Passenger by Alexandra Bracken (Waiting on Wednesday #15)

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that everyone’s eagerly anticipating!

passage, n.
i. A brief section of music composed of a series of notes and flourishes.
ii. A journey by water; a voyage.
iii. The transition from one place to another, across space and time.

In one devastating night, violin prodigy Etta Spencer loses everything she knows and loves. Thrust into an unfamiliar world by a stranger with a dangerous agenda, Etta is certain of only one thing: she has traveled not just miles but years from home. And she’s inherited a legacy she knows nothing about from a family whose existence she’s never heard of. Until now.

Nicholas Carter is content with his life at sea, free from the Ironwoods—a powerful family in the colonies—and the servitude he’s known at their hands. But with the arrival of an unusual passenger on his ship comes the insistent pull of the past that he can’t escape and the family that won’t let him go so easily. Now the Ironwoods are searching for a stolen object of untold value, one they believe only Etta, Nicholas’ passenger, can find. In order to protect her, he must ensure she brings it back to them— whether she wants to or not.

Together, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind by the traveler who will do anything to keep the object out of the Ironwoods’ grasp. But as they get closer to the truth of their search, and the deadly game the Ironwoods are play­ing, treacherous forces threaten to sep­arate Etta not only from Nicholas but from her path home . . . forever

Passenger will be released January 5th, 2016 by Disney-Hyperon!

I really excited for this. While I have not finished The Darkest Minds trilogy, I did love the first one. I also am really intrigued by this synopsis and this world, especially the time travel aspect!

What are you waiting for this Wednesday?

Teaser Tuesday #29- The Martian

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme where you post a quote from a book you are currently reading. It is hosted by A Daily Rhythm.

“Yes, of course duct tape works in a near-vacuum. Duct tape works anywhere. Duct tape is magic and should be worshiped.”
                                                              - The Martian by Andy Weir

I have not actually started this yet because this week is full of exams, so I will not have spare time to read. But this is the next book I have to read, so I'm ready to see the movie opening weekend.

Find the book here: Goodreads / Amazon / Book Depository

Let me know in the comments what book you are currently reading!

Review: Beastly Bones by William Ritter

Title: Beastly Bones 
Author: Wiliam Ritter
Publication Date: September 22nd, 2015
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Source: eARC through NetGalley
Where to find: Goodreads / Amazon / Book Depository

Summary: “I’ve found very little about private detective R. F. Jackaby to be standard in the time I’ve known him. Working as his assistant tends to call for a somewhat flexible relationship with reality.”

In 1892, New Fiddleham, New England, things are never quite what they seem, especially when Abigail Rook and her eccentric employer R. F. Jackaby are called upon to investigate the supernatural.

First, a vicious species of shape-shifters disguise themselves as a litter of kittens, and a day later, their owner is found murdered with a single mysterious puncture wound. Then in nearby Gad’s Valley, now home to the exiled New Fiddleham police detective Charlie Cane, dinosaur bones from a recent dig mysteriously go missing, and an unidentifiable beast starts attacking animals and people, leaving their mangled bodies behind. Charlie calls on Abigail for help, and soon Abigail and Jackaby are on the hunt for a thief, a monster, and a murderer.

Many sequels, more specifically second books in series, can have what is called a sophomore slump, where the second book is a let down after the first. I was a little bit concerned about Beastly Bones being a victim of this, but luckily I did not have to worry. This book was full of just as much quirkiness and strangeness as Jackaby. This book picks up right where Jackaby left off, following Abigail and Jackaby on their adventures in New Fiddleham inquiring after paranormal cases. We still get Abigail's witty narrative and information throughout the story.

In this book, we are introduced to even more charming and quirky characters, such as Nellie and Hank, and I loved getting to meet each on of them as Jackaby and Abigail worked to figure out what was going on at the dig site. But what really stood out to me in this book is the introduction of what I assume is the "main" villain. He/She I assume is the the Moriarty of the series. I definitely am eagerly anticipating the next book to find out more about this character and what they are up to. There was so much foreshadowing to this character and how they were involved from the beginning. I really need to know more about them as we go forward .

With Jackaby, one of my main issues was feeling like it did not quite match the time period of the late 1800s. I still felt that way with this installment, however it did not bother me as much as it had in Jackaby. That is probably because this book had less character introductions and instances where we were learning more about Jackaby, Abigail, and Charlie. Instead we got to be put right in the action with only minor character introductions. This installment was definitely more fast paced and action heavy than the first.

Without giving too much away, I also just want to comment on what the "beast" turns out to be. I was not at all expecting that, but it just made so much sense and I loved it.

 

*I received an eARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Review: Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Title: Lola and the Boy Next Door
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Publication Date: July 9th, 2013
Publisher: Speak
Source: Bought it
Where to find: Goodreads / Amazon / Book Depository

Summary: Lola Nolan is a budding costume designer, and for her, the more outrageous, sparkly, and fun the outfit, the better. And everything is pretty perfect in her life (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood. When Cricket, a gifted inventor, steps out from his twin sister's shadow and back into Lola's life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

“I know you aren't perfect. But it's a person's imperfections that make them perfect for someone else.”

Even though I had only ever read Anna and the French Kiss, I knew when I picked this up I was picking up a book I would fly through and really enjoy. I got more than I expected with this book. I loved Anna and the French Kiss, especially Anna and Etienne and I loved seeing them in this book. They had a much larger role int he story than I thought they would which was a pleasant surprise.

For me, Lola and the Boy Next Door definitely had a more important message to me than Anna and the French Kiss did, however, I still prefer Anna and Etienne, as a couple. Lola and Cricket are important though because their story focuses on finding and believing in yourself regardless of what other people think or believe. I loved how both Lola and Cricket had their quirks that made them different and unique. 

My one issue with this book that was also somewhat present in Anna is the borderline cheating that goes on. When Lola and Cricket start to get close, Lola has a boyfriend and I'm still slightly bothered by this because it is not fair to the boyfriend when Lola suddenly falls for someone else. While this may be realistic with regard to what really happens, I do not care for it in the book.

I also definitely picked up on the foreshadowing for everyone being present for Isla and the Happily Ever After. This book was exactly what I needed at the time due to its cute story and ease of reading. There is something about reading a book where you know the characters end up together that really lets me fly through the book. 

The Siren by Kiera Cass (Waiting on Wednesday #14)

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that everyone’s eagerly anticipating!

From Kiera Cass, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Selection series, comes a sweeping stand-alone fantasy romance.

A girl with a secret.
The boy of her dreams.
An Ocean between them.

Years ago, Kahlen was rescued from drowning by the Ocean. To repay her debt, she has served as a Siren ever since, using her voice to lure countless strangers to their deaths. Though a single word from Kahlen can kill, she can’t resist spending her days on land, watching ordinary people and longing for the day when she will be able to speak and laugh and live freely among them again.

Kahlen is resigned to finishing her sentence in solitude...until she meets Akinli. Handsome, caring, and kind, Akinli is everything Kahlen ever dreamed of.

Falling in love with a human breaks the Ocean’s rules. But for the first time in a lifetime of following the rules, Kahlen is determined to follow her heart.

The Siren will be released January 26th, 2016 by HaperTeen!

I'm excited to see what Kiera can do when she is not writing a Selection Novel and how she tackles the paranormal/fantasy elements. I know technically this book has already been out, but I know she edited it significantly to the point of it being an almost entirely different book.

What are you waiting for this Wednesday?

Teaser Tuesday #28- The Girl on the Train

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme where you post a quote from a book you are currently reading. It is hosted by A Daily Rhythm.

I'm starting to believe that there isn't anything you can do to fix it. That's what I've taken from the therapy sessions: the holes in your life are permanent. You have to grow around them, like tree roots around concrete; you mold yourself through the gaps”

                                       - The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

I've been reading this book for what feels like forever but that I because I have so little time. That being said, I'm still really enjoying the writing and the story!

Find the book here: Goodreads / Amazon / Book Depository

Let me know in the comments what book you are currently reading!

Review: The Girl in 6E by A.R. Torre

Title: The Girl in 6E
Author: A.R. Torre
Publication Date: July 8th, 2014
Publisher: Redhook
Source: Bought it
Where to find: Goodreads / Amazon / Book Depository

Summary: I haven't touched a human in three years. That seems like it would be a difficult task, but it's not. Not anymore, thanks to the internet.

I am, quite possibly, the most popular recluse ever. Not many shut-ins have a 200-member fan club, a bank account in the seven-figure range, and hundreds of men lining up to pay for undivided attention.

They get satisfaction, I get a distraction. Their secret desires are nothing compared to why I hide... my lust for blood, my love of death.

Taking their money is easy. Keeping all these secrets... one is bound to escape.

What if you hid yourself away because all you could think of was killing? And what if one girl's life depending on you venturing into society?

Enter a world of lies, thrills, fears, and all desires, in this original thriller from A. R. Torre.

“Hope, in general, is dangerous. Hope can be the loose thread that pulls apart your sanity.”

FYI: This book is an erotic thriller so it has mature content. So keep that in mind if you want to read it.

This book never would have been on my radar if it weren't for Shannon (@leaninglights) or Lindsey (@lindseyrey) on Youtube. They were both pleasantly surprised to find that they enjoyed this erotic thriller. Now I do not read erotic ever, I've read Fifty Shades of Grey but that was solely due to its popularity and to see how bad it really was. So I was a little weary about this book, but trusted Shannon and Lindsey's recommendation. 

I have to say that I enjoyed the complexity of Deanna and what this book had to offer. I absolutely love moral gray characters. I love when your protagonist is not someone you easily connect with or completely agree with. I like when the character is struggling with this dark essence for lack of a better term. 

This book reminded me a lot of Dexter if he was a female except the whole cybersex thing. Deanna has hidden herself away to protect others from her killer tendencies and it was fascinating to see how she lived her life in near seclusion. 

This book had a lot of different perspectives throughout it other than just Deanna. I really enjoyed these other perspectives that showcased more of what was going on and what people were thinking. I would say the majority was from Deanna's perspective but every once in awhile you got someone different. 

I really think this series (not sure if it is a series or simply a trilogy) has a lot of potential and I'm really looking forward to picking up the next book and following Deanna on her next adventure. There was definitely a lot of character growth in this book and I'm interested to see how that changes Deanna in the future.