It's Follow Friday!

It's Follow Friday, where we all get to mingle around the blogosphere and make some new friends! If it's your first time visiting me here at Stories & Sweeties, WELCOME!! :D

The question of the week is posted by Mickey @ I'm a Book Shark:

Q: In light of the Summer Solstice. Also known as Midsummer...let's talk about fairies. What is your favorite fairy tale or story that revolves around the fae?

A: I love fairy stories! Not to go for the obvious, but one of my favorites is Midsummer Night's Dream. Some recent favorites include Wings by Aprilynne Pike, Eyes Like Stars & Perchance to Dream by Lisa Mantchev, and definitely Ash by Malinda Lo.

Check back soon for:
~A review of Anna & The French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins (*sigh*, loved St. Claire!)
~A review of Passion by Lauren Kate (its getting exciting!)
~A recap of the Lauren Kate signing I recently attended
~Don't miss Sweetness on Sunday, featuring Super Fudgy Mint Cupcakes!!

Please feel free to say hello in the comments so I can find you, too! :D

Book Blogger Hop & Follow Friday

It's time to hop around and make some new blog friends!! If it's your first visit to Stories & Sweeties, WELCOME!!! Please feel free to link in the comments so I can visit you, too! :)

First off, we have Follow Friday hosted by Parakjunkee's View! (click the logo to get there!)Here's the featured question of the week:
Do you judge a book by it's cover?

My answer: YES. Yes, I do. I love pretty books. I love them to look pretty on my shelves, I love them to feel pretty in my hands (I can't get enough of that lovely suedey-feeling paper that they are using for some book covers these days---like Fallen--- *goes to feel up Fallen & Torment covers*---Ok, I'm back. Seriously. YA book covers have become some of the most gorgeous and creative around and, yes, once in while I let a cover completely sell me on a book, which of course on occasion, lands me with a bit of disappointment. On the other hand, there have been a few that I wasn't in love with the cover and the book became one of my favorite books (for example, Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus---love that book with all my heart, but think the cover could have been better.)

Next up is the Book Blog Hop hosted by Crazy-for-Books! (click the logo to get there!)This week, she asks: (question to come!! Check back later!) (update: the book blogger hop has been postposted until friday afternoon, so check back then for the q & a!)

Hoppin' Around! Blog Hop & Follow Friday

It's Friday again and you know what that means!! It's time to hop around and make some new blog friends!! If it's your first visit to Stories & Sweeties, WELCOME!!! Please feel free to link in the comments so I can visit you, too! :)

First off, we have Follow Friday hosted by Parakjunkee's View! (click the logo to get there!)Here's the featured question of the week:
Who are your favorite authors?

Oh, I have tons! Lauren Kate, Maggie Stiefvater, Anastasia Hopcus, Kiersten White, Kelley Armstrong, Alice Hoffman, Amy Tan, Linda Buckley-Archer...and Louisa May Alcott, just to name a few!

Next up is the Book Blog Hop hosted by Crazy-for-Books! (click the logo to get there!)This week, she asks: What are your feelings on losing followers? Have you ever stopped following a blog?

Huh, interesting question, I guess I've never really given it a lot of thought. I've never unfollowed a blog myself, but imagine if someone stops following they must have their reasons, whether they follow too many blogs and need to cut some or I am simply boring them to death! :) I really appreciate all my lovely followers and I hope they stick with me, though!!

Thanks for hopping by! Don't forget to sign up for a chance to win Beautiful Darkness or Crescendo (link at the top right sidebar).
This week on Stories & Sweeties:
Entangled by Cat Clarke
Knight Angels 2: Book of Revenge by Abra Ebner

I am determined to do a Sweetness on Sunday post this week (eek, it's been a long time!) so check back for some yumminess this weekend!

Hoppin' Around! Blog Hop & Follow Friday

It's Friday again and you know what that means!! It's time to hop around and make some new blog friends!! If it's your first visit to Stories & Sweeties, WELCOME!!! Please feel free to link in the comments so I can visit you, too! :)

First off, we have Follow Friday hosted by Parakjunkee's View! (click the logo to get there!)Here's the featured question of the week:
How many book reviews do you like to do in a week?

Well, I would like to do four or five, but it really ends up to be more like two or three. There's just not enough hours in day in my household!! :)

Next up is the Book Blog Hop hosted by Crazy-for-Books! (click the logo to get there!)This week, she asks: What's your favorite beverage while reading or blogging, if any?

Hot chocolate!! So excited that the weather is getting colder so I can cozy up with my blanket and hot mug of cocoa and read away the hours! A close second is tea is Ginger Peach tea.

Thanks for hopping by!

Hop & Follow Friday!!

It's Friday again and you know what that means!! It's time to hop around and make some new blog friends!! If it's your first visit to Stories & Sweeties, WELCOME!!! Please feel free to link in the comments so I can visit you, too! :)

First off, we have Follow Friday hosted by Parakjunkee's View! (click the logo to get there!)Here's her featured question of the week:
My question for you guys, what is your high fashion book? --- translation --- best book cover ever.

This is a tough one, but when someone mentions awesome book covers, these two are the first that come to mind right now for me. I just finished the second book, and I swear after I closed that last page, I just sat there staring at the gorgeous cover. Not to mention, Fallen was printed with that velvety soft coating they've been using on some book these day that i LOVE. Makes you want to keep the book with you all day and pet it like a lap dog. Here's hoping they print Torment in the same way.


Next up is the Book Blog Hop hosted by Crazy-for-Books! (click the logo to get there!)This week, she asks: When you write reviews, do you write them as you are reading or wait until you have read the entire book?

I take a few notes while reading sometimes, and if I find a particular quote that I want to mention in my review I scribble that down, but for the most part, I write the whole review after I finish. Sometimes I even wait a few days to let the book sink in fully and gather my thoughts and feelings about it.

Thanks for hopping by!

Book Blogger Hop and Friday Follow TIme!!

Its times again for the Blogger Hop and Follow Friday! It's been awhile since I've done this, so I'm glad to finally find time to join in and make some new blog friends!! Seems like more and more fun blogs pop up everyday and this is the perfect way to find them all!
Click the images to go to the hosting sites for more details:

Each host has started asking a weekly question for us to answer so here goes!!

From the Blogger Hop:
Do you use a rating system for your reviews and if so, what is it and why?
Yes, I do! I give cupcake ratings!! :) I use a rating system because it's an easy way to gauge how I felt about a book as a whole (each rating is explained in my left sidebar!).

From Friday Follow:
What is the first book that you remember reading?
Wow, that's a tough one. I know I read a lot when I was little, but the first book that I remember was Lois Duncan's The Gift of Magic. I need to go back and read it again! I guess my reading tastes haven't changed much over the years!! Still LOVE the paranormal stuff!

Enjoy the hop, everyone, and WELCOME to all of you who stop by to say hello!! :)

Hop & Follow Friday!!

Two great sites are now hosting blog parties on Fridays, so here we go!! I love hopping around, finding new little gems of sites that I might not have come across otherwise! Click the images to go to the hosting sites for more details:

Have a great Friday, everyone! And Happy Reading!! :)