0 Waiting on Wednesday: The Summer Prince

 

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

The Summer Prince

by Alaya Dawn Johnson

Pages: 304

Expected Publication: March 01, 2013

Published by: Arthur A. Levine

Series: None

A heart-stopping story of love, death, technology, and art set amid the tropics of a futuristic Brazil.

The lush city of Palmares Tres shimmers with tech and tradition, with screaming gossip casters and practiced politicians. In the midst of this vibrant metropolis, June Costa creates art that’s sure to make her legendary. But her dreams of fame become something more when she meets Enki, the bold new Summer King. The whole city falls in love with him (including June’s best friend, Gil). But June sees more to Enki than amber eyes and a lethal samba. She sees a fellow artist.

Together, June and Enki will stage explosive, dramatic projects that Palmares Tres will never forget. They will add fuel to a growing rebellion against the government’s strict limits on new tech. And June will fall deeply, unfortunately in love with Enki. Because like all Summer Kings before him, Enki is destined to die.

Pulsing with the beat of futuristic Brazil, burning with the passions of its characters, and overflowing with ideas, this fiery novel will leave you eager for more from Alaya Dawn Johnson. - Goodreads synopsis

What are you waiting on this week?

0 Review: Cleopatra's Moon

Cleopatra's Moon

Author: Vicky Alvear Shecter

Page Count: 355

Release Date: August 01, 2011

Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books

Series: None
Genres: YA, Historical Fiction, Romance, Mythology

Source: Won from the Library Thing

 

Read summary on Goodreads, here.

 

 

This is the story of what happened to Cleopatra and Mark Antony's children after their death. Cleopatra Selene was just a child when Octavianus declared war on her mother and Egypt. After he kills her older half-brother and her parents commit suicide, she and her brothers are sent to Rome to live with Octavianus. Some of his family welcome them with open arms and others want to see them dead. As Cleopatra Selene grows up in Rome, she's faced with the death of her little brother, Ptolemy and the threat of being married off. But Cleopatra Selene has other plans. She seduces Octavianus' heir, Marcellus, in hopes of marriage and regaining control of Egypt. But her plan backfires as Marcellus is forced to marry a relative and Cleopatra Selene is shipped off to Africa to marry the new king of Mauretania and one last murder attempt ends the life of her twin brother, Alexandros, and leaves her as the only surviving member of her family.

 

The author did a great job of portraying the life of the Royal children after their parents death. And I really liked that she put a character list in the front, it really helped to know who was real and who was fictional. There was also some additional true facts at the end that told what happened to Cleopatra Selene and her husband in their later years, which I found to be very interesting.

I really cared about what happened to the characters, both non-fictional and fictional. Cleopatra Selene's loss over her family and homeland was heartbreaking at times, especially when she contemplated her own suicide. I really liked her as a heroine because she actually lived and seemed to be  a very strong, independent woman. There was some romance too. Cleopatra Selene had her sights on two young men, Marcellus and Juba. I think Marcellus was more in lust than love, whereas Juba really seemed to love her.

I was very happy with the ending and I absolutely LOVE this cover. The gold on the hardcover really shines and stands out way better than the picture shows.

Rating: 4/5

Review also posted to Goodreads.

2 Teaser Tuesday

 

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along. Just do the following:

Grab your current read.

Open to a random page.

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page. 

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My teasers:

"It was astonishing, the thoughts that wandered through one's mind in such a state of anguish. I found myself formulating a plan to knock the horrid woman overboard so she could disappear along with her false charges"

Pg. 169, "Heart of the Huntress" by Tess Oliver
*E-book



Well that's my teaser for the week. What book or books did you feature in your post?

9 Stacking the Shelves (04)

 

Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews that highlight's the books we receive each week.

BOUGHT

Nobody Does it Better by Cecily Von Ziegesar

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

Comanche Moon by Catherine Anderson

Beneath the Skin by Savannah Russe

 

That's it for me. What did you add to your shelf?



3 Waiting on Wednesday: Ink

 

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

 

Ink

by Amanda Sun

Pages: 384

Expected Publication: June 25, 2013

Published by: Harlequin Teen

Series: The Paper Gods #1

 

On the heels of a family tragedy, the last thing Katie Greene wants to do is move halfway across the world. Stuck with her aunt in Shizuoka, Japan, Katie feels lost. Alone. She doesn’t know the language, she can barely hold a pair of chopsticks, and she can’t seem to get the hang of taking her shoes off whenever she enters a building.

Then there’s gorgeous but aloof Tomohiro, star of the school’s kendo team. How did he really get the scar on his arm? Katie isn’t prepared for the answer. But when she sees the things he draws start moving, there’s no denying the truth: Tomo has a connection to the ancient gods of Japan, and being near Katie is causing his abilities to spiral out of control. If the wrong people notice, they'll both be targets.

Katie never wanted to move to Japan—now she may not make it out of the country alive. - Goodreads synopsis

 

What are you waiting on this week?



5 Teaser Tuesday

 

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along. Just do the following:

Grab your current read.

Open to a random page.

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page. 

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My teasers:

"The twisted hate-filled faces of the Romans lining the streets, I knew, would haunt my nightmares for the rest of my life. The crowds grew even more venomous when they saw us."

Pg. 162, "Cleopatra's Moon" by Vicky Alvear Shecter





Well that's my teaser for the week. What book or books did you feature in your post?

2 Review: October Skies

October Skies

Author: Alex Scarrow

Page Count: 406

Release Date: July 01, 2008

Publisher: Orion

Series: None
Genres: Thriller, Horror, Suspense, Adult

Source: Snagged from a box my aunt was giving away.

 

Read summary on Goodreads, here.

 

This story is set in the present, 2008, and in the Winter of 1856. In the present time Julian Cooke and his assistant Rose are in small town Blue Valley, California working on a low-budget documentary about local folklore. While camping in the woods Julian finds the discovery of a lifetime. The remains of what appears to be makeshift shelters scattered around the clearing. Further digging uncovers a journal that may hold the secrets of what happened to the people. Tired of hearing the same old stories of Bigfoot, Julian decides that the journal could be his big break. Back in 1856 a wagon train, headed west, is trying to cross the Sierra Nevada mountains before winter hits. Due to set backs, they're now forced to wait out the harsh winter in the woods. But something out there is killing them off one-by-one. Superstitions abound and fingers are pointed and the seeds of mistrust have been sowed. Could one of their own really be capable of such grotesque murders?

 

I really enjoyed this book. It had me guessing who the killer could be and why they would be killing these people. Some of the chapters were a little short but they mostly ended with little cliffhangers and that just made me want to read more. I didn't really have any huge dislikes.

 

The characters were very well written and I actually felt sad when a few of them were killed. There was definitely a wide-range of characters represented here. There were different religions, cultures, and races. I really liked Ben Lambert, he was nice and cared about the people. Keats was a foul-mouthed old man but surprisingly, I liked him. The supporting characters actually played a big role, without them, things wouldn't have turned out like they did.

 

Love the cover; it's simple yet haunting and fits the story perfectly.

 

WARNING: This book contains strong language and some very detailed, gory murder.

 

Rating: 5/5

 

Review also posted to Goodreads.

7 Stacking the Shelves (03)

 

Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews that highlight's the books we receive each week.

BOUGHT

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Fury by Elizabeth Miles

The Fallen by Thomas E. Sniegoski

Splintered by A. G. Howard

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

 

WON

Cleopatra's Moon by Vicky Alvear Shecter - Through a giveaway at The Library Thing

 

 

That's it for me. What did you add to your shelf?

3 Waiting on Wednesday: Earthbound

 

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

 

Earthbound

by Aprilynne Pike
Pages: 336

Expected Publication: July 30, 2013
Published by: Razorbill
Series: None

Love, fate, and power collide in this new series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Aprilynne Pike!

Tavia Michaels is the sole survivor of the plane crash that killed her parents. When she starts to see strange visions of a boy she’s never spoken with in real life, she begins to suspect that there’s much about her past that she isn’t being told. Tavia will soon to discover that she’s an Earthbound—someone with the ability to create matter out of nothing—and that she alone holds the key to stopping the Reduciata, an evil society that manipulates global events for its own shadowy purposes. Tavia will ultimately have to make a choice: to come into her powers and save the world from the evil Reduciata or to choose free will and a love of her own.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Aprilynne Pike has created a heart-stopping romance built on a love triangle like you’ve never seen before and filled with epic stakes and a centuries-long conspiracy. Give it to fans of Nightshade and Fallen. - Goodreads synopsis

What are you waiting on this week?

3 Teaser Tuesday

 

 

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along. Just do the following:

Grab your current read.

Open to a random page.

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page. 

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teasers:

"Too much blood for whoever had lost it to live. That was immediately obvious to him."

Pg. 143, "October Skies" by Alex Scarrow







Well that's my teaser for the week. What book or books did you feature in your post?

0 Review: Betrayal

Betrayal

Author: Mayandree Michel

Page Count: 603

Release Date: March 01, 2011

Publisher: Mayandree Michel (self-published)

Series: The Descendants #1

Source: Purchased (ebook)

 

Read summary on Goodreads, here.

The book is about a girl named Cordelia or Delia, who's just you're average high school girl or so she thought. It turns out that she's not even in the right time period. Her best friend Bethany and her "brother" Nikolas, who later is revealed to be Bethany's boyfriend, along with her dream boy, Evan, return her to the past after she's killed in a car accident. Once back in the 1800's she's told that she's a daughter of Zeus and is next in line to be the Empress of the Ischeros. She's been told that her parents were killed by Victor, which we find out isn't the whole truth and she's engaged to marry Evan. Now Cordelia is on a mission to find the truth about who she really is and who really killed her parents.

 

While I didn't hate the book, I didn't love it either. Some things went into too much detail and felt so drawn out. I liked the fact that there was some Greek mythology in this book, which for me was awesome. I've always liked that type of thing. On another note, I quickly grew tired of hearing about Evan's blue eyes. After, what seemed like the hundredth time it made me want to scream.

 

I didn't really care much about any of the characters. At first Cordelia is distant from the others and she just goes right along with everything. She should have at least asked more questions. Closer to the end I started to like her a little bit better but she still frustrated me. Then there's Evan, with those blue eyes, if you ever forget that he has blue eyes just wait a few sentences and you'll be reminded. He was an okay character but he just seemed too perfect. Bethany was my least favorite, talk about spoiled brats, she got mad at Cordelia for the least little thing.

 

There was a cliffhanger at the end about which guy she really likes so I would read the sequel out of curiosity.

 

I love her dress on the cover but not loving the background as much.

 

Rating: 3/5

 

Review also posted to Goodreads.

8 Stacking the Shelves (02)

 

Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews that highlight's the books we receive each week.

BOUGHT

 

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Pants on Fire by Meg Cabot

Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

 

 



E-BOOKS (FREE)

 

Secrets of the Heart by Jillian Kent

Ruby by Lauraine Snelling

Darkhouse by Karina Halle

Eternal Vows by Chrissy Peebles

The Soulkeepers by G. P. Ching

Jenny Pox by J. L. Bryan

That's it for me. What did you add to your shelf?

0 Review: The Valcourt Heiress

The Valcourt Heiress

Author: Catherine Coulter

Page Count: 368

Release Date: October 05, 2010

Publisher: Putnam Adult

Series: Medieval Song #7

Source: Purchased (hardback)

 

Read summary on Goodreads, here.

 

This story is set in 13th century England. Merry, the Valcourt Heiress, has just found out that her mother has sold her to Jason of Brennan, for a hefty sum, so they can wed, just one day after the death of her father. Merry isn't one bit happy about the arrangement and tries to runaway. She's quickly captured by Sir Halric, one of Jason's men and is being escorted back to his master disguised as a boy. She is soon rescued of Garron of Kersey the new Earl of Wareham. When he arrives home he discovers that shortly after his brothers death, a mysterious man known as the Black Demon came and destroyed everything and brutally slaughtered many of his people. Together with Merry and the few remaining people, he work's to restore Wareham to it's former glory.

 

I liked the story and how Merry and Garron's relationship developed throughout the story. I wouldn't necessarily say it was love at first sight, not on Garron's part anyway. For him it was more like lust. Some of the 13th century lingo gave me a hard time. I got tongue tied and had to re-read some sentences more than once.

 

I liked the characters. Merry is a strong girl, she's not the whiney little brat that you think an heiress would be. She's not afraid to speak her mind or fight when the time comes; she's a hard worker and cares for the people of Wareham. Garron likes to have her by his side because they have many things in common and it doesn't hurt that she's the only young lady at Wareham. I suppose he's a typical man from that time period. Apparently there are very few ladies at court who haven't enjoyed his company, some more than others. I really liked Miggins, for an old woman she was a firecracker; you never knew what she was going to say next.

 

The ending was kind of predictably, at least it was to me. There were a few twists in the plot during the last few chapters that I didn't see coming so that was a pleasant surprise. As far as I know there is no sequel and previous books in the series don't need to be read before this; it's a stand-alone book.

 

As for the cover...I love it!

 

Rating: 3/5

 

Review also posted to Goodreads.

3 Waiting on Wednesday: September Girls

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

 

September Girls

by Bennett Madison

Pages: 256

Expected Publication: May 21, 2013

Published by: HarperTeen

Series: None

 

When Sam's dad whisks him and his brother off to a remote beach town for the summer, he's all for it-- at first. Sam soon realizes, though, that this place is anything but ordinary. Time seems to slow down around here, and everywhere he looks, there are beautiful blond girls. Girls who seem inexplicably drawn to him.

Then Sam meets DeeDee, one of the Girls, and she's different from the others. Just as he starts to fall for her, she pulls away, leaving him more confused than ever. He knows that if he's going to get her back, he'll have to uncover the secret of this beach and the girls who live here. - Goodreads synopsis

 

What are you waiting on this week?



0 Review: Marked

Marked

Author: Kim Richardson

Page Count: 290

Release Date: March 15, 2011

Publisher: CreateSpace

Series: Soul Guardians #1

Source: Free ebook

 

Read summary on Goodreads, here.

I downloaded this for free and tried to read it but I just couldn't get past all the melodramatic dialogue and the talking monkey on the elevator really did it in for me. I'm not against weird things in books but the monkey really creeped me out and this is one reason why: Chimp 5M51 had picked a flake of dry scalp off Kara's head. He popped it in his mouth and swallowed. “Mmmmh. My apologies, I couldn't help myself. I am a primate, after all.” That's just disgusting. Sorry but I just couldn't fi...moreI downloaded this for free and tried to read it but I just couldn't get past all the melodramatic dialogue and the talking monkey on the elevator really did it in for me. I'm not against weird things in books but the monkey really creeped me out and this is one reason why: Chimp 5M51 had picked a flake of dry scalp off Kara's head. He popped it in his mouth and swallowed. “Mmmmh. My apologies, I couldn't help myself. I am a primate, after all.”

That's just disgusting. Sorry but I just couldn't finish this book.
 

I can't say anything about the ending because I didn't finish it and I have no desire whatsoever to read the sequel.

As for the cover, I find the shiny light distracting and annoying.

Rating: DNF

Review also posted to Goodreads.



 

0 Teaser Tuesday

 

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along. Just do the following:

Grab your current read.

Open to a random page.

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page. 

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teasers:

"No, he wasn't going to have his head chopped off, not if he did this properly. ...He looked at her and saw softness, a lovely gown, and shining hair, and felt like a mongrel caught digging in a bed of roses."

Pg. 213, "The Valcourt Heiress" by Catherine Coulter




Well that's my teaser for the week. What book or books did you feature in your post?

0 Review: Camille

Camille

Author: Tess Oliver

Page Count: 252

Release Date: October 24, 2010

Publisher: CreateSpace

Series: Camille #1

Source: Purchased (ebook).

 

Read summary on Goodreads, here.

 

Camille and her guardian, Dr. Bennett are werewolf hunters and they have a little help finding them with their bald-tailed cat, Dutch. While hunting a werewolf in a cemetery, they come across a group of guys, one of them cuts the finger off a corpse for her ring, that same young man is bitten by the werewolf they had been hunting. Dr. Bennett is determined to find the young man in hopes that he can help him and stop the transmutation. They finally locate him in a Public House on East End and learn that his name is Nathanial Strider and that he's quite the ladies man. Even Camille has fallen for his charm and rugged good looks. After several encounters Camille finally convinces Strider to come home with her in exchange for a hot meal. Over time they both begin to have strong feelings for one another despite what he is to become. Dr. Bennett is determined to shoot Strider with a silver bullet if he turns before a cure is found but Camille has other plans. Accidentally locked in a mausoleum together they face Strider's first full moon.

 

I loved the characters. Camille isn't weak and whiney, she's a strong girl who stands up for what she believes in, she's not really interested in marriage and babies like most girls in the 19th century. Then she meets Nathanial Strider. He is her complete opposite, a real ladies man and a big flirt. He's been caught in a few questionable situations involving some rather shameless ladies. I really liked them together, they seemed to complete each other.

 

The ending left me wondering what was going to happen next, so I can't wait to read the sequel: Heart of the Huntress.

 

As for the cover, I love every thing but the font. It just doesn't work with the rest of it.

 

Rating: 5/5

 

Review also posted on Goodreads.

2 Review: Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft

Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft

Author: Jody Gehrman

Page Count: 293

Release Date: June 30, 2012

Publisher: Magic Genie Books

Series: Audrey's Guides #1

Source: Won signed copy from The Elliott Review.

 

Read summary on Goodreads, here.

 

 

To be honest I kind of had my doubts about this book to start with but after reading it, I really liked it. 

 

The characters are well written and is written through Audrey's POV. Audrey is a seventeen-year-old girl who's just discovered that she's a witch. Everything in her life seemed normal until her mom goes missing, she has a feeling that something bad has happened to her but can't back it up. When a strange girl arrives at her house claiming to be her cousin, Audrey knows something's not quite right and she's determined to find out.

I liked Audrey for the most part, she's not the most confident person but she stands up for her best friend when she needs her and she's not whiney like some lead female characters, so that was a plus. Her younger sister, Meg, was slightly annoying to me. She's the blonde beauty who gets all the boys and is in a girl band named Cherry. To me she's bratty and spoiled. Sadie is a young witch sent to babysit Audrey and Meg while their mom is away. She's a laid-back animal lover and has some unusual pets, that she brings with her. Then there's Julian. He's Audrey's love interest and for a change, he's the only love interest. He sounds like a pretty awesome guy, he cares about who Audrey is on the inside and looks past her flaws. Every girls dream guy.

There wasn't that much of a cliffhanger at the end but there are some loose ends that need to be tied up. I will definitely be reading the sequel: Audrey's Guide to Black Magic.

As for the cover...I'm kind of on the fence about it. Part of me likes it and the other part doesn't but I can't seem to put my finger on what it is that I don't like.

Disclaimer: I received a this book for free from a giveaway at The Elliott Review. This in no way influenced my opinions about this book.

 

Rating: 4/5

Review also posted on Goodreads.

 

4 Stacking the Shelves (01)

 

 

Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews that highlight's the books we receive each week.

 

BOUGHT

 

 

Serendipity by Cathy Marie Hake

An Unlikely Suitor by Nancy Moser

Sweeter Than Birdsong by Rosslyn Elliott

The Lightkeeper's Ball by Colleen Coble

Keeping Faith by Jodi Picoult

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards

Pale Rose of England by Sandra Worth