End of 2013 Book Survey

Can you believe it's that time again?? I'm taking part in Jamie's Annual End of Year Book Survey. 2013 was an incredibly slow reading year for me. I honestly have no idea what happened. I had a goal of 100 books, then quickly realized I wasn't going to achieve that so I took it back to 50 books...and I just barely read over half of that. There will definitely be some repeat books in answers in this survey. Hopefully next year, with the goals I have outlined, I'll take out way more books.

1. Best Book You Read In 2013? 

Pivot Point by Kasie West

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

I kept reading all these great things about this book and how it was reminiscent of Roswell, which is one of my face tv shows...but it really didn't do it for me. I think I'll eventually read the next book in the series, but for now I'm putting it on hold.

 3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2013? 

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
I have had problems in the past with blogger friends recommending contemps to me saying they were incredible and I was sure to love them...but then they end up annoying me and I strongly don't like them, so I was nervous about this one. But I loved it. I can't wait to read more by Rainbow.

Foreplay by Sophie Jordan
New Adult has been a genre that I have been avoiding like the plague. I really didn't want to get in to it as it just sounded silly to me. Then I saw Sophie Jordan was coming to my B&N for a signing and talking about her new book. When she explained what it was about I decided I had to have it. I read it in like two sittings. Now I want more.

 4. Book you read in 2013 that you recommended to people most in 2013?

So I didn't read it in 2013, but I still shove The Fault in our Stars by John Green down people's throats all the time. I've convinced so many people to read it...especially when I tell them a movie is releasing next year. I hope we put a poster of it up at my theater soon so that when I see people staring at it I can tell them there's a book they can read first. 

But books that I've read in 2013 and recommended would be Pivot Point by Kasie West, The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken, and Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo. All three were just so great.

 5. Best series you discovered in 2013?

See my above answer. All three of those are series and I loved finding all of them. Well...Pivot Point is only 2 books as far as I know...but still.
Also, the Blackdagger Brotherhood is pretty much fantastic and I just read the first one at the beginning of this year.

 6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2013?

Kasie West! 

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?

Foreplay by Sophie Jordan and and Dark Lover by Karen Marie Moning. Like I said, I wasn't thrilled about a NA but I'm more open-minded about them now. I love urban fantasy but I've heard the BDB can get...intense...so I was a little wary. But as soon as I was done with the first I was hooked.

 8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2013?

 Pivot Point by Kasie West. The alternating view points worked in complete favor of this story. Each storyline is intense so having to wait to find out what happens in each at the same time will make your heart race.

 9. Book You Read In 2013 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

 I might read The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken again just to have a refresher before I read Never Fade.

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2013?

You know why I love these covers? Because they are soooo much more appealing to me than of some close up of a pretty girl...or a pretty girl in a pretty dress...or a pretty girl being held close by a guy with no face.

11. Most memorable character in 2013? 

The Darkling from Shadow and Bone was pretty memorable to me.

 12. Most beautifully written book read in 2013?

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

It was realistic, but kept the magic and beauty of falling in love for the first time.

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2013? 

Again, I have to go with Eleanor and Park. Right after the first of the year when I review it I'll be writing a post as to what was so impactful about this book.

 14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2013 to finally read? 

The first Blackdagger Brotherhood book. Those men *swoons*. I love me some romance with fighting and action and these books provide just that. 

 15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2013?

 From The Darkest Minds:

“We'll just have to try to make better mistakes tomorrow.” 

From Pivot Point:
“When I read, I feel emotion all on my own. Emotion no living person is making me feel.”

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2013?

How I did this: Went to my read books on Goodreads and sorted by page number and just looked for what I knew I read this yeaer that was the shortest and longest.

Shortest– How To Date A Henchman by Mari Fee. Only 96 pages.
Longest — Ocean: The World's Last Wilderness Revealed. Standing at 512 pages, it was a pretty hefty read. But I love marine biology so it was a good one.

 17. Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It? (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc. etc.) Be careful of spoilers!

The ending of Pivot Point, The Darkest Minds, and Shadow and Bone.
I NEED THE NEXT ONES LIKE NOW. JUST ASDFGHJKL! CLIFFHANGERS!

Also, I need to find someone who is just reading the Blackdagger Brotherhood too so I can talk to them about that series.

18. Favorite Relationship From A Book You Read In 2013 (be it romantic, friendship, etc).

Eleanor and Park. (from Eleanor and Park)

Mal and Alina. (from Shadow and Bone)

19. Favorite Book You Read in 2013 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

I believe all the books that I read were new to me authors.

20. Best Book You Read In 2013 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else:

 Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

21. Genre You Read The Most From in 2013?

Fantasy/Urban Fantasy

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2013?

I've got a thing for the Darkling from Shadow and Bone.
Also, Reece from Foreplay. He was hot.

23. Best 2013 debut you read?

Pivot Point by Kasie West

24. Most vivid world/imagery in a book you read in 2013?

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

25. Book That Was The Most Fun To Read in 2013?

Sleigh Bells in the Snow by Sarah Morgan
It was such a cute and fun Christmas read!

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2013?

Eleanor and Park and The Darkest Minds.
Both endings left me a sobbing mess for fairly different reasons. 

27. Book You Read in 2013 That You Think Got Overlooked This Year Or When It Came Out?

I could be COMPLETELY off with this one...but I feel like The Darkest Minds did get talked about enough. But then I got look at its ratings and it has a lot.
Pivot Point is another one. I'm really surprised it doesn't have more ratings. It was just so phenomenal.

 Book Blogging/Reading Life 2013

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2013? 

Sadly, I wasn't blogging or reading many blogs this year so I don't really remember many that I found. I'll go through my list and see if any jump out at me then update this one.

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2013? 

PIVOT POINT BY KASIE WEST.
Which was really one of my only reviews of 2013...I was such a bad blogger this past year.

3. Best discussion you had on your blog?

A couple of my Top Ten Tuesdays had some good discussions going on in the comments. It was definitely nice to get people's input on certain books.

4. Most thought-provoking review or discussion you read on somebody else’s blog?

I absolutely loved Jamie's If We Were Having Coffee...

I want to do more posts like that on my blog this year. It was perfect.

5. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?

 Austin Teen Book Festival and Broke and Bookish Secret Santa.
I've done both since I started blogging and they are both just soo much fun!

6. Best moment of book blogging/your book life in 2013?

I loved meeting Sarah Dessen at ATBF and I got to see Jenny Han again and get the last book in The Summer Trilogy signed. So that's now all complete and wonderful.

7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?

My Top Ten Winter 2014 Books I'm Dying To Read was definitely the most popular, but only because the wonderful authors I put on that list retweeted it like crazy. Authors are such lovely people :)

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

Honestly I can't say any of them. I was so disconnected from my blog this year that I understand completely why not many posts other than my Top Ten Tuesday's got love. Next year I'll be back at posting more things though!

9. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

 Tumblr....I'm way late to the Tumblr party...but all the bookish fandoms are great!
And websites that have bookish designs or will let you create your own bookish designs for like shirts and stuff. I like wearing the books I love.

10.  Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?

Nope. Other than just about finishing my Goodreads challenge (which I had to lower 3 times) I didn't finish any. On to next year!

LOOKING AHEAD!

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2013 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2014?

 Insurgent and Allegiant. The 5th Wave. Shatter Me. Never Fade. The Evolution of Mara Dyer...and a few more. There will be a lot of reading done in 2014.

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2014 (non-debut)?

ISLA AND THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER by Stephanie Perkins!!
And SPLIT SECOND by Kasie West

3. 2014 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

Salvage by Alexandra Duncan
Space books make me pretty happy.

 4. Series Ending You Are Most Anticipating in 2014?

Mara Dyer. I feel like that one is gonna hurt.

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging In 2014?

To get back on the blogging horse. Not freak out or spaz when I don't get to post, but at least post more regularly. And actually do some reviews. And read more books off my personal shelves. And read more than 50 books.

By New Year's Eve or day I'll have a post written up of my 2014 goals and challenges that I'll be participating in, so check back for that!
Hope y'all had a wonderful 2013 and that 2014 will be even more wonderful!!

Top Ten 2014 Winter Titles I'm Dying To Read!

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



Okay, so the original subject this week was supposed to be 2014 titles we're dying to read...but I haven't barely even gotten into Spring titles that are releasing so I just decided to go with Winter titles that I would sell my kidney on the black market to be able to get my hands on and read now.



SPLIT SECOND BY KASIE WEST (Pivot Point #2)
Release Date: February 11th 2014
If you have not yet read PIVOT POINT I'd really rather you not talk to me anymore (just kidding...kind of). But seriously, I've been jonesing for this book since before I even finished the first. The first book had me hooked after only a few pages and I NEED to find out what happens next. Like, right now.


SALVAGE BY ALEXANDRA DUNCAN
Release Date: April 1st 2014
SPACE BOOK YES!
And that cover just begs to be added to my shelf.


ELUSION BY CLAUDIA GABEL & CHERYL KLAM
Release Date: March 18th 2014
Another cover that just screams to get this book. I love these kinds of books though. Virtual type worlds gone wrong. It's got to be a winner and I've got to have it.


GREAT BY SARA BENINCASA
Release Date: April 8th 2014
A modern-retelling of The Great Gatsby. Now...I have a confession: I have not actually read The Great Gatsby. I have started it...4 different times...but it never kept my attention. I WILL CONCUR IT ONE DAY. Hopefully before this one if released.


NO ONE ELSE CAN HAVE YOU BY KATHLEEN HALE
Release Date: January 7th 2014
 The moment I saw this cover I knew I had to have this book. It is such a nice change from all the pretty girls in pretty dresses that have been gracing YA covers so frequently. And colour me morbid, but I love the moose being hanged. I actually giggled when I first saw it, which after I found out the book was supposed to be funny it made me feel less weird about laughing at it.


TSARINA BY J. NELLE PATRICK, JACKSON PIERCE
Release Date: TBA, last I saw it was Feb 2014.
Russia. I love Russia. Most of my page views are actually from there and that makes me incredibly happy. Hello Russian readers!
So yeah, bring on this awesomeness.


ASK AGAIN LATER BY LIZ CZUKAS
Release Date: March 1st 2014
Two dates to one prom. And Heart's coin toss lets her live out both dates. This one just sounds so cute and fun. With some of the heavier subject books I have picked out to read in the first few months of the year I'm going to need something fun to look forward too.


ALL THAT GLOWS BY RYAN GRAUDIN
Release Date: February 11th 2014
Fae, London, banshees, love. Gimme.


FAKE ID BY LAMAR GILES
Release Date: January 21st 2014
Witness Protection Program. Count me in.


SEA OF SHADOWS BY KELLEY ARMSTRONG
Release Date: April 8th 2014
This just sounds intense and epic.

So fellow book lovers, what books are you looking forward to in 2014?!

Ten Things I Am Thankful For.

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

Thanksgiving is truly on of my favorite times. 

I try to remember all year that I am incredibly blessed but sometimes real life becomes overbearing and I get caught up in that and forget to see that wonderful things I have. So it's nice to have a time of year dedicated to thankfulness.

My list of things I am thankful for is really endless.

Sometimes I forget that I have so much, but I've been trying to get better at that.
I even have a blessings jar on my bookshelf, so whenever I start complaining about petty things or forget to be grateful I think of a blessing, write it on a post it note and put it in the jar. That jar has filled up quickly.

#1- My Family.

I'm thankful that my mom and dad had me. I'm kinda partial to being alive and such.

And I'm thankful for my older brother. Without him I wouldn't have had anyone to blame things one while growing up.

#2- My Best Friends.

They've seen me at my best, they've seen me at my worst. They still love me even when I crack terrible jokes or sing a little too loud and too off key. They get my pop-culture and fandom references. They are pretty much keepers.

#3- My Church Family. 

More people that put up with my weirdness and still love me.

Thanks, y'all :)

#4- My Job.

Even though I work in customer service and people drive me crazy sometimes 

with all of their demands and complaints and how everything isn't

just how they want it,

I am incredibly thankful that I at least have a job.

A lot of customers aren't so bad and I have met some wonderful friends at my job.

Friends (and even one or two that turned out to be more than friends) that have changed my life

in one way or another.

But just so everyone is clear on this, the customer is NOT always right.

#5- Bookshops.

Forever making me a happy girl and constantly feeding my addiction.

Always opening doors to new worlds.

There's not a town in the world I can go to without seeking out a bookshop.

        

#6- Coffee Dates with my best friend.

Seriously, our Starbucks dates are some of my favorite times.

We have sat there for hours talking about everything. She lets me go on and on about the boy I like, she tells me about the horse she wants, we complain, we laugh, we talk about traveling, concerts we want to see. It's perfect.

I look forward to every single one of them.

#7- Writing.

Writing is one of my most favorite things and I am so thankful that so many people in my life

are so encouraging of my dream to write.

And though I doubt my ability and talent sometimes I know it's what I want to do.

#8- Change.

As scary as it is sometimes, change is really a beautiful thing.

And I am thankful for it because without it I would still be where I was a couple years ago, and that was a terrible                                            place that no one should ever have to be.

    

#9- Netflix.

Colour me shallow, but I really am thankful for the invention of Netflix.

Whoever thought it up gets a cyber highfive.

#10- You!

My reading friend and blogging buddy.

Whether you are a new reader of this blog or if you've been with me since the beginning,

I am thankful for you.

You help make my blog possible and that makes you wonderful :)

Well guys, I hope everyone has an incredible Thanksgiving.

And if you don't celebrate it, I still hope you have a wonderful day and just remember to take some time to remember all the ways that you are blessed.

Happy reading, y'all!

Top Ten Sequels I Can't Wait To Get My Hands On

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovelies over at The Broke and The Bookish.
I tend to read mostly series. I love them. I fall in love with characters and their worlds...their lives. I love series so I can stay with those stories and characters. But sequels also scare me. I get nervous that they won't be as good as the first or that something will happen to my beloved characters. So there are a lot of sequels I cannot wait to get my hands on because I rarely buy them. Hopefully one day I'll suck it up and start getting them.
Some of these sequels are in fact out, I just have yet to get them. 

Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken (The Darkest Minds #2)

-Already Released-

I have some serious love for The Darkest Minds. It was one of my favorites books of last year. And that cliffhanger! Ughhh! I really want to find out what happens next...yet I don't want to.

Split Second by Kasie West (Pivot Point #2)

-February 11th 2014-

Pivot Point was brilliant. 

I def cannot wait to get the sequel.

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo (The Grisha #2)

-Already Released-

I was really behind when it came to reading Shadow and Bone since I just read that like a month or so ago. But I loved it and really cannot wait to see where this story goes.

FEVER #9!! by Karen Marie Moning

-Not Releasing Until 2016-

I love love LOVE the Fever series. It is definitely not for everyone as it is an adult urban fantasy romance series. I wasn't too sure about it...especially during the first book. Mac annoyed me. But I kept at it and she grew so much throughout the series so I really ended up enjoying it.

And BARRONS! I cannot wait til 2016 so I can have more Barrons in my life!

I still need to read the Dani O'Malley books in the series though.

Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins (Anna and the French Kiss #3)

-Releasing May 13th 2014-

I wasn't the biggest fan of Lola and the Boy Next Door (though I did enjoy it enough), but I LOVED Anna and the French Kiss. So I cannot wait for the 3rd book.

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa(The Iron Fey #4)
-Released October 26th 2011-

The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa(The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten)
-Released October 23 2012-

The Iron Fey series is one of my favorites. Ash is my boy!
I have not yet read the Iron Knight so that means I also haven't gotten around to the new Iron Fey series. This is a world that I want to get back into soon though.

Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Lux #2)

-Released August 14 2012-

I was only so so about Obsidian when I read it, and I had started Onyx but had to take it back to the library before I got to finish it.

Since I was meh about the first one I wasn't sure that I was going to continue on with the series, but Onyx was keeping my attention and I've heard the series just keeps getting better. So when I have time to get it from the library again, I will be giving this one another shot because I do want to know what happens.

Lover Revealed by J. R. Ward (Black Dagger Brotherhood #4)

-Released February 11 2011-

This is another adult urban fantasy romance series that I love. The guys in the Black Dagger Brotherhood are intense and I love reading each of their stories. Cannot wait to pick up book number 4 and see what happens next!

Night Prince #3 by Jeaniene Frost

-No release date yet-

Vlad caught my attention in Once Burned and I'm in the middle of Twice Tempted right now so I'm definitely looking forward to the 3rd book. Especially since it was a surprise because everyone thought there was just going to be two books.

So fellow books lovers, what sequels are you looking forward to?

Top Ten Creepiest Book Covers

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

Halloween, I love it. I adore all things scary. Certain things freak me out and I love that feeling of fear in my stomach. So, along with scary movies I love scary books. This weeks Top Ten Tuesday is what are the ten book covers that freak us out.
These are in no particular order.

The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

I still haven't read this book yet, but the cover is still creepy. 

It's very reminiscent of a few of my favorite horror movies all rolled into one. 

The unease that the surgical instruments above a baby carriage leaves me with is great.

Cujo by Stephen King
Those teeth *shivers*

Sleepless by Thomas Fahy

I tried reading this one a while ago and couldn't get into it...but I really want to like it because that cover creeps me out. Bleeding eyes. Eek.

Miss Peregrine #1 & #2

By Ransom Riggs

I love the old photographs used for the covers. 

Both of these are creepy and I like 'em!

The Metamorphosis 

by Franz Kafka

Seriously, you guys...The Metamorphosis has some of the weirdest and creepiest covers...ever.

The Raft by S.A.Bodeen

This isn't in your face creepy or scary. But just look at it and think about it for a minute. The title is THE RAFT...and she's obviously in the ocean...alone. That's scary, alright?

Joyland by Stephen King

Love love love this cover sooo much. The idea of something written by Stephen King happening at an amusement park is just too perfect. No joke. I think more scary stories should take place in carnivals, circus', and amusement parks. They just seem like the best setting. 

She looks terrified, it's dark, that tagline...and Stephen Kings name is on it...you know it's creepy already.

I had about 8 other covers I could have put here, but these are my favorite so I thought I'd be a minimalist this week.

So tell me fellow book lovers, what are your favorite creepy and scary book covers?

If you did a TTT leave a link in the comments and I'll go check it out!

3 Years and a Thank You.

Just a little over 3 years ago now I started this blog. It was created on a sort of planned whim which, I know, that's an oxymoron, so let me explain a little.
In October of 2009 I got married to a military man and moved away from my home and family for the first time. I didn't know anyone in the city we moved to and I wasn't working...so I had a lot of time on my hands. So I read. Reading had always been something that I loved and I was thrilled for a while to have time to read whatever I wanted. Since I wasn't working and couldn't go to school I decided to start looking into what I could do from home and reviewing books was something that came up. Looking further into it one helpful hint that I found regarding breaking into the reviewing world was to set up a book blog to garner a following and credibility. Never having heard of book blogs before I googled that and the first blog I came across was The Story Siren. To me, Kristi was fantastic and I wanted to be like her. She was talking about books and authors and all kinds of cool stuff and people were commenting and talking about books with her and it was amazing!
For months I scoured other blogs to see how they were run, what were popular posts, what posting style I liked, etc. Then when I felt a bit more confident, I decided to launch my own blog in August of 2010.
The welcome was incredible. I started gaining followers, getting comments, partaking in memes, and met some all around great people. Y'all don't know how much I've actually needed everyone over these past 3 years.
This blog has seen me through times when my life and marriage were falling apart to times when I've had to pick up the pieces and start over again. It has been a crazy couple of years, but books and my bookish friends have been my constant. You all are amazing. Not many people in my life understand what I went through with my ex, but somehow my bookish friends, without even fully knowing my circumstances, always seemed to know the right book to suggest that would help me push through whatever I was feeling. Y'all helped make me stronger.

I forgot about my 3 year blogoversary so I don't have some big giveaway planned, or a party post, or anything like that. Hopefully next year for the big 4 I'll be better at remembering and will plan something awesome.
This post is really just to say thank you.
Thank you to my followers that have continued to hang around even though I have been incredibly inconsistent during the past year. Thank you to my blogger friends who continue to email, tweet, and comment to check up with me. Thank you to the publishers that have kept contact with me and continue to send me review books despite my inconsistency in posting or my tardy emails.
Every single one of you are amazing. Y'all will never know how much each and every tweet, comment, and email means to me and how much they remind and encourage my love for literature, reading, and writing.
Y'all are amazing.

30 Day Book Challenge-Day 19

So I've been MIA for a little while. Mostly I was just taking a break from blogging because after almost 3 years it had started to feel like a chore and that is not how I wanted to look at it all. Now I finally feel ready to start posting again. And what better way to start the habit of posting regularly again than doing a 30 day challenge. So for 30 days in August I'll be posting daily for the challenge, and on August 31st I'll post a surprise!
Now, just to put this out there right now, I reserve the right to cheat on this challenge. Cheat as in if it asks for one favorite book...I might put two...or 5.
Let the challenge begin!

A FAVORITE BOOK TURNED INTO MOVIE

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis

Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien

Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

COMING SOON:

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Divergent by Veronica Roth