Countdown: June 2013

While it might not feel like Summer is right around the corner right now it's not that far away.  May might mark the beginning of Summer and all the fun that comes with it, but when June rolls around I'm always ready to get into the full swing of things.  I'm ready to pack up my cold weather clothing and instead of curling up on the sofa with a book I'd rather take one out either poolside or to the beach.  Who doesn't like to lay around in the sun and enjoy a great book at the same time?  I've been known to like to grab a tan and soak up the sun but I can only lie around in the heat for so long without getting antsy so that's when I pull out the good books.  They get me through the hotter temperatures and keep me entertained while I try to get all the vitamin D a girl could want.  What's on your June 2013 list to pick up at your favorite bookstores?

Countdown Pick #1:  PODs by Michelle K. Pickett (06/04/2013)

Seventeen-year-old Eva is a chosen one. Chosen to live, while others meet a swift and painful death from an incurable virus so lethal, a person is dead within days of symptoms emerging. In the POD system, a series of underground habitats built by the government, she waits with the other chosen for the deadly virus to claim those above. Separated from family and friends, it's in the PODs she meets David. And while true love might not conquer all, it's a balm for the broken soul. 

After a year, scientists believe the population has died, and without living hosts, so has the virus. That's the theory, anyway. But when the PODs are opened, survivors find the surface holds a vicious secret. The virus mutated, infecting those left top-side and creating... monsters. 

Eva and David hide from the infected in the abandoned PODs. Together they try to build a life--a new beginning. But the infected follow and are relentless in their attacks. Leaving Eva and David to fight for survival, and pray for a cure.

How can you not want to see what happens to Eva and David after reading that description?  While I find the whole idea of the virus and choosing who lives over who dies a little more than morbid, it's also oddly fascinating and I'm anxious to see where Pickett takes her readers.

Countdown Pick #2:  Ashes on the Waves by Mary Lindsey (06/27/2013)

Liam MacGregor is cursed. Haunted by the wails of fantastical Bean Sidhes and labeled a demon by the villagers of Dòchas, Liam has accepted that things will never get better for him—until a wealthy heiress named Annabel Leighton arrives on the island and Liam’s fate is changed forever.

With Anna, Liam finally finds the happiness he has always been denied; but, the violent, mythical Otherworlders, who inhabit the island and the sea around it, have other plans. They make a wager on the couple’s love, testing its strength through a series of cruel obstacles. But the tragedies draw Liam and Anna even closer. Frustrated, the creatures put the couple through one last trial—and this time it’s not only their love that’s in danger of being destroyed.

Based on Edgar Allan Poe’s chilling poem Annabel Lee, Mary Lindsey creates a frighteningly beautiful gothic novel that glorifies the power of true love.

With a Goodreads giveaway going on right now through March 15th no one has an excuse to pass this gem up, am I right?  Everyone can enter to win a signed ARC and I'm stoked!  This might not be a retelling but it's gotten its start based on Poe's famous poem and as a Maryland native I'm all for that.

Countdown Pick #3:  Spies and Prejudice by Talia Vance (06/11/2013)

Fields’ Rule #1: Don’t fall for the enemy.

Berry Fields is not looking for a boyfriend. She’s busy trailing cheaters and liars in her job as a private investigator, collecting evidence of the affairs she’s sure all men commit. And thanks to a pepper spray incident during an eighth grade game of spin the bottle, the guys at her school are not exactly lining up to date her, either. 

So when arrogant—and gorgeous—Tanner Halston rolls into town and calls her “nothing amazing,” it’s no loss for Berry. She’ll forget him in no time. She’s more concerned with the questions surfacing about her mother’s death. 

But why does Tanner seem to pop up everywhere in her investigation, always getting in her way? Is he trying to stop her from discovering the truth, or protecting her from an unknown threat? And why can’t Berry remember to hate him when he looks into her eyes?

With a playful nod to Jane Austen, Spies and Prejudice will captivate readers as love and espionage collide.

Oh for the love of all things Austen I cannot wait for this title to be released!  The fact that I have to wait until June is almost painful, but anything for something Austen related.  I've always enjoyed P&P remakes and this one sounds quite unique.  A must read for my Summer list for sure!

Countdown Pick #4:  Belle Epoque by Elizabeth Ross (06/11/2013)

When Maude Pichon runs away from provincial Brittany to Paris, her romantic dreams vanish as quickly as her savings. Desperate for work, she answers an unusual ad. The Durandeau Agency provides its clients with a unique service—the beauty foil. Hire a plain friend and become instantly more attractive. 

Monsieur Durandeau has made a fortune from wealthy socialites, and when the Countess Dubern needs a companion for her headstrong daughter, Isabelle, Maude is deemed the perfect foil.

But Isabelle has no idea her new "friend" is the hired help, and Maude's very existence among the aristocracy hinges on her keeping the truth a secret. Yet the more she learns about Isabelle, the more her loyalty is tested. And the longer her deception continues, the more she has to lose.

I'm intrigued to say the least.  The idea is horrifying that people would ever have paid for a service like the one described above, but it's not all that far fetched of an idea either.  I definitely want to see what Maude's journey is like and what kinds of deception Ross has in store for her readers.

Countdown Pick #5:  After Daybreak (Darkness Before Dawn, #3) by J.A. London (06/25/2013)

Dawn returns from L.A. with terrifying news: In his greed for power, the maniacal Day Walker Sin is raising an army and infecting his followers with the Thirst—a rabieslike disease that will turn them into mindless killers. To stop him, Dawn and Victor will have to convince humans and vampires to work together before it’s too late.

I was a huge fan of London's first installment and the duo packed a punch with their writing.  I haven't had the chance to pick up the second installment so I'm trying not to peak and see what this one's about, but it's a series I have no doubt I'll want to read from start to finish and long after the series has ended.  Their cover art for this series always blows me away with the depictions of the main character as well as the haunting scenes that readers can't help but be drawn to.  It's a great combination and one I always look forward to.

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I Resolve To Read in 2013

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created over at The Broke and the Bookish.  This feature was crated 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.  I've decided that's going to chance in the new year.  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.

With so many great books coming out in 2013, not to mention the titles that came out in 2012 that I haven't yet had the chance to read, I loved the idea of this week's list.  As always, there's no way to include every title I'd like to read this year, but here are at least ten that fit the bill.

Resolved to Read in 2013 Pick #1:  Vengeance Bound by Justina Ireland

The Goddess Test meets Dexter in an edgy, compelling debut about one teen’s quest for revenge… no matter how far it takes her.

Cory Graff is not alone in her head. Bound to a deal of desperation made when she was a child, Cory’s mind houses the Furies—the hawk and the serpent—lingering always, waiting for her to satisfy their bloodlust. After escaping the asylum where she was trapped for years, Cory knows how to keep the Furies quiet. By day, she lives a normal life, but by night, she tracks down targets the Furies send her way. And she brings down Justice upon them.

Cory’s perfected her system of survival, but when she meets a mysterious boy named Niko at her new school, she can’t figure out how she feels about him. For the first time, the Furies are quiet in her head around a guy. But does this mean that Cory’s finally found someone who she can trust, or are there greater factors at work? As Cory’s mind becomes a battlefield, with the Furies fighting for control, Cory will have to put everything on the line to hold on to what she’s worked so hard to build.

Mythology is always given a green light in my book.  And with this one dealing with the Furies instead of the more typically used mythological characters like Zeus and Hear I like the change of pace.  2013 is full of great releases but this one had that stand out, extra bit of oomph I was really looking for.

Resolved to Read in 2013 Pick #2:  Chosen At Nightfall (Shadow Falls, #5) by C.C. Hunter

Kylie Galen's life hasn't been the same since her world was turned upside-down in Born at Midnight, Shadow Falls #1, and now an epic conclusion to her journey—not to mention a tough choice between two guys!—is brewing in Chosen at Nightfall:

When Kylie Galen left Shadow Falls, she thought it was the hardest decision of her life. Heartbroken and separated from everyone she loves, she has to embrace her abilities and what it means to be a chameleon. But as Kylie's journey comes to a close, she must return to the camp that started it all...and she must finally chose between the two boys who love her. The werewolf who broke her heart when he chose his pack over her, and the half-fae who ran from their intense attraction before they ever really had a chance. For Kylie, everything will finally be revealed and nothing will ever be the same.

It's the end of another series, and with that always comes mixed feelings.  It's bittersweet having to say goodbye to characters you've come to love and at the same time nice to see how things get wrapped up in the end.  I'm hopeful Hunter has another book or series in the works because while I might be coming around to the idea of saying goodbye to these characters, I'm in no way ready to say goodbye to Hunter's writing talent.

Resolved to Read in 2013 Pick #3:  Spies and Prejudice by Talia Vance

Fields’ Rule #1: Don’t fall for the enemy.

Berry Fields is not looking for a boyfriend. She’s busy trailing cheaters and liars in her job as a private investigator, collecting evidence of the affairs she’s sure all men commit. And thanks to a pepper spray incident during an eighth grade game of spin the bottle, the guys at her school are not exactly lining up to date her, either. 

So when arrogant—and gorgeous—Tanner Halston rolls into town and calls her “nothing amazing,” it’s no loss for Berry. She’ll forget him in no time. She’s more concerned with the questions surfacing about her mother’s death. 

But why does Tanner seem to pop up everywhere in her investigation, always getting in her way? Is he trying to stop her from discovering the truth, or protecting her from an unknown threat? And why can’t Berry remember to hate him when he looks into her eyes?

With a playful nod to Jane Austen, Spies and Prejudice will captivate readers as love and espionage collide.

I'm always on the lookout for new re-tellings of my favorite classics and Austen's masterpiece is one I love no matter the spin a new author may give it.  I can't say a spy novel is one I've ever come across before, so I'm looking forward to adding this one to my library and collection and interested in how the characters will be in their new roles.

Resolved to Read in 2013 Pick #4:  Hunted (The Guardian Legacy, #3) by Ednah Walters

Bran and Lil may have escaped an attempt to lure Lil to the dark side, and recovered the contracts damned people signed with Bran when he was a soul collector, but someone forgot to tell them that no one switches sides or cancels contracts without consequences. 

Hunted by an unknown but powerful enemy, Lil, Bran and the Guardians must seek help from unlikely sources to avert total annihilation of the Guardians. When they finally face their enemy, one of them may have to make the ultimate sacrifice.

A series I cannot get enough of, and thankfully this third installment will put me out of my misery temporarily while I wait for another installment to be placed on the shelves.  This series is one of those where you end up losing time.  I never seem to be able to put her books down until the very last page has been read, so I try to clear my schedule and start reading early in the day so that I've got a better chance at finishing the read without missing out on too much going on around me.

Resolved to Read in 2013 Pick #5:  Sweet Peril (Sweet Trilogy, #2) by Wendy Higgins

Anna Whitt, the daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she’d never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She’d been naive to make such a vow. She’d been naive about a lot of things. 

Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school’s party girl. Her life has never looked more bleak. And all the while there’s Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind.

When an unexpected lost message from the angels surfaces, Anna finds herself traveling the globe with Kopano, son of Wrath, in an attempt to gain support of fellow Nephilim and give them hope for the first time. It soon becomes clear that whatever freedoms Anna and the rest of the Neph are hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Until then, Anna and Kaidan must put aside the issues between them, overcome the steamiest of temptations yet, and face the ultimate question: is loving someone worth risking their life?

Oh how "sweet" this news really was!  I wasn't sure we readers would get our wish for this series to continue but thank goodness we did.  Higgins had me addicted to her series, the characters, the drama and suspense, the whole kit and caboodle.  I love the whole idea behind this series and can't wait to see what she has in store for her characters next after the cliffhanger we were left with in the series opener.

Resolved to Read in 2013 Pick #6:  Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality by Elizabeth Eulberg

A hilarious new novel from Elizabeth Eulberg about taking the wall out of the wallflower so she can bloom.

Don't mess with a girl with a Great Personality.

Everybody loves Lexi. She's popular, smart, funny...but she's never been one of those girls, the pretty ones who get all the attention from guys. And on top of that, her seven-year-old sister, Mackenzie, is a terror in a tiara, and part of a pageant scene where she gets praised for her beauty (with the help of fake hair and tons of makeup).

Lexi's sick of it. She's sick of being the girl who hears about kisses instead of getting them. She's sick of being ignored by her longtime crush, Logan. She's sick of being taken for granted by her pageant-obsessed mom. And she's sick of having all her family's money wasted on a phony pursuit of perfection.

The time has come for Lexi to step out from the sidelines. Girls without great personalities aren't going to know what hit them. Because Lexi's going to play the beauty game - and she's in it to win it.

I grab up anything that comes available by Eulberg because she's got the literary Midas touch!  Everything of hers that I've read (and I've read everything I could get my hands on) is nothing short of spectacular!  The more Eulberg books on my shelves, the better.

Resolved to Read in 2013 Pick #7:  Insomnia (The Night Walkers, #1) by J.R. Johansson

It’s been four years since I slept, and I suspect it is killing me.

Instead of sleeping, Parker Chipp enters the dream of the last person he’s had eye contact with. He spends his nights crushed by other people’s fear and pain, by their disturbing secrets—and Parker can never have dreams of his own. The severe exhaustion is crippling him. If nothing changes, Parker could soon be facing psychosis and even death.

Then he meets Mia. Her dreams, calm and beautifully uncomplicated, allow him blissful rest that is utterly addictive. Parker starts going to bizarre lengths to catch Mia’s eye every day. Everyone at school thinks he’s gone over the edge, even his best friend. And when Mia is threatened by a true stalker, everyone thinks it’s Parker.

Suffering blackouts, Parker begins to wonder if he is turning into someone dangerous. What if the monster stalking Mia is him after all?

I want to make it a point to read this one because it's out of my normal comfort zone.  Stalkers, sleep filled with horrible scenarios, zero rest and high anxiety...not exactly my cup of tea.  I'm anxious just thinking about it!  But I'm trying to branch out and I think this one is a good place to start.

Resolved to Read in 2013 Pick #8:  Falling Kingdoms (Falling Kingdoms, #1) by Morgan Rhode and Michelle Rowen

In a land where magic has been forgotten but peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest is simmering. Three kingdoms grapple for power--brutally transforming their subjects' lives in the process. Amidst betrayals, bargains, and battles, four young people find their fates forever intertwined:

Cleo: A princess raised in luxury must embark on a rough and treacherous journey into enemy territory in search of a magic long thought extinct.

Jonas: Enraged at injustice, a rebel lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country impoverished--and finds himself the leader of a people's revolution centuries in the making.

Lucia: A girl adopted at birth into a royal family discovers the truth about her past--and the supernatural legacy she is destined to wield.

Magnus: Bred for aggression and trained to conquer, a firstborn son begins to realize that the heart can be more lethal than the sword...

The only outcome that's certain is that kingdoms will fall. Who will emerge triumphant when all they know has collapsed?

This is a read that I've been counting down to for some time now.  Basically if I don't read it soon I think I might bust!  Everywhere I look there are advertisements spouting off how great this read is and I'm ready to see for myself.

Resolved to Read in 2013 Pick #9:  Heist Society (Heist Society, #1) by Ally Carter

When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her on a trip to the Louvre…to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria…to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own—scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving “the life” for a normal life proves harder than she’d expected.

Soon, Kat's friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring Kat back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has a good reason: a powerful mobster has been robbed of his priceless art collection and wants to retrieve it. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat's father isn't just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat’s dad needs her help.

For Kat, there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it's a spectacularly impossible job? She's got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in her family's history--and, with any luck, steal her life back along the way.

Another book I've had on my shelf and left unread for far too long.  I've heard good things about the book and series as a whole and can't wait to finally pull it down off the shelf and see for myself.  I'm hopeful it turns out to be as fun and entertaining as many reviewers and readers have claimed it to be.

Resolved to Read in 2013 Pick #10:  Tris and Izzie by Mette Ivie Harrison

A modern retelling of the German fairytale "Tristan and Isolde", Tris and Izzie is about a young witch named Izzie who is dating Mark King, the captain of the basketball team and thinks her life is going swimmingly well. Until -- she makes a love potion for her best friend Brangane and then ends up taking it herself accidentally, and falling in love with Tristan, the new guy at school.

Yes, this is another one that's been sitting on my shelf for too long unread, but I actually know why in this case.  The book this spin off/re-telling is based on was one that left me an emotional wreck.  The movie version was much the same.  Just so sad and heart wrenching that while I know this will probably be a bit lighter in nature by the sounds of the description, I'm still worried and hesitant based on my past experience, but I am going to try and give it a go in 2013.