Top Ten Book Romance Likes and Dislikes

Top Ten Tuesday is a blog meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

I will admit it: I have a major soft spot for romances in books. I come for the adventure and plot twists but stay for the tension and heart warming moments. (Fun fact: when it comes to romance, I am a crier. Like silently reading with tears streaming down my face for hours. It's really not pretty.) Here are some of my main dislikes and likes for romance in books.

Dislikes

1. Love triangles: Let's just get this out of the way. These are the worst. With three people, it's inevitable that one person gets hurt or made out to be a bad person, and that just ruins it for me, even if I like the endgame pairing. 
2. "I will give up everything I believe in for love": Not interested, dude. I hate it when characters complete change who they are just for a person. If it is part of a great deal of character growth, awesome! If it is dropping everything because of a love interest, nope nope nope.
3. Just add eye contact and Insta-Love is ready: Ugh. The whole love at first sight didn't pay off for Romeo and Juliet, yet it lives on in the popular insta-love. Clearly, the world didn't learn from that whole disaster.
4. My love interest can do no wrong: Wanna bet? I really don't like it when something awful a person does gets glossed over just because he or she is the love interest. Does love really make you that blind? I hope not.
5. "Oi, there's a war going on here": I can't stand it when there is a war/apocalypse/something huge going on, but the love interests make it all about them. I like when romances are improving the plot but not trying to out-do the cataclysmic event happening. (Even though I used this quote, Ron and Hermione are exempted because we had 7 books of build up before that kiss!)

Likes

1. "She can handle herself": When characters respect each other and see each other's strengths, it's my favorite! That amount of trust and respect bring the romance up to another level!
2. More than a friend: I love watching two characters go from friends to a couple. The foundation is there, but everything grows and changes into something more. It just makes my heart happy.
3. Hate to love: Romance gold! It makes for the best snarky banter and tension, and the characters have to really get to know each other to see each other's true colors. It makes the romance more of a thrilling journey and adds to the dynamic of the relationship. 
4. Obliviousness or misunderstandings about interest: Oh man, this is like the essential ingredient for a good romance for me. It just leads to everything that I love in romance: hijinks and awkward moments, so much angst and pining. When it is done right, it makes for the best build. Then finally when everything gets cleared up, it is just so glorious, and I am a sobbing, disgusting puddle of tears.
5. Slow burn: The best part about romance is the build up, and slow burns are the best at that. There is no wham, bam, and love! There is torturously good pages of tension and learning about each other and misunderstandings. When it finally gets to the big kiss, it feels like I've run an emotional 5k and got first place. So rewarding!

What are your likes and dislikes for romance in book?

Love for Books Readathon

I've never done a readathon, but I am very excited to be participate in one this week: Love of Books Readathon hosted by Novel Heartbeat. The Love for Books Readathon runs from Monday February 9th at 12:01am through Sunday February 15th at 11:59pm. You can sign up here to participate by February 12th to participate in the grand prize giveaway at the end of the readathon. This is a fun way to encourage reading by setting goals and keeping track of your progress along the way. While I have a pretty mellow week, I still have school and work to focus on. So I want to keep my goals realistic but still ones that encourage me to read and blog more! Should be fun!

Reading goals:

1. Read two books

2. Read every day and record progress

3. Participate in two mini challenges.

9TH/MONDAY
Currently reading: Emissary by Thomas Locke
Pages/percentage read: 27%
Books completed: 0
Memorable book moment: Wolfhounds and elven homes built into nature!

10TH/TUESDAY
Currently reading: Emissary by Thomas Locke
Pages/percentage read: sadly still at 27%
Books completed: 0
Memorable book moment: NONE because I had too many school meetings and passed out when I got home.

11TH/WEDNESDAY
Currently reading:
Pages/percentage read:
Books completed:
Memorable book moment:

12TH/THURSDAY
Currently reading:
Pages/percentage read:
Books completed:
Memorable book moment:

13TH/FRIDAY
Currently reading:
Pages/percentage read:
Books completed:
Memorable book moment:

14TH/SATURDAY
Currently reading:
Pages/percentage read:
Books completed:
Memorable book moment:

15TH/SUNDAY (MY BIRTHDAY)
Currently reading:
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Memorable book moment:

FINAL TALLY FOR THE WEEK

Pages/percentage read:

Books completed:

Most memorable book moment:

Review: Silverwood

Title: Silverwood
Author: Betsy Streeter
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Sci Fi
Publisher: Light Messages Publishing
Release Date: March 11, 2015


I received an e-ARC of Silverwood through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Summary (via Goodreads)

The Silverwoods are a clan with a messy history and an uncertain future, responsible to protect humanity from the shape-shifting Tromindox. Helen Silverwood, fourteen, is beginning to realize that she will never lead a normal life. There have been clues: Her mother's unusual work habits, her father's absence, her brother's strange abilities with a pencil and paper, and her own recurring dreams and hacker tendencies. And, the family's constant moves from place to place.
Things are about to get much more complicated, and it all leads to the remote town of Brokeneck, California. Can the Silverwoods keep from losing each other in space and time, while unraveling a dangerous mystery?

It took me a while to get into this book. It is a bit dialogue heavy, and the plot feels super rushed. Most of the book there is so much explanation but very little reaction to all the revelations that are being fired at all the characters (and you). Also the heavy dialogue, though witty at times, tended to not flow in a way that was believable. Around 40% though, I managed to just accept the writing and got really into into the story because of the world. The world has so many incredible details, fun gadgets, crazy places, and odd elements that it sucked me in because I wanted to know what made this world tick.

Silverwood has gold-star amazing characters. The Silverwood family has their own certain interesting quirks, special abilities, and personalities, but the side characters really stole the show for me. While the characters aren't necessarily the most realistic, they are just so funny and odd.The entire population of Brokeneck was hilarious, especially the woman who compulsively knits to keep her dead husband happy, and the Silverwood brothers should have their own Hardy Boys style adventure show. I also found the Chairman sort of hilarious when he wasn't being a bureaucratic pain for the Silverwoods. Just thinking about some of these characters made me laugh while writing this.

Let's talk about the Tromindox, shall we? The Tromindox are these species of time-jumpin', shape-shifting, super tall squid creatures who feed off people's energy. When explained in basic terms, they sound really weird and grotesque, but I couldn't get enough of them. The Tromindox are one of the most original species that I have read about in a while. Probably my favorite section of the book was the Tromindox history told from a Tromindox's perspective because their history was so interesting. (Though it did bother me that that section was repeated in dialogue later on. I thought maybe it was sort of common Tromindox lore that they all knew, but it was written with almost exact wording...) What the main issue in the world boils down two is just these two civilizations trying to survive but at odds with each other. And while they are completely different species, they are so similar in there actions. Well, except that one essentially wants to eats the other.

Rating: 3 out of 5. The rushed and dialogue heavy writing made it a bit difficult to completely love, but the plot and world details were fantastic! Debating on whether I want to read the sequel.

Monthly Rewind: January

Monthly Rewind is a monthly blog feature that will look back on each month, including a bit about each month from me, blog posts, books I've read over the month, and my five monthly favorites.

I love January. Everyone is always so positive about New Year's resolutions and new starts, and the sense of possibility just gets sort of contagious. So while there were some bumpy parts to the month, it still was great! I went back for my final semester of university, I finished my grad school apps (finally), and my friend got the news that her and her husband are having a baby. All very exciting things. I was also really glad that I finally started to work on this blog. It's been in my mind forever, but it just kept getting put off. While it's not perfect, I am working on it little by little. But I'm proud of myself that I started doing it! Great start to a year.

Books read this month: 7
Dove Arising, Veronica Mars #1 and #2, Red Rising (re-read), Seeker, Half Bad, and The Raven Boys

Book reviews: 4
Favorite book of the month: Half Bad (review coming soon!!!)
Read and Run Challenge: Several hours left to go in Yes Please by Amy Poehler, but that's more motive to keep going!

TV: Agent Carter and Sirens
Other than just having Friends on in the background this month (thank you Netflix), I really haven't watched a lot of TV this month. However, when I did, it was good. Oh so good. I'm a huge Marvel fan, and I was psyched for Agent Carter! I loved her in the first Captain America and to have her as the lead made me sooooo happy. Plus the first in MCU to have a female focused plot! I am loving the post-WWII setting, and the critics of attitudes toward women, especially working women, during the time. Not only is the plot exciting and fun, but it is powerful look at women in history. My other favorite show this month is Sirens, and I have cried-laughed watching this show. So funny! The characters are so dynamic, and they deal with different issues that shows don't normally cover. If you need a good laugh, watch this show.

Food: Smoothies
Since I have been trying to live a healthier and more active life, I've been having a smoothie almost every morning. It gives me so much energy to start the day and makes me full all morning. Plus they are so easy to make, and you can make tons of different flavors combinations. My favorite this month has been strawberry, kiwi, banana, kale, and coconut water. Yum!

Beauty/ Fashion: Old Navy Compression Leggings
Again, trying to be active, folks! These leggings have become my favorite workout outfit. I love sweats for running and weight training, but I feel a lot more comfortable wearing leggings in Zumba and circuit training classes. I've noticed a big part about getting the confidence to go to the gym is feeling that you look good.

Music: Bear Hands

I've been obsessed and I'm cool with that. The lead singer's voice is just awkward enough without being weird, and the music is a strange mix of both relaxing and energetic. Does that make sense? Listen to Bone Digger and Moment of Silence and you will understand.

Person: Louise from Sprinkle of Glitter
Stop what you're doing and go watch her seasonal outfit videos, especially the last two. They will just make you smile. I love watching her videos. Her personality is just so honest and fun that the videos just lift up my spirits.


How was January for you all? Any favorite you want to share?

Ten Books I'd Love to Read If I Had A (Supernatural Creatures) Book Club

Top Ten Tuesday is a blog meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Yesterday a friend and I were exchanging our best lame jokes back and forth, and she said,"What do ghosts read in a book club? Boooooks!" While this might actual be the lamest joke of all time, it really hit the mark for when I read this prompt. Then I just couldn't get it out of my head...and then I just went with it. Hey, supernatural creatures probably would want a book club too! Maybe read about creatures like themselves or maybe just to see how far off the mark humans got (sparkley vampires, anyone?) Here are the books I would love to think supernatural creature book club reading.

1. Dracula by Bram Stroker

Always good to read a classic! Reading staples in any genre really bring out good group discussions and shed light on failings or innovations in contemporary works. Plus I bet there would be a few hardy discussions about whose great great great uncle vampire was exactly like Drac.

2. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Furry, four-legged shapeshifters enjoy a good old fashion love story too!

3. The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black

While Dracula is all well and good, a contemporary vampire story would be great to discuss, especially one by Holly Black who I'm sure would be a supernatural creature favorite author. She's pretty much has written about them all.

4. Talon by Julie Kagawa

Not sure how the actual dragons will handle this book. Love that dragons can have human forms or hate it? Might cause a fiery debate between a few hotheads.

5. Sweep by Cate Tiernan

This was one of the first book series I read about witches when I was younger, and I loved it. There are probably a few novice witches in the book club who could relate. 

6. Becoming Jinn by Lori Goldstein

Now yet released, but I am very excited about it! There are not enough books about jinn in contemporary fiction. Some of the jinn in the reading group might have been feeling left out before.  

7. Rooms by Lauren Oliver

Ghosts may be dead, but they enjoy a good book now and then too. (They are dead so they have the time.) Plus this cover is to die for.

8. Half Bad by Sally Green

So what, another witch book! I actually just finished this book, and just wow. Some supernatural creatures might have this hit a bit close to home: are they bad or are they good? 

9. Tithe by Holly Black

Okay so another Holly Black book too, but this time there is faeries. There might be a few undiscovered changelings that have that 'ah ha' moment while reading, which might turn the book club into a therapy group.

10. Zombie vs. Unicorns by Holly Black, Justine Larbalestier, and various writers

A supernatural two for one! Not exactly sure how well zombies and unicorns would do in a book club, but I'm sure all of the other creatures would get a kick out of all of the stories and different versions of zombies and unicorns. Plus it might cause a great debate on which is better!

Review: Seeker

Title: Seeker
Author: Arwen Elys Dayton
Genre: YA, Sci Fi, Fantasy, Dystopia
Publisher: Delacourte Books for Young Readers

Release Date: February 10, 2015

I received an e-ARC of Seeker through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Summary (via Goodreads)

Quin Kincaid has been put through years of brutal training for what she thinks is the noble purpose of becoming a revered ‘Seeker’.
Only when it’s too late does she discover she will be using her new-found knowledge and training to become an assassin. Quin's new role will take her around the globe, from a remote estate in Scotland to a bustling, futuristic Hong Kong where the past she thought she had escaped will finally catch up with her

Status: DNF (Did Not Finish) 67%
I tried my best to finish this book. I wanted to be able to give an informed review, and I had the feeling that if I stuck it out it would get better. However, as I kept inching my way through it, it didn't seem to be getting any easier, and by the time I hit 67% on my Kindle, I just couldn't continue.

The writing is really what irked me about this book. The writing style was so stilted and repetitive that it made reading difficult. I've heard the advice "Show! Don't Tell" from many creative writing teachers over the years, and the writing in Seeker was definitely telling in a way that distracted from the story being told. Having chapters switch between different characters was interesting, but it became tedious when the characters said the same things. Sometimes using the same words! All of the writing elements just didn't allow the book to flow well and make it enjoyable.

The world was so interesting, but the writing made it hard to enjoy because of constant vagueness. I loved the little details of the world with the seekers, the dreads, There, and the Traveler ship. The Seeker's world is such an interesting construction of rituals and a combination of science and magic, especially the vibrations of the universe.  Also I would love to see a sketch of the whipsword because I loved that weapon concept! It was the world the kept me reading for as long as I did. But even then, there were not enough details given about these world details that I found interesting! Bits were hinted at in such a vague way that I got very frustrated by the lack of information.

The characters were interesting at first, but as the book went on, they became so similar: stubborn, untrusting, and dealing some serious family issues. Their descriptions of events were so flat, and all the characters tended to say the same thing. It was only after Shinbou and Quin went to Hong Kong that there was some differentiation, but it didn't last long after they left. The only character that I was fascinated with was Maud. Her perspective of events had a kind of forced detachment because of her duties as the Young Dread. Also her flashback to her discovery and induction as the Young Dread as incredibly interesting! I couldn't have read a whole book just about her.

Rating: 2 out of 5. I probably wouldn't recommend it, but the world had elements I enjoyed.

Stuff and Things: A Week of Unfortunate Events

This week has been...rough? Not exactly bad, but just sort of annoying. It started off with me getting second degree burns from spilling soup all down my lap. I definitely would call that not the best start to a week. Then the week just continued on like that: cutting my finger pretty bad while chopping vegetables, plugs in the living room stop working, gas heater started to smell funny and I called the fire department to come check it out at one in the morning... By Thursday, I was convinced I had wronged some fairytale witch who decided to curse me.

But today as I was hiking with some friends, I couldn't help but notice that there was so much more good in my week than the little bad things. Hanging out with my friends, meeting new friends, reading books I love, starting to go to Zumba classes. Though it felt like little disasters just kept happening one after during the week, I was having too much fun with the things that made me feel good to remember!

Unfortunate things happen, and sometimes they happen one right after another. But they go away eventually, and good things take their place.