Teaser Tuesday: Dream a Little Dream by Kerstin Gier {113}

Title: Dream a Little Dream
Author: Kerstin Gier

Release date: April 14, 2015

Mysterious doors with lizard-head knobs. Talking stone statues. A crazy girl with a hatchet. Yep, Liv’s dreams have been pretty weird lately. Especially this one where she’s in a graveyard at night, watching four boys perform dark magic rituals. 

The really weird thing is that Liv recognizes the boys in her dream. They’re classmates from her new school in London, the school where’s she’s starting over because her mom has moved them to a new country (again). But they seem to know things about her in real life that they couldn’t possibly know, which is mystifying. Then again, Liv could never resist a good mystery. . . 

My teaser, from pg. 136 in the ARC:

...I was able to add another point to the scientific evaluation of my dreams on record: Fifth, I was obviously able to dream of things that I couldn't possibly know.

I'm really enjoying this so far! I loved Kerstin Gier's Ruby Red books, so it's no surprise, really. Her narrative voices are really entertaining and fresh, and simply a lot of fun to read.

Oh, and I'm so glad for this cover redesign. The cover of my ARC is too fluffy and silly looking, which does very little to sell the book to me. This new cover, however, is pretty. Same font (which was the one thing I liked about the first), but a completely different color scheme, no bubbles or butterflies (which make sense as I read the book, but look silly on the cover), and just a hint of darkness. Much better!

I'll be visiting around and visiting back, so leave me links to your teasers! :) Happy Tuesday!

Baking By the Book: November Cakes from The Scorpio Races

I'm finally back with another Baking By the Book! Hooray! I've actually had the pieces for this post for about a month, but I didn't want to post two too close together and then I kind of kept forgetting. :)

Anyway, This time around I'm baking November Cakes, as featured in Maggie Stiefvater's wonderful The Scorpio Races. This was a recipe I wanted to try from the moment I read about it in the book, and I've had the link to Maggie's recipe for it saved for years. This was the recipe that I think gave me the idea for the feature, so yay for finally making it! And y'all said more pictures, so there are definitely more pictures this time!

After making the Cinnamon Bookbinder Bread, making bread this time around wasn't quite as intimidating, though this was certainly a more involved recipe. But who could think a bun with a glaze AND icing could be bad? (That icing is actually heaven in a bowl, I swear. I was tempted just to eat the whole thing and make a second batch for the cakes.)

All of my ingredients, assembled in one place. This always, always makes things easier for me. And I put them away as I use them.

My wet and dry ingredients for the buns, right before I mixed them together.

The dough after I finished mixing it and before I put it aside to rise. Maggie has great advice about pre-heating your oven to 100 degrees (mine won't go that low, so I don't let it heat up all the way), turning it off, covering your dough with a towel, and putting it in the oven to rise. This has worked really well for me multiple times.

The dough after it rose. It has a really weird, sticky consistency at this point, and was hard to handle to form into the buns. It tasted good, though!

Buns on the pan, ready to bake!

Buns right after they baked. They were still pretty light in color, with golden edges, but they're still really soft.

With the honey glaze, which pooled a lot, and made the buns even better later--after they'd been sitting in it for a while.

And the finished product! My icing abilities are clearly not up to par, but it doesn't hurt how they taste. Again, these were a hit in my house. I'm actually not the biggest fan of honey, and the glaze uses half a cup of honey, so they have a strong honey taste. It didn't mean I didn't like them--not at all--but were I to make them again, I'd probably go a little lighter on the honey, just to please my palate. My parents weren't bothered by that at all. They reheated really well, too. I'd stick one in the microwave for ten seconds and it'd be hot and gooey all over again, without getting weird. Fresh out of the oven is when they're best, though.

Now, should you like to try these (and you totally should!), Maggie posted the recipe via Flickr, where you can download it from, and here's the photo:



Needless to say, you should read the recipe just for her little asides. They're wonderful.

Stacking the Shelves {111}

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews where we get to share the books we've bought, been gifted, or received for review!

How was everybody's week? Mine's been pretty stinking good! Nothing terribly exceptional, just happiness at work and in life, you know? They're giving me real shift on the book floor at B&N, so now I'm actually a bookseller! 

For review:

Hidden Huntress (The Malediction Trilogy #2) by Danielle L. Jensen
I totally missed that this was on Netgalley last week, so when I saw a bunch of people got it last week, I might've freaked. Now IT'S MINE.

A recap of the week here on Paper Cuts:
Monday - Review: Sorceress (Spellcaster #3) by Claudia Gray
Tuesday - Teaser Tuesday: I Am Her Revenge by Meredith Moore
Wednesday - Waiting on Wednesday: Velvet Undercover by Teri Brown
Friday - Review: The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things by Ann Aguirre

Books I read this week:
Mistress Firebrand by Donna Thorland
Fairest by Marissa Meyer
Pip Bartlett's Guide to Magical Creatures by Jackson Pearce & Maggie Stiefvater
I Am Her Revenge by Meredith Moore

I'm currently reading:
Dream a Little Dream by Kerstin Gier

So that's been my week! I was doing so well with the reading, finishing three books in two days, and then I lulled with I Am Her Revenge. It was meh and took too long for me to finish. Oh well. :) Have a lovely Sunday and a fabulous week!

Review: The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things by Ann Aguirre

Release date: April 7, 2015
Author info: Website | Twitter | Facebook
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Pages: 328
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher provided for review
Buy the book: Barnes & Noble | Amazon | The Book Depository

Sage Czinski is trying really hard to be perfect. If she manages it, people won’t peer beyond the surface, or ask hard questions about her past. She’s learned to substitute causes for relationships, and it’s working just fine… until Shane Cavendish strolls into her math class. He’s a little antisocial, a lot beautiful, and everything she never knew she always wanted.

Shane Cavendish just wants to be left alone to play guitar and work on his music. He’s got heartbreak and loneliness in his rearview mirror, and this new school represents his last chance. He doesn’t expect to be happy; he only wants to graduate and move on. He never counted on a girl like Sage.

But love doesn’t mend all broken things, and sometimes life has to fall apart before it can be put back together again…

I describe a lot of books as being cute, but I don't often say many of those are sweet. While at times The Queen of Bright and Shiny Objects is cute, I really think the best description includes sweet. There's a lot of darkness in the pasts of Sage and Shane, but their efforts to be the best people they can be--individually and together--is heartening and just lovely to read about. Not to mention, their romance is just wonderful.

What I think is wonderful about The Queen of Bright and Shiny things is that it deals with so many problems, both of Sage and Shane's, but those don't overwhelm the story and, at the same time, they aren't diminished. It's this fine balance of weight and levity; it makes you feel how serious their pasts are, but you're still encouraged for the present and future.

I did find that the drama with Dylan was a little..over the top, I guess? At moments, I could envision him as an old-timey villain, twirling his mustache and rubbing his hands together, or saying the Wicked Witch of the West's "I'll get you my pretty, and your little dog, too!" It felt a little cartoony. He's given a good back story and explanation toward his actions, but it didn't stop how it felt. Also, some cheesy lines throughout by different characters--but I can handle some cheese.

I don't often get so struck by a section of a book that I immediately put it down to hunt for something to mark it. I often don't mark a thing in a single book for months. But in The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things, there are moments that made me stop, just to make sure I wouldn't lose that paragraph.

About the author:

Ann Aguirre is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling author with a degree in English Literature; before she began writing full time, she was a clown, a clerk, a voice actress, and a savior of stray kittens, not necessarily in that order. She grew up in a yellow house across from a cornfield, but now she lives in sunny Mexico with her husband, children, and various pets. She likes books, emo music, and action movies. She writes all kinds of genre fiction for adults and teens.

Waiting on Wednesday: Velvet Undercover by Teri Brown {86}

Title: Velvet Undercover
Author: Teri Brown
Release date: October 20, 2015

Samantha Donaldson’s family has always done its duty for the British Crown. In the midst of World War I, seventeen-year-old Sam follows in their footsteps, serving her country from the homefront as a Girl Guide and messenger for the intelligence organization MI5. After her father disappears on a diplomatic mission, she continues their studies of languages, high-level mathematics, and complex puzzles and codes, hoping to make him proud.

When Sam is asked to join the famed women’s spy group La Dame Blanche she’s torn—this could be the adventure she’s dreamed of, but how can she abandon her mother, who has already lost a husband to the war? But when her handlers reveal shocking news, Sam realizes there’s no way she can refuse the exciting and dangerous opportunity.

Her acceptance leads her straight into the heart of enemy territory on a mission to extract the most valuable British spy embedded in Germany, known to the members of LDB only as Velvet. Deep undercover within the court of Kaiser Wilhelm II, Samantha must navigate the labyrinthine palace and its many glamorous—and secretive—residents to complete her assignment. To make matters worse she finds herself forming a forbidden attraction to the enemy-a dangerously handsome German guard. In a place where personal politics are treacherously entangled in wartime policy, can Samantha discover the truth and find Velvet before it’s too late…for them both?

From author Teri Brown comes the thrilling story of one girl’s journey into a deadly world of spycraft and betrayal—with unforgettable consequences.

I so enjoyed Teri Brown's other books, Born of Illusion and Born of Deception, so I want mooooore from her!

 So what are you guys waiting on this week? :)

Teaser Tuesday: I Am Her Revenge by Meredith Moore {112}

Title: I Am Her Revenge
Author: Meredith Moore

Release date: April 7, 2015

She can be anyone you want her to be.
Vivian was raised with one purpose in life: to exact revenge on behalf of her mother. Manipulative and cruel, Mother has deprived Vivian not only of a childhood, but of an original identity. With an endless arsenal of enticing personalities at her disposal, Vivian is a veritable weapon of deception.

And she can destroy anyone.
When it’s time to strike, she enrolls in a boarding school on the English moors, where she will zero in on her target: sweet and innocent Ben, the son of the man who broke Mother’s heart twenty years ago.

Anyone… except for the woman who created her.
With every secret she uncovers, Vivian comes one step closer to learning who she really is. But the more she learns about herself, the more dangerous this cat and mouse game becomes. Because Mother will stop at nothing to make sure the truth dies with her. 

My teaser, from pg. 13 in the ARC:

I zone out, and my eyelids grow heavy. I jab my pen into the palm of my hand every few minutes to stay awake until the bell finally rings and I can head to English literature.

Which is much more interesting. Because it's there that I first see him.

This book sounds beyond fantastic, so I'm thrilled to be reading it. I'm not far, but who can't love a good revenge story? :)

I'll be visiting around and visiting back, so leave me links to your teasers! :) Happy Tuesday!

Review: Sorceress (Spellcaster #3) by Claudia Gray

Release date: March 3, 2015
Author info: Website | Twitter | Facebook
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 352
Format: Hardcover
Source: Author provided for review
Buy the book: Barnes & Noble | Amazon | The Book Depository

To save the lives of countless people in Captive’s Sound, Nadia has sworn herself to the One Beneath, to black magic. Her plan, and the town’s only hope, is for Nadia to learn enough sorcery to strike back against the forces of darkness. But now that she’s separated from her friends, her family, and her Steadfast, Mateo, Nadia is more vulnerable than ever to darkness. And as the sorceress Elizabeth summons torrential rains and brings the One Beneath closer to the mortal world, Nadia is running out of time to stop her. The final battle lines are drawn, surprising alliances are made, and true love is tested in the action-packed conclusion to the breathtaking Spellcaster series. 

Sorceress is richly woven with New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray’s signature dark magic, captivating mystery, and star-crossed romance.

I've been dying to read Sorceress for ages! I had to know how this series would end, after the ending of Steadfast when Nadia swore herself to the One Beneath. It seemed an insurmountable feat. How do you take down the one you're unable to do anything against?

Just as in the first two books, the magic is the highlight of the book. And the ultimate magic, in the end, oh, it made me so happy. It's all about memories and emotions. If you haven't experienced it, you can't use it for a spell, so some spells are out of a witch's depth. I loved seeing a slightly darker side to Nadia, even as she struggles to keep that at bay, and the way she uses the magic to achieve the end is just...awesome, the best embodiment of what I've loved about these books all along.

I also have really come to love the characters, Verlaine especially and Asa as a close second. Nadia and Mateo are great, but Verlaine is so much more compelling. She's been deprived of love from anyone other than her uncles her entire life, but she's still got so much love to give. Some days she struggles, because she knows her friends don't care for her the way they should under the curse, and there's so much more of that here. She's vilified by the town because no one can feel affection for her and as conditions in Captive's Sound get worse, people start to blame her for Elizabeth's havoc. It's truly dangerous for her at times, bBut Verlaine is unflagging, and you can't help but really love her for that.

As a series ender, parts felt a little anticlimactic to me, knowing the big ending was here, but they didn't feel as big as maybe they should. I still loved how things were solved, though, because it was so true to the magic in this series. Even though the ending isn't all sunshines and smiles. it's very fitting for the scope of the books, but satisfying as well.

The Spellcaster series is one I've really enjoyed. It's truly worth is solely for the magic, because even with three books behind me, I still can't get enough of it, but you'll come to love the characters, without a doubt.

About the author:

Claudia Gray is the pseudonym of Amy Vincent, a bestselling, New Orleans-based novelist. She is perhaps best known for her four-book Evernight series, which follows a girl named Bianca, who is sent to Evernight Academy, a boarding school for vampires.

Gray has also published Balthazar, a spin-off of the Evernight series about Bianca's vampire friend, and a stand-alone novel entitled Fateful, the tale of a young serving woman aboard the doomed ship Titanic, and a dark stranger who is pursued by werewolves. Gray's short stories have been featured in anthologies such as Immortal, Enthralled, and Vacations from Hell. Before working as a full-time novelist, Gray worked as a lawyer, a disc jockey, a journalist, and a waitress (a terrible one by her reckoning). She enjoys hiking, traveling, reading, and listening to music, but says she loves writing best of all.

Stacking the Shelves {110}

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews where we get to share the books we've bought, been gifted, or received for review!

How was everybody's week? Mine's been good! :) Nothing too exciting most of the week, but I did get a chance to go to my favorite local bookstore Friday, where they let me take home some ARCs, and I was not disappointed! Happy dance! 

Purchased:

Fairest by Marissa Meyer

Gifted:

Blue Lily, Lily Blue (The Raven Cycle #3) by Maggie Stiefvater
Pip Bartlett's Guide to Magical Creatures by Jackson Pearce & Maggie Stiefvater
Of Dreams and Rust (Of Metal and Wishes #2) by Sarah Fine
The Fill-In Boyfriend by Kasie West

A recap of the week here on Paper Cuts:
Tuesday - Teaser Tuesday: The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things by Ann Aguirre
Wednesday - Waiting on Wednesday: First & Then by Emma Mills
Thursday - Movie Musical Challenge: Moulin Rouge! 
                    What's Your Winner's Curse? Blog Tour + Giveaway

Books I read this week:
The Girl of Fire and Thorns Stories by Rae Carson
Sorceress (Spellcaster #3) by Claudia Gray
The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things by Ann Aguirre

I'm currently reading:
Mistress Firebrand by Donna Thorland

So that's been my week! Better in the reading department! I'm way behind on comments, but I'm planning on tackling them all today, so if you've visited in the past, oh, week or so, I'll be coming to see ya today! :) Have a lovely Sunday and a fabulous week!

What's Your Winner's Curse? Blog Tour + Giveaway

Whew! This tour is finally winding down, y'all. There are two stops after me, and then we're all done. :) If you read blogs regularly, I'm sure you've seen these posts already. I, on the other hand, have skipped them, because I didn't want to know anyone else's answer to the question before I wrote mine and I'm a procrastinator who won't write posts till the night before (as I'm doing right now). On to the question!

The ‘Winner’s Curse’ is an economics term that means you’ve gotten what you wanted – but at too high a price.  What would you pay too much for?

I really consider myself to be very lucky. I've had almost no hardship in my life. I have a loving family that supports me, a roof over my head, food in my mouth, and I'm fully physically and mentally able. So, when addressing a question like this, it's hard for me to know how to answer it, when I've been so lucky in the hand dealt to me.

And yet, I worry. I worry, I worry, I worry. I'm a pretty relaxed person in almost all aspects, but I have a lot of fears for my future. What if I don't get a job in the field I want? What if I'm not good at what I want to do? What if I move and can't make friends? What if I can't afford to live on my own? What if I'm making the wrong decisions? What if...? These questions eat at me all of the time, just a little bit, but they're always there. I suppose, if I could pay too much for something, it'd be peace of mind. Not knowing exactly what's going to happen, but knowing that whatever happens is right, that I can make the right decisions. It's kind of a weird thing to want, yet being rid of those worries would be the greatest thing.

I still consider myself supremely lucky in the hand I was dealt, no matter what.

Thank you so much to Macmillan for hosting and letting me be a part of the tour! If you want to hear more Winner's Curses (or maybe try to enter some more giveaways, eh?), check out the master list of posts here. Also be sure to check out the series website and try out some Bite and Sting, which I love but am kind of terrible at.

And now I've got a giveaway to share, thanks to Macmillan! One US winner will receive a copy of either The Winner's Curse or The Winner's Crime, their choice. So if you haven't started the series yet, but want to, or haven't gotten your hands on a copy of the second book yet, now's your chance! This one's quick, only running for a week, so get to entering!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Movie Musical Challenge: Moulin Rouge!

It's taken me a month and a half, but I've finally gotten to watching and writing about the twenty-fifth movie on the AFI's Top 25 Greatest Movie Musical list! Finally!

The movie that takes that place is Moulin Rouge!, released in 2001, directed by Baz Luhrmann, and starring Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman.

Moulin Rouge! is rather an odd bird for me. First, I have a very distinct memory of the first time I saw it. When Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, my house flooded. We stayed and had to retreat upstairs, which remained unharmed, during the storm itself and in the aftermath. We were without power for a month, so a couple of weeks in, my parents sent me to stay with my aunt in Alabama for a week, mostly just to get out of the area for a bit and enjoy some air conditioning (South Mississippi in September!) and real food. While there, I camped out on her couch, staying up late into the night watching movies. Moulin Rouge! was one of those, and I loved it.

At the time, it was the most wonderful form of escapism. Between the setting, the music, and the visuals, I couldn't get enough. But, with time, that luster has faded. Then, I thought it was perfect in all ways. Now, I see that the frenzy of the movie, so wonderful the first time around, gives it a lot of flaws. And maybe repeat viewings have dulled my sensitivity to the story. I still love the movie in a lot of ways, just not with the fervor I had in eighth grade. (I also really hate the whole "Like a Virgin" sequence. Let's just forget that's in the movie, okay?)

All that being said, I don't know that there's a scene that captures me in any other movie musical the way "El Tango de Roxanne" does. I've come to recognize in myself a love of the dramatic, the spectacle, so it's no wonder the drama of this scene gets me every time.

I mean, how can you not get swept up in that?

In this most recent viewing, I also marveled at Ewan McGregor's voice. From all that I've read online, nothing has mentioned it being dubbed or altered. I'm now wishing for him to be cast in another movie musical (or on Broadway!) so I can hear him sing more.

Moulin Rouge! will always be special to me, but a bit of perspective dulls its shine for me. Up next, Show Boat, a musical I've never seen, but have always wanted to see. :D

Waiting on Wednesday: First & Then by Emma Mills {85}

Title: First & Then
Author: Emma Mills
Release date: October 13, 2015

First impressions can be deceiving . . .

Devon has life pretty much figured out: she’s got her best friend Cas, her secret crush (also Cas), and her comfortable routine (mostly spent with Cas). New experiences: not welcome here. But as she enters her senior year, her parents take in her cousin Foster, an undersized weirdo who shows an unexpected talent for football, and star running back Ezra takes Foster under his wing. Devon can't figure out how she feels about Ezra. He's obviously stuck-up, but Foster adores him. Ezra has nothing to say to her, but he keeps seeking her out. And... Devon might actually like him. If only she can admit it to herself.

Funny, fresh, and layered, First and Then proves that change doesn't always tear things apart—sometimes, it brings them together.

I would also like to point out that the email I got about this from Macmillan yesterday included these words: "Pride and Prejudice meets Friday Night Lights in this contemporary novel about falling in love." !!!! I can't even handle that. Plus, how lovely is that cover? Count me excited.

 So what are you guys waiting on this week? :)

Teaser Tuesday: The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things by Ann Aguirre {111}

Title: The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things
Author: Ann Aguirre

Release date: April 7, 2015

Sage Czinski is trying really hard to be perfect. If she manages it, people won’t peer beyond the surface, or ask hard questions about her past. She’s learned to substitute causes for relationships, and it’s working just fine… until Shane Cavendish strolls into her math class. He’s a little antisocial, a lot beautiful, and everything she never knew she always wanted.

Shane Cavendish just wants to be left alone to play guitar and work on his music. He’s got heartbreak and loneliness in his rearview mirror, and this new school represents his last chance. He doesn’t expect to be happy; he only wants to graduate and move on. He never counted on a girl like Sage.

But love doesn’t mend all broken things, and sometimes life has to fall apart before it can be put back together again… 

My teaser, from pg. 122 in the ARC:

Shane gives me a look that says he'll ask later. Tonight, probably, and I dip my head in silent acknowledgment. I don't know if I'm excited that he wants to know me or terrified about how he'll feel once he does.

I'm a big fan of Ann Aguirre, so of course I'm excited to read this one! Who doesn't love some good romance? :)

I'll be visiting around and visiting back, so leave me links to your teasers! :) Happy Tuesday!

Stacking the Shelves {109}

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews where we get to share the books we've bought, been gifted, or received for review!

How was everybody's week? Mine's been good! :) Oh my gosh, I'm so happy about the mail I got this week. Two books I'm dying to read, another I got an AMAZING deal on (did y'all get that email last weekend from HarperCollins with a code to get half off a select few of their books, plus free shipping??), and one I loved that I needed a finished copy for. Such a happy mailbox for me. :)

For review:

Sorceress (Spellcaster #3) by Claudia Gray
Rook by Sharon Cameron

5 to 1 by Holly Bodger
So excited I could scream. For real. I about died when they accepted me to read it.

Thank you so, so much to Claudia Gray, Scholastic, and Knopf for these! :D :D

Purchased:

The Girl of Fire and Thorns Stories by Rae Carson

Traded:

Magnolia by Kristi Cook

A recap of the week here on Paper Cuts:
Tuesday - Teaser Tuesday: Sorceress by Claudia Gray
Wednesday - Waiting on Wednesday: Firewalker by Josephine Angelini
Thursday - Review: Rebellion (Extraction #2) by Stephanie Diaz
Friday - My Secrets of Flirting + Giveaway

Books I read this week:
The DUFF by Kody Keplinger
Rebellion (Extraction #2) by Stephanie Diaz

I'm currently reading:
The Girl of Fire and Thorns Stories by Rae Carson
Sorceress (Spellcaster #3) by Claudia Gray

So that's been my week! I don't know what's wrong with me, but I'm so averse to reading right now. Every time I sit down and have time, it's a fight to keep my attention on a book. And it's not that I'm not liking what I'm reading. I don't know. It stinks, though, because I really want to read. Hopefully this week will change! :) Have a lovely Sunday and a fabulous week!

My Secrets of Flirting (Ha!) + Giveaway

I'm so excited for Robin Constantine's sophomore novel, The Secrets of Attraction, out April 28th, so when I was asked to share my secrets of flirting and romantic advice, I jumped at the opportunity. Not only will I be sharing some embarrassing information (because any story involving me and flirting is embarrassing), but I've got a giveaway for a copy of Robin's first book, The Promise of Amazing too, which I really liked. :) Keep reading, y'all!

What's the best/worst advice you've been given (or gave) to help woo that special someone or secret crush?

I have to say, I don't know that anyone has ever expressly given me advice for flirting. It certainly went in one ear and out the other if they did. I don't think I have any secrets. I mean, in my mind and life, the best thing is to be yourself. It's what worked for me, certainly. Why act a certain way to attract someone, if that's not how you act day-to-day? Either you'll have to continue differently for the duration of your relationship or they'll figure it out quite quickly.

I'll tell you, though. I'm as goofy as they come. My sophomore year of high school I was cast in

Smack dab in the center. :)

Fiddler in the Roof as Golde, the female lead and wife of Tevye, the male lead. As seems to happen, I developed a healthy crush on the guy who played my husband, who was a senior. One day after lunch, my friends and I were leaving the cafeteria, and one of them nudged me, indicating behind us. Turns out, he was walking behind us, leaving at the same time. And what did I do, flirting expert that I am? Well, for whatever reason, I had some change in the pocket of my skirt, and I started shaking my hips back and forth, making the change jingle. To make it worse, I--quite obviously, and loudly--stated, "I jingle!" Needless to say, my friends burst out laughing and I haven't lived it down. Even though it's an embarrassing story, I'm not ashamed of it. I'm silly. I say and do stupid things all of the time, and if someone doesn't like me because of that, good riddance.

The people you want in your life are the people who love you for you, not some idealized version of yourself. We all have flaws and make mistakes, but it's the people who love those flaws that stick around. So... I guess my secret/advice is just to be yourself! People are going to love you, so there's not reason to try hard. You're great just the way you are!

What's the best advice you've been given? Or, I'd love to hear your flirting stories!

About The Secrets of Attraction:

Set in the same world as The Promise of Amazing, this smart, surprising, and romantic follow-up to Robin Constantine's debut novel follows two New Jersey teens as they become friends and fall in love. Perfect for fans of Stephanie Perkins, Sarah Mlynowski, and Jennifer E. Smith.

Madison Pryce thinks she's got everything figured out—she's working on a portfolio for a summer art program and hanging with her friends. Plus she has her hot boyfriend, Zach. But then a visit from a family friend turns Maddie's life upside down.

Jesse McMann is still reeling from a breakup that shattered his heart and his band. Then pride (and some goading from his bass player and fellow barista) forces him to find a new drummer—and the inspiration to write music again.

Kismet arrives in the unlikely form of Grayson Barrett, who tries out for Jesse's band, and whose girlfriend is BFFs with the cute girl who orders a chai latte after yoga every Thursday: Maddie. What Jesse and Maddie thought they knew about the secrets of attraction and the rules of romance changes once they start falling for each other.

Pre-order the book: Barnes & Noble | Amazon | The Book Depository

Available April 28th! 

About The Promise of Amazing:

Wren Caswell is average. Ranked in the middle of her class at Sacred Heart, she’s not popular, but not a social misfit. Wren is the quiet, “good” girl who's always done what she's supposed to—only now in her junior year, this passive strategy is backfiring. She wants to change, but doesn’t know how.

Grayson Barrett was the king of St. Gabe’s. Star of the lacrosse team, top of his class, on a fast track to a brilliant future—until he was expelled for being a “term paper pimp.” Now Gray is in a downward spiral and needs to change, but doesn’t know how.

One fateful night their paths cross when Wren, working at her family’s Arthurian-themed catering hall, performs the Heimlich on Gray as he chokes on a cocktail weenie, saving his life literally and figuratively. What follows is the complicated, awkward, hilarious, and tender tale of two teens shedding their pasts, figuring out who they are—and falling in love.

Buy the book: Barnes & Noble | Amazon | The Book Depository

About Robin Constantine:

Robin Constantine is a born-and-raised Jersey girl who moved south so she could wear flip-flops year-round. She spends her days dreaming up stories where love conquers all, eventually, but not without a lot of peril, angst, and the occasional kissing scene. This is her first novel.

Find Robin online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads



And now for the giveaway! I've got one paperback copy of The Promise of Amazing to give away to one US reader. The giveaway will run through the 27th, so you have two weeks to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Rebellion (Extraction #2) by Stephanie Diaz

Release date: February 10, 2015
Author info: Website | Twitter | Facebook
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Pages: 324
Format: Hardcover
Source: Publisher provided for review
Buy the book: Barnes & Noble | Amazon | The Book Depository

The uprising has begun.

It's been seven days since Clementine and Logan, along with their allies, retreated into hiding on the Surface. The rebels may have won one battle against Commander Charlie, but the fight is far from finished. He has vowed to find a way to win—no matter the cost. Do the rebels have what it takes to defeat him...and put an end to this war?

As Clementine and Logan enter a desperate race against time to defeat Commander Charlie—and attempt to weaken his power within his own ranks—they find themselves in a terrifying endgame that pits them against a brutal enemy, and each other. With every step, Clementine draws closer to losing Logan...and losing control of herself.

Continuing with the mesmerizing saga that started with Extraction, Stephanie Diaz blends science fiction, epic romance, and heart-stopping adventure to create a world that no reader will soon forget.

I liked Extraction, though I thought it had some room for improvement. The world was interesting, the pace fast, and the main character, Clementine, fierce. And Rebellion was better. In this sequel, we see more of the world of Kiel and more of Clementine's willingness to sacrifice herself to save those she loves.

While Clementine is more introspective in this book, that's expected after what she's done and let happen in the first book. She is guilty over letting Oliver sacrifice himself, and each day she feels as if she's diving farther into a pool of darkness, hurting others in her mission to take down Commander Charlie. At the same time, she's still protecting Logan with all she has. Even though she wants to get rid of Charlie, first and foremost is Logan. At times, it's frustrating, because without the tie to Logan, she'd be a much more effective rebel. Yet, Logan keeps Clementine from going too far. Knowing there's a line she will not cross is what makes her better and what keeps her sane.

And though Clementine is a bit of a tortured soul, that doesn't mean there's not plenty going on. The Alliance isn't sitting around making plans. Very quickly, they're mobilizing, putting their people into place. There's very little time for Clementine to really dwell, only in short moments, and it keeps the book moving quickly. While the beginning takes a little while really to get going, once it does, there's no stopping. While it took me a few days to read the first fifty pages, I read the rest in an afternoon--and they flew by.

If you read and liked Extraction, keep going! I think Rebellion is better, and it sets up the final book, Evolution, to be even more exciting. If you like your dystopian with more than a little hint of science fiction, this is likely the series for you.

About the author:

Stephanie first knew she wanted to be an author when she was in second grade, sitting in a book club drinking tea and reading books like The Egypt Game. She dreamed someday people might drink tea while devouring books she had written. She wrote her first book soon after, a 30-page fantasy story--complete with a hand-drawn map--stapled together and presented to her younger sister for a birthday present.

Now twenty-two years old, she lives in San Diego with her family. She graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in film production and a publishing deal for a young adult sci-fi trilogy. She is the author of Extraction and the forthcoming Rebellion and Evolution.

When she isn't lost in other worlds, she can be found singing, marveling at the night sky, or fangirling over TV shows.

Waiting on Wednesday: Firewalker (The Worldwalker Trilogy #2) by Josephine Angelini {84}

Title: Firewalker (The Worldwalker Trilogy #2)
Author: Josephine Angelini
Release date: September 1, 2015

Worlds divide, magic slays, and love lies in the second book of Josephine Angelini’s The Worldwalker Trilogy.

"You think I’m a monster, but my choices, as ruthless as they seem, are justified."

Lily is back in her own universe, and she's ready to start a new life with Rowan by her side. True, she almost died in the Pyre that fueled their escape from New Salem, and must hide her magic for the safety of everyone she cares about, but compared to fighting the Woven, the monstrous creatures inhabiting the alternate Salem, life is looking pretty good.

Unfortunately, Lillian, ruthless ruler of the 13 Cities, is not willing to let Lily go that easily. If she can’t persuade Lily to return to her world, she will force her to come back by doing away with the ones she loves.

Picking up right where Trial By Fire left off, Firewalker is another sexy, fast-paced, heartbreaking thrill ride from internationally bestselling author Josephine Angelini!

I WANT THIS SO BADLY. I loved Trial By Fire and it ended on such a good cliffhanger. I'm pretty upset at the cover redesign, though. Why do they do this to us?

 So what are you guys waiting on this week? :)

Teaser Tuesday: Sorceress (Spellcaster #3) by Claudia Gray {110}

Title: Sorceress (Spellcaster #3)
Author: Claudia Gray

Release date: March 3, 2015

To save the lives of countless people in Captive’s Sound, Nadia has sworn herself to the One Beneath, to black magic. Her plan, and the town’s only hope, is for Nadia to learn enough sorcery to strike back against the forces of darkness. But now that she’s separated from her friends, her family, and her Steadfast, Mateo, Nadia is more vulnerable than ever to darkness. And as the sorceress Elizabeth summons torrential rains and brings the One Beneath closer to the mortal world, Nadia is running out of time to stop her. The final battle lines are drawn, surprising alliances are made, and true love is tested in the action-packed conclusion to the breathtaking Spellcaster series. 

Sorceress is richly woven with New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray’s signature dark magic, captivating mystery, and star-crossed romance.

My teaser, from pg. 138 in the hardcover:

With that, Nadia slung her backpack over her shoulder again and walked out into the rain. Verlaine didn't even shut the door. She just stood there, frozen, watching her friend go and feeling the weight of the heavy knife in her hand.

In her memory, Asa's voice whispered, Kill me if you can.

I just got this in the mail yesterday, and I'm so excited! I loooove the magic in this series and I'm so thrilled to find out how it ends. :D

I'll be visiting around and visiting back, so leave me links to your teasers! :) Happy Tuesday!

Stacking the Shelves {108}

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews where we get to share the books we've bought, been gifted, or received for review!

How was everybody's week? Mine's been good! :) I've been working quite a bit this week, since I had so many days off to go to a wedding last weekend, so I didn't get to read much. Hopefully this afternoon I'll get Rebellion finished... 

For review:

How to Say I Love You Out Loud by Karole Cozzo

Purchased:

The Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas
The Perilous Sea (The Elemental Trilogy #2) by Sherry Thomas

They came, and they're beautiful! After I loved The Perilous Sea so much, I knew I had to buy myself finished copies of these. Totally worth it.

A recap of the week here on Paper Cuts:
Monday - Review: The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord
Tuesday - Teaser Tuesday: Rebellion by Stephanie Diaz
Wednesday - Waiting on Wednesday: P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han
Thursday - Blog Tour: Dead to Me by Mary McCoy {Review + Playlist + Giveaway}
Friday - Distractions - February

Books I read this week:
Dead to Me by Mary McCoy

I'm currently reading:
Rebellion (Extraction #2) by Stephanie Diaz

So that's been my week! Third week in a row in which I've posted six days (the goal) and kept up with my comments! I have to pat myself on the back a bit. It's been a while since I've been on the ball. :) Have a lovely Sunday and a fabulous week!