Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Settings I'd Like To See More Of

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created over at The Broke and the Bookish.  This feature was created because they're particularly fond of lists at The Broke and the Bookish (and who isn't?). They're all about creating new lists including a little bit of everything and I've been meaning to participate for so long but always seemed to get behind.  So here we are and hopefully you'll head over to their page and check out what everyone else put up for this week's Top Ten.

For me this week's top ten basically boils down to what kinds of books do you like to read.  So I've listed ten and paired them up with some examples of previous books that fit the same mold.

Top Ten Settings Pick #1:  Dystopian - Divergent (Divergent, #1) by Veronica Roth 

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is--she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

This title will forever be one of my favorites.  It has all of my favorite elements.  Forbidden romance, a big brother-type government like body that may not be looking out for everyone's best interest.  Add in a ton of action and a strong leading character and I'm excited for release day.

Top Ten Settings Pick #2:  Contemporary Romance - Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1) by Jamie McGuire 

INTENSE. DANGEROUS. ADDICTIVE.

Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn’t drink or swear, and she has the appropriate number of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance from the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University’s Walking One-Night Stand.

Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby wants—and needs—to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the ultimate college campus charmer. Intrigued by Abby’s resistance to his appeal, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis’s apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match.

While I've always loved the imaginative and creative worlds that can be found in the fantasy genre, there will always be something equally special about a possible real life couple's story as well.  And if there are more out there like this favorite of mine by McGuire than you can sign me up!

Top Ten Settings Pick #3:  Fantasy - Glimmgerglass (Faeriewalker, #1) by Jenna Black

It's all she's ever wanted to be, but it couldn't be further from her grasp...

Dana Hathaway doesn't know it yet, but she's in big trouble. When her alcoholic mom shows up at her voice recital drunk, again, Dana decides shes had enough and runs away to find her mysterious father in Avalon: the only place on Earth where the regular, everyday world and the captivating, magical world of Faerie intersect. But from the moment Dana sets foot in Avalon, everything goes wrong, for it turns out she isn't just an ordinary teenage girl, she's a Faeriewalker, a rare individual who can travel between both worlds, and the only person who can bring magic into the human world and technology into Faerie.

Dana finds herself tangled up in a cutthroat game of Fae politics. Someone's trying to kill her, and everyone seems to want something from her, from her new found friends and family to Ethan, the hot Fae guy Dana figures she'll never have a chance with...until she does. Caught between two worlds, Dana isn't sure where she'll ever fit in and who can be trusted, not to mention if her world will ever be normal again.

Books are often my break from reality and the stress of every day life.  So I often enjoy reading titles that are fantastical enough that I'm not reminded that before long I'll be right back to the normal bump and grind.  I like their typical light hearted nature along with their occasional dark side.  It's a great recipe for a literature vacation.

Top Ten Settings Pick #4:  Angel and Above - Angel Star (Angel Star, #1) by Jennifer Murgia

Seventeen-year-old Teagan McNeel falls for captivating Garreth Adams and soon discovers that her crush has an eight-point star etched into the palm of his right hand; the mark of an angel. But where there is light, dark follows, and she and Garreth suddenly find themselves vulnerable to a dark angel's malicious plan that could threaten not only her life, but the lives of everyone she knows.

Divinely woven together, Angel Star takes readers on a reflective journey when one angel's sacrifice collides with another angel's vicious ambition in a way that is sure to have readers searching for their own willpower.

I have not gotten enough of these lately, but Murgia's work reminds me of everything great about this type of book.  Divine intervention, angelic beings, true and unconditional love, and usually a fight that comes down to good vs. evil.  I would really like some more of these in 2013.

Top Ten Settings Pick #5:  Reality Checks - Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers thirteen cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, his classmate and crush who committed suicide two weeks earlier.

On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list.

Through Hannah and Clay's dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers.

While the setting could be just about anywhere, I would like to see more books like Asher's previous and memorable release.  I call them reality checks because by the time you're finished reading, it's impossible not to reflect.  Asher's book had me doing some major thinking and proved to be incredibly eye opening for anyone who came across it.

Top Ten Settings Pick #6:  Paranormal Romance - My Blood Approves (My Blood Approves, #1) by Amanda Hocking

Teenager Alice Bonham's life feels crazy after she meets Jack. With his fondness for pink Chuck Taylors and New Wave, he's unlike anyone she knows. Then she meets his brother, Peter. Even though he can't stand the sight of her, she's drawn to him. Falling for two guys isn't even the worst of her problems. Jack and Peter are vampires, and Alice finds herself caught between love and her own blood.

With so many books falling into this category I don't think any of us will ever be out of options for our next read, but some of course are better than others.  Hocking's My Blood Approves series had an awesome combination of romance, family ties, intense action and suspense, and of course the right amount of paranormal activity.

Top Ten Settings Pick #7:  Romantic Comedy - The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg

Love is all you need... or is it? Penny's about to find out in this wonderful debut.

Penny is sick of boys and sick of dating. So she vows: no more. It's a personal choice. . .and, of course, soon everyone wants to know about it. And a few other girls are inspired. A movement is born: The Lonely Hearts Club (named after the band from Sgt. Pepper). Penny is suddenly known for her nondating ways . . . which is too bad, because there's this certain boy she can't help but like. . . .

I often find myself drawn to romances, but when I want to keep things light and upbeat I look to Eulberg and the like.  Give me light and flirty, fun and laugh out loud entertainment.  That's a winning combination.  Romance doesn't always have to be unrequited and full of angst, right?

Top Ten Settings Pick #8:  Time Travel - Hourglass (Hourglass, #1) by Myra McEntire

One hour to rewrite the past . . . 

For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn't there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents' death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She's tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.

So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson's willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may also change her past.

Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he's around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?

I'm not a huge fan of historical fiction/non-fiction reads.  Terrible I know, but its just not my go-to.  However, time travel tales give me the chance to see an author's view of the past, present and future of any given place.  It's always an adventure and like with McEntire's series, there's a good bit of intrigue and action as well.

Top Ten Settings Pick #9:  University Life - The Ivy (The Ivy, #1) by Lauren Kunze and Rina Onur

Congratulations! You have been admitted to the most prestigious university in the world. Now what are you going to do?

Callie Andrews may not have money or connections or the right clothes, and she may have way too many complications in her love life, what with

Gregory
the guy she loves to hate ...

Evan
the guy she'd love to forget ...

Clint
the guy she'd love to love ...

and Matt
the guy she really should love ...

all vying for her attention.

But she has three fantastic roommates (best friends or her worst nightmare?) and a wholesome California-girl reputation (oops) and brains and beauty and big, big dreams.

Will it be enough to help her survive freshman year at Harvard?

Give me a background of a college university or a boarding school of some type and it's half the battle.  There's just something about it...no idea what exactly but the "it" factor is there.  It could be a lot of things but for whatever reason I'm a fan and would always enjoy seeing more books use the setting.

Top Ten Settings Pick #10:  Super Powers - Minder (Ganzfield, #1) by Kate Kaynak

Sixteen-year-old Maddie Dunn is special, but she needs to figure out how to use her new abilities before somebody else gets hurt. Ganzfield is a secret training facility full of people like her, but it's not exactly a nurturing place. 

Every social interaction carries the threat of mind-control. 

A stray thought can burn a building to the ground. 

And people's nightmares don't always stay in their own heads. But it's still better than New Jersey. Especially once she meets the man of her dreams...

A long time X-Men and superhero fan what's not to love about books where powers are used for both good and evil, where the good must use these special gifts to defeat the bad, etc...  I think I just love a good hero and characters with super powers often fit that mold.

Top Ten Paranormal Romance Books

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created over at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because they're particularly fond of lists at The Broke and the Bookish (and who isn't?). They're all about creating new lists including a little bit of everything and I've been meaning to participate for so long but always seemed to get behind. So here we are and hopefully you'll head over to their page and check out what everyone else put up for this week's Top Ten.

Paranormal Romance Fave #1: Breaking Dawn (Twilight, #4) by Stephanie Meyers

Twilight tempted the imagination. New Moon made readers thirsty for more. Eclipse turned the saga into a worldwide phenomenon. And now, the book that everyone has been waiting for---

Breaking Dawn, the final book in the #1 bestselling Twilight Saga, will take your breath away.

Everybody knows the deal, I really haven't come across many people who haven't been taken in by Stephanie Meyer's series and I include myself among those numbers. While I enjoyed each of the books, I really thought the final book, Breaking Dawn was the most romantic. I felt like Edward and Bella finally got over a lot of the obstacles that were between the two of them (mainly her humanity) and got the chance to just enjoying being with each other.

Paranormal Romance Fave #2: Promise (Soul Savers, #1) by Kristie Cook

Alexis Ames decides to learn who she really is, with or without the help of her mother, who guards their secrets closely. After meeting Tristan Knight and discovering that he's not normal either, the secrets begin to unravel. Their union brings promise to the future of mankind. But it also incites a dangerous pursuit by the enemy. Because they are a match made in Heaven and in Hell.

I just adore everything about this series. It's truly addicting on every level. Cook's characters are relatable and drool worthy, her story lines are fast paced and action packed and the world she created within this series...awesome! There are probably more eloquent ways to put those characteristics down, but honestly I think awesome really does cover it. After reading all three books in the series I can save without a doubt that each and every once just keeps getting better and better. I'm always counting down and craving the next series installment the second I finished the final page. Cruel and unusual punishment for sure.

Paranormal Romance Fave #3: Song of the Moon (Artemis Lupine, #1) by Catherine Banks

What if you found out that there was another world inside your own? What if all of the things you thought made you weird, actually made you powerful?

Artemis's life is changed forever when the mysterious man from her dreams, Ares, comes to claim her as his mate. The seventeen year old girl must find a way to adapt to her true life and accept her fate or run from it. She must overcome her fears and human ideals to give her self to the dangerous world, and man, that is her destiny.

Yet another series that keeps me coming back for more time and again. I've already made my way through each of the three installments in this series twice now, because once just wasn't enough. The fourth book hasn't been released yet, but when it does there will be no doubt that I'll be picking up a copy as soon as humanly possible. Ares and Artemis are just a great romantic pair. They fight, they make up, they're short on patience and yet give each other space whenever necessary, but best of all...they're crazy for each other and will stop at nothing to be together. It's romantic and feisty, fun and thrilling. Reading Banks' series really put me in a good mood and I found myself having more fun with each turned page.

Paranormal Romance Fave #4: Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, #1) by Richelle Mead

St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger...

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.

I had a hard time picking which installment out of this series was the most romantic but honestly that's a tough call and one I don't think I have an answer to even now. So I went with the series opener because there was plenty of romance within those pages and since it was the first glimpse readers got of Rose and Dimitri I had to include it. These two got me over my rut after I finished both the Twilight series and The Hunger Games trilogy. It was hard to find books that were going to live up to that kind of perfection, but this series won me over quickly!

Paranormal Romance Fave #5: Fire (The Seven Kingdoms, #2) by Kristin Cashore

It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. The young King Nash clings to his throne while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. The mountains and forests are filled with spies and thieves and lawless men.

This is where Fire lives. With a wild, irresistible appearance and hair the color of flame, Fire is the last remaining human monster. Equally hated and adored, she has the unique ability to control minds, but she guards her power, unwilling to steal the secrets of innocent people. Especially when she has so many of her own.

Then Prince Brigan comes to bring her to King City. The royal family needs her help to uncover the plot against the king. Far away from home, Fire begins to realize there's more to her power than she ever dreamed. Her power could save the kingdom.

If only she weren't afraid of becoming the monster her father was.

I know this one might not be considered a perfect fit for the paranormal genre for some, but honestly I usually link fantasy and paranormal under one umbrella. So for me, Fire qualifies and I was practically swooning by the end of this one. Brigan won me over and I think had all female readers wishing there were more white knights just like him around now days. Am I wrong? Cashore is such a talented writer and her characters practically leap off the page and straight into readers hearts.

Paranormal Romance Fave #6: Moonlight (Dark Guardians, #1) by Rachel Hawthorne

I see him and I know what this turmoil inside of me means: He's the one. My forever.

KAYLA is the nature lover, the all-American beauty who can't understand why she's so drawn to distant, brooding Lucas. Adopted as a young child, she has no way of knowing that she's inherited a terrifying-and thrilling-gene that will change her life forever.

LUCAS is dangerous, gorgeous ... and a werewolf. As leader of the Dark Guardians, shape-shifters who gather deep within the state park, he has sworn to protect his pack. But when Lucas finds his true soul mate, his love could put them all in harm's way.

As Lucas and Kayla struggle with their feelings for each other, a greater danger lurks: Humans have discovered the Dark Guardians and are planning their destruction. Kayla must choose between the life she knows and the love she feels certain is her destiny.

Hawthorne had been plan on being a writer forever because I think I might cry if she decides to retire early or change careers. I was sad enough when she wrote her final installment for this series and only recovered after I found out a new series was in the works by her. Lucas and Kayla were so great in this series opener. They were innocent enough that readers were able to follow right along with them as they go further into this world where werewolves are real and they're about to get an up close encounter for themselves. Romance is definitely not lacking within these pages.

Paranormal Romance Fave #7: My Blood Approves (My Blood Approves, #1) by Amanda Hocking

Teenager Alice Bonham's life feels crazy after she meets Jack. With his fondness for pink Chuck Taylors and New Wave, he's unlike anyone she knows. Then she meets his brother, Peter. Even though he can't stand the sight of her, she's drawn to him. Falling for two guys isn't even the worst of her problems. Jack and Peter are vampires, and Alice finds herself caught between love and her own blood.

Amanda Hocking gets my vote for great writing and super fun plot twists. She took an age old tale of vampires and humans mixing and put her own unique twist on it. I know a lot of authors write books with familiar characters or at least common paranormal creatures, but I really think Hocking's stands out among the rest. And it's not just my opinion we're talking about here, the girl was what a lot of people are calling an overnight success, due mainly to her reader following. I found her books randomly thanks to a recommendation by my Kindle and couldn't be happier.

Paranormal Romance Fave # 8: Half Moon (The Crescent, #2) by Jordan Deen

I'd been a fool for coming here with them, and now... no one would come to save me. The world that hid in the shadows of humanity was full of enemies.Faced with death, Lacey Quinn ran away from the only family she'd ever known. That... was just the beginning.As the decision she's made sinks in, Lacey struggles to fit in with the pack and find the key to bonding with her werewolf soul mate, Brandon. But, lies can only be concealed for so long. Adjusting to a powerful new best friend, a twelve-year-old roommate with a nauseating Barbie fetish, and a lost love that won't stop haunting her dreams, she knows she has no hope of having a normal future-ever again.

After a long talk with the dead mother she never knew, and an almost deal-breaking night out with Brandon, Lacey starts spiraling into the underworld-a place where all things are possible and everyone is out to kill her.With mysterious legends of witches and sorcery marring her past and clouding her future, she quickly learns-werewolves aren't the only ones lurking in the woods...waiting to claim her powers for their own.The Mares? Well, they are the least of her worries.

Yet another werewolf series that I can't get enough of. This one however had me contemplating whether or not I was favoring werewolves over all the other paranormal creatures within the genre. Brandon and Lacey just kind of had me rooting for the two of them from the very beginning. I think that's the truest and surest way for me to have any chance at narrowing down a list like this one for me to be able to really pick and choose favorites. If I can relate and find myself on a character's side right from the start it's hard not to keep a special place on the bookshelf for that kind of book, don't you think?

Paranormal Romance Fave #9: Shadowspell (Faeriewalker, #2) by Jenna Black

On top of spending most of her time in a bunkerlike safe house and having her dates hijacked by a formidable Fae bodyguard, Faeriewalker Dana Hathaway is in for some more bad news: the Erlking and his pack of murderous minions known as the Wild Hunt have descended upon Avalon. With his homicidal appetite and immortal powers, the Erlking has long been the nightmare of the Fae realm.

A fragile treaty with the Faerie Queen, sealed with a mysterious spell, is the one thing that keeps him from hunting unchecked in Avalon, the only place on Earth where humans and Fae live together. Which means Dana’s in trouble, since it’s common knowledge that the Faerie Queen wants her – and her rare Faeriewalker powers – dead. The smoldering, sexy Erlking’s got his sights set on Dana, but does he only seek to kill her, or does he have something much darker in mind?

So Jenna Black can pretty much make any reader swoon if you ask me. In her second installment in the Faeriewalker series she had me in such a romantic mood I honestly wouldn't have cared who Dana ended up with. I was smitten with just about any guy she came into contact and had a connection with. Be they the good guys or the bad guys. That's how much fun she makes a romance. While she never makes it easy on her main couples or love interests, she sure does make it fun and they're ever anything but boring!

Paranormal Romance Fave #10: Born At Midnight (Shadow Falls, #1) by C.C. Hunter

Don’t miss this spectacular new series that will steal your heart and haunt your dreams, Welcome to Shadow Falls camp, nestled deep in the woods of a town called Fallen…

One night Kylie Galen finds herself at the wrong party, with the wrong people, and it changes her life forever. Her mother ships her off to Shadow Falls—a camp for troubled teens, and within hours of arriving, it becomes painfully clear that her fellow campers aren’t just “troubled.” Here at Shadow Falls, vampires, werewolves, shapshifters, witches and fairies train side by side—learning to harness their powers, control their magic and live in the normal world.

Kylie’s never felt normal, but surely she doesn’t belong here with a bunch of paranormal freaks either. Or does she? They insist Kylie is one of them, and that she was brought here for a reason. As if life wasn’t complicated enough, enter Derek and Lucas. Derek’s a half-fae who’s determined to be her boyfriend, and Lucas is a smokin’ hot werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past. Both Derek and Lucas couldn’t be more different, but they both have a powerful hold on her heart.

Even though Kylie feels deeply uncertain about everything, one thing is becoming painfully clear—Shadow Falls is exactly where she belongs…

Love triangles anyone? Kylie was such an easy character to fall in love with and when she's introduced to two guys that will steal any girl's heart it's hard for readers to choose which team they're on let alone imagine how hard it would be to choose between these two guys in real life. You've got a the typical "bad boy" and then the nice guy next door, but honestly these two are much more than that. Readers will have a tough time with this one and if you're anything like me, you'll probably go back and forth on who you like more for Kylie. I still don't think even after being caught up on the entire series that I can really decide who my favorite is!

Countdown: A Mix

After I scour the Internet far and wide for new reads coming out soon and in the near future, I try to organize the titles I've marked down into their respective genres or at least by authors/series I have come to favor. But inevitably there are still a few stragglers that I've either found after I've already created a few posts or maybe there's just a few that I can't decide where to put in the end. So for this post I've decided just to put a few in a mixture. I'm anxious to read each title for one reason or another and didn't want to wait to post them to a list when I could just post them all at once. The mix has got some great titles that I'm on the edge of my seat waiting to read and I'm hoping you feel the same.

Countdown Pick #1: On the Fringe by Courtney King Walker (10/19/2011)

Claire is struggling to overcome the murder of her childhood friend and secret crush, Daniel. Everyone else seems to be moving on with their lives, but she's still trying to cope. The fact that she finds herself alone and drowning on her 16th birthday isn't helping.

Neither is thinking she sees Daniel's face in murky water as she mysteriously resurfaces. But something happened during those four and a half minutes that will make her realize it was not just her imagination.

As Claire and Daniel try to grasp a possible reconnection, other grudge-holding beings have plans of their own. Now, the two of them have to decide if their fleeting relationship is worth the possibility of Claire being trapped on the fringe forever.

Beautifully told, On the Fringe intertwines fresh ideas about devotion, revenge, and the consequences that come with life and death.

I'll admit that this one sounds a little sad, but I'm also hoping there will be a silver lining. If it turns out to be a search to find Daniel's killer than I'm all for it of course. I'm very curious to see if Daniel's ghost has stuck around to right the wrong that was done to him or if something else is going on with Claire. Only time will tell, and reading the book of course.

Countdown Pick #2: Swear (My Blood Approves, #5) by Amanda Hocking (January 2012)

Final book in the My Blood Approves series by bestselling author, Amanda Hocking.

I can only say that I did not see this one coming. Hocking won me over in book one, My Blood Approves, and I flew through the next three installments, Fate, Flutter, and Wisdom, just as quickly. I was so sad when book four ended and I hadn't heard anything about a fifth book being in the works. Needless to say that when I saw Swear was coming out, my day was made! I am beyond anxious to see what Hocking has in store for her characters and readers alike. Now I just wish that they'd provide a synopsis so I'd at least have some clues as to what to look forward to. I will be on the lookout for those and a cover too.

Countdown Pick #3: Irises by Francisco X. Stork (1/12/2012)

Two sisters discover what's truly worth living for in the new novel by the author of MARCELO IN THE REAL WORLD.

TWO SISTERS: Kate is bound for Stanford and an M.D. -- if her family will let her go. Mary wants only to stay home and paint. When their loving but repressive father dies, they must figure out how to support themselves and their mother, who is in a permanent vegetative state, and how to get along in all their uneasy sisterhood.


THREE YOUNG MEN: Then three men sway their lives: Kate's boyfriend Simon offers to marry her, providing much-needed stability. Mary is drawn to Marcos, though she fears his violent past. And Andy tempts Kate with more than romance, recognizing her ambition because it matches his own.


ONE AGONIZING CHOICE: Kate and Mary each find new possibilities and darknesses in their sudden freedom. But it's Mama's life that might divide them for good -- the question of *if* she lives, and what's worth living for.


I'm excited about this one, but that goes without saying. It sounds tragic and compelling, not to mention irresistible. Without knowing much about these two girls or their backgrounds, the choices they must make sound like tough ones. The three men in the mix sounds pretty interesting as well. While Stork's take sounds sad and potentially heart wrenching, it's one I'm anxious to dig into all the same.

Countdown Pick #4: Elemental (Elemental Trilogy, #1) by Emily White (5/1/2012)

For ten years—ever since she was a small child—Ella has been held prisoner. Now that she has escaped, she needs answers.

Who is she? Why was she taken? And who is the boy with the beautiful green eyes who haunts her memories?

Is Ella the prophesied Destructor… or will she be the one who's destroyed?

Yet another upcoming release that has left me with too many questions. I'm told it's the opener in a trilogy and the synopsis (though to me it's more like a small teaser) sounds intriguing. Who this girl Ella is seems to be the main question and I'd like the answer. With the hard life our heroine has had growing up from the sound of it, I'm thinking she'll be eager for answers. Hopefully the readers will get their answers sooner rather than later.

Countdown Pick #5: The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken (12/18/2012)

When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something frightening enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that’s killed most of America’s children, but she and the others have been cursed with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.

Now sixteen, Ruby has spent nearly half her life desperately trying to hide the fact that she’s outwitted the camp’s sorting system—that she isn’t powerless, or safe. She’s one of the dangerous ones… and everyone knows what happens to them.

When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she’s on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of teens who escaped their own camp, pursued along the way by terrifying bounty hunters. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close to him. Not after what happened to her parents.

When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Before the end, Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living.

As you can see no cover has been revealed for this title yet, but I'll be on the lookout and will post a picture of it as soon as I find one. If you're familiar with Bracken's first book, Brightly Woven, than you can understand my excitement over her new title. Her first was magical, exciting and felt like one giant adventure that ended way too soon. So not only does the synopsis have me counting down the days, but it's more her writing in general that I'm looking forward to more of. Bracken writes at a quick pace, and keeps readers reading well into the night just to see what happens next.

Review: My Blood Approves (My Blood Approves #1) by Amanda Hocking

Seventeen-year-old Alice Bonham's life feels out of control after she meets Jack. With his fondness for pink Chuck Taylors and New Wave hits aside, Jack's unlike anyone she's ever met.

Then she meets his brother, Peter. His eyes pierce through her, and she can barely breathe when he's around. Even though he can't stand the sight of her, she's drawn to him.

But falling for two very different guys isn't even the worst of her problems. Jack and Peter are vampires, and Alice finds herself caught between love and her own blood...

Not very often do I find a book by luck alone anymore. I have so many great series' I follow and authors I've come to favor or new releases I'm looking forward to that I don't struggle for material too much. This book found me. My kindle recommended it and it was only $.86 so I thought why not? Thank you kindle! I flew through this one in less than a day and immediately went in search of the rest of the series' installments. I knew I would want to read them all.

Many have compared this series to be similar to the Twilight series and while I can see how some of the elements are very much alike, it's also got it's own unique flavor to it that helped it stand out enough for me to enjoy as a fresh new series. The main character Alice finds herself spending tons of time with Jack who she later learns is a vampire. He lives with his "family" who are also vampires. Truthfully this book had a lot of set up and plot information/explanations but I was OK with that. It wasn't tedious, but instead I wanted more information and was glad when it unfolded. With the transformation of going from being human to becoming a vampire, I thought Amanda Hocking's different take on this (or at least in some ways) was pretty interesting. The bonding created problems that drove me crazy, but I still found them all fascinating. Jack's family is connected to one another very deeply because of this bonding. Because of all this, Alice has a connection that she can't explain to Jack's "brother" Peter. I was not a fan. I've been told I may come to change my mind but at the moment I'm not loving Peter. Jack is wonderful and seems like such a great character that at the moment I'm thinking I'm going to be firmly on his side. But hey, when there's a love triangle of any kind everyone chooses sides eventually. So for the moment I'm on Team Jack. I do like a good love triangle though.

So if you're looking for a good vampire story that may remind you at parts of Twilight, but won't feel like a re-read, I'd say pick this one up. I've started the second installment, Fate and I'm still hooked. I'm thinking that won't be changing anytime soon.

I gave My Blood Approves (My Blood Approves #1) 4 shamrocks!!!!