BEST OF 2012 GIVEAWAY

2012 was good to this little reader. 

My reading total for 2012 is 238 books. I might get a few more in before January comes, but that is still a heck of a lot of books I'd say. There was a long list of books that I didn't finish. I would start a  book and if it didn't hold my interest I would move on. That happened rarely last year, but this year I was trying to read all of the new releases and also discover some lesser known books to love. 

Because I was digging for gems I did discover a new beloved genre I call British Chick-Lit, which has a totally different feel than Chick-Lit in the states. I found my new very bestest favoritest author this year Miss Sarra Manning who I freaking love and adore. Manning's books and other Britsh books weren't books that my library had so I had to buy them all used from Amazon, and many came from across the pond. In the end, it was worth it to have them in my permanent library for sure. 

I started this blog in January and didn't even think I would ever get even 100 followers in a years time and I am so happy to have the followers that I do have. Much thanks goes to I Am A Reader, Not A Writer for hosting so many awesome blog hops that have brought readers my way. I kind of love hosting a giveaway. 

For this giveaway a winner gets to chose which book they would like from my top 10 favorites of 2012!

10. Johnny Be Good & Baby Be Mine by Paige Toon

I am listing these two books as one book because they go hand in hand together like BFFs! I have loved all of Toon's books that I read this year, but these were my personal favorites because I love a bad boy rock star. Toon has a way of sucking you in to a world of great detail and not boring you one bit.

9. The Queen of Kentucky by Alicia Whitaker

I read this all the way back on January 2 and I am still thinking about it fondly. So many books try to capture this feeling of coming of age and this book is super successful at making you feel 14 again. Ricky Jo (or Erica as she would like to be called now) is adorable and strong, while still being young and kinda stupid. I wanted to cheer for her every step of the way. Plus this book has one freaking sweety as the boy next door.

8. Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley

This was probably the book I was  most excited to read in 2012, and it didn't disappoint. Crowley has the gift of turning ordinary words into something magical without feeling like the words are trying to hard to be poetic. In Graffiti Moon she again created characters that just like in my #2 read of 2011 book A Little Wanting Song,  I could read about them doing nothing for hours. 

7. I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella

Sophie Kinsella's books are either strong hits or strong misses for me. And I've Got Your Number was a super strong hit for me. I was laughing out loud before I even finished the first chapter. My daughter kept asking me "What is so funny Mommy?" while I was enjoying this book. It is a typical romantic comedy without being typical. It reads like your favorite rom-com flick, and I dare say will soon be one.

6. The Savage Grace by Bree Despain

This book has gotten a lot of play on my blog because the author is one of my bestest pals, but her being my friend does not guarantee a spot on my top ten of the year for her book. This is one amazing end to a great series. Each book in The Dark Divine trilogy gets better and more clever, which is a rare thing with series books in my opinion. The way this book ends is just simply perfect, and it also doesn't hurt that my husband is a character in this last installment.

5. My Best Friend's Girl by Dorothy Koomson

I was sucked into this tale by page two. This is my favorite kind of novel. I felt totally consumed by the characters and their story while I read this, with characters that I feel like I could easily know in real life. There is talk of sex, but with nothing explicit which I always appreciate. The drama is the perfect amount. It isn't over the top but you find the story just enough out of the ordinary day-to-day life stuff to keep you reading more and more.

4. Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

I'm surprised I even read this. I don't like fantasy type books, and I didn't like previous books by this author at all. But I was seriously surprised to find myself in love with this story. It was so beautifully written and I loved reading Tinkerbell's voice. The story is childlike, but dark. The best kind of tale with heartfelt quotes on love and loss.

3. You Don't Have to Say You Love Me by Sarra Manning

Oh Sarra Manning how I love you. When I bought this I had read some of Manning's YA titles and I wanted to see how she writes for adults. This book follows the life of two dysfunctional adults that find functionality in each other. It has some saucy scenes that is for sure, but Manning doesn't write her love scenes in a typical romance style way, but more in a way that just tells it like it is. I can't wait to re-read this.

2. Nobody's Girl by Sarra Manning

I normally would avoid putting two books by the same author on a list, but this was my favorite YA by awesome Sarra Manning and therefore worth sharing. This one started out a little frustrating with our sweet main character being tortured by the mean girls at school, but as soon as they are out of the picture this book really takes off. Read this book and walk hand in hand through the streets of Paris with undoubtedly my favorite male love interest of all freaking time!

1. The Probability Of Miracles by Wendy Wunder

This magical book is spent in the realm of reality while tip-toeing into the fantasy. I seem to be immune to sad books, but this one had me laughing throughout and crying for ten minutes after I finished. It is so rare that I read anything that is different than any other book I have ever read, and this was just that. I want to live in the world where this book takes place.

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