"Waiting On" Wednesday (#35) Killer Frost (Mythos Academy #6) by Jennifer Estep

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

This week I'm picking:
Killer Frost (Mythos Academy #6) by Jennifer Estep
Expected publication: February 25th 2014 by K-Teen

From Goodreads: 
I’ve battled the Reapers of Chaos before–and survived. But this time I have a Bad, Bad Feeling it’s going to be a fight to the death … most likely mine.

Yeah, I’ve got my psychometry magic, my talking sword, Vic–and even the most dangerous Spartan on campus at my side, in Logan freaking Quinn, but I’m no match for Loki, the evil Norse god of chaos. I may be Nike’s Champion, but at heart, I’m still just Gwen Frost, that weird Gypsy girl everyone at school loves to gossip about.

Then someone I love is put in more danger than ever before, and something inside me snaps. This time, Loki and his Reapers are going down for good … or I am.

Why I'm Waiting:
I've featured this series quite a bit, and that's because I really enjoy it.  It's a series I keep reading because it still keeps me interested, which is impressive so far into the series.  I just can't wait to see what happens next.

Teaser and Top Ten Tuesday (#32) (10/29/13)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can 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! 

Breathe (Sea Breeze #1) by Abbi Glines

From pg. 177

"You don't have to explain anything to me.  I've known all along you live in a world I know nothing about, nor will I ever know anything about."

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

 

Top Ten Scariest Looking Book Covers

Fun topic.  Many of these cover I would call creepy more than I would say scary, but I'm tossing them in. I will say I have not read most of these, although I own the majority.

13 to Life (13 to Life #1) by Shannon Delany

The eye in the sky i s the thing that creeps me out about this cover.

Anna Dressed in Blood (Anna #1) by Kendare Blake

So creepy, and so good.  I really need to read this one.

Ashes (Ashes Trilogy #1) by Ilsa J. Bick

This cover is so unbelievably creepy to me.  The eyes are what do it.

Darkwater by Catherine Fisher

Gargoyles, Chimeras, and the like have always freaked me out.  This cover kind of scares the crud out of me. 

The Fallout (The Compound #2) by S.A. Bodeen

The hand coming out from the man-hole cover is just so freaky.  I haven't read this series yet, but it looks scary.

Reckless (Mirrorworld #1) by Cornelia Funke

I know this book is more magic, but that glowing green face is just creepy.

The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff

This cover is both beautiful and creepy at the same time.  I have read this one, and it's a perfect cover.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (Miss Peregrine #1) by Ransom Riggs

The cover is just one of the many creepy photos in this book, and the photos are by far the best part of the book.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

Yeah, that figure stalking?  So scary.

The Fear (The Enemy #3) by Charlie Higson

This cover scares me.  That skull/face.  I may have nightmares.  I haven't read the series, and I don't know if I can.  So scary.

"Waiting On" Wednesday (#34) The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith

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

This week I'm picking:
The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith
Expected publication: April 15th 2014 by Little, Brown for Young Readers

From Goodreads: 

Lucy and Owen meet somewhere between the tenth and eleventh floors of a New York City apartment building, on an elevator rendered useless by a citywide blackout. After they're rescued, they spend a single night together, wandering the darkened streets and marveling at the rare appearance of stars above Manhattan. But once the power is restored, so is reality. Lucy soon moves to Edinburgh with her parents, while Owen heads out west with his father.

Lucy and Owen's relationship plays out across the globe as they stay in touch through postcards, occasional e-mails, and -- finally -- a reunion in the city where they first met.

A carefully charted map of a long-distance relationship, Jennifer E. Smith's new novel shows that the center of the world isn't necessarily a place. It can be a person, too.

Why I'm Waiting:
I haven't made it any secret that Jennifer E. Smith is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.  I can't wait to read this book.  In a world with way to many series, I love a good standalone.  I really need this book in my hands right now.

Teaser and Top Ten Tuesday (#31) (10/22/13)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can 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! 

Salvation by Anne Osterlund

From pg. 64

Why had he bothered to ask for her help? Was this some dare like in the movies where the guy hung out with the loser girl only because his buddies said they'd pay up? Or because someone told him she was easy?

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

 

Top Ten Character Names

I have to be honest.  Most names completely slip from my memory quickly.  I am usually hard pressed to tell you the name of the character from a book a read a week ago.  So a name really has to stand out in a good or bad way for me to remember it.  Here are some of the more memorable good ones.

Looking for Alaska by John Green

Before reading this book, I had no idea that Alaska was a person.  After reading it, Alaska Young is as memorable as her name.

 The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

Is Holden Caulfield a memorable name because the book is so well known and such a classic, or is it just an awesome name?  I debate this with myself all the time.

Heist Society (Heist Society #1) by Ally Carter

Oh W.W. Hale the 5th.  I think what makes this name so memorable and awesome, is the mystery behind the W.W.  I can't wait to find out the answer to this one.

The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle #1) by Maggie Stiefvater

It was a really hard choice between Blue Sargent or Puck Connolly.  I gave the nod to Blue, if only because the author claims Blue had her name long before Blue Ivy.  Way to be ahead of Hollywood!

 Pushing the Limits (Pushing the Limits #1) by Katie McGarry

Echo Emerson is such an awesome name, and so memorable. 

This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen

NOBODY names their characters like Sarah Dessen.  I always look forward to what unique and perfect name she comes up with for her characters.  This time I'm giving the nod to Remy Starr.   Although, I'll never forget Dexter Jones either.  Or Macy, or McLean, or Auden, or Haven.  I could keep going, but I'll stop.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Is Scout Finch played out since because of Scout Willis?  Don't know.  But for anyone who has ever read this book, you'll always remember the name Scout. 

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

Ponyboy!  Sodapop!  No real parent should ever name their child this, but how memorable are these names?  Plus we will always have “Stay gold, Ponyboy, stay gold.”

City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #1) by Cassandra Clare

Magnus Bane, and awesome name for an awesome character.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter #1) by J.K. Rowling

Picking a name from all the amazing names presented in this series is almost impossible.  Has a series ever provides such a list of awesomely unique names?  For this I'm giving it to Albus Dumbledore, but really throw a dart at a list of Harry Potter characters, and you will find a winner.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? 10/21/13

This weekly recap is hosted by Shelia of Book Journeys and the kidlit version is hosted by Jen from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee from Unleashing Readers. Each week we recap what we’ve read and look at what’s coming up this week.

Finished Reading:

Teardrop (Teardrop #1) by Lauren Kate

Currently Reading:

Salvation by Anne Osterlund

What I'm Reading Next:

Breathe (Sea Breeze #1) by Abbi Glines

Feature & Follow Friday (#29)

The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee’s View and Alison of Alison Can Read.


This week's Question:

What are some of your favorite magazines?

With all the books I have on my shelves who has time to read magazines?  I used to have a subscription to People, but I gave that up for a variety of reasons.  The only magazine I still make sure to subscribe to has always been a favorite:

It really is my go-to magazine/website if I'm looking for a tasty recipe.  I am almost always happy with the results.  I may have mentioned this in another post, but I actually own A TON of cookbooks.  Sadly for me, I still almost always turn to Cooking Light.

That being said, I should have been a nerd and said I read professional magazines such a Library Journal, and I should be reading it.  But I rarely get a chance to read these.

"Waiting On" Wednesday (#33) What I Thought Was True by Huntley Fitzpatrick

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

This week I'm picking:
What I Thought Was True by Huntley Fitzpatrick
Expected publication: April 15th 2014 by Dial Books for Young Readers

From Goodreads: 
From the author of My Life Next Door comes a swoony summertime romance full of expectation and regret, humor and hard questions.
Gwen Castle's Biggest Mistake Ever, Cassidy Somers, is slumming it as a yard boy on her Nantucket-esque island this summer. He's a rich kid from across the bridge in Stony Bay, and she hails from a family of fishermen and housecleaners who keep the island's summer people happy. Gwen worries a life of cleaning houses will be her fate too, but just when it looks like she'll never escape her past—or the island—Gwen's dad gives her some shocking advice. Sparks fly and secret histories unspool as Gwen spends a gorgeous, restless summer struggling to resolve what she thought was true—about the place she lives, the people she loves, and even herself—with what really is.

A magnetic, push-me-pull-me romance with depth, this is for fans of Sarah Dessen, Jenny Han, and Deb Caletti.

Why I'm Waiting:
I absolutely adored her first book My Life Next Door, and it ended up being one of my favorites from 2012.  I didn't even need to read what this book was about to know that I can't wait to read this book. But after reading the description?  OMG, I can't wait, this is my favorite kind of book.

Teaser and Top Ten Tuesday (#30) (10/15/13)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can 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! 

Teardrop (Teardrop #1) by Lauren Kate

From pg. 45 of my ARC*

Her eyes bored into her daughter's.  She said in the gravest tone Eureka had ever heard: "Never, ever cry again."

*This is and ARC copy.  Page number and quotes may not be the same in the finished copy.

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

 

Top Ten Six Books I Was Forced to Read (either by teachers, friends, other bloggers, reviews)

I'm so sad.  This may be the first time I haven't been able to come up with 10 books for my list.  The problem is that I haven't been forced to read a book in a long time.  My reading is done completely on my own whims.  The other issue is that rarely have I enjoyed books that were forced on my by teachers or that I had to read for school.  Here is what I came up with:

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

One of the few books that I read in school that I enjoyed.  I really disliked so many books that were required reading, because they were beat to death.  I liked this one. 

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter #1) by J.K. Rowling

Nobody in my life reads like I do.  They also don't read what I read.  So many of the books that are recommended aren't my style,  this was the one book/series that was the exception.  My BFF, bugged me until I read it.  I loved it.

Perfect Chemistry (Perfect Chemistry #1) by Simone Elkeles

I belong to a Goodreads group where we assign a book for one another each month.  This was the best of the books that I was assigned.  I was so happy to get it off of my TBR pile. 

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

I took a class on children's literature, and there were some great books I read for that, the ages covered were 0-14.  So most of the books didn't cover YA.  This was one of the few that did.  This book rocked my world.  I loved it.  It remains one of the best books I've ever read.

Monster (Monster #1) by Walter Dean Myers

I read this for the same class as Speak, and it was amazing.  I don't know if it gets the same kind of love as Speak, but it's a really, really good book. 

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

 This is the only other book that I liked that was required reading while I was in school.  I did get annoyed by the end of the unit, but I am still left with some really fond memories of the book.