Top Ten Tuesday: Surprises

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the wonderful ladies over at

The Broke And The Bookish!

This week, the topic is...
Top Ten Books I Thought I'd Love More/Less

Doesn't it feel great to read a book you thought that you would dislike, and actually really enjoy it?!  Here are some that I pleasantly enjoyed...

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson
A Piece of Cake by Cupcake Brown
Black Hole Sun by David Macinnis Gill
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
The Shade trilogy by Jeri Smith-Ready

Unfortunately, it can just as easily go the opposite way.  It sucks when you get so amped for a book, only for it to not meet your sky-high expectations.  So here are some that fell short for me...


The Bloodlines series (so far) by Richelle Mead
Lover At Last by J.R. Ward
Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
Black City by Elizabeth Richards
Rebel Heart by Moira Young

So guys, do you disagree with any of my choices? 

Much love, Samantha

Book Review: Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready

Published May 4th, 2010
Simon Pulse
309 pages (Paperback)

Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.

Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone.

Well, sort of.

Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan's violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.

It doesn't help that Aura's new friend Zachary is so understanding--and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.

As Aura's relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura's heart...and clues to the secret of the Shift. (From Goodreads)

I had heard of this series many times, and never really thought much of them.  They just never sparked my interest.  However, I would like to thank the YA Crush Tourney for steering me straight.  You see, when I investigated into what the heck "Team Kilt" was, I found that spark I needed to attempt this trilogy.

And, boy, am I glad I did.

I fell instantly for the love triangle in this book.  It's not your typical girl-must-choose-between-two-hot-boys book, seeing as only one of the two is actually alive.  Aura is simply going through a process of trying to let go of her dead boyfriend and accept her feelings for the new guy, and the ghost complication makes for a good story!

I liked this book more for Logan and Zachary than for Aura.  Nothing against her, but she isn't the type of female protagonist that grabs my attention.  The guys in this book steal the show.  Logan's death shocked me, and made a part of me wishes he would stay forever.  However, Zachary's Scottish-ness was far too attractive to ignore.

And then there's a cliffhanger ending...

I can say I'm glad I waited to read this, seeing as I can now devour Shift immediately!  Yipee for not having to wait a year for publication!

Much love, Samantha