Manic Monday Recaps (Week 12/06/10)

So I've decided on what I want for Christmas..  Oh yea, momma wants a new NOOK color.  I have had my Sony Reader for a couple of years now and although I might not have gotten as much use as I wish I would have, I think a NOOK reader will be exactly what I need to get into the whole e-reading hoopla. :)  Hopefully I'll get it. *keeps fingers crossed*

Here's what I plan on reading this week:

Last week I read the following:

- All Just Glass by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

- The Locket by Stacey Jay

- Choker by Elizabeth Woods

- Delirium by Lauren Oliver

- Awakened by a Kiss by Lila DiPasqua

- First Drop of Crimson by Jeaniene Frost

I reviewed the following:

- Secondhand Charm by Julie Berry [review]

- The Ivy by Lauren Kunze and Rina Onur [review]

- Jane by April Lindner [review]

- Enchanted Ivy by Sarah Beth Durst [review]

- Back When You Were Easier to Love by Emily Wing Smith [review]

- A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford [review]

Have a great week friends.  Happy Reading!

So Many Books, So Little Time [9]

Here are some of the books that I discovered this week scheduled for release that I cannot wait to get my hands on. I will pay, beg and maybe even stand in line somewhere to get these.

Trapped
by Michael Northrop
Releases on 1/01/11

The day the blizzard started, no one knew that it was going to keep snowing for a week. That for those in its path, it would become not just a matter of keeping warm, but of staying alive....

Scotty and his friends Pete and Jason are among the last seven kids at their high school waiting to get picked up that day, and they soon realize that no one is coming for them. Still, it doesn't seem so bad to spend the night at school, especially when distractingly hot Krista and Julie are sleeping just down the hall. But then the power goes out, then the heat. The pipes freeze, and the roof shudders. As the days add up, the snow piles higher, and the empty halls grow colder and darker, the mounting pressure forces a devastating decision....

Across the Universe
by Beth Revis
Releases on 1/11/11

A love out of time. A spaceship built of secrets and murder.

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone-one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship-tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

Here Lies Bridget
by Paige Harbison
Releases on 2/1/11

Heroine, Bridget Duke, rules her high school, but when she crashes her car and ends up in limbo, she must confront the people she has wronged, all of whom want her to go to hell. The outcome of these meetings will decide her final destination. 

Mermaid: A Twist on the Classic Tale
by Carolyn Turgeon
Releases on 3/03/11

The story of two very different women, one mortal, one mermaid, and the clash between worlds best kept apart... It is a cold day at the end of the world when a young woman, a princess in hiding, looks out across a Northern sea and sees something she could not have seen. It looks...it can't be. It looks like a mermaid's tail. And, as she looks more closely, she sees that the mermaid is dragging a drowning sailor in her arms. Because, only hours before, another princess, the daughter of the sea queen, has decided to risk everything and take a look at the world above the sea: the world of mortals. And there she finds a storm, a shipwreck, a sailor, and sets in train events which will change both women's worlds forever.

Queen in Exile
by Donna Hatch
Releases on 3/23/11

Rumors of war hang over Princess Jeniah's peaceful country of Arden, a land that shuns both magic and warfare. Following a lifelong dream, Jeniah forms a telpathic bond with a revered creature called a chayim, who is prophesied to save her kingdom. But when a Darborian knight comes upon Jeniah with her chayim, he sees only a vicious monster about to devour a maiden, and he slays the beast.

Devastated by the loss of her chayim, and fearing that her own magic is evil, Jeniah doubts her destiny. When an enemy invades Arden City, they slaughter the people, storm the castle, and execute the entire royal family except the princess. Rescued by the knight who slew her chayim, Jeniah is now heir to the throne of Arden and the only hope for freeing her people from tyranny.

On the run and hunted by enemy soldiers, Jeniah must place her life and the fate of her kingdom in the hands of this trained killer. Torn between embracing her destiny as queen of Arden, and her love for a mere knight, she must ultimately rely on her magic to save herself and her people from death and tyranny.

Haunting Violet
by Alyxandra Harvey
Releases on 6/21/11

Violet Willoughby doesn't believe in ghosts. But they believe in her. After spending years participating in her mother's elaborate ruse as a fraudulent medium, Violet is about as skeptical as they come in all matters supernatural. Now that she is being visited by a very persistent ghost, one who suffered a violent death, Violet can no longer ignore her unique ability. She must figure out what this ghost is trying to communicate, and quickly because the killer is still on the loose. 

Afraid of ruining her chance to escape her mother's scheming through an advantageous marriage, Violet must keep her ability secret. The only person who can help her is Colin, a friend she's known since childhood, and whom she has grown to love. He understands the true Violet, but helping her on this path means they might never be together. Can Violet find a way to help this ghost without ruining her own chance at a future free of lies?

Sometimes it Happens
by Lauren Barnholdt
Releases on 7/12/11

On the last day of her junior year, Hannah's boyfriend Ryan dumped her. Facing a summer of loneliness, Hannah turns to her best friend Ava for comfort. Ava does what BFFs do: she stays by Hannah's side...until it's time for Ava to head up to Maine for the summer. Also left behind is Ava's boyfriend, Noah, who's such a great guy he gets Hannah a job at the diner he waits tables at. Slowly, Hannah comes out of her funk thanks to Noah's good conversation and their fun times at the diner. But things get complicated when their friendship turns into attraction--and one night, into a passionate kiss. The novel opens on the first day of senior year; the day Hannah is going to see Ava, Ryan, and Noah all in one place. Over the course of the day secrets and betrayals are revealed, and alliances are broken and reformed. In the end, everyone is paired up once again, but not the way you might think... 

These are just some of the one's that I'm looking forward to. Which books are you dying to get your hands on?

A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford

Title: A Touch Mortal

Author: Leah Clifford

Pages: 432

Genre: YA/ Paranormal

Source: Around the World ARC Tours

Eden didn’t expect Az.

Not his saunter down the beach toward her. Not his unbelievable pick up line. Not the instant, undeniable connection. And not his wings.

Yeah.

So long happily-ever-after.

Now trapped between life and death, cursed to spread chaos with her every touch, Eden could be the key in the eternal struggle between heaven and hell. All because she gave her heart to one of the Fallen, an angel cast out of heaven.

She may lose everything she ever had. She may be betrayed by those she loves most. But Eden will not be a pawn in anyone else’s game. Her heart is her own.

And that’s only the beginning of the end. [via GoodReads]

I found that I had a tough time getting the gist of A Touch Mortal.  There were too many characters, too many struggles, too many paranormal aspects.... I admit I was having a tough time with it.  Then there was all the new lingo:  Siders, Screamers, Fallen, Bound, Upstairs, Downstairs, Touch,  etc.  But slowly it all started coming into place and once I finally got it - this book was great!

The story is told in the third person which was great because with so many characters it was the easiest and simplest way to tell the story.  Eden was a great leading lady.  She was witty and spunky and right from the moment she spots Az on the beach (Page 1), I knew I would really like her. She is far from perfect - makes tough choices, some good, some not so much - but that's exactly what I liked about her.  Other characters like Az, Gabe and Kristen also play crucial roles in the story as well.  They are all strong, likeable and move the story along.  There are still more characters, but I won't go into further details on them since although they also play roles in the story they are not as big.

There were some dark and strong themes underlying the story.  It dealt a lot with suicide and temptation.  And although at times I found it graphic and even gruesome - I also think Ms. Clifford did a good job when discussing suicide without glorifying or sugarcoating the act. 

Overall I thought the premise had definite appeal, the characters are strong and likeable and the world building was phenomenal.  My only complaint would be with the first half of the book - which I felt confused throughout most of it.  Once I started getting a feel for the story and understanding more of what was going on then I was able to relax and enjoy it more.  The second half of this book was really action-packed.  I felt my heart at my throat more than once.  And I will mention that although most of the issues relating to this first book were resolved throughout the story, there were many doors left open for the next book in the series.  I found A Touch Mortal to be strong, dark and definitely different.   One of the best Angel books I've read.

My Rating:

Back When You Were Easier to Love by Emily Wing Smith

Title:  Back When You Were Easier to Love
Author:  Emily Wing Smith
Pages: 304
Genre: YA/ Teen
Source: Around the World ARC Tours

WHO ZAN IS:
Blow-your-mind brilliant.  Stop-your-heart gorgeous. Hold-your-breath clever. 

WHO ZAN WAS:
Joy’s boyfriend. 

WHY JOY NEEDS HIM BACK:
So she can breathe again. 

WHAT THAT MEANS:
An elaborate road trip involving a SAAB 900, Sprite, and Barry Manilow. Oh, and Noah, Zan’s irritating-but-almost-charming ex-best friend. Original and insightful, quirky and crushing, Joy’s story is told in surprising and artfully shifting flashbacks between her life then and her life now. Exquisite craft and wry, relatable humor signal the arrival of Emily Wing Smith as a breakout talent. [via GoodReads]

When Zan leaves Joy she is left feeling deserted, abandoned, heartbroken and with one goal... to get Zan back!  Joy's friends all know she is better off without Zan, but obviously this means nothing to her.  Instead she plans a cross-country trip with Zan's ex-BFF, Noah, so she can find Zan and make him hers again.  

At first, I had a hard time getting through the first couple of chapters in this book.  For one thing, I could not relate to Joy.  She was stalkerish, mean-spirited, pathetic and more than once I found her whiny.  But, and thankfully, I persevered and really ended up enjoying Back When You Were Easier to Love.  

Joy is a very multi-layered character - and although she does come off as everything I said above, she's also a girl who lost the boy whom she thought was her soulmate.  She obviously does some growing up throughout the story although sadly not as much as I would have hoped for.  But I will say that that was okay.  It seemed somewhat realistic.  We don't always get what we want no matter how much me whine and pine for it.  

My favorite parts in the story were the road trip.  I liked the friendship that she forms with Noah and how she comes to learn that there may be more to a "Soccer Lovin' Kid".  One other aspect of the novel that I also found interesting - although we only just get glimpses of it - was Joy's Mormon faith. 

Overall, I enjoyed Back When You Were Easier to Love. I liked Ms. Smith's writing style and, as always, love when there are lists and notes scattered throughout the book as there were here. All in all, it was cute and it was fun - although it may not be for everyone.

My Rating:

Bookcase of the Week - Staring... Anastasia Hopcus

In today's Bookcase of the Week, it is with great pleasure that I bring you author Anastasia Hopcus' bookshelves.  I asked Anastasia if she would provide us some pictures of her bookshelves shortly  after reading her book Shadow Hills which was so freaking awesome!!!  - and she did  *squee*.   Here's what she sent us:

Personal Shelves

Research Shelves

The picture of the larger bookcase is downstairs in the main living area, and it contains a lot of the books I read for fun, like several young adult authors.  (You can probably catch a glimpse of a couple of books about fashion and movies. *grin*)  The close-up shelf of books is from my research bookcase in my rather small office upstairs. 

Anastasia Hopcus wrote her first book in the 2nd grade.  It was entitled Frederick the Friendly French Ferret and was seven pages long. During high school she wrote numerous short stories and started (but never finished) three screenplays, all as an alternative to doing actual school work. At the very wise age of twelve her career ambition was to drive a Mack truck, but when that didn’t pan out, she tried acting, bartending, and being a receptionist in a dojo before finally returning to writing. Anastasia loves horror movies, Joss Whedon, obsessing over music, and British accents. She lives in Austin, Texas and her debut young adult novel titled SHADOW HILLS was released in 2010 by Egmont. [mostly borrowed from A. Hopcus' blog]

Enchanted Ivy by Sarah Beth Durst

Title:  Enchanted Ivy

Author:  April Lindner

Pages: 320

Genre: YA / Fantasy

Source: Good Golly Miss Holly ARC Tours

When Lily accompanies her grandfather to his yearly reunion at Princeton the most she thought  she'd see were the school grounds - maybe even take a tour of the school she hopes to one day attend.  Little did she know that she would instead be participating in a top-secret Legacy Test that if she succeeds in will grant her an early scholarship to Princeton.  She finds herself trying to unravel secrets that will help her on her quest to find the Ivy Key - with the help of a mysterious boy with hair that reminds her of a tiger and his instructions that the gargoyles know more than she thinks.... she'll discover a world or rather two worlds - her ordinary Princeton and a parallel Princeton that is full of all sorts of fantastical creatures.

I loved the premise of this story.  Imagine getting the chance to visit your dream university only to find out that it's so much more than you thought it would be.  I loved the descriptions of the university, the grounds... I especially loved the descriptions of the library, le sigh.  Ms. Durst expertly creates a magical world filled with all sorts of magical creatures (my favorites being the talking gargoyles).  I loved the mystery of the Ivy Key and Lily's quest to find it.  While she's on her quest to find the key we are taken all around campus.  We also meet Tye (the boy with the black and orange hair) who helps her along the way.  

I really liked Lily -she was brave and smart, funny and witty.  I especially enjoyed her friendship with Tye and how it eventually sparks a romance.  I thought it was very nicely done, well-paced and credible (well of course, if you don't count flying on a dragon as a first date.)  Ms. Durst's writing is pleasant and just brings such a light feeling to her story.  I love books that although they are full of danger and mystery - still have you feeling happy.  This is that type of book. 

All in all, I think Enchanted Ivy is a wonderful fantasy that you will find yourself completed captivated with after a few pages.  There was magic and adventure, mystery and danger... and of course, there was  romance.  I really enjoyed it and for fans of young adult fantasy - this is one you won't want to miss out on. 

My Rating: