Top Ten Tuesday: Books When You Need Something Light and Fun

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created over at The Broke and the Bookish.  This feature was created because they're particularly fond of lists at The Broke and the Bookish (and who isn't?). They're all about creating new lists including a little bit of everything and I've been meaning to participate for so long but always seemed to get behind.  So here we are and hopefully you'll head over to their page and check out what everyone else put up for this week's Top Ten.

I think nine out of ten times when I'm trying to figure out what my next book will be I'm looking for something light and fun.  Occasionally I want something different, but for the most party I like to read because it's an escape from reality and all the stress that we've all got to deal with on a regular basis.  That's where this list comes in for me...these are just a few of the books I've read that fit perfectly into the category of light and fun and perfect for a little escape!

Light & Fun Pick #1:  Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Echols

From the author of the “real page-turner” (Seventeen) Such a Rush comes an unforgettable new drama that follows friends-turned-lovers as they navigate the passions, heartbreaks, and intrigue of country music fame.

Bailey wasn’t always a wild child and the black sheep of her family. She used to play fiddle and tour the music circuit with her sister, Julie, who sang and played guitar. That ended when country music execs swooped in and signed Julie to a solo deal. Never mind that Julie and Bailey were a duet, or that Bailey was their songwriter. The music scouts wanted only Julie, and their parents were content to sit by and let her fulfill her dreams while Bailey’s were hushed away.

Bailey has tried to numb the pain and disappointment over what could have been. And as Julie’s debut album is set to hit the charts, her parents get fed up with Bailey’s antics and ship her off to granddad’s house in Nashville. Playing fiddle in washed-up tribute groups at the mall, Bailey meets Sam, a handsome and oh-so-persuasive guitarist with his own band. He knows Bailey’s fiddle playing is just the thing his band needs to break into the industry. But this life has broken Bailey’s heart once before. She isn’t sure she’s ready to let Sam take her there again…

Just about everything Echols comes out with fits into this Tuesday's category and this future release was no different.  I don't want to say too much since it doesn't come out until July and I won't be posting my review of the ARC I was given until closer to the publication date, but I can say that it was fabulous!

Light & Fun Pick #2:  Cupcakes and Cashmere: A Guide for Defining Your Style, Reinventing Your Space, and Entertaining with Ease by Emily Schuman

Based on Emily Schuman’s popular lifestyle blog of the same name, Cupcakes and Cashmere is the must-have guide for those looking to establish their own sense of style, organize and decorate their home, or throw an easy and stylish party. Organized by season, the book expands on Schuman’s blog by including DIY projects, organization tips, party-planning ideas, beauty how-tos, and seasonal recipes. Cupcakes and Cashmere features original material that has not been previously published on the site. With her signature photographic layouts, Emily creates a lifestyle that is chic and achievable for every reader, making this the ultimate style guide for living a fashionable life.

I've been following Emily's blog for quite a while now and I love everything about it.  The cover art of this book pretty much cements that this book is all about light and fun topics, and helpful hints no matter what your age or what you're looking for.

Light & Fun Pick #3:  Legacy of the Clockwork Key (The Secret Order, #1) by Kristin Bailey

A teen girl unravels the mysteries of a secret society and their most dangerous invention in this adventure-swept romance set in Victorian London.When a fire consumes Meg’s home, killing her parents and destroying both her fortune and her future, all she has left is the tarnished pocket watch she rescued from the ashes. But this is no ordinary timepiece. The clock turns out to be a mechanical key—a key that only Meg can use—that unlocks a series of deadly secrets and intricate clues that Meg is compelled to follow.

Meg has uncovered evidence of an elite secret society and a dangerous invention that some will stop at nothing to protect—and that Meg alone can destroy. Together with the handsome stable hand she barely knows but hopes she can trust, Meg is swept into a hidden world of deception, betrayal, and revenge. The clockwork key has unlocked her destiny in this captivating start to a trilogy.

A surprisingly fun and imaginative new series that I can't wait to continue to read.  I'm curious and anxious for the next installment in the series and if you guys are looking for a little fun you should check this title out!

Light & Fun Pick #4:  Splintered (Splintered, #1) by A.G. Howard

This stunning debut captures the grotesque madness of a mystical under-land, as well as a girl’s pangs of first love and independence. Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.
When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family. She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own.
Howard won me over immediately with this quirky and super original tale she debuted this year.  I'm thrilled to hear it will be turning in to a series, because to be honest I wasn't ready for the fun to be over when I turned the last page.

Light & Fun Pick #5:  Healed By Fire (Artemis Lupine, #3) by Catherine Banks

“The dark approaches. Fire will consume and restore, happiness and pain must be experienced collectively. Death for three will be the end.”

Her memory taken and her whereabouts unknown Artemis is taken in by a coven of witches who give her the name Chandra. After an intense interaction with the Beta of the Werewolves, whom she can’t deny a connection to, Chandra learns that there are people who know her true identity and that she’s not the only halfbreed werewolf alive. Is he really her mate? Just who was she in this previous life? Does she even want to find out the truth? And can she decipher the meaning of her death prophecy before it’s too late?

I'll admit that the covers have never thrilled me, but Banks makes up for these and then some with her wonderful writing, her fabulous characters, and her super fun storylines.  I'm dying to see what happens in the fourth installment in this series after the cliffhanger that she left us with this last time around.

Light & Fun Pick #6:  Minder (Ganzfield, #1) by Kate Kaynak

Sixteen-year-old Maddie Dunn is special, but she needs to figure out how to use her new abilities before somebody else gets hurt. Ganzfield is a secret training facility full of people like her, but it's not exactly a nurturing place.

Every social interaction carries the threat of mind-control.

A stray thought can burn a building to the ground.

And people's nightmares don't always stay in their own heads. But it's still better than New Jersey. Especially once she meets the man of her dreams...

Kaynak has a great series on her hands with Ganzfield and this opener had me at hello!  Her characters are easy to relate to despite their supernatural powers and abilities, the circumstances are crazy in that while they might be outlandish, it's also not that hard to believe that it could all be very much possible...super fun series for anyone looking for some action and great storylines.

Light & Fun Pick #7:  How To Lead A Life of Crime by Kirsten Miller

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?

So the description might lead you to believe this book is heavier than one that should be included on this list.  And while there are things going on in the book and with the characters within the pages that are in deed far from light and fun, overall, Miller put together such a creative and unique story that I had a blast from the very start.  I couldn't put this book down and to me, that pretty much sums up what I look for with light and fun reads.

Light & Fun Pick #8:  Adele: A Celebration of an Icon and Her Music by Sarah-Louise James

Adele needs no introduction. Her first album propelled her to fame; the second consolidated her position as a record-breaking superstar. The beauty of her vocals and the power of her lyrics have resonated with fans everywhere. Adele: Celebration of an Icon and her Music not only looks at the stories and emotions behind her bestselling songs, it also follows her rise from her humble beginnings in North London to worldwide success. Featuring more than 125 gorgeous photographs, this stunning volume testifies to Adele's global appeal.

Is there anyone out there who doesn't love this woman and her soulful voice?  I adore her music and after reading this unofficial biography, her personality and demeanor as well.  The insights into her journey from first album to super stardom is not only inspiring but just a fun ride to sit back and enjoy.  Anyone who is a fan will certainly have a ball learning more details about what makes her tick and why she keeps her music the way it is despite what other might think.

Light & Fun Pick #9:  Legacy (Legacy, #1) by Molly Cochran



When her widowed father dumps 16-year-old Katy Jessevar in a boarding school in Whitfield, Massachusetts, she has no idea that fate has just opened the door to both her future and her past. Nearly everyone in Whitfield is a witch, as is Katy herself, although she has struggled all her life to hide her unusual talents. Stuck at a boarding school where her fellow students seem to despise her, Katy soon discovers that Whitfield is the place where her mother committed suicide under mysterious circumstances when Katy was just a small child. With dark forces converging on Whitfield, it's up to Katy to unravel her family's many secrets to save the boy she loves and the town itself from destruction.

A recommendation that really paid off for me this year.  After being introduced to Cochran's Legacy series I didn't want to put it down.  I flew through not only the series opener, but the sequel as well, and I'm now waiting with major anxiety for the third installment to come out.  It's fun, mysterious, full of characters you'll want to call friends, and some you'll want to shake!  There's a lot going on in this series and it's definitely one to pick up if you're hoping for a good and fun time.

Light & Fun Pick #10:  Obsidian (Lux, #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring.... until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something...unexpected happens.

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.

If I don't kill him first, that is.

The main character is a book blogger for goodness sakes!  While it was fun to read about a fellow book blogger, the fun didn't stop there.  I found the storyline interesting and I was having so much fun and enjoying myself so much that I flew through this series in record time, only to find out that I wouldn't be able to get the next installment for quite a while.  I was disappointed to have to wait, but this series turned out to be so much fun that I'll bide my time and try to be extra patient before I can race to the store to pick up my copy.

Review: Poison (Legacy, #2) by Molly Cochran

Arthurian legend mixes with modern-day witchcraft in this haunting sequel to Legacy, which Publishers Weekly said “should please the legions of paranormal fans looking for a sophisticated supernatural thriller.” After the riveting—and romantic—events of Legacy, Katy has won Peter’s heart and is nowclaiming her place in the magical world. Though half the students at her boarding school come from witching lines, the use of magic is expressly forbidden at Ainsworth, so as to keep the witching world hidden from the blue-blooded preppies, aka Muffies, who also walk the halls.

     But the Muffies have at least a notion of magic, because Katy catches them staging a made-up ritual—and to her astonishment, the girls collapse at Katy’s feet and fall into comas. When Katy is blamed, she becomes desperate to clear her name and finds herself battling all odds to harness her growing magical powers in order to save the Muffies and dispel the Darkness once more.

After enjoying the first installment in the series as much as I did I had high hopes for this sequel and I have to admit that it surpassed my expectations.  At times I was frustrated but mainly with myself and my inability to read any faster than what I was.  I was trying to scrape any time I could together during the day and at night so that I could open up this book and get a little further into it.  I was hooked and there was no way I was going to be satisfied until I was finished.

Once again Cochran brought back her wonderful characters, and the exciting plot that I enjoyed so much the first time around.  Katy and Peter were of course the ones that I wanted to hear most about, and while I was surprised with the way things played out through this installment between the two of them, only Cochran and her amazing writing talent could do their relationship justice.  The muffies were back and they were as bad as ever, always stirring the pot and causing trouble, but this time around they didn't get off scott free....better get to reading if you want to find out more on that.  The other old and familiar faces that I was eager to see more of were back and again they didn't disappoint.

Cochran brought some new characters into her story as well as some Arthurian myths and legends that were so much fun I had trouble closing the book at times.  Morgan and especially Bryce were awesome additions and as much fun as they were refreshing.  Their added story lines were unique and entertaining from start to finish.

As always once I made my way through to the final page I just couldn't help but want to start on the next installment in the series right away.  The only problem...it's not out yet.  Still in the works, but by now I have no doubt that Cochran will produce another amazing and highly entertaining installment in the Legacy series and I can't wait to get the chance to read on.

I gave Poison (Legacy, #2) 4 shamrocks!!!!

Review: Legacy (Legacy, #1) by Molly Cochran

When her widowed father dumps 16-year-old Katy Jessevar in a boarding school in Whitfield, Massachusetts, she has no idea that fate has just opened the door to both her future and her past. Nearly everyone in Whitfield is a witch, as is Katy herself, although she has struggled all her life to hide her unusual talents. Stuck at a boarding school where her fellow students seem to despise her, Katy soon discovers that Whitfield is the place where her mother committed suicide under mysterious circumstances when Katy was just a small child. With dark forces converging on Whitfield, it's up to Katy to unravel her family's many secrets to save the boy she loves and the town itself from destruction.

First and foremost...a big shout out and thank you to Jennifer Murgia for introducing me to Molly Cochran and her wonderful series!  I wasn't sure what to expect out of this series but after hearing such glowing remarks from a few others who had already read the first two installments I was optimistic.  And I had every right to be!

I have to start off by saying Cochran's character development sold me right from the beginning.  I'm not sure how she wove it all together, but she somehow made it possible to get to know each of her characters while not weighing down the story with too much background information or an overload of details that inevitably are unnecessary to the overall storyline.  I felt like I was caught up to speed on the characters and their lives quickly but without anything being left out.  I enjoyed how they evolved from start to finish and felt like she was able to give her readers the full scope of who these people were while explaining the adventures they were in the process of exploring.

There's action and suspense, a good build up of enough anxiety that I was on the edge of my seat and all the while Cochran never slowed down.  She had me flying through the pages in order to find out what would happen next, and I was kept guessing until the very end.  It's always exciting for me when you come across a book that poses questions and doesn't spell it all out for the readers but has them working through the problems and obstacles right alongside the characters.  No one ever wants a book to be too revealing or predictable because it takes all the fun out of it.  Cochran nailed that and only left me wanting one thing in the end....the next installment!

I gave Legacy (Legacy, #1) 4 shamrocks!!!!

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Series that I'd Like to Start

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created over at The Broke and the Bookish.  This feature was created because they're particularly fond of lists at The Broke and the Bookish (and who isn't?). They're all about creating new lists including a little bit of everything and I've been meaning to participate for so long but always seemed to get behind.  So here we are and hopefully you'll head over to their page and check out what everyone else put up for this week's Top Ten.

There is just never enough time in the day to fit as much reading in as I would like to and I know I'm not alone in this feeling.  Whether you're a student who would rather be reading what's on your bookshelf as opposed to what you're assigned in class, or someone who works that would rather spend their time curled up with a book of their choosing instead of reading technical documents at the office or counting the clock until you can go home.  No matter the situation, there will always be books and series that I don't get around to reading because when push comes to shove something will always be left out.  So here are just a few of the series that I've been wanting to start that I haven't been able to get around to just yet.

Series I'd Like To Start #1:  The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden, #1) by Julie Kagawa

"In a future world, vampires reign. Humans are blood cattle. And one girl will search for the key to save humanity."

Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten.

Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of "them." The vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself is attacked--and given the ultimate choice. Die...or become one of the monsters.

Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal, including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad.

Then Allie is forced to flee into the unknown, outside her city walls. There she joins a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend--a possible cure to the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the rabids, the mindless creatures who threaten humans and vampires alike.

But it isn't easy to pass for human. Especially not around Zeke, who might see past the monster inside her. And Allie soon must decide what--and who--is worth dying for.

After enjoying her Iron Fey series so much I'd love to give Kagawa's work another go.  I'm excited to see if she can pull off a great series around vampires like she did around the Fae.

Series I'd Like To Start #2:  Legacy (Legacy, #1) by Molly Cochran

When her widowed father dumps 16-year-old Katy Jessevar in a boarding school in Whitfield, Massachusetts, she has no idea that fate has just opened the door to both her future and her past. Nearly everyone in Whitfield is a witch, as is Katy herself, although she has struggled all her life to hide her unusual talents. Stuck at a boarding school where her fellow students seem to despise her, Katy soon discovers that Whitfield is the place where her mother committed suicide under mysterious circumstances when Katy was just a small child. With dark forces converging on Whitfield, it's up to Katy to unravel her family's many secrets to save the boy she loves and the town itself from destruction.

After coming across this title thanks to a great recommendation from a good friend I knew it was a series I wanted to read.  Why it took me so long to find I don't know, but now that I have I don't plan on wasting anymore time.  I'm ready to dive right into this unique and creative world that Cochran has created.

Series I'd Like To Start #3:  Infinity (Chronicles of Nick, #1) by Sherrilyn Kenyon

At fourteen, Nick Gautier thinks he knows everything about the world around him. Streetwise, tough and savvy, his quick sarcasm is the stuff of legends. . .until the night when his best friends try to kill him. Saved by a mysterious warrior who has more fighting skills than Chuck Norris, Nick is sucked into the realm of the Dark-Hunters: immortal vampire slayers who risk everything to save humanity.

Nick quickly learns that the human world is only a veil for a much larger and more dangerous one: a world where the captain of the football team is a werewolf and the girl he has a crush on goes out at night to stake the undead.

But before he can even learn the rules of this new world, his fellow students are turning into flesh eating zombies. And he's next on the menu.

As if starting high school isn't hard enough. . .now Nick has to hide his new friends from his mom, his chainsaw from the principal, and keep the zombies and the demon Simi from eating his brains, all without getting grounded or suspended. How in the world is he supposed to do that?

I've been a huge fan of Kenyon's adult series for longer than I can remember and when I first heard about her branching out into YA literature I was over the moon.  But anyone that is familiar with Kenyon's work knows that she's got so many books out there already that I always opted to continue her long standing series instead of starting this new one.  I'm hoping to work it out so that there is time for both, fingers crossed because I'm sure to fall in love with this series as much as I have with her others.

Series I'd Like To Start #4:  Gone (Gone, #1) by Michael Grant

In the blink of an eye. Everyone disappears. GONE.

Except for the young. Teens. Middle schoolers. Toddlers. But not one single adult. No teachers, no cops, no doctors, no parents. Just as suddenly, there are no phones, no Internet, no television. No way to get help. And no way to figure out what's happened.

Hunger threatens. Bullies rule. A sinister creature lurks. Animals are mutating. And the teens themselves are changing, developing new talents--unimaginable, dangerous, deadly powers--that grow stronger by the day.

It's a terrifying new world. Sides are being chosen, a fight is shaping up. Townies against rich kids. Bullies against the weak. Powerful against powerless. And time is running out: On your birthday, you disappear just like everyone else...

Looking back I think I shied away from this series because to me it falls into the dystopian genre and at the time I came across this series I wasn't interested.  Now that I know how wonderful this genre can be I'm all about revisiting this series to see if it falls into my new favorite genre.

Series I'd Like To Start #5:  Unwind (Unwind, #1) by Neal Shusterman

Connor, Risa, and Lev are running for their lives.

The Second Civil War was fought over reproductive rights. The chilling resolution: Life is inviolable from the moment of conception until age thirteen. Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, however, parents can have their child "unwound," whereby all of the child's organs are transplanted into different donors, so life doesn't technically end. Connor is too difficult for his parents to control. Risa, a ward of the state is not enough to be kept alive. And Lev is a tithe, a child conceived and raised to be unwound. Together, they may have a chance to escape and to survive.

A friend of mine recommended this series to me and I hate to admit it but I passed on it due to that very fact.  She's one of my very good friends, but when it comes to books, she seems to love what I suggest she read, but the few previous suggestions she passed my way fell kind of flat for me.  There are just too many great books out there to settle.  But I don't want to hold my opinion against this series, and I've heard some good things so maybe I'll revisit this one in the future.

Series I'd Like To Start #6:  Intertwined (Intertwined, #1) by Gena Showalter

There’s something about the new guy at Crossroads High…

Most sixteen-year-olds have friends. Aden Stone has four human souls living inside him:

One can time travel.
One can raise the dead.
One can possess another human.
One can tell the future.

Everyone thinks he’s crazy, which is why he’s spent his entire life shuffled between mental institutions and juvie. All of that is about to change, however. For months Aden has been having visions of a beautiful girl—a girl who carries centuries-old secrets. A girl who will either save him or destroy him.

Together they’ll enter a dark world of intrigue and danger... but not everyone will come out alive.

Again another author who's adult titles I've really enjoyed but have yet to check out her YA literature.  A mistake that I'll have to correct soon...if only I could get through my TBR list just a little bit faster....ugh!

Series I'd Like To Start #7:  The Dark Divine (The Dark Divine, #1) by Bree Despain

Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared--the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in his own blood--but she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night held.

The memories her family has tried to bury resurface when Daniel returns, three years later, and enrolls in Grace and Jude's high school. Despite promising Jude she'll stay away, Grace cannot deny her attraction to Daniel's shocking artistic abilities, his way of getting her to look at the world from new angles, and the strange, hungry glint in his eyes.

The closer Grace gets to Daniel, the more she jeopardizes her life, as her actions stir resentment in Jude and drive him to embrace the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind the boy's dark secret...and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it--her soul.

How could you not want to read this series with cover art like these babies are sporting?  I'm not sure if it's the colors of the clothing or the way it flows, who knows?  All I know is that I'm sad all over again that I haven't gotten a chance to read this series yet and I think that's about to change.

Series I'd Like To Start #8:  My Soul To Take (Soul Screamers, #1) by Rachel Vincent

She doesn't see dead people. She senses when someone near her is about to die. And when that happens, a force beyond her control compels her to scream bloody murder. Literally.

Kaylee just wants to enjoy having caught the attention of the hottest guy in school. But a normal date is hard to come by when Nash seems to know more about her need to scream than she does. And when classmates start dropping dead for no apparent reason, only Kaylee knows who'll be next.

Oh boy, yep this countdown has officially depressed me, because I'm now reminded of all these great titles that I've fallen so far behind on and want nothing more than to catch up quickly.  I love the sound of this one and can only hope that I can find time to squeeze this series in to find out what happens for Kaylee and what kind of connection she has to Nash....will there be some romance?  I hope so.

Series I'd Like To Start #9:  Wondrous Strange (Wondrous Strange, #1) by Leslie Livingston

17 year-old Kelley Winslow doesn’t believe in Faeries. Not unless they’re the kind that you find in a theatre, spouting Shakespeare—the kind that Kelley so desperately wishes she could be: onstage, under lights, with a pair of sparkly wings strapped to her shoulders. But as the understudy in a two-bit, hopelessly off-off-Broadway production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, wishing is probably the closest she’s going to get to becoming a Faerie Queen. At least, that’s what she thinks... In this fun, urban fantasy, Kelley's off-stage life suddenly becomes as complicated as one of Shakespeare’s plot twists when a nighttime trip to Central Park holds more than meets the mortal eye.

A series and author who have made quite the name for themselves.  I can't help but get excited over a series like this one when every review you read gives it nothing but glowing praise and it's impossible not to want to be in on the secret.  The secret of what made this series so wonderful and praise worthy.  Hopefully I can find out sooner rather than later.

Series I'd Like To Start #10:  Strange Angels (Strange Angels, #1) by Lilith St. Crow

In Strange Angels, Dru Anderson has what her grandmother called “the touch.” (Comes in handy when you’re traveling from town to town with your dad, hunting ghosts, suckers, wulfen, and the occasional zombie.) Then her dad turns up dead—but still walking—and Dru knows she’s next. Even worse, she’s got two guys hungry for her affections, and they’re not about to let the fiercely independent Dru go it alone. Will Dru discover just how special she really is before coming face-to-fang with whatever—or whoever— is hunting her?

I hate to admit it but while I love a strong and independent, go-it alone kind of female lead, I also have always been a fan of the male characters that can't help themselves when it comes to a girl they care about.  If that means they go out of their way to try to be brave and protective so they can feel like they're doing their part in keeping the girl they care for safe, I say go for it.  This sounds like the type of book that has both, and I'd like to see how that ends up playing out.

Guest Post: Author Molly Cochran of the LEGACY series

How Much POISON Does It Take To Turn a Witch into a _itch?

POISON is about the dark side of friendship.  When we learn that people we've loved and trusted have betrayed or abandoned us, it hurts.  It hurts every time, even if we aren't completely innocent of the charges against us.

After four girls in Ainsworth boarding school fall inexplicably into comas, nerdy witch Katy is unjustly blamed.  her dorm mates mete out their own form of punishment (by bombarding her room with dog droppings) until she has no choice but to move in with her grandmother and aunt, who themselves are too busy with the aunt's wedding plans to pay much attention to Katy.  Making matters worse, Katy's best friends, on the advice of their parents, have distanced themselves from her.  And to add insult to injury, her boyfriend Peter has been taken under the wing of a rich uncle who demands almost all of Peter's time.

Alone and miserable, Katy falls under the spell of Morgan, a beautiful, sophisticated girl who, for some reason Katy can't understand, has decided to befriend her.  Unfortunately, just when Katy is beginning to believe that she has a new BFF, she discovers that Morgan has been using her in the service of her own terrible ambitions.  In order to avenge a wrong done to her more than 1600 years ago, when Morgan and her father, the great magician Merlin, lived under the protection of King Arthur in Camelot, Morgan plans to destroy an entire plane of existence through a powerful weapon she has created - a weapon that Katy unknowingly carries within her.

I first got the idea for this story while I was thinking about "forced friends" - the kind of people who manipulate you into hanging out with them even if you don't really like or trust them.  Sometimes these people are charming and fun, like the character of Morgan in POISON, and sometimes they're scary or overtly dangerous, but whatever their individual personalities, they have one thing in common:  They know how to get you to do what they want.  I believe all of us get latched onto by a forced friend sooner or later, whether it's a sexy, heartless guy or a pretty girl with a big smile and no conscience, a mother figure with a rotten core, or, like Morgan, a seemingly innocent "friend" who lures you into the Darkness before you know what's happening.

On top of this, I've tried to explore a lot of other ways that friendship can hurt, either intentionally or not, in order to show that sometimes each of us has to stand alone - misunderstood, maligned, and unpopular.  And ironically, these times can be our finest moments.  Because you don't get to be a great man or woman by going along with the crowd.  Sometimes you just have to stand up, all by yourself, in order to do what's right.

**Thank you so much for stopping by Molly, and if all you readers out there aren't familiar with Molly's work, get on top of that and head over to her website to get some more details!!!

In My Mailbox (80)

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:

Walking Disaster (Beautiful, #2) by Jamie McGuire (Thanks to Atria Books)

Finally, the highly anticipated follow-up to the New York Times bestseller Beautiful Disaster. Can you love someone too much?
Travis Maddox learned two things from his mother before she died: Love hard. Fight harder.

In Walking Disaster, the life of Travis is full of fast women, underground gambling, and violence. But just when he thinks he is invincible, Abby Abernathy brings him to his knees.

Every story has two sides. In Beautiful Disaster, Abby had her say. Now it’s time to see the story through Travis’s eyes.

** I cannot even tell you how excited I am for the chance to read this one....I've been dying to get my hands on a copy and I can't wait to dive right in!

Proxy (Proxy, #1) by Alex London (Thanks to Philomel)

Knox was born into one of the City’s wealthiest families. A Patron, he has everything a boy could possibly want—the latest tech, the coolest clothes, and a Proxy to take all his punishments. When Knox breaks a vase, Syd is beaten. When Knox plays a practical joke, Syd is forced to haul rocks. And when Knox crashes a car, killing one of his friends, Syd is branded and sentenced to death.

Syd is a Proxy. His life is not his own.

Then again, neither is Knox’s. Knox and Syd have more in common than either would guess. So when Knox and Syd realize that the only way to beat the system is to save each other, they flee. Yet Knox’s father is no ordinary Patron, and Syd is no ordinary Proxy. The ensuing cross-country chase will uncover a secret society of rebels, test both boys’ resolve, and shine a blinding light onto a world of those who owe and those who pay. Some debts, it turns out, cannot be repaid.

Legacy (Legacy, #1) by Molly Cochran (Thanks to Simon and Schuster)

When her widowed father dumps 16-year-old Katy Jessevar in a boarding school in Whitfield, Massachusetts, she has no idea that fate has just opened the door to both her future and her past. Nearly everyone in Whitfield is a witch, as is Katy herself, although she has struggled all her life to hide her unusual talents. Stuck at a boarding school where her fellow students seem to despise her, Katy soon discovers that Whitfield is the place where her mother committed suicide under mysterious circumstances when Katy was just a small child. With dark forces converging on Whitfield, it's up to Katy to unravel her family's many secrets to save the boy she loves and the town itself from destruction.

Poison (Legacy, #2) by Molly Cochran (Thanks to Simon and Schuster)

Arthurian legend mixes with modern-day witchcraft in this haunting sequel to Legacy, which Publishers Weekly said “should please the legions of paranormal fans looking for a sophisticated supernatural thriller.” 

After the riveting—and romantic—events of Legacy, Katy has won Peter’s heart and is nowclaiming her place in the magical world. Though half the students at her boarding school come from witching lines, the use of magic is expressly forbidden at Ainsworth, so as to keep the witching world hidden from the blue-blooded preppies, aka Muffies, who also walk the halls.

     But the Muffies have at least a notion of magic, because Katy catches them staging a made-up ritual—and to her astonishment, the girls collapse at Katy’s feet and fall into comas. When Katy is blamed, she becomes desperate to clear her name and finds herself battling all odds to harness her growing magical powers in order to save the Muffies and dispel the Darkness once more.

A Great Recommendation

I've always said that I'll take a good book recommendation any day of the week!  It's how I've found so many of my favorite titles and fantastic authors...there's just too much out there for us to really believe that we can possibly find all the precious gems in the literary world on our own.  So when I got an email from one of my all time favorite authors, Jennifer Murgia, with a book and series recommendation I jumped right on it. I headed over to Goodreads to get the scoop on this new (to me) series to see what it was all about and if sounded like something that I'd like.  And here's what I found...

Legacy (Legacy, #1) by Molly Cochran

When her widowed father dumps 16-year-old Katy Jessevar in a boarding school in Whitfield, Massachusetts, she has no idea that fate has just opened the door to both her future and her past. Nearly everyone in Whitfield is a witch, as is Katy herself, although she has struggled all her life to hide her unusual talents. 

Stuck at a boarding school where her fellow students seem to despise her, Katy soon discovers that Whitfield is the place where her mother committed suicide under mysterious circumstances when Katy was just a small child. With dark forces converging on Whitfield, it's up to Katy to unravel her family's many secrets to save the boy she loves and the town itself from destruction.

**And the series obviously doesn't stop there...

Poison (Legacy, #2) by Molly Cochran

Arthurian legend mixes with modern-day witchcraft in this haunting sequel to Legacy, which Publishers Weekly said “should please the legions of paranormal fans looking for a sophisticated supernatural thriller.” After the riveting—and romantic—events of Legacy, Katy has won Peter’s heart and is nowclaiming her place in the magical world. Though half the students at her boarding school come from witching lines, the use of magic is expressly forbidden at Ainsworth, so as to keep the witching world hidden from the blue-blooded preppies, aka Muffies, who also walk the halls.

     But the Muffies have at least a notion of magic, because Katy catches them staging a made-up ritual—and to her astonishment, the girls collapse at Katy’s feet and fall into comas. When Katy is blamed, she becomes desperate to clear her name and finds herself battling all odds to harness her growing magical powers in order to save the Muffies and dispel the Darkness once more.

**So what do you guys think?  Doesn't it sound great?  I can't believe that I haven't come across this series before but regardless I'm glad I've got friends like Jennifer looking out for me and sending these great recommendations my way!  I've been told by Cochran that the third installment in the series has been picked up and will be hitting shelves in December of this year so I'm glad that I've got some time to catch up on the series before it's release.  It's also nice to know in the back of my mind that when I finish up with the first two titles that I won't have to wait for what feels like forever before being able to dive right into the next installment!

Have you guys read anything by Cochran before?  If you did what did you think?  If you're new to all this like me, head over to Molly's website to check things out.  Like always, if anyone else has any good recommendations please send them my way...I'm always on the lookout and appreciate the helpful hints!

In My Mailbox (37)

This is a meme that I first heard about from Kristi over at The Story Siren and immediately wanted to jump on board.

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

For Review:

Trapped by Michael Northrop

The day the blizzard started, no one knew that it was going to keep snowing for a week. That for those in its path, it would become not just a matter of keeping warm, but of staying alive....

Scotty and his friends Pete and Jason are among the last seven kids at their high school waiting to get picked up that day, and they soon realize that no one is coming for them. Still, it doesn't seem so bad to spend the night at school, especially when distractingly hot Krista and Julie are sleeping just down the hall. But then the power goes out, then the heat. The pipes freeze, and the roof shudders. As the days add up, the snow piles higher, and the empty halls grow colder and darker, the mounting pressure forces a devastating decision....

Dark Mirror by M.J. Putney

Lady Victoria Mansfield, youngest daughter of the Earl and Countess of Fairmount, is destined for a charmed life. Soon she will be presented during the London season, where she can choose a mate worthy of her status.

Yet Tory has a shameful secret—a secret so powerful that, if exposed, it could strip her of her position and disgrace her family forever. Tory’s blood is tainted…by magic. When a shocking accident forces Tory to demonstrate her despised skill, the secret she’s fought so hard to hide is revealed for all to see. She is immediately exiled to Lackland Abbey, a reform school for young men and women in her position. There she will learn to suppress her deplorable talents and maybe, if she’s one of the lucky ones, be able to return to society.

But Tory’s life is about to change forever. All that she’s ever known or considered important will be challenged. What lies ahead is only the beginning of a strange and wonderful journey
into a world where destiny and magic come together, where true love and friendship find her, and where courage and strength of character are the only things that determine a young girl’s worth.

The Latte Rebellion by Sarah Jamilla Stevenson

Our philosophy is simple: Promote a latte-colored world! —from the Latte Rebellion Manifesto

When high school senior Asha Jamison gets called a "towel head" at a pool party, the racist insult gives Asha and her best friend Carey a great money-making idea for a post-graduation trip. They'll sell T-shirts promoting the Latte Rebellion, a club that raises awareness of mixed-race students.

Seemingly overnight, their "cause" goes viral and the T-shirts become a nationwide fad. As new chapters spring up from coast to coast, Asha realizes that her simple marketing plan has taken on a life of its own-and it's starting to ruin hers. Asha's once-stellar grades begin to slip, threatening her Ivy League dreams, and her friendship with Carey is hanging by a thread. And when the peaceful underground movement turns militant, Asha's school launches a disciplinary hearing.Facing expulsion, Asha must decide how much she's willing to risk for something she truly believes in.

What Comes After by Steve Watkins

A gripping portrait of a teen’s struggles through grief and abuse - and the miraculous power of animals to heal us.

After her veterinarian dad dies, sixteen-year-old Iris Wight must leave her beloved Maine to live on a North Carolina farm with her hardbitten aunt and a cousin she barely knows. Iris, a vegetarian and animal lover, immediately clashes with Aunt Sue, who mistreats the livestock, spends Iris’s small inheritance, and thinks nothing of striking Iris for the smallest offense. Things come to a head when Iris sets two young goats free to save them from slaughter, and an enraged Aunt Sue orders her brutish son, Book, to beat Iris senseless - a horrific act that lands Book and his mother in jail. Sent to live with an offbeat foster family and their "dooking" ferrets, Iris must find a way to take care of the animals back at the farm, even if it means confronting Aunt Sue. Powerful and deeply moving, this compelling novel affirms the redemptive power of animals and the resilience of the human spirit.

Legacy (Ganzfield #3) by Kate Kaynak

Maddie has more problems than the average seventeen-year-old:

A psychotic killer with superpowers wants her dead.

A serious medical issue makes a "normal" life impossible for her.

And she's about to be introduced to Trevor's grandparents.

Guess which one freaks her out the most? The Ganzfield series continues in this third installment.