Going to London!

Hey everyone! I just wanted to let you all know that I'm not going to be around for the first couple weeks of January because. . . .

I'm going to London!! 

SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

I can't believe I just said that.

 I can't believe this is real life.

I AM SO SUPER EXCITED. I'm not really the traveling type, I haven't gone very far from home before,  never mind leaving the country!  So this is a really big deal for me!

I've scheduled a bunch of posts that will go up while I'm away but I won't be able to reply or comment back until I return. But don't let that stop you from coming by and leaving some nice comments for me to find when I get back ;) 

End of the Year Wrap Up 2012

As the end of the year draws near it's time to look back and reflect on all the books I've read this year!

In 2011 I read 60 books.
My goal this year was to read 80, let's see how I did.

Audio Books = 1

Adult Books = 1

Short Stories = 4

Picture Books = 7

Middle Grade = 17

Young Adult = 46

GRAND TOTAL = 76 

Although I didn't reach my goal =( I still read 16 more books than last year so that's an improvement!

Now it's time for the

Hosted by The Perpetual Page Turner

1. Best Book You Read In 2012? (You can break it down by genre if you want)

YA-
Contemporary: Fracture by Megan Miranda and Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill

Dystopian: The Selection by Kiera Cass and Starters by Lissa Price

Suspense/Thriller: What She Left Behind by Tracy Bilen and Still Waters by Emma Carlson Berne

Mystery: Social Suicide by Gemma Halliday

OTHER- 

Nonfiction: Great Day Everyday by Max Lucado
Picture Book: ish by Peter H. Reynolds
Middle Grade: May B by Caroline Starr Rose

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

Such a Rush by Jennifer Echols

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Fallen by Lauren Kate

3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2012? 

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

4. Book you recommended to people most in 2012?

The Selection by Kiera Cass
Meant To Be by Lauren Morrill

5. Best series you discovered in 2012?

Unearthly Trilogy by Cynthia Hand
Fracture by Megan Miranda
The Selection by Kiera Cass
Starters by Lissa Price

6. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2012?

Lauren Morrill, Megan Miranda, Lissa Price

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?

Survive by Alex Morel

8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2012?

Still Waters by Emma Carlson Berne
What She Left Behind by Tracy Bilen
Survive by Alex Morel

 9. Book You Read In 2012 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year:

Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2012?

11. Most memorable character in 2012? 
Skeeter and Aibileen from The Help by Kathryn Stockett

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2012?

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

Karma by Cathy Ostlere

The Firefly Letters by Margarita Engle

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2012? 

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2012 to finally read? 

The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2012? 

"I stand up. Stretch my arms out wide to the
empty horizon. Do not be afraid of limitless
possibilities. The desert is infinite to the eye
as love is to the heart."

- from Karma by Cathy Ostlere

16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2012? 

Longest: Karma 528 pages
Shortest: ish 32 pages

17. Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It? (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc. etc.) Be careful of spoilers!

HALLOWED by Cynthia Hand!!!

18. Favorite Relationship From A Book You Read In 2012 (be it romantic, friendship, etc).

Romantic Relationships: Hadley & Oliver from Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight
                                           Julia & Jason from Meant To Be
Sibling Relationships: Callie & Tyler from Starters
                                      Sam & Riddle from I'll Be There               
Friendships: Clara & Angela from Unearthly
                       Nora & Vee from Silence

19. Favorite Book You Read in 2012 From An Author You Read Previously

Falling For You by Lisa Schroeder

20. Best Book You Read That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else:

I'll Be There by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Looking Ahead…

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2012 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2013?

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2013?

Unravel Me by Taherah Mafi

3. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging In 2013?

I just want to keep reading, blogging and enjoying it!

End of the Year Wrap Up: Novels in Verse Challenge

Back in January when I was joining all of these reading challenges I couldn't for the life of me find one for Novels In Verse. I decided to go out on a limb and try hosting my very own reading challenge. 

I want to say a MASSIVE THANK YOU to everyone who participated in the challenge, whether you reviewed one book or a dozen. I am just so happy that people signed up!! =D 

So thank you again for your participation and I hope you'll all join me in the Novels in Verse Reading Challenge 2013! The new sign up post will be going up on January 3rd!

Below is a wrap up of all the novels in verse I read this year as part of the challenge.

Goal: 9-12 books

Challenge MET

May B by Caroline Starr Rose, Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai,

Under the Mesquite by Guadalupe Garcia McCall

Minn and Jake by Janet Wong, The Firefly Letters by Margarita Engle, 

Almost Forever by Marie Testa

The Way A Door Closes by Hope Anita Smith, Keeping the Night Watch by Hope Anita Smith, Hurricane Dancers by Margarita Engle

Hidden by Helen Frost, What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones, Karma by Cathy Ostlere

Worlds Afire by Paul B. Jenkins, All the Broken Pieces by Ann Burg,

 Girl Coming In For A Landing by April Halprin Wayland

Now for a little Q & A: 

Favorite Young Adult novel in verse?

Favorite middle grade novel in verse?

Favorite cover?

What was your favorite verse novel you read in 2012? 

End of the Year Wrap Up: Debut Author Challenge

Goal: 12+

Challenge MET

Welcome Caller This is Chloe by Shelley Coriell, Tempest by Julie Cross, 

The Selection by Kiera Cass

Cinder by Marissa Meyer, Fracture by Miranda Miranda, Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Legend by Marie Lu, Never Eighteen by Megan Bostic, My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

What She Left Behind by Tracy Bilen, Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill, 

Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone

Swipe by Evan Angler, Starters by Lissa Price, Survive by Alex Morel

Now for a little Q & A: 

Favorite debut of 2012?

Too many great ones to choose!!

Favorite cover?

Most promising new series?

Favorite stand alone debut?

What was your favorite book by a debut author this year?

End of the Year Wrap up: Contemporary Challenge

Goal: 10+ books

Challenge MET

Fracture by Megan Miranda, Welcome Caller This Is Chloe by Shelley Coriell, 

The Statistical Probability of Love At First Sight  by Jennifer E. Smith

First Comes Love by Katie Kacvinsky, Don't Breathe A Word by Holly Cupala, 

In Honor by Jessi Kirby

What She Left Behind by Tracy Bilen, Such a Rush by Jennifer Echols, 

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Meant To Be by Lauren Morrill, Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone,

Shackled by Angela Carling

Survive by Alex Morel, The Raft by S.A. Bodeem, Social Suicide by Gemma Halliday

Tempest by Julie Cross,  Never Eighteen by Megan Bostic,

Falling For You by Lisa Schroeder

Now for a little Q & A: 

Favorite Contemporary of 2012?

Impossible decision. 

Best cover?

SO many great covers!

Favorite protagonist?

Julia because she is hilarious, Hartley because I love her sarcasm, and Rae for her heart. 

Most crush worthy guys?

Oliver from Statistical Probability of Love At First Sight because of his British accent ;)

AND

Bennet from Time Between Us because he was just so sweet!

Best couple?

Hadley & Oliver from Statistical Probability of Love At First Sight

AND

Julia & Jason from Meant To Be

What was your favorite Contemporary of 2012?

End of the Year Wrap Up: Dystopian Challenge

Goal: 8-14 books

Challenge MET 

The Selection by Kiera Cass, Once by Anna Carey, Cinder by Marissa Meyer

The Pledge by Kimberly Derting, Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi, Legend by Marie Lu

Swipe by Evan Angler, Starters by Lissa Price, Middle Ground by Katie Kacvinsky

Now for a little Q & A: 

Favorite Dystopian of 2012?

A tie between these two

Favorite Cover?

Another tie, this time between

Favorite kick-butt heroine? 

Definitely Callie!

What was your favorite Dystopian of 2012?

25 Days of Christmas: MERRY CHRISTMAS!

"An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.' Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." 

-Luke 2:9-14

MERRY CHRISTMAS

EVERYONE!!!  

I hope your Christmas is full of love, laughter, and family! 

25 Days of Christmas: Twas the Night Before Christmas

25 Days of Christmas: What Christmas Means to Me

And now for my favorite Christmas song.

Drumroll please 
Dun, 
Dun,
Dun.