making my comeback

Hey there! It's been so long since I've connected with you all through blogger and I'm slowly re-learning all the code I haven't used in so long. I haven't been off the grid exactly but I have tried to get my life back together. I kept posting on Instagram for a while after I stopped posting on here. Then I stopped posting on that platform too. Again I was doing it for the followers and not because I truly enjoyed it.

I have picked up a lot of new skills since my time on this blog and I'm hoping to share it with you all. I'm going to be re-starting my blog but the focus will no longer be books, instead it will be more focused on my life, my designs, and my travels. Really just a place where I can show off my work and all the things I love.

As of writing this I have no "official" job. For the past four years I have been a secretary/personal assistant in a law office. I loved having a steady job but unfortunately I hated working with a careless and toxic environment. While working there I also realized I have a lot of skills and knowledge people would pay for. I've never been one to back down from a challenge and even though no one wants to be unemployed, I see it as a blessing. With the time I'll have I'll be able to concentrate on what I truly love and not just work to get by. As well as rebuilding my mental and physical health that I completely ignored. I have a lot of passions and interests but as we all know life can suck the energy right out of us and I never really had time for all the things I loved.

I used to design blogs for free back in the day. I was terrible at designing but I still did as much as I could with my limited skills to help other bloggers. Through the trust and opportunities others gave me, I met so many amazing people and blogs that helped me grow my skills immensely. I'm thankful to them for giving me the opportunity because thanks to them, I started a tiny design business called Razzled Star Designs. I closed it down in 2014 because I started working full time but I missed it. I haven't stopped designing sites, I've actually re-branded this blog multiple times in the last 3 years with the intent of re-starting it but work kept getting in my way.

Hopefully this is my last re-branding for this blog. I'm going to be providing you all with tips I've learned from blogging so far. I'm no expert but I know that any great tips are helpful when blogging. I'm also setting up an official business to provide my design services. ALSO I am not going to do giveaways like I used to, instead I am going to pick a comment every month from all my posts here on the blog and on my Instagram, so follow me, and give people some personalized blog/Instagram/Twitter/YouTube/Facebook reviews & tips to improve.

So don't be shy! Drop me a comment, I would love to hear your thoughts on my re-design, the new name, or even a simple hi! And if you can spread the word that I'm back. I hope you all join me on this new journey life has put on for me. See in the next one!

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Cover Reveal:The Foxglove Killings by Tara Kelly

Scary how un-spring like spring is, been inside so much I have started to re-watch my favorite anime's. Also check out yesterdays post about the READERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING BOOKS. Anywho, I have an awesome cover reveal to share with you all. I love it and hope you do too!

NOW ONTO THE REVEAL...

Title: The Foxglove Killings
Author: Tara Kelly
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Publication date: September 1st, 2015
Series: Standalone
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PRE-ORDER this book, just click any of the links below:
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Gramps always said that when the crickets were quiet, something bad was coming. And the crickets have been as silent as the dead. It started with the murdered deer in the playground with the unmistakable purple of a foxglove in its mouth. But in the dying boondock town of Emerald Cove, life goes on.

I work at Gramps's diner, and the cakes―the entitled rich kids who vacation here―make our lives hell. My best friend, Alex Pace, is the one person who gets me. Only Alex has changed. He's almost like a stranger now. I can't figure it out...or why I'm having distinctly more-than-friend feelings for him. Ones I shouldn't be having.

Then one of the cakes disappears.

When she turns up murdered, a foxglove in her mouth, a rumor goes around that Alex was the last person seen with her—and everyone but me believes it. Well, everyone except my worst enemy, Jenika Shaw. When Alex goes missing, it's up to us to prove his innocence and uncover the true killer. But the truth will shatter everything I've ever known about myself—and Alex.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tara Kelly adores variety in her life. She’s an author, one-girl-band, graphic designer, editor, and photographer. She lives in Sin City with her beloved guitars, sound design master husband, and a fluffy cat named Maestro.

FIND MORE ON HER: WEBSITE | TWITTER | GOODREADS | FACEBOOK

THAT'S IT! WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE COVER? LIKE IT? EXCITED FOR IT TO COME OUT?
LEAVE ME SOME COMMENT LOVE BELOW

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Readerhood of the traveling books...? [Your thoughts / Vote]

Hey, everyone! So I've been doing a lot of thinking these past few days. Mostly about other ways to connect with bloggers. I've already talked with Lulu and she thinks it's a good idea. So let me explain about my idea for the "readerhood of the traveling books". So please read everything!

I was thinking of making a traveling book tour for books that have just published. I would open a poll and have everyone on the blog vote on the book to put on the tour. Then buy the chosen book, read it and then pass it on to the next blogger on the tour. BUT!!! I would include something for the next blogger to get, it could be some bookish swag, a note, a drawing of my favorite part in the book, anything, just put my own personal touch.

The next blogger would have a week (maybe 2? is that too long?) with the book and here comes the good part. There's no pressure to write a good book review, because the book is already published and it would let bloggers be honest about what they thought. It helps get exposure to smaller or newer bloggers and help them feel more connected to the community. Also, keep in mind that you would be putting in the mailing cost.

But we'll have time for rules later. Right now I just want to get your thoughts/opinions on this, so please comment.

OH, YEAH DON'T FORGET TO VOTE IN THE POLL? ARE YOU IN?

THAT'S IT! DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT BELOW. ARE YOU EXCITED??? :D

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Waiting On Wednesday - Lizzy [48]: The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall by Katie Alender

So lets start with my Waiting on Wednesday. I love doing this meme every Wednesday. "Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted @ Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're anticipating.

THIS WEEKS BOOK I'M EAGERLY WAITING FOR IS...

Title: The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall
Authors: Katie Alender
Published Date: August 25th, 2015
Publisher: Point
Pages: 336
ADD IT ON GOODREADS!

Asylum meets Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, in this riveting tale of ghosts, secrets, and family, from master of suspense Katie Alender.

Delia's new house isn't just a house. It used to be an insane asylum, a place to lock up "troubled" young women long ago. And a restless, wicked spirit is still at play--and it doesn't want defiant girls like Delia to go anywhere.

So the house kills her.

Now Delia is a ghost, trapped in her creepy home forever. As she meets the other ghost girls who haunt the narrow hallways, as well as the handsome ghost boy on the grounds, she learns shocking truths about the house's history. Delia also realizes that her alive and grieving sister might be the house's next target.

Can Delia unlock the mystery of the old asylum, save her sister, and free herself?

WHY I'M WAITING...

I rarely pick up books about ghosts but Katie Alender is one the few writers who makes fresh and interesting ghost stories. I LOVE that cover it's both creepy, elegant, and eerie. When I was reading in the synopsis and got to the part, "SO THE HOUSE KILLS HER" I was like WHAT?! I like that she's now a ghost and trying to save her sister of the same fate. Really want to see how that plays out :D

WHAT DO YOU THINK? HAVE YOU HEARD OF THE DEAD GIRLS OF HYSTERIA HALL? LIKE THE COVER? WAITING FOR IT TO COME OUT?
LEAVE ME YOUR WOW'S IN THE COMMENT'S BELOW!

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Blog Tour: The Thorn and The Sinking Stone by C.J. Dushinski [Review + Giveaway]

HELLO!!! Hope you're all ready because we have a tour stop for the amazing book, The Thorn and the Sinking Stone! Keep on reading for my complete review and don't forget to enter the giveaway :) Let's go...

Title: The Thorn and The Sinking Stone
Authors: C.J. Dushinski
Published Date: March 10th, 2015
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Format: Kindle eBook
Pages: 247
Source: provided for review
GOODREADS | AMAZON | B&N

Warring families. Forbidden love. And danger they can’t escape…

Daggers. Roses. Cowboys. Boat Men. Survivors of Earth's Last War, four “families” vie to rule the dreary streets of Rain City through violence and blood. Valencia Hara, Princess of the wealthy Black Roses, is raised in warrior ways with sharpened steel. But she is no ordinary Rose. She is Cursed—tainted with the ability to see seconds into the future…

To avenge his father's death, Sebastian Leold, of the rival gang Two Daggers, must face off against the Black Princess, he with his dagger, she with her katana sword. Yet a secret from a shared past leaves him unable to kill beautiful Valencia; nor can she kill him. For they once knew each other beyond their blood feud…and they have more secrets in common than they know.

But in a world filled with vengeance and violence, there can be no room for love…

That was literally me after reading this book. I started and I just couldn't stop! I read through this whole thing straight. In the first few pages I was a bit confused because we're just shoved into the this scary world. But as it went along everything was explained in such a smooth and clear way.

In this kind of world violence and fights are the norm. There were a lot of tense moments and of course, lots of action filled moments. Both were handled with such care, and you could clearly envision it like a movie. The world was so detailed and quite chilling in it's ferocity of "eat or be eaten". I liked the diversity of the people and even though there was violence, they did get along.

There was also a double POV, which I love! Because we got to see everything through two perspectives SEBASTIAN'S and VALENCIA'S. A TWO DAGGERS AND A BLACK ROSE. Both of whom were on warring "gangs". I loved them both instantly, Sebastian is fierce but doesn't like killing, sarcastic, swoony, and very thoughtful (in his own way). Valencia was a strong a** bi***, honestly I wouldn't get on her bad side. Yet she had moments where she wasn't a fierce warrior but just a normal girl who got hurt and cried. Both had less than perfect families and had a lot to deal with.

I wasn't sure what their connection would be but as the story went along everything clicked into place. OMGERD, I loved every moment they were together, weather it was through fighting or fleeing, you could just feel there connection and chemistry on every word. They both warred with the hate they had to feel for each other and yet they alike in so many ways. I was such an impossible and deadly romance, that you want it to all go right!

I could ramble on and on about this book but I really don't want to spoil ANY of it for you guys! Just read it because this is honestly one the best books about forbidden love that incorporates so many other wonderful aspects besides romance. So overall for me 5 STARS!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

While attempting to navigate life as a responsible human being, CJ graduated from university with a B.Comm and worked her way along as marketer, copywriter, and graphic designer to earn a paycheck while pursing her passion for creating fantastical stories set in dark and wondrous corners of the world. Born amongst the wheat fields and open skies of the Canadian prairies, CJ’s imagination has always run wild, taking her on adventures across the world from modeling in Seoul, South Korea to backpacking through Europe and surfing (poorly) in Hawaii.

After wandering through ancient cities and civilizations, learning from diverse cultures, and surrounding herself in new experiences, CJ was inspired and began work on her debut Young Adult novel THE THORN AND THE SINKING STONE, to be published by Entangled Publishing 2014/15. CJ currently resides in Calgary, Alberta Canada – home of the Canadian Rockies – and keeps one hand on her passport and pen at all times, ready to pick up, see the world, and weave her experiences into stories.

CJ is represented by Marlene Stringer of the Stringer Literary Agency LLC.

FIND MORE ON HER: WEBSITE | TWITTER | GOODREADS | FACEBOOK

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY BELOW!

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WHAT DID YOU THINK? HAVE YOU HEARD OF THE THORN AND THE SINKING STONE? HAVE YOU READ IT? LEAVE ME SOME COMMENTS!

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