Happy New Year everybody!!!!!!!!!
What?? I'm only six days late.
It could be a lot worse...
Of course it could always be better too.
That's actually my New Years Resolution. To be on time.
To be on time better.... Better-ish.
Solid resolution, right??? But last year I resolved to be on time better and I improved about.... 50%. Granted, that's a self-evaluation. BUT. I did way, way, way better at Dance and School. Those are the most important things.
I mean social functions I was still known for being hours late and as far as self-imposed deadlines... well, let's not even go there. But since School and Dance make up at least 50% of my life. I'm giving myself an A for improvement.
Ok. Maybe not an A.
Probably more like a solid B+.
B- at the worst....
Those are figures I can work with.
So the improvement continues into the New Year. Be. More. Punctual.
Also in the Resolution category is to get better control of my life. I'm like a walking tornado. I'm just chaos! And I have got to get a grip on everything around me.
It's not so much of a choice as a desperate plea to grab the reigns of my own life. I mean, really, I thrive in chaos. I could be the definition OF chaos. But my family doesn't.
My poor children.
And their future therapists.
So. This New Year you will find a brand new, punctual, organized Rachel.
Or at least a Rachel that is really, really trying hard for those things. And that's a Rachel I can live with.
I take New Years Resolutions SUPER serious.
I don't know why exactly, but they are really important to me. And I do my best to stick to them. Also, I take Lent really seriously, and I'm not even Catholic.
Go figure.
However, I'm all about self-improvement. Lent was the catalyst to giving up my obsession with Celebrity Gossip one year. Yep, I said goodbye to Perez Hilton and have never looked back.
That was one of my successful years.
I also give up soda every single year, but that has yet to stick....
I'm thinking about adding it to my Resolutions this year, but I haven't made up my mind yet. I just spent the last week of my life battling a nasty and very painful UTI in which I had no choice but to give up soda.
So now that I'm completely detox-ed I'm half tempted to keep it that way. The other half of me is tempted to guzzle a 44oz. Cherry Coke Fountain Pop.... But since I have like three more days of antibiotic, we will see who wins in the end.
Anyway!! I hope you all had a fantastic New Years and Holiday Season!! I can't even believe it's over or that it's 2013. I mean, for real, what happened to 2012?????
I have no idea.
I do know that wherever it went it was filled to the brim with so many unbelievable blessings and surprises. Oh my word. I am so thankful for the last year and what has been happening in my life and in my family.
It seriously brings me to tears when I sit down and realize that my dream, this once upon a pipe dream, hoped for make-believe job has become my reality.
I am a writer.
What????
I know, it's crazy to me too. So. Crazy.
And I have more to write! This year has just been insanity. Plus along with the books, there was this little baby thrown into the mix. Now I'm a week away from Stryker turning two, I am in the middle of writing three different books and I just can't believe it all.
I'm not sure if it will ever sink in.
Which I'm ok with.
So anyway. I want to say THANK YOU to everyone who has picked up a copy of one of my books and made this year one of the best of my life!!!!!!! I am so grateful, and just thankful beyond words for your graciousness and generosity. I love you all.
Every single one of you.
And because of that very reason I'm going to do a giveaway!!!!!!!!
Tomorrow on the blog I'm going to announce my favorite reads for 2012. Again... I know I'm late. But to be fair this took me FOREVERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR to figure out. I made only about 39 lists and could not for the life of me narrow it down to ten, or twelve or even fifteen top choices. But I do have three faves for the whole year, in three different categories.
So I'm giving away a signed Reckless Book AND a Team Kiran t-shirt if you comment below with YOUR favorite read for 2012. I'll give you 24 hours and then pick a winner tomorrow at 5pm.
I cannot wait to hear what you guys have been reading!!!!
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My favorite book of 2012 is a toss up between Endless Magic and Independence by Shelly Crane. However, another book I absolutely adored was Once by Anna Carey.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for doing this! Happy New Year and go Kiran!
well besides the reckless series. My other favorite of last year is the Significance series by Shelly Crane. It is an amazing series now being made into a movie. :)
ReplyDeleteCynthia Mason
cindevine@yahoo.com
Besides your books, I really loved the Nicole Williams Fallen Eden series and the two spin off books she did. I believe you recommended this author?
ReplyDeleteI really do tell all my reader and non-reader friends about your books!
My favorite read is hard to narrow down!! I loved all the Magics you've written and all the Chrisie Craig books and all the RL Mathewson books.. :)
ReplyDeleteHands down my favorite book of 2012 was Reckless Magic. It was the best I had read in a while. My other favorite was The Fallen Star by Jessica Sorensen.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite reads in 2012 was the Eden Trilogy by Nicole Williams. Like your series it had a different take on the whole supernatural genre without parading out the kinda tired vampire or werewolf story lines. Not that I don't enjoy a good vampire or werewolf book, but it is refreshing to find a series with in the same genre that doesn't feel like it was taken from a cookie cutter storyline and tweaked.
ReplyDeleteSamantha
samanthamarie81@gmail.com
I think I'd have to say Indebted and Incendiary from the Premonition Series by Amy Bartol, although I did thoroughly enjoy The Reluctant King too - that was a great addition to the series ;)
ReplyDeleteI think I have a five way tie way tie; Star-crossed series, Dark Secrets series by A.M. Hudson, The Watchers series by Karice Bolton, The Hunger Games, and The Forever Trilogy by Quinteria Ramey. I had a really hard time narrowing it down. I read 145+ this year so this is a difficult feat.
ReplyDeleteThank you so so much for the giveaway.. I cannot tell you how excited I am!
ReplyDeleteUhm, my favorite read of 2012? I'll have to say it's Scent of Magic by Maria Snyder.. I still can't get my mind off Kerrick and Avry, so thanks again for doing this awesome giveaway! :)
Of course you know how hard this is.. I really enjoyed the Magic Series and by heck its my favorite. BUT my Top four after that would be:
ReplyDeleteHunger Games
Trylle Series by Amanda Hocking
Fallen Eden by Nicole Williams
Wings series by Aprilynne Pike.
There are so many honorable mentions too.
Happy new ywar to you too Rachel!!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite of 2012 was Flat Out Love by Jessica Park! It is about a love of self, family and another human being.If you havent checked it out I would recommend it!
No need to even think about it. Reckless Magic was absolutely my favorite read of 2012!!! I can still remember the how it was the first time I read it. Absolutely magical! I read it four times in 2012 because I loved it that much and that was in between reading and re-reading the rest of the Star-Crossed series as well as the dozens of other books I read in the past year. But if I couldn't choose any of those books, then I'd have to day my favorite read of 2012 was UnEnchanted by Chanda Hahn. She made me love fairy tales like never before.
ReplyDeleteOhhhhhh..... a giveaway! Those are the best. I hope I win something... Lol I never do. Oh well if I dont. Its still good to be a part of the contest. :)
ReplyDeleteMy favorite read of 2012 was Eona by Alison Goodman 2nd in a 2 book series. Loved it! The first book is called Eon. You should really check it out if you haven't already. :)
I have to say a Tie between the Star crossed series and the Luxen series by Jennifer armentrout
ReplyDeleteMy favorite book of 2012 was The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay.. such an amazing read!
ReplyDeleteOk I have to say that my favorie this year was finding The Star-Crossed Series. I downloed the first book in to my kindle and it musthave been there for months untill i finally read it and i couldn't stop!! i went and read the other books with in a week!! and I have read them like 3 more times sience.
ReplyDeleteId have to say that the fallen series by lauren kate and the star-crossed series is a really close toss up. Yes they are totally different themes but both about a love thats never supposed to be. To anyone thats never read the fallen series i highly recommend reading it too!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite book of 2012 was The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay.. such an amazing read!
ReplyDeleteIf I say Endless Magic will I not be considered for the giveaway? lol To be 100% honest though, Endless Magic really was my absolute all time fav read of 2012. I read several books last year to try and get me past the misery of saying goodbye to Eden and Kiran, and nothing compared to that series. So, although I would love to say a book that wouldn't seem like 'sucking up'...I cannot. Because Endless Magic was and will always be my Number One read of 2012.
ReplyDelete(And, might I add, THANK GOD..I mean, thank RACHEL HIGGINSON for The Reluctant King, The Relentless Warrior and The Redeemable Prince!!! My life no longer has to be miserable for a little while!....until they're over *sigh*)
Deborah harkness "Discovery of Witches " Series is awsome and the second Book came out in 2012! 'Shadow of Night" if any of you love witches and vampires this is the book! It has a very strong smart woman role ! You will not be disappointed!
ReplyDeleteIt would be a tie between Starbright and the Divergent series.
ReplyDeleteI discovered your Reckless series AND the Hunger Game's series, and I have to say they are my favorites! I have come across WAY too much girl porn, and it's nice to sit and read some great books w/out the smut!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Disaster by Jamie McQuire was my favorite with Independence (Significance 4) by Shelly Crane squeezing in the last few days of 2012
ReplyDeleteThank you for the giveaway and Happy New Year! I absolutely love all of your books and characters, I think The Reluctant King has been my favorite so far, reading in Avalon's POV was fantastic!....My favorite book of 2012 was Tiger's Destiny by Colleen Houck :)
ReplyDeleteMichele Norris
men_0929@yahoo.com
I read quite a few books in 2012, but by far my favorite one would have to be.... Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire! Thank you for the awesome giveaway! :)
ReplyDeleteThere were so many great books in 2012! I have to say that for me it's a tie between Kresley Cole's Lothaire and Shadow's Claim. Kresley is a super talented writer and she has done an amazing job with the Immortals After Dark Series.
ReplyDeleteOther favorites: Reckless Magic (LOVED the ending:), Thoughtless/Effortless, Beautiful Disaster, Easy, Flat Out Love,...
Thanks for the opportunity! My favorite books this year were The Star-Crossed Series (not to suck up) and the Iron Fey Series! The only books that made this year a good reading year at all. I had quite a few reading duds unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteLinds
I read so many books in 2012, but I think my favorites were the Star Crossed series. No joke I haven't friended any other authors on facebook or follow their blogs. Something about the story just yanked me in and I HAD to read all 4 in 5 days.... Thanks for the giveaway!!!
ReplyDeleteIn all honesty nothing compares to the Star Crossed series. It is by far my all time favorite love story. Others I loved in 2012 were the Soul Savers series, Elemental Mysteries, Captive series, Grey Wolves series & The Dacian. Can't wait to read your favorites list. Happy New Year!!!!
ReplyDeleteTo name a few.. I loved The Breathing Series by Rebecca Donovan, The Fifty Shades Trilogy, and The Sea of Tranquility! There are just way too many to name.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year! Best :) for making your resolutions! Love your way of determining success. :)I read a bunch of great reads this year but my fav was Superstitions by Susan Oloier.
ReplyDeleteA belated Happy New Years to you!! The ultimate question... My top books this year. Now that's a toughie. Of course the Star Crossed Series as a since I can't pick one. The Of Witches and Warlocks series by Lacey Weatherford is great. I also loved Rick Riodan's Mark of Athena. But that's only a few. I could probably write my own blog of my favorite books tho :)
ReplyDeleteUgh, picking my favorite is a TERRIBLE question to ask! Haha that's like asking my to pick between chocolate and root beer!!!
ReplyDeleteWell, let me narrow it down...
- Loved Loved Loved Endless Magic...But I can't say that one -.-
- I adore poetry by Rilke and I've been reading a book of his translated poems and are marvelous.
- The Selection by Kiera Cass was unexpectedly amazing
- I'm certifiably obsessed with the Dark Secrets Series by A.M. Hudson.
- The Shiver series by Maggie Stiefvater was heart wrentching.
-And the Casual Enchantment Series didn't allow me to put it down.
Okay...I think I'm ready to pick...
Final Answer?....
The Dark Secrets Series by A.M. Hudson because out of all of the books I've read it was the most twisted. In most books, excluding yours, if you can't tell whats going to happen after the first page, you can tell halfway through the book and while that's not necessarily a bad thing, it's definitely awsome to find a book where everything comes as a suprise.
Slammed. Hands down, 100% best read this year.
ReplyDeleteThis is a hard choice. If I had to pick just one I would say Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry because it was the first book I read all year that entertained me and really made me think. In small ways, I can see how reading the book changed me, and that is something I can only say about a few books during my entire life so far. I read to escape and be entertained, but rarely I get to learn and change.
ReplyDeleteThe absolute best book I read all year was The Reluctant King. I have to admit...even with two children waiting bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for me at 6:30 the next morning, the day I bought the book, I stayed up the ENTIRE night reading just to finish it. That was the perfect continuance to the series. It exceeded my expectations and made me that much more excited about the next book in the series.
ReplyDeleteAs for other books...the mainstream writer that I have yet to put down the books would be Janet Evanovich and the Stephanie Plum series. The books are hilarious and I literally laughed out loud multiple times.
When it comes to books that haven't quite hit the mainstream, the series that I recently stumbled upon is The Morcyth Saga by Brian S. Pratt. I am on the third book and hanging on every word!
First off, I LOVED your books. They were a great read this past year. Also, I adored the book Mrs. Drews Plays Her Hand by Carla Kelly.
ReplyDeleteI would have to say the best book of 2012 is John Green's The Fault in our Stars. I cried the entire last third of the novel. Not just silent tears, but loud, ugly face sobbing. The characters were so well thought out and the writing was beautiful. The book was also really intelligent. What made the book so heartbreaking is that one of the characters wishes to make something of himself or be a hero. He knows he will never get to experience that, and that makes the story sad. He is a remarkable person and does leave an impression. This was my favorite novel year, and if a story is able to make you cry, you know the story has to be good.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you as well! Besides your Star Crossed Series....I had a hard time narrowing these down to 2....First of course the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy and the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs!
ReplyDeleteOn your suggestion - Every Which Way -
ReplyDeleteOh my.....
I absolutely loved the star crossed series ( kind of turned into a facebook stalked to find out when the nextbook would come out) One of my other favorites was That Boy by Jillian Dodd. It was a great love triangle with lots of fun real life thrown in.
ReplyDeleteLoved the Star-Crossed Series! One of the very few books I read twice while waiting for Endless to come out. If I were to pick a different author, I would have to say the Soul Savers series by Kristie Cook. There are four out right now in the series plus a novella and I loved them all! It is another paranormal series, angels and demons, and definitely for a mature audience.
ReplyDeleteMichelle B
meshelle10 at hotmail dot com
Regardless of whose bolg this is, my answer would be hands down the Reckless series.
ReplyDeleteWithout a doubt my favorite read of the year was The Star-Crossed Series, I seriously couldn't put any of your books down!! But the other three that took my breath away were:
ReplyDeleteShatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
Matched Trilogy by Ally Condie and
Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi :)
Rosa Olvera
rosaolvera11@yahoo.com
I have a 4 way tie for my AMAZING reads of 2012. I loved Reluctant King, giving us a better insight to how Avalons mind works. Nicole Williams Fusion and Fissure were pretty awesome, her Eden Series was great too. A.M. Hudson of Dark Secrets Series is pretty awesome with her take on Vampires. Christin Lovell with Vampire Chronicles, by book 5 for her I was in Tears, blubbering, sobbing, emotional tears. If you haven't read these I hope you do soon. I know you wont be disappointed.
ReplyDeletethe hungar game trilogy!!!!
ReplyDeleteColleen Reilly
colreillyuk@yahoo.co.uk