Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke And The Bookish where each week there is a new topic for a top ten list. 

This week is "Top Ten Books On My Winter TBR" 

1. The Last Time We Say Goodbye 
  

2. The Memory Key 

3. Playlist For The Dead

4. Red Queen

5. The Orphan Queen 

6. Lies I Told 

7. Everything That Makes You 

8. The Rosie Effect 

9. Better Than Perfect 

10. 99 Days 

Until next time, 

Ginger

Review of "Dead Girl Walking"

Dead Girl Walking By Ruth Silver 

Stars: 5 

Source: YA Bound 

Princess Ophelia is dead, brutally murdered, her life, her legacy, ripped away in the time it takes her attacker to slice her throat. 

In order to stay in this world Princes Ophelia becomes Leila, a grim reaper who helps those who have died pass on to the next world. 

The rules of a reaper are simple, you can't be late, you can't prevent death and you must leave behind your old life and never look back. 

Unfortunately Oph- Leila, has a knack for breaking any rules set for her. 

When I first started reading this book I was very hesitant, I didn't realize it was historical fantasy when I requested it and I was sure I wasn't going to like it. However within the first chapter I forgot all the skepticism I had and tore through it as fast as I could.

I loved Leila's character and the other reapers and the twist and turns. 

I loved how Ophelia's old life kept overlapping with Leila's new life and the consequences that followed. 

This was my first Ruth Silver book but it most certainly will not be my last. 

Until next time, 

Ginger 

In compliance with FTC guidelines I am disclosing that this book was given to me for free to review. 

My review is my honest opinion.

ARC Review of "Watched"

Watched By C.J Lyons 

Stars: 5 

Source: Netgalley 

Release Date: November 4th 

Jess is never alone. He can't roll over in bed without being watched, he can't walk down the street or take a sip of water without feeling the eyes of King on him. 

King controls Jess's life. Every aspect of it and if Jess dares to take a wrong turn, to step off of the path that King has laid out for him, than Jess puts the life of his mother and little sister in danger. 

Jess has never met King, he doesn't know what he looks like, where he lives or even his real name, all Jess knows is that King is a monster and his weapon of choice is the internet.

After years of putting up with the abuse, the blackmail and the pure fear of losing everything he loves Jess can't seem to find a way out. There's no escaping King, he watches through every camera, listens to every microphone and he will stop at nothing to get what he wants. 

Jess thinks that King has won, that no one is strong enough, smart enough or brave enough to stand up to him. To defeat him. That is until Jess gets a mysterious package in the mail. A phone and three simple words. I can help. 

I'm no hacker, I can't write a code to save my life, I'll admit that sometimes even 'Blogger' baffles me. 

But there are far brighter people out there, far more brilliant, scary, psychotic people in this world who use technology as a weapon and Lyons does a beautiful job of showing you, through the victims eyes, how easily the wrong information in the wrong persons hand can turn your life and the life of those you love upside down. 

Lyons does an amazing job of describing the horror these kids have gone through without explicitly describing it. 

"Watched" will give you chills and keep you up at night. I guarantee once your read it you'll think twice about the technology you allow into your home and you'll never leave your webcam uncovered again. 

Until next time, 

Ginger

In compliance with FTC guidelines I am disclosing that this book was given to me for free to review. 

My review is my honest opinion.

Stacking The Shelves (14)

Stacking The Shelves 

"We are all book lovers and the need to share our enthusiasm is sometimes overwhelming. Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in the physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! 

If you're anything like me, you are probably hoarding books and even though you are excited about your latest book arrival, it might be a while before you get to review it and Stacking The Shelves is a good way to express your undying enthusiasm for those titles."

For the past couple of weeks I've been on a book buying ban, as much as my wallet loved it I myself was not a fan. Anyway I got a Barnes and Noble gift card for my birthday and bought a couple books. :)

I can't wait until my four day weekend next week so I can do nothing but read! 

Until next time, 

Ginger

Waiting On Wednesday

Waiting On Wednesday 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine and spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. 

Here is my selection for the week: 

From Barnes and Noble: 

"Amanda Hocking knows how to keep readers turning the pages." —The New York Times Book Review

Hidden deep in the heart of a snow-covered wilderness lies the secret kingdom of the Kanin—a magical realm as beautiful as it is treacherous…Bryn Aven has never fit into Kanin society. Her blond hair and blue eyes set her apart as an outsider—a half-blood unable to hold a respectable rank. But she’s determined to prove herself as a loyal protector of the kingdom she loves. Her dream is to become a member of the King’s elite guard, and she’s not going to let anything stand in her way…not even her growing feelings for her boss, Ridley Dresden. A relationship between them is strictly forbidden, but Bryn can’t fight her attraction to him. And she’s beginning to think he feels it too. Meanwhile, there’s an attack on the kingdom—one that will test Bryn’s strength like never before. Finally, she has the chance to confront Konstantin Black, the traitor who tried to kill her father years ago. It’s up to Bryn to put a stop to him before he strikes again. But is she willing to risk everything to protect a kingdom that doesn’t accept her for who she really is? And when her mission brings her closer to Ridley, will she be able to deny her heart?

Release date is January 6th. 

Until next time, 

Ginger

Review of "In Your Dreams"

In Your Dreams By Kristan Higgins

Stars: 5 Adorable, heartwarming stars! 

Emmaline's ex fiance is getting married. In Malibu. To a personal trainer. Half her size. 

Needless to say she's delighted. 

The last thing Emmaline wants to do is to show up dateless and be the talk of the wedding. Hell her own parents think that she's gay so what would complete strangers think? She needs someone to keep her company, maybe hold her hand, someone to help her create the image that she is, in fact, over her ex. 

That's where Jack comes in, he's always more than willing to help out where help is needed. The wedding comes at just the right time for Jack, he needs to get away from his town, his home, the constant hugs and congratulations, the free dinners and the over used word that bring up memories he just can't handle; hero. In Jack's eyes he isn't a hero, he's a failure, he waited his whole life to save someone and when he was finally presented with the opportunity he fell short.   

Together they make quite the pair, neither one is looking for a real relationship, after the wedding they'll go back home, Em will go back to patrolling the streets of Manningsport and Jack will go back to his families vineyard. 

But fate, or perhaps destiny has other ideas. 

I don't quite know where to begin with this review, I'll start with earlier today, I was looking for more of Kristan's books at the store today, this was the first one of hers that I've read and it turns out its part of a companion series. While looking over the shelves my sister asked what "In Your Dreams" was about and the quickest, easiest way for me to describe it was this. 

It's like all your favorite Hallmark movies rolled into one. 

It was so heartwarming. All the characters, whether they were main characters in previous books (which I am dying to read) or smaller, bit characters, where unbelievable lively and entertaining. 

I liked that it wasn't an average story about two people falling in love. Em wasn't pining away for a man to come into her life and sweep her off her feet. She was perfectly happy to live her life as she had been for the best couple of years. 

I liked that Jack had skeletons in his closet, even if one of those skeletons wore six inch Louis Vuitton heels and spoke like a true southern belle. 

I loved how I never got bored with the back story and the flashbacks never felt like too much. It was all seamless and each piece of the puzzle had a purpose.   

"In Your Dreams" is a refreshing, captivating and satisfying read, from beginning to end. I loved every second. 

Until next time, 

Ginger 

In compliance with FTC guidelines I am disclosing that this book was given to me for free to review. 

My review is my honest opinion.

Random Birthday Tag

You're regularly scheduled "Waiting On Wednesday" post has been bumped to Friday, why you may ask? Because today is my 23rd birthday that's why! Also because I said so ;)

I'm going to be doing the Random Birthday Things tag today instead. 

So 23 random things about myself, lets go! 

1. I collect anything and everything Charlie Brown related. 

2. There are certain movies I can quote backwards and forwards, Breakfast At Tiffany's, Dirty Dancing and The Dark Knight to name a few.

3. If I could meet anyone, dead or alive, I'd choose John Hughes. 

4. I have a 7 year old boxer named Jerome Bettis after my favorite football player. 

5. One of my favorite albums is Yellowcard's "Southern Air". 

6. I have a very unhealthy obsession with Vampire Diaries*. 
*Read Damon Salvatore. 

7. I have three favorite quotes: 

Do not go gentle into that good night, 

Old age should burn and rave at close of day; 

Rage, rage against the dying of the light. 

Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark in the hopeless swamps of the not-quite, the not-yet, and the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish in lonely frustration for the life you deserved and have never been able to reach. The world you desire can be won. It exists.. it is real.. it is possible.. it's yours. 

May the bridges I burn light the way. 

8. I love photography and every once in a while I talk my sister into modeling for me. This is from last summer, a Breakfast Club photoshoot. 

9. When I'm stressed out I clean, like OCD, toothbrush on the base boards, check it with a white glove, clean. 

10. I can't blog without background noise, usually I listen to music or watch reality tv but if I'm having writers block I put on QVC or the home shopping network. 

11. I have naturally red hair but I dye it 'Little Mermaid' red. 

12. I constantly have Cheap Trick's "I Want You To Want Me" stuck in my head. 

13. I'm a sucker for super heroes movies of any kind. Superman, Spiderman, Batman, The Avengers. 

14. I have a really bad memory and tend to re-read books in a series when a new one comes out or I just wait until all the books are out to start reading them. 

15. I'm still waiting for my acceptance letter to Hogwarts. (I'd be a Gryffindor.)

16. I've never been to the ocean before and ever since reading "The Forest of Hands and Teeth" I've become somewhat obsessed with seeing it. 

17. If someone tells me I can't do something it becomes my number one priority to prove them wrong. 

18. If I ever won a million dollars I'd pack my bags, buy myself a couple acres with a farm house on it and raise horses and pigs and chickens. Also, I've never really been on a farm... 

19. I once had a pet dwarf frog named Rhett Butler but one day I took him out of his bowl and he promptly jumped down the heat vent never to be seen again. 

20. I hate not finishing books and before I started blogging I had DNF maybe three books. Since starting (in the past 6 months) I've DNF about 6 or 7. 

21. When I was little I wanted to grow up and be a Walker Texas Ranger. 

22. One of the first mysteries I read was Mary Higgins Clark's "Where Are The Children" I read it when I was maybe 11 and was so proud that I figured it out before the ending. 

23. One of my all time favorite songs is "Picture's of You" by The Cure. 

And that's it! 23 completely random facts about me! 

Hope it wasn't too terribly boring ;) 

Until next time, 

Ginger