TSK, TSK, What to Read?: 2013

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

FAB FIVE of 2013: TITLES

On to our next day of looking back at the year 2013...
Today we decided to look at books that had a title that caught our eye and made us think about it over and over...
So, check out our list and let us hear your thoughts...

Another tough category. And one that makes me question why Kathryn lets me make any decisions. LOL. I'll blame the flu on not being more creative here. There were several titles I threw on my Most Wanted lists just for the title alone. Unfortunately I couldn't find all of those lists but here's what I could recover..

1. Uses For Boys by Erica Lorraine Scheidt

You know it caught your eye too. And this book sure got a lot of buzz. I never got around to reading this one but I did snag it for the never ending TBR pile.

2. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke

I know this was a biggie in a lot of blogger circles, but I tend to not look at upcoming lists until the week or so before, so this wasn't on my radar. Frankly, I missed a lot this year with some of the things life threw at me. I just wasn't "in the know". Still, this captured my attention in one of my Goodreads searches. And then the COVER and synopsis blew me away. I was thrilled to learn April resided in Oregon- and even more thrilled when I got to meet her at our annual Wordstock Fest. She. Was. AWESOME. You all MUST add this to your to-read list if you haven't already.

3. Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys

First thought? Speak Easys? New Orleans? Yes, please!

4. The F- It List by Julie Halpern

After reading the synopsis it's not at all what I expected. I haven't read any of Julie's other books but it is a subject a little too close to home for me to tackle yet. Still, it really intrigues me.

5. Antigoddess by Kendare Blake

I'm all about the goddesses so I had to know what this was all about. Turned out to be one of my top reads of the year.

Ahhhh...a hard category indeed...
Just by looking at the words themselves and being drawn in...
Again...I am only looking at the books I have read this year and these are the ones whose titles intrigued me; captured my attention right off the bat...
And in no particular order...

1. PLAYING PATIENCE by Tabatha Vargo

The title here really made me think so many things about how are we going to be "playing patience".
Never in my mind was I ready for what this book had in store for me...AMAZING READ....loved every single page I read...

2. AnguiSH by Lia Felix

A one word title that says so much...and even though it is the word anguish, I feel that the way the letters ASH are capitalized and the rest not weigh heavy on the lure of this title...Just brilliant and again...and AMAZING read....

3. SMASH INTO YOU by Shelly Crane

This title is one of those where I ask..do I take this literally or metaphorically??
It drew me in questioning the lives of these people and why they are being smashed together...
I loved it and the title made perfect sense with this AWESOME book...

4. CALL ME CRAZY by Quinn Loftis

This book blew me away and by the title alone I would have never have guessed what the pages held...
It made me think of fun lively upbeat when in turn it had a whole different take...
POWERFUL and EMOTIONAL book that I just loved...

5. VAIN by Fisher Amelie

Another title in which it is only one word but yet it says soooo much...
Vain...what could a book with this title give to me???
Well, I am just going to say...OMG it was PHENOMENAL!!

Well, there are our FAB FIVE TITLES of 2013...
What are some of yours that you would add to this list???

Monday, December 30, 2013

FAB FIVE OF 2013: COVERS

Day one... COVER LUST....
Here are some of the covers that we fell in love...
LUST with this year...
Check them out...Let us know what you think and if you have any that you would suggest...

I'm not sure why we started off with the best of COVERS for 2013. Was this my idea? Lord knows, it's a tough category. WE LOVE COVER ART. We stare and drool, and spend countless hours obsessing over our latest and greatest finds. And what catches our eye can really vary. I think my list will reflect that. I went with books I purchased this year. I haven't read any of them- yet, but whether they were an author I follow or one I've been hoping to read, these covers all had that "something" that made them stand out for me and I had to add them to my TBR...

1. COLD COPPER (Age of Steam #3) by Devon Monk

I absolutely love the cover artist for this series. He captures our lead character/hottie/werewolf, Cedar perfectly. He also lets you see a bit of what lies within the pages. He's really remarkable.

2. INK by Amanda Sun

It's ART. Pure and simple. I love the watercolors. It's just beautiful. And I love that it only hints at the story.

3. GET BENT by CM Stunich

This cover KILLS me. I mean, JUST LOOK AT HIM!!! The second book in CM's Hard Rock Roots series, it features my latest obsession Turner F***ing Campbell. Dude. He IS rock. And his story is hardcore. I am literally dying for the fourth book. Anyway, I could stare at this photo All. Day. Long. And I may have on occasion. Can you blame me??!?!

4. LOVE in the TIME of GLOBAL WARMING by Francesca Lia Block

Another cover that is pure art. It's a wonderful mix of mediums and it's tactile. I love a cover I can run my hands over and really feel. Even the paper is scrumptious.

5. The DREAM THIEVES by Maggie Steifvater

Maggie can do no wrong. And this cover, like the last, is striking and brilliant. Need I say more?

Well, this is one of those categories that seems easy and then as you look, you're like...Ummm...only 5 eh??
So, I decided to only choose covers of books in which I have read this year...While there are some fabulous covers out there...these are the ones that just stuck with me and pop out every time I see them....
So, in no particular order...Here are my FAB Five covers for 2013...

1. INCEPTION by Teal Haviland

From the moment I saw this cover..I was in LOVE...it is just pure...the colors, the lady's lips, the grain of the overlay...It is just amazing and It is a cover that has stayed with me ever since I first saw it...

2. STEEL LILY by Megan Curd

This is another book in which the color scheme truly attracts my eye. Then add in all the cogs and wheels with the title too...just perfection...

3. ASHES & ICE by Rochelle Maya Callen

This is another cover that has stayed in my mind since I first saw it...
You can literally feel the chill from it and the woman's eyes are so captivating...the green just pops right off of the cover...Brilliantly done...

4. UNDER DIFFERENT STARS by Amy Bartol

The elegance of this cover draws me wanting to sit and stare it to try and figure it out.
The ivory beauty of the woman contrasting with the dark background really rounds this whole cover out...WONDERFULLY gorgeous!!

5. ROCKIN THE HEART by Gracen Miller

While this book is set to release in January, I have had the chance to read it as an ARC.
When the cover was revealed...OMG...it was HOT and STEAMY and so alluring to the eye.
The way the couple is placed in the background as the image is burning to show them..
Just LOVE it...

Sooo....there are out FAB FIVE Covers of 2013...
What do you think??
What was some of the covers that you completely LOVED/LUSTED over this year??

Thursday, December 26, 2013

BLOG TOUR: Rapture (Elfin #2) by Quinn Loftis

Triktapic, the deadly dark elf assassin, has been restored by the Forest Lords to his rightful place as king of the Elven realm. Now, he must face his former comrades as he attempts to stop Lorsan, king of the dark elves, from enslaving the human race. Lorsan has already begun distributing Rapture, the irresistible drink that destroys those who unknowingly become addicted to it. Will Cassie, his Chosen, be able to give Trik the strength he needs to face his dark past?
Meanwhile, Cassie’s best friend, Elora, is in a fight for her own life. Elora, her mother, Lisa, and a small band of light elves have traveled deep into the dark elf realm in hopes of rescuing Cassie and Trik. But their mission quickly turns into a battle for their own lives as they are surrounded by Lorsan and his warriors. Though outnumbered ten to one, the humans and elves fight heroically. They fight for a King once lost, but now found. They fight for the human realm that doesn’t yet know it is in need of saving. They fight for love; a love that has already been discovered and a love that is waiting to be revealed. Despite their valiant efforts, the band is captured and held captive by the dark elf king.
The peaceful world that Cassie and Elora knew is long gone, shattered by their realization that elves walk secretly among them, and are bent on their destruction. Soon, each of the girls will be forced to choose her own path. Cassie must decide to which world she belongs and Elora must decide if she will fight for a warrior hell bent on keeping her from his side.
Two species, human and elf, stand on the precipice of war, united in one goal; shatter the dark elf king’s plan, and unite a divided race under the rule of the one true King.

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Two species, human and elf, stand on the precipice of war, united in one goal; shatter the dark elf king’s plan, and unite a divided race under the rule of the one true King.

“You’re mine, Cassie, my Chosen. I cannot do what it is I have to do without you.” He felt emotions that seemed to have been building all day begin to rush through him and he was nearly overwhelmed. He cupped her face and leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. He shouldn’t be lying here with the most incredibly sweet woman he’d ever met. He didn’t deserve her, and yet, he wouldn’t let her go, not ever.

Cassie moaned as Trik kissed her. If there was one thing her assassin could do, it was kiss. His lips worked a spell over her as she parted her lips for him. The taste of him rushed into her and she pushed closer to him, needing to feel him against her—needing to know that she was safe and that Trik wouldn’t let anything happen to her. His arms wrapped around her and he rolled them so that she was on top of him. She laughed into their kiss at the quick motion, and when she opened her eyes, she saw his silver ones staring back at her.

“You’re so beautiful, A’maelamin,” he whispered to her.

She felt his hands run down her back and stop at the lowest point of the small of her back. She would like to say that she was feeling virtuous, but that would be a big, fat lie. She wiggled against him and Trik groaned and gripped her hips suddenly, holding her still.

“You know what they say about those who play with fire?” Trik asked her in a dangerously low and utterly seductive voice.

Cassie leaned down until her mouth was next to his ear. “That they’re begging to be burned?”

Quinn lives in beautiful NW Arkansas with her husband, son, Doberman and cat (who thinks she is a ninja in disguise). She is beyond thankful that she has been blessed to be able to write full time and hopes the readers know how much all of their support means to her. Some of her hobbies include reading, exercising, crochet, and spending time with family and friends. She gives all credit of her success to God because he gave her the creative spirit and vivid imagination it takes to write.

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WAHOOOO!!! OH YES!! Quinn Loftis has done it again with Rapture.
Brilliantly written with an action-packed, awesome storyline, I was captivated every moment from start to finish.
I was thrilled to be back with Trik and Cassie, eager to see where Elfin had left us and what we had in store.
And it was a whirlwind of excitement and suspense. Evil still trying to destroy the world where our amazing light elves put up the fight to ensure it...
New relationships start and I have to say that I was glued to the explosive chemistry of Elora and Cush...I would die laughing and then turn around and be like...oh that is HOT!!
Rapture dove us further in to this world revealing many new secrets and adding more questions for us to have me saying at the end..."UGH, it's over already...Alright, when do we get book three now??"
Loved every moment and highly recommend...

FAB FIVE OF 2013: Best of Moments at UTopYACon 2013

Well, the day I found out that I was one of the official bloggers for UTopYACon 2014, I was on Cloud 9 and I still haven't come down from it yet...
This is such an amazing honor and even though I was already looking forward to the conference in June, I am now beyond excited about getting back there...
So, since my first post happened to be at the end of the year, and since we are doing TOP lists for 2013, I thought that I would share with everyone my FAB FIVE MOMENTS of UTopYACon 2013...

Meeting Friends

I was so excited to head to Nashville. My emotions were all over the place and since this was my first time attending, I had no idea what to expect.

But, the one thing I knew for sure, was that I was going to finally meet Mary and Candace. Sharing a love of Quinn Lofis brought us together as friends online, but now...in Nashville....the live meeting partakes.

It was an awesome moment in which you hug and feel like you have known each other forever.

Now, even as I was meeting people I already knew, I was even more happy that I walked away from UTopYA with more friends and people that as the next year comes around, I cannot wait to see...

Jackie McPherson, Delphina Miyares, Ren Reidy, Toni Houseworth, Megan Bagley, Amanda Daws, and many more....

These friendships were definitely one of the highlights of the conference....

Can't wait to see them all again in 2014...

Meeting the Authors

Well, now, this moment was monumental. Will I even be able to describe just how phenomenal it was to you guys?

From the moment I arrived until I left I was able to have one on one talks with some of my favorite authors ever. Not only that, groups of us congregating together after the conference day is over and just hanging out, getting to know each other and sharing our love of books.

This is a moment in which as I remember these amazing times, I sit here and smile, eager to get back there in 2014 to see all this awesome authors.

What I walked away with after Nashville was not only a new love and admiration for my favorite authors, I walked away with new friends.

The list is extremely long but I am going to name a few to let you know just how excited I am to get back there in 2014...

Lila Felix, A.M. Hargrove, M. Leighton. Quinn Loftis, Shelly Crane, C. A. Kunz (Carol & Adam) Tiffany King, Heather Self, Amy Bartol. Samantha Young, Teal Haviland, Misty Provencher, Angeline Kace, Megan Curd, Bailey Ardisone, Tabatha Vargo, Melissa Andrea, Cameo Renae, and many, many more....

The Panels

After arriving and receiving the materials for the conference, I sat and looked at the daily schedule.

Each day was filled with panels with interesting topics that I was able to go in, sit, and hear authors and experts discuss.

I truly took some fabulous ideas and some great advice away with these sessions.

Getting to hear more on the topic of YA vs NA, understanding what a publicist does,

music and writing, and so many more...

I can't wait to be able to dive in to more in June....

Awards Ceremony

The Awards Ceremony on Saturday night was fantastic. Everyone was able to dress up and get together for a night of amazingness.
With great planning, the show was started giving us winners from many categories, entertainment from the Amazing Amanda Havard, and just the fantabulousness of camaraderie from everyone in that room....
It was defnitely a night to remember...
Major congrats to all the winners!!!

Key Note Speakers

Lastly...we had two keynote speakers for UTopYACon 2013.
The Ever Fabulous Jennifer Armentrout and Jen Sincero shared their thoughts and opinions on the writing and publishing world. So many questions were answered and details provided in their road to publication... Showing us just what it is like to make writing as your career...

So, as this year ends and I look ahead to 2014, I am counting down the days until June 21 arrives. UTopYACon is the one conference that I made sure to reserve way in advance.

If you haven't attended UTopYACon yet, don't wait...Make sure you get your tickets and come and join all of us for a FAB FUN TIME!!!!