• Wrap Up Posts/Reading Lists

    2013 Blog Goals

    It’s BLOG GOAL TIME!!! Yes, to round out the year it’s time to figure out what I want to focus on in 2013. I totally forgot to set some of these last year so…clean slate! I’m ready to start fresh and get down to streamlining my blogging time. ********** 2013 BLOG GOALS 1. Schedule, schedule, SCHEDULE! This year I started a weekly post called Coming Soon on HDB… to help myself honest during the week. It has definitely helped, but in 2013 I really want to crack down on scheduling reviews, giveaways and discussion posts. That way if life gets in…

  • Wrap Up Posts/Reading Lists

    Most Anticipated Books of 2013

    Plugging along here on the end of the year wrap up! Today it’s all about the books that I am most looking forward to in 2013. Let me tell you, this was a hard list to create. There are SO many books coming out that I want to read! Still, I promised myself I’d only pick five (*tear*) so here they are. MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS OF 2013 Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi (February 5, 2013) I DEVOURED Shatter Me after picking it up, and ever since then all I’ve wanted is to find out what happens! Juliette is still one of…

  • Wrap Up Posts/Reading Lists

    Books I Missed in 2012

    To continue with the year end wrap up, let’s take a look at books that I missed in 2012! These are books I really wanted to read but that were overshadowed by review copies. In no particular order, here are the top 5 I’m planning on catching up on in 2013! Iron Hearted Violet by Kelly Barnhill I have three words for you: DRAGON RIDING PRINCESS Yup. I fully admit that the cover drew me to this book, and then I read the synopsis and instantly fell in love. I’m a huge fan of Middle Grade books, and especially ones…

  • Ramblings

    2013 Challenges!

    It’s that time again! Time for the 2013 Standalone Reading Challenge! I participated in this last year and, although I succeeded, I really didn’t get the full experience since I was too busy to really track things. So, this year I’m determined to not only read the books but also to track them every month! The Goal: Read 15 standalone books that are published between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2013. ********** Next up I’ll be participating in the 2013 Audio Book Challenge! I was a part of this one this year too, but it took me a while…

  • Wrap Up Posts/Reading Lists

    Challenge Wrap Up!

    Well, the year is coming to an end! That means it’s about time to see how the year went and I’ll be doing just that during the next few days. To start things off, let’s see how my challenges for last year went and plan for next year! Click the button to go to my challenge page! Well, I completed this one! Actually surpassed it :). Starting my new job has been good for the amount of time I have to listen to audio books and I’m pretty excited to see how many I finish next year! Click the button…

  • Book Reviews

    Book Review: Valkyrie Rising

    Media Type: Print Book Title: Valkyrie Rising    * Series: Valkyrie #1 Author: Ingrid Paulson Publisher: HarperTeen Pages: Hardcover; 352 Release Date: October 9, 2012 Source: Library ————————————————- Intended Reading Group: Young Adult Content Screening: Mild Violence ————————————————- HDB Rating: 4 Keys to My Heart Recommended to: Readers who enjoy paranormal fiction but are looking for something outside the box. Add it on: Goodreads / Shelfari / Amazon / B&N Nothing ever happens in Norway. But at least Ellie knows what to expect when she visits her grandmother: a tranquil fishing village and long, slow summer days. And maybe she’ll…

  • Book Reviews

    Book Review: The Spindlers

    Media Type: Print Book Title: The Spindlers Author: Lauren Oliver Publisher: Harper Collins Pages: Hardcover; 256 Release Date: October 2, 2012 Source: Library —————————————————- Intended Reading Group: Middle Grade Content Screening: Mild Violence —————————————————– HDB Rating: 5 Keys to My Heart Recommended to: Young readers who love a good story and aren’t afraid of a little darkness in their reading. Add it: Goodreads / Shelfari / Amazon / B&N One night when Liza went to bed, Patrick was her chubby, stubby, candy-grubbing and pancake-loving younger brother, who irritated and amused her both, and the next morning, when she woke up,…

  • Book Blitzes/Promo Posts

    Achieve Success from Your Creative Talents: A Guest Post by Ron Gavilik

    Ron Gavilik is back here on HDB! If you remember, in August he stopped by to share Emotobooks with us. A new, and unique way to utilize tablets as more immersive ways of reading. This time, he’s back with a new book that he’s published, especially for those of you who are creative professionals! ********** Achieve Success from Your Creative Talents Ron Gavalik Throughout civilized human history, creative minds of every type were comforted by the knowledge that if a publisher, producer, or gallery accepted their work, they’d receive financial support in the form of advanced payments and promotional initiatives.…

  • Book Reviews

    Audio Book Review: Magic Bleeds (Kate Daniels #4)

    Media Type: Audio Book Title: Magic Bleeds    * Series: Kate Daniels #4 Author: Ilona Andrews Narrator: Renee Raudman Publisher: Tantor Media Format: Digital MP3 Duration: 13 hours and 7 minutes Source: Library Download ———————————————- Genre: Urban Fantasy HDB Rating: 5 Keys to My Heart Recommended to: Fans of the series! Seriously, if you’re not hooked now I just don’t know what to tell you. Add it: Goodreads / Shelfari / Amazon / B&N Atlanta would be a nice place to live, if it weren’t for the magic. When the magic is up, rogue mages cast their spells and monsters appear, while guns refuse to fire and cars fail to start. But…

  • Book Reviews

    Book Review: Obumbrate

    Media Type: Ebook Title: Obumbrate    *Series: Illumine Series #2 Author: Alivia Anders Publisher: Self-published Pages: Paperback; 292 Release Date: July 7, 2012 Source: Purchased ———————————————————— Intended Reading Group: Young Adult Content Screening: Mild Violence; Mild Language ————————————————————- HDB Rating: 4 Keys to My Heart Recommended to: Fans of the series, and new readers who love a darker story with a strong female protagonist. Add it on: Goodreads / Shelfari / Amazon / B&N Essallie Hanley just wishes her life could go back to normal. But what’s normal when you carry the burden of knowing you’re a half-angel created for…