Top Ten Books I Read In 2012

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly

 meme held over at The Broke and the Bookish

This weeks topic is the Top Ten Books I Read In 2012.

*In the order that they were read*

What are your favorite

books of 2012... ?

Top Ten Books I'd Want On A Deserted Island

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly

 meme held over at The Broke and the Bookish

This weeks topic is the top ten books you'd want

to have if you were stranded on a deserted island.

Since this is all just a thought, I hope you don't

mind if I put some series on my list and we can

all just pretend that I have a huge binder full

of all the books in that series :)

I'd have to bring the Harry Potter series because I'm only on book #4 and I'd love to finish the series and I think I could read it over and over again... Especially the first book.

I picked A Game of Thrones Series because they are HUGE books and I'm sure it would make it pretty fun and easy to pass all that time.

How could I ever live without my Walking Dead? I won't be able to get the new issues, being stuck on said island and such, but I re-read the hell out of the old ones.

I'm not quite sure why I picked this book, I suppose because it interested me a whole lot. 

I could never live without Pidge and Travis! They were so perfect!

Think of a Number was a really really good suspense/murder mystery. The characters personalities were very deep and so real, and the suspense part was amazing. Hands down, the best suspense ever!

When I read Thirteen Reasons Why, I couldn't read it fast enough. But being on this island I could take it slow and just devour the hell out of this book for eternity. 

Did you do a TTT?

What are your Top Ten?

Leave a link to yours

so I can check it out. 

Have a great one!

Finally Got These

I finally got some of the books I really wanted. Since I read If I Stay, I couldn't wait to read Where She Went and I finally got it. I got it in audiobook form just like I did If I Stay. I also got Reflected in You on audiobook, that is the second book in the Crossfire Series by Sylvia Day. The first is Bared to You, you can read my review here & Nika's review for both books: here.

I got We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson for my Halloween read, but didn't get around to it. But I did happen to read Purity by Jackson Pearce, which I've had on my list for a while now. My review for that will be coming up soon.

Library:

Where She Went by Gayle Forman

(Book #2 in If I Stay series)

[Goodreads - Amazon - B&N]

Synopsis of If I Stay:

In a single moment, everything changes. Seventeen-year-old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall riding along the snow-wet Oregon road with her family. Then, in a blink, she finds herself watching as her own damaged body is taken from the wreck...

A sophisticated, layered, and heart-achingly beautiful story about the power of family and friends, the choices we all make, and the ultimate choice Mia commands.

Audiobook:

Reflected in You by Sylvia Day

(Book #2 in Crossfire Series)

[Goodreads - Amazon - B&N]

Synopsis of Bared to You:

Gideon Cross came into my life like lightning in the darkness—beautiful and brilliant, jagged and white-hot. I was drawn to him as I'd never been to anything or anyone in my life. I craved his touch like a drug, even knowing it would weaken me. I was flawed and damaged, and he opened those cracks in me so easily...

Gideon knew. He had demons of his own. And we would become the mirrors that reflected each other's most private wounds... and desires.

The bonds of his love transformed me, even as I prayed that the torment of our pasts didn't tear us apart...

iBooks:

Purity by Jackson Pearce

[Goodreads - Amazon - B&N]

Synopsis:

A novel about love, loss, and sex -- but not necessarily in that order.

Before her mother died, Shelby promised three things: to listen to her father, to love as much as possible, and to live without restraint. Those Promises become harder to keep when Shelby's father joins the planning committee for the Princess Ball, an annual dance that ends with a ceremonial vow to live pure lives -- in other words, no "bad behavior," no breaking the rules, and definitely no sex.

Torn between Promises One and Three, Shelby makes a decision -- to exploit a loophole and lose her virginity before taking the vow. But somewhere between failed hookup attempts and helping her dad plan the ball, Shelby starts to understand what her mother really meant, what her father really needs, and who really has the right to her purity.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

[Goodreads - Amazon - B&N]

Synopsis:

Taking readers deep into a labyrinth of dark neurosis, We Have Always Lived in the Castle is a deliciously unsettling novel about a perverse, isolated, and possibly murderous family and the struggle that ensues when a cousin arrives at their estate.

Have you read any of these?

What did you think of them?

Leave me a comment &

let's talk about it.

Enjoy :)

Crossing the Fire

The Crossfire series by Sylvia Day consists of two books so far: Bared to You and Reflected in You. In my opinion they are both great books, and when compared to the literary train wreck that is Fifty Shades, the Crossfire Series is the quintessential demonstration of this genre.

[Goodreads - Amazon - B&N]

Our journey began in fire...

Gideon Cross came into my life like lightning in the darkness—beautiful and brilliant, jagged and white-hot. I was drawn to him as I'd never been to anything or anyone in my life. 

I craved his touch like a drug, even knowing it would weaken me. I was flawed and damaged, and he opened those cracks in me so easily...

Gideon knew. He had demons of his own. And we would become the mirrors that reflected each other's most private wounds... and desires.

The bonds of his love transformed me, even as I prayed that the torment of our pasts didn't tear us apart...

Bared to you: My sister already did a wonderful review on this piece, and you can view that here, but I just wanted to share my thoughts on it as well. And I wanted to do a little compare and contrast with the characters of Fifty Shades. The main character of Bared to You is Eva Tramell. She, unlike miss Anastasia Steele has her shit together. She moved from California to New York City, the place where every young upstart dreams of making it big. And with tenacity and dedication she found herself a productive place in NYC. She was not inexperienced and scared of life like Steele and for that reason, she makes a much better role model for women. She is fearless. 

It has always been a dream of mine to move somewhere foreign and brave the world with my best friend. Eva gets to experience this change with her long time bestie Cary Taylor. Who is amazing and gorgeous and just as emotionally odd as she. I think in life as well as in fiction you need a good sidekick, Cary made the most perfect one. He was her foil but also an iron clad keeper of not only her heart but her sanity. He would be a welcome addition to my life. I think every girl wants a really close guy friend that has their best interests at heart but doesn't want to be repaid sexually for it. It works. 

Now for the star of the show Mr. Gideon Cross. A very wealthy and deliciously attractive businessman. He is the love interest of Eva and I've really never read any two characters that deserved each other more. They both have terribly spotted pasts but their spots are similar enough to blend into a perfect pattern of sequined bliss. His name means destroyer, but all he does is repair Eva in the best way he can. They have their issues like any couple however. He is a sex addicted control freak. But Eva is cut in such a way that his brand of crazy fits right into her mold. Upon reading this book it is extremely easy to get lost in the characters and their lives. I went to sleep dreaming of sparking my own fictional relationship with Mr. Cross. When compared to Mr. Grey from Fifty Shades, Cross is much less crazy. He doesn't want to hurt Eva like Grey wants to do to Ana. And I think that Cross is a much more in depth character. He's just better on paper than Grey could ever be. 

[Goodreads - Amazon - B&N]

Gideon Cross. As beautiful and flawless on the outside as he was damaged and tormented on the inside. 

He was a bright, scorching flame that singed me with the darkest of pleasures. I couldn’t stay away. I didn’t want to. He was my addiction… my every desire… mine.

My past was as violent as his, and I was just as broken. We’d never work. It was too hard, too painful… except when it was perfect. Those moments when the driving hunger and desperate love were the most exquisite insanity.

We were bound by our need. And our passion would take us beyond our limits to the sweetest, sharpest edge of obsession…

Reflected in You: This is the second book in this soon to be trilogy. It picks right up where book one leaves off. It exhibits more of the same reckless sexual behavior that the two seem to be drawn to. It also chronicles more of their rocky misunderstandings and relationship woes.

In this second book it offers an even deeper analysis into these characters that the first book has forced you to care about. And it is much more focused on the reasoning and useful nature of Gideon's controlling nature. The book has an acceptable ending, and frankly I really cannot wait until the next one is out to see what kind of trouble they get into.

I found that with Fifty Shades that the writing was atrocious and simple and I could not focus enough on the characters and plot to care. I think there should be a book where Eva meets Grey and see how that turns out. Of course Day would have to write it because she is obviously a better writer than the author of Fifty Shades, in this reviewers humble opinion anyway.

Have you read this series yet?
If yes, what did you think?
If no, you really need to!

Book Review: Bared to You by Sylvia Day

Bared To You (Crossfire #1) by Sylvia Day

[Goodreads - Amazon - B&N]

Synopsis:

Gideon Cross came into my life like lightning in the darkness…

He was beautiful and brilliant, jagged and white-hot. I was drawn to him as I’d never been to anything or anyone in my life. I craved his touch like a drug, even knowing it would weaken me. I was flawed and damaged, and he opened those cracks in me so easily…

Gideon knew. He had demons of his own. And we would become the mirrors that reflected each other’s most private wounds…and desires.

The bonds of his love transformed me, even as i prayed that the torment of our pasts didn't tear us apart...

My Thoughts:

First of all in the very beginning, I love her description of Manhattan. It made me feel like I was there. And it had me wishing I could get a really fancy job and move to new York. And live the "good" life.

After reading fifty shades of dumb shit, I decided I wanted to find a book that would do it right, because lets face it, Fifty Shades was totally lame. It was okay for all you extreme romantics, but not for me. I'd been seeing Bared to You online, everyone was saying it was similar, but better. And it was everywhere I went. So I finally picked it up at Costco. And I'm very glad I did.

It wasn't Fifty Shades (thank god). Some of the same things. Like the rich, hot men. And the whole you're obviously fucked up in the head, therefore you can't have a normal functioning relationship so you screw every woman on earth, until you see me.. An then we have some fabulous connection, but I don't want you, but you're hot, so I'll talk to you kind of thing...

But I loved this book. It wasn't stupid or cheesy. Or COMPLETELY unrealistic like Fifty Shades. It was unrealistic in some parts, but only a few. I was so happy there were no Inner goddess talk. Or a dumb college student with no idea about how adult relationships work. I don't mean to offend anyone that liked Fifty Shades of Grey either. Just my personal opinion.

The writing was spectacular. The details during the sexy times were awesome. Like seriously, this book was some of the best erotica I've ever read. It was so hot, I almost made some bad decisions while reading this book! I'll save you the story, but it could've been bad. One thing I was quite upset about was that were no bdsm elements like I had expected. People kept saying there were some in this book, but no, there's not. It was still a great book though. 

I loved how strong of a character Eva was, even though she's kind of submissive to Gideon. She has her life together, she just got this new job and moved to New York from California. She has her best friend/bi sexual roommate to keep her company and make sure she doesn't make really stupid choices. And she has her own money, about 5 million dollars, and that is a whole story in its own. But I'll let you read the book to figure that one out. I thought she was a pretty good person considering her traumatic past.

I liked Gideon Cross also. He was smart, handsome, rich, strong minded, persistent, and very honest and forward at times.. But there was something really weird going on with him and his family. So there's a little bit of mystery there, which was nice. Some of the characters I couldn't stand were her mother and step father. Her mother got on my last nerve. I just wanted to put tape over her mouth and lock her in the closet or something. She just wanted to control Eva so bad. But it's not over powering in the story. I think it's actually essential. Overall I thought it was amazing. I gave it 4 stars on Goodreads. And I can't wait for the second book in the series: Reflected in You, which will be released Oct. 23, 2012. 

Did you read Fifty Shades?

Have you read Bared to You?

Did you like Eva & Gideon?

Do you think the books compare?

If not, are they on your TBR?

What I Read This Summer

Guess what?! It's that time! A little late, but it's better than never. Summer is over, and it's starting to get chilly. Everyone has gone back to school, so I must do my summer wrap up. I read a lot of great stuff this summer, I didn't write a review on everything, but most I did. I'll link those somewhere. The reviews for the last few haven't went up yet, but they will be shortly. 

My summer was good, but busy. We had just moved here from out of state at the end of April, and the summer somehow snuck up on me. And  it came with a bunch of final unpacking and rearranging. Which is what I did. Also, finding a job and looking into schooling in the new area... All that good stuff. How was your summer? 

**Clicking on the cover will take you to Goodreads**

And last, what an epic 

read to end my summer!

Reviews:

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight - Death Note, Vol. 1: Boredom - Forbidden - Slave - Need   - Easy - A Midsummer's Nightmare - Beautiful Disaster - If I Stay - The Duff

Did you do a summer wrap up?

Read any really good books?

Leave me a comment &

a link if you did a post.

Have a good one :)