Happily Ever Endings... A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies

Happily Ever Endings... was born out of sheer frustration. You know how when you read a series and you love it but the last book takes a little while to come out and then you sort of forget parts of the novel? That's what these posts are going to serve to remedy. Happily Ever Ending... is a short post about what happened at the ending of each book that is going to be in a series for people who need a quick reminder of what happened in the previous installment. I hope this saves someone else the frustration that I went through!

A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies

On the night of Skye’s seventeenth birthday, she meets two enigmatic strangers. Complete opposites—like fire and ice—Asher is dark and wild, while Devin is fair and aloof. Their sudden appearance sends Skye’s life into a tailspin. She has no idea what they want, or why they seem to follow her every move—only that their presence coincides with a flurry of strange events. Soon she begins to doubt not just the identity of the two boys, but also the truth about her own past.

In the dead of a bitingly cold Colorado winter, Skye finds herself coming to terms with the impossible secret that threatens to shatter her world. Torn between Asher, who she can’t help falling for, and Devin, who she can’t stay away from, the consequences of Skye’s choice will reach further than the three of them could ever imagine.

A Beautiful Dark is the first book in a captivating trilogy by debut author Jocelyn Davies.

Click "Read more" to read the ending of A Beautiful Dark so you'll be ready for the next installment of the series! 

Waiting on Wednesday (67): Romeo Redeemed, Dark Star and The Suburban Strange

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine where you can post about upcoming books you're looking forward to. This is a wonderful chance for blogger to show off what's coming out soon that they are excited about! Every week my wishlist balloons thanks to this awesome meme.

Romeo Redeemed by Stacey Jay

All will be revealed for fans who have breathlessly awaited the sizzling sequel to Juliet Immortal. This time Romeo takes center stage and gets one chance, and one chance only, to redeem himself.

Cursed to live out eternity in his rotted corpse, Romeo, known for his ruthless, cutthroat ways, is given the chance to redeem himself by traveling back in time to save the life of Ariel Dragland. Unbeknownst to her, Ariel is important to both the evil Mercenaries and the love-promoting Ambassadors and holds the fate of the world in her hands. Romeo must win her heart and make her believe in love, turning her away from her darker potential before his work is discovered by the Mercenaries. While his seduction begins as yet another lie, it soon becomes his only truth. Romeo vows to protect Ariel from harm, and do whatever it takes to win her heart and soul. But when Ariel is led to believe his love is a deception, she becomes vulnerable to Mercenary manipulation, and her own inner darkness may ultimately rip them apart.

Why I need this: I haven't had time to read the first novel but I've been in love with this concept since before it even had much of a blurb. As a big fan or Romeo and Juliet, I have to see where the author is going to take this novel! 


Romeo Redeemed is out October 9, 2012 from Delacorte Books.

Dark Star by Bethany Frenette

Audrey Whitticomb has nothing to fear. Her mother is the superhero Morning Star, the most deadly crime-fighter in the Twin Cities, so it’s hard for Audrey not to feel safe. That is, until she’s lured into the sweet night air by something human and not human—something with talons and teeth, and a wide, scarlet smile.

Now Audrey knows the truth: her mom doesn’t fight crime at night. She fights Harrowers—livid, merciless beings who were trapped Beneath eons ago. Yet some have managed to escape. And they want Audrey dead, just because of who she is: one of the Kin.

To survive, Audrey will need to sharpen the powers she has always had. When she gets close to someone, dark corners of the person’s memories become her own, and she sometimes even glimpses the future. If Audrey could only get close to Patrick Tigue, a powerful Harrower masquerading as human, she could use her Knowing to discover the Harrowers’ next move. But Leon, her mother’s bossy, infuriatingly attractive sidekick, has other ideas. Lately, he won’t let Audrey out of his sight.

When an unthinkable betrayal puts Minneapolis in terrible danger, Audrey discovers a wild, untamed power within herself. It may be the key to saving her herself, her family, and her city. Or it may be the force that destroys everything—and everyone—she loves.

Why I need this: You had me at Superheroes! This novel sounds like nothing I've read before and I love the idea of the daughter have to step up and fill her mother's shoes in something so big!


Dark Star is out October 23, 2012 by Hyperion.

The Suburban Strange by Nathan Kotecki

Shy Celia Balaustine is befriended by a mysterious group of outliers called The Rosary at her new school, Suburban High. The Rosary exposes Celia to new experiences and ideas that help her break out of her shell. Soon though, Celia discovers something is not quite right at Suburban. Girls at the school begin having near fatal accidents on the eve of their sixteenth birthdays. Who is causing the accidents and why? Celia's own sixteenth birthday is fast approaching and she is inexorably drawn into an underground conflict between good and evil—the Kind and the Unkind—that is bubbling beneath Suburban High.

 Why I need this: This novel sounds so mysterious and I think I'm really going to like the mythology behind it!

The Suburban Strange comes out October 2, 2012 from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

*It should be noted that I found out about the last two novels from Eleusinian Mysteries.

What are you waiting on this week?

Teaser Tuesday (74) & Top Ten Tuesday (19)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along, just do as following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page

Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that pageBe careful not to include any spoilers so as not to ruin the book for others!Make sure to share the title and the author so other TT participants can add the book to their TBR piles!

The Butterfly Clues by Kate Ellison

For a moment there's just the sound of my huffing and sniffing. Flynt is silent. He's waiting. "And--it's my fault. It's my fault. I could have done something to help, but I didn't. I did nothing."

--Pg. 216 of an ARC of "The Butterfly Clues" by Kate Ellison

I'm just about finished with this book and must say, there are some things I really like about it. I'm pretty sure I've got things figured out but we'll see. So far, I've been correct on all my guesses!

What's your teaser?

Top Ten Tuesday is a 10's list meme hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. There is a different question every week and all you have to do is answer their question with your top ten results!

Top Ten Covers of 2012

I've decided to focus on books that aren't out yet for my favorite covers. Here are some I am dying to get my hands on:

1) Ironskin by Tina Connolly- I'm still stuck in the girl in a pretty dress phase. I'm not sure I'll ever grow out of it. Plus I love the silver swirls and the gorgeous mask!

2) Valkyrie Rising by Ingrid Paulson- I just really love how plain this cover is. The model's pose is so striking and the figure coming out of the mist peaks my interest.

3) The Demon Catchers of Milan by Kat Beyer- And we are back to the pretty dress thing. The contrast of yellow and purple here is interesting and I'm obsessed with those candles weaving a pattern.

4) Defiance by C.J. Redwine- Defiant indeed. The pose and the way the shirt or cape (not sure which) floes out is just gorgeous. Plus, I love the hidden cityscape just below her. It took me several times to even see it was there.

5) My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick- This to me just screams adorable story. The sunny yellow dress with the matching font color and the big fence to cover those two kissing is just so sweet!

6) Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin- This just screams twisted to me. I think it's the distorted silhouette coupled with the umbrella. Whatever it is, it is working!

7) The Treachery of Beautiful Things by Ruth Frances Long- They might be treacherous but I could look at this beautiful cover all day long. I love the wooded background and how the flowers are growing on her dress. In love!

8) The Selection by Kiera Cass- In a bookshelf full of beautiful dresses, this is perhaps my favorite. I'm not sure if it is the color or style but I love that this dress can stand all on it's own and make this cover amazing. It's absolutely breath-taking!

9) Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard- This dress and pose just says dark and powerful to me. I love the gothic feel with the past-the-elbow length lace gloves and I find it interesting that the model is staring straight on.

10) Through To You by Emily Hainsworth- This cover just gives the appearance that the model is melting into the landscape. It's creepy and beautiful at the same time. I can't stop staring!

Those are some of the gorgeous covers I'm waiting for. What made your list?

Book Review: Where It Began by Ann Redisch Stampler

Where It Began by Ann Redisch Stampler

Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Simon Pulse (March 6, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1442423218
ISBN-13: 978-1442423213
Series: No
Source: ARC provided by publisher
Cover: This cover is absolutely gorgeous. I love how fresh it semes with the yellow colors and the model's soft features. The glare of the sun on lens near the model's face works well because it sort of represents the damage done. All in all, it just feels fresh like a new morning.
First Sentence: This is how it starts: some hapless girl in a skanky little tank top lying on her back in the wet grass somewhere in Hidden Hill.

Mini-Review:

Summary:

Sometimes the end is just the beginning. 

Gabby lived under the radar until her makeover. Way under. but when she started her senior year as a blonder, better-dressed version of herself, she struck gold: Billy Nash believed she was a the flawless girl she was pretending to be. The next eight months with Billy were bliss...Until the night Gabby woke up on the ground next to the remains of his BMW without a single memory of how she got there. 

And Billy's nowhere to be found. 

All Gabby wants is to make everything perfect again. But getting her life back isn't difficult, it's impossible. Because nothing is the same, and Gabby's beginning to realize she's missed more than a few danger signs along the way. 

It's time for Gabby to face the truth, even if it means everything changes. 

Especially if it means everything changes.

Review:

Where It Began weaves an emotional tale of healing wrapped in the pleasantly sarcastic voice of Gabby as she relives that last few months of her life leading up to the accident that put her in bed in the first place. Gabby's strong personality and sad home life made it easy to feel for her plight and the re-examination of the things she held dear is interesting as it is entwined with her new life after the accident. I really enjoyed the mixture of the two time lines.

Gabby's one of those girls that really doesn't see how special she is because no one else around her sees it. Her parents are too busy pretending to be rich to care and since she doesn't feel like she excels at anything, she doesn't have a lot of validation accept for when her mother gives her a make over that turns her into the girl her mother always wished she could be. Suddenly, Gabby is sky-rocketed to the new "it" girl and is on the arm of the hottest guy in school. Gabby's charm and whip sharp tongue color her voice as she tells her tale and make for quite a few laughable moments. Her sarcasm covers up for some of her deeper insecurities which changes depending on her mood at the time. Though I'm not sure I'd want her to be my friend, I did love hearing her uncensored thoughts about things.

The other characters were really wonderful too. Gabby's parents were deliciously evil as they flit around trying to figure how to go back to the way they were while still dealing with Gabby's slew of problems. Gabby's mother, in particular, was a wonderfully complex woman. Her simultaneous inner turmoil to fill her own needs while not thinking about anything else wars with her general want to be there for Gabby. And I really felt that her mother did want to help Gabby in her own way. Her dad played less of an active role. Gabby's friends were also great. I loved trying to separate who was really there for her and who wasn't. Huey and his mother were fun characters and I'd have liked to see more of them throughout the story. Even Billy and his mother made the story all the more full.

Being in this world of the uber rich just reminded me how lucky I really am not to have to deal with the superficial crap that so many people have to put up with. Ms Stampler did an excellent job creating a sufficating atmosphere for Gabby so we can see her fall and was masterful at adding in little hints for the reader to catch onto if they looked hard enough. My only two compliants are that sometimes Gabby would lose me in some of her sarcastic rants and I had a hard time figuring out what she was talking about. The other thing, for me, was that this story felt a little too long in the middle. I was happy Gabby had plenty of time to begin healing but I felt like she was stuck too long in the process of figuring out that she needed to heal.

The plot had plenty of surprises along the way to keep me interested. I was truly surprised what was confirmed in Part 2 (I'm not saying it because I don't want to ruin it for you guys!) and was interested to see how Gaby's future would turn out since all signs pointed (too neatly for my taste) to her being the drunk driver. The combination of heresy, dialog, text and ims were a great mix to tell the story in and I loved Gabby's eventual growth. Stampler was masterful at giving us just the right technique at the right time and letting to story form organically.

Where It Began starts at the ending of one thing and the beginning of something new and a whole lot scarier. Gabby is smashed into pieces so that she can rebuild herself if she can just find the energy and drive to do it right. Beautiful writing, complex characters and a heartbreaking situation make Where It Began a wonderful read perfect for all contemporary fans.

Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

"That's very gooooood!" someone says. I have made the space clones ecstatic.

--Pg. 5 of an ARC of "Where It Began" by Ann Redisch Stampler

You're supposed to go: Everything is freaking swell. Because: if you give the universe the slightest hint that things suck, such as by slouching around being realistic about the fact that your life actually does suck, then the planets will converge in celestial agreement and you'll be locked in astrologically inevitable suckdom forever.

--Pg. 16 of an ARC of "Where It Began" by Ann Redisch Stampler

My face is a table of contents in a how-to book for surgeons.

--Pg. 26 of an ARC of "Where It Began" by Ann Redisch Stampler

There we are in December, about as hot as an egg salad sandwich, or in Anita's case, completely vegan soy wraps.

--Pg. 34 of an ARC of "Where It Began" by Ann Redisch Stampler

Maybe I'd remember better now if I hadn't smashed my head against a tree, greatly reducing my wonderfulness as well as my crowd of fun people.

--Pg. 87 of an ARC of "Where It Began" by Ann Redisch Stampler

It's as if it is Billy's sunset and he's feeding it to me with a big spoon.

--Pg. 99 of an ARC of "Where It Began" by Ann Redisch Stampler

I am prepared to hang over the edge of the balcony above the canyon and send him sappy yet un-clingy smoke signals if that's what it takes.

--Pg. 121 of an ARC of "Where It Began" by Ann Redisch Stampler

I feel like the cheesy heroine trying to find her boyfriend in a crowded railroad station in an old-timey World War II movie, only when Cheesy Heroine sees Dashing Boyfriend, he's already on the train and it's rolling down the track and out of the station and he doesn't even know she is there.

--Pg. 253 of an ARC of "Where It Began" by Ann Redisch Stampler

The point is: I feel like another person when he touches me, and I miss being her.

--Pg. 275 of an ARC of "Where It Began" by Ann Redisch Stampler

...I am undone by a rhyming sock hop with poodle skirts.

--Pg. 298 of an ARC of "Where It Began" by Ann Redisch Stampler

In My Mailbox (74)

In my mailbox is a weekly meme created by The Story Siren that encourages other book bloggers to share what they bought, won, begged for or borrowed. It is usually held on Sundays!

From St. Martins:

• Miles From Ordinary by Carol Lynch Williams

From From Bloomsbury:

• ARC of Breaking Beautiful by Jennifer Shaw Wolf

From Books-A-Million:

• Fever by Lauren DeStefano
• Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

I want to thank the amazing publishers for sending me two great books. What did you get in your mailbox this week?

Saturday Discussions: YA Cliches You Love

I read a lot of posts that talk about bad cliches in YA and why we don't like them. I always find these posts enlightening and absolutely love mining their info for my own work. What am I guilty of? And what sort of things do I dislike? But I always see a little note at the end stating that if those things are done well enough, the person doesn't usually mind them. So what I want to talk about today is which cliches I like in YA fiction.

Here's a quick list of things I like seeing:

1) Love triangles- I might be the only one here but I love a good love triangle. I think it comes from the desire to feel wanted. I might not want my love life that complicated but I love my fiction to be that way. I like trying to figure out which guy the heroine is going to choose out of two good choices. And often times, each guy represents a different live that she must choose from. In a lot of ways, love triangles are just a great metaphor for the hero/heroine choosing how they want to live their life.

2) Best friend love interest- I am always a sucker for this cliche. It's an oldie but a goodie. I was going to put "tale as old as time" here too which works perfectly since Belle and Beast become friends before they fall in love. Plus, these relationships are always so cute and healthy. They already know how to talk to each other so it's always great for them to find their happiness in the end.

3) Fiesty red headed heroine- I like my heroines with a little fire and if they are people that are willing to speak their mind. I also happen to love red-heads so this is a win-win for me.

4) Sexy supernaturals- I'm not saying I need my vampires to be gentle or my mermaids not to lead boats into rocks. I'm just saying I want them to be hot while doing it. I don't care if it's the main character that is something other or the love interest but I do like the supernatural to be a little mysterious and just a little bit up to no good.

5) Absent parents- I'm not picking up a YA to become parent of the year. I hate it when parents get all meddlesome and become an obstacle. I'm not saying that I don't want a family there at all. I'm just saying that I don't want Mom grounding heroine to become the main obstacle keeping the heroine from doing what she needs to save the world.

6) Forbidden love- I'm not just talking vampire and human either. I like forbidden love of any kind whether it be warring families, a 17-year-old falling for a college tutor or anything in between. There can be a zillion different spins on this and it still makes it exciting.

I'm sure there are plenty of other cliches that I really don't mind but these are a few off the top of my head. Not all cliches are a good thing but I'm a firm believer that there are cliches for a reason. I see them walking around in everyday life and sometimes I like to see that reflected in writing.

So what are your favorite cliches?

The Time Will Come (34): The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann

The Time Will Come is a weekly meme started by Books for Company which spotlights books that have been sitting unread on our shelves for too long.

Want to join in?:
- Pick a book you have been meaning to read
- Do a post telling us about the book
- Link the post up in the linky at Books for Company
- Visit the other blogs!

The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann

Every year in Quill, thirteen-year-olds are sorted into categories: the strong, intelligent Wanteds go to university, and the artistic Unwanteds are sent to their deaths. 

Thirteen-year-old Alex tries his hardest to be stoic when his fate is announced as Unwanted, even while leaving behind his twin, Aaron, a Wanted. Upon arrival at the destination where he expected to be eliminated, however, Alex discovers a stunning secret—behind the mirage of the "death farm" there is instead a place called Artime. 

In Artime, each child is taught to cultivate their creative abilities and learn how to use them magically, weaving spells through paintbrushes and musical instruments. Everything Alex has ever known changes before his eyes, and it's a wondrous transformation. 

But it's a rare, unique occurence for twins to be separated between Wanted and Unwanted, and as Alex and Aaron's bond stretches across their separation, a threat arises for the survival of Artime that will pit brother against brother in an ultimate, magical battle.

I really enjoy Lisa McMann's novels and this looks so different than everything else she's done recently. I just think the concept sounds creative and even though I'm not a fan of MG, I've got to give this one a try. Like always, I just haven't found time to get to it yet.

What's been on your shelf for too long?