Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten 2015 Releases I Meant To Get To But Didn’t

Posted in Book memes, For the love of books, Top Ten Tuesday by rebeccabook17

toptentuesday2

Top Ten Tuesday is a book meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Every Tuesday there is a different bookish topic and bloggers are asked to post their own top ten list based on the topic. This week is a listing of the Top Ten 2015 Releases I Meant To Get To But Didn’t. Due to my discovery of NetGalley this past year and all the requests I got from authors/publishers, I ended up not being able to read as many of my own picks as I had expected. I have a number of authors that I always read their new releases and I missed a bunch of them this past year but I’m hoping to catch up in 2016!! Below is a list of 2015 new releases that I meant to read but ran out of time!

In no particular order:

Dangerous Deception by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Stolen Mackenzie Bride by Jennifer Ashley
If You Only Knew by Kristan Higgins
Stars of Fortune by Nora Roberts
Undead and Unforgiven by Mary Janice Davidson
Siren’s Call by Jayne Castle
The Highlander Takes a Bride by Lynsay Sands
Secret Sisters by Jayne Ann Krentz
Sweetest Scoundrel by Elizabeth Hoyt
Anything For You by Kristan Higgins

So what about all of you? Any 2015 releases that you were really looking forward to that you didn’t get a chance to read?

4Aug2015

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Fairytale Retellings I’ve Read/Want To Read

Posted in Book memes, For the love of books, Top Ten Tuesday by rebeccabook17

Top Ten Tuesday is a book meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Every Tuesday there is a different bookish topic and bloggers are asked to post their own top ten list based on the topic. This week is a listing of the Top Ten Fairytale Retellings I’ve Read/Want to Read. I’ve always loved fairy tales (Cinderella was my favorite movie growing up) and I really enjoy some of the fairy tale retellings that have been published. It is a fun, usually adult spin on a childhood dream. So below are some of my favorites I have read and ones I definitely want to read:

1. Fairy Tales series by Eloisa James

I have to say this is a great series of fairy tale retellings, especially if you like historical romance novels. I really liked the series.

2. The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh
I LOVED THIS BOOK! Great read and I definitely recommend. Can’t wait for #2 in the series to come out next year!

3. Atlantis Rising by Gloria Craw
I’m not sure if Atlantis really counts as “fairy tales” but if we’re going to liberally use the term then I guess it counts. I read this book recently and really enjoyed it!

WANT TO READ

1. Lunar Chronicles series by Marissa Meyer

I’ve heard a lot of good things about this series and I currently own the first and third book. I can’t wait to dive in, just have to find time to fit them in! As a side note, the last picture (Winter) is being released this fall.

2. Wicked series by Gregory Maguire

I own the first book in this series, I had started it a long time ago and never finished it (like 8 years ago at least, maybe more). I am a massively huge fan of the musical that was inspired/based on the first book though and I recently discovered that it became a series so I am looking forward to reading all 4 of these books. Gregory Maguire also has some other fairy tale retellings I would like to check out, including Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister and After Alice.

Any suggestions?

So that’s mostly it! There are just so many options for fairy-tale retellings that it is hard to narrow it down. One thing I realized while compiling this list is that I haven’t really ever seen a good retelling of The Little Mermaid. Does anyone have any suggestions for books like that? I would love to hear about them! Also let me know if you think I’ve missed any really great fairytale retellings. This is one of my favorite genres so I would love to add some of these to my TBR list!

Happy reading!

13Jul2015

Top Ten Tuesday: Last Ten Books That Came Into My Possession

Posted in Book memes, For the love of books, Top Ten Tuesday by rebeccabook17

Top Ten Tuesday is a book meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Every Tuesday there is a different bookish topic and bloggers are asked to post their own top ten list based on the topic. This week is a listing of the Last Ten Books That Came Into My Possession. I have been pretty active in both requesting e-galleys, accepting donations from family and friends, and at my local library so I am going to try and piece this together the best I can.

From Net Galley:

I’m actually pretty excited because all 3 of these were books that I wanted to read and I was able to get all of them on Net Galley for free! I have only recently discovered the greatness that is Net Galley and I am looking forward to using it much more in the future.
1. The Coincidence of Coconut Cake by Amy E. Reichert
2. A Window Opens by Elisabeth Egan
3. Awake by Natasha Preston

From my Gram:

This past weekend I visited my Grandma and Grandpa down in Pennsylvania. My Grandma is a part of a book club down there and every so often when I visit she lets me take some books from her leftovers (which I LOVE). So this past weekend I brought 4 books home with me that I haven’t read before and all of them look really interest and I can’t wait to read them!
4. Long Time Gone by Karen White
5. Matters of Faith by Kristy Kiernan
6. The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
7. The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown

From Publishers:

This is the first print ARC copy I’ve ever received. I’m pretty excited about it.
8. Stove-Junker by S.K. Kalsi

Gifted from Mom’s kindle:

After all the Net Galley activity, I’ve gotten tired of using the kindle app on my phone. My mom had an older kindle that she hasn’t been using since she has both a Paper white and a Kindle Fire. When she gave me her Kindle there were a few books on it from her account and I was able to keep these two. I am trying to read more classics this year so I’m glad these are now available to me!
9. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
10. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

SO! That’s my listing of books I’ve most recently received. What books have you gotten lately?

19Jun2015

Friday Finds (June 19)

Posted in Book memes, Friday Finds by rebeccabook17

FRIDAY FINDS is hosted by A Daily Rhythm and showcases the books you ‘found’ and added to your To Be Read (TBR) list. Whether you found them online, or in a bookstore, or in the library — wherever! (they aren’t necessarily books you purchased).

My finds this week include a historical fiction, a mystery/thriller, a fiction, a fantasy, and a chick-lit:

1. Naked by Eliza Regold

This book is a retelling of the story of Lady Godiva, who legend tells us rode naked through the streets on horseback. It sounded super interesting and I am looking forward to reading it!

2. The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens

This book is about a young man that is chronicling the life of a convicted murder as an English writing assignment. Along the way he gets involved in the truth behind what really happened. The story line sounds very interesting.

3. Love and Miss Communication by Elyssa Friedland

This book is about finding love in this over-technological word. I often find that a lot of our lives end up being taken over by technology and I think that this book about stepping back from the smart phone is a great idea for a book.

4. Uprooted by Naomi Novik

I’ve been really into the fairy-tale retelling type books lately and this book just sounds like its going to be right up my alley. A wizard dragon who gets a new slave girl every ten years? Yes. I’m on this boat.

5. The Cake Therapist by Judith Fertig
This is about a woman who can “taste” the feelings in her cakes, and she creates custom cakes for each person based on what they need. The description of this book reminded me a lot of The Glass Kitchen by Linda Francis Lee (I can’t say if it is going to be similar but it sounds like it will) and I very much enjoyed that book so I am definitely going to read this one.

So those are my finds this week! Please feel free to share your finds or leave a link to your own “Friday Finds” blog posting below! Happy Friday!

21Apr2015

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Favorite Authors

Posted in Book memes, For the love of books, Top Ten Tuesday by rebeccabook17

Top Ten Tuesday is a book meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Every Tuesday there is a different bookish topic and bloggers are asked to post their own top ten list based on the topic. This week is a listing of the Top Ten All Time Favorite Authors. My favorite authors can fluctuate every so often but below I’ve put together a listing of my 5 all-time favorite authors , 3 authors that I’ve discovered in the last year or so that I’m in love with, and 2 authors of which I read their debut novels and absolutely loved them.

All-time favorite authors:

1. Linda Howard – I’ve loved most of her novels, especially Mr. Perfect and Now You See Her
2. Kristan Higgins – Just love entirely. There are no other words.
3. Meg Cabot – I love her adult series, they’re funny and witty and sweet
4. MaryJanice Davidson – Every book I’ve read of hers is funny. Every one.

Recently added favorite authors:

5. Emily Giffin – Loved her Something Borrowed and Something Blue
6. Eloisa James – LOVE the Fairy Tale series
7. Sandra Brown – I always end up on the edge of my seat with her books

Favorite Debut authors I read in the last year and LOVED:

8. Susan Rieger – Last year I read The Divorce Papers and I devoured it, it was amazing!
9. Cynthia Swanson – Read The Bookseller and loved it
10. Kristen Harnisch – Recently read The Vintner’s Daughter and it was great!

So! That’s my list! What about you all, who are your favorite authors?

13Mar2015

Friday Finds (March 13)

Posted in Book memes, For the love of books, Friday Finds by rebeccabook17

My finds this week include a memoir, a YA thriller, and of course a romance:

1. He Wanted the Moon: The Madness and Medical Genius of Dr. Perry Baird, and His Daughter’s Quest to Know Him by Mimi Baird and Eve Claxton

This book looks at a man’s life in dealing with manic depression and how it affected the daughter who was forever apart from him. I think that this will be a very interesting book, and there are a lot of “good” things being said about it by numerous sources, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Boston Globe. When I say good I don’t mean happy, skip down the lane holding hands good. This is quoted as being a “disturbing and profoundly moving book” and while I’m sure it will be heart-wrenching, I think it will be a thought-provoking read.

2. The Memory Key by Liana Liu

I think this sounds like its going to be a great book. At some point in the future, there is a viral form of Alzheimer’s that ravages the nation so everyone is issued “memory chips” that are installed in their brains to help them hold onto memories. The heroine’s memory chip gets damaged, so then she starts remembering odd things, but who can tell if they’re real memories or just products of a damaged memory chip? We will find out! (Hopefully)

3. The One That Got Away by Bethany Chase

This is Chase’s debut novel. Amazon compares her writing to that of Emily Giffin, who I’ve fallen in love with this year. I’m excited to give this one a try.

So those are my finds this week! Please feel free to share your finds or leave a link to your own “Friday Finds” blog posting below! Happy Friday!

23Jan2015

Friday Finds (Jan 23)

Posted in Book memes, For the love of books, Friday Finds by rebeccabook17

FRIDAY FINDS is hosted by Should Be Reading and showcases the books you ‘found’ and added to your To Be Read (TBR) list. Whether you found them online, or in a bookstore, or in the library — wherever! (they aren’t necessarily books you purchased).

My finds this week include an upcoming YA release, a gothic mystery / romance and of course a romance:

1. The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

First of all, sick cover. The cover alone would probably make me want to pick up this book. Plus the synopsis of the story sounds really interesting as well. And finally, it is described as being a cross between The Selection (which is very high on my TBR list, I’ve been dying to read this series for awhile) and Graceling (which I hadn’t heard of before but sounds really interesting).

2. Miramont’s Ghost by Elizabeth Hall

Said to be reminiscent of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, this book is described as a dark and thrilling ghost story. I discovered it in an email that Amazon sent me with a listing of popular romance novels, so I’m not sure exactly where the romance will be in this ghost story but I guess we’ll find out! Some of the reader comments look a little dark (and slightly unnerving) so I have to say I don’t think this book will be good for the faint-hearted. I thought it looked interesting though!

3. You’re So Fine by Kieran Kramer

I heard a lot of good things about Kieran Kramer’s March 2014 release Sweet Talk Me. Though I haven’t had a chance to read it yet, it is also on my TBR list. You’re So Fine also looks like a sweet story and a fun read. Might save this one for a beach read for this summer since the cover is.. well a beach 🙂

So those are my finds this week! Please feel free to share your finds or leave a link to your own “Friday Finds” blog posting below! Happy Friday!

9Jan2015

Friday Finds (Jan. 9)

Posted in Book memes, For the love of books, Friday Finds by rebeccabook17

FRIDAY FINDS is hosted by shouldbereading and showcases the books you ‘found’ and added to your To Be Read (TBR) list. Whether you found them online, or in a bookstore, or in the library — wherever! (they aren’t necessarily books you purchased).

My finds this week include an upcoming YA release, a thriller, a memoir and of course a romance:

1. The Conspiracy of Us by Maggie Hall

First off I just love this cover. Second, I love the book description. It sounds awesome. Rich girl is the key to an ancient prophecy and people are trying to kill her so she can’t fulfill her destiny? Sounds great to me!

2. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

I saw this book in the January edition of the BookPage newsletter and it was described as being “the next Gone Girl.” And I loved the Gone Girl novel so I read further into the article about “The Girl on the Train” and it sounds fascinating to me. A drunk jobless woman rides a train everyday and makes up stories about the people she sees as the train zips by. It even mentioned in the interview with Hawkins that there has been a discussion with DreamWorks but no definite plans have been made yet.

3. It Was Me All Along: A Memoir by Andie Mitchell

This is another book that I saw in this month’s BookPage newsletter. This book about a woman’s lifelong struggle with weight and food. While I try not to consider myself fat, I can relate to seeking comfort in food. I have struggled a lot with my weight the past few years and I am really excited to read about this woman’s journey to being more healthy and learning to love every part of herself.

4. The Loving Daylights by Lynsay Sands