Top Ten Books That Will Make You Cry

 

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.  If your curious about this meme, visit Top Ten Tuesday where they have previous topics and upcoming topics listed as well.

Today's topic is Top Ten Books that will make you cry.  To be honest, I think I cry easily.  I can cry at commercials.  But, I don't seem to cry while reading very often.   So, here are mine in random order.

 

1. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling- I read this all day the day it came out, I reached the end about midnight and I remember sitting in bed just crying.  I had not expected those events.  

2. Daughter's of the Nile by Stephanie Dray - I don't normally cry in historical fiction.  Usually events are well known.  But, Dray managed to put into words what I can only imagine.  I cried twice during this book. 

3.  Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys - I've seen this pop up a lot recently. I've even recommended it to friends even though it's been some time since I read it.  Beautifully told!

4. Thirteen Reasons Why  by Jay Asher - There's lots of mixed opinions on this book.  But, I found it heart wrenching.    

 

5. Voyager  by Diana Gabaldon - I still remember the scene were Claire walks back in time again and finds Jamie in the print shop.  I was all choked up!

6. If I Stay by Gayle Forman - I sat on my front porch one afternoon and read this book cover to cover, and cried the entire time.  It's touching!

7. Speak  by Laurie Halse Anderson -  This is one of those books that I hope my daughters read as teens.  Granted I also hope we have a relationship far better so the feel comfortable talking to me about anything!

8. Flags of Our Fathers by James Bradley - This was never a book I had to read.  But, my dad really wanted me to.  I have so many emotions when it comes to this book.

 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list. Click on the picture to be taken to Sheila at One Person's Journey Through A World of Books!

 

Read Last Week: 

• The Offering by Kimberly Derting
• Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi  

Currently Reading: 

 

• Elizabeth of York by Alison Weir
• Defy by Sara B Larson

 

Up This Week: 

 

• Manor of Secrets by Katherine Longshore
•  A Study in Ashes by Emma Jane Holloway

 

 

Stacking the Shelves!

For Reviews: 

• Chantress Alchemy by Amy Butler Greenfield 
• The Debt of Tamar by Nicole Dweck  

 

Stacking The Shelves is all about the books we are adding to our shelves each week, sharing with you our excitement for our newest titles and maybe have you discover a new book in the process!  It's hosted by Tynga's Reviews!

Book Blogger Hop and Feature and Follow Friday

Book Blogger Hop is Hosted by Ramblings of A Coffee Addicted Writer

 

When you receive new books in the mail, do the older ones get moved to the bottom of your list or do go strictly "by the book" and keep your list with older books first and then the new ones?

 

I review my books for review as close to release date as I can.  There are the occasional book that I will read early due to excitement for the release and others that fall behind.  For those that I have purchased, there is no rhyme an reason to when I will read it.  I'm pretty sure I have books on my selves that are from 2008 or 2009 that I haven't read yet.

 

 

 

Feature and Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee & Alison Can Read

 

Time for Book Spine Poetry again! Take a picture of your book spines spelling out something epic.

Heartless
Tempestuous
Wishful Thinking
Ice
Nobody's Princess

Review - Awakening (The Chrysalis Series #1) by Elene Sallinger (ADULT)

Title: Awakening

Author: Elene Sallinger

Series: 1st

Pages: 224

Published:  November 5th 2013 by Sourcebooks Casablanca 

ISBN:9781402289507

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

Description: River Rock, Vermont, 2011: This is the story of Claire Ryan and Evan Lang. Thirty-five-year-old Claire joins a local book club for romance readers in order to get over the breakdown of her 10-year relationship. There she meets book shop owner Evan, a dominant man who has never recovered from the sudden death of his submissive wife.  As their relationship develops and they embark on the path of Claire's submission, it becomes harder and harder for Evan to keep his emotional distance. Claire is open and responsive and he wants her badly, but refuses to let himself go. As Claire falls deeper in love with Evan, she realises that he is holding back and decides to end their relationship, forcing Evan to confront his own past and his feelings in order to save his new love.  

I Give This ...

 

I wasn't sure I was going to review this on my blog.  This site tends toward young adult with the occasional younger book thrown in.  But, I realized I'm a grown adult and I think most of my readers are as well.  

I've read a few BSDM books.  Some of it really is hard for me to take.  But, this one was presented in a very 'tasteful" fashion.  I think it would be good for those easing themselves in the genre.  I really liked Claire.  It's interesting to me that she came from a very abusive relationship.  While you constantly hear of women who claim they deserved their beatings, Claire actually craved it.  But, she never recognized that it was delivered in the wrong context.  It wasn't until her relationship is long over that she realized what it was she wanted.  But, these types of relationships take care and consideration.  They aren't to be entered into lightly.

I understood that Claire had an intense attraction to Evan.  But I was a little disappointed that she agreed to his terms.  I know she realized that she was not a replacement for his deceased wife, but Evan never realized that.  It was like he refused to see Claire for herself.  In turn, he was denying himself what he really wanted.  If her recognized Claire as a true submissive, he was doing her a great disservice by treating her the way he did.

I'm happy they finally admitted what they both needed.  I liked that this book was not just about the BSDM lifestyle but about the dynamics of the relationship.

 

 

 

Review - A Breath of Frost (The Lovegrove Legacy #1) by Alyxandra Harvey

Title: A Breath of Frost 

Author: Alyxandra Harvey

Series: 1st

Pages: 496

Published: January 7th 2014 by Walker Childrens

ISBN: 9780802734433

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

 

Description: In 1814, three cousins—Gretchen, Emma, and Penelope—discover their family lineage of witchcraft when a binding spell is broken, allowing their individual magical powers to manifest. Now, beyond the manicured gardens and ballrooms of Regency London, an alluring underworld available only to those with power is revealed to the cousins. By claiming their power, the three cousins have accidentally opened the gates to the underworld.  Now ghouls, hellhounds—and most terrifying of all, the spirits of dark witches known as the Greymalkin Sisters—are hunting and killing young debutante witches for their powers. And, somehow, Emma is connected to the murders…because she keeps finding the bodies. Can the cousins seal the gates before another witch is killed…or even worse, before their new gifts are stripped away? 

First Line: Breaking into a dead woman's house was easy work since she rarely complained.

  

 I Give This ...

 

I tend to gravitate to this author when I see her name pop up on a book.  But, I have to be honest and say I haven't been wowed since her vampire series.  I really hoped this book would spark that interest again.  Sadly, it wasn't quite so.

I really liked how close these three cousins are because when you learn about their mothers, you realize it couldn't easily have been that they have nothing to with each other.  They get through it all no matter what the costs.  When Emma accidentally breaks the binding spell and all hell breaks loose, Gretchen and Penelope never hesitant to be right behind her helping solve their complicated past.

And complicated it is.  I really think that's were this story lost me.  There's just a lot of details that padded the story to the point it was too much.  First the history of witchcraft isn't as simple as one would think.  There's also a hierarchy that's in place that just didn't work for me.   Which is funny because it's really everywhere.  I didn't enjoy how only those from aristocratic backgrounds that demonstrated powers could be trained and attend the academy.  I also still don't understand what The Order does.  Do the protect or control?

I wasn't disinterested to the point that I put the book down though.  I really wanted to know more about Emma's mother and why she put the binding spell in place.  I really enjoyed our brief glimpses we get of who she was and who she is now.  There's also a few great little twists to the story that helped bring the book up a little.  

I'm not giving up on this author yet.  I just don't think I connect with her paranormal historical fiction as much as I would like.  

 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list. Click on the picture to be taken to Sheila at One Person's Journey Through A World of Books!

 

 

Read Last Week: 

• Neverwas by Kelly Moore, Tucker Reed, & Larkin Reed (DNF) 
• Awakening by Elene Sallinger 

 

 Currently Reading: 

• The Offering by Kimberly Derting

 

Up This Week:

• Elizabeth of York by Alison Weir 
• Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi