October Wrap Up

 

 Is it seriously November already? I can honestly understand now what my parents always meant when they said that time passes by so quickly (and I never got it!) because WOW… where has 2014 went? I’m so excited it’s November though because we are coming into my favorite time of the year 🙂 Not only is the Christmas season just about upon us, but it’s going to be WINTER soon <3 And it snowed (ok, flurries but it counts!) yesterday! I was a very happy little person 🙂

I really don’t have a single fun thing to talk about for October 😛 I read some, blogged some… but it flew by! So… because I have nothing to say (again – seriously, this is rare!) onto the wrap up!

*Click for review. Non reviewed reads link to Goodreads.

Until You’re Mine by Samantha Hayes ★★★★
The Perfectionists by Sara Shepard ★★★★
Even in Paradise by Chelsey Philpot ★★★
The Assassin’s Blade by Sarah J. Maas ★★★★
Endless by Kate Brian ★★★
Embers by Karen Ann Hopkins ★★★★

Goodreads Challenge: Well since I am ever the optimist, although I have only currently read 67 out of 100 book goal… I am STILL confident that I will get it. I am going to be a reading machine these next two months 🙂

2014 Debut Author Challenge: I added another book this month, Even in Paradise. So far I’ve read 9 out of 20. I’m not sure how I will fair out by the end of the year but I hope to read at least 2 more!

2014 TBR Pile Challenge: I have zero idea how far along I am with this one. I had planned on sitting down and assessing it but I didn’t so I will for my December wrap up. I didn’t read anything to add to this though (although I’m working on it with Throne of Glass!).

2014 Review Pile Reading Challenge: I’ve read 47 out of my 45 goal, so I’ve completed this one 🙂 This thrills me!!!

2014 Series Challenge: I haven’t assessed this one yet either, SOON!

2014 Prequel and Sequel Challenge: I have completed this one as well but I haven’t tallied it all up yet because I read a lot more books this month that can count towards it:)

I participated in the tour for Embers by Karen Ann Hopkins! I love Karen Ann Hopkins so I was thrilled to be able to participate in the tour for her new paranormal book. There is an awesome giveaway happening for the tour, so be sure to check that out!

I posted my picks for Places Books Made Me Want To Visit, and New Series That I Want to Start.

Again this month I got some really great books that I am very excited for! I posted about them here and here.

In addition to the books I read and reviewed in October, I also posted my reviews for Get Even by Gretchen McNeil and my re-read review for A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness.

I installed the Tweak Me theme from Creative Whim! I have loved everything I’ve purchased from Ashley @ Creative Whim at this is no exception. The Tweak Me theme is fantastic, there are endless options to make your blog look exactly how you want it. I still haven’t finished playing around because there is so much to do; I highly recommend it if you are looking for a new theme!

Books & Reading

• I Think I’ve Made a Terrible Mistake at The Perpetual Page-Turner
• How Do You Buy Books? at Bookmark Lit
• Fairytale Retellings at The Daily Prophecy
• Recommending Books: It’s for You, Not Me at The Novel Hermit
• 5 Star Horrible Books at Book Nerd Reviews
• On Reading Multiple Books at Writer Grrl Reads
• The Never Ending Series at Pages of Forbidden Love
• When Life Gets in the Way of Reading at The Thousand Lives
• 10 Ways to Up Your Reading Intake at Gun In Act One
• Defining New Adult at Oh, The Books!
• In Theory I Like Re-Reading at The Perpetual Page-Turner
• A Timeline of Historical Fiction at Epic Reads
• Read-a-thon Reflection at Word Revel
• 8 Reasons I Struggle to Put Down A Book at The Perpetual Page-Turner
• E-books are Real Books Too at GeekyZooGirl
• Ebook vs Book at Oh, The Books!

Bookish Fun & Misc

• What is Your Fate with (Bookish) Monsters at Oh, The Books!
• My Bookshelf Calms Me Down When I’m Emotional at Lili’s Reflections
• Monsters: Scary or Marry? at Oh, The Books!
• On Author Events at Writer Grrl Reads
• Bookish Guides: Witches & Dark Magic at Oh, The Books!
• Lynburn Legacy Love at So Obsessed With
• Book Shopping is Tortuous at Oh, The Books!
• Ten Signs You Are a Book Junkee at Parajunkee
• Madame Memento’s Book Art Prints at Oh, The Books!
• I Love Maps, but… at Oh, The Books!

Blogging Help & Design Posts

• 37 WordPress Keyboard Shortcuts to Save Time Blogging at Book Bumblings
• How to Create Your Own WordPress Shortcodes at Nose Graze
• Asana! A New Way To Stay Organized at Read. Sleep. Repeat
• Free “Verdict” Rating Graphics at Nose Graze
• The Designer’s Handbook: Choosing a Color Scheme at These Paper Hearts
• Do You Inform An Author When You Write A Bad Review? at Parajunkee
• Grow Your Email List with Twitter Lead Gen Cards at Book Bumblings
• How Do You Request Review Copies from Publishers at Reading is My Treasure
• How to Use FTP for Your WordPress Blog at Nose Graze
• The Wonders of Wunderlist at So Obsessed With
• Google Chrome Plugins for Book Bloggers at Book Bumblings
• DIY: Starting Your Own Blog – A Checklist at These Paper Hearts
• Tech Talk: Out of Milk App Tutorial/Review at Books With Cass
• HTML Cheat Sheet at Parajunkee
• 3 Reasons to Use Post Excerpts on Your Blog at Book Bumblings
• Adventures in Co-Blogging: Tips for Moving Your Blog to a New Home at Oh, The Books!
• CPU and Memory on your Self Hosted WordPress Blog at Nose Graze
• Mastering the WordPress Visual Editor at Parajunkee
• Goodbye CSS, Hello SCSS at Nose Graze

Blogging & Reviews

• Categories in Titles at Laura Plus Books
• Things Are Changing In The Book-Reviewing World at Speculating on SpecFic
• Books, Blogging & Back in the Day at So Obsessed With
• Growing Pains at Bookmark Lit
• 7 Steps to Protect Your Privacy As A Blogger at Stacked
• Why Reviews Don’t Get ALL the Love! at Books with Cass
• On ARCs at Writer Grrl Reads
• Why I’m Backing Away from Requesting ARCs at The Thousand Lives
• Structured Reading and Blogging Processes at Respiring Thoughts
• Who Has the Authority to Review Books? at Pages Unbound
• Justify Reviewing a DNF – Why Should I? at Parajunkee

Social Media, Commenting & Misc Blogging Related Posts

• The 10 Types of Book Bloggers at Notebook Sisters
• 20 Sign You Follow Too Many Bookworms on Instagram at The Mile Long Bookshelf
• On Looking at the Glass Half Full at Writer Grrl Reads
• Goodreads 101 for Book Bloggers at Book Bumblings
• When People Sign Up for Your Newsletter & Report It as Spam at Nose Graze
• Getting Personal (Or Not) at Pages Unbound
• Why Follow Backs Are Pointless at Nose Graze
• No One’s Opinion is “Wrong” at Novel Heartbeat
• Twitter Tips & Tricks at Parajunkee
• Giveaways Are A Fucking Pain at Adrift on Vulcan
• How to Engage Your Critics in A Sane and Productive Way at Paula Stokes Books

How was everyone’s October?! Any big plans for November? Link up your wrap ups 🙂