That Awkward Moment When....

....your bookshelf seems to be throwing up books everywhere...

When I'm bored, having nothing to do (a.k.a procrastinate on doing my homework) I go to the book store. A very dangerous place for any blogger, book lover, addict whatever. ESPECIALLY if you have a bit of extra spending money in your pocket...

....when I'm extremely bored, I'll even do my make up, curl my hair, dress up...and go to the book store.

And my Barnes and Noble, is especially evil, because there's a Starbucks inside AND free Wifi.

So I'll grab a cup of my favorite coffee, and start to slowly wander the aisle of Barnes and Nobles. First the magazines and office supplies, then the clearance section, the children's section, every other section the store provides, and lastly the YA section. This all takes about two or three hours, and I enjoy every second of it.

Maybe it just me, but there's this feeling in Barnes and Noble. Maybe its the smell of the fresh coffee, the new books, or knowing that everyone around me loves books too. Or that you can just turn to someone (that you don't know AT ALL) and can start an entire conversation about a book you just read.

Barnes and Noble is the place I go to when I have no other place to go...or have some spending cash...

But after doing this a few times, buying books online, and at a few local used book stores, things can get pretty crazy in my book shelf at home. It starts off in your book shelves, goes to the top of the shelf, comes to your beside tables, crawls onto of your lounge chair, and sooner or later makes an appearance on your bed.

And even though these books are starting to take over my entire room, I can't stop. My biggest problem is, when a book is on sale or clearance. I want to read that book. I won't be able to get to it for a while, but I will sooner or later. So my reasoning is, why not buy it now for cheap, than later when it might be more expensive.

I talk myself into this every time I go to the store; its a very bad habit!

My book shelves were in complete shambles...and I'm even feeling a bit embarrassed to show them to you....but here it is.

(Don't judge! I know its BAD!)

I spent most of the morning, and some of the night getting these shelves cleaned, organized and anything I didn't want, out. 

(All CLEAN!)

Isn't that MUCH better? I love the feeling I get when something is REALLY clean. I don't know how to describe it expect, cozy. All I want to do now is snuggle up with the book I'm currently reading! 

My shelves are still pretty full, and I want to clear them out a bit more. But I didn't want to get rid of any books that I haven't read yet. 

Are you facing the same issue I am? What do your book shelves look like, at this very second? Tweet me a picture @turningpages11. I would love to see!

Book Review: Antigoddess

Title: Antigoddess.
Author: Kendare Blake.
Series: Yes, Goddess War #1.
Pages: 333
Publisher: Tor Teen
Published Date: 9/10/13.
Links:
Book Depository
Goodreads

The Goddess War begins in Antigoddess, the first installment of the new series by acclaimed author of Anna Dressed in Blood, Kendare Blake.

Old Gods never die…

Or so Athena thought. But then the feathers started sprouting beneath her skin, invading her lungs like a strange cancer, and Hermes showed up with a fever eating away his flesh. So much for living a quiet eternity in perpetual health.

Desperately seeking the cause of their slow, miserable deaths, Athena and Hermes travel the world, gathering allies and discovering enemies both new and old. Their search leads them to Cassandra—an ordinary girl who was once an extraordinary prophetess, protected and loved by a god. 

These days, Cassandra doesn’t involve herself in the business of gods—in fact, she doesn’t even know they exist. But she could be the key in a war that is only just beginning. 

Because Hera, the queen of the gods, has aligned herself with other of the ancient Olympians, who are killing off rivals in an attempt to prolong their own lives. But these anti-gods have become corrupted in their desperation to survive, horrific caricatures of their former glory. Athena will need every advantage she can get, because immortals don’t just flicker out. 

Every one of them dies in their own way. Some choke on feathers. Others become monsters. All of them rage against their last breath.

The Goddess War is about to begin.

There were multiple reasons why I was dying to get started on Antigoddess, those include the interesting cover, the amazing rumors I've heard about Kendare Blake's Anna Dressed in Blood, and that this book revolves around Greek Gods.

I don't know what it is, but I absolutely love Greek and Roman Gods, and they completely fascinate me. I think it all started when I took a mythology class back in junior high....and ever since then, I can't get enough!

I don't want to get into much detail about the story itself, because I would rather just point out a few things that I really enjoyed and some...not so much.

Overall, Antigoddess was a good book. The characters were interesting; the way these Gods have integrated into the modern world, and how this battle between them is still going on. There wasn't a single dull moment.

While there was a bit of romance towards the beginning, it wasn't too overbearing, which was absolutely perfect. I didn't read Antigoddess for the romance, I read it for the Gods, the mythology and the war...

But there was one or two things towards the end of the story, that did bother and throw me off a bit. And without giving to much away, I'm going to try and explain to you what I mean.

The entire book was a build up. There is so much going on in this story (not that it's a bad thing) and all that needed to be explained before we can got into the meat and potatoes. We were introduced to characters, and to what was going on between these Gods, and even got a small taste of the war.

But with all these built up, I NEED something explosive to happen, or a huge tease to let me know that something explosive will happen at the beginning of the next book.

Antigoddess spend 300 pages preparing its readers for the first battle in this war, and the war lasted about 20 pages. One of the enemies was killed within a few minutes in the most simple way. You're a group of Gods who have been alive for a thousand years, and THAT is how you have to kill one of the strongest Gods? You needed a human to figure that out?

Besides that I was also shocked by the response to when one of the group members died. It was almost like nothing happened; it seems emotionless and unrealistic. Again I felt like the death happened too quickly, then was overlooked, and the funeral flashed by like a breeze. As if this character wasn't important or meaningful...

I know I sound really negative, but I did enjoy the book. I got everything I wanted out of it, and I can't wait to get my hands on the second installment. But I do wish that the ending didn't happen so quickly, because it seemed very rushed. Especially after taking so much time with detail, to bring us to that point in the story.

Have you read Antigoddess yet? What about Anna Dressed in Blood?

Link Your Review:

This Week's YA Releases!

Welcome to Turning Pages!

"This Week's YA Releases" showcases all of the amazing books hitting our favorite book stores within the next seven days or so. Feel free to click on any interesting title listed below, it'll take you straight to that book's Book Depository page, where you'll be able to read more about it!

This is always one of my favorite posts to create, simply because it showcases some exciting news for all of us. Who doesn't want to know what AWESOME books are coming out? But there a handful of books coming out this upcoming week, but only one or two that I'm really excited for.

Paperback:

The DUFF (Designated Ugly Fat Friend), by Kody Keplinger.

Silver Shadows, by Richelle Mead.

Half Bad, by Sally Green.

Perfect Couple, by Jennifer Echols.

Little Blue Lies, by Chris Lynch.

Broken Skies, by Theresa Kay.

Promise of Shadows, by Justina Ireland.

Hardback:

The Darkest Part of the Forest, by Holly Black.

When, by Victoria Laurie.

The Conspiracy of Us, by Maggie Hall.

Killing Time In Crystal City, by Chris Lynch.

Are you excited for any of the books listed above? Comment down below and let me know which ones! I know I'm dying to get my hands on a copy of The Darkest Part of the Forest!

The Selection, The Elite, The One...& The Heir?!

As some of you may know, I recently devoured The Selection series. I've had these three BEAUTIFUL books sitting on my shelf, basically begging me to read them, so I finally did...

...and I couldn't get enough...

My feelings towards these books were back and forth. I first bought the books because of the amazing covers, I couldn't resist (could you?). After splurging on all three books (or so I thought), I heard rumors that these books were comparable to the show, The Bachelor.

If you know me at all, I HATE The Bachelor. I just don't understand those people who go on national television, to compete with a whole bunch of other people, for one guy/girl, and embarrass themselves. What makes that one guy/girl so special? Especially when there are so many amazing people else where?

Basically, hearing this comparison, shattered my heart, and left these books unread on my shelf for a few weeks. But as time went by I noticed a few REALLY good reviews for this series, then more and more and more...until it felt like they were chasing me down.

I knew it was about time I face this fear and see what everyone couldn't stop raving about.

So I did. And before I knew it I was zipped through The Selection, zoomed through The Elite, and completely gulped down The One. I loved it.

If you want to know why I loved it, feel free to check out my reviews.

The Selection, The Elite & The One.

But as The One was coming to an end, I'll admit, I was sad. I wanted to see more of America, Maxon and Aspen. But ultimately, I couldn't have asked for a better ending. There were no loose ends, or things left unsaid, I simply loved it.

It took me a week to get over the fact that I was done with The Selection series. It was one of my hardest "break ups". But as I was writing my review, I noticed something, somewhere claiming that another book was being released....titled The Heir.

"YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!?!?!"

After doing some research, its completely and utterly true...and the fourth installment is coming out May 5 of 2015!!

"Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won Prince Maxon's heart. Now the time has come for Princess Eadlyn to hold a Selection of her own. Eadlyn doesn't expect her Selection to be anything like her parents' fairy-tale love story...but as the competition begins, she may discover that finding her own happily ever after isn't as impossible as she's always thought."

Obviously this one doesn't completely revolve around the same characters, but instead it revolves around their daughter, Eadlyn and her selection. I'm sure we'll hear a lot from America, Maxon and Aspen, but I would never have expected the fourth book to place twenty years later! HOW EXCITING?!?

May 5th I will be standing at Barnes and Noble's doors, before they open, dying to come inside! I can't wait to see how Kiera Cass continues this story!

Are you as excited as I am for this fourth installment? Have you read this series yet? Let me know in the comments!

Video Review: Fixing Delilah

This is my video review of Fixing Delilah! If you are looking for a more in depth written review, feel free to check mine out! 

Book Review: Fixing Delilah

Thank you all so much for stopping by! See you next time!

Book Review: Fixing Delilah

Title: Fixing Delilah.
Author: Sarah Ockler.
Series: No.
Source: Purchased.
Publisher: Brown Books.
Published Date: 12/1/10.
Links:
Book Depository
Goodreads

"Things in Delilah Hannaford's life have a tendency to fall apart.

She used to be a good student, but she can't seem to keep it together anymore. Her "boyfriend" isn't much of a boyfriend. And her mother refuses to discuss the fight that divided their family eight years ago. Falling apart, it seems, is a Hannaford tradition.

Over a summer of new friendships, unexpected romance, and moments that test the complex bonds between mothers and daughters, Delilah must face her family's painful past. Can even her most shattered relationships be pieced together again?"



My Review:

If you've read one of Sarah Ockler's books, then you might agree with me when I say, it's her mission to make you cry. She probably sits down, and schemes out an entire plan to make her audience ball their eyes out.

You are one evil chick, Sarah Ockler...but I LOVE IT!

Fixing Delilah is no different. You better have a box of tissues ready for this one, because Ockler quickly straps you into an emotional roller coaster.

Fixing Delilah is about a girl named Jessica....just kidding! It's about a girl named Delilah, who has been lost for a while now. She doesn't really know who she is, where she comes from, and is going through a rough patch in her life.

She has no idea who her father was, since her mother had a "one night stand" with him and he passed away not long after. She doesn't know where she's from, because over eight years ago, Delilah's mother packed their stuff and moved out of Red Falls. And she doesn't really know who she is, or who she wants to be, so it's making life tough. (As if being a teenager isn't hard enough).

Delilah has always asked her mother about her father, about Red Falls, and about her grandmother. But every time she asks, she's given an excuse, a phone call interrupts, or her mother is much to busy with work.

But when Delilah's grandmother passes away, she and her mother have to head back to Red Falls for the first time in eight years, to clear out the house, fix it, and sell it. Delilah isn't sure what to think, but she knows this is the perfect opportunity to discover herself and where she came from.

Spending the entire summer there will give her just enough time to figure out all the things that her mother has been pushing aside for the last few years (and with the cute boy next door). Like the regret Delilah's mother and aunt feel about the passing of their little sister. The accusations her grandmother had. And even her father.

Overall, Fixing Delilah was heartbreaking, beautiful and full of love (even though it wasn't visible until the end). After just a few pages, I started connecting to and feeling for Delilah. I couldn't imagine what it must feel like to know almost nothing about yourself or your family. Or what it must feel like to know that your mother knows everything, but she just won't tell you.

I absolutely loved this book, and Sarah Ockler's Twenty Boy Summer, so I'm a hundred percent positive I will be picking up another one of her books very, very soon!

Link Your Review:

Waiting on Wednesday

Title: The Darkest Part of the Forest.
Author: Holly Black.

"Children can have a cruel, absolute sense of justice. Children can kill a monster and feel quite proud of themselves. A girl can look at her brother and believe they’re destined to be a knight and a bard who battle evil. She can believe she’s found the thing she’s been made for.

Hazel lives with her brother, Ben, in the strange town of Fairfold where humans and fae exist side by side. The faeries’ seemingly harmless magic attracts tourists, but Hazel knows how dangerous they can be, and she knows how to stop them. Or she did, once.

At the center of it all, there is a glass coffin in the woods. It rests right on the ground and in it sleeps a boy with horns on his head and ears as pointed as knives. Hazel and Ben were both in love with him as children. The boy has slept there for generations, never waking.

Until one day, he does…

As the world turns upside down, Hazel tries to remember her years pretending to be a knight. But swept up in new love, shifting loyalties, and the fresh sting of betrayal, will it be enough?"

Release Date: 1/13/15.

Why I'm Waiting:

Holly Black has released quite a few Young Adult, as well as Middle Grade books. Each one of them kind of creepy looking. I'm not usually the one to grab a horror story, but absolutely love them. I can watch scary movies all day long, but for some reason when it comes to books, I usually tend to stay away from them.

But Holly Black has published quite a few amazing books, with tons of awesome reviews, including The Coldest Girl in Coldtown, The Curse Workers series, and The Modern Faerie Tales series. All books with good ratings on goodreads, and ALL books I haven't read yet.

Black has just been one of those authors that I've heard great things about, but just haven't gotten around to her books. I do plan on someday buying them all, locking myself up, and marathoning every single one of them, including The Darkest Part of the Forest!

I mean how creepy is that? I avoid forests and their darkest at all costs.

What book are you waiting for this week? Let me know!