Tuesday 5 February 2013

Teaser Tuesday: The Archived by Victoria Schwab

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.
To play along just do the following:
  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!  

The Archived by Victoria Schwab.


The Archived - Hyperion

The Narrows remind me of August nights in the South. They remind me of old rocks and places where the light can't reach. They remind me of smoke -- the stale, settled kind -- and of storms and damp earth.
Most of all, Da, they remind me of you.
-- Page 1

Da always said there were two ways to get through any locked door: by key or by force.
And I don't have a key, so . . .
-- Page 59


I picked up this book, because apparently I have a thing for libraries and mysteries. The Archived is as much a mystery story as it is about history and memory. It is told by sixteen-year-old Mackenzie Bishop, who lives a secret and lonely life as a Keeper. It's her job to capture the awakened dead, who made their way into the Narrows - a place between the real world and the Archive - and to return them. Mackenzie is always active and inquisitive and I like that a lot about her.  
Also, I was hooked from the start by the beautiful style of writing and the way secrets are revealed bit by tiny bit. One third into the book, I still can't figure out where the story will lead. I'll enjoy being surprised.

Which are your current reads? Tease us in the comments!

Wednesday 30 January 2013

Waiting on Wednesday: Dare you to by Katie McGarry


Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

This week’s can’t wait to read selection is
Dare you to by Katie McGarry.
Publication Date: May 28th 2013.

Dare you to - Harlequin Teen
"I dare you..."

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all....
Synopsis from goodreads.com

It has been hard to find a comparing romance for Pushing the Limits, Katie McGarry's first book in this series. Unexpected twists and turns as well as the tender love both main characters shied and clung to at the same time pushed my expectations high. Now comes the sequel with a focus on former minor character Beth and I'm both wary and excited for its release. Beth isgood and very close friend to both Noah and Isaiah in Pushing the Limits. I also perceived her as a fighter and rough on the outside. The synopsis for Dare you to now suggests Beth and Ryan - two strong characters - clashing and their love being based on a dare. I expect a rollercoaster of feelings and am a little sceptical as to where that will lead, but I learned from book one: there's always hope!

Which release are you not so patiently waiting for this Wednesday?

Tuesday 29 January 2013

Teaser Tuesday: Skylark by Meagan Spooner

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.
To play along just do the following:
  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!  

Skylark by Meagan Spooner.

Skylark - Corgi

I knew what I would find when I tried the handle, but the wave of despair still choked me. The door wouldn’t budge.
-- Chapter 6

“And then you’ll go home,” he said, and twisted my hair so hard my eyes watered. I didn’t cry out, though. I heard his message:
We’re lying.
-- Chapter 7


I don’t usually have a problem with books that throw you into the story without warning. And I wouldn’t say that I had a problem with this one. But I somehow found myself asking What is going on? a little too often during the beginning. I think I mostly have figured that out by now and I’m beginning to enjoy the scenario of this world so let’s see where this will lead. At the moment, I wouldn’t mind if Caesar were actually called Brutus.

Let us know in the comments what you are currently reading.

Wednesday 23 January 2013

Waiting on Wednesday: The Summer I Became A Nerd by Leah Rae Miller

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

This week’s can’t wait to read selection is
The Summer I Became A Nerd by Leah Rae Miller.
Publication Date: May 7th 2013.


The Summer I Became A Nerd -
Entangled Teen
On the outside, seventeen-year-old Madelyne Summers looks like your typical blond cheerleader—perky, popular, and dating the star quarterback. But inside, Maddie spends more time agonizing over what will happen in the next issue of her favorite comic book than planning pep rallies with her squad. That she’s a nerd hiding in a popular girl's body isn’t just unknown, it's anti-known. And she needs to keep it that way.

Summer is the only time Maddie lets her real self out to play, but when she slips up and the adorkable guy behind the local comic shop’s counter uncovers her secret, she’s busted. Before she can shake a pom-pom, Maddie’s whisked into Logan’s world of comic conventions, live-action role-playing, and first-person-shooter video games. And she loves it. But the more she denies who she really is, the deeper her lies become…and the more she risks losing Logan forever.
Synopsis from goodreads.com.

It should be obvious, why I'm waiting for this book's release: it sounds extremely funny! My own nerd-tendencies lie with Marvel heroes (particularly the Marvel 1602 ones) and I am looking forward to (in-)direct references to video games and comic books. :) But I gather it must be very hard for Maddie to reconcile the cheerleader persona with the comic book loving girl - especially, when there's so much at stake as the love of one certain "adorkable" guy named Logan. How will she attempt to keep both her worlds separate and, failing that, what comes out of it in the end?

Do you have favourite comic or video game heroes as well? Tell us in the comments with your Waiting on Wednesday choice!

Tuesday 22 January 2013

Teaser Tuesday: Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.
To play along just do the following:
  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!  

Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi.

Through the Ever Night
- HarperCollins


Aria shook her head, trying not to smile. Truly, Roar was the perfect choice. He had taught her all she knew about sounds—and knives. “Everything except modesty.”
-- Chapter 4

Wait. What’s wrong with Reverie?”
He grinned, tipping his chin up. “If you want to know, then come back.”
-- Chapter 18



I’ve just started reading this one and picked the second quote at random from the middle ... without spoiling myself, which is quite a feat I think. I’ll admit that I sometimes skip a few pages ahead to get a sense of what’s coming. Less so with eBooks since they don’t really allow for that kind of thing. Anyway, I’m a few pages in and already have a feeling that I’ll like this sequel better than Under the Never Sky. I can’t quite say why yet and I might very well be disappointed later, but right now I’m very much enjoying the Outside. And I want to punch Wylan and Hess, but that shouldn’t be a surprise.

Do you skip ahead in books? Or do you even read the ending or the last page before you finish? Tell us in the comments.