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review; lark ascending
Lark Ascending by Meagan Spooner Lark thought returning home to face her city was the hardest thing she’d ever do. She was wrong. No longer the girl who ran for her life, Lark’s ready for the Institute. She never dreamed she’d find a rebellion, a Renewable, and those she used to love embroiled in the fight of their lives. She’s mastered her magic, but she still doesn’t know if she can master the darkness stirring inside her. Nothing is simple anymore, and finding her place in this war—and discovering the terrible secrets behind her ruined world—might cost her everything she has left. Review:
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review; vision in white
Vision In White by Nora Roberts Wedding photographer Mackensie “Mac” Elliot is most at home behind the camera, but her focus is shattered moments before an important wedding rehearsal when she bumps into the bride-to-be’s brother…an encounter that has them both seeing stars. A stable, safe English teacher, Carter Maguire is definitely not Mac’s type. But a casual fling might be just what she needs to take her mind off bridezillas. Of course, casual flings can turn into something more when you least expect it. And Mac will have to turn to her three best friends-and business partners-to see her way to her own happy ending. Review:
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blind date with a book
Every time I see photos online of brown paper wrapped books with vague descriptions, I tell myself that if I ever come across a shop that’s selling books in that way, I’m going to pick one up. I honestly thought the likelihood of that happening would be zero. But for the first time ever, I did in fact come across a shelf of these books in a small bookstore in Sydney. Obviously, I stopped and tried to figure out what the books were based on the descriptions. To my amusement, my husband and I both noticed the one book that appealed to me – and he talked me into buying…
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review; shatter me
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days. The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color. The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are…
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review; star gazing
Star Gazing by Linda Gillard Blind since birth, widowed in her twenties, now lonely in her forties, Marianne Fraser lives in Edinburgh in elegant, angry anonymity with her sister, Louisa, a successful novelist. Marianne’s passionate nature finds solace and expression in music, a love she finds she shares with Keir, a man she encounters on her doorstep one winter’s night. Keir makes no concession to her condition. He is abrupt to the point of rudeness, yet oddly kind. But can Marianne trust her feelings for this reclusive stranger who wants to take a blind woman to his island home on Skye, to “show” her the stars? Review:
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#bookswormsarebadass
Mary over at Books And Cookies on tumblr made a post that I thought was pretty cool and thought provoking. She was asking booklrs about the most badass bookworm things they had done. Some talked about managing to get authors to do book signings, or befriending them. Others talked about making book fandom related craftwork. I put together a shortlist of things that I am proud of, as a bookworm. They might not necessarily be the most “badass” things a bookworm could do, but they definitely qualify as an extreme example of bookworms. Presenting, in no particular order, my list of “badass” bookworm things I have done. Reading my cousins’…
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(mini) blog ahead
The first time I heard about Blog Ahead was last year, just before it started in October. I was intrigued, and wanted to challenge myself, so I participated by adapting a YA Lit Meme to suit my purposes. I surprised myself by completing it. I’m not going to lie, I honestly thought I would give up half-way through the challenge and abandon the meme – but I didn’t. I persevered, I created edits and found quotes that resonated with me, and I didn’t just complete Blog Ahead 2015, I also completed my first ever Meme. Though, admittedly, it took me a long while to make that last edit. I’m lazy…
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review; the ugly duchess
The Ugly Duchess by Eloisa James How can she dare to imagine he loves her when all London calls her The Ugly Duchess? Theodora Saxby is the last woman anyone expects the gorgeous James Ryburn, heir to the Duchy of Ashbrook, to marry. But after a romantic proposal before the prince himself, even practical Theo finds herself convinced of her soon-to-be duke’s passion. Still, the tabloids give the marriage six months. Theo would have given it a lifetime – until she discovers that James desired not her heart, and certainly not her countenance, but her dowry. Society was shocked by their wedding … and is scandalized by their separation’ Now…
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review; the fault in our stars
The Fault In Our Stars by John Green Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten. Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning author John Green’s most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love. Review:
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review; the wishing spell
The Land Of Stories: The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer Alex and Conner Bailey’s world is about to change, in this fast-paced adventure that uniquely combines our modern day world with the enchanting realm of classic fairy tales. The Land of Stories tells the tale of twins Alex and Conner. Through the mysterious powers of a cherished book of stories, they leave their world behind and find themselves in a foreign land full of wonder and magic where they come face-to-face with the fairy tale characters they grew up reading about. But after a series of encounters with witches, wolves, goblins, and trolls alike, getting back home is going to…