New Years Resolution: Bookish things

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION: 

BOOKISH THINGS

You know ti's that time again, to talk about that list of things to achieve by the date of December 31st 2015.

But let's review the 2014 Resolution, which was under Parajunkee New Year's Challenge: day 14 Blogger Wishlist of 2014

In Review

My Blogger Wishlist

• A new design for SassyCat's Book Review
• Cat's Tails Raters 
• Discover New Book Boyfriends
• Reunite with Old Book Boyfriends
• Guys Team sidebar banners
• Meet other Blogger Buddies
• Meet Author Buddies
• More Book Challenges . . .  You should consider what I'm doing, Reading all Series based books
• Attend Book Cons/Author Events (When possible) 

Well I got a few of those things done, I did attend an wonderful con called UtopYA that took place in Nashville, TN. It was all indies authors as well and boy I had no idea how many indies authors there were! That where I met most of my authors buddies and some blogger buddies, but most of my bloggers buddies are found online.

I did in fact get a new design! Hence what it is right now, I actually won it from a parajunkee giveaway which I'm so grateful for and that she helped me put it all up.

Did I discover new Book Boyfriends? YES! But I also reunited with some old Book Boyfriends.

Did I fullfilled my own book reading challenge? NO!!!! Reading series books was a lot harder than I thought and then school completely took my time away from any reading so I didn't even reach my 50 books mark but I was almost close.

So what's my plan for 2015? Bookish related things

• Hopefully be on a couple book tours/blog tours
• Read some books that I got from UtopYA
• Read some books that I left behind in 2014 that were supposed to be on my to read list
• Help spread the words on some indies authors and new book releases
• Complete all my late reviews, yes there are quite a few . . . :-(
• Discover some books that people were raving on this year that I couldn't get my paws on or just simply had to wait
• Help an author with her street team and recruit some people

Top 10 of 2015 Releases

The Heir (The Selection #4) by Kiera Cass

Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won Prince Maxon’s heart. Now the time has come for Princess Eadlyn to hold a Selection of her own. Eadlyn doesn’t expect her Selection to be anything like her parents’ fairy-tale love story. But as the competition begins, she may discover that finding her own happily ever after isn’t as impossible as she always thought.

Hardcover, 352 pages

Expected publication: May 5th 2015 by Harper Teen

 

The Stars Never Rise (The Stars Never Rise #1) By Rachel Vincent

Sixteen-year-old Nina Kane should be worrying about her immortal soul, but she's too busy trying to actually survive. Her town's population has been decimated by soul-consuming demons, and souls are in short supply. Watching over her younger sister, Mellie, and scraping together food and money are all that matters. The two of them are a family. They gave up on their deadbeat mom a long time ago.

When Nina discovers that Mellie is keeping a secret that threatens their very existence, she'll do anything to protect her. Because in New Temperance, sins are prosecuted as crimes by the brutal Church and its army of black-robed exorcists. And Mellie's sin has put her in serious trouble.

To keep them both alive, Nina will need to trust Finn, a fugitive with deep green eyes who has already saved her life once and who might just be an exorcist. But what kind of exorcist wears a hoodie?

Wanted by the Church and hunted by dark forces, Nina knows she can't survive on her own. She needs Finn and his group of rogue friends just as much as they need her. 

Hardcover, 368 pages

Expected publication: June 9th 2015 by Delacorte Press 

 

 

Frostfire (Kanin Chronicles #1) by Amanda Hocking

Bryn Aven is an outcast among the Kanin, the most powerful of the troll tribes.

Set apart by her heritage and her past, Bryn is a tracker who's determined to become a respected part of her world. She has just one goal: become a member of the elite King’s Guard to protect the royal family. She's not going to let anything stand in her way, not even a forbidden romance with her boss Ridley Dresden.

But all her plans for the future are put on hold when Konstantin– a fallen hero she once loved – begins kidnapping changelings. Bryn is sent in to help stop him, but will she lose her heart in the process?

 

Paperback, 336 pages

Expected publication: January 6th 2015 by St. Martin's Griffin

Salt and Stone (Fire and Blood #2) By Victoria Scott

What would you do to save someone you love?

In Fire & Flood, Tella Holloway faced a dangerous trek through the jungle and across the desert, all to remain a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed for a chance at obtaining the Cure for her brother. She can't quit--she has to win the race, save Cody, and then fight to make sure the race stops before it can claim any more lives. In the next legs of the race, across the ocean and over mountains, Tella will face frostbite, sharks, avalanche, and twisted new rules in the race.

But what if the danger is deeper than that? How do you know who to trust when everyone's keeping secrets? What do you do when the person you'd relied on most suddenly isn't there for support? How do you weigh one life against another?

The race is coming to an end, and Tella is running out of time, resources, and strength. At the start of the race there were one hundred twenty-two Contenders. As Tella and her remaining friends start the final part of the race, just forty-one are left--and only one can win. 

Hardcover, 320 pages

Expected publication: February 24th 2015 by Scholastic Press

Unleashed (Uninvited #2)  By Sophie Jordan 

Unleashed, the romantic, high-stakes sequel to New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan's Uninvited, is perfect for fans of James Patterson's Confessions of a Murder Suspect.

Davy has spent the last few months trying to come to terms with the fact that she tested positive for the kill gene HTS (also known as Homicidal Tendency Syndrome). She swore she would not let it change her, and that her DNA did not define her . . . but then she killed a man.

Now on the run, Davy must decide whether she'll be ruled by the kill gene or if she'll follow her heart and fight for her right to live free. But with her own potential for violence lying right beneath the surface, Davy doesn't even know if she can trust herself.

 

Hardcover, 368 pages

Expected publication: February 24th 2015 by Harper Teen 

 

 

 

 

 

The Replaced (The Taking #2) By Kimberly Derting

 

Romantic and action-packed, The Replaced is the gripping second installment in the Taking trilogy.

Kyra hasn't been the same since she returned from her mysterious five-year disappearance. Now, on the run from the NSA, Kyra is forced to hide out with others who, like her, have been Returned. Yet she is determined to find Tyler, the boy she loves who was also abducted—all because of her. When her group intercepts a message that Tyler might still be alive but is in the hands of a shadowy government organization that experiments on the Returned, Kyra knows it's a risk to go after him. What if it's a trap? And worse, what if the returned Tyler isn't the same boy she lost?

Perfect for fans of The Fifth Wave and the Body Finder series, The Replaced is both chilling and explosive, with creepy, otherworldly elements and twisty, psychological thrills that will have you questioning what exactly it means to be human. 

 

Hardcover, 368 pages

Expected publication: April 28th 2015 by HarperTeen

 

 

 

The Wondrous and the Wicked (The Dispossessed #3) By Page Morgan

For fans of Lauren Kate's Fallen series comes the exciting conclusion to the trilogy that includes The Beautiful and the Cursed and The Lovely and the Lost. The Waverly sisters must save themselves before all is lost.

Since the Waverlys arrived in Paris, the streets have grown more fearsome by the day. As Ingrid learns to master her lectrux gift, she must watch Axia's power grow strong enough to extend beyond her Underneath hive. By all indications, the fallen angel's Harvest is near-and the timing couldn't be worse.

Targeted by vengeful gargoyles, Gabby has been exiled to London for her own protection. Meanwhile, the gargoyle castes are in disarray, divided between those who want Luc to lead them and those who resent him and his fondness for humans. The Alliance is crumbling from the inside as well, its members turning against one another, and possibly against the Waverlys, too.

Axia has promised that the world will burn. And now, unable to trust the Alliance, separated from Luc, Gabby, and her twin, Grayson, Ingrid is left to face the demon uprising alone. 

Hardcover, 352 pages

Expected publication: April 14th 2015 by Delacorte Press 

 

 

Rogue (Talon #2) By Julia Kagawa

Ember Hill left the dragon organization Talon to take her chances with rebel dragon Cobalt and his crew of rogues. But Ember can't forget the sacrifice made for her by the human boy who could have killed her—Garret Xavier Sebastian, a soldier of the dragonslaying Order of St. George, the boy who saved her from a Talon assassin, knowing that by doing so, he'd signed his own death warrant.

Determined to save Garret from execution, Ember must convince Cobalt to help her break into the Order's headquarters. With assassins after them and Ember's own brother helping Talon with the hunt, the rogues find an unexpected ally in Garret and a new perspective on the underground battle between Talon and St. George.

A reckoning is brewing and the secrets hidden by both sides are shocking and deadly. Soon Ember must decide: Should she retreat to fight another day…or start an all-out war?

 

Hardcover, 416 pages

Expected publication: April 28th 2015 by Harlequin Teen

 

 

 

Lying Cheating Heart (Game of Hearts #2) By Mindy Ruiz

No More Lies!
Cassie Vera thought the biggest threat to her life disappeared the night her boyfriend, A.J. Vasillios, used his one-time-use power and saved her from certain death.
She was wrong.
The mythological hit list she was on is nothing compared to her freshman year at the University of Las Vegas. Rooming with Vegas’s future female royalty has pushed her estrogen tolerance to its limit. Worse, Cassie must take place in a time-honored tradition that tests her faith, while her boyfriend’s new job threatens to shatter her heart.
When age-old traditions change …
Cassie’s school year is interrupted when the future queens are ordered to represent their houses in an annual high-stakes competition. While at her ancestral home in Malaga, Spain, Cassie discovers the Greek gods have gifted her with new abilities. Cassie takes matters of righting an eighteen-year-old wrong into her hands. However, actions have consequences, and Cassie’s may very well end up costing her and the House of Hearts everything.
With her family’s future at stake and the love of her life choosing sides, Cassie must cheat death one more time.
When duty requires you to do the unthinkable, where will your loyalties lie?
Only a Cheating Heart Knows. 

ebook, 375 pages

Expected publication: February 12th 2015 

 

Menagerie (Menagerie #1) By Rachel Vincent 

From New York Times bestselling author Rachel Vincent comes a richly imagined, provocative new series set in the dark mythology of the Menagerie…

When Delilah Marlow visits a famous traveling carnival, Metzger's Menagerie, she is an ordinary woman in a not-quite-ordinary world. But under the macabre circus black-top, she discovers a fierce, sharp-clawed creature lurking just beneath her human veneer. Captured and put on exhibition, Delilah in her black swan burlesque costume is stripped of her worldly possessions, including her own name, as she's forced to "perform" in town after town.

But there is breathtaking beauty behind the seamy and grotesque reality of the carnival. Gallagher, her handler, is as kind as he is cryptic and strong. The other "attractions"—mermaids, minotaurs, gryphons and kelpies—are strange, yes, but they share a bond forged by the brutal realities of captivity. And as Delilah struggles for her freedom, and for her fellow menagerie, she'll discover a strength and a purpose she never knew existed.

Renowned author Rachel Vincent weaves an intoxicating blend of carnival magic and startling humanity in this intricately woven and powerful tale. 

Paperback, 400 pages

Expected publication: September 29th 2015 by MIRA 

 

Plus a couple more . . .

THE WEREWOLF WEARS PRADA (SAN FRANCISCO WOLF PACK #1) BY Kristin Miller
Summary to come
Release date: April 2015

Every Last Breath (The Dark Elements #3) by Jennifer L Armentrout  

The third and final book in the Dark Elements series. 

Summary to come

Expected publication: July 28th 2015 by Harlequin Teen

Top 10 Book Boyfriends

 

Best Book Boyfriends of 2014

1. Daemon Black (The Lux Series)

2. West Young (Pushing The Limits #4)

3. Sean O'Rourke (Uninvited #1)

4. Roth (The Dark Elements #1)

5. Guy (Fire and Blood #1)

6. A.J (Game of Hearts #1)

7. Carter Griffin (Seattle Wolf Pack #3)

8. Maxon Schreave (The Selection Series)

9. (Nolan (The Dispossessed #2)

10. David Preston (The Curse Keeper #2)

 I still surprise myself on list 10 guys, I mean I think I read less than what most people read and a lot of there were either continuously series or new series.

Best Couples of 2014

 

Today is day two of the Top 10 of 2014 meme, and today we were offered a wide range of stuff to choose, such as Villains, Contemporaries, Dual POV's, Novellas, Adult titles, New Adult titles, Love Triangles, Couples, Bad Boys, Debuts, ect. REMEMBER - this list MUST be from books you've READ in 2014.

I chose top 10 couples which was actually a lot harder than I thought and I think it might be due to the lack of wide variety of books that I read this year. 

Top 10 Couples of 2014 

I'm not sure if I can list 10 couples but let's see

Tella and Guy (Fire & Blood) 

These two don't hit it off right away only because they are both in a competiton basic fight to the death and try to survive each tasks at hand. They're both reserve and quiet but they are great allies to one another and I can't wait to see what Salt and Stone book two of Fire and Blood has in store for them. 

Layla and Roth (The Dark Elements)

A guy Layla could actually kiss without stealing his soul and some sexy tattos that are totally mesmerizing on his body. Roth was immediately drawn to her and wanted to know everything single thing about her. And he's grows jealous of Zayne who knows her more than he would ever will. 

Pepper and Recce (The Ivy Chronicles) 

Talk about experimenting with a super hot bartender only to be able to seem expereince for another guy Pepper been pining for since she was a young girl. Recce definitely sees the real Pepper, and knows that she's a little flick of fire that needs to start burning flaming hot. 

Davy and Sean (Uninvited) 

Although they had nothing in common and Sean is use to being the rule breaker and typical bad boy image bu for Davy her life just got a whole lot darker. I saw Sean as a glimpse of light for Davy now that genetics basically ruins any chances of her living out her dreams but she grow slowly to Sean and find him somewhat attractive. They're in the same battle with the world, why not conquer it together? 

Gabby and Nolan (The Depossessed) 

An perfect couples that will do anything to be together.mi love gabby and Nolan from the start, they didn't care if their world wouldn't allow this kind of pairing but with gabby hews throng courage and Nolan there to help her along the way. It couldn't be any better

A.J and Cassandra (Games of Hearts) 

A growing attraction but with a never ending war and demanding gods, could these two stick it together or will one take a gamble of their life to save mankind. 

Katy and Daemon (Lux) 

Okay no question to why Katy and daemon made it on the list. 

Haley and West (Pushing The Limits) 

West gave Haley the courage she didn't think she had anymore and West grew to be a better person with Haley being around. They both done a lot of wrongs but the one thing they did right was by being together. 

Dez and Jasmine (The Dark Elements)

Talk about a firy reunion, a love/hate relationship but are truly soulmate. 

America and Maxon (The Selection)

Both America and Maxon both sort of hates the idea of the selection but they couldn't be more gretful that the selection is what brought them together. Yes they fought on and off, shared personal things and have their own little dates unofficially. 

Alexa and Ben (off the subject)

These two knows that even though they have their ups and downs, meeting each other was the greatest future they could ever asked for. 

Make sure to stop by tomorrow and see the Top 10 Book Boyfriends list.

12 Days of Blogmas: Day 11

Jj

It's Day 11 of the Blogmas challenge posts

We have to share a recipe, well I don't cook and I barely bake. My mom is responsible for all the holdiays baking the only thing I can be a part of is the decorations of some of the baking. 

Last year I did my first attempt on chocolates mices, you know what I'm talking about those cute little mices you see on Pinterest, and that's is where I got the idea. Sadly I wasn't able to make them this year like I hoped but next year I hope to do it.

So what comes to doing these mices? Pretty simple stuff really

I know a couple mices have different recipes but I'll share what I did,

1. Since peanut butter balls and coconuts are a must have on cookie trays I used both for the base of the mouse. 
2. Ideally you will need to make either peanut butter balls or coconut balls before you can say you have a base. 
3. Next is to melt chocolate, so you can attach ears and faces, I also would suggest using a swirl kisses chocolate be uses that really stands out. Last year I used chopped almonds for the ears which was extremely challenging because they were thin and broke easy, my plan if I had the time to do it this year I would have done mini chocolate chips for the ears. 
4. You use the melted chocolate as a paste, what I did was slightly dipped the kisses into the melt chocolate, you only want the base covered in chocolate and then place it on the peanut butter ball or coconut ball or what ever chocolate covered balls you're using. This goes for the ears as well.
5. As for the tail, the pesky little tail. Now if I had used cherry the tail would have already been done but again I didn't use cherry only because none of my family like it. But I found a chocolate twiizzers as the tails. You kind of have to drill a little hole in the back of your base to put the tail in. 
6. Now you have your mices, to make it a little extra cute I did an boy/girl gender last year with pink frosting for the bows and for the noses. And I think I used the pick for the eyes as well or I used a brown.

I'm having a really hard time finding my pictures of the mices I made, I found one out of hundreds of photos I take  but it is a photo of my cousin eating the poor little mice. So I don't want to post that, but if I do find the photos I'm truly looking for I'll post it.

 

Best Book Cover of 2014

I always like this post, since we can gush on covers! And perhaps have a book cover War!


When I heard about Sophie's YA/thriller book and heard the description I knew they had to make sure that the cover was spectacular and this one was. It was different from normal covers where a girl is upright rather than sideways but even her hair had components of what the actually book is about.  See all those DNA Hair strands at the bottom?

 

Enchanted Heart is another favorite of mine as well the cover (Mae I Design is responisble for the amazing cover) Although you didn't know much about what Enchanted Heart was, the cover was perfect with black, a little bit of red/ruby colors as well a shining heart pendant. The second cover is also amazing by the way. 

How about a new and improve cover of Hunt by Rachel Vincent? I really can't wait for Lion's Share that will star both Jace and Abby. Now thinking on it I don't know if Hunt ever really had a cover LOL!

I'm sure there are other books that were released this year that many have read but I have not nor do I own them much less read them.

Those were my picks! How about you?

12 Days of Blogmas: Day 10

Day 10 : My Bookish Wishlist

Believe it or not, I kept it small this year around but still kept with the similar themes/genres. One of the reason why I kept it small was because I got better deals after Christmas when it came to books I think I came home with 14 books total from my local bookstore.

My local bookstore has a discount section when some of the YA books as well other genre do eventaully end up there due to overstock or layover because they were getting the paperback set in. So I try to keep my eyes out for it heavily around this time of month. 

Here's what is on my list, trust me I went light on my parents.

 

Visions (A Cainsville Novel) By Kelley Armstrong
Stone cold Touch by Jennifer L Armentrout   Wicked by Jennfier L Armentrout
The Taking By Kimberly Derting The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
The Naturals: Killer Instinct by Jennifer Lynn Barnes  The Vaults of Dreamers by Caragh M. O’Brien
The Jewel by Amy Ewing

A couple days ago while I was out shopping, I actually posted on my facebook (personal page) that I would choose ornaments over books. It's 100% true, don't get me wrong I love books but Ornaments hold a special place in my heart because they give me memory from something that I hadn't thought or seen in a long time. And the thing about ornaments, once they're gone they are gone or you'll end up paying a really hefty price because the seller is greedy. Books will always have some new updates to their book format or editions. So they tends to be replaceable, ornaments cannot.
Also Ornaments are my first love 

Top 10 of 2014

 

It's that time again! Where we readers sum up all the books we read in 2014 . . . 

WOW how can 2014 have gone by so fast?

Today is all about my Top 10 Best Books I have in 2014, SQUEAK!

1. Fire & Blood by Victoria Scott 
 

2. White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L Armentrout

3. Uninvited by Sophie Jordan

4. Enchanted Heart by Mindy Ruiz

5. Lux by Jennifer L Armentrout 

6. Take Me On by Katie McGarry

7. Foreplay by Sophie Jordan

8. The Lovely and the Lost by Page Morgan
  

9. Business as Usual by Denise Grover Swank

10. Captive by A.D. Robertson 

I would put one of the Selection books on my top 10 but I haven't completed my reviews for any of the three so until I figure out which out of the three books I like the most although "The One:" really took me.

I really Love Bitter Sweet Love by Jennifer L Armentrout, it's the prequel before White Hot Kiss begin but they were both equal and White Hot Kiss is a full length book.

So what books made it on your Top 10?

12 Days of Blogmas: Day 9

Day 9: Post ANYTHING!

Post anything huh? Well in case if none of you known, I am actually a December baby. Meaning I was born three days after Christmas and the day before my Great Great Grandmother. 

Yes that means I get double the fun! 

Every year when my family and I unload the Christmas decoration, there's this one really odd material Santa hat. Turns out that is what the hospital wrapped me in when it was time to go home. However I don't think there's any pictures but that's okay. 

Other than that, I'm working a secret walk down Christmas memory lane for my parents. They have no idea.

12 Days of Blogmas: Day 8

Day 8:  Show off my style

MMM . . . this would actually required me to take pictures of what I normally wear during the holidays.

But I decided against posting pictures just because I'm still recovering from my stress overload and I tend to break out a little.

My style would be typically dark jeans, long sleeve whatever color suits my day, and an occasion scarf every now and then.

I do wear boots, I actually just have a new pair that I really really love so if the snow plays nicely and there's no ice I might wear them to the Christmas brunch.

It's not much, I'm more laid back on dressing up for the holidays and I typically wear one of my wrap style tops when we go out for the Christmas brunch.

This year I was thinking of wearing my Lion King tee shirt that I got a few months ago (yes I haven't worn it yet because it's been cold) So I might be rocking a Disney look for Christmas. 

I either wear my hair up or down, mostly down but I am in desperate need of a hair cut and I'm just too busy to make a call to my hairdresser, have I mention I got a lot on my plate?

photo is taken from my pinterest board "Fashion"
 

12 Days of Blogmas: Day 7

 

Day 7: Share a Holiday Tradition

WOW this is going to be a hard post, there's so many small traditions and with my birthday being three days after Christmas. So I get double the fun! 

Mostly we spend Christmas at home, then after we're all done around noonish we go to my aunt and uncle that live by the lake and we have Christmas brunch with my mom side of the family. Last year we as a family decided to take me out shopping for my birthday or the after Christmas day because I scored a lot of great stuff last year. 

Last year was a really big book haul for me as Christmas/birthday.

I'm in charge of Tree decoration, my mom is in charge of baking goodies and I'm also been making Christmas cards for the past two years and I'm behind on this years but I'm trying to work as hard as possible with getting them out. 

I already know that they will not be ready on time, but my people will get my handcrafted cards and maybe a little something else.

12 Day of Christmas: Day 6

 

Day Six:  Best Holiday Books

I honestly don't know how to answer this one . . .  I don't really read much holiday theme books.
But here's a few books that I know of that are set in a Christmas setting 

1. Frigid by J Lynn, Now I did read this book but I have some issues with the book unsure why but I am planning to reread it and see if reading it the second time around will change my mind. 

 

2. Two Little Lies by T.A. Kunz, I actually met him at UtopYa and because I didn't know much about his books he told me that this book was based during the Christmas holiday so that why I picked this one. No I haven't read it yet. 

 

3. Winterspell by Claire Legrand, I have no idea if this book is based during the holidays but the events does occurs during Christmas Eve or just the beginning of the whole story. 

4. The Proposal by J Lynn, a twitter fan fic story of Avery and Cam. It's right during the holidays and Cam pops the big question. 

12 Day of Christmas: Day 5

 

"He knows if you've been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake!"

Day Five: The Nice List

1. Cassandra (Enchanted Heart), she's the nicest person that got mixed into an never-ending war.
2. America (The Selection), she wears her heart on her sleeve.
3. Katy (Lux), determines to make things right in the world.
4. Davy (Unleashed), doesn't have any mean bones or DNA in her body. 
5. Tella (Fire & Blood), enters a contest to save her brother.
   
   
   Now that wasn't too bad, check back for Day six!

12 Days of Christmas: Day Four

 

"He's making a list,

And checking it twice;

Gonna find out Who's naughty and nice."

Day Four: Book Characters on the Naughty list

HA HA HA!!!! This should be fun!!!!

1. Dante (The Lost Amulet Chronicles) He's been a very very naughty boy with greed slap cross his forehead. 
2. Collin Dailey (Curse's Keepers), his actions are what got him on the naughty list
3. Daemon Black (Lux series) you know he likes to act naughty

 Yeah I'm horrible at choosing characters to be naughty.  

Check back tomorrow for those on the Nice List, hint they will most likely be the female characters