I'm moving!

Hello my lovely blog readers!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful week, morning, afternoon, night...whatever the case may be.

I'm here today with some exciting news!!

For the past few months, I have gotten to know a wonderful person on Twitter. In a short time, she has become one of my closest friends! We talk everyday about books, life, writing, and anything else that comes to mind.

After some planning, we have decided to become co-bloggers!! I have moved over to her blog and will begin posting on there. We have a lot planned and are slowly working out all the details to make the blog something wonderful!

I hope you will follow me over to my new home and look forward to seeing you all there!

Here is the link to the blog! Live, Love, Read

Now in the mean time, go find a good book and get lost between the pages!!

~Lauren

Swanky Saturday #3

It's the first Saturday of the month, know what that means?

Not sure what Swanky Saturday is? Well here is a link that will give you all the information you need. It may be the Swanky Six, but EVERYONE is able to join in and we would love to see what you have to say about the month's topic! If you do want to make a Saturday post be sure to use the #SwankySat so we know you are joining us! 

This month's topic is:

Most Anticipated Summer Book Release

Finding out what this month's challenge was I figured it would be easy. I LOVE reading and finding new books to long for is part of the job description. BUT then I discovered a slight problem...all the books I'm anxiously awaiting are all Fall, Winter, or Spring releases. So this is basically how this post started out: 

Me: Oh this is easy, I'm really looking forward to *insert book title*

Goodreads: Nope, comes out in September.

Me: Ok, then I'll go with this one!

Goodreads: Nope, that one is coming out in October.

Me: How about this one?

Goodreads: Almost, it released in April. 

Me: *screams in frustration!*

After a few tries I finally figured out what my summer release is. Before I get to mine, I would like to share a friend's pick first. Once again the lovely Chelsea will be joining me for this Saturday's post! 

So I now give her the spotlight.

My most anticipated book of summer is a novel by one of my very favorite authors: Sophie Kinsella! Sophie Kinsella writes humor like no one else. I have laughed, alone, at 3am many a times because of her frantically hilarious characters and their shenanigans.

Her previous novels have been adult, so I'm very excited to read her first foray into YA!

Here's more  about it...

Title: Finding Audrey.

Release Date: June 9th, 2015

Book Length: 304 pages

Description:

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Shopaholic series comes a terrific blend of comedy, romance, and psychological recovery in a contemporary YA novel sure to inspire and entertain. 

An anxiety disorder disrupts fourteen-year-old Audrey's daily life. She has been making slow but steady progress with Dr. Sarah, but when Audrey meets Linus, her brother's gaming teammate, she is energized. She connects with him. Audrey can talk through her fears with Linus in a way she's never been able to do with anyone before. As their friendship deepens and her recovery gains momentum, a sweet romantic connection develops, one that helps not just Audrey but also her entire family.

About the Author:

Sophie Kinsella is the author of the bestselling Shopaholic series and the novels Can You Keep a Secret?, The Undomestic Goddess, Remember Me?, Twenties Girl, I've Got Your Number, and Wedding Night. Confessions of a Shopaholic was turned into a Hollywood movie. She lives in England. 

****

I have never read a book by Sophie Kinsella, but this one sounds pretty fun! I will have to add this one to my ever growing list of books to read.

Now, what could be my most anticipated book of the summer? I chose:

Title: The Leveller

Release Date: June 23, 2015

Book Length: 256 pages

Description:

Nixy Bauer is a self-made Leveller. Her job? Dragging kids out of virtual reality and back to their parents in the real world. It's normally easy cash, but Nixy's latest mission is fraught with real danger, intrigue, and romance. 

Nixy Bauer is used to her classmates being very, very unhappy to see her. After all, she's a bounty hunter in a virtual reality gaming world. Kids in the MEEP, as they call it, play entirely with their minds, while their bodies languish in a sleepily state on the couch. Irritated parents, looking to wrench their kids back to reality, hire Nixy to jump into the game and retrieve them. 

But when the game's billionaire developer loses track of his own son in the MEEP, Nixy is in for the biggest challenge of her bounty-huntting career. Wyn Salvador isn't some lazy kid looking to escape his homework: Wyn does not want to be found. And he's left behind a suicide note. Nix takes the job but quickly discovers that Wyn's not hiding- he's being held inside the game against his will. But who is holding him captive, and why?

Nixy and Wyn attempt to fight their way out of a mind game unlike any they've encountered, and the battle brings them closer than either could have imagined. But when the whole world is virtual, how can Nixy possibly know if her feelings are real?

****

I never really thought of reading a book based on virtual reality, but that all changed after reading Ready Player One. I feel in love with that book and when I read the description to this story, the first thing that came to mind was Ready Player One. They are completely different plot wise, but the gaming aspect of it is similar. I'm looking forward to seeing how this book will turn out.

So what is your most anticipated release of summer? 

Dear Carolina

A moving debut novel about two mothers - one biological and one adoptive - from a compelling new voice in Southern women's fiction.

One baby girl.

Two strong Southern women.

And the most difficult decision they'll ever make.

     Frances "Khaki" Mason has it all: a thriving interior design career, a loving husband and son, homes in North Carolina and Manhattan - everything except the second child she has always wanted. Jodi, her husband's nineteen-year-old cousin, is fresh out of rehab, pregnant, and alone. Although the two women couldn't seem more different, they forge a lifelong connection as Khaki reaches out to Jodi, encouraging her to have her baby. But as Jodi struggles to be the mother she knows her daughter deserves, she will ask Khaki the ultimate favor...

    Written to baby Carolina, by both her birth mother and her adoptive one, this is a story that proves that life circumstances shape us but don't define us - and that families aren't born, they're made...

Author: Kristy Woodson Harvey
Page Count: 320 pages
Genre: Realistic fiction, Adult, Chick Lit
Series? No

I was offered the wonderful chance to review Dear Carolina by the lovely Kristy Harvey! Sadly, the plan to get this review done earlier did not work out completely like I had planned. With a few computer problems and plenty of school work to keep me busy the release date came and passed before I could get this published. But, now I have finally been able to get this here, so lets get to the book!

Being a person that lives in the South, I always enjoy a good book set close to home. While this book was not exactly in my backyard, the feeling of home was there. This is just one of the many reasons I adored Dear Carolina.

Kristy Woodson Harvey has created a wonderful debut story to hook a readers attention. Adoption can be a tricky subject to write about, but I am a sucker for a good heart warming story like this. The emotions that are written into the story was so real, I felt like I was personally hearing from the characters of this story. Reading the description for this story, I knew a little what to expect while reading it, but I still was not prepared for what I received.

Kristy added a unique element to the story by switching up the way stories are written. While a story that alternates between characters and points of view is not hard to find, getting a chapter written by the character itself, is a completely different matter. Each chapter alternates between the two leading women, Jodi (the birth mother) and Khaki (The adoptive mother) as they tell their daughter Carolina her story, as well as shedding light on their own life. Each chapter is read as letters written to their daughter, and each chapter will leave you wanting to read more.

Something that I always enjoy about a well written story is even if I know how the story ends, I can't stop reading! Kristy was able to pull this off exceptionally. Starting this story you already know what is going to happen, but the story still keeps you wanting to know more! Seeing how the story plays out and learning how everything came to be is just as entertaining as if I didn't already know the outcome.

Dear Carolina was a very heart warming story, and if anyone is ever in the need of a quick read I would recommend this book! If Kristy Woodson Harvey can continue to write stories like this one, I know she will have a great future in the book world! I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars!!

Here is a little information about this lovely new author!

Kristy Woodson Harvey is the author of Dear Carolina. She blogs at Design Chic about how creating a beautiful home can be the catalyst for creating a beautiful life and loves connecting with readers at kristywoodsonharvey.com. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's school of journalism and holds a Master's in English from East Carolina University. She is a regular contributor for The Salisbury Post, Domino magazine and Houzz. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and three-year-old son.

Spectacular Swanky Saturday #2

Being the first Saturday of the month means it's time for Swanky Saturday's post!!!! 

*Cue excited music and dancing*

If you don't know what Spectacularly Swanky Saturdays is, click here for more information! Feel free to join in with comments, pictures, or links, and be sure to say something on Twitter with our #SwankySat tag. We would love to see what others are doing!! 

Now time to get to the main part of the posts, the month's challenge!

Create Your Own Dream Library

This month, we were challenged to use our imaginations and create our own dream library. This can be as realistic or dreamlike as you would like it to be. I know what you're thinking, you already have your dream library in mind...and I bet it looks a lot like this:

Sadly, this is just for Belle and someone *cough, cough...Kelly..cough* wouldn't let us just post this picture. So that leaves us with coming up with our own. Which we will make WAY better!! Thanks to Pinterest there were no shortage of pictures to use. 

Once again, I have the honor of the lovely Chelsea joining my page to share her Saturday post, so lets take a tour of her library shall we...

Hello! *waves* Welcome to my dream library! Let's take a little tour, shall we...

The first thing I hope people notice are the massive floor-to-ceiling bookshelves...and ultimately fall into a swoon at the awesomeness. Ultimate compliment.

The second, the decor. Which is a mix between gothic.........

.....and Victorian

Next, my handmade, one of a kind cabinet (hehe) for my precious classics, including my entire first edition set of Jane Austen's work. A girl can dream, right?

And then, the spiral staircase! Oooo, intriguing! A second floor!

Which leads to...the view.

And to wrap up our tour, no library is complete without...a hidden passageway! *door creaks open* *Cue creepy music*

Thank you for joining me!

~Chelsea

Well...I almost didn't finish the tour. A few of those books on the shelves were calling my name! To grab one and settle in on that chair to read..I was tempted. I hope you get that library one day Chelsea, it looks amazing! Especially that case with those first editions. Beautiful. 

Now that we have seen Chelsea's library, I would like to share mine with you all! If you would just step this way we can get started:

Nice and cozy, right? I know it's not as big as you may have been expecting, but this is where I can spend some time reading and entertaining a few friends.

BUT, since you are here and I can trust you with my precious babies (a.k.a. my books) I guess I can show you my secret places. I hope you have your walking shoes on...

(who doesn't want a hidden passage in a library?)

Since I do like to try and write, and have a dream of being a writer one day, it only makes sense to have a writing place. This is the spot where I would come to escape into my imagination and write the stories I want to tell! I would have books that would be for research to help me work out all the details.

In the other corner I would have a little nook where I could really enjoy a book! I always wanted a reading nook, so of course I had to add one somewhere...

On the other end of the room we have the...spiral staircase! I couldn't help but add this one, I think it would be amazing to have a spiral staircase in my house, especially in a library. 

This would lead me to my large library! This is where I would have all my books!!! Or most of them anyway. Although this picture doesn't show as many as I would like, just imagine more shelves!!

Oh, you want to know what's behind the antique wooden door? I can show you that as well, come on...*steps through door*

When I was younger, one of my favorite books was The Secret Garden. I'm still in love with that book, so if I could make a dream library I could add a secret garden as well, right? But it's not just any garden, it's a reading garden! Here let me prove it! 

Just for a little decorations I would have signs like this one showing directions to some of my favorite bookish places. And how can you have a secret garden without a swing???

A little farther down we have my little outdoor reading nook and it's own outside library. Don't worry, the books are protected! This is where I keep some of my favorite outdoor reading, like The Secret Garden. Some books are just better read outside. 

If you would follow me through this next little part, we can wrap things up...

Here we have the reading pond. It has a nice little place to just sit and read in the center. I don't really know why I have this except for the fact that I found it neat and an interesting idea...

The last part of my library is very special... Through this door is Magic! (it's a dream library after all, so why not throw in a bit of magic?)

In this room the books I read can come to life. If I want to talk with one of my favorite characters, I just need to come here and I can. How fun would that be to just sit and talk with your favorite characters? What if you had multiple characters from multiple books?? 

Well, I guess that's it for my library. I hope you enjoyed getting a chance to see everything!! Let me know what your dream library would be! 

Now, go to your dream library and get lost between the pages of a good book! See you all next time!

Spectacular Swanky Saturday!

Welcome to the first ever posting for Spectacularly Swanky Saturdays!

       This is a monthly blog post filled with fun and original ideas to unite the blogging community and our readers. Though it’s hosted by the “swank six”, we invite everyone to join us on our monthly journey to celebrate our love of all things bookish! 

If you would be interested in joining us, here is a link to our main host page where you can find more info and a schedule of what's to come in future months!

Come check us out here!

You can also follow us on Twitter at #SwankySat

This is open for EVERYONE so feel free to share your thoughts or your own response to the month's challenge. If you don't have a blog, no problem! Just leave your comments on one of our blogs, or tweet us with the hashtag so we know you are wanting to join in! We would love to know what everyone is thinking so don't feel shy about letting us know! If you want to post pictures that will be great! 

   Now that you know what's going on, lets get to this month's fun! This month's challenge is....

Personalized Book Spine Poetry!

Using the spines of books, create a poem describing you! You can make this whatever you want it to be!!! There is no limit to the amount of books you can use, so feel free to use 2 - 100! (If you can do this with a 100 books, you have skill!) It can also be as funny, sad, happy, or whatever you feel in the mood to make. The more creative the better!

I am currently having the privilege of hosting the lovely and sweet Chelsea on my blog. I'm looking forward to having a friend to share my posts with! So, I have decided to let you see her wonderful work first! Here we go:

"The Topic of our first Swanky Saturday was book spine poetry that described yourself. I tried many different combinations but they all, strangely, came out very depressing. And that's definitely not me. THen my eyes locked on these two beautiful books, and I knew I'd found my perfect, albeit short, book spine poetry. Simple, to the point, and combining my two favorite things, this is me in book form."

     ~Chelsea

BOOKS USED: 

*Confessions of a Shopaholic

*Fangirl

Shopping and Fangirling! Definitely sums most of us up nicely, way to go Chelsea!

Mine is a little longer, but I was having a little too much fun trying to do this challenge, so this is what you get. Since mine needs a few extra words added, I'll write this in word form below the picture:

I Am Number Four,

a Fangirl,   

you can find Another Little Piece of me,

among These Broken Stars.

A Thousand Pieces of you,

Never Fade from me.

Find ME

Under The Cajun Moon,         

Fairest and The Sugar Queen,

Crown of Midnight upon me. 

*Just a quick note to make sense:

     -I am the youngest of siblings, which is why I used I am Number Four.

     -I love to dream so that is why I used These Broken Stars.

     -I live in the South and Under the Cajun Moon was as close as I could get lol.

     -Fairest, because I am white as a ghost, not to mention I treat others fair. :)

     -The Sugar Queen, because I love chocolate!!!

     -Crown of Midnight, because I am a night owl and Midnight is early for me.

Well, I think that about covers this challenge! I hope you enjoyed reading Chelsea's and my spine poetry! 

Feel free to add your own written or picture poem in the comments below! If you add one to your own blog, leave a link in the comments so we can see! 

Happy Saturday everybody, now go have fun and remember to get lost between the pages! 

Since You've Been Gone

The Pre-Sloane Emily didn't go to parties, she barely talked to guys, she didn't do anything crazy. Enter Sloane, social tornado and the best kind of best friend- the one who yanks you out of your shell.

But right before what should have been an epic summer, Sloane just...disappears. no note. No calls. No texts. no Sloane. There's just a random to-do list. On it, thirteen Sloane-sselected-definitely-bizarre-tasks that Emily would never try...unless they could lead back to her best friend. 

Apple Picking at Night? Okay, easy enough.

Dance until Dawn? Sure. Why not?

Kiss a Stranger? Wait...what?

Getting through Sloane's list would mean a lot of firsts. But Emily has this whole unexpected summer ahead of her, and the help of Frank Porter (totally unexpected) to check things off. Who knows what she'll find? 

Go Skinny Dipping? Um...

Author: Morgan Matson
Page Count: 449 pages
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Realistic Fiction, Contemporary
Series: No

At the beginning of the year (2015) I joined an online book club. Since You've Been Gone was the first book we chose to read in January. I've heard great things, along with a few bad, but I never really had the urge to pick this book up. A friend gets abandoned during the summer, how great could this be?

Then I read the first chapter. Already the story had me hooked. I enjoyed reading the writing style the author used, and the mystery was already laid out in front of me. Where was Sloane and why did she leave?

Having to figure out a good mystery will usually keep me reading a book even when the story no longer keeps my interest, I can't leave something unsolved. Starting the first couple of chapters I was a little worried I would end up disliking this book. The main character, Emily, was starting to scratch at my nerves in the wrong way.

Finding out Sloane, Emily's best friend, had up and disappeared would be a reasonable explanation to why she was a little depressed and uncertain at the start of the story. Having something like that happen would surely flip a person's world upside down. But there was something about Emily that bugged me a lot. She seemed to be too dependent on Sloane. I understand her character was a shy teenage girl, but the way she seemed to just shut down without her friend really bothered me. I don't mind having a hurt and broken main character to follow, but this character was not my favorite.

That's when I realized after a little more reading, she was basically me. This is one of those characters that gave me a sense of looking into a mirror. I was seeing my old middle and high school self yelling at me from the pages. I'm proud to say, the shy girl that missed opportunities because of doubts and shyness is no longer me, but I still hate knowing I was that person. How much did I miss?

Everything got a little more exciting when Sloane's list showed up. Seeing all the items left for Emily to complete was amusing to read. Some where simple but for others...well let's just say not many people would be willing to do them. (I personally wouldn't steel something, and no way would you find me skinny dipping!) But the interesting part of the list was the way the author presented challenges to each item. Even the most basic item had obstacles to overcome and a deeper meaning that Emily only recognized after she completed the task.

A fun part of reading for me, is seeing a character grow. Sometimes this can mean physically, but most of the time I rather see them grow emotionally. This story is a prime example of character growth. The main character is Emily, her growth is the most noticeable throughout the story. She starts off awkward and shy, but soon becomes a pretty outgoing person with a mind of her own. No longer does she need a  friend to lead the way as she stays silent. As the reader continues the story we also see a bit of growth with Sloane and also Frank.

Frank. Frank Porter. Now if a person were going to picture a great friend/boyfriend Frank would be a great model. From the moment I met Frank, I knew I was going to like him. Without him to help guide the way, Emily would not have succeeded with as much as she did. Frank Porter should have some form of reward for his work.

To be completely honest, there isn't much more I can really say about this book. I loved it! I could keep typing this review, but it would only result in more fangirling, and that could just get awkward. If you really want to know how great this book was, I recommend picking it up! Morgan Matson will be an author I read more of from now on. Sadly, I have to admit this is my first book to read from her, but it will not be my last!

I gave this book a 5 star rating, and it deserved every point of those stars!!

Atlantis Rising

I am different. I have always been different, but no one can know or my life will be in danger. So I hide in plain sight, wearing drab clothes and thick glasses and trying to be invisible. I’m so good at hiding, no one has ever noticed me. Until Ian…the mysterious and oh-so-cute boy I know I need to avoid.

Now I have been seen. And more terrifying still, I am wanted—by those who would protect me and those who would destroy everything and everyone I love. But if they’re all terrified about who I am, wait until they see what I can do

Author: Gloria Craw
Page Count: 352
Genres: Young Adult, Mystery, Fantasy, Romance
Series: Yes! (Book 1)



  *I received an ebook version of this book from Entangled Teen for a free honest review*

  I read the summary of this book in an email request for upcoming review titles. The title alone drew me in. This was going to be a book about the mysterious world of Atlantis! Ever since I was young these stories have pulled me in. 

  Starting this book my expectations were high. As I mentioned above the chance to read about Atlantis already had me wanting this story, but the description on the back pulled me in as well. Who is this person and what powers does she hold? Why would someone be after her? This is where my thoughts stayed as I began the story...

  While the story was interesting and I really did enjoy it, my expectations were squashed a little. Some of the things I was hoping to see within the pages of this story never happened. The overall story was good and the characters were great, but there was still something missing.

  One of the parts I loved most about this book was the characters. Each character was unique in their own way, even the side characters had something that would make them stand out from the rest. The main characters were lovable and I found myself wishing I could talk to them. 
       
   Thankfully there was something missing from this story that I won't complain about: A love triangle. Unlike most Young Adult novels out there, this story kept the love interest between one guy and one girl. You didn't have the over protective friend trying to get the same girl as the exceptionally hot new guy. Some love triangles are ok, but I'm honestly getting tiered of  most of them. But with this story, the relationship between Alison and Ian is refreshingly normal. (Except for the whole being from Atlantis thing...) 

  There was a little action toward the end, nothing mind blowing or outstandingly epic, but it was a good ending to the story. There was a little build up to this fight throughout the story, and I personally am satisfied with the way it turned out. Not only did it wrap some issues and questions up, we are now left with a few others that need to be answered, a nice way to set up for a sequel. 

  About the only two problems I had with the entire story is:

1. What about Atlantis? One of the key points in my decision to read this was to get a bit of Atlantis story, but there really wasn't anything present. We get maybe a page about what happened to Atlantis and how it ends up at the bottom of the sea, and a quick mention that some of the people are alive. This is mainly to express why the lead characters are different from others, they are called Dewings, which means they come from Atlantis. But other than those two things, Atlantis is not really brought into the story. This was a major let down to me, but I'm hoping as the next book (or books?) come out there will be more!
2. A bit cliche. There were parts that came out being different than most stories, but most of the entire beginning is something that I have read many times. -The main character is trying to blend into society. All is working fine, until the new kid arrives, and then something extraordinary happens to them changing their lives forever!- This is not exactly a bad thing, I just think with the Atlantis aspect to the story, something a little different could have been done. 

All-in-all, I really enjoyed this story. It was a quick read and something I look forward to reading more of. I give this story a 4 out of 5 stars! If you like a cute read, this is the story for you.