Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Think Would Make Great Book Club Picks

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

It would be awesome to be a part of a real life book club! I have so many books I would love to discuss with everyone! Here's my Top Ten!

1. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
Slash the whole TMI series. This book has caused a lot of debate and would be so fun to discuss with others. I was so mad at the end of this book I threw it at the wall! It would have made a wonderful discussion for a book club.

2. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendra Blake
This book was so creepy and the love story between Anna and Cas was completely unique. I just had a lot to say about this book and would have loved to see what others had to say.

3. Atonement by Ian McEwan
This book was so sad and made me so mad! Some of the parts in this book were hard to stomach. Definitely would cause some great discussions.

4. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
A book about a girl who killed herself, who sent around 13 tapes to people in her life, telling them the part they played in her suicide. A huge tearjerker that is definitely going to have a huge impact on people. It would be great to discuss with people.

5. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
This book was awesome. So I want other people to enjoy the awesomeness that was this book. And talk about it with me. And fall in the with Dimitri with me.

6. Going Bovine by Libba Bray
This book was just so... confusing! And sad. It would be great to see what other people thought.

7. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkins
Do I even need to justify this? Trying to figure what was real and what was fake was enough to spin your head. Getting to discuss it with someone along the way would have awesome. And Noah. Noahhhhhh. Just. So. Amazing.

8. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Again. No need to explain. AMAZING BOOK THAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO READ AND TALK ABOUT AND LOVE.

Ahem.

9. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
If you've read this book, you know why I picked this. It's about a young boy whose father died on 9/11. It's a really tough topic and it would be hard to talk about. Which is exactly why it would be great to discuss at a book club.

10. Still Missing by Chevy Stevens
This book takes place between a woman and her therapist after she escapes the man who kidnapped her. It was heart breaking and disturbing and I couldn't put it down.We read this in my online book club and all of us were just shell shocked. It was amazing.

Alright there's my top ten. What's yours?

Daily Dose (3)

Hosted by Good Golly Miss Holly

In My Mailbox 11

Hosted by The Story Siren

Far too lazy to link everything up. I'll do it later.

What's in your mailbox?

Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann

The community of Cryer’s Cross, Montana (population 212) is distraught when high school freshman Tiffany disappears without a trace. Already off-balance due to her OCD, 16-year-old Kendall is freaked out seeing Tiffany’s empty desk in the one-room school house, but somehow life goes on... until Kendall's boyfriend Nico also disappears, and also without a trace. Now the town is in a panic. Alone in her depression and with her OCD at an all-time high, Kendall notices something that connects Nico and Tiffany: they both sat at the same desk. She knows it's crazy, but Kendall finds herself drawn to the desk, dreaming of Nico and wondering if maybe she, too, will disappear...and whether that would be so bad. Then she begins receiving graffiti messages on the desk from someone who can only be Nico. Can he possibly be alive somewhere? Where is he? And how can Kendall help him? The only person who believes her is Jacian, the new guy she finds irritating...and attractive. As Kendall and Jacian grow closer, Kendall digs deeper into Nico's mysterious disappearance only to stumble upon some ugly—and deadly—local history. Kendall is about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried.

Summary taken from Goodreads

I loved this story. It was a super unique idea and I don't think anyone but McMann could have played it off. Her writing style is fantastic. She has such a lyrical style that flows so beautifully. The imaginary is so vivid. I think she could an idea that could have been laughable by other authors and turned it into something great.

Kendall was a unique main character, to say the least. She has extreme OCD that effected every area of her life. And she just accepted it as part of herself and was coping with it. I've had no personal experience with OCD but it sounds terrible. Kendall was an extremely strong person for living with it like she was.  

I wish we could have seen more of her and her best friend slash boyfriend's relationship. It was clear he was wonderful to her and they loved each other very much. It sucked that he went missing so quickly before we could really get to know him. Kendall's reaction when he went missing broke my heart so much. I couldn't imagine losing my best friend, but not knowing if he was alive or dead?  That would be a million times worse.


Her and Jacian's relationship was so wonderful. You could tell it was hard for Kendall to let him in, but she was trying so hard. I thought it was so cute and genuine. Jacian was kind of a jerk when he first entered, but once he let his guard down I couldn't get enough of him.

I can't really say much about the missing kids or the desk, because it's all too spoilery. But I will tell you I've never read anything like it. I loved how it all came together. All in all, what a wonderful book! 

The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa

Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey—ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her.
Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's stuck in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart

 Summary taken from Goodreads 




This is the second in the Iron Fey series, and I think it was an improvement over the first.

War is breaking out between Summer and Winter courts. The Specter of the Summers, which has been passed between the courts for centuries to make the passing of the seasons, has been stolen from the Winter court. Of course, they blame Summer, especially after the murder of one of their Royals. Only Ash and and Meghan know the truth, that the Iron Fey is behind it all. And after a betrayal by one of Winter's own, no one will believe them. So now Ash and Meghan are on the run from their courts, risking their lives to steal the Specter back from the Iron Fey.

The action in this just doesn't stop. There is battle after battle, each unique and terrifying.

There was only one thing that really started to get on my nerves. Meghan jerking Puck around. Kissing him, then pushing him away saying she has feelings for Ash. It's clear the entire time that Ash and Meghan are in love and no matter what they say they aren't over each other. But she wouldn't just let Puck go. It pissed me off. Puck is my favorite character and he deserved so much better than the way Meghan treated him in this book.

Meghan and Ash are the epitome of star crossed lovers and I'm rooting for them! They make each other better and they are a great couple.

The ending made me very curious of how this books are going to progress and I can't wait to find out!

Clarity by Kim Harrington

When you can see things others can't, where do you look for the truth?
This paranormal murder mystery will have teens reading on the edge of their seats.
Clarity "Clare" Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch a certain object, and the visions come to her. It's a gift.
And a curse.
When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare's ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case - but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare's brother - who has supernatural gifts of his own - becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most?

Summary taken from Goodreads. 


Clarity was awesome! I couldn't put it down! Seriously! I read it from start to finish in one sitting. Totally loved it. 

It was awesome to read about a family of psychics all working together to run a business. And to see how Clare defended her brother no matter what. The family loyatly in this was astounding and I found myself feeling a bit jealous of it every now and then.

The murder mystery aspect was done so well. It kept me guess the whole time. Every time I thought I figured out whodunnit, Harrington threw me another curve ball. Usually, I'm pretty good at figuring out the mysteries. I wasn't even close this time. I loved every minute of it!

I also enjoy the romance aspect greatly. Clare's relationship with her ex, Justin, was very confusing and messy and that made it all the more real. He hurt her very badly, but she was trying to forgive him though she didn't know how. Something I can completely relate too.


Then enters the new hottie, Gabriel. He was completely steamy and I was drawn to him from the get go, just like Clare. I lived for the scenes he was in, even when he was kind of a great. But with his past, who could blame him...


Clarity was a five star read. If for any reason you've been putting off reading it like I did. Stop it. Read it. Now.

Waiting on Wednesday (5)

Hosted by Breaking the Spine

Ritually murdered corpses are appearing across Cincinnati, terrifying amalgams of human and other. Pulled in to help investigate by the FIB, former witch turned day-walking demon Rachel Morgan soon realizes a horrifying truth — a would-be creator is determined to make his (or her) own demons. But it can’t be done without Rachel’s blood.

As a bounty hunter, Rachel has battled vampires, witches, werewolves, demons, and more. But humanity itself might be her toughest challenge.

This is the first adult one I've ever done for WoW. But seriously, you should all read this series. Kim Harrison is an amazing author and I love this series so, so much! Cannot wait for this one!

Top Ten Tuesday: Freebie

Hosted by the Broke and the Bookish

For this Top Ten Tuesday, we could pick anything we wanted. I decided to look at past topics that I missed, and I chose Top Ten Books That Their Covers Made You Buy (Slash Read) Them. I'm not going to leave any description for the ones I chose, so you get the full effect. Would you buy any of these based on just their covers?

So that's my choice for anything goes Top Ten Tuesdays. What's yours?

Daily Dose (2)

Hosted by Good Golly Miss Holly

In My Mailbox no. 10

Hosted by the Story Siren

Pale Demon by Kim Harrison

Yep that's really it. What about you?

Halfings by Heather Burch

After being inexplicably targeted by an evil intent on harming her at any cost, seventeen-year-old Nikki finds herself under the watchful guardianship of three mysterious young men who call themselves halflings. Sworn to defend her, misfits Mace, Raven, and Vine battle to keep Nikki safe while hiding their deepest secret—and the wings that come with.

A growing attraction between Nikki and two of her protectors presents a whole other danger. While she risks a broken heart, Mace and Raven could lose everything, including their souls. As the mysteries behind the boys’ powers, as well as her role in a scientist’s dark plan, unfold, Nikki is faced with choices that will affect the future of an entire race of heavenly beings, as well as the precarious equilibrium of the earthly world.

Summary taken from Goodreads. 


This book was not for me. I didn't enjoy it.


Nikki was so inconsistent. As where all of the characters. I couldn't connect with any of them, or even really get a feel for who they were. Just for one example, Nikki was supposed to be a black belt. One of the Halflings, Raven, wanted to show her how to fight beings with supernatural abilities. So he went to attack her, and she cringed away and didn't even try to defend herself. That stopped me cold. I just didn't buy it at all.


The insta-love between her and Mace (and her and Raven) really bothered me as well. Both boys wanted her, but I couldn't tell you why. And I don't think they could either. 


Then there was the ending, which was so abrupt and out of nowhere that I thought maybe my Kindle had loaded the book wrong. Nope. It was really the ending. It didn't answer any of the questions that the whole book was about. It just didn't make sense to me.


I hate writing negative reviews. They make me feel so bad! But I just couldn't find anything in this book I enjoyed. I could go on, but I'll leave it at this. This just wasn't the book for me. 




Also, this is my first Debut Author Challenge book! For more on this challenge, check out The Story Siren's blog

Away by Terri Hall

After crossing the Line, Rachel finds herself in a world where survival is never guaranteed - a world where bizarre creatures roam the woods and people have strange abilities. Everything has gone to ruin Away and the survivors have banded into warring clans. Rachel finds her father being held prisoner by a tribe of Others, and she and her new friends set out to rescue him. But when they cross back over the Line, Rachel and Pathik make a foolish decision, bringing them into further danger that can only be resolved with an unthinkable sacrifice.

An adventure filled with life-and-death choices, dark conspiracies, and heart-poundingly suspenseful moments, this sequel delivers.

 

Summary taken from Goodreads.  

 

Away was a vast improvement over the Line. The pacing was much better. I think the Line just had too much back story, but once that was out of the way, Away was really able to shine. 

 

This book was one rescue mission after another, but somehow managed to not feel forced. the reunions in it were touching and heartfelt. The separations were painful and heart wrenching. I cried a few times for very different reasons.  There was a few bits that were a little repetitive (like the rescue mission and one line was actually repeated word for word). That was my only real complaint.

The government in this is just plain scary. The things they do to people, they just disappear off the street and no one even blinks. And can't forget what they did to the people in the Away. They abandoned them and now are stealing them to experiment on them. It's just terrifying. And totally plausible, which makes it that much more terrifying. 

Pathik and his family are my favorite. Their life in Away is so much different than anything we have ever known, and hopefully ever will.

I hope we haven't seen the last of this world. There's so much more to be had here!

Heist Society by Ally Carter

When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her on a trip to the Louvre…to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria…to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own—scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving “the life” for a normal life proves harder than she’d expected.

Soon, Kat's friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring Kat back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has a good reason: a powerful mobster has been robbed of his priceless art collection and wants to retrieve it. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat's father isn't just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat’s dad needs her help.

For Kat, there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it's a spectacularly impossible job? She's got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in her family's history--and, with any luck, steal her life back along the way.

Summary taken from Goodreads. 


I really enjoyed Carter's first book in this series. While her Gallagher Girls series is really fun, Heist Society had a little bit more serious attitude to it. But not too serious. Just a little more... grown up.


Kat was a very interesting main character. She was torn between family obligation and wanting a life of her own, something I'm sure everyone has struggled with. But as soon as she knew her father was in danger and need her help, she dropped everything without a second thought. That more than anything made me like her.


Kat's relationship with Hale me nuts! I just wanted them to hook up so badly! It's clear that there's something between them, but for whatever reason them wouldn't act on it. Grr...


I loved reading about a teenage thief, knowing no other life than that. I loved learning about her family history and I can't wait to read Uncommon Criminals.

Waiting on Wednesday (4)

Hosted by Breaking the Spine

Eight years after Graceling, Bitterblue is now queen of Monsea. But the influence of her father, a violent psychopath with mind-altering abilities, lives on. Her advisors, who have run things since Leck died, believe in a forward-thinking plan: Pardon all who committed terrible acts under Leck’s reign, and forget anything bad ever happened. But when Bitterblue begins sneaking outside the castle—disguised and alone—to walk the streets of her own city, she starts realizing that the kingdom has been under the thirty-five-year spell of a madman, and the only way to move forward is to revisit the past. Two thieves, who only steal what has already been stolen, change her life forever. They hold a key to the truth of Leck’s reign. And one of them, with an extreme skill called a Grace that he hasn’t yet identified, holds a key to her heart.

 Ahhh! Bitterblue! Finally! I am so excited for this to come out! Graceling was so amazing and I can't wait to escape back into this world. Fire fell a little short for me but I still hold high hopes for Bitterblue.

So what are you waiting for?  

Top Ten Tuesdays: Books I'd Recommend To Someone Who Doesn't Read Vampire Books.

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

I have some serious issues with a certain vampire book that shall remain namless that turned a lot of people against vampire novels of all kinds. This is my list to show they're still great vampire novels out there everyone should read!

1. Guilty Pleasure (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #1)
I discovered this series when I was about fourteen. Now for those of you who have read these, you know I was probably too young to be reading them. But I don't regret it for a minute. This book is what turned me on to vampires. Some were frightening beyond belief and others were incredibly sexy. Most of them were both. I still love this series so much. Book twenty just came out last year. If you haven't read them. PLEASE DO! See what real vampires look like!!

2. Dead Witch Waking (The Hollows #1)
Rachel Morgan is a kick ass witch, with a living vampire as her partner. This world takes vampires to a whole different level. Living vampires still retain most of their human qualities, but when they vamp out, it's scary as hell. And the undead vampires have no human emotion left at all. Another great vampire novel.

3. A Girl's Guide to Vampires (Dark Ones #1)
Like your vampires with a little bit more a romantic side? That's just fine. I do too! I'd recommend MacAlister's series. She makes vampires seem like plausible romantic interest without taking away from what they really are.

4. Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy #1)
This series had three different types of vampire and two of them weren't blood thirsty killers. That may turn some people off, but the world is so well constructed that I didn't doubt it for a second. And that's all it really takes when you want to take something classic like vampires and change them. Just do it well. Don't leave gaping plot holes. And there are none to be found in the VA series.

5. Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress #1)
Bones! Bones is one of the best written male vampire love interest that I have ever read. And Cat is half vampire, half human, and totally awesome!

6. The Passage (The Passage #1)
Woah didn't know this was supposed to be a series! Sweet! *Ahem* Anyways. Vampires as a plague created by the government. A plague that wipes out most of the world. How freaking awesome is that? Trust me, no lovey-dovey vampires here. No sir. 

7.  If Angel's Burn (Darkyn  #1)
This is a series that shows the softer side of vampires, but still in a believe way.

8. City of Bones (Mortal Instrustments #1)
Okay. Not a vampire novel. But has vampires in it. Vampires that kill and feed off humans if they are not watched very closely. Vampires who turn unwillingly humans into vampires. Vampires who creeped the hell out of me (one vampire excluded). 

9. Dying Bites (The Bloodhound Files #1)
In this world, humans are pretty much extinct. Vampires and werewolves run the world. The main character even works for a vampire and is hired to solve the murder of werewolves and vampires. I remember still being scared of Jace's boss, even though vampires were an everyday thing in her world. He would go from professional boss, to vamping out in a big way. It was awesome!

10. Magic Bites (Kate Daniels #1)
The vampires in this are freaky. People sign up to become one. There's a waiting list. But when they become one, then person they once were is dead. They retain no higher brain power. Instead, they are piloted by very old and powerful vampires. It's hard to explain, but it was a completely new take on vampires for me and I ate it up. Another fantastic book with vampires!


So there you have it. Ten kick ass vampire novels. Some where vampires are scary beyond belief and some where they are believable love interests. If you've been turned off by vampires lately, turn any of these and I promise it will cure you of it!

What's your Top Ten this week?


P.s. Yes I left Dracula off the list. Yes I did this on purpose. Everyone knows Dracula is the original vampire. I wanted to a list with books that people may not have heard of.