Top reads of 2011

I've read so many amazing books this year! There were also many great debut books that released this year, too. It was hard to pick my top books that I've read for 2011, but here goes:

# 3. The Viper by Monica McCarty ( It's no secret that I'm a Highlander lover. And plus, Lachlan is my favorite out of the Highland Guard. I loved his story. )

# 2. Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout ( I was never into aliens, but boy did this book change my mind! It was one of the most refreshing and entertaining books I've read in a long time. )

# 1. The River of Time series by Lisa Tawn Bergren ( I just adored this series! It was something new and different and I completely fell in love with it! )

I'm quite surprised that my top two reads are also the last books that I've read this year. Yet again, they were the ones I was most highly anticipating. Well, I guess I really did save the best for last.  :)

Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Goodreads synopsis:
Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I’d pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring…. until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something…unexpected happens.

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon’s touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I’m getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.

If I don’t kill him first, that is.

My Thoughts:
I have been dying to read Obsidian, and I have to say it didn't disappoint, not in the least. I loved everything about it! Katy is definitely one of my favorite heroines. It was so easy to relate to her. She's hilarious, spunky, smart, strong, loyal, brave and doesn't take any of Daemon's crap. All in all, I just plain adore and admire her. Daemon is one hot alien. He is a complete douche and jerk, but you can't help but love him. I mean come on, it's Daemon. He's just that awesome! He's arrogant, annoying, but also sweet, and caring. *sigh* I just love him!

From the first encounter, you can definitely see the sparks that fly between Katy and Daemon. They argue and insult one another almost all the time, but it never gets boring. It's one of the things in the story that I actually look forward to because it's just that good and it's also hilarious. The chemistry between the two is also great. You definitely feel the tension between them and the "I hate you but want you" vibe that comes from them both. There were plenty of cute and steamy scenes in this story. The whole alien and Luxen story was also very fascinating and captivating.

I enjoyed each and every moment of Obsidian. It was such a fun and entertaining read. I couldn't put it down. I loved it! I can't wait for Onyx to come out and read more about Katy and Daemon.

Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Good Reads Synopsis:
The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi-pure-bloods-have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals-well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures. Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1:Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden. Unfortunately, she's crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn't her biggest problem--staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck.

My Thoughts:  
Half-Blood did not disappoint. I loved everything about it, from the mythology to all the characters. Alex is one tough girl. She was lots of fun to read about. She reminded me of Rose from VA, strong, sassy, brave, etc. She's one heroine that you won't soon forget. Aiden is like the perfect hero. He's charming, sweet, courageous, loyal and strong. If only there were guys like him in real life. A girl can dream. And Seth and Caleb are just awesome. I love those guys.

I really thought that the storyline was great. There were plenty of drama, romance, and scary monsters. Some things were a teeny tiny bit predictable, but I still enjoyed and loved the story. What I really loved though was the mythology. I'm a sucker for Greek mythology, so yeah, it was my favorite aspect of the story, besides Aiden and Alex. And the forbidden romance; it just made things all the more interesting in Half-Blood. There were lots, and I mean lots, of great scenes with Aiden and Alex. Half-Blood is most definitely one of my favorite reads of 2011. I can't wait for the next book Pure to come out!

Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and a happy new year!

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Trailer

I am a HUGE fan of the Lord of the Rings series. When I heard they were going to make The Hobbit into a movie, I was ecstatic. A few days ago the first trailer was released, and I loved it! It made me so excited for the movie, which unfortunately won't come until December 14, 2012. If you haven't seen the trailer yet, check it out. It's pretty epic. Well, for me anyways. :)

Upcoming Reads

I am way behind on my reading. I have three books that have been sitting on my shelf for the past month that I need to read before break is over. So, my top books to read this month are: The Iron Knight, my sister keeps telling me that I have to read it, Silence, and The Faerie Ring.

Very Brief Description:
The Iron Knight: It's book 4 in the Iron Fey series, and is told from the handsome Prince Ash's point of view after the events that take place in the Iron Queen.
Silence: Patch and Nora faces more obstacles as enemies threaten to destroy all they hold dear and their love for one another.
The Faerie Ring: Takes place in Victorian London and revolves around a thief named Tiki who steals a ring that holds the peace between England and the Faerie realm.

Kiss of Frost by Jennifer Estep

Goodread's Synopsis:  
Logan Quinn was try­ing to kill me. My Spar­tan class­mate relent­lessly pur­sued me, swing­ing his sword at me over and over again, the shin­ing sil­ver blade inch­ing closer to my throat every time. A smile tugged up his lips, and his ice-blue eyes prac­ti­cally glowed with the thrill of battle...

I’m Gwen Frost, a second-year warrior-in-training at Mythos Acad­emy, and I have no idea how I’m going to sur­vive the rest of the semes­ter. One day, I’m get­ting schooled in sword­play by the guy who broke my heart—the drop-dead gor­geous Logan who slays me every time. Then, an invis­i­ble archer in the Library of Antiq­ui­ties decides to use me for tar­get prac­tice. And now, I find out that some­one at the acad­emy is really a Reaper bad guy who wants me dead. I’m afraid if I don’t learn how to live by the sword—with Logan’s help—I just might die by the sword...

My Thoughts:
I love this series! Each book gets better and better. In Kiss of Frost, Gwen continues to face the Reapers and challenges in her life. She's as strong and determined as ever. We also get to see more of Logan in Kiss of Frost, and all the scenes with him had me swooning. Some things were a bit predictable, and some were quite surprising. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed reading Kiss of Frost and can't wait to read Dark Frost. 

The Demonica series by Larissa Ione

Humans go to hospitals. Animals go to veterinarians. But where do injured, ill, and decapitated demons go? It isn't as if every supernatural being possesses the ability to grow a new limb to replace one that's been hacked off by a demon slayer scumbag. Fear not, fellow vamps, werewolves, and demons, for help has arrived. Three brothers, incubus demons by birth, human in appearance (mostly), have pulled together to make the most of the healing skills common to their species. Welcome to Underworld General Hospital, where sexy demons are doctors, HMOs are non-existent, and the blood bank sometimes doubles as the cafeteria. And you don't even want to know what goes on in the supply closets…

I LOVE this series! I've only read the first three books, but they're great. Eidolon, Shade, and Wraith are some sexy demons! They're Seminus, a rare type of incubus. They also run a hospital for demons, which is very interesting. Then there are the Aegis, people who protect humans from the "evil" demons. They are trained to kill demons and can definitely kick a**.  But eventually they find out that not all demons are evil. These books have plenty of steamy scenes. And lots of sinister twists and turns that readers will enjoy. And did I mention that the brothers are smokin' hot? If you love good paranormal romance books, pick this series up!

Winging It by Deborah Cooke

Goodreads Synopsis 
Zoë Sorensson yearns to come into her powers as the only female dragon shifter. But being part of two worlds is more complicated than she expected. It’s bad enough that she’s the target of the Mages’ plan to eliminate all shifters—she also has to hide her true nature from her best friend Megan, a human. For her sixteenth birthday, all Zoë wants is one normal day, including a tattoo and a chance to see hot rocker Jared.

Instead, the Pyr throw her a birthday party but ban Megan from attendance, putting Zoë in a tight spot. Things get even worse when Zoe is invited to the popular kids’ Halloween party and Megan’s left out. Zoë knows the party is a trap laid by the host, an apprentice Mage. When Megan gets a last-minute invite, Zoë must save the day—and her best friend—without revealing her fire-breathing secrets ...


My Thoughts
Winging It is the second installment in the Dragon Diaries series. In Winging It Zoë's 16th birthday is coming up. But nothing is going well for her. The hot rocker Jared hasn't kept in touch with her, her parents aren't getting along, and not being able to tell her best friend Meagan the truth about the Pyr is tearing their relationship apart. Then she's invited to Trevor's Halloween party, but she doesn't trust him or the Mages one bit. They are definitely up to something and Zoë intends to find out what. There's also the whole idea of the Mages wanting to wipe out all the shape-shifters that Zoë can't let happen. With her friends, new allies, and help from unexpected sources, Zoë finally begins to understand her destiny as the new Wyvern.

In every book Zoë grows more and more. She learns new things about the Wyvern, herself, and those around her. Whenever there's trouble Zoë always takes a stand and becomes the true and intelligent Wyvern that she is. She's strong, courageous, and compassionate. I can't wait to read more about Zoë and her friends, and learn more about the Wyverns in the next book. Winging It definitely sets us up for an epic showdown against the Mages that I can't wait to read about. 


By the way, I just love Jared. He' so sweet. =D
And thanks to Deborah Cooke for sending me an ARC of Winging It!

Other books in the series 

Book 1

Book 3

 

The Hunger Games trailer and Immortals

Can I just say WOW!!! I haven't read the Hunger Games series yet but the trailer is amazing. Just saw it last night and I was completely blown away. Can't wait for it to come out in theaters.

Anyone else go and see Immortals? I did on Sunday and enjoyed it a lot. Thought there could have been a little more action, but I loved it nonetheless. And Henry Cavill... *sigh* If you love a smokin' hot male lead, mythology, and action, this is a must see. 

Never Love a Highlander by Maya Banks

Goodreads synopsis:

In a tale of strong ties and true love, Maya Banks’s trilogy comes to its stunning conclusion, as the youngest McCabe brother uses sword and seduction to save his clan—and seal his heart.
Caelen McCabe’s young, reckless heart nearly destroyed his clan. Now, putting family loyalty above all else, he steps up to marry his older brother’s jilted bride and salvage the uneasy alliance between two clans. While beautiful Rionna McDonald is a fit wife for any man, Caelen trusts no woman, especially not this sweet temptress who torments him with white-hot longing.

As the sacrificial lamb in her father’s power game, Rionna will do her duty but vows to protect her heart and her pride from humiliation. Despite everything, though, the heat in Caelen’s touch melts her defenses, and she craves the sensual delights of a husband who guards his emotions as fiercely as his clan. But when the ultimate battle for the McCabe legacy is upon them, Rionna’s true warrior spirit emerges. She will risk the wrath of her father, the fury of her enemies, and her life to prove to Caelen that his wife’s love is too precious to lose.

My thoughts: 

Never Love a Highlander was my favorite out of the three books in the McCabe trilogy. Caelen was a brooding but very caring hero. Rionna was such a strong and courageous heroine that I couldn't help but admire her throughout the entire book. Their relationship was rocky at first, but then they started to open up to one another and became a very great couple. Caelen definitely met his match in Rionna. She never backed down from him, and their arguments were pretty hilarious at times. Overall, it was a great read; the characters were great, and it was a fitting end to the McCabe tilogy. The ending was very sweet. I'm looking forward to more historical romance from Maya Banks. Hopefully Gannon will get his own story, too. He was such a wonderful secondary character and deserves his own happy ever after.  

Other books in the series:

Book 1. In Bed with a Highlander

Book 2. Seduction of a Highland Lass

Currently Reading

Never Love a Highlander by Maya Banks
This is the third book in the McCabe trilogy by Maya Banks, featuring the third and youngest brother, Caelen, and his bride, Rionna MacDonald.
I can't wait to begin reading this one. =D





 

Winging It By Deborah Cooke

This is the second installment in Deborah Cooke's Dragon Diaries series.
I can't wait to read more about Zoë and her adventures.
Thanks to Deborah Cooke for the ARC!

The Viper by Monica McCarty

Goodreads Synopsis:
The war for Scotland’s sovereignty rages on—as Robert the Bruce is crowned king and the Highland Guard, his elite fighting force of legendary warriors, battle for land . . . and love.

Prized for his snakelike stealth and deadly strikes, Lachlan “Viper” MacRuairi is a warrior to enlist but not to trust. His only loyalty is to his purse, his indifference sealed by bitter betrayal. All that changes when Lachlan is tasked to protect and deliver Bella MacDuff to the king’s coronation—and the proud, lushly sensual countess unwittingly challenges him to his greatest battle yet: to love again.Passionate and devoted, Bella has defied Britain’s king and her own husband to place the crown on Bruce’s head, and for this she pays a terrible price: Losing her daughter and her freedom to her husband’s vengeance. Imprisoned with barbaric cruelty, she vows to reclaim her child, even if it means selling her soul—and her body—to a dark, lethal warrior whose eyes glint like steel, but who makes her skin tingle and her breath race. Together they embark on a rogue mission with sinister twists and turns that threatens not only Bella’s gamble to save her daughter—but also her heart.
My Review:
The Viper, book 4 in the Highland Guard series, is definitely one of my favorite historical romance books. The story was full of intrigue, betrayal, and lots of steamy scenes.
The Viper tells the story of Isbella MacDuff and Lachlan MacRuairi, aka Viper. The beginning of the story is from Bella's point of view in captivity, but then takes us back to when Lachlan and Bella first meet and he's come to take her to Scone to crown Robert Bruce. Bella is forced to leave her daughter behind which tears her apart. She hates Lachlan for it but can do nothing. Then there's that instant attraction that both of them try to deny, but of course can't. Bella doesn't trust Lachlan especially since his reputation is pretty bad and he was rumored to have killed his wife. But as they spend more time together she begins to think that there may be more to Lachlan than meets the eye. After crowning Bruce Lachlan is tasked with escorting the ladies north, and after the ladies capture, the story jumps back to the present.
Bella and Lachlan's relationship was very well written. Bella never backed down from him, which I admired. She was a strong and courageous heroine that would have done anything to get her daughter back. Lachlan, I absolutely loved. His past story was heart breaking and full of betrayals. But his character was wonderful. He's the ultimate male hero. I loved watching the two of them fall in love, especially Lachlan. He went from a distant, cold man, to a loving, sweet, and caring one. This was a wonderfully written story with a bit of history in it to make it really interesting. I was really looking forward to Lachlan's story was not disappointed at all. I especially loved the epilogue. I think it was really sweet and I greatly enjoyed it. I am anxiously waiting for The Saint to come out next year. 

Other books in the Highland Guard series:
Book 1: The Chief
Book 2: The Hawk
Book 3: The Ranger
Book 4: The Viper

Coming Soon:
Book 5: The Saint 

Seduction of a Highland Lass by Maya Banks

Goodreads Synopsis:

A warrior is caught between family loyalty and forbidden love in book two of bestselling author Maya Banks’s sensual new trilogy featuring three indomitable Highlanders.
Fiercely loyal to his elder brother, Alaric McCabe leads his clan in the fight for their birthright. Now he is prepared to wed for duty, as well. But on his way to claim the hand of Rionna McDonald, daughter of a neighboring chieftain, he is ambushed and left for dead. Miraculously, his life is saved by the soft touch of a Highland angel, a courageous beauty who will put to the test his fealty to his clan, his honor, and his deepest desires.
An outcast from her own clan, Keeley McDonald was betrayed by those she loved and trusted. When the wounded warrior falls from his horse, she is drawn to his strong, lean body. The wicked glint in his green eyes ignites a passion that will follow them back to Alaric’s keep, where their forbidden love draws them deeper into the pleasures of the flesh. But as conspiracy and danger circle closer, Alaric must make an impossible choice: Will he betray his blood ties for the woman he loves?


My Review:
The second installment in the McCabe trilogy does not disappoint. Alaric is a caring and gentle hero that just stole my heart away. Keeley was so fun to read about. She could definitely take care of herself and I loved the way she stood up to others. Keeley and Alaric's relationship was pretty much forbidden since Alaric was supposed to marry Rionna McDonald. Alaric and Keeley both knew what they had to do and it was heart-wrenching to see two people who are so perfect for each other and so in love give up their happily ever after for the sake of their clan. The ending, though, couldn't have been better. I loved every second of this story. It was sweet, romantic and emotional. This book, for me, surpassed the first book in the trilogy. I can not wait for Caelen and Rionna's story.

McCabe Trilogy:

Book 1, August 30, 2011

Book 2, September 27, 2011

Book 3, October 25, 2011

                                

What I'm Reading

I'm finally reading the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by JR Ward. I don't know what took me so long to pick this series up! I love it.  
So far I've finished Dark Lover, Lover Eternal, Lover Awakened, Lover Unbound, and Lover Unleashed.
I started out reading Vishous's book, Lover Unbound, and Lover Unleashed, and fell in love with them. Yeah, didn't read them in order at first, but now I am. Ms. Ward got herself a new fan!


Today is also the release date for The Viper by Monica McCarty! The Viper is the fourth book in Ms. McCarty's Highland Guard series. If you love romance, history, and a strong sexy highlander, or islander, pick this series up.
I bought my copy today and can't wait to get started. I waited almost a year for this one to come out. I'm planning to finish the BDB series before beginning this one, though.





Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout also comes out today! Didn't get my copy yet, but definitely going to soon. Gods, daimons, a kick-a** heroine and a hot guy. Come one, what's not to love?






I have so many books to read, and barely any time to read them. This is very rare for me. I usually don't have anything to read at all. Hopefully I'll finish them all by this weekend! =D

Book Review: Lucky in Love

4 Stars

 Lucky in Love
Author: Cari Hislop
Edition: E-Book




Synopsis from Goodreads

A Regency Romance. Lord Warenne accepts a wager to court a desperate old maid he's never seen and have his marriage proposal rejected in front of witnesses. He knows he'll win; he's lucky. But sometimes good luck is really bad luck wearing a tawdry wig and lots of face paint. Fate flips its coin. Lord Warenne finds his world upside down when he realises that sometimes to win is to lose.

Edmund, Lord Warenne, makes a wager with his pal, Doodle concerning Doodle's cousin, an old 31-year-old maid named Priscilla. If Edmund proposes to her and she refuses, he wins Doodle's lucky snuff box. If she actually agrees, Edmund's stuck with her. So Edmund pays Priscilla a visit, making sure she WILL refuse him by getting all dirty and stinky. When Priscilla meets Lord Warenne, she's disgusted. He has the manners of a pig and stinks so bad she can't even come near him without wanting to gag. Yet she feels this teenie tiny attraction to him. Edmund's plan works out, but he actually ends up kind of liking her and gets this feeling that maybe he should take her with him after all. But when she refuses yet again, he leaves. Later they run into each other again when Priscilla and her cousin Catherine are shopping and he asks for her hand again, and she refuses, again. But then things start to get interesting as another man, a particular duke with a grudge against Edmund, sets his sights on Priscilla. And so begins Edmund's race to win Priscilla's heart before it's too late.

I bought this book from the Reader Store because it was free. I had my doubts about this book, but actually ended up liking it quite a bit.I really liked the heroine, Priscilla, or Penny as Warenne calls her. She's hilarious. However, I felt sorry for her as to how others, like her family, treated her. They told her she was a curse, bad luck, and they didn't want her, especially because she was an old maid. Her cousin Catherine specifically got on my nerves. I disliked her, a lot. The hero in the story, Warenne/Edmund, was wickedly charming at the beginning. But he sort of lost it towards the middle/end. He was really sweet though. By the way, did I mention that the hero is 26 and the heroine is 31. That's something different, well for me at least. I think the book would have had more potential if it was an actual full length book instead of only a hundred and something pages. But overall I enjoyed this book and recommend it to readers who aren't too picky (becasue some of the writing is kind of mediocre) and like a good quick read. 

October New Releases

First off, I live in California and for the past few months it has been so HOT! But today it finally rained, officially marking the beginning of Fall. I love the rain. I don't know why but I find it relaxing, not to mention it makes me sleepy. Hopefully the super hot days are over because I'm tired of getting a sun burn every time I go out!

Now back to the topic; October releases I'm most looking forward to:
Young Adult:
Silence  by Becca Fitzpatrick
Half-Blood  by Jennifer L. Armentrout
The Iron Knight  by Julie Kagawa

Adult Historical Romance:
Seduced by a Highlander  by Julianne MacLean
The Viper  by Monica McCarty
Never Love a Highlander  by Maya Banks