Top Ten Tuesday: 2014 Releases I Never Read

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

So many great 2014 books I never got to read. I don't even know where to start. HOW do you do this sort of thing? Well, I rummaged through 2014 Top Ten TBR posts and picked 2014 books I listed, but didn't read. Also, I picked a few from Goodreads. There were great ones left behind.

Hungry by H.A. Swain

The title describes my whole life. But for all seriousness, the synopsis sounded really interesting and my sister had a copy, so I can't believe I never got around to reading it. 

Breakfast Served Anytime by Sarah Combs

Can you see a theme here?

The Truth About Alice by Jennifer Mathieu

Many, many great reviews about this one. I need it.

Firebug by Lish McBride

Again, SO MANY GREAT REVIEWS. And it's about fireeeee!

Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

I seemed to have avoided a lot of series enders in 2014 and I think it's because I was already going through so much, ending and beginning things, I just couldn't handle more trauma. And I feel like this would certainly give me heartbreak.

The Murder Complex by Lindsay Cummings

I need to remedy my 2014 mistake. 

Evertrue by Brodi Ashton

Another series ender that I need to get to, but I don't know if I can handle.

Stolen Songbird by Danielle L. Jensen

Fantasy, fantasy, fantasy. I had this in my winter TBR for 2014, but ended up binge-reading Harry Potter instead. Sooo....

Free to Fall by Lauren Miller

Lauren Miller! I adored Parallel so I'm bumping this one up on my TBR. 

Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira

I think this was on every Top Ten Tuesday TBR list I had in 2014. 2015 will be the year!

What books do you wish you had gotten to in 2014? 

Top Ten Tuesday: Best Books (so far) This Year

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

2014 has been good to me so far and because I hope it's been good to you, I'm excited to read everyone's lists today. Today's topic is the best books you've read so far this year. I am immensely grateful now that I started a spreadsheet on the books I read in 2014 and my rating for them. Because of this, I listed my 5 star books and my 4-4.5 star books. Even when rating books, two 5 stars books aren't always equal on the Love-O-Meter, but in the two categories below, there's no particular order.

5 stars:  

The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski 
I have no words for how amazing this is. I read it in ONE night and my only regret is that I couldn't enjoy it longer. 

Crown of Embers by Rae Carson

This series did things to me as you will see throughout my whole post.

Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

One of the best retellings I've ever read, hands down. Mythology, fantasy, arranged marriages, Beauty and the Beast, kick-butt heroine. I just loved it.

Midnight Thief by Livia Blackburne
Once again, another book I NEED the sequel to. I loved it even more after interviewing the author and I'm doing a giveaway for it RIGHT NOW, so click here.

4-4.5 stars:

Cress by Marissa Meyer

As the series grows, so does the POVs, and it created an absolute win for me in this book. The reasons are minor for it not being a total 5 stars.

Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson

I. NEED. THE. SEQUEL.

The Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson

HECTOOOOOOOR!

Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

A great summery summer read to read in the summer. Since I read it so early in the summer, I may need to have a reread in July.

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
May I go cry now? 

Say What You Will by Cammie McGovern

My review for this amazing book will be up this week! That said, it was wonderfully different.

On the Fence by Kasie West

Kasie West = perfect.

What are the best books you've read this year? Do you use spreadsheets?

Waiting on Wednesday: Disney-Hyperion

Hosted by Breaking the Spine

I briefly mentioned on my Rewind & Review this past Sunday that Disney-Hyperion put out their latest catalogue. You know, the one that absolutely taunted me. The books were beautiful. If anyone has talked to me about books and publishers, you'd know that Disney-Hyperion is at the tippy-top on my favorites because they have a fabulous winning streak with me (and they're super nice). Instead of only picking one, I'm giving you several books to drool over.

Title: Killer Instinct
Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Publication date: November 4, 2014
Series: Book 2

Seventeen-year-old Cassie Hobbes has a gift for profiling people. Her talent has landed her a spot in an elite FBI program for teens with innate crime-solving abilities, and into some harrowing situations. After barely escaping a confrontation with an unbalanced killer obsessed with her mother’s murder, Cassie hopes she and the rest of the team can stick to solving cold cases from a distance.

But when victims of a brutal new serial killer start turning up, the Naturals are pulled into an active case that strikes too close to home: the killer is a perfect copycat of Dean’s incarcerated father—a man he’d do anything to forget. Forced deeper into a murderer’s psyche than ever before, will the Naturals be able to outsmart the enigmatic killer’s brutal mind games before this copycat twists them into his web for good?

With her trademark wit, brilliant plotting, and twists that no one will see coming, Jennifer Lynn Barnes will keep readers on the edge of their seats (and looking over their shoulders) as they race through the pages of this thrilling novel.

Title: Stitching Snow
Author: R.C. Lewis
Publication date: October 14, 2014
Series: Standalone? 

Princess Snow is missing.

Her home planet is filled with violence and corruption at the hands of King Matthias and his wife as they attempt to punish her captors. The king will stop at nothing to get his beloved daughter back—but that’s assuming she wants to return at all.

Essie has grown used to being cold. Temperatures on the planet Thanda are always sub-zero, and she fills her days with coding and repairs for the seven loyal drones that run the local mines.

When a mysterious young man named Dane crash-lands near her home, Essie agrees to help the pilot repair his ship. But soon she realizes that Dane’s arrival was far from accidental, and she’s pulled into the heart of a war she’s risked everything to avoid. With the galaxy’s future—and her own—in jeopardy, Essie must choose who to trust in a fiery fight for survival.

Title: This Shattered World 
Author: Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
Publication date: November 11, 2014
Series: Book 2

The second installment in our epic Starbound trilogy introduces a new pair of star-crossed lovers on two sides of a bloody war.

Jubilee Chase and Flynn Cormac should never have met.

Lee is captain of the forces sent to Avon to crush the terraformed planet's rebellious colonists, but she has her own reasons for hating the insurgents.

Rebellion is in Flynn's blood. Terraforming corporations make their fortune by recruiting colonists to make the inhospitable planets livable, with the promise of a better life for their children. But they never fulfilled their promise on Avon, and decades later, Flynn is leading the rebellion.

Desperate for any advantage in a bloody and unrelentingly war, Flynn does the only thing that makes sense when he and Lee cross paths: he returns to base with her as prisoner. But as his fellow rebels prepare to execute this tough-talking girl with nerves of steel, Flynn makes another choice that will change him forever. He and Lee escape the rebel base together, caught between two sides of a senseless war.

The stunning second novel in the Starbound trilogy is an unforgettable story of love and forgiveness in a world torn apart by war.

Title: Invaded
Author: Melissa Landers
Publication date: February 3, 2015
Series: Book 2

The romantic sequel to Alienated takes long-distance relationships to a new level as Cara and Aelyx long for each other from opposite ends of the universe...until a threat to both their worlds reunites them. 

Cara always knew life on planet L’eihr would be an adjustment. With Aelyx, her L’eihr boyfriend, back on Earth, working to mend the broken alliance between their two planets, Cara is left to fend for herself at a new school, surrounded by hostile alien clones. Even the weird dorm pet hates her.

Things look up when Cara is appointed as human representative to a panel preparing for a human colony on L’eihr. A society melding their two cultures is a place where Cara and Aelyx could one day make a life together. But with L’eihr leaders balking at granting even the most basic freedoms, Cara begins to wonder if she could ever be happy on this planet, even with Aelyx by her side.

Meanwhile, on Earth, Aelyx, finds himself thrown into a full-scale PR campaign to improve human-L’eihr relations. Humans don’t know that their very survival depends on this alliance: only Aelyx’s people have the technology to fix the deadly contamination in the global water supply that human governments are hiding. Yet despite their upper hand, the leaders of his world suddenly seem desperate to get humans on their side, and hardly bat an eye at extremists’ multiple attempts on Aelyx’s life.

The Way clearly needs humans’ help...but with what? And what will they ask for in return?

Title: Dead to Me
Author: Mary McCoy
Publication date: March 3, 2015
Series: Standalone?

LA Confidential for the YA audience. This alluring noir YA mystery with a Golden Age Hollywood backdrop will keep you guessing until the last page.

"Don't believe anything they say."

Those were the last words that Annie spoke to Alice before turning her back on their family and vanishing without a trace. Alice spent four years waiting and wondering when the impossibly glamorous sister she idolized would return to her--and what their Hollywood-insider parents had done to drive her away.

When Annie does turn up, the blond, broken stranger lying in a coma has no answers for her. But Alice isn't a kid anymore, and this time she won't let anything stand between her and the truth, no matter how ugly. The search for those who beat Annie and left her for dead leads Alice into a treacherous world of tough-talking private eyes, psychopathic movie stars, and troubled starlets--and onto the trail of a young runaway who is the sole witness to an unspeakable crime. What this girl knows could shut down a criminal syndicate and put Annie's attacker behind bars--if Alice can find her first. And she isn't the only one looking

Evoking classic film noir, debut novelist Mary McCoy brings the dangerous glamour of Hollywood's Golden Age to life, where the most decadent parties can be the deadliest, and no drive into the sunset can erase the crimes of past.

Title: Midnight Thief
Author: Livia Blackburne
Publication date: July 8, 2014
Series: Book 1

Growing up on Forge’s streets has taught Kyra how to stretch a coin. And when that’s not enough, her uncanny ability to scale walls and bypass guards helps her take what she needs. 
But when the leader of the Assassins Guild offers Kyra a lucrative job, she hesitates. She knows how to get by on her own, and she’s not sure she wants to play by his rules. But he’s persistent—and darkly attractive—and Kyra can’t quite resist his pull.

Tristam of Brancel is a young Palace knight on a mission. After his best friend is brutally murdered by Demon Riders, a clan of vicious warriors who ride bloodthirsty wildcats, Tristam vows to take them down. But as his investigation deepens, he finds his efforts thwarted by a talented thief, one who sneaks past Palace defenses with uncanny ease.

When a fateful raid throws Kyra and Tristam together, the two enemies realize that their best chance at survival—and vengeance—might be to join forces. And as their loyalties are tested to the breaking point, they learn a startling secret about Kyra’s past that threatens to reshape both their lives.

In her arresting debut novel, Livia Blackburne creates a captivating world where intrigue prowls around every corner—and danger is a way of life.

So now my question is....WHY ARE ALL OF THESE SO FAR AWAY? 

What are you waiting for? Do you like Disney-Hyperion as much as I do?

Top Ten Tuesday - 2014 Debuts

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Debuts, what lovely books. These are books that may make me a fangirl for a new author. The author is coming into the bright world of publishing and this debut will be my first impression of them. It's make or break time. Thankfully, 2014 is offering some very good-looking debuts for me to be excited about.

A Death-Struck Year by Makiia Lucier

Basically, during the Spanish Influenza, a girl refuses to go in a quarantine and then decides to volunteer for Red Cross and is surprised to find herself caring about strangers. One of those strangers is a boy. Historical (and researched) background, headstrong girl, a "handsome medical student and war vet" named Edmund, and deep stuff to make me think all comes together to make me giddy.

Landry Park by Bethany Hagen

It says it's Downton Abbey (YES!) meets The Selection (oh boy) in a dystopian setting with love and rebellion and war. So this might seem like a similar plot these days, but I'm anticipating this greatly.

Breakfast Served Anytime by Sarah Combs

Admittedly, I thought this was an adult book by its cover. While I actually didn't want to be intrigued, I was after reading its synopsis since I love summer camp books. 

Ask Again Later by Liz Czukas

A alternate universe-type story about prom night? A perfectly fun read when I need to just reeeelaaaax.

Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy

I feel like I'm always talking about this debut, but I don't apologize because I'm stoked to read it.  A girl goes to complete her crazy bucket list because she thinks she's dying with the help of her best friend who has a crush on her (named Harvey, which I love, since I'm on a dorky H-name kick). And now she has to face the consequences and, my goodness, can it get any cuter?

Nil by Lynne Matson

One year to escape an island or die? Count me in (to read it, not live it). 

Something Real by Heather Demetrios

Reality TV is a guilty pleasure of mine, I won't lie. I don't like how reality TV stars get so famous though because all they do is live in front of the cameras with part normalcy and part scripted thanks to the producers. So this book is making me more excited than it should.

Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira 

That cover is gorgeous. I want, please and thank you. Also, it obviously involves letters, which I love.

A Mad, Wicked Folly by Sharon Biggs Waller

So far, I haven't heard any really negative reviews on this and I'm incredibly happy because this sounds right up my alley. Historical Europe, scandal in a finishing school that leads an out-of-the-box kind of girl to pursue her dreams even though her parents are trying to marry her off. Everything. All of it. I just...please, I need this.

Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

I heard quite a few negative reviews at first, but now I'm hearing one positive review after the next and it's giving me Grabby Hands Syndrome. I love retellings. I love Beauty and the Beast. I love fantasy. I love this cover. I love it all.

Bonus: Alienated by Melissa Landers, Pointe by Brandy Colbert, The Murder Complex by Lindsay Cummings, Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige, The Art of Lainey by Paula Stokes

Already read and recommend: Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anna Blankman

What are 2014 debuts you're looking forward to?

Top Ten Tuesday - 2014 Goals

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Last year, I had made a list of bookish goals I wanted to complete for 2013. I completed around six out of the eleven items on the list, which isn't as much as I hoped. Although I did things (like interviewing an author) that I never thought I would be able to do so I'm pretty proud of that. Now onto 2014! But note that while they're numbered, there is no order of importance.

Five Bookish Goals

1. Read 150 books. I'm doing the Goodreads Reading Challenge this year and this is what I set it as. I have high expectations, possibly too high, that I'll read a lot this year, even more than my challenge. I have to remind myself that many changes are happening for me this year so I shouldn't be too hopeful.

2. Keep track of a book log. I've thought about it on and off, but I'm finally doing it. I want to jot down everything I read this year in a log so that when I do the End of Year Book Survey for 2014, I'll be absolutely prepared. Also, it'll be fun to see.

3. Attend events (like BEA). BEA would be a dream come true, but I don't know if I'll be able to afford the hotel. Airfare, registration, food...no problem. Expensive NYC lodging? Challenging. If anyone knows of anything, let me know! Otherwise, I'd love to go to other book signings and author meets.

• 3.5. See bookish friends. If BEA fails (or even if it doesn't), I'd love to see more bloggy friends since I've met a total of one. I want to meet you all!

4. Blog changes. I'm considering quite a few things. One of which is my design. I'm thinking about changing it so, once again, if anyone knows someone or you have a designing talent, let me know! Also, check back Thursday because another blog change is happening then too.

5.  Review quicker and/or take more notes. Right now, I'm taking pictures of pages that I'm reading that I want to remember for examples or for quotes for annoyances, for swooning moments, or for funny ones. But I need to be better at writing things down and already constructing my review in my head. While that's getting progress, reviewing has been slumping. I wait for the review to start formulating in my head, but then I procrastinate or think I have no time. It needs to stop.

Five Non-Bookish Goals

1. Run a 5k. I've talked about it some on Twitter and on here before, but I'm on a basketball team. We're forced to run the devil's intervals three times a week. I call it the devil's intervals because even though running is synonymous with torture, there are varying degrees of horrible and this is the worst. With that said, I've always wanted to join a marathon. I've run a 5k before at home, but I'd like to do any kind of marathon officially.

2. Sleep better. This sounds like an old person's goal or a corny one at least, but I'm serious. I tend to go to bed late because of distractions or I stayed up just because I could. Then when I have a good book, I stay up even later. My mood, my appetite, my attitude, my relationships, my body...it's all affected. Once I go to bed earlier, I'll hopefully get a higher quality of sleep.

3. Worry less. My family will have a good time reading this one. I worry a lot. I'm probably the best worrier I know, which causes reason to worry (see?), but I worry and panic and grow anxious over many things. With graduation coming up, friendship problems, family changes, blog happenings, basketball anxiety, college freak-outs...my worrying in 2014 will have reason to kick into full gear, but I don't want that to happen. Since I've been half-trying to do this my whole life, I'll fully try now and probably continue to do so forever. 

4. Smile more. Ugh, smiling. I honestly think it hurts my jaw. I smile when I want to, you know? But when out in public, I should really make the effort and smile, even when the person is annoying or rude. 

5. Journal. I used to write in my journal a lot in the elementary and middle school years, but that started to wane in high school. I received a pretty Paris journal from my mom a year or two ago and was determined to keep up with it, but I seem to forget about it until I'm in bed and worn out. But I want to remember this year and my life, the good and the bad.

What are your 2014 goals? 

Top Ten Tuesday: 2014 Releases

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Does anyone else feel like it's crazy that we're already in December? Or that we're thinking about 2014? The good thing about it all is that there are some amazing books coming out next year and we'll be closer to reading them. Here is my incomprehensive list of 2014 books I'm dying to read. I have no shame for going way past 10.

Harper:

Maybe One Day by Melissa Kantor (2/18); Ignite Me by Taherah Mafi (2/4); After the End by Amy Plum (5/16); Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi (1/28); The Last Best Kiss by Claire LaZebnik (4/22); Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy (3/18); Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anne Blankman (4/22); Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige (4/1); Royally Lost by Angie Stanton (5/6); Free to Fall by Lauren Miller (5/13); Dear Killer by Katherine Ewell (4/1); On the Fence by Kasie West (7/1)

 Macmillan:

 Nil by Lynne Matson (3/4); Cress by Marissa Meyer (2/4); Something Real by Heather Demetrios (2/4); The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski (3/4)

Simon & Schuster:

The Treatment by Suzanne Young (4/19); The Edge of Falling by Rebecca Serle (3/18); To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han (4/22); Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson (5/6)

Penguin:

 Now and Forever by Susane Colasanti (5/20); Pointe by Brandy Colbert (4/10); Tsarina by J. Nelle Patrick and Jackson Pearce (2014); Vitro by Jessica Khoury (1/14)

Scholastic:

Manor of Secrets by Katherine Longshore (1/28); Better Off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg (2/25); Defy by Sara B. Larson (1/7)

Random House:

Being Sloane Jacobs by Lauren Morrill (1/7); We Were Liars by E. Lockhart (5/13)

Bonus: This Shattered World by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner, Stitching Snow by R.C. Lewis, Panic by Lauren Oliver, Through the Woods by Emily Carroll, The Taking by Kimberly Derting (4/29)

What are some 2014 reads you're looking forward to?