Waiting on Wednesday (8)

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine ,that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.


My pick this week:

The Selection By Kiera Cass
Expected publication: April 24th 2012
By HarperTeen

Blurb: (from Goodreads)

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

Blurb aside, that cover is, as I've told you before, simply amazing. It's one of those covers that convince me to read the book even before reading the blurb. I did read the blurb though, and I think it's very, very intriguing.

So, what's your pick this week?

Book Review: The Truth About Us by Dalene Flannigan

Author: Dalene Flannigan

My Rating: 4 cups

Blurb (from Goodreads):

What happens when the past catches up to the present and the truth surfaces? Three women, roommates back in college, find their lives forever altered when one of them feels compelled to confess the secret sin of their past.

And whose truth is it?

'The Truth About Us' weaves the past and the present in a page-turner that explores the shifting quality of truth, and the cost of secrets.

I don't know what I was expecting when I started reading this book. I know I love a book when I want to reread it. And right now, I know this will be one of those re-readable books.

The book isn't just about growing up and about friendship. It's about choices and how those choices influence one's life forever, about the different sides of the truth and about how truth is depends on the personal view.

Three friends, three roommates, Grace, Jude and Erica, struggle with a secret and a set of choices that changed them forever. Grace is the kind of woman that tries to transform her past, her secrets, into a mission. First, it's personal, she's trying to find out if she's the only one with a past like hers (or similar). Then, when she sees that she's not alone, that there are others like her, she tries to tell their story to the world, change people's view about women and abuse and choices born out of resentment, fear or hate. She doesn't seem like a strong woman, not really. She might be perceived that way, but I think there's a part of her that is scared, terrified even, wary. I liked her though, I liked her view and take on certain sensitive subjects.

Erica is, I think, the strongest of the three. The accomplished woman, with a house, a husband, two kids. Even if her marriage is far from perfect, she tries to change that, to fix what can be fixed. A part of Erica would want to change the past and almost everything that happened after college. I believe that her past made her stronger in some ways and in other she is overwhelmed by it.

Then there's Jude. Jude is the scarred woman, the one with a history of drug and alcohol addiction, the one who's been sexually abused during her childhood by the very people who should have cherished, loved and protected her. She's lost and a big part of me wasn't surprised by her choice at the end of the book. Everyone she trusted wronged her in some way. Grace lied to her, her parents weren't the good parents they should have been, the man who supposedly tries to show her the right path is using her. She tries to find salvation through religion, but it's not a healthy decision, or so I felt it.

This is one of those books that satisfied me as a reader a lot. I love it when there's a book that manage to show different versions and views of the same event, the same situation. I think Ms. Flannigan managed to do that and keep the novel flowing. It's not a comfortable read, but it's an amazing one and it's one of those things that make you want to forget all about the "real world" and read more. I would definitely recommend it.

My Rating:

Teaser Tuesday (14)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! 


My teaser this week is from The Truth About Us by Dalene Flannigan

A passerby might assume she was sleeping, praying, or crying. But Erica was too angry to cry or sleep and she didn't believe in God. She was frozen, her forehead on the steering wheel.

What's your teaser this week?

Cover Love (1)

This feature is hosted by Carmel @ Rabid Reads. The rules are very simple. Choose a cover (or two, or three), preferably new-ish, and share what you like about it. Grab my graphic or don't just so long as you link back.

*sighs* A feature after my own heart. I'm one of those readers that sometimes read a book just because they like the cover. It doesn't mean that if I don't like the cover, I won't read the book. It just means that I love pretty covers and I sometimes buy the book even before I read the blurb very carefully *blushes*

My picks:

The Selection By Kiera Cass
Expected publication: April 24th 2012
By HarperTeen


I love blue. I love looong dresses. And there's just something about the cover. The blurb is also interesting, but the cover caught my eye.











Death on Heels by Ellen Byerrum
Expected publication: February 7th 2012
by Signet

I love the covers for most chick lit books. They are so cool and shinny and funny. I love the way they look and so I usually pick chick lit books with this type of cover. I do read chick lit books with covers with real people on them, though.











This is my pick for today. What's yours?

Book Review: Lothaire by Kresley Cole

Author: Kresley Cole
Series: Immortals After Dark #12
My Rating: 5 cups
Blurb: (from Goodreads)

ALL FEAR THE ENEMY OF OLD

Driven by his insatiable need for revenge, Lothaire, the Lore’s most ruthless vampire, plots to seize the Horde’s crown. But bloodlust and torture have left him on the brink of madness—until he finds Elizabeth Peirce, the key to his victory. He captures the unique young mortal, intending to offer up her very soul in exchange for power, yet Elizabeth soothes his tormented mind and awakens within him emotions Lothaire believed he could no longer experience.

A DEADLY FORCE DWELLS WITHIN HER

Growing up in desperate poverty, Ellie Peirce yearned for a better life, never imagining she’d be convicted of murder—or that an evil immortal would abduct her from death row. But Lothaire is no savior, as he himself plans to sacrifice Ellie in one month’s time. And yet the vampire seems to ache for her touch, showering her with wealth and sexual pleasure. In a bid to save her soul, Ellie surrenders her body to the wicked vampire, while vowing to protect her heart.

CENTURIES OF COLD INDIFFERENCE SHATTERED

Elizabeth tempts Lothaire beyond reason, as only his fated mate could. As the month draws to a close, he must choose between a millennia-old blood vendetta and his irresistible prisoner. Will Lothaire succumb to the miseries of his past . . . or risk everything for a future with her?

Finally! Like I said in a review of an earlier book of this series (A Hunger Like No Other), Lothaire, Enemy of the Old, was the one that convinced me I needed to read this series. I was intrigued by the series even before I met him, what with the Lore and Valkyries, vampires, feys, shifters and all those delightful creatures. But it was Lothaire that made me really want to read it. So when I found out the next book that was coming out was going to be his I read as fast as I could, to be able to read his story right away. I'm impatient like that,   yes.

What can I say about this book? It was amazing! I do believe it is the best book in the series (or maybe it's just the obsessive fan doing the reviewing for me). I loved everything about this book. I cried (which is rare for me), I laughed, I cursed and had to stop myself from screaming at the book a few times. So it was a wonderful read.

What can I say about Lothaire? He's sexy, ruthless, menacing, scary, funny, caring, completely imperfect. You can't not love him. It's impossible. I still remember that scene from AHLNO, when he's shushing Annika. He's also very cunning, devious, always plotting. I loved that about him.

The surprise for me was his Bride, Elizabeth. I knew his Bride would be his match, but I always hoped for Nix to be his Bride. It would've been even more funny and scary. But I guess two ancient creatures who enjoy antagonizing one another can't be mates. But I totally loved Ellie. I loved that she was human. That made her more challenging for Lothaire and I do believe he needed a challenge. I also enjoyed seeing her match her plotting skills against Lothaire's and I actually was hoping she'd win.

I definitely think this is one of those books that everyone HAS to read. I recommend this book a thousand times and more. I just know I'll be rereading Lothaire very soon. I loved it  that much

Now I think the biggest question is: who is Nix going to end up with and when will her story be told?

My Rating:

Follow Friday (8)

Welcome to Follow Friday hosted this week by Parajunkee and Alison!
The main idea behind FF is just to go see a bunch of new blogs you may never have seen before, and follow the ones you like (and they’ll follow you back!) It’s a total win/win, so take a peek around and follow me!

This week’s question is: 






Many readers/bloggers are also big music fans. Tell us about a few of your favorite bands/singers that we should listen to in 2012.


I love music. I've never stopped to make a list of my favorite bands/singers, because it would probably take me too long. I can tell you I listen to almost everything: from country to hard rock, from classical music to hip hop. So I don't exactly have a specific genre that I listen to on an on, it all depends on my mood. Here are a few of the bands/singers that are on my playlist currently (but please, bear in mind that the playlist is way bigger than even I could listen in 24 hours *blushes*)

Like I said, I love music. And music helps me stay focused (I could never function during mid-terms otherwise, not to mention I need music to concentrate on my studying)

So this is like a grain of sand from my list of favorites. What are your favorite bands?