Waiting On Wednesday: Erased

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly blogging event hosted by Breaking the Spine, in which one spotlights an upcoming release they are eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Title: Erased (Altered #2)

Author: Jennifer Rush

Release Date: January 7, 2014

Summary (from Goodreads):

They thought they had escaped. They were wrong.

After fleeing the Branch with Sam, Cas, and Nick, Anna is trying to make sense of the memories resurfacing from her old life. At the same time, she's learning how to survive in hiding, following Sam's rules: Don't draw attention to yourself. Always carry a weapon. Know your surroundings. Watch your back.

Then a figure from Anna's childhood reappears. Is it a Branch setup, or could it be the reunion Anna has hoped for? Uncertain of where her loyalties lie, Anna must fight to learn the truth -- before she is betrayed again. Ultimately, the answers hinge on one question: What was the real reason her memories were erased?

Why I'm Looking Forward To It: Book 1, Altered, came as close to a book written just for me could come, so of course I want more!!!

So what book are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Review: Reboot (Amy Tintera)

Title: Reboot
Series: Reboot, Book 1
Author: Amy Tintera
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: May 7, 2013
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian Thriller
Told: First Person (Wren), Past Tense
Content Rating: Older Teen (violence, sensuality, minor innuendo)
Format Read: ARC (trade)
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase On: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
Summary:

Five years ago, Wren Connolly was shot three times in the chest. After 178 minutes she came back as a Reboot: stronger, faster, able to heal, and less emotional. The longer Reboots are dead, the less human they are when they return. Wren 178 is the deadliest Reboot in the Republic of Texas. Now seventeen years old, she serves as a soldier for HARC (Human Advancement and Repopulation Corporation).

Wren’s favorite part of the job is training new Reboots, but her latest newbie is the worst she’s ever seen. As a 22, Callum Reyes is practically human. His reflexes are too slow, he’s always asking questions, and his ever-present smile is freaking her out. Yet there’s something about him she can’t ignore. When Callum refuses to follow an order, Wren is given one last chance to get him in line—or she’ll have to eliminate him. Wren has never disobeyed before and knows if she does, she’ll be eliminated, too. But she has also never felt as alive as she does around Callum.

The perfect soldier is done taking orders.

*          *          *

In Three Words: Fast. Thrilling. Fierce.

Writing: Quick and easy.

Setting: Texas after (1) a virus that brings people back from the dead (aka zombies, but not) creates "Reboots"; (2) said Reboots wage war against the regular humans; and (3) the Reboots are defeated and a government-like group enslaves them to help keep the peace in their "new" and "better" Texas, aka all that remains of the human race. (At least, that was my impression.) A narrow setting, but an interesting one that worked well for the story.

Story: Wren 178 is content with her life as a Reboot soldier and newbie trainer until she impulsively takes on (and falls for) Callum, a new "recruit" who just can't cut it. When HARC threatens to eliminate him, Wren and Callum go on the run in search of a rumored Reboot haven. It was a simple plot, but this left room for a lot of action and Wren's emotional struggle.

Characters: Wren was fierce and strong - when she was fighting. For a girl who wasn't supposed to have any emotions, she showed them a lot. I was little disappointed by this, but her discovering her "human side" was the major point of the book, so I let it go. Callum was fun and cocky and stubborn and perfect for bringing out the human in Wren. For a weak guy, though, he seemed to have a ton of strength when it counted - which actually made me rather suspicious of him.

Romantic Relationship: While I felt Callum rather ruined strong and independent Wren with his romantic advances, he turned out to be good for her, giving her life a real purpose after years of stagnation.

Conclusion: While I would have preferred Wren show a little less emotion, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and will definitely read it again. And I most certainly look forward to the rest of the series.

Scribble Rating: 

4 of 5 Scribbles

The Friday Reads Review (7/26/13)

Welcome to The Friday Reads Review*, a regular Friday segment where I share what I've been reading the past week!

CURRENTLY READING:

Curtsies & Conspiracies by Gail Carriger (ARC - releases 11/13)
I was in desperate need of a solidly good read, and luckily I didn't have to look any further than the next Gail Carriger book! It is delightful, as expected, and I am enjoying it immensely. 

JUST FINISHED:

The Collector by Victoria Scott (Pbk)

Dante was a fun and snarky narrator for a pretty original angels & demons story. Although a little too crude for my usual tastes, I rather enjoyed it. Review to come.

READING NEXT: 

Rush by Eve Silver (ARC)

Not so much read as finish, which I'm having a harder time doing than I thought I would. Every time I try to dive back in, the horror that is the story sends me running to another book. Maybe I won't be finishing this one after all...

*Note: I have renamed "The Friday Review" to "The Friday Reads Review," to give a better idea of what this segment is actually about.

So what are you reading this week?

Waiting On Wednesday: Split Second (Kasie West)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly blogging event hosted by Breaking the Spine, in which one spotlights an upcoming release they are eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Title: Split Second

Author: Kasie West

Release Date: February 11, 2014

Summary (from Goodreads):

Life can change in a split second.

Addie hardly recognizes her life since her parents divorced. Her boyfriend used her. Her best friend betrayed her. She can’t believe this is the future she chose. On top of that, her ability is acting up. She’s always been able to Search the future when presented with a choice. Now she can manipulate and slow down time, too . . . but not without a price.

When Addie’s dad invites her to spend her winter break with him, she jumps at the chance to escape into the Norm world of Dallas, Texas. There she meets the handsome and achingly familiar Trevor. He’s a virtual stranger to her, so why does her heart do a funny flip every time she sees him? But after witnessing secrets that were supposed to stay hidden, Trevor quickly seems more suspicious of Addie than interested in her. And she has an inexplicable desire to change that.

Meanwhile, her best friend, Laila, has a secret of her own: she can restore Addie’s memories . . . once she learns how. But there are powerful people who don’t want to see this happen. Desperate, Laila tries to manipulate Connor, a brooding bad boy from school—but he seems to be the only boy in the Compound immune to her charms. And the only one who can help her.

As Addie and Laila frantically attempt to retrieve the lost memories, Addie must piece together a world she thought she knew before she loses the love she nearly forgot . . . and a future that could change everything.

Why I'm Looking Forward To It: Kasie's amazing debut has a sequel!!! While Pivot Point was perfection as a standalone, who doesn't want to watch Addie and Trevor fall in love all over again? And I'm looking forward to getting to know Laila better as a POV character. ... Is it February yet?

So what book are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Review: Miss Fortune Cookie (Lauren Bjorkman)

Title: Miss Fortune Cookie
Series: standalone
Author: Lauren Bjorkman
Publisher: Henry Holt & Co.
Release Date: November 13, 2012
Genre: Young Adult Light Contemporary
Told: First Person Singular (Erin), Past Tense
Content Rating: Teen (minor suggestive material, minor swearing)
Format Read: ARC (trade)
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase On: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
Summary:

Meet Erin. Smart student, great daughter, better friend. Secretly the mastermind behind the popular advice blog Miss Fortune Cookie. Totally unaware that her carefully constructed life is about to get crazy.

It all begins when her ex-best friend sends a letter to her blog—and then acts on her advice. Erin’s efforts to undo the mess will plunge her into adventure, minor felonies, and possibly her very first romance.

What’s a likely fortune for someone no longer completely in control of her fate? Hopefully nothing like: You will become a crispy noodle in the salad of life.

*          *          *

Three Words: Simple. Zany. Instalove.

Writing: A light read with a fun voice. And I enjoyed all the Chinese references.

Setting: San Francisco. "Colorful" doesn't even begin to describe the San Fran that Lauren depicted, leading me to believe she embellished a bit - I mean, c'mon, Erin was accosted by crazy people every time she set foot outside her door! But I've never been to San Fran, so I can't truly say whether it was realistic or not. I will say all that color made for a more interesting read, though. And I loved all the Chinese culture.

Story: When Erin advises her friend Mei to confront her controlling mother and take charge of her life, Erin could never have imagined how Mei's decisions would set her on an adventure of random and zany exploits that included, but were not limited to, rescuing a woman in a hideous hat, lying about pancakes, a driving lesson, bagging a hot boyfriend, befriending a nine year-old (and three quarters), taking in a homeless man, giving out a lot of advice (wanted and unwanted), and taking charge of her own life in the end. It was a classic teen adventure that would better suit a 90-minute movie than a 270-page book - the beginning and end were almost painfully drawn out, building to and then wrapping up a night of unexpected and rather unbelievable adventure. A lot felt like filler (especially the protest), and it would've been far more enjoyable at half the length. Still, I never once considered not finishing the book, so that accounts for something.

Characters: Erin was a smart and capable girl at the mercy of the feelings of others - deep down she knew exactly what she wanted, but she couldn't stand to leave her lonely mother and friend behind to pursue an education on the other side of the county. She was sweet, kind, and loyal to a fault, a girl anyone would be lucky to have as their friend. Mei was exceptionally realistic - rather self-absorbed, a little selfish, completely dippy about her first and "true" love, but a pretty good friend most of the time. I felt Linny, best friend and the main cause of Erin's emotional tug-of-war, should've been shown as a little more dependent on Erin. She was obsessed with causes and her new boyfriend, and I didn't feel the reliance that was implied. Weyland, the romantic interest, seemed like a nice guy for the most part, but we really didn't get to know much of anything about him. Lincoln, while he felt like an addition solely to advance the story, was the bright spot of the whole book for me. He was smart, adorable, and said the darndest things, and I couldn't get enough of him.

Romantic Relationship: Instant physical attraction, aka instalove, on an epic 0 to 160 scale that was nowhere close to believable for me. Erin and Weyland barely knew each other two seconds before she wanted to be all over him - and he was, of course, totally okay with this. She knew next to nothing about him, and the only thing she wanted to get to know was how it felt to be as close as possible to him. Ugh. Luckily not much happened or I would've had some serious problems with this book.

Conclusion: While the story was slow and rather far-fetched and the romance unbelievable, overall it was a light read with a fun voice and realistic characters. It's a bit of a one-sitting book, so I would recommend it for a lazy day at home with nothing to do, or if you're a quick reader, a quiet evening on the couch.

Scribble Rating: 

3 of 5 Scribbles

Stacking the Shelves (7/20/13)

Time for another Stacking the Shelves, hosted by Tynga's Reviews, where I share the books that I've added to my shelves this week.

• Curtsies & Conspiracies by Gail Carriger (Signed ARC - Won) - Acquired this signed beauty from the author herself, and considering I adored Book the First, Etiquette & Espionage, (see my gushing review here), I cannot wait to dive in!
• These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner (ARC - Traded) - Seriously craving YA Sci-Fi right now (no idea why), so I'm excited to give this a try!
• The Hypnotists: Hypnotize Me by Gordon Korman (ARC - For Review) - I adored Molly Moon, so I'm hoping for something along those lines. 

This Week on the Blog

Monday Book Review: Altered by Jennifer Rush
Wednesday Waiting On Wednesday: Avalon

Friday The Friday Review (7/19/13)

So what books did you add to your shelves this week?

The Friday Review (7/19/13)

Welcome to The Friday Review, a weekly segment where I share what I've been reading!

CURRENTLY READING:

Rush by Eve Silver (ARC)
This was my most anticipated read of 2013, and it's turning out to be the worst book I've ever read. I have never been more shocked by a book before. The characters act contrary to their personality and break their own rules, details are over-explained and repeated yet I never really get any actual answers, tension is drowned in infodumping... Needless to say, I'm only finishing this book because I was so determined to read it, but I am a huge ball of anger and frustration at this point.

JUST FINISHED:

Miss Fortune Cookie by Lauren Bjorkman (ARC)

A cute, light, but slow read that would be better suited as a movie. Still, not bad. Review to come.

READING NEXT: 

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare (Pbk)

I've had no interest to read this book for years, and then Wednesday I was struck with the urge to read it immediately. No idea why. Luckily my library was ready to oblige by processing a brand new copy yesterday! Which was extremely lucky because every old copy was checked out due to the movie hype. Hope it's as good as everyone raves.

So what are you reading this week?

Waiting On Wednesday: Avalon

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly blogging event hosted by Breaking the Spine, in which one spotlights an upcoming release they are eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Title: Avalon

Author: Mindee Arnett

Release Date: January 21, 2014

Summary (from Goodreads):

A ragtag group of teenage mercenaries who crew the spaceship Avalon stumble upon a conspiracy that could threaten the entire galaxy in this fascinating and fast-paced sci-fi adventure from author Mindee Arnett.

Of the various star systems that make up the Confederation, most lie thousands of light-years from First Earth-and out here, no one is free. The agencies that govern the Confederation are as corrupt as the crime bosses who patrol it, and power is held by anyone with enough greed and ruthlessness to claim it. That power is derived from one thing: metatech, the devices that allow people to travel great distances faster than the speed of light.

Jeth Seagrave and his crew of teenage mercenaries have survived in this world by stealing unsecured metatech, and they're damn good at it. Jeth doesn't care about the politics or the law; all he cares about is earning enough money to buy back his parents' ship, Avalon, from his crime-boss employer and getting himself and his sister, Lizzie, the heck out of Dodge. But when Jeth finds himself in possession of information that both the crime bosses and the government are willing to kill for, he is going to have to ask himself how far he'll go to get the freedom he's wanted for so long.

Avalon is the perfect fit for teens new to sci-fi as well as seasoned sci-fi readers looking for more books in the YA space-and a great match for fans of Joss Whedon's cult hit show Firefly.

Why I'm Looking Forward To It: Being billed as Firefly meets White Cat - one of my favorite shows paired with one of my favorite books. When put together with that epic, epic movie-poster cover, and the fact that I am craving YA sci-fi something fierce right now, I cannot tell you how much I need this book. I NEED IT. My soul for an ARC.

So what book are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Review: Altered (Jennifer Rush)

Title: Altered
Series: Altered, Book 1
Author: Jennifer Rush
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Release Date: January 1, 2013
Genre: Young Adult Romantic Suspense
Rating: Older Teen (some strong language, violence, sensuality)
Told: First Person Singular (Anna), Past Tense
Format Read: ARC
Find On: Goodreads
Summary: When you can’t trust yourself, who can you believe?

Everything about Anna’s life is a secret. Her father works for the Branch at the helm of its latest project: monitoring and administering treatments to the four genetically altered boys in the lab below their farmhouse. There’s Nick, Cas, Trev . . . and Sam, who’s stolen Anna’s heart. When the Branch decides it’s time to take the boys, Sam stages an escape, killing the agents sent to retrieve them. 

Anna is torn between following Sam or staying behind in the safety of her everyday life. But her father pushes her to flee, making Sam promise to keep her away from the Branch, at all costs. There’s just one problem. Sam and the boys don’t remember anything before living in the lab—not even their true identities.

Now on the run, Anna soon discovers that she and Sam are connected in more ways than either of them expected. And if they’re both going to survive, they must piece together the clues of their past before the Branch catches up to them and steals it all away.

*          *          *

Three Words: Hot, dangerous boys.

Writing: Easy and quick - just the way I like it.

Setting: The real world with the usual secret scientific advancements. They jump between several American states over the course of the story, and while I've never been to the locations, they felt realistic enough.

Story: We start out with four hot boys locked in a girl's basement - a very good place to start, in my opinion. Under her unassuming farmhouse, Anna assists her father as he tends to four "altered" amnesiac boys, part of a secret project she knows little about. But when she helps the boys escape, she gets caught up in a mess of danger and mystery as she discovers that even her own life is not what she thinks it to be. The story pulls back and forth between fighting for their lives and following the clues Sam left for them to figure out who they were and why they were made to forget. Some of the pieces of the mystery puzzle were a bit too far-fetched for me - the whole thing felt more like a very elaborate scavenger hunt - but the progression was easy to follow.

Characters: While Anna's single-minded obsession with Sam got on my nerves at times, she was a relatively strong and capable girl, and I liked her. For the boys, they were a nicely balanced bunch, both as a whole and for Anna - Sam: strong leader and romantic interest, Trev: loyal, dependable best friend, Cas: comic relief, and Nick: dark, hostile, and devil's advocate. I loved each one individually, but it was as a group that they really shone.

Romantic Relationship: Anna and Sam's "relationship" was complicated and wrought with uncertainty, and there was a question of exactly why they liked each other that had me just as confused as them. I'll be interested to see how it progresses in the next book.

Conclusion: In many ways, I would swear Jennifer wrote this book just for me. It was a total guilty pleasure, and I'm really looking forward to Book 2: Erased.

Scribble Rating: 

4 of 5 Scribbles

Stacking the Shelves (7/13/13)

Time for another Stacking the Shelves, hosted by Tynga's Reviews, where I share the books that I've added to my shelves this week.

• Rush by Eve Silver (ARC - Traded) - It's here, it's here!!! I've been waiting to read this book forever, but I had it on a delayed trade so it didn't arrive until Thursday (talk about torture). Cannot wait to dig into this one!
• The Ward by Jordana Frankel (ARC - Traded) - Another delayed trade I've been waiting forever and a day for. Its devouring shall quickly follow that of Rush.
• Storybound by Marissa Burt (ARC - Traded) - It had me at "children go to school to learn to be characters." As a writer, this has the makings to be awesome!
• The Archived by Victoria Schwab (ARC - Traded) - I've already read it, but I know I'll definitely want to read it again.
• Flora's Fury by Ysabeau S. Wilce (ARC - Traded) - Loved the first book, so I'm looking forward to continuing Flora's zany adventures.
• Black Heart by Holly Black (ARC - Traded) - Was hoping for the original cover on the ARC, but no such luck. Still, it's paperback, and I absolutely love this series.
• Blue Exorcist 10 by Kazue Kato (PBK - Purchased New) - Back in love with this series, so back to collecting the volumes as they release.
• Ranger's Apprentice: The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan (PBK - Purchased Used) - Caught my eye and I thought it might be worth a try. Especially now that I've discovered its star average is 4.15. Wow.
• Ropemaker by Peter Dickinson (PBK - Purchased Used) - Recognized this as a book I read when I was younger. Unsure if I liked it or not, but sometimes it's fun to go back and rediscover titles from one's youth.

This Week on the Blog

Monday Book Review: Poison by Bridget Zinn
Wednesday Waiting On Wednesday: Dear Killer

Friday The Friday Review (7/13/13)
Blog Update (1) I created a Review Index - check it out here!

Blog Update (2) You can now Follow this blog via email - look for the subscription box on the sidebar! >>>

So what books did you add to your shelves this week?

The Friday Review (7/12/13)

Welcome to The Friday Review, a weekly segment where I share what I've been reading!

CURRENTLY READING:

Miss Fortune Cookie by Lauren Bjorkman (ARC)

Needed something light and this definitely fits the bill. It's cute, but kind of slow - hopefully it'll pick up soon.

JUST FINISHED:

Blue Exorcist 10 by Kazue Kato (PBK)

I'm back collecting this series again, and although it's taken another turn for the horrendously long story arc of doom, I really enjoy the originality and characters.

READING NEXT: 

Rush by Eve Silver (ARC)

I have been looking forward to this book for over a year - definitely one of my Top 3 most-excited-to-read 2013 releases. I got my copy on a delayed trade though, so it didn't arrive until yesterday afternoon (talk about torture). It'll be a miracle if I make it 24 hours without starting it. I may have actually started it already...

So what are you reading this week?

Waiting On Wednesday: Dear Killer

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly blogging event hosted by Breaking the Spine, in which one spotlights an upcoming release they are eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Title: Dear Killer

Author: Katherine Ewell

Release Date: April 1, 2014

Summary (from Goodreads):

Rule One—Nothing is right, nothing is wrong.
Rule Two—Be careful.
Rule Three—Fight using your legs whenever possible, because they’re the strongest part of your body. Your arms are the weakest.
Rule Four—Hit to kill. The first blow should be the last, if at all possible.
Rule Five—The letters are the law.

Kit takes her role as London’s notorious “Perfect Killer” seriously. The letters and cash that come to her via a secret mailbox are not a game; choosing who to kill is not an impulse decision. Every letter she receives begins with “Dear Killer,” and every time Kit murders, she leaves a letter with the dead body. Her moral nihilism and thus her murders are a way of life—the only way of life she has ever known.

But when a letter appears in the mailbox that will have the power to topple Kit’s convictions as perfectly as she commits her murders, she must make a decision: follow the only rules she has ever known, or challenge Rule One, and go from there.

Why I'm Looking Forward To It: A female teenage assassin in England! And the author is only 18! I am in definite need of more chill in my reading right now, and I believe this will fit the bill nicely.

So what book are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Review: Poison (Bridget Zinn)

Title: Poison
Series: standalone
Author: Bridget Zinn*
Publisher: Hyperion
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Told: Third Person Singular (Kyra), Past Tense
Content Rating: Teen (mild violence, minor sensuality, undergarments)
Format Read: ARC (traded)
Find it On: Goodreads
Summary:

Sixteen-year-old Kyra, a highly-skilled potions master, is the only one who knows her kingdom is on the verge of destruction—which means she’s the only one who can save it. Faced with no other choice, Kyra decides to do what she does best: poison the kingdom’s future ruler, who also happens to be her former best friend.

But, for the first time ever, her poisoned dart . . . misses.

Now a fugitive instead of a hero, Kyra is caught in a game of hide-and-seek with the king’s army and her potioner ex-boyfriend, Hal. At least she’s not alone. She’s armed with her vital potions, a too-cute pig, and Fred, the charming adventurer she can’t stop thinking about. Kyra is determined to get herself a second chance (at murder), but will she be able to find and defeat the princess before Hal and the army find her?

Kyra is not your typical murderer, and she’s certainly no damsel-in-distress—she’s the lovable and quick-witted hero of this romantic novel that has all the right ingredients to make teen girls swoon.

*          *          *

Three Words: Simplistic. Amateur. Pig.

Cover: I like the color scheme and overall set-up, but the pig feels like a photobomber. There's a too-cute pig - we get it already.

Writing: While light and comical, I struggled with the amateur writing style, and the pacing was very erratic, so I had a hard time keeping myself interested and focused.

Setting: Your typical fantasy world ruled by royals. There was magic, witches, and fantastical creatures.

Story: I felt as if I was reading an initial draft, not an edited and proofed novel. (Now, I did read the ARC, but no way could it have differed that much from the final copy.) Instead of a smooth, interwoven story, it read like a collection of mini-stories about everything that could possibly go wrong on Kyra's single-minded and highly simplistic journey to kill the princess. Every time the pacing sagged: another mini-story in which Kyra suddenly found herself in peril. She did get herself into a proper "all is lost" scenario, but it was quickly countered with exactly what Kyra needed dropped in her lap, wrapping up the mini-story in a nice, too-neat bow. I will say there were some reveals at the end that I did not see coming, but I really wasn't invested enough to have been looking for them.

Characters: Kyra was unpredictable in both age and emotion, and generally all over the place. She would act the adult one minute, with a job and boyfriend and everything, then the next she was whiny and childish and rushing about with no forethought or general plan other than "find the princess, kill the princess, save the world." Overall, I didn't care for her. I did like companion and romantic-interest Fred though, with his easy, fun personality, his canine companion, and of course his name. Seriously, Fred? In a fantasy setting? And considering who he was? (Which is a total spoiler, so no hints here.) As for Rosie (aka the too-cute pig), her charm did not enchant me as it has most. Maybe it was simply because I don't particularly care for pigs as pets.

Conclusion: This should've been a book I fell in love with, but I just couldn't connect with the writing and amateur storytelling. Most have loved this book though, so be sure to check out some of the positive reviews before deciding whether to read it or not.

*Bridget died of cancer in 2011, before this books released.

Scribble Rating: 

2 of 5 Scribbles

Stacking the Shelves (7/6/13)

Be sure to check out my review of Indelible by Dawn Metcalf and enter to win signed swag!!!

Time for another Stacking the Shelves, hosted by Tynga's Reviews, where I share the books that I've added to my shelves this week.

• Alienated by Melissa Landers (ARC - Traded) - Thank you Hannah (@inkyreads) for trading this with me!!! I needed this book like water. LIKE WATER, I SAY.
• The Shadow Society by Marie Rutkoski (ARC - Traded) - Sounded interesting, so thought I'd give it a try.
• The Rules for Disappearing by Ashley Elston (ARC - Traded) - I need to read more contemporary, and I've been hearing good things about it!
• Born of Illusion by Teri Brown (ARC - Traded) - I'm usually not much for historical, but I've been hearing awesome things about this one, so definitely looking forward to it.
• Luminous by Dawn Metcalf (HBK - Traded) - Dawn's new release, Indelible, was so original and the writing so unique that I couldn't help but scramble to get my hands on her debut novel. Considering it's out of print, I got extremely lucky to find someone to trade with!

This Week on the Blog

Monday Book Review (& Giveaway): Indelible by Dawn Metcalf
Wednesday Waiting On Wednesday: Rebel Belle

Friday The Friday Review (7/5/13)

So what books did you add to your shelves this week?