New Finds (6)

Yep I'm back with another round of new finds. I couldn't possibly have kept it at one post this week. There were just too many that I've come across lately that I'm still shocked to have missed right when they first hit the shelves. There are always going to be fabulous books that are slated to come out in the future, but as I'm sure I'm not alone, readers are also always going to miss books as they come out because they're either too overloaded with other books on their TBR lists, or just overloaded with life in general.

So regardless of the reason, you're not alone and I'm going ot do my part to make sure these great reads aren't missed just because life keeps readers too busy to catch every detail. So whenever I come across titles that I've somehow missed the release date of, I make a note and get excited about them all over again. Sometimes it's even better than counting down to a title that will be released in the next year or so because when I get worked up over these titles I can go right to the store to pick up my own copy or download one to my kindle. No waiting or pining for the book to hit the shelves.

New Find #1: Settling (Solid, #2) by Shelley Workinger (07/04/2011)

At the beginning of the summer, Clio Kaid was one of a hundred teens brought to a secret Army installation. But it was no ordinary camp and they weren't ordinary kids...

Picking up where "Solid" left off, Clio and her friends realize that they aren't ready to go home; they're determined to stay on campus and continue their journey of self-discovery. But someone doesn't feel the same way and will do anything to drive them away - even kill.

Friendships will be tested, abilities will evolve, and more secrets will come out as the teens race to stop the killer before he sets his sights on one of them...

Solid was a great start to what I think has the potential to be a really interesting series. Workinger was an unknown when I was approached to read and review her series opener and I'm so glad I had the opportunity. It was a neat idea, and one that kept me turning the pages to find out what exactly was going on and what was to be the end result for this cast of characters. This one had already been released before I started in on the series, but I haven't yet been able to go out and pick myself up a copy so that I can find out what happens next. If you're looking for a series to get into, and one that might stear a little off course from the mainstream paranormal titles that are being picked up left and right, I'd recomend giving this one a chance. Workinger managed to turn me into a cheerleader; her characters are instantly ones that you'll want to make it out of any situation on top of, and will be crossing your fingers without even realizing you're doing it.

New Find #2: Between (Between, #1) by Cyndi Tefft (04/21/2011)

It just figures that the love of Lindsey Water's life isn't alive at all, but the grim reaper, complete with a dimpled smile and Scottish accent. After transporting souls to heaven for the last 300 years, Aiden MacRae has all but given up on finding the one whose love will redeem him and allow him entry through the pearly gates. Torn between her growing attraction to Aiden and heaven's siren song, Lindsey must learn the hard way whether love really can transcend all boundaries.

I can't say I've heard of any other book quite like this one, have you? I mean sure, you get the unrequited love stories, or even the love stories involving characters so out of each other's leagues but a grim reaper with dimples would be a first for me. I'm not sure I've even ever come across a love story of any kind involving the grim reaper, so already I'm liking the unique and new sound that Tefft has going on here. I will say that after reading this synopsis, as nice as this all sounds, I can already see myself rooting for these two to be together and I've yet to read even one page of this book. I hate that I get this way, but I'm a sucker for almost any kind of romance, and sadly the harder it is for two characters to be together, the more elated I am when they finally do get together...but they have to actually end that way or I'm devestated. So by the sounds of this one, who's to say that Aidan finds the one in Lindsey, only to have the two of them be pulled apart for some other reason, right? I'm on the edge of my seat and want to see what this book's all about!

New Find #3: First Date by Krista McGee (01/10/2012)

The last thing Addy Davidson wants is to be on a reality TV show where the prize is a prom date with the President's son.

She's focused on her schoolwork so she can get a scholarship to an Ivy League college, uncomfortable in the spotlight, never been on a date, and didn't even audition for it.

But she got selected anyway.

So she does her best to get eliminated on the very first show. Right before she realizes that the President's son is possibly the most attractive guy she has ever seen in person, surprisingly nice, and seemingly unimpressed by the 99 other girls who are throwing themselves at him.

Addy's totally out of her comfort zone but that may be right where God can show her al that she was meant to be.

This one just struck me as a such a sweet story line. Who doesn't love a little bit of good old reality TV, right? I'm a big fan, even of the bad stuff, I just seem to get stuck watching it and have to be peeled away from the couch, or have the TV shut off for me in order for me to be able to walk away. I have no idea why, and I realize that makes me a crazy person, but it is what it is I suppose. But I guess that after I read the short snippets the book provides, I tried to picture this happening in real life...didn't quite get there. I think it's a neat idea and sounds to me like the makings of a very cute and possibly romantic and heartfelt story....we shall see. And if you're interested, there are currently ten copies being given away in a contest over at Goodreads, check it out for yourselves and enter soon, because it's ends on February 6th.

New Find #4: Blood Will Tell (Warriors of Ankh, #1) by Samantha Young (07/11/2011)

Eden is a Soul Eater. While that doesn't mean much to her right now, she's pretty sure that any minute now, she's going to go all Carrie on her eleventh grade class.

Noah is an Ankh. As an immortal Warrior, his purpose in life is to hunt down and kill Soul Eaters.

Eden is Noah's next assignment. Problem is...this is an assignment with a difference. Eden's not your average run of the mill, Soul Eater. Noah's job? To test Eden for possible redemption.

It's a risky business.

Especially if Noah awakens Eden's inner monster.

It would be kind of hard for Eden to list to the angel on her shoulder when the devil's telling her, her new best friend is a lying, scheming, immortal enemy...

...betrayal is such a bitch.

So is Eden when you get on her bad side.

I think this one would be a good addition to my list in order to mix things up. While it's still got the paranormal edge that I normally tend to sway towards, I've never come across a book about Soul Eaters and Ankh warriors before. Have I missed that section at the book store? I didn't think so. This one sounds trick, but yet also maybe a nice change of pace. I normally have to force myself to go completely out of my reading comfort zone, but with something like this title, a kind of middle ground title so to speak, maybe I can ease into trying some more new genres and titles in the future. And Goodreads is also having a contest for this title, and is offering the chance to win two signed copies for two very lucky readers...I signed up, how about you?

New Finds #5: Dark Seeker (Seeker, #1) by Taryn Browning (10/04/2011)

She's the Seeker. He's the hunted. What's at stake could kill them both...

For 17-year-old Seeker, Janie Grey, ridding the Baltimore streets of the undead is an inherited duty passed down from her Cherokee ancestors. Seeker Training Lesson #1: Never trust the undead. After her father’s tragic death, Janie creates her own life lesson: Love isn’t worth the risk. Both lessons are easy to follow until she encounters the flawed Kai Sterdam. At first, she believes he is the hybrid she is trained to hunt. But, when he has human traits, she determines she doesn’t know what he is. As Janie’s intrigue over who Kai is pushes her deeper into his mysterious past, she discovers a shocking truth that is even more harrowing than the evil they are up against. It’s a secret Kai wants to keep hidden, especially from Janie.

Yet another great sounding read that's got a contest/giveaway to go with it. Goodreads has a giveaway for a reader's chance to win a copy of this recently released title for their very own. It's like extra incentive to check this book out, don't you think? I'm always up for another paranormal title and this one comes with it's very own spin on what sounds like a warrior fighting for the good side. Not sure what types of secrets will be revealed, but they don't sound like small white lies, these have the makings to be catastrophic and total game changers. I can't even believe when I've missed a title like this one that sounds like it's right up my alley, but that's why I love these posts. It really gives me the excuse to go back and look through some sites to see what I've missed out on, and quickly rectify thost mistakes.

New Finds (5)

Rather than a countdown post today I decided to go with another addition of new finds. There are always going to be fabulous books that are slated to come out in the future, but as I'm sure I'm not alone, readers are also always going to miss books as they come out because they're either too overloaded with other books on their TBR lists, or just overloaded with life in general.

So regardless of the reason, you're not alone and I'm going ot do my part to make sure these great reads aren't missed just because life keeps readers too busy to catch every detail. So whenever I come across titles that I've somehow missed the release date of, I make a note and get excited about them all over again. Sometimes it's even better than counting down to a title that will be released in the next year or so because when I get worked up over these titles I can go right to the store to pick up my own copy or download one to my kindle. No waiting or pining for the book to hit the shelves.

New Find #1: Wings of the Wicked (Angelfire, #2) by Courtney Allison Moulton (1/31/2012)

Life as the Preliateor is harder than Ellie ever imagined. Balancing real life with the responsibility of being Heaven's warrior is a challenge for Ellie. Her relationship with Will has become all business, though they both long for each other. And no that the secret of who she really is has come out, so have Hell's strongest reapers. Grown bold and more vicious, the demonic threaten her in the light of day and stalk her in the night.

She's been warned. Cadan, a demonic reaper, comes to her with information about Bastian's new plan to destroy Ellie's soul and use an ancient relic to wake all the souls of the damned and unleash them upon humanity. As she fights to stay ahead of Bastian's schemes, the revelations about those closest to her awaken a dark power within Ellie that threatens to destroy everything - including herself.

She'll be betrayed. Treachery comes even from those whom she loves, and Ellie is broken by the deaths of those who stood beside her in this Heavenly war. Still, she must find a way to save the world, herself, and her love for Will. If she fails, there will be hell to pay.

Oh lord. I am not liking the sound of this synopsis. After the ending and cliffhanger that Moulton left her readers with in her series opener, Angelfire I was hoping that Ellie and Will would at least get a little reprieve in the beginning of book two. But to be honest, that sounds like there's no way that scenario is going to work out. Ellie's obstacles sound like they've doubled if not more, and with her and Will pining for each other and struggle to stay professional, I'm thinking she doesn't need any added stress....like say a possible apocalypse right? If this sequel caught your interest, don't forget to enter the Goodreads giveaway hosted by Harper Teen that ends February 7th.

New Find #2: The Smart One and the Pretty One by Claire LeZebnik (09/10/2008)

When Ava Nickerson was a child, her mother jokingly betrothed her to a friend's son, and the contract the parents made has stayed safely buried for years. Now that still-single Ava is closing in on thirty, no one even remembers she was once "engaged" to the Markowitz boy. But when their mother is diagnosed with cancer, Ava's prodigal little sister Lauren comes home to Los Angeles where she stumbles across the decades-old document.

Frustrated and embarrassed by Ava's constant lectures about financial responsibility (all because she's in a little debt. Okay, a lot of debt), Lauren decides to do some sisterly interfering of her own and tracks down her sister's childhood fiance. When she finds him, the highly inappropriate, twice-divorced, but incredibly charming Russell Markowitz is all too happy to re-enter the Nickerson sisters' lives, and always-accountable Ava is forced to consider just how binding a contract really is...

While this might not be considered a young adult novel, I couldn't resist adding it to my new finds list. LaZebnik caught my attention and won my heart with her retelling of Austen's Pride and Prejudice, Epic Fail, and ever since I've been anxious for her to release a new young adult novel. Since that hasn't happened yet, I thought I would check out her previous works and see what I'd find. Well, this one might be a little off the YA mark, but it sure sounds like a winner to me. So I've marked this one on my list and I plan on hitting the store with this title in mind as soon as possible.

New Find #3: The Shattering by Karen Healey (09/05/2011)

Seventeen-year-old Keri likes to plan for every possibility. She knows what to do if you break an arm, or get caught in an earthquake or fire. But she wasn't prepared for her brother's suicide, and his death has left her shattered with grief. When her childhood friend Janna tells her it was murder, not suicide, Keri wants to believe her. After all, Janna's brother died under similar circumstances years ago, and Janna insists a visiting tourist, Sione, who also lost a brother to apparent suicide that year, has helped her find some answers. As the three dig deeper, disturbing facts begin to pile up: one boy killed every year; all older brothers; all spent New Year's Even in the idyllic town of Summerton. But when their search for the serial killer takes an unexpected turn, suspicion is cast on those they trust the most. As secrets shatter around them, can they save the next victim? Or will they become victims themselves?

After reading Healey's debut YA novel, Guardian of the Dead, I was looking forward to future works from her and somehow seems to miss this one when it came out a few months back. While this title doesn't seem to have much in common with her debut title, there's still that element of a mystery and the suspense that inevitably follows close behind. Healey managed to spin her folklore in a way no history teacher ever did for me in college, she had me excited, anxious to learn more, and crossing my fingers that I'd be able to solve the mystery before it was actually revealed to readers. So if her style stays on the same path, I'm thinking this mystery could be one I'd enjoy.

New Find #4: Supernaturally (Paranormalcy, #2) by Kiersten White (07/26/2011)

Evie finally has the normal life she's always longed for. But she's shocked to discover that being ordinary can be...kind of boring. Just when Evie starts to long for her days at the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she's given a chance to work for them again. Desperate for a break from all the normalcy, she agrees.

But as one disastrous mission leads to another, Evie starts to wonder if she made the right choice. And when Evie's faerie ex-boyfriend Reth appears with devastating revelations about her past, she discovers that there's a battle brewing between the faerie courts that could throw the whole supernatural world into chaos. The prize in question? Evie herself.

So much for normal.

I really enjoyed all the fun adventures White had offered up in her first Paranormalcy series installment, and I've been looking forward to seeing what else this series has to offer. Once again I'm not sure who I missed out on this summer release date but either way I plan to make up for that by getting my hands on this sequel very quickly. Evie was a fun character to follow and all the different creatures and obstacles White threw her way made for an interesting and addicting read. Hopefully this installment turns out to be no different.

New Find #5: Dark Descendant (Nikki Glass, #1) by Jenna Black (04/26/2011)

From the acclaimed author of the Morgan Kinglsey, Exorcist books comes the gripping first novel in a new series about a private eye who discovers, to her surprise, that she's an immortal huntress.

Nikki Glass can track down any man. But when her latest client turns out to be a true descendant of Hades, Nikki now discovers she can't die...

Crazy as it sounds, Nikki's manhunting skills are literally god-given. She's a living, breathing descendant of Artemis who has stepped right into a trap set by the children of the gods. Nikki's new "friends" include a descendant of Eros, who uses sex as a weapon; a descendant of Loki, whose tricks are no laughing matter; and a half-mad descendant of Kali who thinks she's a spy.

But most powerful of all are the Olympians, a rival clan of immortals seeking to destroy all Descendants who refuse to bow down to them. In the eternal batter of good god/bad god, Nikki would make a divine weapon. But if they think she'll surrender without a fight, the gods must be crazy...

Yet another author that I can't get enough of. Jenna Black made me a fan with her Faeriewalker series and I was very sad to see it end. Don't get me wrong, her series ending was fantastic but I just wasn't quite ready to say goodbye for good to all those characters she had created and I had come to love. But while I still miss that series, I'm shocked that I hadn't heard about this one until after it's release date. I'm very far behind on keeping track with some of my favorite authors, but now that I'm trying to correct my errors, I've marked this one down and definitely don't want to miss out. While her world of fae was wonderful, I'm sure her world containing Olympians and their descendants will be just as good, if not better.

New Finds (4)

Rather than a countdown post today I decided to go with another addition of new finds. There are always going to be fabulous books that are slated to come out in the future, but as I'm sure I'm not alone, readers are also always going to miss books as they come out because they're either too overloaded with other books on their TBR lists, or just overloaded with life in general.

So regardless of the reason, you're not alone and I'm going to do my part to make sure these great reads aren't missed just because life keeps readers too busy to catch every detail. So whenever I come across titles that I've somehow missed the release date of, I make a note and get excited about them all over again. Sometimes it's even better than counting down to a title that will be released in the next year or so because when I get worked up over these titles I can go right to the store to pick up my own copy or download one to my kindle. No waiting or pining for the book to hit the shelves.

New Find #1: Carrier of the Mark (Carrier Trilogy, #1) by Leigh Fallon (10/04/2011)

From the moment she sets foot at her new school in Ireland, Megan is inexplicably drawn to the darkly handsome Adam DeRis. But Megan soon discovers that her feelings for Adam are tied to a supernatural fate that was sealed long ago—and that the passion and power that unites them could be their ultimate destruction.


This electrifying debut novel was first discovered on inkpop.com. the online community for aspiring writers. THE CARRIER OF THE MARK sizzles with unbridled romance, a unique supernatural hook, and a breathtaking Irish setting, and will entice fans of the Need series by Carrie Jones and the House of Night series by P. C. and Kristin Cast.

The cover caught my eye and the Irish setting took care of the rest. I love all things Irish and Ireland related and until I get there myself I will read anything and everything that has anything to do with either. So if Megan is going to school in Ireland, I'm already intrigued. And as you know I'm a sucker for a good romance and can't stay away from one that may in fact be resisted by the characters themselves. Sign me up Fallon, let's see what you've got for us!

New Find #2: Ashfall (Ashfall, #1) by Mike Mullin (10/11/2011)


Under the bubbling hot springs and geysers of Yellowstone National Park is a supervolcano. Most people don't know it's there. The caldera is so large that it can only be seen from a plane or satellite. It just could be overdue for an eruption, which would change the landscape and climate of our planet.
Ashfall is the story of Alex, a teenage boy left alone for the weekend while his parents visit relatives. When the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts unexpectedly, Alex is determined to reach his parents. He must travel over a hundred miles in a landscape transformed by a foot of ash and the destruction of every modern convenience that he has ever known, and through a new world in which disaster has brought out both the best and worst in people desperate for food, water, and warmth. With a combination of nonstop action, a little romance, and very real science, this is a story that is difficult to stop reading and even more difficult to forget.
Hello new adventures! This one reminds me a little bit of the movie, Dante's Peak with the volcano and attempts to reach loved ones that are a far distance away. Not to mention that with a guy's point of view not being very common, I try to jump at every chance I get to read them whenever I can. I've been pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoy the guy's POV in certain books and have even ended up craving more just like them in the past. So here's hoping that my track record holds true this time around and Mullin wins his readers over.

New Find #3: Born At Midnight (Shadow Falls, #1) by C.C. Hunter (03/29/2011)

Don’t miss this spectacular new series that will steal your heart and haunt your dreams, Welcome to Shadow Falls camp, nestled deep in the woods of a town called Fallen…


One night Kylie Galen finds herself at the wrong party, with the wrong people, and it changes her life forever. Her mother ships her off to Shadow Falls—a camp for troubled teens, and within hours of arriving, it becomes painfully clear that her fellow campers aren’t just “troubled.” Here at Shadow Falls, vampires, werewolves, shapshifters, witches and fairies train side by side—learning to harness their powers, control their magic and live in the normal world.


Kylie’s never felt normal, but surely she doesn’t belong here with a bunch of paranormal freaks either. Or does she? They insist Kylie is one of them, and that she was brought here for a reason. As if life wasn’t complicated enough, enter Derek and Lucas. Derek’s a half-fae who’s determined to be her boyfriend, and Lucas is a smokin’ hot werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past. Both Derek and Lucas couldn’t be more different, but they both have a powerful hold on her heart.


Even though Kylie feels deeply uncertain about everything, one thing is becoming painfully clear—Shadow Falls is exactly where she belongs…


I'm not sure how I missed this one but I'm angry that I did. This book sounds like it has everything I love; romance, paranormal creatures ranging from witches to werewolves, and the Fae as well. I'm not familiar with Hunter's writing, but I can't wait to check it out. And the only reason I found this read was because of my next pick...

New Find #4: Awake At Dawn (Shadow Falls, #2) by C.C. Hunter (10/11/2011)

Now that she’s settled in at Shadow Falls Camp, Kylie Galen’s determined to discover the extent of her supernatural abilities. But with a ghost insisting someone Kylie loves is about die, a rogue vampire on a murdering rampage, and her sixth sense telling her someone is watching her, Kylie’s quest for answers is quickly put on hold.


To make matters worse, just when she’s about to give her heart to Derek, a half-fairy, he starts pulling away. When Lucas, a werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past, returns, Kylie’s feels more conflicted than ever. Her weekend with her mom should have been the just the break Kylie needs, but it turns out to be her breaking point. Someone from the dark side of the supernatural world has plans for Kylie--and it'll take all her resources to get back to Shadow Falls alive...


So like I said above, I saw this book and began looking into it only to realize it's the second installment in a series I'd never heard about before. So I instantly stopped reading the synopsis and tried desperately to forget what I had already read so that nothing of the first would be ruined for me before I'd had the chance to read it for myself. So now that I've found them I'm excited to get started. I guess it's a plus that now both books are out on the shelves and I don't have to wait for their releases...but I'm sure after I'd gotten through these two that the third in the series, will have me counting down it's release as well.

New Find #5: The Glass Man (Lila Gray, #1) by Jocelyn Adams (10/15/2011)

Lila Gray is just a human—at least that’s her mantra when she accidentally topples a building or bends a paranoid local's gun into modern art. That she can sense and control the minds around her doesn’t prove anything, either. Unwilling to put others at risk, she hides in the wilderness from the beautiful creature who hunts her, one who sees her as his ultimate prize.

Alone, the egocentric Glass Man can kill with a thought. Mated with Lila, he's a supernatural weapon prepared to annihilate the humans he loathes.

Caught in the Glass Man’s latest scheme, Lila is plunged into a hidden Fae realm, faced with a secret birthright and a forbidden romance.

With the Glass Man threatening everyone she loves, can Lila accept who she is in time to end his bloody reign? Or will she succumb to his dark power and become the vehicle of destruction for the human race?

As ridiculous as it sounds, I'm kind of already hooked. The synopsis sucked me in and I'm wishing that I had this book in my hands right now. Adams sounds like she's laid out a stressful and highly intense plot filled with unexplainable powers, mythical creatures and forbidden romance! You see what I mean? The draws don't get much better than this in my opinion. I'm getting my copy immediately!

New Finds (3)

Rather than a countdown post today I decided to go with another addition of new finds. There are always going to be fabulous books that are slated to come out in the future, but as I'm sure I'm not alone, readers are also always going to miss books as they come out because they're either too overloaded with other books on their TBR lists, or just overloaded with life in general.

So regardless of the reason, I am in this boat as well. So whenever I come across titles that I've somehow missed the release date of, I make a note and get excited about them all over again. Sometimes it's even better than counting down to a title that will be released in the next year or so because when I get worked up over these titles I can go right to the store to pick up my own copy or download one to my kindle. No waiting or pining for the book to hit the shelves.

New Pick #1: Crave (The Clann, #1) by Melissa Darnell (10/25/2011)

Savannah Colbert has never known why she's so hated by the kids of the Clann. Nor can she deny her instinct to get close to Clann golden boy Tristan Coleman. Especially when she recovers from a strange illness and the attraction becomes nearly irresistible. It's as if he's a magnet, pulling her gaze, her thoughts, even her dreams. Her family has warned her to have nothing to do with him, or any members of the Clann. But when Tristan is suddenly everywhere she goes, Savannah fears she's destined to fail.


For years, Tristan has been forbidden to even speak to Savannah Colbert. Then Savannah disappears from school for a week and comes back…different, and suddenly he can't stay away. Boys seem intoxicated just from looking at her. His own family becomes stricter than ever. And Tristan has to fight his own urge to protect her, to be near her no matter the consequences….


I have become the biggest fan of Goodreads suggested readings lately because they find me jewels like this Darnell release. I can only do so much exploring on the Internet for new books so I appreciate all the help I can get. And I hate to admit it but I'm not sure I'd have found this one without the help. This series opener sounds like my cup of tea with the mystery and forbidden attractions. Thanks again Goodreads!

New Find #2: The Juliet Spell by Douglas Rees (9/27/2011)

I wanted the role of Juliet more than anything. I studied hard. I gave a great reading for it—even with Bobby checking me out the whole time. I deserved the part.


I didn't get it. So I decided to level the playing field, though I actually might have leveled the whole play. You see, since there aren't any Success in Getting to Be Juliet in Your High School Play spells, I thought I'd cast the next best—a Fame spell. Good idea, right?


Yeah. Instead of bringing me a little fame, it brought me someone a little famous. Shakespeare. Well, Edmund Shakespeare. William's younger brother.
Good thing he's sweet and enthusiastic about helping me with the play...and—ahem—maybe a little bit hot. But he's from the past. Way past. Cars amaze him—cars! And cell phones? Ugh.


Still, there's something about him that's making my eyes go star-crossed....


This one sounds beyond cute, don't you think? I think the whole premise sounds like an adorable idea and I can't wait to see how this blast from the past turns out. Shakespeare's younger brother roaming the halls of a 2011 high school...classic! Sure to be good for a few laughs, I'm looking forward to hearing more about Edmund and the aspiring Juliet's attraction works out.

New Pick #3: Eve (Eve, #1) by Anna Carey (10/04/2011)

The year is 2032, sixteen years after a deadly virus—and the vaccine intended to protect against it—wiped out most of the earth’s population. The night before eighteen-year-old Eve’s graduation from her all-girls school she discovers what really happens to new graduates, and the horrifying fate that awaits her.

Fleeing the only home she’s ever known, Eve sets off on a long, treacherous journey, searching for a place she can survive. Along the way she encounters Caleb, a rough, rebellious boy living in the wild. Separated from men her whole life, Eve has been taught to fear them, but Caleb slowly wins her trust...and her heart. He promises to protect her, but when soldiers begin hunting them, Eve must choose between true love and her life.

I know I'm going to like this one. It might just be a feeling, but there's nothing I've heard or read about it so far that leads me to believe otherwise. They synopsis alone was gripping and I find myself already rooting for Eve and Caleb's relationship, and I've yet to read one page. I'm a goner. But all I keep reading are positive reviews that describe a fast pace, intriguing dialogue, unique and creative plot points, etc...what's not to love? The list of compliments for this book are glowing. So I'm ready to jump on the band wagon and enjoy the ride as well.

New Pick #4: Scored by Lauren McLaughlin (10/25/2011)

Set in the future when teenagers are monitored via camera and their recorded actions and confessions plugged into a computer program that determines their ability to succeed. All kids given a "score" that determines their future potential. This score has the ability to get kids into colleges, grant scholarships, or destroy all hope for the above. Scored's reluctant heroine is Imani, a girl whose high score is brought down when her best friend's score plummets. Where do you draw the line between doing what feels morally right and what can mean your future? Friendship, romance, loyalty, family, human connection and human value: all are questioned in this fresh and compelling dystopian novel set in the scarily foreseeable future.

Sounds like a future I want no part of. "Big brother" watching and recording my every move...no thank you. And just the idea of having almost no control over your own fate and future gives me a sick feeling. That's not a situation I'd wish on anyone. Imani and the rest of the kids are not living the good life and I'm eager to see if they can change their world. McLaughlin sure has me curious.

New Finds (2)

After finding so many great new titles on my recent book exploration I decided I didn't want to squeeze them into just one post. So hopefully you guys enjoy finding new reads as much as I do, because here are a few I came across and wanted to share.

Pick #1: The Predicteds by Christine Seifert (9/1/11)


Your future is not your own...


"We wanted to know what makes a good kid good and a bad kid bad. Can you blame us for that? We found an astoundingly, marvelously simple answer: The brain isn't so much a complicated machine as it is a crystal ball. If you look into it, you will see everything you want to know."

-Dr. Mark Miliken, senior researcher at Utopia Laboratories


Who will it be?

Will the head cheerleader get pregnant?

Is the student council president a secret drug addict?


The whole school is freaking out about PROFILE, an experimental program that can predict students' future behavior.
The only question Daphne wants answered is whether Jesse will ask her out...but he's a Predicted, and there's something about his future he's not telling her.


Yet another attempt at Utopia and the big brother government leading the charge as usual. This spin on utopia is a little different. The idea that someone would be able to run a test and lay out your future for you is quite tempting. And while I do like the element of surprise in my life, it's an intriguing concept. One I'm not sure I could resist...could you?

Pick #2: Isle of Night (The Watchers, #1) by Veronica Wolf (9/6/11)



Is life offering fewer and fewer options? Then join the dead.


When Annelise meets dark and seductive Ronan, he promises her a new life-if she has the courage to chance the unknown. Now, she's whisked away to a mysterious island and pitted against other female recruits to become a Watcher-girls who are partnered with vampires and assist them in their missions. To survive and become a Watcher, Annelise has to beat out every other girl, but she's determined to do so, because to fail doesn't mean dishonor-it means death.


Count me in! It's survivor meets vampires with danger and drama all mixed together. I'm curious to see what kind of missions Wolf has her vampires going on and what the weeding out process for Watchers will entail. The cover pulls you in and I'm hoping Wolf's writing and creativity has my flying through the pages.

Pick #3: A Long Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan (8/9/11)

It should have been a short suspended-animation sleep. But this time Rose wakes up to find her past is long gone— and her future full of peril.


Rosalinda Fitzroy has been asleep for sixty-two years when she is woken by a kiss. Locked away in the chemically induced slumber of a stasis tube in a forgotten subbasement, sixteen-year-old Rose slept straight through the Dark Times that killed millions and utterly changed the world she knew. Now, her parents and her first love are long gone, and Rose— hailed upon her awakening as the long-lost heir to an interplanetary empire— is thrust alone into a future in which she is viewed as either a freak or a threat. Desperate to put the past behind her and adapt to her new world, Rose finds herself drawn to the boy who kissed her awake, hoping that he can help her to start fresh. But when a deadly danger jeopardizes her fragile new existence, Rose must face the ghosts of her past with open eyes— or be left without any future at all.


Sleeping Beauty was my favorite Disney movie when I was growing up and the little girl in me kind of drooled over this one when I came across it. Adding to the fairy tale a post apocalyptic twist sounds awesome to me. Everything about it sounds fun and I'm not one to turn down a good, fun read very often. Bring it on Sheehan and I'm crossing my fingers for making a new favorite out of an old one.

Pick #4: Witchlanders by Lena Coakley (8/30/11)

High in their mountain covens, red witches pray to the Goddess, protecting the Witchlands by throwing the bones and foretelling the future.
It’s all a fake.
At least, that’s what Ryder thinks. He doubts the witches really deserve their tithes—one quarter of all the crops his village can produce. And even if they can predict the future, what danger is there to foretell, now that his people’s old enemy, the Baen, has been defeated?
But when a terrifying new magic threatens both his village and the coven, Ryder must confront the beautiful and silent witch who holds all the secrets. Everything he’s ever believed about witches, the Baen, magic and about himself will change, when he discovers that the prophecies he’s always scorned—
Are about him.
Witches seem to be drawing me in lately and this title was no exception. The idea of a small town paying tribute to witches for protection is captivating enough, but with the added prophecies and danger heading for these characters ensured I was a goner. I'm anxious to check this one out and eager to read from a male's point of view. Those books are few and far between for me, but hopefully this male's voice will be a nice change of pace.

Pick #5: Dark Angel (Dark Angel, #1) by Eden Maguire (/8/4/11)

Tania's heart belongs to Orlando. Nothing can rip them apart. Until the seduction begins in a flurry of glamour and magic, music and parties all orchestrated by the mysterious and mesmerising Zoran, an iconic rock star who has retired to a remote ranch in the nearby mountains. And there Tania meets the dark side. Can she resist temptation?

Although I read the book's description I'm still not quite sure what this one's all about. The hint at a love triangle is always compelling but it also sounds like this one goes deeper still. Maybe it's the beautiful cover, maybe it's the mystery, but my curiosity has most definitely gotten the best of me and I've added this title to my TBR pile.

New Finds (1)

I know it's not possible for me to keep up with all the authors and series' I've come to love because I'm not independently wealthy for one and I'm not able to stay and home with nothing to do but read...no matter how much I wish that was the case. I also will probably always miss out on great new authors, books, announcements, etc...because that's just the way it works and I can only imagine that I'm not alone in this situation. So when I do get the time to do a little surfing on my favorite blogs, searching Amazon, and checking in on Goodreads, etc...I get very excited. It's a chance to add some titles to my never ending TBR pile and now with the holidays quickly approaching to also add some of these titles to my Christmas list. So here are a few I found that have already been released but I missed along the way...

Pick #1: The Name of the Star (Shades of London, #1) by Maureen Johnson (9/29/11)

The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.

Soon “Rippermania” takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.

For whatever reason I enjoy watching and reading (sometimes) things that scare me. Don't ask me why, because I honestly don't know. I'm not quite sure why I torture myself with near heart failure, bad dreams, and everything else that comes with being terrified. At least with a book I won't run the risk of spilling a drink or food when I throw my hands up in the air during a scary part (which always seems to happen to me at the movies or while watching them at home). Jack the Ripper without a doubt fits into my scary category. He and Michael Myers are definitely at the top of my scary list so this should be pure torture for me. But hopefully maybe a little fun too????

Pick #2: Witch Song by Amber Argyle (9/1/11)

The world is changing. Once, Witch Song controlled everything from the winds to the shifting of the seasons--but not anymore. All the Witches are gone, taken captive by a traitor. All but Brusenna. As the echo of their songs fade, the traitor grows stronger. Now she is coming for Brusenna. Her guardian has sworn to protect her, but even he can't stop the Dark Witch. Somehow, Brusenna has to succeed where every other Witch has failed. Find the traitor. Fight her. Defeat her. Because if Brusenna doesn't, there won't be anything left to save.

Maybe it's because Halloween is quickly approaching but this tale of witches caught my eye immediately. I've always gotten hooked easily for the heroine's that are on their own and desperate to save themselves, but more importantly something bigger. The fate of the world, humanity at large, etc...So I'm anxious to see how this leading lady fairs and how things will twist and turn for her along the way.

Pick #3: The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle (9/6/11)

Anyone who’s had something truly crappy happen to them will tell you: It’s all about Before and After. What I’m talking about here is the ka-pow, shake-you-to-your-core-and-turn-your-bones-to-plastic kind of crappy.


Sixteen-year-old Laurel’s world changes instantly when her parents and brother are killed in a terrible car accident. Behind the wheel is the father of her bad-boy neighbor, David Kaufman, whose mother is also killed. In the aftermath of the tragedy, Laurel navigates a new reality in which she and her best friend grow apart, boys may or may not be approaching her out of pity, overpowering memories lurk everywhere, and Mr. Kaufman is comatose but still very much alive. Through it all there is David, who swoops in and out of Laurel’s life and to whom she finds herself attracted against her better judgment. She will forever be connected to him by their mutual loss—a connection that will change them both in unexpected ways.


While this sounds a little like another story I've read, I'm intrigued nonetheless. I can't imagine going through a situation like the one Castle has painted here. The idea is mind numbing to say the least, but at the same time it's like the old saying goes, "when passing a bad car accident, you don't want to look, you know you shouldn't look, but can't seem to stop yourself from looking." So I'm curious to see how Castle weaves her story together and how her characters end up getting through these horrible circumstances.

Pick #4: The Mephisto Covenant (Mephisto Covenant, #1) by Trinity Faegan (9/27/11)

Sasha is desperate to find out who murdered her father. When getting the answer means pledging her soul to Eryx, she unlocks a secret that puts her in grave danger—Sasha is Anabo, a daughter of Eve, and Eryx’s biggest threat.

A son of Hell, immortal, and bound to Earth forever, Jax looks for redemption in the Mephisto Covenant—God’s promise he will find peace in the love of an Anabo. After a thousand years, he’s finally found the girl he’s been searching for: Sasha.

With the threat of Eryx looming, Jax has to keep Sasha safe and win her over. But can he? Will Sasha love him and give up her mortal life?

Forbidden romances, death looming over the horizon, evil lurking and white knights trying to protect their damsels in distress equals gold. I love all of these fantastical elements brought together in stories and this one sounds like a winner to me. The ideas might sound somewhat stereotypical, but they also sound fun and exciting. I'm excited to have found Faegan's story and I'm only sorry I didn't come across it sooner.

Pick #5: As I Wake by Elizabeth Scott (9/15/11)

Ava is welcomed home from the hospital by a doting mother, lively friends, and a crush finally beginning to show interest. There's only one problem: Ava can't remember any of them - and can't shake the eerie feeling that she's not who they say she is.

Ava struggles to break through her amnesiac haze as she goes through the motions of high-school life, but the memories that surface take place in a very different world, where Ava and familiar-faced friends are under constant scrutiny and no one can be trusted. Ava doesn't know what to make of these visions, or of the boy who is at the center of them all, until he reappears in her life and offers answers . . . but only in exchange for her trust.

I smell a conspiracy! Everyone loves a good mystery and this kind sounds like it could be a wild ride. Not being able to imagine having no memory of your family and friends or your life in general...scary stuff for sure. But I like the idea that readers may get the chance to discover and uncover the details right alongside the main character as she pieces her life back together. This could be very interesting.