From Coast to Coast: Part One – Literary Happy Hour

July 31, 2014 by Caitlin

What to read: “Pioneer! O Pioneer!” and “A Promise to California” (excerpts from Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman) What to drink: 21st Amendment “Brew Free! Or Die” IPA As some of you may know, I recently made a major change in my life – two weeks ago, I moved from my lifelong home southern California and relocated to the east coast. It’s not been an easy transition, to say the least, but the hardest parts (the actual picking up and moving) […]

Categories: Happy Hour • Tags: beer, California, Walt Whitman

The Trailer We’ve All Been Waiting For

July 24, 2014 by Ladies On The Shelf

The first official trailer for the highly anticipated, possibly gross Fifty Shades of Grey adaptation has dropped, and we have to say… It actually looks kinda good. Dakota Johnson looks appropriately frumpy as Anastasia Steele, Jamie Dornan, well. He is handsome, wears a suit and has dark eyes. So we’re good there. I think we’re all glad to see that they went with lesser-know actors, because I don’t know if I could ever look at a Hemsworth the same way again […]

Categories: Adaptations • Tags: Dakota Johnson, Fifty Shades of Grey, Jamie Dornan, movies, romance novels

I DO believe in fairies! I do! I do!

July 23, 2014 by Jessi

Bingo Squares: Book on Tape, YA Based on a Fairy Tale, Alliterative (errr, Assonontal) Title, Reread a Book I Loved as a Kid Book: Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine Favorite quote: “I had wanted to tell her about the afternoon I spent flying down the stair rails at home, never noticing the gradual shedding of my breeches.”–Prince Charmont You got it, folks, this kid hit four bingo squares with one book. [cue whatever is included in over the top celebrations (e.g. […]

Categories: Book Review • Tags: Ella Enchanted, Gail Levine, literary bingo

Beyond Disney

July 21, 2014 by Ladies On The Shelf

Sometimes, you get a little sick of the iconic Disney princesses. Just a little (and then maybe you go to Disneyland and wish your whole wardrobe could be swathed in Princess Aurora pink). We love ourselves some fairy tales and folklore – especially different adaptations and artwork inspired by tales as old as… well, time. Check out our pins.

Categories: Literary Style • Tags: fairy tales, folklore, Pinterest, princesses

Top 5 Series for Summer Beach Reading

July 15, 2014 by Erin

The term “beach read” can mean something different to each individual reader. Do you hear the phrase and think of a trashy romance, or maybe a police procedural that’s short and sweet and ultimately forgettable? Perhaps you think this label applies to any old paperback you don’t mind lugging around in a sandy beach bag full of spilled Cheetos. Whatever! But I think all readers can agree that a proper beach read must be compelling enough to suck you into […]

Categories: Best Of • Tags: maddaddam, romancelandia, science fiction, top 5, urban fantasy