Wrapping Up 2015!

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Good Morning Swooners!

This has been a crazy year for us here at Books and Swoons. 2015 brought us a lot of changes and we are happy to have experienced them, but are also excited about the new year! Here is a recap of our reading in 2015!

2015 Reading Challenges:

Jenn's Results:
18 for the TBR Pile Reading Challenge. Went over what I originally intended of 1-10.
24 for the Real Book Challenge. Went over what I originally intended of 1-10.
12 for the Netgalley/Edelweiss Challenge. Didn't reached my goal of 25.

Nahomi's Results:

12 for the TBR Pile Reading Challenge. So, I barely met my goal which was originally 11-20.
6 for the Real Book Challenge. I failed this challenge big time. I originally intended to read 11-20.
11 for the Netgalley/Edelweiss Challenge. I was so happy to surpass my goal of 10.

From Jamie's site: 6th Annual End of Year Survey
Jenn:
Number Of Books You Read: 55 books
Number of Re-Reads: 0
Genre You Read The Most From: Contemporary/Realistic Fiction

Nahomi:

Number Of Books You Read: 56 books
Number of Re-Reads: 1
Genre You Read The Most From: New Adult Contemporary/Realistic Fiction

1. Best Book You Read In 2015? 

In Fantasy: Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas (both). In Contemporary(New Adult/Adult): Paige in Progress by Brighton Walsh. In YA: Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead. In Sci-fi: These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner (Nahomi).

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

Dark Wild Night by Christina Lauren (both)

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

 Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (In a good way!) (Jenn)

This Shattered World by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner (so good!) (Nahomi)

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

Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas and yes they did! (Jenn) 

Party Girl by Rachel Hollis (Nahomi)

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

We started and finished Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series which we ended up LOVING. (both)

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2015? 

Rachel Hollis (both)

8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year? 

Vampire Academy series and Queen of Shadows (both)

9. Book You Read In 2015 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year? 

Vampire Academy (Jenn) Throne of Glass (Nahomi)

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

 First and Then by Emma Mills (Jenn)

These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner (Nahomi)

11. Most memorable character of 2015? 

Rose Hathaway and Dimitri Belikov from Vampire Academy series (both)

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2015 to finally read?

 Vampire Academy (both)

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2015? 

Queen of Shadows (longest)

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!) 

Rose Hathaway and Dimitri Belikov from VA series (both)

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

Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas (both)

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

Party Girl by Rachel Hollis (Jenn) Throne of Glass by Sarah J Mass (Nahomi)

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

Dimitri Belikov from VA series (both)

23. Best 2015 debut you read?

First and Then by Emma Mills

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

A Court of Thorns and Roses and Queen of Shadows (both)

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

 Smart Girl by Rachel Hollis (both)

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

 All the Rage by Courtney Summers (Jenn) Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella (Nahomi)

That's all for now but stay tuned because we have some excited content for 2016! We wish you all the best in 2016. Happy New Year!

Waiting on Wednesday (#140)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Morning swooners!

This week pre-publication "can't wait to read" selection is:

The Love That Split the World by Emily Henry

Expected Release Date: January 26, 2016

Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads

Synopsis:

Natalie Cleary must risk her future and leap blindly into a vast unknown for the chance to build a new world with the boy she loves.

Natalie’s last summer in her small Kentucky hometown is off to a magical start... until she starts seeing the “wrong things.” They’re just momentary glimpses at first—her front door is red instead of its usual green, there’s a pre-school where the garden store should be. But then her whole town disappears for hours, fading away into rolling hills and grazing buffalo, and Nat knows something isn’t right.

That’s when she gets a visit from the kind but mysterious apparition she calls “Grandmother,” who tells her: “You have three months to save him.” The next night, under the stadium lights of the high school football field, she meets a beautiful boy named Beau, and it’s as if time just stops and nothing exists. Nothing, except Natalie and Beau.

Emily Henry’s stunning debut novel is Friday Night Lights meets The Time Traveler’s Wife, and perfectly captures those bittersweet months after high school, when we dream not only of the future, but of all the roads and paths we’ve left untaken.

Um...this sounds so interesting! I can't wait to see if it as good as it sounds.

What are you "Waiting on?"

25 Days of Book Boyfriends: Dimitri Belikov from the Vampire Academy series

Welcome to my stop of 25 Days of Book Boyfriends! This tour is hosted by lovely ladies on Lovin' Los Libros and Readers Live A Thousand Lives.

A different book boyfriend will be featured on a different blog from Dec. 1- Dec. 24th. Each stop will spotlight their book boyfriend in a variety of ways. I will be talking about one of my new and favorite book boyfriend, Dimitri Belikov!

Dimitri comes to us from the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead. He wowed me from the minute we meet him and I've been hooked every since. The Vampire Academy movie also gave me a much rounded picture of Dimitri and I'm a little ashamed to admit how many times I watched certain scenes over and over again. 

Let's meet this tall, gorgeous Russian book boyfriend of mine.

“And than suddenly he was there, charging down the hallway like death in a cowboy duster.” - Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

"I’d do a lot of things to protect you, Roza." - Dimitri Belikov - Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead

He shook his head, the smile rueful now. "Because sometimes, a person can get so caught up in the details that they miss the whole. It's not just the dress or the hair. It's YOU. You're beautiful. So beautiful, it hurts me.” - Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead 

“You can't fool me, comrade. You want to put on a cowboy hat and keep lawless bank robbers in line.''
"No time. I have enough trouble keeping you in line.” - Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead

Rose:"Did you see that dress?"
Dimitri:"I saw the dress."
Rose:"Did you like it?"
Dimitri:*silence*
Rose:"Am I going to endanger my reputation if I wear it to the dance?"
Dimitri:"You'll endanger the school." - Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

“No. If I let myself love you, I won't throw myself in front of her. I'll throw myself in front of you." - Dimitri - Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead 

“I don’t belong to anyone. I make my own choices."
"And you’re with Adrian," said Dimitri.
"But I was meant for you.”- Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead

Siiiighhhh. Oh Dimitri. You slay me. I think it may be time for a re-watch of the movie or maybe a reread.

That's it for me and my book boyfriend. Be sure to check out the rest of the tour and tomorrow stop as well. Links are down below.

December 1:

Nick & Nereyda's Infinite Booklist

(Bishop, The Book of Ivy by: Amy Engel)

December 2:

Lovin Los Libros

(Garrett, The Deal by: Elle Kennedy)

December 3:

The Story Goes...

(Park, Eleanor and Park by: Rainbow Rowell)

December 4:

Readers Live A Thousand Lives

(Rowan Whitethorn, Throne Of Glass series by: Sarah J. Maas)

December 5:

Foxy Blogs

(Zeth, Deviant by: Callie Hart)

December 6:

A Perfection Called Books

(Tucker Avery, Unearthly  by: Cynthia Hand)

December 7:

The Reader and the Chef 

(Aldrik, Air Awakens by: Elisa Kova)

December 8:

Doodle's Book Reviews

(Maxon Schreave, The Selection series by: Kiera Cass)

December 9:

Bookworm Brandee

(Logan "High" Judd, Walk Through Fire by: Kristen Ashley)

December 10:

Kimberlyfaye Reads

(Ryke Meadows, Addicted series by Krista and Becca Ritchie)

December 11:

TSK TSK What To Read

Rogan, Tough Enough by: M. Leighton)

December 12:

Books and Photographs

(Dash, Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by: David Levithan and Rachel Cohn)

December 13:

Reading Over Sleeping

(Levi, Fangirl by: Rainbow Rowell)

December 14:

Book Scents

(Thorne Carswell, Lunar Chronicles by: Marissa Meyer)

December 15:

The Hardcover Lover

(Mathias, Zodiac by: Romina Russell)

December 16:

Novels and Necklaces

(Eric Northman, Sookie Stackhouse series by: Charlaine Harris)

December 17:

Brooke Blogs

(Gabe Bowden, At Wolf Ranch by: Jennifer Ryan)

December 18:

Stuck In Books

(Kaidan Rowe, The Sweet Trilogy by: Wendy Higgins)

December 19:

The Fox's Hideaway

(Tristan Archer, The Archers of Avalon by: Chelsea Fine)

December 20:

Love At First Page

(Tarver, These Broken Stars by: Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner)

December 21:

Corrie The Book Crazed Girl

(Raffe, Penryn and the End of Days by: Susan Ee)

December 22:

Books and Swoons

(Dimitri Belikov, Vampire Academy by: Richelle Mead)

December 23:

After Hours at Lilybloombooks

(Curran, Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews)

December 24:

Reese's Reviews

(West Leavitt, Deeper/Harder by Robin York)

Quotes (#137)

Morning Friends,

It's finally Christmas week!!! I'm so freaking excited!! Gosh, I don't know how this year has gone by so fast, it's crazy!!! I'm really looking forward to these next two weeks and spending time my family and friends! Also I must say that the traffic around this time is great because the schools are out, which is an added bonus. So, Merry Christmas, may your week be wonderful. This weeks quotes are from the book I just finished Cinder by Marissa Meyer. I absolutely love this story!

“I'm sure I'll feel much more grateful when I find a guy who thinks complex wiring in a girl is a turn-on.”
~ Marissa Meyer, Cinder

“I know this is stupid, but part of me felt like if I could come see you today, if I could convince you to go with me tonight, then maybe I could still change things. It's dumb, I know. It's not like Levana cares if I, you know, might have actual feelings for someone.”
~Marissa Meyer, Cinder

“She briefly wished she did have some sort of magic so she could shoot a bolt of lightning through his head.”
~ Marissa Meyer, Cinder

“We have the ability to love each other, no matter our differences. To help each other, no matter our weaknesses.”
~ Marissa Meyer, Cinder

“We all have our weaknesses.”
“I know,” said Iko. “Mine is shoes.”
~ Marissa Meyer, Cinder

“You yourself said there will be horrible consequences if she doesn’t get what she wants. I am not worth starting a war over.” His eyes brightened behind the spectacles. He looked young for a moment, almost giddy. “Actually, you are.”
~ Marissa Meyer, Cinder

“She kept her head high, even as her eyes stung, even as panic filled her vision with warnings and precautions.
It was not her fault he had liked her.
It was not her fault she was cyborg.
She would not apologize.”
~ Marissa Meyer, Cinder

Happy Holidays!

Favorite Friday (#52) - This Shattered World by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

Have a favorite book? Series? One that you've just read or are currently reading? Favorite Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Books and Swoons where we spotlight some of our Favorite Reads. Everyone is welcome to join. Just enter your information on the linky or leave us a comment!

This week pick is: This Shattered World by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner.

Jubilee Chase and Flynn Cormac should never have met.

Lee is captain of the forces sent to Avon to crush the terraformed planet's rebellious colonists, but she has her own reasons for hating the insurgents.

Rebellion is in Flynn's blood. Terraforming corporations make their fortune by recruiting colonists to make the inhospitable planets livable, with the promise of a better life for their children. But they never fulfilled their promise on Avon, and decades later, Flynn is leading the rebellion.

Desperate for any advantage in a bloody and unrelentingly war, Flynn does the only thing that makes sense when he and Lee cross paths: he returns to base with her as prisoner. But as his fellow rebels prepare to execute this tough-talking girl with nerves of steel, Flynn makes another choice that will change him forever. He and Lee escape the rebel base together, caught between two sides of a senseless war.

This is such a great story filled with action and suspense! I love all of the characters!! It's definitely a must read!

About the authors:

Amie Kaufman is the New York Times bestselling co-author of Illuminae (with Jay Kristoff) and These Broken Stars, This Shattered World, and Their Fractured Light (with Meagan Spooner.) She writes science fiction and fantasy for teens, and her favourite procrastination techniques involve chocolate, baking, sailing, excellent books and TV, plotting and executing overseas travel, and napping.

She lives in Melbourne, Australia with her husband, their rescue dog, and her considerable library.

Author's links: Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

Meagan Spooner grew up reading and writing every spare moment of the day, while dreaming about life as an archaeologist, a marine biologist, an astronaut. She graduated from Hamilton College in New York with a degree in playwriting, and has spent several years since then living in Australia. She’s traveled with her family all over the world to places like Egypt, South Africa, the Arctic, Greece, Antarctica, and the Galapagos, and there’s a bit of every trip in every story she writes.

She currently lives and writes in Asheville, North Carolina, but the siren call of travel is hard to resist, and there’s no telling how long she’ll stay there.

In her spare time she plays guitar, plays video games, plays with her cat, and reads.

Author's links: Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

I hope you can join us in sharing and talking about some of your favorite reads. Book talk always make me happy. 

What are one of your favorite reads?

Review: Baiting the Maid of Honor by Tessa Bailey

Baiting the Maid of Honor
(Wedding Dare #2)
Author: Tessa Bailey
Release Date: June 9, 2014
Publisher: Entangled Publishing (Brazen)
Source: Personal Copy
Review by: Jenn

He’ll own her from the very first touch.

Julie Piper and Reed Lawson have nothing in common. She’s a people-pleasing sorority girl hiding behind her perfect mask. He’s a take-no-prisoners SWAT commander who isolates himself from the world. But when they’re forced together at their friends’ posh destination wedding, one thing is clear—Reed wants Julie more than he wants his next breath. Which is why he’s not about to stand by when she’s dared to seduce another man.

Julie wants neat, tidy sex, so she could get back to what she does best—making everybody else happy. She never expected to slip into a dark bedroom and have her mind blown by rough, demanding hands, and a sinfully filthy mouth—neither of which belong to the best man.

One night should have been all Reed needed to get the blond temptress out of his system, but when one taste is nowhere near enough, he’ll be forced confront the effects of his hellish past. One that may push Julie away forever... just when he realizes he can't live without her.

4 stars out of 5 stars 

Sweet Lord this book. This book was so hot and Reed, yowza. I read Baiting the Maid of Honor in a day because I just could not put it down. Tessa Bailey had me hook from beginning to end and now I want to read the rest of the series as well as more of her books.

Baiting the Maid of Honor follows Julie Piper as the maid of honor for her best friend's wedding. She's a people pleaser and would bend over backwards in order to help someone. Reed Lawson is the dark and dangerous, keeps to himself groomsman. Their personalities are complete opposite yet their chemistry is OFF. THE. CHARTS. Their banter, their smexy times, just them being around each other was incredible. Their romance felt real and palpable. Tessa Bailey definitely knows how to write romance that just jump off the pages.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I totally recommend it to anyone interested in a hot, steamy, and sexy romance.

Waiting on Wednesday (#139)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Morning swooners!

This week pre-publication "can't wait to read" selection is:

The Siren by Kiera Cass

Expected Release Date: January 26, 2016

Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads

Synopsis:

CA girl with a secret.
The boy of her dreams.
An Ocean between them.

Years ago, Kahlen was rescued from drowning by the Ocean. To repay her debt, she has served as a Siren ever since, using her voice to lure countless strangers to their deaths. Though a single word from Kahlen can kill, she can’t resist spending her days on land, watching ordinary people and longing for the day when she will be able to speak and laugh and live freely among them again.

Kahlen is resigned to finishing her sentence in solitude...until she meets Akinli. Handsome, caring, and kind, Akinli is everything Kahlen ever dreamed of.

Falling in love with a human breaks the Ocean’s rules. But for the first time in a lifetime of following the rules, Kahlen is determined to follow her heart. 

I was excited when I found out that Kiera Cass has a new book coming out! The cover is really pretty and the synopsis sounds interesting. I can't wait to read it!

What are you "Waiting on?"

Review: This Shattered World by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

This Shattered World (Starbound #2)
Author: Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
Release Date: December 23, 2014
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Source: Personal Copy
Review by: Nahomi
    

Jubilee Chase and Flynn Cormac should never have met.

Lee is captain of the forces sent to Avon to crush the terraformed planet's rebellious colonists, but she has her own reasons for hating the insurgents.

Rebellion is in Flynn's blood. Terraforming corporations make their fortune by recruiting colonists to make the inhospitable planets livable, with the promise of a better life for their children. But they never fulfilled their promise on Avon, and decades later, Flynn is leading the rebellion.

Desperate for any advantage in a bloody and unrelentingly war, Flynn does the only thing that makes sense when he and Lee cross paths: he returns to base with her as prisoner. But as his fellow rebels prepare to execute this tough-talking girl with nerves of steel, Flynn makes another choice that will change him forever. He and Lee escape the rebel base together, caught between two sides of a senseless war.

5 stars out of 5 stars

      What happens when a soldier and a rebel cross paths? I’ll tell you what, This Shattered World is what happens! I really really really enjoyed reading this story!! I couldn’t read fast enough to satisfy my need to find out what would happened next. This story has so many elements that I would like to talk about that some I will mention briefly and others I will expound on. So, today's review will be in list/paragraph format. Lets begin with the elements I loved that I would like to mention briefly:

~There is more action through out the entire story.
~The mystery of LaRoux industry continues, yet left me wanting more.
~Avon is a complex world full of great three-dimensional characters.
~The story is fast paced.
~Lilac and Tarver appear briefly and I got to see how they are doing!

       This Shattered World really highlights our resilience, and the intricacy of our relationships with one another. It focuses on the ability we as humans have to survive and do what is right regardless of the consequences to ourselves. Both Jubilee and Flynn demonstrate that through their character and actions. Although, they are from different sides of the fight they have a common goal; to keep their people safe. Flynn is such a great character. He is strong in a non-conventional way. I love that he would prefer to try and resolve issues in a peaceful manner rather than resorting to violence. Jubilee is strong, really just a force to be reckoned with. I love that although she can drop a person in a number of ways she only resorts to violence when it's absolutely necessary.

     I love the complicated relationship that Lee and Flynn have. There is a hint of romance throughout the story but it isn’t the main focus. It is refreshing that both characters are aware that the circumstances under which they met are less than ideal, and that they would need to get to know each other under different circumstances to see if their relationship will actually work.

     The story line is more complicated than in These Broken Stars. There are a lot of different factors that are in play in this novel which make it such a suspenseful story. I can't wait to start reading Their Fractured Light!! I'm dying to know how this story will unfold.

Quotes (#136)

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Morning Swooners,

For the past two weeks, I've been dealing with some really personal stuff and laughter has been really hard to come by. I've become sort cocooned into myself and haven't really been a good wife, daughter, sister, friend, or person in general. This weekend has been one of the worst for me and I've really struggled to do anything but lay in bed with my thoughts. Basically what I'm trying to say is that

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and to those that keep asking me,

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I've been trying to add some light to the darkness and I think today's quotes will reflect that.

“There’s no such thing as ruining your life. Life’s a pretty resilient thing, it turns out.” - Sophie Kinsella, The Undomestic Goddess

“Sometimes, I feel the past and the future pressing so hard on either side that there's no room for the present at all.” - Evelyn Waugh, Brideshead Revisited

“It was frustrating when people loved you and took an interest in you and sometimes worried about you and personally cared what you did with yourself. Lena wished that love were something you could flip on and off. You could turn it on when you felt good bout yourself and worthy of it and generous enough to return it. You could clip it off when you needed to hide or self-destruct and had nothing at all to give." - Ann Brashares, Sisterhood Everlasting

“We are all worthy of one another.” - Edward P. Jones, The Known World

“When you're struggling with something, look at all the people around you and realize that every single person you see is struggling with something, and to them, it's just as hard as what you're going through.” - Nicholas Sparks, Dear John

“She was tired of being the one who cried.” - Rainbow Rowell, Fangirl

“Sometimes the sins you haven't committed are all you have left to hold onto.” - David Sedaris, When You Are Engulfed in Flames

I hope your day goes better than mine.

Christmas Giveaway!!

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Morning Friends, 

       December is one of my favorite months of the year because it's my birthday month, and I absolutely love Christmas! I love the music, the decorations, and the overall feeling that comes with this time of the year! So, in the spirit of giving Jenn and I want to give away some books! I hope you will take the time to enter. Merry Christmas!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

On Our Nightstand (#3)

On Our Nightstand is where we show the state of disarray our nightstand look holding all the books we are currently reading.

One night, I was halfway through a book when I knew I was going to finish it right then and there. So, before snuggling in for the night, I went ahead and grabbed my next TBR book and put it on my nightstand just so I didn't have to get up and get it. I looked at my nightstand, which is just stack of pretty boxes, and had an idea. After talking about this with Nahomi, we're going to be sharing, occasionally, how the towering books on our nightstands look with our readers.

My nightstand:

I am currently reading Silver Shadows by Richelle Mead on my iPad/phone, I'm about to start Alone in the Dark by Karen Rose, and I'm still sloooooowly reading Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secret by J.K. Rowling with my husband. 

Nahomi's nightstand:

Nahomi just finished reading These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner and she is reading This Shattered World by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner.

How does your nightstand look?

Mini Review: This Night So Dark by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

This Night So Dark (Starbound #1.5)
Author: Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
Release Date: October 7, 2014
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Source: Personal Copy
Review by: Nahomi
  

Tarver still has nightmares about the night, six months before the Icarus crash, when he rescued civilian researchers held hostage by brutal mercenaries. Now he and Lilac reconcile his memories of that night with the truth uncovered after the crash.

Short connects first two novels.

Rating: 4 stars out 5 stars

This Night So Dark is a great segue novella between These Broken Stars and This Shattered World. I was really excited when I realized that there was a novella that connected the two stories!! After finishing These Broken Stars I was having Lilac and Tarver withdrawals, and started to read This Night So Dark immediately.

This novella is action packed and fast paced! It's full of descriptive action sequences and suspense. TNSD shows Tarver in action which we didn't really get to see much of in TBS. I was happy to get a peek of Lilac and Tarver's lives after they were rescued!! Overall This Night So Dark is a great novella that gives some background information about the LaRoux Industries mystery, but really, it just left me wanting more.