Friday, December 12, 2014

In Ali's Kitchen: A New Feature




So, I've been thinking of ways to revive my thrill of blogging and reviewing.  That's one of my goals for 2015.  I am trying to come up with some new posts and new events to have right here on the blog and the first one that I'm going to announce is In Ali's Kitchen. 

I get a lot of requests to review cook books and I love to cook, so I put the two together and this is what I've come up with. Not sure how often I'll be posting these posts, but I'm excited.

In Ali's Kitchen

  • Each post will showcase a cookbook that I've been asked to review. 
  • Each post will showcase one of the recipes and I will be cooking said recipe. 
  • Not sure if I'm going to add video or not yet, but I would really love that at some point.  
 


So that's the plan, I already have five cook books that I'm going to start with and again I'm super excited about it.  These posts will be going live in Jan 2015.  Make sure you keep an eye out for them.  (I'll also have a really cool post sticker for the post by then as well.)



Monday, November 10, 2014

Lessons I Never Learned At Meadowbrook Academy


Review: Lessons I Never Learned At Meadowbrook Academy by Liz Maccie


Title: Lessons I Never Learned At Meadowbrook Academy 
Author: Liz Maccie 
Publisher: Diversion Books 
Format: Ebook ARC
Pages: 193 pages
Published: November 4th 2014
ISBN #:  1626813124 
Authors WebsiteGoodreadsBuy This
"Liz Maccie's debut novel is as tough, optimistic, and beautiful as her heroine, Roberta Romano. Roberta's voice is heartfelt and funny. Her story is exceptionally moving and honest. I love this book and the hope it has for young women everywhere." ​—​Stephen Chbosky, New York Times bestselling author of The Perks of Being a Wallflower ​​ The most important lessons aren't learned in the classroom. It’s the first day of sophomore year for Roberta Romano, but instead of the comfort of her local high school, she's been thrust into the elitist embrace of the affluent Meadowbrook Academy. Surrounded by wealth, Roberta battles her own insecurities, as well as evil teachers and mean girls, to prove her worth and maybe land the boy of her dreams. With the help of two unlikely allies—​and an inflatable toy raft—​Robert embarks upon a journey of dark secrets and self-discovery to learn the true meaning of friendship and acceptance. "Roberta will charm and delight you with a voice that’s candid, hilarious, and hopeful, as she narrates her first day at a new high school, reminding us of the epic nature of each hour in our adolescent lives. Lessons I Never Learned at Meadowbrook Academy will make you laugh, cringe, cry, and cheer for the power of friendships that can change us in a single day." —​Ava Dellaira, author of Love Letters to the Dead "You wish your first day of prep school was this epic! Every single page of Lessons I Never Learned sparkles with heart and humor. Like a teenage Bridget Jones, Roberta Romano will make you laugh, cry, and cringe as she tries to navigate her first day at Meadowbrook Academy. She finds friends and enemies, earns detentions and serious respect, and makes memories that will last her a lifetime." —Siobhan Vivian, author of The List






It's Monday...What Are You Reading?


It's Monday! What Are You Reading is hosted by Book Journey!




It's time for my Monday post.  Below you will find what I plan on Reading for this week.   It's going to be a light week of reading.  Got a lot going on.  But I really want to read the book below! 
What I'm Reading Today... 
Title: Trial By Fire
Author: Josephine Angelini 
Publisher:  Feiwel & Friends
This world is trying to kill Lily Proctor. Her life-threatening allergies keep her from enjoying experiences that others in her hometown of Salem take for granted, which is why she is determined to enjoy her first high school party with her best friend and longtime crush, Tristan. But after a humiliating incident in front of half her graduating class, Lily wishes she could just disappear. Suddenly, Lily is in a different Salem—one overrun with horrifying creatures and ruled by powerful women called Crucibles. Strongest and cruelest of them all is Lillian . . . Lily's other self in this alternate universe. What makes Lily weak at home is what makes her extraordinary in New Salem. In this confusing world, Lily is torn between responsibilities she can't hope to shoulder alone and a love she never expected.



 What I Plan On Reading This Week...

Title: The Raven Boys 
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Publisher: Scholastic Press 
 
“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.” It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive. Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her. His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble. But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little. For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore. From Maggie Stiefvater, the bestselling and acclaimed author of the Shiver trilogy and The Scorpio Races, comes a spellbinding new series where the inevitability of death and the nature of love lead us to a place we’ve never been before.



So that is my plan for this week! What are you reading?



Sunday, October 26, 2014

Dystopian Week Blog Tour 2014 Sign Up!



We are super excited to be bringing this back again, we hope you are as excited as we are.  This year, Seeing Night Reviews and Ali's Bookshelf (Myself) will be doing a few things different. Each blog will host a specific post about dystopian themed topics or challenge they’d like their readers to do to enter their giveaways. Also this year, we are including something a bit different, an extra daily mission that bloggers can post on their blogs.  They will be mini challenges and there will be another giveaway for you to enter if you do these challenges as well.


Dystopian Week Blog Tour
Week November 10th - 14th 
 
THEME/CHALLENGES SIGNED UP
  

So as of right now we are looking for those amazing bloggers who would like to be a stop on this great tour.  Each stop has to be based on a Dystopian genre book and must include some kind of giveaway.  To see an example: CLICK HERE!

 Rules:

  • You must think of your discussion theme or challenge you would like on your own. I will add you to the list once I receive the form.
  • Example: Themes should discuss something about specific dystopian novels, characters, worlds that have been created, anything dystopian related.
  • Example: word scrabble, tower challenge (Already being done),  anything that the blogger would have a blast in challenging the readers.
  • Giveaways should be of a dystopian novel of either the bloggers topic or any dystopian novel of their choice.
  • Giveaways can be books or book related items


To Sign Up: CLICK HERE
  
Also we have two great buttons this year, please share this one so everyone can see.  If you are participating in the tour or just want to do the challenges. We would love to see the buttons on blogs, Facebook, Twitter, etc. 


Dystopian Week 2014 Tour
<div align="center"><a href="http://alisbookshelfreviews.blogspot.com/dystopian week 2014" title="Dystopian Week" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y540/Alicia_Justice/d3f6eb05-268d-4094-9c73-feebdc3bc20b_zpsa7b87ef4.jpg" alt="Dystopian Week 2014" style="border:none;" /></a></div> 


Dystopian Week 2014 Tour
<div align="center"><a href="http://alisbookshelfreviews.blogspot.com/dystopian week 2014" title="Dystopian Week" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y540/Alicia_Justice/576ffbce-feb5-4bfd-8a09-a8789e1db486_zps1bc4f337.jpg" alt="Dystopian Week 2014" style="border:none;" /></a></div> 

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Anabel Divided Blog Tour: Guest Post and Giveaway





Today we have a great author with us to share a guest post with a fantastic topic. So let's get to it right away, then I'll tell you about her book a bit and where you can get your own copy. 


Thank you so much to Ali for hosting me today! I am so excited to be here.

The moment I heard her voice on the phone I knew—I knew—that it wasn’t good news. “Hi, buddy,” my best friend began, and I heard the note of apprehension in her voice.

“You want me to rewrite it again, don’t you?” I asked, not bothering to conceal my frustration.

“I’m sorry,” she apologized. “I wouldn’t make you do it if I didn’t think it was necessary, but honey, I know you can do better.”

That was on rewrite #3 of a crucial scene in my second novel, ANABEL DIVIDED. I finally got her approval in rewrite #4. And I only hated her slightly.

I am fortunate that I have a best friend who is also rather blunt and will tell me when my writing isn’t up to par. She expects the best of me, and if I don’t deliver, she lets me have it. I have found that as I write more and more, I need more peer reviews because different people notice different things. Even before I hand my completed manuscript over to my editor, I definitely want grammar/content mistakes pointed out to me. I also want to hear the criticisms while I have a chance to rewrite a story—because if people who know you notice something’s wrong, then the Internet is always happy to criticize.

So how do you find a good Critique Buddy?  Here’s how I found some of mine:

1.      Twitter. I know, I know, it probably sounds obvious, but Twitter is how everything happened for me. It’s how I met a fellow author who introduced me to my publisher. But it didn’t happen overnight—I had to spend time networking and tweeting and “meeting” people before I settled into a circle of writer friends. Each of them brings something different to the table, and their input is invaluable.
2.      Facebook. There are so many writer’s groups on Facebook, and it’s sometimes hard to navigate which ones are just venues of self-promotion and which ones are valuable, but there are a few good ones out there with people who are searching for someone to give them feedback.
3.      Local libraries.  I live in Northern Virginia, and there is a local writer’s group that meets at the library once a month. For an introvert like me, going to something like this is generally my worst nightmare, but sometimes putting yourself out there in that way can give you a fresh perspective on your manuscript.

Above all, when you find a critique partner, you want someone who is willing to give you honest feedback and tell it to you straight. Because sometimes, some scenes in your book are going to be so important that they have to be written again. And again. And AGAIN. Until they meet expectations.






Anabel Martin thought that the resolution of her father's murder would bring a resolution to her problems. After all, she was starting life over in a new place, with new friends, and new adventures, focusing on attending college and raising her daughter free from the distractions of Washington, DC. She was ready to move on. But a trip back to the District for Meghan's wedding stirs up old feelings and brings new life to old relationships. Matt is cold and distant, while Jared is caring and attentive. A woman from Matt's past, a bold public flirtation, and Anabel's desire to be truly loved lead her to a crossroads...and her final decision leaves her with more questions than answers.







Amanda Romine Lynch is a writer, editor, and blogger who grew up in Florida knowing she belonged somewhere else. She now lives in the DC Metro Area with her husband and three amazing little boys. She is the Eco-Friendly/Green Living Contributor over at the Prime Parents’ Club and strives to live earth friendly in a world of disposable diapers. When not writing about Anabel and Jared or chasing around a curly-haired boy, she cheers for the Gators (in all kinds of weather) and occasionally remembers to sleep.








Giveaway: 3 prizes
2 signed paperbacks of Anabel Unraveled (US only)
1 $25 Amazon gift card (international)
 
 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Saturday, October 18, 2014

Dewey's 24 Hour Read-A-Thon Opening Meme



I'm so behind on reading, but I'm here and getting ready to start now! The first thing I want to do is the beginning meme so here we go. 



1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today? 

I'm reading from Kentucky! 

2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to?

The first one I'm reading is the one that I'm dying to read.  Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning

3) Which snack are you most looking forward to?

My Milk Chocolate Milano cookies.

4) Tell us a little something about yourself!

I'm a mother of two and they are going to be home while I participate in this read-a-thon so we shall see how much I actually get done. 

5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to?

This is my first year doing this Read-a-thon so I guess the thing I'm most looking forward to is trying to get some of my reading done, I'm really behind on my tbr list for the year!  


Day 17 and 18 of the #30DayBookChallenge



So I missed posting yesterday's image so I'm posting it with today's.  Day 17 and 18 were fun images to take and I'm happy to share them with you.  One of my answers though shouldn't surprise you at all. I've talked about it enough for you all to know.

Day 17: Your favorite quote from your favorite book (This was hard to pick from because I have so many favorite books and quotes.)



Day 18: A Book That Disappointed You! (This is the one that shouldn't surprise you)


Does anyone know what book the quote is from on Day 17? 


Friday, October 17, 2014

#WWReadathon Starts Today!




The Wonderfully Wicked Read-a-Thon starts today! I love reading during a read-a-thon mainly because of how much reading I actually do during them.  It's a great way for me to get caught up.  So below you will find what I plan on reading during this read-a-thon and a few extra's so I have some wiggle room on what I read.


 
What I Plan To Read: 




Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning (Currently Reading)
Trial By Fire by Josephine Angelini 
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
The Brokenhearted by Amelia Kahaney



A Few Extra: 

These are the just in case books that I might read, depending on what happens!


Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout 
Being Sloane Jacobs by Lauren Morrill

I will be posting a post every day on my status and what I've completed.  I hope you all have a great day! 


Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Take a Break Watch A Vid Special Edition



Today I have a special edition of my Take a Break Watch This Vid post.  The book trailer I'm going to be sharing with you today is one that was released today.  Enjoy. 




I'm super excited to share this book trailer with you and to tell you about this book as well. I haven't read it but it sounds amazing and I will be reading it as soon as I can get my hands on it.




Invisible Wings by Janell Rhiannon
Publication date: January 8th 2014
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult
Authors WebsiteGoodreadsBuy This
Life seldom unfolds the way you expect. Despite our best efforts, it can wind up in a tangled mess. We lose hope. Faith fades. And then suddenly, in the midst of despair, a door opens, an answer is given, or a new path is cleared because we’re not alone…sometimes angels walk among us. Arabella’s mother already thinks she’s a little crazy, so when a mysterious Presence fills her with a blinding light, she keeps it to herself. She’s given a heartbreaking mission. She spends her days among her fellow classmates, listening to their secret prayers and waiting for the moment of intervention. Arabella understands that life is messy, complicated, and beautiful. The way she guides her fellow classmates will ultimately surprise you. Love emerges from the mess. Hope emerges from the chaos. Faith emerges from the strength to endure. 12 destinies 12 twilights 12 lives that will never be the same





Janell has been writing since she was in grade school. In high school, her 9th grade English teacher suggested she consider a career in writing. After a decade in college and a Master's degree in history, she settled into teaching. Writing never stopped. Stories never stopped. READING fiction never stopped. Now, she writes and publishes on-line. Invisible Wings is her first YA novel, a compilation of short stories centered on teenage life triumphs and tragedies. She believes being a teenager is difficult and wrote Invisible Wings to let teens know they aren't alone. That they matter. That even though life is rough, they can still find beauty and love. Beside the YA stories close to her heart, she adores Mythology and Fairy tales. Anything magical and mystical. And dragons. And gargoyles. She currently lives in CA. Visit her at Facebook @Janell Rhiannon Author. If you want to see what projects are in the works or find out more about the her, visit





I loved this book trailer, what did you all think? Did you like it as much as I did and if so what did you like about it? 



(This post was part of a tour through Xpresso Book Tours, my opinions are my own and reflect my thoughts toward this book trailer.  Thanks to Xpresso Book Tour for letting me be part of this release and also a huge thanks to this author as well.)


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