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Month In Review - November Edition ~ November Edition

What happened on It's a Book Life?

My Favorite Read of The Month The very very long wait for this book was worth it!

What went down behind the blog?

My Biggest Moment in November I participated in and WON NaNoWriMo!

I can't believe December starts tomorrow! I Feel Like Gabbing Today - Holiday Edition 

1. I don't start celebrating Christmas until the day after Thanksgiving (really the second after Thanksgiving is over). I decorate, listen to some Christmas music, and have a blast doing it, but not until the day after Thanksgiving.

2. I love food and around the holidays that is a problem. I eat too much on Thanksgiving and pretty much the entire holiday season. I swear I gain a couple of pounds every year.

3.If you have yet to do so make sure you stop and give thanks on Thanksgiving. Just pause and say thanks before you start your brave Black Friday shopping.

4. I used to really love Black Friday shopping and it was a family tradition, but they have been starting earlier and earlier every year making me like it less and less.

5. I like snow... when it is less than an inch and doesn't stick on the ground.

6. I would rather be cold than hot, but I would most rather be the perfect temperature.

7. I love buying/making/arranging gifts for other people. I like it more than getting gifts. (Maybe not more than getting books.) It's fun and I am good at it. :)

8. I used to love going out to the bars on New Year's Eve. Now I enjoy going to a small apartment or house party with close friends. I do wish one year I could go somewhere where you get all fancy, but I don't have the money to do such things.

9. Being married and juggling two families for the holidays is kind of a pain.

10. The Christmas song I look forward to listing the most each year... Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays by Nsync!

11. I tend to binge watch ABC Family and Hallmark Christmas movies in December for like a week. I'm not ashamed.

12.I'm thankful for my good health, my family, my amazing husband, my job, my friends, books, and most importantly, my blogging friends and the book blogging community in general.

**Update: In case you were curious... my husband wrote number 13 without my knowledge. lol But I do think he is awesome. Review: The Assassin's Blade by: Sarah J. Maas The Assassin's Blade (Throne of Glass 0.1-0.5) by: Sarah J. Maas (March 2014)
448 pages
Publisher: Bloomsbury Childrens
Source: The library.
Purchase: Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository | Amazon


Initial Reaction: I don't normally read novellas, but I say bring these on.I love Celaena. Always.

The Assassin and the Pirate Lord - We get to find out more about Celaena before she ended up in the slave camp where Throne of Glass begins. I liked this one.
The Assassin and the Healer - I love the minor characters in this one. I really start to feel like we are getting to know our most beloved assassin.
The Assassin and the Desert - I am proud of Celaena. Has she always had such a tough life?
The Assassin and the Underworld - This one was frustrating and depressing.
The Assassin and the Empire - Full of heartbreak, grief, and betrayal. I knew it was coming, but it still killed me.

Overall: This is a great addition to the Throne of Glass series. We get to see Celaena really grow throughout these short stories and get to know more about her and more about Sam and Arobynn Hamel. The best part, it reads like one big bonus book. If only we had something like this for Chaol. Review: Boomerang by: Noelle August Boomerang by Noelle August (#1) (July 2014)
Genre: New Adult/Romance
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks

Goodreads Summary: The first book in a sensational New Adult trilogy from Noelle August.

Welcome to Boomerang.com, the dating site for the millennial gen with its no-fuss, no-commitments match ups, and where work is steamier than any random hook-up


My Initial Reaction: HAHAHA (this is me laughing out loud). This is awkward yet awesome. I’m caught.

I think it’s hard to find a really good new adult novel so I’m glad I was told to read Boomerang because it truly is a good new adult novel.

Boomerang is fun, cute, amusing, and at times it is filled with some pretty hardcore sexual tension. In other words, it is delightful.

The plot and dialogue may be pretty standard for a romance novel, but there was also a hint of charming uniqueness that made it more. It was crazy, but funny. I just wish it would have been either a little more cute or a little more steamy instead of kind of being stuck in the middle of the two.

I liked Mia and Ethan, both are genuine good people. It doesn't hurt that they are also just oh so entertaining. One of my favorite parts of the novel that I immensely enjoyed was their friendly competition for the job opening after the internship. I loved seeing them grow and their relationship evolve as well. When they finally get together it is HOT. I also loved the secondary characters in Boomerang and look forward to seeing who shows up in the next two books in the trilogy.

The Bottom Line: Boomerang is a nicely done new addition to the New Adult genre. It’s a sure thing for when you are in a crappy mood. Boomerang will make you smile. I Feel Like Gabbing Today 

1. Every time I try to relax and just do nothing I last about 20 minutes. I just feel like I always need to be productive. I do this to myself, I know, but I would love a day just to relax and do nothing and not feel guilty about it.

2. I'm loving this season of The Walking Dead. It may make me cringe sometimes, but I still love it. Talk about a show that really makes you stop and think.

3. I feel like I can never be on top of things when it comes to Twitter, or blogging for that matter.

4. I convinced my husband to take me to see Big Hero Six today. It was super cute, heartwarming, sad, and I loved every second of it.

5. I am always worried I have messed something up at work. I don't know why. I just am paranoid about it I guess. I don't want to fail.

6. Modern Family makes me laugh every single time I watch it.

7. I am addicted to iced coffees and iced lattes, and now that it is colder out even though I generally drink hot coffee, I can't seem to let up on the iced drinks.

8. I just downsized my to-read shelf on goodreads by 100. Now I only have 266 books on my to-read shelf. Sadly I still have 233 on my maybe-to-read shelf.

9. No matter how many to-do lists I make I never seem to be that organized. Nothing ever seems to get done.

10. I have a love/hate relationship with NaNoWriMo.

11. I'm re-reading the first two Mara Dyer books before I read the last one that was just released. I am not sure why but I feel like it is cheating to count the re-reads for the goodreads challenge, and then I saw that someone said goodreads doesn't count re-reads anyway. It is kind of weird... I feel like it should be your choice. When I finally got my hands on a copy! - Another charming devilish captain that I can't get enough of. 


A Straight To The Point Review: On The Fence by: Kasie West On the Fence by: Kasie West (July 2014)
296 pages
Genre: Young Adult/Contemporary Romance
Source: I bought it!


On the Fence is a contemporary romance you don't want to pass up.

Here is why...

Kasie West wrote it. She never seems to write anything that is less than amazing.

It is full of sibling banter. The main character, Charlie, has three older brothers. Every single character in On the Fence is easily likable.

It is sweet, adorable, and everything you could ask for in a romance novel.

I sincerely enjoyed the friend to boyfriend plot line.

It made me laugh, get teary eyed, and say awwwww with a smile on my face.

Bottom Line: I can't wait for West's next book! The Bookish Report 


Lemony Snicket is coming to Netflix. I've never read the books but a lot of people seem to be excited by this news.
This post is so true. See how it is to be a writer in the real world.
Metro riders get free e-books in Moscow!
Epic Reads never disappoints. I love their YA historical fiction timeline.
For fans of The Walking Dead, Reign, and a variety of other television shows, I suggest you read this article that pairs reading suggestions with television shows.

Fellow Book Blogger Posts

The Quiet Concert'sI Wear Genre Goggles - I think I might do this.
Maji Bookshelf'sWhich Cover is Calling For You? - This is fun!
Shae Has Left the Room'sIt's a Book... With Pictures! - I am going to try and read some graphic novels.

It's Here!!

For Another More Bookish Laugh


November Book Prescriptions: If You Liked Throne of Glass... Book Recommendation Friday is back with a new name and a new look! I plan on posting this feature on the first Friday of every month. (I know I haven't posted for months but I'm really hoping to change that.)

Click on the book title to found out more about each one. Enjoy!
If you like Throne of Glass by: Sarah J. Maas then you should try...

1.For a Kick-Ass Heroine - Graceling by: Kristin Cashore
2.For Romance Fans - The Kiss of Deception by: Mary E. Pearson
3.For War Strategists-The Winner's Curse by: Marie Rutkoski
4.For a Unique Read - Half Bad by: Sally Green
5.For Non-Stop Action - Shadow and Bone by: Leigh Bardugo
6.For an Adult/Young Adult Crossover - The Queen of the Tearling by: Erika Johansen Please share your book recommendations below and any other ways you think I could make this feature even better! If you have a specific book you want me to highlight in the upcoming months please feel free to share them with me. For other reading suggestions that I have completed in the past check out myIf you liked...Then read...page.


Ho-Ho-Ho Holiday Read-a-thon Sign Up & Goals This read-a-thon is hosted byCaffeinated Book Reviewer and The Book Shelfery

Details HERE//Start Date: 11/6/2014 // End Date: 11/11/2014

Every year I say I want to read some holiday themed books and for whatever reason I never get around to it. Probably because there are just so many books I want to read and there will never be enough time for me to read them all. Anyway, this year I really do want to read some holiday books so I decided to take the first step and sign up for the Ho-Ho-Ho Holiday Read-a-thon.

Reading Goals
~ Read three holiday books.

Social Goals
~ Participate in the Twitter Party.
~ Participate in at least one challenge.
~ Discover at least two new book blogs.

~ My True Love Gave To Me by: Stephenie Perkins and various authors
~ Let It Snow by: John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myrcle
~ Starry Night by: Debbie Macomber Day 1 / November 6th
Book I started: None. :(

Mid-Point / November 8th
Books I’ve finished: None. :(
Book I’m reading now: My True Love Gave to Me

End Wrap-Up / November 11th
Books I’ve finished: Three!
Book I’m still reading: None. I finished all three!

Review: Heroes Are My Weakness by: Susan Elizabeth Phillips Heroes Are My Weakness by: Susan Elizabeth Phillips (Aug. 2014)
384 pages
Genre: Adult/Fiction/Romance

Goodreads Summary: New York Times bestselling author Susan Elizabeth Phillips is back with a delightful novel of a killer love that is filled with her sassy wit and dazzling charm.


Heroes Are My Weakness wasn’t what I was expecting, but then again I really don’t know what I was expecting to begin with. In the end, the story inside the pages of Heroes Are My Weakness captivated me for whatever reason.

What I Liked

What I Didn’t Like

Bottom Line: I honestly don’t know who I would recommend this one to. I guess if you are already a fan of this author you may as well give it a shot. I haven’t really read anything by her previously. Either way, I did enjoy reading Heroes Are My Weakness. It was different, spooky, and steamy. 


See what the "it" book of 2014 is on goodreads (I have read the book, it's good), and voting for the Goodreads Choice Awards begins on Monday.
Publisher's Weekly also has their list out of the Best Books of 2014.
Anyone who wants to participate, is participating, or just thinking about participating in NaNoWriMo may want to read this post about writing a novel in 30 days.
The cover forA Court of Thorns and Rosesby Sarah J. Maas has been revealed. I love it.


My Friends Are Fiction - If a book makes you ugly cry do you rate it higher?- I do take that into an account in reviewing. If a book gets me that emotional...
The Broke and the Bookish - 5th Annual Secret Santa Sign-ups- I may actually participate this year!

Harry Potter Crafts

I found this HP craft board on Pinterest. No regrets. I now want to throw an HP party and I want to figure out how to make this howler ornament.

It's NaNoWriMo Time I'm happy to say that I am officially participating in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) again this year! This is my second time participating. I feel like I should be more confident but really that isn't the case, but I better get over it because NaNoWriMo starts today!

Why am I participating in NaNoWriMo?

What will my second novel be about? (What I know so far.)

What does this mean for It's a Book Life?

Nothing will change on the blog. Most of my posts are already done and ready to go for the month of November. It may take me a little while longer to reply to comments and read other blog posts but that is about it. So don't worry blogger buddies, I'm not going anywhere.

**Wish me luck! If anyone else is participating in NaNoWriMo let me know and I will totally cheer you on! My NaNoWriMo name is AKayR08 if you want to add me.