Waiting on Wednesday: A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that highlights future releases that we're excited to read.

A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi 
Publication Date: March 28, 2017
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Amazon Link: HERE


Summary (from Amazon):
Gauri, the princess of Bharata, has been taken as a prisoner of war by her kingdom's enemies. Faced with a future of exile and scorn, Gauri has nothing left to lose. Hope unexpectedly comes in the form of Vikram, the cunning prince of a neighboring land and her sworn enemy kingdom. Unsatisfied with becoming a mere puppet king, Vikram offers Gauri a chance to win back her kingdom in exchange fro her battle prowess. Together, they'll have to set aside their differences and team up to win the Tournament of Wishes—a competition held in a mythical city where the Lord of Wealth promises a wish to the victor.

Reaching the tournament is just the beginning. Once they arrive, danger takes on new shapes: poisonous courtesans and mischievous story birds, a feast of fears and twisted fairy revels. 

Every which way they turn new trials will test their wit and strength. But what Gauri and Vikram will soon discover is that there's nothing more dangerous than what they most desire. 

Why I'm Waiting: 
A Crown of Wishes sounds interesting and based on the summary, it sounds like there will be similarities to Throne of Glass by Sarah Maas. I also love enemies to lovers storylines, so I can't wait to see Gauri and Vikram's relationship grow.


What books are you looking forward to?

Read First 6 Chapters of Caraval by Stephanie Garber FREE

I know a lot of you are excited to read Caraval by Stephanie Garber, which releases January 31, 2017. Well now you don't have to wait. You can read the first 6 chapters for free through Amazon Kindle HERE.

YA Review: Tales of the Peculiar by Ransom Riggs

Tales of the Peculiar by Ransom Riggs
Publication Date: September 3, 2016
Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers
Amazon Link: HERE
Received From: Giveaway


Summary (from Amazon):
A companion to the New York Times bestselling Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, now a major motion picture directed by Tim Burton.

Before Miss Peregrine gave them a home, the story of peculiars was written in the tales.

Wealthy cannibals who dine on the discarded limbs of peculiars. A fork-tongued princess. These are but a few of the truly brilliant stories in Tales of the Peculiar—the collection of fairy tales known to hide information about the peculiar world, including clues to the locations of time loops—first introduced by Ransom Riggs in his #1 bestselling Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children series.

Riggs now invites you to share his secrets of peculiar history, with a collection of original stories in this deluxe volume of Tales of the Peculiar, as collected and annotated by Millard Nullings, ward of Miss Peregrine and scholar of all things peculiar. Featuring stunning illustrations from world-renowned woodcut artist Andrew Davidson this compelling and truly peculiar anthology is the perfect gift for not only fans, but for all booklovers. 

A perfect gift, reminiscent of classic bookmarking, this beautifully packaged volume features full-page woodcut illustration, gold foil stamping, a ribbon, and removable back sticker. 

Review:
Tales of the Peculiar is a set of ten short stories about peculiars. Each story features new characters and a new story. The first story, The Splendid Cannibals, is about peculiars that can regrow limbs. The second story, The Fork-Tongued Princess, is about a princess with physical disfigurements including a fork tongue and scales. The third story, The First Ymbryne, is about a bird that can turn into a human and who is also the first peculiar to create time loops. The fourth story, The Woman Who Befriended Ghosts, is about a girl that can see and interact with ghosts. The fifth story, Cocobolo, is about a man who slowly turns into an island. The sixth story, The Pigeon's of Saint Paul's, is about a fight for the sky between pigeons and humans. The seventh story, The Girl Who Could Tame Nightmares, is about a girl that can take nightmares out of people's heads. The eighth story, The Locust, is about a boy who takes the form of whatever shows the most love towards him. The ninth story, The Boy Who Could Hold Back the Sea, is about a boy who can control the current. And the tenth story, The Tale of Cuthbert, is about a giant that sinks and gets stuck. Each story is creative, fun to read, and has an endearing moral. And the hardcover edition features a beautiful gold-foiled cover, a bookmark ribbon, and full page illustrations that correlate with each story.

I've never been a big fan of short stories because it takes me a few pages to get into a story, so when I read short stories, by the time I'm interested, the story is already over. Tales of the Peculiar isn't a story that kept me reading late into the night, but a book that I read little by little each night. I enjoyed reading each story and getting pulled into Riggs' characters and worlds. My favorite story was The First Ymbryne because it was interesting getting to see how the first peculiar created time loops. Some stories were more interesting than others, such as The First Ymbryne, but I found each one to be enjoyable, and if nothing else, I wanted to see how each story would end. Tales of the Peculiar is much like Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children. The stories are witty, quirky and fun, but there's also an added horror element such as in the story The Girl Who Could Tame Nightmares, which centers around a murder.

Overall, I would definitely recommend Tales of the Peculiar for any fans of Ransom Riggs looking to read more about peculiars in a short story format. I also recommend you splurge on the hardcover edition because it's downright gorgeous and will be something you'll want to come back to more than once.


Rating: 

Waiting on Wednesday: After the Fall by Kate Hart

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that highlights future releases that we're excited to read.

After the Fall by Kate Hart
Publication Date: January 24, 2017
Publisher: Straus and Giroux
Amazon Link: HERE


Summary (from Amazon):
Seventeen-year-old Raychel is sleeping with two boys: her overachieving best friend Matt...and his slacker brother, Andrew. Raychel sneaks into Matt's bed after nightmares, but nothing ever happens. He doesn't even seem to realize she's a girl, except when he decides she needs rescuing. But Raychel doesn't want to be his girl anyway. She just needs his support as she deals with the classmate who assaulted her, the constant threat of her family's eviction, and the dream of college slipping quickly out of reach. Matt tries to help, but he doesn't really get it...and he'd never understand why she's fallen into a secret relationship with his brother. The friendships are a precarious balance, and when tragedy strikes, everything falls apart. Raychel has to decide which pieces she can pick up—and which ones are worth putting back together. 

Why I'm Waiting:
After the Fall sounds like it will be an emotional read and I can't wait to find out how Raychel works through her difficulties and who she ends up with.


What books are you looking forward to?

Adult Review: Turbulent Desires by Melody Anne

Turbulent Desires by Melody Anne
Publication Date: November 8, 2016
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Amazon Link: HERE
Received from: Netgalley (in exchange for an honest review)


Summary (from Amazon):
ER nurse Lindsey Helm used to be strong. Then a late-night attack at the hospital nearly killed her and left two close colleagues dead. Now Lindsey has retreated from the world. She knows she needs to move on, but every hint of danger seems threatening—including a certain sexy flyboy who's determined to show Lindsey what she's missing. But falling for F-18 pilot Maverick Armstrong is a risk she can't afford...

Maverick knows that fear can eat away at the soul, and he won't leave Lindsey to that fate. She needs someone to reach her and to remind her of the exhilaration and unbelievable passion of being touched. He'll help her heal, and then he'll walk away. He has to walk away. Because Maverick swore he would never fall in love and never marry. But this is a rescue operation, and Maverick will stay the course—even if things get hazardous. Even if saving Lindsey means surrendering his heart in the process...

Review: 
After Lindsey gets attacked at the hospital where she works, she begins to realize how unsafe the world really is. Now she's petrified to even leave her house or talk to strangers. Maverick, a pilot, had a one night stand with Lindsey before her attack and it kills him to see Lindsey live in fear of something she can't control. So he tries his best to get under her skin and try to open her up to the wonderful possibilities that life can bring. And although Maverick has always declared he's never going to get married, the more time he spends around Lindsey, the more he aches to put his heart on the line. Will Lindsey be able to move on after her horrific attack and will Maverick be able to open his heart to a relationship he never expected?

This is the first book I've read by Melody Anne and I was pleasantly surprised by the cute romance. At times the novel was dark, such as at the beginning of the story when Lindsey was attacked, but I never thought the story got too dark or unrelatable. I actually think the author did a great job of handling the attack and showing how something so tragic can have a negative impact on someone's life. I think Lindsey was fully justified in pulling away from everyone and everything and I liked that Maverick wanted to help her overcome her fears. They were a perfect couple, and I enjoyed the second chance romance story line, since they previously had a one night stand. But while I enjoyed reading this story it didn't completely pull me in or make me think about the story or characters days later, which is why I have to give it 4 stars instead of 5.

Overall, I would recommend Turbulent Desires to anyone looking for a cute contemporary romance that features a heroine trying to overcome fears.

Rating: 

Adult Weekly Releases (12/12/16 - 12/18/16)

Here are this week's new releases:


HISTORICAL:
Tuesday - December 13, 2016
1.) I Will by Lisa Kleypas
Summary (from Amazon):

Andrew, Lord Drake, has been cut out of his father’s will because of his dissolute manner of living. To be reinstated, Andrew decides to pretend that he has changed his wicked ways.

As part of his plan, he wants to convince his father that he is courting a respectable woman with the intention of marrying her. The problem is, he doesn’t know any decent women, except for his friend’s spinster sister, Miss Caroline Hargreaves. He blackmails the reluctant Caroline into helping him, and so the charade begins . . .

CONTEMPORARY:
Tuesday - December 13, 2016
1.) For Maggie's Sake by Lora Leigh
Summary (from Amazon):

Sinful pleasure and forbidden desire rule in #1 bestselling author Lora Leigh's story For Maggie's Sake, previously published in the anthologies Real Men Do It Better and Taken, now exclusively in ebook format.

Maggie Chavez is in protective custody with a member of her former lover's SEAL team. Joe, her ex-lover, thinks Maggie is hiding information from him about a powerful drug lord and the deaths of some SEALs. He intends to seduce her and get the information before she can sell it back to the drug cartel. But the desire crackles between them and their attraction is undeniable. How can Joe use her and leave her, when all he wants is to hold her close and never let go?

2.) Max by Sawyer Bennett 
Summary (from Amazon):
The ice is a cold mistress. As the league’s most eligible goalie, Max Fournier has access to his fair share of willing puck bunnies, but right now he’s more interested in bringing home another championship than a one-night stand. A romantic at heart, Max believes in love; he’s just not great at relationships. So when he finally meets a nice girl who’s not blinded by his celebrity, he’s feeling the heat—and the pressure to save her from herself.

Between working two jobs and raising her sister’s kids, Julianne Bradley doesn’t have time for sports—or men. All she knows about Max is that he’s the sexiest customer to ever grace her gas-station counter. And he sees past her tired eyes and makes Jules yearn for things she can’t have: a glamorous fling, a passionate lover, and the time to enjoy both. Max makes her feel like Cinderella, even though Jules has enough baggage to crush a glass slipper. Luckily, he’s no prince—only a fierce competitor determined to win her heart.

3.) Becoming a Legend by Sarah Robinson
Summary (from Amazon):
Kane Kavanagh has always had one goal: being the best mixed martial arts fighter alive. With the MMA National Championships in Las Vegas fast approaching, the man they call “Killer” has no intention of letting anyone or anything get in his way. Somehow, though, a feisty opponent has slipped beneath his guard—and stolen his heart. Fiery and passionate, Nora Hannigan is harder to pin down than any rival Kane has faced in the ring. And she isn’t afraid to tell Kane that she wants nothing to do with him.

With her best friend about to marry into the Kavanagh family, Nora has been resisting Kane’s shameless attempts at flirting for months. But after their undeniable chemistry finally takes over, leading to the hottest night of Nora’s life, she’s running scared. There’s a lot about her life Kane doesn’t know, and she won’t be responsible for ending his career. Now Kane’s out to prove that he’s ready for a commitment by winning her heart—and he’s never lost a fight.



PARANORMAL:
Tuesday - December 13, 2016
1.) Bearly in Control by Milly Taiden
Summary (from Amazon):

For vet and animal whisperer Charli Avers, talking to bears is all in a day’s work. But when she finds a man—a very sexy, very alpha man—where a bear ought to be, the wild comes close to home. Charli is drawn to this mysterious stranger. She wants to help him piece together the past he can’t remember—even if that means shedding her human misgivings and embracing her more carnal desires.

After shifting from bear to man, Barry believes he’s finally found his mate. Now he just needs to find himself. He doesn’t know much about the animal within him, but his human heart aches for Charli. She ignites his instincts to protect her from all danger—including their electric attraction.

The stakes climb as Charli investigates the mystery behind Barry’s memory loss and how it may relate to strange sightings and thefts in this little corner of Oregon. Without answers, she may lose Barry—and herself—to the wild side forever.

Are you planning on picking any of these up?

YA Weekly Releases (12/12/16 - 12/18/16)

Here are this week's new releases:

Tuesday - December 13, 2016
1.) Crystal Storm by Morgan Rhodes
Summary (from Amazon):
An epic clash between gods and mortals threatens to tear Mytica apart . . . and prove that not even the purest of love stands a chance against the strongest of magic.

MAGNUS and CLEO are forced to test the strength of their love when Gaius returns to Mytica claiming he's no longer the King of Blood but a changed man seeking redemption.

LUCIA, pregnant with the child of a Watcher, has escaped the clutches of the unhinged fire god. Her powers are dwindling as she goes forth to fulfill a prophecy that will keep her baby safe . . . but could mean her demise.  

JONAS treks back to Mytica with a plan to overtake Amara, but fate takes hold when he runs into the beautiful Princess Lucia and joins her on her perilous journey.

AMARA has taken the Mytican throne, but with no way to unleash the water magic trapped within her stolen crystal, she'll never be able to seize glory and get sweet revenge.

And what kind of darkness will descend--and who will be safe--after Prince Ashur reveals the dangerous price he paid to cheat death?

2.) Forever, Again by Victoria Laurie
Summary (from Amazon):
Lily Bennett is less than thrilled to be the new kid as she starts her junior year in high school. But soon after classes begin, she meets a classmate, Cole Drepeau, with whom she forms an immediate and intimate bond. As Cole and Lily grow closer, Lily learns about the murder that divided the town more than thirty years before. In 1985, graduating senior Amber Greeley snapped, killing her boyfriend Ben—Cole's uncle—and taking her own life. Lily feels inexplicably linked to Amber, and she can't help but think that there's more to the girl's story. Determined to investigate the truth about Cole's uncle's death, Lily and Cole are pulled into a dark mystery—one that shakes the constraints of the world they've always believed in. Masterfully told by best-selling author Victoria Laurie, this novel alternates voices between Lily and Amber, a generation apart, as decades of dark family secrets and treacherous betrayals are woven into the most epic of love stories.

3.) The Tundra Trials by Monica Tesler
Summary (from Amazon):
Jasper learns that secrets can strain even the strongest bonds as the Bounders adventure continues in The Tundra Trials.

After discovering that Earth Force is waging a covert alien war, Jasper and his friends return to space and continue their training. This time, Earth Force brings them to the remote planet of Gulaga, where the cadets compete in the Tundra Trials: a grueling pod race across the planet’s frigid landscape.

But when their pod leader asks Jasper and Mira to secretly test a dangerous new technology that will take their Bounder abilities to the next level, the kids begin to suspect that there are rifts within Earth Force. The worst part? Jasper must keep the truth from everyone—even his own pod mates.

When Earth Force prepares for an attack against the aliens, the kids are tasked with a treacherous mission. With their loyalties torn, will Jasper and his friends once again fulfill their duty and fight for their planet? And if they do, will the secret tech work as planned or lead their enemies to their doorstep?

4.) Iceling by Sasha Stephenson
Summary (from Amazon):
Sasha Stephenson's intriguing debut is a combination road trip story and sci-fi adventure about the strange, strong bond between two sisters. Fans of Under the Never Sky and The Darkest Minds will devour ICELING, the first book in a new and utterly original sci-fi series.

Seventeen-year-old Lorna loves her adoptive sister, Callie. But Callie can't say "I love you" back. In fact, Callie can't say anything at all. 

Because Callie is an Iceling--one of hundreds of teens who were discovered sixteen years ago on a remote Arctic island, all of them lacking the ability to speak or understand any known human language.

Mysterious and panicked events lead to the two sisters embarking on a journey to the north, and now Lorna starts to see that there's a lot more to Callie's origin story than she'd been led to believe. Little does she know what's in store, and that she's about to uncover the terrifying secret about who--and what--Callie really is.


Are you planning on picking any of these up?