Top Ten Tuesday:Books I Read In 2012

Hosted by The Broke and The Bookish

Top 10 Books I Read In 2012:

1.  2.   3.   

4.   5.   6.

7.  8.   9.

10. 

My favorite of the year?

A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES BY DEBORAH HARKNESS

It's Monday! What are you reading?

Weekly meme hosted by Book Journey. 

Here's where you share what you've recently read, are currently reading, and what you're about to read.

Read:

City of Dark Magic by Magnus Flyte

Me and Mr. Darcy by Alexandra Potter

Wake by Amanda Hocking

    

Currently Reading:

Tolstoy and the Purple Chair by Nina Sankovitch

The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller

Up Next:

Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning

White Cat by Holly Black

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

The House of Velvet and Glass by Katherine Howe

Really enjoying most of the titles that i've picked up recently! And tons more that i'm looking forward to digging into this week. Winter is always the perfect season to cozy up in my reading chair, grab a cup of hot tea and go on new and exciting adventures with all of theses stories. What are you reading this week?

In My Mailbox(11)

This weekly meme is hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren.

IMM is where you can showcase all your goods. This week...

Purchased:

Dark Lover by J.R. Ward

Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning

Bitten by Kelley Armstrong

Tolstoy and the Purple Chair by Nina Sankovitch

Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness

  

For Review:

The Demon Lover by Juliet Dark

Entangled by Nikki Jefford

Tons of great titles this week! So much so that i am having such a difficult time choosing what to read next. I think i'm currently in the middle of reading 4 titles right now! This week will be spent sitting down and finishing each and every one of them, so that i can get started on these new ones. 

What fabulous reads did you acquire this past week?

In My Mailbox (10)

This weekly meme is hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren.

IMM is where you can showcase all your goods. This week...

Purchased:

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

Wake by Amanda Hocking

Embrace (e-book for Kindle) by Jessica Shirvington

UPDATE!

Hey folks! So, i would like to apologize for being missing-in-action these last few months. I have a fantastical reason. TRUST ME! I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy! 

Harry is almost 3 months old!

Harrison Graham McWilliams was born on June 15, 2012. He was 8lbs 10 oz and now, 3 months later has reached a staggering 14lbs! His personality is already starting to show so much. Such a giggly, happy baby. Every day i am filled with nothing but happiness and the feeling of overwhelming bliss.

 So, this is my sorry for not being around guys. I promise to try and do my best in the future. It's been a little while since i've been able to pick up and actually finish a book since his birth, but things are starting to calm down a bit more. The more i figure out a routine, the more i am able to start doing the things i once loved again. It's been quite an adventure so far, but it is one that i am so thrilled to be in. 

It's Monday! What are you reading?

Weekly meme hosted by Book Journey. 

Here's where you share what you've recently read, are currently reading, and what you're about to read.

Read:

Pure by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning

 

Currently Reading:

The Morganville Vampires Vol. 1 by Rachel Caine

Torment by Lauren Kate

Going to Read:

The Van Alen Legacy by Melissa de la Cruz

Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Really enjoying the books i've picked up so far. Just about everything i've been reading has been a fun read... i must be on a roll! What are you reading this week?

REVIEW: Darkfever

Darkfever (Fever Series #1)
by Karen Marie Moning
Pages: 384-US Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: October 1, 2006
My Rating: 5/5
Book Summary: MacKayla Lane’s life is good. She has great friends, a decent job, and a car that breaks down only every other week or so. In other words, she’s your perfectly ordinary twenty-first-century woman. 

Or so she thinks…until something extraordinary happens.

When her sister is murdered, leaving a single clue to her death–a cryptic message on Mac’s cell phone–Mac journeys to Ireland in search of answers. The quest to find her sister’s killer draws her into a shadowy realm where nothing is as it seems, where good and evil wear the same treacherously seductive mask. She is soon faced with an even greater challenge: staying alive long enough to learn how to handle a power she had no idea she possessed–a gift that allows her to see beyond the world of man, into the dangerous realm of the Fae….

As Mac delves deeper into the mystery of her sister’s death, her every move is shadowed by the dark, mysterious Jericho, a man with no past and only mockery for a future. As she begins to close in on the truth, the ruthless Vlane–an alpha Fae who makes sex an addiction for human women–closes in on her. And as the boundary between worlds begins to crumble, Mac’s true mission becomes clear: find the elusive Sinsar Dubh before someone else claims the all-powerful Dark Book–because whoever gets to it first holds nothing less than complete control of the very fabric of both worlds in their hands… --goodreads.com

My Thoughts:

This book has been sitting on my shelf for quite some time now, but i always seemed to skim it over when looking to find something to read in my never ending pile of TBR. Why? Not quite sure really. The synopsis alone is intriguing and sounds like the type of book right up my alley, hence why i purchased it. Maybe it's the fact that it's an adult urban fantasy and i'm only just recently starting to really get into these types of stories...

Well my regrets start here. My regret of TAKING SO FREAKING LONG! I could give myself a good smack upside the head. This book was SO GREAT. SO SO SO SO SO SO SO GREAT. It's one of the first fae books that i have truly and thoroughly enjoyed. The way Karen Marie Moning made the world of the fae out to be was so downright original and creepy, i loved it! 

The main character Mac was one i actually rather enjoyed, she was tough as nails and held her ground while still holding on to that barbie-girl side to her. It really appealed to my all things sparkly and pink loving part. As for Barrons, the sexy, elusive main male character... well, let's just say i look very, very forward to seeing more of him. Much, much more of him if you catch my drift. I also wouldn't mind seeing more of V'lane in the rest of the series either. Holy crap, talk about some steamy scenes. 

If the fact that i've already planned to head to Barnes and Noble tomorrow, to pick up installment number 2, Bloodfever, doesn't say how much i loved this story... then i don't know what will. 

Waiting On Wednesday-Secret Letters

Weekly meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine.

Showcase which books you're going crazy over to be released!

Secret Letters

by Leah Scheier

Release Date: June 26, 2012

Inquisitive and observant, Dora dreams of escaping her aristocratic country life to solve mysteries alongside Sherlock Holmes. So when she learns that the legendary detective might be her biological father, Dora jumps on the opportunity to travel to London and enlist his help in solving the mystery of her cousin's ransomed love letters. But Dora arrives in London to devastating news: Sherlock Holmes is dead. Her dreams dashed, Dora is left to rely on her wits--and the assistance of an attractive yet enigmatic young detective--to save her cousin's reputation and help rescue a kidnapped heiress along the way. 

Steeped in Victorian atmosphere and intrigue, this gripping novel heralds the arrival of a fresh new voice in young adult literature. 

This looks utterly fantastic! It's got mystery, London and SHERLOCK HOLMES. Need i really say more here? This is for sure on my list for Top 5 releases i'm looking forward to this year.

REVIEW:Pure

Pure (Covenant #2)

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Pages: 329-US Paperback

Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

Release Date: April 3, 2012

My Rating: 5/5

Book Summary: There is need. And then there is Fate...

Being destined to become some kind of supernatural electrical outlet isn't exactly awesome--especially when Alexandria's "other half" is everywhere she goes. Seth's in her training room, outside her classes, and keeps showing up in her bedroom--so not cool. Their connection does have some benefits, like staving off her nightmares of the tragic showdown with her mother, but it has no effect on what Alex feels for the forbidden, pure-blooded Aiden. Or what he will do--and sacrifice--for her.

When daimons infiltrate the Covenants and attack students, the gods send furies--lesser gods determined to eradicate any threat to the Covenants and to the gods, and that includes the Apollyon... and Alex. And if that and hordes of aether-sucking monsters didn't blow bad enough, a mysterious threat seems willing to do anything to neutralize Seth, even if that means forcing Alex into servitude... or killing her.

When the gods are involved, some decisions can never, ever be undone. --goodreads.com

My Thoughts:

This was an absolutely phenomenal follow up to the first book in the series, Half Blood. Many times, a sequel can be a hit or miss, never quite matching up to the greatness of the first, but indeed this was NOT the case. Pure kept my undivided attention from page one, until the very intriguing, seductive end. 

Alex grew on me tremendously, turning from a character i LIKED in the first installment, into one that i LOVED. Her wit and sarcasm are downright hilarious. I was laughing out loud page after page, unable to control myself. Thank the gods (<--totes stealing this from the author!) i was reading such scenes with just myself in the room, otherwise i'd have an embarrassing situation on my hands. And BOY OH BOY! Talk about some steamy scenes! I won't get into detail about whom they are with, because well do you really want me to take the excitement away from you? I didn't think so. I might need to invest in one of those old fashioned, paper hand fans if the any of the future books have scenes like those.

And then there's Aiden. Oh my heavenly word, i've fallen even more head over heels for this fictional character. I feel rather sorry for my future love interests, because they will never quite match up to him. Although this time he's a bit on the aggravating side, for reasons i shall not divulge (he has good reason!) i still can't help just how much i adore him. That's not to say that Seth doesn't tug at my heart strings either. Bow chica wow wow!

And is it just me, or is all this Greek God mythology getting really flipping entertaining? I can't wait to see where this story leads to, because there are SO many unanswered questions, and with the book ending on a cliffhanger like that it's going to be a long few months until the third book, Diety, is released in November. Sigh. 

It's Monday! What are you reading?

Weekly meme hosted by Book Journey. 

Here's where you share what you've recently read, are currently reading, and what you're about to read.

Read:

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen

Half Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Currently Reading:

Pure by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Going to Read:

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Glass Houses by Rachel Caine

The Dead Girls Dance by Rachel Caine

I've got a pretty awesome week ahead of me full of some great titles, and i'm looking forward to every single one of them! What are you reading this week?

REVIEW:Half Blood

Half Blood (Covenant #1)
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Pages: 281-US Paperback
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Release Date: October 18, 2011
My Rating: 5/5
Book Summary: The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi-pure-bloods-have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals-well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures. Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1:Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden. Unfortunately, she's crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn't her biggest problem--staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck.


My Thoughts:
Wow. I really cannot believe it took me so long to jump on this band wagon, but boy am i ever glad that i did. This book... this totally freaking awesome book took me by total surprise. I've heard quite a bit of hype surrounding it, but never really gave it a second thought. Finally, i decided time was up and i should just dig in, what's the worst that could happen, right?


Well the worst that could happen is that i would become totally and completely hooked. And that i did. Big time. BIG FREAKING TIME. What really caught my attention was the writing style that Jennifer has. I totally loved it. Every sentence, every word. She really keeps the story flowing and the reader engaged, aching for more. 


I fell head over heels in love with this cast of characters. Aiden-the absolutely DROOL WORTHY love interest who just so happens to be sensitive, sweet, protective and hellllooooo .. HOT. And the main character-Alexandria. She's sometimes too brave for her own good, which can be borderline annoying but nonetheless she's hilarious and sassy. I gotta say, nearing the end of the book i started to develop a slight crush on Seth. OOPS! Should i be slapping myself on the wrist?


This story line was something completely fresh and new. One i haven't read yet, and one that really blew me away. A story that has all the intriguing aspects of the Greek Gods with the twist of having blood-sucking demons. Whoa. Stellar, right?


I've already downloaded book number 2, Pure, to my Kindle and you can bet your bottom dollar the minute i hop off this computer i'll be digging in. 

REVIEW: A Discovery of Witches

A Discovery of Witches (All Souls Trilogy #1)
by Deborah Harkness
Pages: 579-US Hardback
Publisher: Viking Adult
Release Date: January 1, 2011
My Rating: 5/5
Book Summary: Deep in the stacks of Oxford's Bodleian Library, young scholar Diana Bishop unwittingly calls up a bewitched alchemical manuscript in the course of her research. Descended from an old and distinguished line of witches, Diana wants nothing to do with sorcery; so after a furtive glance and a few notes, she banishes the book to the stacks. But her discovery sets a fantastical underworld stirring, and a horde of daemons, witches, and vampires soon descends upon the library. Diana has stumbled upon a coveted treasure lost for centuries-and she is the only creature who can break its spell. --goodreads.com


My Thoughts:
I've been sitting here pondering just how I should go about talking about my feelings towards this book for a good many minutes now. I just want to scream at the top of my lungs THIS BOOK WAS ALL SORTS OF INCREDIBLE to every person that i pass by and speak to, hoping that's enough for you to understand. But then what kind of review would that be? You need more information, i suppose. So here goes...


A Discovery of Witches might just be my new absolute favorite fiction read.. ever. Not just this year, not the last 5 years, i'm talking ever. Never have i read a book that felt so unbelievably real while still feeling, well, unreal. It's a world chock full of science, mystery, magic and historical elements that intertwine into this marvelous, unputdownable debut. 


Filled with witches, vampires, and daemons, Deb Harkness has handcrafted a story that is sure to delight the masses. It's no wonder it's an NYT Bestseller, you'd be silly not to put it on the list. With strong characters that are rather relatable while still being enticing enough to bring you somewhere you've never been, Rebecca Bishop and Matthew Clairmont are a witch/vampire duo that you can't help but route for, along with a slew of smaller characters you can't help but love. 


I am more than anticipating the second installment of the trilogy, Shadow of Night, which isn't due out until July of this year. I'll be waiting with shaking hands and a pounding heart until I know what happens next. 

Waiting on Wednesday-Shadow of Night

Weekly meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine.

Showcase which books you're going crazy over to be released!

Shadow of Night (All Souls Trilogy #2)

by Deborah Harkness

Release Date: July 10, 2012

Shadow of Night plunges Diana and Matthew into Elizabethan London, a world of spies, subterfuge, and a coterie of Matthew’s old friends, the mysterious School of Night that includes Christopher Marlowe and Walter Raleigh. Here, Diana must locate a witch to tutor her in magic, Matthew is forced to confront a past he thought he had put to rest, and the mystery of Ashmole 782 deepens.

The obsession I have over Deb's first book in the All Souls Triology, A Discovery of Witches, is nothing I've ever had before. Never has a book taken over my life so entirely. I am whole heartedly dying to get my hands on this next installment, and dripping with anticipation to see what happens to the fantastic witch/vampire duo.

Teaser Tuesday-Grave Mercy

Hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading, Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme where you give a quote from the current book you have your teeth sunk into. Make sure it's spoiler free!

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFever

(NET GALLEY ARC)

" Annith's face clears in understanding. "But no! The abbess would have fetched a bezoar stone to neutralize the poison or called for a tincture of amaranth to revive you. Now Come." She tugs gently at my arm, and she is so certain and reassuring that it chases 

away my last remaining doubt. "