14 Days of Fictional Swoon - My First Fictional Crush

Happy swooning, everyone! With it being so close to Valentine's Day, I am excited to share with you guys my first fictional crush.

Now, this is a guy you probably remember from days long ago. He was brave and selfless and a bit of a budding bad boy with a heart of gold (he had a whole tortured artist vibe). And did I mention he suffered a brutal tragedy that gutted him and left me in literal tears (this was the first time I ever cried while reading a book.

That guy? Jess Aarons from BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA.

He was the first boy to make me swoon, the first boy to make me cry, and the first boy to leave me feeling hope and satisfied at the end of a book.

So, who was the first (fictional) boy to make you swoon?

And now for some fun - because when all else fails, a giveaway is always the answer:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't forget to check out the rest of the tour:

14 Days of Fictional Swooning Schedule

• February 1st-  Fiction Fare Masters of Swoon
• February 1st-  Swoony Boys Podcast TBD
• February 2nd- WhoRU blog - Romantic Spot her couple would visit
• February 3rd- Lost in Literature - Top 5 Book Boyfriends
• February 4th- Brighton Walsh - Fictional Boy You'd Fight Your BFF for
• February 5th- Gone with the Words - Fictional Scene That Makes Your Heart Race
• February 6th- Alexa Loves Books - Detailing a Date
• February 7th- Andi's ABCs - Couple You'd Plan A Date With
• February 8th- Huntley Fitzpatrick (hosted on Fiction Fare and Swoony Boys Podcast) - How I write A Swoony Guy
• February 9th- No BS Book Reviews - Fictional Boy You'd Fight Your BFF For
• February 10th- Ashley Herring Blake - How I Write A Swoony Guy
• February 11th- We So Nerdy - Masters of Swoon
• February 12th- Roshani Chokshi - What Fictional Character Would You Send Yours On A Blind Date With
• February 13th- The Irish Banana Review - First Fictional Crush
• February 14th- Kristen Simmons - Special Scene

BFF Blog Hop: Blogger Besties

When your friends ask you to do something - you do it (unless it's jumping off a bridge because .... Oh, who am I kidding? I'd do that, too). When my friends at FictionFare and Swoony Boys Podcast asked me to participate in their Blog Friends Forever Tour, I jumped at it. Meg, Jaime, Kassiah, and Erin have become my Fab Four (that's how I refer to them in my head) in the last few years.

Having hung out with them multiple times at BEA, watched them all 4 jump in whenever I needed a blog tour host, or exchange countless tweets and messages, I can safely say that these four girls are incredible and I am so blessed to know them.  So for my Blogger Besties post, I have to give it up to my Fab Four, whom I love and adore beyond words. I don't say it enough, but I love the phenomenal force that is you four. The way you're always willing to help me and the way to absorbed me into your group is humbling and I am so grateful for each of you.

With Kassiah & Meg .... why do I not have a pic with Jaime & Erin?!

I can't mention Blogger Besties without mentioning my actual bestie, Nicole from Paperback Princess. Blogging brought us together a few years ago and now I can't imagine my life without her. You know how you have that one person who just gets you? Who accepts your faults and your flaws, understands that you can be a hyper whackadoodle or a gloomy gus in the span of 5 minutes but still loves you? That's Nicole.

Nicole, you are my person. Always.

My HarCo bloggers, Jess and Jen. Finding these two within a 2 mile radius of me has been a lifesaver. They never flinch when boxes of books arrive at my house to be sorted, they just ask what time I need them to show up and what kind of pizza (Jess) and cupcakes (Jen) I want. 

I don't say it enough, but thank you both for being there for me even when I am a total, psychotic PITA that you would like to disown.

With Jess

With Jen

My 2 Stephs. Steph and Stephanie brighten my day on a daily basis. From road trips to voxer rants, to makeup trips and blogger tips, you two are the bees knees of bloggers. I'm pretty sure the definition of Stephanie is AWESOMESAUCE with a side of JAMMF.

The Brown One (aka my Amazon Princess) is my brain twin. This girl understands my penchant and drive to organize, prep and plan like no one else. If I ever go to battle, I'm making Stephanie my General.

The Sinclair One (aka my Mini-Mom) is one of the few people I know that just loves to take care of her friends and family. Steph is that person I need in my life to help me see other perspectives and keep myself in check at times.

With Stephanie & Steph

My girls Liza and Andye who I fell in love with one magical rooftop party a long time ago. There is no one else I would rather trade texts with at 7 am. You two have brought so much joy into my life. 

With Andye & Liza

All my YADC friends. You guys never fail to amaze me with your creativity, your beauty and your compassion. I am so blessed to have you all.

So those are MY blogger besties. Now ... how about a giveaway or two?

From The Irish Banana Review:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

There will be 3 winners. We are giving away $75, $50, and $25 gift cards to the winner's choice of book retailer.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow the rest of the tour for more giveaways!!!!!

October 1^st

The Irish Banana Review – Blog Besties - http://theirishbanana.blogspot.com

Neon Yeti Reads – Blogger Interview - http://www.neonyetireads.wordpress.com

Otakutwins Reviews – Why I Love Being a Blogger - http://otakutwinsreviews.com

October 2^nd

Eli to the Nth – Blog Besties - http://www.elisquared.com/

ReadWriteLove28 – Favorite Newbies - Www.readwritelove28.com

Once Upon A Twilight – Top Bookstagrammers - http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/

Rattle the Pages – Top 10 Book Bloggers - Rattlethepages.blogspot.com

October 3^rd

Mostly YA Lit – Underappreciates Sites - mostlyyalit.com

That Artsy Reader Girl – Blogger Interview - Thatartsyreadergirl.com

Bookstacksamber – Get Vloggy - bookstacksamber.wordpress.com

Books in My Suitcase – Why I Love Being A Blogger - booksinmysuitcase.blogspot.com

October 4^th

The Book Cellar – Blog Besties - www.thebookcellarx.com

Caught Read Handed – Blogger RAK - http://caughtreadhanded.wordpress.com

Based on A True Story – Surprise Post - Http://www.spiritblog.net

October 5^th

Grounded Wanderlust – Get Vloggy  -  http://groundedwanderlust.blogspot.com/

Lostbraincell’s Bookish Blog – Top 10 Book Bloggers - lostbraincell.com

The Reading Nook Reviews – Top Bookstagrammers - www.bookrookreviews.com

October 6^th

Rhea’s Neon Journal – Blogger Interview - http://latinareading.wordpress.com

What Sarah Read – Blogger RAK - http://www.whatsarahread.com

Bookish in Texas – Why I Love Being a Blogger - Www.bookishintexas.com

October 7^th

Nicks’ Book Blog – Favorite Newbies - http://nicksbookblog93.blogspot.com

Oops! I Read A Book Again – Underappreciated Sites - http://oopsireadabookagain.com

Twenty Three Pages – Why I Love Being A Blogger - https://twentythreepages.wordpress.com

Owl Always Be Reading – Blogger Interview  - http://www.owlalwaysbereading.com/

October 8^th

GReads! – Blogger Interview - http://www.greadsbooks.com

Andi’s ABCs – Top 10 Book Bloggers - http://andiabcs.com

Reading Is My Treasure – Favorite Newbies - http://readingismytreasure.blogspot.com

October 9^th

Reading the Blues Away – Surprise Post - http://readingthebluesaway.blogspot.com/

Strupag – Top 10 Book Bloggers - www.strupag.com

Adventures in Reading – Blog Besties - https://adventuresinreading16.wordpress.com

October 10^th

Literary, Etc – Blogger RAK - http://literaryetc.com

The Fox’s Hideaway – Why I Love Being A Blogger - http://skizzles22hu.blogspot.com/

Bibliobeth – Blogger Interview - http://www.bibliobeth.com

Carpe Librum – Blog Besties - http://ccarpelibrum.blogspot.com/

October 11^th

Snowflakes & Spider Silk – Top Bookstagrammers - http://spidersilksnowflakes.blogspot.com

The Novel Orange – Why I Love Being A Blogger -http://thenovelorange.com

Don’t Fold the Page – Top 10 Book Bloggers - http://dontfoldthepage.blogspot.com

The Reader and the Chef – Favorite Newbies - http://www.thereaderandthechef.com/

October 12^th

Wandering Bark Humanities – Underappreciated Sites - wanderingbarkhumanities.wordpress.com

WhoruBlog – Blogger Interview - http://www.whorublog.com

Kimberlyfaye Reads – Top 10 Book Bloggers - http://kimberlyfayereads.com

October 13^th

BookCatPin – Surprise Post - http://bookcatpin.blogspot.ca/

The Eater of Books! – Blogger Interview - http://eaterofbooks.blogspot.com/

A Reader Under The Sea – Top 10 Book Bloggers - areaderunderthesea.blogspot.com

Effortlessly Reading – Why I Love Being A Blogger - http://effortlesslyreading.com/

October 14^th

HelloChickLit – Blogger Interview - www.hellochicklit.com

We So Nerdy – Blogger RAK - http://www.wesonerdy.com

Thebibliophagist – Get Vloggy - https://thebibliophagist.wordpress.com

October 15^th

Hashtag Avenue – Blog Besties - http://www.hashtagavenue.com/

Galleywampus – Podcaster Love - http://galleywampus.com

Novel Ink – Top Bookstagrammers - http://novelinkblog.com

October 16^th

No BS Book Reviews – Blog Besties - http://nobsbookreviews.com

The Book Bratz – Underappreciated Sites - Www.thebookbratz.blogspot.com

One Night Book Stand – Top 10 Book Bloggers - https://onenightbookstandblog.wordpress.com/

October 17^th

Fiction Fare – Surprise Post – www.fictionfare.com        

Swoony Boys Podcast – Surprise Post – www.swoonyboys.com

2015 Dreaming of Books Giveaway

Welcome to the DREAMING OF BOOKS Giveaway Hop! I'm so glad you've stopped by. No doubt you've got a lot of hopping to do, so let's make this nice and easy, huh?

I will be giving one winner a $15.00 eGift Certificate to either Amazon or B&N or a book of their choice from The Book Depository worth up to $15.00 USD. Winner's choice! So you can enter as long as you can accept eGift Cards or the Book Depository ships free to you. 

Sound good? Enter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blogger Hop (3)

Hosted by Lori @ Lori's Reading Corner!Do I really have to pick just one? Ugh, but there are so many ... I suppose I would have to go with Jennifer L. Armentrout, since I literally just finished Half-Blood and I'm dying to know what happens in Pure ... which won't be out for another year. *sigh*

“Who is the ONE author that you are DYING to meet?"

But I must give honorable mentions to Richelle Mead, Andrea Cremer, Kimberly Derting, and Josephine Angelini.

Book Blogger Hop! (2)

Hosted by Jennifer @ Crazy-for-Books!

This week's question comes from Mina who blogs at Mina Burrows:

"If you could physically put yourself into a book or series…which one would it be and why?"

The Witch Wars series by Andrea Cremer. After reading Nightshade and becoming totally addicted to her fantastical world of werewolves and witchcraft, and of romance and adventure, there is no series I would rather be in. Besdies, with Calla off with Shay, I could make a play for Ren.




 

Give us five BOOK RELATED silly facts about you.

1. I have a book buying addiction. I honestly have over 100 books sitting on shelves or piles in my room that I haven't read, but I'm already wondering what to buy next.

2. I'm a book hoarder. Very rarely do I get rid of a book, hence why I currently own around 500 books. Hey, I still have my Little Golden books from childhood. Yeah, it's that bad.

3. I slept with a nightlight until I was 13 because I could angle the light at my bed and read until 1 am on school nights.

4. I'm absolutely fanatical about the conditions in which I keep my books. If they aren't in pristine condition I have no problem shelling out more money for a replacement.

5. I make soundtracks for books I really like. I have playlists on my iPod dedicated to my favorite series/novels.

Don't forget to enter to win a free copy of Wither by Lauren DeStefano!

Book Blogger Hop! (1)

This week's question comes from Somer who blogs at A Bird's Eye Review:

"Do you read only one book at a time, or do you have several going at once?"

Eesh, such a loaded question. While I would love to say I devote all my attention to one book, this simply isn't true. I'm a book slut. There. I admit it! *sigh* I'm currently involved with 3 (yes, 3 - please don't judge me) different books: Born At Midnight by C.C. Hunter; The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver; and Bumped by Megan McCafferty.

Just don't tell them about each other, K?

 

Q. How did you come up with your blog name?

 

It was actually my brother's girlfriend who finally made the pieces click. I knew I wanted something with "Irish" in it because I'm Irish (shocker, I know). But all my friends and family nicknamed me "Banana" as a kid, and she walked into my room when I was trying to decide what name to use and said, "Hey, Banana!" ... and the rest is, as they say, history.

 

**Don't forget to check out my first giveaway -

Win a copy of Wither by Lauren DeStefano!**