Quotes (#32)

Morning Swooners!

It's Thanksgiving day and there are so many things I am thankful for this year. First, I have to say that I am so thankful to have made it this far in my nursing program. It's been an incredible journey so far and there are still times when I can't believe that i'm doing this and i've survived this long. I'm also incredibly thankful that I am currently passing all my classes this semester. It's been a rough semester and many of my classmates are not doing so well so I just want to say how thankful I am that i'm doing well enough not to worry as much. Another thing i'm so grateful for is the health of my grandparents. They have both gone through a lot of scary health issues this year and things were grim for quite some time. I'm just so happy that they were both strong enough to pull through and stick around for a little while longer. I can't imagine my life without them and I don't think I would have made it through this year if they weren't around. Of course there are so many more things that i'm grateful for, but those are the first few things that come to my mind while writing this. Let's get into some quotes for the week.


“Whenever you feel like criticizing any one...just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had.” ― F. Scott Fitzgerald

“Be thankful for everything that happens in your life; it’s all an experience.” ― Roy T. Bennett


“Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile.”― Mother Teresa

“Maybe the truth is, there's a little bit of loser in all of us. Being happy isn't having everything in your life be perfect. Maybe it's about stringing together all the little things.”― Ann Brashares, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

“There is some kind of a sweet innocence in being human- in not having to be just happy or just sad- in the nature of being able to be both broken and whole, at the same time.”― C. JoyBell C.

“I think happiness is what makes you pretty. Period. Happy people are beautiful. They become like a mirror and they reflect that happiness.”― Drew Barrymore

“Happiness is not a goal...it's a by-product of a life well lived.”― Eleanor Roosevelt

“The power of finding beauty in the humblest things makes home happy and life lovely.”― Louisa May Alcott

REVIEW: The Truth by Jeffry W. Johnston

The Truth by Jeffry W. Johnston

Publication Date: February 1, 2016

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Source: Received from Publisher 

Buy it at: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

*This eARC was received from the publisher, but it did not influence this review in any way *

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Lie, torture, kill—there's nothing Chris and Derek wouldn't do for their younger brothers…


When Chris wakes up tied to a chair in a dark basement, he knows that he's trapped—and why. He shot and killed Derek's little brother. He had his reasons, but no matter how far Derek goes to uncover the truth about that night, Chris's story won't change. It can't. There is far too much at stake…

Derek is desperate to prove his brother didn't deserve to die. And if kidnapping his brother's killer is the only way to the truth, than he'll go to extremes. But Chris's truth is far more dangerous than Derek could have imagined, and knowing could cost both their lives…

When I started reading this book I was a little skeptical about how the author was going to handle this story, but I instantly fell into the rhythm and soon found that I couldn't put it down. This story is told through a combination of flashbacks and the present which I normally find a bit difficult to read, but this author made it flow naturally and beautifully. The story itself was told in reverse which I loved because it's such a different style to write and it kept me guessing until the very end!

The story is told from Chris's point of view while alternating between the present and flashbacks as Chris tells Derek his side of what happened. The entire time I was reading, I loved how unpredictable it all was! I never knew what was going to happen and the ending was such a perfect twist. It truly had me questioning everything I had learned while reading. That ending was perfect! There are no words for it!!

I think what makes "The Truth" so special is that it touches on realistic subjects and gives such a realistic feeling while reading it. The author turned this story into more than just a young adult book. He highlighted facets of human nature. He shows you that everyone is damaged in some shape or form and that corruption can drive people to do horrible things. He shows you that not everyone gets to have a happily ever after, no matter how much they deserve one and everyone has bad things happen to them, even good people. He also made me feel sad for the antagonist of the story. His love for his brother was truly heartfelt.

This book is a fast-paced story that will leave you wanting more as you turn the last page and wonder how you could have read it so fast without realizing.

Quotes (#31)

Morning Swooners!

So I know i've only been posting quotes lately and i'm really sorry for that, i've just been really busy with school work and haven't had the chance to work on any book reviews. I promise i'll get my act together soon though :) So let's get the day started with some quotes from one of my new favorite series (read: my new obsession)!


“It would not take a monster to destroy a monster - but light, light to drive out darkness.”
― Sarah J. Maas, Heir of Fire


“You didn't need a weapon at all when you were born one.”
― Sarah J. Maas, Heir of Fire


“As for Celaena," he said again, "you do not have the right to wish she were not what she is. The only thing you have a right to do is decide whether you are her enemy or her friend.”
― Sarah J. Maas, Heir of Fire


“Gods, he was brilliant. Cunning and wicked and brilliant.
Even when he beat the hell out of her. Every. Damn. Day.”
― Sarah J. Maas, Heir of Fire


“He'd known, since the moment he figured out who she was, that while Celaena would always pick him, Aelin would not.”
― Sarah J. Maas, Heir of Fire


“She had lied to him. She had wanted to save lives, yes. But she had gone out there with no intention of saving her own.”
― Sarah J. Maas, Heir of Fire


“But she didn't want to know - didn't want to think about the Sun Goddess and her agenda as she flung herself on Rowan, breathing in his scent, memorizing the feel of him. The first member of her court - the court that would change the world. The court that would rebuild it. Together.”
― Sarah J. Maas, Heir of Fire


“They had survived, when so many had not. And no one ­else could understand what it was like to bear it, unless they had lost as much.”
― Sarah J. Maas, Heir of Fire


“These days, I am very glad to be a mortal, and to only have to endure this life once. These days, I don't envy you at all."

"And before?"

It was her turn to stare toward the horizon. "I used to wish I had a chance to see it all- and hated that I never would.”
― Sarah J. Maas, Heir of Fire


“He looked at his friend, perhaps for the last time, and said what he had always known, from the moment they’d met, when he’d understood that the prince was his brother in soul. “I love you.”
― Sarah J. Maas, Heir of Fire

Quotes (#30)

Morning Swooners!

So I recently finished reading the Legend series by Marie Lu and I absolutely LOVED it! So to honor that new love that I can't seem to get over, here are some quotes from the three books. Hope you enjoy them!


“'You're brilliant,' he says. 'But you're a fool to stay with someone like me.' I close my eyes at the touch of his hand. 'Then we are both fools.'”  ― Marie Lu, Legend


“Brave thoughts, but am I ready to follow through on them?”  ― Marie Lu, Legend


“Dust everywhere... and out of that emerged this beautiful boy with the bluest eyes I'd ever seen, holding his hand out to help me to my feet.”  ― Marie Lu, Legend


“It's strange being here with you. I hardly know you. But...sometimes it feels like we're the same person born into two different worlds.”  ― Marie Lu, Legend


“Someday I’ll see him again, and we’ll tell our stories to each other…but for now, I lock him safely away, in a place where I can draw on his strength.”  ― Marie Lu, Legend


“Her sadness makes her impossibly beautiful, like snow blanketing a barren landscape.”  ― Marie Lu, Legend


“I can see her intelligence in every question she asks me and every observation she makes. But at the same time, there's an innocence that makes her completely different from most of the people I've met. She's not cynical or jaded. The streets haven't broken her. They've made her stronger instead.”  ― Marie Lu, Legend


“She's pretty in a way that distracts me just like she did in the Skiz ring. No, pretty's not the right word. Beautiful.”  ― Marie Lu, Legend


“Day, the boy from the streets with nothing except the clothes on his back and the earnestness in his eyes, owns my heart. He is beauty, inside and out. He is the silver lining in a world of darkness. He is my light.”  ― Marie Lu, Prodigy


“I want to run. To do what I always do, have always done, for the last five years of my life. Escape, flee into the shadows. But this time, I stand my ground. I'm tired of running.”  ― Marie Lu, Prodigy


“I turn even more flustered when I remember that I have actually pistol-whipped him in the face before. Romantic.”  ― Marie Lu, Prodigy


“Sometimes, the sun sets earlier. Days don’t last forever, you know. But I’ll fight as hard as I can. I can promise you that.”  ― Marie Lu, Champion


“I’ve been searching a long time for something I think I lost. I felt like I found something when I saw you back there.”  ― Marie Lu, Champion


“He loves you, really he does. He'd love you even if it destroyed him. He matches you.”  ― Marie Lu, Champion


“Where I come from, we're more about efficiency,' he replies. 'A knife like this'll skewer food, smear butter, and slit throats all at the same time.” ― Marie Lu, Champion


“I'm so tired. I don't know if I can ever outrun how I used to be.”  ― Marie Lu, Champion

REVIEW: Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

Publication Date: May 5, 2015

Publisher: Viking Books
Source: Miami Dade Public Library

Buy it at: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Sydney's handsome, charismatic older brother, Peyton, has always dominated the family, demanding and receiving the lion's share of their parents' attention. And when Peyton's involvement in a drunk driving episode sends him to jail, Sydney feels increasingly rootless and invisible, worried that her parents are unconcerned about the real victim: the boy Peyton hit and seriously injured. Meanwhile, Sydney becomes friends with the Chathams, a warm, close-knit, eccentric family, and their friendship helps her understand that she is not responsible for Peyton's mistakes. Once again, the hugely popular Sarah Dessen tells an engrossing story of a girl discovering friendship, love, and herself.

Holy cow, guys! I hate that Sarah Dessen always makes me love all of her books. Especially this one. I seriously couldn't put it down. We start with a little bit of back story about Sydney and her brother Peyton's criminal background. As can be expected, her brother's history has detrimental effects on more than just him. It has left lasting effects on his entire family, including Sydney. She finds herself feeling ostracized and wanting to get away. This is where the story starts to take off. Once she meets the Chathoms, they slowly begin to change her views on herself, the situation with her brother, and her life in general. 

Sydney has a really hard time adjusting to the devastating actions of her older brother, Peyton. She feels left out and ignored by her parents and blames her brother and his actions for that feeling. She also has a hard time dealing with the fact that her parents have seemingly forgotten and ignored the little boy that was severely injured and paralyzed due to Peyton's actions. This gives Sydney a feeling of guilt because she feels that someone should care about the boy that had his life changed forever. 

I was a bit iffy with my feelings about Sydney's parents, particularly her mother. I had a hard time relating to her because I had the same feeling that Sydney had: they shouldn't forget about the little boy who was injured. I felt like she was being so selfish by ignoring the event and ignoring Peyton's role in everything. On the other hand, I also understood that was just her way of coping with the whole situation which makes me feel for her a bit. I didn't really care for her father at all. He seemed kind of insignificant and wimpy throughout the book.

The real MVP of this story is the Chatham family! From the moment we meet Layla we know that she is someone important in Sydney's life. She's such a free spirit and never judges Sydney for any of the things that Sydney judges herself on and it's so beautiful to see their friendship bloom. Then there's Layla's older brother Mac...can you say swooooooonnnnn!!! Anyway, Mac is the perfect older brother to Layla and and even more perfect boyfriend to Sydney! He's so kind and caring to everyone he meets it's refreshing to see. Mrs. Chatham plays a pretty large role in Sydney's life too but on a much smaller scope. Although her scenes are small in comparison to Layla and Mac's, her role is pivotal in allowing Sydney to release all the guilt she feels because of her brother, and helps her to reconcile her relationship with her brother in a way her parents could never do. Can I just say I freakin' love that family!!

So overall, I have to say that of all the Sarah Dessen books i've read, this one was by far my absolute favorite and I think everyone should get there hands on a copy and read it! I'm 1000% sure you'll love it as much as I did!

Quotes (#29)

We made it through the week guys! I'm so excited because this is the calmest weekend i've had in a while and even though I have finals coming up in two weeks and I should be studying this week i'm going to enjoy my freedom and go hard starting Monday! You know, because I think i'll lose my mind if I don't lol So let's get some quotes started and just know that these quotes do not reflect my current mood but I just love this book so much and haven't quite moved on yet. So here we go :)

“The future was one thing that could never be broken, because it had not yet had the chance to be anything.”  ― Sarah Dessen, Saint Anything


“You only really fall apart in front of the people you know can piece you back together.”  ― Sarah Dessen, Saint Anything


“I’d done the right thing. I always did. It just would have been nice if someone had noticed.”  ― Sarah Dessen, Saint Anything


“Just because a person isn't talking about something doesn't mean it's not on their mind. Often, in fact, it's why they won't speak of it.”  ― Sarah Dessen, Saint Anything


“It was a weird kind of loneliness, feeling that some of my closest friends didn’t actually know I existed.”  ― Sarah Dessen, Saint Anything


“That’s the thing, though. You always think you want to be noticed. Until you are.”  ― Sarah Dessen, Saint Anything


“It didn't matter that I'd done none of those things. With shame, like horseshoes, proximity counts.” ― Sarah Dessen, Saint Anything

Happy Friday, Swooners!

COVER REVEAL: Alpha (Mackenzie Grey #3) by Karina Espinosa

SHIFT (book 1): http://smarturl.it/49zrvq

CAGED (book 2): http://smarturl.it/hzfe3y

ALPHA (book 3): TBA

About the Author:

Karina Espinosa is the Urban Fantasy author of the Sins of the Fallen series and the Mackenzie Grey novels, and a Senior Contributor for HollywoodNewsSource.com. Infatuated with travel, pop culture, and the need to write everything down, she spends much of her days in front of a computer working on her next book, shopping online, and listening to music. With nomadic tendencies, she is currently resting her head in South Florida until the itch to move strikes again. You can usually catch her on Facebook, Instagram, and live-tweeting during episodes of The Walking Dead and Orphan Black. Follow her on social media!

Author / Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Quotes (#28)

Morning Swooners!

I'm feeling so exhausted today and I didn't have any time to have my coffee this morning. Looks like it's going to be a looooooonnnnggg day! Let's get into these quotes.

“Love is like the wind, you can't see it but you can feel it.” —Nicholas Sparks, A Walk to Remember

“Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.” —Anne Frank


“When someone shows you who they are believe them; the first time.” —Maya Angelou


“Usually we walk around constantly believing ourselves. "I'm okay" we say. "I'm alright". But sometimes the truth arrives on you and you can't get it off. That's when you realize that sometimes it isn't even an answer--it's a question. Even now, I wonder how much of my life is convinced.”—Markus Zusak


“So he tasted the deep pain that is reserved only for the strong, just as he had tasted for a little while the deep happiness.” ― F. Scott Fitzgerald, All the Sad Young Men


“I felt her absence. It was like waking up one day with no teeth in your mouth, you wouldn't need to run to the mirror to know they were gone” ― James Dashner, The Scorch Trials


“The most exhausting thing in life, I have discovered, is being insincere.” ― Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Gift from the Sea

REVIEW: These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly

These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly

Publication Date: October 27, 2015

Publisher: Delacorte Press
Source: Received from Publisher 

Buy it at: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

*This eARC was received from the publisher, but it did not influence this review in any way *

My rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Jo Montfort is beautiful and rich, and soon—like all the girls in her class—she’ll graduate from finishing school and be married off to a wealthy bachelor. Which is the last thing she wants. Jo secretly dreams of becoming a writer—a newspaper reporter like the trailblazing Nellie Bly.

Wild aspirations aside, Jo’s life seems perfect until tragedy strikes: her father is found dead. Charles Montfort accidentally shot himself while cleaning his revolver. One of New York City’s wealthiest men, he owned a newspaper and was partner in a massive shipping firm, and Jo knows he was far too smart to clean a loaded gun.

The more Jo uncovers about her father’s death, the more her suspicions grow. There are too many secrets. And they all seem to be buried in plain sight. Then she meets Eddie—a young, brash, infuriatingly handsome reporter at her father’s newspaper—and it becomes all too clear how much she stands to lose if she keeps searching for the truth. Only now it might be too late to stop.

The past never stays buried forever. Life is dirtier than Jo Montfort could ever have imagined, and the truth is the dirtiest part of all.


So this is my first Jennifer Donnelly novel and I have to say that I absolutely loved it and can't wait to get my hands on more of her work. Historical fiction has never really been my cup of tea, but when it has a young adult feel like this one it definitely hits the spot. Jo Montfort is a bright young woman with a bright future. Even though her family has mapped out her entire life, she always has the urge to do and be so much more than what she is. I find that she has to constantly hold back her true self. Jo stands out as a rebel with a penchant for trouble and when she meets Eddie Gallagher she finds herself becoming the person she was always meant to be.

Jo has such a brave and strong personality and it got to shine bright every time she was investigating with Eddie, but there were some situations that I feel like she really could have avoided if she had just listened to him instead making her own decisions. I loved that Jo had so many big dreams for herself during a time when her freedom was so very limited. I especially liked that there were so many strong females available for her to be so heavily influenced by. The tragedy behind her fathers mysterious death was just as frustrating for her as it was for me because there were so many factors that we learned and in the end it's like she didn't even know her father all that well. I always feel bad when characters find out harsh truths about a person they loved.

I have to say that my absolute favorite character was Fay. I feel like Fay was such a real depiction of what it's like to have a hard life in any time period. She was such a strong character and a little bit scary in the beginning but once you got to know her you saw how fiercely loyal and protective she was. She saved Jo more times than I can count and the friendship they form over time was my favorite relationship to see. Fay needed a real friend and Jo needed a reality check so the two of them were able to learn so much from each other. I also loved that Fay wasn't forgotten in the happy ending department because of all the characters in this story, no one deserved it more than her.

Overall, I highly recommend this book for any Historical Fiction junkie and even all YA lovers because this book was the perfect mix of both!

Quotes (#27)

Morning Swooners!

Soooooo, I know it's been a long while since i've posted anything and i'm reeeaaalllly sorry about that. I know at some point saying "i'm busy" starts to get old and it's already getting kind of old to me so I won't say that right now. I just needed a little break from things that felt like work and it was starting to feel a little bit like work. No worries though, I feel refreshed now and am ready to get back to it! So who's ready for some quotes. Todays' quotes are a little on the sad side because that's just how i'm feeling today, but i've had my coffee and i'm ready to take on the day!


“How can thoughts hurt so much when they aren't even physical?” ― Beatrice Sparks, Treacherous Love: The Diary of an Anonymous Teenager


“Alone. The saddest word in the world.” ― Beatrice Sparks


“So it’s true, when all is said and done, grief is the price we pay for love.” ― E.A. Bucchianeri, Brushstrokes of a Gadfly


“Someday, we’ll run into each other again, I know it. Maybe I’ll be older and smarter and just plain better. If that happens, that’s when I’ll deserve you. But now, at this moment, you can’t hook your boat to mine, because I’m liable to sink us both.” ― Gabrielle Zevin, Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac


“If I let myself love you, I won't throw myself in front of her. I'll throw myself in front of you.” ― Richelle Mead, Vampire Academy


“What is hardest to accept about the passage of time is that the people who once mattered the most to us wind up in parentheses.” ― John Irving, The Cider House Rules


“Then I thought, boy, isn't that just typical? You wait and wait and wait for something, and then when it happens, you feel sad.”
― Sharon Creech, Absolutely Normal Chaos


“The silence isn't so bad, till I look at my hands and feel sad. Because the spaces between my fingers are right where yours fit perfectly.” ― Owl City, Ocean Eyes [Deluxe Edition]


“I wanted to cry but I didn't, I probably should have cried, I should have drowned us there in the room ending our suffering.” ― Jonathan Safran Foer, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Enjoy the day!

Xoxo,

Quotes (#26)

Guys!!!!!!!! I can't wait for this semester to be over all ready! I have exactly 20 days to go and then i'm done. Well until May 9th, then it's back at it again! So basically i'm just trying to keep it all together so I can make it out of this program in one piece... even if not totally sane anymore.

Anywho, let's get some quotes in today because, to be honest, they just make me happy. And at this point in my life I could always use a few happy and relaxing moments.


“How can thoughts hurt so much when they aren't even physical?” ― Beatrice Sparks, Treacherous Love: The Diary of an Anonymous Teenager


“Alone. The saddest word in the world.” ― Beatrice Sparks


“Usually we walk around constantly believing ourselves. "I'm okay" we say. "I'm alright". But sometimes the truth arrives on you and you can't get it off. That's when you realize that sometimes it isn't even an answer--it's a question. Even now, I wonder how much of my life is convinced.”—Markus Zusak


“So he tasted the deep pain that is reserved only for the strong, just as he had tasted for a little while the deep happiness.” ― F. Scott Fitzgerald, All the Sad Young Men


“Love is like the wind, you can't see it but you can feel it.” ― Nicholas Sparks, A Walk to Remember

“Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.” ― Anne Frank


“When someone shows you who they are believe them; the first time.” ― Maya Angelou


Hope you all enjoy the day!

Xoxo,

Quotes (#25)

Morning Swooners!

So things have been really crazy for me at school lately. I basically have an exam every single week. I know that doesn't sound bad, but these nursing school tests are no joke! So it is with great joy that I say that my second semester is finally coming to an end soon. Of course all that really means is that it's crunch time right now! So I just want you all to know that my posts will be a bit more spaced out. You know, more than usual anyway lol. So here's some quotes that help keep me motivated when I start to feel run down and defeated. Hope they can keep you going to :)

“Whenever I don’t know whether to fight or not, I fight.”— Emily Murph

“One day, in retrospect, the years of struggle will strike you as the most beautiful.” ― Sigmund Freud

“Don't be afraid of your fears. They're not there to scare you. They're there to let you know that something is worth it.” ― C. JoyBell C.

“There will be haters, there will be doubters, there will be non-believers, and then there will be you proving them wrong.” ― Unknown 21

“Never allow others to create your world because if you do, they will always make it too small.”
― Christopher Robinson

“Life is not about perfection. It's about persistence.” ― Natalie Wright


“As long as this exists, this sunshine and this cloudless sky, and as long as I can enjoy it, how can I be sad?” ― Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl


Enjoy your Tuesday!

COVER REVEAL - Ladies Man by Katy Evans

Ladies Man
By Katy Evans 

Publication Date: April 26, 2016


He’s not the guy you date. 

He’s the one night stand.
You’d think this man who sent hot looks my way, who called me succulent, would want to strip me bare and spread me out on his bed like every other woman in Chicago.
Except, he passed on my offer….
Just like I once passed on his.
He’s wary, like I am.
He’s broken, like I am.
And everyone knows two broken parts can’t ever make a whole.
So I try to distract myself with dating.
Tahoe and I are strictly friends. He doesn’t think my new beau is good enough—he doesn't think any man is, especially himself.
The more time Tahoe and I spend together, the more confused I feel.
I'm trying to open up to love.
But I'm quickly realizing that the only man I want is the stubborn, cocky, unattainable playboy Tahoe Roth.
The one my mother warned me about.
The one my body craves.
The only one who will surely break my heart.

Releases April 26, 2016
A new standalone contemporary romance from Katy Evans' NYT bestsellingManwhore series. You can preorder exclusively from iBooks here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/ladies-man/id1083496039?mt=11

If you'd like to be notified when the Amazon, BN, Kobo, Google Play, and other vendor links are live, sign up here: http://meettahoe.com/

Pre-order Ladies Man on Audio: http://books.simonandschuster.com/Ladies-Man/Katy-Evans/The-Manwhore-Series/9781508223375

Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27231804-untitled

#LadiesMan

Quotes (#24)

Morning Swooners,

So my friend recently told me that her sister wants to read Go Ask Alice and I thought i'd share some of my favorite quotes from the book. You know, just to make her want to read it even more lol. Hope you all have a great day!

“I'm not really sure which parts of myself are real and which parts are things I've gotten from books.” ― Beatrice Sparks, Go Ask Alice


“It's a good thing most people bleed on the inside or this would be a gory, blood-smeared earth.” ― Beatrice Sparks, Go Ask Alice


“I really am only one infinitely small part of an aching humanity.” ― Beatrice Sparks, Go Ask Alice


“I guess I'll never measure up to anyone's expectations. I surely don't measure up to what I'd like to be.” ― Beatrice Sparks, Go Ask Alice


“Maybe the new me will be different.” ― Beatrice Sparks, Go Ask Alice


“I'm afraid to live and afraid to die.” ― Beatrice Sparks, Go Ask Alice


“She didn't know whether she was running away from something or running to something, but she admitted that deep in her heart she wanted to go home.” ― Beatrice Sparks, Go Ask Alice


“I can't believe that I changed so little. I expected to look old and hollow and gray, but I guess it's only me on the inside that has shriveled and deteriorated.” ― Beatrice Sparks, Go Ask Alice

Quotes (#23)

Morning Swooners!

So whoooooooo's happy today??? I AM!!! And I hope you all are too!!! Nursing school is driving me crazy and it's extremely difficult, but I just have to say that my life feels so content. So of course when I have these moments of happiness I like to share them with some happy quotes. Hope you all have a great day!!


“Find your Light; They can't love you if they can't see you” ― Bette Midler

“I never know how much of what I say is true.” ― Bette Midler

“Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.” ― Shel Silverstein

“I would always rather be happy than dignified.” ― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

“It was only a sunny smile, and little it cost in the giving, but like morning light it scattered the night and made the day worth living.” ― F. Scott Fitzgerald


“I don't think that there are any limits to how excellent we could make life seem.” ― Jonathan Safran Foer, Everything Is Illuminated

“There are different kinds of happy,” she said. “Some kinds don’t need any proof.” ― Jennifer E. Smith, This is What Happy Looks Like

“I do not think we have a "right" to happiness. If happiness happens, say thanks.” ― Marlene Dietrich, Marlene Dietrich's ABC

REVIEW: This is Where it Ends by Marieke Nijkamp

This is Where it Ends by Marieke Nijkamp

Publication Date: January 5, 2016

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Source: Received from Publisher 

Buy it at: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

*This eARC was received from the publisher, but it did not influence this review in any way *

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

10:00 a.m.
The principal of Opportunity, Alabama's high school finishes her speech, welcoming the entire student body to a new semester and encouraging them to excel and achieve.

10:02 a.m.
The students get up to leave the auditorium for their next class.

10:03 a.m.
The auditorium doors won't open.

10:05 a.m.
Someone starts shooting.

Told over the span of 54 harrowing minutes from four different perspectives, terror reigns as one student's calculated revenge turns into the ultimate game of survival.

Right now i'm sitting in my Pathophysiology class trying to write this review without turning into a giant puddle of tears. Let's just say this has been a major fail for me! This book has to be one of the most heartbreaking, gut-wrenching books I have ever read and i'm just having a really hard time giving it a review that will do it justice. My words just don't seem like enough right now.

I can count on my hands the number of books i've read that have made me cry. It was 6. Now, it's 7. I had such a hard time getting through this book because it was such an emotional read. It constantly reminded me of all those school shootings that have happened during my life and all I could think about was how accurate the book seemed. I've never personally experienced a school shooting (which I am unbelievably thankful that I can say) but I imagine that this author nailed the emotions of what it must feel like to be in one.

The scenes that unfolded during the 54 minutes this shooting occurred in was detailed and heartbreaking to read. I don't have children, but I know that this is a parents worst nightmare. Or really, it's a family's worst nightmare because the parents are not the only ones that are hurt when these things happen. This is something that the author portrayed in the book very well.

The story was told in four different points of view, and at the end, turned into three points of view. This one tiny detail caused me such sorrow, but I don't consider this a "spoiler" because when talking about shootings, you can kind of assume that there will be death involved. One of the deaths in the book involved one character that I actually really loved and I was so incredibly sad when he died. Of course I went through the eight stages of grief and hated the author for killing them off but then I realized that, like life, you have no control over these things. So I forgive you, Marieke! (haha)

Overall, I think you need to be mentally prepared before picking up this book because the emotional distress is so serious! Or then again, maybe i'm just a sensitive sissy? Either way, with books like this, you just never know! :)

Valentine's Day Special~ Hello? by Liza Wiemer

Morning Swooners!

I have an amazing deal to share with you today. Author Liza Wiemer's Hello? is on sale for $0.99. This book has been raved about by several of my blogger friends and i'm so happy I just bought my copy today!! So if you haven't read Hello? yet, here is your chance because starting today through Monday the 15th, the eBook will be on sale! 

Hello? by Liza Wiemer

Publication Date: November 10, 2015

Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

One HELLO can change a life. One HELLO can save a life.
Tricia: A girl struggling to find her way after her beloved grandma's death.
Emerson: A guy who lives his life to fulfill promises, real and hypothetical.
Angie: A girl with secrets she can only express through poetry.
Brenda: An actress and screenplay writer afraid to confront her past.
Brian: A potter who sets aside his life for Tricia, to the detriment of both.

Linked and transformed by one phone call, Hello? weaves together these five Wisconsin teens' stories into a compelling narrative of friendship and family, loss and love, heartbreak and healing, serendipity, and ultimately hope.

Told from all five viewpoints: narration (Tricia), narration (Emerson), free verse poetry (Angie), screenplay format (Brenda), narration and drawings (Brian).

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Goodreads

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

My debut YA novel, HELLO?, was published by Spencer Hill on November 10, 2015. I am also the author of two non-fiction adult books, short stories, and newspaper and magazine articles. A pre-school to high school educator now writing YA fiction full time, which I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! And I'm a diehard Green Bay Packers fan.

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REVIEW: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Publication Date: February 26, 2013

Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Source: Book Gifted to Lexi Swoons 

Buy it at: Amazon / Barnes and Noble


My rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Two misfits.
One extraordinary love.

Eleanor... Red hair, wrong clothes. Standing behind him until he turns his head. Lying beside him until he wakes up. Making everyone else seem drabber and flatter and never good enough...Eleanor.

Park... He knows she'll love a song before he plays it for her. He laughs at her jokes before she ever gets to the punch line. There's a place on his chest, just below his throat, that makes her want to keep promises...Park.

Set over the course of one school year, this is the story of two star-crossed sixteen-year-olds—smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try.

Let me start by saying that this is not my favorite Rainbow Rowell book that i've read so far. I think Rainbow is an amazing author, but this book didn't quite give me the feels I was looking for while reading.

Eleanor is a great character. She has been through so much in her life for such a young girl but I think she is so strong and brave. She has flaws just like everyone else, and there were things that I wish I could change in her personality. But, like life, you can't change things you don't like about people. I think that the particular flaws I find in her personality were actually very annoying, which is what made me slightly annoyed with her pretty much every time she spoke.

Park is also a great character. I loved that he was so in love with Eleanor and so concerned with everything that she encountered. In a way, I think he was a bit naive when it came to Eleanor and life in general. But he didn't have the same upbringing and struggles that Eleanor had so I can understand why he had the luxury of being so young and naive.

In a way I kind of loved the innocence of Park and I loved the toughness of Eleanor. I always like to see characters that have had hard times because it seems more realistic to me. I think I just didn't care to see these two characters together. I feel like they were so different and the connection wasn't quite right. I loved the environment and the story building for this book too. I just feel like it could have been perfect without the awkwardness of the two MC's. Overall, it was a quick read and I still (and will always) love Rainbow for her creativity and great writing!

Quotes (#22)

Morning Swooners!

So my friends over at Books and Swoons posted some great Twilight quotes the other day because they've been going through Twilight withdrawals. So in honor of that, because I have been going through severe Twi world withdrawals too, I decided to continue down the line and share some of my favorite New Moon quotes. Hope you all enjoy! Do you miss it as much as I do!?!??!

“After all the thousand times I’ve told you I love you, how could you let one word break your faith in me?...I could see it in your eyes, that you honestly believed that I didn’t want you anymore. The most absurd, ridiculous concept—as if there were any way that I could exist without needing you!” ― Stephenie Meyer, New Moon

“Time passes. Even when it seems impossible. Even when each tick of the second hand aches like the pulse of blood behind a bruise. It passes unevenly, in strange lurches and dragging lulls, but pass it does. Even for me.” ― Stephenie Meyer, New Moon

“Well, I'm so sorry that I can't be the right kind of monster for you, Bella.” ― Stephenie Meyer, New Moon

“I'm not like a car you can fix up. I'm never gonna run right" Bella” ― Stephenie Meyer, New Moon

“As long as you like me the best. And you think I’m good-looking—sort of. I’m prepared to be annoyingly persistent.” ― Stephenie Meyer, New Moon

“Because there was just one thing that I had to believe to be able to live - I had to know that he existed. That was all. Everything else I could endure. So long as he existed.” ― Stephenie Meyer, New Moon

“The absence of him is everywhere I look.” ― Stephenie Meyer, New Moon

“Did you know, you're sort of beautiful?' 'You hit your head pretty hard, didn't you?” ― Stephenie Meyer, New Moon

“It was like someone had died- like I had died. Because it had been more than just losing the truest of true loves, as if that were not enough to kill anyone. It was also losing a whole future, a whole family- the whole life that I'd chosen... ” ― Stephenie Meyer, New Moon

“'Damn it! This chick runs with vampires!' 'You can't really run with vampires, because they're fast.' 'Oh yea? Well we're faster!'" ― Stephenie Meyer, New Moon

REVIEW: This Song is (Not) For You by Laura Nowlin

This Song is (Not) For You by Laura Nowlin

Publication Date: January 15, 2016

Publisher: Sourcebooks
Source: Received from Publisher 

Buy it at: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

*This eARC was received from the publisher, but it did not influence this review in any way *

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Bandmate, best friend or boyfriend? For Ramona, one choice could mean losing them all.

Ramona and Sam are best friends. She fell for him the moment they met, but their friendship is just too important for her to mess up. Sam loves April, but he would never expect her to feel the same way--she's too quirky and cool for someone like him. Together, they have a band, and put all of their feelings for each other into music.

Then Ramona and Sam meet Tom. He's their band's missing piece, and before Ramona knows it, she's falling for him. But she hasn't fallen out of love with Sam either.

How can she be true to her feelings without breaking up the band?

I didn't enjoy this book quite as much as I thought I would. Being a huge fan of Nowlin's first book, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book, but after reading the first few chapters I knew this wasn't your standard story.

For one, the three main characters are each a bit odd in their own ways. Ramona is this super quirky pixie girl that couldn't be "normal" if she tried. Maybe that's a good thing though. In a way I kind of liked her weirdness. I mean, i've read odd characters before but Ramona definitely takes the cake. Then there's Sam. I really liked Sam's personality. He was the calm to Ramona's storm. He was level headed and cool while Ramona was off beat and eccentric. And good 'ol Tom was our last MC. Tom was kind of weird in his own way. He meets the other two bff's at an audition and Ramona instantly knows that Tom is "magic." Though Sam is a little bit reluctant, Ramona convinces him to let Tom be a part of their band. Together, the three of them become best friends and make the most magical music together. Oh and btw Ramona falls in love with Tom while already being in love with Sam.

So basically a love triangle forms between the three of them and that's when things really start to get weird. All I can say about this is that we have one character that seems a bit polygamous while another character seems very much asexual. It's all very weird and interesting to see how everything unfolds.

Other than this crazy love triangle situation that is going on, the story doesn't appear to have any real plot or twist. It just seems like a story about a bunch of kids (that are apparently very mature for their age) that fall in love. I feel like certain feelings displayed in the book and their reactions are a bit off. Especially in this day and age when people are cruel and unforgiving.

Overall, this book was an interesting read (to say the least!) and I think anyone with an open mind with enjoy reading it!

FEATURE: Waiting on Wednesday~ Yellow Brick War (Dorothy Must Die #3) by Danielle Paige (#52)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Morning Swooners :-)

This week my "can't-wait-to-read" pre-publication selections are:

Yellow Brick War (Dorothy Must Die #3) by Danielle Paige

Expected release date: March 15, 2016

Purchase: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Summary from Goodreads:

In this dark, action-packed third book in the New York Times bestselling Dorothy Must Die series, Amy Gumm—the new girl from Kansas—must do everything in her power to save Kansas, kill Dorothy, and make Oz a free land once more.

Amy Gumm’s mission to take down Dorothy Gale is not going according to plan. Dorothy has found a way to bridge the worlds of Oz and Kansas, and if the power-hungry dictator of Oz has her way, Kansas will be destroyed forever. Now, Amy has to team up with the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked to save her home, restore the balance between the magic and nonmagic worlds, maybe get the guy—and kill that not-so-sweet Kansas farm girl once and for all.

In the third installment of the New York Times bestselling Dorothy Must Die series, Danielle Paige’s twisted versions of beloved Oz characters are back, including the biggest, baddest, most famous of all: the Wicked Witch of the West.

Welcome to the other side of the rainbow. Here there’s danger around every corner, and magic shoes won’t be able to save you

Why I'm waiting:

I'm pretty much obsessed with this retelling of The Wizard of Oz and this book sounds just as good as the others! Does anyone else love retellings as much as I do?

What are you anxiously waiting for?

Quotes (#21)

Morning Swooners!

It's been a crazy two weeks since school started! Can you believe i'm only on my third week and I already have two tests coming up?!? Crazy right?! So while i'm here just studying away, I wanted to take a minute to pop in and leave you with some Monday motivation.

“Every man has his secret sorrows which the world knows not; and often times we call a man cold when he is only sad.” ― Henry Wadsworth Longfellow


“The worst part of success is trying to find someone who is happy for you.” ― Bette Midler


“Success is getting what you want, happiness is wanting what you get” ― W.P. Kinsella


“Please believe that things are good with me, and even when they're not, they will be soon enough. And I will always believe the same about you.” ― Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower


“I think and think and think, I‘ve thought myself out of happiness one million times, but never once into it.” ― Jonathan Safran Foer


“It's so hard to forget pain, but it's even harder to remember sweetness. We have no scar to show for happiness. We learn so little from peace.” ― Chuck Palahniuk, Diary


“Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile.” ― Mother Teresa


“I have my standards. They're low, but I have them.” ― Bette Midler

REVIEW: What You Left Behind by Jessica Verdi

What You Left Behind by Jessica Verdi

Publication Date: August 4, 2015

Publisher: Sourcebooks
Source: Received from Publisher 

Buy it at: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

*This eARC was received from the publisher, but it did not influence this review in any way *

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

It’s all Ryden’s fault. If he hadn’t gotten Meg pregnant, she would have never stopped her chemo treatments and would still be alive. Instead, he’s failing fatherhood one dirty diaper at a time. And it’s not like he’s had time to grieve while struggling to care for their infant daughter, start his senior year, and earn the soccer scholarship he needs to go to college.

The one person who makes Ryden feel like his old self is Joni. She’s fun and energetic—and doesn’t know he has a baby. But the more time they spend together, the harder it becomes to keep his two worlds separate. Finding one of Meg’s journals only stirs up old emotions, and Ryden’s convinced Meg left other notebooks for him to find, some message to help his new life make sense. But how is he going to have a future if he can’t let go of the past?

DONT. GET. ME. STARTED. ON. THIS. BOOK!

Soooooo....can you tell that i'm unhappy? Huh? Can ya?!?!?!?!

Ok so there are so many things that I loved about this story....and then there are sooooooooo many things that I hated about this story!

How do I begin, guys? Well let me start by saying what I loved about the book. Ryden was actually a pretty good dad. He had such a difficult time with his baby girl in the beginning of the book, but I loved seeing his character growth and seeing how much he wanted to make his baby girl happy. That right there melts my heart. I also loved Joni as the crazy funky new "friend" that essentially helps Ryden let go of his past and move on from all the pain he was holding on to. His mom though, his mom is the real MVP for supporting her son no matter what and letting him make his own mistakes in his own time, She knew right away that some of his ideas were never going to work out, but instead of pushing her opinion on him and telling him he wasn't allowed to do something she let him see for himself that the idea was not good. I think that's great parenting! 

Now, let's get into what I hated about the book, well what I can actually tell you anyway. I hate MEG! I understand why she did what she did, but I just can't forget her for how she did it. I think that it was the most selfish thing a person could ever do to someone they love. Don't fall for her sweet girl act guys, she was a liar and I really don't like the lies she told! And don't even get me started on her parents! I mean they are just horrible people. There is absolutely no reason in the world for them to handle the situation as they did. Meg was there daughter and they should have put more feelings into that fact than into any other feeling they felt. Then there was Ryden's relationship with Joni. I mean I loved that she helped him move on but I kind of feel like it was way too soon. 

And the ending! I mean, I feel like there was so many things that I needed resolutions for. I still have so many questions!

So overall, I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand I loved the happy ending that came about after all the notebooks were found and everything was finally put to rest, but the things that I disliked I REALLY disliked. But I also have to admit that I thought the writing was really good and the situation as well as the characters reactions seemed pretty realistic. So that's all I have to say for that lol