So Obsessed With: The Fall Edition

So Obsessed With: The Fall Edition

Oct 17, 2013

Some of my favorite posts are ones where bloggers highlight the products they're loving lately or the things they're currently coveting. Posts like that always put new products on my radar and give me great ideas for gifts! I love this kind of content so much that I decided to start incorporating it into my blog by highlighting my loves and lusts each season. Rather than give it a creative name, I thought my blog name was more fitting. So, here's what I'm so obsessed with this fall:

1. Lush Sugar Scrub ($6.25) - My mom bought me this scrub a few weeks ago, and now I'm in love with it. The sugar helps exfoliate, fennel and ginger stimulate circulation, and lavender adds a calming effect. I loved the scent AND the way it made my skin feel!

2. Essie After School Boy Blazer ($8) - I love dark nail polish colors for fall, and this is the one I've been rocking lately! The dark navy blue is almost black - a gorgeous, dark color that's goes perfectly with the cooler weather.

3. Tocca Giulietta Crema da Mano Luxe ($20) - I don't own this lotion yet, but I've had my eye on it for a while. I absolutely LOVE Tocca's scents - they are the only perfumes I'll wear. My personal favorite is Brigitte, but I can't wait to get my hands on this lotion in Giulietta!

4. Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette ($27) - I'm constantly changing up the way I wear my eye makeup, but I've found myself using this palette more and more this season. The neutral matte colors are subtle and perfect for a "barely there" look.

5. Sugar Rosé Lip Treatment ($22.50) - I'm not a huge lipstick person, but I know that my lips get dry and cracked as the temperatures cool. I love this lip balm, especially the much-needed hint of color it adds to my lips!

6. Alsace Cardi ($128) - I want this sweater so bad, y'all. I just love the length and the colors! As a tall girl, I'm always drawn to long and flowy pieces like this, and I'm already adding this to my Christmas wishlist.

7. Emersyn Weekender ($148) - I've been on the lookout for the perfect weekender bag, and I know I finally found The One! The light brown leather accents and light gold shimmer are to die for and would be perfect for a short trip to the mountains.

8. Laced Chambray Popover ($88) - I'm pretty sure this is the chambray shirt I've been waiting for! I can never find one that's exactly what I've got in mind, but I love this one's light washed color and small lace accents. It takes a simple, classic piece to a whole different level! 

9. Point Duchesse Pitcher ($48) - I don't really need a pitcher, but I wouldn't say no to this one. My everyday dishes are cream, but I've mixed in some colorful bowls from Anthropologie to add a little spice. I can just picture this completing the look!

10. Bupo Cookie Jar ($39.95) - I rarely make cookies, but I think this little buddy would make the perfect addition to my kitchen. Plus, maybe he would inspire me to do a little more baking!

11. Katie Daisy Stars Print ($18) - This is probably my favorite Etsy shop EVER, and I am constantly finding more prints I want from this artist. I already own two, and I couldn't resist snagging this print a few weeks ago. Now I just have to frame it and find the perfect place to hang it! The quote, the colors, the artistry... It's perfection!

12. Across A Star-Swept Sea, Allegiant and The Fiery Heart ($18-20 each) - These are my three most coveted fall releases! I have been dying for them to be released since they each belong to a series and have me dying to know what will happen next or how everything will be resolved.

13. Catching Fire - There aren't even enough words to tell you how much I can't wait for this movie! I loved the first one and am really curious about how having a new director will impact the films. I never go to midnight premieres, but I'm seriously considering it for this movie.

14. Ed Sheeran + (Deluxe Version) ($9.99) - Listen, I know this CD is two years old. And I don't know why it took me this long to actually listen to it but I'm now obsessed. I know I'm late to the love, but I just don't care. I've had this on repeat since I bought it a few weeks ago. Seriously. I cannot get enough.

15. Gold Peak Lemonade Iced Tea and Darrell Lea Soft Eating Strawberry Licorice (Under $5) - Don't mind me, I'm just falling in love with these two products. The lemonade iced tea is delicious and totally makes me reconsider my Diet Coke addiction. It's just that good. And the licorice? HOLY COW. I'm not a huge licorice fan, but I could eat a whole bag of this in one sitting. Yum, yum, yum.

16. The Vampire Diaries: The Complete Fourth Season - I know not every is a fan of this show OR this particular season, but I've become addicted. I started watching The Vampire Diaries this summer, and I raced through all four seasons within a few weeks. I just bought these DVDs, and I know what I'll be re-watching this fall!

17. Nixon "The Sentry" Leather Strap Watch ($125) - The mister already has a silver watch that's on the dressy side, but I've got my eye on this simple leather watch for a more casual look. I love the size - a somewhat thinner band and smaller face. It's simple and classic, which I just love.

18. Up Country Whale Lead ($21) - We already have the collar that matches this lead, so we just need this to complete the look! I love the navy and lime green colors, and I think the whales are so adorably preppy. The pup looks so handsome and stylish - and they're really durable, too!

19. Majestic Pet Zig Zag Round Bed ($125) - We've got a dog bed for the pupper in our bedroom, but I've been keeping an eye out for one that could stay in the living room. I love this simple brown chevron print, which would go perfectly with the tan and greens in that room of my house.

20. Timberland Cutwater Jacket ($148) - Fall weather means it's time to break out a jacket! The temperatures don't usually drop too low in Georgia, so it's nice to have a lighter jacket on hand for those cooler fall evenings. I love the simplicity of this jacket and know it would go with so many things my mister wears!

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Torn Between Two

Torn Between Two

Oct 16, 2013

Clockwork Angel, Clockwork Prince and Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

Release Date: August 2010; December 2011; March 2013
Publisher: Simon & Schuster | Margaret K. McElderry Books
Pages: 479 pages; 502 pages; 565 pages
Series: The Infernal Devices Trilogy
Amazon | Goodreads

Summary of Clockwork Angel (from Goodreads)

The year is 1878. Tessay Gray descends into London's dark supernatural underworld in search of her missing brother. She soon discovers that her only allies are the demon-slaying Shadowhunters - including Will and Jem, the mysterious boys she is attracted to. Soon they find themselves up against the Pandemonium Club, a secret organization of vampires, demons, warlocks, and humans. Equipped with a magical army of unstoppable clockwork creatures, the Club is out to rule the British Empire, and only Tessa and her allies can stop them...

Thoughts on The Infernal Devices Series - NO SPOILERS 

I considered writing a reviews for each book in this series, but I felt like I had more to say about the series overall than I did about each individual title. So, let me start by telling you about my preconceived notions about this series. I love historical fiction, but I'm not always crazy about fantasy. I'd heard of Clare's earlier series but had zero interest in reading. I think what appealed to me about The Infernal Devices trilogy was the setting. I was curious enough about it to get past the fact that the creatures mentioned in the first book's summary made me want to put this book right back down on the shelf.

When all three books went on major sale for Kindle, I decided to just commit. I'm a series lover, so I had a feeling that I'd probably want to finish all three books once I started. As is often the case, the books then just sat on my Kindle and waited to be read. I read Clockwork Angel at the beginning of April, and then I had no real desire to continue with book two. I don't know if I just wasn't in the mood or if I just couldn't get into the fantasy elements, but I wasn't a huge fan. After several months, some awesome reviews from a few favorite bloggers and some pretty convincing arguments from others made me realize that it couldn't hurt to read one more book.

In one weekend, I finished Clockwork Prince and Clockwork Princess.

Yep, that's right. I devoured these 500+ page books in two days. I can't put my finger on what I didn't love about the first book or why the next two worked so much better for me, but I'm certainly glad they did. I really enjoyed the world and the characters that Clare created! I still have no desire to read any of her other books, but I am so glad I gave these three a shot.

I was so surprised by how much I loved the love triangle! I don't hate love triangles, but I do often find myself frustrated with this element in young adult novels. It's become so common and is often resolved so poorly that it's a huge turn-off for some many readers. I won't spoil anything about the love triangle or it's resolution, but I wanted to highlight four reasons why I so enjoyed the love triangle in these books.

1. Tess's love for each boy was understandable.

One of the most frustrating things about a love triangle is when it doesn't even make sense in the story. We've all read those books with a love triangle where the final choice seems obvious and the other boy is only thrown in to up the drama. I hate those reads! What's the point of introducing another love interest if the reader doesn't even buy the character's feelings for him?

What I loved about Clare's triangle is that I honestly understood what Tess loved about each boy. I may have had a favorite, sure, but it was pretty obvious to me what she loved about each and why they both seemed like a believable romantic interest for her. They both appealed to me as a reader, so I could understand why Tess was attracted to each.

2. Everyone involved truly cared for each other and knew no one could "win" in this situation.

What makes this love triangle so different from the norm is the fact that the boys are friends first. They have a relationship long before Tess ever comes into their lives. Because of their love for one another, it didn't make the love triangle a competition. They loved one another and happened to love the same girl. It was an unfortunate situation, but I bought that they were initially blind to the other's interest in her. Tess has separate, individual interactions with each boy that show the readers that she has feelings for both, but it's the two boys aren't in many situations that would make them aware of their attraction to the same girl.

And once the characters became aware of what was going on, I was glad that they realized that no one could win in this circumstance. The characters aren't selfish - they genuinely want one another to be happy. That made this triangle so unique and refreshing! The friendship between the boys, and Tess' friendship with each, meant they all deeply cared for one another and hated that someone would likely be hurt in the end. Because when that boy hurt, the couple would be hurting for him, too.

3. Tessa did her best to be honest and treat each boy with the respect they deserved. 

Another element outside the norm is the fact that it didn't seem to be a huge secret (to the reader) which boy Tess has more feelings for. She loves both - but in different ways. I had a feeling throughout the series about which she'd end up with based on the things that she said and the way she acted. I didn't feel like Clare was trying to trick readers. Tess isn't all over the place with her feelings, and she's not deliberately trying to string either boy along. 

One of my biggest pet peeves with love triangles is when the female treats one (or both) boys with no respect and isn't honest. That's not to say that Tess was a perfect character and never hurt either boy... Instead, I felt like she was doing her very best to think about her feelings for both boys AND their feelings for her. She didn't want to be the source of tension between the friends, and I appreciated her awareness of the difficulty of her position.

4. A happily ever after would have been believable with either boy.

This ties back into my first point, but I do still feel that it's a separate reason to enjoy this love triangle. Both boys come into Tessa's life at a time when she's vulnerable, hurting and in need. Both address her needs in different but complementary ways. Despite having a favorite, I could absolutely see Tess ending up with either and having a happy, loving marriage. Not necessarily because I think she loved them 100% equally, but because there was a foundation of friendship in each relationship that made me feel that forever was possible for either pairing.

Whew! I know everyone will agree with me because every reader reacts differently to what they read. I didn't feel this book was angsty, but I could see how someone could walk away feeling that way. Either way, I really loved this series! There is so much more to it than just the love triangle, but I have to be honest and tell you that the romance was what I loved more about these books. I'm not crazy about clockwork devices and paranormal creatures, so I was most drawn into the relationship aspect. So, if you've read this series, let's discuss! And if you haven't, have I won you over yet? GET ON IT!

So Quotable

"One must always be careful of books," said Tessa, "what what is inside them, for words have the power to change us." - Clockwork Angel

"It was books that made me feel that perhaps I was not completely alone. They could be honest with me, and I with them." - Clockwork Prince

"Life is a book and there are a thousand pages I have not yet read." - Clockwork Princess

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Because They Said So

Because They Said So

Oct 15, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. Every week they post a new topic/top ten list and invite everyone to share their own answers. I'm so obsessed with lists - so it makes perfect sense that I'd love this feature!

I decided to make a minor edit to the name of the list this week because I don't think I've ever really been forced to read a book. Plus, I kind of hate the connotation that comes with those words. So, in the spirit of the topic, here are ten books I bought and read because of bloggers.

Top Ten Books I Was Forced To Read Because of Bloggers

Cassie from Books With Cass + Betty from Book Rock Betty

1. Dare You To by Katie McGarry - Technically, Cassie and Betty convinced me to read Pushing the Limits and then I read Dare You To of my own desire... But who cares about a technicality plus I liked this book better so there you go!

2. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo - I haven't read this one yet, but I bought it last month because a) Cassie did basically make me and b) I knew Betty panicked when the babies hid this book while she was in the middle of reading it. Two good reasons to read Shadow and Bone!

Asheley from Into the Hall of Books

3. Gap Creek by Robert Morgan - This is the only other book on this list that I have yet to read, but I can't wait to discover this story and these characters. I know Asheley adores this book, and I knew I had to read it after she specifically recommended it to me. That was all I needed to hear - it was on my Kindle a few days later!

4. Pivot Point by Kasie West - I had passed over every review of this book before finally reading Asheley's one day. And in that single review she had me convinced that I needed to give this book a chance. I'm so glad I did because it was such an interesting, unique read that has me dying for book two!

Magan + Estelle from Rather Be Reading

5. Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi - I was somewhat intrigued by this book, but I wasn't sure that it was really up my alley. A really wonderful review from Magan helped me take the plunge! And when I got confused in the beginning of it, I knew I just had to keep pushing through. I'm so glad I did, too, because this series is AMAZING.

6. Attachments by Rainbow Rowell - I'm soooo glad that Estelle raved about this book because I absolutely fell in love with it when I read it earlier this year. There's just something about this book that wormed its way into my heart and now I can't stop recommending it to others. Such a delight!

Mandee from VeganYANerds

7. Holier Than Thou by Laura Buzo - I did a book swap with Mandee earlier this year and, if I remember correctly, asked her for some Australian author suggestions. At the time, everyone was buzzing about Buzo's other novel (Good Oil in Australia and Love & Other Perishable Items in the U.S.) but I knew Mandee thought this one was better. I'm so glad I got a copy of this one and have her for Aussie recommendations!

8. Friday Never Leaving by Vikki Wakefield - So, I actually found this in the bookstore and hadn't heard anything about it. After reading the prologue, I was really intrigued but wanted to see if I could find another opinion before buying a hardcover copy. I took a quick look on Goodreads and saw a five-star review from Mandee. I didn't even read the rest of what she wrote - that was enough. I finished it this weekend and it solidified her place my go-to Aussie lit expert.

Beth from Bookworm Meets Bookworm

9. Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple - Beth is one of my favorite sources for adult reads. She's got great taste in books, and I love seeing what's on her radar. I'd seen this book in stores and around the blogosphere, but I wasn't interested until I found out Beth loved it. It was such a fun, smart read. I loved that it was so different from what I'd been reading at the time, and I'm so glad I'd found it through Beth!

10. The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey - Beth wrote a really lovely review of this book last year, and I'd had it on my wishlist ever since. So, I bought it with a gift card I got for my birthday and saved it until the weather started getting cooler. I finally got to it this past weekend and really enjoyed this slow, enchanting read. It was definitely unlike anything I've ever read before, and I fell under its spell.

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When The World Implodes

When The World Implodes

Oct 10, 2013

Dare You To by Katie McGarry

Release Date: May 28, 2013
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 456 pages
Source & Format: Library; Hardcover
Series: Pushing the Limits #2
Amazon | Goodreads

Summary (from Goodreads)

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does...

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock - with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams - and his life - for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all...

Thoughts on Dare You To

I liked but didn't love Pushing the Limits, the first book in this series of companion novels. But I knew I wanted to continue on to Dare You To when I realized that Beth was the main character. She was rude and prickly in the previous book, but something about her just intrigued me. She wasn't a nice, likeable girl... and sometimes I just really enjoy those characters.

It could also be due to the fact that I wasn't crazy about Echo or Noah, so I was really interested in the secondary characters in their book. Beth attracted my attention because she's so different from the typical YA girl. I know that some people went into this book with the opposite feelings - wondering if they'd appreciate her story because they hated her in Pushing the Limits. I hope they discovered what I did, which is that Beth has an awesome story to tell and is a character you absolutely want to get to know better.

As with the previous book, Dare You To is told from two perspectives. This time, the story focuses on bad girl Beth and golden boy Ryan. The two meet at a fast food place, but they don't exactly get off on the right foot. Ryan's friends dare him to try and get Beth's number, and he takes the bait. The result? I'm sure you can guess what this rebellious, stand-offish girl had to say to him. They both figure they'll never see each other again... but they couldn't be more wrong.

Beth is fleshed out in this book - her edges are softened and her actions make more sense as you understand her history. She's a dark character with an attitude that just pushes everyone away. And if she can't push you away, she'll find a way to run. Beth's uncle forces her to leave her mother and her old life behind and come live with him. He knows Beth and her mother are keeping secrets, and he threatens to pull the thread that will unravel everything by telling the police what they're hiding. Desperate and backed into a corner, Beth agrees to live with him and his new wife. But she's certainly not happy about it.

Based on what happened in Pushing the Limits, I was surprised that the boy in this book was a new character. Honestly, I'd kind of expected to read about Isaiah. But I should have known McGarry would have something wonderful up her sleeve! Ryan is the perfect child, student, teammate... I could go on. Everyone has expectations for him, and he spends every day trying to make sure he lives up to them. His family thrives on their appearance of perfection, but all is not as it appears in the Stone household.

Family relationships play an important role in Ryan and Beth's story. For Beth, she has an unhealthy relationship with her loser of a mother. Her mom is an addict with terrible taste in men, and Beth has suffered the consequences of her mother's choices on more than one occasion. It broke my heart to watch Beth fight for her mom, to do her very best to take care of her, and have her heart repeatedly broken. There's a reason this girl is so harsh, and it's got a lot to do with the way she's been hurt. I think a lot of her actions are motivated by the need to hurt others before they have a chance to hurt her. Ryan, on the other hand, has parents who love and care about him. Outsiders would probably hold their family up as role models, but there are cracks hiding beneath the surface that threaten to reveal everything they've been hiding.

Friendship is also has a place in the book - with Ryan's close-knit group of guys and with the friends Beth can't leave behind. Come on, you didn't think she could just forget about Noah and Isaiah, did you? I also loved how a friend from Beth's past proves her loyalty and shows Beth that she's not alone. They weren't a focus in the book, but I loved they way they were included and were present. Ryan and Beth do not exist in an isolated world - I appreciated how they interacted with their friends and family members.

My biggest frustration with Pushing the Limits was the sheer amount of drama going on, so I was so happy with the fact that it was edited down a bit in this one. There is still conflict and tension in Dare You To, but it felt more realistic and believable to me. I was racing through the pages of this book and dying to find out what was going to happen. The stakes are high, and I really loved the way McGarry handled it all. I felt like I was WAY more emotionally invested in this story and the characters, which made me love it all the more. The sad, emotional parts made the resolution and conclusion all the better.

And now let's take a moment to talk about the romance. Honestly, y'all, I loved Ryan. He's not the standard jock character, and I liked that he was a little bit hard to read at first. There are moments between the two of them that easily could have felt cheesy or dumb, but I just found them so compelling that it didn't affect my enjoyment of the book at all. I was totally rooting for these two characters, and I love stories where opposites attract.

Having read her books back-to-back, I do think Dare You To ironed out a few of the issues that bothered me in Pushing the Limits. It retains what I would consider McGarry's signature - complex characters and dramatic stories - but overall felt like a stronger execution. I didn't 100% get it with the first book, but I totally fell in love with this one. I had a book hangover after closing Dare You To - and I told Betty and Cassie that I was mad I didn't pace myself better. I'm so glad I gave this book a chance because it definitely made me a McGarry fan!

So Quotable

"That must be love: when everything else in the world could implode and you wouldn't care as long as you had that one person standing beside you."

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From "What?!" to "WOW!"

From "What?!" to "WOW!"

Oct 8, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. Every week they post a new topic/top ten list and invite everyone to share their own answers. I'm so obsessed with lists - so it makes perfect sense that I'd love this feature!

I usually just do my Top Ten Tuesday post in numerical order, but I decided to do things a little differently this week! Since the topic focuses on best and worst series endings, I decided to start at 10 and count down to 1 so I can highlight the worst (10) to best (1) YA series endings. So, let's begin!

Worst

10. Perfect Fifths by Megan McCafferty - I'm probably in the minority with my feelings on this series overall, but I particularly don't even want to get started on this final installment. 

9. Boundless by Cynthia Hand - This book totally derailed my feelings for the series overall! It seemed like Clara morphed into a completely different character, the love triangle resolution frustrated me, and a number of other issues in this ending just made this series fall apart for me.

8. Requiem by Lauren Oliver - So, this is technically cheating because I haven't actually read this book. But I did decide to just read the ending. So, yeah, I have like zero desire to read the lead up to that open-ended mess.

7. Reached by Ally Condie - I didn't dislike this book as much as I did book two, but I think that's because I had such low expectations going in. I'm not sure what exactly it was, but I don't think I was the right reader for this series.

6. Fire Study by Maria V. Snyder - This is another series that completely went off the rails. I'm not a huge fantasy reader, but I really loved the first book! The second one was a little frustrating, but I had hope for the third. And then I read it, and I wished I'd never even started this series in the first place. It was all over the place, and the series felt like it lacked cohesiveness. 

Best

5. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins - I know that not everyone loved this ending, but I just adored it. There were so many moments I enjoyed in this one, and it's just gotten better for me upon re-reading. And that conversation between Peeta and Katniss? I die.

4. Quintana of Charyn by Melina Marchetta - I thought the first book in this series was a little confusing, but Marchetta totally won me over in book two and three. This make have had a slightly neater bow than I'd anticipated, but I didn't care at all. I was so happy with how she resolved each storyline!

3. Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare - I was hesitant to start this series, and then I considered setting it aside after the first book. I gave it some time, and then I was ready to finish this one off. Much to my surprise, I ended up loving book two and this conclusion more than I'd even imagined I would!

2. Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead - I loved this book so much, and the few things I felt needed a little more resolution have come up in the Bloodlines series so that makes me perfectly content with this ending. In fact, I already want to re-read this whole series!

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling - Did you expect anything else?

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