Review - Everything Leads to You by Nina Lacour

Genre: Contemporary Romance 

Hardcover: 307 pgs (Hardcover) 

Published: May 2014 by Penguin 

How I got it: Borrowed Library Copy 

Add it // Buy it 

Rating 5/5 

A wunderkind young set designer, Emi has already started to find her way in the competitive Hollywood film world.

Emi is a film buff and a true romantic, but her real-life relationships are a mess. She has desperately gone back to the same girl too many times to mention. But then a mysterious letter from a silver screen legend leads Emi to Ava. Ava is unlike anyone Emi has ever met. She has a tumultuous, not-so-glamorous past, and lives an unconventional life. She’s enigmatic…. She’s beautiful. And she is about to expand Emi’s understanding of family, acceptance, and true romance.

It is quite past the season for summery contemporary books, but I picked one up recently since I was in the mood for something light. It sounded like a good way to extend my summer! While contemporary isn't a genre I reach for often, I do love them when I pick them up. This book has a lot of hype surrounding it so my interest was piqued but I remained unconvinced it would thrill me when I brought it home from the library.

Top Ten Books I Want To Reread

Before this year, I rarely reread this book. I was so preoccupied with reading books that had just been released and new books! I ignored some of my favorite books from the past for so long! So this year I started rereading books and it is glorious! Anyway this Top Ten Tuesday topic is top ten books you want to reread. A lot of these are on this list simply because I want to reread the entire series of books attached to them, but other have made the list because I want to experience them again and try to catch more the second time around.

1) Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

2) Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare 

3) Eon by Alison Goodman 

4) A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

5) Trickster’s Choice by Tamora Pierce  

6) Defiance by C.J. Redwine
7) Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan 

8) Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst 

9) The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern 

10) The Hobbit by J. R.R. Tolkien 

This has been a hectic week so no pictures or fancy list making this time. Next week will be back to links and fancy list making! Happy Reading!

October Wrap Up

This month has been a confusing reading month. The whole month I felt like I wasn't making any progress in my reading especially toward the end of the month. I had a major book hangover from one of the books I read and could not read anything for the last 10-12 days of the month. Even so I read 11(I say 10 in the video because I forgot one) books this month which seems unreal to me! I'm finally getting out of my reading funk and finally spent some time reading today.

Books Mentioned: 

Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour
The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan 
Red Flannel Rag by Peggy Anne Shifflet
Saga Vol. 3 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving
Linger by Maggie Steifvater
Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers 
Mortal Heart by Robin LaFevers
The Lightening Thief by Rick Riordan (Graphic Novel Adaptation)
The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan (Graphic Novel Adaptation) 
Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke
The Island of Dr. Moreau by H.G, Wells

**In the interest of transparency I did win a copy of Mortal Heart by Robin LaFevers from the publisher, Harper Collins Harcourt, but the thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.

#FridayReads (17)

I've been in a bit of a slump ever since I finished Mortal Heart. I'm really hoping to change that this weekend though and I started reading some books today to be proactive. If your interested to see what I chose check out my first #FridayReads video. Hopefully this will fix my reading problems!

Top Ten Books/Movies To Read Or Watch To Get In The Halloween Spirit

This week the topic for Top Ten Tuesday is all about your favorite books and movies to get in the Halloween spirit. I love this topic. Not only is fall my favorite season, Halloween has some of the best mood setting movies and books. As always, the Broke and the Bookish host Top Ten Tuesday.

Movies 

1) Hocus Pocus - Sistas! This will always be in my number one choice for all things Halloween! This movie is fantastic. It has witches, zombies, magic and a talking cat plus lots of laughs. All of this is wrapped up nicely with classic 90's style of course. It is a little spooky, but not scary so of course I love it!


2) Practical Magic - This movie has Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman and I think it is so underrated! It follows two sister witches who have taken very different paths in life and love. They need to work together to fix a breakup gone wrong. Again it has lots of magic and gets you into the Halloween mood so well. Some of my favorite movie quotes come from this movie as well.

 My darling girl, when are you going to realize that being normal is not necessarily a virtue? It rather denotes a lack of courage!'

3) Sleepy Hollow - I'm going to squeeze my favorite TV of the moment in here as well. Sleepy Hollow is a great show that is loosely based on the story by Washington Irving. There is an amazing amount of intricacy and planning going into this show. I love it. 

4) Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone- Even though this series is all about wizard, I associate the movies mostly with Christmas, but the Halloween feast and troll scene is classic. Plus any excuse to watch Harry Potter is a good one. 

5) The Mummy - This is another one of my favorite movies and the creepy nature makes it ideal for the week of Halloween. Plus is features a librarian who is confident in who she is and a dashing fortune hunter. What more could you ask for? 

     

Books

6) Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake - If you like Supernatural, you will love this duology. Cas reminds me of the Winchesters so much and that's part of the reason it is so perfect for Halloween. This book is filled with supernatural situations and paranormal creatures. Lots of fun for the holiday! 

7) The Island of Dr. Moreau by H.G. Wells - This read is a creepy fest! 

8) Virals by Kathy Reichs - Again this is a great story with creepy, paranormal creatures in it. I don't think it gets enough attention, but this is a great YA series. 

9) The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey - I haven't read this book yet, but I think it sounds like the ultimate Halloween read. There are monsters galore it sounds like and I'm anxious to read this one. 

10) The Fall by Bethany Griffin - A retelling of the Fall of the House of Usher? What could get you into the Halloween spirit faster? I've heard great things about this book and cannot wait to pick it up! 

 

My New Project - Broadening Horizons

Recently I’ve realized most of the books I read are fantasy and usually YA fantasy. Personally, I don’t think this is a bad thing. I want to read those genres and I enjoy them immensely. However, I want to push my boundaries and expand my horizons. I would like an effort to explore genres I’m not familiar with and read books that are outside my comfort zone. I’m going to be trying out six new genres by reading two books from each over the next six months. Check out my video below for a better explanation and a list of the genres (and a few books) I’ll be trying.  

Also I mention in the video I need suggestions for books in these genres since I’m just starting to venture into them. If you have suggestions for good examples of these genres, please let me know. I’d love to hear about them! 

'

Happy Reading! 

Would You Rather? - Book Tag

Recently I did the Would You Rather tag over on my Youtube channel. I decide which books I want to survive a raid of my bookshelf, which books I want to keep in certain circumstances and more. It was a lot of fun! Check it out! 

Top New Series I Want To Start

The constant stream of new ne of the many reasons I have a love/hate relationship with young adult. This week on Top Ten Tuesday the Broke and the Bookish have asked us what new series we want to start.

I've tried to pick series that have really caught my interest over the last year or two, but there are a couple older ones that I'm very excited for.


1) Avalon by Mindee Arnett - When you can get the chance to bring back Firefly in any way, shape or form, how do you resist? I am dying to start this series and want to read the first book before the next one is published.

2) The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepard - I've been a bit obsessed with historical fiction lately and I love retellings so this series really can't go wrong for me.

3) Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein - This is another historical series I am really excited to get my hands on. Sadly, I don't own it yet, but I've heard nothing but good things. This one is WWII era instead of medieval but still very appealing.

4) Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis - I don't normally jump at dystopian or apocalyptic stories, but this one sounds different and very interesting. I've heard it is violent so I'm a little hesitant to start it though so this one might take a little while for me to pick up.

5) The Remnant Chronicles by Mary E. Pearson - This fantasy series has some really great reviews and a really interesting premise. I have already started reading book one, The Kiss of Deception, and I'm enjoying it very much.

6) Paper Gods by Amanda Sun - Another series that sounds so interesting! This one is about a boy who draws things that come alive! Why wouldn't I want to read this. Plus the covers are gorgeous.

7) Between Series by April Genevieve Tucholke - Both of the books in this series have cool names and the story sounds creepy. This isn't on the top of the list, but I'm still very interested in it and have heard good things.

8) Firebird Series by Claudia Gray - Technically this series hasn't even started yet, but I am so excited for this book. It sounds like Doctor Who with a cool twist and a female heroine. I'm pumped!

9) Wait for You by J. Lynn - I've slowly been building up my stock pile of this series and have a large collection of unread Jennifer L. Armentrout books in my collection. I really need to start and finish all of these series.

10) Dark Caravan Cycle by Heather Demetrios - The first in this series, Exquisite Captive, just over a week ago. This take on jinnis sounds so interesting and I really want to check it out soon.

   

Review - Mortal Heart by Robin LaFevers

Genre: Historical Fiction
ARC: 464 pgs
Comes out: November 4th 2014
Published by HMH 
Series: His Fair Assassins #3 (Final) 
Add it // Buy it 
Rating: 5/5 

Annith has watched her gifted sisters at the convent come and go, carrying out their dark dealings in the name of St. Mortain, patiently awaiting her own turn to serve Death. But her worst fears are realized when she discovers she is being groomed by the abbess as a Seeress, to be forever sequestered in the rock and stone womb of the convent. Feeling sorely betrayed, Annith decides to strike out on her own.


She has spent her whole life training to be an assassin. Just because the convent has changed its mind doesn't mean she has...

I won a free ARC copy of this book from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Goodreads, but this is an honest review with my own thoughts and feelings. 

I made a comment at the end of my Dark Triumph review that Annith's story would have to be truly phenomenal in order to top book two in this series. It was. It truly was fantastic and I am so full of stuff I want to say I don't know where to start.

Raven Cycle Fangirling

The latest installment of The Raven Cycle, Blue Lily, Lily Blue, by Maggie Stiefvater is coming out on Tuesday!! That is only two days away and I just got my shipment notification that my copy is on its way! I am a total fangirl over this series and was introduced to it just over a year ago. Today I'm going to be trying to convince you to read this book and start this series just in time for book three to be released. I have three basic reasons why you should check it out and if you still aren't convinced, check back in a little while and I'm sure I'll think of more reasons. 

  

Review: Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers

Genre: Historical Fiction
Hardcover: 385 pgs.
Published: April 2013 by Houghton Mifflin 
Series: His Fair Assassins #2
Add It // Buy It
Rating: 5/5 

When Sybella arrived at the doorstep of St Mortain half mad with grief and despair the convent were only too happy to offer her refuge - but at a price. The sisters of this convent serve Death, and with Sybella naturally skilled in both the arts of death and seduction, she could become one of their most dangerous weapons.

But her assassin's skills are little comfort when the convent returns her to the life that nearly drove her mad. Her father's rage and brutality are terrifying, and her brother's love is equally monstrous. But when Sybella discovers an unexpected ally she discovers that a daughter of Death may find something other than vengeance to live for...

While it took me almost four month to finish Grave Mercy, I devoured this book a matter of days. With the groundwork laid for the covenant, the gods and the state of Brittany, Sybella's story started out in a totally different way. If you were put off by the very political and historical nature of Grave Mercy, I would encourage you to try this book out before giving up on this series. If you liked those element don’t despair! While those element don’t disappear, Sybella's installment is much more of a character driven story with strong elements of the political drama that took root in the first book. Personally I love the mix of political intrigue and assassin adventures.

Once again we are introduced to a Handmaiden of Death, who is a strong and capable female character. Sybella has an entirely different set of orders and struggles from her sister in arms. She is taking on the entire household of the traitor D’Albret in an attempt to save her Duchess from his clutches. This story is a darker and more twisted tale. Sybella must make discisions and her life’s story makes Ismae’s look like a cheery tale. I mentioned in my review of Grave Mercy it was hard for me to become attached to Ismae, but I was engrossed in Sybella's story from the beginning and even more taken with Ismae when the two are reunited. (These companion novels feel a bit like a historical fiction version of the Anna and the French Kiss books by Stephanie Perkins)

The character growth through this book is fantastic and Sybella’s personal story is heartbreaking, brutal and terrifying at times, but her journey through this book is really difficult to stop reading. Sybella’s romance pulls her out of the darkness that is wrapped around her. I loved her romantic interest as well as the many new characters we meet in this book.

Something I really truly appreciate is LaFever's ability to keep me as interested in the fate of Brittany as I am in the romance that blossoms in her stories. She keeps them balanced and both are very engaging. It would be easy to make either subject the priority. Instead they are both important, well planned and executed. LaFevers also has a very engaging writing style that has really kept me up at night reading her stories.

Sybella has wormed her way into my heart and while I am excited to see Annith’s story, I am so sad the second installment must come to an end. This book has captivated me and book three will have to be something really special for me to like it more than this one.

Check back for tomorrow for my thoughts about the third and final book in this series!