Monday, November 12, 2012

Noteworthy New Releases - 11/12 - 11/18



New in Hardback:

Reached - Ally Condie    ( B&N | Amazon | Goodreads  )
Echo - Alyson Noel    ( B&N | Amazon | Goodreads  )
Black City - Elizabeth Richards    ( B&N | Amazon | Goodreads  )



New in Paperback:

Fated - Alyson Noel    ( B&N | Amazon | Goodreads  )
Echo - Alyson Noel (Paperback)    ( B&N | Amazon | Goodreads  )
After Obsession - Carrie Jones    ( B&N | Amazon | Goodreads  )
I am J - Cris Beam    ( B&N | Amazon | Goodreads  )

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Waiting on Wednesday #90 - A Darkness Strange and Lovely

A Darkness Strange and Lovely
by Susan Dennard

Publication Date: July 23rd, 2013
Publisher: HarperCollins

Add to Goodreads
Available for Pre-order: Amazon

Following an all-out battle with the walking Dead, the Spirit Hunters have fled Philadelphia, leaving Eleanor alone to cope with the devastating aftermath. But there’s more trouble ahead—the evil necromancer Marcus has returned, and his diabolical advances have Eleanor escaping to Paris to seek the help of Joseph, Jie, and the infuriatingly handsome Daniel once again. When she arrives, however, she finds a whole new darkness lurking in this City of Light. As harrowing events unfold, Eleanor is forced to make a deadly decision that will mean life or death for everyone. (Goodreads)



I really enjoyed reading Something Strange and Deadly earlier this year.  The ending from the previous book has definitely left me curious for this book. I NEED to know what's going to happen next! I can't wait to get my hands on A Darkness Strange and Lovely. :) Isn't the cover awesome?!

What are you Waiting on this week???

**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Review: Easy by Tammara Webber

Easy
by Tammara Webber

Publication Date: November 6, 2012
Publisher: Berkley Paperback
Pages: 310
ISBN: 9780425266748

B&N | Amazon | Goodreads

(Mature Young Adult/ New Adult)


A girl who believes trust can be misplaced, promises are made to be broken, and loyalty is an illusion. A boy who believes truth is relative, lies can mask unbearable pain, and guilt is eternal. Will what they find in each other validate their conclusions, or disprove them all?

When Jacqueline follows her longtime boyfriend to the college of his choice, the last thing she expects is a breakup two months into sophomore year. After two weeks in shock, she wakes up to her new reality: she's single, attending a state university instead of a music conservatory, ignored by her former circle of friends, and failing a class for the first time in her life.

Leaving a party alone, Jacqueline is assaulted by her ex's frat brother. Rescued by a stranger who seems to be in the right place at the right time, she wants nothing more than to forget the attack and that night--but her savior, Lucas, sits on the back row of her econ class, sketching in a notebook and staring at her. Her friends nominate him to be the perfect rebound.

When her attacker turns stalker, Jacqueline has a choice: crumple in defeat or learn to fight back. Lucas remains protective, but he's hiding secrets of his own. Suddenly appearances are everything, and knowing who to trust is anything but easy. (Goodreads)
This novel is in the New Adult genre, and has mature content.

Easy by Tammara Webber is a book that had somehow never managed to cross my radar. But once I discovered the book, it started popping up everywhere! I knew I needed to read the book to see what the fuss was about. I am SO glad that I did!

I really adored this book, for many reasons.  First, it reminds me of two other novels that I fell in love with this year; Beautiful Disaster and Pushing the Limits. All of these books have a good girl heroine that falls in love with the bad boy, who isn’t exactly a bad boy at all. I love these types of novels. I don’t know exactly what it is, but I just can’t seem to get enough of them.

The main character in the story, Jacqueline, has been through quite a bit in the past few weeks of her life.  Her boyfriend of many years, who she followed to college, has broken up with her. Then she is assaulted by her ex’s frat brother, and for the first time ever, failing one of her classes. Just when she thinks she has hit rock bottom, reality sets in. With the help of a stranger, the same stranger that saved her, she manages to get her life back on track.  I really liked Jacqueline. I felt a connection to her that I didn’t exactly expect at first. While I didn’t agree with all of the decisions she made throughout the novel, I still found her to be a very likeable character.

Our love interest in the story is Lucas. I love Lucas. He is so mysterious and complex. I never knew what to expect from him. Burdened with events from his past that forever changed his future, Lucas has his own secrets to keep. But even with his own issues, he is there for Jacqueline. I love the relationship between the two of them. Lucas is definitely swoon-worthy.

This novel starts off with a bang, and just keeps going. The storyline was definitely engrossing, and it kept me hooked to the pages. I found the storyline to be very realistic.  While some of the contents are very disturbing, I feel that it’s good for girls to read this and to know that sexual assault is not ok.

Overall, I really love reading books of this type at the moment.  Easy has definitely earned a top stop of my ‘Favorite’ list. I can’t wait to read it again. And again! I hope that you enjoy it as well.

Happy Reading!



Monday, November 5, 2012

Noteworthy New Releases * 11/5 - 11/11 *



New in Hardback:

Days of Blood & Starlight - Laini Taylor    ( B&N | Amazon | Goodreads )
Eternally Yours - Cat Tiernan    ( B&N | Amazon | Goodreads )
Bitter Blood - Rachel Caine    ( B&N | Amazon | Goodreads )



New in Paperback:

Easy - Tammara Webber    ( B&N | Amazon | Goodreads )
Daughter of Smoke and Bone - Laini Taylor    ( B&N | Amazon | Goodreads )
Shut Out - Kody Keplinger    ( B&N | Amazon | Goodreads )
Pregnant Pause - Han Nolan    ( B&N | Amazon | Goodreads )

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Weekly Book Haul #20


Purchased:
Finale - Becca Fitzpatrick
The Evolution of Mara Dyer - Michelle Hodkin

For Review:
Prodigy - Marie Lu
Destiny Rising - L.J. Smith
Phantom - L.J. Smith



e-ARC's:
Easy - Tammara Webber
Undeadly - Michele Vail
Sacrifice - Cayla Kluver
Dualed - Elsie Chapman


Hey guys!

It's been a while since I've done a Book Haul post.
So here are a few of the books I've gotten of the pas few weeks.
I've already read and loved Mara Dyer #2, and I can't wait to get into Finale.
I am SO excited about all of the eArc's I found.
I can't wait to get started on the rest of them!

What new books did you get this week??

Friday, November 2, 2012

Review: Mystic City by Theo Lawrence

Mystic City
(Mystic City #1)
by Theo Lawrence

Publication Date: October 9th, 2012
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Pages: 416
ISBN: 9780385741606

B&N | Amazon | The Book Depository | Goodreads

For fans of  Matched, The Hunger Games, X-Men, and Blade Runner comes a tale of a magical city divided, a political rebellion ignited, and a love that was meant to last forever. Book One of the Mystic City Novels.

Aria Rose, youngest scion of one of Mystic City's two ruling rival families, finds herself betrothed to Thomas Foster, the son of her parents' sworn enemies. The union of the two will end the generations-long political feud—and unite all those living in the Aeries, the privileged upper reaches of the city, against the banished mystics who dwell below in the Depths. But Aria doesn't remember falling in love with Thomas; in fact, she wakes one day with huge gaps in her memory. And she can't conceive why her parents would have agreed to unite with the Fosters in the first place. Only when Aria meets Hunter, a gorgeous rebel mystic from the Depths, does she start to have glimmers of recollection—and to understand that he holds the key to unlocking her past. The choices she makes can save or doom the city—including herself. (Goodreads)

Mystic City is a novel about a post-apocalyptical Manhattan. Most of the city is under water due to global warming, and two rival families rule the city. Aria Rose, who is the youngest daughter in the Rose family, finds herself engaged to Thomas Foster, son from the rival Foster family, after an event that took parts of her memory. No one is telling Aria anything, so it’s up to her to find out exactly what is going on.

Poor Aria, you have to feel bad for the girl for what she’s been through. To top that off, since the novel is from her point of view, we have NO idea what’s happened. All we know is that there are a lot of secrets, and that no one is telling poor Aria anything. The author did a really great job at keeping me confused throughout the novel. Aria was a great heroine. Even through the confusion and the fear, she kept her head, and stood her ground. I love her for that.

There are two love interests in the story. One is with Thomas, the young man that Aria is engaged to, but does not remember; who is also the son of the rival family in the city. Then there is Hunter. Aria has no idea who he is, but feels a strong pull towards him.  Hunter has secrets of his own, secrets that could get him killed if the wrong person found out. I love his love for Aria. He really cares, and only wants to keep her safe. Swoon!

Aria’s family is full of people that you are going to love to hate, especially her parents! They give the word dysfunctional a whole new meaning.  Without giving much away, I will just say that they are one of the worst families I have had to read in YA to date.

The storyline was very creative for the story. I found it to be believable because it’s something that could definitely happen in our world due to global warming.  The author did a really great job with the descriptions of the city after it had been flooded and rebuilt. I definitely had a clear imagine in my mind of how the city would have looked.

Overall, I thought that Mystic City was a really interesting read! I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book in the series, Renegade Heart, to see what is going to happen with Aria, Hunter and the rest of their crew!

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Waiting on Wednesday #89 - Goddess by Josephine Angelini

Goddess
(Starcrossed #3)
by Josephine Angelini

Publication Date: May 28th 2013
Publisher: HarperCollins

Add to Goodreads

After accidentally unleashing the gods from their captivity on Olympus, Helen must find a way to re-imprison them without starting a devastating war. But the gods are angry, and their thirst for blood already has a body count.

To make matters worse, the Oracle reveals that a diabolical Tyrant is lurking among them, which drives a wedge between the once-solid group of friends. As the gods use the Scions against one another, Lucas’s life hangs in the balance. Still unsure whether she loves him or Orion, Helen is forced to make a terrifying decision, for war is coming to her shores.

In Josephine Angelini’s compelling conclusion to the masterfully woven Starcrossed trilogy, a goddess must rise above it all to change a destiny that’s been written in the stars. With worlds built just as fast as they crumble, love and war collide in an all-out battle that will leave no question unanswered and no heart untouched. (Goodreads)

Hey guys! Long time, no see!

I'm seriously out of the loop lately. :(   Life has been busy. But I'm trying to get it back together!

So I discovered that the cover for GODDESS was released this week!
(The covers for this series are so gorgeous.)
I love the Starcrossed series, it's amazing, and Josephine Angelini is a writing genius.
I can't wait to dive back into this series to see what happens with Helen
and my favorite Starcrossed characters!


What are you Waiting on this week???

Monday, October 29, 2012

Noteworthy New Releases * 10/29 - 11/4 *




New in Hardback:

Rebel Heart - Moira Young    (  B&N | Amazon | Goodreads  )
Sapphire Blue - Kerstin Gier    (  B&N | Amazon | Goodreads  )
Venom - Fiona Paul    (  B&N | Amazon | Goodreads  )
Ruins - Orson Scott Card    (  B&N | Amazon | Goodreads  )
The Bar Code Prophecy - Suzanne Weyn    (  B&N | Amazon | Goodreads  )
Insurgent (Collector's Edition) - Veronica Roth    (  B&N | Amazon | Goodreads  )




New in Paperback:

The Fire - James Patterson    (  B&N | Amazon | Goodreads  )
The Pledge - Kimberly Derting    (  B&N | Amazon | Goodreads  )
Chain Reaction - Simone Elkeles    (  B&N | Amazon | Goodreads  )
Clockwork Angel - Cassandra Clare    (  B&N | Amazon | Goodreads  )
Pink - Lili Wilkinson    (  B&N | Amazon | Goodreads  )
The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart - Leanna Renee Hieber  (  B&N | Amazon | Goodreads  )
How to Save a Life - Sara Zarr     ( B&N | Amazon | Goodreads  )




Monday, October 22, 2012

Noteworthy New Releases * 10/22 - 10/28 *




New in Hardback:

The Evolution of Mara Dyer - Michelle Hodkin   (  B&N | Amazon | Goodreads  )
Finale - Becca Fitzpatrick   (  B&N | Amazon | Goodreads  )
Beautiful Redemption - Kami Garcia - Margaret Stohl   (  B&N | Amazon | Goodreads  )
The Curiosities: A Collection of Stories - Maggie Stiefvater, Tessa Gratton, Breanna Yovanoff
(  B&N | Amazon | Goodreads  )
Destiny Rising - L.J. Smith    (  B&N | Amazon | Goodreads  )
The Crimson Crown - Cinda Williams Chima   (  B&N | Amazon | Goodreads  )
Divine Madness - Robert Muchamore   (  B&N | Amazon | Goodreads  )





New in Paperback:

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer - Michelle Hodkin    (  B&N | Amazon | Goodreads  )
The Lost Prince - Julie Kagawa    (  B&N | Amazon | Goodreads  )
Sacrifice - Cayla Kluver    (  B&N | Amazon | Goodreads  )
Angel Fire - L.A. Weatherly    (  B&N | Amazon | Goodreads  )
The Phantom - L.J. Smith    (  B&N | Amazon | Goodreads  )
Inheritance - Christopher Paolini    (  B&N | Amazon | Goodreads  )
Conjure - Lea Nolan    (  B&N | Amazon | Goodreads  )
The Killing - Robert Muchamore, Sammy Yuen Jr.    (  B&N | Amazon | Goodreads  )


Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Review: Destroy Me by Tahereh Mafi

Destroy Me
(Shatter Me #1.5)
by Tahereh Mafi

Publication Date: October 2nd, 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 150
ISBN: 9780062208194

B&N | Amazon | Goodreads

Perfect for the fans of Shatter Me who are desperately awaiting the release of Unravel Me, this novella-length digital original will bridge the gap between these two novels from the perspective of the villain we all love to hate, Warner, the ruthless leader of Sector 45.

In Tahereh Mafi’s Shatter Me, Juliette escaped from The Reestablishment by seducing Warner—and then putting a bullet in his shoulder. But as she’ll learn in Destroy Me, Warner is not that easy to get rid of. . .

Back at the base and recovering from his near-fatal wound, Warner must do everything in his power to keep his soldiers in check and suppress any mention of a rebellion in the sector. Still as obsessed with Juliette as ever, his first priority is to find her, bring her back, and dispose of Adam and Kenji, the two traitors who helped her escape. But when Warner’s father, The Supreme Commander of The Reestablishment, arrives to correct his son’s mistakes, it’s clear that he has much different plans for Juliette. Plans Warner simply cannot allow.

Set after Shatter Me and before its forthcoming sequel, Unravel Me, Destroy Me is a novella told from the perspective of Warner, the ruthless leader of Sector 45. (Goodreads)

Destroy Me is a much anticipated novella in the Shatter Me series by the brilliant Tahereh Mafi. In this novella, we get a glimpse into the life of the mysterious Warner, right after the cliffhanger ending in Shatter Me. While this story is short at 150 pages, I enjoyed is so very much.

I have loved Warner’s character since we first met him in Shatter Me. He was so very mysterious and intriguing. While I wanted to dislike him for all the bad things he did, especially to Juliette, I just couldn’t help but love him. Getting to view this little peek into his life just made me love him even more. We get an even better feeling for why he is the way he is. Poor kid, you just want to hug him, and keep on hugging. The range of emotions that we experience with Warner is just mind blowing. I can’t wait to read more about him in the next book!

We also get to meet Warner’s psycho dad in this novella. Meeting him explains so much. He is one of those characters that you will definitely love to hate. I know I did!  Unfortunately, we don’t get to see much of Juliette or Adam this time around, but I can’t wait until they meet again!

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this short novella! Tahereh Mafi is such an excellent writer. Reading this has gotten me so excited to finally get my hands on Unravel Me next year!

Happy Reading!