Waiting on Wednesday (12): Becky & Randi

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine for book bloggers to highlight the books we are anxiously awaiting!

Today, Randi is waiting on:

Taken (Taken #1)
by Erin Bowman
Publication Date: April 16th, 2013

Summary from Goodreads: There are no men in Claysoot. There are boys—but every one of them vanishes at midnight on his eighteenth birthday. The ground shakes, the wind howls, a blinding light descends...and he’s gone.

They call it the Heist.

Gray Weathersby’s eighteenth birthday is mere months away, and he’s prepared to meet his fate–until he finds a strange note from his mother and starts to question everything he’s been raised to accept: the Council leaders and their obvious secrets. The Heist itself. And what lies beyond the Wall that surrounds Claysoot–a structure that no one can cross and survive. 

Climbing the Wall is suicide, but what comes after the Heist could be worse. Should he sit back and wait to be taken–or risk everything on the hope of the other side?

Why I'm waiting anxiously: Okay, dudes. That cover. That COVER. I think it's one of the most gorgeous covers I've ever seen. The colors, the reflection of the branches, love it. The synopsis reminds a bit of The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness, which I really enjoyed, so I'm anxious to read this one so I can compare & contrast it. :)

Today, Becky is waiting on:

The Shadow Girl

by Jennifer Archer

Publication Date: April 9th, 2013

Summary from Goodreads: 

Sometimes I forget for an hour or two that she’s with me. Sometimes I convince myself that she was only a dream. Or that I’m crazy. But then, for no reason I can name, I’m instantly aware of her company, or I hear her whisper in my head. And that’s when I remind myself that she’s been there all along, as constant as my heartbeat.

For as long as Lily Winston can remember, she has never been alone. Iris, a shadowy figure who mimics Lily’s movements and whispers secrets in her ear, is with her always—but invisible to the rest of the world. Lily has never told anyone about this shadow girl, and has come to accept Iris’ presence as a comforting constant in her otherwise isolated life.

But everything changes on the morning of Lily’s seventeenth birthday. Her father is killed in a terrible accident. Her mother sinks into a deep depression. And suddenly, Iris begins twisting herself more and more into Lily’s everyday life, possessing her thoughts and urging her to put together the pieces of a puzzle her father left behind. The only person Lily can confide in is Ty Collier, a mysterious boy who came to their small town in search of Lily’s father, and who seems to be harboring his own deep secrets.

As Lily searches for answers, she realizes that she and Iris are more intimately linked than she had ever imagined. Together, Lily and Ty must untangle a web of deception to discover the truth about the shadow girl’s past—and Lily’s own identity.

Why I'm waiting anxiously:  This book looks really suspenseful with just a hint of horror and psychosis.  I absolutely love the cover, and the vague twin-ish feel of the plot.

Waiting on Wednesday (11): Becky & Randi

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine for book bloggers to highlight the books we are anxiously awaiting!

Today, Randi is waiting on:

The Sweetest Dark
by Shana Abé
Publication Date: April 2nd, 2013

Summary from Goodreads: “With every fiber of my being, I yearned to be normal. To glide through my days at Iverson without incident. But I’d have to face the fact that my life was about to unfold in a very, very different way than I’d ever envisioned. Normal would become forever out of reach.”

Lora Jones has always known that she’s different. On the outside, she appears to be an ordinary sixteen-year-old girl. Yet Lora’s been keeping a heartful of secrets: She hears songs that no one else can hear, dreams vividly of smoke and flight, and lives with a mysterious voice inside her that insists she’s far more than what she seems.

England, 1915. Raised in an orphanage in a rough corner of London, Lora quickly learns to hide her unique abilities and avoid attention. Then, much to her surprise, she is selected as the new charity student at Iverson, an elite boarding school on England’s southern coast. Iverson’s eerie, gothic castle is like nothing Lora has ever seen. And the two boys she meets there will open her eyes and forever change her destiny.

Jesse is the school’s groundskeeper—a beautiful boy who recognizes Lora for who and what she truly is. Armand is a darkly handsome and arrogant aristocrat who harbors a few closely guarded secrets of his own. Both hold the answers to her past. One is the key to her future. And both will aim to win her heart. As danger descends upon Iverson, Lora must harness the powers she’s only just begun to understand, or else lose everything she dearly loves.

Filled with lush atmosphere, thrilling romance, and ancient magic, The Sweetest Dark brilliantly captures a rich historical era while unfolding an enchanting love story that defies time.

Why I'm waiting anxiously: Yet again, caught by another beautiful cover! Historical setting (in England, no less!), boarding school (in a Gothic castle!), secret powers, what sounds like a love triangle; all things I greatly enjoy in a book (note: I enjoy the tension in well-written love triangles). 

Today, Becky is waiting on:

Pivot Point

by Kasie West

Publication Date: February 12th, 2013

Summary from Goodreads:

Pivot Point is about a girl who has the power to Search alternate futures. When faced with a life changing decision, she lives out six weeks of two different lives (in alternating chapters), both holding the potential for love and loss, and must ultimately choose which path she is willing to live through.


Why I'm waiting anxiously:  I've been meaning to read more time-travel fiction, as per the advice of a good friend.  This gorgeous cover game the jolt I needed to pick one out!

Waiting on Wednesday (10): Becky & Randi

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine for book bloggers to highlight the books we are anxiously awaiting!

Today, Randi is waiting on:

Strands of Bronze and Gold
by Jane Nickerson
Publication Date: March 12th, 2013

Summary from Goodreads: A sweeping Gothic thriller based on the spine-chilling "Bluebeard" fairytale.

17-year-old Sophia Petheram has been sheltered by her doting family all her life, until the day her father dies. It's 1855, and with no money and few options, she goes to live with her guardian, the mysterious Bernard de Cressac, at the astonishingly lavish Wyndriven Abbey in Mississippi.

Sophie has always longed for a comfortable life, and she finds herself both attracted to and shocked by the charm and easy manners of her overgenerous guardian. But as she begins to piece together the mystery of his past, it's as if thread by thread, a silken net is woven around her. And when she begins glimpsing the ghosts of his former wives (all with hair as red as her own) in the forgotten corners and dark hallways of the Abbey, Sophie knows she's in de Cressac's trap.

With enchanting romance, chilling suspense, and dashes of the supernatural, Strands of Bronze and Gold is a compulsively-readable debut.

Why I'm waiting anxiously: Another Gothic thriller! This is totally up my alley. I love the retelling bit, too. I'm going to have to reread Bluebeard before this comes out. Definitely sounds creepy. And that cover! We all know I'm a sucker for a gorgeous cover. :)

Today, Becky is waiting on:

What Lies Beneath

by Richard Denny

Publication Date: 2013

Summary from Goodreads: 
When Blair Lewis is left for dead in a freezing lake, she can't get over the fact that her boyfriend tried to kill her. But when Blair begins to see her supposed dead boyfriend around town, she attempts to piece it all together and figure out if he is alive after all. Someone or something is also stalking Blair and leaving sinister text messages and old fashioned letters behind for her. Is Blair simply losing her mind? Or is something vicious and dark after her sanity and soul?

Why I'm waiting anxiously:SO many questions!  I need them answered!  The cover is also really cool..albeit a strange angel.

Waiting on Wednesday (9): Becky & Randi

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine for book bloggers to highlight the books we are anxiously awaiting!

Today, Randi is waiting on:

The Nightmare Affair
by Mindee Arnett
Publication Date: March 5th, 2013

Summary from Goodreads: 16-year-old Dusty Everhart breaks into houses late at night, but not because she’s a criminal. No, she’s a Nightmare. Literally. Dusty is a magical being who feeds on human dreams.

Being the only Nightmare at Arkwell Academy, a boarding school for magickind, and living in the shadow of her mother’s infamy is hard enough. But when Dusty sneaks into Eli Booker’s house, things get a whole lot more complicated. He’s hot, which means sitting on his chest and invading his dreams couldn’t get much more embarrassing. But it does. Eli is dreaming of a murder. The setting is Arkwell

And then it comes true.   Now the Dusty has to follow the clues--both within Eli’s dreams and out of them--to stop the killer before more people turn up dead. And before the killer learns what she’s up to and marks her as the next target.

Why I'm waiting anxiously: I got so excited when I saw this cover - I love the simplicity of the color scheme, and yet it there are still a lot of details, from the grass, to the birds, gravestones, girl, etc. Plus, hot boy, a boarding school for the people with magical abilities, dream eating. Sounds like a great read!

Today, Becky is waiting on:

Pulse

by Patrick Carman

Publication Date: February 26th, 2013

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

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

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

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

Why I'm waiting anxiously:  This book has a familiar story, freshly imagined.  I'm excited to see where Carman takes it!

Waiting on Wednesday (8): Becky & Randi

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine for book bloggers to highlight the books we are anxiously awaiting!

Today, Randi is waiting on:

Unremembered
by Jessica Brody
Publication Date: March 3rd, 2013

Summary from Goodreads: The only thing worse than forgetting her past... is remembering it.

When Freedom Airlines flight 121 went down over the Pacific Ocean, no one ever expected to find survivors. Which is why the sixteen-year-old girl discovered floating among the wreckage—alive—is making headlines across the globe.

Even more strange is that her body is miraculously unharmed and she has no memories of boarding the plane. She has no memories of her life before the crash. She has no memories period. No one knows how she survived. No one knows why she wasn’t on the passenger manifest. And no one can explain why her DNA and fingerprints can’t be found in a single database in the world.

Crippled by a world she doesn’t know, plagued by abilities she doesn’t understand, and haunted by a looming threat she can’t remember, Seraphina struggles to piece together her forgotten past and discover who she really is. But with every clue only comes more questions. And she’s running out of time to answer them.

Her only hope is a strangely alluring boy who claims to know her from before the crash. Who claims they were in love. But can she really trust him? And will he be able to protect her from the people who have been making her forget?

From popular young adult author, Jessica Brody comes a mesmerizing and suspenseful new series, set in a world where science knows no boundaries, memories are manipulated, and true love can never be forgotten. 

Why I'm waiting anxiously: Oooh, who's making her forget? Why? Is it a conspiracy? So many questions! Add in "alluring boy," and it goes on my wishlist! Bahaha.

Today, Becky is waiting on:

The Murmurings

by Carly Ann West

Publication Date: March 5th, 2013

Summary from Goodreads:

After her older sister dies from an apparent suicide and her body is found hanging upside down by one toe from a tree, sixteen-year-old Sophie starts to hear the same voices that drove her sister to a psychotic break.

Why I'm waiting anxiously: 

I love horror.  There really is no non-creepy way to say that, is there?  But it's my favorite genre and this looks nothing if not horrific.

Waiting on Wednesday (7): Becky & Randi

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine for book bloggers to highlight the books we are anxiously awaiting!

Today, Randi is waiting on:


The Summer Prince
by Alaya Dawn Johnson
Publication Date: March 2013


Summary from Goodreads: Four hundred years ago, the world ended. And now, on the coast of what was once called Brazil, women rule in the legendary pyramid city of Palmares Três. The city's Queen only cedes her power to a man once every five years -- to a Summer King, whose story will grip the city like a fever.

For June Costa, art is everything. Her brilliant creations -- from murals and holograms to a delicate pattern of lights in her skin -- have impressed (and irritated) her classmates and teachers alike. Her dream is to win the prestigious Queen's Award, and the instant fame and success that come with it. It's a dream she never questions -- until she meets Enki. Enki, the newly-elected Summer King, is the hottest thing in Palmares Três. But when June sees Enki, she sees more than piercing amber eyes and a lethal samba: She sees a fellow artist.

Together, June and Enki will create art that Palmares Três will never forget. They will add fuel to a growing rebellion against the government's strict limits on new tech. And June will fall deeply, tragically in love with Enki. 

Because like all Summer Kings before him, Enki is destined to die.

Why I'm waiting anxiously: 1. Women rule (hahaha). 2. Sweet cover. 3. Forbidden love. 4. Exotic setting. What's not to love?! :)

Today, Becky is waiting on:

What's Left of Me

by Kat Zhang

Publication Date: September 18

Summary from Goodreads: 

Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else--two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers.  Why aren't they settling?  Why isn't one of them fading?  The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time.  Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone.  Except she wasn't.

For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable–hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet…for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.

Why I'm waiting anxiously: Did you read the summary?  Then you should know, lol.  I love stories about twins, and this takes it to a whole new level.  Add a dystopian society into the mix and I can almost guarantee that I will love this book.  The crazy, awesome cover messes with my eyes, too!

Waiting on Wednesday (6): Becky & Randi

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine for book bloggers to highlight the books we are anxiously awaiting!

Today, Randi is waiting on:

Out of the Easy
by Ruta Sepetys
Publication Date: February 13th, 2013

Summary from Goodreads: Known amongst locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie wants more out of life than The Big Easy has to offer. She devises a plan to get out, but a mysterious death in the Quarter leaves Josie tangled in an investigation that will challenge her allegiance to her mother, her conscience, and Willie Woodley, the brusque madam on Conti Street. Caught between the dream of an elite college and a clandestine underworld, New Orleans lures Josie in her quest for truth, dangling temptation at every turn, and escalating to the ultimate test.

With characters as captivating as her international bestselling novel, "Between Shades of Gray," Ruta Sepetys skillfully creates a rich story of secrets, lies, and the haunting reminder that decisions can shape our destiny.

Why I'm waiting anxiously: I loved Ruta Sepetys' debut Between Shades of Gray, and I honestly will probably read anything else she publishes. Aside from that, I'm intrigued by the New Orleans settings because, though I've always wanted to visit, I haven't read all that many books set in NOLA. The secrets and lies mentioned in the synopsis have me curious as well! 

Today, Becky is waiting on:

Breaking Glass

by Lisa Amowitz

Publication Date: June 9th, 2013

Summary from Goodreads: On the night seventeen-year-old Jeremy Glass winds up in the hospital with a broken leg and a blood alcohol level well above the legal limit, his secret crush, Susannah, disappears. When he begins receiving messages from her from beyond the grave, he's not sure whether they're real or if he's losing his grip on reality. Clue by clue, he gets closer to unraveling the mystery, and soon realizes he must discover the truth or become the next victim himself

Why I'm waiting anxiously:  I love paranormal stories with a bit of mystery.  

Waiting on Wednesday (5): Becky & Randi

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine for book bloggers to highlight the books we are anxiously awaiting!

Today, Randi is waiting on:


Revel
by Maurissa Guibord
Publication Date: February 12th, 2013


Summary from Goodreads: There's an island off the coast of Maine that's not on any modern map. Shrouded in mist and protected by a deadly reef, Trespass Island is home to a community of people who guard the island and its secrets from outsiders. Seventeen-year-old Delia grew up in Kansas, but has come here in search of her family and answers to her questions: Why didn't her mother ever talk about Trespass Island? Why did she fear the open water? But Delia's not welcome and soon finds herself enmeshed in a frightening and supernatural world where ancient Greek symbols adorn the buildings and secret ceremonies take place on the beach at night. Sean Gunn, a handsome young lobsterman, befriends Delia and seems willing to risk his life to protect her. But it's Jax, the coldly elusive young man she meets at the water's edge, who finally makes Delia understand the real dangers of life on the island. Delia is going to have to fight to survive. Because there are monsters here. And no one ever leaves Trespass alive.

Why I'm anxiously waiting: I really enjoy mythology-based books and this monster-mystery-horror-thriller mashup sounds fascinating to me! Plus it takes place on an island (score!) and an island in New England, no less (bonus points! Big New England setting fan here!). Downside...waiting until February!

Today, Becky is waiting on:

Linked

by Imogen Howson

Publication Date: March 28th, 2013

Summary from Goodreads: Elissa used to have it all: looks, popularity, and a bright future. But for the last three years, she’s been struggling with terrifying visions, phantom pains, and mysterious bruises that appear out of nowhere. 

Finally, she’s promised a cure: minor surgery to burn out the overactive area of her brain. But on the eve of the procedure, she discovers the shocking truth behind her hallucinations: she’s been seeing the world through another girl’s eyes.

Elissa follows her visions, and finds a battered, broken girl on the run. A girl—Lin—who looks exactly like Elissa, down to the matching bruises. The twin sister she never knew existed.

Now, Elissa and Lin are on the run from a government who will stop at nothing to reclaim Lin and protect the dangerous secrets she could expose—secrets that would shake the very foundation of their world.

Riveting, thought-provoking and utterly compelling, Linked will make you question what it really means to be human

Why I'm anxiously waiting: You will soon realize if you follow these posts that I love pretty much everything about twins!  Identical, fraternal, it matters not.  The sweet cover didn't hurt either.

Waiting on Wednesday (4): Becky & Randi

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine for book bloggers to highlight the books we are anxiously awaiting!

Today, Randi is waiting on:

Ask the Passengers
by A.S. King
Publication Date: October 23rd, 2012

Summary from Goodreads: Astrid Jones copes with her small town's gossip and narrow-mindedness by staring at the sky and imagining that she's sending love to the passengers in the airplanes flying high over her backyard. Maybe they'll know what to do with it. Maybe it'll make them happy. Maybe they'll need it. Her mother doesn't want it, her father's always stoned, her perfect sister's too busy trying to fit in, and the people in her small town would never allow her to love the person she really wants to: another girl named Dee. There's no one Astrid feels she can talk to about this deep secret or the profound questions that she's trying to answer. But little does she know just how much sending her love--and asking the right questions--will affect the passengers' lives, and her own, for the better. 

In this unmistakably original portrayal of a girl struggling to break free of society's boxes and definitions, Printz Honor author A.S. King asks readers to question everything--and offers hope to those who will never stop seeking and sharing real love.

Why I'm waiting anxiously: Yet another cover I love! It reaelly seems to match the synopsis; I can see Astrid lying in a field, looking up at the planes passing overhead. This sounds like a great contemporary read (one of my faves!) and honestly, this sounds like the kind of town I grew up in. I think I'll really connect with Astrid on that level. And I'm glad to see more YA books with LBGTQ characters. :)

Today, Becky is waiting on:

When We Wake

by Karen Healey

Publication Date: March 5th, 2013

Summary from Goodreads:

Sixteen-year-old Tegan is just like every other girl living in 2027—she’s happiest when playing the guitar, she’s falling in love for the first time, and she’s joining her friends to protest the wrongs of the world: environmental collapse, social discrimination, and political injustice.

But on what should have been the best day of Tegan’s life, she dies—and wakes up a hundred years in the future, locked in a government facility with no idea what happened.

Tegan is the first government guinea pig to be cryonically frozen and successfully revived, which makes her an instant celebrity—even though all she wants to do is try to rebuild some semblance of a normal life. But the future isn’t all she hoped it would be, and when appalling secrets come to light, Tegan must make a choice: Does she keep her head down and survive, or fight for a better future?

Award-winning author Karen Healey has created a haunting, cautionary tale of an inspiring protagonist living in a not-so-distant future that could easily be our own.

Why I'm waiting anxiously: I LOVE books about death or age defying science.  Clones, freezing, body hopping, evil queens sucking the youth out of people...ok so the last one isn't science.  But still, that topic never really gets old because we never stop being afraid of death.  I also really love the frosty cover!

Waiting on Wednesday (3): Becky & Randi

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine for book bloggers to highlight the books we are anxiously awaiting!

Today, Randi is waiting on:

Amber House

by Kelly Moore, Tucker Reed,  & Larkin Reed

Publication date: October 1st, 2012

Summary from Goodreads: "I was sixteen the first time my grandmother died . . ."

Sarah Parsons has never been to Amber House, the grand Maryland estate that's been in her family for three centuries. She's never wandered its hedge maze or explored its secret attics; she's never danced in its ballroom, or hunted for the diamonds said to be hidden in its walls.

But as Sarah, her brother, and their icy mother settle into Amber House, she finds herself drawn to both handsome Richard, who introduces her to a world of wealth and privilege, and intriguing Jackson, who dares her to find the diamonds. She discovers she can see visions of the mansion’s history—like her mother as a young girl, unimaginably warm and happy, or the cruel sea captain who lost the jewels long ago. Piece by piece, she uncovers the secrets of Amber House: its ancient crimes, and its fresh betrayals.

Where are the diamonds? Who caused her mother’s unhappiness? And what tragic act still echoes through Amber House? Sarah needs answers soon. Because when her visions threaten the person she holds most dear, she must untangle the web of the past before it traps them all forever.

Why I'm waiting anxiously: First off, that cover? So lovely! I love the hedge maze and it really sets the tone for the story, giving it that Gothic, spooky feel. Crime, betrayal, family estate, mystery and intrigue? Yes, please! I love that more Gothic novels seem to be popping up in YA, as it's one of my favorite subgenres of horror in adult and classic fiction. 

Today, Becky is waiting on:

City of A Thousand Dolls

by Miriam Forster

Publication date: February 5th, 2013

Summary from Goodreads:                                                         Nisha was abandoned at the gates of the City of a Thousand Dolls when she was just a child. Now sixteen, she lives on the grounds of the isolated estate, where orphan girls apprentice as musicians, healers, courtesans, and, if the rumors are true, assassins. Nisha makes her way as Matron’s assistant, her closest companions the mysterious cats that trail her shadow. Only when she begins a forbidden flirtation with the city’s handsome young courier does she let herself imagine a life outside the walls. Until one by one, girls around her start to die.

      Before she becomes the next victim, Nisha decides to uncover the secrets that surround the girls’ deaths. But by getting involved, Nisha jeopardizes not only her own future in the City of a Thousand Dolls—but her own life.


Why I'm waiting anxiously: I was drawn in by the cover, of course, as I always am.  I also think this sounds like a really unique world, and hopefully one that will be described with lots of setting.  One of my biggest pet peeves for a book is when I can't picture the world.  This story looks like it will have a strong, active,  intelligent heroine and a touch of romance. Just what I like!