Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists over at The Broke and the Bookish. They'd love to share their lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week they will post a new top ten list that one of our bloggers at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All they ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

Top Ten Books I Feel As Though Everyone Has Read But Me:

1. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins - Well, you know me and contemps. It's hit or miss, and I'm too scared this will be a miss. Now I'm thinking I might be missing out though, eh?

2. Bloodlines by Richelle Mead - I was late to Vampire Academy, and I'm one of those people that fears a crossover series won't live up. Yikes. I'm sensing a theme.

3. The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson - Well, I tried to read it, but I got stuck on page two, and I put it down and picked up something else. I've seen incredible reviews though, so I'm sure it was a case of the wrong time for a great book.

4. Shut Out by Kody Keplinger - Again with the trend in contemps, I know. Honestly, I struggled with her other book - not because of the writing but because the material just wasn't for me. Colour me nuts. I dunno...maybe I'll come back to this one...

5. Forbidden by Tabitha Suzman - I'm actually DYING to start this one, and I have it on my TBR, but there are so many books I have to review first. I can't wait to start this one though - it's all the right kinds of twisty!

6. Torment by Lauren Kate - I'm sure this series is loved and fawned over by plenty, but I couldn't get past book one. It felt too familiar to me. I doubt I'll be able to continue the series.

7. The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen - Well, I love some of her other titles, but I've never managed to get around to this one...I take it I should though?

8. A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young - Love the cover, I really do, but the premise never really hooked me, unfortunately. Maybe one day it will captivate me. Until then, I'll just enjoy the reviews.

9. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens - So, sue me. This one is one of those that I was ordered to read for middle school and couldn't finish it. I know, I know. I'm horrible. This taste of the classics was too sour for me.

10. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien - Again, sue me. Aragorn is so much better onscreen as Viggo Mortenson...Oh, wait. Did I just say that out loud? Man candy + epic battles + great visuals = movie > book (for me.)

Title: Shadow Kiss
Author: Richelle Mead
Publisher: Razorbill
Published: November 13, 2008
Genre: YA, Paranormal
Pages: 443
Source: Personal Copy

For Rose Hathaway, everything seems out of kilter. Ever since she made her first Strigoi kills, a dark shadow has been creeping over her. Looming in the background, too, is another realization: If she follows her forbidden love for guardian Dimitri Belikov, she might lose her best friend forever.

And these sleep-shaking worries couldn't have come at a worse time. The immortal unloving are prowling everywhere, famished for vengeance against her.

Rose is destined for greatness as Lissa's guardian, and as Lissa is the last of the Dragomir line, it's all the more important. Things are changing though. Rose is finding herself plagued by shadows of those who shouldn't be around anymore, and it's scaring her. To keep control, she begins to keep secrets from those who matter most to her, including Lissa and Dimitri, who might just be the only ones who can help her now. Can she realize that she needs them as much as they need her in time, or will it be too late? There are some things one can't come back from.

I feel this is an appropriate time for me to apologize to all Vampire Academy fans out there for the snide little remarks I made about the series because of the vampire plotline. Colour me nuts, but I'm officially obsessed, and I never in a gazillion-billion-trillian years thought I'd have to concede that. Shadow Kiss is book three in the six book series, and has effectively built the suspense to a fever pitch making it a serious page-turner. Alternating action, drama, suspense and terror on every page, Shadow Kiss is a true triumph for author, Richelle Mead.

I felt the series was a little shaky with book one, I'll admit. I understand why it was the way it was now though. Shadow Kiss doesn't need excessive backstory now because the prior books elaborated and detailed everything one needs to know, so we get dropped right into the action. Rose and Lissa, though close, still have separate lives and turmoil to deal with. For Rose, she's not only trying to come to terms with seeing things, but also trying to hide her love for Dimitri, and it gets harder all the time. I will admit, I found her a bit whiny because of this at times, but it kind of went hand-in-hand with her age. Honestly, Lissa annoyed me at times, too, because she had this total "holier-than-thou," everything is about me attitude. Dimitri, however exudes utter sexiness and power from every page, and let's just say there were several moments during Shadow Kiss that I'm pretty sure my heart fell right out of my body.

Despite aggravating immaturity at times, Shadow Kiss was a fantastic, riveting read that I couldn't put down. I definitely think it's the best of the series thus far. I give it a 4.5 out of 5, and I'd recommend it to all fans of YA, especially those who enjoy paranormal stories and those involving vampires.

In My Mailbox is an amazing weekly meme hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren that features the books we have received during the week. It's so much fun because we get to see what our fellow bloggers stumbled upon this week and add even more to our piles of books! Without further ado, this week I received the following books: (And YES...I'm really back full-time from Africa!)

(ARC) - Then I Met My Sister by Christine Hurley Deriso - Thank you, Flux

(ARC) - I'm Not Her by Janet Gurtler - Thank you, Sourcebooks Fire

(ARC) - Popular by Alissa Grosso - Thank you, Flux

(ARC) - Ashes, Ashes by Jo Treggiari - Thank you, Scholastic

Bitter End by Jennifer Brown - Thank you, Reading Nook

Blood Promise by Richelle Mead - Bought

Title: Frostbite
Author: Richelle Mead
Published: April 10, 2008
Publisher: Razorbill
Genre: YA, Paranormal
Pages: 327
Source: Personal Copy

Rose loves Dimitri, Dimitri might love Tasha, and Mason would die to be with Rose…

It's winter break at St. Vladimir's, but Rose is feeling anything but festive. A massive Strigoi attack has put the school on high alert, and now the Academy's crawling with Guardians—including Rose's hard-hitting mother, Janine Hathaway. And if hand-to-hand combat with her mom wasn't bad enough, Rose's tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason's got a huge crush on her, and Rose keeps getting stuck in Lissa's head while she's making out with her boyfriend, Christian! The Strigoi are closing in, and the Academy's not taking any risks… This year, St. Vlad's annual holiday ski trip is mandatory.

But the glittering winter landscape and the posh Idaho resort only create the illusion of safety. When three friends run away in an offensive move against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. But heroism rarely comes without a price…

In Vampire Academy, we met Rose and Lissa, best friends, but also something more. Rose is destined to be Lissa’s guardian, and the two share an unshakable bond, one that keeps them together at all times. But life isn’t all roses and peaches now. After a massive attack, the school is overrun by new guardians, throwing Rose’s distant mother into the mix, as well, and when the school is thrust into a mandatory “holiday” to protect the students in one place, things threaten to go from bad to worse. Rose is learning more about herself every day, and every revelation makes life a little bit scarier and a lot less safe.

Ok, remember how I told you I hate vampires? Well, I still do, so don’t get your hopes up (Ginger). That said, I was blown away by Frostbite. I liked Vampire Academy enough, don’t get me wrong. I think the world that Richelle Mead set up was fantastic, but I wouldn’t say it really blew me out of the water. Frostbite, however, was completely and utterly captivating. The world within the walls of the Vampire Academy grew exponentially, the boarding school was magically deceptive and the cast of characters grew in leaps and bounds, all of which heightened an already tumultuous and riveting plot.

There were so many highlights in Frostbite that I don’t think I could adequately pinpoint them all. That said, the character development of Rose was a huge strength. While I knew her background before, the introduction of her mother, as well as new secondary characters like Aiden heightened the tension and discovery of more of her background. Lissa, too, grew in my opinion and was less of a whiny little mope than before. Plus, there’s Dimitri…swoon. I swear that the Rose/Dimitri plotline is killing me, too, and every chapter just had me reading faster and faster to see where that would end up. Frankly, I can sum it up like this – Frostbite featured an amazing cast of characters, a fantastically developed plot and a speedy pace that kept me guessing throughout.

Frostbite was a fantastic sequel to Vampire Academy, and I’m officially hooked on the series (even though I swore I’d never be.) I give it a 5 out of 5, and I’d recommend it to all fans of the Vampire Academy series and YA fans, especially those who enjoy paranormal and paranormal romance stories.

In My Mailbox is an amazing weekly meme hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren that features the books we have received during the week. It's so much fun because we get to see what our fellow bloggers stumbled upon this week and add even more to our piles of books! Without further ado, this week I received the following books:

For Review:
Priscilla the Great by Sybil Nelson (Thank you, Sybil)

Won:
The Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead (Thank you, GReads)
Euphemania by Ralph Keyes (Thank you, Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers)

Bought:
The Water Wars by Cameron Stracher

Gifts:
The Fate of Nature by Charles Wohlforth (Thank you, Hal Goodman)
Korean History for International Students (Thank you, Inchul)

In My Mailbox is an amazing weekly meme hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren that features the books we have received during the week. It's so much fun because we get to see what our fellow bloggers stumbled upon this week and add even more to our piles of books! Without further ado, this week I received the following books:

The Lying Game - (For Review - Thank you, HarperTeen) - I had a life anyone would kill for. Then someone did. The worst part of being dead is that there’s nothing left to live for. No more kisses. No more secrets. No more gossip. It’s enough to kill a girl all over again. But I’m about to get something no one else does—an encore performance, thanks to Emma, the long-lost twin sister I never even got to meet.

The Ancillary's Mark - (For Review - Thank you, Daniel Cohen) - The legend of the Ancillary flower has existed for centuries. Foretold to bring out the limitless potential of its bearer, the flower and the legend have been forgotten by many. Recently, strange events in a shrouded Tibetan town have sparked rumors among those who still believe. Jacob Deer is a quirky young man, bound for college, with an eccentric old librarian for a best friend, an obsession with sitting down in elevators, and a strange birthmark on his hand that's shaped mysteriously like the markings on the Ancillary's petals.

Frostbite - (Bought) - Rose loves Dimitri, Dimitri might love Tasha, and Mason would die to be with Rose…It's winter break at St. Vladimir's, but Rose is feeling anything but festive. A massive Strigoi attack has put the school on high alert, and now the Academy's crawling with Guardians—including Rose's hard-hitting mother, Janine Hathaway.

Shadow Kiss - (Bought) - For Rose Hathaway, everything seems out of kilter. Ever since she made her first Strigoi kills, a dark shadow has been creeping over her. Looming in the background, too, is another realization: If she follows her forbidden love for guardian Dimitri Belikov, she might lose her best friend forever. And these sleep-shaking worries couldn't have come at a worse time. The immortal unloving are prowling everywhere, famished for vengeance against her.

St. Vladimir's Academy isn't just any boarding school—it's a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They've been on the run, but now they're being dragged back to St. Vladimir's—the very place where they're most in danger...

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy's ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world's fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.
Taken from GoodReads.

Rose Hathaway and Lissa Dragomir have been on the run for two years when we first meet them in Vampire Academy. Rose is committed to keeping Lissa, a royal Moroi vampire princess, safe, and Lissa is determined to have Rose's back at all times. The girls, however, are brought back to St. Vladimir's Academy - the very place from which they escaped. Rose is keeping a deadly secret for Lissa, and the bond they share is in jeopardy every day - can they keep Lissa and Rose safe while within the walls of the vampire academy?

Yes, I took my sweet assed time getting to Vampire Academy because I loathe vampires. They glitter, and stalk, and whine, and meddle in that vampire series I'm sure some of you might have heard of...but a few of my really good bloggy friends convinced me to give this a go. I can honestly admit that I'm pleased I read Vampire Academy. It's a whirlwind of adventure that blends friendships, lore, and enemies into a tale that makes you want to know more. Richelle Mead has created a world of vampires that I can honestly admit - intrigues me.

Now, that's not to say that Vampire Academy didn't have a few hiccups for me. For one, had I not been forewarned, I would have been extremely confused by Lissa and Rose's relationship. For the first half, I was pretty sure they were a couple - not that there's anything wrong with that, but it kind of confused the other relationships in the story. I also think the book started off a bit slow. There was a lot of background in Vampire Academy, and it took a while for that to get out of the way and into the real action of the story. I will, however, note particular strengths in characterization and descriptiveness. The world within Vampire Academy is alive.

No, it's not the best book I've ever read, and I know I'm eating my words here, but I'm going to give Vampire Academy a 4 out of 5, and I'd recommend it to all fans of YA, paranormal romance, and vampire stories - even if you don't like vampires, this is an exciting adventure! I definitely need to know what happens next...mostly with Dimitri. And Rose.

In My Mailbox is an amazing weekly meme hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren that features the books we have received during the week. It's so much fun because we get to see what our fellow bloggers stumbled upon this week and add even more to our piles of books! Without further ado, this week I received the following books:

Vampire Empire: The Greyfriar - (For Review - Thank you, Prometheus Books) - Vampire predators run wild in this exciting steampunk adventure, the first in an alternate history trilogy that is already attracting attention. In 1870, monsters rise up and conquer the northern lands, As great cities are swallowed up by carnage and disease, landowners and other elite flee south to escape their blood-thirsty wrath. One hundred fifty years later, the great divide still exists; fangs on one side of the border, worried defenders on the other. This fragile equilibrium is threatened, then crumbles after a single young princess becomes almost hopelessly lost in the hostile territory.

Vampire Academy - (Bought) - St. Vladimir's Academy isn't just any boarding school—it's a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They've been on the run, but now they're being dragged back to St. Vladimir's—the very place where they're most in danger. . . .

Virals - (Bought) - Megan’s twin sister Remy died in an accident nine years ago, and she’s been haunting her ever since. Knowing how crazy that sounds, Megan keeps this secret to herself and tries to lead a normal life. But when she takes a summer job at Land of Enchantment to keep an eye on her new boyfriend and his lovesick best friend, Samantha, she meets fellow employee Luke who can see Remy, too. Things get even twistier because Megan’s new friend Ari is sporting a massive crush on Luke, who seems to be developing a massive crush on Megan…making for a love triangle that’s positively possessed.

What did you get in your mailbox this week? Leave me a link, and I'll be sure to check it out!