ARC April - What I am going to read

Ah!!! I found another fun thing to participate in :/

 

I need to get through some ARCs and I am pretty sure that I will read a few during my Readathon with The Book Monsters BUT... here is a list of all the ARCs I want to read this month:

I will be using strike-through to show progress :)

 Need to finish The Well's End by Seth Fishman / Reading Breakaway by Jeff Hirsch for Book Monsters Readathon - Done 3/31

 Have had Defy by Sara B. Larson on my shelf for way too long / Reading Rose and the Lost Princess by Holly Webb for Book Monsters Readathon

Need to finally read this adorable book - The Enchanted Emporium: Suitcase of Stars by P.D. Baccalario 

I may add more as they come up :)

Happy (a day before) April

Building the Book Pile #84

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!  A Weekly meme inspired by Stacking the Shelves

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

What's Happening?!

Wow I was pretty much MIA from the 17th thru the 20th but I am back with all sorts of fun happening on the blog recently. From the 27th through today I am doing some blog clean up/ revision/ revamping with Bloggiesta - which is this awesome community of bloggers all working together to improve their blogs. It has been so fun and I have completed awesome things!

I have also learned a lot of awesome new programs and things to help with blogging life:

 
Like Evernote, Picmonkey, and utilizing Google+
(Logos obtained online and I am in no way claiming them as my own)
 
AND because of Bloggiesta, I found The Book Monsters and their Read/Review-a-thons. So this week I will be participating in that with a bunch of MG books I have been meaning to read. -- I am so excited :) If you need an extra excuse to get some reading done, you should join us - HERE!

But that is enough talk! You wanna see the books! (right?, that is what we all love.)

Giveaways Going on NOW!   

Click pic/link to be taken to the giveaway!

Others may be linked on the right sidebar :) check them out!

 

Coming up on the Blog...

The Book Monsters Readathon - Here is my to-read list planning

I hope to review a few read-a-thon books as well - stay tuned!

Books This Week

Ebooks - Bought

 After the Funeral by Agatha Christie -- Bought to re-read for World Book Night, this is the book I will be handing out :) and I need a refresher.
  
Ebooks - For Review

Loki's Wolves by K.L. Armstrong and M.A. Marr received from Netgalley as a promo before book 2 releases, for review

Have you missed anything lately?

Blog Tour: Zips Goes Wandering Review and Giveaway
Blog Tour: Guest Post and Giveaway -- Wish You Weren't
The Book Monsters Readathon -- Planning Post
Bloggiesta To Do List and Updates
Graphic Novel Challenge Update #2

  Comment and leave me a link to your Round-up/ STS/ Weekly...anything post and I will happily stop by and say hello!

 Happy Reading!

Bloggiesta Spring 2014 w/ updates

Hello Readers: the next few days are going to be awesome!

Last week was so stressful at work, I worked 12 hour days at work for a conference and my blogging duties fell very short of the norm. SO... The 27th through the 30th will be Bloggiesta! An event dedicated to making your blog a better place and doing all the things you normally fall short on.

For me that is more things than I like to admit but here is my to-do list:

• Update my "Reviews by Author" tab - Done!
  
• Update my "Giveaways" tab or remove it- Done! removed it, I use my sidebar for giveaways more anyway.
• Comment on more blogs, get involved in the blogging community
• 3/27 - Commented on  30 blogs and posts.
• 3/28 - Commented on 5 blogs and posts. - it was a busy work day :/
• 3/29 - Commented on 26 blogs and posts.
• 2/30 - Commented on 15 blogs and posts.

• Write some reviews! - need to review some comics - Done!

• Do a few mini challenges - Done! I am still going to do more if I can though! So much knowledge and advice, I love it.
 

• 3/27 Social Media! - 
• Linked my blog to Google+
• Played with Lists on Twitter - I love this idea but feel that they need a better way to add people to lists in bulk. It is a little tedious.

• 3/28 Blog Improvement! -
• Played with PicMonkey - what an awesome program. I need to actually edit some pictures more before posting though.
• About Me Pages - after stalking many of your "about me" pages I tweaked my update from Tuesday a little. - always a work in progress tho 

• 3/29 Getting Organized! - 
• Evernote - not like I need more lists in my life but I am going to try this out! 

• 3/30 Challenges! - 
• FTC - I participated in Jessica's challenge and took a look at some of my posts to make sure I am compliant. 
• Netgalley - my tip for myself - don't request any more books until I read the ones I have -- So difficult though :/

• Back up my blog 
• Update my Review Policy - add about in there - Done!
• Participate in a Twitter Chat - #bloggiesta - Done!
• Organization and Time Management: Saturday March 29 @ 11 a.m. Eastern- I learned so much about how other bloggers organize and share their posts. My greatest take away was from Shannon (@backtoblk), she uses a white/wipe board calendar for her bloggy stuff, I need to get me one of those!

Added Tasks:

• Prepare for The Book Monster's readathon.
• gather books and my notebook, schedule out time frame to finish things

•  Plan some blog posts.

Done and Done! I am so happy to have been a part of Spring 2014 Bloggiesta this year. It has improved so many things on my blog and got me to think about blogging in a refreshed way. Thank you to everyone for helping/stopping by and commenting/ reading the blog/ and overall just being awesome! Cannot wait until the next event!

Are you a blogger who needs to do some blog maintenance and needs a fun way to do it? Go sign up and join us!

Graphic Novel Challenge Update #2

Graphic Novel Challenge Update #2

**March Comics (so far)**

February was a bit of a dud month in the way of comic reading. :( 

These covers will go to Goodreads

Angelboy Vol. #1

by Nicole Beguesse

www.angelboy.com

Note: violence and LGBTQ themes

Already added to the March Link-up - My full review is HERE

Source: Angelboy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Short Reviews for Various Comics
Source: the below comics were all purchased by myself or my husband

 

Harley Quinn #3 (The New 52)
Release Date: February 19, 2014
Imprint: DC Comics 
Note: Not for kids- violent and bloody

I am really enjoying this story arc, but not because it is wonderfully plot-filled, but because it is ridiculous. Harley always seems to be getting into something crazy, all the while she is being chased down by assassins. I think this issue was the most laugh-out-loud for me so far. 

Harley is lonely on Valentine's day and eats a plant that was left for her by Poison Ivy, it creates a huge problem - anyone who smells her wants her, for various reasons. Hilarity ensues and Harley is her normal violent and resourceful self.



Harley Quinn #4 (The New 52)
Release Date: March 19, 2014
Imprint: DC Comics
Note: Not for kids- violent and bloody
Another wonderful quirky showing from Harley this month.
This issue is the first we see her actually going to work and once she is there is takes it upon herself to 'help' her patients. I found this issue adorable, in the sense that Harley is really trying to help. Only things never go the way Harley plans and this is another instance of that. 

Harley overreacts at an old lady telling her that her family never comes to visit her and Harley takes it upon herself to fix that. The family she picks up is hilarious in their own right and really made this issue funny, but it was not one of the better ones.





Coffin Hill #6 
Release Date: March 12,  2014
Imprint: Vertigo
Note: Not for kids- some nudity and violence


My husband picked this one up for me because of the art
and it "seemed my style comic" only problem was that it is #6. I read it anyway and yes it does seem like a story line I will enjoy. The main character is female and creepy in her own ways and the storyline focuses on a witch and a family legacy. So all in all my husband knows me pretty well.

Eve, the main character, seems independent and able to take on the horrors around her, but I really need to read the earlier issues. 




Coffin Hill #3
Release Date: December 11, 2013

Imprint: Vertigo
Note: Not for kids - some nudity and violence
 
I read this issue after #6, which is silly I know, but hubby brought it home for me. The Coffin Hill story is a little bit easier to grasp now that I have read this issue but I am still missing a lot of the plot from the previous issues. There was sex and nudity in this one, more than I expects, that is fine but it seemed to be most of the plot here.




Moon Knight #1
Release Date: March 5, 2014
Imprint: Marvel Comics
Note: Violence

My friend Justin brought this one to my attention and I am
a fan of comics about wacko people and Marc Spector is just that. A 'hero' with multiple personalities who fights in all white (must go through a lot of bleach!). The first issue is about serial killing and Mr. Spector is brought in to help dispose of the criminal.

This is the beginning of a new series and I am excited to see how it proceeds. I am hoping for psychological plays all the time :) here's to hoping!

Updated Count

 

Monster Read-a-Thon! March 31-April 6th!

While commenting on the awesome blogs participating in Bloggiesta, I stumbled upon The Book Monsters and their Read/Review-a-thons! I have been super behind on some reading so I figured- Hey! I am cleaning the blog this week, why not read ALL the books next week?! Right!

So I am picking the Read-a-thon option, and then the following week I will write all the reviews :) Yay.

So here is what I would like to read next week:

Finished Breakaway on 3/31
Finished Pretenders on 4/2

Finished Rose on 4/4
Finished Rose and the Lost Princess on 4/6

Sadly I did not get to my last book :/

 

That is my initial list- I think since they are mostly Middle Grade I should be able to get through them, if so I will add more, but for now this is the plan.

Need a little push to get reading your backlogged books? Join the Thon!

Guest Post & Giveaway!: Beyond the Stars – Other Ways to Wish by Sherrie Petersen

WISH YOU WEREN’T

Publication date: March 17, 2014

Genre: Middle Grade Sci-Fi/Fantasy

About the Book:

Marten doesn't believe in the power of wishes. None of his have ever come true. His parents ignore him, his little brother is a pain and his family is talking about moving to Texas. Not cool. So when he makes an impulsive wish during a meteor shower, he doesn't expect it to make any difference.
Until his annoying brother disappears.
With the present uncertain and his brother’s future in limbo, Marten finds himself stuck in his past. And if he runs out of time, even wishes might not be enough to save the ones he loves.

Beyond the Stars – Other Ways to Wish 

by Sherrie Petersen

Ever make a wish as you’re blowing out candles? Or as you throw some coins into a fountain? In WISH YOU WEREN’T, Marten makes a wish on a star for his brother to disappear. But stars aren’t the only things people use to make wishes. Here are a few other wish “tokens,” some you might not have heard of:

·                     Eyelashes: Make a wish as you blow it from your fingertip.

·                     Dandelions: Those puffs of white spread wishes everywhere when you blow on them as you make your wish. Like candles on a cake, all the seeds need to blow away for the wish to come true.

·                     Tunnels: As a child I would close my eyes, touch a screw and make a wish as we drove through tunnels. It’s harder to do as an adult (I don’t recommend closing your eyes while you drive!) but I still encourage my kids to do this one.

·                     Wishbones: The bigger the bird, the stronger the wish. Whoever has the larger piece after it’s pulled apart has their wish granted.

·                     Books: If you drop a book, step on it with one foot and make a wish. But be sure to pick it up with the opposite hand or the wish won’t come true.

What do you use to make your wishes? Have any of them have come true?

Buy Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Wish-You-Werent-Sherrie-Petersen-ebook/dp/B00J1PTZPG

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wish-you-werent-sherrie-petersen/1118923378?ean=2940149279234

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/wish-you-weren-t

Praise for WISH YOU WEREN’T

“If you’re looking for the same old formula middle grade fantasy, this isn’t it. Wish You Weren’t is magically real. You wouldn’t be surprised if you met Marten in “real” life, but what he encounters in this story is pure magic.” ~VALERIE HOBBS, award-winning author of Wolf, Sheep and Minnie McClary Speaks Her Mind

“Wish You Weren’t is a sweet story about the blessings of family contained within the rip-roaring roller coaster of time travel. It is a page turner that kids are going to love!” ~KATIE D. ANDERSON, bestselling author of Kiss & Makeup

“I love all the science details mixed with fantasy in Wish You Weren’t — just the kinds of flights-of-science-fancy I wish I had as child!” ~SUSAN KAYE QUINN, bestselling author of the Mindjack Trilogy, Faery Swap and Third Daughter

“Fun and accessible, rich with realism and heart, this magical adventure reminds us of the things truly worth wishing for.” ~CASEY McCORMICK, literary agent intern and blogger at Literary Rambles

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author
 Sherrie Petersen still believes in magic and she loves to write (and read!) stories that take her on fantastic adventures. In addition to writing middle grade novels, Sherrie moonlights as a graphic designer, substitute teacher, freelance writer, school newspaper advisor, yearbook advisor and mother of two children. She spends her free time watching movies, driving kids around and baking cookies. Or eating them.

WISH YOU WEREN’T is her debut novel.

Find the Author

Twitter: @SherriePetersen

Facebook

Author's Blog 

Book on Goodreads

Author on Goodreads

Website

Wattpad