Eyecatcher: Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber

Darker Still
by Leanna Renee Hieber

Sourcebooks Fire
http://www.leannareneehieber.com
ISBN: 9781402260520
Release Date: November 8, 2011

from the author's site:

New York City, 1880.

Seventeen-year-old Natalie Stewart's latest obsession is a painting of the handsome British Lord Denbury. Something in his striking blue eyes calls to her. As his incredibly life-like gaze seems to follow her, Natalie gets the uneasy feeling that details of the painting keep changing... Lord Denbury's soul is trapped in the gilded painting by dark magic while his possessed body commits unspeakable crimes in the city slums. He must lure Natalie into the painting, for only together can they reverse the curse and free his damaged soul.

why it caught my eye:

Leanna Renee Hieber is one of my absolute favorites. I've been meaning to feature this book for a while but sadly, I have not blogged at all in a while. I can't wait to pick this one up and read it. :) I already know it is going to be amazing.

You Recommend Wednesday

Wow it's been a long time since I last posted. Apparently that's what full-time school does to you. Well I'm on break so I shall do my best to get back to blogging regularly. Once school starts again in January, I make no promises. :)

In the meantime, it's Wednesday which means it's your turn to make a recommendation to me. What are you reading that I should be reading? What are you hoping to receive as a gift for your chosen holiday this year? Tell me what you'd like to see on the blog in the coming year. Come on, recommend something.

Foreign Friday: Maggie Stiefvater in Russian and Lithuanian

Ok so if you've been reading my blog you know that last week I proposed the idea of a new feature, Foreign Fridays. I've decided to just go ahead with it and see what you think. So please, leave a comment and let me know.

For my first Foreign Friday, I'm sharing the Russian and Lithuanian editions of a couple of Maggie Stiefvater's books. Why these? Well first of all it's Maggie Stiefvater! I love her. :) Plus my personal interests lie with the Russian and Lithuanian languages.

Russian edition of Shiver.

Russian edition of Linger.

Lithuanian edition of Shiver.

I always find it interesting to see which publishers/countries keep the cover the same or similar and which ones change it up completely. I love the look of the Russian covers, but they have an entirely different feel to them than the Lithuanian or US cover.

What do you think about these covers or any others you've seen?

And now for some more questions....

Readers: Which authors do you want to see covers for? Which languages are you interested in?

Authors: Do you want your books to be featured on Foreign Fridays? Send me an email at wantmyya at gmail dot com and we'll set it up. :)

You Recommend Wednesday

It's Wednesday again! Time for you to tell me what to read. I'm in a witchy mood, tell me about your favorite witch stories. I don't think I've read too many witch books in YA so I'm open to anything. Come on what should I read?

Foreign Fridays?

So I've got it in my head to start a new feature on the blog and I want to know what you think. Recently, I've been on a mad hunt to find out which of my authors are published in Russian and potentially Lithuanian. (Not that I speak either language yet, but I'm studying Russian in school right now.)

Many authors do have a special section on their site with pictures of their foreign covers. I've always found these fun to look at, even if I can't understand the words (after all there's no guarantee that the title is the same). Sadly, not every author out there does this.

So here's what I'm thinking... I would like to have a special feature each Friday where I display the foreign editions of YA books. Here are my questions for you:

1. Does this sound like a cool idea to you at all?
2. Which format do you prefer?
a. Feature multiple foreign editions of just one author in each post.
b. Feature multiple authors/books of just one language in each post.

Leave me a message in the comments, or email me at wantmyya at gmail dot com.

Authors, if you're interested in having your foreign editions featured please send me an note at the same email.

You Recommend Wednesday

It's Wednesday again and that means I need your help. Tell me what to read. What do you think is noteworthy? What are you loving that you don't think is getting enough attention?

I used to find all kinds of fabulous books at work, but alas, the bookstore I worked for is no more. This means that I'm depending on you, yes you my lovely readers, to tell me what's new and hot. For the next few months I'm going to have my head buried in text books so it's your job to help me find the good stuff and retain my sanity. :)

So come on, leave a comment and tell me what you're reading.

Eyecatcher: Dearly Departed by Lia Habel

Dearly Departed
by Lia Habel
http://www.liahabel.com


Del Rey
ISBN: 9780345523310
Release Date: October 18, 2011

from the author's site:

Almost two hundred years in the future, Nora Dearly lives in a world of bustled gowns, fake manners, watery tea, and uppity lords and ladies.

Thank God the zombies came to rescue her.

Dragged into the night by the living dead, Nora soon finds herself fighting for the father she thought long gone, the friend she was forced to leave behind – and the love of a handsome, noble young army captain.

Who just happens to be a walking corpse.

why it caught my eye:

Gorgeous cover, don't ya think? How could it not catch your eye? I'm a sucker for steampunk and this one looks like a good one. I can't wait for it to come out. What do you think? Anyone else looking forward to this release?

Review: The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade

The Ghost and the Goth
by Stacey Kade
http://www.staceykade.com

Hyperion
ISBN: 9781423124870
Release date: May 10, 2011
(above info is for the paperback version)

from the author's site:

Alona Dare–Senior in high school, co-captain of the cheerleading squad, Homecoming Queen three years in a row, voted most likely to marry a movie star…and newly dead.

I’m the girl you hated in high school. Is it my fault I was born with it all-good looks, silky blond hair, a hot bod, and a keen sense of what everyone else should not be wearing? But my life isn’t perfect, especially since I died. Run over by a bus of band geeks—is there anything more humiliating? As it turns out, yes—watching your boyfriend and friends move on with life, only days after your funeral. And you wouldn’t believe what they’re saying about me now that they think I can’t hear them. To top it off, I’m starting to disappear, flickering in and out of existence. I don’t know where I go when I’m gone, but it’s not good. Where is that freaking white light already?

Will Killian–Senior in high school, outcast, dubbed “Will Kill” by the popular crowd for the unearthly aura around him, voted most likely to rob a bank…and a ghost-talker.

I can see, hear, and touch the dead. Unfortunately, they can also see, hear and touch me. Yeah, because surviving high school isn’t hard enough already. I’ve done my best to hide my “gift.” After all, my dad, who shared my ability, killed himself because of it when I was fifteen. But lately, pretending to be normal has gotten a lot harder. A new ghost—an anonymous, seething cloud of negative energy with the capacity to throw me around—is pursuing me with a vengeance. My mom, who knows nothing about what I can do, is worrying about the increase in odd incidents, my shrink is tossing around terms like “temporary confinement for psychiatric evaluation,” and my principal, who thinks I’m a disruption and a faker, is searching for every way possible to get rid of me. How many weeks until graduation?

my thoughts:

The Ghost and the Goth is a fun quick read. Stacey Kade's characters are people that you enjoy reading about - even queen bee Alona. The book is also set up in an unusual format: each chapter is told in first person, but they switch from Alona's perspective to Will's. It's not as confusing as it sounds since each chapter clearly labels who's talking.

I liked the way the friendship (maybe romance?) develops between Alona and Will. These are two people who never spoke to each other at school, they wouldn't dream of it (ok, maybe he dreamed about it). Now that Alona's dead, her choices are rather limited. While you still occasionally see Alona's popular girl side come out, you also see who she really is inside. Turns out that Alona isn't that bad after all. She and Will are good for each other; I'm looking forward to watching them team up again.

Now that I've finished The Ghost and the Goth, I'm really looking forward to reading The Queen of the Dead. I've already grown attached to Alona and Will and I want to see what they're up to next. Book 3, Body and Soul releases next spring and you know that one's going on my wishlist too.

Highly Recommended for anyone looking for a light-hearted book that they can fly right through. Check it out!

Review: Fallen by Lauren Kate

Fallen

by Lauren Kate

http://www.laurenkatebooks.net

Ember

ISBN: 9780385739139

Release Date: September 28, 2010

(above info is for the paperback version)

from the author's site:

There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce–and goes out of his way to make that very clear–she can’t let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.

my thoughts:

It took a little bit for me to get into Fallen, but once I was hooked, I was hooked. I need to get a hold of Torment and Passion, pronto. Fallen reminded me of my favorite gothic stories where you're never sure who to trust. And in typical gothic style Luce has two guys to choose from and you're not sure who the safe choice is. Both seem dangerous and appealing at the same time.

If you like a good gothic tale with a classic love-triangle then I strongly recommend reading the Fallen books by Lauren Kate.

You Recommend Wednesday

It's that time again. :) I know, I know....it hasn't been that time in a while. I've been slacking. Anyway..... It's time for you to recommend some books to me. You tell me what's new and hot. What should I add to my must-buy list?

Eyecatcher: Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay

Juliet Immortal

by Stacey Jay

Delacorte

http://www.staceyjay.com

ISBN: 9780385740166

Release Date: August 9, 2011

from the author's site: 

The most tragic love story in history . . . 

Juliet Capulet didn't take her own life. She was murdered by the person she trusted most, her new husband, Romeo Montague, a sacrifice made to ensure his own immortality. But Romeo didn't anticipate that Juliet would be granted eternital life, as well, and would become an agent for the Ambassadors of Light.

 

For 700 years, Juliet has struggled to preserve romantic love and the lives of the innocent, while Romeo has fought for the dark side, seeking to destroy the human heart. Until now.

Now Juliet has found her own forbidden love, and Romeo, oh Romeo, will do everything in his power to destroy their happiness.

why it caught my eye: 

This popped up as a recommend on Amazon and I was so excited because I really like Stacey Jay. Somehow I hadn't known this book was coming, but once I saw it and read the premise I knew it was an instant add to my wishlist. I'm really excited for the release of Juliet Immortal and I hope you are too. :) 

Author Interview: Jo Ramsey

Happy Monday my lovely readers! Can you remember the last Monday Interview? Yeah, me neither. lol Today we have the fabulous Jo Ramsey visiting and we are so happy to have her. 

1. Tell us a little about yourself.

I started telling stories when I was two or three, and started writing them down when I was five. I was bullied throughout school, so writing became my way to escape that. I have a drawer full of spiral notebooks containing stories I’ve written, most of which will never see the light of day. My first YA publication didn’t happen until I was 39; that was Connection, the first book in my Reality Shift series, which came out in January 2010. Since then, two more books in Reality Shift have been published, and my new series The Dark Lines launches in May.

I used to teach special education, and have taught at all grades from kindergarten right up through high school. I live in Massachusetts with my two daughters, my husband, and two cats, one of which likes to try to get me to play fetch with her when I’m supposed to be writing.

2. What got you started writing? What brought you to YA?

Like I said, I used to make up stories before I even learned to write. I had a lot of ideas bouncing around my imagination, and I had to get them out somehow! I started writing stories that I would consider YA when I was a young adult myself; well, actually, when I was about 13. That’s kind of where I got stuck.

3. Tell us about your most recent/upcoming release.

My upcoming release, The Black Bridge, is the first book in my urban fantasy series The Dark Lines, about a group of teenagers with psychic abilities who unintentionally become involved in the universal war between the forces of light and the forces of darkness. In The Black Bridge, we meet Topher James, who starts fighting the forces of darkness after one takes his best friend from him.

4. Do you plot out in advance, or just start writing and see where things go from there?

For my series books, I have to do some plotting in advance or I run the risk of breaking continuity. I have to make sure I don’t contradict anything I’ve written previously, and that I remember important details. But once I take care of that and maybe make a few notes about what I think is going to happen in the story, I just start writing and see where the characters take me.

5. Many authors have told me that their characters talk to them, or sometimes even have different ideas of where the story should go than the author. Do you hear your characters?

Oh, good grief, they never shut up! LOL. Honestly, in writing The Dark Lines (I’ve written the first drafts of all the books in the series), there were times I felt like the narrators were writing the stories and I was just the one with my fingers on the keyboard. When I write, my characters often take over the story and steer it in the direction they want it to go, and if I write something they don’t agree with, they tell me.
I think writing is the only career in which you can say you hear voices and not be thought crazy.

6. Who is your favorite character (of your own)?

Hands down, Blake Walker, who readers will meet in book 2 of The Dark Lines. He’s an adopted former foster child whose mother physically abused him because of his psychic abilities, but he has a good heart and strong loyalty to his friends and his adoptive mother. And he’s something very special, but I can’t tell you what because that would be a spoiler.

7. What hobbies do you have when you’re not writing?

I don’t have any hobbies…unless you count learning Japanese, which I’m doing because my husband learned the language so he could watch anime, and sometimes he throws in Japanese words and phrases to confuse me, so I want to learn what he’s saying.

8. If you had not become a writer, what would you have done instead?

I never had plans to be anything other than a writer, and a teacher, but I don’t teach anymore.

9. Where can readers find you online?

My website is http://www.joramsey.com. I’m on Twitter as @JoRamseyYA, and I have a Facebook profile as well.
My two urban fantasy series Reality Shift and The Dark Lines can be found at Jupiter Gardens Press http://www.jupitergardens.com, as well as on Amazon, Barnes &Noble, and probably other third party sites.
I’m working on a website for The Dark Lines and one for Reality Shift, so stay tuned for those!

10. Your turn. What question do you have for readers of Want My YA?

What do you look for in the characters you read about? What makes a character someone you would want to get to know better?

Thanks so much for visiting Want My YA today, Jo. :) It was great having you here. Readers be sure to post your answer to her question in the comments. It's great to hear from you.

Winners!!!

With the help of random.org I have selected the winners for copies of Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys. And the winners are.....

Ted S. and Beth S. 

Please contact me at wantmyya at gmail dot com with your mailing info. If I don't hear from you by Saturday I'll have to choose new winners. (you don't want me to do that do you? lol)

Thank you again to everyone who entered. I hope you'll keep checking back for more reviews, interviews, features, and hopefully more giveaways as well. 

Eyecatcher: Wake Unto Me by Lisa Cach

Wake Unto Me

by Lisa Cach

Speak

http://www.lisacach.com

ISBN: 9780142414361

Release Date: March 31, 2011

from the author's site:

Caitlyn Monahan knows she belongs somewhere else. It’s what her dead mother’s note suggested, and it’s what her recurring nightmares allude to. Desperate to flee these terrifying dreams—and her small town—she accepts a spot at a boarding school in France. Only, when she arrives, her nightmares get worse.

But then there are her amazing dreams, so vivid and so real, with visits from an alluring, mysterious, and gorgeous Italian boy from the 1500s. Caitlyn knows they are soul mates, but how can she be in love with someone who exists only in her dreams?

Then, as her reality and dream world collide, Caitlyn searches for the real reason why she was brought to this school. And what she discovers will change her life forever.

why it caught my eye: 

This was another title that popped up as an Amazon Recommend. I like the dream angle. I'm already wondering what all of the connections are. :) This one is definitely on my never-ending wishlist. Anyone out there read it yet? What did you think?

Review: Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

Between Shades of Gray

by Ruta Sepetys

Philomel (Penguin)

http://www.rutasepetys.com

http://www.betweenshadesofgray.com

ISBN: 9780399254123

Release Date: March 22, 2011

from the official book site: 

In 1941, fifteen-year-old Lina is preparing for art school, first dates, and all that summer has to offer. But one night, the Soviet secret police barge violently into her home, deporting her along with her mother and younger brother. They are being sent to Siberia. Lina's father has been separated from the family and sentenced to death in a prison camp. All is lost. 

Lina fights for her life, fearless, vowing that if she survives she will honor her family, and the thousands like hers, by documenting their experience in her art and writing. She risks everything to use her art as messages, hoping they will make their way to her father's prison camp to let him know they are still alive. 

It is a long and harrowing journey, and it is only their incredible strength, love, and hope that pull Lina and her family through each day. But will love be enough to keep them alive? 

my thoughts: 

 

I'm not sure I can properly put everything Between Shades of Gray made me feel into words. The emotions of Lina and her family were so palpable that I sometimes had trouble separating myself from the story. Reading the story of Lina and her family I felt their fear, anger, and confusion. Even writing about it now, it's all coming back. 

 

Lina is a fabulously strong character. Despite everything she and her family endure, she holds onto herself and her hope and finding her father again. Strong as Lina is though, it is her mother's strength that astounds me. Through it all, Mrs. Vilkas is a pillar of strength for all of the deportees. She holds everyone together when they are ready to fall apart.  

I don't think there is a single character in Between Shades of Gray that I didn't find myself caring about in some way. Everyone's fate mattered to me; they felt that real.

 

This is a story that needs to be read. This is a history that needs to be told. Lina and her family may be fictional, but these things did happen, and we should honor the memory of those who suffered and died by sharing their story. I'm so glad that Ruta Sepetys sat down to write Between Shades of Gray and share these events with the world. I admit being of Lithuanian ancestry makes me even more emotional about this story; it felt very personal, even knowing that my family came to America prior to Stalin and his atrocities.

And now for the fun part: 

 

Because I believe so strongly that this story needs to be read. I'm giving away not one, but two copies. To enter to win just leave a comment on this post. You can talk about this book, you can talk about another book that really touched you, just say something. I'll announce the winners sometime Tuesday May 10 (specific time will depend on when I get up). If you're like me and you think you'll forget to check back please leave your email in your comment so I can contact you.

Eyecatcher: Die for Me by Amy Plum

Die for Me

by Amy Plum

HarperCollins

http://www.amyplumbooks.com

ISBN: 9780062004017

Release Date: May 10, 2011

from the author's site: 

In the City of Lights, two star-crossed lovers battle a fate that is destined to tear them apart again and again for eternity.

When Kate Mercier’s parents die in a tragic car accident, she leaves her life—and memories—behind to live with her grandparents in Paris. For Kate, the only way to survive her pain is escaping into the world of books and Parisian art. Until she meets Vincent.

Mysterious, charming, and devastatingly handsome, Vincent threatens to melt the ice around Kate’s guarded heart with just his smile. As she begins to fall in love with Vincent, Kate discovers that he’s a revenant—an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save the lives of others. Vincent and those like him are bound in a centuries-old war against a group of evil revenants who exist only to murder and betray. Kate soon realizes that if she follows her heart, she may never be safe again.

why it caught my eye: 

Die for Me popped up as a recommend on Amazon. I love the catchy title and gorgeous cover. I'm intrigued by the plot. I love paranormal stories and this one sounds different from the typical. I can't wait for Die for Me's release so I can check it out further.  

Review: Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender

Bad Girls Don't Die

by Katie Alender

Hyperion

http://www.katiealender.com

ISBN: 9781423108771

Release Date: June 22, 2010

(ISBN & Release date are for the paperback edition)

from the author's site: 

When Alexis’s little sister Kasey becomes obsessed with an antique doll, Alexis thinks nothing of it. Kasey is a weird kid. Period. Alexis is considered weird, too, by the kids in her high school, by her parents, even by her own Goth friends. Things get weirder, though, when the old house they live in starts changing. Doors open and close by themselves; water boils on the unlit stove; and an unplugged air conditioner turns the house cold enough to see their breath in. Kasey is changing, too. Her blue eyes go green and she speaks in old-fashioned language, then forgets chunks of time. 

Most disturbing of all is the dangerous new chip on Kasey’s shoulder. The formerly gentle, doll-loving child is gone, and the new Kasey is angry. Alexis is the only one who can stop her sister — but what if that green-eyed girl isn’t even Kasey anymore? 

my thoughts: 

I read Bad Girls Don't Die for the YA book club that I run at work. I'm so glad this one won the vote, because it was an awesome book and I love that I finally got a chance to read it. Bad Girls Don't Die is an intense read, but it's a quick read. I flew through it. I was up until 1:30 in the morning finishing it. I told my boyfriend how freaky the book was and he tried to get me to stop reading it so late at night. My response: "I can't stop now!" Yes it was that good. I don't normally like being scared, but I wasn't about to put Bad Girls Don't Die down for anything. I can't wait to read Katie Alender's future releases. I highly recommend Bad Girls Don't Die to anyone and everyone!

You Recommend Wednesday

Hey there lovely readers! What's everyone reading this week? I need some suggestions for my Tuesday Eyecatcher feature. I know there are plenty of books out there that I want to read, but with my airhead brain I don't have any of them written down. :) So I need your help. What do you want to recommend to me?

You Recommend Wednesday

Hey there lovely readers! How's things? I know I've been a little MIA lately and I'm sorry. School tends to get in the way of everything. :) I'm working on getting caught up. If you sent me an email that I haven't responded to, I'm sorry about that also. I'm hoping to get caught up on those in the next week or so here.

Ok, now to the point, it's You Recommend Wednesday, which means it's your turn to tell me what to read. So let's have it. What are you reading that I need to check out?

Eyecatcher: When Stars Go Blue by Caridad Ferrer

When Stars Go Blue

by Caridad Ferrer

St. Martin's Griffin

http://www.caridadferrer.com/

ISBN: 9780312650049

Release Date: November 23, 2010

from the author's site:

A dancer driven to succeed.

A musical prodigy attempting to escape his past.

The summer they share.

And the moment it all goes wrong.

Dance is Soledad Reyes’s life. About to graduate from Miami’s Biscayne High School for the Performing Arts, she plans on spending her last summer at home teaching in a dance studio, saving money, and eventually auditioning for dance companies. That is, until fate intervenes in the form of fellow student Jonathan Crandall who has what sounds like an outrageous proposition: Forget teaching. Why not spend the summer performing in the intense environment of the competitive drum and bugle corps? The corps is going to be performing Carmen, and the opportunity to portray the character of the sultry gypsy proves too tempting for Soledad to pass up, as well as the opportunity to spend more time with Jonathan, who intrigues her in a way no boy ever has before.

But in an uncanny echo of the story they perform every evening, an unexpected competitor for Soledad’s affections appears: Taz, a member of an all-star Spanish soccer team. One explosive encounter later Soledad finds not only her relationship with Jonathan threatened, but her entire future as a professional dancer.

why it caught my eye:

As usual, this was a title I found while shelving books at work. I honestly can't remember at this point if it was the title or the cover that caught my atention first. I was a dancer when I was younger and dreamed of dancing professionally, so yeah, that's another plus. :) When Stars Go Blue is another addition to my wishlist. I'm looking forward to checking it out. Anyone read this one? Any thoughts?

Eyecatcher: Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

Between Shades of Gray

by Ruta Sepetys

Philomel (Penguin)

http://www.rutasepetys.com

http://www.betweenshadesofgray.com

ISBN: 9780399254123

Release Date: March 22, 2011

from the official book site: 

In 1941, fifteen-year-old Lina is preparing for art school, first dates, and all that summer has to offer. But one night, the Soviet secret police barge violently into her home, deporting her along with her mother and younger brother. They are being sent to Siberia. Lina's father has been separated from the family and sentenced to death in a prison camp. All is lost. 

Lina fights for her life, fearless, vowing that if she survives she will honor her family, and the thousands like hers, by documenting their experience in her art and writing. She risks everything to use her art as messages, hoping they will make their way to her father's prison camp to let him know they are still alive. 

It is a long and harrowing journey, and it is only their incredible strength, love, and hope that pull Lina and her family through each day. But will love be enough to keep them alive? 

why it caught my eye: 

I read about Between Shades of Gray in Publisher's Weekly, while on lunch break at work. The minute I finished the article I ran out to the sales floor and pre-ordered my copy. I don't normally read books of such a serious nature, but I know this is one I need to read. Part of the reason for such interest on my part is that I'm of Lithuanian descent and it's not often that I find books about Lithuanians. Not only that, but Ruta Sepetys is writing about a part of Lithuanian (and Latvian and Estonian) history that many people know nothing about. I think it's great that this story is being told. I can't wait to get my copy and start reading it. I recommend you check it out today, or rather,  a week from today when it releases. :)

Review: The Line by Teri Hall

The Line

by Teri Hall

Dial

http://www.terihall.com

ISBN: 978083734661

Release Date: March 4, 2010

(above information is for the hardcover edition)

from the author's site: 

Rachel lives with her mother on The Property. The good thing about living there is that it’s far from the city where the oppressive government is most active. The bad thing, at least to most people, is that it’s close to the Line—an uncrossable section of the National Border Defense System, an invisible barrier that encloses the entire country.

She can see the Line from the greenhouse windows, but she is forbidden to go near it. Across the Line is Away, and though Rachel has heard many whispers about the dangers there, she’s never really believed the stories. Until the day she hears a recording that could only have come from across the Line.

It’s a voice asking for help.

Who sent the message? What is her mother hiding? And to what lengths will Rachel go in order to do what she thinks is right?

my thoughts: 

The Line is my current book club book for my Young Adult book club, but I've been curious about it for awhile now. It's a very interesting, engrossing read. Teri Hall's writing is very smooth and it's so easy to sit down with The Line and become immersed in the story. 

I was so immersed reading about Rachel, Vivian, and Ms. Moore that I was a bit jarred by the ending. I had a moment of "Wait where's the next page?" Thankfully book 2, Away will be releasing in September. Here's hoping I have the patience to wait that long. 

If you're a fan of dystopian stories or really just like books that look at our world a little differently I strongly recommend checking out The Line. It's a quick read, and I imagine once you're done, like me, you'll find yourself wishing September would get here faster. And even better The Line will be available in paperback very soon - current release listed on Amazon is April 14th.

You Recommend Wednesday

Well readers, it's that time of the week again. It's time for you to tell me what to read. So come on, out with it, what are you reading and loving right now?

Eyecatcher: The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney

The Iron Witch

by Karen Mahoney

Flux

http://www.kazmahoney.com

ISBN: 9780738725826

Release Date: January 25, 2011

from the author's site: 

FREAK. That’s what her classmates call seventeen-year-old Donna Underwood. When she was seven, a horrific fey attack killed her father and drove her mother mad. Donna’s own nearly fatal injuries from the assault were fixed by magic—the iron tattoos branding her hands and arms. The child of alchemists, Donna feels cursed by the magical heritage that destroyed her parents and any chance she had for a normal life. The only thing that keeps her sane and grounded is her relationship with her best friend, Navin Sharma.

When the darkest outcasts of Faerie—the vicious wood elves—abduct Navin, Donna finally has to accept her role in the centuries old war between the humans and the fey. Assisted by Xan, a gorgeous half-fey dropout with secrets of his own, Donna races to save her friend—even if it means betraying everything her parents and the alchemist community fought to the death to protect.

why it caught my eye: 

This was one that I started hearing about online before coming across it at work. I was intrigued simply because the word "witch" was in the title. I can't help it. I love all things witchy, especially stories. Granted the description talks more about Faeries than witches but that's okay too. I like faerie stories also. 

Anyone out there read this one yet? What did you think?