My Life in a Nutshell: April-June Update

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So you may all be wondering where the hell I’ve been lately! Maybe not though, I’m not always on here when life gets hectic or stressful or just life like. Although this time There is a reason why I’ve been literally AWOL for the past month and a bit, drum roll please:

Humber Creative Book Publishing Program

Ta da! I know right – you’re all wondering “what the bloody hell is that?” Well it is exactly what it sounds like: a program built to teach students about the creative book publishing world! Cool right? And the perfect place for someone like me.

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Blog Tour: “Unspeakable” by Caroline Pignat

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UNSPEAKABLE

So if you haven’t noticed I’ve been AWOL these last couple weeks! Well I’m back with a one of a kind special blog tour spot from Penguin Canada! Caroline Pignat is coming out with a new novel called Unspeakable which is about the Empress of Ireland’s tragic sinking.

This book blew my mind! I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it or not but once I started I couldn’t put it down. I felt anxious, and heartbroken for Ellie and Jim’s tragic story but also so curious about the entire ordeal of the sinking of the Empress of Ireland. I wasn’t aware of this event in Canada’s rich history and you all know me I love a good romance (albeit a bit tragic). 

I was lucky enough to get an interview with Caroline and I can’t wait to share it with you! Unfortunately my review isn’t ready yet BUT check out the interview and the synopsis to this truly Canadian novel!

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Top Ten #23: Books If You Like HISTORICAL TV Shows

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I have a confession to make – I LOVE binge watching TV shows! When I’m not reading, I am usually either at the gym for a reluctant hour and a bit (lol), or I am binge watching TV shows. New shows, old shows, especially historical shows; Game of Thrones, Reign, Vikings, Rome, the Tudors, Merlin – you get the point. I love em! So this weeks Top Ten Tuesday is none other than some of MY favourite books if you like historical TV shows.

ENJOY!

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#10: “A Game of Thrones” by George R.R. Martin – an obvious choice but a great one nonetheless! The world that Martin has created is one of medieval turmoil with kings, queens, damsels, princes and dragons! Who wouldn’t want all that in a fantasy, historical era novel!

#9: “Song of the Lioness” by Tamora Pierce – not entirely historical in a sense of truth but everything that happens within the novel has a historical backing to it. Pierce creates an entire realm of novels that have a medieval feel with lady knights, wizards and adventures that only history can deliver!

#8: “Graceling” by Kristin Cashore – another fantastical medieval novel. Set in far off places with magical, strong woman but just as strong men characters. Set over three novels with cross characters this novel definitely has a bit of Game of Thrones and a bit of Song of the Lioness as well.

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Waiting On Wednesday #58

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Last week I totally spaced and forgot to write up my Waiting On Wednesday post. I had the book and everything planned out I just didn’t get around to writing it all out. SO this week is technically last weeks choice, and I hope you all don’t mind! I know I’ve made this remark again and again but seriously 2014 is the season of witch-y books! Everywhere I look its like every author just discovered witches and the awesomeness that comes from writing Young Adult novels about them. Don’t get me wrong some of these books I am SUPER head over heels pumped for but at the same thing, is too much of a good thing bad? Sometimes it can get a little repetitive BUT it won’t stop me from reading them all!

ENJOY!

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Top Ten #22: Characters Who Stole My Heart

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This weeks Top Ten Tuesday is 1) on time ! (yay me :D) and 2) a super fun topic! Characters Who Stole my Heart – I think this was one of the most enjoyable topics I had to compile a list for. I was very particular in my list as well and tried to include a mixture of “swoon-worthy” characters who stole my heart and also strong willed, determined heroines who stole my heart with their awesomeness! It becomes increasingly more difficult on a yearly basis when there are so many books and characters constantly being introduced so I also tried to include a bunch of classic characters as well, just to mix it up!

ENJOY!

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Stacking the Shelves [28]

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This week has been inactive in many more ways than one. I’ve only made it to the gym once, I only did one post, and I’ve felt really unmotivated to do really anything other than binge watch TV – BUT I did receive a whack of books over the last couple weeks (I just forgot last week to post). SO I hope you’ve all had a waaaay better week than I have, and I hope you all enjoy the books I’m sporting this week :D

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Physical Copies:

Nash by Jay Crownover“Nash” by Jay Crownover

Saint has no idea that Nash isn’t the cocky player he once was. Uncovering a devastating family secret has rocked his world, and now he’s struggling to figure out his future. He can’t be distracted by the pretty nurse he seems to meet everywhere. Still, he can’t ignore the sparks that fly between them —or how she seems so desperate to get away from him. But the funny, sweet, and drop-dead gorgeous Saint is far too amazing to give up on—especially since she’s the only thing in his life that seems to make sense.

I DEVOURED this book last week!! I have been waiting so so so very long for another Marked Men book Rule, Rome and Jet all rocked my world and I adored the style of writing and romance Crownover delivered. SO once I heard about Nash I couldn’t WAIT to get an ARC just so I could get a chance to read it. And loved it!

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Top Ten #21: Bookish Items!

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This weeks Top Ten Tuesday is showcasing some oft he great bookish items (not necessarily books) that I would love to own! Some of the items are jewellery, bookends, T-shirts, bags, nick nacks, etc. BUT they all have one fabulous thing in common … they are ALL book orientated! This weeks list was fun to create and reminded me of all the wonderfully unique items out there that definitely describe that inner book nerd always trying to break loose!

ENJOY!

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#10: Bookish Tattoos – I already have a few on my feet, but I’d like some more. Bigger quotes I think I’ve decided on. I love the different script work tattoo artists can do now a days, and I think that if it was good enough for someone to publish well its unique enough (and special enough – to me at least) to be printed on my body! (the link will take you to a Pinterest page dedicated to different bookish tattoos)

#9: “Book/End” Book Ends - What a novel idea! I adore unique and witty book ends! There’s a ton on the etsy page I found these on – just click the link!

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Waiting On Wednesday #57

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I am SO late getting my post up this week for Waiting on Wednesday basically due to reading far too much the night before, and having one heck of a hectic day at work! BUT this week is definitely a book (and series) you won’t want to miss out on! Jay Crownover, author of the Marked Men series is by FAR one of the most brilliant romance authors I can proudly call a top 5 favourite of mine! Crownover knows how to deliver suspenceful, passionate and crazy romances with over the top, swooooon worthy characters you can’t get enough of!

Get your TO BE READ list ready readers! This series you’ll want to add ASAP!

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Top Ten #20: Unique Books!

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Spring is upon us! (maybe). Its been raining the last couple days and everything is starting to smell like spring again and even look like it, which means sun, summer and summer reading. This weeks Top Ten Tuesday is all about unique books we’ve read. Unique being authors who have created books that have a spin on the genre, the voices are different, or perhaps they’re just written in a creative and distinct voice than the average romance, young adult, fantasy etc.

This list was very hard to make for me. I felt like the books I’ve chosen weren’t that unique or outrageous to some readers; but for me the first time I read them they were out of this world distinct, rare and beautifully creative! So I hope you all won’t judge me too much if this list seems a little mediocre compared to some.

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This list appears in no numerical order.

#10: “Half Bad” by Sally Green – Half Bad is a beautiful and unique story told from in the mind of the character. You get to know Nathan from first person but ALSO third person so if you’re not into first person writing don’t fret, third person eventually comes. The reader really gets connected with Nathan in a way you wouldn’t normally get too with first or third, but a combo of both is very in-depth.

#9: “Fire” by Kristin Cashore – when I first read Fire it blew my mind on how magical and yet real it was. It takes place in the same realm as Graceling with some of the same characters but Fire is a human monster. She is gorgeous and usually when books portray gorgeous characters their good but in this case Cashore portrays her as a mind controlling monster BECAUSE of her beauty. Its a thrilling comparison of of good vs. evil. It is an extremely colourful novel and theme throughout.

#8: “Shatter Me” by Tahereh Mafi – Mafi created an exclusive unique world to Juliette; her thoughts are written down like a journal, scratched out and rewritten as she decides. The story itself is also extremely unique, the type of “dystopian” Mafi has written is incredibly different from the average one – these characters themselves are special. Everything about Shatter Me is unique.

#7: “Starling” by Lesley Livingston – Livingston always creates rare and creative worlds within her novels. She shapes and moulds historical periods into these beautiful stories, Starling is definitely one of those books. I’ve never read about Ragnorok before or norse mythology so this was definitely an unique experience.

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Stacking the Shelves [27]

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Oh what a whirlwind of a week it has been! Monday started out with a bookish adventure with another blogger to a book signing and pre-chat with a prominent Young Adult author, and then the week continued to be great. I made contact with some publishers about upcoming books, and it looks like next week I’ll be receiving an amazing ARC I didn’t even think I was going to get!

Now todays Stacking the Shelves is small but there are still some fantastic eGalley finds and my signed book I got on Monday! ENJOY (:

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Best kind of Broken by Chelsea Fine“Best Kind of Broken” by Chelsea Fine

Pixie and Levi haven’t spoken in nearly a year when they find themselves working―and living―at the same inn in the middle of nowhere. Once upon a time, they were childhood friends. But that was before everything went to hell. And now things are… awkward.

All they want to do is avoid each other, and their past, for as long as possible. But now that they’re forced to share a bathroom, and therefore ashower, keeping their distance from one another becomes less difficult than keeping their hands off each other. Welcome to the hallway of awkward tension and sexual frustration, folks. Get comfy. It’s going to be a long summer.

I love all these summer novels coming out; published in the summer, about summer, summer love! This book I am extremely excited about because I’ve been looking for a sizzling summer romance book to replace Abbi Glines New Adult series (its been hard!). I think Levi & Pixie are going to have a hell of a summer, awkward or not, I’m going to adore reading about them.

“The Diamond Thief” by Sharon GoslingThe Diamond Thief by Sharon Gosling

No one performs on the circus trapeze like 16-year-old Rémy Brunel. But Rémy also leads another life, prowling through the backstreets of Victorian London as a jewel thief. When she is forced to steal one of the world’s most valuable diamonds, she uncovers a world of treachery and fiendish plots.

Meanwhile, young detective Thaddeus Rec is determined to find the jewel and clear his name. Will Thaddeus manage to rescue the jewel? Or is it really Rémy that he needs to save?

I’ve always heard such amazing things about heist novels and I think a jewel thief is a good place to start, don’t you? And who doesn’t love a good hero saving damsel story either! The cover definitely looks steampunk too; so we have romance, steampunk and a thief – I’m excited to get into this novel!

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