Month: December 2013

Happy New Year 2014!

Posted December 31, 2013 by Jana in About Me / 12 Comments

This has been a wonderful year of books and blogging! I talked a lot about my 2013 bookish life in my year end survey, so decided that I’d just mention a couple big things that happened to me in my life away from the blog. This has been a pretty big year for me!

I drove 100 miles away from home in the middle of the night on a secret mission with my mom. I applied and was accepted to my top choice for graduate school. I quit my job from hell to take the plunge into graduate studies, and had an amazing first semester, finishing with a 4.0 GPA. I went on back-to-back cruises with my family and spent two weeks floating from port to port, exploring new places. I went through the temple. I turned 25!!! I recorded a song with the famous Lex de Azevedo for his new CD. I went on a girls trip with my mom and sister to Las Vegas. I drove across the country (twice) with my mom for my grad school orientation in Georgia, followed by a cruise to the Bahamas out of Florida. On that road trip I got to see very dear family friends in Louisiana, who I thought for sure I would never see again. Ever. I discovered colored tights and how much I adore them. I took a big step in improving my health. We had a huge flood here, something that has not happened in decades. The whole family was here for Thanksgiving. I discovered my love for chamomile tea. I was spoiled by my Broke and Bookish secret santa. I discovered the amazingness of 7-eleven hot chocolate. We had so many awesome blizzards! I went to a lovely Christmas concert with my mom, which is a tradition we try to uphold every year. My family and I went to Las Vegas at Christmastime to see how they decorate. It was no good at all, but now we know! Nobody was sick or in the hospital for Christmas this year, so we were all together as a family! My family and I exchanged so many gifts and stories. It was a wonderful year. Yes, there were some sad times, but how can you enjoy the good times if you don’t have bad ones?

I hope 2014 is filled with more memories and amazing experiences, and I hope the same for you! I will be spending tonight with my family eating a huge feast of yummy finger foods, watching Jaws and a Big Bang Theory marathon, and watching the ball drop to ring in the new year. I hope you all have a wonderful new year’s, and spend it with those you love. I will see you next year!


2013 End of Year Book Survey

Posted December 27, 2013 by Jana in About Me / 14 Comments

It’s that time of year again where I get the chance to reflect on my year of reading. Thanks to Jamie for hosting this survey again!

Best In Books 2013

cress1. Best book you read in 2013?
The BEST of the best was Cress by Marissa Meyer. OH MY. But since I love all the books, I am breaking down some more bests of their genre so nobody feels left out.

YA Contemporary: Just One Day by Gayle Forman, Golden= by Jessi Kirby, Time After Time by Tamara Ireland Stone, and Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill.
YA Dystopia: Into the Still Blue by Veronic Rossi and Scarlet by Marissa Meyer.
YA Fantasy: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo.
Adult Fiction: Starry Night by Debbie Macomber

2. Book you were excited about & thought you were going to love more but didn’t?
Triangles by Kimberly Ann Miller. It was just no good on multiple levels.

3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2013?
Renegade by J.A. Souders. SO GOOD! Amazing world, beautiful writing, unique premise. Loved this book.

4. Book you read in 2013 that you recommended to people most?
Starry Nights by Daisy Whitney. It’s so artsy and lovely. And misunderstood.

5. Best series you discovered in 2013?
Ruby Red Trilogy by Kerstin Gier. I read the entire series this year, and just loved it!

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2013?
Ally Carter. I just discovered the Heist Society series, and love it!

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?
Touching the Surface by Kimberly Sabatini. I am not a fan of angel and afterlife books, because I usually do not like the author’s take on the subject matter. This book was wonderful, though.

8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2013?
Cress by Marissa Meyer. OH MAN.

9. Book you read in 2013 that you are most likely to re-read next year?
I have never re-read a book in my life, but if I could read a book all over again for the first time, it would be Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill. It was just so sweet!

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2013?meant to be
Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill.

11. Most memorable character in 2013?
Captain Thorne in Marissa Meyer’s Cress. I loved him before, but I am so smitten with him now!

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2013?
Starry Nights by Daisey Whitney. I’m an art lover, what can I say? Daisy turned art into magic.

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2013?
Just One Day by Gayle Forman

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2013 to finally read?
Heist Society by Ally Carter

15. Favorite passage/quote from a book you read in 2013?
This is from Starry Nights by Daisy Whitney:

“When the paintings come out for you, it’s what people have meant all along when they talk about artists being immortal. In a way, their work can live forever. When the art comes alive it’s like the immortal version of the painting, like a little bit of the person painted has gotten to live forever.”

16. Shortest & longest book you read in 2013?
Shortest: Mistletoe in Manhattan by Talli Rolland at 60 pages.
Longest: Cress by Marissa Meyer at 506 pages.

17. Book that had a scene in it that had you reeling and dying to talk to somebody about it?
Pretty much all of Cress and Into the Still Blue. And this sucks, because neither are out yet. That’s probably why I want to talk about them so bad.

18. Favorite relationship from a book you read in 2013?
Perry and roar in Into the Still Blue. Very tender. I also loved Perry with Talon. Just SO SWEET.

perfect ruin19. Favorite book you read in 2013 from an author you’ve read previously?
I’m not going to count sequels here, because those are just a given. I’d have to say Perfect Ruin by Lauren DeStefano. I did not like Wither, and actually did not even continue with that trilogy. I LOVED Perfect Ruin, though, and can’t wait for the next installment!

20. Best book you read in 2013 that you read based SOLELY on a recommendation from somebody else?
Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway is the only book I read this year because someone told me to. I ended up really liking it!

21. Genre you read the most from in 2013?
I read a very eclectic mix of books this year, but I think the genres I read the most of are YA dystopias and contemporaries.

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2013?
Tarver from These Broken Stars.

23. Best 2013 debut you read?
All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill.

24. Most vivid world/imagery in a book you read in 2013?
Renegade by J.A. Souders.

25. Book that was the most fun to read in 2013?
Camp Boyfriend by J.K. Rock was so much fun! It was light and sweet and the perfect escape.

26. Book that made you cry or nearly cry in 2013?
Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi.

27. Book you read in 2013 that you think got overlooked when it came out?
Instructions for a Broken Heart by Kim Culbertson. I heard NOTHING about this book when it came out, and would not have even found it if I were not so hungover from my trip to Italy last spring that I went searching for any and all book that took place in Europe. And hardly ANY of my friends have read it. It deserves more attention!

Book Blogging/Reading Life

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2013?
Pop! Goes the Reader – Jen is just awesome.
The Book Addict’s Guide – Britney was my Broke and Bookish Secret Santa last year, and I am SO glad because she has such a fun blog, and I had never heard of it before!

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2013?
All Our Yesterdays is the first review I wrote that required a GIF to explain my thoughts. I was speechless!

3. Best discussion you had on your blog?
I wrote a quick little thing on the fact that I suffer from blogging anxiety while I sat in my hotel on the way to grad school orientation in Georgia. (Yeah, my mom and I drove from Utah to Georgia and back this past summer.) I was feeling super overwhelmed by becoming a student again and having no time to blog, plus my trip was really long and I felt like I was ignoring my readers. It was a very helpful post for me, and I loved reading what others had to say! I had comments coming in on Twitter and Facebook in addition to the blog, so it was nice.

There was also quite a bit of chit chat on my post asking if people check back for follow-up comments on blogs they visit. I wrote this back before I was on WordPress, so I had no idea how to make sure my readers and commenters knew I was responding to them. Now that I’m on WordPress, I don’t have to worry anymore!

I also confessed that I can’t read while I’m sick, which really sucks. Many people understood my frustration, which was nice to read as I laid in bed wanting to die.

4. Most thought-provoking review or discussion you read on somebody else’s blog?
Oh wow… I honestly can’t remember any specific discussion this year. I know there were tons, but I just can’t think of one in particular that stood out more than the others.

5. Best event that you participated in?
Armchair BEA was fun, but not as much fun as it was last year. I think it’s because a lot of the questions and writing prompts were re-used and I had nothing new to say. That’s really the only event I participated in this year, other than blog tours.

6. Best moment of book blogging/your book life in 2013?
I discovered that I was mentioned by name in the acknowledgements section of Uncharted by Tracey Garvis-Graves, which is the sequel to On the Island! I about lost it all! I am still so honored and floored. :)

I also switched from Blogger to self-hosted WordPress this year, which was pretty wonderful. I have not looked back once!

7. Most popular post this year on your blog?
This is hard, since my stats got all messed up/lost in the move to WordPress. If I look at comments alone, the most popular post was my Top Ten Favorite Book Covers (on Books I’ve Read) post.

8. Post you wished got a little more love?
In all honesty, I wish my reviews got more love! I spend a lot of time writing those, and I know they are being read! I wish I could discuss these books with my readers more. :)

9. Best bookish discovery?
Wordpress, Ashley’s Tweak Me theme, and Ashley’s Ultimate Book Blogger Plugin! This change has been the BEST. Oh, and I bit the bullet and joined Edelweiss, which I should have done so much earlier!

10. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?
I surpassed my goal of reading 52 books this year! My other goals are still ongoing.

Looking Ahead

1. One book you didn’t get to in 2013 but will be your number one priority in 2014?
Requiem by Lauren Oliver. I’m so scared about what others have said about it, but I really think I need to just do it and finish the series.

isla and the happily ever after2. Books you are most anticipating for 2014 (non-debut)?
Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
Infinite by Jodi Meadows
Second Star by Alyssa B. Sheinmel

3. 2014 debut you are most anticipating?
The Murder Complex by Lindsay Cummings
Wish You Were Italian by Kristin Rae

4. Series ending you are most anticipating in 2014?
I would have said Into the Still Blue, bust since I read that already AND LOVED IT, I’m going to have to say Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo! I am SO excited to see how The Grisha trilogy ends. Or maybe Of Neptune by Anna Banks. Or Infinite by Jodi Meadows. OH WOW. My heart can’t handle saying goodbye to these characters and worlds!

5. One thing you hope to accomplish or do in your reading/blogging in 2014?
I’d really love to get a blurb in a book one day. :) Other than that, I want to just keep doing what I’m doing… only better. And I really need to work on more discussion posts! I want to get to know all my readers better!


Merry Christmas!

Posted December 25, 2013 by Jana in Personal / 3 Comments

 

Merry Christmas, my wonderful friends! I hope you have an amazing day with your loved ones! I hope today is filled with yummy food, music, giving, receiving, relaxing, laughing, and love. I hope you got everything you wished for! I will be spending my day with my family, opening presents and making memories.

Thank you so much for celebrating this amazing season with me on the blog this month! Thank you to the publishers who provided Christmas books and giveaways. Thank you to my guest posters who talked all about Christmas in their countries! Thanks for all your comments, recommendations, and discussions. It has been so much fun! I hope you have a very merry bookish little Christmas. :) Things will be a bit sparse on the blog as I recover from this crazy month, but I’ll still be around!

How was your day? What did you get? What did you do? Tell me, tell me!


Top Ten Books I Hope Santa Brings Tonight!

Posted December 23, 2013 by Jana in Top Ten Tuesday / 32 Comments

 

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted over at the other blog I write for, The Broke and the Bookish.

Merry Christmas Eve! Tonight is one of my very favorite nights of the entire Christmas season. I would like to pause my life and live in Christmas Eve for a few days. I love the magic and the anticipation. I have been blessed this year with so many books from friends and from publishers! How could I possibly want anything more? The thing about books, though, is that you can never run out and you can never have too many! Here are the top ten books I’m hoping Santa has in his bag for me. :)

pressies1

Fragments by Dan Wells
The Princess in the Opal Mask by Jenny Lundquist
Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality by Elizabeth Eulberg
The Funny Thing Is by Ellen DeGeneres
Charlotte Street by Danny Wallace

pressies2

Love Overdue by Pamela Morsi
The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black
A Tale of Two Centuries by Rachel Harris
The Lost Girls by Jennifer Baggett, Holly Corbett, and Amanda Pressner
Champion by Marie Lu

So, what’s on your list for Santa? I hope he brings you all the books!

Red ribbons created by freepik – www.freepik.com


One Sweet Christmas by Darlene Fredette | Mini Book Review

Posted December 23, 2013 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 4 Comments

One Sweet Christmas by Darlene Fredette | Mini Book ReviewOne Sweet Christmas by Darlene Fredette
Published by Escape Publishing on December 1, 2013
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Holiday - Christmas, Romance
Pages: 48
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
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It’s going to take more than a few pieces of chocolate to fill this Scrooge’s heart with Christmas cheer. Luckily Candice Cane has a whole shop full...

Candice Cane is not proud of the way she acted after her last encounter with Jackson Frost. Sure revenge was fun, but it’s left Jackson standing, angry and looking for answers, on the welcome mat in her chocolate shop. Now he’s after some revenge of his own.

Jackson returned to his small hometown for one reason and one reason only...so he’s not sure how he’s ended up in a Santa suit in the middle of a chocolate shop, at the behest of its beautiful owner, instead of high-tailing it back to the city as fast as he can.

Jackson wants nothing to do with his small town past, but Candice shows him what he didn’t even know he’d been missing. Can a bit of Christmas magic heal old wounds and offer up a future neither saw coming?

With characters named Candice Cane and Jackson Frost, how can you not expect One Sweet Christmas to be super cheesy and eye-roll worthy? Haha. Yes, this book was filled with cheesiness, but luckily I’m in the mood for that during Christmastime!

One Sweet Christmas is filled with yummy Christmas treats! I loved reading about all the food Candi baked. And I loved her little chocolate shop. She holds parties and Santa visits for her customers! How cute and small town does that sound? She also works at this cute little inn. Really, the setting was so much fun and so picturesque.

Jackson and Candi have kind of a crazy past, and when he shows up at her shop with a TON of questions for her she shoves him in a Santa suit and lets the children loose. She is super mad and the frosty Jackson Frost, but he is too cute with those kids for her to resist. Jackson is not too happy to be back in his small home town, but he is so smitten with Candi that he sticks around and ends up learning a lot about himself. Of course, there’s romance and mending hearts.

This is the kind of story you read for the smiles and the simple messages, not the characters or the little details. Candi and Jackson are not very noteworthy, and this story has been done before in some way. But that doesn’t matter! All bets are off at Christmas, and if you’re looking for a spoonful of sugar and some Christmas cheer, then definitely give this cute little book a shot!