Listmaniac: Books I'm really looking forward in 2014

Okay, so this is my last list, at least for right now, where I tell you all about the books I'm most looking forward in this 2014. I think it's officially my first post of the year!!

Anyway, in no particular order, here they are:

YA/MG

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

I'm the first one to admit I'm not a huge fan of Jenny Han, but this book sounds pretty awesome and though I didn't love The Summer I Turned Pretty Series, it wasn't all entirely bad.

What I Thought Was True by Huntley Fitzpatrick 

I loved My Life Next Door, it was such a good contemporary YA book, so I'm really looking forward to this one on those grounds alone, plus she writes some pretty awesome guys.

Better Off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg

I've discovered this pattern with Ms Eulberg, I love one of her books, don't care about the next, then love it again. I didn't care for the previous book, but if this patten holds true I'm going to love this one.

Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

I'm really intrigued by this, plus I kind of liked Amy and Roger's Epic Detour so, yeah.

Solving for Ex by Leigh Ann Kopans

New to Me author but she's doing a retelling of Mansfied Park, and Fanny (well, her name is Ashley in this) gets to be a super awesome math wiz. Totally sign me up.

The Chapel Wars by Linsey Levitt

Love Linsey Levitt, so I'm basically going to read whatever she publishes.

Hero's Guide to being an Outlaw by Christopher Healy

I love, love, love this series and the third book sounds like it's going to be a riot!

Take Me On by Katie McGarry

Well, yeah, I liked Crash into You a lot and I'm intrigued to stay in this world, so I'm sticking around for this one.

Romance:

Brown Eyed Girl by Lisa Kleypas

Lisa Kleypas is going back to the Travis Family to write about the last brother standing, Joe, and I'm super pumped for it! the only thing that would make me happier would be if she got back to historicals, because I love those best of all. Still, I'll take Joe Travis

The Mistress Rebellion by Courtney Milan

Since she wrote one of my favorite books of last year - The Countess Conspiracy -  and I actually grew to like Free Marshall on that one, I'm really looking forward to her story. 

Her Kind of Trouble by Sarah Mayberry

Currently, one of my very few auto-buys in the romance genre, I don't love all of Ms Mayberry's books with the same intensity, but I always have a goo time. 

Landline by Rainbow Rowell

Because with every book she writes, Rainbow Rowell gets better and better, and because Attachments was one of the best contemporary romances I've read in a good, long while.

The King by J.R. Ward

I gave up on this series a long time ago but we are going back to Beth and Wrath and I guess hope springs eternal that I'll get some Rhage thrown in the mix. (Yes, I'm aware the dude's names are utterly ridiculous). 

Hidden by Catherine McKenzie

I love Catherine McKenzie's books because they always have such unusual plots, yet they always ring true and I always wind up rooting for her characters.  Technically not a romance but there are usually some pretty strong romantic elements. 

Special Shout Out: Dark Lycan by Christine Feehan

Dmitri and Skyler's book. FINALLY! 16 books after they were introduced and 7 books since I gave a damn about this series. Huzzah! 

So, that's me! And I promise this will be the last list for a while!

Next time some actual reviews! 

Love, 

Alex

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.

Book Review: The Countess Conspiracy by Courtney Milan

At First Sight: Sebastian Malheur is a private man who has a way with the ladies and loves making people smile. He also happens to be one of the leading experts on evolution, inheritance and reproduction, something none of his friends would have ever pegged him for growing up, but which has made him both revered and vilified through out England for the past five years.

But there is a small problem though, all those theories and papers he reads aren't really his, they belong to his best friend Violet Waterfield, dowager Countess of Cambury. Violet and Sebastian grew up together and as adults they have kept each other pretty close, even through Violet's marriage to another man.

For her, Sebastian would do anything, even play the part of a progressive scientist.

Violet's theories and experiments gave her strength at points of her life where nothing else would, same as Sebastian, who was always around and never asked questions, just tried to make her smile. Having seen what the public has done to Sebastian - how he's called a rake and a degenerate - she's terrified of what'll happen if it's ever found that she's the one behind all the scandalous discoveries.

More over, since she was a child, Violet was taught to fear scandal and to keep all her emotions reigned in, so nothing and no one could even come close to the secrets and scandals her family keeps locked tight.

Second Glance: Okay, so The Countess Conspiracy is the third full - length book in the Brother Sinister's series and so far my favorite. During The Duchess Wars and The Heiress Effect, Sebastian and Violet have been in the background, and we have known little of them other than they are very loyal to the other Brothers Sinister and that they are usually in each other's company.

This time they are front and center, and from the very start their story grabbed me. Violet is prickly and so introverted that she even made Me feel outgoing. She doesn't like to be touched and works very hard at concealing everything that makes her who she is deep inside. Yet, I never felt like Sebastian was too good for her, of that he deserved better. I just rooted for Sebastian to crack her shell because she needed him so much.

Violet's story is really sad and I felt sorry for her, and I cried, but I never felt like she was a weak, she was awesome and though I not always liked her, I always found her lovable, even when she couldn't see it herself.

Sebastian was amazing. It had been a while since I had read a hero so decent and so nice, yet he's not a push over (except with Violet sometimes, but he's determined not to let her cheat herself out of the good things she deserves).

There were some scenes with him that just made me swoon. And I loved how much he cared for Violet as a friend, and how much he wanted his brother to be proud of him. There was so much about him I hadn't guessed at from the previous books, but that I was happy to discover.

Also, Violet's mom? yeah, just keep her in mind. 

Bottom Line: I think the Countess Conspiracy was my favorite historical romance I read this year. It was so good, and it made me cry but also made me very happy. Totally recommend.  

 

ListManiac: Top 5 Favorite Movies of 2013

Yes, I forgot I had a graphic for these things. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!! Also, as promised, here I bring you another list about my favorite movies of the year!!

#5: Thor: The Dark World.

I saw the first Thor movie and I thought it was okay, I hadn't bothered myself much with the Marvel universe before The Avengers to be honest, but post Avengers you get I went to see Thor. And I loved it, it was fast paced, fun and it had Loki - Enough said!

#4: Monsters University

I was never a fan of Monsters Inc - until Planes, I thought it was the worse movie Pixar had ever put out, but I really likes MU, it was basically a college comedy without the lewdness and all that stuff I don't like about college humor. I loved seeing Mike and Sully as teenagers. And you have to admit that that kindergarden-aged Mike W was one of the cutest things ever. 

#3 Elysium

I wasn't interested in Elysium when I first saw the trailers, not at all, but when I heard it was by the same director as District 9 I knew I had to see it. It was smart, action packed movie with a message to deliver and a story to tell. Definitely recommend this one. I think it said more about immigration reform than any politician this year, and it did it better. 

#2 Frozen

And yes, I mean the original version with the voices of Idina Menzel and Kristen Bell. I usually prefer the dubbed to Spanish versions (because our voice actors are wicked funny) but this time there was nothing that could match the original songs or the powerful vocal performance by everyone in the cast. Loved the songs, loved Olaf, loved Sven and I have a bit of a crush on Kristoff. Best part though? that this was a princess fairy tale that I can totally get behind, about the different strengths that two sisters have, and the love they have for each other. 

#1 Pacific Rim

I totally raved about this movie and I pimped out whenever I could. I just loved it that much. It was funny and fast paced and basically just robots punching monsters in the face. And it was Awesome. I don't generally like Del Toro's movies, but Pacific Rim is one that I'm going to keep watching for a long, long time. 

So, that's my top 5, what about yours?

Next up: Favorite books of 2013.

Added later: I totally forgot to mention 3 movies that I really liked but I didn't see in theaters.
First, the best documentary I saw this year, Blackfish - which uses the tale of Tilikum, one of the orcas being kept by SeaWord, to make an industry-wide commentary on why keeping orcas and other sea mammals as amusement park attractions is not good, yet is not preachy, just states the facts as it knows them.

And Second, What Maisie Knew - this has to be my favorite remake/adaptation of a book I saw this year. Maisie is a five year old caught in the middle of her parents' divorce - who use her as a bargaining  chip though they love her in their own selfish ways - and finds refuge and love in their respective new spouses.

Lastly, the best made for TV movie I saw this year goes to: How to Fall in Love. It actually came out last year, but I didn't see it until this one when I was binge watching tv movies. It's the story of a former nerd called Harold who ends up hiring the Annie, the girl he had a crush on in high school, as a dating coach. So fun, so sweet, probably the best romantic comedy I saw all year.

List Maniac: Favorite Obsessions of 2013

So, it's that time of the year when we all make our lists and I plan to make a series of them about the stuff I have loved - and hated - during this grueling year (well, it was grueling for me :P I hope it was good for everyone else, I really do).

So, without futher ado, here are my 

Top 5 Favorite Obsessions of 2013

# 5 - Kitchen Scramble.

Facebook and I have a very complicated relationship, sometimes I can get enough of it, sometimes I forget about it for weeks at a time. This year though? a little game called Kitchen Scramble showed up in the later part of the year and I became obsessed... like I play it all the time, and generally love it.

Plus, they put new levels every month.

#4 - Emma Approved

After last year's vlog of The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, I was super excited to see what they would tackle next. The answer? Emma. Now, I have a love-hate relationship with Emma. I love her, I love where she ends up, but sometimes the trip there can make me REALLY dislike her. So far, Bernie Su & Co have managed to capture what I love and what I don't like of Emma pretty perfectly, while updating her character a lot.

Plus, I love Mr. Knightley.

#3 - Cracked's After Hours.

Sometimes when life, and work, threaten to bring me down, I just spend hours upon hours on YouTube watching videos (mostly movie trailers. I find them soothing) and one day I stumbled into Cracked After Hours. The After Hours videos feature four friends talking movies at a dinner and exploring the weird and twisted messages in movies and games. I love it. They always make me laugh and they put up a new episode every month.

#2 - The DBSA Podcast

So, for the last couple of years Jane @ Dear Author and Sarah @SmartBitches have been putting out this podcast where they talk romance novels and books in general and are basically just a riot. I've been a long time fan but this year I was really obsessed with it. Mostly because I had to ride the subway often (which I SO DON'T LIKE), and to get myself pumped up to do it, I would reward myself with listening to the podcast afterward.

#1 - MovieBob's The Big Picture and Escape to the Movies.

MovieBob has these two video columns at The Escapist and I binge watch them like crazy whenever I'm feeling down, I think I've gone through the entire playlist twice (there are over 200 videos). 

On Escape to the Movies he reviews recent releases and in the Big Picture he talks more about pop and nerd culture in general - I really love when he talks about obscure cartoons because it turns out I've seen most of them and I just laugh, and I generally agree with his reviews, which almost never happens to me.  (I'm putting an example of one of my favorite vids bellow). 

Anyway, those are my obsessions of 2013. How about you guys?

Up next? Favorite Movies of 2013!