12 Months ago I started Blogging, and I would have never ever imagined I would have 900+ followers, amazing blogger friends and many more things that, looking back, I realize I wouldn't have without the help of many many people, so here are a few of the bloggers that have had a bigger influence on me. Without them I Literally wouldn't have the blog I have now and I just want you guys to meet them:
The Role Models
Kristi from The Story Siren. Her's was the first Book Blog I saw, and when I saw what she did I knew I wanted to make my own. For me, Kristi is The YA Book Blogger. I just love her, she's amazing <3 Yani from The Secret Life of An Avid Reader. Without her I wouldn't have a Blog. At All. I started the blog and was a total Fail. It wasn't until I meet Yani that I started blogging again, she taught me everything I know. She's an amazing blogger, I owe everything to her. Tawni from The Book Worms. Tawni!! Even though I've only talked to her once she's the reason why I got into Blog Designs! I am nowhere close to how amazing she is in designing, but seeing everything she does to her blog [Her new design is so Cute!] she inspired me to work harder on mine to the point where I am actually studying Digital Graphic Design Today :D!
The Ones that Inspire Me.
Wendy from A Cupcake and a Latte. She is one of the most amazing bloggers out there. I don't know how she does it! she makes 2 to 3 blog posts a Day! When I'm feeling lazy on my blogging I always remind myself, if Wendy can do it, so can you! and she's an amazing person, Love you cupcake! Laura from A Work of Fiction. I wish my reviews where half as good as hers, they are the best reviews I've seen and she is hilarious! I seriously love her reviewing style, she'll be one of the most amazing authors out there one day, I guarantee that!
The Best Friends
Header from Nightly Reading
Jennifer from Some Like it Paranormal
Anna from Literary Exploration
These girls are A-mazing. Period. Header has been an amazing friend since we both started as mods of The Young Adult Book Club, and we've been trough a bunch of stuff and drama together it's insane x) Jennifer! She has a great book taste! If she likes it, I'll like it. and even though our taste in books is totally opposite I just know I'll like something she likes. And she's an awesome girl :) [and we both have cats!] Anna is the sweetest blogger I have ever encountered! No kidding! if you don't know her you should! She has an amazing blog and she is also in college and I bow to her in respect for the fact that she does such an amazing job with both of them. And I haven't met anyone yet that uses twitter as much as her :P
The Followers.
A Sincere and Loving thank you to my followers <3 Your comments mean the world to me, it's amazing to know I can help you guys decide if you should by a book and discover new ones :)
Thank You!
As a Thank You I have a Giveaway! I will be buying One Lucky will send me 4 Books in their Wishlist an I will grant him/her 2 Books!. This one will be US only! really sorry about that but there will be an International Giveaway coming soon so be sure to stay tuned ;)
1 Winner. 2 Books from Her/His Wishlist. Some suggestions:
Date Released: July 8th 2011 Pages: 254 pages Date Read: 2/10/12 Format: PDF Source: Author
Summary:
Sixteen-year-old Julia finds herself leaving her London life behind to move with her parents to the Amazon jungle.
A native descendant, she becomes familiarized with her own roots for the first time in her life. However, she never imagines she is about to discover much more than her own past but also just how crowded our little planet is...
This is a present time sci-fi/ fantasy story about trust, friendship, love and self-discovery.
This book falls into the category of YA fiction, though not unsuitable for younger readers.
Swirls is one of the most intriguing books I've ever read. For starters, the summary doesn't give too much away, so the moment I started reading, the big question came to my mind: WHAT? lucky for me this wasn't annoying, it was more like a "What is going on? I want to know! I need to know!" sorta thing.
We start with Julia ready to leave London and go live in the Amazon - she's not too happy about this. Also, she's not too happy with the strange dreams she's been having, especially the part were they torture her... But along with her arrival to the Amazon, a new friend comes - Lola, I Looooved her as a character! - Family secrets, a mysterious tribe leader, a hot boy and a not-so-nice mother [that would be an understatement].
Julia has a very special gift, and soon she finds herself being a very important part of this secret world. I really enjoyed this book and I loved the original world that F.A. Hershey created.
A fitting title, an original story, and a great book with an ending that will leave you wanting for more!
Excerpt from Swirls by F. A. Hershey:
My feet were killing me by now. The twigs and protruded roots felt more like whips lashing on my legs and arms as we walked through the forest’s non-existent paths. Halola and the guide were just a few paces in front of me, and it was clear that walking through the jungle felt like home to them.
I struggled my way through with more determination I thought myself capable of. They often paused and waited for me to catch up, but I just waved them on. I wanted to make myself endure the challenge and overcome it.
When I woke up this morning, I knew that this was going to be a challenge, but that was a challenge I was glad to accept. I was also glad to have something else to think about rather than Gabriel. I’d put on Halola’s hiking boots, my old jeans and a long sleeved shirt to protect my arms from mosquito bites, put on my best courageous face and left my room to meet Halola by the Reception.
What I wasn’t too well prepared for was the weight I would have to carry. I had a load of what felt like a ton of lead strapped to my back, which sometimes made me lose my balance. I’d have fallen backwards to the floor if it wasn’t for trunks of trees, bless them, to hold me up.
‘I’m doing great, don’t worry about me. The view is fantastic!’ I lied, not very convincingly though because the lie didn’t match the straining look I’m sure I had on my face. But I wasn’t lying about the view. It was fantastic.
I felt infinitesimally small compared to the tall, ancient trees around me. I could barely see the sky above my head and the sun’s rays struggled to find their way through the branches.
‘How are you doing?’ Halola asked me every now and then. She pitied me, but her hands were tied. There was no way she could help me much, because she too was carrying a massive load of food on her back.
The more we walked, the trickier it became to walk a straight line. I wondered every now and then if the guide really knew where he was going or if he was just as clueless and lost as I was.
I knew we had walked quite a long way when my hair was matted with sweat and my clothes were so sticky with sweat and dirt and green mould I could have just gone for a swim in the river with my clothes on.
‘We’re almost there,’ Halola spoke over her shoulder, as if reading my worried thoughts.
‘How do you know?’
‘Do you see that giant Kapok tree over there?’ she pointed to a magnificently tall tree that seemed to have been purposefully arranged to be the centre of things, somehow outshining and towering the other trees around it. If Halola, the guide and I joined hands we wouldn’t be able to encircle it all the way, so thick it was.
‘Yes, but there are others like that all over the place.’
‘Yes and no,’ Halola said smiling, ‘This tree here is very special because it’s been here for a long time – much longer than the others of its kind.’
‘And it’s been protected by the Kanuayeds since they settled here,’ added the guide.
‘My grandmother said the tribe has lived here for more than a thousand years,’ I said, remembering what Gran had told me so many times since I was a little girl.
I remembered her stories about the tribe life she always cherished so much. Now walking the paths I’m sure she would be able to walk with her eyes closed, I could imagine more vividly what she always tried to make me visualise and feel about her life here as a young girl – about my age actually. She left for England as a young woman of twenty.
Thank You For Entering! Please don't leave entries in the comments and if you have the time and would like to Recommend me a good YA Book in the comment section below I'll really appreciate it :)
On the outskirts of New Orleans, MAGNOLIA CRISTIANA ST. CLAIRE is born with a special spirit. From a young age, Magnolia embraces her destiny but not without her own struggles that life throws at her. After her abusive father Chevas leaves and her parents’ divorce when she is five, Magnolia and her mother Madelaine become the center of each other’s lives. Madelaine is a colorful and free spirited woman who guides Magnolia in a quiet way because she clearly recognizes that Magnolia is wise beyond her years as she embraces her contacts with ghosts, Gypsies and spiritual guides. The first day of first grade, Magnolia meets Bobby Kingsley. That evening, Bobby appears at Magnolia's front gate with an armful of magnolia flowers. Magnolia falls in love with him that very moment and they are inseparable until the age of ten when Bobby discovers his passion for the guitar and decides this is foremost in his life.
Magnolia feels deeply rejected and believes the music has stolen Bobby away from her. She knows she must find her own passion. A trip with Mama and their friend Essie to Merida, Yucatan, Mexico, sister city to New Orleans, at the age of fourteen, opens the mysterious world of Anthropology. Magnolia is intrigued with Mexico and the Maya culture and knows her destiny is decided.
Bobby leaves for Spain right after graduation and quickly becomes Roberto Kingsley. Due to a lucky meeting, he is swept into the much coveted world of Flamenco with promises of a successful career. He brushes elbows with the best in the Flamenco world but even with his new exciting life but despite the temptations that come his way, he can't forget Magnolia. Almost three years later, he calls her from Spain and proposes. She accepts.
Meanwhile while Bobby is in Spain, Magnolia completes her first two years of study in Anthropology at University of Kentucky, Magnolia returns to Merida to begin her exciting and colorful career. Her immediate assignment is to discover 'The Memoirs of Solita', the Spanish mistress of the deserted Hacienda that dates back to the 1850's during the Maya Caste War. Magnolia embraces the historical atmosphere and becomes so involved in Solita's life, she eats, breathes and lives Solita's spirit. She discovers secrets, many, many secrets. Magnolia and her family purchase the Hacienda and turn it into a five star world famous hotel. It quickly becomes a cultural treasure complete with Solita's ghost walking the hallways. Strange adventures continue in the Hacienda as the walls breathe with unending surprises.
Magnolia has a strong and unique voice that is an inspiration for all young women. Layered plots and supporting characters add color and excitement throughout the novel as the setting becomes part of the drama. Magnolia sweeps her readers into her life with a perfect blend of romance, adventure and drama.
Date Released: October 1st 2011 Publisher: World Castle Publishing Pages: 230 pages Date Read: January 12th 2012 Format: PDF Source: Experience Tours
Summary:
Alice Valdez is a normal seventeen year old girl living a mundane post high school life that consists of work, sleep, hanging out, and more work - but it all changes when a chance encounter on the beach one night leads to a series of haunting dreams that bring her face to face with the most ancient evil the Universe has ever known.
What do you do when the man you care for is none other than the Devil himself? Wandering Stars follows one girl's journey into the arms of darkness and into Hell itself - all in the name of love.
I was really interested in this book because the main role - Alice, falls in love with the Devil himself, and I don't remember reading a book in which the Devil was actually involved, much less him being the swoon-worthy guy. Seemed like a risky subject and I was all game.
The beginning was a bit weird... Alice sees Lucas [the Devil] once and then she starts dreaming of him and then she's madly in love. even though she has only seem him a couple of times. Weird and rushed. But once past that initial bump the Love story runs more smoothly. And even though he is the Devil and by default 'bad' you just want her to be with him No Matter What.
And do not let the Label fool you, remember that Lucifer was once God's favorite Angel, and he was beautiful. Now Alice is willing to go through the deeps of Hell just to save the one she most loves. I mean this Literally.
I really enjoyed this book, especially considering I'm a bit of a hopeless romantic.... *sigh* I'm just a sucker for romance x)
There was this quote I really Loved about Love, but it is long so I'll leave a link to it on Goodreads :) Here.
