Top Ten Tuesday #15: Top Ten Books I Want My Future Children to Read

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish.

Oooh, this is a good topic, guys! There are a ton of books I'd like my kids to read. Because, and I think this is the dream of any bookworm, that their kids will love reading just as much as they do.

1. Harry Potter - This is an obvious one, really. I grew up with Harry Potter, with the anticipation of waiting for that next book and for that next adventure, and I'd love my kids to experience the wonder of Harry Potter
2. Invitation To Waltz - This is one of the most important books in my life as a reader, because not only was it a recommendation from my dad, but also because it was the first "modern" romance book I ever read. It's also a sad book, but kind of innocent at the same time. 
3. Mara - One of the few mandatory readings I finished and liked in school, this was a pretty awesome book, and a fast read.
4. The Hobbit - This is a book about breaking out of the life pattern imposed by society, and finding adventure and finding oneself in that adventure. When I look back at it, it feels like more than just a simple story about a guy trying to find a dragon, it feels like a journey of self-discovery, and for me that's what life is all about. You just have to have the guts to step out of your hobbit hole.
5. Chronicles Of Nick - This is a story, essentially, about not accepting the fact that there's a predetermined path you have to take and there's no way to fight it. It's about choices and how those choices influence the entire future of your life. There's a pretty awesome metaphor that Kenyon uses in her Dark Hunter series about a rock thrown into a lake and how after the rippling of the water stops, the water will still never be the same, because that rock never belonged at the bottom of the lake, which is one of the best metaphor about life in general that I've encountered, and I'd like my kids to fully grasp that. Also I'd start with CoN because it's more age-appropriate.
6. The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Going in the same direction as the previous book, Albom's novel is basically about how your actions influence not just your life, but other people's as well, and that no matter how small or big, each of us has an impact on others. 
7. Girl Against The Universe - This is one of the books that accurately shows what a therapist does and doesn't, and it's also one of those books that deals with mental health without attaching the cure of it to finding one's "twue wuv", which is important to me.
8. Vampire Academy / Bloodlines - No matter the gender of these future kids of mine, I want them to read a book where girls and boys are both just as strong, just as capable of kicking ass, and that being feminine doesn't mean a woman can't be a warrior.
9. Pride And Prejudice - There's no way my kids can miss reading this book. This is the actual first romance book that I read, but it's a classical one, a more stylish romance. It's still an important book to read.
10. The Hunchback - This was my first book crush. It is a fantastic adventure book that I remember fondly of and it's a story of redemption in a way.

I would have loved to include more diverse books here, but to my shame I haven't read that many. Which I'm working on changing, because I do want my kids to be able to read them and learn from them.

What about you? Which books would you introduce your kids to?

Obsessed With Covers #43: The Unbinding of Mary Reade, Ash Princess, Sky In The Deep

Y'all know how much I love a pretty cover. I think about...40% of the books that end up on my shelves (be they physical or digital) do so because of the covers. Call me shallow but you have to admit that a pretty, shiny cover will catch your eye faster than a dull, boring one. Two, simple rules that I'll follow:

• 1, 2 or 3 (no more than 3, though) covers per week;
• books should be new-ish; no more than 2 years old.

Oh, before I share the covers that made me drool or want to stare at them for hours and hours, I have to say something. This is a semi-original idea. Why semi? Because almost every book blogger has something similar. The only thing I came up with was the title. If by any chance there's another blogger with a similar feature with the same title, I assure you I'm not stealing your idea. I'm just THAT bad with titles. Believe me, I'd love to be smarter and have a witty name for this feature, but I don't. So, no copyright infringement/theft/steal or anything of the sort was desired. All I can say is sorry :P

So, here are the prettiest covers I've seen this week.

I saw this cover last week and I fell in love. I love sailing ships. I have a thing for them. And any drawing/painting/photograph with a ship in it will catch my eye. What I love most about this cover is that it seems as if the ship is caught in the middle of a storm. Which is kind of fitting for the story itself, at least based on the blurb. I like the colors used for the background, and the fog around the ship. It kind of makes me think that the fate of that ship is hanging on by a thread, that the fog is threatening the ship somewhat more than the storm. There's also a kind of shadow underneath the ship, a weird shape, and I want to know what that is about.

I also like the font used for the title. It kind of looks like it's coming out of the sails, and I love that. I love the cover and I'd love to see it in hardback version.

The Unbinding of Mary Reade by Miriam McNamara

 Aside from ships, I have a thing for fiery designs. This cover is simple and yet it holds a world of tiny details in it. The crown looks like a metal/iron crown that was burned down, and I can see some random designs in the smoke/embers around the bottom part of the crown. I see what looks like wings in the middle, some flowers, maybe some feathers... There's a lot happening with that crown. I also like how the crown seems to be crumbling, the ash slowly falling off and disintegrating on the title. Another really cool thing is that the background is really simple.

I want to know what those designs in the crown mean, and if in any way, shape or form they appear in the story itself.

Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian

This might be my favorite cover that I've seen lately that has a cover model. The model reminds me of Lagertha. I love that we can't really see her, it makes her more dangerous and more badass, which I love! But at the same time I wonder why exactly half of her face is hidden. What is she hiding? I also love the design on the blade of the axe. I love the feel of the entire cover, and I really, really want to see it in real life. I wonder what designs would there be under the dust jacket of a HB version of the book.







Sky In The Deep by Adrienne Young


What about you? What are some of the more recent covers you've fell in love with?

Book Review: Caraval by Stephanie Garber

Author: Stephanie Garber
Series: Caraval #1
Audience: +16
Genre: Ya, Fantasy
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Release Date: January 31st 2017
My Rating: 5 cups
Source: Own Copy
Blurb (from Goodreads):

Welcome to Caraval, where nothing is quite what it seems.

Scarlett and Tella have never left the tiny isle of Trisda, pining from afar for the wonder of Caraval, a once-a-year week-long performance where the audience participates in the show.

Caraval is Magic. Mystery. Adventure.

When the sisters' long-awaited invitations finally arrive, it seems their dreams have come true. But no sooner have they arrived than Tella vanishes, kidnapped by the show's mastermind organiser, Legend.

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is an elaborate performance. But she quickly becomes entangled in a dangerous game of love, magic and heartbreak.

And real or not, she must find Tella before the game is over, and her sister disappears forever.

I picked this book when I was on a trip to Prague, because there's no better thing to do when you're a bookworm on a trip than buy more books. I tried resisting, but in the end I couldn't do it and I can't possibly tell you how happy I am that I gave in in the end.

Holy crap you guys!

Books that are similar on carnivals, hidden objects/escape-adventure games have been hit-and-miss for me so far, but Caraval really had me hooked from the beginning to the end. I enjoyed reading it and I especially liked how the book was structured. Garber was a genius in my opinion to structure the chapters into days and nights spent during, before and after Caraval. That, for me, increased the sense of urgency the entire book had. Whenever that "Day/Night..." page came, my excitement grew because I could tell that there was real danger in Caraval. And that's the thing I loved most about the book, the danger, the unknown of it all. I feel like the entire book is based on mind-games. And that more than the actual action is even better to me. It's been a while since I read a book that mentally challenging, to be honest. It wasn't just the game itself, but actually trying to figure out what was real and what wasn't, who was lying and who was telling the truth.

Scarlett is a strong character, that is also quite surprising. She's really reserved and cautious, but at the same time she's naive and reckless. She tends to put her trust in the oddest of places, but then the game doesn't just help uncover the darker side people keep locked away, but also their pasts. In a way, that's what happens with Scarlett, and while the scene with her father before them going to Caraval gives you a hint towards what that man is capable of, this game really made me understand Scarlett more. I also liked that she discovered her inner strength through this game.

Tella, although not that present, is also a really important character. In a way, she's exactly what Scarlett discovers in herself, if it makes sense. Tella has the courage and the recklessness to do what needs to be done in order to save herself and her big sister. She just has a lot more darkness in her that she accepts, and I wonder how that will work for her in the next book.

Throughout the game there are several really important characters that Scarlett encounters and I really hope that they are involved in the sequel. They were surprising and not what I fully expected, to be honest.

As I said, this story was a huge mind-game, and a fast-paced game at that. I enjoyed the twists and turns the story took, and the constant not knowing what was happening made me feel like I was an active part of the game. I also wonder how this story would have looked like had it been told from a viewer's POV.

Oh! I almost forgot to add this. Another cool stuff about the book is that we get to see small parts of Scarlett and Tella's childhood through Scarlett's memories, but this is done in a way to kind of explain her actions within the game, which was also a cool thing.

All in all, this was a really good book, one of the best I've read this year and I am desperately waiting for Legendary, book 2, to come out.

Double Cover Reveal: Eternal Mourning and Strength Enduring by Carrie Ann Ryan

We have not just one, but two, covers from Carrie Ann Ryan's Talon Pack series to share with you today - ETERNAL MOURNING and STRENGTH ENDURING! Check out the awesome covers below and preorder your copy now!

 

About ETERNAL MOURNING

Releases February 13, 2018

In the seventh book of the Talon Pack series from NYT Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan, a Healer is forced to come to grips with the idea that he can’t save everyone…including the woman he loves.

Walker Brentwood vowed to the moon goddess that he’d protect his Pack and Heal with every last ounce of his power. He’s watched his siblings and cousin battle the worst circumstances to find love and is now afraid that the one woman who could be his might not have much time left. The rules of mating have changed, and Walker will do what he has to in order to protect the bonds that have eluded him for so long.

Aimee Reagan knows there’s something wrong with her. She’s known since the first time she found out shifters were real and magic existed. When the Talon Pack’s enemy sets his sights on her, her battle to survive becomes even harder.

Walker and Aimee must turn to each other when the powers around them change and the paths that had been laid before them are no longer clear. But when their passion threatens a curse far older than anyone dreamed, they’ll only have one chance to save something worth more than a mating bond. Their future.

ETERNAL MOURNING releases February 13th, 2018 - preorder your copy now!

✦Amazon http://amzn.to/2oD5FQY ✦iBooks http://apple.co/2l7HOqV ✦Barnes & Noble http://bit.ly/2x0NN37 ✦Kobo http://bit.ly/2l7yV0D ✦Google Play http://bit.ly/2wYrRFw ✦Amazon Paperback http://amzn.to/2rqDjrS

About STRENGTH ENDURING

Releases July 17, 2018

Book 8 in the Talon Pack series...the new war continues in this penultimate novel of the Talon Pack series.

STRENGTH ENDURING releases July 17th, 2018 - preorder your copy now!

✦Amazon http://amzn.to/2t8Y0ZJ ✦iBooks http://apple.co/2tq3fIz ✦Kobo http://bit.ly/2vrX8QD

About Carrie Ann Ryan
Carrie Ann Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary and paranormal romance. Her works include the Montgomery Ink, Redwood Pack, Talon Pack, and Gallagher Brothers series, which have sold over 2.0 million books worldwide. She started writing while in graduate school for her advanced degree in chemistry and hasn’t stopped since. Carrie Ann has written over fifty novels and novellas with more in the works. When she’s not writing about bearded tattooed men or alpha wolves that need to find their mates, she’s reading as much as she can and exploring the world of baking and gourmet cooking.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Newsletter | Instagram | Tumblr | Pinterest

Blog Tour Book Review: Inked Memories by Carrie Ann Ryan

Author: Carrie Ann Ryan
Series: Montgomery Ink #8
Audience: +18
Genre:Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: October 31st 2017
My Rating: 5 Cups
Source: InkSlinger PR
Blurb (from Goodreads):

The Montgomery Ink series by NYT Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan continues when the final Denver Montgomery sibling refuses to fall for his brother’s former flame—the company’s new plumber.

Wes Montgomery watched his entire family fall in love, and now finds himself ready to settle down. Except the one person he seems to find chemistry with is not only his twin’s ex, she also works for Montgomery Inc. But when the two find themselves in one compromising situation after another, Wes realizes he’s having second thoughts about the dynamic woman who’s burst her way into his life. Sure she sets off his temper, but she also makes him hot in every other way possible.

Jillian Reid never loved her best friend like everyone thought she should, so she pushed him away so he could have his future. Now, despite fighting it, she finds herself attracted to the one man she shouldn’t. When her father’s health takes a turn for the worse, and a danger no one saw coming show its face, she’s forced to turn to Wes for help. The two of them have fought off their attraction long enough, and each cave to the desire. But this enemies-to-lovers tale might have an ending no one ever dreamed of.

*Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book from InkSlinger PR in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my rating or the content of my review in any way.

The newest addition to the Montgomery Ink series is just as good as expected.

Wes is the last Montgomery to find his match and it was a fun experience to see him fall. He's a really great guy and I'm happy he finally got to find his happiness with a very sexy, smart and purely awesome woman. I liked Wes not only as a man, but also as a boss. I'd love to work in a company that has a boss like him. I loved how he defended Jillian, even though at the time he didn't like her all that much, but he knew she was being treated badly and he acted on it. He might have said it was to avoid a lawsuit, which is smart, but I think he also did it because he's a genuinely good boss. He also didn't underestimate Jillian or any of the other women working for him just because they're women. And that made me love him. Sure, he's sexy, smart, funny and a nice, caring brother and human being, but the fact that he's a great boss is the thing that made me love him.

Jillian is one of the most awesome female characters I've read about in a while. She's snarky, has an awesome job, she's funny, caring, sexy and smart. But all of that aside, she's strong, stronger than she gives herself credit. She has to face one of the hardest things imaginable in this book, and while she doesn't heal completely from it, she's strong enough to let herself cry and allow herself to be weak around the people who care about her. And that takes guts.

I said that there's a hard thing that Jillian has to go through, and let me tell you, I cried like a baby. It's been a while since a book made me cry, but this one did the trick. I ugly cried, to be honest. It's because of that that I loved this book so much, because a great book in my opinion makes me feel things, and it's the mark of a great storyteller that their words manage to make the reader feel strongly for what happens in their book.

Sadness and tears aside, this book is also very sexy, as expected from a Carrie Ann Ryan book. You'll need a fan or a bucket of ice. The story is faced paced, and I read it in one sitting. There's also some mystery involved, some really hilarious scenes, all of which made this story a really really good one. I'm glad that there are going to be more Montgomery stories, even if the action moves to another city. I'm not ready yet to say goodbye to this clan. While I'm waiting for the next book to come out, I plan on reading the entire series from the beginning, because there are books that I haven't yet read and I desperately need to read them all.

Get your hands on INKED MEMORIES now!

✦Amazon http://amzn.to/2p0UqOU ✦iBooks http://apple.co/2foEDcy ✦Barnes & Noble http://bit.ly/2pVfvgV ✦Kobo http://bit.ly/2fD4AnO ✦Google Play http://bit.ly/2pqze65 ✦Amazon Paperback http://amzn.to/2kz640M

 

See the INKED MEMORIES trailer:

 

About Carrie Ann Ryan

Carrie Ann Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary and paranormal romance. Her works include the Montgomery Ink, Redwood Pack, Talon Pack, and Gallagher Brothers series, which have sold over 2.0 million books worldwide. She started writing while in graduate school for her advanced degree in chemistry and hasn’t stopped since. Carrie Ann has written over fifty novels and novellas with more in the works. When she’s not writing about bearded tattooed men or alpha wolves that need to find their mates, she’s reading as much as she can and exploring the world of baking and gourmet cooking.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Newsletter | Instagram | Tumblr | Pinterest

Blog Tour Book Review: Christmas, Alabama by Susan Sands

Author: Susan Sands
Series: Alabama #4
Audience: +18
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Tule Publishing
Release Date: October 26th 2017
My Rating: 5 Cups
Source: IndieSage PR
Blurb (from Goodreads):

Photographer Rachel Prudhomme has finally settled in Ministry, Alabama. Sure, the pace is slower, and she's had her heart blessed more times than she can count, but putting down her roots where her family is feels right, if only the town’s new doctor and now neighbor weren’t so hot and constantly igniting her dreams. How can she keep her vow to steer clear of men when he keeps sauntering across her path?

For Dr. Nicholas Sullivan to get his dream job in Atlanta, he must fill in at Ministry General, where they're short staffed for the holidays. He never expects to fall for his beautiful next door neighbor, Rachel. 



Soon, Nick and Rachael make a deal. They'll pretend to date so Rachael can avoid the scrutiny from her family to "find a good man" and Nick can avoid the single lovelies in town who take his short stay as a challenge. Amidst the carolers, Christmas lights, and an unlikely Alabama snowstorm, Nick and Rachel can't help but notice the powerful emotional and physical attraction between them. Will a Christmas miracle be all it takes to make all of their dreams come true?

*Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book from IndieSage PR in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my rating or the content of this review in any way.

Every now and then I'm lucky enough to discover some literary gems, and Christmas, Alabama is one of those gems for me. I loved reading this book. It was such a nice change of scenery and storytelling technique from the spree I've been on recently, and I had fun immersing myself into a story like this one.

I liked the idea of a new guy in a small town. It was interesting to see the culture, habits and little quirks of a small town from Nick's perspective. I liked seeing how he went from barely accepting the idea of having to go to Ministry, to actually considering making this town his home. I liked his dedication to his job. He's a doctor, and a good one at that. It was pretty interesting to see how he dealt with the slower pace the town's hospital provided him with, as opposed to what he was used to from the big city hospital, and you can tell that he loves the job so much, he really didn't care all that much. Sure, he wanted the big career he had his eye on for so long, but he still did a perfect job, and I respect him for that, a lot. I also liked how slick he was with Rachel. I thought at first he was going to be not as smooth as he was, but the man knows how to put on the charm.

I liked Rachel. While you can tell she has a little bit of baggage, I liked her style. I can totally understand wanting to work from the comfort of one's home, with the work outfit being the comfiest pajamas ever. I envied her for that. On a more serious note, I liked how she described people and photography. It was interesting to see a photographer's perspective on people, and their psychology, as they see little details that many might not see or might ignore. She was also funny. And she and Nick had perfect chemistry, so that's a plus.

The book has a pretty fast pace, and while the plot is more laid back, it's more focused on characters and their interactions. This book reminded me, in a way, of the TV show Hart of Dixie, which is an adorable show. I like reading about small towns, and Ministry is a town I'd most definitely want to go back to whenever possible.

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks

About Susan Sands

I grew up in Northwest Louisiana, but have strong Cajun roots (Southern Louisiana) on both sides of my family. I live in the Atlanta suburbs with my dentist husband and near-adult children, plus a few furry creatures. I love to cook and I adore food. I play tennis, but don’t exercise nearly enough. I write Southern romantic women’s fiction. It’s a rare day when I run short of words. I’m a member of the Atlanta Writer’s Club, Georgia Romance Writers, and Romance Writers of America. I’m represented by Erin Niumata at Folio Literary Management. I visit book clubs, bookstores, libraries, and literary festivals whenever I’m invited! I love to connect with readers!

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon

a Rafflecopter giveaway