Top Ten Tuesday: My Oh Hell No!

Hey guys!

It's Top Ten Tuesday by The Broke and The Bookish! This week's topic is 10 things that make you NOT want to read a book, since we did the opposite last week. Let's jump right in!

10. The Insecure Heroine

This may sound cold, but I cannot stand an insecure heroine. I can't stand the girl that is constantly second guessing everything (looks, personality, intelligence, relationships, whatever) and puts herself down. 

In some occasions it's okay and it's definitely relatable at times. All the time, though? No, thank you. I'm not an insecure person and I can't connect to a heroine that is.

9. The Manwhore

I don't have a huge problem with this in and of itself, but I'm just really over this sort of "trope". A book has to be really something for me to look past the manwhore aspect. 

8. The Really Virginal Virgin

It's not the virgin part I mind so much, it's the virgin who's just so innocent, á la Anastasia Steele "what's a butt plug?". Girl, you're in your 20s. Don't even try to tell me you've never masturbated or read or watched porn. Liar, liar, pants on fire. 

7. Werewolves

Just not really my thing. If I'm going to read paranormal, I want a different kind of creature.

6. Aliens 

Nope, nope, nope. 

5. Actually, Anything Space Related

Space creeps me out in a major way.

4. Cheesy Covers

I try not to judge books by covers, but sometimes I just can't help it. Which is partly why I don't ever read historical romance. 

3. The Useless Sibling

The common dystopian theme of the older sibling protecting and caring for the slightly younger sibling, and that mofo is beyond useless and does nothing to help out other than sit there and look sweet. 

I'm the oldest of 7, and I love and adore most of my siblings. That said, if we ever get sucked into a dystopian world, they're all pulling their weight. 

2. Cozy Mysteries

Just not my thing. 

1. Love Triangles

My most hated plot ever. I refuse to read anything with a love triangle!

TBR Thursday

Kimberly @ Kimberlyfaye Reads started a new weekly feature that I'm excited to join in! This feature is to showcase what's on your to be read shelf (or eReader, or Audible library) and see what others think of it. Have you read it? Should I read it or put it back on the shelf? It's a way to dust off the books on your self and decide if they're worth reading!

Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people.

Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.

With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas's masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights.

I liked the first book well enough, but haven't felt any burning desire to pick book two up (mainly for the love triangle). I've tried to start it a handful of times and haven't gotten past the first chapter, plus I just saw on Goodreads that there's going to be a total of six books in this series. Whether or not that's true I'm not certain, but six books? Seriously?! 

#StrugglesWithSeries

I actually like series, but only if I'm late to the game and they're nearly finish, so I can properly binge read.

That tangent aside, should I try again with this? 

TBR Thursday

Kimberly @ Kimberlyfaye Reads started a new weekly feature that I'm excited to join in! This feature is to showcase what's on your to be read shelf (or eReader, or Audible library) and see what others think of it. Have you read it? Should I read it or put it back on the shelf? It's a way to dust off the books on your self and decide if they're worth reading!

Twenty-four-year-old Olivia Taylor Jones has the perfect life. The only daughter of a wealthy, prominent Chicago family, she has an Ivy League education, pursues volunteerism and philanthropy, and is engaged to a handsome young tech firm CEO with political ambitions.

But Olivia’s world is shattered when she learns that she’s adopted. Her real parents? Todd and Pamela Larsen, notorious serial killers serving a life sentence. When the news brings a maelstrom of unwanted publicity to her adopted family and fiancé, Olivia decides to find out the truth about the Larsens.

Olivia ends up in the small town of Cainsville, Illinois, an old and cloistered community that takes a particular interest in both Olivia and her efforts to uncover her birth parents’ past.

Aided by her mother’s former lawyer, Gabriel Walsh, Olivia focuses on the Larsens’ last crime, the one her birth mother swears will prove their innocence. But as she and Gabriel start investigating the case, Olivia finds herself drawing on abilities that have remained hidden since her childhood, gifts that make her both a valuable addition to Cainsville and deeply vulnerable to unknown enemies. Because there are darker secrets behind her new home and powers lurking in the shadows that have their own plans for her.

I've seen this series all over the blogging world and Goodreads, and since I've only read her YA book (I think?), I'm curious about it.

What's stopping me is a love triangle that comes into the series later on. I've mentioned more than once that I cannot stand love triangles. I hate them with a fiery passion. They make me so angry!

Should I try this out anyway?

{Book Review} The Baller: A Down and Dirty Football Novel by Vi Keeland

From Goodreads

From New York Times and USA Today Bestseller, Vi Keeland, comes a sexy new novel.

The first time I met Brody Easton was in the men’s locker room.
It was my first interview as a professional sportscaster.
The famed quarterback decided to bare all.
And by all, I don’t mean he told me any of his secrets.
No. The arrogant ass decided to drop his towel, just as I asked the first question. On camera.
The Super Bowl MVP quickly adopted a new hobby—screwing with me.
When I pushed back, he shifted from wanting to screw with me, to wanting to screw me.
But I don’t date players.
And it’s not because I’m one of the few women working in the world of professional football.
I’d date an athlete.
It’s the other kind of player I don’t date.
You know the type. Good looking, strong, cocky, always looking to get laid.

Brody Easton was the ultimate player.
Every woman wanted to be the one to change him.
But the truth was, all he needed was a girl worth changing for.
Turned out, I was that girl.
Simple right?
Let’s face it. It never is.
There’s a story between once upon a time and happily ever after…
And this one is ours. 

My Thoughts

3 "It's BYE-Week!" Stars

I'll be honest and say I bought this book mostly for it's ab-tastic (and pec-tastic, and arm-tastic, and cock-tastic) cover, but I did take into account the glowing reviews. I've been in the mood for these lighter, sexy contemporary romances lately, and this seemed to fit the bill.

Sadly, I was disappointed. 

I felt almost no chemistry between Delilah and Brody. She was definitely infatuated and I even wound up believing her love for him, but whenever Brody's POV was on, I read nothing but sexual attraction on his part, and only when he was around Delilah. When he wasn't with her, she hardly ever crossed his mind. He's a bit of a dick, and not even in a good way. He's just a dick.

This lead to the romance feeling forced, the drama and angst boring and over the top, and the sex, while objectively hot, didn't have enough to flesh it out. 

I'm usually completely clueless on the lingo when it comes to sport romances and don't pay much attention to it, but I live in the south. Even though I'm not much of a fan, football - college vs. professional, but still - is the way of life down here, and it's hard not to absorb some of it. The author lacked in her research of the sport, enough that even I could pick up on it. 

For example, there's a week during the season where a team doesn't have a game. This is called a bye week, not a bi week, as it's called in the story.

There's the introduction of a third and completely unneeded point of view about half way into the story, and there's more than a slight love triangle (for the hero instead of the norm of the heroine having multi love interests), though it winds up not going anywhere. Love triangles are the bane of my existence in and of themselves, but when the character is awful and it's handled poorly, it infuriates me even more.

So why three stars instead of 1? For some reason, I couldn't put the story down. I blew through it in less than a day, and stayed up way too late to finish it. It was addictive, and some parts were laugh out loud hilarious. I really liked Delilah as a character, despite her questionable taste in men, and the banter between her and her best friend was great. 

I did wind up somewhat enjoying the story, but I'm definitely the minority for not loving it. Check it out yourself if you're brave!

- The Bibliophile Babe

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Hyped Books I've Never Read

Hey, everyone!

Today I'm joint in The Broke and The Bookish's Top Ten Tuesday. This week's theme is top ten hyped books you've never read. I'd been thinking about doing this for awhile, and this was the perfect thing to get my ass in gear.


In no real order:

10. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Gasp! That's right, I've never read the Outlander series, and I don't plan to. Historicals are not my cup of tea, and I have to be really invested in a book to sit through nearly 1,000 pages. 

9. Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan

Actually, I've never read any Rick Riordan. This is pretty much THE nostalgic book for people around my age, and saying you never read it is akin to saying you don't like Harry Potter (*cough* which I don't, either *cough*). Fantasy has never been my thing, and I was busy reading the Maximum Ride books by James Patterson when this series started blowing up.

8. Divergent by Veronica Roth

Technically this isn't one I've never read, but I didn't finish it. I picked up each book in the series, read the first few chapters, and remembered why I put the previous one down. 

7. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Or any John Green book. I saw the movie, and I know my sister loved the book, but from the bits I've skimmed and the reviews I've read, it doesn't sound like something for me.

6. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

This is one I want to read this year, and  I can't believe I never read it. It wasn't required reading,  and despite my mother prodding me to read it, I never picked it up. 

5. Grey or Fifty Shades Freed by E.L. James

No. Just no. I read the first two books, but despite how much I laughed, I couldn't slog through the rest of that sheer stupidity and botched attempts at writing.

4. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Alright, so I kinda read it. I read around 30-40%...and couldn't sit through the rest. It's. So. Damn. Predictable! And "grinned the ghost of a grin"? That's just one of the things that drove me crazy about this book.

3. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

And love triangles ruin another book I wanted to read.
Fuck you, love triangles.
Authors, you know you can write books without the drama of a triangle, yes?

2. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

The writing. No. I just can't do it. Skimmed a bit and slapped it back down onto the library shelf. That type of prose is not for me. Makes me want to gouge my eyes out with scissors, to the extent I can't even enjoy the story.

1. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Or any Rainbow Rowell. The stories seem a little...cutesy (?) for my taste, but I've been meaning to snag one of her books just to see what all the hype's about. 

What about you? What hyped books have you not been sucked into?

- The Bibliophile Babe 

11 Book Trends I Am Beyond Sick Of

Hey, everyone!




Today's post is something that's been nagging at me for a little while, especially when I try and find fresh or more unique reads. I keep slapping into plot lines that are being beat to death, so much so that I feel I've read every book I'm seeing. I don't know why they are so popular right now, but I am fed up with them! I'm sure y'all can relate, and feel free to share you trend peeves in the comments!


In no particular order:

11. "I'm such a man."

Or, the douche-y manwhore.

I'm beyond tired with the hero being a bit of an asshole who will stick it into anything that walks by him in a short skirt. Ew. What is it about these men that is attractive?

10. "It's not you, it's me."

Or, I won't have sex with you for some otherworldly reason, and I don't care what you have to say about it. 

I've had to stay away from a lot of YA paranormal for this very reason. Hero (because it's always the hero who's the paranormal, isn't it?) constantly claims to want Heroine, but won't "go all the way" with her due to some reason relating to his ethereal being. Not giving her a choice in the matter, of course. He will hold firm (haha...hold firm. Get it? I kill me!) in his choice until the end or nearly so in the series, when suddenly his issues are unwarranted. 

9. "Hey, I just met you, and this is crazy...."

Or, I am in love with you. Truly, madly, deeply. Who cares that I literally just laid my eyes upon you for the first time? We're meant to be, I just know it!

Insta-love: the ultimate form of lazy writing. Holy shit on a shit stick, this one gives me an eye twitch. Trying to pass it off as something to do with just being a paranormal being doesn't make it better, either! 

I don't believe in an insta-love romance. I just don't. You have no build up, no chemistry, no connection, nothing but stalker-like obsession, and you expect me to ship this?

8. "I'm really not that special. Seriously, guys, stoooooop."

Or, I'm so humble, I'm not humble.

This one is becoming frightfully common in the YA world, and it's another that just grates on me. We have this girl who either won't see how "special" she is, or keeps down playing it, to the extent that she counters every compliment or action with a dismissal. Perhaps I'm just prideful and good at what I do, but when someone gives me a compliment on my work, I accept it, especially when I know it's genuine. There is nothing wrong with being good at something and being proud of it. You don't need to be a boastful ass, but constantly putting yourself down and fishing for compliments that you can then deflect is just unattractive. And annoying.

7. "My issues have issues, and don't you forget it!"

Or, the person who will not shut up about how screwed up they are. No one else could ever have a problem as great as theirs. Ever. Don't you dare even suggestion such a thing.

This is usually the male love interest, but it can be the female protagonist on occasion. There is no one more messed up than them, and anyone else's problems are non-exsistant compared to theirs. This person lives to talk about just how fucked up they are. May or may not be accompanied by the standard "I'm not good for you" line.

6. "I'm fifty shades of fu- oh wait, wrong book."

Or, the billionaire Dominant.

Just because 50 Shades is absurdly successful doesn't mean you have to copy E. L. James. Please stop. 50 Shades was bad enough without adding to the melee. 

5. "What's a butt plug?"

Or, the completely naive virgin who let's her inner hussy out seconds after popping that cherry.

This is mainly a 50 Shades issue, but I've seen it popping up more and more lately, especially with Kindle books. The girl who is so pure and virginal she's never even gotten herself off is suddenly willing and capable of being a submissive in a BDSM relationship and deep throating a cock just days after having sex for the first time. Right. I can't brush past the tip of my tongue without gagging, and I know what a butt plug is. Give me a break, Ana. 

4. "I failed third grade English, but damn right I can write a book."

Or, you need to proofread!

I love self published and indie writers. I really, really do. They're often diamonds in the rough, with incredible ideas and an engrossing story. However...reread what you've written. I'm forgiving of typos and various other issues, but when you manage to miss the basics (your/you're, too/two/to, they're/there/their, ect) it irks me. Deeply, deeply irks me.

3. "My family is awful!!! No one understands me and I have so much responsibly."

Or, the parents who don't care or the child who cares for the adult.

From Bella to Katniss, this is the thing to have in a YA book as of late. Yes, shitty parents happen. However, I'd like to read about an involved family for once!

2. "You've crushed all my dreams."

Or, not matching up the pair who were perfect for each other in favor of other people I can't stand.

I can't be the only one who will be rooting so hard for a certain pairing, only to get my heart brutalized when the writer decides to match them off with other people. It's always someone who just doesn't do it for me with the other person, and annoys me almost as much as the next trend I'll talk about. 

I remember being around 9 years old or so and reading Little Women, and being furious when Teddy wound up with Amy instead of Jo. So furious I could barely finish the book. Just a few years ago it happened when I read the Hunger Games, and Katniss picked Peeta over Gale. I may or may not have tossed my book across the room after reading that.

1. "I love you...and them, too."

Or, that fucking love triangle.

Just. Stop. It. 

I feel worlds better for getting that off my chest, haha! What are some trends you're sick of reading about?

- The Bibliophile Babe 

Book Review: Maybe Someday - Colleen Hoover

Hey, guys! Happy June. :) I have a review for you today of Colleen Hoover's book Maybe Someday, so let's jump right in.

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS!!! DON'T READ BELOW THE RED LINE IF YOU HAVEN'T YET READ THE BOOK AND DON'T WISH TO BE SPOILED!!!

Maybe Someday - Colleen Hoover

Synopsis

At twenty-two years old, Sydney is enjoying a great life: She's in college, working a steady job, in love with her wonderful boyfriend, Hunter, and rooming with her best friend, Tori. But everything changes when she discovers that Hunter is cheating on her--and she's forced to decide what her next move should be.

Soon, Sydney finds herself captivated by her mysterious and attractive neighbor, Ridge. She can't take her eyes off him or stop listening to the passionate way he plays his guitar every evening out on his balcony. And there's something about Sydney that Ridge can't ignore, either. They soon find themselves needing each other in more ways than one.

A passionate tale of friendship, betrayal, and romance, Maybe Someday will immerse readers in Sydney's tumultuous world from the very first page.

Ridge works from home, and writes songs for his and his brother's locally successful band, Sounds of Cedar. He is in a five year relationship with  Maggie, a beautiful and sweet girl, and shares his home with two quirky and amusing roommates, Warren and Bridgette. He and Maggie are currently doing  semi-long distance for their relationship, and she comes to visit him around every other weekend or so. 

"I can't deny it, though. Anyone who watches how passionately this guy plays would crush on his talent."

Sydney is a college student, rooming with her best friend Tori, and in a two year long relationship with her boyfriend, Hunter. 
Sydney and Ridge are neighbors, and connect through a mutual love of music. Ridge plays the guitar on his balcony nearly every night, and Sydney tentatively starts writing songs to his melodies. When it is reveled that Hunter has been cheating on Sydney -with Tori, no less -, Ridge opens his door to Sydney until she gets back on her feet.

"It's not so easy when you're trying to win the war against the heart."

From there, we are swept away on a very slow-building romance between the two, with a heavy emphasis on the characters' connection and dealing with feelings for someone else while already being in a "committed" relationship. There are brilliant highs and staggering lows, and it's even more complicated than you'd think. We learn something monumental around 60% of the way into the book, and that puts an entirely new spin on this almost three way relationship (no, not like that, you dirty ho ;)). 

"For her I bend, for you I break."

As usual with Hoover's writing, I breezed through Maybe Someday. Her writing is effortless and completely absorbing. She has a real gift for story telling and absorbing the reader that I've only ever seen in a few other authors.

"I want you to hear me love you."

In a very unusual turn of events for the New Adult genre, Ridge is deaf.  I found this to be interesting and refreshing to see, and it made Ridge's inner voice so compelling. It put a unique perspective on all of his relationships and the way he saw life altogether, and that was beautiful. I love a hero that isn't perfect. 
The connection between Sydney and Ridge was beautiful and intense, and aside from the issue I'll be talking about in a second, this would've been a 4.5 star read for me. I loved seeing them together, I loved their interactions and banter, and I adored how they just got each other. 

I really, really enjoyed the lyrics throughout the book. This is sort of a theme with Hoover's writing; her books Slammed and Confess both had art elements in them (poetry and painting, respectively) and as an artist myself, it's something I appreciate seeing. 
The book actually has its own original soundtrack done by Griffin Peterson, and it's really good. It adds an extra element to the book that made it come alive. You can find it on iTunes under either Griffin Peterson or Maybe Someday, and of course it's on YouTube. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!-----------------SPOILERS!!!!!!!------------------SPOILERS!!!!!!----------

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Seriously, you will be spoiled if you read any more.

What almost ruined this book for me was surprisingly not the love triangle, but the way Ridge handled Sydney. As we learn a little more than halfway into Maybe Someday, Ridge's girlfriend, Maggie, has a life threatening and life shortening genetic condition. While Ridge admits to being in love with Sydney, he adamantly refuses to leave Maggie, citing her condition as the reason. Not only is the beyond unfair to Sydney, it's wrong to Maggie. "Hey, babe, so I've met this other girl. She's amazing, and I'm completely in love with her. But don't worry, I'm staying with you because you'll probably be dead by the time you're 30, and I feel bad leaving you. Soooo, I'll stay with you while constantly thinking about and missing this other girl. M'kay?"

That rankled me beyond belief, and he only went to Sydney because Maggie cut him loose. In my eyes, Sydney will always be second best, and that is not something I'd want to be in a relationship. God. I'm getting pissed all over again just talking about it. It says something about Hoover's talent that I was able to finish and mostly enjoy the story after reading that.  Ridge did redeem himself a bit towards the end, though.

------------------------------------------------END OF SPOILERS-------------------------------------------------

"It's you. My heart wants you."

Aside from that, I really enjoyed this story. The ending was beyond sweet, and their sex scene was tasteful and beautiful. It wasn't my favorite Colleen Hoover book, but I did like it and it was well written and engaging.

STATS:

Rating: 3.5 stars

Genre: New adult, contemporary romance

Series: Standalone, with a spin off of another couple

POV: Dual 1st person

Steam/sexual content: Some steam, mild/non-explicate sex
Cliffhanger: No
HEA: Yes
Warnings: Cheating, mild sex, mild language 
Length: 384 pages
Published: March 18th, 2014
Publisher: Atria Books
Goodreads, Amazon

- The Bibliophile Babe

My Top Five Biggest Book Peeves

Hey, everyone! Happy Hump Day!


Today's post, as you might've guessed by the title, is going to be my most grating book peeves. You know what I mean: you're reading along, happy as a pig in shit, and then you stumble across it. That horrid monstrosity that makes you grit your teeth, makes your hands tighten on your page, and gives you a brief fantasy of pitching the book against the wall. At least, I hope it's not just me who feels like that.....

                                                           

#5. Third Person Point of View

Admittedly, this is one of my lesser annoyances, and it doesn't stop me from reading a third person book if it's fast paced, well written, or deliciously smutty (preferably all three). The style just bothers me. I find it extremely difficult to connect with the characters, and it doesn't hold my attention as well as first person does. It's not as engaging, and as such it makes me infinitely more critical of every tiny little thing in the book.

#4. When The Next Book in The Series is a Different Hight

Good god, this one messes with my OCD on so many levels. I have floating shelves that cover three walls, and a jammed packed bookcase. I love seeing my books set up all lovely, and seeing series lined up together makes me moan like a wanton hussy... unless the damn things are a smidgen different in height. And I'm not talking a paperback vs a hardback! No, this is two paperbacks in the same series! Refer to the below photo, and if this doesn't make you twitch....I don't even know. 

Look at the Nocte trilogy books. They're amazing books with beautiful covers, and it's one of my all time favorite series, but I can barely stand to look at in on my favorites shelf. You can't un-see it!

#3. When your character starts out "fun" and "quirky", and a few books later is just downright annoying

This one always disappoints me, as I usually wind up really liking the series/character at first. The Charley Davison books by Darynda Jones immediately come to mind with this. Charley, the female protagonist, starts out as a bit spacey, but funny and insightful at the same time. I really enjoyed her character during the first four books, but as the series wore on I was getting fed up. The author laid it on too thick, and kept adding to an already existing trait that didn't need any adding. Does she really need to name every goddamn thing under the sun? If you've read the books, you know what I mean. If not, and you're a fan of light PNR (paranormal romance), I highly recommend the first four books. After that, proceed at your own risk.

#2. Suddenly introducing flipping POVs just for the hell of it

Grrr, this one! It was neck and neck with my number one peeve, but got nudged down. It was close, though! I can't stand it when you're reading a series that has been set in one person's point of view for a few books, and we get a well established rhythm going, and then in the next book we suddenly have  dual point of views for absolutely no reason at all. An excellent example would be Captivated By You by Sylvia Day, the fourth book in the Crossfire series. I love the books, but the that one bugged the crap out of me. I liked reading from Eva's POV solely, and as much as I love Gideon, I don't want to read his part. It takes away something from his character, in my opinion. The image I built up of him twisted a bit as I read him, and that frustrated me. 

I'm not against dual POV stories at all (like Colleen Hoover's and Tarryn Fisher's stunning love child Never Never), or suddenly flipping POVs in a series for a good reason (like in Karina Halle's final Experiment in Terror book, Dust to Dust), but when people start doing it willy-nilly it grates on me like nails on chalkboard.

And finally....drumroll please.....

#1. Love Triangles

Stop it, stop it, stop it!!! This one, without question, is my biggest and most intense peeve. Stop. It. It's especially popular in the YA genre, and I have no idea why. I just do not get it, especially when it's in a romance based book or series. You harp on and on about your undying love for the other person, now you're eye-fucking someone else and waffling back and forth between whom you should choose. Drives me insane.

This is one thing that will have me quitting the book and series if there is one, 99.99% of the time. I can think of two books where I persevered, and that's because they weren't really even love triangles! The first is Karen Marie Morning's Fever series, and it's a stretch to call it a love triangle. The second is Karina Halle's A-fucking-mazing The Artists Trilogy. I recently found out from the author that she never intended for people to get the love triangle vibe from the book, and I find that so interesting. The "other guy", if you will, is one of the most fascinating characters I've ever had the pleasure of reading, even though he's a very firm antihero. 

So there you have it! What are some of your biggest issues when reading? Have you ever pushed past one of them simply because the book was that good?

- The Bibliophile Babe