Waiting on Wednesday: The Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthia Hand and Dove Arising by Karen Bao

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

The first book is by a favorite author and I'm really curious to see how her newest will be. It's a little bit of a change from her first series. The second book just sounds really good. I love scifi and I'm really looking forward to this one. Here are two WOW picks for this week:

Review & Excerpt: Gone Too Far by Natalie D. Richards

On tour with Sourcebooks.


I was pretty much blown away by Natalie Richards debut title, Six Months Later (see my review here), and am looking forward to sharing with you her sophomore release...

Gone Too Far

by Natalie D. Richards

YA Suspense
Paperback, 304 Pages
January 6th 2015 by Sourcebooks Fire

Summary

Keeping secrets ruined her life. But the truth might just kill her.

Piper Woods can't wait for the purgatory of senior year to end. She skirts the fringes of high school like a pro until the morning she finds a notebook with mutilated photographs and a list of student sins. She's sure the book is too gruesome to be true, until pretty, popular Stella dies after a sex-tape goes viral. Everyone's sure it's suicide, but Piper remembers Stella’s name from the book and begins to suspect something much worse.

Drowning in secrets she doesn’t want to keep, Piper’s fears are confirmed when she receives an anonymous text message daring her to make things right. All she needs to do is choose a name, the name of someone who deserves to be punished...

      

Blog Tour Guest Post & Giveaway: Love & Other Theories by Alexis Bass

Love & Other Theories

by Alexis Bass

YA Contemporary Romance
Hardcover, 384 Pages
December 31st 2014 by HarperTeen

Summary

If you want more, you have to give less.

That’s the secret to dating in high school. By giving as little as they expect to get in return, seventeen-year-old Aubrey Housing and her three best friends have made it to the second semester of their senior year heartbreak-free. And it’s all thanks to a few simple rules: don’t commit, don’t be needy, and don’t give away your heart.

So when smoking-hot Nathan Diggs transfers to Lincoln High, it shouldn’t be a big deal. At least that’s what Aubrey tells herself. But Nathan’s new-boy charm, his kindness, and his disarming honesty throw Aubrey off her game and put her in danger of breaking the most important rule of all: Don’t fall in love.

Read an excerpt HERE.

    

Also available as an AUDIOBOOK. Listen to a sample HERE.

Advanced Praise

“Careful, subtle and aching. ” - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Warning: Bass’s debut novel will ignite ALL your feelings!” - Wendy Higgins, New York Times bestselling author of the Sweet Evil trilogy

“I loved LOVE AND OTHER THEORIES. Alexis Bass writes a compelling critique of the ways society expects girls to behave in their relationships, the lies girls tell each other–and themselves–to keep from getting hurt, and, when all is said and done, how only the heart knows the truth.” – Kristin Halbrook, author of Nobody But Us and co-founder of YA Highway

“Alexis Bass masterfully captures all the complexities of high school relationships. A lovely debut.” – Amanda Maciel, author of Tease

“A bold debut that authentically captures the frenzy of love, lust, and senior year of high school!” - Julie Murphy, author of Side Effects May Vary

“Love and Other Theories challenged my assumptions, dared me to think differently and burrowed into my heart. A heart-achingly beautiful story about whether it is better to protect your heart or to take the biggest risk of all.” - Daisy Whitney, author of The Mockingbirds

“In her debut novel, Bass provides honest, incisive, and sometimes uncomfortable insights into the complicated intersections of friendship and romance, the ways sex can be wielded as a weapon, and the measures some teens take to protect themselves from pain.” — Publishers Weekly

“Bass’s debut is an entertaining perspective on the battlefield of the teen dating world.” —Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

Weekly Update #95

Welcome to my Weekly Update where I post my blog's schedule for the week. I'm linking up to The Sunday Post, hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

I hope everyone's Christmas was fabulous and that you have a great start to the new year this coming week! I finally got over my cold in time for Christmas, thank goodness. I'm still not real active online. The kids are out of school and the husband is home this week and we're just enjoying relaxing and spending time together. There are still a few things going on and so here's what you can expect:

Merry Christmas!

I hope you each have a very merry Christmas today, for those that celebrate!!! If you celebrate another religious holiday at this time of year, I wish you blessings in that. If you don't celebrate anything, well, I'll still wish you a merry day! :)

We always spend a portion of the day with our small little family and then with extended family and I look forward to it every year. The best is watching our children's faces when they first come out on Christmas morning. I love giving and seeing the sheer joy on their faces!

We also spend some time on Christmas Eve reading the story of Christ's birth, sharing testimony of Him, and sharing what we're all grateful for. In a world that has become so commercialized, it's nice to spend some quiet and meaningful time with family and remembering why we celebrate the holiday.

Wishing blessing to you all,

Waiting on Wednesday: Dearest by Alethea Kontis

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

Alethea's debut novel, Enchanted, was one of my favorite books two years ago. It was masterfully written and I loved how there were so many nods to other fairy tales. Her third book is coming out soon and it's my WOW pick this week:

Blog Tour Review & Giveaway: Transcendent by Lesley Livingston

You can see my reviews of Starling and Descendent (the first and second books in this series) here.
Grab Starling, book one in the series, now for only $1.99!

Transcendent

(Starling #3)
by Lesley Livingston

YA Urban Fantasy
Hardcover & ebook, 352 Pages
December 23rd, 2014 by HarperTeen        

Summary

LOVE CONQUERS

On a storm-swept terrace high above the streets of Manhattan, Mason Starling holds the fate of the world in her hands as her beloved Fennrys lies bleeding at her feet, his life hanging in the balance. The ancient Norse prophecy of Ragnarok stands poised on the knife edge of fulfillment. Mason’s transformation into a Valkyrie—a chooser of the slain and the one who will ultimately bring about the end of the world—is complete. Still, she remains determined to thwart her father’s apocalyptic desires. Whatever is to come, it won’t happen because of what the prophecy foretold, or what Gunnar Starling has planned, or what the fates have already decided. What happens next will be up to Mason and the Fennrys Wolf. The world had better hope they haven’t reached the limits of what their souls and swords can survive.

Perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series, and set in the same universe as Lesley Livingston’s much-loved WONDROUS STRANGE trilogy, with roots in Greek, Roman, Norse, Egyptian, and Celtic myths and legends, this thrilling conclusion to the acclaimed Starling trilogy is filled to the hilt with sweeping adventure and soaring romance.

  

Reviews: Starling and Descendant by Lesley Livingston

Starling

(Starling #1)
by Lesley Livingston

YA Urban Fantasy
Hardcover & ebook, 341 Pages
August 28th 2012 by HarperTeen

Summary

Mason Starling is a champion fencer on the Gosforth Academy team, but she's never had to fight for her life. Not until the night a ferocious, otherworldly storm rips through Manhattan, trapping Mason and her teammates inside the school. Mason is besieged by nightmarish creatures more terrifying than the thunder and lightning as the raging tempest also brings a dangerous stranger into her life: a young man who remembers nothing but his name—the Fennrys Wolf. His arrival tears Mason's world apart, even as she feels an undeniable connection to him. Together, they seek to unravel the secrets of Fenn's identity as strange and supernatural forces gather around them. When they discover Mason's family—with its dark allegiance to ancient Norse gods—is at the heart of the mystery, Fennrys and Mason are suddenly faced with a terrifying future.

Set against the gritty, shadowed back-drop of New York City, this first novel in award-winning author Lesley Livingston's epic Starling Saga is an intoxicating blend of sweeping romance and pulse-pounding action.

  

Blog Tour Review: Sugar-Free Mom by Brenda Bennett

Sugar-Free Mom

by Brenda Bennett

Cookbook
Paperback, 224 Pages
December 9th 2014 by Cedar Fort

Summary

Sugar-free no longer equals taste-free! Popular food blogger Brenda Bennett uses natural sweeteners like honey and coconut sugar to create delicious and wholesome recipes that will satisfy even the pickiest of eaters, such as French Toast Sticks, Crock Pot Pulled Pork, and Chocolate Fudge Tart. You and your family will finally enjoy all the foods you love- without the guilt.

   

Blog Tour Review: The Ready Resource for Relief Society (2015) by Trina Boice

The Ready Resource for Relief Society (2015): Teaching of Presidents of the Church: Ezra Taft Benson

by Trina Boice

Nonfiction, Christian
Paperback, 160 Pages
November 11th 2014 by Cedar Fort

Summary

Preparing for Relief Society has never been easier with this invaluable book. For each week, you’ll find a lesson summary, quotes from General Authorities, hymns that match the topic, and a beautiful handout you can copy for each sister. With all the prep work done, you can focus on personalizing your lessons to fit the needs of your dear sisters.

   

Weekly Update #94

Welcome to my Weekly Update where I post my blog's schedule for the week. I'm linking up to The Sunday Post, hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

I'm behind on responding to comments. We've just been so busy with family in town and just the normal Christmas stuff, but I plan on getting caught up, so keep them coming. :)

I can't believe Christmas is here!!! I'm so excited! It's going to be a great week. The husband has some days off and we're going to have a great time with the kids and family and just being together. The only downer is that I have a cold. :( I'm hoping I'll be over it by Monday. We'll see. It's a lighter week this week. Here's what you can expect:

Review: Persuaded by Misty Dawn Pulsipher

Persuaded

by Misty Dawn Pulsipher

Adult Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 337 Pages
July 25th 2014

Summary

What's worse than never getting over your first love?
How about watching him fall for someone else...

Hanna Elliot had worn the ring faithfully at first. Some part of her still clung to the hope that all was not lost. As the days turned into weeks, she finally took it off and set it atop her dresser. When weeks gave way to months, the ring finally went back into its box, where it gathered dust until it was moved to Hanna’s unmentionables drawer. For the first few years, she had taken it out on the anniversary of the day she’d received it, allowing herself to wallow in what might have been.

She had been all but stamped out of Derick Wentworth’s mind. 

Sure, he thought about her occasionally, especially on cloudless nights when he lay on the bow of the Laconia looking up at the stars. But as time went on, Derick began to feel grateful that it hadn’t worked out, for one thing was certain: if he ever did settle down, it would be with someone who knew her own mind. Someone who went after the thing she wanted without hesitation. Someone who would never allow herself to be persuaded otherwise.

Persuaded, a modern adaptation of Jane Austen's Persuasion.