#LibrariesAreAwesomeAug18

Hi, everyone! I've been trying to use Instagram more often, but I will admit recently I've slowed down on using it. But the last time I created a challenge to make me use it, it worked. So I thought I would make another one! This one is going to be centered around the library! The library means a lot to me, because without it, I wouldn't be the reader I am. I've had a library card since the moment I was old enough to have my own, and before that, I used my Mom's card to get books. I would never be able to read as many books as I have without it, because I would never be able to afford them all. About 90% of the books I read I get from the library! And that's not even mentioning the other ways I use the library!

I truly don't understand people who say libraries aren't relevant anymore. Just because the person who says that doesn't use the library, doesn't mean there aren't countless people who do. It's frustrating to me when people say ignorant things like that. Libraries offer so many worthwhile things to people, and I'm not even talking just about books! Libraries matter. And the idea of people trying to take that away frustrates me so much.

So this isn't much, but to show my support for libraries (Besides going all the time. Seriously, I go at least twice a week, sometimes more.) I thought I would challenge myself and anyone who wants to join in to instagram photos of books you've gotten from the library. From August 1st through August 31st, I'll be posting photos of books I've read and books on my TBR list, that I've gotten from the library! Feel free to join in, if you want! Post everyday, or just once, it doesn't matter. This is just a fun challenge I thought I would do for myself, and if other people want to join in, that's great! I'll be using the #LibrariesAreAwesomeAug18 if anyone wants to participate. I also highly encourage you to try and visit your library, if you don't already use it. Check out something, use the computer, go to a program the library is hosting, just try and support them, if you're able. 

I'm looking forward to posting these photos next month! :)

My Birthday!

Today is my 23rd Birthday! Now before I go off and eat my strawberry cheesecake that my Mom made for my Birthday, I thought it would be fun to list 23 books that I've read and enjoyed this year! I usually post something on the blog for my Birthday, and I was having trouble of thinking of a post that I haven't done for it before. But then I thought, this is the perfect opportunity to talk a little about the books that I've enjoyed (so far) this year! I've seen a few bloggers do posts similar this this, and I thought it would be fun! These are not the only books I've read and enjoyed this year! But these are my most favorite of them. Also, I tried to only list one book per author on here. And just to let you know, these aren't listed in any particular order. Now that I'm done talking, here we go! :)

1. The Queen's Rising by Rebecca Ross

2. The Rose Legacy by Jessica Day George

3. The Frame-Up by Wendy McLeod MacKnight

4. Rules For Thieves by Alexandra Ott

5. The Art of the Swap by Jen Malone and Kristine Carlson Asselin

6. My Little Pony: Legends of Magic Vol. 2 by Various Authors

7. Not If I Save You First by Ally Carter

8. Wizardmatch by Lauren Magaziner

9. The Mad Wolf's Daughter by Diane Magras

10. More Than Meets the Eye by Karen Witemeyer

11. The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery 

12. Postcards From Venice by Dee Romito

13. Lady of Quality by Georgette Heyer

14. American Panda by Gloria Chao

15. Tess and the Highlander by May McGoldrick

16. Fade to Us by Julia Day

17. Blue Moon Promise by Colleen Coble

18. Love, Life, and the List by Kasie West

19. Chasing Helicity by Ginger Zee

20. Pumpkin Spice Secrets by Hillary Homzie

21. The Unicorn Quest by Kamilla Benko

22. Turn It Up by Jen Calonita

23. Beneath a Prairie Moon by Kim Vogel Sawyer

All of these are books that I would highly recommend! Now, I'm off to go eat my cheesecake! Have a great day, everyone! :)

Mini Review: Wrong in All the Right Ways

Mini Review: Wrong in All the Right Ways by Tiffany Brownlee
Everything in Emma's life has always gone according to her very careful plans. But things take a turn toward the unexpected when she falls in love for the first time with the one person in the world who’s off-limits–her new foster brother, the gorgeous and tormented Dylan McAndrews.

Meanwhile, Emma’s AP English class is reading Wuthering Heights, and she’s been assigned to mimic Bronte’s style in an epistolary format. With no one to confide in, she’s got a lot to write about. Emma and Dylan try to constrain their romance to the page–for fear of threatening Dylan’s chances of being adopted into another home. But the strength of first love is all-consuming, and they soon get enveloped in a passionate, secretive relationship with a very uncertain outcome.
-summary and cover via Goodreads

Mini Review: This is a contemporary YA reimagining of Wuthering Heights. I've never read that book before (I know, I know!), but after reading this book I'm definitely more interested in reading it! If you're interested in reading this book because you love Wuthering Heights, give it a try! :)

I received an ARC of this book from the author.

Interview With Tiffany Brownlee!

Today I am happy to present an interview with Tiffany Brownlee! Ms. Brownlee's debut YA book, Wrong in All the Right Ways, releases tomorrow! Now here's the interview! :)

The bold font are the questions I asked, the regular font are her answers, and the bold italic font are my comments about her answers.

1. Would you please describe your book, Wrong in All the Right Ways, in seven words?

A swoon-worthy account of forbidden first loves. 

That's seven words, right? Right?? 

No...?

Hmm. Well, we're going to pretend that swoon-worthy is one word, so yeah...that's seven words :) 

2. What was the hardest part of writing your book? And what was the easiest part?

The hardest part of writing my book was going through the the revision/editing phase. You don't realize how many grammatical errors and inconsistency errors you have until you actually sit down and read every single word aloud. It was insane how many mistakes I had! But I learned so much about my craft during that process, and it made my book so much better, so I wouldn't trade those difficult days for anything in the world. The easiest part, believe it or not, was writing the first draft. I wrote it in 20 days. I know...TWENTY DAYS! Some days, when I look back on it, I'm not even sure how I did it while working a day job. Anyway, I'm amazed at how much of the original draft actually made the final cut. I thought most of it would change in the revision stage, but that wasn't the case. I mean, obviously some things changed, but it wasn't nearly as much as I imagined it would be.

3. Random question! What's your favorite Disney movie?

That's so hard! I love all-things Disney, but I'm gonna have to go with a more recent movie and choose Tangled. I LOVE Rapunzel and I totally have a crush on Flynn Rider (haha!) And don't even get me started on the floating lanterns scene. It makes me tear up every time. It's absolutely beautiful!

I love Tangled, too! :)

4. If you're able to talk about it, what are you working on now?

I can't say much, but right now, I'm working on a contemporary romance novel that touches on the subject of teenage homelessness. I know...it's not much to go on, but the details have to be kept hush-hush until further notice, so that's all I can say at the moment.

5. What are some books you've read recently and enjoyed? And what are some upcoming books you're looking forward to reading?

There are sooo many amazing books that I've read recently, but lately, I've been absolutely obsessed with Rachel Lynn Solomon's YOU'LL MISS ME WHEN I'M GONE and Farrah Penn's TWELVE STEPS TO NORMAL. These books are amazing, and I cannot stop raving about them! As for books I'm looking forward to reading, I am waiting very patiently for HEART OF THORNS by Bree Barton (out July 31st) and HERETICS ANONYMOUS by Katie Henry (out August 7th). I've heard so many great things about these two books, and I cant wait to dive into them!

Thank you so much to Ms. Brownlee for letting me interview her! :)

Author bio: Tiffany Brownlee is a graduate from Xavier University of Louisiana working as a middle-school English teacher in the New Orleans area. She has been writing stories since childhood and won her first creative writing award in second grade. Tiffany originally conceived of this novel as she was re-reading Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights. Wrong in All the Right Ways marks her debut. 

Here are a few links:

Her Website

Her Twitter
Her Facebook

Happy 4th of July!

I hope everyone has a fun, safe, and happy day! :)

Happy 4th of July!