THIS BLOG HAS MOVED!

You can now find this blog (with a new name) at 
http://mybookishitinerary.blogspot.com/

Her Reviews of Books, Movies, and Everything Blog Name Change!

After a lot of thought and going back and forth about a decision, I have decided to take the leap and change my blog name. 

I really have been thinking about this for a long time. Since I started blogging regularly and made the discovery that I REALLY LOVE BLOGGING, and more specifically I really love blogging about BOOKS. And over 95% of my blog posts were about books. 

It became more and more clear to me that my blog name just didn't fit my vision of my blog anymore. 

Plus it was long and hard to remember.

So Her Reviews of Books, Movies, and Everything is now called:

My Bookish Itinerary!

If you are already following me, don't worry because you are still following me. 

I did a lot of confusing stuff to make my GFC followers still able to follow me under the new name without refollowing. 

This should be the case for anyone that was ALREADY FOLLOWING my blog when it was named Her Reviews of Books, Movies, and Everything.

And if you are already following me and you saw this post and thought, "What?" I am so sorry for the confusion! 

I know this is all confusing. But I am happy with the change and I am looking forward to a new year of book blogging.

Again, I am sorry for any confusion! And thank you so much for visiting my blog and for following me! 

Things are Changing

Hi everyone.
If you have come to the blog and are a bit confused by the missing followers and other things, don't worry!

I am currently working on changing my blog name and a few other changes. Which I hope to have completed by Monday!

I just hope that I am doing everything the right way.

Sorry for any confusion!

Blog Changes

Hello everyone!

So I have been thinking for some time now that I am ready to change the name of my blog.

Her Reviews of Books, Movies, and Everything is VERY LONG. And not very bookish.

When I created my blog, it was pretty much a spur of the moment thing. I decided one night I wanted to blog and that I wanted to talk about all kinds of things. Books, Movies, TV Shows, products. Whatever.

But as I started blogging, it has become primarily a BOOK BLOG. With a few posts about TV Shows. And maybe a couple here and there about Movies.

Therefore, my blog name doesn't really go with what I want anymore.


I have thought of a new blog name and shared it with a friend. She likes it too. So now I think I am ready to start working on making the change.

I am thinking of just changing my banners and my Blog Address for this blog. Then I won't be moving everything and I can keep my posts and everything in one place.

Do you have any advice? Would do it this way be too confusing? Do you have any experience doing this? 

The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black

Title: The Darkest Part of the Forest

Author: Holly Black

Length: 336 pages

Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers

Classification: Young Adult, Fantasy, Magic

Release Date: January 13, 2015

Source: ARC (Thank you so much to the NOVL newsletter!)

Read: November 2014

Children can have a cruel, absolute sense of justice. Children can kill a monster and feel quite proud of themselves. A girl can look at her brother and believe they’re destined to be a knight and a bard who battle evil. She can believe she’s found the thing she’s been made for.
Hazel lives with her brother, Ben, in the strange town of Fairfold where humans and fae exist side by side. The faeries’ seemingly harmless magic attracts tourists, but Hazel knows how dangerous they can be, and she knows how to stop them. Or she did, once.
At the center of it all, there is a glass coffin in the woods. It rests right on the ground and in it sleeps a boy with horns on his head and ears as pointed as knives. Hazel and Ben were both in love with him as children. The boy has slept there for generations, never waking.
Until one day, he does…
As the world turns upside down, Hazel tries to remember her years pretending to be a knight. But swept up in new love, shifting loyalties, and the fresh sting of betrayal, will it be enough?

GoodReads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million

***I received an ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of this book from the NOVL Newsletter in exchange for an honest review***

My first thought upon finishing this book was "Why in the world did I wait so long to read a book written by Holly Black?!"
I don't really know why the only other thing I have read before this one was the short story that was published in My True Love Gave to Me. 

But after reading The Darkest Part of the Forest, I now know that I need to read more Holly Black! 

This book is awesome! I really enjoyed reading it!

Hazel and her brother, Ben, live in a fascinating world full of humans and fairies. In the town that they live in the humans and fairies not only know about each other, but have been coexisting for years. For the most part, the fairies play pretty harmless tricks that attract curious tourists. But Hazel starts noticing that things are changing and the fairies may be more dangerous than anyone knows. And at the center of it all is the horned boy that has been asleep in a glass coffin in the forest for years. Hazel has to figure what is happening and how to protect everyone as she discovers things that she didn't know before. 

The writing style really pulled me in. The words and details made it really easy for me to be sucked into Hazel's world! 
I was so captivated by the writing, world, and characters, it was hard for me to put the book down. I really tried to take my time so I could savor the book, but I couldn't stop reading. Even when I wasn't reading the book, I was thinking about the story and the characters.

I absolutely love that this book has some mysterious elements to the story. The cryptic messages for example. Overall, there were some surprising twists that kept me guessing and the story very entertaining for me! Several things that I didn't see coming. There were a couple small things that I guessed, but these things made me happy.

I find Hazel to be a strong character. I love that she is determined to do whatever to keep doing what she wants to do.

Ben is another fun character. One of my favorite things from this book is the sibling relationship between these two characters. I feel like it is realistic. They are each keeping things from one another to try and protect them. I like the development and love that I see in their bond as brother and sister.

Jack is another character that I really like. I found his part of the story to be really interesting. And I really love how he is a good friend. He really cares about Ben and Hazel.

The horned boy is a bit mysterious. Even though we learn his name and information about him throughout the story, I still feel like I wanted to know a bit more. And a little bit more interaction with the characters. But I still liked this character as well.

My Recommendation:

Read it! I really enjoyed reading this book. I didn't want to put it down and I didn't want it to end. I think that the writing is beautiful and entertaining. I was enamored with the world and the characters. 
I am so glad that I was able to read this book! 
And I am really looking forward to checking out some of Holly Black's other books.

Would I Buy/Pre-order this book? Yes! This is definitely a book that I want to have a finished copy of.

My Rating:

There Will Be Lies by Nick Lane

Title: There Will Be Lies
Author: Nick Lane
Length: 464 pages
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Classification: Young Adult, Contemporary, Thriller, Magical Realism
Release Date: January 6, 2014
Source: e-galley via NetGalley (Thank you, Bloomsbury!)
Read: December 2014-January 2015

In four hours, Shelby Jane Cooper will be struck by a car. Shortly after, she and her mother will leave the hospital and set out on a winding journey toward the Grand Canyon.All Shelby knows is that they’re running from dangers only her mother understands. And the further they travel, the more Shelby questions everything about her past—and her current reality. Forced to take advantage of the kindness of unsuspecting travelers, Shelby grapples with what’s real, what isn’t, and who she can trust . . . if anybody.Award-winning author Nick Lake proves his skills as a master storyteller in this heart-pounding new novel. This emotionally charged thrill ride leads to a shocking ending that will have readers flipping back to the beginning.

GoodReads |  Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million

***I received an e-galley of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

After getting hit by a car, Shelby Cooper's life changes drastically. After leaving the hospital, Shelby's mother takes her on a sudden trip. Shelby finds out that they are on the run, though she doesn't understand what or who they are running from.
Throughout the story readers are left wondering (along with Shelby) which parts of her reality are the truth and which are lies. She doesn't know who she can trust.

This book for me was okay. It was definitely different than I thought it would be.
I did not love the story, but I also did not hate it. There were parts that I liked but there were also things that frustrated me.

The thriller elements of the story really caught my attention and made me want to continue reading. The Dreaming is a very interesting concept and I really like the idea. But these parts of the story didn't grab my attention very well. As I read these parts, I kept wanting to be back to all the other things that were happening in the story.

There weren't really that many surprises that I didn't see coming, and I mostly continued to read the story to see if my guesses were correct and to see how everything would play out in the end. Though I do like that there were times while reading where I think I was just as confused by what was happening as Shelby.

There were some parts and bits of information that I think was repetitive. Which frustrated me a little bit.

I did find the characters to be pretty interesting.
And I really liked Shelby.
In fact, I think that was my favorite part of the story.
I really like the way that Shelby is written and her voice. I like that she questioned things that were happening and wanted to figure things out. And I was able to feel empathy for her and the craziness of the things happening.

I also like the way the author wrote the dialogue/conversations. I think it was very fitting to the story.

My Recommendation:

Overall, I found this story to be okay. There were parts and elements that I liked, but I also wasn't kept interested in everything that was going on.

Would I Buy/Pre-Order This Book? No. Sadly I didn't enjoy the book enough to want to buy it. I would check it out from the library if you are interested in reading it.

My Rating:

Suspicion by Alexandra Monir

(source)

Title: Suspicion

Author: Alexandra Monir

Length: 368 pages

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Classification: Young Adult, Paranormal, Mystery

Release Date: December 9, 2014

Source: e-galley via NetGalley (Thank you so much Random House/Delacorte Press!)

Read: November 2014

Mysterious. Magnificent. Creepy. Welcome to Rockford Manor. "There's something hidden in the Maze." Seventeen-year-old Imogen has never forgotten the last words her father said to her seven years ago, before the blazing fire that consumed him, her mother, and the gardens of her family's English country manor. Haunted by her parents' deaths, Imogen moves to New York City with her new guardians. But when a letter arrives with the news of her cousin's untimely death, revealing that Imogen is now the only heir left to run the estate, she returns to England and warily accepts her role as duchess. All is not as it seems at Rockford, and Imogen quickly learns that dark secrets lurk behind the mansion's aristocratic exterior, hinting that the spate of deaths in her family were no accident. And at the center of the mystery is Imogen herself--and Sebastian, the childhood friend she has secretly loved for years. Just what has Imogen walked into? Combining a fresh twist on the classic REBECCA with a spine-tingling mystery and powerful romance, SUSPICION is an action-packed thrill ride. (From GoodReads)

GoodReads || Amazon || Barnes & Noble || Books-a-Million

***I received an e-galley of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

My Rating: 

I love the cover and the summary sounded awesome, so I decided that this was a book I wanted to read.
I have never read REBECCA, so I can't really comment on how much they are or are not alike.
The only expectation I had going into this book was hoping that I will enjoy the story.

Imogen lost both her parents as well as her uncle and aunt in a fire when she was ten years old. For the past seven years she has lived in New York with her guardians. And she hasn't been back to Rockford Manor since the tragic event that changed her life forever. Until she finds out that her grandfather and cousin have both passed away, leaving her as the sole survivor of Rockford Manor. Imogen then decides to move back to the place that she doesn't really want to be. Accepting to become the duchess of Rockford Manor. She then discovers dark secrets and tries to uncover the mystery surrounding Rockford Manor.

It was very easy for me to get swept up in the story. And I like the way the story was presented, seeing a glimpse of the present, then going back years and months to find out what had happened up to that point.

I think that the story is a mystery with paranormal elements and a bit of romance.

I was really fascinated with the mystery in this story. I kept second-guessing my thoughts regarding what was happening and who was involved. And I didn't really see the ending coming. It really surprised me and I think it was definitely a twist. The ending isn't exactly realistic, but I don't really mind because unrealistic things in books don't bother me (a large majority of the time).

To me there wasn't as much romance as I thought there would be. And the bit of romance that was in the story didn't have much of a build up. I didn't feel like it was insta-love or anything, but I was hoping for more development in their relationship and romance.
I didn't really connect with Imogen's relationship, and I think it was mostly due to wanting there to be a bit more. Even though I wanted a little bit more, this didn't keep me from enjoying what I was reading.  And I do like that the romance isn't the majority of the story.

I like Imogen. I felt so bad for everything that she had been through. I found the paranormal elements to be very intriguing and was anxious to learn more about them and how it related to Imogen.

I was interested in the other characters and how they all fit into the story.

I feel like the ending had resolutions and some answers, but I was left wondering what else would happen and wanting to know more about certain things.

My Recommendation:
This book interested me and I enjoyed reading it. But I didn't fall in love with it. If you enjoy reading books that have mystery and some paranormal elements, then you might enjoy reading this book. There isn't as much romance as I thought there would be as I read. And the ending was a bit crazy, but overall, I found the book interesting.
I'd check it out at the library.