[Flashback Friday] - #46

Flashback Friday is a weekly event, hosted here, that highlights a past release that we're dying to get our hands on...

See something you like here?
Click the book title to add it to your Goodreads TBR List!

Title: Take Me There
   Author: Carolee Dean
   Release Date: July 20th, 2010

      Dylan has a bad-boy past and a criminal record. He knows that rich, beautiful Jess is way too good for him, but she has always been the one person who sees through his tough exterior and straight to his heart, and he has been hopelessly in love with her from the first time they met. He would change his life for a chance with her.

     But trouble follows Dylan wherever he goes, and a deadly mistake soon forces him to hit the road and leave his dreams behind. He's on the run and in search of answers, answers to questions he wishes he'd never asked.

My Stance:

     This is a book that spawned from Forget Me Not, I was looking up the author and looking around at other books that she had written and I happened to stumble upon this. Take Me There was the only book that I thought I would like. Yeah this is a ya contemporary romance novel, which more or less has become my go to choice for books to read. I know when I started I was so hell bent on reading all of the dystopian novels/series; just goes to show how much I have changed in my taste for books. That or I really need to start dating again, either way.

     Dylan sounds a lot like Travis but more calm and collected. Travis was just a badass when I read the book and part me understood his character. He had a heart under the thick skin, however in this case, Dylan, seems to be a guy that most guys will actually relate to. I don't have much hope for this book, mainly because I don't know what to expect out of it. Dylan has this secret that I'm not sure will be worth knowing, I mean the obvious plot in this book is will Dylan ask Jess to go with him or love him regardless of the secret? I think it's just too obvious that I hope there's something different.

     As well I really don't want this book to be a loss story. I am just not into that style of book, been through that too much just doesn't make for a good experience in my personal opinion. I would still read the book if it was that way, and would still enjoy the book just the same as if it were a "happily ever after" story. I just think that's too obvious and turning the synopsis around and working out the issue and solving their problem seems to be the harder and more intriguing story. That's what I'm mainly looking at and hoping to see from this book, but I won't hold my breath.

Read more »

[Book Review] - Enclave by Ann Aguirre

Title: Enclave
   Author: Ann Aguirre
   Series: #1 - Razorland
   Format: Hardback
   Release Date: April 12th, 2011
   My Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0

     New York City has been decimated by war and plague, and most of civilization has migrated to underground enclaves, where life expectancy is no more than the early 20's. When Deuce turns 15, she takes on her role as a Huntress, and is paired with Fade, a teenage Hunter who lived Topside as a young boy. When she and Fade discover that the neighboring enclave has been decimated by the tunnel monsters - or Freaks - who seem to be growing more organized, the elders refuse to listen to warnings. And when Deuce and Fade are exiled from the enclave, the girl born in darkness must survive in daylight - guided by Fade's long-ago memories - in the ruins of a city whose population has dwindled to a few dangerous gangs.

     Ann Aguirre's thrilling young adult novel is the story of two young people in an apocalyptic world- - facing dangers, and feelings, unlike any they've ever known.

My Review:

     This was a different read and while I was skeptical when I first started it, I was thrilled to find the book grow on me as the book continued on and on. I thought for sure this would be a 2.5 or a 3.0 at most prior to even opening the cover. I just hadn't heard anything about this book, and the synopsis didn't do  anything for me. I was expecting a book about two people and zombies. Oh, and the world has dwindled to a few. So when I picked the book up, I had actually been told it was worth at least looking at and to give it a chance. I have to admit, I was glad I did.

     The world starts in underground in an enclave and the people are divided into a caste or class based system, Builders, Breeders, and Hunters. The average elder age for anyone living is around 25, and that just puts it into perspective the relative state of the world they live in. To survive I am imagining you would have to get pregnant (be a Breeder first off) at a good ripe age of 15-18. However, the one odd part of the book that I found is the mothers never really care for the infants after birth. The infants are taken care of collectively at a nursery of sorts. Which I thought was unique and almost detaches all relationship from the characters.

     Duece was this angsty girl who was born and bread a fighter. At first it was hard to notice, but she almost has no relationship aside to her two other friends. It's not until she is almost raped that her emotions start to take a part in the story. She wants to feel, but doing so could get her killed, that's how she was raised to live. I wanted so more feeling out of her in the beginning, but looking and searching for that connection and the emotion from her was what pushed me on through the story.

     I want to take this time to address a comment comparison with this book, "This is the New Hunger Games." NO! Just NO. You learn that in Duece alone, forget the outside world and how much crueler and demented it is. Duece was born to fight the outside world and every danger she's faced with. She lives by the common Warrior's Code, fight to the death, there is no greater glory than to die by the hands of your enemy than to be defeated and left alive afterwards. Katniss was never trained to fight, she hunted of course, but she had no practice killing. No sparring against real people and what the games would be like ahead of time. Plus she didn't have to worry constantly growing up that she would be raped, killed, or worse on a daily basis. I find the two world just completely different and in the characters far far worse.

     Now we get to Fade, a boy who comes from outside the Enclave and ultimately from the world above theirs. The Elders are so impressed with the possibility that he knows history that they adopt him into their own. Which highlights another thing their Historian Elder, if I am correct, views history. You have to turn in every possible artifact that could possibly be history or a tie to the old world. So their obsession with Fade saves his life and turns him into one of the most ruthless Hunters they have. I was looking for the number again on how many partners he went through before Duece finally got assigned to him. I thought it was kind of funny and put just how ruthless the outside world was.

     Now when the story got going, I thought it was kind of unique.They have a mission if they want to come back, and that's to try to discover if the neighboring Enclave is doing okay and trade with them. However in the process they stumble and Duece's inner emotions blossom, and I believe I actually screamed, "FINALLY!" when it happened. The story continues as they make their return; which just lead to Duece getting setup over and over and eventually getting her and Fade get exiled from the Enclave.

     I loved when the book took a twist and went above ground, and the gangs above took precedents over everything. It wasn't just that someone could harm you either, as Duece and Fade stayed above ground, the sun would burn their skin. I normally wouldn't think of the sun as an enemy, but when spending nearly all your life underground I can only imagine what the sun would do to you in a short amount of time. The gangs were ruthless up to, leaving Duece to be raped and used as a slave if she got captured. It was just so brutal and cold that only enhanced the drama and despair that seemed to course through all the characters.

     I want to thank the person who told me to shut up and give the book a try. I enjoyed it far more than what I thought I would and even more I ended up picking up the rest of the series. I hope to finish the series sometime soon and to get the rest of the reviews on to you. I hope you all can wait for the completion of the series and a review of its entirety. Thank you again!

Read more »

[Waiting on Wednesday] - #44

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

See something you like here?
Click the book title to add it to your Goodreads TBR List!

Title: Panic
   Author: Lauren Oliver
   Release Date: March 4th, 2014

     Panic began as so many things do in Carp, a dead-end town of 12,000 people in the middle of nowhere: because it was summer, and there was nothing else to do.

     Heather never thought she would compete in Panic, a legendary game played by graduating seniors, where the stakes are high and the payoff is even higher. She’d never thought of herself as fearless, the kind of person who would fight to stand out. But when she finds something, and someone, to fight for, she will discover that she is braver than she ever thought.

     Dodge has never been afraid of Panic. His secret will fuel him, and get him all the way through the game, he’s sure of it. But what he doesn't know is that he’s not the only one with a secret. Everyone has something to play for.

     For Heather and Dodge, the game will bring new alliances, unexpected revelations, and the possibility of first love for each of them—and the knowledge that sometimes the very things we fear are those we need the most.

My Stance:

     I am a Huge fan of Lauren Oliver. Before I Fall and the Delirium series, both mold two different styles of writing and plot development together. I loved both books and to each their own. They were all good, on their own and it wasn't because they were written by Lauren Oliver. I was thrilled when I started Before I Fall and got into world of Samantha, and how she grew. In fact that was the best part of the book, but that character growth is what thrived in that book. However in Delirium the world of Lena and Alex exploded. They're relationship wasn't the forefront of the series; it was how the events unfolded around the two. I loved Alex from the beginning and Lena kept growing, but their choice with how to handle their situations is what made the series better. It's this combination, that made both unique and great all on their own.

So when I say all of that and look at Panic, it'd be hard to not be interested in this book at all. It seems to combine both aspects of her two previous works. I can't wait to see how Heather and Dodge grow not just on their own but from what it sounds together. Furthermore Panic seems like a game of fear, a challenge that you can or can't back down from. What are the stakes anyways, I mean is it just a game or is it more than that? Lauren Oliver is a genius when it comes to molding two together, and maybe I'm expecting too much out of her. However, I am thoroughly will be happy either way, and will enjoy the book. I doubt Lauren Oliver will let me down.

Read more »

[Teaser Tuesday] - #2

Hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

1. Take your Current Read.
2. Grab 2 Teaser sentences from the book (please be sure to avoid spoilers)
3. Post it on your blog with the title and author, so other Teasing Tuesday participants can add it to their To Be Read list.
4. When visiting other Teasing Tuesday participants, leave a link with your current TT in their comments.

Title: Three
   Author: Kristen Simmons
   Release Date: February 11th, 2014

     Quote: "He lifted his chin, and though I couldn't place it, there was definitely something familiar about him. His skin was browned by the sun, his hair was short and gray like the smoke that rose from the fires. Wrinkles popped up beside his eyes as he smiled.

     'I do,' he said in a kind way, but with the voice that demanded attention. He stood to remove a stack of books from the wooden rocking chair beside him. 'I'd mind less if you joined me.'"

--- Page 230

Read more »

[Stacking the Shelves] - #47

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga’s Reviews and is all about sharing the books you are adding to your bookshelf, be it the physical one or your digital one!

     I have been working on trying to keep this up and going, and with a week it feels good to be back and working on the blog. I have been managing to keep ideas and possible topics ready for a future discussion bit. As well I am looking to go out and see the Divergent movie in a few weeks, I can't wait for it and I will post a review of the movie afterwards. I should do a review of Ender's Game as well, but I want to read the book before I get to that. There is a bit on my list of topics and new features I want to pursue. I just need to figure out what I am doing with what I am doing with the current features.

     This week is a bit different. I wanted to show a few books that I picked up more recently, but I have a back log of older books that I need to get through as well. So I moderated this week, the first three are part of my backlog and the last three are the more current books I bought. I was more curious to the viewers and their point on this. I want to know would you rather I do two separate posts, one with a set of my backlog shelf additions and another with the current ones? Either way I hope to hear from you, leave a comment or send me an e-mail.

     So without further adieu:

Icons	The Beautiful and the Cursed	Chantress
Three	Walking Disaster	Into the Still Blue

Mailbox Pickup:

Title: Icons
   Author: Margaret Stohl
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: May 7th, 2013

     Your heart beats only with their permission.

     Everything changed on The Day. The day the windows shattered. The day the power stopped. The day Dol's family dropped dead. The day Earth lost a war it didn't know it was fighting.

     Since then, Dol has lived a simple life in the countryside -- safe from the shadow of the Icon and its terrifying power. Hiding from the one truth she can't avoid.

     She's different. She survived. Why?

     When Dol and her best friend, Ro, are captured and taken to the Embassy, off the coast of the sprawling metropolis once known as the City of Angels, they find only more questions. While Ro and fellow hostage Tima rage against their captors, Dol finds herself drawn to Lucas, the Ambassador's privileged son. But the four teens are more alike than they might think, and the timing of their meeting isn't a coincidence. It's a conspiracy.

     Within the Icon's reach, Dol, Ro, Tima, and Lucas discover that their uncontrollable emotions -- which they've always thought to be their greatest weaknesses -- may actually be their greatest strengths.

     Bestselling author Margaret Stohl delivers the first book in a heart-pounding series set in a haunting new world where four teens must piece together the mysteries of their pasts -- in order to save the future.

---

Title:  Chantress
   Author: Amy Butler Greenfield
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: May 7th, 2013

     Lucy, shipwrecked on an island at 8, is forbidden to sing by guardian Norrie. On All Hallows Eve 1667, at 15, she sings, and is swept into darkness. She wakes to hear powerful men hunt Chantresses who sing magic into the world. At the Invisible College she finds sanctuary, plots to overthrow the evil Lord Protector, and distrustful scientist-apprentice Nat. Only a Chantress can overcome the Protector, and Lucy is the last in England.

---

Title: The Beautiful and the Cursed
   Author: Page Morgan
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: May 14th, 2013

     After a bizarre accident, Ingrid Waverly is forced to leave London with her mother and younger sister, Gabby, trading a world full of fancy dresses and society events for the unfamiliar city of Paris.

     In Paris there are no grand balls or glittering parties, and, disturbingly, the house Ingrid’s twin brother, Grayson, found for them isn’t a house at all. It’s an abandoned abbey, its roof lined with stone gargoyles that could almost be mistaken for living, breathing creatures.

     And Grayson has gone missing.

     No one seems to know of his whereabouts but Luc, a devastatingly handsome servant at their new home.

     Ingrid is sure her twin isn’t dead—she can feel it deep in her soul—but she knows he’s in grave danger. It will be up to her and Gabby to navigate the twisted path to Grayson, a path that will lead Ingrid on a discovery of dark secrets and otherworldly truths. And she’ll learn that once they are uncovered, they can never again be buried.

---

Title:  Three
   Author: Kristen Simmons
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: February 11th, 2014

     Ember Miller and Chase Jennings are ready to stop running. After weeks spent in hiding as two of the Bureau of Reformation’s most wanted criminals, they have finally arrived at the safe house, where they hope to live a safe and quiet existence.

     And all that’s left is smoking ruins.

     Devastated by the demolition of their last hope, Ember and Chase follow the only thing left to them—tracks leading away from the wreckage. The only sign that there may have been survivors.

     With their high profile, they know they can’t stay out in the open for long. They take shelter in the wilderness and amidst the ruins of abandoned cities as they follow the tracks down the coast, eventually finding refugees from the destroyed safe house. Among them is someone from Chase’s past—someone he never thought he’d see again.

     Banding together, they search for a place to hide, aiming for a settlement a few of them have heard about…a settlement that is rumored to house the nebulous organization known as Three. The very group that has provided Ember with a tiny ray of hope ever since she was first forced on the run.

     Three is responsible for the huge network of underground safe houses and resistance groups across the country. And they may offer Ember her only chance at telling the world her story.

     At fighting back.

---

Title: Walking Disaster
   Author: Jamie McGuire
   Format: Hardback
   Release Date: April 3rd, 2012

     Finally, the highly anticipated follow-up to the New York Times bestseller Beautiful Disaster.

     Can you love someone too much?

     Travis Maddox learned two things from his mother before she died: Love hard. Fight harder.

     In Walking Disaster, the life of Travis is full of fast women, underground gambling, and violence. But just when he thinks he is invincible, Abby Abernathy brings him to his knees.

     Every story has two sides. In Beautiful Disaster, Abby had her say. Now it’s time to see the story through Travis’s eyes.

---

Title: Into the Still Blue
   Author: Veronica Rossi
   Format: Hardback
   Release Date: January 28th, 2014

     The race to the Still Blue has reached a stalemate. Aria and Perry are determined to find this last safe haven from the Aether storms before Sable and Hess do--and they are just as determined to stay together.

     Within the confines of a cave they're using as a makeshift refuge, they struggle to reconcile their people, Dwellers and Outsiders, who are united only in their hatred of their desperate situation. Meanwhile, time is running out to rescue Cinder, who was abducted by Hess and Sable for his unique abilities. Then Roar arrives in a grief-stricken fury, endangering all with his need for revenge.

     Out of options, Perry and Aria assemble an unlikely team for an impossible rescue mission. Cinder isn't just the key to unlocking the Still Blue and their only hope for survival--he's also their friend. And in a dying world, the bonds between people are what matter most.

     In this final book in her earth-shattering Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi raises the stakes to their absolute limit and brings her epic love story to an unforgettable close.

Read more »

[Flashback Friday] - #45

Flashback Friday is a weekly event, hosted here, that highlights a past release that we're dying to get our hands on...

See something you like here?
Click the book title to add it to your Goodreads TBR List!

Title: False Sight
   Author: Dan Krokos
   Release Date: August 13th, 2013

     All Miranda wants is a normal life. She's determined to move past the horrible truth of her origin as a clone so she can enjoy time with her boyfriend, Peter, and the rest of her friends at school. But Miranda quickly learns that there's no such thing as normal - not for a girl who was raised to be a weapon. When one of her teammates turns rogue, it begins a war that puts the world in jeopardy. Now Miranda must follow her instincts - not her heart - in order to save everything she's fought so hard to keep. With the image of a terrible future seared into her mind, what will she have to sacrifice to protect the people she loves?

     Dan Krokos's sequel to the tour de force False Memory is a mind-blowing thriller with high-octane action that will leave readers begging for the final book in this bold and powerful trilogy.

My Stance:

     Getting back in the grove of things and trying to keep track of what I have displayed and what I am looking to show off is hard to do. This week comes a great sequel to False Memory by Dan Krokos. I loved the premise of the book and the characters. Dan did a fantastic job in the first book melding the characters together and making a lasting relationship that corresponded very well to the plot that unfolded. False Memory was a good read, the twists in the story made it entertaining to follow and jump in with all the hardships.

     I was holding out for this book in hopes of getting a signed copy, and I still may for a few months. I have the first one signed and was hoping to get the series completed that way. False Sight has two options for me, it's either going to be that book that highlights my binge this spring/summer or it will be that book that lets me down. I am looking forward to the dystopian/sci-fi, thriller that caught my attention first, I'm just hoping the rest of the series can hold up.

Read more »

[Book Review] - Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Title: Tiger Lily
   Author: Jodi Lynn Anderson
   Format: Hardback
   Release Date: July 3rd, 2012
   My Rating: 4.5 out of 5.0

     Jodi Lynn Anderson explores the world of Neverland and the elation and heartbreak of first love in her dark, romantic, and very original YA novel Tiger Lily.

     Tinkerbell narrates the magical, bittersweet love story between Tiger Lily and Peter Pan. Tiger Lily has never been truly accepted by her tribe, and now the elders have decreed marriage to a man she doesn’t love. She spends more and more time alone in the woods, where she meets wild, fearless Peter Pan, leader of the Lost Boys.

     Tiger Lily is intoxicated by the freedom she feels with Peter, and falls under his spell. Their love is all-consuming, and she risks everything to be with him.

     Then Wendy Darling arrives in Neverland.

     Tiger Lily has been optioned for television!

My Review:

     This book when I initially thought about this book and whether I would pick it up or not. It came down to an argument that I've ran over and over through my head. What type of book is this? It wasn't until I read a review (the start of it at least) by Emily May over at The Book Geek, that really just changed my mind. I thought this book would just be another romance that would've left me wondering how this was different from any other romance. You know what I'm talking about, the type of book that girl/boy scouts read, or some tween high school book that makes all the young teens swoon like Twilight. I want more than that, and I got that in this book. Sorry Scouts and Tweens, you'll be disappointed.

     Tiger Lily boasts about being a romance, which is a compete understatement. It deals with pain and loss, heartbreak, and most important of all, the inability to accept change. There characters were very dynamic, especially Tinkerbell. The story is told from Tink's perspective and it gives this close, refreshing view of Tiger Lily and the world she lives in. Overally the feel of Tink's emotions and how she befriends Tiger Lily and feels for her mold this story into something just beyond ordinary.

     Tiger Lily is this Tribe girl in Neverland who is one of the most abused and lonely characters I've read about to this date. I found myself relating to her more than I probably cared to, but that's what made her character stronger to me. She is believe to be cursed by the rest of her Tribe and they want almost nothing to do with her. When she struggles for their acceptance in her own way, she stumbles and one too many times is forced to Marry Giant. Who seeks to abuse and neglect her at any and all possible moments. I struggled with the fact that she put up with him in order to stay in the Tribe.

     Enter Peter Pan who gives Tiger Lily that outlet. He's about as alone as she is and yet he manages to bring a peace to Tiger Lily. There is a part about Peter Pan that I didn't really by into. That's why this book suffered with me. I understood Tiger Lily, but part of me wanted more from Peter Pan and what he brought to the table. Yea I understand that he was looking out for the kids and whatnot, but how the relationship with Tiger Lily and how easily he seemed to just move on seemed unnatural to me. I don't know, I just didn't buy into him like I wanted to early on in the book.

     The villains in this book, were hard to define. I found that Tiger Lily seemed to be her biggest enemy. James Hook was a complicated character that I seemed to enjoy more and more as the book unfolded. He tended to lose himself as the book went on and the more he lost himself at the bottom of a bottle, he hated himself. It was the type of hatred that he poured out on all those around him, even on Peter Pan. Probably more so Peter Pan.

     However my second favorite character was Smee. Mainly because of how intriguing he was. He was a pirate brought to Neverland along with James Hook. He is as demented as they come, going around killing people because of their beauty and strength. However, afterwards he mourns their death as if he were a friend of theirs. It's odd and makes me question his overall sanity, he's a great character.

     Overall, this book exceeded everything that I wanted. The ending of the book didn't take me by surprise at all, and the lack of any attachment to Peter Pan brought the only flaw I saw in this book. However I am not holding the ending against the book, we all know the fairy tell. However how Tiger Lily reacts to it is what I found strange as well. I wanted more, I wanted something to claw at my chest, and it was close, so very close to obtain the gold. It just fell too short in my perspective.

Read more »

[Waiting on Wednesday] - #43

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

See something you like here?
Click the book title to add it to your Goodreads TBR List!

Title: Faking Normal
   Author: Courtney C. Stevens
   Release Date: February 25th, 2014

     An edgy, realistic, and utterly captivating novel from an exciting new voice in teen fiction.

Alexi Littrell hasn't told anyone what happened to her over the summer. Ashamed and embarrassed, she hides in her closet and compulsively scratches the back of her neck, trying to make the outside hurt more than the inside does.

When Bodee Lennox, the quiet and awkward boy next door, comes to live with the Littrells, Alexi discovers an unlikely friend in "the Kool-Aid Kid," who has secrets of his own. As they lean on each other for support, Alexi gives him the strength to deal with his past, and Bodee helps her find the courage to finally face the truth.

A searing, poignant book, Faking Normal is the extraordinary debut novel from an exciting new author-Courtney C. Stevens.

My Stance:

     I am looking forward to this novel. While prior to my departure I wouldn't have said this would be my style of book, now this falls mainly into my lap and what I'm looking forward to. I love books that take some realty and end up telling a story that is able to change someone's outlook on life. This is one of those books that melds different aspects (romance, real life hardships, character growth) and molds all those into what sounds like a great story.

     I think most teens an understand the hardship or what Alexi and Bodee have dealt with in their life. I am dying to find out by the way! Furthermore I am curious on why Bodee needs to move in with Alexi's family. I hope the story is told well, and doesn't leave me saying, "Really!?" over and over like some novels as of lately. I can't wait to get my hands on this book!

Read more »

[Teaser Tuesday] - #1

Hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

1. Take your Current Read.
2. Grab 2 Teaser sentences from the book (please be sure to avoid spoilers)
3. Post it on your blog with the title and author, so other Teasing Tuesday participants can add it to their To Be Read list.
4. When visiting other Teasing Tuesday participants, leave a link with your current TT in their comments.

Title: Cruel Beauty
   Author: Rosamud Hodge
   Release Date: January 28th, 2014

     Quote: "     At night, the hallways seemed longer and stranger, subtly out of proportion. It was seldom pitch-dark, for light glimmered from unexpected corners; but it was hard to tell exactly where the light came from, and I had to force back the suspicion that the shadows were falling toward the light, hungry for warmth and being."

--- Page 144

Read more »

[Stacking the Shelves] - #46

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga’s Reviews and is all about sharing the books you are adding to your bookshelf, be it the physical one or your digital one!

     Yeah, it's been a while and I've not really been around all that much. I haven't worked on updating the site as of yet and while I will thoroughly correct the issues and corrections Today first thing. It's going to take a while to correct all the Mailbox Mondays and get them all around in the correct order and functioning the correct way. Until then please feel free to browse the Mailbox Mondays and other events. I thank you all for the visits and time you take listening to my voice.

     Okay first thing, I am changing this to not really talk about my view of the book anymore, but vet my interests out there and what books I have received. I am saving my interests and expectations for the book(s) in the Reviews and in and Waiting on Wednesday and Flashback Friday segments. I hope you understand that getting rid of some of the redundancy is needed and you can understand the reason behind that. I appreciate the understanding, so this weeks books and were as:

The Selection	The Elite	White Cat	Red Glove
Black Heart	Golden	When We Wake	Life After Theft

Mailbox Pickup:

Title: The Selection
   Author: Kiera Cass
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: April 24th, 2012

     For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

     But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

     Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

---

Title:  The Elite
   Author: Kiera Cass
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: April 23rd, 2013

     Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea.

     America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide.

     Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending.

---

Title: The White Cat
   Author: Holly Black
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: May 4th, 2010

     Cassel comes from a shady, magical family of con artists and grifters. He doesn't fit in at home or at school, so he's used to feeling like an outsider. He's also used to feeling guilty he killed his best friend, Lila, years ago.

But when Cassel begins to have strange dreams about a white cat, and people around him are losing their memories, he starts to wonder what really happened to Lila. In his search for answers, he discovers a wicked plot for power that seems certain to succeed. But Cassel has other ideas and a plan to con the conmen.

---

Title:  Red Glove
   Author: Holly Black
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: April 5th, 2011

     The cons get craftier and the stakes rise ever higher in the riveting sequel to White Cat—now in paperback!

     After rescuing his brothers from Zacharov’s retribution, Cassel is trying to reestablish some kind of normalcy in his life.

     That was never going to be easy for someone from a worker family that’s tied to one of the big crime families—and whose mother’s cons get more reckless by the day. But Cassel is coming to terms with what it means to be a worker, and he’s figuring out how to have friends.

     Except normal doesn’t last very long. Soon Cassel is being courted by both sides of the law and is forced to confront his past—a past he remembers only in scattered fragments, and one that could destroy his family and his future. Cassel will have to decide whose side he wants to be on, because neutrality is not an option. And then he will have to pull off his biggest con ever to survive….

---

Title: Black Heart
   Author: Holly Black
   Format: Hardback
   Release Date: April 3rd, 2012

     In a world where Magic is illegal.

Cassel Sharpe has the most deadly ability of all. With one touch, he can transform any object - including a person - into something else entirely. And that makes him a wanted man. The Feds are willing to forgive all his past crimes if he'll only leave his con artist family behind and go straight. But why does going straight feel so crooked?

For one thing, it means being on the opposite side of the law from Lila, the girl he loves. She's the daughter of a mob boss and getting ready to join the family business herself. Though Cassel is pretty sure she can never love him back, he can't stop obsessing over her. Which would be bad enough, even if her father wasn't keeping Cassel's mother prisoner in a posh apartment and threatening not to let her leave until she returns the priceless diamond she scammed off him years ago. Too bad she can't remember where she put it.

The Feds say they need Cassel to get rid of a powerful man who is spinning dangerously out of control. But if they want Cassel to use his unique talent to hurt people, what separates the good guys from the bad ones? Or is everyone just out to con him?

Time is running out, and all Cassel's magic and cleverness might not be enough to save him. With no easy answers and no one he can trust, love might be the most dangerous gamble of all.

---

Title: Golden
   Author: Jessi Kirby
   Format: Hardback
   Release Date: May 14th, 2013

     Seventeen-year-old Parker Frost has never taken the road less traveled. Valedictorian and quintessential good girl, she’s about to graduate high school without ever having kissed her crush or broken the rules. So when fate drops a clue in her lap—one that might be the key to unraveling a town mystery—she decides to take a chance.

     Julianna Farnetti and Shane Cruz are remembered as the golden couple of Summit Lakes High—perfect in every way, meant to be together forever. But Julianna’s journal tells a different story—one of doubts about Shane and a forbidden romance with an older, artistic guy. These are the secrets that were swept away with her the night that Shane’s jeep plunged into an icy river, leaving behind a grieving town and no bodies to bury.

     Reading Julianna’s journal gives Parker the courage to start to really live—and it also gives her reasons to question what really happened the night of the accident. Armed with clues from the past, Parker enlists the help of her best friend, Kat, and Trevor, her longtime crush, to track down some leads. The mystery ends up taking Parker places that she never could have imagined. And she soon finds that taking the road less traveled makes all the difference.

---

Title: When We Wake
   Author: Karen Healey
   Format: Hardback
   Release Date: March 5th, 2013

     Sixteen-year-old Tegan is just like every other girl living in 2027—she's happiest when playing the guitar, she's falling in love for the first time, and she's joining her friends to protest the wrongs of the world: environmental collapse, social discrimination, and political injustice.

     But on what should have been the best day of Tegan's life, she dies—and wakes up a hundred years later, locked in a government facility with no idea what happened.

     The future isn't all she had hoped it would be, and when appalling secrets come to light, Tegan must make a choice: Does she keep her head down and survive, or fight for a better world?

     Award-winning author Karen Healey has created a haunting, cautionary tale of an inspiring protagonist living in a not-so-distant future that could easily be our own.

---

Title: Life After Theft
   Author: Aprilynne Pike
   Format: Hardback
   Release Date: April 30th, 2013

     Aprilynne Pike, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Wings series, shines in this stand-alone novel that offers a humorous twist on ghosts and is perfect for fans of Ally Carter, Rachel Hawkins, and Kiersten White.

     Kimberlee Schaffer may be drop-dead gorgeous . . . but she also dropped dead last year. Now she needs Jeff's help with her unfinished business, and she's not taking no for an answer. When she was alive, Kimberlee wasn't just a mean girl; she was also a complete kleptomaniac. So if Jeff wants to avoid being haunted until graduation, he'll have to help her return all of the stolen items. But Jeff soon discovers that it's much easier to steal something than it is to bring it back.

     Paying for your mistakes takes on a whole new meaning in this hauntingly clever twist on The Scarlet Pimpernel.

Read more »

[Update] - 2/16/2014

     I am working on coming back starting this week, I am going to be in the process of moving things around. There are a lot of changes and more modifications that around to be happening with the site. Please bear with me for a while until I get everything in order.

     The first order of the change is going to be the categories. I wanted to mainstream and follow the same sort of classification that other bloggers are doing. Not because I want to conform to everything and not do my own original thing, but mainly I wanted support them and take part in the fun. This means that the normal post order will change to the following:

• Monday: Stacking the Shelves
• Tuesday: Teaser Tuesday
• Wednesday: Waiting on Wednesday
• Thursday: Book Review
• Friday: Flashback Friday

     Furthermore there are a few other segments that will continue to appear when I get around to it:

• Watchful Weekend
• Book Playlist
• Special Events
• Signed Books
• Featured Discussion

     I hope this cleans somethings up. I am going to need to re-categorize the old Mailbox Mondays as Stacking the Shelves. As well as updating the Feature page, in order to reflect these changes. I hope to start these tomorrow.

     Furthermore, there should be a new poll for March; I am just not sure what the books will be yet and I am running low. I apologize for that.

     Thanks!

Read more »