BOOKS.FAVE.RAVE: ✪2012 MUST READS✪

2012 was another good year for me. I was blessed with a lot of spare time, patience and enthusiasm to finish 254 books this year. As we close this chapter, here's a round up of my most beloved books. There's actually more, but I wasn't particularly enclined to add them all since a lot of them were not published this year. Anyway, just like last year, I give you, my BOOKS.FAVE.RAVE!  ^_^

PARANORMAL YA / DYSTOPIAN

1. PREDESTINED & CEASELESS (Last two books in the Existence Trilogy) - Abbi Glines

2. AWRY & AVOW (Last two books of Archers of Avalon Series) - Chelsea Fine

3. DEMONS AT DEADNIGHT (Divinicus Nex Chronicles #1) - A&E Kirk

4. STORM & SPARK (First Two books in The Elemental Series) - Brigid Kemmerer

5. PURE (Covenant #2) - Jennifer L. Armentrout

6. ANGELFALL (Penryn & the End of Days #1) - Susan Ee

7. THE CURSE GIRL - Kate Avery Ellison

8. ARTICLE 5 (Article 5 #1) - Kristen Simmons

9. THE HUNT (The Hunt #1) - Andrew Fukuda

10. DEFIANCE (Significance #3) - Shelly Crane

PARANORMAL ROMANCE

1. SHADOW'S CLAIM (The Dacians: Realm of Blood and Mist #1) - Kresley Cole

2. THE DARKEST SEDUCTION (Lords of the Underworld #9) - Gena Showalter

3. WITH EVERYTHING I AM (The Three #2) - Kristen Ashley

4. LETHAL RIDER (Lords of Deliverance #3) - Larissa Ione

5. LOTHAIRE (Immortals After Dark #12) - Kresley Cole

6. FERAL SINS (The Phoenix Pack #1) - Suzanne Wright

7. UNTIL THE SUN FALLS FROM THE SKY (The Three #1) - Kristen Ashley

8. ACCIDENTALLY MARRIED TO...A VAMPIRE? (Accidentally Yours #2) - Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

9. WICKED NIGHTS (Angels of the Dark #1) - Gena Showalter

10. HERE BE SEXIST VAMPIRES - Suzanne Wright

CONTEMPORARY YA & NEW ADULT

1. EASY - Tammara Webber

2. CHARADE (Games #1) - Nyrae Dawn

3. ON DUBLIN STREET (On Dublin Street, #1)  - Samantha Young

4. THE EDGE OF NEVER - J.A. Redmerski

5. LOSING IT - Cora Carmack

6. SLAMMED (Slammed #1) - Colleen Hoover

7. CRUSH - Lacey Weatherford

8. FRAGILE - M. Leighton

9. WHAT A BOY WANTS AND WHAT A BOY NEEDS (Two Books in The "What a Boy Wants Series) - Nyrae Dawn

10. CALLUM & HARPER (Sleepless #1) - Fisher Amelie

11. PUSHING THE LIMITS (Pushing the Limits, #1) - Katie McGarry

12. BECAUSE OF LOW (Sea Breeze #2) - Abbi Glines

13. GOING UNDER and SHALLOW (Going Under #1 and #2) - Georgia Cates

14. THE SECRET OF ELLA & MICHA - Jessica Sorensen

15. MY LIFE NEXT DOOR - Huntley Fitzpatrick

16. FREEING CARTER - Nyrae Dawn

17. WHILE IT LASTS (Sea Breeze #3) - Abbi Glines

18. THOMAS & JANUARY (Sleepless #2) - Fisher Amelie

19. WHAT I DIDN'T SAY - Keary Taylor

20. JUST FOR NOW (Sea Breeze #4) - Abbi Glines

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

1. BREATHE (Colorado Mountain #4) - Kristen Ashley

2. MOTORCYCLE MAN (Dream Man #4) - Kristen Ashley

3. CHECKMATE (A Neighbor from Hell, #3)  - R.L. Mathewson

4. LAW MAN (Dream Man #3) - Kristen Ashley

5. LOVE UNREHEARSED (Love #2) - Tina Reber

6. SOMEBODY TO LOVE - Kristan Higgins

7. EMPTY NET (Assassins #3) - Toni Aleo

8. TAKING SHOTS (Assassins #1) - Toni Aleo

9. HEAVEN AND HELL - Kristen Ashley

10. ABOUT THAT NIGHT - Julie James

ASSASSINS 

GRAVE MERCY - Robin LaFevers

THRONE OF GLASS - Sarah J. Maas\

SPECIAL MENTION:

~~These are books that I just had to mention becuase they are totally special to me! There's just something in these books that make my heart race.  I love them!

THRONE OF FIRE (Kane Chronicles #2) - Rick Riordan

IRON DRUID CHRONICLES - Kevin Hearne

>Tricked 

>Trapped

I TEAM SERIES - Pamela Clare

FIFTY SHADES SERIES - E.L. James

MY FAVE AUTHORS OF THE YEAR:

KRISTEN ASHLEY

NYRAE DAWN

KEVIN HEARNE

FISHER AMELIE

CHELSEA FINE

ABBI GLINES

SHELLY CRANE

PAMELA CLARE

E.L. JAMES

~~I hope you enjoyed reading my list! 'Til next year guys and gals! ;)

book.fave.rave: Freeing Carter

This is probably one of the most unique reads of my year. Reading everything from Carter's view is amazing. Firstly, he's a boy. He has all sorts of different thoughts that girls can't have. He has one hell of a worrying mind, that boy. Between his mom being an alcoholic and the needs of his special sister, he would've exploded with all the things swirling around in his mind if it was possible. There were times wherein I was so angry at his mom for letting Carter shoulder all the trouble when it comes to her drinking habits, but there were also times wherein I was frustrated with Carter because he's just so damn martyr-ish! He became such liar too and it sucks.

His saving grace was Kira. Yes, Kira with all of her unique get ups and stunts, captured his heart and made his life better. I mean, he started being better when Kira came into the picture. Now that's one heroine that I truly want to be. Kira's views in life is pretty good. She doesn't care what other people think or say. Well, she also has her deep dark secret (an exaggeration, really) but for me, it only made her stronger. I love her. She even loves Carter's sister so much, she dyed her hair orange! way to go sissy!!! I lover her for Carter. I'm so glad that she stayed with him no matter what.

I'm very happy with how the story ended. :) Good one, Ms. Dawn! ^_^

book.fave.rave: Shallow (Going Under #2)

LOVED IT..

Things may have been a little too fast but that's okay! The story was good and it was filled with secrets. I had many suspicions about the mystery that is Nick's mom. I even thought that Payton's mom is Nick's mom! That would've been inappropriate in many ways! I love the anticipation and I love how it turned out.


It was really good that these two characters were resilient. Payton isn't overly dramatic with the lack of parental guidance.. she even defies them.. and Nick isn't very bitter (well, he kinda was but just a little) with the lack of mom. I love how they react to each other. Sarcasm, light banters and cute scenes. The conflict near the end was kinda petty. I mean, it would've been cleared fast if only there was no problem with their communication. They're getting back together scene was kinda.. hmm.. weird and yet.. it was cute.

I love it!!!! ^_^

BOOK.FAVE.RAVE: CHECKMATE (A Neighbor from hell #3)

My heart is doing a VERY VERY VERY happy dance.

 

FUN.FUN.FUN ---> This is one word that would sum up what I'm feeling for this book. 

WHAT'S IN CHECKMATE? 

❀ A very very arrogantly cute man named CONNOR!! 

❀ A very feisty, cocoa-addict woman named RORY!! 

❀ A WEIRD yet LOVABLE twist on their relationship. 

★ THE FAMILY -- ONE HECK OF A FAMILY THAT IS... I would love to see a family like this in person. 

★ A truly beautifully written plot. It's not a typical story. This one involves a lot of fighting and a lot of making up and MAKING OUT and hot sweaty scenes. It also includes a bunch of family threats and family mischief that made my head spin. 

✽ A mystery from their past... 

✽ A nice touch on the friendship side. This book also has a lot of LOYALTY in it. I admire the author for being crafty about this. Rory donating her marrow for Andrew, Connor's bestfriend is such a touching thing to do.. don't you think? 

❤ THEIR PRANKS and AWESOME banters / fights 

❤ LAUGH OUT LOUD lines. They were just sooooo funny that I think my lip will split open from smiling for hours. 

❤❤❤ THE LOVE-HATE RELATIONSHIP that'll blow your mind since it's very very detailed and it dates back from when they were very young. 

❤❤❤❤❤ THE SWEETNESS OF IT ALL WHEN TWO PEOPLE GOES TO THAT VERY HAPPY PLACE BETWEEN LOVE AND HATE. I loved every word in this book. I didn't think that I will love this series more... but I DID.. I love it more. I love Rory and her family. If I could read more of this family, I'd be a very happy girl. ;) 

MORE! MORE! MORE please?

BOOK.FAVE.RAVE: CHARADE

ONE SATISFYING READ! 

WORTH THE EFFORT. 
WORTH THE TIME. 
WORTH THE EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENT.

 Cheyenne + Colt = One emotional combo! 


Both of these characters have been on a rough patch in life. Cheyenne is a girl who doesn't wanna be left alone anymore. She's made of hard stuff, that girl. She built walls and walls of distrust because of her mom. It was exhausting, reading her views on how she shouldn't, couldn't and wouldn't depend on other people. But hey, she's not the only one who has mom issues. Our hero, Colt, has his own demons. His mom is dying. All throughout the book, we can see how Colt truly loved his mom. His sense of duty and responsibility is admirable. He was even doing some regretful things just so he can provide for his mom's needs.

These two play some kind of game, but really, it didn't feel like a game to me at all even from the start. They were both emotionally invested in it to some extent. When everything went down, I was so happy about how they held on to each other. I admit to crying. I ADMIT TO CRYING A LOT AND I'M PROUD OF IT. It was just so emotional in the end that I couldn't help but cry for these two beautiful characters.

I decided that i'll give them a much bigger ending/epilogue. They will both finish school and get nice degrees. They will definitely get married. Then, they will have great jobs and live in a GREAT BIG HOUSE. They'll have twelve babies and they'll all live happily ever after! BECAUSE THEY DESERVE IT! LIKE A LOT! 

It's books like this that makes me so happy that my hobby is reading.

Thanks, Ms. Dawn, for yet another RE-READ-WORTHY, ENJOYABLE, FRIGGIN AWESOME, EMOTIONAL, BEAUTIFUL, CRAZY, SEXY, HONEST-TO-GOD GREAT BOOK.

BOOK.FAVE.RAVE: CRUSH

MORE!! MORE!!!!! MOREEEEEE!!! 

I don't know what exactly were my expectations when I started to read this.. but this clearly wasn't it.

I'M BLOWN AWAY 

JUST TOTALLY BLOWN AWAY.... 

BY YOU HUNTER!!! 

HUNTERRRRR OH HUNTER... 


You're just my kind of guy!! 

The story was really good. If I have to be totally honest, I'd say that I kinda figured out the twist in the middle. It was a little obvious to me, but I still had my doubts and as it turns out, I was right all along. It was beautiful. Cami may just be one of the most naive, insensitive or trusting fictional character that I have ever come across. She has her moments. I like that she doesn't really care what other people say. I love how she can be outspoken one minute and then be all shy and blushing the next. Hunter on the other hand, is just SUPER ATTENTIVE. He's every girl's dream come true. I always say that I love books with a guy's POV. Now, in Hunter's case... his POV's were extra special since it still held mysteries.

Cami and Hunter were just perfect for each other. I love their talks. I love how they treat each other. They were totally funny at some point, especially HUNTER. Ohmygosh, I will never forget your childish display of strength! HAHA. I'm so glad that the twist didn't end up hurting these two in the end.


All in all, I'm a very happy reader and I get to sleep now knowing that I got a nice, happy ending.


P.S. I said more at the start of this review because I WANT IT TO BE LONGER. I would love to have at least another chapter just to see what'll happen to them after the storm. But anyhoo.. the end of this one's still purely satisfying. Thanks, Ms. Weatherford! ^_^