Countdown: May 2013 (2)

So for me and most others, May marks the beginning of Summer, Memorial Day weekend has always been a favorite of mine.  Friends and I have always headed down to the beach and spent the weekend basking in the sun (hopefully), enjoying the beach and getting excited that Summer is here and it means the end of cold weather, the start of vacations for most, and a lot of other good things.  Last year it marked the beginning of wedding season for my friends and me as a member of their wedding parties.  While that was a lot of fun it was also complete craziness and didn't leave a lot of time for reading and checking out new books to review.  This year I'm hoping and crossing my fingers that I'll get a real vacation in and a whole lot of quality time with my books and hopefully a lot of these future new releases scheduled to hit the shelves!

Countdown Pick #1:  Invisibility by Andrea Cremer & David Levithan (05/07/2013)

Stephen has been invisible for practically his whole life — because of a curse his grandfather, a powerful cursecaster, bestowed on Stephen’s mother before Stephen was born. So when Elizabeth moves to Stephen’s NYC apartment building from Minnesota, no one is more surprised than he is that she can see him. 

A budding romance ensues, and when Stephen confides in Elizabeth about his predicament, the two of them decide to dive headfirst into the secret world of cursecasters and spellseekers to figure out a way to break the curse. But things don’t go as planned, especially when Stephen’s grandfather arrives in town, taking his anger out on everyone he sees. In the end, Elizabeth and Stephen must decide how big of a sacrifice they’re willing to make for Stephen to become visible — because the answer could mean the difference between life and death. At least for Elizabeth.

Anyone who's read anything by these two authors would never be able to pass up the chance to get their hands on a copy of this future release.  I sure as heck couldn't resist adding it to my countdown and I'm over the moon excited to see how these two fantastic authors weave their own magic together for what I'm sure will be a remarkable combination.

Countdown Pick #2:  Praefatio by Georgia McBride (05/21/2013)

When all you have is your word, how do you prove who you are?

Seventeen-year-old Grace Ann Miller is no ordinary runaway. After having been missing for weeks, Grace is found on the estate of international rock star Gavin Vault, half-dressed and yelling for help. Over the course of twenty-four hours Grace holds an entire police force captive with incredulous tales of angels, demons, and war; intent on saving Gavin from lockup, and her family from worry over her safety. But instead, authorities believe that Grace is ill, and suffering from Stockholm Syndrome, the victim of assault and a severely fractured mind. Undeterred, Grace reveals the secret existence of dark angels on earth, an ancient prophecy and a wretched curse steeped in Biblical myth. Grace’s claims set into motion an ages-old war, resulting in blood, death and the loss of everything that matters. But are these the delusions of an immensely sick girl, or could Grace’s story actually be true? Praefatio is Grace’s account of weeks on the run, falling in love and losing everything but her faith. When it’s sister against brother, light versus darkness, corrupt police officers, eager doctors and accusing journalists, against one girl with nothing but her word as proof: who do you believe?

We've got another debut author on our hands...and this one sounds like she's got major potential!  You guys know I never pass up the chance to add another angels and demons, good vs. bad, light against darkness tale.  I love the age old story line but this one sure sounds like it packs a punch and I'm down with another addition to my library.

Countdown Pick #3:  Beauty by Nancy Ohlin (05/07/2013)

Looks to kill for...

Ana is nothing like her glamorous mother, Queen Veda, whose hair is black as ravens and whose lips are red as roses. Alas, Queen Veda loathes anyone whose beauty dares to rival her own—including her daughter.

And despite Ana’s attempts to be plain to earn her mother’s affection, she’s sent away to the kingdom’s exclusive boarding school.

At the Academy, Ana is devastated when her only friend abandons her for the popular girls. Isolated and alone, Ana resolves to look like a true princess to earn the acceptance she desires.

But when she uncovers the dangerous secret that makes all of the girls at the Academy so gorgeous, just how far will Ana go to fit in?

Heck yes!  I'm not sure if this is a retelling or if it just has the sound of one, but either way there is no way this title is not making one of my countdown lists or my TBR.  I can't wait to find out how these girls at the boarding school are getting their looks, and how far Ana will go to get what she wants, or at least what she thinks she wants.

Countdown Pick #4:  Golden by Jessi Kirby (05/14/2013)

Seventeen-year-old Parker Frost may be a distant relative of Robert Frost, but she has never taken the road less traveled. Valedictorian and quintessential good girl, she’s about to graduate high school without ever having kissed her crush or broken the rules. So when fate drops a mystery in her lap—one that might be the key to uncovering the truth behind a town tragedy, she decides to take a chance.

I'm loving that quite a few titles I've come across that will be releasing this year have hints of classic tales being retold, or talk of famous and well deserving authors entering their pages.  I've never been a huge fan of poetry and as an English major, I always felt bad about that.  But there were still a few poets that managed to breach my walls and Frost was certainly one of them.  If Kirby's tale is anything close to Frost's lyrical writing I'll be one hundred percent on board.  I love the idea of a distant relative being our main character in this read, and I'm anxious to see what she gets herself into when she decides to take the road less traveled.

Countdown Pick #5:  Towering by Alex Flinn (05/14/2013)

At first, I merely saw his face, his hands on the window ledge. Then, his whole body as he swung himself through the window. Only I could not see what he swung on.
Until, one day, I told my dream self to look down. And it was then that I saw. He had climbed on a rope. I knew without asking that the rope had been one of my own tying.

Rachel is trapped in a tower, held hostage by a woman she’s always called Mama. Her golden hair is growing rapidly, and to pass the time, she watches the snow fall and sings songs from her childhood, hoping someone, anyone, will hear her. 

Wyatt needs time to reflect or, better yet, forget about what happened to his best friend, Tyler. That’s why he’s been shipped off to the Adirondacks in the dead of winter to live with the oldest lady in town. Either that, or no one he knows ever wants to see him again.

Dani disappeared seventeen years ago without a trace, but she left behind a journal that’s never been read, not even by her overbearing mother…until now. 

A #1 New York Times bestselling author, Alex Flinn knows her fairy tales, and Towering is her most mind-bending interpretation yet. Dark and mysterious, this reimagining of Rapunzel will have readers on the edge of their seats wondering where Alex will take them next!

Why does May have to be so far away????  I say it over and over again, I just love a good retelling, and Flinn is about as good as they get!  She always hits the spot and manages to put fun twists and turns on her stories while leaving the classic feel of the originals intact and well respected.  This one sounds like it could be her best yet and I can't wait!