2014 Favourites Part 4

Check out part 1 here

Check out part 2 here
Check out part 3 here

It's the end of the year. Ahh! This is it, the 4th quarter is over. 2014 is over. So it's time to wrap up my favourite reads that I read between October 1st through December 31st. In those 3 months I read a total of 58 books. A little less than I would have liked. But it is what it is. I had a few DNF's in there. I also did a lot of re-reading, especially in December. I love re-reading. Anyhow, that brought my grand total for the year to *drum roll* 242! WHAT? I'm not even going to pretend to know how I did that or feel like I'll even come close again next year. But we'll leave that for another post.
I don't think there was any big surprises this quarter. Books I expected to like or love I did. Sure there were a few I picked up on a whim and ended up enjoying quite a bit. That's the fun thing about reading. If we take out my re-reads, my average star rating hovered around a 4*. Which is great! I think that's what my average for the year will probably be(I'll have to do some math to really find out). I have a few series that I finished off. Quite a few sequels. And even more NA. It was a good fall. I may not have read as much as I'd hoped but for the most part I enjoyed what I picked up.
Without further ado, here are my favourites from the last 3 months.

It's no secret that I love this NA companion series that's set in Scotland. Soooo good. Echos of Scotland Street was highly anticipated as it's about one of the earlier characters little brothers. When we first meet him he was like 10ish. Now he's all grown up and just lovely. Cole is definitely all grown up. Working at a ink shop. My kind of guy. Him and Shannon have great chemistry. And I love how all the previous characters are right in the story too. That's the main thing I love about this series, they're all family and friends, so of course they're going to be in this characters life. I cannot wait for the next book. I hope this series never ends.

We finally got to get inside the very mysterious, Rowdy's head. It was brilliant. The Marked Men series is another of my fave NA series. I'm really sad there's only one more book to come. Nevermind, this is about Rowdy and Salem. They have a lot of intense history that is brought to the forefront when Salem surprisingly enters Rowdy's life. It's saddness, frustrating and a little hard to deal with at time. But also lovely, intense and hot. A fantastic installment to this series. I love watching these intense, scary yet beautiful looking guys find love. They all have these big hearts and once they find their lady that can match them and their intensity it's game over. It's quite enduring and heartwarming.

Are you surprised? Of course SCT made my favourites. This book! This series! It's my crack! I really think that this trilogy is JLA at her best. The dialogue is so snappy and organic. Not only does it give us Roth(swoon), but also Layla. And really all the other characters are fantastic. JLA really knows how to write a paranormal romance that gives its readers every aspect that we could want in a paranormal romance. SCT had so much twists and turns. Action and swoon. This is exactly what I want in a sequel, for me not to be reminded it's a sequel, to just read it as part of the whole story. #TeamRoth

I did read The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer when it first came out. But failed to continue on with the series, mostly because the 3rd book kept getting pushed back. I'd say the wait was worth it. I think the Evolution is my favourite of the 3. Although they are all brilliant and twisty. It's really hard to describe these books without spoilers but I guess they're like a mystery/thriller/paranormal hybrid... There's so much confusion and WTF moments that I just couldn't put any of the books down. They're one sitting reads. I love how messed up Mara is. I love Noah(swoon). I love so many of the characters. It's been weeks since I finished the trilogy and I'm still trying to comprehend everything. I will definitely do a re-read in the nearish future. It's a need.

The Walled City is at first glance a dystopian. But than I read it and realized the book is based off of real events. There was a walled city in China. There was no rules in this city. Crime runs rampant. Graudin brought this really scary but intriguing city to life in her book. I love the Chinese culture(diversity for the win). I found this to be a complete page turner as it's just full of thrilling and action filled moments. The 3 MC's had their good moments and their flaws. I just found The Walled City really unique. It kept my adrenaline running on high.

I am a massive fan of Keyes. So of course I jumped up and down when I heard she had a new book coming out this year. It sure as hell didn't disappoint. I love her dark humor. As well as how real her characters are. They are real people with plenty of flaws, that make the wrong decisions. Realism, what... This book is about Stella. There's kind of like four different time lines happening(not all at once but they do go back a forth). There's the present, when Stella is back home in Ireland after everything feel apart(at this point we don't know what feel apart, besides her life). The before before is the lead up to her time in the hospital and than her time in the hospital. Than once we've covered that before we go to the most recent before where Stella was in New York and what happened there. Which than leads us back to the present. Confused? It seems confusing written like that, but in actuality it really worked. I was never once scratching my head wondering where I was in Stella's life or what everything was pertaining to. I loved reading all the different timelines, but I was definitely flipping those pages as fast as I could possibly read them because I wanted to know what happened to make Stella's life go to shit. There was a lot highs and lows, frustration and shady moments. But there's also reality and a lot of heart warming moments. Brilliant.

Forbidden was something I put off reading for a long time. All I kept hearing was how it would break my heart. Add in the very dark, taboo topic of the book. That's something you have to prepare yourself for. Forbidden definitely broke my heart. It's beautiful and disturbing story. Suzuma is the ultimate queen of heart break. I know incest is wrong. The brother and sister know incest is wrong. But Suzuma just makes you want to see them come through this in one piece. I was talking to Lily well I was reading along(she'd read this already), and said to her does it make me crazy to hope they get to be together. I'm rooting for them. There was many points I forgot they were siblings. Luckily, Lily said she had the same thoughts and feelings. But still... There's more to the story than the incest. So much more. For anyone that is scared and put off by that topic, I assure you that you don't need to be. Pick up this beautiful and haunting book. 

"How can something so wrong feel so right...?"

Yes, I jumped on this train. And if you have yet to, you obviously have a huge chunk of your life missing. I just can't even with this series. It is wonderful and hilarious and just so so so good. I didn't even know what to expect from this 4th volume and even if I did I wouldn't have guessed on where the story was going. It felt so real this time. There was actual marriage problems. And that didn't even seem out of place in something that is very sci-fi. That ending! Ah! There isn't even a release date for the next volume. The wait will surely kill me.

This book. This book! I am beyond speechless. ACOTAR is absolutely perfection. Intricate and unique world. Needing a cold shower because the romance is so hot. I ship it. As much as I ship Celaena and Chaol. And that's saying something. The bits of Beauty and the Beast that are woven into the story are the best bits. Leave it to Maas to make me fall in love with a fae story. I can't even begin to describe everything that is brilliant about ACOTAR. Heir of Fire was easily my top read of 2014 until I finished ACOTAR. I won't say it blew HoF out of the water, but it upped the stakes. Pure brilliance. Once I get my thoughts in order I will definitely be jumping into a reread.
If you haven't already, pre-order this book. The wait is well worth it.

The Ascendance Trilogy is one the most brilliant and intelligent fantasy series I have read. I can't believe it took me the whole year to get around to finishing it. But I wanted to re-read the first 2 books, which I did, so I would have a total refresher going into the last installment. I obviously can't say much because of spoilers. But it was the perfect ending. What originally captured me about The False Prince is the MC, Sage. He is so sassy, tricksy and intelligent. I love him. He is that wonderful character through all 3 books. Than you add in mind blowing twists and solid side characters and ah, perfection. This trilogy needs more exposure. It deserves to be read by everyone.


There you go. I'll catch you guys in my "Top 14 of 2014" post. Than you can see the ultimate best of the year.
What were your favourite reads from the past 3 months?

Happy reading!

Brittany

Showcase Sunday #66

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme held by Books, Biscuits and Tea. It allows fellow bloggers to show off any books or bookish things they've compiled over the week.

This is it guys, the last Sunday before Christmas. :O Are you done your shopping and preparation? Are you a last minute shopper? I am at 99%. I have one or two small things to pick up.
I just want to get right into the books this week because this week was bloody fantastic! I mean just take a look down below. The most outstanding bit is that I actually have A Court of Thorns and Roses is my hands(because Samantha is my hero). I can't even comprehend my feelings there. I also picked up some releases I've been beyond eagerly anticipating. Me and the BFF did our Christmas last night and she's just lovely and I loves her. Obviously. Add on the review copies sent my way(especially the package Raincoast sent out for attending their 2015 blogger preview) and I'm a very happy reader this week. Did I mention I am in the presence of A Court of Thorns and Roses? I can actually read it right now. What is life? ;)

Purchased

This Shattered World(Starbound #2) by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner: Sooooo excited to have this beauty in my hands. Will be read before year out.

Sex Criminals Volume 1 by Matt Fraction & Chip Zdarsky: I'd heard good things about this one, but I read it on Friday and it was alright. Kind of all over the place with some LOL's.
Saga Volume 4 by Brian K Vaughan & Fiona Staples: Finally it was released! I loved it! I need to know when the next volume is expected.

Netgalley

Review

** Thanks to HBG Canada for sending this out**

The Truth About US by Janet Gurtler and Gone Too Far by Natalie D. Richards

**Thanks to Raincoast for sending out this fantastic package*

Gifted

Christmas present from my BFF, Heather. She knows me so well. *surgery hug*

Borrowed

**Thanks so very much to Samantha for lending me her copy. This is why she is the bestest. <3 <3 <3**

How is your pre-Christmas haul looking?

Happy reading!

Brittany

Cover Reveal: Asa by Jay Crownover

Asa by Jay Crownover

Publisher: Harper Collins
Publication Date: April 21st, 2015
Pages: 416
Series: Marked Men #6
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Starting over in Denver with a whole new circle of friends and family, Asa Cross struggles with being the man he knows everyone wants him to be and the man he knows he really is. A leopard doesn't it change its spots and Asa has always been a predator. He doesn't want to hurt those who love and rely on him, especially one stunning arresting cop who suddenly seems to be interested in him for far more than his penchant for breaking the law. But letting go of old habits is hard, and it’s easy to hit bottom when it’s the place you know best.

Royal Hastings is quickly learning what the bottom looks like after a tragic situation at work threatens not only her career but her partner’s life. As a woman who has only ever had a few real friends she’s trying to muddle through her confusion and devastation all alone. Except she can’t stop thinking about the sexy southern bartender she locked up. Crushing on Asa is the last thing she needs but his allure is too strong to resist. His long criminal record can only hurt her already shaky career and chasing after a guy who has no respect for the law or himself can only end in heartbreak.

A longtime criminal and a cop together just seems so wrong . . . but for Asa and Royal, being wrong together is the only right choice to make.

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Rule| Jet| Rome| Nash| Rowdy

About Jay Crownover:

Jay Crownover is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men series. She also introduced the dark and sexy world of The Point that started with BETTER WHEN HE's BAD and is currently working on her newest series The Saint of Denver. Like her characters, she is a big fan of tattoos. She loves music and wishes she could be a rock star, but since she has no aptitude for singing or instrument playing, she'll settle for writing stories with interesting characters that make the reader feel something. She lives in Colorado with her three dogs.

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It's no secret that I love this series to bits. The men are hot and intense. The ladies are full of great attitude and totally kick-ass. The Marked Men series is everything I want in a New Adult book. I'm sad that Asa is the last book, but I also think Jay is saving the best for last. Asa is a "recovering" criminal who has a hard crush on a cop. I cannot wait to see how things go down between Asa and Royal. And this cover, yo! As you can see above, all the covers have extremely good looking guys. But when I got the email with the Asa cover and clicked on it, this first thing out of my mouth was "HOLY SHIT!" That's one nice looking cover. Yup.
Of course I have Asa pre-ordered. And so should you guys. Head over to your favourite store and get it ordered. Than you can impatiently await Asa along with me.

Happy reading!

Brittany

Top Ten Tuesday: Most Disappointing Reads of 2014

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme held by The Broke and the Bookish.

This weeks topic is: 

Top Ten Most Disappointing Reads of 2014!

I know. I know that this weeks topic is the best books we read this year BUT I already have a top 14 of 2014 post planned and obviously I would be repeating myself there. So I decided to flip it around and do my most disappointing reads. It doesn't mean I hated these books, they just weren't what I expected them to be. Disappointment happens every year. Thankfully it didn't happen a lot for me in 2014. But it still happened enough to create a top 10. So without further ado, my most disappointing reads of 2014.

10. Sweet Evil

So much hype and love for this one. The premise is most excellent, but the execution totally failed to capture how awesome this book could have been. The MC, Anna is so yawn. I don't get the appeal of Kaidan. I gave it a 2*, so there was something I liked about it, but at this point I can't remember what. And it doesn't really matter because I will not be continuing on with the series.

9. The Immortal Rules

This one hurts to have to mention as Kagawa's Iron Fey series is one of my faves. But alas not The Immortal Rules. I know that everyone and their brother loves this trilogy, but I just found it tedious and it drags. I was bored and skimming. I didn't hate it. I gave it 3* because the parts I liked, I liked. I'm not 100% sure if I'm going to continue with the trilogy though. I started the second book but put it down after 50 pages. And that was months ago.

8. Ashes to Ashes

Yea, there's going to be a few series enders on here. This one was going pretty well. Kept me flipping the pages. I had a lot of feels. I also had to really hold myself back from flipping to the end to make sure a certain character was alive. Turns out I should have flipped to the end and saved myself from wasting my time. That ending or last 20 pages killed this book for me. Just such a let down and cop out.

7. Dangerous Creatures

Every fan of the Castor Chronicles was totally excited when this spin-off was announced. I sure the hell was. It's about two of the best characters; Ridley and Link. Yea, well, lower your expectations. What a boring storyline. And that Ridley is not the firecracker I know and loved. She was constantly confused and scared and blah. Definitely will not be continuing on with this series. What a waste of my time.

6. On the Fence

The pains I have for not loving this book. I absolutely adore West's other books. The Distance Between Us is one of my fave contemps. On the Fence is still cute. But it's lacking in a lot of things I loved about West's other books. The banter filled dialogue and easy flowing dialogue was missing this time around. And the last 50 pages where the truth was revealed was so unrealistic. It lacked the depth the situation called for. I still gave this a 3*. I was just disappointed because I expected it to be another 5*.

5. Evertrue

Another series ender that let me down. The first two books are fantastic. But there was no surprises in Evertrue. It was quite boring and everything was literally handed to the MC on a silver platter. I especially hate how Cole was "dealt with". Way to destroy an awesome character just to make Nikki have to make no difficult decisions. Just 90% of this book was a cop out. Terrible ender.

4. The Summer I Turned Pretty

Yup, another Jenny Han book. There was nothing terribly wrong with it. But there was nothing terribly great about it. So many people say that the Pretty Trilogy is their fave contemps, so I was expecting so much more. It's light with the darker undertone. A good summer read. Except that for such a short book it took me way to long to get through. I could only read a few pages at a time before my ADD would kick in. Another boring read.

3. The Spectacular Now

I don't really know what I was expecting here except something more than what I got. It's just about a very immature douchebag of a teenager. He absolutely learns nothing from his jackassery. He meets a shy but smart girl and totally turns her into a lush who almost destroys her future. And he sees nothing wrong with that. So much for character growth. This book lacks in so much, but Sutter's character is what really put me off of this one.

2. Nowhere But Here

I heard such great things about Carlino's first book that when I was offered the chance to review this one I jumped on it. But turns out I had a lot of problems with Nowhere But Here. The biggest one was that it tried to be all the things. Yes, it's a romance novel. And romance novels tend to be dramatic and over the top. I'm okay with that but only when it is about one issue. Carlino took all the cliched and cheesy romance novel tropes and tried to put them into one book. Which made for a very messy and eye rolly read. Carlino's other books could be great, unfortunately I probably will never know. This one just put me off of picking up anything else by her.

1. Isla and the Happily Ever After

No your eyes are not deceiving you. Don't get me wrong, Isla is a good book. And I will most definitely read it again in the future. But with how much I love Anna and Lola and with the amount of times this book got pushed back, I was anticipating the best of the three. Clearly that is not the case(for me). Isla is missing that something that Anna and Lola give to me; some amazing characters and settings. Isla as a character starts out so fantastically but as soon as she gets together with Josh she turns into a wet blanket. I was to uncomfortable with a lot of their relationship. And I missed how Perkins showcased the cities as another character. Paris was left to much into the background. I know I had Isla on a pedestal, which might be unfair. But really after Anna and Lola I think I had some reasonable expectations.

What are some books that disappointed you this year?

Happy reading!

Brittany

Showcase Sunday #65

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme held by Books, Biscuits and Tea. It allows fellow bloggers to show off any books or bookish things they've compiled over the week.

Home Skillets! What's going on? There was another bloody snow storm this week. It's not so bad now. But well it was coming down I wanted to head south as fast as I could. On another note, the
BFF dragged me( ;)) to the JT concert on Wednesday. He is her ultimate love. Me, not so much. But it was a good show. He's a great entertainer. And going to a concert is always a good time.

Really good week for books. The two books I bought, I've already read. And they both finished off trilogies. So more finished series to add to my list. YAY! Wicked was released this week, which is beyond exciting. I'm always looking for my JLA fix. I'm going to wait till over the Christmas break to read it though. HCC sent me a book I've been dying for. I absolutely adore Cynthia Hand's Unearthly trilogy, so I can't wait to try something else from her. Lastly, a friend gave me an early Christmas present. They know me so well. I loves me prezzies.

Purchased

Wild(Ivy Chronicles #3) by Sophie Jordan: The last book in this fun and sexy NA trilogy. Read this the other day. Pretty good

Ashes to Ashes(Burn for Burn #3) by Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian: Of course I needed to finish off the trilogy. Also read it this week. What a disappointing ending. Not impressed.

E-Books Purchased

Review

*Thanks to HCC Frenzy for sending this out*

Gifted

Gathering Darkness(Falling Kingdoms #3) by Morgan Rhodes: I need to reread the first book so I can continue on with this series
The Lies of Lock Lamora(Gentleman Bastard #1) by Scott Lynch: I've been wanting to start this series for a while. Hopefully I get to it soon now that I finally own the first book.

What did you guys get this week?

Happy reading!

Brittany

Wicked by Jennifer L Armentrout Release Week

Wicked by Jennifer L Armentrout

Publisher: Self Published
Publication Date: December 8th, 2014
Pages: 371
Series: Wicked Saga #1
Genre: New Adult, Paranormal, Romance
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Things are about to get Wicked in New Orleans.

Twenty-two year old Ivy Morgan isn’t your average college student. She, and others like her, know humans aren’t the only thing trolling the French Quarter for fun… and for food. Her duty to the Order is her life. After all, four years ago, she lost everything at the hands of the creatures she’d sworn to hunt, tearing her world and her heart apart.

Ren Owens is the last person Ivy expected to enter her rigidly controlled life. He’s six feet and three inches of temptation and swoon-inducing charm. With forest-green eyes and a smile that’s surely left a stream of broken hearts in its wake, he has an uncanny, almost unnatural ability to make her yearn for everything he has to offer. But letting him in is as dangerous as hunting the cold-blooded killers stalking the streets. Losing the boy she loved once before had nearly destroyed her, but the sparking tension that grows between them becomes impossible for Ivy to deny. Deep down, she wants… she needs more than what her duty demands of her, what her past has shaped for her.

But as Ivy grows closer to Ren, she realizes she’s not the only one carrying secrets that could shatter the frail bond between them. There’s something he’s not telling her, and one thing is for certain. She’s no longer sure what is more dangerous to her—the ancient beings threatening to take over the town or the man demanding to lay claim to her heart and her soul.
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Excerpt

All the words in the world vanished the moment I got an eyeful of Ren.

Holy hotness with an extra side of sexy, when Ren cleaned up, he took his handsomeness into a totally different stratosphere.

The waves and curls of his hair were currently tamed, styled back from his face, showing off the angle of his cheekbones and the fullness of his lips. He was wearing a white dress shirt that showed off the hard lines of his broad shoulders and flashed a glimpse of tawny skin at his neck. I noticed then, somehow never really seeing it before, a leather cord hanging from his neck and disappearing under his shirt. I was sure that was what carried the clover, but as my gaze traveled over him, I quickly forgot about it. The edges of the tattoo poked out of the collar of his shirt, and his sleeves were rolled up to the elbow, exposing powerful forearms. The dark trousers completed the outfit. It was effortless class.

When I dragged my gaze back to his, I realized I hadn’t been the only one doing the scrutinizing. He was staring at me in his intense, consuming way, and I stepped back from the door, suddenly feeling very . . . vulnerable. As if I was exposed in front of him.

Heat crept into my cheeks as I plastered my arms to my sides. “Sorry I . . . took so long. I was . . .” I trailed off as he continued to stare at me. “What?”

Ren stepped into the house, catching the door and closing it behind him. His presence filled the living room, and I could barely drag in enough air. “This is wrong,” he said, voice thick.

Surprised by the statement, I glanced down at myself. I knew I looked like a silly girl playing dress up. “It’s the only dress I could wear,” I said, feeling the weight of embarrassment settling on my shoulders.

He gave a little shake of his head as his bright green eyes met mine. “Oh, sweetness, you did wrong in all the right ways.”

I wasn’t following.

“How in the world am I going to pay attention when you look like that?” he chided softly, and my eyes widened. He moved forward, so close that I had to tip my chin up to meet his stare. He reached out, fingering the loose sleeve of my dress. “You are utterly distracting.”

“I am?”

A half smile appeared as his fingers skipped off the material and traced the line of my shoulder, sending a tight shiver down my spine. Then his finger wrapped around a curl, the back of his hand brushing the swell of my breast. He tugged it straight like he’d done before. “You are absolutely beautiful, Ivy.”

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About Jennifer L. Armentrout:

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV.

She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

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It is absolutely no secret that Jennifer Armentrout is my drug of choice. As readers of my blog you know this as, I review her books or just talk about her at least once a week. When I heard JLA was publishing another NA book series, I was beyond ecstatic. Obviously. But than to hear that Wicked is going to be a NA paranormal romance, well that was a good day. A paranormal in NA are virtually unheard of. Add in that JLA is writing/written it and just gimme, gimme, gimme. I pre-ordered it and although this week has been busy, I have started it and Wicked is as wonderful as expected. I implore you guys to get out there and pick Wicked up. Carve out a few hours and get reading. As with any JLA book, Wicked will be un-put-downable. 

Happy reading!

Brittany

Brittany vs Samantha 2015 Challenge

So, Samantha and I are doing this thing in 2015 where we're challenging each other to read 12 of our favourite books. It's not a competition. I just want her to read some of my favourite books, and she feels the same way. We have pretty similar tastes and opinions on books(we pretty much agree 90% of the time). We've done a lot of buddy reading in the last year. Well, really we've just read a lot of the same books. But there are those books we read years ago or the other one just hasn't read yet, that are some of our favourites. I want Samantha to read them. Of course I think she'll love the books I'm going to list below as much as I do. And I can't wait to see the one's she's chosen for me.
That was a long winded explanation just to say,

Samantha, here are the 12 books I challenge you to read in 2015!

The Humans: I love this book for its dark British humor and brilliant take on humanity. Plus anything that involves aliens, even a little bit, is a must in my books. I really think you'll enjoy The Humans for the exact same reasons I do, Samantha.
Me Before You: I know you bought this one earlier this year(I believe I had influence on that purchase...LOL). And I know you haven't read it yet. But you NEED to! This is more than chick-lit. It's a wonderful book that literally has every single feel. It's funny and heartwarming. But it will also make you cry and think. Prepare for everything and have tissues handy.
Watermelon(Walsh Family #1): Marian Keyes is one of my favourite authors, especially the books centered around the Walsh sisters. Although Watermelon is not my absolute favourite of the companion series, I think it's best to start at the beginning. Keyes sense of humour is the biggest draw for me when reading her books. She is spot on. But of course her characters are extremely easy to connect with.
My Best Friend's Girl: I picked this one up years ago on whim. And holy crap! I was not expecting such a heartwarming book. The beginning packs an emotional punch(there may be a few more throughout as well), but as the story goes on and the MC learns to manage her very unexpected life change, I feel in love. Another Kleenex warning here, Samantha.
Firefly Lane: This was my first foray into Kristin Hannah's writing and also solidified me as a fan. Firefly Lane is full of frustration as it explores the dynamics of different relationships. I remember there being tears but I also remember absolutely adoring this book. Exactly what I love in adult fiction. I think that's the same for you too, Samantha.
Ready Player One: I'm sure you know all about this one. So much hype. But well deserved hype. This one is just so much fun. It is perfect for us; the geeky type. It reads just like a movie and is exactly like a video game. All the 80's references(I got most of them) are the perfect touch. No Kleenex needed here. Lol.

Poison Study(Study #1): This one needs no explanation. Right? No surprise either. You totally knew I was going to pick Poison Study. I know it's been in your TBR a few times. And now you have no excuses, you MUST read it. I literally just finished a re-read of the trilogy and I think I loved it even more this time around than I did 4 years ago. Also, one of my favourite ships. My heart cannot contain all the love I have for this couple.
Finnikin of the Rock(Lumatere Chronicles #1): I really have nothing to do tell you here besides this is as fantastic as Throne of Glass. Two totally different fantasy stories. But the epicness and brilliant world building in this trilogy is just mind blowing. I can't even describe to you. Finnikin is a bit of a slow start, but push through and you will be thoroughly rewarded.
Birthmarked(Birthmarked #1): So you know as much as me that dystopians are over done. But Birthmarked is one of the earlier dystopians and wholly original. This first book is amazing and even though it has been like 5 years since I first read it, I still remember a lot. But most of all I remember flying through it. I could not turn those pages fast enough.
Liberty: This one might a little mean because there should be another book. But at this point there is no word if there will be. That being said, it's not like it ends on a cliff hanger. And if the author sees more readers loving her book it would hopefully spur her on to get that sequel out. Anyhow, this was compared to Firefly for YA readers and that couldn't be closer to the truth. This rag tag team is awesome. I want to explore more planets with them. Liberty is just fun.
Sloppy Firsts(Jessica Darling #1): I do wish I'd read this series in high school. But no matter, even when I first read it being in my mid-twenties didn't take away from how well I connected to Jessica Darling. She is awkward and totally smart. She's curious about herself and body. She's a word wizard. I love her to pieces. This series is so easy to relate to. Packed full of LOL's. And the shippy-ness of it, Samantha. You will approve.
Clipped Wings(Clipped Wings #1): I think this year we both really discovered NA. And our extreme love and addiction for it. Which now that we've read so much of it, it can make for a hard time discovering the those wonderful gems. Well recently I found that in Clipped Wings. As an indie title it doesn't have the readership it deserves. But I know once you read it and love it(please love it) we can literally slap everyone in the face with it. Clipped Wings has everything we love in a NA. Especially the tattoos and ink shop. I know how much you've discovered your love of those things this year. Haha! ;)

So any surprises? I know a few of these I've bugged you to read before. I'm just so excited for you to read these beauties. I need you to love them so we can fangirl about all the stuff. :D

Happy reading, Samantha! <3

Brittany