Tag: books

Sunshine Blogger Award

Olivia Chanel5 Comments

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Hi everyone, I hope you’re having an amazing day! I was nominated for the Sunshine Blogger Award a few months ago by Holly @ Nut Free Nerd and I finally came around to writing this post. Thank you Holly for the nomination, it was so kind. I hope you all enjoy this post, and my answers!

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  • Thank the person who nominated you in a blog post and link back to their blog.
  • Answer the eleven questions sent by the person who nominated you.
  • Nominate eleven blogs to receive the award and write them eleven new questions.
  • List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award logo in your post and/or your blog.

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1. What’s your biggest source of motivation when it comes to blogging?

Amazing books and other bloggers to be honest! I blog because I love books, and I want to get to know other bloggers too. I mean getting to know other people who love books as much as you do, reading their posts, and them reading mine is just the greatest feeling.

2. What inspires you?

Everything. I like to take inspiration from my day-to-day life as much as possible, and bring that into my life and blogging.

3. Out of all of your posts, which one is your favorite?

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Five Days of Romance: Day 5 – Anticipated Romance Reads

Olivia Chanel2 Comments

Hi everyone and welcome to the last day of Five Days of Romance. Even though Valentine’s Day is over doesn’t mean the romance has to be. Personally I love romance the most, and have a bunch of books I own I’ll be reading when I get more time away from some of my ARCs. I thought I’d share some of the romance books I’m truly anticipating to read at the moment.

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These are 14 Romance novels that I own and am dying to read, but haven’t gotten around to just yet. They all come highly recommended by friends and loved ones, and I’d take their recommendations over anyone’s so I know these books will be great. Hence, why I’m excited to read them. The books I’m anticipating to read are,

  1. Act Like It by Lucy Parker.
  2. Dare to Love by C.P. Santi.
  3. Ash by Malinda Lo.
  4. If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo.
  5. Last Will and Testament by Dahlia Adler.
  6. More Than Distance by Elizabeth Briggs.
  7. Trade Me by Courtney Milan.
  8. Keeping the Distance by Clarisse David.
  9. Not Your Sidekick by C.B. Lee.
  10. Something in Between by Melissa De La Cruz.
  11. Love On My Mind by Tracey Livesay.
  12. That Thing Between Eli & Gwen by J.J. McAvoy.
  13. Under the Lights by Dahlia Adler.
  14. The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon.

This was Day 5 of Five Days of Romance, and the end of this blog series. However, the romance lives on, and we can always find it in a book whenever we desire. To check out my earlier posts for Five Days of Romance, go here.

Have you read any of these books, or are you also excited to read any of them? Is there a special book you have your eye on?

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Five Days of Romance: Day 4 – Recipe for the Perfect Date

Olivia ChanelLeave a comment

Happy Valentine’s Day my loves, and welcome to another day of Five Days of Romance here on my blog. Today I’m here to give you the recipe for the perfect date. You don’t want to miss this. In only five steps you’ll be sure to have the perfect date by tonight, amazing right? Well I won’t keep you waiting, for all my single people and not so single people. Here is how you get the perfect date in only five steps.

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The first step to fixing the perfect date is to choose who your date is going to be, and yes my friends, the perfect date is of course a book! So be it an old favorite or a new book you’ve had your eyes on for ages. Date night is all about you and a book you would love to read at the moment, nothing more, nothing less. Just pick a book you want to read and ignore all other distractions.

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The second step to a perfect date is deciding where you want to have it. Where will you and your date have the most amazing time together? Now this all depends on the weather, opportunity and circumstance but a few excellent options are listed above. If the air is not chilly and the sun is out, perhaps a picnic outside is the way to go. However, a library or café might be a better option if you want to go out but the weather is not that welcoming. To make it extra cozy, a blanket and pillow fort or a bubble bath might be just the right way to spend your perfect date.

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On your date, the mood is also very important, which leads us to step three. In order to make the perfect date you might need a few mood setters, perhaps a few lit candles, your favorite music or fresh flowers. Anything that will make your evening feel more magical is just what you need for the date. Truly, the sky is the limit. If it helps you relax and enjoy your date, it’s clearly perfect.

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The fourth step to create the perfect date is to bring snacks with you, because what is a date without something to snack on? It sure isn’t perfect. Deciding exactly what to bring will differ depending on where you go, but having something to drink with you is always a smart move. With your date you can eat cupcakes, cookies, cake, chocolate dipped strawberries, a bowl of watermelon or potato chips. Mix and choose however you like, all depending on what you love to snack on when you spend time with your date. Do you prefer it sweet, sour, salty or a mix of them all somehow?

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The last step is choosing what to wear to the date and it’s probably the easiest step out of the five. The clear answer is, wear what you love to wear, so be it nothing at all or your favorite pair of jeans and a top. If the weather allows it, a fluffy dress might also be just what feels right. The best part is that no matter what you wear, I can 100 % guarantee that your date will love it. You look gorgeous just the way you are.

This was Day 4 of Five Days of Romance. Tomorrow we’ll have Anticipated Romance Reads, and you don’t want to miss it. To check out my earlier posts for Five Days of Romance, go here.

These five steps were it for my Recipe for the Perfect Date, what did you think? Will you be following these steps tonight for date night?

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Five Days of Romance: Day 3 – Book Girlfriends

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Welcome to another day of romance, and this time I have some book girlfriends for you. Eight of them to be exact. Honestly, these girls are the best literature have to offer, they are beautiful, strong, vulnerable and you need them on your radar. Trust me on this. Don’t hesitate to get to know them and fall in love with them as much as I have.

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My first book girlfriend today is Jamaican-American Baylee Wright from Infini by Krista & Becca Ritchie. This amazing girl loves to dance, especially to soca music and together with her best friend Luka. Baylee also loves juggling with all her heart, which is done in the Las Vegas circus, and she is truly a star in the show Infini. She’s a born and bred New Yorker, loves grilled cheese sandwiches and deserves the world. When I read Infini I fell in love with her, and have not looked back since.

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My second book girlfriend is Giselle Stewart, often just called Gigi, from Tiny Pretty Things by Sona Charaipotra & Dhonielle Clayton. She’s a ballerina in a very competitive world, where the girls are vicious and competition relentless. Gigi is sweet and truly wants to be the best at what she does without any cheating or fighting. She dreams of being the third black ballerina to succeed in the company, and she deserves it so much. You cannot help but love her, and her sunshine personality.

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The third book girlfriend on my list is pansexual Chris Morrison from The Melody of You and Me by M. Hollis. This girl is confused about what to do with her life, and when I read about her struggles I cried and then laughed because finally, someone put into words how I feel about my dreams, university and finding the right path in life. Chris loves to read books, works in a bookshop and plays the guitar. She’s totally amazing, could eat all the pizza and I really love her.

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Five Days of Romance: Day 2 – Romantic Book Postcards

Olivia Chanel2 Comments

Welcome to my second day of Five Days of Romance! Today I have romantic and funny bookish postcards to share with you all. Save them, share them, and send them to your friends and loved ones. Just don’t claim them as your own when asked. I had so much fun making these, I love pick up lines and puns and whatnot, which is why this was so much fun. These postcards are perfect in time for Valentine’s Day on Tuesday.

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(inspired by Unicorn Tracks by Julia Ember)

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(inspired by Infini by Krista & Becca Ritchie)

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ARC Review of Bluff by Julie Dill

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Bluff by Julie Dill

Publication Date: February 7, 2017.

Publisher: Amberjack Publishing.

Genres: Young Adult and Contemporary.

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Purchase here: Amazon

Synopsis: Seventeen-year-old Chelsea Knowles is surrounded by the privileged. Michael Kors gym bags and designer shoes are part of her daily scene, but the talented cheerleader has a secret: she and her dad can barely pay the bills. Broken by his wife walking out on their family, Chelsea’s father ignores his responsibilities. Between cheer costs, grocery bills, electricity, and other regular financial burdens, it’s no surprise when a cut-off notice arrives in the mail. Chelsea knows it’ll be up to her to keep the lights on.

With the deck stacked against her, Chelsea decides to bet their future on the dubious poker knowledge she learned from her father before he gave up on parenting. Nervous but determined, Chelsea heads to a casino with very little security and wins big. Thrilled by her win, she’s quickly drawn to the casino again and again. She risks it all, especially when the attractive, young pit boss takes an interest in her.

Chelsea’s life, no longer filled with cheerleading, school, and hanging out with her friends, is now consumed by smoky casino floors and the ups and downs of a gambler’s life. True gamblers know when to fold, but Chelsea keeps betting long after her needs are met. The complicated web of lies soon begins to spin out of control, threatening to expose everything. Will someone see through her bluff?

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Thank you, Amberjack Publishing, for my advanced review copy of Bluff. I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review; this does not affect my opinion. Any quotes mentioned below are taken from the ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

Bluff by Julie Dill tells the story of 17-year-old Chelsea who lives with her irresponsible dad. Every month they can barely pay their bills, and in a moment of desperation, Chelsea goes to a casino in the hopes of making some cash. There she lies about her name and age and starts playing poker. Bluff had a lot of potential, potential to do amazing things. When I first saw the book, and read its synopsis, I thought, finally a book about teenage addiction, specifically gambling addiction. Unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations.

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Cover Reveal for 27 Hours by Tristina Wright

Olivia ChanelLeave a comment

Hi readers, welcome to another cover reveal and an extremely exciting one at that! The cover reveal for 27 Hours by Tristina Wright is here, and you’re going to love it. This book is one of my most anticipated books ever, so being a part of this reveal is a privilege. Without further ado, here is the cover for 27 Hours…

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Title: 27 Hours (The Nightside Saga. #1)
Author: Tristina Wright
Release Date: October 3, 2017

Book Description:
Rumor Mora fears two things: hellhounds too strong for him to kill, and failure. Jude Welton has two dreams: for humans to stop killing monsters, and for his strange abilities to vanish.

But in no reality should a boy raised to love monsters fall for a boy raised to kill them.

Nyx Llorca keeps two secrets: the moon speaks to her, and she’s in love with Dahlia, her best friend. Braeden Tennant wants two things: to get out from his mother’s shadow, and to unlearn Epsilon’s darkest secret.

They’ll both have to commit treason to find the truth.

During one twenty-seven-hour night, if they can’t stop the war between the colonies and the monsters from becoming a war of extinction, the things they wish for will never come true, and the things they fear will be all that’s left.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/27-Hours-Tristina-Wright/dp/1633758206/
B&N: https://www.amazon.ca/27-Hours-Tristina-Wright/dp/1633758206/
Amazon.ca: https://www.amazon.ca/27-Hours-Tristina-Wright/dp/1633758206/
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/27-Hours-Tristina-Wright/dp/1633758206

Author Bio:
Tristina Wright is a blue-haired bisexual with anxiety and opinions. She’s also possibly a mermaid, but no one can get confirmation. She fell in love with science fiction and fantasy at a young age and frequently got caught writing in class instead of paying attention. She enjoys worlds with monsters and kissing and monsters kissing. She married a nerd who can build computers and make the sun shine with his smile. Most days, she can be found drinking coffee from her favorite chipped mug and making up more stories for her wombfruit, who keep life exciting and unpredictable.

Still trying to figure out the mermaid thing.

Website: http://tristinawright.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tristinawright/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TristinaMWright
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TristinaWright
Tumblr: http://authorwrightnow.tumblr.com/
Snapchat: @tristinawright

What do you guys think of the cover? Isn’t it just gorgeous? I’m in love!

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Twitter Giveaway for Infini by Krista & Becca Ritchie

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Hi everyone, to celebrate the fact that Infini by Krista and Becca Ritchie is releasing next week on Tuesday I’m holding a giveaway on Twitter. I’m giving away two kindle copies of the book because I want others to read and love this book as much as I have. You can read my full review here, but I promise you that this book will completely mesmerize you and sweep you off your feet.

You can add Infini on Goodreads here, and you can also pre-order Infini on Amazon at the moment. The book is on sale the first week for 3 USD, and if you pre-order and send your receipt to Krista and Becca on their website you’ll get an exclusive short story from the Addicted series universe set during Halloween, 2018. You can read more about it here.

You can enter my giveaway by retweeting the following tweet on Twitter,

Some information, that I also mentioned on my Twitter under my giveaway,

  • There will be two winners in total.
  • The giveaway ends February 2, and winners will be chosen the day afterwards and must reply within 24 hours.
  • The giveaway is international, but you must have an Amazon account since that is the only place I know how to gift ebooks.

That’s it! I really hope you all will love this book as much as I have, it’s absolutely magical and deserves all of the love in the world. If you want something fun while you wait, check out the official Spotify playlist for Infini here, it’s just amazing!

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ARC Review of Infini by Krista and Becca Ritchie

Olivia Chanel2 Comments
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Infini by Krista and Becca Ritchie

Publication Date: January 31, 2017.

Publisher: Independently published.

Genres: New Adult, Contemporary, and Romance.

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Selling points: Amazing characters, family oriented story and lots of epic circus moments!

Purchase here: Amazon | iBooks

Synopsis: Some love is infinite.

“Don’t have a best friend that’s a girl” — this was the advice from my older cousin. I didn’t take it. Because he followed with, “friends don’t f*ck friends. And you’ll want to f*ck her.”

It was terrible advice.

My cousin should’ve told me that being best friends with Baylee Wright — since she was twelve — would be the best and worst decision of my life.
He should have told me to protect her from what was coming.
He should have told me that when a darkness crawled towards us, there’d be no safety net.

Now I’ve signed back on to the same Vegas acrobatic show as Baylee, working together for the first time in years. And she tells me that she’s having trouble in a certain “area” of her life — because of our past.

“You can help me fix it,” she says.
And then she hands me a list.

Recommended for readers 18+ for mature content. Luka Kotova is introduced in Amour Amour, and Infini takes place in the same acrobatic world. However, it’s not necessary to read Amour Amour prior to Infini.

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Infini by Krista & Becca Ritchie tells the story of Jamaican-American Baylee Wright and Russian-American Luka Kotova and takes you on a captivating and unexpected journey that will sweep you away to the sound of the circus. Infini is nothing like I expected it to be, and everything I needed it to be, and more. It’s beautiful, full of culture, music, raw emotion and battles impossible to overcome. But as they say, the circus is where the impossible becomes possible. This book has a lot more angst than I expected, and with both the bff-to-lovers trope and the forbidden love trope, I’m absolutely certain that this book will move readers just as much as it has me. I was mesmerized from beginning to end, with not a single dull moment in sight. Infini deals with a lot of heavy topics, that are in no way romanticized. It deals with depression, kleptomania, bulimia, and abuse. All of this is mentioned in a detailed trigger warning at the beginning of the book. All of the topics are dealt with in a very respectful manner in the book but should be taken into consideration before reading.

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