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The 2014 Statistics Survey

Jan 5, 2015

I always love filling out Jamie's End of the Year Book Survey, so I was thrilled when I saw Brittany and Andi's Statistics Survey. What a fun way to highlight random bookish facts and details! I'll admit that I eliminated a few questions and added one or two of my own - a couple of these stats were a little challenging to look up. I think my favorite part of this survey is that I was able to highlight such a variety of books. I relied on Goodreads and my memory in answering these questions, so let's hope they're at least close to accurate...


Books Under 250 Pages: 24 Books
Books Between 400-449 Pages: 34 Books
Books Between 450-499 Pages: 8 Books
Books Over 500 Pages: 13 Books
Books Over 1000 Pages: 0 Books 
Novellas Read: 7 Novellas
Books Made You Cry: 8 Books (This might be a record!)
Female POV / Male POV / Multiple POVs: I have no idea...
Number of DNFs: I don't keep track!
Five-Star Reads: 25 Books (Not including re-reads.)
One/Two-Star reads: 27 Books
Authors Met in 2014: 16 Authors 
Book Events Attended in 2014: 3 - Teen Author Carnival, BEA and YALLFest
Read in One Day: 4 Books
Audiobooks: 3 Audiobooks
2015 Pre-Orders: 10 Pre-Orders
Re-Reads: 26 Re-Reads



Highest Goodreads Rating: Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas 
Lowest Goodeads Rating: The One & Only by Emily Giffin
Read Furthest Away from Home: Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers
Took Longest to Read: My Life in Middlemarch by Rebecca Mead


Personally Connected to Most: Chasing God by Angie Smith
Made You Love Villain: The Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo
Put Down & Haven't Picked Back Up: GI Brides by Duncan Barrett & Nuala Calvi
Ready WAY Before Publication: The Start of Me & You by Emery Lord


Read on Birthday: The Housemaid's Daughter by Barbara Mutch
Character Shares Your Name: Trouble by Non Pratt
Not Entirely Truthful When Rating: First Impressions by Charlie Lovett
Read in 2014 & Already Want to Re-Read: I'll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios


Borrowed & Still Have: Someday My Prince Will Come by Jerramy Fine
First Published Overseas: Walking on Trampolines by Frances Whiting
Wish I Could Read for First Time Again: After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Most Read By One Author This Year: Sarah J. Maas 



Happiest: Just One Night by Gayle Forman
Saddest: Before I Go by Colleen Oakley
Longest: The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons
Shortest: Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt


Best: Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier
Worst: The Summer Garden by Paullina Simons
First of 2014: The Wife, The Maid & The Mistress by Ariel Lawhon
Last of 2014: For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund


First on Bookcase: Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen
Last on Bookcase: Audrey Hepburn: An Elegant Spirit by Sean Hepburn Ferrer
Biggest Surprise: Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
Most Disappointing: The One & Only by Emily Giffin


Joined Bandwagon: Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor
Abandoned Bandwagon: Allegiant by Veronica Roth
Most Lenient Rating: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Harshest Rating: We Were Liars by E. Lockhart


Most Hyped: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Most Under the Radar: The Pursuit of Happiness by Tara Altebrando
Longest Time Between Buying & Reading: The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Shortest Time Between Buying & Reading: Isla & the Happily Every After by Stephanie Perkins
Red: Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo
Starts with M: Mortal Heart by Robin LaFevers
Hugged After Finishing: I Shall Be Near to You by Erin Lindsay McCabe
Throw Across the Room: We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Q, X or Z in Title: Lola & the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
Suffered Some Damage: Never Coming Back by Tim Weaver
Craved Food While Reading: First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen
First of 2015: Across a Star-Swept Sea by Diana Peterfreund


Number of Posts in 2014: 234 Posts
Number of Reviews in 2014: 99 Reviews
First Review of 2014: Belle Cora by Phillip Margulies
Last Post of 2014: Top Ten Resolutions for 2015
Last Review of 2014: The Life Intended by Kristen Harmel
Least Coherent Review: Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas
Post with Most Comments: Introducing Series Speed Date!
Post You Wish You Could Re-Write: I can't think of a post I'd re-write!
Most Popular Post in 2014: Get Organized on Goodreads
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December 2014: Recap + On My Shelves

Jan 4, 2015


It's a little crazy to me that I'm saying goodbye to 2014! It's been a year of growth - some welcome and some painful. But I'm thankful for all that December brought with it, and I look forward to seeing what 2015 holds.

1. Butter London on Black Friday - I am utterly obsessed with nail polish, and Butter London is my brand of choice. Because it's expensive, I wait all year for when it's majorly marked down on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. I definitely racked up this year and squealed when these finally arrived on my doorstep.

2. The Boy with the Bread - The danger in online shopping for your book-loving friends is that you often discover things that you want to buy yourself. Such is the case with this t-shirt (and the bookmarks below)! When I spotted this shirt, my Peeta-loving heart couldn't resist. I know it's totally nerdy, but isn't it so cute?!

3. Bookmark Beauties - I typically use random items for bookmarks, but I'm breaking that habit now that I have these beauties. The perfect way to save my place! I got: Jane Austen calligraphy quote, L.M. Montgomery quote, and three magnetic bookmarks. You'll also spy a few extra goodies from Pemberley Pond!

4. Pride and Prejudice Mug - My darling Alexa got me this amazing Pride and Prejudice mug! I had a minor freak out when I opened her present. Does she know me well or what?! I'm addicted to drinking tea out of it. (And I'll admit - my favorite tea lately is this silly Peeta blend, which is actually quite delicious.)


5. A Few of My Favorite Things - When I opened my Christmas gift from Cassie, I basically wanted to fly to Jersey so I could hug on her in person. This Starbucks mug (from The Dot Collection) is amazing! There's also stationary, bookmarks and an amazing eye shadow palette. I'm just going sit here and admire my loot...

6. Christmas Eve PJs & New Bunny - Growing up, we always got to open one present on Christmas Eve: new pajamas! I thought the tradition would stop once I got married, but I'm so happy it's continued. Also, I told my mom I wanted a Jellycat bunny one day for future babies, but she decided to get me one for myself. LOVE.

7. Merry Christmas! - I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas! I spent the morning with my husband and pup, and then we spent the afternoon with my family. I absolutely love this holiday, the meaning behind it, and being able to spend so much time with the people I love most in the world. 

8. Bookish Handcrafted Card - I'm so in awe of Estelle and her craftiness! Her handcrafted bookish cards are so thoughtful and special, and I couldn't wait to see what book she'd replicate for me. I couldn't have been happier when I saw the result: You Had Me at Hello was one of my favorite adult fiction reads in 2014!

Read 26 Books | Favorites:
First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen
Every Breath by Ellie Marney
Walking on Trampolines by Frances Whiting
The Pursuit of Happiness by Tara Altebrando
"They always got restless before first frost, giving away their hearts too easily, wanting things they couldn't have, 
getting distracted and clumsy and too easily influenced by the opinions of others. First frost meant letting go, 
so it was always a reason to celebrate. Everything was okay after that."
First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen

"It's the words we don't say, Lulu, not the ones we do, that linger longest."
Walking on Trampolines by Frances Whiting
[Most Popular]
Overall: The Re-Read Challenge: Details & Sign-Up
TTT: Top Books I Read in 2014
Review: Jane Austen Cover to Cover by Margaret Sullivan
Discussion/Feature: The Favorite Factor: 2014 Gift Guide

[Personal Favorite]
Overall: 2014 End of the Year Book Survey
TTT: Top Ten Favorite New-to-Me Authors in 2014
Review: My True Love Gave to Me edited by Stephanie Perkins
Discussion/Feature: 2014 Resolution Recap 
1. 5th Annual End of the Year Book Survey created by Jamie from The Perpetual Page-Turner - It's one of the most time-consuming posts I put together all year, but I'm in love with Jamie's End of the Year Book Survey. I posted my answers a few days ago, but I can't wait to explore all the surveys linked up to this post!

2. Ship Shape: Banter, Bicker, Bang by Gillian from Writers of Wrongs - Hate-to-love couples are one of my favorite romantic tropes! Like Gillian, I blame Elizabeth and Darcy in Pride and Prejudice for this obsession. I enjoyed this reminder of why I love it so much - and can't wait to read/watch some of Gillian's recs.

3. Happy New Year! (And a quick look back at 2014.) by Anne from Modern Mrs. Darcy - I only recently discovered this blog (thanks to a friend at work), but I'm such a fan of it now! I know this post was technically published January 1st, but this will be my guide to combing through this blog's past year in posts.

4. Best Austenesque/Jane Austen-inspired Books of 2014 from Austenprose - This was also published January 1st, but I figured it still counts since it's a 2014 recap. I love Austen-inspired books, and I'm frequently checking Austenprose for recommendations. Now, they're all right at my fingertips with this round up!

Favorite Song: "Kings and Queens" by Brooke Fraser on Brutal Romantic
I've loved Brooke Fraser since high school, and I've been dying for a new album from her since it's been 
four years since the last one. While this is a totally different sound for Brooke, I love this new direction!

White Collar, The Finale Season - Nick and I discovered White Collar a few years ago, and it quickly became one of our favorite shows to watch together. The concept makes it so engaging, and we just love all of these characters. We were sad to see it end, but I think we were both pleased with the finale! (Bye, eye candy.)


Unbroken (2014) starring Jack O'Connell - When I read Unbroken a few years ago, I was obsessed. I've literally pushed this book on so many people - it's stayed in my mind like nothing else I've ever read. It's a hard read, especially because it's true, but so worth it. While the book is still better, the movie is incredible, too. 

From My Cousin in Germany | Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

From Friends & Family | The Little House Cookbook by Barbara M. Walker, Clariel by Garth Nix, Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch, Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelly, Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows, A Long, Long Time Ago and Essentially True by Brigid Pasulka, Here's Looking at You by Mhairi McFarlane and The Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson

From My Husband | Anne of Green Gables Series by L.M. Montgomery (Gorgeous hardcover Tundra editions!)


Christian Bookstore Sale | Forever With You and Home of Our Hearts by Robin Jones Gunn, The Doctor's Lady by Jody Hedlund, Love's Reckoning, Love's Awakening and Love's Fortune by Laura Frantz

Book Outlet Black Friday (+ One Amazon Purchase!) | Shadowfell, Raven Flight, The Caller, Wildwood Dancing and Cybele's Secret by Juliet Marillier, The Magic of Ordinary Days by Ann Howard Creel and You Had Me at Hello by Mhairi McFarlane

Book Outlet Boxing Day | The Romanov Sisters by Helen Rappaport, Of Beast and Beauty by Stacey Jay, Something Real by Heather Demetrios, Plus One by Elizabeth Fama, A Lasting Impression and A Beauty So Rare by Tamera Alexander, Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson, Dicey's Song, A Solitary Blue, The Runner, Come a Stranger, Sons from Afar and Seventeen Against the Dealer by Cynthia Voigt


Book Depository | It's Not Me, It's You by Mhairi McFarlane

From the Author | Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama (Thank you again!)

For Review | Rebound by Noelle August


Bought & Free for Kindle |  Breaking the Rules by Katie McGarry, The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, Nowhere but Home by Liza Palmer and Sixty Acres and a Bride by Regina Jennings

NetGalley & Edelweiss | The Mapmaker's Children by Sarah McCoy, Love, Lucy by April Lindner, Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dave and Walking on Trampolines by Frances Whiting
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Live on Purpose

Jan 3, 2015

Make It Happen by Lara Casey

Release Date: December 30, 2014
Publisher: Thomas Nelson Publisher
Pages: 240 pages
Source & Format: NetGalley; e-ARC
Add on Goodreads

Summary (from Goodreads)
Make It Happen is the story of how I surrendered my fear, took the leap, and got a life. In my case, a perfectly imperfect, fulfilling life as a mama, a working woman, and a grateful wife. This is the story of how I chose to make "it"—a greater purpose than mine—happen, and how you can too.

Make It Happen is for:

• women who find themselves worried, anxious, and       • completely overwhelmed by the constant chase for perfection
• those seeking the courage to jump into a new venture
• working women who are struggling to "do it all"
weary wives and moms looking for relief from burning the candle at both ends
• anyone who dreams of a life lived not by accident, but on purpose

Your time has come to take a leap of faith. Join me as we surrender our fears, end the chase for perfection, and say yes to cultivating the meaningful lives God desires for us. You know all those things you've always wanted to do? You should go do them.

Thoughts on Make It Happen
When I was in college, I discovered the Southern Weddings blog and magazine. I was captivated by Lara Casey's story - the business she'd built, the beauty she was curating and the faith she shared. I'd never been the kind of girl to dream about my wedding day growing up. But there was something about the space she'd created that captured my heart and imagination.

In my last year of college, I wasn't sure what I was going to do next. I didn't have a job lined up yet, and I was still dreaming about what I could bring to the world. There was this small, tiny corner of my heart that knew I wanted to work for a company like Lara's. And that made me want to do something so outside my comfort zone: email Lara herself. So I did. I was scared to death, but I typed a quick hello. I told Lara how much she inspired me and how I just wanted her to know how much I admired her business. I wasn't expecting anything in return, so I was absolutely delighted when Lara responded. I don't think I can describe how encouraging it was - I was even inspired to write this post because of it. (Yes, I was on Tumblr long before this blog.)

Although I've since gotten married, I buy myself a copy of Southern Weddings every time they release a new issue. And yes, I still read the blog... I just can't help myself! So, I was thrilled when I found out that Lara was releasing a book. I jumped at the chance to read and review it on my blog.

Make It Happen is both a memoir and motivational workshop. As Lara writes in the introduction, it's not just "a reading-only book." In parts 1 through 3, she shares her personal story. This part of the book is more like a memoir. And Lara isn't afraid to share some hard things about her journey. She takes an honest look at her past - the successes and the failures. Included through these chapters are application sidebars and "Take Action" sections to encourage you to respond and personally connect to the truths she's sharing. Part 4 is called "Your Guide to Make It Happen." It's a workbook-stye action guide with practical steps you can take to surrender your fear and start living out your purpose.

There were a lot of things I liked about Lara's book, especially Lara's honesty and openness. She's vulnerable in these pages, and I know that takes a lot of courage. I also love that God is at the heart of everything she's writing. This isn't a self-help book telling you that YOU can do it all in your own power. It's a book about faith, facing your fears, surrendering control and living out your purpose. It's a book about adding meaning to your life - not just doing more. However, the message did feel a bit repetitive at times.

I must also note that I don't think this book is meant to be read on an e-reader. I feel like I missed out on a lot of the value of this book by reading it on my Kindle. You can't mark up an electronic copy in quite the same way! And I kind of skipped over the workbook section. I'm not a huge fan of books where you fill in sections and answer questions, but that's just a personal quirk of mine. Either way, however, I don't think the e-book is conducive to the kind of interaction and journaling that Lara is hoping to inspire. So, if you decide to read this book, I'd recommend buying a physical copy!

I'd hoped that I'd love this book because of how much I admire Ms. Casey, but I ended up just liking it. Now, I'll admit that it could partly be due to the fact that I didn't interact with the book by answering the questions and filling in the workbook sections. If you like that type of book, and are looking for some encouragement to take a leap of faith, I think you'll appreciate what Lara has to say.

So Quotable
"It is often said that a great marriage takes work. This is true, but the work of marriage is the work of surrendering - taking giant leaps of faith and working hard every day to love on purpose. It's the kind of work that multiplies and hope in others too."
 
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review consideration. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review.
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Challenging Myself in 2015

Jan 2, 2015


The Re-Read Challenge

Y'all, I can't even tell you how excited I am about hosting this challenge! Kelly and I love re-reading, and we hoped that other bloggers and readers would want to join us in 2015. I think I can speak for both of us when I say that the response has far exceeded our expectations. Who knew that so many of you would want to spend more time re-reading in 2015?! I re-read more books in 2014 than I'd realized: 25 total! So, in an effort to actually challenge myself, I decided to aim higher in 2015. 

My Goal: 36 Re-Reads

I'm a little nervous about this number because I don't want to fail at my own challenge! I think this will require me to be a bit more intentional with my reading choices, which is obviously a good thing. I want to spend more time reading things that I love, that move me, that challenge me... and less time on things that I'm reading just because it's there. However, if I maintain my current reading pace, re-reads would still only end comprising about 18% of what I read in a year. So, I ultimately hope to surpass 36 books, but we shall see!

I often re-read based on my mood, so I know I won't be able to follow a strict reading list. But I do have some books that I've been dying re-read. Here's a handful!











And I'm Joining These Challenges, Too:


Dive Into Diversity
Hosted By: Rather Be Reading & Reading Wishes / Details & Sign Up

When I saw how easy it was to participate in this challenge, I knew I had to sign up! I've never made it a point to track this aspect of my reading, but I think there's never been a better time to start. I love the idea of intentionally seeking out diverse books, so I'm excited to participate in this challenge.

Goal: 12 Diverse Reads


Flights of Fantasy
Hosted By: Alexa Loves Books & Hello, Chelly / Details & Sign Up

Over the last few years, I've fallen in love with fantasy. Hosting a fantasy event with Alexa in November was one of my favorite things I did on my blog last year... and fantasy was my second-most read genre in 2014. I never would have imagined that there would be a year where I read more fantasy than historical fiction!

Goal: 18 Fantasy Reads


A Series A Month Challenge
Hosted By: Love at First Page / Details

As a series addict, I had to join this informal challenge. I tried to participate in a series challenge last year, but I totally failed at it. Well, I actually did great at reading books that counted for the challenge, but I flopped at participating. So, I decided to try something new this year! I think this will work perfectly for me.

Goal: 12 Series


Book Blogger Organization Challenge
Hosted By: The Book Addict's Guide / Details & Sign Up

I debated joining ANOTHER challenge, but I just can't resist anything focused on organization. Some of my most popular posts last year were focused on organization tips. So can you blame me for signing up for this challenge, too? I like that there's really no way to fail - any kind of organization counts as progress!

Are you participating in any 2015 challenges?
And am I crazy to join so many?
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In 2015, I Want to Be...

In 2015, I Want to Be...

Jan 1, 2015

At the beginning of 2014, I decided to think in terms of more and less. I didn't want to focus on "shoulds" and "should nots." I'd been craving a change... itching for a new mindset and a different perspective. Blogging was still enjoyable, but there were aspects that felt like a chore. Rather than create a list of things to accomplish, I came up with five things I wanted more of and five things I wanted less of in 2014.

I Wanted Less
Looking back, I think that was one of the best things I could have done for myself and for this blog. In many ways, I felt like I hit my stride this past year. I wrote that I wanted less obligation, less pressure, less guilt, less hype... Feelings that had started to define how I felt about blogging, and I wanted to eliminate them completely. And honestly, I think that I did. 

I picked books because I wanted to read them, not because people were talking about them. If I didn't want to keep reading a book, I got better at just setting it down. I didn't feel guilty about not posting, not commenting, or not finishing a book. That's not to say I didn't have a few moments of feeling obligated or guilty, but those moments certainly didn't define my year.

There's only one thing I wanted to have less of that somehow ended up in the more column by the time the year was over: shopping. In February, I wrote: "Just because I can buy something, doesn't mean I should. Just because I want to buy it, doesn't mean I need to." But I didn't practice what I preached. If I wanted a book and could buy it, I did. I've got a few things planned now to hold me accountable and break this bad habit.

I Found More
So, what about what I wanted more of in 2014? Well, I think there's a reason why I loved and looked forward to blogging more than ever before. I was more passionate about what I was writing. If I had an idea that I liked, I pursued it. If I got tired of working on a post, I discarded it. I felt more creative, so my posts began to have more variety. And because I was on a roll, I was having fun planning, writing and scheduling posts.

I already noted this in my End of the Year Survey, but seven of the ten most popular posts on my blog (since I started three years ago) are from 2014. I think there's a reason. I put more heart into what I was working on. I started figuring out my voice and listening to my brain. I've been having fun, and I like to think that it shows. But even if it hasn't, even if no one else has noticed a difference, I know it's been there. And I'm thankful for it.

In a weird way, it's like I went back to blogging for myself. I realized I needed to take everyone else out of the equation. I began this blog because I wanted to write, loved to read, and knew that I plenty to say about books. That was it. No building an audience, developing contacts, receiving review books, or any other nonsense. Plain and simple: I needed a creative outlet. 2014 was the year I remembered why I started blogging and that I can tune out all the noise. So, I hit mute on a lot of things and haven't looked back since.

It's Time to Be
Now, it's time to welcome a new year. Surprisingly, I'm not making big plans or grand declarations for this blog. I think I've finally given this space the proper place in my life and in my thoughts. I have, if you will, re-prioritized. I love what I've created. I'm thankful for what I've learned along the way. And now I just want to enjoy it.

Just like last year, I have some small, specific goals for reading and blogging. Those are fun things for me! Usually, I'd also have some vision or plan for what I'd like to accomplish on my blog. But not this year.

Instead, I want to focus more on growing as a person than on growing my blog. On building my character and not just talking about characters. There are three things I want to BE in 2015:

Be kind. • Be wise. • Be thoughtful.

Online and offline, this is my hope for the year. I want to have more consideration for others, to show good judgment and to be more aware of the things that I say and the decisions that I make. It can be something as small and silly as what I tweet... or as big and important as how I treat others.

I learned how to hit mute on the noise around me, so now it's time to hit pause on my actions. In everything that I do, I get to choose my attitude and how I respond. I'd like to look back in 2016 and be able to say that I chose kindness, wisdom and thoughtfulness. There are so many other qualities I want to be true of me, but these are three I most want to cultivate this year. It's time to be the best version of myself.
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