Spring Fling Giveaway Hop

Hosted by Eve's Fan Garden & I am A Reader, Not A Writer

Earlier this week I reviewed this book and I am sure there are still plenty of you who have not yet read it.  So I am giving 1 lucky person the chance to win a copy of Ally Carter's first book in the Gallagher Girls Series I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You.

Quick synopsis if you have not already read the book or if you missed my review.

Cammie Morgan is a student at the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women, a fairly typical all-girls school-that is, if every school taught advanced martial arts in PE and the latest in chemical warfare in science, and students received extra credit for breaking CIA codes in computer class. The Gallagher Academy might claim to be a school for geniuses but it's really a school for spies. Even though Cammie is fluent in fourteen languages and capable of killing a man in seven different ways, she has no idea what to do when she meets an ordinary boy who thinks she's an ordinary girl. Sure, she can tap his phone, hack into his computer, or track him through town with the skill of a real "pavement artist"-but can she maneuver a relationship with someone who can never know the truth about her? 

Cammie Morgan may be an elite spy-in-training, but in her sophomore year, she's on her most dangerous mission-falling in love.

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Review: I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter

TITLE: I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You
Author: Ally Carter
Publisher: Disney - Hyperion 2006

Cammie Morgan is a student at the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women, a fairly typical all-girls school-that is, if every school taught advanced martial arts in PE and the latest in chemical warfare in science, and students received extra credit for breaking CIA codes in computer class. The Gallagher Academy might claim to be a school for geniuses but it's really a school for spies. Even though Cammie is fluent in fourteen languages and capable of killing a man in seven different ways, she has no idea what to do when she meets an ordinary boy who thinks she's an ordinary girl. Sure, she can tap his phone, hack into his computer, or track him through town with the skill of a real "pavement artist"-but can she maneuver a relationship with someone who can never know the truth about her?
Cammie Morgan may be an elite spy-in-training, but in her sophomore year, she's on her most dangerous mission-falling in love

MY REVIEW

We are going to start this review with a short note on title, with the length of the title I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You being so long, we are going to refer to this book as Gallagher Girls #1.  This was not my first Ally Carter book, actually Heist Society was (will be reviewed later on).  But like Heist Society this book just proves my love for Ally Cater.

In Gallagher Girls #1 we meet Cammie Morgan the Chameleon.  Most other girls would not want to be known for skills of disappearing, but at the Gallagher Academy that is a good thing.
W are also introduced to Rebecca "Bex" Baxter the first Gallagher Girl not born in the US.  Bex is known as Duchess while on missions for class which has a lot to do with her being from the UK.  If I had to choose a favorite character, it would be Bex, she is confident in her ability as a a spy.

The third friend and roommate we meet is Elizabeth "Liz" Sutton who is known to Cammie for "Oopsie Daisy".  Liz is more the lab girl type with her tendency to be clumsy but she is the smartest of all the girls at Gallagher Academy.

Last we meet the new student Macey McHenry the daughter of Senator James McHenry.  Macey is on her last chance of prep school, as the only student to have really spent any time with the opposite sex she is the go to girl on all things Josh.

This book is a great "first boyfriend" story.  Most girls don't marry the first boy they kiss but when you are 15 you want to find the perfect boy.  When Josh notices her on a class assignment the girls make him the assignment.  Using their skills from school the girls learn what they can about Josh from family to friends and using the knowledge of Macey to decipher what the found out.

I love this book, the characters are great the plot keeps you coming back to see what happens and you can't help but wish for a happily ending for the characters.

My Rating

Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-thon: Hour 23

ANNOUNCING MY HOUR 19 MINI CHALLENGE WINNER:

Some of my books, my unhealthy snacks, and my reading desk. #dewey #readathon twitter.com/dani_sarabia/s…
— Danielle Sarabia (@dani_sarabia) April 28, 2013

Hour 23

I have this feeling this will be my last update for the night, I am really tired my eyes are drooping and I do not think I will make it the next 2 hours.  So here is what will most likely be my final counts that have not been updated in a while.  I wish everyone still standing in this 24 hour adventure good LUCK for the final 2.

Total Hours Read: 4

Total Hours Listened: 8.5

Total Pages Read: 222 (111 each) 4 hours and this is all that I finished that is how tired I am.

Total Books Read: 2 (well 2 short novellas, does that count)

Total HOURS: 12.5 so not so bad for my first time participating.

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Hour 19 Mini Challenge: Picture Break

These last few weeks I have become addicted to taking pictures with the Instagram app on my phone and I am wanting to see your pictures as well from these last few hours.  If you are anything like me, you have taken and shared plenty with your followers (if not, it is time to share some).

My phone is addicted to @instagram not me
— The Bookish Diaries (@BookishDiaries) April 20, 2013

Let me see:

• The Books you have Read
• The Books you still have to Read
• The Food that you have eaten and maybe even the snacks you started with.
• Take a picture of that spot you have called home these last few hours

I am showing this again because I CAN and I am wishing this is where I was

I would be telling you to go and check out my instagram but it is currently dead as my phone is looking like this.....This was not the plan today, I should have been overwhelming instagram with photos.

Leave a comment with a link to your pictures

You can post using Instagram, Twitter, Facebook or even your blog

I have added a Rafflecopter giveaway just paste the link to your image entry.  I am doing it this way because I do know that not everyone is able to use Google+ entries.  Please if you do have a Google+ account still share the link in the comments section so everyone can stop by and view the images that you have shared with us.

1 Lucky winner will receive 1 paperback copy of the book Divergent  by Veronica Roth which was the book I was listening to while at work and everywhere else I had to go today.  This contest is open internationally if you live out of the US I will use Book Depository to send you book if in the US, most likely Barnes and Noble or Amazon.

This Giveaway will end at the beginning of Hour 23 in 4 Hours at which time I will close the rafflecopter and let it chose me a winner

Good luck to everyone entering. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-thon: Hour 16

Hour 16

FORGET telling you all about what I am reading and how reading is going, I just happend in on my sister watching Doctor Who from earlier today (yes I plan to watch it later) to see this screen:

So I have decided to change my reading location next year to this lovely library in the TARDIS.  To make it even better there is a swimming pool around the corner so I can always take a break by the pool and layout to read some more.

If anyone else wants to join me in that location please leave a comment and we will try to locate our library for next year.  

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Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-thon: Hour 14

Hour 14

So while I was gone at the Baby Shower we passed the half way mark for me, during that time I did some listening but when things like this are going on they are more important so here are some cute images as well as some fun from me of the baby shower.  Not much listening was done but you know I may get through with Divergent by the end of the night which is good to me, I would have finished 1 of 4 books that I wanted to finish and the longest form of the 4.

Total Hours Read: 0

Total Hours Listened: 5

Total Pages Read: 0

Total Books Read 0

This is why there have not really been too much on the update front.  Looks Great Right?

The Baby's name is going to be Colton and one of my other cousin's wife makes these.

Another Cute little cookie.

An this because this is also a Craw-fish boil, you cant have that without Liqueur.

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Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-thon: Hour 9

Hour 9

Well Lets take a quick audit of everything real quick:
My 2 hour nap was wonderful why thank you.  Is it still a "cat nap" if it last for 2 hours?
Ok I am awake and back to reading/listening because now I am off to the baby shower.

Total Hours Read: 0

Total Hours Listened: 3

Total Pages Read: 0

Total Books Read 0

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Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-thon: Hour 7

Hour 7

Done with work for the day.  Since getting off work I ran a few errands that I did not know I was going to need to do.  Like get gas so that I can make it home.  I also went on ahead and got myself something to eat for lunch that was more than a sandwich.  So I had some chicken strips from Express Chicken (have loved that place since it was built.)

I am going to make a quick admittance right now, I am really getting into this audio book, and I may want to go back and actually read the book to see if I missed anything but listening to an audio book may be longer than to read but it is sooooo much easier when you have so much to do.

Total Hours Read: 0

Total Hours Listened: 3

Total Pages Read: 0

Total Books Read 0

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Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-thon: Hour 4

Hour 4

So I spoke to soon about being not busy. We started getting busy this last hour and i did not have any time to really listen and when i did i keep having to do the 30 second rewind

Total Hours Read:0

Total Hours Listened:2

Total Pages Read:0

Total Books Read0

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Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-thon: Hour 3

Hour 3

So working has been fun while listening to Divergent, lucky for me we have not been busy (actually i have had no customers) giving me time to listen and type this up. So far so good.

Total Hours Read:0

Total Hours Listened:2

Total Pages Read:0

Total Books Read0

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Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-thon: Hour 2

Hour 2

Total Hours Read:&0

Total Hours Listened:1

Total Pages Read:0

Total Books Read0

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Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-thon: Hour 1

So this is my first year to participate in the read-a-thon as a blogger, I have participated as a cheerleader (which I will be doing for some time) and just read during the event but this time I am going to do this while trying to keep up with the blog each hour and for the first few hours that may a little easier than not because I will be doing this while at work until the beginning of hour 5.

Lets get a few things out of the way though:

1.  What books are in my TBR pile today?

First I plan to get through all of my over due library books that I have found in my bookshelf and never got around to returning.  Yes there are three of those books that I would like to read and return no later than Monday.  Second I bought the audio book Divergent back during Christmas when Audible was doing their deal of the day and I have yet to get around to listening to it (well actually I may be starting with this one as I can listen to it at work).  For the most part I think this will take me most of my 24 hours since I do have more than just work to do today.

My Overdue Library Books I plan to read today 

2.  Where can you find updates besides here on my blog? 

Yes I will try to update here every hour, most will be little updates until after work when I can really get into updating and even then I may have to do little updates since one of the things I have to do today is a baby shower/crawfish boil (yes I will be eating Mud Bugs) for my cousin and his wife who are having a baby this summer.  But you can keep following me through out the whole day in a few different places.

Twitter - This will be an easy way to follow me as all I have to do is quick and easy updates from my phone and yes I will be cheering people on from there as well.
Facebook Fan Page - Another good way to follow what is going on with my reading as well as my instagram updates as they are shared automatically there.
Instagram - Yes I will be sharing pictures (even if it is the baby shower)
1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today?
Houston
2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to?
DIVERGENT
3) Which snack are you most looking forward to?
Spray cheese
4) Tell us a little something about yourself!
I really do not have time to participate but i am here
5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to?

Movie Saturday : Oblivion

This movie stars Tom Cruise as Commander Jack Harper and Andrea Riseborough as Victoria Olsen, and had it not been for the preview showing Morgan Freeman, for the first hour I would have really believed them to be the last two people on Earth.











The first hour is pretty dull, a lot of repetition of either a dream/memory of Jack and the mystery woman played by Olga Kurylenko meeting in New York at the Empire State Building.  Once you figure out who the mystery woman is the movie does pick up and does get interesting.  Be prepared if seeing this in theaters.

This movie has a great "Lost Love" story that Tom Cruise acts out beautifully and keeps you wondering what really happened in the "missing years" since the earth has been empty for at least 50 years but closer to 60 years.  There is a lot of holes in this plot but when you lead character has missing memories it makes for a great fill in the blank.

Overall this movie has a really great story line and plot that makes for a good futuristic aliens rule the Earth move.  But I am not going to say go rush out and see it.

Don't want to take my work for it watch this review.

Follow Friday #5

Parajunkee & Alison Can Read

Q:  Is there a song that reminds you of a book? Or vice versa? What is the song & the book?

I will admit the song that I am choosing makes me think of most all happily ever after love stories but it also reminds me of when Edward goes off to get killed by the Volturi when he thinks that Bella is dead and he can not live with out her.

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Ford Fiesta Movement

So I have decided to apply for the Ford Fiesta Movement to be 1 of 100 agents to drive around in a 2014 Ford Fiesta.  I know that I most likely do not have a shot at winning (some of the agents already announced have 10K and more YouTube Subscribers).  But I will not go down without at least trying to drive around in a 2014 Ford Fiesta, so if you are viewing this post go and Like and Subscribe to my YouTube Channel, watch the video and look for more video's even if I do not become a Fiesta Agent as I am working on turning some book reviews, lists and much more into Vlog style posts for those that don't want to read the posts that I write, this channel is an experiment as of right now we are going to see how it goes.

Movie Saturday: Honey 2

Title: Honey 2
Stars: Katerina Graham, Randy Wayne
Source: Netflix.com

Honey 2 is the sequel to the movie Honey starring Jessica Alba and Mekhi Phifer which was also a great movie.  I do remember watching Honey  not to long ago and I loved it but I have a weakness for dancing movies since I can not dance.  Though it does make me jealous how great the actors can dance when I feel like a fish out of water, but I still find myself going to see all the movies in the Step Up Franchise.

Other than the envy of the dancers dancing skills I saw this movie for the star Katerina Graham (The Vampire Diaries: Bonnie Bennett). Katerina Graham plays Maria a foster care child taken in by Honey's mom and working at the Honey Dance Studio cleaning up after getting out of Juvie.  The only rule that Honey's mom gives Maria stay away from her old "Crew" the 718 which her ex-boyfriend is a part of and the reason she was in Juvie to begin with.  While doing her time cleaning the studio she meets fellow dancer Brandon played by Randy Wayne.

Staying away from the Ex and old crew members is harder than thought because of her love of dance and she believes the only way to do that is to dance with them since they are the best, but can Brandon show her that they are better the "HD Crew".

I loved the tension between the two crews and the stealing of each others members to throw both crews off balance.  Katerina Graham and Randy Wayne did an amazing job in this making me wish that I had better dancing skills.

Follow Friday #4

Parajunkee & Alison Can Read

Q: If you could hang out with any author (living) who would it be and what would you want to do?

First Choice that pops up into my head is I want to hang out with Ally Carter who writes the Heist Society Series and the Gallagher Girls Series.  It may have something to do with I spent a week doing nothing but reading those two series and the one crossover book that Ally Carter has written for them.  I want to spend some time learning how to be a kick-ass spy from the Gallagher Girls and maybe even learn to pickpocket or try to still a painting from a great guy like in Heist Society.

Also, I wanted to test out the Google+ commenting system that they put on blogger, I know you have to sign in with Google+ to comment but if people can tell me what they think, I may take it off tomorrow after testing it for one day but I wanted to see what it is all about.



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Review: Waking Up Married by Mira Lyn Kelly

Title: Waking Up Married

Author:  Mira Lyn Kelly
Source: Free/Kindlebook

It's the morning after her cousin's bachelorette party in Vegas and Megan Scott wakes up with the mother of all hangovers. Even worse, she's in a stranger's penthouse having woken up with something else as well - a funny, arrogant, sexy...husband!
Up until now, finding even a boyfriend had seemed impossible - been there, got the broken heart, sworn off men for good. Then a few martinis with Carter...no, Connor Reed and she's gone from first meet to marriage in one night!
Megan wants a lawyer. But Connor's shocking bombshell?
"I don't want a divorce."

My Review

Waking Up Married is a great point of not everything stays in Vegas and Megan is learning her lesson on the side effects of drinking.  So when her new husbans says he does not want a divorce she does not know why.
Connor knows that Megan will be the perfect wife, they want a lot of the same things and what they do not agree on their is always compromise.  So there is no way that he is allowing her to divorce him without giving their marriage a try.

Personally there were some great things in this book, Connor standing up for Megan at the reception was great.  Just because a girl is willing to deal with what "friends" are saying does not mean she should.  But then on the other side you have Megan doing everything in her power to self destruct this marriage she said she would give a chance.  Though she does have her reasons on not trusting Connor to stick around after the "Honey-Moon" period, she should really have let it run its course.

I think the good and the bad balance each other out in this story and make for a good FREE read (if still available).  If you have thing for the Romantic Harlequin Series, I believe that the KISS series is off to a good start with Waking Up Married.

My Rating

Where I really am When I disappear for 2 MONTHS

Lets discuss what happens to me when I magically go away for two months, I am reading just not really having time to get to the reviewing of my reading because the only time that I have free is the hours before I go to sleep....This has been my day for the last 2 months.
9 AM - Wake up yep, I sleep until 9 on most days and you will see later on why that is..
At this time I am eating myself some breakfast normally its something that is microwavable or something dropped in the toaster

9:15 - 10:00 - Look to see which assignments are due for both online classes as well as in class assignments for the day as well as the next week (must keep track of calendar to see what is changing)
At this time look to see what is ready to be turned in and what still needs some more work, if due today better get to fixing what needs fixing and completing.



This may not be exact to our section of the
legal library.



10:00 -10:30 Time to get ready to get to class, QUICKLY

10:30 - Leave for school

11:00 - 1:30 - CLASS, Remember to bring a snack bar to lunch, I really do not have time to go and get something to eat between classes

1:30 - At this time it is time to get to the assignments that are due later in the week, There is a reason that we looked earlier in the day to see what was due later on in the next 7 days, because I have some time that I can go to the Library and get some studying done as well as other fun stuff.

Anywhere from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM - Yep I have to go to work and because I work retail that is never a set schedule it can vary from day to day and what department I am working in that day.

10:00 or 11:00 depending on the day of the week so pay ATTENTION - Get off work and head home, now sometimes this is later depending on how shopped the store was and how long it takes us to get the store ready for the next mornings shoppers so they come into a CLEAN and ORGANIZED Store.

11:00 PM - My online class homework is due at this time so if I am closing at work I need to make sure that all homework is turned in before heading to work.

Upon arriving home making sure all homework is turned in, it is now time for some dinner, this normally means that I am heating up whatever my family ate for dinner while I was at work or it means eating it cold (I sometimes go for the cold option only because I am tired and HUNGRY at this time.
After eating my dinner I put up all the leftovers & load the dishwasher for my family since it is late and they are most likely ready for bed and I was the last to eat.

By this time is it somewhere around MIDNIGHT, so I dig whatever book I am currently reading out of my purse (where I have kept it for some downtime reading throughout the day) and read a few chapters to help myself fall asleep, of course that is not really necessary since I am pretty tired as it is and have to start the day over in a few hours.

So here is how I read my books:

E-books, most will open on my phone.  I have a Kindle app where I read Kindle books, Nook app (which I don't really use since I have a NOOK), the Aldiko app for opening epub files and the Office app (came with my phone) which opens PDF files.  Of course there is the nook itself which is used to read all Barns and Noble content as well as some epub and PDF files when needed.
Then there is the book in my purse and I have the perfect sized purse to fit all books in (it does not have to be a small Romance to fit in my purse no I have a Vera Bradley purse and I love that it fits books (must save for some more of her purses though since I love this one so much.