Countdown: April 2014

With Spring being right around the corner, we're so close to being able to say goodbye to this cold weather and hello to fresh blooms, and sunny skies, right?  At least that's what I keep telling myself, knowing full well, that we're likely to see more rain than sun next month, but I'm trying to stay optimistic.  And with all these amazing new releases that will hit the shelves next month, it's getting easier each and every time I add one to my countdown list.  Are there any titles that you're extra excited about?  Here are a few of the ones I'm looking forward to in April.

Countdown Pick #1:  Dreams of Gods and Monsters (Daughter of Smoke and Bone, #3) by Laini Taylor (04/29/2014)

By way of a staggering deception, Karou has taken control of the chimaera rebellion and is intent on steering its course away from dead-end vengeance. The future rests on her, if there can even be a future for the chimaera in war-ravaged Eretz.

Common enemy, common cause.

When Jael's brutal seraph army trespasses into the human world, the unthinkable becomes essential, and Karou and Akiva must ally their enemy armies against the threat. It is a twisted version of their long-ago dream, and they begin to hope that it might forge a way forward for their people.

And, perhaps, for themselves. Toward a new way of living, and maybe even love.

But there are bigger threats than Jael in the offing. A vicious queen is hunting Akiva, and, in the skies of Eretz ... something is happening. Massive stains are spreading like bruises from horizon to horizon; the great winged stormhunters are gathering as if summoned, ceaselessly circling, and a deep sense of wrong pervades the world.

What power can bruise the sky?

From the streets of Rome to the caves of the Kirin and beyond, humans, chimaera and seraphim will fight, strive, love, and die in an epic theater that transcends good and evil, right and wrong, friend and enemy.

At the very barriers of space and time, what do gods and monsters dream of? And does anything else matter?

I haven't had the chance to read the sequel in this series yet, so I tried not to spoil anything and read the synopsis for this third installment.  So while I don't know what this installment is about, and we don't have a finalized cover image to drool over, I know how much I enjoyed the series opener, and I have no doubt that this book will be just as good, if not better.

Countdown Pick #2:  House of Ivy & Sorrow by Natalie Whipple (04/15/2014)

Josephine Hemlock has spent the last 10 years hiding from the Curse that killed her mother. But when a mysterious man arrives at her ivy-covered, magic-fortified home, it’s clear her mother’s killer has finally come to destroy the rest of the Hemlock bloodline. Before Jo can even think about fighting back, she must figure out who she’s fighting in the first place. The more truth Jo uncovers, the deeper she falls into witchcraft darker than she ever imagined. Trapped and running out of time, she begins to wonder if the very Curse that killed her mother is the only way to save everyone she loves.

I'm loving that there are so many titles coming out this year that feature witches at the center of everything.  It's a nice change of pace, and fun to see the different and creative ways authors are using to make the stories their own.  Hopefully the suspense and action that this book sounds like it'll bring won't be too much for me to handle.

Countdown Pick #3:  A Phantom Enchantment (Unbound, #3) by Eve Marie Mont (04/2014)

The conclusion to the Unbound trilogy, in which Emma Townsend travels to Paris and gets lost in Gaston Leroux's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA.

Normally I'd be at a loss with such a short description for the book, but Mont has proved time and again that her Unbound series will never disappoint.  I love Emma and all the other characters and can't wait to see where readers will be taken this time around.  I'll admit that I enjoyed the series opener better than the sequel, but I think with a Paris background and a trip through Leroux's The Phantom of the Opera, it's safe to say that this one will be right up there in the top with my other favorites.

Countdown Pick #4:  A Shard of Ice (The Black Symphony Saga, #1) by Alivia Anders (04/18/2014)

 THEIR SOULS, REAWAKENED.

When 13-year-old Lilix Morgan is found alive and floating on a bed of ice at sea, everyone counts it a miracle. Kidnapped nearly four weeks earlier, she remembers nothing of her mysterious abduction. When she tries to remember what happened, she hears only a melody – a faint and delicate set of notes, strung together in a tune she doesn’t understand.

THEIR POWER, UNMATCHED.

A year later and desperate to put the lingering nightmares of her past behind her, Lilix crosses the country to enroll at Baelmorte Academy, aiming to become the violinist she once dreamt of. Things seem to be finally going well, and Lilix settles into a routine of sheet music and inspiration among new friends.

Then the dreams start.

The melody and night terrors she thought she’d left behind return with a vengeance, threatening to ruin her fragile version of normalcy. Then an unlikely ally tells her that she isn’t alone. That there are others just like her, fighting to hide their own shocking truths from coming to light. That they know who she is, and what she’s been through. Now, accompanied by four other girls, Lilix discovers her nightmares are larger than a single trauma; they’re a window to a hidden part of her soul, a place of immense power with a destiny that cannot be ignored.

THEIR BATTLE, IS ONLY BEGINNING.

With this knowledge comes a new and frightening reality. For Lilix has been reawakened to stop an age-old enemy, one thought to have been destroyed centuries ago. Trapped by her destiny, Lilix is torn between what feels right and what she remembers. Her memories tell her of a star-crossed love waiting to be reunited, of friendships and trust broken in the past. But can she save that love when reality brings her an enemy, and an evil that will be the undoing of them all if they don’t destroy it?

Despite the long synopsis, this book description isn't giving away any of it's secrets, now is it?  I'm confused and intrigued all at the same time, and can't help but want to pick up this book as soon as it hits the shelves in stores next month.

Countdown Pick #5:  Salvage by Alexandra Duncan (04/01/2014)

Ava, a teenage girl living aboard the male-dominated deep space merchant ship Parastrata, faces betrayal, banishment, and death. Taking her fate into her own hands, she flees to the Gyre, a floating continent of garbage and scrap in the Pacific Ocean, in this thrilling, surprising, and thought-provoking debut novel that will appeal to fans of Across the Universe, by Beth Revis, and The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood.

 

Ava is the captain’s daughter. This allows her limited freedoms and a certain status in the Parastrata’s rigid society—but it doesn’t mean she can read or write or even withstand the forces of gravity. When Ava learns she is to be traded in marriage to another merchant ship, she hopes for the best. After all, she is the captain’s daughter. Betrayal, banishment, and a brush with love and death are her destiny instead, and Ava stows away on a mail sloop bound for Earth in order to escape both her past and her future. The gravity almost kills her.

 

Gradually recuperating in a stranger’s floating cabin on the Gyre, a huge mass of scrap and garbage in the Pacific Ocean, Ava begins to learn the true meaning of family and home and trust—and she begins to nourish her own strength and soul. This sweeping and harrowing novel explores themes of choice, agency, rebellion, and family and, after a tidal wave destroys the Gyre and all those who live there, ultimately sends its main character on a thrilling journey to Mumbai, the beating heart of Alexandra Duncan’s post–climate change Earth.

Does anyone else feel like this book's description gave a lot away?  I'm hoping that there's a lot more to this book than what the description says, because otherwise I feel like I've already been given the beginning, middle and end so to speak.  I've added it to the list because the idea is intriguing and sounds exciting, but I'm crossing my fingers that there's more to it than what meets the eye.

Continuing On (2)

Sometimes I find myself getting so caught up counting down to new releases that I forget about some of the books and series that I'm looking forward to continuing on.  So recently I went back through and checked in with some of my favorites to see what was going on.  I'll admit I was surprised (in a good way) to find that new installments had come out within a series I'd enjoyed.  So rather than counting down in these posts, I decided to list some titles that have come out that I need to back track and read in order to catch up.  Here are just a few...

Catch Up #1:  Clockwork Prince (Infernal Devices, #2) by Cassandra Clare

In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street—and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa’s powers for his own dark ends.

With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister’s war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move—and that one of their own has betrayed them.

Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will—the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?

As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart.

Like I said in the last continuing on post, I think I just needed a break from all things shadow hunter related, but I also think it was because the first installment in the series left me a little sad.  I didn't know who I wanted our leading lady to strike up a romance with but I know that Jem's situation left me very sad.  So hopefully enough time has passed that returning to Clare's spin off series is timed just right.

Catch Up #2:  A Beautiful Evil (Gods & Monsters, #2) by Kelly Keaton

Myth and mayhem inhabit a richly re imagined New Orleans in this sequel to Darkness Becomes Her.After the epic graveyard battle at the end of Darkness Becomes Her, Ari and her friends know what they’re up against: Ari is facing the Medusa curse and is haunted by the image of what she will become. To make matters worse, the heinous goddess Athena has kidnapped young Violet and is threatening to destroy Ari. 

Ari, along with the super hot Sebastian, is doing everything she can to learn more about Athena and to get Violet back. But the battle of good and evil is bigger than she realizes, and she’s about to be pulled into a world more horrific than she could ever imagine....

Any book that takes place in NOLA has my mouth instantly watering for chicory coffee and sugary beignets!  Ugh, you guys have no idea how badly I want some right this minute!  So maybe that's the reason I forgot about this sequel's release...my willpower when it comes to sweets only goes so far before it's all out torture!

Catch Up #3:  Blood-Kissed Sky (Darkness Before Dawn, #2) by J.A. London

There's nowhere left to hide. 

I thought vampires were our enemies - they controlled our lives, isolated our cities, and demanded our blood - until I met Victor. With Victor taking over as the new Lord Valentine, things were supposed to get better. Instead, they're worse than ever. 

Day Walkers, a new breed of vampires who can walk in the sun, are terrorizing the city. Blood supplies are low, and if Victor's vampires don't get enough, they will become infected with the Thirst - a disease that will turn them into mindless killers. 

To stop it, I must journey across the desolate wasteland to the very place where the sickness began. I can only hope that the answers that await me are enough to save us all... before it's too late.

How did I miss this release?!  There are just too many great (potentially) new titles released all the time.  This was a series where the mother-son writing duo that is J.A. London won me over.  Their series opener, Darkness Before Dawn, hit it out of the park and had me instantly wanting more.  Now I've got to get a move on so I can be ready for the third and final installment in this trilogy, After Daybreak to complete the series.  Hopefully my fast reading habits are still going strong.

Catch Up #4:  Days of Blood and Starlight (Daughter of Smoke and Bone, #2) by Laini Taylor

Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine a world free of bloodshed and war.

This is not that world.

Art student and monster's apprentice Karou finally has the answers she has always sought. She knows who she is—and what she is. But with this knowledge comes another truth she would give anything to undo: She loved the enemy and he betrayed her, and a world suffered for it.

In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Karou must decide how far she'll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, secrets and impossible choices, Days of Blood & Starlight finds Karou and Akiva on opposing sides as an age-old war stirs back to life.

While Karou and her allies build a monstrous army in a land of dust and starlight, Akiva wages a different sort of battle: a battle for redemption. For hope.

But can any hope be salvaged from the ashes of their broken dream?

I read and reviewed the series opener right around it's release date so I think this was just a timing issues for me.  Regardless of the reason for my being late in the game, it's a series I don't want to fall behind with so I'm determined to keep this read on the top of my TBR.

Catch Up #5:  Spell Bound (Hex Hall, #3) by Rachel Hawkins

Hailed as “impossible to put down,” the Hex Hall series has both critics and teens cheering. With a winning combination of romance, action, magic and humor, this third volume will leave readers enchanted.

Just as Sophie Mercer has come to accept her extraordinary magical powers as a demon, the Prodigium Council strips them away. Now Sophie is defenseless, alone, and at the mercy of her sworn enemies—the Brannicks, a family of warrior women who hunt down the Prodigium. Or at least that’s what Sophie thinks, until she makes a surprising discovery. The Brannicks know an epic war is coming, and they believe Sophie is the only one powerful enough to stop the world from ending. But without her magic, Sophie isn’t as confident.

Sophie’s bound for one hell of a ride—can she get her powers back before it’s too late?

The end of another really fun series.  Now I've already got enough reason to grab this one with her new spin off series, School Spirits in 2013.  I'm not going to pass that series up so I need to be up to speed before that first installment hits the shelves.  Plus I really want to know what happens to Cal!

Amazing 2012 Covers

I'm sure I'm not the only one with this opinion, but there have been some amazing covers in 2012 and we're only into September. I know we're always told not to judge a book by it's cover, but let's face it...it's the first impression more than anything else that readers have to go on outside of knowing the author or having been recommended to read the book by someone else. So with an unlimited number of talented authors out there, and more than enough titles that have readers excited and rushing to the bookstores, it's just a fact that there's got to be something that sets them apart from the others.

Everyone has their own way of sorting through their TBR pile, wending their way through the stacks of their libraries or bookstores, and if you're anything like me, half the time you want to pull your hair out or bite your nails because it can be incredibly overwhelming. What if I pick the wrong book? Pass up a great title and never come across it again? I get anxiety just thinking about all the decisions that come into play sometimes when you're looking for your next read. So for me, a cover sometimes is the only way I can decide between one read and another. It doesn't mean I'm not going to read a book if the cover isn't amazing or anything, but if a book has fantastic cover art I might read it sooner rather than later.

So here are a few of the amazing covers of 2012 that rank up there among my favorites...

Cover #1: The Selection (The Selection, #1) by Kiera Cass

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself--and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

This has definitely been the year of weddings! So when I first saw this cover I was drawn to it because it reminded me of a wedding gown with color. All the tulle and feminine flair to it had me squealing on the inside like a little girl. You can't help but want to know what it would be like to wear that dress? What's this character all dressed up for? And what fabulous place will she be going when she gets to wear it? It's colorful, eye catching, and pulls you in for a closer look which inevitably is impossible to turn away from.

Cover #2: Days of Blood and Starlight (Daughter of Smoke and Bone, #2) by Laini Taylor

In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Karou must come to terms with who and what she is, and how far she’ll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, mysteries and secrets, new characters and old favorites, Days of Blood and Starlight brings the richness, color and intensity of the first book to a brand new canvas.

So to be honest this cover didn't have to be anything out of the ordinary to make me want to pick this sequel up. It was happening regardless after falling in love with the series opener. But when I got my first look at this cover I was spellbound all over again just like with the first book. There's something about this girl featured on the cover and the masks she wears. Her eyes draw you in and you hear that saying about them being the windows to one's soul, etc... You want to know her story, learn more about her and what she's got going on. Don't you want to get to know this girl and see what the author has in store for her readers?

Cover #3: Glitch (Glitch, #1) by Heather Anastasiu

In the Community, there is no more pain or war. Implanted computer chips have wiped humanity clean of destructive emotions, and thoughts are replaced by a feed from the Link network.

When Zoe starts to malfunction (or “glitch”), she suddenly begins having her own thoughts, feelings, and identity. Any anomalies must be immediately reported and repaired, but Zoe has a secret so dark it will mean certain deactivation if she is caught: her glitches have given her uncontrollable telekinetic powers.

As Zoe struggles to control her abilities and stay hidden, she meets other glitchers including Max, who can disguise his appearance, and Adrien, who has visions of the future. Both boys introduce Zoe to feelings that are entirely new. Together, this growing band of glitchers must find a way to free themselves from the controlling hands of the Community before they’re caught and deactivated, or worse.

In this action-packed debut, Glitch begins an exciting new young adult trilogy.

Whether it's the colors, the depths and shadows, the fonts, or maybe the glimpse of what's going on with the female lead on the cover, regardless it's all encompassing and irresistible. I love it all! The book was fantastic too!

Cover #4: Such A Rush by Jennifer Echols

A sexy and poignant romantic tale of a young daredevil pilot caught between two brothers.

When I was fourteen, I made a decision. If I was doomed to live in a trailer park next to an airport, I could complain about the smell of the jet fuel like my mom, I could drink myself to death over the noise like everybody else, or I could learn to fly.

Heaven Beach, South Carolina, is anything but, if you live at the low-rent end of town. All her life, Leah Jones has been the grown-up in her family, while her mother moves from boyfriend to boyfriend, letting any available money slip out of her hands. At school, they may diss Leah as trash, but she’s the one who negotiates with the landlord when the rent’s not paid. At fourteen, she’s the one who gets a job at the nearby airstrip.

But there’s one way Leah can escape reality. Saving every penny she can, she begs quiet Mr. Hall, who runs an aerial banner-advertising business at the airstrip and also offers flight lessons, to take her up just once. Leaving the trailer park far beneath her and swooping out over the sea is a rush greater than anything she’s ever experienced, and when Mr. Hall offers to give her cut-rate flight lessons, she feels ready to touch the sky.

By the time she’s a high school senior, Leah has become a good enough pilot that Mr. Hall offers her a job flying a banner plane. It seems like a dream come true . . . but turns out to be just as fleeting as any dream. Mr. Hall dies suddenly, leaving everything he owned in the hands of his teenage sons: golden boy Alec and adrenaline junkie Grayson. And they’re determined to keep the banner planes flying.

Though Leah has crushed on Grayson for years, she’s leery of getting involved in what now seems like a doomed business—until Grayson betrays her by digging up her most damning secret. Holding it over her head, he forces her to fly for secret reasons of his own, reasons involving Alec. Now Leah finds herself drawn into a battle between brothers—and the consequences could be deadly.

The title of this read says it all. When you picture things you can do to get that "rush" for me it's heights, flying, perhaps falling? Either way there's a lot of wind where these things are involved and that's what struck me about this cover. I loved seeing this girl's hair blowing all over the place and covering her face so that you're left wondering what she looks like, and what she does for a rush?

Cover #5: Something Strange and Deadly (Something Strange and Deadly, #1) by Susan Dennard

The year is 1876, and there’s something strange and deadly loose in Philadelphia…

Eleanor Fitt has a lot to worry about. Her brother has gone missing, her family has fallen on hard times, and her mother is determined to marry her off to any rich young man who walks by. But this is nothing compared to what she’s just read in the newspaper—

The Dead are rising in Philadelphia.

And then, in a frightening attack, a zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor…from her brother.

Whoever is controlling the Dead army has taken her brother as well. If Eleanor is going to find him, she’ll have to venture into the lab of the notorious Spirit-Hunters, who protect the city from supernatural forces. But as Eleanor spends more time with the Spirit-Hunters, including their maddeningly stubborn yet handsome inventor, Daniel, the situation becomes dire. And now, not only is her reputation on the line, but her very life may hang in the balance.

You don't know what to think about this book based on the cover. I couldn't tear my eyes away from it and wanted to know more. There's definitely something dark about the cover but there's beauty there too and that throws you for a little bit of a loop. There's just nothing about this cover that I don't just love!

YA Books Hitting the Big Screens

Now I know this is a personal preference, but I love seeing books made into movies. Are you a fan or would you rather everyone leave well enough alone and let the books speak for themselves instead? I know that nine times out of ten the book is by far going to be better than the movie. I really don't think anything will ever compare to seeing and reading an authors words on a page and then turning it over in our imagination to paint our own picture so to speak. But with that being said, I still like to see my favorite books put up on the big screen. It's one more way that ensures I don't have to say goodbye to my favorite characters and their incredible worlds for just a little bit longer. I'll take that opportunity each and every time!

So when I heard that the film rights had been purchased for these YA titles I was over the moon excited! These are some of my favorite series, characters, worlds and authors out there at the moment and I couldn't be happier for them, or more thrilled that I'll get the chance along with all the other fans to see what the film studios can do with these works on the big screen. Are you with me?

First up we have: Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Daughter of Smoke and Bone, #1) by Laini Taylor

Around the world, black hand prints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherworldly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages—not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers—beautiful, haunted Akiva—fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

If you haven't read this one yet, you're really missing out on some great writing for starters. Not to mention the fabulous characters like Karou and Akiva, and so many more. But the idea that we'll get to see the wonderful places on the big screen that these characters travel to, and the creatures that surround them? Talk about a chance at winning for best costume design and makeup...wowser! There's so much room for their creative imaginations on this one that I can't even being to try and guess at what this movie would be like. But it's definitely one that I'll be getting advanced tickets for and making sure I've got a prime seat to take in all the magic and beauty! With Summit Entertainment taking the lead on this one and seeing what they've already done with the Twilight series, I think this one could definitely be a winner and a big money maker with all the fans already accumulated.

Next we've got: Divergent (Divergent, #1) by Veronica Roth

In Beatrice Prior’s dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can’t have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the YA scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

While I haven't had the chance to read this one yet, I've heard nothing but positive feedback and am anxious to get started. It's been on my list for a while and since I'm always on the lookout for series or trilogies, this one sounds like it's right up my alley. And again, any excuse to see a young adult title that's produced so much hype to hit the movies is OK in my book. Have you guys read this title yet? Did you love it or was it just OK in your eyes? Are you anxious to see how they'll translate the material to film?

It was almost like waking up on Christmas morning when I saw that Matched (Matched Trilogy, #1) by Ally Condie would be optioned for film rights.

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate... until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

Who doesn't love this book and series? Condie is a magician when it comes to the written word. She strings scenarios and words together and has her readers feeling like they're not just reading her book but are actually in on the action themselves. I myself couldn't help but fall in love with all her characters. Cassia, Xander, Ky, they were all equally compelling and equally hard to resist. I'm anxious to see how she wraps things up in her third and finally installment in the Matched trilogy. Like always, when you know a final piece of the series puzzle is almost out and available, it's a double edged sword. Definitely a bitter pill to swallow when you know that after you've come to the last page in the book, that's all there is. No more installments, no more adventures for the characters, it's time to say goodbye so to speak. But with Disney optioning the rights to this series starter there is a glimmer on the horizon. Another chance to experience the series all over again and this time, we won't have to rely solely on our imaginations, but readers and fans will be able to see what they come up with and how they transfer Condie's world from the pages of her books to the movie screens!

And finally, we have Delirium (Delirium, #1) by Lauren Oliver.

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

Yet another one that I somehow managed to allow to slip through the cracks. I have no excuse or explanation, but can now say that I will be doing my darnedest to make sure I rectify this situation and quickly! I hate seeing a movie before I've read the book if there is one, and I refuse to let that happen in this situation. So I've got a goal and it's one I plan on accomplishing sooner rather than later. I haven't met anyone yet that has read Oliver's works and not become a fan. Honestly, if you've written or have read a negative review of Oliver's work I'd be curious to take a look, but for the most part I really haven't come across anyone who can say any different. From the sounds of things it's a book I would like, and one that could produce a roller coaster of emotions, stretching the span of all things the book describes as reasons the scientists are trying to get rid of love in the first place. So when Fox 2000 picked up the rights for this title I think there were many a happy fan out in the reading universe. I've heard that they've also arranged it so that they get a first look at all future titles that Oliver produces so that they can grab first dibs on them for movies/TV shows if they want them. Supposedly they are already in the middle of production on her Before I Fall title and this might mean that readers will be able to experience not just one Oliver YA movie, but two! How great is that!?

The future of movies is looking pretty good to me at this moment, wouldn't you agree? How can we get film companies to option the rights for all of our other YA favorites? Let's start setting that plan into motion immediately. Are there any YA titles that you'd like to see made into movies that aren't on this list or already in the works? I know my list would be long but I'd love to hear some of the titles that you'd be lining up at the movies to see.

Children's Choice Book Awards

Have you guys voted yet? Voting for the Children's Choice Book Awards in the Teen category opened on March 14th and it's a close race I'm sure. Every book is fabulous and I can't even begin to tell you how hard it was for me to narrow down my vote. Wicked hard! If you haven't put in your vote, head over there now and pick your favorite in hopes that the title comes out on top. With great books like these up for the award of Best Book of the Year, I can't even try to attempt at a guess of who will win.

Here are the nominees:

The Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices, #2) by Cassandra Clare

In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa's powers for his own dark ends.

With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister's war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move and that one of their own has betrayed them.

Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will; the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?

As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Daughter of Smoke and Bone, #1) by Laini Taylor

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages—not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers—beautiful, haunted Akiva—fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

Divergent (Divergent, #1) by Veronica Roth

In Beatrice Prior’s dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can’t have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the YA scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

Passion (Fallen, #3) by Lauren Kate

Luce would die for Daniel.

And she has. Over and over again. Throughout time, Luce and Daniel have found each other, only to be painfully torn apart: Luce dead, Daniel left broken and alone. But perhaps it doesn’t need to be that way. . .

Luce is certain that something—or someone—in a past life can help her in her present one. So she begins the most important journey of this lifetime . . . going back eternities to witness firsthand her romances with Daniel . . . and finally unlock the key to making their love last.

Cam and the legions of angels and Outcasts are desperate to catch Luce, but none are as frantic as Daniel. He chases Luce through their shared pasts, terrified of what might happen if she rewrites history.

Because their romance for the ages could go up in flames . . . forever.

Sweeping across centuries, PASSION is the third novel in the unforgettably epic FALLEN series.

Perfect (Impulse, #2) by Ellen Hopkins

Everyone has something, someone, somewhere else that they’d rather be. For four high-school seniors, their goals of perfection are just as different as the paths they take to get there.

Cara’s parents’ unrealistic expectations have already sent her twin brother Conner spiraling toward suicide. For her, perfect means rejecting their ideals to take a chance on a new kind of love. Kendra covets the perfect face and body—no matter what surgeries and drugs she needs to get there. To score his perfect home run—on the field and off—Sean will sacrifice more than he can ever win back. And Andre realizes that to follow his heart and achieve his perfect performance, he’ll be living a life his ancestors would never have understood.

Everyone wants to be perfect, but when perfection loses its meaning, how far will you go? What would you give up to be perfect?

A riveting and startling companion to the bestselling Impulse, Ellen Hopkins's Perfect exposes the harsh truths about what it takes to grow up and grow into our own skins, our own selves.

Review: Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Daughter of Smoke and Bone, #1) by Laini Taylor

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages--not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers--beautiful, haunted Akiva--fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

So once again I've found a book that was getting rave reviews that lived up to all it's hype. More times than not I feel like even if the book turns out to be great like everyone said it would, because I've built it up so much before even sitting down to read it that I've already doomed it to not possibly being able to live up to those standards. Not so in this case. Taylor created a vivid and unique world for her characters to thrive. I'll admit that the ending took me by surprise. I really thought I had most of it worked out, but the VERY end threw me for a loop and left me wishing the sequel was already out on the shelves.

Karou was wonderful. Her attitude, poise and stamina for everything happening around her was inspiring and entertaining to witness. Akiva was one of those characters that you couldn't help but empathize with because there was a sadness to him that can only come after devastating loss and hurt. But still he powered on and the Karou and Akiva team were hard to resist. When they were fighting I wasn't sure who I was rooting for and why? When they were working together I was overjoyed and crossing my fingers that things would work out for them. And in the back of my mind I was sure a wrench would be thrown into their plans time and time again. I wish I was wrong.

Such a creative and inventive world with more possibilities than any I've come across in a book in a long time, if ever there was a comparison to rival Taylor's work. Her writing was fresh and her fast paced action had me unable to turn the pages quick enough. I've got a happy ending all worked out in my head for book two but I'm not thinking things will go my way, or at least not entirely. Taylor left me on the edge of my seat, biting my nails until the bitter end. And it most certainly was bitter. What's to come of these characters? Only Taylor knows and until book two hits the shelves I'm sure she's not telling.

I gave Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Daughter of Smoke and Bone, #1) 4 shamrocks!!!!