Merry Christmas!

I know this blog hasn't been quite active the last couple weeks and I'm sorry for that! However I will make it up to you all, promise!

Anyway, just wanted to wish all of you happy holidays and a very merry Christmas! Hope you all get lots of presents! :)

WWW Wednesday #1

WWW Wednesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. A post where I answer three questions:  What have I just finished reading? What am I currently reading? What do I think I'll read next?

Just Finished

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

This was required reading for English class. And it was fantastic and terrifying and just...yea. For those of you who read it, you know what I am talking about. I even considered writing a review on it just so I could get all my crazy thoughts out. Alas, not this time. I also really lucked out with this edition because it has an introduction by Stephen King about how he came across the book for the first time and such, which I loved.

Currently Reading

The Color of Home by Rich Marcello

I began reading this over Thankgiving break, and instantly liked it. I either love or hate adult fiction, and I loved this one. However I had to put it aside during the first couple weeks of December (and missed the release date of December 3rd -- oops!) However I've picked it back up and hope to finish it before Christmas, and have the review up by the New Year.

Next to Read

Beyond Belief by Helen Smith

This is next on my Netgalley list. (And I have a goal to read all my Netgalley books before I read any of my lovely paperbacks!) It comes out on January 28th though, so even if I read it before the new year, the review won't be up for a while.

No Post this Week

I just wanted to let you all know that there will be no posts this week. There are several reasons for this, including finals, me being sick, family visiting, and being generally so busy that I haven't had a chance to sit down and read my books, let alone write up or finish some posts. Sorry guys! Don't worry though, we should be back up and running by next week!

Stacking the Shelves #5

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga’s Reviews. Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. a chance to share any books you’ve bought, borrowed, or received in the past 7 days. All of the books on this list are linked to Goodreads. (Look I added the meme!)

Bought

(Courtesy of my local Barnes & Noble's "3 for 2" deal...my resistance did not last)

Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt

Paris in Love by Eloisa James

Mr. Churchill's Secretary by Susan Elia Macneal

2014 TBR Pile Reading Challenge

I’ll be participating in the 2014 TBR Pile Reading Challenge hosted by Bookish!

If you haven’t heard of this challenge, the basic idea is to dig into your TBR pile and, if not clear it completely, get it back under control. The books you read for the challenge can’t be 2014 releases and any book can be included as long as you review it. On the 20th of each month, you gather all your reviews together and link them up in the nice wrap-up post on Bookish, and for each review you get an entry to win a book of your choice from Book Depository!

1-10 - A Firm Handshake
11-20 - A Friendly Hug
21-30 - First Kiss
31-40 - Sweet Summer Fling
41-50 - Could this be love?
50+ - Married With Children

You can always move up a level, but you can't move down. So I'm aiming for First Kiss but hope to move up a level or two- it depends on how college and stuff goes in the second half of the year. It is my first time doing anything like this, so I'm excited (and nervous).

I'll still be doing regular reviews for books that are released in 2014 (I have accumulated quite a number on Netgalley) but I also have a huge stash of books from 2013 and earlier than I need to get through! It is going to be a BUSY year for me.

If you’d like to participate in this challenge just head over to Bookish and sign up by December 15! There’s a mailing list and lots of other fun things for the challenge, so check it out!

I Dated A Writer Once and...

I Dated A Writer Once
(by ofheightsandhollows)

Writers are forgetful,
but they remember everything.
They forget appointments and anniversaries,
but remember what you wore,
how you smelled,
on your first date…
They remember every story you’ve ever told them -
like ever,
but forget what you’ve just said.
They don’t remember to water the plants
or take out the trash,
but they don’t forget how
to make you laugh.

Writers are forgetful
because
they’re busy
remembering
the important things.

Top Ten Tuesday - Top 10 2014 Releases I'm Dying to Read

Top Ten Tuesdays is hosted over at The Broke and the Bookish, with a new Top Ten prompt every week. Check it out!

1. The Man Who Walked Away by Maud Casey. March 4th 2014. (I actually requested this book on Netgalley and I'm crossing my fingers and toes that I am approved.) It is set in southern France, in the exact area where I grew up.

2. The Last Dead Girl by Harry Dolan. January 9th 2014.

I'm learning that I actually enjoy murder mysteries more and more, and so this novel instantly drew my attention. I can't wait for it to come out so I can buy a copy!

3. Heartbeat by Elizabeth Scott. January 28th 2014

Dead mothers and romance with mysterious boys seems to be a reoccuring theme at the moment, so why not take advantage of it?

4. Beyond Belief by Helen Smith. January 28th 2014

Okay so: British. Magic. Mystery. Sold.

5. Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaria. April 1st 2014

I want this so bad. I had a novel idea like this once, but wasn't in love with it enough to write it. So someone else did and now I must read it.

6. Written in My Own Heart's Blood (Outlander Series #8) by Diana Gabaldon. June 10th 2014

I need not explain, my friends.

7. City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments #6) by Cassandra Clare. May 27th 2014

I got hooked on this series back over the summer when I was supposed to be writing but instead distracted myself with these. I read the first four books in about 2 days. I don't mess around when I get addicted to a series. Anyway, so naturally, I can't wait to marathon the new one! Who wants to bet I can read it in a day?

8. The Queen of Dreams by Peter Hamilton. January 2nd 2014.

This is, actually, a children's book. But the synopsis and cover are really really awesome. Also I really freaking LOVE fairytales. I don't care if it is a children's book. This is awesome, thank you very much.

9. The Transcriptionist by Amy Rowland. May 13th 2014.

 I actually found this on Netgalley, but I haven't requested it to read because not only do I have enough on my plate, but it isn't my typical genre. However I find that the idea of the story is very unique and interesting, so I'm looking forward to its release!

10. The Mirror and The Light (Thomas Cromwell #3) by Hilary Mantel. Unknown/predicted for 2015. 

Teeeechnically...this isn't coming out in 2014. But I'm ignoring that and adding it to the list anyway because I can't wait for it (as well as dreading it- I don't want Cromwell to die...even though I already know he does. But still.) It is so far from being released that it doesn't even have a book cover.