Monday, March 31, 2014

31 Day Blogging Challenge Final Update

Accepted Readers,

 Today is the last day of March and that means it's the last day of the 31 Day Blogging Challenge. This entry will be the 37th that I've posted during the month of March. I blew past my goal of 31! I am delighted that I was able to complete the challenge and was able to put out so much content. It was difficult at times but with the aid of the blogger phone app, I was able to achieve my goals. 

If I can blog so often, anyone can! It just takes dedication! If you decided not to join in on this month's 31 Day Blogging Challenge, I urge you to give it a go the next time around. Once I know when the next challenge starts, I'll be sure to write a post about it. If you did sign up for the challenge, how did you do? Did you reach your goal? I want to know! 

This is a bittersweet moment for me. On one hand I'm relieved that I don't have to rush to blog everyday but at the same time I've grown so used to it, I'm not sure I want to stop.  I will be continuing to post for a few new features; hopefully I can stay on track.


Every Wednesday: "Waiting On" Wednesay
At least once a week: Short Story Weekly
A few times a month: Bookish Questions
A few times a month: Hele's Top 5
At least once a month: TAGs/Challenges 

Features will be subject to changes, depending on my schedule. 

What are your thoughts about these various features? Do you enjoy them? Dislike them? Do you want to see something different? Please don't hesitate to let me know.

In case you missed any of my posts for the challenge:

 
Day #3: (2 posts)  
 
 
 
Day #10: (2 Posts)
 
Day #11: Book Hangovers
 
Day #12: (2 Posts)  
 
 
 
Day #21:  (2 Posts)

 
Day #27: (2 Posts)
 
Day #28: (2 Posts)

Day #30: The End Is Near
Day #31: 31 Day Blogging Challenge Final Update

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Sunday, March 30, 2014

The End is Near

Accepted Readers,

 Today is the day before the last of March and that means that the 31 Day Blogging Challenge is nearly over. After this post goes live, I've successfully wrote and published a post every day of March thus far. It has proven to be a difficult but rewarding challenge. I've seen increased traffic flow on this blog along with gaining new readers! I truly love the 31 Day Blogging Challenge! The last week has been the hardest because I'm running out of ideas, but I've mostly made it! Yay!

 Thank you for reading my posts.. without you this blog would nothing! I appreciate you and value your opinion! Have you enjoyed the type of posts that I've been shelling out this month? Do you have a favorite? Was there anything you disliked? Please let me know in a comment below, this blog is for you to enjoy. Help me make it more exciting while being fresh and interesting.

 Tomorrows post will be an update on all of the posts I've written for the #31dbc... It will be a one stop post for everything I've done for the entire month of March... You won't wanna miss it!
 
Remember I currently have a giveaway going on for the chance to win an e-book bundle containing all 3 books of the Almost Bad Boys series by A.O. Peart... here is the rafflecopter to enter in case your interested:

One Winner will receive an e-book bundle from Amazon or Barnes & Noble containing:



 The original post that includes links to my reviews for each book can be found by clicking here. 
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Saturday, March 29, 2014

Books Are Taking Over

Accepted Readers,

I have a serious book buying addiction... My bookshelves are filled to their max. It's time for a shelf clean-up. I've been working my way through my books, sorting them in alphabetical order by author name, and getting rid of the ones I'm never going to read.  I'm also scanning all of my books into a special shelf on my Goodreads account.

As of this moment, with the help of my mom, we've polished off one entire shelf. A total of roughly 300 books and we have two more entire shelves to finish. It's going to be a long night.

How do you have your bookshelves organized? I'm curious to learn about some new and possibly better ways.

I just got a fresh  cup of coffee and my books are calling me... So I will be back tomorrow with another post.

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Friday, March 28, 2014

Painting Abnegation Style

Accepted Readers,

 I worked 10 hours today. (6 at my regular job and 4 at my side job) Sometimes in my spare time I lend a hand to my step dad and help him with cleaning up/fixing houses. He pays me even when I tell him he doesn't have to, he just simply says I've worked hard and deserve it. 

I literally painted Abnegation style today because I was helping him (being selfless) and we happened to be painting a basement floor a dull shade of grey. (The color the faction members wear) I was also wearing grey pants. The whole time I was painting I kept thinking about Divergent. I'm such a nerd, I know. I even went on a 15 minute talking spree with my step dad telling him all about the book and how the paint color reminded me of it. Of course I had to break down what all the factions were and all the other notable must know details. He just politely stood there listening to me and tried to show interest. I'm not sure he could even understand me considering the 6 cups of coffee I had were causing me run my mouth a 100 miles a minute. Regardless, at least he showed effort. In the end, he may be a bit more Abnegation then I originally thought him to be. He has always seemed more Candor to me, but I digress. 

I'm just getting home so I have to rush and get ready for my date night with my boyfriend. Hopefully I don't collapse on the floor  in a heap of pain. Who would have thought that painting a floor would work so many muscles. (My forearms, shoulders, hips, knees, and even my bum hurts.) I'm terrified that all the caffeine I've ingested today is keeping the pain at bay and I'm waiting for the moment it wears off to really feel the burn. I so am not looking forward to that. 
 
Anyways, so tell me...before I go I have a question to ask all of you. What activity have you done in real life that has reminded you of a book you read? Tell me the book and what you were doing that made you think of it... I may just give the person with the best answer a special prize... =-P
Leave a comment below!




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*COVER REVEAL* CHASING DESIRE BY JENNIFER DOMENICO



CHASING DESIRE BY JENNIFER DOMENICO!

Release: June 9, 2014
Contemporary Romance {Adult}


High on life and all its luxuries, Brayden James has no intention of slowing down. That is until his womanizing ways catch up with him and he gets a much needed wake-up call. Just as he decides to clean up his act, the ultimate temptation enters his life.

 When Mackenzie Reed meets Brayden, the attraction is instant and she knows that together they could achieve the kind of career success she’s always craved. But Mackenzie isn’t like most women. She has very good reasons for keeping her heart locked up tight. For her, this isn’t about love. This is about power.

 Sparks fly as Brayden and Mackenzie try to avoid the one thing neither of them wanted. Each must choose between the life they’ve worked hard to achieve and the one they never imagined. Will they come to the same decision before it’s too late? Or will a hidden threat keep them apart?




OPEN INTERNATIONAL





Jennifer Domenico
Jennifer Domenico started writing as a five-year old child in the back of her mother’s bible in church. It was a way to keep the fidgety child quiet but even then she took simple stories and twisted them into even more imaginative tales. As she grew, the stories grew with her and she filled notebook after notebook with her musings.

 As an adult, she knew she wanted to be a writer but she lacked the attention span and inspiration required to produce a full length story. Eventually she put away her notebooks and turned her attention to the business world where she toiled away for many years.

 She stopped reading fiction, stopped entertaining her outlandish imagination, and stopped dreaming of being a writer. Until one day, many months ago she went to sleep and a beautiful love story played out in her dreams.

 When she awoke she felt compelled to write it down. And she wrote and she wrote, for days and days she wrote. The result is part one of Enzo and Ava’s story. Turn Towards the Sun is her first, but certainly not her last, novel.

 Ms. Domenico lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her very Italian husband, a dog that adores her, two cats that tolerate her, and wicked sweet tooth. She is currently working on part two in the series.







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Thursday, March 27, 2014

Bookish Questions : Thoughts About The E-Book Lawsuit

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Accepted Readers, 

For the past few weeks I've been hearing about the e-book lawsuit against Apple and five book publishers. (Penguin, Macmillan, Hachette, Simon & Schuster, and  HarperCollins) Months ago I started to receive emails from Barnes & Noble regarding the lawsuit that stated I may have been affected and may receive some cash back due to unethical increased sale prices. I didn't think too much of it until everyone in the online book community started to share the amounts they actually received back from various sites. I got back a mere $3.78 but hey, it's something right? I was shocked to receive anything considering the large amount of people that were involved in this whole mess. Normally I hear about lawsuits against big companies and how consumers may receive settlement payments but seldom do.  I'm seriously floored by the fact this one actual worked out for consumers.

 The whole E-Book Lawsuit is rather confusing to me. Someone shared link to a post that includes everything you need to know about the lawsuit. After I checked that out I finally think I understand what the whole thing was about. It appears that Apple and the 5 book publishing companies banded together to increase the prices of e-books. It seems they felt that Amazon was pricing their e-books at rock bottom price and they wanted to basically try to force them to raise prices as well. By doing this, they would have a better chance at becoming key profit makers in the e-book retailer market and knock Amazon out of the top. Is that the gist of this whole thing? 

 If that is the case, just wow. Nothing like a bit of greed and good old fashion bullying to get a job done. Great going Apple, Penguin, Macmillan, Hachette, Simon & Schuster, and  HarperCollins; you should be ashamed of yourselves. I wouldn't be so upset by this if it meant that the authors receive more compensation but in most cases I doubt that they do. My fear now is how are the authors from the various companies going to be affected? I'm not sure if this is a good or bad thing for them. I truly hope that things work out in their favor and that they don't end up losing money as well because at the end of the day, they are the most important and deserve to be paid well for their work.


I want to hear your opinion on the e-book lawsuit. Do I understanding it correctly, if not what is the lawsuit about?  What does this lawsuit mean to you and did you receive any money back?
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*COVER REVEAL* Echoes of Memories by Samantha LaFantasie


Echoes of Memories by Samantha LaFantasie
Coming July 2014!

About the Author

A Kansas native, Samantha LaFantasie spends her free time with her husband and three kids. Writing has always been a passion of hers, forgoing all other desires to devote to this one obsession, even though she often finds herself arguing with her characters through much of the process. She’s primarily a fantasy writer but often feels pulled to genres such as sci-fi, romance, and others. 

Among her writing credentials, a member of the Kansas Writer’s Association and has authored works such as Heart Song (her debut novel) and Made to Forget. 

Samantha loves to take time to enjoy other activities such as photography and playing her favorite game of all time, Guild Wars 2.

Want more from Samantha? Keep up with her at any of her digital hangouts.

Goodreads
Facebook Fan Page
Author Central
Twitter
Google+
Pinterest


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Wednesday, March 26, 2014

"Waiting On" Wednesday

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted and created by Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that bloggers are eagerly anticipating. Anyone is welcomed to participate in this event and able borrow the logo. Visit Breaking The Spine to find out more information and to check out their selection.


Accepted Readers,

 I've seen "Waiting On" Wednesday on various blogs and I've always wanted to participate. No time is better then the present. So many new books are coming out soon that I can't wait to get my hands on and this will be the perfect way to show them off. :)

My pick for this week is: 

 Title: Four : A Divergent Collection 
Series: Divergent (0.1-0.4)
Author: Veronica Roth
Release Date: July 8th, 2014
Pre-Order Links: | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | 
More Four! Fans of the Divergent series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth will be thrilled by Four: A Divergent Story Collection, five short stories told from Four's perspective. Each brief story—"The Transfer," "The Initiate," "The Son," "The Traitor," and "Free Four"—explores the world of the Divergent series through the eyes of the mysterious but charismatic Tobias Eaton, revealing previously unknown facets of his personality, backstory, and relationships.
  
Granted, I still need to read Allegiant... but I loved the first two books in the Divergent trilogy. One of my favorite characters happened to be Four, so when I heard about this collection of short stories told from his perspective; I knew I had to read them. I do realize that the stories are already available separately via e-books but I wanted to wait to read them in actual book format. I have the boxed set of the Divergent books and I'm ultra excited to add this one to my collection! 

So... what book are you anticipating to release? Let me know in a comment below and be sure to head over to Breaking The Spine to share your link if you decide to post your own 
"Waiting On" Wednesday!

 
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Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Hele's Top 5: Favorite Book Covers from my TBR Pile

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Accepted Readers, 

 I wanted to post something quick and fun today, so I decided one another Hele's Top 5. I hope you don't mind. This list of my top 5 will include my favorite covers from books I haven't read yet but hope to read soon. The only rule, I had to own the book. (Doesn't matter what format) Sounds pretty simple right? Ha... It wasn't with so many pretty covers to choose from! BUT at last, I made my decision. I won't go into why I like each cover simply because that would turn this into a REALLY long post. I'll just say that I LOVE THEM ALL! =-P

 *I've taken the liberty to include the blurb of each book and goodreads link (just click on the book's title)
Number 1
Morgan Rhodes
In a land where magic has been forgotten but peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest is simmering. Three kingdoms grapple for power—brutally transforming their subjects' lives in the process. Amidst betrayals, bargains, and battles, four young people find their fates forever intertwined:

Cleo: A princess raised in luxury must embark on a rough and treacherous journey into enemy territory in search of a magic long thought extinct.

Jonas: Enraged at injustice, a rebel lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country impoverished—and finds himself the leader of a people's revolution centuries in the making.

Lucia: A girl adopted at birth into a royal family discovers the truth about her past—and the supernatural legacy she is destined to wield.

Magnus: Bred for aggression and trained to conquer, a firstborn son begins to realize that the heart can be more lethal than the sword. . . .

The only outcome that's certain is that kingdoms will fall. Who will emerge triumphant when all they know has collapsed?

Number 2
Kendare Blake

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.

So did his father before him, until he was gruesomely murdered by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. They follow legends and local lore, destroy the murderous dead, and keep pesky things like the future and friends at bay.

Searching for a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas expects the usual: track, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, now stained red and dripping with blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.

Yet she spares Cas's life.

Number 3
Alexandra Bracken

When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government "rehabilitation camp." She might have survived the mysterious disease that's killed most of America's children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.

When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she's on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her-East River. She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can't risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents.

When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living.

Number 4
Helene Wecker

Chava is a golem, a creature made of clay, brought to life by a disgraced rabbi who dabbles in dark Kabbalistic magic. When her master, the husband who commissioned her, dies at sea on the voyage from Poland, she is unmoored and adrift as the ship arrives in New York in 1899.

Ahmad is a jinni, a being of fire, born in the ancient Syrian desert. Trapped in an old copper flask by a Bedouin wizard centuries ago, he is released accidentally by a tinsmith in a Lower Manhattan shop. Though he is no longer imprisoned, Ahmad is not entirely free – an unbreakable band of iron binds him to the physical world.

The Golem and the Jinni is their magical, unforgettable story; unlikely friends whose tenuous attachment challenges their opposing natures – until the night a terrifying incident drives them back into their separate worlds. But a powerful threat will soon bring Chava and Ahmad together again, challenging their existence and forcing them to make a fateful choice

Number 5
Franny Billingsley

Briony has a secret. It is a secret that killed her stepmother, ruined her sister's mind, and will end her life, if anyone were to know. She has powers. Then Eldric comes along with his golden lion eyes and a great mane of tawny hair. He is as natural as the sun, and he treats her as if she is extraordinary. And everything starts to change . . . Chime is a haunting, brilliantly written novel that will stay with you--its magic, its romance, its world like none other.


The End.
What do you think of the book covers I've chosen? 

What 5 book covers from your To-Be-Read Pile would you say are your top favorites? Leave a comment telling me below!
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Monday, March 24, 2014

Divergent: The Movie VS The Book

Accepted Readers,

 I just got home from watching the Divergent movie in the theater, so I thought I would share my opinion. As a book nerd we all know the book is always better and in this case that truly applies. I enjoyed the movie but feel I would have enjoyed it more had I not read the book. I noticed quite a few things that were changed or missing all together, some quite important honestly. I don't want to spoil anything for anyone who hasn't read the book or seen the movie so I'll keep things brief. No worries. 

 I would give the movie a 3 in a half to 4 stars; it would probably have gotten 5 stars had I not read the book. So yeah... I'm a bit disappointed.
Here's my break-down of what was missing that played a key importance in the book:
  • Peter's character was not shown to be as malicious and untrustworthy as he should have been. This was a big issue in the first book, the things he does reflect the outcome of how he and Tris get along later on.
  • The tension/disagreements between Tris and Four isn't shown AT ALL.
  • The thoughts that Tris has about herself and her doubts aren't really touched on like they should have been.
  • All of Tris's fears aren't portrayed in the last test. 
Here's my break-down of what varied from the book: 
  • Some of the characters didn't seem to match up to how they were portrayed in the book and weren't properly introduced in the movie, so I found myself trying to guess who was who.
  • The Dauntless compound while close doesn't quite fit the description it had in the book.
  •  The "visiting day" ceremony isn't mentioned at all, so the scene between Tris and her mom and brother was done differently. 
Overall, the movie got most of the key elements right. I just wish they didn't leave out some scenes. I think they picked the perfect actress for Tris and the perfect actor for Four. The action scenes were quite good and I think the ending was perfect. 

See or Skip the movie? 
I saw see it even if you haven't read the book. It's done in a way that even without reading the book that the whole concept is understandable and fascinating. If you have read the book just prepare to question a few scenes. Isn't that how it always goes though? When it hits dvd I will be purchasing it and I will likely re-watch it often.
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Sunday, March 23, 2014

Short Story Weekly #13: Almost Too Far by A.O. Peart + Giveaway

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Accepted Readers,

I am back with the third installment of the Almost Bad Boys series by A.O. Peart! I absolutely can't stop raving about this devilishly delicious book series! The Almost Bad Boy series opened a door into a whole new world for me. I never thought NA Contemporary Romance would be appealing to me but A.O. Peart has changed my mind on this entire genre. If you're a fan of books of this genre or if your looking for something new, you MUST give this series a chance! 


If you're interested in reading my reviews for the other books in this series:
ABOUT THE BOOK
Title: Almost Too Far
Author: A.O. Peart
Series: The Almost Bad Boys #3
Genre: NA Contemporary Romantic Comedy/Suspense
Expected Release Date:  March 30th, 2014
# of Pages: 189
My Rating: 5/5 
Buy Links: | B&N | Amazon | iTunes |

A martini glass of sizzling romance, a jigger of suspense and crime, perfectly shaken with a twist of wacky humor.

Where would you draw the line between love and trust?

When Colin’s feisty great grandma Helga mysteriously disappears, Natalie and the gun-toting Svetlana rush to the rescue. With the help of Russian mafia goons and Natalie’s girlfriends, they get more than they bargained for. Natalie invites trouble into her life all over again. She could find herself questioned by the police, or worse, her relationship with Colin could become rickety once more.

And so the race begins: with grandma Helga on the loose, Colin turns to the police for help, and Natalie is a stiletto heel tip outside of the law. But being in the wrong has never felt so vindicated.
Add Almost Too Far to your to be read book list on Goodreads:
add to goodreads
 
**Warning: due to sexual situations, nasty language, and a high dose of sarcasm this book may not be appropriate for readers under 18 years old. 
 
Not intended for prudes who get easily affronted** 
 
 ***The books in the Almost Bad Boys series should be read in order. 
They are not stand-alone books:  
 
Almost Matched (book 1) 
 Almost Broken Up (book 2) 
Almost Too Far (book 3)
My Review
Writing Style:
What amazes me about A.O. Peart's writing style in this series is her ability to squeeze such a wildly crazy fun story in such a small number of pages and have everything just feels so right. These books never disappoint, you won't believe how much can happen in under 200 pages.
 
My Opinion:
Let me put it to you straight, if you pick up this book make sure you have nothing planned to do because once you pick it up you won't put it down! It's becoming pretty customary for me to read any books in the Almost Bad Boys series in one reading session, they are just that good! I frequently find myself cursing myself for not being able to read faster, my excitement to know what will happen keeps me on the edge. The craziness that is Natalie's life fascinates me. 

This one opened and finished with a bang! This book didn't have as many scorching sex scenes, but don't worry the two sessions it does have make up for it. The scenes were a bit longer with some pretty kinky material, so be prepared to run to the nearest shower to cool yourself down.

Almost Too Far includes another disastrous adventure presented by the ever so lovely Female Solidarity Club as I now like to call Natalie and her friends (I was so excited to see all of them make an appearance this time!)... These ladies sure do know how to get themselves into some mischief and I love it! This time around Colin's great grandmother and her group of feisty lady friends join in on the fun. What happens when you get a group of adventurous ladies together? Pure wild delight, lots of drinking, and loads of hilarious situations... can somebody say hell yes? If only I could be part of their inner circle, I know I would fit in quite nicely. I also have a knack for finding trouble and mischief, it's in my nature.

What I enjoyed most about Almost Too Far is the way Natalie compares her and Colin's relationship to the situations happening around her. It's like a light bulb goes off in her head and she figures out the reason behind the friction their relationship experiences.  I feel that this really connects the story together with Almost Matched the first book. As the readers we knew why they had issues and it was great to see that they finally realize the problem and now can begin to strengthen their relationship. They truly do make a perfect couple and when you finish reading this book you will see why. A beautiful ending the one I was rooting for! Yay!  

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Are you still sitting here and fighting the urge to read this devilishly delicious book series?   You can request to review Almost Matched and Almost Broken Up,  just email the author at angela@angelapeart.com with subject line: "Review Request"
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY
I love this series so much I want to share it with the world! 
 
Want a chance to win an e-book copy of all three books in the set? 
 
 One lucky Accepted Wisdom Reader will have the chance to win a e-book bundle that will include:
   
Almost Matched
Almost Broken Up
Almost Too Far (once it releases)

Open Internationally. 
I am funding the prizes which will be gifted via Amazon or Barnes & Nobles (winners choice)

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