Waiting on Wednesday (#11)

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This meme highlights some of the books whose releases bloggers are most anticipating this year.

The book whose release I am most excited for this week is...

Title: Chantress
Author: Amy Butler Greenfield
Release Date: May 7th, 2013

Sing and the darkness will find you. Shipwrecked on an island seven years ago, Lucy has been warned she must never sing, or disaster will strike. But on All Hallows Eve, Lucy hears tantalizing music in the air. When she sings it, she unlocks a terrible secret: She is a Chantress, a spell-singer, brought to the island not by shipwreck but by a desperate enchantment gone wrong. Her song lands her back in England — and in mortal peril, for the kingdom lies in the cruel grasp of a powerful Lord Protector and his mind-reading hunters, the Shadowgrims. The Protector has killed all Chantresses, for they alone can destroy the Shadowgrims. Only Lucy has survived. In terrible danger, Lucy takes shelter with Nat, a spy who turns her heart upside-down. Nat has been working with his fellow scholars of the Invisible College to overthrow the Lord Protector, and they have long hoped to find a living Chantress to help them. But Lucy is completely untrained, and Nat deeply distrusts her magic. If Lucy cannot master the songspells, how long can she even stay alive? Beguiling and lyrical, dangerous and romantic, Chantress will capture readers in a spell they won’t want to break.

*hyperventilates* I know many of you will find this hard to believe, considering how many contemporary, paranormal, and dystopian novels I constantly read, but fantasy is my favorite genre. Ever. So, needless to say, I am extremely excited about this one. While I'm not a huge fan of the color pink, and the cover definitely has that in abundance, I think it's a beautiful and eye-catching cover that really pops out at you. Yet, even better is the fact that Lucy, the main character, seems to have unique abilities! I feel as if her gift is a combination of the mythology surrounding sirens and time travel - both which I love. Plus, a tyrannical leader who has killed off those with powers, a love interest who is also a spy, and a rebellion in the making? Gosh, can May 2013 come any sooner? I can't even express how excited I am about this so I hope it lives up to all my expectations and some ARCs start trickling in soon! :)

What are you waiting on this Wednesday? 

FYI - I'm at Six Flags with some friends today, so it'll take me awhile to get back to your posts. I will check them all out though, so please leave a link for me to visit! :D

Waiting on Wednesday (#10)

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This meme highlights some of the books whose releases bloggers are most anticipating this year.

The book whose release I am most excited for this week is...

Title: The Language Inside
Author: Holly Thompson
Release Date: May 14th, 2013

A beautiful novel in verse that deals with post-tsunami Japan, Cambodian culture, and one girl's search for identity and home. Emma Karas was raised in Japan; it's the country she calls home. But when her mother is diagnosed with breast cancer, Emma's family moves to a town outside Lowell, Massachusetts, to stay with her grandmother while her mom undergoes treatment. Emma feels out of place in the United States, begins to have migraines, and longs to be back in Japan. At her grandmother's urging, she volunteers in a long-term care center to help Zena, a patient with locked-in syndrome, write down her poems. There, Emma meets Samnang, another volunteer, who assists elderly Cambodian refugees. Weekly visits to the care center, Zena's poems, dance, and noodle soup bring Emma and Samnang closer, until Emma must make a painful choice: stay in Massachusetts, or return early to Japan.

C'mon, admit it - that cover is beautiful. It is eye-catching, it's different, and I love the fact that the girl on the cover can see her reflection in the mirror. It really is a very well taken picture, but even better than that, is this novel's poignant synopsis. I haven't read a lot of novels that deal with real-world issues, cancer, or even different cultures, but this story seems to have them all, which I love. I think it takes on a fascinating subject of what "home" really is and Emma's struggle to blend in with society and make a new home for herself is already one I find compelling. Furthermore, I love that the romance is so subtly interwoven into the synopsis which makes me think that this is a highly character-driven novel with a beautiful underlying romance - in other words, it's exactly what I love, so I can't wait for this one to release! Plus, did I mention that title? It's so lyrical, I could say it all day..."the language inside, the language inside, the language inside..." :)

What new books are you anticipating this week? 

Waiting on Wednesday (#9)

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This meme highlights some of the books whose releases bloggers are most anticipating this year.

The book whose release I am most excited for this week is...

Title: This Is What Happy Looks Like
Author: Jennifer E. Smith
Release Date: 2013

In This is What Happy Looks Like, Jennifer E. Smith's new YA novel, perfect strangers Graham Larkin and Ellie O'Neill meet—albeit virtually—when Graham accidentally sends Ellie an email about his pet pig, Wilbur. In the tradition of romantic movies like "You've Got Mail" and "Sleepless in Seattle," the two 17-year-olds strike up an email relationship, even though they live on opposite sides of the country and don't even know each other's first names. Through a series of funny and poignant messages, Graham and Ellie make a true connection, sharing intimate details about their lives, hopes and fears. But they don't tell each other everything; Graham doesn't know the major secret hidden in Ellie's family tree, and Ellie is innocently unaware that Graham is actually a world-famous teen actor living in Los Angeles. When the location for the shoot of Graham's new film falls through, he sees an opportunity to take their relationship from online to in-person, managing to get the production relocated to picturesque Henley, Maine, where Ellie lives. But can a star as famous as Graham have a real relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does Ellie's mom want her to avoid the media's spotlight at all costs?

I'm quite sure that none of you know this, but I think it's important I tell you: "You've Got Mail" is my favorite movie. Ever. It's one of the few things my mom and I share - a love of movies, books, and chocolate - and "You've Got Mail" is our movie. In fact, we can quote whole paragraphs from that movie because of how many times we've seen it together and it's my go-to movie to bring a smile on my face. So, you can imagine just how much I was fangirling and squealing like crazy when I saw that this novel was similar in tradition to "You've Got Mail." I loved Smith's previous novel, The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, and while this one seems to be equally cheesy, I'm still really excited for it. I love the way Smith writes her characters with far more depth than you're expecting and a romance like this one is the type I've always loved to see play out. If only we had a definite release date for me to start counting down the days till... :)

Extra: Movie Recommendation! 

In case you didn't know, "You've Got Mail" is a movie about two bookstore owners (YES! BOOKSTORES! :D) who are rivals. Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) owns a small children's bookshop which is slowly being put out of business by Joe Fox (Tom Hanks) with his big, new, super-size store, Fox Books, which sells cheap books. Yet, unknown to these two rivals is the fact that they have been communicating with one another - and are falling in love - online!

Why am I recommending this to you? Well, not only is "You've Got Mail" the perfect movie for this generation, with internet chat more popular than ever, it is also the perfect movie for any book lover. While Kathleen and Joe seem to be polar opposites, their romance plays out much like that of Darcy and Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice.   If that isn't enough to make you want to watch this one, it's hilarious and its characters have an immense amount of depth to them which I truly love and appreciate, especially in a movie. If you have seen this before or wind up watching it soon, do let me know! I'd love to hear what you think of it, so you can just comment on any post of mine and tell me your thoughts when you see this or email me! (Yes, you can email me about a movie! I'm seriously so in love with this film!) 

Waiting on Wednesday (#8)

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This meme highlights some of the books whose releases bloggers are most anticipating this year.

The book whose release I am most excited for this week is...

Title: The S-Word 

Author: Chelsea Pitcher

Release Date: May 7th, 2013

Lizzie wasn’t the first student at Verity High School to kill herself this year. But the difference is, she didn’t go quietly. First it was SLUT scribbled all over the school’s lockers. But one week after Lizzie Hart takes her own life, SUICIDE SLUT replaces it—in Lizzie’s own looping scrawl. Photocopies of her diary show up in the hands of her classmates. And her best friend, Angie, is enraged. Angie stopped talking to Lizzie on prom night, when she caught Lizzie in bed with her boyfriend. Too heartbroken to ask for an explanation or to intervene when Lizzie got branded Queen of the Sluts and was cruelly bullied by her classmates, Angie left her best friend to the mercy of the school, with tragic results. But with this new slur, Angie’s guilt transforms into anger that someone is still targeting Lizzie even after her death. Using clues from Lizzie’s diary and aided by the magnetic, mysterious Jesse, Angie begins relentlessly investigating who, exactly, made Lizzie feel life was no longer worth living. And while she might claim she simply wants to punish Lizzie’s tormentors, her anguish over abandoning and then losing her best friend drives Angie deeper into the dark, twisted side of Verity High—and she might not be able to pull herself back out.

I tend to steer clear of truly serious contemporary novels and really just contemporary fiction in general unless I'm in need of a quick read, chick-flick, or just something fun, but The S-Word is a novel that simply demands to be read. With its provocative title, bold cover, and important subject, this is a book that I am very much interested to read. It isn't that there haven't been novels written about suicide, being a slut, or the consequences of name-calling, because there have been, there are, and there will be in the future. Yet, the reason this one really caught my eye was because it was told from the perspective of a guilty, upset, and angry best friend. Not only that, but it is more than just an investigation into the suicide of one teen - it seems to be an investigation into the cruel heart of high schools all around the world. I truly believe that this is one story that everyone will need to read, simply because of its deep and profound messages and I can only hope it lives up to its full potential.

Waiting on Wednesday (#7)

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This meme highlights some of the books whose releases bloggers are most anticipating this year.

The book whose release I am most excited for this week is...

Title: Inhuman (Fetch #1) 
Author: Kat Falls
Release Date: March 2013

In a world ravaged by mutation, a teenage girl must travel into the forbidden Savage Zone to recover lost artifacts or her father’s life is forfeit. America has been ravaged by a war that has left the eastern half of the country riddled with mutation. Many of the people there exhibit varying degrees of animal traits. Even the plantlife has gone feral. Crossing from west to east is supposed to be forbidden, but sometimes it’s necessary. Some enter the Savage Zone to provide humanitarian relief. Sixteen-year-old Lane’s father goes there to retrieve lost artifacts—he is a Fetch. It’s a dangerous life, but rewarding—until he’s caught. Desperate to save her father, Lane agrees to complete his latest job. That means leaving behind her life of comfort and risking life and limb—and her very DNA—in the Savage Zone. But she’s not alone. In order to complete her objective, Lane strikes a deal with handsome, roguish Rafe. In exchange for his help as a guide, Lane is supposed to sneak him back west. But though Rafe doesn’t exhibit any signs of “manimal” mutation, he’s hardly civilized . . . and he may not be trustworthy.

I'll admit it - the cover of this one is less-than-truly-appealing, but I think the synopsis more than makes up for it. While the concept of rescuing a parent/sibling from danger or striking an unlikely compromise with a dangerous, yet handsome, potential love interest is, by no means, unique, I think the idea itself of a country torn apart by war and further ruined by mutation is fascinating. I've always been drawn to novels that deal exclusively with DNA or diseases and combining that with political upheaval is a sure-fire way to win me over. Yet, what strikes me the most about this story is the original occupation of a Fetch. I love the fact that the setting plays such a huge role in the basis of this job and am already eager to read more about this world Falls has created. Furthermore, I'm a sucker for the name Rafe and while there's most likely a romance between Lane and Rafe in this story, it isn't explicitly stated, which gives me hope for a creative love story. I can't wait to get my hands on this book and 6 Months+ wait for it is definitely going to either turn me inhuman, or make me willing to cross forbidden lands just to fetch this one and read it myself! ;)

Waiting on Wednesday (#6)

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This meme highlights some of the books whose releases bloggers are most anticipating this year.

The book whose release I am most excited for this week is...

Title: Break My Heart 1,000 Times

Author: Daniel Waters

Release Date: October 16th, 2012

Living in the aftermath of the Event means that seeing the dead is now a part of life, but Veronica wishes that the ghosts would just move on. Instead, the ghosts aren’t disappearing—they’re gaining power. When Veronica and her friend, Kirk, decide to investigate why, they stumble upon a more sinister plot than they ever could have imagined. One of Veronica’s high school teachers is crippled by the fact that his dead daughter has never returned as a ghost, and he’s haunted by the possibility that she’s waiting to reappear within a fresh body. Veronica seems like the perfect host. And even if he’s wrong, what’s the harm in creating one more ghost? From critically acclaimed Generation Dead author Daniel Waters, comes a delectably creepy and suspenseful thriller. Break My Heart 1,000 Times will leave readers with the chills. Or is that a ghost reading over the page?

I'll be the first to admit that I am terrified of horror movies, but I love a deliciously well-written horror story - I know, it makes no sense, but somehow imagining horrors are a lot less scary than seeing them for some reason. Break My Heart 1,000 Times has an alluring (and terrifying) cover that is not only eye-catching due to the bold title print, but also because of the haunting tally marks that scourge the background. Its synopsis only goes to further make me shiver in my seat as this novel  not only includes ghosts, investigations, and sinister plots, but murder as well. I'm sitting on the edge of my seat just thinking about how amazing this story has the potential to be and I am already counting down the days till October 16th! :) 


Extra Mention! I thought I'd calm your quaking nerves with a fun and interesting story, also about ghosts, but on the more bright side of these paranormal creatures! While I'm not anticipating the release of this novel as much as Break My Heart 1,000 Times (which reminds me, isn't that title gorgeous? It just makes me more curious about the story!), I'm still anticipating the enjoyment that this novel is sure to bring!

Title: The Dead Girls Detective Agency 
Author: Suzy Cox 
Release Date: September 18th, 2012

When Charlotte comes to after being pushed onto the subway tracks, she is informed by a group of teenage girls that she is dead…they all are. Meet the Dead Girls Detective Agency. With the support of these dynamic girls—including fashionable Lorna, who can’t wait to find out if the devil actually wears Prada, and nerdy Nancy, who insists on staying in limbo to help out other girls—Charlotte follows leads and tracks down clues to solve her own murder. With plenty of juicy mysteries and some pretty cute guys, readers are sure to fall in love with this fun and suspenseful page-turner! Fans of Meg Cabot, Sara Shepard, and Ally Carter will delight in this exciting new paperback original.

Well, what are you waiting on this Wednesday? ;) While you're here, don't forget to stop by and enter my international giveaway for a chance to win a pre-ordered copy of a book of your choice! You can enter here. Good Luck! 

Waiting on Wednesday (#5)

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This meme highlights some of the books whose releases bloggers are most anticipating this year.

The book whose release I am most excited for this week is...

Title: Ironskin

Author: Tina Connolly

Release Date: October 2nd, 2012

Jane Eliot wears an iron mask. It’s the only way to contain the fey curse that scars her cheek. The Great War is five years gone, but its scattered victims remain—the ironskin. When a carefully worded listing appears for a governess to assist with a "delicate situation"—a child born during the Great War—Jane is certain the child is fey-cursed, and that she can help. Teaching the unruly Dorie to suppress her curse is hard enough; she certainly didn’t expect to fall for the girl’s father, the enigmatic artist Edward Rochart. But her blossoming crush is stifled by her own scars, and by his parade of women. Ugly women, who enter his closed studio...and come out as beautiful as the fey. Jane knows Rochart cannot love her, just as she knows that she must wear iron for the rest of her life. But what if neither of these things is true? Step by step Jane unlocks the secrets of her new life—and discovers just how far she will go to become whole again.

I'll be the first to admit it - that gorgeous cover ensnared me. Yet, the enigmatic synopsis is equally - if not more - interesting. Ironskin seems to be a futuristic, paranormal, and almost gothic mystery. Not only does it have elements of Jane Eyre visible in its romance, it also contains rich world-building in a new realm. Furthermore, I am very much intrigued by the romantic setting of this story and am thrilled that the characters in this tale are adults and not teens as that gives scope for a more well-developed love story. In addition, that iron mask on the cover is not only eye-catching (not to mention the dress and the mist and the ominously bare branches and the silhouette of a mansion in the background and the dark steps and gosh that beautiful slipper!), but I am also intrigued to learn more about it. I tend to love novels with faeries in it - not the Tinker Bell kind, but the evil kind who are apt to curse you - and Ironskin seems to perfectly fit the bill. This is a novel that has paranormal creatures, futuristic technology, and an old-age love story - all qualities that are making the wait for this book pure hell. Plus, that cover will look amazing on my bookshelf! ;) What are you waiting on this week? 

Waiting on Wednesday (#4)

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This meme highlights some of the books whose releases bloggers are most anticipating this year.

The book whose release I am most excited for this week is...

Title: Midnight City 

Author: J. Barton Mitchell

Release Date: October 30th, 2012

In a post-apocalyptic world controlled by alien invaders, two teens and a young girl with mysterious powers embark on a dangerous journey. What they find will change everything... Earth has been conquered. An extraterrestrial race known as The Assembly has abducted the adult population, leaving the planet's youth to fend for themselves. In this treacherous landscape, Holt, a bounty hunter, is transporting his prisoner Mira when they discover Zoey, a young girl with powerful abilities who could be the key to stopping The Assembly. As they make their way to the cavernous metropolis of Midnight City, the trio must contend with freedom fighters, mutants, otherworldly artifacts, pirates, feuding alien armies, and perhaps most perilous of all: Holt and Mira's growing attraction to each other. 

Wow! Isn’t that an amazing synopsis? Midnight City is practically everything I could possibly ask for in a book – a rich and futuristic setting, an incredibly fast-moving plot, and a romance to die for. I love that the love story in this novel hasn't been done before and I find it to be achingly forbidden, alluring, and unique - I can’t wait to see how Mitchell handles it in this novel. Furthermore, I love the fact that these characters are slightly older and that other cast members are introduced to us in the synopsis as well, indicating a strong role of secondary characters. All in all, this book simply can’t go wrong – a killer romance, fantastic plot, and original setting. October isn’t too far away…riiight? ;)

Waiting on Wednesday (#3)

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This meme highlights some of the books whose releases bloggers are most anticipating this year.

The book whose release I am most excited for this week is...

Title: Valkyrie Rising 

Author: Ingrid Paulson

Release Date: October 9th, 2012

Nothing ever happens in Norway. But at least Ellie knows what to expect when she visits her grandmother: a tranquil fishing village and long, slow summer days. And maybe she’ll finally get out from under the shadow of her way-too-perfect big brother, Graham, while she’s there. What Ellie doesn’t anticipate is Graham’s infuriating best friend, Tuck, tagging along for the trip. Nor did she imagine boys going missing amid rumors of impossible kidnappings. Least of all does she expect something powerful and ancient to awaken in her and that strange whispers would urge Ellie to claim her place among mythological warriors. Instead of peace and quiet, there’s suddenly a lot for a girl from L.A. to handle on a summer sojourn in Norway! And when Graham vanishes, it’s up to Ellie—and the ever-sarcastic, if undeniably alluring Tuck—to uncover the truth about all the disappearances and thwart the nefarious plan behind them. Deadly legends, hidden identities, and tentative romance swirl together in one girl’s unexpectedly-epic coming of age.

I'll admit it - the first thing that drew me into this novel was its cover. Nope, not the girl (it's not like a girl on the cover of a YA Novel is a new feature), but the beautiful background, eerie mist, swirling border, and gorgeous font. When I read the synopsis of this novel though, I knew I had to get my hands on it. I love mythology and although I am most familiar with Greek and Roman mythology, I think learning more about mythological Norse warriors would be amazing - especially since they were such strong and brutal people. Furthermore, Ellie seems to be an extremely interesting protagonist. She's obviously kick-ass if she's a warrior and she doesn't fall for her brother's hot best friend...not immediately anyway! I think the plot line of having a sister find/rescue/save her brother has definitely been done before, but Paulson introduces a new mix of unique mythology into this, making it unique. In addition, the setting of Norway is original and I am a sucker for a romance like the one that is sure to emerge between Ellie and Tuck. In other words, I can't wait till this novel releases so I can sink my teeth into its mythological - and deadly - goodness! :D

Waiting on Wednesday (#2)

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This meme highlights some of the books whose releases bloggers are most anticipating this year.

The book whose release I am most excited for this week is...

Title: Seraphina

Author: Rachel Hartman 

Release Date: July 10th, 2012

Four decades of peace have done little to ease the mistrust between humans and dragons in the kingdom of Goredd. Folding themselves into human shape, dragons attend court as ambassadors, and lend their rational, mathematical minds to universities as scholars and teachers. As the treaty's anniversary draws near, however, tensions are high. Seraphina Dombegh has reason to fear both sides. An unusually gifted musician, she joins the court just as a member of the royal family is murdered—in suspiciously draconian fashion. Seraphina is drawn into the investigation, partnering with the captain of the Queen's Guard, the dangerously perceptive Prince Lucian Kiggs. While they begin to uncover hints of a sinister plot to destroy the peace, Seraphina struggles to protect her own secret, the secret behind her musical gift, one so terrible that its discovery could mean her very life. In her exquisitely written fantasy debut, Rachel Hartman creates a rich, complex, and utterly original world. Seraphina's tortuous journey to self-acceptance is one readers will remember long after they've turned the final page.

Young Adult Fiction has been flooded with a stream of everything from contemporary to paranormal to dystopian over the past few years. In fact, there's been a rather large death of pure fantasy novels written these days for teens which is why I am so excited for the release of Seraphina. First and foremost, this novel contains dragons in it! Yes, dragons! When was the last time you read a really good dragon book? I think my last one might have been Eragon, so it has definitely been awhile. Furthermore, the premises of this story is centered around a court. Court = Politics = Political Intrigue = Me + Happy! :D I love a good novel wraught with politics and fantasy and Seraphina certainly seems to be living up. In other words, I don't see how Seraphina can possibly go wrong. Not only does the heroine seem to be mysterious and complexly crafted, there is only one love interest which means no love triangles! If that isn't a cause for celebration then I don't know what is! Thus, I think it's safe to say that when July 10th rolls around in just two weeks I'll feel no shame at all in beating people to the check-out counter in my bookstore to finally get my hands on this phenomenal read! ;)

Waiting on Wednesday (#1)

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This meme highlights some of the books whose releases bloggers are most anticipating this year.

With the start of summer, there are many books I am eagerly waiting for, but the one whose release I am most excited for is...

Title: Defiance 
Author: C. J. Redwine
Release Date: August 28th, 2012

Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city’s brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses, host dinner parties, and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father’s apprentice, Logan—the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same boy who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but fierce belief in her father’s survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her. At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city’s top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor’s impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared. As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can’t be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.

Defiance is, without a doubt, my most anticipated read this entire year. It has a beautiful cover, an intriguing synopsis, and a love story to die for. Rachel, unlike most Young Adult Heroines these days, seems to be a kick-ass protagonist with a fresh new voice. Furthermore, the plot-line of this novel seems to be fast paced, witty, and filled with heart-pounding action. In addition, Defiance proves to be even more original due to its love story. Not only is the lack of a love triangle something to celebrate, the interesting romantic twist is too. It is difficult to find novels without your typical best-friend-romance or "opposites attract" scenario, but the romantic situation in Defiance seems to be unique, awkward, and all the more realistic in my opinion. All in all, I can't wait for the release of this novel! Not only am I looking forward to the fantasy realm, dangerous setting, and never-ending action, but I am also (for once) looking forward to the romance in this book as well. Now if only August 28th would arrive sooner... :)