Tuesday, December 31, 2013

The 2013 Official Wrap Up Post


I know, right? It's the end of 2013 and I can't believe it! Here's a wrap up on my year at Thoughts with links to all the reviews posted this year and all the books I read.

The Books I Read...

1. Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky
2.
3. Desire by Kailin Gow
4. Rapunzel Untangled by Cindy C. Bennett
5.
6. Elixir by Hilary Duff
7. Being Henry David by Cal Armistead
8. Casey Barnes Eponymous by E.A. Rigg
9. Waiting For The Storm by Marie Landry
10. Going Vintage by Lindsay Leavitt
11. Pretty Girl-13 by Liz Coley
12. Wallbanger by Alice Clayton
13. Mrs. Frisby And The Rats Of NIHM by Robert C. O'Brien
14. Anna And The French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
15. Snowed Over by Angie Stanton
16. Triangles by Ellen Hopkins
17. Edge Of Disaster by A.M. Hargrove
18. The Authoritative Calvin And Hobbes by Bill Watterson
19. Just One Day by Gayle Forman
20. Shut Out by Kody Kepplinger
21. The Get Fuzzy Experience: Are You Bucksperienced by Darby Conley
22. Suffocate by S.R. Johannes
23. Serial Hottie by Kelly Oram
24. Escape Theory by Margaux Froley
25. Precious Things by Stephanie Parent
26. Addicted To You by Krista Richie & Becca Richie
27. Losing It by Cora Carmack
28. Requiem by Lauren Oliver
29. Green Eyes by Abe Birnbaum
30. Garfield: The Cat Show by Norma Simone
31. Hysteria by Megan Miranda
32. Getting Over Garrett Delaney by Abby McDonald
33. Walt Disney's Cinderella by Walt Disney Company
34. A Busy Day For Stegosaurus by Dawn Bentley
35. Psych Major Syndrome by Alicia Thompson
36. His Wicked Games by Ember Casey
37. Garfield Out To Lunch by Jim Davis
38. Locked by Maya Cross
39. Foreplay by Sophie Jordan
40. A Thirty-Something Girl by L.M. Stull
41. Fearless by Tawny Weber
42. Words of Lust by Lise Horton
43. Cake by Lauren Dane
44. Truth or Dare by Ember Casey
45. Fanny by Stephen Cosgrove
46. Like Mandarin by Kirsten Hubbard
47. The Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Marie Landry
48. Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
49. Northanger Alibi by Jenni James
50. No Strings Attached by Nicolette Day
51. Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally
52. After the Kiss by Lauren Layne
53. Wrong Bed, Right Guy by Katee Robert
54. Finding It by Cora Carmack
55. Wicked Heat by Nicola Marsh
56. Undressed by Marie Landry
57. Smoke by Ellen Hopkins
58. Becoming Bryn by Angela Carling
59. Rushing Into Love by Ashelyn Drake
60. Layers Deep by Lacey Silks
61. To Be Perfectly Honest by Sonya Sones
62. Switched by Cassie Mae
63. My First, My Last by Lacey Silks
64. Hard to Handle by Jessica Lemmon
65. The Almost Girl by Amalie Howard
66. Kiss Me Again by Rachel Vail
67. Entwine by Rebecca Berto
68. Allegiant by Veronica Roth
69. Sweet Victory by Ember Casey
70. Down for the Count by Christine Bell
71. No Dress Required by Cari Quinn
72. Sneaking Candy by Lisa Burstein
73. Elevator Heat by B.D. Rowe
74. Bossy Request by Lacey Silks
75. Six Dinner Sid by Inga Moore

The Books I Reviewed...

Cummings, E.E. Complete Poems, 1904-1962


,
(01/22/2013)
(01/24/2013)
(01/29/2013)
(02/05/2013)
(02/07/2013)
(02/12/2013)
(02/19/2013)
(02/21/2013)
(02/26/2013)
Beagle, Peter S.: The Last Unicorn (The Last Unicorn #1)
Duff, Hilary: Elixir (Elixir #1) (03/07/2013)
Coley, Liz: Pretty Girl-13 (03/12/2013)
Leavitt, Lindsey: Going Vintage (03/19/2013)
Rigg, E.A.: Casey Barnes Eponymous (04/02/2013)
Landry, Marie: Waiting For The Storm (05/07/2013)
Clayton, Alice: Wallbanger (Cocktail #1) (05/21/2013)
O'Brien, Robert C.: Mrs. Frisby And The Rats Of NIMH (05/28/2013)
(06/04/2013)
Stanton, Angie: Snowed Over (06/11/2013)
Hopkins, Ellen: Triangles (06/18/2013)
Hargrove, A.M.: Edge Of Disaster (An Edge Novel #1) (06/25/2013)
26). Keplinger, Kody: Shut Out (07/02/2013)
27). Forman, Gayle: Just One Day (Just One Day #1) (07/09/2013)
28). (07/15/2013)
29). Oram, Kelly: Serial Hottie (07/23/2013)
30). Froley, Margaux: Escape Theory (Keaton School #1) (07/30/2013)
31). Parent, Stephanie: Precious Things (08/06/2013)
32). Richie, Krista & Richie, Becca: Addicted To You (Addicted #1) (08/14/2013)
33). (08/22/2013)
34). (08/27/2013)
35). (09/03/2013)
36). Horton, Lise: Words Of Lust (09/12/2013)
37). Weber, Tawny: Fearless (09/14/2013)
38). Dane, Lauren: Cake (09/15/2013)
39). (09/17/2013)
40). Cross, Maya: Locked (The Alpha Group #1) (09/24/2013)
41). White, E.B.: Charlotte's Web (09/28/2013)
42). (10/01/2013)
43). (10/15/2013)
44). (10/22/2013)
45). Thompson, Alicia: Psych Major Syndrome (10/24/2013)
46). Landry, Marie: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (11/05/2013)
47). Jordan, Sophie: Foreplay (The Ivy Chronicles #1) (11/06/2013)
48). Kenneally, Miranda: Stealing Parker (Hundred Oaks #2) (11/15/2013)
49). James, Jenni: Northanger Alibi (The Jane Austen Diaries #2) (11/20/2013)
50). Drake, Ashelyn: Rushing Into Love (Campus Romance #3) (11/21/2013)
51). (11/26/2013)
52). Hubbard, Kirsten: Like Mandarin (11/28/2013)
53). (11/29/2013)
54). (12/03/2013)
55). Hopkins, Ellen: Smoke (Burned #2) (12/13/2013)
56). Sones, Sonya: To Be Perfectly Honest: A Novel Based on an Untrue Story (12/16/2013)
57). Vail, Rachel: Kiss Me Again (If We Kiss #2) (12/21/2013)
58). Layne, Lauren: After the Kiss (Sex, Love & Stiletto, #1) (12/23/2013)
59). Day, Nicolette: No Strings Attached (Falling For You #1) (12/27/2013)

Jessica

December Update at Thoughts


I've decided to do monthly updates instead of weekly updates here at Thoughts. So here's a racap of the month of December for you.


~*Reviews*~

TOTAL: 6

Switched by Cassie Mae
Smoke by Ellen Hopkins
To Be Perfectly Honest: A Novel Based on an Untrue Story by Sonya Sones
Kiss Me Again by Rachel Vail
After the Kiss by Lauren Layne
No Strings Attached by Nicolette Day

~*Books Finished*~

TOTAL: 7

 Sweet Victory (His Wicked Games #2.5) by Ember Casey
Down for the Count (Dare Me #1) by Christine Bell
No Dress Required (Love Required #1) by Cari Quinn
 Sneaking Candy by Lisa Burstein
Elevator Heat by B.D. Rowe
Bossy Request by Lacey Silks
Six Dinner Sid by Inga Moore

~*Tours/Blasts/Reveals*~

Book Blitz: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Marie Landry!
Book Blitz & Excerpt: Stir Me Up by Sabrina Elkins!
Cover Reveal: All I Ever Wanted Anthology
Book Blitz: At Any Price by Brenna Aubrey
Book Blitz: Layers Deep by Lacey Silks
Book Blitz: Curve by Nicola Hudson

~*Otherwise*~

Stacking The Shelves #20: November Edition
If We Were Having Coffee...
2014 Bloggish (and Bookish) Plans
The Classics Reading Challenge 2014 Sign Ups!
The Classics Reading Challenge 2014 (my sign up post)
Making 2013 The Best Year Ever...

~*As for me...*~

Not too much to say actually! I've been mostly working and sometimes writing and reading and hanging out with family and friends. It has been two months since If Only We was published, so that's kind of exciting. I can't wait for 2014 to start so I can clean the slate and get back on track. There's SO MUCH to do and so little time.


Hopefully everyone has had a great December and here's to a great January!!

Jessica

Monday, December 30, 2013

Making 2013 The Best Year Ever...


Upon stepping into 2013, I had very high hopes. A very optimistic view. You remember my post on January 1st about living life to the fullest and making every moment count. I was determined to make 2013 the best year ever. I created a bucket list on Pinterest. I even filled out Susannah Conway's Unravelling the Year Ahead workbook. I had goals and dreams and I was so excited for 2013.

Did 2013 turn out to be the best year ever? I don't want to outright say no, because that almost makes it sound negative. It wasn't the "best year ever" but it wasn't everything I hoped.

In the last month or so, I've been having slightly negative thoughts about 2013. I knew the year was almost over and there was so much more that I wanted to do, so much more that I wanted to be. It was really getting to me and I knew that if I kept the negativity up, it was not going to help me move forward in life. So I took a step back and considered the positive things that did happen in 2013 and see what it meant to where I am now.

You know what I discovered? 2013 was a much more important year in my life than I ever imagined possible.

I may not have accomplished several things I wanted to, but I finished and published my first novel. I may not have gotten out of pharmacy forever, but I'm in a job that I'm really enjoying. I may not be as fearless as I would like to be, but my confidence alone has built up higher than I ever thought possible. And I may not have done much with friends throughout the year, but I have learned so much about life in general from them.

I went into 2013 expecting one thing, but I came out of it with something else entirely. I've become a new person, one with a new perspective. Every day is a learning experience. Every person we encounter has something to teach us. If we turn our backs on these things, we're going to have a lot of regrets.

Honestly? 2013 didn't happen how I thought it would. Not everything went as planned. Or as I expected them to. And yes, some things didn't happen as I wanted them to. And yet, everything that did happen--I'm fine with it. More than fine. Like I always say, I'm not going to regret things because without them I'm not me. So, the good and the bad and even the things I kinda sorta regret, I'm glad for them all. I needed this year, more than I thought.

I am grateful for everything 2013 has brought to me, because without 2013 I wouldn't be where I am today.


Jessica

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Book Blitz: Curve by Nicola Hudson



Welcome to the Curve by Nicola Hudson book blitz!

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Title: Curve
Author: Nicola Hudson
Release date: October 25th, 2013
Genre: New Adult
Tour: Irresistible Reads Book Tours
The book will be on sale from December 27th to January 3rd

A New Adult novel suitable for readers aged 15+, due to strong language, sensitive themes and sexual content.

Cass is seventeen and never been kissed, let alone touched, when two boys become interested in her. Flynn is the older brother of her best friend, yet Cass has never considered him as anything other than that. Rob is the school sports star and becomes obsessed with Cass when he loses a bet because of her. As the relationship between Cass and Flynn develops, Rob's interest becomes increasingly malevolent. One night changes Cass's life and threatens to destroy her relationship with Flynn, as well as her future.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18299202-curve?ac=1
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Curve-Nicola-Hudson-ebook/dp/B00G4RETSW/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1&qid=1387818266 

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About the Author:

I am a new British writer.

Obviously, I love reading and reading about reading. My taste goes from Shakespeare to John Green...and much of what lies between! Dickens, check. Austen, check. Atwood, check. Over Christmas 2012, I discovered the joy of new adult fiction and, inspired by Colleen Hoover and Tammara Webber, I decided to try my hand at writing my own NA novel.

I love the friendliness of the Indie writer community and have been overwhelmed by the support of followers interested in my journey. Please feel free to monitor my publishing progress via my Facebook page :-)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicolahudsonauthor?ref=hl

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http://bit.ly/18LQO9Q

Jessica

Saturday, December 28, 2013

The Classics Reading Challenge 2014


As the creator of this challenge, I am going to be the first one to sign up for it! Here's the link to the sign up post here on Thoughts. The point of this challenge is to read at least ONE classic novel in 2014. It's easy, it's simple... and it's rewarding!

Okay... I have been itching to reread a few of my favorites from when I was younger. There are several that I have not read in literally TEN years or more and I am really anxious to read and fall in love all over again.

Here's the list of what I would like to read in 2014:

1. Anne Of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
2. The 101 Dalmatians by Dodie Smith
3. Emily Of New Moon by L.M. Montgomery

These were on my list for 2013 and I didn't get around to them. I'd like to at least read one or two of them this coming year if possible.

Jessica

The Classics Reading Challenge 2014 Sign Ups!


Welcome to
The Classics Reading Challenge!

The original version of this challenge involved reading classics you haven’t read. It also had different number levels to reach. I wanted to change this up based on some suggestions I’ve gotten.

Instead of having designated levels, there will be no levels. The thing I think is most important about me starting this challenge is to get out of my comfort zone and read a book a lot of people have read and enjoyed for many years. Classics are classics for a reason, and I want to take the time to read some of them. So when you sign up for this challenge, I believe that even making it a goal to read ONE classic novel in a year is a worthy and reachable goal.

Also, instead of reading only books you have not read yet, I am going to include that you may also reread one that you have already read. There are a few classics that I have loved and really would love to read again.

Bottom line... this is a just for fun challenge to break up our regular reading program with something different. <3

Rules:
  • Read at least ONE classic novel in 2014.
  • For this challenge, any book published prior to 1980 counts.
  • Books you have never read and rereads both count.
  • You do not have to pick out the book(s) you want to read yet.

If you need some suggestions on what books to read, please check out the following: Wikipedia's 100 Classic Book Collection and Greatest Novels of the 20th Century.

That's about it! I hope to have you join in with me on reading at least one classic novel in 2014. After challenging myself to reading a few, I have found it very rewarding. So, join in on the fun! <3

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Jessica

2014 Bloggish (and Bookish) Plans


2013 is coming to a close and it's time to start thinking ahead on 2014 and what I want to be doing with the blog. There won't be as many changes as I thought when I started this post, but there will be some. I've been trying to find a balance between everything, and this blog needs some balancing out. I would like to contribute something more than all the same, but I don't want to overwhelm myself with extra work.

So here we go...

End of the Month Updates

I really like doing the monthly updates versus the weekly updates. It's less time consuming and it is a lot easier to keep track of. And personally, I think it looks a lot better than my weekly updates did. The weekly updates were just too hard for me to keep up with. So, the monthly updates are here to stay!

Once a Month Non-Meme Post

I really REALLY got out of the habit of posting discussion and personal posts this year. Part of the reason why is probably because it takes a long time for me to write up a whole post about a certain topic. I'll get started on it, but never finish because I run out of time. Instead of putting up some out of reach goal, I want to start by at least putting together ONE post per month that isn't a review or meme or blitz or tour. It might be personal or it might be bookish. I just want to add a little more quality to my blog, which it has been seriously lacking for awhile.

Memes/Blitzes/Tours

While I'm not a huge fan of memes, I still like to participate in Stacking the Shelves once a month. I also want to once in awhile participate in other memes, like Top Ten Tuesday or Waiting On Wednesday, when I feel like I can put one together. There are certain TTT that have themes I feel I can make a top ten with, and sometimes there are certain books we really want to read and want to tell our blog buddies all about. So, why not?

As far as blitzes and tours go, I like to participate in some of these. Part of the reason why is because I'm an indie author and I want to help out other indie authors in promoting their books. Also, there are some that feature books I have read and want to promote. If my post can help them sell a book or two, then my job is complete. There are at least two friends who are putting out their debut novel in 2014, so I definitely want to do what I can for them.

Reviews

I've been able to manage one review a week on average this year, and I would like to keep that up for next year too. It would be nice if I could increase the number of reviews per month to average more like 6-7 instead of just 4-5. So, I'm going to aim for higher if possible, but as long as I can continue to write one a week, I'll be happy.

Reading Goals

I set a really high goal this year (of reading 75 books total), thinking it would be a piece of cake for me to reach it. Little did I know, I would have obstacles and slumps. So I started to read shorter books and children's books to add to the book total. It helped get me a little further ahead while I was waiting for more time to read longer books. I managed to reach the goal, which seems like a miracle, but I don't think I want to do that again. So, I'm setting my goal back down to 52 like it was in 2012. One book a week is a good goal. It allows me more free time to write like I want to in 2014.

I'm also going to continue with my goal of reading ONE classic book a year. I think it's a worthwhile goal for even non-readerly types of people. And by classic book, I mean anything published before 1980. There are lots of great books from the 50s, 60s, and 70s and they shouldn't be overlooked. I haven't decided which one I want to read yet, but possibly one of the three I didn't read this year (Anne of Green Gables or Emily of New Moon by L.M. Montgomery or 101 Dalmatians by Dodie Smith).

There you have it!

That's all I can think of at the moment. Of course, I always adapt things through the year. I've adapted through 2013 to keep things fresh, and to keep me motivated to keep going on this blog. It's easy to get in a blogging slump but sometimes all you need is to change things up to get the love for blogging back.

Can't wait to see all of you around in 2014!

Jessica

Friday, December 27, 2013

Review: No Strings Attached by Nicolette Day

Title: No Strings Attached
Author: Nicolette Day
Published: June 10th 2013
Source: Purchased
Genre: New Adult Contemporary
Buy: Amazon ~*~ Barnes & Noble
Add to your Goodreads shelf
Caution: May contain spoilers
She wants one night. He wants her forever.

Hayden Summers just landed the job of a lifetime taking pictures for Time magazine, but she’s determined to leave with no regrets. The first thing on her list? Erase the memory of her cheating ex with a wild night of anonymous sex. The second? Figure out why her best friend, sexy bar owner Jace Jennings, stopped speaking to her the night she told him about the job.

Jace has a problem. Hayden isn’t just leaving the country, she’s risking her life—just when he’s realized he’s in love with her. When fate traps them in the storage room of his bar together, barely contained desire simmers to surface. In one last attempt to keep her, Jace offers Hayden the one thing she wants: a night of hot sex, no strings attached. But when the night is over, will Jace be able to let her go? And will Hayden leave with her heart intact?

My Thoughts:

I love a good novella, and this one delivered. The length of it was actually quite perfect. I mean, I liked the characters enough that I would have loved to see more of them, but, I liked how the story was to the point and it didn't drag on like some stories can when they are full length.

Hayden definitely has the wrong idea, going after a stranger, especially when someone as amazing as Jace is there. I kinda fell for him myself, he has so much more to offer her than any random guy. Their relationship, before the story starts and during the story, is very adorable, and their chemistry is electric. The friendship made the romance amazing.

No Strings Attached has no strings attached. You are in for a very quick and satisfying romantic read. I can't wait to see what other steamy stories Nicolette Day has in store!

My Rating:

Monday, December 23, 2013

Review: After the Kiss by Lauren Layne

Title: After The Kiss
Author: Lauren Layne
Published: August 26th 2013
Source: Copy given by author for honest review
Genre: New Adult Contemporary
Buy: Amazon ~*~ Barnes & Noble
Add to your Goodreads shelf
Caution: May contain spoilers
Julie Greene loves flings. Loves steamy first dates, sizzling first kisses, and every now and then, that first sexy romp between the sheets. Comfy pants, sleepy Sundays, movie nights on the couch? Shudder. But when Julie gets assigned the hardest story of her career—a first-person account of that magical shift between dating and “I do”—she’ll need a man brave enough to give a total commitment-phobe a chance at more.

Normally, Mitchell Forbes would be exactly that man. A devastatingly hot workaholic who tends to stay in relationships for far too long, he should be the perfect subject for Julie’s “research.” But what Julie doesn’t know is that Mitchell is looking to cut loose for once in his life. And the leggy journalist notorious for avoiding love is exactly the type of no-strings fling he’s looking for. In other words, Mitchell is the polar opposite of what Julie needs right now. And, at the same time, he’s exactly what she wants.

My Thoughts:

This one was surprisingly a lot better than I expected it would be. The premise is very How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days (as others have pointed out), but I think this one goes a lot deeper. And I liked that, a lot. There was more to the relationship than meets the eye.

Julie is the type who fights a relationship where you're settled down and comfortable, where it goes beyond the first moments. Seeing her struggle to fight while wanting a real relationship was impressively balanced. And Mitchell, well, it's hard to imagine a girl not desiring more than just a couple dates. He's the type to want more than just a fling, but he's trying to prove he can have a fling. But the chemistry between Julie and Mitchell is beyond what either of them expected and not at all what they planned.

After the Kiss showed the line between truth and pretending. Julie and Mitchell managed to discover where they really stand despite the games being played in the background. I liked how Lauren Layne got me invested in their relationship and I can't wait to see what's in store for the others in the rest of the series, including the next story, Love the One You're With.

My Rating:

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Review: Kiss Me Again by Rachel Vail

Title: Kiss Me Again
Author: Rachel Vail
Published: December 5th 2012
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Buy: Amazon ~*~ Barnes & Noble
Add to your Goodreads shelf
Caution: May contain spoilers

He closed the distance I'd opened up between us and kissed me lightly on the lips. "Maybe we can just be," Kevin whispered.

Charlie Collins doesn't know what to do about Kevin Lazarus, her crush and, awkwardly, her new stepbrother. Things were complicated enough when their parents were only dating and when Kevin was going out with Charlie's best friend, Tess. Now, post-wedding, Charlie and Kevin are crossing paths and crossing lines, and then they have to eat breakfast . . . together.

If only Charlie could get some time away from Kevin and her annoyingly happy and strange stepfamily, she might be able to deal. Yet first she has to make things right with George, her sort-of boyfriend, and Tess, whose trust she broke. But while Charlie struggles to be the perfect friend and daughter, at the end of the day Kevin is the one waiting for her at home. Would it really be so bad if they kissed again?

The follow-up to If We Kiss, Rachel Vail's addictive story of first kisses and heartbreak, Kiss Me Again at long last answers the question of what happens when a crush so off-limits it has to be a fantasy suddenly becomes something very real.

My Thoughts:

This book. Oh my. Okay, so I've been saying off and on about how YA has been kinda "meh" for me as of late. However, this one really had me involved in the story, sitting on the edge of my seat, and pining away for the love to happen.

I read If We Kiss awhile ago and it was one of those absolutely adorable stories. I imagined myself as Charlie and felt all those feelings about what would happen if I kissed Kevin. And then we're taken down that path again in Kiss Me Again, a story I never expected to see written. If We Kiss had been written in a way that seemed like the story had been told. Little did I know, the story wasn't over. Having it continue was a brilliant idea, and I loved to see Charlie and Kevin again, and watch their chemistry unfold over and over again... Oh SWOON.

Kiss Me Again is a worthwhile sequel to a just as great first book. I will admit that yes, I picked this one up a few times JUST to reread the kissing scenes. I mean, the title is Kiss Me Again, why wouldn't they be good? Am I right? Just go out there and get your hands on both If We Kiss and then Kiss Me Again. Rachel Vail knows how to write young adult right and I will keep reading her books.

My Rating:

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

If We Were Having Coffee...

After seeing several of these posts from friends like Marie and Molli (among several other lovely blogger friends, like Ashley and Jamie who got this going) I had to do one of my own. It seemed very... necessary... to me. Feel free to share a comment below or even talk about it on Twitter with me. ^_^


If we were having coffee... I would tell you that I have gone through a lot of ups and downs in the last few years. Although it has gotten a lot better in recent times, I still have my moments, moments of questioning if I'm truly happy. While these "downs" try to completely bring me down, I've grown so much stronger as time has gone on that they never do. They do take their toll on me, there's no doubt there. But if you were to compare how I react today to how I reacted a few years ago, you would see how much I've learned to let go and move on. I have resolved to turn these bad moments into fuel to make things positive again. And that's what keeps me going.

If we were having coffee... I would say that this last year has been full (and I mean FULL) of new things. These things aren't all big things either (like moving out on my own). It's the little things too. Like how the other day, a stranger at the gas station told me that the front tire on my car was low and I should fill it up. This time last year, I probably would have had a panic attack over what to do, but the new me? I pulled my car around to the air compressor and filled it up, even though I've never used one before. It has been quite a learning experience for me. Sometimes it's scary to be put in new situations or learn new things, but it has been very good for me. Empowering.

If we were having coffee... I would tell you about how I've been going through a little bit of a reading and writing slump lately. It's been a back and forth thing all year long, but I've been noticing that it's really changing. I love to read but I think that my blog has gotten in the way of my writing. It's a catch-22 though because this blog is what helped GET me there with my writing and publishing my first novel. It's frustrating that I feel like I have to choose between the two.

If we were having coffee... I would admit that it's not only my blog getting in the way of my writing. It's also because of, you guessed it, distractions. Numerous people in my life can attest to my tendency toward ADD. Sometimes it's ADD, sometimes it's just me feeling a little off my game, maybe a little unmotivated. And sometimes a little bit overwhelmed. Writing and publishing If Only We has been an accomplishment beyond my wildest dreams. But getting me to sit down and focus on the next one? I still haven't figured out that trick. I'm getting better though because I'm determined to keep writing. There are so many stories in me that need to be written. I just need to convince myself of this and not allow all these distractions to distract me. Easier said than done but I'll get there.

If we were having coffee... I would tell you how frustrated I am figuring things out. I have all these dreams and hopes and desires and wishes and it constantly feels like they're going to go unfulfilled. When I start to feel that way, it starts to erode my motivation. Yet, remember what I was saying above about how differently I would have reacted a year ago? It's the same here. I may keep getting frustrated, irritated, and, yes, sometimes even mad when things seem to be going the wrong way. But buried away inside of me is this thing. And this thing is called determination. And that determination is what keeps me moving forward, continuing to dream and hope and desire and wish, and I know that someday everything will fall into place. All I need to do is keep working toward it, and never give up.

If we were having coffee... I would say that I wouldn't trade my life for the world. Everything and everyone in it I am grateful for. I may have goals to meet and places to see but I am always going to love and cherish everything and everyone that leads me to them. Because without everything and everyone in my life right now, those things wouldn't be on the horizon waving me in. There are beautiful things in the world around us and if we choose to believe in them AND believe that we ourselves can reach them, life will be amazing.

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/434949276483934435/


So, there you have it my lovely friends. My coffee confessions. It would be great to hear what you would have to say if we were having coffee. ^_^

Jessica

Monday, December 16, 2013

Review: To Be Perfectly Honest: A Novel Based on an Untrue Story by Sonya Sones

Title: To Be Perfectly Honest
Author: Sonya Sones
Published: August 27th 2013
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Buy: Amazon ~*~ Barnes & Noble
Add to your Goodreads shelf
Caution: May contain spoilers
Her friends
have a joke about her:
How can you tell if Colette is lying?

Her mouth is open.


Fifteen-year-old Colette is addicted to lying. Her shrink says this is because she’s got a very bad case of Daughter-of-a-famous-movie-star Disorder—so she lies to escape out from under her mother’s massive shadow. But Colette doesn’t see it that way. She says she lies because it’s the most fun she can have with her clothes on. Not that she’s had that much fun with her clothes off. At least not yet, anyway…

When her mother drags her away from Hollywood to spend the entire summer on location in a boring little town in the middle of nowhere, Colette is less than thrilled. But then she meets a sexy biker named Connor. He’s older, gorgeous, funny, and totally into her. So what if she lies to him about her age, and about who her mother is? I mean, she has to keep her mother’s identity a secret from him. If he finds out who she really is, he’ll forget all about Colette, and start panting and drooling and asking her for her mother’s autograph. Just like everyone always does.

But what Colette doesn’t know is that Connor is keeping a secret of his own…

My Thoughts:

I really adore Sonya Sones and her books in verse. Every one that I've picked up, I have loved and own all of them. When I heard there was FINALLY going to be a new one by her, I was so stoked! You have no idea. So when I saw it on the shelf at the library, I snatched it even though I already had way too many books to read. I wanted to read this one that bad.

At first I was kinda like, "Eh? Okay..." But then when she met and started seeing more of Connor everything changed for me. I started feeling very swoony. I felt more invested in Colette and her situation and wanted her to reach a point of clarity. The seriousness of the lies made it feel like more than just a nice little story. When everything came down in the end, it wasn't what I was expecting but I was very satisfied with the moral learned.

To Be Perfectly Honest had its cute moments and funny moments. Sonya Sones had me hooked and reeled me in. The story appeared to be light and very YA on the surface but had a lot more to it in the end. I would definitely recommend this one for anyone who wants an honest and realistic YA novel.

My Rating:

Friday, December 13, 2013

Review: Smoke by Ellen Hopkins

Title: Smoke
Author: Ellen Hopkins
Published: September 10th 2013
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Buy: Amazon ~*~ Barnes & Noble
Add to your Goodreads shelf
Caution: WILL contain some spoilers from the first book
Pattyn Von Stratten’s father is dead, and Pattyn is on the run. After far too many years of abuse at the hands of her father, and after the tragic loss of her beloved Ethan and their unborn child, Pattyn is desperate for peace. Only her sister Jackie knows what happened that night, but she is stuck at home with their mother, who clings to normalcy by allowing the truth to be covered up by their domineering community leaders. Her father might be finally gone, but without Pattyn, Jackie is desperately isolated. Alone and in disguise, Pattyn starts a new life, but is it even possible to rebuild a life when everything you’ve known has burned to ash and lies seem far safer than the truth?

My Thoughts:

Burned was the first Ellen Hopkins book I read. It was quite an experience for me, completely new and tragic and wonderfully written. I was compelled, and it being written in verse had me completely sucked in and added to the emotions evoked. When I heard there would be a sequel, I was so excited and yet a little bit worried. If you have read Burned, you know what I'm talking about (if you haven't read Burned but are interested in it, please do not keep reading this review because there are somewhat spoilers). Unfortunately, my worries were justified.

With the tragedy that happened at the end of the first book, I had a feeling I knew how this book would go, and I wasn't wrong. Maybe the story needed to be told, maybe not. Seeing what happened after was unnecessary. It did tie the story up instead of leaving you hanging. By the end I felt a lot better because there was redemption and resolution for some of it. You can't fix everything and that's why I do love Ellen Hopkins. She is explicit about the facts and the whys and not all things are perfect or can be fixed entirely.

Smoke didn't completely live up to my expectations. I found myself irritated throughout the majority of the story. The religious views kill me, they really do. I like Burned by itself, and I would recommend that book up and down to anyone who wants a very serious novel to read. But when you do read Burned, it's a toss up as to whether I would tell you to read the sequel. If you really want to know what happens next, go for it. If you don't want to know, you're not missing much.

My Rating:

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Book Blitz: Layers Deep by Lacey Silks


Welcome to my stop on the Layers Deep book blitz!

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Layers Deep by Lacey Silks
(Layers Trilogy #1)
Publication date: December 4th 2013
Genres: Contemporary, Romance

He needs her to save a friend.
She needs him to plan her revenge.
Their pasts scar them Layers Deep.
Their passion distracts them…
…and distractions can be fatal.

Tristan Cross is battling emotional demons from the past. He lives in a world where trust is earned, loyalties are tested, and love is impossible. That is, until he meets Allie Green. She’s the only woman who can help him find a kidnapped friend and to top it off, she captivates him. All he has to do now is persuade her to work for Cross Enterprises, his top investigations firm.

Allie Green is a rookie cop seeking revenge and she’s willing to sell her soul to get it. With an opportunity to use Tristan Cross’s resources Allie calculates her time for payback. As vengeance boils her blood she can’t keep her mind off her new boss and Allie finds it difficult to keep her employment professional. With the mouth watering Tristan Cross distracting her, she struggles to prioritize an undercover job she’s been assigned and her hunger for revenge.

And when you’re ready to give up your life to save someone else, distractions can be fatal.

Note: This book is the first part of a Trilogy that is designed to be read in order. Tristan and Allie will get their happy ending but not until book 2 and 3. This book contains a cliff hanger ending you will not expect. A prequel to the series which can be read alone is Dazzled by Silver.
Warning: This title contains erotic situations, and graphic language. Intended for adult audience 18+


Purchase:

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Excerpt


He took a deep breath of courage and then exhaled, saying, “I should have done this yesterday. If I don’t taste your lips, I won’t get any work done.”

I couldn’t even reply. In an instant, my words were muffled by his mouth, and everything inside me shut down. My body went limp, melting into the seat as my arms flopped at my sides. His hands cupped my face, the pads of his thumbs caressing my cheeks back and forth as his tongue spread my lips, sliding into my willing mouth. He explored inside me, tending to every nook. The longing of his soft kiss pulsed through my whole body, and I forgot who I was and where I was. I had no strength to resist him. I could no longer deny Cross and responded to him, opening my mouth wider, letting my tongue dance with his. A hint of scotch flowed to me as he lingered around my gums and moaned deep inside me. If I had ten tequila shots, all at once, I doubted they’d knock me off my feet as hard as Cross had. The world spun, the car spun, and when he finally pulled away, I couldn’t believe what had happened and how much his kiss awakened the woman inside me.

“You taste much better than I imagined,” he said into my lips, leaning his forehead against mine.

I finally let out the long held breath and asked, “Imagined?”

“I wondered about your lips all night and couldn’t sleep. Now I don’t have to wonder anymore.”

Compose yourself! I thought. This trip is important.

“I’m glad I satisfied your curiosity.” Everything inside me was turning at the thought of Cross thinking about my lips. Who was this woman sitting in his car? I’d never allowed anyone to leave me so breathless and lightheaded and thinking about stupid giddy feelings instead of a ruthless life.

“You satisfied only one of them. I’m curious about the rest of your body too.”

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AUTHOR BIO

Lacey is an Author of Erotic Romance. Her stories come from her life, dreams and fantasies. She’s a happily married wife with two kids. Lacey likes to make her readers blush and experience the story as if they were the characters. Drawing on the reader’s most sensitive emotions through realistic stories satisfies her more than… …ok not really, but you get the point;) She likes a pinkish shade on a woman’s cheeks, men with large feet and sexy lingerie-especially when it’s torn off the body. Her favorite piece of clothing is a ‘birthday suit’.

LINKS:

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Giveaway

Grand prize giveaway
Prizes (open internationally):
-25$ Amazon Gift Card & ebooks of all of Lacey's books.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Jessica

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Best of 2013 Giveaway Hop! Enter to win bookish things...


Welcome to the Best of 2013 Giveaway Hop! Brought to you by the wonderful I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Bookhounds. The dates for this hop run from December 11th to 18th.


Here is what you can win from me today... one of the following e-books:









Sound good? Good! Here's the official rules/guidelines for the giveaway:

1. You must be a follower.
2. You must be over 15 years old.
3. This is open to international followers.
4. This contest runs from December 11th to 18th.
5. You can gain extra entries by "liking" my Facebook page and/or following me on Twitter @Jess_Sankiewicz.
6. Winner will be selected at 12:01 a.m. on December 19th via Rafflecopter random selection.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you for following and entering!!!
Jessica