Top Ten Tuesday {17}: Books I Read In 2013

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It’s Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish! This week’s theme is…

Top Ten Books I Read In 2013

Okay, um, do you know how hard today’s Top Ten Tuesday topic is? IT FREAKING IS. I don’t even know how I’ll only fit 10 of my top reads of 2013. So… I cheated a little.

Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover Finding Cinderella by Colleen Hoover This Girl by Colleen Hoover

1. Losing Hope (Hopeless #2), Finding Cinderella (Hopeless #2.5), This Girl (Slammed #3) by Colleen Hoover
My reviews: Losing Hope | Finding Cinderella | This Girl

Colleen Hoover is literally my favorite author of all time, and with every single one of her books I end up loving with my whole heart!

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

2. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

The most adorable book I’ve ever read! E&P is and forever will be one of my all-time favorite books!

One Good Earl Deserves a Lover by Sarah MacLean No Good Duke Goes Unpunished by Sarah MacLean

3. One Good Earl Deserves a Lover (The Rules of Scoundrels #2), No Good Duke Goes Unpunished (#3) by Sarah MacLean
My reviews: One Good Earl Deserves a Lover | No Good Duke Goes Unpunished

This is the BEST historical romance series I’ve ever read! LOVE Cross and Temple!

Bully by Penelope Douglas Until You by Penelope Douglas

4. Bully (Fall Away #1), Until You (#1.5) by Penelope Douglas
My reviews: Bully | Until You

Two words: Jared. Trent. ❤

Wallbanger by Alice Clayton

5. Wallbanger (Cocktail #1) Alice Clayton

This is the funniest book I’ve ever read. Seriously, it made my sides hurt from laughing and giggling.

Addicted to You by Krista Ritchie & Becca Ritchie Ricochet by Krista Ritchie & Becca Ritchie Addicted for Now by Krista Ritchie & Becca Ritchie

6. Addicted to You (Addicted #1), Ricochet (#1.5), Addicted for Now (#2) by Krista & Becca Ritchie
My reviews: Addicted to You | Addicted for Now

So freaking ADDICTING!! And the characters are just too amazing. Love everything about this series!

Dare You To by Katie McGarry Crash Into You by Katie McGarry

7. Dare You To (Pushing the Limits #2), Crash Into You (#3) by Katie McGarry
My reviews: Dare You To | Crash Into You

My favorite YA contemporary romance series ever! You can’t go wrong with Katie McGarry

Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan Untold by Sarah Rees Brennan

8. Unspoken (The Lynburn Legacy #1), Untold (#2) by Sarah Rees Brennan

Hilarious and awesome and badass pretty much sums up this series and these characters.

The Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson

9. The Bitter Kingdom (Fire and Thorns #3) by Rae Carson
My Review

The most incredible conclusion to my favorite fantasy series ever.

Beautiful Stranger by Christina Lauren Beautiful Player by Christina Lauren

10. Beautiful Stranger (Beautiful Bastard #2), Beautiful Player (Beautiful Bastard #3) by Christina Lauren
My review: Beautiful Player

Ack, I just love Max and Will! Their stories are sooo good.

So what are your favorites of 2013?

lacey

Top Ten Tuesday {12}: Character Names I Love

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It’s Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish! This week’s theme is…

Top Ten Character Names I Love

One Good Earl Deserves a Lover by Sarah MacLean

1. CrossOne Good Earl Deserves a Lover (The Rules of Scoundrels #2) by Sarah MacLean

Pippa’s breath caught as the man emerged, tall and lanky and unshaven. He was in his shirtsleeves, cuffs rolled up, and her gaze flew to those long, lean forearms, where muscle curved and rippled over bone. Her mouth went dry. She’d never thought of the forearm as being particularly interesting, but then it was not every day that she saw such a fine specimen.

Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

2. Warner – Unravel Me (Shatter Me #2) by Tahereh Mafi (Psst, I love Warner’s first name too!)

He looks immaculate.
Flawless, especially as he stands here among the dirt and destruction, surrounded by the bleakest colors this landscape has to offer. He’s a vision of emerald and onyx, silhouetted in the sunlight in the most deceiving way. He could be glowing. That could be a halo around his head. This could be the world’s way of making an example out of irony. Because Warner is beautiful in ways even Adam isn’t.

Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover

3. Dean Holder – Losing Hope (Hopeless #2) by Colleen Hoover

But I’m not falling in love with her piece by piece anymore. I’m in love with the whole girl. Every single piece of her.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

4. Augustus Waters – The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

“It’s just that most really good-looking people are stupid, so I exceed expectations.’
‘Right, it’s primarily his hotness,’ I said.
‘It can be sort of blinding,’ he said.
‘It actually did blind our friend Isaac,’ I said.
‘Terrible tragedy, that. But can I help my own deadly beauty?’
‘You cannot.’
‘It is my burden, this beautiful face.’
‘Not to mention your body.’
‘Seriously, don’t even get me started on my hot bod. You don’t want to see me naked, Dave. Seeing me naked actually took Hazel Grace’s breath away,’ he said, nodding toward the oxygen tank.”

Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay

5. Josh BennettThe Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay

The world should be full of Josh Bennetts. But it’s not. I had the only one. And I threw him away.

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

6. Travis MaddoxBeautiful Disaster (Beautiful #2) by Jamie McGuire

“To douchebags!” he said, gesturing to Brad. “And to girls that break your heart,” he bowed his head to me. His eyes lost focus. “And to the absolute fucking horror of losing your best friend because you were stupid enough to fall in love with her.”

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

7. Étienne St. ClairAnna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

French name, English accent, American school. Anna confused.

Crash by Nicole Williams

8. Jude RyderCrash (Crash #1) by Nicole Williams

“The name’s Jude Ryder, since I know you’re all but salivating like a rabid dog to know, and I don’t do girlfriends, relationships, flowers or regular phone calls. If that works for you, I think we could work out something special.”

Divergent by Veronica Roth

9. FourDivergent (Divergent #1) by Veronica Roth

Who is he when he isn’t Dauntless, isn’t an instructor, isn’t Four, isn’t anything in particular?
Whoever he is, I like him. It’s easier to admit that to myself now, in the dark, after all that just happened. He is not sweet or gentle or particularly kind. But he is smart and brave, and even though he saved me, he treated me like I was strong. That is all I need to know.

Slammed by Colleen Hoover

10. Will CooperSlammed (Slammed #1) by Colleen Hoover

“So you keep your ocean, I’ll take the Lake.”

Yes, I KNOW these are all guy characters’ names, but I just can’t help loving them and their names! What are your favorite character names?

lacey

Top Ten Tuesday {11}: Best Sequels Ever

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It’s Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish! This week’s theme is…

Top Ten Best Sequels Ever

Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

1. Unravel Me (Shatter Me #2) by Tahereh Mafi

Prodigy by Marie Lu

2. Prodigy (Legend #2) by Marie Lu

Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover

3. Losing Hope (Hopeless #2) by Colleen Hoover

The Crown of Embers by Rae CarsonThe Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson

4. The Crown of Embers & The Bitter Kingdom (Fire and Thorns #2 & #3) by Rae Carson

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

5. Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices #3) by Cassandra Clare

We'll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han

6. We’ll Always Have Summer (Summer #3) by Jenny Han

Where She Went by Gayle Forman

7. Where She Went (If I Stay #2) by Gayle Forman

Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor

8. Days of Blood & Starlight (Daughter of Smoke & Bone #2) by Laini Taylor

The Vincent Boys by Abbi Glines

9. The Vincent Brothers (The Vincent Boys #2) by Abbi Glines

Deity by Jennifer L. Armentrout

10. Deity (Covenant #3) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

So what are your favorite sequels?

lacey

Review: Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover

Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover

Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover
Series: Hopeless #2 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: July 8th 2013
Purchase: Ebook • Paperback

In the follow-up to Colleen Hoover’s #1 New York Times bestseller Hopeless, the charming and irresistible Dean Holder tells the passionate story that has melted thousands of hearts.

In Hopeless, Sky left no secret unearthed, no feeling unshared, and no memory forgotten, but Holder’s past remained a mystery.

Still haunted by the little girl he let walk away, Holder has spent his entire life searching for her in an attempt to finally rid himself of the crushing guilt he has felt for years. But he could not have anticipated that the moment they reconnect, even greater remorse would overwhelm him…

Sometimes in life, if we wish to move forward, we must first dig deep into our past and make amends. In Losing Hope, bestselling author Colleen Hoover reveals what was going on inside Holder’s head during all those hopeless moments—and whether he can gain the peace he desperately needs.

Shit.

I… I am speechless.

Utterly floored.

I honestly cannot even begin to describe the emotions that I’m feeling right now after just finishing Losing Hope. So I’m just going to rant. And yeah, there’s gonna be some curse words in here. Cuz you just can’t rant without a little bad word here and there.

Let me just begin by saying I had every expectation of l o v i n g this book. I mean, duh, it’s Colleen Hoover! And to top it off with some sweet, sexy, 8-pack abs a cherry on top, it’s DEAN. HOLDER. Like, SA-WOON.

Dean Holder. I like, live, love this boy. This boy and his book stole a precious piece of my heart. And I’m like, you can have it. You can totally have it. JUST TAKE IT ALL OKAY? This books is filled with emotions and I felt every. single. one. Colleen Hoover, I applaud you. Absolutely bow down to you. Because you’ve done it again. You made me feel so damn much, I felt my heart was breaking a thousand times, only to have it stitched back together by your incredible words and the amount of heart and love in this beautiful book. But still. What the hell, Colleen Hoover? Are you trying to kill me over here? It wasn’t enough that with Hopeless, you broke my heart into pieces, but you had to have the nerve to write Losing Hope and rip my heart to shreds? Thanks. Thanks a lot. No, I mean it. Thank you.

Thank you for writing the most beautiful, incredible, emotional, raw, heartfelt book I’ve ever read.

What’s especially different with Losing Hope, besides the fact that it’s Hopeless from Holder’s POV, is that it’s not just everything from Hopeless. Interspersed throughout the chapters are journal entries that Holder writes to Les. We get to feel how sad and devastated and shattered Holder is from Les’s death, but we also feel how crushed and hurt and angry he is at her suicide. We get to see the events prior to the beginning of Hopeless, starting with Les’s suicide. But not everything’s depressing in Losing Hope, thank god, because we get to see how Holder slowly heals from his sister’s death with the help of Sky and his love for her. And we finally get a glimpse of the happily ever after for Holder and Sky.

Reading how Holder falls in love with Sky is just the b e s t. It was written so incredibly, I felt like I was falling a bit in love with Sky too LOL.

My all time favorite quote in the whole wide world:

“Fuck all the firsts, Sky. The only thing that matters to me with you are the forevers.”

I cried. I cried so. damn. much. It was like waterworks. And it all happened towards the end of the book. The Letter. The Favor. And The Final Chapter. Those 3 parts made me bawl and sob and wail and flail and made me look like a freaking lunatic with my nasty, red, tear-stained face. With The Letter, Holder is finally, finally absolved of all his guilt, but there’s still all this overwhelming sadness. I was only tearing up while reading The Letter, especially at the very end, and I never expected to actually cry. But then. Dean Holder. He started crying and it was just a domino effect. I started crying so, so much, tears pouring down my face because of part with The Letter, because of the whole book, but mostly for Dean Holder. This boy has been through so fucking butterflying much and it’s just like, is it finally going to end for him? Is he finally going to be able to be free of his past and his guilt? I just wanted to pick Holder out of the book, give him a huge hug, and hold him forever and forever. Of course, he wouldn’t let me, because he’s a total bamf. The sweetest bamf, still, mind you.

And oh my god, The Favor. Let me tell you, the moment he asked Sky to do him a favor, I knew, I knew exactly what the favor was going to be. It just popped right into my head. And when he said it, I started bawling and tears were just streaming down my face.

There were happy tears, but there were sad ones as well. Because how could you possibly not be saddened by a story like this? Yes, I’m happy it was a happy ending, I’m happy they survived, I’m happy they’re together and have each other. But still. As much as I loved Hopeless and Losing Hope, the subject of these books are pretty horrifying. All I can say is that if you have ever been through anything like what Sky has been through, or any trauma at all, then I hope that you have your very own Dean Holder or at least someone very much like him to be with you.

I honestly can’t say whether I loved Hopeless or Losing Hope more. But I can say that Losing Hope completely captured my heart. You should definitely read Hopeless before tackling on Losing Hope though. But I promise that you will not regret reading either of these stories.

6 BEAUTIFUL FARKING HEARTS
6-hearts

lacey

Reading Order: Hopeless series

Hopeless by Colleen Hoover Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover Finding Cinderella by Colleen Hoover

#1 ~ Hopeless: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ Losing Hope: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2.5 ~ Finding Cinderella: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads

Cover Reveal: Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover

Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover
Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover
Series: Hopeless #2
Publication Date: July 9th 2013
Add to Goodreads

In the follow-up to Colleen Hoover’s #1 New York Times bestseller Hopeless, the charming and irresistible Dean Holder tells the passionate story that has melted thousands of hearts.

In Hopeless, Sky left no secret unearthed, no feeling unshared, and no memory forgotten, but Holder’s past remained a mystery.

Still haunted by the little girl he let walk away, Holder has spent his entire life searching for her in an attempt to finally rid himself of the crushing guilt he has felt for years. But he could not have anticipated that the moment they reconnect, even greater remorse would overwhelm him…

Sometimes in life, if we wish to move forward, we must first dig deep into our past and make amends. In Losing Hope, bestselling author Colleen Hoover reveals what was going on inside Holder’s head during all those hopeless moments—and whether he can gain the peace he desperately needs.

Oh.
My.
God.
AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

I am SO crazy excited to read Losing Hope now. I NEED MORE DEAN HOLDER!!! Sigh. Colleen Hoover’s going to break my heart all over again. I just know it. (OMG which reminds me: look out for our review of THIS GIRL soon!)

And even though the guy on the cover doesn’t really match my version of Holder, I’m still a big fan of the cover. I love that it matches with Hopeless’s cover, which is so darn cute! (Even though the book is anything but cute.)

Lookie lookie! Side-by-side!

Hopeless by Colleen HooverLosing Hope by Colleen Hoover

And, ahem… well, on Pinterest, there are some REALLY nice pictures of this guy who I think makes a GREAT Holder.

Like, HOLY COW. (Look at them abs!!!)
Holder 2

I can TOTALLY imagine Holder going out running in this same outfit.
Yes, I know I am weird okay? Gosh.

Aaannd maybe just one more pic….
Holder 1
(Abs!!! More abs!! And that ARM)
Okay. I’m done now.

And if you HAVEN’T read Hopeless yet *narrows my eyes at you* then what are you waiting for?

Go check out Colleen’s blog for more info on the cover!
http://colleenhoover.com/2013/05/11/cover-reveal-for-losing-hope-and-a-giveaway/

Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover

lacey