How Do You Pick What To Read Next?

Since I started blogging back in July I've come across one major problem. I have so many books that I don't know what to read next!! So it got me thinking - How do you pick what to read next?

Right now, on my shelf (both physical and digital) I have more than 200 books waiting for me! Some are just random Kindle Freebies, or were dirt cheap at the local used book store - things I picked up just because I could. Others are books I genuinely want to read, like the last two Jessica Darling books, Bumped, Cinder, etc.

For the past few picks, I've asked my twitter friends to pick a random number and chosen what to read that way. So far? It's worked ok for me. (I read the Wolves of Mercy Falls that way!) And I try to stagger - I read two books I want to read, then I read one that I have for review. (Usually I want to read those too - but there are so many older books I want to read, that I feel I've been missing out on!)

So now I ask -- How do you pick what to read next?

Teaser Tuesday / Top Ten Tuesday / Construction

I am in the process of moving my blog to a self hosted server!

For a very rough version - with my latest "Teaser Tuesday" and "Top Ten Tuesday" stop on over HERE!

If you've subscribed via RSS or Email - your feed will remain the same! If you have followed via GFC, please subscribe via RSS Feed!

Thanks for your patience! I hope to have this finished by mid-afternoon today!

Blog News: Getting Rid of GFC!

As I am coming up on six months of blogging here at For Love and Books, I've decided that it's time to make a few changes to my blog - things that I hope will help me to become more successful as I continue to grow and improve my blog here.

One of the first major changes (aside from a new template that is in the works) is to move away from GFC. As we all know, Google is discontinuing the service for all non-blogger blogs in the near future - and while I am still hosted at Blogger, I am experimenting with other options for the future of this blog and have decided to go ahead and move away from GFC at this time.

I am wanting to give you a bit of notice, so you can continue to follow me if you'd like! (And I would really appreciate it!) Below, I've listed several ways to continue to follow For Love and Books!


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Review: Happy Birthday to Me Again by Brian Rowe

Title: Happy Birthday to Me Again (Birthday Trilogy, #2)
Author: Brian Rowe

Format: Kindle

Genre: Paranormal YA
Source:  Personal Copy

Published: September 22nd 2011 by CreateSpace
My Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥

From Goodreads.com

Cameron Martin has a huge problem: he’s aging a whole year of his life with each passing day… again. And this time... he's going backward!

When Cameron proposes to his beloved witch of a girlfriend Liesel, he thinks life can’t get any better. But when he reluctantly breaks off the engagement just days before the wedding, Liesel angrily unleashes another curse on the unlucky guy, this time making him age backward, from eighteen, all the way to zero.

Making matters worse, Liesel mysteriously disappears, leaving Cameron with no options, except watching himself rapidly shrink into a helpless child. Will Liesel be able to save his life again? Or will Cameron ultimately fall prey to his girlfriend's wicked spell? 

I really enjoyed the first book in this trilogy, and was looking forward to Happy Birthday to Me Again. Unfortunately, I feel a bit let down. It was a fun book, but I felt it lacked a lot compared to the original. It was fairly predictable, and the biggest surprise to me came within the final two paragraphs. (well, the final bombshell was not a surprise. But the paragraph before lefty me anything to read the third book.)

In this book, Liesel really annoyed me. She was selfish and annoying and left me pleading with Cam to leave her. Her refusal to share anything about herself was irritating. And I am still confused bout her grandfather. 

Another thing that bugged me was that Cam aging in reverse was not near as intriguing as his "disease" in the previous book. His relationship with his family was cheesy and tense all at the same time. 

Despite these things, I enjoyed the story. I liked the addition of Hannah, despite her plot being predictable. I wish we had more of her and Cam interacting and i am anxious to see where the next book takes her.

I would recommend these books as quick reads to anyone looking for a mind candy read, something where you can read it quickly and not invest too much into the book or characters.

Check out my Review for book #1, Happy Birthday To Me!  
Book #3 Happy Birthday To You is FREE on Amazon right now!

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox was started by The Story Siren as a way to share books purchased, checked out at the library or received for review for the upcoming week!

  

Personal Purchases 
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green 
A Million Suns  by Beth Revis
Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green, David Levithan  
Happy Birthday to You (Birthday Trilogy, #3) by Brian Rowe  (Free on Kindle this weekend!)

On My Wishlist

On My Wishlist is a hosted by Book Chick City every Saturday! It's a great chance to keep a running tab of all the books your favorite bloggers (myself included!) want to read - old new or yet to be released. Want more info? Click here.

 

 

The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead

Why I want this? I'm 80% done with Bloodlines, and I'm loving this series! (Of course, I LOVED Vampire Academy, and I LOVED Adrian! So, this series is a big hit for me!)

 

 

Tough, brainy alchemist Sydney Sage and doe-eyed Moroi princess Jill Dragomir are in hiding at a human boarding school in the sunny, glamorous world of Palm Springs, California. The students—children of the wealthy and powerful—carry on with their lives in blissful ignorance, while Sydney, Jill, Eddie and Adrian must do everything in their power to keep their secret safe. But with forbidden romances, unexpected spirit bonds, and the threat of Strigoi moving ever closer, hiding the truth is harder than anyone thought.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Richelle Mead’s breathtaking Bloodlines series explores all the friendship, romance, battles and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive. In this second book, the drama is hotter, the romances are steamier, and the stakes are even higher.

 

 The Selection by Kiera Cass

 

Why I want this? The cover. And if that's not enough? Reality TV meets Dystopian society? Who wouldn't want this??

 

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

TGIF / Follow Friday

A weekly Meme by GReads!

Friday, Jan. 13th - 2012 Must Reads: Which books are at the top of your list to be read this year (new or old releases)?

I'll go ahead and do this one as a photo post - just for fun! A mixture of old and new! (And of course, my list could go on all day.) 

   

   

   

   

Follow Friday is brought to you byParajunkee's Review and Allison Can Read! (Check them both out, you won't regret it!) 

Question of the Week: Many readers/bloggers are also big music fans. Tell us about a few of your favorite bands/singers that we should listen to in 2012.

I have eclectic music tastes.

At the heart of it? A few of my favorite songs would be...

Old Crow Medicine Show - Wagon Wheel
Mumford & Sons - Home
Zac Brown Band - Chicken Fried & Colder Weather
The Civil Wars - Dance me to the End of Love

My absolute (all-time) favorite?
The General by Dispatch

Review: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Title: The Fault in Our Stars
Author: John Green

Format: Hardcover

Genre: Contemporary YA
Source:  Personal Copy

Published: January 10th 2012 by Dutton Juvenile
My Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

From Goodreads.com

Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now.

Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.

Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.

 I cried for the first time on page 124, and from there? The remainder of the book (which I could have easily read in one sitting - had my kid not needed fed, and bathed) you could hear the following from me: "Oh. My. Gosh. I Love Him!" (Or her.) **SWOON** "No! No! No! No! No!" and just as regularly? Laughter - typically through my tears. 

We could all tell a cancer story, it sucks. But it's true. I don't know anyone who doesn't have one. My best friends little sister. My Grandmother. A good friends father. It's everywhere. And, Hazel is pretty much right. For many of these people, life becomes a side effect of this evil disease. But John Green has made it relatable. Rather than just looking in on cancer from the outside, as I have often found myself, through Hazels eyes I was able to somewhat experience the effects in a more personal way. 

One thing that I had me absolutely floored was my ability to get lost in John Green's story lines. This was so much more than just a story about the evil monster that is Cancer. This was a love story, and a very sweet one at that. This was a story about a girl sharing her love for a book. 

Now, I know that anyone who read the synopsis - anyone who saw the blurb by Jodi Piccoult - can make an educated guess that this one will have some tears. But this book is about so much more than this. It's about Hazel Grace and her amazing ability to fight, about her learning to live. It is about Augustus Waters and his sweet and amazing personality. It is about their friend Issac and their cancer support group. It is about  the parents of "Cancer Kids". It is about a book. And a swingset. (Ok, maybe not a swingset - but the metaphor that John Green throws in at the mid 100's? The most amazing thing I have ever, EVER read.) 

In the end? This was my maiden voyage into the world of John Green, and I was most definitely not disappointed. In fact, this may be one of my top ten books of all time. I cannot say how much I loved it. It was sad, it was beautiful, it was romantic. (And best of all? It was real.)

Waiting on Wednesday

Brought to you by Breaking the Spine 

Toxic by Jus Accardo

When a Six saved Kale’s life the night of Sumrun, she warned there would be consequences. A trade-off. Something taken for the life they gained. But Dez never imagined she’d lose the one thing she’d give anything to keep… And as if it’s not enough Dez finds her immunity to Kale fading, the Six brought in to help Kale learn to control his killer touch starts drooling on him the moment they meet. Worse than that? Jade can touch Kale. But bimbo Barbie is the least of Dez's problems.
After Dez and Kale got away at Sumrun, her father lost not only his most powerful weapon but an important piece of the Supremacy project. Forced by Denazen to remedy the situation, he poisons Dez and offers her a choice—surrender to Denazen for the cure…or die. Determined to find a solution that doesn’t involve being bagged and tagged—or losing someone she loves—Dez keeps the poison a secret. But when a rash of Denazen attacks hit a little too close to home, Dez is convinced there’s a traitor among them. Jade.

Sacrifices, broken promises, and secrets. Dez will have to lay it all on the line if there’s any hope of proving Jade’s guilt before they all end up Residents of Denazen. Or worse, dead...

Review: Ditched

Title: Ditched: A Love Story
Author: Robin Mellom

Format: Kindle

Genre: Contemporary YA
Source:  NetGalley

Published: January 10th 2012 by Disney-Hyperion
My Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

From Goodreads.com

High school senior Justina Griffith was never the girl who dreamed of going to prom. Designer dresses and strappy heels? Not her thing. So she never expected her best friend, Ian Clark, to ask her.

Ian, who always passed her the baseball bat handle first.

Ian, who knew exactly when she needed red licorice.

Ian, who promised her the most amazing night at prom.

And then ditched her.

Ditched had me at dyed iridescent shoes! Justina is pretty much everything I was in high school (except she's cool and I was kind of a giant geek with my thrift store shopping at my "rich side of town" school.) And she gets to go to prom with her dream date!

I could tell you my prom story, but I won't. My Junior Prom kind of sucked. But after Justina's story? I'll quit complaining. This poor girl, she had me both shaking my head at her choices and wanting to pull her under my wing. 

 

In her debut book, Robin Mellom had me laughing out loud the entire time. I mean, Dog Swapping? Really? The troublesome teen in me is a bit jealous I didn't come up with the idea and/or convince my friends to partake! 

 

The characters are vivid, unique and full of life. The perfect mixture of teenage angst and middle aged meddling. Justina truly was the star of the show, but the Marks and the Ledbetter girls have a special place in my heart. I also have to note that I loved that the main love interest was not even present for much of the book.

 

If you are looking for a light hearted read that will have you laughing and cringing, I highly recommend Ditched: A Love Story by Robin Mellom!

Review: Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Title: Across the Universe (Across the Universe, #1)
Author: Beth Revis

Format: Kindle

Genre: Sci-Fi YA
Source:  Personal Copy

Published: January 11th 2011 by Razorbill
My Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

From Goodreads.com

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone - one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship - tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now, Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

 

 

Before I started Across the Universe, if you had asked me? I would have said "No, I do not like Science Fiction." But now, I am not so sure. In fact? Beth Revis  may have turned me into a fan of the genre. 

The opening Chapter, with Amy and her family being frozen is one of the creepiest things I have ever read. (I have had an odd fear of being frozen, ever since I watched my one and only episode of Star Trek at a somber party in third grade.) And as Amy is freezing, she overhears the workers talking about an extra year - she was prepared for 300 years, but 301 is just too much. 

Once we fast forward and board the Godspeed 250 years later, I could not put this book down. The world that Beth created on the ship is both fascinating and frightening. The characters are real, and the plot moves quickly and has enough twists to keep you guessing. 

There's one plot point that I found predictable, but it didnt take anything away from the story, and the even bigger twist that followed had me floored.

I would recommend Across the Universe to anyone and everyone. Now, I have to run out and purchase A Million Suns! (It comes out today - January 10, 2012!)

Bout of Books!

It's time again!! The Bout of Books starts today (1/9) and goes through 1/15! (For more info -- HERE!)

My Goals
*5 Books

Books To Read
 *Before I Go To Sleep by SJ Watson
*Ditched by Robin Mellom
*Bloodlines by Richelle Mead
*Cinder by Marissa Meyer
*Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green
*The Whole Story of Half a Girl by Veera Hiranandani

Updates

1/9
Number of books I’ve read today: 1
Total number of books I’ve read: 1
Books: Before I Go To Sleep by SJ Watson

1/10
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1/11
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1/12
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1/13
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1/14
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1/15
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Review: Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Title: Shatter Me
Author: Tahereh Mafi

Format: Hardcover

Genre: Dystopian, Paranormal, YA
Source:  Personal Copy (Giveaway win from Dog-Eared & Bookmarked)

Published: November 15th 2011 by Harper/HarperCollins
My Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

From Goodreads.com

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.
 

By now, I'm sure you've heard all the hype surrounding Tahereh Mafi's debut book, Shatter Me. If you haven't? Then welcome to the Book Blogging Community, you must be new here! Now, I have to say - it's a great book. An amazing book. I loved it. But? I'm not falling all over myself after it. (Maybe with the hype, I built it to epic proportions and it didn't quite live up. Close, but not quite.)

We start with Juliette alone in a cell, and quickly she is given a roommate. From there? This journey jumps into action and doesn't slow down until you're finished. Although, even at the finish? You're left with questions, and an unfinished ending that leaves you wanting the sequel ASAP.

Mafi's writing is beautiful, it's magical. Her characters are fantastic. The world she's created leaves me with many questions, and may be the one weak point in this book - although the lack of knowledge works just as well for the suspense factor.  Her suspense? Very well done. And the Sexytimes? Steamy Scenes? **SWOON**

I have to say that while I liked Juliette, I loved Adam. I loved every last detail about him. Both as a book boyfriend, and as an action movie star. (Although I say this now realizing that people are comparing this book to the XMen, which I have not seen, nor have any interest in seeing - so I don't know if this has any validity.) Mafi wrote him so well I could picture him moving in my mind.

Shatter Me is one of those books you can truly get lost in. A little bit Dystopian, a little bit paranormal, a lot suspense. 

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox was started by The Story Siren as a way to share books purchased, checked out at the library or received for review for the upcoming week!

I went a bit Crazy again this week -- Gift Cards are a dangerous thing - they can't just sit unspent!!  


     

   

Personal Purchases
The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
If I Stay (If I Stay, #1) by Gayle Forman
Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally 
Under the Never Sky (Under the Never Sky, #1) by Veronica Rossi 
Cinder (Lunar Chronicles, #1) by Marissa Meyer  
Drink, Slay, Love by Sarah Beth Durst  
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater  
She's So Dead to Us by Kieran Scott  

Review: The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges

Title: The Gathering Storm
Author: Robin Bridges

Format: Kindle

Genre: YA, Historical, Paranormal

Source:  Netgalley

Published: January 10th 2012 by Delacorte Books
My Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ 1/2

From Goodreads.com

St. Petersburg, Russia, 1888. As she attends a whirl of glittering balls, royal debutante Katerina Alexandrovna, Duchess of Oldenburg, tries to hide a dark secret: she can raise the dead. No one knows. Not her family. Not the girls at her finishing school. Not the tsar or anyone in her aristocratic circle. Katerina considers her talent a curse, not a gift. But when she uses her special skill to protect a member of the Imperial Family, she finds herself caught in a web of intrigue.

An evil presence is growing within Europe's royal bloodlines—and those aligned with the darkness threaten to topple the tsar. Suddenly Katerina's strength as a necromancer attracts attention from unwelcome sources . . . including two young men—George Alexandrovich, the tsar's standoffish middle son, who needs Katerina's help to safeguard Russia, even if he's repelled by her secret, and the dashing Prince Danilo, heir to the throne of Montenegro, to whom Katerina feels inexplicably drawn.

The time has come for Katerina to embrace her power, but which side will she choose—and to whom will she give her heart?

I'm not normally a fan of Historical books, but the cover of this one was so beautiful and the synopsis was fascinating, so I wanted to give this debut novel by Robin Bridges a try. The Gathering Storm marries together a wonderful mix of Russian History and Paranormal. With a bit of romance thrown in, although for me the romantic aspect was little more than a side story. 

I loved the historical aspect, so much so that I'm ready to give the whole genre another try! (I'd love suggestions from anyone who has some!) I'm of Russian decent, and yet I've never known much about Russia so the glimpse at late 19th Century Russian society was fun. 

But more than the historical aspect? I loved the paranormal aspect - from an early scene involving a moth - I was hooked. I loved Katerina and her development as she delved deeper into her abilities (Necromancy). I was a bit intrigued ad the idea of all the paranormals in high society - which led to an internal debate about what supernatural abilities Prince William and Harry might have! In fact, it made me wonder if someone in some royal family at one point had the same "ability" of Juliette in Shatter Me and that's why Royals wear gloves? (Yes - I'm aware it's a stretch... but I had just finished "Shatter Me" when I started this one, and it was late at night...)

I really liked Katerina's character, I think she was a bit lacking in some aspects. But for the most part, she was a great protagonist. Her affection for learning medicine was a great addition to the storyline, although I have to wonder - it was mentioned very early on that her young brother had died of meningitis, and it nagged at me the entire story as to why she didn't save him. 

In the end? The Gathering Storm was a fascinating read that I would probably recommend to fans of historical (and paranormal) YA.

Review: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

Title: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight
Author: Jennifer E. Smith

Format: Hardcover

Genre: Contemporary YA Romance
Source:  personal copy

Published: January 2nd 2012 by Poppy
My Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 

From Goodreads.com

Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?

Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. She's stuck at JFK, late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon to be step-mother that Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's in seat 18C. Hadley's in 18A.

Twists of fate and quirks of timing play out in this thoughtful novel about family connections, second chances and first loves. Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it.

 

BEWARE :: Gushing Ahead!

The first time I heard of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight all I'd seen was the cover (which is amazingly beautiful) and the tag line: Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything? Like everyone else in the bookish community, I added it to my wishlist and assumed that when it finally came out it would be a fun read.

Now, I wouldn't say it was "fun", there were a lot of deep moments in it. But it was the best contemporary romance I've read in a long time. (And I don't say that lightly, but hands down it is the best. In a long time.) 

Let's start with Oliver, because who doesn't love boys with a British accent? Not only is he way cute and have a British accent, but he's got a sense of sarcasm and humor (which is a MUST for a guy!) and he can banter with the best of them. I could spend all day talking about how much I love the 24 hours I spent with Oliver! 

And Hadley? She's so real. Her thoughts, her actions everything about her was not only believable but spot on for an angsty seventeen year old girl. And I loved how honest and vulnerable she was with Oliver about everything. There was a moment early on when she was contemplating avoiding telling him that she'd previously seen a Disneyesque movie, but she decides to just lay it all out there. She truly won me over in that moment, that she wasn't afraid to show him all of who she is.

And while this is a beautiful love story (complete with a cute little old lady who reminds me of my own Grandmother, gushing about how wonderful love is and how wonderful it is to be married for 52 years) there is more to this one, and it has some deep and downright sad moments. But each moment adds so much to the story. And the fact that it takes place in just 24 hours is such a wonderful gimmick. I love it. 

Jennifer E. Smith's Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight is a fresh look at the world of contemporary romance, and a book I would recommend to absolutely anyone!