May 2015 ~ Natflix&Books

Saturday, May 30, 2015

Weekly Rewind 5.30.15

Saturday, May 30, 2015 7:01 AM with 11 comments

Weekly Rewind
The new books on my shelves and my week in a nutshell.

Since I started this blog I've participated in Stacking the Shelves, which is a weekly feature hosted by Tynga's Reviews, and I'm going to continue linking to that meme. Throughout my student teaching semester I was using my weekend post as a way to let people know what's going on in my life, so I've decided to rename my weekend post because this feature is more personal than just what books I've received. The Weekly Rewind will be about what's going on with me and my blog, as well as about the books I've added to my shelves.

My Life and Blog

Life: Three more teaching days you guys! Well, four, but only three with students. What's even better is that I only have two periods each day. The students all have half days for those three days. My husband will be here on Thursday--which is my last day--and the two of us are driving home on Friday. YAY!!!

I just got home from supervising my first junior high school dance. I had to bust a move for my students so they would know what was up. You'll probably be able to find me on youtube tomorrow. This weekend I need to clean and pack. I'm going to have to ship back some of my stuff, I think. I've definitely acquired more than what I brought down. Clothes and books are my weaknesses.

I've really buckled down this week on the job search front. I applied to a couple of jobs this week. Nothing in my city proper, but a few jobs in the two hour range. I'd take seeing my husband on weekends over every five to seven weeks. Please keep your fingers crossed for me.

New Books: I have some pretty new review books to share with you, but I held off on buying anything this week (again, I have to pack) and I'm returning everything I have checked out from the library this weekend. So without further adieu, I hope you are all having fabulous weekends!

Review Books

Hello, I Love You by Katie Stout

A comparison to Anna and the French Kiss and that adorable cover have me sold. A girl goes to Korean boarding school and falls for a pop star.

Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella

I don't have a clue what this is about. I heard that Sophie Kinsella wrote a YA and that's all I needed to know.

Those Girls by Lauren Saft

Getting mixed reviews, but I tend to enjoy books that delve into the psychology of teenage girls and their group dynamics.

Last Week's Mistake by Gina Ciocca

This looks cute and romantic. I really hate the cover, but what do you do.

Secret of the Sevens by Lynn Lindquist

Boarding school, secret societies and a murder mystery. Yes to all of that.

Well that's it for me this week. Feel free to leave a link to whatever weekend post you do (Stacking the Shelves, In My Mailbox, etc). I love to see what books people have recently snagged and especially enjoy hearing about my fellow bloggers' weeks. I hope you are all having a fabulous weekend!

Waiting on Wednesday (101) The Heir and the Spare

Wednesday, May 27, 2015 8:51 AM with 9 comments

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. Click the link to see the original post plus a whole slew of links to other blogs. After you read this one, of course.

The Heir and the Spare

Author: Emily Albright
Publisher: Merit
Release Date: January, 2016

Family can be complicated. Especially when skeletons from the past pop up unexpectedly. For American Evie Gray, finding out her deceased mother had a secret identity, and not one of the caped crusader variety, was quite the surprise. Evie’s mom had a secret life before she was even born, one that involved tiaras.

In this modern day fairytale, Evie is on a path to figure out who her mom really was, while discovering for herself what the future will hold. Charged with her late mother’s letters, Evie embarks on a quest into her past. The first item on the list is to attend Oxford, her mom’s alma mater. There, Evie stumbles upon a real life prince charming, Edmund Stuart the second Prince of England, who is all too happy to be the counterpart to her damsel in distress.

Evie can’t resist her growing attraction to Edmund as they spend more time together trying to unravel the clues her mother left behind. But, when doubts arise as to whether or not Edmund could ever be with an untitled American, what really ends up unraveling is Evie’s heart. When Evie uncovers all the facts about her mom’s former life, she realizes her mom’s past can open doors she never dreamed possible, doors that can help her be with Edmund. But, with everything now unveiled, Evie starts to crack under the pressure of new family responsibilities and the realization that her perfect prince may want her for all the wrong reasons.

Why I'm Excited:

I love pretty much everything about England (you might have gathered that by my blog design), so when I saw this cover I didn't even need to read the synopsis to know I wanted to read it. I did anyway, of course, and all I have to say is: Oxford University and secret royalty. Sign me up!

What are you waiting for on this Wednesday? Link me up!

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TTT: Books I plan to put in my beach bag

Monday, May 25, 2015 9:43 PM with 11 comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme/original feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Click the link to go to their site to see the original list for today plus links to a whole slew of other blogs. After you read mine, of course.

Today's topic: The books that will be in my beach bag this summer

So I'm actually moving away from the beach in two weeks, lol, but here are some of the books I'm most looking forward to reading this summer.

A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #1)

P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han

I'm excited to see what happens with Lara Jean in this sequel to To All the Boys I've Loved Before.

Hello, I Love You by Katie M. Stout

A girl going to boarding school in Korea falls for a Korean pop star.

Royal Wedding by Meg Cabot

Princess Mia is getting married!

Proof of Forever by Lexa Hillyer

Summer camp, friends, and time travel. I'm going to start reading this one next.

The Boy Most Likely To by Huntley Fitzpatrick

A companion to My Life Next Door. I'm so excited for this book.

Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah Maas

I'm waiting until I get home before I start this one.

Daughter of Deep Silence by Carrie Ryan

Three survivors of a boat wreak tell their version of the story. This looks awesome.

Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray

While I'm definitely going to have to do a re-read of The Diviners before this comes out, I'm still very excited to read this one.

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

I bought this when it first came out, but haven't gotten to it yet. I've wanted to wait until I can give it my full attention.

Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

I just bought this one a couple of weeks ago. It looks very summer-y.

How to Love by Katie Cotugno

This is another book I bought this year, but haven't read yet.

Kiss of Deception by Mary Pearson

This comes out in PB the first week of June. I've heard nothing but good things about this.

Well that's it for me. What books are you putting in your beach bags this summer? Link me up!

Hey lovely readers: I love meeting new bloggers. If you decide to follow, my preference is through Bloglovin'. If you are a new follower, please let me know and leave a link so that I can follow back. Thanks!

Weekly Rewind 5.23.15

Friday, May 22, 2015 9:37 PM with 16 comments

My Life and Blog

Life: Just seven more teaching days! I have a four day week next week and a three day week after that. Well, it's a four day week, but only three of them are with students. It's pretty brutal right now. The weather is super hot and the students are soooooo restless. They are just days away from being freshmen in high school and just do not want to listen to me at all. What do you do? I would be restless, too. I AM restless, too.

This weekend is going to be pretty awesome. My best friend of a billion years is going to be in town for the weekend. I'm looking forward to actually doing the things in FL I should be doing. Honestly, without anybody here I just never do a whole lot. I'll think about going to the beach (which is literally, like, 10 minutes from my house), but the idea of packing up stuff for the beach and finding parking and then just sitting there alone never sounds appealing. That's so silly, I know, but I've never really been one to sit outside...especially alone. Not that I'm not alright just hanging out by myself--I totally am--it's just really more that I'm pretty lazy. Lol. I'll stop rambling now.

New Books: I have so many pretty titles to share today. This week was the spring Scholastic Book Fair. I showed some restraint this time as I'm going to have to pack next weekend. Anyhoo, without further adieu, I hope you are all having splendid weekends. To my American friends, I hope you get a three-day break!

For Review

The Witch Hunter by

My ears always perk up when I hear the word witch. That being said, I rarely actually like books about witches. Here's hoping I like this one because it sounds awesome.

Summer of Chasing Mermaids by Sarah Ockler

Doesn't this cover just scream summer? About a talented singer who loses her voice after an accident.

Proof of Forever by Lexa Hillyer

This is one of my most anticipated reads of the summer. Female friendship focused, summer camp, and time travel.

Devoted by Jennifer Mathieu

I really like the author's last book The Truth About Alice about bullying and am looking forward to how she tackles a religious cult.

Edge of Forever by Melissa E. Hurst

This sounds kind of like that JGL movie Looper...which was awesome.

Royal Wedding by Meg Cabot

I'm on book 4 of my re-reading. I'm excited to see what's going on with Princess Mia.

Charlie, Presumed Dead Anne Heltzer

This is also a book that I have been really excited to dive in to. Two girls meet at a funeral for their mutual boyfriend who may have been hiding even more secrets.

Singular and Extraordinary Tale of Mirror and Goliath by Ishbelle Bee

Look at that cover!

Thank You, Goodnight by Adam Abramowitz

Per GR: Nick Hornby meets Almost Famous in this side-splittingly funny coming-of-middle-age debut novel about the lead singer of a one-hit wonder 90s band who tries for one more swing at the fences.

If You're Not the One by Jemma Forte

This is another: an accident causes a woman to go back in time to see what her life would have been like if she would have chosen the other guy...

What I Bought

Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anne Blankman

I've been meaning to read this book for forever. I'm fascinated by WWII.

What Waits in the Woods by Kieran Scott

I was immediately drawn in by this cover when I first saw it months ago.

Heartbreak Messenger by Alexander Vance

A dude has a break-up service. Not a new idea, but it sounds fun and was $2.

What I Snagged from the library

Uprooted by Naomi Novik

I don't really know a whole lot about this. I know it has a dragon in it and that people seem to think it is pretty awesome.

All the Rage by Courtney Summers

I haven't had a whole lot of luck with this author. I have friends that love her work, but I have a hard time connecting with her writing. That said, this sounds really interesting and I hope I dig it.

Waiting on Wednesday (100) Riders

Wednesday, May 20, 2015 6:41 AM with 11 comments

Riders

Author: Veronica Rossi
Publisher: Tor Teen
Release Date: February 2, 2016

For eighteen-year-old Gideon Blake, nothing but death can keep him from achieving his goal of becoming a U.S. Army Ranger. As it turns out, it does.

Recovering from the accident that most definitely killed him, Gideon finds himself with strange new powers and a bizarre cuff he can’t remove. His death has brought to life his real destiny. He has become War, one of the legendary four horsemen of the apocalypse.

Over the coming weeks, he and the other horsemen—Conquest, Famine and Death—are brought together by a beautiful but frustratingly secretive girl to help save humanity from an ancient evil on the emergence.

They fail.

Now—bound, bloodied, and drugged—Gideon is interrogated by the authorities about his role in a battle that has become an international incident. If he stands any chance of saving his friends and the girl he’s fallen for—not to mention all of humankind—he needs to convince the skeptical government officials the world is in imminent danger.
But will anyone believe him?

Why I'm Excited:

100 WoW posts, y'all!
I find the apocalypse fascinating, especially the four horsemen. I'm curious to see how this book plays out. It is either going to be very, very good, or very, very bad. Hopefully it will be very good. Definitely keeping my eyes open for this one.

What are you waiting for on this Wednesday? Link me up!

Hey lovely GFC and new followers, please follow me by Bloglovin. (I like to follow back, so please let me know if you're a new follower--and leave a link!) Thank you!!!

Weekly Rewind 5.16.15

Friday, May 15, 2015 10:00 PM with 8 comments

Life and Blog

Life: This week flew by! I was worried that after my long weekend at home the last three and a half weeks of school were going to drag, but I seriously can't believe how quickly this week went. I'm down to 12 teaching days. My best friend is flying in from Wyoming next weekend, which I'm so excited for. I haven't seen her since Christmas 2013. We've been friends for, like, 25 years. Then, before I know it, my husband will be flying down so the two of us can drive back to PA together. I'm already trying to figure out how in the world we are going to cram all of my shit back in my car. I've, of course, accumulated way more than I brought down with me: for my classroom, my closet, and (obviously) my bookcases.

Lately, I've been rereading The Princess Diaries series. I'm excited to read The Royal Wedding, but it has been so long since I've read the series, that I need a refresher. I've been listening to the audiobooks on my commute. The first few are read by Anne Hathaway, who does a good job. I'm also in the middle of An Ember in the Ashes and The Fill-in Boyfriend.

New Books: I have some new books to share with you, a few that I'm very excited for. So without further adieu, I hope you are all having fabulous weekends!

For Review

Tiny Pretty Things by Sonja Charaipotra

I love books about dancers--probably because it was what I wanted to be growing up (along with an author). This looks like soapy fun.

The Cage by Megan Sheperd

Teens are being held captive in zoos by aliens?!

Emancipated by M.G. Reyes

Six emancipated teens share a house in California. It sounds interesting, but I have to admit that the writing in the first chapter didn't really draw me in.

Kissing Across America by Margo Rabb

Road trip!

I Am Princess X by Cheri Priest

This book had me at: illustrated throughout with comics.

The Eternal City by Paula Morris

While this book about the battle between gods in goddesses in modern down Rome sounds interesting, it's getting some pretty meh reviews.

What I snagged from the library

Books:

The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows

This new fantasy series sounds really interesting. I love this cover. It will not, however, probably happen in the three weeks I have left in this town, so...

Movies:

Horrible Bosses 2 starring Jason Bateman and Jason Sudeikis

I'm not expecting too much from this one, but I'm sure it will have a couple of laughs.

About Alex starring Aubrey Plaza

I don't have a clue what this is about, I just saw it had Aubrey Plaza which was enough to make me snag it from its shelf.

Waiting on Wednesday (99) Pull

Tuesday, May 12, 2015 9:11 PM with 8 comments

Pull

Author: Anne Riley
Publisher: Spencer Hill
Release Date: December 8, 2015

Rosie Clayton witnesses a mugging on her first night in London—and then the scene rewinds itself.

She finds herself standing in the same place again, with the mugging happening just like before, except this time a stranger steps in and stops it. There's no way the same incident can have two outcomes. Rosie thinks she’s losing her mind, until just a few days later, the stranger saves her.

The stranger, Albert, and his band of misfit crime-fighters, have the special ability to Pull, which allows them to rewind just enough time to undo a recent event. Someone is hunting Albert and his crew– and now that Rosie’s been seen with them, she’s a target too. Rosie is left with no choice but to trust Albert to keep her safe.

As Rosie learns more about this unbelievable ability and the people – if you can call them that – who want them dead, she discovers that the group’s desire for her blood might be more than mere coincidence. Each step into this magical side of London introduces Rosie to a family history that she never knew existed, and dangerous forces that could unravel her world in an instant.

Her family may be the reason they’re all being hunted—and she may be the only one who can figure out how to save them. Sure, between the lot of them, they have a few shots to get it right. The thing about Pulling, though, is you have to be alive to do it.

Why I'm Excited:

Being able to "rewind" the last few minutes isn't exactly a new concept, but I have to admit that it is one that peaks my interest every time. I'm curious about the "magical side of London" and want to know about her family's history. This cover is pretty, too. I'm not in love, but I do like London Bridge hanging out in the background. Definitely keeping my eye open for this one.

What are you waiting for on this Wednesday? Link me up!

Hey lovely GFC and new followers, please follow me by Bloglovin. (I like to follow back, so please let me know if you're a new follower--and leave a link!) Thank you!!!

Weekly Rewind 5.9.15

Friday, May 8, 2015 11:33 PM with 13 comments

Life and Blog

Life: I'm home for a long weekend for the last time before I'm home for good (well, hopefully, at the very least I'll be home for the summer). When I get back I have three and a half weeks left to go. 17 teaching days total. I'm not going to lie, I am beyond ready for this year to be over...even if it was about as good of a first year of teaching that I could have asked for. I'm just ready to be home with my husband and cats.

New books: May is full of pretty looking titles, and I have a few to show you. I also made a trip to B&N with the remainder of a gift card on Tuesday so I could snag Kasie West's latest (and bought a couple of other books, of course). So without further adieu, I hope you are all having fabulous weekends!

For Review

Illusionarium by Heather Dixon

I'm not going to lie, I don't have a clue what this is about. I saw that cover and went: mine! Fantasy, I'm assuming, I think multiple worlds...

The Improbable Theory of Ana and Zak by Brian Katcher

This looks like a cute he said/she said love story.

Made You Up by Francesca Zappia

Per GR: "Alex fights a daily battle to figure out the difference between reality and delusion. Armed with a take-no-prisoners attitude, her camera, a Magic 8-Ball, and her only ally (her little sister), Alex wages a war against her schizophrenia, determined to stay sane long enough to get into college." This sounds really interesting.

Hold Me Like a Breath by Tiffany Schmidt

I'm obsessed with mob stories, so I'm excited to read this...but that is one of the worst titles ever. I seriously cringe every time I see it.

Three Day Summer by Sarvenez Tash

Woodstock! That's all I need to know about this one.

The Last Good Day of the Year by Jessica Warman

A girl who fingered a dude for the kidnapping of her friend's little sister starts to wonder if she was wrong. Sounds interesting.

What I bought

Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson
I've been meaning to read this one for ages. I love friendship-focused stories.
The Fill-in Boyfriend by Kasie West
Yay! I started this yesterday. I'm not very far, but I'm enjoying it so far.
Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
I've tried to get into this before, but I'm hoping I just wasn't in the mood for it at the time. It was before I read The Raven Boys which I loved.

What I snagged from library