Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Book Quotes

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic: 

Favorite Book Quotes 
Welcome to this week's Top Ten Tuesday, where I prove what a rebel I am by sharing not ten but twelve of my favorite book quotes. #totalbadass

But if I’m it, the last of my kind, the last page of human history, like hell I’m going to let the story end this way. I may be the last one, but I am the one still standing. I am the one turning to face the faceless hunter in the woods on an abandoned highway. I am the one not running but facing. Because if I am the last one, then I am humanity. And if this is humanity’s last war, then I am the battlefield.

The 5^th Wave, Rick Yancey

So I’m not about to apologize for loving all these things about you, no matter the reasons or the circumstances behind them. And no, I don’t need days, or weeks, or months to think about why I love you. It’s an easy answer for me. I love you because of you.

because of

every

single

thing

about you.

Point of Retreat, Colleen Hoover

Women are meant to be loved, not to be understood.

(Note: This happens to be my favorite quote ever.)

Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime and Other Stories, Oscar Wilde

You look so blindingly cute right now, I feel like I need to make a pinhole in a piece of paper just to look at you.

Fangirl, Rainbow Rowell

When the day shall come that we do part, if my last words are not “I love you’, ye’ll ken it was because I didna have time.

The Fiery Cross, Diana Gabaldon

I would always rather be happy than dignified.

Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte

I know what I think, but people don’t want you to say what you think. They want you to say what they think. And knowing what that is isn’t easy.

A List of Cages, Robin Roe

I haven’t had a very good day. I think I might still be hung over and everyone’s dead and my root beer’s gone.

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown, Holly Black

From now on I will only address people by nodding at them.

That’s stupid, why would you do that?

Because it says that ‘I am a badass and I recognize that you, too, are a badass.’

City of Glass, Cassandra Clare

She “loved me” in quotations.

She kissed me in bold.

I TRIED TO KEEP HER in all caps.

She left with an ellipsis…

November 9, Colleen Hoover

You love me. Real or not real?

I tell him, “Real.”

Mockingjay, Suzanne Collins

Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind.

“Pooh” he whispered.

“Yes, Piglet?”

“Nothing,” said Piglet, taking Pooh’s paw. “I just wanted to be sure of you.”

The House at Pooh Corner, A.A. Milne

Have you read any of these books?

Review: Lake Silence by Anne Bishop

Lake Silence by Anne Bishop

Series: The Others #6

Genres: Urban Fantasy

Release Date: March 6, 2018

Format: eARC

Source: NetGalley & Berkley Publishing

Find it here: GoodReads | Amazon

Human laws do not apply in the territory controlled by the Others–vampires, shapeshifters, and paranormal beings even more deadly. And this is a fact that humans should never, ever forget . . .

After her divorce, Vicki DeVine took over a rustic resort near Lake Silence, in a human town that is not human controlled. Towns like Vicki’s have no distance from the Others, the dominant predators that rule most of the land and all of the water throughout the world. And when a place has no boundaries, you never really know what’s out there watching you.

Vicki was hoping to find a new career and a new life. But when her lodger, Aggie Crowe–one of the shapeshifting Others–discovers a dead body, Vicki finds trouble instead. The detectives want to pin the man’s death on her, despite the evidence that nothing human could have killed the victim. As Vicki and her friends search for answers, things get dangerous–and it’ll take everything they have to stay alive.

I have been eagerly awaiting this latest installment in The Others series and I'm happy to say that it did not disappoint!

In Lake Silence, Bishop leaves the Lakeside Courtyard and the residents I've come to know and love and sets this latest tale in the small village of Sproing. Human inhabited... but not human controlled. Surrounded by the Wild Country, where The Others have free rein, Sproing is now home to Vicki DeVine. Hoping to turn the property she received in her divorce settlement into a successful business, things take a turn when her lodger finds a dead body. And things certainly take off from there.

There's all new cast of characters in Lake Silence and Bishop spun her magic and made each one unique, quirky and full of personality. From Vicki, still struggling after years in an emotionally abusive marriage, to Wayne Grimshaw, the cop called in from a neighboring town who is quickly embroiled in the apparent murder, to Julian Farrow, a former cop now running a small bookshop and who has an uncanny sense about the area around him. There's the charming and almost childlike Aggie Crowgard, Vicki's lodger who quickly becomes an important part of the story and whose constant search for "shiny" was always amusing. 

And let's not forget The Others. Those seen - like Aggie, and like Ilya Sanguinati, Vicki's vampire attorney - and those unseen. Those that live in the wild, those that are heard or felt or even sensed. Bishop has a way of imparting just how lethal The Others truly are without ever making them the "bad guys." In fact, with their strong sense of right and wrong, their swift justice, and their loyalty to those who deserve it, it is most often the humans who show a lack of humanity and are doing the most harm.

I was thoroughly invested in Lake Silence. From the characters, to the mystery, to the world building, Bishop totally captured my imagination and kept me glued to my Kindle as the story unfolded. While Lake Silence can easily be read as a stand-alone, I highly recommend grabbing the previous books and immersing yourself fully in the world of The Others. Meanwhile, I'll be ready and waiting for the next book in this addictive series!

4/5 STARS

Do you enjoy urban fantasy?

The Sunday Post #97

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

It's a chance to share news - a post to recap the past week on your blog, 

showcase books and things we have received, and share news about what is

coming up on your blog in the week ahead. You can find the info here:

Sunday Post Meme

• Things are mostly back to normal this week. Back to work, reading more. Still have no voice (a side effect from all the coughing, I guess?) and still feeling run down. I went to bed before 8 PM several nights this week. I now have the sleeping schedule of a 6 year old. LOL

• Epic Reads just shared their picks for YA books with awesome female protagonists. If you're looking for a new read with some kick-butt girl power, check out their list.

Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better: 10 Books With Awesome Female Characters

• On a totally different note, does anyone use an Instant Pot? I rarely cook since we eat out most nights, but I'm still mildly intrigued. If you use one, what are your thoughts?

Wednesday, February 28
Review:
Good Boy by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy

Friday, March 2
Review:
Stay by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy

Saturday, March 3
Best In Books | February 2018

WHAT I READ IN THE LAST WEEK:

  

Lake Silence (The Others #6) - Anne Bishop

Scrappy Little Nobody (Audio) - Anna Kendrick

WHAT I'M CURRENTLY READING: 

 Love and Other Words - Christina Lauren

    

KINDLE BOOKS:

Turbulence - Whitney G.

*Was offered for free through Whitney's newsletter

eARCS FOR REVIEW:

 

Love and Other Words - Christina Lauren

The Raging Ones - Krista & Becca Ritchie

How was your week? Any new books? Any news to share? 

I'd love to hear about it!

Best In Books | February 2018

Best in Books is a monthly feature created by BookTuber Hope Ortego. 

A playlist of her Best In Books videos can be found HERE.

_________________________________________________

Best In Books is back!
It's been a long book-slumpy five months since my last Best In Books post. And I've missed it! The reading slump is a thing of the past and I'm excited to bring back my favorite feature. Now let's chat it up about the best of February. 

Best in Books was created by my friend Hope and she was kind enough to let me join in on her feature (because she's awesome that way). Her BookTube channel is linked above and I hope you'll check her out. Now on to all the best bookishness in February...

Evelyn from The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
What a character! I never knew quite what to make of Evelyn. She was ambitious and manipulative, single-minded and selfish. She was also capable of great love, true friendship and compassion. One thing I liked most about Evelyn: she was no quitter. And she didn't take no for answer. This woman was going to always find a way. She suffered for some of her choices but she had few regrets and was a fascinating woman.

Blake from Good Boy

Yes, I did refer to Blake as an overgrown man-child in my review of Good Boy, but that was just part of his charm. He could be a goofball, he had crazy theories, and he had a habit of giving terrible nicknames. But Blake also had a heart of gold and did so much for others. He was so selfless and was always there when others needed a hand and did so much for everyone around him. His goofy demeanor meant that many missed out on how kind he truly was. I really loved the funny guy with the big heart.

Autoboyography by Christina Lauren
This cover! It caught my attention even before I knew anything about the book. The colors (swoon), the starry sky, the two figures standing together on the book spine. Gorgeous. And now, having read the book, I appreciate all the elements on the cover that have meaning in the book. Love, love, love this cover.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid


“No one is just a victim or a victor. Everyone is somewhere in between. People who go around casting themselves as one or the other are not only kidding themselves, but they're also painfully unoriginal."

Matt Eriksson: Stay by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy
Bowen and Kennedy are just magic at creating characters that are likable, lovable and yeah, downright hot. Matt is a perfect example. He's a hockey star but he's neither cocky nor arrogant. He's down to earth, kind and thoughtful, and a doting father to four year old twin daughters. He was so great with main character Hailey - flirtatious without being sleazy, honest about his past, and what he could offer with his crazy schedule.  What I loved most about Matt was that despite his lifestyle and money and fame, he was truly humble and kind and tried so hard to make his new relationship work. And that made him a seriously swoony character.

Lucian De Vincent: Moonlight Sins by Jennifer L. Armentrout

The de Vincent family may be considered American royalty but they also have quite the reputation. And Lucian is dubbed in the press as Lucifer. I mean, does it get any more "bad boy" than that? :) Obviously there are Reasons (aren't there always?) but I totally enjoyed Lucian's cocky sarcasm and lecherous charm. 

Royally Matched by Emma Chase

I know, I know, who would think that a book with cutesy title and a bare-chested man on the cover would deliver all the feels? But it did deliver. I've learned that Chase's books, while lots of fun, also pack an emotional punch and surprise me with the way her characters kind of burrow in to my heart. I was totally invested in Henry and Sarah's story and just when I thought I knew the direction it was going it took a turn that amped up the emotion and made the characters even more likable. I admit to shedding a few tears by the end of this one!

it rode in on

Autoboyography by Christina Lauren

Seeing as how this was my first 5 star read of the year, picking this as the best book of the month was a no-brainer.  I loved everything about Autoboyography. Tanner was a main character that  I liked from the very start. Smart, funny, self-aware. I enjoyed his perspective and his voice. Sebastian was a complicated character and his conflict was presented so well. Christina Lauren did an amazing job of  showcasing family, friendship, religion and sexuality in such an honest way, with both humor and heart.

 ______________________________________________________

Now it's your turn: 
What is the best book you read in February? 

Review: Stay by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy

Stay by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy

Series: WAGs #2

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance

Release Date: June 20, 2017

Format: Kindle

Source: Purchased

Find it here: GoodReads | Amazon

Hailey Taylor Emery has a hunch that her favorite client at Fetch--an anonymous virtual assistant service--is actually hockey star Matt Eriksson.

Although it's against the rules for her to check his file, she's 95% sure she spends at least part of each day texting with her lifelong crush and catering to his every need. Still nursing a wounded heart thanks to her recent breakup, Hailey is perfectly content with some harmless online flirting...until she has to meet her client. Face to face. Cue: utter panic.

Matt Eriksson is no stranger to heartbreak. He's still not over the destruction of his marriage, and it sucks to be the only guy on the team who knows the truth--that hockey and long-term relationships are a toxic mix. He barely sees his kids, and dealing with his ex makes him feel insane. The only person in his life who seems to understand is someone who won't show her pretty face.

But it's nothing that a pair of fourth row hockey seats can't fix. Hailey can't resist the offer. Matt can't resist Hailey. Good thing he doesn't have to. Fire up the kiss cam!

The more I read from writing duo Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy the more I am convinced that some kind of magic happens when these two women come together. Super sexy hockey players + the women (or men) who love them + laugh out loud humor + smokin’ hot sexytimes + low drama = a winning combination that keeps me coming back for more.

Hailey’s confidence took a real nosedive post-divorce and she’s a basket of nerves when she realizes one of her top clients is actually hockey star Matt Ericksson. Meeting her crush face to face is exciting but also intimidating for the rabid hockey fan. Matt is still smarting from his divorce and his ex’s claims that his lifestyle made him a failure as a husband. The only bright spot for the single dad are his four year old twin daughters. But there’s a new bright spot in his life – the gorgeous, but skittish, owner of Fetch, the virtual assistant app he uses. He knows he can’t commit to another relationship, his career torpedoed his marriage after all, but the more he spends time with Hailey the more tempted he is.  

“The best things in life are the ones you don’t expect.”

Matt was completely endearing. His obvious love for his daughters made my heart melt and the venom that his ex-wife spewed at him made my heart hurt for him. She was relentless and he was left guilt-ridden over his supposed failure to make his marriage work. I loved watching him slowly bring Hailey into his life but even then he beat himself up over every missed dinner, every delayed flight, and I felt such empathy for him. Hailey was likable enough and her lack of confidence after her divorce was understandable, but her continued brain-addled reactions to Matt felt over the top and carried on too long. Yes, she’d had a crush on Matt and hadn’t dated since her divorce, but still… we’re talking about an almost 30 year old woman, not a star-struck teenage girl.

“She has no idea how much this means to me. 

I’ve spent the last year and change believing myself unfit 

to be anyone’s partner. And maybe it’s true. But by spending

 her day with me – and her night – Hailey lets me believe I’m

 not a lost cause, that my messy life is worth sharing at least

 when I can manage it.”

While Stay wasn’t my favorite among the previous related books (the Him/Us duology and Good Boy, the first WAGs book), that's only because the others are hard to beat. Stay is a solid story of a couple facing realistic challenges: navigating relationships post-divorce, dealing with exes, making time for a relationship despite demanding careers. I loved the inclusion of so many characters that I adore from the previous books (Wesmie! Blake!) and I’m already not-so-patiently waiting for the next book in the WAGs series.

4/5 STARS

Do you enjoy sports romances?