end of NaNo-vermber

hello nano-survivors, and the rest of the world...

i had a crazy month of typing like a mad woman for the whole month and as my first time doing NaNoWriMo, i had a lot of fun. 

Stressful fun, but fun! 
I had a weird idea that turned into something i fell in love with. I didn't get to elaborate on everything i wanted to yet, but that's what editing will be for. 

I also finished early - on the 26th - which was crazy! I only missed one day of writing at the beginning of the month because I had work all morning and then drove the 2 hours to see Queen Stiefvater at an author signing for her Crooked Saints tour (which was fantabalous! pics are on my IG if you're curious. She played the bag pipes for us *swoon*)  but I caught up on my words that weekend so really... 

Honestly, the only way to get me to do something is give me a goal and hold me accountable. I refused to let myself not make word count everyday. and now that I've done it once, if I do it again next year - and life is calm like this year - then I won't let myself lose either.  I lucked out this year though and Ontario college's went on strike for 5 weeks so I was home for half of October and most of November. Sorry students/staff, but I wasn't complaining. 

However, we went back to early for me and I had to take a night off to go see R.L Stine at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) and IT WAS FANTASTIC! i fangirled all night and found a friend to fangirl with. Totally worth it *fangirl happy sigh* although I got in a fight with this lady because she said i cut the line. and considering the staff just said "so if everyone wants to make their way to the table and he'll sign your book" my new friend and I just walked to the front of the line and some lady was annoyed. Listen lady, I didn't take the day off work and get there like, 4 hours early to wait an extra 2 hours after the talk in line. So deal. She was not happy. It was funny. 

I feel like I didn't read much, but I did more than I thought I would. 

- Talking as Fast as I can 

- Narnia 4, 5, 6, 7 

- The Scorpio Races 

- Shattered Memories 

- Forbidden Wish 

- Don't stay up late 

- This Regret - Victoria Ashley

- Distrust - T.L Smith 

- If you were mine - Melanie Harlow 

and 4 for my sister site, TDC Book Reviews, so overall not too shabby. 

2017 = 184/200 whoohoo, but December will be busy!  

Next month I need to read 16 so my TBR includes: 

- All the Crooked Saints 

- Renegades 

- (finish) Orange is the new Black 

- Tiger Lily 

- When Dimple met Rishi 

- The rest of us just live here 

- Party Games 

- The Girl at Midnight 

- The Language of Stars 

- The Fire Wish/ The Blind Wish 

- Cruel Beauty 

- Crimson Bound 

- Young Scrooge 

- King - T.M Frazier 

- After we Fall - Melanie Frazier 

Plus I think I only have 1 or 2 for TDC - nothing up my alley lately.

December is busy with work, and now I only have 2 weeks at Christmas because the strike pushed the classes a week (though we get a week in January randomly between semesters) 

Hubby and I are trying to get away at Christmas - it's also our anniversary that week but with the new car this past Fall, who knows what will happen. My brother finally brought a girl home again so now christmas family time is getting more complicated. sigh. 

I already have another story idea in my head for my next book ; plus i had 2 on the go before i started my NaNo one so i got LOTS of writing I can do too. finally got a new laptop from black friday sales and its so comfy to type on it :) i'm in love -- though it's a chromebook so it's only good is you have internet. stupid technology.  

My grandma asked me to crochet her a blanket (last year) and im SUPER behind on it so I need to rush that too this month. ugh. 


alrighty, off to the books (and the yarn!) 


Did you do NaNo? 
How was it? 
Tell me in the comments! 

Review: Shattered Memories (Mirror Sisters 3)

 Shattered Memories
 The Mirror Sisters - Book 3
 V.C Andrews


The anticipated finale of this intriguing series finally came to a close... yet it opened more doors for us readers.  SPOILER ALERT if you have not read the book(s) yet.


Kaylee is dealing with her recovery. Haylee is locked away being treated for her issues (they aren't exactly stated in the book so I won't label them)

The book is told only from Kaylee's perspective, which was slightly disappointing. The unique hook of book two, Broken Glass, was seeing the events from both sisters. Going back to only one POV was not as exciting - even if our beloved author had only added one chapter, or a diary entry at the end as the epilogue. Many of us I'm sure would have loved to get into Haylee's psyche while she was in the ward and being treated.

The story itself was a faster pace than the two before it. We move on from the back and forth of the sister drama and Kaylee beings to take on a life of her own. She moves to a private school where she finds her own friends and even a love interest.

Side note: As much as I love this franchise, the recycled names have GOT TO GO! If he can come up with names like Mayfair and Jocasta, then there is no need for another Clara- name but I digress!

Speaking of Mayfair, this past summer us readers were given a tease into her world in the form of the school she is sent to. Corliss and Donna were released as back-stories to two other girls attending Spindrift school.  The school that Kaylee attends has a Spindrift vibe to it. The people she meets there, while not sent there for their high IQs but for their intriguing and possibly troubled back-story, give a sense that there is more to the place than meets the eye (no pun intended). Unfortunately, we never get into it much as this story's focus is still Kaylee.

Will we see more spin-off series happening? I for one am curious about Kaylee's roommate, Claudia. There is something going on there that seems very juicy (as oppose to Troy's back-story that just seemed forced and unnecessary as it went nowhere)


Overall, it was the best of the three and it had it's moments of excitement and resolution. That ending is one for the books - okay, maybe that pun was intended - but I wish it was more flushed out.
I hope that this tip to the classic vibe is a sign of good things to come.  3.5 stars.