Monday, December 31, 2012

Quick Review: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Pushing the Limits
by Katie McGarry
YA Romance / YA Contemporary Romance
Published July 31, 2012 by Harlequin Teen

*copy obtained via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review*

Synopsis via Goodreads:
"No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.

Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again."



About the Author:
KATIE MCGARRY was a teenager during the age of grunge and boy bands and remembers those years as the best and worst of her life. She is a lover of music, happy endings, and reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan.


Connect with the Author:



Get Your Copy:

My Quick Review:

An amazing, emotional, heart wrenching, heart stopping & lovely roller coaster ride! Loved this novel!

I have a soft spot in my heart for "bad boys" because for the most part, they're really the best guys on the planet. And no - I'm not talking just in books. Everyone should look past the outside and see why someone acts the way they do. Usually it's a defense mechanism. Anyyyywayyy - Noah *swoon* I absolutely loved his character. Echo - Loved this girl!

Your heart literally goes up and down through this entire novel. It's a heartbreaking tale of the woes of foster care, the undiscussed family problems caused by bipolar family members, the horrible break up of a family, the heart wrenching loss of losing family members... I could go on and on... But in the end, you start cheering them on and hoping they find a happiness somewhere in their screwed up life. "Normal" doesn't hit everyone - sometimes our definition of "normal" needs to updated in life because of the events that unfold...

Again - LOVED this novel! Can't wait to see what Katie McGarry does next!

Overall Rating: 5 Stars!!


There's going to be a second book!! Coming May 28, 2013!!! 
You can pre-order it now too!
 (omg... can you say HOTTTT cover! Love it!)


Saturday, December 29, 2012

IMM #16 / STS #11

 
 
Purchased:
      
 
 
 
 
Picked up for Free:
Okay - so this was a freebie - One of my favorite cartoon movies is Alice In Wonderland (2nd only behind 101 Dalmatians LoL) so I'm intrigued... This is supposed to be told from the Hatter's POV so we'll see :)
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
Received For Review:
 
 
 
 
Gifted:
 
Another one of my mamaw's favorite authors - she bought & gave me a print copy for Christmas :)
I <3 Her
 
 

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Rambling Guest: H.A. Goodman, Author of "Breaking the Devil's Heart"

Alrighty gals & guys,
please help me welcome today's Rambling Guest:
Author H.A. Goodman
Author of the Paranormal Novel "Breaking the Devil's Heart"
 
 
 
About H.A. Goodman:
H. A. Goodman is a former financial adviser and high school history teacher who grew up reading comic books and playing Dungeons & Dragons. In 2010, he combined his love for fantasy, science fiction and philosophy to write his debut novel, Logic of Demons: The Quest for Nadine's Soul. As a follow-up to Logic of Demons, H. A. created an even more provocative and thought provoking tale entitled Breaking the Devil's Heart. The latest novel is a whirlwind ride through the afterlife and a journey within the human psyche. The plot utilizes cultural mythology to highlight certain peculiarities of human nature tied inextricably to conflict. The story incorporates world history and a bizarre imagination to create a uniquely dystopian afterlife that is both amusing and frightening. With rave reviews popping up daily, Breaking the Devil's Heart is rapidly growing in popularity throughout the blogosphere. H. A. currently resides in Los Angeles and no longer plays Dungeons & Dragons, although he still loves comic books.
 
Want to learn more about or connect with Mr. Goodman - Go to his  Website .
 
 
 
 
Get Your Copy for $0.99 Today:    Amazon    B&N     ITunes
 
 
Thanks for stopping by & rambling with us today!
 
 
Who would you be in an alternate reality?
My name is H. A. Goodman, and my novel Breaking the Devil's Heart, is quite a unique and out of the ordinary tale. The following is my humble attempt at shedding some light into why I wrote the novel.
 
A recent NPR article describes physicist Robert Greene’s view of an alternate universe in the following manner:
 
Our universe might be really, really big —but finite. Or it might be infinitely big.
Both cases, says physicist Brian Greene, are possibilities, but if the latter is true, so is another posit: There are only so many ways matter can arrange itself within that infinite universe. Eventually, matter has to repeat itself and arrange itself in similar ways. So if the universe is infinitely large, it is also home to infinite parallel universes.
 
So, on some planet millions of light years away, another you might be doing what you’re doing now. Or, he or she might be using your character traits, personality, emotional and physical attributes, and everything that makes you unique in a different manner.
 
For example, let’s say your long lost quantum mechanical twin exists in a tumultuous time period. Let’s assume, for instance, that your facsimile lives in his or her world’s equivalent of Nazi Germany.
 
 Now, would that carbon copy of you, a being holding your character traits in all their Earthly grandeur (with minor exceptions here and there), be consumed by the madness of the time period? Would you be a part of that world’s Eizengruppen and mow down a group of orphans with a machine gun?
 
Or, in that Bizarro World, would you pass the test of time?
 
Would you be like Sophie Scholl in 1943 and distribute anti-Nazi leaflets? If so, like Sophie, you might also be executed by guillotine.
 
Would you be like Hugh Thompson, Larry Colburn, and Glen Andreotta - the three American helicopter pilots, and heroes, who at My Lai risked their lives to prevent further massacre and forcefully confront fellow soldiers who had gone mad shooting civilians?
 
If fate tested your moral compass, which way would you turn?
 
But, enough about us, let’s move away from ourselves for a moment (what a narcissist I am) and ask the fun questions:
 
 Would a man like Rupert Murdoch risk his life to protect others in this parallel world? What kind of leadership skills would David Cameron or Barack Obama possess in some distant, troubled universe? Who would your father or mother, your religious leader, or your significant other be if they existed in another time and place – a time and place that tested their morals and their personality in some grave manner?
 
 I know it sounds quirky, but this is all very serious business. Who you’d be in an alternate world isn’t only an existential dilemma that makes for a good science fiction or fantasy story. It’s a topic that strips away the bonds of tribalism, ethnic and cultural allegiances, and national pride.
 
The answer to this question also relieves you of the luxury of living in your comfortable time period. For instance, chances are you might only be a moral soul because you live in 2012 London, or 2012 Los Angeles.
 
You’re long lost photocopy, -the man or woman in a galaxy far, far away - might not have that luxury. He or she might be using your personality, character flaw, and convictions on a daily basis, and not for what you might think.
 
 Last year I received an email from a person I know to be a wonderful, kind hearted, and moral human being. The email read the following, and was a spoof on comic Jeff Foxworthy’s schtick about rednecks:
1. If you refine heroin for a living,
But you have a moral objection to liquor.
You may be a Muslim

2. If you own a Ł3,000 machine gun and Ł5,000 rocket launcher,
But you can't afford shoes.
You may be a Muslim

3. If you have more wives than teeth.
You may be a Muslim
 
Now, you might look at the words above and say the email was a vile attempt at humor. I agree. However, I also look at it and wonder what kind of emails would be circulating during Nazi Germany if Nazis had the internet. Would I be the butt of a joke? What role would this failed attempt at comedy have in someone’s fate?
 
Also, I ask myself who the person who sent this email might have been in an alternate world. Would he also send emails about Jews if the political climate were ripe for that sort of thing? Would he laugh just as hard if the email was aimed at his own ethnic group, assuming that he belonged to a different one in another world?
 
Finally, here’s some other food for thought: This world’s business tycoon might also be another world’s slave ship captain. This world’s homophobic or Islamophobic preacher might also be another world’s anti-Semitic tyrant. This world’s naive and harmless internet spammer might be the silent neighbor who says nothing while his family friends march off to death camps.
 
Brian Greene and other physicists have inadvertently helped me understand humanity in a profound manner. If you’ve ever asked yourself why genocides, wars, political unrest, racism, and economic strife continue to exist, just ask who your fellow man and woman (be they elected officials or even a sibling) would be in an alternate world. If they possess the character traits that might allow these sorts of things to take place in another time period, then you have your answer.
 
 
So the next time you get that email disparaging another ethnicity, or listen to that politician espouse his love for a country he’s never fought for, or that family member who says “can’t you find a nice ‘so and so’ to get married to,” just think of alternate realities. You might just find your answer as to why the cycle of violence and bloodshed continues on planet Earth.
 
You’ll also find out one of the themes in my latest novel, Breaking the Devil’s Heart.
 
H. A. Goodman


Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Review: Tickle Me by Monica Bouvier



Tickle Me
by Monica Bouvier
Adult Romance
Published October 22, 2012 by Outskirts Press, Inc.
Print Version: 492 Pages
 
*Print copy obtained from author in exchange for an honest review*


Synopsis from Goodreads:

Aphrodite Be Damned!

In this tale of wanton love, decadent seduction, and dangerous liaisons, we meet Alice—a quiet, meek woman who, at 29, has never been touched by a man, let alone experienced the piercing pangs of love’s bittersweet kiss upon the heart. Alice is obsessed with Greek Mythology, and early on, she resigned herself to the fact that Lachesis, the Fate who chooses our lot in life, destined her life to be one without love—that is until Erik, a mysterious admirer, surfaces.

Communicating at first solely online, Erik’s passionate poems and erotic love stories slowly break down Alice’s self-imposed wall of isolation. Throwing caution to the wind, they begin to share the most intimate of emails, awakening Alice’s innermost desires. She finds herself falling in love with Erik and in the possibility that he could be her one true love—her soul mate—despite the fact that they have never met in person.

Has Zeus finally heard her cries and granted Cupid, the offspring of Aphrodite, permission to hurl his arrow of love in Alice’s direction? Or, will she get caught up in love’s unscrupulous web of deception and deceit after the identity of her mysterious lover is revealed? How far will Alice venture to recapture love lost—real or imaginary? How far would you go?


Get Your Copy:    Amazon    Barnes & Noble

About the Author:
Monica Bouvier is married and has one son. Born in Spokane, Washington, Monica moved with her family to Anchorage, Alaska at the tender age of six. Her grandfather was one of the first African-American homesteaders in Anchorage, as well as, owned and operated the city’s first minority-owned construction company, of which, helped in rebuilding Anchorage after the 1969 earthquake. Her grandfathers influence and love of Alaska filtered throughout Monica’s whole family, the majority of who still make this great state their permanent residence today.
Monica, a former model, has worked in television/media industry for over two decades. She is recognized as the first African-American Public Service Announcer director in Alaskan television.

Monica’s hobbies include spending time with her family and friends, traveling, hiking, sewing, tennis, reading, and writing.

Monica, an avid self-help enthusiast, is a student of the human condition. It wasn’t until after successfully maneuvering through her own relationship obstacles that she felt qualified to add her own personal spin to the complexities of the male/female relationship in the form of writing novels. Her first novel, In Search of Mr Wonderful, The Journey From Myth To Madness, is a loosely based adaptation of this journey. Monica is currently working on her next set of novels, The Ten Commandments of Dating, Poisoned Pen, Mermaidland and The Margarita Social Club, which constitute a long secession of romantically charged tales of love, lust and unbridled imagination still to come from this author.

Connect with Monica:
Website
Goodreads
Twitter
Facebook


My Review:


I'm a little torn on this novel. I really enjoyed the first 3/5 of the book... then I ended up bored because it just kept going and I felt like I was going nowhere. I ended up skipping probably 1/5 of the book and jumping right to the part where Erik & Alice meet in person. The mental journey that you take with the main character - transitioning from thinking of herself as a no one to someone who is desirable to at least one person - is interesting. It was a perspective on life that I don't read about often. Then you end up with the online relationship with Erik and it seems too good to be true. I never really found anything Erik was saying during the actual "conversations" attractive - I mean, a guy who says "hehe" and "ticklezzzz" just isn't attractive. Plus the crazy amount of smiley faces and such he uses in his emails is a little non-attractive to me. But his stories - oh man - they're intriguing. It's almost like you're about to enter a BDSM scene - spanking or one of the lighter bondage scenes - but then... it turns out to be tickling... It's a little... odd I guess I could say - but fun to read. I'm an insanely ticklish person so someone handcuffing me to the bed and having their "tickling" way with me is NOT something I'd look forward to & definitely NOT something that would get me all hot and bothered. Even though some of that sounds negative, it's just personal thoughts. The end... well... the end takes you completely off guard. Looking back, it made it quite interesting to re-read some of the conversations. It shed an entirely new light on the entire novel. Loved that spin on things.

Overall Rating: 3 Stars - It was okay but I really had to push through to the end after a certain point


Saturday, December 22, 2012

Review: Fallen To Far by Abbi Glines

 
 
Fallen Too Far
by Abbi Glines
New Adult Romance / Contemporary Romance
Published December 14, 2012
 
*purchased e-book*
 
Synopsis Via Goodreads:
 

"To want what you’re not supposed to have…

She is only nineteen.

She is his new stepfather’s daughter.

She is still naïve and innocent due to spending the last three years taking care of her sick mother.

But for twenty-four year old Rush Finlay, she is the only thing that has ever been off limits. His famous father’s guilt money, his mother’s desperation to win his love, and his charm are the three reasons he has never been told no.

Blaire Wynn left her small farmhouse in Alabama, after her mother passed away, to move in with her father and his new wife in their sprawling beach house along the Florida gulf coast. She isn’t prepared for the lifestyle change and she knows she’ll never fit into this world. Then there is her sexy stepbrother who her father leaves her with for the summer while he runs off to Paris with his wife. Rush is as spoiled as he is gorgeous. He is also getting under her skin. She knows he is anything but good for her and that he’ll never be faithful to anyone. He is jaded and has secrets Blaire knows she may never uncover but even knowing all of that…

Blaire just may have fallen too far."



Get Your Copy:   Barnes & Noble     Amazon



About the Author:
Abbi Glines can be found hanging out with rockstars, taking out her yacht on weekends for a party cruise, sky diving, or surfing in Maui. Okay maybe she needs to keep her imagination focused on her writing only. In the real world, Abbi can be found hauling kids (several who seem to show up that don’t belong to her) to all their social events, hiding under the covers with her MacBook in hopes her husband won’t catch her watching Buffy on Netflix again, and sneaking off to Barnes and Noble to spend hours lost in the yummy goodness of books. Her debut novel, BREATHE, can be found in digital format at Barnes and Noble and Amazon. Existence, a YA paranormal, was released December 13, 2011 by Wild Child Publishing. She also released a YA contemporary romance, The Vincent Boys this Fall. She just released her first New Adult contemporary, Because of Low. She is currently editing the second book in the Existence Trilogy, Predestined. If you want to find her then check Twitter first because she has a severe addiction to tweeting @abbiglines. She also blogs regularly but rarely about anything life changing. She also really enjoys talking about herself in third person.
 
Connect With Abbi:




My Review:

I LOVED Fallen Too Far! Great novel!!

I do believe that it's now my absolutely favorite by Abbi Glines.

At first, the novel feels a little choppy - but then it's like Abbi got into a groove & it worked! The characters were great! Blaire is such a great female lead: country girl who has struggled through life, losing her mom, being the only person she can depend on, then being thrown into a life where she has absolutely nothing left....but her dad who bounced 5 years earlier. You become a cheerleader in Blaire's corner because you WANT her to make it in life. Then you have Rush - love that name btw. Totally Hotness. At first, you really don't have a good feel at all for Rush except that he's an ultimate hottie with an attitude. I honestly really disliked his character at first - which I'm pretty sure was the point. But then you start seeing little moments where Rush lets his shield of crappy attitude down - allowing you to see where he really feels something for Blaire. All of the other characters were great too! They all have their own attitudes/personalities that really stand apart.

And then the bottom absolutely drops out of the sky & the serious turn of events just slaps you upside the head! I was totally blindsided by the real issue at hand - I felt awful for Blaire. You know that something is going to happen but you have no idea what - there was no way to predict (for me anyway) what was going to happen.

The sex scenes are well written - not trashy or too much. Very tasteful & reading from Blaire's perspective just makes it all more emotional. I'd love to see Rush's point of view through the entire novel!

Overall Rating: 5 Stars!
Cover Rating: 4 Stars
Characters: 5 Stars
Plot: 4 Stars
Climax: 5 Stars

I cannot wait until March!!!

IMM #15 / STS #10



Purchased:

            
 
Picked Up For Free On Amazon:
 
 


Won Via Blog Giveaways!
*Happy Dance*

     
 
 
 
Literally In My Mailbox!
*Happy Dance*
 
Thank you Alexa!!
 

I've seriously needed a new book light for MONTHS now and haven't gotten one!! Now I don't have to because Alexa was fabulous enough to have one in this basket!! Me <-- Doing a Happy Dance! 

I cannot wait to start this Trilogy! I  mean, c'mon! For Starters, Look at those covers! Hott!
 
 
 
Thank you Shannon!!!!!
I <3 The Cambion Series!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I hope all of you celebrating have a wonderful Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!
 

Friday, December 21, 2012

Our Angel Tree Family

As some of you may know, our office "adopted" an entire family for Christmas this year as part of the Angel Tree Program that our hospital takes part in each year. Go Here to read my initial post.

Several things happened in between this post & my last post. We found out more about our family, their health situations, family situations, wants, needs, and their life in general. I can't honestly begin to tell you how hard their life is right now. I feel for them and it makes me really Thankful to have everything that I have. My wants & needs pale in comparison to those of this family. My heart truly breaks for them.

As a recap -
Mom - cervical cancer
Son - 5 yrs old - brain tumor
Son - 10 yrs old - several health problems due to a vehicle accident
Daughter - 12 yrs old

The Mom's niece is also in their house now. A precious little 5 year old girl.

Our department pulled together, along with the help of a few others including a local high school state champ football team, Author Deborah Palumbo, and a local fabulous photographer who donated a free family portrait session.

The Mother just stopped by to pick up her family's gifts & let's just say that tears were definitely shed. It broke my heart to hear of her struggle with providing the medical care her children needed OR paying for Christmas presents. When asked if she'd like to keep the left over wrapping paper for wrapping any gifts she may have at home, she said that there were none. As a mom, I can only imagine the struggle of not being able to provide for children.

I wanted to say Thank You to each and every one of you who may have reached out to help a family in need in your community. It truly is an amazing feeling to be able to pay it forward because there will be times of struggle in each and every one of our lives at some point or another. Be Thankful for what you have - including the health of your children & family members.

I hope each and every one of you have a Very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays 
& a Happy New Year! 












99 Authors, 99 Books, 99 Cents!!!!!

These prices are available on Amazon only.

For a listing of books offered and to enter to win, click here!!

 

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Review & Giveaway: Black, White & Dead All Over

Black & White & Dead All Over
A Brian Wilder Mystery
By Michael Bradley
Mystery
Published August 2, 2012

*PDF Obtained For Review As Part of a Blog Tour*


Synopsis Via Goodreads:
From the author of The Case Files of Doyle & McCraken comes a modern day tale of intrigue and murder. When the skeleton of a teenage girl is uncovered at a construction site in Newark, journalist Brian Wilder must follow a twenty-two year old trail of deceit and lies to uncover the truth behind her death. While still struggling with his own tragic past, Brian uncovers a haunting secret of passion and anger that could threaten to destroy one of the most powerful political families in Delaware.

 
Get Your Copy:       Amazon        Barnes & Noble 



About the Author:
Born and raised in southern New Jersey, Michael Bradley is an author and IT consultant, whose frequent travels bring him in touch with a variety of people up and down the east coast. When he isn’t on the road, Michael hits the waterways in one of his three kayaks. Being an avid Apple fan, Michael loves to preach the benefits of Apple’s Mac OS X and iOS.

Before working in information technology, Michael spent eight years in radio broadcasting, working for stations in New Jersey and West Virginia, including the Marconi Award winning WVAQ in Morgantown. Becoming an author has been a lifelong dream for Michael, which was finally realized with the release of his first book in 2012.

Among the writers in which he finds inspiration, Michael favors P.D. James, Raymond Chandler, Leslie Charteris, Simon Brett, and Ian Fleming. He lives in Delaware with his wife, Diane, and their two furry four-legged “kids”, Simon and Brandy.

Michael does all of his writing on an Apple iPad 2 with a Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover.
 
 
Connect with Michael:
 
 
 
My Review:
Okay guys - first off, this isn't my normal genre these days. I used to read more mystery & suspense novels when I was younger but I got away from them. I won't do a full review for this like I do my others but more like a quick, honest review.
 
Okay... So it was hard to get invested with the story at first... Maybe because mystery isn't my usual genre these days... But once the mystery starts progressing, you feel more attached to what's unfolding on the pages. I really liked the main character - Brian. He is a really likable guy - stand up man who's had tragic events hit him hard. He went from being a huge reporter to someone who runs a small town weekly paper. He kept all of his big shop reporting talents even though he went to a small paper. It was really neat to watch him figuring out the case just like a detective would. I loved Jessica - she was spunky & I wish I could've seen more of her. Honestly, I solved the mystery before he did so I wasn't really surprised by "who dun it" but I was more surprised by how it all unfolded. It definitely kept me on my toes.
 
It was a great story - loved the climax (except it did seem a tad easy to get confessions). My only negative is that the story seems all over the place in areas - it's hard to tell where one scene ends & another begins - it just jumps around.
 
Overall - a really good read - 3.5 Stars.  
 
 
 
 
Giveaway!!
Michael is giving away 1 Print Copy (US Only - sorry international readers) to a lucky winner! Use the Rafflecopter below to enter!
 
 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

2012 End of the Year Book Survey!

Wow - It's already near the end of 2012! I've had my blog up & running since September 2012 but I've been reading for... well... Years... No need to remind everyone how old I am because I'm feeling pretty old right now HA
This will be my first every end of the year book survey!! I'm excited to get started & reflect upon this year!
Complete your survey & Link up with the rest of us by going to the Perpetual Page Turner's Blog ^_^

  
Best In Books 2012

1. Best Book You Read In 2012? 
Wow... this year has probably been one of the best years for my bookshelf. Honestly, there's no way I can only choose one. I've read several great books this year. Here's a few of them - yes this is just a "few" because I've read over 100 books this year LOL:





2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?
Well... It's not that I really hated these books but I just didn't love them as much as I thought I would. I was really excited to read them but really ended up having to push myself through them because the lead female role was probably the most annoying character I met all year... >_<

3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2012?
The subject matter for the Dark Duet is intense & a horrible problem in the world. I really thought I wouldn't be able to read these novels because I thought "there's no way that someone can turn such a horrible issue into something worth reading." Man was I wrong. I couldn't put these books down. These are books you either love or you hate. I haven't really seen many reviewers on the fence about them. I Loved them. I was a complete emotional mess but loved them!


4. Book you recommended to people most in 2012?
Honestly, I have recommended a lot of books to people but none as much as Taking Chances. I mean - Blown Away! I read this book several months ago & I'm STILL talking about it!

5. Best series you discovered in 2012?
This year has been the Year of the series for me!! As far as a new series I discovered in 2012 (not published in 2012 but that I discovered this year), I'd have to say that these were my top faves:




 


6. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2012?
Well this is going to be a repeat really as far as new books that I've read & enjoyed this year... Amy Bartol, Jamie McGuire, Shelly Crane, Priya Ardis, Jennifer L. Armentrout, Teresa Mummert, Abbi Glines, Colleen Hoover, Tammara Webber, Molly McAdams, J.A. Redmerski, Debbie Dee, Kathy Petrakis, R.L. Mathewson.... I could honestly go on & on... when you read over 100 books, you end up with lots of faves, LOL   I've met & worked with several great authors that I haven't had a chance to read yet! I have their novels on my TBR list & I can't wait to get to them: Deborah Palumbo, E. Van Lowe.... I've loved working with them & can't wait to read their novels!!

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?
I really tend to stick to my usual genre and don't stray too far but one that was way out of my comfort zone & usual genre that I really enjoyed was Confessions of a Teenage Hermaphrodite. I was really surprised at how much I enjoyed this touching story.
8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2012?
See question 1 - ha. I really can't pick just one - it's nearly impossible.

9. Book You Read In 2012 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year:
Again - see question 1 - I would so read each and every one of those again.

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2012?
I'm such a sucker for a good cover. There's a few that really grabbed me this year & each time I see them even now, I sigh and think "man that's a gorgeous cover!"



11. Most memorable character in 2012?
 I think of Chase from Taking Chances by Molly McAdams & Christian Grey from Fifty Shades of Grey automatically *sigh*
12. Most beautifully written book read in 2012?
Ooh this is a good question.... Hmmm..... let me think....
I guess I would have to say The Last Witch by Debbie Dee... Honestly, her book was such a flowing read. Her writing was beautiful but not extravagant, detailed but not over-descriptive, and emotional but not annoyingly so.

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2012?
Oh man, you'll get tired of hearing this but Definitely Taking Chances by Molly McAdams. I have never cried that hard & seriously grieved a character as much as I did during this book.

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2012 to finally read?
 I honestly cannot believe that I had never read the Significance Series by Shelly Crane until this year!!! Book 1 was published in 2011 and I didn't even find it until this year!!! Now it's on its way to being a movie!! What what!

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2012?
Ha... I have so many quotes that I love! Thank you Goodreads for giving me a place to start tracking them! I want to re-read several books I read years ago just so I can find all the passages/quotes that I loved! This year, so many book passages made me giggle out loud, cry, tear up, smile, get mad...

Let's see... a favorite... There's no way I can pick a favorite but here's one that I absolutely love...

This is a Slam Poem from Colleen Hoover's Slammed novel.
“My name is Olivia King
I am five years old.
My mother bought me a balloon. I remember the day she walked through the front door with it. The curly hot pink ribbon trickling down her arm, wrapped around her wrist. She was smiling at me as she untied the ribbon and wrapped it around my hand.
“Here Livie, I bought this for you.”
She called me Livie.
I was so happy. I’d never had a balloon before. I mean, I always saw balloons wrapped around other kids wrists in the
parking lot of Wal-Mart, but I never dreamed I would have my
very own.
My very own pink balloon.”

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2012?
Hmm well, I don't really track pages but if I had to guess, the shortest book I read was probably one of the Dark Kings series books by Donna Grant. They're all super short - like 70-90 pages. The longest book was probably one of the Mortal Instruments Series novels by Cassandra Clare. I haven't looked at the # of pages but they seems like huge novels.

17. Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It? (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc. etc.) Be careful of spoilers!
HA - I cannot honestly tell you how many times I text a co-worker who is as book obsessed as I am and said "HOLY HELL JESSICA - YOU HAVE TO READ __________. I'M DYING OVER HERE!! READ IT NOW!!!"
Some of those books included:
Captive in the Dark by CJ Roberts
Taking Chances by Molly McAdams
The Colters' Legacy by Maya Banks
The Edge of Never by JA Redmerski
 A Table for Three by Lainey Reese
18. Favorite Relationship From A Book You Read In 2012 (be it romantic, friendship, etc).
Hmm....
I loved the relationship that was built between Emmeline & Erick in Debbie Dee's The Last Witch.
I loved the relationship of Zoe & Trevor in R.L. Mathewson's Neighbor From Hell #2 - Perfection.
Oooh & Jax Stone + Sadie in Abbi Glines' Sea Breeze #1 - Breathe!!
Okay - really, I could go on and on and on....

19. Favorite Book You Read in 2012 From An Author You Read Previously
Oooh Kresley Cole - Lothaire - Definitely didn't disappoint. The Immortals after Dark Series is one of my ALL TIME FAVE Series!!

20. Best Book You Read That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else:

My fabulous friend Jessica & I swap recommendations back and forth! My fave this year was probably the Colters' Legacy Series by Maya Banks. It wasn't something I would've picked up myself and when I started it, I thought it would be an uncomfortable read but it was HOTT on so many levels. The dedication of the men in the family in this series is just unbelievable. I mean, seriously, I'd take ONE of those men <-- Don't tell my husband, LOL :)


Book Blogging/Reading Life in 2012

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2012?
This is a really tough question... I've found so many amazing blogs out there this year! My favorite I guess would be The Story Siren because I've gotten so many helpful tips from her site. It's great!! If you haven't checked her out, do it now!

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2012?
Definitely The Last Witch by Debbie Dee
Go here to read it!

3. Best discussion you had on your blog?
Hmm I've met & talked to some great people this year but my favorite Interview has been Kathy Petrakis, author of Passion & Pain. Go here to read it. She is AMAZING. I really enjoyed speaking with her & her novel is fabulous - definitely go pick up Passion & Pain today if you haven't yet.

4. Most thought-provoking review or discussion you read on somebody else’s blog?
I really enjoyed the discussion for Justin's Book Blog's post - The Pressures of Book Blogging.
As a newbie blogger, it was great to read how everyone else feels about getting stressed about doing something that's supposed to be a fun past time hobby.

5. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?
My favorite Meme is In My Mailbox & Stacking the Shelves! I LOVE seeing what everyone gets - I've found so many new reads through IMM/STS posts!

6. Best moment of book blogging in 2012?
Oh I've had lots of fabulous moments this year!!! OMG... getting my very first signed novel! Can you say FREAK OUT! I was so excited! Ooh and talking to authors that I LOVE!!! There's no greater feeling than learning that your favorite authors are really people! hahaha Not robots! They tweet, email, hold coversations with you... I also remember this year reaching 100 followers!! I was so excited! I thought to myself "whattttt! People are actually reading what I'm writing?!" Now I'm actually over 200 followers! :) I <3 You guys!

7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?
My most popular post by far has been my I <3 My Followers Giveaway - a huge 979 views alone for this bad boy. Confessions of a Teenage Hermaphrodite by Lianne Simon - Review & Giveaway came in a close second!

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?
This post is not book related but I really wish it would've gotten more love from people - simply because of the message I wanted to portray. Please go here to read my "Christmas - Be Thankful For What You Have" Post

9. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?
Oooh Goodreads is by far the best discovery of the year!!! I use Goodreads every day. If it wasn't for Goodreads, there's no way in this world I'd be able to keep up with all of the books that I want to read.

10. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?
You know, I really didn't set any particular goals for myself except to start a somewhat successful blog about life & books.


Looking Ahead…

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2012 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2013?
Oh man, my list is like forever long... LOL... there's no WAY I can even begin to list the books I wanted to read this year and haven't gotten to. Go here for my TBR list!

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2013?
Walking Disaster by Jamie McGuire  AND Stealing Harper by Molly McAdams (I HOPE it comes out in 2013)

3. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging In 2013?
I really hope to continue to meet & help expose great, new, indie authors!