Month: June 2017

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[New Releases] July 2017

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July is going to be a GREAT month for reading! From YA, to historical fiction, to new dystopian sci-fi… there’s a new book for everyone this month. I could go on and on for days, but I finally narrowed it down to the 8 releases I’m most excited for – I can’t wait to dive in!

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Devastation Road by Jason Hewitt: Injured and confused, a man wakes amid a deserted field to find himself at war in a foreign country, with no memory of ever leaving England. A compelling new take on the standard WWII novel, Devastation Road is sure to captivate readers from page one. (July 3rd)

A Panicked Premonition by Victoria Laurie: My favorite guilty pleasure series, Laurie takes it to new heights this year when Abby’s husband and business partner are framed for murder. (July 4th)

What We Lose by Zinzi Clemmons: A hard-hitting novel depicting a young African-American woman’s coming of age, What We Lose is reviewed by many as THE debut novel of the year.  (July 11th)

When the English Fall by David Williams: In the wake of a catostaphic solar storm, modern civilization has completely collapsed, but where the English have failed, the Amish have thrived, surviving off their well-stocked larders and supplies. A thought provoking study on human nature, When the English Fall explores the impossible choices of a nonviolent community suddenly threatened. (July 11th)

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Domina by L.S. Hilton: An enticing follow-up novel to Maestra, Judith’s misadventures continue as her crimes suddenly catch up to her disguise. (July 11th)

The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter: Karin Slaughter’s done it again! Twenty-eight years after the murder of her family, Charlotte returns home as a new nightmare emerges, revealing the shocking truth behind her family’s destruction. (July 13th)

The Apprentice Witch by James Nicol: Arianwyn is doomed – after flunking her witch’s assessment, she’s sent to a small town in disgrace, crushing her dreams of one day becoming a real witch. With a mysterious, magical threat at bay, she’ll need all the magical help she can get to save the day. Reminiscent of The Girl Who Drank the Moon, I have to check this one out! (July 25th)

Gather the Daughters by Jennie Melamed: Described as Never Let Me Go meets The Giver, Gather the Daughters is a haunting debut following a radical society on an isolated island – and the women who rule it. (July 25th)

What will you be reading?

 

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[Favorites] Top Ten Reads This Year… So Far

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This week on Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by Broke and the Bookish, we’re going back to the start of 2017 to bust out our top ten reads of the year… so far, that is. In just six months, I’ve read a total of 145 books, and given 66% of them a 4 or 5 star rating – how am I supposed to narrow it down to 10!? But, once I started looking back, my list was fairly easy to assemble – while I’ve read a lot of good books, there’s always that one book I can’t stop thinking about, or in this case, 10.

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The Comet Seekers by Helen Sedgwick: A grand, sweeping romance spanning the stars and globe alike, Roisin and Francois have crossed paths countless times before meeting in the Arctic, but only after a steady stream of heartbreak and sorrow will they be ready to face the biggest challenge of all: love. Call it fate, or call it destiny, The Comet Seekers calls all of life’s big questions into action, blurring the line between past and present, comet and star. (Read a full review HERE)

American War by Omar Elk Akkad: Set at the start of the second American Civil War in the not so distant 2074, oil has been outlawed, Louisiana is half underwater, and security drones pepper the landscape. It’s every man for himself as the enemy nears the largest refugee camp in the South. Desperate for change and hungry for revenge, Sarat fights for her family, but will the cost weigh the riches won?

All Our Wrong Todays by Elan Mastai: If you enjoy arguing the finer points of time travel or the paradox of parallel universes, or if you’ve ever spent a weekend binging Back to the Future – this is the book for you. Accidentally sabotaging his father’s life’s work (i.e. the first successful time travel experiment known to man), Tom flings himself into the past in hopes to save not only the experiment and get the girl, but, as we all know, time travel is never as simple as that.

Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer: The first book in VanderMeer’s Southern Reach Trilogy, it’s by far, my favorite. A group of scientists are dropped at the border of a territory known as Area X – a dense forest that mysteriously, and inexplicably, overtook the western United States almost overnight. Riddled with paranoia and fear, you might want to read this with the lights ON.

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Anna and the Swallow Man by Gavriel Savit: Set during World War II, Anna and the Swallow Man delves deep into word play as Savit expertly interweaves Polish folklore and magical realism to create a haunting scene of impossibility. With her father missing, Anna is left alone to wonder the streets, until the mysterious Swallow Man takes her underwing.  Without a name, or a home, to guide her, she’ll learn the “rules of the road” as her ultimate means of survival.

Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough: Told in parts by a struggling single mom and a picture-perfect housewife, the two women couldn’t possibly have anything in common other than a man. A love triangle in the purest fashion, Behind Her Eyes plays the long-game, keeping you in chase while saving the biggest punch for last – an OMG ending you’ll never coming!

The Vegetarian by Han King: Rooted by mental illness, and only extenuated by sexual abuse, scandal and estrangement, Yeong-hye’s nightmares are spiraling out of control and into real-life in this truly Kafkaesque novella. I finally see what all the fuss was about last year.

Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Page: Caught by a tornado, Amy Gumm is whisked away from her trailer park life in Flat Hill, Kansas to the dusty outskirts of Oz where the Hollywood glitz and glamour has long faded, along with its magic. A brilliantly addictive series, you won’t be able to stop reading until you’ve devoured them all!

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Caraval by Stephanie Garber: Equal parts romance and mystery, sisters Scarlet and Tella run away from home in hopes to join this year’s Caraval – a mystical show where the audience are the competitors. A game of chance with illusions behind every door, they’ll soon discover themselves as this year’s centerpiece, and Tella the pawn. I’ll be needing Part II of this series ASAP, please.

Dead Letters by Caite Dolan-Leach: After a disastrous fire, Ava returns home to grieve the loss of her twin sister, until a string of mysterious emails lead her elsewhere. Is Zelda really gone? Or is this just another one of her zany plots to avoid the consequences of her debts? A family drama gone goose-chase, Dead Letters is the one read I can’t stop thinking about.

What are your new favorites?

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[Short Reviews] April & May Reads

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Welcome back, friends!

After a long-overdue vacation and time spent with family, I’m back and ready to blog! The last year has been an amazing experience, but lately, blogging has felt more like a chore than a hobby, thus my unexpected absence. And, as always, spring proves to be the busiest time of year, between holidays and taking advantage of the weather, there’s not much time left to blog – especially now that we’re planning our wedding!! I’m so happy to share our engagement! During my break, we made a special trip home for the proposal – a small family affair in the garden. It couldn’t have been more perfect!

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And so, with plenty of travel-time to fill, I found myself falling back into the book game – just over 40 reads this spring. I even caught up on a few Net Galleys!

April & May Favorites:

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Nemesis by Brendan Reichs: Discovering a top-secret cover-up threatening the lives of fellow students, Min and Noah race against the clock, and an asteroid, to uncover the truth.  A bridge between YA and Science fiction, Nemesis will leave you counting down the days for an answer to the madness with an Earth-shattering plot twist you’ll never see coming. (4 Stars)

In the Orchard, The Swallows by Peter Hobbs: Flung from the prison gates, a young man returns home to find himself abandoned and forgotten. Saved by a local Samaritan, he spends his days wondering the orchards as little by little, he gains the strength to confront his past. With its lyrical prose and heartbreaking woes, In the Orchard, The Swallows will leave a lasting impression. (4 Stars)

American War by Omar Elk Akkad: Set at the start of the second American Civil War in 2074, oil has been outlawed, Louisiana is half underwater, and drones pepper the landscape. War is quickly approaching the safe zone (if you can even call it that) and it’s every man for himself. Atmospheric and all-consuming, there’s no denying the sly warning within its pages.  (4 Stars)

I Found You by Lisa Jewell: After reporting her husband missing, a young bride soon discovers her husband doesn’t exist – his identity a sham. Meanwhile, a single mom, against her better judgement, takes in a stranger suffering from amnesia. A twenty-year-old mystery at the helm, you won’t know WHAT to believe. (4 Stars)

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The Lost City of the Monkey God by Douglas Preston: An unbelievably true story of a modern-day jungle expedition in search for an ancient civilization. Basically, a how-not for jungle exploration – the jungle WILL get you, it’s only a matter of when. (4 Stars)

The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan: Forty years ago, Anthony Peardew lost a precious keepsake from his fiancée, but after her unexpected death the same day, he’s become the unofficial keeper of lost things…. Until he bequeaths his collection to his unsuspecting assistant Laura. A charming tale of love and friendship, The Keeper of Lost Things is the perfect choice to kick-start your summer reading. (3 Stars)

All Our Wrong Todays by Elan Mastai: If you enjoy arguing the finer points of time travel or the paradox of parallel universes, or you’ve ever spent a weekend re-watching Back to the Future – this is the book for you. A creative, head-scratching tale not to be missed! (5 Stars)

The Perfect Stranger by Megan Miranda: After reading All the Missing Girls, you would think I’d come to expect the runaway train aiming for my head by now, but even so – there’s no preparing yourself for The Perfect Stranger. Following her roommate’s disappearance and a local murder investigation, all clues point to Emmy, a runaway reporter from the big city. Wondering if her roommate even existed in the first place, she’ll have to dust-off the old reporter’s hat to prove her sanity innocence once and for all. (5 Stars)

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A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas: Finally, the end we’ve all been waiting for! ACOMAF is still my favorite, but I couldn’t imagine a better ending! (5 Stars)

What did you read this spring?