1-year Blogoversary Is Here! + My Very First Giveaway :)

Pic found here.

Yeeeey!! This is so cool!! I am so super excited about this! :) :) 

I can't believe a year has already passed! Actually I started blogging in March 2011 but I switched to Blogger in August and that was when I actually started blogging about books, so August 28th 2011 counts! :)

And to celebrate this amazing day with you I decided to host my very first giveaway ever :) 

Dunno about the rules now :P Um, there will be one winner! You must be a follower to enter the giveaway. I love my readers so this giveaway is for you <3 It's open INTERNATIONALLY as long as Book Depository ships to your country. I am not responsible for lost mail.  I think that about it, right? :P

Choices of books? My favourites ofcourse! 

So, that's the choice of books :)
The variety is big so hopefully there won't be a problem to choose :P 

Thank you so much my beautiful readers for this amazing year :) It was one of the best experiences ever ;)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Jellicoe Road Readalong

Wow!! Nina is hosting this awesome thing! I've been dying to read Jellicoe Road since... well, since I've first heard of it. So I bought a copy. And then I gifted it to my best friend for her birthday. I've got a ebook copy though :P  And YES, finally I have an excuse to pick this book up! :) Thank you Nina! 

It's my first time reading this book and I am so super excited about it! :) Um, I know about this book since months now and I wanted to read it so badly but actually never got around to pick it up. And I know it's good ;) I still haven't read any book of Melina Marchetta and bad me I know damn right I am so stupid of not doing so. But I will get around all of them ;) Promise ;) 

Hmm, what I am expecting from this book? Uh, pure awesomeness? This book has the most amazing quote I've ever heard of. I actually wanted to tattooed it on myself. Then I remembered I hate pain, but still!

So, yes, I am super excited about this! And I know I'm gonna love it ;) 

The Future's Gonna Be, Wherever You Wanna Be

The University will be starting in 14 days. And I am not going. Considering my bitching in the last 6 months you'll probably think "WHAT?!" Yes, I am not going. Because even though I've been having two jobs I don't have enough money for the University fee, let alone for eating, sleeping and breathing. 

I knew this for about a month now. I don't talk about it much. Because, well, my heart broke when I did the calculus and I figured I won't be able to attend. And everyday I think about the email I need to send to the University saying I won't attend my classes in September. And everyday I say "Tomorrow I will" but I never do. But now I really need to. And my heart is breaking all over again. 

And it seems like the only person who noticed was my taxi driver and friend. Last Friday I was really wasted. And he took me home. He stopped the car and said "ok, Nea what's wrong?" and I was like "Nothing's wrong". Because really I felt nothing was wrong. My mechanism of coping was to push my University issues in the back of my mind and not think about it. So, of course, I haven't noticed that I was drunk almost every second day. I thought I was partying a lot. Until my taxi driver said, "You know, anything you're searching you won't find it on the bottom of the bottle". And there I started crying. Because let's face it, everything is NOT ok. Not at all. I hate my job, I hate being a waitress, because, hello, I will be having a Bachelor degree in Psychology in a month and I need to serve drunk/annoying/crap people? Hell, no. I don't like living with my parents. No, that's an understatement. I resent living with my parents because there is no space in the house for me. I miss my privacy.

But most of all I miss my friends from Maribor. I hate having a pointless conversation because that's all I've got here at home. Pointless conversation. Which is, by the point, pointless, so I rather read a book alone and I'm fine. Or so I thought.

I can't wait to leave this country behind. I resent this crap whole so much. I resent people for not noticing how sad and angry I feel toward the whole world. It sucks. And my parents. God. They came back from holidays a couple of days ago and I already feel like the walls are closing around me. "You didn't take great care of your grandmother". It's not my fault she fell. I took her to the hospital. 3 times. I waited 3 hours there and I didn't say anything. What do you want me to say? Sorry? Sorry for not sitting beside her everyday while I wasn't working? Sorry, but no. I have issues too. I don't complain, but I still have them. And it's hurting me a lot. And really I don't get it. So, what, if we don't talk about it, the problem doesn't exist? What bullshit is that?! It's like they think I don't mind not going to study in Edinburgh in 14 days. Hell, these were my dreams, for God's sake. And obviously, they don't matter shit. 

And that's maybe what hurts the most. Noone cares. My heart in breaking everytime I think about the email I need to send and noone cares.

My friend Alenka is saying I am looking at the problem from the wrong perspective because it's not like I am not going at all. I am going in January. I'm just postponing my goal. But that doesn't mean I am super happy about it. I'm not. So not.

But, like always I am not giving up. I just felt the need to tell someone. And you guys have shown me so much support and I am grateful. A lot. I love you. Because God's knows, I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for your support when my world was crashing down.

I can't wait to leave this country behind. With nothing left behind, nothing worth returning to. 

When I left for London, I knew I needed to come back eventually. To finish University and such. This time will be different. I will return for holidays. But I will never come back because I would need to, it will be because I want to. Hopefully, there won't be the need.

Blogspiration #20

Blogspiration is a Brand Spankin' New weekly meme hosted by both GrowingUp YA and Saz101. The meme was created to help spark inspiration among bloggers, readers and writers alike. An inspirational quote/picture/video is posted weekly, on the day of the author's choosing, so that it may inspire creativity, conversation, and just a little SOMETHING.

Hello my dear friends and readers :) 

This week we have a different kind of blogspiration! Yeey. So the lovely Kristin decided we should all have the same theme for this week and I loved the idea :) I was thinking about the whole week. *excited*

Found here.

1. Kristen Stewart - I LOVE Kristen! No matter what's happening right now and all the drama, I don't give a shit about it. I love Kristen. I think she rocks and she is so so beautiful! I've actually seen her and it was one of the best days of my life. You can see the pics here.
2. Robert Pattinson - well, if we skip again the drama, I would have loved to see their interactions :) As a psychologist, you know :P And well, because he's hot and he has a sexy accent!
3. Reese Witherspoon - Hell yes! Legally Blonde movie and such. Awesome. She inspired me so so much when I was younger and I wanted to go to Harvard. Yeah, silly dream, but hey, a girl can dream :)
4. Johnny Depp - I was in love with this guy when I first saw Pirates of the Caribbeans. Hell yes! But he would have needed to be dressed in Jack Sparrow style ;)
5. Richelle Mead - Yes, of course. I could talk Rose Hathaway for hours. Literally.
6. Emma Stone - because I think she is completely and utterly hilarious and the dinner would have been a blast with her :D
7. And last but not least (because she would sit close to me) Jennifer L. Armentrout - OMG I would probably die if I could meet with Jennifer. She is awesome, badass, great and OMG we could talk about Daemon nonstop! Hell, yes! :)

haha this was some awesome blogspiration! I had so much fun doing it :) :)
What famous people's name are on your list? :)

Taking Shots by Toni Aleo Review

Taking Shots

Assassins #1
by Toni Aleo

Published on 11th November 2011

Lulu, 478 pages
Find the title on Goodreads - Amazon

Elli Fisher has never thought she was good enough, let it be her job, her weight, her love life, nothing. That is until she meets Shea Adler. After doing a promotional shoot for the NHL team, the Assassins, she meets the hunky hockey player who shoots a puck, shattering her world.

Shea Adler was tired of the life he was living outside of the rink. The girls, the money blowing, the drinking, everything had to stop and it all did when he met Eleanor Fisher. He had never met anyone like her. She was feisty, witty, shy, and simply gorgeous. When he laid eyes on her, it was as if he was taking the hardest hit of his life into the boards, and he had to have her. Elli is a little skeptical of Shea, but he knows that they were meant to be together, and he needed her in his life. 

Can Elli throw her insecurities out the window and love Shea with everything inside of her, or will she let a past relationship, and her family ruin any chance of her being happy.

- Goodreads.com description

Lots of people recommended me this book. I must admit I was really excited for it. But, I was somehow disappointed. 

There wasn't really a plot. I mean, everything the book's about is the relationship between Shea and Elli. Which was good, more or less. But really it lacked in details. I wanted the author to describe more the situations and the feelings of other people or simply what was going on before heading again on Elli's and Shea's feelings. 

Elli. Sweet God, if there is something I hate, is girls with low self esteem issues. I can't stand it. In real life I make an effort to understand (which I don't) but in books it pisses me off completely. I mean, the guy says he loves you like 10 times a day and you doubt it?! And still think he doesn't want you? Come on. Ridiculous. 

Shea. Woow. This guy was woow fantastic. Sometimes though, I thought he was too emotional and too pushy with Elli telling her that he loves her all the time. People would think she would finally get it. Nope. But he kept trying and I really admired him for that. 

The romance was good. The hot scenes were beautifully written. But still the romance was, well, because of Elli's insecurities a little off sometimes. There were so many obstacles on the way of their happiness that I thought the author could have prevent them so much suffering, really. And me throwing the book to the other side of the room because it was like a neverending story between arguing and making peace.

Anyway, this book was a good summer read and I enjoyed it. So if you like some New Adult stuff filled with romance and hokey, this is the perfect book for you ;)

Speechless by Hannah Harrington Review

Speechless
by Hannah Harrington
Publication date August 28th 2012
HarlequinTeen, 288 pages

Find the title on Goodreads

Book Depository - Amazon

Everyone knows that Chelsea Knot can't keep a secret

Until now. Because the last secret she shared turned her into a social outcast—and nearly got someone killed.

Now Chelsea has taken a vow of silence—to learn to keep her mouth shut, and to stop hurting anyone else. And if she thinks keeping secrets is hard, not speaking up when she's ignored, ridiculed and even attacked is worse.

But there's strength in silence, and in the new friends who are, shockingly, coming her way—people she never noticed before; a boy she might even fall for. If only her new friends can forgive what she's done. If only she can forgive herself.

- Goodreads.com description

Oh, wow, Hannah Harrington did it again. I've read Saving June a few months ago and I absolutely loved it. So when I've heard about Speechless I knew I needed this book. And I wasn't disappointed. This book was perfect.

I really enjoyed it because the main point of the book is accepting diversity - in this case - people who are gay. And I felt it was so beautiful and incredible that Harrington thought about putting this big problem of acceptance in such a perfect story with so many incredible and adorable characters. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being gay.

Chelsea is such a bitch at the beginning. I mean, she is the best friend of the most popular girl at school, which makes her popular as well. And she gossip a lot. But after the tragedy at New Year's Eve party everything changes. She decides to take a vow of silence. And I think it is really brave. She doesn't break it and she sticks to it. She is such a strong character. It was fairly easy to connect with her.

And the book also points out the meaning of friendship. Someone who's your friend just because she/he needs something from you or uses you, that's not friendship. Friends are people who accept you for who you are and they love you because of that.

The author in the end says something really beautiful that I want to share with you:

Words matter - how we use them and how we don't. Sometimes it is really difficult and even scary to speak up for what you believe is right, but it's important to do. At the end of the day you answer to yourself, no one else, so you'll be happy that you did.

Speechless is a beautiful novel that captures how hard is enduring peer's pressure even when you know you're doing the right thing. It difficult to stand your own, especially when you're on your own. But Chelsea demonstrated with her choice and will, that it is in fact possible.

No way am I giving them the satisfaction. These are the same people who two weeks ago envied me and clamored for my attention, and now I'm supposed to, what? Get on my knees and beg for their forgiveness? Embrace the role of whipping girl they've designated for me? That is so not happening. Their opinion of me never mattered before, and it's not going to matter now. Nothing has changed. I'm still the same Chelsea Knot. Buw down, bitches.

As far as silence go, it is pretty comfortable - it's the kind of quiet shared between two people who don't feel the desperate need to fill every second with the sound of their own voices.

Except that night didn't change my life. I changed it. I have to stop acting like I have no control over these things. Like I'm letting them just happen to me. These are my choices. For better or worse.

Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout Review

Onyx
The Lux #2
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Published on August 14th 2012
Entangled Teen, 366 pages
Find the title on Goodreads

Book Depository - Amazon

Being connected to Daemon Black sucks…

Thanks to his alien mojo, Daemon’s determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarro connection. So I’ve sworn him off, even though he’s running more hot than cold these days. But we’ve got bigger problems.

Something worse than the Arum has come to town…

The Department of Defense are here. If they ever find out what Daemon can do and that we're linked, I’m a goner. So is he. And there's this new boy in school who’s got a secret of his own. He knows what’s happened to me and he can help, but to do so, I have to lie to Daemon and stay away from him. Like that's possible. Against all common sense, I'm falling for Daemon. Hard.

But then everything changes…

I’ve seen someone who shouldn’t be alive. And I have to tell Daemon, even though I know he’s never going to stop searching until he gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him? And what does the DOD want from them—from me?

No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies…

- Goodreads.com description

You guys.. I've been literally dying to read this book since December when I finished Obsidian in one sitting. I would have given my first born child for having this book. Really. This is one of those series that you can't not love it. Wholeheartedly.

I thought Obsidian was pure awesomeness. But OMG Onyx didn't disappointed. At all. This book was as incredible as the first one. And it has a lot more action in it and I loved it!! It was like a roller-coaster of emotions and action and Daemon <3

In this instalment we kind of figure out that the Arum aren't the only bad guys in the story. That there are others who are a lot more mean that them. And you know why? Because from the Arum we expect that they are evil, from the other evil party we.. don't.

Katy. OMG Katy in the book was amazing. She was strong and willing and she demonstrated that she has a lot of courage. I admire her! But, she was also really annoying lots of the times. I mean, come on. "It's just because of the connection" yeah right. Why not admit that you've fallen for Daemon? I admit that I've fallen for him. The rest of the female population that read Obsidian admit it, why can't you? Duh. I didn't like that. She made some bad choices on the way.. and I didn't know how to feel about her - if I was sorry for her or just annoyed - like "told you so!" type :P

Daemon. Uh huh. My love. You will never fail to amaze me. Really, Daemon, marry me! Ok, lets stick to the review. Daemon. Well, he has changed. He is more honest, emotional and open. And he isn't the douche type anymore. At least not that often. He really did a great job showing her that he cares. *

And that dude, Blake, God I didn't like him at all. And I knew there was something off about him. I wanted to slap him and tell him to leave my favourite fictional couple alone for God's sake! But well.. Yeah.

Overall, Onyx is an incredible book, and an amazing sequel to the fabulous Obsidian. I really enjoyed this book and I would recommended it wholeheartedly to everyone out there :) This serie won't disappoint you, because it's freaking amazing ;)

“I always liked you. From the moment you first flipped me off.”

“That's the funny thing about trying to escape. You never really can. Maybe temporarily, but not completely.” 

“Daemon pressed his forehead against mine. "Oh, I still want to strangle you. But I'm insane. You're crazy. Maybe that's why. We just make crazy together.” 

* Daemon, I must admit that I like you more when you're the sarcastic type. But I guess that's just me.

Blogspiration #19

Blogspiration is a Brand Spankin' New weekly meme hosted by both GrowingUp YA and Saz101. The meme was created to help spark inspiration among bloggers, readers and writers alike. An inspirational quote/picture/video is posted weekly, on the day of the author's choosing, so that it may inspire creativity, conversation and just a little SOMETHING.

Well, hello :) I've just seen Kristin's blogspiration and I completely loved it!! I headed to her Pinterest page and checked everything out!! OMG it's awesome ;) If you haven't, check it out ;)

So, I've found this funny imagine and I decided to use it for my blogspiration :P

Pic found on Pinterest.

Hahaha, it's it hilarious? ;) And so true ;)

What's your blogspiration this week? :)

JLA Read-A-Thon Opening Post

Hell yeah! Awww, I am so excited!! :) :) When I've first heard about this Read-a-thon 2 months ago or so I was so completely "YEES! I'll be there" ;) So really, thank you Valerie @ Stuck in books for this awesome event that I am really honoured to participate! :)

My plan?

Uh huh, ok. I've read all the books that came out until now. (CAN'T wait to read Deity <3 <3)

So I decided that I will re-read some (read - LOTS) of the most amazing, beautiful, crazy, hilarious moments in Onyx. I still need to write a review about it, so I think this is a great idea ;) 

And then I'm gonna re-read some of the best parts of Pure. Pure, OMG I love this book so much <3 <3 

Now, you would want to know why on earth not read the entire both books, right? Well, yes, I am free from work for the next 2 days and I will need to be at work on Sunday at 5PM which leaves me a LOT of time, but.. I am a slow reader :P and I love to enjoy my reading and not just scanning the pages, so I'm gonna take my time :) 

Can't wait for the Twitter party and the awesome challenges and the Live chat with Jennifer!! This event will be so fucking great I can't explain how exited I am right now!! :) :)

Over-excitement and such :P

So, are participating too? Which books will you read?? Which one (haha only one, yeah right) is your favourite?? :) Happy reading ;)

Bared To You by Sylvia Day Review

Bared to you
Crossfire #1
by Sylvia Day
Published on April 3rd 2012
360 pages
Find the title on Goodreads

Book Depository - Amazon

Our journey began in fire... Gideon Cross came into my life like lightning in the darkness-beautiful and brilliant, jagged and white-hot. I was drawn to him as I'd never been to anything or anyone in my life. I craved his touch like a drug, even knowing it would weaken me. I was flawed and damaged, and he opened those cracks in me so easily... Gideon knew. He had demons of his own. And we would become the mirrors that reflected each other's most private wounds... and desires. The bonds of his love transformed me, even as I prayed that the torment of our pasts didn't tear us apart...

- Goodreads.com description

Oh. My. Freaking. God. 

Fuck, this book is absolutely amazing. Really. I've started reading it because I've found out it's similar to Fifty Shades, but hell, it's so NOT. It's even better ;) And no, I won't tell you how many bookmarks I have in this book now :P

This book makes you want to scream to God "Thank you for creating women who can write utterly-amazingly-incredible romance. And well, sex." A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. And another thing. I don't have a boyfriend - but this book, hell, I wouldn't need one for the rest of my life if I had this book in my purse. YES, it's that good ;)

This book describes the story of Eva. She's only 24 but all the hell broke loose when she was only 10. Fucking 10. Damn some things people would rather not know. My heart broke for her. I will never understand how some people can think they can take someone's freedom or will away just because they feel like it. I hate it. Abuse it's bad, but sexual abuse in my opinion is even worse. 

She is fucked up. And then there is Gideon, who is, well, fucked up as well. As an almost psychologist I've found it so intrigue to read about theirs mechanisms of coping with life. The author really knows something about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Abuse Disorders and I've loved it!

Their relationship. OMG. The writing was pure awesomeness. And the hot scenes were incredible. This I think is the best Adult book I've read so far. Bared to you really is so good and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoy good romance and incredible hot sex scenes ;)  Because this book won't disappoint you.

I'd known this was coming - the unraveling of circumstances too good to be true. Contentment and happiness didn't exist in my life for more than a few moments at a time, and they were really only illusionary. There was always something hidden. Lying in wait to spring up and ruin everything.

And yet I understood the alienation of being around others who couldn't really see you or chose not to. I'd felt the self-loathing that came with being fraud, portraying an image of what you wished you could be but weren't. I'd lived with the fear that the people you loved might turn away from you if they ever got to know the true person hidden inside.

Cover Reveal: Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

Holy Shit, I must have been living under a rock! What the hell? How on earth did I miss THIS?!

If the only way to save the world was to destroy what you loved most, would you do it?

The clock is ticking. Everyone must choose.

Oh my. It's completely gorgeous!! I love this cover so so much <3 <3 Tessa looks so beautiful and powerful on it <3 :)

What do you think of it?? :)

Summer Wrap-Up Read-a-Thon Update Day 7

Hello my beautiful readers :) 

As you probably already know this fantastic event is organized by Jennifer @ Some Like it Paranormal and Jude @ In between :) 

Today, Montana is hosting this awesome challenge - Laughing Out Laud Challenge and you know I am a sucker for quotes, so.. here they are. The most hilarious ones :P

“Okay, God, I thought. Get me out of this and I’ll stop my half-assed church-going ways. You got me past a pack of Strigoi tonight. I mean, trapping that one between the doors really shouldn't have worked, so clearly you're on board. Let me get out of here, and I’ll...I don’t know. Donate Adrian’s money to the poor. Get baptized. Join a convent. Well, no. Not that last one.”  [Richelle Mead, Blood Promise]

“I had a standing arrangement with God: I'd agree to believe in him—barely—so long as he let me sleep in on Sundays.”  [Richelle Mead, Vampire Academy]

“What's your name?" 

"What?" I asked, squinting at the light. 

"Your name." I recognized Dr. Olendzki peering over me. 

"You know my name." 

"I want you to tell me." 

"Rose. Rose Hathaway." 

"Do you know your birthday?" 

"Of course I do. Why are you asking me such stupid things? Did you lose my records?" 

Dr. Olendzki gave an exasperated sigh and walked off, taking the annoying light with her. "I think she's fine," I heard her tell someone.”  [Richelle Mead, Shadow Kiss]

“You guessed? You must have been pretty sure, considering you could have killed me."

"I was ninety percent sure."

"I see," Clary said. There must have been something in her voice, because he turned to look at her. Her hand cracked across his face, a slap that rocked him back on his heels. He put his hands on his cheek, more in surprise than pain.

"What the hell was that for?"

"The other ten percent.”  [Cassandra Clare, City of Bones]

“I was gonna be super pissed in the afterlife if I died a virgin in this crap hole.”  [Jennifer L. Armentrout, Half-Blood]

“I'm not leaving, Kitten. You're going to do this."

My mouth opened as did the door behind us. Stomach dropping, I turned to see Mom standing there in all her fuzzy-bunny pajama glory. Oh, for the love of God.”  [Jennifer L. Armentrout, Obisidian]

“I don't think he meant to kiss me," I said finally.

"What? Did he slip and fall on your mouth? Those things are known to happen.”  [Jennifer L. Armentrout, Obsidian]

“I heard the man and woman cry a warning as I frantically racked my brain for some sort of throat-repairing spell, which I was clearly about to need. Of course the only words that I actually managed to yell at the werewolf as he ran at me were, 'BAD DOG!'

Then, out of the corner of my eye, I caught a flash of blue light on my left. Suddenly, the werewolf seemed to smack into an invisible wall just inches in front of me...

"You know," someone said off to my left, "I usually find a blocking spell to be a lot more effective than yelling 'Bad dog,' but maybe that's just me.”  [Rachel Hawkins, Hex Hall]

“Oh, come on, Sophie. Don't you get it? He's L'Occhio di Dio's ultimate weapon. They used him as a spy at Hecate for years, so what makes you think that's stopped now? This is probably just his new assignment, getting close to you so he can use you for information about the Council."

"Actually, I was just going to use her for her body, but that's a good idea, too.”  [Rachel Hawkins, Demonglass]

“Before I forget, here's your homework. Where do you want me to put it?"

She pointed at the trash can. "Right there would be fine.”  [Becca Fitzpatrick, Hush Hush]

Wooow, that was so super fun!! :) I LOVE this kind of challenges :) :) 

Reading Update:

Read and finished Fifty Shades Freed - about 250 pages

Read 49% - about 250 pages of Taking Shots by Toni Aleo

Read about 300 pages of A Discovery of Witches

Started reading Losing Lila and I am on 3%

This Read-a-Thon is so super awesome and I am having an incredible time :) :)

What about you? What are you currently reading? :)