Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Wild Things ~ Clay Carmicheal

Hello Lovelies!

I am bringing a review today that is for a type of book I don't normally read. As most of you all probably know I am a student teacher and I am in a 5th grade classroom. Some of my 5th graders are reading this book at the moment and I fell in love with it. Let's get started!



Summary

A headstrong girl. A stray cat. A wild boy. A man who plays with fire. Eleven-year-old Zoe trusts no one. Her father left before she was born. At the death of her irresponsible mother, Zoe goes to live with her uncle, former surgeon and famed metal sculptor Dr. Henry Royster. She's sure Henry will fail her as everyone else has. Reclusive since his wife's death, Henry takes Zoe to Sugar Hill, North Carolina, where he welds sculptures as stormy as his moods. Zoe and Henry have much in common: brains, fiery and creative natures, and badly broken hearts. Zoe confronts small-town prejudice with a quick temper. She warms to Henry's odd but devoted friends, meets a mysterious teenage boy living wild in the neighboring woods, and works to win the trust of a feral cat while struggling to trust in anyone herself. In this ALA Notable Children's Book and "Kirkus Reviews "Best Children's Book of the Year, Zoe's questing spirit leads her to uncover the wild boy's identity, lay bare a local lie, and begin to understand the true power of Henry's art. Then one decisive night, she and the boy risk everything in a reckless act of heroism.


Thoughts


9 out of 10!

I love this book! I read it in one day because I honestly couldn't put it down. It is written on a 5th grade reading level so it was not difficult to read in any stretch of the word.  

Zoe is an eleven year old girl who just lost her mother and always been one to look after and take care of herself. I have never faced as hard of a life as Zoe has but I connected with this character because the author is so detailed about what she goes through and how she thinks. 

The other feature of this book I love is that every so often throughout the story you get a stray cat's point of view about what is happening around the house. He does not seem to be too interested at first and it is quite a transformation within the cat itself.

I think people of all ages will love this book because it honestly deals with issues that everyone deals with at one point or another in their lives. This book is something that families can read together or you can simply speed through it like I did on Friday. 

The only reason why this did not get a 10 out of 10 is because it is not the kind of book I would reread. I would definitely recommend it to everyone I know though, wholeheartedly.

I would love comments on this review or any others I have done. I can't do more things you guys like without feedback and I love getting it!

Thanks for reading!

C.

Monday, November 25, 2013

Music Monday 11.25.13

Hello Lovelies!

So today is a very busy day for me so this is going to be a very short post. I have been listening to so much new music lately. I shared so much with you guys last week I'm going to keep this one on the shorter side and bring my obsession down to 5. 

In no particular order...


1. Not Your Cinderella by Payton Rae
2. La Da Dee by Cody Simpson
3. Radioactive cover by Justin Robinett
4. Rock Me by One Direction
5. Better Than Me by Hinder


That's what I've been listening to for the past week. I have tried not to duplicate songs I've given in my top 5 before but I'm only human. 

Let me know what you've been listening to!

Thanks for reading!

C.



Friday, November 22, 2013

Ready for the Weekend? 11.22.13

Hello Lovelies!

This is going to be a very short post because I have no time to read this weekend but I wanted to send out good vibes to all of you! I am approaching the end of the semester and as any college student knows - the pressure is on!

So this is going to be super quick to get us through the weekend.

Book Wish!


If I had the time to read this weekend...


I have started this book but have had no time to finish it. It may be my first book to read when break finally arrives.

Top 5!

5. I can see the end of the semester!
4. One day stands between me and Thanksgiving break!
3. Field trip with my students today!
2. Catching Fire is coming out today!!
1. Doctor Who 50th anniversary special is on tomorrow!!! 
(can you tell I'm excited?)


Alright guys, I will see you all on Monday when, hopefully, I will be less stressed than I am now!

Leave me a comment telling me what you'll be reading this weekend.

Thanks for reading!

C.


Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Sick days....

Hello Lovelies!

So I have been sick in the bed since Saturday and I have been watching Netflix like it's my job and that is about it. I want to be in a reading mood. But the truth is, I'm not. Well let's be honest, I'm not in a reading for the first time mood. I have been rereading books lately because I am honestly stuck in a rut as far as books go. I cannot for the life of me pick a new book to get sucked into. I have tons of book sitting patiently on my shelves waiting to be read and I cannot pick one. 

I hate when I get into these ruts. I am actually getting tired of my go to books which is scaring me just a little because I honestly will have NOTHING to read if they get stale. So I thought instead of a review I will tell you what I've been reading while sick in bed the past week (well almost week). 

These are my go to romance books and I love them to pieces. 




To my wonderful surprise I have reviewed every one of these books! The link is attached to the picture so just click on the cover and it will take you to the review. 

I have read all of these books books more than twice each and I love them all. They give me that giddy feeling when something goes right and that sinking pit in my stomach when something goes wrong. I love books that do this because it makes me as the reader feel more involved in the story. Four out of these six books I have on my Kindle and I don't think I paid more than five dollars for each of them. 

I would love for you all to leave me a comment telling me what your go to read is because like I said I am seriously lacking on new reads.

Thanks for reading!

C.



Monday, November 18, 2013

Music Monday 11.18.13

Hello Lovelies!


It's been a long time since I've done a Music Monday and I have been loving a LOT of new music. This may actually be an extended post because I don't think I could choose just 5. Let's get started!

This is going to go in no particular order, except the first one, because I honestly have no idea.

1. It Girl cover by Michael and Justin


2. If I'm Gonna Fall in Love by Rocket to the Moon


3. She is Love by Parachute (acoustic version)


4. Baby I by Ariana Grande


5. Nothing Left to Hide by Hot Chelle Rae


6. Dance with Me Tonight by Olly Murs


7. Better Dig Two by The Band Perry


8. Sundress by Landon Austin


9. Wasting All These Tears by Cassadee Pope


10. The One That Got Away by The Civil Wars


Well this doesn't even really scratch the surface of all the new music I have gotten into lately but a lot of it is by the same artists so I would recommend going and listening to more music by all of these artists because they are all amazing.

I have been getting back into Twitter lately so go follow me! :) www.twitter.com/bookjunkie409 

Leave me a comment letting me know what you've been listening to lately! I love reading you guy's comments!

Thanks for reading!

C.


Friday, November 15, 2013

Embrace the Night - Amanda Ashley

Hello Lovelies!

I'm not going to apologize for being so absent because I've done that enough so I'm just going to jump right back in and play catch-up. New Review!

This is not a young adult book but it is one of my absolute favorite love stories. I have read it multiple times, let's go!



Goodread's Summary...



A creature doomed to wander the earth in eternal darkness, he searches the ages for someone to share the endless night of his existence, for that one woman who will recognize the man within the monster. An angel of purity and sunlight, she fears the mysterious stranger whose eyes promise endless ecstasy even as he whispers dark secrets she dares not believe. They are two people longing for fulfillment, braving the danger of a love like no other. Alone, they face desolation and despair; together, they will share undying passion, defy eternity, and embrace the night.

Thoughts...

I love this book! Gabriel is the perfect mixture of brooding and excitement. I've always loved a good vampire romance but this one takes the cake. I've read this countless times and I fall more in love with it each time. 

Gabriel meets Sarah Jane when she is a little girl and saves her from starvation. He watches her grow up from her window. Sarah Jane does not remember Gabriel bringing her to the orphanage. She is bound to a wheelchair and worries no one will ever love her. When she is almost killed in a fire Gabriel takes her home with him and heals her with blood. From this point on their romance really begins to move along. 

Sarah Jane wants more than anything to be a ballerina and Gabriel is able to give that to her. She also wants to be with Gabriel but of course his brooding self resists. 

Their story is beautiful and slightly horrifying at times because of course there can't just be a happily ever after can there? But their end is not Gabriel's end. 

Sarah Jane does not want to be a vampire, grows old and dies. Fast forward to the 1990's and Gabriel meets Sarah. She is in mourning from losing her husband and baby. Gabriel feels an instant connection with her and begins to wonder if Sarah Jane is really gone from his world.

I love when Gabriel meets Sarah. It's a very emotional part of the book and it gets to me. The way Ashley writes it comes across as a heart-stopping event that may forever change Gabriel....again. 

When I have read this book in the past (when I was a little younger), I stopped when Sarah Jane died. The portion with Sarah Jane is with Gabriel is the longer part of the book and I got very attached. The last time I read this book however, I continued to read and remembered how much I loved Sarah's part as well. It ties Gabriel's journey together very nicely and the book wouldn't be complete without it.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves romance. Yes there is a vampire element, but the fundamental story of boy falls for girl is beautifully written and well worth the read.

I apologize for the amount of plot in my review portion of this post but I don't think Goodreads did a good enough job with their summary on this one so I felt like I needed to fill you guys in. 

This book may be difficult to find. The writer Amanda Ashley is actually Madeline Baker. You may have to look under her name when looking or asking for it in a bookstore.

Below is my actual copy....you can probably tell how much I love it. :)



Thanks for reading! I will try my absolute hardest to be better about posting. Please leave me a comment or just a suggestion!

C.