Top Ten Tuesday: Auto-Buy Authors

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and Bookish. Each week features a different topic, and you make a top ten list about that topic.

This week's topic is...Top Ten Authors On My Auto-Buy List

1. Richelle Mead - Mead is one of my all-time favorite authors. Every story I have read by her had me instantly hooked from beginning to end. I absolutely just love her stories...Mead is the ultimate story teller. I have yet to get my hands on her adult series, but when I do, I know I will devour them in no time!

2. Alexandra Bracken - I was hooked with Brightly Woven...and then came The Darkest Minds. I will buy anything Bracken writes. She writes some of the most beautiful and vivid stories I've ever read.

3. Cassandra Clare - I first fell in love after reading The Mortal Instruments series.

4. Jeaniene Frost - Love her stories, especially her Night Huntress series...Cat & Bones...need I say more?

5. Michelle Zink - This lady has got a way with words. Her narrators have such beautiful, almost lyrical, voices that just grip me into the story.

6. Larissa Ione - I first discovered Ione after picking up, and devouring, Pleasure Unbound (the first book in her Demonica series).

7. Ellen Hopkins - She can write about some real life shit like nobody's business. I think her stories should be read by everyone!

8. Jennifer Echols - Everything this girl comes out with just blows me away!

9. Veronica Rossi - I adored her debut Under the Never Sky so much so that she made the list.

10. Rachel Vincent - Her adult series, Shifters, is one of my favorites out there. Action packed and full of witty dialogue...Faythe is one kick-ass heroine. I haven't finished her young adult series, Soul Screamers, but what I've read so far, I've enjoyed.


What authors do you love so much that you would buy their books regardless of genre or content? What is it about that author that you love so much?

Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Romances

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and Bookish. Each week features a different topic, and you make a top ten list about that topic. This week's topic is...

This week's topic is...Top Ten Favorite Romances

While I was writing down some ideas, I got to thinking and when it comes to romance in books, I can be quite picky. I like to see my romance more on the realistic side...no one just falls in love with a look; they may become infatuated with a person, but not head-over-heels in love. Falling in love takes time and sometimes that may take more than one book to accomplish. And as I look at my list, all of my favorite romances are from series instead of stand alone novels. Am I the only one who feels this way?

Because I'm picky, I couldn't just choose 10 favorites, so I've decided to do a list of my top 5 romance series instead. In no particular order...

1. Shifters by Rachel Vincent - This series has been one of my favorites since the first book was released! This series is simply amazing and very addictive...a must read for all you paranormal romance fans.

• Book 1 - Stray
• Book 2 - Rogue
• Book 3 - Pride
• Book 4 - Prey
• Book 5 - Shift
• Book 6 - Alpha

2. Demonica by Larissa Ione - If you want romance, you will definitely find plenty in this series. Beware, for there is tons of naughtiness going on in these books (hint...it is an adult series).

• Book 1 - Pleasure Unbound
• Book 2 - Desire Unchained
• Book 3 - Passion Unleashed
• Book 4 - Ecstasy Unveiled
• Book 5 - Sin Undone

3. Night Huntress by Jeaniene Frost - Another favorite since its beginning. The romance between Bones and Cat is just beyond hot!!

• Book 1 - Halfway to the Grave
• Book 2 - One Foot in the Grave
• Book 3 - At Grave's End
• Book 4 - Destined for an Early Grave
• Book 5 - This Side of the Grave
• Book 6 - One Grave at a Time
• Book 7 - Up From the Grave (2013)

4. Lords of the Underworld by Gena Showalter - The inside will have you drooling just as much, if not more, as the cover does!

• Book 1 - The Darkest Night
• Book 2 - The Darkest Kiss
• Book 3 - The Darkest Pleasure
• Book 4 - The Darkest Whisper
• Book 5 - The Darkest Passion
• Book 6 - The Darkest Lie
• Book 7 - The Darkest Secret
• Book 8 - The Darkest Surrender
• Book 9 - The Darkest Seduction
• Book 10 - The Darkest Craving (July 30, 2013)

5. Black Dagger Brotherhood by J.R. Ward - I've not made it through this entire series yet, but what I've read this far has got my addicted!

• Book 1 - Dark Lover
• Book 2 - Lover Eternal
• Book 3 - Lover Awakened
• Book 4 - Lover Revealed
• Book 5 - Lover Unbound
• Book 6 - Lover Enshrined
• Book 7 - Lover Avenged
• Book 8 - Lover Mine
• Book 9 - Lover Unleashed
• Book 10 - Lover Reborn
• Book 11 - Lover at Last (March 26, 2013)

Now a question for you...Are you picky when it comes to your romance? What do you like to see in your romance novels? Not like?

Top Ten Tuesday: Most Frustrating Characters Ever

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and Bookish. Each week features a different topic, and you make a top ten list about that topic. This week's topic is...

Top Ten Most Frustrating Characters Ever

Putting together this list was quite interesting. As it turns out, a good chunk of my most frustrating characters are from some of my favorite books out there. Crazy! In no particular order, my most frustrating characters are...

Ash (Black City by Elizabeth Richards) - The most frustrating thing about Ash was that he refused to embrace his Darkling side. He just had too many human emotions, therefore making him a weak character. At the end of the book, he did grow some balls...thank goodness!

Mara Dyer (The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin) - I was unable to finish this novel because of Mara's character. She was just too whiny and annoying for my liking...I don't understand how Noah put up with her.

Katniss (The Hunger Game series by Suzanne Collins) - I'm not quite sure what it was about her, but she just got on my nerves quite a bit throughout the series. This series is one of my favorites...only because of Peeta!

Megan Chase (The Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa) - This is another series that I really enjoyed and stuck with because of Ash! The thing that bothered me the most with Megan was the fact that she is a damsel in distress, always needing someone to save her. I really wanted to see her fight some of her own battles without the help of other characters. Along with being a wimp, I found her to be rather whiny at times.

Ruby (The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken) - Again another novel that I really enjoyed. The most frustrating thing about Ruby was that it took her practically the whole book to finally accept who she is and what she can do. The fact that she couldn't quite complaining or fathom embracing her powers really got on my nerves.

Addison (My Soul to Save by Rachel Vincent) - Addison was a very annoying side character that I absolutely couldn't stand. She was ungrateful and such a brat. I don't understand why Nick and Kaylee  would even risk their lives for that girl.

Mary (Burn for Burn by Jenny Han) - Each character in this novel had some reason to want revenge on someone. When I found out Mary's reason for wanting to get back at someone, I ended up losing all interest in her character and really just wanted to tell her to get over it. I don't want to spoil anything for those who may not have read it yet, but I just can't justify holding on to a grudge like that for so long.


What are some of your most frustrating characters?

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I Feel As Though Everyone Has Read But Me

I'm participating again in Top Ten Tuesday hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. A top ten list is posted every Tuesday on various topics. To view previous and upcoming topics, visit their Top Ten Tuesday page.

This weeks topic:

Books I Feel As Though Everyone Has Read But Me

Divergent by Veronica Roth

I have heard nothing but how amazing this book is and I'm not quite sure why I haven't read it yet.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

This has been on my wishlist forever and I've been recommended this book so many times that I've lost count.

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

This sounds like such a cute read. I've had this sitting on my bookshelf for a year now. I think it's time I actually pick it up.

Anything by Anna Godbersen

Her books sounds so interesting and the covers are so gorgeous!

Evernight by Claudia Gray

I'm probably the only person out there who hasn't read this series...I haven't heard anything bad about this series and it sounds like my kind of read. I have the first 2 books.

Anything Ellen Hopkins

Well, technically I've read Crank and absolutely fell in love with her writing. I have the majority of her books and not sure why I haven't picked up and devoured the rest of her novels.

The Morganville Vampires by Rachel Caine

I have the first 4 books sitting on my self...waiting....and waiting....

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Since first hearing the summary, I'd been dying to read it...yet, it sits on my shelf collecting dust...why casey?!

Anything Sarah Dessen

Please tell me I'm not the only one who hasn't read anything by Sarah. I've been wanting to read one of her books for awhile now and I hear nothing but good things about them.

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater 

I absolutely loved the first 2 novels in the series.


What books are on your list?

Top Ten Trends I'd Like To See More/Less of

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and Bookish.

This week's Top Ten is trends we would like to see more of/less of. I am doing a combination of both.

MORE:

1. Dystopian - I have been reading some really good dystopia novels lately and I'm loving this trend. These authors have created some unbelievably gripping worlds and I just can't seem to get enough.

2. Faeries - This is one fantasy creature I will never tire of. For as long as I can remember, Faeries have been my all time favorite. I'm starting to see a little more fae novels floating around the YA world, but more would be great!

3. Mermaids - I've always been fascinated with mermaids and I would love to see more of them.

4. Alternating POVs - I love being able to get more than one perspective. I think this way of narrating makes a story more enjoyable because I'm able to see the situation from different angles.

5. More Action/Less Talking - I like lots of action in my novels. Its all fine and dandy for some talking to be going on, but it gets boring to read over half a book before any of the real action begins.

LESS:

1. Vampires - I am so sick of vampires!! Unless there is going to be some new and interesting twist, more than likely I won't be interested. Ever since Twilight (which wasn't that great), vampires in the YA world went through the roof. And I think its time to end and focus on something more original.

2. Instant Love - I don't mind reading novels with some romance in it (especially when there's a good love triangle going on) but realistically it doesn't work like that.

3. Series Books - I don't mind reading a series, but lately it seems as though every upcoming release is part of a series. I have quite a few favorite series that I just love, but I want some stand alone novels. I don't have time to keep starting series because once I start something I have to finish it. And I hate having to wait a whole year to find out what happens.

4. Fragile Female and Tough Guy - Why does it always have to be the guy protecting the girl? Girls can do just as much as guys can! I would love to see more strong-willed and independent female heroine that don't need to be saved or protected by a guy.

5. Similar Covers - I've seen quite a few books that have the same or close to the same cover, yet the books are totally different. Different genre, different scenarios, etc. Can't you be a little more creative. When the books have nothing in common, why would you have the cover similar? Also, the majority of the time, the cover is the first thing I notice. With that being the case, I would want a cover that is unlike any other.