Happy Happy

11 years ago today, I married my best friend and it's been the best choice of my life.

Top Ten Tuesday: Blogging Goals for 2015

 This week's topic is our Goals/Resolutions For 2015 -- bookish or blogging. I fear many of these will be similar to last year as I didn't do the best job at keeping with my goals, but they are ones I mean to accomplish...

- meme from The Broke and the Bookish

Bookish:

Read more Diverse books 

Read for the Cybils this year! (I'm a round 2 in judge for YA Speculative Fiction)

Read more Nonfictional books (I did pretty good that this this year)

Read more ARCs when they first arrive

Read more Debut authors 

Blogging:

Write more Personal posts

Write more Librarian posts

Connect more with publishers

Bookish Conferences:

Attend BEA 15

Attend Romance Writers of American (It's in New York this year, so I must attend)

End of the Year Survey 2014

This is from Jamie @ The Perpetual Page Turner

I tried not use the same books over and over. But there were some hard questions that I ran out of time answering. 

Number Of Books You Read: 361
Number of Re-Reads: 5 (library book clubs)
Genre You Read The Most From: Contemporary (YA and Adult)

 

1. Best Book You Read In 2014?

2. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read in 2014? 

I wanted to love these as much as the buzz for them, but I just didn't...

  3. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did) In 2014?

I talked a lot about this series during the summer with teens at the library 

  4. Best series you started in 2014? Best Sequel of 2014? Best Series Ender of 2014?

Start: 

Sequel:

End:

  5. Favorite new author you discovered in 2014?

Emery Lord:

6. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

  7 Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

8. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2014?

9. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2014?

 10. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2014 to finally read? 

11.Shortest and Longest Book You Read In 2013?

Picture books are 32 pages and Covert Affairs was 679 pages

12. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

Lily and Marijke from Just Like the Movies 

13. Best Book You Read In 2014 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:

Recommended by a girl in my Middle School Book Club

14. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2014?

Matt Finch

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2014? 

What Sarah Read

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2014? 

How can I possibly answer that one???

3. Best discussion/non-review post you had on your blog?

I don't usually have discussion on the blog - but on social media, this one sparked some thoughts. 

Halloween Food

4. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?

Always BEA!
Love chatting with bookish friends new and old 

5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2014?

Meeting Debbie Macomber was great (I wish I had a better picture)

Meeting Kristan Higgins (again)

Meeting Janet Evanovich (Again)

In the Librarian World:

Co-Presenting on Infographics at the CT Librarian Conference 

7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?

By views: 1270

Best Books of 2014 so far (half-way through the year)

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

My celebration as 10 years as YA Librarian

9. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

Animoto for all sorts of videos

10.  Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?

More on this coming soonish! 

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2014 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2015?

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2015 (non-debut)?

I have SUCH a hard time choosing this one. So here's my list

But the top 2 would be:

3. 2015 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

 4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2015?

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2015?

Post coming soonish, but I hope to be more involved in the Community 

6. A 2015 Release You’ve Already Read and Recommend To Everyone:

What a bookish year!!!!!

Mysterious Saturday Review: Model Undercover

* Book 1 in a New Series * 

Axelle wants to solve mysteries, but her parents don't approve. Instead, they're sending her to Paris to visit her aunt for Fashion Week where she'll be a minion for her aunt. Axelle isn't the least bit interesting in the world of fashion - that is until one of the top designers goes missing.

Axelle knows that she could solve the case if only given the opportunity, especially once she realizes the police aren't looking into the family curse. She crashes a meeting and gets a top model on her side. With a little work, Axelle makes a splash in the fashion world. She uses her new fame to question everyone who might have known about the curse. Can she walk the runway and solve the crime before her parents come to visit?

My Thoughts: A great start to a new series with a feisty heroine who knows what she wants and isn't afraid to think outside the box. I liked how even though Axelle entered the fashion world, she didn't let it turn her head; she still kept her own ideas and she still wore the clothes that suited her. I liked both of her friends and how they researched the past to help solve the mystery in the present. I certainly wasn't expecting that ending, but I love the set-up for the next book in New York.

Cover Thoughts: Cute!
Source: My Library

Merry Christmas!

 

I hope your day is filled with love, laughter, family, friends, good food, and bookish fun!

 

Birthday Girl

 

It's my birthday, so Cheers.

Here's to a year filled with magic for all: books, happiness, good health, family and friends.

Thanks for being a part of my life.

Christmas Week Review: The Lodge on Holly Road

 

* Book 6 in the Icicle Falls series *

James used to play Santa Claus with a happy heart, but it's been a year since he lost his wife and his Christmas Spirit. His daughter planned a surprise for him. James and his two children will be spending Christmas in Icicle Falls.  At first, James can't bear the idea of it, but soon he warms up to the idea. It doesn't hurt that the woman who runs the inn knows what he's been going through. He enjoyed spending time with her and hopes that she likes him too. 

The inn brings out the Christmas spirit for all the families staying there, especially for the kids. Two adorable kids have big wishes this year.  One man's going to propose to his girlfriend and has everything planned perfectly - if only she would arrive. Could it be the best Christmas for everyone at the Inn?

 My Thoughts: I adore this small town series and love seeing characters from previous books. I loved learning more about the Lodge and seeing the guests: from the older librarian type ladies to the small adorable kids (who are a handful), to the families. Lots of love and laughter for the holidays, but also some tears and trials. I loved watching people play in the snow. I loved the two kids - who were no double a handful. Most of all, I loved watching everyone connect. A delightful read just perfect for the season.

Cover Thoughts: Perfection - I love the mountains in the background.
Source: My Library

Christmas Review Week: Cold as Ice

 

 * Book 6 in the Whatever After series *

Abby and her brother have a habit of messing up Fairy Tales and they've promised their parents they won't go into the basement (where the magic mirror is) again at night.  When their puppy Prince escapes Jonah's room and goes through the mirror, the siblings have no choice but to rescue him.

They land in snow and before long, Abby realizes they've been transported to the Snow Queen's story.  Soon they discover that Prince has been captured and frozen. They need to find a way to save both the story and rescue their dog.

My Thoughts: Technically, this one isn't a Christmas story, but it's set in a frozen winterland, plus it centers on the feelings of friendship.  You can feel the cold seeping in through your bones while reading this one - so it's perfect for curling up in front of the fire.  I felt bad for the characters who were lonely or who were forced into doing things they didn't want to do. Friendships were broken and made. I love how Abby realized the importance of true friendship and how people might drift in and out of our lives, but they will always be friends. I like the ending between the two girls in the fairy tale and how they used their power in a different way. Plus that ending with Abby and Johan left me wanting the next book immediately!

Cover Thoughts: Cute! I love the trees in the background.
Source: My Library

Christmas Week Review: Santa Clauses

 

Haikus for Christmas from December 1st until the 25th from Santa Claus - just to see how he spends the month of December getting ready for Christmas at the North Pole.

My Thoughts: A fantastic Christmas picture book that made me sigh with happiness. The book is short, but sweet and filled with the Christmas spirit. The pictures are beautiful. When I finished the book I sighed with happiness. This is one book to read again and again every year! A Magical read.

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library