Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine,  that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating or books that are in our TBR pile.  This week’s “can’t-wait-to-read” selection is

Summary (by Goodreads)

The New York Times bestselling author of Before I Fall and the Deliriumtrilogy makes her brilliant adult debut with this mesmerizing story in the tradition of The Lovely Bones, Her Fearful Symmetry, and The Ocean at the End of the Lane—a tale of family, ghosts, secrets, and mystery, in which the lives of the living and the dead intersect in shocking, surprising, and moving ways 

Wealthy Richard Walker has just died, leaving behind his country house full of rooms packed with the detritus of a lifetime. His estranged family—bitter ex-wife Caroline, troubled teenage son Trenton, and unforgiving daughter Minna—have arrived for their inheritance. 

But the Walkers are not alone. Prim Alice and the cynical Sandra, long dead former residents bound to the house, linger within its claustrophobic walls. Jostling for space, memory, and supremacy, they observe the family, trading barbs and reminiscences about their past lives. Though their voices cannot be heard, Alice and Sandra speak through the house itself—in the hiss of the radiator, a creak in the stairs, the dimming of a light bulb. 

The living and dead are each haunted by painful truths that will soon surface with explosive force. When a new ghost appears, and Trenton begins to communicate with her, the spirit and human worlds collide—with cataclysmic results.

Elegantly constructed and brilliantly paced, Rooms is an enticing and imaginative ghost story and a searing family drama that is as haunting as it is resonant.

Lauren Oliver wrote one of the most memorable YA titles I have ever read - Before I Fall.  Although this is an adult title, I am going to add it to my TBR list!

- Christinabean

Hexed by Michelle Krys

Published: June 2014

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Pages: 384

Copy Provided by: Bought

Summary: Goodreads

Summary:

If high school is all about social status, Indigo Blackwood has it made. Sure, her quirky mom owns an occult shop, and a nerd just won’t stop trying to be her friend, but Indie is a popular cheerleader with a football-star boyfriend and a social circle powerful enough to ruin everyone at school. Who wouldn’t want to be her?

Then a guy dies right before her eyes. And the dusty old family Bible her mom is freakishly possessive of is stolen. But it’s when a frustratingly sexy stranger named Bishop enters Indie’s world that she learns her destiny involves a lot more than pom-poms and parties. If she doesn’t get the Bible back, every witch on the planet will die. And that’s seriously bad news for Indie, because according to Bishop, she’s a witch too.

Suddenly forced into a centuries-old war between witches and sorcerers, Indie’s about to uncover the many dark truths about her life—and a future unlike any she ever imagined on top of the cheer pyramid.

Review:

I had been eyeing Hexed for a few months before I actually bought it to read.  I'm not sure what made me hesitate.  Probably the fact that I had reached my 4 books at a time reading limit.  

So let's talk a bit about the author, Michelle Krys.  Michelle is Canadian and lives in Ontario with her her family.  She is GORGEOUS and hilarious at the same time. If you read her website, you'll discover that she often gets mistaken for her identical twin or compared to Elaine from Seinfeld.  I love that she is Canadian.  Sometimes we don't always point out our Canadian authors (maybe besides Lesley Livingston and Kelley Armstrong) but there are ton of great Canadian YA authors out there and Michelle Krys is one of them!  

So let's begin, shall we?  Indigo Blackwood seems to have a great life, envied by many, popular and dating one of the hottest guys at school.  However, she is (unknowingly) a witch and this comes to light after a tragedy exposes secrets in her family.  Enter sexy leather toting bad boy with a bad attitude, Bishop.  He is lovely.  And like I said before he has a bit of an attitude but he is there to help our Indigo find her way and perhaps there is a little bit of romance involved.  

At the beginning the story began as a bit of a path well-traveled - the best friend/boyfriend scenario with jealous rivalry and competition but then things take a bit of a turn.  Indigo starts from being slightly self-absorbed and concerned about peer pressure to someone who begins to develop more character and identity.  It will be interesting to see where book #2 takes us.  Hexed has a LOT of potential. 

Overall I enjoyed Hexed even though it began as a bit of an angsty novel for me. Indigo may have been a key character but it was Paige who really showed some true heroism.  She stuck up for a friend who had dumped her years earlier. I am a stickler for loyal friendships.  To me, they help define your character and after reading about Indigo and how she treated Paige,  I almost tossed her into the DNF pile.  Glad I stuck it out though because things got much better.  Bishop starts to develop more than smart-ass remarks and gains some depth while Indigo develops a backbone with the school "Pretties".  Yay for team "Stand up for Yourself"!  Try this one out for an ISU.  There are plenty of themes to choose from and buy the book from a store to support another great Canadian author! woot! woot!

Stacking the Shelves

Stacking the Shelves allows us to share the books we have added to our collections - physical, virtual, borrowed, bought or received.

I received these two titles this week.  Coincidentally they have similar color themes...totally unintentional.  :)

- Christinabean

3:59 by Gretchen McNeil

Published:September 2013

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Pages: 368

Copy Provided by: Library

Summary: Goodreads

Summary:

Josie Byrne's life is spiraling out of control. Her parents are divorcing, her boyfriend Nick has grown distant, and her physics teacher has it in for her. When she's betrayed by the two people she trusts most, Josie thinks things can't get worse.

Until she starts having dreams about a girl named Jo. Every night at the same time—3:59 a.m.

Jo's life is everything Josie wants: she's popular, her parents are happily married, and Nick adores her. It all seems real, but they're just dreams, right? Josie thinks so, until she wakes one night to a shadowy image of herself in the bedroom mirror – Jo. 

Josie and Jo realize that they are doppelgängers living in parallel universes that overlap every twelve hours at exactly 3:59. Fascinated by Jo's perfect world, Josie jumps at the chance to jump through the portal and switch places for a day.

But Jo’s world is far from perfect. Not only is Nick not Jo's boyfriend, he hates her. Jo's mom is missing, possibly insane. And at night, shadowy creatures feed on human flesh.

By the end of the day, Josie is desperate to return to her own life. But there’s a problem: Jo has sealed the portal, trapping Josie in this dangerous world. Can she figure out a way home before it’s too late?

Review:

I really enjoy titles by Gretchen McNeil.  Her books tend to be stand-alone titles.  She does have a new title coming out entitled Get Even next week that is on my TBR list already.  The Breakfast Club meets Pretty Little Liars.  Sounds deliciously mysterious to me!

3:59 was a bit of a departure from my regular reads.  I really had to wrap my head around this separate universe that Josie had discovered.  What I enjoyed is that I had not encountered this concept in a YA stand-alone before.  Gretchen took a seemingly complicated concept and made it readable and identifiable.  There are several themes you could pull from this read to turn it into a challenging ISU title.  This was such an interesting read!  Josie has a chance to keep things in her life similar but live them better.  Pretty tempting when your life feels like it is falling apart, or is it?  

My question for you readers is this - if the same people in your life existed in a different universe, would you want to "switch" and have a chance to live your life differently? 

The Perilous Sea by Sherry Thomas

Published: September 16th, 2014

Publisher: Balzer and Bray

Pages: 414

Copy: Publisher through Edelweiss

Summary: Goodreads

After spending the summer away from each other, Titus and Iolanthe (still disguised as Archer Fairfax) are eager to return to Eton College to resume their training to fight the Bane. Although no longer bound to Titus by a blood oath, Iolanthe is more committed than ever to fulfilling her destiny—especially with the agents of Atlantis quickly closing in.

Soon after arriving at school, though, Titus makes a shocking discovery, one that makes him question everything he previously believed about their mission. Faced with this devastating realization, Iolanthe is forced to come to terms with her new role, while Titus must choose between following his mother's prophecies—and forging a divergent path to an unknowable future.

REVIEW

Last October I reviewed 'The Burning Sky', the first book in this trilogy and I absolutely loved it. I had high hopes for this second book and I am thrilled and delighted to say that those hopes were surpassed.  The Perilous Sea is written in two parts - present and past - with alternating chapters set in Windsor and the Sahara desert. Confusing - not in the least. The actions occurring in these two timelines are so different as to make very easy reading.

I still completely adore Iolanthe (Fairfax) and Titus.  Their witty banter brought a smile to my face many, many times and I never once got tired of them or their romance. We continue to find out more about them and about many of the secondary characters.  Kashkari has many secrets that come to light, as does Wintervale and  some of those secrets will knock your socks off.  Cooper is also hilarious, a bit like the stooge in a stage comedy. I also enjoyed the pivotal roles played by parents in the story, Lady Wintervale and Lady Callista to name two.

We also find out a lot more about the Bane, and what a nasty character he is.  He is only concerned about one person - himself - and how to maintain his prolonged life.  There are some wonderful surprises that come to light about him, most of them coming out of left field for me.

I also noted again the underlying Harry Potterish feel to the story, but it is never contrived.  With its Victorian setting, nasty bad guy out to rule the world and a mage society hidden from the general populace, it would be hard not to draw parallels, but the feeling is more like cousins, if you understand my meaning  The Perilous Sea (and Burning Sky) stand firmly on their own and are equally as enjoyable.   Any Harry Potter fan should just devour this series, but then really, so should any lover of great adventure fantasy.  Well done Ms Thomas, I am completely taken by your fabulous story world and it is with bated breath that I wait for the final book in the trilogy. I just can't wait to start recommending this series to my patrons at work.

Follow Friday

Friday Follow is a blog hop that was started by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read.  Each week a different question is posted by our hosts and we will answer!  This is a great opportunity for bloggers to network and interact. 

This week’s question –

Before blogging (dark times people!) how would you find out about new books or did you? – A Great Read

Question provided by: The Pegster Reads

I would love to say that I found out from my local librarian but sadly, that just isn't so.  Although, you would be surprised at how many librarians are YA fans!  

Before blogging, I found out about new books through my local bookstore. I would hit the new book section!  Sometimes I would hear about something in the media but that was rare.  Usually only when a book was becoming a movie.  And in terms of YA, the book was already several years old before it became a movie!

- Christinabean

Welcome to the Paperback Princesses! Make yourself at home, take a look around our blog and let us know what you think in the comments section. We would love to hear what you have to say about our posts. We often try to comment on your comments as well so feel free to start a conversation! Since there are two of us running the show, we always have a variety of titles and event postings. Be sure to check out our own personal meme page. Check out Fantastic Fairytales, Let's Hear it for the Boys, In Case you Missed it and a few others. We try to not only focus on new YA books but also great titles from the past.

Spirit and Dust by Rosemary Clement-Moore

Published: May 14th, 2013

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Pages: 387

Copy: Library

Summary: Goodreads

Daisy Goodnight can speak to the dead. It’s not the result of a head injury or some near-death experience. She was just born that way. And she’s really good at it. Good enough to help the police solve the occasional homicide.

But helping the local authorities clear cold cases is one thing. Being whisked out of chemistry class by the FBI and flown to the scene of a murder/kidnapping in Minnesota? That’s the real deal.

Before the promotion can go to Daisy’s head, she’s up to her neck in trouble. The spirits are talking, and they’re terrified. There’s a real living girl in danger. And when Daisy is kidnapped by a crime boss with no scruples about using magic—and Daisy—to get what he wants, it looks like hers is the next soul on the line.

I am a huge fan of Ms Clement Moore, and so far haven't found a book of hers I didn't enjoy.  One of the best things about her books, for me anyway, is the humour.  She makes me laugh out loud, and I just love that.  Not so much when I'm reading on public transport though, people give you really strange looks when you start laughing to yourself!

Daisy Goodnight is one of the Goodnight clan that we have been introduced to in previous books - Texas Gothic anyone?  She is tall, lovely and can speak to the dead.  She also has a very sharp wit and is not afraid to poke fun at herself and sexy FBI agents.  

Daisy gets herself into a pickle or two, there are several hot guys, a nasty bad guy, lots of romance and hilarity and the characters are just downright good fun. 

As The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, May 2013 says:
“You can’t really beat a story that has hijinks, romance, and a culminating scene in which the heroine defeats the bad guys by animating the bones of Sue the T-rex, can you?”

Yes, Daisy really does do that and it is hilarious.  Spirit and Dust is ghostly murder with a touch of romance and a liberal dose of humour. So much fun. If you're looking for a quick read to make you smile, find Spirit and Dust, quickly.