In My Mailbox (#3)

In My Mailbox is a really fun meme hosted by The Story Siren, where we get to gush about all the books we received, and share our thoughts on them!

Hi! This is going to be a pretty short video this week, as my book haul was a bit smaller than usual. What I lack in quantity, though, I make up for in quality! I am so excited by what I've purchased and received over the last week or so. :)

(Look at that. Somehow, I managed to make this video long anyway! So many stories!)

ARC of Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood, from Michelle at The Passionate Bookworm

ARC of Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver, from Brooke at Brooke Reports
Paperback of On the Island by Tracey Garvis-Graves, and swag from the author!
Kindle copy of I'll Walk Alone by Mary Higgins-Clark (purchased).

I mentioned The Net, starring (not by... hahaha. I'm in book mode) Sandra Bullock. Go watch it!

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Check out my review of Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers. Let me know what you thought of it!

Join in on the awesome conversation about copycat covers, and voice your opinion.

Watch the whimsical bookish video, Oscar 2012 winner for best animated short!

That Artsy Reader Girl just reached over 10,000 page views! *throws confetti in the air* Thank you so much to all my readers for stopping by and joining in on the conversations and book chats. I love getting to know all of you! And as always, thanks to my Twitter followers and Facebook fans. :) I love reading about what's going on in your lives, and sharing your enthusiasm and excitement for books, as well as life in general. :)

That's Totally the Same Cover! (#1)

Hi! So, I'm kind of a book cover person. I remember covers, which is usually how I can tell if I've read a book or not. Haha. And it's always funny to me when I come across two book covers that are either identical or very similar. Of all the images and photographs in the world, why use the same one for two different books, right? Especially if one is super popular and nobody has even heard of the other one. Yeah... I know... stock images. I'm a graphic designer, and use stock images too. But with a book cover, you need to be super careful! I always feel bad for the worse of the two covers. It's like being an ugly stepsister, or something.

Mermaids of Venice by Silas Knight

Breathless by Cole Gibsen (The better cover)

Sing Me to Sleep by Angela Morrison (The better cover)

For Pete's Sake by Linda Windsor

This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen
Bewitching Love Potions & Charms by Raven Tempest

Which covers do you like better? Do you ever notice copy cat covers in bookstores or online? How do you feel about cover images being reused, especially on really popular books?

(This blog post is the first of several that will appear over the next few months!)

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers (Book Review)

Title: Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin Book #1)
Author: Robin LaFevers
Release Date: April 3, 2012
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Format: eARC (exclusive promo galley)
Source: The publisher, through Netgalley.
Buy It: Amazon
Add It: Goodreads 

Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae's most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

Oh, the buzz around the blogosphere regarding this book is so loud that one can hardly focus on anything else!  I have read amazing reviews for this book, and when Netgalley had an exclusive promo going for it, I snatched it up without even thinking about it. Unfortunately, my review will not match the bulk of the reviews out there for Grave Mercy. I was a little disappointed in it, and it took me forever to read it. As always, my main points are bolded to accommodate the skimmers out there like me!

1. I loved the idea of this book! Ismae, a daughter of Death, was saved from the attempt on her life while she was still in her mother and has now grown up to be one of his (Death's) assassins. And she lives in a convent of nuns who are "called" to do the same thing! She gets trained to kill in numerous different ways (and in "womanly arts"... seriously? Hilarious term.) and is then sent out on missions to serve his will. I'd never heard of anything like this, so I was incredibly excited. I am always gobbling up unique subject matter. I definitely respect the imagination and creativity that the author has. The magical/fantasy elements of this book were really enthralling. I just with there had been more time for that, rather than sitting around discussing politics and "state of the union" type stuff.

2. The writing style is pretty. I can see why many people love the book so much, as I'm sure this is one of the drawing forces for Grave Mercy.

3. I'm not a huge fan of straight historical fiction. I enjoy romance and adventure more than politics and facts. This book was full of a ton of political discussions and explanations. I really had no desire to read all of this, and wished that more room was left for the adventure. I mean, Ismae is DEATH'S assassin! I expected so much adventure and suspense, which did not happen. On and on and on the politics went. This book is 564 pages!

4. It was really hard to keep up with all the politics, locations, and characters. There were SO many people to try and remember, all with names that don't come easily to me and intricate webs of craziness in each of their pasts. Because there were so many people and so many stories, I had a hard time connecting with any of them enough to care about what they had to say. I only finished this book a few days ago, and I can't remember most of them.

5. Ismae was flat and boring. She had no personality or likeable qualities. Throughout the whole story, she acted like she was brainwashed to have no conscience, independent thoughts, or a sense of humor. I mean we meet "Death" at one point and he seems much more tender and compassionate than Ismae ever does. It seems weird that the "master" is so much more likeable than the "servants". Isame was a machine, and I'm having a hard time figuring out how the dude (I seriously can't remember his name) fell for her. How can you fall in love with someone about as interesting and loving as my stainless steel refrigerator? And seriously. I don't get it when a heroine does not understand what she's feeling regarding a man. She has no idea that she's physically attracted to him, and has inner dialogues wondering why she's trembling, why she has this burning in her chest, why she's blushing, why her heart races when he's near, why she startles every time he touches her elbow or brushes her hand. Does she not even know she's a woman? She's pretty clueless throughout the entire book, and I was getting frustrated with her lack of common sense. She does have some awesome weaponry, though. I'll give her that.

6. I loved Beast, the big guy who was supposed to be scary, but was actually more friendly and warm hearted than any of the characters combined. He was funny and sweet, and I really liked him. He was definitely my favorite character in the book. 

7. I appreciate the fact that this was not insta-love. Although... authors seem to have caught on that people are getting tired of insta-love, so they are all making their main characters hate each other for the bulk of the book. Whatever happened to just liking someone? It seems to be either hate or love these days. Why can't people meet, become friends/casual acquaintances, and then fall in love? I've never hated anyone I barely knew, so why are all the heroines/heroes feeling this way all of a sudden?

8. To avoid any spoilers, I'll just mention one word and those of you who have read it will know exactly what I mean: Antidote. Seriously? Kinda anti-climatic, if you ask me.

9. Even with all my complaints, I'm very slightly interested in book #2. So... I don't even know how that happened. Haha! We'll see.

Oh, I finally remembered the dude's name: Gavriel. Phew! Oh, and another random thing to mention... This book does not read like a YA. Yes, Ismae is young, but her voice is too mature, her purpose is too mature, and there was a bit more steam to this book, even though no sex scenes are described.

While I did not love this book, I can see why others did. It's unique, well-written, and sometimes it was interesting. I would recommend it to people who enjoy historical fiction with a little bit of romance and fantasy mixed in.

Bookish Finds: Video Edition #2

 Bookish Finds is a feature here at That Artsy Reader Girl, where I highlight awesome bookish things I come across during my exciting life. 

I'm sure many of you remember the video I posted back in January called The Joy of Books. It was a fun little stop motion animation of what books do in bookstores at night, when the lights are off. Today, I want to share with you The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore. I love the 3D animation and the whimsical imagery, not to mention the wonderful message: books add color and excitement to our world by being our friends and taking us on unimaginable journeys—our most loyal friends forever. I wish my books flew around, danced with me, and ate cereal with me in the mornings! I'll admit, I cried a little. It's a sweet story. :) Enjoy!

(Oscar winner for best animated short 2012! Created by William Joyce.)

So? What did you think? :) Have a lovely Saturday!

Beastly by Alex Flinn (Mini Book Review + Movie Thoughts)

Title: Beastly
Author: Alex Flinn
Release Date: October 2, 2007
Format: Paperback
Source: Bought it at Border's.
Buy It: Amazon
Add It: Goodreads

I am a beast. A beast. Not quite wolf or bear, gorilla or dog, but a horrible new creature who walks upright – a creature with fangs and claws and hair springing from every pore. I am a monster.

You think I’m talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. It’s no deformity, no disease. And I’ll stay this way forever – ruined – unless I can break the spell.

Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me. Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day and prowls by night? I’ll tell you. I’ll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, and a perfect life. And then, I’ll tell you how I became perfectly beastly.

I was really worried about reading a modern take on "Beauty and the Beast." I love that story so much already that I was worried Flinn was going to ruin it. I absolutely loved it! I love the transformation Kyle makes from being a complete jerk to being Prince Charming. I mean, he was so mean and self-centered... and he really hurt people and didn't care! He makes a complete 180, and the difference is amazing. I can see many people falling for this guy! 

He meets Lindy because of her father. He got into some major trouble, and the only way to get himself out of it was to essentially give his daughter to the Kyle. Their relationship goes from absolute loathing, to tolerance, to curiosity, to a blooming romance. I love the amount of concern Kyle shows for Lindy and her well-being. 

I really liked Will (Kyle's blind tutor) and Magda (Kyle's housekeeper) too. They were entertaining i nthe same way that Lumiere and Cogsworth are from the Disney movie. 

All in all, it was a great story. Kyle's thoughtfulness and generosity were highlights for me. If you love Beauty and the Beast, this book will not disappoint you at all. I'd recommend it to people who enjoy modern retellings of timeless fairy tales.

My thoughts on the movie version:

I was really excited to see what Hollywood was going to do to Beastly. I loved the magic of the story, and the characters were wonderful. When I saw who was playing Lindy, though, I was majorly disappointed. I've never been a fan of Vanessa Hudgens, and I did not think she did a very good job playing this role. And then when I found out that Mary-Kate Olsen was cast as Kendra (the witch), I almost boycotted watching it. But then it came out on DVD, and so many of my friends loved it... so I decided to try it. I thought it was just ok.

Alex Pettyfer was totally not who I pictured as Kyle. I was looking for the tall, dark and handsome type... more like Paul Wesley (Stefan from The Vampire Diaries). This guy just did not seem like he had enough going for him to be able to cause such pain in the lives of his classmates. His "beastly" look was also not what I pictured, but I liked it. It worked. Like I said, Vanessa and Mary-Kate were not the right people to cast, in my opinion... but Mary-Kate did do a great job at looking witchy. I loved Neil Patrick Harris as Will. That was a wonderful choice.

Overall, I am SO glad I read the book before the movie came out. It would have ruined the book for me if I had seen the movie first. The acting and special effects were "meh" for me, and I will most likely not watch this again. The book is so much better, so you should definitely read it, especially if you enjoyed the movie.

Top Ten Books On My List this Spring

So, apparently today is the first day of spring. Seeing as how it snowed all day yesterday, and has been all cold and wet outside today, I'm not buying it! That does not mean I'm not in the mood, though! I can't wait for sunshine, warm weather, and flowers. It's also during this part of the year that I start craving cute contemporary romances and books about people going on vacations to the beach or a cabin. Anywhere, really. So, here we have my top ten books for springtime! Some of them are new releases, and some are ones I've been trying to get to for quite a while. 

The Fine Art of Truth of Dare by Melissa Jensen

Everyone I know has read this already! I've been dying for it since the day I found out it was being published eons ago. It sounds adorable, and just like the kind of book to brighten my wintery mood.

Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs (and the sequel, Tempest Unleashed. I got both from Netgalley, so thanks!)

Hello, young adult mermaid romance novel! I am SO excited. Mermaids are my FAVORITE! And seriously, do mermaids not scream warm weather, white sand beaches, and undersea fun?

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Duh. I'll just leave it at that. I loved Delirium so much. I actually read it while I was on a cruise, and the ending ripped me apart so much that I almost threw myself overboard. This has to be read really soon. REALLY soon.

Girl at Sea by Maureen Johnson

Yes, please! A girl on a Mediterranean cruise? The title sold me, and Maureen is one of my favorite authors! I have a wonderful feeling that this book is going to be amazing.

Austentatious by Alyssa Goodnight

The sounds like a fun little contemporary romance set in Austin, Texas with a Jane Austen spin! I love Jane Austen spin-offs, but me recent encounters with them have left me disappointed. I hope this one is amazing, and reminds me of why I love books like this so much.

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

This title gets me every time! It's so adorable and looooooong. And a romance in an airport? YES. (I know. How have I not read this already?) I am really excited for it!

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Again, duh. Seriously? I can't believe this one is still unread. Insurgent is coming out really soon also, so I need to have this read before that one hits the shelves. I want to be cool and read book #2 when everyone else is reading it!

Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella

I have not read a book of hers yet, and this sounds like so much fun! Another plane romance. I hate planes, but love where they take you!

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

Ok, another one I should have read months ago. I've heard amazing things about it, and it sounds so cute!

Are You Going to Kiss Me Now? by Sloane Tanen

"High school junior Francesca Manning is an outsider, an aspiring writer and secret devourer of celebrity gossip mags. A fake essay to "Seventeen" wins her the celeb-schmoozing opportunity of a lifetime, but after the plane crashes, she's stranded on a desert island with five of the most clueless, self-involved headcases to escape Hollywood." 
Haha! Sounds interesting, and fun! 

So, there you have it! Have you read any of these and loved/hated them? What's on your list?

Mr. Darcy Forever by Victoria Connelly (Book Review)

Title: Mr. Darcy Forever (Austen Addicts #3)

Author: Victoria Connelly

Release Date: April 3, 2012

Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark

Format: Uncorrected e-Proof

Source: Netgalley

Buy It: Amazon

Add It: Goodreads

(While this is book #3 in a series, I contacted the author and she said each novel is a standalone, and they can be read out of order.)

 

Estranged sisters Sarah and Mia Castle have spent a lifetime fighting over the men in their lives. They finally begin to make amends at the annual Jane Austen Festival in Bath, England. During the festival, the sisters realize that they can't bear to be apart. They discover that their sisterhood forms a bond stronger than their mutual connection as Jane Austen addicts. And in true Jane Austen fashion, they each begin to lose their hearts to dashing gentlemen.

I love, love, love Jane Austen spin-offs. I've read quite a few, including book #2 in this series, Dreaming of Mr. Darcy. While it was not my favorite book, it was definitely cute and worth the read. I was excited to read this next book. And look at that darling cover! While I did not enjoy it as much as Dreaming of Mr. Darcy, and it bothered me in a few places, this book ended up leaving me with a few warm fuzzies and a smile. As always, my main points are bolded. :)

1. The story is actually kind of boring until about 60% of the way through the book, when things pick up and really get interesting. We've got flashbacks to when the sisters parted ways mixed in with the present day at a Jane Austen festival in Bath. Most of the present-day scenes are combinations of 2 or 3 people talking about stuff, but it all happens in different places and at different times. I felt like I was reading the same story multiple times: Sarah talking to Lloyd, Mia talking to Gabe, and Mia talking to Shelley, not to mention what is going on in Sarah and Mia's minds.Plus, we see it all happen in the flashback as well. It was a bit overkill for me. But then at 60%, things pick up and progress is made. The characters begin to open up and move forward, whereas before it was all talk of the past. The mood gets a bit lighter, and more enjoyable... even funny in some places.

2. Sarah bothers me a bit. She has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, which is totally fine. I have it... my sister has it. It's fine. But seriously. There is SO much OCD talk. Sarah and her love interest bond and essentially fall in love because they both have it. Everything Sarah does is "because of OCD." It is talked about so much, that it ends up being another character in the book. We had Sarah, Lloyd, Mia, Shelley, Gabe, and Sarah's OCD. I got tired of hearing about it.

The matter-of-fact, and sometimes sarcastic way that OCD was discussed made me feel like the disorder was made out to be something funny and quirky, not a serious thing. This story is written as if Sarah enjoys having it. She sits and talks about it, and laughs. She's happy she has found someone else who suffers from it too. I was really bothered by it, and got to the point where I skimmed over all mentions of OCD. Maybe I'm just extra sensitive because I have struggled with this same thing for most of my life, but it just really rubbed me the wrong way.

3. I really disliked Sarah's sister, Mia, and Mia's friend, Shelley, in the beginning. They were obnoxious, self-centered and immature, throwing themselves at whoever, whenever they please. If someone is married, who cares? If someone is not interested, who cares? And then if they happen to see someone they dislike, they either hide in plain sight and act completely amazed when they are spotted, or they run away through the streets crying their eyes out and mentally channeling some Jane Austen character, asking for advice. Drama. Over the top drama. However, towards the end they both seem to grow up all of a sudden. We are given insights into Mia's past, and we get to see Shelley as a very nurturing and concerned best friend. I ended up really liking both of them by the end. And Shelley's dog, Bingley, is hilarious. I really love that dog, and his silly mannerisms and habits.

4. I really enjoyed the descriptions of the cute town of Bath. I would love to visit someday. The author put me right there in the middle of it all. 

5. The present-day romance that both sisters experience after so much pain in their past is refreshing and sweet. Both girls have been through a lot, so I enjoyed reading about them falling in love. And I really like both guys, and kind of wish I had one too!

Overall, this was a cute little contemporary, sometimes cheesy, romance that took a while to get going, but ended up warming my heart. I did not love it as much as Dreaming of Mr. Darcy, but I still enjoyed it and think it was worth the read. This book focuses on Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility, so don't be expecting a P&P spin-off based on the title! Now I need to go read the first one, A Weekend with Mr. Darcy!

The Hourglass Door by Lisa Mangum (Mini Book Review)

Title: The Hourglass Door (The Hourglass Door #1)
Author: Lisa Mangum
Release Date: May 1, 2009
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Format: Hardback
Source: I bought it. 
Buy It: Amazon
Add It: Goodreads

His past. Her future.
Can love bring them together in time?

Abby's senior year of high school is going according to plan: good friends, cute boyfriend, and college applications in the mail. But when Dante Alexander, foreign-exchange student from Italy, steps into her life, he turns it upside down. He's mysterious, and interesting, and unlike anyone she's ever met before. Abby can't deny the growing attraction she feels for him. Nor can she deny the unusual things that seem to happen when Dante is around. Soon Abby finds herself drawn into a mystery whose roots reach into sixteenth-century Florence, and she uncovers a dangerous truth that threatens not only her future but the lives of those she loves.

Wow! I loved this book so much that I finished it in less than 24 hours. Lisa Mangum's writing style is beautiful. I found myself re-reading passages because they were incredibly captivating and magical. She described everything in such intricate detail and left me feeling like I was actually there. The plot is extremely interesting and mysterious. It had the potential of being extremely confusing, but Lisa wrote it in a way that every detail was explained, leaving no stone left unturned. And her take on time and time travel is original and exciting. I loved reading about it.

Dante is a swoon-worthy love interest. I mean, he's Italian... and he's romantic, and he's been around for quite a while. He's got a very interesting past, including being Leonardo Da Vinci's apprentice. His concern for Abby is sweet, not obsessive or stalkerish. The love story between the two of them is slow and believable, and beautiful. You can just feel them fall in love, and I savored every minute of it.

I really only have one complaint: several of the characters speak to Abby in Italian and there's no translation anywhere. I had to have my laptop with me so I could translate the lines. Let me just say right now free internet translations frequently make no sense.

I read this series as the books came out. I was one of the first in line for this book, and each one in the series ends in quite a cliffhanger! Well, except for the last. Haha. All three books are out now, though, and all three are favorites of mine. This is one of my very favorite romance stories, and I definitely think you should read it if you're looking for an exciting, romantic, time traveling story with a mysterious Italian inventor and the modern-day girl he sweeps off her feet. The world they explore together is unique, intriguing, a little dangerous, and utterly magical.

I'm Featured in the YA Magazine, WovenMyst Today!

Hello! Today, I'm over at the young adult magazine, WovenMyst. I'm one of their bloggers, and they interviewed me a few weeks ago. I really like this magazine, and am excited to be a part of it! Go check it out!

(Click Here)

WovenMyst.com is a Young Adult online magazine about everything young adult novels. We bring our readers the latest reviews, the hottest book covers, and amazing interviews with everyone involved in creating a young adult book.

WovenMyst.com’s goal is to make reading fashionable. We want to intertwine literature and the art that’s involved in creating it. We first and foremost focus on the books and their authors, but we never forget about Narrators, Cover Photographers, Publicists, and Publishers. The process is where the magic happens and that’s what we want our readers to experience.

The WovenMyst team consists of young fresh minds. We are artists, writers, and teachers. We strive to be different and we will excel in taking book publicity into a new dimension.

Slide by Jill Hathaway (Book Review)

Title: Slide (Slide #1)
Author: Jill Hathaway (2012 Debut Author)
Release Date: March 27, 2012
Publisher: Balzer + Bray for HarperCollins
Format: Advance e-Proof
Source: Netgalley
Buy It: Amazon
Add It: Goodreads 

Vee Bell is certain of one irrefutable truth—her sister’s friend Sophie didn’t kill herself. She was murdered.

Vee knows this because she was there. Everyone believes Vee is narcoleptic, but she doesn’t actually fall asleep during these episodes: When she passes out, she slides into somebody else’s mind and experiences the world through that person’s eyes. She’s slid into her sister as she cheated on a math test, into a teacher sneaking a drink before class. She learned the worst about a supposed “friend” when she slid into her during a school dance. But nothing could have prepared Vee for what happens one October night when she slides into the mind of someone holding a bloody knife, standing over Sophie’s slashed body.

Vee desperately wishes she could share her secret, but who would believe her? It sounds so crazy that she can’t bring herself to tell her best friend, Rollins, let alone the police. Even if she could confide in Rollins, he has been acting off lately, more distant, especially now that she’s been spending more time with Zane.

Enmeshed in a terrifying web of secrets, lies, and danger and with no one to turn to, Vee must find a way to unmask the killer before he or she strikes again.

What an interesting take on a paranormal story, huh? A narcoleptic body snatcher on a quest to solve a murder she witnessed while inside and unknown killer. I was very excited to read this book, as I've heard great things about it. I liked it a lot, and was surprised (both positively and negatively) by the small details and plot elements of the story. As always, my main points are bolded. :)

1. The unique storyline was very well done and explained in great detail. The author did a great job describing the sliding process and what that meant for Vee. I almost felt like I was the one doing the sliding, because each event was painted out for us so well. These moments were my favorites of the book. I liked the opportunities Vee had to explore the people she thought she knew so well. It's like she and I were both flies on the wall. Sneaky!

2. I was hooked very quickly. The reader is immediately submerged in the story. Time is not wasted mapping out every single detail, and things just keep on going from there. There's not a lot of down time, and I was turning pages very quickly. 

3. I liked Vee, but her personality is a bit forgettable. Perhaps the next book in the series will let us get to know her more, but this book focused so much more on all the supporting characters than the main one. I think this had a lot to do with the fact that Vee was sliding so much. Naturally, that would focus the story more on the people who are slid into rather than the one who does the sliding. What we do know about Vee is sad. She does not really discuss happy memories or fun times, so she's kind of one-dimensional.

4. This book is much darker, heavier, and more emotional than I had expected. I'm not sure how I feel about this. When Vee is not sliding, she's focused mainly on comforting other people or putting herself in tough situations to try and discover who the murderer is. Her little sister's best friend is the victim of the murder, so Vee spends a lot of time trying to pull her sister out of a deep depression. The grief in this book is very real. The characters do a lot of mourning, which actually started to depress me a lot. This is not a light read.

5. I liked Rollins, the best friend. However, I'm starting to tire of the endless love triangles where the best friend is ignored for the bulk of the story. This storyline is getting a bit old, in my opinion. Rollins obviously cares about Vee a lot, and I think he's really sweet. He has a hard home life and some secrets, which both add a lot more depth to him than any of the other characters. He and Vee bonded in a very special way long ago, and their relationship is sweet when they actually get to sit and have fun rather than worry about who will die next. Zane, the newcomer, is mysterious and exciting, but I don't see why that automatically makes him the immediate love interest. I mean, if Rollins is the best friend, why does Vee start distancing herself as soon as someone new enters her life? Friends don't do that, and I feel bad that best friends are frequently treated badly, or just flat-out ignored in books like this.

6. I loved how complex the storyline was. There was a ton of stuff going on, page-gripping suspense, lots of characters and emotions, interesting twists, and a really convoluted mystery. We're constantly being introduced to new things, new people, new facts, etc.

7. The mystery was my favorite part of the story. It was not predictable like some mysteries are. I wanted so badly to find out what happened, and kept reading until I was done. Suspense and danger were involved, and I love it when books do that, rather than focus mostly on romance, with a little mystery on the side. The romance was definitely minimal, and not important to the story's flow.

8. The book did not end in a cliff-hanger! I was worried that since this is book #1, it would end in a frustrating cliffhanger. Everything was resolved, though, which I liked. This novel could be a standalone. Hopefully book #2 does not ruin that!

Overall, this was an interesting, unique, and emotional read. It was darker than I had expected, but the mysteriousness of the book needed that. I actually liked the storyline and the sliding better than any other aspect of the book, including the characters and the romance. I'd recommend this to people who enjoy paranormal thrillers with a tiny bit of romance.

In My Mailbox (#2)

In My Mailbox is a really fun meme hosted by The Story Siren, where we get to gush about all the books we received and share our thoughts on them!

I haven't participated in IMM since February 19th, so I have quite a few books to share. I won a few books from different blogs, got some for review, and bought some (of course...). So, let's get started!After about 16 takes, my vlog is done. Oh my. It should never take this long.

Won:

☆ Signed copies of Legend by Marie Lu and Across the Universe by Beth Revis, plus a bunch of swag from Tiffany Schmidt's Breathless Reads Giveaway on her blog, Letters, words, thoughts, ideas, stories.
- - I recently got a personalized copy of ATU from Alexa at Alexa Loves Books as well, so this second copy will be up for giveaway soon! :)

☆ Signed copy of The Crystal Princess by Kimberly Norton from Readinista.

Thanks so much to the both of you for hosting such wonderful giveaways!

For Review:

☆ Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers exclusive promo galley on Netgalley. 

☆ Enchanted by Alethea Kontis from Magan at Rather by Reading from her trip to Ala Midwinter. 

☆ Under the Same Sky by Genevieve Graham from the publisher for review at The Broke and the Bookish .

Thanks to the publishers (and Magan)! I'm excited to read these. :) 

Purchased:

☆ Evernight by Claudia Gray (with bonus materials) - Free on kindle! 

☆ The Boyfriend Bylaws by Susan Hatler - Free on kindle!

☆ Blue Eyes and Other Teenage Hazards by Janette Rallison (kindle)

☆ Oppression by Jessica Therrien (because of Alexa's review) (kindle)

☆ Frenchman's Creek by Daphne Du Maurier (Paperback)

See my picks for March's Rewind and Review.

Congratulations to Kris E. for winning my leap into books giveaway! Thanks to all who entered. :)

Read my review of On the Island by Tracey Garvis Graves, and enter to win a copy! 

Julia and Readinista tagged me, so check out my answers and learn more about me!

See what I thought of Dracula, My Love by Syrie James.

Read my review of A Hidden Fire, book #1 in the Elemental Mysteries series by Elizabeth Hunter.

My review of my favorite read this week, Gentlemen Prefer Nerds by Joan Kilby.

Check out my review of Truly, Madly, Deeply, You by Celilia Robert.

Truly, Madly, Deeply, You by Cecilia Robert (Book Review)

Title: Truly, Madly, Deeply, You
Author: Cecilia Robert
Release Date: March 21, 2012
Publisher: Inkspell Publishing
Format: Advance eBook
Source: The publisher.
Buy It: Amazon
Add It: Goodreads

Four days before Valentine’s Day, Liese Hansfeld is determined to shut the door to her house, as well as her heart, for her annual four days of mourning her one true love. Little does she know her best friend Freytag Meier is just as determined to keep her from her ritual. He’s ready to pick the lock to her apartment door and camp in her living room if that’s what it takes.

What Freytag isn’t prepared for is the surge of deep-rooted emotions he feels for Liese, but two things stand in his way: the grief and guilt she still clutches close to her heart, and a man who threatens to snatch Liese from under Frey’s watchful eye. Frey is determined to distract her into forgetting her pain. But is that enough to ease her grief, or help her see he can be more than her best friend?

I was intrigued by the summary of this book. I don't have a ton to say about it, though. Haha. It was a bit diappointing, and there really was not much to it. It was just ok in my book. As always, my main points are bolded. :) 

1. I'm not a huge fan of Liese. Every year she spends the four days before Valentine's in a state of intense depression. She will see nobody. She lays in bed, has extreme nightmares, cries a lot, refuses to eat (and gets really weak), takes antidepressants that make her really weird, and relives past events over and over again. This year, Frey has decided to intervene and spend the whole time with her to help her through. Seriously. This girl has no personality, is extremely melodramatic, and really has no redeeming qualities. We find out about 90% of the way through exactly what happened to her, and it's completely heartbreaking. It's not something I can begin to comprehend. But really, I was tired of her self-destructive ways and was really hoping there was more to the book than that.

2. I got really tired of reading about how tiny and frail Liese is. Every time she showed a glimmer of sadness, Frey scooped her up/picked her up/set her on his lap/put his leg over her so she could not get up. Frey says she "weighs about as much as a kitten". And "her tiny fingers" held on to his. She's wounds like a little girl. If she's sleepy, he carries her. If she's medicated, he carries her. Honestly, this girl is not a china doll! I wish she had been portrayed as a strong woman who could go on with life. This, combined with her depression and self-destruction made me really annoyed. Yes, she went through something absolutely terrible. But those things are supposed to make us stronger! I wish we had been given a sense of hope. This book could have been inspirational, motivating, encouraging. It fell completely flat.

3. I wish Liese had some character development. It's like there was no point to reading about her journey, because this journey never ended up taking us anywhere.

4. I'm not sure how I feel about Frey. There were times I thought he was way too good for her, and there were times he creeped me out a bit. He's extremely sweet and attentive. He was there to comfort her and drag her out of her mopey time. He was very understanding and patient. If she had a nightmare, he was there to help her go back to sleep. I'd love a friend like that, whom I could depend on. But... he was also very smothering and would not let her make her own decisions. He forced his way in to her house when she just wanted to be alone. He treated her like a 5-year-old. He stood outside the door to her room and heard her having a nightmare, so he ran down to the front desk in his underwear and lied in order to get a key to her room so he could climb in bed with her. She woke up really confused. That's creepy, and I hope no hotel I ever stay in just hands out random keys to random rooms to random people. Finally, he takes advantage of her during a painful time, daring her to kiss him because he thinks she can't do a good job... and then saying he doesn't mind if she kisses him for the wrong reasons. My. Gosh. 

5. The story literally went nowhere. Luckily it was short, because nothing happened. I can't even identify the story's climax. There was a lot of repetition: lots of crying, nightmares, moping, re-hashing the past, etc. And nothing is really resolved. There was not even a real love story. It just ended where it began.

To sum things up: I really liked the idea of the story. I was hoping for a book that would portray a woman who had been through something terrible, but was picking up the pieces and learning to survive. However, I feel like I wasted my time on a story that went nowhere, taught me nothing, and left me worn out. 

(Disclaimer: If anyone has gone through what Liese has gone through, I am in no way minimizing your pain. I feel awful for anyone who has suffered anything like this, and I can only imagine that it's the worst thing to ever experience. I just got tired of reading about it over and over, with absolutely no character development and no real plot. I was just hoping for something more than what I was given.)

Gentlemen Prefer Nerds by Joan Kilby (Book Review)

Title: Gentlemen Prefer Nerds
Author: Joan Kilby
Release Date: March 12, 2012
Publisher: Carina Press
Format: Advance eBook
Source: Netgalley
Buy It: Amazon
Add It: Goodreads

Self-professed nerd Maddie Maloney is an expert on jewels. Jewel thieves are another matter entirely! So when a mysterious Englishman warns her that a thief known as The Chameleon is after the rare pink diamond on display in her aunt's shop, she tells herself it's just a joke. Even if she can't get Mr. Tall, Dark and Handsome out of her mind...

But Fabian Montgomery doesn't give up easily. He's everywhere she goes, convinced the thief will strike. And when the diamond does go missing—and Maddie is suspected of stealing it—he whisks her away from the police and together they pursue The Chameleon.

Fabian plunges her into a glamorous world far from her humble workshop and transforms geeky Maddie into a sophisticated siren capable of espionage. Her mission: to seduce The Chameleon and steal back the diamond.

But Fabian isn't telling her everything—like who he works for, and why he's so interested in The Chameleon...

I love mysteries with a touch of suspense, and I could tell immediately from the description that I would enjoy this book. What surprised me the most, though, was the comedic element the author threw in. This book was so funny, in addition to being suspenseful and romantic. I had a lot of fun reading this, and am excited to share with you my favorite elements of the book! As always, my main points are bolded. :) 

1. I love this title! I'm a total nerd, so I was immediately drawn in by the hilarious title, attractive gentleman, and the bright yellow. 

2. The book surprised me by taking place in Australia! I've never read a book that took place there, so I really enjoyed all the descriptions of the scenery. Part of the book takes place in a resort town by the beach during the weekend of a sailboat gala. I loved reading about all the boats and the people. It sounded so quaint and romantic. I just loved it.

3. Maddie, a self-proclaimed nerd with a PhD in gemology (I believe? Or is it mineralogy?), is such a fun character. She really is the stereotypical nerd, with the eclectic non-sense of fashion and the gem smarts. Her nerdliness is interrupted by Fabian, an extremely attractive and mysterious Englishman who whisks her away to retrieve the stolen diamond, save her from jail, and protect her aunt's reputation. Right at the beginning as they are running from the police, all she can think about is her sweet cat, and what will happen to it while she's away. A girl after my own heart. Fabian turns her into a sexy glamazon, and she's totally against it. She fights him every step of the way. He sends her to a day spa, and her account of the happenings there had me laughing out loud. She got burned in the sauna, almost drowned in the mineral pool, etc. The daunting task of seducing The Chameleon lies ahead of her, and she goes on and on about how impossible that will be. She even has to practice her seduction skills! Her spunk and quick wit created a really fun contrast to the serious businessman, Fabian.

4. I love it when the geeky girl nabs the attractive James Bond type. Fabian is totally the sexy, mysterious foreigner with a carefully concealed past and a lot of baggage. I love how he feels this need to put on a hardened facade, when in reality he's laughing at Maddie and falling for her on the inside.You can tell he cares, but wishes he didn't. She tugs at his heartstrings, and I think it's so sweet to watch the inner turmoil he goes through as she pushes him outside his comfort zone.

5. The romance is a slow burn, and a minimal part of the story. It really was hate at first sight with these two. Fabian is a major inconvenience to Maddie, following her around, bothering her, making her do things she doesn't want to do. Maddie is Fabian's pain in the butt, but he needs an experienced and knowledgeable gemologist on his side in order to find and identify the diamond. As time pushes on, they begin to tolerate one another more and more, but it takes a while. No insta-love here! The romance was believable and sweet.

6. The suspense really grabs you. Fabian and Maddie are really good at getting into trouble. Running from the police... seeking out The Chameleon... intense sailboat rides... guns blazing... deserted islands... concealed identities. Luck is not on their side. This book is a major page-turner. 

7. It's the perfect blend of comedy, romance, and suspense. Plus it's heartwarming. You'd think with all the stuff going on, you might not get a true sense of what makes the characters who they are. But you do! There are some tender moments with Maddie's family and with Fabian's family was well. And Maddie's cat adds a lot, too. Maybe I'm just a softy for cats. I dunno. But I loved that amidst all the suspense and deception, we were given a sense of the moral fabric these characters possess. The emotion is there, and I liked that. It made the characters more relatable.

All in all, this book is fun and exciting, and I really enjoyed it. I would recommend it to anyone who loves a good romcom with some mystery mixed in. I'm definitely going to go and check out some more of Joan Kilby's books. She's got a ton of them!

A Hidden Fire by Elizabeth Hunter (Book Review)

Title: A Hidden Fire (Elemental Mysteries #1)
Author: Elizabeth Hunter
Release Date: October 18, 2011
Publisher: E. Hunter (Self Published)
Format: E-book
Source: Free from author for the AToMR blog tour.
Buy It: Amazon (Currently only .99 on Amazon, until March 10th.)
Add It: Goodreads

"No secret stays hidden forever."

A phone call from an old friend sets Dr. Giovanni Vecchio back on the path of a mystery he'd abandoned years before. He never expected a young librarian could hold the key to the search, nor could he have expected the danger she would attract. Now he and Beatrice De Novo will follow a twisted maze that leads from the archives of a university library, through the fires of Renaissance Florence, and toward a confrontation they never could have predicted."

I was really excited to sign up for this book as part of the Elemental Mysteries Blog Tour, celebrating the third book's release. The premise sounded pretty awesome. I loved the idea of the main character being a librarian, and there being such a focus on extremely old literature. And Giovanni is totally an Italian name, and combining that with the mention of Renaissance Florence, I was sold! Books and Italy. What more could I ask for? A Hidden Fire had its moments, but overall I was a little disappointed. It fell short of its potential, and I feel like it could have been so much better than it was.

1. The whole beginning is pretty mysterious. Beatrice is a librarian at the Houston University in the Special Collections reading room, picking up a new shift where she ends up spending time with Dr. Giovanni Vecchio, who is translating a very old document. He's a unique person with a hidden past, and we go a while in the book before we find out who he is and why he's connected to bunch of old literature. Beatrice is more to him than a librarian. Danger surrounds her, plus he's developing feelings for her.

2. I liked the main characters. Beatrice is smart, shy, and bookish.She's extremely level-headed, all things considered. I love her sarcasm and quick wit. I think we'd be friends. Giovanni is a sexy bad boy. He's also very scholarly and is always reading or researching something. He's also reclusive, with a very rich past that is coming back to haunt him. I loved the banter between the two of them. The sexual tension was definitely there. I just with they had done more with it.

3. The romance is kind of silly and unbelievable. You can tell Gio and Beatrice care about each other, but it's weird. He treats her like a child he needs to protect, and she treats him like a knight in shining armor. They never really hash out their feelings or intentions. Sometimes they have to put on a steamy act in front of spectators, but then they avoid one another for quite a while after. They are always holding back, but never indicate to each other why. So they always appear to mad at the other, when in reality they are lusting after one another. It wasn't really romantic to me. It was just frustrating and never really got resolved. I guess that's book 2's job.

4. The supporting characters were great. Gio's butler, Caspar, is so sweet and grandfatherly, especially with Beatrice. He's also very protective and caring towards Gio. He's clearly part of the family. I love his cat, Doyle, as well. Caspar starts a cute little something up with B's grandma, who is also a strong character with a lot of spunk. Gio has a friend named Carwyn, who is definitely my favorite character in this book. He's a Welsh priest who has been around for quite a while, and has a lot of life experience. He's funny, flirtatious, and becomes a great friend to Beatrice. He always seems to know how she's thinking and feeling, and knows just what to say to put her mind at ease. I'm kind of envious of Beatrice. She has so many sweet men keeping an eye on her!

5. The settings were unique, and I liked them. I enjoyed all the library time, and it was fun to picture what everything looked like and smelled like. I love libraries! Gio's house sounds pretty cool. We also get to explore Greece and Chile in this book, which was cool.

6. I laughed a lot. There was a lot of joking around, sarcastic remarks, flirtatious moments, and interesting tastes in clothing. The characters lovingly made fun of each other. It was refreshing, since the underlying story is a bit dark and dangerous.

7. I liked the incorporation of the elements (fire, earth, wind, and water). Each book in the series focuses on one, and this one obviously focused on fire. And I liked the paranormal elements. I'm not going to say what those are, for fear of spoiling things for you, but it's an interesting twist.

8. Really, my only complaint is that some of the plot dragged on and on, and was rather repetitive. There was a lot of sitting around and talking, with not a lot of action until the last part of the book. This is a long book, yet the bulk of the story felt rushed at the end. Nothing was tied up for us.

I would recommend this to people who enjoy paranormal urban fantasies with a tiny bit of romance. I'm thinking book 2 will open things up a lot more, and I'm curious to see what happens next! Book 2 (This Same Earth) is already out, book 3 (The Force of the Wind) is out this month, and the concluding book (A Fall of Water) has a tentative release date in June of this year.

To visit more stops with reviews of books 2 and 3, interviews with the author and characters, book excerpts, and chances to win all three books, click here! 

This post brought to you by AToMR.

Dracula, My Love by Syrie James (Book Review)

Title: Dracula, My Love: The Secret Journals of Mina Harker
Author: Syrie James
Release Date: July 20, 2012
Publisher: Avon
Format: Paperback
Source: I bought it at Border's.
Buy It: Amazon
Add It: Goodreads

Syrie James approaches Bram Stoker's classic Dracula with a breathtaking new perspective--as, for the first time, Mina Harker records the shocking story of her scandalous seduction and sexual rebirth.



Who is this young, magnetic, handsome, fascinating man? And how could one woman fall so completely under his spell?



Mina Harker is torn between two men. Struggling to hang on to the deep, pure love she's found within her marriage to her husband, Jonathan, she is inexorably drawn into a secret, passionate affair with a charismatic but dangerous lover. This haunted and haunting creature has awakened feelings and desires within her that she has never before known, which remake her as a woman.



Although everyone she knows fears Count Dracula and is pledged to destroy him, Mina sees a side to him that the others cannot: a tender, romantic side; a man who's taken full advantage of his gift of immortality to expand his mind and talents; a man who is deeply in love, and who may not be evil after all. Soon, they are connected in a way she never thought humanly possible.

Yet to surrender is surely madness, for to be with him could end her life. It may cost Mina all she holds dear, but to make her choice she must learn everything she can about the remarkable origins and unique, sensuous powers of this man, this exquisite monster, this... Dracula!

Syrie did something amazing with this book. She made me want to read another book. That's what books should do, in my opinion. It convinced me that I needed to read Bram Stoker's Dracula. This book gave me Mina's point of view, and so obviously, I had to read the original. I was kind of scared to purchase Dracula, My Love, because it's a little out of my usual comfort zone, but I am SO glad that I did. As always, my main points are bolded. :)

1. The writing style is breathtakingly beautiful. Syrie's descriptions are notoriously amazing, in my opinion. The writing is done in old-fashioned English, which I found very refreshing. It really added to the story. I have a hard time when historical genres are written in contemporary language. This felt very authentic and seemed very real as a result. 

2. The characters are so well developed. Each person has their own voice and their own opinions. Dracula is strong, sexy, deceptive, evil, manipulative, and extremely romantic! Mina is also very strong, rebellious, and thinks for herself during a time when women are supposed to be meek and submissive. She grows up a lot over the course of the book and learns a lot about herself. Mina's husband is the typical male from the time period. He's controlling, demanding, protective, and all about saving Mina from this evil man who so desires her. Of course, he never catches on to the fact that Mina is a willing participant in her rendezvous with Dracula.

3. The mannerisms of each character are believable. I love the contrast between the chaste, ladylike behavior Mina displays around her husband and friends and the, for lack of a better word, lustful thoughts and actions she exhibits with Dracula. It's like he has her under some spell that amplifies her desires and emotions when she's with him.

4. In all actuality, though, this book is not all about lust and carnal desires. Her time spent with him is always spent in long discussions about life and literature. They have so much in common. Her greatest desire is to be with him. The book is really very clean, except for one steamy "dream" she has about him. 

5. You get to jump into Mina's mind and hear her thoughts. You will begin to understand her wants, fears, and desires. You number yourself lucky for not being in her shoes, but care too much to stop hoping that she figures everything out. She has a difficult situation at hand. She goes from being the plain, simple girl who never gets any romantic attention (even from her husband), to being obsessed over and stalked by a mysterious and sexy bad boy. You'd think that would be terrifying, but she is so captivated by him that she dreams of him and longs for him when most women would flee in fear. This mortifies her. She's a married woman, but can't help herself. She can't keep away from him. And on top of all of these conflicting emotions, she has to keep all of this a secret or else jeopardize Dracula's life, as well as her own. You will be glued to every page and travel through every emotion with her.

6. It was spooky, suspenseful, exciting, and filled with deception, mystery, and romance. While Mina's husband and his accomplices (including Van Helsing, a former boyfriend, and the widower of her best friend) came up with an intricate plot to murder Dracula, she appeared to be helping them, but in reality was leading them on a wild goose chase formulated by Dracula himself. She kept swinging back and forth between the two, doing her best to keep everyone in the "loop". She hoped for both sides to win, because she cared so much about everyone involved. I'd go insane (or have a nervous breakdown) if I were her.

7. This book did not change the original story of Dracula. It is more of a companion to Stoker's novel, rather than a retelling. I loved the the author stayed so true to the original. You really are seeing everything that happened, but from a different point of view.

8. In addition, reading Mina's side of the story made me understand and appreciate Dracula so much more. In my opinion, the classic novel is kind of hard to understand. Perhaps I feel that way since I am just beginning to read the classics, and am not used to the old writing styles yet. Because it was so true to the original, I understood what was happening in the original more than I would have otherwise. Plus, I saw a tender, romantic side of Dracula and found myself falling for him right along with Mina. I think that's part of the reason I loved this book so much. I think a little part of everyone is curious about the forbidden. It's only human nature. 

All in all, you should definitely read this book. I'm glad I gave this book a chance, because it is a truly beautiful story of love, deception, obsession, survival, and sacrifice. I was riveted, and could not put it down! I went out and bought every other novel by Syrie James, and she has yet to disappoint me thus far!

Book Tag! I'm It!

Tehe. Couldn't resist! Image found here.

Hello! So, here I am to participate in the Book Tag meme, thanks to Julia from The Competitive Bibliomaniac! This is a fun meme because it will help all of us get to know one another. And maybe you'll find a new blog to follow. :) Julia has left me with some fun questions to answer, so let's get started!

The Rules: 

1. You must post the rules. 

2. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post and then create 10 new questions to ask the people that you have tagged. 

3. Tag 11 people and link to them on your post. 

4. Let them know you've tagged them!

When/Why did you start book blogging?

I started book blogging with the girls at The Broke and The Bookish way back when it started in June of 2010. I formed this blog in November of 2011 so I'd have a more flexible schedule to post book reviews more often. Book blogging totally fell into my lap. Jamie asked the Goodreads College Students group if anyone was interested in starting a blog with her, and I jumped on it. I had no idea a book blogging world existed, nor did I know it was full of so many cool people!

What are some things about your blog (reviews, features, etc.) that you are most proud of?

Well... I really enjoy finding things for my feature, Bookish Finds. I have so much fun showing off the cool things I've come across. And I think the blog name is pretty fun and catchy. :)

If you had to invite three characters over for dinner, who would you invite and why?

Sam from Incarnate by Jodi Meadows because I would LOVE to talk with someone who has been alive for forever. I'm sure he has a ton of exciting and interesting stories to tell. Bria from Wanderlove by Kirtsen Hubbard, so she can talk me into going on an amazing trip like she did. St. Claire from Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins because he's hilarious, cute, and I can just imagine his sexy accent.

If you could mandate that everyone read one book, what would it be and why?

Uhh... Wow. I feel like I should be naming some profound classic or controversial banned book. Haha. Really, though, I don't think I would force anyone to read anything. When I was young, my love of reading vanished because I was forced by my teachers to read books I hated. Everyone connects with books in different ways, sometimes personal. You can't force learning or force an emotion.

Do you read reviews of books before you read a book (if you know you are going to read it)?

If a good friend wrote the review, then yes. I don't go looking for them, though, because some people post spoilers! I trust my friends not to spoil anything for me. 

Do you judge books by their covers?

Yes I do! I'm that artsy reader girl! I try not to, but I always end up judging books by their covers. Pretty covers grab me. It's who I am.  It's usually my opinion that if a book has an awful design, its contents won't be much better. If the book is drop-dead amazing, then there's money in the budget to hire a good designer. It's like having a beautiful baby and wrapping it in a burlap sack. You want to show it off, not hide it. 

EReaders vs Books vs Audiobooks: thoughts?

I'll always love tangible books. I love the covers, the textures, the smell, and the act of turning pages. I've run out of room, though, so I bought a Kindle. I LOVE my Kindle. You can find awesome deals on Kindle books, so I own a lot of them. And it saves space, especially while traveling. I can't concentrate on audiobooks, yet I love the idea of them.

What kind of criteria do you consider when writing a review?

Grammar, spelling, character development, plot development, consistency, use of bad language, writing style, and enjoyability. I also often discuss a character's behavior, and whether or not I agree with them. 

What is your favorite thing about book blogging?

All the awesome friends I've made! I've found life-long friendships in many of you. :) 

What is your favorite genre?

Right now? YA contemporary. Ask me next week if I still feel the same! Haha. 

New Questions (If I tag you, you answer these ones. Not the ones I answered):

1. Has your book blogging changed your love of books? Do you love them more now, or has blogging turned reading into more of a chore than it used to be?
2. Why did you choose the name of your blog?
3. Do you believe in getting personal in your reviews, or do you keep them strictly professional and leave yourself out?
4. What book were you the most excited to receive free for review?
5. What prompted you to start your book blog? 
6. What has been the best thing to happen to you as a result of writing a book blog? (events, signings, etc.)
7. What book pulled you out of your comfort zone, but changed you in some way? 
8. How much time do you spend a week blogging? (includes writing posts, as well as commenting and networking with others.)
9. If you could go back and start over, would you change anything?
10. Other than reading, what's your favorite thing to do? 

The People I Tag:

Magan/Estelle (both or one of you) at Rather be Reading
Alexa at Alexa Loves Books
Mandee at The Vegan YA Nerds
Sam at Books for All Seasons
Katie at Katie's book Blog
ThetaSigma at Resolution Corner
Jenn at Booksessed
Laura at Novel Magic
Sarah at The Book Life
La Toya at La Toya, Literally
Shawna at Dreaming in the Pages

Of course, you don't have to participate but I hope you will! Be sure to let me know if you do. I'd love to read your answers. :)


EDIT: Hi again! I was just tagged by Readinista, and she gave me a whole new slew of questions! So I'm going to update and add hers in under Julia's. So fun!!

1. Why did you start blogging?
Well, I originally started at The Broke and the Bookish. Jamie asked if anyone was interested in starting a blog with her, and I thought it sounded like fun! I never knew about the book blogging realm of the blogosphere, so I was excited to jump in and do something new. I started That Artsy Reader Girl a year and a half later so I could post reviews more frequently.

2. On average, how many books do you read in a month?
About 9, which is a huge deal for me!

3. When do you read? (At night, during the day, commuting to work, etc)
I mostly read at night after the family has gone to bed. So, from about 9:30 until sometime after midnight I get to read!

4. Do you have a favorite spot to read at home or do you read anywhere and everywhere?
I'll read anywhere, as long as I have a book with me. My Kindle is always tucked in my purse if I know I'm going to be out and about with some free time on my hands. Mostly, though, I end up reading in bed or in the comfy recliner in my room.

5. How frequently do you check your blog statistics? Do you check them everyday or do you not care about the number of hits on your site?
I check maybe once a week. Everything is still so new at this blog, and I'm trying to figure out what works the best for my blog, and how people are finding me.

6. Do you ever get tired of being a book blogger?
If I read too many review books that I don't like in a row, I do start to get tired of it. Sometimes I miss the days when I could not finish a book and not feel guilty for it. But really, book blogging has become a very addictive hobby for me and I love it. I'd never stop!

7. If you could live in a fictional world, what book world would you choose?
That's hard! I read a lot of dystopia, with worlds gone wrong... and a lot of contemporary worlds that are just like mine! I think I'd combine elements of several. Like, I love the fairy world in Aprilynne Pike's Wings series, and I love the dragon world in Sophie Jordan's Firelight series. I think I'd really just enjoy a world with more paranormal creatures. :)

8. What fictional book characters do you most relate to or would like to be friends with?
I really like Bria from Wanderlove. She's a traveler at heart, and I'd love to go on a spontaneous trip to anywhere with her. I know we'd get along. And Anna from Anna and the French Kiss also seems like someone I'd have fun sitting in a cafe with and gabbing over French pastries and hot chocolate.

9. Other than reading and blogging what do you do for fun?
Well, I have this really awful addiction to shopping. I don't care what I'm shopping for, but I love it! Mostly, though, jewelry, purses, and shoes are my favorites. And I love singing a lot. I'm also a graphic designer, so I love designing things... and I love doing puzzles, watching movies, traveling (traveling is my favorite!), bowling, game nights (like board games), and hanging out with my friends and family.

10. Do your family and friends understand your reading and blogging hobbies or are they planning an intervention?
My mom and dad are happy I have a worthwhile hobby, but they definitely get frustrated sometimes that I'm always reading or blogging! And most of my friends don't know about my secret other life as a blogger, just because they wouldn't understand. The few who do, actually think it's really cool that I'm so into all of this.

11. Freebie question – You choose what question you would like to answer (Yes I know this a cop out)
What book should be made into a movie? - Firelight by Sophie Jordan. I'd love to see those dragons come to life, not to mention the really awesome world they live in!

Thanks for tagging me, Readinista! These were fun questions. :)