The Bibliophile Sweater Tag

Jameson from Lovely Whatsoevers tagged me for the Bibliophile Sweater Tag! Thanks, Jameson!


Here are the rules:

1.) Give the person who tagged you a never-ending supply of cookies (or just thank them - either works).
2.) Answer all the questions and use the blog graphic for this tag somewhere in your post (the original graphic is above).
3.) Pass along the tag to at least five other people wear a sweater (okay, this is optional...but why wouldn't you want to??)

Okay, here we go!

Fuzzy Sweater

(a book that is the epitome of comfort)

There a lot of books that could fall under the comfort category, but if I have to choose just one it would be Echoes. This is the third book in The Glenbrooke series (all of which are comfort books), and I'm choosing it as the epitome of comfort because it was the book in the series that introduced me to Irish Breakfast Tea. I mean tea pretty much goes with comfort, right?

Striped Sweater

(book which you devoured every line of) 

I've mentioned it before, but I adore Harlan Coben's books. If I'm being completely honest, I devour every line of pretty much all of them. They are addicting. But since I have to pick one, I'm going with The Stranger. It's not my favorite novel of Coben's, but it is one of the ones I've read the fastest.

Ugly Christmas Sweater

(book with a weird cover)

I don't really own many books with weird covers, so this was a hard one. Ultimately, I'm going with Gone for Good. It's yellow and the title is embossed (it's like that on the spine as well), so it's not always the easiest to read from a distance. Is it the weirdest cover out there? No, but it's one of the weirdest that I own.

Cashmere Sweater

(most expensive book you've bought)

Yeah, there's no contest here. Hardcore Twenty-Four is the most expensive book I've bought.

Hoodie

(favorite classic book)

Treasure Island is one of the few classic books that I've read, so it's kind of my favorite by default. Thanks to Pirates of the Caribbean, I was kind of obsessed with pirates for a while (they still fascinate me to this day), so I think it's pretty fitting that this is one of the classics I've read.

Cardigan 

(book you bought on impulse) 

The Lacemaker and the Princess is a book I bought on impulse years ago when I was on vacation. It takes place around the French Revolution and is about a girl who befriends Marie Antoinette's daughter.

Turtleneck Sweater 

(book from your childhood) 

I've always had a fondness for fairy tales (thanks Disney!), so I think it's fitting that one of my favorite books from my childhood is Fairest, which is a Snow White retelling. It's by the same author as Ella Enchanted, and I've read this one multiple times.

Homemade Knitted Sweater

(book that is indie-published)

The vast majority of the indie-published books that I own are e-books, so the only ones that I have physical copies of are my own book and Dragon Lyric.

V-Neck Sweater & Argyle Sweater

(book that did not meet your expectations and book with a unique format)

Two in one! While Black Widow Forever Red is a book that I enjoyed for the most part, it definitely didn't meet my expectations. When I heard about this book, I expected more Natasha Romanoff and less Ava and Alex. I'm also choosing this as my book with a unique format, because I don't have many books with unique formats. In this one, on occasion, you have transcripts from where Natasha is having to give a debrief about the events of the book, so I thought that was pretty unique.

Polka Dot Sweater

(a book with well-rounded characters)

This was a hard one. I really don't know which books have the best well-rounded characters, because it's been a while since I've read a lot of them. I'm going with Heist Society though, because I did really enjoy all of the characters that are in this book and the ones that follow it.


As far as tags go, I'm not tagging anyone in particular. If you see this and want to have a go at it, feel free! Here are the questions:

Fuzzy Sweater (a book that is the epitome of comfort)
Striped Sweater (book which you devoured every line of)
Ugly Christmas Sweater (book with a weird cover)
Cashmere Sweater (most expensive book you've bought)
Hoodie (favorite classic book)
Cardigan (book that you bought on impulse)
Turtleneck Sweater (book from your childhood)
Homemade Knitted Sweater (book that is indie-published)
V-neck Sweater (book that did not meet your expectations)
Argyle Sweater (book with a unique format)
Polka Dot Sweater (a book with well-rounded characters)

Top 5 Favorite Book Series

            There is nothing like finding a new book series to read. I’ve been lucky to find so many great series, and as a result I have several favorites. So today, I thought I would share my top five favorite book series. This list is in no particular order, and I’ve included the synopsis and image from Amazon.com for the first book in each. Each of these books are ones that I would read again and again, and I hope that if you haven’t read them yet, you’ll check them out.

       1.)    Stephanie Plum by Janet Evanovich

Book 1 of 22 (soon to be 23) – One for the Money: “Welcome to Trenton, New Jersey, home to wiseguys, average Joes, and Stephanie Plum, who sports a big attitude and even bigger money problems (since losing her job as a lingerie buyer for a department store). Stephanie needs cash--fast--but times are tough, and soon she's forced to turn to the last resort of the truly desperate: family.

Stephanie lands a gig at her sleazy cousin Vinnie's bail bonding company. She's got no experience. But that doesn't matter. Neither does the fact that the bail jumper in question is local vice cop Joe Morelli. From the time he first looked up her dress to the time he first got into her pants to the time Steph hit him with her father's Buick, M-o-r-e-l-l-i has spelled t-r-o-u-b-l-e. And now the hot guy is in hot water--wanted for murder.

Abject poverty is a great motivator for learning new skills, but being trained in the school of hard knocks by people like psycho prizefighter Benito Ramirez isn't. Still, if Stephanie can nab Morelli in a week, she'll make a cool ten grand. All she has to do is become an expert bounty hunter overnight--and keep herself from getting killed before she gets her man.”

My thoughts: The Stephanie Plum series is a fun, light read. Stephanie’s life as a bounty hunter is a hilarious adventure, and we get to watch her exploits with the dashing Joe Morelli and the mysterious Ranger Manoso. Read the series and then make the decision of whether you’re a Babe or a Cupcake.

2.)    Heist Society by Ally Carter

Book 1 of 3 – Heist Society: “For as long as she can remember, Katarina has been a part of the family business-thieving. When Kat tries to leave "the life" for a normal life, her old friend Hale conspires to bring her back into the fold. Why? A mobster's art collection has been stolen, and Kat's father is the only suspect. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat's dad needs her help.”

My thoughts: Teenage thieves, what’s not to love? Kat and her friends pull off some amazing heists in this series, and I sincerely hope that Ally Carter will write another book in this series too.

3.)    Myron Bolitar by Harlan Coben

Book 1 of 10 – Deal Breaker: “Sports agent Myron Bolitar is poised on the edge of the big time. So is Christian Steele, a rookie quarterback and Myron’s prized client. But when Christian gets a phone call from a former girlfriend—a woman who everyone, including the police, believes is dead—the deal starts to go sour. Trying to unravel the truth about a family’s tragedy, a woman’s secret, and a man’s lies, Myron is up against the dark side of his business—where image and talent make you rich, but the truth can get you killed.”

My thoughts:  The Myron Bolitar mysteries are really fascinating, with some great characters. These books pretty much cemented Harlan Coben as my favorite mystery writer. In fact, these books are so good, that it’s hard to get a hold of them at the library. There’s also a YA spinoff series that stars Myron’s nephew, Mickey Bolitar, that’s really good.

4.)    The Selection by Kiera Cass

Book 1 of 4 (soon to be 5) – The Selection: “For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.”

My thoughts: First of all, the covers are gorgeous and are great at drawing you in. It’s a dystopian novel, but different from the likes of The Hunger Games and Divergent. Actually it’s pretty much like a dystopian Bachelor, which is pretty fascinating.

5.)    The Glenbrooke Series by Robin Jones Gunn

Book 1 of 9 – Secrets: “The storybook town of Glenbrooke is about to become Jessica's new home and she can't wait to settle in. She has eagerly planned this chance for a fresh start and knows how important it is that she hide the details of her past.
However, an unexpected encounter with a compassionate paramedic named Kyle changes everything.
Come to Glenbrooke - a quiet place where souls are refreshed.”

My thoughts: I read this series during my senior year of high school. It’s a great Christian romance series, and it leaves you wishing that Glenbrooke was a real place that you could move to. Seriously the town sounds like the perfect place to live. This series also introduced me to Irish Breakfast Tea, which I discovered is quite good. Each book centers on a different character, but all of the stories find a way to intertwine. 

Now you know my favorite book series, do you have any to recommend?