Favorite Reads of 2010

So, we are wrapping up 2010! I read 68 books, which means I fail. :( My original goal was 100, then I cut it down to 75... so either way, BOO HOO! I still blame school.

Aside from that small letdown, I read some really great books this year. Here's my list of favorites. Please note, not all of these books were published in 2010, they're just the best ones I read in 2010. Links go to my review. They are in no set order, except for chronologically when I read them this year, starting from the earliest.

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles- Everyone raved about this book, and I was not disappointed. The romance was sizzling, and the characters were realistic, full of heart, and easy to love.

Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You by Peter Cameron - This book took me by surprise. I read it for a class at school, and devoured it in just one day. Then I got to meet the author and he was just as wonderful as this book, about an introverted and strange young man, James.

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman - Such a sweet and touching story about a young girl growing up in the South after losing her mother. I was instantly charmed by young CeeCee's wise nature, inquisitiveness, and quiet humor. Oh, and her book love. :) Aaaand, I absolutely adore Beth. After reading the book, I was able to connect with her a bit online, and she is just as amazing as her book.

Siren by Tricia Rayburn - This book was totally out of the norm for me, but I loved reading about the magical world of Sirens.

If You Lived Here, You'd Be Home Now by Claire LaZebnik - This book was a total WOW for me. I continually rushed home to continue reading this story of a dysfunctional family, a unique mother, and a very needy child. I loved it.

This One is Mine by Maria Semple - Talk about unique! While the storyline of adultery and unhappiness may ring familiar, the characters do NOT. They are one of a kind. Truly. I was speechless and couldn't quite figure out how to put my feelings into words about this book. I emailed the author AS SOON as I finished though, because I had so many questions about the ending. She was really awesome and helped me understand. :)

Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel - A fascinating new take on the vampire genre, I became entranced by this story of a vampire girl turning human. Bring on the sequel!

After by Amy Efaw - This book was chilling, disturbing, but so, SO important. I could not put it down, or stop thinking about this story of a "dumpster baby," which was a fictionalized account of a teenage mother killing her newborn, and the after effects when she is in a juvenile facility.

Up From the Blue by Susan Henderson - This story of a highly dysfunctional family and a daughter trying to cope with a crazy and absent mother really captured me. Tillie's voice was spot-on, both sad and hilarious. My feelings were on a roller coaster ride the whole time I was reading.

Promise Me by Richard Paul Evans - This short Christmas themed book really blew me away. Since reading it, I have been on a Richard Paul Evans book reading spree. This story combines magical elements, with heartbreakingly real truths about life.

So there you have it, the best of the best that I read this year. It just so happened to be 10 too. I hope you'll check some of these books out if you haven't yet!

Help! Kindle or Nook?

It's almost my birthday and I'm getting an e-reader as a gift! I don't know which one to get though. I figured my awesome book bloggy friends would know what to do!

I like that with the Nook you can download books from other sources because it's Epub compatible... but the B&N website is SO slow whenever I'm on there searching for books. Does anyone else have that problem? I have a fast new computer, so it's not my computer that's acting up.

Because of that issue, I was considering the Kindle, but I was leaning more towards the Nook before that.

So, what are your recommendations? Do you have one? What are the pros and cons?

Thank you for your help!

Two Mini Christmas Book Reviews

The Christmas List by Richard Paul Evans was another wonderful, quick read. It's a bit of a modern retelling of Scrooge in a way. James Kier is a money hungry, selfish businessman, stomping on people left and right to benefit himself and make more money. He's even left his wife, who was recently diagnosed with cancer. One day, he reads his obituary in the newspaper and sees all the spiteful comments people left about him online after they believe he is dead, and he has a change of heart. He makes a list of some of the people he has hurt most over the years through his manipulation in business, and tries to reconcile with them, making up for his past ways. I really enjoyed this book, just like I've enjoyed all of Evans' books. I thought it was a great story of redemption and forgiveness. Though James was hard to like at times, I was grateful to see him make a change and become a better person. I rate this 4/5.

The Christmas Hope by Donna VanLiere was a quick and touching holiday read. Apparently it is the third in a trilogy (the first is The Christmas Shoes). I wish I had read the others first, but didn't have too bad of a time without having read them. Patricia and her husband Mark haven't celebrated the holidays since tragedy struck several years ago. They hardly talk to each other anymore, and Mark is on the brink of leaving. However, Patricia, a social worker, feels a special connection to five year old Emily, and breaks the rules by bringing her to her own home for the holidays. Her and Mark bond with the child and begin to love her. Emily's spirit and love helps the couple heal and find peace and happiness again. I thought this was a really nice and meaningful book that shows the true holiday spirit. I did think the ending was quite abrubt and should have been drawn out more since it was very rushed. I also think there may have been a few too many characters for such a short book. All in all though, it was a pleasant read. I rate this 3/5

I Was Nominated?!

I saw yesterday that I was nominated for the Best Blog category of the Reader's Choice Awards hosted by Natalie at Mindful Musings!

Say what now?!

I am completely shocked but mostly honored that someone nominated me for this. Thank you SO much to whoever deemed me and my little blog worthy of this honor and nominated me. I'm really touched by this and excited too. :D

Head over there now to vote for your favorite blogs! You get entered into a giveaway too just for voting.

Lookie What Santa(s) Brought! :D

I participated in two book blog Secret Santa exchanges this year, just like I did last year, and I must say, I am extremely delighted. :D

Booklovers Secret Santa
This package came from Jennifer over at Rundpinne. She gave me two books from my wishlist: Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger and Hate List by Jennifer Brown... plus some yummy Christmas M&M. Mmm, chocolate. I have been dying to read both of these books for a looong time. Thank you SO much, Jennifer!















Book Blogger Holiday Swap
This package came from Inside a Book and I am super excited! She sent me The Blessings of The Animals by Katrina Kittle which was also on my wishlist. I've been wanting to read this one since it first came out because I love books about animals (Fun fact: I used to think this was a memoir until about a month ago, just based on the cover. It's actually fiction! Okay, that wasn't really fun, but umm.... hmm...). She also sent me a beautiful magnet that has one of my favorite quotes ever on it: "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." Love the magnet and can't wait to read the book! Thank you so much!

Review: The Gift by Richard Paul Evans

Title: The Gift

Author: Richard Paul Evans
Genre: Christmas, fiction
Published: 2007
Source: Library

Summary: Nathan Hurst has hated Christmas ever since a tragic accident occurred in his childhood for which he blames himself. Now, he lives a solitary life, working as security for a worldwide music store, and frequently traveling for his job. On one of his trips, he gets stranded at the airport due to a blizzard, and this is when he meets Addison and her two children, Lizzy and Collin. Soon, he discovers that Collin has a very powerful gift: he can heal others with a simple touch. However, Collin, just nine years old, has Leukemia, and with each healing he performs, he becomes sicker, yet people come to him, begging to be healed. Through his relationship with this very special family and young boy, Nathan learns what love is, and begins to let go of his past.

My Thoughts: After recently reading and reviewing Evans, Promise Me, and falling in love with it, I've been eager to get my hands on any and all of his books. This was another beautiful story that did not let me down! Evans is just magical with words and creates beautiful and heartwarming stories that are full of meaning and depth. This book was incredibly touching, sad, and hopeful. Collin is an incredible character, willing to sacrifice himself to help others. It is wonderful to be reminded that there are incredible and caring people in the world, even if this is fiction. This story pulled me in immediately and I was in awe of the incredible characters and the ideas of love, forgiveness, regret, and best of all, hope. Be warned that you will be sad, but it's worth the read anyways. While I didn't like it quite as much as Promise Me, I really did enjoy it a lot and recommend it highly. I am currently reading another one of his books and look forward to reading them all in time.

My Rating: 4/5

Interview with Kimberly Griffiths Little + Giveaway

I had the honor of interviewing the fantastic Kimberly Griffiths Little, author of The Healing Spell. I'm really excited to have her on the blog today! In addition to being a talented writer, she's really quite funny too, so check it out! :)

What was the process for titling the book?

I take a few sheets of paper, a purple pen, a stash of chocolate, and some brainstorming with a dash of anxiety. Sometimes titles comes right away and sometimes I agonize over them. My middle son came up with a great title for my last book when he leaned over the computer as I was working one day and said, “You ought to call it THE LAST SNAKE RUNNER.” Eureka! That was it!

For THE HEALING SPELL, I wrote down a bunch of words and phrases from the story on a piece of paper, kept mixing them up and playing around until THE HEALING SPELL was born. The “Spell” itself which is located at the end of the book was written much later, after the book had been revised many times and I was still in the process of subbing it for publication. It was originally placed at the beginning of the manuscript when it sold to Scholastic, but my editor suggested we place The Recipe for a Healing Spell at the very end – and I think it’s perfect. Fits the emotional resolution so well.

At what moment in time did you really begin to feel that you were a writer?

Those moments of feeling like a real, working writer are fleeting and neurotic and don’t happen very often. Acquiring an agent, getting the phone call that an offer has been made for my book, signing the contracts, are all WONDERFUL, authorly moments. But they’re also done while juggling kiddos on my lap or sit in the midst of dishes and clutter so sometimes I feel like an imposter, too!

If you could meet any fictional character, who would it be?

Gosh, do I have to choose just one? Elizabeth Bennett because she’s so spunky and self-aware and confident. Harriet Welsh because of her quirkiness and we could run home after school and eat cake together.

If you could be a character in any one novel, what book would that be? Why?

I’d have to say Bella Swan because I am very curious to see what it’s like to kiss a stone cold vampire dude.

What are your secret talents or hobbies?

Belly dancing. I was a piano major and taught 20 students for many years. I make a mean chocolate chip cookie. I’ve always wanted to live in a castle. On my own island.

Giveaway:

If you would like to win a SIGNED hardcover copy of The Healing Spell, please just leave a comment below with your e-mail address. Unfortunately, this is open to US only, because I am sending the book out. I will draw the winner on January 3rd. Good luck!

Review: The Killing Storm by Kathryn Casey

Title: The Killing Storm
Author: Kathryn Casey
Genre: Suspense, mystery
Age Level: Adult
Published: 2010
Source: For review, Pump Up Your Book

Summary: In Houston, Texas, just days before a catastrophic hurricane is supposed to hit, 4-year-old Joey Warner is kidnapped from a park, with his mother sitting nearby, albeit distracted on her cell phone. She doesn't call the police right away and her strange reaction causes them to wonder if she is involved. At the same time, Texas Ranger profiler is also investigating a case involving the slaughter of Texas Longhorn steers with mysterious symbols drawn on them. She and the police fight to solve these cases before the storm reaches them.

My Thoughts: I was very eager to read this book, as early on in my blogging "career," I had reviewed A Descent Into Hell, by Kathryn Casey, one of her true crime books, which I loved. It was fascinating and extremely well written. I contacted her after posting the review and she was so kind and gracious, so I've been a fan ever since. She was really complimentary and admired my newborn blog which was pretty silly looking at the time, and was one of the very first authors I'd ever e-mailed. I knew she was a big true crime writer, but I didn't know she wrote novels as well, so imagine my excitement when I found out that she did!

Well, this book did not disappoint. It sucks you in from the first couple of pages. I must admit I stayed up way past my bedtime so I could finish it and find out how it ended (and no, I did not peek at the last page!). I would definitely recommend this if you like suspense and mystery. Although the steer killings were obviously gory, she doesn't get so descriptive that it makes it uncomfortable or disturbing to read, which is good. I have kind of a weak stomach, especially where animals are concerned. Anyways, can't say enough good things about this book!

My Rating: 4.5/5

Review: The Healing Spell by Kimberly Griffiths Little

Title: The Healing Spell

Author: Kimberly Griffiths Little
Genre: Middle Grade, Young Adult
Published: 2010
Source: For review, Teen Book Scene

Summary: "Eleven-year-old Livie is living with a secret and it's crushing her. She knows she is responsible for her mother's coma, but she can't tell anyone. It's up to her to find a way to wake her momma up.

Stuck in the middle of three sisters, hiding a forbidden pet alligator, and afraid to disappoint her daddy, whom she loves more than anyone else, Livie struggles to find her place within her own family as she learns about the powers of faith and redemption. Livie's powerful, emotional, and sometimes humorous story will stay with readers long after the last line is read.

Set in the lush bayou of Louisiana, Kimberley Griffiths Little brings Livie's story to life with power and grace."

(Summary from Goodreads)

My Thoughts: This book was full of heart and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Best of all was the authenticity of Livie's voice. I really felt like I was in the bayou of Louisiana. The voice really was pitch-perfect and Livie was extremely likable and an unforgettable character. I felt a lot of sympathy for her as she struggles to fit in with her family at times and is a complete tomboy. Anyone can relate to her, as we all have troubles fitting in sometimes.

Livie also carries the guilt of her mother's coma on her shoulders, believing it to be her fault. All of the characters were unique and genuine, and her relationships with her sisters were very believable. I also thought her dad was quite interesting. He brought the mother home from the hospital against medical advice, and seems quite unintelligent, but works hard. This is a really great story of family and forgiveness with a wildly unique and vivid setting, perfect for the middle-grade reader... and adults too!

My Rating: 4/5

Review: The Wedding Gift by Kathleen McKenna

Title: The Wedding Gift
Author: Kathleen McKenna
Genres: Horror, supernatural, paranormal, adult
Published: 2010
Source: Crazy Book Tours

Summary: Leeann is a Southern small town girl who just happens to be the"prettiest girl in Dalton," Oklahoma. At 17, she's just become pregnant and married into the richest family in town, to 27 year George Willets, who she doesn't really love. She lavishes in all of the gifts and things he buys for her though, until, for her wedding gift, they move into the long ago abandoned Willets House - a mansion which was the site of a grisly crime 30 years prior, in which Robina Willets, George's aunt, killed her husband, her five children, and herself. It's also the site where Leeann's brother died a few years after the murders while sneaking around the deserted property. Leeann's hesistant about living here, but even more so when the ghost of Robina begins to haunt her...

My Thoughts: I really liked the premise of this story. It was spooky, intriguing, and definitely creeped me out. I also thought Leeann's character was really quite funny. The story is told through her diary entries, and she's both incredibly vain and dumb... not to mention a golddigger. She really reminded me of the character Lorelai in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. They both thought very highly of themselves (too highly, even), and were ridiculous in their antics and stupidity, chasing after rich men, and always manipulative. That said, Leeann was definitely the high point of this novel for me. Her voice was realistically that of Southern princess, and she really cracked me up, though she's certainly not intentionally trying to be funny... she's just plain ridiculous. I also really liked Jessie, her tough and vulgar best friend.

While I liked the storyline a lot, I was a bit put off by some of the mechanics such as misspellings (one character I saw spelled as both Donny and Donnie), awkward writing, and grammar. I think the book needed a lot of editing and cleaning-up of errors. The writing was a bit amaetur and somewhat inconsistent. However, the story itself was entertaining and interesting. Just keep in mind, it's not the best edited or best written book ever, but it is quite fun.

My Rating: 3/5

Review: Promise Me by Richard Paul Evans

Title: Promise Me

Author: Richard Paul Evans
Published: 2010
Genre: Christmas, fiction, adult
Source: Library

Summary: On Christmas Eve 2008, Beth has a long kept secret that she'll finally reveal. She flashes back to the most important year in her life and shares her incredible story... it's 1989 and Beth's life is falling apart. She's just learned that her husband has cheated on her with nearly a dozen women, and their young daughter has come down with a strange and mysterious illness. Then, on Christmas, she meets Matthew at the 7-Eleven, during a blizzard. He's handsome, mysterious, and persistent in pursuing her. He strangely knows a lot about her and her daughter, and despite Beth's attempts at pushing him away, she falls deeply in love with him. Soon she learns his secret and her life is changed forever.

My Thoughts: WOW! I was blown away by this book. It's beautiful and hopeful, sad and eloquent. I flew through this book in two days, and immediately checked more of Evans' books out of the library. The story combines magical elements with heart-breakingly real events and enfolds you into Beth's life. The characters will make you love them, and your heart will break, as well as lift up, with theirs. Despite the shortness of the book, I really became invested in Beth's story and raced through it to find out Matthew's secret and how it would all come together in the end. I was shocked by the turn of events. I really adored this book. It was amazing and I really recommend it. My only regret is that I hadn't read any of his other books before! Richard Paul Evans is one hell of a storyteller and this book was just stunning.

My Rating: 5/5

I'm Famous! (Well... kind of)

Awhile back, someone from the ALA contacted me after seeing my blog post 'I Love Library,' and wanted to interview me for their website ilovelibraries.org. Of course I said 'YES!' I love promoting libraries and books, and am happy to share my love of both.

Here's the article! :) Check it out! This picture was taken by my dad, a photographer, in my library, AKA the best library in the world. I absolutely love working there.

Review: Holly's Inbox

Title: Holly's Inbox

Author: Holly Denham
Genre: chick-lit, adult
Published: 2007
Source: Library

Summary: Holly is just beginning as a receptionist at a bustling and huge bank. She's totally lost and in over her head, but things start looking up when she makes friends with some of her coworkers, finds old friends there, and even starts dating a handsome VP. Mixed in with e-mails with all of them are messages with her crazy family and best friends, a gay man and a... "promiscuous" girl. Soon, though, things begin falling apart for Holly at her new job, when she gets dumped, gets back-stabbed, and an old flame joins the company, revealing her secret past and heartbreaks.

My Thoughts: I thought this book was slow to start. In fact, about 200 pages in, I set it aside to read another book that needed to be returned. Then, I picked it back up after I finished the other book, and it got SO good. At first, it was just back and forth e-mails without much going on, then about halfway through, it really picked up! Lots of stuff went down and I was dying to know what would happen. Catty friends, crazy fun friends, handsome backstabbers, secret pasts... it had it all!

The book is around 700 pages, BUUUUT, it's all written in e-mail form so it's quite a quick read. A lot of the e-mails are really short, and I wish some of them had actually been a bit longer, but overall, the book flies by. Holly and her friends were really likable and entertaining, while the couple of backstabbers were completely dreadful and made me SO angry. I think this book portrayed a variety of different relationships realistically, like with her grandmother and parents, and I liked that aspect a lot.

Overall, fun brit chick-lit! I really wanted to get my hands on the sequel, so when I went to my job at the library on Thursday, I searched the catalog and they didn't have it. :( Boooo. Guess I'll have to wait!

My Rating: 4/5