Top Ten Words/Topics That Will Make Me Pick Up Or Buy A Book

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the fabulous ladies at The Broke and the Bookish. As you can see, this week's topic is all about pop words. Anyone else super excited about this topic? I sure am! Anywho, here we go!

1. British boy. Okay, technically that's two words but put them together and you have my immediate attention.

2. Travel. I love books about travelling, especially when it involves a road trip. Good gravy, do I love a good road trip!

3. Coming of age. Seriously, who doesn't love a fabulous coming of age story?

4. Europe. The setting is everything, and I adore living vicariously through characters.

5. First love. Gosh, I cannot tell you how much I love reading about love ESPECIALLY first love. Sa-woooooon!

6. Fantasy. Dragons, magic, sword fighting...*sigh* I love all those things.

7. Charming. Charming boy, charming story, Prince Charming, etc. What is it about the word charming that's so irresistible?

8. Thriller. Is there anything better than reading a heart pounding book? I think not.

9. Set in year 228675309^21849. Okay, so I know a bunch of people out there are sick of post apocalyptic/dystopian novels but personally, I still love them. I think it's fun reading about how creative authors can be creating worlds that don't exist. At least, not yet. :O

10. Heart-wrenching. Nothing like a good cry! We all need one every once in a while.




What are some words that jump out to you?

Spring Cleaning Giveaway

For the past week, I've been going through my bookshelves and creating what I can only describe as a giant fort of books to donate to the HPL. While looking for something to carry the books in, I found this old box that fits roughly eight books in it. Sooooooo, how about I stuff this box with eight of my favorite books from the fort and give it away to one of you guys? The catch? I'm not going to reveal what these books are. Intrigued? Well, you should be.

All you have to do to enter is fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Due to shipping costs, this giveaway will only be open to US participants and will also end May 25th. The winner will be informed via email and will also be announced in the Rafflecopter form. Good luck, and may the odds be ever in your favor.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine. I've only got one pick for you guys this week, but it's one that I'm DYING to read! Are you ready for this jelly?

Companion to JUST ONE DAY. It will be in Willem's POV.

"Can you fall in love in just one day? Can you become a new person? How about in just one year? In JUST ONE DAY and its companion novel JUST ONE YEAR, sheltered American good girl Allyson “LuLu” Healey and easygoing actor Willem De Ruiter are about to find out against a guidebook-worthy array of foreign backdrops. Equal parts romance, coming-of-age-tale, mystery and travel romp (with settings that span from England’s Stratford upon Avon to Paris to Amsterdam to India’s Bollywood) JUST ONE DAY and JUST ONE YEAR show how in looking for someone else, you just might wind up finding yourself."

Why I Can't Wait: For those of you who have read JUST ONE DAY, you can understand my desperate need for JUST ONE YEAR. That ending! AHH! Part one brought me to tears, part two had me screaming "NOOOOOO"...Where will part three (?) take me? That's the question I'm dying to have answered.

Expected publication: October 15th 2013 by Dutton Children's


*** UNRELATED PERSONAL NOTE: I will be attending TLA with some of my besties starting tonight. Sadly, I just couldn't find the time to schedule more posts for the remainder of the week. How about I make it up to y'all with a giveaway on Monday? Are you game?***

Top Ten Books I Liked More/Less Than I Thought I Would

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the fabulous ladies at The Broke and the Bookish. This week's topic is the top ten books you liked more/less than you thought you would. Let's do half and half starting with the less. Ready? Let's go!

Books I liked less than I did:



I guess with such a gorgeous cover, I thought I'd like it more. Yep, judged a book by it's cover. It's not that it was bad, but it wasn't amazing either. Oh well!



Super disappointed in this book. It is one of the only books I've ever given only one star to. When one claims to be as good as PERFECT CHEMISTRY, one has to deliver and this book didn't.



Let's just get this straight: I didn't hate this book. I didn't love it either. For a book about traveling Europe and being stuck with exes, it just fell a little flat. The main character just complained the whole time and couldn't see all this beauty around her. To be fair, I couldn't see it either because the story didn't really describe the setting well. They might as well have been back home and for a book that insinuates oversea fun, it simply just didn't.



Am I the only one that was super disappointed in CROSSED? I still haven't read REACHED so maybe the rest of the trilogy will redeem itself?



I love Emily Giffin. Last year, I was literally panting, waiting ever so patiently for her latest book. What I wasn't expecting was to be so turned-off by it. Personally, I didn't like nor connect with any of the characters and found their actions a little childish. I guess I'll stick with YA novels.


Books I liked more than I thought I would:



Long ago, I read this book for a blog tour. Didn't know what to think of it and since the tour needed more people, I volunteered. Y'all, this book blew me away. I'm a huge fan of Tom Leveen's and look forward to his latest book each year. Zero = just as awesome. I'm currently reading Manicpixiedreamgirl, and all I can say is wow. He's a diamond in the rough, and I hope each of you discover him soon.



I received this book from the publisher and really hadn't heard of it prior to that. I picked it up, and it was like love at first sight. How can a book so painful feel so warm?



Did anyone else out there pick this book up because of all the hype? Well, I'm one of those people. Originally, I couldn't fathom why a book about sparkly vampires could be such a success. After reading it, I completely understood why.



Ahh, yes. My very first Sarah Dessen book. A girl at Borders (MISS YOU, BORDERS!) recommended this to me, and I really didn't know why. I wasn't a fan on contemporary novels back then, but after reading this book, I was sold, sold, sold. Because of you, ALONG FOR THE RIDE, I discovered other great contemporary authors like Jennifer Echols and Simone Elkeles. I shall never forget you for that.



Thank you, super awesome S&S guy at ALA last year, for telling me I had to read this book. Here I was trying not to take home books that weren't on my list, when you come up to me, telling me to pick it up and give it a try. Be warned, this isn't an easy book. It's painfully honest and heartbreakingly real. Be prepared to cry and want to punch people in the face.





There you have it, folks! What books are on your list?!

Review: On Dublin Street

Title: On Dublin Street
Author: Samantha Young
Published: October 12th 2012 by Penguin Group (USA)
Genre: Contemporary Romance with a whole lot of sexy! Definitely not for you younger folks.
Source: Bought

"All she wants is the present. But tomorrow is waiting…

Jocelyn Butler has been hiding from her past for years. But all her secrets are about to be laid bare…

Four years ago, Jocelyn left her tragic past behind in the States and started over in Scotland, burying her grief, ignoring her demons, and forging ahead without attachments. Her solitary life is working well—until she moves into a new apartment on Dublin Street where she meets a man who shakes her carefully guarded world to its core.

Braden Carmichael is used to getting what he wants, and he's determined to get Jocelyn into his bed. Knowing how skittish she is about entering a relationship, Braden proposes an arrangement that will satisfy their intense attraction without any strings attached.

But after an intrigued Jocelyn accepts, she realizes that Braden won't be satisfied with just mind-blowing passion. The stubborn Scotsman is intent on truly knowing her… down to the very soul."

First line: "I was bored."

Thoughts: Prior to reading ON DUBLIN STREET, I had yet to read anything by Samantha Young. After reading ON DUBLIN STREET, however, I'm pretty sure I'm going to read anything and everything by this extraordinary author. To simply put it, I could not stop reading this book. For days, I was obsessed with anything Scottish or Bradenish. I probably finished the book in a day but spent the next week rereading my favorite scenes and secretly planning a trip to Scotland. Being poor, ON DUBLIN STREET is probably the closest I'll ever get to Scotland, and I'm okay with that. Experiencing this journey through Jocelyn's eyes was just as vivid as the real thing.

First off, even though the cover suggests loads of sexy times (and yes, they're definitely in there), there's also this tragic yet beautiful depth to this novel. So many emotions, so little time. It's like the author constantly wanted to make me squeal with joy, switch it off, and then turn on the heartache. My heart constantly reached out for not only Jocelyn but also Braden and Ellie. At times, I couldn't help but think "Can't these people catch a break?". I love that this novel isn't just a basic romance with some romping around in the bed sheets. It's so much more than that. It's about friendship, creating lasting relationships, opening up to those you least expect, and redemption. See what I mean by so many emotions, so little time?

The only thing that somewhat bothered me in this book was Braden's controlling nature. He came from a good place, I'll give him that, but sometimes it was just too much. Luckily, Jocelyn isn't someone who likes being told what to do. Her rebellious nature worked well with Braden's authoritativeness. All in all, I liked them both together and enjoyed their interactions. Jocelyn's quips constantly kept me giggling as did Braden's reactions to them.

My favorite character in this book, though, has to be Ellie. I love her sweet nature and the fact that she's smarter than she appears. She's a hardworking girl with a lot of heart and constantly looked out for others before herself. Everyone should have a sister or friend like Ellie.

Overall, I recommend ON DUBLIN STREET for adult fans of contemporary novels. If you're the type of person that cringes when it comes to sex scenes, this probably isn't the book for you. It's not kinky or anything, but it is really, really steamy...The kind of steamy that will make you blush if you're caught reading it. Needless to say, I'm very much looking forward to DOWN LONDON ROAD and hope I'll get to catch up with some of my favorite characters from this book.


Rating:


Favorite Quotes:

“Sometimes the clouds weren't weightless. Sometimes their bellies got dark and full. It was life. It happened. It didn't mean it wasn't scary, or that I wasn't still afraid, but now I knew that as long as I was standing under it with Braden beside me when those clouds broke, I'd be alright. We'd get rained on together. Knowing Braden he'd have a big ass umbrela to shelter us from the worst of it. That there was an uncertain future I could handle.”

“Sometimes words aren’t needed for you to know a change has come upon you.”

“'I was washing the dishes and the sneaky bastard crept up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. And kissed me. Right here.' I pointed angrily to my neck. 'Can I not have him committed or something?'

Dr. Pritchard snorted. 'For loving you?'

I drew back, shaking my head in disgust. 'Dr. Pritchard,' I admonished softly. 'Whose side are you on?'

'Braden’s.'”

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine. It features each blogger's most anticipated books. I've got a couple picks this week, one being a YA novel and the other a NA one. Shall we?

"Best friends don’t lie.
Best friends don’t ditch you for a guy.
Best friends don’t post your deepest, darkest secrets online.

Bailey’s falling head-over-high-heels for Ryder West, a mysterious gamer she met online. A guy she’s never met in person. Her best friend, Meg, doesn’t trust smooth-talking Ryder. He’s just a picture-less profile.

When Bailey starts blowing Meg off to spend more virtual quality time with her new crush, Meg decides it’s time to prove Ryder’s a phony.

But one stupid little secret posted online turns into a friendship-destroying feud to answer the question:

Who is Ryder West?"

Why I Can't Wait: LOVE THIS! It sounds a battle between the best friend and the shady online boyfriend. Naturally, I'm curious to find out who Ryder West is and how the friendship between the girls will work out. TMI sounds like an intense must read book!

Expected publication: August 1st 2013 by Sourcebooks Fire

Add it on Goodreads.

"Mackenzie “Max” Miller has a problem. Her parents have arrived in town for a surprise visit, and if they see her dyed hair, tattoos, and piercings, they just might disown her. Even worse, they’re expecting to meet a nice, wholesome boyfriend, not a guy named Mace who has a neck tattoo and plays in a band. All her lies are about to come crashing down around her, but then she meets Cade.

Cade moved to Philadelphia to act and to leave his problems behind in Texas. So far though, he’s kept the problems and had very little opportunity to take the stage. When Max approaches him in a coffee shop with a crazy request to pretend to be her boyfriend, he agrees to play the part. But when Cade plays the role a little too well, they’re forced to keep the ruse going. And the more they fake the relationship, the more real it begins to feel."

Why I Can't Wait: For those of you who don't know, I'm a HUGE fan of LOSING IT. It's such a fun and sexy book with a funny and awkward protagonist. Did I mention there's a British boy in it? RAWR! I loved Cade in LOSING IT but constantly felt bad for him. If you've read LOSING IT, you'd understand why. I'm so glad Cora decided to write a book from his perspective. Now, if I can only wait until the release date!

Expected publication: June 4th 2013 by William Morrow & Company

Add it on Goodreads.

Thousand Words

Title: Thousand Words
Author: Jennifer Brown
Expected publication: May 21st 2013 by Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Source: eARC courtesy of the publisher for an honest review

"Ashleigh's boyfriend, Kaleb, is about to leave for college, and Ashleigh is worried that he'll forget about her while he's away. So at a legendary end-of-summer pool party, Ashleigh's friends suggest she text him a picture of herself -- sans swimsuit -- to take with him. Before she can talk herself out of it, Ashleigh strides off to the bathroom, snaps a photo in the full-length mirror, and hits "send."

But when Kaleb and Ashleigh go through a bad breakup, Kaleb takes revenge by forwarding the text to his baseball team. Soon the photo has gone viral, attracting the attention of the school board, the local police, and the media. As her friends and family try to distance themselves from the scandal, Ashleigh feels completely alone -- until she meets Mack while serving her court-ordered community service. Not only does Mack offer a fresh chance at friendship, but he's the one person in town who received the text of Ashleigh's photo -- and didn't look.

Acclaimed author Jennifer Brown brings readers a gripping novel about honesty and betrayal, redemption and friendship, attraction and integrity, as Ashleigh finds that while a picture may be worth a thousand words . . . it doesn't always tell the whole story."

First line: "The community service I'd been court ordered to complete was held in one of the downstairs classrooms at the Chesterton Publics School Central Office."

Thoughts: THOUSAND WORDS is probably one of the hardest books I have ever read. The pain is so raw and on top of that, the events are so realistic that I could practically feel it happening to me. Though this wasn't an easy read, the message was incredibly powerful and thought-provoking. Touching and honest, THOUSAND WORDS is a book every girl, no matter your age, should read.

First off, Ashleigh was one of the good girls. She got good grades, got along with her parents, and has never done anything wrong. That is, until her friends convince her to take a picture of herself naked and send it to her distant and distracted boyfriend, Kaleb. I don't know whether it was the alcohol or the feelings of neglect because the once high school sweetheart decides to turn into a vixen. The clothes are off, the picture is sent and poof, done. Who knew that this one moment, this one mistake would completely alter her life forever.

The reason I said all girls should read this book is because with today's generation, girls are taking pictures of themselves naked, half naked, partially naked or just even seductively posed. Girls carelessly send these pictures to their boyfriends or post them online without thinking of the consequences. As a girl who has been friends with mainly boys her entire life, I can tell you right now that those personal pictures are hardly ever kept private. Boys like to show off. Even if you think you can trust him, that doesn't mean he'll be the only one who ever sees these picture. Did you know people go through other people's phones just for fun? And really, who's to say your relationship will work out? I'm not saying it won't, but a lot of relationships don't work out and since you can't delete a picture you've already sent, that leaves you in a bit of a predicament. I actually have a guy friend who has an album in his phone with dirty pictures of girls, and it's not like he downloaded them from the world wide web. No, they're his keepsakes from past relationships or just girls who tried to seduce him. Is what he does right? Absolutely not. He's a pervert for doing it, but as the saying goes, boys will be boys, and you can't take those pictures back.

As for Ashleigh, her case is to the extreme. When her relationship with Kaleb takes an ugly turn, not only is her picture shared with the entire school, it's also posted on the web. Parents are upset (as they should be), but even though Ashleigh is the victim, they want someone to take the blame. Since she's a minor, her picture is considered child pornography. It doesn't matter that she's not the one who spread it around the school and that she's hurt by it, too. She took the picture and sent it to Kaleb and now her family is paying the price. Her friends turn their backs on her, and people text her, calling her a slut and other nasty things. These people don't care that Ashleigh never meant to hurt anyone nor her intentions behind the picture. They want blood and sadly, it's her life they want to destroy.

As for Kaleb, you're going to have to read the novel to find out what happens to him and whether or not Ashleigh ever gets to confront him. Half the intensity in this book is reading the whole story. The background, the aftermath, etc and frankly, I wouldn't want to take that away from you. It's well worth the read and though the subject matter is difficult to read, it doesn't change the fact that you should give it a go. THOUSAND WORDS is about telling your story, even if no one wants to hear it and finding inner strength you didn't know you had. It's also about friendships and how people you hardly know can surprise you. I'm not sure if I will be able to reread this book anytime soon, but I do know that I'm grateful Jennifer Brown had the guts to write it and even more grateful that I read it. Trust me, you will be too.

Rating:

Review: Wait For You

Title: Wait For You
Author: J. Lynn
Published: February 26th 2013 by J. Lynn
Source: Bought

"Some things are worth waiting for…

Traveling thousands of miles from home to enter college is the only way nineteen-year-old Avery Morgansten can escape what happened at the Halloween party five years ago—an event that forever changed her life. All she needs to do is make it to her classes on time, make sure the bracelet on her left wrist stays in place, not draw any attention to herself, and maybe—please God—make a few friends, because surely that would be a nice change of pace. The one thing she didn’t need and never planned on was capturing the attention of the one guy who could shatter the precarious future she’s building for herself.

Some things are worth experiencing…

Cameron Hamilton is six feet and three inches of swoon-worthy hotness, complete with a pair of striking blue eyes and a remarkable ability to make her want things she believed were irrevocably stolen from her. She knows she needs to stay away from him, but Cam is freaking everywhere, with his charm, his witty banter, and that damn dimple that’s just so… so lickable. Getting involved with him is dangerous, but when ignoring the simmering tension that sparks whenever they are around each other becomes impossible, he brings out a side of her she never knew existed.

Some things should never be kept quiet…

But when Avery starts receiving threatening emails and phone calls forcing her to face a past she wants silenced, she’s has no other choice but to acknowledge that someone is refusing to allow her to let go of that night when everything changed. When the devastating truth comes out, will she resurface this time with one less scar? And can Cam be there to help her or will he be dragged down with her?

And some things are worth fighting for…"

First line: "There were two things in life that scared the ever-loving crap out of me."

Thoughts: If I had to describe WAIT FOR YOU in one word, I'd probably have to go with addicting. All I had to do was read that very first line, and I was hooked. Seriously, Jennifer Armentrout should never, ever stop writing books. Ever.

One of the many things I loved about this book is the atmosphere. What is it about college life that's so appealing? Is it the self discovery or the journey? I don't know, but it's the best time of your life, and I love reading books about it. For Avery, it's a chance at a new start. Her life back home in Texas is a nightmare. How she tolerated it for all those years, I'll never know, but here's her chance (Finally!) to be free from it. Free from her overbearing, crazy parents and free from those kids she use to call her friends. A chance at a new life. The only catch is, when you runaway from your old life, it's bound to catch up with you.

The story doesn't get truly addicting until Avery literally bumps into Cam. Don't worry, folks. This scene happens rather quickly. See what I mean about instantly hooked? Here's Cam, with his adorable arrogance, sharp wit, and single dimple. He's hot, funny, and oh, such a sweetheart. I cannot tell you how many times this boy had me giggling, swooning, and panting for more. Ack, love him!

Now, though there's loads of romance in this book, there's also a serious tone to this novel as well. Avery went through something EXTREMELY traumatic when she was younger. There are hints as to what it is and while I was kind of right about it, I was still dead wrong. This incident was far more awful than I thought. Because of this, Avery has trust issues and has difficulty sharing who she is with not only her friends but Cam as well. These scenes will be frustrating. They will annoy you but once she shares her secret, you'll not only understand why she kept it from everyone but also want to reach into the book and give her a great big hug. That is, if she lets you.

This book does have sex scenes and while they're written tastefully, I do have one big issue with them. Not once do any of the characters nor author ever mention using protection or safe sex. I have a huge problem with this because even though the characters trust each other, that doesn't mean it's okay. Cam use to be a player and has admitted to getting around the block. He even had a f-buddy prior to dating Avery. Has he been tested? And to top that off, is Avery even on birth control? Because I'm pretty sure her getting pregnant is the last thing they both want. They're in college and this book is intended for people around that age. Shouldn't the author promote safe sex to them as well as the younger and older readers? I know people aren't always smart when it comes to sex, but I do think safe sex should be mentioned in books, movies, tv shows and in the media in general. Personally, I don't think it takes much to just mention a condom or a simple conversation about getting tested and being on birth control.

Other than that, WAIT FOR YOU is the perfect pick me up book. As a blogger, I'm constantly going through reading slumps and WAIT FOR YOU pulled me right out of it. Jennifer Armentrout is the queen of writing swoony boys so if that's something you're interested in (and it should be), this is the book for you!

Rating:

“'I'm beginning to think cookies is a code word for something else.

"'Maybe it is.' He tugged on my bag again as he took a confident step back, forcing me down another step. 'And just think about it. If cookie was a code word, whatever it symbolizes, it's been in your mouth, sweetheart.'”

“'You've been checking me out, haven't you? In-between your flaming insults? I feel like man candy.'”

“'Whoa,' Brit breathed, handing my drink back to me. 'That was...'

'Really hot,' Jacob finished. 'I thought you two were going to rip off each other's clothes and start making babies right here on the dirty, beer covered floor. Like I was going to have to start charging admission for what was about to go down.'”

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine.

"Eve has a new home, a new face, and a new name—but no memories of her past. She’s been told that she's in a witness protection program. That she escaped a dangerous magic-wielding serial killer who still hunts her. The only thing she knows for sure is that there is something horrifying in her memories the people hiding her want to access—and there is nothing they won’t say—or do—to her to get her to remember.

At night she dreams of a tattered carnival tent and buttons being sewn into her skin. But during the day, she shelves books at the local library, trying to not let anyone know that she can do things—things like change the color of her eyes or walk through walls. When she does use her strange powers, she blacks out and is drawn into terrifying visions, returning to find that days or weeks have passed—and she’s lost all short-term memories. Eve must find out who and what she really is before the killer finds her—but the truth may be more dangerous than anyone could have ever imagined."

Why I Can't Wait: Is it just me or does the cover and summary both sound uber creepy? It kind of reminds me of The Craft, which was one of my favorite movies growing up. This definitely sounds like an original concept, and I can't wait to see how the whole book turns out!

Expected publication: September 3rd 2013 by Walker Childrens
Add it on Goodreads.

"Seventeen-year-old Cassie is a natural at reading people. Piecing together the tiniest details, she can tell you who you are and what you want. But it’s not a skill that she’s ever taken seriously. That is, until the FBI come knocking: they’ve begun a classified program that uses exceptional teenagers to crack infamous cold cases, and they need Cassie.

What Cassie doesn’t realize is that there’s more at risk than a few unsolved homicides— especially when she’s sent to live with a group of teens whose gifts are as unusual as her own.

Sarcastic, privileged Michael has a knack for reading emotions, which he uses to get inside Cassie’s head—and under her skin. Brooding Dean shares Cassie’s gift for profiling, but keeps her at arm’s length.

Soon, it becomes clear that no one in the Naturals program is what they seem. And when a new killer strikes, danger looms closer than Cassie could ever have imagined. Caught in a lethal game of cat and mouse with a killer, the Naturals are going to have to use all of their gifts just to survive."

Why I Can't Wait: Hello, it's Jennifer Lynn Barnes. She's a fabulous storyteller and a natural at writing supernatural tales. I'm interested in seeing where she plans to take us on her next (most likely fabulous) journey and from what I can tell, this journey may have a love triangle in it. Plus, a guy that has a knack for reading emotions? That's so Jasper from Twilight, and I heart Jasper.

Expected publication: November 5th 2013 by Disney-Hyperion
Add it on Goodreads.

"When aspiring music journalist Ren Kingston takes a job nannying for a wealthy family on the exclusive island of Nantucket, playground for Boston's elite, she's hoping for a low-key summer reading books and blogging about bands. Boys are firmly off the agenda.

What she doesn't count on is falling in with a bunch of party-loving private school kids who are hiding some dark secrets, falling (possibly) in love with the local bad boy, and falling out with a dangerous serial killer...

The gripping new stand-alone novel from the author of Hunting Lila."

Why I Can't Wait: I read HUNTING LILA a while back and really enjoyed it. Sarah Alderson can definitely write addicting novels and coming from me, that says a lot. Oh, did I mention she's awesome at writing romance and swoony boys? Boosh!

Expected publication: August 1st 2013 by Simon & Schuster UK
Add it on Goodreads.

Top Ten Books I Read Before I Was A Blogger

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the fabulous ladies at the Broke and the Bookish. This week's topic is the top ten books I read before I was a blogger. Woot, let's go!



The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins



Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater



Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte



Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte



Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr



Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty



Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl



Once A Witch by Carolyn MacCollough



Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling



Twilight by Stephenie Meyer




There you have it! I still own every single one of the these books and sometimes reread a few of them. What about you guys? What are some of your favorite books before you became a blogger?

Stacking The Shelves + Weekly Round-Up

Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews. Can you believe it's already April? Where is this year going?! CRAAAAAAZY! Anywho, it's book time!


For Review:

*Icons by Margaret Stohl (goodreads/amazon)
*School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins (goodreads/amazon)

Weekly Round-Up:

*The top ten characters I would crush on if I were also a fictional character. Loved this topic so much that I added quotes about these guys. Boys sold separately.
*Waiting on Wednesday featuring books by Josin McQuein and J. Lynn.
*Wherein I review TRUE by Erin McCarthy.


There you have it! I hope you guys have a fabulous Sunday. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to see THE HOST with Jess from Gone With The Words and Ginger from GReads!. :D

Review: True

Title: True
Author: Erin McCarthy
Expected publication: May 7th 2013 by InterMix
Genre: New Adult
Source: eARC courtesy of the publisher for an honest review
Goodreads/Amazon

"When Rory Macintosh’s roommates find out that their studious and shy friend has never been with a guy, they decide that, as an act of kindness they’ll help her lose her virginity by hiring confident, tattooed bad boy Tyler Mann to do the job…unbeknownst to Rory.

Tyler knows he’s not good enough for Rory. She’s smart, doctor smart, while he’s barely scraping by at his EMT program, hoping to pull his younger brothers out of the hell their druggy mother has left them in. But he can’t resist taking up her roommates on an opportunity to get to know her better. There’s something about her honesty that keeps him coming back when he knows he shouldn’t…

Torn between common sense and desire, the two find themselves caught up in a passionate relationship. But when Tyler’s broken family threatens to destroy his future, and hers, Rory will need to decide whether to cut her ties to his risky world or follow her heart, no matter what the cost…"

First line: "Getting drunk was not in my plans for Friday night."

Thoughts I think one of the best feelings in the world is reading a book you haven't heard of, going into it with zero expectations, and absolutely falling in love with it before you've even reached the fifty page mark. That is what TRUE is for me. It's one of those rare finds that had me giggling, smiling, and sighing until the very last page.

The overall story is one I've read before. It's about the shy and smart girl who falls for the bad guy from the wrong tracks. What makes TRUE special is while Rory is a bit of an introvert, it doesn't stop her from making friends and having a life outside of her college classes. She isn't afraid to be herself. She also isn't trapped in her comfort zone and is willing to have an open mind when it comes to people different from her. Enter Tyler. Even though he's from a bad side of town and his upbringing is (to say the least) less than ideal, he's still an overall good guy. Not once does he do anything to prove otherwise. He's studying to be an EMT and basically raising his two younger brothers, one of which has down syndrome. In my opinion, there is no better hero than the one Erin McCarthy created in Tyler. He's not only admirable but realistic. Tyler could have been a druggie, he could have been a drug dealer or joined a gang or worse, but he chose to make his life better for his family. Plus, get this...he READS! Seriously, if you aren't swooning by now, there must be something wrong with you.

Though I loved both Rory and Tyler, I must admit that my favorite character in this novel is U. He's just too adorable and funny. I love how he just blurts out what he's thinking or feeling and doesn't care what people think of him. There were so many moments where I just wanted to jump into the book and give him a hug. Really, after reading the book, you'll understand where I'm coming from.

My only grievance about this novel is the cover. Rory would never wear a crop top sweater that shows off her belly. The girl is conservative, people! And why isn't Tyler wearing a band t-shirt? Just saying.

Even though the story focuses on Rory and Tyler, there's much more to it than romance. TRUE is about friendship and growing up to be the person you want to be. It's about having an open mind and standing up for those you care about. There's loyalty and passion and basically everything I love about reading. Would I recommend this book to you? Absolutely, but I do recommend it for those seventeen and up. There are some sexual situations that aren't suitable to younger readers. For adults who love the YA contemporary novels, this is the book for you. For those in college, this is the book for you. Heck, I don't care what you read or who you are, this is the book for you!


Rating:

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine.

"A week ago, Dinah’s cousin Claire cut her wrists.

Five days ago, Dinah found Claire’s diary and discovered why.

Three days ago, Dinah stopped crying and came up with a plan.

Two days ago, she ditched her piercings and bleached the black dye from her hair.

Yesterday, knee socks and uniform plaid became a predator’s camouflage.

Today, she’ll find the boy who broke Claire.

By tomorrow, he’ll wish he were dead."

Why I Can't Wait: Creepy, much? The cover freaks me out and the summary terrifies me. This sounds like the perfect Halloween read!

Expected publication: October 8th 2013 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Add it to your TBR list on Goodreads.

From the scary to the sexy...

"For twenty-one-year-old Sydney, being in love with Kyler isn't anything new. They'd been best friends ever since he pushed her down on the playground and she made him eat a mud pie. Somewhere over the years, she fell for him and fell hard. The big problem with that? Kyler puts the 'man' in man-whore. He's never stayed with a girl longer than a few nights, and with it being their last year in college, Syd doesn't want to risk their friendship by declaring her love.

Kyler has always put Syd on a pedestal that was too high for him to reach. To him, she's perfect and she's everything. But the feelings he has for her, he's always hidden away or focused on any other female. After all, Kyler will always be the poor boy from the wrong side of tracks, and Syd will always be the one girl he can never have.

But when they're stranded together at a posh ski resort due to a massive Nor'easter, there's nothing stopping their red-hot feelings for each other from coming to the surface. Can their friendship survive the attraction? Better yet, can they survive at all? Because as the snow falls, someone is stalking them, and this ski trip may be a life-changer in more ways than one."

Why I Can't Wait: You guys know what a fan I am of New Adult books. Add in Jennifer Armentrout, and I'm basically running around in circles, wondering why this book isn't out NOW! Plus, I have a not so secret obsession with bad boys that are actually good guys. RAWR!

Expected publication: July 30th 2013 by Spencer Hill Press
Add it to your TBR list on Goodreads.



What books are you guys excited about?!

Top Ten Characters I Would Crush On If I Were Also A Fictional Character

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the fabulous ladies at The Broke and the Bookish. This week's topic is the top ten characters I would crush on if I were also a fictional character. Umm, LOOOOOOVE this topic! Love it so much that I think I'll include quotes either from or about these fictitious (*tear*) hotties. Here we go!



Four/Tobias. "You die, I die too."



Augustus. "I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once.”



Lucas. “He took one of my hands in his, and I brought the other to his face, wondering how his eyes could look like chipped ice and still warm me to my core.”



Akiva. “Your soul sings to mine. My soul is yours, and it always will be, in any world. No matter what happens. I need you to remember that I love you.”



Etienne aka St. Clair. "For the two of us, home isn't a place. It is a person. And we are finally home."



Cricket. “'I know you aren't perfect. But it's a person's imperfections that make them perfect for someone else.'”



Josh. “He's kissing me. And when he does, part of me is lost. But it's the part that's twisted and mangled and wrong, and for just that moment, with his hands in my hair and his lips on my mouth, I can pretend that it never existed.”



Jase. "George backs out of the room but not before saying, 'His bed’s really comfortable. And he never pees in it.'"



Brendan. "What I was hungry for was sitting nonchalantly next to me on the couch."



Roger. "'The best discoveries always happened to the people who weren't looking for it. Columbus and America. Pinzon, who stumbled on Brazil while looking for the West Indies. Stanley happening on Victoria Falls. And you. Amy Curry, when I was least expecting her.'"






Please excuse me while I swoon for a bit. Who are some of your literary boyfriends? Did I miss any? Let me know!