End of the Year Rally: Time for Reminscing...

 HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!

So, I just wanted to put the greatest books of this year (or those discovered this year) in a really long list below. Walk with me down memory lane of this year right before this new year begins! This is my variation of The Perpetual Page Turner's End of 2010 Survey...

Best Single Novel Discovered in 2010:

So beautiful!

"When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created “perfect” life is about to unravel before her eyes. She’s forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she's worked so hard for—her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect. Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more.

In a passionate story about looking beneath the surface, Simone Elkeles breaks through the stereotypes and barriers that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart."

Best Series Discovered in 2010: 

1)

2) Blue Bloods Series by Melissa De La Cruz
The latest installment: Bloody Valentine (A Blue Bloods Novella)

Vampires have powers beyond human comprehension: strength that defies logic, speed that cannot be captured on film, the ability to shapeshift and more. But in matters of the heart, no one, not even the strikingly beautiful and outrageously wealthy Blue Bloods, has total control. In Bloody Valentine, bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz offers readers a new story about the love lives of their favorite vamps - the passion and heartache, the hope and devastation, the lust and longing. Combined with all the glitz, glamour, and mystery fans have come to expect, this is sure to be another huge hit in the Blue Bloods series.

Also, witness the bonding of Jack and Schuyler.

3) Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare

4) Wondrous Strange Trilogy by Lesley Livingston

5) Wolves of Mercy Falls Trilogy by Maggie Stiefvater

Best Sequel of 2010:

"Julia & Eron:
"He pries the watch quickly from my fingers and stuffs it back into his pocket.
'Can I see that again?' I motion for him to hand it over...'Did that say...1908?'
He doesn't answer...
Back on the television, House is ranting. I watch for a few minutes, then I remember. The weird outfit Eron was wearing when I first met him. The way he talks. The fact that a remote control is a foreign concept to him. He acts like he just arrived in a time machine...
He turns to me. 'Yes?'
It's only then that I realize I'm staring at him, my mouth half open...'Um. Just wondering if you would like some...um, Cheez-Its.'
He wrinkles his nose. 'Pardon?'
I gulp. Lack of Cheez-It recognition. Not a good sign. 'Maybe some Oreos?'
I mean, everyone has to know Milk's Favorite Cookie, right?
Not right. He's looking at me like I sprouted wings. Oh, hell no" (166-167).

Most Romantic Couple of 2010:

1) Persephone & Zach from Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus-

and #'s 2 & 3

Estella & Edgar from Feather by Abra Ebner-

"Estella's magical life as an orphan was never easy, and at eighteen, she is finally free. In her desperate attempt to leave the city behind and unravel her strange talents, she flees to a secluded college nestled deep in the forests of the North Cascades. It is here that she hopes to escape her painful life, and forgotten past.
As classes begin, Elle struggles to find her place, until she meets Professor Edgar. Young, handsome, yet terrifying, Elle is suddenly intrigued. Despite her fear of him, she finds the strange attraction mesmerizing, dangerous, and somehow familiar. As their acquaintance grows, she is suddenly drawn further into a life she never knew she lived, in a place that finally feels like home. As her happiness returns, so do the demons of her forgotten past. It is here that she finds herself faced with the sacrifice of her life, and the beginning of a journey deeply rooted in our existence.
Feather takes us into the darkest regions of our soul, into a world where we only dream to exist. Book one of the series introduces us to this new world, a place closely rooted in our dreams, and a place we ve all been. Begin the journey your soul craves, in a world where warrior's spring from the earth and magic is all around us."

Joe & Lennie from The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson-

"...I've just realized something incredible. This is it--what all the hoopla is about, what Wuthering Heights is about--it all boils down to this feeling rushing through me in this moment with Joe as our mouths refuse to part. Who knew all this time I was one kiss away from being Cathy and Juliet and Elizabeth Bennet and Lady Chatterley!?
Years ago, I was crashed in Gram's garden and Big asked me what I was doing. I told him I was looking up at the sky. He said, 'That's a misconception, Lennie, the sky is everywhere, it begins at your feet.'
Kissing Joe, I believe this, for the first time in my life...
'That was--" I can hardly form words.
'Incredible,' he interrupts. 'Fucking incroyable.'


Sweetest Love in a Novel Read in 2010:
♥ Sam and Grace from the Wolves of Mercy Falls Trilogy
♥ & Tristan and Ivy, Will and Ivy from the Kissed by an Angel Trilogy

Insanely Hilarious Read of 2010: 
Believe it or not, but I laughed a ton throughout the House of Night series by P.C. & Kristin Cast. There's just such a wide variety of characters that never fail in making me feel better, in cheering me up, in pushing me into fits of side-splitting laughter. I only have to read about Aphrodite giving somebody attitude, or Damien & Jack, or the Twins, or (most especially) Stark! I cannot wait for the next installment in this awesome, humorous paranormal love series! 

"Actually, since I'm gay I think I should count for two guys instead of just one. I mean, in me you get the male point of view and you don't have to worry about me wanting to touch your boobies." ~Damien (Marked)

"Check it out-this is a copy of a painting of a Greek High Priestess named Calliope. it says she was also the Poet Laureate after Sappho. Doesn't she look exactly like Cher?'
'Wow, that's insane. She does look just like young Cher,' Erin said.
'Yeah, before she started wearing those white wigs. What the hell's up with that?' Shaunee said.
Damien gave the Twins a look. 'There is nothing wrong with Cher. Absolutely. Nothing.'
'Uh-oh,' Shaunee said.
'Stepped on a gay nerve,' Erin agreed."

"'We're so special, when you look in the dictionary under short bus, there's a group picture of us,' Stevie Rae said, sounding weak but definitely alive."

Most Heartfelt Novel of '10:

So incredibly happy to own this one!

Creepiest, Most Thrilling Novels Happened Upon in 2010:

Best Quotes/Scenes of 2010:

"'Spanish, huh?' [Wesley] said, glancing down at the scattered papers as he grabbed them. 'Can you say something interesting[,Bianca]?'

'El tono de tu voz hace que me quiera estrangularme.' I stood up and waited for him to hand over my papers.

'That sounds sexy,' he said, getting to his feet and handing me the stack of Spanish work he'd swept together. 'What's it mean?'

'The sound of your voice makes me want to strangle myself.'

'Kinky'" (17-18).

2010 Novel with the Greatest Impact:
The winner is...
... Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Particularly because of those journal entries inside the red moleskine journal, which were so touching, moving, and included so much depth and insight!


(Only) A Few of the Best Authors of 2010: 
1) Julie Kagawa, author of the Iron Fey series...

 ... it is my personal opinion that any author who is capable of such talent (as exhibited above) and such humor (also shown above) then she (or he) must undoubtedly ROCK.

2) Kiersten White, author of Paranormalcy
3) Andrea Cremer, author of Nightshade
4) Lisa Desrochers, author of Personal Demons
5) Jackie Morse Kessler, author of Hunger 

Spiciest, Most Encouraged Love Triangle of 2010:
Nightshade's  Ren Laroche vs. Shay Doran: who does Calla Tor, alpha of the Nightshades, really want?
(Woo! Team Ren!)

Coolest Cover Reveals of 2010: 

1)

So, so, so preeetty!

& #'s 2 and 3-

Best Bad Ass in a 2010 Novel:
From Lisa Desrocher's Personal Demons, the winner is...

GABRIEL!

*bursts out laughing* Nah, just playing. In fact, I actually meant his frenemy: LUC (or Lucifer)!

Sexiest, Arrogant Guys in 2010 Novels:

WILL HERONDALE from The Clockwork Angel

&

STARK from the House of Night series

Favorite Heroines of '10:

•  Lena Duchannes from Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
• & Shay McGuire from Crave by Melinda Metz and Laura J. Burns

2010 Book Trailers that Blew Me Away:

A Precious Novel Moment from a 2010 Novel:

An excerpt of one of Shay's journal entries from Crave:
"That's what Gabriel said, to Ernst. That he'd never known his parents. Then he asked if that meant he didn't really know himself.
But Ernst just smiled. He said that even if your conscious mind doesn't hold memories of your parents, your soul holds on to them. Your body knows who they were; the knowledge is written in your very cells. Who they were is who you are, so there's no need to trouble yourself. That's what he told Gabriel, and Gabriel thought it was so beautiful...
That makes it easier. I might die without ever even meeting [my dad]. I probably will. But that doesn't mean I don't know him in my soul" (92-93).

Most Anticipated Novels of 2011:

1. Other Words for Love by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal
2. Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa
3. Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
4. The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell
5. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
6. Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton
7. Divergent by Veronica Roth
8. Strange Fate by L.J. Smith
9. Wolf Pact by Melissa De La Cruz
10. Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles
11. Rage by Jackie Morse Kessler

& Thanks for reading!