Monday, January 12, 2015

Favorites of 2014




Happy 12th day of 2015, reader's!
2014 was really good. So many things fell into place, and I'm expecting 2015 to be even more amazing. On the personal side of things, I got a baby niece, a new best friend, a college, and so many opportunities that have God's signature all over them. On the bookshelf side of things, everything was pretty swell. There were some AMAZING releases last year, and I'm so happy to have been able to read these beauties!
This is a just a taste, really, of my favorites of 2014.

Fantasy:

  •  Storm Siren by Mary Weber

 I adored this book. As in full on fangirl love. I'm pretty sure you can now officially call me one of Mary Weber's biggest fans. I might have even gotten a Storm Siren tattoo...Okay, maybe not (I hate needles, thank you) but this book is all kinds of AMAZING. Please, please, please read it! Then, when you read it and realize you just fell head over heels for Weber's story, we can grab some coffee and chat it up.
  • Firstborn by Lorie Ann Grover 

 Despite some discussion and murmuring I overheard about this book, I loved it. It was undoubtedly different, but sometimes the different books takes the cake (for me, that's usually the case)! This book showed how unique Grover's voice is, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! 





  • Deluge by Lisa T. Bergren

Because duh. This is one of my absolute favorite of all series, and the conclusion did not disappoint. Make me cry? Yes. Disappoint? Definitely not.(I'm actually getting teary just thinking about the ending.) LTB is a master storyteller.






  •  Tears of the Sea by MaryLu Tyndall

Mermaids and pirates. That's basically a must have for winter, right? Check out my review for this lovely gem here. Because this book is wonderful!






  • Destined for Doon by Carey Corp & Lorie Langdon

Wow. This series sort of exploded on the Internet. I've been feeling very "Hey, I knew about this book before all these super super cool people did." There is a really good reason this book is well on its way to stardom. This series is captivating, and it appears to be here to stay (yayy!). Another testament to my opinion that Blink is the coolest imprint on the planet.


 

Dysatopian: 

  • Thunder by Bonnie S. Calhoun
Oh, you loved Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi? But you have to admit that maybe the secular undertones were a bit too strong? You should read this fantastic book!
This book is the bomb. I loved it, and I am so ready for the sequel. I gave my mom a whole rant about how proud I was that the CBA was branching out into story's like these. Hey, I'm all about this YA-Christian hybrid trend.



  • Remnants: Season of Wonder by Lisa T. Bergren

Lisa T. Bergren knows how to write YA. She's awesome, and her books just validate it. This was one of my absolute faves from earlier last year. I'm so excited to see where she takes this story in the sequel!





     Contemporary:



  •  Lizzy and Jane by Katherine Reay
Sometimes, I even crack open a contemporary. Its rare, but when I do venture into this genre, you better bet its either funny or its Katherine Reay. This is for the Austen gals, waving our hanky's in the air at the passing soldiers. Chivalry is not dead, my friends, and it is well alive in Reay's stunning contemporary (another book that made me cry, in fact).





  •  Can't Let You Go by Jenny B. Jones

I was a die-hard Jenny B. Jones fan when I was a tween. Reading about the adult Katie Parker was like re-visiting the past, but at the same time making me realize how old I'm getting. I loved getting to dive back in, and I'm hoping (really, really hoping) that a new Bella book (The Charmed Life series) is in the works.



  • What a Girl Needs by Kristin Billerbeck

 This is another continuation of a much loved series . I was thrilled when I heard about Billerbeck's new Ashley book! It did not disappoint at all! Billerbeck made me giggle, in usual fashion, and love Ashley even more.

 

 

  Historical:

  • The Covered Deep by Brandy Vallance

UM. THIS BOOK. This book is so amazing. It's probably one of my favorite historicals of ever. Its like someone smashed Indiana Jones and Pride and Prejudice together (okay, not exactly, but you get my point), and created a super-novel. Plus, Bianca is like a carbon copy of myself. A much, much wittier carbon copy...    





  • Lady at Arms by Tamara Leigh

Really, everything Tamara Leigh released (or re-released) this year was superb! The medieval setting paired with Leigh's writing makes a beautiful combination! I can't wait to see what will be released by this author in 2015! 





There were so many other great releases this year that I loved! I hope y'all had a great year! :)
What were some of your favorites from 2014?