Character of the Month! (#1)

Character of the Month is one of the new features I'm starting on my blog! I will feature a character I think is a great character! This does not exclude villains or "bad guys" or characters where there is no clear good or bad (often my favorite kind of character). "Good" characters and "bad" characters are welcome to be featured. So let's get right into it! This month's character of the month is. . .

 

Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte!

Yes, that is right. I chose Heathcliff. Like I said these characters don't have to be "good" people. I also said that characters who are not necessarily "good" and not necessarily "bad" are often my favorite kind. And Heathcliff absolutely fits that description. 

Wuthering Heights is one of my absolute favorite books in the world. And one of the things I love most about it is that almost no character is clearly "good" or clearly "bad". I don't know about you, but I find that fascinating in books. Largely because, it is a lot like real life - people are not just "good" or "bad", things are not always black and white. 

Heathcliff is awful. He really is. He does awful things all throughout this book. But of course the part of me fascinated with psychology has to ask myself "Why does he do these things?" And I don't want to spoil anything for anyone so I will jut say that there is something you find out near the beginning of the book which could help explain why Heathcliff is, well, kind of messed up. 

Also, most of the things he did through the book I really think that he thought he was doing for love (for those of you who watch The Vampire Diaries this is not unlike Damon in the first season, huh? Or even Damon in the early Vampire Diaries books.) Some of them he was doing because he was hurt. I don't think I'm spoiling anything by saying Heathcliff was hopelessly in love with Catherine (just like Damon was hopelessly in love with a character named... Katherine! Another parallel! Ha!) So when Catherine hurt him he would lash out. Yes, he would do it in awful ways. (Again, Psychology - if we looked at Heathcliff today would we find something really wrong with him?) But Catherine had a tendency to treat him horribly (Catherine often acted like a spoiled brat.) So I can't help but feel bad for Heathcliff. Especially towards the end of the book - where a scene took place that made me burst into tears for him. 

I think Heathcliff absolutely deserves to be character of the month. I think the man deserves a little more understanding. He is not "good" but he is not "bad" either. I will admit it, I love Heathcliff. He's a wonderful character!

P. S. I have not yet done a review of Wuthering Heights but if you would like me to I will absolutely do it sooner than I'd planned.

<3 Amanda Leigh

Romancing the R. A. by Ashelyn Drake ~ Book Blitz!

Romancing the R.A. (Campus Romance #1)

by Ashelyn Drake

Release Date: 05/28/13

Summary from Goodreads:

Noelle Buckman is looking forward to making a fresh start in college, one that doesn’t involve immature high school boys. The second she steps on campus for freshman orientation, she can sense the possibilities. Especially when she spots Andy, a resident advisor who’s not just hot but also thoughtful enough to open doors for a girl. 

And Andy has his eye on Noelle. Even when her nerves take control and she thinks she comes off as a hillbilly with no direction, Andy can see what she’s really like and he’s more than a little interested.

But orientation is less than two full days and there’s an entire summer between Noelle and Andy. Will her attempt to romance the R.A. be as short-lived as college orientation?

 
(only $.99!)

***Excerpt***

He’s stunned at first and doesn’t move. I start to pull away, thinking I’ve made a huge mistake, but then I feel Andy’s hand on my lower back, pulling me closer. His lips part, and he deepens the kiss.

Every inch of me is on fire. Andy’s an incredible kisser, but the position we’re in is awkward. I reach my hands up and bury my fingers in his hair, which prompts him to lift me onto his lap. Much better. Our bodies are pressed so close I can feel every inch of him. My lungs are screaming for air, but I’m not willing to give in to them. I’ve been dying to kiss Andy ever since he first smiled at me, and I’ll be damned if I’m backing away that quickly.

His hands move up my back to my hair, and he pulls my head back gently exposing my neck. His lips trail down my jaw and to the nape of my neck. I bite my lip to stifle a moan, but it manages to slip out anyway. Andy slowly eases off, opening his eyes to see my reaction. I debate pulling his lips back to mine, but for the moment I drape my arms around his shoulders and just stare into his baby blue eyes.

“Wow.”

He can say that again. “Yeah.”

“I can honestly say that’s the first time I didn’t have to make the first move.”

“And it’s the first time I ever made the first move.”

           

He smiles. “Then I’m honored.” He leans forward and places a single kiss on my neck. His hips rise under me, and I know exactly where he’s hoping this is going to lead. My body is screaming for his touch, but I don’t want to be that girl. The one who goes off to college and sleeps with the first guy she meets. As much as I want Andy, I can’t do this right now.

About the Author

Ashelyn Drake is a New Adult and Young Adult romance author represented by Lauren Hammond of ADA Management. Look for her debut New Adult romance, Romancing the R.A., from S.B. Addison Books!

*Author Links*

Website│Twitter│Goodreads│Facebook

***GIVEAWAY***
Signed Romancing the R.A. postcard and $10 gift card to Amazon or Barnes & Noble (INT)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy One Year Anniversary to Thousands of Mornings ~ GIVEAWAY!!

Can you believe that today is the one year anniversary of when Thousands of Mornings was published?! It's been one year! And I'm working on another poetry collection (to be out this summer!)! So exciting! My dreams have come and are coming true! So in celebration of these events I've decided to host a giveaway! 

Terms and Conditions:
Must be a follower of my blog OR Facebook page to enter. This giveaway is only within the continental United States. (This giveaway goes until my next book will be out.) If you could leave your e-mail below as well, that would be great too. Not required, but it would be great. Thanks! Once a winner is chosen I will post the winner here and notify them by e-mail. They will have 72 hours to reply. 

Have fun guys! And good luck! :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

<3 Amanda Leigh

Mini Review ~ Reach for the Stars: Quotes Compiled by Janet Terban Morris, Illustrations by Steve Haskamp

 

Title: Reach for the Stars

Author: Quotes compiled by Janet Terban Morris, illustrations by Steve Haskamp 

Release Date: January 1st 2002

Published By: Peter Pauper Press

Page Amount: 64 pages, hardcover

GoodReads Blurb:

Meaningful sentiments in a small, elegant package. Here are quotations to inspire you to rise above fear and timidity. If you dare to believe, you will accomplish things you never thought you could. In the words of Annie Oakley, "Aim at a high mark and you'll hit it."

Mini Review:

I received this book as part of a gift for my college graduation and 22nd birthday. It is filled with inspirational quotes about following your dreams, not giving up, what "success" really means and attaining happiness. I enjoy books like this; books with quotes compiled in them. Particularly when those quotes are inspirational. I thought these quotes were great. And especially great for the college graduate or someone who is going after their dreams, no matter what their age.

Some of my favorite quotes from this book:

"Cherish your friends and family as if your life depended on it. Because it does." - Ann Richards

"While we are influenced by circumstances, we, too, can have an influence."  - Jonas Salk

"The dictionary is the only place where success comes before work." - Arthur Brisbane (quoted by Bennett Cerf)

"True miracles are created by men when they use the courage and intelligence that God gave them." - Jean Anouilh

"You have a right and a responsibility to lay claim to what touches you and effects change for the future." - Jodie Foster

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we get." - Norman MacEswan 

It was hard to keep the list short. A lot of these quotes are really great. This is a great for a little inspiration and a little lift. It reminds us that no matter who we are, we can bring about change in the world, make ourselves happy and achieve real success. I would recommend this to everybody. 5 stars!  

<3 Amanda Leigh 

My Top 5 Music Artists to Listen to While Reading!

I got the idea for this post while watching a video BooksAreLovex3 made on the same topic. So I thought "I should do a blog post on that!" So, here they are, in no particular order: My Five Music Artists to Listen to While Reading! 

1. Florence + the Machine

I love Florence + the Machine. And for me, their music is great to listen to while reading. It has a beautiful, slightly haunting quality in some of the songs, so it goes very well with a beautiful, haunting read.

2. Paramore

Paramore is great. Most of their songs are fast paced so I will listen to them for a fast paced read. Sometimes it makes me read the book faster if I listen to them. They also have a few slower songs so I listen to those when the read is a bit slower paced. "The Only Exception" is good to listen to at a more romantic point in the book. :) (Note: I believe here Hailey Williams is pictured with the two remaining members: Jeremy Davis and Taylor York).

3. Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran has a wide array of music, the lyrics to his songs are really great and I find his voice so soothing. His music is great to listen to for nearly any type of book.

 

4. Adele

Adele is a great artist and her voice is so beautiful. I like to listen to her while reading. :)

5. The Vampire Diaries Original Television Soundtrack

So this isn't one specific artist it is various artists. And different genres. Some of these songs are fast, some are slow. There is something for every mood on this soundtrack. :)

I also like to listen to the scores from movies or television shows while reading (as well as while writing.) What about you guys? Do you listen to music while reading? If so, what do you listen to? :)

<3 Amanda Leigh 

SWOON Thursday #3!

SWOON Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by YA Bound. Here are the rules:

"From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering.

Shout it out on Twitter with the hashtag #YABound, post it here in the comments, or grab the steamy button above and share it on your blog. We want to know!"

The swoon I picked is a strange one. It's really quite sad. (Heart-wrenchingly sad if you know the whole story.) So I threw in another happy one. :) I try to keep mine spoiler free, but it's hard to do. This one could possibly be a spoiler. So I would advise:  If you read or plan to read The Vampire Diaries books, do not read on!

 

The Vampire Diaries: The Hunters: Vol. 1: Phantom

#1. "He put a gentle hand beneath Elena's chin and tilted her head up so that her eyes met his again. 'I know you loved him, Elena. It's okay. You don't have to pretend.'

Elena gave a little gasp of pain.

It was like there was a dark hole inside her. She could laugh and smile and marvel at the restored town; she could love her family; but all the time there was this dull ache , this terrible sense of loss.

Letting her tears loose at last, Elena fell into Stefan's arms.

'Oh, my love,' he said, his voice catching, and they wept together, taking comfort in each other's warmth."

#2. " But then Alaric spotted Meredith, dashed over, and took her in his arms, pulling her off her feet as he swung her into a hug, and she visibly relaxed. In a few moments, they were both laughing and talking, and they didn't seem to be able to stop touching each other, as if they needed to reassure themselves that they were actually together again after all this time."

<3 Amanda Leigh

Waiting on Wednesday!

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine! Here we show a book that we cannot wait to come out! The book I'm about to show is a part of a series. So if you haven't read the first one and plan to don't look at the synopsis. ;) To be quite honest, I haven't read the first one yet either. So I haven't read the synopsis to the second one. Haha. Yes, I can be a little nutty when it comes to books. ;)

 

The Dream Thieves (The Raven Cycle # 2) by Maggie Stiefvater 

(the first one is called The Raven Boys)

GoodReads Blurb:

The second installment in the all-new series from the masterful, #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Maggie Stiefvater!

Now that the ley lines around Cabeswater have been woken, nothing for Ronan, Gansey, Blue, and Adam will be the same. Ronan, for one, is falling more and more deeply into his dreams, and his dreams are intruding more and more into waking life. Meanwhile, some very sinister people are looking for some of the same pieces of the Cabeswater puzzle that Gansey is after...

What books can you not wait for? Let me know! :)

<3 Amanda Leigh