Away Til June. . .

Hey everyone!

I know it's been forever since you have heard from me. I wanted to let you know that I will still be away for a while, at least til June. I have been very busy, and I'm going to be even more busy moving soon. That is why I haven't had the time to write or even read much. I promise when I come back there will be a lot of new and exciting things on the blog. I am already working hard to give the blog a new look.

I hope everyone is having a good year so far, and that you are reading a bunch! I miss you guys a ton, and will talk to you soon.

Thanks,

Laura Koehler

Hugs & Kisses Giveaway ! ! ! !

Ok, so I am a little late posting this. It was supposed to be posted on Valentines, but I have decided to make the whole month of February Hugs and Kisses Month ! ! ! What that means is for the rest of February all of my posts will be focused around LOVE! What does that mean for you? Well it means that all of my reviews and memes will be focused on books with love and relationships. Which of course could be almost any book, but I will be focusing on my favorites.

And what is the best way to show love to my fellow bloggers and followers? A giveaway of course ! ! !

So what's up for grabs? Books from one of my favorite authors....

Abbi Glines  <3

One person will win these!!! 

Paperback copies of The Vincent Boys & Because of Low...

And...

A signed paperback of one of my favorite books BREATHE !!!

And....

Some yummy love inspired candy !

How awesome is that???? I will also be giving two others some swag and yummy candy as well. Hope you all had a wonderful Valentines and good luck !

Contest Rules:

• Enter by leaving a comment with your email, and an answer to this question. Who is your favorite book couple or  what is your favorite love story?
•  One entry per person.
• You don't have to be a follower, but it's greatly appreciated.
• Contest will end March 3rd, midnight
• US only.
• Must be 13 years or older, and must have parents permission.
• I will be picking the winners using random.org.
• I am not responsible for damaged or lost products.

WoW (19): Forever Love Edition !

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. Its about what books you just can't wait to get your hands on.





City of Lost Souls:

Series: The Mortal Instruments #5

By: Cassandra Clare

Release Date: May 5 2012

Can the lost be reclaimed? What price is too high to pay for love? Who can be trusted when sin and salvation collide?

Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge.

Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series.

~ Barnes & Noble Description



Rapture:

Series: Fallen #4

By: Lauren Kate

Release Date: June 12 2012

The sky is dark with wings. . . .

In RAPTURE, the highly anticipated fourth and final novel in the FALLEN series, Luce and Daniel are together . . . but for how long? Can history be rewritten? Or are some punishments eternal?

~ Barnes & Noble Description






My Thoughts:

WoW ! ! I can not wait for these two books! When I think of eternal love, these two series come to mind. I absolutely love these covers as well. I totally want posters of them! They both have very unique story lines, yummy male characters, and strong kick-butt female leads. If you have not read these series yet you defiantly need to give them a try. I TOTALLY CAN"T WAIT ! ! ! ! !

Long Awaited Update Letter:

Dear Everyone,

I just wanted to say sorry it has been forever since I have posted. I know I have been gone since before Christmas, and I have missed you. Yes, I have missed my followers, fellow bloggers, and fellow obsessed book worms. I am posting today to let you know where I have been, and also what to expect from Books Are Precious Gems in the future. I hope everyone had a happy and safe holiday season, and that you all got a bunch of new books to read. I know I have! And I will be updating you on that next Sunday on my IMM.

So where have I been for the past couple of months? Well, I finally got a job after two years of being unemployed, and I have been super busy with it. I now work for a company called Classic Granite and Marble. We fabricate and install granite counter tops. I am really enjoying the job so far. Also my husband has gotten a promotion, and we will be moving into our own apartment really soon. So I have just been super busy, but I am here to tell you that I am now back!

Changes? Well with a new year comes a new book rating. I don't want to go into to much detail, but you will hear much more about that very soon. I will still be posting a few memes here and there, including WoWs, Cover Love, Monday's News, and IMMs. I am a super busy women now so I can't promise that I will be as active as before, but I will try my very best. I miss communicating with fellow book lovers, and sharing my bookish knowledge.  I can't promise I will have as many book reviews posted as before, but I am going to try to at least have one or two a week.

I can't wait to get back in communication with you all. Hope everyone has a great week, and that you all enjoy watching the Super Bowl tonight.

Sincerely,

Laura @ Books Are Precious Gems

P.S. Be looking for my next post in the next few days, and Happy Reading ! ! ! !



November Wrap Up & December TBR:

Books I Read:

I actually failed big time reading in November. I got very busy, and didn't get much read at all. I am hoping to get more read in Dec. However, it still will not be as much as I am used to because Dec. is a crazy busy time as well.

~ Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

~ Tommy Nightmare by J. L. Bryan

~ Unveiled by Trisha Wolfe

Total:

# Books = 3

# Pages = 640

Books I Didn't Get Read in Nov:

Dystopian Reads:

~ Dearly Departed by Lia Habel

~ The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

~ Divergent by Veronica Roth

~ Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

~ Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan

Other Reads for This Month:

~ The Vincent Boys by Abbi Glines (For Review)

~ Cascade by Lisa T. Bergren

~ Torrent by Lisa T. Bergren

 

 

Some of them will be added to my Dec. TBR and a few will have to wait until later.

 

 

 

November Reviews:

 

~ Immortal Beloved by Katie M. John

 

Only one this month. I am hoping to get back on schedule with my reviews; one every tues. and thurs. starting in Jan. With the holidays things are just so busy.

 

 

 

Other Awesome Posts in November:

 

New Memes:

 

 1.) Book Release Day !!

 

Flame of Surrender

Shatter Me

Wander Dust

Clockwork Prince

 

 

New meme that will celebrate the release days of books that I am super excited about, and you should be too! This meme can be posted any day since release days change.

 

 

 

2.) Cover Love:

 

Cover Love Dystopian Edition

 

 

 

This is a new meme where I share the love of some of my favorite covers.

 

 

More Awesome Posts:

 

~ Waiting on Wednesday: Dystopian Edition

~ Interview with Katie M. John

~ Blog Tour: Poughkeepsie by Debra Anastasia

 

 

 

Giveaways:

 

~ Shatter Me (done, winner chosen)

~ E-copies of Forest of Adventures & Immortal Beloved by Katie M. John (Ends Dec. 15th, midnight)

~ 2 e-copies of Poughkeepsie (done, winners chosen)

 

 

 

 

 

Best of November ! ! !

• First: Anna Dressed in Blood
• Second: Tommy Nightmare
• Third: Unveiled

TBR:

I had planned on making December Vampire month, since my birthday was this month and I wanted to read about something I love, but it ended up being a mixture.

Books from Novembers TBR:

~ Alexander Death by J. L. Bryan (For Review)

~ Dearly Departed by Lia Habel

~ The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (finished 12/7)

~ Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

~ The Vincent Boys by Abbi Glines (For Review)

~ Cascade by Lisa T. Bergren

 

 

December Reads:

 

~ Vamplayers by Rusty Fischer (Review)

~ Solid  by Shelley Workinger  (Review)

~ Crusade by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie

~ The Vampire Stalker by  Allison van Diepen

~ Vampire Empire by Clay & Susan Griffith

~ Desended by Blood  by Angeline Kace

~ Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

 

 

These are not in any order but I am currently reading Alexander Death & Descended by Blood. Next will be Solid & then Shatter Me.

 

 

Monthly TBR pile meme is hosted by Misty at The Book Rat. I really like her blog check it out!!!

I am sorry this is so late. I usually like to get it up at the beginning of the month. I also wanted to let you know that I will be pretty busy this month, with holiday parties, birthday parties, and Christmas, that my blog will be neglected a bit. I will not be posting many reviews, but I will try to still post a few memes and important stuff. Jan I hope to get back on track. I hope all my readers and followers stick with me through this time. Thanks so much for your support!

As always Happy Reading ! ! !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Waiting on Wednesday (18):

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. Its about what books you just can't wait to get your hands on.

Everneath
Series: Everneath #1
by Brodi Ashton
Release Date: Jan. 24th, 2012


Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's... (Goodreads Description)


My Thoughts:

First off I am in love with this cover. The colors work great together, and the picture defiantly goes with the description of the book. Only drawback is I would like to see the girls face. On that note, I can't wait to read this book. The story is unique, and it sounds like an emotional rollercoaster of a ride. I want to see what fate she decides and who she chooses. Also how she got into her situation in the first place.

Halflings
Series: Halflings #1
by Heather Burch
Release Date: Feb. 1st, 2012

After being inexplicably targeted by an evil intent on harming her at any cost, seventeen-year-old Nikki finds herself under the watchful guardianship of three mysterious young men who call themselves halflings. Sworn to defend her, misfits Mace, Raven, and Vine battle to keep Nikki safe while hiding their deepest secret—and the wings that come with.

A growing attraction between Nikki and two of her protectors presents a whole other danger. While she risks a broken heart, Mace and Raven could lose everything, including their souls. As the mysteries behind the boys’ powers, as well as her role in a scientist’s dark plan, unfold, Nikki is faced with choices that will affect the future of an entire race of heavenly beings, as well as the precarious equilibrium of the earthly world. (Goodreads Description)


My Thoughts:

I love books about angels; some of my favorite are the Fallen series, and the Hush, Hush series. This one sounds different, but very good. I want to know more about why these men are protecting Nikki and what she has to do with their secret. Also I do love me some love triangles. I know a lot of people don't, but I feel that a little competition spices things up a bit. Can't wait to see what’s in store for the characters in this book.

What are you waiting for ? ? ?

Winners ! ! !

I have a couple of winners to announce ! !

The Winners of Poughkeepsie e~books are. . . .

Diana

&

Mad4hugh

Congrats! I will be emailing you soon to let you know, and also the author so you can get your prizes!

Winner of Shatter Me is. . . . . .

Laura @

Congrats girl! I know you have been wanting this one. It will be out to you soon.