Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Top Ten Favorite Books of 2017

 If you’re unaware, Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly original feature created by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week there’s a new Top Ten theme that the blogger responds to with their own list of answers.

This week’s theme is… *drumroll please*…

Top Ten Favorite Books of 2017

I don’t really like doing this post with so much time still left in the year. While I don’t think I’ll read anything spectacularly amazing before January 1st, there’s always the chance. So, just be aware that this post comes with a caveat of it not being the end of the year. If I do find a new favorite, I may repost an edited version of this list…

Also, I don’t have ten favorites. I typically only list out five books for lists like these, simply because I’m such a picky reader. The book has to fit some pretty major qualifications to make my list. I managed to get six books on this one, though.

I also just didn’t read very much this year. Things have been pretty crazy. I’ll share all about that in a future 2017 wrap up post.

***
Roar by Cora Carmack

Okay, so I went into this one with high expectations, and, for the most part, they were met. It’s not my favorite fantasy of all time, but I really enjoyed it. It’s also got a stunning cover. ;)

Diplomatic Immunity by Brodi Ashton

Okay, so this book was just fun. I’m normally not big into YA contemporary, or at least, I tend to rate it pretty low. However, this book was hilarious.

My review.
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets to the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

This book is just good. It makes you feel all the feels. I read it in less than 24 hours.

King’s Cage by Victoria Aveyard

While this installment wasn’t my favorite in the series, I still very much enjoyed it. I also love Cal. Have I mentioned that yet on this blog? Please note my epic sarcasm here.

My review.

Morning Star by Pierce Brown

The finale for this series (which is now getting a spin-off series) was amazing! However, book two was even better.

My review.

Golden Son by Pierce Brown

Yep. My favorite book of the year is the second book in a sci-fi trilogy that I put off reading for way too long. Seriously guys, if you haven’t read Red Rising—the first book in the trilogy—please do it now. It’s an awesome, action-packed adventure!

My review.

***

Alright, there you have it. My first Top Ten Tuesday and my list of favorite 2017 reads. What books would you put on this list? Let me know in the comments section.

Monday, December 11, 2017

Trailer Reveal for Jennifer L. Armentrout's Brave & a Giveaway!

In case you needed something to look forward to today, here’s the trailer for Jennifer L. Armentrout’s Brave, the last book in the Wicked Saga!

There’s also a chance to win a surprise signed prize pack!

The Trailer


CREDIT:
Talent: Justin Edwards (the cover model)


The Book

Brave
(A Wicked Saga #3)
Publication Date: December 11, 2017
Paperback and Ebook
Genres: NA, Paranormal

Ivy Morgan hasn't been feeling like herself lately. Not like anyone can blame her. After all, being held captive by a psychotic fae prince hell-bent on permanently opening the gates to the Otherworld is bound to leave some mental scars.

It’s more than that, though. Something dark and insidious is spreading throughout Ivy, more powerful than she could ever imagine... and it’s coming between her and the man she’s fallen deeply in love with, elite Order member Ren Owens.

Ren would do anything to keep Ivy safe. Anything. But when he makes a life altering choice for her, the fallout of his act has far reaching consequences that threaten to tear their lives apart. If Ivy is going to have any hope of surviving this, she must put aside the hurt and betrayal she feels, and work with not only those she loves, but with an enemy she would rather kill than ever trust. War is coming, and it soon becomes clear that what Ivy and Ren thought they knew about the Order, themselves, and even their enemies, has been nothing but a cluster of dangerous, deadly lies. Ivy knows she must be more than just brave to save those she loves--and, ultimately, to save herself.

Because behind ever evil fae Prince, there’s a Queen…

The Giveaway

Enter to win a surprised signed prize pack (containing multiple signed books and swag). The giveaway is open internationally, and it ends on December 22, 2017.

Note that I am not responsible for prizes.

 
The Author

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. She spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki.

Sunday, December 10, 2017

Tis the Season Book Tag

Time for another tag post! This one’s festive.

It’s the Tis the Season Book Tag, which was created a while ago by Richard over at RichardMediaGeek.

I wasn’t tagged by anyone, but I still wanted to join in on the festivities. Now, let’s talk books. ;)

***

1. Do you have a favorite winter read?


Not really. I guess I read more fantasy and less contemporary when it’s colder out. I’m not sure why, but I think a lot of people are like this. Maybe it actually has to do with what types of books publishers release in the summer versus the winter…

2. Find a book with blue on the cover!


I haven’t shared this one on the blog in a long time. It’s the perfect opportunity to highlight a good mythology trilogy that was released half a decade ago.

3. Find a book you’d use as the star on a Christmas tree.


The Flame in the Mist just kind of looks like an angel/star, doesn’t it? I think it would look pretty good…

4. Pick one fictional place that would be perfect for a winter vacation.


 Hogwarts and/or Hogsmeade is the typical answer for this (and yes, that would be where I’d probably choose to go to), so I’m going to go with something different and say Essos from Game of Thrones. I’d like to be warm. It’s too cold outside right now.

5. Pick one fictional character you’d take with you on your winter vacation.

Gosh. I don’t know. Maybe Cal from Red Queen or, if I just want to have fun and not be a blushing mess the whole time, maybe Cath from Fangirl. We could watch fun movies, eat snacks, and read together-but-separately in peace.

6. Name one book on your wish list this year.


A few days ago, I texted my mom about Wonder Woman: Warbringer the special UK edition. It’s sold out, but I still want it. I asked her if she could hunt it down for Christmas. We’ll see…

7. Favorite holiday drink, treat, and movie?

I don’t usually drink anything special in the winter. I guess hot chocolate, maybe? As for a treat, my mom makes a Hershey cake during Christmas-time that I love, but I don’t really eat anything special either. Also, no special movies. I do tend to watch Elf during this time of year, though. Mostly because it’s on ABC Family/Freeform all the time in December.

***

There you have it. That’s the Tis the Season Book Tag. What are your answers to these questions? Are any of yours similar to mine?

Saturday, December 9, 2017

Stacking the Shelves: The Sci-Fi Finales Edition

"Stacking the Shelves" is a weekly haul meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews and Reading Reality. It allows book buyers to share their accumulation of books with the online book-loving community.

I bought some books. And I don’t regret it. ;)

Their Fractured Light by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner
Opposition by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Book Outlet was having their Black Friday sale, so I got a couple of books. I bought TFL because there will be a signing event in January at Books of Wonder. I plan on getting the entire trilogy signed.

As for Opposition, I just want the matching covers. The redone ones are awful, so I’m glad to have a matching finale.

What books have you bought/received lately? 

Friday, December 8, 2017

Dean Winchester Friday

Dean Winchester (or sometimes Jensen Ackles) Fridays make me a very happy fangirl. You'll see why when you look at the gif.

https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=21Y7XDyD&id=7BB2E47BD2F9F8F49300D9EB9C0B4A355E8F7F0B&thid=OIP.21Y7XDyDckc0rSYAnWpBFwEsC7&mediaurl=http%3a%2f%2fthewinchesterfamilybusiness.com%2fimages%2fGIFs%2fleaf.gif&exph=250&expw=400&q=dean+winchester+leaf&simid=607988236535399161&selectedIndex=3&ajaxhist=0

Ah. It’s that time of year when all the leaves are disappearing from the trees. This lucky leaf got to spend some time on Jensen Ackles’s/Dean Winchester’s face, though. #veryluckyleaf

Thursday, December 7, 2017

Recent 2018 YA Cover Reveals

There’ve been a few more YA cover reveals in the past couple of weeks, so I thought I’d share them with you. 

Also, these are only the cover reveals that I've noticed on my Goodreads list. If there have been others, please let me know!

Catwoman: Soulstealer
(DC Icons #3)
Publication Date: August 7, 2018
Hardcover, 304 pages, Random House
Genres: YA, Sci-Fi

Sizzling with action and suspense, #1 New York Times bestselling author SARAH J. MAAS delivers a coming-of-age Selina Kyle who will steal readers' hearts in a new, highly anticipated YA blockbuster: CATWOMAN!

When the Bat's away, the Cat will play. It's time to see how many lives this cat really has. . . .

Two years after escaping Gotham City's slums, Selina Kyle returns as the mysterious and wealthy Holly Vanderhees. She quickly discovers that with Batman off on a vital mission, Batwing is left to hold back the tide of notorious criminals. Gotham City is ripe for the taking.

Meanwhile, Luke Fox wants to prove he has what it takes to help people in his role as Batwing. He targets a new thief on the prowl who seems cleverer than most. She has teamed up with Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn, and together they are wreaking havoc. This Catwoman may be Batwing's undoing.

In this third DC Icons book--following Leigh Bardugo's Wonder Woman: Warbringer and Marie Lu's Batman: Nightwalker--Selina is playing a desperate game of cat and mouse, forming unexpected friendships and entangling herself with Batwing by night and her devilishly handsome neighbor Luke Fox by day. But with a dangerous threat from the past on her tail, will she be able to pull off the heist that's closest to her heart?

My Thoughts

I’m really confused by this series. I’m not sure if it’s a completely separate series from the canon universe or what. I guess I should read the first book to find out, huh? I do enjoy this cover, though. I’m a huge fan of purple. In case you couldn’t tell.

However, I’m kind of hoping there’ll be special edition UK copies like there were for Wonder Woman: Warbringer. Unfortunately, I didn’t get my hands on one of those before they sold out, but I plan on getting those copies for the other releases. They’re just too pretty not to.

***

Royals
Publication Date: May 1, 2018
Hardcover, 256 pages, Penguin Random House
Genres: YA, Contemporary

Meet Daisy Winters. She’s an offbeat sixteen-year-old Floridian with mermaid-red hair; a part time job at a bootleg Walmart, and a perfect older sister who’s nearly engaged to the Crown Prince of Scotland. Daisy has no desire to live in the spotlight, but relentless tabloid attention forces her join Ellie at the relative seclusion of the castle across the pond.

While the dashing young Miles has been appointed to teach Daisy the ropes of being regal, the prince’s roguish younger brother kicks up scandal wherever he goes, and tries his best to take Daisy along for the ride. The crown–and the intriguing Miles–might be trying to make Daisy into a lady . . . but Daisy may just rewrite the royal rulebook to suit herself.

My Thoughts

Okay, I have to admit that I’m not really feeling this cover. It’s giving me too many Princess Diaries vibes. And not in a good way. Those covers (or at least, the MMP versions of them) were blugh! I think this one could be a lot better without the diamond-looking title treatment. A handwritten font also could have made it less kiddish.

I like the crown design in the background, though…

***

The Emerald Sea
(The Glittering Court #3)
Publication Date: June 26, 2018
Hardcover, 400 pages, Razorbill
Genres: YA, Fantasy

The dazzling conclusion to #1 New York Times bestselling author Richelle Mead's The Glittering Court series.

Meet Tamsin, the Glittering Court's hard-angled emerald. Her outsized aspirations make her a fierce competitor, rising to the top of the ranks. But when the ship she boards for the New World is tragically lost at sea, she is quite literally thrown off-course.

My Thoughts

This book’s lack of an adequate description is messing with my post’s aesthetic. *sigh*

I actually really like this cover. The model has freckles, which is really cool. I’m super happy they didn’t Photoshop them away. She’s also a redhead, which makes the contrast between her hair and the green background really stand out.

Now, I just have to read and buy the series. ;)

***

Those are some recently revealed 2018 covers. What do you think? Do you like them?

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

Waiting on Wednesday: Broken Beautiful Hearts

 "Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, what's really got my pages in a twist is...

Broken Beautiful Hearts
Publication Date: February 6, 2018
Hardcover, Imprint
Genres: YA, Contemporary, Romance

In this gritty, contemporary romance, an injured star athlete escapes to a small southern town after an abusive relationship leaves her reeling.

Before, Peyton was a star soccer player with the perfect boyfriend, Reed. Now, she has a torn knee ligament, a scholarship on the line, and a shattered sense of self. No one believes Reed pushed her, causing her injury, and Peyton just wants to leave the trauma behind. Living with her uncle and twin cousins in their small, football-obsessed town seems like a great escape plan.

There, Peyton meets Owen—high school classmate and local MMA fighter. Though Owen is charming and gentle, Peyton is determined to repress her growing attraction. But when her old and new life collide, Peyton must reclaim the truth of her past in order to save her future.

With southern charm, underground martial arts, and red-hot chemistry, Kami Garcia’s second contemporary romance will steal your breath away.

My Thoughts

I haven’t read Kami Garcia’s other YA contemporary romance book yet, but this one sounds good. It has an MMA fighter in it. I love when there are MMA fighters in contemporary romance books. That trope reminds me a little of Jamie McGuire’s Beautiful Disaster, only in YA form. I liked that book, so let’s hope this one is good too.

What book are you waiting for this Wednesday?

Tuesday, December 5, 2017

Top Ten Bookish Settings I'd Love to Visit

 If you’re unaware, Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly original feature created by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week there’s a new Top Ten theme that the blogger responds to with their own list of answers.

This week’s theme is… *drumroll please*…

Ten Bookish Settings I’d Love to Visit

I feel like most people’s lists are going to be the same for this one, but who knows? Maybe you all will surprise me.

***

WONDERLAND

I might go nuts if I stayed here for longer than a few hours, but it’d be cool to visit briefly. I don’t think I could take the chaos of the Mad Hatter or the Red Queen. I also don't like tea.

https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fs-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com%2Foriginals%2F84%2F74%2F5c%2F84745c9d571398771c51cae71e7ed195.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.com%2Fpin%2F99642210476442570%2F&docid=3IGwtkT4U3p6tM&tbnid=j7yTx7g9a8_OiM%3A&vet=10ahUKEwiYrMuz2vHXAhUlhOAKHZifB4QQMwhDKAUwBQ..i&w=1451&h=751&bih=588&biw=1366&q=valyria&ved=0ahUKEwiYrMuz2vHXAhUlhOAKHZifB4QQMwhDKAUwBQ&iact=mrc&uact=8

ESSOS

I think it’d be cool to visit Valyria back in its heyday when dragons and the families that rode them were strongest.


MARS IN RED RISING

I don’t want to stay long. Just for a few days. People in Pierce Brown’s books have a tendency to get blown to smithereens.

https://www.google.com/search?biw=1366&bih=588&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=h_QlWtjMB6WIggeYv56gCA&q=rivendell&oq=rivendell&gs_l=psy-ab.3...225661.228905.0.229623.9.9.0.0.0.0.188.188.0j1.1.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..8.1.185...0.0.FabBDIi2kqM#imgrc=retyPEdYBPCdfM:

MIDDLE-EARTH

Just Hobbiton and Rivendell. I don’t need to visit dwarven mines or Mordor. Too many baddies in those areas.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwi37Ia13PHXAhWCTN8KHbDYCIMQjRwIBw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.howtotrainyourdragon.com%2Fexplore%2Fmap%2Fisle-of-berk&psig=AOvVaw0dQMjLlAPOCPIl2WIkRc_Y&ust=1512523756875688

BERK

How to Train Your Dragon was originally a book series. While I’ve never read the books, I really want a pet dragon. Correction: I just want Toothless.


HOGSMEADE

I want all the sweets, please. XD


DIAGON ALLEY

I want my own wand, gosh darnit! And an owl, and a Gringotts vault, and robes, and a cauldron. I want it all, and I want it now!


NARNIA

If you asked me this question eight or so years ago, I would tell you that I wanted to visit Narnia more than any place in the history of fictional places. However, as an adult, I realize Narnia is sometimes a little boring when compared to the top two on my list.


HOGWARTS

This one’s pretty obvious, right? Who doesn’t want to go to Hogwarts?


WESTEROS

I thought about this for a while. While any location in the Harry Potter universe would be great to visit, I think I’m more into Game of Thrones now than Harry Potter.

I wouldn’t want to stay in Westeros for very long, and I’d have to visit between the years of Robert’s Rebellion and the craziness that’s currently going on in their world, but it would be cool to see Winterfell and the Wall.

***

Alright, there you have it. My first Top Ten Tuesday and my list of bookish places I'd love to visit. What would you put on this list? Let me know in the comments section.
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