Review (er...Rant) - The Knight

The Knight (Patrick Bowers Files # 3) by Steven James
Genres: Crime Thriller; Mystery; Contemporary
My rating: 4 stars
Average Goodreads rating: 4.37 stars
Pages: 492

Image and description from Goodreads.com

In "The Knight," the third installment in the bestselling series of thrillers featuring FBI criminologist Patrick Bowers, the stakes have never been higher.

Agent Bowers is used to tracking the country's most dangerous killers, but now it looks like a killer is tracking him. When he realizes the murderer is using clues from an ancient manuscript as a blueprint for his crimes, Bowers faces a race against time to decipher who the next victim will be and to stop the final shocking murder--which he's beginning to believe might be his own.

Gritty, chilling, and intense, this psychological thriller is guaranteed to keep readers up all night.

 

My review: Where do I begin with this one? Anything I say about it feels repetitive. I've already gushed about how amazing the first two books are. Guess I'll just have to say it again.

 

This book was a-maz-ing! Deja vu, anyone?

 

Well, it was. You might say, "well, why the four stars then, Ally? If you LOVED it, why not five?" Patience. I'll get to that.

 

You see, I did something stupid. Not like, 'riding your bike into a ditch' stupid. But still. Be prepared to gasp in horror. What I did was infinitely worse. When I finished The Rook, book 2 in the Bowers Files, I went to the library. I sought out books under the name Steven James...and I picked up The Bishop. Not The Knight, but The Bishop. Book 4. And I read it. All 523 pages, before I even touched The Knight.

 

Have you finished rolling your eyes at my idiocy? Good. See, the thing is, I THOUGHT The Bishop was book 3. I didn't even suspect a thing until I signed onto Goodreads to rate it and discovered that sneaky little four. I was devastated, as you can imagine.

 

Apparently, the author is quite talented at making all of his books readable even when you haven't read the previous ones. Which is a good thing really, and my enjoyment of The Bishop wasn't affected in anyway. But The Knight was a bit changed for me. The mystery was still there, but some of the suspense was lacking for me. Added to that, a couple of my favorite characters were missing for most of the book. Still, it was a thrill, and the ending still managed to completely throw me off.

 

I know that was a really long rant just to let you know that it was really probably better than I thought it was. But hey, gotta change things up a little bit every now and then!

 

I'll end this by highly recommending this series(IN ORDER). You won't regret reading them.

 

Content: Some gruesome scenes. Definitely not for the weak stomach.

 

Read my review of The Pawn, book 1 in The Bowers Files.

Read my review of The Rook, book 2 in The Bowers Files.

 

Author Site / Amazon Link / Goodreads Link

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Book Blast and Giveaway for The Fall of the Prodigal

　

Author is giving away two $10.00 Amazon Gift Cards.
Two winners will be randomly chosen via rafflecopter. 
Enter contest below.

Book Title: The Fall of the Prodigal
Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Urban Books (January 27, 2015)
ISBN-10: 1601626983
ISBN-13: 978-1601626981
Genre: Christian Fiction



　

Michelle Lindo-Rice enjoys crafting women's fiction with themes centered around the four "F" words: Faith, Friendship, Family and Forgiveness. Her first published work, Sing A New Song, was a Black Expressions featured selection. Originally from Jamaica West Indies, Michelle Lindo-Rice calls herself a lifelong learner.

She has earned degrees from New York University, SUNY at Stony Brook, and Teachers College, Columbia University. When she moved to Florida, she enrolled in Argosy University where she completed her Education Specialist degree in Education Leadership. A pastor's kid, Michelle upholds the faith, preaching, teaching and ministering through praise and worship. Feel free to connect with her at michellelindorice.com

You can read her testimony, learn about her books, PLEASE join her mailing list, or read a sample chapter at michellelindorice.com

A condemned man, his two brides, and one untimely death.

Michael Ward is at the top of his game and he doesn't need anyone or anything. Money is his new best friend--until he's arrested for a heinous crime. As much as he hates to admit it, Michael needs his brother, Keith Ward, the man who stole his wife and children. Will Michael open his heart to forgive his brother?

Verona "Tiger" Stachs has been Michaels' attorney for years. She's in love with him, but is tired of being treated as his guinea pig. A lapsed Christian, Verona finds herself being drawn closer to God. She thought she was through with God, but soon discovers He's nowhere through with her. Which relationship will she choose?

Keith Ward's a prominent minister and family man, yet he yearns to rekindle his relationship with his brother. When Michael calls him explaining that he desperately needs his help, Keith jumps at the chance to set things right with Michael. Will Keith be able to lead Michael into the light?

　



　
　

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Mailbox Monday: 01-26-2015

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia at To Be Continued and is now hosted at its own blog.

All images and descriptions from Goodreads.com.

The Name of the Wind.

 

 

Told in Kvothe's own voice, this is the tale of the magically gifted young man who grows to be the most notorious wizard his world has ever seen. The intimate narrative of his childhood in a troupe of traveling players, his years spent as a near-feral orphan in a crime-ridden city, his daringly brazen yet successful bid to enter a legendary school of magic, and his life as a fugitive after the murder of a king form a gripping coming-of-age story unrivaled in recent literature. A high-action story written with a poet's hand, The Name of the Wind is a masterpiece that will transport readers into the body and mind of a wizard.

 

 

 

 

 

All Fall Down

 

 A new series of global proportions -- from master of intrigue, NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Ally Carter.

This exciting new series from NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Ally Carter focuses on Grace, who can best be described as a daredevil, an Army brat, and a rebel. She is also the only granddaughter of perhaps the most powerful ambassador in the world, and Grace has spent every summer of her childhood running across the roofs of Embassy Row.

Now, at age sixteen, she's come back to stay--in order to solve the mystery of her mother's death. In the process, she uncovers an international conspiracy of unsettling proportions, and must choose her friends and watch her foes carefully if she and the world are to be saved.

 

 

Writing Magic

 

 

In Writing Magic, Newbery Honor author Gail Carson Levine shares her secrets of great writing. She shows how you, too, can get terrific ideas for stories, invent great beginnings and endings, write sparkling dialogue, develop memorable characters—and much, much more. She advises you about what to do when you feel stuck—and how to use helpful criticism. Best of all, she offers writing exercises that will set your imagination on fire.

With humor, honesty, and wisdom, Gail Carson Levine shows you that you, too, can make magic with your writing.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eats, Shoots & Leaves

 

A panda walks into a café. He orders a sandwich, eats it, then draws a gun and fires two shots in the air.
"Why?" asks the confused waiter, as the panda makes towards the exit. The panda produces a badly punctuated wildlife manual and tosses it over his shoulder.
"I'm a panda," he says at the door. "Look it up."
The waiter turns to the relevant entry and, sure enough, finds an explanation.
"Panda. Large black-and-white bear-like mammal, native to China. Eats, shoots and leaves."

 

So, punctuation really does matter, even if it is only occasionally a matter of life and death.

 

Now, we all know the basics of punctuation. Or do we? A look at most neighborhood signage tells a different story. Through sloppy usage and low standards on the internet, in e-mail, and now text messages, we have made proper punctuation an endangered species.

In Eats, Shoots & Leaves, former editor Truss dares to say, in her delightfully urbane, witty, and very English way, that it is time to look at our commas and semicolons and see them as the wonderful and necessary things they are. This is a book for people who love punctuation and get upset when it is mishandled. From the invention of the question mark in the time of Charlemagne to George Orwell shunning the semicolon, this lively history makes a powerful case for the preservation of a system of printing conventions that is much too subtle to be mucked about with.  

 

All received from the library! What's in your Mailbox?



Review - The Rook

The Rook(The Patrick Bowers Files #2) by Steven James
Genres: Crime Thriller, Mystery, Christian
My rating: 5 stars
Average Goodreads Rating: 4.27 stars
Pages: 489

      Image and description from Amazon.com

 

Special Agent Patrick Bowers is about to uncover the military's darkest secret . . . and his own dark past.

While investigating a series of baffling fires in San Diego, Special Agent Patrick Bowers is drawn into a deadly web of intrigue where nothing is as it appears to be. With a killer on the loose and one of the world's most deadly devices missing, Bowers is caught in a race against time to stop a criminal mastermind's trap before it closes around the people he loves.

My review: Okay, so now I've read only the first two books in the Patrick Bowers Files, and it's already one of my favorite series. As soon as I finished the Pawn I had to rush to the library to get the Rook. It soared above and beyond my expectations(which were very high).

Just like The Pawn, The Rook had me hooked from the first page. It kept me guessing; the end had me completely shocked.

Again, I love the characters. While it's mostly from Patrick's point of view, we also get a glimpse of Tessa's and Lien-hua's thoughts. I loved seeing each of them work through their own struggles, and seeing relationships develop further.

You really don't want to miss this series. It's so complex and mind-blowing, I have trouble describing it.

Content: Attempted rape. May be some situations hard to stomach. Christian influences, but not preachy. Clean.

Author Site / Amazon Link / Goodreads Link

Click here to read my review of The Pawn.

Review - Fable

Fable (Unfortunate Fairy Tale #3) by Chanda Hahn
Genres: YA; Fantasy; Contemporary
My rating: 4 stars
Average Goodreads Rating: 4.25 stars

This book counts toward my goal for The Fairy Tale Challenge!


Image from Goodreads.com

Mina Grime is being hunted by fairy tales. One after the other, the Brothers' Grimm stories take over her life. Literally.

The sad truth is that not all fairy tales have happy endings. Before, Mina thought she'd have to complete every single tale in order to escape this curse. Now there might be an easier way.

But there are always obstacles, and when something tragic befalls Mina and her family, she must travel to the Fae plane to restore what they had before. In doing this, will she lose something even more precious?

My review: This is my second read of Fable—I wanted to get myself reaquainted with the story before I read Reign, the next installment in the series. I still enjoyed Mina's story the second time around.

Unfortunately, this one didn't involve as many fairy tales as the previous books. Mina's quest was different this time. But it involved a lot of adventure and much higher stakes.

I love the uniqueness of this book, the characters, and the world Hahn has created. The writing could be better quality, but I'm hooked on the story. Can't wait to see what happens next!

This is a series that needs to be read in order, so if you're interested, check out Unenchanted! It's a free Kindle book.

Content: Um....a kiss? It's squeaky clean. Recommended for ages 11+.

 

Author Site / Goodreads Link / Amazon Link

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Review - The Scorch Trials

Scorch Trials (The Maze Runner #2) by James Dashner
Genres: YA; Dystopia; Science Fiction
My rating: 4 stars
Average Goodreads rating: 3.98 stars
Pages: 360

Image from Goodreads.com

 

 

They thought the Maze was over...but it had just begun.

Thomas and the remaining Gladers escaped the Maze expecting relief. What they got was another test from the people they were quickly coming to despise—WICKED.

Now surrounded by crazed people infected with a deadly disease, they must race to get the cure or perish with everyone else.

They were told WICKED was good. But can they really trust them? It may be their only option.

Let the Scorch Trials begin.

 

My review: Out of the frying pan and into the fire—that's how it was for Thomas and the gang when they completed the deadly Maze. Only to find themselves in yet another predicament they'd be hardpressed to survive.

I thought this was a good follow-up to The Maze Runner. It was paced faster, and more exciting, in my opinion. The stakes were higher—everyone's life was on the line if they didn't reach that cure.

I liked the addition of new characters. The boys' story continues, but we're also introduced to Jorge and Brenda, two “cranks” plagued by the disease. And Group B—the group of girls who had just escaped from their own Maze. With all of these new characters we saw teamwork, yes. But also a lot of trust issues and fighting—lots of conflict that really spiced things up.

Like I said, there was a lot more excitement in The Scorch Trials, although I did feel that there was just something missing. I would have liked to see more character development, especially with the secondary characters. And maybe something more could have been added to the plot. Also, I didn't really care for the romance between Thomas and Teresa, but that really didn't take away any of my enjoyment.

Overall, I really liked this book and will definitely want to read the rest of the series. I love the epilogues and glimpse they give of what WICKED is trying to do.

Content: One or two uses of profanity; some made up words used in place of cursing; kissing.

Click here to read my review of The Maze Runner.

Author site / Amazon Link / Goodreads Link

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Book Blast and Giveaway! Seven Days of Redemption.

Enter to Win! Author is giving away one autograph copy of Seven Days of Redemption

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Genre: Devotional

                                                           Dr. Shaunte' McFarland

Instead of giving you a formal third person description of myself, I’m going to be transparent. The same way I present myself in ministry, my book, my blog, the way I am in real life. I’m passionate, enlightening and formalities may dilute the true message of what I want to deliver. I grew up a small town girl who involuntarily learned a lot of things the hard way. My childhood was stolen at the tender age of four and after years of abuse I decided to liberate myself through accomplishments. My trophies and awards shined brightly but my soul grew darker as I started to adopt and carry out self-inflicted abuse. Fearing a return to my impoverished beginnings I became a serial perfectionist. If things weren’t flawless, I would perpetually beat myself up until I fixed it. As I was bringing down the hammer on myself for the umpteenth time, God grabbed my hand and I looked up to behold the Son of Glory. He showed me a new way. I learned that acceptance, forgiveness and grace is more effective in change than punishment. I would continue to fall, but instead of the whip, I used something a lot fiercer: the double-edged Word of God.

 

 

Having her innocence stolen at the age of four, she would grow up relentlessly betrayed, oppressed, and longing for unconditional love. In Seven Days of Redemption, the companion devotional to the inspirational memoir, “Cinderella’s Still Going to the Ball”, Dr. Shaunte’ McFarland gives an exclusive glimpse inside her process of healing and restoration. This devotional is a seven-day journey of strength, acceptance and grace. Endowing you with the irresistible unction to shout, I Am Redeemed!!

 

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Top Ten 2014 Releases I Meant to Read But Didn't Get To

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish.

Top Ten Eleven 2014 Releases I Meant to Read But Didn't Get To

1.Cruel Beauty: I once came up with a Beauty and the Beast idea where the Beauty was hunting the Beast. I probably wasn't ever going to write it, though, so I'm glad somebody else did!

2.Bridge to Haven: Because I love Francine Rivers

3.Hacker: Because I have an obsession with Ted Dekker.

4.Season of Wonder: Aaaahhhhh!

5.Reign: Again, aaaahhhhh!

6.The Secret of Pembrooke Park: I've been on a Julie Klassen kick. She's a more recent discovery.

7.The Butterfly and the Violin: This one got great reviews, and it's set during WWII, which I love.

8.Home of our Hearts: I've been a Christy fan since I was 11 or 12!

9.Quest for the Middle Kingdom: I don't really have an explanation for this one. I was going to read it but then I didn't....

10.Rebels: I'm reading this one right now! Finally!

11.All The Light We Cannot See: What I can't see, is why I didn't read this one last year? It's a Goodreads Choice Award Winner.

Well, that's my brief TTT. I wrote it in a hurry, but at least I wrote it! So, what books were you not able to squeeze in last year?

Review - Stunned

Stunned (Lucidites #2) by Sarah Noffke

Genres: YA; Fantasy/Paranormal

My rating: 3 stars

Pages: 312

Roya Stark thought her problems were over after she and her team defeated Zhuang. Now she can finally relax, leave the horrible Institute, and get back to a relatively normal life—right?

Maybe not. Having been persuaded to stay and help work on her brother's secret project, Roya's not a happy camper. But that's the least of her worries when a head official is captured by a secret society of Dream Travelers. Added to that, her brother's getting sick. Roya witnesses him waste away while he won't even admit it.

The students must embark on yet another rescue mission—even while their team seems to be falling apart. And the life of one of their own is at stake...

 

 

My review: While I really enjoyed the first enstallment of this series, I was bit more conflicted on how to rate Stunned.

The premise is great and I was immediately intrigued, especially having read the previous book. I delved right into the second. And as it is with most books, parts of it amazed me and parts of it fell flat.

First of all, I'm afraid I'll have to take back what I said in my other review about love triangles. They crush your soul. Why, why, why must the girl always choose the guy who's SO wrong for her? No, I'm not being dramatic. This is a serious issue that needs to be addressed in MANY books. Anyway...

 

Unfortunately, there was one thing that I loved in Awoken that I did not see at all in Stunned. This time around, the mission took a backseat to Roya's love life. Her insanely frustrating roller coaster ride of a love life. I would have liked to have seen less of Roya being torn between two guys, and more action and focus on the mission at hand.

 

We did get some action, and it was well done and exciting. However, it came too late in the book and when it ended the story still dragged on for awhile and then ended abruptly. I won't complain too much though, because there was another subplot I was curious about which was addressed after the main conflict subsided.

 

All in all, I did like this book. And one thing I absolutely loved is the voice. Roya's voice really draws you into her story, and I can't compliment the author enough on that. She also makes you really care about her characters. When they hurt—I hurt!

 

Stunned is by no means a masterpiece, but I believe that the author has a special talent, and if she keeps writing(and I really hope she does), will be able to create some really wonderful works that I'd be first in line to read.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

 

Content: Some innuendo and mild intimacy; quite a bit more language than previous book.

See my review of Book 1 in The Lucidites trilogy: Awoken.

 

Author Site / Amazon Link / Goodreads Link

Review - Secret Daughter

Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda
Genres: Contemporary; Cultural
My rating: 3 stars

Average Goodreads rating: 3.95 stars

Pages: 339

From Goodreads: On the eve of the monsoons, in a remote Indian village, Kavita gives birth to a baby girl. But in a culture that favors sons, the only way for Kavita to save her newborn daughter's life is to give her away. It is a decision that will haunt her and her husband for the rest of their lives, even after the arrival of their cherished son.

Halfway around the globe, Somer, an American doctor, decides to adopt a child after making the wrenching discovery that she will never have one of her own. When she and her husband, Krishnan, see a photo of the baby with the gold-flecked eyes from a Mumbai orphanage, they are overwhelmed with emotion. Somer knows life will change with the adoption but is convinced that the love they already feel will overcome all obstacles.

 

 

Interweaving the stories of Kavita, Somer, and the child that binds both of their destinies, Secret Daughter poignantly explores the emotional terrain of motherhood, loss, identity, and love, as witnessed through the lives of two families—one Indian, one American—and the child that indelibly connects them.

 

My review:

Before I started reading, I thought this book would get a higher rating from me. From the description it sounded like it would be a very emotional read and I thought I would really enjoy it. But, while I did like it, I had a few qualms.

 

During the first half of the book I found myself thinking, "where is this going?" Don't get me wrong--it was very well written, and I could sympathize with the characters in their plights. But the story kind of dragged for me. Luckily, it picked up, bringing what would have been a 2 star rating to a solid 3.

 

The time jumps and point-of-view switching made some parts a bit confusing to read, but I think the end made it worth it. I think the most interesting part of the book was seeing Asha as a young woman, making her own way. I loved the ending. It was a unique end to a touching story.

 

Content:  Mild profanity; mention of a rape-nondescript

 

Author Site / Amazon Link / Goodreads Link

 

Waiting on Wednesday - All Fall Down

Hosted by Breaking the Spine.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

All Fall Down (Embassy Row #1) by Ally Carter.

Image&description from Goodreads.com

Grace can best be described as a daredevil, an Army brat, and a rebel. She is also the only granddaughter of perhaps the most powerful ambassador in the world and Grace has spent every summer of her childhood running across the roofs of Embassy Row.

Now, at age sixteen, she's come back to stay - in order to solve the mystery of her mother's death. In the process, she uncovers an international conspiracy of unsettling proportions, and must choose her friends and watch her foes carefully if she and the world are to be saved.  

All Fall Down releases January 27th! Luckily, I'm the first in line for it at the library.

Goodreads Link / Author Site / Amazon Link

Mailbox Monday: 01-05-2015

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia at To Be Continued and is now hosted at its own blog.

The holidays may be over, but I haven't stopped receiving books! Here's my Mailbox Monday.



 

You might notice some of these from my last Top Ten Tuesday. While I didn't actually get any of those books for Christmas, an Amazon Gift Card was enough to get me a few that I wished for!

What's in your Mailbox?

Review - Awoken

Awoken by Sarah Noffke
Genres: YA; Fantasy/Paranormal
My rating: 4.5 stars
Pages: 312

Image from Goodreads.com

It was just life as usual for 16-year-old Roya Stark, but then a visitor in her dreams changed everything.

Now, she's discovered she's a Dream Traveler. And she's expected to help save the world from the villainous Zhuang—a man who causes nightmares, hallucinations, and sleepless nights for people around the world.

She knows he must be stopped, but she did not sign up for this. Sure, she could quit...but what if she—plain 'ol, nothing special Roya Stark—is the only one who can defeat him?

My review: Well, well, well. What do we have here? A YA Fantasy with a strong heroine with special powers, who's caught up in a prophecy AND a love triangle? Sign me up.

I realize some of you may have groaned just now. A prophecy? A love triangle? Come on, Ally... Yes, I know. You think the prophecy thing has been overdone and you're so sick of love triangles. Just...please. Save all questions for the end.

First of all, can I just say that I LOVE love triangles. No, really! They create tension, and conflict, and oh so many awkward moments. And awkward moments are the best.

Although, one of the things I liked about this book, was that the romance wasn't front and center. I loved the plot. I can't really tell you much about it(spoilers, ya know) but the whole time I was cheering for Roya and the other Lucidites to kick Zhuang's—ahem--I mean, to defeat the contemptible scoundrel.

Why don't I just make a list of the things I loved about this book? Okay, here goes. 1. The humor. I laughed out loud at some parts. 2. The writing. Listen to this: “Although I haven't lived long, I know to exist in a world feeling capable of moving mountains and only allowed to dig tiny holes is wrong.” 3. The dialogue. 4. The voice. 5. The characters.

I really enjoyed the characters. Each of the teens had their own special gift and it was fun to see them develop their abilities and their friendships. There was a twist with one of them that I didn't see coming!

There's only a few things I would change.

There could have been more descriptions of the surroundings. Ms. Noffke's characters are spot on, but I never really got a good sense of the environment.

That, and I'll admit, the whole 'foretold chosen one' thing was a little overdone. But none of these things lessened my enjoyment of the story. I can't wait for the next book!

Content: Minor language. Some kissing.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Author Site / Amazon Link (Kindle price is only $2.99!)

2014 End of Year Book Survey

 

This survey was created by Jamie at The Perpetual Page Turner.

 

 

Number Of Books You Read: 147
Number of Re-Reads: 34
Genre You Read The Most From: YA and Christian Fiction

 

 

1. Best Book You Read In 2014?

(If you have to cheat — you can break it down by genre if you want or 2013 release vs. backlist)

 

Not counting rereads, I'd have to say The Bishop by Steven James.

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

Fault in Our Stars by John Green.

 

3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read in 2014? 

The Hollow Kingdom by Clare B. Dunkle. I did not expect to enjoy this children's book as much as I did, but the whole series blew me away!

 4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did) In 2014?

The Christy Miller books by Robin Jones Gunn.

 5. Best series you started in 2014? Best Sequel of 2014? Best Series Ender of 2014?

Best series started: The Patrick Bowers Files by Steven James. Best sequel: Outcasts by Jill Williamson. Best series ender: The Silver Siren by Chanda Hahn.

 6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2014?

Steven James. But since that's getting old, might as well throw in there Jill Williamson, Clare B. Dunkle, and Katherine Reay.

 

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

The Revised Life of Ellie Sweet by Stephanie Morrill. I don't read a lot of contemporary YA. It's usually fantasy, dystopian, etc. But I loved both of the Ellie Sweet books!

 

8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

The Pawn by Steven James or Skin by Ted Dekker.

 9. Book You Read In 2014 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers.

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2014?

Hearless by Anne Elizabeth Stengl.

11. Most memorable character of 2014?

Patrick Bowers from(what else?) the Patrick Bowers files by Steven James. Also, Hadassah(Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers).

 

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2014?

Couldn't say.

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2014?

The Bible, of course. Who do you take me for?

 14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2014 to finally read? 

Captives, by Jill Williamson. It was only released in 2013, but still.

 15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2014?

The Hollow Kingdom Trilogy was full of them.

 

 

“Forks are absurd, he scoffed. They insult your food. They make it think you're killing it twice.”  

 

“Kate had never in her life seen such frightful deformities, and the goblins had never seen such a hideous dress.”   

 

“Don't fret. We'll just have to find something else you're good at besides killing people.”    

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2013?

 Longest: Awakening Foster Kelly by Cara Rosalie Olsen(672 pages)

Shortest: Survival Lessons by Alice Hoffman(83 pages)

17. Book That Shocked You The Most

(Because of a plot twist, character death, left you hanging with your mouth wide open, etc.)

The Rook by Steven James

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)

(OTP = one true pairing if you aren’t familiar)

 

Thalia and Kael from The Iron Butterfly Series.

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

Sisters Gabi and Lia from River of Time Series

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2014 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

The Princess Spy by Melanie Dickerson.

21. Best Book You Read In 2014 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:

The Pawn by Steven James. Because I knew my dad liked it and Melanie raves about the series.

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2014?

*Sigh* Fine. Lord Greco from The River of Time Series.

23. Best 2014 debut you read?

Dear Mr. Knightley was Katherine Reay's debut novel.

24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

I don't know...maybe Heartless, by Anne Stengl?

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

In the Coils of the Snake by Clare B. Dunkle.

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2014?

I can't think of one.

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

Trail of Crosses by Jo Grafford.

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers.

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2014?

Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones.

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

Deluge by Lisa Bergren. I loved this book. I might  have thrown it against the wall. But I loved this book.

 

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2014? 

I don't think I can pick one, because pretty much ALL of the book blogs I discovered, I discovered this year.

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2014? 

My first review! Captives.

3. Best discussion/non-review post you had on your blog?

I really enjoyed coming up with this Top Ten Tuesday.

4. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?

 ?

5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2014?

That I actually started a blog.

7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?

By views: Unbound Hearts Book Blast

By comments: Mailbox Monday

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

Review - Trail of Crosses.

9. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

Discovering my own blog :) And others' blogs.

10.  Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?

I completed the Goodreads Challenge to read 100 books, a New Author to me Challenge, and a Library Book Challenge.

 

 

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2014 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2015?

 

The Knight by Steven James.

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2015 (non-debut)?

The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest by Melanie Dickerson.

3. 2015 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard.

 4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2015?

Sabotaged by Dani Pettrey.

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2015?

Really establish myself in the blogging community. And really just to enjoy myself. :)

6. A 2015 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone:

Haven't read any.