Top 10 Books of 2012 That I Am Looking Forward to Reading

I have absolutely loved participating this week even though it has been difficult at times.  I have been the "oddball," but in a good way.  I know I tend to look at things differently, but there have been some awesome posts from others as well.  I even picked up a book today from someone's list--Jinx by Meg Cabot. I would never have known about that book!

Thank you to the hosts:
http://twochicksonbooks1.blogspot.com
http://alifeboundbybooks.blogspot.com/
http://www.fiktshun.com/fiktshun/
http://www.totalbookaholic.com/

I am going to break the rules from the outset.  I am participating in a Just For Fun Challenge:


So I thought I would go ahead and choose 12 books (I might have chosen 13) so I can read once each month.  These are all hard copy books that have been sitting on my bookcase, and I definitely want to read them.  So these are the top books I am looking forward to reading in the New Year.  Not in any particular order (except the first one).  

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I have gone back and forth with this book for quite some time.  Do I read it or don't I?  I won this book a few months ago, so I decided it was time to read it.  And when I realized that the movie is coming out in February, I decided I had to read it.  So it is first on my list!

The Heretic Queen by Michelle Moran

I don't know much about this book, but it's historical fiction and Egypt.  And I love the cover.  So there you go.  I don't think I've ever read a book that takes place in Egypt.  Ought to be good!

Bride Flight by Marieke van der Pol, Colleen Higgins 

I picked this book totally at random, and now I see that it is based on a true story and it has been translated. I am truly intrigued now!

The Life Ready Woman by Shaunti Feldhahn, Robert Lewis

I remember winning this book last year.  I am always up for a good Christian women's self-help book.  It had really good reviews, so hopefully it will live up to it!

Isolde Queen of the Western Isle by Rosalind Miles

I bought this at our library last year for two reasons.  It is written by the same person who wrote the Guinivere trilogy (which I have yet to read, but it looks good), and I know the story of Tristan and Isolde since I am a student of opera.  I studied Wagner, so I kind of know the story.  So this ought to be good!

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares

I can heard the collective sigh now.  "You mean you've never read this book before?"  Nope.  I only heard of it when the movie came out, and since it didn't look very good, I decided to not read the book.  To avoid it like the plague.  I won the book last year.  Time to read it and just see if it is my kind of book.

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

I commented on a number of people's posts this week saying that I just had to read this book.  I won it last year, and the time has come to see if it lives up to all the hype!

The Arrivals by Meg Mitchell Moore
Don't know anything about it.  I won it last year.  It came highly recommended.  And I like the cover.  And I picked it by random.  Let's see how it goes!

Midwives by Chris Boyjalian

I read about this book on a couple blogs last year.  I bought it in the thrift store.  I hadn't realized it was an Oprah book club pick, but I won't hold that against the book!  (Not a big-time Oprah fan, but I have to say her book club picks are generally good.)  I know very little about it, and I will keep it like that.  Until I read it.

Dawn of the Morning by Grace Livingston Hill

When I was younger, I read a lot of Grace Livingston Hill's books, so I happened to buy a stack of them at a  church yard sale this summer, and this is one of them.  It ought to be exactly what is expected from one of her books.

The Amazing Mom Book b John MacIntyre

I won this book, and the blogger has a nice note on it saying I will really enjoy it.  So let's hope so!

Wicked Intentions by Elizabeth Hoyt

I nearly shrank away from this book when I saw the picture and read the title, but then I figured I would give it a try.  Another of my winnings.  It is a dark book, but I hope it will be good.  And perhaps something different.

And finally:

Confessions of a Catholic Cop by Thomas Fitzsimmons

I remember winning this book.  I was quite intrigued with the premise behind the book and the picture.  I will see if it lives up to my expectations!

There you have it--13 books.  I know it's too many, but this time, I believe rules are made for breaking.

I am sure many people will be putting books on their lists that cover various books coming out this year.  I have to admit that I know of some sequels that I may get to read, but I am not certain.  I often don't know what I am reading from one month to the next.  I am generally reading books for review, and I am often reading 3-4 books at once. I am pleased with my progress this year.  2012 should prove to be a very promising year.  I now have a kindle, so we'll see if I get more e-books this year.  

Till next year (because I'm sure this will be a yearly tradition now), au revoir!

Top 10 Characters of 2011

This is a really hard one today.  Only 10 characters?  Really?  Thankfully, yesterday's post covered the "boyfriends."  So I can concentrate on heroines, villains, supporting characters, and more.  It still is a very hard choice.

Well, here goes.

Honorable mention:

Adina from Noah Zarc: Mammoth Trouble by D. Robert Pease

I felt I had to mention this character.  This is a recent read of mine, and I was not smitten with most of the characters, but I really liked her.  Here she was, a time traveler, and she was full of confidence and natural intelligence in spite of the circumstances.  Noah liked her, and she liked him.  I have to admit I saw more of a brother/sister relationship between them rather than romantic, but then again, Noah is only 12.  I know a sequel is coming out, and if the author is smart, he will certainly feature her prominently in the book!

#10:

Hetty Sorrel from Adam Bede by George Eliot

As you can read in my review of this book, it was not a truly favorite book of mine, but it was well worth the read.  And it got better. Hetty Sorrel was the tragic character.  She was poor but pretty.  She cared more about the way she looked than her duties.  I felt so sorry for her when all her trouble began.  And the tragedy does not improve.  I knew there was no escaping her destiny, but I still felt for her.  I was not enamored by any of the other characters the way I was with her.

#9:

Trina, Mark, and Lucas from Steps to Courage by Sandra Stiles

I realize it might seem like I am cheating, but there is no way to separate these three characters.  They are the three survivors in the book of the 911 disaster.  This was quite a compelling book, and these teenagers really kept my attention.  I couldn't imagine having survived this disaster--especially as teenagers.  They learn to rely on Christ through it all, and by the end, they are doing much better.  I certainly hope this is not the last from this author.  These three characters' stories will grip your heart and stick with you long after you have finished reading.

#8:

Tea of Blaze of Glory by M. Garzon

I struggled to know which character to choose.  Yes, I loved my boyfriend, but Tea is quite a strong character.  I wasn't sure I liked her in the beginning, but as I saw her growth throughout the story, I began to love her.  And the romance was as sweet on her end as it was on Jaden's.  It was neat to see her come out of an abusive situation and truly have her dreams come true.

#7:

J.S. Bach from Johann Sebastian Bach by Rick Marschall

I bet this one throws you, doesn't it?  Wasn't he a real person?  Yes, but he definitely makes the top 10! I have always enjoyed the story of his life, but this book truly delved into his life from a spiritual perspective.  I still find myself thinking of his views on church music during the worship time of our church services.  This book brought this historical figure to life for me.

#6:

Kelly Grace Pickens from Countdown to Love by Julie Ford

I know I featured my "boyfriend" from this box last night, but I just have to feature Kelly tonight.  I fell in love with her from the start.  I instantly thought of Kellie Pickler (in the book, her name is often confused with that singer), and I really thought she was a well-developed character.  I loved the romance between her and Dillon--it was so much fun.  And yet she was a driven woman as well.  She knew what she wanted, and she didn't rest until she got it!  Wow!

#5:

Tess from Tess of the D'Urvervilles by Thomas Hardy

I absolutely loved Tess.  So much that the ending was so harsh, but I was not surprised.  It had to happen.  I loved the way the author made her come alive, and I never tired of her.  She was a strong woman placed in an incredibly difficult situation.  I would have loved to have given her some advice to avert the harshness of her life, but it was not to be.  Indeed a woman with strength and depth.

#4:

Jamil from Freedom's Stand by Jeanette Windle

This one was a surprise to me, but I will never forget the character Jamil.  He is the character in the story who converted from Islam to Christianity.  And he spread the gospel until he was arrested.  You can imagine the rest of the story with him.  He never wavered, and God gave him all the strength he needed to endure everything.  As I read the tragedy of his story, I realized how true the words of the the Apostle Paul are--To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.  

#3:

Nell of Exit the Actress by Priya Parmar

Talk about a strong woman!  I know I featured this as one of my top reads, but I could not pass up featuring it again.  Nell is the narrator of the story, and I was enchanted by her.  It is easy to see why so many men enjoyed her and ultimately, the King himself bedded her.  She is vivacious and strong.  I love strong women.  She never gave up, and she got herself and her family out of poverty and a life of harshness by doing whatever she had to do.  Except that she had standards her sister did not.  She was never a common a prostitute.  I was so glad about that.  Not that I condone her actions, but she did have high standards under the circumstances.

#2:

Denise Jackson from It's All About Him by Denise Jackson

I know--another real life person!  In fact, she is still alive.  But I was enchanted with her.  I found myself saying over and over again that I could never have done what she did.  She never "dissed" her husband, and she very clearly detailed her spiritual journey in easy-to-understand words.  I felt for her over and over during the story, and it was so neat to see God working in her life.  I would love to tell her in person what her story meant to me.  If I could be half the woman she is, I would pretty happy!

#1:

Count Fosco from The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

Another surprise, I know.  Who would expect me to select a villain as my top character of 2011?  I went into this story knowing a lot about Count Fosco.  I did not realize just how charming he was.  He seems to be the nicest guy one could ever meet.  Under most circumstances, he would not be the one who would be a villain.  Villains are supposed to be ugly and mean.  Well, Count Fosco always seems to have himself together (even though he is severely overweight).  Even when one realizes what he really is.  It is worth the read just to read about him!  And I think many people would say that Count Fosco is one of the most likable villains in literary fiction.

Well, there you go.  I cannot believe how long it took for me to write this post.  Enjoy!

Top 10 Book Boyfriends 2011

Day 3 of Top 10 of 2011--this one is a stretch for me as well.  But only because I have never really written about it.  There are many times that I read through books and wish with all my heart that I could have a husband or boyfriend like the guy in the book!  So I think this one will be fun.  Again. I am only featuring books I read this year, so there may be repeats.

#10:
John Stark of Hot Wheels and High Heels by Jane Graves

John Stark is an ex-cop, and he knows how to show Darcy a good time.  The sex scenes in this book were hot.  I don't usually condone sex scenes--especially those outside of marriage--but these were at least tasteful.  And the two got married, so what I can I say?  While John had his issues--he didn't trust Darcy at times to do what she knew she could accomplish.  But he learned to treat her the right way, and if he were my boyfriend and then husband, I would certainly be willing to take the time to "train" him!

#9:
Lucas Clairmont of Mistletoe Magic by Sophia James

Lucas Clairmont, indeed a reckless man who knows how to show a lady a good time.  He wrecked Lillian Davenport's "perfect" marriage because she liked the way he kissed.  She could not bring herself to be honest with her feelings.  And although he "ruined" her, he married her and discovered he truly did love her before it was too late!  If he is a good enough kisser to make a woman forget every other man on earth, I would say he fits the bill.  And he never took advantage of her.

#8:
Jefferson Ames of Secrets by Jude Deveraux

Jefferson is an absolute idiot throughout most of the story, but then not everything is what it seems.  He loves Cassandra, but he struggles to tell her.  While he tends to take her services as nanny for granted, at least he realizes his mistake before it's too late.  If he was handsome enough to catch a 12-year-old girl's heart for life, he can't be too bad.  And in spite of his serious job, he does know how to have fun.  Sure, I'd take him.  Men do tend to be dumb in areas of the heart.

#7:
Julian, Earl of Wyndham of Scandal Becomes Her by Shirlee Busbee

Julian, a reckless man who marries Nell (and rescues her).  Because of the hastiness of the marriage, he gives her all the room she needs.  But love does indeed grow.  Julian is not perfect, but he always treats Nell with great care and respect.  And he believes her dreams.  Which help to solve a mystery.  His bedroom manner is outstanding, and I would not complain if he were my husband!

#6
David Schlosser of Called Home: Two Hearts Answer by Gloria Schumann

I liked David from the moment he walked into the story. I loved his sense of humor even more than Emma's. I love the way David cares for her and watches over her even when she is not receptive to it.  She fights him tooth and nail.  I sure wouldn't have!  If David showed me some kindness, I would throw a lot his way!

#5:
Walter Hartright from The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

Walter falls in love with Laura (who is already promised to another).  He is her drawing instructor, and though heartbroken, he does the right thing and leaves.  But he never gives up on her.  He risks his life to save hers.  He makes her stronger by his strength and belief in her.  I love the way that years later, he still loves her.  And he does not fault her for anything.  He loves her and cherishes her.  I would love to have a wonderful guy like him!  Even if I had to wait a lifetime.

#4:
Marc Darcett of How to Seduce a Scoundrel by Vicki Dreiling

Let it be understood that Marc is an absolute rake.  He has so many conquests that I don't think you can itemize them!  But he agrees to be Julianne's guardian for the season.  I would sure let him be mind any day!  I love the fact that these two have fun together--even in bed after they are married.  He is willing to do the honorable thing when he ruins her, but he then realizes he actually loves her.  Typical guy!  I would love to be with a guy like this.  He never pressured her in the physical area at all even though they "got it on."  My kind of guy!

#3:
Edmund Bertram of Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

Edmund is the only one who ever truly cares about Fanny's feelings from the beginning.  Yes, he is sidetracked by another lady, but he and Fanny always have a special relationship.  He always treats her with great respect.  And the love between them is so sweet and grows over a number of years.  Sure, he can have me!

#2:
Jaden of A Blaze of Glory by M. Garzon

Yes, I liked Jaden from the beginning.  Though older than Tea, I was so happy when they finally allowed themselves to fall in love!  He thought of her and tried to squash the feelings he had.  Very noble, but thankfully he came to his senses.  He always cared about Tea, and he helped her when he could.  He showed her love and tenderness, and he interceded on her behalf more than once.  And he never pressured her in the physical area.  While she decided she wanted to go ahead and get physical, he was kind to her and never pushed to hard.  Sure, he can have me, too!  I also loved the fun they had together!  He was pathetic when he tried to give her up.

#1:

Dillon Black from Countdown to Love by Julie Ford

No contest--Dillon Black is the one I would absolutely pick above any of them.  His personality grabbed me from this first, and he must have been pretty doggone handsome, too!  He treats Kelly like a queen, and they always have such fun together.  There are complications.  Sometimes you think he is being mean.  But in the end, it all comes together.  He loves her and gives her the room she needs.  He is my kind of guy, and I sure wish he were real!  And that I had him all to myself!

I really enjoyed this.  I look forward to linking up.  And to the next post--top characters!

Top 10 Book Covers of 2011

Okay, this is not something that I generally do.  A lot of book bloggers get into "covers," and most of the time, I could care less.  However, since I agreed to do this blog hop, I figured I needed to follow the rules.
For this Top 10 post, I will be sticking to books that I have read this year, not just ones that I thought the cover was cool.  The cover needs to be neat, but I must have read it!
#10:

A Maze of Grace by Trish Ryan

A very nice, serene cover.  It looks exactly like what it is.  A calm, refreshing book that will encourage you in your faith.  Just like a beach can refresh your soul.

#9:

Pieces of Eight by Michael Reed McLaughlin

I will be the first to tell you that this is not my favorite book, but the picture on the front sets up the story of the novel quite well.  What you see is what you get.

#8

Countdown to Love by Julie Ford

Again, the cover hints at what is within the pages of this story.  It is a sweet romance--in fact, it is a clean romance.  My favorite summer read, for sure.  And the cover brings back all the memories!

#7:

Cowboy Fever by Joanne Kennedy

What you see is what you get.  This is a Western romance, and the cowboy on the front is the cowboy in the book!

#6

Scandal Becomes Her by Shirlee Busbee

This cover looks hot, but I was glad to know that there were no really steamy sex scenes (except between the husband and wife).  And if you compare it to other romance covers, I think you can tell that it is only a hint at a scandal.  I began to like the cover the more I read it.

#5

Forever Taken by Danyale Nees

Too bad that covers are sometimes better than the books themselves.  Definitely true here.  I basically chose this book based on the cover.  It looks kind of neat, but the book was one of the worst I had ever read.

#4

Lady of Bolton Hill by Elizabeth Camden

Again, the cover is better than the book.  I picked this book because I liked the cover.  I expected the book to be thoroughly engaging like so many historical fiction reads.  Too bad it was a disappointment.

#3

A Darcy Christmas by Various

I was so excited about beginning this book.  I love Pride and Prejudice, and this was the first book I read based on that novel.  What a thorough disappointment!  I even felt worse when I realized I had sent this to my "Secret Santa" last year, and it was not a very good book!  Maybe she enjoyed it more than I did!  I hope so!

#2:

Mistletoe Magic by Sophia James

At least this was what I thought it would be.  The cover did not lie.  It was a sweet, Christmas romance.  Not my favorite book, but the cover indeed hinted at the story correctly!

#1:

Exit the Actress by Priya Parmar

It was pretty far up the list yesterday, and now I have placed it at the top of today's list.  I put this at the top of the list because the cover is ideal.  It invites the reader to discover who this woman was.  The title is quite intriguing, and the cover reinforces that.

While today was not as much fun as yesterday, it was still good to go back through my reviews!  Looking forward to tomorrow!

Top 10 Books I Read in 2011

True to my word, I am participating in the blog hop I told you about.  Today I will be telling you about the top 10 books I read this past year.  I will link you to the review and tell you why I chose that book.

This was actually easier than I thought it would be in many ways (other than I probably could have added one more--I think I will add an honorable mention.)

I will do this an actual countdown.

#10

Blaze of Glory by M.Garzon
I feel like I absolutely must add this one.  It was a book I thought I would never enjoy, and yet I found myself absolutely loving the romance and the relationship between the main characters.  Not only that, but I feel like I have developed a love and appreciation for horses that I did not have before.  I just had to make room for this in the countdown.


#9:

Why God Matters by Karina Lumbart Fabian and Steven Lumbart

This is a wonderful little book that I truly enjoyed reading.  It is written by Catholics, but the truths found in the book are life-changing and uplifting.  It is a quick read, and it is one that I think everyone could enjoy.

#8:

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
This is the only classic I will add in the list.  I truly enjoyed it, and it was not a slow read in any sense of the word.  If you like mysteries, you will like this book.  It is easy to understand and quite gripping even in spite of the age of it!

#7:

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
I hate to put this so far down on the list! This was one of those books that is so unusual and out of my normal genre--except that it is historical fiction.  Imagine a story narrated by Death!  Anyway, It definitely earns its rightful place in the Top 10!

#6:

Quiet Strength by Tony Dungy
Again, this is a book that would not normally interest me.  I only read it because of the great amount of respect I have for Tony Dungy.  I actually enjoyed reading about football--go figure!  But Dungy's faith is so strong, and that is what carries this book.  I liked it so well that I am currently reviewing another book of his.

#5:

Finding the Upside of the Down Times by Dr. Robert Pennington
And this one is a definite one.  One of the best self-help books I have read--ever!  I do not know why more people have no caught on to this book.  The author is very down-to-earth and approachable.  And if this book does not uplift your spirits, nothing will!

#4:

It's All About Him by Denise Jackson
This is a definite read for anyone who loves country music or just enjoys a simple story of how God works in everyday life.  It is a true story, and the "him" is not who you might think it is!  I was so encouraged after reading this book, and I cannot recommend it highly enough!

#3:

Exit the Actress by Priya Parmer
This book was brought to my attention through a group on goodreads.  I think I read it a month after it was the group read, but I truly enjoyed it.  This is historical fiction at its finest! I was not aware of the historicity of the main character of this book, and the author does a fantastic job of painting each of these historical figures.  I often forgot I was reading fiction!  If you have not read it, and you have any interest in historical fiction, please check it out!

#2:

 The Daughter's Walk by Jane Kirkpatrick
And another historical fiction book that is unbeatable!  I actually put this one at number two because it is Christian in perspective without being "preachy."  The historical event on which the book is based is completely true, and it happened in my own backyard!  The story that the author weaves around the main character is absolutely compelling.  A must read for historical fiction enthusiasts!

And #1:

Something Inside of Me by Chitoka Webb
I struggled with this one, and I wasn't sure if this would be my top read for 2011.  This was a book that completely changed my perspective on life.  In fact, even today I find myself going back to her struggles and saying to myself, "If Chitoka could make it through, I can too!"  The author herself gave away 10 copies of her book--they even ended up being 10 print copies even though that was not the original plan.  She is one of the best authors with whom I have ever worked, and I can't thank her enough for sending me her book to review.  Her book continues to hold a special place in my heart.

Well, that wraps up the first of these Top 10 of 2011 posts.  I truly enjoyed writing this post, and I look forward to doing it again tomorrow and reading some others (if I have time!).

Be sure to go here to see the full linky list for other great posts like this one.