Busy December/Favorite reads of 2012

Hi everyone! HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!! I hope you all have been well. I've been so busy since the beginning of this month. Started new job, getting lesson plans done for my students, Christmas shopping, etc. I am so behind on reading books, and to think I'll be getting more book for Christmas too. Luckily, when my students go on winter break, so will I. =) Three whole weeks to read books! That will be my chance to catch up on all the readings.

This year came by so fast! So many great things happened this year, and so many books came out this year as well. I've read so many great books in 2012, whether it was an old book or newly published one. Just thought I'd share my favorite reads of 2012. =) (in no particular order)

So these are my favorite reads of this year that I have actually read... I know there are many other great books that are out as well, I just haven't gotten to them yet. I have a pile of books that still need to be read, that I will be starting after today! (Last day of school for my students)   =D

What are some of your favorite reads of 2012?

Waiting on Wednesday: Unravel Me (Shatter Me #2) by Tahereh Mafi

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

This week's WoW selection is...Unravel Me (Shatter Me #2) by Tahereh Mafi
Expected publication: February 5th 2013 by HarperCollins
"tick, tick, tick, tick, tick
it's almost
time for war.

Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. It is a place for people like her—people with gifts—and it is also the headquarters of the rebel resistance.

She's finally free from The Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch.

Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible.

In this exhilarating sequel to Shatter Me, Juliette has to make life-changing decisions between what she wants and what she thinks is right. Decisions that might involve choosing between her heart—and Adam's life." (From Goodreads)

Super excited for this book! I love the first book to this series and cannot wait until this one comes out. The cover is so pretty and creative! I really like the new cover for the first book as well. I have the old cover for the first book so my books won't be matching... I like it when the covers for my books matches..  

    Old Cover                                                              New Cover

Review: Unmasking Maya by Libby Mercer

Unmasking Maya
Author: Libby Mercer
ebook
Expected publication: December 15th 2012
ARC from author

" Defamed, Disgraced and Displaced...

Fresh from a career-killing scandal, New York fashion girl, Maya Kirkwood, arrives in San Francisco to reinvent herself as a fine artist. She's offered the opportunity to create an installation at the Silicon Valley headquarters of a hot new tech company. Fabulous, right?

Not so much.

 She can't stand Derek Whitley - wunderkind software genius and CEO of the company. Hot as he may be on the outside, inside the man is a cold, unemotional, robotic type. Way too left-brained for her right-brained self.

 As Maya and Derek get to know each other, however, their facades begin to crack. She catches her first glimpse of the man behind the superhuman tech prodigy, and he starts to see her as the woman she used to be. But is this a good thing? Once that last secret is revealed, will it bring them closer together or will it tear them apart?"  (From Goodreads)
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I like this story. It was a really fun and quick read. Maya is very independent and strong but can be feisty! She had a tough past and had to create a new life for herself to move away from it. Derek is the handsome-nerdy type who also has a tough past as well. He hides his emotion and makes others think he don't have any but as Maya and Derek spends more time together, it's starting to get harder for him to hide them. I love the banter between Maya and Derek. It's so funny and witty. The romance in this story was a slow build up, which I like. I was hoping to read more about them at the end when they got together.

Overall, this story was well written and a fun read. I think those looking for a funny and quick chick-lit should definitely check this one out. 

 

Review: Deity (Covenant #3) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Deity (Covenant #3) 
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Paperback, 360 pages
Published November 6th 2012 by Spencer Hill Press

 "History is on repeat, and things didn't go so well the last time. "


Alexandria isn't sure she's going to make it to her eighteenth birthday--to her Awakening. A long-forgotten, fanatical order is out to kill her, and if the Council ever discovers what she did in the Catskills, she's a goner... and so is Aiden.

If that's not freaky enough, whenever Alex and Seth spend time "training"--which really is just Seth's code word for some up-close and personal one-on-one time--she ends up with another mark of the Apollyon, which brings her one step closer to Awakening ahead of schedule. Awesome.

But as her birthday draws near, her entire world shatters with a startling revelation and she's caught between love and Fate. One will do anything to protect her. One has been lying to her since the beginning. Once the gods have revealed themselves, unleashing their wrath, lives will be irrevocably changed... and destroyed.

Those left standing will discover if love is truly greater than Fate...  (From Goodreads)

Jennifer L. Armentrout is AWESOME!!!!! I didn't think she could out-do herself after reading Pure, but oh man, was I wrong!!! This book is by far the best book in the series and I mean it! I jumped from Team Seth to Team Aiden after reading Deity. lol I couldn't help it. I still love Seth but he's changed so much, and Aiden...Oh Aiden!!! =D  Pure was Seth's book, but Deity was ALL Aiden's. 

I love everything about this book. I purposely took a few days to read it because I didn't want to read it all in one setting, and boy was it hard to put it down. I would put the book down, stare at it and say to myself, "just one more chapter". Next thing you know, 3 chapters has been read. I had to put it down and literally walk away from it and keep myself busy with something else other than reading. lol 

Alex goes through so much in this book, and every time, Aiden is always there for her. I love their relationship. They know it is forbidden for a Pure and Half-blood to be together but that won't hold them back. What they have together is strong and so real that they are willing to do anything for one another. Aiden has definitely stepped up in this book. If you are Team Aiden, you will LOVE this book! If you aren't, be ready to jump on Team Aiden bandwagon!

Seth, damn you Seth! I still love you, but I hate you that the same time! I still have hope for you, ( not to be with Alex)  but just for you in general!!!! 

After reading Pure, I was left with so many questions. Deity was able to answer some of my questions but then it added even more questions to my list! lol The whole storyline for Deity was amazing. It had so many things going on, so fast paced, and so very real. It will definitely keep you on edge. A MUST READ for everyone!!!

P.S.  Marcus, Leon, and Deacon are now some of my new favorite characters!  =P