This blog has officially moved to Wordpress! You can find the latest posts at www.blueeyebooks.com. Redirect coming soon!

Sunday, December 31, 2017

A Guide: The Wonders of Images


This is my December installment of a series I'm doing to commemorate my third blogoversary!  Every month, I'll take on a topic in which I've learned something about in my three years in the blogoverse.  These all reflect my experiences so there are definitely other resources out there!  This is just what I've found works for me.  A list of linked previous topics are below for your convenience!


In this installment, I'll be talking about images.  They spice up your blog and make everything that much prettier!  But how can you customize (or even make your own) images?  And do you have to cite images you've borrowed from other people?

Friday, December 29, 2017

50/50 Friday (65): Favorite/Least Favorite Christmas/Winter-Related Trope


50/50 Friday is a meme hosted by Carrie @The Butterfly Reads and I and focuses on the opposite sides of books (best/worst, differing opinions, etc).  Every week will have a new topic and several advance topics will be listed in the tab labeled 50/50 Friday!


Today's Topic: Favorite/Least Favorite Christmas/Winter-Related Trope

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

English Course Review Round-Up: Part 3


One of my programs in university is English and consequently, we do a lot of reading!  This semester, I read 8 fiction novels for a class and I'm doing a series of mini reviews to recap my thoughts!  This is the third such installment out of four.  You can view part 1 HERE and part 2 HERE.

Friday, December 22, 2017

50/50 Friday (64): Favorite/Least Favorite Christmas-Themed Book


50/50 Friday is a meme hosted by Carrie @The Butterfly Reads and I and focuses on the opposite sides of books (best/worst, differing opinions, etc).  Every week will have a new topic and several advance topics will be listed in the tab labeled 50/50 Friday!

Today's Topic: Favorite/Least Favorite Christmas-Themed Book (or book that takes place during Christmas (or other holiday))

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

English Course Review Round Up: Part 2


This is part 2 of my round up series that will feature books I read in one of my English courses this semester!  For more details and previously reviewed books in this series, view Part 1.

Friday, December 15, 2017

50/50 Friday (63): Favorite/Least Favorite Sidekick

50/50 Friday is a meme hosted by Carrie @The Butterfly Reads and I and focuses on the opposite sides of books (best/worst, differing opinions, etc).  Every week will have a new topic and several advance topics will be listed in the tab labeled 50/50 Friday!

Today's Topic: Favorite/Least Favorite Sidekick

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

English Course Mini Review Round Up: Part 1


If you don't know already, I'm in university and I'm doing two programs: Environmental Biology and English Critical Studies.  For my English program, we tend to read quite a bit (naturally) and this semester I was in a course that studied the novel (basically a LOT of structure discussion).  I'll be doing a few round up posts (we read 8 books so I decided to do two books per post for a total of 4 round ups) to recap my thoughts on the novels we read!

Review Wednesday: Artemis by Andy Weir




Standalone to date

Blurb:
"Jazz Bashara is a criminal.

Well, sort of. Life on Artemis, the first and only city on the moon, is tough if you're not a rich tourist or an eccentric billionaire. So smuggling in the occasional harmless bit of contraband barely counts, right? Not when you've got debts to pay and your job as a porter barely covers the rent.

Everything changes when Jazz sees the chance to commit the perfect crime, with a reward too lucrative to turn down. But pulling off the impossible is just the start of her problems, as she learns that she's stepped square into a conspiracy for control of Artemis itself—and that now, her only chance at survival lies in a gambit even riskier than the first."

Monday, December 11, 2017

Music Monday (7)

Music Monday is a weekly event hosted by Lauren over at Always Me.  Every Monday, you share one or two of your favorite songs you've been enjoying that week to help other people discover new music!  Here are my picks for this week:

Saturday, December 9, 2017

November Wrap-Up


It's that time again!  Honestly, I can't believe how fast this year is flying by.  There's so much I have to do by the end of the year, not to mention the end of the semester (which ends in the middle of December).  But we shall power on!  This month has certainly been interesting in terms of reading.

Friday, December 8, 2017

50/50 Friday (62): Newest/Oldest Book You Own

50/50 Friday is a meme hosted by Carrie @The Butterfly Reads and I and focuses on the opposite sides of books (best/worst, differing opinions, etc).  Every week will have a new topic and several advance topics will be listed in the tab labeled 50/50 Friday!

Today's Topic: Newest/Oldest Book You Own

Friday, December 1, 2017

50/50 Friday (61): Favorite/Least Favorite Book Read in November

50/50 Friday is a meme hosted by Carrie @The Butterfly Reads and I and focuses on the opposite sides of books (best/worst, differing opinions, etc).  Every week will have a new topic and several advance topics will be listed in the tab labeled 50/50 Friday!

Today's Topic: Favorite/Least Favorite Book Read in November

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

A Guide: Blog Design


Welcome to the third installment of my Guide series, a series to commemorate my third blogoversary and serve as a collection of all of my blogging and reviewing knowledge thus far!  I'll be posting one Guide per month (I've published two previously, see them here: Pursuit of Reviewers, Review Writing).  I definitely don't know everything but if you're just starting out or you haven't had a chance to explore everything the internet has to offer, I've got your back!  You can see an upcoming list of topics on the Guide page.

Today's topic is all about the Blog Design.  I'm not going to go too much into code or anything and this applies mostly to Blogger blogs (I've actually been meaning to switch to Wordpress and an actual domain for a while but I just haven't had the time) because that's what I've had experience with.  Enjoy!

Friday, November 24, 2017

50/50 Friday (60): Book That Left You Hungry for More/Satisfied

50/50 Friday is a meme hosted by Carrie @The Butterfly Reads and I and focuses on the opposite sides of books (best/worst, differing opinions, etc).  Every week will have a new topic and several advance topics will be listed in the tab labeled 50/50 Friday!


Today's Topic: Book That Left You Hungry for More/Satisfied

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Review and Release Tuesday: 18 Hours to Us by Krista Noorman


Standalone to date

Goodreads Blurb:
"When Natalie Rhodes left her house early that fateful morning to catch the bus to her senior class trip, she never expected to end up in a car with Colton Daynes--the guy she's had a crush on since first grade, the guy who has no idea who she is. But when Colton's irresponsible driving causes them both to miss the bus, the unlikely pair set off on a road trip from Michigan to Virginia Beach to catch up with their classmates.

From the little village of Middleville, the popular football star and the quiet gymnast will navigate back roads and highways, travel from lake towns to waterfalls to mountaintops and beyond, all the while fielding texts from Colton's friends and mean girl, Lexi, who also happens to be Colton's girlfriend and Natalie's former best friend.

Hours spent together on the road will lead them to places they've never been, discovering hidden talents, revealing secrets and fears. And they just might realize they have more in common than they know."

Friday, November 17, 2017

50/50 Friday (59): Books You Were Late/Early to the Party in Reading

50/50 Friday is a meme hosted by Carrie @The Butterfly Reads and I and focuses on the opposite sides of books (best/worst, differing opinions, etc).  Every week will have a new topic and several advance topics will be listed in the tab labeled 50/50 Friday!


Today's Topic: Books You Were Late/Early to the Party in Reading

Friday, November 10, 2017

50/50 Friday (58): Favorite/Least Favorite Movie Tie-In Cover

50/50 Friday is a meme hosted by Carrie @The Butterfly Reads and I and focuses on the opposite sides of books (best/worst, differing opinions, etc).  Every week will have a new topic and several advance topics will be listed in the tab labeled 50/50 Friday!

Today's Topic: Favorite/Least Favorite Movie Tie-In Cover

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Review Tuesday: Something in the Water by Ben Starling


Series: Something (no particular order)


Goodreads Blurb:
"The sealed box Teal finds in the street contains more than just a mystery...What if to be with the man of your dreams…you had to give up your life? On the verge of losing her job, side-lined journalist Teal Douglas is forced to travel to the South Pacific to profile a powerful businessman. But with her almost-but-not-quite fiancé Bear discouraging her every step of the way, she may not be able to save her career or her relationship.

When corporate criminals invade paradise, Teal teams up with former boxer turned marine biologist Perry Stanley to investigate. As she discovers the true intentions behind their new fishing operations, she must either accept the plum promotion that will save her career or—with Perry—defend the island with more than her life.

This full length novel in the soul-stirring series by Ben Starling continues the journey begun in Something in the Air, a short story now available on Amazon."

Sunday, November 5, 2017

October Wrap-Up


I am catching up!! (can you hear the conviction?)  I haven't done a wrap-up since April and I made a resolution at the beginning of the year that I would try to get a wrap-up posted for every month.  Obviously that isn't really happening because of my summer of terror but I'm going to finish out the year strong!

Friday, November 3, 2017

50/50 Friday (57): Best/Worst Book Read in October

50/50 Friday is a meme hosted by Carrie @The Butterfly Reader and I and focuses on the opposite sides of books (best/worst, differing opinions, etc).  Every week will have a new topic and several advance topics will be listed in the tab labeled 50/50 Friday!

Today's Topic: Best/Worst Book Read in October

Sunday, October 29, 2017

Review Sunday: Changing Tides by Sarah Darlington


Kill Devil Hills #2

Goodreads Blurb:
"ELLIE
For years Ellie Turner's had a crush on the ruggedly handsome, beast of a man, television actor, Nate West. This isn't your average 'fan-girl crush' either, it's borderline obsessive, and totally inconvenient since, other than this one exception, Ellie's always been strictly into girls. But it doesn't matter...because Nate doesn't exist in real life. In real life Ellie has her own issues to worry about, including the death of her brother, the recent suicide attempt of her sister, and then there's always her annoying roommate Rhett to contend with.

NATE
Nate West isn't looking to start a new relationship. He's still heartbroken over the last girl who ripped out his insides, still learning how to manage his new-found fame, and, frankly, not even sure what time-zone he's in. His life is so full of stress, the last thing he wants is more of it.

So when Nate and Ellie meet on an airplane, nothing life changing should have come from it. But "sometimes in life--very rarely, I might add--you meet someone and you know instantly they're going to mean something special to you."

**NEW ADULT ROMANCE**
Recommended for 18+. F/M scenes only. Changing Tides can be read as a standalone, but is recommended to be read second in Sarah Darlington's KILL DEVIL HILLS Series."

Friday, October 27, 2017

50/50 Friday (56): Favorite/Least Favorite Scary Novel

50/50 Friday is a meme hosted by Carrie @The Butterfly Reads and I and focuses on the opposite sides of books (best/worst, differing opinions, etc).  Every week will have a new topic and several advance topics will be listed in the tab labeled 50/50 Friday!

Today's Topic: Favorite/Least Favorite Scary Novel

Sunday, October 22, 2017

Review Sunday: Treasure, Darkly by Jordan Mierek


Treasure Chronicles #1

Goodreads Blurb:
"Seventeen-year-old Clark Treasure assumes the drink he stole off the captain is absinthe… until the chemicals in the liquid give him the ability to awaken the dead.

A great invention for creating perfect soldiers, yes, but Clark wants to live as a miner, not a slave to the army—or the deceased. On the run, Clark turns to his estranged, mining tycoon father for help. The Treasures welcome Clark with open arms, so he jumps at the chance to help them protect their ranch against Senator Horan, a man who hates anyone more powerful than he.

Sixteen-year-old Amethyst Treasure loathes the idea of spending the summer away from her bustling city life to rot on her father’s ranch, but when a handsome young man shows up claiming to be her secret half-brother, her curiosity is piqued. He’s clever, street smart, and has no qualms jumping into the brawl between the Treasures and Horans. Caught in the middle, Horan kidnaps Amethyst, and all she gets is this lousy bullet through her heart.

When Clark brings her back to life, however, the real action starts, and Amethyst joins him in his fight against the Horan clan—whatever the cost. Defeating the Horans may seem easy at first, but going up against men with the same fighting vengeance as Clark, and a Senator with power he’s obtained by brainwashing the masses?

Well, Amethyst’s boring summer at home has turned into an adventure on the run, chock full of intrigue, danger, love, and a mysterious boy named Clark."

Friday, October 20, 2017

50/50 Friday (55): Favorite/Least Favorite Book to Movie Adaptation



50/50 Friday is a meme hosted by Carrie @The Butterfly Reads and I and focuses on the opposite sides of books (best/worst, differing opinions, etc).  Every week will have a new topic and several advance topics will be listed in the tab labeled 50/50 Friday!

Today's Topic: Favorite/Least Favorite Book to Movie Adaptation

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

A Guide: Review Writing



This is the next installment of my series that is commemorating my third blogoversary!  I've decided to sum up all of my knowledge that I've gained as a blogger into these guide posts.  My first guide was all about how to find the right reviewer for your novel (see it HERE) and this next one will focus more on the reviewer's side of things: review writing.  I hope you enjoy and if you have anything to add, leave your thoughts down in the comments!

Friday, October 13, 2017

50/50 Friday (54): Best/Worst Bookish Job


50/50 Friday is a meme hosted by Carrie @The Butterfly Reads and I and focuses on the opposite sides of books (best/worst, differing opinions, etc).  Every week will have a new topic and several advance topics will be listed in the tab labeled 50/50 Friday!

Today's Topic: Best/Worst Bookish Job (job you'd want/not want from a book)

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

A Guide: The Pursuit of Reviewers



Today, before I jump back into posting regular reviews and 50/50 Friday's (I'm still here, Carrie!!), I'm going to be starting a new series all about what I've learned through my three years as a blogger and some advice.  And yes, I'm very bad at celebrating my blogoversary because I always forget about it when it comes around or I'm not prepared enough to organize a giveaway or something of the sort.

This guide is centered mainly for authors (especially authors who have never blogged and therefore need some pointers on etiquette).  I'll be writing guides on review writing, blog design, etc etc soon!  Keep in mind that this has just been my experience!

Sunday, September 10, 2017

Review Sunday: Such a Good Girl by Amanda K. Morgan


Standalone to date

Goodreads Blurb:
"Riley Stone is just about perfect.
(Ask anyone.)

She has a crush on her French teacher, Alex Belrose.
(And she suspects he likes her, too.)

Riley has her entire life planned out.
(The plan is nonnegotiable.)

She's never had a secret she couldn't keep.
(Not ever.)

Riley is sure that her life is on the right track.
(And nothing will change that.)

She's nothing like a regular teenager.
(But she doesn't have any problem admitting that.)

Riley doesn't usually play games.
(But when she does, she always wins.)

She thinks a game is about to start....

But Riley always has a plan....

And she always wins."


Thursday, August 10, 2017

Review Thursday: Out of the Ashes by A.M. Heath


Ancient Words #3

Goodreads Blurb:
"Sometimes peace is won through battle.

Haunted by the memories he can't escape, Ralph Williams wants to be left alone to lick his wounds. He doesn't understand why he's forced into the company of the one woman he least desires. Can God bring him healing through such uncomfortable circumstances?

Frank Harper thought he had left the war and its turmoil behind, but the home to which he has returned is anything but peaceful. When racial tensions arise in Maple Grove, Frank finds himself on a battlefield once more. He's desperate for peace, but at what cost?

When George Chandler heads off to wed his beloved bride, things don’t go as expected. Just as George starts to get comfortable with what he believes is God’s new plan for his life, history threatens to repeat itself. Will he fight for the woman he’s come to love, or will he let her go?

The War Between the States has destroyed more than just a nation. In four years, it has damaged bodies and wounded souls until the people think that nothing is left. Will they find the healing they so desperately need from the God that loves them?"

Wednesday, August 2, 2017

Agatha Christie Review Round Up: Part Three


I've been reading more Agatha Christie!  If you don't follow me on Instagram, I posted a picture a while ago of my new Agatha Christie shelf.  As a birthday present, my parents gave me something like 35 Agatha Christie books; most from the Hercule Poirot series (which is my favorite).  Suffice to say there will be a lot more Agatha Christie around for the rest of the year!  I'll be posting round ups of my reviews (since I don't have too much to say about each one so far) with 3 books in each.

Monday, July 31, 2017

Release Spotlight: Out of the Ashes by A.M. Heath


Out of the Ashes is the third book in A.M. Heath's Ancient Words series and today is release day!



Ancient Words #3

Goodreads Blurb:
"Sometimes peace is won through battle.

Haunted by the memories he can't escape, Ralph Williams wants to be left alone to lick his wounds. He doesn't understand why he's forced into the company of the one woman he least desires. Can God bring him healing through such uncomfortable circumstances?

Frank Harper thought he had left the war and its turmoil behind, but the home to which he has returned is anything but peaceful. When racial tensions arise in Maple Grove, Frank finds himself on a battlefield once more. He's desperate for peace, but at what cost?

When George Chandler heads off to wed his beloved bride, things don’t go as expected. Just as George starts to get comfortable with what he believes is God’s new plan for his life, history threatens to repeat itself. Will he fight for the woman he’s come to love, or will he let her go?

The War Between the States has destroyed more than just a nation. In four years, it has damaged bodies and wounded souls until the people think that nothing is left. Will they find the healing they so desperately need from the God that loves them?"


Friday, July 28, 2017

50/50 Friday (43): Place You Buy the Most/Least Books


50/50 Friday is a meme hosted by Carrie @The Butterfly Reads and I and focuses on the opposite sides of books (best/worst, differing opinions, etc).  Every week will have a new topic and several advance topics will be listed in the tab labeled 50/50 Friday!

I AM GETTING BACK ON TRACK FINALLY!  (can you hear the conviction in the all caps?)

Today's Topic: Place You Buy the Most/Least Books

Sunday, July 23, 2017

Review Sunday: Post-High School Reality Quest by Meg Eden


Standalone to date

Goodreads Blurb:
"Buffy is playing a game. However, the game is her life, and there are no instructions or cheat codes on how to win.

After graduating high school, a voice called “the text parser” emerges in Buffy’s head, narrating her life as a classic text adventure game. Buffy figures this is just a manifestation of her shy, awkward, nerdy nature—until the voice doesn’t go away, and instead begins to dominate her thoughts, telling her how to life her life. Though Buffy tries to beat the game, crash it, and even restart it, it becomes clear that this game is not something she can simply “shut off” or beat without the text parser’s help.

While the text parser tries to give Buffy advice on how “to win the game,” Buffy decides to pursue her own game-plan: start over, make new friends, and win her long-time crush Tristan’s heart. But even when Buffy gets the guy of her dreams, the game doesn’t stop. In fact, it gets worse than she could’ve ever imagined: her crumbling group of friends fall apart, her roommate turns against her, and Buffy finds herself trying to survive in a game built off her greatest nightmares."

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Guest Post: Publishizer's Novel Contest (bringing to light the route of non-traditional publishing)


About a month ago I got an email from a company called Publishizer asking me to post a guest post about a new contest.  Normally, I dismiss many of these emails as guest posts normally aren't my cup of tea (as you've probably noticed by the distinct lack of said posts in my corner of the blogosphere).  However, they're running a contest that I think is rather relevant to most aspiring (and already semi-established) authors.

Publishizer is running a contest until the 31st of July that's part crowdfunding campaign and part novel viability assessment.  Anyone can submit their proposal and during this process, readers can view your proposal and preorder your novel if they so choose.  Based on the number of preorders, a winner will be chosen and will receive $1,000 (US).  If you aren't chosen for the prize, you'll still be queried for major publishers.  I'll let Publishizer take it from here!

Monday, July 10, 2017

ARC Review Monday: Hello, Sunshine by Laura Dave


Standalone to date

Goodreads Blurb:
"From Laura Dave—the author of the “addictive” (Us Weekly), “winning” (Publishers Weekly) and critically acclaimed bestseller Eight Hundred Grapes—comes a new novel about the secrets we keep…even from ourselves.

Sunshine Mackenzie has it all…until her secrets come to light.

Sunshine Mackenzie is living the dream—she’s a culinary star with millions of fans, a line of #1 bestselling cookbooks, and a devoted husband happy to support her every endeavor.

And then she gets hacked.

When Sunshine’s secrets are revealed, her fall from grace is catastrophic. She loses the husband, her show, the fans, and her apartment. She’s forced to return to the childhood home—and the estranged sister—she’s tried hard to forget. But what Sunshine does amid the ashes of her own destruction may well save her life.

In a world where celebrity is a careful construct, Hello, Sunshine is a compelling, funny, and evocative novel about what it means to live an authentic life in an inauthentic age."


Monday, July 3, 2017

An Update: I Am Rising From the Dead


Yes!  I was, for all intents and purposes, 6 feet under.  The past month has been the definition of unremitting.  Let me tell you all about it and my plans to get back on track.

Friday, June 16, 2017

50/50 Friday (37): Favorite/Least Favorite Book Read in the First Half of the Year


50/50 Friday is a meme hosted by Carrie @The Butterfly Reads and I and focuses on the opposite sides of books (best/worst, differing opinions, etc).  Every week will have a new topic and several advance topics will be listed in the tab labeled 50/50 Friday!

Today's Topic: Favorite/Least Favorite Book Read in the First Half of the Year

Friday, June 9, 2017

50/50 Friday (36): Best/Worst Place to Read

50/50 Friday is a meme hosted by Carrie @The Butterfly Reads and I and focuses on the opposite sides of books (best/worst, differing opinions, etc).  Every week will have a new topic and several advance topics will be listed in the tab labeled 50/50 Friday!

I'm finally on time for once!  This is me getting my life back on track...

Today's Topic: Best/Worst Place to Read

Thursday, June 8, 2017

Review Thursday: Numbers Ignite by Rebecca Rode


Numbers Game #2

Goodreads Blurb:
"Treena and Vance think they’ve escaped the numbers game forever. They’re wrong.

After Treena’s disastrous attempt to unite the nation, she has the deaths of hundreds haunting her dreams. Now, with hatred and accusations following her past the border, she’s determined to leave that horrible day behind and find a peaceful, uneventful life with Vance and the settlers. But when she starts seeing mysterious figures hiding in the abandoned cities at night and uncovers a strange desert population, she realizes there’s a danger much greater than NORA to worry about—and she just abandoned her people to their fate.

Vance is a prisoner. Being rejected by the girl he loves and put on trial for betraying his clan are bad enough, but now he’s been framed for a crime he never committed. Their less-than-perfect refuge has become the political game of a madman, and Vance is the only one who can stop it—if he can keep from being executed first.

Treena and Vance are still very much in the game, and this time it will take everything they have to save those they love."

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