Christina's TOP 10 of 2012

2012 brought forth a whole slew of Amazing books! As you've all read through the year many books are books that will forever stay on my favorites shelf! I hope that the website did what I intended it to do. Help readers find GREAT books to read! Now its my time to share with you all MY Top 10 of 2012!

HERE WE GO....

Click the links to see my reviews!

1. Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park

This book was just AMAZING!! I can read this a thousand times!

2. Reckless Magic by Rachel Higginson
If you haven't read this you are missing out! AMAZING series!

3. Fragile by M. Leighton
This book was heart-wrenching and so freaking AWESOME!

4. Fissure by Nicole Williams
If you've read about Patrick Hayward you will LOVE this book!

5. The Host by Stephenie Meyer
Stephenie Meyer outdid herself with this one! The alien romance? INCREDIBLE! 

6. Gabriel's Inferno by Sylvain Reynard
HOLY HOT PROFESSOR EMERSON!! 

7.A Song for Julia by Charles Sheehan-Miles
Sweet, emotional and chuck full of ROMANCE!! 

8. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Just pure fantastical! What a roller-coaster!

9. Slammed by Colleen Hoover
LOVED & DEVOURED it!

10.Wraith by Angel Lawson
Friendship, Love and Ghost? My type of book! 

THERE YOU HAVE IT!!

What are your faves of 2012??

Wishing for Someday Soon by Tiffany King

Book Description:
 
Seventeen year old Katelyn Richards is a stronger person than anyone will ever know, and that is just the way she wants it. Behind her normal facade lies the reality of a broken home life. Thanks to her abusive mother, a string of deadbeat stepfathers, and an unsympathetic system, Katelyn has learned that the only one she can count on is herself. Her life’s mission has become to shield her nine year old brother, Kevin, and to give him the future that they both wish for. A life with no more abuse, no worries about where their next meal will come from, and no more wondering if they will have a roof over their heads.
When her mother moves them again, this time to a small town in Montana, Katelyn’s resolve is shaken when she meets Max, a cute boy from her new school, who gets a glimpse into her real world. Max slowly manages to break through Katelyn’s wall of distrust, stirring up feelings she never saw coming. Now with her world more complicated than she ever intended, Katelyn struggles with the decision to follow her heart into the arms of the first boy she has ever loved. A decision that could risk the promise she made to protect Kevin, and to give them the ‘someday soon’ that is so close within their grasp.

Christina's BookReview

"I promise to protect you from any more harm, and I promise I will do everything in my power to make sure you get your ‘someday soon.’"

RECAP

Katelyn Richards is used to moving around and not getting attached to anything or anyone. She has been taking care of her brother while her dead beat mother “sleeps” her way through life. So when they set foot in a small town Montana it’s just another town another school and another place they will leave behind. What Katelyn doesn’t expect is the kindness of the residents. Especially the attention that Max gives her.


Will Katelyn finally find a place to call HOME? Or will she continue to push away anyone that gets to close?

MY TAKE

This book was an okay read. I’ve read books by Tiffany and was looking forward to reading this one as well. ALthough it was a good book I wished that it was as addicting as her prior reads. 

I felt like it was the same type of story I’ve read a million times. Girl is living in a rough situation, girl moves to new town, meets a good boy, they fall in love, she pulls away and boy shows her he cares, they live happily ever after. I’ve read it a few times already so reading a similar book was a little bit of a letdown.

I did like it; don’t get me wrong, but what I didn’t like was the insta-love. I didn’t feel any chemistry between the characters. I felt like the romance lacked depth. Max was perfect. Too perfect and a little boring.

The people in the town were also a little too perfect. There wasn’t any bad in the town, except Katelyn’s mother. Which to me is unrealistic now-a-days.

I understood where Kateyln was coming from with pulling away and I was sad about her home environment and loved her protective instinct for her brother. She was a good female protag. 

Overall an okay book. Likeable characters, good storyline, and a cute romance.

Tiffany is an incredible writer as you've seen in my former reviews of her books! I just think this wasn’t my book. So don’t let me make your decision!

I will let you decide!

HAPPY READING!!

The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Book Description:

Mara Dyer once believed she could run from her past.

She can’t.

She used to think her problems were all in her head.

They aren’t.

She couldn’t imagine that after everything she’s been through, the boy she loves would still be keeping secrets.

She’s wrong.

In this gripping sequel to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, the truth evolves and choices prove deadly. What will become of Mara Dyer next?

CHRISTINA'S BOOKREVIEW

"They rattled my cage to see if I’d bite. When they released me, they’d see that the answer was yes."

“The people we care about are always worth more to us than the people we don’t. No matter what anyone pretends.”

RECAP

Life for Mara is about to change on a whole new level. If she thought that her only problem was accidentally getting people killed she has another one coming. In Evolution Mara is faced with new dilemmas and is being stalked by a ghost from her past. One that no one believes is still alive. But she can't be crazy, someone is killing animals, someone is leaving her messages and someone wants her dead. No one will believes her and now she is stuck trying to convince them that she is "normal" when she is nothing of the sort.

In Evolution Noah is the only person that believes Mara. He is with her through all of her rough patches and is dead set on helping her find out who is stalking her. But even Noah see's the changes in Mara and starts to vehemently find answers for her and also for himself. But will trying to find answers lead to his demise?

Will Noah and Mara finally find out what their connection is? Will Noah be able to help Mara get a handle of her "abilities"? Or is Mara suffering from more then PTSD?

MY TAKE

I was going to wait a few days before writing this review because it will help me write a good review. SCREW that!! I read this book in 2 days! Yes 2! This book was totally freaking AMAZING!!!

I was so worried that it would suffer from the "Sequel Syndrome" but HECKS NO! It didn't!! This book was just as great as the first, maybe more! After the cliffhanger in The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer we are left with many unanswered questions and yes some are answered in Evolution but what you are left with is a whole slew of other questions! And that isn't a bad thing at all! When it comes to keeping the readers interested and on edge Michelle is BRILLIANT!

Mara is faced with the aftermath of her breakdown in Evolution and the realization that no one believes or will ever believe her. She tries to pretend once again that she's normal so that she won't be admitted. She is tested alot in this book and is thrown a whole new slew of new problems. But you have to admire her for her courage and her strength. She tries to fight back and that it what I loved about her. But there is only one person that believes her and that will always stick by her and that is Noah.

The relationship between Noah and Mara hits a whole different level in this book. A level that I just love! Even though Mara is a handful Noah is there to help her through it all and when they discover that their might be a possible connection between them he is the one that delves into it. He as well as Mara grows a lot in this book. But he is still a little distant with her and I wish he wouldn't be. But Noah is still his cocky, beautiful, and sweet self. His devotion to Mara is so sweet and so passionate that you totally swoon over him! He was and still is my book boyfriend!! Noah Shaw is the IT boy!! :D

The secondary characters are just as wonderful. We get more of Daniel in this book and I loved every part of it. He's the big brother every girl wants! There is also the re-emergence of the one and only Jamie! I was so sad when he was sent away in Unbecoming so I was glad to have him in Evolution and play such a integral part!

Evolution is filled with romance, suspense, action, and laughter! If you haven't picked up this series yet you are missing out!!

PICK this up! READ it! LOVE it!

 

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer-Review HERE

Bouquet Toss by Melissa Brown

Book Description:

Ever since Daphne Harper graduated from college, all of her friends have fallen in love, become engaged and walked down the aisle. Be it a blessing or a curse, Daphne (a hopeless romantic and perpetual single girl) catches the bouquet at every single wedding she attends.

Daphne’s love life is a mess. Her first love, Mayson, haunts her heart and keeps her from pursuing happiness with any man who comes along. As she struggles to move on from the one who got away, Daphne wonders if she will ever break her curse and find her happily ever after.

Christina's BookReview

RECAP

Daphne Harper is the “bouquet” girl at all the wedding’s she attends. All of her friends have found their soul mates and walked down the aisle. The only thing Daphne has done is catch the bouquet at their weddings.

Daphne thought she found the love of her life in Mayson, but that was shattered when he turned his back on her and walked away. Years later Daphne still can’t find the one. Because to her Mayson will always be it. And when he comes back Daphne vows to make it work this time.

But will she miss out on a chance at real love? Or will Mayson really be it?

MY TAKE

Ok I have to start off by saying that I truly wanted to be blown away by this book. I heard so many wonderful things and was looking forward to reading it. Unfortunately, I wasn’t impressed.

For the first half of this book I was just annoyed with Daphne and her obsession with Mayson. The guy did her dirty and left her and she was still strung up on him. And when he comes back and tries to make it right she practically drools over him. I’m not a fan of spineless heroine’s and Daphne was exactly that. And Mayson was a jerk and I didn’t like him one bit. The fact that she forgave him for EVERYTHING he did was ridiculous and made her lose points with me.

The only bright spot were the secondary characters and Tanner. From his first appearance I was all Team Tanner! When he finally became a focus in the book I was content and I enjoyed every part he was in. I also liked when he made his final stand and fought for his happiness. He was sweet, caring, loving but also didn’t put up with being anyone’s second and I loved that about him.

Elise, Morgan and Evan were great friends and I liked that they weren’t blinded by what was happening. I loved Evan and would like to read a book on him and his love life!

So all in all, I liked the second half of this book. The first, not at all.

I will let you to make your decision on it!

The Reluctant King by Rachel Higginson Release Day!

Okay readers so this is a first for me. I've never added a post that wasn't a review! Shocker right? But so true! I decided to take a risk! :-)

What made you do it, you ask? 

Well, at the beginning of this year I read a GREAT series! A series that will have me reading it more then once is hard to find, after Twilight of course. Yes I am a Twi-hard and I'm proud of it! :-) 

But anyways...

So I read The Star-Crossed series by the WONDERFUL, AMAZING, and LOVELY Rachel Higginson back in March and fell in love with it! The series is filled with lots of romance, action, dynamic friendships, hot guys and kick ass females! And now we finally get to have the spin-off for that series! The Reluctant King is set to release TODAY!! Everyone should read the The Star-Crossed Series and then pick up The Reluctant King! I don't think I've stirred any of you wrong yet, so listen to me! :D

Book Description:
 
Avalon St. Andrews has endured Hell and war in an attempt to secure freedom and immortality for his people. Raised and conditioned to be both warrior and leader, he now sits on a throne with his sister Eden, governing the Kingdom in peace. While his people enjoy the benefits of his struggle and loss, he is restless, bored and alone.

Avalon is summoned to fight to save his people once more as the Kingdom is threatened by a brand new evil. In addition to reigning in a kingship he doesn’t want, he is fighting against the very people he has fought so hard to protect. They are determined to throw away their newfound freedom and their newfound leaders.

In this war and in this kingship he feels alone. And for the first time he feels hollow. That is until Amelia Cartier shows up, invading his every thought and shaking up his carefully controlled world.

Now he faces yet another battle—making Amelia his queen.

For a review on Reckless Magic, the first book in The Star-Crossed series click HERE. 

A Song for Julia by Charles Sheehan-Miles

Book Description:

Everyone should have something to rebel against.

Crank Wilson left his South Boston home at sixteen to start a punk band and burn out his rage at the world. Six years later, he’s still at odds with his father, a Boston cop, and doesn’t ever speak to his mother. The only relationship that really matters is with his younger brother, but watching out for Sean can be a full-time job. The one thing Crank wants in life is to be left the hell alone to write his music and drive his band to success.

Julia Thompson left a secret behind in Beijing that exploded into scandal in Washington, DC, threatening her father's career and dominating her family's life. Now, in her senior year at Harvard, she's haunted by a voice from her past and refuses to ever lose control of her emotions again, especially when it comes to a guy.

When Julia and Crank meet at an anti-war protest in Washington in the fall of 2002, the connection between them is so powerful it threatens to tear everything apart.

Christina's BookReview

Recap

Julia Thompson is unlike her sister Alex in many ways. Julia is closed off and keeps to herself. She doesn't let people get close because letting people in opens her up to pain. Pain that Julia is working so hard to repress. There has been too much in her past. When Crank Wilson walks into her life he makes her feel alive for the first time ever. But opening up and letting him in isn't something Julia is willing to do. Not even if Crank tries to show her otherwise. 

Rock star, Crank Wilson has grown up with his share of difficult times. But unlike Julia he lives his life. Not is the best way but its a step up from how he grew up. When Julia stumbles into his life Crank will finally realize what real love is. Determined to show Julia that he can change and is willing to fight for her Crank weathers the ups and downs of Julia's turmoil. 

But will Julia ever open up? Will Crank finally realize that Julia needs to be set free?



My Take

I received and ARC of A Song for Julia from its amazing author and I must say that I was blown away.


In Charles's first book, Just Remember to Breathe, you are introduced to Alex Thompson and are thrown into her world and the world of the man she loves, Dylan Paris. During Alex's journey you are also introduced to the other Thompson girls and although I didn't think of wanting Julia's and Crank's story I am now excited that we did get it!

Julia's story is completely different from Alex's. Although they are sisters there is a gap in age which makes it hard to compare their situations. Julia is so strong but also so closed off to everyone around her. But there is reason to it and that reason makes you quickly sympathize with her. Julia's character is so easy to relate to that in some ways you feel like you are on the journey with her. Her journey of learning to trust in herself and in those that love her. Her past is one filled with so much heartache that all you want to do is reach through the book and hug her. Her pain, her suffering and her difficulty with healing is so heart-wrenching that you can't help but wish for this girl to finally accept herself and accept that she is loved. Bravo to Charles for eliciting those emotions in the readers because as many readers know it takes alot for that to happen.

And this story isn't complete without the amazing Male protag, Crank Wilson. When I thought that no one could be more perfect then Dylan Paris, Charles brings us another contender! Crank is your bad boy with a golden heart. But golden heart just doesn't seem to fit. Its so much more. Crank will make you swoon from his first sentence and then melt your heart throughout the book. Although he has had a rough childhood he is one strong man. His dedication to his sick brother, his family, his band, and Julia is unbreakable. He goes from not giving two shits about anything to wanting to be a better man and his transformation is incredible. I loved him and I'm sure everyone that reads this book will think the same.

Sean, Crank's brother, suffers from Asperger syndrome and seeing what that  is truly like is truly saddening but so incredible. The way Julia quickly becomes the one person that understands him is so amazing and so sweet. Seeing the true nature of the affect it has on a family is an aspect that I truly loved about his book. 

We also get to meet the Thompson sisters again and are again privy to Carrie's world. I for one cannot wait to read her story. She is truly and amazing sister and although she is the epitome of strength I'm sure that her story will be one that will capture our hearts.

So I don't have to say it but I will....PICK this up!! READ It! Fall in LOVE with it!!