Apr 21, 2014

Memory Lane Monday #4 ~ Eclipse Review

Memory Lane Monday is a feature that is hosted by 
Amber at Paradise of Pages 
and 

Amber and I have been talking about wanting to re-read some of our favorite books and how we feel like we never have time trying to keep up with the latest and greatest books for our blogs.  So, we came up with a great plan, let's start our own meme and get everyone else joining in on the re-reading fun as well!  We are, of course, still planning to keep up with current reads but we are intertwining old favorites at the same time.  

Here's how Memory Lane Monday will work:

  • Each week the co-hosts will trade off with recapping when it is a re-read or what they have heard so far about the book and the other co-host will put up their review. 
  • The participants can read anything that they remember reading in the past, or something that they have wanted to read that has been around for a while and just haven't gotten around to reading it yet for whatever reason.
  • Participants can decide if they want to recap the book before reading it or just put up a review of what they read.
  • Anyone can join in, just please link back to our blogs as well as add your name to the linky so we can hop around and see what everyone is reading.
  • Please put our banner on your post as well, so we all look the same!
  • We ask you kindly to follow BOTH of our blogs.
  • Most importantly remember to just have fun! :)

We will be providing each week a linky that you will be able use to link your posts for us and everyone else to see as well. All we ask is for you to put up our banner as well as a link back to both hosts on your post. 

We hope you enjoy doing this meme as much as I am sure we will!

This week my Memory Lane Monday read was:
Eclipse (Twilight, #3)

If you would like to read my thought before I read Eclipse from last week you can here.

So here's the thing, Eclipse is one of my favorite books ever.  I love the whole Twilight series but this book brings everything together so nicely that it all really could end here and I would be fine (although I would always wonder what happened so yippee for Breaking Dawn).

There is so much to love about this book.  Edward.  Jacob.  Bickering.  Edward and Jacob bickering.  Bad vamps coming after Bella.....again.  I enjoy watching the transition in Edward as he goes from not wanting Bella to have anything to do with Jacob to learning to find a happy medium between her visiting Jake and her feelings for her her safety.

One of my favorite passages comes after Bella punches Jacob for kissing her:

"If you ever bring her back damaged again - and I don't care who's fault it is; I don't care if she merely trips, or if a meteor falls out of the sky and hits her in the head - if you return her to me in less than the perfect condition that I left her in, you will be running with three legs.  Do you understand that, mongrel?"
Edward Cullen ~ Eclipse

  
Protective much Eddie?  The answer is yes, but I don't mind.  I think most girls would like to mean that much to a guy. 

The planning for Victoria's arrival as well as the Newborn Army is the focal for this book.  We also get more insight into the characters of Rosalie and Jasper.  Their back stories are always interesting to me.  

Chapter 22 of Eclipse is by far one of my favorite chapters in any book, EVER!  Fire and Ice is something I always look forward to when reading this book and once again, it didn't disappoint. This is the scene where Bella is freezing in the Tent on the mountain and Jacob has to come in to warm her up and he and Edward finally have a civil conversation.  Some of my favorite lines from this chapter and scene are:

"You'll be warm in a minute.  Of course, you'd warm up faster if you took your clothes off."
Jacob Black ~ Eclipse

"I'm feeling oddly grateful for your presence in her life tonight.  It was the least I could do...You know, Jacob if it weren't for the fact that we're natural enemies and that you're also trying to steal away the reason for my existence, I might actually like you."
Edward Cullen ~ Eclipse

I know a lot of people feel that they either need to side with who is best for Bella, Team Edward or Team Jacob, whichever the case may be (the whole "team" thing makes me shudder so you won't ever see me claim a team in any love triangle) I do always have a preference toward Edward, but I see both sides and I see that either guy is great for her.  I absolutely love hearing both of these statements from them:

"When I left you, Bella, I left you bleeding.  Jacob was the one to stitch you back up again.  That was bound to leave its mark - on both of you.  I'm not sure those kinds of stitches dissolve on their own.  I can't blame either of you for something I made necessary.  I may gain forgiveness, but that doesn't let me escape the consequences."
Edward Cullen ~ Eclipse

"I'm exactly right for you, Bella.  It would have been effortless for us - comforable, easy as breathing.  I was the natural path your life would have taken...If the world was the way it was supposed to be, if there wer no monsters and no magic..."
Jacob Black ~ Eclipse

I think this will continue to be my favorite book in this series.  I look forward to Breaking Dawn next, for the last week installment of our reread of this series.  

Next week's Memory Lane Monday:  My thoughts prior to reading Breaking Dawn.  

From this week on Amber and I will be on alternating weeks with our "before" and "after" thoughts.  We will also not be reading the same books at the same time after Breaking Dawn unless we decide on the same series again.  

Have you been thinking of rereading some old favorites?  Join in on Memory Lane Monday!  Enter your link so we can check out what you are all up to!

Apr 17, 2014

Feature and Follow Friday ~ WE ARE THE FEATURE!!

THE SARCASTIC PALMTREE IS A 
FEATURE THIS WEEK!


Welcome to Feature Follow Friday!  This post is hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read.  This feature is here for everyone to be able to get their blog some attention and get more followers as well as give my readers a little more fun at looking what I do for the weekly topic. 

Since we are the feature this week, here is our feature interview:

When did you start blogging?
I started blogging with my son almost a year ago.  We started in July of 2013!

What is your favorite part of book blogging?
My favorite part of book blogging is sharing something I love with other people.  I was quite vocal in promoting the books and authors I loved on social media.  Becoming a blogger was an excellent fit for me to do that and get the word out about the books I love on a bigger scale.

What type of books do you mainly blog about?
I mainly blog about any type of YA, Fantasy, Contemporary, Sci-fi, Dystopian you name it.  Occasionally I have a little bit of New Adult as well. 

What is your favorite book(s)?
I owe a lot to the Twilight series because it is the one that turned me into a reader.  When I think of my current favorites, the first one to come to mind was my favorite read of last year, “Chasing Forever Down” by Nikki Godwin.  I wonder if I ever would have found that book without being on a book tour for Nikki so I owe that fantastic discovery to my blogging.  Other favorites would include Tiger’s Curse by Colleen Houck, Fablehaven by Brandon Mull, and anything by Richard Paul Evans or Katie McGarry.

What has been the best thing that has happened to you because of book blogging?
The absolute best thing was the one that was least expected and that was the relationships I have because of blogging.  I assumed that the blogging community would have been a lot more competitive. Instead, I have found helpful, enthusiastic book lovers and authors that I have made lifelong friendships with and I look forward to making more blogger friends in the future.  

This week's Topic:
Spring Break. Where would be your favorite destination spot if you could join the Spring Break festivities?


Need I say more?
What a huge surprise that I want to hang out on a beach! 


I am so excited that I got to be featured this week!  Thank you to Alison Can Read and Parajunkee for hosting this fabulous feature each week as a way to get to know other bloggers better!  


Make sure you leave me your links so I can visit you today to see where you're spring breakin' and also so I can give you a follow back!





Apr 16, 2014

Waiting on Wednesday ~ The Fine Art of Pretending by Rachel Harris

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by 
Jill at Breaking the Spine 
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating!

The Fine Art of Pretending (The Fine Art of Pretending, #1)

According to the guys at Fairfield Academy, there are two types of girls: the kind you hook up with, and the kind you're friends with. Seventeen-year-old Alyssa Reed is the second type. And she hates it. With just one year left to change her rank, she devises a plan to become the first type by homecoming, and she sets her sights on the perfect date—Justin Carter, Fairfield Academy’s biggest hottie and most notorious player.

With 57 days until the dance, Aly launches Operation Sex Appeal and sheds her tomboy image. The only thing left is for Justin actually to notice her. Enter best friend Brandon Taylor, the school’s second biggest hottie, and now Aly’s pretend boyfriend. With his help, elevating from “funny friend” to “tempting vixen” is only a matter of time.

But when everything goes according to plan, the inevitable “break up” leaves their friendship in shambles, and Aly and Brandon with feelings they can’t explain. And the fake couple discovers pretending can sometimes cost you the one thing you never expected to want.

The Fine Art of Pretending release date is
September 2014


Why I'm waiting:
I love every one of Rachel Harris' books and I'm sure this is one that I will add to the growing list!

What books are you waiting on this Wednesday?  Leave me your links so I can visit and see your picks this week!