BIRTHDAY: Letter to Myself

WRITTEN TO MY NEW 14 YEAR OLD SELF BY MY 13 YEAR OLD SELF AS OF NOVEMBER BECAUSE a) I am an insanely early poster and b) I thought it'd be fun to see this post and realize how quirky I was (still am?)

Hey Nikki! SO YEAR NUMBER 14 OF YOUR LIFE HAS FLOWN BY (Technically 14, but most people would say 13 since you were 13 years old, but as of today it's been year 14 right? Right.) So most of it has been quirky, but here's what's been going down:

You met and made friends with some SUPER SWEET 2014 debuters! Seriously, they're so sweet and they're called YA Valentines (Yes, Nikki, I am pimping them on your birthday letter. I'M SORRY.)

You had a crush for a few weeks, but it disappeared because you realized you hadn't talked to the guy in a couple of years, so who knows how he changed. And you refused to be that cliche YA girl with a crush on some guy she doesn't know so yeah. Hey high school starts this year! Maybe you'll find a new crush? 

*Update as of 2/10 so you may still sorta like em. Eh.

In the meantime you can totally cheer your friends on since you totally know who they like and who likes them because you managed to pry the secrets from their fingers because you can be annoying (Don't worry, some people actually find it endearing. Some.)

On the downside, you realized you had depression and that put a damper on things. But you're dealing, so it's all good! 

ON THE UPSIDE YOU TURNED GIRLY. Like seriously girly. First you turned from jeans and tshirts to suddenly semi-fashionable in the summer (Like, you wore skinny jeans which you never did. And wore decorative belts. And flowy tshirts. And jewelry. REALLY CUTE JEWELRY. YOU HAVE ADORABLE NECKLACES.) And right now you're actually considering skirts which you always said you'd never wear. Oh all the lies Nikki! Tsk tsk. OH. YOU EVEN WEAR MAKEUP DAILY. Okay not really, just some mascara and once in a while lip gloss. But still. It's a big change. 

You've grown apart with some of  your blogger friends, you've made new ones, but you still miss the old ones. They're busy with all their lives though, but hopefully they come back soon. <3 Some have even stopped blogging, but fingers crossed they come back, eh? In the meantime there's always texting and social media! Hope you stay in touch with the old blogger friends though. After all, they were your first friends in this strange place. 

Chocolate will forever be the best (or will it. WILL IT NIKKI. WILL IT REALLY.) Yes, Nikki. Yes it will be. 

Hmm, let's see what else is new. Uh. OH. You're currently writing, but I dunno if that'll continue after a few months. You think it's a cool idea though, all creepy and a retelling of beauty and the beast! (Honestly, Anita Howard totally influenced you on the creepy and retelling part.)

*Update instead it is now a thriller and you're also working on a contemporary

You worry too much about things only adults should worry about, but you can't help it. 

But it's okay, because you're pretty happy. And you know 2014 will rock (after all you start high school this fall. CRAP. YOU START HIGH SCHOOL. NIKKKKKIIIIIIIIIII.)

-Nikki, the 13 and a half year old version.

PS, you're strange. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S

Oh my gosh guys, another year has passed.

Another year.

ANOTHER YEAR OF FUHREAKING AMAZING BOOKS AND COVERS AND NOVELS AND AUTHORS. Eeeeeep this is so exciting! So what's going to happen this year? Who knows. But I bet it'll be awesome! (Speaking of? Follow the YA Valentines (@YA_Valentines on twitter. HERE is their website) because they're seriously some of the most amazing people ever!)

By the way, anyone have any romantic kisses at midnight? Anyone see the fireworks? Anyone see the ball drop?

ALSO. GUYS. Some things are going to change around the blog. If you'll notice at the bottom, I've made a new signature that's significantly bigger than my last one. Also, my review format has completely changed! I've also made a few new graphics. I may alssoooooo be moving to WP soon! EXCITED? YES. YES I AM.

Anyways, here are a few of my 2013 accomplishments I must brag about. :3

Accomplishments

• I was quoted in Penguin's catalog for VENOM
• I was quoted on Fiona Paul's website (here)
• I was quoted on Lili Peloquin's website (here)
• I was quoted in the "Praise for Death and the Girl Next Door" section in DEATH AND THE GIRL HE LOVES by Darynda Jones! 
• Business cards? I GOT EM. AND THEY'RE GORGEOUS
• Merp Squad (here) opened up (and I got a group of amazing BBFFs!)
• I became a Paper Lantern Lit (here) Blogger
• EILEEN RAN A TWITTER PARTY FOR MY BIRTHDAY. IT TRENDED IN TWO COUNTRIES AND OUTTRENDED THE BACHELOR. 
• I went to my first authors event in Texas! 
• I got books from Harper, Hyperion, and Random!
• I WAS INTERVIEWED BY PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY. HOW EPIC IS THAT. (HERE)
• I reached 1000 followers! EEP! 
• I was a YA Crush Tourney advocate for Perry @ Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi. EEP!
• SARAH BETH DURST EMAILED ME GUYS. 
• I met several bloggers and authors this year! AWESOMENESS IGNITED. 

---

Resolutions

• I WILL GO TO AUSTIN TEEN BOOK FEST. 
• I will meet at least five author friends.
• Move to Wordpress! 
• Write more snarky reviews
• I will reach 1500 followers
• I WILL EVENTUALLY TALK TO EVERYONE WHO FOLLOWS ME. 
• I'll move to Wordpress
• I will, eventually, get 150 scheduled posts
• I will get a 94+ average in all my classes. 
• IN HIGH SCHOOL, I will not be antisocial. I WON'T. 

---

Week of a Fiction Freak + #NYE14Reads

Hey guys! Before we get into my week and my book haul (long overdue!) I wanted to tell you guys about #NYE14Reads!

It's almost 2014 y'all! And that means...

TWITTER PARTY! 

Or something of the like! Authors will be tweeting about other authors' books (linking Goodreads pages and the like) and we encourage you to do the same! Chat with authors, tweet about your most anticipated books, or just squeal about your excitement for 2014! 

It'll go throughout the day from noon to night. Support the 2014 debut authors and HAVE FUN! 

---

So a) I made a new banner because the old one was...weird to me. So, yeah. 

WINTER BREAK!! HALLELUJAH. I think my midterms went pretty well (97 on History, 100 in English, 97 in Math, 88 in Art--we had an actual freaking written exam. What?, 95 in Science, and...Gym. Uh.)

It's been a pretty awesome break but this week, all my relaxing goes away and I have to start working on a giant project due the week we get back from break. So ugh. But anyways! 

Library

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

Bought

Control by Lydia Kang

Flawed by Kate Avelynn

Losing Lila by Sarah Alderson

Publisher

Ink by Amanda Son

Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott

These Broken Stars by Meagen Spooner and Amie Kaufman

Gifted

The Nightmare Dilemma by Mindee Arnett

Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black

Pivot Point by Kasie West

Giveaway

Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton

Breakfast Served Anytime by Sarah Combs

The Chance You Won't Return by Annie Cardi

Caminar by Skila Brown

There Will Be Bears by Ryan Gebhart

I got my friend to check these two out for me (I asked her to get some others for me, but she couldn't get them SIGH.) since I lost my library card...ahahahaha...haha...anyways I read Amy and Roger's already and I ADORED IT SO MUCH. I need to get my own copy soon! I loved Matson's other book, Second Chance Summer, so I had high hopes for Amy and Roger's Epic Detour. Now, I'll officially read anything by Morgan Matson.
CONTROL! I'm so excited to read Control by Lydia Kang. I've been aching for a sci-fi lately, so this is perfect! I also stopped by Half Price Books and picked up Flaw, which seems heartbreakingly emotional, and Losing Lila, the sequel to Hunting Lila. I've been eyeing the series for a while and I jumped at the chance to get the sequel since it wasn't available in the US. Now I have to get my hands on a copy of the first book and I'll be good! 
INK! I got Ink from Harlequin Teen's Panel and I already had an ARC copy, but the finished copy is gorgeous! And I read both These Broken Stars and Fire and Flood--loved both! Reviews to come soon! (These Broken Stars though omg. I need a Pandora, btw.)
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO JESSI FOR THE NIGHTMARE DILEMMA! Read and loved and review shall come! Thanks to Eileen for Pivot Point which I've been DYING TO READ lately and THANKS SO MUCH to Inky for The Coldest Girl in Coldtown! 
I won a Candlewick Press Giveaway and WAS SO EXCITED TO READ THE STRANGE AND BEAUTIFUL SORROWS OF AVA LAVENDER. Which, by the way, is as strange and beautiful as the title suggests. I absolutely adored it. 

I also got a rather epic Secret Santa gift from my Merp Squad Secret Santa, Annabelle! She's a pretty awesome gift giver guys:

Bag of Jolly Ranchers (Actually Inky also got me a bag of Jolly Ranchers! I LOVE JOLLY RANCHERS)

Turquoise Maybelline eyeshadow

$20 B&N Gift Card

See's Dark Chocolate Raspberry Truffle (it was delicious)

Blue/Purple Scarf

CHRISTMAS CANDY! 

Loved this gift! <3 Annabelle is so sweet! 

AND THEN GUESS WHAT ELSE I GOT. WAIT FOR IT. WAIT FOR IT. (It being the terrible photo, but...)

I BOUGHT TEDDDDYYYYY BEARS. I couldn't decide so I got my mom to get one for herself. Then stole it from her. You know. (Hey so they're both the same but with different shades of brown. BUT THE SHADE OF BROWN IS IMPORTANT DUDE.)

Blogoversary: The Second (and Giveaway!)

Long post ahead. Leave all precious items here because I'm about to cry over you and get sappy.

Well guys. It's come. I'm finally an old blogger.

WELL CRAP.

No no, I'm good.

Seriously. See?

Yeah. We're good.

...

L;REKJRGALFSDKJ;KLFNSDFKJSDFAJSDCNDLSKJFLSDJLSDKJFJWEHFSDKJCHNAKSJNFKJSDFHJSDKCNKJSADHFKJDSHFAKLJSDHFKASDHFCKJDHFKJDHSNCKJSHNDFKJHDSKLCHKJSDHFKJDHSFKJSDHFCKJNKSDAJHFLKAJHSDF

Guys. GUYS. GUYS. Two years since I started this thing and it's been filled with amazing.

And no I won't stop with the gifs.

The thing is, and I've said this a bajillion times, I never really expected much from blogging. I never knew how giant and big the blogosphere was. I didn't know how much I would love the blogosphere.

Some people agonize over the decision to blog--they knew about the blogosphere beforehand, they knew what blogging was. I just dived right in, not knowing what the HELL I was getting into.

I thought I would quit when I got 100 followers. I didn't even think I'd get 10.

I thought I would quit when I wrote 50 reviews. It seemed like so much to me.

I thought I would quit when I reached 1 year. I didn't know how quickly that year would pass.

Blogging has been absolutely amazing and honestly. What would I be doing without it?
Shoving my face with chocolate while I watched Spongebob and Doctor Who.

But instead I'm part of this absolutely amazing community that sticks with each other, doesn't prejudice, and loves books. And authors! Bloggers! I TALK TO THESE PEOPLE. 

And now it's been two years of books, wonder, authors, bloggers, and everything.

I have spent two years on this blog. 

I have spent two years in this community.

I have spent two years being surrounded by crazy book loving people.

I have spent two years...having fun. 

And to all you people who've stuck by me those two years. Or one year. Or even one month.

Yes. Yes here comes the people part. And basically the dedications if my blog were a book.

FIRST TO MY FOLLOWERS. Because lord knows I would've given it up if not for you folk. Twitter, GFC, Bloglovin, Tumblr, whatever. You guys make me smile and I love seeing your comments or tweets. I mean. Guys. People actually care about what I have to say. And you're awesome for not running away.

AND TO MY BLOGGY FRIENDS. 
Merp Squad, first of all. Because they've always been my number one go to and the group of friends I will never let go of. They're awesome, they get me (HAHAHA no. Kudos for trying to understand my 2 AM tweets though y'all!) and I love them! They've pretty much been my first blogger friends and deal with my pettiness and horrible sides with me. (I'm so sorry about that!) I love you all. And we can be fat merpy birds together now!
-I may not talk to most of y'all anymore but I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU for being my closest bloggy friends! <3 Miss talking to y'all but life is rather bossy, isn't it?

Hafsah, Jessica, and Alex because I HAVE TEXAN FRIENDS. You guys don't know how big that is for me.
-Hafsah, the awesome writer who sent me her manuscript of Unbreathable for me to devour and sending me swag and for being up at 1 AM so I can talk to someone. YES.
-Jessica for being so super sweet and amazing. Almost no one does sweet like her!
-Alex for being crazy. And sort of nice. What? She tortures me with all the books she gets! MEAN! But also for being someone fun to talk to!

Kaede for being super crazy and super fun and almost always being on twitter. Or used to. (She sort of disappeared. Hmm) We need to talk more.

And Lucy, Shreya, Christine, YA Reads, and Alyssa for being oh so epic and being there when I must talk and for somehow becoming a close friends in a matter of days. You guys are wiggly things that made me love you all. And thank you for ranting with me. I need that.
-On that note, ALYSSA FOLLOWED ME IN JUNE OF 2012. OMFG GUYS. SHE FOLLOWED ME BEFORE SHE STARTED BLOGGING. HOW CRAY CRAY IS THAT.

Danielle who's not a blogger (totally should be though. Just saying.) but is still SO FREAKING AWESOME and let's me bounce ideas off her!

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, Rachel for being my NaNo buddy and letting me read her AMAZING stuff and letting me rant to her. Also, for being up at all hours for no reason at all. Stay vampirish, my friend.

AUTHOR FRIENDS. 
You should all come to Houston. FYI. And please don't kill off any characters I'm/I'll get attached to.

Paula Stokes/Fiona Paul. Hey thanks a lot for confuzzling me with ALL YOUR PEN NAMES. But also for being so awesome when I randomly email you. Because I do that. And for making me less scared of authors almost two years ago and giving me that VENOM ARC that made my entire year. My first absolutely awesome author friend who I don't think I'll ever stop bothering. (So sorry about that!) I have a tag for Fiona Paul you know.

ANITA! (A.G. Howard)Who sent me awesome Splintered things and mailed me a birthday gift! How amazing is that? And for letting me facebook her pretty much every other day without being annoyed. Though come on. I am disappointed that you haven't killed of Jeb yet. *Tragic sigh* Also because I now have four Anita signed things. She also has pretty hair. PRETTY HAIR. 

Well hello Romily Bernard and Natalie Richards. Yes I must put you together in this post. Did you know these two both wrote thrillers? And both ripped my heart apart? They're nice like that. But in all seriousness they're amazingly nice people who I would love to squiggle (SQUISH+HUGGLE). Thank you for being so super sweet and letting me spam your twitter timelines. Yep.

Gina Rosati for talking to me about writing and putting me in touch with some professional people I needed answers from and for being so nice and generous about EVERYTHING.

Lili Peloquin! You have an adorable baby. Did you know that? I bet you did.
And for letting me email you randomly so much! I LOVES YOU. I met you! I MET YOU. Thank you for being super nice and not laughing as I fumbled with my books in that signing line.

And I actually didn't include all my author friends. Just the people I talked to recently. (So yes, I do still consider you a friend and I do love your face.)

MY 2014 AUTHOR FRIENDS.
Hello. I hope you consider me a friend and not just the random person who tweets you. Ahem.

(Off the bat, The YA Valentines are AMAZING and all so sweet! <3 Follow their blog here.

Well Paula. Fiona. You're already up there. HMPH.

Sara B. Larson FOR BEING SUPER SWEET on all matters and for using my idea of madlibs and for letting me fangirl over your hair, instead of your book (In my defense, I always wanted curly hair and I still haven't read Defy yet. MY EXCUSE.)

Bethany Hagen for being awesome when I randomly gchat her at 10 PM. And for having an awesome cover. And for letting Merp Squad run her blog tour. And for giving me a boy talk. And for letting me tell her about Cerritos Library 'cause God knows more people need to know about my hometown library. (The thing is massive.)

Lynne Matson because she gives me the blue M&Ms. *sniffles* Thank you for the sacrifice and putting up with my awkward tweetage that sometimes I don't even understand. And for tweets that totally make my day! AND THE SIGNED COPY OF NIL AND CANDY! Ah, one of the best packages ever! (Totally because of the candy. I kid I kid. Or do I.)

Sara Raasch who's last name I mispronounced on a monthly basis. Whoops! BUT NOW I KNOW RIGHT. Erm. ANYWAYS. The pictures of food that you continuously post that makes me hungry. Thanks for that. (I don't even know if that's sarcasm!) And for fighting off the birds. I depend on you to fight off the birds.

 Those birds. *Runs*

But yep! And if I left anyone out my excuse is that I wrote this at midnight a few days ago. 

So now all I have left to say is

Wait no! I have a giveaway too! You can win any of these following books. As long as they can fit in my box, feel free to choose as many as you like! This one is US only.
OR
If you're INT, you can pick any book from The Book Depository under $13 as long as it ships to your country and I've spotlighted, reviewed, or interviewed the author sometime on the blog.

The prize also includes a Catching Fire poster of Finnick (because I might've grabbed two) and an assortment of swag from the Fierce Reads authors and...any other good signed stuff I can dig up. And trust me, my piles are endless. You'll be good.

BOOKS
Auracle by Gina Rosati (signed hardback)
Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White (ARC)
Asylum by Madeleine Roux (ARC)
The Brokenhearted by Amelia Kahaney (ARC or hardback)
Afterparty by Ann Redisch Stampler (ARC)
Desert Tales by Melissa Marr (ARC)
Infinite Moment of Us by Lauren Myracle (ARC)
Twinmaker by Sean Williams (ARC)
Blackout by Robison Wells (ARC)
Send Me a Sign by Tiffany Schmidt (ARC)
Deception by CJ Redwine (ARC)
The Innocents by Lili Peloquin (SIGNED)
Crewel by Gennifer Albin (UK signed copy)
Wake by Amanda Hocking
Lullaby by Amanda Hocking
Tidal by Amanda Hocking
Elegy by Amanda Hocking


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now I can say goodbye with

Merp Squad Week!

Ah. So. MERP SQUAD WEEK! OMG FANGIRL TIME

(Don't you love it? The original button is down on my sidebar and was made by the fab Jessi OF THE MERP SQUAD. I just added the sparkles and the banner thing.)

So last year I had a Breathless Reads Week. This was supposed to be a Breathless Reads Week, but when I found out that there might not be a Breathless Reads this year, I decided to just call it an Interview Week! Where I'll interview 4-5 people from a certain group.

I chose the Merp Squadders this time because they are some of the absolute BEST PEOPLE EVER. (And craziest) Over the week you'll get to meet my Biffles and totally love them as much as I do (no matter what they say, I totally love them more.)

Ah. But who, exactly, are the Merp Squad?
Really just five (UPDATE: This was all planned before the awesome Ashley @ Nose Graze joined our group so sadly there won't be an interview from her. BUT SHE IS IS AWESOME. And yes, that means there are now SIX of us.) bloggy friends who all used/were obsessed with the word MERP.

What? It's awesome.

Eileen @ Singing and Reading in the Rain
Annabelle @ Sparkles and Lightning
Inky @ Book Haven Extraordinaire 
Jessi @ Auntie Spinelli Reads
Nikki @ Fiction Freak

And join our tours too! We have some epic ones planned!

Week of a Fiction Freak

NO BOOK HAUL. BUT I HAVE NEWS. 

1) So the Bloggy Awards are happening! Nominations have opened today so go here to get more info and to nominate your favorite bloggers (and authors!) Eileen is off at camp so I'm doing this alone. Uh oh. Disasters are bound to happen, but hopefully it'll go smoothly! The Bloggy Awards are exactly what they sound like--Awards for Bloggers! Last year was a little bit of a mess since it was the first year, but this year, we have experience, and we know what we did wrong! It'll be fun! So go nominate! 

2) Merp Squad Tours is officially OPEN! Sign up for some awesomely Merpy tours with our awesome website, designed by Merp Squadder Ashley. We have accounts and everything. Seriously. We have a TON of fun tours lined up, mainly for 2014 though! We have one tour opening in October, but more on that later. It's super fun and super cute, and I urge you to join. And no, I'm not biased. Much.

3) I'm taking donations for my blogoversary which is in November! Would love if any of y'all want to get rid of any books. :)

4) I AM A PAPER LANTERN LIT PREFERRED BLOGGER WOOHOO! Excited about it since I LOVE PLL titles! You'll get a post on Tuesday!







Weekly Recap
This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith
Emblaze by Jessica Shirvington
Waiting on Wednesday
Ink by Amanda Sun
Starglass by Phoebe North

Summer Solstice Sequels Tour and Giveaway!

SUMMER SOLSTICE SEQUELS TOUR – 4 books, 4 authors, 4 days of prizes! 

It’s the final stop on the Summer Solstice Sequels tour (*sniff*), where authors Lili Peloquin (THE INNOCENTS), Jessica Spotswood (BORN WICKED), Elizabeth Richards (BLACK CITY), and Fiona Paul (VENOM) have joined forces to celebrate the launch of their summer sequels! 

Today we’re spotlighting Lili’s upcoming novel, THIS SIDE OF JEALOUSY (The Innocents, book #2), due out on August 20!

About the Book

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Indie Bound | Goodreads

Publisher: Razorbill

Release date: August 20, 2013

Alice and Charlie haven’t stopped fighting since they arrived in Serenity Point two weeks ago. Those two weeks changed their lives. And Serenity Point has changed them.

While the sisters grapple with the terrible truth about their family, the one-year memorial of Camilla’s death looms. The tension mounts and sparks fly as bright as July Fourth fireworks. Alice and Charlie are desperate to find out the truth that everyone seems to be hiding.

Is Camilla their enemy and rival—even six feet under? Or is she their sister, whose memory they have to protect? And what really happened to her that night on the bridge? In a town built on secrets and lies, can the truth stay buried for long? 

Bio

Lili Peloquin is the author of The Innocents. She grew up in New England, where the first breeze of summer still reminds her of a whispered secret.

Find her at: Twitter | Facebook

Giveaway 4: Quotables!

Each day the authors have come up with a fun quiz for you to play. Today’s game is Quotables!

Rules

Each author has selected a quote from their summer solstice sequels. All you have to do is match the quote with the correct book, and then enter your answers in the form below. Simple, huh?  (HINT: Check out each author’s book highlight for a clue. Links are under the ‘Follow the tour’ section)

The contest will close at 12pm EST, June 28. Any entries after this date will not be counted. Winners will be notified by email. US only. Entrants must be over 13 years old. Entrants under that age must have a parent or guardian enter on their behalf.

Prizes

2 x ARCs of THIS SIDE OF JEALOUSY

Let’s play!

Quote 1:

Cass couldn't help herself. For a second, the two of them were back on San Domenico, kissing on a bench in her aunt's garden. For a second, desire budded and bloomed inside of her, as scarlet and fragrant as Agnese's roses. For a second, nothing had changed.

 Only everything had changed. 

Quote 2:

Alice could smell the blood even from more than a hundred yards away.  It hung on the air, sweet and sticky and faintly rotten.  And she could hear, above the din of the crowd, the roar of the ocean, the sharp crack of a fist on a face, bone colliding with bone, the dull thump of a knee in a midsection or groin, of a body crumpling in on itself.  In the distance, a police siren wailed, soft but growing louder.  Sickening sounds.

Quote 3:

That night, Elijah finds a bottle of spiced Shine hidden away in one of the cupboards. The boys drink—I haven’t the stomach for it—while we listen to music on the crackling radio, the stars glittering above us. Elijah shows us a traditional Bastet dance, which makes us giggle.

                “All right, your turn,” he says, disgruntled.

                Ash gets up and does a funny jig, which he claims is a Darkling folk dance, but I know he’s just making it up. I burst out laughing, as does Elijah.

                “You mocking my moves, blondie?” Ash teases.

                I nod.

Quote 4:

“I’m so glad to see you! What are you doing in New London?” I demand.

“We might ask you the same question, Sister,” Rory says.

Sachi’s dark eyes rest on my face. “What possessed you to join the Sisterhood, Cate?”

“I don’t know what you mean. I’m very happy here in New London,” I evade, glancing over my shoulder.                            

“Liar.” Rory isn’t one to mince words. “You’ve been crying, plain as day.”

“You don’t have to tell us now,” Sachi says, eyeing me sideways. “Father’s here for the duration of the council meeting. Finn, too. I take it you’ve seen him? Did he speak to you?”

I shake my head, unable to speak past the lump that’s reappeared in my throat.

“Oh, Cate, you look a mess.” She tosses me her bright pink lace handkerchief.

“Has he”—I wipe my eyes, battle my pride, and lose—“has he said anything about me?”

Entry form

Summer Solstice Sequels entry form

Twitter Party! 

Don’t forget to join us tonight, Thursday June 20, for the Summer Solstice Sequels Twitter party at 6.30pm EST (follow along using #SSSequels). Penguin Teen will be giving away loads of ARCs, so you won’t want to miss out!

FOLLOW THE TOUR

17 June

Good Choice Reading

 Spotlighting PHOENIX by Elizabeth Richards

18 June

Book Chic

Spotlighting STAR CURSED by Jessica Spotswood

19 June

Jean Book Nerd

Spotlighting BELLADONNA by Fiona Paul

20 June

Fiction Freak

Spotlighting THIS SIDE OF JEALOUSY by Lili Peloquin

Updates

So I found out two things yesterday. Maybe three.
EDIT-this was really a rant when I was super angry. Although I still might quit for other (personal) reasons--hopefully I'll be around for another year or two! :D

1) Google is a fucking bitch and decided to shut down Google Reader

• No one told me about it so I am in a rush to understand everything
• I am absolutely clueless
• Google, again, is a bitch
• I may switch to Wordpress, but transferring everything...dear God

2) There's a good chance of me quitting (50%) after this. I shall give this maybe one more year. We'll see.(EDIT-I'll still try to be around. Worst case scenario--I take a 6-12 month hiatus. Except, posting n summer. Because then I have nothing to dooooooo.)

Btw. I HAVE 76 SCHEDULED POSTS. (And a to of Drafts for my debut author series in Sep) which means I'm starting to schedule in October. MUAHAHAHAHA

So yeah. Since Google decided to shut down Google Reader, please click the button to the right on my sidebar, under GFC. :) It should lead  you to my blog page on Bloglovin. Just click follow! 

Also, since I have yet to do my 1000 follower giveaway I'll postpone it until some number on Bloglovin or Feedburner (Email subscriptions also on sidebar) is reached. Probably 500 or something. Probably less actually.
ALSO.
THE MERP SQUADDERS AND I ARE STARTING BLOG TOURS. Sign up here 

Book Haul will be next week. I know, I keep postponing these. Hopefully the books I got will cheer me up. But more likely not.

Hope you have a better week than me! 

VOTE TEAM PERRY

MM'KAY GUYS. HERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENING.

If you didn't know, the YA Crush Tourney is going on. And...guess who's the advocate for one of the sexiest and swooniest YA guys around? MOI.

And I am representing...

By the way? The awesome button was made by Eileen. 

Yep! Our favorite Outsider! Here's what I want you to do. 

First, if you haven't read the books YOU BETTER GET THE DAMN BOOKS AND BLAST THROUGH THEM. I promise they're worth the read. And sort of heartbreaking. 

Second, if you want to be on the Street Team? YAY! I think I'll just be accepting everyone and anyone. Which leads me to...

Third, here's what I want y'all to do

1) Change your Twitter, Facebook, Google+, whatever, avatar into the cover of Through the Ever Night OR the button up top.

2) TWEET #TEAMPERRY AS MUCH AS YOU CAN and rally your followers! 

3) If you have a blog, I dare you all to write why you love Perry and all your favorite Perry quotes on the 16th. Be sure to link to the YA Sisterhood and my blog! He battles on the 17th, so be sure to mention that too!

4) Put the button (HTML can be found on my sidebar at the very top, shining it's swoon at you) all over the interwebz! Y'all can do this--I've seen what you guys can do! Post it on Tumblr, Pinterest, Facebook, whatever. But don't forget to use the hashtag #TeamPerry!

ALSO

Veronica Rossi herself has been awesome enough to provide PRIZES! (Trust me, y'all are going to love it!) But details on the 17th when my post goes up! 

So....

GO!

ZOMG.

Ah, so big news. Book Haul next week.

So I bet you're wondering what the big news is. Well. I saw this yesterday.


FEIEODPWPCNSPWKFMDOWPWPDKDMX,ZODPEIDNDIWIENFJSOEIFNREPNDWPWEJD. OH MYGOD, YOU GUYS. I HAVE NO WORDS. I LOVE YOU ALL SO SO SO MUCH. I CAN NOT EVEN.

This is me

This was me when I saw

It still sort of is.

This was me staring at people who had 1000 followers

I KNOW I KNOW. Followers don't matter. BUT STILL. 1000 is a big number! HONESTLY? I never expected to get more than 10. I even said that I would quit blogging when I reached 100.

Obviously, that never happened.

YOU GUYS I HAVE 1000

YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST. THIS IS THE BEST. I CAN NOT EXPRESS MY FEELS. I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH. Even if you all came for the giveaways ;)

OH MY GOD. I CAN NOT BELIEVE IT. Of course I have to thank EVERY SINGLE PERSON. MAINLY? The Merp Squad. THEY ARE MY LIFE.

EILEEN AT SINGING AND READING IN THE RAIN Oh my God. NO WORDS FOR HOW MUCH I LOVE HER RANDOM AND CRAZY. She's totally my best friend and when I meet her IN AUGUST I shall tackle her and possibly cause concussions. Whoops. BUT OH MY GOD. I have no words. NONE. She is the BESTTTTT. Even if she hates my favorite contemporaries and I hate her favorite contemporaries.

ANNABELLE AT SPARKLES AND LIGHTNING We have discovered that she is an angel. Literally. Have you seen her halo? It's super bright. SHE IS SO SPARKLY IN A GOOD WAY. * shoos away Edward* She's so absolutely nice (buying everyone like 5 books. UGH. She makes me feel miserly. I mean, I am, BUT STILL) and oh my GOD. DO YOU KNOW HOW PRETTY SHE IS? Also, we have almost the same taste in books!

JESSI AT AUNTIE SPINELLI READS YESYESYES to Jessi! TOTALLY FUN AND SO ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL. AND SHE TOTALLY UNDERSTANDS HOW MUCH AND WHY I LOVE THE YA GUYS I DO. Seriously. MORPHEUS YOU GUYS *glares at the rest of the Merp Squad* SHE IS AMAZING and owns 4 fluffy balls of fur. That's always a plus. SERIOUSLY.

INKY AT BOOK HAVEN EXTRAORDINAIRE Morpheus. THAT IS ALL YOU GET.

Just kidding. I LOVE THIS PERSON. She's totally fun to argue with--and we do that a lot. Because she won't realize how much better Morpheus is. BUT IT'S OKAY. Because she is pure awesome and I would ABSOLUTELY LOVE TO TACKLE HER WHEN I SEE HER. WHICH BETTER BE SOOONNNNN.  She's so totally hilarious. HILARIOUS.

And I can't forget my other amazing friends!
SHREYA AT CHOCOLATE COATED REVIEWS who was one of my first bloggy friends! TOTAL fangirl of Cassie Clare's stuff! I think she would live on all the TMI memes if she could lol! CHOCOLATE LOVER AND ONE OF THE NICEST AND BESTEST PEOPLE EVER.

LISSETH AT READAHOLICZ GIANT fan of music and bookkksss! She was literally my FIRST bloggy friend when I Goodreads messaged her awkwardly. That is me. AWKWARD. I haven't talked to her much lately which makes me cry D:

KRYSTAL AT  LIVE TO READ A recent friend who I absolutely love to talk to on Facebook almost every day! She LOVES chocolate and ice cream. SO OF COURSE I LOVE HER. We are also both gold medalists of procrastination and probably have schoolwork to do right now. Nahhhh

But I have bad news too. I posted that when I reached 1000 I would have an EPIC EPIC giveaway. But my mom and I are short on money, which she didn't tell meeeee, so it'll have to be postponed. I'M SO SORRY D: It WILL happen, just not now. But I promise you guys will love it!

And so, I leave you with this. I feel like a magical person.

I'm BACK!

HEY GUYS! I'm BACCCCKKKKKKKKK!

A few things:

• I ended up blogging even throughout my hiatus. 
• I have no idea what to do in my spare time without the rush of blogging
• Apparently sitting next to a sick classmate in math will result in you getting sick. Who knew? *coughs* 
• I hate sore throats
• I'll be doing a 3 week STS next Sunday
• I realized I was two months ahead on scheduling *pats self*
• It's possible to have an emotional breakdown while reading. 
• I really, really, really LOVE all you guys

Tomorrow a review of Dualed! Expect it! :)

Man, these posts are always so short.

Also, just had to throw this in: How was Valentine's Day? Meet a new guy? Read a good book? Stuffed yourself with chocolate?

I was the third one.

HIATUS!

Hey guys! Sorry to throw this on you, but remember when I hit rock bottom about 5 months ago? It made me realize how much of a hiatus I needed and well...here's the post. Sorry guys, but I'm going to be MIA until the 16th! Yes, 2 weeks. Hey. I threatened half a year before! Be thankful! LOVE you guys, but you know how school is. Also, I feel awkward sometimes when I post a review on Valentine's. Or any holiday. Like on Thanksgiving. I was just like "errr...should I post something else?" but whatever. I'm rambling. I'll be back! But for now...
BYE!!!
-Nikki

Also, I have some of the most epic reviews after this.

Sorry!

WELL, it seems I've been way too busy lately to blog or even answer these few questions for the Venom Readalong! I WILL DO NEXT WEEK'S ONE THOUGH. I SWEAR.

! I don't even KNOW why! Things are normal so why I suddenly have less time is BEYOND me.

Well, okay. So I may have decided that I should take a shot at writing even if my English teacher gave me a failing score on my short story. BUT I HAD THIS BRILLIANT IDEA.

But no worries, blogging always comes first since it's one thing I don't fail at!

FICTIOUS FREAKOUTS 2012

Hey guys! So this is an awards-type thing I decided to do last year, where I gather up my seven 7 stars, my four 10 stars, and then show you guys which was my absolute favorite book of the year. I HAVE to have reviewed it this year in order for it to qualify though!

(Click the covers to go to my review)

Fangirl Fiction
Books that'll turn any girl into a fan! 7/5 (7 books most)

Burn for Burn was just an amazing read that absolutely stunned me! I loved Jenny Han's Summer series so when I heard about this my interest immediately piqued! This was SO good and I loved how different the girls were! But I really do wish the guys/girl had done something more dramatic to earn this kind of suffering...well that is what prevented a ten, but still! AMAZING book, I loved how devious it was and it was just...wow.








Do I even need to say anything? Sweet Evil was amazing with a unique twist on the Nephilim (trust me, that deserves 7 stars already) and Kaidan? YES. not to mention I loved Anna and she was just adorable! Want to see my entire rant? Click the pic!










Send me a Sign. Oh how I loved thee. I absolutely loved Mia and her superstitious ways! She could read into anything and I just loved how quirky she was, and the fact that she wasn't the average loser/normal in books. She was popular and quirky and she didn't know if she'd be alive in the end. It's a unique...situation for a character and this book just made me cry so many times! I loved the love interest. He was just...awww. Wish I could say more! Send Me a Sign to say I can! 








I can't believe I rated this 4 stars at first! Oh, the young blogger I was. But Meant to Be was a sweet, adorable read that was light, hilarious, and romantic at the same time! Lots of fluff, but the kind that we love! I have almost zero qualms about it whatsoever! This book and I were Meant to Be!









Even the Empress would approve! I loved how we got to read about the apocalypse and not just read about after it. I loved seeing how the suspense increased with each page, and I loved meeting all the other Arcana! I just loveloveloved this book! That's pretty much all I can say right now! Also--Jackson.










Another book that made me sob! I loved the writing, I loved the character, I was with her along the way when she fell in love, relived her guilt, and everything else. This book was just...heartfelt. It was such a Lovely, Dark, and Deep tale!














Fab Fiction
Absolutely FABULOUS fiction! 10/5 stars! (4 books most)


OH MY GOODNESS! THE SQUEES I HAVE FOR THIS. It was just amazing, I wanted to cry at the end and and and...wow the guy she ended up with was so unexpected..and KORBYN. WHHHHYYYYY. Oh I want to cry. I couldn't believe when it was over and...and...OH THE FEELS.








Oh my. Crewel was just simply magnificent! One of the strongest female heroines I met and amazing world-building! Need I say more? It excels at my favorite parts of a book and I could reread this in less than hour because of how much flipping I'd do! And that ending? JUST CREWEL.









You've seen me rant about this on Twitter. Facebook. I'm even doing a Readalong for it! Is it any surprise it's on here? Venom is my absolute favorite historical fiction novel! Jeez, I even did a report on it for school! It manages to weave deceit, romance, and absolutely stunning writing into one historical novel you can't forget!









Fiction Favorite!
My (very hard to choose) favorite book of the year!


The IMAGINATION! The CHARACTER! The LOVE INTERESTS! OH MY GOODNESS I JUST LOVED THEM. The creativity that should be required for all Alice retellings was here. The character was likeable and I didn't really have any negative feelings towards. her. I AM A MOTH GIRL and I just loved how...brooding Morpheus was! Jeb stands NO CHANCE in the long run. MORPHEUS IS SO MUCH BETTER! My heart SPLINTERED when I read this!

How was  your New Year's? What were some of your fave books? I'd LOVE to know!