Top Ten Books Dealing with Tough Subjects

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created by The Broke and the Bookish

I have to confess that I try to avoid books with tough subjects. Nonetheless, I have managed to read a few throughout the years.  Here are my top ten:

1.  Willow by Julia Hoban - This story is heartbreaking, it not only deals with grief, but on using cutting as an outlet for the pain.  

2.  Just Listen by Sarah Dessen - I adore Sarah Dessen books, she deals with tough subjects with depth, but still very tastefully.  Just Listen is about rape, understanding, love, fear, and a lot more.

3.  The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - If you read this book, I don't need to explain further. If you haven't, what are you waiting for?

Top Ten Favorite Romances

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created by The Broke and the Bookish

This one is a really TTT because once I started I couldn't stop! My goodness  I can probably make a list that's 50 books long :)  So here we go:

1.  Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson - I love this historical romance, it's to die for and very 'Austen' like. 

2.  The Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa - You know that I have to find a way to have this series in all by TTT posts, right?  I just adore this couple and Ash is just an amazing character.  

3.  Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen -  This book is likely to be in many lists, nonetheless  is still one of my favorite romances of all time.  I also love  Persuasion (had to sneak another book in :)  

4.  Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn - Julia Quinn is one of my favorite historical romance authors, this series (seven books long) is amazing, but favorite still remains the story of Colin and Penelope. 

5.  The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen - Another favorite author is Sarah Dessen, I do not get tired of reading her books.  This one is my favorite, followed by Along for the Ride and Just Listen (the sneakiness continues...)

6.  Breathe by Abbi Glines - Love it!  Jax is probably one of my all-time-to-die-for male characters. Ever.

7.  Morning Glory by LaVyrle Spencer - This is sweet historical romance, full of heartbreak and deliverance.  I've probably read all of Ms. Spencer's books (she doesn't write anymore) and I adore them all. 

8. Just One Day by Gayle Forman - This is a tricky one, because I consider it a romance, but not much romance happened in the first book of the series.  I know that this will be one of my favorite reads for the rest of my life.

9.  Easy by Tammara Webber - If you haven't read this book, I would have to ask: where have you been?  Really, this is such an amazing book, I can't tell you enough good things about it.  Brilliant!

10.  The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson - An incredible tale of loss and first love.  It remains as one of my favorites. 

You know I can't stop at ten, so here are a few more: Anna and the French Kiss, The Fault in Our Stars, Perfect Chemistry, the Return to Paradise, Going Too Far, Jane Eyre, Die for Me, Twilight, ...

What are your favorite romances?

Please be so kind as to enter to the GIVEAWAYS and HOPS that you can find in the left sidebar 

Top 10 of 2012: Best Books I've Read in 2012

Top 10 of 2012 is a meme hosted by these wonderful blogs: Fiktshun, A Life Bound by Books, Confessions of a Bookaholic, Two Chicks of Books, and Magical Urban Fantasy Reads

Today's topic is my Top Ten Favorite books that I've read this year.  Here they are:

1.  The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - This books is, without a doubt, one of the best books I have ever had the pleasure of reading.  (See my review here)

2.  Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry - This book reminded me of Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles, which is one of my favorite as well (but alas, I read that one a few years ago).  I love the alternating points of view, the mystery, and the fact that two people that are so different and so broken, can become whole where they are together. (See my review here)

3.  Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins - I believe that I fell in love with the characters in this book first and with the story second.  Never mind the reason, this is a favorite for sure. (See my review here)

4.  Throne of Glass by Sarah Maas - This is a fantasy world filled with incredible difficult situations and amazing people.  Celaena is one of my favorite characters of all time, she has been through so much and still has the ability to see the good in others.  (See my review here)

5.  Goliath by Scott Westerfeld - Goliath is book three in the Leviathan series.  Although I read book one years ago, this year I read the last two books and I adore this series.  This is steampunk as its best!  (See my review here)

6.  Easy by Tammara Webber - This was the first book I read in the New Adult category and I absolutely feel in love with it.  Easy felt raw and real, and even though some parts were difficult to read, this book stayed in my mind for a long while after I read the last word.  (See my review here)

7.  The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey - If you ask anyone that knows me they will be able to tell you that I'm a certified 'scary cat'.  I don't like horror movies, but this series cannot be described as anything other than horror.  Regardless of that fact, the writing alone is a masterpiece, never mind the amazing characterization and plot.  (See my review here) 

8.  Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson - I am a hopeless romantic and an avid fanatic of chick flicks.  It is no wonder then that I'm also an avid fan of Jane Austen's books (and any movies based on them!).  Edenbrooke is a treasure of a book reminiscent of Austen's work.  Love it! (See my review here)

9.  Grave Mercy by R.L. LaFevers - This is historical fiction as its best, of course it is also mixed in with a bit of mystery and kick-ass-girl-assassins, and that is what makes is awesome. (See my review here) 

10.  Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson - Another great fantasy that had me hooked from the beginning.  I loved to see how Elisa grew so much as she tried to fulfill her destiny (that sounded cliche, but it's true :)  (See my review here) 

I can't wait to see what your favorites were this year!

Top Ten Books I Read in 2012

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created by The Broke and the Bookish

This past Sunday I posted: 2012 End of the Year Book Survey (see it here) which is a hop from Jamie at the Perpetual Page Turner.  This post has a lot more information, so here I'm just displaying by Top Ten Books Read in 2012:

One of the best books EVER!

I read books 2-3 this year.  Love it!

Read this one NOW!

Read books 1-3 of this series, awesome!

I read books 2-3. The Merrick brothers are dreamy!

If you like Jane Austen, this one is for you :)

Enter my Favorites of 2012 Giveaway here!

Top Ten New-to-Me Authors I Read in 2012

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created by The Broke and the Bookish

Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian

1.  John Green - How did I survive without reading his books? The Fault in Our Stars is one of my favorite books EVER!!

2.  Jenny Han - I read the Summer series this year because it was profusely recommended to me by a friend, and I loved it.

3.  Sarah Maas - Throne of Glass is one of my favorite reads this year.  Love Celaena!

4.  Wendy Higgins - Another amazing series that started this year, reading Sweet Evil is a must.

5.  Julianne Donaldson - Edenbrook is a very clean historical romance that reminds me so much of Jane Austen's style, I really adore this book.

6.  Brigid Kremmerer - She is the author of the Elemental series (Storm and Spark), I love the Merrick brothers and you will too. Oh, and she's from Maryland too!

7.  Mary Amato - I knew, just by reading the synopsis of Guitar Notes that I would love it. And guess what?  I was not mistaken.

8.  Rae Carson - I finished reading Girl of Fire and Thorns last week and loved it!  I enjoy strong female characters and Elisa really grew on me. 

9.  Tammara Webber  - If you haven't read Easy, you should get it, right now! (I'm not kidding, log into Amazon right now)

10. Katie McGarry - Pushing the Limits is also one of my favorite reads of this year.  Go and check it out :)

What's in your Top Ten this week?

Top Ten Books/Authors I'm Thankful For

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created by The Broke and the Bookish

I think authors and books go hand in had, so I'm splitting my list in two - five authors and five books.

Authors

Book signing for the release of What Happened to Goodbye

Sarah Dessen - I love everything that Ms. Dessen has ever written. My favorites are The Truth About Forever and Just Listen.

Book signing for the release of Forever

Maggie Stiefvater - I've read most of her books and love her lyrical writing and her characterization 

Julie Kagawa - The Iron Fey series is one of my all-time favorite (just as Ash is my favorite male character).  I was lucky to meet her at BEA this year and she was gracious enough to recognize my blog!

J.K. Rowling - Again, the Harry Potter series is amazing and it will be difficult to top (I'm just saying).

Stephanie Perkins - Two outstanding books to her name that I absolutely adore!

Books

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (*Sigh*)

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson - A beautiful and poignant story of loss and first love

Easy by Tammara Webber - An amazing book about overcoming trauma, lost, violence and how easy it is to love 

The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins - An amazing tale of fighting for what is right and how a small spark can ignite a great fire

Revenants series by Amy Plum - I love this series (although I'm still waiting for the conclusion :(

What's in your Top Ten this week?  What are you thankful for?