January 2016 : Upcoming Events!

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January 1st: Happy New Year!!!
                          Most Anticipated Books of 2016

January 2nd: January TBR

January 3rd: In My Mailbox #15
                            Bookish Birthday: J.R.R. Tolkien

January 4th: Bookish Birthday: Jacob Grimm
                                                               Phyliss Reynolds Naylor 

January 5th: YA Review - The Game of Love and Death by Martha Rockenbrough

                            Book Births - Passengers by Alexandra Bracken
                                                     Truthwitch by Susan Dennard 
                                                     This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp 

                                                    The Impostor Queen by Sarah Fine

January 6th: Wishlist Wednesday #64

January 8th-12th: ALA Midwinter Convention 2016 - Boston, Massachusetts

January 11th: Book Births - Of Light and Darkness by Shayne Leighton 

January 12th: Book Births - Bookishly Ever After by Isabel Bandeira

January 13th: Wishlist Wednesday #65

January 17th: Bookish Birthday: Robert Cormier 

January 19th: Bookish Birthday: Edgar Allan Poe

                              Book Births - Sword and Verse by Kathy MacMillan 

January 20th: Wishlist Wednesday #66

January 24th: Bookish Birthday: Edith Wharton

January 26th: Book Births - The Siren by Kiera Cass 
                                                        The Love That Split The World by Emily Henry 

January 27th: Bookish Birthday: Lewis Carroll 
                              Wishlist Wednesday #67

January 28th: Book Births - Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen 

January 29th: Book Births - The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe

January 31st: February: Upcoming Events!

*Book Sale info courtesy of Book Sale Finder*

Happy Reading!

Best Books of 2015!

Greetings, Bookiedeeds Warriors!

The year is finally coming to an end . . . And that means it is time for a Best Books of 2015! post -- my first one yet. This year I decided to commit to the Good Reads Reading Challenge. I pledged 25 books and I upheld my pledge!

So, without further ado, my favorite books of this year (in no particular order) are  . . .:

Thanks for reading my post. Have a HAPPY NEW YEAR Bookiedeeds Warriors!

Happy Reading!

Wishlist Wednesday #63

*Wishlist Wednesday is where you show a book that has been on your wishlist/TBR list for a while, the meme is hosted by Pen to Paper*

Forget Tomorrow by Pintip Dunn

Publisher: Entangled: Teen

Release Date: November 3, 2015
Pages: 400

The Story:

Imagine a world where your destiny has already been decided...by your future self. 

It's Callie's seventeenth birthday and, like everyone else, she's eagerly awaiting her vision -- a memory sent back in time to sculpt each citizen into the person they're meant to be. A world-class swimmer. A renowned scientist. 

Or in Callie's case, a criminal. 

In her vision, she sees herself murdering her gifted younger sister. Before she can process what it means, Callie is arrested and placed in prison. The only person who can help is her childhood crush, Logan, a boy she hasn't spoken to in five years. 

Logan breaks her free, but can she trust him? He's almost the same boy she remembers, but now he's a whole lot hotter. And he's got his own past to deal with. Callie's falling for him, fast, but she soon learns he has secrets of his own. Secrets that mean they can never be together.

Now, Callie's on the run not only from the government, but also from her fate. If she wants any hope of a future with Logan, she must find a way to protect her sister from the biggest threat of all -- herself.

-via Amazon

Meet the Author

When her first-grade teacher asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up, Pintip replied, "An author." Although she has pursued other interests over the years, this dream has never wavered.

Pintip graduated from Harvard University, magna cum laude, with an A.B. in English Literature and Language. She received her J.D. at Yale Law School, where she was an editor of the YALE LAW JOURNAL. 

Pintip is represented by literary agent Beth Miller of Writers House. She is a 2012 RWA Golden Heart® finalist and a 2014 double-finalist. 
She lives with her husband and children in Maryland.

Want to see my entire Wishlist? Check it out on Amazon: Books I Dream About

Happy Reading!

Review : Teardrop by Lauren Kate

*Warning: This review may contain spoilers. Read at your own risk.

Publisher: Ember

Publication date: October 22, 2013

Pages: 480

Source: ARC

The Story:

An epic saga of heart-stopping romance, devastating secrets, and dark magic . . . a world where everything you love can be washed away. The first book in the Teardrop series from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Fallen series
Everywhere Eureka goes he is there: Ander, a mysterious blond boy who tells her she’s in danger. Ander knows things about Eureka she doesn’t yet know herself, but not her darkest secret: ever since her mother drowned in a freak accident, Eureka wishes she were dead, too. She has little left that she cares about, just her friend Brooks and some heirlooms—a locket, a letter, a mysterious stone, and an ancient book about a girl who got her heart broken and cried an entire continent into the sea.

But Ander has some secrets of his own. The haunting tale is more than a story. It’s real.
And Eureka’s life has far more evil undercurrents than she ever imagined.
 
“Fans of Kate’s popular Fallen series will find a similar blend of supernatural romance, mystery, and destiny.”—Publishers Weekly

“Plenty of danger, romance and intrigue to entertain . . .  terrific.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Mystery, romance and fantasy combine for an enchanting world.” —Teenreads.com

“A big tale with vivid action scenes.” —VOYA

- via Amazon

Rating: THREE Gold Stars!!!!

My Review: 

Let me start off by saying, I was introduced to Lauren Kate via her Fallen series which I liked a lot even though I have not read the last book. So, I was down for reading more of her work. Hence, I jumped into Teardrop after receiving it at BEA even though I did not know what I was actually getting myself into.

Tag Line:

One tear can end the world.

Opening Line:

In the stillness of the small beige waiting room, Eureka's ear rang.

Plot:

I do not think I had read anything quite like Teardrop but the premise of the story was intriguing. There is a dark romance, mystery, magic, all revolving around a myth about a girl who cried an entire civilization into the sea. Whaaaaa?! Nutzo, right? But I love it. 

The pacing of Teardrop was on pint. Not once did I feel bogged down by the pacing of the story. The plot moved fluidly * pun intended haha* and I got into the story quickly. The world-building was wonderful and the character presence was real -- the characters felt alive.  Not only was the premise interesting but there were secrets, twist and turns that put its hooks into me and had me greedy to read the story.

I always enjoyed Kate's writing style since the Fallen series and that has not changed with Teardrop. All in all, I look forward to reading Waterfall and the only reason why I have not done so yet is because I was waiting for it to come out in paperback to "match" my ARC and for the price to drop.

Meet the Author:

Lauren Kate is the internationally number one bestselling author of Teardrop, The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove, and the Fallen novels: Fallen, Torment, Passion, Fallen in Love, and Rapture. Her work has been translated into over thirty languages. She lives in Los Angeles. 

***Check out Lauren Kate's website for more information about her and Teardrop: HERE

Happy Reading!

Wishlist Wednesday #62

*Wishlist Wednesday is where you show a book that has been on your wishlist/TBR list for a while, the meme is hosted by Pen to Paper*

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Mass

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens 

Release Date: May 3, 2016
Pages: 640

The Story:

The stunning sequel to Sarah J. Maas' New York Times bestselling A Court of Thorns and Roses.

Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court--but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people.

Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms--and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future--and the future of a world cleaved in two.

With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas's masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights.

-via Amazon

Meet the Author

SARAH J. MAAS is the author of the New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series: Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight, and Heir of Fire, and the series' prequel, The Assassin's Blade; as well as the New York Times bestselling A Court of Thorns and Roses. A New York native, Sarah currently lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and dog. 
worldofsarahjmaas.com/
facebook.com/throneofglass

Want to see my entire Wishlist? Check it out on Amazon: Books I Dream About

Happy Reading!

Spread the Word Sunday #4

Spread the Word Sunday is a meme hosted by The Tattered Page to announce some sort of book related news or cause.

So . . . Guess where I am lucky to being going in January 2016?! 

Yay! I have never had the opportunity to attend ALA before. Always wanted to, but this time around my boyfriend and I will have the  opportunity to do so this January.

For those who do not know what the American Library Association convention is, I provided some info below:

"With more than 450 exhibiting organizations, multiple pavilions and stages featuring the hottest authors, and numerous related fun events, the exhibit floor is an integral part of your learning, professional development, and networking. The Exhibit Hall offers you the opportunity to explore and discuss with expert vendors the breadth and depth of new and favorite library products, services, books, online services, tools, and technologies."

Exhibit Hours

Friday Opening Reception on the Exhibit Floor	5:30pm - 7:00pm
Saturday	9:00am - 5:00pm
Sunday	9:00am - 5:00pm
Monday Exhibits Closing Events - Wrap Up / Rev Up Celebration	9:00am - 2:00pm

From what I have seen on ALA Midwinter's website, it is quite similar to BookExpo America. Also, from scoping out the blogs of bookworms who have attended in the past, ALA Midwinter is like a lowkey BookExpo America. Considering BEA -- my favorite event ever -- has been moved to Chicago in 2016 and chances are slim that I will be able to attend, I am foaming at the mouth to attend ALA Midwinter.

If you're a fellow book blogger or someone who loves books and will be attending, look me up!

*For more info, check out the official website for the ALA Midwinter 2016 Meeting & Exhibit*

Happy Reading!

In My Mailbox #14

*In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren which allows bloggers to share what books they bought/received each week.*

Hey Bookies! This week will be the fourteenth time hosting In My Mailbox and I am so excited to share with you what I received in my mailbox recently.

Having said that, for this In My Mailbox are mostly purchases from Amazon. I only have one #BooksForTrade that I got from Nikki.Take a look below:

Purchased:

#BooksForTrade:

*If you're interested in the other books that are on my radar you can check out my Amazon Wishlist: Books I Dream About!

Happy Reading!

Wishlist Wednesday #61

Wishlist Wednesday #6

*Wishlist Wednesday is where you show a book that has been on your wishlist/TBR list for a while, the meme is hosted by Pen to Paper*

Bookishly Ever After by Isabel Bandeira

Publisher: Spencer Hill Contemporary 

Release Date: January 12, 2016
Pages: 350

The Story:

In a perfect world, sixteen-year-old Phoebe Martins’ life would be a book. Preferably one filled with magic and a hot paranormal love interest. Unfortunately, her life probably wouldn’t even qualify for a quiet contemporary.

Everything changes when Phoebe learns that Dev, the hottest guy in the clarinet section, might actually have a crush on her. So, Phoebe turns to the heroines in her favorite books for advice on a personality overhaul. Becoming as awesome as her book characters isn’t as easy as it sounds and when another girl nets Dev for herself right from under Phoebe’s nose, she’s crushed.

Then, to up the suckage, she gets assigned as his co-counselor at a sixth grade camp and has to spend an entire week tied to the hip with the one guy on the planet she wanted to avoid. Can she make it through the potential danger of romantic bonfires and nature walks without Dev figuring out she’s still not over him, or will her counseling career end in emotional disaster? Can she ever go back to her happy world of fictional boys after falling for the real thing?

-via Amazon

Meet the Author

Growing up, Isabel Bandeira split her time between summers surrounded by cathedrals, castles, and ancient tombs in Portugal and the rest of the year hanging around the lakes and trees of Southern New Jersey, which only fed her fairy-tale and nature obsessions. In her day job, she’s a Mechanical Engineer and tones down her love of all things glittery while designing medical devices, but it all comes out in her writing. The rest of the time, you’ll find her reading, at the dance studio, or working on her jumps and spins at the ice rink.

Isabel lives in South Jersey with her little black cat, too much yarn, and a closetful of vintage hats. She is represented by Carrie Howland of Donadio and Olson, Inc.

Want to see my entire Wishlist? Check it out on Amazon: Books I Dream About

Happy Reading!

Review : The One by Kiera Cass

*Warning: This review may contain spoilers. Read at your own risk.

Publisher: HarperTeen 

Publication date: May 6, 2014

Pages: 336

Source: Own

The Story:

The highly anticipated third book in Kiera Cass's #1 New York Times bestselling Selection series, The One will captivate readers who love dystopian YA fiction and fairy tales. The One is perfect for the fans who have followed America's whirlwind romance since it began—and a swoon-worthy read for teens who have devoured Veronica Roth's Divergent, Ally Condie's Matched, or Lauren Oliver's Delirium.

The Selection changed America Singer's life in ways she never could have imagined. Since she entered the competition to become the next princess of Illéa, America has struggled with her feelings for her first love, Aspen—and her growing attraction to Prince Maxon. Now she's made her choice . . . and she's prepared to fight for the future she wants.

Find out who America will choose in The One, the enchanting, beautifully romantic third book in the Selection series!

- via Amazon

Rating: THREE Gold Stars!!!!

My Review: 

Tag Line:

35 girls entered the selection. Only 1 can win.

Opening Line:

This time we were in the Great Room enduring another etiquette lesson when bricks came flying through the window.

Plot:

So, readers and Selection fans all around, the end of the trilogy has arrived . . . Or so we thought, but that is another matter for another time. As for the premise of The One, readers finally arrive at the wedding. 

I am glad to say The One had a little more spunk and more ooey gooey romance. On the spunky side, there is more action this time around. The Southern Rebels start picking off people caste by caste. I liked this play in the ploy but I thought it would have been fantastic if the assassinations hit a bit closer to home -- in terms of those close to America. And conveniently enough Aspen turned out to fall in love with Lucy. To be honest though, I never really liked Aspen. Not since he up and ditched her -- don't get me wrong I liked the idea of Aspen, the potential of what he stood for and the simple fact I usually have a soft-spot for 1st loves and boys next door. Moreover, although most of the storyline led to the promise of America's wedding, the actual wedding was not made a big deal out of at the ending. Also, I wish there was an epilogue with a glimpse into America's future as a woman, wife and queen -- luckily, this was alleviated with The Heir . . .

Cass' writing is not the grandest but it is simple and lovely. Her character voices are real and her world-building draws me into the story. All in all, I know The Selection trilogy gets plenty of hate but, personally, I have enjoyed trilogy for the most part and recommend it to anyone on the lookout out for easy, engrossing dystopian fairytale retelling.

Meet the Author:

Kiera Cass graduated from Radford University with a degree in History. She grew up in South Carolina and currently lives in Blacksburg, Virginia with her family. In her spare time, Kiera enjoys reading, dancing, making videos, and eating unhealthy amounts of cake. You can learn more about Kiera at kieracass.com, follow her on twitter via @kieracass, and see her silly videos at YouTube.com/user/kieracass.

***Check out Kiera Cass' website for more information about her and The One: HERE

Happy Reading!