f0zKg0J4zFLYz-Yq0aednQVqREE Once Upon a Prologue: December 2012
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Monday, December 31, 2012

Put A Bow On It - 2012 Final Wrap Up Post




I haven't been reading as much lately (though that's all about to change!) and I don't have a review for y'all today.  Instead, I'm going to dig through my 2012 archives and bring back a few of my favorite posts - ones I'm proud of, ones I had fun with this year. 


Favorite Reviews

Additions/Changes

Favorite Discussions
 
Misc


So what a fantastic year!  I'm looking forward to doing it all over again in 2013, and I hope y'all will be there with me!  Also, this is the final wrap up post...after this, the blog will return to review, discussions, etc.  :)

Friday, December 28, 2012

2012 End of the Year Survey Part 3





1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2012? 
I didn't meet as many new bloggers in 2012  - for shame, that's one of my goals in 2013 - but instead concentrated on getting to better know bloggers I was already following.  I think I did a decent job of that, and I'm still working on improving.  My favorite new-to-me book blog I discovered is Giselle at Book Nerd Canada.  Giselle is an amazing web designer (she's helping me re-design ONCE!) and her posts, especially her advice for bloggers, are great!
2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2012? 
My review of Send Me A Sign by Tiffany Schmidt.  I can't stop talking about this FANTASTIC book, and how much it touched my heart.  I remember crying while I wrote the review - this book meant THAT much to me.  I talked in the review about this, but I lost my Grandma Jean to cancer in 2009 and her loss hit me SO profoundly.  I miss her all the time.
 
Little Me with my Grandma Jean
3. Best discussion you had on your blog?
I've had some good ones, and people tell me my discussion posts and topics are awesome... (you can submit a topic here if you'd like!)  I think my favorite one was when I discussed how to get regular comments on your blog.  I have a pretty awesome group of people that make it a point to stop by my blog regularly and I love them for that.
4. Most thought-provoking review or discussion you read on somebody else’s blog? 
I'm incredibly fond of Rachel's Book Blogging 101 tips - I can always find something useful there, or a tip I'd forgotten that makes SO much sense.  I've also really enjoyed Anna's discussion posts! 
5. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?
Armchair BEA 2012!  It was SO much fun interacting and chatting with other bloggers, visiting participant's posts.  I even won an ARC of Crewel!  (Also it's interesting to see that despite the fact that I read a lot of books after Armchair BEA, most of my "best of" books this year were ones I'd already read at that point!) 
6. Best moment of book blogging in 2012?
 7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?
I'd say my discussion posts are the most popular!  Also my review of Anna and the French Kiss got like 25 comments, which was AWESOME.
8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?
My review of Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone.  It deserves ALL THE PRAISE.   
9. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?
Epic Reads, and as a result, Tea Time with Epic Reads!  I love Margut and Aubry and their Tea Time videos on Wednesday.  They are too awesome and their site is a MUST for book lovers!
10.  Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?
I originally challenged myself to read 100 books - which is HUGE because I barely made my goal of 50 last year.  I broke 100 awhile back and will hopefully reach 120 this year!  I'm setting the same goal for 2013 of 100!  
Looking Ahead...
1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2012 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2013?
So many.  *sighs*  Probably Something Like Normal by Trish Doller.  I SO SO wanted to read it this year, so I've made it part of my 2013 TBR Challenge.
2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2013?
Check it here
3. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging In 2013?
I have a whole post coming up soon on this very topic but I'd say, get back to the reasons I started this blog, and focus more on those goals and values!  
 

Thursday, December 27, 2012

2012 End of the Year Survey Part 2





Happy Holidays, everyone!

Continuing from Part 1, this is Jamie's year-in-review book survey, which all things considered, is pretty awesome!  Jamie definitely asks the tough questions.  I was practically sweating doing part 1!  This is part 2, and tomorrow I'll have part 3 (the final portion) up.  This is a lot of fun so be sure to link me to YOUR survey and link up at Jamie's site!
11. Most memorable character in 2012? 
Okay truth: I read about SO MANY amazing characters - both heroines and heroes - in 2012.  It's impossible to pick just one, but as I'm thinking back, one does stand out, and that's Rachel from Defiance by C.J. Redwine.  Rachel is one of THE strongest, most resilient heroines I've ever read about - she's up there with Katniss.  That girl endured SO much and just kept going.  I really, really admire her.  
Other characters I loved, and will NEVER forget about: Aria from Under the Never Sky, Kaleb from Timepiece by Myra McEntire, Alina from Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo, Gyver from Send Me A Sign by Tiffany Schmidt.  
12. Most beautifully written book read in 2012?
Leaving out 2013 galleys I read, probably The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg.  Jess's way with words is just beyond description.  Her style is heart-felt and elegant, without being too poetic to be straight-forward.  I NEEDED this book when I read it, and it has such healing power! 
Other books that were in the running: Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson for the gorgeous prose, Send Me A Sign by Tiffany Schmidt for making me cry so many times with the messages of hope, and The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna for being just so creative and beautiful!  
13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2012? 
No question here - that goes to Send Me A Sign by Tiffany Schmidt.  I heard about it, added it to my TBR, and then honestly didn't think much about it for awhile, since I was buried under review books.  Time came closer to its release, and I saw it on NetGalley.  I hesitated to read Send Me A Sign because it's about a teen dealing with cancer, but oh my gosh.  It was BEAUTIFUL.  It was amazing.  I cried so much reading it, but looking back, I'm SO SO glad I read Tiffany's book.  It resonated so deeply with me - made me remember my grandparents, before cancer took them, and made me really LOVE the characters.  If you'd like to know more about this book, you can read my review here, or see me reading from it here.
Other honorable mentions: Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone.  I could go on and on about how many reasons I loved this book but I'll just link to my review, and to this tweet from Tamara.  
14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2012 to finally read? 
Anna and the French Kiss!  I felt like the last person in existence who hadn't read this one, so I finally picked up my copy in February and read it in one day, according to Goodreads.  I think that's true!  And since I never actually got around to posting my Goodreads review, you can see my thoughts here, but to make it simple: BEST BOOK EVER.  I'm glad I read it when I did, because by the time I got to Lola, I was on the beach in Florida and read it in the sunshine with waves as the background.  I'm going back to Florida in May of this year so I maaaaay buy Isla and take it with me then!
15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2012? 
Whatever burned between us was just as bright, just as undeniable.  The moment our lips met, I knew with pure and piercing certainty that I would have waited for him forever.  - Shadow and Bone
16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2012? 
Longest: The Diviners by Libba Bray at 592 pages.  I was intimidated by its size, but once I started it, I didn't even notice.  It was THAT good.
Shortest: Destroy Me by Tahereh Mafi at only 97 pages (in e-book form.)  But just because this was short does NOT mean it wasn't emotional and powerful!  It swayed me to Team Warner (and Unravel Me only cemented that.) 
17. Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It? (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc. etc.) Be careful of spoilers!
Ummm, shoot, again, I'm trying to leave out 2013 galleys (because UH HOLY HOTNESS IN UNRAVEL ME).  Probably...most of the scenes between Anna and Kai in Sweet Evil.  *fans self*
18. Favorite Relationship From A Book You Read In 2012 (be it romantic, friendship, etc).
Okay now this one just isn't fair.  There were SO MANY relationships that I thought were well done.  My FAVORITE romantic relationship was Mal/Alina from Shadow and Bone (though that is also under the friendship category.)  
Other favorite romantic relationships: Kyle/Mac from Hemlock, Gyver/Mia from Send Me A Sign, Bennett/Anna from Time Between Us, Kai/Anna from Sweet Evil, Aiden/Alex from Deity, and Logan/Rachel from Defiance.  Oh!  And Harlin/Charlotte from A Want So Wicked
My favorite friendship (GAH SUCH A HARD QUESTION) was probably Perry and Roar from Under the Never Sky.  I fell HARD for Roar, and I enjoyed his interactions with Perry.  Other friendship I liked: Kami and Angela from Unspoken, Jordan and Henry from Catching Jordan, and Haven and Dante from Illuminate.  
19. Favorite Book You Read in 2012 From An Author You Read Previously
The good/bad thing about 2012 was that almost all the authors I read were debut authors.  So I don't have a lot to choose from here, but I'm going to go with Stealing Parker by Miranda Keneally.  It was actually BETTER than Catching Jordan!
20. Best Book You Read That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else:
The blogging community at large has recommended a LOT to me this year.  I heard about several books from WoW posts, or by signing up for ARC tours, and even from publishers.  Hmmm.  And I am terrible at remembering who talked about which books!  I think I'm going to go with Starling by Lesley Livingston because I was able to read it thanks to Anna at Literary Exploration, who a) talked it up to me and b) loaned me her ARC!  
  
Feel free to add your answers for any of these questions OR link me to your "best of" post!  And watch for part 3 (blogging questions) tomorrow!

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Waiting On Wednesday - #41: Rise by Anna Carey








Bestselling author Lauren Kate calls Eve “a gripping, unforgettable adventure—and a fresh look at what it means to love,” and bestselling author Cynthia Hand calls Once “thoughtful, heart-wrenching, and romantic.” Fans of Matched, The Handmaid's Tale, and the first two books in the Eve series will be swept away by Anna Carey’s tale of romance and sacrifice in the chilling dystopia of The New America.



Eve is trapped in the City of Sand, married to a man of her father’s choosing, but she can’t forget her love for Caleb—or her passion for the rebel cause. When rebel armies invade the city, Eve uses her position as princess for the ultimate act of rebellion—to kill her father, the king. Then tragedy strikes, and Eve must choose who to leave behind, who to save, and who to fight in this final battle for freedom.




Rise by Anna Carey | Publication: April 2, 2013 (Harper Collins) | Add it to your TBR!

Why It's Worth Waiting On: So, here's the deal: I don't think I could call this series a favorite, but darn it, I've read the first two, and stuck with the series and with Eve, even when I wanted to bash her head in, so I feel like I owe it to myself to finish this series.  I don't hate it - I really do like Caleb, Arden, and the overall story, so, I'm kind of excited to see how it all ends!





This weekly feature is graciously hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine. You know that feeling you get when you're browsing upcoming books on Goodreads or Amazon and one strikes your fancy?  Maybe you squee.  Maybe you giggle to yourself.  Maybe you bounce in your seat. We all get excited (I do a combination of all three of the previous choices...) about new books, be it a favorite author you're familiar with, or someone whose work you'll be reading for the first time.  Jill's meme gives us the chance to spotlight what we are anxiously awaiting this week.

Monday, December 24, 2012

2012 End of the Year Survey Part 1





MERRY ALMOST CHRISTMAS, Y'ALL!

I didn't want the blog to be empty this week, but I also am running a bit low on reviews, and I wanted to participate in Jamie's survey SO, I decided to split it into a few parts this week, to give me a bit of breathing room and to have some fun wrapping up this year.  This is the "best books of..." part.  If you want to participate, the survey questions are located HERE.  Anyone who links up by January 10th, 2013 is in the drawing for a book of their choice from Jamie, too!
 

1. Best Book You Read In 2012? (You can break it down by genre if you want)

There's no possible way I can pick just one...okay I probably could, but that wouldn't be very fun at all.  I've read SO many fantastic books this year.  So I'm doing this by genres.

Young Adult Contemporary: Send Me A Sign by Tiffany Schmidt (my review).
Young Adult Fantasy: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (my review).
Young Adult Paranormal Romance: Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock (my review).
Young Adult Sci-Fi: Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone (my review).
Young Adult Dystopian: Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi (my review).

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

That would have to be Starters by Lissa Price. I honestly thought this book would blow me away, but it left me VERY under-whelmed. 

3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2012?

Probably...Lucid by Adrienne Stoltz/Ron Bass.  I originally wasn't planning to read this one at all, but then I ended up on an ARC tour for it, and it really blew me away - kept me guessing, made me care about the characters, even made me cry.  I never would have thought I'd love it like I did!  

Runner-up: The Diviners by Libba Bray.  I knew I was going to love this one, but man, I LOVED it a LOT.  It almost gave me nightmares, which is awesome.  I don't scare easily, but Libba's book scared me!  It was so awesome - the characters, setting, story. 
  
4. Book you recommended to people most in 2012?
If you've been to my blog much this year (or worse, if you know me) I couldn't STOP talking about Shadow and Bone.  Fantasy is my "comfort zone" genre, the genre I feel like is my reading "home" and Leigh Bardugo's debut novel really made a huge impact on me.  It broke my heart in ways I wasn't sure I COULD be broken - and then it put me back together.  I fell in love with the characters...hard.  I've stalked Goodreads since then, and squee'ed embarrassingly loudly over the title, cover, and synopsis.   
5. Best series you discovered in 2012?
I read a great many debuts that are the first book in a series, but I didn't get to read many sequels/second books IN a series.  Which is a bit sad, but really not, because I'm more of a fan at times of stand-alones...and this way I know which series (of the ones I read/wanted to read) are worth continuing and which aren't.

So Miranda Keneally's Hundred Oaks series gets to be my favorite.  I read Catching Jordan (finally) AND Stealing Parker this year, and am really looking forward to Things I Can't Forget next year.  Miranda is a fabulous writer who tells amazing stories!
  
 6. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2012?

Wow, SO many...I almost don't know where to start.  I'd say...NOT counting debut authors:

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?
Since although I like it, I don't read a great deal of historical fiction, I'd have to say Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers.  It.  Was.  Mind.  Blowing.  SO SO good.  I'm ready to do bad things for a galley of Dark Triumph, because...the world-building, the characters, the subtle-yet-intense romance...GAH.     

8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2012?


Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi!  I was GLUED to the pages, to see what happened next, where the characters went.  I loved, loved, LOVED the characters and relationships.  I'm actually re-reading it now!
  
9. Book You Read In 2012 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year:
Well, the problem is there are SO MANY.  But MOST likely...probably Defiance by C.J. Redwine.  It gave me ALL THE FEELINGS and I want to re-read it to let a lot of the details and finer points really sink in.
10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2012?
 I read a lot of books with beautiful covers this year but Sweet Evil wins.  I remember almost crying when I got this galley - I wanted it SO FLIPPING BAD.  Then I got my hands on it, and WHAT a book.  WOW.  And that cover.  *swoons*
 
Check back on 12.27.12 for part 2 and 12.28.12 for part 3!  In the meantime, if you're doing this survey, link me to yours so  I can check out YOUR answers!

Friday, December 21, 2012

2013 Blog Ch-ch-ch-changes!





Is it ironic to talk about rebooting my blog on the day the world is supposed to end?  Cause, yeah, that's what this post is about. 

You'll hear me talking A LOT in the coming months about "getting back to the basics."  I have thought a great deal about this blog - where I am, where I want to be, who I am, who I'm not.  And the truth is, this year I let a great deal go to my head.  I haven't talked publicly about my struggles with blogger jealousy, or coveting followers or anything like that a whole lot, but that doesn't mean I haven't had those thoughts.  Thoughts I want to get away from. 

Simply put, I need a fresh start.

So Once Upon a Prologue is getting a reboot.  What does that mean?  Here's an idea of what you can expect:

  • The biggest changes first: in early 2013 Once Upon a Prologue will be getting a new design, AND moving to Wordpress.  I can't wait to debut my new design!  I am legit SO EXCITED.  And I think the move to WP will be awesome. 
  • I will be posting more about both, especially  the move, way ahead of time so you can be prepared.
  • I am aware that I may lose followers, because Wordpress = losing GFC.  That's a risk I have to take to become a better blogger.
  • I will be having more FUN here at the blog.  I started taking myself too seriously, and that isn't who I am.  So expect more zany posts, humor, etc.
  • My review format is changing, as some of you may have noticed.  It's essentially ALL the same information, just looks a bit different.  I added a small "about the author" section at the end.  
  • I'm putting LESS of an importance on memes.  Top Ten Tuesday is staying.  Waiting On Wednesday will be once a month or maybe once every other week after January.  
  • I will possibly be adding a monthly wrap up posts with blog-o-sphere news, posts I loved, book-ish squee news/etc.  Would LOVE your input on when this should be - monthly, twice a month?  
  • My Stacking the Shelves (Once Upon A Book Haul) will be coming around ONLY once a month.  No more once a week - I got into trying to  "keep up" with my fellow bloggers and that, girls and guys, is NOT what it's about.  

That's where my head's at right now.  I will keep y'all informed of all changes, where to find me, what's in store, etc in advance.  There will still be discussion posts, reviews, and giveaways, but also more fun posts! 

 So let's make 2013 great!

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Review: Splintered by A.G. Howard






Splintered by A.G. Howard
Expected publication: January 1, 2013 (Amulet)
Source: E-ARC from NetGalley
Rating: Swoon-worthy
___

This stunning debut captures the grotesque madness of a mystical under-land, as well as a girl’s pangs of first love and independence. Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.

When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family. She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own.





Memorable Quote 

Before I can respond, his warm, soft mouth touches my forehead, my temple, and then my jaw.  Each time, his labret gently grazes my skin.  He stalls at my jawline and bends to gather me close for a hug, nose tucked against my neck.

"Never scare me like that again."

It doesn't matter that we're wet; heat radiates through our sopping clothes.  I weave my gloves through his hair.  

"You came back for me."

He nuzzles closer in the crook of my jaw, and a powerful wave of emotion pulses through him.

"I'll always come back for you, Al."      


My Review

I finished Splintered almost a month ago at the time of writing this review, but as I searched the pages for a quote to share with y'all, I found myself falling in love with A.G. Howard's debut novel all over again: with the ethereal setting, with the beautiful writing style and imagery conjured while reading snippets, and with the amazing characters.   I went on a journey while reading Splintered, and it is one of the few books that I immediately went online to pre-order once I finished.  Splintered took me to Wonderland - a different Wonderland than I imagined - and truth be told, I left a part of my heart there.  

Somewhere between the first and last page, I fell in love: with Alyssa, with Jeb, with Morpheus, and with the Wonderland A.G. Howard has imagined.  Picture, if you will, a scared Alice who came back from Wonderland, and got some of the important details wrong. This isn't the Wonderland Alyssa's classmates tease her about.  This is Wonderland turned inside out, painted entirely different in its macabre, vivid reality than in the book written around Alyssa's ancestor's stories.  Everything Alyssa thought she knew is wrong or false - more horrifying than she imagined, darker, more lush and sinister, or seductive.  Splintered's world-building is fabulous and flawless - a sensual place I never wanted to leave.  

If asked to choose a favorite character, I'm not sure I could, with any certainty.  The characters are all stand-outs - terrifically fleshed-out people who feel real in their complexities.  Alyssa is independent, and her fears of ending up like her mother are so genuine; she's easily a sympathetic character.  Jeb is swoon-worthy by definition (mine at least): protective, a loyal friend, sensitive, honest; his disbelief at finding himself in Wonderland translates well to the reader, and I wish we could have seen a few things from his point of viewI fell immediately for Jeb - we're talking can't-eat-can't-sleep, head-over-heels, drawing-his-name-in-my-notebook love.  But there's also Morpheus.  Oh, Morpheus: sly, sexy, tricksy, mischevious...with hos own way of caring.  I won't say there's a love triangle to Splintered, but there are definitely two amazing boys - the kind I wish were real!

If you're looking for a thrilling, un-put-downable novel, then you must read Splintered.  I didn't know whether to clap in geeky joy or gasp in fright throughout this book.  Through Alyssa's tests, and her journey of self-discovery, as well as unraveling her family's secrets, I felt like I was right there with her, walking just a step behind her, shadowing her journey.  I loved the familiar Wonderland elements, but I also loved how A.G. Howard continually took my breath away with one thing meaning another, and each new plot twist. A very few I saw coming, but mostly, I sat amazed, turning the pages as fast as I could.  I cheered for Alyssa when she succeeded, and wanted to jump into Splintered to help her at times.  But it was her quest, her mission, and it warms my heart that she did it all out of love for her mother and father, and in the process, learned who she really was. 

The bottom line: read this book.  I don't think you'll regret it.  Even if you aren't an ALICE fan, there's a heart-pounding adventure, and an unforgettable romance, not to mention a story I'll be thinking about for a long, long time.     


You're sure to fall for:


The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor



About A.G.

A.G. Howard was inspired to write SPLINTERED while working at a school library. She always wondered what would've happened had the subtle creepiness of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland taken center stage, and she hopes her darker and funkier tribute to Carroll will inspire readers to seek out the stories that won her heart as a child.

When she's not writing, A.G.'s pastimes are reading, rollerblading, gardening, and family vacations which often include impromptu side trips to 18th century graveyards or condemned schoolhouses to appease her overactive muse.


Visit A.G. online at: her website  | her twitter | her pinterest 

Shop for Splintered at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Waiting On Wednesday - #40: Charm & Strange by Stephanie Kuehn






{ ++ }  This weekly event/feature is graciously hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine. You know that feeling you get when you're browsing upcoming books on Goodreads or Amazon and one strikes your fancy?  Maybe you squee.  Maybe you giggle to yourself.  Maybe you bounce in your seat. We all get excited (I do a combination of all three of the previous choices...) about new books, be it a favorite author you're familiar with, or someone whose work you'll be reading for the first time.  Jill's meme gives us the chance to spotlight what we are anxiously awaiting this week.


Sixteen-year-old Winston Winters is awaiting the inevitable.

Stuck at a remote Vermont boarding school in the wake of unimaginable tragedy, Win knows it’s only a matter of time until he transforms into something dark, something wolfish, just like his father. Until he hurts people too. So in order to do the least amount of harm to those around him, he masters the art of shutting others out.

But meeting fellow cross-country runner Jordan Herrera thwarts Win's plans for emotional isolation. A scholarship student with secrets of her own, Jordan’s boldness and wit draw him in. And when she asks Win to accompany her to an all-night party in the deep New England woods, he’s torn. Because he’s not sure they should get any closer. He’s not sure Jordan will be safe with him. But she insists. And he goes.

Win wants to believe he’s not dangerous. That he would never hurt someone he cares for. But as he leads Jordan into the wilderness with his father’s blood running through his veins and wild wolves running through his fragile mind, Win knows this is simply not true…


Charm & Strange by Stephanie Kuehn | Publication: June 11, 2013 (St Martin's Press) | Add it to your TBR!
Why It's Worth Waiting On: I've been following this one for awhile, since before it had a cover.  The mysterious cover only added to the intrigue of this book!  I can't wait to get my hands on Steph's story.  I love ALL things wolf-ish so I'm really psyched for this one.  




What books are YOU “Waiting On” this Wednesday?  Be sure to link me to YOUR post so I can check it out!

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Top Ten Tuesday - #42: 2012's Top Ten Books





{ ++ } Hosted by the girls over at The Broke and the Bookish, this meme features a different theme every week, and hey, it's Tuesday - we've got the rest of the week ahead of us.  We all need a little fun, and who doesn't love the challenge of ranking their top 10 anything...especially when it comes to books?!  I know I do, hence why I thought it'd be fun to participate, and spice things up a little!
 
 
December 18, 2012: Top Ten Books I Read In 2012
 
Unlike every other top ten...these ARE in order of favorite, although ordering them was like picking out my favorite type of chocolate...almost impossible!  But anyway, these books made this list because they are amazing in every single way - they made me laugh, scream, cry.  I'll read ANYTHING these authors write.
 
{1} Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo | my review
{2} Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock | my review
{3} Send Me a Sign by Tiffany Schmidt | my review
{4} Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone | my review
{5} Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi | my review
{6} Splintered by A.G. Howard | review coming soon!
{7} Timepiece by Myra McEntire | my review
{8} Deity by Jennifer L Armentrout | my review
{9} Defiance by C.J. Redwine | my review
{10} The Diviners by Libba Bray | my review  
 
Honorable mentions: Illuminate by Aimee Agrestie (my review,) and Through To You by Emily Hainsworth (my review.) 
 
 
What books made YOUR Top Ten this week?  Or if you don’t participate, what do you think about mine?  Be sure to link me to your post so I can check it out!