UPDATE: Apologies and Where I Have Been

Where I Have Been

At the beginning of last year because I had way too much on my plate, my grades in college began to drop. Therefore, I decided to focus on school more than NoBookLeftBehind. I am very sorry for not creating new posts and not keeping my blog updated this past year, especially this past semester. However, I needed to take much needed personal time, to focus on me, my family and friends and my education.

Reviewing Books

 I also want to apologize to all of the authors who I have books to review for, as for some of them, it has been over two years since they asked for me to review their books. This past year I got so overwhelmed with the amount of books I had to review, and I hardly had any time for leisurely reading since I was taking multiple literature courses all year. I sincerely apologize to each of the authors whose books I have yet to read. I know you were counting on me to review your books, so that you can get more people to read them. As a writer, I understand how hard it is to get people to read your writing and to be a successful writer. I am so sorry if I have caused you all any inconvenience or setbacks these past years. I will be reaching out to each of you, to see if you still want me to do a review of your book. I completely understand if you rather me not review your book anymore, but I would be happy to do an author spotlight for you, or we can just part ways and that is also understandable. 

The first part of the year, I will be catching up on the review requests that I still have from the past years, if those authors still wish for me to do so. That means from January to June I will not be accepting new book review requests, unless none of the authors I have previous review requests from still want me to do a review. Then, from July to December I will be accepting new review requests. However, I will be more particular about the book review requests that I accept. If I feel as though a book is not my cup of tea, I will deny your request from the very beginning. Also, if I already have six requests for July to December 2018, any more requests won't be permanently denied, but I will reply back and ask you to ask me again in 2019. This way once I catch up on all of my reviews, starting in July I will only have six books to review at a time. That means I will only be reviewing one book a month!

Also, when I am reviewing books, I will start by reading at least 25% of the book before deciding if I am going to finish it or not. If after the 25%, I fill like the book is good enough for me to finish,  I will finish it and do a review for you. However, if after 25% of the book, I don't think I will be able to make it through, I will email you and let you know that unfortunately your book wasn't my cup of tea and I will offer to do an author spotlight for you! This way I am not stuck on one review book for a year and I can move on to the next one.

I will still be doing my reviews in the order I receive a request. If you send me a request and give me a deadline I don't think I will be able to meet, I will unfortunately have to deny your request.

Starting on Monday, January 15, 2018

 No Book Left Behind will be moving to Wix.com. The new blog website will be launched on January 15th, 2018. Stay Tuned!

This website will only stay up until February 01, 2018 , so be sure to subscribe to my new one!

The New Blog Schedule

Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesdays (every Tuesday)

Fridays: Book Review (every other Friday)

Saturdays: Other blog posts (every Saturday)

Last Day of Each Month: the requested Book Review for that month

ANNOUNCEMENT: I Am Participating in the Spookie Shelfie Readathon 2017

I would like to announce my participation in the Spookie Shelfie Readathon which takes place from October 1 to October 31st.  It is basically where you empty some books off of your tbr shelf and read thriller and horror novels. While there are seven reading challenges you can participate in, you don't have to participate in them all or any at all. This readathon is hosted by Zether Books, Bookish Taylor, Unicorn Hunter Books, Britt, Hardback Hoarder and Libri Labra. 

Click for more information! 

I hope you will join me!

1. Read a book with a serial killer

 2. Read a book that involves a spell or curse 

3. Read something with supernatural or paranormal aspects

4. Read a book with a freakish character

5. Read a book with a mask on the cover or the word "mask" in the title

*I won't be completing this challenge*

6.Read a book with black and/or orange on the cover

7. Read a book where a concept, person or place terrifies you

"RoseBlood" By: A.G. Howard Review

I thought this book would be good, but I didn't know it would be this good. I have to admit the first 50 or so pages were really hard for me to get through. However, I don't know if it was because the beginning was too slow paced or if it was because my life was really hectic when I was reading that part of the book.

This book is a retelling of "Phantom of The Opera"but it is also kind of a modern continuation of the story line as well. "RoseBlood" follows a girl named Rune Germain who is sent to a boarding school in Paris that focuses on opera. Rune has made mistakes in her past and her past was darkened by tragedy, so her Mom thought exploring her artistic talent at the RoseBlood boarding school would be good for her.  This conservatory is actually a French arts conservatory and was originally the opera house that is rumored to be connected to "The Phantom of The Opera". Her operatic voice is controlling her and she secretly befriends Thorn- who wears a mask and is a violinist, who helps her with controlling her voice in person and dreams. Secrets about Rune's lineage and Thorn's dark agenda come to the surface and Thorn has to choose between his father, the phantom, or Rune who he is destined to love.

The character development was absolutely amazing and all of the main characters have tragic back stories. I absolutely loved getting the point of views of both Rune and Thorn as well.  Also,  this story takes place in a gothic atmosphere and A.G. Howard's vivid and beautifully descriptive imagery  allowed me to picture everything from the Phantom's lair to the conservatory, and I felt like I was actually a part of the story.

There were so many references to "The Phantom of the Opera" (I've only seen the movie) and it made my heart happy. There were several moments that I wanted to started belting out the music from "The Phantom of the Opera" and I smiled whenever there were references.

The relationship of Rune and Thorn was so unique. They were tied together not only by fate but also by music. They both had pasts that darkened their lives and they saved each other from their sorrow. I felt like the love between them was pretty realistic because it was slow burning and there were so many obstacles and a literal labyrinth that tried to keep them apart.  They also got to know each other a lot by meeting each other in dreams, talking and even by singing/playing musical duets through the vents. Rune teaches him about the world he has never known and Thorn teachers her how to control the music inside of her.

I absolutely loved this book and everything about it! I highly recommend it if you like books set in boarding schools, if you want a realistic but epic love story, or even if you are a big fan of the "Phantom of the Opera"! If you read it it will take you to a gothic world, set in a music conservatory,                                    
with romance and paranormal elements. If you pick it up, I guarantee you won't put it down!

My Rating: 5 Out Of 5 Paw Prints

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books On My Fall TBR List

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme 

created by The Broke and the Bookish.

Here are the top eleven books I want to read this fall!!! I know it is supposed to be "Top Ten Tuesday", but I couldn't just narrow it down to ten, sorry!

What books are you planning on reading this fall?

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I Want To Read This Summer

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme 

created by The Broke and the Bookish.

I know it is already Thursday and Tuesday was two days ago, but I thought I would still participate in this week's Top Ten Tuesday anyways. Its better late than never, am I right?!

Here are my Top Ten (or twelve) books I want to read this summer! I'm kind of cheating a little because I couldn't narrow it down to only ten, sorry!

              

  

   

  

 

  

What books are you planning on reading this summer?


Look out for my next blog post for my full Summer TBR!

ANNOUNCEMENT: I am participating in Bout of Books 19!

I am so beyond excited to participate in the Bout of Books Read-a-thon 19 this week and I hope you will join me! It started yesterday, but I am finally done with finals and have time to read! I am looking forward to getting so much reading done this week.

Here is my TBR for the Read-a-thon!

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 8th and runs through Sunday, May 14th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 19 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

First I need to finish:

Then I am going to choose from:

If you're participating in the read-a-thon, what are you planning on reading?

"The Night Circus" By: Erin Morgenstern Book Review

"The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not."

"The Night Circus" is a story about a circus, but not just any circus. A black and white circus with different tents that each hide an exhibit full of magic beyond your imagination. There are also two magicians that duel to the death and the circus is their stage.

Erin Morgenstern has a beautifully descriptive writing style, that takes you to a whole other place. I love how she describes the beautiful imagery from both the vantage points of the patrons of the circus and those who's lives are the circus. The setting of this book, Le Cirque des Reves, The Circus of Dreams, is such a unique circus and it is described in beautiful flowing prose.

This book takes place between the 1800s and 1900s and Erin Morgenstern does a wonderful job including and weaving all of the details to create a flawless representation of this century. Every detail from the dresses, down to Marco's bowler hat screams late 1800s and early 1900s. Every descriptive detail made me feel like I was there in that time period, with the rest of the characters.

The story is told from many vantage points and I absolutely loved hearing about the circus and story from both sides of the gate. Each chapter is told in third person, sometimes third person omniscient, and is about a different character, and a different event during a different time. You get the perspective of Marco, Celia, Bailey, Herr Friedrick Thiessen, Hector Bowen, Chandresh, Isobel, and others. Bailey is a boy who grew up traveling through the field from his backyard to visit the circus every time it showed up unexpectedly. Herr Friedrick Thiessen, is the one who made the clock that sits inside the circus and fell in love with the circus, starting a chain reaction. Celia is not only the illusionist at the circus, but she is also one of the magicians involved in a magical duel. Marco is the assistant of the circus proprietor and is a magician on the side. Isobel is the fortune teller at the circus and Chandresh is the circus proprietor. We see how each of their lives was affected by the circus and we also get to travel through the century and around the world with this book. From London, to New York City, to Boston, to Munich and a lot of other places. Its a magical, whimsical, roller coaster ride around the world.

The characters were also very well developed and so engaging. The masters of both Marco and Celia were so devious and vengeful. While, Marco and Celia themselves were both so woeful. I loved Marco so much, because he was so mysterious, charming and handsome, from his bowler hat to his personality. Every detail woven together, from the characters' words, to their dress, to their actions, makes these characters so unique and dynamic. These characters are definitely bound to each other and the circus.

"The Night Circus" is amazing and with the powerful imagery you will not only get to travel around the world and feel like your in the era, but you will also feel like you are at the circus with the rest of the characters. You will be able to see every black and white detail in your mind's eye and smell the caramel corn and taste it on the tip of your tongue. I highly recommend this book to everyone!

My Rating: 5 Out Of 5 Paw Prints