Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Armchair BEA: Genre Fiction


Genre Fiction: most readers either love it or hate it. For today's question, I decided to look at genre fiction and presented below are my musings over it. 

My Experience at Work

Being a librarian, I work with genre fiction daily whether it is:

Waiting on Wednesday: April in Milan by Beverley Kendall

Hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine this is the weekly feature in which we highlight titles we are looking forward to reading.

This week I am featuring a New Adult title. I am quickly liking new adult genre as an interlude between the young adult and adult fiction I read. I had such a great experience in college and right afterward so it so it is nice to go back and revisit that time in my life through these titles. :) 


April in Milan
By Beverley Kendall
Series: Language of Love
Expected Publication is November 2013 





Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Armchair BEA--Introduction Post



How I long to go to BEA but I alas, I am not able to go this year. One of these years I will go but until then, I am going to try to participate a bit in Armchair BEA. So without further ado, here is my introduction post:

1) Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging?

My name is Stephanie and I have been blogging here on Love.Life.Read consistently for 6 months but I have done other blogging in the past other places, including an in house blog at my old library. I started this blog in particular for a way to track my own reading as well as to hopefully connect with other readers. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Freebie Day!

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, join in the fun by answering the posted prompt.

This week is a freebie week! How fun and daunting. After thinking about it, I decided I would do my Top Ten Favorite Series. I admit, I enjoy a good series. I love to catch up with favorite characters from the series to see where life has taken them since the previous book ended.

I have broken them up into Young Adult and Adult Categories. Within each category, they are not ranked in order of preference but just as they came to me. :-) Lastly, clicking on the series will take you to the GoodReads series listing for each so you can check out the titles in each series. :-) 

Monday, May 27, 2013

It Had to Be You by Jill Shalvis

It Had to Be You By Jill Shalvis 
ISBN: 9781455521111 
Publication Date: May 28, 2013 
Series: Lucky Harbor #7 
Reviewed: an eARC from Hatchett Book Group—thank you! 






Saturday, May 25, 2013

Friday, May 24, 2013

Summer Lovin' Sign Up




The Summer Lovin’ Readathon is a week-long read-a-thon event hosted by seven independent bloggers! (Oh, Chrys!, Tumbling Books, Effortlessly Reading, Love Life Read, Shelf Addiction, Read Sleep Repeat, and Reviewing Wonderland)


Spend the week reading at your own pace, when and how you want too. There will be daily challenges for awesome prizes and opportunities to get points toward the Grand Prize Packs.


As if that weren’t enough – the week will end with a 24-hr marathon read-a-thon! Twitter parties, mini-challenges, games, prizes given EVERY HOUR, and more chances to get points toward the Grand Prize Packs.


Sign-ups will be open through July 6th. I’m in, are you?!




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Come Join the Summer Lovin' Read-a-Thon!!!!!



I am beyond thrilled to be co-hosting Summer Lovin' Read-a-Thon with 6 other wonderful bloggers: Oh, Chrys!, Tumbling Books, Effortlessly Reading, Shelf Addiction, Read Sleep Repeat, and Reviewing Wonderland



Looking for a way to clean out your TBR pile? Want to join other book lovers and bloggers to discuss those have-to-have summer reads?

Join us for the annual Summer Lovin’ Read-a-Thon!


The week long read-a-thon will start Monday July 1st with daily events and giveaways. Then come and join us for a 24-hr marathon read-a-thon starting Saturday, July 6th from 10:00 a.m. EST to Sunday, July 7th at 9:59 a.m. EST.
You can chat about your progress on Twitter all week long using the hashtag #SummerLovin13 

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Feature & Follow #5


A Weekly Feature by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read. Come join us as we learn about our fellow bloggers by answer a weekly question. If you have not followed me yet, could you kindly pick an option from the right side--you're choice! :) 

This week's question:

#FF is 150 weeks old! And we want to hear from you! What would you change about the blog hop? What do you like about it? Or just suggest a question to be used next week! 

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday: Cover Candy!

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, this is the weekly feature in which we answer the posted prompt.

This week's prompt: Top Ten Favorite Book Covers I've Read

While I do love a good cover, it is not the end all be all of a book for me. :) But, I am female so I do love pretty things and covers are no exception. This week I am going to highlight covers of books I love--whether I have had a chance to read them or not. This is another one that really had me thinking and browsing because only a few popped into mind quickly. They are not listed in any particular order but here they are nonetheless:

 

1) Smart Girls Get What They Want (paperback version) by Sarah Strohmeyer
It just makes me smile, that's enough for me

2) These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman
Not sure what it is about this cover but I do think it is very pretty 

Waiting on Wednesday: Erased by Jennifer Rush


Hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine this is the weekly feature in which we highlight titles we are looking forward to reading.


This week I am highlight a sequel of a book I just loved this past week:




Erased
By Jennifer Rush
ISBN: 9780316197151
Publication Date: January 7, 2014--such a long time away!





Monday, May 20, 2013

All I Need by Susane Colasanti

All I Need
By Susane Colasanti
ISBN: 9780670014231
Publication Date: May 21, 2013 

Reviewed from: an eARC from Edelweiss—Thank you Vikings Childrens Books (Penguin USA) 



My Rating: 5 Stars!!


Bout of Books 7.0 Wrap Up!

Bout of Books

Wow, this week flew by so quickly for me! Actually, the whole year is going by in a blink. I am shocked that I made my overall goals this week with the exception of visiting 10 blogs on Sunday. It was packed and I was exhausted last night so I did nothing other than reading about 50 pages. Here's my recap:


My Goals for the Week:

  • Finish 3 books and hoping for more
  • Write reviews for titles finished within 2 days
  • Visit at least 10 different bloggers each day

Book Blogger Confessions: Additional Reviewers




The lowdown:

"Book Blogger Confessions is a meme that posts the 1st and 3rd Monday of every month, where book bloggers "confess" and vent about topics that are unique to us. Feel free to share, vent and offer solutions. Just keep it respectful - no bashing authors or other bloggers! If you want to participate just grab our button and include it in your post with a link to either Midnyte Reader or For What It's Worth."

This Week's Prompt:  Have you added or considered adding additional reviewers to your blog? Why or why not? If you have, please share how you found the right match when bringing new people to your established blog. Did you encounter any problems? 

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Friday, May 17, 2013

Bout of Books Day 5!


Bout of Books


What a day--after working and staying up late all this week, I am starting to feel the lack of sleep. I still have to work tomorrow, too. I still hope to get some reading done tomorrow. I had a few hours this afternoon to read before we went to my the fun fair at my daughter's school. I am done reading for the night (I think) so I can work on reviews. 

My Goals for the Week:
  • Finish 3 books and hoping for more
  • Write reviews for titles finished within 2 days
  • Visit at least 10 different bloggers each day

Feature & Follow #4


A Weekly Feature by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read. Come join us as we learn about our fellow bloggers by answer a weekly question. 

This Week's Question:
School is Out! What is your favorite summer reading book?

It is funny because I realize that while there is a book that I associate with reading during the holiday season, there is not a specific book I associate with the summer. There are types of books that I think fit well with the summer--road trips, beach books, etc. 

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Bout of Books Day 4 Update

Bout of Books

This week is rolling right along though I have to work this weekend plus a photo session with my family--so I cannot say I will get a whole lot of reading done over it either. Overall, I am happy with my progress I am making despite having the hectic week I am having. 
 

My Goals for the Week:
  • Finish 3 books and hoping for more
  • Write reviews for titles finished within 2 days
  • Visit at least 10 different bloggers each day


Today's Progress:

  •  Finished Georgetown Academy Book Four! It is SO GOOD! I hope that there will be a Book Five.
  • Finished All I Need by Susane Colasanti--I am in LOVE with it. Perfect for the mood I have been in thus far this week.  


    Reviews and Other Special Posts this Week:


     



    Cumulative Progress:

    Monday
    Number of books I've read today: 1 full, 1/2 of another plus a full CD (about 4 chapters or so) of listening
    Total number of books I've read: 1 1/2
    Books:

    • Nantucket Blue by Leila Howland--finished!
    • Listened to 1 full CD (just over an hour total time) of The Paradise Guest House by Ellen Sussman--this is for a review for publication so I will not be posting a review of it here for quite some time.
    • Working on Smart Girls Get What They Want by Sarah Strohmeyer as I just had an inkling to read it again.
    Tuesday
    Number of books I've read today: 1/2 of one book plus two CDs of an audiobook
    Total number of books I've read: 3 books!
    Books:

    Wednesday
    Number of books I've read today: about 50 pages of one and 20 of another
    Total number of books I've read: 3 books! plus 70 pages
    Books:
    I also go to participate in the Twitter Chat! I am so happy that I was able to do this--I did not think it would work out this week to do one. :)

    Thursday
    Number of books I've read today: finished 2 
    Total number of books I've read: 5 books! 
    Books:
    With finishing up All I Need, I am off to bed as I have to work tomorrow. Hope you are having a great week! Be sure to tell me what book you have been enjoying this week! I am always on the lookout for great books to add to my TBR list. :)

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    Bout of Books 7.0 Day 3 :)

    Bout of Books
    Could it really be the end of Day 3 already? This week is going by so quickly. Alas, I did not get as much reading done today as I would have liked between my dental appointment, working until 8:00 and now, at this point I am super tired so I do not think I will make it to midnight like I have the last two nights but we will see.


    My Goals for the Week:
    • Finish 3 books and hoping for more
    • Write reviews for titles finished within 2 days
    • Visit at least 10 different bloggers each day

    Wednesday, May 15, 2013

    Cover Reveal and Contest: Georgetown Academy: Book Four!

    When the It Girl Novels meet Washington D.C., you get the Georgetown Academy Books! I have had the pleasure reading and reviewing Books 1-3 recently here at Love.Life.Read and I am thrilled to be participating in the cover reveal for Book 4. Without further ado, here is the cover and the summary:



    Georgetown Academy: Book Four
    By Jessica Koosed Etting and Alyssa Embree Schwartz
    Publication Date: June 11, 2013


    Bout of Books 7.0 Update for Day 2

    Bout of Books

    We are moving along with Bout of Books. Day 2 is finished! At the rate it is going, this week is going to fly by for me. What about you all?


    My Goals for the Week:
    • Finish 3 books and hoping for more
    • Write reviews for titles finished within 2 days
    • Visit at least 10 different bloggers each day

    WoW: No Good Duke Goes Unpunished by Sarah MacLean


    A weekly feature hosted by Breaking the Spine, this is the time to highlight titles we are looking forward to being published.




    No Good Duke Goes Unpunished
    By Sarah MacLean
    ISBN: 9780062068545
    Publication Date: November 26, 2013--so long from now! 




    Tuesday, May 14, 2013

    Nantucket Blue by Lelia Howland

    Nantucket Blue
    By Leila Howland
    ISBN: 9781423160519
    Published: May 7, 2013
    Reviewed from: a copy from my library

     

    My Rating: 5 stars :)


    Top Ten Tuesday: Let's Talk About the Tough Stuff

    The Broke and the Bookish hosts this weekly feature. Come join the fun by answering the prompt and linking up! 

    This week's prompt: Top Ten Books Dealing with Tough Subjects


    Wowsers--what a topic but it is so important! I am a huge advocate of having books that deal with the tough situations that we can find ourselves in at some point in our life or to read about if someone we know is going through it. The list is split with six I have read prior to today and four more that I know would work for this topic (three of which are on my TBR list). 

    Here are my Top Ten Books Dealing with Tough Subjects:

     


    1) Speak by Laurie Anderson--this is one of the most amazing books I have read. I highly recommend it.
    2) Wintergirls by Laurie Anderson--eating disorders presented like I have never read before

    Monday, May 13, 2013

    The Taming of Ryder Cavanaugh by Stephanie Laurens

    The Taming of Ryder Cavanaugh 
    By Stephanie Laurens
    ISBN: 9780062068651
    Publication Date: June 25, 2013
    Reviewed from eARC from Edelweiss—thank you Avon! 




    My Rating: 5 stars!!

    Bout of Books 7.0: Day 1!!!

    Bout of Books


    My Registration Post will take you to my initial sign up post. 


    I CANNOT believe it is upon us. The it being Bout of Books 7.0!! I am so excited to be participating in this again. I hope to be productive but I will have to make this read-a-thon fit in with a busy schedule this week. I will do my best and that will be that. :)

    I got up to read this morning to read and now here I am writing my update post. This post will be updated as I can today. 



    My Goals for the Week:
    • Finish 3 books and hoping for more
    • Write reviews for titles finished within 2 days
    • Visit at least 10 different bloggers each day

    Wednesday, May 8, 2013

    And Then She Fell By Stephanie Laurens


    And Then She Fell 
    By Stephanie Laurens
    ISBN: 9780062068644
    Publication Date: March 26, 2013
    Reviewed from: my personal library 





    My Rating: 4.5 stars