Best Books of 2013

Hey guys!

So 2013 was a year of awesome books.
I didn't get to read that many books,
but here are a few that I read and absolutely loved!

1. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi -I love Mafi's writing, it's so insanely good. I enjoyed reading Shatter Me so very much, and I'm dying to get my hands on Ignite me!

2. Crash Into You by Katie McGarry - I really enjoyed the other two books in the 'Pushing the Limit's' series, but Crash Into You was definitely my favorite of the three. I looooove Isaiah, and I adore his story. <3<3<3

3. Divergent by Veronica Roth - I was a little late getting on the Divergent bandwagon, but I read all three books this year, and really enjoyed the series. I actually enjoyed the first book the most, that's why it's on this list!

4. Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare - I was both excited and anxious to start this book. Of course I wanted to read it, but I really didn't want the series to end! GAH! I thought it made for a really good ending, however.

5. Goddess by Josephine Angelini - I adore Josephine Angelini, and I love her 'Starcrossed' series. If you haven't read it yet, you definitely should! It's so great. I can't wait to see what Angelini has in store for us with her next series, it sounds amazing too!

6. Walking Disaster by Jamie McGuire - Sooooo, I love this series, even though I do have issues with it. Reading Walking Disaster made me love Travis even more than I did in Beautiful Disaster. Great book!

7. Pawn by Aimee Carter - I was SO very excited to start Aimee Carter's newest series. I love her 'Goddess Test' series, so I knew that Pawn would be great. It definitely did not disappoint!

8. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - Yet another book where I was late on the bandwagon. The Fault in Our Stars. This was my very first John Green book, but it definitely won't be the last. I loved this book so much, and I totally see why everyone else loved it as well.

9. These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner - I requested this book because so many people had raved about the story. I am SO glad that I did decide to pick it up! This book was awesome, a definite must read!

10. The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa - I love Julie Kagawa. All of her books are amazing. This book ended with a MAJOR twist, and now I'm dying to get my hands on the third book. Hopefully soon!

11. Breathe by Sarah Crossan - This book had been on my to-read list for a while, and I finally decided to read it and it's sequel. More people need to read this book! It was beyond great. Check it out!

12. Eleanore & Park by Rainbow Rowell - I just recent read and loved this book. I was excited to finally read it, as I had heard nothing but good things about the book. It made for a really great read!


That's my list of Best Books of 2013!
Now, bring on the awesome reads of 2014!

Happy Reading!

Wishing you a Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, everyone!

May your heart and home be filled with much love and the joyful spirit of the holidays.

Much Love,

Christy

And remember...

Merry Christmas!

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Bringing Me

December 24:
Top Ten Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Bringing Me

1. Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis - I've recently heard some really, really, really great things about this book! It sounds like it will be an awesome read. I want, I want!

2. Through the Zombie Glass by Gena Showalter - I read the first book in this series not too long ago, and now I'm dying to get my hands on the second book. This series is SO good. I would love to have both books in the series!

3. Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne - I've had my eye on this book for a while now, and I'm dying to add it to my collection! (And the second books as well!

4. Partials by Dan Wells - This is the first book in the series and I've really wanted to read the series for a while now. It sounds really great. There are three books now, and I want them all! :)

5. Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson - I'm sooooooo very excited for this book. I would LOVE it if Santa would bring it to me. I'll be reading it next year with my book club ladies, and I can't freaking wait to start it!

6. I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga - This is another book that I have heard many great things about. My book club ladies recommended it to my as well, and I'm super curious to check it out now!

7. Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce - I keep meaning to buy this series, and I always put it off for some reason or another. I love fairytale books, and I would love to have this!

8. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles - So I got a little taste of Elkeles writing earlier this year when I read Wild Cards. Now I'm dying to get my hands on her Perfect Chemistry series! I've heard nothing but good things. I want this on my shelf!

9. Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout - I am SUPER curious about this book! Everyone is giving it rave reviews. It now has more books in the series than I can remember, so I need them all to read! :)

10. The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey - Am I the only person in the world that hasn't read this book yet? I've been wanting to read it for a while now, and almost snagged it at the library recently. I'd love to add it to my collection!

So for this weeks Top Ten Tuesday,
I wanted to choose books that have already been released.
It would be kind of hard for Santa to bring a book that hasn't been released, right?

:wink:

These are just a few books that I would really love to have.
:)

What's on your Top Ten list this week?

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish!

Review: Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover

Losing Hope
(Hopeless, #2)
by Colleen Hoover
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Publication Date: October 8th 2013
Publisher: Atria Books
Pages: 321
ISBN: 9781476746555
Genre: New Adult | Contemporary
Source: Netgalley

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

In the follow-up to Colleen Hoover’s #1 New York Times bestseller Hopeless, the charming and irresistible Dean Holder tells the passionate story that has melted thousands of hearts.

In Hopeless, Sky left no secret unearthed, no feeling unshared, and no memory forgotten, but Holder’s past remained a mystery.

Still haunted by the little girl he let walk away, Holder has spent his entire life searching for her in an attempt to finally rid himself of the crushing guilt he has felt for years. But he could not have anticipated that the moment they reconnect, even greater remorse would overwhelm him…

Sometimes in life, if we wish to move forward, we must first dig deep into our past and make amends. In Losing Hope, bestselling author Colleen Hoover reveals what was going on inside Holder’s head during all those hopeless moments—and whether he can gain the peace he desperately needs. (Goodreads)

Losing Hope is the second novel that I have read, and thoroughly enjoyed, but Colleen Hoover. I read Hopeless a few weeks ago, and really loved the story. I loved reading Losing Hope through Holder’s eyes. It was so different than what I actually expected, but I loved every minute of it.

Dean Holder is such an amazingly complex character. He is filled with so many emotions and with so, so much guilt. For so long he lived with the guilt for the loss of his best childhood friend, and then even more with the loss of his twin sister. I felt his pain in so many ways. Then he meets Sky, and his world completely changes. I love how he felt for Sky, it was so insanely sweet, even at the times he was acting completely insane. It was interesting reading the book from Holder’s point of view, because I often wondered why he did some of the things that he did in Hopeless. Now that I know his story, I love him even more.

Losing Hope follows the same storyline as what is in Hopeless. So we already know what is going to happen. But Hoover still managed to take the same story and add in so much more new information, so that it kept me completely hooked. To be honest, I was really worried about reading this book and it being the exact same story as in the first book, but it wasn’t. Yes, there was some repetition, but not nearly as much as I expected.  And I love all the new stuff that we didn’t get to see in the first book.

Overall; I loved the story in Losing Hope just as much as I did for Hopeless. It was so great seeing Holder’s point of view, because I really loved him since I first met him in Hopeless. This series is really great. If you are a fan of New Adult Contemporary, and you haven’t checked this series out yet, I definitely recommend that you do. These books are totally worth the read. And now I can’t wait to read more from this talented author!

Happy Reading!


Books in this Series:



Hopeless   |   Losing Hope

Waiting on Wednesday #129 - Open Road Summer & What I Thought Was True

What I Thought Was True
by Huntley Fitzpatrick
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: April 15th 2014
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780803739093



Available for Pre-Order: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

From the author of My Life Next Door comes a swoony summertime romance full of expectation and regret, humor and hard questions.
Gwen Castle's Biggest Mistake Ever, Cassidy Somers, is slumming it as a yard boy on her Nantucket-esque island this summer. He's a rich kid from across the bridge in Stony Bay, and she hails from a family of fishermen and housecleaners who keep the island's summer people happy. Gwen worries a life of cleaning houses will be her fate too, but just when it looks like she'll never escape her past—or the island—Gwen's dad gives her some shocking advice. Sparks fly and secret histories unspool as Gwen spends a gorgeous, restless summer struggling to resolve what she thought was true—about the place she lives, the people she loves, and even herself—with what really is.

A magnetic, push-me-pull-me romance with depth, this is for fans of Sarah Dessen, Jenny Han, and Deb Caletti. (Goodreads)

Open Road Summer
by Emery Lord
Website | Twitter | Tumblr

Publication Date: April 15th 2014
Publisher: Walker Children's Books
ISBN: 9780802736109



Available for Pre-Order: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

After breaking up with her bad-news boyfriend, Reagan O’Neill is ready to leave her rebellious ways behind. . . and her best friend, country superstar Lilah Montgomery, is nursing a broken heart of her own. Fortunately, Lilah’s 24-city tour is about to kick off, offering a perfect opportunity for a girls-only summer of break-up ballads and healing hearts. But when Matt Finch joins the tour as its opening act, his boy-next-door charm proves difficult for Reagan to resist, despite her vow to live a drama-free existence. This summer, Reagan and Lilah will navigate the ups and downs of fame and friendship as they come to see that giving your heart to the right person is always a risk worth taking. A fresh new voice in contemporary romance, Emery Lord’s gorgeous writing hits all the right notes.

“A fabulously entertaining story of friendship, healing, and love. Filled with laughter, heart, and a side of sass, this rock star debut will have you cheering for an encore!”—Elizabeth Eulberg, author of Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality. (Goodreads)

First off-- Both of the these books have AMAZING covers!
Just saying...
And the stories sound fantastic as well.
I'm really looking forward to checking both of these books out!

What are you Waiting for this week???

**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**

Top Ten Tuesday: New-To-Me Authors from 2013

December 17:
Top Ten New-To-Me Authors I Read In 2013

1. John Green (The Fault in Our Stars) - Ok, so I definitely got a late start on this bandwagon. But I am SO glad that I finally read this book. Now I'm dying to read more!

2. Veronica Roth (Divergent) - Yet another bandwagon that I stumble upon late... I started the Divergent series earlier this year, and really enjoyed reading it.

3. Simone Elkeles (Wild Cards) - Can you believe it? I had never read a Simone Elkeles' book until this year. Now that I've read the beginning of the Wild Cards series, I'm dying to get my hands on the Perfect Chemistry series!

4. Colleen Hoover (Hopeless) - I'd seen SO many good reviews about this author, I just had to check her books out. I'm SO glad I did. Hopeless was a great read, and now I'm reading Losing Hope, which I am really loving as well.

5. Gena Showalter (Alice in Zombieland) - Yet another author that everyone seems to love, but that I had never read. After reading Alice in Zombieland, I'm ready for more! I may check out her adult series as well.

6. Sarah Crossan (Breathe) - I read both books in Sarah's series earlier this year and really loved her creative storyline. I'm looking forward to seeing what she comes up with next.

7. J.A. Redmerski (The Edge of Never) - I read the first book in this series earlier this year as well, and fell in love with the story. She had SO many books, I need to read more!

8. Courtney Summers (This Is Not A Test) - I literally kicked myself when I finished reading this book for not reading it sooner! Excellent author!

9. Trish Doller (Where the Stars Still Shine) - I really, really, really enjoyed this book! Doller has such a great voice in her books. I can't wait to read Something Like Normal!

10. Cristin Terrill (All Our Yesterdays) - Ok, I literally just discovered this author last week. I really enjoyed reading her time travel book, it was so creatively unique. I'm anxious to see what she has in store for us next!

What's on your Top Ten list this week?

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish!

Review: All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill

All Our Yesterdays
(All Our Yesterdays, #1)
by Cristin Terrill
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: September 3rd 2013
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Pages: 368
ISBN: 9781423176374
Genre: Young Adult | Time Travel
Source: Netgalley

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

"You have to kill him." Imprisoned in the heart of a secret military base, Em has nothing except the voice of the boy in the cell next door and the list of instructions she finds taped inside the drain.

Only Em can complete the final instruction. She’s tried everything to prevent the creation of a time machine that will tear the world apart. She holds the proof: a list she has never seen before, written in her own hand. Each failed attempt in the past has led her to the same terrible present—imprisoned and tortured by a sadistic man called the doctor while war rages outside.

Marina has loved her best friend James since the day he moved next door when they were children. A gorgeous, introverted science prodigy from one of America’s most famous families, James finally seems to be seeing Marina in a new way, too. But on one disastrous night, James’s life crumbles apart, and with it, Marina’s hopes for their future. Now someone is trying to kill him. Marina will protect James, no matter what. Even if it means opening her eyes to a truth so terrible that she may not survive it. At least not as the girl she once was.

All Our Yesterdays is a wrenching, brilliantly plotted story of fierce love, unthinkable sacrifice, and the infinite implications of our every choice. (Goodreads)

I haven’t read many time travel books, but All Our Yesterdays is definitely one of the better ones that I have read. I was a little worried when I started reading the book that it wouldn’t live up to all the hype that I have seen about it. But it did. I found the book to be a very addictive read.

The characters in the story were all very well written, especially in the way that we get to see two completely different versions of each character -- the people that they started out as, and the hardened characters that they had become in such a very short amount of time. 

 The story was told through past and present versions of Marina, and her future self, Em. I thought this was really creative way to read the story, because even though it was from the same person, if felt like it was coming from two completely different people. In a way, I guess that it was.

The time travel aspect of the book was definitely interesting. As I mentioned before, I’ve only read a few time travel books in my time. This one definitely manages to stand out from the rest, not only with the plot, but also with the dystopian type future that the story starts out in. Add in the interesting characters, this really made for a fascinating read.

I was really surprised after reading the ending of the book to see that there is going to be a sequel in the future. I thought the book closed off very nicely, but I’m curious to see how the author is going to work another story around the ending of this book. I guess since the story is related to time travel, it would be possible.

Overall; this book definitely had me intrigued, and I enjoyed reading it. I don’t have much to compare it to, but it’s definitely one of the best books I’ve read that have dealt with time travel. Have you read the book? What did you think about it?

Happy Reading!




Also check out:
ALL OUR YESTERDAYS – THE WEBISODES

Merry Christmas Giveaway Part 2: A Kobo Aura e-Reader

Hey guys!

Welcome to Part 2 of my
Merry Christmas Giveaway!

Today I'm giving away a Kobo Aura e-Reader!

The wonderful people at Kobo sent me this e-Reader back in
September for me to review on the blog.
I tested it briefly for the review, and then put it back in the box and set
it aside to giveaway to one of my lucky readers for Christmas!

(I already have the Kobo Aura HD. Sharing the love!)

So now it's your chance to have this awesome little device!

As I mentioned before, this was taken out of the box so that it could be reviewed,
but it has since been sitting on my shelf, waiting for someone to love it. :)

Would you like to have this Kobo??

What are you waiting for then?

GO! Enter & Win!

Good luck!

Giveaway Rules:

US/Canada Entries Only
Must be 13 or older to enter

Giveaway Ends: December 30th

Winner will be contacted via email,
and will have 48 hours to respond.
A new winner will be chosen if no response is given.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Merry Christmas Giveaway Part 1: A 2013 Favorite Read!

Hey guys!

Today I'm starting Part 1 of my
Merry Christmas Giveaway!
(This will be a Two part event.)

So to begin this giveaway...

I read some really great books this year!
and now I want to share one of these awesome books with you.

One lucky reader will win one of the books on the list below.
Check them out!

Giveaway Rules:

Open to US & International

Must be 13 or older to enter

ONE (1) person will win ONE (1) of the books listed above.

Giveaway Ends: December 30th.

Winner will be contacted via email,

and will have 48 hours to respond.

A new winner will be chosen if no response is given.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Be sure to check back tomorrow for Part 2 of this event!
I'll be giving away something really special!

Waiting on Wednesday #128 - The Vanishing Season & Forget Me

The Vanishing Season
by Jodi Lynn Anderson
Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: July 1st 2014
Publisher: HarperTeen
ISBN: 9780062003270

Available for Pre-Order: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Girls started vanishing in the fall, and now winter's come to lay a white sheet over the horror. Door County, it seems, is swallowing the young, right into its very dirt. From beneath the house on Water Street, I've watched the danger swell.

The residents know me as the noises in the house at night, the creaking on the stairs. I'm the reflection behind them in the glass, the feeling of fear in the cellar. I'm tied—it seems—to this house, this street, this town.

I'm tied to Maggie and Pauline, though I don't know why. I think it's because death is coming for one of them, or both.

All I know is that the present and the past are piling up, and I am here to dig.I am looking for the things that are buried.

From bestselling author Jodi Lynn Anderson comes a friendship story bound in snow and starlight, a haunting mystery of love, betrayal, redemption, and the moments that we leave behind. (Goodreads)

Forget Me
by K.A. Harrington
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: August 14th 2014
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
ISBN: 9780399165290

Available for Pre-Order: Amazon

Two names. One face. A dangerous secret exposed.

Morgan never minded her boyfriend Flynn’s dark and private nature. She found it mysterious and alluring. But now he’s dead, and she can’t move forward. On the three-month anniversary of Flynn’s death, Morgan uploads her only photo of him to the social media site FriendShare to get some closure, but she’s shocked when the facial recognition software suggests she tag him as Evan Murphy. She’s never heard of Evan, but a quick search tells her that he lives in a nearby town and looks exactly like Flynn. Same eyes, nose, jawline. Only this boy is very much alive.

Digging through layers of secrets, Morgan questions everything she thought she knew about her town, her boyfriend, and even her parents’ involvement in this massive web of lies.  K. A. Harrington’s superb plotting and breakneck pacing will keep readers turning each tension-filled page in a race to the stunning conclusion. (Goodreads)

Do both of these books sound great, or what?
I've been wanting to read something by Jodi Lynn Anderson for a while now,
I've heard nothing but good things about her book Tiger Lily.

I absolutely love Kim Harrington, so I'm sure Forget Me is going to be awesome.
I can't wait to check it out!

What are you Waiting for this week???

**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**