Winner: Smokeless Fire

Hey everyone! Sorry I'm a little delayed on this... but I need to announce the two winners of Smokeless Fire!! This is a fantastic story and I know you all will just love it! :)

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The Winners Are:

1. Caitlyn Fox

2.  Joannie Sparks

Congratulations!! :) I have passed on both of your information onto Samantha and she will be in contact soon! I hope you both enjoy it so much!!

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And to everyone, thank you so much for entering the contest and stopping by the blog tour! I had a lot of fun reading your responses on my giveaway form! Here's a few I really liked:

"Only one wish? That our world had some magic in it -- not like magician magic, but actual, pure, awe-inspiring magic. Because I really think our world needs some of that right now. :)" SOOO TRUE.

"being able to change into a boy whenever i like to XD" LOLed

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Welp thank you again everyone! It mean so much! :)

In My Mailbox #11

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by The Story Siren. Where you can share the books you received for the week!

Better late than never!

Short, quick, kind of pointless vlog!

Thank you to the AMAZING Jennifer L. Armentrout:
1. Pure by: Jennifer L. Armentrout (amazing, fantastic, I NEED MORE)

Bought:
2. Unveiled by: Trisha Wolfe
3. Amplified by: Tara Kelly
4. Where You Are by: Tammara Webber (such a great sequel!!!)


Recieved for Book Tour:
4. Remembrance by: Michelle Madow

Thank you to the Lovely Jess:
5. Raw Blue by: Kirsty Eagar

What'd you get? :)

Photography Friday

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Favorites?

None of these photos are mine unless other wise stated. Just photos I've found.

Cover Love: The Savage Grace & Shadow Bound

The Savage Grace (The Dark Divine #3)
By: Bree Despain
Release Date: March 13th, 2012
Goodreads Page!



Synopsis: A troubled soul. An impossible choice. A final battle.

Wrestling with the werewolf curse pulsing deep inside of her, Grace Divine was finally able to find her brother, but it nearly cost her everything.

With her boyfriend, Daniel, stuck in wolf form and Sirhan's death approaching, time is running out for Grace to stop Caleb Kalbi and his gang of demons. If she fails, her family and hometown will perish. Everything rests on Grace's shoulders.

The final installment in The Dark Divine trilogy brings Daniel and Grace's love story to a breathtaking conclusion.
 

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Shadow Bound (Unbound #2)
By: Rachel Vincent
Release Date: June 1st, 2012
Goodreads Page!


Synopsis: If you live in the dark long enough, you begin to forget the light…

KORI DANIELS is a shadow-walker, able to travel instantly from one shadow to another. After weeks of confinement for betraying her boss, she’s ready to break free of the Tower syndicate for good. But Jake Tower has one final job for Kori, one chance to secure freedom for herself and her sister, Kenley, even if that means taking it from someone else…

The job? Recruit Ian Holt—or kill him.

Ian’s ability to manipulate the dark has drawn interest from every syndicate in the world, most notably an invitation from Jake Tower. Though he has no interest in organized crime, Ian accepts the invite, because he’s on a mission of his own. Ian has come to kill Tower’s top Binder: Kori’s little sister.

Amid the tangle of lies, an unexpected thread of truth connecting Ian and Kori comes to light. But with opposing goals, they’ll have to choose between love and liberty….

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The Savage Grace: Not going to lie I was surprised by this one! I was hoping for a white cover... for something that happened at the end of The Lost Saint... hahaha. Any who, I do really like the red. Though, there are many changes from the first two covers. It seems the first two covers were cools (blue and purple) and now we have the warm red! Also, we're so used to see only legs with painted toe nails and now we have most of the body with painted finger nails! My only guess is that this book will be something fierce and I'm excited to see it! ...Oh TALBOT, I've missed you!

Shadow Bound: MOTHER OF JESUS. First off, Blood Bound is one of my favorite books, so when I found out about this cover... I. Freaked. Out! I LOVE IT. The purple and green is an awesome combo! And that synopsis.... like holy heck! I absolutely love how pretty Kori looks on the cover... honestly I imagined her a little more rough around the edges... but check that out.. she's a bad-ass hottie! And IAN ... oh baby, I can't wait to meet you!

Waiting On Wednesday #12

Title: The Veil
Author: Cory Putman Oakes
Expected Release Date: November 1st, 2011
Add it: Goodreads

Synopsis: Seventeen-year-old Addison Russell is in for a shock when she discovers that she can see the invisible world of the Annorasi. Suddenly, nothing is as it appears to be the house she lives in, the woman who raised her, even the most beautiful boy in town all turn out to be more than what they seem. And when this strange new world forces Addy to answer for a crime that was committed long ago, by parents she has never known, she has no choice but to trust Luc, the mysterious Annorasi who has been sent to protect her. Or so he says . . .

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Okay so, I heard about this book from Dee over at Good Choice Reading and I think it sounds so good! I honestly hadn't heard of it before, but I'm excited to read it! :)

Cover Love: Timepiece

Timepiece (Hourglass #2)
By Myra McEntire
Release Date: June 12th, 2012
Goodreads Page!

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HOLY CANOLI! I just... wow. I loved the Hourglass cover, and this one no less blows me away! They're both so beautiful and so unique!! What are your thoughts?!

Spooktacular Giveaway Hop

Hosted by: I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & The Diary of a Bookworm

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So, how has everyone's Octobers been? Mine has been exhausting!! Any who, I was going to try to do something creative like "Spooky or Thrilling" books for the theme of this giveaway but I decided against it.

For the giveaway... one winner will win any one book of their choice (as long as it's available for me to buy of course) + since it's Halloween the winner will also get a bag/pack of their favorite candy! Sound good? :)

- The giveaway will end October 31st @ 11:59pm EST.

- International
- Winner will be chosen randomly

- If you have any other questions please see my Giveaway Policy.

This Giveaway Is Closed.

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Cover Love: Until I Die

Until I Die (Revenants #2)
By: Amy Plum
Release Date: May 3rd, 2012
Goodreads Page!

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WAAAH YESSS <3 SO PRETTIFUL! I love this series so much! JULES RULES... just sayin' ;). I love the sexy Vincent too! No worries! I cannot wait to read this book! I love Amy. And I love Die For Me. So I'm sure Until I Die will be epic! What do you think?! :)

In My Mailbox #10

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by The Story Siren. Where you can share the books you received for the week!

Thank you to NetGalley!! :)
1) Fractured Light by: Rachel McClellan
2) Surrender by: Lee Nichols

Thank you to the lovely Brooke! @ Brooke-Reports! :)
3) Everneath by: Brodi Ashton

Thank you to the lovely Amy Plum! :)
4) Chocolate from France! Yum!

I'm so excited to read them all!! What did you get this week? :)

Cover love: Hollowmen

Hollowmen (The Hollows #2)
by: Amanda Hocking
Goodreads Page!
Synopsis:  After six months in the quarantine, Remy finds out things are much worse than she feared. Her plans to escape come with a heavy cost, and she realizes that zombies aren't the worst of her problems.

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Okay, so I LOOOOOVE Amanda Hocking's books. And Hollowland had to be one of my favorites!! I'm obsessed with Lazlo!! *sigh* UGH that name... that boy!! :) So I am SOOOO excited to see the cover of book 2: Hollowmen!! ESSSH I need November to come ASAP! :)

Smokeless Fire Blog Tour

Hey everyone! Welcome to my stop on the Smokeless Fire Blog Tour! I absolutely loved this book! And I hope you all will too! Plus on my stop, you get to get inside the head of one of the hotties... Charlie! :)

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- The Book -

Synopsis: For the last two years Ari’s life has been anything but normal and on her 18th birthday, when her friends surprise her with a gimmick genie claiming to grant wishes, Ari discovers the truth. The tragic and strange occurrences surrounding her 16th birthday were not coincidental and her life is never going to be the same again.

Ari’s real parents are not normal. They are not loving. They are not human.

They are myth.

They are Smokeless Fire.

They are Jinn.

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- Official Smokeless Fire Page!

- Samantha's Blog!

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- Charlie's Interview -

It’s apparent that Ari considers you her best friend. Do you feel the same way about her?

C: We were best friends but we really haven’t hung out in the same circles lately.

Is that because of what happened to your brother?

C: I don’t talk about Mike.

What about Ari? How do you feel knowing she’s part of the Jinn world?

C: I was shocked, you know. I didn’t want to believe it but I couldn’t ignore my own eyes. It’s all real.

Does it change your relationship with Ari?

C: Nah, not at all. In fact I think it’s kind of cool. I don’t know. On the one hand I feel better knowing there are some things completely out of my control, and on the other hand it scares the crap out of me knowing the kinds of things that are in Jinn control.

Speaking of being wary of the Jinn… you seem wary of Jai. Is there any particular reason, or is it just because he’s Jinn?

C: What can I say? The guy just rubs me the wrong way. He’s a superior pain in the ass who thinks he knows what’s best for Ari.

You’ve known Ari since you were in diapers. What’s the best memory you have of her?

C: There’s not just one. Most of my best memories from being a kid feature Ari in them somewhere.

If there was one thing in the world you wish you could change about your life what would it be?

C: What happened to Mikey. If I could I’d make a wish to change that in a heartbeat, damn the consequences.

Finally, if you were stranded on a desert island what one person, one book and one refreshment would you take with you?

C: If I’m stranded I can’t exactly pick and choose who and what I’m stranded with. If I get to choose who and what I’m stranded with, shouldn’t I get to choose if I want to be stranded at all?

Shortie Says: Aw, don't you just love Charlie?! I know I do! :)

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- My Review -

Let me start of by saying, I started this book in the afternoon and finished it that same night. I couldn't stop. I could not put it down. It seems like I couldn't flip the pages fast enough. Jinn is a concept I really didn't know much about or have ever read about, so it intrigued me so much to learn something new while reading a story I was incredibly enjoying. Smokeless Fire touches on so many real and raw issues and emotions, shows so many real things, yet there's still the fantasy side to it.

Ari is the all-around protagonist I couldn't help but love reading about. When she felt alone, I felt alone. When she laughed, I laughed. When her heart was sinking into her stomach, mine did as well. When she triumphed, so did I. I just felt so connected to Ari and related to her so much. What she deals with, with Charlie I felt like it slammed right into my gut. I've been there. I'm sometimes still there. I loved watching her come into her heritage, and enjoying the ride. And, I loved her interactions with Charlie and Jai... hoping for even more of those in the future ;).

To read my complete review... CLICK HERE.

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- The Giveaway -

Because Samantha is so awesome, she is giving away TWO eBooks of Smokeless Fire! And believe me, you will LOVE this book! :)

- There will be TWO winners.

- The giveaway will last until the blog tour is over, which is  October 28th. And the winners will be chosen on October 29th.
- International
- Winners will be chosen randomly

This Contest Is Closed.

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Make sure you continue to follow the  whole tour! You can find a list of the whole tour HERE. But, the next stop is Monday the 24th over @ Magical Urban Fantasy Reads!

Thanks for stopping by! :)

Smokeless Fire by: Samantha Young

Synopsis: For the last two years Ari’s life has been anything but normal and on her 18th birthday, when her friends surprise her with a gimmick genie claiming to grant wishes, Ari discovers the truth. The tragic and strange occurrences surrounding her 16th birthday were not coincidental and her life is never going to be the same again.

Ari’s real parents are not normal. They are not loving. They are not human.

They are myth.

They are Smokeless Fire.

They are Jinn. 

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Thoughts: If you don't know Samantha Young, well you better learn about her and her books. Smokeless Fire blew me away. With a completely new and unique concept, this book will have you flying through the pages until you're finished.

We start out with Ari, who basically lives alone. She never knew her mother and her father travels for work constantly. She has a few close friends she talks to, but her best friend, the one she truly cares about is Charlie. But, after the death of his younger brother, Charlie has been distant and a completely different person. Then Ari finds out a shocking secret, her true parents are Jinn and she is extremely powerful. Because of this, she ends up with Jai, her new 24/7 body guard. With two hotties at her side and a world she didn't even knew existed, Ari is thrown into an adventure she could have never imagined.

Let me start of by saying, I started this book in the afternoon and finished it that same night. I couldn't stop. I could not put it down. It seems like I couldn't flip the pages fast enough. Jinn is a concept I really didn't know much about or have ever read about, so it intrigued me so much to learn something new while reading a story I was incredibly enjoying. Smokeless Fire touches on so many real and raw issues and emotions, shows so many real things, yet there's still the fantasy side to it.

Ari is the all-around protagonist I couldn't help but love reading about. When she felt alone, I felt alone. When she laughed, I laughed. When her heart was sinking into her stomach, mine did as well. When she triumphed, so did I. I just felt so connected to Ari and related to her so much. What she deals with, with Charlie I felt like it slammed right into my gut. I've been there. I'm sometimes still there. I loved watching her come into her heritage, and enjoying the ride. And, I loved her interactions with Charlie and Jai... hoping for even more of those in the future ;).

I was so rooting for Charlie. For some reason I'm drawn to the boys that needed to be helped. The ones where you need to swoop in, pick them up off their troubles, and save them. And Charlie was that adorable misguided hottie, that I so wanted to save. My heart ached for him, and I just wanted to hug him but still at other times I wanted to kick him in the shin. Then, there's Jai. Another sexy boy, who understand where Ari is coming from and relates to her. He's older than Ari, so protective, yet witty and I just wish he would let himself have something he wants for once! So now... team wise, right? Usually my loyalties are clearly determined but with this book, I find myself unsure and that makes me love Samantha Young even more for doing this to my heart! For the first half of the book, I admit I was completely Team Charlie, but then Jai started weaving his ways into me, and I believed he was the perfect guy for Ari. I honestly love both boys, but I think for now I'm going to slightly lean towards Team Jai. As much as I love Charlie, I think Jai may be the better guy for Ari.

I honestly cannot wait for book 2. Smokeless Fire is unique, exciting, yet so real. This book has just enough fantasy, just enough real world, just enough love triangle, just enough strength, just enough laughs. I couldn't put it down and Samantha has definitely found herself a new fan.

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- 5 stars out of 5 -

Photography Friday

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Favorites?

None of these photos are mine unless other wise stated. Just photos I've found.

The Faerie Ring by: Kiki Hamilton

Synopsis: The year is 1871, and Tiki has been making a home for herself and her family of orphans in a deserted hideaway adjoining Charing Cross Station in central London. Their only means of survival is by picking pockets. One December night, Tiki steals a ring, and sets off a chain of events that could lead to all-out war with the Fey. For the ring belongs to Queen Victoria, and it binds the rulers of England and the realm of Faerie to peace. With the ring missing, a rebel group of faeries hopes to break the treaty with dark magic and blood—Tiki’s blood.


Unbeknownst to Tiki, she is being watched—and protected—by Rieker, a fellow thief who suspects she is involved in the disappearance of the ring. Rieker has secrets of his own, and Tiki is not all that she appears to be. Her very existence haunts Prince Leopold, the Queen’s son, who is driven to know more about the mysterious mark that encircles her wrist.

Prince, pauper, and thief—all must work together to secure the treaty…

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Thoughts: Beautifully written, tons of creativeness, and plenty of action. The Faerie Ring is an exciting tale with its own uniqueness that will have you constantly turning the pages.

We start off with Tiki, a thief who lives on the streets with her family of orphans... a new family that means everything to her. When Tiki ends up stealing the Queen's Ring, strange things start to unravel themselves. Like the fact that fellow thief, and sexy protector, Rieker, is suddenly showing up more often. Tiki is seeing people that she's not sure are really there. And well, Prince Leopold, can't seem to get her off of his mind. When Tiki realizes the Queen's ring is really the Faerie Ring, her whole world begins to change.

When I first started reading this, I honestly wasn't sure what I was going to think. Historical YA isn't really my cup of tea, but I have to admit the writing was so lovely that I continued to find myself sucked in page after page. And the more I saw Tiki's love for her "family", and Rieker's protectiveness for Tiki, I continued to love the story. Even though Tiki is more apart of this world than she knows, you can see the strength in her. The fight, the persistence, the magical quality in herself that I'm not sure she sees herself. I loved following the story with her.

I have to admit, I really and truly loved Rieker. Firstly, that name is pure bliss and brilliance. It just rolls off the tongue and is so sexy yet strong. Rieker is one of the boys that I tend to love when I read. The dark and haunting past, the type who isn't sure he deserves all that he has, the fact that he feels most comfortable in a place out of his element just makes you want to hold him tight. Yet, he's witty and protective and a strikingly over all good guy. Totally fell in love with his character and how things ended for him and Tiki.

I really enjoyed this story. It was very different from other faerie stories I've read, and I was pleasantly surprised. Definitely looking forward to reading more in this series to see where the story continues, because as I see it, I'm sure it'll just keep getting better and better. :)

- 5 out of 5 stars -

Waiting On Wednesday #11

Title: Revived
Author: Cat Patrick
Expected Release Date: May 8th, 2012
Add it: Goodreads

Synopsis: As a little girl, Daisy Appleby was killed in a school bus crash. Moments after the accident, she was brought back to life.

A secret government agency has developed a drug called Revive that can bring people back from the dead, and Daisy Appleby, a test subject, has been Revived five times in fifteen years. Daisy takes extraordinary risks, knowing that she can beat death, but each new death also means a new name, a new city, and a new life. When she meets Matt McKean, Daisy begins to question the moral implications of Revive, and as she discovers the agency’s true goals, she realizes she’s at the center of something much larger — and more sinister — than she ever imagined.

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Title: Tangled Tides (The Sea Monster Memoirs #1)
Author: Karen Amanda Hooper
Expected Release Date: November 2011
Add it: Goodreads

Synopsis: Yara Jones doesn’t believe in sea monsters—until she becomes one.

When a hurricane hits her island home and she wakes up with fins, Yara finds herself tangled up in an underwater world of mysterious merfolk and secretive selkies. Both sides believe Yara can save them by fulfilling a broken promise and opening the sealed gateway to their realm, but they are battling over how it should be done. The selkies want to take her life. The merfolk want something far more precious.

Treygan, the stormy-eyed merman who turned Yara mer, will stop at nothing and sacrifice everything to protect his people—until he falls for Yara. The tides turn as Yara fights to save herself, hundreds of sea creatures, and the merman who has her heart. She could lose her soul in the process—or she might open the gateway to a love that’s deeper than the oceans. 

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I think both of these books sounds amazing! With Revived, it sounds creepy and mysterious and I just LOVE books like that. Plus the cover is stunning! With Tangled Tides, I love anything having to do with water. Give me a sexy merboy to add to it... and I'm set!

Slumber by: Samantha Young

Synopsis: A sleeping beauty may be the damsel in distress, but her White Knight? Why her rather un-knightish best friend of course. And the White Knight’s White Knight? Well… none other than her reluctant mortal enemy…

When Haydyn falls victim to the mysterious Sleeping Disease, the world of Phaedra is thrown into Chaos.

Rogan, Haydyn’s best friend and handmaiden, is the only one who can save her. Together, with the Royal Guard and their young Captain, Wolfe Stovia, Rogan must set off across the provinces to find the Somna Plant that will wake Haydyn from her dying sleep.

Beset on all sides by the chaos, Rogan tumbles into a dark world of kidnapping, prejudice, betrayal and love… a journey that will change her forever, and a journey that will change their world forever, if she does not retrieve the cure. 

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Thoughts: After reading, Smokeless Fire, I found myself completely in love with Samantha's creativeness and beautiful writing. So when when Rachel over at Fiktshun gifted me Slumber, I knew I was in trouble. Firstly, the cover is STUNNING. I started Slumber in the evening and did not go to bed until I finished. It's so imaginative, alluring, exciting, and all-around my perfect type of book.

After being ripped away from her family, Rogan has become the Handmaiden and best friend of the Princezna Haydyn. When Haydyn falls ill to a sleeping disease, Rogan is determined to set out and save her... and she's the only one who can. With the protection of the royal guard, led by Captain Wolfe Stovia (who Rogan dislikes because of his father), she sets out on a adventure to find the Somna plant to save Haydyn. What she discovers along the way, is a world she didn't know existed, love, and that she herself is much stronger than she ever thought.

I loved everything about Slumber. I honestly couldn't have asked for anything more... except maybe some more Wolfe. Unf, cannot get enough of him! But, Slumber is a twist on the fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty, and Samantha Young does it so much justice and then some. The fact that she created this whole world of magic, thrills, cities, and love is just purely stunning.

This is one of those books, where you just adore each and every character. Where each character has a role in the story. Whether it's the strong, beautiful protagonist (aka Rogan), the protective, yet more than meets the eye, sexy love interest (Wolfe), the all-around-you-can't-help-but-love-best-friend (aka Haydyn), or all the brilliant characters you meet along the way (aka Matai, L, Kir, Valena, and Chaeron).

The writing is beautiful. The story is pure creativeness. The characters are a joy to follow through the story. The heart-pumping moments are perfectly executed. And the romance is just the perfect fairy tale. This book was everything I could have hoped for, and I cannot wait to read more of Samantha's books.

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- 5 out of 5 stars -

Winners: Half-Blood & The Academy

Hey all! So I had two contests running at the same time and here are the winners for those! :)

The Winners of The Academy are...

(From the author)

1. Andrea B.

2. Mandy Rose

 - Congratulations you two!! I have passed along your e-mail addresses to T.P. and she should be in touch shortly! :)

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The Winners of HALF-BLOOD are...

 187. Kayla Merritt

220. Melody

Congratulations you two! :) I have e-mailed you and you have 72 hours to respond. If you do not respond after 72 hours, I apologize I will chose a new winner.

To everyone else, Thank you SOOO much for entering and being followers of my blog so I can have fun giveaways like this! :) Thank you all for checking out my blog and, keep on stopping back! :)

In My Mailbox #9

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by The Story Siren. Where you can share the books you received for the week!

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1) Slumber by: Samantha Young - Given to me by the amazing Rachel over at Fiktshun!! Thank you, you're the best!! :)

- Isn't that cover freaken beautiful?! I love it so much. And the book was amazing! I recently also read Smokeless Fire by Samantha Young and it was also amazing. I'm going on a Samantha binge lately. :)

2) I also received a book plate from Amy Plum and a few book marks from Mary Lindsey. (I forgot to mention the book marks... probably because I'm so tired! I apologize!). But, thank you very much!! I love them all! :)

 What did everyone else get this week?! Hopefully more than me :).

Photography Friday

1) I'm in love with this one.

 

2) I'm not suicidal at all, but this next one really makes you wonder. What if?

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Favorites?

None of these photos are mine unless other wise stated. Just photos I've found.

Cover Love: Girl Of Nightmares & Pure

OH. MY. FREAKEN GOD. LOOK AT THIS COVER!!! LOOK AT IT!!!

 

Are you dying? Cause I'm freaking out over here. It's AMAZING. Stunning. Powerful. Thrilling. BEAUTIFUL. I love it SO SO SOOOOO much. Especially because of how Anna Dressed In Blood ended! Now, I need this book in my hands ASAP. Uhhhh that cover!!

AND WAIT!!! THERE'S MORE!!

*Happy sigh* Isn't it beautiful? And that is AIDEN on the back! MMMM YES AIDEN. I cannot WAIT to read this. I'm so freaking excited it's rediculous!!!

What are your thoughts?!