WWW (34) and Waiting On Wednesday (July 18th, 2012): Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

W. W. W. Wednesday is hosted by Should Be Reading a great blog that I subscribe to. Here's how it works... Each Wednesday I will answer the following questions:

What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you'll read next?


I've been working more on playing catch-up with my reviews and have spent less time than I would have liked to reading, but what I've loved what read so far this week!

What are you currently reading?

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare~ As promised last week, I'm FINALLY reading this book, and so far, it's spectacular!  I may be finished by the time this post goes live, so look for my review over the next few days!

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate~ I'm reading this to my 7 year old daughter and it's just great!  Such a warm, gorgeous, uplifting story!  I hope people still read this book 50 years from now!



What did you recently finish reading?

Stupid Fast by Geoff Herbach~ Not at all what I expected when I started reading this book.  It's definitely a coming-of-age novel,but it is so much more.  It was emotionally charged, funny, and honest.  A great book for teen boys!  Review coming soon.

Lies, Knives, and Girls In Red Dresses by Ron Koertge~ Pretty brilliant!  Not sure who its audience is.  I think adults would enjoy it more than teens, but I don't think they'll pick it up.  They should!  Read my review HERE.

Quarantine: The Loners by Lex Thomas~ A great premise, but disturbingly violent and graphic.  Definitely not what I expected!  Read my full review HERE.




What do you think you'll read next?

Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard~ I never got to this one this past week, so it is next on my list.  I'm really, really looking forward to it!  Look for my review next week!

The Goddess Legacy by Aimee Carter~ I was a little late to the party with this series, but I'm caught up now!  I can't wait to read the individual stories of all the other gods and goddesses of Olympus through Aimee Carter's eyes!  Review to come!

For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund~ I absolutely LOVE the cover of this book, but I was on the fence as to whether I would read it or not.  Persuasion is not my favorite Jane Austen novel, so I wasn't sure I wanted to read a modern retelling, but I have heard so many RAVE reviews of this book, that I am now dying to read it!  Stay tuned!

"Waiting On" Wednesday is another fun blog event. Hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, this event gives us a chance to talk about the books we anxiously await the release of. Since there is ALWAYS a looooooong list of books I'm waiting on (I actually keep a spreadsheet), I figured this is one that I MUST do.


Since today is MY BIRTHDAY, if any of you have an advance copy of the below book, and want to share, I will graciously accept!  ;-)

Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

A world-defying love is put to the ultimate test in the heart-stopping sequel to Veronica Rossi's "masterpiece," Under the Never Sky. (Examiner.com)

It's been months since Aria last saw Perry. Months since Perry was named Blood Lord of the Tides, and Aria was charged with an impossible mission. Now, finally, they are about to be reunited. But their reunion is far from perfect. The Tides don't take kindly to Aria, a former Dweller. And with the worsening Aether storms threatening the tribe's precarious existence, Aria begins to fear that leaving Perry behind might be the only way to save them both.

Threatened by false friends, hidden enemies, and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder, Can their love survive through the ever night?

In this second book in her spellbinding Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi combines fantasy and dystopian elements to create a captivating love story as perilous as it is unforgettable.
(Courtesy of the HarperCollins Children's Winter 2013 Catalog)

I adored Veronica Rossi's debut novel, Under the Never Sky (read my review HERE).  It was one of the first books I read in 2012 and it is still, 100+ books later, one of my favorites.  I can't wait to find out where Aria and Perry end up and whether or not they can survive the harsh realities they are going to face.  Also, that cover!  Perry is hot stuff!  Loving him taking the place of Aria from the Under the Never Sky cover.  It makes me wonder who will grace book three's cover...  Cannot wait!

Publisher:  HarperCollins

Publication Date:  January 8th, 2013

My Expected Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★  

What are YOU Waiting On this week?

WWW (32) and Waiting On Wednesday (May 30th, 2012): UnWholly by Neal Shusterman

W. W. W. Wednesday is hosted by Should Be Reading a great blog that I subscribe to. Here's how it works... Each Wednesday I will answer the following questions:

What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you'll read next?

I'm excited to be back to my weekly memes and I couldn't have picked a better week since I have six books going at the moment...

What are you currently reading?

Arise by Tara Hudson~  This is the sequel to Tara's 2011 debut, Hereafter, which I loved (read my review HERE).  I'm only about a third of the way in, but I'm really enjoying it so far. Look for my review later this week.

Fated by Alyson Noel~  I've been looking forward to this book.  I love her Riley Bloom series, but not so much her Immortals series. So far, this book is shaping up to be a good one.  Stay tuned.

Immortal City by Scott Speer~  I'm buddy reading this one with my oldest daughter, and so far it is excellent.  It's quite original, and I'm having a difficult time controlling my urge to read ahead of her....

On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder~  My younger daughter and I are still plugging away on the Little House series.  Our goal is to finish by the end of summer.  I love this series, and this is one of my favorites!

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien~  I'm reading this to my son so that we can go to see the movie when it comes out (squee!).  This is one of my favorite books of all time and he is LOVING it!

Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James~ I had to see for myself what all the hype is about.  Honestly, I'm having an extremely difficult time getting through it.  The writing is just so bad...




What did you recently finish reading?

The Difference Between You and Me by Madeline George~  This book was a decent LGBT coming of age story.  It wasn't my favorite, and I'm certainly glad I got it from the library, but I liked it well enough.  Full review to come...

Dreamless by Josephine Angelini~  This book is the sequel to her 2011 debut, Starcrossed (read my review HERE).  It was one of my my most anticipated 2012 releases, and I was not disappointed!  It was great!  Read my review HERE.

Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood~  An extremely good 2012 debut.  I love stories about witches, and although I'm not a big fan of Historical Fiction, I quite enjoyed this book.  Full review coming soon.

Thumped by Megan McCafferty~ This is the follow-up to last year's phenomenal Bumped (read my review HERE).  It was just as good, and much different than I expected it to be.  It was one of those read-in-a-day books.  Full review coming soon.

Insurgent by Veronica Roth~ Another sequel to a beloved 2011 debut; I loved Divergent (read my review HERE), and I loved Insurgent just as much.  The next year is going to be painful, waiting for the final installment!




What do you think you'll read next?

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo~ This book releases next week and since I have heard such wonderful things, it has been moved to the top of my TBR.  Look for a review sometime this weekend.

Timepiece by Myra McEntire~ I am so excited to read this! Its predecessor, 2011 debut, Hourglass, was one of my favorite books last year (read my review HERE), and I've been waiting a long time to read this!  It releases on June 12th, so look my my review in the days before.

Underworld by Meg Cabot~  I loved the first book in this series, Abandon (read my review HERE), and have been looking forward to this. I just picked up my copy the other day, and am looking forward to digging in!

"Waiting On" Wednesday is another fun blog event. Hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, this event gives us a chance to talk about the books we anxiously await the release of. Since there is ALWAYS a looooooong list of books I'm waiting on (I actually keep a spreadsheet), I figured this is one that I MUST do.


I have been waiting for the cover of this week's book to be revealed for ages so that I could highlight it.  Now that it has been, I can...

UnWholly by Neal Shusterman

Thanks to Connor, Lev, and Risa — and their high-profile revolt at Happy Jack Harvest Camp — people can no longer turn a blind eye to unwinding. Ridding society of troublesome teens while simultaneously providing much-needed tissues for transplant might be convenient, but its morality has finally been brought into question. However, unwinding has become big business, and there are powerful political and corporate interests that want to see it not only continue, but also expand to the unwinding of prisoners and the impoverished.

Cam is a product of unwinding; made entirely out of the parts of other unwinds, he is a teen who does not technically exist. A futuristic Frankenstein, Cam struggles with a search for identity and meaning and wonders if a rewound being can have a soul. And when the actions of a sadistic bounty hunter cause Cam’s fate to become inextricably bound with the fates of Connor, Risa, and Lev, he’ll have to question humanity itself.

Rife with action and suspense, this riveting companion to the perennially popular Unwind challenges assumptions about where life begins and ends—and what it means to live.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

Unwind is one of my all-time favorite books and Neal Shusterman is probably my favorite YA author- he is brilliant! When I heard that he was writing UnWholly way, way back when, I was so excited I could barely contain myself. As he wrote the book, he sporadically tweeted his progress, and it made me that much more eager to get my hands on a copy! Now its release date is only a few months away, and I am beside myself with anticipation! This is, hands down, my most "Waited On" book of 2012 and August 28th can't come soon enough!

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: August 28th, 2012

My Expected Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★+++++

What are YOU Waiting On this week?

WWW (31) and Waiting On Wednesday (April 18th, 2012): The Spindlers by Lauren Oliver

W. W. W. Wednesday is hosted by Should Be Reading a great blog that I subscribe to. Here's how it works... Each Wednesday I will answer the following questions:

What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you'll read next?

I've had sick kids the past two weeks, and now I'm sick, so while I haven't gotten much else done, I have done a good amount to reading (silver lining, right?).  Let's see what we have here...

What are you currently reading?

Whisper by Alyson Noel~ I really enjoyed the first three books in the Riley Bloom series, and I am enjoying this one just as much.  If you want to read my reviews of the other three books, click HERE for Radiance and Shimmer, and HERE for Dreamland.

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder~ Plugging through this series with my seven year old daughter.  I think I love these books each time I read them, but this is my least favorite of the series.  Pa is such a dumbass...

Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins~ I'm still buddy-reading this with my *almost* 11 year old daughter and I'm having a very difficult time keeping my promise to not read ahead.  Last week she went on a three night school trip and forbade me to read ahead.  Brutal!

The Sword Thief (The 39 Clues, Book #3) by Peter Lerangis~ I'm reading this series with my seven year old son.  We took a break to read Liesl & Po, but now we're back to The 39 Clues.  We just started this one last night, so I'm not really sure I have an opinion yet...

What did you recently finish reading?

The Selection by Kiera Cass~ This book was pretty good.  It had gotten such mixed reviews, so I wasn't sure what to expect.  I liked it and am looking forward to the 2nd book next year.  Read my full review HERE.

Dearly Departed by Lia Habel~ This book was really awesome, and not at all what I expected.  I was so pleasantly surprised with what I got.  I listened to the audio, and highly recommend it as it is done by an ensemble cast.  My full review will be up later this week.

Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver~ This was a re-read, but this time I read it to my son, Benjamin.  He got so into it, and loved it SO much.  He has spent lots of time on the website, and although it's unrelated, he is VERY eagerly awaiting Lauren's next MG novel, The Spindlers.

The Book of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman~ This is not your typical YA book at all.  It definitely reads more like an adult novel.  It is The Da Vinci Code meets A Great and Terrible Beauty.  I love it when YA authors show respect to their readers by assuming they are intelligent enough to handle a book like this.  Bravo to Robin Wasserman. Full review HERE.

What do you think you'll read next?

Breaking Beautiful by Jennifer Shaw Wolf~ This is my next book for review.  I've been excited to read it for awhile, and although it's gotten some mixed reviews, I still have pretty high expectations.  Stay tuned!

The Fire (Witch & Wizard, Book #3) by James Patterson~ Yes, I think I'm finally going to get to read this.  It's been on my shelf for FAR too long!  I loved the first two books, so I hope this one measures up! 

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa~ I've heard absolutely BRILLIANT things about this one.  I have a bunch of for-review book for next week, and this one is huge, but I think I need to fit it in, like, right now!  Stay tuned!

"Waiting On" Wednesday is another fun blog event. Hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, this event gives us a chance to talk about the books we anxiously await the release of. Since there is ALWAYS a looooooong list of books I'm waiting on (I actually keep a spreadsheet), I figured this is one that I MUST do.

There are almost too many "Waiting On" books to choose from right now, but it must be done.  Since I mentioned this one above, and since my Benjamin is not the only one eagerly awaiting this book, I am going to highlight...

The Spindlers by Lauren Oliver

From New York Times bestselling author Lauren Oliver comes a bewitching story about the reaches of loyalty, the meaning of love, and the enduring power of hope.

Looking across the breakfast table one morning, twelve-year-old Liza feels dread wash over her. Although her younger brother, Patrick, appears the same, Liza knows that he is actually quite different. She is certain that the spindlers-evil, spiderlike beings-came during the night and stole his soul. And Liza is also certain that she is the only one who can rescue him.

Armed with little more than her wits and a huge talking rat for a guide, Liza descends into the dark and ominous underground to save Patrick's soul. Her quest is far from easy, and the road to the spindlers' nests is riddled with danger. She must brave tree snakes, the Court of Stones, and shape-shifting serpents before facing her greatest challenge in the spindlers' lair, where more than just Patrick's soul is at stake.

Evocative of Alice in Wonderland as well as Neil Gaiman's modern classic, Coraline, this new middle-grade novel follows Liza as she embarks on a daring quest through the dark and fascinating world that exists beneath our own.

(Courtesy of HarperCollins)

I don't usually review Middle Grade fiction on this blog, but occasionally a book will come along that is so brilliantly done, that I have to mention it. I am a Lauren Oliver fangirl, and I loved her first foray into MG, Liesl & Po. Nothing brought me more joy than to share it with my son. Lauren gained a fan in him, and now we are on pins and needles together for her next book! :-)

Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books

Publication Date: October 2nd, 2012

My Expected Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 

What are YOU Waiting On this week?

WWW (30) and Waiting on Wednesday (March 28th, 2012):

W. W. W. Wednesday is hosted by Should Be Reading a great blog that I subscribe to. Here's how it works... Each Wednesday I will answer the following questions:

What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you'll read next?


I wasn't really planning on doing a post this week because not a whole lot has changed from last week.  I'm doing the same reads with my kids that I have been doing for weeks, and I haven't gotten to do a huge amount of other reading with Spring Break beginning Friday and the arrival of relatives on Saturday.  That said, this is one of my favorite memes, so...


What are you currently reading?

Dead to You by Lisa McMann~ I've put this one off for far too long... I'm almost finished, and it is really good.  I'm a Lisa McMann fan, and this is my 2nd favorite of her books (my favorite is her MG Fantasy, The Unwanteds).  Keep an eye out over the next day or two for my review.  In the meantime, you can read my review of The Unwanteds HERE.

Chomp by Carl Hiaasen~  I knew I wasn't going to have time to read this before its release, so I had my hubby and daughter do a buddy-read of my ARC, with the intention of them guest review it.  After hearing them talk about how much they both loved it (and my husband is a REALLY hard sell on MG/YA fiction!), I decided that I really MUST read it myself.  Stay tuned.

What did you recently finish reading?

Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter~ I liked The Goddess Test, I loved Goddess Interrupted.  The unexpected twist and cliffhanger ending pissed me off a bit, but it served its purpose because I will be begging HarlequinTeen for a chance to review The Goddess Inheritance.  Read my review of Goddess Interrupted HERE.

After the Snow by S.D. Crockett~ This is one of those books that it written in local dialect/slang, and I had a really hard time with it.  I felt the same when I read Blood Red Road by Moira Young, but when I listened to it in audio format I loved it. That said, I am reserving my review of this book with the hope that it will come out in audio because I liked the premise, but hated the writing style...

Croak by Gina Damico~ Hands down, one of my favorite debuts of 2012.  Croak was made of AWESOME, and I am thrilled that HMH has fast tracked the sequel, Scorch, because I am SO excited to read more.  Do yourself a favor, and read this book ASAP.  Read my review HERE.


What do you think you'll read next?

Revived by Cat Patrick~ I just got this in the mail the other day, and it is next on my TBR.  I really enjoyed Cat's debut from last spring, Forgotten, and I am looking forward to reading this one.  I love the idea and the cover is compelling.  It's release date it May 12th, 2012, so look for my review at the end of April.

Life Is But a Dream by Brian James~ I'm a little behind on my ARCs...  This one came out yesterday and I should have already read it, but time management has definitely been somewhat of an issue.  This is getting read after Revived, for sure...

The Selection by Kiera Cass~ I got this one in the mail rather unexpectedly yesterday, and it is taking all my willpower not to dig in right now!  Since I am a grown-up, I am exhibiting self-control and reading my other books first.  Stay tuned!

"Waiting On" Wednesday is another fun blog event. Hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, this event gives us a chance to talk about the books we anxiously await the release of. Since there is ALWAYS a looooooong list of books I'm waiting on (I actually keep a spreadsheet), I figured this is one that I MUST do.


Lots, and I mean LOTS of publishers have released their Fall 2012 catalogs over the past couple of weeks, and it's like I was when I was a kid and the Sears Christmas Catalog would come.  There are so many great books coming out! 

Foretold: 14 Stories of Prophecy and Prediction edited by Carrie Ryan

Have you ever been tempted to look into the future? To challenge predictions? To question fate?

It’s human nature to wonder about life’s twists and turns. But is the future already written—or do you have the power to alter it?

From fantastical prophecies to predictions of how the future will transpire, Foretold is a collection of stories about our universal fascination with life’s unknowns and of what is yet to come as interpreted by 14 of young adult fiction’s brightest stars.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

Instead of gushing over the many reasons I am excited for this book, I will just list who the writers of the 14 short stories are, and that should cover it.  I will say that I am a HUGE, HUGE Carrie Ryan fangirl, so anything that has her name on it is a MUST read for me.  Now for the list...  Ready?  (Click the author's name for the Goodreads profile)  Richelle Mead, Simone Elkeles, Meg Cabot, Heather Brewer, Saundra Mitchell, Diana Peterfreund, Laini Taylor, Margaret Stohl, Matt de la Pena, Kami Garcia, Malinda Lo, Lisa McMann, Michael Grant, and, of course, Carrie Ryan.  Need I say more?!?!?

Publisher:  Random House Children's Books

Publication Date:  August 28th, 2012

My Expected Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ +++

What are YOU Waiting On this week?