Waiting on Wednesday (11)

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

My pick this week is...

A Need So Beautiful - Suzanne Young

We all want to be remembered. Charlotte's destiny is to be Forgotten...

Charlotte’s best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she’s cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what’s really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth, who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger.

But Charlotte never wanted this responsibility. What she wants is to help her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend's arms forever. But as the Need grows stronger, it begins to take a dangerous toll on Charlotte. And who she was, is, and will become--her mark on this earth, her very existence--is in jeopardy of disappearing completely.

Charlotte will be forced to choose: Should she embrace her fate as a Forgotten, a fate that promises to rip her from the lives of those she loves forever? Or is she willing to fight against her destiny--no matter how dark the consequences.

I want NEED this book. I am counting down the days until release day, and I have been stalking our local Books-A-Million who is notorious for putting books out early.  Beautiful cover, and the story sounds great!! AHHHHH can't wait!!

What are you guys waiting on this week?!?

Review: Darkness Becomes Her - Kelly Keaton

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Simon Pulse (February 22, 2011)

Ari can’t help feeling lost and alone. With teal eyes and freakish silver hair that can’t be changed or destroyed, Ari has always stood out. And after growing up in foster care, she longs for some understanding of where she came from and who she is.

Her search for answers uncovers just one message from her long dead mother: Run. Ari can sense that someone, or something, is getting closer than they should. But it’s impossible to protect herself when she doesn’t know what she’s running from or why she is being pursued.

She knows only one thing: she must return to her birthplace of New 2, the lush rebuilt city of New Orleans. Upon arriving, she discovers that New 2 is very...different. Here, Ari is seemingly normal. But every creature she encounters, no matter how deadly or horrifying, is afraid of her.

Ari won’t stop until she knows why. But some truths are too haunting, too terrifying, to ever be revealed.

My Thoughts...

Yay for more books involving mythology!  This was a great story from start to finish.  I loved the setting that was New 2.  It seemed so beautiful yet creepy all at the same time.  I think I also fell in love with Ari, self discovery isn't always easy especially when you discover that you miles from ordinary.  I really felt that she mostly handled herself well and that she was a strong main character.  I was a little put off by the insta connection between her and Sebastian, but through out the story it seemed to work itself out.   I liked the group of "misfits" that she falls in with, especially Violet she was such a great character.  My favorite thing here though had to be the way that mythology was worked into the story.  I kind of had a feeling for where it was going, but wasn't really sure how we were going to get there until we had arrived.  This was a quick read that left me wanting more.  I'm really excited for more books in this series and I am giving this one 5 stars!

Review: The Magnolia League - Katie Crouch

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Poppy (May 3, 2011)

After the death of her free-spirited mother, sixteen-year-old Alex Lee must leave her home in northern California to live with her wealthy grandmother in Savannah, Georgia. By birth, Alex is a rightful, if unwilling, member of the Magnolia League, Savannah's long-standing debutante society. She quickly discovers that the Magnolias have made a pact with a legendary hoodoo family, the Buzzards. The Magnolias enjoy youth, beauty and power. But at what price?

As in her popular adult novels, Crouch's poignant and humorous voice shines in this seductively atmospheric story about girls growing up in a magical Southern city.

My Thoughts...

Surprisingly I really liked this book.  I really wasn't sure about it but decided to give it a chance and it payed off.  I really liked Alex I felt bad for her at the start losing her mother and being moved from everything and everyone she has ever known and getting dropped in Savannah's high society.  I loved her spunk and determination to stay herself, well at least until she is finally let in on every one's big secret.  Then at first you see small changes, then finally she almost makes a big mistake.  In the end though I fell that she really is her own person who really is doing what she fells is right.  I also liked Hayes and Madison, I thought through the whole story that they were really going to betray Alex but they were as good a friends to her as they knew how to be.  Dexter was awesome in my opinion he always seemed honest and genuine.  I loved Thaddeus and I can't wait to see what happens with him in the next book.  Well actually I can't wait for the next book in general.  I also have to say that the setting of this book was great I love reading about the south and Savannah is one of my favorite places although I haven't been there yet.  One day though I do plan on going! I give this one 4 stars!

Teaser Tuesday (11)

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

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week my teaser is from...

The Survivors - Amanda Havard

"That's when I wondered what I was doing going to Mississippi to be a bridesmaid.  This event was only going to remind me of what I would never have.  It was so stupid of me, trying to have a life like this, trying to be so human."

In My Mailbox (13)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren

all links go to goodreads =o)

Review:

Misfit - Jon Skovron

 Circle Nine - Anne Heltzel

The Survivors - Amanda Havard

Bought:

Something Deadly This Way Comes - Kim Harrison

Blood Magic - Tessa Gratton

Summer's Crossing - Julie Kagawa

Through Her Eyes - Jennifer Archer

Airborne - Constance Sharper

Awaken - Katie Kacvinsky

Graveminder - Melissa Marr

Deadline - Mira Grant

Review: Possession - Elana Johnson

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Simon Pulse (June 7, 2011)

Vi knows the Rule: Girls don't walk with boys, and they never even thinkabout kissing them. But no one makes Vi want to break the Rules more than Zenn...and since the Thinkers have chosen him as Vi's future match, how much trouble can one kiss cause? The Thinkers may have brainwashed the rest of the population, but Vi is determined to think for herself.

But the Thinkers are unusually persuasive, and they're set on convincing Vi to become one of them...starting by brainwashing Zenn. Vi can't leave Zenn in the Thinkers' hands, but she's wary of joining the rebellion, especially since that means teaming up with Jag. Jag is egotistical, charismatic, and dangerous--everything Zenn's not. Vi can't quite trust Jag and can't quite resist him, but she also can't give up on Zenn. This is a game of control or be controlled. And Vi has no choice but to play.

My Thoughts...

Oh boy...Oh boy...Oh boy... I fell in love with the very simple yet beautiful cover, and was desperate to read it. I didn't hesitate to start it when I got it from S&S Galley Grab.  There were a few points where I was a little confused, but overall this book was great.  Life is anything but easy or normal for Vi, she is constantly faced with tough choices, while not equipped with enough information to always make her decision.  One of the things I loved about Vi was she was smart but tended to make her decisions from her heart. I was a little disappointed at the insta click between Vi and Jag, at the same time I kinda get it strange things happen when people are extremely stressed or scared.  I really don't think I can discuss any of the plot without giving something away so all I will say is this book is intense and there are so many twist and turns before the end.  I really hope that there is more to this story I look forward to more in this series and this author! This one gets 4 stars from me!

Friday Blog Hop (11) Follow Friday (11)

Friday Blog Hop is hosted by Jenn at Crazy-For-Books.   It is a weekend long Book Party giving bloggers a chance to get to know each other and access to new blogs that we all might enjoy! If you haven't stopped by to give the hop a look I highly suggest that you do! Also every week there is a new question posted for us at answer this weeks question is...

“Share your favorite post from the last month and tell us why it’s close to your heart!”

I have to say my nearest and dearest blog post would have to be my first post, it was when I decided that I really wanted to blog about books and I haven't looked back since, I have been enjoying these past few months and meeting new people with similar interests.  Lately I haven't been posting as often since summer is coming and my little one is getting ready to start kindergarten so I have been running to do all the meetings and such offered since I am a first time Kindergarten mom, but I promise I will be posting more often once everything settles down =o)

Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee, every week we all get together to answer a question and find new blogs that we enjoy. This weeks question is

Q. What are you doing to prepare for an upcoming zombie apocalypse and/or the return of Mel Gibson to the silver screen? (Both of which could be terrifying.)

 

I am terrified of zombies!! I can't watch zombie movies unless I'm okay with not sleeping for a few days, I haven't read many books that I have to do with brain eating zombies so I don't know if that would creep me out, and I can't drive past a cemetery without looking at the fence thinking how helpful it might be.  Now you would think that since I am such a scardy cat that I would have a great plan, but really I have a bat by the front door and the back door, I have enough wood in my garage to board up the ground floor windows, but my garage is quite a hike from my house so that might not be helpful.  My grandfather was big on keeping up a stock of canned foods so in my basement I have a ton of canned foods, and a supply of water.  I also have a boyfriend who likes to hunt so if it became necessary we would have weapons other than my baseball bats.

I think I would much rather deal with the zombies than Mel Gibson coming back to the silver screen *shudders* yes definitely rather take on the zombies!