Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine, and specifically spotlights upcoming novels we can't wait to read. This week’s choices are:

Title: Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publish Date: Feb. 7, 2012
Genre: Dystopia

Goodreads Summary: Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland—nicknamed The Death Shop—are slim. If the cannibals don’t get her, the violent, electrified energy storms eventually will. In this dystopia, even the very air she breathes could kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He’s wild, dangerous—a savage. He’s also her only hope. Perry needs Aria, too. She alone holds the key to his redemption. And their unlikely alliance will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky.

Title: Hallowed by Cynthia Hand
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publish Date: Jan. 24, 2012
Genre: Paranormal

Goodreads Summary: For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose—the task she was put on earth to accomplish—is not as straightforward as she thought. Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: Someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.

Title: Slide by Jill Hathaway
Publisher: Blazer + Bray for HarperCollins
Publish Date: March 27, 2012
Genre: Thriller, Paranormal

Goodreads Summary: Vee Bell is certain of one irrefutable truth—her sister’s friend Sophie didn’t kill herself. She was murdered. Vee knows this because she was there. Everyone believes Vee is narcoleptic, but she doesn’t actually fall asleep during these episodes: When she passes out, she slides into somebody else’s mind and experiences the world through that person’s eyes. She’s slid into her sister as she cheated on a math test, into a teacher sneaking a drink before class. She learned the worst about a supposed “friend” when she slid into her during a school dance. But nothing could have prepared Vee for what happens one October night when she slides into the mind of someone holding a bloody knife, standing over Sophie’s slashed body. Vee desperately wishes she could share her secret, but who would believe her? It sounds so crazy that she can’t bring herself to tell her best friend, Rollins, let alone the police. Even if she could confide in Rollins, he has been acting off lately, more distant, especially now that she’s been spending more time with Zane. Enmeshed in a terrifying web of secrets, lies, and danger and with no one to turn to, Vee must find a way to unmask the killer before he or she strikes again.

HarperCollins released their Winter 2012 children’s catalog with some amazing books, these are just a few of them. Hallowed is the sequel to Unearthly, the only angel book that I have absolutely loved. Under the Never Sky and Slide sound and look awesome, can’t wait to read them. What books are you waiting on?

Winner of the Midsummer's Eve Giveaway!

The winner of the Midsummer's Eve Giveaway Hop, chosen by Random.org, is Keri Payton!

Thank you to everyone who participated. I am still giving away a copy of Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz and will be doing another giveaway starting on July 1 so stay tuned and make sure you enter.

Cover Reveal: Everneath

Title and Author: Everneath by Brodi Ashton
Release Date: Jan. 2012
Publisher: Harper Collins/Blazer+Bray
Genre: Paranormal

17-year old Nikki Beckett has just returned from the Underworld to a family who doesn’t know where she’s been, a boyfriend who doesn’t know why she left, and old friends who think she’s an addict. But Nikki won’t have time to make everyone understand what she's been through. She only has six months at Park City High before the tunnels of the Underworld come for her again. Six months for goodbyes she’ll never be able to say out loud. Six months to find redemption, if it even exists. She didn't plan on her former boyfriend's reaction to her return. Jack doesn't care why she left him, or why she's returned, as long as he doesn't lose her again. When Nikki discovers she didn’t return to the surface alone, being near Jack becomes dangerous – for both of them. Cole, an Everliving, followed her back from the Underworld, and he needs Nikki in order to make his push for the throne. He’ll do anything to make it happen, even if it means going back to high school. Together, Nikki and Jack search for answers in ancient myths and from mysterious characters, hoping to find a loophole for Nikki to escape her fate, but in the end, the choice will be Nikki’s: serve the Underworld, or rule it.

Look at this gorgeous cover of Everneath! I absolutely love Greek mythology and this sounds a bit like a take on the myth of Hades and Persephone. Can’t wait for this one to come out!

Follow My Blog Friday – 6/24/11

Happy Friday everyone! Follow My Book Blog Friday is hosted at Parajunkee's View.  Don’t forget to enter to win a copy of Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz and Evernight by Claudia Gray.

This week's question is: In light of the Summer Solstice. Also known as Midsummer...let's talk about fairies. What is your favorite fairy tale or story that revolves around the fae?

I liked Lesley Livingston’s Wondrous Strange Trilogy a lot but my all time favorite is Julie Kagawa’s Iron Fae Series. If you haven’t started it yet, I highly recommend it!

Waiting on Wednesday – Shadows on the Moon

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine, and specifically spotlights upcoming novels we can't wait to read. This week’s choice is:

Title: Shadows on the Moon by Zoë Marriott
Publisher: Walker Books
Publish Date: July 7, 2011
Genre: Fairytale Retellings, Paranormal

"On my fourteenth birthday when the sakura was in full bloom, the men came to kill us. We saw them come, Aimi and me. We were excited, because we did not know how to be frightened. We had never seen soldiers before." Suzume is a shadow-weaver. She can create mantles of darkness and light, walk unseen in the middle of the day, change her face. She can be anyone she wants to be. Except herself. Suzume died officially the day the Prince's men accused her father of treason. Now even she is no longer sure of her true identity. Is she the girl of noble birth living under the tyranny of her mother’s new husband, Lord Terayama? A lowly drudge scraping a living in the ashes of Terayama’s kitchens? Or Yue, the most beautiful courtesan in the Moonlit Lands? Everyone knows Yue is destined to capture the heart of a prince. Only she knows that she is determined to use his power to destroy Terayama. And nothing will stop her. Not even love.

A Cinderella retelling set in feudal Japan where the main character has paranormal abilities? Yes please! Love the cover, setting and description of this book. What books are you waiting on?

Mid Summer’s Eve Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the Mid Summer’s Eve Giveaway Hop hosted by I Am A Reader Not A Writer. For this hop, I am giving away a copy of Evernight by Claudia Gray and a Dark Days of the Supernatural bookmark.  Good luck, thanks for stopping by and don't forget to visit the other participating blogs!

Contest Rules:

• Must be 13+ years old to enter
• Fill out the form below
• You must be a follower through Google Friend Connect (GFC) to enter
• Have a US shipping address
• Giveaway ends on June 24, 2011 (Truly Bookish is not responsible for any products lost or damaged during shipping)

Book Review: Radiant Darkness

Title and Author: Radiant Darkness by Emily Whitman
Release Date: April 28, 2009
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 247 pages
Genre: Mythology
Rating: 4 stars
Source: Library

Persephone lives in the most gorgeous place in the world. But her mother's a goddess, as overprotective as she is powerful. Paradise has become a trap. Just when Persephone feels there's no chance of escaping the life that's been planned for her, a mysterious stranger arri/+ves. A stranger who promises something more—something dangerous and exciting—something that spurs Persephone to make a daring choice. A choice that could destroy all she's come to love, even the earth itself. In a land where a singing river can make you forget your very name, Persephone is forced to discover who—and what—she really is.

What if Persephone was not kidnapped and dragged to the underworld by Hades and forced to become his wife? How much different would the myth be if she went with him willingly? This is the story that Emily Whitman tells in Radiant Darkness.

Persephone is a teenage goddess who lives in a beautiful vale that is completely inaccessible to anyone. Her mother, Demeter, is the only one who comes and goes from the vale. Persephone's friends are female mythological creatures and the message is clear: no boys allowed. Persephone and Demeter do not have a good mother/daughter relationship. Persephone wants freedom and Demeter wants complete control over her daughter’s life. It’s no surprise that when Demeter leaves the vale and the handsome, charismatic stranger flies in on his chariot and begins to court Persephone, she can’t say no to his offer of romance and freedom.

Persephone is a naïve and sheltered teenager who does not think about the consequences to her actions or what Hades’ true motives are in inviting her to be queen of the underworld. Hades may be charismatic but he is also a user and a bit of a jerk. I did not like him but that does not take away from the story. He is Hades, after all.

Radiant Darkness is a good, quick read for all those interested in Greek myth and happy retellings. Persephone’s feelings will resonate with a teenage audience and the story will appeal to YA readers in general. How does it compare to more recent titles based on the myth of Persephone like The Goddess Test, Falling Under or Abandon? Radiant Darkness does not have as much action as those books, but naturally it is a closer retelling because it has the actual characters. If you liked any of those books, I think you will like Radiant Darkness as well.

Content: Kissing, Persephone and Hades marry and sex is implied

Book Tour: Spellbound (and Giveaway!)

Title and Author: Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz
Release Date: June 28, 2011
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 324 pages
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Rating: 4 stars

What’s a girl to do when meeting The One means she’s cursed to die a horrible death? Life hasn’t been easy on sixteen-year-old Emma Conner, so a new start in New York may be just the change she needs. But the posh Upper East Side prep school she has to attend? Not so much. Friendly faces are few and far between, except for one that she’s irresistibly drawn to—Brendan Salinger, the guy with the rock-star good looks and the richest kid in school, who might just be her very own white knight. But even when Brendan inexplicably turns cold, Emma can’t stop staring. Ever since she laid eyes on him, strange things have been happening. Streetlamps go out wherever she walks, and Emma’s been having the oddest dreams. Visions of herself in past lives—visions that warn her to stay away from Brendan. Or else.

Spellbound is more than another nice paranormal romance. It is fun, exciting, fresh and so enjoyable!

I love the characters, they are easily the best part of the story! Emma has had a hard and sad life. You really root for her to get the guy, to break the curse and vanquish the evil high school girls. Her voice is the best. She is sarcastic and funny and I loved the cultural references. I liked how she started out crushing on Brandon and as she hung out with him, it grew into more. Brandon is so very swoon worthy. He is a handsome bad boy who does not care what anybody thinks about him. He and Emma are so great together.

While the characters rock, the story is good too! The mystery and the magic that tie Emma and Brendan together is fun to discover and well told.

Another great thing about this book? The ending is completely satisfying! Even though there could be a sequel, Emma and Brendan’s story is complete! It has been a long time since I read a standalone book and I enjoyed it.

Content: Profanity, kissing, underage drinking, violence. 

Spellbound Giveaway!

Want a finished copy of Spellbound? Leave a comment below with your email. Extra entry for GFC followers, just leave a separate comment. Contest ends July 5, 2011. US/Canada Only. Must be 13+.

iPod Nano Giveaway!

1. In order to enter to win a iPod nano including the Spellbound Playlist and covered in a GelaSkin of Spellbound's cover art, you must collect the pink highlighted words the text messages between Brendan and Emma that are provided each day at the individual tour stops. The daily words can be joined together in sequential order to create the winning secret message. Once you've constructed the winning secret message, you will need to enter that message on Spellbound's tour home page.
2. No purchase, affiliation, status as follower to a certain blog or any other association is required to enter. 
3. Full rules for the contest can be found at the Spellbound tour home page.
4. Winner of the iPod give-away will be announced on Cara's homepage on Tuesday, July 5th.

Remember to check out all the stops to get the rest of the text messages!

June, 13th - The Page Turners / Character Interview , Brendan
June 14th - Candace's Book Blog / Guest Post
June 15th - Baffled Books
June 16th - Hooked To Books /Guest Post, Playlist
June 17th - Truly Bookish

June, 20th - Paranormal Opinion
June 21st  - Mission to Read /Interview with Cara
June 22nd - Reading Angel / Character Interview, Emma
June 23rd -  Miss Page Turners
June 24th -  Books At Midnight

June, 27th - Pure Imagination
June 28th - (Spellbound Book Birthday!) - The Unread Reader special Guest post
June 29th - Bookish Delights
June 30th - Mimosa Stimulus / Guest post
July 1st - writers write, right? /special Guest post

Tuesday, July 5th: Announcement of the big prize winner on Cara's Site!

Book Review: Clarity

Title and Author: Clarity by Kim Harrington
Release Date: March 1, 2011
Publisher: Scholastic Point
Pages: 242 pages
Genre: Paranormal, Mystery, Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Source: Library

When you can see things others can't, where do you look for the truth? This paranormal murder mystery will have teens reading on the edge of their seats. Clarity "Clare" Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch a certain object, and the visions come to her. It's a gift. And a curse. When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare's ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case - but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare's brother - who has supernatural gifts of his own - becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most?

Clarity is the perfect mix of paranormal and murder mystery. I have only read a few books like this, most notably The Body Finder and Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting, but Clarity is by far my favorite. The paranormal aspects of the story never overwhelm and are done very well.

Clare lives with her mother and brother and together they run a psychic family business. Everyone in Clare’s family has a different psychic ability, which is really cool. They are a very close knit family and protective of each other which is also cool. I loved trying to figure it out who the murderer was right along with the characters.

The characters are well written and Clare is very likable. There is a bit of a love triangle. Both Justin and Gabriel would be a good match for Clare but even though he cheated on her, I am very much Team Justin.

Clarity is an enjoyable and quick read. The book does not end with a cliffhanger but you definitely want more from the author and the characters. I am very excited to read the sequel, Perception, which is scheduled to be released in March of next year. Quick note to parents: Clare's brother Perry is very promiscuous and during some of Clare’s visions, she sees people having sex which may not be appropriate for younger teens.

Content: Profanity, kissing, sexual situations, violence.

Waiting on Wednesday – The Gathering Storm

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine, and specifically spotlights upcoming novels we can't wait to read. This week’s choice is:

Title: The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges
Publisher: Delacorte
Publish Date: Jan. 10, 2012
Genre: Paranormal

St. Petersburg, Russia, 1888. As she attends a whirl of glittering balls, royal debutante Katerina Alexandrovna, Duchess of Oldenburg, tries to hide a dark secret: she can raise the dead. No one knows. Not her family. Not the girls at her finishing school. Not the tsar or anyone in her aristocratic circle. Katerina considers her talent a curse, not a gift. But when she uses her special skill to protect a member of the Imperial Family, she finds herself caught in a web of intrigue. An evil presence is growing within Europe's royal bloodlines—and those aligned with the darkness threaten to topple the tsar. Suddenly Katerina's strength as a necromancer attracts attention from unwelcome sources . . . including two young men—George Alexandrovich, the tsar's standoffish middle son, who needs Katerina's help to safeguard Russia, even if he's repelled by her secret, and the dashing Prince Danilo, heir to the throne of Montenegro, to whom Katerina feels inexplicably drawn. The time has come for Katerina to embrace her power, but which side will she choose—and to whom will she give her heart?

The gorgeous cover, intriguing historical setting and awesome description makes The Gathering Storm a must read for me. What books are you waiting on?

Book Review: Abandon

Title and Author: Abandon by Meg Cabot
Release Date: April 26, 2011
Publisher: Point
Pages: 320 pages
Genre: Paranormal
Rating: 3.5 stars
Source: Library

Though she tries returning to the life she knew before the accident, Pierce can't help but feel at once a part of this world, and apart from it. Yet she's never alone . . . because someone is always watching her. Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back. But now she's moved to a new town. Maybe at her new school, she can start fresh. Maybe she can stop feeling so afraid. Only she can't. Because even here, he finds her. That's how desperately he wants her back. She knows he's no guardian angel, and his dark world isn't exactly heaven, yet she can't stay away, especially since he always appears when she least expects it, but exactly when she needs him most. But if she lets herself fall any further, she may just find herself back in the one place she most fears: the Underworld.

I have been excited to read this book because it’s my first Meg Cabot book and the description and the cover are awesome.  Additionally, Abandon is marketed as the myth of Persephone, darkly re-imagined. As soon as I read that line, I was sold. I find the combination of Greek myth and paranormal romance irresistible and lately, I have been drawn to quite a few books fitting this description.

While I do like Abandon, I feel it is a bit misrepresented. It’s very loosely based on the Hades/Persephone myth. John Hayden is not Hades and Pierce is not Persephone. The underworld that we see just a glimpse of is not like the myth.

Pierce is a likeable character. She makes some bad decisions and puts herself in bad situations but she does have good intentions. She has been through a lot and is ready to make a new start. We see John briefly through the book and even though we get his back story, we don’t really get to know him. He is a sorely underdeveloped hero. Other characters in the book are underdeveloped as well. We know there are things going on with Pierce’s cousin Alex and her friend Kayla, but their issues are not explored.

Abandon is a good start to what I hope will be a great series but that’s all it feels like: a start. I am looking forward to the next book to see how the story really gets going.

Content: Some swearing, kissing, violence

Follow My Blog Friday – 6/10/11

Happy Friday everyone! Follow My Blog Friday is hosted by Parajunkee's View. 

The first question is: The magic book fairy pops out of your cereal box and says "you and your favorite character (from a book of course) can switch places!" Who are you going to switch with?

I’m going to pick a new book and say Helen Hamilton from Starcrossed. She is tall, gorgeous and one of the strongest demigods in the world! It would be awesome to wield her power and fly around for a little while, not to mention getting to hang with the Delos family!

Who would you switch with?

Waiting on Wednesday – Article 5

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine, and specifically spotlights upcoming novels we can't wait to read. This week’s choice is:

Title: Article 5 by Kristen Simmons
Publisher: Tor Teen
Publish Date: Feb. 14, 2012
Genre: Dystopia

New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC have been abandoned. The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes. There are no more police — instead, there are soldiers. There are no more fines for bad behavior — instead, there are arrests, trials, and maybe worse. People who get arrested don’t usually come back. 17-year-old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren’t always this way. Living with her rebellious single mother, it’s hard to forget that people weren’t always arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark. That life in the United States used to be different. In the three years since the war ended, Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs, like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes, and how to pass the random home inspections by the Federal Bureau of Reformation. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow. That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes. And what’s worse, one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Jennings…the only boy Ember has ever loved.

I love dystopian books and get so excited to see more waiting to be released. Article 5 looks like it’s going to be really good. Not only does it have a great cover, the summary sounds awesome! Can’t wait to read it!

What books are you waiting on?

Book Review: Falling Under

Title and Author: Falling Under by Gwen Hayes
Release Date: March 1, 2011
Publisher: New American Library
Pages: 324 pages
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Rating: 2 stars
Source: Purchased

Theia Alderson has always led a sheltered life in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. But when a devastatingly handsome boy appears in the halls of her school, Theia knows she's seen Haden before- not around town, but in her dreams. As the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her closer one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear. And when she discovers what Haden truly is, Theia's not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul.

I've seen many books compared to Twilight and while I think some of the comparisons are a stretch, Falling Under struck me as the closest I have seen in a while. I liked Twilight so by no means is this comparison a dig. Falling Under is darker than Twilight and with a bit of the Hades and Persephone mythology thrown in.

When Theia sees Haden for the first time, she is understandably drawn to him since she has been having very lucid dreams about him. Haden tells her he is not a good guy and she should stay away from him. She knows there is something dark and dangerous about him but she just can’t resist him. He even calls her lamb.

There are some really great things about this book. The image of the burning man, the surreal descriptions of the dream world and Haden’s world, and the mythological aspects of the story (I love Greek myth!).

There were other things I didn’t really care for. Haden treats Theia really poorly for most of the book. He is very gentlemanly in the dream world but when they are in the real world, he flirts with her one minute and openly seduces other girls the next. Seduces them. In her face. The really sad part is Theia just keeps coming back for more. He throws jealous fits and is possessive and controlling. I get his reasoning behind it but why bother flirting with her in the first place? Because he can’t resist her?

Then there is Theia’s boy crazy, sexually aggressive best friend, Donny. It is such a double standard to have a female character treat boys the way Donny does. If she were a boy using girls for sex, she would be vilified, not seen as being liberated, empowered or whatever she is supposed to be.

The book does end well and I especially enjoyed the portion told from Haden’s perspective. I grew to like both his character and Theia’s a lot more by then. Falling Under does end with a bit of a cliffhanger so I expect there will be a sequel. On a side note, the cover of this book is amazing!

Content: Profanity, sexual situations, violence

Book Review: Redheart

Title and Author: Redheart by Jackie Gamber
Release Date: April 6, 2011
Publisher: Seventh Star Press
Pages: 294 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4 stars
Source: Publisher

Enter the lands of Leland Province, where dragon and human societies have long dwelled side by side. Superstitions rise sharply, as a severe drought strips the land of its bounty, providing fertile ground for the darker ambitions of Fordon Blackclaw, Dragon Council Leader, who seeks to subdue humans or wipe them off the face of the land. As the shadow of danger creeps across Leland Province, a young dragon named Kallon Redheart, who has turned his back on dragons and humans alike, comes into an unexpected friendship. Riza Diantus is a young woman whose dreams can no longer be contained by the narrow confines of her village, and when she finds herself in peril, Kallon is the only one with the power to save her. Yet to do so means he must confront his past, and embrace a future he stopped believing in.

Redheart is a traditional fantasy novel where the main characters (Kallon and Blackclaw) are dragons. Kallon is a red dragon, the last of his kind and has chosen to live in isolation, away from humans and other dragons. Having witnessed his parents’ murder as a young dragon, Kallon is bitter and antisocial, refusing to take his father’s place as the ruler of the dragons. Instead, the dragons are ruled by Blackclaw, a scheming and despicable character with absolutely no redeeming qualities.

Despite Kallon’s gruffness, he is very likable. I understood him and loved the portions of the book told from his perspective. Even though I don’t think I was supposed to, I liked Jastin the dragon hunter as well. Like Kallon, he had some anger issues rooted in his past and makes some bad decisions and alliances as a result. Unfortunately, I didn’t love Riza as much as I wanted to. She is a true friend to Kallon who stands by him, brings him out of his despair and sacrifices for him, but she also needs help and saving a lot.

Along with engaging characters, Redheart is beautifully descriptive and exciting. The plot flowed quickly and I love the themes of destiny, faith, political intrigue and the magic of love. There is also an interesting plot twist at the end that I was not expecting. This was an enjoyable read and I am looking forward to book two of the Leland Dragon series which will be published in the fall.

Content: References to rape and the pregnancy and birth that result from it, racism (among dragons), kissing, violence

Spring Into Summer Read-a-thon!

This post is to announce to the world that I'm participating in the Spring into Summer read-a-thon hosted by Enna Isilee of Squeaky Books!

This read-a-thon is going to be so great! It's two days where you try do NOTHING but read. It's a great chance to get rid of some of those books that have been sitting on your TBR pile forever.

But that's not all! There will also be awesome mini-challenges and a TON of giveaways! In fact, just for signing up you are entered to win a $25 gift card to Amazon! SO GO SIGN UP! And if you say that Truly Bookish sent you, you'll get 5 extra entries to win that gift card! CLICK HERE to enter to win, and know all there is to know about the read-a-thon.

Here's my goal:

I plan to participate on: Friday and a part of Saturday
I plan to read: 500 pages (I'm a slow reader) 
I hope to read: The Throne of Fire and Tempest Rising

Well, have you signed up yet? DO IT NOW!

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP

Winner of the Splash Into Summer Giveaway!

The winner of the Splash Into Summer Giveaway Hop, chosen by Random.org, is Sarah E. Cruz!

Thank you to everyone who participated. I have a few giveaways coming up in June so stay tuned and make sure you enter.

Books for the Beach

Can you believe its summer already? Now that the weather is really warm and the days are longer, many of us will be around a pool or beach.  With that in mind, I want to know what are your pool/beach reads? Here are some upcoming releases I want to read this summer that have a water related theme to them. They are  Fins Are Forever (sequel to Forgive My Fins) by Tera Lynn Childs, Undercurrent (sequel to Siren) by Tricia Rayburn, Ripple by Mandy Hubbard, Sirenz by Charlotte Bennardo and Natalie Zaman and Siren's Storm by Lisa Papademetriou.

On Lily Sanderson’s eighteenth birthday she’ll become just a girl—still a mergirl, true, but signing the renunciation will ink Princess Waterlily of Thalassinia out of existence. That leaves plain old Lily living on land, dating the boy she loves, and trying to master this being-human thing once and for all. Now that Lily and Quince are together, mer bond or not, she’s almost content to give up her place in the royal succession of Thalassinia. But just when she thinks she has everything figured out, the waves start to get rough. Lily’s father sends a certain whirlpool-stirring cousin to stay with her on land. What did Doedo to get herself exiled from Thalassinia and stuck in terraped form when everyone knows how much she hates humans? And why why why is she batting her eyelashes at Lily’s former crush, Brody? The seafoam on the raging surf comes when a merboy from Lily’s past shows up—Tellin asks Lily for something that clouds her view of the horizon. There’s a future with Quince on land, her loyalty to the kingdom in the sea, and Lily tossing on the waves in the middle. Will she find a way to reconcile her love, her duty, and her own dreams?

After losing her sister and finding out who- or what- she really is, Vanessa returns home for her senior year. Everyone at Hawthorne Prep has questions about her tragic summer, but knowing who to open up to is impossible. As she walks the halls without Justine for the very first time, Vanessa has more to worry about than just making a new life for herself. Because the sirens are out for revenge. To protect herself and the ones she loves, Vanessa must call on powers she believes she has but does not know how to use. To learn, she'll have to seek help from the only person who truly knows her. But first, she must admit the truth about her real identity.

Lexi is cursed with a dark secret. Each day she goes to school like a normal teenager, and each night she must swim, or the pain will be unbearable. She is a siren - a deadly mermaid destined to lure men to their watery deaths. After a terrible tragedy, Lexi shut herself off from the world, vowing to protect the ones she loves. But she soon finds herself caught between a new boy at school who may have the power to melt her icy exterior, and a handsome water spirit who says he can break Lexi's curse if she gives up everything else. Lexi is faced with the hardest decision she’s ever had to make: the life she's always longed for - or the love she can't live without?

Bickering frenemies Meg and Shar are doing some serious damage at a midnight sample sale when they find themselves arguing over a pair of shoes—with fatal consequences. One innocent bystander later, the girls are suddenly at the mercy of Hades—the god of the underworld—himself. To make them atone for what they’ve done, Hades forces the teens to become special-assignment Sirens, luring to the Underworld any individual whose unholy contract is up. But just because they have an otherworldly part-time job now doesn’t mean Meg and Shar can ignore life’s drudgeries (work) or pleasures (fashion!). Finding that delicate balance between their old and new responsibilities turns out to be harder than they expected, especially when an entire pantheon of Greek deities decides to get involved. Then there’s the matter of the fine print in their contracts . . .

Nothing has been the same for Will ever since what happened last summer. One day, on an ordinary sailing trip with his brother, there is a strange accident. When Will wakes up, he learns his brother has disappeared, presumed drowned. Worst of all, Will can't remember what happened—his family finds him unconscious, with no memory of the accident. Now Will and his best friend and neighbor, Gretchen, are starting a new summer. Gretchen seems troubled—her sleepwalking habit is getting worse, and she keeps waking up closer and closer to the water. Will is drawn to Asia, the exotic new girl in town. Nobody knows where she's from—all Will knows is that her beauty and her mesmerizing voice have a powerful effect on people. Then there is another mysterious drowning, and Will and Gretchen begin to wonder: Is Asia just another beautiful, wealthy summer resident? Or is she something entirely more sinister . . . and inhuman?

What are your pool or beach reads?

Waiting on Wednesday: The Iron Knight

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine, and specifically spotlights upcoming novels we can't wait to read. This week’s choice is:

Title: The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequin
Publish Date: Oct. 25, 2011
Pages: 304 pages
Genre: Fantasy

The Iron Knight is told from Ash’s point of view and continues his story after the events in The Iron Queen.

Not sure if you have heard me gush about how wonderful this Iron Fey series really is, but I absolutely love these books! Julie Kagawa combines a fantastic plot with incredible characters. The Iron Knight is one of my most anticipated books for the fall. I cannot wait to read it and just look at the cover! How swoon worthy is Ash?!? It is a perfect complement to the other books in the series.

While we wait on The Iron Knight, Summer’s Crossing, a novella in the Iron Fey series, is available for free from Harlequin! Click here to download.

A Midsummer's Nightmare? Robin Goodfellow. Puck. Summer Court prankster, King Oberon's right hand, bane of many a faery queen's existence-and secret friend to Prince Ash of the Winter Court. Until one girl's death came between them, and another girl stole both their hearts. Now Ash has granted one favor too many and someone's come to collect, forcing the prince to a place he cannot go without Puck's help-into the heart of the Summer Court. And Puck faces the ultimate choice-betray Ash and possibly win the girl they both love, or help his former friend turned bitter enemy pull off a deception that no true faery prankster could possibly resist. An ebook exclusive novella from Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series.

What books are you waiting on?