Countdown: 2012 Releases (13)

I still can't get over how quickly this month seems to have flown by. So much has happened that I'm having a hard time realizing that Spring is pretty much here, which means Summer is right around the corner. My Summer is already looking jam packed with friends getting married and all the festivities that go along with that. But also exciting is all the great books that are scheduled to hit the shelves this Summer.

I can't believe how many great titles are coming out and how badly I want to read them all. I'm not sure how I'm going to manage to fit everything in, but I'm crossing my fingers I'll find a way and at least if I have some traveling to do for these weddings I'll be sure to have plenty of great reads to take a long with me to pass the time, right?

That's the plan anyways and hopefully I'll have some down time as well in between all the fun festivities lined up to squeeze in a book or two on a night in curled up on my couch unwinding from all the craziness!

Countdown Pick #1: A Fractured Light (A Beautiful Dark, #2) by Jocelyn Davies (09/25/2012)

When she wakes up in unfamiliar surroundings, Skye knows something terrible has happened to her. But it’s not until she hears Asher, the dark, rebellious angel she fell in love with, that the memories of Devin and his shocking betrayal come flooding back.

Skye returns home, but with the knowledge of who she really is, nothing can ever be the same. As she tests the limits of her new found powers, Skye discovers that she’s capable of far more than anyone could have imagined. Both the Order and the Rebellion want her for their side as war between the factions looms. She can’t forgive the Order for nearly killing her, but something holds her back from embracing the Rebellion.

A Fractured Light picks up right after A Beautiful Dark‘s shocking cliffhanger ending and is perfect for fans of Lauren Kate’s Fallen and Becca Fitzpatrick’s Hush, Hush saga.

I'm always excited when I find new authors and new reads to check out but there's something about a series continuation that ratchets up my excitement that can't be denied. I don't know why, but when I come across a series that I love, it helps when the book ends that I know I don't have to really say goodbye to the characters I fell in love with, or the worlds that blew my mind. I know that I'll get the chance to see what else is in store for them later on as the series continues. That's how I felt when it came to Davies' A Beautiful Dark series. I'm anxious to see what decisions Skye makes and what kind of trouble lies in store for her and the two sides that want her for their own.

Countdown Pick #2: Bitterblue (The Seven Kingdoms, #3) by Kristin Cashore (05/01/2012)

Eight years after Graceling, Bitterblue is now queen of Monsea. But the influence of her father, a violent psychopath with mind-altering abilities, lives on. Her advisers, who have run things since Leck died, believe in a forward-thinking plan: Pardon all who committed terrible acts under Leck’s reign, and forget anything bad ever happened. But when Bitterblue begins sneaking outside the castle—disguised and alone—to walk the streets of her own city, she starts realizing that the kingdom has been under the thirty-five-year spell of a madman, and the only way to move forward is to revisit the past.

Two thieves, who only steal what has already been stolen, change her life forever. They hold a key to the truth of Leck’s reign. And one of them, with an extreme skill called a Grace that he hasn’t yet identified, holds a key to her heart.

I cannot even begin to express how excited I am about this release! It feels like it has taken forever to get here. I first came across Cashore's Graceling and fell in love with her writing, her world, her plots and characters...just about everything about her books! So I read Fire when it came out and then discovered that Bitterblue was on what seemed like a permanent hold. But regardless, the release date has been set. Goodreads has a contest for a chance to win an ARC, so head over there to sign up if you haven't already.

Countdown Pick #3: Blazing the Trail (The Dragon Diaries, #3) by Deborah Cooke (06/05/2012)

It’s almost Valentine’s Day, and Zoë Sorensson’s love life is heating up. Cute, loyal, and understanding, wolf shifter Derek is pretty much the perfect guy. He likes Zoë, and he knows what it’s like to have to keep a secret. Yet, Zoë can’t help but wish it was rebel rocker Jared asking her to the Valentine’s dance instead. But Jared’s too busy playing hot and cold with her heart, calling Zoë his dragon girl one minute and then taking special interest in her best friend the next.

Zoë is just about ready to breathe fire, especially once she uncovers a new threat that targets her friends. Although Zoë thought the Mages were defeated, they’re back and have invoked an old spell to give them new power – they plan to eliminate all shape shifters on the night of the big dance. Now, Zoë must lead an alliance of young shifters to battle the Mages and figure out exactly what – and who – she wants, before it all goes up in smoke…

Cooke brought back dragons into the paranormal genre and made them fun again. Reading and experiencing things right along with her main character Zoe as she discovers this world of dragons and mages was a log of fun from her very first installment in the series. I haven't had the chance to read her sequel yet but when I came across this title and realized how far behind I had gotten I decided to order my copy of Winging It right away. I want to be all caught up and ready to go when this third installment hits the shelves. Be sure to check out Cooke's website for the chance to read an excerpt from this release...hopefully it'll help you wait out the countdown for when it actually hits the shelves.

Countdown Pick #4: Just For Fins (Fins, #3) by Tera Lynn Childs (07/03/2012)

When Lily Sanderson decided to remain Crown Princess Waterlily of the mermaid kingdom Thalassinia, she knew she couldn’t just coast along in the current. But since she’s spent the last couple of years on land—with gorgeous human Quince by her side—Lily’s not sure she has the fins to lead a kingdom. Even her maddeningly pretentious cousin Dosinia seems to know more about ruling than she does.

But Lily has to dive in deep to keep her promise to Tellin, her mer bond in name only, whose kingdom is suffering in the changing ocean climate. Lily knows this is a seven seas–sized problem: from sea animals dying to oil spills and threats to humans. They’ll need to create some serious waves to make the mer community aware and get it to join together to make things right. Even if that means facing one of the iciest queens in the mer kingdoms.

Just when Lily thinks her double life on land and sea can’t get any more complicated, an ancient mer law might separate Lily and Quince after all. It feels as if the pair is up against a solid tsunami wave!

In this third installment in the series that began with Forgive My Fins and Fins Are Forever, Lily will have to find a way to balance safety and justice for the mer people as well as for the humans she loves.

What a fun series! Tera Lynn Childs really knows how to entertain her readers. Her books are always light hearted, filled with twists and turns readers never saw coming and the easy going and fun qualities her characters and worlds possess are infectious. I've never put one of her books down feeling anything but happy. She sometimes makes me nervous when he plots seems to be heading down certain paths, but she's always got a good reason behind her choices, and as a readers I realize she usually manages to keep me on my toes. So since she's not planning (that I know of) anymore installments in her Oh.My.Gods series (which I loved), I will take what I can get. And this series is definitely a close second to my favorites she's constantly churning out.

Countdown Pick #5: Blood of a Red Rose (The Rose Trilogy, #2) by Tish Thawer (05/08/2012)

Doubt blooms...

Someone bleeds...

Change is coming... time to take heed.

Book 2 in The Rose Trilogy. A paranormal romance that continues to surprise with a heroine that’s embracing her darker side, a vampire whose love starts to waver, and a vampire clan whose new Sire is filled with doubt.

~ ROSE ~

I'm Rose Reynolds. I’ve shared my secret and ruined lives. I’m no longer welcome in my childhood home. And, I’ve recently threatened to kill my best friend. I warned you - I'm not as innocent as everyone thinks…

~ CHRISTIAN ~

I'm Christian and I’m worried about Rose. She’s changed and I’m not sure that’s a good thing. She knows my secret and loves me still. This I know, because I’m starting to hear whispers wherever I go…

After Thawer approached me to read and review her first installment in the Rose trilogy I was extremely grateful and so excited to have been introduced to this series. I was instantly drawn in by the characters, the tweaks Thawer made in her world running with vampires and demons. It was refreshing, original and totally addicting. After the cliffhanger from the series opener, I think it's safe to say that Thawer's got her readers craving this release in a very bad way.