So, while I am impatiently watching the news for the ball to drop in Times Square, I want to tell you about the year in review.

January:
Entered 2 challenges that I sadly did not complete, but had fun entering and talking about them anyway (and read some awesome books that I would have not otherwise!)
2011 Debut Author Challenge
2011 Off the Shelf Challenge

Held The Bucket List’s first giveaway (baby steps!!)

February:
Celebrated Valentine’s Day with a strange twist and talked about love triangles

100 amazing people followed the site

Started Cover Discovered, a feature where I rant about the latest book covers I have found.

March:
Interviewed best-selling author, Yann Martel, author of Life of Pi

April:
Hosted the City of Bones book discussion

The Bucket List’s first guest post

May- June:
Top 5 Fictional Proms

My Dream Library

July:
Borders closes :(

August- December:
I went to college and left the blogosphere, besides a few posts here and there but I plan to be back on the air for spring semester.

I started this site in August of 2010 and it was awesome to see it turn one year old this year. You have been with me throughout all of it and I appreciate you all. You all are fantastic and great and I want to give you a huge, THANK YOU, for keeping me motivated in continuing showing you all about the great books I discover. I hope you stick around for another year of fun because this year will be even better than last year.


What will 2012 bring: hopefully it will not bring the end of the world, because The Bucket List will only get better with age. I hope to be online more than I was this semester, so I will definitely have more posts for you to read.

There will be more great giveaways that you could enter.

I am looking into going to BEA this year, something I have never done before, so if you have been, I would love to hear your experiences of the convention.

Since last year’s book discussion was on City of Bones to celebrate the release of City of Fallen Angels, I want to do this year’s book discussion on Fallen to celebrate the release of Rapture. Do you think this would be a good idea? If interested in participating in any way, please contact me HERE.

My big discovery of 2011 is Stacey Jay, a writer who spins tales infused with humor and palpable atmosphere; you won’t be able to put her books down. She creates totally sexy love interests, too—fantasy-worthy-yet-somehow-believable men who pretty much leap off the page. I instantly adored her. I started with the first book in her Megan Berry, Zombie Settler series, You Are So Undead to Me. Technically this isn’t a 2011 release, but I read it this year, so I’m throwing it in. Loved this light, humorous take on the zombie genre—totally fresh and fun. Megan Berry has a voice that’s completely believable and I bonded with her from page one. Next I read Dead on the Delta (out this year, with a sequel out in 2012, Blood on the Bayou). This incredibly strange and original novel mixes killer fairies and a strong yet endearingly human heroine. Add not one but two steamy love interests and a swampy Louisiana setting, you get a super-charged recipe for reading-all-night. Her latest YA, Juliet Immortal, proves once again her knack for dreaming up delicious male characters. The guy in that, Ben, totally stole my heart; he made poor old Romeo look like a pathetic loser! So yeah, check out Stacey Jay. She’s fun, eclectic, and definitely a writer to watch. 

-Jody Gehrman, author of Babe in Boyland

I read so many great books this year that it's hard to pick one as a favorite, so how about I highlight three, each of which represents a genre? OK, then! In paranormal, I really loved Randy Russell's DEAD RULES - so dark and funny and romantic and disturbing! For contemporary realistic fiction I thought THE IMPLOSION OF AGGIE WINCHESTER by Lara Zielin was really, really well done, especially since its heroine is a would-be goth who enjoys bass fishing. And in fantasy, I have to spotlight my friend and agency mate Rae Carson, whose GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS has been winning awards and rave reviews left and right. It's such a fresh take on fantasy and the world building is amazing. If I had more time and space I could highlight a dozen other favorite 2011 books, but those top my list!

-Sara Bennett Wealer, author of Rival

Oh, it's so hard to pick just one book for a whole year! :) I LOVED Rae Carson's Girl of Fire and Thorns. I really liked Elisa, such a different heroine. It was so much fun to see her grow and change through the course of the story. Kristen Tracy's Sharks & Boys kept me riveted--I wasn't sure who would survive, if anyone!

But my absolute favorite this year was Kendare Blake's Anna Dressed in Blood. Any book that can scare me AND make me laugh is definitely at the top of my list!  

-Stacey Kade, author of Queen of the Dead

Here at The Bucket List, I am taking the time to give you the world of books in a nutshell for the year 2011. On Monday, the theme was Best Book-Turned-Movie. Tuesday was the Best Covers of 2011. Today's theme is the best series of 2011. If I missed any of your favorites in making this "bucket list," please tell me in the comments. Anyway, check my picks out:

Fallen series by Lauren Kate

Why I Love It:  Written by two wonderful authors, this series is also one of my finds recently.  The characters are truly remarkable and relatable.  If you haven’t read this yet, this series should be on your tbr list.

Hush, Hush series by Becca Fitzpatrick

Why I Love It:  The first book of the series came out sometime ago but this series made a comeback with the second and third of the series.  With breathtaking covers and nonstop action, this series is definitely one of the best series of the year.

Paranormalcy series by Kiersten White

Why I Love It: Evie is one of the best characters ever; she has the greatest attitude.  This series is not only relatable but will keep you guessing from the start to end. 

The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare

Why I Love It:  If my post on how gorgeous Jem and Will are did not persuade you to pick this series up, then surely the review of the first one shall (HERE).  Shadowhunters kick supernatural butt with a mix of action and romance that will leave you wanting more.

What are your some of your favorites?  I would love to know.  Stay tuned until tomorrow when I have some of your favorite authors tell us all about their favorite reads of the year.

    

Are you ready for 2012?   2011 just went so fast. So, I decided I am going to take you through the best books of 2011. Yesturday's theme was Best Book-Turned-Movie in 2011 and today I picked out the best covers I've seen all year. If I missed one of this year's covers that were your favorite, please let me know in the comments- I want to know what you think. They've had some really cool covers this year, check it out:

Here at The Bucket List, Nora and I are taking the time to give you the world of books in a nutshell for the year 2010.  On Monday, the theme was Best Book-Turned-Movie of 2010.  Tuesday was the Best Covers of 2010.  Today's theme is the best series of 2010.  If we have missed any of your favorites in making this "bucket list," please tell us in the comments.  Anyway, check our picks out:

Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins
Why I love it:
This series is one of the best series of all time.  You can read my review for Mockingjay HERE.  It is a series that transports you to a different time and you start to actually believe you are right there with the characters.  The series is filled with twists, turns, and romance that will keep anyone on their toes.

Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead


Why I love it:
Who does not love the Vampire Academy series?  I think that Last Sacrifice was one of the most anticipated books of the year.  This book ends the series and I am yet to read it.  This series is not only one of the best vampire series of all time, but also has great depth to it.  Not to mention, there is also the hunky hotness of the Russian guy, Dimitri.

Maximum Ride series by James Patterson


Why I love it:
James Patterson is one of the best writers of all time.  He created a bunch of birdkids that fly and save the world.  Who wouldn't love that?  Now, I admit, some of his latest books in the series are going green.  If you've read it, you'll know what I mean.  Just because the storyline might be getting old, this series will stay with me because Patterson wrote some very strong characters that will keep me reading the rest of the series, no matter what he decides to write about next.

The Wolves of Mercy Falls series by Maggie Stiefvater

Why I love it:
In all truth, Nora picked this one- she picked most of them but we agreed on almost all of them.  This series, I have yet to read.  There seems to be a big fandom behind it, but I'm not so sure I should read it.  Nora says that it is good.  So, basically, I just want to know why all of you love this series?

House of Night series by P.C. and Kristin Cast

Why I love it:
This unique series keeps me coming back for more.  It's filled with cliffhangers that I can never figure out- making me go buy each novel the day it comes out so I can find out what is happening with the characters that I love and hate at the same time.

Other series that were cool, but just didn't make the cut:
Touch series by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Are you ready for 2011?  This blog was started in August, can you believe it?  2010 just went so fast.  So, Nora and I decided we are going to take you through the best books of 2010.  Yesturday's theme was Best Book-Turned-Movie in 2010 and today we picked out the best covers we've seen all year.  If Nora and I missed one of this year's covers that were your favorite, please let us know in the comments- we want to know what you think.  They've had some really cool covers this year, check it out:

2010 is almost gone and I'd thought I take the last week to previewthe best books of the entire year in a nutshell.  Since, it's Movie Monday, a post I do almost every week to show you the latest book/movie news, I thought it would be great to show you the best book-turned-movie of 2010.  If there is a good movie we missed, please notify us in the comments.  Nora and I tried to pick the best movies we thought were as good as the books- here's what we came up with:



Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows by J. K. Rowling:


Alice In Wonderland by Lewis Carroll:


Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane:


Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightening Thief by Rick Riordan