Suggestions Needed

I'm asking for your help...all of you readers, bloggers, bibliophiles, you know who you are.  I'm being asked left and right what I want for the holidays.  All of my friends and family know that I'm a crazy reader and can't get enough of a good book so I figured I'd be easy to shop for most of the time.  Apparently that is not the case.  So here's where your help is needed.  My TBR list is way too long (it could never be too long but it's too long to wade through at the moment) for me to even hope that I'd be able to go through it and sort things out in time for the holiday shopping to be done.  So while I'm sure you guys all have similar problems (and it's really not a terrible one to have) I need your help with some reading suggestions.

All the books on my TBR list look great and I'm sure I can't go wrong by giving the list or at least a condensed version to anyone asking for ideas for me in the present department, I still think it would be easier if I could narrow it down to 10 or 15 books, don't you think?  Now the question is which 10 or 15 books?!  Have you guys read any books lately that you just couldn't put down?  Any that made you laugh out loud at the humor or swoon without control due to the romance and chemistry between the lead characters?  Send those titles my way!  I'm begging you here....I think I can pretty much say that it's going to be impossible for me to narrow this list down without your help so leave me a comment, send me an email, anything!

Hope you guys are having an easier time putting your holiday wishlist together than I am, and I hope you're curling up with a great book as we speak!  Happy Reading as always and enjoy your weekend!!!

Guest Post: Author Melissa West

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By far my favorite books, both in YA and adult fiction, involve strong heroines. Take Elizabeth Bennett as an example. She is the epitome of strength, turning down Darcy and a lifetime of wealth out of loyalty to her family and respect for herself. Of course, we learn she was misguided, but still, the fact that she was willing to put what matters to her above status and wealth—both very important during those times—is amazing. Then there is Katniss Everdeen. Again, a strong female character that puts everything on the line for what she believes.

These characters are both admirable. They are the kind of women we strive to be, the sort of women we want our daughters to be. And I think we need more of them in YA.
We need characters that push back and ask questions and strive to be better than their situations. Because these are the sort of traits that make strong women in real life.

When I set out to write GRAVITY, I knew I wanted to make Ari, my main character, one of these strong heroines. I wanted her to be the kind of character the reader respects, not one that the reader continually questions during the story. Ari is loyal, yet questions anything that feels wrong to her. She is tough, yet able to show her emotions. And she is driven to stay true to herself above everything else.

So what about you? Do you prefer to read stories with strong female heroines, and if so, who are a few of your favorites?

Review: Sound (Solid, #3) by Shelley Workinger

Clio Kaid's had one crazy summer.

After learning she was one of a hundred teens who were genetically modified before birth, she and the others departed for "camp" at a classified military site.

Besides discovering her own special ability, uncovering a conspiracy, and capturing a killer, she's also forged new friendships, found love, and managed to lose them both.

With no answers and the end of summer closing in, Clio's terrified of going home more lost than when she arrived.

Will she finally find everything she's been looking for?

Find out in this exciting conclusion to the Solid trilogy.

Attention readers looking for new titles to add to your Holiday wishlists...I can do one better....I say mark down this whole series and I promise unwrapping it will only be the beginning of the all holiday fun you'll have!

I was lucky enough to get the chance to read and review all three books in Workinger's Solid series and I have to say that each installment was better than the last, and all were super fun and exciting reads.  Workinger first drew me in with her unique and out of the ordinary plot.  I was in the mood for something different, not just another mainstream paranormal romance, or dystopian series.  Don't get me wrong, I love those as well, but every once in a while a reader needs to cleanse their reading "pallet" so to speak, and this series was exactly what I was looking for to help me do just that.

Workinger's writing style makes it easy for readers to follow her pace and fly through the pages without skipping a beat.  I found myself finishing each of the three installments in the series within a day or two tops!  Her characters are hard to resist and her storylines are suspenseful and exciting...not an easy combination to put down.  Give this book and the first two installments in the Solid series a shot and I don't see you regretting it in the slightest.  I highly recommend picking up not just the series opener, but going ahead and purchasing all three books in the trilogy because once you start reading you won't want to stop, and who wants to waste time having to go to the store, right?

All in all, Sound was a great wrap up for the series, and with everything that Workinger delivered with this series, I'm more than a little curious to see what she comes up with in the future.  I'll definitely be on the lookout for more of her work, and I know without a doubt that I'm not the only one!

I gave Sound (Solid, #3) 4 shamrocks!!!!

In My Mailbox (70)

This is a meme that I first heard about from Kristi over at The Story Siren and immediately wanted to jump on board. I'm always picking up new books, because I
never tire of reading, but the other thing I like about this meme is that it gives everyone an opportunity to check out what other book fanatics, bloggers, etc... got for themselves. I've gotten great recommendations from this meme and hope that keeps up in the future.

Here's what I got, what did you guys get this week? 

 

For Review:

Flawed by Kate Avelynn (Thanks to Entangled Publishing)

Sarah O’Brien is alive because of the pact she and her brother made twelve years ago — James will protect her from their violent father if she promises to never leave him. For years, she’s watched James destroy his life to save hers. If all he asks for in return is her affection, she’ll give it freely.

Until, with a tiny kiss and a broken mind, he asks for more than she can give.

Sam Donavon has been James’ best friend — and the boy Sarah’s had a crush on — for as long as she can remember. As their forbidden relationship deepens, Sarah knows she’s in trouble. Quiet, serious Sam has decided he’s going to save her. Neither of them realize James is far more unstable than her father ever was, or that he’s not about to let Sarah forget her half of the pact . . .

The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick (Thanks to Ashley)

A heartwarming debut novel, soon to be a major movie by David O. Russell.

“Aawww shucks!” NPR's Nancy Pearl said. “I know that’s hardly a usual way to begin a book review, but it was my immediate response to finishing Matthew Quick’s heartwarming, humorous and soul-satisfying first novel . . . This book makes me smile.”

Meet Pat Peoples. Pat has a theory: his life is a movie produced by God. And his God-given mission is to become physically fit and emotionally literate, whereupon God will ensure him a happy ending—the return of his estranged wife, Nikki. (It might not come as a surprise to learn that Pat has spent several years in a mental health facility.) The problem is, Pat’s now home, and everything feels off. No one will talk to him about Nikki; his beloved Philadelphia Eagles keep losing; he’s being pursued by the deeply odd Tiffany; his new therapist seems to recommend adultery as a form of therapy. Plus, he’s being haunted by Kenny G!

Review: Collide (Collide, #1) by Shelly Crane

Sherry has always known there was something out there. She's eighteen, works for a tabloid newspaper in Chicago and has a brother, Danny who is a lazy mooch. They live a pretty normal dull life with hippie parents and a normal existence. Then the moon dissapears and people start to go missing only to reappear later, but different. Sherry has an abusive ex-boyfriend who shows up and claims to be one of these beings that have been showing up around the world. He's no longer the same person in that body. He tells her he has come to protect her and her brother and takes her underground, against her will to save her, where they meet others like them. She begins to unravel the truth about Merrick, about what he's really doing here, about the way he looks at her, about the crazy dangerous world they live in. Can he convince her that he's here to help? Will she like what she finds when she opens up to the truth? Will he be the one to love her when everyone else has failed her? Will he be able to protect her?

What can I say?  After getting a taste for Crane's Significance series, I couldn't resist seeing if I'd come to love any of her other books as much as I did the others.  And I can now safely say that she is no one hit wonder. While I love her other series, this one has great potential too.  I know I'm late to party with these books, but I guess it's better late than never right?  I'll admit that in the beginning of this series opener I was wary of the story line   I won't say I'm against science fiction material, but this whole "aliens" like scenario was one that I worried would trip me up and leave me wishing it was different or had more of something I was more familiar with.  But I honestly think Crane has the secret  equation for her readers.  And a very large portion of that equation is her central characters and sometimes the romance they share.

I couldn't get enough of Sherry and Merrick and I can't wait to see what happens next.  No surprise there.  It's tough to go too far with this review without giving away any spoilers, and that's the last thing I'd want to do for any readers out there who want to check this read out.  All I can say is that it's definitely worth your time and will make a great addition to just about anyone's bookshelves.  I'm only sorry I didn't pick up the other installments in the series at the same time so that I could have just kept right on reading.  But I plan to rectify that situation really soon and find out what's in store for Crane's new set of characters next!  I can't wait!

I gave Collide (Collide, #1) 3 shamrocks!!!

Review: Blood Fever (The Watchers, #3) by Veronica Wolff

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME—EVEN IF HOME IS WHERE THE DEAD LIVE...

It’s the start of the fall semester, and a new crop of Acari and Trainees have descended on the Isle of Night. Watcher training has intensified, and Drew has a new roommate named Mei-Ling. But Mei-Ling harbors a dangerous secret that drove the vampires to abduct her against her will. Drew knows she shouldn’t get involved, but she can’t seem to leave her roommate to fend for herself.

Luckily, Drew has other things on her mind—like vampire Carden. A blood bond to a brawny, eighteenth-century Scottish bad boy tends to preoccupy a girl. And though she’s still figuring out what this bond means, one thing has become clear: She craves him in a major way.

But then bodies start turning up on the island. All the evidence points to the existence of a rogue vampire, and the sinister vampire Alcántara is gunning for Carden, even though Drew has proof that Carden had nothing to do with the murders. Now she has to find the true killer—without endangering Carden, Mei-Ling, or herself…

Wolff did it again!  I was so anxious to dive right into this one after the way the second installment ended that I could barely contain my excitement and anticipation....somehow I managed to take a few deep breaths and slowly open up to the first page.  From there I flew through the pages and forgot about everything else going on around me.  All that mattered was finding out what would happen next.  And for me, that's one of the easiest ways to realize that a book or series or author is going to rank high on your list of favorites.  If a book can get me to want to block out the outside world, or have me sad when I have to close the cover because it's too late and I can't possibly function the following day if I don't get to sleep pronto, well that sums it all up for me.

Drew is once again the low man on the totem pole in so many ways and there is so much going on in this installment that I couldn't believe she was able to keep up.  She gets herself a new roommate that had a somewhat different experience when coming to the island.  She's got herself bound to a vampire, and nice or not that's a serious issue that she's forced to come to terms with.  And the vampire who at one point (while still scary) was on her side and looking out for her, may have changed his tune.  And did I mention the bodies that were piling up while all of this was going on?  As if that wouldn't be enough on it's own right?  Wolff had me anxious, tense, swooning, anxious again, and at some points very sad.  All in all, while it was a crazy roller coaster I'm yet again hoping I don't have to wait oh so very long for the next installment in the Watchers series.

I gave Blood Fever (The Watchers, #3) 4 shamrocks!!!!

Review: Defiance (Significance, #3) by Shelly Crane

In the third installment of the Significance series, we begin with Maggie and Caleb in the clutches of a new enemy; the Virtuoso council. Not only do they have to deal with the consequences of taking the lives of the Watsons and the council attempting to take Maggie away to keep their precious Visionary safe, but they must deal with Marla as well. All are determined to undermine, control and use Caleb and Maggie's rare gifts for their own uses, some wish to destroy them entirely. Then Maggie's father and Bish are threatened but the council forbids the presence of humans. Peter and the family fight and stand beside them every step of the way to save Maggie's father, to keep Caleb and Maggie together when the corrupted council is so set on keeping them apart and to stop Marla and whatever she has up her sleeve. Then Maggie has the shock of her life when she discovers something about her real father. It may change everything for everyone. Stay tuned as the story continues.

Well if this is meant to be the final installment in the Significance series, than Crane really went out with a whopper of a finale.  I truly enjoyed each of this series' installments, and while I was somewhat sad throughout this last book because I knew I'd have to say goodbye to these great characters and this fantastic world that Crane has created for her readers, I was also content that she would make sure things worked out the way they should.

Maggie and Caleb once again just can't seem to get a break, and if I thought they had to jump through hoops prior to this book I had no idea what would be in store for them this time around.  Crane will keep her readers on the edges of their seats without a doubt.  There's tension galore, a good amount of romance, enough family camaraderie to leave all the readers cheering and falling in love with Caleb and Maggie's families.  And I think every reader will be on the same page regarding how much you will end up loathing the bad guys this time around.  It's crazy how much I disliked them in this book, which shows how great Crane's writing style is because man oh man did these characters get me heated whenever they threw another wrench in my favorite couple's way.

So if you're looking for a series that's great from start to finish and throughout every installment, this is the one for you!

I gave Defiance (Significance, #3) 4 shamrocks!!!!

In My Mailbox (69)

This is a meme that I first heard about from Kristi over at The Story Siren and immediately wanted to jump on board. I'm always picking up new books, because I
never tire of reading, but the other thing I like about this meme is that it gives everyone an opportunity to check out what other book fanatics, bloggers, etc... got for themselves. I've gotten great recommendations from this meme and hope that keeps up in the future.

Here's what I got, what did you guys get this week? 

 

For Review:

Collide (Collide, #1) by Shelly Crane

Sherry has always known there was something out there. She's eighteen, works for a tabloid newspaper in Chicago and has a brother, Danny who is a lazy mooch. They live a pretty normal dull life with hippie parents and a normal existence. Then the moon disappears and people start to go missing only to reappear later, but different. Sherry has an abusive ex-boyfriend who shows up and claims to be one of these beings that have been showing up around the world. He's no longer the same person in that body. He tells her he has come to protect her and her brother and takes her underground, against her will to save her, where they meet others like them. She begins to unravel the truth about Merrick, about what he's really doing here, about the way he looks at her, about the crazy dangerous world they live in. Can he convince her that he's here to help? Will she like what she finds when she opens up to the truth? Will he be the one to love her when everyone else has failed her? Will he be able to protect her?

Review: Accordance (Significance, #2) by Shelly Crane

In the sequel, Maggie learns much more about all the strange things that happened to her, and has to face new ones. She rebels against it, but ultimately, must face it for her new families sake and maybe even her life. Bish went from being her biggest supporter to her biggest pain in the butt and Kyle's intentions to attract her interest may not be so innocent. Caleb and Maggie face many new obstacles together and fight to work through them but will one that should be a good thing be too much for Maggie to handle?

Like I said...I couldn't wait to pick this sequel up and dive right in, and dive right in I did.  Picking up where the series opener left off, Maggie and Caleb still have not gotten their happily ever after, but are still hard at work and just as determined as ever to make it work out.  Who wouldn't want to route for a couple like that right?  While they had to face off with a rival family in the first go around, they've got more added to their plate in this follow up installment.

Maggie's brother Bish steps up his protective side and makes it very clear that he knows something isn't right and that everyone around him seems to be keeping things from him.  I couldn't blame the guy for wanting to look out for his sister and protect her from any harm, but since I'm loving Maggie and Caleb, I couldn't help but want to ring Bish's neck every once in a while when he took out his aggression on Caleb more than I thought was justified.  And please don't get me started on Kyle.  I get that the guy has been nursing far more than a crush on Maggie for way too long and that it's sad that things didn't go his way but let's face it...sometimes we all have had to just suck it up and accept that not everything is meant to be.

The book's description teases readers of new obstacles that stand in Maggie and Caleb's way and they weren't kidding around.  Crane had no intentions of giving her characters the easy way out in this series and she makes it a point to prove just how far she'll make the couple go before they think they'll get their happily ever after ending.  So once again Crane left her readers wondering what will happen next, and lucky for me, the third installment in the Significance series was already out on the shelves and I picked myself up a copy so I could read on and see what will happen next.

I gave Accordance (Significance, #2) 4 shamrocks!!!!

Review: Significance (Significance, #1) by Shelly Crane

Maggie is a seventeen year old girl who's had a bad year. She was smart and on track, but then her mom left, her dad is depressed, she's graduating - barely - and her boyfriend of almost three years dumped her for a college football scholarship. Lately she thinks life is all about hanging on by a thread and is gripping tight with everything she has.

Then she saves the life of Caleb and instantly knows there's something about him that's intriguing. But things change when they touch, sparks ignite. Literally.

They imprint with each other and she sees their future life together flash before her eyes. She learns that not only is she his soul mate, and can feel his heartbeat in her chest, but there is a whole other world of people with gifts and abilities that she never knew existed. She herself is experiencing supernatural changes unlike anything she's ever felt before and she needs the touch of his skin to survive.

Now, not only has her dad come out of his depression to be a father again, and a pain as well, but Caleb's enemies know he's imprinted and are after Maggie to stop them both from gaining their abilities and take her from him.

Can Caleb save her or will they be forced to live without each other after just finding one another?

I took a shot in the dark with this one.  I'm not even sure how I came across the title, and I had not read anything by Crane before cracking open this cover, but there was just something about this book's description that had me wanting to check it out for myself.  And once again I got lucky and I'm very glad that I found yet another title to add to my shelves that I can't wait to recommend to friends and book lovers alike.

While it has what I'd consider a crazy premise, the action was great, and Crane's writing was effortless.  Her characters had you instantly engaged and invested before breaking out of the first quarter of the book.  Maggie and Caleb were impossible to resist.  Readers will instantly find themselves on their "side" and want nothing more than for things to work out for them in the end.  Their families were a fun extra dynamic that Crane threw into the story and I enjoyed getting to know each and every one of them.

While it would have been nice to see Maggie and Caleb able to just enjoy the miracle that was given to them when they found each other, unfortunately Crane decided to put them through the ringer from the very start.  Not only was there trouble and plenty of obstacles thrown their way from outside forces and rival families, Maggie and Caleb had to deal with the turmoil brewing with some of their own family members as well.  It was packed with drama (the good kind) and action and suspense that had me on the edge of my seat and racing through the pages so that I could find out what would happen by the book's end.

I couldn't resist picking up the next installment in the Significance series immediately and can't wait to dive right in.

I gave Significance (Significance, #1) 4 shamrocks!!!!

In My Mailbox (68)

This is a meme that I first heard about from Kristi over at The Story Siren and immediately wanted to jump on board. I'm always picking up new books, because I
never tire of reading, but the other thing I like about this meme is that it gives everyone an opportunity to check out what other book fanatics, bloggers, etc... got for themselves. I've gotten great recommendations from this meme and hope that keeps up in the future.

Here's what I got, what did you guys get this week? 

 

For Review:

Blood Fever (The Watchers, #3) by Veronica Wolff

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME—EVEN IF HOME IS WHERE THE DEAD LIVE...

It’s the start of the fall semester, and a new crop of Acari and Trainees have descended on the Isle of Night. Watcher training has intensified, and Drew has a new roommate named Mei-Ling. But Mei-Ling harbors a dangerous secret that drove the vampires to abduct her against her will. Drew knows she shouldn’t get involved, but she can’t seem to leave her roommate to fend for herself.

Luckily, Drew has other things on her mind—like vampire Carden. A blood bond to a brawny, eighteenth-century Scottish bad boy tends to preoccupy a girl. And though she’s still figuring out what this bond means, one thing has become clear: She craves him in a major way.

But then bodies start turning up on the island. All the evidence points to the existence of a rogue vampire, and the sinister vampire Alcántara is gunning for Carden, even though Drew has proof that Carden had nothing to do with the murders. Now she has to find the true killer—without endangering Carden, Mei-Ling, or herself…

Airel (The Airel Saga, #1) by Aaron Patterson and Chris White

All Airel ever wanted was to be normal, to disappear into the crowd. But bloodlines can produce surprises, like an incredible ability to heal. Then there’s Michael Alexander, the new guy in school, who is impossibly gorgeous…and captivated by her. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she can hear the sound of pages turning, and another, older story being written. It is the story of an ancient family, of great warriors, of the Sword of Light, and the struggle against an evil so terrible, so far-reaching, that it threatens everything. Airel knew change would be an inevitable part of life. But can she hold on when murder and darkness begin to close in and take away everything she loves? Will she have what it takes when the truth is finally revealed?