My Favorite Books I READ in 2014

                Hello everyone, I hope you had a fantastic Christmas!  I did not get anything else done before Christmas besides baking and I’m sorry about that, but to prepare for the New Year I wanted to discuss with you some of my favorite books of 2014.  Now these are going to books that I read this year, not so much books that came out this year as I was playing catch up as usual.  I could simply say my entire reading list, because looking back I can only think of 1 book that got less than 4 stars. 

Reading only 1 meh book in a year is fantastic.  I call it a reading wonder this year.  I’m also catching up on a bunch of books that were huge hits and highly recommended.  I’ll like my Goodreads account here if you want to add me or simply see my whole reading year list.  It took a very long time, but I’ve narrowed it down to my top 14, for 2014.  These are in no particular order just the way they were jumbled down on my notes as I slowly whittled down my list.  I didn’t count any that were re-reads though because that wouldn’t be fair. So let’s get started, oh and I'll link any reviews I have with the books:

City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments) by Cassandra Clare

                Come on this was the final book in The Mortal Instruments series.  Sure it’s not the end of the Shadowhunter world with some of the characters we were introduced to for the next series, but it was the end of something major.  I started this series late, go figure.  Later part 2013 and I was so happy to be able to power through them and The Infernal Devices to be ready for this finale with everyone else.  It was a huge and filling book that kept me on the edge of my seat, made me cry, laugh, scream, and everything else in between.  It also got me further pumped for the next series The Dark Artifices.

 Sinner (The Wolves of Mercy Falls) by Maggie Stiefvater

                I had the excited fangirl pleasure to meet Maggie Stiefvater and chat with her about books and random stuff.  I was just proud I didn’t stutter like a star struck fool or faint.  The one book I didn’t get signed, because I already had the special cover edition signed copy one, was Sinner.  I first fell in love with her beautiful way of writing with Shiver and was sad to see the end of the series and know she had no intention of writing anything further about Sam and Grace in The Wolves of Mercy Falls series.  I had been pranked via social media before about another book in the series so I doubted Sinner was real at first.  Boy was I doing my happy dance when I found out it was real.  I was getting another book in the series, a companion novel focused on other characters, but I was game.  Sinner was everything I expected and more and I loved following Cole and Isabel and also hearing snippets from Sam and Grace.  Heaven!  Click here for my full review of Sinner.

Silver Shadows by Richelle Mead

                I LOVE The Vampire Academy series!  I was ecstatic to find out they were doing a spin-off / sequel series called Bloodlines.  I read all TVA books when the last one came out no waiting between books.  Bloodlines I have been buying them the day they come out, reading it in a day maybe 2 depending if I had work that day or not, and then waiting another year yearning for more.  THIS ONE…was the longest wait.  Maybe not literally, I don’t know the exact days anymore but the way The Fiery Heart leaves you hanging…such an ending was pure torture to wait.  It was went above and beyond my HIGH expectations and left me sated until February 10, 2015 when the last book in this series The Ruby Circle comes out.

Lux Beginnings:  Obsidian and Onyx (Lux) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

                I marathoned this whole series in the span of 10 days and I want to pick all the books as my favorites but if I had to pick I’d go with the first 2 Obsidian and Onyx because they were the catalyst that had me hooked.  Yes I can cheat and pick two because, haha, I got the matching set so I have the 3 bind-ups which technically means 2 books is 1 book on my shelf.  I’m claiming it.  I did a review I’ll link here for the series so I won’t say much accept how much I adored this series.  I loved Katy and how relatable she was and how down to Earth things were even with Aliens.  Okay my lame attempt at puns aside, the story that plays out over the series brings out every emotion in you several times not caring where you are when you happen to be reading.  I reviewed the first book, Obsidian and the series as a whole here.

 Rook (Allie’s War) by J.C. Andrijeski

                This book surprised me.  I got it through NetGalley, my review is here, thinking it was a new book/series, as I was reading and went to update my Goodreads I found I was wrong.  First book in a series that had several books out already.  This one falls more in line of New Adult to Adult as the characters are a bit older, 20’s, and age through the series of course, but there are serious adult themes as well like lots of sexual content both in good fun times and not so fun ways, violence, language, and everything.  This book had it all.  After finishing it I couldn’t just review it I had to read more.  I am currently caught up with all the Allie’s War books currently out.  She is a very talented writer who weaves characters and stories together and never lets you rest and think you have a hold on things…it will just be shaken up all over again.  This book got me into a series and into a new author for me which has expanded my reading and that is important.

 Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

                Adorable!  That’s the best I can do to describe it.  I just loved it.  It was a happy break between the more serious books I was reading about wars and the end of the world.  I plan to get a review up on it soon as well with all of my thoughts and also to read the other two books Lola and Isla.

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

                Like Anna this was one of the more adorable books I have read.  For my full review check here.  Cath is just so relatable and easy to understand you feel like you are on her journey with her.  Her story resonated with me and in doing so captured my heart J

Champion (Legend series) by Marie Lu

                I just finished the last book in the Legend series, Champion the other day.  I again would pick the whole series but the conclusion just blew me away.  It wasn’t that I liked it better than the others by any means but that it was the end and I was very satisfied with the ending, even if I did have to put it down for a bit before I could finish.  You cannot have too many feels at work or your co-workers start to talk.  I’ll have more up soon for the series as a whole.

 Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

                Another series I am behind on.  I’m currently working my way through the second book in the series Crown of Midnight now and loving it as well.  Calaena is an assassin, the best assassin.  She comes from a dark place and manages to bring herself out of that hollow and into something.  The situation isn’t the best, but it is leaps and bounds above where she was.  Throne of Glass is a fantasy world full of action, intrigue, romance, and a compelling story that pulls you in immediately.  I plan to do a full review once I get caught up with the series.

Angelfall (Penryn & the End of Days) by Susan Ee

                I had heard about this book series from a few people and wanted to check it out.  Turns out my brother had read the first book on the Kindle by the time I ordered my copies and was telling me how amazing it was wanting me to find out when the 3^rd book comes out.  I’m slowly teaching him about book related apps but am also more than happy to be his book info source.  I read them both quickly and now eagerly await for May 12^th for the next one.  Penryn is compelling, a girl who had to grow up before her time which helped her be somewhat prepared for the end of the world with evil angels.  And Raffe…oh Raffe.  Come on May 12^th.

 Running on Empty- Colette Ballard

                This is a book I had the pleasure of receiving before it came out to review it (here) and then for the paperback release got to interview the author here and hold my very first (and yes thus far only) giveaway.  River’s story touched me, to have such amazing friends that they would go on the run with you. 

Trial By Fire- Josephine Angelini

                Another book and author I had not heard of before I received this book for review (here).  I have since fell in love and have ordered her other series to check out hopefully in 2015.  I haven’t heard anything new on the sequel yet but I keep checking back regularly hoping for news.

Grimnirs- Ednah Walters

                This book is the first book in the Grimnirs series which works in conjunction with the Runes series.  It focuses on Cora and Echo and has both a clean and regular version.  I overall like the Runes series but having another angel and seeing things from her best friends POV was refreshing and the back and forth with Echo, we see him in a different light to. Full review here.

Cipher - Aileen Erin

                This is a new book series from Ink Monster.  I’ve raved about them before and they had 5 amazing books I adored come out this year.  I ended up choosing this over the others because it was a new start and honestly I didn’t have to choose between 2 books in the 2 other series.  Cipher was an intriguing new start to a series with all the great elements we love of intrigue, actions, romance, and a kick ass heroine but for my full review I’ll link it here.

Those are my top 14 books I read in the year 2014.  Now here are a few honorable mentions that I had trouble cutting from the list. I simply read too many good books this year to pick only 14.

If I Stay- Gayle Forman

                Like the movie I balled my eyes out in both.  The feels are for real.  Review here.

Charming- Krystal Wade

                 Another of my favorite authors.  A horror story fairy tale retelling that was perfect for the Halloween season!  Review here.

And as I mentioned the other Ink Monster works I didn’t want to decide between (click the title to go to reviews):  

Avoiding Alpha & Alpha Divided- Aileen Erin

Scala & Armageddon- Christina Bauer

What do you think?  I would love some comments and feedback to start the year out.  What do you think of my top 14?  Also please share your own picks, my TBR list is never ending.