My Top 12 Favorites of 2012

You know, this year has been one of the best years for books. Why? Because more and more authors are breaking down the barriers and writing about things that need to be talked about. Things that need to be addressed in our homes, among our friends, within our families. It's also because I've read some pretty amazing books this year. Now I know that most blogs do a top ten list, but my blog isn't most blogs. Because of that, I'm going to give you my own Top Twelve of 2012! 

Ready? Then here we go!

Number 1 
Just Remember to Breathe by Charles Sheehan-Miles

This book was fabulous, and you can read my review of it here.

Number 2
The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay

Again, another absolutely wonderful book. It was perfect. You'll find my review here.

Number 3
The Perfect Game by J. Sterling.

One name... Jack F**king Carter. Enough said. My review is here.

Number 4
Love and Skate by Lila Felix

Okay, now everyone who has read this book knows that it is just hot. End of story. P.S.- my review can be found right here.

Number 5
Miss Me Not by Tiffany King

Honestly, I have no words. Just read my review here. You'll see why.

Number 6
Ten Tiny Breaths by K.A. Tucker

This is one of those books that you'll kick yourself for not having read sooner, and I read it as an ARC! That's just how good it is. Here is my review.

Number 7
Incendiary (Premonition #4) by Amy A. Bartol

As much as I love Reed, I love Xavier just a touch more. YUM! You can buy your copy of these awesomely fantastic books here.

Number 8
Fate Succumbs (Timber Wolves #3) by Tammy Blackwell

This is the final book in the trilogy that started my journey into indie books. I can't say enough about this trilogy! You can get all three of them here.

Number 9
Whisper by Heather Hildenbrand

This book touched my soul. It shows you how grief affects a person on an entirely new level. Plus, it has a SMOKIN' hot Native American. Get it here.


Number 10
Gravity by M. Leighton

This book is simply beautiful! I can't even begin to express how much I loved this book! Grab your own copy here.

Number 11
Chasing Nikki by Lacey Weatherford

This book will haunt me forever. I'm not even close to kidding. It. Is. Perfect! Go get it here.

And last, but certainly not least we have...

Number 12
Darkride by Laura Bradley Rede

This book is AWESOME!!! Wow! If you haven't read it, you really do need to! So good! Here is the place to get your copy!


And there you have it. Adriane's Top 12 of 2012. I hope you'll grab a least one of these books if you don't have them already, and enjoy them for yourself in 2013. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

The Sea of Tranquility

The Sea of Tranquility

By Katja Millay

 I live in a world without magic or miracles. A place where there are no clairvoyants or shapeshifters, no angels or superhuman boys to save you. A place where people die and music disintegrates and things suck. I am pressed so hard against the earth by the weight of reality that some days I wonder how I am still able to lift my feet to walk.

Full of rage and without a purpose, former pianist Nastya Kashnikov wants two things: to get through high school without anyone learning about her past and to make the boy who took everything from her pay.

All 17 year-old Josh Bennett wants is to build furniture and be left alone and everyone allows it, because it’s easier to pretend he doesn’t exist. When your name is synonymous with death, everyone tends to give you your space.

Everyone except Nastya, a hot mess of a girl who starts showing up and won’t go away until she’s insinuated herself into every aspect of his life. The more he gets to know her, the more of a mystery she becomes. As their relationship intensifies and the unanswered questions begin to pile up, he starts to wonder if he may ever learn the secrets she’s been hiding or if he even wants to.

The Sea of Tranquility is a slow-building, character-driven romance about a lonely boy, an emotionally fragile girl, and the miracle of second chances.

Katja gifted her book to me a couple of weeks ago after we met in a book group on Facebook. I was captivated by the synopsis, and although I wanted to read it right away, I couldn't. I knew just based on what I had been told by those who had read it before me that this was a book that I would need to actually sit down for. Now normally, I don't listen to all of that, but something inside of me knew that I should heed their warnings. So, I did. I waited until I was finished with the 2 books I had ahead of it, and I picked up Katja's book last night.

I desperately wanted to pull an all nighter with it, because by the time I hit 50%, I was entranced. But alas, sleep hailed and I gave in. I finished today after many an interruption and I can't even begin to tell you how much I enjoyed this book. I believe I spent a good majority of it updating Katja on my progress via Facebook and asking her things like "Can I slap Nastya?" or "Does the pain ever stop?". I wasn't ready for this book to end, but like all good things, it had to end at some point. I must confess though that once I read the final word, I was filled with a sense of peace, the likes of which I haven't felt at the end of a book in a while.

I think what brings the book into the forefront is the fact that it even though it's YA, it isn't cookie cutter and that is exactly what I love so much about it. It is truly unique, and very much a one of a kind. The fact that it's heart-wrenching while at the same time uplifting sets it apart from any other YA book I've read, and I have read a lot of them.

This is truly a book you won't want to miss, because you see, it's about a broken girl and equally broken boy. Neither wants the other, and they're perfectly unaware that they're even falling in love with one another, while every single person around them isn't so blinded by the pain the two of them live with as they are. If I could have a book boy, I'd ask for Josh Bennett. Which is saying A LOT because I haven't veered from Maddon (Forever Changed by Tiffany King) even once.

I can't tell you too many times to read this book. Read it, you'll love it. And if you don't, then you obviously read the wrong book, because I can't see how you couldn't love this book.