Month: May 2019

My Favorite Books I Read During Each of the Last Ten Years

Posted May 28, 2019 by Jana in Top Ten Tuesday / 18 Comments

This week’s topic was submitted by Anne @ Head Full of Books, and is so much fun! The topic is technically Favorite Books Released In the Last Ten Years (one book per year), but I put a bit of a spin on it and am sharing my favorite book that I read during each of the last ten years instead. This was VERY hard, but a fun trip down memory lane.

2019 (so far!)

Dating By the Book by Mary Ann Marlowe

This is every book lover’s romance right here. I LOVED it.

2018

I Temporarily Do by Ellie Cahill

This is the cutest fauxmance ever.

2017

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

This needs no explanation.

2016

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

Rhysand.

2015

Say Yes to the Marquess by Tessa Dare

Cake. Scene.

2014

Wish You Were Italian by Kristin Rae

I just love this sweet little slice of Italy.

2013

Just One Day by Gayle Forman

*sigh*

2012

On the Island by Tracey Garvis-Graves

One of my favorite books ever. I read it back when it was self-published!

2011

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Where my love of contemporary books began!

2010

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

I only had eyes for vampires until I found this book.

 

I can’t wait to see which books you picked this week!


Sixteen Books I Refuse to Let Anyone Touch

Posted May 20, 2019 by Jana in About Me, Top Ten Tuesday / 14 Comments

We all have those books that really mean something to us, whether it be a personalized inscription from the author, a valuable edition, or pure sentimental value. I tend to really hate loaning out books to friends and family, but the following ten books are ones I would never even consider parting with. Thanks to Savannah Grace at Scattered Scribblings for submitting this fun topic! Show me your book babies!

1. On the Island by Tracey Garvis-Graves (First Edition)
OtI was originally self-published long ago, and I was on a blog tour for the book. As a thank you, Tracey sent me a personalized and autographed paperback copy of the book with its very first cover. It meant so much to me that she would do that, and it’s one of my most prized bookish possessions.

2. Of Poseidon by Anna Banks (ARC)
This was the first ever ARC I received after writing to the publisher and requesting it. I was SO EXCITED! Anna came to do a signing here a few months later, and she drew a little shark on the cover page and signed it.

3. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare (Teeny tiny hardcover)
I bought this copy of Romeo and Juliet from Shakespeare & Company in Paris. I had the cashier stamp it with the store’s logo, and it’s a wonderful souvenir of my being able to check off a huge bucket list item. I never thought I’d ever be able to visit that magical little bookstore right next to Notre Dame. :)

4-15. The entire Avon True Romance Series for Teens (Paperbacks)
Technically, this is a major cheat since the series is 12 books long, but they go together! This series is no longer in print, which is so sad! It’s a series of historical romance novels written with teens in mind by popular authors of the historical romance genre (Meg Cabot, Karen Hawkins, Beverly Jenkins, etc.). I loved these books so much, and they were the first “YA” I’d ever read.

16. Cress by Marissa Meyer (Hardback)
My blog is mentioned in the back of this book, plus I got to meet Marissa Meyer again and have her sign/personalize it for me!


Ten Books I Loved That Need to Become Movies

Posted May 13, 2019 by Jana in Top Ten Tuesday / 12 Comments

I love movies. Sometimes I think I love movies and TV shows more than I love books, but let’s not get crazy here. For this week’s page-to-screen freebie I decided to share my book-to-movie wishlist. There’s like a million more that I’d love to see, but I’m going to be reasonable today. I can’t wait to see what topic you dreamed up this week!

The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
It’s set in Hawaii, which is beautiful and I want to see the lavish honeymoon suite and fun activities they do!

Catherine and the Pirate by Karen Hawkins
This was probably my first favorite book that wasn’t a children’s book. It was also my first pirate romance, and I fell in love with it. I’d love to see the ship, the sexy pirate, and the ocean… and the swoons on screen.

Wish You Were Italian by Kristin Rae
The scenery alone makes me want to watch this movie, but the cute romance pushes it over the edge for me. Yes to all!

Captivate by Vanessa Garden
I’d love to see this “Glittering underwater world” for myself. It’s so opulent and beautiful!

Heist Society by Ally Carter
The characters visit such amazing locations around the world in this book, plus I love heist movies. And art! The Louvre!

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
This is a really beautiful Beauty and the Beast retelling, plus it’s one of my favorite books ever. I love the worlds and the characters. I’d love to see the entire series on the screen.

The Crown’s Game by Evelyn Skye
Some of the enchantments done in this book sound amazing and so beautiful. I’d love to see the opulence, excitement, and scenery.

Cress by Marissa Meyer
I love this series so much, and would LOVE to see a miniseries or TV series made from it. But Cress is probably my favorite in the series and I’d really love to see her satellite.

Till Death by Jennifer Armentrout
This would be SO SCARY and an amazing movie!

Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco
I love this book so much, and a wintry Dracula’s castle would make for a pretty amazing setting. But then you’ve got the chemistry between Audrey Rose and Thomas.

What topic did you choose to do this week?
Would you like to see any of these books as movies?


Top Ten Book Characters That Remind Me of Myself

Posted May 6, 2019 by Jana in About Me, Top Ten Tuesday / 7 Comments

I’m a very character-driven reader, so connecting with characters is pretty much a requirement for me if I’m going to enjoy a book. I love finding friends in the characters, and I really love finding things I have in common with them and can identify with. It was tough to narrow this list down to ten! I’m excited to see which characters you see yourself in this week!

1. Daisy from Every Time I Think of You by Tracey Garvis-Graves
On the surface, I have nothing in common with Daisy. But Tracey has this perfect way of writing characters you can find common ground with. I identified with Daisy’s feelings of inadequacy, her fear of failure, her concerns for the future, and her desire to tear down the walls she has built around herself.

2. Holland Baker from Roomies by Christina Lauren
She’s so relatable, and I think we can all see at least a small part of ourselves in her. She’s a 25-year-old plain Jane living in New York City (with the help of her two uncles who pay most of her rent), working a dead-end job (that her uncle got her) that is way below her qualifications as she tries to achieve her dream of becoming a published author. Who has been in this position before? *raises hand*

3. Lily from Just Like the Movies by Kelly Fiore
I really connected with Lily, to the point where I almost forgot I was reading about someone other than myself! Lily is high school me. She’s a bookish, organized, intellectual wallflower with a long list of things she wants to accomplish and her future all planned out. She wants a love story like the movies, but doesn’t think anyone even notices her. She is so me! I was a studious, shy, choir girl who was actually told by one of her best friends that she should be a bank robber because nobody would notice her come and go. I wish I’d had a friend like Lily to commiserate with.

4. Charlie from Save the Date by Morgan Matson
I really connected with Charlie. I understand what it’s like to have everyone needed things from you all the time. She’s kind of the glue that keeps the group together and sane. She’s the peacemaker, and I understand the kind of pressure that comes with that job.

5. Ana from Incarnate by Jodi Meadows
Ana connects with music like I do. Music has always been one of the main elements of my life. It brings out such strong emotions and feelings in me. I connect with it on so many levels, just like she mentions throughout this story. I identified with her so much for this reason.

6. Bria from Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard
Bria is an artist, and a traveler. Do you know who Bria really is? Bria is ME! Her love of art shone through everything she did, and everything she said. I totally identified.

7. Jane from Austenland by Shannon Hale
After dating a ton of losers, this single, 33-year-old, New Yorker has come to the conclusion that no man can compare to the sexy, debonair, and utterly romantic Mr. Darcy. She has given up on the male gender completely. Girl, I get it.

8. Maddie from Gentlemen Prefer Nerds by Joan Kilby
This girl is a nerdy cat lady. I am too!

9. Ellie from A Week of Mondays by Jessica Brody
Ellie reminds me so much of my teenaged self: a bit of a perfectionist, someone who bites off more than they can chew, a people pleaser, a worrier, and a hopeless romantic.

10. Maddie from When A Scot Ties the Knot by Tessa Dare
I loved Maddie. I thought she was hilarious, plus she’s bookish, artsy, and painfully shy. I get her. While I don’t have panic attacks when I’m surrounded by a few people, I know what it’s like to be a wallflower. And I know what it’s like to view life through an artist’s eye. I love that she wrote letters to an imaginary captain to avoid jumping into the dating pool. That’s something I could totally see myself doing.