Waiting on Wednesday: Crash into You (Pushing the Limits #3) by Katie McGarry

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

So I think I'm finally starting to get the hang of this work/life/blog balance. Still not perfect, but I'm determined to get things situated. I'm really excited for my book this week (even though I just finished reading it). Crash into You (Pushing the Limits #3) by Katie McGarry is set for a November 26 release & I may actually buy this one. I was kind of hoping that they would make a box set of these books soon so I can just buy that, but this one might be too good to wait for that. Check out the summary below.

The girl with straight As, designer clothes and the perfect life-that's who people expect Rachel Young to be. So the private-school junior keeps secrets from her wealthy parents and overbearing brothers...and she's just added two more to the list. One involves racing strangers down dark country roads in her Mustang GT. The other? Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Walker-a guy she has no business even talking to. But when the foster kid with the tattoos and intense gray eyes comes to her rescue, she can't get him out of her mind.

Isaiah has secrets, too. About where he lives, and how he really feels about Rachel. The last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a rich girl who wants to slum it on the south side for kicks-no matter how angelic she might look.

But when their shared love of street racing puts both their lives in jeopardy, they have six weeks to come up with a way out. Six weeks to discover just how far they'll go to save each other.

From Goodreads

What I love about these books (and the Fairytale Retellings by Jackson Pearce) is that they are a loosely tied series. Not all characters are major players in other books & each book focuses on a different relationship. Of the three so far, I think this one is my favorite. I LOVE Isaiah & love that Katie isn't afraid to break her characters. Check back tomorrow for my review of Crash Into You! What are you waiting on this week?

Waiting on Wednesday: Cold Spell (Fairytale Retellings #4) by Jackson Pearce

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

We all know by now how much I enjoy a good retelling & Jackson Pearce is the queen of these! With her 4th installment in the loosely connected Fairytale Retellings series Cold Spell is sure to make an impression on its November 5 arrival.

Kai and Ginny grew up together–best friends since they could toddle around their building’s rooftop rose garden. Now they’re seventeen, and their relationship has developed into something sweeter, complete with stolen kisses and plans to someday run away together.

But one night, Kai disappears with a mysterious stranger named Mora–a beautiful girl with a dark past and a heart of ice. Refusing to be cast aside, Ginny goes after them and is thrust into a world she never imagined, one filled with monsters and thieves and the idea that love is not enough.

If Ginny and Kai survive the journey, will she still be the girl he loved–and moreover, will she still be the girl who loved him?

Jackson Pearce, author of the acclaimed SISTERS RED and FATHOMLESS, has returned with a unique vision of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Snow Queen,” one about power and redemption, failure and hope, and the true meaning of strength.

From Goodreads

This is a bit different of a story as it's not necessarily one of the more well-known fairy tales. It has been done in countless versions in many cultures, but the most recent adaptation will come from Disney in the form of its upcoming movie Frozen. Something tells me though that Ms. Pearce's book will be better than anything Disney could dream up. 

Do you know The Snow Queen story? Have you read other fairytale retellings? What are you waiting on this week?

Waiting on Wednesday: Alligeant (Divergent #3) by Veronica Roth

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.


So, I finally broke down & read Divergent. It's one of a few reviews that I need to write up. Suffice it to say, that everyone was right, I absolutely loved it! It's every bit as incredible as everyone has made it sound. I've currently got Insurgent at my house waiting patiently while I write a school paper. But today I'm featuring, what is supposed to be the thrilling conclusion to this series,  Allegiant (Divergent #3) scheduled for release in less than 3 weeks on October 22. I haven't read this summary yet since I didn't want to spoil Insurgent for myself, but as it comes from Goodreads (as always) I'm certain it's full of just enough to have you all salivating.

One choice will define you.

What if your whole world was a lie?
What if a single revelation—like a single choice—changed everything?
What if love and loyalty made you do things you never expected?

The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.

But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.

Told from a riveting dual perspective, Allegiant, by #1 New York Times best-selling author Veronica Roth, brings the Divergent series to a powerful conclusion while revealing the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent.

From Goodreads

There you have it folks, the summary of the final book in the Divergent series. Veronica Roth has created a distinct world that I enjoy exploring. I can't wait to see what this book brings to the story. I really hope things go as I want them to...but we'll just have to wait & see! What are you waiting on this week?

Waiting on Wednesday: The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I'm very intrigued by the November 5 release of The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. I've read the first book in her Raised by Wolves series & liked it. Her writing style works for my reading preference; but that's not what interests me with regard to this book. The cover is awesome, but the content is riveting. I've been on a reading path recently of these types of books & this one sounds perfect for my current reading mood.

Seventeen-year-old Cassie is a natural at reading people. Piecing together the tiniest details, she can tell you who you are and what you want. But it’s not a skill that she’s ever taken seriously. That is, until the FBI come knocking: they’ve begun a classified program that uses exceptional teenagers to crack infamous cold cases, and they need Cassie.

What Cassie doesn’t realize is that there’s more at risk than a few unsolved homicides— especially when she’s sent to live with a group of teens whose gifts are as unusual as her own.

Sarcastic, privileged Michael has a knack for reading emotions, which he uses to get inside Cassie’s head—and under her skin. Brooding Dean shares Cassie’s gift for profiling, but keeps her at arm’s length.

Soon, it becomes clear that no one in the Naturals program is what they seem. And when a new killer strikes, danger looms closer than Cassie could ever have imagined. Caught in a lethal game of cat and mouse with a killer, the Naturals are going to have to use all of their gifts just to survive.

From Goodreads

This book has so many touches of several subgenres, predominately from science fiction, that I can't exactly pinpoint where it falls on the spectrum. What I do know is that I can't wait for November to hurry up & get here. Would it be wrong to ask for this as an anniversary present? :)

What are you waiting on this week?

Book Spotlight & HUGE Giveaway: The Secret Side of Empty by Maria Andreu

This week I'm excited to be part of the Book Spotlight Tour for Maria Andreu's debut novel The Secret Side of Empty. This spring 2014 release sounds like a powerful story that has the potential to help so many people. Check it out below & be sure to enter the giveaway for a Kindle Fire or $250 Amazon giftcard.

What's it like to be undocumented?  High school senior M.T. knows all too well.  With graduation and an uncertain future looming, she must figure out how to grow up in the only country she's ever called home... a country in which she's "illegal."

M.T. was born in Argentina and brought to America as a baby without any official papers. And as questions of college, work, and the future arise, M.T. will have to decide what exactly she wants for herself, knowing someone she loves will unavoidably pay the price for it.  On the way, M.T. must navigate first love, letting go of her childhood friends as they begin a life she can't share, a difficult relationship with a father who grew up a world away and a mother struggling to find her way in America.  

What is it like when the only country you've ever known says you don't belong?  The Secret Side of Empty offers an intimate, often surprising glimpse into a story you often hear on the news but have never heard told this way before.

Maria Andreu’s Bio:

Maria’s writing has appeared in Newsweek, The Washington Post and the Star Ledger.  Her debut novel, The Secret Side of Empty, is the story of an “illegal” high school senior. More than that, it's a story that will touch anyone who has ever felt excluded or unsure about the future or has kept a secret she felt was too big too share.  It was inspired by Maria’s own experiences as an undocumented teen.  Since becoming a citizen, Maria has run her own business and has become a soccer mom. She lives with her 13-year-old daughter and 12-year-old son in northern New Jersey.

Links

Preorder The Secret Side of Empty-Amazon 

Maria Andreu’s website- http://mariaeandreu.com/

Maria Andreu on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WritersideofM

Maria Andreu on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maria.andreu.books

Giveaway Info:

Maria is giving away two separate prizes on her tour, a $250 Amazon Gift Card AND a Kindle Fire.

For a chance to win the $250 Amazon gift card, OR the Kindle Fire leave a comment on her blog post for that day. Winners will be randomly selected on September 30th.

(I am in no way responsible for this giveaway. Winners will be chosen from all the entrants from all the tour stops.)

Waiting on Wednesday: Perfect Ruin (The Internment Chronicles #1) by Lauren DeStefano

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I'm getting really excited for Perfect Ruin (The Internment Chronicles #1) by Lauren DeStefano that is coming out October 1. I loved The Chemical Garden series (although I have yet to review Sever) & I've heard wonderful things about this book, so I'm sure it'll be just as amazing. 

On Internment, the floating island in the clouds where 16-year-old Morgan Stockhour lives, getting too close to the edge can lead to madness. Even though Morgan's older brother, Lex, was a Jumper, Morgan vows never to end up like him. She tries her best not to mind that her life is orderly and boring, and if she ever wonders about the ground, and why it is forbidden, she takes solace in best friend Pen and her betrothed, Basil.

Then a murder, the first in a generation, rocks the city. With whispers swirling and fear on the wind, Morgan can no longer stop herself from investigating, especially when she meets Judas. He is the boy being blamed for the murder — betrothed to the victim — but Morgan is convinced of his innocence. Secrets lay at the heart of Internment, but nothing can prepare Morgan for what she will find — or who she will lose.

From Goodreads

There are so many incredible parts of this summary that I can't pick which one I like the most! It sounds very dystopic & science-fictiony with a hint of romance. Lauren does such an incredible job with her characterization that I'm pretty sure this will be one of those "I read it in a weekend" kind of books. What do you think about it? What are you waiting on this week?

Waiting on Wednesday: Just One Year (Just One Day #2) by Gayle Forman

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Just One Year is the stunning conclusion to the story begun in Just One Day by Gayle Forman and is set to arrive on October 15. I devoured the first book, which was also the first Gayle Forman book I'd ever read and I am really interested to see what happens with Willem. Check out the summary below!

The heartrending conclusion—from Willem’s POV—to the romantic duet of novels that began with Allyson’s story in Just One Day

After spending an amazing day and night together in Paris, Just One Year is Willem’s story, picking up where Just One Day ended. His story of their year of quiet longing and near misses is a perfect counterpoint to Allyson’s own as Willem undergoes a transformative journey, questioning his path, finding love, and ultimately, redefining himself.

From Goodreads

How incredible does that sound? It's unlike any other series continuation I've ever read. Switching narrators is going to give us access to such much more context about the first book while still carrying the story forward. Are you as excited as I am? 

Have you read Just One Day or any of Gayle's other work? Any favorites? What are you waiting on this week?

Waiting on Wednesday: Premeditated by Josin L. McQuein

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Words cannot adequately explain how intrigued I am by Josin L. McQuein's
Premeditated that is set for an October 8 debut! While I prefer the minimalist Goodreads summary, I have also provided the Amazon summary to help you get a better clue as to what will be happening in this story.

• A week ago, Dinah’s cousin Claire cut her wrists.
• Five days ago, Dinah found Claire’s diary and discovered why.
• Three days ago, Dinah stopped crying and came up with a plan.
• Two days ago, she ditched her piercings and bleached the black dye from her hair.
• Yesterday, knee socks and uniform plaid became a predator’s camouflage.
• Today, she’ll find the boy who broke Claire.
• By tomorrow, he’ll wish he were dead.

From Goodreads

If you enjoyed Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why, you will race through the pages of this YA novel as 17-year old Dinah pieces together the mystery that surrounds the near death of her 14-year old cousin Claire. 

While Claire is holding on her for her life in the hospital, Dinah goes in search of the boy Claire writes about in her journal. The boy who forced her to do something she didn't want to do. The boy who caused her such humiliation that the thought of having to live one more day was just too much. 

Dinah is on a mission for revenge, but as things start to unfold, her plan isn't as simple as it seemed. 

From Amazon

There are so many questions that I don't even know where to begin! While I'm sure we've all had revenge scenarios play out in our minds, I don't think I've ever seen one presented this way. Normally we see the victim avenging themselves, but I think I like the idea of someone doing the avenging for them; especially in the type of scenario that I'm perceiving here. Either way, I seriously can't wait to since into this book! 

Have any of you read it? What are you waiting on this week?

Waiting on Wednesday: Wild Cards (Fullriders #1) by Simone Elkeles

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

While I know I've already read and review this one, I am still really excited for its release! Wild Cards (Fullriders #1) by Simone Elkeles comes out October 1 and is sure to be another smashing hit for her. She really does have a keen ability to portray unique characters. And I love her romantic writing style! Check out what's in store this time.

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?

From Goodreads

Derek is pretty awesome & Ashtyn is very spunky. They compliment one another quite well & make for a fun read. What I love best about her work though is that it's not all light and fluffy. Simone gets into the nitty, gritty reality that her characters face and brings them face to face with it. They have to deal with their issues in order to succeed & I think that's a very positive message to send to readers. Do you have a favorite Simone Elkeles book?

What are you waiting on this week?

Waiting on Wednesday: All the Truth That's in Me by Julie Berry

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Recently I seem to be attracted to books that feature mutism in some form. While it's not the only reason I want to read this book, I do find it a unique twist in my reads. All the Truth That's in Me by Julie Berry is going to blow your mind starting September 26. Equal parts disturbing & engrossing, this might be one of my top reads of 2013.

Four years ago, Judith and her best friend disappeared from their small town of Roswell Station. Two years ago, only Judith returned, permanently mutilated, reviled and ignored by those who were once her friends and family. Unable to speak, Judith lives like a ghost in her own home, silently pouring out her thoughts to the boy who’s owned her heart as long as she can remember—even if he doesn’t know it—her childhood friend, Lucas. 

But when Roswell Station is attacked, long-buried secrets come to light, and Judith is forced to choose: continue to live in silence, or recover her voice, even if it means changing her world, and the lives around her, forever. This startlingly original novel will shock and disturb you; it will fill you with Judith’s passion and longing; and its mysteries will keep you feverishly turning the pages until the very last.

From Goodreads

How incredible does that sound? There are so many questions raised by this very even-keeled summary that I have no idea where to start! Naturally I want to know who (or what) took Judith and her best friend and what could possibly be so secretive for a whole town. What I think is more important to me though is why her friends & family turn their backs on her. Usually in situations where a kidnap victim returns, the family is all over them. It's natural for friends to have moved on, but I can't imagine just what would cause her family to behave this way. I think the romance angle is unnecessary, but we'll see how that plays out.

What are you waiting on this week? Also, do you have any thriller recommendations?

Waiting on Wednesday: The Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Today I'm quite excited about The Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White that set for a September 10 release. Recently I've been on a stars & space covers reading trend, so this one seems fitting. While it has nothing to do with either, it still looks enrapturing. I find there aren't enough books that explore the "other" groups in the supernatural/mystical world. Check out Isadora's story below!

Isadora’s family is seriously screwed up.

Of course, as the human daughter of Egyptian gods, that pretty much comes with the territory. She’s also stuck with parents who barely notice her, and a house full of relatives who can’t be bothered to remember her name. After all, they are going to be around forever—and she’s a mere mortal.

Isadora’s sick of living a life where she’s only worthy of a passing glance, and when she has the chance to move to San Diego with her brother, she jumps on it. But Isadora’s quickly finding that a “normal” life comes with plenty of its own epic complications—and that there’s no such thing as a clean break when it comes to family. Much as she wants to leave her past behind, she can’t shake the ominous dreams that foretell destruction for her entire family. When it turns out there may be truth in her nightmares, Isadora has to decide whether she can abandon her divine heritage after all.

From Goodreads

I must admit that I am fairly intrigued, not only by Isadora but also by this brother who has already left the family. It makes me wonder if he too is mortal or if he's just past the age of maturity. Honestly, I have no idea what this book had in store for the characters, but I am eager to find out! What are you waiting on this week?

Waiting on Wednesday: The Prayer Box by Lisa Wingate

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I'm featuring something a bit different. The Prayer Box by Lisa Wingate is set for a September 1 release and sounds amazing. I think it has the potential to be a cross-generational read because it doesn't seem to pinpoint any one group. It also helps that it's set in my home state of North Carolina. Check out the summary.

When Iola Anne Poole, an old-timer on Hatteras Island, passes away in her bed at ninety-one, the struggling young mother in her rental cottage, Tandi Jo Reese, finds herself charged with the task of cleaning out Iola's rambling Victorian house.Running from a messy, dangerous past, Tandi never expects to find more than a temporary hiding place within Iola's walls, but everything changes with the discovery of eighty-one carefully decorated prayer boxes, one for each year, spanning from Iola's youth to her last days. Hidden in the boxes is the story of a lifetime, written on random bits of paper--the hopes and wishes, fears and thoughts of an unassuming but complex woman passing through the seasons of an extraordinary, unsung life filled with journeys of faith, observations on love, and one final lesson that could change everything for Tandi.

From Goodreads

How intriguing does that sound? I think it would be creepy, but very interesting to have to go through someone's personal effects. You can learn so much more about someone from the things they hide than the things they willingly display. This sounds like such an inspiring book & I can't wait until I get a chance to read it! What are you waiting on this week?

Waiting on Wednesday: The Shade of the Moon (The Last Survivors #4) by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

So by now I'm sure we all know that I love a good series. Even more so, I love a good apocalypse. Maybe that's why I'm drawn to shows like Supernatural, Buffy, & Revolution. Either way, I'm happy to report that one of the best apocalyptic book series is getting another installment. The Last Survivors series by Susan Beth Pfeffer is dynamic in a way that I have yet to see replicated in anything else. The Shade of the Moon , the fourth installment, is set to land on shelves this August 13. I for one can't wait to see what's happening in this engrossing world. Spoiler warning shouldn't be necessary, but I do like to be courteous. 

The eagerly awaited addition to the series begun with the New York Times best-seller Life As We Knew It, in which a meteor knocks the moon off its orbit and the world changes forever.

It's been more than two years since Jon Evans and his family left Pennsylvania, hoping to find a safe place to live, yet Jon remains haunted by the deaths of those he loved. His prowess on a soccer field has guaranteed him a home in a well-protected enclave. But Jon is painfully aware that a missed goal, a careless word, even falling in love, can put his life and the lives of his mother, his sister Miranda, and her husband, Alex, in jeopardy. Can Jon risk doing what is right in a world gone so terribly wrong?

From Goodreads

I for one am really interested to finally hear about some sort of settlement that isn't individualized. For the most part we've been following this family's saga as it unfolded at their home. While things started looking up towards the end of the last book, I was hoping that something new would happen and it seems I'm getting my wish. The interpersonal dynamics are sure to make this a fun read. 

Have you read this series? Do you have any favorite apocalyptic books? What are you waiting on this week?

Waiting on Wednesday: Undercurrent by Paul Blackwell

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I am excited to bring your attention in a debut author! Paul Blackwell's Undercurrent, set for release on July 23, seems like something my readers & I would love! This book has "distinctive" written all over it. Check out the summary.

In Undercurrent, Paul Blackwell’s fast-paced YA thriller, sixteen-year-old Callum Harris survives a plummet over a waterfall, but wakes to find himself in a life that’s totally different from the one he knew.

His parents were separated. Now they’re together. His brother Cole was a sports star. Now he’s paralyzed. And Callum, who used to be quiet and sort of unpopular, is suddenly a jock with two hot girls after him.

But there’s one difference that matters more than all the others combined: His former best friend wants Callum dead. And he isn’t the only one.

Tense and original, Undercurrent is a psychological thrill-ride with sci-fi elements that will appeal to fans of Neil Gaiman and Neal Shusterman.

From Goodreads

How incredible does that sound? I completely understand why they think fans of Gaiman & Shusterman would enjoy this book. The thing I am most interested in finding out is why someone wants him dead. My brain can make up all sorts of explanations about the "alternate reality" but there aren't very many good ones (or at least logical ones) for wanting him dead. Unless he's rocking the proverbial boat; then obviously he's got to go. :)

Have you heard of this one? What do you think about the description? What are you waiting on this week?

Waiting on Wednesday: Through the Zombie Glass (White Rabbit Chronicles #2) by Gena Showalter

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Many of you may remember how much I enjoyed Alice in Zombieland from last year. Well I'm in for a treat, and so are the rest of the zombie reimagining fans, because Through the Zombie Glass (White Rabbit Chronicles #2) by Gena Showalter is coming out September 24! While I'm not sure how many books we'll get in the series, I for one intend on enjoying as many as she is willing to write! Obviously spoilers for book one below!

Inspired by the childhood classic Alice in Wonderland, this harrowing and romantic story features teen zombie slayer Alice Bell who has lost so much—family, friends, her home. After a strange new zombie attack, Alice fears she may be losing her mind as well. A terrible darkness blooms inside her, urging her to do wicked things. The whispers of the dead assault her ears and mirrors seem to come frighteningly to life. She’s never needed her team of zombie slayers more—including her boyfriend, Cole—than she does now. But as Cole strangely withdraws and the zombies gain new strength, Ali knows one false step may doom them all.

From Goodreads

How does that sound for "different"? I must admit that I was quite skeptical that this could be pulled off, let alone done well, but Gena has a serious talent. I'm drawn to the characters & very interested in the unique group dynamics that the slayers represent. Mostly though I really want to know what the summary is talking about when it mentions mirrors & Ali losing her mind. That is definitely not something that can happen when there are flesh-eating zombies trying to kill you all the time.

Are you excited about this next installment? Have you read the first one? What are you waiting on this week?

Waiting on Wednesday: Viral Nation by Shaunta Grimes

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

I've recently been on another dystopian/post-apocalyptic reading kick. I go through these periodically and tend to lose myself in the futuristic "what if" scenarios. This one promises to have the same effect on me. Viral Nation by Shaunta Grimes hits shelves on July 2nd, just in time for the holiday!

After a virus claimed nearly the entire global population, the world changed. The United States splintered into fifty walled cities where the surviving citizens clustered to start over. The Company, which ended the plague by bringing a life-saving vaccine back from the future, controls everything. They ration the scant food and supplies through a lottery system, mandate daily doses of virus suppressant, and even monitor future timelines to stop crimes before they can be committed.

Brilliant but autistic, sixteen-year-old Clover Donovan has always dreamed of studying at the Waverly-Stead Academy. Her brother and caretaker, West, has done everything in his power to make her dream a reality. But Clover’s refusal to part with her beloved service dog denies her entry into the school. Instead, she is drafted into the Time Mariners, a team of Company operatives who travel through time to gather news about the future.

When one of Clover’s missions reveals that West’s life is in danger, the Donovans are shattered. To change West’s fate, they’ll have to take on the mysterious Company. But as its secrets are revealed, they realize that the Company’s rule may not be as benevolent as it seems. In saving her brother, Clover will face a more powerful force than she ever imagined… and will team up with a band of fellow misfits and outsiders to incite a revolution that will change their destinies forever.

From Goodreads

This book has so many things going for it: a protagonist with a mental disorder, justified defiance, unique time based plot, & a not-so-kind ruling party. I have a feeling that while this summary sounds over the top, that the book will present it logically & at an acceptable pace. How the author handles the disorder & pursuing action will be a first for me because I don't often get to read books that feature such obstacles in their main characters.

Have you heard anything about this book? Are you looking forward to it or something else this week?

Waiting on Wednesday: A Midsummer Night's Scream by R.L. Stine

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

I am so excited for today's book! R.L. Stine is one of the authors that I loved to read as a kid. Luckily, I won a copy of this book through a giveaway during Armchair BEA. His newest book A Midsummer Night's Scream is set for a July 2 release and as soon as I'm done with it I plan on sending it to my sister since she's just a large a fan of Shakespeare and R.L. Stine as I am! Read the synopsis and enjoy!

Get ready for laughter to turn into screams in R.L. Stine's re-imagining of Shakespeare's classic romantic comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Everyone knows that Mayhem Manor is cursed. After production on the horror film was stopped due to a series of mysterious deaths, it became a Hollywood legend--which makes it perfect for Claire and her family. If they can successfully finish the film, it should be enough to save their ailing movie studio.

Sure, the old haunted house is creepy, and strange stuff has been happening, but this is Claire's chance. Her chance to become the movie star she's always dreamed and her chance to finally convince her friend Jake that she is girlfriend material. Of course, the fact that Jake thinks he's in love with her best friend, Delia, who is crushing hard on Jake's friend Shawn, who insists on following Claire around, could be a problem, but Claire is sure she can figure it out. After all, the course of true love never did run smooth.

But once shooting starts, "creepy and strange" morph into "bloody and deadly," as the lines between film and reality begin to blur...

From Goodreads

Being one of my favorite plays almost guaranteed this book a spot near the top of my TBR pile, add in the re-imagined element and I was sold! This looks to be equal parts horrifying and fun. Knowing Stine, it'll be just the right amount of scary. Are you excited for this one? Do you have any Stine favorites?

Waiting on Wednesday: Replica by Jenna Black

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

I must admit that I've had Jenna Black's Glimmerglass sitting on my shelf for over a year waiting to be read. I always seem to find a reason to put it further down on my pile, but this book may change that. My reading style tends to either follow series or follow authors. Maybe if this is as awesome as it's promising to be, then I'll go back and read the book I already own. :)  Replica is scheduled to be released on July 16. Check out the synopsis below!

Sixteen-year-old Nadia Lake comes from a high-class Executive family in the Corporate States. Her marriage has been arranged with the most powerful family in her state, which means she lives a life of privilege but also of public scrutiny, followed everywhere by photographers, every detail of her private life tabloid fodder. But her future is assured, as long as she can maintain her flawless public image — no easy feat when your betrothed is a notorious playboy.

Nathan Hayes is the heir of Paxco — controller of the former state of New York, and creator of human replication technology, science that every state and every country in the world would kill to have. Though Nadia and Nate aren’t in love, they’ve grown up close, and they (and the world) are happy enough with their match.

Until Nate turns up dead, and as far as everyone knows, Nadia was the last person to see him alive.

When the new Nate wakes up in the replication tanks, he knows he must have died, but with a memory that only reaches to his last memory backup, he doesn’t know what killed him. Together, Nadia and Nate must discover what really happened without revealing the secrets that those who run their world would kill to protect.

From Goodreads

This just has all sorts of potential! I like the science fiction element as well as the authoritarian government angle. It seems to portray a slightly different society than one normally encounters in these types of books. It almost sounds like it would mesh well with Lauren Oliver's society in Delirium. I am truly hoping for some dynamic characters and some good sleuthing! 

What else does this book remind you of? What new releases are you eagerly awaiting?

Waiting on Wednesday: The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Sorry I skipped last week, but I figured with all the Armchair BEA fun that was going on, Waiting on Wednesday wouldn't be missed too terribly. This week's selection is a unique contemporary romance book. The Distance Between Us by Kasie West is slotted for a July 2 release and I can't wait for my library to order their copy. I haven't read anything by Kasie before, but I'm hoping this book will be a better version of She's All That. Check out the synopsis.

Seventeen-year-old Caymen Meyers studies the rich like her own personal science experiment, and after years of observation she’s pretty sure they’re only good for one thing—spending money on useless stuff, like the porcelain dolls in her mother’s shop.

So when Xander Spence walks into the store to pick up a doll for his grandmother, it only takes one glance for Caymen to figure out he’s oozing rich. Despite his charming ways and that he’s one of the first people who actually gets her, she’s smart enough to know his interest won’t last. Because if there’s one thing she’s learned from her mother’s warnings, it’s that the rich have a short attention span. But Xander keeps coming around, despite her best efforts to scare him off. And much to her dismay, she's beginning to enjoy his company.

She knows her mom can’t find out—she wouldn’t approve. She’d much rather Caymen hang out with the local rocker who hasn’t been raised by money. But just when Xander’s attention and loyalty are about to convince Caymen that being rich isn’t a character flaw, she finds out that money is a much bigger part of their relationship than she’d ever realized. And that Xander’s not the only one she should’ve been worried about.

From Goodreads

I'm not really sure what to make of that last bit. There are so many possibilities that I could give myself a headache before getting anywhere near the truth. I really like the names of these characters and that there's a hint of romantic triangle. While that is not always a great way for these situations to play out, I find this one unique because Caymen's mother would rather have her daughter dating a local rocker over a rich guy. Now that's something you don't hear very often.

What do you think about this blurb? Does it remind you of any other books? What releases are you eagerly anticipating?

Waiting on Wednesday: The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

I have a confession. I am not a die-hard Sarah Dessen fan. There, I said it. She reminds me a lot of Nicholas Sparks in that her novels tend to have a formula that sometimes works for me & sometimes doesn't work for me. The Moon and More set for a June 4 debut seems to fall in the former category. It just looks so enticing. I adored Along for the Ride and I am hoping that this will continue that feeling. What do you think?

Luke is the perfect boyfriend: handsome, kind, fun. He and Emaline have been together all through high school in Colby, the beach town where they both grew up. But now, in the summer before college, Emaline wonders if perfect is good enough.

Enter Theo, a super-ambitious outsider, a New Yorker assisting on a documentary film about a reclusive local artist. Theo's sophisticated, exciting, and, best of all, he thinks Emaline is much too smart for Colby.

Emaline's mostly-absentee father, too, thinks Emaline should have a bigger life, and he's convinced that an Ivy League education is the only route to realizing her potential. Emaline is attracted to the bright future that Theo and her father promise. But she also clings to the deep roots of her loving mother, stepfather, and sisters. Can she ignore the pull of the happily familiar world of Colby?

Emaline wants the moon and more, but how can she balance where she comes from with where she's going?

From Goodreads

This book oozes potential & is definitely something I can relate to; although I have definitely moved beyond this stage in my life, I still remember what it was like to have two very different paths laid out in front of me with everyone expecting me to make a decision. Dessen's characters straddle a fine line between being just right & being too much/too little of something important and something just tells me that Emaline has got the right amount of it all. 

What are you waiting on this week?