Countdown: 2012 Releases (6)

I was on a countdown over load before 2012 came around and after taking a little break (not a huge one) I've decided that I just can't stop the countdown posts...nor do I want to. I've been lucky enough to receive quite a few books for review lately and between that and being in the process of moving to a new place, I've been crunched for time and haven't gotten around to writing up as many reviews in advance for posts as I'd normally like to. So while I might not have lots of extra time to pour out the reviews (because I don't want to rush them and just write whatever) I can't seem to stop myself from continuing to scour the web as well as make note of any recommendations I receive of new and upcoming future reads.

I know there's just no way I'll ever get to read every single book on my TBR list, but a girl can try right? There's no harm in dreaming and making note of each of the fabulous books I come across...and hey just because I might not get the chance to read them all as quickly as I like, does not mean I don't want to at least try and spread the word about the titles that caught my eye. So be patient as I post plenty of more countdowns now and in the future...but no worries, there will be plenty of reviews and other book related posts thrown in as well!

Countdown Pick #1: Crux by Julie Reece (07/09/2012)

She should have run. Now, she’ll have to fight.

Eighteen year old Birdie may be homeless, but she’s surviving, that is until a mysterious guy throws money in the air like a crazy game show host, and she grabs some with the idea she’ll be able to buy dinner that night.

In that singular moment, unassuming Birdie becomes the girl in everyone’s viewfinder. Thugs want to kill her. Money-guy wants to recruit her. The very hot, very rich, and very out of her league Grey Mathews wants to save her.

Birdie, though, wants nothing to do with any of them, until she realizes fate didn’t bring them all together.

Her heritage did.

Now, with only twenty-one days left, she’s got to decide whether to follow in the footsteps of those before her or risk her life for people she’s only just met.

I have no real idea of what this one is about? I received a recommendation for this one by a friend on goodreads and went on ahead to check it out. The cover intrigued me..but the write up confused me. Money falling from the sky thrown by some guy, and then talk of her heritage further threw me for a loop. But regardless, when I get a recommendation I check it out, and this one while it might confuse me, sounds like it could be pretty interesting at the same time, right?

Countdown Pick #2: Live Through This by Mindi Scott (10/02/2012)

Sometimes hiding the truth requires more than a lie . . .

From the outside, Coley Sterling’s life seems pretty normal . . . whatever that means. It’s not perfect—her best friend is seriously mad at her and her dance team captains keep giving her a hard time—but Coley’s adorable, sweet crush Reece helps distract her from the annoying drama. Plus, she has a great family to fall back on—with a stepdad and mom who would stop at nothing to keep her and her siblings happy and safe.

But Coley has a lot of secrets. She won’t admit—not even to herself—that her almost-perfect life is her own carefully-crafted façade. That for years she’s been burying the shame and guilt over a relationship that crossed the line. Now, Coley and Reece are getting closer, and as Coley has the chance at her first real boyfriend, a decade’s worth of lies are on the verge of unraveling.

Mindi Scott offers an absorbing, layered glimpse into the life of an everygirl living a nightmare that no one would suspect in this unforgettable powerhouse of a novel.

The mysteries seem to be appealing to me with this countdown. I'm not sure what kind of secret Coley could be keeping from everyone but I'm curious without a doubt. Having read Scott's novel, Freefall I know that I enjoy her writing and she has this crazy ability to cause you to immerse yourself in her writing to the point where readers can easily lose track of time and reality and not even realize what's going on around them because you just want to finish the book. Skipping meals...easily done....forgetting that you have errands and things to get done...piece of cake. I wish I was kidding around here, but I know that now that I've experienced reading one of her titles, I'll make sure I've got a clear schedule or at least a free weekend before I pick this one up to read.

Countdown Pick #3: Breathe (Breathe, #1) by Sarah Crossan (10/02/2012)

Inhale. Exhale. Breathe. Breathe. Breathe . . .

The world is dead.
The survivors live under the protection of Breathe, the corporation that found a way to manufacture oxygen-rich air.

ALINA
has been stealing for a long time. She’s a little jittery, but not terrified. All she knows is that she’s never been caught before. If she’s careful, it’ll be easy. If she’s careful.

QUINN
should be worried about Alina and a bit afraid for himself, too, but even though this is dangerous, it’s also the most interesting thing to happen to him in ages. It isn’t every day that the girl of your dreams asks you to rescue her.

BEA
wants to tell him that none of this is fair; they’d planned a trip together, the two of them, and she’d hoped he’d discover her out here, not another girl.

And as they walk into the Outlands with two days’ worth of oxygen in their tanks, everything they believe will be shattered. Will they be able to make it back? Will they want to?

Bring on the dystopian novels! I haven't come across any that I haven't liked yet. While the ones I've read always seem to have a few common elements, I still haven't found two that are completely alike, which means they're always a nice change of pace for me. They also sometimes scare me to no end. I hate thinking of how close to home some of these hit, but this one might be too hard to resist. After checking out the author's page and blog, I know my excitement just went up. Be sure to head over to her page to check it out and learn more about her and her future release!

Countdown Pick #4: The Lost Code (The Atlanteans, #1) by Kevin Emerson (05/22/2012)

WHAT IS OLDEST WILL BE NEW, WHAT IS LOST SHALL BE FOUND.

The ozone is ravaged, ocean levels have risen, and the sun is a daily enemy. But global climate change is not something new in the Earth’s history.

No one will know this better than less-than-ordinary Owen Parker, who is about to discover that he is the descendant of a highly advanced ancient race—a race that took their technology too far and almost destroyed the Earth in the process.

Now it is Owen’s turn to make right in his world what went wrong thousands of years ago. If Owen can unlock the lost code in his very genes, he may rediscover the forgotten knowledge of his ancestry…and that less-than-ordinary can evolve into extraordinary.

What kid didn't like learning and hearing about the lost world of Atlantis? I know I found it to be one of my favorite school topics, along with the Greek and Roman mythology classes and lessons I had to take. For whatever reason I was hooked on all this mythical and not much has changed as far as my reading habits go. Paranormal, fantasy, both of these genres continuously pull me in and their titles tend to end up high on my list of favorites time and time again. So when I came across this future release, it was a no brainer. Adding in a male point of view and voice and I'm excited for this novel to hit the shelves this summer. Goodreads currently has a giveaway for the chance to win a copy for yourself. They're offering up 25 copies for the contest and people are signing up fast...head on over and give yourself a chance!

Countdown Pick #5: Black City (Black City Chronicles, #1) by Elizabeth Richards (11/13/2012)

A dark and tender postapocalyptic love story set in the aftermath of a bloody war

In a city where humans and Darklings are now separated by a high wall and tensions between the two races still simmer after a terrible war, sixteen-year-olds Ash Fisher, a half-blood Darkling, and Natalie Buchanan, a human and the daughter of the Emissary, meet and do the unthinkable—they fall in love. Bonded by a mysterious connection, that causes Ash’s long dormant heart to beat, Ash and Natalie first deny and then struggle to fight their forbidden feelings for each other, knowing if they’re caught they’ll be executed—but their feelings are too strong. When Ash and Natalie then find themselves at the center of a deadly conspiracy that threatens to pull the humans and Darklings back into war, they must make hard choices that could result in both their deaths.

Exciting and scary stuff abounds apparently in 2012. I'm not sure how the description feels to me but it's intriguing don't you think? You guys know my reading preferences well enough to know that the whole star crossed lovers and couples who fight against their attractions and love are compelling to me to no end. I don't know why I put myself through the torture of reading about couples so in love but not able to be with each other or stay with each other without huge obstacles in their way, but for whatever reason, I don't think that's going to change any time soon. So with that being said, I think Black City and this new series have a very good chance of becoming an addiction for me.