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Saturday, November 29, 2014

Friday, November 28, 2014

Gift Guide: Middle Grade


Last year I posted a Gift Guide. This year, I'm going to do two posts, the 1st being Middle Grade, the 2nd being YA and Picture Books. All of the books mentioned in this post are one that I highly recommend to everyone! I hope you find a gift for a person on your list (Or a gift for yourself!)! :)

For the Band Geek...




For the Fairy Tale Fan...




For the person obsessed with New York...



For the Horse Fan...




For the person Who Loves Animals...




For the person who loves to laugh...





For the Star Wars Fan...




For the person who loves a hint of Magic...




For the Historical Fan...




For the Fantasy fan who wants the book to be a little different...




For the person who loves reading books in different countries...




For the person who loves castles and magic...



Did you a find a gift on here for a person on your list? Did you find a gift for yourself? :)

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Waiting on Wednesday: Lost in Rome

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine blog


This Wednesday I'm Waiting on: Lost in Rome by Cindy Callaghan

When Lucy heads to Rome for the summer, she is in for pizza, pasta, and a little amore in this M!X novel from the author of Lost in London.

Lucia “Lucy” Rossi thought she was going to be a camp counselor for the summer, but, thanks to a very fortunate twist, she ends up in Rome, Italy, helping out at her aunts restaurant, Amore Pizzeria. Lucy can't wait to see some ruins, eat all the gelato she can, and maybe say a few buongiornos to some cute Italian boys.

But Lucy arrives to Italian trouble. Her aunt is in danger of losing her business, thanks to a flashy new pizzeria down the road that is all style, but no substance. In order to try and save the shop, Lucy decides to employ a very unique version of matchmaking—making matches based on customers pizza preferences. Soon, word of the American matchmaker gets out, and it looks like the business might be saved! Or so she thought—until someone decides to try and sabotage the newfound success of Amore pizza. Can Lucy figure out who might be behind everything? Or will her family being saying ciao to Amore Pizzeria for good?
-summary and cover via Goodreads

This looks like fun! And isn't the cover of it darling?! :)

This book releases August 11th 2015 from Aladdin

Monday, November 24, 2014

Top Ten Books On My Winter TBR

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish blog


Top Ten Books On My Winter TBR


I usually try to do a mix between books that haven't released and books that have for these TBR list TTT, but as I was going through my TBR list, I realized that I wasn't going to do that this time. The majority of books on this list aren't released yet, but will be out over the next few months!

How to Outswim a Shark Without a Snorkel by Jess Keating
I love the first book (My review:) and am majorly looking forward to this next book! (And I love marine life, which makes me look forward to this one even more!) :)

All Fall Down by Ally Carter
Uh, it's an Ally Carter book, it kinda has to be on my list! (Have I mentioned I'm an fan of hers? I have?) ;)

The Conspiracy of Us by Maggie Hall
I was already looking forward to this book just based on the summary of it, then the cover was released and my excitement got kicked up even higher!

Breaking the Ice by Gail Nall
This looks like a fun Middle Grade book! :)

The Boy Next Door by Katie Van Ark
Another figure skating book! And this one looks like fun! :)

Love, Lucy by April Linder
Italy?! NEED. :)

Colonial Madness by Jo Whittemore
I love the premise of this book! :)

Ever After High: Once Upon a Time by Shannon Hale
I finished the main trilogy awhile ago and have been wanting to read these short stories about the characters ever since I read about it! :)

Ever After High: Next Top Villain by Suzanne Selfors
Excited to read more books set in that world! :)

Kimi Ni Todoke Vol. 20 by Karuho Shiina
This is honestly one of my favorite Manga series ever and I need this next book!

What books are on your Winter TBR list? :)

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Waiting on Wednesday: How to Outswim a Shark Without a Snorkel

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine blog


This Wednesday I'm Waiting on: How to Outswim a Shark Without a Snorkel by Jess Keating

Ana Wright's summer just got terrifying. She's finally getting used to living in a zoo (no, seriously—she lives with her family in an actual zoo), when she's assigned to work in the new shark tank. With her worst enemy. Forget about sharks! Ashley is the ultimate predator. And after Ana's favorite croc peed on Ashley's shoes, she's probably out for revenge.

This can't be good.

-summary from Goodreads

Love the first book (My review.) and am looking forward to this one a lot! :)


Monday, November 17, 2014

Top Ten Sequels I Can't Wait To Get

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish blog



Top Ten Sequels I Can't Wait To Get!


How to Outswim a Shark Without a Snorkel by Jess Keating (January, 2015)
The sequel to How to Outrun a Crocodile When Your Shoes Are Untied.


The Golden Specific by S. E. Grove (July, 2015)
The sequel to The Glass Sentence.


The Penderwicks in Spring by Jeanne Birdsall (March, 2015)
The fourth Penderwicks book.


Kimi Ni Todoke Vol. 20 by Karuho Shiina (December, 2014)
The 20th volume in the Manga series.

The books I'm listing below don't have covers yet, and one doesn't even have a title, but I'm looking forward to them anyway! :)

Edit: At the time of writing this post, two of the books below didn't have covers then. I've fixed it now and added the covers now, too! :)


Revenge, Ice Cream, and Other Things Best Served Cold by Katie Finn (2015)
The sequel to Broken Hearts, Fences, and Other Things to Mend.

Delilah Dirk and the Blades of England by Tony Cliff (2014)
The sequel to Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant.


The Stars of Summer by Tara Dairman (2015)
The sequel to All Four Stars.

Do you want to read any of these? :)

Review: At Your Service

Review: At Your Service by Jen Malone

Thirteen-year-old Chloe Turner wants nothing more than to follow in Dad’s footsteps as a respected concierge in a posh NYC hotel. After all, living at a hotel is heaven, and perks like free concert tickets and all-access passes to boutiques, restaurants, and attractions aren’t too shabby either.

When the spoiled brat child of an important guest is only placated by some quick thinking on Chloe’s part, Chloe is awarded the role of Junior Concierge. But she might be in over her head when tasked with tending to the every whim of three royal guests: a twelve-year-old princess who can’t stand Chloe, a cute fourteen year-old prince(!), and their ten-year-old sister, who has a nasty knack for getting herself lost. After the youngest princess slips Chloe’s care, Chloe and the remaining royals must embark on an event-filled hunt for her through NYC’s best tourist spots. 

-summary and cover via Goodreads

Plot: Love! The plot was fun! I loved getting to see New York through the eyes of Chloe! The fun facts she mentioned during the book were fun and entertaining (Espcially the ones about the Rockettes!)! The hotel was neat! The easiest word to describe this book really is fun!

Characters: I think Chloe was a good main character, and it was fun to read about her goal to be a world-class concierge, just like her Dad! Her friend, Paisley was entertaining. The Prince and Princesses were fun!

The cover: Love how bright it is! :)

Overall: Highly recommend this book! And I would love to read a sequel to it! If you love reading about New York, love Middle Grade books, or just want an entertaining book, I definitely think you need to try it!

I bought this book.

Monday, November 10, 2014

Mini Review: The Only Thing Worse Than Witches

Mini Review: The Only Thing Worse Than Witches by Lauren Magaziner

Roald Dahl meets Eva Ibbotson in this hilarious middle grade debut perfect for reading aloud

Rupert Campbell is fascinated by the witches who live nearby. He dreams of broomstick tours and souvenir potions, but Rupert’s mother forbids him from even looking at that part of town. The closest he can get to a witchy experience is sitting in class with his awful teacher Mrs. Frabbleknacker, who smells like bellybutton lint and forbids Rupert’s classmates from talking to each other before, during, and after class. So when he sees an ad to become a witch’s apprentice, Rupert simply can’t resist applying.

But Witchling Two isn’t exactly what Rupert expected. With a hankering for lollipops and the magical aptitude of a toad, she needs all the help she can get to pass her exams and become a full-fledged witch. She’s determined to help Rupert stand up to dreadful Mrs. Frabbleknacker too, but the witchling's magic will be as useful as a clump of seaweed unless Rupert can figure out a way to help her improve her spellcasting—and fast!

-summary and cover via Goodreads

Plot: Fun! The town that the book takes place in is wonderful sounding! And the humor is fun!

Characters: My favorite character is Witchling Two, though all the characters were entetaining!

The cover: LOVE! Very pretty and fun!

Overall: A delightful book that I think you all need to try! Funny and entertaining, with wonderful characters in it!

I checked this book out from my library.

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Waiting on Wednesday: The Conspiracy of Us

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine blog




This Wednesday I'm Waiting on: The Conspiracy of Us by Maggie Hall

To fight her destiny as the missing heir to a powerful and dangerous secret society, sixteen-year-old Avery West must solve an ancient puzzle in a deadly race across Europe. Forbidden love and code-breaking, masked balls and explosions, destiny and dark secrets collide in this romantic thriller, in the vein of a YA DaVinci Code.

Avery West's newfound family can shut down Prada at the Champs-Elysees when they want to shop in peace, and can just as easily order a bombing when they want to start a war. 

They are part of a powerful and dangerous secret society called the Circle of Twelve, and Avery is their missing heir. If they discover who she is, some of them will want to use her as a pawn. Some will want her dead. 

To thwart their plans, Avery must follow a trail of clues from the landmarks of Paris to the back alleys of Istanbul and through a web of ancient legends and lies. And unless she can stay one step ahead of beautiful, volatile Stellan, who knows she’s more than she seems, and can decide whether to trust mysterious, magnetic Jack, she may be doomed after all.

-summary and cover via Goodreads

I was already looking forward to this book and now after seeing the cover of it I'm looking forward to it even more! :)

Monday, November 3, 2014

Top Ten Books I Want To Reread

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish blog


All of the books listed below are favorites, and while I don't know when I'm going to get to reread them, I want to! :)

By the way, do you all like the graphic this week? It was fun to make! :)

Top Ten Seven Books I Want To Reread


































Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce

Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George

Broken Hearts, Fences, and Other Things to Mend by Katie Finn

The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall

The Mark of the Dragonfly by Jaleigh Johnson

Kimi Ni Todoke Manga by Karuho Shiina

A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Llyod

Have you read these books? Do you want to? :)

Mini Review: I Heart Band #3


Mini Review: This series gets better with each book! They're all enjoyable, darling, reads, with a likeable protaganist, and wonderful supporting characters, too! (Like Owen!) This is my new favorite in this series of books, and I look forward to the next (And I think final?) book! :)

I checked this book out from my library.






Author Website: http://michelleschusterman.com/
Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap