ARC Review: Wild Cards

Wild Cards
Simone Elkeles
Release Date: October 1, 2013

After getting kicked out of boarding school, bad boy Derek Fitzpatrick has no choice but to live with his ditzy stepmother while his military dad is deployed. Things quickly go from bad to worse when he finds out she plans to move them back to her childhood home in Illinois. Derek’s counting the days before he can be on his own, and the last thing he needs is to get involved with someone else’s family drama.

Ashtyn Parker knows one thing for certain--people you care about leave without a backward glance. A football scholarship would finally give her the chance to leave. So she pours everything into winning a state championship, until her boyfriend and star quarterback betrays them all by joining their rival team. Ashtyn needs a new game plan, but it requires trusting Derek—someone she barely knows, someone born to break the rules. Is she willing to put her heart on the line to try and win it all?

Waiting on Wednesday: Snakeroot

Waiting on Wednesday's is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Snakeroot
Nightshade Legacy #1
Andrea Cremer
December 10, 2013

Fans asked for it, and now they've got it! Andrea Cremer is continuing the story she began in in her internationally bestselling trilogy: Nightshade, Wolfsbane and Bloodrose. In this new installment, Bosque Mar haunts the dreams of both Adne and Logan, trying to escape for the Nether, where Calla, Shay and the other Guardians trapped him in the final battle in the War of All Against All. Will he turn Adne to the dark side? Will Logan reclaim his birthright? And will darkness take over our world? In a novel filled with magic, romance and breakneck action, master storytelling Andrea Cremer's newest installment will not disappoint!

Why I can't wait: I really liked the Nightshade Trilogy, so I have mixed feelings about this. I liked how the trilogy ended,  and I just hope this one doesn't mess up that series for me.

By Blood: Author Interview

By Blood

Tracy E Banghart

For 17-year-old Emma Wong, spending a summer in England should be a dream come true. Gorgeous scenery? Check. Lots of hot guys with accents? Yes, please.

Throw in an estranged mom, annoying new stepdad, and drooling baby half-brother, and it’s a disaster even her favorite cherry red leather jacket can’t fix. Even worse, there’s (hot) live-in research assistant Josh to contend with. The only thing more embarrassing than drunk-kissing him hours after they meet? Knowing he’ll be witness to her family’s dysfunction all. summer. long.

But when Emma meets a mysterious girl who happens to be a Druid, her vacation suddenly promises to be far more intriguing than she anticipated. Powerful rituals, new friends, an intoxicating sense of freedom...and Simon, the sexy foreign stranger she was hoping for. It’s all a perfect distraction from dirty diapers and awkward family dinners.

Trouble is, intriguing doesn’t often mean simple. And Emma is about to discover just how not simple her life really is.

By Blood is a novel about the ways that blood can bind us to others – or tear us apart.

Waiting on Wednesday: Champion

Waiting on Wednesday's is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Champion
Legend #3
Marie Lu
November 5, 2013

He is a Legend.
She is a Prodigy.
Who will be Champion?

June and Day have sacrificed so much for the people of the Republic—and each other—and now their country is on the brink of a new existence. June is back in the good graces of the Republic, working within the government’s elite circles as Princeps Elect while Day has been assigned a high level military position. But neither could have predicted the circumstances that will reunite them once again. Just when a peace treaty is imminent, a plague outbreak causes panic in the Colonies, and war threatens the Republic’s border cities. This new strain of plague is deadlier than ever, and June is the only one who knows the key to her country’s defense. But saving the lives of thousands will mean asking the one she loves to give up everything he has. With heart-pounding action and suspense, Marie Lu’s bestselling trilogy draws to a stunning conclusion.

Why I can't wait: I have read and loved the first two books in this trilogy, and I can't wait to see how it ends. I mean really, that cliffhanger was just mean. And this cover is sooooo pretty!

Top Ten: Books On My Fall TBR

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and Bookish.

These are the books I am most excited about that are being released this fall! I am too lazy to put them in any kind of order. Most of these are either books in a series I have started or new books from authors I love.

3:95 - Gretchen McNeil

September 17, 2013

Champion - Marie Lu

November 5, 2013

The Eye of Minds - James Dashner

October 8, 2013

More Than This - Patrick Ness

September 10, 2013

Pawn - Aimee Carter

November 26, 2013

Perfect Ruin - Lauren DeStefano

October 1, 2013

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown - Holly Black

September 3, 2013

The Iron Traitor - Julie Kagawa

October 29, 2013

Vicious - V. E. Schwab

September 23, 2013

Allegiant- Veronica Roth

October 22, 2013

What books are on your fall TBR?

Hiatus

Okay, So I know you have seen a lot of these posts lately but I am officially going on a hiatus. I will not touch or look at this blog until October 1st. That gives me plenty of time to get my stuff together. There will be a few pre-scheduled posts coming up, but other than that: nada. I will still try to comment on the blogs that I read when I can! See you guys in October!

Book World Update: 9/14/13

So I decided to do a feature on my blog with a couple new book related things I find each week. They may not be brand new but they are new to me.

This week:

• Read the first three chapters of Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi. This it the third and final book in the Under the Never Sky Trilogy.
• The first of four Divergent short stories in Four's POV has been released. Get The Transfer here.
• If you didn't know, The Fault in Our Stars is being made into a movie. Author John Green recently vlogged from the set.
• The first two quotes from Allegiant have been released. Allegiant is the third and final book in the Divergent series. I cannot wait!

See you next time!

Quote Unquote: Looking For Alaska

Quote Unquote is a series of posts of my favorite quotes from certain books. Today I am doing Looking For Alaska by John Green. While this wasn't my favorite book, I think it had some great quotes.

~“When I look at my room, I see a girl who loves books.”

~“What the hell is that?" I laughed.
"It's my fox hat."
"Your fox hat?"
"Yeah, Pudge. My fox hat."
"Why are you wearing your fox hat?" I asked.
"Because no one can catch the motherfucking fox.”

Dead Girls Don't Lie: Trailer Reveal

Rachel died at two a.m . . . Three hours after Skyler kissed me for the first time. Forty-five minutes after she sent me her last text. 
Jaycee and Rachel were best friends. But that was before. . .before that terrible night at the old house. Before Rachel shut Jaycee out. Before Jaycee chose Skyler over Rachel. Then Rachel is found dead. The police blame a growing gang problem in their small town, but Jaycee is sure it has to do with that night at the old house. Rachel’s text is the first clue—starting Jaycee on a search that leads to a shocking secret. Rachel’s death was no random crime, and Jaycee must figure out who to trust before she can expose the truth.
In the follow-up to her powerful debut, Jennifer Shaw Wolf keeps readers on their toes in another dark, romantic story of murder and secrets.

PRE-ORDER IT NOW!

AMAZON | BOOK DEPOSITORY | BARNES AND NOBLE

Quick Review: Love and Other Perishable Items

Love and Other Perishable Items
Laura Buzo

'Miss Amelia Hayes, welcome to The Land of Dreams. I am the staff trainer. I will call you grasshopper and you will call me sensei and I will give you the good oil. Right? And just so you know, I'm open to all kinds of bribery.'

From the moment 15-year-old Amelia begins work on the checkout at Woolworths she is sunk, gone, lost...head-over-heels in love with Chris. Chris is the funny, charming, man-about-Woolies, but he's 21, and the 6-year difference in their ages may as well be 100. Chris and Amelia talk about everything from Second Wave Feminism to Great Expectations and Alien but will he ever look at her in the way she wants him to? And if he does, will it be everything she hopes?

The Random # Survey

The Random # Survey is created by Melissa @ Harley Bear Book Blog.

Here’s how it works, straight from Melissa.

How to participate:

1. Pick a number.

Keep in mind how many books you have.  If you have one bookshelf like me you may want to keep it between 1-10.  If you're like Book BFF Angela and have a bunch of bookshelves you may want to pick between a higher range like 1-50. 

I used Random.org and got the # 8!

2. Go to your bookshelf and count that many books until you reach your number. Answer the question with that book.

(I counted 8 books in and got Delirium).  So I used Delirium to answer question 1. 

3. Count the same number of books from where you left off and answer the next question.

Then I counted 8 more books after Delirium and got The Evolution of Mara Dyer and used that book to answer question 2.  You get the idea...

I chose # 6

1. What do you think of the cover?

I think this cover is cute, summery, and very Sarah Dessen-y.

2. Write a review in 140 characters or less.

A girls dad is very irresponsible and somewhat messes her life up. Girl remedies that with a cute boy. Just fluffy and fun.

3. How or where did you get this book?

This came in a box set with the other two from Amazon.

4. Who’s your favorite character in this book and why?

Ky. Because I am am a stereotypical girl. Maybe.

5. Recommend this book to a fellow blogger you think would like it.

Urg. Sadly I don't really know of anyone who really liked the first book besides me. But I think everyone should give this one a chance.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Iron Traitor

Waiting on Wednesday's is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

The Iron Traitor
Call of the Forgotten #2
Julie Kagawa
October 29, 2013

In the real world, when you vanish into thin air for a week, people tend to notice.

After his unexpected journey into the lands of the fey, Ethan Chase just wants to get back to normal. Well, as "normal" as you can be when you see faeries every day of your life. Suddenly the former loner with the bad reputation has someone to try for-his girlfriend, Kenzie. Never mind that he's forbidden to see her again.

But when your name is Ethan Chase and your sister is one of the most powerful faeries in the Nevernever, "normal" simply isn't to be. For Ethan's nephew, Keirran, is missing, and may be on the verge of doing something unthinkable in the name of saving his own love. Something that will fracture the human and faery worlds forever, and give rise to the dangerous fey known as the Forgotten. As Ethan's and Keirran's fates entwine and Keirran slips further into darkness, Ethan's next choice may decide the fate of them all.

Why I can't wait: I love all of Julie Kagawa's books including the one before this, The Lost Prince. I am super excited to continue this series.

Review: Unbreakable

Unbreakable
Unraveling #2
Elizabeth Norris

Four months after Ben disappeared through the portal to his home universe, Janelle believes she’ll never see him again. Her world is still devastated, but life is finally starting to resume some kind of normalcy. Until Interverse Agent Taylor Barclay shows up. Somebody from an alternate universe is running a human trafficking ring, kidnapping people and selling them on different Earths—and Ben is the prime suspect. Now his family has been imprisoned and will be executed if Ben doesn’t turn himself over within five days.

And when Janelle learns that someone she cares about—someone from her own world—has become one of the missing, she knows that she has to help Barclay, regardless of the danger. Now Janelle has five days to track down the real culprit. Five days to locate the missing people before they’re lost forever. Five days to reunite with the boy who stole her heart. But as the clues begin to add up, Janelle realizes that she’s in way over her head—and that she may not have known Ben as well as she thought. Can she uncover the truth before everyone she cares about is killed?