'Waiting On' (7): New Girl, A Breath of Eyre, and How To Ravish A Rake

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that shines a spotlight on upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating. As a self-diagnosed book-a-holic, I obviously adore this MEME, so I'm here today to salivate over books in my 'to-read' account over at Goodreads.   

This week, my first "can't-wait-to-read" pre-publication selection that comes out in January is:                      

New Girl 

Paige Harbison, January 31st, Harlequin Teen  

They call me 'New Girl'...

Ever since I arrived at exclusive, prestigious Manderly Academy, that’s who I am. New girl. Unknown. But not unnoticed—because of her.

Becca Normandy—that’s the name on everyone’s lips. The girl whose picture I see everywhere. The girl I can’t compare to. I mean, her going missing is the only reason a spot opened up for me at the academy. And everyone stares at me like it’s my fault.

Except for Max Holloway—the boy whose name shouldn’t be spoken. At least, not by me. Everyone thinks of him as Becca’s boyfriend but she’s gone, and here I am, replacing her. I wish it were that easy. Sometimes, when I think of Max, I can imagine how Becca’s life was so much better than mine could ever be.

And maybe she’s still out there, waiting to take it back.  

That cover completely got me. Then I read the blurb and fell in love with the mysterious feel and wondering how it ties into the haunting cover. Then finally, I discovered the author just turned 22, and this isn't even her debut (next on my to read list is her actual debut, Here Lies Bridget, which also looks fabulous). I am in awe . . . .and yeah, this is a must read for me :-) 

• Next up, I have a a later-in-2012 "can't-wait-to-read" pre-publication selection:     

A Breath of Eyre   

Eve Marie Mont, April 1st 2012, Kensington Publishing     

Emma Townsend has always believed in stories—the ones she reads voraciously, and the ones she creates in her head. Perhaps it’s because she feels like an outsider at her exclusive prep school, or because her stepmother doesn’t come close to filling the void left by her mother’s death. And her only romantic prospect—apart from a crush on her English teacher—is Gray Newman, a long-time friend who just adds to Emma’s confusion. But escape soon arrives in an old leather-bound copy of Jane Eyre…

Reading of Jane’s isolation sparks a deep sense of kinship. Then fate takes things a leap further when a lightning storm catapults Emma right into Jane’s body and her nineteenth-century world. As governess at Thornfield, Emma has a sense of belonging she’s never known—and an attraction to the brooding Mr. Rochester. Now, moving between her two realities and uncovering secrets in both, Emma must decide whether her destiny lies in the pages of Jane’s story, or in the unwritten chapters of her own . . .   

Oh my goodness, April can't come soon enough! I freaking love Jane Eyre, and I have loved every retelling I've come across, and this sounds like it will be no different. I love the blend of classic and magical realism and historical and romance and . . . . yep, A Breath of Eyre is so my thing.     

• And last, but certainly not least, I have an adult romance. I normally focus on YA books since my upcoming debut is YA, but I love me some adult romances, too. And since I do have two secret adult manuscripts I'm having fun with on the side, I thought I'd occasionally spotlight one of the adult titles I'm drooling over. This month we have:    

  

How To Ravish A Rake  

Vicky Dreiling, APril 1st 2012, Forever      

SCANDALOUS DESIRES . . .

Amy Hardwick has one last Season to shake off her wallflower image and make a love match. If she can't, she'll set aside her dreams of romance and return home to a suitor who can provide security-if little else. What she doesn't count on is the inappropriate-and irresistible-attention lavished on her in a darkened library by rake extraordinaire Will "The Devil" Darcett . . .

DEVILISH DELIGHT

When Will is caught in a tryst with the ton's shyest miss, he knows he must offer for her hand. Yet Amy is not the shrinking violet she seems to be. Passion lies beneath her prim exterior and Will is eager to release it. But winning Amy isn't simply a matter of seduction; first, Will must convince her that he's mended his wicked ways . . .  

I freaking love Vicky Dreiling's books. She has an amazing way of blending history with the modern, and romance with comedy. I devoured How to Marry a Duke, then tapped my foot impatiently until How to Seduce a Scoundrel was released, which I then devoured, too. Love her books, love her writing, and I know I will love this book!  

YOUR TURN: I know you have books you're dying to read. Maybe they've already been released but you haven't gotten to them yet. Maybe they're coming out later this month, or early next year . . . or maybe they aren't coming out for months but you're still DYING to talk about it. PLEASE, let me know! I'm always looking for books to add to my to-read shelf :-)

Waiting On Wednesday (6): Destiny's Fire, Ditched, and Perigee Moo

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that shines a spotlight on upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating. As a self-diagnosed book-a-holic, I obviously adore this MEME, so I'm here today to salivate over books in my 'to-read' account over at Goodreads.   

This week, my first "can't-wait-to-read" pre-publication selection that comes out in January is: 

Destiny's Fire 

Trisha Wolfe, January 10th, OMNIFIC Publishing

Sixteen-year-old Dez Harkly is one of the last of her kind—a part of a nearly extinct race of Kythan descended from ancient guardians who protected the pharaohs of Egypt. As Shythe, they must keep their shape-shifting ability and electric power hidden from the humans of their steam-powered world.

It’s the year 2040 and the Shythe Council has lowered their barrier, allowing the Narcolym—the dominant race of Kythan whose Flame ushered in the steam era—to enter their haven. As the Narcolym airships get closer, Dez secretly trains for an attack that her best friend Jace believes is coming despite the Treaty Act. Not only is Dez wary of war, and her growing affection for Jace, but she fears the change her fast-approaching birthday will bring.

When her power rockets out of control, Dez knows she’ll never attend the Shythe Academy with her friends, and worse, her mother’s planning to run. But a Narco named Reese could change her fate . . . if she can trust him. After Dez discovers why the Narcos have really come to Haven Falls, her guarded world crumbles. She’s forced to choose between the race who’s raised her and the enemy she’s feared her whole life.

DESTINY'S FIRE is an emotional journey of Dez’s struggle to overcome her fear and embrace her power—her destiny.    

Okay, this is a bit of a cheat because I'm blessed to be Trisha's CP so I've read this already. But honestly, it will be SUCH a different experience holding the paperback in my hands, looking at the beautiful cover, and drooling all over Reese and Jace "officially." EEP! I'm so excited :-)

• Normally, I'd now share a later-in-2012 "can't-wait-to-read" pre-publication selection, but there are TWO more books coming out in January that I just HAVE to have, so I thought I'd shout them all out here. So up next:  

DITCHED: A Love Story     

Robin Mellom, January 10th 2012, DISNEY-HYPERION  

High school senior Justina Griffith was never the girl who dreamed of going to prom. Designer dresses and strappy heels? Not her thing. So she never expected her best friend, Ian Clark, to ask her.

Ian, who always passed her the baseball bat handle first.

Ian, who knew exactly when she needed red licorice.

Ian, who promised her the most amazing night at prom.

And then ditched her.

Now, as the sun rises over her small town, and with only the help of some opinionated ladies at the 7-Eleven, Justina must piece together — stain by stain on her thrift-store dress — exactly how she ended up dateless. A three-legged Chihuahua was involved. Along with a demolition derby-ready Cadillac. And there was that incident at the tattoo parlor. Plus the flying leap from Brian Sontag's moving car...

But to get the whole story, Justina will have to face the boy who ditched her. And discover if losing out at prom can ultimately lead to true love.

Filled with humor, charm, and romance, Ditched: A Love Story by debut novelist Robin Mellom will have readers dreaming of love on their own prom nights.

What is not to love about this book? A 3-legged Chihuahua? Standing in a 7-Eleven in a thrift-store dress? Tattoo parlors? And somehow it all leads to true love? This book sounds like it is so up my alley with a romantic comedy feel and a cover that just screams READ ME. All I can say is "Come on January!"   

• And last, but certainly not least, I have:  

Perigee Moon

Tara Fuller, January 2012, CRESCENT MOON PRESS  

After a horrific fire claims the life of her mother, seventeen year old Rowan Bliss finds herself in the miniscule town of Ipswich, Massachusetts. It’s here that she meets Alex, a deliciously mysterious boy who holds the key to unlocking her family’s dark secret.

As Rowan falls helplessly over the edge for Alex, the secrets that he insists on keeping refuse to be contained, and the truth that she uncovers challenges everything she has ever believed. Alex is a witch. And now he’s awakened something within her she never even knew existed. But out of all of this, the one thing Rowan won’t accept is the fact that Alex is destined to die.

Now Rowan must unearth the buried power she harbors within to escape a deadly prophecy, defy the very laws of time, and prevent the hands of fate from taking yet another person she loves.    

First, this book has an awesomesauce title--Perigee Moon. I have no freaking clue what it means, but it makes me want to read it all the more so I can figure it out. Second, dude, the cover? Eerily beautiful. And if that wasn't enough to hook ya, you got a sexy, swoony, suspense-y fun blurb to finish the job. I'm telling y'all, January is gonna rock!

YOUR TURN: I know you have books you're dying to read. Maybe they've already been released but you haven't gotten to them yet. Maybe they are coming out later this month, or early next year . . . or maybe they aren't coming out for months but you're still DYING to talk about it. PLEASE, let me know! I'm always looking for books to add to my to-read shelf :-)

Waiting on Wednesday (5): Good For You and Seeing Cinderella

 

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. As I'm a bookaholic, obviously I adore this MEME, so I'm here today salivating over two of the books in my 'to-read' account over at Goodreads.

This week, my "can't-wait-to-read" pre-publication selection that comes out in December is:

 Good For You (Between the Lines #3)

Tammara Webber, December 19th

Reid Alexander's life is an open book. His Hollywood celebrity means that everything he does plays out in the public eye. Every relationship, every error in judgment is analyzed by strangers. His latest mistake totaled his car, destroyed a house and landed him in the hospital. Now his PR team is working overtime to salvage his image. One thing is clear—this is one predicament he won’t escape without paying for it.

Dori Cantrell is a genuine humanitarian—the outward opposite of everything Reid is about. When his DUI plea bargain lands him under her community service supervision, she proves unimpressed with his status and indifferent to his proximity, and he soon wants nothing more than to knock her off of her pedestal and prove she's human.

Counting the days until his month of service is over, Dori struggles to ignore his wicked magnetic pull while shocking him with her ability to see past his celebrity and challenging him to see his own wasted potential. But Dori has secrets of her own, safely locked away until one night turns her entire world upside down. Suddenly their only hope for connection and redemption hinges on one choice: whether or not to have faith in each other.

Okay, I absolutely LOVED the first two books in this series! And yes, they ended exactly as they should (#TeamGraham!), but I've always had a soft spot for Reid and I'm soo excited to see him get his own story here. What can I say, I'm a sucker for bad boys who can be redeemed :-)

And this week's 2012 "can't-wait-to-read" pre-publication selection:  

 Seeing Cinderella

Jenny Lundquist, March 20th 2012, ALADDIN MIX

Calliope Meadow Anderson wishes her life could be more of a fairy tale—just like the stories she writes. Her best friend, Ellen, is acting weird, her parent's marriage is falling apart, and to top things off, she found out she needs hideously large and geeky glasses.

But Callie soon learns they aren't just any glasses—they are magical and let her read people's thoughts. For the first time ever she's answering all the questions right in math class, and gets a glimpse of what goes through people's minds all day, including what Ellen—and her longtime crush—really think of her.

As if dealing with these crazy glasses weren't enough, Callie tries out for the lead in her school's production of Cinderella and actually gets the part. Instead, Callie chooses to let Ellen have the lead and be Ellen's understudy—just like she has done for their entire friendship.

Add in a new girl who has something to hide, a secret admirer, a best friend stealer who isn't what she seems, and Callie's year just went from ordinary to extraordinary.

Can this supporting actress learn to be a leading lady in her own life? Or is she destined to stay in the background forever—even with her super-freaky-magic glasses?

I'm also a sucker for quirky, fun contemporaries that have everyday girls doing some amazing things, and realizing their own self worth. The good old "Coming of Age" type story but with an off beat, magical twist. And Cinderella? Come on, that has to be one of the best fairy tales of all time! As soon as I heard about this story I said, "yes, please" and quickly added it to my to-read shelf. Come on, you know you want to, too. :-)  

Q4U: Got any other recommendations for my to-read shelf? What are you counting down the days to read this week?

Waiting on Wednesday (4): Kiss Crush Collide and Of Poseidon

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. As I'm a bookaholic, obviously I adore this MEME, so I'm here today salivating over two of the books in my 'to-read' account over at Goodreads.

This week, my "can't-wait-to-read" pre-publication selection that comes out in December is:

 Kiss Crush Collide

Christina Meredith, December 27, 2011 by Greenwillow Books

Leah has the life most high school girls would kill for—popularity, glowing grades, a rich, athletic boyfriend. So why does she feel like she can’t breathe? And why can’t she stop thinking about the boy from the country club? The one who isn’t her boyfriend, the one that her mother would never, ever approve of, the one that her perfect older sisters would never, ever look at twice. The one who is always looking back at her. Irresistible attraction, smoldering glances, the bad boy and the good girl—Kiss Crush Collide has everything that a steamy forbidden romance should, and then some.

With graceful and honest writing and an electric love story, this is a book about growing into your own skin. For fans of Perfect Chemistry, Sarah Dessen, and John Green

Hmm, let's see. Romance--check. Hot, bad boy--check. For fans of Perfect Chemistry and Sarah Dessen--um, check, check. Soooo can't wait for this one :-)

And this week's 2012 "can't-wait-to-read" pre-publication selection:  

Of Poseidon

Anna Banks, Expected publication May 22, 2012 by Feiwel & Friends

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 been eager for this one for months, ever since I read Anna's agent success story, and although it is still months away from release, I'm all giddy over seeing the cover and blurb. Believing big things for this sweet and talented author :-)

Q4U: Got any good recommendations for my to-read shelf? What are you counting down the days to read this week?

'Waiting On' Wednesday (3): Where It Began

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. As I'm a bookaholic, obviously I adore this MEME, so I'm here today salivating over one of the books in my 'to-read' account over at Goodreads.

This week, my "can't-wait-to-read" pre-publication selection is:

WHERE IT BEGAN 

By: Ann Redisch Stampler

Hardcover, 384 pages

Expected publication date: March 6th 2012 by Simon Pulse

From Goodreads:

Gabby Gardiner wakes up in a hospital bed looking like a cautionary ad for drunk driving and lacking a single memory of the accident that landed her there. What she can remember, in frank and sardonic detail, is the year leading up to the accident.

As she takes us through her transformation from invisible girl to on-trend Girl Who Dates Billy Nash (aka Most Desirable Boy Ever), she is left wondering: Why is Billy suddenly distancing himself from her? What do her classmates know that Gabby herself does not? Who exactly was in the car that night? And why is Gabby left alone to take the fall?

Putting the pieces together will take every ounce of Gabby's strength. As she peels back the layers of her life, she begins to realize that her climb up the status ladder has been as intoxicating as it has been morally complex...and that nothing about her life is what she has imagined it to be.

Q4U: What are you counting down the days to read this week?