It's Wednesday again!

     It's time for another Waiting on Wednesday! In case you don't know, this is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine in which we bloggers get to share with you the books we're anxiously awaiting. 

Mind Games
by Kiersten White
Publication Date: February 19, 2013

     Fia was born with flawless instincts. Her first impulse, her gut feeling, is always exactly right. Her sister, Annie, is blind to the world around her- except when her mind is gripped by strange visions of the future.

     Trapped in a school that uses girls with extraordinary powers as tools for corporate espionage, Annie and Fia are forced to choose over and over between using their abilities in twisted, unthinkable ways...or risking each other's lives by refusing to obey.

     In a stunning departure from her New York Times bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy, Kiersten White delivers a slick, edgy, heartstoppingly intense psychological thriller about two sisters determined t protect each other-no matter the cost.

     Um, yes please? I really loved the Paranormalcy books (although I've only read two of them thus far) and I really like Kiersten White's writing style. And as an added bonus I just got an e-mail yesterday from Epic Reads letting me know that I've won a copy! Can't wait to read it, and I'm sure a review will be coming soon. : )

What's are you waiting on? Leave me a link in the comments section so I can come drool over your picks!

I need a vacation from my vacation (& Teaser Tuesday)

     Eek! Ever have one of those weeks that makes you feel like you must be in some sort of secret reality show?
   
     I am house/dog sitting for a friend who's gone on vacation and whatever the opposite of swimmingly is, that's how things have been going. Sinking...ly? I don't know. I woke up this morning to use the bathroom only to discover upon glancing up that my daughter had knocked down the blind and neglected to tell me, resulting in me looking like one of those girls who stands around in brothel windows half naked to tempt passers-by. Only I was peeing, not doing anything tantalizing (what a great word!).

     In my attempt to repair the blind because I am a conscientious person (and too cheap to buy a new one) I managed to pull the damn thing clean off the wall. One hour, two soon-to-be bruises from falling off the step ladder, and a zillion feet of cupcake duct tape later, the blind is back on the wall, but unless my friend suddenly develops a burning desire to live in a house that vaguely resembles a shack in the ghetto, I will be replacing the blind completely. Oh, life, you glorious adventure-filled thing, you.

     In an entirely unrelated note, today is also Tuesday, so without any (further) ado here follows my Teaser Tuesday:

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Want a piece of the pie?

*Grab your current read

*Open to a random page

*Share two 'teaser sentences' from somewhere on that page (being careful to avoid spoilers or giving too much away!)

*Share the title and author so that other participants can check out the book!

See? Easy Peasy!

"Imagine settling for a life you can have just because you don't have the courage to go after the life you really want. That's what made me do it-make one of those decisions-the kind that bends your future in a whole new direction."
                  Pg. 4 Girls Poker Night by Jill A. Davis

     I must confess, I'm actually re-reading this book, for about the ten zillionth time. This was one of those books that I picked up on a lark because it sounded light and fluffy and I needed that, but it actually was so much deeper and more amazing than I thought it would be and now it's probably one of my absolute favorite books. I can't recommend this book highly enough, seriously.

     Ruby is confused, lost, unsure of who she is and what she wants, and just trying to figure herself out. She's funny and genuine and a complete mess and I related to her and loved her instantly.

What's your Teaser Tuesday? Leave me a link!!

Waiting on Wednesday

     Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're anticipating (read: drooling over). Check out my post, and then click over to Jill's blog for the link list where you can check out the many other posts and add some sweet new books to your TBR list!

Perfect Scoundrels
by Ally Carter
Publication Date: February 5, 2013

     Katarina Bishop and W.W Hale the fifth were born to lead completely different lives: Kat comes from a long, proud line of lovable criminal masterminds, while Hale is the scion of one of the most seemingly perfect dynasties in the world. If their families have one thing in common, it's that they both it's that they both know how to stay under the radar while getting-or stealing-whatever they want. No matter the risks the Bishops can always be counter on, but in Hales family, all bets are off when money is on the line.

     When Hale unexpectedly inherits his grandmothers billion dollar corporation,  he quickly learns there's no place for Kat and their old heists in his new role. But Kat wont let him go that easily, especially after she get's tipped off that his grandmothers will might have been altered in an elaborate con to steal the company's fortune. So instead of being the heir-this time Hale might be the mark.

     Forced to keep a level head as she and her crew fight for one of their own, Kat comes up with an ambitious and far-reaching plan that only the Bishop family would dare attempt. To pull it off, Kat is prepared to do the impossible, but first, she has to decide if she's willing to save her boyfriends company if it means losing the boy.

     I have loved both the other books in this series and can't wait to read this most recent installment. This series has the scheming and action of Ocean's 11 and all the relationship angst and drama that my little heart could desire. Can't wait! Do you have a book you're waiting on? Let me know in the comments!

Happy Wednesday!

Teaser Tuesday

I'm stoked to be participating in my first meme, Teaser Tuesday, which is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. It's fun and simple! To get in on the action:

     *Grab your current read

     *Open to a random page

     * Share two 'teaser' sentences from somewhere on that page (be careful not to avoid spoilers!!)

     *Share the title and author so that other participants can add the book to their TBR pile if they'd like

Sam snickered. "Now, why would I want to  leave such a sweet deal? Besides, I'd hate for you to miss me, sister."

"Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Let's put that phrase to the test, shall we? I'll get your hat." -Pg. 148 The Diviners by Libba Bray

Review of Angelfall by Susan Ee

Title/Author: Angelfall by Susan Ee
Publisher: Feral Dream
Publication Date: May 21, 2011
Age Group: Young Adult
Buy It: Amazon 

It’s been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back.

Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel.
Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.

Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels’ stronghold in San Francisco where she’ll risk everything to rescue her sister and he’ll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again.

     Whew! We are dropped right into the action with this book as Penryn tries to help her mother (who is not exactly 'with it' since Penryn's dad left them) and her wheelchair bound sister Paige flee their apartment before it's overrun by gangs in a world Angels of the Apocalypse have wrecked havoc, death, and destruction upon.

     See? Whew! But Ee's beautiful writing keeps this onslaught of information from being overwhelming. In the first chapter alone I got a wonderful sense of Penryn, our narrator, a girl forced to stop up in hard times who is also completely devoted to her younger sister.

     Wonderful pacing, a unique plot, and beautifully developed characters make this book absolutely riveting. I devoured it, and am impatiently and anxiously awaiting the next book in what could potentially be my new favorite series. It's got a badass heroine with a strong will and a strong heart, lots of conflict, an intense and realistically paced love story, and freaking mutant angels. YES!

Buy this book immediately!  (No, seriously. Do it!)

Review of Nobody by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Title/ Author: Nobody by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Expected Publication: January 22nd, 2013
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: Goodreads First Reads ARC
Buy It: Amazon


There are people in this world who are Nobody. No one sees them. No one notices them. They live their lives under the radar, forgotten as soon as you turn away. 

That’s why they make the perfect assassins.

The Institute finds these people when they’re young and takes them away for training. But an untrained Nobody is a threat to their organization. And threats must be eliminated.

Sixteen-year-old Claire has been invisible her whole life, missed by the Institute’s monitoring. But now they've ID’ed her and send seventeen-year-old Nix to remove her. Yet the moment he lays eyes on her, he can’t make the hit. It’s as if Claire and Nix are the only people in the world for each other. And they are—because no one else ever notices them.

     Hmmm...The premise of this book really roped me in. I mean, assassins who are basically invisible? Was I the only one thinking ninja? I have to be honest, though, as the book progressed I had a hard time getting through it, and from the other reviews I've read I know I'm not the only one. 

     Now, don't get me wrong. The plot line was interesting enough (although it definitely got a little convoluted as it progressed), and there were certain scenes where I was just held captive by the writing, but all in all this book is not going to be making my favorites list any time soon.

     If you're looking for something gripping (with invisible ninjas) you may want to look elsewhere. Based on the writing here I would absolutely pick up another book by Ms. Barnes, though, because she's obviously talented.  She created some really interesting characters but at the end of the day, I honestly just couldn't bring myself to care what happened to them.