Top Ten Tuesday: Book and Blog Goals

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

The Broke And The Bookish!

This Week's Topic:
Top Ten Goals for 2014

Last week, I posted my personal goals for 2014.  I prefer goals to resolutions, but I also hate failing at my goals, so they're all pretty reasonable.  Today, I present my 5 book and 5 blog goals for 2014!



What are your goals for 2014?  Let me know in the comments, or leave me a link to your Top Ten Tuesday post!

Review: The Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead

Published November 19th, 2013
Razorbill
438 pages (Hardcover)

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Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets - and human lives.

In The Indigo Spell, Sydney was torn between the Alchemist way of life and what her heart and gut were telling her to do. And in one breathtaking moment that Richelle Mead fans will never forget, she made a decision that shocked even her. . . .

But the struggle isn't over for Sydney. As she navigates the aftermath of her life-changing decision, she still finds herself pulled in too many directions at once. Her sister Zoe has arrived, and while Sydney longs to grow closer to her, there's still so much she must keep secret. Working with Marcus has changed the way she views the Alchemists, and Sydney must tread a careful path as she harnesses her profound magical ability to undermine the way of life she was raised to defend. Consumed by passion and vengeance, Sydney struggles to keep her secret life under wraps as the threat of exposure — and re-education — looms larger than ever.

Pulses will race throughout this smoldering fourth installment in the New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series, where no secret is safe. (From Goodreads)

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Oh, Adrian.  The Fiery Heart stepped up a series that I was never really engaged in.

The Fiery Heart continues from where The Indigo Spell left off.  There were aspects of The Fiery Heart that I really did like.  The romance between Sydney and Adrian really heats up.  That was something lacking previously in the series.  There was lots of kissing time, so yay for that.  There was also a brief appearance by my favourite Vampire Academy crew. 

With all the Sydney and Adrian time, there was a lack of other characters.  Where was Eddie the whole book?  I was a little disappoint in this.  Yes, we get to see some Rose and Lissa.  I enjoyed that.  Until the end of the book, we barely saw any of the others.  It slowed the book down a lot, and began to get a little repetitive.

The other issue I had was WHERE WAS ALL THE ACTION?!  Again, until the climax not a lot of anything happened.  The climax was good, and I really enjoyed the twist, but the lack of action slowed the book down further.  There really isn't a lot of drama either, beyond that in Sydney and Adrian's relationship.  In addition, I ended up so confused over a lot of the details brought forward from past books.  Holy complicated plot.  Some action may have helped my brain relax.

If it weren't for the addition of Adrian's perspective, I don't know how I would have taken this book.  Adrian is a far more emotional and insightful narrator than Sydney, who is far more analytic.  Adrian's artistic way of looking at the events of the story made the book for me. 

The Fiery Heart has been my favourite of the Bloodlines series, but has yet to meet the love I have for the Vampire Academy books.  I'm hoping the next book brings the action and the Eddie.

Review: Trust In Me by J.Lynn

Published October 22nd, 2013
William Morrow Impulse
352 pages (Kindle Edition)

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It’s Wait for You as you’ve never seen it. Trust in Me lets you in on Cam’s side of the #1 New York Times Bestselling story.

Cameron Hamilton is used to getting what he wants, especially when it comes to women. But when Avery Morgansten comes crashing into his life – literally – he finally meets the one person who can resist his soulful baby blues. But Cam’s not ready to give up. He can’t get the feisty and intriguing girl out of his head.

Avery has secrets, secrets that keep her from admitting the feelings Cam knows she has for him. Will persistence (and some delicious homemade cookies) help him break down her barriers and gain her trust? Or will he be shut out of Avery's life, losing his first real shot at the kind of love that lasts forever? (From Goodreads)

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As a rule, I am against this kind of thing, where a book is rewritten from another character's perspective.  In fact, I actively avoid it.  The only reason I gave Trust In Me a try is that I have complete trust in Jennifer L. Armentrout.  And Cam.  I do love Cam.

Trust In Me was actually a great read!  It really is basically the same story as Wait For You (which I LOVED), but Cam's perspective was so interesting that it worked.  I knew the story, but it still felt all new.  Example, hearing Cam's perspective of the Halloween party was really cool.

Trust In Me gives us more Jase and Ollie, which I am completelyyyy okay with.  Really, I have no problems with this.  None at all.  When are their books/novellas coming out again? (FYI Be With Me featuring Jase and Teresa is out Feb. 4th)

Just like Wait For You, I can see myself reading Trust In Me multiple times.  It just has that quality about it that gives you hope for humanity.  No, I'm not even exaggerating on that one.  I had faith in humanity again.  Mostly in the fact that not all men suck all the time, but you catch my drift.  Words are failing me.  Just go read the book.

My Personal Goals for 2014!

Happy 2014 friends!  Welcome to the new year and a fresh start!  What are your New Years Day plans?  I'll be spending mine with family and watching the Winter Classic on TV (GO LEAFS GO #SEAofBLUE).

I never really make resolutions, but I do try to set goals for myself each year (or are they the same things?).  This year's are pretty straightforward.  2014 has the potential to be a huge year for me.  I'll be turning 22, graduating University, hopefully passing my RN licensing exam, and moving out on my own for good.  

Here are my personal goals for 2014.  If you want to see my book and blog related goals, check back next week for Top Ten Tuesday!  And don't forget to share your New Years resolutions/goals in the comments below!

December Recap!

Let's start with a quickie recap of 2013.  Overall, not my greatest reading year, but it wasn't awful.  I read a lot of great books, but also dealt with several looonnng ruts where nothing appealed to me!

Back to December.  I love December.  I think it's the holiday spirit that's in the air.  I wish people were like this all year round.  Imagine a world with this much magic and spirit and love.  I would like to live there.  December also offers a time to reflect and look ahead to a new year.  2014 is going to be a big year for me, and I cannot wait for it to get here!

I took this photo after the ice storm that hit us here in Southern Ontario.  No joke, I was carving three inches of solid ice off of my car, which was conveniently located underneath a tree threatening to break apart.  I should also mention how close those branches were to my neighbor's's power lines.  We were lucky in my neck of the woods, and my power was only out for about 4 hours, with a couple of flickers here and there.  Some people were without power for over a week.  Hopefully everyone is doing better now!

Alright, to the books.  I did a good bit of reading this month, but most of it was series reading.  Curse you, Amazon one-click buying...  I really don't have a favourite.  I enjoyed most of these this month!

What was your favourite read from this past month and what are your plans for New Year's Eve tonight?  I'll be at a country bar wishing I was on my couch with a fuzzy blanket!

Review: Such A Rush by Jennifer Echols

Published July 10th, 2012
MTV Books
325 pages (Hardcover)

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When I was fourteen, I made a decision. If I was doomed to live in a trailer park next to an airport, I could complain about the smell of the jet fuel like my mom, I could drink myself to death over the noise like everybody else, or I could learn to fly.

Heaven Beach, South Carolina, is anything but, if you live at the low-rent end of town. All her life, Leah Jones has been the grown-up in her family, while her mother moves from boyfriend to boyfriend, letting any available money slip out of her hands. At school, they may diss Leah as trash, but she’s the one who negotiates with the landlord when the rent’s not paid. At fourteen, she’s the one who gets a job at the nearby airstrip.

But there’s one way Leah can escape reality. Saving every penny she can, she begs quiet Mr. Hall, who runs an aerial banner-advertising business at the airstrip and also offers flight lessons, to take her up just once. Leaving the trailer park far beneath her and swooping out over the sea is a rush greater than anything she’s ever experienced, and when Mr. Hall offers to give her cut-rate flight lessons, she feels ready to touch the sky.

By the time she’s a high school senior, Leah has become a good enough pilot that Mr. Hall offers her a job flying a banner plane. It seems like a dream come true . . . but turns out to be just as fleeting as any dream. Mr. Hall dies suddenly, leaving everything he owned in the hands of his teenage sons: golden boy Alec and adrenaline junkie Grayson. And they’re determined to keep the banner planes flying.

Though Leah has crushed on Grayson for years, she’s leery of getting involved in what now seems like a doomed business—until Grayson betrays her by digging up her most damning secret. Holding it over her head, he forces her to fly for secret reasons of his own, reasons involving Alec. Now Leah finds herself drawn into a battle between brothers—and the consequences could be deadly. (From Goodreads)

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Guys!  This is my first Jennifer Echols book!  I really liked it!

In my mind, Jennifer Echols' books equated to those of Sarah Dessen and Nicholas Sparks, which I just wasn't into.  I take it all back.

The plot here was really cool.  Don't lie, you like airplanes.  It makes for an original plot and I respect that.  Leah is ambitious and hard-working and is defying what she was given in order to be something more.  Again, I respect that.  There is a level of maturity there that really matches the tone of the story.  Also, snark.  Everyone loves snark.

I know I say this a lot, but the characters really make this story.  The relationships between Leah, Grayson, Alec, and Molly felt entirely real.  There was that genuine quality.  And I won't lie, I was cheering for Leah and Grayson from the start.  I really liked that the story started in a place where most of the characters all ready knew one another.  I think that is what made it feel so genuine, in that the development flowed and didn't happen too quickly.  

Such A Rush was a roller coaster.  I was content, then heartbroken, confused, swooning and cheering.  It is a great read that has lead me to want more from Jennifer Echols!

Top Ten of 2013: Looking Towards 2014

From December 23rd through 27th, we celebrate our favourite books of 2013 and look ahead to those of 2014.  Be sure to check back each day, and check out our gracious hosts (Rachel from [Fikt]shun, Mindy from Magical Urban Fantasy Reads & Jamie from Two Chicks on Books)!

Rules: Must have a release date in 2014

The Murder Complex by Lindsay Cummings
I've followed Lindsay on twitter for ages and cannot wait to read her book!
Expected Publication: June 10th

Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi
Holy shit, I am not ready for this ending.  #TeamAdam
Expected Publication: February 4th

City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare
(cover to be released)
Another conclusion a long time in the making, except I'm ready for this one.
Expected Publication: May 27th

Pointe by Brandy Colbert
I'm an ex-ballet dancer so yes please.
Expected Publication: April 10th

Be With Me by J. Lynn
I will read anything she writes, and given my love for Wait For You, this is a giant YES.
Expected Publication: February 4th

Raging Star by Moira Young
Another conclusion a long time in the making that I am ready for.
Expected Publication: May 13th

Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo
(cover to be released)
Woah, another conclusion I'm excited about!
Expected Publication: June 3rd

The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey
(cover to be released)
The 5th Wave had a great ending.  I'm excited to re-enter this world.
Expected Publication: September 2014

Avalon by Mindee Arnett
Mercenaries.  Spaceships.  If you're not sold we're going to have an issue.
Expected Publication: January 21st

White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Again, she could write anything and I would be tearing my skin off to read it.  ANYTHING.
Expected Publication: February 25th

2013 was fun, but there are some exciting titles coming in 2014!  What book are you most excited for?  Leave me a comment so I can check out your list, and thanks for spending this week with me!