Newbie Blogger Diaries #5

Recap of my Week
Well, this week has been really fun! My giveaway has ended (Congratulations Zoette Knightly! I have sent you an email), I have been a Follow Friday Feature, reached nearly 100 bloglovin followers, won two firstread giveaways in one night, won a giveaway at another blog, and have had the highly anticipated book, Gemini Rising, shipped out to me! Wow.

So how was your week?

Today's Topic: Updating
Anyway, todays topic is updating. Because, well book bloggers have a lot of that to do. I am good at updating Goodreads, and my posts if needed. But I am terrible at remembering to change my currently reading gadget on the sidebar. (I finished The Gray Wolfe Throne a month ago.) Also, I add my reviews on amazon pretty infrequently unless the book was a review request.

Updating Goodreads: There is a lot to update on goodreads...I love it!!! You can update on what your currently reading, ratings, and reviews. Since I practically live on Goodreads, my profile and stuff is always up to date.

One routine I have is that every sunday I go through all my blog reviews and make sure they are on Goodreads.

Amazon: On Amazon you can only post reviews (and listmania). I am truly horrible at updating this. Maybe writing this post will guilt me into updating on Amazon more.

Do you update on Amazon or Goodreads?

And, lastly, updating my blog. I post frequently and update my other pages like Giveaways and Newbie Blogger Diaries, but my gadgets and widgets? I am pretty behind. Any tips?

Also, as of April I have been trying to post everyday. So far I mostly have! *cheers*.  And what gadgets do you have? I have my blog button, currently reading, ways to follow, search box, and upcoming blog tours. I have been thinking of also adding a giveaways gadget so they are easy to access.

I have been thinking about this a lot lately. Updating is work, but in the end it leads to more fun! And somethings I think I update to much (like my blog design.) Did you see my new design? By the way, I know this post was everywhere, but updates and other things have ben swirling my mind!

What are your updating habits? Also, I would love to know how your week went :)

Stacking the Shelves #5

Check out Tynga's Reviews!

So, this week was a pretty good week for me. I got a shipment from Amazon and also got some books from my local used book store! I got a lot of Richelle Mead's books because she is an amazing author, and also one of Sarah Dessens. Day of Doom is the last book in Cahills vs Vespers which I am excited to read. And I got two new debut novels (each with a beautiful cover.)

• The Last Academy
• Last Sacrifice
• Blood Promise
• The Golden Lily
• Just Listen
• Day of Doom
• Maid of Secrets
• So, what did you get this week? Link me up! 

And don't forget to check out 

our newest Newbie Blogger Diaries

Feature and Follow Friday #8

Okay, this week I am a featured blogger, so unexpected and exciting!

Q:  Happy Mother's Day! Who is your favorite mom from fiction?

Hmm, maybe Maggie's mom in Also Known As. A Spy Mom? How cool is that? Plus, she is kind of funny!

Or maybe Cammie's mom, in Gallagher girls, who is also a spy. Gadgets, top training, secret codes, awesome spy classes... (I am currently in a "I want to be a spy!" phase. Can you tell?) She is very unique and unusual but loves Cammie lots!

Also, Mrs. Weasley. Who can't love how she handles all her boys and only daughter?She is really sweet to Harry and (because JK Rowling is awesome) is very vivid. Her lines always make me laugh, especially when she is chastising the boys! The whole Weasley family is epic. 

Review: Blue Hearts of Mars

Blue Hearts of Mars by Nicole Grotepas

Seventeen-year-old Retta Heikkinen is in love with a boy--a thoroughly gorgeous, captivating, and mysterious boy known as Hemingway. The situation is rather ideal: he likes her, she likes him. There's just one little problem.

He's a blue heart, an android.

Being in a relationship is its own complicated mess, but how long can a forbidden love last? Soon Retta discovers a secret that could destroy the uneasy truce between the blue hearts and humans, which makes life under the domes on Mars possible. Would exposing what she knows make things better or worse? And how can she know for certain without exposing the secret?

Wow, I enjoyed this tremendously! I loved the world building, the plot, and all the creative ideas. While the book wasn't heart pounding or a "favorites shelf" book, I still was completely sucked in. Such a cool book... The characters were pretty awesome, the romance was sweet, and the book constantly gave off the vibe "Read More!"

The Androids theme was pulled off epicly! On Mars, Androids are considered completely below humans. It is terrible, really. This book is mostly about how much unfairness androids have to endure... and how Retta comes to want to change it, especially when she starts learning more about the "blue hearts". This was my favorite aspect of Blue Hearts of Mars.

In no part was this book boring. I whizzed right through all the pages. I especially loved how the author imagines Mars. The technology, school, and societies (such as one with scary weapons/abilities) all add to the setting. You know, Mars kinda reminded me of a dystopian world... but not quite.

The characters were pretty cool. I loved seeing how Retta changed throughout the novel. Also, the supporting cast was cool; Hemingway and his mother; and Retta's dad, sister, and friend, were all memorable and added to the story, especially since their personalities were sharp and different.

There were many plots in this book, some bigger than others. Most had to do with Androids though which made me happy. I loved learning and exploring this space world filled with mostly nice androids.I could say much more, as I think this book has many layers and discussion topics, but I'll stop here. Blue Hearts of Mars is a highly recommended fast and fun read.

4/5 bookcases

If you love creative novels try this one!

Waiting on Wednesday #8

The Falconer by Elizabeth May

Heiress. Debutant. Murderer. A new generation of heroines has arrived.

Edinburgh, Scotland, 1844

18-year-old Lady Aileana Kameron, the only daughter of the Marquess of Douglas, was destined to a life carefully planned around Edinburgh’s social events – right up until a faery kills her mother.

Now it’s the 1844 winter season. Between a seeming endless number of parties, Aileana slaughters faeries in secret. Armed with modified percussion pistols and explosives, every night she sheds her aristocratic facade and goes hunting. She’s determined to track down the faery who murdered her mother, and to destroy any who prey on humans in the city’s many dark alleyways.

But she never even considered that she might become attracted to one. To the magnetic Kiaran MacKay, the faery who trained her to kill his own kind. Nor is she at all prepared for the revelation he’s going to bring. Because Midwinter is approaching, and with it an eclipse that has the ability to unlock a Fae prison and begin the Wild Hunt.

A battle looms, and Aileana is going to have to decide how much she’s willing to lose – and just how far she’ll go to avenge her mother’s murder.

Okay, so I admit I am super excited for this book! It is the exact genre I like, plus I just finished reading a glowing review from Jana Oliver on Goodreads. I hope it will be good. What do you think??? (In truth, I love the first little epic blurb in the synopsis.)

 Plus, check out my 99 followers giveaway if you have the chance!

Did you post a WOW or just have a particular book you are waiting on? Link me up or tell me!

Little Post: Blog Titles

What do you like better; Counting in Bookcases or Emily @ Counting in Bookcases as my blog title? Do you like my blog layout or should I change the header, colors, organization etc.?

Right now I am in a debate with myself and would love your thoughts tremendously! Is this blog eye catching or not? Thanks, your awesomeness is appreciated!

Reviews: Books by Jennifer L Armentrout

Okay, in the past two weeks I have read 4 of Jennifer L Armentrouts books, all continuations of series. Each earned at least a 4 bookcases rating, which is very high for me. But, I do love her writing. (Although the same can't be said for her covers.)

Her Covenant Series, features our world... only with greek gods who mortals don't know exist. The series consists, so far, of Half Blood, Pure, Deity, Apolyon, Sentinel, and several novellas. The main character in this series is totally one of my favorites.

The Lux Series is about... Aliens! This sounds lame, but, really it isn't. The series consists of Obsisian, Opal, Onyx, Origin, and more novellas. The main character in these books is also totally awesome and is a BOOK BLOGGER!!!

Both series are funny, action-y, and flat out pure awesomeness! Both kick-ass heroines are totally girls to root for, and the romances are to die for. The side characters are quirky and lots of fun. Plus, you are never bored. I felt as if I was glued to the pages of each book while reading. I was either laughing, smiling, crying, or just looking at the words with a big O of surprise on my face.

I also love how there is character growth as you continue the series. I get very mad at series that don't have enough character growth but these ones aced the tests. Katy becomes stronger, Alexandra makes things less about her, Adrian becomes more confident and rule breaking, and more!

Jennifer L Armenrout is an amazing author, I know she also writes adult fiction as J Lynn so fans of adult can enjoy her works too.  She is working on more novels in each of the two featured series, so I am super excited for those.

Review: Crewel

Crewel by Gennifer Albin

Enter a tangled world of secrets and intrigue where a girl is in charge of other’s destinies, but not her own.
 
Sixteen-year-old Adelice Lewys has always been special. When her parents discover her gift—the ability to weave the very fabric of reality—they train her to hide it. For good reason, they don’t want her to become a Spinster — one of the elite, beautiful, and deadly women who determine what people eat, where they live, how many children they have, and even when they die.
 
Thrust into the opulent Western Coventry, Adelice will be tried, tested and tempted as she navigates the deadly politics at play behind its walls.  Now caught in a web of lies and forbidden romance, she must unravel the sinister truth behind her own unspeakable power.  Her world is hanging by a thread, and Adelice, alone, can decide to save it — or destroy it.

Wow, what an extraordinary read! This is totally one of those books you will never will be able to put down! Okay, I thought this would be an easy review to write since I loved it so much. Right now thats working against me because all I want to do is gush over Crewel. Crewel= Masterpiece

The characters are memorable and real. Jost, Adelice, Eric, and other characters, I swear, broke into my room last night. They talked to me and I saw them clear as day. (Maybe I am exaggerating a bit.) But, my point is, the characters were so vivid! Characters always make or break a book for me, and these wonderful characters got a big O on the "Make the reader care" O.W.Ls. My heart ached for each of them and everything they had to go through.

The world in Crewel was...well... utterly breathtaking. One of those settings that transport you to wherever the main character is. Albin is a author to envy for her amazing skills. Also, as you learn about the Spinsters and how they are controlled, you get mad. Scarily (and embarrassingly) mad for the world being total fiction.

The reader can tell the author put a lot of thought into this book. The ideas are complete and unique. Crewel was so not hastily thrown together. Everything needed is included, and in wonderful ways that suck you into the story.

This is now one of my favorite Dystopians. I am not always a big fan of the genre, but this one was 100% amazing. It is not a carbon copy of Hunger Games, or even Matched. Thank you Albin! Crewel stands out. Definitely.

Overall, I loveloveloved Crewel. I recommend this to readers looking for beautiful writing, vivid characters, and original ideas.

5/5 bookcases

Side note- Weaving time? Pulled off wonderfully!