Top Ten Week!! My Favorite Books of 2014

This is probably one of  the things I look forward to most on my blog each year. Every year I pick out my Top Tens. In the past, I've done it as part of a group with bunches of other blogs, which I love, but they post before the New Year, and I like for the year to be over before I pick out my favorites. Remember last year? I had to go back and add a book that I'd finished in between making my lists and the New Year. (There was no way I was letting Unreap My Heart go unmentioned.) So this year, I decided to wait and do my lists during the first full week of January. This way, 2014 is officially over! Nothing last minute to sneak in. *wink*

Here are my Top Ten Favorite Books I've read in 2014!!

(in no particular order)

Wonderfully Wicked (The Dreamcaster Series #1) 
by C.J. Burright 
Genre: Adult (Paranormal Romance)
Date Published: May 13, 2014
Publisher: Swoon Romance

Why did I love this book?
Wonderfully Wicked was dark, and seductive, and very unexpected. I loved it! The author couldn't have picked a more perfect name for this book, because Wonderfully Wicked is exactly what it is!

Click here for the blurb and my full review!

The One (The Selection #3) by Kiera Cass

Genre: Young Adult (Dystopian/Romance)
Date Published: June 5, 2014
Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books

Why did I love this book?
I love, love, loved this book. I loved the whole trilogy, and I'm sad that it's over, but everything was wrapped up nicely. I don't have any lingering questions. You find out so much about the true character of the characters. Some of them were surprising. There are more rebel attacks and some unexpected allies. Not to mention the romance. Things heat up quite a bit.

Click here for the blurb and my full review!

Nocte (The Nocte Trilogy #1) by Courtney Cole 

Genre: New Adult (Contemporary Romance)

Date Published: November 3, 2014

Publisher: Lakehouse Press Inc

Why did I love this book?

The story was suspenseful and dark with characters that are damaged and haunted. This is one of those books that you need to read knowing almost nothing about the story. The less you know going in, the better.

Click here for the blurb and my full review!

The Legacy (Legacy Series, #1) by Melissa Delport

Genre: Adult Fiction (Dystopian)

Date Published: July 2014

Publisher: Tracey McDonald Publishers

Why did I love this book?

Rebecca is hands down one of the bravest, gutsy-est, and strongest female main characters I've ever read about. The story was fast paced with heaps of action. Whether they were running for their lives, fighting, or steaming up the pages, the story kept my adrenalin pumping while pulling at my heart. 

Click here for the blurb and my full review!

Darkside Sun (Mortal Machine, #1) by Jocelyn Adams 

Genre: New Adult (Paranormal Romance)
Date Published: March 10, 2014
Publisher: Entangled Embrace (Entangled Publishing)

Why did I love this book?

This novel was stuffed to the brim with everything I like to find in a story, and I simply couldn't get enough of it. The premise and paranormal aspects were unique. I can't say I've ever read anything like it, and I loved that. The characters were so real. Even though I mentally argued with both Addison and Asher several times, I grew to really love them. 

Click here for the blurb and my full review!

Forever Layla by Melissa Turner Lee

Genre: New Adult (Science Fiction/ Romance)
Date Published: May 27, 2014
Publisher: AltWit Press

Why did I love this book?

The plot was gripping and flowed nicely. Layla & David were characters you could really grab onto. I believed them and their story. I felt entirely immersed into their lives as I read. I wanted it to be real. 

Click here for the blurb and my full review!

Ignite Me (Shatter Me #3) by Tahereh Mafi

Genre: Young Adult (Paranormal Romance/Dystopian)

Date Published: February 5, 2013

Publisher: HarperCollins

Why did I love this book?

I'm so sad that this was the last book. It's a fantastic trilogy! There's so much to say, but since this is the final book, I can't say much without spoilers, so go read this trilogy!

Click here for the blurb and my full review!

Bloodmark (Bloodmark Saga #1) by Aurora Whittet
Genre: Young Adult (Paranormal/Fantasy Romance)
Date Published: November 1, 2013

Publisher: Wise Ink Creative Publishing

Why did I love this book?

This book was so good in so many ways. It brought out a new spin on Werewolves and Bloodsuckers. We get to see a lot of the pack dynamic among the wolves which was interesting to say the least. They have some old world views on things. The main characters and even some of the supporting characters have a lush & interesting history. This book was packed with passion, suspense, danger, and a touch of humor. It was hard to put down!

Click here for the blurb and my full review!

Broken (Redemption #1) by Lauren Layne 

Genre: New Adult (Contemporary Romance/Fractured Fairytale)

Date Published: Sept. 2, 2014

Publisher: Flirt

Why did I love this book?

This is a story of two broken people trying to live. It has addictive bantering, tension that will make you weak in the knees, and a story that pulls you right into the lives of the characters. Broken was an exceptional re-telling of Beauty and the Beast, and it kept me lost in its world until the very last page.

Click here for the blurb and my full review!

Hemlock Veils by Jennie Davenport
Genre: Adult (Paranormal Romance/Fractured Fairy Tale)
Date Published: November 25th 2014

Publisher: Swoon Romance

Why did I love this book?
As you can see, I love fairy tale re-tellings, and this was a wonderful spin on Beauty and the Beast. The author created characters and a story that felt real and original. Even if you know the original Beauty and the Beast, Hemlock Veils will still keep you in suspense with it twists and surprises.

Click here for the blurb and my full review!

Honorable Mention!!

The Veiled - Expanded Edition (The Shilund Saga #1) by Jennifer Osborn

Genre: Adult (Paranormal/Fantasy Romance)
Date Published: October 5, 2014
Publisher: Indescribable Publishing

Why did I love this book?

I finished this book a day or so before the New Year. It's still fresh on my mind making it definitely worthy of an honorable mention! There was action, romance, danger, and a touch of horror. Plus we have Shilunds!

Click here for the blurb and my full review!

Top Ten Week!
Monday: My Favorite Books of 2014

Tuesday: My Favorite Book Quotes of 2014
Wednesday: My Favorite Book Covers of 2014

Thursday: My Favorite Book Boyfriends of 2014

Friday: Books I’m Looking Forward to in 2015

Cover Reveal! Bloodrealms by Aurora Whittet

I'm super excited about this one guys! I'm not going to be able to wait until November. 

Bloodrealms (Bloodmark Saga #2) by Aurora Whittet
Genre: Young Adult (Paranormal/Fantasy Romance)
Date Published: November 1, 2014
Publisher:

Werewolf princess Ashling Boru’s eighteenth birthday is only a year away, which means that she only has twelve months before she is claimed and fulfills her prophecy to unite the packs and lead her people. Her father decrees that her four suitors must fight in the Bloodrealms, the werewolves’ ancient underground fighting world, and the winner will have King Boru’s choice to win Ashling’s hand. The wolf laws are rigid and barbaric, and Ashling’s illicit love for Grey, if discovered, will mean his death. But when Ashling and Grey get trapped in the blood-soaked depths of the Bloodrealms, they find ancient horrors far greater than Ashling’s father’s rule.

With betrayal around every corner and old nemeses set to destroy Ashling, she is more divided than ever between the destiny she didn’t choose and the love that she did. To make matters worse, her decision will not only set the course of her future, but the future of her entire race.

Bloodrealms is the second novel in Whittet’s intoxicating Bloodmark Saga.

Check out my review of Bloodmark!!

Aurora Whittet started out as a wild red-haired girl in Minnesota dreaming up wild stories for her friends to read. Today, she has completed the second of three novels in the Bloodmark Saga. She is a national award-winning graphic designer in her day job. Aurora lives with her family in Minnesota.

To learn more about Aurora Whittet and her books, visit her website.You can also find her on Goodreads, Facebook, and Twitter.

1 signed Hardcover copy of Bloodmark, the first novel in the Bloodmark Saga plus 4 temporary Bloodmark tattoos and a Bloodmark bookmark. Shipping to anywhere in the continental USA. 

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Book Review: Bloodmark by Aurora Whittet

Bloodmark (Bloodmark Saga #1) by Aurora Whittet
Genre: Young Adult (Paranormal/Fantasy Romance)
Date Published: November 1, 2013
Publisher: Wise Ink Creative Publishing

Sixteen-year-old werewolf princess Ashling Boru is different from other wolves—she was able to shift to wolf form at birth. Rather than bringing pride to her family, it brings fear, and as a result, she is forced to live in seclusion in Ireland’s countryside. Ashling’s reputation is further blackened when she refuses her betrothed and defies the ancient laws. When her pack’s oldest rivals begin hunting her, she finds herself in the small town of York Harbor, Maine—far from everything she’s ever known. 

In Maine, she crosses paths with the dark and rebellious Grey Donavan, and something ignites within her soul. There’s just one problem: Grey is human. Their instant connection turns into a passionate romance, and Ashling begins to believe she can create her own life outside of wolf laws. When she begins to uncover long-buried pack secrets—secrets that threaten to destroy all she holds dear—Ashling’s courage and tenacity are tested. Will she choose her deep and enduring love for Grey, or will she follow Old Mother’s path to her destiny?

Bloodmark is the first book in the Bloodmark Saga by Aurora Whittet. This book was so good in so many ways. It brought out a new spin on Werewolves and Bloodsuckers. We get to see a lot of the pack dynamic among the wolves which was interesting to say the least. They have some old world views on things, and I have a feeling Ashling will try to change some of those things. The romance was very instantaneous, which normally I wouldn't like, and I'll admit it was a little awkward with the love talk so early, but I think it worked in this case. I'm not entirely sure that the bloodsuckers are actually vampires, as they don't hunt humans. We don't know too much about them (and we don't necessarily need to just yet), but I think we'll learn more as the series progresses.

The main characters and even some of the supporting characters have a lush & interesting history. You can tell there was a lot of thought and planning that went into the creation of this world and its characters. Bloodmark had a depth to it that I could almost feel come alive while I read. This book was packed with passion, suspense, danger, and a touch of humor. It was hard to put down! I don't even remember what I was expecting when I first started reading, but I got so much more!

Bloodmark by Aurora Whittet was kindly provided to me by the author for review. The opinions are my own.

Aurora Whittet started out as a wild red-haired child in Minnesota dreaming up stories for her friends to read. Today, she has completed the first of three novels in the Bloodmark Saga. She is a national award-winning graphic designer in her day job. Aurora lives with her husband and son in Minnesota.

To learn more about Aurora Whittet and her books, visit her website.You can also find her on Goodreads, Facebook, and Twitter.