Hop & Follow Friday! (26)

Happy Friday, lovelies!

I hope you had a wonderful week and are looking forward to an awesome, book-filled weekend!

"Follow My Book Blog Friday" is a weekly meme hosted by Rachel at Parajunkee's View and Allison at Allison Can Read where bloggers make new friends, including this week's featured bloggers--Alaskan Book Cafe & Librarian Mouse!  Pop on over to Parajunkee's blog and join in the follow fun!!

This week's question: 

Q: It's that pesky magic book fairy again! She has another wish: What imaginary book world would you like to make a reality?

 Honestly, maybe I read too many dystopias and post-apolcalyptic novels, but this is a really tough question because so many of those worlds would be so NOT fun to live in! So let's see...what world would I actually want to live in. Okay, so the world that I would like to be a reality is the world of Arribitha in The Book of Wonders--a world full of (repressed) magic and adventure.  Sure, there's danger but not more so than any other world. When I was reading that book, the world just seemed vibrant and magical.  

TGIF is a weekly meme hosted by GReads with a thought-provoking question to prompt some discussion!

Book Disappointments: Have you ever come across a book you were so stoked to read, but it failed miserably in your eyes?

I think I've actually blogged about this before, but my "epic fail" book was Almost Moon by Alice Sebold. After I read (and ADORED) both Lovely Bones and Lucky, I was STOKED that Ms. Sebold was writing another novel.  This was one that I even put in a rare (at that time) pre-order for just based on a vague description and my love of her other novels. To this day I have not been able to finish this book. It sits on my shelf, dust jacket lost in the shuffle of multiple moves, unread and untouched. I think about picking it up again every once in awhile, but I can't bring myself to do it after how HORRIBLE it was the first time I tried.  There is a good chance this book will be on the next pile I donate to the library. 

Thanks so much for visiting my blog today! I love your comments and try my best to return follows! 
HAPPY FRIDAY!!!

(PS ~ See that link at the top of the page? The one for my potential 2012 challenge? Would you be so kind as to take a look and leave some feedback? I'd love to get an idea of if this is something that people would be interested in.  Or just answer the poll in the sidebar. Thanks!!)

Hop & Follow Friday! (25)

Happy Friday, lovelies!

I hope you had a wonderful week and are looking forward to an awesome, book-filled weekend!

The Book Blogger Hop is a fun (generally) bookish Friday meme hosted by Jennifer over at Crazy for Books! Be sure to jump over to her post, read the rules, and link up your post!

This week's question:

“Many of us primarily read one genre of books, with others sprinkled in. If authors stopped writing that genre, what genre would you start reading? Or would you give up reading completely if you couldn’t read that genre anymore?”

Well, right now, I mostly read YA paranormal stuff.  I think my first option if they stopped writing that (heaven forbid!) would be to head for contemporary fiction. I definitely wouldn't give up reading! Heavens NO! 

"Follow My Book Blog Friday" is a weekly meme hosted by Rachel at Parajunkee's View and Allison at Allison Can Read where bloggers make new friends, including this week's featured bloggers--Pedantic Phooka & Drying Ink!  Pop on over to Parajunkee's blog and join in the follow fun!!

This week's question: 

Q: Have you ever wanted a villain to win at the end of the story? If so, which one? 

  I'm not sure if he's really a "villian" but I would say that there were definitely moments (many, actually) when I totally wanted Linden to win over Rhine in Lauren DeStefano's Wither. It's not necessarily a villain winning, but it's the "bad guy" (although the "not as bad as his dad" bad guy) getting the girl. I think that's about as close as I have come to sincerely wanting the villain to win. I think that makes sense as most authors would want you to fall in love with and cheer for their hero.

TGIF is a weekly meme hosted by Ginger at GReadswhere she poses a thought-provoking question to prompt some blogger discussion!

Making a Difference: 
Books to Television: Which books would you love to see made in to a tv series? or movie? 

The IRON FEY series! TV, movies, I don't even care. :-) I think that the books have really fabulous world-building and dynamic characters as well as a solid mixture of action and romance that would appeal to a wide audience.

Thanks so much for visiting my blog today! I love your comments and try my best to return follows! 
HAPPY FRIDAY!!!

(PS ~ See that link at the top of the page? The one for my potential 2012 challenge? Would you be so kind as to take a look and leave some feedback? I'd love to get an idea of if this is something that people would be interested in.  Or just answer the poll in the sidebar. Thanks!!)

Hop & Follow Friday! (24)

Happy Friday, lovelies!

I hope you had a wonderful week and are looking forward to an awesome, book-filled weekend!

The Book Blogger Hop is a fun (generally) bookish Friday meme hosted by Jennifer over at Crazy for Books! Be sure to jump over to her post, read the rules, and link up your post!

This week's question:

What are you most looking forward to this fall/autumn season – A particular book release? Halloween? The leaves changing color? Cooler temperatures? A vacation?

Two answers for this one, lol. First, my husband's first paycheck since May. YAY!! He's a full-time graduate student so it's clearly a 9-month gig. Sept. 30 can't come quite fast enough! Second, canning. :-) Were you expecting that one? I absolutely adore making peach butter, cinnamon pear jam, apple butter, etc. and fall is the best time to do it. (The house gets so hot at other times of the year and that somehow translates to me being too lazy to can things.) So, I cannot wait for a bushel of peaches from my great uncle so that I can make goodies to both have at home and give away for Christmas. :-D 

"Follow My Book Blog Friday" is a weekly meme hosted by Rachel at Parajunkee's View and Allison at Allison Can Read where bloggers make new friends, including this week's featured bloggers--Once Upon a Prologue & Lisa Loves Literature!  Pop on over to Parajunkee's blog and join in the follow fun!!

This week's question: 

Q: If you could change the ending of any book (or series), which book would you choose? Why and to what?

I have to admit that nothing is coming to mind right off the bat. There had definitely been a couple of endings that threw me for a loop (POSSESSION) and there have definitely been some major cliffhangers (ASHES), but I wouldn't change either/any of those.  It may be a cop-out, but I honestly can't think of an ending that I was so upset with that I would want to re-write it at the moment.  

TGIF is a weekly meme hosted by Ginger at GReadswhere she poses a thought-provoking question to prompt some blogger discussion!

Making a Difference: 
Which book(s) would you put in the hands of today's teenagers in hopes of making a difference in their lives?

I would start with Speak and Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson because I think that it speaks a lot to the teenage experience even while dealing with situations that the majority of teens will never face. The same goes for If I Stay by Gayle Forman.  I would say that those three books say a lot about what it is like to be a teenager. In my opinion, they offer support and understanding for teens in similar situations and they offer the opportunity for greater empathy for teen who will never experience these kinds of things.  They talk about difficult choices--a theme that will ring true with all teens.

Thanks so much for visiting my blog today! I love your comments and try my best to return follows! 
HAPPY FRIDAY!!!

(PS ~ See that link at the top of the page? The one for my potential 2012 challenge? Would you be so kind as to take a look and leave some feedback? I'd love to get an idea of if this is something that people would be interested in.  Or just answer the poll in the sidebar. Thanks!!)

Hop & Follow Friday! (23)

Happy Friday, lovelies!

I hope you had a wonderful week and are looking forward to an awesome, book-filled weekend!

"Follow My Book Blog Friday" is a weekly meme hosted by Rachel at Parajunkee's View and Allison at Allison Can Read where bloggers make new friends, including this week's featured bloggers--Caught in the Pages & Jenni Elyse!  Pop on over to Parajunkee's blog and join in the follow fun!!

This week's question: 

Q. In books like the Sookie Stackhouse (True Blood) series the paranormal creature in question "comes out of the closet" and makes itself known to the world. Which mythical creature do you wish would come out of the closet, for real?

Faeries!! And I'm not talking about tiny little Tinkerbells that fly around and poke you.  I mean faeries like in The Iron Fey or Wicked Lovely or Wondrous Strange or Wings.  I think it would be fun.  Now, like any well-respecting mythical creature, they have their "bad" side but that's just part of the world we live in, right? Good people and bad people....good faeries and bad faeries. :-D

TGIF is a weekly meme hosted by Ginger at GReadswhere she poses a thought-provoking question to prompt some blogger discussion!

Book Associations: 

Which genre, authors, or particular books do you think people associate with your reading style?

My coworkers at the public library definitely associate me with YA books in a general sense.  More specifically, I'm often associated with the paranormal-type books simply because that's what I'm always reading.  I think that it's getting to the point where people also associate me and my reading style with dystopias. It really varies, but really, YA in general is associated with my reading style. :-) (Guess I just should have said that in the first place, huh?)

The Book Blogger Hop is a fun (generally) bookish Friday meme hosted by Jennifer over at Crazy for Books! Be sure to jump over to her post, read the rules, and link up your post!

This week's question:

Non-book related this week! Do you have any pets?

These are my kitties! The blue and cream is Fuggles (she's named after an ingredient in beer...and yes, my husband named her). The white and gray is Quentin (name after the main character in John Green's Paper Towns).

Thanks so much for visiting my blog today! I love your comments and try my best to return follows! 
HAPPY FRIDAY!!!

(PS ~ See that link at the top of the page? The one for my potential 2012 challenge? Would you be so kind as to take a look and leave some feedback? I'd love to get an idea of if this is something that people would be interested in. Thanks!!)

Hop & Follow Friday (22)

Happy Friday, lovelies!

I hope you had a wonderful week and are looking forward to an awesome, book-filled weekend! I know I am (even if I do have to work this weekend). :-)

The Book Blogger Hop is a fun bookish Friday meme hosted by Jennifer over at Crazy for Books! Be sure to jump over to her post, read the rules, and link up your post!

This week's question:

What's the LONGEST book you've ever read?

Well, that's a fairly easy question! When I was a sophomore in high school, I read Les Miserables cover-to-cover for honors language arts because I thought it would make me "cool." :-)  I looked it up on Goodreads and it is listed as 1463 pages (and I can't believe how many of my friends have marked it "To Read." Really guys? It wasn't that great. You read a 50 page detailed description of a Bishop and then he DIES. I was SO MAD. Just watch the musical, lol.)

TGIF is a weekly meme hosted by Ginger at GReads where she poses a thought-provoking question to prompt some blogger discussion!

The Reviews We Don't Write: 
Have you ever read a book and not wanted to review it? Are some books too personal that we want to keep our thoughts our own?

For me, the books that I find I don't want to review are sometimes the ones that simply make me happy to read. If you ask me about it in person, chances are that I'll recommend it and even gush about how much I enjoyed it.  Chances are that I may have read it in one sitting because I couldn't put it down. For me, contemporary reads tend to be this way.  They are super sweet stories and I honestly enjoy reading every once in awhile because they make my heart smile. I think that it's probably partially because of this soothing feeling that they give me that I don't want to analyze/review them.  They hold a special warm fuzzy place in my heart and I want to keep them there all for myself. Make sense?

"Follow My Book Blog Friday" is a weekly meme hosted by Rachel at Parajunkee's View and Allison at Allison Can Read where bloggers make new friends, including this week's featured bloggers--Belle Bookshttp://bellebooksx.blogspot.com/ & Stuck in Books!  Pop on over to Parajunkee's blog and join in the follow fun!!

This week's question: 

Q. If you could write yourself a part in a book, what book would it be and what role would you play in that book?

As a character in a book, I think I would see myself as the quiet character who surprises everyone at some point.  That's probably the most honest portrayal of my that I could come up with because I'm a little (or, really, a lot) shy and difficult to get to know but fiercely loyal and easy-going once you get to know me. I think you could write me into a post-apocalyptic or dystopian novel as the best friend (sidekick) who rebels alongside the main character and will do anything for him/her. I'm too shy to be the real leader or figurehead but I'll gladly lead behind the scenes and get right in there to fight for what's right (or survival, depending on which scenario we're talking about here).

Thanks so much for visiting my blog today! I love your comments and try my best to return follows! 
HAPPY FRIDAY!!!

Hop & Follow Friday! (20)

Happy Friday, lovelies!

I hope you had a wonderful week and are looking forward to an awesome, book-filled weekend! I know I am (even if I do have to work this weekend). :-)

TGIF is a weekly meme hosted by Ginger at GReads where she poses a thought-provoking question to prompt some blogger discussion!

This week's question:

Taking it Personal: Which books have effected you on a personal level and lingered in your mind long after you closed the pages?

I have two answers for this one: The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold and If I Stay by Gayle Forman.  Now, I can't say exactly what it was about these books that really struck a chord with me, but they are books that are near and dear to me as a reader.  These books are probably my top 2 favorites of all time (you know, those default books that you say are your favs when asked).  The Lovely Bones was recommended to me by my high school history teacher and it changed my life as a reader.  I hadn't read anything like it before and it stuck with me for a long time.  I've forced it on more than one person throughout the years (including my now husband) and we own at least two copies of it. If I Stay is a more recent read that reminded me so much of why I love reading YA novels and how much they can really affect me.

"Follow My Book Blog Friday" is a weekly meme hosted by Rachel at Parajunkee's View and Allison at Allison Can Read where bloggers make new friends, including this week's featured bloggers--Hands And Home & My, My Shelf, & I!  Pop on over to Parajunkee's blog and join in the follow fun!!  All you have to do is follow the featured blogger, write your own post answering this week's question, and then leave your link!  Oh yeah--and then follow some new peeps!

This week's question: 

Q. Talk about the book that most changed or influenced your life (was it a book that turned you from an average to avid reader, did it help you deal with a particularly difficult situation, does it bring you comfort every time you read it?).

This is probably kind of random, but the book (series) that really got me into reading was The Boxcar Children! When I was little, my grandma signed me up for a monthly Boxcar Children Book Club where they sent me three books in the mail each month.  I loved them so much and I adored owning my own books.  So, while they aren't overly personal to me, they are definitely the books that I probably identify as starting me on the path to become a reader!

The "Book Blogger Hop" is a weekly bookish meme where you can get to know fellow bloggers! It's generally hosted by Jen @ Crazy for Books.  Stop by and join in the fun!

This week's question:

Q: What is one ARC you would love to get your hands on right now?

Umm, there are SO MANY, especially with the amazing number of fabulous looking books that are coming out in 2012.  However, my top 2 choices are The Nightmare Garden by Caitlin Kittredge, which comes out in February, and Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver, which comes out in March.  These are both sequels to books that I read and LOVED recently. 

Thanks so much for visiting my blog today! I love your comments and try my best to return follows! 
HAPPY FRIDAY!!!

Hop & Follow Friday! (19)

Happy Friday, lovelies!

I hope you had a fabulous week and are looking forward to an awesome, book-filled weekend! I know I am!!

TGIF is a weekly meme hosted by Ginger at GReads where she poses a thought-provoking question to prompt some blogger discussion!

This week's question:

Character Envy: If you could be one character from a book, who would you choose and why?

I think I've answered this one before...somewhere, lol.  But, I can't remember who I picked last time, so it will likely be different!  I think that my choice for this one would have to be...Tris from Divergent.  I think that she has a good head on her shoulders and she makes some pretty great friends.  Family is important to her, but she also realizes that she must find and be true to herself.  Also, some of the things that the Dauntless do are wicked cool. I totally want to jump off a tall building into a safety net. Just sayin'.  Also, I want to *spoiler alert* zip line off of the Hancock Building. Wicked awesome.  Oh yeah--and FOUR. 

"Follow My Book Blog Friday" is a weekly meme hosted by Rachel at Parajunkee's View and Allison at Allison Can Read where bloggers make new friends, including this week's featured bloggers--The Book Addicted Girl & The Little Book Blog!  Pop on over to Parajunkee's blog and join in the follow fun!!  All you have to do is follow the featured blogger, write your own post answering this week's question, and then leave your link!  Oh yeah--and then follow some new peeps!

This week's question:

Q.  Let's step away from books for a second and get personal. What t-shirt slogan best describes you?

Umm....pretty self-explanatory, yes?

The "Book Blogger Hop" is a weekly bookish meme where you can get to know fellow bloggers! It's generally hosted by Jen @ Crazy for Books.  Stop by and join in the fun!

This week's question:

Q: Coming soon...?

Coming soon...?

Thanks so much for visiting my blog today! I love your comments and try my best to return all follows! 
HAPPY FRIDAY!!!


Also, I'm trying this new comment system so that I can comment back. I hope it's not a hassle and it works out!

Hop & Follow Friday! (18)

Happy Friday, lovelies!

I hope you had a fabulous week and are looking forward to an awesome, book-filled weekend! I know I am!!

TGIF is a weekly meme hosted by Ginger at GReads where she poses a thought-provoking question to prompt some blogger discussion!

This week's question:

Bookshelf Tour: Where do you keep your books at home? Are they organized?

I keep my books on a plethora of bookshelves! My camera is out of whack so I can't show you at this moment, but I can certainly tell you about a few of them. First, there is my Bedroom Shelf.  These are books that I haven't read and want to soon-ish or books that are pretty and I want to look at a lot.  They are mostly fiction and they are arranged alphabetically by the authors last name.  This bookshelf is a smallish one that is a folding shelf from Target that I got when I was a senior in college.  My second and third bookshelves are in one of our spare bedrooms and they are bigger (5-shelf and much wider).  One is dedicated to fiction and the other is non-fiction (well, mostly--the fiction has spilled over).  The fiction books here are also arranged alphabetically by author's last name.  The non-fiction are arranged (okay, don't laugh--I'm a huger nerd) by Library of Congress number (with a post-it note inside until I have time to use the awesome acid free stickers that I bought and the typewriter to make them labels...which I did for most of my husbands books). The NF are a little out of order at the moment because I've been trying to make room for books in various places...  

"Follow My Book Blog Friday" is a weekly meme hosted by Rachel at Parajunkee's View and Allison at Allison Can Read where bloggers make new friends, including this week's featured bloggers--We Fancy Books and A Novella's Tale!  Pop on over to Parajunkee's blog and join in the follow fun!!  All you have to do is follow the featured blogger, write your own post answering this week's question, and then leave your link!  Oh yeah--and then follow some new peeps!

This week's question:

Q.  Name 3 authors that you would love to sit down and spend an hour or a meal with just talking about either their books or get advice on writing from?

1.  Gayle Forman - If I Stay and Where She Went have by far been some of my favorite books this year.  The writing is phenomenal and I would love to just pick her brain about the writing process and her characters.

2. Veronica Roth - This young chick is clearly amazing. She seemed so down-to-earth when I met her in June and I'd love to just sit down and talk to her about the whole experience--getting published, selling the movie rights...all right out of college!

3. Stephanie Perkins - Anyone who can write a book as fun to read as Anna and the French Kiss MUST be a fabulously fun person to hand out with (also true judging on her Tweets). She seems like the kind of person you could spend the afternoon having fun with and the time would fly!

The "Book Blogger Hop" is a weekly bookish meme where you can get to know fellow bloggers! It's generally hosted by Jen @ Crazy for Books.  Stop by and join in the fun!

This week's question:

Q: What's the ONE genre that you wish you could get into, but just can't?

I read pretty widely so this is kind of a difficult question to answer.  However, I'm going to have to say high medieval fantasy.  I know--that's pretty specific, but let me explain.  My husband is not much of a fiction reader.  He's a historian--a medieval historian in the second year of his PhD program.  He almost never reads fiction (I'll give you one guess why...).  HOWEVER, he has a huge love affair with George R.R. Martin as well as a few other fantasy writers (maybe Tad Williams? Clearly I don't pay enough attention...).  I've TRIED (and am still trying) to get through GoT...but it's SO not my cup of tea.  It would be nice to be able to talk books with my hubby occasionally...

Thanks so much for visiting my blog today! I love your comments and try my best to return all follows! 
HAPPY FRIDAY!!!


**Don't forget to check out my 200 follower giveaway! 10 more followers and I will add a 3rd winner! 
Giveaway ends on Monday**

Hop & Follow Friday! (17)

Happy Friday, lovelies!

I hope you all had a fabulous week!! I've been sick so my apologies that my posts were a bit lacking this week!

TGIF is a weekly meme hosted by Ginger at GReads where she poses a thought-provoking question to prompt some blogger discussion!

This week's question:

Book Blogger Appreciation: Which book blogs have inspired you or made a difference in your blogging experience?

OOO!! <3 Okay, so I'm super excited about this question because it means that I get to gush about some of my favorite bloggers.  I hope you will check out all of their blogs because they are fabulous.  Two of the earliest blogs that I followed were Lindsay @ The Violet Hour and Ashley @ The Bookish Brunette.  These chicks are seriously fabulous.  Their book blogs are fabulous and definitely book centered. They write fabulous reviews and their enthusiasm for books truly shines.  The other blog that I would call an early influencer of mine is Kristi, The Book Faery.  Her blog is fabulous and this chick has a real passion for the written word.  I love following her reviews. LOVE!

"Follow My Book Blog Friday" is a weekly meme hosted by Rachel at Parajunkee's View where bloggers make new friends, including this week's featured blogger--Angela @ Angela's Anxious Life!  Pop on over to Parajunkee's blog and join in the follow fun!!  All you have to do is follow the featured blogger, write your own post answering this week's question, and then leave your link!  Oh yeah--and then follow some new peeps!

This week's question:

Q.  What do I do when I'm not reading?

Ummm...work? I suppose this question is supposed to be about other hobbies and such, but let me tell you a little about my life.  I live in the country with my husband and I've failed at gardening two years in a row (last year I grew moldy squash and this year a weed FOREST).  I work two jobs and I go to school.  So, when I'm not at work or class, I'm with my husband or reading a book.  So...I guess the answer is that when I'm not reading I'm spending time with my hubby! (Wow, long-winded much? Apologies!)

The "Book Blogger Hop" is a weekly bookish meme where you can get to know fellow bloggers! It's generally hosted by Jen @ Crazy for Books.  Stop by and join in the fun!

This week's question:

How/Where do you get your books? Do you buy them or go to the library? Is there a certain website you use like paperbackswap?

I get the majority of my books from the public library.  I try to avoid buying too many books (*try* being the operative word there. I mean, did you SEE last week's IMM?)  Anyway, I work PT at the public library so it's easy for me to get books there. I am a pro and putting books on hold. I currently have 10 books checked out from the library...which is actually probably a record low.  When I do buy books, I generally get them from B&N.   I wish I had a good local indie, but alas, I do not.  Sometimes I do try to order from indie bookstores online. I'd love to hear what people think about sites like paperbackswap, etc.!

Thanks so much for visiting my blog today! I love your comments and try my best to return all follows! 
HAPPY FRIDAY!!!

**Don't forget to check out my 200 follower giveaway! 25 more followers and I will add a 3rd winner!**

Hop & Follow Friday! (16)

Happy Friday, lovelies!

I hope you all had a fabulous week (including, for my US friends, a fab 4th)!!

TGIF is a weekly meme hosted by Ginger at GReads where she poses a thought-provoking question to prompt some blogger discussion!

This week's question:

Blogger Confession: What's the last book you could not finish? (or had a hard time finishing?)

Almost Moon by Alice Sebold.  The really sad thing about this was that I LOVED Lovely Bones and Lucky, both by Ms. Sebold, and I was super excited to get my hands on her newest novel when it came out.  I even pre-ordered it from Amazon and everything.  I didn't really even read the description.  I HATED it.  I still have it on my shelf, for some reason, and I lost the dust jacket a long time ago.  I keep thinking maybe I'll try it again, but I can't force myself to pick it up again. 

"Follow My Book Blog Friday" is a weekly meme hosted by Rachel at Parajunkee's View where bloggers make new friends, including this week's featured blogger--Lisa @ Read.Breathe.Relax!  Pop on over to Parajunkee's blog and join in the follow fun!!  All you have to do is follow the featured blogger, write your own post answering this week's question, and then leave your link!  Oh yeah--and then follow some new peeps!

This week's question:

Q.  Let's step away from besties...What is the worst book that you've ever read and actually finished?

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo when I was a sophomore in high school.  I thought I would be "cool" and read this super long book (because I was also in the musical at the time and I was a nerdy overachiever).  I got SO ANGRY when they spent 50+ pages telling you all about this character and then he DIED....and that was at the BEGINNING of the book.  I did manage to trudge through the 1000+ pages...but I ending up loving the musical way more than the book!

The "Book Blogger Hop" is a weekly bookish meme where you can get to know fellow bloggers! It's generally hosted by Jen @ Crazy for Books.  Stop by and join in the fun!

This week's question:

Isn't a question!! Promote someone else's giveaway!!

Yay! I love promoting other blogs! First up, I wanted to share with you an awesome giveaway that Ems over at In Which Ems Reviews Books is planning when her blog hits 100 followers! You should check her out and help her get to her goal! Also, there is an awesome giveaway for Inside Out & Outside In by Maria V. Snyder link over on my sidebar (which I shouldn't tell you about because, hello, I WANT TO WIN). You should definitely check out her blog and giveaway(s) as well

Thanks so much for visiting my blog today! I love your comments and try my best to return all follows! 
HAPPY FRIDAY!!!

**Don't forget to check out my 200 follower giveaway!**

Hop & Follow Friday! (15)

Happy Friday, lovelies!

Welcome to July!!! (well, depending on when you read this, lol!)

TGIF is a weekly meme hosted by Ginger at GReads where she poses a thought-provoking question to prompt some blogger discussion!

This week's question:

Mr & Mrs: Who are your favorite book couples??

Oooo....that is SUCH a hard question! I mean, if we're talking "classic" literature, then I'm a MAJOR sucker for Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy!  Now, in more contemporary books (of the YA that I read), I'm not actually sure that I can name just one! However, I will say that I have a VERY SOFT SPOT for Anna and Etienne in Anna and the French Kiss because OMG HOW CUTE ARE THEY?!?!?! Seriously,  that book/couple was so fabulous.  I'm dying to read that book again...especially now that I'm thinking about it.  If only I had the money to just go buy it! :-) 

"Follow My Book Blog Friday" is a weekly meme hosted by Rachel at Parajunkee's View where bloggers make new friends, including this week's featured blogger--Ericka @ Let's Talk About Books!  Pop on over to Parajunkee's blog and join in the follow fun!!  All you have to do is follow the featured blogger, write your own post answering this week's question, and then leave your link!  Oh yeah--and then follow some new peeps!

This week's question:

Q. ACK! Your favorite book/movie character (example Hermione Granger played by the Emma chick) just walked into the room! Who is it and what would be your first reaction? You get extra points if you include visual stimulation.

I'm not sure I have an answer for this one! How sad is that? Let me think...

Okay, okay...I would pick Alice Cullen/Ashley Greene from the Twilight Saga because as cheesy as these books/movies are I really liked her character.

The "Book Blogger Hop" is a weekly bookish meme where you can get to know fellow bloggers! It's generally hosted by Jen @ Crazy for Books.  Stop by and join in the fun!

This week's question:

Q: What keeps you reading beyond the first few pages of a book, and what makes you want to stop reading a book and put it back on the shelf?

Pacing! I know a lot of people would probably say the same thing (maybe?) but a story needs to set off at a good pace for me to feel drawn in.  I don't necessarily mean that there has to be a lot of action per se but that the story needs to move.  When a book drags (or feels like it is dragging), then I have trouble wanting to keep picking it up.  A well-paced book (for me) draws me in within the first 50 pages and a really well-paced book won't let me put it down until I'm finished.  My number two "thing" is probably character development, although I'll definitely let it suffer for the former!

**Don't forget to check out my 200 follower giveaway!**

Hop & Follow Friday! (14)

Happy Friday, lovelies!

This week flew by--and not necessarily for a good reason! My purse was stolen on Tuesday evening at work and my NOOKCOLOR was in it! I feel like I lost an arm or something! Seriously, I have to relearn what life was like before! LOL! Ah well, staying positive and moving on...and it's FRIDAY!!!

TGIF is a weekly meme hosted by Ginger at GReads where she poses a thought-provoking question to prompt some blogger discussion!

This week's question:

Summer Love: Where's your ideal place to take a summer vacation & get lost in a book?

I guess I have two answers to this.  First, my ideal, awesome, super dream summer vacation spot would be this awesome 14th century watermill-turned-vacation cottages in Normandy (France).  There is this small "complex" of cottages that you can rent 1 or more and it is situated on very picturesque land with waterfront view (duh, watermill!).  It looks like a perfect, dreamy location for a relaxing summer getaway with a good book (or 8) and a bottle (or 4) of wine. *sigh* Someday.  My second, more realistic answer, is that I would like to take a vacation to the Outer Banks in North Carolina, where my husband's family used to vacation, and rent a small house on the water for a week or so and just relax with a book.  I'm very much the type of person who likes to kick back and relax away from people on vacation. 

"Follow My Book Blog Friday" is a weekly meme hosted by Rachel at Parajunkee's View where bloggers make new friends, including this week's featured blogger--Mickey @ I'm a Book Shark!  Pop on over to Parajunkee's blog and join in the follow fun!!  All you have to do is follow the featured blogger, write your own post answering this week's question, and then leave your link!  Oh yeah--and then follow some new peeps!


This week's question:

Q. In light of the Summer Solstice. Also known as Midsummer...let's talk about fairies. What is your favorite fairy tale or story that revolves around the fae?

Ooo...I'll answer both, I think! My favorite fairy tale is Cinderella.  I know, I know--boring answer. I did a project on the Cinderella story for a storytelling class last fall and kind of fell in love with the huge variety of Cinderella stories out there. I love that it is so adaptable and almost every culture has some version of it.  Everyone should check out Vasilisa the Beautiful because it was a really cool version of the story.  In terms of my favorite story that revolves around the fae, I'm a huge fan of Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely books. I was kind of in love with that series not so long ago! I really love Marr's writing--her storytelling is fabulous!

The "Book Blogger Hop" is a weekly bookish meme where you can get to know fellow bloggers! It's generally hosted by Jen @ Crazy for Books, but this week it's hosted by Lori @ Lori's Reading Corner.  Stop by and join in the fun!

This week's question:

When did you realize reading was your passion and a truly important part of your life?

Is it a cop-out to say when I started reading on my own at the age of 5? Seriously, reading has always been that important to me. I actually think I could read a little on my own in pre-school and it's the kind of passion that just grew and grew and grew! I read so much that by 5th grade I had read more books (according to my accelerated reader points--not even ALL the books I read) than anyone else in the entire school. (I got a t-shirt for it!) The local public library made me sign up for adult summer reading when I was 12 because I read too many books otherwise (and then I discovered Danielle Steele and no one stopped me). Reading kind of faded into the background in later high school and college. I didn't stop reading, but I didn't read very much during those years (YA was NOT as prominent then as it is now or I might have continued).  I "rediscovered" my love of reading in my senior year as a way to connect with my students (while I was student teaching) and as a way to escape from the stress of school (and everything else I had on my plate at the time).  Ever since that rediscovery (which I will openly admit began with Twilight at the recommendation of my students), I haven't turned back once!

**I have a real hankering to host a giveaway for my lovely followers! Let's say if I can get to 200 followers today I'll put up a giveaway. Spread the word.**

Hop & Follow Friday! (13)

Happy Friday, lovelies!

Guess what?! This is my 100th post!!! Woohoo!! That's about the longest that I have EVER stuck with blogging! I <3 you all SO much! Thanks for stopping by today! Leave me some follow love and I'll do my best to return the follow this weekend!

"Follow My Book Blog Friday" is a weekly meme hosted by Rachel at Parajunkee's View where bloggers make new friends, including this week's featured blogger--Rhiannon Paille!  Pop on over to Parajunkee's blog and join in the follow fun!!  All you have to do is follow the featured blogger, write your own post answering this week's question, and then leave your link!  Oh yeah--and then follow some new peeps!

This week's question:

Q. Genre Wars! What's your favorite genre and which book made it your favorite?

Okay, wow, that's a really tough question.  Six months ago I would have been like...YA paranormal all the way!  But...in light of my recent favorite reads...I'm going to have to say that my (current) favorite genre is...YA dystopia!  I've read a lot of these lately (actually, I'm scared of getting burned out on these...), so it is hard to pick one that has me defining it as my favorite.  The Hunger Games was probably my first taste...but I'm going to have to give the prize for turning dystopia into my favorite to...POSSESSION by Elana Johnson!  It's so good guys; if you haven't heard about it, check out my review! She takes the cake on this one because her book was stuck in my head for DAYS after I finished reading it and the story (and the ENDING, oh, the ending) was an emotional roller coaster--one hell of a ride.

The "Book Blogger Hop" is a weekly bookish meme where you can get to know fellow bloggers! It's generally hosted by Jen @ Crazy for Books, but this week it's hosted by Lori @ Lori's Reading Corner.  Stop by and join in the fun!

This week's question:

How many books are currently on your TBR pile?

Ummm...I stopped counting? No, seriously, I think that list is never-ending.  If you want to see what some of the list looks like, you can check out my Goodreads "To-Read" shelf...which by no means contains all of the books that are on my reading list.  I think I currently have more than 40 unread books on my NookColor and two dedicated shelves of "read soon" books in my bedroom....and 13 books checked out from the library!

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Have a fabulous, book-filled weekend!!