My Weekly Book Haul: 16/08/2014

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Friday Finds is something that was started over on ShouldBeReading and Stacking the Shelves over at TyngaReviews, I am in love with all of these as I love finding other blogs to follow and books to read through these! So check them all out and see what you find, Stacking the Shelves has a lot of participants as well which is great. This is basically a way for me to show what books I have received, borrowed or bought each week. All book covers and their summary come from back of book or Goodreads.



This week hasn't been too exciting. I have been ridiculously sick, the most sick I have been in the longest time. I'd agreed to a ton of extra time and I hate phoning in sick, which means I have worked every day. I have already infected my whole family with what I am calling Charbola. They do not appreciate my gift. Ungrateful bunch! This has made it hard to function in any way, so reading has been far too hard. But I have forced myself to get some posts written, and have post one every day this week. Progress! Nobody rubbed my chest and sang Soft Kitty though. Bad times.


Lots of adult fiction for once!





Have a Little FaithHave A Little Faith by Candy Harper

Year Ten has just begun and I'm already in trouble. The way Miss Ramsbottom acts you'd think I'm always causing explosions or giving teachers' radical haircuts (whereas it was just that one time). And now she's separated me from my best friend, Megs, which means I have no one to give me a piggy back or check for dangly bogies. At least the school is trying to make amends by bussing in boys for our choir. So I can stare at Dreamy Finn until he realises I'm the girl for him… except he's singing a duet with my sworn enemy and her big head keeps blocking my view. Fortunately, I've got a plan to solve both problems; as long as I'm careful with the squeezy cheese and the underage driving everything should be just fine...

I've begun to realise that I have a really big book problem. I own so many that this one got lost among them and I haven't featured it, even though I got it a whole month ago. The amazing, wonderful, genius Amanda at Book Badger sent it to me for my birthday, along with the most gorgeous handmade card. I have such a problem with finding time to read books, what with ARCs that have piled up. I need to find time to get to this, especially since it's relatively short. 



Four: A Divergent Collection (Divergent, #0.1 - 0.4)
Four by Veronica Roth

Readers first encountered Tobias Eaton as "Four" in Divergent. His voice is an integral part of Allegiant. Readers will find more of this charismatic character's backstory told from his own perspective in Four: A Divergent Collection. When read together, these long narrative pieces illuminate the defining moments in Tobias Eaton's life. The first three pieces in this volume – "The Transfer," "The Initiate," and "The Son" – follow Tobias's transfer from Abnegation to Dauntless, his Dauntless initiation, and the first clues that a foul plan is brewing in the leadership of two factions. The fourth story, "The Traitor," runs parallel with the events of Divergent, giving readers a glimpse into the decisions of loyalty – and love – that Tobias makes in the weeks after he meets Tris Prior. Exclusive scenes included!

'His voice is an integral part of Allegiant' - Voice? What voice? His voice was just Tris's, haha. I hope he actually sounds like the character we meet in the first two books. Not the whiny, male version of Tris we meet in book 3. Please, Roth, redeem yourself. Please! This was a gift from the boyfriend, he's rather amazing like that.



The Queen of the Tearling (The Queen of the Tearling, #1)
The Queen of Tearling by Erika Johansen

Kelsea Glynn is the sole heir to the throne of Tearling but has been raised in secret by foster parents after her mother - Queen Elyssa, as vain as she was stupid - was murdered for ruining her kingdom. For 18 years, the Tearling has been ruled by Kelsea's uncle in the role of Regent however he is but the debauched puppet of the Red Queen, the sorceress-tyrant of neighbouring realm of Mortmesme. On Kelsea's 19th birthday, the tattered remnants of her mother's guard - each pledged to defend the queen to the death - arrive to bring this most un-regal young woman out of hiding...
And so begins her journey back to her kingdom's heart, to claim the throne, earn the loyalty of her people, overturn her mother's legacy and redeem the Tearling from the forces of corruption and dark magic that are threatening to destroy it. But Kelsea's story is not just about her learning the true nature of her inheritance - it's about a heroine who must learn to acknowledge and live with the realities of coming of age in all its insecurities and attractions, alongside the ethical dilemmas of ruling justly and fairly while simply trying to stay alive...

Another gift from the amazing boyfriend! He saw me eyeing this up at YALC on their wall of books. I wanted to grab it, steal it and run away. He was lovely and bought it for me for a present. I am very excited to read it.



White Cat (Curse Workers, #1) Red Glove (Curse Workers, #2)
White Cat & Red Glove by Holly Black

Cassel comes from a shady, magical family of con artists and grifters. He doesn't fit in at home or at school, so he's used to feeling like an outsider. He's also used to feeling guilty; he killed his best friend, Lila, years ago.
But when Cassel begins to have strange dreams about a white cat, and people around him are losing their memories, he starts to wonder what really happened to Lila. In his search for answers, he discovers a wicked plot for power that seems certain to succeed. But Cassel has other ideas and a plan to con the conmen.

Amanda has made me want to try this series, pretty excited to get to it. If I ever actually find the time.


Stolen
Stolen by Lucy Chrisopher

IT HAPPENED LIKE THIS.
I was stolen from an airport. Kidnapped. Taken from everything I knew, everything I was used to. Imprisoned by sand and heat, dirt and danger. And he expected me to love him.
This is my story. A letter to my captor.

I tried to read this once before but didn't get too far. The story does really intrigue me though, I want to try my hardest to get at least halfway with it.


Only Ever Yours
Only Ever Yours by Louise O'Neill

Frieda and Isabel have been best friends their whole lives.
Now, aged sixteen and in their final year at the School, they expect to be selected as companions - wives to wealthy and powerful men. The alternative - life as a concubine - is too horrible to contemplate.
But as the intensity of the final year takes hold, the pressure to remain perfect becomes almost unbearable. isabel starts to self-destruct, putting her beauty - her only asset - in peril.
And then, the boy arrive, eager to choose a bride.
frieda must fight for her future - even if it means betraying the only friend, the only love, she has ver known..

I was on relief at another library this week and spotted this on the new books display. Sounds pretty interesting, definitely intrigued. 


The Son-in-Law
The Son-In-Law by Charity Norman

On a sharp winter's morning, a man turns his back on prison. Joseph Scott has served his term. He's lost almost everything: his career as a teacher, his wife, the future he'd envisaged. All he has left are his three children but he is not allowed anywhere near them.
This is the story of Joseph, who killed his wife, Zoe. Of their three children who witnessed the event. Of Zoe's parents, Hannah and Frederick, who are bringing up the children and can't forgive or understand Joseph. 
They slowly adjust to life without Zoe, until the day Joseph is released from prison...

You may not know this by looking at my blog, but I love adult fiction. I know I have basically read nothing but YA since I started blogging, but I really miss my adult fiction. This one just looks too good to pass up. 


The House We Grew Up In
The House We Grew Up In by Lisa Jewell 

Meet the Bird Family.
All four children have an idyllic childhood: a picture-book cottage in a country village, a warm, cosy kitchen filled with love and laughter, sun-drenched afternoons in a rambling garden.
But one Easter weekend a tragedy strikes the Bird family that is so devastating that, almost imperceptibly, it begins to tear them apart.
The years pass and the children become adults and begin to develop their own quite separate lives. Soon it's almost as though they've never been a family at all.
Almost. But not quite.
Because something has happened that will call them home, back to the house they grew up in - and to what really happened that Easter weekend all those years ago.

I may have just picked this up because I loved the cover. In my defence, the blurb sounds great too.


Someone to Watch Over Me
Someone Watch Over Me by Madeleine Reiss

She closed her eyes and he was gone - who is watching him now?
When Carrie’s five-year old son, Charlie, disappeared on a Norfolk beach, her world was destroyed. Now, three years on, her marriage crushed by grief and the uncertainty around Charlie’s fate, Carrie keeps herself distracted by running a local gift shop. Persuaded by her mother to visit a medium, Carrie is initially sceptical, but is blown away when he appears to reveal something about Charlie’s disappearance; something that nobody could ever have known except herself.
Single mum, Molly, is worried about her young son, Max. Naturally a sensitive child, Max has been having more of his little ‘accidents’ at school and has recently starting talking again to his imaginary friend.
Reluctant to tell his teachers, Molly knows that Max’s problems stem from his very real anxieties about his father – a violent and unstable man – who they are now in hiding from.
Carrie is desperate to learn the truth about Charlie’s disappearance and Molly is will do anything to protect Max from danger. Little do the women know that their worlds are about to converge – and both of them will have to face the thing they fear the most. But will the truth destroy them or will love be their saviour?


The Hypnotist's Love Story
The Hypnotist's Love Story by Liane Moriarty

Ellen O’Farrell is an expert when it comes to human frailties. She’s a hypnotherapist who helps her clients deal with everything from addictions to life-long phobias. So when she falls in love with a man who is being stalked by his ex-girlfriend she’s more intrigued than frightened. As Ellen is about to discover, we’re all a little crazy – even her.

I enjoyed the authors debut and have wanted to read more of her books ever since.




TWO OF THEM! TWO OF THEMS!!!

Trial by Fire (The Worldwalker Trilogy, #1)Trial by Fire by Josephine Angelini

Love burns. Worlds collide. Magic reigns.
This world is trying to kill Lily Proctor. Her life-threatening allergies keep her from enjoying many of the experiences that other teenagers take for granted...which is why she is determined to enjoy her first (and perhaps only) high-school party. But Lily's life never goes according to plan, and after a humiliating incident in front of half her graduating class Lily wishes she could just disappear.
Suddenly Lily is in a different Salem - one overrun with horrifying creatures and ruled by powerful women called Crucibles. Strongest and cruellest of all the Crucibles is Lillian . . . Lily's identical other self in this alternate universe. This new version of her world is terrifyingly sensual, and Lily is soon overwhelmed by new experiences.
Lily realizes that what makes her weak at home is exactly what makes her extraordinary in New Salem. It also puts her life in danger. Thrown into a world she doesn't understand, Lily is torn between responsibilities she can't hope to shoulder alone, and a love she never expected.
But how can Lily be the saviour of this world when she is literally her own worst enemy?

I HAS TWO OF THEM! I was so excited to receive my ARC last week, even more excited to receive a finished copy this week. WOW! Was not expecting that. Now what to do with the ARC copy. I need to get some cash so I can start mailing out some books, know the perfect person for this one.


The Rain
The Rain by Virginia Bergin

One minute sixteen-year-old Ruby Morris is having her first proper snog with Caspar McCloud in a hot tub, and the next she’s being bundled inside the house, dripping wet, cold and in her underwear. Not cool. As she and Caspar shiver in the kitchen, it starts to rain. They turn on the radio to hear panicked voices – ‘It’s in the rain . . . it’s in the rain . . . ' That was two weeks ago, and now Ruby is totally alone. People weren’t prepared for the rain, got caught out in it, didn’t realize that you couldn’t drink water from the taps either. Even a drip of rain would infect your blood, and eat you from the inside out. Ruby knows she has to get to London to find her dad, but she just doesn’t know where to start . . . After rescuing all the neighbourhood dogs, Ruby sets off on a journey that will take her the length of the country – surviving in the only way she knows how.

I wanted to steal this from the YALC wall too, very excited to read it. 




I have read and loved both of Abigail's books, Dangerous Girls & Dangerous Boys. To celebrate the release of Dangerous Boys, I am giving 1 winner the chance to win paperback copies of both Dangerous Boys and Dangerous Girls. It's open internationally, as long as Book Depository ships to you!








The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson: 2/5 Review
Seven Deadly Sins Tag
Monthly Recap: July
Top Ten Tuesday: Books I'm Not Sure I Want To Read
Boomerang by Noelle August: 4/5 Review
Films for Thoughts on Thursday: Guardians of the Galaxy 7/10 Review
Dangerous Boys by Abigail Haas: 4.5/5 Review & Giveaway
Five Friday Favourites: Favourite Films



53 comments:

  1. OOH, I AM THE FIRST COMMENTOR. *parties quietly*

    Charbola sounds awful and I'm sorry for you. :(( Mime has been sick aaaall week, like REALLY sick too, and I'm avoiding her because she's contagious and ugh, I don't have the patience to lie around being sick. (But this is why we haven't done the tag yet. Sadly.) I hate being sick. Because I never even feel like reading and I just lie around watching TV too much. Not that that's a bad thing necessarily....Psych is good for happiness.

    ANYWAY. I didn't really click with Stolen. I know the author grew up in Australia, but I found her version of Australia quite...not-hot? Seriously, the desert would kill someone from England, but the girl just seems to adapt way too fast. And I didn't really feel the relationship. BUT ANYWAY. Go for it. ;) You obviously have an epic boyfriend, lol! I'm about to start reading Four too. Well, either Four or Paranoia. Decisions, decisions....

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    1. It is awful, but luckily I think I am starting to recover from it. At least I hope I am. I wish I could have just laid around watching TV all day, so would have done that if I didn't have work.

      He really is, he has learnt that I am easily pleased and a book will just make my day. It works for me ;) I'm still unsure about Stolen, I have seen mixed reviews and I did struggle with it. I have a quiet determination to get through it for some reason.

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  2. Sorry you've been sick :) Hope you're feeling better. I've been eyeing up The Queen of Tearling for some time, I look forward to a review on that so I might know whether it's worth buying :D

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    1. I need to really get some kind of plan together on how I am going to tackle all the books I need to read.

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  3. I hope you'll feel better again soon! Fortunately you have a lot of great books to keep you company... Take care!

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  4. Aww! I hope you feel better soon!

    Soft kitty, warm kitty,
    Little ball of fur,
    Happy kitty, sleepy kitty,
    Purr, purr, purr!

    Nice reads too! I particularly enjoyed Trial by Fire! Hope you enjoy them all and that you get better soon!

    My STS will be up on Sunday, stop by then if you can!

    Have a GREAT day!

    Old Follower :)

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    1. HAHA! Thank you for singing soft kitty to me, that's made me rather happy :)

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  5. I have heard good things about Trial by Fire. You got some really good books.

    Grace @ Books of Love

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    1. I read it and I absolutely loved it, I thought it was brilliant :)

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  6. Nice haul! Hope you enjoy reading all your books.

    Marilyn @ Marilyn's Mystery Blog

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  7. Great haul! I own White Cat but sadly haven't read it yet. I hope I find time to read it soon, though. The Rain and Trial by Fire are definitely on my TBR pile, I'd love to get them. Happy reading! :)

    My STS

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  8. Hope you feel better soon! It's horrible when you're so sick that you can't even read :'(

    You got an ammmaaaazziingggg haul! Have a Little Faith looks SO good, as well as The Rain which I've been seeing around - it looks fantastic! I also REALLY want to get Four to add to my collection :D Funnily enough, I was just at the library and I saw Stolen on the shelf - might get it next time!

    Enjoy your new books! :)

    Kyra @ Blog of a Bookaholic
    My STS Post!

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    1. I have finally started to feel better, woop! :)

      The Rain is one that I am so excited to read, I think it looks amazing!!! :)

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  9. I'm curious about The Rain and might try to pick it up cheap sometime in the future. Hope you are feeling a bit better now and can get some reading done.

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    1. I definitely feel better now, and I'm really looking forward to reading The Rain.

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  10. I'm sorry you've been sick! Sick sucks and I hope you start to feel better soon. You got a great haul, but most of the titles are new to me. I'm torn as to whether or not I want to read the Four book. I loved the first two books in the Divergent series, but found myself wholly disappointed in the last one. As much as I love Four, I just can't decide if I want to dive in and read more.

    Regardless, I hope you enjoy all of them!

    My StS

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    1. Sick really does suck, so happy that I am finally feeling better!

      I was so disappointed by the 3rd book, but I enjoyed Four enough. It's getting a 3/5 stars for me, I thought it was okay.

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  11. wow you had a lot of books there, I'm r eally impressed and I hope you'll like them all. Happy reading!

    here is mine

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  12. Ok. 1. THE QUEEN OF THE TEARLING IS FREAKING AMAZING! I hope you love it (Way to go BF!) 2. Holly Black's Curse Worker's series is really good too! It's probably my favorite work of hers to date. 3. Stolen - pretty powerful book that makes you think for sure! And 4. I've heard good things about Trial by Fire!

    I hope you love all of your books!!!
    Nicole The Quiet Concert

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    1. 1. YAY!!!!! So unbelievably happy to hear that one is so good, I am really looking forward to enjoying.

      2. Excited to try it, Amanda recommende it.

      3. Intrigued by it but also nervous.

      4. LOVED IT!!!! :)

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  13. I just finished Trial by Fire this morning and I really enjoyed it! I'm not a fan of the finished cover though... I prefer the US one to the UK. Great haul this week! :)

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    1. I really enjoyed it too! I can't decide whether I prefer the UK or US one, I am not sure I am completely happy with either.

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  14. Ooo I'm dying to read Trial by Fire. I hope you love it! The Queen of the Tearling also looks good. I hope you enjoy all of your books!

    My StS

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    1. Trial by Fire was brilliant, I definitely recommend that one. I am excited for The Queen of Tearling!!! :)

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  15. I don't know what the book will be like, but the cover for The Queen of Tearling is a grabber! You've done a lot this week in spite of being sick. Hope you're more better soon.

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    1. It really is, I think it's half the reason I am so desperate to read it.

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  16. Your hauls are going to be the death of me, I swear. I need to get my hands on The Queen of Tearling -- the cover alone is enough to make me weep!

    That being said, I hope you feel a little better soon! <3

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    1. That cover is half the reason that I want to read it, haha! Thank you, finally starting to feel better :)

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  17. I am sorry you aren't feeling well! It seems a lot of people have been getting sick this summer which seriously should be outlawed. No one should be allowed to be sick over summer, it is just wrong!
    *hugs* I hope you feel better soon. Where is your Penny to sing to you? :P

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    1. EXACTLY! I am not sure why the world allows it, but they shouldn't!!!

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  18. I was wondering where Have a Little Faith had gotten too, but I'm glad you're still excited and OMG CURSE WORKERS! I am so bad at convincing you to read books, so sorry! (not really.. ;)) So so jealous of Trial by Fire, I so need to hope I get an ARC of that at NetGalley or else I may cry :( Lovely haul and get better soon! :D

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    1. I know, I lost it for a little while there! No idea how I managed that, haha. I am so happy you ended up getting Trial by Fire, I think you're going to love it.

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  19. Awww no, so sorry you're sick :( Hope you get better really soon. *gentle hugs*

    Ooh Trial by Fire, I hope you love it, I can't wait to read it. I really like the concept, and I loved Josephine Angelini's Starcrossed series, so I have high hopes :) And, I absolutely love The Queen of Tearling's cover! Hope you love them all!

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    1. Finally starting to feel better, which is good. I really enjoyed Trial by Fire, I thought it was really well done.

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  20. Awesome haul! Hope you are feeling better, being ridiculously sick is not cool!
    Missie @ A Flurry of Ponderings

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  21. Great haul! Especially Holly Black's books! I love her writing and wish my library had more of her books. Happy Reading!
    Here are my newest additions.

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  22. Queen of the Tearling is so good!!!!! Hope you end up loving it. ~Pam

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  23. Your boyfriend is amazing! He gifts you with books. Perfect I daresay!
    I read Queen of the Tearling and was quite disappointed. I hope you fare better than me!
    I highly recommend Holly Black's Curse Workers! It's really great!

    Kathleen @ Read and Shelved

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    1. He really is! I think he knows it's the best way to get me to be quiet, I will just sit and read all day, haha! :)

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  24. Great haul! The Queen of the Tearling sounds amazing! You can be so glad that you have a boyfriend that buys you books ;D I always wanted to start the Curse Workers series because I have never read anything by Holly Black and they actually sound pretty interesting. I'm looking forward to your opinion once or if you get to read the books :) Everyone seems to love Trail by Fire, so cool that you managed to get two copies of it :D Hope you enjoy it :)

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    1. I am really glad, he is amazing! I haven't read any Holly Black yet either, I really want to try it though.

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  25. Oh no. I hope your feeling better today! Summer sickness is the worst! I know your kitty is keeping you company though.
    Oh man, I have an e-arc of the Queen of the Tearling and I still haven't read it. There's so much hype that I kind of just want it to die down first. But it does sound pretty kick ass.
    I hope Four meets your expectations. I was one of the few people that had like zero problems with Allegiant. But I do understand where the frustration is. I haven't read the collection yet because I want prolong my Divergent reading for as along as possible. Lol.
    Feel better!
    Happy reading!
    Brittany @ This is the Story of My(Reading) Life

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    1. I am finally feeling better, it's taken two weeks though.

      I am scared to read Queen of Tearling and be disappointed, that will suck!

      Four was just okay for me, nothing special and didn't add a lot to the series.

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  26. That is a pretty dang good haul! I want to read the Four novellas. I have read two, but I would like to read the others. I think The Queen of Tearling looks pretty good too! I hope you feel better soon! Being sick sucks.

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    1. Thank you! I read the Four collection, liked 3 but hated the last and it really bored me. Pretty good overall though :)

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  27. I have Queen of the Tearling; I hope we both enjoy it.

    *sings you Soft Kitty*

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Thank you so much for taking the time to comment, it always makes my day! Because of time restraints, this is now an award free zone but thanks so much for considering me! Feel free to leave a link to your own blog and I will come visit.