What I'm Reading :: Beautiful Bastard

Just a note...this is actually the second time I'm writing this post. I got through ALL the way to the end before Blogger decided to delete it all and autosave. I threw a little tantrum, did some retail therapy (I wasn't having the best day in the first place) and now I'm back. 

I am not ashamed to admit that I've read and reread all three books in the Fifty Shades of Grey series. I know there are still women out there who keep their Christian Grey fantasies a secret, but I will tell you right now that I'm counting down to Valentine's Day next year. 

Now, enter the Beautiful Bastard series. To be honest, it took me a while to actually want to read the book because of the name, but I quickly got over it once I realized how addicting the story is. 

About Beautiful Bastard...

An ambitious intern. A perfectionist executive. And a whole lot of name calling.

Whip-smart, hardworking, and on her way to an MBA, Chloe Mills has only one problem: her boss, Bennett Ryan. He's exacting, blunt, inconsiderate--and completely irresistible. A Beautiful Bastard. 

Bennett has returned to Chicago from France to take a vital role in his family's massive media business. He never expected that the assistant who'd been helping him from abroad was the gorgeous, innocently provocative--completely infuriating--creature he now has to see every day. Despite the rumors, he's never been one for a workplace hookup. But Chloe's so tempting he's willing to bend the rules--or outright smash them--if it means he can have her. All over the office.

As their appetites for one another increase to a breaking point, Bennett and Chloe must decide exactly what they're willing to lose in order to win each other.

There are three main books in the Beautiful series and a handful of smaller novellas with lots of lemons and fluff, not that I'm complaining. The first book, Beautiful Bastard, isn't actually my favorite of the three - that would be the third, Beautiful Player. The second, Beautiful Stranger, is probably the most...devious, as much as I hate that word. Each book focuses on a different couple, all of whom are friends and whose worlds intertwine. Each one is steamy, absolutely hilarious, and so sweet in the most unexpected of ways. 

Probably one of the things I love most about these books are the characters. A big problem I have with contemporary fiction, including Fifty Shades of Grey, is how everyone feels the need to suppress the female characters. Every time I start reading a book and it's revealed that the main characters are a virgin and a bad boy, I have to take a step away and think about whether or not I actually want to read it. This series most definitely breaks that mold. You have really strong female characters who are sexually confident, successful, smart, and do not let a man dominate her (unless it's in the bedroom). It's refreshing, really. 

I'm also a sucker for series that weave multiple story lines in one universe, which might be why I love this series so much. Another example of this would be the Rosemary Beach series by Abbi Glines, which I absolutely adore. That one is more sexy young adult, and I could totally see it being made into a teenage drama a la OC or Dawson's Creek. It's fantastic. 

I've read a few other books lately, including Play in the Stage Dive series. I did a little review of Lick last year, which was the first book in the series, and I have to say that I liked Play just as much! This series also has different characters and stories incorporated into the one Stage Dive universe, but with a rock star twist. These books are hilarious and wonderful in every way possible, and I cannot wait for the next to come out!

I would also recommend LoveLines, which was completely adorable, and the Unidentified Redhead, though I'm only on the second book in that series. As of today, I'm happy to report that I'm actually ahead of my reading schedule, and have read twenty-one books toward my goal of seventy-five for the year!

Note that this post includes affiliate links, which means that I may make a commission from any purchases made via these links. You can read more about my blog's policies here. As a small business owner and self-employed blogger, I always appreciate your support and consideration!

What I'm Reading :: Maybe Someday

It's been a while since I've written a What I'm Reading post because, well, it's been a while since I've read a book worth writing about. I figured it's about time, especially I've been looking for Colleen Hoover to put out a new book for quite a few months now. I absolutely LOVED Slammed, though the Hopeless series has to be one of my favorites. Ever. As soon as I read the summary for Maybe Someday, I knew it was going to be another one that I liked.

About Maybe Someday...

At twenty-two years old, aspiring musician Sydney Blake has a great life: She’s in college, working a steady job, in love with her wonderful boyfriend, Hunter, and rooming with her good friend, Tori. But everything changes when she discovers Hunter cheating on her with Tori—and she is left trying to decide what to do next. 

Sydney becomes captivated by her mysterious neighbor, Ridge Lawson. She can’t take her eyes off him or stop listening to the daily guitar playing he does out on his balcony. She can feel the harmony and vibrations in his music. And there’s something about Sydney that Ridge can’t ignore, either: He seems to have finally found his muse. When their inevitable encounter happens, they soon find themselves needing each other in more ways than one…

I had really, really high hopes for this book, probably because her other two series were just...beyond. It's not that I didn't like this book, it's just that my expectations really were that high. I mean, if you've read Hopeless, you know how intense her books can be and I guess I was just hoping for the same type of emotional roller coaster. 

Now, if you don't know what type of book I typically read, know that I read a lot of what's called New Adult. It's just now starting to be recognized in the mainstream, and I'm kind of used to most people being unfamiliar with this type of genre. Some of my favorites are Beautiful Disaster (duh), Sea of Tranquility (times a thousand - might be my favorite book ever), and Thoughtless (SO GOOD). A common thread for all these books is the age of the protagonists (typically later high school to mid-twenties), steamy sex (I admit it - not as explicit as Fifty Shades, though that series tends to be considered New Adult as well), and a really, really emotional story-line. 

As much as I love these types of books, however, there are a few things that I tend to dislike. As much as I love a good love story, it needs to be part of a bigger story line. I prefer a couple that has to overcome an obstacle together, one that isn't just their relationship. Think a traumatic childhood or adolescence (probably the most common) or outside forces attempting to alter one or both of their lives outside of their relationship. 

Once a couple gets together, I tend to prefer that their relationship move on from that. The exception to this might be Beautiful Disaster and Thoughtless, though if you've read these books, you understand why everyone obsesses over them. 

Anyway, that might be why Maybe Someday didn't hit as much of a chord with me. Colleen Hoover's most recent work, Hopeless, was an emotional roller coaster to the extreme - sure their relationship had it's ups and downs, but it was their personal stories intertwined that really made you cry. It was them trying to fix her life, and their realization of their past, that hit home. That story was so incredibly written that I think I just had high hopes. 

Maybe Someday was a powerful, unique story. Colleen Hoover really is amazing at creating a heartwrenching storyline, beautiful dialogue, and, in this book, one of the most compelling and sensual scenes I've ever read. But it was their story - the problem being in their relationship at its core - that made me skeptical. 

I loved the book, don't get me wrong. I gave it four stars on Goodreads because she's an amazing author and comes up with the most creative stories. But in the end, I have to say that it just didn't meet the expectations that I established after reading Hopeless. 

What I'm Reading :: Vain

You know, I was so excited when I finished my book goal last year that I impulsively decided to up the number of books on my list to seventy-five this year. Seriously? What was I thinking. 

I love reading, I truly do, but I think I overestimated the amount of time I would actually have to read this year. I need to get my ass into gear if I want to reach this goal, because it's February and I've only read three books. On the bright side, I'm attempting to strive for quality over quantity this year, so maybe I should just give up already? There are quite a few sequels and other books that I'm looking forward to coming out this year, however, so I have a feeling those will make up a chunk of my goal.

Anyway, I did happen to finish a great book recently, and I'm looking forward to continuing the series of seven, though there's only one more book out so far.

About Vain...

If you’re looking for a story about a good, humble girl, who’s been hurt by someone she thought she could trust, only to find out she’s not as vulnerable as she thought she was and discovers an empowering side of herself that falls in love with the guy who helps her find that self, blah, blah, blah...then you’re gonna’ hate my story.

Because mine is not the story you read every time you bend back the cover of the latest trend novel. It’s not the “I can do anything, now that I’ve found you/I’m misunderstood but one day you’ll find me irresistible because of it” tale. Why? Because, if I was being honest with you, I’m a complete witch. There’s nothing redeeming about me. I’m a friend using, drug abusing, sex addict from Los Angeles. I’m every girlfriend’s worst nightmare and every boy’s fantasy.

I’m Sophie Price...And this is the story about how I went from the world’s most envied girl to the girl no one wanted around and why I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

It's nice to read a book with substance sometimes, one that doesn't follow a shallow formula (like I tend to stick to). It does have a love story (I rarely read a book without one), but it has a little more depth to it. I did have two issues with this book, however, both of which I was able to overlook so that I could actually enjoy it.

One was the writing style, though I didn't find it nearly as distracting as other books I've read. It's really important to develop a character's voice, especially when writing in the first person. As someone actually from Southern California, I can tell you right now that nobody here talks like Sophie. It's like the author is attempting to make her sound sophisticated, but it just sounds weird. 

The next issue I had with the book isn't meant to offend anyone, I promise. And really, it's a personal preference more than anything. I get, completely, that it's next to impossible to write a book that deviates from your own personal morals. I do, really. And I guess the whole point of the Seven Deadly series is to rehabilitate a character that has sinned. I just find it a little distracting when the message is overtly Christian, though that isn't to say it's a bad thing at all. Like I said, just a personal preference. The moral lesson in the story is important, for sure, but that doesn't necessarily means that it needed to extend beyond Sophie's vain behavior to, well, her sexual relationship with her love interest. 

To put it bluntly, it was pretty obvious that the two main characters waited to have sex until they were married for a reason. Though, to each their own. Hell, Bella and Edward did it, much to the annoyance of all us Twilight fans out there who really wanted something hot and heavy going on between them (though it didn't even happen on their honeymoon, for shame). I guess I can't get too frustrated with this book, not when I have other books to keep my interest in that department...

Regardless, the book was good. The story was enthralling and the characters really did have some serious chemistry. I liked the main character, in a way, and had a vested interest in her own development. To me, that's the formula for an overall-good-book. 

Okay friends, as always, I need some new recommendations! I do have quite a few books in my queue, but I also have seventy-five books to get through this year. I need something new, something that'll keep my attention. Thoughts?

What I'm Reading :: Fangirl

If you follow me on Twitter, you know that I already have very good things to say about this book.

Now, it's no secret that I have questionable taste in books. I pretty much stick to a standard formula of damaged boy meets damaged girl and they fall in love and save each other and live happily ever after. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I'm pretty sure that at least half (not not more) of the fifty-two books I read last year were faithful to this story-line, and I can't lie...I've gotten bored. 

But, the thing is, it's hard to let go of something you're used to. I have a goal of seventy-five books this year, and I've already read two. One of those books stuck to that formula (and it was actually really good), but I thought I would venture out of my comfort zone for the next. 

Enter, FANGIRL. Let me just say that it's been a long time since I've given a book five stars, but I didn't think twice about this one. 

FANGIRL was sassy, different, and completely charming in every way possible. There was a quirky girl, an unconventionally handsome boy, and a sweet storyline all wrapped up in a cute little package. If I could think of any more delightful adjectives to use to describe this book, I would, because that really is exactly how much I loved it. 

I think that books that let you escape into an alternate universe have their merits (and no, I'm not talking about the world of Harry Potter). I'm talking about worlds where the protagonist is exceptionally beautiful and her love interest is abnormally sexy and their love is altogether too-hot-to-handle. Don't get me wrong - I LOVE those books.

But.

If those are the only types of books you like to read, then FANGIRL isn't for you. 

From the Goodreads description:

Cath is a Simon Snow fan. 

Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan . . . 

But for Cath, being a fan is her life — and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving. 

Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere. 

Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to. 

Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone. 

For Cath, the question is: Can she do this? 

Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? 

Writing her own stories? 

And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind? 

If you like reading about real people and their real-life (or realistic, at least) eccentricities on the other hand, then I think you might love this book. 

{breathe again :: chapters 2 + 3}

So. I'm still kind of on cloud nine after the response I got to last week's post introducing my book. I don't know that I ever thought I would get to this point, but I did. It's a strange, wonderful, surreal feeling. This has been a labor of love; writing has always been more of a secret passion of mine, but it doesn't really need to be a secret. 

I don't know how much more I'm actually going to post on my blog, but here are the next two chapters I have written. Enjoy!

Click the photo below to read the next two chapters! You can find the first chapter to my book here.

If you're interested in following along with this journey, feel free to sign up for my book's mailing list to get periodic updates. Thanks friends!

{on courage :: breathe again}

Okay, so remember this week's quote? I promise there is a reason for it; I wasn't just blabbering randomly about courage or putting myself out there. I really do actually plan on taking a chance. Today. 

So, there it is. I have a title. I got some feedback from some trusted friends, and I figured this is the next step. Be gentle guys. It's a first draft.

Click the photo below to read the first chapter!

If you're interested in following along with this journey, feel free to sign up for my book's mailing list to get periodic updates. Thanks friends!

{what i'm reading v.9}

It's been a while since I've done one of these. To be fair, I didn't really get to read a lot during wedding season, but I've officially read seventeen books since the beginning of November, which means that I only three books left to read before the end of the year to reach my goal of fifty-two books! I can't believe I'm actually doing it. 

Now, this is the time when I admit that I don't always have the been taste in books, but I'm not ashamed! I like reading to take my mind off of things, you know? There are some people that like the deep stuff, but I'm a bigger fan of the fluff. I've read a lot of fluff in the past month, but I can't lie...I kind of love it!

1 // First up, the Rosemary Beach series. I've actually had Fallen Too Far on my Kindle app for probably...six months now? And I just couldn't get into it. Once I actually read it though, I couldn't put it down! There are five books in the series, which revolve mainly around two different couples, and I read them all in three days. Sad, I know. These are exactly the types of the books that let me escape, that give me that chance to get lost. And let me tell you, I could get a little lost these days. 

2 // And then there's On the Island. This is another one that I've known about for a while, but just didn't want to give it a chance. When I realized that I was running out of books to read, I finally just sat down and did it. Let me tell you...wow. I love a good romance, and this was exactly what I was looking for. I was a little turned off when I read the synopsis, a sixteen year old boy and thirty year old teacher get stranded on an island together. The age difference bothered me, but it didn't matter. Everything about this book was absolutely heartbreaking and lovely in the sweetest way possible. Give it a chance; even if you aren't a big fan of love stories or romance, this one might surprise you.

3 // Breaking Nova, where do I start...now, a lot of the books I read follow a pretty similar pattern: broken boy finds broken girl and they heal each other together. I get kind of tired of it sometimes, but it's also kind of addicting. This one though, I was most definitely not a fan of. I think I just get annoyed at the whiny characters, and this one had plenty of that. It was kind of disappointing, since I did really like one of Jessica Sorrensen's other books. I give her books another chance, but stay away from this one, especially if you haven't read this type of book before. 

4 // And now, for the guiltiest of all pleasures, there was Lick. Okay, so I wasn't sure what to expect after seeing the cover (it does seem a little...kitschy, right?). But this! This one was pure gold. The writing was awesome, the characters were fantastic, and the story was a breath of fresh air. If you like the rocker boy meets innocent girl, check this one out. It's not too cliche, and all sorts of sweet. It's exactly what you wouldn't expect. 

So there you have it. What are you all reading? I have three books left until the end of the year, so let's make it good!

{what i'm reading v.8}

I haven't had a What I'm Reading post in a while because, well...I haven't been reading. Before last week, I hadn't even picked up my iPad since the summer. Things have just been too busy, so obviously I'm excited to start back up toward my reading goal for the year. 

As soon as I found out that Allegiant was out on Monday night, I had to buy it right away. Let me tell you, I almost wish I didn't. 

The Divergent trilogy is actually one of my favorite series in the past few years. Dare I say it? I actually may have liked them better than the Hunger Games. But then the last book came out and I found myself crying at eleven o'clock in bed, all by myself. Like, ugly face crying. For those of you who've read it, you know why. I might write more about it when more have read it, I just don't want to give anything away. I'm honestly really disappointed, and it doesn't sound like I'm the only one. 

I think we should probably form a support group.

Up next? Under the Never Sky. Here's to hoping it isn't as...heart wrenching as the end of Allegiant was. I need a new heroine, and love story, to invest myself in completely now.

{what i'm reading v. 7}

It's been over two months since my last What I'm Reading post, and I'm slightly horrified. Confession time...I've read only two books since then! What is wrong with me? I'm behind now, which makes me sad. It is the middle of wedding season, so I suppose I have a good excuse, but I really need to get back on this. 

I've been waiting patiently for both of these books to come out, and let me tell you, they did NOT disappoint. If you haven't read Hopeless yet, you really have to. Losing Hope is told from Holder's perspective, which makes the story that much more intense. The Callie and Kayden series is also dark, in that popular way that new adult fiction is these days, but I really enjoyed it. Honestly, I preferred the first book, but this was definitely a good way to close out their story. 

I've heard some really great things about this book. I actually saw it and picked it up from the library recently, so hopefully I will read it in the next few days. I'm always looking for new books to read though, so let me know what you recommend in the comments!

{what i'm reading v.6}

It's that time of the month everyone! I actually had to keep myself from posting this a few weeks ago, because I've found not just one book that I love, but two new series that I just can't get enough of. I've now read 28 books toward my goal of 52 for the year, which puts me at 11% ahead of schedule!

1 // I've actually had the Selection on my iPad for at least six months now, but I don't even think I tried to get into it. I'm such a sucker for summaries, and for some reason, this one didn't suck me in. Lisa tweeted at me recently (she's my favorite person to chat with on Twitter about books - we have such similar taste!) and asked if I've read it yet. I decided to try it out and I just couldn't. put. it. down. It's been a while since I've found a series that pulls me in this much, Divergent was probably the last. I just...oh goodness. If you liked the Hunger Games, Divergent, and Matched, you have to read the Selection. I would say it's kind of a combination of all three. I'm so sad that I have to wait almost an entire year before the last one comes out!

2 // I read a lot of books, and it is always hit and miss for me. Sometimes I can't even explain why I love a book so much, and sometimes I will put a book down within the first paragraph. The Lux series by Jennifer Armentrout fits into that first category. I won't lie, I wasn't expecting to love this series as much as I did, but I could not put this one down either! I read the two books in the Selection series and the three books in the Lux series within a week of each other, which is crazy! I would compare this one to Twilight, but with better and much more relatable characters. I really liked the writing, which is much more in line with the way that teenagers speak these days. There's one more (at least, I think) coming, and I just can't wait for that either!

3 // If you liked Fifty Shades of Grey, I would definitely recommend the Bared to You series by Sylvia Day. I has a very similar plot to Fifty Shades of Grey, but that didn't bother me much. It's a guilty read; most definitely both erotic and entertaining at the same time. Entwined with You is the last book in the series (I think) and I've been waiting for it for a while!

What are you reading? And what do you recommend I read next?

{what i'm reading v.5}

It's that time of the month where I admit that I have questionable taste in books, and yet talk about what I've been reading anyway. I have this crazy (though it doesn't seem so crazy anymore) goal to read 52 books this year, and I'm actually still ahead of schedule! I've read 22 books toward that goal, which technically puts me at 8% ahead of schedule. 

I'm pretty sure I've read more than four books in the past month, but some were sequels and other books that don't deserve to be mentioned on my list. These four were some of the best (or, at least, the most memorable) of the past few weeks. 

1 // If you're into that whole dystopian future genre that's going around right now, you might like the Matched series. They are definitely marketed toward girls (or those who prefer romance, at least). They're quick and easy, and not nearly as deep or good as Divergent or the Hunger Games (in my opinion), but definitely still worth a read. 

2 // If you are on Goodreads and have read any of the Fifty Shades of Grey books, there's a good chance you've heard of Gabriel's Inferno. It has a similar plot, though instead of a billionaire business man, our love interest is a Dante professor, and instead of a virgin college student, our protagonist is a virgin Master's student. You get the picture...it wouldn't be so terrible, but the writing was just painful to read at times! Totally over it. 

3 // I've been putting off Wallbanger for a while now, because really? Wallbanger? Eventually I picked it up because of the description:

Caroline Reynolds has a fantastic new apartment in San Francisco, a KitchenAid mixer, and no O (and we’re not talking Oprah here, folks). She has a flourishing design career, an office overlooking the bay, a killer zucchini bread recipe, and no O. She has Clive (the best cat ever), great friends, a great rack, and no O.

I have to admit that this one was really funny! I don't know why I'm so surprised; it does have a 4.27 rating (with almost 30,000 ratings). The characters didn't actually annoy me (rare), and the plot was great. I would definitely recommend this one to anyone who loves a silly romance. 

4 // And now, This Girl. If you haven't read the Slammed series, you need to get on that. Pronto. And if you're afraid of it being too explicit, don't be. The first two books of the series have no sex at all, and this one is tame (compared to what I've read, at least). The first two books were an emotional roller coaster, with plots very different than anything else you've read up until this point. This Girl is no different. If you want to cry and laugh and just have a happy heart at the end of a book, this is the one to go with. I promise you won't regret it. 

{what i'm reading v.4}

So it's that part of the month where I admit to you that I have absolutely terrible taste in books, because I know you all secretly love them too. I also have to give you an update and let you know that I've read 17 books toward my goal of 52 books for the year. That puts me 5% ahead of schedule, thanks Goodreads!

I've actually read more than this since my last post, but two of the books were so forgettable that, well, I forgot what they were even about.

Anyway, so I've been reading the Mortal Instruments series for a few months now, but I've been having to take breaks because I just can't read them all in one sitting! The first three were great, and this one was good too, but seriously? I'm just so over the drama between the two main characters. Can't they just make out, be together, and get on with the rest of the story? There's so much other content that could be addressed there, but the author just keeps dragging out the reasons why they can't be together. It's getting old.

I like to read lots of random books that I find on Goodreads, and I was actually pleasantly surprised with Sempre. I just happened to stumble across it, and downloaded it with a whole bunch of other books at the same time, but this one really stood out to me. Be warned: it's long. And really sad and pretty melodramatic (but I love those angst-ridden dramas, really). Though it does compare to the typical story I'm drawn to, this one definitely had a twist. I liked it. 

Okay, and now onto Walking Disaster. Sigh. I don't know if you've ever read Beautiful Disaster, but it is basically the epitome of a bad-boy-meets-good-girl angsty new adult fiction novel. As much as I didn't want to like Beautiful Disaster, ohmygod it drew me in and I haven't been able to let go. Walking Disaster is the same story as the first, but written from Travis's point of view. I usually like sequels that are the same story, just written from a different POV, but not really this one. I found that it was really just a lot of the exact same dialogue interspersed with some of his thoughts, though not nearly enough to make it much different than the first. Eh, maybe it's just because I've read Beautiful Disaster too many times, but this just didn't have a whole lot of new to keep me interested. I actually felt myself skipping over a lot of the parts that I already read in Beautiful Disaster.

And that last one on the list? It comes out at the end of April, and I'm so excited to read it! If you haven't read Slammed yet (and the sequel, Point of Retreat), I highly recommend them both. They are some of my favorite new adult novels, and Colleen Hoover's other novel, Hopeless is just as good (if not better). Definitely go read all of them, and then get This Girl at the end of the month! I just know I won't be disappointed in it. 

So, what are you reading these days? Do you have any recommendations for me?

{what i'm reading v.3}

I don't know if you all like these posts or not, but I do like putting them together. I'm reading 52 books this year (maybe more), and it would be nice if I could share that with someone. I'm averaging about two books per week right now, which is really good! So I thought I'd start putting out a "What I'm Reading" post every month or so. Sound okay?

I've read all three books in the Thoughtless series, and as much as I loved them all, I'm glad they're over. As soon as I found out that the series was a love story about a rock star, I couldn't help myself. But the protagonist is way obnoxious, and I'm definitely over it. This last one was a great way to end the series.

I also read the last book in the Delirium series, Requiem, and was really disappointed. I absolutely loved the first two, and was so excited for this one to come out! They're making the books into a television series, and I think it's starting in the fall. If you like young adult love stories set in a dystopian society, like Hunger Games or Divergent, you'll probably like Delirium too. And even though I didn't like the last one (I really didn't like the ending), it's still a great series.

The series that I'm OBSESSED with right now though is the Mortal Instruments. I've probably mentioned it already on my blog, but I really do love these books. I can't actually read them all at once though, which is kind of strange. I'm enjoying taking my time with these, and reading other books at the same time. I'm in the middle of the fourth one right now, and it's nice to drag them out a bit.

Have you read any of these books? What do you recommend I start next?

{what i'm reading}

So, if you're on Goodreads, you might know that you can set reading goals for yourself for the year. Up until last year, I've never really been the biggest reader in the world, unlike my mother who reads on average five books a week (not even joking). I did read a lot last year, but I wasn't keeping track then. I did give myself a goal of 52 books this year, so one book per week, and I'm happy to report that I'm actually a little ahead of schedule!

Now, I feel the need to remind you that I don't always have the best taste in books. I like to read books that will let me escape my own head for a while, and that includes (I'll admit it), a lot of new adult fiction. Some of these books are amazing, but some aren't the best. 

To be honest, I feel like there is some competition between authors to see who can come up with the most terrible thing a character can go through in their life. Usually it's abuse or the death of a family member, and I'm not always the biggest fan of this (which is strange, since I keep picking up these books). 

One of the better ones in this category, and one of the best young/new adult books that I've read recently is the Coincidence of Callie & Kayden. I also really liked On Dublin Street, which I read this year as well, and has that really hot billionaire love interest, but with an Irish accent. Does it get hotter than that?

I really didn't like Ten Tiny Breaths. There's not much more to say about that one.

Other new/young adult fiction novels that I've read this year that were decent (but not good enough to devote an actual paragraph to):

The Edge of Never // Pushing the Limits // A Song for Julia

These all had that same tortured soul meets the only person who can save them theme. Most of the time, they were good books, but they're all so similar that I get the plots mixed up looking back and don't really remember the details very well. 

I'm currently reading the Mortal Instruments series, which I can't get enough of. Thank goodness there are six books in this series, because seriously? I can't handle the "relationship" between Jace and Clary (which, if you've read the books, you know what I'm talking about). I couldn't stop myself, and did look up what's actually there, so I'm really looking forward to getting through the third book and moving on from that little twist (I'm in the middle of the City of Glass right now). I really do like the world the author has created, though I'm not always a fan of the main character. I started reading it since it's being made into a movie, and now I can't wait for it to come out!

I really do need to move on from my obsession with young adult fiction, or I at least need a break for a little while, and I think I may read the Paris Wife next. I started reading it in Barnes and Noble the other day, and I really liked the first few chapters! Looking forward to that one!

Do you have any recommendations for me? Have you read any of these?

Oh, and I went and saw Safe Haven today with Robert! I read the book last year, and really liked both the movie and the book. Have you seen it? What did you think?

{too many books}

I have a serious, serious problem. Like a I've-read-14-books-in-the-past-2-weeks kind of problem. I think it's partially because I'd like to escape reality for a little while right now, and partially because I've always been book obsessed. I just need the mental break.

Anyway, most of the books I've been reading are self-published eBooks that I've found on Goodreads (obsessed with Goodreads). Some are amazing, most are decent, a few are absolutely terrible. Now, I'm not too discriminating with the books I'm reading right now, since, you know, it takes me all of three hours to finish a book. But I thought I'd share some of the ones I've read recently and get your opinion on them.

Disclaimer: Please don't judge me. I know these aren't all the classic books that I "should" be reading. Some of them are fluff. Some actually are thought-provoking. I just like what I like right now.

The Sea of Tranquility: This is hands down the best book that I've read in the past two weeks, and definitely in my top five for the year. I almost didn't read it because of the title, but then I saw the reviews and thought against it. The title fits, I suppose, and it's not as cheesy as you would think. It's hard to give an honest opinion without revealing the entire plot, but it's amazing. The story is great, and the writing is great. Oh, and that ending! That last line is just perfection. It doesn't have all the cliches that I'm getting tired of in books these days (boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl after seeing her once, boy and girl make hot, passionate love all day and night, boy and girl live happily ever after). It's wonderfully sad and amazing. Don't believe me? Here you go...

Everyone has to say three things about themselves and one of those things has to be a lie.

My name is Nastya Kashnikov.

I was a piano-playing prodigy who doesn't belong anywhere near an Intro to Music class.

I was murdered two and a half years ago.

Discuss.

Please. Read it. And tell me what you think. I'm dying to talk about it with someone else!

Here are a few other books that I've read recently that I didn't dislike:

Easy: This one has a pretty standard story line (boy has a troubled past, boy saves girl), but I actually really loved it. I thought their relationship was realistic and subtly sweet. 

Thoughtless (and Effortless): I keep going back to this one. To be honest, I don't like the main character (read: hate with a passion), but I have the biggest crush on her love interest. That's what keeps me coming back. It has a few steamy scenes, though not anything near as explicit as 50 Shades of Grey (which I have to keep coming back to). 

Slammed (and Point of Retreat): Don't want sex? Here you go. These two books are really wonderfully written, and the story is so touching and tragic. I'm really excited to hear that both books have been picked up to be made into movies!

Beautiful Disaster: Okay, I feel a little conflicted about this one. In all, I really liked it. But I have kind of a problem with the overbearing, violently jealous love interest. It's unhealthy, though I can see it from the outside. It makes me sad to think that there might be people who don't understand that when reading a book like this. 

Bared to You (and Reflected in You): If you liked 50 Shades of Grey, you'll like this one. It has a similar plot (a very, very similar plot), but I like the main character more than I liked Ana. I can appreciate a strong, confident woman, even if she is a little messed up in the head by a traumatic past. I have somewhat of a problem with the trend in stories these days that have the main couple falling in mad, passionate love after seeing each other for only a few moments. It's unrealistic. Though I guess we read books to escape reality?

And then, there were the books that I hated:

Fade Into Me: Okay, at least Bared to You and 50 Shades of Grey had a plot. In those books, there was character development (to an extent) and an engaging story line. This one has none of that. And I get that it's all about the erotica these days, but this is just way. too. much.

Perfect Chemistry: I held off on reading this one for a while, just because of the title. Seriously? Perfect Chemistry? It was terrible. I hated it. A lot. Times a thousand.

Top Five Books of the Year (so far):

Divergent & Insurgent

Delirium & Pandemonium

The Sea of Tranquility

Easy

Moloka'i

Have you read any of these books? I'd love to know what you think! And what would you suggest I read next?

Also, I know that I'm sad for reading so many books right now. I counted in my head, and I am currently waiting for eighteen books and movies to be released. That's ridiculous.