Waiting on Wednesday: How My Summer Went Up In Flames by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski

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
How My Summer Went Up in Flames
by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski
Publication Date: May 7th 2013

How My Summer Went Up In Flames
- Simon Pulse

Rosie’s always been impulsive. She didn’t intend to set her cheating ex-boyfriend’s car on fire. And she never thought her attempts to make amends could be considered stalking. So when she’s served with a temporary restraining order on the first day of summer vacation, she’s heartbroken—and furious.

To put distance between Rosie and her ex, Rosie’s parents send her on a cross-country road trip with responsible, reliable neighbor Matty and his two friends. Forget freedom of the road, Rosie wants to hitchhike home and win back her ex. But her determination starts to dwindle with each passing mile. Because Rosie’s spark of anger? It may have just ignited a romance with someone new…

Synopsis from goodreads.com.

I laughed out loud at this synopsis. Setting the ex-boyfriend’s car on fire is definitely an original idea. Especially, when he’s been cheating. But getting caught, not so much. The road trip seems to be a good thing to deal with heartache though, even if impulsive Rosie doesn’t see it that way at the beginning.
Somehow I’ve read only a few road trip books until now, but they’ve all made me want to leave for a trip myself. Let’s see what How My Summer Went Up in Flames brings. The travel bug and a few laughs would be a good start. ;)

Would you rather go on a road trip yourself than read about it? Tell us in the comments along with your book choice this week!

Teaser Tuesday: The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

 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 Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen.

The Truth About Forever -
Penguin

“Well, at least it’s over. Next time, everything will go smoothly. Like a well-oiled machine.” Even I, as the newbie, knew this was unlikely.
-- Chapter 4

There’s an entirely different feel to quiet when you’re with someone else, and at any moment it could be broken. Like the difference between a pause and an ending.
-- Chapter 5

I’m having a bad case of book-hangover and needed a relatively short, well-written story with a little drama, but also with an assured happiness factor. Combine that with the fact that I have wanted to read this slightly older title by Sarah Dessen for a while now and you know what I did over the weekend. This is a sweet story, even if the plot and outcome are predicable enough, it’s still very readable and the characters are quite a nice bunch (no matter how many times I wanted to shout at Macy that she should “Please God I’n begging you” get herself together - or rather not-together - and confront her mother).

Do you suffer book-hangover after a good book? If that is the case, do you have an author that you are certain will pick you up?

Waiting on Wednesday: The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau

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 Testing by Joelle Charbonneau.
Publication Date: June 4th 2013.

The Testing - Houghton Mifflin

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Isn’t that what they say? But how close is too close when they may be one in the same?

The Seven Stages War left much of the planet a charred wasteland. The future belongs to the next generation’s chosen few who must rebuild it. But to enter this elite group, candidates must first pass The Testing—their one chance at a college education and a rewarding career. Cia Vale is honored to be chosen as a Testing candidate; eager to prove her worthiness as a University student and future leader of the United Commonwealth. But on the eve of her departure, her father’s advice hints at a darker side to her upcoming studies—trust no one. But surely she can trust Tomas, her handsome childhood friend who offers an alliance? Tomas, who seems to care more about her with the passing of every grueling (and deadly) day of the Testing. To survive, Cia must choose: love without truth or life without trust.

Synopsis from goodreads.com

I’m a bit hesitant concerning dystopias at the moment, but this one sounds quite promising in its approach, like a mix between Legend and Hunger Games ... I hope that it adds enough individual aspects to its plot, but I’ve decided to be optimistic. And now I have to get back to Clockwork Princess, which you might remember as one of our most anticipated books for this year.

Let us know about the books you are waiting for so that we can share your anticipation.

Teaser Tuesday: Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys

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! 

 

 Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys.

Out of the Easy -
Philomel Books

The door burst open with a yell. I drew my gun, and Cokie whipped around, raising the tire iron.
Partick jumped back, looking from the tire iron to my gun.
"What's wrong? It's just Proust!" he said, holding a large box of books.
-- Page 58
"Okay, tired girl, let me tell you a secret."
I didn't need any more secrets. I had enough of my own. I looked up at Jesse.
"Uh-huh. There you are, all tired, standin' in your boyfriend's clothes, but here's the secret." Jesse moved in close. "You like me."
-- Page 187

I've been waiting for Out of the Easy since November last year and now that I got my hands on it, I finished it in two days. I liked the American 50s setting, the different characters with all their peculiarities and especially Josie's voice.
Josie wants to get away from the stigma of her mother being a prostitute, which also means leaving New Orleans behind. She reads most of the books in the bookstore she works at and tries for a college in the east. But how do you conceal your heritage when it comes knocking on your door every now and then, reminding you of your supposed place in life?

Is historical fiction on your menu this week? Tell us in the comments along with your teaser!

Waiting on Wednesday: Tandem by Anna Jarzab

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
Tandem by Anna Jarzab.
Publication Date: October 8th 2013

Tandem -
Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Everything repeats.
You. Your best friend. Every person you know.
Many worlds. Many lives – infinite possibilities.
Welcome to the multiverse.

Sixteen-year-old Sasha Lawson has only ever known one small, ordinary life. When she was young, she loved her grandfather's stories of parallel worlds inhabited by girls who looked like her but led totally different lives. Sasha never believed such worlds were real – until now, when she finds herself thrust into one against her will.

To prevent imminent war, Sasha must slip into the life of an alternate version of herself, a princess who has vanished on the eve of her arranged marriage. If Sasha succeeds in fooling everyone, she will be returned home; if she fails, she'll be trapped in another girl's life forever. As time runs out, Sasha finds herself torn between two worlds, two lives, and two young men vying for her love – one who knows her secret, and one who thinks she's someone she's not.

Synopsis from goodreads.com.

I guess everyone imagined him- or herself in someone else's shoes before. What would it be like to be this painter or that writer or even the person sitting across the table? It's a fun game to pretend, but for Sasha, living the life of another person becomes dangerous reality. Little details might betray her and start the mentioned war nevertheless.
The synopsis sounds suspenseful and the idea of multiple realities fascinates and scares me at the same time. Appropriately enough, the cover reminds me of a Magritte painting, where the meaning of the things depicted is always inverted. I wonder, what the bird stands for.

Which books are you waiting on this week? Tell us in the comments!

Teaser Tuesday: Just One Day by Gayle Forman

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!  

Just One Day by Gayle Forman.

Just One Day - Dutton Children’s

When the sun shines, you let it shine on you. Snow is always waiting.
-- Chapter 5

And the people we pretend at, they’re already in us. That’s why we pretend them in the first place.
-- Chapter 24

I was recently wondering how people in general, myself included, meet new stories. Not in the sense of how you discover them and decide that you want to read them, but more considering how much you know about a book already before you even start it. This one for example, I had close to no information about beforehand. Apart from (and here it starts) that many of my friends like the author and that the book itself had received quite a bit of praise. Does that influence how I read (and like) it? And how does that compare to a book by an author I know quite well or a story that I have theorised about for ages before the publication date? I don’t think I’ll spoil you if I say that Gayle Foreman has a beautiful style of writing and that I would have literally read this in just one day if it weren’t for that pesky thing called outside world.

How much information do you collect about a book before you read it?

Waiting on Wednesday: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke

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
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke.
Publication Date: August 15th 2013

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
- Penguin / Dial

You stop fearing the devil when you’re holding his hand…

Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White’s sleepy, seaside town…until River West comes along. River rents the guesthouse behind Violet’s crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard. Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more? Violet’s grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery...who makes you want to kiss back. Violet’s already so knee-deep in love, she can’t see straight. And that’s just how River likes it.

Synopsis from goodreads.com.

This last sentence sounds eerie. I imagine River with a wicked grin and a mischievous glint in his pretty eyes. But what do I expect from the Devil himself? An ulterior motive - definitely! Moreover, I expect some chills and an exceptional love story. What is so special about Violet that the Devil himself singled her out for his attention? And can you go back from loving the Devil?

I have a thing for bad boys in general and since reading books about blood-dripping ghosts and Poe-inspired parallel worlds, the more sinister storylines fascinate me even more. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea fits right in with my current reading mood, but maybe it is safer to read this book with sunshine pouring in the window. ;)

Which books are you (im)patiently waiting on this Wednesday? Tell us in the comments!

Teaser Tuesday: Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

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!  

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein.

Code Name Verity – Egmont

I am no longer afraid of getting old. Indeed I can’t believe I ever said anything so stupid. So childish. So offensive and arrogant. But mainly, so very, very stupid. I desperately want to grow old.
– Part 1 Chapter 7

... if anyone should drop a match or cigarette the whole place would go up like Vesuvius. There’s no way I’d ever be able to get out. I try not to think about it.
– Part 2 Chapter 2

If you had told me a week ago that I was going to be raving about a story set in WW II, I’d probably said that you don’t know me very well. Right, I take everything back and claim the opposite. At least in this case. I know that this book has already received great reviews singing its praises and I won’t tell you anything new I suppose. If I was asked to describe this book in just one word, I’d fold. There is just no way. I caught myself smiling and had to ask myself if one should be able to find humour in this, but there is ... a silent, desperate, and incredibly brave humour amidst all the sadness and horror. There are also great acts of courage, selflessness, and devotion. I’m usually not much of a crier when I read and even though certain things can be suspected from the beginning, I had to put the book down several times because I couldn’t see the pages anymore. I really hope that everyone gets to experience a friendship such as the one evident throughout the book – if hopefully under happier circumstances.

Which book has you glued to the pages this week? Tell us in the comments.

Waiting on Wednesday: The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

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 5th Wave by Rick Yancey.
Publication Date: May 7th 2013.

The 5th Wave - Putnam Juvenile

After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.
Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.

Synopsis from goodreads.com

I’ve seen a lot of remarks about this book starting with something along the lines “It’s Sci-Fi, but you might like it.” As a matter of fact, I don’t like these caveats. Either you recommend books wholeheartedly or you don’t, but don’t use its supposed genre as an excuse. Doesn’t a sentence like that rather sound like “It’s strawberry, but unlike all the other strawberry you are deadly allergic to this will only give you a minor itch.” Similar thing goes for “It’s Sci-Fi, but for girls as well.” I’ll step off my soapbox now and say this: Yay, it has Sci-Fi elements and it sounds really great and I’m quite excited for this.

Anyone else allergic to strawberries and/or genre-but(t)s? Which book are you waiting for this week?

Teaser Tuesday: Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake

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!  

Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake.

Girl of Nightmares -
Tor Teen

There is no dead thing haunting the mall.
It’s too busy, too bright, and too lotion-y.
-- Page 42

When my shoes crunch against the gravel the sound brings a flash of nostalgia, a jolt that takes me back six months, when the Victorian still stood and I used to come at night to talk to the dead girl inside it.
Warm, fuzzy memories.
-- Page 108

When you are a ghost hunter, isn't it a bit contradictory to fall in love with the ghost you should be killing? 
Ghost hunter (and not ghostbuster!) Cas Lowood doesn't think so. He is on a mission to get his love back from Hell and it seems that nothing can stop him.  
Girl of Nightmares is the sequel to Anna Dressed in Blood, which it took quite some time for me to pick up, because I thought the topic might be too scary for me. It isn't. If anything, it's fascinating. Girl of Nightmares is full of action and even more suspenseful than the first book has been, but I also like it so much more. Cas is more active and takes things into his own hands without relying on others to do it for him. He is driven by purpose and I wonder if his love will be able to conquer death in the end.

Which book are you reading right now? Anything scary? :) Tell us in the comments!

Waiting on Wednesday: Infinityglass by Myra McEntire

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
Infinityglass by Myra McEntire.
Publication Date: July 9th 2013

Infinityglass - Egmont USA

The stakes have risen even higher in this third book in the Hourglass series.

The Hourglass is a secret organization focused on the study of manipulating time, and its members — many of them teenagers -­have uncanny abilities to make time work for them in mysterious ways. Inherent in these powers is a responsibility to take great care, because altering one small moment can have devastating consequences for the past, present, and future. But some time trav­elers are not exactly honorable, and sometimes unsavory deals must be struck to maintain order.

With the Infinityglass (central to understanding and harnessing the time gene) at large, the hunt is on to find it before someone else does.

But the Hourglass has an advantage. Lily, who has the ability to locate anything lost, has determined that the Infinityglass isn't an object. It's a person. And the Hourglass must find him or her first. But where do you start searching for the very key to time when every second could be the last?

Synopsis from goodreads.com

Infinityglass is the third book in the Hourglass series. Hourglass was awesome and Timepiece quite good as well, so my expectations are high on this one. As the first two books had different points of view, I wonder whose point of view Infinityglass will be from. Michael maybe, or Lily?

I also like the cover to this book, even as it is darker than the ones before. Actually, I'm not quite sure what to expect, but hope for a good show down and some more time with Emerson, Michael and especially Kaleb! 

Which books are you waiting on this week? Leave us a comment! 

Teaser Tuesday: Asunder by Jodi Meadows

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!  

Asunder by Jodi Meadows.

Asunder - Katherine Tegen Books

“Why wouldn’t I understand your questions?” Lightning struck inside my chest. He couldn’t even remember that sometimes he didn’t.
-- Chapter 4

We sat in silence while I waited on Sam, and Armande…made sure no one threw rocks.
-- Chapter 11

Incarnate grew on me while I was reading it and when I reached the end I realised that despite a few misgivings I had about the overall thing I was quite interested how Ana’s story would continue. At the moment I’m a little miffed about Ana’s naivete in some field while she also displays deep insight in other areas. This tends to feel a little too constructed for my taste. I’m still trying to figure out what the main threat is, but since only Ana feels that there is one this might take some time. I hope that the plot picks up a little more pace in the second half of the book.

Waiting on Wednesday: Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt

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
Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt.
Publication Date: March 26th 2013

Going Vintage - Bloomsbury

When Mallory’s boyfriend, Jeremy, cheats on her with an online girlfriend, Mallory decides the best way to de-Jeremy her life is to de-modernize things too. Inspired by a list of goals her grandmother made in 1962, Mallory swears off technology and returns to a simpler time (when boyfriends couldn’t cheat with computer avatars). The List:
1. Run for pep club secretary
2. Host a fancy dinner party/soiree
3. Sew a dress for Homecoming
4. Find a steady
5. Do something dangerous
But simple proves to be crazy-complicated, and the details of the past begin to change Mallory’s present. Add in a too-busy grandmother, a sassy sister, and the cute pep-club president–who just happens to be her ex’s cousin–and soon Mallory begins to wonder if going vintage is going too far.

Synopsis from goodreads.com.

I like vintage things, such as Tiffany lamps or 50's furniture, so the cover of Going Vintage caught my attention straight away. The synopsis sounds great and I totally get Mallory's decision to return to a time that seems more simple in hindsight, especially after her boyfriend cheated on her online. Admittedly, changing your life this drastically sounds like fun, but it's not easy to go back in time when everybody else goes forward. So there are quite some complications waiting for her I would guess. Will she make it to the end of her list inspite of it all? And which danger will she face for number five on the list?
 

Would you like to go vintage sometimes? Tell us in the comments along with what you're waiting on this week!

Teaser Tuesday: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

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 Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater.

The Raven Boys - Scholastic

She wasn’t interested in telling other people’s futures. She was interested in going out and finding her own.
-- Chapter 1

“Blue, if you ever see that man again, you just walk the other way.”
“No,” Calla corrected. “Kick him in the nuts. Then run the other way.”
-- Chapter 13

I think the best way to describe how Maggie Stiefvater’s writing feels to me is that it is an acquired taste. I can’t actually read her books in one sitting like I do with other authors but have to take it in in smaller chunks. However, something about her writing makes me read on and pick up her new books ... even if it’s just to take a look (we know how that goes). I freely admit that her Mercy Falls trilogy didn’t speak to me like it obviously did to so many others, but The Raven Boys is oddly compelling in its very different characters and also in the variety of characters presented in the book. I think my problem with Mercy falls was that it just didn’t feel peopled enough somehow for me.

Share your teasers in the comments ... and please don’t lynch me if Mercy Falls happens to be your favourite series of all time.

Waiting on Wednesday: You Look Different in Real Life by Jennifer Castle

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
You Look Different in Real Life by Jennifer Castle.
Publication Date: June 4th 2013.

You Look Different in Real Life - Harper Teen

The premise was simple: five kids, just living their lives. There’d be a new movie about them every five years, starting in kindergarten. But no one could have predicted what the cameras would capture. And no one could have predicted that Justine would be the star. Now sixteen, Justine doesn’t feel like a star anymore. In fact, when she hears the crew has gotten the green light to film "Five at Sixteen," all she feels is dread. The kids who shared the same table in kindergarten have become teenagers who hardly know one another. And Justine, who was so funny and edgy in the first two movies, just feels like a disappointment. But these teens have a bond that goes deeper than what’s on film. They’ve all shared the painful details of their lives with countless viewers. They all know how it feels to have fans as well as friends. So when this latest movie gives them the chance to reunite, Justine and her costars are going to take it. Because sometimes, the only way to see yourself is through someone else’s eyes.

Synopsis from goodreads.com

There are so many times when I’m ridiculously happy that my childhood was only captured in not-so-high-quality home videos and photos. And that it’s definitely not available online. But to imagine that it was not only preserved for posterity, but made into feature films ... so basically the Olsen-Twins and Full House ... yep, still thankful. I think this will be quite an interesting read and I hope that it will go a little deeper than the careful-what-you-share-in-public warnings.

Share your Waiting on Wednesday in the comments. And your worst childhood mishap in video (just kidding).

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!

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 is a good 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?

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.

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!

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.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Art of Wishing by Lindsay Ribar

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 Art of Wishing by Lindsay Ribar.
Publication Date: March 21st 2013.

The Art of Wishing -
Dial Books For Young Readers

He can grant her wishes, but only she can save his life.

Margo McKenna has a plan for just about everything, from landing the lead in her high school play to getting into a good college. So when she finds herself in possession of a genie's ring and the chance to make three wishes, she doesn't know what to do. Why should she put her life into someone else's hands?

But Oliver is more than just a genie -- he's also a sophomore at Margo's high school, and he's on the run from a murderer. As he and Margo grow closer, she discovers that it will take more than three wishes to save him.

A whole lot more.

Synopsis from goodreads.com.

Before coming across The Art of Wishing, my only knowledge of genii came from the TV-series Dream of Jeannie (originally from the 60s, though I watched it much later) and Disney's Aladdin. It seems to me, I have got a lot of catching up to do concerning genii and this book looks like a nice start, especially as it throws some questions at me, I really like to get answered. Does Oliver sleep in a bottle, too, and how old is he really? Come to think of it, who would want to murder a genie? And how would that be possible anyway? Then there is Margo, who might actually be able to do something about Oliver's predicament. A genie in need of help, a female hero and maybe a bit of romantic tension here and there? Sounds all very good to me.

Have you read genie books before? Are there any in your can't wait choices this week? Tell us in the comments!

Teaser Tuesday: The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

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 Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

The Evolution of Mara Dyer
- Simon & Schuster BfYR

I did something brave, then. Or stupid. Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference. I decided to trust her.
-- Chapter 2

“She scares me sometimes,” Dad finished. “You think she doesn’t scare me?” Maybe I didn’t want to hear this conversation after all.
-- Chapter 8

I feel like a bad reader for only getting to this one now. As an excuse that is not an excuse I think I’ll finish this in almost one sitting (damn pesky obligations like sleeping and working). Mara also is the sort of character that you have to be in the mood for to read about her and at the moment I’m absolutely enjoying her voice as it is quite different from the usual narrator in this category. Just the fact that I’m constantly asking myself how reliable Mara’s observation is and if what she is seeing is actually happening. One minor grievance: At this point there has been decidedly not enough of Noah. Even if I hear that this is a blessing and a curse. I like it better when he is around.

Do you have books that require a certain mood for you to read them? Tell us in the comments along with your teasers!

Waiting on Wednesday: Unremembered by Jessica Brody

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
Unremembered by Jessica Brody.
Publication Date: March 5th 2013.

Unremembered - Farrar, Straus, & Giroux

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?

Synopsis from goodreads.com

Maybe this is not the best book to read when you are planning a long distance flight ... or maybe it is in spite of the premises. However, I know that this book will make it into my possession as quickly as I can get my hands on it. It sounds like a well-developed mystery with just the right amount of suspense and possible romance.

Which book are you (not so) patiently waiting for this week?

Teaser Tuesday: Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor

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! 

Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor.

Days of Blood and Starlight
- Little, Brown

He looked very tired, his eyes heavy-lidded, but he mustered a smile.
"All ready?" he asked her.
She nodded and lit the incense.
"Good girl."
She bristled at the words and the caressing tone in which he spoke them. Am I? she wondered as she sank to her knees to raise the dead.
-- Page 70

My teaser comes from the sequel to Daughter of Smoke and Bone, which was an amazing read. Whereas the first book had two perspectives from which to tell the story, Days of Blood and Starlight has three: Karou, Akiva and Zuzana. I like Zuzana the most; she is feisty and funny and a loyal friend to Karou. The teaser is taken from Karou's part though, because its tone reflects the tone of the book until now: dark, brooding, full of doubts - only broken by Zuzana's optimism. I'm still at the beginning and, as I'm afraid for the characters, it's not so easy for me to continue. There are difficult times ahead, but Zuzana is my (star-)light.

Which books are you reading right now? Tease us in the comments!

Preview of 2013

Happy New Year, everyone! Diana and I hope that all of you had a great start of the year and that it will treat you kindly. And, of course, that we will all discover great books this year. As a sort of attunement we have compiled a little preview of what we are looking forward to in the coming months.

Have you set yourself a challenge of how many books you want to read this year? And which titles are on your “definite read” list?

Diana’s picks:

The Nightmare Affair
– Mindee Arnett

I probably have said this before somewhere, but the idea of this book is totally new to me and I’m so excited about its realisation. The girl named Dusty is a Nightmare – personified, not metaphorical (I hope) – and she’s got to find a murderer in the dreams of a human boy and outside them. A murder mystery with an exceptional magical background and a love story – just the right combination for me. :) Expected publication: March 5th.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane
– Neil Gaiman

By now I have read a bit of Gaiman’s work – including some of his comics – and I can say for certain that I never know what to expect of the books before reading. I read them nonetheless because I like the way Neil Gaiman creates his magical worlds, intertwining them with reality, and the way he tells his stories. This is exactly how I feel about The Ocean at the End of the Lane. The synopsis doesn’t tell me much, but I’m sure there’s magic somewhere and maybe one or three mystical creatures. That’s a good start. Expected publication: June 18th.


I read Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan in nearly one sitting and it was fabulous - until the end, which I just couldn’t get along with. So I wish for Untold, which doesn’t have a cover or a synopsis yet, to at least explain a bit of the ending and maybe start to mend what is broken. I have no certain idea in which direction the story might go now, but that makes it more exciting. Expected publication: August 29th.

Julika’s picks:

The Madness Underneath
– Maureen Johnson

The Name of the Star was one of my favourite books in 2011. Back then, the sequel was still announced for 2012. Then it got pushed to January, then February 2013 ... The Waiting Game is not one I enjoy, but I’m fairly certain that this one is worth waiting for. And now it is not too long. Barring unexpected circumstances, which you probably have to take into consideration ... seeing that it is Maureen Johnson. Expected publication: February 26th.

Clockwork Princess
– Cassandra Clare

This souldn’t come as a surprise for you. Both, Diana and I are waiting for this very much. (She got Untold for her list and I got this one for mine, fair sharing and all ;) .) As this is the last book in the series, I’m having mixed feelings about it. Theories that we have speculated about since book one are going to be proven or disproven and I’m sure that Cassie has quite a few surprises in store for us as well. Still, I don’t want to say goodbye to the Shadowhunters of Victorian London, even if we get to keep Magnus. Expected publication: March 19th.

The Eternity Cure
– Julie Kagawa

If there is one thing I’m a little put off about, it’s that the publisher changed the cover design of this series after the first book. Even if I understand the explanation why they did it ... and don’t get me wrong, I really like the new design. And after all, it’s still the content that counts. I’m very curious about the direction is sequel is going to take. I have a few theories and hopes, but I certainly don’t want to jinx them. Expected publication: April 23rd.