Angieville

It's New Year's Eve, and I've managed to compile my best of 2011 list. I've come to realize I don't really believe in top tens. They're so limiting. When have I ever been able to fit anything I love into an even ten? So here are my top 14 favorite books of the year. Best of 2011 (in order of publication) River Marked by Patricia Briggs Children of Scarabaeus by Sara Creasy The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion House of Silence by Linda Gillard Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews The Dark Enquiry by Deanna Raybourn I'll Be There by Holly Goldberg Sloan The Demon's Surrender by Sarah Rees Brennan Until There Was You by Kristan Higgins A Lily Among Thorns by Rose Lerner How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater FYI, that's 3 urban fantasies, 4 contemporaries, 2 historicals, 1 fantasy, 1 mystery, 1 m...

Retro Friday is a weekly meme hosted here @ Angieville and focuses on reviewing books from the past. This can be an old favorite, an under-the-radar book you think deserves more attention, something woefully out of print, etc. Everyone is welcome to join in at any time! Do we have time for one last Retro Friday review for the year? I figured it ought to be a good one. And since I reviewed Daughter of the Forest a few weeks back, it seemed only right to close the year out with the sequel. Just another one of those perfect books I read before I started reviewing books and then sort of shied away from reviewing because it's well nigh impossible to do justice to a book you have all the feelings for, you know? It also happens that this is not only one of my very favorite books of all time but one of my favorite winter reads, as the night of Midwinter's Eve plays rather a large role in the story.  Son of the Shadows is one of those unexpected wonders and another example of...

. . . and to all, a good night.

Last night we went up to my sister-in-law's house to meet our newest niece. And in between oohing and ahhing over her indisputable adorableness, I got to take a peek at my oldest niece's bookshelves. Anna's twelve and a reader. The real deal. And I'll admit that I got a little thrill when I saw that she owns not one but two copies of   Robin McKinley 's  Beauty .  I had to take a pic of the one edition, because I've never actually seen a copy in real life, and, because, really, it's too spectacularly 80s for words: I feel compelled to point out how appalled this particular Beauty would be at this representation of herself. But otherwise? Yup. Too spectacularly 80s for words.

Watching and rewatching this is making me incredibly happy. Especially the part where Richard Armitage sings. *quietly fangirls*

I love this cover. It has all kinds of interpretations once you've read the book, and I've enjoyed contemplating all of them after the fact. Linda Gillard 's novels have become comfort reads for me when I'm looking for quietly moving stories with a hefty amount of substance to match the touching moments. I would not categorize any of them as "cozy" reads. There's far too much pain and history in them for that. Rather they are meaningful and full of thoughtful explorations and characters whose feet are a bit more rooted to the ground than you sometimes find in similar novels of a lighter nature. Having read and loved Ms. Gillard's first self-published novel House of Silence , I was nothing but excited when I heard she had another coming out just a few short months later. On an only slightly related note, do you ever bemoan the fact that you've never had the chance to run hell bent for leather through a field in a wedding dress? It just never occu...

And the winner is . . . Sarah (Escaping Through Books) ! Congratulations! Sarah's favorite fairy tale has always been Sleeping Beauty. That was definitely a favorite of those who entered the giveaway, including a shout-out for Spindle's End --my favorite version of it. More favorites included Cinderella (appropriately), The Twelve Dancing Princesses, Beauty and the Beast, and The Little Mermaid. And one mention of The Seven Swans--a personal favorite of mine. So if you could send me your contact info, Sarah, we'll be happy to get your package on its way. Thanks to Macmillan Audio for hosting the giveaway and to all of you for stopping in and sharing your favorites!

Today you can find me over at Not Enough Bookshelves guest posting on my favorite couple from 2011. I know! How did I narrow it down? It was agonizing. But I think I landed on the two that really set my pulse permanently racing this year. If you've got a minute, be sure to drop in and see who it was . This is the third year running Alexa has hosted her Christmas Couples Countdown and it's always a blast, especially as we usually have several favorite duos in common. Happy holiday reading, everyone!

I'm pleased to host a giveaway today of the audiobook of Cinder by Marissa Meyer . This cyberpunk/scifi retelling of Cinderella has a lot going for it (you can read my review here ). The book and audiobook are due out January 1st. But Macmillan Audio is letting us in on a sneak peek of the audio version below. If you like what you hear, please leave a comment with your favorite fairy tale and your contact information, and you'll be entered to win the audiobook! This giveaway is open to U.S. addresses only and will end at midnight on December 9th. 

Today you can find me over at The Book Smugglers kicking off their annual Smugglivus celebrations! The usual awards will be given out. Think you can guess who I picked for Best Declaration? Villain? Ridiculously Charming Hero? Be sure to stop on by to see who and say hi!