Just For Fun

So. As a Just for Fun thing, I thought I'd show you some of the cover changes of the year (Well, 2012)! You probably know all of these, but hey. It's Just for Fun! I don't really hate any of these or love any of these. Though I do miss the old covers for Across the Universe...

Book Haul + Weekly Recap

Slow week! BUT I GOT SOME AMAZING STUFF. Or really, one amazing thing...or 2!

Catherine by April Lindner
Black City by Elizabeth Richards
The Prey by Andrew Fukuda

AND

SO excited about Catherine...although a whole bunch of friends said it's not that good. :\ I'm hoping I'll be the black sheep in this! AND YES! A hardback of Black City! SIGNED too! And yes...I *may* have a signed ARC of it...well...And the Prey. I don't remember requesting this...? And I don't think I'll be able to review it. I may pull an Eileen and give it to the first person who wants it.
OMG YES. YESYESYESYES! My first Apple product ever...whoops. I'm so behind. BUT OMG THIS IS SO AMAZING! The only reason I got on this computer was to blog lol...SQUEE

Weekly Recap
Out of the Easy by Ruta Septys
Nobody But Us by Kristin Halbrook
Waiting on Wednesday
Tidal by Emily Snow
Venom Readalong Week 2
PLAGIARISM

Random Musings

TOPIC OF THE DAY-
Plagiarism.

We all know how wrong this is. I mean, with all the drama early last year (we all know it. I won't bother mentioning it!) I thought people'd finally learned a lesson...and then, this tweet pops up on my Twitter Timeline where one of my friends, Annabelle @ Sparkles and Lightning says that she's been plagiarized!

This is not okay. And I'm saying this to all of plagiarism.

No! Don't worry, it's not a giant blogger. I won't link to the website (though you probably will find it since a bunch of us are talking about this today, including Annabelle) since what she did is wrong, but I feel that doing that is like bullying. I'm not saying it is! But I've never been one to make someone feel bad--even when she really really REALLY should.

Because this blogger plagiarized at LEAST 2 of my favorite blogs: Sparkles and Lightning and Mundie Moms.

*listens to Eileen while typing this*

This just in, the plagiarizer just took down all plagiarized reviews.
But I'm still going to write this! Because honestly? Plagiarism is completely wrong and a bit pitiful. It's like saying you're not creative enough to come up with something on your own, so you have to take from others. And I'm just saying, plagiarism is always going to be found if someone does it. there are a thousand people in the blogosphere and they're going to one day stumble across some plagiarized work and they're going to recognize it. The fact that people think they can get away with it makes me want to slap them.

The fact that they did it makes me want to punch them.

It's SO NOT FAIR TO THE BLOGGERS WHO ACTUALLY WROTE THE REVIEWS.

Lesson? DON'T PLAGIARIZE. ITS WRONG. AND WE WILL FIND OUT. BECAUSE WE'RE EACH OTHERS' EYES AND EARS SO WE'LL KNOW IN 5 MINUTES OF DISCOVERY.

I just don't get the reason for this. If it was for the free books? Oh man, that is the WORST REASON EVER.

Rant OVER. I promise this time.

EDIT: THAT IS A LIE. I'm sorry! But update: we got an email from the coblogger of the plagiarizer and it wasn't apologetic AT ALL. I swear...it was all "You ruined my first 5 months of blogging" "I'm so awesome" "I forgive you in advance" ACK. WHAT IS THIS.

Other protesters:
http://eileenlisblog.blogspot.com/
http://www.auntiespinellireads.com/
http://bookhavenextraordinaire.blogspot.com/
http://sparkles-and-lightning.blogspot.com/

Venom Readalong (9-16)

WEEK 2 OF THE VENOM READALONG!!! Made by MOI and Annabelle (Sparkles and Lightning!) Yes, this is late, but I just wanted to do Friday. You know, for no particular reason...

I will be answering this and pretending like I haven't read this awesome book already.
(Here are some other posts for this week! Just click here)

Rereading this has been a blast and having read the ARC first, I see some changes being made! Awesome changes, of course!

Do you think Cristian rescuing Cass was a coincidence?

Well, I've learned that, in books, nothing's ever a coincidence. ;) 

Do you think the tossing of her stays symbolizes anything? Or is it just a fun scene (that totally made me grin!)?

I think it symbolizes the way she thinks--that she doesn't want to be caged in and sheltered anymore.

Who do you think was behind the falcon mask?

Well, I've read this so I honestly can't say, but definitely the murderer!

What do you think of the whispered conversation between Falco and his friends?

Well, there are some people up to no good! Definitely suspicious here...Please don't be the murderer.

In this chapter, Cass comes across prostitutes up close for the first time and finds herself enthrall we by the strangeness of it. How would you, as a sheltered high-class girl, have reacted?

I'd, personally, be revolted. I'd have run away as fast as I could lol! I don't do well out of my areas of comfort!

It's obvious Falco is keeping secrets. What do you think they are? Why do you think he's hiding the truth from Cass?

Well...here's another question I can't answer. But he's definitely hiding the fact that he knows that person from the cut up body parts...I forgot his name. And I think he's trying to be the person Cass THINKS him to be, which is why he's not telling her the truth. 

When Cass asks Falco, "Why should I trust you?" he responds, "Because you want to." Is that a good reason for trust? Why or why not?

Yes! You have to trust your gut, right? And so far, he hasn't given much reason why not to. If he was (or was aquainted to) the murderer, wouldn't Cass be dead?

Check out Fiona Paul's blog here!

Blog Tour: Tidal by Emily Snow

Goodreads Blurb

Now that Willow Avery is out of rehab, she's got one chance left to prove herself before she’s officially on every producer’s shit list. At least, that's what her parents and agent are claiming. She doesn't really give a damn if she never makes another movie or not—she just wants to get on with her life, get back to her friends, and find her next escape. But Willow is broke. And whether she likes it or not, acting is the only job she knows how to do.

When she accepts the lead in a beach drama, Willow finds herself in Hawaii. And in Hawaii, she finds Cooper, the gorgeous surfer hired to train her for her new role. With the bluest eyes she’s ever seen and the sexiest Australian accent she’s ever heard, Cooper’s different from the men she’s used to. He doesn’t want to use her. And he refuses to let her fail. But when an old friend re-enters Willow’s life—a friend whose toxicity she’s been drawn to time and time before and whose presence brings about the painful memories she's tried so hard to suppress—Willow will have to choose between the girl she was and the person she’s becoming. The lifestyle that helps her forget the pain and the guy she’s falling hard for.

Tidal, Tidal, Tidal. I first want to say that when starting this, I had no idea that it was a New Adult book. I probably should've suspected it, given the summary, but I didn't. So I was definitely surprised when some pretty...steamy sections popped up! Like, really. (Cue awkward cough)

I actually really enjoyed this contemporary though! In all it's fluffy and cheesiness. It was a fun read that I think I would've actually liked more if I read it during the summer, but without a doubt this was a great book! As a girl who loves chick flicks I absolutely adored this! As a reviewer and blogger, I didn't adore it, but I did enjoy it to a certain extent. So I would definitely recommend this for anyone who wants a break from the paranormal and hardcore contemporaries!

What I didn't like though was that the main point, the romance, wasn't very well developed and they seemed to fall in love (or rather, lust) at first sight. And that's when I really rolled my eyes. And the plot twist really wasn't surprising. Instead of the huge "OHEMGEE" it was more of a "Mhmm". But then, in these types of books not many people really care, do they?

I honestly think that anyone who goes on Wattpad (if you know it, you know it) will absolutely love this as well as any fans of Beautiful Disaster maybe? With a less dysfunctional relationship! It was written well, and I had tons of laughs and giggles reading this! Though, my advice--wait till summer maybe?

Author Bio

I'm the 26-year-old author of the forthcoming DEVOURED series (2012, 2013) and TIDAL (2012). I love books, sexy bad boys, and really loud rock music, so naturally, I write stories about all three.

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Waiting on Wednesday

Spellcaster by Claudia Gray

When Nadia’s family moves to Captive’s Sound, she instantly realizes there’s more to it than meets the eye. Descended from witches, Nadia senses a dark and powerful magic at work in her new town. Mateo has lived in Captive’s Sound his entire life, trying to dodge the local legend that his family is cursed - and that curse will cause him to believe he’s seeing the future … until it drives him mad. When the strange dreams Mateo has been having of rescuing a beautiful girl—Nadia—from a car accident come true, he knows he’s doomed. 

Despite the forces pulling them apart, Nadia and Mateo must work together to break the chains of his family’s terrible curse, and to prevent a disaster that threatens the lives of everyone around them. Shimmering with magic and mystery, New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray’s new novel is sure to draw fans of the Hex Hall and Caster Chronicles series, and fans of the hit CW TV show The Secret Circle.

Oh my goodness. I absolutely LOVED Claudia Gray's other work (the vamp series and the Titanic retell!) so hearing about this? HELLO? Plus I did love Hex Hall, I love witches, though I'm a bit iffy and suspicious of insta-love! But as if I'm not giving this a try! (Also, I'm totally a sucker for gorgeous covers!)