YA #Review: Fault In Our Stars (#Cancer Awareness Week)

Book Title: The Fault In Our Stars
Author: John Green |Website| Twitter| Youtube|

Publisher: Dutton Books
Genre: YA Fiction
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Format: Hardcover

Cost: $8.99

Pages: 318

How I got it: BEA 2012 Author Breakfast

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Publisher
Publication Date: Jan 2012
Add To Goodreads
Synopsis:

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

The fault dear Brutus, is not in our stars/ but in ourselves    ~Shakespeare

If I could go higher in stars I and make it really count I totally would as it is this is a Five Heartbreaking Stars book.  This was the first book this year that I actually shed tears to. And one of the few books in my collection where I didn't care where I was, I just let the emotions come.  I went into this book not knowing anything about it because I refuse to read reviews before hand, but I just knew everybody was in love with it and I didn't know why.

I got this book at BEA 2012 when he was in charge with Chris Colfer for the Author Breakfast. I knew my sister almost had a stroke when she heard and demanded that we go, I had no idea who John was or anything about nerdfighters, I had moved on from YA and didn't even visit so none of the authors were people I knew other than Lois Lowry (because really who doesn't know her??).  I didn't get around to reading the book until 2013 when I pulled it from my TBR jar, and man listen ok, I wasn't prepared. I was unable. No one warned me. And that made it even more amazing & funny

OH, my God. I've seen him at parties. The things I would do to that boy.  I mean, not now that I know you're interested in him. But, oh, sweet holy Lord, I would ride that one-legged pony all the way around the corral" pg94

As a chronic disease sufferer this book hit right at my heart. And I totally love it.  Some of my own sentiments about the cleansing power of death was expressed here and I just ...it's just so amazing.  Gus's letter at the end just made me cry so hard..Just so many feelings. Oh Gawds the feels.  I can't explain to you how truly amazing this book was. You just have to read it.

The quotes the books mentioned, just the shear amount of awesome from Gus & that letter!!!  I'm now a huge fan of his work and even have signed up for his vlogbrothers youtube channel.  I'm going to go on reading his writing and hope it's all as good as this one.  I already own an autographed copy of "An Abundance of Katherines" I can't wait to read it.  Mr Green, Thank You for an amazing story that touched so many of my feelings a chronically ill woman.  Thank you for not just making this a "great cancer battle story" but an amazing story.

By now you know the movie is coming out at in June (6 in US, 20th in UK) and for weeks I refused to watch the movie trailer because I just knew I would cry.

OMG it looks amazing and I hope it truly sticks to the book, but since John raves about it all the time, I think it does. I'm going to see it, and I'm bringing tissues. Are you going??

I didn't do a more detailed review because I think going in without preconceived notions is the way to go.  It's an amazing book, bring tissues and make sure to slot away a few hours to read it, because it's such a fast engaging read.  Read an Excerpt

I'll be blogging more about the young woman who inspired the book and the movie. As well as how to support her organization.  I also be blogging about Cancer All Week For Cancer Awareness Week. 3/31 to 4/6. There will also be giveaways so check back!!

 ★★★★☆

Happy Reading

Adios Bloggiesta 2014

Well we're supposed to become good friends with Pedro (Plan, Edit, Develop, Review & Organize). I normally use this time to do all the behind the scene stuff on the blog. I will have to note here, I'm not tech savvy enough to have done all of this by myself, most of these come from Kimba's Blog Tips & Tricks, and the few she didn't have I noted beside each check off.  

Here's what I did:

1. Buy the domain name
2. Clean Out Email Took the whole damn day, Jeez !!
3. Clean up 12 reviews & Pre post them Completed just 1. yeah fail!!
4. Participate in Challenges and Chats  I particpated in a few chats, and challenges, I used the IFTT thingie by the Book Vixen, took a little work but I got it now. Or I hope so!!
5. Set up BEA 2014 posts
6. Link Last few reviews to author pages & title pages
7. Set up Review by Ratings Page
8. double check broken links Using Google Webmasters program, it checks for broken links and let you know. (It's free)
9. watermark all my pictures and put them back up & delete duplicates Only had a few of these to do
10. Fix rating on side bar Tried new rating on sidebar didn't like, went back to old template
11. Make blog button I created mine via this website. 
12. Fix Facebook & Twitter headers & twitter background
13. Set up Google + header properly
14. Link FB page so posts go there
15. Youtube Channel Header & Background

Added on after stalking other participants posts:

fix favicon button Completed mine using this website but for some reason it's not showing, you know because Blogger HATES ME!! UGH!! Update Now it's showing Yes!!!!

Setup BEA Page

Setup BEA IMM and link reviews

Info & copyright information at bottom of page
Backup Blog ( Thanks to Bri @ The Book Vixen I remembered this) 

I didn't do it all but I still did great and completed quite a bit of my list. How'd you do?? Share down below. 

Have a great week and I can't wait until the next one. 

Month In Review: March 2014

Wait, how can it already be the end of the month??? That's so crazy. The month is already gone, y'all gone!! (Yes, Aisha that's what usually happens when the days change ) Well since it's gone here are the books I have read, the reviews I have written and a recap of all the awesomeness that came my way.

Book Hauls: None Yet

Giveaways: Harlequin Bundle

Bloggiesta Mini: I Accept The Challenge
Bloggiesta Wrap UP

Reviews on the Blog This Month:

Children's Books:

Young Adult & New Adult:                    Adult/ Romance   Yearly Goal: 350  Previous Balance:316   Monthly Count: 17     Balance: 299

Book Reviews To Look Forward to Next Month:

And there you have it. I've had a blast this month. Next month is going to be awesome because I will be sharing all about my favorite moments of the past BEA.  What happened on your blog?? Share down below so I can swing on by.

Happy Reading

#Review: Ask Me For More ( A Homeland Book)

Book Title: Ask Me For More (Homeland Book 2)
Author: Elise K Ackers |Website| Twitter| Facebook|

Publisher: Penguin Australia
Genre: Romance
Series/Standalone: Series
Format: ebook

Cost: $2.73

Pages: 134

How I got it: NetGalley

Purchase: Amazon | Kobo | Publisher
Publication Date: june 2013
Add To Goodreads
Synopsis:

When Olivia Law returns home for her best friend's wedding, it stirs up a lot of unexpected memories – not all of them good ones. Liv has a history here she'd prefer to forget, and a life in the city she wants to get back to. She certainly doesn't expect to find herself attracted to the bride's elder brother, Cal O'Hara. Cal remembers Liv as the trouble making friend of his little sister. He doesn't expect to be faced with an incredibly sexy grown-up version. But Cal has been hurt in the past and is not prepared to risk his heart again. Certainly not for someone who is leaving town in a few days. Nothing is certain in this delicious tale about escaping the past. Ask Me for More is a poignant story about finding love where you least expect it.

This is the second book in the series. Unfortunately I didn't know that when I picked it up I simply liked the sound of it and grabbed it.  Unlike the third one (yes I read the third one before reading the second) this one relied heavily on the relationships from the previous book. I was a little lost as to who all the characters were at first and wasn't really feeling it. I put it aside and came back, it took a while to come back into it and learn who all the people were, once the slew of characters kind of backed off to just them it became a little easier to read and get back into.

I liked them as a couple, and the story moved well and actually was pretty good.  I liked that apparently it was the continuation of the first book (which I haven't read) because those characters took a lot of time in this book as well.  We also got to see the friendship between the main male characters especially Dean who I loved in the third book.

I loved the story of their love because it was sweet and moved fast.  The opening of their hearts started with a little dog, and that was cute.  Their previous heartbreak just made it easier for them to spot the good stuff when it came along which really made them even better together.  Sam was a little too nosy for a sibling but it was cute none the less.  As I was reading I kept cracking up at how fast she kept trying to run in the other direction of the wedding planning.

This book reminded me of why I disliked small towns, and also why I loved them, the friends are key to loving a small town, but small town sometimes do equal small minds and this town is well very small.

The development of characters was good and the story flowed well. I guess it would have been better if I was 1) from Australia and could therefore understand the lingo better 2) or had traveled to the sections of the country being mentioned.  I used to watch McLeod's Daughters so I knew some of the lingo and this kinda reminded me of the show, how it seemed like the couple were friends one minute and in love the next.

I liked it fine, would have probably loved it if I was from Australia, but it was still ok.  I recommend it because the love is universal and the issues getting there are ones anyone would understand.  Very sweet story.
 ★★★1/2☆☆

Happy Reading