Book Blogger Love-A-Thon: Mini Challenge #5 ~ Best Blogging Moments

I am getting quite tired. But I wanted to do this post quickly because I think it is a great one. What are your top blogging moments and/or favorite posts?

Top Blogging Moments:
1. The Chapter Chicks following my blog!
2. Getting to post the cover for my first book, Thousands of Mornings!
3. Getting to post that I am publishing my poetry and photography collection. (Thousands of Mornings.)!
4. Getting nominated for the Liebster Blog Award!
5. Any time I get to interview authors! (Victoria Scott, Ami Blackwelder, Andrea K. Robbins!)
6. Getting to 25 followers.

So those are my top moments - so far. ;) What about you guys? And what do you think of my top moments so far? :)

<3 Amanda Leigh

Book Blogger Love-A-Thon: Mini Challenge ~ Book Playlist

I don't remember which number mini challenge this was, but I know it was earlier in the day and so this post is very late. But I really liked this challenge so I am going to take part in it. For this we have to make a playlist for something book related. 

I am going to do a playlist for the books in the first cycle in The Vampire Diaries series. Simply entitled The Vampire Diaries.There are four books in total in this series: The Awakening, The Struggle, The Fury, and The Dark Reunion.

This is a collective playlist for all of them. Here is my playlist:

1. I Want You by Kelly Clarkson
2. Never Let Me Go by Florence + The Machine
3. Save You by Kelly Clarkson
4. Haunted by Taylor Swift
5. Cut by Plumb
6. Beauty of the Dark by Madds Langer
7. Give Me Love by Ed Sheeran
8. If No One Will Listen by Kelly Clarkson
9. Dark Horses by Switchfoot
10. Sunsets and Car Crashes by The Spill Canvas

There you go! What do you think? Hope you guys like it! 

<3 Amanda Leigh

Book Blogger Love-A-Thon: Mini-Challenge Number 4 ~ Letter to My Younger Blogger Self

I have only been blogging for a little over a year. This challenge is to write a letter to your younger blogger self giving them advice if you can. Like I said, it hasn't been that long, but I'll give it a shot.

Dear Amanda (Me),
You are starting out on this blogging journey. I am you a year and three months later.You DO keep up with this blog. Unlike your other ones. Your first attempts. I expect that is because you have a stronger resolve this time. Now that you know that authors should try to create a strong web presence. 

Just be yourself. Don't worry about what people WANT to hear. Or what you think they want to hear. If you like a book, don't be scared to write that. Also, if you DON'T like a book don't be scared to write that either. Just go for it. And go with your blog post ideas. 

I'll tell you a secret. In about six months, you'll have your own poetry and photography collection to write blog posts about too. 

And just ask for advice and do research when you need to when it comes to the technological stuff. I know that's not your thing. But trust me, you can do it. And your blog looks pretty awesome, if I do say so myself.

Good luck! 

Love,
Amanda Leigh Morey (You)

<3 Amanda Leigh

Book Blogger Love-A-Thon: Interview with Orisi of Orisis's Blah, Blah, Blah

Hi! I am participating in the Book Blogger Love-A-Thon today! I am late to the party. But here is my interview with fellow book blogger Orisi from Orisi's Blah Blah Blah. I have an interview over at Orisi's blog as well! 

I've checked out Orisi's blog! It looks wonderful! It is very awesome and impressive! Besides books, Orisis also love movies. I particularly love the To-Read pile page over at Orisi's blog! Go check it out at oblahblah.blogspot.com 

Oh, love the blog's name too!

Unfortunately, there is this INCREDIBLY INFURIATING white box around some of the text that JUST WON'T GO AWAY!!! No matter how many times I try. And I've tried like...8 times. No joke. So, it was either not post the interview or post it with the damned white box! So I am so so sorry. I don't know what is going on!

1)How did you get into blogging?

Great question. I moved to Abu Dhabi a couple of years ago and wanted to have a place to document our adventures over here in the Middle East. It meant that our friends and family could keep up. So I started a blog for that very reason. I graduated from University with a degree in English (literature being the major in that) and so I've always read a lot... and always have a lot to say. A friend of mine (MabisMab @ www.mabismab.com) had a book blog and so I would cruise her blog and thought it was awesome. Every time I would finish a book (or even watch a movie) here in Abu Dhabi I would bombard my friends (who usually haven't read the book) with my opinions and annoyances etc etc until I realised it would just be better for all if I just started writing about my bookish thoughts in blog form. So that's how I got in to blogging and book blogging!!!

2)What is your favorite part about blogging?

My favourite part? I think the community makes it so worth-while, but the best part... and this may sound silly is that I am totally immersed in so many other book-blogs that I get to update my 'To-read pile' every week! It is awesome. There is always good stuff to read recommended by other bloggers!

3)What is your favorite subject to blog about?

Books, books and books. Although to be honest I love writing about movies too, but my favourite is books, especially discussions on genre!

  

4)Do you have a favorite “bookish” blog post you've done?

I really enjoyed writing my review on Macbeth: A Novel by AJ Hartley and David Hewson. 

5)What is your favorite book? Favorite author?

I really love Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte.

6)Favorite book to movie adaption?

That would easily be To Kill a Mocking Bird. The book was brilliant and the film was amazingly done.

7)And now one for just for fun. If you were an ice cream flavor, which one would you be?

I'd be Mint Chocolate Chip - because I love to chew gum and I love chocolate, haha! A strange answer indeed!

Thank you Orisi for stopping by the blog!! And thank you for interviewing me!! Now go show Orisi some love!!

<3 Amanda Leigh

Cover Reveal ~ The Truth About Letting Go by Leigh Talbert Moore

The Truth About Letting Go (The Truth)

by Leigh Talbert Moore 

Release Date: 02/21/13

Summary from Goodreads:

Ashley wants to smash everything in her once-perfect life.
Charlotte wants to walk in Ashley's seemingly charmed shoes.
Colt wants to turn Smalltown USA on its ear--with Ashley at his side.
Jordan wants to follow his heart... but Ashley is the one sacrifice he never expected to make.

Ashley Lockett has always followed the rules. She's always done the right thing, played it safe, gone to church. And then her ideal life is shattered when her dad dies suddenly.

Fueled by anger and grief, she vows to do everything opposite of how she lived before. She rejects safety, rules, faith,

and then she meets Jordan.

Jordan has big dreams, he's had a crush on Ashley for years, and he's a great kisser. But he's also safe.

Enter Colt. He is not safe, and he's more than willing to help Ashley fulfill her vow.

A companion to The Truth About Faking (not a sequel; the books can be read out of order), The Truth About Letting Go takes readers back to Shadow Falls, or more specifically Shadow Creek, with Ashley Lockett as she learns about real friendship, love, and letting go.

Get it today on:
   


***Excerpt*** 

I feel Colt laugh, and he looks down into my face. That’s when he seems to realize what I’ve been acutely aware of for the last several minutes—our bodies are pressed together. “It’s awesome, yeah?” he says. “Adrenaline rush.” “Yeah,” I breathe. “I guess.” I’m not sure if he’s going to kiss me until he does. His mouth covers mine, and energy mixes with the alcohol flooding my body. Our tongues slide together, and I grip his shirt so I don’t collapse.  Every single bit of this is wrong, and there’s no way I’m stopping it. It’s back, that good feeling. The sadness has been pushed out again, and in its place is this rush, this rush of adrenaline like Colt said.  He pulls back and smiles at me. “We’re going to start dating. Now. You’re my partner in crime.”

Moore

About the Author
Leigh Talbert Moore is a wife and mom by day, a writer by day, a reader by day, a former journalist and editor, a chocoholic, a caffeine addict, a lover of YA and new adult romance (really any great love story), a beach bum, and occasionally she sleeps. -The Truth About Faking is her debut young adult romance (on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, and Kobo) -Rouge is her first New Adult romantic suspense novel (on Amazon). Leigh loves hearing from readers; stop by and say hello! Blog * Facebook * Amazon Author page * Goodreads * Twitter * Tumblr

Cover Reveal & a GIVEAWAY! ~ A Need So Insatiable by Cecilia Roberts

A Need So Insatiable

by Cecilia Robert

Release Date: Winter 2013!

Genre: Contemporary romance

Summary from Goodreads:

“I’ve never bowed or kneeled for anyone,” Rafael said. “Never thought I would.” Then he was on his knees. He slid his arms around my waist, tugging me closer and bowed his head.

“You own me, Sophie.” He looked up, his dark eyes hitting me with enough force to snatch the breath from my lungs. “You’ve owned me from the moment I walked into your life in that music room. Then I saw you slipping out the window like the wolves were after you and I knew I wanted you in my life. You’ve wrapped yourself in my heart and mind. I can’t get you out. I don’t want to.”

Graduate opera singer, Sophie Fisher’s life is on fire and it’s not her breathtaking voice lighting it, but the trail of debts her father left behind after he passed away a few months ago. If she’s not ducking around corners or slipping out of windows to escape the debt collectors and a slew of characters sent from hell, she’s dealing with her rebellious fifteen-year-old sister, Lilli, who is still coming to terms with their father’s death. And as if that’s not enough, Rafael Van Rees bursts into her life—literally—bringing with him a set of emotions she isn’t prepared to deal with and a life the public had no idea of.

Rafael Van Rees, Maestro extraordinaire, just wants to be left in peace to date whichever woman he feels like, have dinner with whomever he feels like, and just enjoy his life. Until he meets Sophie and his past returns to haunt him. And just when he thought he didn’t care about her, his history proves him wrong. He knows when it comes to her, it’s all or nothing. Besides, she makes him feel fuzzy all over.

Is Sophie’s fire hot enough to melt the ice coursing through his veins?

About the Author

Cecilia Robert lives in Vienna with her two children, has an incurable obsession with books, anything romantic, TV and medieval architecture. When not working in her full time job, catching up with her two children, writing or reading, she can be found, knitting or crocheting, taking photos of old buildings.

Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads

***GIVEAWAY***

1 Amazon Gift Card worth US $15 + Book of choice from book depository US $15

a Rafflecopter giveaway

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! What are you reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.

Just Finished:

Face the Music by Andrea K. Robbins

Reading Now:

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Up Next:

As usual, I'm not sure. Maybe . . .

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

<3 Amanda Leigh