The year that was and the year that has come

It’s been ages since I’ve last posted and to be honest, 2017 was not a good year of blogging for me. (Or if I’m really being honest, I haven’t done much blogging at all.) I’ve been so busy with grad school work as well as I’ve lost some steam and motivation for blogging. I’ve read how this kind of burnout has affected other bloggers as well. I can’t say for sure that this new year will be different, at least for my blogging routine but here’s me trying again; trying to remind why I started blogging about books in the first place.

Anywho… I was not able to read much in 2017. I don’t even want to look at my TBR backlog but I’d like to mention some books that I was able to finish and loved after reading (and hopefully be able to write full reviews on them as well). I also want to talk about books that I am excited for for 2018.

Sooooo… here we go!

   

 

The Q, I loved so much that I couldn’t help but write a post about it and share it with you guys. It was just so refreshing and just heartwarming reading this  book.

The Bird and the Sword was such a surprise read because it was better than I was expecting it to be. I loved the whole character dynamics in this story. 

Liebster Award #1, #2, and #3

 

I know this has been a long time coming. First of all, I would like to thank Emmanuel @ Emdawg’s Book Blog, Monique @ Something to Browse, and Anissa @ The Bookworm Central for nominating me for the Liebster Award. Check out their posts by clicking on their websites.

The Liebster Award is a great way to feature new blogs and to get to know new book bloggers in the process. There are variations as to the guidelines of how to proceed with this award but here are the basics:

1. Link back to the person/blog who nominated you.
2. Answer the questions they set for the blogs they nominated.
3. List 11 facts about yourself.
4. Nominate 10 blogs (preferably those with less than 200 followers) and be sure to let them know with a link to your post.
5. Create 10 questions for your nominees to answer.

 

I decided to do just one post for the Liebster award, combining all my answers here.

THAT’S A WRAP, DECEMBER 2014!

This is a monthly feature where I give a run-down of what had transpired in the blog during the previous month. I’ve basically borrowed the format from Jennifer @ Feminist Fairy Tale Reviews.

 

Books I’ve read:

 

5 stars

• One Night of Trouble by Elle Kennedy
• The Trouble With Love by Lauren Layne

4 1/2 stars

• I Was Here by Gayle Forman
• The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

4 stars

• Razed by Shiloh Walker
• Painted Faces by L.H. Cosway

3 1/2 stars

• The Librarian Principle by Helena Hunting

3 stars

• The Vampire Will See You Now by Cassandra Lawson

Top Ten of 2014: Day 5 – Books I’m Looking Forward to in 2015

Top Ten of 2014: A Week of Looking Back is a year-end meme hosted by Jamie @ Two Chicks On Books, Rachel @ Fiktshun, Mindy @ Magical Urban Fantasy Reads, and Nancy @ Tales of a Ravenous Reader. 

It’s Day 5, the last day of this awesome week talking about the best of the best, and I’m counting down the Top Ten Books I’m Looking Forward to in 2015. I’ve actually done this list earlier this month as part of a weekly meme and you can check out my list HERE. But I’m tweaking that list a bit for this post and included even the books I’ve already received the eARCs of.

There are so many good books to look forward to in 2015. It’s going to be another amazing year for reading!

 

 

The Winner’s Crime by Marie Rutkoksi

I have the eARC of this one and I can’t wait to find out about the next chapter in Arin’s and Kestrel’s lives.

 

 

 

 

Vision in Silver by Anne Bishop

I really liked Written in Red, though it took a while before I got into the story. But by Murder of Crows, I was in love with all these characters that I can’t wait to find out what happens to them next. And, Simon and Meg, of course.

 

 

 

Of Silk and Steam by Bec McMaster

I also have an eARC of this one and I’ve been waiting for Leo’s story since the second book, I think, so I cannot wait to read this one. Plus, hello there enemies-to-lovers trope.

 

 

 

 

Once Upon A Rose by Laura Florand

I need me some new Laura Florand every year (or twice a year, or thrice a year!). If she writes it, I’ll read it. It’s as simple as that.

 

 

 

 

Flirting With Fire by Kate Meader

I’ve been without a full-length Kate Meader read for far too long. I can’t wait for this first book of a brand new series. I’ve read the novella that serves as a prologue to this series and I really loved it.

 

 

 

 

Shards of Hope by Nalini Singh

Oh my, we’re now on Book #14 of her Psy-Changeling series and it’s poised to be the ending of this particular story arc. I can’t wait to read it! It’s Aden and it’s a Psy-Psy pairing, or more specifically, an Arrow-Arrow pairing. I really can’t wait!

 

 

 

Once Upon A Marquess by Courtney Milan

A brand new series from one of my favorite HR authors. I am excited about this one. I know she’ll give her readers unconventional and yet achingly beautiful stories and lovely characters again.

 

 

 

I’ll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios

I’m so excited to read a Heather Demetrios book. I’ve heard great things about this one and her other book. I hope I’ll love it.

 

 

 

 

Crushed by Lauren Layne

I so want to read Michael’s story already. He’s been breaking my heart since Isn’t She Lovely and even more so in Broken. I want him to get his own HEA.

 

 

 

 

Chase Me by Tessa Bailey

I need more Tessa Bailey stories in my life. Seriously. The premise of this book sounds so hilarious and sexy, I can’t wait to read it.

 

 

 

 

Honorable Mentions:

Anticipation by Sarah Mayberry
Rock Hard by Nalini Singh
Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare
P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han
The Friend Zone by Kristen Callihan
Trade Me by Courtney Milan

 

There you go, the top 10 (++) books I’m looking forward to in 2015. Do we have the same books to look forward to? How excited (or impatient like me) are you to read these books? What would you have in your list?

 

Top Ten of 2014: Best Book Boyfriends of 2014

Top Ten of 2014: A Week of Looking Back is a year-end meme hosted by Jamie @ Two Chicks On Books, Rachel @ Fiktshun, Mindy @ Magical Urban Fantasy Reads, and Nancy @ Tales of a Ravenous Reader. 

It’s Day 4 and I’m counting down my top ten Best Book Boyfriends of 2014. This list includes characters from books I’ve read this year and were published this year.

There were so many to choose from that I can definitely say that 2014 has been a great year for falling in love with fictional characters. lol 🙂

 

from The Chocolate Temptation by Laura Florand: Passionate, sexy, and so emotionally reachable. (My review)

“I should never have recommended you for this job,” Patrick said. “But… you did deserve it. And I had only met you for the length of one workshop, when I was pretty busy helping all kinds of students besides just you. I knew I was attracted to you, but I had no idea what working in close quarters with you was going to be like.”

“What has it been like?” she asked, puzzled.

A rough laugh. “You can’t even imagine it. You can pull into yourself and shut me out, and I can’t do that, Sarah. You drive me crazy every single second of every day.”

 

from The Suffragette Scandal by Courtney Milan: honorable, loyal, and gosh, how he loved Free and her mind. (My review)

“Everything about you matters to me.” He leaned in. “It shouldn’t. I keep telling myself it shouldn’t, that it’s only the lust talking. But every time we talk, you turn my world upside down.”

 

Top Ten of 2014: Best Couples of 2014

Top Ten of 2014: A Week of Looking Back is a year-end meme hosted by Jamie @ Two Chicks On Books, Rachel @ Fiktshun, Mindy @ Magical Urban Fantasy Reads, and Nancy @ Tales of a Ravenous Reader. 

It’s Day 3 and it’s Blogger’s Choice! For my post, I am counting down my top ten best couples of 2014. This list includes couples from books I’ve read this year regardless of publication dates.

I’m a romance junkie, no doubt about that. It’s rare for me to read anything that has no romance in it so I’m pretty familiar with all kinds of couples. I’ve ‘met’ a lot of them over the years and here are just some of the best from the bunch this year.

 

  

from the Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi. Easily one of the best this year. This pairing felt like one of those things that I’ve dreamed about for so long since I started reading. I know not everybody agrees and I respect that. But I’m just so glad Tahereh Mafi decided to make this happen.  (My review of Ignite Me)

 

from the Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta. The connection between these two, it will blow your mind. I’m not just talking about chemistry, though these two definitely have that. I’m talking about how their lives are so intertwined, there’s just no running away from each other. (My review)

Top Ten of 2014: Best Book Covers of 2014

Top Ten of 2014: A Week of Looking Back is a year-end meme hosted by Jamie @ Two Chicks On Books, Rachel @ Fiktshun, Mindy @ Magical Urban Fantasy Reads, and Nancy @ Tales of a Ravenous Reader. 

It’s Week #2 and we’re featuring the Best Book Covers of 2014. I guess I’m the type of reader who looks at the book cover and then immediately switches to the back cover to look at the blurb and then goes back to appreciate the book cover again. I seldom depend on the book covers to decide which books I read but I do appreciate a lovely cover.

 

A THOUSAND PIECES OF YOU by Claudia Gray. Easily one of the best this year. I love the duality of the image, the colors, and how it just echoes the theme of the story. (My review)

 

BLUE LILY, LILY BLUE by Maggie Stiefvater. Granted, I’m only at Book 2, The Dream Thieves, but I love this cover already. It’s whimsical, colorful, and a bit magical. Don’t you think so too?

Top Ten of 2014: Best Books I’ve Read in 2014

Top Ten of 2014: A Week of Looking Back is a year-end meme hosted by Jamie @ Two Chicks On Books, Rachel @ Fiktshun, Mindy @ Magical Urban Fantasy Reads, and Nancy @ Tales of a Ravenous Reader. 

 

Today, I’m going to feature the Ten Best Books I’ve Read in 2014…

 

JELLICOE ROAD by Melina Marchetta. One of the most poignant and heartbreaking books I’ve enjoyed reading. This has earned its place in my Hall of Fame of Favorites.

 

THE PIPER’S SON by Melina Marchetta. Oh, Thomas McKee. This was another powerful story from Melina Marchetta and another Hall of Fame-r if you ask me.

 

IGNITE ME by Tahereh Mafi. I’ll forever be grateful to Tahereh Mafi for writing one of the types of characters that I wanted most to see written into a book. Warner was everything I hope he  would be and more. Add to this, Tahereh’s wonderful prose and gosh, another winner of course.

A to Z Bookish Survey

Jamie @ Perpetual Page Turner has got this amazing Bookish Survey on her blog. It’s got the most interesting of items and I decided to join and put my two cents in. So, here we go.

 

Author you’ve read the most books from:

Mary Higgins Clark. I’ve read 21 of her books. She’s one of my favorite authors back when I was in high school.

Best Sequel Ever:

The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner. This was beyond great.

Currently Reading:

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

THAT’S A WRAP, NOVEMBER 2014!

This is a monthly feature where I give a run-down of what had transpired in the blog during the previous month. I’ve basically borrowed the format from Jennifer @ Feminist Fairy Tale Reviews.

 

Books I’ve read:

 

5 stars

• Murder of Crows by Anne Bishop
• Leo Maddox by Sarah Darlington

4 1/2 stars

• Midnight Action by Elle Kennedy
• It’s Not Me, It’s You by Mhairi McFarlane
• The Space Between by Kate Canterbary

4 stars

• Mai Tai’d Up by Alice Clayton
• The Duff by Kody Keplinger
• Baby, It’s Cold Outside: Holiday Anthology by Jennifer Probst, Emma Chase, Kristen Proby, Melody Anne, and Kate Meader

3 1/2 stars

• A League of Her Own by Karen Rock