Countdown: February 2014 (2)

You can't get much more romantic as far as destination cities, than Paris, France. While I'm hopeful that I'll be able to find a few new reads that fall into the romance department during the "romantic" months, I'm not limiting myself to only those types of reads. There are so many new titles hitting the shelve this year that I know I'll never be able to keep up. But it never hurts to try, and these countdown posts keep my list fresh and helps me narrow down my choices when I'm on the hunt for what to read next. Are there any titles you are looking forward to come February? Do you tend to find yourself reading romances during February or do you go the opposite route? Here are a few coming out next month that I'm looking forward to adding to my bookshelf.

 

Countdown Pick #1:  Alienated (Alienated, #1) by Melissa Landers (02/04/2014)

 

Interplanetary relations have never been more exciting! The first in a funny, romantic YA sci-fi series.

Two years ago, the aliens made contact. Now Cara Sweeney is going to be sharing a bathroom with one of them.

Handpicked to host the first-ever L’eihr exchange student, Cara thinks her future is set. Not only does she get a free ride to her dream college, she’ll have inside information about the mysterious L’eihrs that every journalist would kill for. Cara’s blog following is about to skyrocket.

Still, Cara isn’t sure what to think when she meets Aelyx. Humans and L’eihrs have nearly identical DNA, but cold, infuriatingly brilliant Aelyx couldn’t seem more alien. She’s certain about one thing, though: no human boy is this good-looking.

But when Cara's classmates get swept up by anti-L'eihr paranoia, Midtown High School suddenly isn't safe anymore. Threatening notes appear in Cara's locker, and a police officer has to escort her and Aelyx to class.

Cara finds support in the last person she expected. She realizes that Aelyx isn’t just her only friend; she's fallen hard for him. But Aelyx has been hiding the truth about the purpose of his exchange, and its potentially deadly consequences. Soon Cara will be in for the fight of her life—not just for herself and the boy she loves, but for the future of her planet.

 

I added this one to my list a while back, and taking another look at it now has me excited all over again to dig in.  I think this might be my first experience with a funny science fiction novel, but there sounds like there's going to be action and romance added into the mix as well.  Doesn't that sound like a great combination?

 

Countdown Pick #2:  Perfect Lies (Mind Games, #2) by Kiersten White (02/14/2014)

 

Annie and Fia are ready to fight back.

The sisters have been manipulated and controlled by the Keane Foundation for years, trapped in a never ending battle for survival. Now they have found allies who can help them truly escape. After faking her own death, Annie has joined a group that is plotting to destroy the Foundation. And Fia is working with James Keane to bring his father down from the inside.

But Annie's visions of the future can't show her who to trust in the present. And though James is Fia's first love, Fia knows he's hiding something. The sisters can rely only on each other - but that may not be enough to save them.

As a fan of White's Paranormalcy series, I can't help but hope for another winning series this time around.  I haven't had the chance to read the series opener, but with only another month to go before this sequel comes out, my plan is to wait for it's release and check them  both out at the same time so I can avoid having to wait even a second before diving into the next book.

 

Countdown Pick #3:  Mistwalker by Saundra Mitchell (02/04/2014)

 

When Willa Dixon’s brother dies on the family lobster boat, her father forbids Willa from stepping foot on the deck again. With her family suffering, she’ll do anything to help out—even visiting the Grey Man.

Everyone in her small Maine town knows of this legendary spirit who haunts the lighthouse, controlling the fog and the fate of any vessel within his reach. But what Willa finds in the lighthouse isn’t a spirit at all, but a young man trapped inside until he collects one thousand souls.

Desperate to escape his cursed existence, Grey tries to seduce Willa to take his place. With her life on land in shambles, will she sacrifice herself?

Although it sounds a little more eerie than I would normally go for, it also has this sad and heavy quality to the synopsis that has me leaning towards wanting to check this one out to see how it all turns out.  Mitchell is one of those authors who can paint such a vivid picture with words that her readers end up feeling like they're right there alongside the characters themselves, and I'm curious to see if that will be a good thing or a bad thing this time around.

 

Countdown Pick #4:  Tremor (Pulse Trilogy, #2) by Patrick Carman (02/25/2014)

 

In the year 2051, some people have a second pulse…

Like all who have “the pulse,” Faith Daniels and Dylan Gilmore have telekinetic powers—they can move objects with their minds. But there are five “second pulses” in the world who have an even greater power: Almost nothing can harm them. They are virtually indestructible.

Both Faith and Dylan have the second pulse. But the other side has second pulses, too, and they’ve been training for a war that has been brewing their entire lives. As Dylan executes a plan to infiltrate enemy grounds, he’ll have to face his only weakness, and a family secret that will threaten his very existence.

Together, Faith and Dylan are the only hope this world has left, but they must go their separate ways in order to accomplish their plan. Will their love survive?

With richly developed characters and heart-pounding action scenes, the second book in Patrick Carman’s Pulse trilogy continues the electrifying dystopian story of love and revenge.

 

This is definitely a sequel that I've been waiting on for what feels like forever!  I loved Carman's series opener, Pulse, and I cannot wait to see what happens to these characters next.  The ending of the opener left me so anxious and excited that I honestly have no idea how Carman plans to take things from there, but I have no doubt that readers are in for one action packed journey.

 

Countdown Pick #5:  Fates (Fates, #1) by Lanie Bross (02/11/2014)

 

 The story of an Executor sent to earth to bring about human destinies, who finds herself unaccountably experiencing human emotions, leading to an epic romance set across multiple worlds.

Normally I wouldn't be able to gather up much excitement for a book that both doesn't have a cover image to check out, and from an other that I've never had any experience with before.  But all it took were these two short sentences in the synopsis and I was hooked.   Still not sure exactly why, but I'm not worried about it either.  Bross sounds like she's going to bring some new and exciting material to the YA world and I for one, am looking forward to seeing what she puts together.

Guest Post and Giveaway: Author Patrick Carman

Telekinesis

Telekinesis is one of those words that bothers me. Who comes up with this stuff? They should give
writers and teens and artists the opportunity to name some of these things before setting them in concrete.
I’m telling you, it was a teenager or a nerd or both who came up with ZOMBIES. Had to be! If we’d
left ‘the walking dead’ to a scientific minded professor of psychology we’d have gotten something lame
like Telekinesis. I’m sure of it.

I’d love it if someone could come up with a better word for people who can move things with their minds.
Like ZINGLERS or MOVABLERS…okay those are bad, and this is obviously harder than I thought.
VAMPIRE is so great. It’s got sizzle. Someone call the vampire zombie word person!

On a related topic, when I was a teenager I never wished I was a zombie or a vampire. Maybe a zombie
vampire hunter, but not a blood sucking dead guy. But I thought a lot about being able to move things
with my mind. Like I’d lie in bed at midnight and think about the cookies on the kitchen counter. I
imagined them floating down the hall towards my room, because the power of my will to have them was
bigger than Godzilla. I also thought about picking up my school and moving it across town. With my
mind! These were the kinds of things that would impress the girl I wanted to ask out. And I really wanted
to impress her.

If you ever thought about this kind of stuff (or still do) and also wonder what the world might look like
in 2051, the story of Faith Daniels and Dylan Gilmore might interest you. Faith and Dylan can move
things with their minds. They’ve got the PULSE (aka telekinesis!). They’re also attempting the hardest
movement of all –getting someone else’s heart to inch its way towards your own.

** Thank you so much for stopping by Patrick!!!  If you guys haven't had the chance to check out Patrick's new release, Pulse (Pulse, #1) you've got to get your hands on a copy....and we just might be able to help with that!  Patrick has kindly offered up a personalized and signed copy for one lucky winner.  Be sure to fill out the form below and the winner will be selected and notified on Wednesday, March 13th!

Take a peek at the trailer for Pulse and get excited for this new release all over again!

ARC Review: Pulse (Pulse Trilogy, #1) by Patrick Carman

From New York Times bestselling author Patrick Carman, a teen fantasy-adventure of epic proportions. In 2051, some teens have a “pulse,” the power to move objects with their minds. Compulsively readable, with thrilling action scenes and a tender love story.

The year is 2051, and the world is still recognizable. With the help of her mysterious classmate Dylan Gilmore, Faith Daniels discovers that she can move objects with her mind. This telekinetic ability is called a “pulse,” and Dylan has the talent, too.

In riveting action scenes, Faith demonstrates her ability to use her pulse against a group of telekinesis masters so powerful they will flatten their enemies by uprooting street lights, moving boulders, and changing the course of a hurtling hammer so that it becomes a deadly weapon. But even with great talent, the mind—and the heart—can be difficult to control. If Faith wants to join forces with Dylan and save the world, she’ll have to harness the power of both.

Patrick Carman’s Pulse trilogy is a stunning, action-filled triumph about the power of the mind—and the power of love.

I cannot tell you how excited I am to have yet another author to add to my favorites list.  Carman hit the ball out of the park with this series opener and I cannot wait to read future installments in the series as well as anything else he puts out on the shelves!

Hearing a fresh new voice in literature is always a plus and can be so much fun especially when it fits into the YA category because in my opinion the possibilities are endless with where they can take it.  Carman did just that with this title...he used his imagination (which is incredibly impressive) and opened up new doors and scenarios that you won't find in any other books out there right now.  We've got a book that doesn't really fit any mold that I can think of.  While it's focused on the year 2051 (no flying cars in sight thank goodness!) and the world has had to deal with quite a few unexpected (sort of ) disasters, I'm not sure I would put it among the other dystopian novels that make up the genre.

His characters have got themselves special abilities, and ones that I found exciting and creative and surprised me with each new revelation he laid out on his pages.  There are of course the good guys vs. the bad guys and the bad guys are not always who you would expect.  The crippling things these villains did throughout the novel were just terrible and caught me off guard a time or two.  I love when you can get more than half way through a book and still not see what's coming next.  Carman kept things interesting from start to finish and with the cliffhanger he wraps this opener up with I'm of course already sad that I'll have to wait what feels like forever (I'm sure) until the second installments comes out.

A great set of characters, and interesting (possible) future, and action thrown at readers left and right, I couldn't think of anything else to ask for.  Did I mention the witty humor and subtle romance that are thrown into the mix as well?  See!  He didn't leave anything out!

I gave Pulse (Pulse Trilogy, #1) 4 shamrocks!!!!

10 Trends for 2013

I recently received an email from a friend over at Scholastic and I couldn't resist sharing what I learned with you guys.  2012 has flown by so quickly and it's been packed full of amazing reads that I couldn't even begin to hope to read them all.  And 2013 is shaping up to be exactly the same.  Over at Scholastic the editors have come up with a little prediction for the forecast of what could be trending in 2013 for Children's Books and here's what they've come up with....what do you guys think?

Trend #1:  Bullying is THE Timely Topic in Kids' Books

The fact is nearly every child will face or witness the effects of bullying at some point in their lives.  Children's authors recognize this as a major concern for kids and have become more adept at weaving bullying themes into storylines, from picture books to young adult titles.  In 2013 look for The Meanest Birthday Girl by Josh Schneider, and the Call of the Bully: A Rodney Rathbone Novel - the sequel to How to Beat the Bully Without Really Trying by Scott Starkey.

Trend #2:  '13 Will be a Lucky Number for Science Fiction Fans

While the end of dystopian novels in no-where in sight, fans can expect to see a new theme uncovered, bringing some stellar new titles with a "true" science-fiction edge.  Books to watch for in the New Year include Marissa Meyer's Lunar Chronicles: Scarlet, Enders, the second title in the Starters series by Lissa Price, and Pulse by Patrick Carman.

Trend #3:  Intriguing Nonfiction

Biographies have always been a staple in kids' literature, but fans are going to see even more great ones in 2013.  With the new Common Core State Standards, which are currently adopted in 46 states, the way students learn in school is changing and there is an elevated importance being placed on non-fiction, or "informational texts."  Standouts in 2013 will be Nelson Madela by Kadir Nelson, A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin by Jen Bryant and Melissa Sweet, and Lincoln's Grave Robbers by Steve Sheinkin.

Trend #4:  Novels-in-Cartoons

With the success of the Bone, Captain Underpants, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, there continues to be an insatiable demand for the "novels-in-cartoon" genre.  The illustrations provide entertainment value and urge kids to continue reading, especially for reluctant readers.  Fans are going to see a great flood of fun, new reads in 2013 such as: Chickenhare by Chris Grine, Stick Dog: A Really Good Story with Kind of Bad Drawings by Tom Watson, Dav Pilkey's Captain Underpants and the Revolting Revenge of the Radioactive Robo-Boxers and Bad Kitty: School Daze by Nick Bruel.

Trend #5:  Kid Lit on the Screen

In 2013, readers will be seeing the pages out of their favorite books on the big screen!  Get ready to watch the movie versions of Scott Orson Card's Ender's Game the supernatural romance, Beautiful Creatures (based on the 2009 series by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl), and the action adventure saga Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (based on the 2008 series by Cassadra Clare).  Middle grade readers will also find the second film from Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series in theaters in late summer: Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters.

"While there is never a shortage of works about the undead and paranormal in young-adult literature, we've recently seen the release of a wide range of post-apocalyptic novels brimming with action and romance," said Ed Masessa, Senior Manager Product Development for Scholastic Book Fairs and New York Times bestselling children's book author.  "But perhaps the bigger trends are the return to realistic action-packed novels and to books that reinforce the positive messages of tolerance, hope and acceptance.  Regardless of their reading preference, children will find that 2013 is going to be a banner year."

Trend #6:  War

Whenever we reach a historical anniversary, there is an increased interest in books related to the topic.  2013 marks the second year of the American Civil War Sesquicentennial (150th anniversary), so history buffs will see an influx of Civil War titles to read.  Wars in general will be making their way on to the bookshelves in 2013, which is great news for teachers looking for great non-fiction to supplement classroom learning and help kids meet the Common Core State Standards.  Look for a broad selection of Cival War books including I Survived the Battle of Gettysburg by Lauren Tarshis and What Was the Battle of Gettysburg? by Jim O'Connor, John Mantha and James Bennett.

Trend #7:  Tough Girls

Katniss from The Hunger Games is building a legion of strong girl protagonists.  In 2013, readers can expect to be introduced to more powerful female characters that exhibit the willingness to accept challenges.  These characters do not set limits for themselves or take the easy way out - an important lesson for both boys and girls.  Books with exceptionally resourceful lead characters include:  Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein, Legend and its sequel Prodigy by Marie Lu, Lawless by debut author Jeffrey Salane.

Trend #8:  Survival Stories

Survival stories have always been popular, but they have become more prominent as a result of popular movies and reality television shows.  Whether the setting is historical as in Finding Zasha by Randi Barrow or contemporary like Stranded by Survivor host Jeff Probst and Chris Tebbetts thrilling page-turners filled with tension and excitement will set their hooks into young readers.

Trend #9:  Spotlight on Diversity

Kids want to see themselves in the novels they read, and publishers are embracing their individuality.  Readers can learn about their families, cultures, and themselves with these books that focus on cultural diversity.  Historical novels like The Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine will provide plenty of home and classroom discussion.  Novels with more contemporary settings include Hold Fast by Blue Balliett.

Trend #10:  Nature Runs Amok

From campy, fantastical sci-fi to more realistic eco-thrillers, there is nothing like adventure in the wild.  Readers will come face-to-face with more and more page-turning sci-fi titles that cover the unrealistic to the actual - yet the common theme is that they are focused on ecology and the environment.  Books like Killer Species:  Menace from the Deep by Michael Spradlin, Infestation by Timothy J. Bradley, and Last Dogs:  The Vanishing by Christopher Holt will keep kids reading well into the night.     

All the books listed above will be available through either Scholastic Book Fairs and/or Scholastic Book Clubs and book stores.  I don't know about you guys but after reading the 2013 predictions I can't help but want to add even more titles to my TBR list and begin even more countdowns to bide my time until I can get my hands on a few of these titles for myself.

In My Mailbox (72)

This is a meme that I first heard about from Kristi over at The Story Siren and immediately wanted to jump on board. I'm always picking up new books, because I never tire of reading, but the other thing I like about this meme is that it gives everyone an opportunity to check out what other book fanatics, bloggers, etc... got for themselves. I've gotten great recommendations from this meme and hope that keeps up in the future.

Here's what I got, what did you guys get this week? 

 

For Review:

Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass, #1) by Sarah J. Maas 

After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin. 

Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom. Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she's bored stiff by court life. 

Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best. Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

Pulse (Pulse, #1) by Patrick Carman (Thanks to Patrick)

From New York Times bestselling author Patrick Carman, a teen fantasy-adventure of epic proportions. In 2051, some teens have a “pulse,” the power to move objects with their minds. Compulsively readable, with thrilling action scenes and a tender love story.

The year is 2051, and the world is still recognizable. With the help of her mysterious classmate Dylan Gilmore, Faith Daniels discovers that she can move objects with her mind. This telekinetic ability is called a “pulse,” and Dylan has the talent, too.

In riveting action scenes, Faith demonstrates her ability to use her pulse against a group of telekinesis masters so powerful they will flatten their enemies by uprooting street lights, moving boulders, and changing the course of a hurtling hammer so that it becomes a deadly weapon. But even with great talent, the mind—and the heart—can be difficult to control. If Faith wants to join forces with Dylan and save the world, she’ll have to harness the power of both.

Patrick Carman’s Pulse trilogy is a stunning, action-filled triumph about the power of the mind—and the power of love.

Notes From Ghost Town by Kate Ellison (Thanks to EgmontUSA)

They say first love never dies...

From critically acclaimed author Kate Ellison comes a heartbreaking mystery of mental illness, unspoken love, and murder. When sixteen-year-old artist Olivia Tithe is visited by the ghost of her first love, Lucas Stern, it's only through scattered images and notes left behind that she can unravel the mystery of his death. 

There's a catch: Olivia has gone colorblind, and there's a good chance she's losing her mind completely--just like her mother did. How else to explain seeing (and falling in love all over again with) someone who isn't really there?

With the murder trial looming just nine days away, Olivia must follow her heart to the truth, no matter how painful. It's the only way she can save herself.

The Culling (The Torch Keeper, #1) by Steven dos Santos (Thanks to Flux)

Who would you choose?

Lucian "Lucky" Spark has been recruited for training by the totalitarian government known as the Establishment. According to Establishment rules, if a recruit fails any level of the violent training competitions, a family member is brutally killed . . . and the recruit has to choose which one.

As the five recruits form uneasy alliances in the hellish wasteland that is the training ground, an undeniable attraction develops between Lucky and the rebellious Digory Tycho. But the rules of the training ensure that only one will survive--the strongest recruits receive accolades, wealth, and power while the weakest receive death. With Cole--Lucky's four-year-old brother--being held as "incentive," Lucky must marshal all his skills and use his wits to keep himself alive, no matter what the cost.

Countdown: February 2013 (2)

February is a short month but it seems to be packed with great new titles that will hit the shelves in that small amount of time. A few series sequels and a bunch of new titles and authors to check out and I'm excited for each one of them. For some reason outside of Valentine's Day there usually isn't much else going on with everyone in February. It's always a great time to unwind and decompress as much as possible after the holidays, and also a perfect time to get cozy at home with a few of the great books that I've gotten from friends and family.

So I'm hoping that the tradition stands this year and come February the countdown will have been worth it and I'll be able to squeeze as many books as possible into that month and to pump out as many reviews for the blog as possible. So here are just a few of the titles that come out in February that I'm looking forward to diving into.

Countdown Pick #1: How To Lead A Life of Crime by Kirsten Miller (February 2013)

A Meth Dealer. A Prostitute. A Serial Killer.

Anywhere else, they’d be vermin. At the Mandel Academy, they’re called prodigies. The most exclusive school in New York City has been training young criminals for over a century. Only the most ruthless students are allowed to graduate. The rest disappear.

Flick, a teenage pickpocket, has risen to the top of his class. But then Mandel recruits a fierce new competitor who also happens to be Flick’s old flame. They’ve been told only one of them will make it out of the Mandel Academy. Will they find a way to save each other—or will the school destroy them both?

Now this is not the official cover art for this title, but a picture of the ARC that I received in the mail this past month but it's better than nothing right? Miller is one of my favorite young adult authors and her writing never ceases to excite me. It's always full of creative worlds and scenarios, characters that you fall in love with and want to be anything but fictional, and story lines that you wish would never end. How cool does this new title sound? I don't want to spoil anything and it's too soon to post a review, but Miller won't dissapoint her readers. This is yet again another title that won't be leaving my shelf anytime soon unless it's for a reread which is likely to happen more than once. So get excited guys, because come February this is a read you won't want to miss out on.

Countdown Pick #2: Pulse (Pulse Trilogy, #1) by Patrick Carman (02/26/2013)

From New York Times bestselling author Patrick Carman, a teen fantasy-adventure of epic proportions. In 2051, some teens have a “pulse,” the power to move objects with their minds. Compulsively readable, with thrilling action scenes and a tender love story.

The year is 2051, and the world is still recognizable. With the help of her mysterious classmate Dylan Gilmore, Faith Daniels discovers that she can move objects with her mind. This telekinetic ability is called a “pulse,” and Dylan has the talent, too.

In riveting action scenes, Faith demonstrates her ability to use her pulse against a group of telekinesis masters so powerful they will flatten their enemies by uprooting street lights, moving boulders, and changing the course of a hurtling hammer so that it becomes a deadly weapon. But even with great talent, the mind—and the heart—can be difficult to control. If Faith wants to join forces with Dylan and save the world, she’ll have to harness the power of both.

Patrick Carman’s Pulse trilogy is a stunning, action-filled triumph about the power of the mind—and the power of love.

Here's the thing. While I love a good romance, and also a good action packed adventure, I like a book even better when it's got both and this read sounds like it'll fit that bill. So even though I haven't read anything by Carman before I've heard only good things and after reading this book's description I'm thinking that I've got a very good chance of liking this book. Have you guys read anything by Carman before? Are you as excited about this upcoming release as I am?

Countdown Pick #3: The Different Girl by Gordon Dahlquist (02/01/2013)

Four nearly identical girls on a desert island. An unexpected new arrival. A gently warped near future where nothing is quite as it seems.

Veronika. Caroline. Isobel. Eleanor. One blond, one brunette, one redhead, one with hair black as tar. Four otherwise identical girls who spend their days in sync, tasked to learn. But when May, a very different kind of girl—the lone survivor of a recent shipwreck—suddenly and mysteriously arrives on the island, an unsettling mirror is about to be held up to the life the girls have never before questioned.

Sly and unsettling, Gordon Dahlquist’s timeless and evocative storytelling blurs the lines between contemporary and sci-fi with a story that is sure to linger in readers’ minds long after the final page has been turned.

Ooh I cannot wait to check this one out. Deserted island and featuring five sure to be strong personality bearing females....what do you guys think? I'm thinking there will be lots of drama to go along with all of these mysteries that are going to be looked into. What the bottom line is where this plot is concerned? I haven't got a clue, but I'm really looking forward to finding out for myself just what Dahlquist has in store for readers.