Merry Christmas + 2015 Resolutions (Wow, that's very ahead!)

 

Happy Christmas! It is finally that time of year when we get together with family and friends and spend time, eat tons of food, and remember God's birth. I wish all my readers, followers, blogging friends, and publishers an amazing Christmas! I hope you guys have a great night and I cannot wait to be back in 2015!

The middle and end of 2014 was very stressful for me. School really had taken over my life and it barely had time to blog. It felt like an accessory and I didn't feel like putting in energy into it when I could with school. So I did call in a break and as the Christmas season is coming, I wanted to enjoy these couple weeks before I head back to school. 

But that doesn't mean I'll be on a hiatus like last time!

 

I will have tons of reviews scheduled (I'm actually writing them as you read this XD), author interviews, blog tours, my 2015 Reading Challenges, and giveaways! 

Thank you guys so much! Have a great 2014 winter and cannot wait for 2015!

Racing & Crooked: Heist Society by Ally Carter

Heist Society by Ally Carter

Date Released: February 9, 2010
Publisher: Disney - Hyperion 
Pages: 287 pages
Format: Hardcover
Source: Won @ My local Library
Rating: Loved It
Series: (Heist Society #1) 

Goodreads Synopsis: When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her on a trip to the Louvre…to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria…to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own—scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving “the life” for a normal life proves harder than she’d expected.

Soon, Kat's friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring Kat back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has a good reason: a powerful mobster has been robbed of his priceless art collection and wants to retrieve it. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat's father isn't just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat’s dad needs her help.For Kat, there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it's a spectacularly impossible job? She's got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in her family's history--and, with any luck, steal her life back along the way. 

From Goodreads

 

Heist Society is what I would call a great mixed of "Ocean's Eleven" along with some James Bond influence. You have kick ass characters, a great hook, and it's a book about spies and thieving, of course this one will be amazing. I had some many times where I tried to attempt this book, but this time around I got around it and finished it completely and I am happy to say I really fully liked it a lot!

 

We meet kick ass character, Kat Bishop, and in her whole life she knows how to steal and get away with it. Her family also has been in the business of stealing and thieving and it's in Kat's blood to steal. Plus she does it well :) Along with being kick out from a private academy, her father is in deep water and it's her time to step in and do it right. I honeslty love Kat in the books! She was such a character and complex character and seeing her managing her situation was great. She had that mix of a "James Bond attitude" with a "I don't care, I'm going to do it" Katniss Everdeen attitude which I completely loved!

 

 

One thing that didn't appeal to me in Heist Society was the third perspective and the way the story flowed. It was honestly a great book but I just couldn't get passed the third POV! I know right! I'm the only one who cannot do third POV and I found myself thinking of something else in the middle of the sentence. I didn't hooked me and kept me reading constantly, but I did still like the book! The story needed a better flow in terms of how Kat and Hale tried to find a solution to Kat's situation.

 

 

 

The characters in Heist Society is one thing that completely stood out. I love it when an author achieves that perfect balance of characters. You have the kick ass character: Kat, the romance: Nick and Hale, and the suspense: Arturo Taccone. Along with a bunch of minor characters that really brought the plot together despite it's flow. I would definitely recommend Heist Society to any reader! It was a great book that I liked and I'm sure everyone will like the characters and the plot!

 

 

 

 

Find Heist Society On:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Goodreads

A Mixed Up Read: Conjured - Sarah Beth Durst

Conjured by Sarah Beth Durst 
Date Released: September 3, 2013
Publisher: Walker Children 
Pages:368 Pages
Format: Hardcover
Source: Library
Rating: Liked
Series: Standalone

Goodreads Synopsis: Eve has a new home, a new face, and a new name—but no memories of her past. She’s been told that she's in a witness protection program. That she escaped a dangerous magic-wielding serial killer who still hunts her. The only thing she knows for sure is that there is something horrifying in her memories the people hiding her want to access—and there is nothing they won’t say—or do—to her to get her to remember.

At night she dreams of a tattered carnival tent and buttons being sewn into her skin. But during the day, she shelves books at the local library, trying to not let anyone know that she can do things—things like change the color of her eyes or walk through walls. When she does use her strange powers, she blacks out and is drawn into terrifying visions, returning to find that days or weeks have passed—and she’s lost all short-term memories. Eve must find out who and what she really is before the killer finds her—but the truth may be more dangerous than anyone could have ever imagined.

From Goodreads

Conjured by Sarah Beth Durst is what I would called a "mix bag of emotions" not in a good way or bad way. I had such high expectations for this novel, but it ended delivering some of them but not fully dazzling the reader. It was a VERY unique book and I think it is one everyone should try and you might not know how you will end up liking it. 

Eve has a completely new life. She doesn't a a recollection of memories of her past and she is slowly learning to adapt to her environment. I think most reader would find this cliche off the bat it does but Sarah brings in her own take on it and a bonus, she doesn't focus mainly on the memories part. Conjured was a definite surprising read and I can't see what is next for Sarah. 

This book had:

-A protagonist suffering from amnesia

-Witness Protection Program
-Magic

I mean these are the things that absolutely hooked me into the book but when I look back it wasn't as perfectly weaved together than I wanted to. It suffered than "big expectation syndrome" and I'm still happy to say there are some well-written scenes with Eve. I LOVED how easy with was to pick up this book and not be clogged down with heavy writing or scenes where you don't remember what happened. There's a slight ease to her writing anyone will greatly like. 

Conjured is a great book if you love smooth writing integrated with magic, witness protection program, and even a protagonist undergoing that amnesia syndrome. I love how it was a very unique read! I can definitely see myself picking up any of Sarah's books soon!

Find Conjured On:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Goodreads

Goodbye 2013, Hello 2014!

It's that time when we're approaching the end of the year! Dec 29, Dec 30, Dec 31! Where has time been! I think 2013 was my year in blogging! I challenged myself so much more, decide to put myself more out there, and make a name for my brand, and I all loved the journey!

I won't be doing anything this year like post wise, this is my wrap up post for 2013 and I can't wait to show you all the stuff I have for 2014! :)

BIG THANKS TO ALL THE BLOGGERS, READERS (OF MY BLOG), AUTHORS, AND PUBLICISTS! YOU GUYS KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND YOU ARE SO AMAZING! I AM VERY GRATEFUL TO MEET YOU GUYS!

I also want to do this 2014 List of Resolutions thing I found on Pinterest! I think it's a great way to expand yourself and discover new things!

A bad habit I'm going to break: Definitely stop eating junk food and eat healthy and fresh! I also want to put school first above anything and blogging!

A new skill I'd like to learn: I would really like to learn more about the design aspect of blogging! Maybe a new look for 2014? I don't know but I'm sure excited to do more designing!

A person I hope to be more like: A stronger and more confident person in my life. I need that extra push to get me to new places and experiences. 

A good deed I'm going to do: I was thinking of doing a blogger helper corner to help incoming bloggers find their identity in this big world and establish a steady blog. I think it's definitely going to be great and be super helpful.

A place I'd like to visit: NEW YORK! It's always been on my dream to go there and experience it and I just can't wait for that day. Enough said, the city speaks for itself :)

A book I'd like to read: "A book"? Just one book? Impossible for me! I'm definitely going to raise my goal to 60 next year and I do want to read more Adult books and branch into some John Green books too!

A letter I'm going to write: One to me and my family! Like one of those time-capsule letters you would read in the future. It would be amazing to do that. 

A new food I'd like to try: I would like to try Fajitas! Yes! I never had them before, even though I'm a BIG  fan of Mexican food, it's a must!

I'm doing to do better at: Spending time with family, blogging, and friends! 

Thanks guys! Have a great year and be sure to use the pic and write your own answers! See you in 2014!