Saturday, April 30, 2016

Flawless: A Pretty Little Liars Novel by Sara Shepard

Hey Everyone! So i literally read all day today! I am a little hungover from how much I read! I finished Flawless: A Pretty Little Liars Novel by Sara Shepard and OH. MY. GOSH! These books keep getting better and better. The last book ended with a sinister text from the A. All the girls loked at their phones in fear and read
"I'm still here bitches, and I know everything- A"
When you end a book with this, the next book is haunting you to begin reading and it started exactly where the first book left off...
~Emily, Poor naive Emily. Her family is very old fashioned and Emily is being threatened by her ex boyfriend Ben. He is about to spill a big secret that Emily is trying to figure out still and going on a date with another boy maybe her only answer. The date turns ugly on a rainy evening, the night of the big charity even, The Foxy and Emily fears for her life.
~Spencer, she and Wren were caught red handed kissing by her sister Melissa and the entire family wants nothing to do with her. Feel alone and overwhelmed Spencer begins sneaking off to Philadelphia to see Wren and ends up giving up more of herself than she bargained for. On top of all that not only does she steal Melissa's boyfriend but also something else, its not as valuable but could cost her everything. The same night of The Foxy, Spencer goes with her biggest competition Andrew. He thinks there is Chemistry, Spencer is using him to cover up her feelings for Wren.
~Aria, the girl who falls for her teacher has been harboring a secret that could end her family. Aria knows her dad is seeing one of his students as well and one afternoon while out with her Brother Mike, they happen to see Byron and Merideth and Mike begins to crumble. Feeling like she has to keep her family together, Aria seeks comfort in a sweet Rosewood boy named Sean, but Sean happens to be a little to close to home...
~Hanna, dealing with her break up with Sean and her community service for stealing his car, she begins to fall apart. Her dad, who she hasn't spoken with in years is back in the picture. Little did Hanna know he would be coming back with two new girls who have stolen his heart and taken Hanna's place. She begins to bring back bad habits that Ali taught her and lying to her friends and family....
This series is sinfully fantastic! I never thought in a million years that I would find it entertaining in any way but I was wrong. One thing that I love is that each chapter is about each specific girl. Even if they interact with each other, each girl gets her moment to shine. I said in the Pretty Little Liars  post that I am a HUGE fan of the show and that Hanna is my favorite. In the books Hanna still remains my favorite but I look so forward to Spencer's chapters. I find myself wanting to be like Spencer. She is very mature, and collegiate and her personality is infectious. However I am SO HAPPY Melissa Hastings is not my sister! Please Please Please try this series out. Its quite the page turner... and Who is A?

"Wondering who I am, aren't you? I'm closer than you think. -A"

Thursday, April 28, 2016

Books in Progress and bad habits

Hey Friends! I wanted to share with you my worst habit as a reader... I am notorious for becoming bored with books too fast and starting another one until i have to force myself to finish the original first book... Do any of you do that? If so how did you fix it. these are all the books that I have started and need to finish...

The Isle of the Lost was recommended to me by my bestie Sharon I like the idea behind it but I got bored with the execution. I plan on picking it up again this summer and making myself finish it!
 Crane  is a book I got on my kindle about a year ago now and I have not tried picking it up. Two of my best friends and I do a monthly book exchange and I got this from my friend Sharon when it was her month to choose. I hate classics but I LOVE The Legend of Sleepy Hollow  so naturally this was a great idea to get me this book. I read the first chapter to see what it was like and it is so... awkward and confusing. It is on my TBR shelf staring at me, so I will pick it up soon!

 I found Heap House at Barnes and Nobel right after my husband and I moved to our new (boring) little town. I LOVE the art. It reminds me of Edward Gorey's art and funny enough it was written and illustrated by Edward Carey... strange right? I am baffled by this book so far. It has a strange story line with even stranger characters.. I am unsure as to where this is going to go but I hope that it gets my attention...
 The Fall  is a historical fiction/horror read that had me hooked at chapter 1. However, I began reading this around Halloween and I had only been living in my new house, in a new town for 2 weeks, and i was in a huge slump. I got about 6 chapters in before I gave up but I am excited to keep reading. Its terrifying so far!












I also have a bad habit of jumping to conclusions with books. I get really annoyed when people tell me that a book is AMAZING. Mind you, books usually end up being good but very few books that i have read have left me speechless or in a book hangover. I am very critical about my books (and my movies). That is part of why I pick up a book and become easily bored. I know, I know i sound cynical but its the truth... I hope you keep following Ashley and I as we embark on this Journey of books, reading, thoughts and what will hopefully become the COOLEST book blog ever.

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

New Book Tuesday on Wednesday

Sorry this is a day late my schedule has been crazy lately. Okay so for this weeks new book Tuesday I chose this book which I got the last time I went book shopping, with my favorite book shopping buddy, Kelsey.

Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepherd

Hey everyone!  I just finished the first book in Sara Shepherd's mystery, girl power packed series Pretty Little Liars! Oh my gosh I devoured this book. I am a huge fan of the show and never really gave reading the books a thought. I am so glad I did.
The story takes place in Rosewood, Pennsylvania. A young girl named Alison DiLaurentis goes missing from a sleepover with her 4 best friends. Enter the pretty little liars.
Aria Montgomery, a beautiful girl who loves crazy cool clothing, lived in Iceland and falls for a boy who is a recipe for disaster.
Hanna Marin, a girl who loves food as much as she loves clothes. A gorgeous girl who doesn't know it. (She is my favorite!!!)
Emily Fields, a swimmer who isn't sure if she loves her boyfriend Ben or if there is something more in a close friend...
And finally Spencer Hastings a studious sassy chick who dreams of college and delicious European men her sister brings home...
All of these girls share secrets that can get them in trouble and all of them need each other more than ever to help solve the biggest question plaguing all of them.
Who took Ali?????
If you haven't read this book you need to. If you haven't tried the show you need to. If you tried the books and they weren't for you I feel sorry for you because this is quite a series and I am excited to continue with it... It is a quick read that keeps you wanting more, and honestly it's hard to put down!
More reviews to follow. -kisses A.

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

New Book Tuesday

Hey friends! It's another NBT and I've had a busy week and it's only gonna get busier because the semester is nearly over. Today I chose to use Lumberjanes as my book. I love adventure time and since the creators wrote this I had to give it a shot!

Friday, April 22, 2016

Nightmares! By Jason Segal

Hi friends! Today I wrapped up the debut novel Nightmares! by Comedic actor and star of the hit show How I Met Your Mother Jason Segal.
     The book takes place through the eyes of a very angry boy named Charlie Laird, who has recently lost his mother from an unknown illness. His father remarries a woman who we know as "the stepmonster" and he Charlie believes that she is a witch. Charlie is suffering from nightmares where the evil witch (who he dreams is his stepmom) is trying to steal his father and brother. One night when he falls asleep he finds himself in "The Netherworld", on the chase of his life, as the evil witch steals Charlie's brother Jack. The Netherwold is a place where nightmares walk freely and a man with snakes growing from his head befriends Charlie in the race to save Jack. Along the way Charlie finds some of his best friends who are also stuck in The Netherworld while their physical bodies are asleep at home. The race is on to find Jack, and get home in time to wake up from this Nightmare that is affecting Charlie and his friends.
     Wow! What a story! I have a hard time reading books written by celebrities because I have found that they lack alot of depth but this was such a fun read! At first this book made me really sad. I felt so sad for Charlie being an 11 year old boy who loses his mama. The anger this character possessed was crazy! I couldn't help but sympathize with the step monster either. Charlie was downright cruel to her and she still tried everyday to show him that she was not trying to replace his mom. Coming from a split family i understand the fear of your mom or dad re-marrying someone. However I cannot imagine what it must feel like to be a step parent and deal with the dynamic of raising kids who are not your own, as your own. Luckily I have the BEST parents and step-parents, I am truly blessed!
     I gave this book 3 stars on goodreads, I enjoyed it so much but lets break it down...
     Pros: Creative Story
Great illustrations
Wonderful and likable characters
Fast paced
Cons: Little bit of a lull right in the middle
semi abrupt ending.
I would recommend this book to those who love to read a kids book with some darkness and alot of creativity!
Hope you guys and gals check it out and please stay tuned for more fun!

Thursday, April 21, 2016

Harry Potter Pillowcase

Hi everyone. Today I am anxiously awaiting to sign up for my summer and fall semester, and what I hope is my last few semesters at community college!!!! Then onto my Bachelors in English! I swear I am going to be in school for the rest of my life :) Anyway, This year has been quite the crazy one. My family lost a couple of important people, and I am still adjusting to living in a new town, that has less to do than where I grew up... My best friend Sharon was having an equally hard month and to show her that even though I was a couple hours away I was always by her side, I made her this.....
Photo Provided by @bookishgirl89 via Instagram

This took me a grand total of about 6 hours to finish this. I literally took no breaks, and I wouldnt let myself sleep until it was done but it came out awesome! I take Commission for pieces so if you want something or know someone who does, please reach out!

May Photo Challenge

Hey Readers! So I am excited to share with you this photo challenge!!! Next month my bestie Sharon or as she is known via Instagram @bookishgirl89 and I are hosting a May Photo Challenge. This one is similar to many that are out there but its also very personal. Day 3 is #beetlejuice/#fave horror read, thats my favorite because Beetlejuice is my favorite movie and that is why I chose it!. Together we have quite a following so we hope that we can get alot of people involved! I will be posting my favorite pictures on here and talking about them! See you soon!


Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Ashley's New Book Tuesday

Well Hello!
      So for my New Book Tuesday pick I picked Once Upon A Zombie by Billy Phillips & Jenny Nissenson. Two of my best friends and I are doing a book exchange, where every third month I pick a book for Kelsey and Sharon and send it to them and they do the same when it's their month. And this is the latest book I got, from Sharon, and I love it!

New Book Tuesday

Hey friends! Today is our first new segment called New Book Tuesday!  I chose this gorgeous book. I have seen it plastered all over Instagram and I finally caved and decided to buy it! Does anybody have a review about it? Pros and cons? I would love to hear from you! Stay tuned for Ashley's NBT post!

Monday, April 18, 2016

New book tuesdays

Hey friends! Ashley and I are going to be blogging on Tuesdays, every week for what we call "New Book Tuesday." It could be a new release, or a new to us find/buy. Check back tomorrow for our first NBT!

Sunday, April 17, 2016

The Alchemist by Michael Scott

Hey Everyone! Today I wrapped up an amazing book called The Alchemist  and no I am not talking about the classic novel by Paulo Coelho. I am talking about the one by author Michael Scott! This story is one that somewhat ties into our beloved Harry Potter . This book is about the most famous Alchemist himself Nicholas Flamel! Yes, he is real and no he is not just made up for HP!
   The story starts with twins Josh and Sophie who work at a coffee shop and bookstore. Josh in the store, Sophie in the cafe. On a normal day a strange man named John Dee comes into the bookstore looking for a special book, a codex. Little do Josh or Sophie know that they will be going on an adventure to last a lifetime. Nick, the bookseller and John begin to fight and we find out our little seller is Flamel. Flamel takes Josh and Sophie to a secret hide out to get help from our core cast characters. Scathatch, is a new elder and Hekate, The Goddess with Three Faces. The quest is about keeping the codex out of John Dee's reach but our plot thickens when Nicholas's wife Perenelle (Perry) is taken hostage, and we find out some deep secrets regarding our heroic twins!
    That is literally all I can tell you without using spoilers, and that I will not do! My husband and his best friend read this book and continued the series a couple years after we graduated high school. They loved them and could not wait for each new book to come out. I looked up the release date and The Alchemist made its debut on May 22nd 2007. That was two weeks before I graduated high school. How did i not read this book any sooner?!?!?!?! 
     Starting a new series is a bittersweet feeling for me. I say that because when you pick up a new series you're excited, and ready to dive right in, in the hopes that it leaves you craving more. For the first book in this series The Alchemist  is a 3.5 star read! Now, before you judge my rating here are the good's and the bad's of this read...
Good:
~ Great Characters! Each one was unique.
~The plot was wonderful, it was action packed and light
~the writing was great. It read quick and to me it was... if, Percy Jackson  and the movie National Treasure made a baby, this would be it!
Bad:
~Needed a little more backstory to a couple key characters
~The story jumped around alot and left me feeling confused at times
     So... as you can see the good outweighed the bad and all in all it was a fun and easy read!
Stay tuned for more reviews, commentary and fun from Elsewherebookreviews!
photo provided by google

Friday, April 15, 2016

Book Tattoo

Hello again my friends! I am bundled up on my couch with 2 sets of p.j's 2 blankets and a heating pad. I am beyond sick! However, this blog doesn't rest when you're sick so I decided to make it a post that was simple. I love tattoos! I have 7 total and 3 of the 7 are book related! The one I am sharing today is my newest. 
This is it! So if you are having a hard time reading some of the quotes, this is what they say
I have the names "Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs" from my favorite chapter of my favorite Harry Potter book Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
"Without you there'd be no us." from James and the Giant Peach.
"I just want to spend every possible minute of the rest of my life with you" from The Hunger Games
"Hold your head high and keep those fists down." from To Kill a Mockingbird
"And in that moment I swear, we were infinite." from The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
"But as long as I remember what it was like to love you, I'll always feel like I'm alive." from The Mortal Instruments: City of Glass.
"All the reading she had done, had given her a view of life they had never seen." from Matilda
"Hey Jude." is from the Beatles song of the same name for my dog that had to be put to sleep after 10 years of loving her :(
This is such a joy to look at everyday. If you have bookish tattoos please share them!

The Wedding of Deadpool

This one isn't actually a review, more of a "what I'm reading" kind of thing. I love comic books as much as I love novels, and my latest comic book was The Wedding of Deadpool. I love Deadpool comics, so it was fun to see stories about his past wives and his current one. I'm more of a Marvel girl, but I do live DC and Darkhorse comics as well. The Avengers are my favorite crime fighting group, but Deadpool will always have a special place in my heart, even though he did try to destroy the entire Marvelverse. Have any of you ever read any comics? Who's your favorite character?  

I got this book in Santa Rosa while shopping with two of my best friends, where I discovered my new favorite Barnes & Noble. The outside had such a vintage 1920's vibe that I couldn't help but fall in love with it, and the inside was just as wonderful. In the kids section there was a mural of the peach being pulled by birds from James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl, and it was beautiful.

Thursday, April 14, 2016

Edgar Allen Poe Pillowcase set

Hello again friends! I wanted to share the Pillowcase set I am most proud of. First off let me explain why I made these...
One of my most treasured friends, Jasmine and I have birthdays that are two days apart. She is very crafty and she loves handmade gifts more than most people I know (minus my best friends). I have also never met any one who is as in love with Poe than she is. So naturally when I found this pattern via www.urbanthreads.com I had to make it for her. The cameo is what i found online, the lettering on the second is my own design.

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Ashley's Favorites

Well hello! I thought I would follow Kelsey's lead and share some of my favorites!

Here they are:
  • Favorite Book: A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

  • Favorite Harry Potter Book: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K Rowling

  • Favorite Series: The Gemma Doyle Trilogy by Libba Bray

  • Favorite Kids Book: Love You Forever by Robert Munsch

  • Favorite New (2016) Book: Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton

  • Favorite Fantasy Series: The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare

  • Favorite Sci-Fi Book:  Storm Thief  by Chris Wooding

And  Lastly,
  • Favorite Young Adult Fiction Book: Stolen by Lucy Christopher
      

Monday, April 11, 2016

The Cure for Dreaming by Cat Winters


"All is well..."

I literally just finished Cat Winters second novel The Cure for Dreaming and I must say that I am spellbound. I don't know if you have seen the cover so let me share it with you ...

Image provided by Google

      Spooky is it not? Well I have to tell you that the cover is misleading. If you read In the Shadow of Blackbirds than you know that Winters has a way of taken real life history and adding a supernatural element to it. In this book, that was a small fraction of the story.
     It takes place in one of my all time favorite cities Portland, Oregon. It is Halloween in the year 1900. Women's Suffrage was all many people could talk about and women in society were trying to get their voices heard. Our Leading lady Miss Olivia Mead, the daughter of a somewhat sadistic dentist is at hypnosis show, where we then meet our hero a Mr. Henri (pronounced On-rei) Reverie. During his act Olivia becomes one of his subjects and he places her into a deep hypnosis that will ultimately end up being her worst nightmare. Throughout this book, Olivia is subjected to the sexist ways of her father who thinks that his daughter is radical and needs to do what was expected of women during this time, which was tending to house and family and most importantly to be seen and not heard. He hires Henri, to "cure her dreaming" and we then see the world take new form through the new eyes of Olivia.
     This was quote a different read for me. I love historical fiction, but never have I read something so empowering for my sex! I am very much not a feminist, however I do believe that women have so much to offer to society but after reading this book, it has brought out a little more feminist in me. To read about how women had literally nothing to offer but tend to family and home is so sad. All those women, like our Olivia, who stood up for what she believed was right was refreshing!
     I gave this book 4/5 stars via Goodreads (which you can check out my profile, just look to your right) It was a very good and engaging book, but I have to say that with the supernatural element on the backburner I was a little disappointed. Stay tuned for more reviews and fun!

This book was reviewed by Kelsey

Saturday, April 9, 2016

Wink-Poppy-Midnight

“Revenge. Justice. Love. They are the three stories that all other stories are made up of. It's the trifecta.”


      Wink, a shy girl who comes from a mysterious family. Poppy, a queen bee who loves to cause trouble and Midnight, a teen in love with two very different girls. This book... what can I say about this book? It is AMAZING! This is the third novel for April Genevieve Tucholke and it is also one of her best. Tucholke, Author of Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea  and Between the Spark and the Burn, Tells a tail unlike any other. Wink, Poppy and Midnight are three teens who grow up in the same small town.
      Poppy is the first character we meet and she is a shit starter. She loves to toy with Midnight's affections, she is in love with a mysterious and very mean Leaf, who happens to be Wink's older brother and she is about to disappear...
      Wink is a quiet girl who lives with her large and strange family on a farm across the road from Midnight. Her mother is a Palm and Tarot card reader and her older brother is the man that Poppy is infatuated with. She is quiet and sweet and she grows to love Midnight...
      Midnight is a boy who lives with his father, while his mother and brother live in Paris. He is head over heels in love with Poppy, until he begins spending more and more time at Wink's family farm. He is deep and emotional and he ends up loving two girls who couldn't be more opposite, or so you think...
      One night, during an evil prank Poppy goes missing and that is where the story really takes off. Who is behind it? Is it Poppy trying to get the attention of Midnight after he begins to love Wink? Is it Wink trying to get rid of her competition? Or is it Midnight covering up a dark secret? You do not find out how the story fits and how all three characters are connected until the very end...
       I adored this book! Tucholke writes characters in the most interesting way. When I started reading it I hated Poppy, and it wasn't until the end that I began to sympathize with her. Wink, oh how I love Wink! She is my spirit Animal. She is mysterious, and simple and sweet. I love how mystical her life and her family is. Midnight for me ended up being my least favorite character. He is sensitive and deep but he didn't have as much edge as the girls. Each character brought some sort of spice to the story and made it a 5 star read for me.
       If you have not read anything by April Genevieve Tucholke, go and buy all 3 of her novels, you will not be disappointed. She bewitches readers with her tales, and has a Brothers Grimm sort of quality to her narration.
Photo Credit: Google Images
Stay Tuned for more reviews and fun!
Brought to you by Ashley and Kelsey!
This book was reviewed by Kelsey

Thursday, April 7, 2016

Kelsey's Favorites and Fun Facts

Hi Everyone! I thought it would be awesome if I shared my favorites with you as well as some fun facts, they will be set up by Genre and or by Series... Here we go!!!
~Favorite Book: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
      *Favorite Character: Atticus Finch (I love him so much I am using his name as a middle name for one of my hypothetical children)
~Favorite Harry Potter Book: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K Rowling
        *Favorite Character: Hagrid!!!
~Favorite Fantasy Read: I would have to say The Harry Potter Series by J.K Rowling
~Favorite Romance Read: The Hollow Series by Jessica Verday.
~Favorite Contemporary Read: Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover
~Favorite Dystopian Read: I am not a dystopian fan but The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins was AMAZING!
~Favorite Childrens Read: James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
~Favorite Play: Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare (in fact I collect copies of it, I have 4!)
~Favorite Smut Series: The Immortals After Dark by Kresley Cole (thank you to my sister Jamie)
~Favorite Biography: Burton on Burton by Tim Burton (my idol)
~Book I have read more than once and think about re-reading daily? Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K Rowling. I have read this book at least 5 times!
~Shortest time I read an entire book? 6 hours on a camping trip with my husband I read Vampire Kisses book 7
~Books I find over rated: There are too many to name... I am a very critical reader...
~Book I wish I NEVER read? The Twilight Saga by Stephanie Meyer... (once I finished book 3 and book 4 came out I was beyond over all of it and I read it a year before Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson screwed it up)
Well this is me, I am a simple girl who can talk for hours about books. Nice to meet you!