November 2015 Update

So I thought I would let all of you guys know what I have been up to because I sometimes find my life funny, pathetic, and exciting all at once. I'll explain it through some GIFs.

Along with writing this blog, I am working full time at McDonald's and doing an 18 credit semester at my school, Marywood University. McDonald's is not as bad as everyone says. As an introvert, I am placed in the perfect spot for most of my shifts. I am the order taker at first window by myself, which means that most of the time I am left alone and can enjoy my shift in some solitude for the most part.

Normally after break, I am learning what McDonald's calls "table" or, in normal terms, I just simply make the food. I am really enjoying it because I am getting closer to management. The only downside is that I have to work with a couple of high school football jocks that think they're so hot and hit on me. They don't get a clue that it isn't cool and not attractive. If I could, I would throw them my middle fingers. Once I get to management, it'll be easier to put them in their place.

The last thing about McDonald's is that I am applying for one of their scholarships, which was difficult but...free money!!!!!

My courses for this semester are insane and my following two semesters will be pretty much the same. I am taking 1 religion course and 5 English courses, which 2 of the English courses are writing intensive. I'm trying to fulfill both my English Literature major and Writing minor in the 2 and a 1/2 years that that I am getting my bachelor's at MU. I am taking two classes about nature in America (1 reading and the other writing) with the same professor, which is interesting and eye opening. I have an American Literature class, which is a cake walk because it is a repeat of my junior year of high school. My Shakespeare class is time consuming with the papers my super liberal professor assigns us. She cracks me up because she is in her 50s and she climbs up the desk over the silliest things. My second writing class is my favorite but hardest class because I get to make YouTube videos but I am not a fan of being in front of a camera. This means that all I do with my time at home not working is writing papers, and I do all of my reading during classes.

I also finally just figured out my schedule for spring semester and next fall semester (my last 2 semesters), which took 3 weeks to figure out. There was a problem with getting my minor in on time before graduation because my school did not think about adding a second writing course to the list since the only one offered is a travel abroad course which I was denied. Assholes. My new advisor is amazing, unlike my last advisor who decided to leave for who knows how long, and has helped me immensely with this shitty situation. All I have to do is taking a creative writing class over the summer and I should be golden.

At least, I have some TV shows to keep me sane along with reading books for pleasure. Well, it really is not necessarily TV. It's Netflix, Hulu, and watching full TV series online. I have a confession to make...I love superhero/vigilante shows. Currently I am watching Arrow, The Flash, and Once Upon a Time on Hulu when I am not home. I watch these newer shows pretty religiously simply because it is a good stress reliever and to get some of the feels. I found out that the only time when I really watch them is in my religion class called Christian Spirituality. I know it may sound bad that I am doing this, but I am a Christian and almost everything my professor has said I have been taught as I grew up in my household. I still participate frequently and the professor has no clue about my earbuds hidden in my hair. I don't feel bad about it whether that makes me a bad person I do not care.

The show I watch when I am home has sucked up my entire life in a funny, pathetic way. So I told a new friend of mine about my interest in superhero/vigilante shows and he recommended me to watch Smallville. I thought that I would try it out. I've been watching the show mostly online or borrowed the seasons from the library. After a a couple episodes, I got hooked! I started about a month ago with season 1 and currently I am on season 6. It is such a great show! I see myself feeling all the feels from the back and forth relationship with Clark and Lana, the development between the relationship between Clark and Lois, and the character development over the entire series. I see myself rooting for certain characters and hoping certain things won't happen (but it usually happens anyway). It must be Tom Welling...he makes me swoon.

Well, thanks for reading my first update on my life. I can do these as often as you like whether they are weekly, monthly, and quarterly.

Review Wednesday: Beautiful Redemption by Jamie McGuire

*This is a book meant for adults due to some inappropriate content for people younger than 18.*

Title: Beautiful Redemption (The Maddox Brothers #2)
Author: Jamie McGuire
1st Date of Publication: January 27, 2015
ISBN: 1502541858
# of Pages: 260
Genre: New Adult, Adult Romance
Age Rating: 17+ (Language, Violence, Sexual content)

Buy it on Amazon

Book Description:
 If A Maddox boy falls in love, he loves forever. But what if he didn't love you, first? 

No-nonsense Liis Lindy is an agent of the FBI. Deciding she is married only to her job, she breaks off her engagement and transfers from Chicago to the field office in San Diego. She loves her desk. She is committed to her laptop. She dreams of promotions and shaking hands with the director after cracking an impossible case. 

Special Agent in Charge Thomas Maddox is arrogant, unforgiving, and ruthless. He is tasked with putting away some of the world’s toughest criminals, and he is one of the best the Bureau has to offer. Though, as many lives as he’s saved, there is one that is beyond his reach. Younger brother Travis is faced with prison time for his involvement in a basement fire that killed dozens of college students, and the media want a conviction. Travis’s only savior is his unusual tie to the mob. In a deal that will spare his brother, Thomas has agreed to recruit Travis into the FBI. 

Liis is stubborn, defiant, and yet somehow softens Thomas’s rough edges, making her the perfect agent to accompany him to the ceremony. Posing as a couple, they must travel to Travis & Abby’s beach vow renewal and give him the news, but when the pretending ends, she finds herself wondering if they were pretending at all. 


In the second installment of the Maddox Brothers books, experience firsthand the mysterious world of the elusive Thomas Maddox, and how good love can be when you’re not the first, but the last.

Setting: San Diego, California

Point of View: 1st Person- Liis Lindy

Goodreads Rating: 4.16

My Rating: 4.5


Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both title and cover
View on the Cover: The simplistic beauty of it is great!
View on the Title: It felt like a humbler title because I questioned whether a character was beautiful and didn't know it, and I was wondering who needed the redemption.

Pros:

• First, I love how all the characters from the previous books are woven together so that you still get to see them and how they are doing. I also love that the new characters in the next two books are briefly discussed, which I am excited to read the final two books.
• I found this installment more mature than Travis and Abbey's and Trent and Cami's relationships. This is most likely because both Liis and Thomas are older and seem to have more at stake.
• I love Liis's character. She is very strong and knows what she wants in life. She is kick ass in the way she does not let Thomas, the big bully of his team, bring her down. She continuously puts him in his place.
• I also love Thomas's character. He has obviously gone through so much as both a child and an adult. I found it so amazing how strong he was as a child even though he had to raise his brothers, especially toddler Travis. He also has so much strength when it comes with watching his brother, Trent, with his ex girlfriend, Cami, especially when he witnesses the proposal.
• I love most of the other agents. Val is pretty awesome. Her honesty is so blunt and her lie radar is on point. She would be my best friend if she was a real person in my life. I like Marks character although I wished there was more of him. He seems like he is a great friend and voice of reason to Thomas.

Cons:

• The friendship and relationship between Liis and Thomas is sometimes really frustrating. I think it's mostly because of Liis. I feel that she does not understand that watching someone who walked out on your life for someone of the same blood is heart wrenching, which is what Thomas goes through.
• What bothers me most about Thomas is not even part of the present story, but the reason behind all the frustration. He went after Cami even though he knew she always belonged to her brother.
• I did not like Sawyer at all. I felt that he was unnecessary and all I wanted to do was kick him where it counts (if you know what I mean). He is such an asshole and I wish he was not even in the story.

Critics' Reviews:

"A fast-paced and sexually tense journey of two scarred soul mates. Add in a Maddox brother and the world of the FBI? Unputdownable." -Penelope Ward (best selling author, Stepbrother Dearest)

"Getting to know a Maddox boy is always thrilling and Thomas is no exception. Beautiful Redemption is about the pain of heartbreak, the intensity of new love, sacrifices for family and learning that sometimes the best life is the one you didn't plan" -Mia Sheridan (best selling author, Archer's Voice) 

Jamie McGuire's Website:

http://www.jamiemcguire.com/

Other Recommendations:

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

Perfect Chemistry by Simon Elkeles

Easy by Tammara Webber

Review Wednesday: Immaculate by Katelyn Detweiler

Title: Immaculate

Author: Katelyn Detweiler

1st Date of Publication: May 26, 2015

ISBN: 0451469623

# of Pages: 464

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary

Age Rating: 15+ (Language, Violence)

Buy it on Amazon

Book Description: Mina is top of her class, girlfriend to the most ambitious guy in school, able to reason and study her way through anything. But when she finds herself pregnant—despite having never had sex—her orderly world collapses. Almost nobody believes Mina’s claims of virginity. Her father assumes that her boyfriend is responsible; her boyfriend thinks she must have cheated on him. As news of Mina’s story spreads, there are those who brand her a liar. There are those who brand her a heretic. And there are those who believe that miracles are possible—and that Mina’s unborn child could be the greatest miracle of all.

Setting: Green Hill, Pennsylvania

Point of View: 1st Person- Mina

Goodreads Rating: 3.65

My Rating: 3.75

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both title and cover

View on the Cover: The cover is really cool interesting because it is a beautiful girl laying down with desperation.

View on the Title: The word "immaculate" I've only heard one time and that was when the Virgin Mary so I thought that it would be interesting.

Pros:

• Jesse's character, in my opinion, is pretty awesome. He is so faithful to Mina, even though he just met her, through the whole situation.
• Mina's strength is amazing through the situation. Hardly anyone believes her that she is a virgin yet pregnant. I don't think I would have the amount of strength to go to high school (again) and be in her situation.
• I thought the concept was really neat and it was very captivating for me.
• It was interesting that the book was broken up into 3 parts to represent the 3 trimesters. I think that it helps keep track of the time and progress of Mina's pregnancy.

Cons:

• The bullying through both verbally and internet was ridiculous. It truly represents the problem of bullying and how judgmental people can be when something so life changing whether it was accidental, purposeful, or by chance.
• It dragged on a bit and could have been at least 100 pages shorter, but if anything  it allows the reader to understand Mina's character along with some of the other important characters.

Critics' Reviews:

"Detweiler's smart writing moves quickly and entertains, particularly with Mina's appealingly bright voice. Even as the story probes its mystical underpinnings, the focus remains firmly on Mina right through to the end. Detweiler's ambitious debut takes an intriguing premise and executes it well." -Kirkus Reviews

"Immaculate is a bewitching and thought-provoking story about the strength and faith required to face a contemporary miracle. This one begs for a sequel." -National Book Award Finalist Deb Caletti
"Katelyn Detweiler’s Immaculate is a vividly-imagined story about magic, faith, and family. Her heroine’s wildly unlikely teenage pregnancy leads to more than just a brutal break-up and national scandal; it allows for an exploration of essential questions about sex, identity, and what belief means to human beings. In a lovely and uplifting twist, Immaculate gives us girls who believe in themselves and each other, girls who move forward—in spite of extremely difficult circumstances—to create joy, love, and new life." -Rachel DeWoskin (author of Blind and Big Girl Small)

"[The] message is more about faith in general than a specific set of beliefs. A unique page-turner mixing humor and heart, this is a thought-provoking take on miracles and motherhood." -School Library Journal

"It's a sincere, romantic, and secular story of birth, young motherhood, and new love." -Publisher's Weekly

Katelyn Detweiler's Website:

http://www.katelyndetweiler.com/

Other Recommendations:

Eve by Anna Carey
The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams

New Release Review: The White Rose by Amy Ewing

*DO NOT READ THIS REVIEW UNTIL YOU HAVE READ THE JEWEL. THERE MAY BE SOME SPOILER. If you want to read this series, read my review about The Jewel by clicking on the link: Review: The Jewel by Amy Ewing

Title: The White Rose (The Lone City #2)

Author: Amy Ewing

1st Date of Publication: October 6, 2015

ISBN: 9780062235817

# of Pages: 320

Genre: Young Adult Dystopian

Age Rating: 15+ (Language, Violence)

Buy it on Amazon

Book Description: Violet is on the run. After the Duchess of the Lake catches Violet with Ash, the hired companion at the Palace of the Lake, Violet has no choice but to escape the Jewel or face certain death. So along with Ash and her best friend, Raven, Violet runs away from her unbearable life of servitude.

But no one said leaving the Jewel would be easy. As they make their way through the circles of the Lone City, Regimentals track their every move, and the trio barely manages to make it out unscathed and into the safe haven they were promised—a mysterious house in the Farm.

But there’s a rebellion brewing, and Violet has found herself in the middle of it. Alongside a new ally, Violet discovers her Auguries are much more powerful than she ever imagined. But is she strong enough to rise up against the Jewel and everything she has ever known?

The White Rose is a raw, captivating sequel to The Jewel that fans won’t be able to put down until the final shocking moments.

Setting: Various Locations in Lone City (Fictional)

Point of View: 1st Person- Violet Lasting

Goodreads Rating: 4.05

My Rating: 4

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both title and cover

View on the Cover: I love how the cover Violet looks stronger and more stubborn than she did in the first cover. The way her dress is arranged looks like a white rose.

View on the Title: Since the first book ended up being place, I assumed this was the same case but I won’t reveal that information until you read this.

Pros:

• I thought this book was so much better than the first book.
• Violet’s character becomes developed a lot more as she is able to escape the Jewel and finds out what and who she wants to fight for.
• Ash’s character is also developed more and he becomes more lovable.
• There is a huge emphasis on family, which is seen through Ash and Violet. All their actions are based on how their families will be treated.
• I also love Garnet’s character. When he was first introduced in the first novel, I was not a big fan of him since he was disrespectful in all his encounters with the characters. All his disrespectfulness is put into perspective in this one as his character continues to develop.

Cons:

• I felt that Raven’s character was not developed enough in this book. I understand that most of it she is mentally damaged but once it got to a certain point in the novel Raven’s character.
• The people in charge of getting Violet out agitated me a bit because they try to get her to understand her Auguries while she tries to find her purpose but the continue to treat her as if she is incapable.

Critics' Reviews:

“This fast-paced plot and a surprise twist will make readers anxious for the next series entry. A must-read for fans of the previous title; they will not be disappointed.” -School Library Journal

Amy Ewing's Website:

www.amyewingbooks.com

Other Recommendations:

The Selection by Kiera Cass

Eve by Anna Carey

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Review Wednesday: The Jewel by Amy Ewing

Title: The Jewel (The Lone City #1)
Author: Amy Ewing
1st Date of Publication: September 2, 2014
ISBN: 9780062235794
# of Pages: 358
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian
Age Rating: 15+ (Language, Violence)

Buy it on Amazon

Book Description: The Jewel means wealth. The Jewel means beauty. The Jewel means royalty. But for girls like Violet, the Jewel means servitude. Not just any kind of servitude. Violet, born and raised in the Marsh, has been trained as a surrogate for the royalty—because in the Jewel the only thing more important than opulence is offspring.

Purchased at the surrogacy auction by the Duchess of the Lake and greeted with a slap to the face, Violet (now known only as #197) quickly learns of the brutal truths that lie beneath the Jewel’s glittering façade: the cruelty, backstabbing, and hidden violence that have become the royal way of life.

Violet must accept the ugly realities of her existence... and try to stay alive. But then a forbidden romance erupts between Violet and a handsome gentleman hired as a companion to the Duchess’s petulant niece. Though his presence makes life in the Jewel a bit brighter, the consequences of their illicit relationship will cost them both more than they bargained for.

Setting: Jewel, Lone City (Fictional)

Point of View: 1st Person- Violet Lasting

Goodreads Rating: 3.81

My Rating: 3.75


Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both title and cover
View on the Cover: The cover is gorgeous. I love the dress since it is very elegant and also cascades into a jewel.
View on the Title: The title is very enticing because it made me question what "The Jewel" was. I thought it would be a person , but it is actually a place.

Pros:

•  I love the strength that Violet has despite everything she's been through before and during the novel. She has her identity and the ability to find love taken away from her and she still finds a way to fight for both.
• I'm glad that the story was not about the best girl in the whole Auction, but she was one of the better ones. She was Lot 197 out of 200, which showed how valuable she is that becomes a bigger part in the trilogy.
• Garnet's (Duchess's son) character was a bit of comic relief simply because he was great at angering his mother, the Duchess.
• Ash's character showed a lot of strength in similar ways that Violet has had, which allows them to understand each other better and empathize together.

Cons:

•  The way that the royalty treats those below them is horrendous. Young girls with Auguries are forced to leave their homes just to become surrogates (hold the royalty's children). But before they even reach homes of the royalty is get auctioned based on how good they are. I guess this could be a wakeup call toward things like the sex trade.
• I also hated that the fact that her identity was completely taken away as soon as she got to Auction. She no longer becomes Violet Lasting but Lot 197. It loses her ability to be a person. 
• The Duchess of the Lake, Violet's owner, bothered me so much. She always teased and used fear with Violet even when Violet caused no problems. She was so self-righteous.
• Not only are the girls treated poorly but their identities are taken away by using a number.

Critics' Reviews:
“With its taut, provocative plot and irresistible characters, THE JEWEL had me tearing through pages right up to the final, startling twist. I need the next book now!” -Andrea Cremer (international (bestselling author of The Nightshade Series)
“Will have fans of Oliver’s Delirium, Cass’ The Selection, and DeStefano’s Wither breathless with anticipation for the sequel.” -Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“Ewing writes a fast-paced story that takes readers into the inner workings of a society that is obsessed with power and perfection.” -School Library Journal
“Excellent world building… skillful descriptions.” -Booklist

Amy Ewing's Website:

www.amyewingbooks.com

Other Recommendations:

The Selection by Kiera Cass
Eve by Anna Carey
Wither by Lauren DeStefano
Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Review Wednesday: Beautiful Oblivion by Jamie McGuire

*This is a book meant for adults due to some inappropriate content for people younger than 18.*

Title: Beautiful Oblivion (The Maddox Brothers #1)
Author: Jamie McGuire
1st Date of Publication: July 1, 2014
ISBN: 1476759588
# of Pages: 320
Genre: New Adult, Adult Romance
Age Rating: 17+ (Language, Violence, Sexual content)

Buy it on Amazon

Book Description: 
Fiercely independent Camille "Cami" Camlin gladly moved on from her childhood before it was over. She has held down a job since before she could drive, and moved into her own apartment after her freshman year of college. Now tending bar at The Red Door, Cami doesn’t have time for much else besides work and classes, until a trip to see her boyfriend is cancelled, leaving her with a first weekend off in almost a year.

Trenton Maddox was the king of Eastern State University, dating co-eds before he even graduated high school. His friends wanted to be him, and women wanted to tame him, but after a tragic accident turned his world upside down, Trenton leaves campus to come to grips with the crushing guilt.

Eighteen months later, Trenton is living at home with his widower father, and works full-time at a local tattoo parlor to help with the bills. Just when he thinks his life is returning to normal, he notices Cami sitting alone at a table at The Red.

As the baby sister of four rowdy brothers, Cami believes she’ll have no problem keeping her new friendship with Trenton Maddox strictly platonic. But when a Maddox boy falls in love, he loves forever—even if she is the only reason their already broken family could fall apart.

In the first installment of the Maddox Brothers books, readers can experience the rush of reading Beautiful Disaster for the first time, all over again.  

Setting: Eakins, Illinois in the 21st century
Point of View: 1st Person- Camille "Cami" Camlin

Goodreads Rating: 4.15

My Rating: 4.5


Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both title and cover
View on the Cover: The simplistic beauty of it is great!
View on the Title: It felt like a humbler title because I questioned whether a character was beautiful and didn't know it.

Pros:

• First off, I absolutely love that the stories of all the Maddox brothers' lives all intermixed with each of their stories. I think it's a unique idea that authors have been more recently been doing with their stand-alone novels by making them into companion novels. You won't necessarily miss too much if you read these books out of order or just read one.
• I also love how the story is told through the woman's (Cami) view rather than the man's (Trent) view. It truly shows how hard and what Trent goes through in order to win Cami's heart. It shows his loyalty and love in a very personal way.
• I love that Cami gets tattoos and how she becomes more of who she is rather than feeling forced to do what her family wanted. I think she's super relatable to a certain demographic than that the other women in this companion series do not come from and deal with.
• Trent is awesome when it comes to kids. He is very protective of his little neighbor, Olive, who he acts like a big brother to her. His protectiveness carries to Cami.

Cons:

• Cami's family agitated me, but I think this is to show you how strong and independent of a woman she is. She's the only one that is smart enough to remove herself from the detrimental situation. Her father is abusive and an alcoholic who beats Cami's mother, which her mother refuses to do anything. One of her brothers makes her feel obligated to fix his mistakes to save her family from her father's anger.
• Trent is often sometimes a little controlling, which is partly because he is extremely protective from an incident in the past. I think this humanizes Trent more as a character because trauma can instill fear and insecurity like in his case.

Critics' Reviews:

"The author's pen flows with ease and fans of romance and NA will adore the raw emotion...Trenton's story will steal readers' hearts." -Romantic Times

Jamie McGuire's Website:

http://www.jamiemcguire.com/

Other Recommendations:

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

Perfect Chemistry by Simon Elkeles

Easy by Tammara Webber