Waiting on Wednesday (34)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine where you have a chance to let other know what you can’t wait to claim as your own.

Right of Way by Lauren Barnholdt
Release Date: July 9th, 2013
Publisher: Simon Pulse

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Goodreads Summary:

Can a road trip repair a romance gone wrong? Find out in this standalone companion to Lauren Barnholdt’s Two-way Street.

Here are Peyton and Jace, meeting on vacation. Click! It’s awesome, it’s easy, it’s romantic. This is the real deal.

Unless it isn’t. Because when you’re in love, you don’t just stop calling one day. And you don’t keep secrets. Or lie. And when your life starts falling apart, you’re supposed to have the other person to lean on.

Here are Peyton and Jace again, broken up but thrown together on a road trip. One of them is lying about the destination. One of them is pretending not to be leaving something behind. And neither of them is prepared for what’s coming on the road ahead…

I recently found out that this book was releasing and DIED! 

Two-way Street is one of my fave contemps and I can't wait to read Peyton's story!

And I love all of Lauren's stories :D

What's your "waiting on" pick this week?

Comment and add your link below!!

May Releases: 13th-19th

May 14th:

School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins
Golden by Jessi Kirbi
Spirit and Dust by Rosemary Clement-Moore
Tremble by Jus Aardo
Under the Light by Laura Whitcomb
Truth or Dare by Jacqueline Green
The Rules for Disappearing by Ashley Elston
The Beautiful and the Cursed by Page Morgan
The Sweet Dead Life by Joy Preble
Parallel by Lauren Miller
Five Summers by Una LaMarche
Towering by Alex Flinn
The Rose Thorn by Mette Ivie Harrison
Kindness for Weakness by Shawn Goodman
The Language Inside by Holly Thompson

Cover Reveal: Allegiant by Veronica Roth and Once We Were by Kat Zhang

YES YOU READ CORRECT ALLEGIANT'S COVER HAS MADE ITS WAY OVER TO THIS BLOG!!

ARE YOU READ FOR THIS???

"ONE CHOICE WILL DEFINE YOU"

Allegiant by Veronica Roth

Release Date: October 22nd, 2013

Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books

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LOVE IT!!! I will say it isn't the best, but it is pretty nice nonetheless. 

The symbols on all 3 books are so very cool too!! Lovin the wave on this one!

All of Divergent's covers actually differed a lot color wise and each had a different feel for it.

Divergent's cover will always be my favorite though :P

Once We Were by Kat Zhang 

Release Date: September 17th, 2013

Publisher: HarperTeen

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LOVE the title and cover for this book! 

The cover's just as the simple and it looks like a puzzle piece!

Also lovin' the title font color!!

Looks like Harper Collins have been revealing their fall dystopian novel covers! Me likey!!!

What did YOU think about the covers??

Review: Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
412 Pages
Release Date: June 1st, 2004
Publisher: Mira
Genre: Fantasy
Level: YA
Rating: 4.9 STARS

Goodreads Summary:

About to be executed for murder, Yelena is offered an extraordinary reprieve. She'll eat the best meals, have rooms in the palace—and risk assassination by anyone trying to kill the Commander of Ixia.

And so Yelena chooses to become a food taster. But the chief of security, leaving nothing to chance, deliberately feeds her Butterfly's Dust—and only by appearing for her daily antidote will she delay an agonizing death from the poison.

As Yelena tries to escape her new dilemma, disasters keep mounting. Rebels plot to seize Ixia and Yelena develops magical powers she can't control. Her life is threatened again and choices must be made. But this time the outcomes aren't so clear...

MY THOUGHTS:
      So this book.......oh, this book. I heard about it a couple of times while watching polandbannanasBOOKS (I love Christine!) on YouTube and was like.....eh sounds interesting. I was planning on reading it, but it wasn't like GOTTA HAVE IT. So I was actually pretty surprised to find myself buying it the day before I was to fly back home. But I bought it. And then I READ it. ALL. NIGHT. LONG.  I had to get up at 7 to catch my flight. I stayed up till 5...willingly. Basically, Poison Study is life. It is so brilliant and AAAHHHHHH!!! 
       
         Poison Study starts out with a memory. A memory of Yelena being tortured. Then you come back to the present and she is being taken up to have her last meal before she is to be hanged for murder. Before she does however, she is offered a position. To be the Commander's new food taster. Yelena excepts.

       Let's move on to Yelena now. Oh. My. God. I love this girl. She is smart, and cunning, and strong. Anything and everything you could possibly want in a heroine. And she is so intense and real, its awing. Its evident from the very beginning by the way that she analyzes every angle of all the decisions she makes and the way she tries to figure out, quite successfully, the motives of others. She also comes right out and says she is a murderer, with no regret whats so ever. I know that sounds bad, but its kinda wonderful. She doesn't blame others, she knows exactly what she did and that it was her decision (her reason is a good one, trust me). I think that's what I like the best about Yelena she is strong enough not to lie to herself.  That and she's super cunning and smart. Did I mention that? Because she is. Its remarkable. She's just SO AWESOME!!!!!! (and awe inspiring)

       Now this food taster gig. When I first heard it I thought "Oh, so she just tastes his food and if there's poison they'll know cause she'll be dead. Right?" WRONG. It is so much more than that. Her employer and the Commander's right hand man, Valek(more on him later) does not leave her defenseless. No, he teaches her how to survive and detect poison. Which is so cool! It's actually a really intense job, not to mention the fact that she's targeted by the enemies she made during her life before the murder. This book is just action packed. Its one thing after another, but never feels rushed or too much to handle. If anything you crave more each time a new disaster happens. 

       Then the world. I totally, totally thought it took place in our world. Wow, I was wrong. This is a completely fantasy world. With magic*glitters surround words* and battles and SWORDS (I really like swords) and wonderfulness, just in general. (This is making me want to reread Poison Study...)

       On to Valek!!!! There's not much that I can say that's not spoiler-y but he is amazing. Ah-may-zing. He is basically the guy version of Yelena, except that he's colder and naaaahhhhhhhhh just meh, just meh. He's really really cool and kick-ass and stronger and better than...well everyone. Yes, Valek. Is amazing. Just, just, just. Read. My only advice, read it. Preferably when you have time to sit and not put it down. Because you wont want to put it down. Ever. *slowly melts from all the emotions*

Review: The Rising by Kelley Armstrong

The Rising by Kelley Armstrong
406 Pages
Release Date: April 2nd, 2013
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Library
Genre: Paranormal
Level: YA
Rating: 5 STARS

Goodreads Summary:

Things are getting desperate for Maya and her friends. Hunted by the powerful St. Clouds and now a rival Cabal as well, they're quickly running out of places to hide. And with the whole world thinking they died in a helicopter crash, it's not like they can just go to the authorities for help.

All they have is the name and number of someone who might be able to give them a few answers. Answers to why they're so valuable, and why their supernatural powers are getting more and more out of control.

But Maya is unprepared for the truths that await her. And now, like it or not, she'll have to face down some demons from her past if she ever hopes to move on with her life. Because Maya can't keep running forever.

Old secrets are revealed and unexpected characters make a surprising return in this stunning conclusion to Kelley Armstrong's New York Times bestselling Darkness Rising trilogy.

*WARNING: REALLY SPOILERY*

MY THOUGHTS:
      The Rising was the perfect end to the Darkness Rising trilogy! Kelley Armstrong's writing was captivating and action packed as always! I was very happy on how things ended for all the characters. This had to be my favorite books of Kelley Armstrong! I loved seeing how Maya and her friends stick together thought out the entire book no matter what. Yes they had their quarrels but they worked together no matter what. This book showed that they were willing to sacrifice oneself for one another and that ultimately their source of power was each other.

    Maya is a fantastic girl. She might be strong and determined but she has her girl-y, vulnerable moments which she fully acknowledges. One of the things I loved about her was her strong loyalty to friends and family. And it hurt so much when someone would betray or use her trust. The flaw that irritated me the most was how clueless she was about Daniel's feelings for her and how much she tried to deny it. But the thing was that she never led him on or made him believe otherwise. So its hard to dislike her for that.

      We also get introduced to new characters like Ashton, Maya's twin brother! Totally unexpected yet I felt like I should have seen that one coming. He is seriously the moodier guy version of Maya to some extent. He was definitely a jerk but he had a rough childhood and it was totally expected of him to. I loved seeing how his and Maya's relationship developed! It was kind of awkward and weird at first but they did care about each other (sibling wise of course). Corey another character I really liked getting to know better. He brought humor and added some juicy tidbits to the story ;) But you also see his insecurities and how he feels about his gift/power.

    The thing that actually had me pick up this book and start it was "unexpected characters makes a surprising return". Me: *eyes wide* You mean they're coming????? MUST REAAAD!! OH YEAH CHLOE, DEREK, AND THE WHOLE GANG MAKES AN APPEARANCE!!! I was thrilled that Armstrong decided to add them into the story and was even more happy of how she intertwined Chloe's story with Maya's.

      THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE BOOK: DANIEL!!!!!!! He's FINALLY introduced as a love interest which I am ridiculously happy about since I've been shipping them from day 1. Don't get me wrong I like Rafe and all it's just that he didn't sit well with me as Maya's love interest. But oh my sweety goodness, Daniel and Maya moments together=CUTENESS OVERLOAD!!! I find it hilarious that everyone starts hounding Maya about Daniel in this book. But it was also irritating because it wasn't really a gradual thing throughout the books and didn't have as much as moments I would've loved to have read. Honestly, I had no idea where Daniel stood in his relationship with Maya in book 1 and 2 and I wasn't sure if Kelley Armstrong was going to do anything about Daniel and Maya. I always hoped but didn't think she would have Daniel as as a love interest. And Daniel is just so supportive and understanding of Maya and was there for her no matter what. He didn't care that she may have not liked/loved him more than just a friend, she was always his number 1 priority. He even sincerely tried befriending Rafe for Maya's sake. He's Maya's rock as she is his and they're just perfect for each other. It helps that he's hot and totally my type :3

     Kelley Armstrong did her best attempting the most realistic ending and tried to create a happily ever after for everyone. I for one was content with how things wrapped up for both Maya and Chloe! The Rising is a great read, one that I totally recommend everyone to read *gives a pointed look to Caitlyn*. All paranormal, romance, and action lovers should definitely pick up this book!!!

Review: Let the Sky Fall by Shannon Messenger

Let the Sky Fall by Shannon Messenger
416 Pages
Release Date: March 5th, 2013
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Genre: Paranormal Romance/Fantasy
Level: YA
Rating: 4.8 STARS

Goodreads Summary:
Seventeen-year-old Vane Weston has no idea how he survived the category five tornado that killed his parents. And he has no idea if the beautiful, dark-haired girl who’s swept through his dreams every night since the storm is real. But he hopes she is.

Seventeen-year-old Audra is a sylph, an air elemental. She walks on the wind, can translate its alluring songs, and can even coax it into a weapon with a simple string of commands. She’s also a guardian—Vane’s guardian—and has sworn an oath to protect Vane at all costs. Even if it means sacrificing her own life.


When a hasty mistake reveals their location to the enemy who murdered both of their families, Audra’s forced to help Vane remember who he is. He has a power to claim—the secret language of the West Wind, which only he can understand. But unlocking his heritage will also unlock the memory Audra needs him to forget. And their greatest danger is not the warriors coming to destroy them—but the forbidden romance that’s grown between them.

Waiting on Wednesday (33)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine where you have a chance to let other know what you can’t wait to claim as your own.

The Distance Between Us by Kasie West
Release Date: July 2nd, 2013
Publisher: Harper Teen

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Goodreads Summary:

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.

First off? LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this cover and the title.

Second? I heart Kasie West.

Third? The synopsis looks fabulous!!

What's your "waiting on" pick this week?

Comment and add your link below!!