Cover Characteristic: Rocks and Boulders

 

Hosted by Sugar and Snark
For the past two months I have been jumping on this meme hosted by Sugar and Snark featuring book covers.  I really enjoy it and I think I will continue doing it as long as they continue hosting it.  This meme is all about YA book covers (mostly) but I have added my Alysia touch to it and I am trying to add some diversity in my selections as well as mixing up the genres. 

Review: (ARC) The House Girl

(ARC) The House Girl Author: Tara Conklin Genre: Historical Fiction Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks Release Date: February 12, 2013 Paperback: 400 pages Source: Free from Publisher at SCIBA

Thoughtful Thursday: Guilty Pleasures and Re-Reads

Hosted by Reading Is Fun Again

Pam over at Reading Is Fun Again started the new meme to get a few thoughts on a few bookish things.  You know how much I love sharing my thoughts/opinions on stuff, so I thought it would be perfect to add my two cents in too! 

Since I was not able to post last weeks Thoughtful Thursday I am going to post it with this weeks.

I created Thoughtful Thursday, because bookish thoughts kept popping up in my mind while reading, and I wanted to explore these questions and get your opinions too! -From Reading Is Fun Again

  Thoughtful Thursday Question from Last Week

Do you have guilty pleasure books that you don't review? Do you feel pressured to rate your guilty pleasure books a certain way?

I Love This! Box Clutches

This time of the year is all about awards and red carpets.  Most of the fabulous gowns (and the not so fabulous ones) have been accompanied with a clutch.  Not just any clutch.  It seems like the new in thing is the Box Clutch! 
So ladies, remember to leave those big ol' bags at home when showing off a gown or an after five evening dress.  You don't need all those...things...anyways.  Just grab a box clutch big enough for your cell, keys (the houuse and car), debit card, cash and lipstick.  Everything else can wait in the car for you.  Here are a few box clutches from Polyvore.com

Image from Justjared.com

Lupita Nyong’o at the 2014 NAACP Image Awards on Saturday evening (February 22) in Pasadena, CA. Lupita is wearing a Givenchy gown, shoes and box clutch with H. Stern jewelry.  Congratulations Lupita on your win for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture in 12 Years A Slave.

Write On Review-a-Thon 2014: Goals

 

 Hosted by The Book Vixen

I have found another "A-Thon" to join up. I love "A-Thon" because the support and the motivation pushes me to get my goals accomplished. When it is all said and done, I feel like an elementary school girl with a gold star. This is my first time participating in this event and I love the idea so much.  I know I will need it again in December too!

So what is this "Write On Review -A-Thon" all about? 

The Write On review-a-thon is a monthly event created and hosted by Brianna at The Book Vixen. It’s 2 days dedicated to getting reviews done, whether you have one review to write or 30+. This edition of the review-a-thon takes place all day Friday, February 28th and Saturday, March 1st. Let’s get those reviews done!

Free Listens for February 2014

After noticing most bloggers post a list of free or really close to free e-books, every week, month or just once in awhile I decided to post a few free audiobooks.  I love free books. I mean who doesn't.

Yes, there is a such thing as a free audiobooks, and they are not just boring old classics either.  I seem to run across a few new ones here and there.  Some of them are short and sweet while others are prequels to popular series. 

When I run across a couple of free audiobooks, I will post them for you to check out as well.

If you are new to audiobooks this is a great way to try one or two without spending any money.  All of these title are FREE at the time of posting.  Things could have changed. 

Review: Redshirts

Redshirts: A Novel of Three Codas Author: John Scalzi Genre: Science Fiction  Publisher:  Audible Frontiers Release Date:  June 5, 2012 Audiobook: 7 hours and 41 minutes Narrator: Wil Wheaton Source: Bought it from Audible

Sunday Delight: I'm Back

I thought last week was busy and crazy.  Try coming back into town to a new job.  Wheew!  I haven't posted anything at all last week and it was causing me to have a pain in my heart.  I missed you guys.  But I'm back!

Today, I am going to try and get all of the post I was planning to post last week up in the next two days.  Hopefully!  That is the goal anyways.  I have two three book reviews to do as well.

The new job is good and closer to home.  Which my gas tank is loving right now.  I am happy about it too but it has shorten my audiobook time.  

Yesterday, I finally mailed off all the prizes to all my giveaway winners.  If you don't receive something soon let me know and I will make sure I didn't forget you.  

Here and Now

Time: 6:05 pm

Drinking: Mozelle Sweet Red Wine (I went Bevmo shopping)

Eating: Warm Rum cake and butter pecan ice cream

Listening To: Brand New Heavies Radio on Pandora

Watching: This screen.

Book Blogger Love-A-Thon: Mini Challenges

During the two days of Book Blogger Love-A-Thon there will be a few mini-challenges.  I will post them all here to make things easier. 

Interview of Nova (13 year old book blogger)

Book Blogger Love-A-Thon 2014

Hi there!  Soooo sorry I am so late posting and joining in on the Book Blogger Love-A-Thon.  I signed up for this great again for the second year in a row and last week my Grandfather passed away.  Needless to say a few things that were planned have been pushed, cancelled or just forgotten to be taken care of.  I am currently in Texas and we have returned to the hotel from his wonderfully touching Home Going Celebration. 

Now on to spreading much more love around.  From family love to blogger love.  

Today is the official start of the 2014 Book Blogger Love-a-thon, hosted by Katelyn (Tales of Books and Bands) & Alexa (Alexa Loves Books) It's a fun two days of spreading the love for book blogs and of course the bloggers behind them! Now's your chance to get to commenting, following, tweeting, saying thanks and so, much more. Plus, there are a bunch of mini-challenges, two Twitter chats and giveaways this year.

What I Am Reading

The House Girl

Book Blogger Hop: Unsolicited Books and Fruit

 

Hosted by Coffee Addicted Writer
Welcome everyone to another post of Book Blogger Hop (hosted by Coffee Addicted Writer). Each week there will be a new topic submit by a blogger and everyone can join in with their answers. You should join us! It's quite fun!  No really it is!

This Weeks Topic/Question

How do you handle unsolicited books that appear in your mailbox? Do you add them to your queue? Do you write to the sender and explain you didn't ask for the book and are not sure when you will be able to read and review the book? Or do you simply not read the book at all? (submitted by Elizabeth)

Thoughtful Thursday: Rating Out of My Demographic

Hosted by Reading Is Fun Again
Pam over at Reading Is Fun Again (great blog name) started the new meme to get a few thoughts on a few bookish things.  You know how much I love sharing my thoughts/opinions on stuff, so I thought it would be perfect to add my two cents in too!

I created Thoughtful Thursday, because bookish thoughts kept popping up in my mind while reading, and I wanted to explore these questions and get your opinions too! -From Reading Is Fun Again

Today's Thoughtful Thursday Question

How do you rate books that are out of your age demographic (e.g., an adult rating YA or MG or a YA rating adult or MG)?

Diversity on the Shelf: Approved Books pt. 2

 

Inspired by POC Reading Challenge

All of the participates of the Diversity on the Self 2014 Reading Challenge (aka D.O.T.S) are doing an amazing job of reading, reviewing, and linking up books by People of Color.  

You can see the books and linky here

January Review Link Up
February Review Link Up

Today, I thought I would give you 12 more books in various genres and release dates that are...what I like to call "Diversity Approved Books".  All of these books are by a person of color or have a main character of color.  And since I am hosting this reading challenge I think I will do this monthly.  Yes, you will get 12 titles once a month. 

Sometimes these books don't get the love they should and hearing about them is so very rare.

Diversity on the Shelf: Approved Books Pt. 1

February Reading Queue

I am back with my Reading Queue for the month February. Reading Queue is hosted by Book Tasty and Books: A True Story Can you believe we are in our second month of 2014.  Wow!  I know this post is kinda late but I was not sure what I wanted to read this month. Click the covers to read more about the books.

What is the reading queue all about?

Reading Queue is a monthly meme where you share what books you plan to read for the month. You can hop to other blogs and see what others are reading and maybe find someone reading the same thing as you! Or you can ask for people to vote on what you should read next if you can’t decide. 

Book Club Pick for February  
The House Girl

 

The House Girl is Mocha Girls Read book of the month for February and I am happy to say I have a copy (around here somewhere).  I think the copy I have is an ARC from BEA13.  Just need to track it down.  The CornVersation is doing a read-a-long for this book as well.  Join us!

Review: The Night Circus

The Night Circus Author: Erin Morgenstern Genre: Historical Fantasy Publisher: Anchor Books Release Date: July 3, 2012 Paperback: 516 pages Source: Won from Books A True Story

Sunday Delight: Book Bloggish News

  This has been a crazy busy week for me this week.  And it's not stopping anytime soon.  There are so many events going on this weekend too.  Who know I would be overbooked?  Yes.  I completely over booked myself for today and had to cancel dancing with the belly dance ladies.  I have a book club field trip to host.  Oops.  I need to get back to writing everything down.  EVERYTHING!  I need to mail off all the books to all the winners on Monday.  I didn't forget about you guys.  I will go on Monday.

Here and Now

Time: 8:02 am

Drinking: Water (again)

Eating: nothing yet.  Going to make a bowl of hot oatmeal after I finish this post

Listening To: The Best of Down to the Bone on my iPad

Watching: Nothing.

What I Am Reading...

The Aloha Quilt

Book Blogger Hop: FedEx Overload and Storms

 

Hosted by Coffee Addicted Writer
Welcome everyone to another post of Book Blogger Hop (hosted by Coffee Addicted Writer). Each week there will be a new topic submit by a blogger and everyone can join in with their answers. You should join us! It's quite fun!  No really it is!

This Weeks Topic/Question

What is the highest number of books you received in one day either in the mail or from UPS or FED EX? (submitted by Elizabeth)

Thoughtful Thrusday: Number of Books at One Time

Hosted by Reading Is Fun Again
Pam over at Reading Is Fun Again (great blog name) started the new meme to get a few thoughts on a few bookish things.  You know how much I love sharing my thoughts/opinions on stuff, so I thought it would be perfect to add my two cents in too!

I created Thoughtful Thursday, because bookish thoughts kept popping up in my mind while reading, and I wanted to explore these questions and get your opinions too! -From Reading Is Fun Again

Today's Thoughtful Thursday Question

How many books do you read at a time? Is there a preferred number?

January 2014 Wrap Up

The fist month of 2014 is done and complete.  I have to say, I am really happy with my reading this month.  I read and posted everything I wanted to read, review and post.  Plus a bit more.  I am still trying to decide on a few books for February.  I have two books I want to read and others are on the fence right now.

January Blog Stats: I posted 47 blog post.

 Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga Reviews where we all can link up our post about the new books in our lives.  I also add my new pocketbooks too!

February is Black History Month

February is Black History Month in the US.  This month we celebrate, remember and teach the history of Blacks and the contributions they have made to the world we live in.  Today I thought I would give you a few links and information as about a few things going on this month along with a few new releases.

These events celebrate Black History Month in bookish ways.

Review: Divergent

Divergent (Book #1) Author: Veronica Roth Genre: YA Dystopian Publisher:  Harper Audio Release Date: May 3, 2011 Series: Divergent Series (Book 1)  Audiobook: 11 hours and 11 minutes Narrator:  Emma Galvin Source: Purchased from Audible.com

Sunday Delight: Look What I Found

This Sunday I thought I would highlight a few things I found around the book blogging world. Some of you are new to blogging and might not have heard of these events.  But before I get to those, let me tell you about my week.

Here and Now

Time: 6:04 pm (yes!  The Super Bowl is going on and I'm blogging)

Drinking: Water

Eating: Mexican Gumbo

Listening To: The dryer.

Watching: Nothing!  Not even the Super Bowl.

January Winners

Oh but first, a BIG thank you goes out to all of you for stopping by, entering and leaving comments. I really, really appreciate it!  There were soo many giveaways last month, I don't know where to start. 

Giveaways I had for the month of January...

Diversity on the Shelf 2014: February Review Link-Up

Inspired by POC Reading Challenge

Welcome to Diversity on the Shelf 2014 Reading Challenge February review link up.

Every month I will post a linky for you to add your reviews.  Please have a direct link to the book you are reviewing to the linky.  No links to blog home pages please.  If you don't have a blog, please link to your Goodreads, Amazon, Facebook, LibraryThing or other account where you are reviewing the books for this challenge.

Books that qualify for this challenge are by people of color or with a main character of color.  All shades and races of color are welcomed and encouraged here.  If you still need more clarification on what a person of color is Click Here.

If you haven't signed up for the challenge yet, don't fret you still have time.  Just sign up here! 

If you need a few suggestions on what to read for this challenge check out the list of links to blogs, book list and more. Links here or the side bar menu.

We currently have 40 participates!

 ~ Last Month Stats ~

18 Books Reviewed 

 (The January linky will be open for 5 more days.)

The House Girl Read-A-Long

Hosted by The Corn-versation

It has been years since we had a read-a-long for our book of the month. I am happy to say Mocha Girl Cornethia will be hosting a month-long read-a-long on her blog THE CORN-VERSATION. What's a read-a-long?

A Read-A-Long is like a book club meeting but it has a weekly schedule instead of a monthly one. This way you will have discussions, chit-chat and Q&A's along the way as you are reading the book together. And if you follow the schedule you will finish the book just in time for book club meeting. Perfect!