My 2013 Bookish Resolutions

This year was not a very good one for me in a bookish way, I missed out reading a lot of awesome books. Time just kept slipping by soooo fast. I don’t even want to mention how many books I actually read this year because it was not many at all. I didn’t even meet half of my goal, I’m so embarrassed! How can I even call myself a book blogger, shame shame!!!

So since I missed out on lots of great books this year I wanted to make up a list of bookish things I want to accomplish in 2013 and hopefully this time I’ll be able to meet all my goals.

• Read 100 Books in 2013- Even though I didn’t even get to read 50 books this year I WILL NOT make my goal less than 100, I’ve been able to meet it before and I can do it again.
• Catch Up on Series Books- I’ve been leaving my most favorite series books behind this year and some last year, I really need to finish Kiersten White’s Paranormalcy series, read Myra McEntire’s Timepiece, and Sophie Jordan’s Hidden. Also catch up on The Morganville Vampires Series, I’m like three books behind on that one.
• Read my very first Jane Austen book- Yup! You read it right, I’ve never read a novel by Jane Austen. My sister has been bugging me about this for years but honestly I’m intimidated by classics, they are just soooo freaking thick,, and the font is tiny so it’s like reading a 1,000 page book. Who has time for that? Anyways, Persuasion has been highly recommended so I’ll start with that one.
• Pick up something by Judy Blume – I feel like I missed out on some wonderful teenage experience because I never read Judy Blume when I was a teen, I spent most of my teenage years reading Stephen King. So I’m going to see what I missed out on. I’ll take recommendations for this one if you have a favorite Judy Blume book I should read.
• Go to more book events! – This last year sucked for me and book events, I think I only went to two. Ack! There were many but I just didn’t really try my hardest to make it to them and this year I will definitely try. I love book signings and getting to meet and hear my favorite authors in person and I DO NOT want to miss those experiences this year.

That’s it for me, I hope to be able to meet all these goals next year. I’ll definitely try my hardest and quit making so many excuses like having to sleep and all of that.. who needs sleep anyways when there are so many wonderful books to read?!!

So what are your bookish resolutions for next year?

Pin It

Cryer’s Cross by Lisa McMann

Cryer’s Cross by Lisa McMann

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Released on February 8, 2011

Buy it:

Amazon | Indiebound | B&N

Kendall loves her life in small town Cryer¹s Cross, Montana, but she also longs for something more. She knows the chances of going to school in New York are small, but she's not the type to give up easily. Even though it will mean leaving Nico, the world's sweetest boyfriend, behind.
But when Cryer's Cross is rocked by unspeakable tragedy, Kendall shoves her dreams aside and focuses on just one goal: help find her missing friends. Even if it means spending time with the one boy she shouldn't get close to... the one boy who makes her question everything she feels for Nico.
Determined to help and to stay true to the boy she's always loved, Kendall keeps up the search--and stumbles upon some frightening local history. She knows she can't stop digging, but Kendall is about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried....(from Simon & Schuster)

---

I’m a fan of Lisa McMann’s Wake trilogy, they were some of the first YA books I read and I loved that her writing is very easy to get lost in, it flows easily and you can read her books really fast, most in just one sitting. I was happy to see that it hadn’t changed in Cryer’s Cross. I finished this book in a day, Lisa McMann doesn’t waste a lot of time with useless details, her books get to the plot of the story right away, and Cryer’s Cross didn’t waste time getting to the creepy parts.

I liked that it takes place in a very small town, I really enjoy those type of settings since I always lived in a big city I often wondered what a small town life would feel like. Even though I can’t relate to the farmer type of life that Kendall lives, I understood her ambitions very well. Unfortunately all of that comes to an end when her classmates begin to disappear, something unheard of in the quiet and small town of Cryer’s Cross and it made me feel so bad for poor Kendall when her little world starts crumbling down.

In between the chapters on Cryer’s Cross there were these very creepy lines from another source in the novel that made the reader very curious to find out who they were and how they were taking these kids. Those little snippets between the chapters made the novel much more creepier and me wanting to know more about them. Like I said this was a very fast read but by the end I had mixed feelings about it, I liked it but didn’t love it. I was a bit disappointed to see that the ending wrapped up way too easy, the climax of the story only took about two pages in the book and it left me wanting to know more about these “ghosts”, if that’s what they were. I still enjoyed it and I’ll definitely read more by Lisa McMann, because even though I didn’t love the easy ending I enjoyed about 80% of the book and Lisa knows how to write some pretty engrossing thrillers.

Pin It

Waiting on Wednesday- Linked by Imogen Howson

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming books that we are eagerly anticipating.

Linked by Imogen Howson

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Release Date: June 11, 2013

Elissa used to have it all: looks, popularity, and a bright future. But for the last three years, she’s been struggling with terrifying visions, phantom pains, and mysterious bruises that appear out of nowhere.
Finally, she’s promised a cure: minor surgery to burn out the overactive area of her brain. But on the eve of the procedure, she discovers the shocking truth behind her hallucinations: she’s been seeing the world through another girl’s eyes.
Elissa follows her visions, and finds a battered, broken girl on the run. A girl—Lin—who looks exactly like Elissa, down to the matching bruises. The twin sister she never knew existed.
Now, Elissa and Lin are on the run from a government who will stop at nothing to reclaim Lin and protect the dangerous secrets she could expose—secrets that would shake the very foundation of their world.
Riveting, thought-provoking and utterly compelling, Linked will make you question what it really means to be human. (from Goodreads)

---

This one sounds very interesting to me, and that cover is just so eye catching, it’s one made me want to find out more about it and add it to my list.

Pin It

Top Ten Books I read in 2012!

Top Ten Tuesday is a list feature that was created by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week they give you a different question or topic where you can answer by listing your top ten choices.

This week’s topic is: Top Ten books I read in 2012! This has been a very lame year in reading for me. Not because I didn’t read anything good, of course not, but because I didn’t even meet half my goal in reading and missed out on a lot of books. It’s been a very busy year in other ways, personal wise, mainly due to the birth of my little Adam back in June. I plan to catch up on reading on all the awesomeness I missed this year. But for now, here are ten of my favorite books of the year that I was glad I had the opportunity to read in 2012:

The Book of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman- I loved the historical aspects in this story, I’m a sucker for those and this one was like a YA Da Vinci Code for me.

A Million Suns by Beth Revis – I had been eagerly waiting for this sequel since I read Across the Universe, I loved this series, it has everything I could ever want, mystery and romance perfectly woven with a dystopian feel to it that makes it hard to put down. I can’t wait to see how it all ends on the next one!

Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta – Only my second book by Melina Marchetta but I am already a fan, this woman can write beautiful contemporary novels that will bring out all kinds of emotions in you.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer- Couldn’t get enough of this one, it literally had me at the edge of my seat through most of it!

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green – My very first John Green novel and I found out what everyone had been talking about. This guy is amazing! One of the best books I’ve read, ever!

Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore – I had been waiting for this one for years and it did not disappoint. Kristin is one of the best at writing great engrossing fantasy with unforgettable characters.

Incarnate by Jodi Meadows- I really loved Incarnate, I don’t know if it was fantasy or dystopian but I loved the world and the concept in this novel. It was fascinating to me.

Looking for Alaska by John Green – I don’t know why I waited so long to read this one, it made me crazy emotional. John Green can really pull at your heartstrings with his beautiful writing.

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi – This was the year I fell back in love with dystopians, this one was one of the best and possibly the one that made me loved them again. Sooo freaking good!

Easy by Tammara Webber – I had been hearing so much about this novel and was pleased to find out that it really did live up to its hype. It was so addicting and had me with a huge smile on my face through most of it. Pin It

Easy by Tammara Webber

Easy by Tammara Webber

Published by Berkley

Released on November 6, 2012

Genre: New Adult

Buy it:

Amazon | Indiebound | B&N

Rescued by a stranger.

Haunted by a secret

Sometimes, love isn’t easy…

He watched her, but never knew her. Until thanks to a chance encounter, he became her savior…

The attraction between them was undeniable. Yet the past he’d worked so hard to overcome, and the future she’d put so much faith in, threatened to tear them apart.

Only together could they fight the pain and guilt, face the truth—and find the unexpected power of  love.
A groundbreaking novel in the New Adult genre, Easy faces one girl's struggle to regain the trust she's lost, find the inner strength to fight back against an attacker, and accept the peace she finds in the arms of a secretive boy.(from Penguin)

---

You guyyysssss!!! I cannot believe I didn’t get this book right when it came out, right after everyone started talking about it and all my friends were urging me to read it. I should’ve sacrificed my eyes (since I don’t have an eReader) and read it through the kindle app on my phone or pc. This was such a fast read, the book is only about 300 pages long and it felt like it went by in a flash. If I hadn’t had life getting in the way and interrupting my reading over and over again I would’ve read Easy in one sitting, probably in just a few hours. It’s that addicting!

I didn’t want to believe the hype, I thought that maybe it wouldn’t live up to everything that everyone kept raving about, of course I was proven wrong and I’m soo freaking glad I was. I loved this novel! As you might’ve read or heard before, this novel focuses on the heavy subject of rape and Tammara Webber wrote about it brilliantly in this novel that during those scenes you are feeling scared for this girl’s life, I got goosebumps and was freaking out when an almost rape happens at the beginning of the book. Now don’t get deterred from reading this novel because of that, it’s not all about rape and that’s not all that happens in this novel. Easy focuses on the growing relationship of Lucas and Jacqueline, that meet under really horrible circumstances but slowly become very close to each other, and let me tell you the romance in this novel WILL MELT YOU INTO A PUDDLE!! I love Lucas, he was broken and guilt stricken due to something that happened during his childhood and he was soo amazingly protective of Jacqueline but not in an possessive creepy way at all. He was swoon-worthy, and it’s been several months that I’ve read a book with a male character that made me swoon like Lucas did, I wish he was real! Seriously!!

Honestly I don’t have the right words to do this book justice with this review, this might all sound like a bunch of gibberish but just know that Tammara Webber tackles a very tough issue perfectly in this novel. Easy doesn’t feel heavy because of the subject of rape, yes that’s always there, it’s certainly not something you forget about while reading the novel but Tammara Webber wrote it in a way  that it doesn’t make it the main focus of the novel. It’s more about a beautiful growing love story that kept me giddy through most of the novel and had me crying tears of happiness at the end. This was a story of two characters that become stronger and help each other heal from the pain and guilt that’s haunting them. There’s so many things that happen in this novel that I could talk about but it would be hard to keep it spoiler free, it made me smile, it freaked me out, it made me want to kick someone’s ass and also learn self defense because guys! it’s freaking scary out there!! It was a rollercoaster of emotions and I loved every minute of it.  With a plot that’s perfectly executed and complex characters so well written that make you feel like you’re living their lives and don’t want to let go at the end of this novel, Easy definitely lives up to its hype.

Pin It

Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey

Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey

Published by HarperTeen

Released on September 20, 2011

Buy it:

Amazon | Indiebound | B&N

Be careful what you wish for. . . .

When Wren's boyfriend, Danny, died, Wren decided that what she wanted—what she had to do—was to bring Danny back. And so, in a heartbroken fury, armed with dark incantations and a secret power, she did.

But the Danny who returns isn't the boy Wren fell in love with, and she must hide him away while her life unravels around her. Then Gabriel transfers to her school and somehow he knows what she has done—and he wants to help make things right.

But Wren alone must undo what she has wrought—even if it means breaking her heart all over again.(from HarperTeen)

---

I haven’t read many paranormal novels this year, I think maybe two or three. I’ve spent this year reading contemps and dystopians but I picked up Cold Kiss after reading the synopsis and thought I’d give it a try. I was glad to see that I was able to get past the first fifty pages which didn’t happened when I tried reading paranormals just last month. My heart just hasn’t been in a mood for them lately. But Cold Kiss won me over from the beginning, I think it was because it wasn’t just focused on the paranormal aspect of the story, the magic that Wren can do but mostly on her grieving and what one will desperately do to not let go of those we love.

I liked that the novel was focused on Wren’s struggle to deal with the death of her boyfriend, with the way her feelings change after she brings him back and how she realizes how selfish she was and the damage she had done. Also loved that there’s a lot of focus on her relationship with her mother and the secrets she’s keeping from her, the anger she feels towards her for not teaching her about their powers and what really happened to her father. It makes the reader curious to continue reading, it has way more than just the undead boyfriend in it which makes the story feel a bit more like a contemporary novel with a dash of paranormal in it. I think that’s why I was able to get into this one, because it was full of angst and teenage rebellion too.

Towards the end though, I became angry with Wren. I was irritated with the way she began to treat Gabriel, who’s the best guy ever and all he’s been wanting to do was help her. She was a bit annoying during that last third of the novel, she was ungrateful and childish, I know she’s a teen but after all he had done for her, he didn’t deserve to be treated so crappy. I was glad to see that the ending leaves you with a bit of closure and even though this is a series it doesn’t end on a cliffhanger. Thanks goodness for that! It does leave some things unresolved which I hope will take main focus on the sequel. I’m looking forward to see what happens next and hopefully see Wren grow a little bit more.

Pin It

Waiting on Wednesday–This is What Happy Looks Like

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming books that we are eagerly anticipating.

This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

Publisher: Poppy

Release Date: April 2, 2013

If fate sent you an email, would you answer?
When teenage movie star Graham Larkin accidentally sends small town girl Ellie O'Neill an email about his pet pig, the two seventeen-year-olds strike up a witty and unforgettable correspondence, discussing everything under the sun, except for their names or backgrounds.
Then Graham finds out that Ellie's Maine hometown is the perfect location for his latest film, and he decides to take their relationship from online to in-person. But can a star as famous as Graham really start a relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does Ellie want to avoid the media's spotlight at all costs? (from Goodreads)

---

I read Jennifer E. Smith’s The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight last December and absolutely loved it. Truly, one of my favorite contemporary novels released in 2012. Her writing was fun and easy flowing, and you could easily read it all in one sitting. When I found out about this one I instantly added it to my list without even reading the synopsis. Now having read the synopsis I’m even more excited about it, sounds like it’s going to be another fun, feel-good type of novel.

Pin It

Top Ten Books I want Santa to Bring Me!!!

Top Ten Tuesday is a list feature that was created by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week they give you a different question or topic where you can answer by listing your top ten choices.

This week’s topic is:  Top Ten Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Bringing Me.

I have way more than ten books that I want Santa to bring me this year. I had to cut back big time on my book buying this year so I’m way behind on my reading and on getting all the awesomeness that came out this year, but here’s a few that I really hope Santa brings me.

1. Timepiece by Myra McEntire – I really loved Hourglass but I am ashamed to confess that I haven’t read Timepiece, shame on me I know! and I’m sure it’s just as fantastic.

2. Meant to Be by Laurent Morrill – Everyone raves about this one, I hope to get it soon.

3. The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin – I read the Unbecoming of Mara Dyer just a couple of months ago and really liked it so I hope to get to read the sequel soon.

4. Hidden by Sophie Jordan – Another one that I’m ashamed to admit that I haven’t read yet, I really love this series too but there’s always something about ending the series that scares me.

5. Something Like Normal by Trish Doller – I heard so much about this book when it came out and even before it did but I still haven’t gotten it.

6. This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers – A zombie book I’ve been dying to read!

7. Insurgent by Veronica Roth – There seems to be a pattern on my list , I know.. Another series book where I read the first novel, loved it but haven’t gotten the second one yet. It’s been a weird year for me.

8. Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare – Can you believe that I haven’t read Clockwork Prince yet? and I dare call myself a fan of Cassandra Clare!! Shame!

9. Easy by Tammara Webber – I think I should just go ahead and get this one myself already, I honestly don’t know what I’m waiting for. This one has been highly recommended by all my blogger friends.

10. Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally – Another highly recommended author, will be getting this one to myself as a Christmas gift.

Pin It

Monthly Squee Giveaway–Everybody Sees the Ants

This month's monthly squee giveaway is for a very special contemporary novel. One that focuses on the tough subject of bullying. I really loved this one and highly recommend it, you can read my review here. If you haven't read it yet, you have a chance to win the paperback copy of it this month.If you don’t know what the “monthly squee” is about check out the tab above.

Giveaway will end on December 28 at midnight. Like always, this giveaway is international, just please follow the rules.

Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King

Lucky Linderman didn't ask for his life. He didn't ask his grandfather not to come home from the Vietnam War. He didn't ask for a father who never got over it. He didn't ask for a mother who keeps pretending their dysfunctional family is fine. And he didn't ask to be the target of Nader McMillan's relentless bullying, which has finally gone too far.
But Lucky has a secret--one that helps him wade through the mundane torture of his life. In his dreams, Lucky escapes to the war-ridden jungles of Laos--the prison his grandfather couldn't escape--where Lucky can be a real man, an adventurer, and a hero. It's dangerous and wild, and it's a place where his life just might be worth living. But how long can Lucky keep hiding in his dreams before reality forces its way inside?(from Goodreads)

---

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway Pin It