Life:
This past week our lives have been inundated with snow. Tahoe is at almost 200 inches in less than two weeks, and I could not be happier (well except for the rain that we had that melted the snow and caused severe flooding and then we lost power when it was 20 degrees outside but we’re back to snow again as of yesterday yay!)! I was California born and raised, but I have lived on the Nevada side of Tahoe for the last 10+ years. And while I thought I’d miss the ocean, I’ve come to realize that I love every single thing about this area. The ski resorts, the beaches that are beyond gorgeous, the hiking, the small town feel, the list just goes on and on. I am so grateful we live here and I am definitely counting the seconds until our 3 day weekend begins and we can enjoy every moment of sledding, snowboarding, and hiking! Here’s hoping you have a wonderful weekend planned too!
In case you aren’t familiar with our Friday Star Posts, we like to take a look at what’s happened around here in the last week, what’s coming up that we are excited about and anything else that we may have to share!
♥ Enjoy!
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Just Finished and Loved:
Unfortunately there weren’t any books that we loved, but I did find a book that I enjoyed immensely!
4 Stars:
Thief of Lies (Library Jumpers #1) by Brenda Drake → Jen’s Review
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We also had a Top Ten Tuesday Post about 2016 Releases We Meant To Read But Didn’t Get To (But TOTALLY plan to!). If you missed it, then you can check it out here.
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Reading Next:
Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas
“We were perfect together. Until we met.”
Misha
I can’t help but smile at the lyrics in her letter. She misses me.
In fifth grade, my teacher set us up with pen pals from a different school. Thinking I was a girl, with a name like Misha, the other teacher paired me up with her student, Ryen. My teacher, believing Ryen was a boy like me, agreed.
It didn’t take long for us to figure out the mistake. And in no time at all, we were arguing about everything. The best take-out pizza. Android vs. iPhone. Whether or not Eminem is the greatest rapper ever…
And that was the start. For the next seven years, it was us.
Her letters are always on black paper with silver writing. Sometimes there’s one a week or three in a day, but I need them. She’s the only one who keeps me on track, talks me down, and accepts everything I am.
We only had three rules. No social media, no phone numbers, no pictures. We had a good thing going. Why ruin it?
Until I run across a photo of a girl online. Name’s Ryen, loves Gallo’s pizza, and worships her iPhone. What are the chances?
F*ck it. I need to meet her.
I just don’t expect to hate what I find.
Ryen
He hasn’t written in three months. Something’s wrong. Did he die? Get arrested? Knowing Misha, neither would be a stretch.
Without him around, I’m going crazy. I need to know someone is listening. It’s my own fault. I should’ve gotten his phone number or picture or something.
He could be gone forever.
Or right under my nose, and I wouldn’t even know it.
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Upcoming Releases:
Carve the Mark (Untitled Duology #1) by Veronica Roth (Releases 01/17) – (Chelsea’s Review)
On a planet where violence and vengeance rule, in a galaxy where some are favored by fate, everyone develops a currentgift, a unique power meant to shape the future. While most benefit from their currentgifts, Akos and Cyra do not—their gifts make them vulnerable to others’ control. Can they reclaim their gifts, their fates, and their lives, and reset the balance of power in this world?
Cyra is the sister of the brutal tyrant who rules the Shotet people. Cyra’s currentgift gives her pain and power—something her brother exploits, using her to torture his enemies. But Cyra is much more than just a blade in her brother’s hand: she is resilient, quick on her feet, and smarter than he knows.
Akos is from the peace-loving nation of Thuvhe, and his loyalty to his family is limitless. Though protected by his unusual currentgift, once Akos and his brother are captured by enemy Shotet soldiers, Akos is desperate to get his brother out alive—no matter what the cost. When Akos is thrust into Cyra’s world, the enmity between their countries and families seems insurmountable. They must decide to help each other to survive—or to destroy one another.
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Heartstone by Elle Katharine White (Releases 01/17)
A debut historical fantasy that recasts Jane Austen’s beloved Pride & Prejudice in an imaginative world of wyverns, dragons, and the warriors who fight alongside them against the monsters that threaten the kingdom: gryphons, direwolves, lamias, banshees, and lindworms.
They say a Rider in possession of a good blade must be in want of a monster to slay—and Merybourne Manor has plenty of monsters.
Passionate, headstrong Aliza Bentaine knows this all too well; she’s already lost one sister to the invading gryphons. So when Lord Merybourne hires a band of Riders to hunt down the horde, Aliza is relieved her home will soon be safe again.
Her relief is short-lived. With the arrival of the haughty and handsome dragonrider, Alastair Daired, Aliza expects a battle; what she doesn’t expect is a romantic clash of wills, pitting words and wit against the pride of an ancient house. Nor does she anticipate the mystery that follows them from Merybourne Manor, its roots running deep as the foundations of the kingdom itself, where something old and dreadful slumbers . . . something far more sinister than gryphons.
It’s a war Aliza is ill-prepared to wage, on a battlefield she’s never known before: one spanning kingdoms, class lines, and the curious nature of her own heart.
You can check out the rest of the books that we can’t wait to be released → HERE
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Sales:
$0.99
 New Sale |
 5 Stars! Jen’s Review Chelsea’s Review |
 Chelsea’s Review |
 4 Stars! Laura’s Review |
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$1.99
 New Sale 5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review |
 New Sale 5 Stars! Anna’s Review |
 5 Stars! Anna’s Review |
 5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review Anna’s Review |
 5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review |
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 5 Stars! Anna’s Review Jen’s Review Chelsea’s Review |
 4.5 Stars! Anna’s Review |
 4.5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review |
 4 Stars! |
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$2.99
 4.5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review |
 4.5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review |
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 4.5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review |
$3.99+
 5 Stars! Jen’s Review Chelsea’s Review |
 4.5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review |
 5 Stars! Anna’s Review |
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 4.5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review |
 5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review |
 5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review |
 Anna’s Review |
 4.5 Stars! Anna’s Review |
 4 Stars! Chelsea’s Review |
 5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review Anna’s Review |
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 5 Stars! Cheslea’s Review |
 5 Stars! Anna’s Review Laura’s Review Jen’s Review Chelsea’s Review |
 5 Stars! Laura’s Review |
 4.5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review |
Freebies:
 5 Stars! Cheslea’s Review |
 4 Stars! Anna’s Review |
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Oh my gosh, I didn’t know you guys lived in Tahoe! I live in Northern CA. My husband goes to Tahoe for work trips all the time, but I haven’t been there for years. Maybe sometime we can get together 😀 Anyhoo, thanks so much for that review of Thief of Lies; I’m really looking forward to the Starcrossed review of Heartstone!!
Oh no way! I am from Northern California too! I lived in Sonoma County in Healdsburg (It’s a little town north of Santa Rosa, although it’s become a huge tourist trap because of the wineries). I moved to San Luis Obispo for college but then came back up to Healdsburg until I got married and moved away. I use to go back home every few months, but my parents just moved over here to Nevada.
I’m 15 minutes away from Heavenly in South Lake, so if you ever come up here definitely let me know! And in the summers we spend our days at the beaches on Tahoe having play dates. That would be so much fun if we could meet in person! Ohhhh my friend Astin and I went to the San Fran Golden Gate Author Event a year and a half ago and got to meet Jennifer L Armentrout, Jay Crownover, Karina Halle etc. Maybe we can all go next year if they have a great author line up! 🙂
Yes, Sonoma is beautiful!! We pass through there a lot on trips. We will definitely let you know if and when we make it up there! I’m sure we will at some point because all Kev’s pictures of the beautiful area convinced me that I needed to go. And San Fran Golden Gate Author Event sounds like sooo much fun! Especially with such great authors! Are you planning to go in 2017 or perhaps 2018? I just check and 2017 VIP tickets are already sold old; but SF is only about 2 hrs south of where I live, so I would totally be down to meet you there whenever you next decide to go! That would be soo much fun 😀
Sounds good! 🙂
I have so much going on this year with helping take care of my Grandma, that I won’t be able to make it. BUT I’m planning on going next year, since I’ll have more time to plan! Hopefully the author lineup will be amazing!!
I want to come up and live by you, Jen! I emailed Entangled Teen yesterday and told them they had sent me an email the beginning of December asking if I’d be interested in reading/reviewing any of their upcoming releases (including Guardian of Secrets), but I never received a reply. So now I’m waiting…again…twiddling my thumbs…trying not to get cross!
Kim recently posted…Dreadnought (Nemesis #1) ~ By April Daniels – 4.0 Stars
I know Tahoe is on your visit list, so someday! 🙂
I can’t believe that the ball got dropped. That’s so crazy and I’m so sorry! I started requesting the books I wanted through the email and Netgalley lol. Once I started doing that I swear my approval was faster than before. I can’t see if the book is still available to request but here’s the direct link to it on Netgalley – https://s2.netgalley.com/catalog/book/103550
I hope you receive it soon because I can’t wait to hear your thoughts! I need someone to talk to about it all!!
Thanks Jen! I “wished” for it on NetGalley but it’s still just sitting there. What irks me is that I’ve reviewed so many books for them including the first book. Plus they sent me that email. Argh!😡😡😡😡
Last year I received Infinity by Jus Accardo, from Entangled Teen, not even a week before the release date. I was shocked and nervous I wouldn’t be able to read it in time, but thankfully it all worked out. So maybe something like that will happen to you. ♥
Sigh. Fingers crossed.😕
KIM!!!! How did I space on this, you can sign up for the blog tour for The Guardian of Secrets! =D
Click either:
http://www.chapter-by-chapter.com/open-blog-tour-sign-ups-guardian-of-secrets-library-jumpers-2-by-brenda-drake-presented-by-entangled-teen/
or
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScJOpQZSg0FSjOeKZt8G2zSC8NICuzU6gY-zDMlJtbyYO3BGA/viewform?c=0&w=1
Thanks Jen! I heard back from Melissa at Entangled because I participated in the cover reveal of True North today. It seems as though things got messed up because of the holidays but I was approved for this and a second book that I forgot I requested. She’s supposed to be sending me links or widgets for them hopefully tomorrow. I signed up for the blog tour though because they’re always fun! So thank you for giving me the link!🤗
Kim recently posted…Martin Luther King Jr. Day
You’re welcome! And YAY!! I can’t wait to hear your thoughts!!
A Californian who loves the snow? Wow! I’m a Chicagoan who could definitely do without it. 🙂
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction recently posted…Pushing the Boundaries by Stacey Trombley – Review, Giveaway & Trombley’s Top Ten Addictions
YES LOL! Although I was raised going up to Tahoe every winter for snowboarding and sledding with either family or friends, so I have always loved the snow. I easily fell in love with snow and this area. But I loathed snow when I lived back there, there wasn’t anything to do with it lol. Plus the sun wouldn’t come out for weeks and I would get so depressed. We just got a huge storm last night and now the sun is out and you can feel it’s intensity on your face. I missed that aspect of our winters back there. ♥