Where We Belong
Emily Giffin
Published: July 24th 2012 by St. Martin’s Press
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Categories: Adult Fiction, Romance, Adoption, High Emotions, Chick-Lit
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Where We Belong
Emily Giffin
Published: July 24th 2012 by St. Martin’s Press
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Categories: Adult Fiction, Romance, Adoption, High Emotions, Chick-Lit
Add To Goodreads
Hi! Welcome to my newest post – Wishlisted! Here I show you all of the books that I WISH that I owned! These can be new, old, or not-yet-released books.
The Diviners
Libba Bray
Series: The Diviners #1
Expected Publication Date: September 18, 2012 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Categories: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Paranormal, Mystery, Ghosts
What the Back of the Book Says: Evie O’Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City–and she is pos-i-toot-ly thrilled. New York is the city of speakeasies, shopping, and movie palaces! Soon enough, Evie is running with glamorous Ziegfield girls and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is Evie has to live with her Uncle Will, curator of The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult–also known as “The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies.”
When a rash of occult-based murders comes to light, Evie and her uncle are right in the thick of the investigation. And through it all, Evie has a secret: a mysterious power that could help catch the killer–if he doesn’t catch her first.
Ember operates on a no-touch policy with all living things–including boys. When Hayden Cromwell shows up, quoting Oscar Wilde and claiming her curse is a gift, she thinks he’s a crazed cutie. But when he tells her he can help control it, she’s more than interested. There’s just one catch: Ember has to trust Hayden’s adopted father, a man she’s sure has sinister reasons for collecting children whose abilities even weird her out. However, she’s willing to do anything to hold her sister’s hand again. And hell, she’d also like to be able to kiss Hayden. Who wouldn’t?
But when Ember learns the accident that turned her into a freak may not’ve been an accident at all, she’s not sure who to trust. Someone wanted her dead, and the closer she gets to the truth, the closer she is to losing not only her heart, but her life. For real this time.
For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable–hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet…for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.
*New Features*
Series Spotlight – Here I will choose either an upcoming series that I’m excited for, or an older/ongoing series that I love and want to share.
Wishlisted – Here I show the books that I’m excited for, and have added to my Wish List. These can be older, or newer, or not-yet-released books.
New Books for the Week of: August 13th 2012
Purchased
E-Books
I was so happy to find a new update waiting on my Kobo (once I finally got the wi-fi working… urgh) and now it’s more user-friendly than ever! You can create shelves, which believe me, I did immediately! So new setup called for new books! Here’s what I got:
Sometimes It Happens by Lauren Barnholdt
On the last day of her junior year, Hannah’s boyfriend Ryan dumped her. Facing a summer of loneliness, Hannah turns to her best friend Ava for comfort. Ava does what BFFs do: she stays by Hannah’s side…until it’s time for Ava to head up to Maine for the summer. Also left behind is Ava’s boyfriend, Noah, who’s such a great guy he gets Hannah a job at the diner he waits tables at. Slowly, Hannah comes out of her funk thanks to Noah’s good conversation and their fun times at the diner. But things get complicated when their friendship turns into attraction–and one night, into a passionate kiss. The novel opens on the first day of senior year; the day Hannah is going to see Ava, Ryan, and Noah all in one place. Over the course of the day secrets and betrayals are revealed, and alliances are broken and reformed. In the end, everyone is paired up once again, but not the way you might think… {ADD TO GOODREADS}
Enclave – Razorland #1 by Ann Aguirre
WELCOME TO THE APOCALYPSE
In Deuce’s world, people earn the right to a name only if they survive their first fifteen years. By that point, each unnamed ‘brat’ has trained into one of three groups–Breeders, Builders, or Hunters, identifiable by the number of scars they bear on their arms. Deuce has wanted to be a Huntress for as long as she can remember.
As a Huntress, her purpose is clear—to brave the dangerous tunnels outside the enclave and bring back meat to feed the group while evading ferocious monsters known as Freaks. She’s worked toward this goal her whole life, and nothing’s going to stop her, not even a beautiful, brooding Hunter named Fade. When the mysterious boy becomes her partner, Deuce’s troubles are just beginning.
Down below, deviation from the rules is punished swiftly and harshly, and Fade doesn’t like following orders. At first Deuce thinks he’s crazy, but as death stalks their sanctuary, and it becomes clear the elders don’t always know best, Deuce wonders if Fade might be telling the truth. Her partner confuses her; she’s never known a boy like him before, as prone to touching her gently as using his knives with feral grace.
As Deuce’s perception shifts, so does the balance in the constant battle for survival. The mindless Freaks, once considered a threat only due to their sheer numbers, show signs of cunning and strategy… but the elders refuse to heed any warnings. Despite imminent disaster, the enclave puts their faith in strictures and sacrifice instead. No matter how she tries, Deuce cannot stem the dark tide that carries her far from the only world she’s ever known. {ADD TO GOODREADS}
All These Things I’ve Done – Birthright #1 by Gabrielle ZevinIn 2083, chocolate and coffee are illegal, paper is hard to find, water is carefully rationed, and New York City is rife with crime and poverty. And yet, for Anya Balanchine, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the city’s most notorious (and dead) crime boss, life is fairly routine. It consists of going to school, taking care of her siblings and her dying grandmother, trying to avoid falling in love with the new assistant D.A.’s son, and avoiding her loser ex-boyfriend. That is until her ex is accidently poisoned by the chocolate her family manufactures and the police think she’s to blame. Suddenly, Anya finds herself thrust unwillingly into the spotlight–at school, in the news, and most importantly, within her mafia family.
Legacies – Shadow Grail #1 by Mercedes Lackey, Rosemary EdghillSpirit White has survived from a deadly car crash that has killed her mother and father and her sister. She has been discovered by a school with special talents, called magic. A couple of months after staying, people begin to disappear, some vanish to be never seen again, so Spirit and her new friends begin the investigation. But will they find out the truth of what is going on? Or will Spirit and her friends suffer a terrible fate from which they don’t know about yet? {ADD TO GOODREADS}
Borrowed
Library
Dreamless – Starcrossed #2 by Josephine AngeliniCan true love be forgotten?
As the only scion who can descend into the Underworld, Helen Hamilton has been given a nearly impossible task. By night she wanders through Hades, trying to stop the endless cycle of revenge that has cursed her family. By day she struggles to overcome the fatigue that is rapidly eroding her sanity. Without Lucas by her side, Helen is not sure she has the strength to go on.
Just as Helen is pushed to her breaking point, a mysterious new Scion comes to her rescue. Funny and brave, Orion shields her from the dangers of the Underworld. But time is running out–a ruthless foe plots against them, and the Furies’ cry for blood is growing louder.
As the ancient Greek world collides with the mortal one, Helen’s sheltered life on Nantucket descends into chaos. But the hardest task of all will be forgetting Lucas Delos.
Josephine Angelini’s compelling saga becomes ever more intricate and spellbinding as an unforgettable love triangle emerges and the eternal cycle of revenge intensifies. Eagerly awaited, this sequel to the internationally bestselling “Starcrossed” delivers a gritty, action-packed love story that exceeds all expectations. {ADD TO GOODREADS}
Wake – Watersong #1 by Amanda HockingFall under the spell of Wake—the first book in an achingly beautiful new series by celebrated author Amanda Hocking—and lose yourself to the Watersong.
Gorgeous. Fearless. Dangerous. They’re the kind of girls you envy; the kind of girls you want to hate. Strangers in town for the summer, Penn, Lexi and Thea have caught everyone’s attention—but it’s Gemma who’s attracted theirs. She’s the one they’ve chosen to be part of their group.
Gemma seems to have it all—she’s carefree, pretty, and falling in love with Alex, the boy next door. He’s always been just a friend, but this summer they’ve taken their relationship to the next level, and now there’s no going back. Then one night, Gemma’s ordinary life changes forever. She’s taking a late night swim under the stars when she finds Penn, Lexi and Thea partying on the cove. They invite her to join them, and the next morning she wakes up on the beach feeling groggy and sick, knowing something is different.
Suddenly Gemma is stronger, faster, and more beautiful than ever. But her new powers come with a terrifying price. And as she uncovers the truth, she’s is forced to choose between staying with those she loves—or entering a new world brimming with dark hungers and unimaginable secrets. {ADD TO GOODREADS}
A World Away by Nancy GrossmanA summer of firsts
Sixteen-year-old Eliza Miller has never made a phone call, never tried on a pair of jeans, never sat in a darkened theater waiting for a movie to start. She’s never even talked to someone her age who isn’t Amish, like her.
A summer of good-byes
When she leaves her close-knit family to spend the summer as a nanny in suburban Chicago, a part of her can’t wait to leave behind everything she knows. She can’t imagine the secrets she will uncover, the friends she will make, the surprises and temptations of a way of life so different from her own.
A summer of impossible choice
Every minute Eliza spends with her new friend Josh feels as good as listening to music for the first time, and she wonders whether there might be a place for her in his world. But as summer wanes, she misses the people she has left behind, and the plain life she once took for granted. Eliza will have to decide for herself where she belongs. Whichever choice she makes, she knows she will lose someone she loves. {ADD TO GOODREADS}
What great books did you get this week??? Let me know in the comments below!!
Happy Reading!
Purchased
E-Book
Eve – Eve #1 – By Anna Carey
Paperbacks/Hardcovers
Dragonfly in Amber – Outlander #2 – By Diana Gabaldon
Irish Born – 3-in-1 – Nora Roberts
Naked in Death – In Death #1 – JD Robb
Changeling -Order of Darkness #1 – By Phillipa Gregory
Won
ARC – Once – Eve #2 – By Anna Carey – thanks to HarperTeen for this one!
The Orchid House – By Lucinda Riley – thanks to Atria Books for sending me this one!
Borrowed
Library
13 to Life – 13 to Life #1 – By Shannon Delany
Shadow and Bone – The Grisha Trilogy #1 – By Leigh Bardugo
Breath of Eyre – Unbound #1 – By Eve Marie Mont
Nevermore: The Final Maximum Ride – James Patterson
One last chance…
For Max, Fang, Angel, Iggy, Nudge, and Gazzy.
Before it all ends.
Are you ready for the final chapter? Are you ready for the ultimate flight? Because THIS IS IT. One last incredible, explosive adventure with an astonishing ending that no one could have seen coming.
Beautiful Lies – Jessica Warman Rachel and Alice are an extremely rare kind of identical twins—so identical that even their aunt and uncle, whom they’ve lived with since their parents passed away, can’t tell them apart. But the sisters are connected in a way that goes well beyond their surfaces: when one experiences pain, the other exhibits the exact same signs of distress. So when one twin mysteriously disappears, the other immediately knows something is wrong—especially when she starts experiencing serious physical traumas, despite the fact that nobody has touched her. As the search commences to find her sister, the twin left behind must rely on their intense bond to uncover the truth. But is there anyone around her she can trust, when everyone could be a suspect? And ultimately, can she even trust herself? Master storyteller Jessica Warman will keep readers guessing when everything they see—and everything they are told—suddenly becomes unreliable in this page-turning literary thriller.
Courtship and Curses – Marissa Doyle
Sophie’s entrance into London society isn’t what she thought it would be: Mama isn’t there to guide her, Papa is buried in his work fighting Napoleon, and Sophie’s newly acquired limp keeps her from dancing at any of those glittering balls. If it weren’t for her shopping escapades with her new French friend Amélie and a flirtation with the dashing Lord Woodbridge, she would think this season a complete disaster.
But when someone uses magic to attack Papa the night of Sophie’s first ball, her problems escalate, especially when it becomes clear that all the members of the War Cabinet are being targeted. Can she catch the culprit and keep her own magic powers hidden long enough to win herself a match?
Fingerprints of You – Kristen-Paige Madonia
Lemon grew up with Stella, a single mom who wasn’t exactly maternal. Stella always had a drink in her hand and a new boyfriend every few months, and when things got out of hand, she would whisk Lemon off to a new town for a fresh beginning. Now, just as they are moving yet again, Lemon discovers that she is pregnant from a reckless encounter—with a guy Stella had been flirting with.
On the verge of revisiting her mother’s mistakes, Lemon struggles to cope with the idea of herself as a young unmarried mother, as well as the fact that she’s never met her own father. Determined to have at least one big adventure before she has the baby, Lemon sets off on a cross-country road trip, intending not only to meet her father, but to figure out who she wants to be.
Rift: A Nightshade Novel – Andrea Cremer
Chronicling the rise of the Keepers, this is the stunning prequel to Andrea Cremer’s internationally bestselling Nightshade trilogy!
Sixteen-year-old Ember Morrow is promised to a group called Conatus after one of their healers saves her mother’s life. Once she arrives, Ember finds joy in wielding swords, learning magic, and fighting the encroaching darkness loose in the world. She also finds herself falling in love with her mentor, the dashing, brooding, and powerful Barrow Hess. When the knights realize Eira, one of their leaders, is dabbling in dark magic, Ember and Barrow must choose whether to follow Eira into the nether realm or to pledge their lives to destroying her and her kind.
With action, adventure, magic, and tantalizing sensuality, this book is as fast-paced and breathtaking as the Nightshade novels.
Happy Reading,
Laura
Glitch
Glitch #1
By: Heather Anastasiu
Release Date: August 7th 2012
Add To Goodreads
Laura
Tantalize
Tantalize #1
Cynthia Leitich-Smith
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Are you predator or prey?
CLASSIFIED ADS: RESTAURANTS
SANGUINI’S: A VERY RARE RESTAURANT IS HIRING A CHEF DE CUISINE. DINNERS ONLY.
APPLY IN PERSON BETWEEN 2:00 AND 4:00 PM.
Quincie Morris has never felt more alone. Her parents are dead, and her hybrid-werewolf first love is threatening to embark on a rite of passage that will separate them forever. Then, as she and her uncle are about to unveil their hot vampire-themed restaurant, a brutal murder leaves them scrambling for a chef. Can Quincie transform their new hire into a culinary Dark Lord before opening night? Can he wow the crowd in his fake fangs, cheap cape, and red contact lenses — or is there more to this earnest face than meets the eye? As human and preternatural forces clash, a deadly love triangle forms, and the line between predator and prey begins to blur. Who’s playing whom? And how long can Quincie play along before she loses everything? TANTALIZE marks Cynthia Leitich Smith’s delicious debut as a preeminent author of dark fantasy.
It’s amazing how the same model can be used for two completely different genres and how the colors used can make or break the cover.
For Tantalize, a vampire-werewolf YA Paranormal, the black background with custom script-font and darker shadows applied to the model it conveys the theme.
The Book of Tomorrow is a YA Contemporary with a touch of Irish magic. Clearly the pale skinned red-headed model works wonderfully to convey the Irish part of the book. Removed are the dark, mysterious colors, lightened up with a more vivid airiness to it. Tantalize leaves the entire cover blank with just the model but The Book of Tomorrow adds a book page for the title and author creds, but I feel that it’s too cluttered.
My Pick: Tantalize.
Happy Reading,
Laura
1. It’s not the everyday norm.
How awesome is it to leave the everyday hustle-and-bustle and redundancy to a place where things we only wish – or in some cases, are glad they don’t – happen! It’s a nice escape from work, school, and the other day-to-day goings on.
2. Superpowers. Nuff said.
Seriously, who wouldn’t want superpowers? Whether it’s speed, strength, psychic powers, or teleportation, any character who can do amazing things that we can’t… is cool!
3. Freedom to build the world you want.
The paranormal genre leaves so much room to create and world-build based on the story you want to tell. From Urban Fantasies set in our current, modern world to Fantasy Paranormal and Dystopian Paranormal, it gives the writer – and the reader – the ability to create what they want!
4. Kick-ass heroines.
So many stories start out with this plain-Jane girl who learns some secret, whether about her world or her own life, and bam! Everything is thrown for a loop, and then destiny is realized. We get to see our girl grow, and change and become the heroine we want… and need!!
5. Mysterious, secretive, sexy love interests.
Oh the many ways to fall in love with the guys – vampire, werewolf, etc – that we meet in the pages of paranormal books! It gives us a taste of the guys we don’t meet everyday!
What are the 5 reasons you love your favorite genre?
Happy Reading,
Laura