Top Ten Favorite Books from the Past 3{ish} Years

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

Let's see how close I can keep this list to ten.

Probably not though.

And I'm going to cheat (because it's my blog and I'll do what I want too) and put series as 'one' favorite.

My definition of favorite for these particular books will be books I've taken the time to read multiple times, or would read multiple times.

1.

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

This book just makes me ridiculously happy (regardless of the ending).

Chris McCandless is my spirit animal and he was wild and free. 

I envy him and admit to emulating some of his ideals for living and adventuring.

2.

The Fault in our Stars by John Green

I've read TFioS at least once a year since it was released and I still bawl like a baby. 

It is a story I will never get tired of reading.

3.

The Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning

This was the series that introduced me to Urban Fantasy, and it contains Jericho Barrons, so it holds a special place in my readers heart.

4.

The Summer Series by Jenny Han

If you haven't read these books, do yourself a favor and pick them up over the summer.

They are so very, very wonderful.

5.

Pivot Point by Kasie West

The flipping of perspectives and the story telling in this book is incredible and I hope to be able to read it again soon.

6.

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

This was such a great contemp.

The cover makes it look a little cheesy but the story is much more complex.

It's at the top of my favorite YA contemps list.

7.

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

I hate this book.

I love this book.

I'm scared to read the other two.

8.

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

SPACE.

9.

The Iron Fey by Julie Kagawa

Such wonderful storytelling.

This is without a doubt my favorite fey series.

10.

Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld

Uglies was my very first dystopian series and I was hooked.

Hoverboards, secrets, The Wild, love. 

This will always remain a favorite.

11.

Gemma Doyle Trilogy by Libba Bray

This was probably one of my first fantasy series (other than like Lord of the Rings).

A fantasy that takes place in a boarding school, the descriptions, it's just wonderful.

12.

My Blood Approves Series by Amanda Hocking

My Blood Approves was my first indie book I bought on my Kindle.

I'd also had just made a twitter account around the same time I read this series so Amanda Hocking was the first author I'd ever talked to via social media and she was always so sweet to me, answered my questions, let me quote her in my blog, encouraged my writing, and sent me her novella to review very early because she knew how much I enjoyed the series (though she also knew I thoroughly disapproved at how she ended the story. I picked the other boy in the love triangle). It was just a great and encouraging experience.

So there ya have it. I was able to keep the list at 12 which is pretty good considering this list could've been much MUCH longer.

Any of these make your list? 

Top Ten Books I Can't Believe I Haven't Read Yet

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

This week's topic is the top books in genre X that I haven't read but can't wait to read.

I read everything. And I mean EVERYTHING.

On my shelf I have books that range from picture books to YA to Christian life application so picking just ONE genre out of all the books I want to read seems difficult. I mean, so does picking just 10 books that I can't believe I haven't read yet....but whatever. I'm just going to pick 10 random books I can't believe I haven't read but I am going to make a point to read in the next couple of months.

Raw Blue by Kirsty Eagar

One of the my friends Missy who used to be a book blogger had praised this book all over the internet. She said she hadn't ever read anything like it and was one of her all time favorites now. Unfortunately for me, this was an Australian release so I had no way to get my hands on it.

It is now finally available for Kindle, but I haven't bought it to read it yet, which I cannot believe. I coveted it for SOO long. Don't tattle on me to Missy though, please.

The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

The first book killed me. That friggin cliffhanger still haunts me. So you'd think since I've had this book for a long while now (since the day it released...) that I would have remedied that....yeah, no. I haven't. Mostly because I'm nervous of another cliffhanger of doom like the first one...and I just haven't gotten to it.

Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

Loved Under the Never Sky and I was so looking forward to continuing the story, just haven't done that yet.

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

I am actually just petrified to finish the last two books. With how everyone freaked out about the end of Allegiant I just get all nervous when I think about reading this one. But I want to read it before the next movie comes out so I'm gonna have to suck it up.

Heart of a Lioness by Irene Gleeson

Africa has a very special place in my heart. It always has and I've always tried to help missions that work in Africa, but it became even more embedded in my life when I went to Kenya last year. The things I saw and the people that I met in my short time there was life changing.

One of my good friends from my church suggested this book to me last Fall because her, her husband, and myself all share a deep passion for work in Kenya. She thought I would be inspired by this woman's story, so I just don't know how I haven't snagged it and read it yet.

The Wild Truth by Carine McCandless

If you asked me what my favorite book is the first one that would come to mind would probably be Into the Wild by John Krakauer. I love Chris McCandless' story. He inspires me in a lot of ways for my own life. 

I have been coveting his sister's story for a long while now. I had to even hold off from buying it because it was on my Christmas list. It was in fact a Christmas gift and I was soo excited! I've had it for almost two months now though and I haven't cracked open the cover...I'm sucha slacker.

Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

Anna and the French Kiss is one of my favorite YA books so this should've been a given to dive into as soon as I got it, which was the day it came out. Didn't happen.

If I Stay by Gayle Foreman

Meant to read this one before the movie came out...nope.

I'm hoping I can actually read it now since I've seen the movie.

Switched by Amanda Hocking

I really enjoy Amanda's stories. She was the first indie author I ever read and reviewed and talked to and she informed me of so many neat things when it came to indie publishing. My Blood Approves was such a different story for me but I really liked it so I thought I would have snagged her other series as soon as they happened. Well that was something that didn't happen.

The Boy Captives by Clinton L. Smith

This is about my family. I am actually related to The Boy Captives.

I'm a terrible descendant to have not read about my families history yet. 

What books are on your list this week? Any of the ones that I picked out?

Let me know in the comments!

2014 Releases That I Never Got To.

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

This week's topic was a freebie week so I chose to do the 10 2014 releases I meant to read...but the year kinda slipped by without me getting to.

Defy by Sara B. Larson

The Murder Complex by Lindsay Cummings

Of Scars and Stardust by Andrea Hannah

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

The Retribution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

(granted I haven't even gotten to the second book sooo....)

The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey

In a Handful of Dust by Mindy McGinnis

After the End by Amy Plum

Split Second by Kasie West

What books slid past you in 2014?

Top New Series I Want To Start

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

This week's Top Ten Topic is the top new series I want to start (new as in the past 2ish years).
This one was kind of hard, because there are A LOT of series that I want to start. Soo...there may be a couple more than just 10.

1.

Reckoners by Brandon Sanderson
This sounds a little bit like a twist on X-Men and Heroes, so I'm very intrigued.

2.

Belles by Jen Calonita
The Belles series sounds like Fresh Prince in the south and instead of a boy it's a girl.
I'm also from the south and a bit of a belle so I'm excited for a series that takes place in the south.

3.

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer
I've only seen great things about the Lunar Chronicles.

4.

The Archived by Victoria Schwab
I wasn't a huge fan of V's first novel The Near Witch. It was a good book, but I think it was just too slow for me and what I was in the mood for at the time. But I LOVED her writing style. It is beautiful so I'm really excited to give The Archived a try.

5.

Nantucket by Leila Howland
I love books that take me somewhere...and not just fantasylands. Nantucket just sounds like it could sweep me away to the Nantucket shores.

6.

PODs by Michelle Pickett
Post-apocalyptic. I love it already.

7.

Corpus by Jessica Khoury
I had the privilege of meeting Jessica Khoury and I got to hear her talk about her story and she just made it and her world building sound so incredible. And she was just such a sweet person it makes me even more excited to give this series a try.

8.

The Watersong Quartet by Amanda Hocking
I've adored Amanda Hocking since she first released the My Blood Approves series. I've seen her writing just develop over time and she just keeps getting better. The Watersong Quartet sounds like such an interesting series so I've been wanting to dive in (no pun intended...really) for a little while now.

9.

Legend by Marie Lu
I've only heard good things about the Legend series. And it's dystopian. I love dystopia.

10.

Bloodlines by Richelle Mead
Vampire Academy is one of my all time favorite series so I really want to get into Bloodlines soon.

11.

The Diviners by Libba Bray
The Roaring 20's. Superpowers. Murder. Libba Bray. Gimme!!

12.

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
Well for one Tahereh is a doll. I adore her. She's always so sweet to everyone. But I've heard she can be brutal in her writing style so that makes me ever MORE excited to start this series.

What series have you been wanting to start recently?

Top Ten Places Books Have Made Me Crave

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



I love this week's topic. Ten places that books have made me want to visit, real or not real.

1.


Hogwarts.
I really don't think this one needs an explanation.

2.


Neverland.
I have a bit of a Peter Pan complex, so I'd love to go visit Neverland...and the Mermaid's Cove.

3.


Narnia.
Who wouldn't want to be able to go through their wardrobe to a magical land that you end up ruling?

4.


The Shire.
There are many places in the world of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings that I'd love to see, but I mostly love the Shire. I'm an outdoorsy person, and I love the simple life. This looks like my kind of place. Sitting outside reading a book, gardening, living in a whole in the side of a hill.

5.


The Smoke.
Like I stated before, I'm an outdoors person. Being off the grid in The Smoke always sounded fun to me. And I really really really love the idea of having a hoverboard.

6.


Paris.
Paris seems like it would be a really grand adventure.

7.


Nevernever.
Fairies. I want to go visit the Fairies.

8.


Jedi Knight Academy.
Hook it up with a lightsaber!

9.


Spence Academy/The Realms.
Victorian boarding school and a magical world? Sounds like a good time.

10.


Forks, Washington.
Not even going to lie or try and hide it. I was one of the many that wanted to drop everything and go to Forks when Twilight was released. I'd read so much fantasy or historical fiction so this was really one of the first books that I read that I could actually go to the place that it was set and that was exciting. And honestly even now I wouldn't turn down a chance to drive there when I go to Washington.

Where what literary place would you love to travel to?