Waiting On Wednesday #112 - Elusion by Claudia Gabel & Cheryl Klam

Elusion
by Claudia Gabel & Cheryl Klam

Publication Date: March 18th 2014
Publisher: HarperTeen / Katherine Tegen Books

Soon, Elusion® will change the world and life as we know it.

A new technology called Elusion is sweeping the country. An app, visor and wristband will virtually transport you to an exotic destination where adventure can be pursued without the complications—or consequences—of real life.

Regan is an Elusion insider. Or at least she used to be. Her father invented the program, and her best friend, Patrick, heir to the tech giant Orexis, is about to release it nationwide. But ever since her father’s unexpected death, Regan can’t bear to Escape, especially since waking up from the dream means crashing back to her grim reality.

Still, when there are rumors of trouble in Elusion—accusations that it’s addictive and dangerous— Regan is determined to defend it. But the critics of Elusion come from surprising sources, including Josh, the handsome skeptic with his own personal stakes. As Regan investigates the claims, she discovers a disturbing web of secrets. She will soon have to choose between love and loyalty…a decision that will affect the lives of millions.

Suspense, thrills, and romance fuel this near-future story about the seductive nature of a perfect virtual world, and how far one girl will go to uncover the truth behind the illusions. (Goodreads)

I just recently discovered this book via HarperTeen's 2014 Winter Catalog.
Holy Moley, this book sounds like it will be great!
Suspense, thrills, romance and virtual worlds??
Yes, please. Sign me up!

What are you Waiting for 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.**

Top Ten Tuesday: Authors Who Deserve More Recognition

Top Ten Authors Who Deserve More Recognition

1. Josephine Angelini - I looooooove reading Josephine Angelini's books. Her Starcrossed series is amazing, one of my most favorite series ever. I love the world and characters that she creates in her stories. I can't get enough of her writing. I need her to write more books, and soon! Hint, hint!

2. Michelle Hodkin - Seriously? Have you read her books? The Mara Dyer series is SO good. I am constantly recommending this series to people, and it constantly amazes me when people haven't read her books yet! Love her!

3. Tara Hudson - I love Tara Hudson's Herafter series. It is series that I always recommend to people that like ghost stories. So good!

4. Lauren Oliver - Ok, Lauren Oliver is pretty darn popular. But she is another one of my go-to authors when I'm recommending a book to people. I loooooove it when people read one of her books and report back to me that they love her as much as I do. I'm really glad to see people falling in love with her books. I love her Delirium series!

5. Lisa McMann - I adore Lisa McMann's writing style. She always manages to pull me into whatever book I am reading of hers. I always end one of her books wanting more. Check out her Dream Catcher's and Vision's series!

6. Stephanie Perkins - Ok, so most people in the book blogging world know of Stephanie Perkins. But it amazes me the people that still haven't read her books! I love Anna and the French Kiss and Lola and the Boy Next Door! Such sweet reads.

7. Aimee Carter - I LOVE Aimee Carter's Goddess Test series! I love reading about greek mythology, and her books always grab my attention. More people definitely need to read her books!

8. Katie McGarry - I adore Katie McGarry's Pushing the Limits series. Katie has a way with bad-ass characters, and I just love reading her stories. I am currently waiting to get my hands on Isaiah's story, and I can't wait!

9. Jamie McGuire - Ok, I'm actually starting to see Beautiful Disaster and Walking Disaster around more and more. It always makes me smile when I see someone reading this series! Great books.

10. Anna Carey - This is definitely an author that I would like to see more people reading. I really enjoyed the Eve series, and how Carey keeps me guessing at every turn.


So, that's my list! If you haven't checked out some of these authors, I definitely think you should! I can't wait to see your list as well. :)


Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish!

Review: Shadow of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

Shadow of the Mark
(Carrier #2)
by Leigh Fallon

Publication Date: July 9th 2013
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 352
ISBN: 9780062128003

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Leigh Fallon’s Shadow of the Mark, the sequel to Carrier of the Mark, is a captivating love story set against the lush backdrop of Ireland.

Megan knew she was destined to be with Adam from the first moment she saw him and now they are determined to be together. But Megan and Adam are Marked Ones, and a romance between two Marked Ones is strictly forbidden…and could cause worldwide devastation.

Leigh Fallon’s Shadow of the Mark is a great choice for readers who love Becca Fitzpatrick's Hush, Hush. (Goodreads)

Shadow of the Mark is the long awaited sequel to Carrier of the Mark. I read Carrier of the Mark way back in the fall of 2011, and I’ve been super curious since then to see what is going to happen in this sequel. If you enjoyed reading the first book in this series, you are definitely going to want to pick up this sequel.

Shadow of the Mark picks up not long after where Carrier of the Mark leaves off. Megan is once again safe from the bad guys, but she still can’t be with her beloved. The relationship between Megan and Adam is one that any lover of ‘forbidden love’ will appreciate. It involves lots of drama and angst. The pull between them is so insanely strong, yet they know that they absolutely cannot be together. You have to feel bad for them for their situation, especially when they want is to just be together.

One of the things I love most about this series is the setting. Oh how I would love to visit Ireland. (One day!) The descriptions were written so that I could definitely picture what the author was describing. I loved reading all of the details of the setting. The story got off to kind of a slow start, but had a lot of action in the end. I was left with some questions, but I hope that we will get answers to those in the next book. I’m super curious to see where Fallon is going to take the series with the next book.

Overall, I found this to be a very interesting read.  If you like books that are based around mythology, you will definitely enjoy this read.  But be sure to check out the first book in the series, Carrier of the Mark, as well!

Happy Reading!


Books in this series:

 

Carrier of the Mark  |  Shadow of the Mark

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Book Club!

Hey guys!

I’m joining forces with three awesome ladies,

Kathy @ A Glass of Wine, Kelly @ KellyVision & Kim @ Pingwing's Bookshelf,

to bring something really exciting to the blog!

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Book Club

is a book club that Kathy thought up based off the

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants novel.

The idea of the club is for these three wonderful ladies and myself

to read a book together,

share our thoughts with each other,

and then share on our blogs with our wonderful followers!

We plan to do at least 4 books a year.

I am so excited, I can’t wait to get started!

What do you think of Kathy’s wonderful idea?

Are you a member of a book club?

Share your experience!

I’d love to hear all about it.

Happy Reading!

Waiting on Wednesday #111 - Witchstruck by Victoria Lamb

Witchstruck
(The Tudor Witch Trilogy #1)
by Victoria Lamb

Publication Date: September 24th 2013
Publisher: Harlequin Teen

If she sink, she be no witch and shall be drowned.

If she float, she be a witch and must be hanged.

Meg Lytton has always known she is different; that she bears a dark and powerful gift. But in 1554 England, in service at Woodstock Palace to the banished Tudor princess Elizabeth, it has never been more dangerous to practise witchcraft. Meg knows she must guard her secret carefully from the many suspicious eyes watching over the princess and her companions. One wrong move could mean her life, and the life of Elizabeth, rightful heir to the English throne.

With witchfinder Marcus Dent determined to have Meg's hand in marriage, and Meg's own family conspiring against the English queen, there isn't a single person Meg can trust. Certainly not the enigmatic young Spanish priest Alejandro de Castillo, despite her undeniable feelings. But when all the world turns against her, Meg must open her heart to a dangerous choice.

The Secret Circle meets The Other Boleyn Girl in Witchstruck, the first book of the magical Tudor Witch trilogy. (Goodreads)

Oh my...
This book sounds like it would make for a really great read.
I really love witch stories, almost as much as ghost stories. ;)
I can't wait to check this out!


What are you Waiting for 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.**

Review: The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen

The Moon and More
by Sarah Dessen

Publication Date: June 4th 2013
Publisher: Penguin Teen / Viking Juvenile
Pages: 435
ISBN: 9780670785605

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Luke is the perfect boyfriend: handsome, kind, fun. He and Emaline have been together all through high school in Colby, the beach town where they both grew up. But now, in the summer before college, Emaline wonders if perfect is good enough.

Enter Theo, a super-ambitious outsider, a New Yorker assisting on a documentary film about a reclusive local artist. Theo's sophisticated, exciting, and, best of all, he thinks Emaline is much too smart for Colby.

Emaline's mostly-absentee father, too, thinks Emaline should have a bigger life, and he's convinced that an Ivy League education is the only route to realizing her potential. Emaline is attracted to the bright future that Theo and her father promise. But she also clings to the deep roots of her loving mother, stepfather, and sisters. Can she ignore the pull of the happily familiar world of Colby?

Emaline wants the moon and more, but how can she balance where she comes from with where she's going?

Sarah Dessen's devoted fans will welcome this story of romance, yearning, and, finally, empowerment. It could only happen in the summer. (Goodreads)

I was so excited to finally purchase The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen. I have read quite a few of Dessen’s books, and have really enjoyed them all. Now that I have completed this book, I am can’t wait to get started on the rest of her novels that I haven’t yet read. Now, on to my review…

The main character in the story, Emaline, is such a headstrong young lady. (I love that Dessen always writes such strong heroines.) Emaline has so many decisions to make about her life now that she has graduated high school. Yes, her life is an emotional mess of confusion, and it only gets worse as the book goes along. But Emaline is surrounded by an amazing support system, and keeps a level head even through the worst. These types of characters make me proud; these are the characters that I love the most.

The love interest in the story is between Luke, Emaline’s high school sweetheart, and Theo, who has come to the island for the summer to work on a documentary. I don’t think that I would consider the relationships between Emaline and these boys as a love triangle. It was so much different than that. I liked Luke from the beginning, even though he made a few bad choices. Theo, on the other hand… Well, I liked him at first, but it just went downhill the more I read about him. Each boy had a different purpose in Emaline’s life. I feel that they both showed her how different life could be for her. In the end, I was really satisfied with the choice that she made for herself.

The relationship that Emaline has with her family is really heart-warming. Not only does she have a wonderful bond with her mother, but also with her dad, who is actually her adoptive dad and her step-sisters, who are so much more than that. I love that she was surrounded by so much love in her family. I also really loved her new found relationship with her half brother. He was super sweet.

The ending of the story took a completely different direction than I expected it to, and I loved Dessen all the more for it. I absolutely love the ending. It’s an ending that I am proud to have my teenage daughter read. You are definitely going to have to read the book to find out exactly what happens. The storyline is a great story that I think should be a recommended read for all teenage girls. It was a really great read, as all Dessen’s books are.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! It would make a great summer/beach read. Of course, if you already love Sarah Dessen, you will definitely enjoy this book. Check it out!

Happy Reading!

Weekly Book Haul #30

For Review:
Shadow of the Mark - Leigh Fallon

Hey guys!
Only one new book for me this week.
I am really looking forward to getting started on it.
Thanks, HarperTeen!

What new books did you get this week?

**This post was inspired by In My Mailbox by TheStorySiren, in order to share books received each week.**

Waiting on Wednesday #110 - Sea of Shadows by Kelley Armstrong

Sea of Shadows
(Age of Legends #1)
by Kelley Armstrong

Publication Date: April 8th 2014
Publisher: HarperTeen

In the Forest of the Dead, where the empire’s worst criminals are exiled, twin sisters Moria and Ashyn are charged with a dangerous task. For they are the Keeper and the Seeker, and each year they must quiet the enraged souls of the damned.

Only this year, the souls will not be quieted.

Ambushed and separated by an ancient evil, the sisters’ journey to find each other sends them far from the only home they’ve ever known. Accompanied by a stubborn imperial guard and a dashing condemned thief, the girls cross a once-empty wasteland, now filled with reawakened monsters of legend, as they travel to warn the emperor. But a terrible secret awaits them at court—one that will alter the balance of their world forever. (Goodreads)

I LOOOOOOOOOVE Kelley Armstrong.
I nearly squeled with delight when I saw this new book.
I really can't wait to check it out!

What are you Waiting for 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.**

Top Ten Tuesday: Most Intimidating Books

Top Ten Most Intimidating Books

1. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R Tolkien - People love this series. I can only imagine why. However, these books are HUGE! Definite intimidation there.

2. Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell - At a whopping 1037 pages, this book is definitely not at the top of my to-read list. The movie is one of my moms favorites, and I've seen it a couple of times, which makes me want to read the book. Eventually.

3. Eragon by Christopher Paolini - I am always seeing/hearing people talk about this series, and it sounds really great. But the books are Massive! This is another on my eventually to-read list.

4. Wicked by Gregory McGuire - Honestly, I don't know what is stopping me from reading this series. It sounds really great, and I would love to see the play as well. However, I always end up putting it back on the shelf whenever I pick it up. No idea why!

5. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy - This book was recently made into a movie starring Keira Knightley in it. The movie also has Matthew McFadyen in it, who also stared with Knightley in Pride & Prejudice. Since I usually always try to read the book before I see the movie, I need to read this. The book has 800+ pages. It will have to wait.

6. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte - This book sounds really great, and I can't quite pin down what exactly is so intimidating about it. I love Jane Austen, so you would think I would be right into this one as well. I need to get on it!

7. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte - I started reading this book at one point, and stopped about 1/4 of the way through. I'm not sure why, maybe because I know what's going to happen at the end. Maybe that is what I find some intimidating. I would like to finish the book at some point.

8. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath - Everyone that I know that has read this book has loved it. That's a bit intimidating me to! What happens if I don't like it?? I still want to give it a read, and I may have to do it sooner rather than later. Hopefully, it really is great.

9. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson - I am not a big fan of books/movies that have lots of violence in them, which is probably why I haven't picked this up yet. Don't get me wrong, I'm SUPER curious about the series, but it probably won't get read anytime soon.

10. The Tudor Court series by Philippa Gregory - I have a couple of friends that really like this series, but they have all warned me that some parts are pretty slow. Slow books make me fall asleep. Not good! I do want to give this series a try at some point, however.

What's on your Most Intimidating Book List???

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish!

All the Ways to Follow... Google Reader Alternatives

As of today, July 1st, Google Reader will be no more. (WAAAAH!) This does not bode well for me, as I use Google Reader to keep up with the massive list of book blogs & author blogs that I follow. After being reminded every day for the past two months that Google Reader would in fact be closing, despite all my grumbling and complaining, I spent a good amount of time trying to find a alternative site to keep up with all of my links.

Here is a list of the readers & social media that I use to keep up.
If you don't already, try one out today!

  

Both BlogLovin' and Feedly are great sights. Both allow you to easily move your feed over to their platforms. I find myself to be really torn between the two readers. Both have features that I like, but I just can't seem to nail down which one I like the best. Bloglovin' seems to be a bit more user friendly, while Feedly seems to have a few more options. At this point, I am just going to keep randomly using both until I can figure out which I like the best.

Everyone and their mama has a Twitter account!  Twitter is my personal favorite for social media. I can post just about whatever I want to there, and I don't feel pressured like I do on some other sites. I just go with the flow! There are SO many great bloggers, authors, publishers and just about anyone that you want to follow on Twitter. Check it out!

To be honest, I don't actually use Facebook very often. I find it a bit confusing, to say the least. However, my blog does have a Facebook page that is updated through Network Blogs every time I update my blog. I do follow a few people through Facebook, so it is definitely an option if you chose to keep up with your favorites that way.

While Tumblr is another site that I just sporadically, I know a lot of authors use the site to update their readers about the what's happening with them. Cassandra Clare and Lauren Oliver are just a few authors that use Tumblr to keep us updated.

There are quite a few authors and publishers, as well as book bloggers that upload videos to Youtube. While I am not quite brave enough to do video's myself, I really enjoy watching the videos from the people who post them.

Pinterest is a Virtual Pinboard for collecting and organizing things that you would like to keep track of. I know quite a few book bloggers and authors that take advantage of this site.  If you are a blogger, this is a good place to pin links to your blog posts, favorite reads, or any other book related items.I am always discovering new cover releases via Pinterest!

Goodreads is a wonderful site that lets you keep track of the books you've read, or that you want to read. It is also a great place to discover new reads, and meet new friends. I find the sight to be invaluable, just in the fact that I can keep up with my massive amount of books. Everything else is a bonus!

If you have an iPhone or Droid, chances are, you've heard of Instagram. I've just started to really take advantage of this app. It's been really great to see the bookish community come together here as well.

There you go, guys! These are my most favorite websites and apps to keep up with all my bookish goodies!I'm really going to miss Google Reader, but I'm hoping that with the help of all the sites mentioned above, I may still be able to keep up with everyone.

What websites or apps do you use to keep up? I'm always looking for new ideas!

Want to follow TheReaderBee on these sites?? Check the header bar above to find all my links!

Happy Reading!