Waiting on Wednesday: Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick

****"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill at the Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.****

My pick this week is:



Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick
Expected release date: October 7th, 2014
from Simon and Schuster


Sometimes danger is hard to see... until it’s too late.

Britt Pfeiffer has trained to backpack the Teton Range, but she isn't prepared when her ex-boyfriend, who still haunts her every thought, wants to join her. Before Britt can explore her feelings for Calvin, an unexpected blizzard forces her to seek shelter in a remote cabin, accepting the hospitality of its two very handsome occupants—but these men are fugitives, and they take her hostage.

In exchange for her life, Britt agrees to guide the men off the mountain. As they set off, Britt knows she must stay alive long enough for Calvin to find her. The task is made even more complicated when Britt finds chilling evidence of a series of murders that have taken place there... and in uncovering this, she may become the killer’s next target.

But nothing is as it seems in the mountains, and everyone is keeping secrets, including Mason, one of her kidnappers. His kindness is confusing Britt. Is he an enemy? Or an ally?

BLACK ICE is New York Times bestselling author Becca Fitzpatrick’s riveting romantic thriller set against the treacherous backdrop of the mountains of Wyoming. Falling in love should never be this dangerous…

Every time I hear about this book I get a different vibe from it. I feel like the book will be a lot like that. It seems super scary and twisty and different. On top of all that my need for a new book from this author has been getting stronger and stronger. I know Becca Fitzpatrick will deliver.

Allegiant by Veronica Roth Review

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Katherine Tegen
Source: Bought
Third and final book in the Divergent series
The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories. 
But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love. 
Told from a riveting dual perspective, Allegiant, by #1 New York Times best-selling author Veronica Roth, brings the Divergent series to a powerful conclusion while revealing the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent.

Review
I wasn't sure if I wanted to review this. I've seen a lot of different opinions but I wanted to get my opinion out there. This book caused a lot of controversy. I thought it was an amazing ending. It was everything I wanted and more. 

This concludes Tris and Four's story. They've been given the chance to explore a new world. The more they explore, the more they learn. They discover some dangerous things no one wants them to know about. As things get dangerous, they must decide what life they want to live. 

Tris never ceases to amaze me. She continuously grows as a character. Her strength is unbelievable. She really takes charge of her life and the lives around her. I loved getting to see so much of Four. He is perfect in every way possible. His story definitely has it's ups and downs. I'm honestly so sad to say goodbye to these characters. I'm gonna miss them so much! 

This might have had my favorite storyline out of the whole series. We got to see and learn so much. It felt like we were right there with them. I loved getting to see a new world. I loved meeting some new characters. This story was impossible to predict. I was shocked at some of the twists. I loved all the action. I know there's been some mixed feelings about the ending. And, I totally understand it. Personally, I loved it. It wrapped up the story well. There was meaning behind it. It surprised the crap out of me. But, it fit the story. I don't know how else you really could have ended it. Overall I'm so sad to see this series end. But, it ended perfectly! 

Waiting on Wednesday: The Perilous Sea by Sherry Thomas

****"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill at the Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.****

My pick this week is:



The Perilous Sea by Sherry Thomas

Expected publication: August 26th 2014 by Balzer + Bray

After spending the summer away from each other, Titus and Iolanthe (still disguised as Archer Fairfax) are eager to return to Eton College to resume their training to fight the Bane. Although no longer bound to Titus by a blood oath, Iolanthe is more committed than ever to fulfilling her destiny—especially with the agents of Atlantis quickly closing in.

Soon after arriving at school, though, Titus makes a shocking discovery, one that makes him question everything he previously believed about their mission. Faced with this devastating realization, Iolanthe is forced to come to terms with her new role, while Titus must choose between following his mother's prophecies—and forging a divergent path to an unknowable future.

This was my my wanted at TLA this year. I NEEDED it. I was lucky enough to get a copy :). I'm actually currently reading this pretty. I absolutely adored The Burning Sky. I have incredibly high expectations for this one. So far, its meeting them. 

Let me know what you guys are dying for this week in the comments!

Top Ten Tuesday (57)

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists

This weeks topic is Top Ten Characters Who X( fill in the blank). This is a super fun topic! I'm going with Top Ten Character Who Recently Stole My Heart.

1. The whole gang from Unbreakable by Kami Garcia. 
2. Alice and Harvey from Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy.
3. Guy and Madox from Fire and Flood by Victoria Scott. 
4. Cress and Throne from Cress by Marissa Meyer.
5. Isaiah from Crash Into You by Katie McGarry.
6. Cath and Levi from Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell.
7. A from Every Day by Daivd Levithan.
8. Willow from Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
9. Iolanthe and Titus from The Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas
10. Dante Walker from The Collector by Victoria Scott

Those are my picks for this week! I tried to pick from whatever I read these last few months. Let me know in the comments what you guys would pick!

Texas Librarian Association 2014 Conference

This war third year attending TLA. We are so lucky to be able to attend every year! This year it took place in San Antonio, Texas. So we had a little road trip. We packed up Jasmine's little blue bug and we're off on an adventure.

We want to give a big thank you to all the publishers and authors for coming. We know it isn't easy dealing with us crazy bloggers! It means a lot to us that we can be involved alongside the librarians :)

Over the past few years, we've made some amazing friends. That is honestly the best part of the conference. You get to socialize with people you don't get to see all the time. You get to meet publishers and make connections. People will remember you if you've been before. Plus there's a million signings going on at all times. It's an amazing chance to meet some of your favorite authors. So we're gonna show you all our pictures. We aren't going to show off all the books we got. If you check our Monthly Wrap Ups you'll get to see what we read as we read it. Or you can go see Marissa's Top Ten Tuesday. A lot of the books we're going to be reading these next few months will probably be TLA books. Check the bottom of the post for a giveaway!

Us with Sophie Jordan, Laini Taylor, Kiersten White, Jim Di Bartolo,  Kornpop the Klown, and Chris our favorite Tigers Curse Guy.

Us with our favorite bloggers Mary, Bex, and Alex. Jasmine with Mindy McGinnis. Us with Kami Garcia.

Us with Alexandra Bracken, Jennifer E. Smith, Polly Holyoke, Jenny Han, and David Levithan.

Marissa and the hilarious Elizabeth Eulberg. She hinted a little about her next book. Get excited!

We have a few giveaways in mind. But for right now we're only going to do one. It's for an entire signed hardcover set of the Shiver series by the super awesome Maggie Stiefvater, which is one of our favorite series ever. This giveaway is US ONLY.

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Waiting on Wednesday: Talon by Julie Kagawa

****"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill at the Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.****

My pick this week is:





Talon by Julie Kagawa
Expected release date: October 28th, 2014
from Harlequin Teen


Long ago, dragons were hunted to near extinction by the Order of St. George, a legendary society of dragon slayers. Hiding in human form and growing their numbers in secret, the dragons of Talon have become strong and cunning, and they're positioned to take over the world with humans none the wiser.

Ember and Dante Hill are the only sister and brother known to dragonkind. Trained to infiltrate society, Ember wants to live the teen experience and enjoy a summer of freedom before taking her destined place in Talon. But destiny is a matter of perspective, and a rogue dragon will soon challenge everything Ember has been taught. As Ember struggles to accept her future, she and her brother are hunted by the Order of St. George.

Soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian has a mission to seek and destroy all dragons, and Talon's newest recruits in particular. But he cannot kill unless he is certain he has found his prey: and nothing is certain about Ember Hill. Faced with Ember's bravery, confidence and all-too-human desires, Garret begins to question everything that the Order has ingrained in him: and what he might be willing to give up to find the truth about dragons.



I already had a different pick for this week, but as soon as I saw this cover I changed my mind. It's so pretty. I wish I didn't have to wait so long to see it in person. I'm a huge Julie Kagawa fan and don't think I've ever read anything about dragons. The wait for this is going to kill me.


That's what I'm waiting on this week! What about you? Let me know in the comments.

Top Ten Tuesday (56)

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists

 

This weeks topic was bookish things I want to own, but I couldn't think of very many at the moment so I decided to rebel a little. Instead. I'm doing Top Ten Books I Got At TLA. I got a plenty of great books that I'm super excited about so it was hard to just pick ten. Keep an eye out in the future for early reviews or giveaways for some of these!

• Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor-Since this came out a week ago, I obviously didn't get an ARC of it, but I don't care. I'm so excited for this that I can't even. Nope. Can't
• Mortal Heart by Robin LaFevers-Getting an ARC of Grave Mercy at TLA two years ago is what started my love for this series, so it seems fitting. I still can't believe they had this and that I got one.
• Trial by Fire by Josephine Angelini-I seriously loved her Starcrossed trilogy, so of course I'm going to read anything she writes. Plus this is about witches. And Salem. And alternate universes. Yes please.
• The Murder Complex by Lindsey Cummings- I feel like I've been waiting for this book for ages. It sounds so action packed and epic and the cover is fabulous. Plus Lindsey is a local author who is super lovely.
• Neptune Red by Leila Howland-I got Neptune Blue last year at TLA and I adored it. Even though I'm kind of scared for my babies, I'm still dying to read this.
• Say What You Will by Cammie McGovern-I've been hearing a lot of buzz about this lately and I just really want to read it. It sounds so different, but in a good way. Hopefully it will cure my contemporary fix, even if only temporarily.
• In the Shadows by Kiersten White and Jim Di Bartolo-Not only is this written by the awesome Kiersten White, but the illustrations are gorgeous.
• The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith-This book actually came out today and I'm super happy that I already have it. I just recently read the other two books in this kind of series and I loved them. This one sounds just as adorable.
• Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson-Something about the synopsis for this one reminded me of Grave Mercy so I immediately wanted to read it. I'm a sucker for historical fiction.
• Second Star by Alyssa B. Sheinmel-Not only is this a retelling of Peter Pan, it's one where teenaged Wendy is torn between Peter and Hook. I'm not normally a fan of love triangles, but dang.

Those are my picks this week! Even though I didn't stick to the topic, I would love to see your posts if you did, Be sure to link in the comments.



Blog Tour: #16 Things I Thought Were True by Janet Gurtler

Hey guys! I was lucky enough to be able to take part in this blog tour! I hope you enjoy the post! Be sure to check out all the other stops as well.

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Sourcebook Fire
Source: Author
Stand Alone
Heart attacks happen to other people #thingsIthoughtweretrue
When Morgan's mom gets sick, it's hard not to panic. Without her mother, she would have no one—until she finds out the dad who walked out on her as a baby isn't as far away as she thought...
Adam is a stuck-up, uptight jerk #thingsIthoughtweretrue
Now that they have a summer job together, Morgan's getting to know the real Adam, and he's actually pretty sweet...in a nerdy-hot kind of way. He even offers to go with her to find her dad. Road trip, anyone?
5000 Twitter followers are all the friends I need #thingsIthoughtweretrue
With Adam in the back seat, a hyper chatterbox named Amy behind the wheel, and plenty of Cheetos to fuel their trip, Morgan feels ready for anything. She's not expecting a flat tire, a missed ferry, a fake girlfriend...and that these two people she barely knew before the summer started will become the people she can't imagine living without.

Review
This was my first with this author.I really enjoyed this one. It was a short, fun read.

This tells the story of Morgan. Her mom suddenly becomes sick. She finally tells Morgan her fathers name. Amy and Adamn decide to accompany Morgan on a road trip to meet her father for the first time. As they band together, Morgan realizes all she's been missing out on,

This had some pretty amazing characters. Morgan took some getting ti know. Once you get used to her, shes very enjoyable. I loved seeing her grow as a person.Facing her past wasn't easy but she never gave up. Amy was honestly the best part of the story. I loved how comfortable she was with herself. She didn't care what anyone thought about her. She had a rocking personality. I loved Adam. He was the brains of the group. I loved how sweet he was. He too had a rocking personality. I loved seeing these guys bang together!

This book has a lot going on. It was a tad all over the place. But it kept my attention easily. It was difficult to put down. It was nice and short. I loved the road trip. I loved the Twitter aspect. I loved all the family aspects also. There was a nice humor to the storyline. It still had its serious moments though. I thought it had a nice balance between serious and humor. Overall I really enjoyed this story! It was very well written. I can't wait to see more from this author! 

    


About the author:
Janet lives near the Canadian Rockies with her husband and son and a little dog named Bruce. She does not live in an Igloo or play hockey, but she does love maple syrup and says “eh” a lot.
Janet only gives 5 stars to the books she reviews because she is an author herself and knows that no book can appeal to everyone, but like a child, it is very special to the creator.
I’M NOT HER was published by Sourcebooks Teen Fire in May 2011.
IF I TELL released Oct 1, 2011 from Sourcebooks Teen Fire.
WHO I KISSED Sourcebooks Fire 2012.
Janet’s work will also appear in the THE FIRST TIME anthology, DEAR TEEN ME anthology and WHO DONE IT anthology.

Author Links: 
  

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All Our Yesterday's by Cristin Terrill Review

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Source: Conference
First book in the All Our Yesterday's series
What would you change?
Imprisoned in the heart of a secret military base, Em has nothing except the voice of the boy in the cell next door and the list of instructions she finds taped inside the drain.
Only Em can complete the final instruction. She’s tried everything to prevent the creation of a time machine that will tear the world apart. She holds the proof: a list she has never seen before, written in her own hand. Each failed attempt in the past has led her to the same terrible present—imprisoned and tortured by a sadistic man called the doctor while war rages outside. 
Marina has loved her best friend, James, since they were children. A gorgeous, introverted science prodigy from one of America’s most famous families, James finally seems to be seeing Marina in a new way, too. But on one disastrous night, James’s life crumbles, and with it, Marina’s hopes for their future. Marina will protect James, no matter what. Even if it means opening her eyes to a truth so terrible that she may not survive it... at least, not as the girl she once was. Em and Marina are in a race against time that only one of them can win.
All Our Yesterdays is a wrenching, brilliantly plotted story of fierce love, unthinkable sacrifice, and the infinite implications of our every choice.

Review
I didn't know much about this before reading. I wasn't sure if I would enjoy it or not. Of course I ended up loving it! 

This tells the story of Em and Finn. They have returned to the past in hopes of saving the world. But, their past selves have no idea what's going on. And, James will stop at nothing to change the world. 

This did get a little confusing with the past and present characters. But, the characters were fantastic. I loved them to pieces. I loved that they were the same people but with different goals and lives. Finn had to be my favorite with Em coming in a close second. It was cool seeing the older and the young versions of them. I wished for more of the older James but I really enjoyed the young version of him. 

I don't see time travel done a lot. I really enjoy it though. I loved the concept of this story. It was impossible to put down. It was incredibly fast paced and action packed. I loved all the twists and turns. I loved the way the two stories wrapped into one. I thought everything was very well done. I can't wait to continue this series! 

Waiting on Wednesday: Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

****"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill at the Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.****

My pick this week is:

Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

Expected publication: June 17th 2014 by Henry Holt and Co

The capital has fallen. The Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne.

Now the nation's fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker, and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army.

Deep in an ancient network of tunnels and caverns, a weakened Alina must submit to the dubious protection of the Apparat and the zealots who worship her as a Saint. Yet her plans lie elsewhere, with the hunt for the elusive firebird and the hope that an outlaw prince still survives.

Alina will have to forge new alliances and put aside old rivalries as she and Mal race to find the last of Morozova's amplifiers. But as she begins to unravel the Darkling's secrets, she reveals a past that will forever alter her understanding of the bond they share and the power she wields. The firebird is the one thing that stands between Ravka and destruction—and claiming it could cost Alina the very future she’s fighting for.

I'm kinda cheating with this one since I haven't read the second one. But, I know without reading Siege and Storm that I'm dying for this pretty. I plan on buying and reading Siege and Storm and Ruin and Rising back to back. I can't wait to finish out this amazing series. It will be well worth the wait! 

Asylum by Madeline Roux Review

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Harper Teen
Source: Conference
First book in the Asylum series
For sixteen-year-old Dan Crawford, New Hampshire College Prep is more than a summer program—it's a lifeline. An outcast at his high school, Dan is excited to finally make some friends in his last summer before college. But when he arrives at the program, Dan learns that his dorm for the summer used to be a sanatorium, more commonly known as an asylum. And not just any asylum—a last resort for the criminally insane.
As Dan and his new friends, Abby and Jordan, explore the hidden recesses of their creepy summer home, they soon discover it's no coincidence that the three of them ended up here. Because the asylum holds the key to a terrifying past. And there are some secrets that refuse to stay buried.
Featuring found photos of unsettling history and real abandoned asylums and filled with chilling mystery and page-turning suspense, Madeleine Roux's teen debut, Asylum, is a horror story that treads the line between genius and insanity.

Review
Talk about a perfect pre Halloween book. I'm telling you this book was so creepy. It was set in an asylum and it had pictures! 

This tells the story of Dan, Abby, and Jordan. They are taking a summer program. As the days pass, things get weird. All they want to do is finish out the program. But someone is determined to make things difficult for them. 

This had some pretty great characters. I thought they were very well done. I liked that they stuck together. I liked that they stuck up for themselves. I loved that they didn't get scared or give up. If I was in that position I would run away screaming. It was a little difficult to keep up with the past story. I had some troubles understanding it. 

This was a very suspenseful read. You didn't see anything coming. It was pretty action packed. The pictures really added an effect to the story. This is a pretty complex story. If you don't pay attention, your going to miss something. Overall I thought this was a super fun, creeptastic read. It was very well done. I can't wait to see more from this author! 

March Monthly Wrap Up

Hey guys! We hope you had an amazing month. Check out our wrap ups below. Let us know in the comments what your reading plans are for this month! 

Marissa's Wrap Up

Jasmine's Wrap Up 

Waiting on Wednesday: City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare

****"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill at the Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.****

My pick this week is:



City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare
Expected release date: May 27th, 2014
from Margaret K. McElderry
*spoilers*

ΕRCHOMAI, SEBASTIAN HAD SAID.

I am coming.

Darkness returns to the Shadowhunter world. As their society falls apart around them, Clary, Jace, Simon and their friends must band together to fight the greatest evil the Nephilim have ever faced: Clary’s own brother. Nothing in the world can defeat him — must they journey to another world to find the chance? Lives will be lost, love sacrificed, and the whole world changed in the sixth and last installment of the Mortal Instruments series!

Since I'm currently rereading the series, I thought now would be the perfect time to finally pick this book for my WoW. I hadn't before cause it should be obvious by now how impatiently I am waiting for this. I don't really even know what to say. I'm terrified for this book. But in a good way. In the same way I'm terrified for every one of Cassie's books.


If I'm unreachable on my birthday, you now know why.


That's my pick for this week. Is anybody else waiting on this? Or really, is anyone not waiting on this?! Let me know in the comments!

Top Ten Tuesday (55)



Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists

 

This weeks topic is Top Ten "Gateway" Books/Authors In My Reading Journey. This is actually pretty perfect because I'm currently rereading one of my favorite series and it got me thinking about what was so special about the books that I read when I first got into reading. So let's take a walk down memory lane-bookish edition.

• The Twilight Series-This is kind of a given. I'm sure this isn't the first time you've seen this on the Top Ten's this week. If it weren't for my mother making me read the book before I saw the movie, I wouldn't be the reader I am now. These books make me love reading.
• The Harry Potter series-Another given. I didn't get the experience of reading this as I grew up like a lot of people did, but this was still one of the first series I read. I have fond and vivid memories of binge reading them. This series taught me how to appreciate a long, epic, and incredibly well written series. Oh, and I still ship Ron and Hermione, thank you very much.
• The Percy Jackson series-This series is dear to me because I first read it when I got into reading and I'm still reading it. The characters feel like some of my best friends. This series made me obsessed with Greek mythology and showed me how important it is to make readers laugh during hard times.
• The Mortal Instruments series-I'm rereading this right now and it's made me realize why these books stuck with me. The way Cassandra Clare writes her characters and the situations she puts them in make it hard for you not to connect with them. These books (and her other series, don't even get me started) really made me feel something real for the characters-even if it was mostly pain. Characters are so much realer for me now.
• Stephanie Perkins books-Before Anna and the French Kiss I don't remember ever reading contemporary. I was a paranormal girl and didn't know where to even start with another genre. Even though it wasn't this epic saga, I still loved it so much. Now that contemporary is one of my favorite genres, these books are still what made fall in love with it in the first place.
• Katie McGarrys books-On the opposite end of contemporary are these books. While Anna and Lola are my favorites for more sentimental reasons, these books come incredibly close to topping them. I could go on and on about them. These books made me love contemporary that wasn't all cutesy and fluff; they're hard hitting and dark and despite that I love them to bits. 
• The Hunger Games trilogy-These were probably the first dystopian books I read. I still think about the characters all the time. While dystopian isn't my favorite genre, a number of my favorite books or series are in it and I would never have read them if I hadn't first read this. It also made me really thankful for the world that I live in.
• The Wicked Lovely series-Am I the only person who thinks that there aren't enough faerie books out there? This series made me obsessed with them and I don't get to read about them enough. They are always different and these kind are beautiful but twisted and that makes them so interesting to read about. Now I want to read about them again.
• The Fault in Our Stars by John Green-While this book certainly didn't make me want to read more like it (why would I ever do that to myself?) it still affected my reading. It made me a crybaby. But I'm thankful, because the books that make me cry are usually the ones I love the most.
• Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater-While I suspect Twilight was to blame for my prejudice towards werewolves, I know this series is to blame for me now loving them. Or it might just be because it's pretty much impossible not to love Sam Roth.

Those are my picks for this week. What about you? Are any of ours the same? Let me know in the comments and don't forget to leave links to your TTT!