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Showing posts with label Gena Showalter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gena Showalter. Show all posts

Top Ten Tuesday (#121) (01/19/16) Top Ten Books I've Recently Added To My TBR

1/19/2016

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

Top Ten Fifteen Books I've Recently Added To My TBR (The best of ALA Mid-Winter)


This list is supposed to be books that I recently added to my TBR list/pile. Just an FYI, I differentiate between a pile and a list. My pile is the books I have either physically or electronically.  Those that are on my list I may or may not have.  So this list is strictly those that have been added to my pile, most likely they were added to my list a while ago.

Since I got back from ALA last week and all my books recently arrived, and there were a lot more than 15, these are the books I'm most excited to read that I picked up at ALA, I just couldn't limit myself to only listing the ten I'm most excited to read, so I had to extend it.  I am actually proud of myself, I really made an effort to limit the number of books I picked up, and for the most part I was pretty successful in keeping to my goal.  Here are my 10.


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25663637-when-we-collided
Expected publication: April 5th 2016 by Bloomsbury USA Childrens

I made a point to go to Bloomsbury to get this book.  Emery Lord is one of my favorite YA authors, so I made sure I had a copy of this book. On a separate note, I brought four books back with me in my suitcase because I wanted to make sure there was no way I was losing it.  This was one of the four.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27067869-remembrance
Expected publication: February 2nd 2016 by William Morrow 

The second book that ended up in my suitcase, I was walking and I saw someone with a finished copy of this book.  Needless to say I booked it to the Harper Collins booth to pick up my own copy.  I can't wait to read the continuation of this series.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23174274-glass-sword
Expected publication: February 9th 2016 by HarperTeen 

I may, or may not have positioned myself at the door nearest to Harper Collins so I could beeline right to their booth to get this book. I would have been devastated if they hadn't put this out the first day, because I lost out on other books I really wanted since I was in session and wasn't around when they set them out. Lucky for me, they had a nice big stack of them. This one also ended up in my suitcase.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26109391-highly-illogical-behavior
Expected publication: May 10th 2016 by Dial Books

There are so many things I love about going to ALA. From getting fired up from a professional aspect, networking with my colleagues, to meeting authors, and to situations that are similar to this one.  I had NO idea that Penguin had picked up the rights to this book.  John Corey Whaley's first two books were published by Simon and Schuster, and I would have been looking to them for his new book. I quickly found out that this book is from Penguin. They had a scheduled passing out of this title, and I may or may not have been one of the first five in line to pick up my copy.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23203106-wink-poppy-midnight
Expected publication: March 22nd 2016 by Dial Books 

 The final book that in put my suitcase, I am so excited I got a copy of this book.  Her books are just so twisty and interesting, and I can't read to read this one.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22840421-my-lady-jane
Expected publication: June 7th 2016 by HarperTeen

I don't have a good excuse for not putting this book into my suitcase other than by time I got a copy I was pretty brain dead. I adore these authors, so I'm hoping this book will live up to all my expectations.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27069136-beware-that-girl
Expected publication: May 31st 2016 by Delacorte Press

I used to read a ton of mysteries, but I don't read nearly as many anymore. This one looks awesome though. It's set in NYC which I love (see next week's TTT), and it's set in a private school which is another thing I love.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26085520-everland?from_search=true&search_version=service
Expected publication: May 10th 2016 by Scholastic Press

I do enjoy a good retelling, and this looks like it could turn the Peter Pan story on it's head. I can't wait to see how this come together.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25785357-firstlife
Expected publication: February 23rd 2016 by Harlequin Teen

This is so not my normal read, however, I adored Showalter's last YA series, so I am looking forward to reading this book. I don't think I've ever read anything like it, so wish me luck!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26030737-the-new-guy
Expected publication: April 5th 2016 by Poppy

I love a good romantic contemporary that won't tax my brain. This looks like it will be perfect to fulfill that need.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23716100-rocks-fall-everyone-dies?from_search=true&search_version=service
Expected publication: June 7th 2016 by Kathy Dawson Books 

The publisher gave me quite the scoop on this book and it sounds bizzare yet awesome.  I really enjoyed Ribar's first series, so I am looking forward to getting to this book.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26067503-shuffle-repeat?from_search=true&search_version=service
Expected publication: May 3rd 2016 by Random House Books for Young Readers

I've been burned by books that claim that they are part this or that and if you are a fan of this, you'll love this book. But the tag on Goodreads on this book combine everything I love. That's all I need to know to make this book one that I can't wait to dig into.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25203675-the-star-touched-queen?from_search=true&search_version=service
Expected publication: May 3rd 2016 by St. Martin's Griffin

This looks like it will be an awesome fantasy. I don't read much fantasy, when it's done right, I adore it. I hope this book lives up to my expectations.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22537367-summer-of-sloane?from_search=true&search_version=service
Expected publication: May 3rd 2016 by Disney-Hyperion

I'm going to age myself a bit, but one of my favorite books from way back was a book called Follow That Boy. I read the heck out of it, maybe 30+ times. The reason I bring this up is that the book takes place in Hawaii, and while this book looks to be quite different, there is something about the description that makes me think of that old favorite. Therefore, I am really excited to read this book.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25756328-love-gelato?from_search=true&search_version=service
Expected publication: April 12th 2016 by Simon Pulse

It take place in Italy. Nothing else needs to be said. I am a sucker for books that take place in certain locations, and Italy is one of them.


Top Ten Tuesday (#113) (10/27/15) Top Ten Books with Things that Go Bump in the Night

10/27/2015

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.
 
Top Ten Books with Things that Go Bump in the Night


Vampires, Zombies, Ghosts, and Witches, oh my! I don't read a lot of scary books, because I can be a total wimp.  However, I have read a lot of books that feature the above paranormal creates.  These books aren't necessarily scary, but they do feature beings that you are likely going to see at a Halloween party.  Well, in addition to all those lame sexy kitties.


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8475747-hex-hall

This series features a bit of everything, I guess it's mainly witches, but there are special guest appearances by shapeshifters and other fun paranormal creatures. Not scary at all, just a good read.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9802372-the-name-of-the-star

This book is pretty creepy.  More suspenseful than true horror, but the spooky is really there.  The first book has been my favorite in the series.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11969941-the-unquiet

This book probably gave me the biggest creeps.  It's just a really good spooky ghost story.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/187811.Shadowland

Lots of ghosts in this series.  Some are good and many are bad. I wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of some of these ghosts.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6068551-shiver

Werewolves.  Not scary werewolves, just beautifully written werewolves.  I loved this series.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3.Harry_Potter_and_the_Sorcerer_s_Stone

I would hardly describe this series of witches scary.  I guess for the intended audience the later books can be scary, but this awesome series makes the list because of all the witches and paranormal creatures.

 My Love Lies Bleeding (Drake Chronicles #1) by Alyxandra Harvey


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/345627.Vampire_Academy

An awesome series featuring very not scary vampires.  Vampires!  They're just like you and me, except they like blood.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11300302-alice-in-zombieland

Just finished this series, and it's good zombie fun.  I wouldn't classify this book as scary either, it just kick zombie butt fun.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12043771-this-is-not-a-test

This book was scary if only because it made me realize I will so NEVER survive a zombie apocalypse.  Nope, I will quickly join the ranks of the undead. I found this book to be very suspenseful, but not particularly scary.

Bonus:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9917996-salem-s-lot

I have read some really scary books in the past that scared me badly. Stephen King is most responsible for many of my nightmares.  After too many bad nights of sleep, I now tend to avoid his books, as awesome as they may be.  That being said, for me the book of his that scared me the most was 'Salem's Lot.  I slept with some weird stuff by my side for weeks after I read that book.  This is not a YA book, although I was stupid enough to read it while I was in high school, so I decided to include it.


Top Ten Tuesday (#108) (09/22/15) Top Ten Books On My Fall TBR

9/22/2015

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

Top Ten Books On My Fall TBR

I love these lists. Recently I have been terrible about reading what I put on my list, however it always helps me focus on what I should be reading for the season.  As always this list is for books published during the fall equinox and the winter solstice.  September 23rd - December 22nd.  Here are my ten.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23848163-romancing-the-dark-in-the-city-of-light
Expected publication: October 6th 2015 by St. Martin's Griffin

I am a sucker for books set in Paris.  This one is getting pretty good reviews and it's apparently not you typical romance.  I have the ARC and I can't wait to read this.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13206900-winter
Expected publication: November 10th 2015 by Feiwel and Friends 

I am curious to see who has read this series that DOESN'T have this book on top of their TBR pile.  I can't wait to see how this series turns out.  I am not always big on Science Fiction books, but I adore this series.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23453083-trust-me-i-m-trouble
Expected publication: October 13th 2015 by Delacorte Press

I liked the first book in this series and I am curious to see how this book turns out.  I probably need to refresh my memory about what happened in the first book though.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24644814-see-how-they-run?ac=1
Expected publication: December 22nd 2015 by Scholastic Press

This book makes the list only because it gets released on the very last day of fall, and they pushed the publication date up.  I had a few issues with the first book in the series, but I'm hoping I can really appreciate this book.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24751478-soundless
Expected publication: November 10th 2015 by Razorbill

I was so sad to see that this book has gotten mixed reviews.  I can't wait to read something by Richelle Mead tthat doesn't deal with vampires.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23310763-the-anatomical-shape-of-a-heart
 Expected publication: November 3rd 2015 by Feiwel & Friends

Along with Paris and NYC, I am sucker for books set in San Francisco. This one looks to be very compelling and it's gotten great reviews so far.  I have the ARC so I have a good chance of getting to this book.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23310751-first-then
Expected publication: October 13th 2015 by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

FNL is one of all time favorite TV shows, so to see this book described as a combination of Pride and Prejudice and FNL, I can't wait to read it.  I have the ARC for this book as well, so I should get to it soon.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25657130-all-american-boys
 Expected publication: September 29th 2015 by Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books

I will pretty much read whatever Jason Reynolds writes, so this book is high on my list.  This is another book where they significantly pushed up the publication date, so there are no ARCs available.  The subject matter is so timely, and I can't wait to see the author's take on it.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23734628-carry-on
Expected publication: October 6th 2015 by St. Martin's Griffin 

I have a small confession, I liked Fan Girl, I didn't love it.  Even so I am very excited to give this book a chance.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24893241-a-mad-zombie-party
Expected publication: September 29th 2015 by Harlequin Teen

I was presently surprised to see that Showalter was continuing this series.  I was actually really satisfied with how the last book ended to be a series finale.  Even so, I am eagerly anticipating this next book in the series.


Top Ten Tuesday (#89) (4/28/15) Top Ten Books (Series) Which Feature Characters Who Have "Special" Abilities

4/28/2015


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

Top Ten Books (Series) Which Feature Characters Who Have "Special" Abilities


I focus a lot on contemporary YA on this blog because it's my favorite.  But paranormal, supernatural, etc. can be really awesome.  On a separate note, why are so many of these series?  I don't know if I've ever read a stand alone supernatural/paranormal.  Here are some of my favorites that feature a character that has abilities that are considered to be outside the norm. 


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11300302-alice-in-zombieland



https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11235712-cinder



https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6068551-shiver

This book just blew me away, and it started my love of everything Maggie Stiefvater.  It was achingly beautiful. I love the entire series, but this book was my favorite by far.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2802316-shadow-kiss

This was my favorite of the series, so I put it on the list.  I adore this series, and although we are supposed to limit it to books, you should read them all if you haven't done so already.


No way could I pick a favorite Harry Potter book.  They are all so amazing.  I picked this one, if only because it was the first.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6261522-the-body-finder


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/187811.Shadowland



https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9943270-dark-triumph

I don't think this book suffered the middle book syndrome, and it was actually my favorite.  I think I liked it because Sybella was my favorite character.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10928051-touch-of-frost

Another series where I can't pick a favorite, just another solid series.  It was just engaging and kept me interested for the entire series.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10429045-shatter-me

This was definitely the best of the series, but as a whole, I enjoyed them all.