Books of 2014

Number Of Books You Read: 75

Number of Re-Reads: Oh boy i did a fair bit of rereading last year, 17 i did 17 rereads last year.. is that bad? 

Genre You Read The Most From: No idea if  I'm honest, so I'll be vague and say 'YA' haha. 

1. Best Book You Read In 2014?  Oh boy this is a tough one! Buttttt... Throne of Glass

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t? 
The Will  by Kristen Ashley

3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read in 2014? Cinder by Marissa Meyer, Sci-Fi Cinderella, no was in hell was i gonna touch that. I'm a bit iffy when it comes to Sci-Fi but adore fairytale re-tellings  so i took the chance and i loved it!

4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did) In 2014? No idea i recommend alot of books, but i got a guy at work and his family into the  Vampire Academy  by Richelle Mead so we'll go with that.. 

5. Best series you started in 2014? Best Sequel of 2014? Best Series Ender of 2014? The  Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas, i also got to meet her this year which was seriously freakin' cool!

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2014? Maria V.Snyder I read her Healer/ Avry of Kazan  series ths year and adored it, it's one of the best series I've ever read and i now own all of her books. 

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone? I didn't really go out of my comfort zone this year if I'm honest.

8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year? There were a few books like these so here's the top three.. Throne of Glass, Cinder aaaaaand Divergent. 

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

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


11. Most memorable character of 2014? Celaena Sardothien, if you don't already know, guesse what she's from.. go on GUESSE... you got it! Throne of Glass

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2014? The Book Thief by Markus Zusak 

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2014? Agan it's The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. 

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

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

“We do what we do because there's something we can do about it. Things like 'how long' and 'what if' aren't part of that. It's about the hope, not the horror.” 
― A.C. Gaughen, Scarlet 

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2013?

Shortest: Elixir by Jennifer L.Armentrout
Longest: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling 

17. Book That Shocked You The Most. I thiiiink that goes to We Were Liars by E.Lockhart

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!). Celaena and Chaol Ooooh and Alina and The Darkling!

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year. Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore. 

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2014 From An Author You’ve Read Previously. Crown of Midnight there's a theme running here... noticed yet?

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

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

23. Best 2014 debut you read? Branded

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

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read? Checkmate by R.L Mathewson, All the books in the Neightbor From Hell series are hilarious. 

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2014? Allegiant,  The Book Thief, The Fault In Our Stars  And a few more.. What a sap! 

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year? Through The Smoke  by Brenda Novak

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul? The Book Thief

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2014? We Were Liars

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

BOUT OF BOOKS 12

What better way to kick off the new year than with a read-a-thon?
If you don't know what Bout of Books is all about here's a little slice of info for you all..

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 5th and runs through Sunday, January 11th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 12 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

Hopefully this will give me a year start kick up the arse into reading!
Who's with me!?

My Return, Excuses, Goal pressure and Read-a-thons!

So iv'e been pretty much absent from this blog and much of social media for the past few months, here are my lists of excuses..

1. I smashed my laptop screen. (by accident not out of some crazy hulkish rage)

2. Iv'e been lacking in motivation and inspiration for posts and lost for new ideas so the whole thing became kinda blahh.

3. Iv'e been in a reading slump so i had nothing to blog about! Boooo.

But it's the new year- no it's likely not going to be a new me but I do have a new determination! A determination to blog and read and see if I can make this into what I want it to be. So like i don't do montly tbr's i'm not doing yearly goals because who needs that kind of pressure? Seriously!?

I am however going to attempt to do the #AYEARATHON wooo! Hopefully it will give me reading purpose throughout the year! There's also a lot of other Read-a-Thons i'm hoping to take part it, if your interested you should check out Catriona from the Little Book Owl's video on Read-a-thons happening in 2015 here.

So here's my late wishes from me to all of you hoping you all have a very happy new year and that you get all you wish for in 2015! 

REVIEW: KILLING SARAI BY J.A REDMERSKI

Title: Killing Sarai

Series: In The Company Of Killers

Author: J.A. Redmerski

Genre: New Adult/ Romantic Suspense

Summary

Sarai was only fourteen when her mother uprooted her to live in Mexico with a notorious drug lord. Over time she forgot what it was like to live a normal life, but she never let go of her hope to escape the compound where she has been held for the past nine years.

Victor is a cold-blooded assassin who, like Sarai, has known only death and violence since he was a young boy. When Victor arrives at the compound to collect details and payment for a hit, Sarai sees him as her only opportunity for escape. But things don’t go as planned and instead of finding transport back to Tucson, she finds herself free from one dangerous man and caught in the clutches of another.

While on the run, Victor strays from his primal nature as he succumbs to his conscience and resolves to help Sarai. As they grow closer, he finds himself willing to risk everything to keep her alive; even his relationship with his devoted brother and liaison, Niklas, who now like everyone else wants Sarai dead.

As Victor and Sarai slowly build a trust, the differences between them seem to lessen, and an unlikely attraction intensifies. But Victor’s brutal skills and experience may not be enough in the end to save her, as the power she unknowingly holds over him may ultimately be what gets her killed.

This is their story…

My Review.

3.5 stars! 

This book has been on my radar for a long ass time, so when i felt the urge to read some romantic suspense this is the one i went for.  

This is the story of Sarai, when she was fourteen her lowlife mother gave her over to notorious drug lord and human trafficker, Javier. Javier believes himself to be in love with Sarai, he treats her better than the other girls in his compound and she's seen as his. He owns her, it's isn't love he has for her, its obsession and he'll do anything to keep her.  But after being his prisoner for nine years, Sarai wants out and she'll do just about anything to get what she wants. Her escape comes in the form of Victor, an American assassin. Jumping in his car Saria hitches a ride out of the compound to what she hopes will be her freedom. But she's wrong, Javier 'loves' Sarai and will do anything to get her back. 

Hunted by her former captor, Sarai takes off on a dark and dangerous journey with Victor, full of twists and turns. Read the blurb, you might think you know where this story will end but let me tell you now. You're wrong. What you expect to happen gets flipped on it's ass and runs in the other direction leaving you in a state of shock. 

I really did enjoy this story, it was high in action, lust, drama, twist and turns and shocking epicness! Alas i did have a few issues with the story and they come in the form of Sarai... 

She drove me fucking crazy, annoyed the freakin' crap outta me! Honestly i couldn't connect with her because she just acted so much like a child a lot of the time and her whining drove me fucking mental. 

This story is told from dual POV, Sarai and Victor and you are able to tell who's POV it is from the writing, which i really liked. The only thing was there were times when i found the writing and dialog to be pretty robotic and not flowing the way it should.

Overall if your looking for some action, and suspense with some hotness thrown in there give this one a go! It's first in an on going series that shows a lot of promise... honestly i just can't wait for Fredrik's story who we meet in this book but get a lot more from in book two. 

REVIEW: LAW MAN BY KRISTEN ASHLEY

Title: Law Man
Series: Dream Man
Author: Kristen Ashley
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Summary

Four years ago, Mitch Lawson moved across the breezeway from Mara Hanover and she fell in love with the tall, good-looking police detective who had an uncanny ability to dress well even though he’s single. It was not a stalker kind of love; she knows she has no hope since Mitch is way out of her league. That doesn’t change the fact that he’s her dream man.

Then one day Mara’s faucet won’t turn off and she knows nothing about plumbing. Being a good guy, Mitch offers to help then he invites himself over for pizza. Mara gives it a go but finds herself running away from him (literally) on their first date, standing him up their second and then she runs into him (again literally) on her way to save her ne’er do well, criminal cousin’s kids who’d just run away from their ne’er do well, criminal Dad.

Suddenly, Mara finds she has on her hands the guardianship of two kids and a gorgeous police detective who’s willing to do anything to help out… including giving fabulous foot rubs.

But Mara knows who she is and where she came from and she knows Detective Mitch Lawson is better than her. Hot law man Mitch disagrees and his challenge is to convince Mara to let go of her past and he sets about building a family at the same time he finds he also needs to protect them all against known and unknown adversaries that would tear them apart.

My Review. 

4.5 stars!!

Four years. Four years Mara's lived across the breezeway from Detective Mitch Lawson. Four years Mara's loved Mitch. Of corse, Mitch doesn't know that, no one does. Mara's pathologically shy, due to a shitty and traumatic childhood Mara has no confidence and no self worth, to her she's trash nothing more than a two point five on the Mara scale of humanity. Mitch is a ten point five. Ten point fives do not associate themselves with two point fives. Ever. 

Mara has a rating system on which she instantly judges people placing them at a rating the more attractive you are- the higher the mark. Moods can make a ranking go up or down on the scale, personality can be taken in to account but Ten point fives never mingle with the two point fives. 

So when Mara's tap breaks and Mitch offers to come round and have a look at it for her because you know he's super kind, painc stations are a go in Mara world. But shocker! Ten point five doesn't treat Mara like she's a two point five at all. Infact he invites himself round to two point five's house for her famous barbecue chicken pizza! And so begins the story of Mara and Mitch. 

Mara's a sweet character, who i actually really liked minus the rating system and her insecurity grew real old round the 60% mark. But she was relatable, from one shy girl to another i personally know how mortifying shyness is. But the hero of our story Detective Lawson slowly breaks down the walls surrounding Mara world, breaking through that insecurity and helps her see she's more than she's been lead to believe. 

The plot twist comes in the form of Mara's cousin Bill's two kids, Billy, the boy and Billie, the girl (short for Billerina, YES! Billerina.) Yes Bill is a crack head who happens to think his children's names are a stroke of comic genius. Mara takes on Bill's kids as he's unfit to care for them and winds up in the slammer. (Courtesy of one Detective Mitch Lawson.) Mitch and Mara, build their relationship around taking care of Billy and Billie and start to create something beautiful for the four of them, a family. That's not to say there aren't a few bumps in the road in the form of the trailer trash twins and the Russian Mob. Classic Ashley style, everything goes down with a boom. 

Now lets just take a minute to appreciate all that is Mitch Lawson, i mean i fell for him when we first met him in Mystery Man and have been falling harder with each encounter. I just love a good sexy cop. I mean you can't beat it really can you? He really is the cream of the crop, he's sweet, loyal, hot, strong, brave, he's wonderful..

I've highly anticipated Mitch's story and i have to admit this is my favorite one in the series so far. This story is full of soul, smiles, laughs, crys, squirms, shocks, shouts and full on KA crazyness! All her usual trademarks, the hot alpha's, the glam women, ELVIRA. Damn i love that bitch so much! 

Fantastic addition to an already amazing series, Mitch Lawson is definitely a man only found in dreams.

"If I'm your Mitch, you're my Mara."

REVIEW: SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE BY JILL SHALVIS

Title: Simply Irresistible
Series: Lucky Harbor
Author: Jill Shalvis
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Summary.

Maddie Moore's whole life needs a makeover.

In one fell swoop, Maddie loses her boyfriend (her decision) and her job (so not her decision). But rather than drowning her sorrows in bags of potato chips, Maddie leaves L.A. to claim the inheritance left by her free-spirited mother—a ramshackle inn nestled in the little coastal town of Lucky Harbor, Washington.

Starting over won't be easy. Yet Maddie sees the potential for a new home and a new career—if only she can convince her two half-sisters to join her in the adventure. But convincing Tara and Chloe will be difficult because the inn needs a big makeover too.

The contractor Maddie hires is a tall, dark-haired hottie whose eyes—and mouth—are making it hard for her to remember that she's sworn off men. Even harder will be Maddie's struggles to overcome the past, though she's about to discover that there's no better place to call home than Lucky Harbor.

My Review:

Four Stars!!

Things aren't going well for Maddie Moore. Fresh out of an abusive relationship and getting the sack, Maddie's on the lookout for a new start. After the death of her flighty mainly absent Mum, Maddie and her two sisters Tara and Chloe are left her Mum's Inn, The Lucky Harbor Inn. For Maddie this is the opportunity she's been waiting for- the chance to escape from LA and her old life, homeless, single, fresh out of confidence and in need of a new beginning Maddie sets her sights on the Inn and a dream of running it with her two sisters as a family. 

Sworn off men Maddie isn't on the lookout for love when she arrived at Lucky Harbor, but neither was Jax Cullen when Maddie came speeding into his life. Instant attraction forms between the two and a strong in deniable chemistry between the two is clear to everyone.  But with Maddie sworn off men and Jax not looking for anything serious the idea fun turns a lot more serious. 

This was such a fun story! Perfect fluff material here, not only is it fluffy, it's hilarious, incredibly sweet and hot! I took this book with me into the hospital and i have to say it was a most incredible distraction and had me bursting out laughing which gained me some odd looks from the nurses! 

The characters were likable, the story was fun, nothing heavy just perfect for when you need to let your mind rest or just want to read something for the pure fun of it! Maddie was instantly likable even if she is a total clutz, now i'm a very shy person so every time she wound up in an embarrassing situation i found myself blushing and cringing more than she did! 

Jax was just, perfect. Hot, intelligent, growly (not sure if that's actually word- but damn i love me a growly man!), brooding, sweet and just... Simply Irresistible. Which actually is the perfect title for this book, from the very beginning both our main characters were instantly attracted to each other and found it simply impossible to resist one another! 

I would highly recommend this book if your in need some for some smiles and laughs and just in need of some pure pleasure. I promise Jax will not disappoint you! 

Bout of Books 11.0 Day 1 Update.

So today is the first day in the Bout of Books read-a-thon and i managed to finish a book! Yayyy me!!
So i finished rereading Divergent *swoon* how i love that book! I'm going to swiftly make my way onto Throne of Glass now and hopefully get a chapter or two down before bed!

I also took part in the two challenged which were hosted by The Book Monsters who hosted a Book Scavenger Hunt you can see my entries on my Instagram here.
I also took part in Lulo Fangirl challenge which is to make a playlist for one of the books on your Bout of Books TBR. I chose to do Divergent since it's the only one iv'e read, these are the song i chose:
(i tried to use songs that weren't use for the movie!)

Aly & Aj- No one
Tonight Alive- What Are You So Scared Of?
Christina Perry- Human
Avenged Sevenfold- Nightmare
Black Veil Brides- Perfect Weapon.

Day One Summary- 
Number of Books I've read today- 1
Number of books I've read- 1
Books- Divergent