Monday, November 30, 2015

Bookish Lifestyle Digest: November 2015

Can you guys believe November is already over? Crazy, crazy. You may notice a bit of a different layout this month (next month will be a bit different too), but you gotta mix things up every once in a while to keep things fresh!

We hope all our US readers had an amazing Thanksgiving and that everyone had a great month overall! Something special things that happened to us this month:
  • Andrea celebrated her first wedding anniversary! It's crazy to think she's already been married for a year. Time really does go way too fast.
  • Jessica participated in NaNoWriMo and while she didn't reach her goal of 50,000 words she did write 20,000 and that's not too shabby! She started, which is a big deal, and we couldn't be more proud of her!
  • Evie's Society 6 and RedBubble stores really took off this month! Be sure to check out both sites for awesome bookish goodies!


Updates for 2015 TBR Pile Challenge:

Book Reviews

 
5/5
4/5
3/5
2/5
DNF
 
Product Reviews
Promotional Posts

 
Most Popular
Book Review
Most Popular
Product Review
http://evie-bookish.blogspot.com/2015/11/throwback-thursday-review-boundless-by.html

http://evie-bookish.blogspot.com/2015/11/beauty-product-review-milagrous-anti.html

Tell us - what went on in your month?! What were some of your favorite books this month? Favorite posts from either your blog or others? What are some new (or old) and noteworthy things we should know about? Be sure to leave a link!

Dorothy Must Die Read Along: 2nd Discussion


Hi guys! Welcome to the 1st discussion for our July Read Along: Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige! Huge thank you to everyone who joined us and read chapters 1-24 a few weeks ago and to those who are here to discuss chapters 24-44!

About the Book

Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige
Series: Dorothy Must Die #1
Published: April 1, 2014 by HarperCollins
Genre: Young Adult, Retelling, Fantasy
Find it: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound
I didn't ask for any of this. I didn't ask to be some kind of hero.

But when your whole life gets swept up by a tornado - taking you with it - you have no choice but to go along, you know?

Sure, I've read the books. I've seen the movies. I know the song about the rainbow and the happy little bluebirds. But I never expected Oz to look like this. To be a place where Good Witches can't be trusted, Wicked Witches may just be the good guys, and winged monkeys can be executed for acts of rebellion. There's still a yellow brick road - but even that's crumbling.

What happened? Dorothy.

They say she found a way to come back to Oz. They say she seized power and the power went to her head. And now no one is safe.

My name is Amy Gumm - and I'm the other girl from Kansas.

I've been recruited by the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked.

I've been trained to fight.

And I have a mission.

Discussion Questions

1) Are you a fan of The Wizard of Oz? Who is your favorite character and how are you taking Danielle's interpretation of them?

2) Were you shocked when it came to Pete / Ozma? Or did you see that coming?

3) What was the most shocking thing from Dorothy Must Die?

4) I love that Amy not only has to face Dorothy, but also her "friends." How do you think that's going to be handled in the next two books?

5) Are you going to continue with this series?

Please leave your answers in the comment section below and don't forget to respond to other comments so we can have an amazing discussion! We'll be checking in and responding as well  :)

Our Favorite Quotes
I held Star close before I departed.

"If I don’t come back," I told her, "find a way to give everyone the plague."
"Even the most unbreakable of spells are meant to be broken. You just need to know a thing or two"
I kept my antennae up for intel, but the only subject of conversation was Dorothy. Which should have been a good thing, considering that she was the one I was really here to learn about. Unfortunately, no one was sharing any useful information. It was all about how beautiful Dorothy was, or how kind she was, or how lucky we were to be working for the greatest person in all of Oz.

It was weird. They were like a creepy, overeager maid sorority

2016 TBR Pile Information

Check back tomorrow for a chance to sign up for our 2016 challenge! We've got a few changes from this year, but it should still be a lot of fun and help you tackle your ever-growing TBR pile!

Sunday, November 29, 2015

Book Review: Winter by Marissa Meyer

 
Series:
The Lunar Chronicles #4
Genre:
Young Adult, Romance, Science Fiction, Retelling, Fairytale
Publication.Date:November 10, 2015
Pages:823 (hardcover)
Published By:  Feiwel and Friends
Website:Marissa Meyer

Winter on Goodreads
My review copy:
Bought

Where to get:

http://www.amazon.com/Wicked-Folly-Sharon-Biggs-Waller/dp/0670014680 http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-mad-wicked-folly-sharon-biggs-waller/1115700003?ean=9780670014682 http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780670014682



Princess Winter is admired by the Lunar people for her grace and kindness, and despite the scars that mar her face, her beauty is said to be even more breathtaking than that of her stepmother, Queen Levana.

Winter despises her stepmother, and knows Levana won’t approve of her feelings for her childhood friend—the handsome palace guard, Jacin. But Winter isn’t as weak as Levana believes her to be and she’s been undermining her stepmother’s wishes for years. Together with the cyborg mechanic, Cinder, and her allies, Winter might even have the power to launch a revolution and win a war that’s been raging for far too long.

Can Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter defeat Levana and find their happily ever afters?

(Goodreads)


"I'm sorry," said Scarlet, her voice teetering with exhaustion. "It's just . . . I smell so awful, I can hardly stand to be around myself right now, so I can't imagine what it's like for you and your sense of sm-"

Batting her hand away, Wolf dug his fingers into Scarlet's hair and crushed his mouth against her. Her protests died with a muffled gasp."

This time, she did collapse, her legs unable to hold her a second longer. Wolf fell with her, dropping to his knees to break Scarlet's fall and cradling her body against his.
"My point is that I am going to figure this out, like I always do. First, we're going to find a way to get into Artemisisa. we're going to find Cress and rescue Cinder and Wolf. We're going to overthrow Levant, and by the stars above, we are going to make Cinder a queen so she can pay us a lot of money from her royal coffers and we can all retire very rich and very alive, got it?"

Winter started to clap. "Brilliant speech. Such gumption and bravado."

"And yet strangely lacking in any sort of actual strategy," said Scarlet.

"Oh, good, I'm glad you noticed that too," said Iko.
Thorne's voice pitched high in imitation of the queen. "The imposter of my beloved niece is vanquished . . . Let us put this messiness behind us while we got forward with the coronations . . . I am a psychotic, power-hungry nut basket and my breath smells really bad under this veil."


You guys . . . it's over. I can't believe that it's over. The Lunar Chronicles has ended - unless you count the mini epilogue in Stars Above, where there's going to be a wedding! I'm not sure who I'm hoping is getting married more. Do you have high hopes for one pairing over another?

The Lunar Chronicles has been an excellect series and while I was sad to see it go, it also felt like time. And with a 800 page book, Marissa could have easily split it into two, but at the same time there was so much going on, I don't know where she would have split it up. (Take note, Hollywood. Series ending YA adaptions don't always need a part 1 and part 2. *cough*Everything after Harry Potter*cough*)

I read Winter over the course have two days, because yes, that good. There are many intense moments that I had me wide eyed and gasping. Times when I flipped the pages because I had to know what was going to happen, and chapters I reread because the feels were just too strong to ignore.

Maybe because it's the impeding doom and possible death, but they just laid it all on the table. Characters became who they were always meant to be (looking at you, Cress) and others became stronger versions of who they already were. I know characters typically grow throughout a series, but we haven't spent the entire series with all of them and even those characters who have only been recently introduced go through crazy development.

I was fortunate enough to find a co-worker who is as much in love with this series that I am and we fangirled over every moment together. And then discussed how much better at being an evil queen than Levana we'd be, but that's a whole different topic of discussion.

Winter is that quintessential series ending. There's no lagging, no unnecessary drama, everything serves a purpose, and all lose ends are tied up. If you were waiting for Winter to come out to read this series (I know there are people out there who only read completed series), wait no longer. Put these books on your Christmas list and binge out over the holiday season. You'll benefit from the back to back read - I myself got lost in Recaptains prior to release date - and find yourself a favorite new series to love and adore.

And then come back here and we can gush over the perfection that is Scarlet and Wolf.

Saturday, November 28, 2015

Beauty Product Review: Milagrous Anti Aging Serum


This Anti Wrinkle Serum really works. It smooths out your skin visibly (even in just a quick test-run, when you apply a bit to the skin on your hand, you will notice the blurring effect in the area).

It's a serum, not a cream, and while some serums have a more jelly-like consistency, this is a typical "watery" kind. Which is perfectly normal and has nothing to do with the ingredients not being good enough. In fact, it only means that the Carbomer content is on the lower side (it's a fluffy powder used as gels in cosmetics and personal care products to achieve desired consistency and texture.

If you look at the list of ingredients, you'll see that it has some fabulous ones. Including Aloe, Hyaluronic Acid (improves your skin’s moisture content and at the same time strengthens skin’s barrier), Vitamin C, Vitamin E (Tocopheryl acetate), Witch Hazel extract (contains antioxidant polyphenolic compounds that protects skin from sunburn and photo-aging), Ferulic acid (anti-oxidant), Jojoba (skin elasticity and moisture), and more. These are all organic, naturally derived ingredients. The serum is made in USA, it's cruelty free, vegan friendly and contains no harmful substances (100% paraben, alcohol, oil free).

I've been applying this twice a day, before cream/moisturizer, and have noticed improvement in the look and feel of my skin. Like I said, it's definitely smoothing and moisturizing. It provides your skin with a boost of nutrition and helps retain moisture for as long as 12 h. I noticed my skin feels very soft and moist in the morning (if I apply the serum before going to bed). I haven't been using it long enough to testify about the anti-wrinkle properties, but with ingredients like these, I am pretty confident the results will be showing soon. The skin under my eyes and on my neck definitely feels tighter and more plump already.

Overall, this is a great product. The packaging could be improved a bit (the printing on the label is a bit blurry), but in the end, it's what's in the container that counts.

Disclaimer: I received a FREE sample of the product for review consideration. All thoughts and opinion are my own.


About Milagrous Anti Aging Serum:
  • Is this good for my skin? What if I have sensitive skin? We love our customers. That's why we carefully blended this natural anti-aging serum from hand-picked organic ingredients. It is also suitable for every vegan. To protect your skin from aggressive chemicals, it is paraben, oil and alcohol free, has no fragrances or fillers. Full of botanical and naturally derived ingredients and never tested on animals.
  • The serum makes their skin soft, smooth and hydrated. The texture and also skin tone gets much smoother. The difference is so fast, visible and dramatic that people WILL ask you about your secret for your skin care.
  • Anti-wrinkle serum will dramatically remove fine lines and improve your skin glow. Contains most potent and stable 20 % Vitamin C + E and Hyaluronic Acid to neutralize free radicals and plump your skin. It will leave your skin youthful and it will dramatically stimulate production of collagen. This will result in a shocking improvement radiance of your face skin.
  • Our serum is packaged in a special airless bottle ensuring maximum protection from oxygen and sunlight. Our revolutionary bottle ensures that your precious serum won't oxidate and you will enjoy the FULL benefits of every last drop.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00Q6OS4Y8?ref_=pdp_new_dp_review 

Thursday, November 26, 2015

Throwback Thursday Review: Boundless by Cynthia Hand

Some of you may know that I originally had my own blog, Beauty but a Funny Girl, prior to joining Bookish (now Bookish Lifestyle). I was thinking the other day about all those reviews I left behind when I transferred and thought they should get some love too - no matter how badly written and newbie they come off! So I present to you: Throwback Thursday Reviews! Every once in a while I'll post an old review from Beauty but a Funny Girl, unedited in terms of content, with the exception of any spelling or grammatical mistakes. It's definitely going to be fun and interesting to see how my tastes and writing style have changed over the years!


Series:
Unearthly #3
Genre:
Young Adult, Romance, Angels, Paranormal
Publication.Date:January 22, 2013
Pages:438 (ARC)
Published By:  HarperTeen
Website:Cynthia Hand 

Radiant on Goodreads
My review copy:
Won

Where to get:
 http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ready-player-one-ernest-cline/1100055635?ean=9780307887443 http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780061996207



The past few years have held more surprises than part-angel Clara Gardner could ever have anticipated. Yet from the dizzying highs of first love, to the agonizing low of losing someone close to her, the one thing she can no longer deny is that she was never meant to live a normal life.

Since discovering the special role she plays among the other angel-bloods, Clara has been determined to protect Tucker Avery from the evil that follows her . . . even if it means breaking both their hearts. Leaving town seems like the best option, so she’s headed back to California - and so is Christian Prescott, the irresistible boy from the vision that started her on this journey in the first place.

As Clara makes her way in a world that is frighteningly new, she discovers that the fallen angel who attacked her is watching her every move. And he’s not the only one. . . . With the battle against the Black Wings looming, Clara knows she must finally fulfill her destiny. But it won’t come without sacrifices and betrayal.

In the riveting finale of the Unearthly series, Clara must decide her fate once and for all.

(Goodreads)

Originally posted May 18, 2013 on Beauty but a Funny Girl

t's all over now. That's it. No mas. The end. But it was a good ending and I can't complain about that.

I have been putting off this book for quite sometime. Not because I didn't want to read it, but because I didn't want it to end. Now that I've read it, I'm content. Hand handled (ha!) things very well and I think she might have just about pleased everybody. Well, I'm sure there are some Team Tucker or Team Christian (I say both because I'm not giving away who are dear Clara ends up with), who are not happy, but I see the reasoning and it's perfect. That's all I'll say about that aspect of our triangle.

One of the aspects I really liked was that Clara was on her own for part of the novel. Angela was doing her own issues, Christian was mad at her, Tucker was mad at her, and Jeffery was Jeffery. I don't mean I liked this in a bad way, but it was nice to see her stand on her own two feet and become somebody she could rely on.

Her dad also played a bigger part in this novel as well. He trained Clara and Christian on how to fight using a glory sword, which I thought was pretty cool. I kind of want to learn to sword fight, too. In fact, sometimes I wish we still lived in an age where people walked around carrying swords. Now that I think about it, never mind. Moving on... Of course, when her dad said she had some trials ahead of her and he wouldn't be able to interfere, I knew this happy story was not going to stay happy for very long. And it did not.

Surprisingly, well not so much actually, Samjeeza wasn't our big bad. What Clara gave to him at the end of book two was perhaps one of the smartest moves she has ever made. That being said, I liked the big bad and his minions. Surprises at every turn, folks!

And one of my favorite moments was near the near the end of the book when Clara is at her "thinking spot" and she gets a surprise visitor. So awesome.

I don't know what I can say about the last very chapters of this book except that I cried, I cheered, I frowned, I grinned, I ran through so many different and conflicting emotions that I'm pretty sure my boyfriend was close to having me committed.

I can't say enough good things about this book. It was the perfect ending and the epilogue wasn't cheese - unlike some series endings I can think of. If you did what I did - put of the inevitable - stop, pick up Boundless and just read it.

Sunday, November 22, 2015

Book Review: Lady Thief by A.C. Gaughen


Series:
Scarlet #2
Genre:
Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Retelling, Romance
Publication.Date:February 11, 2014
Pages:320 (paperback)
Published By:  Bloomsbury Childrens Books
Website:A.C. Gaughen

Lady Thief on Goodreads
My review copy:
Personal Library

Where to get:

http://www.amazon.com/Lady-Thief-Scarlet-C-Gaughen/dp/0802736149/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1&qid=1430920681 http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lady-thief-ac-gaughen/1115438167?ean=9780802737885 http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780802736147




Scarlet’s true identity has been revealed, but her future is uncertain. Her forced marriage to Lord Gisbourne threatens Robin and Scarlet’s love, and as the royal court descends upon Nottingham for the appointment of a new Sheriff, the people of Nottingham hope that Prince John will appoint their beloved Robin Hood. But Prince John has different plans for Nottingham that revolve around a fateful secret from Scarlet’s past even she isn’t yet aware of. Forced to participate at court alongside her ruthless husband, Scarlet must bide her time and act the part of a noblewoman—a worthy sacrifice if it means helping Robin’s cause and a chance at a future with the man she loves. With a fresh line of intrigue and as much passion as ever, the next chapter in Scarlet’s tale will have readers talking once again.

(Goodreads)


Much stepped forward, looking into my eyes and I looked down. "Scar," he said soft. "Scar," he repeated, until I looked at him. "You learned to use your hands to fight for you. And you learned to trust the band to be at your back. You may have even learned to let Rob save you. But you don't need a damn one of those things. Your power, your great gift, is that you never give up. When something fails you make a new plan, and another, and another. You never accept defeat. You never give up."
"I won't perform for you," I said, pushing the words careful through my teeth. God knows they weren't natural to on my mouth. "Perhaps you think me a fool, and who could blame you, as I sit here and listen to you call me a wild animal, a peasant. But I am wise enough to know when my words will only be met with derision and scorn." I looked to the side a small bit. "So no, my prince, I would prefer not to regale you."

My husband's hand settled on mine, his fingers clawing and cutting. I didn't much dare to look at him, to breathe.
A big body stepped in front of my path, and a warm arm came around my shoulders. "Need a hand?" Much asked, keeping me behind the shield of John's back.

He raised his stump with a grin and I frowned. "Terrible humor, Much."

He shrugged, his grin still fixed. "Nobody thinks I'm very funny."


While dealing with repercussions of Scarlet, namely Rob's night terrors, the band learns that Gisbourne is on his way back to Nottingham, along with Prince John and the royal court. Gisbourne, being the cunningly evil man that he his, offers Scarlet a deal. If she stays with him while Prince John is in Nottingham and act the part of a lady and dutiful wife he will give her an annulment. After much consideration, Scarlet accepts his terms and sets in motion events that will lead to the revelation of a secret not even she could have prepared herself for.

We see a lot of our favorite characters that we met in Scarlet, along with a few new additions: Prince John, Princess Isabel, and (my favorite) Queen Eleanor. Yes, Eleanor of Aquitaine. I love what A.C. has done with these real life characters. She's turns Eleanor, an amazing woman of history, into an integral figure in Scarlet's life and brings her alive.

Scarlet is still a strong figure, but what I also like about her is she comes off genuine. She breaks down throughout the novel, whether through fear or lack of hope, but pulls herself together to do what is right both for her and the people of Nottingham. She isn't a perpetually strong and holier than thou character, she has moments of weakness but also has moments of tremendous strength, all of which adds up to a rather relateable individual.

And the romance! Ugh, I thought Scarlet gave me feels, but this . . . you guys. If you didn't ship Rob and Scarlet before you'll definitely join that bandwagon while reading Lady Thief. Such. Feels. These two genuinely care about one another and they're fighting for a chance to be truly happy. I cannot tell you how much I am rooting for these two crazy kids to find that happily ever after. Just one more book to go, kids!

The language can be a bit tricky for some. Scarlet doesn't speak eloquently, but it's quick and easy to get used to. Within a chapter or two, you won't even realize the grammar mistakes and the words will just flow like normal.

A.C. likes to kick us where it hurts - but it hurts so good! - so the ending is naturally a cliffhanger. And it's a biggie. A fact I both love and hate her for. Luckily, the paperback had a sneak peek of Lion Heart and I got a nice little fix before the long-long wait of its paperback release and I've been sated. For the time being anyway. (You guys know how nuts I am about reading a series in the same format regardless of release date and cliffhangers.)


Saturday, November 21, 2015

Beauty Review: Lorac POREfectionFoundation


I have to admit, I am overall not very happy with this foundation.

The coverage is good, but the foundation just won't "stick" to the skin, even when applied on top of face primers. It slides right off and makes my face greasy. I hate the feeling! I can't wear sunglasses, because if I do, in the spots where they come in contact with my skin, the foundation just gets erased. I tried setting it with Derma Blend and other setting powders, but it didn't help at all.

On top of that, it settles in creases and makes my fine lines and pores WAY more visible. And I don't even visible wrinkles at all. When I wear this foundation, little imperfections seem to stand out.

The consistency is rather thick and creamy, so it's not easy to apply this. Using a brush will leave streaks as the foundation does not blend well, and using a sponge will result in uneven coverage.

Not very happy that I spent so much money on a product that works way worse than drugstore foundation. If you're looking for something to minimize your pores, I suggest using Benefit Porefessional and Neutrogena Healthy Skin foundation.

Have you used it this product yourself? What did you think?? Let me know in the comments below!




About Lorac POREfectionFoundation:


Perfect and protect with POREfection Foundation. This oil, paraben and fragrance free formula is infused with anti-aging antioxidants of vitamins A & E, olive leaf extract, lemon fruit extract and papaya fruit extract to help soothe, nourish and rejuvenate while SPF 20 provides protection from UVA/UVB rays to help keep skin healthy, youthful and radiant. Get a poreless-looking, silky-smooth finish and achieve complexion POREfection with LORAC.

POREfection Foundation provides medium to full coverage and is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin.

Try the 4-step system to create Complexion POREfection:
Step 1: POREfection Mattifying Face Primer.
Step 2: POREfection Foundation.
Step 3: POREfection Baked Perfecting Powder.
Step 4: POREfection Concealer
Lorac Porefectionhttp://carolshaw.la/http://www.facebook.com/LORACcosmetics http://instagram.com/loraccosmetics


Thursday, November 19, 2015

Fantastic Fives Blog Tour - Interview with Evie and Giveaway!



Hi guys! Today, I am honored and excited to be one of the stops on the awesome Fantastic Fives blog tour! So many amazing, well known and well loved blogs are celebrating their 5th birthdays this year, and so all of us have come together to celebrate! Bookish Lifestyle has turned 5 in May this year, but I never actually got a chance to put together a proper celebration, so I was very excited to join this awesome tour! And just look at the schedule - what a fantastic company we are in! :) 

Check out the interview and be sure to enter the giveaway I have put together just for you! :) 

Interview:


1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I'm Evie :) I was born in Poland and have lived there for 20-something years, until one day I met the love of my life who is now my husband of 7 years. I moved to Canada almost 7 years ago and have lived in Toronto, London (Ontario), Vancouver, and (currently) Buffalo, NY.

I have a 21 months old daughter, Tori and Sheltie dog, Wilson. I am addicted to coffee and chocolate. I'm a dedicated couch potato, obsessed with Supernatural, The Walking Dead and Bates Motel. I occasionally cry while watching The Voice.



2. How did you get started blogging?

I was blogging on and off for years before book blogging, but these were either travel blogs or just personal rambling blogs and they always lived rather shortly. After moving to Canada, to live with my husband (at that time still fiance), I started reading books in English. I discovered Twilight and then The Chaos Walking Trilogy, and pretty much got sucked into the world of YA! I was so excited, so freakishly pumped, I needed an outlet (oddly enough, my husband didn't want to listen about Edward and Jacob and how Todd Hewitt was yelling VIOLA, huh). That's why I started a blog. It was only for me, at the beginning at least. To keep track of my thoughts and feelings. But then people actually started reading it and I started getting comments and I discovered this AMAZING book blogging community, where I felt completely and utterly at HOME.

And so I stayed ^____^ (you are never getting rid of me, HA!)

3. How did you pick the name for your blog?

Bookish Lifestyle was originally Bookish, we decided to expand the name to LIFESTYLE, because we wanted to post about more than books now. There's really no interesting story here, nor are there any funny anecdotes I could share. I wasn't particularly inventive, I just wanted to get started, so I picked the first thing that came to my mind.

4. If you could go back in time and tell your newbie blogger self 1 thing what would it be?

THINK a little about that blog name, and for eff sake don't put your name in the actual web address. That is just stupid.

5. What have you learned in your 5 years of blogging?

- Be yourself and blog however you want. There is no right or wrong way of blogging, as long as you're genuine and happy with what you're doing. You want to review - review. You want to post memes - do that. Don't let anyone tell you what YOU SHOULD BE posting, or writing, or thinking. Be yourself.

- If it's numbers you're after, learn to utilize social media. Twitter and Instagram are important for extra exposure and they will help attract new visitors and boost up your page views! But also, commenting and tweeting, liking and sharing is good for the soul - you'll make friends!

- Don't ever copy/plagiarize. Even small things, small inspirations, can come back to bite you in the bum.

6. What was the first ARC or book you ever received from a publisher?

- It was a package I got from Simon & Schuster Canada with Fury by Elizabeth Miles, Witchlanders by Lena Coakley and 3 other books I can't even remember the names of anymore!

7. When you’re not reading or blogging, what can we find you doing?

I'm running after my almost 2-years old daughter or designing stuff. I have two bookish stores (RedBubble and Society6) and I do occasional blog designs on the side. I also enjoy talking books on Instagram - there's an awesome book gramming community that I find so lovely and welcoming, I just ADORE all of the people on there!

The Fives: (and yes, you can ONLY have 5! *muwhahahah*)

Five Favorite Books
-Chaos Walking Trilogy by Patrick Ness
-Vicious by V.E.Schwab
-anything Stephen King
-Mara Dyer trilogy
-the 5th Wave series

Five Favorite Book Boyfriends
- Todd Hewitt (Chaos Walking)
- Noah Shaw (Mara Dyer)
- Warner (Shatter Me)
- Phoenix (Embrace series)

Five Favorite Book Quotes

- Books Are A Uniquely Portable Magic
- She Is Too Fond Of Books and it has Turned Her Brain
- Why can't people just sit and read books and be nice to each other?
- What is normal? Normal is only ordinary; mediocre. Life belongs to the rare, exceptional individual who dares to be different.
- God grant me the SERENITY to accept what I cannot change the TENACITY to change what I may and the GOOD LUCK not to f*** up too often”

Five Blogging Tips For New Bloggers

- Try to post at least 4-5 times per week to attract more traffic!
- Tweet and share your posts on Facebook for more exposure!
- Keep your blog clean and pleasant to read - a good design can really do magic!
- Do what you enjoy doing and don't stress over numbers and statistics, it will all come in good time!
- SOCIALIZE!

Five Blogs You Want The World To Know About

God, really?! ONLY 5?!

Blogs I currently visit most often:

- Supernatural Snark
- Candace's Book Blog
- Me Myshelf and I

but there is a TON more that I love and stalk!!

Giveaway:


Win a Pillow / T-Shirt / Mug / Tote Bag of choice from my Society 6 store!
International / Ends 12/26
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Throwback Thursday Review: Radiant by Cynthia Hand

Some of you may know that I originally had my own blog, Beauty but a Funny Girl, prior to joining Bookish (now Bookish Lifestyle). I was thinking the other day about all those reviews I left behind when I transferred and thought they should get some love too - no matter how badly written and newbie they come off! So I present to you: Throwback Thursday Reviews! Every once in a while I'll post an old review from Beauty but a Funny Girl, unedited in terms of content, with the exception of any spelling or grammatical mistakes. It's definitely going to be fun and interesting to see how my tastes and writing style have changed over the years!


Series:
Unearthly #2.5
Genre:
Young Adult, Romance, Angels, Paranormal
Publication.Date:December 4, 2012
Pages:100 (Kindle)
Published By:  HarperTeen
Website:Cynthia Hand 

Radiant on Goodreads
My review copy:
Borrowed from the library

Where to get:
 http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ready-player-one-ernest-cline/1100055635?ean=9780307887443 



From New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Hand comes a riveting original novella (available only as an ebook) set in the world of the Unearthly series.

Clara is desperate to get away—from the memories that haunt her in Wyoming and the visions of a future she isn't ready to face—and spending the summer in Italy with her best friend, Angela, should be the perfect escape. . . .

For as long as she can remember, Angela has been told that love is dangerous, that she must always guard her heart. But when she met a mysterious guy in Italy two years ago she was determined to be with him, no matter the costs. Now she must decide whether she can trust Clara with her secret, or if telling her the truth will risk everything she cares about.

Alternating between Angela and Clara's perspectives, Radiant chronicles the unforgettable summer that will test the bounds of their friendship and change their lives forever.

(Goodreads)

Originally posted March 9, 2013 on Beauty but a Funny Girl

Not. Long. Enough.

While it was a little tricky to be in Angela’s POV (mostly because I’m so used to the “I”s being Clara and not the “she”s), I really liked that we got to see it. It was different seeing things from Angela, because we got to learn more about her as a character. How alone she was not knowing any other angel and learning everything for herself.

And that girl has some secrets. I completely understand where Clara is coming from when she states that Angela expects Clara to share everything, and gets pissed when she doesn’t, but Angela is allowed to keep secrets. Wasn’t her second rule of Angel Club “no secrets?”

Anyway, this story is much more Angela-centered than Clara-centered, which was nice as well. And when we find out whom Angela’s Italian boyfriend is… WHOA! Talk about a dropped bomb. I can see why Clara would be so upset.

But the end, oh goodness. Clara leaves us with an ominous and foreboding line. I turned that page and uttered a sign of frustration when I realized it was the end of the book. Not cool, Cythina. Not cool.

You don’t HAVE to read this book to keep up with the series, but I highly recommend doing so. I have yet to read Boundless, but I feel like knowing this “side story” will be very insightful for the final installment of this series. Besides, it’s 100-pages and I took me about 45 minutes to read it. 

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