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Friday, January 29, 2016

Weekend Reads: City of Glass and Paper Towns

OMG, it's Friday and I'm just glad tomorrow it's Saturday so I can stay in bed and do absolutely nothing besides sleep and read.  I have been fighting this cold since last Sunday and it hasn't been fun, that's for sure.  So, the plan is to rest and rest all weekend long so I can get better and be myself by Monday.  

Here are the books that I will be reading this weekend:

City of Glass by Cassandra Clare


I'm almost done with this book and hoping to just finish it.


Paper Towns by John Green


This will be my second book by John Green and I want to read the whole thing and hopefully watch the movie too :)

What are you reading this weekend?  

XOXO,

Nelia

Thursday, January 28, 2016

Book Review: PS I Still Love You by Jenny Han

This book has been long due, right?  When I saw that this was the next one that I had to do the review, I was actually shocked, why you may ask?  Because I'm way behind on book reviews and I felt like I read this one sooo long ago.  Let's stop whining and get to review, right?

Here is the review for the first book: To All The Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

PS I Still Love You by Jenny Han


Once I started reading this book, I knew why it was on my TBR, first of all Jenny Han is awesome and second I really enjoy reading about these girls.  Lara Jean is back with her boy problems of course, but what I love about these books is that we get to see her family life too.  We got to see Kitty and OMG, she is the best, funny and so demanding and gets whatever she wants. Typical little sister, right?  We got to see more of Margo, even if it wasn't in "person", I felt that Lara Jean and Margo got more connected in this book, which was amazing.  Their dad?  He is amazing, he tries so hard to be the cool dad but still be there for everything they need and then we got to see Kitty and even Lara Jean trying to hook him up with someone, their family life?  The best and very, very entertaining for sure.

Now Lara Jean's love life is more than entertaining, and there was lots of ups and downs in this book.  Peter is not your usual boyfriend material, but he does try hard and for that we have to give him credit.  But Lara Jean has a hard time trusting him, especially when it comes to Gen and in her point of view, I would too.  But, in the other hand, she does some things that isn't right either.  A boy from the past resurfaces in this book, at first she doesn't think anything of it, she accepts him back as a friend but they end up spending more and more time together and you can see that he doesn't want to be just friends. 

Lara Jean has to make some decisions, regarding Peter, Gen and this old friend, they are not easy decisions, but non less are decisions that will decide her life.  What will she decide?  I think I already gave too much away with this review, so you just have to read it and find out about Lara Jean's decisions and what happens in the end with her and Peter.

I have to say it; Jenny Han did it again, she somehow knows how to start a book and suck you in from the beginning, right?  That's how it is for me, the minute I start reading one of her books, I'm a goner...I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars, I wanted more, that's all.  Can we get a third book?  PLEASE???

XOXO,

Nelia

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Book Review: A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray

Guess what today is?  It's Tuesday and Tuesdays are Book Review day...YEAH!!! I'm so excited for today's book review, why?  Because it was an amazing reading and now that I'm thinking about it, I'm just realizing that the second book is out and I haven't read it yet. WHY??? Bookworm problems, that's why; you know the saying: So many books, so little time?  Yeah SOOO me...hahahaha

Okay, stopping with the babbling and getting to the review:

A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray


I'm going to start this review by saying this: multiple universes!!! Now isn't that cool!!!  I'm going to confess something, I never thought of myself a science girl, don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed science when I was in school, but then again I loved ALL subjects, yes I was that kind of girl, what to you call it? Nerd?  HA  But anyway, I just realize that the more I read books with science behind the more I enjoyed it...alright jumping back to the review:

Marguerite Claine's parents are not your typical parents, first of all they are physicist and they are quite popular for known groundbreaking achievements.  And their latest invention is called the Firebird, what is the Firebird?  The Firebird allows you to jump to into multiple universes-and it has changed science forever.  But then the unthinkable happens, Marguerite's father is murdered and the killer-her parent's handsome assistant Paul-escapes into another dimension before the law can touch him.  Marguerite refuses to let Paul escape so easily so she races after him through different universes, always leaping into another version of herself.

 At the different dimensions she also meets alternate versions of the people she knows, including Paul, whose life entangles with hers in some very familiar ways.  As she goes from one dimension to another after Paul, she starts to question Paul's guilt and well as her own heart; something isn't right and she feels it.  Soon she finds out the truth about her father's death and it's far more sinister than she expected, will she be able to solve it, can she trust the people that she thought she could?  And what is really going on with her father?

Mystery, after mystery and jumping from one dimension to another, this book will leave you jumpy and craving for more and more.  The more I read the more I wanted to read, Marguerite was a breath of fresh air compared to other girls you are used to read, she is fun, energetic and always on the move. 

I loved, loved this book and that's why I gave it 5 out 5 stars and totally recommend it, so what are you waiting for, go and read it if you haven't yet.

I so want to read the second one now...

XOXO,

Nelia

Friday, January 22, 2016

Weekend Reads: City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

This week has been...pretty interesting let's put it that way and leave it at that, shall we?  Now, for this weekend?  I actually for a work party to go to tomorrow and I really can't wait to go to and in the other hand I know that I will be totally out of commission on Sunday, so that should be fun lol.

Here is the book that I'm currently reading and enjoying it a LOT:

City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

City of Glass

What are you up to this weekend?  And what book are you currently reading?

XOXO,

Nelia

Thursday, January 21, 2016

Book Review: Destiny Rising by Siobhan Davis

It's book review time baby, and today I'm bringing you the final book in the True Calling trilogy. Oh Yeah, let's start and get it over with?  Well first, here are my previous reviews of this trilogy: True Calling, Beyond Reach and Light Of A Thousand Stars.

Okay, now I'm ready:

Destiny Rising by Siobhan Davis


Lots of decisions are to be made in this book; for the humanity and Ariana too has to make so decisions too.

Saoirse organization is preparing nonstop to battle the government and take over Earth and Novo too.  Ariana, her father and those who she loves most are joined on this battle for their freedom and justice.  But that is not the only thing happening on Ariana's life, old memories are resurfacing, old discoveries and new realities and making her whole world fall apart forever and she needs to decide what is best for her and her family.  Her father makes a decision and sends her away to Greece for a while on the pretest that she has to concentrate on her psychic gift to evolve and fully extent it to help the battle that they are all in.  While she is away she manages to connect with her psychic gift with the help of someone who has the same powerful gift and it evolves to the max, but she also makes some major personal decisions that will either destroy her childhood boyfriend Zane or her fiancĂ©e Cal's heart, but it's a decision that she is ready to make. 

When she comes back and battle is fully on, fate takes another turn and Ariana is face with another major decision, one that will have to involve making a deal with the enemy.  She then faces the worst choice of making the ultimate personal sacrifice or risk everything she holds dear.  What will she do?  Well, you just have to read to find out.  Will Saoirse and Ariana will this battle against the government?  What will the future look like?  Who did Ariana choose; Zane or Cal?

These are questions that you will have answers too, some you will like others you will not, but you will get them.  I wasn't happy with one of the choices Ariana made, but overall the book was really good.  I really liked how everything wrapped up nicely and how you get to see much more into the future that you get from other books. 

I gave the book 4 out of 5 stars, I probably would have give 5 if she had made another choice but that's just my personal option, and that's what reviews are for, right?  And everyone has different options and I'm sure some people probably liked her decision.  Do I recommend this trilogy, absolutely!!!
 
Alright, that's it for now. 

XOXO,

Nelia

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Book Review: Light Of A Thousand Stars by Siobhan Davis

It's time for another book review and today it's actually a novella in the True Calling trilogy, I have done reviews for book 1 (True Calling) and book 2 (Beyond Reach) if you want to read those.  I knew I only had one book to read and then found out there were a couple novellas out and if I had to read them, but I only ended up reading this one, why?  Well, this one is all about Zane and I'm team Zane all the way; and the other novella was about Cal and sorry, even though he is nice, I really didn't care for him as much.  So, let's see what I thought about Zane after reading this novella.  I should mention that this novella takes place before the move to Novo planet.

Light Of A Thousand Stars by Siobhan Davis

 Light of a thousand stars by siobhan davis

Zane has been in love with Ariana for years, she is his world and he would do anything for her.  They have been together for ten months now and Zane couldn't be happier, he finally has the girl of his dreams, but life always throws something at you, right?  Of course, and on Zane and Ariana's case; Life has thrown more than one obstacle at them.  Something bad happened, something that both of them have had to kept a secret from everyone and now Ariana is falling apart.  Zane is trying is best to prevent that because he has promised her: Always and Forever and he will do anything to keep that promise.

Then, the worst comes when Commander Skyee drops a  bomb and will destroy their future forever.  What will Zane do?  He will still try to do anything possible to be together with Ariana again, whatever it takes, how long it takes.

I loved Zane before and loved him even more after reading this novella.  Ariana in the other hand? Ah, this girl keeps getting on my nerves.  We also get see Ariana's move to Novo and how that affected her, and I don't get how she just forgot all of that?  Anyway, I really enjoyed reading this novella and I gave it a 4 out of 5 stars.

XOXO,

Nelia



Monday, January 18, 2016

January 2016 Empties

It's has been a while since I have done an Empties post, right?  I cannot even remember the last time...kidding (here is my last post, it was back in April 2015, LONG time).  It was about time actually, so let's jump into this monstrous Empties post:

Here is my bag full of empties products, it may not look much, OH but it is my friends lol




And now on to the products:

Facial Products:

Toners and Facial Waters...

RoseWater from Portugal (love this stuff), Caudalie, my 2 favorite toners (Olay and Neutrogena Acne Stress Control)

Eye Creams, Serums and Moisturizers...

Nourish Nature Eye Cream and my 40 Carrots product-Eye Cream, Serum, Night Cream and Day Moisturizer (love these products)

Cleansers, Exfoliators and Eye Removers:

Pur-lisse Cleanser, SeaRx exfoliator, Biore Cleanser, Nivea Eye makeup remover (got this one from Portugual) and that little sponge is to use with your cleanser-it was okay at first but not a big fan.

Hair Products:
 Conditioners, Masks...
L'Oreal Maks, Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Conditioner and Coolway Conditioner.
Shampoo, Conditioner/Detangler...

SO Conditioner and Matrix Biolage Shampoo-one of my favorite shampoos that I keep repurchasing.

Hair Oils, Hair BB Cream...

JF Full Repair Leave In, Pantene BB Cream, Garnier Fructis Oil, and healthy sexy hair soy oil.

Dry Shampoo, Leave In, Hair Protector...

Best Dry Shampoo ever Batiste, Pantene Spray Gel, Got 2b heat protector.

Body Products:


Body Wash:
Body Washes, I loved that H2O-it smelled DIVINE.  Well, I loved all the others too :)

Body Lotions/Butter...
Body Lotions, H2O, BBW and TBS.

Body Spray from BBW...

Other Items: Feminine stuff, Deodorant, toothpaste, and hand wash...


That's a lot of products, I think I counted over 30 of them...time to throw all of them OUT.

What products have you been trying and running out of?  Do you do Empties post/videos?  Please post below so I can check them out...

XOXO,

Nelia

Friday, January 15, 2016

Weekend Reads: Ice like Fire and City of Glass

Hi Friday, I'm so glad that you have finally arrived!!! It's time to rest, relax and do some reading, oh yeah.

I'm currently reading two books, surprise, actually a couple years ago, I would have never done that and now I somehow find myself in the middle of two sometimes three books at a time.  What is wrong with me?  Who else does that?  Anyway...here are my current reads and the I'm hoping to finish at least one of them and continue with the other as the weekend goes...

Ice like Fire by Sarah


What can I say, I still had on my kindle from my elibrary so I just couldn't say no, I HAD to pick it up and it's good to be back in the world of seasons.  I'm still kind of in the beginning so...no much happening yet, can't wait for things to pick it up.


City of Glass by Cassandra Clare


Yes, I have finally picked this one up and I have started and then stopped once I started Ice like Fire, but no worries, once I'm done with that one I will picked this one up again.

And that's my current reads, what are you currently reading right now?  And what are your plans for your weekend?  I'm actually finishing one of my bathroom's renovations, it's all fun at the beginning, but now I just can't wait to be done with it and do the fun part of decorating!

Have a great weekend!

XOXO,

Nelia

Thursday, January 14, 2016

Book Review: Beyond Reach by Siobhan Davis

Happy Thursday, one more day until Friday!!! And today we are review another book, and it's the second book in the True Calling Trilogy...let's do this?  Wait, first here is my review for the first book True Calling and of course if you have read that yet, don't spoil yourself by reading this review.  Alright, now I'm ready.

Beyond Reach by Siobhan Davis


Ariana is on Earth and is caught in a dangerous crossfire between Clementia and the government.  Who is Clementia?  Clementia is the clandestine rebel organization that is trying to take down the government.

Ariana refuses to divulge the location of the secret information that her father trusted her with, and she is desperately trying to bargain for her Mom, Lily and even Cal's rescue from the Novo Planet.  She knows that it may be a losing battle and that her clock is ticking but she will do anything to get them to Earth.

The worst is when she is presented with evidence of her fiance Cal's apparent betrayal, but she still defends him despite her concerns.  And things are getting more complicated as she is growing more closer to her ex-boyfriend Zane, aka her mystery dream boy.

When more shocking revelations rocks her world, Ariana has to decide which path to take, but whatever path she takes it not only decides her destiny but the fate of humanity.  Yeah, and you thought you were having a bad day?  Well, I am lol, but nothing compared with this girl right here, okay let's get back to the review...

At the end of the book we get another cliff hanger as Ariana is confronted with a memory that makes her come across a truth that she would do anything to forget about it, but somethings just can't be undone.

This book?  It was so much better than the first one and sometimes I wish it had ended with this one; well besides the end, of course.  It was good!!!  I loved Zane, the more I saw of him the more I liked him and the more I wanted to see him and get to meet him.  Ariana, she aggravated me on this book, she can't decide between Cal or Zane and in one way I got her but in the other way? Come on...okay moving on.  Cal, he is sweet and I could see his point of view and it's not his fault what is going on; so he is forgiven...for now.

I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars I really, really enjoyed reading it and did I tell you that I read this book in one sitting, yeah it was that good.  The world building was fantastic, Earth was described really well,  the characters were described so well; the writing was great in this book.  Totally recommend it.  Once I was finished with this book I was ready to read the last book.

And that will do it for now.

XOXO,

Nelia



Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Book Review: True Calling by Siobhan Davis

Hello everybody!!! I'm going to confess something, I have been wicked LAZY since the new year and I this time I'm going to blame my husband.  Why?  You may ask, well he found this really interesting, cool video about sailing around the world on YouTube and now we have been watching non stop these videos.  We have watched some many of them that we are now following about 4 different crews sailing around the world, yeah we are crazy.  Anyway...back to today's post, I'm finally back and today I'm doing a long overdue book review, so without further due:

True Calling by Siobhan Davis


Ariana Skyee is a pretty happy girl, Planet Novo has everything that was promised to her and it's a her new home in Space.  Yeah, you heard that right, Ariana lives in space, after Earth was pretty much going downhill some people had the luck to escape Earth and go live in Planet Novo, Ariana and her family were some of the those people.  And she couldn't be happier, well that is under the authorities decided to introduce "The Calling" as their way to repopulation.  Now, all seventeen-year-olds are to participate in this Bachelor-style pageant and find their match, marry and have children.

But Ariana's worries don't just end there, when everyone came to Novo, the government made everyone go through a memory erase section, but something must have gone somewhat wrong with hers, because she keeps having these live dreams of this mystery boy.  He haunts her dreams, but is it just dreams?  Things just seems to be more than they are.

And then the pageant starts, and her feelings for Cadent Cal Remus intensifies, soon they start to realize that not everything about their new home is as it seems.  Ariana sets out to find out the truth, but who can she trust, Cal isn't trustworthy or at least he doesn't seem just yet.  Ariana feels at lost for sure, but her search for the truth comes at a high personal price, one that she never saw it coming and with devastating consequences. 

This book, I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy it as much as I did, but guess what?  I enjoyed it and once I was finished with this free copy that I received from the author herself through GoodReads, I went to Amazon and bought the second ebook and started reading right away, because I needed to know what was going to happen.  The ending was a cliff hanging, so expect that my friends.

I gave this book a 4 out of starts, the writing was very simple to read and follow along.  I wish there was a little more world building, especially in Novo, this space planet that they create, but none the least I enjoyed the characters and the story line.  The main character was someone that you had a love and hate relationship with, in my opinion.  Cal, was really friendly and someone that everyone would fall in love with.  I cannot wait to get to know more about the mystery boy Zane.

That will be it...don't want to give too much away, but expect more in my reviews for the second and third book!!!

XOXO,

Nelia

Saturday, January 2, 2016

January TBR and 2016 Reading Goals

Now that we are officially in 2016 it's time to set some reading goals and get our January TBR out, right?  To tell you the truth I wasn't ready until...probably about now, well at least with my January TBR.  My 2016 Reading Goals, I think I got that one ready on the last day of 2015 and I'm going to start with that...

On 2015 I read over 100, 104 to be exact, I really think I could have read more if I didn't get on a reading slump on the last two weeks of the year (perfect time for that lol), so because I read over 100 books last year, right there and then I decided that on 2016 I wanted to read again 100 or more!!! See, that was an easy decision, now I'm just hoping that everything will work out fine...

Now for my TBR; just because I want to read 100 this year doesn't mean I'm going to put 10 books on my reading list right away, so I'm going to start with a few books that I know for sure that I want to read and then if I finish them, I will just pick up some more; here is what I have so far:

1. This Girl by Colleen Hoover: this is the final and third book in the Slammed trilogy and I wasn't even sure I wanted to read this one because the second book was the one that gave me the reading slump last month but I just need to finish this trilogy and be done with it.


2. The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey: This may be another reason I was one a reading slump last month, I was about 200 pages about to finish this book when my elibrary book time finished and when I went to renew it there was like 20 people in front of me, I went to my library and there was none there and I went for like 2 weeks going crazy wanting to know what was going to happen until Christmas week when I went to one of my groceries stores and saw this book looking at me and I was like: Screw it, I'm buying, and I did buy it but I haven't read it yet.  What is wrong with me???  No worries, I'm going to fix that this month and finish it.


3. City of Glass by Cassandra Clare: No excuses, this book keeps coming back into my TBR and isn't not getting read, I don't care, after I finished the two above I'm diving right into, especially with the series coming out in a couple weeks!!! :)


4. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak: When I was looking at my books and deciding which ones I had to read this year, I felt horrible that I haven't read this one, I have it for years...so this is the month that is going to get read and I'm doing the movie with the kids.


That's all I'm adding to my January TBR and looking at it, it's a really nice mix TBR to start the year, Dystopian, Historical, Fantasy, Contemporay...I like it.

What are your plans for this year?  And what are you reading for the first month of 2016?

XOXO,

Nelia

December 2015 Wrap Up

I still cannot believe we are in 2016, WOW 2015 flew by that's for sure.

Well, let's get back today's post and talk about what I read in December, shall we?  Let's do it:

December wasn't a big reading month, I was on a reading slump that's what was happening in December.  I read a total of 4 books, let's check them out:

1. Yes Please by Amy Poehler- 5 Stars


2. Slammed by Colleen Hoover- 4 Stars


3. Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover- 4 Stars


4. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott-4 Stars

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And that was all I read in December, I'm hopping to have a better month in January.  But 2015 was a great year all together as I read 104 books, cannot complain about that.

Hope you all had a great month of December, especially great Holidays!!!

What are your plans for 2016?  I have