I'm Back

Photo courtesy of Adi Respati

After a nearly 5 month absence I'm back to blogging. A number of things have happened in the last 5 months that culminated in my absence from blogging. Among them were school problems with my son, 2 serious family emergencies and other such important things that take precedence over blogging.

Over the next few days I will be doing some cleaning and spiffing up of the blog to prepare it for going into 2014. 

                              
In November I participated in National Novel Writing Month aka NaNoWriMo. For those who have never heard of it NaNoWriMo is all about writing 50,000 words during the month of November. I'm proud to say that I won this year. I had tried the two previous years but had failed spectacularly. Third time was the charm! So, yeah I'm patting myself big time on the back.

That leads me into my plans and goals for my blog going into the New Year.

Number 1: I plan on writing 350,000 words in 2014. I plan on finishing my NaNoWriMo novel which is part of a series of fantasy romance novels. I also have a series of post-apocolyptic new adult romance novels planned. As to publishing said works...well if I ever find that I can edit them into something I think people will want to read then I most likely will go the route of self-publishing. I will be posting on my blog updates my progress

Number 2: I plan on entering a couple of reading challenges this year. Among them is to read 125 picture books, 100 non-picuture books, once a month review of a book and its movie counterpart, and lastly 24 graphic novels/ comic books.

Number 3: In regards to reading my review policy it is changing for right now. At the moment I am NOT accepting review requests. Why? Because I have a tight schedule and I don't want to make promises of posting a review by a certain time when I simply cannot guarentee that I can keep it. That is not to say I will not be reading any ARCs/Review copies. It is just that all ARCs/Review copies will be of books I have personally requested from an author/book tour/netgalley/etc. That doesn't mean I wont take book suggestions I just wont be taking requests. So for the most part my reading is purely pleasure. I apologize to the wonderful authors out there who so readily offer up their books for free reviews. I love you guys and I know how important blogger reviews are to you. I just can't make promises at this time. I will continue to read mainstream and indie books as I always have.

Number 4: I will now be posting movie reviews. A large number will be movies available for streaming from Netflix, some new releases, some oldies, some indies, and of course some foreign. These are purely for fun and I have no set amount that I will post. Hubby and I tend to rent/watch one or two movies on the weekends so

Number 5: Giveaways...ah one of my favorite things in the world is giveaways. There is nothing like that feeling when you get an email that says congratulations. I often enter giveaways when the mood hits me. So you may see posts on here from giveaways I enter. I also plan on hosting a few giveaways this year. Because they are a LOT of work and take a LOT of time I will most likely only be doing blog hop giveaways.

Number 6: I am pledging to blog 3-5 times a week. Some days may have 2 or more others may have only 1 or none. I also will be hooking up more with non-giveaway blog hops. I also am looking to communicate and actively follow more blogs. I miss the friendships I had with others on my old blog. I was always talking with my fellow bloggers and I think that it is important to be able to share you passion (in this case reading) with fellow bloggers.

Cover Madness Giveaway Hop!

                                                  
Welcome to my very first giveaway on Messy Mommy Reads. I'm so happy to be joining the Cover Madness Giveaway Hop. I'm excited to be giving away to one winner three ebooks and a $5 Amazon gift code so you can pick your own favorite covered book to own. This giveaway is open internationally. If the winner lives where Amazon does not ship a second winner will be chosen for the gift code while the first one will get still get the ebooks. Giveaway ends 7/14 at 12pm eastern.

I want to give a special thank you to Melissa Brodsky and Briana Lawrence for donating e-copies of their books.You guys rock!

Here are the books I'm giving away

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fantasy Book Shelf Fridays

Fantasy Book Shelf Fridays are postings of bookshelves and soon to be published books I'm drooling over

Willow by Krystal McLean
Meadow Huntley has lived in the small, cold town of Willow, Alaska her entire life. At only seventeen years old, a series of tragedies has left her numb, hopeless.
Just when she believes she has lost all that she has, she gains everything she needs.
While at her family-owned café, she bumps into a mysterious maroon-eyed boy named Thomas Stone. His skin is like delicate white silk, his teeth like ivory tucked behind crimson rose petals, his chocolate-brown hair beautifully disheveled. He speaks with the slightest, almost undetectable, English accent. He is unlike any boy she's ever seen or known; an old soul.
He's beautiful . . . but somehow that word won’t suffice. He’s like a work of art, an intricate painting. Inhumanly captivating.
But after Thomas and his fraternal twin brother, Davy, arrive in Willow, strange things start to happen: people feel drained of energy when Thomas and Davy are near; demonic wolf-like creatures are spotted darting through the woods; people go missing, leaving no trace behind.
Meadow is about to stumble upon ancient horrors hidden deep within the Alaskan mountains that could not only threaten her and Thomas, but all of humanity.

About the Author: Krystal McLean is an autumn-loving Canadian who spends her free time obsessing over music, devouring fiction, decorating her igloo, snowboarding, and stringing words together. She also has a mild to moderate blogging addiction and loves spending time with her dog, Babycake.   http://www.krystalmclean.com

Book Review: My Ex From Hell (The Blooming Goddess Trilogy #1) by Tellulah Darling

I received an e-copy version of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion. I admit it I was a tiny bit nervous when I signed up on goodreads to read this book. As a self-described cover whore I was a bit underwhelmed by the cover. But of course I've always been told never judge a book by its cover. The synopsis of the book was what caught me and made me stand up and ask for a copy. I AM SO GLAD I DID!

My Ex From Hell is about Sophie a very normal teenager trying to navigate through life with her two best friends Theo and Hannah. If only she could avoid the most popular girl in school...yoga loving Bethany. One night Sophie schemes to get back at Bethany. However it all goes wrong. It ends with Sophie kissing the strange, mysterious and hella sexy Kai. But that kiss brings back a flood of memories. Sophie isn't your typical girl. Nope she is the goddess of spring, Persephone. She learns that she is the key to keeping Earth safe in a battle between Hades and Zeus. How will she manage to survive duty as a Goddess all while dealing with the trials of high school and her biggest enemy Bethany?

I mentioned in a previous post about how I love Indy authors and this is the perfect example of why I love them so much. Not only did Tellulah write a kick ass book she is kickass herself. I've had a few conversations with her and there is nothing she likes more than to geek out! She is a fellow Dr. Who fan.

Anyway back to the book. This book was soooooo good. I would say that this is YA written for those who are 30+. Not that someone who is a teen couldn't read it. But with refrences to New Kids on the Block and Sweet Valley High it speaks to people of my generation. And that totally makes sense when you look at just how many adults have embraced and are reading YA books. I think the majority of YA readers are adults! The book was filled with humor and I found myself literally laughing out loud. It was a fast paced read with great non Mary Sue characters. I honestly cannot wait for the second book and in fact may have to get down on my hands and knees and beg Tellulah to let me get a review copy of that one (hint hint, nudge nudge, wink wink). I give this book a full 5 out of 5 stars!

Book Trailers- The Immortal Rules and The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa

I'm usually not much of a book trailer fan but these are so good it is hard not to post them. These are for the first and second books in Julie Kagawa's Blood of Eden series.  Enjoy!









Disclaimer: I do not own these trailers. They were posted on youtube by harlequinbooks.

Classics Retold

Classics Retold- repost from TheCheapReader

Coming September 2013
Classics Retold  is a project hosted by  Alyssa @ Books Take You Places, Charlene @ Bookish Whimsy, Wendy @ Excellent Library,  Brittany @ Book Addict’s Guide and Alison @ The Cheap Reader
Project: Fairy Tale was a huge hit with everyone so they decided to expand and tweak it a bit. For this project we are reading a classic book and then reading or watching retellings, spin-offs, or adaptations of it!
The details:

• September 2013 will be our month to post everything.
• How You Participate:
  1. You will choose a classic you’d like to read.
  2. You read your classic and read or watch as many retellings, spin-offs, sequels or adaptations of the classic as you can.
  3. You will post reviews or your thoughts on your blog for each one during September.
  4. 1-4 bloggers can work on a “main” text. You can work independently or work together. You’re allowed to all read/watch the same things or split the work up.
  5. To participate in this project, you only sign up for one classic (and its adaptions).
  6. Optional: If you’d like to work on another classic (or adaptation), find the bloggers “in charge” of that text and ask to do a guest review/post.
  7. Optional: Do other posts about your classic: character analysis, where else to find the characters, the book’s influence on culture, memes, etc. It can be literally anything involving your classic.
  8. Optional: Do a sign up post after I clear your classic. It will help spread the word about the project and you’re able to bounce your ideas off of your readers. They may even give you ideas of books/movies to use for your classic!
• For a classic to be useable for this project, it should have at least 2 adaptations, spin-offs, sequels, or retellings.

Obviously this project is going to get pretty big so we’ve split the co-hosting duties up.

It’s all one big project so you only sign up once for one book (not once on each blog).

• Alyssa @ Books Take You Places is in charge of Ancient to Renaissance Lit Classics. Sign up post
• Brittany @ Book Addict’s Guide is in charge of Mythology Classics. Sign up post
• Charlene @ Bookish Whimsy is in charge of 19th Century and Gothic Classics. Sign up post
• Alison @ The Cheap Reader is in charge of Children’s Classics. Sign up post
• Wendy @ Excellent Library is in charge of American & Misc. Classics. Sign up post

Confession time.....Guilty Pleasures

So I figured to help people get to know a little bit more about me I'll make some embarressing confessions. Today's edition of embarressing confessions has to do with guilty pleasures. You know those things you can't get enough of when you should know better.

Courtesy of Simon Cocks from Flickr

1. Ghost hunting shows- These shows are like crack to me. I can't get enough of them. Yes there is a part of me that is skeptical. But oh that other wicked part of me that loves to be scared and so desperately wants to believe in ghosts takes over. I love them all....Ghost Hunters, Haunted Collector, Stranded, Ghost Lab, Ghost Mine, Scariest Places...and all the other ones I've forgotten off the top of my head. I so want to go on a ghost hunt myself but I'll be honest I'm such a scaredy cat I would need someone with me the entire time.

courtesy of wordridden from flickr

2. Cheese- Probably my favorite food of all. One of my biggest dreams is to go on a cheese tasting tour. I want to try them all. I love so many from a good sharp cheddar, a musky blue cheese, goat cheese in a simple pear salad, smoked gouda on my sandwich, all the way too (I can't believe I'm admitting it on here) ez cheese. Yes ez cheese that stuff that you squeeze out of a can. I just love cheese.

Courtesy http://www.brisbaneishome.com/

3. Books- yes books are a guilty pleasure. I not only love to read them. I love to collect them. I love to list the ones I want to read. I love searching out far and wide for new books. I hold onto them as though the world is about to end and I alone will start the library for those that survive...ok a bit melodramatic there. But the point is that I honestly have an addiction to them. I feel lost if I don't at least have one at hand. Whether it be on ereader or a standard paperback. This coming from a very slow reader. Can you imagine if I was a fast reader?

Why You Should be Reading Indy Authors

There is a debate among some book reviewers. This debate is over the reviewing of independent/small press authors. There is a huge boom in authors forgoing the old fashioned route of publishing. More and more are moving to self-publishing. In the past there was the thought that those who self published did so because their writing wasn't good enough. The strange thing is though that when one looks at indy bands or say indy movies it is different. They are treated with a level of respect and seen as true artists.  I'm glad that the negative thinking on indy authors is changing. As more and more of them become successful the respect for them increases.

Courtesy of Annie Mole on flickr

I was shocked when I first heard that some bloggers outright reject requests for reviews from indy authors. I can understand if you read a synopsis of the book and it doesn't catch your interest. But some have a very clear policy that they will only accept from major publishing companies. I'm fairly open  in what I'll accept or not accept. I'm a slow reader though so I may have to reject on a basis of time. Also I want to be able to not just read books that I've promised but ones I already have on my TBR Shelf (to be read shelf). But no where do I have the outright policy that I wont read books from indy authors or wont read books from major publishers. Like most people I'll read what catches my fancy.


Here are the reasons you should be reading indy.

Courtsesy of Wiertz Sebastien on flickr

1. Free books- You heard me right...free books. Indy authors are often desperate for word to get out about their books. The best way to get word out? To have people read and review their books. Even if you are not a book blogger many times indy authors will happily give you a copy in exchange for a review posted on sites like goodreads/amazon/b&n etc. If you are a brand new blogger most publishing companies wont look your way till you have at least 1,000-10,000 followers (yep you saw those numbers right). Whereas most indy authors will not only happily let you read their book for free they often will often do interviews/guest post or sponsor a giveaway of their book on your blog. I can tell you one of the best way to get new followers is to host giveaways. New followers means more exposure for both you and the indy author. I can guarantee you that Stephen King is not going to do an interview for you blog but an indy author will!

2. Diamond in the Rough- One of the arguments of those who refuse to read indy is that there is a lot of garbage out there since literally anyone can self publish for little to no money. Well, we've all experienced buying books by major publishers to only sit there scratching our heads as to how it even made it to print. Yes you might read a few books that are craptastic. But then you'll come across that one that was sooo good that you want to tell everyone you know about it. Especially since most people will have not heard of it yet. If you do get stuck reading a book that is subpar I always suggest using the teacher tactic of saying something nice about the book before you say where it went wrong. I know that snarky meme filled reviews are the rage right now. But honestly they don't help the author at all. Authors want to hear where they went wrong so that they can improve. If it was a matter of pacing then let them know that in chapter two it slowed down. If the book is beyond bad then you can always contact the author and offer to NOT post your review. The key is politeness. Some of the best and highest rated books on my old blog were the ones I got from indies.

3. Cheap Reads- Ok so I know up above I posted about free reads but honestly most indy authors put their books online for only a few dollars. Meaning that for the price of one ebook published through a major publisher you can buy  2-3 indy books (lets face it sometimes even more). Indy authors have more freedom than those stuck with a publishing house. They also make more of a profit on their books. Instead of the publishing house making most of the profits the indy author makes the majority of the profit.

4. Genre Crossing- Some books just don't fall under a genre or they even cross a number of them. With traditional publishing houses they want your book to neatly fall into one. Whereas there is more freedom with self publishing. I recently came across a synopsis for an indy book that was dystopian erotica/romance between a witch and an werewolf who travel through time. Don't ask me the name though because I forgot it since I don't read erotica. My point is that you will find some out their books that sound so out there you JUST have to read it.


Ok so those are the points I can think of right now. Sorry that this may have been a bit long and scattered all over the place. Do you read indy books? Why or why not?