Top Ten “Awww” Moments in Books

Top Ten Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.  As lovers of books and of lists, they post a list each week.  Check it out for other lists, and to link up your own list there.

This week’s topic is: Top Ten "Awww" Moments In Books (those cute lines, charming actions, kisses, or any other sentimental moment that made you say "AWWW!"

First, the “awww” worthy kisses, that I couldn’t wait for, then had to go back and reread over and over again:

1. Twilight-Is it just me, or do the kisses seem better when the characters are waiting for it and anticipating it.

2. Starcrossed-Same reason as #1.  I felt like I wanted Lucas and Helen to kiss just as much as they wanted it themselves!

3. The Season by Sarah MacLean

4. North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell (the movie, although I’m sure the book is delightful too.

5. Sorcery and Cecelia by Patricia Wrede and Caroline Stevemer

6. Die for Me by Amy Plum

“Aww” worthy scenes:

7. The Hunger Games-When Peeta reveals to everyone during his interview that winning the Hunger Games won’t help him get the girl, because she’s going in with him.  I think my heart stopped for a second there.

8. My Unfair Godmother by Janette Rallison-Any of the scenes with Stetson in them, because all of the interactions with that baby made me sigh and smile (simultaneously).

9. Tick, Tick, Boom by Kiersten White (it’s a short story in the Corsets and Clockwork anthology)-It’s a short story, can I just say, read all of it.  IMMEDIATELY!

10. You tell me!  I was having a hard time with this list. What has made you say “awww”?

Can’t Hardly Wait (10)

While I’m sitting here waiting for new books to come in my smiling brown box, I thought I’d show you another book that I really can’t wait for…

Hourglass by Myra McEntire

Comes out Tuesday, June 14th

One hour to rewrite the past . . .

For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn’t there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents’ death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She’s tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.

So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson’s willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.

Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he’s around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?
Full of atmosphere, mystery, and romance, Hourglass merges the very best of the paranormal and science-fiction genres in a seductive, remarkable young adult debut.

Summary from Goodreads.com

What are YOU waiting for?

Review of Entwined by Heather Dixon

Info

Release date: March 29, 2011

Hardcover, 480 pages

Interest: princesses, debut author challenge

Summary (from Goodreads.com)

Azalea is trapped. Just when she should feel that everything is before her . . . beautiful gowns, dashing suitors, balls filled with dancing . . . it's taken away. All of it.

The Keeper understands. He's trapped, too, held for centuries within the walls of the palace. And so he extends an invitation.

Every night, Azalea and her eleven sisters may step through the enchanted passage in their room to dance in his silver forest.

But there is a cost.

The Keeper likes to keep things.

Azalea may not realize how tangled she is in his web until it is too late.

Review

When Azalea’s mother dies, she and her sisters are thrown into mourning.  It’s hard enough missing her, but they are governed by their father’s rules for mourning.  No colors, no music, no social engagements, no dancing, and no clocks either.  The princesses use dancing to express their emotions and cope, after getting caught several times, they are absolutely forbidden to dance.

The grief, and desperation for a distraction felt so real.  I have read other tellings of the Twelve Dancing Princesses and usually have a hard time keeping track of their names.  In this case they were alphabetical, which helped immensely.

The romance was sweet, and one which younger teens could read.

The descriptions of the dancing were detailed.  The magical world was well created and intricate. 

Despite the length of the book, it was a quicker read.  I highly recommend it for other fairytale fans.

Rating

Cover 10/10  Love the gorgeous dress

Plot 10/10

Characters 10/10

Ending 9/10

Overall Enjoyment 10/10

PG-appropriate for young readers :)

Book Recommendations

For more of the same (12 Dancing Princesses) try Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier and Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George

Born at Midnight Winner!

And the winner is: Shannon the Bookstalker!

Thanks to everyone that signed up :)

Can’t Hardly Wait (9)

This weekly meme is inspired by Breaking the Spine's Waiting on Wednesdays. Each week I showcase a book that I'm impatiently waiting for.  This week it’s:

 Abandon by Meg Cabot

Release date: April 28, 2011

Summary from Goodreads.com:

New from #1 New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot, a dark, fantastical story about this world . . . and the underworld.

Though she tries returning to the life she knew before the accident, Pierce can't help but feel at once a part of this world, and apart from it. Yet she's never alone . . . because someone is always watching her. Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back.

But now she's moved to a new town. Maybe at her new school, she can start fresh. Maybe she can stop feeling so afraid.

Only she can't. Because even here, he finds her. That's how desperately he wants her back. She knows he's no guardian angel, and his dark world isn't exactly heaven, yet she can't stay away . . . especially since he always appears when she least expects it, but exactly when she needs him most.

But if she lets herself fall any further, she may just find herself back in the one place she most fears: the Underworld.

I ordered this on the basis of “it’s Meg Cabot”, and I think this is the first time I’ve actually seen the description.  I’m really intrigued now.

Ten Books I’d Love to See Made into Movies

Top Ten Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.  As lovers of books and of lists, they post a list each week.  Check it out for other lists, and to link up your own list there.

This week’s topic is:

Ten Books I’d Love to See as Movies

I’m a little worried about these since I’ve had favorite books turned into really poor adaptations (cough…Ella Enchanted…).   Here are some stories I’d really like to see done well.

First, some movies I’d like to see Disney tackle (I love the fairytales):

1. The Twelve Dancing Princesses, there have been some very good versions of this story: Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier, Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George, Entwined by Heather Dixon.  I would love to see this story come to life (besides the Barbie movie).

2. The Princess and the Pea, because this isn’t a very meaty story.  I’d love to see it hashed out.

3. Snow White and Rose Red, not many people know this story.   I especially like the version by Patricia Wrede.

Now, onto non-fairytale books…starting with mysteries:

4. The Heist Society by Ally Carter, I just kept thinking Oceans 11 when I was reading this.  I would love to see it on screen!

5. The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting as long as it is not directed by Catherine Hardwicke.  I would not be able to stomach it if all of the friendship and relationship development was trumped for chemistry.

Historical fiction I’d like to see:

6. The Agency by Y.S. Lee, we don’t see many historical movies these days, besides those on Masterpiece Theater.

7. The Season by Sarah MacLean-a mystery, dancing, pretty dresses.  I’m so there!  BBC are you in?

Another book I’d love to see, but not by the Disney Channel.  They could over-cheesify and ruin this! (Yes, cheesify is not really a word.)

8. Forgive my Fins by Tera Lynn Childs

And my final two:

9. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand, I can just picture this book so vividly, I think it would come to life on screen very well.

10. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.  While reading this I kept thinking about the Hunger Games and how similar they are to our reality tv shows today, without the fight to the death part (we just vote people off).  I can’t wait for the actual movie to come out and pray that it will be done well.

Alright, what made your list?

Tune in next week for: Top Ten Tuesday Rewind (in which I get to pick a topic I never got around to).  Let’s say: Favorite books of 2010.

Born at Midnight Giveaway

Released March 29, 2011

Summary from Goodreads.com:

Don’t miss this spectacular new series that will steal your heart and haunt your dreams,  Welcome to Shadow Falls camp, nestled deep in the woods of a town called Fallen…

One night Kylie Galen finds herself at the wrong party, with the wrong people, and it changes her life forever.  Her mother ships her off to Shadow Falls—a camp for troubled teens, and within hours of arriving, it becomes painfully clear that her fellow campers aren’t just “troubled.”  Here at Shadow Falls, vampires, werewolves, shapshifters, witches and fairies train side by side—learning to harness their powers, control their magic and live in the normal world.

Kylie’s never felt normal, but surely she doesn’t belong here with a bunch of paranormal freaks either.  Or does she?  They insist Kylie is one of them, and that she was brought here for a reason.  As if life wasn’t complicated enough, enter Derek and Lucas.  Derek’s a half-fae who’s determined to be her boyfriend, and Lucas is a smokin’ hot werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past.  Both Derek and Lucas couldn’t be more different, but they both have a powerful hold on her heart. 

Even though Kylie feels deeply uncertain about everything, one thing is becoming painfully clear—Shadow Falls is exactly where she belongs…

 

So, I’m giving away one copy to one lucky winner.  Just fill out the form and start sending happy thoughts to the random number generator.  The winner will be announced April 25th.