So to recap 2011, I’d like to share my top six favorite books I read this year (in no particular order)!

1. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi. I didn’t blog about this book, but it’s one of my recent favorites. I liked how it combined dystopia with the supernatural, and I’m looking forward to what this series brings next.
2. A Long, Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan. I didn’t like this book at all at first. I thought it was weird, didn’t get it, and almost stopped reading. Until I kept reading, and I enjoyed the mystery and suspense, the action, and then, the story and the characters. It was certainly unique, very jarring at times, and I loved it.
3. Lauren Kate’s Fallen series. I avoided these books for so long, I read the synopses, always kept picking them up at the store and the library and then putting them back down. But when I got my Nook, I checked them out from my local eLibrary and fell in love with Daniel and Luce, and can’t wait for the 4th book!
4. All of Mercedes Lackey’s Tales of the Five Hundred Kingdoms. I picked these up for the first time this year as well, via my Nook and the local library. These books were hilarious, and something completely new when I was seeking a fresh voice from an author.
5. Birthmarked by Caragh M. O’Brien. This is another book I kept annoying  until I finally checked it out and loved it! I enjoyed the romance in this story so much. I have Prized on my Nook right now to read very, very soon!
6. Hourglass by Myra McEntire. I have to be honest, any time travel romance is going to get me, and I loved this.

Be sure to check these out!

In my bed. Cuddling with a cat. I now have the ability to blog from anywhere!

In other news, what am I reading? I just finished The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson, which was phenomenal. All the buzz, well deserved. I loved the epicness of the story, along with the fantasy combined with religion. A truly unique tale.

I hope my few readers out there are celebrating TRW with a good book! Give me some recs!

Dash & Lily has been one of my favorite audiobooks to listen to thus far. Each chapter switches point of view between Dash and Lily, and the narrators are perfect for the voice of the characters, in my opinion. I’m pretty picky about listening to someone read me a book–I can’t stand annoying voices, but these two people are perfect!

Cohn and Levithan have again crafted a really great read. The story begins when Dash finds a red moleskine notebook in a bookstore in NYC, daring him to take on the tasks listed by the author of the notebook. He does so, and then dares Lily on to another task, the game goes back and forth between the two, with each gradually learning more and more about each other, all over the Christmas holidays. Dash and Lily are witty, unique, well-read, and intellectual beyond their teenage years, but still extremely relatable and very funny.

I have a little over an hour to go on this one, and can’t wait! The suspense on what is going to happen with these two is killing me, and I look forward to hearing the end. It’s a short audiobook that will appeal to many ages, especially those that may lose interest easily while listening. Can I get any recommendations for my next audiobook? I can’t wait to try another!

Purchase Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares at Audible.com or borrow from your library powered by OverDrive!

New American Library, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-451-23268-7
336 pages
Borrowed from my local library!

Theia lives under the constant watch of her father, a strict man, with a cold personality grown from the devastating loss of his beloved wife, and Theia’s mother, years ago. A British girl living in California, she’s always felt out of place, except with her two best friends, Amelia and Donny. Everything changes the night a man falls from the sky, burning with fire, and as she kneels beside him, he disintegrates into dust. From that night on, she dreams of him, until unexpectedly he shows up, unharmed, as a fellow student in her school by the name of Haden Black.

Haden is at times devastatingly charming and handsome, and at others cruel. Theia can’t comprehend his behavior, but is inexpliciably drawn to him. Despite the warning bells ringing in her head, she grows closer to him, even as he pulls away. They meet in her dreams at night, and by day they dance around each other, both gradually realizing they are quickly moving into a dangerous situation. And when Haden’s dark past and the truth behind his presence in her small town are revealed, Theia will have to fight for herself, her friends, and Haden’s soul.

Gwen Hayes enters the world of the paranormal with a fascinating romance between two characters that are at times likable and at others extremely frustrating. The novel starts out fairly typically for this genre, and for my tastes, much too typically. Girl has an unexplained encounter, girl dreams of boy, girl meets boy at school, girl gets partnered with boy in a class, boy tells girl he’s dangerous, girl still likes boy, etc. The cliches at the beginning of this novel were almost too much for me, but I am thankful I kept reading past. Once the beginning of the story is established, Hayes quickly moves us into something new and fresh, envoking storylines including magic, the underworld, and even a cross-dressing psychic! While Haden and Theia’s romance is, as standard with this genre, fast and heavy, it still remains in the realm of the believable, and the added stories of Theia’s friends, and her relationship with her father, create depth for the characters. I enjoyed where the story takes the characters, and look forward to more stories from Hayes, as I expect this may be the beginning of a series. However, while Hayes does create a unique world with interesting characters, I warn readers that this still feels fairly typical of a paranormal romance, but, I loved it!

Recommended For: Fans of Rachel Vincent’s Soul Screamer series, Alyson Noel’s The Immortals series, and fans of Maggie Stiefvater’s novels.

Check Out: The recent reviews by Confessions of a Bookaholic, Alpha Reader, and The Allure of Books and Gwen Hayes’ website!

I read Maria Snyder’s teen sci-fi, Inside Out last year and reviewed on my blog. I enjoyed the novel and looked forward to the sequel. I’ve finally have had a chance to read it! I checked out the book from the library, unfortunately having to use Interlibrary Loan (my local branches didn’t have it!). I devoured the book over this past weekend.

In Outside In, Trella’s world has been shaken up after the recent rebellion. A Committee has been formed, consisting of scrubs (the lower class) and uppers (the upper class), and while all should be well now that power is distributed equally, there are still many problems. The Committee is so large that no decisions are ever made, and the scrubs are still unhappy with their situation, citing their jobs and living quarters as unfair, as compared to what the uppers have. On top of all this, Trella is having issues with her possible birth-mother, Dr. Lamont, and her boyfriend, Riley.

Factions form, and people, both scrub and upper alike, begin to get hurt or killed in the ensuing explosions and fires. Loyalties are tested and Trella doesn’t know who to trust. But when it comes down to the line, who is the enemy, and how can she put her fears aside to become a leader and put things, finally, to right?

In most ways I love Trella, and in others I want to shake her and say “what are you doing!” She’s equally admirable and frustrating. Stubborn and reckless, but very loyal and smart. Her character growth throughout this book is gradual and clear and also very believable. She comes to terms with her role in the past rebellion, as well as how she is seen as a leader for the people of Inside. Her relationship with Riley isn’t very prominent in this book, and that’s OK, as you get more time with Dr. Lamont, her supposed birth mother, as well as other characters. This book is again fast-paced and suspense-driven. The events of the novel unfold very quickly, even though a span of many weeks pass. It’s a very gripping read that I think most readers will find consuming.

Outside In contained quite a few twists and surprises which kept twisting in on themselves, leaving me wonder who I, as the reader, could trust, as well as who Trella could believe in. Common assumptions and loyalties from the previous novel were tested, and I felt this book took the story of this world to a new dimension. I enjoyed it and look forward to more work from Maria Snyder!

Copy borrowed from the library!

In Everlasting, Camille is the daughter of a ship captain in the year 1855. She’s lived her life back and forth between San Francisco and her voyages on her father’s ship. Now that Camille is 17, she’s engaged to a man that is a partner in her father’s company, but before her marriage, she is taking one last trip with her father to Australia. On the ship is an friend of the family and first mate, a young man named Oscar. On the way to Australia, Camille discovers many things aren’t as they seem–her father’s company is failing, and if she doesn’t marry his partner, the company will become bankrupt, a mysterious letter talking about a magical stone is the reason behind the Australia trip, and Oscar seems to be acting oddly around her, and she can’t help but feel different in his presence as well.

After a disastrous ship wreck, the letter, which contains information on Camille’s long-missing mother, leads herself and Oscar to Adelaide, where they must fight against those that also want what is in the letter, as well as their growing feelings for each other. Through a series of twists and surprises, Camille fights to find this magical stone, as well as find a way to let her true feelings shine through. This is a book ripe with adventure and romance, with waves of thrills and suspense.

Camille is a relatable character, in many ways. Her eagerness to please her father, who has become distant, her romances, and her passion for the sea, are admirable traits. I enjoyed the relationship between her and Oscar especially. Compared to many other novels today, where characters jump into relationships with others right off the bat, this felt fresh, and realistic. The voyage on the sea, and in Australia’s jungles, was thrilling and often had me on the edge of my seat. The cast of characters faced a series of villains, and you never knew what was going to happen next. Several surprising twists presented themselves in this novel, and I never felt they were contrived, but a necessary part of the story. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and was delighted to see there will be a sequel next year, called The Eternal Sea. I recommend this book for fans of historical fiction and romance, but also for fans of a good mystery as well.

3Q, 4P, J/S

Purchased from local Borders!

For More: Visit Angie Frazier’s website and check out the gorgeous book trailer for Everlasting!

Years in the future, humanity is slowly reaching extinction. The human race has perfected the genetic code, with a horrible price: the children of the “perfect” generation die early, females at age 20 and males at age 25. No cure can be found, and the “virus” hits all without exception. The world is in chaos, and the vast majority lives in poverty, orphaned, struggling to survive. In order to help prolong the human race, the wealthy pay for people called Gatherers to kidnap young women, forcing them into captivity and polygamous marriages.

In Wither, Rhine has been kidnapped, along with two other young women, one really just a girl, and sold to a wealthy man named Linden. The three women adapt to the situation in very different ways. Rhine, determined to make an escape the first chance possible, Jenna, the eldest, resigned to her fate, but desperately angry, and Cecily, only 13, eager to please her new husband and become the wife he expects. While Rhine plots her escape, she gets to know a servant, Gabriel, as well as her sister wives, learning many unexpected things about them, and herself, along the way. Her goal is to fight for her freedom and be reunited with her twin brother, but one main thing stands in her way, Linden’s father, Vaughn, a man that will do anything to find an antidote and ensure his son lives past 25.

I drank this book in one solid gulp and couldn’t put it down as soon as I picked it up. It’s dark, depressing, tear-inducing, but intensely hopeful. Every time I turned the page I eagerly awaited to hear what would happen next for Rhine. DeStefano creates a building pressure throughout the novel, that meets several boiling points throughout as Rhine, and the reader, discover even more dark secrets about the world, Vaughn, and what exactly is going on in this household. Rhine’s passion for her freedom, and her kindness and love toward her sister wives is admirable, but I found her character realistic, at times unsure, but steadfastly holding to her memories of a life before. While these characters live in a world extremely unlike our own, readers will enjoy this new twist of a dystopian novel, and hope beyond all hope that the next novel will be soon forthcoming!

4Q, 4P, S

ARC received from Simon & Schuster – thank you!

For More: Learn about the author, Lauren DeStefano, at her website!

That’s not to say I didn’t thoroughly enjoy the housekeepers in both of these stories, especially Amma in Beautiful Creatures! I wanted an Amma all of my own! Dorothea, the housekeeper in Hush, Hush wasn’t really around much, but she seemed like a great lady. But back to Amma, the coolest housekeeper of all time. I mean, the woman was some sort of tarot-card reading wisewoman. As I read, I pictured her as Dr. Miranda Bailey from Grey’s Anatomy. Short and adorable, but tough and powerful.

Amma?

I can’t remember if she was actually described in the novel, but she’ll always be Miranda Bailey to me! I’m anxiously awaiting Beautiful Darkness to see what’s up with Lena and Ethan after the events in the first book!

But back to Hush, Hush! I get that Patch is hot, bad-boy, super-muscular, dripping with desire, steamy hot. But then I see his name and it’s like someone popped the Elmo balloon I got for my birthday. Patch–what should be a cute nickname continuously reminds me of Patch Adams, that movie with Robin Williams as a doctor that liked to dress as a clown. Very un-hot. So I’m having trouble creating this mental image of Patch, but hopefully once we discover his real name I can rectify that situation.

So, those are a few random thoughts I had on those two books. I didn’t really feel like writing any more reviews this week, but I did want to share these two, as well as how awesome I thought they were!

Captivate by Carrie Jones

Zara and her friends knew they hadn’t solved the pixie problem for good. Far from it—the king’s control over his pixies gets weaker every day. So when a new, younger pixie king shows up, there is war in the air. The new king, Astley, claims he’s not evil. Zara believes him, but Nick—not so much. Then Astley tells Zara she is fated to be his queen, and suddenly the stakes get even higher. [Summary from the Need website]

I really enjoy this series! Probably because I absolutely adore the relationship between Zara and Nick and also their relationship with their best friends, Issie and Devyn. Pixies, werewolves, shape shifters, and more! This book combines all of my favorite types of supernatural creatures into one book. This type of a book makes sense to me–if you’re going to have pixies exist, why not shape shifters? I wouldn’t be surprised if vampires or zombies or something else show up in the next book! And yes, there will be more! This book ends on quite the cliffhanger. You’ll be anxiously awaiting the next one! Captivate is an exciting, quick read. At first glance, it seems similar to so many other fantasy novels out there (Wicked Lovely, Shiver, etc.) but Jones manages to make this story completely unique and her own, with a suspenseful plot that will keep you on edge. Each of the characters continue to grow in this book, as the reader discovers more and more about each character’s past, and as the character’s grow and change.

If you regularly read my blog, you’ll notice I often comment on characters, character development, realism, etc.–this is a particular area of interest to me, and I enjoy when an author can give me fun characters that are believable.

Anyways, for fans of fantasy, fans of pixies, fans of the supernatural, I recommend this series!

Purchased from Amazon.com!

For More: Check out Carrie Jones’ website!

Gone by Lisa McMann

Janie thought she knew what her future held. And she thought she’d made her peace with it. But she can’t handle dragging Cabel down with her.

She knows he will stay with her, despite what she sees in his dreams. He’s amazing. And she’s a train wreck. Janie sees only one way to give him the life he deserves–she has to disappear. And it’s going to kill them both.

Then a stranger enters her life–and everything unravels. The future Janie once faced now has an ominous twist, and her choices are more dire than she’d ever thought possible. She alone must decide between the lesser of two evils. And time is running out… [Summary from Lisa McMann's website]

Gone is the third book in the Wake trilogy by Lisa McMann. Janie is faced with the toughest choice she’ll ever have to make: give up walking in other people’s dreams and live a life of isolation, or continue her life as she is now, but lose her sight and use of her hands eventually.

Gone is written in the same way as the two previous books, short segments of time in Janie’s life. The format is unique, quick to read, but very realistic. It reminds me of the diary format that is sometimes common in YA lit. McMann doesn’t shy away from tough or awkward situations and realistic language. There are no happy endings but gritty, real events that happen. The characters in Gone feel very real and confront the situations in the book as real people would. All three of these books are quick to read, but they take awhile to absorb, to think about.

I’m sad to see this series end, but looking forward to whatever McMann comes up with next. You’ll definitely want to check out the first two books in the series, Wake and Fade before reading Gone.

Purchased from Amazon.com!

For More: Check out Lisa McMann’s website!