Countdown: April 2014 (4)

With Spring being right around the corner, we're so close to being able to say goodbye to this cold weather and hello to fresh blooms, and sunny skies, right? At least that's what I keep telling myself, knowing full well, that we're likely to see more rain than sun next month, but I'm trying to stay optimistic. And with all these amazing new releases that will hit the shelves next month, it's getting easier each and every time I add one to my countdown list. Are there any titles that you're extra excited about? Here are a few of the ones I'm looking forward to in April.

Countdown Pick #1:  Learning Not to Drown by Anna Shinoda (04/01/2014)

 

There is a pecking order to every family. Seventeen-year old Clare is the overprotected baby; Peter is the typical, rebellious middle child; and Luke is the-can't-do wrong favorite. To their mother, they are a normal, happy family. And then there are the roles we give ourselves. Clare: the ambitious striver; Peter: the angry ticking time bomb; and Luke: a drug addicted, convicted felon who has been in and out of jail for as long as Clare can remember. To Clare, they are a family on the verge of disaster. Clare has long refused to believe her brother is truly bad...he dotes her, doesn't he? But as Clare starts piecing together the truth about her brother's stints in jail, it starts changing the way she thinks about him. It has also changes the way the community views the family. The only thing it hasn't changed is the way their mother feels about Luke. Each time she welcomes him home with open arms and brushes off his crimes as "wrong place and wrong time," Clare can feel a little piece of her happy home life being taken away. And when her mother does the unthinkable--takes Clare's hard-earned college savings to post bail for Luke's latest transgression--Clare has to decide if sticking up for herself and her future means selfishly turning her back on family...or if it's the only way to keep herself from drowning along with them.

Debut novelist Anna Shinoda's raw, gritty, powerful novel cuts right to the bone and brings to life the skeletons the lurk in the closet.

 

Make sure to add this to your list if you haven't already for the 2014 Debut Author Challenge.  I think this one sounds like it has the potential to make all her readers reflect on their own families and their own lives.

 

Countdown Pick #2:  Ask Me by Kimberly Pauley (04/08/2014)

 

Ask Aria Morse anything, and she must answer with the truth. Yet she rarely understands the cryptic words she‘s compelled to utter. Blessed—or cursed—with the power of an Oracle who cannot decipher her own predictions, she does her best to avoid anyone and everyone.

But Aria can no longer hide when Jade, one of the few girls at school who ever showed her any kindness, disappears. Any time Aria overhears a question about Jade, she inadvertently reveals something new, a clue or hint as to why Jade vanished. But like stray pieces from different puzzles, her words never present a clear picture.

Then there’s Alex, damaged and dangerous, but the first person other than Jade to stand up for her. And Will, who offers a bond that seems impossible for a girl who’s always been alone. Both were involved with Jade. Aria may be the only one who can find out what happened, but the closer she gets to solving the crime, the more she becomes a target. Not everyone wants the truth to come out.

 

I didn't even have to finish the first paragraph to know this was a book that I'd be adding to my countdown list immediately!  It's so intriguing and mysterious, and I'm already feeling like I'm on the edge of my seat.  I can't wait to pick this one up next month!

 

Countdown Pick #3:  The Nethergrim (The Nethergrim Trilogy, #1) by Matthew Jobin (04/08/2014)

 

The Next Great Fantasy Epic is here! For fans of Ranger's Apprentice and the Chronicles of Narnia.

Everyone in Moorvale believes the legend: The brave knight Tristan and the famed wizard Vithric, in an epic battle decades ago, had defeated the evil Nethergrim and his minions. To this day, songs are sung and festivals held in the heroes' honor. Yet now something dark has crept over the village. First animals disappear, their only remains a pile of bones licked clean. Then something worse: children disappear. The whispers begin quietly yet soon turn into a shout: The Nethergrim has returned!

Edmund’s brother is one of the missing, and Edmund knows he must do something to save his life. But what? Though a student of magic, he struggles to cast even the simplest spell. Still, he and his friends swallow their fear and set out to battle an ancient evil whose powers none of them can imagine. They will need to come together--and work apart--in ways that will test every ounce of resolve.

In a story reminiscent of the Ranger’s Apprentice epic and the Chronicles of Narnia, Matthew Jobin weaves reality, magic, and adventure into the next great fantasy phenomenon.

 

I think it's a pretty bold statement to compare any new release to the likes of the Chronicles of Narnia, but no one would be happier than me to see a new series come out that can hold a candle to such an amazing classic!

 

Countdown Pick #4:  Rebel Belle (Untitled, #1) by Rachel Hawkins (04/08/2014)

 

Harper Price, peerless Southern belle, was born ready for a Homecoming tiara. But after a strange run-in at the dance imbues her with incredible abilities, Harper's destiny takes a turn for the seriously weird. She becomes a Paladin, one of an ancient line of guardians with agility, super strength and lethal fighting instincts.

Just when life can't get any more disastrously crazy, Harper finds out who she's charged to protect: David Stark, school reporter, subject of a mysterious prophecy and possibly Harper's least favorite person. But things get complicated when Harper starts falling for him--and discovers that David's own fate could very well be to destroy Earth.

With snappy banter, cotillion dresses, non-stop action and a touch of magic, this new young adult series from bestseller Rachel Hawkins is going to make y'all beg for more.

Rachel Hawkins hasn't let me down yet, and from the sounds of it, this book will not be any different.  I can't wait to see how she'll weave cotillions and daggers together!

 

Countdown Pick #5:  Toxic Heart (Mystic City, #2) by Theo Lawrence (04/08/2014)

 

A city in flames. A trust betrayed. A perfect love destroyed.

Has Aria lost Hunter, her one true love?

Ever since rebellion broke out in Mystic City, pitting the ruling elite against the magic-wielding mystics, Aria has barely seen her boyfriend. Not surprising, since Hunter is the leader of the mystic uprising, and he'll do whatever it takes to win freedom for his people—even if that means using Aria.

But Aria is no one's pawn. She believes she can bring the two warring sides together, save the city, and win back the Hunter she fell in love with.

Before she can play peacemaker, though, Aria will need to find the missing heart of a dead mystic. The heart gives untold powers to whoever possesses it, but finding it means seeking out a fierce enemy whose deepest desire is for Aria to be gone—forever.

 

It's finally here!  Well almost, but what's another week or so right?  I feel like I've been waiting on this sequel forever, but after enjoying the series opener so much, I'm sure it'll have been worth the wait.

In My Mailbox (95)

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:

The Dark Shore (The Atlanteans, #2) by Kevin Emerson (Thanks to Katherine Tegen Books)

BEWARE THE GODS AND THEIR HORRORS. Owen and Lilly have escaped Camp Eden, but the next step on their journey to find Atlantis and protect it from Paul and Project Elysium involves crossing the perilous wastelands of a wrecked planet. And unlike in EdenWest, where bloody truths were kept hidden beneath the surface, out here the horrors live bright beneath the poisonous sun.

With treachery at every turn, Owen has no choice but to bring his wounded clan to the dark shores of Desenna, a city built from the ashes of EdenSouth. Desenna's blood-soaked walls may hold the key to Owen's journey in the form of the third Atlantean as well as a deeper understanding of the true purpose of the Three, but there are also secrets lurking in the shadows, waiting to be unleashed, and once they rise, there may be no escape.

Filled with action, mind-bending twists, and powerful scenes of emotional and physical sacrifice, THE DARK SHORE takes readers on a journey to a question so great, even the gods have trouble answering it: What would you be willing to do, to save humanity from itself?

School Spirits (School Spirits, #1) by Rachel Hawkins (Thanks to Disney-Hyperion)

Fifteen-year-old Izzy Brannick was trained to fight monsters. For centuries, her family has hunted magical creatures. But when Izzy’s older sister vanishes without a trace while on a job, Izzy's mom decides they need to take a break.

Izzy and her mom move to a new town, but they soon discover it’s not as normal as it appears. A series of hauntings has been plaguing the local high school, and Izzy is determined to prove her worth and investigate. But assuming the guise of an average teenager is easier said than done. For a tough girl who's always been on her own, it’s strange to suddenly make friends and maybe even have a crush.

Can Izzy trust her new friends to help find the secret behind the hauntings before more people get hurt?

Rachel Hawkins' delightful spin-off brings the same wit and charm as the New York Times best-selling Hex Hall series. Get ready for more magic, mystery and romance!

Anathema (Casual Enchantment, #1) by K.A. Tucker

Evangeline has spent her teenage years in obscurity. Her foster parents have the emotional aptitude of robots and her classmates barely acknowledge her existence. About to turn eighteen and feeling like a social pariah, she is desperate to connect with someone. Anyone.

When Evangeline meets Sophie after literally stumbling upon her café, she believes she’s found that connection. Willing to do anything to keep it, she accepts a job as Sofie’s assistant and drops everything to fly to Manhattan, where she is thrust into a luxurious world of Prada, diamonds, and limitless cash.

With such generosity and kindness, it’s easy for Evangeline to dismiss certain oddities... like Sofie’s erratic and sometimes violent behavior, and the monstrous guard dogs. She’s even willing to dismiss her vivid dreams of mob-style murders, beautiful homeless people living in caves, and white-eyed demons that haunt her each night as figments of her imagination—especially when one of those figments is the gorgeous Caden. When she wakes up with bite marks on her neck, the fairy tale quickly turns into a nightmare. She slowly unravels the mystery surrounding Sofie and friends, and the reality of the bites and the “dreams.” What she discovers is far more mysterious and terrible than anything she could have imagined.

In a world where everyone has motive to lie for personal gain, Evangeline must decide which deception is least likely to get her killed.

Faelorehn (Otherworld Trilogy, #1) by Jenna Elizabeth Johnson

I never heard him come after me and even as I climbed the slope and stumbled onto our shaded back lawn, I didn’t look back. It was like the day the gnomes chased me all over again, but this time I was not escaping some horrible little creatures, I was fleeing from an incredibly good-looking guy who could very well understand me completely. I was either saving myself from that serial killer I always imagined lived down in the swamp, or I had finally gone over the deep end . . .

Meghan Elam has been strange her entire life: her eyes have this odd habit of changing color and she sees and hears things no one else does. When the visions and voices in her head start to get worse, she is convinced that her parents will want to drag her off to another psychiatrist. That is, until the mysterious Cade MacRoich shows up out of nowhere with an explanation of his own.

Cade brings her news of another realm where goblins and gnomes are the norm, a place where whispering spirits exist in the very earth, and a world where Meghan just might find the answers she has always sought.

Dissever (Unbinding Fate, #1) by Colee Firman

Addison Sanders is used to spending her days in the snow-capped mountains snowboarding and practicing combat at grandfathers centuries old estate. But all that comes to a screeching halt when she wakes up to find the entire estate has been moved to an amazing tropical location, right in the middle of a busy tourist town on the ocean.

After meeting Tanner on the beach one night, everything Addy’s life was built around changes. He’s smart, funny, covered in tattoos, and completely not her type.

Humans shouldn't be able to see into her world, but somehow Tanner can. That makes him dangerous and against her better judgment, Addy can't stay away from him.

At the same time, a guy she grew up with who never gave her a second glance can’t get enough of her. Gage is tall, blond, gorgeous, and not human. He has plenty of girls vying for his attention, so she has no clue what he wants with her. That’s got her pretty suspicious of his motives.

With her grandfather acting as the Overseer for an ancient group of human-like people called Akori, her life is already complicated. But when he dies, things get downright ugly.

As the last living Sanders, Addy is forced to try to claim her grandfather’s position. Instead of inheriting his role as Overseer, a strange Akori symbol appears on her neck. It’s a mark no human should be able to carry.

Addy discovers her family was deceived into serving the Akori for the last 250 years. The mark leads her to a stranger who may turn out to be the key to ending her family’s centuries old burden.

With her grandfather gone and the power and secrets of her family up for grabs, placing her trust in anyone could lead to disaster. Betrayed by old friends and leery of new ones—she’s left to cut through the lies and deception to get to the truth.

Addy discovers that sometimes its better not knowing and misery really does love company in Dissever—Book One of the Unbinding Fate Series.
Indelible Love - Emily's Story by D.W. Cee

Emily Logan - An adult orphan, foodie, and a believer in happily ever after - gets dumped by Max, her college boyfriend of four years, the night of their graduation, the night he was supposed to propose. Her world shattered, she picks up the pieces when she finds love again with Jake.

Dr. Jake Reid - Successful doctor, loving boyfriend, the one who wants to fulfill Emily's happily ever after - falls in love with Emily at first sight and pushes their relationship fast and furious.

Max Davis - Reserved, indecisive, Emily's first love - believes he let go of his first love for her sake, for all the right reasons. Eighteen months after the break-up, he's ready to win Emily's heart again.

Insecure from her broken relationship, Emily can't fully trust Jake's passion and love for her and struggles between Jake, the man who wants to create a future with her, and Max, the man who wants to relive the past. When both men propose, Emily's indecision causes her to lose her true love. Laugh, cry and cheer for Emily as her relationships unfold through culinary delights that begin in Napa Valley and weaves through eateries in San Francisco, Kyoto, Tokyo, Los Angeles, and Paris. Who she chooses for her happily ever after may surprise you in the end.

Captured (Captive, #1) by Erica Stevens

Blood Slave.

Captured, taken from her beloved family and woods, Aria’s biggest fear is not the imminent death facing her, but that she will be chosen as a blood slave for a member of the ruling vampire race. No matter what becomes of her though, Aria knows that she must keep her identity hidden from the monsters imprisoning her. She has already been branded a member of the rebellion, but the vampires do not know the true depth of her involvement with it, and they must never know.

Though hoping for death, Aria’s world is turned upside down when a vampire named Braith steps forward to claim her. He delays her execution, but Aria knows it’s only a matter of time before he drains her, and destroys her. Especially once she learns his true identity as a prince within the royal family; the same royal family that started the war that ultimately brought down humankind, reducing them to nothing more than servants and slaves.

Aria is determined to hate the prince, determined not to give into him in anyway, but his strange kindness, and surprising gentleness astonish her. Torn between her loyalties to the rebellion, and her growing love for her greatest enemy, Aria struggles to decide between everything she has ever known, and a love she never dreamed of finding.

Continuing On (2)

Sometimes I find myself getting so caught up counting down to new releases that I forget about some of the books and series that I'm looking forward to continuing on.  So recently I went back through and checked in with some of my favorites to see what was going on.  I'll admit I was surprised (in a good way) to find that new installments had come out within a series I'd enjoyed.  So rather than counting down in these posts, I decided to list some titles that have come out that I need to back track and read in order to catch up.  Here are just a few...

Catch Up #1:  Clockwork Prince (Infernal Devices, #2) by Cassandra Clare

In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street—and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa’s powers for his own dark ends.

With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister’s war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move—and that one of their own has betrayed them.

Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will—the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?

As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart.

Like I said in the last continuing on post, I think I just needed a break from all things shadow hunter related, but I also think it was because the first installment in the series left me a little sad.  I didn't know who I wanted our leading lady to strike up a romance with but I know that Jem's situation left me very sad.  So hopefully enough time has passed that returning to Clare's spin off series is timed just right.

Catch Up #2:  A Beautiful Evil (Gods & Monsters, #2) by Kelly Keaton

Myth and mayhem inhabit a richly re imagined New Orleans in this sequel to Darkness Becomes Her.After the epic graveyard battle at the end of Darkness Becomes Her, Ari and her friends know what they’re up against: Ari is facing the Medusa curse and is haunted by the image of what she will become. To make matters worse, the heinous goddess Athena has kidnapped young Violet and is threatening to destroy Ari. 

Ari, along with the super hot Sebastian, is doing everything she can to learn more about Athena and to get Violet back. But the battle of good and evil is bigger than she realizes, and she’s about to be pulled into a world more horrific than she could ever imagine....

Any book that takes place in NOLA has my mouth instantly watering for chicory coffee and sugary beignets!  Ugh, you guys have no idea how badly I want some right this minute!  So maybe that's the reason I forgot about this sequel's release...my willpower when it comes to sweets only goes so far before it's all out torture!

Catch Up #3:  Blood-Kissed Sky (Darkness Before Dawn, #2) by J.A. London

There's nowhere left to hide. 

I thought vampires were our enemies - they controlled our lives, isolated our cities, and demanded our blood - until I met Victor. With Victor taking over as the new Lord Valentine, things were supposed to get better. Instead, they're worse than ever. 

Day Walkers, a new breed of vampires who can walk in the sun, are terrorizing the city. Blood supplies are low, and if Victor's vampires don't get enough, they will become infected with the Thirst - a disease that will turn them into mindless killers. 

To stop it, I must journey across the desolate wasteland to the very place where the sickness began. I can only hope that the answers that await me are enough to save us all... before it's too late.

How did I miss this release?!  There are just too many great (potentially) new titles released all the time.  This was a series where the mother-son writing duo that is J.A. London won me over.  Their series opener, Darkness Before Dawn, hit it out of the park and had me instantly wanting more.  Now I've got to get a move on so I can be ready for the third and final installment in this trilogy, After Daybreak to complete the series.  Hopefully my fast reading habits are still going strong.

Catch Up #4:  Days of Blood and Starlight (Daughter of Smoke and Bone, #2) by Laini Taylor

Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine a world free of bloodshed and war.

This is not that world.

Art student and monster's apprentice Karou finally has the answers she has always sought. She knows who she is—and what she is. But with this knowledge comes another truth she would give anything to undo: She loved the enemy and he betrayed her, and a world suffered for it.

In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Karou must decide how far she'll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, secrets and impossible choices, Days of Blood & Starlight finds Karou and Akiva on opposing sides as an age-old war stirs back to life.

While Karou and her allies build a monstrous army in a land of dust and starlight, Akiva wages a different sort of battle: a battle for redemption. For hope.

But can any hope be salvaged from the ashes of their broken dream?

I read and reviewed the series opener right around it's release date so I think this was just a timing issues for me.  Regardless of the reason for my being late in the game, it's a series I don't want to fall behind with so I'm determined to keep this read on the top of my TBR.

Catch Up #5:  Spell Bound (Hex Hall, #3) by Rachel Hawkins

Hailed as “impossible to put down,” the Hex Hall series has both critics and teens cheering. With a winning combination of romance, action, magic and humor, this third volume will leave readers enchanted.

Just as Sophie Mercer has come to accept her extraordinary magical powers as a demon, the Prodigium Council strips them away. Now Sophie is defenseless, alone, and at the mercy of her sworn enemies—the Brannicks, a family of warrior women who hunt down the Prodigium. Or at least that’s what Sophie thinks, until she makes a surprising discovery. The Brannicks know an epic war is coming, and they believe Sophie is the only one powerful enough to stop the world from ending. But without her magic, Sophie isn’t as confident.

Sophie’s bound for one hell of a ride—can she get her powers back before it’s too late?

The end of another really fun series.  Now I've already got enough reason to grab this one with her new spin off series, School Spirits in 2013.  I'm not going to pass that series up so I need to be up to speed before that first installment hits the shelves.  Plus I really want to know what happens to Cal!

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Favorite Romances

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.

Who doesn't love a good romance right?  Whether its innocent first love, passionate and mature, unrequited and full of angst, or any other kind for that matter I'm almost always going to be engrossed and ready for more.  I know that makes me a cliche, but I'm OK with it because this girl (points to self) loves to swoon over a good love story!

Top Ten Favorite Romances Pick #1:  Nina & Jared - Jamie McGuire's Providence series

He loved her before they even met!  Creepy if it was anyone else but Jared, but his job was to watch and protect her, not to interfere.  And hey, the guy took a bullet for her!  But as soon as the rules changed and he was given the opportunity he jumped in and never looked back.  Its unconditional and all encompassing, selfless and consuming.  Basically its impossible not to swoon!

Top Ten Favorite Romances Pick #2:  Pigeon & Travis - Jamie McGuire's Beautiful series

McGuire knows her romance and I hope she keeps it going in the future.  This was one of those fiery, passionate, no-holds barred kind of relationships.  Lots of fighting, bickering, tensions flaring, breaking up, and then of course making up.  Travis' nickname for Abby had me melting, and the fact that while they constantly had to work at their relationship, the fact that they were willing to do the work and put in the time had me rooting for them all the way.

Top Ten Favorite Romances Pick #3:  Tris & Four - Veronica Roth's Divergent series

The circumstances that brought these two together were not ideal in any way, shape, or form.  Their faction brings out the polar opposite of romantic feelings when surviving day to day is your priority.  But somehow against all the odds and dangers that were working to keep them apart, they somehow managed to come together.  Due to their long and hard road I think they appreciate what they have all the more.

Top Ten Favorite Romances Pick #4:  Alexis & Tristan - Kristie Cook's Soul Savers series

He was a character that was impossible not to root for simply because you knew he had no one else.  He went and defied the odds of nature and fought the evil that wanted to create and use him for their own purposes.  And when he found Alexis he found his other half.  They have had an uphill battle from the start but they're doing what it takes to make it work.

Top Ten Favorite Romances Pick #5:  Nora & Gavin - Elizabeth Isaacs' Kailmeyra series  

While they might be perfect for one another they literally come from different worlds.  Once again I got wrapped up in cheerleader mode as I crossed my fingers repeatedly that good would prevail and the old cliche of true love conquering all would come true.  Isaacs has a way of writing that is both gripping and engrossing and nearly impossible to break away from.

Top Ten Favorite Romances Pick #6:  Zoe & Jared - Deborah Cook's The Dragon Diaries series

OK so this might not be a quote un-quote traditional romance, but the level of flirtation and feelings involved was high so I wanted to include them on my list.  Zoe has always had another leading man in mind, one that I don't think is really right for her, and then in walks Jared....or rides in on his....motorcycle!  I think Jared and his motorcycle might be exactly what she needs to bring her back to reality and the potential romance waiting for her.  Not to mention that this guy is totally swoon worthy with his band boy vibes and protective nature.  A winning combination to be sure!

Top Ten Favorite Romances Pick #7:  Sophie & Cal -Rachel Hawkins' Hex Hall series

OK so again I think I'm projecting my hopefulness with these two but I love them together.  Or at least the idea of them together.  Is is mainly one sided on Cal's part?  Maybe, but I see the potential for these two and I'm hoping that comes to fruition, and sooner rather than later would be nice.  I guess I'm going to have to pick up the finally series installment to find out if I get my wish.

Top Ten Favorite Romances Pick #8:  Rose & Dimitri - Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series

I don't think its possible for two fictional characters to have gone through more in order to be with each other than these two did.  It was a long and hard road and honestly I wasn't sure Mead was going to give them their happy ending after broke my heart before and more than once.  I just can't say enough about these two...I just loved them together!

Top Ten Favorite Romances Pick #9:   Penny & Ryan - Elizabeth Eulberg's The Lonely Hearts Club

Now this might not be one of the greatest romances of all times, but it is one of my favorites.  Penny starts out afraid to be hurt and a major man hater.  It's not until Ryan takes the time to gain her trust and wear down her emotional walls that things start to come into clarity.  It was a sweet relationship (albeit a short one) and I couldn't help but fall in love with both of them.

Top Ten Favorite Romances Pick #10:  Elizabeth and Darcy - Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice

Obviously!  This is the real deal you guys!  It's always been my all time favorite read and I don't think anything will ever top it.  But the two of these characters had me at hello and each year when I reread this novel and go through their story with them is like it's the first time all over again.  You can't say that about many books or about many romances.  They went from despising each other to truly loving and understanding one another.  It went through the full spectrum and really hit home for me and I think a great deal of people as well.  There's a reason this one is a classic and referenced as often as it is and I think Elizabeth and Darcy will be at the top of any discussion or list revolving around romance for me now and always.

I'd Like A Movie Version Please

After yesterday's post about the new young adult titles that will eventually be adapted to the big screen I got to thinking about other YA faves of mine that I'd like to see in the same position. I think everyone has thought about this at one point or another and you guys know that I love my countdowns with a passion, so I'm going to use the rest of this week to showcase of few of my favorite young adult titles each day that I'd like to see turned into a movie and maybe even who I would like cast in those movies.

Which titles are you shelves would you like to see hit the big screen? Any actors or actresses in mind that you could see featured in those films? Shoot me an email or leave me a comment and let me know what you've got up your sleeve. It's always fun to speculate and cross your fingers that one day maybe these favorites of ours will be premiering at the movies just like we'd always wanted!

I'd Like A Movie Version Pick #1: Poison Study (Study, #1) by Maria V. Snyder

Choose: A quick death…Or slow poison…

About to be executed for murder, Yelena is offered an extraordinary reprieve. She'll eat the best meals, have rooms in the palace—and risk assassination by anyone trying to kill the Commander of Ixia.

And so Yelena chooses to become a food taster. But the chief of security, leaving nothing to chance, deliberately feeds her Butterfly's Dust—and only by appearing for her daily antidote will she delay an agonizing death from the poison.

As Yelena tries to escape her new dilemma, disasters keep mounting. Rebels plot to seize Ixia and Yelena develops magical powers she can't control. Her life is threatened again and choices must be made. But this time the outcomes aren't so clear…

Who doesn't love Maria V. Snyder's writing, right? Right! I really wouldn't mind if any and all of her books were optioned to become movies, but this was the first of hers I read and I still hold it up at the top of my list of favorite books. It's got a wonderful and exciting new world for readers to experience, characters like Yelena and Valek that you won't be able to resist, and action packed plot twists that are jammed with cliffhangers and surprises that will leave you on the edge of your seats every single time. Can some file company please get on the ball and pick these babies up? You've got the Study series, the Glass series, Insider series and now the Healer series to choose from. While I haven't read the Insider series, the others are all amazing and I have no doubt that it falls into that bracket as well. Snyder was born to write and hopefully to also have her work translated to the movies!

I'd Like A Movie Version Pick #2: Hex Hall (Hex Hall, #1) by Rachel Hawkins

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

How much fun would this book be as a movie? There would bit a little bit of everything thrown into this film don't you think? Witches, vampires, werewolves and witches, oh my! Don't forget the demons either...all in all there would be so much that could be done and dreamed up for this series in the movies that I think it would draw fans of all ages. Just like Harry Potter movies had fans salivating over all the different aspects that Rowling included in her books, much of the same can be said for Hawkins. She didn't just stop at one kind of creature from the paranormal worlds. She decided to go for the gold and just about all of them!

I'd Like A Movie Version Pick #3: Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken

When Wayland North brings rain to a region that's been dry for over ten years, he's promised anything he'd like as a reward. He chooses the village elder's daughter, sixteen-year-old Sydelle Mirabel, who is a skilled weaver and has an unusual knack for repairing his magical cloaks. Though Sydelle has dreamt of escaping her home, she's hurt that her parents relinquish her so freely and finds herself awed and afraid of the slightly ragtag wizard who is unlike any of the men of magic in the tales she's heard. Still, she is drawn to this mysterious man who is fiercely protective of her and so reluctant to share his own past.

The pair rushes toward the capital, intent to stop an imminent war, pursued by Reuel Dorwan (a dark wizard who has taken a keen interest in Sydelle) and plagued by unusually wild weather. But the sudden earthquakes and freak snowstorms may not be a coincidence. As Sydelle discovers North's dark secret and the reason for his interest in her and learns to master her own mysterious power, it becomes increasingly clear that the fate of the kingdom rests in her fingertips. She will either be a savior, weaving together the frayed bonds between Saldorra and Auster, or the disastrous force that destroys both kingdoms forever.

I don't know any readers who have come across this book who wouldn't want to see Wayland North up on the big screen. There was just something about he and Sydelle that left readers only wanting more. I fell in love with him right there along Sydelle and was so happy with the way Bracken wrapped things up in this standalone. Now there are equal numbers of people who enjoy a standalone novel better than an installment in a series, just as there are a good amount of readers who crave a series or trilogy of books as opposed to only the one title. I get both sides, but I happen to usually fall into the series category. I wish Bracken had decided to expand this story into a series, but even though she didn't I consider this one of my favorites despite that fact. With all the magic and intrigue throughout these pages, I think this one would draw quite the audience as well.

I'd Like A Movie Version Pick #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.

No matter if you're a fan of the paranormal genre or not, no matter if you prefer to read young adult titles or something different, I have yet to meet a reader or non-reader alike that has given this book and series a try and not come out the other end racing to the stores to get the next installment in the series. It's addicting, and dare I say it...I might even prefer this series to the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyers. I adore the Twilight novels, but Mead's world and characters grabbed a hold of me and refused to let go afterwards. I could not get enough and even now I couldn't be more excited to have the Bloodlines series out on the shelves, for no other reason than at least we didn't have to say goodbye to all of her characters when her final installment in the Vampire Academy series came to a close. Bring this one to the movies, and I'll be the first in line to buy a ticket! In fact, now that I've been talking about these books for the past couple of days, I think I might just go and re-read them again...I've got it bad!

I'd Like A Movie Version Pick #5: The Iron King (Iron Fey, #1) by Julie Kagawa

Meghan Chase has a secret destiny; one she could never have imagined.

Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school or at home.

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.

But she could never have guessed the truth - that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face; and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

The only bad part about doing a list like this is the fact that now that I've thought about how these titles would be so great if they were adapted to film, I'm a little sad that it's not a reality. I'm still going to cross my fingers and hope that one day maybe they will be made into movies, but for now it's still fun to just think about it. Kagawa's Iron Fey series, has just about everything one could want in a fantasy novel. It's fun and witty, filled with characters both unique and endearing, and the land of the Fey is magical and awe inspiring. Not to mention a little scary. I think fun would be had by all if this were turned into a movie, don't you?

Countdown: Fantasy Edition

Ever since I was a little kid I've been a huge fan of the fantasy genre. My dad started out reading me books like The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Hobbit was another of his favorites, and the list goes on. At the time, those books scared me, but not enough to keep me from wanting him to keep picking others just like them. There's just something about the creativity in this genre and the limitless possibilities that pulls me in and keeps me wanting to find others like my favorites to add to the shelves in my apartment. Add to that the fact that some of my favorite authors are huge in the genre and I just can't seem to get enough. As long as this genre keeps turning out great reads, I'm not sure I'll ever find another genre that intrigues me quite so much. Here are just a few that I'm looking forward to reading real soon.

Countdown Pick #1: The Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices, #2) by Cassandra Clare (12/1/2011)

In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street—and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa’s powers for his own dark ends. The special Collector’s First Edition will include a never-before-seen letter from Will to his family!With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister’s war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move—and that one of their own has betrayed them. Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will—the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and...

Somehow Clare has found a way to grab a reader's attention and make them forget they're reading fiction. All that matters is finding out what happens next and how the characters make out. The Moral Instruments series became an overnight success and I don't see The Infernal Devices being any different. Clary and Jace may have captured the hearts of readers everywhere, but I've got to say that the characters she's come up with in this series are just as wonderful.

I was hesitant to take this series on only because I wanted to wait to start it only when I knew I would be able to give it my full attention and without bias. I didn't want to be wishing that the characters in her previous series would pop up on the pages, I wanted to be ready for the introduction to the new ones. When I finally picked up the series opener I was ready and excited to enter Clare's world of the Shadowhunters and see a little further into the past and how everything got started.

Countdown Pick #2: Crossed (Matched Trilogy, #2) by Ally Condie (11/1/2011)

In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky - taken by the Society to his certain death - only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake.

Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander - who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart - change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever.

After finishing the first book in this trilogy, Matched, I was dying to get my hands on the the sequel. Condie's world fascinated me. Dystopian novels were not overcrowding my shelves at the time, but there was no way I could walk away from this series. Still wanting to know what Ky's fate was, if Cassia could find him, and where Xander would fit into it all, November just can't get here soon enough.

Condie debuted this novel and without any previous works of hers read, my expectations were not incredibly high. I didn't know what to expect. Now I will admit the circumstances have changed. Matched was such a stellar opening that I can only hope that the intensity, action packed pages, and quick pace continues on with this trilogy. Other than The Hunger Games, this trilogy was second on my list of favorite dystopian novels. It began to change my opinion of the genre, no longer thinking of it as a one hit wonder reserved only for Suzanne Collins' works. So cross your fingers with me that the magic continues on with Crossed.

Countdown Pick #3: Destined (House of Night, #9) by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast (10/25/2011)

In Destined, the forces of Light and Dark collide as their epic struggle focuses on Tulsa's House of Night. Zoey is home where she belongs, safe with her Guardian Warrior, Stark, by her side and preparing to face off against Neferet. Kalona has released his hold on Rephaim, and, through Nyx's gift of a human form, he and Stevie Rae are finally able to be together if Rephaim can truly walk the path of the Goddess and stay free of his father's shadow.

But is Zoey really safe? Does she truly know those who are closest to her? And will love win when it is tested by the very soul of Darkness? Find out what s destined in the next thrilling chapter of the House of Night series.

The House of Night broke the mold for me when it comes to a long running series. Normally my interest wanes after too many books in one series, it all starts to seem like too much. Like the far reaching circumstances and extended scenes that in my opinion might not be integral to the overall plot begin to fill like they're just words filling up the page in order to extend the page count. Not so with this series. I'm definitely not bored, I still want to see where the story goes, and I absolutely still worry about the characters' futures. I can't wait to see where the Cast duo takes Zoey and her friends next.

I'll admit to being a little less worried going into this installment as I was with some of the previous installments. With the end of Awakened, I was somewhat content with the way things were working out. I had some ideas and hopes of how this installment and future ones in the series would go, but I'm content to sit back and crack open this book and just see where the pages take readers next.

Countdown Pick #4: Frost (Stork, #2) by Wendy Delsol (10/1/2011)

In this sequel to STORK, Katla Leblanc has to employ her grit, spirit, and special gifts to rescue the boy she loves.

After the drama of finding out that she’s a Stork, a member of an ancient and mystical order of women, and that her boyfriend, Jack, is a descendent of the Winter People able to control the weather, Katla Leblanc is delighted when all signs point to a busy and peaceful Christmas. That is, until the snowstorm Jack summons as a gift to Katla turns into the storm of the century, attracting Brigid, a gorgeous scientist who, in turn, attracts Jack. Between the school play, a bedridden, pregnant mother’s to-do lists, and keeping an eye on her aging grandfather, Katla doesn’t have time to question Brigid’s motives or deal with Jack’s increasingly cold behavior. But Katla’s suspicions mount when Jack joins Brigid on a research expedition to Greenland, and when the two of them go missing, it becomes clear that Katla is the only one who can save her beloved Jack from the Snow Queen who holds him prisoner. Adventure, romance, and myth combine in this winter escapade for teens who like a bit of fire with their ice.

I've always loved a good romance, and while I like to see the happily-ever-afters happen for my favorite couples, I don't mind it when it takes them a while to get there. It's nice to know that they earned it sometimes. Too many times have I read a novel where the characters are not altogether all that nice and in my opinion deserving of these great guys or these great girls and yet somehow the author still ends the book with the two together, whether they're nice characters or not. While that may be realistic, sometimes I want to read to get away from how things are in real life, and see that on the fictional pages of some books, only the nice guys get the great girls, and vice versa.

In this sequel it seems Katla and Jack will have their work cut out for them if they want the fairy tale ending. I'm anxious for October reads and will be crossing my fingers as always that Katla and Jack can work things out. Are you with me?

Countdown Pick #5: Spell Bound (Hex Hall, #3) by Rachel Hawkins (3/13/2012)

Just as Sophie Mercer has come to accept her extraordinary magical powers as a demon, the Prodigium Council strips them away. Now Sophie is defenseless, alone, and at the mercy of her sworn enemies—the Brannicks, a family of warrior women who hunt down the Prodigium. Or at least that’s what Sophie thinks, until she makes a surprising discovery. The Brannicks know an epic war is coming, and they believe Sophie is the only one powerful enough to stop the world from ending. But without her magic, Sophie isn’t as confident.

Sophie’s bound for one hell of a ride—can she get her powers back before it’s too late?

Hex Hall became one of those series that hit my funny bone and had me laughing and enjoying myself throughout the entire book. Hawkins keeps it light and fun with Sophie and her friends. With this third installment it sounds like it may be taking a turn for the more series side. The second book most definitely had darker edge to it with the newly discovered demons and the way things were left off at the end, but I've got the feeling that Hawkins will take it even further with her next book. Sophie's without her powers and there's a war right around the corner that she will of course play a big role in. Can things go right for Sophie? Will Archer and Cal be by her side? As friends or more? So many questions and I can't wait to get some answers.

Review: Demonglass (Hex Hall, #2) by Rachel Hawkins

Sophie Mercer thought she was a witch.

That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, and fairies). But that was before she discovered the family secret, and that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth.

Turns out, Sophie’s a demon, one of only two in the world—the other being her father. What’s worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will destroy her powers.

But once Sophie arrives she makes a shocking discovery. Her new friends? They’re demons too. Meaning someone is raising them in secret with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they’re using Archer to do it. But it’s not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she?

After everything Sophie went through in her first year at Hex Hall I wasn't sure what to expect in this second installment. A smooth and carefree existence is most certainly not in the cards for her. Despite such a dramatic closing I was mainly wondering how things would pan out for Sophie and Archer. I know I wasn't alone in that curiosity either.

Hawkins did not disappoint. With Sophie now wanting to go through the removal process, all the stakes were raised. Starting with...wait for it...Sophie and her dad don't seem to be the only demons as she first thought. Yikes! So along with her father, Jenna, the Heccate Hall grounds keeper Cal, the journey begins as they venture to London and trouble of course follows. While all the original characters I cam to really like were involved, Cal quickly grabbed my attention and held it. So many questions surround him and I was fascinated.

Demonglass really was a great follow up to Hex Hall and proved Hawkins anything but a one hit wonder. She's got a fun and exciting series on her hands and with yet another huge cliffhanger at the end of this installment, the third in this series, Spell Bound (Hex Hall, #3) due out March 13, 2012 seems oh so very far away!

I gave Demonglass (Hex Hall, #2) 4 shamrocks!!!!