Top Ten Books I Want to Re-Read

Top 10 Tuesday is a post hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and this week's topic is Top Ten Books I Want to Re-Read.

You guys I'm a huge re-reader. So much so that I've created two different features on my blog focused towards re-reads. From the Ashes is where I re-read books that I read before I started blogging, and I finally review them on the blog. And then Upon Further Review is where I take a second look at a book I've read and reviewed before to see if my original rating still stands.

So I think it stands to reason that I definitely have a list of books that I'm dying to re-read eventually. As a matter of fact, I just created a shelf on Goodreads dedicated to books I want to re-read. There's about 60 books on there now, but I'm sure that number will go up over time. Here are my top ten books (or series) from that list.

1. Harry Potter by JK Rowling - Because you can never read Harry too many times.
2. Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers - Because this book is just so good with a great message.
3. City of Glass (The Mortal Instruments, # 3) by Cassandra Clare - Through the end of the series.
4. A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, # 1) by George R R Martin - Well...eventually when I finish catching up on this series, I'd like to re-read it because I know there's a ton of information that I've missed.
5. Graceling (Graceling Realm, # 1) by Kristin Cashore - And Fire because both of these books are pretty epic.
6. Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley - This book was such a pleasant surprise. I definitely want to give it a re-read.
7. Pushing the Limits (Pushing the Limits, # 1) by Katie McGarry - Because Noah and Echo started a love affair with Katie McGarry's writing.
8. Slammed (Slammed, # 1) by Colleen Hoover - Because this is still probably my favorite book by Colleen Hoover.
9. The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay - Because I need more Katja Millay and I don't see anything expected to publish by her any time soon.
10. The Kiss of Deception (The Remnant Chronicles, # 1) by Mary E Pearson - Because this book had so many twists and turns, I need to go back and re-read it for sure.

Oh my goodness guys! This list was so hard because as I was looking at my Goodreads shelf, I just kept thinking I NEED TO RE-READ ALL THE BOOKS! AH!

What books do you really want to re-read? Let me know!

Hopeless - Review

Hopeless

By: Colleen Hoover

Published: December 2012

391 pages

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

Goodreads description--Sometimes discovering the truth can leave you more hopeless than believing the lies…

That’s what seventeen-year-old Sky realizes after she meets Dean Holder. A guy with a reputation that rivals her own and an uncanny ability to invoke feelings in her she’s never had before. He terrifies her and captivates her all in the span of just one encounter, and something about the way he makes her feel sparks buried memories from a past that she wishes could just stay buried.

Sky struggles to keep him at a distance knowing he’s nothing but trouble, but Holder insists on learning everything about her. After finally caving to his unwavering pursuit, Sky soon finds that Holder isn’t at all who he’s been claiming to be. When the secrets he’s been keeping are finally revealed, every single facet of Sky’s life will change forever.

I couldn't say 100%, but I'm pretty sure that Colleen Hoover must have read The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay not too long before writing (or perhaps while writing) Hopeless. Read Hopeless, you'll see what I mean. It's not a bad thing though.

Hopeless was everything that I dreamed it would be once I heard Colleen Hoover say she was releasing another book but one more dark in nature. I'm not sure I can compare Hopeless to Slammed/Point of Retreat because they are two very different creatures with very different circumstances and very different characters. I might have emotionally been connected with Will and Lake slightly more than Sky and Holder, but only just slightly.

As with Slammed and Point of Retreat, Hopeless has plot twists and such that can't be spoiled for the potential reader. Some of these twists are a bit more visible in their revelation for me in Hopeless than in Slammed or Point of Retreat. But I won't spoil them. I can't. As I experienced with The Sea of Tranquility (my review), even when I was pretty certain I knew what happened, I still wasn't sure. I still had questions. Colleen Hoover did a wonderful job of keeping me feeling like the earth was constantly tilting from one side to the other.

All is not as it seems. And everything has it's reason.

Beautifully written and fast paced, I couldn't put Hopeless down. I stayed up until 2:45 am one morning reading in the bed because I just couldn't stop. Well... until I hit this one section and I emotionally needed a break (and sleep). At which point I slept for a few hours, then woke up and laid in the bed until I finished.

Hopeless did not disappoint. Everything you've come to expect from Colleen Hoover's writing was here and more. I'm giving Hopeless 4.9 Stars. Have you read Hopeless? If not, please do, but read The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay first (that's not a must, just my personal recommendation). If so, what did you think? Let me know!

P.S. After you've read Hopeless, read the "the best fist kiss" from Holder's POV that she posted on her website. HHHHHHOOOOOOTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!

The Sea of Tranquility - Review

The Sea of Tranquility

By: Katja Millay

Published: November 13th 2012 by Atria Books (first published September 5th 2012)

448 pages

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

Goodreads description--I live in a world without magic or miracles. A place where there are no clairvoyants or shapeshifters, no angels or superhuman boys to save you. A place where people die and music disintegrates and things suck. I am pressed so hard against the earth by the weight of reality that some days I wonder how I am still able to lift my feet to walk.

Full of rage and without a purpose, former pianist Nastya Kashnikov wants two things: to get through high school without anyone discovering her past and to make the boy who took everything from her pay.

All 17 year-old Josh Bennett wants is to build furniture and be left alone, and everyone allows it because it’s easier to pretend he doesn’t exist. When your name is synonymous with death, everyone tends to give you your space.

Everyone except Nastya, a hot mess of a girl who starts showing up and won’t go away until she’s insinuated herself into every aspect of his life. The more he gets to know her, the more of a mystery she becomes. As their relationship intensifies and the unanswered questions begin to pile up, he starts to wonder if he may ever learn the secrets she’s been hiding or if he even wants to.

The Sea of Tranquility is a slow-building, character-driven romance about a lonely boy, an emotionally fragile girl, and the miracle of second chances.

Please Note: This book contains mature content including profanity, drug/alcohol use, and sexual situations/language.

Whew. I’m still reeling from this book, and I don’t know that I can write a review of it that’s at all thought out any analytical or anything even remotely not some form of babbling.

I was reading Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout and coming off just finishing Obsidian and Onyx only days before. For those of you who are huge JLA fans, you’ll appreciate how much this means. I was only able to get in snippets of The Sea of Tranquility while mainly reading Opal, but at some point The Sea of Tranquility took over. I was 50% finished with Opal, but I couldn’t get The Sea of Tranquility out of my head. And that’s saying A LOT because I was really enjoying Opal. I mean REALLY enjoy it. Cause Daemon’s HOT! But that goes to show you how firmly The Sea of Tranquility took hold of me.

Nastya and Josh’s story had a little bit of everything in it. Moments I’m soaring in the heat of passion and new found love despite such harsh circumstances only to plummet into the debts of darkness due to what Nastya and Josh have been through and what they do to each other. There’s love and loss, happiness and heartbreak. Love and hate. Hurt and healing. The Sea of Tranquility is a story that can’t be kept from cutting into the depths of your soul. You’ll fall in love with these characters and your heart will break over these characters. Nastya and Josh are both extremely vivid and come off the page and I can’t express how happy I am that I’ve read so many great characters that have come alive for me lately.

Katja Millay does a great job of giving you information all along so that you don’t completely piece Nastya’s story together too soon. You think you have all of the details, but you still question just as much as you think you know, whereas Josh’s story is told pretty early on and very directly.

There was a bit too much cursing and too many f-bombs for me, but the story compels you forward and I always try to overlook what I can.

The Sea of Tranquility is an extremely heavy story, but all I can say is read this book and just try not to get invested in these characters. I dare you. Seriously, read it! The Sea of Tranquility gets 5 stars. Have you read The Sea of Tranquility? If so, what did you think? Let me know!

Best of 2012 Book Giveaway Hop

I couldn't pass up the option to giveaway one of my favorite books from 2012. The Best of 2012 Book Giveaway Hop is hosted by I'm A Reader, Not A Writer where all prizes are optioned based off each blogger's favorite books from 2012. So...let's look at my favorites of 2012!!!!

Winner gets one choice of the following 15 books that I thought were the best I read in 2012. Some were published in 2012, some not. All links lead to Goodreads. But I have reviewed all of these books except The Sea of Tranquility and Hopeless. Reviews to come for those two.

Hopeless - Colleen Hoover

The Sea of Tranquility - Katja Millay

Code Name Verity - Elizabeth Wein

Back to You - Priscilla Glenn

Made to Crave - Lysa TerKeurst

Slammed - Colleen Hoover

Point of Retreat - Colleen Hoover

Beautiful Disaster - Jamie McGuire

Pushing the Limits - Katie McGarry

A Storm of Swords - George R R Martin

Graffiti Moon - Cath Crowley

Crazy Love - Francis Chan

Clockwork Prince - Cassandra Clare

Push - Chalene Johnson

Boundaries - Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend

See my Giveaway Policy for official rules and guidelines. Open to US Residents Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to check out the other blogs participating in the Giveaway Hop.

Top Ten Books I Picked Up On a Whim

Top 10 Tuesday is a post hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and this week's topic is Top Ten Books I Picked Up on a Whim.

1. Slammed (Slammed, # 1) by Colleen Hoover
2. The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay
3. Back to You by Priscilla Glenn
4. Pushing the Limits (Pushing the Limits, # 1) by Katie McGarry
5. Push (Push, # 1) by Claire Wallis
6. Undeclared (Woodlands, # 1) by Jen Frederick
7. Reason to Breathe (Breathing, # 1) by Rebecca Donovan
8. Unbreakable (Unbreakable, # 1) by Rebecca Shaw
9. Sempre (Forever, # 1) by JM Darhower
10. Code Name Verity (Code Name Verity, # 1) by Elizabeth Wein
11. Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley

Which books did you pick up on a whim but turned out to be some of your favorites? Let me know!

Top 10 Books Dealing with Tough Subjects

Top 10 Tuesday is a post hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and this week's topic is Top Ten Books Dealing with Tough Subjects.

1) The Secret of Ella and Micha by Jessica Sorensen - Suicide. Mental Illness.

2) The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay - Brutal Attack. Death. Depression. Dashed Dreams for the Future.

3) Hopeless by Colleen Hoover - Sexual Assault. Kidnapping. Suicide.

4) The Coincidence of Callie & Kayden by Jessica Sorensen (review coming soon) - Parental Abuse. Rape. Cutting. Induced-Vomiting/Bulimia.

5) 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher - Suicide. How we treat each other matters. Being the Victim/Blaming Others.

6) Rule by Jay Crownover (review coming soon) - Death. Multiple Sex Partners. Not Feeling Loved by a Parent.

7) Speechless by Hannah Harrington- Bullying.

8) Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry- Mental Illness. Death. When a Parent Tries to Kill You. Death of Parents. Foster Care. Separation from Family.

9) Dare You To by Katie McGarry (review coming soon) - Drug Addict/Alcoholic Parent. Abusive Boyfriend of Drug Addict/Alcoholic Parent. Separation from Family.

10) Slammed by Colleen Hoover- The Death of Both Parents. Raising a Younger Sibling.

What are your favorite books dealing with tough subjects? Let me know!

Favorite Reads from the Past 3 Years

Top 10 Tuesday is a post hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and this week's topic is Top Ten Books from the Past 3 Years.

You guys know what you’re asking me, right? I listed like 20+ books in my Best of 2014 post. How will I ever narrow down the last 3 years to ten? Ok. I’ll make this easy on myself. Only the books I rated 5 stars in the last 3 years (March 2012-March 2015). And somehow I still ended up with 30. But that’s not bad right? 10 from each year (roughly). These do include a couple of re-reads that I read prior to 2012, but re-read within the last 3 years and still rate 5 Stars.

1. Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices, # 2) by Cassandra Clare
2. Pushing the Limits (Pushing the Limits, # 1) by Katie McGarry
3. A Storm of Swords (A Song of Ice and Fire, # 3) by George R R Martin
4. Slammed (Slammed, # 1) by Colleen hoover
5. Made to Crave: Satisfying Your Deepest Desire With God, Not Food by Lysa Terkeurst
6. Back to You by Priscilla Glenn
7. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
8. The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay
9. Hopeless (Hopeless, # 1) by Colleen Hoover
10. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
11. This Girl (Slammed, # 3) by Colleen Hoover
12. The 5th Wave (The 5th Wave, # 1) by Rick Yancey
13. Rose Under Fire (Code Name Verity, # 2) by Elizabeth Wein
14. Losing Hope (Hopeless, # 2) by Colleen Hoover
15. Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman’s Soul by John Eldredge & Stasi Eldredge
16. Spirit Bound (Vampire Academy, # 5) by Richelle Mead
17. Reason to Breathe (Breathing, # 1) by Rebecca Donovan
18. Last Sacrifice (Vampire Academy, # 6) by Richelle Mead
19. The Power of a Praying Woman by Stormie Omartian
20. The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, # 1) by Suzanne Collins
21. Shatter Me (Shatter Me, # 1) by Tahereh Mafi
22. Easy (Contours of the Heart, # 1) by Tammara Webber
23. I Hunt Killers (Jasper Dent, # 1) by Barry Lyga
24. City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments, # 6) by Cassandra Clare
25. The Kiss of Deception (The Remnant Chronciles, # 1) by Mary E Pearson
26. Mortal Heart (His Fair Assassin, # 3) by Robin LaFevers
27. V is for Virgin (V is for Virgin, # 1) by Kelly Oram
28. Sinner (Wolves of Mercy Falls, # 4) by Maggie Stiefvater
29. Blood of My Blood (Jasper Dent, # 3) by Barry Lyga
30. Anne of Green Gables (Anne of Green Gables, # 1) by LM Montgomery

What are your favorite reads from the last three years? Let me know!