Sunday, November 30, 2014

Bookish Digest: November 2014

Hello lovelies! Welcome to Bookish Digest - something we'll be putting together at the end of every month to highlight our recent favorite reads and recap any posts you may have missed. We also include an About My Life and Things I'm Looking Forward To section in an effort for you to get to know us better. Don't forget to tell us in the comments some things that happened to you over the past month so we can get to know you guys better too!

This month, we also posted a Bookish survey. If you haven't taken that yet, go ahead and click here to do so. All responses are greatly appreciated!




Series:
Stand Alone
Genre:
Young Adult, Fantasy, Retelling
Website:Stacey Jay 

Goodreads
Review:
To be posted December 20
Game of Thrones meets the Grimm's fairy tales in this twisted, fast-paced romantic fantasy-adventure about Sleeping Beauty's daughter, a warrior princess who must fight to reclaim her throne.

Though she looks like a mere mortal, Princess Aurora is a fairy blessed with enhanced strength, bravery, and mercy yet cursed to destroy the free will of any male who kisses her. Disguised as a boy, she enlists the help of the handsome but also cursed Prince Niklaas to fight legions of evil and free her brother from the ogre queen who stole Aurora's throne ten years ago.

Will Aurora triumph over evil and reach her brother before it's too late? Can Aurora and Niklaas break the curses that will otherwise forever keep them from finding their one true love?

Reviews

Author/Book Promotion
Blond Cargo, Tim Cratchit’s Christmas Carol, Branded {Slack Friday}
The Christmas Train, Rocky Mountain Miracle, A Last Goodbye {Slack Friday}
Voices of Echo by Linda Lee Graham {Guest Post}
John Chase Regency Mystery Series by S.K. Rizzolo {Blast}
The Time Roads by Beth Bernobich {Blast}
Fragile Reign by Stacey O'Neale {Guest Post}

Miscellaneous

Evie's Poland TBR Pile (Reading Goals for November - February)

About My Life in November

Together with Tori with flew to Poland, to visit my parents and grandma. We will be spending Christmas here and coming back in February. It was a long flight and I was dreading it, but Tori was an angel and slept through most of it :) So proud of her!
(<- my dad and Tori taking a walk in the park)

I dyed my hair blond. OK, I tried to dye my hair blond. It didn't work.. I now look like the Big Bird from Seasame Street. I am going to be smarter next time and just go to the hair dresser. One think for sure, until I fix my hair, you won't be seeing any pictures of me :)

I've read some AMAZING books this month and came up with my POLAND TBR list. I have absolutely loved The Retribution of Mara Dyer and this was going to be my pick of the month, but since Andrea beat me to it, I decided to go with Princess of Thorns, which I loved almost as much as I did Mara!


Things I'm Looking Forward to in December

Christmas, of course. We're going to get a huge-ass Christmas Tree and have a fabulous, delicious feast of Polish food and we're going to sing Christmas songs and watch cheesy, lame-ass Christmas moves :D It's going to be a blast!

Getting some rest while my parents take care of my teething baby :) Sleep, reading, sleep and more sleep ;) Three months of semi-me time :D

Hopefully, snow, though I'm hearing there won't be much of it here this year. But hey, I am still hoping!



Series:
Mara Dyer #3
Genre:
Young Adult, Mystery, Psychological Thriller
Website:Michelle Hodkin 

Goodreads
Review:
Mara Dyer wants to believe there's more to the lies she’s been told.
There is.

She doesn’t stop to think about where her quest for the truth might lead.
She should.

She never had to imagine how far she would go for vengeance.
She will now.

Loyalties are betrayed, guilt and innocence tangle, and fate and chance collide in this shocking conclusion to Mara Dyer’s story.

Retribution has arrived.


Features
Baby, Come Back! {Top Ten Tuesday}
Bring on the Sequels! {Top Ten Tuesday}
Winter Reads {Top Ten Tuesday}

Author/Book Promotion
The Hockey Saint by Howard Shapiro {Guest Post}

About My Life in November
I GOT MARRIED! YESTERDAY! Stay tuned over the course of the next few weeks and I'll post some pictures and such for your viewing pleasure  :)

I caught up on the series I was in the middle of reading. Such a great feeling not to be behind on series! And now I get to binge of a few I've been dying to start!

Thanksgiving, even though it was low key this year as Joe and I got married two days after. It was quite the change from previous years so I both loved and hated it.

Things I'm Looking Forward to in December
Christmas, of course. I love the holidays and getting to spend time with my family. So fun. It's nice that my family and Joe's are close to one another so we can see everybody but not spend a crazy amount of time traveling around to do so.

Aruba, baby. Honeymoon time in Arbua - it's going to be so so nice to just sit on the beach and relax. But what books do I bring?!



Series:
Stand Alone
Genre:
Young Adult, Mythology, Dystopia
Website:P.J. Hoover 

Goodreads
Review:
To be posted in December
Piper's world is dying.

Each day brings hotter temperatures and heat bubbles that threaten to destroy the earth. Amid this global heating crisis, Piper lives under the oppressive rule of her mother, who suffocates her even more than the weather does. Everything changes on her eighteenth birthday, when her mother is called away on a mysterious errand and Piper seizes her first opportunity for freedom.

Piper discovers a universe she never knew existed—a sphere of gods and monsters—and realizes that her world is not the only one in crisis. While gods battle for control of the Underworld, Piper’s life spirals out of control as she struggles to find the answer to the secret that has been kept from her since birth.
.

Reviews
His Frozen Heart by Nancy Straight {5/5}

About My Life in November
I moved.  I took a huge leap and have moved.  I now live in the middle of nowhere in a little town that I am kind of falling in love with.

Finally getting out of my reading and reviewing slump!  I have started reading and reviewing again!  I am looking forward to being able to post again and be around more.


Things I'm Looking Forward to in December
Finishing my placement!!! This will mean I can go out onto the world and work wherever I may want.  Look out world!

Getting back onto schedule.  Be it with my reading and reviewing or with my eating and working out.  I am just looking forward to regaining what little normal I can :)




Series:
The Dark Elements #2
Genre:
Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance
Website:Jennifer L. Armentrout 

Goodreads
Review:
Every touch has its price

Layla Shaw is trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life—no easy task for a seventeen-year-old who’s pretty sure things can’t get worse. Her impossibly gorgeous best friend, Zayne, is forever off-limits thanks to the mysterious powers of her soul-stealing kiss. The Warden clan that has always protected her is suddenly keeping dangerous secrets. And she can barely think about Roth, the wickedly hot demon prince who understood her in ways no one else could.

But sometimes rock bottom is only the beginning. Because suddenly Layla’s powers begin to evolve, and she’s offered a tantalizing taste of what has always been forbidden. Then, when she least expects it, Roth returns, bringing news that could change her world forever. She’s finally getting what she always wanted, but with hell literally breaking loose and the body count adding up, the price may be higher than Layla is willing to pay…

I got to see Victoria Scott! She was in Austin for the YA Lit Symposium, and I got to have lunch with her before her signing the night of. I freaking love her so much, so it was awesome to finally chat and catch up on ALL OF THE THINGS. And now I can't wait to see her again! :)

I received my Secret Santa match! I adore the whole secret Santa thing. It's fun, and gives me a reason to get all pumped for Christmas a little ahead of time. ;) I actually had so much to say about #TBTBSanta that I wrote a post on YA Bound about it. If you want to read more of me gushing and getting teary about this, you can check that post out here!

THANKSGIVING. We don't do a lot of special things, but we do all get together and eat. A lot. And it's fantastic. It kicks off my favorite time of the year--Christmas! And yes, we are darn well putting out tree up on Black Friday. I'm so excited! A great day of happiness and thanks, and then the happiest part of the year. AHHH! *flails*

Things I'm Looking Forward to in December
Finishing up this semester of classes! I am so close I can taste it. This is only my first semester in college, but I am soooooo ready for the break between this semester and the next. I can't wait to have time to read and blog and do other fun stuff I haven't had time for because I've had so much to do for school. I'll be able to BREATHE, guys. I seriously cannot wait. Just a couple more things for all my classes (but one--that class I only have one more thing to do!) and I'll be done. Yay!

The build up to Christmas. So pretty much the entire month of December, which is my favorite month. There'll be Christmas movies and other festive stuff, like these awesome gingerbread PopTarts my sister-in-law got for me because she thought I'd like them. It going to be such a great time!

Christmas Eve/Christmas. That whole window of time. Where things are at the most exciting. When A Christmas Story is playing for 24 hours. And we're getting ready to go to sleep. And then we're waking up and GIFTS. And then we're opening them. And then we're all just chilling and eating good food and together. I love the happy feeling Christmas creates.

The release of Wicked by Jennifer L. Armentrout! JLA is my fav, as I've said before. I can't wait to finally get my hands on it and REEEEEEEEAD. It looks amazing! Which isn't surprising since it's a JLA book, but still. I'm all kinds of excited!



Series:
Truth in Lies #2
Genre:
New Adult, Romance
Website:Katherine Owen 

Goodreads
Review:
They share an epic love but one moment changes everything. A life together that seemed certain is shattered. One learns you never love the same way twice; the other learns what it means to come home. You only think you know how this love story goes, but do you really know how an epic love can end?

Reviews

Author/Book Promotion
Nocte by Courtney Cole {Release Day Promotion}
Conner by Irish Winters {Promotion}
Axiom by Rainy Kaye {Promotion}
Past Encounters by Davina Blake {Promotion}

About My Life in November
I went to a paint and wine class, its become my new obsession, it so beyond fun.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday so I'm psyched for that too!

Things I'm Looking Forward to in December
My birthday, Hanukkah and Christmas.

Reading the conclusion to The Darkest Mind trilogy.
 
Most Popular Review

Most Popular Non-Review
Thank you to everybody who helped take our Bookish Survey to help make Bookish better! The giveaway is over, but you can still take the survey if you want to help us out!


Tell us - what went on in your month?! What were some of your favorite books this month? Favorite posts from either your blog or others? What are some new (or old) and noteworthy things we should know about? Be sure to leave a link! 

The Family Romanov by Candace Fleming (Review)


Series:
Standalone
Genre:
Adult, Non-Fiction, Biography, Historical
Publication.Date:July 8, 2014
Pages:253 (hardcover)
Published By:  Schwartz & Wade
Website:Candace Fleming

The Family Romanov on Goodreads
My review copy:
Received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Where to get:



“[A] superb history.... In these thrilling, highly readable pages, we meet Rasputin, the shaggy, lecherous mystic...; we visit the gilded ballrooms of the doomed aristocracy; and we pause in the sickroom of little Alexei, the hemophiliac heir who, with his parents and four sisters, would be murdered by the Bolsheviks in 1918.” —The Wall Street Journal

Here is the tumultuous, heartrending, true story of the Romanovs—at once an intimate portrait of Russia's last royal family and a gripping account of its undoing. Using captivating photos and compelling first person accounts, award-winning author Candace Fleming (Amelia Lost; The Lincolns) deftly maneuvers between the imperial family’s extravagant lives and the plight of Russia's poor masses, making this an utterly mesmerizing read as well as a perfect resource for meeting Common Core standards.

"An exhilarating narrative history of a doomed and clueless family and empire." —Jim Murphy, author of Newbery Honor Books An American Plague and The Great Fire

"For readers who regard history as dull, Fleming’s extraordinary book is proof positive that, on the contrary, it is endlessly fascinating, absorbing as any novel, and the stuff of an altogether memorable reading experience." —Booklist, Starred

"Marrying the intimate family portrait of Heiligman’s Charles and Emma with the politics and intrigue of Sheinkin’s Bomb, Fleming has outdone herself with this riveting work of narrative nonfiction that appeals to the imagination as much as the intellect." —The Horn Book, Starred

(Goodreads)



I have a minor obsession with this area of Romanov/Russian history. And yes, it was brought on by 1997's Anastasia. Since then, I have read a few biographies, a couple of articles, and became once again enraptured with this family in 2007 when the remains of Anastasia (or Marie) and Alexi were found.

When given the opportunity to read The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia by Candace Fleming, I knew I couldn't pass it up. Each time I read a biography I always learn something new and Candace's book was no exception.

What I truly loved about The Family Romanov is that Candace doesn't just focus on the Romanov family, she also talks about the state of Russia and her people. Knowing what was going on outside of the Romanov family is eye opening as I understood where its citizens were coming from and why they wanted to overthrow Nicholas II and the monarchy. 

Sometimes I have trouble with non-fiction novels. I start out excited to read it and learn about these people, but then after a while I feel like I'm being taught by Ben Stein from Ferris Buller's Day Off. With The Family Romanov. With The Family Romanov, I had zero problems. Candace's writing is wonderfully done and doesn't give the book a feeling of non-fiction. I didn't feel like I was being taught, I felt like I was reading a fictional narrative. I was entranced, engaged, and looking forward to turning the page.

For any individual interested in the Romanovs, I highly recommend this book. Since Candace focuses on both the family and Russian history, know that going into you're not going to learn a lot about the familial relationships and what they are each going through specifically as she balances her narrative equally between the Romanovs and Russia. She does touch on the Grand Ducheeses and Alexi, but most of her focus is on Nicholas and Alexandra.

For me it wasn't a huge deal as I know a lot of the family, but someone who doesn't know so much may be a little disappointed. However, knowing/understanding what the Russian people were going through was exceptionally enlightening in understanding this period of history.

Incredibly researched, The Family Romanov is a must for anybody interested in this period or anybody looking to get their toes wet. Even for those who have trouble trudging through facts, I know you'll enjoy this book. I learned so many things and experienced so many emotions - this is by no means an easy read, but it is a read that has stuck with me.



Goodreads Twitter Instagram Google Plus Image Map   

Saturday, November 29, 2014

Just a little post to inform you all that today . . .

I'm getting married!

They'll Be Lots of Kissing
 
 
  

A Cake

Hugs and Laughter from Loved Ones
 
 

Plenty of Dancing
 
 
 

Goodbyes At the End of the Night

And Let's Not Forget this Little Tidbit . . .



Goodreads Twitter Instagram Google Plus Image Map
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...