"Nothing Makes Me Stronger Than Your Fragile Heart"

(X-Posted from My inspiration blog: Forelsket. Couldn't help but spread my BREAKING DAWN excitement on Novel Days as well!)

I'm sure you guys already saw this coming, and perhaps wondered what was taking me so long to post a Breaking Dawn tribute. I cannot contain my excitement right now! What makes this all the more exciting is that I didn't spend the past year fangirling so hard that by the time I actually see the film, I'm simply 'whelmed.' I wasn't a huge fan of Breaking Dawn, and whenever I think about it, I just think...'what?' Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed the wedding, the honeymoon, and all of the stomach fluttering romance! Everything I've seen thus far looks so beautiful, I can't wait. I feel like this will be some of the best performances we've seen out of our favorite people. It's weird, but I feel like I'll probably cry through most of the heart-wrenching scenes. I'll even be the dork and admit that I feel like someone close to me is getting married. I can't help it...

The Breaking Dawn Soundtrack, as is usual of Twilight soundtracks, is wonderful! There are so many beautiful love songs and instrumentals. My favorites include Iron & Wine's special wedding rendition of 'Flightless Bird, American Mouth,' Christina Perri's 'A Thousand Years,' Carter Burwell's 'Love Death Birth,' and Turning Page by Sleeping At Last. Turning Page is especially beautiful, and I couldn't help doing a ukulele cover of it. It perfectly embodies Edward's love for Bella, and is Midnight Sun in song. It's my first cover in a long while, but I'm happy with it!

I hope you guys like it! 

What are your favorite songs from the soundtrack, and what are you looking forward to most in the film? The Wedding? The Honeymoon? The heinous birthing scene? 

Source: 1

Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles Book Review

Nothing has been the same since Caleb Becker left a party drunk, got behind the wheel, and hit Maggie Armstrong. Even after months of painful physical therapy, Maggie walks with a limp. Her social life is nil and a scholarship to study abroad—her chance to escape everyone and their pitying stares—has been canceled.

After a year in juvenile jail, Caleb’s free . . . if freedom means endless nagging from a transition coach and the prying eyes of the entire town. Coming home should feel good, but his family and ex-girlfriend seem like strangers.

Caleb and Maggie are outsiders, pigeon-holed as "criminal" and "freak." Then the truth emerges about what really happened the night of the accident and, once again, everything changes. It’s a bleak and tortuous journey for Caleb and Maggie, yet they end up finding comfort and strength from a surprising source: each other.

-Barnes & Noble

I loved Leaving Paradise! Once again, Simone Elkeles has composed a great novel involving the good girl/bad boy theme. This theme often poses the challenge of not becoming overly cliche, but as usual, Elkeles creates two characters that I love to watch as they embark on a journey towards healing.

It can be very heartbreaking to watch Maggie try and pick up the pieces of her life after the accident that paralyzes her.  I went in believing I might dislike Caleb, but I loved his portrayal. As much as he has been hardened after doing time in the detention center, he is equally vulnerable and genuine. This novel seemed a realistic account of how friends/family can become split once tragedy strikes, and even more ironic, that the victim herself can sometimes be blamed for what's happened.  Caleb and Maggie are placed on two opposite ends of the spectrum, Victim and Murderer, and therefore having a hard time fitting into a place that was once their home.

Overall, I loved watching Maggie and Caleb become closer as the novel progressed, and the ending was most surprising and bittersweet of all. It was both thrilling and angering, but all in all, a wonderful portrayal of sacrifice.

I give Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles 5 out of 5 cups of Earl Grey!

Kippa Picks: My Blood Approves by Amanda Hocking Book Review

Kippa Picks is a feature on Novel Days where I highlight Kindle novels that have been Self Published.

Teenager Alice Bonham's life feels crazy after she meets Jack. With his fondness for pink Chuck Taylors and New Wave, he's unlike anyone she knows. Then she meets his brother, Peter. Even though he can't stand the sight of her, she's drawn to him. Falling for two guys isn't even the worst of her problems. Jack and Peter are vampires, and Alice finds herself caught between love and her own blood.

-Barnes & Noble

One of my great writer friends, Venita Johnson, recommended that I look up Amanda Hocking, as she is known for the phenomenal success of her e-books. After looking her up, I thought, I can't pass up the opportunity to see what all the raving is about.

My Blood Approves  by Amanda Hocking, is pretty much your usual supernatural romance about vampires. Hocking weaves her story in a way where you definitely want to continue on and see where the character's will end up. I found that I liked Alice's personality, and her journey to discovering that her newfound friend, Jack, and his family, are vampires. I detested Peter, a bit. I had no sympathy for this brooding vampire, contradicting himself with every chapter...he hates her, but no not really...he likes her right now...but no not really. Jack is the more reliable character; He's charming, fun, and refreshing.  Ezra and Mae were really wonderful characters, and though some facets of their background is shown, I wanted to learn more about their lives.

This novel, however, did share a lot of similarities to other vampire series' that we know and love, and so it kept me from fully engrossing myself as much as I would have liked. There would be moments where was fully tuned into the story, and then something would pop out at me that I felt sure I've seen in other stories.

This being said, I have purchased the second novel in this series, Fate, and I'm interested to see how this story will further play out. I would like to explore more of her work. Overall, I did find My Blood Approves to be an entertaining read. I simply wished there were more moments of originality, but in a genre of over-vamp saturation, that would be the challenge.

I give My Blood Approves by Amanda Hocking 3 out of 5 cups of Earl Grey.

Sartorial Lit: Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Sartorial Lit is a new feature at Novel Days that combines fashion with fiction.

Delirium by Lauren Oliver, is about a girl named, Lena, who lives in a world quite similar to our own, but with one difference...Love has become the fatal disease, Amor Deliria Nervosa, with a cure that all citizens are expected to undergo when they turn 18. Lena is excited for her own cure...until she meets, Alex, and experiences this troublesome force called Love for the first time.

Delirium has had my mind in the clouds! I've thought of revolutions and serendipitous meetings that make you want to conquer the world. It made me wonder what it would be like to live in a world where, Amor Deliria Nervosa, is cured, and one must experience love, music, and pretty much anything that produces a strong sentiment, underground. As much as this could be problematic, think of the adventure that this could pose? Secret concerts, discussions of banned literature, long walks in the woods, galaxies of glowing stars waiting for you and your soulmate, with the threat that it could all vanish with the slip of the tongue. As crazy as it seems, it also seems beautiful if you know where to look.

Romance can imbue your ways of life. It can cloud your mind, stain your books, or flow through your wardrobe with pastels, neutrals, and strong bursts the color of wine. After being inspired by the novel, I decided to attempt to give you a sartorial interpretation of Delirium.

Etsy designer, River of Romansk, has perfectly captured my experience of Delrium. Taking in the beauty that Lauren Oliver describes of Portland: glowing sunsets, stars so close you can reach up and place them in a bottle, and the whisper of love, I thought that neutral or soft colored fabric would be lovely. Wispy fabrics that undulate in the wind, with delicate details offering just a touch a femininity and the wonder of change. I imagine Lena as a natural beauty who's presence comes into shape with the passage of time. I can imagine she and Alex having a meeting in one of these gorgeous garments.

Where the garments would imbue a kind of romantic chimera, I thought that with the novel's many layers, the accessories would be more edgy to showcase the threat of the government's rule.

Marty White Designs

Iloniti

DebbieChoo

SecretCharm

These beautiful accessories give a hint of edge without going overboard. The necklace and earrings retain the theme of a light and airy chimera. The ring and bracelets show the beginnings of an edgy rebellion. All choices retain their delicate nature, but they also have a touch of dissonance that reeks of a silent rebellion.

I imagined that nail varnish and makeup would give this style an edgier quality. Instead of being completely romantic by adding creme's, I thought that metallics, dark burgundy's, browns, or violets, lighter grays and other deeper colors would give this style a drama that would enhance a natural look with the aura of discovery.

With the natural terrain explored throughout the novel: booties, combat boots, and flats would finish off this Delirum style.  I thought that these selections made for a truly eclectic outfit, blending romance and weathered styles. Nothing delicate here, as anything can happen at any moment. Yet, it's still imbuing a feminine beauty.

Delirium is potentially a wealth of outfit inspiration, and I would love to hear your suggestions. If you were living a romantic adventure tinged with mystery, and threatened by penalty of death, how would you translate this into style?

Sources: Brushes used in photo collages by: Stardixa.