Top Ten Tuesday: Most Frustrating Characters

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.This week's topic is Top Ten Most Frustrating Characters Ever. This is definitely one I had to think about! While there are some characters on this list that I do love/care for, they definitely annoyed me at one point or another!

1. Bella Swan (NEW MOON by Stephenie Meyer) -Why?  Let's go into a catatonic state because your boyfriend left to protect you from his vampire family. Okay. Don't get me wrong, she gets so much better at the end when she goes and saves her man, but in the beginning of the book I just.... No.

2. Zoey Redbird (House of Night Series by P.C. & Kristin Cast) - Why? It is extremely irritating watching her go through guy after guy throughout this extremely long series. PICK ONE, GIRL!

3. Luce Price (Fallen by Lauren Kate) - Why? I didn't finish this book. I don't even think I got 100 pages in before I put it down and decided to return it (Thank goodness for Indigo's return policy). I couldn't get over Luce following Daniel around who clearly states that he doesn't want anything to do with her. 

4. Clary Fray (The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare) - Why? I found her bland and irritating and just plain annoying. I wanted to close the book and never pick it up at some points... 

5. Jace Wayland (The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare) - Why?  I found him to be one of the biggest cliches when it comes to heroes in the YA world. He was a bad-ass, fast talking, super irritating (in my opinion) guy that I just couldn't get connected to. 

6. April (Ten Things We Did by Sarah Mlynowski) - Why? I just found that she lied. So. Much. And I know this book was kind of about teenagers lying but it was so over excessive.

7. Hannah, Aria, Spencer, and Emily (Pretty Little Liars Series by Sara Shepard) - Why? So, I love the show. I really do. But I read most of the books until I couldn't handle it anymore. The characters in the books are all SO irritating. I mean, they are in the show as well, but not as much in the books, in my personal opinion. I found the shallow and dumb.

8. Calla (Nightshade by Andrea Cremer) -Why? Well, I've only read Nightshade and I while I loved it and Calla's character, there were some times where I wanted to shake her shoulders and tell her to pick one guy already!!!

9. Ed (Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler) -Why? This guy was a tool. I don't know how much more frustrated I could have gotten while reading that. Who would put up with being his girlfriend?

10. Severus Snape (Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling) -Why? I might get some comments about this choice, but I have to just get it out there. I get that he was bullied his entire childhood, I get that his heart was broken, I get that he lost the love of his life... IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN GO AND MAKE ALL OF YOUR STUDENTS MISERABLE AS WELL. Oh wait, except for the Slytherins, because well... FAVOURITISM. Sorry... Not really.

That's it! Leave me a link to your TTT and I'll check it out!
Happy reading!
~Kristy

Review: Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Author: Kristin Cashore

Publisher: Harcourt

Page Count: 471 pages, Hardcover

Date Published: October 1st 2008

Find it on Goodreads: Graceling

Source: Purchased (Secondhand/Library Sale)

Rating:  5/5

 His eyes, Katsa had never seen such eyes. One was silver, and the other, gold. They glowed in his sun-darkened face, uneven, and strange. She was surprised that they hadn't shone in the darkness of their first meeting. They didn't seem human....
Then he raised his eyebrows a hair, and his mouth shifted into the hint of a smirk. He nodded at her, just barely, and it released her from her spell.
Cocky, she thought. Cocky and arrogant, this one, and that was all there was to make of him. Whatever game he was playing, if he expected her to join him he would be disappointed.

In a world where people born with an extreme skill - called a Grace - are feared and exploited, Katsa carries the burden of the skill even she despises: the Grace of killing. She lives under the command of her uncle Randa, King of the Middluns, and is expected to execute his dirty work, punishing and torturing anyone who displeases him.

When she first meets Prince Po, who is Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change.

She never expects to become Po's friend.

She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace - or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away...a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.

My Thoughts: Absolutely amazing.

I haven't read a lot of fantasy lately and I feel the need to get back into it. Graceling was an incredible book that contained a world so unique and captivating that I couldn't bear to put it down. I loved the characters and adored the world Cashore created.

When Bitterblue came out last year, so many people were so excited. It caused a huge buzz in the book world and I was utterly confused. I had only briefly heard of Graceling and wanted to know more about it. However, it did not seem like the type of book I was willing to pay full price for. Whenn I found it at the library sale though, I thought "Why not?" and picked it up. Then it sat on my shelf. And sat. And sat. Until I was talking to one of the girls at the bookstore that I have become friends with and she asked if I had read it yet, and if not, that I NEEDED TO. So I went home and began reading and now, here I am, so in love with the story and the characters and the entire book. I will admit it was a bit difficult to start the book, as it has a lot of world-building and the main protagonist, Katsa is a bit tough to get a hold on to. But eventually, the story sped up and I couldn't stop flipping the pages.

Graceling focuses on Katsa, a girl who has the talent of killing. She is the one her uncle, the king of her land, sends to do his dirty work. When she meets Po, a prince from another land, they become friends and set off on a dangerous mission and uncover terrible secrets that could rip all seven kingdoms apart. Katsa is a difficult one to like at first. She's tough and she's hard, but she's also very conflicted. I personally loved her character in the end. I found her to be so strong and that she actually really did care about the people that she wanted to protect. She would protect her loved ones even if it killed her. She was... How can I put this? BAD. ASS. Then there was Po. I loved Po. He and Katsa had a bit of conflict at the beginning, until they began to realise they could help each other. And then they set off on a long journey in hopes of uncovering answers in regards to Po's grandfather. I ADORED the way Po made Katsa jumpy and embarrassed. It was so funny and sweet at the same time. Here's a girl who needs to be in control, suddenly traveling with a handsome prince who makes her stomach flutter. There are so many things that happen in the book that I'd like to talk about, but I can't just in case someone, like me a few days ago, has not yet read it and thus, I can't spoil it!

So, I will just say, please go read this book if you get the chance. It's so different, but so good. The world-building is fantastic and I was so impressed by how much detail we get about the workings of the seven kingdoms. There was so much in this book and I loved it all. Now, I cannot wait to pick up Fire and then Bitterblue!!!


Happy reading!
~Kristy

Tidbit: Saving the Moo-lah

*WARNING* I was in a weird mood when I wrote this...

Helloooo everyone! If you've been wondering why there haven't been any book hauls the past few weeks, it's because I'm on a book buying ban until February 8th! I've decided it's time to get some of my already purchased books READ and I can wait to read some of the books that have been coming out recently, even if it's KILLING me on the inside not to have my hands on the beautiful Boundless by Cynthia Hand, or already be devouring the wonderfully amazing Everbound by Brodi Ashton....  UGH. I'm slowly dying without these books, I swear.
 

Ok, ok. I'm being a bit over-dramatic, I know. It actually feels pretty good, the fact that I haven't been spending much to any money this month. I'm going to Ottawa for three days with school beginning of February, so I'm hoping I won't see any books that are really going to tempt me while I'm there. I'll pack an extra book just in case. I'm not planning on buying much while I'm there... I've basically got 50$, so I'm thinking I'll be fine!

I'm really trying to be frugal lately. Babysitting's a bit slow right now, after Christmas, and I don't have the time at the moment to go out and look for a job. Hopefully soon I will, now that the semester is over! I've recently smacked myself on the head and told myself that I need to be saving my money more than spending, if I want to be able to afford a good university. ESPECIALLY if I want to go abroad.

Anyway, that's my little random ramble... I don't actually remember why I started writing about this, but hey, it's something! Hope you don't mind a little mini tidbit about something completely random, but not totally random at the same time. I'm in an odd mood right now. All of this studying it really getting to me. Ughhhhhhh. But at least I'm going to be ready for these exams, right!? Right!

So umm, thanks for reading my little random ramble... Bye!!

~Kristy

Fabulous Bookshelves!

Hey guys! A little while ago I did a post on reading nook inspirations, because I've been thinking of creating a little reading corner in my room! Today, I thought I'd share some cool bookshelves that I've found online that I'm totally in love with! 

And last but certainly not least, the coolest one I've seen so far:

Which of those I've shown did you like the best? I'm in love with the last one, designed to look like the TARDIS from Doctor Who!!! Let me know in the comments which one you like the best!

Have a great day!
~Kristy

P.S. I'm a bit behind on my reading at the moment thanks to the four major exams I have in the next week, but I should be getting back into schedule soon, and then this terrible semester is over and on to my easier one! I'll be getting back into routine soon enough :)

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Settings I'd Like To See More Of

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.This week's topic is  Top Ten Settings I'd Like To See More Of (Or At All) --- (maybe you want read more books set in space or books set in Alaska or the beach)

1. CANADAAAAAA- I know it's not really an exact setting, but I'd still love to see more books set in "my country". There are so many great cities and towns and I think it would be really interesting to see what the author could do with it. That's why I really enjoyed Kelly Armstrong's The Gathering. It contained a lot of Canadian humour and was set on Vancouver Island, which isn't too far from where I live.

2. Space - I love books about space. They are so interesting and just... 'out of this world!' ;) It's a great, refreshing feeling reading books that aren't set on earth. It's different and an absolute escape. I fell in love with space books after reading Across the Universe by Beth Revis

3. London - I'm absolutely in love with London and can't get enough of books that are set in the city where I'd like to live when I'm older. I can't wait to read Lauren Morrill's Meant to Be!

4. Roadtrips - I LOVE roadtrip books. It's not one exact setting, so this may be cheating a bit, but let's just go with it. I've always wanted to take a roadtrip with my friends, so reading about them just fuels that wish. I loved books like The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour and Saving June by Hannah Harrington!

5. Paris - Such amazing stories always come out of books set in the city of love. I fell in love with Paris at a super young age, and when I finally visited, it was as if all my dreams had come true. So reading books set in Paris takes me back to the feeling of joy and serenity that came with visiting the city. I loved Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins and Die For Me by Amy Plum.

6. Underwater - Can you say 'mermaids'? I love the water, and escaping into a book set underwater is an experience I can't get enough of.

7. Big Cities - I honestly cannot get enough of big cities and stories set in them. Growing up in what we call the 'city in the country' where it's all farms and maybe two-three 'tall-ish- buildings, I'm fascinated by the energy of a big city. Reading books set in places like New York, Seattle, Toronto, etc. make me so excited to be able to travel to all these different places.

8. Ancient Greece - I am fascinated by ancient Greek mythology, so any books about the gods and goddesses are like the finest chocolates in the world to a choco-holic. They're heavenly.  I love reading books about anything to do with gods, demigods, and everything involved with Greek mythology.

9. Royal Court - Especially English or French, in the times of, let's say, Marie Antoinette, or King Henry VIII. Anything like that. I was really born in the wrong era, because I could easily time-travel back to those times.

10. Airplanes - I love flying, and I love the feeling I get just before I step onto a plane. Books set on planes are interesting and unique and can be uber-duber sweet and adorable, like Jennifer E.Smith's The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight. 


That's my top ten of the week! Leave me a link to your top ten in the comments, or comment below if you share any of my top settings I'd like to see more of! I'll be SURE to comment back!

Happy Tuesday!
~Kristy

Review: Wingless by Cydney Lawson

Author: Cydney Lawson

Publisher: CreateSpace

Page Count: 230 pages, Paperback

Date Published: March 6th 2011

Find it on Goodreads: Wingless

Source: Received from author in exchange for an honest review

Rating:  3/5

Charlie thought his summer was going to end like every other summer before it. With a growing sense of forboding and a waning sense of freedom. Until Tane landed on his front lawn in a crumpled heap claiming to be from heaven. A place much darker and much greater than he’d ever imagined. Tane is on a mission to find a Septar, a citizen of Fismuth that was left behind when she was supposed to have been taken. And when she enlists the help of Charlie and his friends, she pulls them into a world of danger, love, and ultimately, heavenly rewards.

My Thoughts: Unique and inventive

Cydney Lawson's Wingless takes a new spin on 'angel' books. It's not about angels! "Heaven" is run by a group of gifted humans who have enslaved all “angels," setting up a weird, sort of dystopian society. It was a very original book with a very creative premise and I enjoyed that aspect of this book a lot.

It was a little difficult for me getting into the book at first, but eventually I got into the rhythm of things and began to really enjoy the book! There was something so great about reading something that is so different from what you originally expected. I assumed this was going to be a typical angel/paranormal romance-y type book, but it was not! Wingless's plot is very interesting and the worldbuilding was strong. The society Lawson set up was definitely intriguing and I found it quite refreshing to read such a unique book. The lore was completely different from anything I had ever read, which made it a nice read. 

I did have a bit of difficulty connecting with the characters though. I felt that they were all interesting enough, but lacked something in them that would have helped me connect with them. There wasn't much that got me really invested with the characters, and I would have liked to have seen a lot more rounded characterization. I think that would have made this book absolutely, insanely great. But without a connection to the characters, it was hard for me to empathize with them and continue reading in some parts. 

This was a very nice, short book that I enjoyed quite a lot. It was so different than any angel book I had ever read, and I would love to continue with the story as soon as possible. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to try something a bit new, or is maybe getting really tired of angel books. 

Happy reading!
~Kristy

Corded by Alyssa Rose Ivy: Cover Reveal and Giveaway!

Cover by PhatPuppy Art ( http://phatpuppyart.com/

 Book Details:

Corded by Alyssa Rose Ivy

In a world where women are commodities, the only thing more rare than finding true love is a happy ending.

Kayla is in hiding—her only crime being born a girl in a society of 99% men. When her sister and niece are kidnapped, she is willing to do anything to save them. Kayla ventures into the dangerous streets of the city, a place where a woman can be claimed by anyone unless she has been marked by a club.

Desperate, she turns to Mason, a powerful club leader whose help comes at a cost—her freedom.

Goodreads

Author Bio:

Alyssa Rose Ivy lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write.

Author Links:

• Website  : http://www.alyssaroseivy.com/
• Twitter : http://twitter.com/alyssaroseivy
  
• Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/AlyssaRoseIvy
  
• GoodReads : http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5047249.Alyssa_Rose_Ivy

Giveaway:

One ebook of Alyssa Rose Ivy's- your choice. 

(pick one of Alyssa Rose Ivy's books, or make it winners choice).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway: Morrigan by Lauren DeLuca

Author Laura DeLuca is giving away an amazing swag pack for her upcoming blog tour in February!

Title: Morrigan
Author: Laura DeLuca
Pages: 320

Book Description:

Shuffled from place to place in the foster system, Morrigan doesn't know the meaning of home. Plus, she is different. She has power over fire, the ability to move objects with her mind, and glimpse into the future. Just when she believes her life can’t get any stranger, she discovers her true identity.

Filtiarn, a knight with a dark past and a surprising secret, has been tasked with guiding the heir of Tír na NÓg through countless perils to be returned to her family. Once Morrigan has been reunited with her mother and grandmother, their triad can save the forgotten land of magic from being devoured by an ancient evil.

Here is what you can win:

A signed print copy of Morrigan, wooden jewelry box, Morrigan's Enchantment bath salts created by The Sister's Elemental, sage smudge stick, three rough crystal points, a green polished crystal pendant, a pewter triquetra pendant, and a gift set of incense with a leaf shaped incense burner.



a Rafflecopter giveaway

101 Random Things About Me

Hi guys! I've recently come to the realisation that in the one year of blogging, I haven't told you much about myself! And I feel, that as it is the week of my one year blogoversary, it's a suitable time to tell you a little bit more about the person behind the weird rambly reviews! So here are 101 things about me!

1.  My name is Kristy
2.  I am 15 years old, almost 16.
3.  I live in a city/town (it's a small city...) outside of Vancouver, B.C. Canada
4. <-- Is my favourite number
5. I speak French fluently
6.  I am learning German as well
7.  My room is a mess
8. I'm a Ravenclaw
9.  My friends and family are the most important people in my life
10.  I would have a very hard time living without the internet
11.  I admin on a Harry Potter fan page on Facebook
12.  I love Ed Sheeran more than I can describe
13.  I started watching Doctor Who in November 2012 and finished end of December 2012. I'm hooked.
14.  Owls fascinate me
15.  <-- Is my other favourite number
16. I've been to China, France, England, Ireland, Mexico, and the U.S.
17. I want to move to London when I'm older
18.  I cannot believe one year has gone by since I started this blog
19.  I used to play the flute
20.  While I loved to read before, I was introduced to Harry Potter at age 5(ish) and that got me completely hooked.
21.  Harry Potter is my life.
22.  I tape tickets and pictures (memories) to my wall above my bed
23.  I've wanted to start making YouTube videos for three years now, but don't know what I would talk about
24.  My family is extremely complicated
25. School is stressing me out big time lately
26.  My friends are all really supportive of this blog
27.  One of my best friends refuses to watch or read Harry Potter with me, and it kills me each time.
28. I have an eye condition called central heterochromia, which is really just a fancy way to say my eyes are multi-coloured.
29.  I have two bookshelves but am in need of at least one more, if not two. I just don't have the room.
30.  I want to work in the publishing business when I'm older or become a movie director.
31.  My childhood dream jobs were to be a veterinarian and a spy
32.  I love shoes. Especially boots. 
33.  One of my biggest fears is that I will get stuck in this town and not fulfill my dreams
34.  I'm afraid of the dark. Sometimes it's better, sometimes it's worse.
35.  I love peppermint mochas
36.  I suffer a bit from insomnia. Sometimes it's better, sometimes it's worse. 
37.  I'm much more creative at night
38.  I saw Avatar for the first time Christmas day 2011
39.  The lights went out at my school on December 22nd 2012 and one kid ran down the hall in tears screaming his head off.
40.  I have a dog, his name is KC and he's a black and white mix of just about everything
41.  I take art class after school as well as yearbook editing. 
42.  I love hockey
43.  I bought The Complete Works of William Shakespeare at age 8 with my own money
44.  I was Juliet for Halloween when I was 10 years old.
45.  I still sleep with a teddy bear
46.  My step-dad gave me an old pair of Dr. Martens and if I could wear them everyday I would
47.  I love calligraphy
48.  I own a lot of dictionaries
49.  Speaking of, in grade 5, I used to read the dictionary for fun. (Yes, I was one of those kids)
50.  Music is really important to me
51.  I can't listen to the 'Top 40' type music for very long before wanting to tear my hair out
52.  I'm a terrible procrastinator
53.  I've always been known as the 'smart and nice one' in school
54.  I don't have a favourite colour
55.  I'm proud to be a Canadian
56.  The Beatles is life.
57.  While the people there are irritating, I love my school
58.  I have a bad back and neck... I'm getting old. ;)
59.  My English teacher this year has been the best teacher I've had the pleasure of being in class with
60.  My thoughts inside my head mostly have an English accent. 
61.  I don't eat pork or red meat
62.  I have three little brothers, all of them are nuts, but I love them to death
63.  I try to keep all of my receipts
64.  I hate getting rid of shoe boxes so I try and find ways to reuse them
65.  I love swimming
66.  I'm pretty short and always have been.
67.  My favourite super-hero is SPIDERMAN
68.  I am fascinated by Marie Antoinette
69.  I find the story of Hades and Persephone very interesting
70. I don't like to swear
71. I'm a Taurus, although astrology isn't actually a huge thing in my life
72. I love tea. I'd drink only tea if I could
73. I'm in all honours classes, except math. *Shudders*
74. I prefer the cold to the hot.
75. I prefer chilling at home with a cup of tea and a book than going out to parties 
76.  I ramble, a lot (You guys obviously know that one)
77. My laptop is my baby. 
78. I prefer jeans and baggy sweaters to skirts and fancy blouses, but I also love getting the chance to go somewhere in a pretty dress. 
79. I have a red jacket that when I wear it with heels, I get a lot of weird looks, because, well, my friend says I look more like I belong in a big city than this place.
80. I have a jar for coins to save up for university/travel/moving to London
81. I love the ocean
82. I am TERRIBLE at volleyball
83. I believe in magic
84. My guilty pleasure is Seventeen magazine
85. I don't like to swear, but sometimes a s**t will just slip out, and then I feel bad. 
86. Speaking of, I said the 'F word' for the first time spring 2012, ON ACCIDENT, and I felt so dirty that I went home and told my mom
87. It's not like my parents were ever super strict on swearing, I just knew it was bad and didn't want my mouth washed out with soap. That thought stuck with me.
88. I love to babysit
89. I've cut my right knee open... twice.
90. I had braces for 2.5 years
91. I love to run, but my ankle flares up every time, so it's hard
92. I love to sing, but never in front of others
93. My mom really dislikes most of the music I listen to and vice versa <3
94. I always have good student-teacher relationships with my school teachers
95. When I was in Ireland I was sketching a building and people came up to me and thought I was a real artist and they wanted to see more of my stuff. I'm not that good at sketching, at all.
96. I love feather earrings
97. I want a tattoo of the Deathly Hallows sign on my hand below my thumb, or a small one on the side of my rib cage, below my chest. I've wanted this tattoo since I was 12.
98. I enjoy deep conversations that go on for hours and pick up where they left off
99. My friends and I go outside at lunch more often than not. If not it's either pouring rain so hard we can't see, or so cold we couldn't put a toe out the door.
100. It's not a complete day if I don't see/talk to at least one of my friends, read a little bit, and drink a glass of milk
101.  I love and appreciate each and every single one of you. You guys are fabulous.

Wow, I can't believe I actually hit 101! That was kind of fun, but it took three days to complete, so also pretty difficult! Kudos to you if you actually read that all. I will be definitely in awe if someone decides to read 101 things about me. I hope this helps you learn a little bit more about myself! I want to open up my life to you guys a bit more this year and I think, I might start vlogging sometime this year. Do you think that would  be a good idea? Let me know!

Have a fantastic day/night!
~Kristy

Scarlet Woods Blog Tour!

Author Brooke Passmore has stopped by today with an excerpt from her new book Scarlet Woods!

Title: Scarlet Woods
Author: Brooke Passmore
Publisher: Self Published

Past, future, and love all exist in the door through time.

Modern and independent seventeen year old Morgan Westbrook thought she had seen all there was to her home town of Scarlet, Georgia, but one day while walking in the woods behind her house she discovers a mysterious door masked behind the trees. After admiring the door’s timeless beauty she walks through its entrance to venture into more woods, but what she doesn’t know is that the door is a gateway through time that takes her back to the year 1863 during the days of the Civil War in Scarlet.

Without knowing that she had traveled back in time, she stumbles upon Danny Carson, an attractive young man who is appalled to see that Morgan is wearing skimpy modern clothes instead of a nineteenth century dress. Although they find each other completely different than anyone they’ve ever known, they cannot help but feel drawn to one another. After spending time in another century, she discovers that she's time traveled back to the year 1863 and that the door took her there. For months she and Danny journey back and forth through the door to experience the joys of traveling to both of their centuries. When dilemmas of unwanted marriage, slavery, and war are thrown at them, they must face the perils that time travel has delivered them in both the future and the past.

Excerpt

March 14, 1863, Danny Carson was riding his black horse underneath the budding trees of the woods. He heard the crackle of rushing water hit against the pebbles and sharp rocks in the creek as the orange sun descended from the face of Scarlet, Georgia.

Winter had disappeared and Danny was thrilled. He hated winter; it was always a cold and lifeless season. Dull brown trails and naked branches weren’t a welcoming atmosphere, but now since spring had finally arrived, color had returned to the trees. Spring brought out so much greenery and life in the woods with its ivy spiraling up trunks, weeds and wild flowers blooming at tree roots, and the sun tanning the leaves while birds zipped through the branches.

People in Scarlet didn’t dare enter the woods late in the evening. They feared the idea of foul killers or fictional monsters haunting the trees at night. But when it came to the woods Danny was fearless. He’d visit at any time of day to get away from things just for a little while. He found the depths of the trees, the forever running creek, and the prowling Spanish moss to be an escape from his regular routine. Plus, he being practically the only visitor at any time of day gave him the full run of the place. The woods were his.

As soon as the sun winked at the ground and was about to depart from the sky, the storm had begun. The dark night clouds began to mix with purring thunder. Noticing how gloomy the day had become, Danny tensed up in his saddle. “Oh no…” He grumbled.

His horse Nashville was a handful when it came to storms and was terrified of loud thunder.

Then the lightning started ripping through the sky. Danny tightened his grip on the reins as the first set of thunder stung his ears. Nashville came to a halt on the dirt trail and let out a few worried neighs at the feel of raindrops plopping against his coat.

Danny rolled his eyes. “Whiny baby,” He stroked Nashville’s neck to help calm him down.

As more lightning nicked the gray sky, rain showered onto the forest floor. In a matter of seconds Danny and Nashville were drenched. Rapid rain pounded onto the creek and the thunder produced a drummed even beat that taunted the black horse.

Skittish and now ill tempered from the storm, Nashville scooted his burly legs back in reverse and shuffled his hooves on the dirt path. Danny had a firm hold on the reins trying to control him. “Calm down Nash! It’s only a bit of loud noise. Toughen up!”

The thunder became more prominent in the endless dark sky. Nashville gave out a loud neigh and began to buck in the air, unbalancing Danny’s weight on the saddle. “Steady! Stop it Nashville!” He said to his horse as he began to feel his feet start to slip out of the stirrups.

One large wave of lightning slashed through the clouds with a bright bolt. Thunder roared out like a hungry lion about to attack its prey, nearly shattering Danny’s eardrums.

Nashville couldn’t take it any longer. His front legs kicked off the ground, arching his back into the air. Danny lost his balance and accidentally let go of his reins while being thrown off his saddle. “No Nash!” He yelled as he fell into the wet mud below.

The second he was out of the saddle Nashville took off running into the rain.

Danny tasted chunky bits of mud as he sat up in a small pool of brown slush. He snarled seeing his horse run off into the distance. “Nashville! Come back you dumb horse!”

Nashville didn’t show any signs of slowing down. Danny stood up cursing under his breath as he chased his horse down the trail he had taken.

“Stop Nashville!” Danny yelled through the feverish raindrops.

He darted through bushes and stepped on thorns with his wet boots. Every other step of his chase he spat out dirt that had crept in between his teeth. “Stupid horse, stupid horse!” He kept muttering to himself.

With one last echoing neigh, Nashville took a sharp turn behind a hill and was out of sight. Danny ran a bit faster, hoping that he wouldn’t lose his horse’s tracks. After he took the same turn behind the hill, he came upon three possible paths that Nashville could have taken.

He looked for hoof tracks in the mud but this area of the forest was rockier than the rest of the woods and left no footprints to be seen. There was no telling which way Nashville went.

Placing the tips of his fingers to his mouth, Danny let out a high pitched whistle that screamed through the trees. Usually when he would whistle Nashville would instantly come to his side, but this time he didn’t show. Danny whistled three more times, but all that was around him were the trees and the rain.

With his head hung low, he began to walk back the way he came, realizing that his horse wasn’t coming back to him. He was covered in mud and was expecting a plum colored bruise on his rear from being bucked off his saddle. Now that he lost Nashville in the woods, he had to walk back home soaked in the rain.

Danny hoped that Nashville would be smart and find his way back home whenever the storm settled. He didn’t want his horse to go too far from home, but little did he know how far away his horse would run off to.

Running as fast as his hooves could take him, neighs burst from Nashville’s lips at each strike of thunder. He dodged past the wooded trees with remarkable speed as the rain penetrated his sight. Feeling frightened, he wanted coverage from the rain and desired to escape the storm.

He slowed down to a steady trot, but his legs were still fidgety. He needed to find shelter. Coming upon a hill he didn’t recognize, Nashville staggered up the hill in hopes of evading the thunder that seemed to loom over him.

He came to find more green oaks and weeping willows with saggy limbs that suspended just inches off the ground at the top of the hill. His hooves left tracks in the mud as he jogged around to view his new surroundings. His hooves stomped on wild flowers that sprouted all over the ground. The rain seemed tamer up on higher ground. Even with the gloomy sky hanging overhead, this part of the woods felt like a more positive environment. The gallant trees that encircled him gave Nashville a strange comfort and made him feel safe for some reason.

Nashville quickly stopped in his tracks to admire a massive object standing before him. It was a door, but not just an ordinary door. It was a rich chocolate brown that had two doors in one just like an entrance of a grand church. It didn’t belong to any building structure, wall, or fence and stood alone.

One of its doors was partially open. Nashville inched up to it and nudged the opened door back further to create a bigger opening.

What he saw inside the entrance was the exact same forest, or was it? The ground he stood on was wet and miserable with rain attacking the earth. On Nashville’s side of the door the sky was a lifeless color with drained out clouds, but looking through the door was the setting sun shining its warm rays on the dry ground. The grass wasn’t wet and the trees didn’t drip rain off their leaves. Everything through the door was light and calm. It was as if the other side of the forest was a completely different place and was free from the vicious storm. How was that possible?

This other side of the door was definitely odd with its drastic weather differences, but since Nashville was a horse he didn’t think too much of it. He entered the peaceful atmosphere through the door’s opening. A warm wind blew a light breeze against his wet coat after his first step through to the other side. There was no harsh rain and no loud thunder ringing in his ears. He was positive that this was the better side of the woods.

Nashville turned his soaked body back to face the door he came out of. It was ajar and he could see the unbearable rain continue to pour onto the grass on the side he just exited from. One final thunder erupted but it was contained inside the door sounding distant and far away, even though he stood only a few feet away from the entrance of the storm.

Nashville shook his head from side to side, slapping his long mane against his neck trying to get every raindrop off of him. He neighed out a happy tune and trotted through the dryer parts of Scarlet Woods.

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About Brooke Passmore

I live in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma and am a 22 year old young woman who probably will never fully grow up. As a kid I played with Polly Pockets, swam in my swimming pool practically every day during the summer, and went on vacations to Disney World with my family (favorite days of my life). I loved telling stories as a kid by playing with my Polly’s and dressing up like princesses with my friends. Eventually everything that went on in my busy imagination I wrote down on paper in the late hours of the night.

When I was in sixth grade I moved into a new house with woods directly behind my backyard. I’d walk about the woods and loved trampling through the creek or getting lost in the trees. These trips through the woods gave me my inspiration for my book trilogy Scarlet Woods. My main character in my book is Morgan who lives in a house where the woods are right behind her backyard. My love for trees and anything woodsy definitely shows in my book and I hope I painted a pretty picture in readers’ heads about what Scarlet Woods looks like.

My favorite candies are Skittles and M&M’s. I put ketchup on practically anything with meat (even with chicken quesadillas). I’m a great fan of Florence and the Machine, The Beatles, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Birdie, and recently The Civil Wars. My favorite books are The Hunger Games, Shiver, and Wither. My favorite movies are Titanic and Gone with the Wind. The Vampire Diaries is the wonderful TV show I’m obsessed with (I’m a Delena lover!!). I hate ads on youtube that I repeatedly have to skip every single time I want to listen to the newest song from Glee. I love to smile, laugh, and purposefully sing loud and off key whenever my brother is around just to pester him. I have a cat named Phoebe who we named after Phoebe from Friends, a yorkie named Coco who we named because he likes to eat Cocoa Puffs, and a shih tzu maltese we named Indy after Indiana Jones. My favorite princess is Cinderella but I think my personality is a tie between Ariel and Belle so they’re all my ultimate faves. If I could choose a century to time travel to I’d probably choose the Victorian age, the roaring 20’s, the 1950’s, or the 1940’s. I think the Victorian age and the 1940’s were probably the most romantic eras in history and the 20’s and 50’s would probably the most fun!

Review: Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

Author: Andrea Cremer

Publisher: Atom

Page Count: 480 pages, Paperback

Date Published: July 26th 2011 (first published October 19th 2010)

Find it on Goodreads: Nightshade

Source: Purchased

Rating:  4.25/5

Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything- including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?

My Thoughts: Wow. This book pulled me in from the first page and I was hooked the entire way through.

I went into this book knowing it was loved by many and having no idea what I would think about it. I really didn't have very many expectations for it, good or bad. I found my copy at a little book shop in Galway, Ireland for €4, thought "why not?" and it's been sitting on my bookshelf ever since. I picked it up the other day, read the first page, and could not. Put. It. Down. Cremer's first chapter was action packed from the first sentence, with Calla rescuing Shay, the human boy, from a grizzly bear. After that one scene, there was hardly a dull moment in the book. Considering the fact that it is almost 500 pages, it was a really quick read for me, because I read it all in almost one sitting. I did not move from the couch for over two hours, flipping page after page, wanting to know what would happen next.

This book definitely deals with some love-triangle stuff, but it's a bit different. Calla, the seventeen year old female alpha, is destined to marry Ren, the young male alpha of an opposing pack, and form their own pack together. And then Shay walks into the picture and everything changes. Calla is completely conflicted between her loyalty to her pack and her fate, and what her heart wants. This love triangle really bothered me, because it was a teeter-totter the entire book. One moment Calla was really into Shay, and then pushing him away, then she was snapping at Ren to give her space, the next minute she was melting in his arms, and so on. I personally liked Ren. Not at first, because well, I know how these things work. It's always the forbidden love that ends up winning the girl, thus I decided to try and not get too attached to Ren, as I knew he wouldn't be the choice Calla would end up with. Bad move, Kristy. While Ren was hot-tempered and at times really and truly irritating, he also cared for Calla a lot and wanted to protect her with all his heart. Then there was Shay. I didn't really get too invested in Shay. I found him a bit... off. There were just so many things that I found a bit irritating about him and I just don't think he was my type, at all. But in other ways I did really like him. I FELT LIKE CALLA! I couldn't decide between Ren and Shay!

Here's some John Green to help express my frustration.

I'm going to try and move on from the boy part of the book, before I get too caught up into it.There was so much going on in this book, but in a good way! I absolutely adored the young packmates. While they were still kids, we got to see them grow in the book and learned quite a bit about each of them. I loved Ansel, Calla's brother. I always have a thing for the brothers, for some reason. He was super sweet and protective of Calla and a bit of a hopeless romantic when it came to Bryn, Calla's best friend. Then there were Neville and Mason. Their relationship both melted and broke my heart at the same time. I desperately hope they will end up happily together!

Annnd some Kingsley

THEN finally, there was all of the unique lore that went with this book. It was so intriguing! We don't find out a lot until around page 100-150ish, but when we finally do, it's worth the wait. There was so much detail put into the background of the Guardians and the Keepers. I loved learning about Calla's world... Definitely one of the most interesting 'werewolf' stories I've ever read! Their little town of Vail had an interesting dynamic with how the hierarchies were. Keepers --> Guardians --> Humans. I found it really interesting how the author made the reader truly feel the fear that bled off of the humans when the Guardians were around. And then there were all of the inner ranks within the Guardians, which were also really neat to read about. I loved so much about this book!

I'd recommend this book to anyone over 12. There are quite a few implications of sex, although the only thing that happens is some kissing, as well as a bit of alcohol references. Overall, this was an incredible book that kept me reading late into the night. I loved it and cannot wait to read the next book!

Happy reading!
~Kristy

Top Ten Tuesday: 2013 Debuts I'm Looking Forward To

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.This week's topic is  Top Ten 2013 Debuts I'm Looking Forward To.

 2013 is going to be a good year for books! I'm really excited for a ton of the new debuts that are coming out this year. Which debuts are you looking forward to? Leave me a link to your TTT and I'll check it out!

Happy Tuesday
~Kristy 

Celebrating One Year of Blogging!

Hi everyone! Today is a VERY special day in my world! It's my first blogoversary!!! I am so excited that I have made it one year blogging. I can't believe how fast the time flew by!

Here are some stats:

Pageviews: 35,459 (OH MY GOODNESS! I remember when I hit 1000 pageviews and had a mini party for myself! That's insane!)

GFC Followers: 647 (I remember when I hit 100 and basically cried. This is insane! THANK YOU!)

Email Subscribers: 30

Linky Followers: 113

Networked Blogs Followers: 24

Top Three Country Visitors:

United States	14114
Canada	3719
United Kingdom	2967

Posts: 245 (246 with this one!

Comments: 1062

Twitter followers: 528

Facebook likes: 171

Looking at those stats is just insane to me! I was talking to one of my friends yesterday and she was reminiscing about how happy I was when I reached 50 GFC followers, or how excited I had been when I finally put up a Facebook page for the blog. This year has been a roller coaster complete with loop-dee-doops and loop-dee-loops. There were definitely some struggles towards the end of 2012 with school, but I'm glad I decided to take a little break and just get back in the zone. Now I'm ready for 2013 to be absolutely incredible! I'm so excited to see what's in store for A Little Shelf of Heaven this year!

To start off the celebrations, I'm going to be doing TWO giveaways! Both will be international and both will hopefully be super duper awesome!

GIVEAWAY #1: 

Rules:

•  The winner can win ONE of any of the below books which are some of my favourite 2012 releases. 
• Fill in the Rafflecopter below (PLEASE do not leave personal info in the comments!)
• The giveaway is INTERNATIONAL as long as The Book Depository ships to your country for free (click HERE to check)
• You must be 13 or older to enter. If you are under 13, please ask your parent/guardian for permission first.
• As TBD is sending out the prize, I am not responsible for books lost or damaged in the post
• Giveaway runs for one month, ending on February 18th 2013 12:01 am EST. 
• The winner will be contacted by email and must reply within 48 hours, otherwise an alternate winner will be chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GIVEAWAY #2:

•  The winner can win any 2013 new release, pre-order or not.
• Fill in the Rafflecopter below (PLEASE do not leave personal info in the comments!)
• The giveaway is INTERNATIONAL as long as The Book Depository ships to your country for free (click HERE to check)
• You must be 13 or older to enter. If you are under 13, please ask your parent/guardian for permission first.
• As TBD is sending out the prize, I am not responsible for books lost or damaged in the post
• Giveaway runs for one month, ending on February 18th 2013 12:01 am EST. 
• The winner will be contacted by email and must reply within 48 hours, otherwise an alternate winner will be chosen.

 OR ANOTHER!

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Before I sign off, I just wanted to say a big thank you to all of you! You guys have kept me going this year when I had writer's block, or school was really busy, etc. I love interacting with you guys and seeing your comments and (I'm gonna get back into this, I swear) commenting back! This first year of blogging has been great, and I can't wait for even more great years to come!

Good luck!
~Kristy