Top Ten Favorite Beginnings/Endings

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

1. "Pandemonium" by Lauren Oliver.

SUCH a huge cliffhanger ending! I ate it up.

2. "My Sweet Audriana" by V.C. Andrews

Want a super creepy ending? Just check out V.C Andrew's only original stand-alone novel.

3. "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows" by J.K. Rowling

How about the ultimate ending?! I sobbed.

4. "Deity" by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Just another EPIC cliffhanger.

5. "If I Die" by Rachel Vincent

SIGH! SO good!

6. "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein

What can I say, it's a classic.

7. "The First of Days" by Rhiannon Frater

Super creepy beginning! Loved it!

8. "Forbidden" by Tabitha Suzuma

Actually I HATED this ending. It was so gut wrenching. But it was one of those love/ hate things.

9. "The Outsiders" by S.E. Hinton

Two words: Stay. Gold.

10. "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin

Probably one of the most empowering books I've ever read, the ending is just... so perfect.

Thanks for stopping by! Make sure to comment with your own link so I can visit your page as well!

And stop by the GIVEAWAY!

Feature & Follow Friday!

Feature & Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Alison Can Read and Parajunkee.

I am so honored, because this week ParaDays has been chosen to be one of the featured blogs!

Q: What do you do with your books after you're done reading them?

Well, I actually turned one of my guest bedrooms into a library (because I mean, really, who wants guest to sleep over?). So after I finish reading a book, I go in there and find the perfect spot for it on my shelf! But in the rare occasion that I really just hated a book, I set it aside in a pile to trade in at my local used book store the next time I'm in town!

Feature Interview Questions:

When did you start blogging?
I started blogging in December of 2011- late into the night after reading a really fantastic book and having no one around to gush with about it.

What is your favorite part of book blogging?
I love that I get to be in contact with such great authors, publishers, and fellow book nerds on a daily basis!

What type of books do you mainly blog about?
The blog is mainly centered around the paranormal, but I read everything so there's a little bit of a mix on it.

 What is your favorite book(s)?
Way too hard! Some of my go to favorites are: Flowers in the Attic, Wuthering Heights, Harry Potter, and of course, anything by Poe :)

 What has been the best thing that has happened to you because of book blogging?
I think the best thing has to be the interviews I've done recently in getting prepared for my first ever blog hop, Fright Fest, in October. I'm getting to learn so much about my favorite authors and their characters. It's been a really fantastic experience!
**REMEMBER: Let me know the way(s) in which you follow so I can follow back the same way(s)!**

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky (Book + Movie Review)

Genre: YA Coming of Age
Format: Paperback; 216 pages
Publication: February 1, 1999 by Pocket Books
Cover Rating: 4/5 Stars

From Goodreads: Charlie is a freshman.

And while he's not the biggest geek in the school, he is by no means popular. Shy, introspective, intelligent beyond his years yet socially awkward, he is a wallflower, caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it.

Charlie is attempting to navigate his way through uncharted territory: the world of first dates and mix tapes, family dramas and new friends; the world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite. But he can't stay on the sideline forever. Standing on the fringes of life offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a deeply affecting coming-of-age story that will spirit you back to those wild and poignant roller-coaster days known as growing up.

My Thoughts: If I could go back in time, I would go all the way back to 14 year old me, give her this book and tell her if she only reads one thing that year, just one, let this be it. You don't know how badly I wish I would have found this back in my formative years, it would have made my teenage life so much easier. To just to "know" someone like Charlie, to have that feeling that you're not alone out there in the universe. It was just that amazing. This story is one of those instant classics because it holds so much truth. It's beautiful and simple and honest. Everything you wanted life to be when you were growing up. Charlie is just this amazingly poetic kid who is wise beyond his years, but also holds that charming innocence that makes you just want to protect him from the world.

But what about the film, you ask? Well, it was just as amazing. I usually find movies lacking when I compare them to their books, but with Perks, that's just not the case. Each holds its own remarkably well and I have to say, the movie became one of my all time favorites. The acting is fantastic and I couldn't picture anyone better to play Charlie, Sam, or Patrick.

I can't tell you enough how much I loved this novel. I believe every high school kid should read this and learn from it. It just blew me away.

My Rating:

The Sunday Post #8

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It's a chance to share news and to re-cap the past week, showcase books, and talk about what is coming up in the week on our blogs!

Big News!

Author Carrie Harris will be joining us in the month of October for the Fright Fest Blog Hop! She'll be contributing some swag while I'll be doing a giveaway for her novel "Bad Taste in Boys"! 

This Week on ParaDays:

Review: "Rot & Ruin" by Jonathan Maberry

Too Far by Abbi Glines- Series Review

Wishlist Wednesday- My Life as a White Trash Zombie

Promo- The Sidekick Chronicles + Giveaway!

Won:

A signed Abbi Glines book coaster from the amazing Book Bar! 

 

Bought:

 

NetGalley:

   

Read:

Currently Reading:

The Sidekick Chronicles + Giveaway!

Who needs a little more Rowan?

Stacey Rourke presents a Gryphon series novella

The call of the sea.

The promise of adventure.

For Rowan Wade, the need to return to his swashbuckling ways is enough to betray the only woman he’s cared for in over three hundred years.

With vengeance in his heart, he’s determined to exact his revenge on those that mutinied against his father. 

The arrival of an unlikely ally challenges Rowan’s plans. Her goal isn’t to stop him, but to lead him on a journey of self-discovery to unravel the mysteries of the twisted path that led him to the Dark Army.

Will it be enough to make the pirate shift course? Or will he be lost forever in a rum-induced haze? Hoist ye colors and prepare to set sail with the Gryphon Series’ favorite pirate!

Buy A Pirate's Tale at Amazon 

Chat with Stacey Rourke

Friday, July 19 at 2 pm

Twitter #PiratesTale

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A GWR Publicity event paid for by Anchor Group Publishing. Giveaway is sponsored by the author who is responsible for the delivery of prize. ParaDays received no compensation for this post.

Wishlist Wednesday!

Wishlist Wednesday is a book blog hop, hosted by Pen to Paper, where we will post about one book per week that has been on our wishlist for some time, or just added (it's entirely up to you), that we can't wait to get off the wishlist and onto our wonderful shelves.

From Goodreads: Angel Crawford is a loser

Living with her alcoholic deadbeat dad in the swamps of southern Louisiana, she's a high school dropout with a pill habit and a criminal record who's been fired from more crap jobs than she can count. Now on probation for a felony, it seems that Angel will never pull herself out of the downward spiral her life has taken.

That is, until the day she wakes up in the ER after overdosing on painkillers. Angel remembers being in an horrible car crash, but she doesn't have a mark on her. To add to the weirdness, she receives an anonymous letter telling her there's a job waiting for her at the parish morgue—and that it's an offer she doesn't dare refuse.

Before she knows it she's dealing with a huge crush on a certain hunky deputy and a brand new addiction: an overpowering craving for brains. Plus, her morgue is filling up with the victims of a serial killer who decapitates his prey—just when she's hungriest!

Angel's going to have to grow up fast if she wants to keep this job and stay in one piece. Because if she doesn't, she's dead meat.

Literally.

Why I Want It: I love Zombies! I have been on this huge Z kick. Must be because I'm having Walking Dead withdrawals. But this book looks pretty awesome and original!

Series Review: Too Far by Abbi Glines

Series: Too Far #1-3

Genre: New Adult

Format: Kindle

Publication: 2012-2013 Self Published

Cover Ratings: 5/5 Stars

Fallen Too Far Description: To want what you’re not supposed to have…

She is only nineteen.

She is his new stepfather’s daughter. 

She is still naïve and innocent due to spending the last three years taking care of her sick mother. 

But for twenty-four year old Rush Finlay, she is the only thing that has ever been off limits. His famous father’s guilt money, his mother’s desperation to win his love, and his charm are the three reasons he has never been told no.

Blaire Wynn left her small farmhouse in Alabama, after her mother passed away, to move in with her father and his new wife in their sprawling beach house along the Florida gulf coast. She isn’t prepared for the lifestyle change and she knows she’ll never fit into this world. Then there is her sexy stepbrother who her father leaves her with for the summer while he runs off to Paris with his wife. Rush is as spoiled as he is gorgeous. He is also getting under her skin. She knows he is anything but good for her and that he’ll never be faithful to anyone. He is jaded and has secrets Blaire knows she may never uncover but even knowing all of that…

Blaire just may have fallen too far.

My Thoughts: First of all, can we all just take a minute to admire how awesome these covers are? Usually, I don't want to buy a NA paperback book, but I DEFINITELY want these to go on my shelf.

Okay, so back to the story. I DEVOURED these books. Seriously, I read one each day Friday-Sunday. I just loved them. I feel in love with Rush. I connected with Blair (as a Southern Alabama girl myself, I definitely want to hang out with this girl). And, I'll admit it, I totally fangirled over Abbi Glines. The woman can WRITE! And I don't just mean the oh so sexy steamy parts (although, she's pretty damn good at that too), but she can write a story that just hooks you from the beginning and you can't put it down. These are my first A.G. books, but they will most definitely not be my last! Let's take a quick look at what I loved about each book:

Fallen Too Far: As the first in the series, it did it's job. It grabbed my attention and completely sucked me into the Blair/Rush world. I quickly become engaged in the story and invested in the characters. It left with a MAJOR freaking cliff hanger, but thankfully I had my trusty Kindle beside me just waiting for me to drain the last $4 out of my bank account for the next installment ;)

Never Too Far: Blair, I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT! Those were my first reactions in case you were wondering. This one had me screaming at my poor Kindle baby. But in a good way. I will admit, I got pissed at Rush. He's a guy, but he definitely had his freaking stupid moments in this book. I came REALLY close to rooting for a Woods/Blair fling, but I held back and waiting on Rush to get his shit together.

Forever Too Far: Okay, does anyone else want to punch Nan in the face? Anyone?! Yeah, she's a skank. On the other hand this was a fantastic ending to a wonderful series! I really REALLY hope that there was a reason we got brief glances into Harlow's and Grant's head, though! I definitely want to see those two again! AND I just found out there's another book with Woods!!!! YES!!! I freaking love Woods. If I'm to be completely honest, I kind of love him more then Rush. I know, I know. No one hurt me! I'm off to download his book, Twisted Perfection, NOW!!!

My Rating:

"Rot & Ruin" by Jonathan Maberry

Series: Benny Imura #1
Genre: YA Dystopia
Format: Paperback; 458 pages
Publication: September 14, 2010 by Simon and Schuster
Cover Rating: 5/5 Stars

From Goodreads: In the zombie-infested, post-apocalyptic America where Benny Imura lives, every teenager must find a job by the time they turn fifteen or get their rations cut in half. Benny doesn't want to apprentice as a zombie hunter with his boring older brother Tom, but he has no choice. He expects a tedious job whacking zoms for cash, but what he gets is a vocation that will teach him what it means to be human.

My Thoughts: I LOVE, I mean LOVE, zombies! Well, not zombies in particularly, but anything to do with them. So, I'll admit, I'm probably slightly biased when it comes to this book. BUT I will say that this is one of the most unique zombie reads out there that I've read so far. I went into it thinking I knew what I was getting into, and let me tell you, I was wrong. It was so original! I can honestly say that I've never read anything like it. I love how Maberry takes this zombie apocalyptic world and turns into something other than just survival- it's about humanity. It was just fantastic.

I don't want to give too much away here, but the characters in this book held so much depth and I found myself falling in love with each of them. The really wonderful thing is, this book is not just about Benny. I mean, yes, he is the main character and we do get his side of things. But we can also see the other characters evolving and maturing as the story goes on. We learn more about each one of them, and they quickly become ingrained in our hearts.

This book truly has something for everyone. The plot is full of twists and turns that keep you turning the pages well past midnight. I highly recommend it!

My Rating: