Waiting on Wednesday (12)

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

My Pick This Week

Description

“Living with hope is like rubbing up against a cheese grater. It keeps taking slices off you until there’s so little left, you just crumble.”

Quick-witted, prank-pulling graffiti artist Maxwell Connors is more observant than the average New Middletown teenager. And he doesn’t like what he sees. New Middletown’s children are becoming frighteningly obedient, and their parents and teachers couldn’t be happier. As Max and his friend Dallas watch their classmates transform into model citizens, Max wonders if their only hope of freedom lies in the unknown world beyond New Middletown’s walls, where creativity might be a gift instead of a liability.(Goodreads)

Book Details

Genre: YA

Length: 312 pages

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers

Release Date: October 1, 2011

ISBN-10: 1554698243

ISBN-13: 978-1554698240

Why I’m Waiting

I found this on the LibraryThing advance reader giveaway and loved the idea of a serious Stepford Wives-ish take on teenage existence, because didn't we all feel that way anyway? I really like that it is not only a fight for individuality and personal rights, but Max is trying to save his little sister. I really enjoy books with siblings that love each other, fighting the establishment and adventure with little hopes of survival : ) 

 

If you are interested, Cahterine Austin is also giving out two ARC's on her Goodreads page.

 

So what are you waiting for this week?

~Kelly

Early Review: Ward Against Death (Chronicles of a Reluctant Necromancer #1) by Melanie Card

Description

Twenty-year-old Ward de’Ath expected this to be a simple job—bring a nobleman’s daughter back from the dead for fifteen minutes, let her family say good-bye, and launch his fledgling career as a necromancer. Goddess knows he can’t be a surgeon—the Quayestri already branded him a criminal for trying—so bringing people back from the dead it is.

But when Ward wakes the beautiful Celia Carlyle, he gets more than he bargained for. Insistent that she’s been murdered, Celia begs Ward to keep her alive and help her find justice. By the time she drags him out her bedroom window and into the sewers, Ward can’t bring himself to break his damned physician’s Oath and desert her.

However, nothing is as it seems—including Celia. One second, she’s treating Ward like sewage, the next she’s kissing him. And for a nobleman’s daughter, she sure has a lot of enemies. If he could just convince his heart to give up on the infuriating beauty, he might get out of this alive… (Goodreads)

Book Details

Genre: YA, Paranormal

Paperback: 292 pages

Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC

Release Date: August 2, 2011  

ISBN-10: 1937044092

ISBN-13: 978-1937044091

Author’s Website

Source: NetGalley/ Publisher

Review

Ward Against Death is amazing! One of the main characters Ward, is a  necromancer with power he has no idea he has. While the other main character Celia, is a kick-ass assassin. The main villain (yes there is more than one bad guy in this) has the kiss of death. 

You know the person that got made fun of in high school for ALWAYS having to do the right thing? Well, that is Ward. He is so good-hearted that he risks his own life trying to save a dead girl…Yeah read the book and that last sentence will make sense. Then after sort of saving said dead girl, because of rules he follows he wont allow himself to love her. GRRRR… I wanted to kick Ward a few times. I did actually love how courageous Ward is throughout the book.

Celia is everything that Ward is not and I so want to be her. She is the beautiful nobleman's daughter who just so happens to be able to beat the ever loving crap out of you, and you don’t stand a chance if she can get her hands on a knife.

Melanie Card did a wonderful job working Ward and Celia’s personalities off one another. Together they would make the perfect person. I also loved the world building in Ward Against Death, and the mystery that is built around Celia’s death. It kept my interest at every turn.

Happy Reading,

Rebecca    

 

4 moons: I loved it. It's reread worthy.

Recommended For

Older Teens and up: Light language, kissing, some sexual situations.

In My Mailbox 7/24/2011

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren.

This quick vlog post about the books we received this week. Enjoy!

The books mentioned in this post are below. Click on the Book image to go to there Goodreads page for more info.

Maybe this small IMM will help us get caught up on our reading… Yeah I don’t believe it either.

So what books did you get this week?
Happy Reading,
Kelly and Rebecca

Follow Friday (11)

Welcome to Follow Friday Hosted By Parajunkee.com and Alisoncanread.com

This weeks question:

Q. Name 3 authors that you would love to sit down and spend an hour or a meal with just talking about either their books or get advice on writing from?

Hmm this is hard I think I will go with the authors of the last three books I loved.

First: Diana Rowland, author of My Life as a With Trash Zombie (my review)

Second: Jon Skovron, author of Misfit. (my review)

Third: Mike Mullin, author of Ashfall. (my review) 

So that’s who I’m pretend having lunch with. How about you?

~Rebecca

Early Review: Paradise 21 by Aubrie Dionne

Description

Aries has lived her entire life aboard mankind's last hope, the New Dawn, a spaceship traveling toward a planet where mankind can begin anew- a planet that won't be reached in Aries' lifetime. As one of the last genetically desirable women in the universe,she must marry her designated genetic match and produce the next generation for this centuries long voyage.

But Aries has other plans.

When her desperate escape from the New Dawn strands her on a desert planet, Aries discovers rumors about pirates - humans who have escaped her before its demise - are true. Handsome, genetically imperfect Striker possess the freedom Aries' envies, and the two connect on a level she never thought possible. But pursued by her match from above and hunted by the planet's native inhabitants, Aries quickly learns freedom will come at a hefty price.

The life of the man she loves. (Goodreads)

Book Details

Title: Paradise 21
Author: Aubrie Dionne
Genre: Sci-Fi Romance
Length: Novel – 247 pages
Release Date: August 2011
ePub ISBN: 978-1-937044-02-2
Print ISBN: 978-1-937044-03-9

Source:NetGalley/ Publisher

Author’s Website

Review

What would you do if your entire life had been decided for you? Would you run, even if there was a big chance that running meant your death? Is death better than a life of personal prison? These are the decisions Aries has to make in Paradise 21. 

Aries has done everything expected of her all her life. But what nobody knows is that she doesn’t really buy into the program she was raised to believe in. She will now risk anything to escape. I liked Aries character. She was strong, smart, and compassionate. I did have one problem with Aries…How fast she fell for Striker. Yes, Striker is super hot. Yes, they are on a desert planet fighting monstrous creatures, but it just seemed a little fast to me. I did love their chemistry though, it drove me crazy.

Striker was a great character though a bit finicky at times with Aries. I loved that he and his crew were space pirates. Love me some pirates! I enjoyed the sort of Robin Hood feel you got from Striker as you watched him wanting to save his people. Even though pirates are supposed  to be villains. Striker wants to give those who have nothing a better life.

This was a fun, action packed sci-fi read, and overall I enjoyed it.

Happy Reading,

Rebecca

3 moons: I liked it.

Recommended For

Older Teen and Up: There is some violence, language, and light medical procedure. Very light sexual content.