Monday Reading (Oct. 22nd, 2012)

Book Pumpkins by Hanna Gritton (Etsy)

Book Pumpkins by Hanna Gritton (Etsy)

In this weekly event hosted by One Persons Journey Through a World Of Books where we discuss what we’ve been reading this week (and, occasionally, what we haven’t).

The only reading I’ve gotten done lately was during the Dewey’s Readathon – which was wonderful and fabulous and I cannot wait for the next one. But that said, I wish I had had more time to read this week!
Currently Reading:
  • Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead – For some reason I am having trouble getting into this. First time that’s happened with a Mead book…
Finished during these past two weeks:
  • Defiance by Lili St. Crow – Good, but not great.
  • Vampire Academy Graphic Novel by Richelle Mead – While I’m still not a graphic novel person, I really did enjoy this!
  • Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles – This book was what us fandomites know as crack. It falls into the so-bad-but-so-good-for-me category.
Up next from my TBR pile:
  • Blue-Blooded Vamp by Jaye Wells – I ADORE this series so I am both super excited to see how it ends and super sad about never getting to read another book about Sabine!!
 

Waiting on Wednesday: Salvation by Anne Osterlund

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that are being eagerly anticipated.

 Salvation by Anne Osterlund

Salvation by Anne Osterlund
Contemp YA – January 10th 2013 by Penguin Young Readers Group – Goodreads
A smart, unexpected romance from an award-winning author.

Salvador Resendez–Salva to his friends–appears to have it all. His Mexican immigrant family has high expectations, and Salva intends to fulfill them. He’s student body president, quarterback of the football team, and has a near-perfect GPA. Everyone loves him.

Especially Beth Courant, AKA the walking disaster area. Dreamy and shy, Beth is used to blending into the background. But she’s also smart, and she has serious plans for her future.

Popular guy and bookish girl–the two have almost nothing in common. Until fate throws them together and the attraction is irresistible. Soon Beth is pushing Salva to set his sights higher than ever–because she knows he has more to offer, more than even he realizes.

Then tragedy strikes–and threatens to destroy everything that Salva has worked for. Will Beth’s love be enough to save him?

Thoughtful and romantic, this is a beautifully written story about following your heart and fulfilling your potential.

Anne’s description of this book is pretty brilliant, take a look:

If I wanted to be cheesy, I could pitch it as “Perfect Chemistry meets Romeo & Juliet;” but then you’d assume you know the end. And you don’t.

Seeing as how I loved the Perfect Chemistry trilogy and I LOVED Anne’s Academy 7, I am pretty sure that Salvation is going to be a treat.

Monday Reading (Oct. 8th, 2012)

Book Pumpkins by Hanna Gritton (Etsy)

Book Pumpkins by Hanna Gritton (Etsy)

In this weekly event hosted by One Persons Journey Through a World Of Books where we discuss what we’ve been reading this week (and, occasionally, what we haven’t).

Happy October everyone! Tis the season for themed challenges and readathons, and I know a lot of you are reading spooky and paranormal books this month. I, for one, tend to read those sorts of books all the time, so I’m still trying to work out how to make this October a little different for me…

Currently Reading:

  • Sea Witch by Virginia Kantra (goodreads) – I started reading this book months ago and am trying to finish it now. I put it down meaning to get back to it, but fell into a funk. Not sure if I am in the mood for PNR right now, but I’m giving it another go.
Finished these past two weeks:
  • Darkness Falls by Cate Tiernan (my review) – I really enjoyed this book! I was actually rather surprised by how much I liked it, seeing as how “meh” I was about the first book.
  • Breathe by Sarah Crossan (goodreads) – My review for this one will be out this week. BAD SCIENCE warning, people.
  • The Calling by Kelley Armstrong (goodreads) – WHAT TOOK ME SO LONG?? This book was fantastic – albeit not as mind-blowing as Kelley’s previous YA novels.

Up next from my TBR pile:

  • I want to do something extra spooky for this Halloween, so I think I will be reading Zombies Don’t Cry by Rusty Fischer (goodreads) next. Hopefully I will get that done by this Friday, as I have other books planned for Dewey’s Readathon (whoot!) this weekend.

Hope you’re all reading books you love – and hope everyone is signed up for the Readathon this weekend!

Monday Reading (Sept. 24th, 2012)

LauraTringaliHolmes art

Art by LauraTringali Holmes

In this weekly event hosted by One Persons Journey Through a World Of Books where we discuss what we’ve been reading this week (and, occasionally, what we haven’t).

I’ve actually had a good reading week for a change! Instead of not finishing a number of mediocre books, I’ve finished one stellar novel and have started on another. Things are looking up!

Currently Reading:

  • Darkness Falls by Cate Tiernan – The first 30-or-so pages of this weren’t stellar. But once the descriptions of people’s clothing stopped and the hardcore “I’m in rehab” angst started, I really began to enjoy myself!
Finished this week:
  • River Marked by Patricia Briggs – Stellar as usual. Expect a review for this one tomorrow.
Reviewed this week:
   
Happy reading everyone!

WoW: Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that are being eagerly anticipated.

Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs

Frost Burned (Mercy Thompson #7) by Patricia Briggs
Urban Fantasy – March 5th 2013 by Orbit – Goodreads

Shapeshifter Mercy Thompson’s life is calming down, at least enough that she can focus on mundane matters like Black Friday sales. But on her return, Mercy is unable to contact her mate, Alpha Adam Hauptman, or the other members of their pack. All she knows is that Adam is angry and in pain. With the werewolves fighting a political battle to gain acceptance from the public, Mercy fears Adam’s disappearance may be related – and that he and the pack are in serious danger. Outclassed and on her own, Mercy may be forced to seek assistance from the most unlikely of allies: the vampire seethe.

Meep! This summary is so, so scary. What is she doing with my pairing?! GAH!

In case you haven’t noticed, I am a HUGE fan of adore Briggs’ writing. Her books never fail to deliver – I think the lowest rating I’ve ever given one was 4 stars… she’s just that good. I am currently reading the sixth book in this series, River Marked, and can firmly state that Briggs’ writing was good enough to get my blogging-mojo running again. Considering how deep my funk was, that’s the best compliment I can give!

Top Ten Books on my Winter TBR pile

Top Ten Tuesday (hosted by The Broke and the Bookish): 10 books on my winter TBR pile. This year, I am going to finish the Debut Author Challenge. Come Hell or high water, I will succeed. That means I need to get 6 more debut books off my TBR shelves before the end of the year! And once I’m done with those I am going to get to those fabulous sequels that somehow I never have time for.

The Debut 2011 Authors:

 

1. Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton – I’ve heard nothing but brilliant things about Tessa’s work, so I fully expect Blood Magic to live up to the hype it has gotten. So much so that I even bought this book in hardback!

2. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand – I’ve read reviews of Unearthly written by people who usually dislike YA PNR, especially the type with angels! So, I am sure I am going to love it.

3. Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini – I’ll be honest, I’m not that excited about Starcrossed… am I off my head for being skeptical?

4. Die for Me by Amy Plum – Oh, Paris. I am expecting Phantom of the Opera and fully expect to get it!

5. Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton – Another urban fantasy author breaks into the YA market! I love it when adult authors write for YA audiences, so I expect very good things from Kelly.

6. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs – This book is stunning and yet utterly disturbing. I simply can’t imagine not adoring it.

The YA sequels I have been longing to read:

7. Muse by Rebecca Lim – I adore Rebecca’s Mercy series (read my reviews of Mercy and Exile) and cannot wait to start this. If it weren’t for the Debut Author priorities, I would be all over this book right now!

8. Forever by Maggie Stiefvater –  I KNOW. How could I not have read this book?? I really really really adore this series, and I cannot wait to start Forever… no, really!

9. Defiance by Lili St. Crow – It makes me sad and excited to know that this series is complete – can’t wait to see what violence Dru has been up to!

10. Rip Tide by Kat Falls – I absolutely adored Dark Life, which unfortunately didn’t get the praise it deserved. Still, cannot wait to start on the sequel! (Btw, make sure you buy the US version of this book. The UK cover is something awful!)