Top Cuddles of 2012 Giveaway Hop

Hosted by Cuddlebuggery. December 30th - January 5th 

For this giveaway there will be TWO winners! You can choose one of my favorite books I read in 2012.  INT as long as Book Depository ships to you.

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Cover Reveal + Giveaway: Sworn to Raise by Terah Edun

Sworn to Raise (Courtlight #1)
by Terah Edun
Publication date: March 15th, 2013

Seventeen-year-old Ciardis has grown up in poverty, a cleaner in a small vale on the outskirts of the  kingdom. But beneath her kingdom’s seemingly idyllic surface lies a hidden secret. Whispers of an inept crown Prince are growing ever louder—intensified by the five year anniversary of the soulbond  initiations.
Amidst scandalous whispers, Ciardis finds herself chosen to train for the Companion’s Guild. She leaves her home and sets off on a personal journey to become a Court Companion. A position she’d never thought possible for a lowly servant to obtain, she must prove that she has the skills to attract a Patron.
But she must master those skills quickly. If the legends are true, only Ciardis can harness the power to raise a Prince in an Imperial Court sworn to bring him down.
This sensational series debut melds intricate storylines with remarkable characters and unforgettable magic. Sworn To Raise is ideal for fans of Kristin Cashore, Michelle Sagara, and Maria Snyder.

Author Bio:

Terah Edun is an international development professional and author/lover of all things Young Adult Fantasy fiction. She is a native Georgian, adoptive Washingtonian, unrepentant expat currently living in South Sudan, brilliant dreamer, lover of dogs and not-so-closet geek. Her first novel, Red Madrassa, was released on November 8th and her second novel, Sworn to Raise, comes out in March 2013.

Author Links: Website: Goodreads: Facebook: Twitter

Giveaway: Terah is offering a 60$ Amazon Gift Card giveaway and it ends on 12/31/2012

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Review: Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

Hopeless
by Colleen Hoover
Released: December 19th 2012

Sometimes discovering the truth can leave you more hopeless than believing the lies…
That’s what seventeen-year-old Sky realizes after she meets Dean Holder. A guy with a reputation that rivals her own and an uncanny ability to invoke feelings in her she’s never had before. He terrifies her and captivates her all in the span of just one encounter, and something about the way he makes her feel sparks buried memories from a past that she wishes could just stay buried.
Sky struggles to keep him at a distance knowing he’s nothing but trouble, but Holder insists on learning everything about her. After finally caving to his unwavering pursuit, Sky soon finds that Holder isn’t at all who he’s been claiming to be. When the secrets he’s been keeping are finally revealed, every single facet of Sky’s life will change forever.
Recommended for readers 17+ due to sexual content, harsh language and heavy subject matter.

 "The sky is always beautiful. Even when it’s dark or rainy or cloudy, it’s still beautiful to look at….it'll be there no matter what…and I know it’ll always be beautiful." 

Hopeless was an emotional read that was raw and real.

Hopeless was nothing I was expecting. Any time I start a  book by this author I go in thinking I know where it's going to go, but end up being wrong, which is a huge plus for me! It doesn't matter what Colleen Hoover writes, if she came out with a fantasy or another contemporary I will not hesitate to read it! Colleen Hoover has a way of writing characters so realistic and so relatable, stories so heartbreaking, yet still moments to make you smile.

When Sky meets Holden, everything in her life changes. Secrets she didn't know about herself come out. All she knows about her past is what her adopted mother told her, that she adopted her when she was seven. She doesn't have many memories from before then.

There were so many twist and turns in Hopeless. I didn't seen any of them coming. With Holden, I could feel he keeping something from Sky. And for a few chapters I was thinking "Is he her long lost brother of something?" lol. I just didn't know what he was keeping from Sky. But when the truth really comes out, it leaves me speechless. I had to reread that part because it was so shocking. Colleen Hoover does an amazing job bringing so many emotions into the writing, that it will leave you breathless when you learn the truth. Also I loved when we find out the meaning behind the title, Hopeless. It's not because any of the characters are hopeless or anything along those lines. It was really cute. So don't let the title fool you, none of the characters were hopeless. Sky was so strong through out the whole book.

I loved Sky and Holden together. They had great chemistry from the moment they meet, like they've know each other a long time. Holden is there for Sky through everything. Even though they were really amazing together, the thing I didn't like was that they always seem to fix things by having sex. Something would happen and so they decided to have sex and all I can think about is how in the hell can they be in the mood right now! And towards the ending the writing started getting really preachy, where when the book was over, I was glad. I loved more than 70% of Hopeless. And if the writing was consistent and continued they way it was in the beginning this book would have easily gotten five stars.

Overall, Hopeless was intense, raw, and beautiful! I dare you not to at least shed one tear during Hopeless. But, Even though this book was really emotional, there where still cute and fun moments. Moments to make you smile. I highly recommend you read this book!

Rating 4/5

Waiting on Wednesday #17: Just One Day by Gayle Forman

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.

Just One Day (Just One Day #1)
by Gayle Forman
Publication date: January 8th 2013

A breathtaking journey toward self-discovery and true love, from the author of If I Stay
When sheltered American good girl Allyson "LuLu" Healey first meets laid-back Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter at an underground performance of Twelfth Night in England, there’s an undeniable spark. After just one day together, that spark bursts into a flame, or so it seems to Allyson, until the following morning, when she wakes up after a whirlwind day in Paris to discover that Willem has left. Over the next year, Allyson embarks on a journey to come to terms with the narrow confines of her life, and through Shakespeare, travel, and a quest for her almost-true-love, to break free of those confines.
Just One Day is the first in a sweepingly romantic duet of novels. Willem’s story—Just One Year—is coming soon!

Best of 2012 Giveaway Hop

Hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer The Best of 2012 Giveaway Hop wraps up a year of giveaway hops by featuring your favorite reads.  Your giveaway should feature your favorite book or books of 2012.  These can be books that were published in 2012 or books that your read in 2012.

December 27th to 31st


Below are six of my favorite books that I read this year. I am giving away ONE of the following to ONE winner. INT as long as Book Depository ships to you!

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Please DON'T put your email in the comments.

Top 10 of 2012: Best Book Covers of 2012

Day 2: Best Book Covers of 2012

Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin (GoodReads) (Purchase)

What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang (GoodReads) (Purchase)

Crewel by Gennifer Albin (GoodReads) (Purchase)

Origin by Jessica Khoury (GoodReads) (Purchase)

Auracle by Gina Rosati (GoodReads) (Purchase)

The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna (GoodReads) (Purchase)

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (GoodReads) (Purchase)

The Statistical Probability of ... Jennifer E. Smith (GoodReads) (Purchase)

Cinder by Marissa Meyer (GoodReads) (Purchase)

Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone by Kat Rosenfield (GoodReads) (Purchase)

Coming up:

Wednesday, December 26th - Best ________ Of 2012 (Readers/Bloggers choice. Please fill in the blank with ONE of these topics - Villains, Contemporaries, Dual POV's, Novellas, Adult titles, New Adult titles, Love Triangles, Couples, Bad Boys or Debuts. REMEMBER - this list MUST be from books you've READ in 2012)

Thursday, December 27th - Best Book Boyfriends of 2012 (MUST be from a book released in 2012 and from a book you've READ in 2012)

Friday, December 28th - Top 10 Books I'm looking forward to in 2013. (This list should be comprised of books released ONLY in 2013)

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

Day 1: Best Books I've Read in 2012

(no order)

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
(GOODREADS) (REVIEW) (BOOKDEPOSITORY)

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins 

(GOODREADS)  (BOOKDEPOSITORY)

You Against Me by Jenny Downham
(GOODREADS) (REVIEW) (BOOKDEPOSITORY)

Slammed by Colleen Hoover

(GOODREADS) (BOOKDEPOSITORY)

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

(GOODREADS) (BOOKDEPOSITORY)

The Edge of Never by J.A. Redmerski

(GOODREADS) (REVIEW) (BOOKDEPOSITORY)

Pivot Point by Kasie West
(GOODREADS) (REVIEW) (BOOKDEPOSITORY)

 Divergent by Veronica Roth

(GOODREADS) (BOOKDEPOSITORY)

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
(GOODREADS) (BOOKDEPOSITORY)

 Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

(GOODREADS) (REVIEW)  (BOOKDEPOSITORY)

Coming up: 
 Tuesday, December 25th - Best Book Covers of 2012 (MUST be a book released in 2012. Would be best if it's a book you've READ in 2012, but it's not required)

Wednesday, December 26th - Best ________ Of 2012 (Readers/Bloggers choice. Please fill in the blank with ONE of these topics - Villains, Contemporaries, Dual POV's, Novellas, Adult titles, New Adult titles, Love Triangles, Couples, Bad Boys or Debuts. REMEMBER - this list MUST be from books you've READ in 2012)

Thursday, December 27th - Best Book Boyfriends of 2012 (MUST be from a book released in 2012 and from a book you've READ in 2012)

Friday, December 28th - Top 10 Books I'm looking forward to in 2013. (This list should be comprised of books released ONLY in 2013)

What's some of your favorite reads in 2012?

Stacking the Shelves: #10

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews in which we feature all the book goodness that we received, borrowed or purchased during the previous week.

Won: Thanks to Tiffany @ Book Cover Justice