CSN Store Product Review

Hey Blogger Buds,
I usually don't do product reviews, but I've seen lots of bloggers review CSN stuff, so I decided to give it a go. I won an $80 gift certificate from Larissa's Life, which made me very excited, and I decided on three things.
The site was easy to navigate, though I did have some minor problems with it.
I ordered a flash drive, a bracelet, and a necklace.
Note: These ratings are in no way connected to my usual ratings. They're based on the basic 5 star rating.

The imation flash-drive was 4 gb and a bit pricey, but it arrived swiftly and even has a lock, so you can secure your documents and even choose which ones you want to lock! The problem is the swivel, which is very loose, allowing the flash drive to constantly open. I carry it around with me, around my neck, and this makes me very nervous, but that is on fault of CSN and I really like the flash drive.
Overall Rating: 5 stars

The next thing to arrive was my bracelet. I ordered a Cathy's Concepts Greek Wide Cuff Bracelet and had it personalized with RIV.
This item also came quite quickly, and disappointed me a bit. The three letters were heavily stylized with lots of curves and swirls making it a bit hard to make out. But that wasn't too bad. There were also tiny little scratch marks all over the bracelet. Nothing noticeable, but I was hoping it would be a bit better. It is a beautiful bracelet, though.
Overall Rating: 4 stars

My final item is a bit hard to rate. I ordered a Skyline Silver sword necklace. It is made of sterling silver with a cubic zirconium heart in the middle and tiny teardrop shaped slits in the blade with pink gems in it. The necklace is absolutely gorgeous. But. I love swords, but this necklace looked a bit too much like a cross for me to wear it in public. I highly recommend it, but it my circle I would be asked over and over again why I was wearing a cross, even though it's not. I will be returning this piece, but it's truly lovely. You can hold it up to the light and it sparkles through the heart in the center as well as the pink stones. I will rate it as a product overall, not from my personal standing.
Overall Rating: 5 stars

At the end of it all, I am very happy with CSN.  I will be buying a new product when I return the heart necklace.

Books That Make You Cry

We've all read brilliant lines that keep us laughing throughout the day, and most of us have read a book, or at least seen a movie or something, that brought us so close to the characters that we cried.

On Friday, I picked up Candor by Pam Bachorz. If you haven't read it, click that link and add it to goodreads or click the other link and buy it on Amazon. I'm going too write a review on this book later, but read it. Just...read it.

I've never read a book that made me cry. I want to.Even the end of Shiver couldn't bring me to tears, even though I squealed a bit.

Candor brought me pretty darn close. If I'd tried a bit harder, I could have made myself cry from it, I'm sure.

Today, I have a question, and a request.

1) What book made you cry?

2) Give me a book to read that will make my cheeks wet. You guys know what I like: YA, preferably fantasy but I'll read other stuff. Just nothing with Journeys of Self Discovery.

Peace,

Riv

Current Music: N/A

Current Mood:...Hungry

Happy Thanksgiving! (Because you haven't read enough posts with this title)

Happy Thanksgiving, American blogger buds!
And for non-celebrating New Yorkers, Happy Evacuation Day!
And for my followers in Suriname, Netherlands, Happy Independence Day!
And for my Bosnians and Herzegovinians (however that's pronounced), Happy National Day!
Thailanders, Happy(?) Vajiravudh Day! (Ditto on the pronunciations.)
And Happy Teacher Day for you Indonesians!

And if you're in Oxford U, Merry OXmas!

No, I don't know that because I'm strange. (But I'm that too.) I know this because of one of the things I'm thankful for...

Wikipedia!

Of course, the list is longer, including all of the usuals. And another thing on my list...

My Followers!

Because you guys are awesome for putting up with my banter. =)

Peace and Turkeys/Tofurkeys,

R

Current Music: Only the Good Die Young, Glee version

Current Mood: Meh

Paying It Forward

Hey Blogger Buds!
Today I'm Paying It Forward!
1)You don't have to tell me my schedule's been erratic, because I know full well. So first, I'm PIF to my dear awesomesauce followers, because I still have 73, even though I've been evil to you guys. You peeps are great. (Let's get it up to 75, eh?)
2)Kersten Hamilton, awesome author extraordinare's YA book, Tyger Tyger was released today! YAAAAY! Buy it from Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, Borders, or your local indie! And don't forget to add it on Goodreads! And I wrote a review on it, too, right here! I gave it 5* The 2nd book is In the Forest of the Night, coming out...not soon enough!
3)Some of you may know that one of the books I've been most desperate for is Angelfire. I've been DYING for it, and I've been going to every blog I can find that's having a contest somewhat related to it. (I did the same thing with Maggie's Linger and I actually won it!) So, Courtney, the author, is having these awesome contests on her blog for the next few months, and this week she's giving away an ARC of Angelfire! *squee* So here I am, promoting it, because I'm DESPERATE for it!

That's all for now, folks!
R

Current Music: Nothing...that's strange. Wait? Really? Oh, there it is...Worst Day Ever by Simple Plan
Current Mood: Meh

So guys, what do you think of Tyger Tyger? Did you write a review on it? Link it!

What books are YOU excited for, coming out in the next three months?

And (last question) what do you think of my blog button? Did you post it on your blog? Link it!

Six Months and Three Days

Hey Blogger Buds,

Six months and three days ago, I wrote a blog post. It was called Fifteen Fun Facts About Me.

Six months and three days ago, a name popped into my head: fantasticfantasyfan.blogspot.com

Six months and three days ago, I joined the massive community of book bloggers.

Six months and three days ago, I began all this.

In that time,  I've gone a long way.

I've turned my meager stack of 5 books into a less meager stack of 40 (or so).

I've blogged about Lulu, Amazon, and several authors.

I've voiced my opinion on the Hunger Games, Twilight, Shiver, Iron Daughter, and many more.

I've hosted a contest. (Yes, winners, I know you haven't received your prizes yet, and I haven't forgotten, don't worry!)

I've started a feature; Midway Mention.

I've compared writing to fake birds.

I've used the word awesomesauce.

I've reviewed three ARCs (Linger, Infinite Days, Tyger Tyger)

I've changed my blog name.

I've listened to Boys Like Girls many, many, times.
I've changed my layout many, (many,) times.

I've made a blog button.

And I've collected 73 awesomesauce followers along the way!

I've been at this for 6 months. That's an accomplishment. My older followers may remember a little notice I had tacked up at the top of my blog, with the little intro bit. It was something along the lines of "This will probably fail miserably" yet here I am.

I love you guys, it's been great! It's been six months, and let there be many more here on Riv Reads!

Cheers,

Riv

Current Music: On the Ride by Aly and AJ

Current Mood: ...Elated (?)

Yay! Blog Button!

Hey Blogger Buds!
First off, I know I promised my Mistwood review, but I've got more exciting news to share today, and tomorrow I'm planning to start a new meme (one that actually replaces CCT, and you may have noticed that I stopped it.)
Secondly, one thing you'll learn about me, which is a good thing for you as a reader, is that I'm not very patient. I was thinking about waiting until my 6 month blogoversary (6 WHOLE MONTHS!) but I can't wait.
So...
As you'll notice, I'm never satisfied with my layout, and I'm often tweaking with my sidebars. I stopped with the Shelfari because, even though I like them, I don't have time to keep up with both Goodreads and Shelfari, and nowthat I've gotten the hang of it, I prefer Goodreads. So there are now book montages of the books I will read and have read, as well as a new one, of books I'm excited for. (Note that only the books that already have covers are listed, so that's not it!)
So, if you'll look to your right...you'll see...
MY BUTTON!!!
YAY!!
I just finished putting the final touches on it, and it's ready for the public! There's a little box too with the HTML code,, so you can put it on your blog or site! Isn't it pretty?
*stares*
*continues to stare*
*drools a bit while staring*
*wipes away drool, still staring*
*blinks*
Okay, I'm done!
That's all for now folks!

Riv

Current Music: Holding On by Simple Plan
Current Mood: Meh

Nightspell by Leah Cypess

Hey Blogger Buds,
Before you go begin to yell at me, I've got some exciting news to share!
I was looking at goodreads.com, and guess what I saw on my books list?
Leah Cypess's second book, Nightspell!
Isn't that cover GORGEOUS?
I wrote a review on Mistwood, which I just realized I never posted, so I'll be putting it up tomorrow.
Some Linkies:
Leah Cypess: Goodreads
Mistwood: Amazon Goodreads Review
Nightspell: Amazon Goodreads
Release Date: May 31, 2011

Blurby:
A stand-alone companion novel to the much-acclaimed MISTWOOD. When Darri rides into Ghostland, a country where the living walk with the dead, she has only one goal: to rescue her younger sister Callie, who was sent to Ghostland as a hostage four years ago. But Callie has changed in those four years, and now has secrets of her own. In her quest to save her sister from herself, Darri will be forced to outmaneuver a handsome ghost prince, an ancient sorcerer, and a manipulative tribal warrior (who happens to be her brother). When Darri discovers the source of the spell that has kept the dead in Ghostland chained to this earth, she faces a decision that will force her to reexamine beliefs she has never before questioned - and lead her into the heart of a conspiracy that threatens the very balance of power between the living and the dead.


Peace and Happy Reading,
Riv


PS: NaNo is going awfully


Current Music: Nothing really, but about to turn on Simple Plan
Current Mood: Eh