My Favorite Books of 2010 - Happy New Years!!!

I've read some great books this year.  Books that made me laugh, cry and books I couldn't put down they were so captivating.  So if you are looking for some books to read in 2011 and you want my opinion, you can't go wrong with the following.  These are in no particular order and they weren't all published in 2010 I just happened to read them in 2010. 

1. Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride - This was actually one of my very favorites this year.

2. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins the third and final book in the Hunger Games trilogy - Loved all three books!

3. Glass Houses by Rachel Caine - the first book in the Morganville Vampires series. Excellent! 

4. Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble by H.P. Mallory - My first H.P. Mallory book and I can't wait to read more.  Jolie the witch is an awesome character. 

5. The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong the third book in the Darkest Powers trilogy - Love this trilogy.  I always recommend this one when people ask me what to read.

6. Linger by Maggie Stiefvater book 2 in the Mercy Falls trilogy - Shiver was also wonderful.

7. If I Stay by Gayle Forman - This is one of those that made me cry.

8. The Ghost and The Goth by Stacey Kade - This was the first book that I reviewed on My Neurotic Book Affair.

9. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver - Great story!

10. Crank by Ellen Hopkins - a wonderful but dark story I'll be reading the next two this year.

11. The Iron King and The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa - the first two books of the Iron Fey series.

12. The Dead Is series by Marlene Perez - I read all that were out this year and I really like this series can't wait for the next.

13. Gone by Lisa McMann book 3 of the Wake trilogy - Not my favorite in the trilogy but as a whole I LOVED them.

14. Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris - Again not my favorite in the series but I love Sookie too much to leave her out.  

15. Fantasy Lover by Sherilynn Kenyon - I finally started the Dark Hunter series this year and I really enjoyed this first story.

16. Awakened by Ednah Walters - This was a great story that I thoroughly enjoyed and I'm looking forward to the next. 

17. Beautiful Dead by Edan Maguire - This was a great book and it was different than everything else that I had been reading.

18. Hourglass by Claudia Gray book 3 of the Evernight series - another wonderful series.

19. She Smells the Dead by E.J. Stevens -  I really enjoyed this book it had a very fresh feeling too it, if that makes sense to anyone but me.

20. The Gardener by S.A. Bodeen - a really cool and very different story.

There are so many more books that are definitely worth reading on my shelf but I'm thinking 20 is more than enough to call my favorites for the year.  Happy Reading and may your 2011 be filled with wonderful stories.

Third Line Thursday (2) Beyond Beautiful by Jan Bornstein

Beyond Beautiful
Author: Jan Bornstein
Third Line Thursday Page 163, 3rd Paragraph

"And then- " Jim stopped, then looked Scott straight in the eye. "And then she was hypnotized , backed up with medication.  Her memory of the entire thing was eradicated."

At this point in the story I'm thinking what else can this poor girl have to go through. 

  My simple rules for Third Line Thursday are as follows: Pick up the book you are currently reading, go to chapter 3 or page 3 or any page or chapter with a 3(13, 23, ect.) then type in the third line (sentence) from that page. See simple!

Waiting On Wednesday (12/29/2010) The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver

The Demon Trapper's Daughter
Author: Jana Oliver
Release Date: February 2011


Riley Blackthorne just needs a chance to prove herself – and that’s exactly what the demons are counting on…

Seventeen-year-old Riley, the only daughter of legendary Demon Trapper, Paul Blackthorne, has always dreamed of following in her father's footsteps.  The good news is, with human society seriously disrupted by economic upheaval and Lucifer increasing the number of demons in all major cities, Atlanta’s local Trappers’ Guild needs all the help they can get – even from a girl. When she’s not keeping up with her homework or trying to manage her growing crush on fellow apprentice, Simon, Riley’s out saving distressed citizens from foul-mouthed little devils – Grade One Hellspawn only, of course, per the strict rules of the Guild. Life’s about as normal as can be for the average demon-trapping teen.

But then a Grade Five Geo-Fiend crashes Riley’s routine assignment at a library, jeopardizing her life and her chosen livelihood.  And, as if that wasn’t bad enough, sudden tragedy strikes the Trappers’ Guild, spinning Riley down a more dangerous path than she ever could have imagined. As her whole world crashes down around her, who can Riley trust with her heart – and her life?

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we (bloggers) are anxiously awaiting.

Teaser Tuesday (12/28/2010) Scourge by David H. Burton

Scourge 
Author: David H. Burton

Grim strained to see through the gunslingers and archers that blocked his view. He caught fleeting glances of robotic limbs and half-human faces. They each had one arm with a pincer-like hand and another mounted with a huge blaster.

Miz B and Teaser Tuesdays asks you to:

Grab your current read.

Let the book fall open to a random page.

Share with us two (2) sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.

You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer - Reviewed

Nightshade
Author: Andrea Cremer
Release Date: October 2010
Publisher: Penguin Group
Pages: 528
Target Age: Young Adult

Summary from Barnes and Noble:
Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything-- including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?

Nightshade was recommended to me again and again.  Finally, my daughter received her very own copy and was after me to get to it, so I did.  I loved Nightshade, not quite as much as Jessica did, but I did enjoy it. 

What I liked:

The characters!  They were all written so well that you felt as if you really knew these people.  Like you went to high school with them and saw them walking in the halls and eating lunch at their tables. You know right away who you should hate and who you should fall in love with. The politics of this book were explained well and were very interesting.  I also liked this new twist on the werewolf legend.  No spoilers but there are a couple of extremely romantic couples in this book that made me sigh and smile. Even though the main characters are in a love triangle, the side characters know who they are meant to be with. However, I'm not sure they are all in for happy endings.  

What bugged me:

Sounds like I was loving this book right?  Well, I was but there was one thing that bugged me through the whole book.  It's Calla our main character.  Ugh, she is SO wishy washy.  She's hot for him, but oh I think I love him.  Her attitude to the two leading males drove me crazy.  Now in her defense I loved them both too:)  I know hypocritical of me right? Luckily I don't have to pick either one of them and potentially anger lots of fans:)  Sorry Andrea but you get the honor of breaking hearts.  

On a side note:

This has nothing to do with the content of the book but I absolutely LOVE the cover of this book.  I think it may have been my favorite cover of the year.  

So if you enjoy reading about werewolves (that are different from most), love triangles, and sweet romances, then you should definitely check out Nightshade.