Decorating with Books

A book lover is not someone who enjoys a good read, but can go without cracking open a cover on a regular basis.  A book lover or a bibliophile:  someone who loves (and usually collects) books.  I'm a card carrying bibliophile and to be honest I think I was born that way.  I've always loved to read, since I was a little kid I could be found with my nose in a book, or one being dragged behind me.  I loved when my dad would pick up an old classic and let me sit on his lap while he read from it for a while before my bedtime.

Not a whole lot has changed as far as my love of books goes...I'll admit that while I was in college, being an English major tested my dedication.  Having to read A LOT of work that wasn't really in my wheelhouse took some getting used to, but I refused to let literature classes squash my love of words.  Whether it's borrowing one from a library or a good friend, spending hard earned money at the bookstore to get those recently released titles I've been counting down, or being unable to resist adding to my coffee table anything that's would make for good conversation....it all boils down to the fact that it will never change.  Once I had moved into my own place and had free reign to decorate as I saw fit and surround myself with things that I love, you can guess how large a part books play in my own safe haven.  So here are a few ways that I've found to be head over heels in love with....I'm constantly finding inspiration everywhere!

Who needs a fancy end table for the living room or family room when you can create your own with magazines and books that you already own and want the chance to display and see every chance you can get.  By taking a bunch of your favorite reads, you can craft yourself an end table as high as you need and with a few hard cover classics, glasses, remotes, you name it....they can all be balanced on this new and beautiful piece you've added to your space.

For me, coffee table books are something I don't think I'm ever going to be able to give up.  I started buying them up like crazy about a year ago and I can't seem to stop.  It doesn't matter what the material, whether it's fashion, photography, famous people, architecture, places I want to travel to, it doesn't matter.  And to be honest, not only do I find myself picking them up and enjoying them on a daily basis, but every time someone comes over to visit or stay, they're picking them up to leaf through or ask about.  They're instant conversation starters, and the envy of many.  Any time someone asks me for gift ideas, or what I want for whatever holiday or special occasion is coming up, books can be tricky to ask for unless you give them specific titles on your TBR, but NOT so with coffee table books.  I say anything goes and I've been gifted with some truly wonderful additions!

While it might seem to odd to some, I was recently on the hunt for a bar cart of some type this past year.  I finally found one that fit perfectly within my apartment and I wouldn't trade it for the world, but check out what this creativity got someone.  Had I not been able to finally find the one I wanted, I might have resorted to this idea featured in HouseBeautiful.  While I'm an avid fan of keeping books on a bookcase and not necessarily using it to put decorations....sometimes space is an issue depending on where you live, and these shelves are the perfect solution for someone that has to work with what they've got.  I've managed to pick up a few cocktail making books to display on my bar, but also a few others that I've thrown in about a variety of things.

Again when people have come over to visit and make their way for beverages, their eye inevitably catches on the reading material laid out and once again conversations pick up and pages are flipped through.  I think deep down everyone is always looking for an excuse to pick up a good book.

So I've seen people set up their bookshelves in all sorts of different ways.  I can't say that I had any method to the madness that are my bookshelves and what's lining them, but I'm always looking for new ways to rearrange them or shake things up a bit.

I love how this photo shows this bookcase treated as if you were walking through the stacks in your local bookstore.  Every thing's on display, the beautiful covers are facing out so that you can enjoy the cover art as well as the exciting words that can be found within.  I know you should judge books by their covers, but I think we can all grudgingly admit that we've all done, we'll all eventually do it and that's never going to change.  But when I'm passing by the shelves in a store, the books that are facing front draw my attention and I'd love to have mine have the same affect on guests when they're visiting my home, ya know?

Another project of mine recently was to liven up the white walls around the apartment.  I started and am still in the process of completely a few gallery walls throughout and I would just love to do something with some of the classic novels that we all know and love.

I'm not sure it wouldn't be painful to take a cover off an old book but at the same time, who says the book then has to be tossed.  If I can find a way to gather a few of my favorites with some great covers to display I just might give this a shot.  So all I need to make this work is to look around on line maybe for some of the classics with redesigned covers and some beautiful frames like you can see above and I think I'd be good to go.

And finally, can I just say that I love framing and displaying photos almost as much as I love a good book.  I'm not the most expert at hanging them on the wall, I usually call in my mom or dad to help me out with that kind of work, but who's to say every picture of piece of art needs to be hanging on the walls right?  I love how this photo shows that by having a few sturdy books that you'd like to display, you can put a few favorite framed pieces behind and they'll have the support by leaning up against them.  So I could have my love of photos and books combined and ta da!

I'm sure this wasn't exactly a post that you thought you'd find on the blog today, but what can I say?  Inspiration hit and I knew if anyone would enjoy or at least understand my latest obsession with all things decorating and books I knew it would be you guys!

Happy Reading & Decorating!!!!!!!!!

In My Mailbox (92)

This is a meme that I first heard about from Kristi over at The Story Siren and immediately wanted to jump on board. I'm always picking up new books, because I never tire of reading, but the other thing I like about this meme is that it gives everyone an opportunity to check out what other book fanatics, bloggers, etc... got for themselves. I've gotten great recommendations from this meme and hope that keeps up in the future.

Here's what I got, what did you guys get this week?
 

 

The Neptune Project by Polly Holyoke (Thanks to Polly)

 

THE NEPTUNE PROJECT is set in a future where the seas are rising and global warming is out of control. Nere Hanson and her teen companions are shocked to learn that they have been genetically altered by their desperate parents to live in the sea. Protected by her loyal dolphins, shy Nere leads the rest on a perilous journey to her father’s new colony. Fighting off government divers, sharks and giant squid, can Nere and her companions learn to trust each other before their dangerous new world destroys them?







The World of Gloria Vanderbilt by Wendy Goodman, Anderson Cooper

Gloria Vanderbilt is many things: an heiress, a painter, a muse, a designer, a model, a writer, an entrepreneur, an actor, a socialite, a survivor, an icon. She brought the Vanderbilt name out of the Gilded Age and into the Digital Age, reinventing herself over and over along the way. Hers is a story of charisma, glamour, and heartbreaking loss, told here by Wendy Goodman, who had intimate access to Vanderbilt for this book. The illustrations include portraits of Vanderbilt and her extraordinary homes, filled with original and influential decorating ideas, by such photographic legends as Richard Avedon, Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Inge Morath, Horst P. Horst, Francesco Scavullo, and Annie Leibovitz. Vanderbilt’s son, Anderson Cooper, contributes a foreword.

 Grace: A Memoir by Grace Coddington

Beautiful. Willful. Charming. Blunt. Grace Coddington’s extraordinary talent and fierce dedication to her work as creative director of Vogue have made her an international icon. Known through much of her career only to those behind the scenes, she might have remained fashion’s best-kept secret were it not for The September Issue, the acclaimed 2009 documentary that turned publicity-averse Grace into a sudden, reluctant celebrity. Grace’s palpable engagement with her work brought a rare insight into the passion that produces many of the magazine’s most memorable shoots.

With the witty, forthright voice that has endeared her to her colleagues and peers for more than forty years, Grace now creatively directs the reader through the storied narrative of her life so far. Evoking the time when models had to tote their own bags and props to shoots, Grace describes her early career as a model, working with such world-class photographers as David Bailey and Norman Parkinson, before she stepped behind the camera to become a fashion editor at British Vogue in the late 1960s. Here she began creating the fantasy “travelogues” that would become her trademark. In 1988 she joined American Vogue, where her breathtakingly romantic and imaginative fashion features, a sampling of which appear in this book, have become instant classics.

Delightfully underscored by Grace’s pen-and-ink illustrations, Grace will introduce readers to the colorful designers, hairstylists, makeup artists, photographers, models, and celebrities with whom Grace has created her signature images. Grace reveals her private world with equal candor—the car accident that almost derailed her modeling career, her two marriages, the untimely death of her sister, Rosemary, her friendship with Harper’s Bazaar editor-in-chief Liz Tilberis, and her thirty-year romance with Didier Malige. Finally, Grace describes her abiding relationship with Anna Wintour, and the evolving mastery by which she has come to define the height of fashion.

Paris in Color by Nichole Robertson

Take a journey through the world's most romantic city, traveling from color to magnificent color with this beguiling book. An orange café chair, bright blue bicycles against a fence, a weathered white door—Nichole Robertson's sumptuous photographs of the distinctive details of Paris, all arranged by color, evoke a sense of serendipitous discovery and celebrate the city as never before. At once a work of art and a window into the heart of the city, Paris in Color will surprise and delight those who love art, design, color, and, of course, Paris!

The Secret of Chanel No. 5: The Intimate History of the World's Most Famous Perfume by Tilar J. Mazzeo

The unauthorized biography of the world's most famous, seductive, and successful perfume

With its rich golden hue, art deco-inspired bottle, and timeless, musky scent, Chanel No. 5 is the world's bestselling perfume. Reverently known among industry insiders as le monstre--the monster--it is arguably the most coveted consumer luxury product of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Yet how did this pioneering celebrity fragrance, introduced in the early 1920s, eventually take on a life of its own, becoming a cultural monument celebrated by millions of devoted consumers?

The Secret of Chanel No. 5 is Tilar J. Mazzeo's far-ranging and fascinating search beyond the stuff of legend to uncover the full story of No. 5's creation, iconic status, and extraordinary success. Mazzeo goes back through time and deep into the life of Coco Chanel, the brilliant, controversial, and steel-willed businesswoman at the heart of the fragrance. She takes readers to the rose plantations and celebrated jasmine fields where the perfume begins and then to the laboratories and boardrooms where scent and sex are forever intertwined. And she travels to the heart of the Chanel empire: 31 Rue Cambon, Coco Chanel's flagship boutique, where six decades ago American GIs stormed the counters to possess the magical elixir that captured the luxury and romance of Paris for their girls back home.

A blend of evocative history and thoughtful research, here is a glittering account of where art and sensuality mingle with dazzling entrepreneurship and desire: Chanel No. 5.

UnEnchanted (An Unfortunate Fairy Tale, #1) by Chanda Hahn

Mina Grime is unlucky, unpopular and uncoordinated, that is until she saves her crush's life on a field trip, changing her High School status from loser to hero overnight. But with her newfound fame brings misfortune as an old family curse come to light. For Mina is descended from the Brothers Grimm and has inherited all of their unfinished fairy tale business. Which includes trying to outwit a powerful Story from making her its next fairytale victim.

To break the fairy tale curse on her family and stop these deadly events, Mina must finish the tales until the very Grimm end.






Deep Blue Secret (The Water Keepers, #1) by Christie Anderson

California teen Sadie James thinks her life couldn't get any better. She has great friends, an energetic mother she adores, and the beach practically in her own backyard. But her carefree life is turned upside down when she's rescued by a mysterious and strangely familiar boy who won't even tell her his name. Each time the boy appears, Sadie's unexplainable attraction to him deepens along with her need to unravel his secrets. The boy is there to protect her, but as wonderful and exciting as it might be to have an irresistible boy with crystal green eyes protecting her every move, every minute of the day...why does Sadie need one? As Sadie finds answers, she realizes her life isn't as perfect as she thought. Not only is she caught in a world of dangerous secret agents she never knew existed, but it turns out her true identity may be the greatest secret of all.

Verity (Cursed, #1) by Claire Farrell

Perdita Rivers has spent her entire sheltered life being told what to do. Lately, she’s felt ready for a change and the universe seems to agree. Her new best friend’s brother is the boy of Perdita’s dreams. Literally. Even though he plays hot and cold, she’s sure there’s more to it, but she’s kind of distracted by the sense she’s being followed, not to mention the rumours of wild animal sightings that seem to mean more to her new crush’s family than they should. Perdy’s on a mission to find the truth, but maybe the truth is the danger she should hide from, after all.







Kindred (Kindred, #1) by Erica Stevens

What do you do when the one you love is also you worst enemy? Trapped in a destiny she does not want, Cassie finds herself lost and adrift, until he walks into her life, turning it upside down and awakening her in ways that she never dreamed possible.

Cassie is stunned and devastated to learn that she belongs to a long line of vampire slayers known as The Hunters. A murderous rampage by a group of elder vampires has left the Hunter line decimated and the remaining Hunters scattered around the world. With her friends Chris and Melissa’s aid, Cassie struggles to rid the world of the monsters that murdered her parents. Though Cassie knows it is her fate, she chafes against her heritage, and is resentful of the shortened lifespan that has been placed upon her by the circumstances of birth. Struggling to get through every day, Cassie finds herself simply going through the motions of living. That is, until Devon arrives. Tall, dark, and mysterious his arrival turns the school, and Cassie’s life, upside down. Fighting against her fierce attraction to him, and the chaos he represents in her carefully ordered days, she is irresistibly drawn to him. Though worried that what she truly is will place Devon in danger, she is unable to fight her feelings for him. He is the one light, and the only source of hope she has in a world that revolves around death and fear. What she does not know is that Devon has some dark secrets of his own, secrets even more frightening and dangerous than hers. Secrets that threaten to tear them apart forever.

 The Mind Readers (The Mind Readers, #1) by Lori Brighton

Cameron Winters is a freak. Fortunately, no one but her family knows the truth... that Cameron can read minds. For years Cameron has hidden behind a facade of normalcy, warned that there are those who would do her harm. When gorgeous and mysterious Lewis Douglas arrives he destroys everything Cameron has ever believed and tempts her with possibilities of freedom. Determined to embrace her hidden talents, Cameron heads to a secret haven with Lewis; a place where she meets others like her, Mind Readers.

But as Cameron soon finds out some things are too good to be true. When the Mind Readers realize the extent of Cameron’s abilities, they want to use her powers for their own needs. Cameron suddenly finds herself involved in a war in which her idea of what is right and wrong is greatly tested. In the end she’ll be forced to make a choice that will not only threaten her relationship with Lewis, but her very life.

Ethereal (Celestra, #1) by Addison Moore

Sixteen-year-old, Skyla Messenger is a dead girl walking.

When her newly remarried mother moves the family to Paragon Island, to a house that is rumored to be haunted, Skyla finds refuge in Logan Oliver, a boy who shares her unique ability to read minds.

Skyla discovers Logan holds the answers to the questions she’s been looking for, but Logan’s reluctance to give her the knowledge she desires leaves her believing Logan has a few secrets of his own.

Skyla’s bloodlines may just be connected to the most powerful angelic beings that roam the earth, and the more she knows, the more danger she seems to be in.

Suddenly an entire faction of earthbound angels wants her dead, at least she still has Logan, or does she?

Glimpse (Zellie Wells, #1) by Stacey Wallace Benefiel

Zellie Wells has a devastating crush on Avery Adams, the son of her mom’s high school sweetheart. At her sixteenth birthday party, held in the basement of her dad’s church, she finally finds the courage to talk to him. Turns out, the devastating crush is mutual.

As Avery takes her hand and leads her out onto the makeshift dance floor, Zellie is overwhelmed by her first vision of his death; shocking because not only are they both covered in his blood, but they’re old, like thirty-five, and she is pregnant.

Afraid to tell anyone about the vision, (she’d just be labeled a freaky black magic witch, right?) Zellie keeps the knowledge of Avery’s future to herself and tries to act like any other teenager in love. When they get caught on their way to a secret rendezvous by her mom and his dad, they are forbidden to see each other.

Convinced that their parents are freaking out unnecessarily, Avery and Zellie vow to be together no matter what. They continue their relationship in secret until Zellie learns that their parents are just trying to prevent her and Avery from suffering like they did. The visions are hereditary, they’re dangerous, and if they stay together the visions will come true.

Now Zellie must choose between severing all ties with Avery, like her mom did to prevent his father’s death, and finding a way to change Avery’s future.
 
The Watchers (The Watchers, #1) by Lynnie Purcell

The Watchers is the first book in The Watchers Series. It focuses on 16-year-old Clare Michaels and her journey to her mom's hometown of King's Cross. Long aware of her heritage - that she is the daughter of a fallen angel - The Watchers focuses on her first interaction with the world she has always hidden from. Her first interaction comes in the form of a handsome, young high-schooler, Daniel Adams. He is her clue to the world she has always been afraid to face openly...but is he a danger as well?







Eternal Eden (Eden Trilogy, #1) by Nicole Williams

College sophomore Bryn Dawson is a self-proclaimed poster child for normal. However, the day William Hayward enters her life, normalcy is the last thing Bryn will be able to count on if she wants to be with him. Too mysterious and appealing to be good for a girl, Bryn feels drawn to him in a way that seems out of her control—as if fate is orchestrating it.

Despite every red flag and warning siren going off in her head telling her not to, Bryn falls hard for William, knowing he’s categorically different from anyone she’s ever met. She never imagined how right she was. When William takes her deeper into the rabbit hole of his world, Bryn must decide just how much she is willing to sacrifice to be with him, knowing no matter what, fate always finds a way to have the last laugh.

Spinning a new twist on star-crossed lovers, Eternal Eden will put Bryn through a gauntlet of turmoil, challenging her to find the power within herself to become the heroine in her own story.

The Emerald Talisman (Talisman, #1) by Brenda Pandos

To be normal, sixteen-year-old Julia Parker would shed her empathic gift in a second. Life has been difficult since her mother's mysterious disappearance ten years earlier - an event she witnessed, but can't remember. Julia's situation becomes more complicated after a near death experience from a blood thirsty stalker. As high school students go missing it is clear there is a connection to her own experience--past and present. Someone has to stop the madness and a chance encounter with a creepy psychic foretells that only Julia is the key to stopping the madness, but it may require the life of the one she loves.

**And on a different note...I'm now on Bloglovin!!**

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Happy Weekend!!

As always I hope you guys are having a fabulous weekend doing only what you want to do and having a ton of fun while you're at it!  I'm headed to one of my best girlfriend's houses where she's having a few of us from college for the weekend.  Reunions like this are always exciting and huge amounts of fun.  Not sure I'll be able to squeeze in much reading this weekend, but with visits like this not happening as often as we'd all like I think I can handle a hiatus from my library for the moment.

 

Happy Weekend and Happy Reading!!!

 

Review: Blazing the Trail (The Dragon Diaries, #3) by Deborah Cooke

From the author of the Dragonfire Novels comes a new series about the next generation of shape-shifting dragons—they’re ready to lead their pack. It’s almost Valentine’s Day, and Zoë Sorensson’s love life is heating up. Cute, loyal, and understanding, wolf shifter Derek is pretty much the perfect guy. He likes Zoë, and he knows what it’s like to have to keep a secret. Yet, Zoë can’t help but wish it was rebel rocker Jared asking her to the Valentine’s dance instead. 

But Jared’s too busy playing hot and cold with her heart, calling Zoë his dragon girl one minute and then taking special interest in her best friend the next. Zoë is just about ready to breathe fire, especially once she uncovers a new threat that targets her friends. Although Zoë thought the Mages were defeated, they’re back and have invoked an old spell to give them new power—they plan to eliminate all shape shifters on the night of the big dance. Now, Zoë must lead an alliance of young shifters to battle the Mages and figure out exactly what—and who—she wants, before it all goes up in smoke…

How can it be over?!  After I was finished with this one I went looking for information on when or if there would be a fourth installment in the series.  After looking through Cooke's site and seeing her mention that no plans were in the works I was not a happy camper.  I can't say that things were left hanging or unfinished but at the same time I am kind of feeling disappointed.  I wasn't ready to say goodbye to these characters.  Cooke mentioned that we might one day see these characters in her adult novels, but who knows?

Now that I've gotten that off my chest I feel like I can go on and say how much I enjoyed this series as a whole and this installment most of all.  Zoe and her team of loyal dragons and friends were at it again and this time the action was at an all time high!  All kinds of shifters were thrown into the mix, the mages stepped up their game and the love triangle that was giving me major anxiety was FINALLY resolved.  I won't spoil anything by commenting on who Zoe chooses, between Derek and Jared, but I have to compliment and tip my hat to Cooke with the way she went about that resolution.

So while I'm sad to see the gang go, I've started to backtrack into Cooke's adult Dragon series, Dragonfire, and I'll admit that three books into it and I'm loving it.  If you're a fan of literature outside of the YA spectrum and were also totally unprepared to say farewell to this world and these characters, this might be just the series for you.

I gave Blazing the Trail (The Dragon Diaries, #3) 4 shamrocks!!!!

Continuing On (3)

Sometimes I find myself getting so caught up counting down to new releases that I forget about some of the books and series that I'm looking forward to continuing on.  So recently I went back through and checked in with some of my favorites to see what was going on.  I'll admit I was surprised (in a good way) to find that new installments had come out within a series I'd enjoyed.  So rather than counting down in these posts, I decided to list some titles that have come out that I need to back track and read in order to catch up.  Here are just a few...

Catch Up #1:  Power (Soul Savers, #4) by Kristie Cook

As the stakes rise, can she find her true power?

As the Amadis prepare for war, Alexis returns to Florida with orders to relax, regenerate and replenish her depleted power. But her task list quickly grows—establish a new safe house, learn the art of conversion, find her AWOL protector, help a desperate fan, and protect her son. Oh, and figure out what’s going on with her husband, whose peculiar behavior just might get them killed.

But most important of all, her primary mission: recover her stolen pendant.

The stone in the pendant not only promises hope for the Amadis future, but its unknown qualities make it a possible weapon in the wrong hands. With guidance and power from an improbable source and an unlikely ally by her side, Alexis sets out to retrieve the stone before the enemy discovers its potential for mass destruction. But when she finds herself in the Daemoni’s lair fighting for her life, all hope seems lost. Will she discover the true power she holds in time? And is it enough to save herself, her family and the Amadis?

Power, the next installment of the Soul Savers Series, takes you on a hot and edgy ride with twists and turns you’ll never see coming, leaving you breathless and once again begging for more.

I was lucky enough to be able to be a part of the blog tours for the first three books in the series, but wasn't able to work the fourth into my schedule.  So while that's not a great excuse it is the reason I had to watch this title be released and not instantly start my reading.  Cook has a new adult series starting in April that I'm helping promote so I'm back on track and hoping to get a lot of quality reading time in.

Catch Up #2:  Once (Eve, #2) by Anna Carey

When you're being hunted, who can you trust?

For the first time since she escaped from her school many months ago, Eve can sleep soundly. She's living in Califia, a haven for women, protected from the terrifying fate that awaits orphaned girls in The New America.

But her safety came at a price: She was forced to abandon Caleb, the boy she loves, wounded and alone at the city gates. When Eve gets word that Caleb is in trouble, she sets out into the wild again to rescue him, only to be captured and brought to the City of Sand, the capital of The New America.

Trapped inside the City walls, Eve uncovers a shocking secret about her past--and is forced to confront the harsh reality of her future. When she discovers Caleb is alive, Eve attempts to flee her prison so they can be together--but the consequences could be deadly. She must make a desperate choice to save the ones she loves . . . or risk losing Caleb forever.

In this breathless sequel to "Eve," Anna Carey returns to her tale of romance, adventure, and sacrifice in a world that is both wonderfully strange and chillingly familiar.

Heartbreak!  I admit I was heartbroken thanks to the way the series opener ended and couldn't psych myself up to check out this sequel upon it's release.  Now that the third and final series installment, Rise is here I'm hoping to attempt a come back.  I'm always hoping for a happy ending for characters I love and that is still in effect when it comes to this series.  Here's hoping for less of the sad, and more of the happily ever afters with the last two books Carey delivers.

Catch Up #3:  Torn (Trylle, #2) by Amanda Hocking

When Wendy Everly first discovers the truth about herself—that she’s a changeling switched at birth—she knows her life will never be the same. Now she’s about to learn that there’s more to the story…

She shares a closer connection to her Vittra rivals than she ever imagined—and they’ll stop at nothing to lure her to their side. With the threat of war looming, her only hope of saving the Trylle is to master her magical powers—and marry an equally powerful royal. But that means walking away from Finn, her handsome bodyguard who’s strictly off limits…and Loki, a Vittra prince with whom she shares a growing attraction.

Torn between her heart and her people, between love and duty, Wendy must decide her fate. If she makes the wrong choice, she could lose everything, and everybody, she’s ever wanted…in both worlds.

As a special gift to readers, this book contains a new, never-before-published bonus story, “One Day, Three Ways,” set in the magical world of the Trylle.

Hocking's books basically take me out of commission for everything else when I start to read them.  2012 was a very busy year for me so unfortunately after I read her series opener, Trylle, I had to put the brakes on continuing her series, knowing that if I kept reading and making my way through I wouldn't get other things done.  But I've waiting long enough and have some ground to make up by reading the third book, Ascend as well.

Catch Up #4:  Outside In (Insider, #2) by Maria V. Snyder

Me?

A leader?

Okay, I did prove that there's more to Inside than we knew. That a whole world exists beyond this cube we live in. And finding that led to a major rebellion—between worker scrubs like me and the snobby uppers who rule our world. Make that ruled. Because of me, we're free. I thought that meant I was off the hook, and could go off on my own again—while still touching base with Riley, of course. He's the one upper I think I can trust. But then we learned that there's outside and then there is Outside. 

And something from Outside wants In.

For shame!  As one of my favorite authors ever, she's never let me down with one of her books yet.  I don't even think its possible for me to pick up one of her books and not fall instantly in love with it.  So I'm beating myself up for letting this release date come and go without buying myself a copy of this sequel.  I can't wait to see what comes next for Trella and the rest of her awesome characters!

Catch Up #5:  Charmfall (Dark Elite, #3) by Chloe Neill

High school can be a battlefield, but for Lily Parker, surviving at St. Sophia’s School for Girls is a matter of life and death...

Protecting Chicago from the dark side can be an exhausting job, especially when you’re a junior. So when the girls of St. Sophia’s start gearing up for Sneak, their fall formal, Lily decides to join in on some good, old-fashioned party prep—even if it means not giving demons, vampires and the twisted magic users known as Reapers her undivided attention.

But when a Reaper infiltrates the school, Lily doesn’t forget what she’s sworn to protect. She reaches deep into herself to draw out her magic—and finds that it’s gone. And it turns out she’s not alone. A magical blackout has slammed through paranormal Chicago, and no one knows what—or who—caused it. But Lily knows getting back her magic is worth the risk of going behind enemy lines...

With no plans for a fourth book in the series I'm wanting to see how Neill decided to wrap things up for these characters.  I've never read any of Neill's other books but did enjoy her YA titles and can only hope she'll introduce some more in the near future.

Happy Weekend!!!

Can you guys believe it's already June 1st?  I'm not sure where the time goes, but it feels like just last weekend I felt like Summer was finally here and now only one week later I'm worried it's going to pass us all by way too fast!  I think a nice weekend enjoying the boat out on the water is exactly what I need to remind me that Summer is here to stay for a while yet and there's plenty of time for us all to enjoy it, don't ya think???

 

Happy Weekend and Happy Reading!!!

 

Reading Rut...Please Help!

I think we've all been there before...at least once or twice...where no matter what you pick up to read, no matter how long you've been anticipating future release dates, and regardless of the events going on around you, sometimes at any given moment not even one book seems to hold your interest for long.  I've recently hit a reading rut and I'm at a loss for what to do.  I'm sure there's nothing much to be done, but wanted some opinions from you guys in case I'm missing something or if you guys have tried something different in the past that seems to work for you when this crisis hits.

So everyone that stops by the blog from time to time knows that I'm a HUGE fan of countdown posts, mainly because there are just so many good books out there and it's almost impossible to keep track of the majority without leaving out a few gems in the process.  Well despite having countdown posts out the wazoo to look back through and try to pick a few titles from, nothing lately seems to be holding my interest.  At first I thought maybe I'd just hit a rough patch with the current book I was reading.  I found myself coming home from work and when I would normally go about my usual routine and then kick back for a little before I set the alarm clock for the next day with a good book I had no desire to pick it up.  BIG red flag for me!  So I figured I'd put that title aside and pick up another one...when I did this with two other books I admitted defeat.  I knew I'd hit a reading slump and now here I am...begging for help or suggestions. 

Maybe you guys have read something recently that's just so fabulous that you know it's a full proof title to get me out of this terrible crisis, or whatever, but I'm open to just about any ideas you've got.  While I'm a huge bibliophile and will stop at nothing to add more titles to my shelves, I'm also a coffee table book fanatic and can't seem to stop collecting them whenever I get the chance.  So I figured maybe it was time to add a few more tomes to my already crazy collection (I Love It!) and fingers crossed they spark my interest long enough to jump start my regular reading back into action.  So you'll see in my next IMM on Sunday what I've purchased this week, if you've got any others you think I should look into let me know.

Last on my idea list of what to do to get me out of this current dilemma: branching out.  I'm a big YA fan...obviously but since nothing right now is keeping my attention I am finally going to dig through my list of past suggestions from family and friends.  These titles don't fall into the YA category but maybe that's my problem at the moment?  Who knows right?  So here a few that I'm going to check out, if you've read any of them or think I should look at some others let me know.  Hopefully this is a quick passing phase and I'll bounce back pronto.  In the meantime, hopefully I've got enough reviews already scheduled for the upcoming days to tide me over until I get some fresh and new material to work with.

Girls in White Dresses by Jennifer Close

Wickedly hilarious and utterly recognizable, Girls in White Dresses tells the story of three women grappling with heartbreak and career change, family pressure and new love—all while suffering through an endless round of weddings and bridal showers.

Isabella, Mary, and Lauren feel like everyone they know is getting married. On Sunday after Sunday, at bridal shower after bridal shower, they coo over toasters, collect ribbons and wrapping paper, eat minuscule sandwiches and doll-sized cakes. They wear pastel dresses and drink champagne by the case, but amid the celebration these women have their own lives to contend with: Isabella is working at a mailing-list company, dizzy with the mixed signals of a boss who claims she’s on a diet but has Isabella file all morning if she forgets to bring her a chocolate muffin. Mary thinks she might cry with happiness when she finally meets a nice guy who loves his mother, only to realize he’ll never love Mary quite as much. And Lauren, a waitress at a Midtown bar, swears up and down she won’t fall for the sleazy bartender—a promise that his dirty blond curls and perfect vodka sodas make hard to keep.

With a wry sense of humor, Jennifer Close brings us through those thrilling, bewildering, what-on-earth-am-I-going-to-do-with-my-life years of early adulthood. These are the years when everyone else seems to have a plan, a great job, and an appropriate boyfriend, while Isabella has a blind date with a gay man, Mary has a crush on her boss, and Lauren has a goldfish named Willard. Through boozy family holidays and disastrous ski vacations, relationships lost to politics and relationships found in pet stores, Girls in White Dresses pulls us deep inside the circle of these friends, perfectly capturing the wild frustrations and soaring joys of modern life.

**I've been in enough weddings in the past two years that I think not only will this book hit very close to home, but I'm almost positive that I'll be able to relate in one way or another, don't ya think?

The Singles by Meredith Goldstein

Take an instantly recognizable social dilemma—attending a wedding alone—add a good laugh (and maybe a cry), and meet The Singles, the warm and witty debut by Boston Globe “Love Letters” columnist Meredith Goldstein.

Beth “Bee” Evans’s first vow as a bride is that everyone on her list be invited to bring a guest to her lavish, Chesapeake Bay nuptials. When Hannah, Vicki, Rob, Joe, and Nancy one by one decline Bee’s generous offer, the frustrated bride dubs them the “Singles,” adrift on her seating chart as well as in life.

**I'm not trying to start a theme or trend here, with all these new books being wedding related, it just so happened that the first two on my long list of suggestions were just that.  And this one sounded a little humorous which might just be what I need.

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

Remember the woman you used to be ...

Alice is twenty-nine. She is whimsical, optimistic and adores sleep, chocolate, her ramshackle new house and her wonderful husband Nick. What's more, she's looking forward to the birth of the 'Sultana' - her first baby.

But now Alice has slipped and hit her head in her step-aerobics class and everyone's telling her she's misplaced the last ten years of her life.

In fact, it would seem that Alice is actually thirty-nine and now she loves schedules, expensive lingerie, caffeine and manicures. She has three children and the honeymoon is well and truly over for her and Nick. In fact, he looks at her like she's his worst enemy. What's more, her beloved sister Elisabeth isn't speaking to her either. And who is this 'Gina' everyone is so carefully trying not to mention?

Alice isn't sure that she likes life ten years on. Every photo is another memory she doesn't have and nothing makes sense. Just how much can happen in a decade? Has she really lost her lovely husband forever?

The First Husband by Laura Dave

A savvy, page-turning novel about a woman torn between her husband and the man she thought she'd marry.

Annie Adams is days away from her thirty-second birthday and thinks she has finally found some happiness. She visits the world's most interesting places for her syndicated travel column and she's happily cohabiting with her movie director boyfriend Nick in Los Angeles. But when Nick comes home from a meeting with his therapist (aka "futures counselor") and announces that he's taking a break from their relationship so he can pursue a woman from his past, the place Annie had come to call home is shattered. Reeling, Annie stumbles into her neighborhood bar and finds Griffin-a grounded, charming chef who seems to be everything Annie didn't know she was looking for. Within three months, Griffin is Annie's husband and Annie finds herself trying to restart her life in rural Massachusetts.

A wry observer of modern love, Laura Dave "steers clear of easy answers to explore the romantic choices we make" (USA Today). Her third novel is packed with humor, empathy, and psychological insight about the power of love and home.
**So those are the four I've pulled from the list for now, and I've already decided that I'll be ordering one of those as an audio book, to really shake things up.  I'm not usually the type that likes books on tape...mostly the narrators annoy me, but like I said before...I'm willing to try anything to break this stupid chain of disappointments. 

What else should I be checking out?  Anything else you guys have had to do to break the reading rut spell that you think I should try?