Review for The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

“Does anyone ask you why you stay, Sean Kendrick?"
"They do."
"And why do you?"

"The sky and the sand and the sea and Corr.” 

Blurb:

Some race to win. Others race to survive. It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die. At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them. Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn't given her much of a choice. So she enters the competition - the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen. As she did in her bestselling Shiver trilogy, author Maggie Stiefvater takes us to the breaking point, where both love and life meet their greatest obstacles, and only the strong of heart can survive. The Scorpio Races is an unforgettable reading experience.

Review:

This is the kind of book that leaves you so full and so empty all at once. I'm not sure how else I could describe this book. The Scorpio Races has everything, mystery, intrigue, a little bit of mythology and love - the deep kind of love that develops over time. 

Maggie Stiefvater is a genius. She knows how to grab the readers and drag them into the story, ignite their imagination, and just make them feel. Loved the writing style, loved the characters, and loved the feels...

In conclusion - my kinda book ♥

To Live Out Loud by Paulette Mahurin

You guys there's another book out by Paulette!!! I so loved her previous book The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap. I'm definitely going to add this to my TBR pile!

To Live Out Loud by Paulette Mahurin

Blurb:

In 1895, France was torn asunder by a scandal that rocked the nation and divided the country. An innocent Jewish military officer, Alfred Dreyfus, was unjustly sentenced to life imprisonment on a desolate island. The news that could exonerate him was leaked to the press, but was suppressed by the military. Anyone who sought to reopen the Dreyfus court-martial became victimized and persecuted and was considered an enemy of the state.Émile Zola, a popular journalist, determined to bring the truth to light, undertook the challenge to publicaly expose the facts surrounding the military cover-up. This is the story of Zola’s battle to help Alfred Dreyfus reclaim his freedom and clear his name. Up against anti-Semitism, military resistance, and opposition from the Church of France, Zola committed his life to fighting for justice. But was it worth all it cost him, to those around him, and to France? This is a narrative of friendship, courage, and love in the face of the adversity and hatred. It is a story of how one man’s courageous actions impacted a nation. From the award winning author of The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap comes a book that will leave you examining your notions about heroism, courage, and your role in social change long after you read the last sentence.

Author Bio:

Paulette Mahurin lives with her husband Terry and two dogs, Max and Bella, in Ventura County, California. She grew up in West Los Angeles and attended UCLA, where she received a Master’s Degree in Science.

While in college, she won awards and was published for her short-story writing. One of these stories, Something Wonderful, was based on the couple presented in His Name Was Ben, which she expanded into this fictionalized novel in 2014. Her first novel, The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap, made it to Amazon bestseller lists and won awards, including best historical fiction of the year 2012 in Turning the Pages Magazine.

Semi-retired, she continues to work part-time as a Nurse Practitioner in Ventura County. When she’s not writing, she does pro-bono consultation work with women with cancer, works in the Westminster Free Clinic as a volunteer provider, volunteers as a mediator in the Ventura County Courthouse for small claims cases, and involves herself, along with her husband, in dog rescue.

Profits from her books go to help rescue dogs.


So my lovelies, if Historical Fiction is your kinda book do pick up a copy of this book on Amazon US or Amazon UK, and add it to your shelf on Goodreads!
If you can please buy a copy of this book as the profits go to help rescue dogs! Do it for the puppies and the books of course! ;)

Till Later!
oxox
~TJ

World Photography Day!

In this digital age of Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and Selfies, everyone takes pictures, if not everyday, we do take pictures regularly. Whether you are an armature, professional or just an enthusiast, today is your day! :D

And what better way to celebrate than this!! My mom gifted me a DSLR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here it is......

Welcome to the family baby!!! :D

(I have a habit of calling inanimate things my babies... I call my guitar, my digital P&S, my phone  etc as baby, but its like different tones for each one I guess? TMI? Too weird? :P )

THANK YOU MOMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've wanted a DSLR for YEARS now and finally here it is!!!!!!! YAY!!!! You guys I'm so excited!

I cannot wait to go on trips and capture better and more detailed pictures! I could blab for hours and scream and "woo" (did you guys get that reference? :P ) but I will not.. I shall keep that part off the blog and limited to my house.. Hahahaa xD

Anyway, today let's embrace our love for capturing moments, memories, smiles, and the good times.

Happy World Photography Day my lovelies!!

oxox

~TJ

My THG Story

My THG Story started when my friend recommended THG to me. After the constant nagging, as any good book buddy does, I finally gave in and started reading. And I was a goner right from page one. I would rush back home everyday so that I could read more of the book and I think I must have finished it in a week or two maybe?

I remember just making up excuses and just rushing out after the lectures to get back to the book. I laughed, I cried and went into a major book hangover (of course!). I would rave about it to anyone that would listen. I bored my parents with the story and cried about how unfair it was. I might feel a teeny tiny bit bad for them now though. I begged my mom to get me the box set because I just HAD to have it. She eventually gave in..

Here it is! My precious!

I loved the characters, the strength, and the story. I loved the strong female lead the most I think. Maybe because of the things going on at the time, or maybe it was something else, but this series just connected with me like none other had in quite a long time. I remember before, my favorite couples, or characters were never the main ones, I'd always gravitate towards the other characters in the story, but THG changed that (It changed back after Mockingjay, but come on! Finnick!). Katniss and Peeta are my OTP.

Then the first movie released and I dragged my mom along with me to watch it, partly because I drag her to go to all the movies with me and partly because I thought she might like it. She wasn't really sure about it but after the movie... she was a fan!! (And we've watched all the parts together!)

I loved the movies almost, not quite but almost, as much as the books. The movies managed to keep with the essence of the books and the actors I felt were apt for the characters.

Now, years after I first read the series. I still find small things that remind me of it, still find things that make it more endearing, still find things that break my heart all over again (looking at you heartbreaking headcannons!).

I'll love this series forever.

Getting Organized + General Updates

Hello lovelies!!

First off thank you to Sugarplum Paperie for letting me use the gorgeous graphic as the background for the blog! THANK YOU!! xx

So back to the topic. I thought it was high time to get organized with this being my final year of college (I'm so ready to not give any more exams!).

I find it most effective when I jot stuff down pen to paper. There are several researches that say writing things down actually helps you remember better. It is also really nice to have your day sorted out and a list of all the things that need to be done all at one place.

So I thought what better way to start than getting a planner!

I made a DIY daily planner from scratch and two weeks in, I've been following it pretty well! (I'm secretly proud because I'm such a lazy person!! And I tend not to follow strict schedules. :P )

Here it is. Its a pretty basic one, made with things I had around the house, nothing like all those gorgeous ones on YouTube... If you guys are super into planning you should check some of the videos on YouTube! Their planners are like "on fleek" ;) :P

Anyways, this one is mine and I love it!

Lemme know if you guys wanna see a DIY on how I actually made this?

This week I tried a few things, scrapped a few things and made a few changes to my schedule.

Next week's goals include figuring a workout schedule and getting fit!

How does your next week look lovelies?

As always I'm here to talk if someone needs to you can connect with me in comments below,  via email or on Facebook or Twitter!

Love you guys! Take Care!
oxox

Cover Reveal for 17 Marigold Lane by RM Gilmore

New from RM Gilmore, creator of the bestselling Dylan Hart series.

17 Marigold Lane (a Prudence Penderhaus novel)

Prudence Penderhaus was just an ordinary weirdo until the day one word changed the course of her life forever.

Giving up on life, a risky move turns her world upside down and uncovers an odd boy no one knew existed. 

Trying to cope with her life at it stands, Prudence juggles her own emotions as she peels back layers of small-town secrecy that have been hiding right under her nose.

With a newfound purpose, she and her odd boy turn the town of Flintlock on its butt in the pursuit of truth. Uncovering more than she bargained for. Murder.

"My name is Prudence Penderhaus. I've never done anything remarkable. Never even bothered to look up. Until the day I realized I was dying."

                                         

Available for pre-order!

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This quirky Young Adult brings forth a character not unlike many of us.

Too awkward, too reclusive, too damn tall, and too damn red headed to skate through life.

Too scared to live it.

Until the day death changed all that.

Check out the trailer and get the lowdown!

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Don't miss a thing!

Give this bad boy a click and drop your email address.

Want to take part in the release day shenanigans?

Score an ARC, win cool stuff, and help promote the start of a killer series!