Bout of Books 12 TBR, Goals, And Updates!

Hello everyone! I hope you will all be participating in this read-a-thon if you can. My goal for this read-a-thon is to read an average of 200 pages per day for a total of 1400 pages for the week. To do this I have selected several books that I hope to finish during the week. They are:

• Dark Secrets 1&2: Legacy of Lies and Don't Tell by Elizabeth Chandler 
• Dark Secrets 3&4: No Time to Die and The Deep End of Fear by Elizabeth Chandler
• Dark Secrets 5: The Back Door of Midnight by Elizabeth Chandler

Yes, I am doing a series marathon! If I manage to finish all of these I will pick up another book to complete my goal of reading 1400 pages during the week. I will be updating my progress throughout the week here:

****Updates****

Monday: 

Currently Reading: Dark Secrets 1&2: Legacy of Lies and Don't Tell by Elizabeth Chandler 

Books Completed: None yet :)

Pages Read Today: 117

Total Pages Read: 117

Tuesday: 

Currently Reading: Dark Secrets 1&2: Legacy of Lies and Don't Tell by Elizabeth Chandler 

Books Completed: None yet :)

Pages Read Today: 88

Total Pages Read: 205

Wednesday: 

Currently Reading: Dark Secrets 1&2: Legacy of Lies and Don't Tell by Elizabeth Chandler 

Books Completed: None yet :)

Pages Read Today: 0 I had absolutely not time to read today, but I plan to make up for it tomorrow :)

Total Pages Read: 205

Thursday: 

Currently Reading: Dark Secrets 1&2: Legacy of Lies and Don't Tell by Elizabeth Chandler 

Books Completed: None yet :)

Pages Read Today: 118

Total Pages Read: 323

Friday: 

Currently Reading: Dark Secrets 3&4: No Time to Die and The Deep End of Fear by Elizabeth Chandler 

Books Completed: Dark Secrets 1&2: Legacy of Lies and Don't Tell by Elizabeth Chandler 

Pages Read Today:116

Total Pages Read: 439

Saturday: 

Currently Reading: Dark Secrets 3&4: No Time to Die and The Deep End of Fear by Elizabeth Chandler 

Books Completed: Dark Secrets 1&2: Legacy of Lies and Don't Tell by Elizabeth Chandler 

Pages Read Today: 0 :(

Total Pages Read: 439

Sunday: 

Currently Reading: Dark Secrets 3&4: No Time to Die and The Deep End of Fear by Elizabeth Chandler 

Books Completed: Dark Secrets 1&2: Legacy of Lies and Don't Tell by Elizabeth Chandler 

Pages Read Today: 143

Total Pages Read: 582

So, I didn't even come close to my goal because things ended up coming up that prevented me from reading as much as I would have liked. But that's okay, I still read a lot more than I usually do in a week and next time maybe I'll have more time for reading.

December Favorites 2014

December is over and January is here! These are the things I was loving during December and will probably be loving during January too!

• Girl Online by Zoe Sugg - I really enjoyed this book, it was such a fun holiday read. Click here to read my in dept review.
• Vanilla Bean Noel scent from Bath and Body Works - I have been burning the candle constantly and I always use the shower gel and lotion too. It is the perfect winter scent!
• So Fresh, So Clean make-up wipes - I've been wearing a lot more make-up during the holiday season and these remove make-up so easily and doesn't sting your eyes when removing eye make-up.
•  Red Nail Polish - I love the color red in nail polish, especially during the holidays! I have been loving the No Text Red from sinful colors as well as Essie's forever yummy.
• Taylor by Taylor Swift Perfume - This perfume isn't new, but I just got it in December and have been wearing it ever since! 
• Lastly, Fuzzy Socks - I love wearing comfy fuzzy socks during the cold winter months!

Let me know what you have been loving lately and I will write again soon.

Top Ten Goals/Resolutions For 2015

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish

I hope everyone has a happy and healthy new year! I can't believe how fast 2014 flew by, it feels like it just started! This week's top ten Tuesday topic is goals and resolutions. These goals/resolutions are mostly, but not entirely, book related. 

1. Post more often - I've noticed that there are times when I remember to post more often than others. I'd like to try to find a happy medium. At least one post per week, hopefully more.
2. I would once again like to read 52 books, I may have succeeded in doing this for the year 2014 (not sure yet, but I still have some time, it could happen!) so I would like to do that in 2015.
3. Read more of the books that I already own and buy less books (Every book lover's dilemma! So many books, so little time!)
4. Get a new bookshelf - Mine is overflowing and I could really use a new one!
5. Win NaNoWriMo next year - this year was my first year participating in NaNoWriMo and I didn't win, but it was still very fun. So I would like to try to win in 2015.
6. Have a healthy new year - I had a lot of health problems this past year, but now I am hoping to put that behind me and have a healthy new year!
7. Try to stress less about the small things - I tend to be a very anxious person, and I need to learn how to calm down and not worry so much!
8. Get better at playing guitar - I took guitar lessons this first semester of college, so I would like to continue learning on my own now that I am done with the lessons.
9. Try something new - I think this is important, everyone should try new things.
10. Lastly, Have a Happy New Year!

Top Ten Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Bringing This Year

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish

Christmas is almost here! I'm not going to lie, I asked for some of the books on this list for Christmas. Maybe Santa will bring them? Here are the top ten books I wouldn't mind Santa bringing this year:

1. The Pointless Book by Alfie Deyes - This sounds like a fun activity book made by one of my favorite YouTubers.
2. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins - I've heard a lot of good things about this book, so I would love to get it so I can read it.
3. Legend by Marie Lu - Again, I've heard a lot of good things about this book, but I don't own it yet.
4. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews - I've heard that this book is similar to the Fault in our Stars and I loved that book, so I think I would like this one as well.
5. Silver Shadows by Richelle Mead - I recently finished The Firey Heart and I don't own the next book in the series so I can't continue reading.
6. The Evolution of Mara Dyer - I read the first on recently and would like to keep reading the series
7. My True Love Gave to Me by various authors - This sounds like a fun read, it is 12 holiday stories and sounds like the perfect read for Christmas time.
8. Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell - I've heard a lot of good things about this one and it sounds like it would be a good read.
9. The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black - Again, sounds like a good read and I've heard a lot of good things about it.
10. Dead is a Killer Tune by Marlene Perez - This is a part of a series of books that I really enjoyed and would like to continue.

Bout of Books 12

This post is to announce my participation in the bout of books 12 read-a-thon.
For those of you who don't know what this is:

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 5th and runs through Sunday, January 11th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 12 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

I hope you all join me and stay tuned for my Goals and TBR pile for this read-a-thon.

Book Review: Girl Online by Zoella

Girl Online by Zoe Sugg

I rate this book...
5 out of 5 stars.


What I think:

First I have something to say about the whole ghostwriting situation. I went into this book knowing that Zoe probably had a lot of help when writing this story. Someone who is writing a book for the first time is obviously going to have professionals giving them advice and editing their work. I believe Zoe when she says the ideas and story are her own, there are several lines that I recognized because Zoe said almost exactly the same thing in the past. I realize many of you are upset that she had a professional writer helping her along the way, but what were you expecting? An unedited manuscript getting published? No. So what if she had help. And yes, I am a fan of Zoe's. I love her videos, but I picked up the book because of the story and because I thought it was something I, personally, would be able to relate to.

Just like Zoe and the main character of this book, Penny, I am someone who suffers with anxiety and have had many panic attacks. They are not fun at all. I personally start to sweat, my hear beats extremely fast, and I almost always begin to hyperventilate. A few times it has gotten to the point where I have even passed out. For a long time I didn't know what this was. I just figured that I get really nervous and it happens to everybody. My mom was not very surprised that I suffer from this since she had been diagnosed with panic disorder herself and she has helped me a lot. Knowing that you are not alone is extremely helpful. When Zoe announced that she had anxiety and panic attacks it made me feel better because I can see how much she has accomplished and how she copes. Seeing someone else dealing with the same thing as you helps and knowing that there are a lot of other people in the world with that problem makes me feel so much better about it.

Reading this book helped me too. The book perfectly captured what it is like to have a panic attack and learning how to live with them. The book also perfectly captures what it is like to be a teenage girl growing up in a world that thrives on technology and the internet. Cyber bullying and media twisting the truth are big themes that are brought up. And yes, there is a somewhat predictable romance that happens. But what would a book be without a little romance? In the end Penny has learned a lot about herself and has become a better person thanks to her Brooklyn Boy.

I hope you pick up the book and go into it with an open mind.

Christmas Booktubeathon TBR

Hello Everyone! I will once again be participating in the Christmas Booktubeathon! This is the second year that it is running and I will put a link to Ariel Bissett's video here if you are interested in learning more about it.

There are challenges this year, they are:

1. Read a book with red and green on the cover
2. Read a book that you have wanted to read this year
3. Read a book that was gifted or recommended to you
4. Read three books

I hope to complete all of the challenges and here are the books I plan on reading:

1. Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan. - This will complete the challenge of reading a book with red and green on the cover.
2. Icing on the Lake by Caroline Clark. - This one will complete the challenge of reading a book that you have wanted to read this year.
3. Girl Online by Zoe Sugg. - This completes the challenge of reading a book that was gifted to you. My mom got me this book when it came out. 
4. My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories by Stephanie Perkins, Holly Black, Ally Carter, Gayle Foreman, Jenny Han, David Levithan, Kelly Link, Myra McEntire, Matt de la Pena, Rainbow Rowell, Laini Taylor, and Kiersten White. - If I finish the other three books I plan to read this one. It is a collection of short holiday stories by various authors.

Have fun reading everyone!