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TOP TEN TUESDAY – 2016 Releases We Meant To Read But Didn’t Get To (But TOTALLY plan to!)

TOP TEN TUESDAY - 2016 Releases We Meant To Read But Didn't Get To (But TOTALLY plan to!)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish
This week is – 2016 Releases We Meant To Read But Didn’t Get To (But TOTALLY plan to!).  And they are…..

A Shadow Bright and Burning Jessica Cluess
(Chelsea’s Choice)
truthwitch-susan-dennard
(Chelsea’s Choice)

1. A Shadow Bright and Burning (Kingdom on Fire #1) by Jessica Cluess
Henrietta Howel can burst into flames.
Forced to reveal her power to save a friend, she’s shocked when instead of being executed, she’s invited to train as one of Her Majesty’s royal sorcerers.
Thrust into the glamour of Victorian London, Henrietta is declared the chosen one, the girl who will defeat the Ancients, bloodthirsty demons terrorizing humanity. She also meets her fellow sorcerer trainees, handsome young men eager to test her power and her heart. One will challenge her. One will fight for her. One will betray her.
But Henrietta Howel is not the chosen one.
As she plays a dangerous game of deception, she discovers that the sorcerers have their own secrets to protect. With battle looming, what does it mean to not be the one? And how much will she risk to save the city—and the one she loves?

2. Truthwitch (The Witchlands #1) by Susan Dennard
On a continent ruled by three empires, everyone is born with a “witchery,” a magical skill that sets them apart from others. Now, as the Twenty Year Truce in a centuries long war is about to end, the balance of power-and the failing health of all magic-will fall on the shoulders of a mythical pair called the Cahr Awen.
The biggest thing on Safi and Iseult’s minds is saving money for their planned future in the Hundred Isles. Iseult, a Threadwitch, can see the emotional Threads binding the world. Safi, on the other hand, is a Truthwitch-she always knows when a person is telling a lie. A powerful magic like that is something people would kill to have on their side-or to keep off their enemy’s side-and so Safi cannot even admit what she truly is.
With the help of the cunning Prince Merik (a Windwitch and a ship’s captain) and the hindrance of a Bloodwitch bent on revenge, the friends must rise above their doubts and fight to learn who they are and what they are made of, if they are going to stay alive and preserve the balance of their world.

some-kind-of-perfect-krista-and-becca-ritchie
(Chelsea’s Choice)
the-crowns-game-evelyn-skye
(Chelsea’s Choice)

3. Some Kind of Perfect (Calloway Sisters #4.5) by Krista Ritchie & Becca Ritchie
The conclusion to the epic ten-book series about the unbreakable strength of family, friendship, and love.
Lily & Lo are back one final time. Childhood best friends and soul mates.
Ryke & Daisy are back one final time. Wild risk-takers and flirty adventurers.
Connor & Rose are back one final time. Genius rivals and intellectual teammates.
Ten years of laughter. Of heartache. And love.

4. The Crown’s Game (The Crown’s Game #1) by Evelyn Skye
Vika Andreyeva can summon the snow and turn ash into gold. Nikolai Karimov can see through walls and conjure bridges out of thin air. They are enchanters—the only two in Russia—and with the Ottoman Empire and the Kazakhs threatening, the tsar needs a powerful enchanter by his side.
And so he initiates the Crown’s Game, an ancient duel of magical skill—the greatest test an enchanter will ever know.  The victor becomes the Imperial Enchanter and the tsar’s most respected adviser. The defeated is sentenced to death.
Raised on tiny Ovchinin Island her whole life, Vika is eager for the chance to show off her talent in the grand capital of Saint Petersburg. But can she kill another enchanter—even when his magic calls to her like nothing else ever has?
For Nikolai, an orphan, the Crown’s Game is the chance of a lifetime. But his deadly opponent is a force to be reckoned with—beautiful, whip smart, imaginative—and he can’t stop thinking about her.
And when Pasha, Nikolai’s best friend and heir to the throne, also starts to fall for the mysterious enchantress, Nikolai must defeat the girl they both love . . . or be killed himself.
As long-buried secrets emerge, threatening the future of the empire, it becomes dangerously clear . . . the Crown’s Game is not one to lose.

ps i like you kasie west
(Jen’s Choice)
adorkable-cookie-ogorman
(Jen’s Choice – Review)

5. P.S. I Like You by Kasie West
Signed, sealed, delivered…
While spacing out in Chemistry class, Lily scribbles some of her favorite song lyrics onto her desk. The next day, she finds that someone has continued the lyrics on the desk, and added a message to her. Intrigue!
Soon, Lily and her anonymous pen pal are exchanging full-on letters — sharing secrets, recommending bands, and opening up to each other. Lily realizes she’s kind of falling for this letter writer. Only who is he? As Lily attempts to unravel the mystery, and juggle school, friends, crushes, and her crazy family, she discovers that matters of the heart can’t always be spelled out…

6. Adorkable by Cookie O’Gorman
Adorkable (ah-dor-kuh-bul): Descriptive term meaning to be equal parts dorky and adorable. For reference, see Sally Spitz.
Seventeen-year-old Sally Spitz is done with dating. Or at least, she’s done with the horrible blind dates/hookups/sneak attacks her matchmaking bestie, Hooker, sets her up on. There’s only so much one geek girl and Gryffindor supporter can take.
Her solution: she needs a fake boyfriend. And fast.
Enter Becks, soccer phenom, all-around-hottie, and Sally’s best friend practically since birth. When Sally asks Becks to be her F.B.F. (fake boyfriend), Becks is only too happy to be used. He’d do anything for Sal–even if that means giving her PDA lessons in his bedroom, saying she’s “more than pretty,” and expertly kissing her at parties.
The problem: Sally’s been in love with Becks all her life–and he’s completely clueless.
This book features two best friends, one special edition Yoda snuggie, countless beneath-the-ear kisses and begs the question:
Who wants a real boyfriend when faking it is so much more fun?

 

nobodys-hero-bec-mcmaster
(Jen’s Choice)
the-star-touched-queen-roshani-chokshi
(Jen’s Choice – Review)

7. Nobody’s Hero (Burned Lands #1) by Bec McMaster
First rule of surviving the Wastelands: don’t be caught out after the sun sets…
After her father was killed in a warg attack, Riley Kincaid was forced to stand on her own two feet in the brutal Wastelands she calls home. She knows how to survive, but when a lapse in judgment leaves her out after dark, Riley realizes she’s in trouble. The sun has set, the monsters are out to play, and there’s a band of reivers heading straight for her settlement. Riley needs to warn her people, but that’s before she runs a handsome stranger down in her jeep. A stranger who might not be a man after all…
Kidnapping her was the worst mistake he ever made.
Dangerous outlaw, Lucius Wade, lives only for revenge. But when he kidnaps Riley in order to lure an old friend into a trap, suddenly the tables are turned. Riley has no intentions of being bait, and she tempts him in ways he hasn’t felt for a long time. He’s never played the hero, but suddenly a part of him wants to. Even as he knows there’s no point.
When dangerous secrets are revealed, and Luc realizes an old enemy is on his trail, he’s forced to change his plans. The hunter is suddenly the hunted, and the only allies he has… is a stubborn blonde who thinks there should be more to live for than revenge, and the ex-friend who shoved a knife in his back ten years ago.

8. The Star-Touched Queen (The Star-Touched Queen #1) by Roshani Chokshi
Fate and fortune. Power and passion. What does it take to be the queen of a kingdom when you’re only seventeen?
Maya is cursed. With a horoscope that promises a marriage of Death and Destruction, she has earned only the scorn and fear of her father’s kingdom. Content to follow more scholarly pursuits, her whole world is torn apart when her father, the Raja, arranges a wedding of political convenience to quell outside rebellions. Soon Maya becomes the queen of Akaran and wife of Amar. Neither roles are what she expected: As Akaran’s queen, she finds her voice and power. As Amar’s wife, she finds something else entirely: Compassion. Protection. Desire…

But Akaran has its own secrets — thousands of locked doors, gardens of glass, and a tree that bears memories instead of fruit. Soon, Maya suspects her life is in danger. Yet who, besides her husband, can she trust? With the fate of the human and Otherworldly realms hanging in the balance, Maya must unravel an ancient mystery that spans reincarnated lives to save those she loves the most. . .including herself.

paper-princess-erin-watt
(Jen’s Choice)
the-great-hunt
(Jen’s Choice – Review)

9. Paper Princess (The Royals #1) by Erin Watt
From strip clubs and truck stops to southern coast mansions and prep schools, one girl tries to stay true to herself.
These Royals will ruin you…
Ella Harper is a survivor—a pragmatic optimist. She’s spent her whole life moving from town to town with her flighty mother, struggling to make ends meet and believing that someday she’ll climb out of the gutter. After her mother’s death, Ella is truly alone. 
Until Callum Royal appears, plucking Ella out of poverty and tossing her into his posh mansion among his five sons who all hate her. Each Royal boy is more magnetic than the last, but none as captivating as Reed Royal, the boy who is determined to send her back to the slums she came from.
Reed doesn’t want her. He says she doesn’t belong with the Royals.
He might be right.
Wealth. Excess. Deception. It’s like nothing Ella has ever experienced, and if she’s going to survive her time in the Royal palace, she’ll need to learn to issue her own Royal decrees. 

10. The Great Hunt (Eurona Duology #1) by Wendy Higgins
When a monstrous beast attacks in Eurona, desperate measures must be taken. The king sends a proclamation to the best and bravest hunters: whoever kills the creature will win the hand of his daughter Princess Aerity as a reward. The princess recognizes her duty but cannot bear the idea of marrying a stranger—she was meant to marry for love—until a brooding local hunter, Paxton Seabolt, catches her attention. And while there’s no denying the fiery chemistry between them, Princess Aerity feels that Paxton’s mysteriousness is foreboding, maybe even dangerous.

So these are the 2016 Releases We Meant To Read But Didn’t Get To (But TOTALLY plan to!)!  Have you already read some of these?  If not, are they on your list too?  Or what books did you want to read last year, but didn’t get around to?

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TOP TEN TUESDAY – Debut Authors Whose Books We Can’t Wait To Read In 2017

TOP TEN TUESDAY - Debut Authors Whose Books We Can't Wait To Read In 2017

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish
This week is – Debut Authors Whose Books We Can’t Wait To Read In 2017!

under-rose-tainted-skies-louise-gornall
(Chelsea’s Choice)
frost-blood-elly-blake
(Chelsea’s Choice – Review)

1. Under Rose-Tainted Skies by Louise Gornall (Releases 01/10):
Norah has agoraphobia and OCD. When groceries are left on the porch, she can’t step out to get them. Struggling to snag the bags with a stick, she meets Luke. He’s sweet and funny, and he just caught her fishing for groceries. Because of course he did.
Norah can’t leave the house, but can she let someone in? As their friendship grows deeper, Norah realizes Luke deserves a normal girl. One who can lie on the front lawn and look up at the stars. One who isn’t so screwed up.
Readers themselves will fall in love with Norah in this poignant, humorous, and deeply engaging portrait of a teen struggling to find the strength to face her demons.

2. Frostblood (Frostblood Saga #1) by Elly Blake (Releases 01/10):
Seventeen-year-old Ruby is a Fireblood who has concealed her powers of heat and flame from the cruel Frostblood ruling class her entire life. But when her mother is killed trying to protect her, and rebel Frostbloods demand her help to overthrow their bloodthirsty king, she agrees to come out of hiding, desperate to have her revenge.
Despite her unpredictable abilities, Ruby trains with the rebels and the infuriating–yet irresistible–Arcus, who seems to think of her as nothing more than a weapon. But before they can take action, Ruby is captured and forced to compete in the king’s tournaments that pit Fireblood prisoners against Frostblood champions. Now she has only one chance to destroy the maniacal ruler who has taken everything from her–and from the icy young man she has come to love.

heart-stone-elle-katharine-white
(Chelsea’s Choice)
after-the-fall-kate-hart
(Chelsea’s Choice)

3. Heartstone by Elle Katharine White (Releases 01/17):
They say a Rider in possession of a good blade must be in want of a monster to slay—and Merybourne Manor has plenty of monsters.
Passionate, headstrong Aliza Bentaine knows this all too well; she’s already lost one sister to the invading gryphons. So when Lord Merybourne hires a band of Riders to hunt down the horde, Aliza is relieved her home will soon be safe again.
Her relief is short-lived. With the arrival of the haughty and handsome dragonrider, Alastair Daired, Aliza expects a battle; what she doesn’t expect is a romantic clash of wills, pitting words and wit against the pride of an ancient house. Nor does she anticipate the mystery that follows them from Merybourne Manor, its roots running deep as the foundations of the kingdom itself, where something old and dreadful slumbers . . . something far more sinister than gryphons.
It’s a war Aliza is ill-prepared to wage, on a battlefield she’s never known before: one spanning kingdoms, class lines, and the curious nature of her own heart.

4. After the Fall by Kate Hart (Releases 01/24)
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.

caraval-stephanie-garber
(Chelsea’s Choice – Review)
empress-of-a-thousand-skies
(Chelsea’s Choice)

5. Caraval (Caraval #1) by Stephanie Garber (Releases 01/31):
Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her beloved sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval, the far-away, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, are over.
But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.
Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But she nevertheless becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic with the other players in the game. And whether Caraval is real or not, she must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over, a dangerous domino effect of consequences is set off, and her sister disappears forever.

6. Empress of a Thousand Skies by Rhoda Belleza (Releases 02/07):
Empress
Rhee, also known as Crown Princess Rhiannon Ta’an, is the sole surviving heir to a powerful dynasty. She’ll stop at nothing to avenge her family and claim her throne.
Fugitive
Aly has risen above his war refugee origins to find fame as the dashing star of a DroneVision show. But when he’s falsely accused of killing Rhee, he’s forced to prove his innocence to save his reputation – and his life.
Madman
With planets on the brink of war, Rhee and Aly are thrown together to confront a ruthless evil that threatens the fate of the entire galaxy.
Rhoda Belleza crafts a powerful saga of vengeance, warfare, and the true meaning of legacy in this exhilarating debut, perfect for readers of Marissa Meyer’s Lunar Chronicles and Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman’s Illuminae Files.

 

wintersong-s-jae-jones
(Jen’s Choice – Review)
royal-bastards-andrew-shvarts
(Jen’s Choice)

7. Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones (Releases 02/07)
The last night of the year. Now the days of winter begin and the Goblin King rides abroad, searching for his bride…
All her life, Liesl has heard tales of the beautiful, dangerous Goblin King. They’ve enraptured her mind, her spirit, and inspired her musical compositions. Now eighteen and helping to run her family’s inn, Liesl can’t help but feel that her musical dreams and childhood fantasies are slipping away.
But when her own sister is taken by the Goblin King, Liesl has no choice but to journey to the Underground to save her. Drawn to the strange, captivating world she finds―and the mysterious man who rules it―she soon faces an impossible decision. And with time and the old laws working against her, Liesl must discover who she truly is before her fate is sealed.

8. Royal Bastards by Andrew Shvarts (Releases 06/06)
Being a bastard blows. Tilla would know. Her father, Lord Kent of the Western Province, loved her as a child, but cast her aside as soon as he had trueborn children.
At sixteen, Tilla spends her days exploring long-forgotten tunnels beneath the castle with her stablehand half brother, Jax, and her nights drinking with the servants, passing out on Jax’s floor while her castle bedroom collects dust. Tilla secretly longs to sit by her father’s side, resplendent in a sparkling gown, enjoying feasts with the rest of the family. Instead, she sits with the other bastards, like Miles of House Hampstedt, an awkward scholar who’s been in love with Tilla since they were children.
Then, at a feast honoring the visiting princess Lyriana, the royal shocks everyone by choosing to sit at the Bastards’ Table. Before she knows it, Tilla is leading the sheltered princess on a late-night escapade. Along with Jax, Miles, and fellow bastard Zell, a Zitochi warrior from the north, they stumble upon a crime they were never meant to witness.
Rebellion is brewing in the west, and a brutal coup leaves Lyriana’s uncle, the Royal Archmagus, dead-with Lyriana next on the list. The group flees for their lives, relentlessly pursued by murderous mercenaries; their own parents have put a price on their heads to prevent the king and his powerful Royal Mages from discovering their treachery.
The bastards band together, realizing they alone have the power to prevent a civil war that will tear their kingdom apart-if they can warn the king in time. And if they can survive the journey . . .

just-friends-tiffany-pitcock
(Jen’s Choice)
the-wood-chelsea-bobulski
(Jen’s Choice)

9. Just Friends by Tiffany Pitcock (Releases 08/01)
Jenny met Chance for the very first time when she was assigned as his partner in their Junior Communications class. But one clever lie to rescue a doomed assignment later, and the whole school was suddenly convinced that Little-Miss-Really-Likes-Having-As and the most scandalous heartbreaker in school have been best friends forever. It’s amazing how quickly a lie can grow―especially when you really, really want it to be the truth. With Jenny, Chance can live the normal life he’s always kind of wanted. And with Chance, Jenny can have the exciting teen experiences that television has always promised her. And through it all, they hold on to the fact that they are “just friends.” But that might be the biggest lie of all.

10. The Wood by Chelsea Bobulski (Releases 08/01)
Winter didn’t ask to be the guardian of the wood, but when her dad inexplicably vanishes, she’s the one who must protect travelers who accidentally slip through the wood’s portals.
The wood is poisoned, changing into something more sinister. Once brightly colored leaves are now bubbling inky black. Vicious creatures that live in the shadows are becoming bolder, torturing lost travelers. Winter must now put her trust in Henry–a young man from eighteenth century England who knows more than he should about the wood–in order to find the truth and those they’ve lost.

So these are the Debut Authors Whose Books We Can’t Wait To Read In 2017!  Are you excited to read some of these books too?  Or which debut authors books can you not wait to pick up?

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TOP TEN TUESDAY – Books I Wouldn’t Mind Santa Leaving Under My Tree

Top Ten Tuesday.13

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish
This week is – Books I Wouldn’t Mind Santa Leaving Under My Tree This Year.  *forwards post to my husband* 😀

the deal elle kennedy
(Jen’s Choice)
Nevermore kelly creagh
(Jen’s Choice)

1. The Deal (Off-Campus #1) by Elle Kennedy – Pretend dates?  Sexual tension?  Wildest sex of their lives? I’m sold! One of my friends from back home is harassing me that I need to pick up this book, and I can see why just from the synopsis!

2. Nevermore (Nevermore #1) by Kelly Creagh – This promises to be a page-turning psychological mystery that is equal parts horror, humor, and romance. And Chelsea described this trilogy as Epic. Beautiful. Heart-wrenching. Perfection.  Ohhh this sounds like something I desperately need!

Made for You by Lauren Layne
(Jen’s Choice)
ruined-jus-accardo
(Jen’s Choice)

3. Made for You (The Best Mistake #2) by Lauren Layne – LL’s books are crazy addicting and sometimes you just need to binge read the whole series. I already own the 1st in this duology, Only With You, so I know that the moment I finish that book, I’m definitely going to want start the 2nd one right away!

4. Ruined (The Eternal Balance #1) by Jus Accardo – I fell hard for this author’s book, Infinity, so I can’t wait to read this completed trilogy! In Ruined, we meet Jax. He’s descended from Cain, the world’s first murderer, he’s plagued by a curse that demands violence in exchange for his happiness. He left everything behind, including the girl he loved, but thriving on the pain of others is lonely… And it’s killing him. Oh my gosh, I LOVE tortured males, so I have to meet Jax!

how-not-to-fall-in-love-by-lisa-brown-roberts
(Jen’s Choice)
the soul eaters cracked eliza crewe
(Jen’s Choice)

5. How (Not) to Fall in Love by Lisa Brown Roberts – Like #4, I loved a book written by this author, Playing the Player.  It was the most adorable story filled with a swoon worthy male, a heroine I loved, and I flew through the pages.  This book is about a girl, who has never had to worry about money, and then the next moment her father’s business hits the skids, and he bails on her.  She hides out in her Uncle’s thrift shop while interacting with Lucas, the wickedly hot fix-it guy she can’t stop crushing on, even if she’s not sure they’ll ever get out of the friend zone.   Sounds like fun to me!

6. Cracked (Soul Eaters #1) by Eliza Crewe – I’ve heard that the peril in this book is fabulous!  It’s about Meda. She eats people.  Well, technically, she eats their soul. But she totally promises to only go for people who deserve it. She’s special. It’s not her fault she enjoys it. She can’t help being a bad guy. Besides, what else can she do? Her mother was killed and it’s not like there are any other “soul-eaters” around to show her how to be different. That is, until the three men in suits show up.

altered-jennifer-rush
(Jen’s Choice)
see-me-wendy-higgins
(Jen’s Choice)

7. Altered (Altered #1) by Jennifer Rush – This one sounds like a page turner! –  Everything about Anna’s life is a secret. Her father works for the Branch at the helm of its latest project: monitoring and administering treatments to the four genetically altered boys in the lab below their farmhouse. There’s Nick, Cas, Trev . . . and Sam, who has stolen Anna’s heart. When the Branch decides it’s time to take the boys, Sam stages an escape, killing the agents sent to retrieve them.   Anna is torn between following Sam or staying behind in the safety of her everyday life. But her father pushes her to flee, making Sam promise to keep her away from the Branch, at all costs. There’s just one problem. Sam and the boys don’t remember anything before living in the lab—not even their true identities.

8. See Me (See Me #1) by Wendy Higgins – I absolutely adored her Sweet Trilogy, so I have to discover this book too!  Love, desire, and jealousies collide as Robyn’s family and McKale’s clan must work together to outsmart the powerful Faeries and preserve the only hope left for their ancient bloodlines.  This is a coming-of-age modern folktale filled with Irish magic and romance.

flashfall-jenny-moyer
(Jen’s Choice)
A Darker Shade final for Irene
(Jen’s Choice)

9. Flashfall (Flashfall #1) by Jenny Moyer – I love this book’s synopsis – Orion is a Subpar, expected to mine the tunnels of Outpost Five, near the deadly flash curtain. For generations, her people have chased cirium―the only element that can shield humanity from the curtain’s radioactive particles. She and her caving partner Dram work the most treacherous tunnel, fighting past flash bats and tunnel gulls, in hopes of mining enough cirium to earn their way into the protected city.  But when newcomers arrive at Outpost Five, Orion uncovers disturbing revelations that make her question everything she thought she knew about life on both sides of the cirium shield. As conditions at the outpost grow increasingly dangerous, it’s up to Orion to forge a way past the flashfall, beyond all boundaries, beyond the world as she knows it.

10. A Darker Shade of Magic (Shades of Magic #1) by V.E. Schwab/Victoria Schwab – Chelsea describes Kaz in this book as kind, loyal, determined, and lonely and someone she fell for hard.  Therefore, I can’t wait to meet him!

So these are some of the “Books I Wouldn’t Mind Santa Leaving Under My Tree This Year”.  Do you share any of the same with me?  If not, then what are some of the books that you would want Santa to leave under your tree?

TOP TEN TUESDAY – Books We’re Looking Forward To For The First Half Of 2017

Top Ten Tuesday.13

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.
This week we get to talk about Books We’re Looking Forward To For The First Half Of 2017. And they are….

carve-the-mark-veronica-roth
(Chelsea & Jen’s Choice – Review)
by-your-side-kasie-west
(Chelsea’s Choice – Review)

1. Carve The Mark by Veronica Roth (Releases 01/17):
On a planet where violence and vengeance rule, in a galaxy where some are favored by fate, everyone develops a currentgift, a unique power meant to shape the future. While most benefit from their currentgifts, Akos and Cyra do not—their gifts make them vulnerable to others’ control. Can they reclaim their gifts, their fates, and their lives, and reset the balance of power in this world?
Cyra is the sister of the brutal tyrant who rules the Shotet people. Cyra’s currentgift gives her pain and power—something her brother exploits, using her to torture his enemies. But Cyra is much more than just a blade in her brother’s hand: she is resilient, quick on her feet, and smarter than he knows.
Akos is from the peace-loving nation of Thuvhe, and his loyalty to his family is limitless. Though protected by his unusual currentgift, once Akos and his brother are captured by enemy Shotet soldiers, Akos is desperate to get his brother out alive—no matter what the cost. When Akos is thrust into Cyra’s world, the enmity between their countries and families seems insurmountable. They must decide to help each other to survive—or to destroy one another.

2. By Your Side by Kasie West (Releases 01/31):
When Autumn Collins finds herself accidentally locked in the library for an entire weekend, she doesn’t think things could get any worse. But that’s before she realizes that Dax Miller is locked in with her. Autumn doesn’t know much about Dax except that he’s trouble. Between the rumors about the fight he was in (and that brief stint in juvie that followed it) and his reputation as a loner, he’s not exactly the ideal person to be stuck with. Still, she just keeps reminding herself that it is only a matter of time before Jeff, her almost-boyfriend, realizes he left her in the library and comes to rescue her.
Only he doesn’t come. No one does.
Instead it becomes clear that Autumn is going to have to spend the next couple of days living off vending-machine food and making conversation with a boy who clearly wants nothing to do with her. Except there is more to Dax than meets the eye. As he and Autumn at first grudgingly, and then not so grudgingly, open up to each other, Autumn is struck by their surprising connection. But can their feelings for each other survive once the weekend is over and Autumn’s old life, and old love interest, threaten to pull her from Dax’s side?

wintersong-s-jae-jones
(Jen’s Choice – Review)
kings-cage-victoria-aveyard
(Chelsea’s Choice – Review)

3. Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones (Releases 02/07):
The last night of the year. Now the days of winter begin and the Goblin King rides abroad, searching for his bride…
All her life, Liesl has heard tales of the beautiful, dangerous Goblin King. They’ve enraptured her mind, her spirit, and inspired her musical compositions. Now eighteen and helping to run her family’s inn, Liesl can’t help but feel that her musical dreams and childhood fantasies are slipping away.
But when her own sister is taken by the Goblin King, Liesl has no choice but to journey to the Underground to save her. Drawn to the strange, captivating world she finds―and the mysterious man who rules it―she soon faces an impossible decision. And with time and the old laws working against her, Liesl must discover who she truly is before her fate is sealed.

4. King’s Cage (Red Queen #3) by Victoria Aveyard (Releases 02/07)
In this breathless third installment to Victoria Aveyard’s bestselling Red Queen series, allegiances are tested on every side.

love-story-lauren-layne
(Jen’s Choice – Review)
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(Chelsea’s Choice)

5. Love Story by Lauren Layne (Releases 02/14)
When Lucy Hawkins receives a job offer in San Francisco, she can’t wait to spread her wings and leave her small Virginia hometown behind. Her close-knit family supports her as best they can, by handing over the keys to a station wagon that’s seen better days. The catch? The cross-country trip comes with a traveling companion: her older brother’s best friend, aka the guy who took Lucy’s virginity hours before breaking her heart.
After spending the past four years and every last dime caring for his sick father, Reece Sullivan will do just about anything to break free of the painful memories—even if it means a two-week road trip with the one girl who’s ever made it past his carefully guarded exterior. But after long days of bickering in the car turn into steamy nights in secluded motel rooms, Reece learns that, when it comes to Lucy, their story is far from over. And this time, they just might have a shot at a happy ending.

6. A Conjuring of Light (Shades of Magic #3) by V.E. Schwab (Releases 02/21)
The battle between four magical Londons comes to a head in this stunning finale to the New York Times bestselling Shades of Magic trilogy by rising star V. E. Schwab.

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(Jen’s Choice)
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(Jen’s Choice)

7. Till Death by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Releases 02/28)
It’s been ten years since Sasha Keaton left her West Virginia hometown . . . since she escaped the twisted serial killer known as the Groom. Returning to help run her family inn means being whole again, except for one missing piece. The piece that falls into place when Sasha’s threatened—and FBI agent Cole Landis vows to protect her the way he couldn’t a decade ago.
First one woman disappears; then another, and all the while, disturbing calling cards are left for the sole survivor of the Groom’s reign of terror. Cole’s never forgiven himself for not being there when Sasha was taken, but he intends to make up for it now . . . because under the quirky sexiness Cole first fell for is a steely strength that only makes him love Sasha more.
But someone is watching. Waiting. And Sasha’s first mistake could be her last.

8. Hunted (Hunted #1) by Meagan Spooner (Releases 03/14)
Beauty knows the Beast’s forest in her bones—and in her blood. After all, her father is the only hunter who’s ever come close to discovering its secrets. So when her father loses his fortune and moves Yeva and her sisters out of their comfortable home among the aristocracy and back to the outskirts of town, Yeva is secretly relieved. Out in the wilderness, there’s no pressure to make idle chatter with vapid baronessas…or to submit to marrying a wealthy gentleman. But Yeva’s father’s misfortune may have cost him his mind, and when he goes missing in the woods, Yeva sets her sights on one prey: the creature he’d been obsessively tracking just before his disappearance. The Beast.
Deaf to her sisters’ protests, Yeva hunts this strange creature back into his own territory—a cursed valley, a ruined castle, and a world of magical creatures that Yeva’s only heard about in fairy tales. A world that can bring her ruin, or salvation. Who will survive: the Beauty, or the Beast?

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(Chelsea’s Choice)
seeker-veronica-rossi
(Jen’s Choice)

9. Legion (Talon #4) by Julie Kagawa (Releases 04/25)
From the limitless imagination of Julie Kagawa comes the next thrilling novel of The Talon Saga.

10. Seeker (Riders #2) by Veronica Rossi (Releases 05/16)
The final installment in New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Veronica Rossi’s new fantasy adventure in the Rider series — Seeker .

So these are the Books We’re Looking Forward To For The First Half Of 2017! Are you dying to read any of these books too?

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BLOG TOUR+REVIEW+GIVEAWAY-Crystal Storm (Falling Kingdoms #5) by Morgan Rhodes

BLOG TOUR+REVIEW+GIVEAWAY-Crystal Storm (Falling Kingdoms #5) by Morgan Rhodes

Falling Kingdoms has easily became my favorite series I read this year-With deep, flawed characters and rich storytelling, I was putty in Morgan Rhodes's hands. Magnus is easily my favorite character, so it should come as no surprise to anyone that this story pleased me from beginning to end. Below you will find my FIVE star review, a giveaway, pre-order links, and the rest of the tour schedule. Not only do I hope you enjoy this post, I hope it encourages you to pick up this book immediately upon release. I am honored to have been given this ARC, but you don't have much longer to wait until the release. Enjoy!

BLOG TOUR+REVIEW+GIVEAWAY-Crystal Storm (Falling Kingdoms #5) by Morgan RhodesCrystal Storm (Falling Kingdoms #5)
by Morgan Rhodes
Purchase on: AmazoniBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

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?

Review: 

I feel like its so far and few between that I get a chance to write a (well thought out) review for a book I love. For example, I’ve been sick off and on for five months, and my reading has been basically non-existent…but in the last couple months, I’ve managed to read some of my favorite books this year-and maybe 3 of them have gotten even close to the reviews I’m capable of and that they deserve. So, when I received the email telling me I got one of my most (ummm come on, basically THE book that I pined for most) anticipated reads of this year…I just knew I would give it the best review I could muster.

So, this is me taking the opportunity to talk about one of my top book boyfriends this year-Magnus. And doesn’t he deserve the whole review to himself, honestly?? I mean seriously…he’s Magnus, the prince of blood. Do I really need to say anything more?

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Well, I think I do, for those who want to know about more than my darling boy. And let’s be honest-Everyone who reads this series is obsessed with him, and some might only be reading it because of him, so what more can I possibly push?

Basically, even after all the trials and tribulations surrounding all the books before…this one broke my heart the most. It was absolutely the most brutal. I’ll admit that it isn’t near as brutal in the way of battle and death and destruction, but more brutal in matters of the heart. My soul was ripped to shreds in more ways than one, and more times than one. I might be a bit of a drama queen, but my heart has always ripped in two when a couple like Cleo and Magnus, so in love, have to keep themselves a secret with literally everyone around them.

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This was definitely a tremulous chapter for the new couple, bringing heartaches and new issues bubbling to the surface. But not once did my confidence in them waver. Not once did I think one or the other would cheat (even with easy access) or give up on their new love. And not once did I think they wouldn’t believe in the best of each other, in the end, keeping their relationship stronger than ever. But I did foresee some bumps in the road…and that prediction aimed true.

“And you listen to me, Princess.” Gaius’s voice followed her like a rancid odor. “This love you think you feel for my son? The day will come when you will have to choose between Magnus and power. And I know, without a doubt, that you will choose power.”

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So many book series these days drag out unnecessarily for so many books you can’t help but roll your eyes at them-but there are some that shine brighter with each book, building into something so tangible that you can’t breathe when it’s left unfinished. You aren’t thinking, ‘Oh, come on, another book?!’, you’re rejoicing that there’s another and you have the opportunity to follow the paths these relationships and evil plots continue to pave. This is one of those series.

Even as I worried there were going to be too many books when I started this series, I remain surprised each and every time I open a Falling Kingdoms book. They grow dramatically richer and more complex with each additional storyline, and you can’t help but to love each character, good or bad, more with each new installment.

For example, had I only stayed on book one, I only would have lightly pined for Magnus. Sure, he was the reason I even considered continuing onward with the story, but I put this series down for a couple months after finishing, if only because there was so much more to read in my TBR pile and nothing had truly hooked me, aside from the not-so-sweet man candy. But, the minute I was urged to continue on, I was immediately hooked.

The deep love, the betrayals upon betrayals, the needless slaughters…they spoke to my evil self in a way I’ve not been accustomed to, in a while. This series (and especially these last three stories) touched on so many nerves that I couldn’t help but to be hooked. Now, months later, I’m a ravenous fangirl who can never have enough Magnus and Cleo.

I think it’s safe to say who my two favorite characters are, hmm? But even as the series has progressed, I find I have many favorites, especially in this one-Even the evil Amara. There’s just something about an extra feisty bitch added to the character pool that enriches the story and adds just the right amount of turmoil.

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And, truthfully, this book wasn’t as action packed as the rest, the more I think about it. In all truth, I think that’s why I loved this book so much and it became my absolute favorite of the 5. We really got time to sit and see where everyone stood, who was loyal and who wasn’t, what relationships were real and which were smoke and mirrors. I even found the guard relationships to be enriching to the story. By our main cohorts all staying in the same place for an extended amount of time, we really had the opportunity to see the chaos as it slowly descended upon them.

When a story is just go-go-go, you lose a little something, I think. But as Mags and Cleo sat in one particular area for a prolonged amount of time, surrounded by both friend and foe, we got to see some relationship turmoil that ripped me apart, but filled me with ceaseless obsession for the two. I don’t know why this book spoke to me the most (maybe because I’m messed up in the head and love jealousy so much its sick), but it did, and I already am dying to re-read it and the whole series. I might just do it!! WATCH AND SEE!

With a cliffhanger that took my breath away (and made me gleeful, yes I’m THAT crazy and THAT sick) I am already eagerly anticipating how it will all turn out in the final book. Hearts will be broken. Not everyone will survive. Loyalties and friendships will be tried and tested…and I can’t help but long for the final book to be in my hands at this exact moment. It hurts…but I guess I’ll just have to remember all the hot Magneo moments to get me through the next year. And, hey, I can always re –read this series multiple times as I wait. 😉

*Many thanks to the publisher for an advanced copy!*

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Pre-Order Here:

Amazon  Barnes & Noble  Itunes  Book Depository  Kobo

Link for pre-order buttons:

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Enter for a chance to win a set of the Falling Kingdom books by Morgan Rhodes, which includes paperback editions of Falling Kingdoms, Rebel Spring, Gathering Darkness and Frozen Tides and a hardcover edition of Crystal Storm (Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”): $63.00). In addition, four (4) Runner-up Winners will each receive a paperback edition of Falling Kingdoms ($11.00 each).

 
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Enter between 12:01 AM (EST) on December 5, 2016 and 11:59 PM (EST) on December 16, 2016.  Open to residents of the fifty United States and the District of Columbia who are 13 and older. Winners will be selected at random on or about December 19, 2016. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.
 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

About the Author:

morgan-rhodesMorgan Rhodes lives in Ontario, Canada. As a child, she always wanted to be a princess — the kind that knows how to wield a sharp sword to help save both kingdoms and princes from fire-breathing dragons and dark wizards. Instead, she became a writer, which is just as good and much less dangerous. Along with writing, Morgan enjoys photography, travel, reality TV, and is an extremely picky, yet voracious reader of all kinds of books. Under another pen name, she’s a national bestselling author of many paranormal novels. Falling Kingdoms is her first high fantasy.

 

 

 

And follow along with the rest of the tour below!

12/5: Steph in Wonderland (Book Look)
12/5: Young Adult Hollywood (Book Playlist)
12/6: Live to Read (Review)
12/6: Adventures of a Book Junkie (Reasons to Read Falling Kingdoms)
12/7: Take Me Away to a Great Read (Falling Kingdoms Mood Board)
12/7: Fiction Adventure (Character Fancast)
12/8: A Page with a View (Favorite Fictional Princes)
12/8: Star Crossed (Review)
12/9: Seeing Double in Neverland (Guest Post)
12/9: Bibliophile Gathering (The Series So Far)
 
WEEK TWO:
12/12: Once Upon a Twilight (Quotes + Review)
12/13: Dark Faerie Tales (Excerpt)
12/13: Mundie Moms (Review)
12/14: The Book Nut (Reasons to Read Falling Kingdoms)
12/15: Scifi Chick (Spotlight)
12/15: Tales of the Ravenous Reader (Guest Post)
12/16: Two Chicks on Books (Q&A)

 

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