My Favorites of 2010

This is coming out a little late (...okay a lot late), but I wanted to take my time and think about this before I posted. I didn't really get into books until the past couple of years or so. For me, when I was growing there wasn't the option of such diverse and well written books as there is now. So I am even more amazed at what I've been able to discover.

And, during 2010 I came across some pretty incredible finds. Let's get started:

10.Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

9. White Cat by Holly Black

8. Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

7. Torment by Lauren Kate

6. Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

5. Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

4. The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

3. Shadow of the Sun by Laura Kreitzer

2. Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

1. Firelight by Sophie Jordan

Each of these books was remarkable in their own way and left me wanting to read more by the end. There were definitely others that I wanted to add to this list that haven't yet been released, but they can just make it for the 2011 one.

These books and authors have also helped to inspire me in my own writing. I never thought that some I wrote could ever be published, but everyday I'm discovering that it is possible and there are so many fabulous women who have made it. So thank you to them.

Now, let me know what your favorite picks were for 2010. Did any of them inspire you? Leave me a comment and let me know.

12.21.12 Book Blog Tour

So, the ladies over at the blog, Once Upon a Twilight, have set up a blog tour for Killian McRae's new book 12.21.12 that was released last month through Omnific Publishing. The Book Blog Tour is set to go on throughout the month of March and will include reviews, interviews, and book giveaways. 

I'll have a button posted on the sidebar with a link to the Tour Schedule that's posted on the Once Upon a Twilight blog. You can check out who will be participating on which days and maybe discover some cool new blogs.

My date for this little shindig will be March 18th and you can catch a review of Killian's book and a character interview from one of 12.21.12's characters. I'm so excited for the chance to participate in this and can't wait to delve into Killian's book.

Be sure to keep your eyes open for updates leading up to the big day and for new reviews along the way. Oh and don't forget to pass the word along, too!

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

I am so thrilled that I was able to receive an ARC of this book from HarperTeen (thank you so much) because it was absolutely phenomenal. Lauren Oliver took a theme that we all know very well, have read tons of books on, and made it a must read.

Lena Haloway is almost 18 and 95 days shy of her procedure to be cured. Love has been discovered to be a disease and will eventually kill, unless you get the cure after you turn 18 years old. And Lena was all set for hers, it meant safety and security, things she had longed for ever since her mother died when she was a child. She did what she was told and kept out of harms way.

That is until Alex, a boy she believed to already be cured and safe, came into her life and shook up everything she knew. In a world where everyone believes in the cause and has forgotten what it's like to feel... anything, it's unthinkable that Lena would risk everything by falling in love. But how could she not, when she discovers all of the things she had been missing out on.

One of the things that really drew me in to this book was Lauren Oliver's beautiful writing. It was so raw and uncomfortable and poetic. For these characters it is unheard of for boys and girls to be alone together, even in school they are separated, and the way the Oliver delves into those new emotions for Lena you feel as though you are experiencing them right along with her. It's all so new for her, I was reminded of being a young girl when I first discovered boys, and the more time they spent together the more sweet and adorable their relationship was.

This was a wonderful love story, proving that you can't suppress such an imminent desire like love and not expect people to fight against it. And I'm already anxious for the next book in the series, Pandemonium, so I can find out what's next for Lena and Alex. This is one book and series I highly recommend for young adults and adults.

For more information on Lauren Oliver and her books you can check out her website here http://www.laurenoliverbooks.com/ and follow her on twitter here http://twitter.com/OliverBooks.

With Good Behavior by Jennifer Lane

When I first heard that this lovely lady was having her book published, I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy of it. Then, when I learned that it would be a little romance, mixed with mystery and organized crime, I knew that I would absolutely love it... and I was right.

In her debut novel, Jennifer Lane takes on a journey with her main characters Sophie Taylor and Grant Madsen. They first meet outside of their parole officers office after being released from prison. Each has a story to tell on how they ended up in prison, while learning to trust and rely on each other.

Gripped by a world of organized crime and families that only seem to bring them down, these two convicts have to come to terms with what lead to the biggest mistakes of their lives and how to move past them.

From the very beginning the emotions Jennifer created were so raw and real and only intensified with the story's progression. I loved the sweetness of Sophie and Grant's relationship as they got to know each other and tried to let go of their time in prison. Each new piece of the puzzle that is revealed only adds to the intrigue of what could possibly happen to them next.

And while the majority of the story was intense, Jennifer also expertly threw in moments of comedic relief that seemed to work perfectly for her characters. One of the more minor characters, their parole officer Jerry, cracked me up with how tough and gruff he tried to appear when he really was an old softy.

In this first installment of the CONduct series, Grant and Sophie managed to make it through some difficult stuff, but it's only the beginning. There's no telling what will be in store for them in Bad Behavior, the sequel in this series. I highly recommend this book not only because it has a little bit of everything for your enjoyment, but also because it's a rare glimpse at the raw emotions we as people go through and Jennifer handles them beautifully.

For updates on the other books and to learn more about the author you can check out her website here http://www.jenniferlanebooks.com/ or follow her on twitter here http://twitter.com/jenlanebooks.

100 Books in 2011 Reading Challenge

So, Book Chick City is hosting a reading challenge. 100 books to be read over the course of 2011. Anyone can sign up, whether you have a blog or not.

I probably got really close last year; I think I read about 75 or 80, I'm not sure. But, this sounds like a blast and with all of the great books coming out this year, as well as ARCs, I don't think it will be a problem.

So, if you would like to participate click the button for the challenge in the sidebar and you'll find all of the information on the Book Chick City site.

Good Luck!