2013 YA Audiobook challenge-Sign Up

Did you know that about a quarter of the books I "read" during the year are audiobooks? I always have an audiobook on the go. I find that they make certain mundane tasks, such as cleaning, and exercising much more pleasant. But I have never reviewed any of the audiobooks I have listened to. Which is to bad, because I have heard some great ones, experienced some fantastic narrators. Therefore I am going to participate in the 2013 Young Adult Audiobook challenge hosted by Jen at A Book and A Latte. You can find out more about the challenge and how to signup here.

From the challenge page:

Choose a level below that will challenge you, and listen to and review the amount of audiobooks required for that level. To complete this challenge, you must listen and review a minimum of 12 audiobooks (released any year) of the YA genre in 2012. 

 Easy Listening Listen to and review 12 audiobooks. 

 Rock’n Out Listen to and review 24 audiobooks. 

 Head Bang’n Listen to 36+ audiobooks, and review at least 24 of them. 

 Mosh Pit Listen to 48+ audiobooks, and review at least 36 of them.

For this challenge I am going to take it easy and go with the ``Easy Listening Listen`category. I am sure I will listen to more then twelve audiobooks but, will I review more? We'll see.


For your listening pleasure, below are a few of my favourite narrators:

- Khristine Hvam: Daughter of Smoke and Bone- She did a fantastic job with Smoke and Bone and I really would love to see how she does with Days of Blood and Starlight

-Dan Bittner: Linger and Shiver- Love his voice. He narrated Cole in The Wolves of Mercy Falls series. It was brilliant. He also narrated Gayle Forman's Where She Went.

-MacLeod Andrews: Will Grayson, Will Grayson- One of the best audiobooks I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing. The two narrators were fantastic and I am eager to see what other YA novels I can dig into that they've narrated.

-Nick Podehl: Will Grayson, Will Grayson- The other half of the Will Grayson duo. I know Nick has narrated The Chaos Walking trilogy and I have been wanting to read that novel for a while, so maybe I'll listen to it instead.

-Laura Flanagan: Identical & Crank- Laura narrates the majority of Ellen Hopkins' novels and she does a great job. She does uncaring, twisted teenager brilliantly. She also narrates The Running Dream which is what I would like to listen to this year.

So there you have it.  My challenge sign up.

~Happy Reading Everyone!

Top Ten Tuesday (7) My Fave books of 2012

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted over at The Broke and Bookish

It's that time of year again... the end of the year. The time of year where you talk about all the books you read, and chose the ones you enjoyed the most. Yup, this week's topic is...

Top Ten Books I Read In 2012

1) Incarnate by Jodi Meadows- I love this book. I thought it was unique and original. I thought the characters were creative and fun. The writing was beautiful. Overall I really enjoyed this novel. I am very excited for to read Asunder and see where Meadows is going to to take us next. 

2) If I Stay by Gayle Forman- What a beautifully written story. I don`t know what else to say. If I Stay broke my heart into a thousand little pieces and put it back together again, one painful piece at a time. I loved the way this story made me think. What would I chose, had I the choice? It was fantastic. 

**I read Where She Went right after and while I enjoyed it. The story did not impact me as much as If I Stay**

3) Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan- What a marvelous book. I have never laughed so hard in a novel, I have never found characters more endearing. Both Green & Levithan did a wonderful thing with this novel and I loved every moment of it. I first experienced this novel through audio and I have to say that truly enhanced my love for this book. The narrators are awesome and they did a really great job. 

4) Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake- This was a spooky book. I wasn't expecting it to be as creepy as it was. But I loved it. I loved Cas's (the protagonist) voice. I think that was one of my favourite things about the book. It was a fun and light read, and really funny. I have fond memories of this one. 

5) The Fault in Our Stars by John Green- Yes, this is the second John Green novel to make it to my list. But... I had a really good year with him. TFiOS was beautiful. I think it was unlike anything I have ever read by him and the writing was exceptionally beautiful. I get the warm fuzzy feeling and the clogged throat thing all at the time same time just thinking about this book. 

6) All Fall Down by Megan Hart- This was a slightly different one for me this year. A novel about a young women and her three children being sent away from the cult like commune that she called home and surviving the mass suicide that took place. Hart is a wonderful writer and the words and stories she puts together never ceases to amaze me. I have already borrowed this book out to a number of friends and they want more. 

7) The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky- I was not expecting what I got from this novel. I was uninspired when I read the synopsis of this book, and the movie trailer again did little to impress me. But after reading it, I was in awe. Charlie was a great character and I loved him. I cried when he cried, I laughed when he laughed, I felt really awkward when he felt awkward. It was a great story.  I haven't seen the movie yet, but I have hopes. 

8) Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo- Read this on a LONG road trip I took in the summer and I don't really remember the car ride being that long. This novel was good, very good. Full of adventure and romance, and deception. 

9) Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry- This book got a lot of hype. Tons. So I wasn't sure that I was going to like it. But I did, I really did. It deserved all the hype that it got. The story was great, McGarry is a wonderful writer and I loved her characters. Noah and Echo were what made the book. 

10) My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick- The characters are what made this book such an awesome thing. In case you didn't notice that about me, characters make or break a story. My Life Next Door does not have one bad character. As soon as I was done with this novel, I felt a little sad because I didn't get to experience anymore of the Garrett family. I am very eager to see what Fitzpatrick has in store for us next. 

Honourable Mentions: Easy by Tammara Webber and The Reckoning by Alma Katsu

My Thoughts: Girl in the Wall by Daphne Benedis-Grab

Ariel's birthday weekend looks to be the event of the season, with a private concert by rock star Hudson Winters on the grounds of her family's east coast estate, and all of Ariel's elite prep school friends in attendance. The only person who's dreading the party is Sera, Ariel's former best friend, whose father is forcing her to go. Sera has been the school pariah since she betrayed Ariel, and she now avoids Ariel and their former friends. Thrown together, Ariel and Sera can agree on one thing: this could be one very long night.

They have no idea just how right they are.

Only moments after the concert begins and the lights go down, thugs open fire on parents and schoolmates alike, in a plot against Ariel's father that quickly spins out of control. As the entire party is taken hostage, the girls are forced apart. Ariel escapes into the hidden tunnels in the family mansion, where she and Sera played as children. Only Sera, who forges an unlikely alliance with Hudson Winters, knows where her friend could be. As the industrial terrorist plot unravels and the death toll climbs, Ariel and Sera must recall the sisterhood that once sustained them as they try to save themselves and each other on the longest night of their lives.

Thanks goes to Merit Press and NetGalley for eArc

This book sounds pretty crazy eh? A 24 hour birthday party that turns into a bloody massacre in a matter minutes. It was pretty intense I can tell you.

I whipped through The Girl in the Wall by Daphne Benedis-Grab. It took me a matter of hours to read it. In the midst of papers and exams I could not put this book down. I was enthralled! Every time I thought it was time to put the book down and start doing something else, something would happen that would make it impossible. Benedis-Grad knows how to write a story that keeps readers on their toes. The Girl in the Wall was exciting to read.

I will warn you though. This is one gore ridden novel. I was not expecting the amount of death that was in The Girl in the Wall. Not just death, but graphic death.

In case you didn't get it before now, I enjoyed reading this book. I liked the concept of the novel- I thought the hostage situation was something different. It was frightening and thrilling all at once.  The plot of the story was great, however, at times it was a little transparent. It was easy to see who was behind the whole fiasco. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. But there were times  where there was little explanation as to why certain things happen. I wanted more from this book. I wanted it to be longer. It needed to be longer. The book itself is only about 250 pages (fairly short), however it would have been a wonderful novel if it had another 50-75 pages.

The characters as well were okay, but also could have used a little more development. I liked Sera, and Ariel wasn't as self-involved as I thought she would be. Hudson was the most complex character and I really enjoyed his interactions with Sera, also with Ariel.

Although I really enjoyed The Girl in the Wall and it was a quick read for me, ultimately I wish it was longer and that there was a bit more to it. Benedis-Grab is a great story teller and I will absolutely be looking to read more by her.

The Girl in the Wall hits stores Tuesday Dec 18th.

~Happy Reading Everyone!

My Thoughts: Everyday by David Levithan

In his New York Times bestselling novel, David Levithan introduces readers to what Entertainment Weekly calls a "wise, wildly unique" love story about A, a teen who wakes up every morning in a different body, living a different life.

Every day a different body. Every day a different life. Every day in love with the same girl.

There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.

It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day.

The only other book that I have read by David Levithan has been Will Grayson, Will Grayson, and as many of you know I absolutely loved that book. The premise for Every Day was interesting to me. The idea of waking up in a different body, a different town with different memories every day was very intriguing. It sounds fascinating and horrible all in one. I wanted to be a part of the phenomena. Prior to the novel's release it garnered a ton of amazing reviews and I was so eager to read it. I could barely wait. I was so sure I was going to love this book, but when I finally got around to reading it I wasn't completely thrilled with it.

While reading Every Day I felt incredibly sad for A, this gender-less being was so lonely, and I found this really heartbreaking. Levithan did a wonderful job of making you feel how lonely A was. How tired this entity was of the constant travel and having no one to confide in. It was sad. But then A falls in love with Rhiannon and no longer feels so lonely. It happens very quickly and when this happens in a book-It's not something I'm usually a fan of. But in this case it was necessary.

I loved Levithan's writing in this novel. There is no doubt that he is a fantastic writer. What bothered me a little was how the story became a little redundant and stagnant. It sort of stayed where it was and never progressed. A was always trying to find it's way back to Rhiannon. Having to prove that what it was saying was the truth and trying to figure out how to maintain this odd friendship it had developed with the girl.

I can't say I loved Every Day, but I did enjoy it. I just wanted more. There were certain things that were started but never completed. There were somethings I would have liked to see more of, for the end to be a little more complete. To me the end felt abrupt and rushed. Which was a little disappointing.

~Happy Reading Everyone!

Top Ten Tuesday (6) My Christmas Wishlist

I haven't done one of these in a couple weeks. I had to take last week off- I was ten kinds of busy with the end of the term. University sucks sometimes! TTT is hosted over at The Broke and Bookish.

But I am pretty excited about this week... I get to share my wishlist.

Top Ten Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Bringing Me

1) The Perks of Being a Wallflower By Stephen Chbosky - I read this book earlier this year and I loved it. I, however, do not own this. I need it though. I have a special spot saved for it on my bookshelf.

2) The Taker by Alma Katsu- Another book I have read but do not own. I loved the book and I would like to own the trade paperback. I think the cover is beautiful and I must own this novel.

3) Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood- I enjoyed this novel and I am obsessed with the cover. It's so pretty. Although I would like to own this book. I wouldn't be devastated if Santa didn't bring it to me.




4) Rapture by JR Ward- This is book four in her Fallen Angels series. I haven't read book three yet, but I own them all and I really dislike not having a complete series. However, I believe this one was released in hardback, and I have no problems waiting for the paperback.

5) Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo- I loved this book when I read it back in the Summer. I loved the Russian feel to it. I loved the main character and I loved the writing. It was perfect. Such a good story, and I would love to have it on my shelf.

6) My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick- My favourite contemporary novel ever. Well this year at least.  This novel I would love for Santa to deliver to me. As soon and I was done reading it, I wanted to start over. I love books like that.

7) Days of Blood and Starlight by Lani Taylor- I don't generally buy books that I haven't read before. It's sort of my rule. I dislike wasting money on something that I am unsure I will love. But I was thrilled with Daughter of Smoke and Bone and I am VERY eager for the sequel. So excited.



8) The Casual Vacancy by JK Rowling- I know I want to read this book, and I will be the first to admit that I want to own it on principle alone. Jo wrote it, and I want to support any and everything she writes. My concern with owning this though is that I would never get around to reading it.

9) Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy- I would love to read this book, and with the movie just out now I am even more curious about it. I want to own it, but Santa I am very specific on the cover I want.

10) The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta- Love, love, love this book!!! I NEED to own. But I am a little picky with this one. I want the Australian cover. I am not a huge fan of the North American Cover. I think it's ugly.





So there you have it. My Christmas wishlist. Books I have read and books I haven't. I love looking at these so please leave links to yours below so I can take a look.

~Happy Reading Everyone!

2013 Debut Author Challenge Sign Up

So- The Debut Author Challenge is one of my favourite reader/blogger challenges, and the 2012 challenge would have been my second challenge time participating. However with all the controversy that surrounded The Story Siren last year I chose to distance myself from it all and withdrew from the challenge. I continued to to read Debut authors I just didn't announce them. 

So, when I heard that Tara from Hobbitsies was taking over the challenge I was incredibly excited. SO viola, here it is. I am joining in the race again. 

To sign up and all the rules for the challenge can be found here. Everything is outlined clearly there. 

The generally goal is to read 12 debut between Jan 1, 2013 and Jan 31, 2014. I however would like to exceed that goal. And TRY for 20. This may not seem like very many, but that's my goal. 

Here is a short list of the 2013 debuts I am planning to read. 

**All links lead to the Goodreads page**

1) Nobody But Us by Kristin Halbrook 

2) The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd 

3) Taken by Erin Bowman 

4) Touch of Death by Kelly Hashway 

5) The Nightmare Affair by Mindee Arnett 

6) Triangles by Kimberly Ann Miller 

7) Mila 2.0 by Debra Driza 

8) The Murmurings by Carly Anne West 

9) If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch 

10) The Reece Malcolm List by Amy Spalding 

11) Pantomime by Laura Lam

12) Uses for Boys by Erica Lorraine Scheidt 

So, there is my list of 12, some I will get to, others I will not. Some I will read that aren't on the list. But I love reading debut authors and I am excited about this challenge. I hope you all will consider participating. If you are please link your sign up links so I can see what debuts you want to read. 

~Happy Reading Eveyone! 

Stacking the Shelves (6)

I have another book haul for everyone!! I love sharing with you the books that make their way into my hands. I hope you enjoy. 

Stacking the Shelves in hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews. 

Books Mentioned 

Gifted: 

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry 

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor 

Thanks so much to Claire from Claire Reads- I am pretty thrilled- Haha. 

Bought: 

For Gifts

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

For Myself

Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas

For Review:

Sever by Lauren DeStefano

Thanks so much to Simon and Schuster Canada!!

Bloggers Mentioned:

Fall Book Exchange hosted by Ruby at Ruby's Reads and Amanda from Letters Inside Out.

That is all I got this time around- be sure to leave your links below I can check out your hauls.

~Happy Reading Everyone! 

From Book to Movie (11)- Anna Karenina

Leo Tolstoy’s classic story of doomed love is one of the most admired novels in world literature. Generations of readers have been enthralled by his magnificent heroine, the unhappily married Anna Karenina, and her tragic affair with dashing Count Vronsky.

In their world frivolous liaisons are commonplace, but Anna and Vronsky’s consuming passion makes them a target for scorn and leads to Anna’s increasing isolation. The heartbreaking trajectory of their relationship contrasts sharply with the colorful swirl of friends and family members who surround them, especially the newlyweds Kitty and Levin, who forge a touching bond as they struggle to make a life together. Anna Karenina is a masterpiece not only because of the unforgettable woman at its core and the stark drama of her fate, but also because it explores and illuminates the deepest questions about how to live a fulfilled life.

I may have mentioned this once of twice before, but I have a serious obsession with Russia and everything Russian. I dream of the day that I can visit St. Petersburg and Moscow. I can't say exactly what it is, but I am fascinated by Russian culture. In saying all that I have never read anything but a Russian author before. This is shameful I know, as there are a number of wonderful Russian classics that I am missing out on. Such as Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. 

My Housemate read this novel a number of years ago and I have wanted to read it since then. I loved hearing about the story, and the characters. It sounded like a wonderfully heartbreaking story. 

The movie- I hear it is a very abstract interpretation of the novel, and although I am curious about it, I think I am going to wait till I have read the book to see the movie. I don't want my perception of the novel to be tainted. I will already see Kiera Knightly as Anna, and I am not sure I am ok with this. 

I love movies and not seeing this one will be very difficult for me, but I'll survive. Has anyone seen it? Have you read the book? How does it compare? Should I even read the book? I eagerly await your replies. 

~Happy Reading Everyone! 

My Thoughts: Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

The new Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn’t drink or swear, and she has the appropriate percentage of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance between her and the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University's Walking One-Night Stand.

Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby needs—and wants—to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the ultimate college campus charmer. Intrigued by Abby’s resistance to his appeal, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis’s apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match.



When I was thinking about reading Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire, I tweeted two fellow bloggers- Ashley from The Bookish Burnett and Evie from Bookish- both have read it to get their opinions. One loved it and had nothing but good things to say about the novel. The other, while she enjoyed it, was not all that impressed with the message it sent. With these two opinions in mind I hopped in.

Well...

I am not sure what to say about Beautiful Disaster. I am conflicted because there were some things that I liked but there were a number of things that I had a HUGE problem with.

Initially I thought Beautiful Disaster was a young adult novel, albeit a more edgy YA novel. However, when I was on one of my many field trips to the bookstore there was a giant sign- "For People Who Liked Fifty Shades of Grey"- and there was Beautiful Disaster alongside novels by Sylvia Day (Bared to You) and Megan Hart (Tempted, Broken, Switch), all of which have extreme adult content. Therefore I thought it was erotic fiction. But, so many YA blogs/bloggers were reading/reviewing it. So I was confused as to what category to put it in.

Therein lies problem number one.

 Beautiful Disaster reads like a YA novel with a more adult theme. If that makes sense? While I reading the novel I was noticing that the drama of the story felt very juvenile the dialogue felt like something I would read in a contemporary YA book. However the setting wasn't a high school it was a university, and the two protagonist were both over 18 (I think Travis was even 21). They were adults and would do adult things. This really irritated me. I had a hard time determining who this book was for.

The biggest problem I had with Beautiful Disaster was Travis Maddox. What a terrible boy.

The thing is. Teenage girls are going to read this and maybe they are going to think that the way Travis acted, how possessive and controlling he was is normal behaviour. I have said it before and I will say it again- when an author is writing for young people, I believe they have a responsibility to tell their readers what acceptable behaviour looks like or make it clear what acceptable behaviour isn't. McGuire made it look like the relationship Travis and Abby (the female protagonist) had was your typical relationship.

Abby was a pushover, in the beginning I liked her, I liked how she resisted Travis-or tried to. I liked how she was snarky with him. But she lost that. I can't really put my finger on it, but she lost that. She became Travis' shadow, his puppet. All in the name of love. Give me a break.

I could go on and on about what I think of this book and why I found it so lacking. But I won't. Jamie McGuire is a good writer, although she needs to be more clear on who she is writing for. Her story was interesting, but her characters killed me.

I had thought that I wouldn't read Walking Disaster, but after perusing Jamie's website and seeing all the hype about the novel, I will admit I am curious to read the story from Travis' point of view. I would like to see if McGuire has the ability to make me like him more. We will see.

~Happy Reading Everyone.

Top Ten Tuesday (7)

I totally dropped the ball last week and forgot to say that Top Ten Tuesday is hosted over at The Broke and Bookish.

This weeks topic is...

Top Ten Books  I'd Want On A Deserted Island

I have split this into categories. 1- Classics/books I have had every intention of reading, however have been unable to fit them into my busy life, and two- books that would get me through my days of solitude, in other words, books I could not live without. 

Classics I want to read:

1) Anna Karenina By Leo Tolstoy- I have an obsession with all things Russian. However, I have never read anything by a Russian author.  This one would be long and keep me entertained for a day or two.

2) Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell- This is over a thousand pages long. Again this would take up some time. I have heard that this is a really fantastic novel and I have wanted to read it for some time.  

3) Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte- I have been dying to read this for SO long, I just haven't had the time. I think the deserted island would give me time. 

4) Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen- I have not read a single novel by Austen- this is pretty bad I know. Again, there are so many books to read and not enough time to read them. I would think on a deserted island I would want a full volume of her works (is that cheating?).

5) Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov- Again with my Russian obsession. This one has been on my shelf for some time. I am dying to read it.

Books I couldn't live without:

1)The Hunter's Moon by OR Melling- One of my most loved novels. I loved this book. There is nothing incredible about this novel other than my love for it. I could read it over and over and over again. 

2) The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson- I love how much this book makes you think. I could read it over and over again and find these deep and intense philosophical questions and I could contemplate my life for days reading this book. 

3) Lover Unleashed by JR Ward- My favourite of The Black Dagger Brotherhood series. I loved this book and I could spend the rest of my life rereading it. 

4) Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling- I could not live without Harry Potter. At all. I need him in my life. And book four is eons long. 

5) Dirty by Megan Hart- One of my favourite novels. How can I not have it with me? 

My Thoughts: The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Mara Dyer once believed she could run from her past.

She can’t.

She used to think her problems were all in her head.

They aren’t.

She couldn’t imagine that after everything she’s been through, the boy she loves would still be keeping secrets.

She’s wrong.

In this gripping sequel to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, the truth evolves and choices prove deadly. What will become of Mara Dyer next?

**ARC received from Simon and Schuster Canada**



First, let me say- writing reviews for sequels is really hard. It's hard because you don't want to spoil anything, it's hard because there is so much background from the first novel that you refer to and sometimes those details are a little hazy, and it is especially hard because in most cases- including this one- the sequel is the second in a series of three. First books in a series are easy to review; they introduce characters, develop plot and generally gives you the stories background. It is not that hard to form an opinion on. The third book also, isn't that hard to review. It wraps the story, and it's pretty easy to say whether you liked the way the story ended, if you felt satisfied. With the "dreaded" second novel, not so easy. What is there to say?

Well...

The Evolution of Mara Dyer was one of the few novels that I was MOST anticipating this year. Upon finishing Michelle Hodkin's debut The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer I was genuinely stunned and I NEEDED to know what was to come. The cliff hanger in the novel was unbelievable. I remember being very impressed.  With that said, I had high expectations for The Evolution, I expected to have some answers, I expected to have more questions and I expected to be ok with that. looking back, that is exactly what I got. What I didn't expect is to be as confused about where the story is going as I am now.

Throughout the novel there is this question- Is Mara crazy? Is everything she is experiencing or has experienced in her head? Is she developing schizophrenia, PTSD or something else? Is she really just paranoid? or are there supernatural elements that need to be considered? I will say I waffled back and forth between the two theories. There were times when I was sure Mara was just losing it, that all she was going through were symptoms of some mental malady. There were other times that I thought-no way- there has to be a more sinister explanation to what's going on. Hodkin definitely kept me on my toes in terms of what was happening to Mara. When I was sure I had things figured out, something would happen and I wouldn't be so sure anymore.

I have read a few reviews that have said that readers liked Noah more in this novel than it's predecessor. while I can agree and say that Noah went through the most character development and evolved the most in The Evolution, I found nothing incredibly wrong with him in The Unbecoming. I appreciated him and his role more in The Evolution, I liked how supportive of Mara he was and how he believed what she was saying. He also didn't coddle her. Go Noah

There is a falshback/vision segment to this novel and while we have no idea what is means and where it is leading, I really enjoyed those parts. It was fun trying to figure out their connection to the overall story. Again, it was another, you think you've got it all figured out, but really, not so much.

The end of The Evolution of Mara Dyer confused me a little. My first response to read it, "I don't get it."  I think because I was expecting something completely different than what I got.I don't know that I would call it a cliff hanger as more of a "what just happened?" kind of ending. I am very much looking forward to the final installation to this series. I have really enjoyed what Michelle Hodkin has created and I want to know what is actually going on, and how it's all going to pan out.

~Happy Reading Everyone!

Top Ten Tuesday (6) Freebie Week

Top Ten Tuesday Freebie! Your time to pick whatever topic you'd like- This is pretty exciting for me I have been thinking about this for a couple months now.

My freebie topic is...

The Top Ten Books That Made Me Cry 

(either silent weeps or ugly sobs)

**Be warned- Both John Green and Melina Marchetta make an appearance on this list- Sorry Aylee**

1) Precious and Fragile Things by Megan Hart- It was the end of this book that broke my heart. Gilly-a woman who had been kidnapped and help hostage in a remote wilderness cabin for a few months- had no other options and it hurt her to do what she did. Todd (her kidnapper) has a story that is also incredibly hard to read. There was nothing terribly happy about this Precious and Fragile Things. I remember when I finished this book I threw it to the floor sobbing it was BS and not fair. I then went to bed and cried myself to sleep.


2) If I Stay by Gayle Foreman- The first time I read this I actually listened to it. I was at work and spent eight hours filing, I remember having to sit up and blink a number of times while listening. At one point I had to run to the washroom and let it out. This is actually a heart breaking story, about a girl who gets into a car accidnet with her family and she's left suspended between life and death and needing to make a decision, it's utterly heartbreaking. I get SO sad thinking about. But it was a wonderful story, and I am glad I read/listened to it.


3) The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Neffenigger- Again, it was the end of this novel that made me cry. For obvious reasons. Death is sad, in this case it was really sad. I cried, my heart hurt.

4) Hallowed by Cynthia Hand- The sequel to Unearthly was very different from it's predecessor, very different. Clara is confused in this novel and experiencing so much. Hand did such a good job of making me love Clara, that every time she cried I wanted to cry, and at the end when her vision becomes a reality I wept with and for her.

5)6) The Fault in Our Stars by John Green- If you've read this novel you know why it's cry worthy. I have read a number of John Green's books- actually I have read all but An Abundance of Katherines. The characters in the TFiOS are fantastic. Augustus Waters is amazing, he is everything good a girl would want in a boy. But there's more, he's also a great friend. This, in turn gives him some great friends.  There is one scene in TFiOS that kills me- the living eulogy scene when Issac gives his speech. I cried so hard that it was hard to keep reading.


6) The Pact by Jodi Picoult- This was the first Jodi Picoult novel that I read, and it brought me to tears. A Story about a boy who is on trial for his girlfriend`s death. He claims it was a suicide, but no one is really sure. But, Chris loved Emily so much. He loved her so much he was willing to die for her, in the end he was willing to let her die, and it hurt him. Picoult is an expert at writing intense novels that provoke strong emotional responses. This is the first of two books on this list.


7) Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma- This is one of the few novels that actually had me ugly cry. There was nothing pretty about me the day I finished this novel. Suzuma is a powerful writer, and Forbidden was a powerful novel about a brother and a sister who fall in love. Therefore, there is no way this is going to end well. What a story. It was beautiful and hopeless. If you don't experience heart break from reading this novel... I don't know, I just don't know.

8) Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult- Like many of Picoult novel's, there is a grand revelation at the climax of this novel. This revelation answers a good number of the burning questions, it does this by painting a picture, taking you to the scene. It was this part of the story that caused me to blubber like a baby. The whole thing was SO unfair. Injustice and when things are unfair makes me sad. This is exactly what happened. A chain of events caused by unfairness and injustice.

9) Lullabies for Little Criminals by Heather O'Neill- This whole book made me cry- it`s a story about a little girl who lives with her heroine addict father and their life. It`s not an easy life and this little girl makes some out of this world decisions, it`s unbelievable. There is a moment in this novel between the protagonists and her father, a moment where he realizes he can't be what she needs, where he tells her that he does love her but he can't care for her. It's beautiful and I bawled. It was a deep moment and it really made the book.




10) Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta- This was a beautiful novel. I loved it SO much. It is easily one of the best books I have ever read. There were a number of scenes in this novel that made me cry. There is so much of Taylor`s story that makes my throat clog and my eyes water. There is so much guilt and confusion and sadness is Jellicoe Road, but it is also hopeful and full of joy. But I cried a lot in this novel.

My Thoughts: Tilt by Ellen Hopkins

Three teens, three stories—all interconnected through their parents’ family relationships. As the adults pull away, caught up in their own dilemmas, the lives of the teens begin to tilt….

Mikayla, almost eighteen, is over-the-top in love with Dylan, who loves her back jealously. But what happens to that love when Mikayla gets pregnant the summer before their senior year—and decides to keep the baby?

Shane turns sixteen that same summer and falls hard in love with his first boyfriend, Alex, who happens to be HIV positive. Shane has lived for four years with his little sister’s impending death. Can he accept Alex’s love, knowing that his life, too, will be shortened?

Harley is fourteen—a good girl searching for new experiences, especially love from an older boy. She never expects to hurdle toward self-destructive extremes in order to define who she is and who she wants to be.

Love, in all its forms, has crucial consequences in this standalone novel.

I was SO excited when I heard that Ellen Hopkins was bringing Tilt into existence. I had read and reviewed it's adult companion, Triangles, late last year and I really enjoyed it. However I did wonder if the youth in the novel would be making an appearance in their own novel. I was sure that their story needed to be told.

There were a number of teens that Hopkins could have "picked" from when writing this novel. However, she knew what she was doing when she chose to write the stories of Mikayla, Shane and Harley. They were the perfect protagonists.

If you have read Hopkins before I am pretty sure you will not be disappointed with this novel. However Tilt is not like most of her other novels. In saying that his one wasn't as heavy or emotionally exhausting as her previous novels. Don't get me wrong. This one deals with serious issues such as aids, teen pregnancy, drugs, and date rape. But the story is less gut wrenching.

First we have Mikayla- She's 17 and rebelling strongly against all parental authority. She is also madly in love with her new boyfriend. When she finds herself pregnant she is lost and not sure what to do. She is conflicted and this is something Hopkins does well conveying these emotions. We know Mikayla is confused and unsure and we know that she feels like she has no one to turn to. As I was reading this I was heart broken for this girl. She was convinced that she loved this boy and that he loved her and they could figure this out together. it was very sad.

We then have Shane- I think Shane's story is the most heart wrenching of the book. He's a sixteen year old homosexual teenager. Who is in a relationship with a boy he adores but who is very sick. He has a broken relationship with his father due to his sexuality. So, when his sister dies Shane really loses it. I ached for this kid. Everything he had to experience was incredible.

Finally there is Harley- She was the one that annoyed me the most. This is mainly because the decisions she was making were ridiculous. She was the one who was the most insecure and therefore the most outgoing, if that makes sense. She faked it till she made it. She tried to find acceptance in all the wrong places. This really bothered me because I know that this isn't  how it needs to be. Harley is a sweet girl and she has a good heart and what she is looking for she deserves. But she's just to self involved to recognize when she's got it wrong.

Tilt is written in Hopkins' standard verse, and it's beautiful. It really adds to the story. I think that's what makes these stories so much more then your standard issues novels.  But the way she writes her stories really gets you thinking. Which is a good thing.

The one thing that I didn't really like about this novel was the timeline. Much of Tilt's timeline overlapped with Triangles timeline. So a number of the events were the same and they were expected. This is only an issue for those who have read Triangles. I wanted to know how the kids were doing after the events in Triangles. Tilt did extend past the Triangles timeline but not much. But other than that, this novel was pretty near perfect. SO go read it.

~Happy Reading Everyone!

My Thoughts: Bared to you & Reflected in You by Sylvia Day

Our journey began in fire... Gideon Cross came into my life like lightning in the darkness-beautiful and brilliant, jagged and white-hot. I was drawn to him as I'd never been to anything or anyone in my life. I craved his touch like a drug, even knowing it would weaken me. I was flawed and damaged, and he opened those cracks in me so easily... Gideon knew. He had demons of his own. And we would become the mirrors that reflected each other's most private wounds... and desires. The bonds of his love transformed me, even as I prayed that the torment of our pasts didn't tear us apart...








I read both Bared to You and Reflected in You one right after the other, and finished both within three days I think. And I have VERY strong opinions in regards to these two books and I thought I would do some mini reviews on both of them. Normally I don't review erotic novels on the blog, however, with the incredible amount of attention Fifty Shades of Grey by EL James has received I felt like I needed to address a few things.

The two books in the Crossfire series by Sylvia Day have been strongly compared to the Fifty Shades series.   The characters were the same, the plot was similar. The whole thing reeked of Fifty Shades. Upon reading the first installment in the series- Bared to You- I have to agree. It was Fifty Shades exactly. In a number of ways this isn't a smart move for any author, however for Sylvia Day I think it was kind of Brilliant. She was able to capitalize on the Fifty Shades phenomena perfectly. In all consideration what isn't great about the Fifty Shades concept? An unbelievably rich, incredibly attractive guy becoming overwhelmingly obsessed with an average, nothing terribly special girl. But wait, the guy is broken. He has serious issues he needs to work though. It's almost to good to be true.

But, I am getting a head of myself. I wanted to talk about Bared to You.

Day's writing is LOADS better than that of EL James. Bared to You introduces us to Eva an 24 year old woman living in New York with her best friend. She gets a job in a building owned by Gideon Cross, whom she meets almost right away, and begins an affair to remember. However, both have their issues, and Gideon isn't very forthcoming on what those issues are. Day knows how to develop her characters, she knows how to capture her audience with intense situations and authentic dialogue. She has the ability to engage her readers and provoke strong emotions within them. Overall Sylvia Day is a good writer, and Bared to You was a good story.

However...

Gideon Cross. As beautiful and flawless on the outside as he was damaged and tormented on the inside. He was a bright, scorching flame that singed me with the darkest of pleasures. I couldn't stay away. I didn't want to. He was my addiction... my every desire... mine.

My past was as violent as his, and I was just as broken. We’d never work. It was too hard, too painful... except when it was perfect. Those moments when the driving hunger and desperate love were the most exquisite insanity. We were bound by our need. And our passion would take us beyond our limits to the sweetest, sharpest edge of obsession...






While I really enjoyed Bared to You. I HATED Reflected in You. Why? Because Gideon Cross is a horrible horrible man. I don't know if my complete and utter distaste for this novel is a wonderful example of how genius Sylvia Day is as a writer or if she is just really extreme.

With Reflected in You we are knee deep into the story. Gideon and Eva have had their troubles but for the most part are living blissfully. Right? No, not at all. Gideon Cross is the most controlling, self involved, obsessive man I have ever read about. He is very abusive, and I do not use that word lightly. There is one point in the novel where Eva wants to attend a concert with friends and invited Gideon, he goes with her, however, he states frankly that if he had been unable to attend she would not have been allowed to go. ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?!?! He was basically telling her that she was not allowed to go anywhere without him. What is even more infuriating is that Eva just accepted it. She would resist a little than concede- Because she loved him! This is not ok. Not at all.

There were certain plot points I also did not enjoy in this novel. Gideon's games were annoying. He would do something and be incredibly vague about what he was doing and again Eva would just accept it. She barely questioned him. When Anna wanted to do something, or needed to be independent, Christian Grey would allow it, he wouldn't like it but he would hardly forbid her from doing it. However when Eva would resist, she would tell Gideon, he would turn up at night and basically screw her brains out, and then all was well.

That was a common theme in the two novels. Gideon and Eva both used sex as a band aid. Whenever there was conflict in their relationship one or the other would use their sexual prowess to convince the other that it wasn't a big deal, or to persuade the other that all was well. I can see this working/happening once or twice. But every time. Really? No. Granted this was something the therapist in the novel was addressing. Another things that was amusing about Reflected in You. Gideon and Eva have been together all of two minutes and they are already in couple counselling. RED FLAG anyone!!

In saying all this, I am curious about the third installment- Entwined with You- which is due out in May. Perhaps by this time I will have forgotten all about my fury at Gideon Cross and have zero bias when I read it. I would like to see if Sylvia Day is able to redeem this character.  Because he was seriously atrocious! It's almost funny how disgusting a human being he is- well, a fictional human being. Because at this point I would take Christian Grey over Gideon Cross any day.

~Happy Reading Everyone!

Teaser Tuesday #29

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

•Grab your current read

•Open to a random page

•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

•BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

•Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Seeing as today is the much anticipated release of The Evolution of Mara Dyer, and I am about a third of the way through the novel and I am completely addicted, I am going to give you a snippet of what you can expect.

The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

'"Sometimes, Noah, I feel an overwhelming urge to punch you in the face."
An arrogant grin crept across his mouth.
"That doesn't help."' 

(P.57 of ARC)






I have also included the book trailer for the novel- which is pretty awesome, if I may say so myself.

~Happy Reading Everyone! 

My Thoughts: My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpartick

A gorgeous debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another

“One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time.”

The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, numerous, messy, affectionate. And every day from her balcony perch, seventeen-year-old Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs her terrace and changes everything. As the two fall fiercely in love, Jase's family makes Samantha one of their own. Then in an instant, the bottom drops out of her world and she is suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?




There is something seriously awesome about reading a YA contemporary after an incredibly stressful week. Sitting down with a book you know is going to be chalk full of cheesy lines, encounters that make you go awww, and drama, yes lots of drama, is just so relaxing. So after the few days I had last week, My Life Next Door was exactly what I needed. I gobbled this book up. It took me no time at all to read it, and I loved it. Absolutely. Huntley Fitzpatrick is up there with Stephanie Perkins and Sarah Dessen in terms of contemporary YA authors as far as I'm concerned.

My Life Next Door begins with The Garretts moving into the house next to the Reeds. They are a large and boisterous family- as the blurb above mentions, the Garretts are everything the Reeds are not, everything Ms.Reed isn't- and she has no problem vocalizing her disdain for the family, and letting her girls know they are not to socialize with the neighbouring family. This however, doesn't stop Samantha from forming a relationship with one of the Garrett boys-Jase.

I really liked how Jase and Samantha's relationship developed. While I will be the first to say that it wasn't exactly realistic and relationships don't happen like that. It was easy to fall for them both. Jase pushed passed Samantha's comfort zone, he befriended her first, invited her into his life. And before you know it, they're kissing each other. I liked the transition in their relationship and I liked how they were together. The two characters were still able to be individuals while still being together.

The characters are what made this book. Both Jase and Samantha were wonderfully written. I loved Jase's loyalty to his family. He loved them, and he was one responsible seventeen year old. The parts of the book that involved the Garretts were my favourite. What an incredible family. I am SO hopeful that Fitzpatrick will include them in her future books, because they were really great. I am sure that every review of this book will mention George, what an awesome little boy. His irrational fear of death, just about killed me laughing (no pun intended). The kid was quick and witty and how could you not love him. Andy was a hysterical fourteen year old and I loved how she had no problems talking about things such as dating and kissing with her older brother and mother. The Garretts had a special bond.

I also think Tim- Samantha's best friend's twin brother- was an incredibly diverse character. And if he were to be featured in upcoming Fitzpatrick novels I would have no problem with that either. He went through some major character development in My Life Next Door, and it was beautiful. I still believe there is a lot of work that needs to be done in his life (possible future book's plot?), but he'll be fine. I loved seeing him and Jase become friends, I loved seeing  Samantha's friendship with him evolve.

The overall plot is good, however it's not spectacular. I will say-without, hopefully, giving to much away- that Samantha has some major decisions to make in the novel and I thought that this moral dilemma was very well done, and unique.

Overall, My Life Next Door was really good. The characters were fabulous, the dialogue was quick and on the ball,and the story was good. I really enjoyed this read and Huntley Fitzpatrick is on my list of authors to keep a watch for.

~Happy Reading Everyone!

Top Ten Tuesday (5)

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted over at The Broke and Bookish.

Top 10 Favorite Authors In X Genre

This week's Top Ten Tuesday lets you choose your favorite authors in a specific genre, be it sci-fi, romance,  nonfiction....anything that strikes your fancy! I have chosen my top five ROMANCE writers and my top five YOUNG ADULT novels- while I know young adult has many sub-genres I am being very general here. 

Enjoy. 

Romance: 

1) Megan Hart- She is a fantastic novelist. Her writing style is beautiful. Although technically her work would technically be classified would be classified as erotic fiction. It is much more than that. It really is romance and I love it. 

2) Christina Dodd- I have read three of Dodd's novels this month. I have enjoyed her work in the past, and I have rediscovered her greatness. She writes romance novels in a number of sub-genres; paranormal, suspense, contemporary and historical. I have read a majority and I have never been disappointed.

3) JR Ward- I know, I know, I sound like a broken record. But, honestly I love this woman's writing. I love how creative her is, I love the male's she writes, I love her view on love and romance. It's wonderful. I am totally and completely addicted to her books. 

4) Anne Stuart- I remember reading Prince of Magic when I was in the seventh grade (this is embarassingly young). But I attribute this novel to my love of romance. Gabriel and Liz... sigh. It makes me swoon just thinking about it. I have since read all that Stuart has published since than. Her historical, her contemporary, her romantic suspense- I've read them all. I have loved every single one of them. 

5) Rachel Gibson- I love her novels. I love how easy they are to read, and how fun and funny they are. I can usually polish one of her books off in a matter of hours. Easy reading. 

**Honorable Mentions: Diana Palmer, Christie Ridgeway & Lora Leigh**

Young Adult:

1) Melina Marchetta- After Jellicoe Road I was hooked, however The Piper's Son really made me love Marchetta. She is absolutely amazing. I dare anyone to contradict me. Her stories are beautiful and inspiring. They are heartbreaking and hopeful. 

2) JR Rowling- Harry Potter, hello. FANTASTIC. If you haven't read the Harry Potter series what are you waiting for? The world that Rowling created is... I don't even know how to explain it. She has a true gift.

3) John Green- I had a hard time with Green in the beginning. I read Looking for Alaska and wasn't terrible impressed. I read Will Grayson, Will Grayson and I was delighted, I read The Fault in Our Stars and I was amazed and a complete fan. Thinking back to Looking for Alaska, I actually liked it way more than I thought. John Green is a fantastic writer. I am glad to have read his work. 

4) Cynthia Hand- She has only written the two books- Unearthly and Hallowed- but they are so completely incredible. Amazing stories and wonderfully written. I will probably read everything she writes, and I can't wait to see how she ends the above mentioned series. 

5) Jenny Han- I loved her Pretty series. They are like Rachel Gibson's novels for me, but in YA form. They are fun and light, and they don't take me very long to read. I am so looking forward to reading Burn for Burn. 

**Honorable Mentions: Lauren DeStefano & Ellen Hopkins**

Series Review: Darkness Chosen by Christina Dodd

A thousand years ago, a brutal warrior roamed the Russian steppes and struck a sinister bargain. In return for the ability to change at will info a coldhearted predator, Konstantine promised his soul—and the soul of his descendents—to the devil.

Then one day a dangerous prophecy reveals the truth: One family has been chosen to battle the darkness—or face damnation.

I am a romance reader. I love romance novels. I love love. However, since starting the blog I have not read as many romance novels as I used to (maybe because I don`t really enjoy reviewing them). However in the last couple of months I have gone back to my romance novels and I have been reading them like crazy.  

Like most novels out there, romance novels also come in series, and I recently finished one by an author I love- Christina Dodd- I really enjoy her paranormal romance novels. They are fun, and full of alpha males and strong willed females. They are a pleasure to read. 

The Darkness Chosen series by Dodd is not the series I recently finished, but it is my favourite of the ones I have read. Here I present to you four small reviews of each book in the series. 

The series follows the Wilder family. Kontantine and this wife Zorana and their four kids (three boys and one girl). As you may have already guessed, each of the four novels in The Darkness Chosen series follows one of the Wilder kids. 

Book One: Scent of Darkness

Ann Smith loves her dynamic boss, Jasha Wilder, but her daring plan to seduce him goes awry when she encounters a powerful wolf who, before her horrified eyes, changes into the man she adores. She soon discovers that she can't escape her destiny, for Jasha is Konstantine's descendant, and Ann is the woman fated to break the curse that binds his soul.

Of the four I have two that I enjoyed better than the others and this is number one. I loved the way this book introduced the story and the legend. I enjoyed how we got to see tidbits of what was to come and how Ann was involved with fulfilling the prophecy. There was, absolutely, some things missing in this book, however, this was only the first of four books, and needed to keep readers waiting a little. 

What I enjoy the most about this series are the characters. I love the way Dodd develops her characters and their individual personalities. I loved the patriarch of the faimly, Konstantine and his wife Zorana.  They loved their kids and worried about their roles in breaking the curse. 

Book Two: Touch of Darkness

Handsome, powerful Rurik Wilder holds the power to transform himself into a fierce bird of prey-a gift that's caused death and destruction.

At last he's offered the chance to redeem himself. Only one woman stands in his way-a beautiful writer determined to wreak revenge on the assassins who murdered her family. Assassins, it's been rumored, who have powers no human should ever possess...

Of the four books Touch of Darkness is the one I liked the least. I feel like Scent of Darkness was the introduction novel, Touch of Darkness had that second novel syndrome. Although this novel did not feel like a filler novel. It was definitely a necessary addition to the series. However I did not connect with this brother, and his relationship with his love interest, Tasya, was unimpressive. I did appreciate how the story progressed in Touch of Darkness. I just wasn`t believing the romantic part of it. 

Book Three: Into the Shadow

Blessed or cursed with the ability to change into a sleek panther, and driven by a dark soul he`s accepted as his fate, Adrik Wilder abandons his family and his honor to pursue a life of wickedness. He excels at every vice, including kidnapping Karen Sonnet to use for his selfish purposes.

But Karen`s spirit and passion make him question the force of his family`s curse. And when a new evil emerges, Adrik must choose whether to enact revenge on his enemies and redeem his soul, or save Karen from a fate worse than death?

Into the Shadow was my favourite of the four. I found this one to be a perfect mix of steamy romance and crazy adventure. Adrik was my favourite Wilder brother, and I loved how he was the black sheep of the family. Touch of Darkness almost felt like a different novel-a different series. It was a different setting and the people involved were slightly removed from the standard characters. Their presence was there but they weren`t central. I liked Karen, I really liked her spunk. She was a fighter and could take Adrik when he crossed the line.  

Book Four: Into the Flame

Brutally handsome cop Doug Black is determined to find the birth family who left him with nothing but a terrifying inheritance: the ability to change into a savage golden cougar. His search leads him to a woman as dauntless and exotic as her name. Firebird Wilder is bitterly familiar with supernatural gifts, and flees on discovering his secret, leaving Doug alone once more. But no one can escape a wild cougar on the hunt. When he finds her, they must decide which is more powerful — the love that binds them together…or the secrets that threaten to tear them apart.

The conclusion to The Darkness Chosen series was a little underwhelming. I found that the story was a bit rushed. I think there were a number of elements to Firebird`s story that were there but not explained. I did like the book, but I expected more from the finale. I thought Doug was a little whiny. He got the short end of the stick- we know that, but he needed to get over it and relax. But the story moved along well, and I was pleased with the twists that took place. 

I liked the the way the whole story ended. Things wrapped up well, and according to me there were no question left unanswered. This is not always the case. Dodd did a wonderful job with this series. I thought it was creative and well executed. 

I have reread The Darkness Chosen series a number of times and I probably will reread them a couple more times. I would encourage those who like romance novels and paranormal romances to check this series out. It is well worth it. Her other series- a some what spin off of this one-The Chosen Ones series is pretty good as well, just not as good as this one. 

~Happy Reading Everyone! 

Top Ten Tuesday (4)

So this week is Rewind week for Top Ten Tuesday- That means I get to pick a topic I missed. Since this is only the fourth time I am taking part in this meme there are a number of topics I missed and get to chose from. Whoop whoop.

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted over at The Broke and Bookish.

SO I chose:

Top Ten Book Romances That You Think Would Make It In The Real World (outside the book).

1) Lanny and Dr Luke from The Taker by Alma Katsu

2) Jonah and Taylor from Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

3) Belly and Conrad from The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

4) Josh and Emma from The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler

5) Noah and Echo from Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

6) John Matthew and Xhex from Lover Mine by JR Ward

7) Sam and Anna from Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

8) Hazel and Augustus in The Fault in our Stars by John Green

9) Emmaline and Johnny from Collide by Megan Hart

10) Isabel and Cole from Linger/Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater 

I love love and I was excited to share my favourite book romances. Don't forget to leave links to your TTT down below. 

~Happy Reading Everyone! 

Stacking the Shelves (5)

Well, it's here again. Stacking the Shelves. I hope you enjoy this months book haul. And forgive my hair. I had just come home from work and it was CRAZY windy out. 

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews. 

Books mentioned: 

eLibrary: 

The Secrets of Bella Terra by Christina Dodd

Fifty Shades Freed by EL James

Library: 

Tilt by Ellen Hopkins 

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Review: 

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry (My Thoughts)

The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer 

Bloggers mentioned:

Aylee at Recovering Potter Addict 

That is all for me this week. 

~Happy Reading Everyone!