Favorite Reads of 2014 ❤

I wanted to participate to the Top Ten Tuesday meme with the Top Ten Books I’ve Read This Year subject, but I’m the worst at remembering them, and it’s Sunday -­-> cannot anymore. But, still, I want to make a list as well so…let me present you my favorite reads of 2014! ^_^

The Seven Deadly Sins Tag

I’ve been tagged by Marianne at Boricuan Bookworms to do this tag so here I am! It won’t be as spectacular as hers but what counts in the end is the answers, right? …Right? LOL

Okay, so let’s start!

Author Interview: Sherry D. Ficklin (Queen of Someday)

THE AUTHOR

Her web site.

Sherry D. Ficklin is a full time writer from Colorado where she lives with her husband, four kids, two dogs, and a fluctuating number of chickens and house guests. A former military brat, she loves to travel and meet new people. She can often be found browsing her local bookstore with a large white hot chocolate in one hand and a towering stack of books in the other. That is, unless she’s on deadline at which time she, like the Loch Ness monster, is only seen in blurry photographs.

In her spare time she co-hosts Curvy Writer Radio and is constantly trying to take over the world.

 

THE BOOK

Title: Queen of Someday
Series: Stolen Empire #1
Publisher: Clean Teen Publishing
Publication Date: October 7th, 2014
Genres & Themes: YA, Historical Fiction, Romance, Forbidden Love.

BLURB:

Before she can become the greatest empress in history, fifteen-year-old Sophie will have to survive her social-climbing mother’s quest to put her on the throne of Russia—at any cost.

Imperial Court holds dangers like nothing Sophie has ever faced before. In the heart of St. Petersburg, surviving means navigating the political, romantic, and religious demands of the bitter Empress Elizabeth and her handsome, but sadistic nephew, Peter. Determined to save her impoverished family—and herself—Sophie vows to do whatever is necessary to thrive in her new surroundings. But an attempt on her life and an unexpected attraction threatens to derail her plans…

In a battle for the soul of a nation, will love or destiny reign supreme?

Cover Reveal of Snark and Stage Fright by Stephanie Wardrop

Title: Snark and Stage Fright

Author: Stephanie Wardrop

Release Date: October 14th, 2014

Publisher: Swoon Romance

 

BLURB:

Happily-ever-after isn’t as happy or forever as Jane Austen makes it look. Just something Georgia Barrett learns when her sharp tongue costs her the only guy she’s ever really cared about: Michael Endicott.

 

Determined to move on, Georgia lands the lead role in the school’s fall musical. But to survive on stage, she’ll need to learn to express herself without her protective shield of snark. She soon discovers being honest with others means being honest with herself, and the truth is she’s still in love with Michael.

 

Review of Red Rising (Red Rising Trilogy #1) by Pierce Brown

Red Rising by Pierce Brown

My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Received: bought
Publication date: January 16th, 2014
Genres & Themes: YA, Dystopia, Action, Science Fiction, Rivalities, Battle.

BLURB:

Darrow is a Helldiver, one of a thousand men and women who live in the vast caves beneath the surface of Mars, generations of people who spend their lives toiling to mine the precious elements that will allow the planet to be terraformed. Just knowing that, one day, people will be able to walk the surface of the planet is enough to justify their sacrifice. The Earth is dying, and Darrow and his people are the only hope humanity has left.

Until the day Darrow learns that it is all a lie. That Mars has been habitable – and inhabited – for generations, by a class of people calling themselves the Golds. A class of people who look down at Darrow and his fellows as slave labour, to be exploited and worked to death without a second thought.

Until the day Darrow, with the help of a mysterious group of rebels, disguises himself as a Gold and infiltrates their command school, intent on taking down his oppressors from the inside.

But the command school is a battlefield – and Darrow isn’t the only student with an agenda.

Promo Post (Excerpt + Giveaway): Get Branded (Sinners #1) by Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki

Title: BRANDED (Sinners #1)
Publisher: Month9Books
Author: Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki

BLURB:

Fifty years ago The Commander came into power and murdered all who opposed him. In his warped mind, the seven deadly sins were the downfall of society.

To punish the guilty, he created the Hole, a place where sinners are branded according to their sins. Sinners are forced to live a less than human existence in deplorable conditions, under the watchful eye of guards who are ready to kill anyone who steps out of line.

Now, LUST wraps around my neck like thick, blue fingers, threatening to choke the life out of me. I’ve been accused of a crime I didn’t commit, and the Hole is my new home.

Constant darkness.

Brutal and savage violence.

Excruciating pain.

Every day is a fight for survival.

But I won’t let them win. I will not die in the Hole.

I am more than my brand. I’m a fighter. My name is Lexi Hamilton, and this is my story.

Review of Wish You Were Italian (If Only… #2) by Kristin Rae

Wish You Were Italian by Kristin Rae

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Received: borrowed
Publication date: May 6th, 2014
Genres & Themes: YA, Traveling, Romance, Contemporary, Summer, friendship, family.

BLURB:

Pippa has always wanted to go to Italy … but not by herself. And certainly not to sit in art school the entire summer learning about dead guys’ paintings. When she steps off the plane in Rome, she realizes that traveling solo gives her the freedom to do whatever she wants. So it’s arrivederci, boring art program and ciao, hot Italian guys!

Charming, daring, and romantic, Bruno is just the Italian Pippa’s looking for—except she keeps running into cute American archeology student Darren everywhere she goes. Pippa may be determined to fall in love with an Italian guy … but the electricity she feels with Darren says her heart might have other plans. Can Pippa figure out her feelings before her parents discover she left the program and—even worse—she loses her chance at love?

Review of Dirty Deeds (Dirty Deeds #1) by S.E. Jakes

Dirty Deeds by S.E. Jakes

My rating:  2.5 of 5 stars
Received: bought
Publication date: January 13th, 2014
Genres & themes: Adult, M/M romance, BDSM, Erotica, Mystery, Contemporary.

BLURB:

Two seasoned operatives finally meet their match: each other.
Cillian works for the mysterious Special Branch 20: an organization that runs black ops commissioned by the British government. His specialty is deep undercover assignments with virtually no support. He’s been alone for so long that he no longer knows anything else.
Mal’s also used to being alone. Wanted in several states and even more countries, he’s not allowed in the vicinity of any of his former Navy SEAL teammates. And his current assignment is to track Cillian in order to discover the spook’s endgame. Except he’s no longer sure which one of them is getting played.
Cillian isn’t about to let the mission that’s consumed him for the past several years crumble because an outsider is poking around where he doesn’t belong. But Mal forces his way through Cillian’s defenses—and into his heart—exposing a devastating betrayal that could destroy them both.

Review of Ashes to Ashes and Cinder to Cinder (The Grimm Diaries Prequels #2) by Cameron Jace

Ashes to Ashes and Cinder to Cinder by Cameron Jace

My rating: 1.5 of 5 stars
Received: bought
Publication date: May 29th, 2012
Genres & Themes: YA, Fairy tale retellings, Paranormal, Shory story, Witches.

BLURB:

Seventeen-year-old Alice Grimm lives a dangerously enchanted life. Other than being distracted by a Dreamhunter called Loki Blackstar who has a heart of gold but acts like a jerk, she has a job to do. Being a descendant of the Brothers Grimm, she is one of few in the world who can locate the fairy tale characters and remind them of who they are. This time, Alice flies to Venice where an 800 hundred year old witch’s skeleton surrounded with seventeen glass slippers was found by archeologists in the city that invented the art of glassblowing. When Alice and Loki follow the lead, they find one of the fairy tale characters she had been searching for. It’s a famous girl character that you know by name, but never really knew what actually happened to her.

Review of Breathe, Annie, Breathe (Hundred Oaks #5) by Miranda Kenneally

Breathe, Annie, Breathe by Miranda Kenneally

My rating: 3 of 5 lovely stars
Received: bought
Publication date: July 15th, 2014
Genres & themes: YA, Romance, Contemporary, Sports, Family, Death, Guilt.

BLURB:

Annie hates running. No matter how far she jogs, she can’t escape the guilt that if she hadn’t broken up with Kyle, he might still be alive. So to honor his memory, she starts preparing for the marathon he intended to race.

But the training is even more grueling than Annie could have imagined. Despite her coaching, she’s at war with her body, her mind—and her heart. With every mile that athletic Jeremiah cheers her on, she grows more conflicted. She wants to run into his arms…and sprint in the opposite direction. For Annie, opening up to love again may be even more of a challenge than crossing the finish line.