Waiting on Wednesday #2

 

 

'Waiting on Wednesday' is a weekly post where I share the book I'm most excited about releasing the following week. 

 

 

My choice this week is For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund

 

 

 

 

 

Goodreads Description:

 

It's been several generations since a genetic experiment gone wrong caused the Reduction, decimating humanity and giving rise to a Luddite nobility who outlawed most technology.

Elliot North has always known her place in this world. Four years ago Elliot refused to run away with her childhood sweetheart, the servant Kai, choosing duty to her family's estate over love. Since then the world has changed: a new class of Post-Reductionists is jumpstarting the wheel of progress, and Elliot's estate is foundering, forcing her to rent land to the mysterious Cloud Fleet, a group of shipbuilders that includes renowned explorer Captain Malakai Wentforth--an almost unrecognizable Kai. And while Elliot wonders if this could be their second chance, Kai seems determined to show Elliot exactly what she gave up when she let him go.

But Elliot soon discovers her old friend carries a secret--one that could change their society . . . or bring it to its knees. And again, she's faced with a choice: cling to what she's been raised to believe, or cast her lot with the only boy she's ever loved, even if she's lost him forever.

Inspired by Jane Austen's Persuasion, For Darkness Shows the Stars is a breathtaking romance about opening your mind to the future and your heart to the one person you know can break it.

 

 

What book(s) are you most excited for?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top Ten Tuesday #1

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week a new topic is given and this weeks topic is:

Top Ten: Best Books Read in 2013

This is incredibly difficult. There have been so many good ones. I am going to list them in no particular order because I love them all so much. 

The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay

I just finished reading this and absolutely loved it. It's really hard to believe this is a debut novel. I won't say much because I will be reviewing it on Thursday.

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

I read this whole trilogy this year and loved it. I have read all of Clare's books and this series is definitely my favorite. Of the trilogy this final book is my favorite. I loved both males in the love triangle so much I wasn't sure it could be ended without breaking my heart, but Clare managed to create a happy ending for everyone involved. 

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

I recently reviewed this book and gave it a rating of six stars out of five. I said it once and I'll say it again; this book is everything you could ask for in a YA contemporary novel. 

Succubus Revealed by Richelle Mead

I spent the first part of this year reading every book Richelle Mead has written. Needless to say I am a big fan of hers and would be hard pressed to pick a favorite series of hers. I chose this book because it was such a good, satisfying ending to a solid series. I enjoyed the whole series, but this book pulled the whole story together. 

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Once again I read this entire trilogy this year. I really enjoyed the series as a whole, but this second book really stood out to me as the best of the three. I think Oliver really came into her stride with this one. 

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

I also recently reviewed this book. This book will be a lifelong favorite of mine and stand as a turning point in my reading life. This book helped me fall in love with contemporary fiction again. I will be forever thankful to this book for expanding my literary horizons. 

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Somehow I managed to just read this book this year. This book stands out to me as one of the better dystopians I've read and it introduced me to one of my all time favorite fictional characters; Tobias/Four. I have such a crush on him. It's probably not quite healthy. 

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

This book had so much hype surrounding it I was a little scared to read it, assuming it couldn't possibly live up to it. I did read it though and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a bit predictable in my opinion, but the characters and writing sucked me in and kept me enthralled. 

Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler

This is another instance where I read the entire series this year. Next week I will be posting a review and giveaway of Breath (the final book in this series released this past April). I really loved all four of these books, but this first one was definitely my favorite. Kessler's writing is so beautiful and captivating. She brings YA writing to a whole other level. This book, specifically, was so beautifully heartbreaking. It will forever be in my list of all time favorite books. 

The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead

I absolutely love the Bloodlines series (maybe even a little more than the original Vampire Academy series). In this third entry in the series all of us Sydrian fans finally got what we were waiting for. The plot was engrossing and interesting, but even if it hadn't been this book still would have been in my top ten because of my love of Sydrian and, specifically, Adrian. It would  have been worth reading simply to see Adrian finally find happiness. 

That does it for my top ten. I want to hear about your favorite books. Please let me know what books have blown you away so far this year. 

And by the way I realize I used the term 'this book' about a million times throughout this post and I apologize. It was simply unavoidable. :-)

Cover Reveal and Giveaway for 'The Sugar Ticket' by Susan Jean Ricci

 

ABOUT:

Only a few months into their marriage and everything seems grand. Learning to survive her marriage to Jay without the snarkiness Cindy has come to rely on is daunting to say the least. The Sugar Ticket chronicles the marital journey of two twice-divorced adults learning to accept and embrace the sweetness of their present. When the inevitable complications arise, will the DeMatteo’s gently overcome their obstacles by alleviating the sour taste of the past? Will their third attempt at matrimony flourish? Or will they sweep their issues under the proverbial taboo-topic carpet? Find out how these two mid-life adolescents meet their daily tribulations head on, as they conquer their fears, retirement woes, secrets revealed, and the most fundamental challenge of all: remaining in love forever.

ABOUT Author:

Susan Jean Riccci I've been writing since I was a wee child and discovered crayons weren't part of a food group. My sometimes controversial rants have appeared in my local newspaper, the Asbury Park Press, and I've won several awards via the Writer's Digest 78th Annual Writer's Contest and the Philadelphia Writer's Conference. Over the years, I've been fortunate enough to publish in Parenting Teens Magazine, Good Dog Magazine, and Aim Intercultural Magazine. I'm currently concluding the sequel to Dinosaurs and Cherry Stems, The Sugar Ticket. Then I will move on to revising a contemporary novel called, Slick Trespass My current release, Dinosaurs & Cherry Stems, is a humorous, contemporary romance about achieving mid-life adolescence, in spite of the baggage incurred with one's history. My eBook, Heart Marks the Spot: Three Short Stories can also be found on Amazon for Kindle as well. My husband, Joseph, and I live in a lovely town in New Jersey near the sea. Together we have seven children and nine grandchildren.


LINKS:

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6540974.Susan_Jean_Ricci

Author Website: http://www.susanjeanricci.com



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News and Updates

I don't have a review for today because I have some other posts I'm planning and Blog Tour stops I'm working on. Tomorrow, 6/25, I have a cover reveal and giveaway post for 'The Sugar Ticket' by Susan Jean Ricci.

I will also have a Blog Tour stop on 7/16 for Naima Simone's 'Secrets and Sins: Gabriel'. This post will include a giveaway as well. 

I have a couple other Blog Tour stops coming up in the next month, but the dates are not set yet. I am really excited and honored to act as host for some really talented authors and great books! The moment I have more information about it all I will post it and let you all know. 

Oh! One more piece of news! I have a new Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Book-Cracker-Caroline/517672554953667

Please check it out and give it a like! I will be doing another book giveaway once I hit 150 followers. 

So that's all I have as far as updates go. I'm currently reading 'The Sea of Tranquility' by Katja Millay and will be posting a review soon. I'm also still working on my MS. I feel like I never have any time for my own writing anymore, but I'm still churning my words out slowly. I'll do another writing update once I hit a worthwhile milestone in my current MS. 

Thank you my lovelies! I leave you now with a picture of Pete the peacock who shows up at my door everyday because I feed him stale sugary cereal.

 

My Lack of Review for 'The Testing' by Joelle Charbonneau

Goodreads Description: 

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Isn’t that what they say? But how close is too close when they may be one in the same? 

The Seven Stages War left much of the planet a charred wasteland. The future belongs to the next generation’s chosen few who must rebuild it. But to enter this elite group, candidates must first pass The Testing—their one chance at a college education and a rewarding career. 

Cia Vale is honored to be chosen as a Testing candidate; eager to prove her worthiness as a University student and future leader of the United Commonwealth. But on the eve of her departure, her father’s advice hints at a darker side to her upcoming studies--trust no one. 

But surely she can trust Tomas, her handsome childhood friend who offers an alliance? Tomas, who seems to care more about her with the passing of every grueling (and deadly) day of the Testing. To survive, Cia must choose: love without truth or life without trust.

My Non-Review:

I borrowed this book from the library with plans to read it and write up a review. Unfortunately I cannot in good Faith offer you a review. What I can offer you is a rant.

I am quite aware that due to the success of The Hunger Games trilogy, YA dystopian has become a widely published genre. I have read a good number of these books and enjoyed them. They are different enough from The Hunger Games. This book on the other hand was not. 

I only made it to page sixty before giving up, hence the reason I cannot review it. I have only ever given up on one other book in my life and I was forced to add a new section to my goodreads account entitled 'Gave-Up-On'. 

Not only the plot, but even the details, were exact replicas of The Hunger Games. Based on what I read both the literary world and physical world in the book were exactly the same. The Capitol was switched to Tosu City, the districts were switched to colonies, and Panem was switched to The United Commonwealth. Children are chosen in a Public ceremony called graduation instead of the tribute choosing ceremony. They go off to the capitol, I mean Tosu City, and are forced to fight and compete against one another with deadly consequences. Even the cover looks painfully similar with the blocky font and intimidating symbols. 

I have nothing to say about the writing, the characters, or anything really because I simply couldn't get past the story. My bottom line is this: I have already read this book. 

Disclaimer: As I have already stated I did not in fact read this whole book. For all I know the plot totally changes on page 61, but I doubt it. It may also in fact be a literary masterpiece, but I will never know. If you have read this book in its entirety please feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you think. 

Stacking the Shelves #1

'Stacking the Shelves' is a weekly book blog tradition of posting the various books we have accumulated over the week. Because this is my first 'Stacking the Shelves' entry I am including books from the past two weeks. In the future though I will revert to the books accumulated over one week. 

From the Library:

1. Delirium Stories by Lauren Oliver

2. The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay

3. Teeth by Hannah Moskowitz

4. Reboot by Amy Tintera

5. The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau  

Bought:

1. Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead

Won in Giveaways:

1. The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

2. Replica by Jenna Black

3. Don't Ever Get Old by Daniel Friedman

ARCs From NetGalley:

1. Deeper We Fall(Fall and Rise Book 1) by Chelsea M. Cameron

2. Souls of Stones-Omnibus by Kelly Walker

3. Deceived by Julie Anne Lindsey

4. Saving Wishes (The Wishes Series #1) by G.L. Walker-Smith

5. Autumn (Dog Days #1) by Sierra Dean

Review of Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Goodreads description:

"Bono met his wife in high school," Park says.
"So did Jerry Lee Lewis," Eleanor answers.
"I’m not kidding," he says.
"You should be," she says, "we’re sixteen."
"What about Romeo and Juliet?"
"Shallow, confused, then dead."
''I love you," Park says.
"Wherefore art thou," Eleanor answers.
"I’m not kidding," he says.
"You should be."

Set over the course of one school year in 1986, ELEANOR AND PARK is the story of two star-crossed misfits – smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love – and just how hard it pulled you under.

About author:

Rainbow Rowell is the author of ATTACHMENTS. She has two novels coming out in 2013 -- ELEANOR & PARK in February and FANGIRL in the fall. 

Rainbow lives with her husband and two sons in Omaha, Nebraska. Right at this moment, she is probably arguing with someone about something that doesn't really matter in the big scheme of things -- or trying to figure out how Sherlock faked his death.

Blog and other stuff at rainbowrowell.com.

My Review:

I must start out by saying that when I read this book a month ago, it had been years since I had read a book that was not fantasy, science fiction, or some sort of supernatural. A while back I decided that books without a touch of the fantastic to them were not worth my time and that I just was not a fan of contemporary or literary fiction. That’s when I came across this book. I had heard so much hype about this book and read so many good reviews I decided to give it a try.

I did not realize it at the time, but this decision would change my life. Well, my reading life anyway. I fell in love with this book, and in turn, fell in love with contemporary and romance novels again.

The characters are so raw and real. I could relate to both Eleanor and Park on various levels. Their love story is epic and beautiful, but not in the least bit cheesy.

The writing is beautiful in its deceptive simplicity. The story is well paced and organized so that it grabs you in from the first page and does not let you go until that last hopeful page. I also could not write a review about this book without mentioning how much I love the 80’s references throughout the book. Those references brought me back and dropped me right into the world of Eleanor and Park.

This book was equal parts happy and hopeful, sad and heartbreaking. There was a feeling of doom throughout the whole book, yet Rowell still kept me rooting for the characters and their strange and somewhat flawed love.

The ending of the book was a perfect representation of the novel as a whole. It is both devastating and hopeful. It made me cry, but I couldn’t exactly decide whether they were tears of joy or sadness. The ending was definitely open to interpretation and I would not have wanted it any other way. A happily ever after ending would have gone against the brutal realism of the story, while a sad ending would be a betrayal to the beautiful love story.

The bottom line is I loved this book and I cannot wait to read what Ms. Rowell publishes next. Believe the hype. This is a powerful book.

My Rating: