The Paper Critic

[Flashback Friday] - #69

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Title: Stolen
Author: Lucy Christopher
Release Date: May 1st, 2010

Gemma, 16, is on layover at Bangkok Airport, en route with her parents to a vacation in Vietnam. She steps away for just a second, to get a cup of coffee. Ty - rugged, tan, too old, oddly familiar - pays for Gemma's drink. And drugs it. They talk. Their hands touch. And before Gemma knows what's happening, Ty takes her. Steals her away. The unknowing object of a long obsession, Gemma has been kidnapped by her stalker and brought to the desolate Australian Outback.

Stolen is her gripping story of survival, of how she has to come to terms with her living nightmare - or die trying to fight it.

My Stance:

I hadn't had this book recommended to me at all, I've heard about this book fairly often from the people I speak with. I haven't had a chance to read it, and frankly I forgot about it for a while. I didn't know what the hype and what all the excitement was for this book. I turned to Goodreads and try to understand just what was going on. The one thing I learned was that everyone seemed to be in love with this book, and frankly I didn't want to dive deep into the reviews (spoilers are icky).

Stolen, like the name suggests, Gemma is stolen from Bangkok Airport. So this is her story or a letter of sorts to Ty, her captor. What I don't understand though is the ploy that Gemma has the possibility of falling in love with Ty. If you were kidnapped by your stalker, is there any way he/she could gain your trust to even have that possibility. I know there wouldn't be anything for me, I would be done. It just doesn't sound possible or believable. It's my main concern with this book, but I have heard great things for this book.

[Featured Discussion] - Book Condition

Featured Discussion is a random discussion, hosted here, that highlights different book topics, random ideas, and overall point of view of the young adult community...

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Feel free to make a post and post a link back to it here.

Featured Discussion:

So I have been trying out different avenues of buying books. Half-Price Books, BookOutlet, and even the marketplaces on Barnes & Noble and Amazon (be careful with those because they aren't as reliable as the main place of business). So what I was surprised to find out is they all have a different form of rating the quality of books. BookOutlet is a simple Bargain and Scratch & Dent method which is fine I guess, but it doesn't tell me a lot about the book. I was looking for something that I thought would be useful to know as a universal method:

A Guide to Book Conditions

I found these on AbeBooks, now they use them for rare books. I know that my audience really isn't realistically going to buys some 100+ year old book anytime soon. Not so say that it's not possible, but I think their use of conditions and other book descriptions. It's one of the better lists that I have seen.

As New: The book is in the same immaculate condition as when it was published. This could be the description for a book that has been lost in a warehouse for years, never shelved, thumbed or even opened yet may still be some years old.

Fine (F or FN): A Fine book approaches the condition of As New, but without being crisp. The book may have been opened and read, but there are no defects to the book, jacket or pages.

Very Good (VG): Describes a book that shows some small signs of wear - but no tears - on either binding or paper. Any defects should be noted by the seller.

Good (G): Describes the average used worn book that has all pages or leaves present. Any defects should be noted by the seller.

Fair: Worn book that has complete text pages (including those with maps or plates) but may lack endpapers, half-title, etc. (which must be noted). Binding, jacket (if any), etc., may also be worn. All defects should be noted.

Poor: Describes a book that is sufficiently worn. Any missing maps or plates should still be noted. This copy may be soiled, scuffed, stained or spotted and may have loose joints, hinges, pages, etc.

Binding Copy: describes a book in which the pages or leaves are perfect but the binding is very bad, loose, off, or nonexistent.

Reading Copy: A copy usually in poor to fair condition that includes all text presented in a legible fashion. The copy is fine to read but nothing more.

Others:

Bowed - A condition of the covers or boards of a hard cover book. Bowed covers may turn inward toward the leaves or outward away from the leaves. The condition generally results from a rapid change in the level of moisture in the air and is caused by different rates of expansion or contraction of the paste-down and the outer material covering the board.

Chipped - Used to describe where small pieces are missing from the edges of the boards or where fraying has occurred on a dust jacket or the edge of a paperback.

Dampstained - A light stain on the cover or on the leaves of a book caused by moisture such as a piece of food or perspiration. Generally not as severe as waterstains.

Darkening or Fading - When book covers are exposed to light, the color darkens or becomes more intense. See also tape shadow.

Edgeworn - Wear along the edges of hardback book covers.

Ex-library – the book was once owned by, and circulated in, a public library. This book could well be in any of the above general categories but more often than not has been well used. May have library stickers, stamps, or markings. Any former library book must be marked ex-library.

Foxed / Foxing - Brown spotting of the paper caused by a chemical reaction, generally found in 19th century books, particularly in steel engravings of the period.

Loose - The binding of a new book is very tight; that is, the book will not open easily and generally does not want to remain open to any given page. As the book is used, the binding becomes looser until a well-used book may lay flat and remain open to any page in the book.

Made-up Copy - A copy of a book whose parts have been assembled from one or more defective copies.

Price Clipped - The price has been clipped from the corner of the dust jacket.

Re-backed - A book that has been repaired by replacing the spine and mending the hinges.

Re-cased - A book that has been glued back into its covers after having been shaken loose.

Re-jointed - Means the book has been repaired preserving the original covers, including the spine.

Shaken - An adjective describing a book whose pages are beginning to come loose from the binding.

Shelf Wear - The wear that occurs as a book is placed onto and removed from a shelf. It may be to the tail (bottom) edge of the covers as they rub against the shelf, to the dust jacket or exterior of the covers (when no dust jacket is present) as the book rubs against its neighbors, or to the head of the spine which some use to pull the book from the shelf.

Sunned - Faded from exposure to light or direct sunlight.

Tight - The binding of a new book is very tight; that is, the book will not open easily and generally does not want to remain open to any given page. As the book is used, the binding becomes looser until a well-used book may lay flat and remain open to any page in the book.

Trimmed - An adjective indicating that the pages have been cut down to a size smaller than when originally issued.

Unopened - The leaves of the book are still joined at the folds, not slit apart.

Working copy - Even more damaged than a reading copy, the working copy will have multiple defects and may even need repair.

Worming, Wormholes - Small holes resulting from bookworms (the larvae of various beetles.)

Source: AbeBooks

I hate receiving a book that is not as described, and frankly my main choice in picking who I buy books from is the one who describes the book better. I find myself more often than not arguing with a seller on what the description of "Very Good" vs "Like New" more often than not you have to track down "whatever-site-your-on's own condition chart. If there was a general universal condition chart to go by, it would be helpful. Further if you ask for any further questions (Shaken, Made-Up Copy, etc.) I am met with confusion and chaos. Please, become familiar with some terminology while you're selling books.

The biggest thing though is the lack of condition standardization. I am constantly checking charts on Barnes and Noble and Amazon trying to understand what the book I am thinking about buying will look like. Frankly the reason I would love to see some standards coming out would be the general lack of confusion there would be. I love getting a "Like New" book without the dust jacket. It pains me to complain to the seller and argue that there wasn't something clear with their description.

The reason I chose this list was because of how firm and tight the difference between conditions are. I love how the "As New" book needs to be crisp and frankly perfect from the publisher. What blew my mind is that the "Fine" book is like the "As New," however, the condition isn't perfect but pretty close. Further I was blown away that the dust jacket is present and expected up until the "Fair" condition. In most cases its the Very Good or 3rd ranking that most sites will not mandate the dust jacket. In every case the jacket is major portion the value of the book, and what I weight my decisions on.

Now I want you to go out and just take a look around. I guarantee you'll see what I mean with how the different condition listings differ (Amazon and Barnes and Noble). I hate the difference between the sites, it confuses me, and when I think I understand one site over another. Barnes and Noble's is just very vague and lets them get away with interpretation errors. The standardization would make sure all sites or a guide/common knowledge that all book sellers would use and make use of. It would be a great addition, to both sides of the book world.

Let me know what you think, please leave a comment or send me an e-mail. I appreciate all feedback and discussion on these articles. Thanks in advance for the time and reading some of my views on the matter.

Title: These Broken Stars
Author: Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
Series: #1 - Starbound
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: February 11th, 2014
My Rating: 3.5 out of 5.0

It's a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone.

Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they’re worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help.

Then, against all odds, Lilac and Tarver find a strange blessing in the tragedy that has thrown them into each other’s arms. Without the hope of a future together in their own world, they begin to wonder—would they be better off staying here forever?

Everything changes when they uncover the truth behind the chilling whispers that haunt their every step. Lilac and Tarver may find a way off this planet. But they won’t be the same people who landed on it.

--

A timeless love story, These Broken Stars sets into motion a sweeping science fiction series of companion novels. The Starbound Trilogy: Three worlds. Three love stories. One enemy.

My Review:

These Broken Stars was a sci-fi romance that just turned my whole view on romance upside down. Granted it's not something I would recommend to people who enjoy romance or sci-fi alone, it's got that special touch and I can see a few that would enjoy this novel. What throws the whole bit for a loop is the survival on a foreign plant with two people who are complete polar opposites.

Lilac is this smug almost annoyingly so, rich girl who strives for all the fancies and wonders of the world. However her father keeps a rather tight leash on her, and maybe rightfully so. She expects people to know who she is, grovel and yet underneath all the expectation there is a little bit of her that wants to be treated normally. Someone who wants love her for who she is and not the fame or money. I can imagine how lonely or sad she is.

Tarver is the opposite, a war hero that's traveled around the universe and helped and saved lives of those all around. He comes from nothing, he knows what it's like to have nothing and he lives with almost as little as possible and always has a survival bag nearby for when things go wrong. He's thorough, thoughtful and observant, until he meets Lilac and doesn't recognize who she is. It's at that moment when things take a turn for the romantic.

Tarver isn't the one to be strung out or misled, so when her identity comes out he avoids her like the plague. The turning tide is a ship malfunction that frankly comes out of nowhere, Tarver is forced to save her and find a special escape pod (for her) to save either of them. During so he learns that she isn't exactly who she is perceived. She can do some electrical work and manages to free the pod from the ship, during their crash landing. It's great seeing the actual Lilac to the perceived one.

However on the planet we get to see another side of Lilac that struggles with Tarver, she whines and complains and is afraid of nearly everything. Yet when he tries to help, when what they are going through is his speciality she argues she pushes him away and it was frustrating to read. She won't trust him, because she thinks he's just like every other guy. Tarver is the one that going against what he believes, he saves her over and over.

The survival tale is more of them trekking across the planet, trying to find the main ship for supplies of a beacon to contact Lilac's father. Along the way, there's an animal attack, the cold nights, water and immense rain that pushes Tarver to the limits looking out for Lilac. However in doing so he falls for her, which isn't totally intended. When they get to the ship, he comes ill and this time around it turns to Lilac to enter the ship to save him, keep him warm, and fall for him in return.

The ending of the book was different, and turns completely sci-fi on everything. You get the feeling there's an alien life that wants left alone on the planet, which helps the two out throughout the book. However in doing so, pushes Lilac and Tarver further toward the ship and answers. The story pushes the two together, and forces the two into a survival against much more than just the planet.

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Title: If I Stay
Director: R.J. Cutler
Author: Gayle Forman

Release Date: August 22nd, 2014
Rating: 8.5 Out of 10

Life changes in an instant for young Mia Hall after a car accident puts her in a coma. During an out-of-body experience, she must decide whether to wake up and live a life far different than she had imagined.

From the Book:

Just listen, Adam says with a voice that sounds like shrapnel.

I open my eyes wide now.
I sit up as much as I can.
And I listen.

Stay, he says.

Choices. Seventeen-year-old Mia is faced with some tough ones: Stay true to her first love—music—even if it means losing her boyfriend and leaving her family and friends behind?

Then one February morning Mia goes for a drive with her family, and in an instant, everything changes. Suddenly, all the choices are gone, except one. And it's the only one that matters.

If I Stay is a heartachingly beautiful book about the power of love, the true meaning of family, and the choices we all make.

Review:

Chloë Grace Moretz acted her brains out on this movie. While If I Stay didn't top the charts like I thought it might, the numbers it put up at the box office were respectable and need to be recognized. Going toe-to-toe with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Guardians of the Galaxy, two movies that just don't seem to die off in popularity, If I Stay rounded at No. 3 this week. Now this is by far one of my favorite movies of the near and to be frank I am not sure if it beats The Fault in Our Stars yet.

Chloë Grace Moretz (Mia Hall) and Jamie Blackley (Adam) play two of the most romantic high school couples, but it is a haunting tale of choices we all make. My review on the book is here, and I really didn't notice any changes from the book to the movie. I wasn't sure if there was sex in the book or I was reading it wrong. Their parents weren't how I envisioned them, but these worked better and gave the feel of this regular family.

Well we all know the story of this, and for those that don't. Mia is an extraordinary cello player, far beyond a normal high schooler's level. Her boyfriend is a punk rockstar that's growing in popularity and while they fall in love, their first love is music and that's where their hearts lay. However one day, the snow cancels school and they decide to go their grandparents. On the way they end up in a car accident that leaves everyone in the hospital fighting for their life.

Back to the movie, the main issue I had with it, was me being old. They had sex in the movie and for a movie whose main audience is high school teenagers. This is going to make me sound old, but promoting sex to teenagers isn't something we should be promoting. There are better things they could have done instead to show they were in love with each other. I know that it happens in real life, but it's not something we should be advocating. What I didn't like about it though was the fact that their parents seemed okay with it.

The whole flashbacks in the movie, while some of it was cheesy, tied the emotions together in this movie. While I was hoping to see more of the present with Mia in the hospital. Adam role in the movie was primarily the flashbacks. I was hoping to see more of him presently, and the bands that help support him. The family is sort of confusing to get straight and know who is who. But when everything is figured, they feed in the emotion.

The emotion in this movie is unbelievable, how everyone in Mia's family feels sorry and doesn't want to lose her. She makes her choice, and while I am not sure I agree with her choice, it can't be an easy one to come to. Adam's the one that just broke my heart. Their flashback when they start to realize that Mia and Adam are heading in different directions. He's completely broken.

The best part was the movie was Mia's grandfather flashback. Watching her do her Julliard recital and being in complete awe. It's magnificent to see that, and you get the feeling that he's watching his own granddaughter. But the best part is the speech he gives to Mia, its the most emotional talk I've heard of. I don't think you can act this way, it's remarkable and by far the best acting I've seen.

This movie was an emotional rollercoaster. If you want something that will touch your soul and change your life this is your movie. Frankly it's impacted me and the sequel did as well. Gayle Forman, this was a beautiful movie and I applaud you and anyone who help make this reality. The question I have is has Where She Went been picked up? I want to see what happens to Mia, the relationship with Mia and Adam and more of Adam. He was the one that I enjoyed, and hated, the most in the movie.

[Waiting on Wednesday] - #67

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

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Title: Trial by Fire
Author: Josephine Angelini
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: September 2nd, 2014

This world is trying to kill Lily Proctor. Her life-threatening allergies keep her from enjoying experiences that others in her hometown of Salem take for granted, which is why she is determined to enjoy her first high school party with her best friend and longtime crush, Tristan. But after a humiliating incident in front of half her graduating class, Lily wishes she could just disappear.

Suddenly, Lily is in a different Salem—one overrun with horrifying creatures and ruled by powerful women called Crucibles. Strongest and cruelest of them all is Lillian . . . Lily's other self in this alternate universe.

What makes Lily weak at home is what makes her extraordinary in New Salem. In this confusing world, Lily is torn between responsibilities she can't hope to shoulder alone and a love she never expected.

My Stance:

Trial by Fire is one of the books that I frankly have been eyeing. I have no idea really why exactly the story just doesn't seem all that interesting overall. However Josephine has worked art before in the past and while I haven't really read any of her work, she's been recommended to me time and time again. I have her Starcrossed series on my shelf and have been looking to dig into them. I am a huge fan of greek mythology or well any mythology of that era/area.

Trial by Fire is a duo universe, one in which Lily is this clumsy awkward girl that has some life-threatening allergies. The other side is an alternate Lily (Lillian), gains power off of Lily's weakness. It's a duality that strikes me as odd, but it's been done before. What is going to make this is how Lily and Lillian work together of fight against each other. I am looking for that antagonist/protagonist between the two, and how they may counteract each other. It'll be an intriguing read.

Title: Three
Author: Kristen Simmons
Series: #3 - Article 5
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: February 11th, 204
My Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0

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.

My Review:

This was a book that I thought would be better than was, and I was met with some great parts and some that just let me down. First of all, Ember and Chase's relationship is put through the ringer. As they trek across the countryside looking for survivors from Bureau's attacks. They hide, scrounge food and clothing wherever they can, but mainly looking for clues from Three and his rag-tag organization.

When they finally find the organization and a possible ally from Chase's past. However the company may not entirely be as welcome as he is. Than we get the lovely Tucker that just doesn't stay away. I found that they were both more of a distraction than what was really necessary for the story. I wanted more out of the story, and frankly I wished some of the story would have been expanded upon.

First I don't understand the point of the second book when going to this one. You can almost negate the entire second book or shorten it into this. It's entirely building or plot development leading up to Three, and frankly it could have been thrown into the beginning of this book. I understand I guess, a book built on building the characters and showing how Chase and Ember grew together.

When the revolution started and Three's plan starts rolling. It's Ember and Chase caught in the middle, and splitting the two apart isn't the first thing that Three has planned. Using Ember as a scapegoat and trying to become the new leader as well. However Ember has other plans like normal, and Chase joins her. The Revolution is just blatantly short, and while reading you get into it, and enjoy what you are reading. However it just ends, and the best part ends everything.

The ending to the book is what blew me away. How the complete disregard to civilian life Three is. He wants to bomb the entire Bureau compound, regardless of how many of his own prisoners are there. It turns Three into this power hungry, maniacal dictator. It's how Chase and Ember interact together, come out together and thrive together that turn a all out genocide into something humane.

I wasn't happy with Three (the character) at all, he was just too sadistic and bent on power. The turning point though is Ember and Chase just push their whole existence to the limit and strive together. That was the book, and if you are looking for something dystopian, this series started out great and ended with a bang, but the middle left me a little rocky and questioning if I would finish it.

[Teaser Tuesday] - #25

Hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

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

Title: Asylum
Author: Madeleine Roux
Release Date: August 20th, 2013

Quote: " 'Look-this one burned down his own house with his family still inside,' Abby said.

'They certainly didn't mention that in the admissions packet.' Jordan reached for another of the cards, inspecting it closely. ' This guy killed three wives before he was caught and sent here.' "

--- Page 107

[Book Haul] - #4

Book Haul is an event in which Bloggers and Readers alike showcase their weeks/months pickups and purchases. This showcases new books and older books alike. Feel free to share your books with viewers alike by posting in the comment section with your video or blog. Thanks!

Half-Price Books

Various Dept. Stores

Various Places

Half-Price Books - Book Haul:

Various Depart. Stores - Book Haul:

Various Places - Book Haul:

[Stacking the Shelves] - #70

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!

So I had plans for the weekend and didn't think I would be in the best of health to get around to posting anything for Monday. However those fell through and I am here posting. I will have a review on the movie If I Stay sometime this week, it was soo good. I am not sure on the rating, but it's on par with The Fault in Our Stars. I loved it and will get more into it later. I took some time to myself and than went to Half-Price Bookstore, and Meijer to check out books and see what could be added to my TBR list.

So without further adieu:

Isla and the Happily Ever After	Let's Get Lost	Sanctum	All I Need
Anna and the French Kiss	Lola and the Boy Next Door	How to Love	Echo in Time

Shelf Additions:

Title: Isla and the Happily Ever After
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: August 14th, 2014

From the glittering streets of Manhattan to the moonlit rooftops of Paris, falling in love is easy for hopeless dreamer Isla and introspective artist Josh. But as they begin their senior year in France, Isla and Josh are quickly forced to confront the heartbreaking reality that happily-ever-afters aren’t always forever.

Their romantic journey is skillfully intertwined with those of beloved couples Anna and Étienne and Lola and Cricket, whose paths are destined to collide in a sweeping finale certain to please fans old and new.

Title: Let's Get Lost
Author: Adi Alsaid
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: July 29th, 2014

Five strangers. Countless adventures. One epic way to get lost.

Four teens across the country have only one thing in common: a girl named LEILA. She crashes into their lives in her absurdly red car at the moment they need someone the most.

There's HUDSON, a small-town mechanic who is willing to throw away his dreams for true love. And BREE, a runaway who seizes every Tuesday—and a few stolen goods along the way. ELLIOT believes in happy endings…until his own life goes off-script. And SONIA worries that when she lost her boyfriend, she also lost the ability to love.

Hudson, Bree, Elliot and Sonia find a friend in Leila. And when Leila leaves them, their lives are forever changed. But it is during Leila's own 4,268-mile journey that she discovers the most important truth— sometimes, what you need most is right where you started. And maybe the only way to find what you're looking for is to get lost along the way.

Title: Sanctum
Author: Madeleine Roux
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: August 26th, 2014

In this haunting, fast-paced sequel to the New York Times bestselling photo-illustrated novel Asylum, three teens must unlock some long-buried secrets from the past before the past comes back to get them first. Featuring found photographs, many from real vintage carnivals, Sanctum is a mind-bending reading experience that blurs the lines between past and present, genius and insanity, perfect for fans of the smash hit Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.

Dan, Abby, and Jordan remain traumatized by the summer they shared in the Brookline asylum. Much as they'd love to move on, someone is determined to keep the terror alive, sending the teens photos of an old-timey carnival, with no note and no name. Forsaking their plan never to go back, the teens return to New Hampshire College under the guise of a weekend for prospective students, and there they realize that the carnival from the photos is not only real, it's here on campus, apparently for the first time in many years.

Sneaking away from sample classes and college parties, Dan and his friends lead a tour of their own—one through the abandoned houses and hidden places of the surrounding town. Camford is hiding a terrible past, and the influence of the asylum runs deeper than Dan ever imagined.

Title: All I Need
Author: Susane Colasanti
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: May 21st, 2013

The last night of summer is only the beginning.

Skye wants to meet the boy who will change her life forever. Seth feels their instant connection the second he sees her. When Seth starts talking to Skye at the last beach party of the summer, it’s obvious to both of them that this is something real. But when Seth leaves for college before they exchange contact info, Skye wonders if he felt the same way she did—and if she will ever see him again. Even if they find their way back to each other, can they make a long-distance relationship work despite trust issues, ex drama, and some serious background differences?

Teen favorite Susane Colasanti returns to the alternating-voice style of her beloved debut When It Happens in this Serendipity-inspired story about summer, soul mates, and the moments that change our lives forever.

Title: Anna and the French Kiss
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: December 2nd, 2013

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris--until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Étienne has it all...including a serious girlfriend.

But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss?

Title: Lola and the Boy Next Door
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: September 29th, 2011

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion...she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit--more sparkly, more fun, more wild--the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket--a gifted inventor--steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

Title: How to Love
Author: Katie Cotugno
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: October 1st, 2013

Before: Reena Montero has loved Sawyer LeGrande for as long as she can remember: as natural as breathing, as endless as time. But he's never seemed to notice that Reena even exists until one day, impossibly, he does. Reena and Sawyer fall in messy, complicated love. But then Sawyer disappears from their humid Florida town without a word, leaving a devastated-and pregnant-Reena behind.

After: Almost three years have passed, and there's a new love in Reena's life: her daughter, Hannah. Reena's gotten used to being without Sawyer, and she's finally getting the hang of this strange, unexpected life. But just as swiftly and suddenly as he disappeared, Sawyer turns up again. Reena doesn't want anything to do with him, though she'd be lying if she said Sawyer's being back wasn't stirring something in her. After everything that's happened, can Reena really let herself love Sawyer LeGrande again?

Title: Echo in Time
Author: C.J. Hill
Format: Paperback
Release Date: December 23rd, 2013

After being pulled 400 years into the future, twins Taylor and Sheridan have found some refuge from the government of Traventon, which used the dangerous Time Strainer to yank the girls from the past. Yet the threat of the dangerous technology still looms. Taylor and an ally, Joseph, are selected to go on a mission to destroy the time machine and weapon. But their actions before they do may have major consequences for the future and the past.

Action-packed and romantic, this futuristic sequel to Erasing Time is perfect for fans of dystopian and sci-fi novels such as The Maze Runner by James Dashner, Across the Universe by Beth Revis, and Matched by Ally Condie.

[Flashback Friday] - #68

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?
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Title: A Great and Terrible Beauty
Author: Libba Bray
Release Date: December 9th, 2003

A Victorian boarding school story, a Gothic mansion mystery, a gossipy romp about a clique of girlfriends, and a dark other-worldly fantasy--jumble them all together and you have this complicated and unusual first novel.

Sixteen-year-old Gemma has had an unconventional upbringing in India, until the day she foresees her mother's death in a black, swirling vision that turns out to be true. Sent back to England, she is enrolled at Spence, a girls' academy with a mysterious burned-out East Wing. There Gemma is snubbed by powerful Felicity, beautiful Pippa, and even her own dumpy roommate Ann, until she blackmails herself and Ann into the treacherous clique. Gemma is distressed to find that she has been followed from India by Kartik, a beautiful young man who warns her to fight off the visions. Nevertheless, they continue, and one night she is led by a child-spirit to find a diary that reveals the secrets of a mystical Order. The clique soon finds a way to accompany Gemma to the other-world realms of her visions "for a bit of fun" and to taste the power they will never have as Victorian wives, but they discover that the delights of the realms are overwhelmed by a menace they cannot control. Gemma is left with the knowledge that her role as the link between worlds leaves her with a mission to seek out the "others" and rebuild the Order. A Great and Terrible Beauty is an impressive first book in what should prove to be a fascinating trilogy.

My Stance:

A Great and Terrible Beauty is one of those books that I'm on the fence about, and while historical fiction may not be my sort of thing. Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys was the book that changed my opinion on the whole genre, and while I still don't know about the premise, Libba Bray is just such a great author. I want to try it out, and frankly I am not sure what's going on entirely.

Gemma is one of those characters, that is so diverse and odd that intrigues me. I find that I am more trying to figure out who she is, what's she's capable of, and just the world around her. I am a huge fan of the whole victorian era, the clothes are just beautiful and the architecture is just breathtaking. so if you don't get those two right I don't think the book will have the appeal that I'm overall looking for out of the novel. Further, the style and tone of the book is going to dictate just how the book is going as well. I am looking for something light and edgy, but at the same time a darker undertone and possibly something more sinister.

I haven't read anything by Libba Bray and while I have The Diviners, I just don't have the time to sink into that book, even though I have been told I will devour it completely. I figure between this one and possibly The Diviners and Beauty Queens, it's about time I give her a shot and try to get into her style and see for myself what a great author she is.

Title: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Director: Jonathan Liebesman
Release Date: August 8th, 2014

Rating: 4.0 Out of 10

A group of mutated warriors face off against an evil kingpin who wants to take over New York.

Review:

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was a rather insult the franchise. Micheal Bay should be shook and beaten for this movie in general. Frankly taking the liberties with the lore and changing some of the sacred childhood story that everyone was used to just wasn't necessary. The action scenes were more than a joke, and frankly all of the original movies beat this movie by a long shot.

First off lets talk about the turtles in general, first off there was two that stood out amongst all the others. Michelangelo and Raphael just took the spotlight while Donatello and Leonardo just seemed to sit around in the background not adding much to the story. Donatello had all these odd gadgets attached to him that didn't do anything and while they are all for show, it just wasn't needed to be there. Leonardo was by far one of the worst leaders and while he was trying to, it was just so forced and just deplorable.

While Leonardo and Donatello were merely useless and frankly I found them two horrid, the other two Raphael and Michelangelo weren't that much better. Raphael was serious and frankly the one that was by far too serious for the movie. This was mainly geared for younger audiences and for how serious and mature for the audience. Michelangelo wasn't funny at all. I found him to be more annoying and while he was supposed to be this bouncy musical goof-off, it was too forced.

Splinter on the other hand was badass when he fought. However he wasn't all that wise, like in previous movies. I was hoping from more lifelong lessons from him. Splinter didn't play a major roll or impact in the movie at all, he did plot wise, but you don't feel any attachment to what happens to him. It made me angry that he has no role that makes the viewer feel bad or emotionally invested in the movie.

Shredder was the only good part of the movie. He was modern and very well drawn out, he's sinister and downright evil. However at the same time the lore behind Shredder makes no sense; there is none. In the previous movies there is a bunch of background to him and his history with Splinter, and frankly it's just not there.

My biggest complain out of everything was how bad the lore change was. Okay it's better than the first alternative we got in which they were all aliens. No, in this one they are all products of a successful research program with April's father. So she knew who they all were and named them all when she was little. Now some would say that is all fine and dandy, but it's ridiculous. April wasn't shocked with who they were, and in the end they weren't viewed as freaks in the opening minutes. That's what the whole point was in the first movie and them struggling to accept the outside world and their place in it.

Further if we want to go, the fight scenes were atrocious. When you want to design a scent, look at this movie for what not to do. Yea they looked goo, but when you reflect back on them, it's nothing but a one side brawl with a single cheeky move. I don't like how there was no back and forth, no hope building up as the fight goes on. There's no life/death fear or emotion in the fights, and that is what just drove the whole move down the drain for me.

Title: Cruel Beauty
Author: Rosamund Hodge
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: January 28th, 2014
My Rating: 5.0 out of 5.0

Graceling meets Beauty and the Beast in this sweeping fantasy about one girl's journey to fulfill her destiny and the monster who gets in her way-by stealing her heart.

Based on the classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, Cruel Beauty is a dazzling love story about our deepest desires and their power to change our destiny.

Since birth, Nyx has been betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom-all because of a foolish bargain struck by her father. And since birth, she has been in training to kill him.

With no choice but to fulfill her duty, Nyx resents her family for never trying to save her and hates herself for wanting to escape her fate. Still, on her seventeenth birthday, Nyx abandons everything she's ever known to marry the all-powerful, immortal Ignifex. Her plan? Seduce him, destroy his enchanted castle, and break the nine-hundred-year-old curse he put on her people.

But Ignifex is not at all what Nyx expected. The strangely charming lord beguiles her, and his castle-a shifting maze of magical rooms-enthralls her.

As Nyx searches for a way to free her homeland by uncovering Ignifex's secrets, she finds herself unwillingly drawn to him. Even if she could bring herself to love her sworn enemy, how can she refuse her duty to kill him? With time running out, Nyx must decide what is more important: the future of her kingdom, or the man she was never supposed to love.

My Review:

Cruel Beauty was by far one of my more unique reads and it stands out amongst all the new books this year. While I haven't really gotten into many books this year, this is a great sign for the beginning of the year. The pace of this book kept your eyes glued to the pages and the way you want to see what's happening next, and solve the mystery of the castle keeps the pages turning. Further the love for this book was beyond anything I could say. There was times in which I found myself feeling sorry for Nyx, the mix of emotions that this book instills is great.

Nyx is this great character, and like most of the top books that I enjoy have these strong protagonists and Nyx is no exception. She's born from a deal with the Gentle Lord of their village. Nyx's mother is barren and her father makes a deal with the Gentle Lord for her to have children, however in doing so, she dies in childbirth. The other part of the deal though was that a child would be given to the Gentle Lord, and Nyx is the child that her father doesn't like. She knows she's a sacrifice and is raised to be a weapon to kill the Gentle Lord. She goes into the "marriage" angry and afraid at the same.

Ignifex, The Gentle Lord is known for the double-sided deals that he makes. He's known as the ruler of the village for centuries. He's got the blood of innocent people on his hands, and frankly he isn't bothered by it. He's extremely arrogant, and the other side of his character was light and a darker side of humor that lightened the mood. The one great thing about his character is the realization that not everything is black and white, his character is a dichotomy of how people have multiple layers that aren't all rainbows.

The story just blew my mind, and while I was looking at the Goodreads description I thought this would be another simple Fairy Tale retelling. Boy was I wrong. This book surpassed everything I thought the book would be and the layers upon layers of environment, character growth, relationships with something more just underneath the surface. The twist on the mythology with some greek mythology as well, just pushes the bitter dark tone of the entire book into a easy 5.0 rating. There is a great part of this book that I devoured and loved greatly. There wasn't much to complain about in this book, it was solid and well formed.

The Giver by Lois Lowry

Title: The Giver
Director: Phillip Noyce
Author: Lois Lowry

Release Date: November 27th, 2013
Rating: 7.5 Out of 10

In a seemingly perfect community, without war, pain, suffering, differences or choice, a young boy is chosen to learn from an elderly man about the true pain and pleasure of the "real" world.

From the Book:

Jonas' world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear or pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the Community. When Jonas turns twelve, he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now, it is time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back.

Review:

The Giver was a unique movie that frankly surprised me. It's been a long long while since I have read the book for High School. I didn't know what to expect and frankly I wasn't anticipating this movie at all. Looking at the numbers for the week I was sure that Expendables 3 would do really well this week and boy were we all wrong on that front. The Giver did well figuring the huge blockbuster it went up against (for opening movies that is).

I want to take a quick time-out and say one thing, I was one of maybe three or four people in the theatre on Sunday I don't care how bad or good a movie is, I find that rather sad, whether the movie wasn't advertised as well. I frankly didn't see The Giver at all on TV and while I don't watch much TV at all, but what little I do I was looking for info or something about the movie. Also there was no hype or expectation to this movie. Maybe I am wrong about the expectation, but I don't think anyone thought this movie would be worth going to see. I am going to say that this movie is going to be worth the matinee fee.

Back to the movie, I understand that the book was heavy with similes and metaphors, and the bit that plagued my confusion was how would you convey those. They did this black and white filming and interjected some color. The part that stood out to me, was the part where Jonas is starting to "see" beyond and he sees the color in Fiona's hair. They filmed that scene in black and white, than just screened her hair in color. It was that subtle change and throughout the movie allowed you to see the world change in how Jonas views and sees the world around him.

What I enjoyed the most about the book was the lack of action. It's a slow movie and while I hate how slow movies just don't show character growth, or give you anything to grasp onto. I found that the slow pace allowed you to get into the mind of Jonas, and see how this dystopia was so wrong. Had it gone any faster, I don't think the connection would have been as good and would have taken away from the movie. I loved how as the movie went you slowly questioned some of the believes you may hold and put yourself in Jonas' perspective.

The Giver was a movie that I thought was underrated. It was great, the actors while I haven't seen them or any movies they have been in, did a fantastic job or taking their roles and making them their own. While I would have liked to see more action than just a simple bicycle chase, I understand that there wasn't a need to do it. However, the one part to add it and show just how much Jonas has learned or the memories he holds would have show the difference there. Being my own devils advocate, having not had more action keeps Jonas' innocents.

This dystopia is conveyed so well and you get that feeling of hopelessness from Jonas. The government gives out daily injections, in which you think are for health and wellness, but as the story goes they are taking emotions out of the populus. What I like the most though is that as Jonas starts to understand the memories of the past, he begins to question the methods and daily life. You get that whole helpless, and the idea that no one really knows what's going on. Jonas understand than that if he goes beyond he can hope to give them some sort of understanding and help them see the world in whole and not just some plain bland landscape.

If you are looking for a movie with action, this just isn't your movie. The Giver is a thoughtful movie that makes you question what you would do if you were Jonas. I love how they filmed the movie and the swapping around with Black and White with color. There is a lot of curious bits that Jonas goes through, I was curious if they made some of the colors more vibrant as he gains more understand of the world around him. This is definitely a great movie and by far one of my favorites for the year.

[Waiting on Wednesday] - #66

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?
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Title: I Want It That Way
Author: Ann Aguirre
Format: Paperback
Release Date: August 26th, 2014

Nadia Conrad has big dreams, and she's determined to make them come true—for her parents' sake as well as her own. But between maintaining her college scholarship and working at the local day care to support herself, she barely has time to think, let alone date. Then she moves into a new apartment and meets the taciturn yet irresistible guy in 1B….

Daniel Tyler has grown up too fast. Becoming a single dad at twenty turned his life upside down—and brought him heartache he can't risk again. Now, as he raises his four-year-old son while balancing a full-time construction management job and night classes, a social life is out of the question. The last thing he wants is for four noisy students to move into the apartment upstairs. But one night, Nadia's and Ty's paths cross, and soon they can't stay away from each other.

The timing is all wrong—but love happens when it happens. And you can't know what you truly need until you stand to lose it.

My Stance:

This book reminds of the books by Katie McGarry and while it has some aspects, this seems more New Adult oriented and I enjoy that. I love the aspect that it's a romance at a random moment, it gives the romance that natural feel. Further, you tend to hear more on single mothers and not necessarily single fathers, so I am curious to see the different perspective and how it'll be handled. It's so different and enjoyable.

What I find most enjoyable about this book is the Nadia, she's trying to keep good grades and her scholarship, while working on her off time. Daniel is the second part in which he's working to support his son and taking classes at night. So when both come together and can't stay away, when will they make time for each other. How will their story be told? I wonder if there will be any spats and how their relationship will unfold.

Title: Evermore
Author: Alyson Noel
Series: #1 - The Immortals
Format: Paperback
Release Date: February 3rd, 2009
My Rating: 2.0 out of 5.0

The first book in Alyson Noël's extraordinary new Immortals series. Enter an enchanting new world, where true love never dies...

After a horrible accident claims the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever Bloom can see people's auras, hear their thoughts, and know someone's entire life story by touching them. Going out of her way to avoid human contact to suppress her abilities, she has been branded a freak at her new high school — but everything changes when she meets Damen Auguste.

Damen is gorgeous, exotic and wealthy. He's the only one who can silence the noise and random energy in her head - wielding a magic so intense, it's as though he can peer straight into her soul. As Ever is drawn deeper into his enticing world of secrets and mystery, she's left with more questions than answers. And she has no idea just who he really is - or what he is. The only thing she knows to be true is that she's falling deeply and helplessly in love with him.

My Review:

Evermore I thought would be this new paranormal book that would surprise me and I would enjoy completely. However this book had holes in just about every part of the book that drove me crazy. It was the perfect example of why I try to avoid some paranormal romance because of how typical and bland. I was hoping for more from the protagonist, but how can you do that when you name the character Ever. The name is so out of the ordinary and just odd that I couldn't figure what kind of parents would name their child that.

Ever was this weak childish high school girl that frankly lacks a lot of intelligence. There are scenes time and time again that she seems to throw logic out the window and make rash decisions. Further she is so stubborn she won't listen to anyone or sit long enough for anyone to explain. It's sad to see such a great potential and the Goodreads description makes it sound great.

Damen enters with thunder and while most would think that's a good thing. I am talking about the lightning strike that kills your long-time dog. He's this stereotypical perfect guy that's always there when Ever needs it. I never really saw any flaw with him, anything that would point that he's a normal person. Other than him randomly disappearing and showing up randomly. He's this immortal that frankly is far beyond worst than Twilight. I know that's hard to say about a book, but Damen was just laughable.

There was light at the end of the tunnel for this book, Ever did grow at the end of the book, and while the first half of the book I just didn't like at all. She is given the choice to be immortal with Damen and I love how she takes a step back and has to think about it. That's the one part in which she finally steps out of herself and I find that part and the events leading up to it, the turning point in the novel and what I had to give some credit to.

The relationship between Ever and Damen was something I as well found laughable. It was that cheesy high school relationship, that starts off a simple party. I expected more, and a bit more mature relationship. It was that giggly bubbly relationship, that frankly with a stubborn girl in half the book makes the whole book less believable. However when the relationship is starting, Damen is chasing Ever in a classic paranormal "no actually means try harder" type of stalker. Frankly, the relationship shouldn't have started honestly with Damen chasing Ever in this creepy stalker way.

If you want a paranormal book that's actually good, I suggest trying something else. This just isn't the book to start with, and frankly it shouldn't be read. I will finish the series since I started, I hope the book matures and provides something deeper than just some high school sing-a-long. I would suggest trying another Noel book if you want to try a series by her, maybe that will be better than what this book was.

[Teaser Tuesday] - #24

Hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

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

Title: Salvage
Author: Alexandra Duncan
Release Date: April 1st, 2014

Quote: "Earthside. I lean forward and try to push myself to my feet, but my legs give out. I slump back against the wall. "Iri..." It's as if my tongue has become mud. I can't make the rest of it come out.

"Don't move too much or you'll pull out the IV." The captain reaches behind her back to pull the ties on her leather apron. "You want some water? Something to eat?"

--- Page 237

[Stacking the Shelves] - #69

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 trying to keep busy with everything this week. I have two movie reviews this week (The Giver and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), which won't come at the cost of a book review this week. I have been looking for another discussion topic, even though they don't seem to be much of a discussion. I may look at retiring that section, and I'm not sure if I will. It's just one of those sections that allows me to post something fun and interesting when I feel like it. I enjoy doing it at times, just not every week..

So without further adieu:

The Young World	Opposition	Embers & Ashes	Sky on Fire
Find Me	The Distance Between Us	Perfect Ruin	Hunted

Shelf Additions:

Title: The Young World
Author: Chris Weitz
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: July 29th, 2014

Welcome to New York, a city ruled by teens.

After a mysterious Sickness wipes out the rest of the population, the young survivors assemble into tightly run tribes. Jefferson, the reluctant leader of the Washington Square tribe, and Donna, the girl he's secretly in love with, have carved out a precarious existence among the chaos. But when another tribe member discovers a clue that may hold the cure to the Sickness, five teens set out on a life-altering road trip to save humankind.

The tribe exchanges gunfire with enemy gangs, escapes cults and militias, braves the wilds of the subway and Central Park...and discovers truths they could never have imagined.

Title: Opposition
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Format: Paperback
Release Date: August 5th, 2014

Katy knows the world changed the night the Luxen came.

She can't believe Daemon welcomed his race or stood by as his kind threatened to obliterate every last human and hybrid on Earth. But the lines between good and bad have blurred, and love has become an emotion that could destroy her—could destroy them all.

Daemon will do anything to save those he loves, even if it means betrayal.

They must team with an unlikely enemy if there is any chance of surviving the invasion. But when it quickly becomes impossible to tell friend from foe, and the world is crumbling around them, they may lose everything— even what they cherish most—to ensure the survival of their friends…and mankind.

War has come to Earth. And no matter the outcome, the future will never be the same for those left standing.

Title: Embers & Ash
Author: T.M. Goeglein
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: July 10th, 2014

Sara Jane Rispoli is on the wrong side of the Russian mob, but closer to finding her family than ever. And she's willing to do whatever it takes to finally end this terrible journey even if the price is her own life.

The very cold fury that has seen her through the worst of her troubles is now killing her; she knows the cure, but she can't sacrifice the deadly electricity until she's rescued her family. But when she finally does rescue them, it's not the happy reunion she pictured. And the torment doesn't stop there, not even when she finally discovers Ultimate Power. Only destroying the Outfit completely can end this terrible nightmare.

Old enemies return to seek vengeance, double-crosses abound, and even more mysteries are uncovered as we rocket toward an end no one saw coming.

Title: Sky On Fire
Author: Emily Laybourne
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: May 28th, 2013

Trapped in a superstore by a series of escalating disasters, including a monster hailstorm and terrifying chemical weapons spill, brothers Dean and Alex learned how to survive and worked together with twelve other kids to build a refuge from the chaos. But then strangers appeared, destroying their fragile peace, and bringing both fresh disaster and a glimmer of hope.

Knowing that the chemical weapons saturating the air outside will turn him into a bloodthirsty rage monster, Dean decides to stay in the safety of the store with Astrid and some of the younger kids. But their sanctuary has already been breached once. . . .

Meanwhile, Alex, determined to find their parents, heads out into the darkness and devastation with Niko and some others in a recently repaired school bus. If they can get to Denver International Airport, they might be evacuated to safety. But the outside world is even worse than they expected. . . .

Title: Find Me
Author: Romily Bernard
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: September 24th, 2013

“Find Me.”

These are the words written on Tessa Waye’s diary. The diary that ends up with Wick Tate. But Tessa’s just been found . . . dead.

Wick has the right computer-hacking skills for the job, but little interest in this perverse game of hide-and-seek. Until her sister Lily is the next target.

Then Griff, trailer-park boy next door and fellow hacker, shows up, intent on helping Wick. Is a happy ending possible with the threat of Wick’s deadbeat dad returning, the detective hunting him sniffing around Wick instead, and a killer taunting her at every step?

Foster child. Daughter of a felon. Loner hacker girl. Wick has a bad attitude and sarcasm to spare.

But she’s going to find this killer no matter what.

Because it just got personal.

Title: The Distance Between Us
Author: Kasie West
Format: Paperback
Release Date: July 2nd, 2013

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.

Title: Perfect Ruin
Author: Lauren DeStefano
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: October 1st, 2013

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.

Title: Hunted
Author: Elizabeth Heiter
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: December 31st, 2013

Terror stalks a small Virginia town.

FBI rising star, criminal profiler Evelyn Baine, knows how to think like a serial killer. But she's never chased anyone like the Bakersville Burier, who hunts young women and displays them, half-buried, deep in the woods. As the body count climbs, Evelyn's relentless pursuit of the killer puts her career - and her life - at risk. And the evil lurking in the Burier's mind may be more than even she can unravel.

Terror is closer than she thinks.

The Bakersville Burier knows he's got an FBI profiler on his trail. He knows who she is and where to find her. And he's biding his time, because he's planned a special punishment for Evelyn. She may have tracked other killers, but he vows to make this her last chase. This time it's her turn to be hunted!

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