Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Ten Books You Recently Added To Your To-Be-Read List

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the lovely ladies at The Broke and the Bookish! Each week, a new topic is put into place and bloggers share their top ten.
**Lists aren't in any specific order**

Topic: Ten Books You Recently Added To Your To-Be-Read List

Monday, March 30, 2015

Review: Rook by Sharon Cameron

RookRook by Sharon Cameron
464 Pages
Release Date: April 28th, 2015
Publisher: Scholastic
Genre: Dystopian
Source: Publisher
Rating: 3.5-4 STARS

Goodreads Summary: 
History has a way of repeating itself. In the Sunken City that was once Paris, all who oppose the new revolution are being put to the blade. Except for those who disappear from their prison cells, a red-tipped rook feather left in their place. Is the mysterious Red Rook a savior of the innocent or a criminal?

Meanwhile, across the sea in the Commonwealth, Sophia Bellamy’s arranged marriage to the wealthy René Hasard is the last chance to save her family from ruin. But when the search for the Red Rook comes straight to her doorstep, Sophia discovers that her fiancé is not all he seems. Which is only fair, because neither is she. 

As the Red Rook grows bolder and the stakes grow higher, Sophia and René find themselves locked in a tantalizing game of cat and mouse.

Sunday, March 29, 2015

Cover Reveals: Dreamstrider, The Conjurer's Riddle and MORE

*Click on the cover to go to its Goodreads page* 

Dreamstrider by Lindsay Smith
Dreamstrider
Oh god this is gorgeous! The mesh of lowers, the sword, and feathers?
BEAUTIFUL! The color scheme also works well together. 

Saturday, March 28, 2015

The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials: The Collector's Edition

The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials: The Collector's Double Edition (Maze Runner, Book One and Book Two)
Delacorte Press is pleased to announce the publication of THE MAZE RUNNER AND
THE SCORCH TRIALS: THE COLLECTOR’S EDITION (on sale April 14, 2015 / $19.99), which brings the first two books in James Dashner’s bestselling series together in one edition for fans and new readers to enjoy. Featuring exclusive bonus content within its 816 pages and carrying a first printing of 150,000, the collector’s edition will prepare fans and moviegoers for the second film in the franchise, Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, which will be released September 18, 2015 and stars Dylan O’Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Rosa Salazar, and Giancarlo Esposito.

 In addition to the original novels, this edition includes “The Maze Runner Files,” which was originally published as an eBook short. Now accessible to all readers in print format, “The Maze Runner Files” features top-secret information, overheard conversations, emails between WICKED employees, memos meant to be destroyed after reading, and a selection of the Gladers’ suppressed memories, all of which help fans unlock some of the mysteries behind the Maze, the Gladers, and the people who put them there. This edition also includes an exclusive fan sticker.
The year 2015 will be another exciting one for Dashner fans, with multiple books being published. The movie tie-in edition of The Scorch Trials will be released on August 4, 2015, along with a hardcover box set of all four novels in the series (The Maze Runner, The Scorch Trials, The Death Cure, and The Kill Order) on the same date. The film adaptation of The Scorch Trials (Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials) will release on September 18, 2015, and the final novel in the Mortality Doctrine series, The Game of Lives, will be published on November 17, 2015. All titles are supported by a major marketing and publicity campaign that includes an author tour in November. Follow James Dashner on Twitter (@JamesDashner), Facebook, and Instagram, and visit his website at JamesDashner.com.




AUTHOR BIO: 

James is the author of THE MAZE RUNNER trilogy and THE 13TH REALITY series. He also published a series (beginning with A DOOR IN THE WOODS) with a small publisher several years ago. He lives and writes in the Rocky Mountains.

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Review: Finding Paris by Joy Preble

Finding Paris by Joy Preble
272 Pages
Release Date: April 21st, 2015
Publisher: Balzer & Bray/Harperteen
Genre: Contemporary
Rating: 4 STARS

Goodreads Summary:

An evocative and compelling story of two sisters who would do anything for each other--perfect for fans of Thirteen Reasons Why and Speak. Joy Preble's stirring new novel explores the lengths to which sisters go to protect each other, and the winding road that brings two strangers into each other's lives.

Sisters Leo and Paris Hollings have only ever had each other to rely on. They can't trust their mother, who hops from city to city and from guy to guy, or their gambler stepfather, who's moved them all to Las Vegas. It's just the two of them: Paris, who's always been the dreamer, and Leo, who has a real future in mind--going to Stanford, becoming a doctor, falling in love. But Leo isn't going anywhere right now, except driving around Vegas all night with her sister.

Until Paris ditches Leo at the Heartbreak Hotel Diner, where moments before they had been talking with physics student Max Sullivan. Outside, Leo finds a cryptic note from Paris--a clue. Is it some kind of game? Where is Paris, and why has she disappeared? When Leo reluctantly accepts Max's offer of help, the two find themselves following a string of clues through Vegas and beyond. But the search for the truth is not a straight line. And neither is the path to secrets Leo and Max hold inside.

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday (128)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine where that spotlights the upcoming books I am currently anticipating. 

~Currently Anticipating~

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Blog Tour: We All Looked Up by Tommy Wallach {Review+Giveaway}


We All Looked Up
by Tommy Wallach
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Release Date: March 31st 2015

Genre: Contemporary
Rating: 4 STARS 
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Synopsis:
Four high school seniors put their hopes, hearts, and humanity on the line as an asteroid hurtles toward Earth in this contemporary novel.

They always say that high school is the best time of your life.

Peter, the star basketball player at his school, is worried “they” might actually be right. Meanwhile Eliza can’t wait to escape Seattle—and her reputation—and perfect-on-paper Anita wonders if admission to Princeton is worth the price of abandoning her real dreams. Andy, for his part, doesn’t understand all the fuss about college and career—the future can wait.

Or can it? Because it turns out the future is hurtling through space with the potential to wipe out life on Earth. As these four seniors—along with the rest of the planet—wait to see what damage an asteroid will cause, they must abandon all thoughts of the future and decide how they’re going to spend what remains of the present.

Sunday, March 22, 2015

Cover Attack

**Click on the cover to go to its Goodreads page**

Blood Passage by Heather Demetrios
Blood Passage (Dark Caravan Cycle, #2)

Saturday, March 21, 2015

Family in YA


Do you think that family is undervalued, overemphasized, or balanced in YA books? 
Do you think it even matters to readers now a days?

When I first thought about this question, my initial answer was that it was undervalued. But then when I started thinking more about it, I realized that family or at least parents usually make an appearance. And for some (especially fantasy, paranormal, or contemps) either one or both of the parents died or the mom or dad left the house/family (this usually factors in to what state/condition the character is in).
To All the Boys I've Loved Before (To All the Boys I've Loved Before, #1)
Specifically talking about contemp books, do you think it makes sense for a parent or siblings to not be as involved in the characters's life as they usually are? In my experience, there aren't many stories where we see much interaction between parent/teen or sibling/sibling. The best example that does have it is Jenny Han's To All the Boys I've Loved Before (READ THIS BOOK IF YOU HAVEN'T YET BTW) Should family only be involved or only mostly involved only if the story really focuses on that as the main aspect or part of the subplot?

And then there are some books where you're like "WHERE ARE THE PARENTS?!" The character should not be facing this alone or there should be a parental figure there that should be taking action. Or the parents are just plain oblivious to what's going on in a character's life. I usually see this in paranormal books (sometimes contemps) and a character can be out super late or coming back home with bruises and the parent is just not there. This is pretty much ridiculous in my opinion. At least have some suspicion or make it known that the parent the type that works too much or just doesn't care. If it seems like they have a pretty decent relationship, I'm assuming that there would be at least some sort of questioning and worry over his/her well being.

SO do you think YA books in general should make more of a big deal over family than it does right now, make it less of a big deal (let's be honest, having parents can be boring especially if they're overprotective and there just won't be a story if the character can't do anything), or is it fairly decent as it is right now? 

Friday, March 20, 2015

Review: Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens AgendaSimon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
320 Pages
Release Date: April 7th, 2015
Publisher: Balzer and Bray
Source: Publisher via Edelweiss
Genre: Contemporary
Rating: 4.5-5 STARS

Goodreads Summary: 
Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now Simon is actually being blackmailed: if he doesn’t play wingman for class clown Martin, his sexual identity will become everyone’s business. Worse, the privacy of Blue, the pen name of the boy he’s been emailing, will be compromised.

With some messy dynamics emerging in his once tight-knit group of friends, and his email correspondence with Blue growing more flirtatious every day, Simon’s junior year has suddenly gotten all kinds of complicated. Now, change-averse Simon has to find a way to step out of his comfort zone before he’s pushed out—without alienating his friends, compromising himself, or fumbling a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he’s never met.

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday (127)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine where that spotlights the upcoming books I am currently anticipating. 

~Currently Anticipating~

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Top 10 Books On Our Spring TBR List

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the lovely ladies at The Broke and the Bookish! Each week, a new topic is put into place and bloggers share their top ten.
**Lists aren't in any specific order**

Topic: Top 10 Books On Our Spring TBR List 
(I wasn't sure if this was specific to spring 2015 releases so we just picked books we planned on reading during spring break) 

Monday, March 16, 2015

Review: Bone Gap by Laura Ruby

Bone Gap by Laura Ruby
368 Pages
Release Date: March 3rd, 2015
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Genre: Mystery (ish)
Rating: 4 STARS

Goodreads Summary:

Everyone knows Bone Gap is full of gaps—gaps to trip you up, gaps to slide through so you can disappear forever. So when young, beautiful Roza went missing, the people of Bone Gap weren’t surprised. After all, it wasn’t the first time that someone had slipped away and left Finn and Sean O’Sullivan on their own. Just a few years before, their mother had high-tailed it to Oregon for a brand new guy, a brand new life. That’s just how things go, the people said. Who are you going to blame?

Finn knows that’s not what happened with Roza. He knows she was kidnapped, ripped from the cornfields by a dangerous man whose face he cannot remember. But the searches turned up nothing, and no one believes him anymore. Not even Sean, who has more reason to find Roza than anyone, and every reason to blame Finn for letting her go.

As we follow the stories of Finn, Roza, and the people of Bone Gap—their melancholy pasts, their terrifying presents, their uncertain futures—acclaimed author Laura Ruby weaves a heartbreaking tale of love and loss, magic and mystery, regret and forgiveness—a story about how the face the world sees is never the sum of who we are.

Sunday, March 15, 2015

Cover Reveals: Queen of Shadows, Winter, & MORE

All new cover round ups for this week (a few that I'm sure you've already seen though ;D)
*Click on the cover to go to its Goodreads page*

Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas
Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass, #4)
THERE'S A COVER. AND IT'S GORGEOUS. AND I WANT IT.
I WANT TO HOLD IT AND READ IT AND HAVE ALL THE FEELS!
SEPTEMBER IS TOO FAAAAAR

Saturday, March 14, 2015

Blog Tour: Pretty Wanted by Elisa Ludwig {Guest Post+Giveaway}


Pretty Wanted (Pretty Crooked #3)
by Elisa Ludwig
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Release Date: March 17th 2015
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Synopsis:
Willa’s string of good-hearted but ill-conceived thefts at her former high school catapulted her into a life she hardly knows. She became a cult hero, but soon afterward, her mom disappeared, leaving only a cryptic message. When Willa hit the California highway to find her, she discovered a dark family secret: Joanne Fox is not who she says she is-and neither is Willa. Now, Willa and fellow trouble-maker Aidan must race to St. Louis, Missouri, Willa’s birthplace. There, they hope to find answers about Willa’s past. But uncovering the truth requires solving a decades-old murder case.

Unfortunately, the perps are still out there . . . and willing to do whatever it takes to keep the case cold. With Willa’s face on the nightly news and the police hot on her trail, it might not matter that Aidan and her friend Tre are there to help. Willa’s only hope is to find the truth before it finds her first.
Pretty Crooked 

Friday, March 13, 2015

Genre Definitions


This is pretty self explanatory but to explain a bit, I thought of writing a post that basically lists the 3 main YA genres and their definitions because let's be honest, there are times when genres can get mixed up and I thought it would just be helpful for me to have them all down. Most of these are just going to be pretty simple genres and their definitions. I hope to go more in depth with the fantasy genre and its sub-genres in another post. 

Genre: categories of literary composition and usually diverges into subgroups 

Fantasy: Magic is probably the main element in a fantasy book which can lead to a deviation from ordinary laws the universe operate on. 

Alternate History Fantasy- Takes a real historical event/setting and adds a magical twist.
      Ex. Soulless by Gail Carriger 

Epic Fantasy- A tale of large cast of characters with lots of "quests" and has its own world. 
      Ex. Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

High Fantasy- Generally has a medieval like setting with lords/ladies, different kingdoms, dragons, and the whole shebang. There's usually a good vs. evil plot (but aren't most?) 

Urban/Contemporary Fantasy AKA Paranormal- Most paranormal books are generally fantasy books b/c of the magical element. We do seem to associate them differently because we don't think of a contemporary setting when we see the word "fantasy". These fantasy books take place in modern society but of course features the paranormal (vamps, witches/wizards, werewolves, etc...)
     
Sci-fi (sometimes known as Speculative Fiction): Society (modern or imaginative) that's based on science and technology. Anything out of the norm can be explained with the science from the story.
Sub genre examples: Dystopian, Post Apocalyptic, Time Travel, Superhuman, Military SF, Alternate History, and more 
     Ex. The Journey from the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne 

Dystopian- (Don't necessarily have to be sci-if but the futuristic setting is generally caused scientifically or has hi-tech elements to the world. The world has suffered and there's a new type of society/government that rules a (usually) impoverished country. 

Post Apocalyptic- The world has just ended (but not really because there are people alive; just not that many). It's a story of survival and generally deals with the cause of the apocalypse and its aftermath. 

Contemporary (Realistic Fiction?): There are lots of different definitions for contemporary books but I like to classify it as a realistic book or story taking place in a modern setting (with no magic). Lots of contemporaries are romances. These books are imaginary characters put into pretty realistic/probably situations that they would solve just as we would. Topics can vary from romances, family/friendship struggles, suicide, disabilities, abuse, etc...

Sorry for the lack of current YA examples, I'm saving those for another post (let me know in the comments of you do want just to clarify though)! Also I do note that there are a lot of books that connects more than one of these genres. I learned that a lot of these genres can be sub-genres of other genres. #genreception

Does this help clarify some things? 
Do you have another definition for one of these genres?
Any other genres that I didn't mention that you would like me to explain 
or one from this you would like me to go over more thoroughly? 

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday (126)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine where that spotlights the upcoming books I am currently anticipating. 

~Currently Anticipating~

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Top 10 Books For Readers Who Like Contemporary

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the lovely ladies at The Broke and the Bookish! Each week, a new topic is put into place and bloggers share their top ten.
**Lists aren't in any specific order**

Today's Topic: Top 10 Books For Readers Who Like Contemporary 

Book Blitz: The Thorn and the Sinking Stone by C.J Dushinski {Guest Post+Giveaway}


The Thorn and the Sinking Stone
Release Date: March 2015
Entangled Teen
313 pages

Summary from Goodreads:
Warring families. Forbidden love. And danger they can’t escape…

Daggers. Roses. Cowboys. Boat Men. Survivors of Earth's Last War, four “families” vie to rule the dreary streets of Rain City through violence and blood. Valencia Hara, Princess of the wealthy Black Roses, is raised in warrior ways with sharpened steel. But she is no ordinary Rose. She is Cursed—tainted with the ability to see seconds into the future…

To avenge his father's death, Sebastian Leold, of the rival gang Two Daggers, must face off against the Black Princess, he with his dagger, she with her katana sword. Yet a secret from a shared past leaves him unable to kill beautiful Valencia; nor can she kill him. For they once knew each other beyond their blood feud…and they have more secrets in common than they know.

But in a world filled with vengeance and violence, there can be no room for love…

Monday, March 9, 2015

Book Blitz: The Infinite by Lori Lee {Excerpt+Giveaway}


Release Date: 03/10/15
Skyscape Publishing
378 pages

Summary from Goodreads:
The walls of Ninurta keep its citizens safe.

Kai always believed the only danger to the city came from within. Now, with a rebel force threatening the fragile government, the walls have become more of a prison than ever.

To make matters worse, as Avan explores his new identity as an Infinite, Kai struggles to remind him what it means to be human. And she fears her brother, Reev, is involved with the rebels. With the two people she cares about most on opposite sides of a brewing war, Kai will do whatever it takes to bring peace. But she’s lost her power to manipulate the threads of time, and she learns that a civil war might be the beginning of something far worse that will crumble not only Ninurta’s walls but also the entire city.

In this thrilling sequel to Gates of Thread and Stone, Kai must decide how much of her humanity she’s willing to lose to protect the only family she’s ever known. 

Sunday, March 8, 2015

Saturday, March 7, 2015

Review: Little Peach by Peggy Kern

Little PeachLittle Peach by Peggy Kern
208 Pages
Release Date: March 10th, 2015
Publisher: Balzer and Bray
Genre: Contemporary/Realistic Fiction
Source: Publisher via Edelweiss
Rating: 4 STARS

Goodreads Summary:
What do you do if you're in trouble?

When Michelle runs away from her drug-addicted mother, she has just enough money to make it to New York City, where she hopes to move in with a friend. But once she arrives at the bustling Port Authority, she is confronted with the terrifying truth: she is alone and out of options. 

Then she meets Devon, a good-looking, well-dressed guy who emerges from the crowd armed with a kind smile, a place for her to stay, and eyes that seem to understand exactly how she feels. 

But Devon is not what he seems to be, and soon Michelle finds herself engulfed in the world of child prostitution where he becomes her “Daddy” and she his “Little Peach.” It is a world of impossible choices, where the line between love and abuse, captor and savior, is blurred beyond recognition. 

This hauntingly vivid story illustrates the human spirit’s indomitable search for home, and one girl’s struggle to survive. 

Friday, March 6, 2015

Review: Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski

Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski (The Winner's Trilogy #2)
417 Pages
Release Date: March 3rd, 2015
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 5 STARS

Goodreads Summary:

Book two of the dazzling Winner's Trilogy is a fight to the death as Kestrel risks betrayal of country for love.

The engagement of Lady Kestrel to Valoria’s crown prince means one celebration after another. But to Kestrel it means living in a cage of her own making. As the wedding approaches, she aches to tell Arin the truth about her engagement…if she could only trust him. Yet can she even trust herself? For—unknown to Arin—Kestrel is becoming a skilled practitioner of deceit: an anonymous spy passing information to Herran, and close to uncovering a shocking secret.

As Arin enlists dangerous allies in the struggle to keep his country’s freedom, he can’t fight the suspicion that Kestrel knows more than she shows. In the end, it might not be a dagger in the dark that cuts him open, but the truth. And when that happens, Kestrel and Arin learn just how much their crimes will cost them.

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday (125)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine where that spotlights the upcoming books I am currently anticipating. 

~Currently Anticipating~

Sunday, March 1, 2015

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