How I Fared In The Review Copy Cleanup

My goal: 15 review books!

Okay, the Review Copy Cleanup is finally over (boo!) and I'm happy to say I made my goal! I'm shocked by the amount of books I read this month and that I was able to knock fifteen books off my review "pile".

I think this challenge was a great motivator for me. I started the month great and, even though I went through a slight reading pause (it was during the Bout of Books read-a-thon - ironic, huh?), I completed my goal!

Here are the REVIEW books I finished this month:

Update:

I finished one more book today (8/31), so I ended up reading 16 review books! Here is the book I finished:

I read a lot of great books and that probably helped with my reading - a few of them were REALLY hard to put down. :)

This Review Copy Cleanup was so much fun, that I plan on participating in some future ones as well.

I'd love to hear your thoughts about this. Feel free to leave a comment below. Thanks so much for stopping by! :)

By the way, I'll be posting my Monthly Reflections post tomorrow and the Weekend Wrap-up post Sunday.

A Fairy Tale In Photos- Thumbelina

Every Friday, I tell you a fairy tale exclusively through photos! Each week is a different theme and I search through Deviantart to find you the best of the best--whether they be pretty or spooky. All are welcome here! None of these photos are mine and you can always find a link to the proper owners underneath the photo in the caption area!

This week is one tiny fairy tale but that doesn't make it any less awesome. Let me be your wings as I take you through photos of Thumbelina. Just be sure not to get blow away.

1)

Ryoko-demon

2)

TheBizarreBirdcage

3)

Marinshe

4)

Ryoko-demon

6)

RealFlamefire

7)

Eyerin

8)

Ryoko-demon

9)

thabita

10)

sierrathebear

11)

4everJulika

12)

Rayi-kun

13)

Carmaniak

14)

kittysyellowjacket

15)

KKokosz

16)

adjectival

These are all so whimsical and fun. I think my favorite though is number 6 because it expresses Thumbelina perfectly for me. I love how the doll is reaching out.

Which is your favorite?

My 2012 Television Line Up

theaquallama

My Netflix queue is extensive enough to make even the most hardy blush and yet, I still have t.v. shows that I must watch when they return this fall. I saw Penelope at Reading Fever produce a list of new and old t.v. shows that she must watch this fall and I figured I'd share my own. So here's the daunting list my poor DVR is having to face.

Favorites:

The Vampire Diaries

CW | Thursdays 8/7c | Begins Oct. 11

 The Vampire Diaries is a show a discovered when it was finished with its second season. I've been hooked every since. I love that it always keeps me guessing and never missing an opportunity to shake things up. I'm always left gasping and praying it's next week by the end of each episode and with the humdinger they threw our way at the end of last season, I'll definitely be glued to my couch all this year.

Supernatural

CW | Wednesdays 9/8c | Begins Oct. 3

Supernatural is another must-see for me. I'm so addicted to watching Sam and Dean fight it out against Supernatural forces and often times each other, that I go through withdrawals without their witty back and forth. And come on, Castiel is one heck of an awesome angel!

Suburgatory

ABC | Wednesday 9:30 | Begins Oct. 17

For me, the lead character Tess is exactly like Emma Stone in Easy A and since I love Emma Stone and Easy A, it's pretty much a given that I'll love this show. It's funny, sarcastic and touching watching Tess and her dad George try to muddle through Suburgatory together!

Once

ABC | Sundays 8/7c | Begins Sept. 30

I'd argue that the tagline got it all wrong. Magic already came via the first season of Once. I was really hoping to love it and by the third episode I was totally hooked. One of my favorite things about last season was trying to guess if the curse was real. I'll be interested to see where the show goes now that we know it is.

Face Off

SyFy |  Tuesdays 9/8c | Began Aug. 21

I'm not normally into shows where people compete. I watch Top Model and Design Star when I'm board and re-runs are on but Face Off is the exception for me. I love seeing what magical make-ups the contestants come up with each week and the themes for each show.

Grimm

NBC | Mondays 10/9c | Began Aug.13

I love this show but I can stand to miss an episode here or there and then watch a few in a row. They always catch my attention when they are on but I want more Monroe and I definitely want to see Nick's fiance Juliet get in on the Grimm truth.

Awkward.

MTV | Thursdays 10:30/9:30c | Began June 28

So is Jenna going to end up with Matty or Jake? Like Suburgatory, I can't get enough of Jenna's dry humor. This show always has me laughing and I really like all of the characters on it.

New Shows:

Revolution

NBC | Mondays 10/9c | Begins Sept. 17

I heard about this show during the Comic Con coverage and it sounded awesome. I love that the main character is a girl and since I'm a huge fan of Billy Burke and he plays a kickass character, I think it's going to be awesome. Plus, I love the concept of electricity going out.

Elementary

CBS | Thursdays 10/9c | Begins Sept. 27

I love Sherlock (the book and the BBC version) so I figure I should give this one a try. I think it's also really interesting that they made Watson a girl in this one and I'll be interested to know how that changes the dynamic between these two characters.

Doctor Who

BBC | Saturday 9/8c | Sept. 1

Doctor Who isn't really a new show but since I've never watched it on air, I'm considering it new to me. My hubby and I watched the entire series in a few weeks and now we are all caught up and can't wait for Season 7.

Arrow

CW | Wednesdays 8/7c | Begins Oct. 10

Super hero story can be done on television because Smallville was such a hit. I just hope they can bring a little of the might to Arrow. If anyone can do it though, it's going to be the CW. They always have a good track record in my book.

Beauty and the Beast

CW | Thursdays 9/8c | Begins Oct. 11

I love Beauty and the Beast and I enjoy re-tellings so I think I'll like the spin on this one. I'm interested to see where it is going to go and how the season is going to play out.

I'm also thinking about 666 Avenue but it all might be too much. To add to that, I know The Carrie Diaries and Cult are must sees as well. Luckily, the don't air until mid-season!

So what is your t.v. schedule looking like this fall? Hopefully it isn't as daunting as mine is.

Five for Thursday

1) A little birdie told me that a certain Catherine Denton is posting her hacky sack ethnic musical challenge today. Here's the link so you can go check it out, because, knowing Catherine,  it will be all kinds of awesome.

2) I won THE FALSE PRINCE from a contest on Augusta Scattergood's blog. My eleven-year-old daughter read it in less than two days and can't stop talking about it. She's bringing it to school tomorrow to show everyone. (FYI: Augusta Scattergood is the author of the amazing middle-grade novel GLORY BE. My daughter also read that one very quickly and immediately said, "Mom, you have to read this. You'll love it!")

3) My kids started school on Tuesday. They came home with big smiles on their faces, declaring their teachers to be "the best in the world."

(I love my children desperately, but I had forgotten how quiet our house could be during the school year. And how I can actually pick things up and they stay picked up ... at least for a little while. And how I'm actually getting writing done again. Amazing.)

4) My cats are awesome.

I couldn't ask for two better felines. They never scratch or bite. They let the kids lug them around the house. They never hiss or get spooked. And they are best friends. I love finding them cuddling in the oddest places, and licking the crap out of each others ears. #simplepleasures

5) I'm participating in the What I Did Last Summer: Fact or Fiction blog hop next week, hosted by Emily R. King & Melodie Wright. My stories are percolating and I'm having to refer to some old journals for inspiration. Are you in?

What's new with you?