Waiting on Wednesday: Beware the Wild and Lies We Tell Ourselves

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

Here are my WoW picks this week (click title for the Goodreads page):

Beware the Wild
 by Natalie C. Parker

Release date: October 21st, 2014
 Publisher: HarperTeen
 Pre-Order: Amazon | Book Depository

It's an oppressively hot and sticky morning in June when Sterling and her brother, Phin, have an argument that compels him to run into the town swamp -- the one that strikes fear in all the residents of Sticks, Louisiana. Phin doesn't return. Instead, a girl named Lenora May climbs out, and now Sterling is the only person in Sticks who remembers her brother ever existed.

Sterling needs to figure out what the swamp's done with her beloved brother and how Lenora May is connected to his disappearance -- and loner boy Heath Durham might be the only one who can help her. 

This debut novel is full of atmosphere, twists and turns, and a swoon-worthy romance.

A southern-mystery/dark-fantasy-romance. I fall for this type of books and I know when I delve further into the story I'm gonna be suck right up. The cover itself is enticing and eerie at the same time. It also has a swoon-worthy romance, how can I say no to that? ;)

Lies We Tell Ourselves
 by Robin Talley

Release date: September 30th, 2014

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Pre-Order: Amazon | Book Depository

In 1959 Virginia, the lives of two girls on opposite sides of the battle for civil rights will be changed forever.

Sarah Dunbar is one of the first black students to attend the previously all-white Jefferson High School. An honors student at her old school, she is put into remedial classes, spit on and tormented daily.

Linda Hairston is the daughter of one of the town’s most vocal opponents of school integration. She has been taught all her life that the races should be kept “separate but equal.”

Forced to work together on a school project, Sarah and Linda must confront harsh truths about race, power and how they really feel about one another.

Boldly realistic and emotionally compelling, Lies We Tell Ourselves is a brave and stunning novel about finding truth amid the lies, and finding your voice even when others are determined to silence it.

It's not the type of story I usually read but I think Lies We Tell Ourselves is going to be gut-wrenching that might change the way we view of things and I guess it'll be a challenging read. "Boldly realistic and emotionally compelling". It is sort of intimidating and intriguing.

Waiting on Wednesday: Talon and Let's Get Lost

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

Here are my WoW picks this week (click title for the Goodreads page):

Talon
 by Julie Kagawa

Release date: October 28th, 2014
 Publisher: Harlequin Teen
 Pre-Order: Amazon | Book Depository

Long ago, dragons were hunted to near extinction by the Order of St. George, a legendary society of dragon slayers. Hiding in human form and growing their numbers in secret, the dragons of Talon have become strong and cunning, and they're positioned to take over the world with humans none the wiser.

Ember and Dante Hill are the only sister and brother known to dragonkind. Trained to infiltrate society, Ember wants to live the teen experience and enjoy a summer of freedom before taking her destined place in Talon. But destiny is a matter of perspective, and a rogue dragon will soon challenge everything Ember has been taught. As Ember struggles to accept her future, she and her brother are hunted by the Order of St. George.

Soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian has a mission to seek and destroy all dragons, and Talon's newest recruits in particular. But he cannot kill unless he is certain he has found his prey: and nothing is certain about Ember Hill. Faced with Ember's bravery, confidence and all-too-human desires, Garret begins to question everything that the Order has ingrained in him: and what he might be willing to give up to find the truth about dragons.

This summer I finished reading the Iron Fey Series and I must say that Julie Kagawa is so one of my favourite authors! Now there's another book written by her and it's about dragons! *imagining the cool dragons of khaleesi...* Anyway Talon is one of my anticipated reads of the year and I bet Soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian is one helluva sexy dragon slayer. Ha! *wink*

Let's Get Lost
 by Adi Alsaid

Release date: July 29th, 2014

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Pre-Order: Amazon | Book Depository

Five strangers. Countless adventures.One epic way to get lost. 

Four teens across the country have only one thing in common: a girl named LEILA. She crashes into their lives in her absurdly red car at the moment they need someone the most. 

There's HUDSON, a small-town mechanic who is willing to throw away his dreams for true love. And BREE, a runaway who seizes every Tuesday—and a few stolen goods along the way. ELLIOT believes in happy endings…until his own life goes off-script. And SONIA worries that when she lost her boyfriend, she also lost the ability to love. 

Hudson, Bree, Elliot and Sonia find a friend in Leila. And when Leila leaves them, their lives are forever changed. But it is during Leila's own 4,268-mile journey that she discovers the most important truth— sometimes, what you need most is right where you started. And maybe the only way to find what you're looking for is to get lost along the way.

A road trip book! I wonder if this is going to be told on five perspectives and I'm certainly intrigued by the plot. Their lives are connected through one girl and when she leaves they started their epic journey. A book about friendship, loss, love. Definitely like it! I also like the cover. ^_^

Waiting on Wednesday: Damsel Distressed and Sway

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

Here are my WoW picks this week (click title for the Goodreads page):

Damsel Distressed
 by Kelsey Macke

Release date: October 14th, 2014
 Publisher: Spencer Hill Contemporary
 Pre-Order: Amazon | Book Depository

Hot girls get the fairy tales. No one cares about the stepsisters' story. Those girls don't get a sweet little ending; they get a lifetime of longing 

Imogen Keegen has never had a happily ever after–in fact, she doesn’t think they are possible. Ever since her mother’s death seven years ago, Imogen has pulled herself in and out of therapy, struggled with an “emotionally disturbed” special ed. label, and loathed her perma-plus-sized status.

When Imogen’s new stepsister, the evil and gorgeous Ella Cinder, moves in down the hall, Imogen begins losing grip on the pieces she’s been trying to hold together. The only things that gave her solace–the theatre, cheese fries, and her best friend, Grant–aren’t enough to save her from her pain this time.

While Imogen is enjoying her moment in the spotlight after the high school musical, the journal pages containing her darkest thoughts get put on display. Now, Imogen must resign herself to be crushed under the ever-increasing weight of her pain, or finally accept the starring role in her own life story.

And maybe even find herself a happily ever after.

Sounds interesting, isn't? The supposed "evil" stepsister is now the protagonist in the story. I like retellings of my favourite fairy tales and I think this is going to be a fun read with Imogen's perspective. I would like to know if the stepsister finally get her sweet happy ending. ;)

Sway
 by Kat Spears

Release date: September 16th, 2014

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Pre-Order: Amazon | Book Depository

High school senior Jesse Alderman, or Sway as he's known, could sell hell to a bishop.  He also specializes in getting things people want—term papers, a date with the prom queen, fake IDs.  It's all business with Jesse.  He has few close friends and he never lets emotions get in the way.

But when Ken, captain of the football team, leading candidate for homecoming king, and all around jerk, hires Jesse to help him win the heart of the angelic Bridget Smalley, Jesse finds himself feeling all sorts of things.  While following Bridget and learning the intimate details of her life, he falls helplessly in love for the very first time. He also finds himself in an accidental friendship with Bridget's younger brother who's belligerent and self-pitying after spending a lifetime dealing with cerebral palsy.  Suddenly Jesse is visiting old folks at a nursing home in order to run into Bridget, and offering his time to help the less fortunate, all the while developing a bond with this young man who idolizes him.  The tinman really does have a heart after all. 

A Cyrano De Bergerac story with a modern twist, Sway is told from Jesse’s point of view with unapologetic truth and biting humor. His observations about the world around him are untempered by empathy or compassion--until Bridget's presence in his life forces him to confront his quiet devastation over a life changing event a year earlier and maybe, just maybe, feel SOMEthing, again.

Oh! I love this kind of stories. The guy slowly falls for the girl whom he never thought he'd like. Aw. . . I really like it! I think this is going to be sweet and would have a slice of life feel. 

Waiting on Wednesday: The Fine Art of Pretending and Whatever Life Throws at You

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

Here are my WoW picks this week (click title for the Goodreads page):

The Fine Art of Pretending
 by Rachel Harris

Release date: September 2014
 Publisher: Spencer Hill Contemporary
 Pre-Order: Amazon | Book Depository

According to the guys at Fairfield Academy, there are two types of girls: the kind you hook up with, and the kind you're friends with. Seventeen-year-old Alyssa Reed is the second type. And she hates it. With just one year left to change her rank, she devises a plan to become the first type by homecoming, and she sets her sights on the perfect date—Justin Carter, Fairfield Academy’s biggest hottie and most notorious player.

With 57 days until the dance, Aly launches Operation Sex Appeal and sheds her tomboy image. The only thing left is for Justin actually to notice her. Enter best friend Brandon Taylor, the school’s second biggest hottie, and now Aly’s pretend boyfriend. With his help, elevating from “funny friend” to “tempting vixen” is only a matter of time.

But when everything goes according to plan, the inevitable “break up” leaves their friendship in shambles, and Aly and Brandon with feelings they can’t explain. And the fake couple discovers pretending can sometimes cost you the one thing you never expected to want.

Girl transformation with the second biggest hottie and their pretend girlfriend/boyfriend relationship...oh yeah, I'm in! I think this is going to be cute and funny as hell. I can't wait!

Whatever Life Throws at You
 by Julie Cross

Release date: October 7th, 2014

Publisher: Entangled: Teen

Pre-Order: Amazon | Book Depository

Seventeen-year-old Annie Lucas is too young to remember her dad’s glory days as a pitcher for the Yankees. So when her father is offered a coaching position with the Kansas City Royals, Annie is intrigued to see the baseball side of her dad. Of course, knowing he’ll be a mentor to hot young rookie pitcher, Jason Brody, certainly makes it more enticing. 

After an awkward first meeting with "Brody" involving very little clothing and a much-too-personal locker room interview, Annie’s convinced she knows Brody’s type: arrogant, self-involved, bossy. As her dad grows closer to the pitching phenom, the friction between Brody and Annie increases. But when opening day arrives and it looks like both her dad and Brody may lose their dream jobs, Annie steps up and offers support. She and Brody call a truce that grows into friendship—and beyond. Falling for a rising star who’s quickly reaching a level that involves rabid female fans is not what Annie would call smart, except suddenly she’s getting hints that maybe this crush isn’t one-sided after all. Could someone like Brody actually fall for a girl like her?

This sounds promising and swoon-worthy! A story of a one-sided crush and not so one-sided after all hooked me. Annie and "Brody" will certainly be a swoon couple and I don't doubt they're gonna be funny too.
#stoked! haha. ;)

Waiting on Wednesday: Ugly Love & The Jewel

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

Here are my WoW picks this week (click title for the Goodreads page):

Ugly Love
 by Colleen Hoover

Release date: August 5th, 2014

                                Publisher: Atria Books

                    Pre-Order: Amazon | Book Depository

When Tate Collins meets airline pilot Miles Archer, she knows it isn’t love at first sight. They wouldn’t even go so far as to consider themselves friends. The only thing Tate and Miles have in common is an undeniable mutual attraction. Once their desires are out in the open, they realize they have the perfect set-up. He doesn’t want love, she doesn’t have time for love, so that just leaves the sex. Their arrangement could be surprisingly seamless, as long as Tate can stick to the only two rules Miles has for her.

Never ask about the past.
Don’t expect a future.

They think they can handle it, but realize almost immediately they can’t handle it at all.

Hearts get infiltrated.
Promises get broken.
Rules get shattered.
Love gets ugly.

 Another Colleen Hoover book! Another addition to my book boyfriends! Another swoon-worthy romance! I love her Slammed Series and I have no doubt I'd like this one too. Can we fast forward to August now? *wink*

The Jewel
 by Amy Ewing

Release date: September 2nd, 2014

Publisher: HarperTeen

Pre-Order: Amazon | Book Depository

The Jewel means wealth. The Jewel means beauty. The Jewel means royalty. But for girls like Violet, the Jewel means servitude. Not just any kind of servitude. Violet, born and raised in the Marsh, has been trained as a surrogate for the royalty––because in the Jewel the only thing more important than opulence is offspring.

Purchased at the surrogacy auction by the Duchess of the Lake and greeted with a slap to the face, Violet (now known only as #197) quickly learns of the brutal truths that lie beneath the Jewel’s glittering facade: the cruelty, backstabbing, and hidden violence that have become the royal way of life.

Violet must accept the ugly realities of her existence . . . and try to stay alive. But then a forbidden romance erupts between Violet and a handsome gentleman hired as a companion to the Duchess’s petulant niece. Though his presence makes life in the Jewel a bit brighter, the consequences of their illicit relationship will cost them both more than they bargained for.

The plot may have sound familiar and not so familiar which is one of the reasons l add this book on my TBR pile. Political Schemes, forbidden romance and pretty cover? I'm sold! I'm gonna keep an eye on this one when September rolls around. ;)

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Book Covers I'd Frame As Pieces of Art

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. The topic this week is Top Ten Book Covers I'd Frame As Pieces of Art. It's tough to choose simply because I've seen several beautiful covers over the last few years that to narrow it down to ten seemed hard. Here are some of them in no particular order.

      

       

       

        

       

The Road by Jay Mclean

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

No Place to Fall by Jaye Robin Brown

Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

Dear Cassie by Lisa Burstein

Afterparty by Ann Redisch Stampler

What I Thought Was True by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Rot and Ruin by Jonathan Maberry

Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter

Waiting on Wednesday: The Road & Midnight Thief

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

Here are my WoW picks this week (click title for the Goodreads page):

The Road
 by Jay Mclean

Release date: December 2014

*Chloe*

For four years I watched him roaming the halls of high school, always quiet, without a single clue of his A-list status. Then one night he ran into me, literally.  He thought he saved me, but he had no idea how impossible that was. Now he wants to talk. Now he wants to get to know me. Now he thinks he's in love with me. 
Stupid, stupid boy.   

*Blake* 

I wish I'd found her earlier, but she chose to stay invisible. I watched her take in the world one breath at a time, while living her life alone. I told her that I saved her that night, but I lied. I think she saved me. She wants to push me away and tell me I'm wrong, but it's too late. Now she's been noticed. Now she's a part of me. Now I'm in love with her. Beautiful, beautiful girl.

This sounds another great YA Contemporary set in High School and one that should definitely be on my hands as soon as it is release in stores. I like High School romances...and sometimes reading something sweet is my getaway to relax plus it wouldn't hurt to know that I might add another boy on my long list of book-boyfriends (which I think Blake will soon join *wink*). The cover is beautiful and it only adds to the reason why it should be on my shelf. I am so excited for this one!

Midnight Thief (Midnight Thief, #1)
 by Livia Blackburne

Release date: July 8th, 2014

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Pre-Order: Amazon | Book Depository

Growing up on Forge’s streets has taught Kyra how to stretch a coin. And when that’s not enough, her uncanny ability to scale walls and bypass guards helps her take what she needs. 
But when the leader of the Assassins Guild offers Kyra a lucrative job, she hesitates. She knows how to get by on her own, and she’s not sure she wants to play by his rules. But he’s persistent—and darkly attractive—and Kyra can’t quite resist his pull.

Tristam of Brancel is a young Palace knight on a mission. After his best friend is brutally murdered by Demon Riders, a clan of vicious warriors who ride bloodthirsty wildcats, Tristam vows to take them down. But as his investigation deepens, he finds his efforts thwarted by a talented thief, one who sneaks past Palace defenses with uncanny ease.

When a fateful raid throws Kyra and Tristam together, the two enemies realize that their best chance at survival—and vengeance—might be to join forces. And as their loyalties are tested to the breaking point, they learn a startling secret about Kyra’s past that threatens to reshape both their lives.

After reading the Seven Realms series which is such an amazing fantasy series I'm now always looking for another High Fantasy to read. I think Midnight Thief is just right up my alley and the synopsis is very interesting.
Action + Romance = I NEED this book NOW. No more explanations needed. :)