It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! What are You Reading?
Hey! Happy New Year and Happy Monday.
Each week we spotlight the books we are reading, planning on reading or just finished reading.



Currently Reading:


Recently Finished:


Up Next:

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! What are You Reading? Each week we spotlight the books we are reading, planning on reading or just finished reading.

Currently Reading:
» Confess by Colleen Hoover
» Sweet Reckoning (The Sweet Series #3) by Wendy Higgins


Recently Finished:
» Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover [☆☆☆☆]
» Come to Me Quietly by A.L. Jackson[☆☆]
» It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover [☆☆☆☆☆]
» Unraveling You (Unraveling You #1) by Jessica Sorensen [☆☆☆☆]
» Raveling You (Unraveling You #2) by Jessica Sorensen [☆☆☆☆]
» Awakening You (Unraveling You #3) by Jessica Sorensen [☆☆☆☆]
» Inspiring You (Unraveling You #4) by Jessica Sorensen [☆☆☆]


Man I have been reading so many good books lately. So glad I learned about Colleen Hoover! It Ends With Us destroyed my emotions. Like.... it was awful but so good. I hated it, but I loved it. UGHHH!! Can't wait for more from her. 
I think I'll start reviewing books again soon and try to do it as if I were telling it to a friend. Explaining why they should or shouldn't read it instead of just a blah blah review. May throw in gifs. :)

Anyways... I hope you have a good week. So glad I'm off of work tomorrow, unfortunately, I have a dentist appt! #life.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! What are you reading is hosted by The Book Date. Each week we spotlight the books we are reading, planning on reading or just finished reading.
[click on book cover to visit goodreads page]

Currently Reading:

Recently Finished:

[rating:☆☆☆½ -- review coming 02.26.2016]

Up Next:

I'm trying to read a "soul inspired book" whilst reading a regular fiction to switch back and forth.

Let me know what you think of any of these books if you've read them!
Also, a review for Fangirl will be up soon.

All the love. 
Enjoy the word. . .

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

Yay, it's Monday! What are you reading is hosted by Book Journey. Each week we spotlight the books we are reading, planning on reading or just finished reading.



Currently Reading:
» The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod
» Uprooted by Naomi Novik

Recently Finished:
» This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales

Up Next:
» Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
» Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella



I'm really enjoying both The Miracle Morning and Uprooted. I'm glad they're on my Kindle, because I have a feeling it make take awhile to finish both.
If you've read any of these, let me know what you thought, please!

And am I the only one who thinks of Audrey Hepburn when I see that cover of Finding Audrey?

Enjoy the word.

MOVIE REVIEW: Divergent 2014

Divergent

Theater Release Date: 21st March 2014
Available on DVD/Blu-Ray: Yes
Overall:
Watched on: DVD from Redbox

   Starring:
Shailene Woodley - Tris
Theo James - Four
Ashley Judd - Natalie
Jai Courtney - Eric


Review: This is yet another book-to-movie adaptation in which I have not read the original. But unlike Vampire Academy, I've tried to read this one, but couldn't get into it.
This genre I enjoy more through film rather than reading. Even though I hadn't read the book, I knew I wanted to watch the movie. That was mainly because of Theo James and Shailene Woodley.
But despite my decision--albeit shallow--to watch, I ended up greatly enjoying the movie. The progression of the film felt nicely pced. I could keep up and knew what was going on. Especially with the distractions going on around me during the beginning of the film.
I loved the world that was created within the film--te vividness--making it feel real. The acting from Shailene was amazing. She became Tris. There is a specific scene where she absolutely blew me away!! I need to watch every other movie she's been in since Secret Life!
After watching her in (the horrible show_ Secret Life of the American Teenager, I didn't know what to expect. But it's obvious that the role she is given is the role she will play.
Theo James, aka Four. . . eye candy!! I loved him in this role. I felt like his strong face and personality fit who Four is supposed to be.
The chemistry between Theo and Shailene was palpable and believable.
I cannot wait for the next installment. I still don't have any desire to read the boo but maybe in the future that will change.
All I know is that this movie was a visually stimulating great time!



Have you seen this movie!? What did you think? How did it compare to the books!?


Movie Trailer:



More on: Official Website | IMDb | Wikipedia | Goodreads

Teaser Tuesday -- Octavian's Undoing

Octavian's Undoing by Morgana Phoenix
Released: 23rd June 2013
Add to Goodreads

But he was reaching for her even as her fingers closed around his shoulders. His arms banded around her, dragging her into his chest where she seemed to snap into place like a puzzle piece. She could almost feel the static electricity fusing them together everywhere they touched binding them to that moment. Riley waited for the inferno of pain to consume her as it had the last time they'd touched. Instead there was nothing but the sensation of coming home after a long, tiring day. It was the first waft of summer after a long, hard winter. It was amazing. She didn't want to pull away.
[45%]

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

Yay, it's Monday! What are you reading is hosted by One Person's Journey Through a World of Books. Each week we spotlight the books we are reading, planning on reading or just finished reading.

Currently Reading:
» Octavian's Undoing by Morgana Phoenix [about 45% through]

Recently Finished:
» Right of Way by Lauren Barnholdt [review to come]
» Tortured by Kate Givans [review here]
» Upside Down by Lia Riley [review here]

Possibly, Up Next:
» Miracle by Danielle Steel
» Into the Darkness by K.F. Breene



A co-worker gave me a bag full of books to read.... I may be putting my Kindle aside soon and just reading those!!
I am loving Octavian's Undoing it's different than anything I've read recently (reminiscent of past reads, however). It's in third person, which usually throws me off.
What are you reading!?!?

Seven Book Cliches That I Am Over!

These are all opinion and are things that personally I have seen/read a few too many times in books. (As of late, mostly in the New Adult genre.)I'm sure you'll agree with a few or all of them. If you have any others you'd like to include, please do!!

1. "I let go of the breath I didn't realize I was holding."
                         • I just imagine a bunch of blue-faced girls with more stress than someone their age should  have.
                         • How do so many people hold their breath subconsciously!?!?
2. Bad Boys
                         • I don't think I have to go into too much detail.
                         • Why are girls so into that? A jerk who has slept with half of America and treats you like trash... Winner.
                         • He'll change just for you? Don't hold your breath. (See #1.)
3. Blue or silver/grey eyes on the guys and brown or green eyes on the girl.
                         • Do people in book-land have to follow some sort of rules about what color eyes they have to have?!
4. Blonde girls; brunette guys.
                         • I feel like the blonde girls are changing but the guys--for the most part--are still dark haird [blue eyed bad boys that we hold our breath over].
                         • See #3
5. Bottom lip is bigger than their top lip and it's apparently the worse kind of flaw.
                         •  Why. . . . . . ?
                         • I just don't get who decided that that was a flaw..... and one that needed attention so frequently!
6. Big secret that could hinder a relationship.
                          • What is with all the big secrets?
                          • And why does it have to decide a relationship status?
                          • Death, past loves, horrible parents, blah blah blah!
7. Sex solves everything.
                          • Yeah... well... no. Just..... no.

What else are you tired of? I'm sure there are plenty more I'll eventually think of but these are what I could think of now.

Teaser Tuesday - THE LONG WAY HOME by Andrew Klavan

 Then I  heard it again. A deep, complaining moan. It was coming through the window. It was coming from outside. It was coming from the direction of the cemetery.
I stopped breathing. Long seconds passed.I told myself I was imagining things.I told myself to lure back down, to close my eyes,  go to sleep, forget about it.
 But there was no way. No way. 

- pg. 109

Teaser Tuesday - THE STORY OF US by Deb Caletti

"In the hall I ran smack into him. Ash.  He was just out of the shower too,  same as Dan.  His hair was wet.  He took my arms.
"Well," he said. "How's that for timing."
 God,  he smelled good."
-pg 210

(I'm currently paying on my phone,  so sorry for any m mistakes!!)

Monthly Favorites - JUNE!

1. BOOKS:  The Keep by Veronica Wolff
I have read and loved all three previous books in The Watchers series by Veronica Wolff. When I received the book in the mail with a paper insert saying this was the final book, I prepared myself for an epic finale... but was left with a very very open ending with too many questions for it to be the end. So I turned to Twitter to ask the wonderful Veronica Wolff herself about a next book and she responded with this...[click here]! So yeah.. I'm pretty excited! :) Read my review here.

2. BEAUTY:

•  Wet n Wild Megalast Polish in "I Need a Refresh-Mint" (I don't think I've ever used a nail polish as frequently as this color! It is the perfect minty color without being too bright. It's subtle and perfect for the summer. I have it on along with the their polish in "On a Trip". The brush is wide and flat which is only a bonus. I hate skinny brushes!
• Wet n Wild Fergie Centerstage Collection Shimmer Palette in "Champagne Glow" (These names are ridiculous. Anyways... Though this claims to be highly pigmented, I find that you really have to get a good amount on before it starts to show. Even with that, I love the slightly rose gold color it gives for a highlight. So it looks like you have color as well as a nice glow.)
• Neutrogena Clear Pore Cleanser/Mask (I've mentioned before that I have oily very acne prone skin. I have used many cleansers, but have recently learned that salicylic acid doesn't work as well for me as benzoyl peroxide. I loved the premise of this being both a cleanser and mask. I have only used it as a mask once, but a cleanser every morning and love the feeling. Sometimes--for a little extra oil control, I'll use my Olay Fresh Effects Shine Shine Go Away Cleanser with it and I feel my skin is perfectly balanced all day.) 
• Neutrogena Skin Clearing Oil Free Makeup Foundation (This foundation is perfect for me. It doesn't clog my pores, feels light on the skin,is super matte, and because it has salicylic acid in it--it's fighting acne as it's hiding it. Though this specific bottle is a little too orange & dark for my skin, I mix it with my Revlon Nearly Naked foundation to get the perfect color.)
• Garnier The Radiance Renewer Cleansing Gelée (I bought this on a whim. It was in a pump bottle, had a lot on the cover, but what drew me in was the promise of renewing dull skin and the fact that it had citric extract and hydroxy acid in it. It also says the cleanser is a "cushion-gel technology." Well, I didn't understand it until I used it. It comes out as a gel and becomes a very latherous foam that smells and feels so good. I really feel like it has been helping with the dark spots and bringing...light back to my skin!
• Formula 10.0.6 Seriously Shine Free Matifying Oil-Free Moisturizer (This stuff smells strongly [but I like it] of aloe and bamboo...because they're both ingredients. I believe that this is the first lotion that has given me moisture and actual kept me matte. I'm a sucker for packaging, and the bold yet simple box is what drew me in. I had never heard of this brand before and bought it on a hunch... plus WalGreens had it marked down to $3! I don't think they'll be selling it anymore and I wish I bought another while they had some left. But I believe that ULTA will be selling it. *crosses fingers* I'm super intrigued to try other products from this brand. The only let down is that there isn't any SPF.
• Alpha Hydrox Cream (I read that Alpha Hydroxy cream was very good for preventing fine lines and wrinkles as well as helping scarring and dark spots. So, I bought this. I know that it's helping my acne scars heal clearing, but very very old scars and dark spots are taking longer. I will say that this stuff kind of burns when I put it on... but I don't mind. Because anything with AHA makes your skin more sensitive to the sun, you must apply a sunscreen. [I add some when I'm going outside to my Formula 10.0.6 lotion.])

3. DRAMAS:

• Nail Shop Paris (This drama just finished, so expect a review sometime this week! By far the weirdest drama I've ever seen!!!!!!!)
• Monstar (Ugh...!! So so good! Joon Hyung from BEAST/B2ST plays the lead, and before this drama I didn't think twice about him in B2ST... now he very well may have become my bias! He is perfect!! *currently airing* Pic to the right of Yong Joon Hyung and Ha Yeon Soo, leads.)
• Love Around (Yay...!! Another Taiwanese drama to love. Of course, with any drama I love in the beginning... somewhere they lose steam and fall flat, but I'm crossing my fingers with this one. I love the two leads chemistry! That could also because they were in a previous drama together called Love Now....I think I need to watch it for their chemistry alone!)

4. MUSIC:

• "하.니.쁜. ADTOY" by 2PM (Best song from these boys since "Hands Up"... hands down. Heh.)
• "LOVE" by EvoL (Mannnnn I love these girls. Soo fun and addictive!)
• "Tarzan" by Wonder Boyz (Can I just say how horrible their debut song was... yeah well, this one is far from. Even my little brother plays this song over and over!)
• "Hold on For Dear Love" by Bridgit Mendler (After watching Good Luck Charlie, I was surprised this girl could sing! And I love the whole album, but this is by far my favourite song.)
• "Love Will Tell Us Where to Go" by Bridgit Mendler (Again... love this album and love the vibe of this. I feel like it's in the middle of pop, r&b and jazz... but more pop. If that makes sense!)

Soooo that's it. I know it's a lot, but I haven't had enough for one month since March, so I decided to combine them in this month. Next time, I'll narrow it down a bit, but this is that. ^_^"

Monthly Favorites - MARCH!

1. BOOKS: Just One Day by Gayle Forman

I had originally planned on buying this book, but wasn't quite sure if I wanted to... Now I wish I had. It deserves to be on my shelf. It was soo good! I loved the flow of this book, the characters, the writing, the life, the scenery, the timespan, everything! I cannot wait to read Just One Year(which just got a lovely cover) from Willem's POV. If you haven't read this one yet, run to your nearest bookstore & buy it! Read my review here. (Sorry it's such a poor review that doesn't do it justice!)

2. BEAUTY:

• Olay Fresh Effects Shine Shine Go Away Shine Minimizing Cleanser (Well, that is a mouthful. This has quickly become one of my favorite cleansers... ever. I have very oily and acne prone skin and this with my entire[days worth] routine has helped not only the current acne, but the scars from my previous breakouts. I love that I feel so fresh after using this. When I first started using it, I learned that I was using almost 3x more than I needed for a full, thick and rich lather. And I love the light smell as well!)

3. MUSIC:

• Justin Timberlake's 20/20 Experience Album [Target Deluxe Edition] (I don't think I need to say more. But I am falling in love with songs I didn't care for when I first listened to this album, like "That Girl" and "Strawberry Bubblegum". So good. And I cannot wait for Part 2 of this album. Read my review here!)
• JoJo - Can't Handle the Truth (Even though there is absolutely too much talking happening on this , the actual songs are so so good! And this one may be my favorite. This link takes you to the site to download the album free and legally!)

4. FOOD:

• Oranges... again! 
• Nice! (by Walgreen's) Orange Mango Sparkling Water (I love the light taste--that tastes almost exactly like my favorite orange juice... but lighter--the fizzyness, and the price. Only $.99 in our WalGreens. Plus there are added vitamins, biotin and green tea flavonoids! No calories.)

I think I already know what will be in my April favorites!! :) What were your March favorites? Anything in these categories, or whatever. Leave a comment! :)

REVIEW: Waiting For You by Shey Stahl

Waiting For You by Shey Stahl

Published: 13th February 2013
Format Kindle
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary
Overall:
Goodreads | Amazon

Bailey Gray is tired of her perfectly planned life. Everything about her life has been organized and lived out to the expectations set of her parents. She is the class valedictorian, has perfect grades, the perfect friends, a perfect boyfriend, basically perfect life...or so everyone thought. That's when she realizes the path planned isn't always the path chosen.

On graduation day she makes a decision. One that changes everything she thought she knew about her intended future.
On a whim, she runs away with the town rebel, Dylan Wade, in search of the unknown.
Dylan Wade isn't looking to run away from anything.
He knows what he wants as he's been waiting on it for years.
On a journey to find the unknown, they discover a friendship they once knew along the open highway and have not a care in the world. Between the yellow and white lines of the heated summer asphalt, a spark draws them together as Dylan's past and Bailey future try to ripe them apart.
Could it be that Dylan and his GTO are exactly what her perfectly planned life needs?

My Thoughts:
Look at that deceiving ass cover!

This book sounded like it was just the book I was looking for; New Adult, road trip, long time hidden feelings all the ingredients for a juicy read, right? Wrong. So very very wrong.

I'm not exactly sure where the turning point was for me with this book, but it happened and I wanted to throw my kindle. I was over it immediately.

I am 100% over the bad boy in books, the ass hole, the guy who thinks he can be a bossy ass because it's his car and he has some damaging secret but yet.... he "loves you"... gag me with a rusty spoon.

Bailey was one of the whiniest characters I've read in such a long time. And she sure thought about and begged for sex a lot for a girl who has never actually had sex.
Oh and that secret Dylan was holding yes, it was sad and disappointing that it was ever kept a secret, but to hold it over her head was stupid.

I feel like I need to say something good before I continue on my rant. It started out nice. I loved Bailey's spunk and "F the world" attitude...in the beginning. Basically everything in the beginning was great. Fantastic even. And then you get a chapter from Dylan and that's when everything goes very very south.

In my opinion, if you'd like a teenage version of 50 Shades of Grey (which I hated), you like bad boys and depressing climaxes, this is the book for you. For me.. not so much!

I don't think I'll be reading anything else from Shey Stahl anytime soon.

Plot:
Characters:
Ending:
Writing:
Cover:

Author Info:
Shey Stahl is a romance writer who enjoys writing about racing and a good love story that will sweep you off your laughing ass. Growing up she was surrounded by racing watching her dad at the local Northwest tracks.
Writing wasn't something she thought she would ever do but when a rough pregnancy landed her on bed rest three years ago, a passion was discovered. Now, aside from chasing around her little princess with magical powers, it's rare for her to put down the pen.
Currently Shey is finishing up her series, Racing on the Edge, that follows a dirt track racer on his rapid rise to the glitz and glamour of NASCAR and the family who supports him.
More on her: website | twitter | goodreads