Year: 2015

What I Did Instead of Changing My Ratings – Let’s Discuss

What I Did Instead of Changing My Ratings – Let’s Discuss

As most of you know, I was considering changing some of my older ratings, but after getting some feedback from my lovely blogging friends (that’s YOU!), I started to doubt my decision. First of all, I felt like it would be unfair to authors – especially Indie authors – who had referred to my reviews in the past. (And, sure, none of those big-time authors would notice if I changed my reviews, but then I […]

Posted April 25, 2015 in Let's Discuss / 47 Comments
That Time I Felt Like an Idiot in Front of a Favorite Author (AKA a Recap of the Neal Shusterman Signing)

That Time I Felt Like an Idiot in Front of a Favorite Author (AKA a Recap of the Neal Shusterman Signing)

Ever met an author and ended up feeling tongue-tied or just plain said the wrong thing? This has happened to me twice. The first was at BEA when I met a relatively popular author in line and couldn’t place her at all. She asked for my card, and I asked for hers, and I think she looked at me as if to say, You’re a blogger and you don’t know who I am? When she told […]

Posted April 24, 2015 in Book Events, Let's Discuss / 31 Comments
Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman – Review

Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman – Review

Challenger Deep is the type of book that you won’t forget long after you’ve finished reading it. This book sheds light on mental illness in a way I have never seen done before (at least not so thoroughly and realistically) – putting you directly into the mind of the mentally ill character and taking you on an enlightening, but also somewhat perplexing journey through his illness. Normally, I start my reviews with what I loved, […]

Posted April 21, 2015 in Reviews / 21 Comments
Things We Know by Heart by Jessi Kirby – 5 Star Review

Things We Know by Heart by Jessi Kirby – 5 Star Review

I’ve waited a long time to write this review because, I didn’t know how to describe my love for this book. Honestly, when you read the premise, it sounds like a standard story with no real surprises – and it was. I mean, I knew basically how this book was going to go. Girl loses boyfriend, meets boy who got boyfriend’s heart, doesn’t tell him, falls in love with him, he finds out and is […]

Posted April 20, 2015 in Reviews / 18 Comments
Sunday Post & Giveaways Galore – 4/19/15

Sunday Post & Giveaways Galore – 4/19/15

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~ It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on my blog and share news about what’s coming up in the week ahead. Last week on FYFA (and in my life): I decided to lower my Goodreads reading goal. When I started out the year, I knew that the 200 goal probably wouldn’t happen this year […]

Posted April 19, 2015 in Sunday Post / 23 Comments
Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke by Anne Blankman – Review & Giveaway

Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke by Anne Blankman – Review & Giveaway

Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke is the second installment in the Prisoner of Night and Fog series (a duology, I believe?). This book found Gretchen and David back in Germany, attempting to clear David’s name when he is accused of a murder. It soon becomes apparent that the murder is just part of a larger cover-up, and Gretchen and David hope to uncover the truth and ruin Hitler’s chance at leading Germany down a horrific […]

Posted April 18, 2015 in Giveaways (Ended), Reviews / 4 Comments
The Ark by Laura Liddell Nolen – Review & Giveaway

The Ark by Laura Liddell Nolen – Review & Giveaway

The Ark is an exciting new dystopian with lots of surprises. The story follows Char, who fights to be one of the few who make their way onto the Ark before the imminent destruction of Earth. The Ark is headed toward a distant planet, where the inhabitants plan to create a new civilization. But it doesn’t take long for Char to find out that a simple, peaceful future is not in the cards for her. […]

Posted April 17, 2015 in Giveaways (Ended), Reviews / 18 Comments
Why I’m (Maybe) Changing Some of My Ratings – Let’s Discuss

Why I’m (Maybe) Changing Some of My Ratings – Let’s Discuss

UPDATE: It’s been less than an hour since I posted this and I’m already totally second-guessing this decision, so please feel free to weigh in with your opinions. Is this the right thing to do? Or would I be better off just coming up with a 5+ stars rating for those all-time favorites (which I’m not sure I can do with my current rating system, but might be better if I can figure it out?). […]

Posted April 15, 2015 in Let's Discuss / 59 Comments
The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials Collector’s Edition Release! (Plus, a Review of The Maze Runner)

The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials Collector’s Edition Release! (Plus, a Review of The Maze Runner)

Today I’m reviewing The Maze Runner, which is included in the special collector’s edition that releases today. The collector’s edition also includes The Scorch Trials, but I haven’t finished that one yet, mostly because I had trouble prying the book out of my 12-year-old son’s hands (he literally hid it from me sometimes so that I couldn’t take it from him!). My review of The Scorch Trials half of the book will be coming in […]

Posted April 14, 2015 in Reviews / 17 Comments
Reunited by S.J. Pajonas – Review

Reunited by S.J. Pajonas – Review

***NOTE: This review is for the third book in a series and may contain spoilers for the first two books. Click here to read my review of Removed and here to read my review of Released.*** Reunited is the third book in Pajonas’s unique dystopian Nojiku series, and it is, without a doubt, the best installment so far! This book is a complete game changer for the series – Sanaa and the others have finally reached Yusei, but it’s nothing like they […]

Posted April 13, 2015 in Reviews / 4 Comments