December Confessions

Normally I read more books in a given month, but December was super busy for my family. I hosted a Christmas Eve sit-down dinner for 15 people, we did a ton of Christmas family activities, met up with friends, and somehow the month just flew by. I'm sure you guys feel the same way.  Plus, I read Drums of Autumn, which took me FOR-EVER to get through and is pretty much two/three books in one! 

So, now that the holiday season is over, can we just agree to skip to Memorial Day Weekend? ;)

1.  Come Back to Me by Mila Gray - 4 out of 5 stars
2.  Cinder by Marissa Meyer - 5 out of 5 stars
3.  The Trouble with Destiny by Lauren Morrill - 3.5 out of 5 stars
4.  Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein - 4 out of 5 stars
5.  Drums of Autumn (Outlander #4) by Diana Gabaldon - 4 out of 5 stars (Review to come)

Didn't Finish:
DaVinci's Tiger by L.M. Elliot - I love historical fiction, but this book included too much history and not enough story, at least in the first 30 some pages. I heard it gets better if you stick with it, but I wasn't invested enough.

1.  Favorite Book:  Cinder by Marissa Meyer - I will admit I was very hesitant to start this book, because the weird sci-fi synopsis, but I was totally wrong. I should have read this book years ago!

2.  Biggest Surprise: Come Back to Me by Mila Gray - I normally am very lukewarm about "new adult" novels, but this one worked for me. I really enjoyed it.

3.  Biggest Disappointment: The Trouble with Destiny by Lauren Morrill- It's not that it was a bad book; that's not the case...it was entertaining for sure, but I didn't love it as much I hoped. It is definitely for the younger YA crowd.

4.  Favorite Post from December:  Best Books of 2015

5.  Favorite Part of December: I absolutely loved watching my son get so excited for Christmas and our family Christmas Eve party....it gets better every year! 

Let me know what book was your favorite this month in the comments below and I hope you all had a great holiday.  Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Thank you for visiting Confessions of a Book Addict and to those of you who comment and follow my blog, I truly appreciate it.  

I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday filled with memorable moments. I also hope you take some time to relax and curl up with a good book. 

I'll be back in the New Year with more book reviews, giveaways and so much more.  Here's to a great 2016!

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Leaving Under My Tree

Here's my bookish wish list for this holiday season. Maybe some of these books will be under the Christmas tree for me this year!

1.  What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen - It's one of the few Dessen novels I haven't read!
2.  Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas - I am looking forward to continuing with this series.
3.  Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarity - I have never read anything by Moriarity and really want to.  Plus, I want to read it before the HBO show comes out next year!
4.  The Matchmaker by Elin Hilderbrand - It's never too early to start thinking about next summer's beach reads!
5.  Downton Abbey: A Celebration by Jessica Fellowes and Julian Fellowes - This seems like an excellent coffee table book for fans of the show.
6.  The Next Together by Lauren James - I love the premise of this book and I believe it has only been published in the UK, so maybe Santa can hook me up!
7.  Edgewater by Courtney Sheinmel - I love the Grey Gardens vibe to this one!
8.  Cress by Marissa Meyer - I can't wait to continue with this series--absolutely loved Cinder and am looking forward to Scarlet.
9.  The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon - I am slowly making my way through this series. Key word: slowly.
10.  A gift card - I could always use a gift card to my local bookstore! 

So, what books are you hoping to receive this holiday season? Let me know! This meme is hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. 

Book Review: Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Pages: 339

Genre: YA Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: May 15, 2012

Source: Personal Copy

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "Oct. 11th, 1943-A British spy plane crashes in Nazi-occupied France. Its pilot and passenger are best friends. One of the girls has a chance at survival. The other has lost the game before it's barely begun. When "Verity" is arrested by the Gestapo, she's sure she doesn't stand a chance. As a secret agent captured in enemy territory, she's living a spy's worst nightmare. Her Nazi interrogators give her a simple choice: reveal her mission or face a grisly execution. As she intricately weaves her confession, Verity uncovers her past, how she became friends with the pilot Maddie, and why she left Maddie in the wrecked fuselage of their plane. On each new scrap of paper, Verity battles for her life, confronting her views on courage, failure and her desperate hope to make it home. But will trading her secrets be enough to save her from the enemy?  A Michael L. Printz Award Honor book that was called "a fiendishly-plotted mind game of a novel" in The New York Times, Code Name Verity is a visceral read of danger, resolve, and survival that shows just how far true friends will go to save each other."

The year is 1943 and a British spy plane crashes into Nazi-occupied France with two passengers aboard.  One is the pilot and the other is her best friend.  One of the girls, Verity, is captured by the SS and in her cell she writes down everything she can about the British War Effort.  This is all to avoid brutal torture.  But what Verity writes is more than just inside information about the planes and codes, but rather a story in a sense.  The story focuses on Maddie, the pilot of the plane, and she also includes information for us readers about her life in the cell.  The SS officer has someone translate it everyday, but what will happen when Verity gets to the end of the story?  Elizabeth Wein's honorary Printz novel is a powerful one about friendship, war, and the sacrifices made.  At first, I wasn't sure where the Code Name Verity was going, but slowly all the pieces fit together and the picture became clear.

When I first picked up Code Name Verity I knew that it was going to be a powerful and moving book based on what I've heard from everyone.  I knew that it received many awards, so needless to say, I had high hopes.  The first 100 pages left me feeling rather underwhelmed and questioning if there was an unreliable narrator in the novel? I had no idea where the story was going and I almost put it down.  I am so glad I stuck with it, because it slowly came together and the ride was definitely worth it.

The first half of Code Name Verity is narrated by Verity and the second half is from Maddie's perspective.  Once Maddie took over, the story's pieces came together easily and I was on the edge of my seat hoping Maddie could help Verity escape. 

If you are looking for a smart, well-written novel that is slow to reveal itself, much like The Book Thief, then you should definitely check out Code Name Verity.  It tugged on my heartstrings and these two best friends won't easily be forgotten by me.  This novel would be a great addition to any school's World War II unit as there is much to discuss and it packs a powerful punch.

Stacking the Shelves and Giveaway Winners (92)

   

Summer of Sloane by Erin L. Schneider - Thanks to NetGalley and Disney-Hyperion
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys - Thanks to Penguin and Netgalley
Into the Dim by Janet B. Taylor - Thanks to HMH Books and Edelweiss
Pearl by Deidre Hall Riordan  - Thanks to Skyscape (cover is not out yet)

Scarlet (Lunar Chronicles #2) by Marissa Meyer
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

The winner of the giveaway of Unforgiven by Lauren Kate and Made You Up by Francesca Zappia is:

 Delfina

Congrats! I hope you enjoy the books!

So what do you guys think? Have you read any of these books or are they on your TBR list? Let me know! This meme is hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews.

2015 End of Year Book Survey

2015 Book Stats:

Number Of Books You Read: 91...and still going!
Number of Re-Reads: 0
Genre You Read The Most From: Young Adult

1. Best Book You Read In 2015?

Young Adult (published in 2015): P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han
New Adult (published in 2015): The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan
Adult (published in 2015): The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Young Adult (published 2014 or later): Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Adult (published in 2014 or later) The Secret Life of Violet Grant by Beatriz Williams

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

Rook by Sharon Cameron and Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard - both unfortunately disappointed me. 

3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?  

Cinder by Marissa Meyer - I thought the synopsis sounded kind of cheesy. I was definitely wrong...such a fantastic book!

4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

5. Best series you started in 2015? Best Sequel of 2015? 

The Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas and Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer are two series that I am so glad I started in 2015. Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass #2) by Sarah J. Maas is the best sequel that I read this year. I am hoping to finish both series in 2016.

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2015?
I loved Emma Mills' First & Then as well as Catherine Doyle's Vendetta. I have my eye on both authors in 2016.

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?
I don't normally read a lot of middle grade fiction, but I'm so glad I read Forget-Me-Not Summer by Leila Howland....such a cute book and a perfect beach read for tweens.

8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins 

9. Book You Read In 2015 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?
I don't typically re-read novels. If I am going to it is usually only the classics.

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2015?

The Summer After You and Me by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski

11. Most memorable character of 2015?

Lara Jean from P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2015?

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah and The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2015?

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2015 to finally read?
Cinder by Marissa Meyer and Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2015? 
Here are my top three:

"Knowing what happens is different from knowing how it happens.  And the getting there is the best part." - The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord

"There's a Korean word my grandma taught me. It's called jung.  It's the connection between two people that can't be severed, even when love turns to hate.  You still have those old feelings for them; you can't ever completely shake them loose of you; you will always have tenderness in your heart for them." - P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han

"No. I can survive well enough on my own - if given the proper reading material."- Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2015?

Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas - 562 pages

Last Year's Mistake by Gina Ciocca -  256 pages

17. Book That Shocked You The Most:

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein and The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

18. OTP OF THE YEAR:

I'm currently reading Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon - so I am going to go with Jamie and Claire as my favorite couple.

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year 

Paige and her family in The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord

Lara Jean and her sisters in P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2015 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

The Start of Me and You by Emery LordP.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

21. Best Book You Read In 2015 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:

Cinder by Marissa Meyer - all of my blogger friends LOVE this book, so I am glad I finally got around to reading it!

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2015?

Chaol Westfall from the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas

23. Best 2015 debut you read?

First & Then by Emma Mills
Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll
Vendetta by Catherine Doyle

24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

Cinder by Marissa Meyer - such a cool sci-fi setting!

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan had me laughing more than any other book in 2015.

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2015?

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah - cue all the tears!

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

Vendetta by Catherine Doyle 

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2015?

Ross Poldark by Winston Graham or Brooklyn by Colm Toibin

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

Until Friday Night by Abbi Glines - I felt like it was really sexist and the comments about how a girl looks instead of what a girls says/does, really annoyed me.

Well, that's the first part of my End of the Year Book Survey...there's more to come in a few days!  Let me know what you think! This survey is hosted by Jamie at The Perpetual Page Turner. 

Book Review: The Trouble with Destiny by Lauren Morrill

Pages: 272

Genre: YA Realistic Fiction

Pub. Date: December 8, 2015

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, " With her trusty baton and six insanely organized clipboards, drum major Liza Sanders is about to take Destiny by storm—the boat, that is. When Liza discovered that her beloved band was losing funding, she found Destiny, a luxury cruise ship complete with pools, midnight chocolate buffets, and a $25,000 spring break talent show prize.  Liza can’t imagine senior year without the band, and nothing will distract her from achieving victory. She’s therefore not interested when her old camp crush, Lenny, shows up on board, looking shockingly hipster-hot. And she’s especially not interested in Russ, the probably-as-dumb-as-he-is-cute prankster jock whose ex, Demi, happens be Liza’s ex–best friend and leader of the Athenas, a show choir that’s the band’s greatest competition. But it’s not going to be smooth sailing. After the Destiny breaks down, all of Liza’s best-laid plans start to go awry. Liza likes to think of herself as an expert at almost everything, but when it comes to love, she’s about to find herself lost at sea."

Liza is a drum major for her school's marching band and she is privy to a secret about the fate of the band. If they don't raise a lot of money, the band will be cut due to the new school budget. So, they enter a contest on a cruise ship with the hopes of winning the grand prize.  But things aren't smooth sailing aboard this cruise ship.  Liza has to keep her eye out for ex-best friend, Demi, who is part of a dance team also vying for the grand prize and then she runs into Lenny, her childhood friend, who she has a crush on.  To complicate matters further, there's also Russ, the super popular quarterback, who is helping the band out during this trip as punishment in order to make up for some wrongdoings.  There's many hilarious moments that ensue, especially as Liza realizes who she has feelings for during this trip.  Lauren Morrill's The Trouble with Destiny is a cute story that is perfect for younger YA readers who want something fun and light.

Liza is a likable protagonist in The Trouble with Destiny. I liked that she was a bit of a geek and got herself into many hilarious situations.  She is definitely a control freak, but once she gets aboard the ship, she realizes that it's going to be hard to control everything, especially her feelings for a particular boy. Plus, the setting of a cruise ship for a high school adventure is definitely a good time!

Which leads me to the romance in The Trouble with Destiny....it was very light.  If you are looking for something stronger, look elsewhere. The romance in this novel is definitely for younger YA readers and is reminiscent of something on the Disney Channel or even an episode of Glee. 

The Trouble with Destiny is a quick read that's perfect for readers looking for something light and sweet.  I enjoyed the overall message that you can find love in unexpected places.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Passion of Dolssa

This is a weekly meme hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine.  "Waiting on Wednesday" spotlights upcoming releases that I'm eagerly anticipating.

The Passion of Dolssa by Julie Berry

Pub. Date: April 12, 2016

Goodreads says, "Buried deep within the archives of a convent in medieval France is an untold story of love, loss, and wonder and the two girls at the heart of it all.  Dolssa is an upper-crust city girl with a secret lover and an uncanny gift. Branded a heretic, she’s on the run from the friar who condemned her mother to death by fire, and wants Dolssa executed, too. Botille is a matchmaker and a tavern-keeper, struggling to keep herself and her sisters on the right side of the law in their seaside town of Bajas. When their lives collide by a dark riverside, Botille rescues a dying Dolssa and conceals her in the tavern, where an unlikely friendship blooms. Aided by her sisters and Symo, her surly but loyal neighbor, Botille nurses Dolssa back to health and hides her from her pursuers. But all of Botille’s tricks, tales, and cleverness can’t protect them forever, and when the full wrath of the Church bears down upon Bajas, Dolssa’s passion and Botille’s good intentions could destroy the entire village.  From the author of the award-winning All the Truth That’s in Me comes a spellbinding thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final page and make you wonder if miracles really are possible."

Doesn't this sound like a fantastic historical fiction? Let me know what you think!

Top Ten Tuesday: Best Books of 2015

Guys, I have read SO many awesome book this year, but for the next two lists, I am including only books published in 2015.  If you are interested in reading my reviews of the books, check out my review archive, which is organized by author's last name.  Now, onto my favorite book of the year (in no particular order!): 

Young Adult/New Adult:
1.  First & Then by Emma Mills
2.  P. S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han
3.  The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord
4.  Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen
5.  Things We Know by Heart by Jessi Kirby
6.  Vendetta by Catherine Doyle
7.  The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan

Adult:
1.  The Last Summer of Chelsea Beach by Pam Jenoff
2.  Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll
3.  Under a Dark Summer Sky by Vanessa Lafaye
4.  The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
5.  The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

Last but not least, I can't forget about the awesome books I read this year that have an "older" publishing date. I am so glad I finally got around to reading these! 

Some "Older" Books That Made My Favorite List:
1.  Cinder by Marissa Meyer
2.  Brooklyn by Colm Toibin
3.  Ross Poldark by Winston Graham
4.  The Secret Life of Violet Grant by Beatriz Williams
5.  Throne of Glass and Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
6.  The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd 

So, what do you guys think of my lists? Did I include any of your favorites?  Let me know in the comments below.  This meme is hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. 

Book Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Pages: 390

Genre: YA Sci-Fi

Pub. Date: January 12, 2012

Source: Personal Copy

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future."

It's many years after World War IV and a plague called letumosis runs rampant throughout Earth.  Cinder is a gifted mechanic living in New Beijing along with a horrible woman who has "adopted" her and her two step-siblings.  She only gets along with one step-sibling, Peony, who is kind heart. Cinder works hard as a mechanic and gives all of her money to her step-mother, while her other sisters spend the day trying on dresses for Prince Kai's ball. Normally everyone would attend the Prince's ball, but Cinder is a cyborg (second class citizen) and won't be going.  Things start to pick up though once Prince Kai becomes one of Cinder's customers and (without giving away anything), Cinder is also linked to the palace's doctor who is trying to find a cure for letumosis.  Marissa Meyer's retelling of Cinderella is utterly captivating and works well despite my initial hesitance.  Cinder is one of those books that I wish I read when it first came out!

Who doesn't love a spunky heroine? I was rooting for Cinder from the beginning. She's a really mysterious character, because the entire time you are wondering about her background. Readers know she was adopted, but we don't know anything about her birth parents or how she became a cyborg. Slowly, Meyer gives us clues and it really was a lot of fun!  I think Meyer captured Cinderella's essence, while also giving Cinder some moxie.  

The setting of New Beijing after World War IV is pretty captivating as well in  Cinder. Meyer did a great job building a world that was very Terminator-eque.  I haven't read a sci-fi in quite sometime that really left me as absorbed as  Cinder.

I will admit that I was hesitant to start this series. When I read the synopsis, I thought to myself that a space-age Cinderella re-telling is going to be cheesy and won't work. Boy, was I wrong! Thankfully I listened to some of my favorite bloggers and gave  Cinder a try. I am so glad I did. I can't wait to read Scarlet, book two in the Lunar Chronicles.  If you love sci-fi, retellings that actually work and a strong heroine, then you will definitely want to check out this series if you haven't yet!

Book Review: Come Back to Me by Mila Gray

Pages: 352 

Genre: New Adult

Pub. Date: December 8, 2015

Source: Publisher for review
Other Books By Author: The Sound

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "In this heart-wrenching tale of love and loss, a young Marine and his best friend’s sister plunge into a forbidden love affair while he’s home on leave. When a Marine Chaplain knocks on her door, Jessa’s heart breaks—someone she loves is dead. Killed in action, but is it Riley or Kit? Her brother or her boyfriend… Three months earlier, Marine Kit Ryan finds himself back home on leave and dangerously drawn to his best friend Riley’s sister, Jessa—the one girl he can’t have. Exhausted from fighting his feelings, Kit finally gives in, and Jessa isn’t strong enough to resist diving headfirst into a passionate relationship. But what was just supposed to be a summer romance develops into something far greater than either of them expected. Jessa’s finally found the man of her dreams and Kit’s finally discovered there’s someone he’d sacrifice everything for. When it’s time for Kit to redeploy, neither one is ready to say goodbye. Jessa vows to wait for him and Kit promises to come home to her. No matter what. But as Jessa stands waiting for the Marine Chaplain to break her heart, she can’t help but feel that Kit has broken his promise… Riley or Kit? Kit or Riley? Her brother or her boyfriend? Who’s coming home to her?"

Come Back to Me starts off in an ominous way.  A Marine Chaplain knocks on Jessa's door and subsequently, her family is on eggshells.  You see, Jessa's brother, Riley, is deployed in Afghanistan and so is Jessa's secret-boyfriend, Kit.  Readers won't find out who has been killed, because Gray then takes readers to a flashback when Riley and Kit were on leave.  Jessa has always been Riley's little sister, but secretly, Kit has had feelings for Jessa, vice versa.  There are problems with this though. Riley and Jessa's overbearing and big-wig in the military father hates Kit and also, Riley wouldn't be happy with his best friend dating his little sister as Kit has been known to be a player.  But Jessa and Kit can't deny their attraction to one another and a summer romance ensues...one that is in secret from the people that matter most to them.  Mila Gray's new adult novel, Come Back to Me, is the perfect romance if you are looking for something Nicholas Sparks-esque.  There's a forbidden romance, childhood friendships, overbearing parents and of course, the dangers of being overseas in the military.  

Jessa hasn't really come into her own in Come Back to Me, thanks to her super controlling father. He definitely suffers from PTSD and hasn't received help for it.  He takes it out on his family and controls Jessa's social life to the point where it's absurd. I mean she had to take her brother to the prom.  Seriously?  Anyway, once she starts a relationship with Kit, this all changes. He challenges her and takes her out of her comfort zone; so in turn, she grows more as a person.  

Speaking of Kit and Jessa's relationship...wow! There are definitely some steamy parts in Come Back to Me. Since this is a New Adult novel, I sort of expected this, but it wasn't cheesy or overdone.  Gray did a great job balancing the romance with the other parts of the novel.

The tension in Come Back to Me is thick, because while reading the book, you are wondering the entire time who has died in Afghanistan?  Gray doesn't reveal the truth until the end of the book, so it definitely left me questioning and worrying.

Ususally, I struggle with New Adult novels, because sometimes there can be too much sexy-times in it and not a lot of plot, but that wasn't the case here. Come Back to Me is definitely one of my favorite new adult novels and I look forward to reading more of Mila Gray (Sarah Alderson) in the future.  So, if you are looking for a Nicholas Sparks type of romance that will tug on your heartstrings, definitely give this one a try this holiday season.  

Waiting on Wednesday: Truthwitch

This is a weekly meme hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine.  "Waiting on Wednesday" spotlights upcoming releases that I'm eagerly anticipating.

Truthwitch by Susan Dennard

Pub. Date: January 5, 2016

Goodreads says, "On a continent ruled by three empires, some are born with a “witchery”, a magical skill that sets them apart from others. In the Witchlands, there are almost as many types of magic as there are ways to get in trouble—as two desperate young women know all too well. Safiya is a Truthwitch, able to discern truth from lie. It’s a powerful magic that many would kill to have on their side, especially amongst the nobility to which Safi was born. So Safi must keep her gift hidden, lest she be used as a pawn in the struggle between empires. Iseult, a Threadwitch, can see the invisible ties that bind and entangle the lives around her—but she cannot see the bonds that touch her own heart. Her unlikely friendship with Safi has taken her from life as an outcast into one of reckless adventure, where she is a cool, wary balance to Safi’s hotheaded impulsiveness. Safi and Iseult just want to be free to live their own lives, but war is coming to the Witchlands. With the help of the cunning Prince Merik (a Windwitch and ship’s captain) and the hindrance of a Bloodwitch bent on revenge, the friends must fight emperors, princes, and mercenaries alike, who will stop at nothing to get their hands on a Truthwitch."

Guys, there's so, so much buzz and hype for this book that I am a little hesitant getting my hopes up, but I love the synopsis.  It seems like a really promising YA fantasy. What do you guys think?

Top Ten Tuesday: New-To-Me Authors I Read in 2015

I love to check out new-to-me authors every year and this year, I read some really great ones.  Here are some of my favorites:

1.  Allison Pataki - I read The Accidental Empress this year and really fell in love with Pataki's storytelling abilities. I definitely plan on reading book two, Sisi, which comes out this March.  If you enjoy historical fiction, you should definitely check her out.

2.  Catherine Doyle- Doyle is a debut author and one that I really enjoyed.  I loved Vendetta - a book that reminded me of Godfather meets Romeo and Juliet.

3.  Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan - The Royal We is one of my favorite books of the year; I can't wait to see what these two authors come up with next.

4.  Wendy Francis - The Summer of Good Intentions was one of my favorite beach reads of 2015.  

5.  Pam Jenoff -  I loved The Last Summer at Chelsea Beach and I plan on checking out more of her work in the future; she's another new-to-me historical fiction author that I've come to love.

6.  Emma Mills -  First & Then is one of my favorite YA books of the year.  Mills is a debut author, but one that I will definitely have my eye on.

7.  Paula Hawkins - The Girl on the Train was one of the most supsenseful books I've read all year.

8.  Tamara Ireland Stone -  Every Last Word was an interesting read and very well-written. I like that Stone focused on mental health, which you don't see often in YA.  

9.  Jessica Knoll - Luckiest Girl Alive was such a fun read and I loved that Knoll included local landmarks in her story. Even though she's a debut author, I will be keeping my eye out for her future work.

10.  Sara Gruen - I have actually never read Gruen before, but so glad I got around to reading her this year. I really enjoyed At the Water's Edge.

So, did you read any new-to-you authors this year? Which ones were your favorites? Let me know in the comments below. This meme is hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. 

Books on the Big Screen: Brooklyn

The moment I saw the movie trailer for Brooklyn, I knew I had to read the book first and then see the movie. I am SO glad I did that, because both the book and movie were outstanding in their own ways.  If you missed my review of the book, you can check it out here.

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Although I loved the book, I had a few issues with it. My first issue focused mostly on the choices Eilis, the main character, made towards the second half of the book and secondly, the abrupt ending.  However, that wasn't the case with the movie.

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I can't believe I am going to say this, but the movie fixed my issues with the book; specifically, it glossed over the parts that I found to be abrasive. Eilis is definitely more likable in the movie and the ending was tied up much better. It's rare for me to enjoy a movie a bit more than the book, but that was the case here.

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The cinematography was gorgeous.  The movie truly brought to life Brooklyn in the 1950s as well as Ireland. Plus, the movie made me think a lot about the immigrant experience, just as the book did. I love when a movie is smart and it will leave you thinking about it long after the final credits have rolled.

Brooklyn is definitely one of my favorite movies of the year.  Have you seen the movie or read the book? Let me know what you think in the comments below.