Monday, February 15, 2016

Book Review & Blog Tour: Strings by David Estes

“A wonderful retelling of the Pinocchio story… I simply couldn’t put this book down.” Rysa Walker, bestselling author of TIMEBOUND 
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27418163-strings

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Purchase: eBook | Paperback | Audio Book

Sometimes the strings that tie us down are the same strings that set us free.

Sixteen-year-old Pia has always lived in a mysterious facility where mechanical strings control her existence. She plays apprentice to her father, Gio, in performing nanotech designs for the Company, and she soon suspects there are diabolical human forces behind the manufactured reality of her world.

Though her childhood memories and the origins of the strings remain strangely elusive, she begins to find solace with the introduction of two unlikely friends: daring, irrational Sofia, and calm, tender Marco.

As the truths of the past and present unravel together, Pia must find a way to free herself from her strings and escape the facility before facing the wrath of the unstable head of security, Mr. Davis. But to gain her freedom, she must navigate the dangers posed by Davis and by her suspicious new friends to find the real identity of the puppeteer.

If Pia can succeed in revealing the secrets of the Company, she may very well find the independence she so desperately seeks. But in her controlled world nothing is as it seems, and the closer she gets to the truth, the graver the consequences.

Monday, February 8, 2016

Love for Books Readathon [Progress]

http://novelheartbeat.com/2016/02/3rd-annual-love-for-books-readathon/


Check out this post for my goals and book list [here].

So excited to join in for a new readathon. I'm going to do what I did with the last Bout of Books readathon and just do ONE section of keeping up with my progress, instead of a daily one.

Currently reading:

Total pages read: 195 pg
Books finished: 1
Thoughts:  
MON // I started out at 46% on Strings today. // TUES // Reached 84% last night before bed - for a total of 110 pg read on Monday. :) This book is SO good! // WEDS // Finished Strings...onto a Netgalley read. Got to 10% before going to sleep for the night.

Books read:

January Photo-a-Day: my month in pictures


I totally give up on trying to keep days straight because I did not take pictures on like 3 days during January. I have become OBSESSED with Snapchat. Love it. It's fun to see what a typical day is like, I think. So here's what our January looked like:


Wore our Vikings gear after they kicked the Packers' butts! :) And then we lost to the Seahawks - typical. // Finally put up my decorations - hate that day of the year. It takes FOREVER. // Little man literally squats for most of the day. He has buns of steel! // My old wedding ring was scaring me with how tight it was. I managed to get it off (I STILL have an indent where it was) and I got a new ring that fits well. It's sapphire because that's my favorite stone. I love it. //  Chex mix time! // I love sleeping baby faces! // Leftovers from NYE eaten NYD...meatballs with queso - heck yes!


Saturday, February 6, 2016

Love for Books Readathon [Goals and Book List]

http://novelheartbeat.com/2016/02/3rd-annual-love-for-books-readathon/


I saw this readathon pop up on my Bloglovin' feed and decided to join in. I didn't participate the first two years. This one is hosted by Jessi of Novel Heartbeat and is NOT romance/love themed, just an FYI. For more information, click the banner above to go to the blog post and sign ups.

GOALS:
  • Read a little each day!
  • Finish Strings and prepare a review - it is an eARC and I need to have it done by Feb 15, so perfect timing for the readathon.
BOOKS:

Friday, February 5, 2016

Baby Mason: Eleven Months



I cannot believe my little baby is now 11 months old. As evidenced by the pictures above... it's nearly impossible to get a monthly cute sitting picture of him. So I settled for all these crazy blurry pictures :)

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Books I Read in January

Top Secret Twenty-one (Stephanie Plum, #21)The Blood of Olympus (The Heroes of Olympus, #5)

Top Secret Twenty-One by Janet Evanovich - 3 stars (finished 1/4)
This is Book #21 in the Stephanie Plum series
I'm kind of disappointed in this one :(
It wasn't bad by any means, but it was missing some of the charm. Not enough Grandma shenanigans. Not enough Ranger. Stephanie wasn't really doing much FTA capturing. Overall, it was just kind of boring. There were definitely some great parts, for sure, but I'm bummed.

The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan - 5 stars (finished 1/22)
This Book #5 in the Heroes of Olympus series - the last book.
I have been meaning to read this for so so long. My 8 year old kept teasing me because he finished it first (last school year). It took me forever and a day to finish it because I haven't been reading as much as I used to, but in the last few days I've definitely gobbled it up. Love that I got to be in Reyna, Piper, Nico and Leo's heads as much as I could. I really love the bond between all the demigods. I love the growth of each character. I love the interactions with villainous characters! And I love love love love love that ending. :)


Monday, February 1, 2016

February TBR List + Upcoming Releases

According to my Goodreads challenge widget, I am one book behind schedule. I'm not too bummed about this...I can still get back on track! :) I'm currently reading an eARC and that has taken priority, however, I have not been reading as much as I would like to lately. I'm hoping February will be different.


What I hope to read:
  • Animal Farm by George Orwell
  • The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman
  • The Black Prism by Brent Weeks
  • 77 Shadow Street by Dean Koontz
  • Naked in Death by J.D. Robb
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6316671-the-golden-compasshttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6449656-naked-in-deathhttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8349198-animal-farmhttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8517437-the-black-prismhttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11166891-77-shadow-street