Waiting on Wednesday (#2)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.

This week's selection is Touching the Surface by Kimberly Sabatini which releases on October 30, 2012 by Simon Pulse.

Goodreads Description: Life altering mistakes are meant to alter lives…

When Elliot dies for the third time, she knows this is her last shot. There are no fourth-timers in this afterlife, so one more chance is all she has to get things right. But before she can move on to her next life, Elliot will be forced to face her past and delve into the painful memories she’d rather keep buried. Memories of people she’s hurt, people she’s betrayed… and people she’s killed. 


As she pieces together the mistakes of her past, Elliot must earn the forgiveness of her best friend and reveal the truth about herself to the two boys she loves…even if it means losing them both forever.

~

First of all, what a gorgeous and lovely cover! I've been crushing over it ever since I saw it.  The colors are so beautiful and every single thing on the cover complements other things so well. 

As for the story, I'm a total sucker for paranormal stories dealing with death and redemption. Touching the Surface is one of my most anticipated reads of 2012 and I'm pretty sure it'll stand upto my expectations.

So what book are you 'waiting on' this week?

Waiting on Wednesday (#1)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.

At last I join the party!
This week's selection is Before I Wake (Soul Screamers #6) by Rachel Vincent. It will be published on June 26th, 2012 by Harlequin Teen. 

Goodreads Description:  I died on a Thursday—killed by a monster intent on stealing my soul.

The good news? He didn’t get it.

The bad news? Turns out not even death will get you out of high school…

Covering up her own murder was one thing, but faking life is much
harder than Kaylee Cavanaugh expected. After weeks spent
“recovering,” she’s back in school, fighting to stay visible to the human world, struggling to fit in with her friends and planning time alone with her new reaper boyfriend.

But to earn her keep in the human world, Kaylee must reclaim
stolen souls, and when her first assignment brings her face-to-face with an old foe, she knows the game has changed. Her immortal status won’t keep her safe. And this time Kaylee isn’t just gambling with her own life….

~

Soul Screamer series is one of my favorite series. Dark, original, dramatic and highly intriguing with realistic and strong characters, it won my heart from its first prequel novella itself.

As if that wasn't enough, Tod, who is one of my top 5 crushes of all time, has at last won the lady he has been pining for quite some time and I am excited to see how it plays out now that no threat of death hangs over Kaylee.

Things I can't wait to read about:

1. How Tod and Kaylee's relationship evolves over this book.
2. How Kaylee settles into her newly immortal status.
3. Tod and Nash.
4. Kaylee and Nash.
5. Kaylee and Sabine.
6. Alec.
7. Avari.
8. Aiden and Harmony.

So what book are you 'waiting on' this week?

Still on my Mind (#2)

Still on my Mind is a weekly meme hosted by Haley at YA-Holic.

This week's feature is Keeper by Mal Peet.

Goodreads Description: When Paul Faustino of LA NACION flips on his tape recorder for an exclusive interview with El Gato — the phenomenal goalkeeper who single-handedly brought his team the World Cup — the seasoned reporter quickly learns that this will be no ordinary story. Instead, the legendary El Gato narrates a spellbinding tale that begins in the South American rainforest, where a ghostly but very real mentor, the Keeper, emerges to teach a poor, gawky boy the most thrilling secrets of the game. A seamless blend of magic realism and exhilarating soccer action, this evocative novel will haunt readers long after the story ends.
"This stirring adventure — a soccer story? a ghost story? — defies expectations. . . . Both lyrical and gripping." — KIRKUS REVIEWS (starred review)

~*~

Keeper is a novel that stayed with me long after I finished it and made me think, a lot. It was beautifully weaved with words that carried me into a world both enchanting and haunting. Written so wonderfully, that for a moment, I lived in Gato's world and to me the story became real. I read it first when I was 13, and three years later it's still one of my favorite novels and I always read it once in a while. And cry :'( It was uniquely dark and captivating then and it's still so now. As much as, Keeper was a book about football, it was also a book about self-discovery, love, will-power, struggle, determination and compassion. It taught me that your dreams aren't bizarre, your belief that it's bizarre is actually bizarre.

Still on my Mind (#1)

 Still on my Mind is a meme hosted by Haley of YA-Holic. It brand new and shiny. You can check all about it HERE.

My first feature would be Nevermore by Kelly Creagh.

Nevermore

Goodreads Summary: Cheerleader Isobel Lanley is horrified when she is paired with Varen Nethers for an English project, which is due—so unfair—on the day of the rival game. Cold and aloof, sardonic and sharp-tongued, Varen makes it clear he’d rather not have anything to do with her either. But when Isobel discovers strange writing in his journal, she can’t help but give this enigmatic boy with the piercing eyes another look.

Soon, Isobel finds herself making excuses to be with Varen. Steadily pulled away from her friends and her possessive boyfriend, Isobel ventures deeper and deeper into the dream world Varen has created through the pages of his notebook, a realm where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life.

As her world begins to unravel around her, Isobel discovers that dreams, like words, hold more power than she ever imagined, and that the most frightening realities are those of the mind. Now she must find a way to reach Varen before he is consumed by the shadows of his own nightmares.

His life depends on it.

~*~

Nevermore was exceptionally the most unique novel I've ever read. The first-half of the book deals with the ground-reality of Isobel's harmlessly normal life and how it starts to fall apart as Varen slowly, unknowingly, invades her shields.

But the real deal is the rest-half in which the author with her poetic writing presents a dream world that was influenced by Poe's work as much as it is by Varen's writings. This world was hauntingly beautiful and creepily dark at the same time.

Varen was an exceptional character, as well. He was insanely hot, sarcastic, mysterious and utterly dark at the same time, all the while wearing kohl and silver chain-links. Though, the real show-stealer was the sardonically sadistic Pinfeathers, who intrigued me the moment he made his entry.

Nevermore is utterly fascinating and frustrating as it whisks you away to a world where dreams are a never-ending reality.


Quotes still on my mind:

“You're really a blond," she said, her tone just short of accusatory.
"And if you tell anyone, I will come to you in the night and smote your everlasting soul.”
'Promise?' Isobel turned back to the piano quickly, shocked that she'd almost uttered this aloud.
- Nevermore

I think Isobel and I are on the same page ;)


“My beautiful, my Isobel. My Love. You ask me to wait. And so I wait.
For all of this, I know, is but a dream.
And when, in sleep, at last we wake,
I will see you again.”

- Varen Nethers, Nevermore

Pretty in Black by Rae Hachton

Pretty In Black by Rae Hachton

 
  "Some Things are Pretty. Some Things are Black. Love is both."
 

Ellie Piper had wished to die, not to meet the charming and enigmatic Marcus Marble. But now they are in love and Ellie has found a reason to live. Only if their love wasn't forbidden. Ellie was born to kill Evermores like Marcus and Marcus will break every rule if he lets Ellie live. But that won't stop them from a love that was fated. How far would they go before they realize that their love is going to destroy them. This is only the beginning...

Pretty in Black is a pretty original and intriguing novel. The atmosphere was dark and mysterious, just like I love it. Most of the times, the scenes were beautifully descriptive, poetic and captivating.

Lines like these won over my heart:

 
  “His eyes glistened. I'd never seen eyes that bright or that green. His were emblazoned by a dark symphony. When he blinked, his lashes spread below his bottom lid like satin spider legs, a million wishes to be made upon them, in exchange for these nightmares.”
 

I loved the opening scene in the cemetery, it's totally my favorite. The cover is absolutely gorgeous. Ellie's troubled past and dark personality totally intrigued me. The way her past life changed to the present Ellie, the reasons and all, were very interesting. Marcus Marble was an amazing male lead. He wasn't one of those to back down and wasn't afraid of his feelings. The concept of Evermores was an interesting one and original, as well.

There were times, I thought the book felt a bit flat. Like in Ellie's scenes without Marcus at her high school, with Giles and some of Marcus's scenes with other Evermores. Not that they were boring or badly-written, they were just not very detailed and the sentences ended almost abruptly and thus making those scenes seem unrealistic to me. Rae Hachton's writing is beautiful but it's inconsistent like in scenes I mentioned above.

My Favorite Line:

 
  “You Just scared me half to death," I said.

"You should be thrilled you're halfway there.”
 

Pretty in Black is the first novel in a gothic romance series. The second installment Black Satin would be published in May 2012. The third book, Raven in the Grave would be published in 2013 and the last book, Evermore in 2014.

I won't be rating this book since no rating seems justifiable. I've already mentioned my thoughts and this tug-of-war of rating is killing me so I left it as it is.

 
  “Ellie, would you frolic in the land of forever with me?”
 

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A Touch Mortal (A Touch Trilogy #1) by Leah Clifford

A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“So, this is what it feels like when Heaven leaves you.”

Eden has no path. She is meant to be forgotten, meant to kill herself. And she might have done that exactly if Az hadn't come along. He makes Eden smile, feel needed and special. But Az isn't as human as he seems, an angel cast out of Heaven. He struggles to Fall everyday and suddenly Eden makes it worth it. But not everyone wants them to be happy. The only way to save Eden is to have her embrace her destiny, to suicide. It doesn't take time to realize that Eden is no ordinary Sider and her Touch can do unimaginable. Suddenly, she is thrust deeper into conspiracies that not only concerns her kind but both the Basement and Upstairs. her Touch is the key.

A Touch Mortal was nothing I expected it to be. It was beautiful, amazing and totally distinctive. Leah Clifford presented a world that was eerily enchanting and intricately dark.

Eden was an awesome lead. She was stubborn, curious and kick-ass. And if you have any jokes about her name going, she has got a sarcastic answer as well and I like love good sarcasm.

You: Ready with your joke
Eden: "Yeah, go ahead and get the forbidden garden comment out of your system. And no matter what witty snake joke you're considering? Trust me, I've heard it."
aah, you've been burned! Told ya, she's got sarcasm.

Plus one of my favorite dialogues by Eden:

“The water's not even blue, jackass.”

I don't why, but I just loved it.

Eden is observant as well. Case in point:

“He noticed her giving him the once-over and smiled in a way no gay boy in history had ever smiled at a girl.”

Now that we know Eden, lets get to our not-my-hero-during-most-of-the-book, Az.
Want to hear Eden's thought on him:

"Pain in the ass.”

Ok, maybe I was being a little unfair. But that guy doesn't know how to be a hero. Though that's why, even though what he did to Eden, I loved him. He made an impression on me, even with his pick-up lines. But what I loved most about Az, alongwith his wings, was his strength. He struggled with the Fall everyday but he never gave in.

My super-mega-ultra-favorite character was LUKE. I know, I know, he's the villain. But I couldn't help but love him. I mean he's hot, sexy, got black hair(I always prefer guys with black hair), singer in a rock band(that was clearly a winner), dark, sarcastic, twisted and oh so dangerous. Now, tell me one good reason to not like him, seriously.

“Just because I don't know how to work a toy, doesn't mean I don't want it in my toy box.”

The best supporting character and heart-breakingly gay *sigh* was Gabriel. Most of the book, Gabe was busy trying to protect his friends he love so dearly. So what happened in the end (you have to read it!)was utterly shocking . I was like, "No, Gabe! Not you!" :'(
Hehehe, being a tease, huh? I'll stop now.

Adam seemed a very likable character, but the moment he had walked in, I had read his parts with narrowed eyes. I had believed he would be the one to ruin [SPOILER ALERT!] and I was right, of course. What a @#$%^&!But there was time when my heart had melted. This dialogue had done it:

“I want you to close your eyes. I want you to fall asleep first."
"Why?" She asked suddenly afraid he would slip out of the room as soon as she did.
"Because I'll be here in the morning.”

[SPOILER ENDED]

Kristen was dark and edgy and, mind you, schizophrenic. She talked most of the time in poetry or riddles. But, to me, most of her dialogues with Eden on their first day together were very confusing. I had a hard time understanding her and had to wait for Eden to say something to understand. But I totally adored this quote:

"Everyone adores a tragedy.”

I liked Jarrod and James a lot. [SPOILER ALERT!]I would love to see more of Jarrod in the next book. The scene where James was my most emotional scene. I mean he didn't want to die but see the fate, But at least he's Upstairs, now. That's a relief.[SPOILER ENDED] Libby, I never liked. [SPOILER ALERT!]I always suspected her of killing James. I think rather she was schizophrenic than Kristen. About what happened to her in the end, the delusional b***h had it coming. [SPOILER ENDED]

The reason why I wanted to stay up till 4 at night was the setting. The atmosphere was so dark and edgy, that I was glued most of the time to the book to see where they went next. Leah Clifford's description surely captures my taste. Eden's new look was my favorite.[SPOILER ALERT!] her short hair, pink highlights, numerous rings and bracelets, black nail-polish, clothing created an image of a girl that I would love to hang out with. It made me feel like having a make-over. I am already stacking over my silver rings :)[SPOILER ENDED]

Overall, Dark and twisted A Touch Mortal would attract readers who love a good gothic or paranormal. The sequel A Touch Morbid (A Touch Trilogy, #2) released on February 28th 2012. The third book in the series would be released in 2013.

Memories rose, rippling like pebbles tossed into the lies she’d told herself to try to forget about him.

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Jenny Pox (The Paranormals #1) by J.L. Bryan

Jenny Pox by J.L. Bryan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


“Let’s try it,” he said.

“This is serious,” she said. “You could get hurt. Or die.”

“But if we can touch, that means we can make out, right?” he asked.

“Maybe.”

“You want me to risk my life for maybe?” He grinned.”



I can't begin to describe how much I like love this book ❤❤❤❤❤❤



Jenny Morton has a power, but it's nothing good or to be jealous of. It's a curse. Eighteen year old Jenny has spent her life not knowing what its like to touch someone, have a skin-to-skin contact because her touch is the plague, the 'Jenny Pox', her personal brand of disease and death. She thought she could survive the rest of her life alone, untouched but when she meets Seth, a boy she can touch without killing him, her life is going to be anything but lonely. Even her small Southern town has bigger secrets than Jenny could ever dream of. It's time Jenny comes to term with her powers and face the popular mean girl, Ashleigh, who doesn't seem as human as she looks.



The moment I had first time read about Jenny Pox, I knew this would turn into one of the favorites. I was right. Once I started reading Jenny Pox, I couldn't put it down. Though the story is a paranormal, it is not difficult to see how realistic the story was. Most YA paranormal novels are all unicorn-and-rainbows but Jenny Pox was real, uncensored and nothing short of remarkable.



In the beginning, Jenny even though with her evil powers, is likable and you can't help but respect her for the choices she made to save others. She is truly a rare character and she is no frigid, goody-goody character. She is selfish, she gets drunk, she smokes weed and she doesn't care for abstinence. I could actually see myself chilling with her.



Ashleigh was one bitch of a villain, she was like a paranormal version of Mean Girls. Without her powers, I could almost see her roaming my school hallways.



My favorite chapters were the first one which beautifully introduces us to the sick, twisted reality that is the life of Jenny Morton and the second-last chapter where their history is explained, it was truly ingenious.



Can't wait to get my hand on the next book of this series, Tommy Nightmare. Hats off to J.L. Bryan for such an amazing book.



“Will you keep me safe?” she whispered.

”I promise.”

”Then I’ll go anywhere with you.”



My Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★



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