End of the Year Survey

 (Courtesy of The Perpetual Page Turner)

So, after I saw this @Addicted to Romance, I decided to join in the fun as I have been meaning to put up my list of favorite books I read this year but I didn't get around to it before and this sounded fun. This list covers books that I read for the first time in 2013, regardless of when they were first published.

And here it goes:

1. Best Book You Read in 2013?

Middle Grade: Pandora the Curious by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams

YA: My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Contemporary Romance: Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

Historical Romance: The Countess Conspiracy by Courtney Milan

Best Over All: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. 

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going to Love More But Didn't?

Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle - don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed it tons and it was super fun and I love Frederick, Duncan and Snow (and even Briar Rose) but Liam was a douche through out most of it and it killed my buzz a little. 

3.  Most Surprising (in a Good Way) book of 2013?

Paper Chains by Nicola Moriarty - I loved this book so, so much. The writing was beautiful and it twisted and tore at my heart.

4. Best Book you read in 2013 and that you recommended to people the most in 2013

Probably it was Rainbow Rowell's books, each time I read a new one I would rave about it and recommend it. Also, Paper Chains and If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch

5. Best Series You Discovered in 2013

MG: Confectionately Yours by Lisa Papademetriou 

Romance: Anchor Island by Terri Osburn

YA: I don't think I started any YA series this year, actually. 

6. Favorite New Author You Discovered in 2013

Rainbow Rowell, hands down. 

7. Best Book that was out of your Comfort Zone or was a new genre for you?

If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch - I go out of my way to avoid books that I know will have a very dark subject matter, I couldn't avoid this. Read it all in one night, and it broke my heart. 

Special Mention to Superman: Birthright, because I so don't like comics, but this one was pretty good

8. Most Thrilling Un-putable-down book in 2013?

Courtney Milan's the Countess Conspiracy and Crash Into You by Katie McGarry. 

9. Book You read in 2013 that you're most likely to re-read Next Year.

Take a Bow, My Life Next Door, Fangirl and The Bride Wore Size 12

10. Favorite Cover of a book you read in 2013?

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

11. Most Memorable Character of 2013

Everyone but Liam from Hero's Guide to Storming The Castle and George from My Life Next Door

12. Most Beautifully Written book you read in 2013.

Paper Chains by Nicola Moriarty and Quintana of Charyn by Melina Marchetta

13. Book that had the Greatest Impact on you in 2013

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

14. Book You Can't Believe You waited until 2013 to finally read.

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell and Take a Bow by Elizabeth Eulberg

15. Favorite Passage or Quote of a Book You Read in 2013

"When facing unbeatable odds, just think of yourself as unbeatable odd." - Duncan (Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle)

16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read in 2013

Shortest: My Everything by Heidi McLaughlin

Longest: Quintana of Charyn 

17. Book that Had a Scene in it that had You reeling and dying to talk to someone about it?

Fangirl

18. Favorite Relationship from a Book You Read in 2013:

Friendship: Take a Bow by Elizabeth Eulberg

Romantic: Attachments by Rainbow Rowell.

19. Favorite Book You Read in 2013 from an Author You had Read Before?

Take a Vow by Elizabeth Eulberg and Crash Into You by Katie McGarry

20. Best Book You read in 2013 basely solely on the recommendation of someone else

How to Marry a Highlander by Katherine Ashe (recommended by Daisy@Between the Pages)

21. Genre You read the most in 2013?

Contemporary Romance, apparently. 

22. Newest Fictional Crush from a Book You Read in 2013

Sebastian Malheur from the Countess Conspiracy, and Jase from My Life Next Door 

23. Best 2013 debut you read in 2013?

The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider and Riding on Air by Melissa Gilbert

24. Most vivid World/Imagery of a book you read in 2013?

Quintana of Charyn by Melina Marchetta

25. Book that was the most fun to read in 2013. 

Hero's Guide to Saving Storming the Castle by Christopher Healy

26. Book that Made You Cry or Nearly Cry in 2013?

The Countess Conspiracy by Courtney Milan, Paper Chains by Nicola Moriarty and If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch

27. Book You Read in 2013 that you think got Overlooked in 2013 (Or when it came out)

Two of a Kind by Yona Zelda McDonough

Looking Ahead

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2013 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2014? 

My Most Excellent Year by Steve Kuger, I've had it on my TBR pile for ages, but I just haven't gotten around to it.

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2014 (non-debut)? 

Hero's Guide to Being an Outlaw by Christopher Healy

Brown Eyed Girl by Lisa Kleypas.

3. 2014 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

I don't really follow debuts that closely, more like I find out about them as they are published. 

4. Series Ending You Are Most Anticipating in 2014? 

Stephanie Perkins's Anna-Lola-Isla. I've been waiting for so long for Isla and the Happily Ever After that it's probably  not going to meet my expectations, but I just want it to be over already.

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging In 2014? I

I hope to read more fun stuff, to plain just read more. As for blogging, I hope I get into some sort of schedule that allows me to post regularly.


Well, that's me!!
Happy New Year everyone!! May this one be full of awesome.

Best of 2011

Hey guys! Over at Inkcrush, Nomes has been running a survey all week about the best books of 2011. Since her survey is massive and I was sort of booked for the week, I decided to do a condensed version of it all and picked five questions of each category.

And her we go:

Favorite book of 2011
The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta - because I loved seeing the Finch-Mackee family rebuild itself after having imploded. And I loved finally getting to know Tom Mackee a bit better.
Good Oil by Laura Buzo - This is such an honest book about how hard is to grow up whether you're 15 or 21. Amelia is such a lovely girl, and Chris is a bit of a jerk but so unflinchingly honest about himself that I couldn't help liking him.
Where She Went by Gayle Foreman - I usually don't read books with a male narrator, maybe because I don't think I'll relate, but I felt Adam's loss and his pain and his love.

Best Ache-y, Heart-Breaking, Tear-jerking read
If I Stay/Where She Went - The story of Adam and Mia touched me in many ways, and it also felt very real. The bad things that happened weren't The Obvious for Obvious Reasons, so it made it all the more painful.

Delicious Rainy Day Comfort Read
Friday's Child by Georgette Heyer - It's a story that it's fun and cute, and a sweet old fashioned romance in the very best sense of the world. It makes me happy to read this book.

Series I'm Loving. 
Paranormlacy by Kiesten White - Because Evie is made of Awesome
Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins - Because Sophie is kick butt, Archer is hot and I LOVE Cal.
The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade - Because Will and Alona are such a opposites-attract but it works couple. And Alona is such snarkily fun.
Princess for Hire by Lindsay Leavitt - Because I love Desi, and her adventures and how she finds herself when she pretends to be others.

Had No Idea I Would Love This So
The Art of Forgetting by Camille Noe Pagan - More chick-lit than romance, I loved seeing these people read their normal lives and their every day problems and the way they solved them.
The Ghost and the Goth - when I saw the cover I thought it was cute but nothing else. Well, it turns out there is a lot more to the story than that.
The False Princess by Eillis O'Neal - I'm not a Fantasy girl, but I loved Sinda who has to go through rough adjustments but still goes out there on an epic adventure, saves the day and gets the guy.

Best Couple
Adam and Mia from If I Stay/Where She Went - because their love story rang so true, and their happiness was such hard-won.
Tom and Tara from The Piper's Son - A large part of the book is about Tom finding his way back home, and Tara is in many ways a symbol of that. They aren't together for most of the book, but in my mind there is no doubt they are a couple.

Who I So Want To Be Friends with
Libby and Deb (boy) from Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink - They are Best Friends themselves and they so made me want to get in with them. Deb loves all things fashion, and Libby all things history, romance and BBC. Match made in heaven.

Best YA parents
Kat and Denny in If I Stay/Where She Went - Cool, quirky parents that loved their children, loved each other and were rock and roll even after they grew up.

Favorite Sibling Relationship
Anabel and Tom from The Piper's Son - These two are mad about each other, they love and tease each other and Anabel is the one thing that never sucks in Tom's life, even at his worse, Anabel is his ray of goodness. See what he thinks of his sister:

"She's beautiful and, God, he loves the fact that she still wears a ponytail and looks like a kid her age. She's running to him and there is nothing graceful about Anabel because the Finch women aren't really that graceful. They're just beautiful and smart and fierce and ridiculously uncool."

Who I fell completely In love with
Marcus from Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn - Most people see him as this aloof, arrogant guy but the truth is he doesn't know how to flirt, he's shy, has secret love for all things dessert and is fiercely loyal to those he loves.
Cal from Demonglass - I have a tendency to root for the guy who never gets the girl but Cal is honest and good and hot. Yeah, I totally go for that.

Best First Chapter 
Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn - Not so much the first chapter as the Prologue of the book, is so lovely, about how Marcus gets introduced to the infamous Smythe-Smith clan. Loved it.
The Reluctant Heiress - The prologue and the first chapter are AWESOME there is Vienna and it's lovely. Then the heroine shows up and the book goes to hell. But the beginning is lovely.

Best Plot Twist/Revelation
The Royal Treatment by Lindsay Leavitt - I had a serious OMG moment during this book, actually a couple of them.
Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta - I'm so not spoiling of course but I can't wait for the  next book! It just left me hanging int he most awesomely awful way.

Heart-breaking-tear-jerking moment
Froi of the Exiles, there is this part where I CRIED and CRIED and then CRIED SOME MORE. Like majorly.
Where She Went, when Adam sort of gives up: "This whole night was has been a mistake. It's not going to let me rewind. Or unmake the mistakes I've made. Or the promises I've made. Or have her back. Or have me back."

Best Swoon Worthy Moment
Adam when he tells to Mia (in Where She Went): "You dumbass. You don't share me. You own me." 
Tom and Tara in The Piper's Son: 

“I spilt my guts out all over the arrival lounge at Sydney’s domestic airport, Tara. It’s as bloody romantic as you’ll ever get from me. Where are you?”

“At a public phone in arrivals. I’ve run out of credit. I used my reprimanding voice and told my parents and Frankie and Justine that they couldn’t come near me for the next five minutes. I can see the four of them from here. They’re talking about me. They have a look of fear on their face. Even my parents, who created me, are afraid. I see that look on a lot of people’s faces when they see me, Tom. Never yours.”

“I keep it hidden, but it’s there. Believe me, you frighten me to death, but for different reasons.”

Favorite Meet Cute
Libby and Garret in Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink - he fishes her out of a barrel. :P

Fave Book Title
What Can(t) Wait - I loved the touch with the ( ) because it's both mathematical and technically correct.
Good Oil - Because it doesn't hint at what the story is about but it surprisingly has to do with it.
Dreams of Significant Girls - Book was not for me but I really liked this title.

Fave Reading Experience 
The Piper's Son -reading a book by Melina is always an experience and I loved this. It broke my heart and little by little put it back together. It made me laugh seconds after I had been crying.

Lived Up to the Hype
The Piper's Son, it's so good it hurts.

Killer Cliffhanger
Froi of the Exiles - I screamed about three different times when I was reading the epilogue.
The Royal Treatment - I know that, for sure, I screamed two times during the last leg of this book.

Can't Believe I waited This Long to Read
Friday's Child - such a classic, and I put it it off until this year.
If I Stay - I had owned the book for almost a year before I read it. I'm bad. I know
North of Beautiful - See above.

Favorite Covers of Books Read in 2011

Lonely Hearts Club: A Twist on a classic // Dreams: There is such a sense of possibility about this cover. 

Supernaturally: Evie in an awesome dress! // Good Oil: I've always loved this cover

Kat: Had to put it in full

Special Mention to the Ghost and the Goth covers! Love them.

Sorry there are not active links, but blogger has been messing with me lately and I don't wanna risk it!

Faves of 2011 (so far) - Round Three: The Scenes & The Random

Alright, so Nomes @ Inkcrush is running this awesome survey about the best books of 2011 so far, and I decided to join. Now, my only particular rule for this survey is that I shall talk about books I read for the first time during 2011, regardless of the year they were first published.

Okay, so this is the last installment of this survey! Lets get to it - but be warned, I'll try not to but there might be some spoilers.

 

the scenes

1. best first chapter

The Reluctant Heiress by Eva Ibbotson - now, let me be clear and say that I didn't like this book because I seriously didn't like the heroine. But the beginning of this book, when it chronicles the life and trials of the hero, Guy Farne, from the time he was found and taken to an orphanage and eventually adopted, and became a rich, successful man. When he fell in love both with a girl and with the city of Vienna - that first chapter was AMAZING.

I wanted to know more about Guy, I was half way in love with him by then. But he was cursed with a super sucky heroine that eventually brought the whole thing down.


2. best climax

This one is hard, but I got to say that I really liked the climax of Queen of the Dead by Stacy Kade, because it was a really game changing moment. I'm not gonna say what happens, obviously.

3. best ending

The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta - that ending was everything I hoped for. It was hopeful, it gave me just enough conclusion, and it left me feeling like these people I had grown to love so much were on their way to being truly happy. 

Also, Good Oil by Laura Buzo - the ending felt right. There was really no other way it could have ended and I loved how it was executed.


4. best plot twist/revelation (no spoilers!)

The Royal Treatment by Lindsey Leavitt - I can't say what it was but I loved it to pieces and it's the reason why I can't wait for the next book of that series


5. scariest/most disturbing scene

I don't really do scary or disturbing - at least, I haven't this year.

6. steamiest scene (or sweetest/sexiest kiss award)
For the Steamy side:

Badlands Bride by Cheryl St. John. Yeah, sex in the frontier! I was surprised, but that was probably the hottest scene I've read all year.

Shout out to Healing Hearts by Taryn Kincaid - it was a short story but surprisingly steamy.

Sexiest Kiss: I'm going to break the rules here a little and say... every time Heathcliff and Miranda kiss in Moby Clique.

7. best swoon-worthy moment

Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins - Archer and Sophie in the windmill, after battling some ghouls or something. That's all I'm sayin'.

And in Where She Went when Adam and Mia -in flash back -are talking about her family going to one of Adam's concerts and Mia was worried because she didn't want to share Adam, and he tells her "You don't share me. You own me."  Definite swoon for me.


8. biggest nail-biting moment

I'm going to hate myself for saying this, but the will they, won't they moment at the end of We'll Always Have Summer. Same for Where She Went, when I wasn't sure how Mia and Adam would end, it made my stomach twist with worry.


9. most hilarious scene

Friday's Child by Georgette Heyer. Every time someone trying to explain what Ferdy meant about some 'Greek fellow'. You have to read it to understand but it had me shaking with laughter.


10. most heart-breaking/tear-jerker moment
If I Stay and Where She Went by Gayle Forman, all that book, particularly toward the end. It broke my heart over and over, and I let it because it hurt more if I didn't keep going.



the random

1. fave first sentence

"Dreams. Gossamer images that most people carried with them into their sleep, but for Dallas Leigh, they were the incentive that woke him before dawn, the impetus that pushed him toward midnight.

Dreams were the stepping stones to glory." -  Texas Glory by Lorraine Heath.

2. fave book title
The Art of Forgetting

What Can(t) Wait

The Lonely Heart's Club

3. fave reading experience (ie: created a great reading memory)
The Piper's Son - I just have such a visceral connection to this book. I can remember running around doing chores and listening to it, being afraid to start it because I already loved over half the people in the story... and well, a bunch of things. 

4. book with the best food in it (made me so crazy-envious-hungry)
Katie and the Cupcake Cure by Coco Simon - There are CUPCAKES all over! The girls form a club to bake and EAT cupcakes!!!!!

5. book with the most sensual weather (made you shiver/sweat)

Well, I loved all the descriptions of the beach in January in Starfish Sisters, I could feel the heat and the sand and how the girls felt when they were surfing even though I had no idea what they were doign surf-wise.  

6. most embarrassing book cover (feeling sheepish in public)

The US cover of The Piper's Son and Call Me Irresistible because that 'hand' seriously looks like a foot.

7. can’t believe you waited this long to read the book (!)

 Friday's Child by Georgette Heyer - I'm a huge fan of romance and she's and iconic writer of romance yet I had never tried her books.

That's it on my side!

This has been a great way to look back at what has been going on this year and I can't wait to keep on reading!

Love,

Alex


PS - Sorry for the funky formatting, again, Blogger is being difficult.

Faves of 2011 (so far) - Round Two: The Characters

Alright, so Nomes @ Inkcrush is running this awesome survey about the best books of 2011 so far, and I decided to join. Now, my only particular rule for this survey is that I shall talk about books I read for the first time during 2011, regardless of the year they were first published. 

Now, onto Round Two!

1. best female POV

Terra (North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley) She's observant, she's so lost, she's smart about somethings and a complete idiot about others. She feels so very real.

And the Girls from Starfish Sisters by J.C. Burke - Micki, Gerogie, Ace and Kia - four very different voices, four very different girls, yet I believed each of them. It's one book, one author but I never mistake one girl for another, and they are real to me.

2. best male POV

Tie between Tom Mackee (The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta) and Adam (Where She Went by Gayle Forman) because they were absolutely believable in their mistakes and the choices they make. I never thought "this is a woman writing a man" I just thought they were Tom and Adam.

3. Best couple

Tara and Tom (The Piper's Son), because they had to earn their being together. They were friends for years, they had a one-and-a-half night stand, and then Tom's life imploded, and for a while it seemed like that was it, until Tom decided to fix his life and knew that she had to be in it and he sets about being her friend again. They talk, and they listen and they fall in love again.

I'm going to share one of my favorite scenes of the book, it happens near the end, so beware!!

"...They are talking about me. They have a look of fear on their face. Even my parents, who created me, are afraid. I see that look on a lot of people's faces when they see me, Tom. Never yours." 

"I keep it hidden, but it's there. Believe me, you frighten me to death, but for different reasons."

4. who i so want to be best friends with

Alona Dare (Ghost and the Goth by Stacy Kade) I know she's the queen bee, and that she's mean and a little bitchy, but she's fun and I've actually have had friends like that and they are mad fun. She is loyal to her friends, and has a good heart underneath it all, plus with each book of the series I like her more.

5. who i fell completely in love with (new literary crush)

Cal (Demonglass by Karen Hawkins), I adored him. I so want him for my own. He's such an amazing, steady guy and I love him for it. So, while other girls fight over Archer, I'm going to kidnap Cal and keep him in my closet and he shall be my love slave.

6. worst (best) villain

Melaina (The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal) - the lengths this woman goes, the way she plots and schemes to get what she wants, and how she tramps all over whomever stands in her way. She literally sets the whole thing in motion, without her there is no story, and that's the mark of a true villain.

7. best character twist (who you loved then hated or vice versa)

Hated then Loved:  

Meredith (Princess for Hire by Lindsay Leavitt), she was such an abrasive character at the start, but I liked her once I knew more of her story.

Conrad (Summer Series by Jenny Han), I never really got the swoon where he was concerned, other than he was older and cute, but I never understood him until I got to the last book of the series. Then I got him, and only then I liked him.

Loved Then Hated:

Nora (Treasure Map of Boys by E. Lockhart) - I think that, in the end, she let me down as a friend. I always thought she was a good friend and a sweet person, but the more I get to know her the more I realize she's a bit judgmental.

Tessa (The Reluctant Heiress by Eva Ibbotson) - See, I was ready to like Tessa, I thought she would be another too sweet girl by Ibbotson; but boy was I wrong. Tessa starts nice enough but quickly I realized she was simply Too Stupid to Live and that's just not something I can over look, plus, I take heroine suckiness personal

8. best kick-arse female

Desi (Princess for Hire), she uses her powers for good and she stands up for others, and she tries to do what's right rather than what's easy. Also Micki (Starfish Sisters), she's a girl who has every reason to be bitter but she consciously fights the toxic feelings and is a cheerful, talented girl who's trying to do the best she can under the circumstances.

9 best kick-arse male

Mmm... I don't know.  Honest. I've loved some of the guys I've read this years but for me being a Kick-ass guy implies a ton of things.

10. broke your heart the most

Adam and Mia (Where She Went)- hands down, their story and all they go through. Some seriously bad stuff happens to them, and it's just... well, won't spoil, but you know.

11. best/worst character names

Best: Sophie Mercer (Demonglass), I might be a bit biased because Sophie is one of my favorite names ever; but I just love a normal, down to earth name.

Also, Amelia Hayes (Good Oil by Laura Buzo), it's just such a lovely name, has a nice ring to it.

Worst: Belly (Summer Series), because really it was just a ridiculous name. 

BONUS: 5 fave covers (from books i have read)

 

Kat, Incorrigible - fits the book, it's whimsical and adorable. 

The Ghost and The Goth - oh, it does show the mood of the book, I swear, even though they guy isn't exactly as I imagine Will, the girl is completely Alona. 

Good Oil - Love this one to death, don't know why, I just do.

The Piper's Son - I refuse to aknowledge the US cover, I think the Aussie one is amazing, fits the book and it blows me away. 

Dreams of Significant Girls - I didn't like this book but I loved the cover, it has such a sense of... possibility.

Faves of 2011 (so far) - Round One: The Books

Alright, so Nomes @ Inkcrush is running this awesome survey about the best books of 2011 so far, and I decided to join. Now, my only particular rule for this survey is that I shall talk about books I read for the first time during 2011, regardless of the year they were first published.

Now, onto the categories!

1. favourite book read so far in 2011:
The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta - because it's just too good for words. Melina Marchetta is one of those authors that you can trust your heart to, she always delivers and amazing story and great characters.

2. most powerful book:
The Piper's Son as well as Good Oil by Laura Buzo, both books left me aching for weeks and I couldn't get them out of my head, plus they are so realistic. Shout out for If I Stay and Where She Went by Gayle Forman

3. brilliantly funny:
Friday's Child by Georgette Heyer - Might sound weird since this book was first published in 1944, but this story made me snort and laugh uncontrollably, which only goes to show you that when something is really funny, it doesn't matter how old it is. Special mention to The Ghost and The Goth, because I love how mean/funny Alona is, and to The Lonely Heart's Club by Elizabet Eulberg because Penny was just such a Beatles nut.

4. best ache-y, heart-breaking, tear-jerker read: 

If I Stay/Where She Went by Gail Forman, I think I went through half a box of Kleenex when I was reading these two books, and I even had to take a break between them because it was just a bit hard for my fragile psyche. And the Texas Trilogy by Lorraine Heath, each book tells the story of one of the brothers - Dallas, Houston and Austin - as they find the courage to love and it's just sad but hopeful all around.

5. most beautiful story:
For me, it has to be The Piper's Son again. The things the Finch-Mackee family goes through, the fact that it had me in tears one second and laughing the next, the fact that you could just feel the love these people had for each other leaping out of the page... it was simply beautiful.

 
6. delicious rainy day comfort read:
Kat, Incorrigible by Stephanie Burgis - This book is magical, lighthearted, has an adorable protagonist and is about sisters loving-though-not-always-liking each other. I loved getting to know the mischievous Kat and going with her in her adventures.

7. adrenalin-fuelled, unputdownable award:

I've actually been very mellow this year with my reading, at least so far - so, nothing yet!

8. the beautiful prose award:
North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley - because it's such a great story about being lost and finally found, about loving and accepting yourself, even if you're a mess because that's just who you are.

9. most atmospheric and vivid setting:
Kat, Incorrigible - set in 1803, the author does a great job at putting you in the time and place, with the outfits, the restrictions of lady-like behavior and the limited options the Stephenson sisters had in life. And also, Friday's Child - it's set in Regency England and you totally feel it, the speech, the outfits and the attitudes of the people in the book put you there.

 
10. i-so-want-to-go-there award:

I'm not sure I get this category, but if it means a book that made me want to go somewhere then I'm going to say Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins because it made me want to go to England and run around around London and explore a big, ole, creepy house in the countryside!

11. most original and imaginative:
The False Princess, because Eilis O'Neal created an amazing and unique world full of magic, deceptions and peril, and I loved every bit of it.

12. best under-appreciated, hidden gem book:
Good Oil by Laura Buzo and Starfish Sisters by J. C. Burke - I hadn't heard about either of those until I began to look for books for the Aussie YA Reading Challenge, but both books are choke-full of amazing, vivid characters and great story telling.

13. i-had-no-idea-i-would-love this-so award:
The Ghost and the Goth by Stacy Kade, as I had original dismissed this book due to the fact that I was having a bit of a paranormal overload, but there was so much more to this book, and I'm loving it.  Also,  The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal, I usually don't read that much fantasy but I fell in love with this world and these characters.

14. most haunting story: 

Where She Went by Gayle Forman, mostly because sometimes I still find myself thinking about Adam and Mia, just out of the blue they jump into my thoughts.

15. outside my comfort zone but gosh how i loved it:
The Art of Forgetting by Camile Noe Pagan - It's more chick-lit than romance and I often have trouble loving chick lit so I tend to avoid it, but I really liked this story. It's more adult than my usual, definitely contemporary and a lovely read.

16. series that i’m loving:

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins- Demonglass was the second book of the series and it was full of action, secrets and fun, plus, two totally swoon worthy guys! Ghost and the Goth by Stacy Kade, just started reading this series but I love it and can't wait for the next one.. Princess for Hire by Lindsey Leavitt, because its funny and sassy and empowering. Special mention for the Goddess Girls by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams.

17. most memorable voice award:
Tom Mackee from The Piper's Son. I had his voice in my head for weeks and weeks, and even my own inner voice started to sound like a 21 year old Australian guy - and yeah, I said "mate" and "heaps" a lot - it just got to me that much.

18. completely awesome premise award:
The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg- the idea of a club where being a strong girl is awesome, of friends that support you no matter what and that want the best for you. I loved it.

19. would make the best movie:
Princess for Hire and The Royal Treatment by Lindsey Leavitt, they are prime Disney movie material, and I love it for it.

20. want to re-read already

The Piper's Son and I'm actually in the middle of re-reading it.


Okay, so this is it for day one!

Let's see what round to brings on Monday!

Love,

Ps- Sorry for the funky formatting, but Blogger is hating on me right now!

End of 2010 Survey!!

Jamie at The Perpetual Page Turner put together this awesome bookish survey for the end of the year and when I saw it at The Book Scoop, I couldn't help myself and decided to do it as well.

So, here we go:

1. Best book of 2010? Probably Paranormalcy by Kiersten White and Into the Wild Nerd Yonder by Julie Halpern, both books surprised me so much and I ended up adoring both of them.

2. Worst book of 2010? The Comeback by Marlene Perez, it was just such a flat book where nothing much happened and the protagonist wasn't even deliciously evil so I could hate her with pleasure a là Regina George.

3. Most Disappointing Book of 2010? Sad to say but Scarlett Fever by Maureen Johnson, I was so looking forward to it, but I just couldn't get into it much. And I felt so cheated out of the ending.

4. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2010? Into the Wild Nerd Yonder by Julie Halpern, The Miles Between by Mary E. Pearson, Tangled by Carolyn Mackler.

5. Book you recommended to people most in 2010? I ALWAYS recommend The Bard Academy Series by Cara Lockwood because it's absolutely amazing and so underestimated! Jane by April Linder I recommended a lot this year, and Into the Wild Nerd Yonder (sorry for the single-mind track).

6. Best series you discovered in 2010? Paranormalcy by Kiersten White and Hex Hall (by Rachel Hawkins). Both are kick offs of series but I liked the fist installment so much that I'm totally betting on them to be awesome.

7. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2010? Kiersten White, Rachel Hawkins, April Linder, Julie Halpern.

8. Most hilarious read of 2010? Into the Wild Nerd Yonder, so many laugh out loud moments.

9. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2010? Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter was very hard to put down for me, I think it's my favorite out of the series so far. Also, Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George, I read it in just a few hours and loved it.

10. Book you most anticipated in 2010? Finnikin of the Rock by goddess Melina Marchetta and The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong.

11. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2010?

12. Most memorable character in 2010? Jessie Sloan (of Into the Wild Nerd Yonder), Evie (of Paranormalcy)

13. Most beautifully written book in 2010? Heart's Blood by Juliet Marillier, her writing totally transports you, and it stays with you for a long time.

14. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2010? Well, it's a re-read but Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta always lingers in my heart for a long time after I read it. Other than that, probably Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr, her books have this amazing capacity of making me uncomfortable but in the very best way, they make me think.

15. Book you can't believe you waited UNTIL 2010 to finally read? I don't know, lol, I sort of read most of the major classics between ages 9 and 13. Wilde (love!), Tolstoi, Austen (love), Byron (Bleh), Shakespeare (somewhat bleh), the Bronte sisters (love/hate), Kippling (love), Scott (love), Verne (love/hate), etc. So yeah...

Book Blogging in 2010 (optional)

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2010? The Book Scoop, Rowena reads the same kind of books I do and I love reading her reviews, and I sort of rely on her taste for authors I haven't read yet. And Addicted to Romance in the historical romance front, she's always putting new books on my radar. Not new but I love Sandy a.k.a. Pirate Penguin, she's so funny.

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2010?
Probably the one for Meg Cabot's Insatiable, because it was so hard not to gush and I'm such a Meg Cabot fan girl!

3. Best discussion you had on your blog?

4. Most thought-provoking review or discussion you read on somebody else's blog?
Definitely YA and Bad Romance, which was a post written by Meg@In Which a Girl Reads. Such thoughtful discussion of the way YA (particularly of the paranormal vent) is portraying romance lately.

5. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)? I'm going to say Busting the Newbie Blues (which I just did last week), such a lovely thought behind that event.

6. Best moment of book blogging in 2010? Probably getting an ARC of Insatiable with a personalized note by Meg Cabot inside *g* I felt like a rock star.

7. Best bookish discovery (book related sites, book stores, etc.) ? International Book Tours (awesome site for those of us blogging outside the US), The Book Depository and Net Galley.