their manner of dealing with others and the way they think and speak; together they are an inspiring love story. I do love the other characters; they add a good balance to the mix. But there's just something about Scarlet and Robin that keeps me coming back for more and more! I just <3 them!!!

~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~

Share your thoughts on Twitter with the hashtag #Scarlet!

Want more details about the read-along? Check out this post for all the details. ^_^


Sunday, November 18, 2012

Sunday Replay #13 + Long Days


Sunday Replay is a weekly recap of the postings on this blog. I will also be sharing other articles and newsworthy items I've found interesting. I may even showcase some pictures I've uploaded.


Stuff from the blog this week:


In other news elsewhere on the internet..


    ~Long Days~

    Well, worked on the room again today. Made a little bit of progress but not as much as I wanted to. I put on a couple movies to pass the time while I was writing up lists of things that need to go on eBay, but I think they distracted me more than anything. I suppose music does work better to keep me motivated and working. Oh well. I just remembered a few minutes ago that I not only needed to post this, but I also have 5 packages to put together and take to the post office in the morning... AHHH!!! My own fault for procrastinating... and going shopping all day yesterday (which wasn't productive clothes-wise, but I found some other cute things). Now, to post this and get to the packages AND cleaning up the strewn out mess in my room.


    Much love to all!


    Scarlet Read-Along: The Sherwood Forest Feast!


    Welcome to the Scarlet Read-Along!

    Marie at Ramblings of a Daydreamer and I are proud to present this read-along event to you.


    Today you are invited to... The Sherwood Forest Feast! While reading Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen, you can't help but want to live in it for at least a moment in time. So, let's have dinner! What would you bring? What would you wear? Who would you bring? What games would you play? Share pictures, recipes, drawings, and/or descriptions of any or all the above!

    Please link up your post in the comments below so I can read and discuss the book with you too!

    ~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~

    The Sherwood Forest Feast...

    Okay, since I don't really have any pictures (of my own) to share, I'm going to talk about the different things instead!

    I would bring... MEAT PIE... because it sounds so good. Here's a recipe I found online. Mmm... now that I'm reading the ingredients, I want to make it! <3

    I would wear... A DARK GREEN DRESS... gorgeous and soft and lovely. Like this one I found on Pinterest.

    I would bring... MY FRIEND REBECCA... she loves this time period and I'm planning on letting her borrow this book when the read-along is over. ^_^

    I would play... ARCHERY... um, obviously because it is AWESOME. Here's a picture from Pinterest.

    ~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~


    Friday, November 16, 2012

    Scarlet Read-Along: Weekly Link Up--Week Two

     
    Welcome to the Scarlet Read-Along!

    Marie at Ramblings of a Daydreamer and I are proud to present this read-along event to you.

    Today we are going to discuss what we thought during week two of reading Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen. Our third assignment in the read-along was to read the chapters six through nine. Please link up your post in the comments below so I can read and discuss the book with you too!

    ~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~

    Week Two: Chapters 6-9...

    SO I'm a bit late at posting this since I didn't have a chance to read the last chapter until last night at 11:00 pm (sorry about the delay!)... here's my thoughts for the week!!!

    I got a nice little peek into Scarlet's softer side, which I knew was there from the beginning, plus more of her selflessness. There are pieces of Scarlet's past that are coming together to create a picture. There was also more learned about Robin and his past before he came back (to which I have a quote of the week from for next week). And a sneaky turn of events... that make me want to punch people in the face. It always burns me when people think they're safe in an unsafe environment.

    Oh man... and then there's Robin and Scarlet... and John and Scarlet... Stupid love triangle!!! Argh!!! I can see that John has feelings for Scarlet, but there's something more to what there is between Robin and Scarlet. Something deeper. And um..... *swoons and passes out*... Yeah, he's gotten to me, heart and soul. <3

    ~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~

    Next Week...


    November 1st - 2nd: Chapter 1
    November 3rd - 9th: Chapters 2-5
    November 10th - 16th: Chapters 6-9
    November 17th - 23rd: Chapters 10-13
    November 24th - 30th: Chapters 14-16

    Share your thoughts on Twitter with the hashtag #Scarlet!

    Want more details about the read-along? Check out this post for all the details. ^_^

    Thursday, November 15, 2012

    Update Thursday #85




    Welcome to Update Thursday, my own personal meme of sorts where I post an update of the goings on at my blog, with reading and writing. Feel free to borrow the idea from me for your own bookish musings.

    Reading...

    Books I Finished:


    The Evolution Of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin (-Goodreads-) 

    Books I'm reading:



    The Waiting Sky by Lara Zielin (-Goodreads-)
    Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen (-Goodreads-)
    City Of Bones by Cassandra Clare (-Goodreads-)


    876 of 1026 E.E. Cummings poems finished (21 this week)

    Writing...

    ~ If Only We ~ 40,496 ~
    ~ Before We Knew ~ 11, 449 ~
    ~ Whatever This Is ~ outlining ~
    ~ Under Enchanted Skies ~ 1,550/plotting ~
    ~ Beyond The Horizon ~ plotting ~
    ~ So I Thought ~ plotting ~
    ~ Hold Your Breath ~ plotting ~

    The latest = I actually did all those words (1700) in one night. It was an epic night. I expected to have at least one more night to write, but not this week. I finished reading a book instead. We'll see how this next week goes... I'm getting into the end of the book, and there were several scenes that I actually did have written during NaNo (I'd say maybe 75% of what I've been doing for the last 15,000 words has been filler scenes in between the important conversations and acts). So my numbers may jump a little bit over the coming weeks, which will be awesome if they do (as long as I can tweak most of what has already been written to fit in with the revised plot). *crosses fingers*

    Until next time!

    Jessica