A day, week, month, etc of slacking...

Well I've really been keeping up with this blog, not! I can't believe how many books I've read since I've started this blogging business and haven't posted them. Once again I'm going to tell myself and you that I will get better at this.

In the meantime I want to introduce you to something I read about today that I want to challenge myself to do. I'm very stuck in the genre of books that I read so to take myself out of this circle I'm joining the 2011 Show Me The Free Reading Challenge hosted by The Unread Reader.

Basically what you do is download legally FREE e-books from either the Top 100 Free books on Amazon or the Free e-books on B&N. Once you have read the book you then need to post and link your review. And there is a possibly good chance your entry might be drawn from a monthly pool to win some prizes! And honestly, who can say prizes are a bad thing?!  For the EXACT rules and guidelines see The Unread Reader's blog.

To kick off this challenge here are the books I'm going to attempt to tackle first! ....not necessarily in this order I list them =]

1. Fletcher, Penelope - The Demon Girl (B&N)
2. Hauf, Michele - Kiss Me Deadly (Amazon)
3. Funke, Cornelia - Reckless (B&N)
4. Lockley, Kara - Alinora (B&N)
5. Kenner, Julie - Aphrodite's Kiss (Amazon)
6. Bullen, Alexandra - Wish  (Amazon)
7. Rue, Nancy - Boyfriends, Burritos and an Ocean of Trouble (Amazon)
8. Bricker, Sandra - Always the Baker, Never the Bride (Amazon)
9. Singleton, Linda Joy - Don't Die, Dragonfly (Amazon)

.... More to come soon...

Well wish me luck and I hope you all decide to join this fun challenge as well. <3 <3

Life as We Knew it

Back Cover: Miranda's disbelief turns to fear in a split second when an asteroid knocks the moon closer to the earth. How should her family prepare for the future when worldwide tsunamis wipe out the coasts, earthquakes rock the continents, and volcanic ash blocks out the sun? As summer turns to Arctic winter, Miranda, her two brothers, and their mother retreat to the unexpected safe haven of their sunroom, where they subsist on stockpiled food and limited water in the warmth of a wood-burning stove. In her journal, Miranda records the events of each desperate day, while she and her family struggle to hold on to their most priceless resource--hope.

I absolutely LOVED this book! Miranda is a high school student who keeps a journal of her everyday actions. The writing is a simple, easy to digest form. What I love so much about this book is the main character Miranda. She is a sometimes selfish individual who is reacting honestly, and to the best of her abilities, to a natural disaster. We all like to think that we would be heroes in the face of danger, but your never really sure of how you will react at that moment. 

As a group of people who rely so heavily on man-made amenities (running water, electric, heat...etc.) we tend to think that nothing can interrupt these things. Life as we Knew it brings us to a world where things appear they will never be the same...one must learn to adapt and live on. It made me think about how incredibly unprepared I would be for such an event to occur. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I'm going to (or advising you) to run out and stock pile on canned goods and warm clothes, but Life as We Knew it was an eye opener. 

For example, Miranda and her family have to be conscience of their water usage, in fear of their well drying out, their food intake, in fear of running out of food, and their fuel usage, in fear of not having heat for the cold months. We (society in general) are such wasteful individuals. We run the water constantly when brushing our teeth, through good food away for the fact that we are too full, and crank the heat up with open windows. 

I was so engrossed in this book that when I did put it down I had to remind myself I was not living in a world where the Moon was closer and havoc was prevailing. I decided to read this book on a recommendation and I'm glad I did. Also, I just found out it's a series and I can't wait to start the next one!

Envy - Luxe 3 by Anna Godbersen

Back Cover: Jealous whispers. Old rivalries. New betrayals.

Two months after Elizabeth Holland's dramatic homecoming, Manhattan eagerly awaits her return to the pinnacle of society. When Elizabeth refuses to rejoin her sister Diana's side, however, those watching New York's favorite family begin to suspect that all is not as it seems behind the stately doors of No. 17 Gramercy Park South.

Farther uptown, Henry and Penelope Schoonmaker are the city's most celebrated couple. But despite the glittering diamond ring on Penelope's finger, the newlyweds share little more than scorn for each other. And while the newspapers call Penelope's social-climbing best friend, Carolina Broad, an heiress, her fortune - and her fame - are anything but secure, especially now that one of society's darlings is slipping tales to the eager press.

In this next thrilling installment of Anna Godbersen's bestselling Luxe series, Manhattan's most envied residents appear to have everything they desire: Wealth. Beauty. Happiness. But sometimes the most practiced smiles hide the most scandalous secrets. . . .

 

Elizabeth and Diana are back with new scandals and broken hearts still mending. The characters are now dealing with the the consequences their past actions have caused them. I've begun to rally for the one's I was against in the beginning of the series. 

On the other hand - Envy did not keep me glued to the pages as Luxe & Rumors did. The book tends to drag in some places and moves at a slow pace. The cliff hanger is enough to make me read Splendor. So I'll hope for the best and cross my fingers!

Rumors - Luxe Series 2 by Anna Godbersen

Back Cover: True Love. False Friends. Scandalous Gossip. Welcome Back to Manhattan, 1899.

After bidding good-bye to New York's brightest star, Elizabeth Holland, rumors continue to fly about her untimely demise.

All eyes are on those closest to the dearly departed: her mischievous sister, Diana, now the family's only hope for redemption; New York's most notorious cad, Henry Schoon-maker, the flame Elizabeth never extinguished; the seductive Penelope Hayes, poised to claim all that her best friend left behind - including Henry; even Elizabeth's scheming former maid, Lina Broud, who discovers that while money matters and breeding counts, gossip is the new currency.

As old friends become rivals, Manhattan's most dazzling socialites find their futures threatened by whispers from the past. In this delicious sequel to The Luxe, nothing is more dangerous than a scandal . . . or more precious than a secret. 

Oh how this broke my heart! The twists and turns of this novel are unpredictable. Anna Godbersen has created a historical soap opera where her characters are vulnerable and manipulating villains. One's actions are calculated based on everything that isn't openly said by others, in turn creating  situations that spiral out of control. The end result lead me to cry for some and hate others.

New Site!

I stumbled onto this site, Shelfari, while looking for some new file sharing sites. This site is AMAZING! It allows you to create a virtual site where you can add all the books you have ever read (good luck with remembering them all), ones you plan on reading, and books that you are currently reading. Also, you can rate your books and leave reviews as well.

Another fantastic aspect of this site is that it allows you to look at other people's shelves to see their listings. Shelfari gives you the option to narrow your searches on others' shelves to people that have read the same books as you have too!

Let me tell you, I'm am so friggen excited about this site! Call me a nerd I really don't care. <3 This gives me one amazing place I can go to in order to find ideas for new books to read.

Now my question to you: Do you have a shelf on Shelfari? If you do please let me know! 

The Luxe by Anna Godbersen

Back Cover:  Pretty girls in pretty dresses, partying until dawn.
Irresistible boys with mischievous smiles and dangerous intentions.
White lies, dark secrets, and scandalous hookups.
This is Manhattan, 1899.
Elizabeth and Diana Holland rule Manhattan's social scene. But when the girls discover their family's status is far from secure, suddenly everyone is a threat to their golden future. Set in a world of luxury and deception, this thrilling trip to the age of innocence is anything but innocent.

This book was just a bit difficult to get drawn into during the early chapters. BUT...and mind you this is a big but, I am now sucked in to the series. I was first introduced to them by my old roommate who began reading these my last semester in college and I finally thought, let's give it a try! It's fun to read a series based in an area so close to me. Elizabeth and her friends bring you to places that I've seen and experienced and it makes it all the more interesting to read about. The book is a classic love story about not always getting what is it your heart desires and the struggles one goes through to find true love. I absolutely fell in love with the characters. It's a long build up to what no one would expect to happen. <3

Welcome to my Blog!!!

Hello everyone! I’ve been thinking about doing this for a long time so I’ve finally decided to start my first blog. I'm crossing my fingers this works out well. I figured since I'm not a person who journals, although I would love to be that person, I might have a bit more luck with this form of writing.

I'm thinking I need to keep track of the important/good things in life before I'm too old to remember and I might as well get stared while I'm young. Now considering who I am this blog will more than likely become my insight into the books that I read. I am a book loving, OCD individual who needs to have everything in place. Because of that, I also figured a blog would be a perfect place to list (and remember) all the books I have read! :o)

So let me tell you a little bit about myself. I recently graduated college, where I majored in Hospitality Management, and currently work in my field of study…and question every day if this was the correct career path for me. As a self-diagnosed introvert I wonder how in the world I could have chosen a customer oriented career – one where it’s your main job duty to be more reactive than proactive at times. Be it as it may, I’m determined to work my way up the fabled career ladder to higher places. 

With the minutes in life that are mine to spend freely I'm usually with either my family members or my one-love in life. What is done during these times range from a wide array of things...to many to name right now.

That's enough for the night; I hope this blog will continue to grow as I add my experiences and reading victories to the posts. At any time (if you continue to read this) if you have a suggestion of a good piece of work, please feel free to let me know. I’m all ears!

Keep reading if your interested and I hope to keep all the new, interesting, and insightful blogs coming!

Good Night!