When you control minds, only your heart can be used against you.
Eight months ago, Kira Moore revealed to the mindreading world that mindjackers like herself were hidden in their midst. Now she wonders if telling the truth was the right choice after all. As wild rumors spread, a powerful anti-jacker politician capitalizes on mindreaders’ fears and strips jackers of their rights. While some jackers flee to Jackertown—a slum rife with jackworkers who trade mind control favors for cash—Kira and her family hide from the readers who fear her and jackers who hate her. But when a jacker Clan member makes Kira’s boyfriend Raf collapse in her arms, Kira is forced to save the people she loves by facing the thing she fears most: FBI agent Kestrel and his experimental torture chamber for jackers.
Release Date: May 23rd, 2012
Click Here to sign up for the Virtual Launch Party on May 23rd! There will be prizes, reviews, bonus content, did I mention prizes? Come join the fun!
Praise for Open Minds (Book One of the Mindjack Trilogy)
"Being a fan of dystopian and sci-fi in young adult books this was exactly the type of book I was hoping to fall in love with and absolutely did ...YA readers who love authors like Ally Condie, Veronica Roth, Lauren Oliver and others would be missing out if they failed to pick upOpen Mindsby Susan Kaye Quinn. Join Kira on her journey to save her fellow mindjackers and potentially change the landscape of her world forever.”— Danielle Smith, book blogger at There’s a Book
“Susan plunges readers into a compelling and frightening world where nearly everyone can read minds when they come of age. The very idea makes me shudder. This is easily one of the best books I've read not only this year, but in recent years.”— Heather McCorkle, author of The Secret of Spruce Knoll
"Susan Kaye Quinn's Open Minds is an edge-of-the-seat YA sci-fi, where 16 year-old Kira dodges psychological bullets from all sides." — Catherine Stine, author of Fireseed One
Susan Kaye Quinn grew up in California, where she wrote snippets of stories and passed them to her friends during class. She pursued a bunch of engineering degrees and worked a lot of geeky jobs, including turns at GE Aircraft Engines, NASA, and NCAR. Now that she writes novels, her business card says "Author and Rocket Scientist" and she doesn't have to sneak her notes anymore.All that engineering comes in handy when dreaming up paranormal powers in future worlds or mixing science with fantasy to conjure slightly plausible inventions. Susan writes from the Chicago suburbs with her three boys, two cats, and one husband. Which, it turns out, is exactly as much as she can handle.
So, with everything that has transpired in the book blogging community over the last week or so, I had to find a new way to showcase the books I've received for review or purchased, borrowed, etc.
I've chosen to go with Stacking the Shelves, which is hosted by Tynga's Reviews. From her vlogs she appears to be a really sweet person and I just love the graphic above. So pretty. Anyway, I know you're here for the books, so I give you my book haul for the last week.
A HUGE thank you to all the publishers, literary agent Barbara Poelle, and netgalley. That's it for me. Leave me a link to your mailbox post and I'll be sure to check it out!!
Source: Received audiobook from Macmillan Audio in exchange for a thoughtful and honest review.
Publication: 9/13/2011, St. Martin's Griffin
Synopsis from Goodreads:What if you were bound for a new world, about to pledge your life to someone you'd been promised to since birth, and one unexpected violent attack made survival—not love—the issue?
Out in the murky nebula lurks an unseen enemy: the New Horizon. On its way to populate a distant planet in the wake of Earth's collapse, the ship's crew has been unable to conceive a generation to continue its mission. They need young girls desperately, or their zealous leader's efforts will fail. Onboard their sister ship, the Empyrean, the unsuspecting families don't know an attack is being mounted that could claim the most important among them...
Fifteen-year-old Waverly is part of the first generation to be successfully conceived in deep space; she was born on the Empyrean, and the large farming vessel is all she knows. Her concerns are those of any teenager—until Kieran Alden proposes to her. The handsome captain-to-be has everything Waverly could ever want in a husband, and with the pressure to start having children, everyone is sure he's the best choice. Except for Waverly, who wants more from life than marriage—and is secretly intrigued by the shy, darkly brilliant Seth.
But when the Empyrean faces sudden attack by their assumed allies, they quickly find out that the enemies aren't all from the outside.
My Review: The Empyrean and the New Horizon were sent from Earth following its collapse to populate a distant planet. They are identical in every way, except for the fact that the passengers of the New Horizon are religious and those on the Empyrean are not. At some point during their journey, the females on the New Horizon discover that they are infertile and they will be unable to create the next generation required. This, among other things, leads them to attack the Empyrean and kidnap the female children, including Waverly.
Waverly seemed a little passive at first, going along with whatever is expected of her. You can't blame her really. It's how she was raised. It's the only way she knows how to be. But she shows great strength of character once the Empyrean is attacked. She's determined and she doesn't cower even when instinct tells her she should.
I wasn't too thrilled with either Seth or Keiran, though I have to give them both credit for trying to do what they believed was right given the impossible situation they found themselves in. Still, I think it will be interesting to see how these characters develop. Glow is a wonderful start to what is sure to be a spectacular series. It's wholly engrossing and the themes addressed in this novel will certainly give the reader a lot to ponder.
It was my first audiobook experience and, I have to be honest, I loved it! I didn't realize that there was so much wasted time in my day when I could have been listening to books. Mostly this was my commute to/from work. Of course, I found myself so enthralled by the story that I brought the discs in with me each night to listen to.
I always thought that audiobooks would be weird, the voices monotonous. You know how when you're reading, you get a sense of the character voices in your head? I was afraid that would be missing from an audiobook. It's not like a movie where different people play different characters. But Glow was narrated by Matthew Brown & Ilyana Kadushin and they did an absolutely fantastic job of differentiating the voices of the characters. Matching each personality and making me feel as if I could really hear these people.
My life has been changed for the better with the introduction of audiobooks into my TBR pile. It's so amazing to be able to get lost in a great book, even when my eyes are too tired to read.
The sequel Spark will be released on July 17th of this year. Make sure you put both on your TBR list!
And now, thanks to the awesome folks at Macmillan Audio, I have an audiobook clip to share with you. Give it a listen. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Mass Effect: Invasion (Mass Effect Graphic Novels #3)
Mac Walters (Author), Omar Francia (Illustrator), John Jackson Miller (Scriptor)
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Genre: Graphic Novels, Science Fiction
Publication: 4/24/12, Dark Horse Comics
# of Pages: 112
Source: I received an advanced readers copy (ARC) from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis from Goodreads:The Omega space station is the center of lawlessness in the galaxy, a den of vice ruled by the deadly asari Aria. It is also a strategic foothold in a galaxy-wide power struggle, and when the station comes under attack from a new threat unleashed by the humanity-first organization Cerberus, Aria is forced to become more ruthless than ever to protect her home—and her dominion!
This canonical chapter in the Mass Effect saga reunites Walters with writer John Jackson Miller (Star Wars: Knight Errant), artist Omar Francia (Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II), and cover artist Massimo Carnevale (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) for a galactic showdown sure to thrill any serious science-fiction reader.
My Review: It's no surprise that I thought this one was awesome. I love Mass Effect. I love everything to do with Mass Effect. I play it more for the character interaction and amazing story line than anything else. And Aria T'Loak is a character that I enjoyed while playing the game. So when I saw this baby appear on Netgalley I knew I had to have it.
I played Mass Effect 3 prior to reading Invasion, so I knew from conversations with Aria that something had happened to her control of the Omega space station. However, it was never made clear exactly what transpired. This is where Invasion comes in. It fills in the gaps between the end of Mass Effect 2 and the point where you encounter Aria in Mass Effect 3.
I loved seeing a story from Aria's point of view. She is definitely an intriguing character and Invasion gives the reader or gamer a little bit of insight into her character. I don't know much about art, but I'm a comic book and graphic novel fan and the art work in Invasion was incredible, staying true to the characters and alien races I've come to know and love through playing the video game. I also enjoyed seeing Omega. I love Omega by the way. I was poisoned there once by a Batarian. Ah, good times.
Overall, an amazing read and a great tie-in for those who love the Mass Effect games as much as I do.
Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. Today I'm featuringIf I Lieby Corrine Jackson. You all know I'm a sucker for a good contemporary YA and this one sounds awesome!!
Synopsis from Goodreads:A powerful debut novel about the gray space between truth and perception.
Quinn’s done the unthinkable: she kissed a guy who is not Carey, her boyfriend. And she got caught. Being branded a cheater would be bad enough, but Quinn is deemed a traitor, and shunned by all of her friends. Because Carey’s not just any guy—he’s serving in Afghanistan and revered by everyone in their small, military town.
Quinn could clear her name, but that would mean revealing secrets that she’s vowed to keep—secrets that aren’t hers to share. And when Carey goes MIA, Quinn must decide how far she’ll go to protect her boyfriend…and her promise.
Source: I received an advanced reader's copy (ARC) from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis from Goodreads:Two days before the start of her junior year, seventeen-year-old Janelle Tenner is hit by a pickup truck and killed—as in blinding light, scenes of her life flashing before her, and then nothing. Except the next thing she knows, she's opening her eyes to find Ben Michaels, a loner from her high school whom Janelle has never talked to, leaning over her. And even though it isn't possible, she knows—with every fiber of her being—that Ben has somehow brought her back to life.
But her revival, and Ben's possible role in it, is only the first of the puzzles that Janelle must solve. While snooping in her FBI agent father's files for clues about her accident, she uncovers a clock that seems to be counting down to something—but to what? And when someone close to Janelle is killed, she can no longer deny what's right in front of her: Everything that's happened—the accident, the murder, the countdown clock, Ben's sudden appearance in her life—points to the end of life as she knows it. And as the clock ticks down, she realizes that if she wants to put a stop to the end of the world, she's going to need to uncover Ben's secrets—and keep from falling in love with him in the process.
From debut author Elizabeth Norris comes this shattering novel of one girl's fight to save herself, her world, and the boy she never saw coming.
My Review: Unique and brilliant. Pure epicness! I cannot praise this book enough. Elizabeth Norris has created some of the most original and incredible characters. Wrap them up in an intense, thrill ride of a plot and you have Unraveling.
When I first saw blurbs for this book, I knew I had to have it. With a logline like Stop the Countdown, Save the World, how could it not be epic? (Heroes, anyone? Save the Cheerleader, Save the World. No? Just me? Okay, moving on.)
When Janelle is hit by a truck and dies, Ben comes to her aid, healing her injuries and bringing her back to life. At first I was reminded of Roswell and how Max saves Liz because he loves her, which is a good thing because I loved Roswell. But, in the end, Unraveling actually turned out to be unlike anything I've ever seen or read before. It was absolutely brilliant. I've used that word before, I know. But it truly describes this book.
Janelle is a kick-butt protagonist who is definitely going on the list of my favorites. She is strong, and spirited, and everything I want from my female leads. She's been through an ordeal but she doesn't fold in upon herself. She pushes forward, searching for answers. And Ben. Ben, I love you. You're made of pure awesome. I wish you were real and that I was younger. Much younger. Even the secondary characters like Alex are incredible. The boys in this book rock.
Unraveling is intense—mind-blowingly awesome and definitely one of my favorite reads of the year. The chapters are short and will have you breathlessly pulsing through the story. Even though it's a long book—445 pages, I read it in a single sitting. Trust me, you won't be able to tear through it fast enough.
I want to tell you so much more so you can understand how amazing Unraveling is, but I can't without being spoiler-y, so I'll just tell you that if you trust my opinion on books at all, you MUST. READ. THIS. BOOK.
Today, I'm celebrating the release of two Young Adult novels from Pendrell Publishing by two amazing authors, Jamie Manning and Dan Haring. These guys are completely awesome. And if that alone is not enough to make you want to buy their books, check them out below.
Blood Born by Jamie Manning
Synopsis from Goodreads:Waking up in a coffin hungry for blood is only the beginning for sixteen-year-old Ava Blue. When Chance Caldon, the hottie who dug her up, tells her that she’s half vampire, Ava’s world really turns upside down.
Half vamp? Ava can’t believe it...she doesn't even know what that means! Not until Aldric, a thousand-year-old vampire, shows up and tells her it’s true--and that he’s the one who turned her. Then Ava truly begins to believe what she is. Now, she has to deal with a sudden and powerful bloodlust, the desire to see Aldric dead, and her growing crush for Chance. Ava knows she's a monster now, she can feel it; and her life is over.
But redemption isn’t lost. Aldric is giving her a chance to regain her humanity. The price? Kill a hundred vampires, or remain a bloodsucker forever.
So Ava sets out to get her life back. But killing vampires begins a battle that could destroy everything she is working toward. In the end, Ava's decisions will forever change her life and the lives of those she loves.
Synopsis from Goodreads:Jason Gouvas doesn’t want to believe he has special abilities or that he's an Oldsoul-- a vessel for the souls of people who have passed away, but the dead girl in his mind can be very persuasive.
Her name is Erin, and through her Jason is able to access the knowledge and skills of the souls within him. And with a group of power-hungry immortals bent on destroying the Oldsouls and overthrowing humanity, he's going to need them all.
Source: I received an advanced reader's copy (ARC) from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis from Goodreads:Allie lost everything the night her boyfriend, Trip, died in a horrible car accident—including her memory of the event. As their small town mourns his death, Allie is afraid to remember because doing so means delving into what she’s kept hidden for so long: the horrible reality of their abusive relationship.
When the police reopen the investigation, it casts suspicion on Allie and her best friend, Blake, especially as their budding romance raises eyebrows around town. Allie knows she must tell the truth. Can she reach deep enough to remember that night so she can finally break free? Debut writer Jennifer Shaw Wolf takes readers on an emotional ride through the murky waters of love, shame, and, ultimately, forgiveness.
My Review: So far this year I've read two books about girls, car crashes, memory loss, and a night they would rather forget. This is definitely the better of the two. Not that the other was bad. It wasn't. It was great. I gave it four stars.
But Breaking Beautiful falls into the category of books that remind me what literature could be and should be. It made me remember why I love to read and busted me out of a slump that was threatening my ever-growing TBR pile. I didn't want to read before I picked up Breaking Beautiful. I was tired of being disappointed or just feeling meh about a book. Now, I'm excited. I know that somewhere in that large stack of books is another story that I don't want to miss out on. I'll continue to read the blah of the book world if it means I might find another gem like Breaking Beautiful.
We're told early on that Allie's boyfriend Trip was an abuser. Through pieces of her scattered memory we see the kind of pain he inflicted upon her and we see how each incident breaks her spirit--her sense of self-worth--a little bit more. To say that I was glad Trip was dead at the onset would be an understatement. I was thrilled. But just because the abuser is out of the picture does not mean that the affects of his abuse disappear. Allie still flinches when someone touches her and wears sweaters to cover the bruises.
She still has trouble trusting, well, anyone. Even her parents. Even her childhood best friend Blake, who, it's clear, would do just about anything for her. I absolutely adored Blake. I wanted so much for he and Allie to be together. Allie wants it too. At first, she's afraid of what people will think. That perhaps they'll think she moved on from Trip too quickly. What she gets is a town full of people who come to believe that she and Blake are somehow responsible for Trip's death.
It's fear of losing or hurting Blake, more than anything else, that finally convinces Allie that she has to face what happened the night Trip died and finally tell the whole truth about their relationship.
Breaking Beautiful is absolutely incredible. It will hook you from the first paragraph and it just gets better from there. When this book was anywhere near me, I was reading it. And when it wasn't, I was thinking about it. Jennifer Shaw Wolf does an incredible job of injecting suspense and mystery, giving us tiny snippets of Allie's relationship with Trip and the night of the accident. Just enough to keep the reader guessing and tearing through the pages. Jennifer Shaw Wolf is a debut author with some serious talent. I've been stalking her blog and I know that she has another book in the works called Shards of Glass. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.
I am super excited to be part of the 12 Days of Morganville Madness in honor of the release of Book #12 in the Morganville Vampires series, Black Dawn.
I'm featuring Book #2 - The Dead Girls' Dance and I've got some exciting things for you courtesy of Penguin (click on the links):
Each tour stop will be hosting a giveaway of the book they are featuring, so if you want the chance to win more books, you have to visit the rest of the stops. I've included the schedule and links for you below:
The Dead Girls' Dance (Morganville Vampires #2), Rachel Caine
Rating: 5 of 5 Stars
Genre: Paranormal, Young Adult
Source: I received a copy of this book from the publisher as part of a blog campaign. My review is my honest opinion.
Synopsis from Goodreads:Claire Danvers has had her share of challenges—like being a genius in a school that favours beauty over brains, dealing with the homicidal girls in her dorm and, above all, finding out that her college town is overrun with blood-sucking fiends.
On the plus side, so far Claire and her friends have managed to survive getting on the wrong side of some Morganville VIPs... Vampire Important Persons. But their temporary peace is in danger of collapsing, thanks to the arrival of her new boyfriend’s scary father and his vampire-fighting supporters.
My Review: What can I say except that I wish someone had told me sooner how awesome these books were? I read both Glass Houses (Book 1) and The Dead Girls' Dance (Book #2) in a single sitting. They are quick and fun and oh so fantastic. Glass Houses ends with a MAJOR cliffhanger and I think if I hadn't had the second book right there in my hands, I would've died. Waiting must have been unbearable for readers who've been with this series since the beginning.
The Dead Girls' Dance picks up exactly where Glass Houses ends and continues the story. Shane's dad is causing all sorts of trouble and we get to learn a lot more about Shane, who btw, I LOVE. For me, whether or not I am going to adore a book or series comes down to the love interest. And Shane? Well, he's perfect for me. Protective, loyal, and just the perfect amount of smart ass.
Claire seems to come into her own in book 2 as well. She's fiercer, more determined and I think I like her even more than I did in Glass Houses.
All in all, a wonderful follow up to Glass Houses. The action and suspense is amazing. I couldn't flip the pages fast enough and now that I'm done, I'm really sad that I don't have the other, what? 10 Books? Wow. There's a reason there are so many of these books and a reason they're so popular. They're awesome. And if you're like me, and you haven't read them before, you should pick them up. Like, now.
And now Rachel Caine has been kind enough to stop by the blog for day #2 of the 12 Days of Morganville Madness Tour. Read on, and don't forget to leave a comment for Rachel!!
-----
Q. What kicked off the concept for this book?
A. I knew that I was going to have to deal with the questions I'd set up in the first book -- most urgently, who was Shane's dad, and what was he doing in Morganville? And that led to the revealing discovery that Shane wasn't being straight with his friends, either. And had hidden agendas of his own.
Q. Which character do you think stood out in this book, and why?
A. I think Frank Collins really held the stage well; he was a frightening character, and unfortunately a lot like some of the scary parents of friends I had growing up. I really felt I understood what it would be like to grow up under his influence.
Q. Five things you loved about writing this book...
A. Bringing Michael back and learning how to write him with his ghostly status out in the open to his friends. Like Shane, he was hiding a pretty important secret.
Eve, again, who just kept getting more and more funny and sharp to me.
Shane. This was really all about his relationship with his dad, and how his guilt and pain drove everything he did -- even down to beginning to fall for Claire.
Oliver becoming a genuine bad guy. He stepped up to the challenge of being a perfect foil for Frank Collins's hate, and did it with style.
I got to do another cliffhanger, because I am evil.
Q. Five things you didn't love about writing this book...
A. There's nothing sexy about sewers.
I really wanted to give Monica a comeuppance, but I realized she had more vile things to do to our characters, so ... she got a pass. Unwillingly.
I worried that I'd taken the terror a little too far, with Claire getting almost assaulted at the Dead Girls' Dance party.
Not enough university things in this book, again, though hey, there was a killer frat party. So that happened.
I really could have used Sam more.
Q. If you could do this book over, what would you do differently, and why?
A. I'd probably rethink the motorcycle gang and make their motives and methods a little more definite; Frank's not the kind of guy to roll into town without a pretty definite plan of action!
Q. Favorite quoted passage from the book...
A. From Shane, in the cage at Founders Square: "Hey," he said softly. He moved closer to the bars, pressing his face between them. "I always said you were jailbait, but this is ridiculous."
Q. What you learned from this book...
A. Monica really will go to any lengths to get her revenge. Even if she doesn't know what it's for.
Q. Fun research moment...
A. I decided that I wanted to base Amelie off of a real, historical person, and I was able to find an obscure French princess from the 1300s who, although the youngest and quietest of her violently ambitious family, somehow managed to be the last one standing for the throne. Unfortunately for her, her reign didn't last long, as a long-lost brother came back from the dead to cut it short. Sounded just like the kind of person who'd come back as the Founder!
About Rachel:
Rachel Caine is the New York Times, USA Today and internationally bestselling author of more than 30 novels, including the immensely popular Morganville Vampires series, the Weather Warden series, and the Outcast Season series.
In 2011, Rachel published the first novel of her new series, The Revivalist, with the release of Working Stiff in August.
She has been honored with a Paranormal Pearl Award and an RT Booklovers Award, and was recently awarded a Career Achievement Award from Romantic Times. Her first young adult novel, Glass Houses, was chosen for the Texas Tayshas List in 2009.
Rachel has appeared as a guest at over 100 science fiction, fantasy, mystery and romance conventions and conferences over the past 20 years, including Dragon*Con, San Diego ComicCon, the World Fantasy Convention, and the World Science Fiction Convention. She has been featured in several national publications including People magazine, Entertainment Weekly, and Vanity Fair, and on international, national and local television and radio.
She was born at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, attended Socorro High School in El Paso, Texas, and earned a bachelors degree in business administration from Texas Tech University. She’s worked in many jobs, including accounting, graphic designer, insurance investigation, corporate communications, and web design, to name just a few. She became a full time writer in 2010.
Rachel is married to award-winning fantasy artist R. Cat Conrad, and has two iguanas as pets: Popeye and Darwin
Finally, are you ready for a super spectacular giveaway where you can enter for a chance to win a signed copy of The Dead Girls' Dance and a Black Dawn bookmark?!!!!
Just fill out the rafflecopter below. US only. Sorry international followers!!
You read that right. Win a Designer Prom Dress. Lisa Burstein is celebrating the upcoming release of PRETTY AMY, and to sweeten the pot, 3 Phoebe Couture Evening Dresses are being given away.
WOW!
PRETTY AMY starts on a prom night that goes horribly and hilariously wrong. Prom night or any special night doesn’t always go as planned. There is a lot you can’t control: the weather, your date’s breath and sometimes even the whim of a policeman.
Luckily, you can control the way you look and PRETTY AMY wants you to look good.
Today, I'm featuring the Watched series by Cindy M. Hogan in celebration of the release of book #2, Protected.
Book 1: Watched
Synopsis from Goodreads:It takes more than a school trip to Washington, D.C. to change fifteen-year-old Christy's life. It takes murder.
A witness to the brutal slaying of a Senator's aide, Christy finds herself watched not only by the killers and the FBI, but also by two hot boys. She discovers that if she can't help the FBI, who want to protect her, it will cost her and her new friends their lives.
Praise for Watched:"A fantastic read, full of suspense and excitement! Cindy M. Hogan writes brilliantly and she knows just how to keep you on the edge of your seat. It's virtually impossible to just relax reading this book and when you finish you feel as if you've been right there in the midst of it all!" - Kitty Bullard, GMTA review
"Fast paced suspense." -C.K. Bryant, author of Bound
"I loved it! This is a clean, YA suspense novel that I was happy to have my teenage daughter read. We both agreed that the characters were real and the situation was believable. Once you sat down with this book you did not want to get up until you were done. The suspense and action grabbed a hold of you until the very end. Both my daughter and I are excited that the second in the series is coming out." - D. Chapman, Amazon reviews
Synopsis from Goodreads:She has the guy. The terrorists have been taken care of. She has a shot at becoming popular. Life is great! Until they find her. Now she must run and leave behind everything she knows, including herself.
Praise for Protected:"From bullies to terrorist, Christy faces challenge after challenge in this stunning sequel that raises the stakes, both for her saftey, and her love-life. A fantastic addition to a series that is sure to catch the hearts of readers." - Heather McCorkle, author of the Channeler series
"Protected is a thrilling follow-up that left me sitting on the edge of my seat and begging for more." - Magan Vernon, author of How to Date an Alien
"A suspenseful, romantic, and intriguing novel. Protected is a riveting novel that I couldn't put down until the very last word." - Miriam Barton, author
"This anticipated sequel sizzles with equal parts thriller, suspense, and romance. A spine tingling story I could not put down." - C.K. Bryant, author of Bound
"Protected has equal parts romance and thriller. This fast paced novel has a little something for everyone!" - Lani Woodland, author of Intrinsical.
Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. This week I'm featuring The Little Woodsby McCormick Templeton.
Synopsis from Goodreads:Are the woods behind St. Bede's Academy really haunted, or does bad stuff just happen there? When Calista Wood, a new student, arrives midway through her junior year, St. Bede's feels like a normal school . . . until she discovers that a girl had disappeared a couple of months earlier. Some kids think she ran away, others think she was murdered, but it's only when Cally starts digging around that she finds the startling truth.
Watch as Cally enters a world of privilege, weekend-long parties, high school romances, and . . . well-kept secrets. This page-turner will appeal to teens looking for a fast-paced thriller. Written in a voice at once gripping and crystal clear, debut novelist, McCormick Templeman, will take readers on a twisting and turning journey as only a "new girl" can experience.
Source: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis from Goodreads:The more you love, the more you stand to lose….
Tessa’s head over heels for Lucien, the son of a French diplomat. Sexy, artistic, and daring, he brings out a completely new side of her. With him, Tessa feels beautiful and exotic.
So when Tessa’s strict father forbids her to see Lucien, she’s determined to keep their relationship a secret.But as Tessa gets caught up in Lucien, he becomes increasingly volatile. What she once found alluring about him now feels alarming. Tessa must figure out how far she’ll go for Lucien before she risks losing not just him, but everything she loves.
My Review: I'm struggling with what to say about this book. It's not that it was bad, because it wasn't. It just wasn't that good. It was fine. There's a nice description for you, right?
All I can say is that there's nothing technically wrong with it. It was well-written (though my ARC did have a few disconcerting typos and formatting errors). I just failed to connect with Tessa and the rest of the characters in any significant way. I could sympathize with her, sure. But overall I didn't care what happened to her or Lucien. There were also these long passages about how incredible Lucien was. How Tessa finally mattered because he loved her. How deep, and profound, and artistic, and creative, and mysterious he was. It got to the point where I was like, okay, I get it. I understand why Tessa is attracted to Lucien. Can we move on now?
Maybe it is because I was never the girl who was drawn to the dark, repressed, or dangerous boy. I like my guys stable and clean cut. But Lucien just failed to do it for me. It was also slow. A long read for a short book and while the pace picks up as we neared the conclusion, at the end of the day, not much happened. I'm kind of disappointed.
Bottom line, some people may enjoy it—especially fans of contemporary YA fiction—but not me, so I can't recommend it to my readers.
Today I have something super exciting for you guys--a trailer reveal and an excerpt of TASTE, a YA novel by Kate Evangelista due to be published in May 2012. This one looks awesome and I can't wait to read it. If you want to learn more about the book, watch the trailer below and let me know in the comments what you think.
-----
Synopsis: At BarinkoffAcademy, there's only one rule: no students on campus after curfew. Phoenix McKay soon finds out why when she is left behind at sunset. A group calling themselves night students threaten to taste her flesh until she is saved by a mysterious, alluring boy. With his pale skin, dark eyes, and mesmerizing voice, Demitri is both irresistible and impenetrable. He warns her to stay away from his dangerous world of flesh eaters. Unfortunately, the gorgeous and playful Luka has other plans.
When Phoenix is caught between her physical and her emotional attraction, she becomes the keeper of a deadly secret that will rock the foundations of an ancient civilization living beneath BarinkoffAcademy. Phoenix doesn’t realize until it is too late that the closer she gets to both Demitri and Luka the more she is plunging them all into a centuries old feud.
Excerpt:I sat up and followed Calixta’s gaze upward. I rubbed my eyes. I didn’t know what I was seeing at first. A statue? My brain refused to snap together coherent thoughts.I didn’t realize I’d fallen so close to one of the garden benches until I stared up at the boy that sat on one. He was strikingly beautiful. His tumble of blonde hair curled just above his sculpted cheekbones. He wore a silk shirt and a loosened cravat, like he’d become bored while dressing and decided to leave himself in disarray. His ivory skin and frozen position was what had me mistaking him for something carved from marble by Michelangelo. Then he sighed—a lonely, breathy proof of life. If I had to imagine what Lucifer looked like before he fell from heaven, the boy on the bench would certainly fulfill that image. My brain told me I had to look away, but I couldn’t.
“Luka,” Calixta said again, her voice unsure, almost nervous. It no longer contained the steel and bite she had threatened me with, which made me wonder who the boy was.
He leaned on his hands and crossed his legs, all the while keeping his eyes fixed on the night sky. His movements spoke of elegance and control. I’d encountered many people with breeding before, but his took on the air of arrogance and self-assuredness of someone used to getting what he wanted when he wanted it.
I only realized I’d been holding my breath when my lungs protested. I exhaled. My heart sputtered and restarted with a vengeance. Luka tore his gaze away from the stars and settled it on me. I’d expected pitch-black irises, like the other Night Students, but blue ice stared back at me.
“Human,” he whispered.
He reached out, and with a finger, followed an invisible trail down my cheek. I stiffened. His touch, cooler than Demitri’s, caused warm sparks to blossom on my face. He lifted his finger to his lips and licked its tip. He might as well have licked me from the way my body shivered.
Luka’s curious gaze held mine. “Leave us,” he said, but not to me.
“But—” Calixta protested like a spoiled child.
He spoke in a language I hadn’t heard before, remaining calm yet firm. The words had a rolling cadence I couldn’t quite follow, like rumbling thunder in the distance. They contained a harsh sensuality. The consonants were hard and the vowels were long and lilting.
Footsteps retreated behind me.
Luka reached out again.
It took me a minute to realize he wanted to help me up. I hesitated. He smiled. I smiled back timidly and took his hand, completely dazzled. Even with my uniform soaked from melted snow, I didn’t feel cold—all my attention was on him and the way his callused hand felt on mine. Without moving much from his seated position, he helped me stand.
“What’s your name?” he asked. He had a voice like a familiar lullaby. It filled my heart to the brim with comfort.
I swallowed and tried to stop gawking. “Phoenix.”
“The bird that rose from the ashes.” Luka bent his head and kissed the back of my hand. “It’s a pleasure meeting you.”
My cheeks warmed. My head reeled, not knowing what to think. I couldn’t understand why I felt drawn to him. And the strange connection frightened me.
From behind, someone gripped my arms and yanked me away before I could sort out the feelings Luka inspired in me. I found myself behind a towering figure yet again. Recognizing the blue-black silk for hair tied at the nape, relief washed over me. Calixta hadn’t come back to finish me off.
Demitri’s large hand wrapped around my wrist. Unlike the night before, no calm existed in his demeanor. He trembled like a junky in need of a fix. The coiled power in his tense muscles vibrated into me.
“What are you doing here?” Demitri asked.
I didn’t know he’d spoken to me until I saw his expressionless profile. I sighed.
“Phoenix.”
I flinched. The ruthless way he said my name punched all the air out of me. “You owe me answers,” I said with as much bravado as I could muster.
“I owe you nothing.” He glared. “In fact, you owe me your life.”
“I don’t think so.”
Ignoring my indignation, he faced Luka, who’d remained seated on the bench during my exchange with Demitri. “Why is she with you, Luka?”
“I wasn’t going to taste her, if that’s what you’re implying,” Luka said. “Although, she is simply delicious. I wouldn’t mind if you left us alone.”
There it was again. Taste. The word that kept coming up between these Night Students and I was connected to it in an increasingly uncomfortable way. To taste meant to sample, but what? My flesh? They had to be joking because the alternative wasn’t funny.
“The sins of the father …” Demitri left his sentence unfinished.
Luka’s smile shifted into a snarl. “Obey my command.” His chin lifted. “Kneel.”
Demitri’s stance went rigid. His grip tightened around my wrist.
Okay, weird just got weirder. Why would Luka want Demitri to kneel before him? I thought back to Eli and the others bowing to Demitri when he questioned them, but they didn’t kneel. Seriously? Were they all living on a different planet or something?
“Kneel.” Luka’s detestable smirk made his features sinister rather than angelic. The real Lucifer: a fallen angel.
Without letting go of my wrist, Demitri knelt down on one knee and bowed his head, his free hand flat at the center of his chest. “Your command has been obeyed,” he said formally.
Luka nodded once.
Demitri stood up and pulled me toward the school without telling me where we were going. Not having the time to thank Luka for saving me from Calixta, I risked a glance back. Luka smiled at me. His smile spoke of whispers, secrets, and promises to be shared on a later date.
----
About the Author:When Kate Evangelista was told she had a knack for writing stories, she did the next best thing: entered medical school. After realizing she wasn't going to be the next Doogie Howser, M.D., Kate wandered into the Literature department of her university and never looked back.
Today, she is in possession of a piece of paper that says to the world she owns a Literature degree. To make matters worse, she took Master's courses in creative writing. In the end, she realized to be a writer, none of what she had mattered. What really mattered? Writing. Plain and simple, honest to God, sitting in front of her computer, writing. Today, she has four completed Young Adult novels.
