GEEKY CHIQUITAS: book blog

Guest Post: Dane Cobain on How My Book Blog Helps Me to Keep Up With Current Trends

It's always a great idea to get to know more authors and their insights!

Since we believe that creating a book blog has benefited us in many ways, we would like to encourage you to create one yourself. We'll be handing the baton to Dane Cobain, who is not only an author but a book blogger as well, to show you his perspectives on book blogging.

How My Book Blog Helps Me to Keep Up With Current Trends

Hi, folks! My name’s Dane Cobain, and I’m the author of a book called No Rest for the Wicked, as well as the proud owner and operator of a book blog called SocialBookshelves.com. In fact, that’s what I’m here to talk to you about today!

One of the perks of owning a book blog is that you get sent a lot of freebies – in fact, I’ve been offered free train travel and two nights in a 5* hotel in York so that I can cover York Literature Festival, and I’ll be talking about that a lot more in the coming months.

As a writer, it’s actually an invaluable source of inspiration, because I get sent books that I just wouldn’t usually buy. I’m a big fan of a lot of old authors, and so I could quite happily only purchase books from before I was born without being too upset.

But owning a book blog means that I get sent all kinds of stuff, from contemporary thrillers to children’s books, non-fiction and even erotica. One time, someone sent me an erotic novel which was customised to feature myself as the main character, and it was actually pretty good. Maybe not one to read on the bus, though.

If I didn’t receive this constant stream of contemporary work by the publishers and publicists that I work with, then I wouldn’t be able to compete with those same writers in the crowded marketplace. Plus, it’s a constant flow of new inspiration – literature is like a pool that we all swim in, and I find that the best thing to do is to just jump right in by reading any book that takes your fancy.

As a reader, I don’t confine myself to individual genres – in fact, that’s kind of what I’m like as a writer, but as a reader it’s even more noticeable. I don’t think that there’s a single genre that I wouldn’t be interested in reading, as many of my PR friends have found out.

So if you’re looking to be a better writer then you should work on being a better reader, too. Think about setting up a book blog – it’s a lot of fun, and you’re guaranteed at least one reader because if you do, I’ll check it out myself!

No Rest for the Wicked: Synopsis

When the Angels attack, there’s NO REST FOR THE WICKED.

Father Montgomery, an elderly priest with a secret past, begins to investigate after his parishioners come under attack, and with the help of Jones, a young businessman with an estranged child, Montgomery begins to track down the origin of the Angels.

The Angels are naked and androgynous. They speak in a dreadful harmony with no clear leader. These aren’t biblical cherubs tasked with the protection of the righteous – these are deadly creatures of light that have the power to completely eradicate.

When Jones himself is attacked, Father Montgomery knows he has to act fast. He speaks to the Angels and organises a final showdown where he’s asked to make the ultimate sacrifice.

9:25 PM
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Book in Review: The Kiss by Lucy Courtenay

2015 books

Title: The Kiss
Author: Lucy Courtenay
Publishing Date: July 2nd 2015
Publisher; Hachette Children's Group
Format: ARC
Rating: 3/5

Summary:

'Aphrodite kissed a mortal once by the light of this moon, many thousands of years ago. It drove him crazy. The next person that he kissed - boum. The craziness travelled like this from person to person. It travelled through time. Everywhere - boum! Tu comprends?' 'Where did it end up?' I whisper. His lips are on my cheek now. 'It ended with me. And now I am going to pass it to you. You will like that, mermaid?' Imagine the perfect kiss. A legendary kiss that makes people crazy with love. Imagine a summer's night, on a moonlit beach in the South of France, as French boy Laurent kisses 16-year-old Delilah after the best chat-up line she's ever heard. BOOM! Delilah is pretty sure the Kiss is fiction, despite her head-spinning holiday fling. But with all the sudden crushes, break-ups and melt-downs happening back at home, the Kiss starts looking a little too real for comfort. If only Delilah could keep track of where it's gone ...Who knew one kiss could cause this much trouble? A hilarious rom-com that will delight Geek Girls everywhere!

If you're looking for that romantic summertime read that's fun, flirty, cute, and swoony, then The Kiss is the perfect book for you. This book is filled with hilarious moments, interesting characters and good old British humor that's filled with just the right amount of sarcasm. With a storyline that is reminiscent of Shakespeare plays, plus a premise that involves a little bit of mythology and the wonderful and romantic setting, this book is what you would call simply a delight!

12:01 PM
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Book Blitz: Unexpected by Lilly Avalon -- GUEST POST + GIVEAWAY!!!

author spotlight

Hey everyone! Today we have an author and book spotlight, featuring a guest post by the very talented Lily Avalon, author of the RESIST series and her upcoming novel, Unexpected. Go check her out in the links below!

She's also giving out a swag pack to a lucky winner! You can enter at the rafflecopter below. Good luck! :)

Giving Your Book Time to Breathe
by Lilly Avalon

Some books come easily, flowing from a writer's mind to their fingers onto the paper or computer. The inspiration continues to pour out and pretty soon the whole book is written in a matter of months, and in some cases, mere weeks.

Sometimes it doesn't work that way.

That was the case with Unexpected, my latest novel. The idea came to me last year in the spring, more than a year ago. I intended to make it the second book I published. Something just wasn't working, though, and I couldn't pinpoint what. So, I reluctantly set it aside to concentrate on a different book. It was hard to do since I had a decent portion of the story written.

After I wrote Resist, More Than Words, and Longing, I had to return to Unexpected. I felt it calling out to me, like something in my bones was telling me it was time. I opened the previous documents and read through the chapters and scenes again. It didn't take me long to figure outGI what was missing: I needed to tell it in dual POV! Last year, that thought never crossed my mind.

It made me realize how important it is to trust your instincts as a writer. All too often we get so focused on finishing our next story that we can miss the glaring holes--in the plot, in the characters, in the prose. The idea of setting a project aside can feel like failure. Couple that with having to start fresh with a new story, and it feels like going backwards.

10:49 PM
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Book in Review: Royal Wedding (The Princess Diaries #11) by Meg Cabot

2015 releases

Title: Royal Wedding (The Princess Diaries #11)
Author: Meg Cabot
Publishing Date: June 2nd 2015
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary:

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Princess Diaries series, comes the very first adult installment, which follows Princess Mia and her Prince Charming as they plan their fairy tale wedding—but a few poisoned apples could turn this happily-ever-after into a royal nightmare.

For Princess Mia, the past five years since college graduation have been a whirlwind of activity, what with living in New York City, running her new teen community center, being madly in love, and attending royal engagements. And speaking of engagements. Mia's gorgeous longtime boyfriend Michael managed to clear both their schedules just long enough for an exotic (and very private) Caribbean island interlude where he popped the question! Of course Mia didn't need to consult her diary to know that her answer was a royal oui.

But now Mia has a scandal of majestic proportions to contend with: Her grandmother's leaked "fake" wedding plans to the press that could cause even normally calm Michael to become a runaway groom. Worse, a scheming politico is trying to force Mia's father from the throne, all because of a royal secret that could leave Genovia without a monarch. Can Mia prove to everyone—especially herself—that she's not only ready to wed, but ready to rule as well?

CRYING RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THIS IS MY CHILDHOOD OMG OMG OMG

I read the 1st book of this series when I was just 9 years old and I literally grew up with this book, went through puberty with it and all those awkward years and this was like my bible!!! I can't even remember how much I loved this series until I started reading this and how time flies because I'm reading this as a 19 years old now!

To the series that got me into reading chick lit and romance novels, to the series that taught me it's okay for a princess to be clumsy, bad at math, crazy and completely neurotic but still be filled with so much awesome and coolness and spunk, to the series that got me through my preteen years, WOW JUST THANK YOU AND I WILL NEVER GET TIRED OF READING ABOUT MIA'S LIFE.

It's great because 6 years have passed yet the author flawlessly gets back into writing the characters we all know and love and the characterization is just spot on. It's great to see all these characters come back to life in Mia's writing, like Lily, Tina, Lana, Michael, Mia's mom, and even Gradmere, no matter how annoying she may be (though she serves as great comic relief). I do still think that character is the strongest point of this series, and it shines in this 11th installment. Although the characters are still the same, we see substantial character development in their adult versions, even in Mia's father Prince Philip!

It was also so good to know what everyone has been up to and what kind of lives they are leading right now after high school. It's like looking back at your high school classmates and wondering what they're doing now. There were some really funny surprises though - I did NOT see that coming for Boris (haha) and I definitely didn't expect a certain someone to actually be Mia's stalker!

The narrative is still brilliant, with Mia's diary entries still funny, sarcastic, quirky and nerdy, and her thought processes absolutely sharp, hilarious and relatable. There are a lot of great quotable quotes that I really loved, such as the following:

“It wasn’t me,” Lars supplied, from the front seat. “I didn’t tell.” “Of course it wasn’t Lars,” Michael said, having overheard him. “Tell Lars no one is blaming him.” Seriously, if my life were one of those romance novels with a love triangle, Lars and Michael would be the sexy paranormal alpha males, but the two of them would be in love with each other and just ignore me.”

Yep, presenting: Mia's imagination

“Why doesn’t the CIA hire your grandmother to interrogate terror suspects? She does a much better job than they do of getting classified information."

“I’m completely demanding an autopsy on my grandmother’s brain when she’s dead so I can see what I’m in for as I age.”

Still the same old Grandmere.

5:17 PM
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Cover Reveal: The Lemorian Crest (Cobbogoth #2) by Hannah L. Clark

2015 ya books

The Lemorian Crest (Cobbogoth #2)

by Hannah L. Clark

Release Date: July 2015

Summary from Goodreads:

After being raised from infancy in Boston, Mass., Noria (a.k.a Norah Lukens) has no idea what to expect upon entering New Cobbogoth, where she never would have guessed that paths of light can make you vanish; doors can lead to realms both near and far; myths and legends are actual history; a mere kiss can seal two souls as one; and, of course, a stone is never “just a stone.” Her Uncle Jack’s stories never could have prepared her for the magical and dangerous place her native realm is turning out to be.

When the Gihara’s promises begin to crumble, her best friend and soul-mate Jamus (a.k.a. James Riley) is in more danger than ever. Then when his father Lylend abandons her to search for an ancient relic called The Lemorian Crest and she is taken captive by the very people she’s risked everything to save, Noria begins to lose faith in the Cobbogothian gods and the mission they sent her home to accomplish.

Only when a series of new friendships and loyalties are forged in the most peculiar of places, does Noria dare hope again. Hope for Jamus’ safety, for their future together, and for the survival of the entire Cobbogothian race.

Book 1: Uncovering Cobbogoth was published in 2014 by Cedar Fort Publishing.

12:34 PM
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Book in Review: None of the Above by I.W. Gregorio

2015 releases

Title: None of the Above
Author: I.W. Gregorio
Publishing Date: April 7th 2015
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Format: ARC
Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary:

A groundbreaking story about a teenage girl who discovers she was born intersex... and what happens when her secret is revealed to the entire school. Incredibly compelling and sensitively told, None of the Above is a thought-provoking novel that explores what it means to be a boy, a girl, or something in between.

What if everything you knew about yourself changed in an instant?

When Kristin Lattimer is voted homecoming queen, it seems like another piece of her ideal life has fallen into place. She's a champion hurdler with a full scholarship to college and she's madly in love with her boyfriend. In fact, she's decided that she's ready to take things to the next level with him.

But Kristin's first time isn't the perfect moment she's planned—something is very wrong. A visit to the doctor reveals the truth: Kristin is intersex, which means that though she outwardly looks like a girl, she has male chromosomes, not to mention boy "parts."

Dealing with her body is difficult enough, but when her diagnosis is leaked to the whole school, Kristin's entire identity is thrown into question. As her world unravels, can she come to terms with her new self?

"Love isn’t a choice. You fall for the person, not their chromosomes.”

I cannot stress enough how important this book is. There are a lot of great YA books, but only few are this brilliant. This is one of the most diverse, raw and incredible books I have ever read and I can't seem to find the appropriate words that would give justice to this masterpiece. This is the first book I've read about an intersex character, as well as one of the few times I have encountered such a word. This book gave me a deeper understanding of what an intersex is and the challenges they face in our society.

I have to admit that at first I had my doubts about this book and was extremely skeptical and critical as I read it. I knew the subject matter of this but I was afraid that it would not be handled all too well. But boy, I was wrong. It was not only handled well, it was handled brilliantly. It is evident how much research was put into writing this book, of course, nothing less to be expected from the author who is a surgeon who treated an intersex patient that inspired this novel. You can actually see that the author cares about what she's writing, that she' s passionate about this cause and subject and that she has taken extreme care into making this book as flawless as possible.

And yes, it delivers.

The novel is eye-opening. Kristin's story and struggle to be accepted in a society that is cruel, close minded and ignorant will impact you in ways unimaginable. It will make you question the standards and the norms we live in right now and will raise the questions: Does it really matter what chromosomes we have? Does it matter what our genders are? Does liking the color blue make you any less a female? Do any of these matter? There is a lot of discussion about gender, what constitutes it, identity, and what it truly means to be a girl or a boy.

Plot wise, I found some parts problematic and a little too convenient, especially in the romance aspect of the story. However, all things else I found the plot to be well-paced and Kristin's struggle to be very realistic. Her main support system in the book is of course her father and I loved how well their relationship is portrayed. He still sees Kristin the same way despite her condition and does his best to make it easier for her and support her in every decision she makes. Kristin is a strong MC and though she struggles and is insecure with her condition at first, I find her admirable as she constantly picks herself up and even fights for her spot in the track team. I loved her character development, and found the pacing just right. The novel ends a little too conveniently but I liked how it has a happy ending, as it gives a truly positive message about being intersex.

None of the Above is truly an honest and refreshing debut. It tackles some heavy matter but it does it just the right way. I feel as if this book will educate its readers more than it will entertain them, and that I think is what makes this a glorious contribution to young adult literature.

4:35 PM
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Book in Review: Stitching Snow by R.C. Lewis

2014 ya book

Title: Stitching Snow

Author: R.C. Lewis

Publishing Date: October 14th, 2014

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Format: ARC

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

This book was absolutely amazing. I loved the plot, I loved the characters, I loved how the classic Snow White story was so brilliantly inserted into the into the book. There was never a boring part while I was reading it.

Essie, the main character is so strong without being overly tough. She retains the feminine quality while also possessing enough independence and strength to defend herself. Very few authors manage to do this so I'd like to compliment the author onthat.

6:00 PM
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Book in Review: Love and Other Theories by Alexis Bass

5 stars book review

Title: Love and Other Theories

Author: Alexis Bass

Publishing Date: December 30, 2014

Publisher: HarperTeen

Format: ARC

Rating: 5/5 stars

WOWOWOWWWWWWW!

I finished this book in about 3 hours and I almost cried and threw my kindle out the window.

This book is just too much. I didn't expect it to turn out the way it did and I just want to tear my eyes out because it was so painful to read but also soooooo good and just... Wow.

If you think this is a light and fun contemporary romance, then you are wrong. This book totally crushed my heart and I really don't know what to do anymore.

At first, I had no idea where this book was taking me. There were too many time lapses and time skips in between chapters. I felt like it was going on all these different directions and I was left unsure of what to feel. Was I supposed to ship these two characters? Was I supposed to root for these 4 brutally broken girls who were just too mean to everyone even if they knew it was wrong? Was I supposed to like how they kept pretending and hiding their true feelings? Whose side was I supposed to be on when it came to cheating and betrayal?

I'm glad I didn't give up on this book in the end. Everything wraps up perfectly and I mean that in a way that it's imperfectly perfect. I wanted to ship Aubrey and Nathan so hard - but even I knew this sweet young love turned too ugly in many different ways that left not only me completely crushed and heartbroken. I wanted to root for these girls - but it was a lost cause. It was evident in the end that the point of this book is to show us how ugly and harsh things can get, and you definitely don't get more if you give less. I liked how the book ended and it gave me a semblance of hope that the main character would be a better person.

The character development of this book is just astounding. It's so subtle, in the way that you just get it, without any form of big realization or THIS IS IT monologue coming from any of the characters. Aubrey is wonderful and fantastic and I could relate to her a lot. She progresses throughout the book and her maturity is evident in the end. Shelby is also very interesting, though I found her mostly despicable. Her character is so different, but altogether understandable in her actions. I'm not sure what happens to Nathan and I can't seem to figure him out. I can't seem to differentiate the sweet boy who reads school readings to Aubrey and gives her flowers and meets her parents and charms them, from the boy who does something as cruel as sleeping with Aubrey's best friend and ALMOST getting her pregnant. Really? WHAT?! I'm not sure of him yet, and if I don't figure him out, I'm taking this as a cue that his character was made to be impossible to read.

There is NOTHING beautiful about this book. It is ugly and heartbreaking and it will make you want to pull your hair out one by one. But it's absolutely breathtaking and it will give you so many feels to the point where you just want to rip your heart out from your chest and cry, cry and cry. This is an amazing coming of age story that will stay with you for a long time.

5:27 PM
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Santa Sock of Surprises: Printable Gift Tags

book blog

Hi Guys! Tomorrow's Christmas Eve!! We're all so excited for Christmas to come already! For our fourth day of Santa Sock of Surprises, we decided to give you guys some adorable printable tags. So if you guys don't want to spend any money on gift tags because gifts are already expensive enough and don't want to spend any time in making it, this will be perfect for you. Hope you guys like them! Enjoy!

This is a picture of the gift tags that we made! We'll be placing the file below so that you guys can just download and print it.

Gift Tags Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/hbp2pds0cz49fm6/Sheet%201%20PicMonkey.jpg?dl=0

Also, if you want to make your own gift tags, you could totally use Picmonkey. It's like an editing site with super cool fonts, filters, overlays etc, so you may wanna check it out!

And while we're at it, we also created these personalized Christmas greeting cards just for you! They're book themed, with quotes from some Christmas books! Consider this as our special treat for all of you! <3

We are also open to any requests if you want us to make graphics for you. We're kind of new to this so we're just trying things out right now. But if you want us to make more of these, or the book covers in our previous post, feel free to tell us below on the comments! :)

That's all for today! What do you think? Leave a comment below! :)

8:31 PM
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Top 10 of 2014: Best Books I've Read in 2014

a game of thrones

Top 10 of 2014 is hosted by Jamie of Two Chicks on Books, Mindy of Magical Urban Fantasy Reads, Nancy of Tales of a Ravenous Reader, and Rachel from Reading YA Rocks. It's a yearly event where bloggers participate and make lists about top 10 things in relation to books.

For today's topic, we have the Best Books of 2014. This does not necessarily mean that these books were published in 2014. The only requirement is that they were READ in 2014. :)

So, without further ado, in NO particular order, we present the BEST BOOKS WE READ IN 2014!

1. Better Off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg

I cannot stress enough how much I ADORE best friend romances! This was such a light and sweet book but it definitely tugged on my heartstrings. This is the kind of book that I will be rereading many many times, in the near AND distant future.

2. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Oh God... I can't even begin to describe the perfection that is this book! I honestly do not know what to say, except that it blew me away and tore me apart (in a good way I guess since I am recommending this to you). I loved this book so so much, in ways unimaginable.

3. I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

"If you give a girl an orange, her love for you will multiply." This is one of my favorite quotes EVER and it's from this book. This one honestly exceeded my expectations and I didn't anticipate that it would affect me so much. But it did, it did.

4. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

Not a book published in 2014. A book written by the famous poet/author who stuck her head in an oven. This book was painful, but amazing. Period.

5. Landline by Rainbow Rowell

Eleanor and Park was my favorite book of 2013, and of course Landline would make the list! Rainbow is just too talented, it makes me want to cry.

6. Afterworlds by Scott Westerfield

I've actually been debating with myself over putting this book on this list, especially since I only gave this one a 3.5 (whereas all the others had 5 star ratings). However, I just can't seem to take my mind off this book, probably because it is just so unique and different and I loved the concept of it. I really do.

7. The Forever Song by Julie Kagawa

I took some time reading this, because it was just too intense! Perfect ending to the trilogy.

8. Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover

I think I take this as the cue to kick myself for only discovering Colleen Hoover this year. Ugly Love was just.... so painfully good! I couldn't put it down and it made me cry. Like real ugly tears.

9. A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

Can I just say... I read this for 6 straight hours on an airplane when I was supposed to sleep, thus resulting to me being extremely jetlagged. No regrets whatsoever though. Too addicting. Just like the series.

10. Half Bad by Sally Green

Wow, this one I really did not expect would make this list. At first, I thought this was more like a children's book but it unravels into something more towards the end. Definitely looking forward to the next book!

1. Maze Runner by James Dashner

I'm not sure if I read it for the first time this year or if I just reread it for the movie. Either way, The Maze Runner is one of the best movies I've read this year. I love the action, the plot, and the binding between the people in The Glade.

2. Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

I'm still currently reading this but I already know that I'm gonna love it. This book is so cute, sweet, heartwarming, and beautifully crafted. Every single place had a purpose that added more to Amy and Roger's story. I am simply loving it.

3. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Amazing. Levi and Cath are perfect together. I love the fact that this story isn't just about love. It's also about growing up, acceptance, and supporting one another. It's so mich more than you would expect it to be. Even the tiny snippets from Cath's fic is perfectly added to the story.

4. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

No words. This book sent chills down my spine. It made me want to tell everyone about it but at the same time I couldn't bring myself to because I wanted people to read it themselves and tell me they feel the same way. Just. Perfect.

5. Luna by Julie Anne Peters

I read this book in less than one day which shows just how good it was. I think that the author was very brave and very talented to have taken on such an intimidating topic and actually do it justice. The only thing I wanted to change was the ending, but other than that, I really liked it. It was an eye-opening read.

6. Everyday by David Levithan

I love David Levithan's works. He never fails to give us another unique story that we will surely love. Everyday is just so different. I know that I would never have thought of something this unique in a million years. Another thing that I like about this book was how it was written in the point of view of someone who just didn't judge. It's really refreshing and different in a good way from what I'm used to.

7. Landline by Rainbow Rowell

I admit that I haven't finished it yet, so it shouldn't really count but whatever. I'm loving this book. Rainbow Rowell is so talented and this book just displayed that fact even more. Landline is amazing, just like all Rainbow's other books are.

8. Torn Away by Jennifer Brown

Torn Away is a haunting read. The story sticks with you. Sure, you don't think about it everyday, but Jordan's story will remain in your heart for a long, long while. She's a remarkable character, it was remarkable, cry-worthy book, and it truly deserves to be here, on my list.

9. Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

It's not as deep as the other books, nor is it as clever, but it's simple, sweet story just made me love it. It's not just about football or Jordan's love life. It's a story that makes you appreciate your friends, your family, everything you have. It sucks you in with its simplistic charm and you'll definitely want to read it over and over again.

10. Mr. Penumbra's 24-hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

This is a really nice, clever book that everyone will love. The ending wasn't really what I wanted it to be, but the journey to the end, with all the spectacular people and all the amazing adventures made the book a worthwhile read. You'll laugh, have fun, become smarter in some way, and maybe even learn a thing or two.

1. Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

I have proven that Rainbow Rowell books are awesome, every single one of them, I really love the plot of this book since it's not your average love story. Attachments is all about three people in their mid 20s. It's about falling in love with someone who you haven't even met yet. This book will definitely make you smile.

2. Landline by Rainbow Rowell

Another Rainbow Rowell book! I am truly amazed how Rainbow could write books in such different personalities, but still be able to truly feel each one of them. I just currently read this book, and it definitely deserved a 5 out of 5 rating.

3. Forever Layla by Melissa Turner Lee

So this book was sent for us to review, and I actually loved it. It's a mixture of different genres like YA Contemporary, Sci-fi, Fantasy, Romance and the list goes on. The relationship of David and Layla moved quite fast, but there's the feeling of connection between them. I am looking forward to more books by Melissa.

4. Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen

I have actually already read this book a long time ago, but I reread it this year, and it's still the cutest book ever. No matter how old you are, you just have to read this one and watch the movie too because both are beautiful. This is probably one of my all-time favorites.

5. Everyday by David Levithan

Wow. That's the best word I could think off that describes this book. How could David Levithan think of a story like this? It's all about A who wakes up everyday in a different body, but loves the same girl everyday. David Levithan books are a must read!

6. The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan

Even though The Lover's Dictionary is a pretty short book, it's the book which seemed to have endless words. It's a love story told in dictionary entries. Though the entries are short, it provides great events and even not so great ones of being within a couple.

7. If I Speak True by Jessica Brooks

I was thrilled to be given the chance to review this book this year. It's a very unique read. Ambrosia was a place that is utterly fascinating and made me wish that it actually existed. This book is full of secrets, and because I like revealing secrets as I read, I enjoyed this book.

8. Summer on the Short Bus by Bethany Crandell

Bethany Crandell showed in this book that people with disabilities aren't so different. It's a book that made me laugh so much that lead me to crying. It's a story about transformation. This is probably the best coming of age book I have read this year.

9. Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

I think we have mentioned this book so much in our blog, but that's just because it's reaaally good. It's a sweet book that will make you read it over and over again.

10. Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

I listened to this as an audio book, and to be honest audio books are not the best for me because I fell asleep. But, once you really listen to this story, you would completely appreciate it. It's about the loss of a friendship, but it's what made the story beautiful.

I hope you guys enjoyed today's post! Did you do Top 10 of 2014? What are your favorite books of the year? Leave a comment!

8:00 PM
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Santa Sock of Surprises: Book Themed Gift Ideas for Christmas

blog

Hey everyone! Welcome to Day 2 of GCQ's Santa Sock of Surprises! So there's only 4 days left til Christmas and for today's surprise from the Santa Sock, I will be giving some cool Christmas gift ideas for bookies like me. So if you have a friend who loves books as much as we do, these are the best gifts you could give them this holiday season. This is also somehow MY Christmas wishlist so if you're thinking of getting me something... well you know what to do. Haha.

1. Wall Art Thing

Illustration, Book lover gift, Writer gift, Bookish gift, Writer quotes, Wall art for nerds, Set of 4 Prints on Fine Art Paper

I saw this one over here and since I am such a sucker for books AND art, I can't not put this on this list! It's a wall art thing with Hunter S Thompson, Charles Bukowski, Sylvia Plath, and Jack Kerouac on it and it's just so pretty to my eyes! <3

2. Book USB

USB drive with 3000 free classic books - no extra software needed to open and read them.

Can I just say, this is the perfect USB to store all your ebooks! As a type of person who ALWAYS loses her USB, I'd probably take much better care of it if it looked like this.

3. Haruki Murakami embroidered tote bag

I am such a huge fan of these books and the art is just amazing!

4. Laptop Book Themed Case

5. Leg Bookmarks

6. Automatic Reading Lamp

You can get more information about this here!

Well that's it for today's surprise! Stay tuned for tomorrow's blog post! We hope you enjoyed these pretties. Let us know in the comments below what gifts YOU are looking forward to getting this Christmas.

Have a great holiday everyone! :)

10:57 PM
3 Comments

Interviewing Fathomless Reveries: Week 9

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Week 9 and going strong. Lol. Meet Pauline Ang, another fab book blogger for you guys! Sorry for the delay, been really caught up with school. You know the drill, enjoy!

1. Share your favorite joke or chat-up line.

Uh. Nothing, really. I can’t think of any right now. HAHA.

2. Most embarrassing moment?

Oh! During my elementary days, the washroom of both boys and girls were totally the same. Well, except for the urinals. And they were alternating floors. So, like second floor is girls, then third floor is boys, then so on. There was this one time that I really, really, really wanted to pee already. I thought I was already on fourth floor so I went in to pee. When I came out, there was a guy near the sink. Then I was looking weirdly at him (I thought that he was in the girls’ washroom without noticing it,) and he was also looking weirdly at me. Then I saw the urinals at the side. Then I was like, OHMYGAWD. ASDNAKJSNDK. Apparently, I was the one in the wrong washroom. Oops. =))

3. Zodiac sign?

Virgo ;)

4. Most daring thing you've ever done?

Most daring thing? Probably the time when my family and I went to Disneyland, and then there were lots of roller coasters and the elevator ride (I think it was called Tower of Terror.) I rode them all even though it was my first time to go to an amusement park. Weehee. Yep, my life experiences are quite shallow. HAHA.

5. If you were about to be dropped in a pit of lava, what would youchoose as your last words?

I don’t know. It’d probably be a spur of the moment thing for me. =))

6. Who is your favorite cartoon character?

Is anime considered cartoon? If yes, it’s Asuna from Sword Art Online. Otherwise, HAHAHA. I don’t watch TV ever since I was a kid. My whole life revolved around online games and books.

7. When you were a kid, what was the thing that was understood by everyone but misinterpreted by you? (Example: ______ used to wonder why people said that there was 0% interest. She means why would anyone buy it if it wasn't even the slightest bit interesting?)

…I don’t remember having an experience like this. =))

8. Who is your favorite blogger?

I don’t have a favorite blogger, but there are bloggers that I admire. :D

9. Future plans?

I’m so fickle-minded that I can’t see what I want to do in the future because they keep on changing. But, I’d really want to be able to put up a portfolio of something, even if that’s ambitious for me (‘coz I suck.)

10. Animal that you would own as a pet? (Birds, cats, dogs, fishes, bunnies, and guinea pigs not allowed)

Omg. I don’t know. I don’t like pets. But I love pandas and polar bears. They’re fluffy and cute. Teehee.

11. Do you believe ants are nutritious?

Nuh uh. I’m scared of ants, and I hate them. :< But my mom told me before they were rich in protein. HAHA. Idk if that’s true or not. She knew someone who ate a bowl of something with ants in it. *Blech*

12. Star Wars or Star Trek?

I haven’t watched Star Wars yet. (Yes, I suck.) Or maybe I did, but I have no recollection of it. So, I guess I’ll go with Star Trek. Live long and prosper! :))

13. Favorite superhero?

I do watch them, but I don’t really have a favorite. If ever, may I go with Spiderman because of Andrew Garfield? HAHA.

14. Favorite super villain?

Same goes here. Don’t have a favorite either.

15. Name one thing you love about yourself?

I love that I’m able to type fast, compared to others. Some of my friends are always like, how can you talk to a lot of people (5+) at the same time in Facebook. I really don’t know, okay?! =))

16. TBH...

I have a lot of things I want to do and want to have, but once I get to it, I get tired of it easily. It totally sucks. Right now, there are a lot of unfinished stuff scattered all over my room. :<

17. What is your favorite shirt/dress/pants/jacket/hoodie/any piece of clothing? Attach a picture.

Weehee. I just love these shirts because they’re so cute! Plus, I love the color <3

18. Word that best describes you?

Scatterbrained. I think. HAHA. My friends here in the Philippines always call me “sabog.”

19. Favorite app?

Facebook Messenger or Twitter. =)) It keeps me on the go with the people I need to talk with. My gadgets don’t have games because I get tired of them easily. Well, except for Clash of Clans. =))

20. What food do you crave right now? Attach a picture.

Ramen! <3

21. What's the thing you can't live without?

Internet. I go crazy if I go consecutive days without the Internet, unless if I’m really busy that I can’t afford to go online, which is very rare. =))

22. What's your happy place?

My table. :D I do all things on my table, like reading, computer, blablabla. In short, I’m stuck to it all day. HAHA.

23. You just murdered someone. How would you dispose of their body? (Examples: throw it in the ocean, bury it, dissolve it Breaking Bad style) We're just curious, promise. :)

For real? Uh. I’m not creative. I might just go with burying it. =))

24. Attach a selfie!

Sorry, haggard face! HAHAHA.