Waiting on Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine to shine a spotlight on upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins
Putnam Juvenile, to be released on April 8th 2014

Harper Price, peerless Southern belle, was born ready for a Homecoming tiara. But after a strange run-in at the dance imbues her with incredible abilities, Harper's destiny takes a turn for the seriously weird. She becomes a Paladin, one of an ancient line of guardians with agility, super strength and lethal fighting instincts.

Just when life can't get any more disastrously crazy, Harper finds out who she's charged to protect: David Stark, school reporter, subject of a mysterious prophecy and possibly Harper's least favorite person. But things get complicated when Harper starts falling for him--and discovers that David's own fate could very well be to destroy Earth.

With snappy banter, cotillion dresses, non-stop action and a touch of magic, this new young adult series from bestseller Rachel Hawkins is going to make y'all beg for more.

- Goodreads.com description

Holy shit, I love Rachel Hawkins' books!! Hex hall serie was just awesome, and I have a feeling this one will be amazing too. The main character sounds like a person I will really like! Exciting, exciting!!

What are you waiting on this Wednesday? :)

Top Ten "Gateway" Books In My Reading Journey

It's Top 10 Tuesday (hosted at The Broke and the Bookish) and the topic is:  
Top Ten "Gateway" Books In My Reading Journey 

1. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Well, this book hooked me up with reading again. And it restored my relationship with my mother so.. Yeah, I will be forever grateful.

2. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Oh, this serie! THIS serie was the best thing that ever happened to me! I started to believe in myself more again, and it made me realise that book are made of awesome.

3. Divergent by Veronica Roth

Holy shit, I never knew I would love this genre so so much! And it has inspired me to write my first review ever.

4. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Needless to say, this book introduced me to the world of pure awesomeness.

5. Nine Rules To Break While Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean

Oh, this book introduced me to the fabulous world of historical romance. And let me tell you, I am very grateful!

6. Bared To You by Sylvia Day

Where even to begin? This book is made of awesome and it introduced me to Adult Romance and Sylvia Day. My life could never be the same again.

7. Saving June by Hannah Harrington

This book introduced me to the beautiful world of Young Adult Contemporary books! I was really into anything paranormal, and after this, I started reading more Contemporary books.

8. The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

This book introduced me to the beautiful world of poetry. 

9. The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Who would have ever thought that faeries could be so freaking cool? This serie is epic!

10. Losing it by Cora Carmack

Ha, this book made me fall head over heels for the New Adult genre! 

What are your "getaway" books? :)

Black Cats and Ballet Slippers by Iva Valentino Week Blitz

Black Cats and Ballet Slippers - Week Blitz

By Iva Valentino

Middle Grade Humor

Date Published: March 7, 2014

Gemma Mayfield feels like middle school is a lot to bite off and chew. School, ballet classes, and planning on how to get Trevor Davis to ask her to the Halloween Dance are a tough balancing act. On top of that, Gemma is convinced that her science teacher, Ms. Pruett, is a witch.

When things start getting fishy at school, Gemma knows that Ms. Pruett is behind it all! Students are getting spells placed on them and start to go missing. Gemma and her best friend, Izzie, vow to stop Ms. Pruett from doing any more damage. Will they be able to save Middleton Middle School from witchcraft?

EXCERPT

Okay, so something REALLY strange is going on. Boys are from a different planet, but right now a few of them at Middleton are acting like they’re from a different universe. (Wait. Does this make sense? Is there more than one universe? Ugh. Maybe I should have paid more attention last year in Astronomy.)

So, by the time I got to Ms. Pruett’s class, I had already worked myself into a super version of “I Don’t Wanna Go To Class Because I’m Creeped Out!” mode. I walked into the Science Laboratory, and I swear I felt the cold of Building 400 smack me right in the face. I’m not kidding.

Of course Ms. Pruett was at the door, acting like her sweet old lady self (ha ha, I know better), and was welcoming all the kids into the classroom. I just kept my head down and muttered a hello as I passed. Staying below the radar was the goal. Then I sat down at my lab table and shivered a bit.

Joey sat down at the table just a second later. Normally he is really loud and obnoxious, cracking jokes, and calling to the other Soccer Jocks across the room. Today he was quiet.

“Hey,” I said, trying to be friendly. I thought maybe we could commiserate on us both having spells cast on us. Joey responded with a “hey” but didn’t say much else. Hello? Was this the Joey I knew?

“So, Joey, are you feeling okay?” I asked. “You know, after yesterday…”

Joey didn’t say anything, but began writing on a piece of paper. He folded up the piece of paper and passed it to me. I gave him a questioning look. He gave me a weird look back that I couldn’t decipher. The note was as follows:

     Hey Gemma,

     Sorry I gave you a hard time yesterday about the “Cute Boy” list. It was kind of rude of me.

     Joey

That’s when it hit me that Joey hadn’t recovered from Ms. Pruett’s spell. For me it was just temporary, like a few minutes. But Joey was acting weird. It had to be the spell.

“Um, thanks,” I said. “Don’t worry about it.” I then started taking out all my school stuff so that I could look busy and not have any more awkward moments with Joey until he felt better. He was taking longer to recuperate.

After class I headed straight down toward the lunchroom. On the way there, I saw Trevor going in the opposite direction past me. Our conversation went like this:

            Me: “Hi Trevor!” (with a big smile and enthusiasm)

            Trevor: “Oh, hi Gemma.” (with zombie-like attitude)

            Me: “Okay, have a good lunch!”

            Trevor: “Okay, thanks. Bye.”

            I wondered where he was going, in the opposite direction from the lunch room when it was lunchtime. It took me another couple of moments to realize that the ONLY classroom in that part of campus was Ms. Pruett’s room. He was headed back toward Building 400!

            Yikes! I turned myself around in mid-stride and turned back the way I came. I knew there was no way possible that Trevor would be going to Ms. Pruett’s. Why would anyone in their right mind be going there by themselves?

            I didn’t want Trevor to think I was stalking him, because of course I would never do that. But just in case that’s what it appeared to be, I used as much stealth as possible. I walked in the shadows and stopped to peek out behind bushes and building walls. I saw him up ahead…just before he ENTERED MS. PRUETT’S CLASSROOM.

            My mouth fell open, and I just sort of stared at the door for a while.

            Weird things are going on here at Middleton. And I think Ms. Pruett’s behind it all!

Iva Valentino

Iva Valentino lives in Arizona with her husband and their dog, Lupo. She graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and a Master’s degree in Education. She thinks visiting cold places is fun, but she loves living year-round in the warm desert.

Iva spent many years as a middle school teacher, where she enjoyed doing cool science experiments with her students. She currently works as a science editor at an educational publishing company. She loves travel, yoga, and photography. There is nothing that brings her more happiness than a good dance class!

Author Links

Website | Facebook

Buy Link

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | MuseIt Up Publishing

Giveaway

Amazon Gift Card

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I wish the world would understand how I feel.

I wish the world would understand how I feel. I wish there was a place where I could be just me and feeling how I am feeling and them to be ok with it. I wish I felt safe. 

Because, really. People ask you how you feel, but the truth is, most of them don't really want to know. "How are you?" "Oh, you know.. I feel very down these days, and I wish I could just stay in bed and do nothing. Not because I am lazy or anything, but just because I feel like I have no energy left to give, you know?" "Uh..".  So you don't say it, because people don't really know how to react to that. Instead you say the common everyday lie "I am fine."

And God forbids you are not 100% mentally present at work. Oh my God, because what do you answer to the question "Ok, what is wrong with you these days?" I feel down? I am so stressed with assignments, but still when I sit down to write them down I feel like doing anything else? I miss my family? I want to go home? I wish I had someone by my side who understands me and supports me on times like this? I just wish I could run away and never come back?

I wish corporations today would threat me like a human being, and not like a machine. I have feelings and I have my down days. Don't we all? I wish I lived in a world where you don't have to be so scared of making mistakes. Because sometimes they happen. I wish society could understand that. I wish I could feel safe and have a sense that I am enough.

Until next time,

Top Ten Things On My Bookish Bucket List

It's Top 10 Tuesday (hosted at The Broke and the Bookish) and the topic is:  
Top Ten Things On My Bookish Bucket List

1. Write a dystopian book. 

I am starting a 10-weeks course for Creative Writing and I am really excited!

2. Have my review cited in a book :)

This one would be a pretty badass one!

3. One day, to attend BEA

Oh, the dream.

4. Meeting Jennifer L. Armentrout

Because lets face it, her books are just pure awesomeness.

5. Get a bookshelf

Really, its about time. My two shelves are full and I keep putting books on and I swear one of these days it's gonna reach the celling. Uh huh.

6. Meet John Green

Because this guy is just awesome.

7. Join a book club

I thought once I'd move to UK this will be a pretty easy thing to do. Well... 

8. Have more allnighters 

I just love reading all night and finishing the book in the morning! It brings me joy. But these days I am so busy with Uni or I have to go to work that this seems just impossible :/

9. Get a physical ARC

That's still a dream I have.

10. Read Harry Potter

I bought the first three books a few months ago. Getting there :)

What's on your bookish bucket list? :)

Consequences by Aleatha Romig Review

Consequences
Consequences #1
by Aleatha Romig
Published on August 5th 2011
Xlibris Corporation, 368 pages
Find the title on Goodreads - BookDepository - Amazon

Anthony Rawlings had a plan—to teach Claire Nichols to behave.

Claire Nichols had a plan—to survive!

In an unfamiliar bedroom within a luxurious mansion, Claire Nichols wakes to memories of a brutal abduction. All of her recollections have one common denominator, the man she just met—Anthony Rawlings. Unbeknownst to Claire, Anthony has had her in his sights for a long time. Every action has consequences—and his actions resulted in their chance meeting. 

Facing incomprehensible circumstances, Claire must learn to survive as she comes to terms with her new reality—every aspect of her livelihood is now dependent upon the tall, dark-haired, dark-eyed tycoon. Anthony may appear to the world as a prosperous, benevolent, kind businessman, but in reality Claire learns he is also a menacing, controlling captor with very strict rules: do as your told, public failure is not an option, and don’t divulge private information. Failure to follow these rules and more, are met with serious consequences.

In an effort to earn her freedom, Claire learns her lessons well and before long, she unknowingly captivates her captor. Anthony/ Tony reluctantly becomes enthralled with Claire’s beauty, resilience and determination. Their interaction instigates strong emotions, including—fear, anger, love, and lust—as their journey flows into uncharted waters of intrigue and passion. 

From the opening criminal abduction, through the twists and turns, to the unlikely romantic thrills, the suspense climaxes as Aleatha Romig utilizes vivid detail, allowing this novel to unfold like a movie. 

Can you put the pieces of the puzzle together? Claire Nichols abduction wasn’t a random act—did she learn her lessons well enough? Will these unlikely lovers remain true--or will she learn the truth before it’s too late?

- Goodreads.com description

I got this book for review in December 2012. I was excited and intrigued by the title. And then I started reading this dark story and.. I couldn't bear it. I felt so uncomfortable and helpless. In the next moment I felt such a strong feeling of rage. And then helpless again. And almost to the half way through, I could not bare it any more. I just couldn't. I thought that maybe I need time... that I will get back to it, but sadly, or not so sadly, I won't. 

In the time of reading I found myself in a state of "I need a break. This book is killing my ego, my self-esteem and my me-being-a-woman. Broken heart". I remember while reading that I was just so incredibly sad. In one moment I even found myself sobbing and crying so badly, because this book is written so good, that you actually feel what Clare is feeling like it would be happening to you. And Clare's story isn't a shiny sunshine one. It's dark and full of pain and fear, and quite honestly, confusion. 

Tony. Oh my god, I don't even know what to say. I hated him. I so hated him. But not like your average villain in books, but with a passion that I didn't even know was possible to feel. He made me feel like I am trapped and helpless.

And so when the story started to shift to some kind of twisted love story I stopped and said "Hell, no. No. NO." I have a degree in psychology and I am woman and this is wrong on so many level I cannot even muster it. I stopped and after a year I still can't manage to pick it up again. Probably never will.

So, I don't know what to say.. I would recommend you to go on Goodreads and check the reviews there. A lot of people were really intrigued and amazed by this book. It has high ratings as well. So, I'll go with, make up your own mind about it ;) 

DNF

Did you read it?? Tell me your thoughts, please.