December 31: Top Ten Books I Read In 2013

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish

1.  The False Prince by Jennifer A. Neilson (5 out of 5 stars)
2.  The Runaway King by Jennifer A. Neilson (5 out of 5 stars)
3.  Golden Boy by Abigail Tarttelin (5 out of 5 stars)
4.  Ready Player One by Ernest Cline (5 out of 5 stars)
5.  Of Beast and Beauty by Stacey Jay (5 out of 5 stars)
6.  Horns by Joe Hill (5 out of 5 stars)
7.  Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma (5 out of 5 stars)
8.  Saving Max by Antoinette Van Heugten (5 out of 5 Stars)
9. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight  by Jennifer E. Smith (4 out of 5 stars)
10. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon (4 out of 5 stars)

I haven't finished reading Angelfall and Dash and Lily's Book of Dares. I'm sure they would of made it to my top ten.

My Favorite things of 2013

I seen this around booktube and I decided to do one. Its about what I bought/got that I really love/like this year that isn't books.

These shirts I got from rainbow on a clerance rank. I think they was 2 for $10.

This cute box. I love this box. They had bigger boxes and different designs. I got this one at conway for 1.99. If I had a house I would of gotten a big one.

Review: What I Wore Today: Fashion Remixed Online From Beijing to Berlin

Description: Capturing an online community of artistic, peer-inspired and -supported fashion pioneers, this collection of more than 250 images gives an unprecedentedly unique insight into the real style of girls today. Forget the Paris runways to spot the style vanguard, here are young women for whom taking photos of themselves in their bedrooms, kitchens, and hallways and posting them to blogs and flickr is a daily ritual. The images include favorite peer-voted style gurus from flickr, MySpace, and fashion blogs. Fascinating as an intimate look at street style and as a record of the new wave of amateur portrait photography, this bright, colorful, eclectic read showcases the community where the internet generation get their real fashion inspiration.

My Review: This is really inspirational. Some of the styles are unique but I like that because everyone is different. I always wanted to mix up my clothes but I always thought I would look stupid in other people eyes but seeing this makes me want to try something different this summer. I love that almost all of these clothes are from thrift stores. You can always find something in a thrift store that you have never seen before. I love how these are everyday women showing what they wear. I don't remember seeing anyone from Japan in this book. I don't know if its the book I have but it has two pages of 161.

4 out of 5 stars

Read: December. 20, 2013 - December. 22, 2013

Review: Love (Ai) Suilan Lee

Description: Kyo Tatsuya is a painter who has refused to see his lover for two months, while he prepares his final exhibition as a student of Geidai. He tries to reconcile his past,present and a future his family expects him to follow. While cherishing the love he has for Ryuu Shin. 

Kyo Tatsuya is a painter working his way through college and selling his paintings to earn a living. He grew up an orphan living in a foster home with two foster siblings, a brother and a sister.

And then he meets Ryuu Shin at an art exhibition who takes him to meet his real mother. Due to a bad experience in his past, Kyo doesn't believe Ryuu's claim that he has found Kyo's mother.

Ryuu's determination takes him back to his real mother's house, and a love he never would have found were it not for Ryuu Shin.

My Review: I liked Kyu and Ryuu. I liked how when they first met in the beginning. I liked Kyu attituded but it disappears in the end. I didn't like how he gave into his real family, how he took the family name. It was fast, I know it was about ten months but it was quick to me. The other family members was mentioned but was never in the story. I picture this as a Jdrama, it had that vibe to it. 

I got this for FREE on Amazon for Kindle.

3 ouf of 5 Stars

Read: December. 19, 2013 - December. 20, 2013

Musing Mondays (Dec.16)

 by Should be Reading

Musing Mondays asks you to muse about one of the following each week…

• Describe one of your reading habits.

• Tell us what book(s) you recently bought for yourself or someone else, and why you chose that/those book(s).

• What book are you currently desperate to get your hands on? Tell us about it! 

• Tell us what you’re reading right now — what you think of it, so far; why you chose it; what you are (or, aren’t) enjoying it.

• Do you have a bookish rant? Something about books or reading (or the industry) that gets your ire up? Share it with us!

• Instead of the above questions, maybe you just want to ramble on about something else pertaining to books — let’s hear it, then!

My Musing: I spent most of my weekend entering myself in giveaways. A lot of book bloggers are doing giveaways for Christmas. I'am so excited, I hope I win something because I'am a loser and I never win anything. This is the lottery to me. So I hope I win. *PRAYING* 

I'am desperate to get a lot of books. Here are some:

• Winger by Andrew Smith
• Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
• Forgive me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick
• Snake Bite and Knife Edge by Andrew Lane
• The Shadow Throne by Jennifer A. Neilson (It come out in February, but I want it sooooo bad)
• Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor (and when the third book comes out, I want to read them back to back)
• Gravity & Hover by Melissa West
• and More

October TBR: HORROR THEME!!

Horror/Supernatural/Paranormal Theme

Stacking The Shelves (2)

by Tyna Reviews

Won these books in Goodreads giveaway

I finally got this book in the mail today (Sep.16). I won it from a goodreads giveaway in MAY. never got it, tryed to contact the company who gave the giveaway on goodreads, they wasn’t taking messages. Then I complained to goodreads they said they contacted them that it on its way. Another month or so passed, nothing. A couple of weeks ago I tweeted the company on their twitter and they got back to me and they said they was waiting for finished book inventory, i should get it soon. now i got it and i’m happy. :)

This book also took awhile to arrive. I won it on Jun. 6. I never got it, I contacted the person. They sent another one. I get one on July 30. Then another one a couple of days after that. I contacted them back and told them what happened. They said I could give it away, which I will soon..

I won book 2, do not have book one because It sounds interesting, so I entered and won. Now I need to get Book 1. (Sep.13)

I got this in August. Love the Cover and the author signed it.

I won this from randombuzzers in August. I read it and LOVED IT. 

August Wrap Up

Review: Saving Max by Antoinette Van Heugten

Description: Max Parkman;autistic and whip-smart, emotionally fragile and aggressive—is perfect in his mother’s eyes. Until he's accused of murder.
Attorney Danielle Parkman knows her teenage son Max’s behavior has been getting worse—using drugs and lashing out. But she can't accept the diagnosis she receives at a top-notch adolescent psychiatric facility that her son is deeply disturbed. Dangerous.

Until she finds Max, unconscious and bloodied, beside a patient who has been brutally stabbed to death.

Trapped in a world of doubt and fear, barred from contacting Max, Danielle clings to the belief that her son is innocent. But has she, too, lost touch with reality? Is her son really a killer?

With the justice system bearing down on them, Danielle steels herself to discover the truth, no matter what it is. She’ll do whatever it takes to find the killer and to save her son from being destroyed by a system that’s all too eager to convict him
.
Review:  Here (WARNING, MAJOR SPOILER) IF YOU ARE GOING TO READ THIS BOOK, DO NOT READ THIS.
(NO SPOILERS HERE) I loved the book, great pace, the suspence was really great. the end was surprising. great details. I could not put it down. (I read on the authors blog and she said she is working on a sequel. I CAN NOT wait for that!)

5 out of 5 Stars
Read: August. 20, 2013 - August 22, 2013 2:20am

Review: Boy Toy by Barry Lyga

Description: Josh Mendel has a secret. Unfortunately, everyone knows what it is.
Five years ago, Josh’s life changed. Drastically. And everyone in his school, his town—seems like the world—thinks they understand. But they don’t—they can’t. And now, about to graduate from high school, Josh is still trying to sort through the pieces. First there’s Rachel, the girl he thought he’d lost years ago. She’s back, and she’s determined to be part of his life, whether he wants her there or not.Then there are college decisions to make, and the toughest baseball game of his life coming up, and a coach who won’t stop pushing Josh all the way to the brink. And then there’s Eve. Her return brings with it all the memories of Josh’s past. It’s time for Josh to face the truth about what happened.
If only he knew what the truth was …

Review: The Book was well written. It talks about a major issue that happens in real life. I read this a day and finished at 1am. Could not put it down. I can’t believe Josh was worrying about this teacher who molested him, about what she’s doing after she got out of jail. And that he still blames himself even though it wasn’t his fault. He was young boy going through puberty and had a crush on his teacher, she saw that and took advantage of that. She manipulated him into thinking that he loved her and she loved him. She took his teen years from him and a lot more. I can’t believe his parents, they made me mad, all they would do is yell and his mom was seeing someone else. They didn’t find it weird that their son was spending time at his teacher house. I also hear about teachers having sex with kids and it makes me cringe, I don’t understand why they do that. Never Want too. I was annoyed when Josh kept boosting about his batting average and other baseball numbers. Disappointed he lost his friendship with Zik and how it just ended. I was more interested to read the past about Josh and Eve and how everyone found out their secret. When he last saw Eve, I’m glad that nothing happened. I was scared because he wanted her to touch him. I’m glad he found closure and found love for Rachel. I didn’t really like Rachel in the beggining, but I she lost a friend and someone she liked. In the end I liked her because she was trying to encourage Josh. I was annoyed when Josh kept boosting about his batting average and other baseball numbers. I’m also glad he choose to follow his dream.

4 out of 5 Stars
Read: August. 22, 2013 - August. 23, 2013 1:20am

Review: Of Beast and Beauty by Stacey Jay

Description: In the beginning was the darkness, and in the darkness was a girl, and in the girl was a secret…

In the domed city of Yuan, the blind Princess Isra, a Smooth Skin, is raised to be a human sacrifice whose death will ensure her city’s vitality. In the desert outside Yuan, Gem, a mutant beast, fights to save his people, the Monstrous, from starvation. Neither dreams that together, they could return balance to both their worlds.

Isra wants to help the city’s Banished people, second-class citizens despised for possessing Monstrous traits. But after she enlists the aid of her prisoner, Gem, who has been captured while trying to steal Yuan’s enchanted roses, she begins to care for him, and to question everything she has been brought up to believe.

As secrets are revealed and Isra’s sight, which vanished during her childhood, returned, Isra will have to choose between duty to her people and the beast she has come to love.

My Review:

I won an ARC copy from randombuzzers.com

(A little Spoilers)

This is my first time reading from this author and I LOVE Stacey Jay writing in this. I love the way it is written. I Loved the plot. I loved the Characters and different POV’s. I loved reading Gem’s POV more than Isra. Sometimes she annoyed me but I still love her. She wants to change her City and help the Banished people. She realizes that the real monsters is her and the people in the dome. I wanted her to speak up for herself, in a part when she was talking to Junjie he just treated her like a child still even if she is the Queen. She didn’t even try to defend herself and make him listen to her because he should follow her orders. I hated that part. And when she let’s everyone talk behind her back. She always talked about how no one listens to her, but she doesn’t make them listen to her. I was so happy when she said “I’ll make them listen” Then she got her sight back. Bo, he confused me, he wants to be a great king and make his father proud. He don’t care for Isra but he doesn’t want her to die because that would mean his future children would die too. He said he wants to be king, but doesn’t. I felt sorry for him, because of his father. His father manipulated him like he did with eveyone else. Junjie wanted whats best for Yuan but he didn’t listen and did many things wrong. I loved Gem, he tries to be Cruel but he’s not like that. I love that in a guy, a guy who acts cold but they really care. Sometimes I wanted Gem and Isra to say what they was thinking, to stop lying and tell the truth. I loved there arguements and when they first kissed. I don’t want to say much but I LOVE IT!! (sorry if I rambled)

5 out of 5 Stars
Read: August. 8 - August. 10 11:31pm

(Side Note) I really read this whole book in one day. I started on the 8th at 11pm till the morning of the 9th. I stopped at chapter 10 or 11. Went to sleep. I didn’t read for that whole day because of stupid reasons. Then today, the 10th at around 12am I read and the when I woke up at 4 or 5pm I started reading until I finshed at around 11pm. I ignored my dog and I didn’t even care about eating. This is the first book where I really would not stop reading until I finished it. My heart is pounding.

Review: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

Description: Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?

Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan’s life. Having missed her flight, she’s stuck at JFK airport and late to her father’s second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon-to-be stepmother Hadley’s never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport’s cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he’s British, and he’s sitting in her row. 

A long night on the plane passes in the blink of an eye, and Hadley and Oliver lose track of each other in the airport chaos upon arrival. Can fate intervene to bring them together once more?

Quirks of timing play out in this romantic and cinematic novel about family connections, second chances, and first loves. Set over a twenty-four-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver’s story will make you believe that true love finds you when you’re least expecting it. 

My Review: I really liked it. Hadley grew on me. She felt abandoned by her father who never came back from a buisness trip in England and falling in love with a another women while still being married. That was wrong. Charlotte was nice, for some reason I knew she wasn’t going to be mean. I was surprised by Oliver going to his Dad’s funeral and about what his dad did. That was a sad moment. I loved the moments between Hadley and Oliver, but I wish there was more. Now I need to go to the Airport and maybe find the Love of my life :)

4 out of 5 stars

Read: August. 5 - August. 7 2013 2:42 am

Review: Black Ice (Young Sherlock Holmes #3)

Description: A third case for teen Sherlock involves a heinous crime … and a brother with blood on his hands When Sherlock and Amyus Crowe, his American tutor, visit Sherlock’s brother, Mycroft, in London, all they are expecting is lunch and some polite conversation. What they find shocks both of them to the core: a locked room, a dead body, and Mycroft holding a knife. The police are convinced Mycroft is a vicious murderer, but Sherlock is just as convinced he is innocent. Threatened with the gallows, Mycroft needs Sherlock to save him. The search for the truth necessitates an incredible journey, from a railway station for dead bodies in London all the way to the frozen city of Moscow—where Sherlock is afoot in a world of secrets and danger.

My Review: I’m going to give it 3.5 stars. It was different from the first two books. It was still interesting with all the twists at the end and the little action. I felt the ending was kinda rushed. More new interesting characters to look out for in the future, Kyte’s Theatrical Company or Paradol Chamber members. If the author talks about them again. Looking forward to reading about Mrs. Eglantine in the next book.

3.5 out of 5 stars

Read: July. 31 - August. 5, 2013

Review: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Description: It's the year 2044, and the real world is an ugly place.

Like most of humanity, Wade Watts escapes his grim surroundings by spending his waking hours jacked into the OASIS, a sprawling virtual utopia that lets you be anything you want to be, a place where you can live and play and fall in love on any of ten thousand planets.

And like most of humanity, Wade dreams of being the one to discover the ultimate lottery ticket that lies concealed within this virtual world. For somewhere inside this giant networked playground, OASIS creator James Halliday has hidden a series of fiendish puzzles that will yield massive fortune--and remarkable power--to whoever can unlock them.

For years, millions have struggled fruitlessly to attain this prize, knowing only that Halliday's riddles are based in the pop culture he loved--that of the late twentieth century. And for years, millions have found in this quest another means of escape, retreating into happy, obsessive study of Halliday's icons. Like many of his contemporaries, Wade is as comfortable debating the finer points of John Hughes's oeuvre, playing Pac-Man, or reciting Devo lyrics as he is scrounging power to run his OASIS rig.

And then Wade stumbles upon the first puzzle.

Suddenly the whole world is watching, and thousands of competitors join the hunt--among them certain powerful players who are willing to commit very real murder to beat Wade to this prize. Now the only way for Wade to survive and preserve everything he knows is to win. But to do so, he may have to leave behind his oh-so-perfect virtual existence and face up to life--and love--in the real world he's always been so desperate to escape.

A world at stake.
A quest for the ultimate prize.
Are you ready?

My Review: I love everything about it, how its about games from the 80's, the whole plot, the characters, the romance, the humor, the details, the information (the was a lot of info, but to me it wasn't useless info), the author because he must of had to research all this 80's stuff unless he already knew stuff. Love the Game Action. I love when Aech and Wade met. And when Wade and Art3mis met, that was cute. Love the happy ending. I love the Oasis (being inside a game would be cool plus virtual school and all that other stuff that was mentioned in OASIS) but it's was kinda crazy how Wade can just lock himself inside all day without going out in the real world but people do, do that in real life too. But he found Love so he wouldn't spend all his time in OASIS anymore. Anyways, If you are a game nerd or just a nerd, this book is for you. Again, I LOVE THIS BOOK!

5 out of 5 stars

Read: July. 17 - July. 22 , 2013

Review: Howl's Moving Castle

Description: Sophie has the great misfortune of being the eldest of three daughters, destined to fail miserably should she ever leave home to seek her fate. But when she unwittingly attracts the ire of the Witch of the Waste, Sophie finds herself under a horrid spell that transforms her into an old lady. Her only chance at breaking it lies in the ever-moving castle in the hills: the Wizard Howl's castle. To untangle the enchantment, Sophie must handle the heartless Howl, strike a bargain with a fire demon, and meet the Witch of the Waste head-on. Along the way, she discovers that there's far more to Howl—and herself—than first meets the eye.

My Review: I seen the movie years ago and I love it, even own it. I just found out it was a book because back then I wasn't reading as much. It's sad to say, but I love the movie more than the book. I liked the book but it didn't 'WOW' me. I love the characters but sometimes Howl was annoying. In the movie he was childish and nice. In the book he is kinda mean. What I didn't like in the book was the lack of Sophie/Howl moments like in the movie. In the book, Sophie and Howl are always fighting or howl insults her. In the movie I can see the connection/Love from the beginning til the end. Somethings I was confused about which I'm not going to talk about. The last chapter was interesting, but in the ending Howl and sophie are together now. It mentions that sophie loved him, but Howl? I don't know what to say. I'm being Bias but I love the movie more. I'm scared to read book 2 because they are not the main characters and I want to read more about Sophie and Howl Life.

3 out of 5 Stars

Read: July. 14 - July. 17, 2013

Review: Rebel Fire (Young Sherlock Holmes #2)

Desription: Fourteen-year-old Sherlock Holmes knows that Amyus Crowe, his mysterious American tutor, has some dark secrets. But he didn’t expect to find John Wilkes Booth, the notorious assassin, apparently alive and well in England—and Crowe somehow mixed up in it. When no one will tell you the truth, sometimes you have to risk all to discover it for yourself. And so begins an adventure that will take Sherlock across the Atlantic, to the center of a deadly web—where a friend is in peril and a defeated army threatens to rise again.

Andrew Lane’s exciting second case for the teenage Sherlock leads the young detective to America, straight into the heart of a shocking conspiracy.

My Review: I'm giving it 4.5 Stars. A lot of action which I liked and the different Scenery. Great details on whats going on at certain scenes and on different objects like the design of the S.S. Scotia. Like the first book, I love how the evil guy is disfigured or something like that. (SPOILERS) Baron Maupertuis bones was broken and he used these things to be pull like a puppet to move around. Duke Balthassar used leeches to stay alive from an illnes. They both used animals, Bees & Cougars as weapons. They are insteresting characters and I hope there are more like them in the other books. I thought this book was going to be more about John Wilkes Booth, but I liked how it ended up. I would of liked to know if they found balthassar body or if Sherlock told Crowe? But I think Crowe know something happened?

4.5 out of 5 stars

Read: July. 10 - July. 14, 2013 2:45am

Review: The Soul of All Living Creatures

Description - Based on the author’s twenty-five years of experience as a veterinarian and veterinary behaviorist, The Soul of All Living Creatures delves into the inner lives of animals – from whales, wolves, and leopards to mice, dogs, and cats – and explores the relationships we forge with them.

As an emergency room clinician four years out of veterinary school, Dr. Vint Virga had a life-changing experience: he witnessed the power of simple human contact and compassion to affect the recovery of a dog struggling to survive after being hit by a car.  Observing firsthand the remarkably strong connection between humans and animals inspired him to explore the world from the viewpoint of animals and taught him to respect the kinship that connects us.

With The Soul of All Living Creatures, Virga draws from his decades in veterinary practice to reveal how, by striving to perceive the world as animals do, we can enrich our own appreciation of life, enhance our character, nurture our relationships, improve our communication with others, reorder our values, and deepen our grasp of spirituality.  Virga discerningly illuminates basic traits shared by both humans and animals and makes animal behavior meaningful, relevant, and easy to understand.  Insightful and eloquent, The Soul of All Living Creaturesoffers an intimate journey into the lives of our fellow creatures and a thought-provoking promise of what we can learn from spending time with them.

My Review - I won this book from the goodreads first-reads giveaway.

I liked this book because there was some stuff I can agree on and agreed on. I even used post-its for the parts i like. Like people talking to there dogs or seeing them as part of the family. Thats how I see my dog, as family. Also I understand about that the one who listens to you best is your animal because thats how I feel sometimes. The stories was okay, it shows owners concern for there animals and that they would do anything for them.

3 out of 5 Stars

July. 1 - July. 7, 2013

Review: Death Cloud (Young Sherlock Holmes #1)

Description - The year is 1868, and Sherlock Holmes is fourteen. His life is that of a perfectly ordinary army officer’s son: boarding school, good manners, a classical education – the backbone of the British Empire. But all that is about to change. With his father suddenly posted to India, and his mother mysteriously ‘unwell’, Sherlock is sent to stay with his eccentric uncle and aunt in their vast house in Hampshire. So begins a summer that leads Sherlock to uncover his first murder, a kidnap, corruption and a brilliantly sinister villain of exquisitely malign intent . . . The Death Cloud is the first in a series of novels in which the iconic detective is reimagined as a brilliant, troubled and engaging teenager – creating unputdownable detective adventures that remain true to the spirit of the original books.

My Review - I really like it, the whole idea of a teenage Sherlock Holmes, to see how he was and what made him become the man he is. I love how the author got approval from the Doyle Estate and Family. That shows that they believe in the author to give Sherlock a good background on his teenage years and not mess it up. 

As for the book, it has good writing, great characters, great plot and a good pace. The ending left me wanting more. And it's a book I would like to own (book from the library) and re-read. 

One thing that got me wondering is the housekeeper, Mrs Eglantine. I thought she was in on these mysterious death and Mycroft said "she is no friend to the Holmes family" then why do she work for them? And what is the next plans for the Baron? What happens to Matty? Well I guess I got to keep reading to find out.

4 out of 5 Stars

Read: June. 27 - May. 7, 2013

July TBR

I might read more books but these are the ones I really want to read this month.

2013 June Wrap Up

Golden Boy by Abigail Tarttelin (5 out of 5 Stars)

The World of the Hunger Games by Kate Egan (3 out of 5 Stars)

Friends with Boys by Faith Erin Hicks (4 out of 5 Stars)