Synchronized Reading: September 2014

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Waiting On Wednesday (37): Wicked

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is

Wicked

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Releases |December 8th 2014|

Add to Goodreads

Things are about to get Wicked in New Orleans.
Twenty-two year old Ivy Morgan isn’t your average college student. She, and others like her, know humans aren’t the only thing trolling the French Quarter for fun… and for food. Her duty to the Order is her life. After all, four years ago, she lost everything at the hands of the creatures she’d sworn to hunt, tearing her world and her heart apart.
Ren Owens is the last person Ivy expected to enter her rigidly controlled life. He’s six feet and three inches of temptation and swoon-inducing charm. With forest-green eyes and a smile that’s surely left a stream of broken hearts in its wake, he has an uncanny, almost unnatural ability to make her yearn for everything he has to offer. But letting him in is as dangerous as hunting the cold-blooded killers stalking the streets. Losing the boy she loved once before had nearly destroyed her, but the sparking tension that grows between them becomes impossible for Ivy to deny. Deep down, she wants… she needs more than what her duty demands of her, what her past has shaped for her.
But as Ivy grows closer to Ren, she realizes she’s not the only one carrying secrets that could shatter the frail bond between them. There’s something he’s not telling her, and one thing is for certain. She’s no longer sure what is more dangerous to her—the ancient beings threatening to take over the town or the man demanding to lay claim to her heart and her soul.

Why I'm Waiting...

Now of course, I read almost everything JLA, but I've not really read any of her New Adult books besides one I think. I am curious about this one and hope that it's good.

Monday, September 15, 2014

Trial By Fire by Josephine Angelini

This world is trying to kill Lily Proctor. Her life-threatening allergies keep her from enjoying experiences that others in her hometown of Salem take for granted, which is why she is determined to enjoy her first high school party with her best friend and longtime crush, Tristan. But after a humiliating incident in front of half her graduating class, Lily wishes she could just disappear.
Suddenly, Lily is in a different Salem—one overrun with horrifying creatures and ruled by powerful women called Crucibles. Strongest and cruelest of them all is Lillian . . . Lily's other self in this alternate universe.
What makes Lily weak at home is what makes her extraordinary in New Salem. In this confusing world, Lily is torn between responsibilities she can't hope to shoulder alone and a love she never expected.

This book was a pleasant surprise and i'm so happy that I had the chance to read it. I enjoyed the story so much and couldn't put the story down. I love books with witches, but don't find too many that I think are amazing. They're usually average, but this book was not! I loved the whole alternate universe aspect of the story because I've not read too many books, if any, that involve it. I flew through this book and was nose deep into the story from start to finish. I'd definitely recommend giving the story a try!

The Aftermath by Jen Alexander

Sometimes, I dream that I'm someone else.
A girl with dark hair who doesn't worry about hunger
or thirst or running from flesh-eaters.
In her world, those sorts of things don't exist.
Since the spring of 2036, when the world changed forever, Claudia and a small clan of survivors have roamed the streets of a very altered Nashville: polluted and desolate, except for the ever-present threat of cannibal Hoarders. Together they must undergo punishing tests of endurance and psychological challenge sometimes with devastating consequences all just to live another day.
With food and water in dwindling supply, and with danger lurking around every corner, no one can be trusted. And as her world starts to make less and less sense, Claudia begins to realize something terrifying: she is just a pawn in some sort of game, and all of her actions are being controlled from afar by a mysterious gamer. So when she meets a maddening and fascinating outsider named Declan, who claims to be a game moderator, she must decide whether to join him in exchange for protection and access to the border.
If they play the game right, they are each other's best hope for survival and a life beyond the only world Claudia's ever known: the terrifying live-action game known as The Aftermath.

Let me first start of saying that I do not think that this book is meant for everyone. If you're into the whole gaming thing and dystopian/post apocalyptic type books then I think you should give it a try, but if you're not into those things then I don't think that you'd enjoy this book. If you've read the Eye of Minds by James Dashner and enjoyed that, then you may enjoy this one as well. But anyways, I just thought I'd throw that out there :) On to the review!

Waiting On Wednesday (36): Salt and Stone

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is

Salt and Stone

(Fire and Flood, #2)

by Victoria Scott

Releases |February 24th 2015 by Scholastic Press|

Add to Goodreads

What would you do to save someone you love?
In FIRE & FLOOD, Tella Holloway faced a dangerous trek through the jungle and across the desert, all to remain a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed for a chance at obtaining the Cure for her brother. She can't quit--she has to win the race, save Cody, and then fight to make sure the race stops before it can claim any more lives. In the next legs of the race, across the ocean and over mountains, Tella will face frostbite, sharks, avalanche, and twisted new rules in the race.
But what if the danger is deeper than that? How do you know who to trust when everyone's keeping secrets? What do you do when the person you'd relied on most suddenly isn't there for support? How do you weigh one life against another?
The race is coming to an end, and Tella is running out of time, resources, and strength. At the start of the race there were one hundred twenty-two Contenders. As Tella and her remaining friends start the final part of the race, just forty-one are left--and only one can win.

Why I'm Waiting...

I thought book one was a good start to the series and I'm really curious to see what happens in book two.

Other Books in the Series

Monday, September 8, 2014

The Far Dawn by Kevin Emerson

The Three is a lie. The Three will fail.
Having barely escaped Desenna, Owen and Lilly are on their own now, two of the three Altaneans on a journey to find Atlantis and protect it from the selfish greed of their nemesis Paul and Project Elysium. The secrets buried in the ice ahead have the power to destroy not only the earth but the bond between Owen and Lilly, too. As time grows short and darkness overtakes the planet, Owen must face Paul’s greatest treachery yet.
Full of heartrending decisions, pulse-pounding action, and fascinating questions of science and ethics alike, The Far Dawn takes readers on an explosive journey through time and space. At the far ends of the earth, Owen must choose—does he save the planet, or the people he loves?
Perfect for fans of Ship Breaker and the City of Ember series, slightly younger teen readers, and classroom library shelves.

The Far Dawn was a great conclusion to the Atlantean trilogy and I'm glad decided to give the series a try way back when it first came out. Book one was a pretty good start to the trilogy and continued to get better in book 2 and 3. I believe this book had a great balance of everything especially with the action and the romance. There wasn't too much of one thing, but just a very good mix of everything. I was also glad for the refreshers in the beginning of the book to jog my memory of the previous book. Those are always welcome and appreciated! Overall, the trilogy was good and I thought it was really different from a lot of the things I've read.

Book Hauling It Up (107)

Hey everyone,

I hope your week was awesome. Mine was pretty decent and I finished a book yesterday :) I also got three books this week that I'm really excited for, but probably won't get to them this month, which is always a bummer. But yeah, the three books are from series that I really like and authors that have not disappointed me so I'm super excited.

What I Got

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Bound To Danger by Katie Reus

At a benefit dinner, community activist Maria Cervantes overhears two men plotting a terrorist attack that could rock Miami to its core. But before she can alert authorities, she’s almost killed in a massive explosion—and wakes up in a hospital with no memory of what happened. As the sole survivor of the attack, she is now a person of interest to the NSA—and especially to Agent Cade O’Reilly. Because Maria is the one woman Cade has never been able to forget.

Years ago, they were closer than either was willing to admit—until Cade disappeared when Maria needed him most. Now he’s sticking by her, whether she likes it or not. Because the memories locked inside her mind could hold vital clues to the next attack. Because terrorists want her dead—and because he never wants to let her go again.

Bound To Danger was a really good book! There was tons of action going on within it and it was extremely fast paced. That is what I loved about the book. There were a ton of things going on within the story that made you want to continue on reading and not put the book down. The main character Maria has somehow gotten herself mixed up, unknowingly, with a group of terrorists. Overhearing a conversations between the terrorists at an event has put her life in danger, but the sad part about it is that she has no memory of the conversation and can't remember what was said. And through all that she's reconnected with Cade, a guy that was she liked and just so happened to be her now dead brother's best friend. Cade completely cut her out of his life when his best friend died so the two aren't that friendly in the beginning.

Waiting On Wednesday (35): The Rules

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is

The Rules

by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie

Releases |June 23rd 2015 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers|
Add to Goodreads

Junior Robin Brisset has no idea what she's in for when she accepts an invitation to one of Callabrese High's most exclusive parties. And when the trademark scavenger hunt begins, Robin must go against every rule she's lived by to survive.

Why I'm Waiting..

The synopsis is hella vague which makes me want to find out more about what will happen in the story. I mean come on, I need more that what was given to me here lol

Monday, September 1, 2014

August Wrap Up

Hey Everyone!

I hope all of you have had a good month. Mine was definitely a rough one.

My August wasn't so great. My niece is allergic to any kind of bug bite. She went to a friend's house and got bit by something on her hand, lip and close to her eye and now all those areas are really swollen. Usually a bite bump turns into one of those puss filled bumps, but her entire hand is swollen. So now she has to go to the doctor. Also, my mom hurt her thumb in early July and it's only gotten worse. She went to the doctor for the like the third time since July because she's been having trouble moving her thumb and now they're recommending her to see a doctor about possible nerve damage We have no clue what's going to happen with that.

But on to bookish news! I managed to read 5 books this month. I only read 2 books in July so this is definitely a step up :) I'm still fighting the reading slump though, but it has gotten better which I'm really happy about. I hope September is a good month and my dad's birthday is on the 7th so things should hopefully be good with that.

How was your month? lol I hope it was better than mine!

Books Read

All the books I read this month were pretty good and I really enjoyed them :)

Sorry about the lack of commenting I've doing lately! Things have been really stressful around here, but I'm trying to get back on my blogging and reading.