Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly MeMe hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine where readers share what they're waiting on this week.

Scarlett thought Dan McAndrew's murder was long behind her, but when she and her classmates arrive in Edinburgh for a weeklong field trip, she's startled to be joined by her old St. Tabby's cohorts--and enemies--who are visiting the area on a field trip as well. Even more startling, Callum, Dan's surviving twin, is in the area--and his cold treatment leaves Scarlett wondering what's changed, especially when a series of attacks makes her believe that someone's out to get her for her past mistakes. Would Callum ever hurt her, though? And what's Scarlett to make of her conflicting feelings for Callum, now that Jase isn't around? Even more upsetting, why is her most trusted confidante, Taylor, acting distant and dismissive?
Release Date: May 10th, 2011

I love this series. Scarlett is probably one of my favorite female characters in YA literature, and how can you NOT love a series that's full of hot boys? Also that cover is beautiful! I love the colors.

What are you waiting on this week?

Matched by Ally Condie

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.
The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

After reading this book I really don't see what all of the fuss is about.  Honestly I've read some pretty scathing reviews of this novel on Goodreads, but I had also heard some gushing praise for it at school. I guess I would fall somewhere inbetween.

I didn't really like Cassia as a character. The only part where I actually enjoyed reading about her was when she was talking with her grandfather. I guess as the novel progressed she became more interesting and less annoying but I still wouldn't say I like her as a person. Actually looking back, I didn't really love any of the characters. My favorite would have to have been Ky but we didn't really hear enough about him to hold up the other characters.

The plotline was good, I just wish it had stronger characters to hold it up. I've read a lot of reviews that say The Society is a rip-off of The Giver but I didn't really see that. I think that a few things could have been cleared up, but maybe Condie wanted to leave them shrouded in questions.

Not the best book I've ever read, however I'll probably still read the sequel. What can I say? It's hard for me to abandon a series, off the top of my head I can only remember one (The Immortals by Alyson Noel, I really could not stand those books.)

Rival by Sara Bennett Wealer

Meet Brooke: Popular, powerful and hating every minute of it, she’s the “It” girl at Douglas High in Lake Champion, Minnesota. Her real ambition? Using her operatic mezzo as a ticket back to NYC, where her family lived before her dad ran off with an up and coming male movie star.

Now meet Kathryn: An overachieving soprano with an underachieving savings account, she’s been a leper ever since Brooke punched her at a party junior year. For Kath, music is the key to a much-needed college scholarship.

The stage is set for a high-stakes duet between the two seniors as they prepare for the prestigious Blackmore competition. Brooke and Kathryn work toward the Blackmore with eyes not just on first prize but on one another, each still stinging from a past that started with friendship and ended in betrayal. With competition day nearing, Brooke dreams of escaping the in-crowd for life as a professional singer, but her scheming BFF Chloe has other plans. And when Kathryn gets an unlikely invitation to Homecoming, she suspects Brooke of trying to sabotage her with one last public humiliation.

As pressures mount, Brooke starts to sense that the person she hates most might just be the best friend she ever had. But Kathryn has a decision to make. Can she forgive? Or are some rivalries for life?

Wow. Sara Bennett Wealer definitely gained a fan with her Debut novel Rival, I'm going to be keeping an eye out for other novels from her for sure!


Oh my how I enjoyed this book. I loved the two main characters Brooke and Kathryn and I, shockingly, even liked Brooke a little better. Brooke was the queen-B but she wasn't a mean queen-B, in fact, she was rather uncaring about her status at school. I could definitely relate to Brooke's friendship with Kathryn, the way it went from amazing to terrible, and I LOVED the description that she used "all I could see when I looked at Kathryn was blackness" that's such an awesome way to describe how friendships can go sour. The book was a perfect interpretation of a high-school friendship gone wrong, it captured girls cattiness amazingly. The dynamic between innocent Kathryn with her two parents and lower-middle-class living to Brooke with her absentee dad and tons of money was so fun. The way we got to see how the two envied each-others lives really gives you a peak into the way people always want what they don't have, and take what they do have for granted.


I think what really pushed this book over the top for me was the singing aspect of it. I'm deeply involved with my own high-school choir and reading about two girls who care about singing so much really appealed to me. I couldn't wait to see what would happen at the Blackmoore (and I LOVED how it turned out). The ending wasn't one of those typical "everythings perfect" endings either, it still left you feeling happy but it didn't give you the typical solutions that most YA books do.


An amazing 2011 Debut! A great read full of friendship, music, drama, and fantastic writing!

The Jumbee by Pamela Keyes

When Esti Legard starts theater school on Cariba, she's determined to step out of the shadow of her late father, a famous Shakespearean actor. But on an island rife with superstition, Esti can't escape the darkness. In the black of the theater, an alluring phantom voice known only as Alan becomes her brilliant drama tutor, while in the light of day Esti struggles to resist her magnetic attraction to Rafe, the local bad boy. Toppled sets, frightening rumors of jumbee ghosts, and brewing tropical storms culminate in a tantalizingly spooky finale where romance sizzles and truths are unmasked. Laced with eerie mystery and the lush scenery of the West Indies, this modern Phantom is perfect for readers who like their love stories served with spine-tingling suspense

.I really enjoyed 99% of this book. I really liked Esti, I loved seeing her try so let her actress side out of her fathers death, and her struggle to establish herself away from her home. One thing that I did not like about this book was the relationship between Rafe and Esti, I liked them in theory but I felt like in execution they were a little bland. I also hated how Rafe called her babe, I HATE guys who call girls "babe", but overall Rafe was a good character, I just wish he would have been rounded out more.

The tension in book was great, I couldn't wait for Esti to discover who the "voice" was and where he came from, but I did find Alan a little creepy. It also kind of bothered me that Esti didn't find him more creepy, I mean who would honestly not think a 25 year old hanging around a theater full of teenagers wasn't creepy? I suppose that as we read on and learned more Alan was more tolerable, but I also like him less, it was kind of a love-hate relationship.

Overall I would definitely recommend this book, it's a good high-tension romance that leaves you satisfied, if not a little sad.

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a weekly MeMe hosted by The Story Siren where bloggers share what they've gotten to read this week.

From the Library:

 City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

So freaking excited to read this one!!!! why did I wait so long to start this series???

 Warped by Maurissa Guibord

Unicorn Tapestry! Also it's a 2011 Debut, so I'm excited to read it :)

 XVI by Julia Karr

I'm excited to read this one, sounds like a really cool dystopian novel.

Won:

 

Ten Miles Past Normal by Frances O'Roark Dowell

Sounds like a fun coming of age story, excited to read it.

What did you get in YOUR mailbox this week?

Firelight by Sophie Jordan

A hidden truth.
Mortal enemies.
Doomed love.
Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.
Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.
Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.

I really loved this book! I thought Jacinda was a great Main Character, she was obviously sad about having to leave behind her Draki community but she wasn't overly whiny about it, I was so glad (I hate overly whiny characters). I thought her relationship with Will was great, at times their interactions were overly cheesy but that was okay with me. The only thing I didn't like about their relationship was the back and forth Jacinda went through, I mean either talk to him or don't!

One of my favorite interactions that Jacinda had though was with her sister, their relationship is so love/hate, and it really brought the more human aspect in early on for me. Speaking of  Jacindas family.... I did not like her mom AT ALL! She just seemed so cold-hearted to me, I understand that she thought she was doing what was best for her daughter but come one!

The plot of this novel was great, I loved the "dragons can turn into humans" plotline, although Jacindas descriptions of herself when she was a dragon confused me, why did she still have hair? I also loved that each Draki had a special gift, and that Jacindas gift was so unique, even though it's the power most commonly linked to dragons. I'm hoping the next book gives us more insight into the Draki culture and history.

A great fantasy/love story, I can't wait to see what happens next with Will and Jacinda!

Demonglass by Racehl Hawkins

Sophie Mercer thought she was a witch.

That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, and fairies). But that was before she discovered the family secret, and that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth.

Turns out, Sophie’s a demon, one of only two in the world—the other being her father. What’s worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will destroy her powers.

But once Sophie arrives she makes a shocking discovery. Her new friends? They’re demons too. Meaning someone is raising them in secret with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they’re using Archer to do it. But it’s not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she?
I LOVE THIS SERIES SO MUCH!!!!!!! ha ha sorry for the slight freak out but oh my goodness I love it.

I think the main reason I love these books is because I love Sophie. She's so sarcastic, fun, and slightly ditsy at times but not in the way that makes you go "oh my gosh shut up you stupid girl!" I love that Sophie can make the scary situations she gets into funny, but shes also a great thinker. I think i have a fictional girl-crush on Sophie. Archer and Sophie well, I've loved them since Hex Hall and I was glad we got to see more of him in this book (although what he's doing I'm not going to say). A nice surprise in this book though were the characters of Cal and Sophie's dad. They were both talked about in Hex Hall but we really got to know them in Demonglass, I really hope to see more of them in the next book.

I love the rhythm of this series.Hawkins spends exactly the right amount of time describing the things you want to hear about and making the parts the could be boring more interesting. The humor in this book is amazing. I laughed out loud multiple times.

Not sure if I can wait until 2012 for the sequel, ahh please come soon!

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a weekly MeMe hosted by The Story Siren where bloggers share what they've gotten to read this week.

From the Library:

My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent

I've heard lots of good things about this series. I'm excited to read it.

A touch Mortal by Leah Clifford

This one sounds interesting although i've heard mixed reviews. Hoping its not the usual angel plotline.

Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins

I'm so excited to read this one!! I loved Hex Hall and I can't wait to read the next installment!

Deadly Little Secret by Laurie Faria Stolarz

I've been wanting to read this series for awhile, the plot really intrigues me.

Rival by Sara Bennet Wealer

I really like the sound of this book and I love the cover, the colors are gorgeous in person.

This was a great week for me, what did you get in your mailbox?

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.
Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.
As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?
Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart.

I expected not to like this book. I'm not really a fan of the whole "angel" phase the YA world is going through right now, however I was surprised to find that I completely loved this book!

First of all I'm very glad that they started out with Clara already knowing she's an angel, I think I would have been really bored if the first half of the book consisted of the same whiny "I'm Different" speech. The whole "purpose" concept was great, the idea that Clara's whole life revolved around this one task, this one boy, was so intriguing. I also really loved the love story in this book, it was simple but in an awesome way. I know for sure what team I'll be on if a love triangle develops (although I'm a big fan of Clara for not swaying towards the boy she did not previously say she was in love with).

I loved Clara's character, she felt exactly like a normal girl to me, well besides the occasional flying. As I said before I really liked that she knew what she wanted. She never made me think she was a typical stupid teenage girl, even though she did have a teenage girl crush. My two favorite characters in this novel though had to be Tucker and Wendy. Tucker was just such a sweetie and Wendy was such a good friend (although I did love the little bit of sauciness we saw in her, I wanted to shout GO WENDY!).

I'm impatiently waiting on the next book in the series! Definitely make sure to check out this fantastic 2011 Debut!

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a weekly MeMe hosted by The Story Siren where bloggers share what they got for reading this week.

From the Library:

The Jumbee by Pamela Keyes

This one sounds interesting, I like the tropical feel the cover and description give.

The Visconti House by Elsbeth Edgar

I like the whole "creepy old house aspect", also it's a 2011 debut.

Firelight by Sophie Jordan

Super excited to read this one, it sounds fantastic!

What did you get in your mailbox this week?