W..W..W.. Wednesdays

It’s Wednesday which means it’s time to tell you what we have been up to for the past week! W..W..W.. Wednesdays is a weekly meme bought to you by MizB from Should Be Reading.

What are you currently reading?

Melissa - I’m currently reading The Outside (The Hallowed Ones #2) by Laura Bickle. It’s really good! Should be finished with it soon. :D

Kristy - I am currently re-reading Days of Blood and Starlight (Daughter of Smoke and Bone, #2) by Laini Taylor. I feel really bad about all the books that I have sitting there waiting to be read, but after reading Dreams of Gods and Monsters, I had a massive book-hangover and I just could not bring myself to pick up another title. So, I decided to re-read the whole series as originally planned so I can go through all the stages of loss of this wonderful series, and then I can move on. After all, I read for the love of it, not for the “need” to read certain books, and I wouldn’t be doing the other books justice by reading them when I wasn’t ready for them.

 

What did you recently finish reading?

Melissa - Confessions: The Private School Murders (Confessions #2) - James Patterson. My review will be up tomorrow!

Kristy - Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Daughter of Smoke and Bone, #1) by Laini Taylor.

 

What do you think you’ll read next?

Melissa - Not sure - right now I am reading books to match my emotions, so I’ll see how I feel when I’m done with my current read!

Kristy - I will be re-reading Dreams of Gods and Monsters (Daughter of Smoke and Bone, #3) by Laini Taylor so that I can complete this wonderful series. After that, I will return to When Mr Dog Bites by Conaghan, then move on to The Assassin’s Blade: The Throne of Glass Novellas (Throne of Glass, #0.1-#0.5) by Sarah J. Maas and Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy.

 

What is everyone out there reading at the moment, and more importantly is it a good read? Share your links below!

Interview with Colleen Hoover & Griffin Peterson - Author & Musican of Maybe Someday

As you may well know, Colleen Hoover is one of my favourite authors. And I am super excited about her upcoming novel Maybe Someday!

Maybe Someday is an exciting collaboration between Colleen Hoover, and musician Griffin Peterson. The combination of storytelling through words and lyrics. A novel and a soundtrack! The combination of Colleen’s words and Griffin’s music will surely make a unique and wonderful reading experience!

Synopsis: From #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover, a passionate tale of friendship, betrayal, and romance—and the enchanting music that inspires one young woman to put her life back together.

At twenty-two years old, aspiring musician Sydney Blake has a great life: She’s in college, working a steady job, in love with her wonderful boyfriend, Hunter, and rooming with her good friend, Tori. But everything changes when she discovers Hunter cheating on her with Tori—and she is left trying to decide what to do next.

Sydney becomes captivated by her mysterious neighbor, Ridge Lawson. She can’t take her eyes off him or stop listening to the daily guitar playing he does out on his balcony. She can feel the harmony and vibrations in his music. And there’s something about Sydney that Ridge can’t ignore, either: He seems to have finally found his muse. When their inevitable encounter happens, they soon find themselves needing each other in more ways than one…

Recently, I was fortune enough to be able to interview Colleen Hoover and Griffin Peterson and ask them some questions about Maybe Someday.

Interview with Colleen Hoover:

Maybe Someday is a unique concept in today’s market - how did you come up with the idea of incorporating music into a novel?
The response to me including lyrics from the Avett Brothers in Slammed was overwhelmingly positive, so I thought about doing the same thing but having it be original lyrics written by the characters. Then I thought, why not actually make the music?

Was it easier or harder than you originally thought to incorporate music and lyrics into a novel?
It had it’s challenging moments, but Griffin’s work ethic definitely made it easier.

Griffin obviously helped with the lyrical storyline of Maybe Someday, but did he assist you (directly or indirectly) in the development of the storyline or the characters?
Griffin wrote all of the music and lyrics after Maybe Someday was mostly complete. He would read scenes from the book first, getting a feel for what the characters were going through, then he would put the music together.

Holder and Will are definitely swoonworthy - how does Ridge compare to these much loved male characters?
Well, all of my characters are like my babies. I absolutely adore Ridge. I hope you all feel the same.

Your books are classified as New Adult, but NA seems to be a generally broad term. The Slammed series is loved and appropriate for by both NA and YA readers, whereas Hopeless does have some more mature themes. Where does Maybe Someday fall in to the New Adult category?
I guess it probably falls in between Slammed and Hopeless. The characters are in their 20’s, and yes, they do adult things. However, the content is not as emotionally sensitive as at that in Hopeless. It’s difficult for me to say whether or not a teenager should be able to read it. If it were my teenager, I would probably let them, but all parents are different. If a parent isn’t sure, they should just read the book first and then decide :)

You have written a variety of personality types, are there any characters, or character traits, that you relate to?
Not really. My books would be boring if my characters were like me. Haha, but really, I think I pull from other people I know more than I pull from myself.

Is there anything you like, dislike, admire or envy about any of the characters personalities?
Definitely! I can’t say much because I don’t want to give any of the story away, but I really like Ridge and Sydney. I think we’d be friends.

What was your favourite part about writing Maybe Someday?
I had a little bit of difficulty writing Maybe Someday. I felt a lot of pressure for the book to be good, so I kept re-writing the ending, thinking it wasn’t good enough. I think my favorite part was probably collaborating with Griffin. It was new and exciting for me.

If you could describe Maybe Someday in 3 words, what would they be?
Heart-wrenching, lyrical, and unexpected.

If we could look, what books would we find on Sydney’s and Ridge’s bookshelf?
Ridge: Titles by Kurt Vonnegut, Stephen King, Dave Barry, and David Sedaris.
Sydney: Nothing, because her books were all left at Tori’s apartment.

 

Interview with Griffin Peterson:

As a music artist, what appealed to you about working with Colleen on Maybe Someday?
I thought the concept was incredibly unique and I definitely didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to be involved!

What was your favourite part about working on Maybe Someday?
I think it was figuring out how the music was going to fit with the book, and seeing how the lyrics really captured the emotions of Sydney and Ridge. There are circumstances that prevent them from being able to express their emotions to each other, and the songs are a way for them to get through to each other.

Where there any character traits or situations that you could relate to in the characters in Maybe Someday? Did that make it easier or harder to write lyrics for them?
Definitely. I think anyone can relate to being in a position where they have feelings they don’t know how to express. It made it a lot easier to write the lyrics for them, because I already use music to express how I’m feeling. I think all musicians do.

Musically, did you find this project a rewarding experience?
Absolutely! Anything that involves making music is a rewarding experience for me.

If we could look at their personal music collections, what would we find on Sydney’s and Ridge’s iPod?
Erick Baker, Damien Rice, Ed Sheeran, John Mayer, Matt Corby, Griffin Peterson, Dave Barnes, and her guilty pleasure: One Direction. Oh, and Sounds of Cedar, of course :)

 

More about Maybe Someday, Colleen Hoover and Griffin Peterson:

The novel and full soundtrack are available on March 18, 2014!

The Maybe Someday soundtrack is available now through iTunes!!!

Visit the Maybe Someday website! Here you will find more information about Colleen and Griffin, and you will also be able to see bonus features and purchase or pre-order the music from this amazing soundtrack.

Watch the below clip to see Colleen and Griffin talk about Maybe Someday:

 

Don’t forget that our International March Giveaway includes Maybe Someday, so be sure to enter for your chance to win! Also, thanks to Simon & Schuster Australia, we will also be running an Australian only giveaway for Maybe Someday soon - so keep your eyes open for that amazing giveaway!

 

A huge thank you to both Colleen and Griffin for taking time out of their busy schedule to talk with us!

Tattoos, Nail Art and Cake Inspired By Fiction #1 – Daughter of Smoke and Bone

As you may be aware, we here at Book Nerd Reviews love doing tattoo, nail art and cake ‘inspired by fiction’ posts. You are probably also be aware that I love the Daughter of Smoke and Bones series. And today, since today is my birthday, I am giving myself a present and I am combining all of these loves :)

Normally we pick one type of “inspired by fiction” for each post, but today I am doing them all!

Welcome to Tattoos, Nail Art and Cakes Inspired by Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor!

Tattoos:

Nail Art:

Cake:

P.S: I have noted that none of my friends have given me a DoSaB inspired cake - I think I need to find new friends :)

Nerding Out In March - New Releases

Welcome to March! There’s some amazing new releases out this month - once again we’re absolutely spoilt for choice! I love being a YA reader. Don’t forget that all of the books in this post can be won this month in our international giveaway here.

March 4th

Panic - Lauren Oliver

Panic began as so many things do in Carp, a dead-end town of 12,000 people in the middle of nowhere: because it was summer, and there was nothing else to do.

Heather never thought she would compete in Panic, a legendary game played by graduating seniors, where the stakes are high and the payoff is even higher. She’d never thought of herself as fearless, the kind of person who would fight to stand out. But when she finds something, and someone, to fight for, she will discover that she is braver than she ever thought.

Dodge has never been afraid of Panic. His secret will fuel him, and get him all the way through the game, he’s sure of it. But what he doesn’t know is that he’s not the only one with a secret. Everyone has something to play for.

For Heather and Dodge, the game will bring new alliances, unexpected revelations, and the possibility of first love for each of them—and the knowledge that sometimes the very things we fear are those we need the most.

 

Half Bad (Half Life Trilogy #1) - Sally Green

A stunning, magical debut. An international sensation.

In modern-day England, witches live alongside humans: White witches, who are good; Black witches, who are evil; and fifteen-year-old Nathan, who is both. Nathan’s father is the world’s most powerful and cruel Black witch, and his mother is dead. He is hunted from all sides. Trapped in a cage, beaten and handcuffed, Nathan must escape before his sixteenth birthday, at which point he will receive three gifts from his father and come into his own as a witch—or else he will die. But how can Nathan find his father when his every action is tracked, when there is no one safe to trust—not even family, not even the girl he loves?

In the tradition of Patrick Ness and Markus Zusak, Half Bad is a gripping tale of alienation and the indomitable will to survive, a story that will grab hold of you and not let go until the very last page.

 

The Nightmare Dilemma (The Arkwell Academy #2) - Mindee Arnett

The second in a thrilling new fantastical mystery series

Dusty Everhart might be able to predict the future through the dreams of her crush, Eli Booker, but that doesn’t make her life even remotely easy. When one of her mermaid friends is viciously assaulted and left for dead, and the school’s jokester, Lance Rathbone, is accused of the crime, Dusty’s as shocked as everybody else. Lance needs Dusty to prove his innocence by finding the real attacker, but that’s easier asked than done. Eli’s dreams are no help, more nightmares than prophecies.

To make matters worse, Dusty’s ex-boyfriend has just been acquitted of conspiracy and is now back at school, reminding Dusty of why she fell for him in the first place. The Magi Senate needs Dusty to get close to him, to discover his real motives. But this order infuriates Eli, who has started his own campaign for Dusty’s heart.

As Dusty takes on both cases, she begins to suspect they’re connected to something bigger. And there’s something very wrong with Eli’s dreams, signs that point to a darker plot than they could have ever imagined.

 

The Winner’s Curse (The Winner’s Trilogy #1) - Marie Rutkoski

Winning what you want may cost you everything you love As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions. One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin. But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined. Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.

When the two try to contact Julie’s grandmother with a Ouija board, they make contact with a different spirit altogether. The real kind. And this ghost will do whatever it takes to come back to the world of the living.

 

Dangerous - Shannon Hale

Maisie Danger Brown just wanted to get away from home for a bit, see something new. She never intended to fall in love. And she never imagined stumbling into a frightening plot that kills her friends and just might kill her, too. A plot that is already changing life on Earth as we know it. There’s no going back. She is the only thing standing between danger and annihilation.

From NY Times bestselling author Shannon Hale comes a novel that asks, How far would you go to save the ones you love? And how far would you go to save everyone else?

 

Nil - Lynne Matson

On the mysterious island of Nil, the rules are set. You have exactly 365 days to escape—or you die.

Seventeen-year-old Charley doesn’t know the rules. She doesn’t even know where she is. The last thing she remembers is blacking out, and when she wakes up, she’s naked in an empty rock field.

Lost and alone, Charley finds no sign of other people until she meets Thad, the gorgeous leader of a clan of teenage refugees. Soon Charley learns that leaving the island is harder than she thought . . . and so is falling in love. With Thad’s time running out, Charley realizes that she has to find a way to beat the clock, and quickly.

 

March 9th

Legacy Code (Legacy Code Saga #1) - Autumn Kalquist

The last humans fled a dying Earth 300 years ago, but there was something they couldn’t leave behind: The Legacy Code.

Every colonist in the fleet carries mangled genes that damage the unborn, and half of all pregnancies must be terminated.

The day seventeen-year-old Era Corinth is supposed to find out if her baby has the Defect, her ship suffers a hull breach. And it may not have been an accident.

As the investigation unfolds, Era begins to question everything she’s been taught about the fleet, their search for a new Earth, and the Defect. But the answers she seeks were never meant to be found..

 

March 11th

Strange Sweet Song - Adi Rule

A young soprano enrolls in a remote music academy where nothing, not even her mysterious young vocal coach, is as it seems

Outside Dunhammond Conservatory, there lies a dark forest. And in the forest, they say, lives a great beast called the Felix. But Sing da Navelli never put much faith in the rumors and myths surrounding the school; music flows in her blood, and she is there to sing for real. This prestigious academy will finally give her the chance to prove her worth—not as the daughter of world-renowned musicians—but as an artist and leading lady in her own right.

Yet despite her best efforts, there seems to be something missing from her voice. Her doubts about her own talent are underscored by the fact that she is cast as the understudy in the school’s production of her favorite opera, Angelique. Angelique was written at Dunhammond, and the legend says that the composer was inspired by forest surrounding the school, a place steeped in history, magic, and danger. But was it all a figment of his imagination, or are the fantastic figures in the opera more than imaginary?

Sing must work with the mysterious Apprentice Nathan Daysmoor as her vocal coach, who is both her harshest critic and staunchest advocate. But Nathan has secrets of his own, secrets that are entwined with the myths and legends surrounding Dunhammond, and the great creature they say lives there.

Lyrical, gothic, and magical, Strange Sweet Song by Adi Rule will captivate and enchant readers.

 

March 14th

Broken Skies (Broken Skies #1) - Theresa Kay

Thirty years ago, civilization collapsed. Few survived.
Ten years ago, the aliens arrived…and stayed.
One year ago, I killed two men and went a little crazy.
Today, the aliens took my brother and I will do anything to get him back.

In seventeen-year-old Jax Mitchell’s world, humans are nearly extinct and alien settlers have arrived.

Until recently, the E’rikon have remained segregated in their city and ignored the few humans who have tried to engage them… but now they have taken Jax’s brother. To rescue him, she forms an uneasy alliance with a teenage E’rikon left stranded in the woods. She agrees to guide him to the city if he sneaks her past the human-proof barrier. Too bad it’s not that simple.

Jax, who cannot stand to be touched, finds that’s she’s drawn to the alien boy with bright green hair and jewel-like scales down his back. And he’s equally affected by her, the courageous redhead with haunted eyes. But she doesn’t know the alien’s true motives and he has no idea that she is much more than she seems.

In this world where alien and human are at odds, the connection forming between the two has consequences. What started off as a rescue mission sets a chain of events in motion which threatens not only the remaining humans and the growing alien society, but Earth itself.

 

March 18th

Maybe Someday - Colleen Hoover

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover, a passionate tale of friendship, betrayal, and romance—and the enchanting music that inspires one young woman to put her life back together.

At twenty-two years old, aspiring musician Sydney Blake has a great life: She’s in college, working a steady job, in love with her wonderful boyfriend, Hunter, and rooming with her good friend, Tori. But everything changes when she discovers Hunter cheating on her with Tori—and she is left trying to decide what to do next.

Sydney becomes captivated by her mysterious neighbor, Ridge Lawson. She can’t take her eyes off him or stop listening to the daily guitar playing he does out on his balcony. She can feel the harmony and vibrations in his music. And there’s something about Sydney that Ridge can’t ignore, either: He seems to have finally found his muse. When their inevitable encounter happens, they soon find themselves needing each other in more ways than one…

From the author of the New York Times bestsellers Slammed, Point of Retreat, Hopeless, This Girl, and Losing Hope, Maybe Someday is destined to become another bestseller and long-lasting fan favorite.

 

Elusion - Claudia Gabel & Cheryl Klam

Soon, Elusion® will change the world and life as we know it.

A new technology called Elusion is sweeping the country. An app, visor and wristband will virtually transport you to an exotic destination where adventure can be pursued without the complications—or consequences—of real life.

Regan is an Elusion insider. Or at least she used to be. Her father invented the program, and her best friend, Patrick, heir to the tech giant Orexis, is about to release it nationwide. But ever since her father’s unexpected death, Regan can’t bear to Escape, especially since waking up from the dream means crashing back to her grim reality.

Still, when there are rumors of trouble in Elusion—accusations that it’s addictive and dangerous— Regan is determined to defend it. But the critics of Elusion come from surprising sources, including Josh, the handsome skeptic with his own personal stakes. As Regan investigates the claims, she discovers a disturbing web of secrets. She will soon have to choose between love and loyalty…a decision that will affect the lives of millions.

Suspense, thrills, and romance fuel this near-future story about the seductive nature of a perfect virtual world, and how far one girl will go to uncover the truth behind the illusions.

 

March 25th

The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender - Leslye Walton

Magical realism, lyrical prose, and the pain and passion of human love haunt this hypnotic generational saga.

Foolish love appears to be the Roux family birthright, an ominous forecast for its most recent progeny, Ava Lavender. Ava—in all other ways a normal girl—is born with the wings of a bird. In a quest to understand her peculiar disposition and a growing desire to fit in with her peers, sixteen-year old Ava ventures into the wider world, ill-prepared for what she might discover and naïve to the twisted motives of others. Others like the pious Nathaniel Sorrows, who mistakes Ava for an angel and whose obsession with her grows until the night of the Summer Solstice celebration. That night, the skies open up, rain and feathers fill the air, and Ava’s quest and her family’s saga build to a devastating crescendo. First-time author Leslye Walton has constructed a layered and unforgettable mythology of what it means to be born with hearts that are tragically, exquisitely human.

International March Giveaway

Good evening everyone! Sorry for the slightly delayed post, it’s been a very busy day at my place today! But I thought I wouldn’t keep you waiting any longer - here is our giveaway for March!

This giveaway will run for all of March! You can enter as long as The Book Depository ships to you (They ship most places, but just double check!). We will have three winners this month, like every other month and each winner can pick any of the following titles:

Panic - Lauren Oliver
Maybe Someday - Colleen Hoover
Half Bad (Half Life Trilogy #1) - Sally Green
The Nightmare Dilemma (The Arkwell Academy #2) - Mindee Arnett
Broken Skies (Broken Skies #1) - Theresa Kay
Elusion - Claudia Gabel & Cheryl Klam
The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender - Leslye Walton
Strange Sweet Song - Adi Rule
The Winner’s Curse (The Winner’s Trilogy #1) - Marie Rutkoski
Dangerous - Shannon Hale
Legacy Code (Legacy Code Saga #1) - Autumn Kalquist
Nil - Lynne Matson

This giveaway is running all month right through to March 31st at 6pm (Australian Eastern Standard Time) when the winners will be drawn using Rafflecopter, which plucks out random winners. You all get a free entry below, and if you want to follow us or tweet about the giveaway we’ll give you some more entries. The more entries, the more chances you have to win!

Good luck! x

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Stacking the Shelves #74

Hello all! It has been a couple of weeks since we’ve shared the books that we have received, bought or borrowed, so below are the books that I have received over the past 2 weeks (sadly, Melissa hasn’t had any new additions).

Stacking the Shelves is bought to you by Tynga from Tynga’s Reviews. Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

 

In Kristy’s mailbox:

Dreams of Gods and Monsters (Daughter of Smoke and Bone, #3) - Laini Taylor

Thank you SO much Hachette Australia for this e-arc!!! This is my all time favourite series, and I was beyond happy and excited to get this e-arc! And yes, I have already finished it :)

By way of a staggering deception, Karou has taken control of the chimaera rebellion and is intent on steering its course away from dead-end vengeance. The future rests on her, if there can even be a future for the chimaera in war-ravaged Eretz.

Common enemy, common cause.

When Jael’s brutal seraph army trespasses into the human world, the unthinkable becomes essential, and Karou and Akiva must ally their enemy armies against the threat. It is a twisted version of their long-ago dream, and they begin to hope that it might forge a way forward for their people.

And, perhaps, for themselves. Toward a new way of living, and maybe even love.

But there are bigger threats than Jael in the offing. A vicious queen is hunting Akiva, and, in the skies of Eretz … something is happening. Massive stains are spreading like bruises from horizon to horizon; the great winged stormhunters are gathering as if summoned, ceaselessly circling, and a deep sense of wrong pervades the world.

What power can bruise the sky?

From the streets of Rome to the caves of the Kirin and beyond, humans, chimaera and seraphim will fight, strive, love, and die in an epic theater that transcends good and evil, right and wrong, friend and enemy.

At the very barriers of space and time, what do gods and monsters dream of? And does anything else matter?

 

Vampire Academy: The Ultimate Guide - Richelle Mead and Michelle Rowen

Thank you Penguin Australia for a copy of this book!

Sink your teeth into the perfect holiday gift and must-have collector’s item for every fan of Richelle Mead’s totally addicting Vampire Academy series.

Discover the history of St. Vladimir’s Academy, explore the dark psychology behind Rose and Lissa’s spirit bond, and find out even more illicit secrets about Moroi society. This ultimate guide will feature everything readers want and need to go even deeper into the world ofVampire Academy, Frostbite, Shadow Kiss, Blood Promise, Spirit Bound, and Last Sacrifice . . . every heartache, every betrayal, every sacrifice, and so much more!

 

The Assassin’s Blade (Throne of Glass, #0.1-0.5) - by Sarah J. Maas

Thank you to Bloomsbury Australia for sending me this one! I love this series!

Celaena Sardothien is Adarlan’s most feared assassin. As part of the Assassin’s Guild, her allegiance is to her master, Arobynn Hamel, yet Celaena listens to no one and trusts only her fellow killer-for-hire, Sam. In these action-packed novellas - together in one edition for the first time - Celaena embarks on five daring missions. They take her from remote islands to hostile deserts, where she fights to liberate slaves and seeks to avenge the tyrannous. But she is acting against Arobynn’s orders and could suffer an unimaginable punishment for such treachery. Will Celaena ever be truly free? Explore the dark underworld of this kick-ass heroine to find out.

 

Hollow City (Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, #2) - Ransom Riggs

I purchased this one as I enjoyed Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children so much. I can’t wait to read this sequel.

The extraordinary journey that began in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children continues as Jacob Portman and his newfound friends journey to London the peculiar capital of the world. But in this war-torn city, hideous surprises lurk around every corner. Like its predecessor, this second novel in the Peculiar Children series blends thrilling fantasy with never-before-published vintage photography to create a one-of-a-kind reacting experience.

 

 
Perfect Lies (Mind Games, #2) - Kiersten White

I pre-ordered this title a long time ago, and it finally arrived!

Annie and Fia are ready to fight back.

The sisters have been manipulated and controlled by the Keane Foundation for years, trapped in a never ending battle for survival. Now they have found allies who can help them truly escape. After faking her own death, Annie has joined a group that is plotting to destroy the Foundation. And Fia is working with James Keane to bring his father down from the inside.

But Annie’s visions of the future can’t show her who to trust in the present. And though James is Fia’s first love, Fia knows he’s hiding something. The sisters can rely only on each other - but that may not be enough to save them.

That is all from us this week, what did you receive in your mailboxes? Let us know - leave your links in the comments section below!