Stacking the Shelves {9}

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews and is a way to showcase the books we've received for review or purchased, borrowed, etc. If you'd like to participate please check out Tynga's website for more information. 

For Review:

Shadows (Ashes #2), Ilsa J. Bick

Source: ARC from publisher

Release Date: 9/25/2012, EgmontUSA

Goodreads / Amazon / B&N

The Archived (The Archived #1), Victoria Schwab

Source: Sneak Peek from publisher

Release Date: 1/22/2013, Hyperion

Goodreads / Amazon / B&N

Crewel (Crewel World #1), Gennifer Albin

Source: ARC from publisher

Release Date: 10/16/2012, FS&G BYR

Goodreads / Amazon / B&N

The Shadow Society, Marie Rutkoski

Source: ARC from publisher

Release Date: 10/16/2012, FS&G

Goodreads / Amazon / B&N

Dead Girl Moon, Charlie Price

Source: ARC from publisher

Release Date: 10/30/2012, FS&G

Goodreads / Amazon / B&N

Safekeeping, Karen Hesse

Source: ARC from publisher

Release Date: 9/18/2012, Feiwel & Friends

Goodreads / Amazon / B&N

Eve & Adam, Michael Grant & Katherine Applegate

Source: ARC from publisher

Release Date: 10/2/2012, Feiwel & Friends

Goodreads / Amazon / B&N

The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Stephen Chbosky

Source: Movie Edition Paperback from publisher

Release Date: 2/1/1999, MTV Books

Goodreads / Amazon / B&N

I loved The Perks of Being a Wallflower. You can check out my review here.

Reaper (Lightbringer #2), K.D. McEntire

Source: Hardback from publisher

Release Date: 8/24/2012, Pyr

Goodreads / Amazon / B&N

Through to You, Emily Hainsworth

Source: ARC from publisher

Release Date: 10/2/2012, Balzer + Bray

Goodreads / Amazon / B&N

Spark (Sky Chasers #2), Amy Kathleen Ryan

Source: Audiobook from publisher

Release Date: 7/17/2012, Macmillan Audio

Goodreads / Amazon / B&N

Purchased:

Hollowed (Half Light #1), Kelley York

Release Date: 8/15/2012

Goodreads / Amazon / B&N

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A HUGE thank you to EgmontUSA, Disney-Hyperion, FS&G, Feiwel & Friends, Simon & Schuster, Pyr Books, Balzer + Bray, Harper, Macmillan, Macmillan Audio, Edelweiss and Netgalley. That's it for me this week. Leave me a link to your mailbox post and I'll be sure to check it out!!

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ARC Review: Slide

Slide (Slide #1), Jill Hathaway

Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars

Genre: Paranormal Thriller, Young Adult

Publication: 3/27/2012, Balzer + Bray

# of Pages: 250 (Hardcover)

Source: I received an advanced readers copy (ARC) from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis from Goodreads: 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.

My Review:  Slide was a welcome change of pace for me. I'd been reading a ton of contemporaries and while they are my favorite, I was in the mood for something a little different and Slide delivered.

Vee's ability to "slide" into another's consciousness is not in and of itself thoroughly original. I've seen it done before and to me it has always seemed like an extremely convenient way for an amateur sleuth to get the clues needed to solve the mystery that would otherwise be lost to him/her. That being said, Slide still appealed to me. There are a few Paranormal YA staples--Vee has her tragic past, her secret gift/curse that controls her life, and a male best friend who would do anything for Vee but who is harboring a few secrets himself. 

On the surface, there's nothing too extraordinary, but once you dig a little deeper, you'll realize that what really drives this story is not the plot but the characters. They're each fully drawn and emotionally engaging, each hiding a secret that I wanted to know. Vee is likeable to the nth degree. She's not overly snarky and she cares a great deal about her family, which includes a workaholic father and a sometimes bratty little sister.

I actually managed to solve the mystery long before Vee did, but overall this knowledge didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story. I kept reading because I wanted to know how Vee would react when she discovered it. I wanted to see her gain perspective about her ability. And I wanted to see the development of her relationships with her family and especially Rollins, her best friend/potential love interest. For me, Vee carried this story through force of personality alone and more than made up for what could have been a lackluster mystery. I am definitely looking forward to the sequel.

Goodreads / Amazon / B&N

Waiting on Wednesday {21}: What Happens Next

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 featuring What Happens Next by Colleen Clayton.

 

 

Synopsis from Goodreads: How can you talk about something you can’t remember?

Before the ski trip, sixteen-year-old Cassidy “Sid” Murphy was a cheerleader (at the bottom of the pyramid, but still...), a straight-A student, and a member of a solid trio of best friends. When she ends up on a ski lift next to handsome local college boy, Dax Windsor, she’s thrilled; but Dax takes everything from Sid—including a lock of her perfect red curls—and she can’t remember any of it.

Back home and unable to relate to her old friends, Sid drops her college prep classes and takes up residence in the A/V room with only Corey “The Living Stoner” Livingston for company. But as she gets to know Corey (slacker, baker, total dreamboat), Sid finds someone who truly makes her happy. Now, if she can just shake the nightmares and those few extra pounds, everything will be perfect... or so she thinks.

witty and poignant, Colleen Clayton’s stunning debut is a story about moving on after the unthinkable happens.

Goodreads / Amazon

What Happens Next will be released by Poppy on October 9th, 2012!

 

Okay, so that's mine. What's your WOW pick this week? Also, if you want to participate, head on over to Breaking the Spine and link up!!

Stacking the Shelves {8}

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews and is a way to showcase the books we've received for review or purchased, borrowed, etc. If you'd like to participate please check out Tynga's website for more information. 

For Review:

Midnight City (Conquered Earth #1), J. Barton Mitchell
Source: ARC from publisher
Release Date: 10/30/2012, St. Martin's Griffin
Goodreads / Amazon

I absolutely loved this one. I'm also having a giveaway for an ARC. So, if you want a chance to win a copy, check it out!!

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Rebel Heart (Dust Lands #2), Moira Young
Source: ARC from publisher
Release Date: 10/30/2012, Margaret K. McElderry Books
Goodreads / Amazon

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Because it is My Blood (Birthright #2), Gabrielle Zevin
Source: ARC from publisher
Release Date: 9/18/2012, FS&G BYR
Goodreads / Amazon

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Breathe (Breathe #1), Sarah Crossan
Source: ARC from publisher
Release Date: 10/2/2012, Greenwillow Books
Goodreads / Amazon

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The Dark Unwinding, Sharon Cameron
Source: ARC from publisher
Release Date: 9/1/2012, Scholastic Press
Goodreads / Amazon

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The next three books came in a package from the lovely people at Harper to celebrate the release of The Rise of Nine on 8/21/2012. I heart them so much.

I've read I Am Number Four, but I haven't gotten to The Power of Six or The Rise of Nine yet. Hopefully soon.

I Am Number Four (Lorien Legacies #1), Pittacus Lore
Goodreads / Amazon

The Power of Six (Lorien Legacies #2), Pittacus Lore
Goodreads / Amazon

The Rise of Nine (Lorien Legacies #3), Pittacus Lore
Goodreads / Amazon

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The Fine Color of Rust, P.A. O'Reilly
Source: ARC from publisher
Release Date: 9/4/2012, Washington Square Press
Goodreads / Amazon

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Lost Antarctica, James McClintock
Source: ARC from publisher
Release Date: 9/18/2012, Palgrave Macmillan
Goodreads / Amazon

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The River: A Novel, Michael Neale
Source: ARC from publisher
Release Date: 9/18/2012, Thomas Nelson
Goodreads / Amazon

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The Dead of Winter (Cora Oglesby #1), Lee Collins
Source: ARC from publisher
Release Date: 10/30/2012, Angry Robot
Goodreads / Amazon

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A HUGE thank you to Simon & Schuster, Macmillan, Atria, Angry Robot, Harper, Scholastic, Thomas Nelson, Edelweiss and Netgalley. That's it for me this week. Leave me a link to your mailbox post and I'll be sure to check it out!!

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