Sunday Post - 51 & Stacking the Shelves - 24

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~this meme was inspired in part by ~ In My Mailbox~ It's a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

This was a good week. I took Friday off from work to clean house and ended up reading from like 7 in the morning until 2 in the afternoon. Then totally busted my rear end to get the house clean after that. OOPS! Saturday the family came over to celebrate my birthday, my brother's birthday, and Father's day with my dad (yeah, we're a little late on that one). It was a really great weekend. And I'm looking forward to the upcoming short work week and LONG weekend. Early Happy 4th of July to my American peeps!

THIS PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of Through the Ever Night (Under the Never Sky, # 2) by Veronica Rossi (4 Stars)

Tuesday: Top Ten(ish) Books I've Read in 2013 So Far

Wednesday: Waiting on Allegiant

Thursday: Review of Confessions of an Almost Girlfriend (Confessions, # 2) by Louise Rozett (3 Stars)

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of The Maze Runner (Maze Runner, # 1) by James Dashner

Tuesday: Top Ten Fictional Crushes (I think I've done this one before...but I'm always adding new crushes to the list...so...yeah...it can't hurt to do it again, right?)

Wednesday: Waiting on Wednesday

Thursday: Review of Jenny Pox (The Paranormals, # 1) by JL Bryan

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

ALREADY FINISHED AND LOVED....

Losing Hope (Hopeless, # 2)

By: Colleen Hoover

Expected Publication: July 8th 2013 by Atria Books

256 pages

Genre: YA, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository | Booksamillion.com )

*Note: The above links to Amazon, The Book Depository, and Booksamillion.com are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--In the follow-up to Colleen Hoover’s #1 New York Times bestseller Hopeless, the charming and irresistible Dean Holder tells the passionate story that has melted thousands of hearts.

In Hopeless, Sky left no secret unearthed, no feeling unshared, and no memory forgotten, but Holder’s past remained a mystery.

Still haunted by the little girl he let walk away, Holder has spent his entire life searching for her in an attempt to finally rid himself of the crushing guilt he has felt for years. But he could not have anticipated that the moment they reconnect, even greater remorse would overwhelm him…

Sometimes in life, if we wish to move forward, we must first dig deep into our past and make amends. In Losing Hope, bestselling author Colleen Hoover reveals what was going on inside Holder’s head during all those hopeless moments—and whether he can gain the peace he desperately needs.

And still need to read...

The Truth About Letting Go

By: Leigh Talbert Moore

Published: February 2013

276 pages

Genre: YA/NA, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate link. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Ashley Lockett has always followed the rules. She's always done the right thing and played it safe until her ideal life is shattered when her dad dies suddenly.

Fueled by anger and grief, she vows to do everything opposite of how she lived before. Then she meets Jordan. He has big dreams, he's had a crush on Ashley for years, and he's a great kisser. But he's also safe.

Enter Colt. He is not safe, and he's more than willing to help Ashley fulfill her vow.

Rotters

By: Daniel Kraus

Published: April 5th 2011 by Delacorte Press

448 pages

Genre: YA, Horror

Source: Free Download from Sync Audiobooks

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*Note: The above links to Amazon, The Book Depository, and Booksamillion.com are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Grave-robbing. What kind of monster would do such a thing? It's true that Leonardo da Vinci did it, Shakespeare wrote about it, and the resurrection men of nineteenth-century Scotland practically made it an art. But none of this matters to Joey Crouch, a sixteen-year-old straight-A student living in Chicago with his single mom. For the most part, Joey's life is about playing the trumpet and avoiding the daily humiliations of high school.

Everything changes when Joey's mother dies in a tragic accident and he is sent to rural Iowa to live with the father he has never known, a strange, solitary man with unimaginable secrets. At first, Joey's father wants nothing to do with him, but once father and son come to terms with each other, Joey's life takes a turn both macabre and exhilarating.

Daniel Kraus's masterful plotting and unforgettable characters make Rotters a moving, terrifying, and unconventional epic about fathers and sons, complex family ties, taboos, and the ever-present specter of mortality.

Frankenstein

By: Mary Shelley

Published: first published 1817

Genre: Classics, Horror, Science Fiction

Source: Free Download from Sync Audiobooks

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*Note: The above links to Amazon, The Book Depository, and Booksamillion.com are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--"I saw the pale student of unhallowed arts kneeling beside the thing he had put together. I saw the hideous phantasm of a man stretched out, and then, on the working of some powerful engine, show signs of life and stir with an uneasy, half-vital motion." A summer evening's ghost stories, lonely insomnia in a moonlit Alpine room, and a runaway imagination - fired by philosophical discussion with Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley about science, galvanism, and the origins of life - conspired to produce for Mary Shelley this haunting night specter. By morning it had become the germ of her Romantic masterpiece, Frankenstein.

Written in 1816, when she was only nineteen. Mary Shelley's novel of "The Modern Prometheus" chillingly dramatized the dangerous potential of life begotten upon a laboratory table. A frightening creation myth for our own time, Frankenstein remains one of the greatest horror stories ever written and is an undisputed classic of its kind.

314

By: AR Wise

Published: December 24th 2012

250 pages

Genre: Horror

Source: Kindle Freebie

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate link. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers. However, as of the date of this publication (6/30/2013) this book is free on Amazon.

Goodreads description--Alma Harper has been trying to forget what happened in Widowsfield 16 years ago. She has a good life as a music teacher now, and might rekindle her relationship with her one true love. However, the number 314 haunts her, and threatens to bring her back to the day that her brother disappeared. When a reporter shows up, just days before March 14th, Alma realizes that her past is coming back to haunt her. What happened on March 14th, at 3:14, 16 years ago? No one but The Skeleton Man can remember.

Saving Wishes (The Wishes Series, # 1)

By: GJ Walker-Smith

Published: February 2013

368 pages

Genre: YA, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate link. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--For Charli Blake, being seventeen is a tough gig.

She's been branded a troublemaker, her reputation is in tatters and she's stuck in Pipers Cove, a speck of a town on the coast of Tasmania.

Thankfully, it's temporary. Her lifelong dream of travelling the world is just months away from becoming reality. All she has to do is ride out the last few months of high school, which is easier said than done thanks to a trio of mean girls known as The Beautifuls.

When Adam Décarie arrives in town, all the way from New York, life takes an unexpected turn. His arrival sets off a chain of events that alters her life forever, convincing her of one thing. Fate brought him to her.

Saving Wishes is the story of a girl who doesn't quite fit the life she's living, and the boy who helps her realise why.

I think that's all. But birthday celebration has come to a close--that means...birthday money spending is about to begin. Hip Hip HOORAY!

That's it for my shelves and recaps of my past and upcoming week. What did you add to your shelves this week? Any bookish news you want to talk about? Let me know!

Confessions of an Almost Girlfriend - Review

Confessions of an Almost Girlfriend (Confessions, # 2)

By: Louise Rozett

Published: June 25th 2013 by Harlequin

288 pages

Genre: YA, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you)

( Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository | Booksamillion.com )

*Note: The above links to Amazon, The Book Depository, and Booksamillion.com are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Rose Zarelli has big plans for sophomore year—everything is going to be different. This year, she’s going to be the talented singer with the killer voice, the fabulous girl with the fashionista best friend, the brainiac who refuses to let Jamie Forta jerk her around...

...but if she’s not careful, she’s also going to be the sister who misses the signals, the daughter who can only think about her own pain, the “good girl” who finds herself in mid-scandal again (because no good deed goes unpunished) and possibly worst of all...the almost-girlfriend.

When all else fails, stop looking for love and go find yourself.

After finishing Confessions of an Almost Girlfriend, I went back to re-read my review of Confessions of an Angry Girl. What I found re-reading that review was that almost everything I said about Confessions of an Angry Girl was completely turned around in Confessions of an Almost Girlfriend. So let me address those things first.

In my review of Confessions of an Angry Girl, I said that considering the title, I felt that Rose actually didn't display as much anger as I was expecting. In Confessions of an Almost Girlfriend, we get an extra level of Rose's coping and anger when she discusses the violent images that she sees periodically. This would have been an added bonus to Confessions of an Angry Girl and seems to me that it would have fit in better with that book.

I was worried after reading Confessions of an Angry Girl that Rose wasn't concerned about whether or not Jamie actually respects her. But I felt that Jamie was a much better character all around in Confessions of an Almost Girlfriend. There are still some questions there about whether or not he's right for Rose, but I definitely understood Jamie much more after reading Confessions of an Almost Girlfriend.

Finally, in my review of Confessions of an Angry Girl, I was impressed with Rose's ability to be her own person. She stood up to her own standards apart from everyone around her. In Confessions of an Almost Girlfriend, I was disappointed with Rose. Her self confidence issues really drive me batty. She's constantly talking down to herself. She thinks she's ugly. She's always comparing herself with her friends or any other female ever. While this is extremely frustrating to me because I guess I've gotten to a place where I love and accept myself for who I am, I also find her thought process to be extremely typical of a fifteen year old girl. So in this way, I really felt like Rose took a step back. It was nice to see that one of her teachers addresses this with her.

"Rose, do you know what I've noticed about you since I met you a year ago? You're mean--to yourself."

A slight pet peeve of mine is how anytime I've read a book where a character is in therapy, that character never really gives therapy a chance. They don't participate willingly or fully. They think the advice of the counselor is stupid. And they just generally look down on the whole process. Granted I haven't had much experience with therapy--just pre-marriage counselling--but I think the whole experience can be really beneficial. I think most people would benefit from some good counseling and therapy sessions. Just my opinion.

There were a couple of things about Confessions of an Almost Girlfriend that were really small things but things that I found extremely annoying. Here's a couple of quotes as examples: "I look down at my feet, squeezed into my flats, and imagine that if I'd just worn my boots, this wouldn't be happening." REALLY? I mean I'm sure that's not supposed to be literal, but I couldn't help but think "what a stupid thought!" And "It's the first time I've seen Kristin in anything other than a cheerleading outfit..." Seriously? You go to school with this girl every day and she wears her cheerleading outfit EVERY day? You've never seen her wear anything else? Not quite sure why those things bugged me so much, but they just did.

I did like the way that things flipped from Confessions of an Angry Girl where Rose was the focus and target of bullying to flip where Rose witnesses others being bullied and her reaction to that. While Rose doesn't exactly stand up to the bullying she doesn't stand by in the same was as everyone else does either. In Confessions of an Almost Girlfriend we learn more about Regina and her life--things that make her treatment of Rose make more sense even though it doesn't justify her behavior. While Matt turned out to be the bully in this installment, I'm wondering if we'll get more of Matt's story in the future that might show how he's turned out the way that he has. Because if there's one thing I've learned, it's that there's usually something going on that we can't see that prompts the actions of others. Because we aren't always aware of those things, we're quick to judge others, but everyone is struggling in some form or other.

Confessions of an Almost Girlfriend has several good messages throughout that I think many teenagers need to learn. Learning to love yourself and figuring out who you really are is a huge deal and something that I don't expect most people to figure out until even their 20s or later. Building self-esteem. What is "normal?" Positive self-talk. Doing the right thing because it's the right thing versus doing what you feel like or whether or not you're in the mood to be nice. Dealing with difficult people. What is really important--going to college or spending more time with your loved ones? Our decisions aren't always ones that people we love will agree with, but you have to make decisions that you can live with.

A couple of other things that I thought were great messages that I can't really summarize, I'll quote two instances here: "Although there are many things about desire that I haven't figured out yet, here's something I do know: it only takes a second for things to be misinterpreted and get really confusing when people are talking about touching each other." & "Or I guess maybe it's that I see her differently. It used to be when I looked at her, I was afraid." (I won't go into detail about these because this review is already too long and there's another issue I want to discuss.)

And now it's time for a rant. If you want to skip this rant, I won't be offended because I'm fairly sure I'm about to elicit a variety of opinions, but I can't be silent any longer. I've noticed a trend with YA literature over the last year. Almost every book I've read over the last year has at least one gay character. At the same time 9 out of 10 of those books have a subplot that includes said gay character being bullied. I feel like this topic is so overdone that it has become completely cliche. Really....you mean your gay character gets pushed around, bullied, and made fun of? SURPRISE. I would have never imagined that. While I understand that gay rights and bullying are both extremely popular and hot topics lately, I feel like this has become such a prevalent subplot in YA literature that it is completely overdone. I'm utterly sick and tired of this topic.

I hesitate to even mention this because I immediately think that I'm "asking for" arguments over this topic on the blog. Truthfully, I'd prefer not to bring this up at all, but YA literature has become so inundated with this topic, I feel like it can't be ignored. Perhaps the reason why I can't ignore it in Confessions of an Almost Girlfriend is because of what is said within the book itself.

"Not that being gay is a choice," she quickly adds, repeating what our health teacher from last year, Ms. Maso, drilled into us, even though she probably could have gotten fired for stating as fact what some people think is just a belief about homosexuality. As far as we can tell, Ms. Maso's the only teach at Union High who is actually interested in giving kids useful--aka truthful--information.

As a Christian, of course this is not the stance that I personally take, and I resent this information being treated as fact by the author. The book also states:

"Do you want to be the coward who is so afraid of people who are not like him, who is so narrow-minded and small, that he attacks out of fear?"

No...I don't want to be the coward who is afraid to speak out against what I disagree with just because what I believe is no longer popular. But because I believe what isn't popular, does that make me narrow-minded and small? And who have I attacked out of fear? Maybe I'm taking this particular passage too personally, but I don't know how else to take it.

And later the principal tells Rose, "Not to diminish your experience, but what's happening with Conrad is harassment on a whole other scale."

This statement bothers me as well. Why is what Conrad's experiencing any different from what Rose experienced last year? Rose was bullied and was generally scared--not necessarily for her life. But she was scared of Regina. Scared of going to school and getting hurt. I quote her saying this exact thing above. I don't understand why Conrad's form of harassment is any different than what Rose experienced. Both are unacceptable.

"Making things better requires risk," she says."Sometimes the moral imperative to speak up outweighs personal need. ...Whether you like it or not, you do what's right, even when it's hard..."

Should Conrad be bullied because he's gay? No. Should Rose be bullied because a guy she likes no longer wants to be with his ex-girlfriend? No. But that still doesn't change the fact that this subject is repeated so frequently in the YA genre that if I never read about it again, it would be too soon. End rant.

Confessions of an Almost Girlfriend gets 3 Stars. Have you read Confessions of an Almost Girlfriend? What did you think?

Waiting on Allegiant

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

Allegiant (Divergent, # 3)

By: Veronica Roth

Expected Publication: October 22nd 2013 by HarperCollins Children's Books

496 pages

Genre: YA, Dystopian, Science Fiction

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*Note: The above links to Amazon, Booksamillion.com, and The Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--One choice will define you.

What if your whole world was a lie?

What if a single revelation—like a single choice—changed everything?

What if love and loyalty made you do things you never expected?

The explosive conclusion to Veronica Roth’s #1 New York Times bestselling Divergent trilogy reveals the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent.

OH YEA!!!! What are you waiting on this week? Let me know!

Top Ten(ish) Books I've Read 2013 So Far

Top 10 Tuesday is a post hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and this week's topic is Top Ten(ish) Books I've Read 2013 So Far.

1) If I Stay by Gayle Forman (review coming soon)

2) Under the Never Sky & Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

3) Dare You To by Katie McGarry

4) True by Erin McCarthy

5) The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden by Jessica Sorensen

6) The Secret of Ella and Micha & The Forever of Ella and Micha by Jessica Sorsensen

7) Grave Mercy by RL LaFevers

8) The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead

9) Cinder & Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

10) The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

11) This Girl by Colleen Hoover (review coming soon)

12) The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

13) Delirium by Lauren Oliver (review coming soon)

Through the Ever Night - Review

Through the Ever Night (Under the Never Sky, # 2)

By: Veronica Rossi

Published: January 8th 2013 by HarperCollins

352 pages

Genre: YA, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Dystopian

Source: Borrowed from my SNL, Holly @ Words Fueled by Love

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*Note: The above links to Amazon, The Book Depository, and Booksamillion.com are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--It's been months since Aria last saw Perry. Months since Perry was named Blood Lord of the Tides, and Aria was charged with an impossible mission. Now, finally, they are about to be reunited. But their reunion is far from perfect. The Tides don't take kindly to Aria, a former Dweller. And with the worsening Aether storms threatening the tribe's precarious existence, Aria begins to fear that leaving Perry behind might be the only way to save them both. Threatened by false friends, hidden enemies, and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder,Can their love survive through the ever night? In this second book in her spellbinding Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi combines fantasy and dystopian elements to create a captivating love story as perilous as it is unforgettable.

I finished Under the Never Sky and needed to get my hands on Through the Ever Night as soon as possible. But responsibility came first. I needed to read a couple of review books first. So I finally got around to reading Through the Ever Night and now I can't get it out of my head. I immediately moved into another book after finishing Through the Ever Night, but I couldn't concentrate on it. When does Into the Still Blue come out? Friggin' next year! Argh! (January 28, 2014 is the estimated publication date for Into the Still Blue.)

When we left Under the Never Sky, Aria and Perry had been separated. Aria had just found out that her mother was dead and Perry was named Blood Lord of the Tides. I was totally prepared because of the Goodreads blurb for Aria and Perry to be separated for most of the beginning of the book. And was pleasantly surprised when they quickly had a reunion that I didn't have to stumble through 60% of the book to get to. However, there does come a time when separate paths must be taken for a bit so I wasn't too far off with my expectations.

Through the Ever Night really showed the struggles of being a leader. Perry tries to make the very best decisions he can for his tribe, but he's constantly being questioned and undermined. I'm sure every leader faces this, but it was hard to live this with Perry. I sympathized with him for the weight of everything he has to carry, but Perry presses on. He continues to make the hard decisions--even if they're not very popular. Sometimes I wanted to yell at his tribe to just sit down, shut up, and keep their opinions to themselves. Over time Perry earns his respect and his spot at Blood Lord and I think he needed to earn it just as much as his people needed to see him earn it.

Also when we left Under the Never Sky, Aria and Perry's relationship was unresolved. We know they were getting closer. Perry has rendered to her. But Perry's told Aria that he needs to marry someone who has the same Mark as he does. He's a Scire and a Seer, but Aria's an Aud. So they don't match. But we're not sure if that is going to stop them or not. Through the Ever Night doesn't really give them much opportunity to talk and flesh this stuff out so Aria and Perry as a couple feel unstable throughout the majority of the book.

The secondary characters get more of a chance to shine in Through the Ever Night than they did in Under the Never Sky. Roar and Aria are essentially best friends after spending the last few months together. We finally get to meet Liv that Roar has been pining over all of Under the Never Sky. Cinder gets fleshed out some more. And we extend the cast of secondary characters to more of the Tides and even introducing Sable and Kirra of the Horns--can I just say that I HATED Kirra. Not to mention that some of the Dwellers from Aria's past make a few more appearances.

Through the Ever Night has stuck with me even after finishing it. I read it in a hurried, almost frantic way. And I can't wait to get my hands on book 3, Into the Still Blue. Through the Ever Night gets 4 Stars from me. Have you read Through the Ever Night? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 50 & Stacking the Shelves - 23

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~this meme was inspired in part by ~ In My Mailbox~ It's a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

This has been a crazy week. Husband and I had a long talk last Saturday night about some things I've been stressed out about. While not really being stressed about reading and blogging perse, I believe backing off on some of my reading intensity will help reduce the stress I feel in some other aspects of life. And considering I'm ahead of my goal at this point, I think I can afford to back off A LITTLE. I still plan to post the same amount and continue to plan to meet my reading and blogging goals. But since it's still June, I don't have to achieve my 2013 goals this month. :)

This week is always a busy week of the year for me. Father's Day, my brother's birthday, and my birthday usually all fall right in a row. So we've been some celebrating crazy people with more celebrating to come. I got several gift cards for my birthday that I plan to spend on books (imagine that!), but as celebrating isn't over yet, I must wait before I run off to the stores. Look out for my massive book hauls over the next couple of weeks. hehe!

THIS PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of A Shade of Vampire by Bella Forrest (3.5 Stars)

Tuesday: Top Ten Summer 2013 TBR List (I've already finished Siege and Storm (The Grisha, # 2) by Leigh Bardugo.)

Wednesday: Waiting on The Distance Between Us

Thursday: Review of Under the Never Sky (Under the Never Sky, # 1) by Veronica Rossi (4 Stars)

Friday: Happy Birthday to Me -- No blog post...just a shameless shout out to myself.

Saturday: Blog Tour Stop: Review - Falling For Hadie (With Me, # 2) by Komal Kant (3.5 Stars)

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Through the Ever Night (Under the Never Sky, # 2) by Veronica Rossi

Tuesday: Top Ten Books I've Read So Far 2013 (I can already tell you I can't keep this list to 10.)

Wednesday: Waiting on Wednesday

Thursday: Review of Confessions of an Almost Girlfriend (Confessions, # 2) by Louise Rozett (This one is likely to be controversial. OH BOY! Don't know if I'm ready for this.)

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

Hidden (Firelight, # 3)

By: Sophie Jordan

Published: September 2012 by HarperTEEN

260 pages

Genre: YA, Fantasy

Source: Personal Library (birthday present)

( Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository | Booksamillion.com )

*Note: The above links to Amazon, The Book Depository, and Booksamillion.com are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Jacinda was supposed to bond with Cassian, the "prince" of their pride. But she resisted long before she fell in love with Will—a human and, worse, a hunter. When she ran away with Will, it ended in disaster, with Cassian's sister, Miram, captured. Weighed down by guilt, Jacinda knows she must rescue her to set things right. Yet to do so she will have to venture deep into the heart of enemy territory.

The only way Jacinda can reach Miram is by posing as a prisoner herself, though once she assumes that disguise, things quickly spiral out of her control. As she learns more about her captors, she realizes that even if Will and Cassian can carry out their part of the plan, there's no guarantee they'll all make it out alive. But what Jacinda never could have foreseen is that escaping would be only the beginning....

Loyalties are tested and sacrifices made in the explosive conclusion to Sophie Jordan's Firelight trilogy.

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer, # 1)

By: Michelle Hodkin

Published: September 27th 2011 by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

452 pages

Genre: YA, Paranormal

Source: Personal Library (birthday present)

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*Note: The above links to Amazon, The Book Depository, and Booksamillion.com are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Mara Dyer doesn’t think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.

It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can’t remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.

There is.

She doesn’t believe that after everything she’s been through, she can fall in love.

She’s wrong.

Just Enough Light for the Step I'm On

By: Stormie Omartian

Published: January 1st 2008 by Harvest House Publishers (first published January 15th 1999)

313 pages

Genre: Christian

Source: Personal Library (birthday present)

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*Note: The above links to Amazon, The Book Depository, and Booksamillion.com are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Thousands of readers have been touched with the encouraging message found in Stormie Omartian's bestselling book "Just Enough Light for the Step I'm On" (over 350,000 sold) and its companion book, "A Devotional Prayer Journey, " which warmly invited readers to record answers to prayer and create a beautiful keepsake of God's tender mercies. Now the book and journal have been combined to make it even easier to write down those moments of light just when needed.

Insights from the book and interactive questions offer readers a way to gently focus their thoughts as they consider the events in their journeys of faith. Whether as a gift or a personal keepsake, this new edition of "Just Enough Light for the Step I'm On" will be a valuable part of a devotional prayer time with the One who guides and leads.

Wild Cards (Wild Cards, # 1)

By: Simone Elkeles

Expected Publication: September 24th 2013 by Walker Books for Young Readers

288 pages

Genre: YA, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository | Booksamillion.com )

*Note: The above links to Amazon, The Book Depository, and Booksamillion.com are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--After getting kicked out of boarding school, bad boy Derek Fitzpatrick has no choice but to live with his ditzy stepmother while his military dad is deployed. Things quickly go from bad to worse when he finds out she plans to move them back to her childhood home in Illinois. Derek’s counting the days before he can be on his own, and the last thing he needs is to get involved with someone else’s family drama.

Ashtyn Parker knows one thing for certain--people you care about leave without a backward glance. A football scholarship would finally give her the chance to leave. So she pours everything into winning a state championship, until her boyfriend and star quarterback betrays them all by joining their rival team. Ashtyn needs a new game plan, but it requires trusting Derek—someone she barely knows, someone born to break the rules. Is she willing to put her heart on the line to try and win it all?

Glass Houses (The Morganville Vampires, # 1)

By: Rachel Caine

Published: October 3rd 2006 by NAL Jam

239 pages

Genre: YA, Paranormal

Source: Borrowed from my local library

( Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository | Booksamillion.com )

*Note: The above links to Amazon, The Book Depository, and Booksamillion.com are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--From the author of the popular Weather Warden series comes the debut of an exciting new series set in Morganville, Texas, where you would be well advised to avoid being out after dark.

College freshman Claire Danvers has had enough of her nightmarish dorm situation. When Claire heads off-campus, the imposing old house where she finds a room may not be much better. Her new roommates don't show many signs of life, but they'll have Claire's back when the town's deepest secrets come crawling out, hungry for fresh blood.

Deep Blue Secret (The Water Keepers, # 1)

By: Christie Anderson

Published: July 29th 2011

358 pages

Genre: YA, Fantasy

Source: Kindle freebie deal

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate link. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--California teen Sadie James thinks her life couldn't get any better. She has great friends, an energetic mother she adores, and the beach practically in her own backyard. But her carefree life is turned upside down when she's rescued by a mysterious and strangely familiar boy who won't even tell her his name. Each time the boy appears, Sadie's unexplainable attraction to him deepens along with her need to unravel his secrets. The boy is there to protect her, but as wonderful and exciting as it might be to have an irresistible boy with crystal green eyes protecting her every move, every minute of the day...why does Sadie need one? As Sadie finds answers, she realizes her life isn't as perfect as she thought. Not only is she caught in a world of dangerous secret agents she never knew existed, but it turns out her true identity may be the greatest secret of all.

Darkhouse (Experiment in Terror, # 1)

By: Karina Halle

Published: March 10th 2012 by Metal Blonde Books (first published May 1st 2011)

346 pages

Genre: YA, Fantasy, Paranormal, Horror

Source: Kindle Freebie Deal

( Goodreads | Amazon | Booksamillion.com )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Booksamillion.com are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--With all the vampire, werewolf and faerie books out there, it's easy to become numb to all things supernatural. The antidote? Darkhouse introduces two real and unforgettable characters, Perry Palomino & Dex Foray, amateur ghost hunters who are "attractive, relatable and oddly heroic," "flawed but loveable," "slightly crazy" and just the most endearing pair to ever tackle the paranormal...just don't call them normal.

Darkhouse is a thrilling and sexy new take on concepts like Supernatural and The X-Files, bringing a breath of fresh air to a genre that has been inundated with the dead.

***Darkhouse and the Experiment in Terror series is a horror/romance for mature audiences only. Readers who are easily offended by harsh language should think twice about reading it.***

Side note...didn't see that warning about the language on this last one...Whoops!

That's it for my shelves and recaps of my past and upcoming week. What did you add to your shelves this week? Any bookish news you want to talk about? Let me know!