Waiting On Wednesday

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine , 

that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Luke is the perfect boyfriend: handsome, kind, fun. He and Emaline have been together all through high school in Colby, the beach town where they both grew up. But now, in the summer before college, Emaline wonders if perfect is good enough.

Enter Theo, a super-ambitious outsider, a New Yorker assisting on a documentary film about a reclusive local artist. Theo's sophisticated, exciting, and, best of all, he thinks Emaline is much too smart for Colby.

Emaline's mostly-absentee father, too, thinks Emaline should have a bigger life, and he's convinced that an Ivy League education is the only route to realizing her potential. Emaline is attracted to the bright future that Theo and her father promise. But she also clings to the deep roots of her loving mother, stepfather, and sisters. Can she ignore the pull of the happily familiar world of Colby?

Emaline wants the moon and more, but how can she balance where she comes from with where she's going?

Expected publication: June 4th 2013 by Viking Juvenile 

Many of you who regularly drop by my blog or chat with me on twitter know, I am not a big fan of contemporaries. In fact I tend to steer clear of them. Sarah Dessen books are one of my rare exceptions. I will read ANYTHING that this woman writes. Her book are just... AH! Perfect. She gets it. lol

So if you value my opinion ... and you haven't read anything by Sarah Dessen? DO IT NOW!
- My Favorites are The Truth About Forever, Just Listen and Lock and Key  .

Have you read any books by Sarah Dessen? What is your favorite!? 

Having A W.O.W post? Feel free to leave a link in the comments so I can visit!

Mailbox Monday

It has been awhile since I have shared what I have received for review :)

 So not all of these are within the last week.

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia at Hooked by A Book (formerly The Printed Page) and is on tour for the month of January right here at Lori's Reading Corner.

Read the Mailbox Monday story HERE

All images are Linked up and will take you to the books Goodreads page :) 

 

From the Author :

 From Publisher :

 St. Martins Press

 Spencer Hill Press

 Entangled Teen

From Publisher/ NetGalley

 On the blog Last week : 

Reviews-

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers ( View HERE )

Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood ( View HERE )

  

I'm slowly catching up on my reviews, and working on getting more organized so I have more posts to share with you throughout the week! Your comments and feedback really give me a good "push" to keep blogging, So THANK YOU! Also.. be on the lookout- This week the blog is getting a totally new design! o.O I love this one.. don't get me wrong. But I just wanted something different for the new year, and it has a slightly different vibe to it. Can't wait to share!

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin #1)

by R.L. LaFevers

 Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae’s most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

A few of my thoughts as I was reading Grave Mercy: 

So.. Even though it doesn't look like it, I finished this in one sitting :) I started at about 9pm ... and finished sometime in the early morning ! I love it when I can find a book that I just can't tear myself away from. 

I remember hearing about Grave Mercy first on twitter, seeing things like " Assassin nuns! " And to be honest, that didn't seem like something I would be interested in. Sounded a bit too odd for me.

Then I saw the cover and read the description and I knew it was my kinda book. I love historical stories.. I mean seriously. Love them. Could it be partly because I let my girly side come out a bit as I gush over the amazing sounding dresses? .. Just a tad. But I also love the scenery and the action that comes with historical settings. I mean who uses A crossbow these days!? 

As I dove into Grave Mercy I prepared myself for the possibility that I might find it daunting, that halfway through I would be bored. It is around 500 pgs after all. But no. Halfway through I was upset! Upset that I knew the story would be ending far too soon. 

Ismae was a amazing character. Her background builds her character and she grows into a strong woman... and assassin. Yet she can never truly loose her emotions. I loved watching her struggle with how she felt. trying to decide between staying true to the convent's wishes, and what she was slowly coming to believe was right. Vengeance? Or Mercy.

The story flowed perfectly, at no point did I feel things were moving to slow or too fast. And the writing style was just... perfect. The language stayed true to the time period, and at times the descriptions were so rich it almost felt poetic. The action and intrigue seriously kept me on my toes!

Of course there is a romance. At first I was against the idea, I wanted Ismae to show a strong woman doesn't need a man! And we don't! But then again.. Who really would turn away from a gorgeous man who can handle a sword and is full of wit? Not I ! The pairing was perfect. I found myself mentally nudging Ismae toward Duval often. 

Something to keep in mind for a few readers, there is a few sexual references in Grave Mercy. Not too many, and it doesn't get into detail really. But Ismae is trained in .. many different arts. And sometimes "womanly wiles" are the best way to get information. I personally found this refreshing. But I understand that not everyone feels this way. However when you think about the fact that this is a historical, the presence of sex is really.. well, historically accurate in a way. Girls were considered women much earlier in their lives, and were also married off very young... Anyway. Like I said. It's not too much. But I figure I should just mention it for some of the younger readers interested.

So basically my review is this : ***GUSH*** 

I cannot say it enough. I LOVED THIS BOOK. 
Rating: 5/5

If you haven't read it yet, and the description or my review intrigues you? Go pick it up! You won't be disappointed!! 

Book #2 is out April 2nd 2013!

Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they’re witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship—or an early grave.

Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with only six months left to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word... especially after she finds her mother’s diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family’s destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra.

If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren’t safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood—not even from each other.

 Here are a couple thoughts I had While reading Born Wicked:

@ 29%: Beautifully written! Loving the historical feel and so much more!
@100%: *Turns last page, closes book. Stares in AWE.* I.. Need.. MORE!

Why were there only 2 thoughts/updates? Because I finished the book in 1 sitting! I could not bear to tear myself away from reading it any more. 

I don't know how to begin describing how I feel about this book. It was just so wonderful! It's been awhile since I read a book about witchcraft that didn't feel like it had a layer of "fluff" surrounding it. Or wasn't so immersed in the dark aspects of witchcraft that it let the rich and beautiful aspect of it disappear. 

Basically how I feel about this story is.. the same as how I feel when I look at the cover ( the original not the paperback ) It was rich, it was romantic, it was a little edgy, and I just loved it. 

Sadly I read this book near the beginning of   2012, and was just, unable to put my thoughts into words. So now, very specific things that I loved about it, are not as sharp in my mind for me to share with you. But I will tell you this. The Characters are amazing. They are well rounded and loveable, or hateable when needed. I swooned for a guy, I sighed with the girls. The scenes are rich, rich with story and detail... There is a swoony scene.. in a closet.. it involves feathers ;) - It was GORGEOUS .. or at least, how it played out in my head was lol.

One of my favorite elements that Jessica added to this story is one that is still not very prominent in YA literature, so I applaud her profusely for having the nerve to add it in, and for doing it so perfectly! There is a Kissy scene/ relationship! And it's two girls! - I will tell no more! Must let it be a surprise for you!
 *Now please, do NOT let this put you off if it bothers you, to each their own.  It is not a Huge part of the story. But adds to it in a wonderful way. 

Jessica Spotswood was a 2012 Debut with Born Wicked. I said it then and I will say it now.. watch of for this author!  

Rating: 5/5 
 

Cursed by Jennifer Armentrout

Cursed
by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Dying sucks--and high school senior Ember McWilliams knows firsthand. After a fatal car accident, her gifted little sister brought her back. Now anything Ember touches dies. And that, well, really blows.
Ember operates on a no-touch policy with all living things--including boys. When Hayden Cromwell shows up, quoting Oscar Wilde and claiming her curse is a gift, she thinks he's a crazed cutie. But when he tells her he can help control it, she's more than interested. There's just one catch: Ember has to trust Hayden's adopted father, a man she's sure has sinister reasons for collecting children whose abilities even weird her out. However, she's willing to do anything to hold her sister's hand again. And hell, she'd also like to be able to kiss Hayden. Who wouldn't?
But when Ember learns the accident that turned her into a freak may not've been an accident at all, she's not sure who to trust. Someone wanted her dead, and the closer she gets to the truth, the closer she is to losing not only her heart, but her life. For real this time.

 

Jennifer Armentrout is an Author that won my heart the moment I opened Obsidian ( Book #1 in the Lux series ) I then went on to read EVERY book I could find of hers. And loved them all. They were all so unique, and full of ideas I hadn't really touched on much in YA.

That was a bit of what let me down with Cursed :/ The "touch of death" theme is something I have seen multiple times. There were a few unique aspects to the story that I enjoyed and held me through, but in the back of my head I kept thinking " read it, read it, read it. "

Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed Cursed. 3 stars is NOT a bad rating. It just wasn't as amazing as I wanted.

Things that I liked about Cursed were:

The characters! Ember was such a strong character and person. Having gone what she has, and SURVIVING, holding on and still fighting for a good life for her and her sister, it's a trait I love to see in YA books.

Her sister Oliva was freaking ADORABLE. I mean really.. I feel for Ember..How do you say " no, you can't raise your dead hampster Squeaky back from the dead." to a face like that!
- I was heartbroken that Oliva wasn't more present in the story. She was always in the background, and topic of conversation, But I feel like she wasn't actually ACTIVE in the story as much as I would have liked. 

Then there was Hayden ... ooh Hayden >.<  I feel like I was able to feel Ember's emotions right along with her. You can't help but fall for Hayden.. but there is always a little bit of.. hesitation. With good reason!

I also really enjoyed the pacing in this story, starts out light, and gradually grows to an explosive ending!

My only real problem was that I couldn't get over the " read it " feeling. But not everyone may feel that way! I do recommend Cursed, as I would recommend ANY Jennifer Armentrout books. I would just say if you have already read some "touch of death" stories, be a bit wary.. but if it interests you? GO FOR IT.

Rating 3.5/5