Waiting on Wednesday – Of Poseidon

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine, and specifically spotlights upcoming novels we can't wait to read. This week’s choice is:

Title: Of Poseidon by Anna Banks
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Publish Date: May 22, 2012
Genre: Paranormal

Goodreads Summary: Emma and her friend Chloe are spending vacation in Florida. When Emma (literally) runs into a hot guy named Galen on the beach, little does she know he’s a prince of the Syrena. Galen and Emma both feel something strange – is it attraction? – and Galen suspects that Emma might well be the girl he’s heard of – a human who can communicate with fish.

What follows is a deadly scene with a shark in which Galen witnesses Emma’s gifts. He must know more about her, and follows her back to New Jersey, and high school, to find out for sure if she’s the key to saving his kingdom. Soon, Emma can’t deny her feelings for him, but can’t explain them, either – and both she and Galen must learn more about where she comes from and what her powers are before they can trust one another and their feelings.

I have seen a few really good looking mermaid books coming out in 2012 and I am adding Of Poseidon to the list. As the title suggests, I am hoping there will be some Greek mythology in this book as well. The cover has an ethereal feel to it and is breathtaking. I can’t wait to read this! What books are you waiting on?

Book Review: Touch of Frost

Title: Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep
Release Date: July 26, 2011
Publisher: Kensington
Pages: 350 pages
Genre: Paranormal, Mythology
Rating: 4 stars
Source: Publisher

Goodreads Summary: My name is Gwen Frost, and I go to Mythos Academy — a school of myths, magic and warrior whiz kids, where even the lowliest geek knows how to chop off somebody's head with a sword and Logan Quinn, the hottest Spartan guy in school, also happens to be the deadliest.

But lately, things have been weird, even for Mythos. First, mean girl Jasmine Ashton was murdered in the Library of Antiquities. Then, someone stole the Bowl of Tears, a magical artifact that can be used to bring about the second Chaos War. You know, death, destruction and lots of other bad, bad things. Freaky stuff like this goes on all the time at Mythos, but I'm determined to find out who killed Jasmine and why—especially since I should have been the one who died. . .

I love mythology so when I saw that Jennifer Estep, successful and established adult urban fantasy author, was writing a YA book about kids at a boarding school who are descended from gods, I knew I had to read it. I am so happy to say that Touch of Frost did not disappoint!

The story is told in the first person so we really get to know our main character, Gwen Frost. I love her! She is witty and snarky and always trying to be brave and help others. We go along with Gwen as she uses her ability (she can touch an object to see where it has been) to solve the murder of the school’s biggest mean girl. The story is very entertaining and the secondary characters, Logan, Daphne and Gwen’s grandmother, are really well written as well. I wanted to get more of Logan in the book and I can’t wait to find out more about him in the sequels.

Another thing thing I really liked about Touch of Frost is that the author includes lesser known Greek mythology (Spartans and Amazons) and other varied mythologies like Norse and Celtic. There are also mentions of Persians, Samurais and Ninjas! I cannot wait to see where Estep takes this series.

The plot for Touch of Frost is tightly written and the book is well paced. While Touch of Frost may not be appropriate for younger teens, older/more mature teens and adults, especially those who enjoy urban fantasy, will love this book. I am happy that I won't have to wait very long to find out what happens next. The sequel, Kiss of Frost, comes out on Nov. 29.

Content: Sex, profanity, violence, underage drinking and drug use.

Book Review: Waterfall

Title: Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergren
Release Date: Feb. 1, 2011
Publisher: David C. Cook
Pages: 352 pages
Genre: Historical, Christian
Rating: 5 stars
Source: Purchased

Goodreads Summary: Lisa Tawn Bergren's new YA series, River of Time, is romantic, historical fiction in which the plucky heroine doesn't have to fear a vampire's bite but must still fight for her life.

In Waterfall, American teenager Gabi Betarrini accidently finds herself in Fourteenth-Century Italy . . . Knights. Swords. Horses. Armor. And Italian hotties. Most American teens want an Italian vacation, but the Betarrini sisters have spent every summer of their lives there with their archaeologist parents. Stuck on yet another hot, dusty dig, they are bored out of their minds... until they place their hands atop handprints in an ancient tomb and find themselves catapulted into the Fourteenth Century and in the middle of a fierce battle between knights bent on killing one another.

Bored and annoyed that they are going to spend yet another summer at an archeological site and not allowed to touch anything, Gabi convinces her sister Lia to sneak into the site with her where Gabi is accidentally sent through time and finds herself in the middle of battle between neighboring castles. The action starts right away as Gabi is rescued by the swoon worthy Marcello and his men. Not knowing if Lia traveled through time as well, Gabi works to find her, find a way back home and protect herself from falling for Marcello…

I have seen tons of glowing reviews for Waterfall and have been dying to see what all the hype is about but it’s not hype if the book really is that good! Waterfall is an awesome mix of time travel, romance, fast paced action/adventure and political intrigue.

Gabi is a very likable character. She is smart, resourceful and can ride a horse and wield a sword like it’s nobody’s business. Having archeologists for parents, she speaks Italian and has a decent grasp on medieval history. The novel is told in first person from Gabi’s point of view so while she has to speak in a manner appropriate to the time period, her thoughts are that of any modern teenager and she is hilarious. Gabi is devoted to her family and I love her relationship with Lia (who is very Katniss-esque with a bow and arrow). Clearly, the girls in Waterfall rock and while Marcello is clearly the leading man in this story, his older brother Fortino and his cousin Luca are awesome as well and I can’t wait to learn more about them.

The one and only thing that I did not love about the story is that when Marcello meets Gabi, he is engaged to someone else and despite the relationship being arranged by their parents and the girl being not very nice, it still bothered me just a bit.

Waterfall is the kind of book that as soon as you finish it, you need to read the sequel right away so I am very happy that Cascade has already been released. The books are classified as historical Christian fiction, a genre that I like a lot. I know many readers avoid Christian fiction like the plague but the Christian elements in Waterfall are not overwhelming and flow very well with the story.

From other reviews I have seen, Waterfall has immense crossover appeal and I hope publishers are taking note. Christian YA can have the heart stopping romance, adventure, cool supernatural elements, be fun and successful and still stay true to the genre. Waterfall, and the entire River of Time Series by Ms. Bergren, are exactly my kind of books and I would love to read more like them.

Content: Kissing and violence.

Waiting on Wednesday: Undeadly

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine, and specifically spotlights upcoming novels we can't wait to read. This week’s choice is:

Title: Undeadly by Michele Vail
Publisher: Harlequin
Publish Date: Feb. 28, 2012
Genre: Paranormal

While there is not an official summary for this book just yet, the author’s Facebook page says she writes YA paranormal fiction about zombies and reapers and that Undeadly is about a 16-year-old reaper. With the gorgeous cover, I’m sold on this book. What books are you waiting on?

Book Review: Trial by Fire

Title: Trial by Fire by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Release Date: June 14, 2011
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Pages: 357 pages
Genre: Paranormal
Rating: 5 stars
Source: Library

Spoiler Warning! This summary and review contain spoilers to Raised by Wolves, the first book in the series.

Goodreads Summary: There can only be one alpha. Bryn is finally settling into her position as alpha of the Cedar Ridge Pack—or at least, her own version of what it means to be alpha when you’re a human leading a band of werewolves. Then she finds a teenage boy bleeding on her front porch. Before collapsing, he tells her his name is Lucas, he’s a Were, and Bryn’s protection is his only hope.

But Lucas isn’t part of Bryn’s pack, and she has no right to claim another alpha’s Were. With threats—old and new—looming, and danger closing in from all sides, Bryn will have to accept what her guardian Callum knew all along. To be alpha, she will have to give in to her own animal instincts and become less human. And, she’s going to have to do it alone.

Bryn faces both the costs, and the rewards, of love and loyalty, in this thrilling sequel to Raised by Wolves.

I was not a huge fan of the first book in this series, Raised by Wolves, you can find my review here. As my issues were with the story and not the writing (Barnes is a pretty good writer), I decided to read the sequel, Trial By Fire, because I was curious to see where the author was taking the story. I was completely unprepared for how sucked in I would get by this story!

Trial by Fire starts approximately nine months after the events at the end of Raised by Wolves. As Alpha of the young Cedar Ridge Pack, Bryn is determined to lead with love and respect instead of fear and intimidation. Bryn is happy, her weres are happy and the special connection that she has with Chase is stronger than ever. It is in this season of contentment that the trouble starts and when trouble comes for Bryn, it hits like a hurricane! Trial by Fire introduces Bryn to new situations, new conflicts (both internal and external) and new characters with new powers.

Speaking of characters, Bryn’s character is a lot more mature in Trial by Fire. She is no longer the girl who gets into trouble just to upset Callum. Bryn is now her own Alpha who puts the safety and security of her pack before everything else. Chase’s character is also more developed and I am glad we get to know him better and learn why he is the strong silent type. I didn’t think it possible, but I love Devon, Lake and Ali even more than I did in the first book. These characters are so well written!

Trial by Fire is wonderfully complex with great plot twists, a few I saw coming and most that took me completely by surprise. This is an awesome story that moves at a fast, steady and exciting pace. I read this book on the edge of my seat and cannot wait for the next in the series. I will admit that I have not read many werewolf books, but this is easily my favorite one.

Content: Kissing and violence.

Comparing Covers

I love looking at and comparing book covers. I recently found these two covers for upcoming books that I am looking forward to reading:

Title: Shifting by Bethany Wiggins
Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers
Publish Date: Sept. 27, 2011
Genre: Paranormal

Goodreads Summary: After bouncing from foster home to foster home, Magdalene Mae is transferred to what should be her last foster home in the tiny town of Silver City, New Mexico. Now that she's eighteen and has only a year left in high school, she's determined to stay out of trouble and just be normal. Agreeing to go to the prom with Bridger O'Connell is a good first step. Fitting in has never been her strong suit, but it's not for the reasons most people would expect-it all has to do with the deep secret that she is a shape shifter. But even in her new home danger lurks, waiting in the shadows to pounce. They are the Skinwalkers of Navajo legend, who have traded their souls to become the animal whose skin they wear-and Maggie is their next target.

Full of romance, mysticism, and intrigue, this dark take on Navajo legend will haunt readers to the final page.

I don’t think I have read a book a based on Navajo legend and I am very excited about this one. Despite the fact that snakes really creep me out, I love these covers!

Title: A Beautiful Evil by Kelly Keaton
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publish Date: Feb. 21, 2012
Genre: Paranormal

Goodreads Summary: A power she can’t deny. A destiny she’s determined to fight. When Ari first arrived in the dilapidated city of New 2, all she wanted was to figure out who she was. But what she discovered was beyond her worst nightmare. Ari can already sense the evil growing inside her—a power the goddess Athena will stop at nothing to possess.

Desperate to hold on to her humanity and protect her loved ones, Ari must fight back. But Athena’s playing mind games, not just with Ari but with those she cares about most. And Athena has a very special plan for the brooding and sexy Sebastian.

Ari is determined to defeat Athena, but time is running out. With no other options, Ari must unleash the very thing she’s afraid of: herself.

I was really intrigued with the world that Kelly Keaton built in Darkness Becomes Her and the cover of the sequel, A Beautiful Evil, is perfect for the story. I love mythology and Keaton's take on Greek myth and other magical creatures in New 2 is really cool. As far as the covers are concerned, It is hard for me to pick the one I like more because they are almost the same. I like the detail surrounding the girl on the cover of A Beautiful Evil. What do you think of these covers? Are you looking forward to these books?

Author Interview: Cesya MaRae Cuono

As a part of the Elemental Reality Blog Tour, I am pleased to welcome author Cesya MaRae Cuono.

Cesya MaRae Cuono hails from a small town in northeastern Pennsylvania. She is a graduate of Alvernia University where she majored in Business Administration and also received her certificate of Multi-Media & Production makeup from Cosmix School of Makeup Artistry. You can find any updates from Cesya on her website at http://www.cesyacuonobooks.blogspot.com/.

Cesya, please tell us about your debut young adult novel, Elemental Reality.
Elemental Reality takes us on a journey with Callie Pierce and her sister Lola as their life transitions from being “human” to Faeries. We get to live through their training and some battles they face along the way.

Where did you get the idea for Elemental Reality?
My mind is constantly in motion no matter what I’m doing. I was listening to one of my favorite bands (I See Stars) before I got into the shower. As I was rinsing the shampoo from my hair, a scene played out in my mind. That’s the first thing I wrote before I even knew the plot of my story or what kind of paranormal being my characters were going to be.

Can you tell us more about the main character, Callie?
She’s plagued by the loss of her mom. Little things bring back thoughts of her. She’s a very determined person and you will see her determination throughout the novel.

I read that you are now working on book two in the Elemental series. Can you tell us a little about it? How many books are planned for the series and when will they be released?
I am actually. The outline is almost finished and then I’m going to start a rough draft. We’ll see a side of Lola no one expected but that’s all I can tell you right now. There are two more novels for the series and possibly a novella but that’s not set in stone yet. The two novels, Battle Scars and Rebirth, will be released in 2012 and 2013.

Do you read the same genre as you write? What are you currently reading?
Yes, I do. I love YA. Ha! I’m currently reading 10 different books but the one I’m trying to finish first is If I Stay.

What do you love most about writing paranormal books?
That’s an easy question! You can have fun with your characters’ powers. It gives you a chance to make them unique and put a new twist on them.

If Elemental Reality were made into a movie, who do you picture playing the lead roles?

• Tyler Blackburn as Oli.
• Amber Heard as Callie.
• Julia Voth as Ady.
• Matt Lanter as Emery.
• Skyler Samuels as Lola.
• Jeremy Sumpter as Cayden.

Is there anything more you’d like to share with us about upcoming projects or events?
I have a book signing on August 28th. The details can be found on my author page (www.facebook.com/cesyamaraecuono) but that’s all I have for right now. Anything you want to know about me can be found on Goodreads (www.goodreads.com/cesya_marae), Facebook (www.facebook.com/cesyamaraecuono), Twitter (@Cherrybomb_xox), or my blog (http://www.cesyacuonobooks.blogspot.com/).

Title: Elemental Reality by Cesya MaRae Cuono
Release Date: August 21, 2011
Publisher: Revolution Publishing
Pages: 260 pages
Buy: Amazon, Barnes & Noble

When Callie Pierce was ten, her mother disappeared without a trace. On the eve of her disappearance twelve years later, the Earth seemingly comes alive. The elements speak to Callie, and that's only the beginning. Everything she has ever known was a twisted fabrication to protect her. Now the truth is set free. Callie and her sister are more powerful than any Faerie ever born. Now they have to use their powers to save their mother and family from the evil hands of fate that threaten to tear them apart. Welcome to her elemental reality.

Waiting on Wednesday: Wrecked

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine, and specifically spotlights upcoming novels we can't wait to read. This week’s choice is:

Title: Wrecked by Anna Davies
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing
Publish Date: May 1, 2012
Genre: Paranormal

Goodreads Summary: Miranda has lived on Whym Island since the death of her parents. She has taken comfort in its seclusion and in the folklore that claims a mysterious sea witch controls the fate of all on the island and its surrounding waters. It's easier to believe things are out of her control.

But when a terrible boating accident takes the lives of several of her friends, Miranda is rescued by a mysterious boy that haunts her dreams. As the guilt of the accident consumes her, she finds refuge in her late night swims. Until she meets Christian, a boy who seems so familiar, but won't tell her where he is from and why they can only meet at the beach. As Miranda falls for Christian and begins to put the accident behind her, she discovers that there are secrets that Christian is keeping to protect her that may only end up bringing her nothing but harm.

Wrecked sounds like a fresh twist on The Little Mermaid and I cannot wait to read it! Additionally, I love the black and white cover. What books are you waiting on?

Book Review: Torn

Title: Torn by Erica O’Rourke
Release Date: June 26, 2011
Publisher: Kensington
Pages: 336 pages
Genre: Paranormal
Rating: 4 stars
Source: Borrowed from the fantastic Neri (In the Name of Books)!

Goodreads Summary: Everyone has secrets. Even best friends.

Swirling black descends like ravens, large enough to block the glow of the streetlights. A dull roar starts like a train on the 'L', a far-away rumbling that grows louder as it pulls closer, until it's directly overhead and you feel it in your chest, except this doesn't pass you by. Verity, white-faced and eyes blazing, shouts through the din, "Run, Mo!"

Mo Fitzgerald knows about secrets. But when she witnesses her best friend's murder, she discovers Verity was hiding things she never could have guessed. To find the answers she needs and the vengeance she craves, Mo—quiet, ordinary, unmagical Mo—will have to enter a world of raw magic and shifting alliances. And she'll have to choose between two very different, equally dangerous guys—protective, duty-bound Colin and brash, mysterious Luc. One wants to save her, one wants to claim her. Which would you choose?

Maura “Mo” Fitzgerald and her best friend Verity get attacked while out one night. With Mo’s family connections to the mob, everyone assumes that she was the target of a hit that went wrong and killed Verity instead. Everyone except Mo that is because she saw the creatures that attacked and they may not have been human.

Mo is a likable, smart girl who is a bit shy but was never jealous of Verity who constantly got the spotlight and the attention. We get to know Verity through Mo’s memories and in flashbacks and the two girls have a good, solid friendship. After the attack, Mo struggles to come to terms with Verity’s death and the fact that her best friend was keeping secrets from her. One of those secrets is the dangerously handsome and charismatic Luc who may have been Verity’s boyfriend and who also holds the answers to Mo’s questions. Mo’s life is further complicated by the equally handsome Colin who has been hired to protect her but it’s hard for a girl to solve a murder mystery when her every move is being watched.

Torn is a great combination of magic and the mob. The story is fast paced and exciting. Mo finds herself caught up in the dark and deadly world of powerful magic that she never knew existed and the mob world that she always knew but tried to distance herself from.

Once you start reading Torn, it’s hard to put down. I want to know more about the world of magic that Luc grew up in and more about Colin’s back story. I loved Torn and can’t wait to read the sequel, Tangled, which comes out in February of next year. The covers of these books are so gorgeous and striking…..

Content: Profanity, kissing and violence. More appropriate for older teens.

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine, and specifically spotlights upcoming novels we can't wait to read. This week’s choice is:

Title: The Other Life by Susanne Winnacker
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish
Publish Date: May 1, 2012
Genre: Dystopia

Goodreads Summary: Sherry and her family have lived sealed in a bunker in the garden since things went wrong up above. Her grandfather has been in the freezer for the last three months, her parents are at each other’s throats and two minutes ago they ran out of food.

Sherry and her father leave the safety of the bunker and find a devastated and empty LA, smashed to pieces by bombs and haunted by ‘Weepers’ - rabid humans infected with a weaponized rabies virus.

While searching for food in a supermarket, Sherry’s father disappears and Sherry is saved by Joshua, a boy-hunter. He takes her to Safe-haven, a tumble-down vineyard in the hills outside LA, where a handful of other survivors are picking up the pieces of their ‘other lives’. As she falls in love for the first time, Sherry must save her father, stay alive and keep Joshua safe when his desire for vengeance threatens them all.

I love the cover of The Other Life. There are a lot of current and upcoming dystopian novels that have glamorous models in high fashion dresses on the cover and while I like those covers, there is something so intriguing about the eerie cityscape that feels, well, dystopian. It just draws me in and makes the book a must read for me! The cover of The Other Life sets the mood and the summary is exciting too. I am really looking forward to this one. What books are you waiting on?

Winner!

The winner of my Summer Giveaway Hop is Lisa from Lisa Loves Books (Of Course). The winner was chosen by Random.org and has been notified by email.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the giveaway and I will be doing another in sometime in August and The Back to Books Giveaway Hop on Sept. 1 so stay tuned and make sure you enter.

Book Review: Vanish

Title: Vanish by Sophie Jordan
Release Date: Sept. 6, 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 304 pages
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Source: ARC from publisher through NetGalley

Goodreads Summary: To save the life of the boy she loves, Jacinda did the unthinkable: She betrayed the most closely-guarded secret of her kind. Now she must return to the protection of her pride knowing she might never see Will again—and worse, that because his mind has been shaded, Will’s memories of that fateful night and why she had to flee are gone.

Back home, Jacinda is greeted with hostility and must work to prove her loyalty for both her sake and her family’s. Among the few who will even talk to her are Cassian, the pride’s heir apparent who has always wanted her, and her sister, Tamra, who has been forever changed by a twist of fate. Jacinda knows that she should forget Will and move on—that if he managed to remember and keep his promise to find her, it would only endanger them both. Yet she clings to the hope that someday they will be together again. When the chance arrives to follow her heart, will she risk everything for love?

I loved Firelight. It was original, exciting and hands down, one of my favorite books of 2010. Needless to say, Vanish was one of my most anticipated books for this year and it delivered.

Vanish picks up right where Firelight left off, with Jacinda, Tamra and their mom fleeing Chaparral and returning to the pride with Cassian. When they get home, Jacinda is heartbroken and misses Will terribly but to make matters worse, she is shunned and treated as outcast by the other Draki when they find out she had a relationship with a hunter.

There is so much tension and angst in Vanish. Jacinda has to choose between being with the boy she loves and the safety of the entire pride; between doing what everyone in the pride wants and expects her to do and doing what will truly make her happy. While I do not like the fact that Jacinda vacillates between two boys, it is understandable. Her choices are hard and there is so much at stake.

The characters, especially Cassian and Tamra, are more developed in Vanish which is great because neither were particularly likable in the first book. Because the book is set in the pride, we meet more Draki with cool paranormal abilities. The story is very exciting and fast paced with some unexpected twists thrown in.

I have to warn you that like Firelight, Vanish ends with a huge cliffhanger. I hate that I have to wait until next year to find out what happens but I bet it’s going to be fiery and explosive!

Content: Kissing and violence

I'm Guest Blogging Today!

Hi everyone! Today I am guest blogging at Black Fingernailed Reviews about my favorite movie based on books. Check it out and let me know what your favorites are!

Book Review: Found

Title: Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Release Date: April 22, 2008
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing
Pages: 320 pages
Genre: Science Fiction, Middle Grade
Rating: 4 stars
Source: Library

Goodreads Summary: An unidentified airplane appears out of nowhere. When the aircraft is boarded, its only occupants are babies; once they are removed, the pilotless plane vanishes. Jonah and Chip, now teenagers, discover that they were among the "airborne orphans." Rather than forgetting the past, the two boys decide to venture into it, risking their survival to right the wrongs of time.

Jonah and his friend Chip, both adopted, receive ominous letters in the mail telling them they are one of the missing and that people are coming back for them. At first they think it’s a prank but working with Jonah’s sister, Katherine, they dig deeper and find themselves at the center of a mystery and cover-up that may lead to them finding out who they really are and where they came from.

Found is a fast paced middle-grade book that both boys or girls can enjoy. Jonah is a likable, well adjusted 13-year-old who has a loving relationship with his parents and a typical love/disgust relationship with 11-year-old Katherine. Jonah likes his life and is not really interested in finding out about his birth parents or the circumstances behind his adoption.

Chip, on the other hand, is a bit of a brat but you get the impression that his behavior stems from the difficult relationship with his absentee parents who prefer to buy him things than spend quality time with him or effectively communicate with him. Because of his relationship with his adopted parents, Chip is driven to find his birth parents and Jonah, out of a sense obligation to his friend, joins him to find answers. Believing the letters have something to do with their adoptions, Jonah and Chip along with Katherine unravel the mystery and find out more about themselves than they bargain for.

Found is fairly easy to read and I would recommend it to younger teens or tweens who are reluctant readers. The mystery moves the story forward, the science fiction elements are not unique but are done in a fresh way and the action, especially at the end, adds to the excitement. The book does end with a cliffhanger, so be prepared to get a copy of the other books in the series, Sent, Sabotaged and Torn for your young reader as well. Torn will be available on August 23, 2011.

Content: Violence

Free Ebook!

Title: Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergren
Publisher: David C. Cook
Release Date: Feb. 1, 2011
Get the free ebook at Amazon or Barnes & Noble

Goodreads Summary: American teenager Gabi Betarrini accidently finds herself in Fourteenth-Century Italy . . . Knights. Swords. Horses. Armor. And Italian hotties. Most American teens want an Italian vacation, but the Betarrini sisters have spent every summer of their lives there with their archaeologist parents. Stuck on yet another hot, dusty dig, they are bored out of their minds... until they place their hands atop handprints in an ancient tomb and find themselves catapulted into the Fourteenth Century and in the middle of a fierce battle between knights bent on killing one another.

Why I want it: I have heard amazing things about this book and the entire River of Time series. The combination of romance, time travel and adventure sounds irresistible. I have wanted to start Waterfall for awhile and getting the first book free is just the push I need to start the series. Book two, Cascade, is already available and book three, Torrent, will be available next month. I’m not sure how long Waterfall will be free so get it as soon as you can!

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine, and specifically spotlights upcoming novels we can't wait to read. This week’s choice is:

Title: Life Eternal by Yvonne Woon
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Publish Date: Jan. 24, 2012
Genre: Paranormal

Spoiler Warning! The summary contains huge spoilers to the first book, Dead Beautiful, so highlight to read.

Goodreads Summary: Renée Winters has changed. When she looks in the mirror, a beautiful girl with an older, sadder face stares back. Her condition has doctors mystified, but Renée can never reveal the truth: she died last May, and was brought back to life by the kiss of her Undead soul mate, Dante Berlin.

Now, her separation from Dante becomes almost unbearable. His second life is close to an end, and each passing day means one less that she will spend with the boy who shares her soul.

Just when Renée has almost given up hope, she learns of the Nine Sisters—brilliant scholars who, according to legend, found a way to cheat death. She can’t shake the feeling that they are somehow connected to her dreams, strange visions that hint at a discovery so powerful, and so dangerous, that some will stop at nothing to protect it.

Renée thought she knew the truth about life and death. But there is a secret woven through history that holds the only hope for Dante and Renée. Unless they find answers soon, their time together is doomed to be cut short.

When I read Dead Beautiful, the first book in this series, I thought it was a standalone (which it could have been), but I am very happy there is a sequel! Dead Beautiful has some refreshing and original paranormal elements and can’t wait to read this second book. I love the cover of Life Eternal and think it complements Dead Beautiful very well. What are you waiting on?

Book Review: Offworld

Title: Offworld by Robin Parrish
Release Date: July 1, 2009
Publisher: Bethany House
Pages: 368 pages
Genre: Science Fiction, Christian
Rating: 3 stars
Source: Library

Goodreads Summary: Every Person on This Planet Has Disappeared.

Commander Christopher Burke and his crew are humanity's greatest explorers. They've finished their mission on the red dirt of Mars and now they just want to get back to Earth. To see friends, family, and loved ones. To be home. But even with communication to ground control cut and a perilous landing, nothing could prepare the crew for what they discover when they step foot back on planet Earth. Everyone...everywhere...is gone. It's not a dream. It's not a trick. Now Burke and his team have one mission: find out who or what is behind the disappearance of all mankind.

If you have not watched the new shows on the Syfy Channel, you really should check it out. Their old movies and series were cheesy, but the new shows are really entertaining and well done. Offworld reads very much like one of the newer shows on SyFy. Its action packed and the mystery behind the disappearances keeps you reading.

I did find the characters a bit underdeveloped. Since the astronauts are trained soldiers, they handled coming back to an empty world well on the outside, internalizing their fears instead. It is hard to get to know characters when they are putting on a brave front so no one will see how messed up they really are. I liked Terry, one of the crew members, the most. His sarcasm was funny and I could identify with his freakouts at being one of the only people left on Earth.

There are some good twists at the end of the book that I did not see coming. Overall, this is a decent read. The Christian aspects of the book are not overwhelming or preachy. Offworld is primarily a science fiction novel and can be enjoyed by anyone as such.

Content: Violence

Bookish Apps for iPad?

Today is my birthday and my awesome, handsome, fantastic husband got me an iPad! I love this tablet and have been playing with it and trying to figure out all the fun things I can do with it. I have already downloaded the Kindle, Nook and Bluefire Reader apps but wanted to know what other bookish apps are available. This is my first Apple product I would love to hear your recommendations. I am also curious about what you love most about your iPad or iPhone. I know millions are hooked to these things and now I see why….