Top Ten Books on My Spring TBR List

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. There is a new subject each week and this week's topic is "Top Ten Books on My Spring TBR List". 

1. Insurgent by Veronica Roth (May 2012)


This book is probably on many people's TBR lists this spring and it is certainly the book I am looking forward to reading the most this year.

2. The Serpent's Shadow by Rick Riordan (May 2012)


While I prefer the Percy Jackson books, I do enjoy this series and can't wait to read the next book. They are usually funny and entertaining.

3. The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead (June 2012)


I am looking forward to this one because of the return of a certain favorite character of mine.

4. Taken By Storm by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (May 2012)


Jennifer Lynn Barnes has become my favorite YA paranormal author because her books tell a good story rather than just focusing on romance. I love her take on werewolves in this series.

5. Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter (March 2012)


I've heard this is a darker book in the series but I am still eager to read it. First I plan to reread the other books to refresh my memory since I first read them a few years ago (I'm currently on Cross My Heart, Hope to Spy). I just got an autographed copy of Out of Sight, Out of Time at PLA and had the chance to hear Ally Carter speak about her books. 

6. Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins (March 2012)


I'm on the waiting list for this book at my library. After the cliffhanger ending of Demonglass, I really want to know what will happen next!

7. The Savage Grace by Bree Despain (March 2012)


This is the final book in the series and I've heard only good things about it so far. I may not get to this one for awhile. I feel like I really need to reread The Dark Divine and The Lost Saint first. 

8. Timeless by Gail Carriger (March 2012)


I bought this right away when it was published but I really don't know when I will have time to read it. I have so many other books ahead of it, especially library books and review copies.

9. Home Front by Kristin Hannah (January 2012)


I hope I get to read Home Front soon. The story sounds fantastic and moving.

10. Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare (December 2011)


I bought this book this past Christmas and still haven't had the opportunity to read it. I am a fan of the series so hopefully I will be able to read this before summer.

What books are on your spring TBR list?

Have you read any of these yet?

Going to PLA!

I will be heading to the PLA (Public Library Association) Conference tomorrow so I won't have any posts up for the rest of the week. I am excited about attending the conference, meeting other librarians, and seeing authors like Ally Carter! I also want to do some sightseeing if the weather cooperates. Best of all, my sister is going too though she will be busy shopping while I am attending conference sessions :)


Have you been to Philadelphia? Any places you suggest I visit or any good restaurants you recommend?

It's Monday, What Are You Reading (99)

It's Monday, What Are You Reading is a fun weekly meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey where we share what we've read and reviewed over the past week and what we plan to read next.


I only finished two books this past week but both were really good. This week I will be attending the PLA (Public Library Association) Conference in Philadelphia. I am really looking forward to the sessions as well as doing some sightseeing with my sister. I likely won't have a lot of time for reading except on the flights and at the airport.

Books read:

I thought this was a creative and fantastic novel. I didn't think I'd like it but I really enjoyed it. It is nice when a book lives up to the hype!

The House at Tyneford reminded me of The Countess Below Stairs. It took a little while for me to get involved in the story and at first I did find Elise annoying but that quickly changed once she arrived in England. I've heard this book compared to Kate Morton's works and I will be reading The House at Riverton soon so I'll see how they stack up. It has also been said that this would appeal to fans of Downton Abbey and I'd agree. 

Books reviewed:

The World of Downton Abbey by Jessica Fellowes

The Lost Wife by Alyson Richman

Currently reading:

So far, I like this historical fantasy novel. I have high hopes for it. Grave Mercy has been compared to Graceling, a book that I liked but didn't love because I had some issues with it. 

What I might read next:

This is the final book in the Parasol Protectorate series and I'm looking forward to it. I also enjoy reading funny books on vacation as opposed to serious ones so this might be just perfect.

I've already read this one but it was back in the summer of 2010 so I don't remember the story well. I thought it would be a good idea to reread before I pick up Out of Sight, Out of Time. Ally Carter will be at PLA this week and I am attending her author lunch. I don't know if she is signing books but unfortunately this is on my Kindle. Probably not a good idea for her to sign my Kindle screen :)

In My Mailbox (76)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren to share what books you received for review, purchased, or checked out from the library during the past week.


*Clicking on images will take you to the book's page on Goodreads if you want to add it to your shelf*

For review:

I already had a copy of The Springsweet so this copy will be for a contest. Be sure to check out  my giveaway of The Springsweet (U.S. Only).

I was so excited when I got A Breath of Eyre in the mail yesterday from Kensington Books. I love Jane Eyre and the idea of a modern girl winding up in Jane's place really appeals to me.

This sort of reminds me of the Gallagher Girls series which I love. Hopefully A Girl Named Digit will be just as good. I have to admit that I'm not too crazy about the title though the cover is fun.

I saw this in a webinar and thought it looked interesting because it combines dystopian fiction with the whole princess/royalty thing. 

The Boy Recession sounds like it could be hilariously funny. I like the idea of the geeky guy suddenly becoming center of attention because of the lack of competition.

Purchased:

I was reading my library copy of this book and realized that I liked it so much that I wanted to own my own copy. I am supposed to be on a book buying ban but I am not very good at it. 

I have been wanting to read this for awhile now and thanks to Google Play, Amazon had it on sale for $3.99 so I bought it. I have heard that it is excellent, maybe Maggie's best book so far.

This is another book on sale for Kindle and I bought it on a whim. I am not entirely sure I will like it. Though I enjoyed Libba Bray's A Great and Terrible Beauty, I haven't tried her contemporary fiction.

I got the newest book from the library so I thought I'd pick this up too since it was on sale. It isn't a direct series. The books just all have something to do with Jane Austen.

From the library:

I tend to enjoy contemporary books related to Jane Austen more than historical spin-offs and this was my WoW pick a few months ago. 

As a huge fan of Downton Abbey, I have been wanting to read this book about Lady Almina, Countess Carnarvon and Highclere Castle where Downton Abbey is filmed. 

Giveaway: The Springsweet

I received a copy of The Springsweet in the mail the other day and since I already have a copy, I thought I'd give this one away so someone else can read and review it. The Springsweet is a companion novel to The Vespertine and will be published on April 17, 2012.

Giveaway rules:

This giveaway is open to U.S. only

Enter by filling out the form below

Comments on post do not count as entries

Winner will be notified by e-mail and have 72 hours to respond or new winner will be chosen

Review: The Lost Wife

The Lost Wife

By Alyson Richman

Publication date: September 6, 2011

My review:

On the day of his grandson's wedding, Josef Kohn meets a ghost from his past-his first love, Lenka Maizel, who he believed had died during the Holocaust. Lenka too believed that Josef had been killed and both had moved on with their lives and married others. The Lost Wife tells the story of their brief but passionate love and the events of the difficult years between till they are reunited again. 

Lenka and Josef are young when they meet and within just a few short years they fall in love and get married during a very turbulent time. They are separated right after their marriage when Josef and his family are able to flee Prague but Lenka's family cannot. Lenka makes the difficult decision to remain behind with her parents and sister, hoping Josef will be able to get papers for them once he is free.

The story is told from Lenka's perspective as a young woman and Josef's perspective as an elderly man looking back on his life. Lenka is a character I cared about and I liked Josef but felt more detachment towards his character perhaps because of the way his part of the story is told. The sections covering Lenka's life in the Terezin ghetto are particularly detailed and horrific. The author incorporates real historic figures into the story, especially the artists of Terezin. The importance of art is a theme carried out throughout the novel to great effect.

The Lost Wife is in some ways a romantic story but perhaps most importantly it is a story of survival and it examines the idea of what it means to love. 

Readalikes: Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys, Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay, The Things We Cherished by Pam Jenoff

Waiting on Wednesday (86)

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly meme to discuss upcoming books we can't wait to get our hands on. Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.  

This week, I'm waiting on:

Hidden by Sophie Jordan

Publication date: September 11, 2012

Description:

Jacinda was supposed to bond with Cassian, the "prince" of their pride. But she resisted long before she fell in love with Will—a human and, worse, a hunter. When she ran away with Will, it ended in disaster, with Cassian's sister, Miram, captured. Weighed down by guilt, Jacinda knows she must rescue her to set things right. Yet to do so she will have to venture deep into the heart of enemy territory. 

The only way Jacinda can reach Miram is by posing as a prisoner herself, though once she assumes that disguise, things quickly spiral out of her control. As she learns more about her captors, she realizes that even if Will and Cassian can carry out their part of the plan, there's no guarantee they'll all make it out alive. But what Jacinda never could have foreseen is that escaping would be only the beginning.... 

Loyalties are tested and sacrifices made in the explosive conclusion to Sophie Jordan's Firelight trilogy.

While I didn't like Vanished as much as Firelight, I am hoping this series will end well. The cliffhanger of book 2 certainly makes me want to stick around to find out what happens in Hidden anyway.

Review: The World of Downton Abbey

The World of Downton Abbey

By Jessica Fellowes

Publication date: December 6, 2011

My review:

The World of Downton Abbey is a companion book to the hit television series. In addition to pictures from the set there is background information on the real lives and events that inspired the show. There are chapters that cover the life of servants, fashion, society, the war, behind the scenes of the show, and more. 

I found the book to be easy to read though I do wish that it was a little better organized in terms of insets. I'd be reading the main chapter and then there would be an inset of information that would break up the flow. Still, there is plenty of interesting information here for fans of the show.  Another bonus is the list of resources  for further reading. My favorite part of the book were all the beautiful stills from the show. I also loved the chapters on society, life in service, and fashion. I find that historical time period to be fascinating. 

If you are a fan of the series and interested in learning more about the time period, this is a fun place to start. The writing style makes the book flow easily so it doesn't read like a dry textbook. Though The World of Downton Abbey is available as an e-book and audio book, I would strongly suggest reading the hardcover in order to appreciate the visual beauty of the book to its fullest.

It's Monday, What Are You Reading (98)

It's Monday, What Are You Reading is a fun weekly meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey where we share what we've read and reviewed over the past week and what we plan to read next.

Books read:

This is one of those books where I was ready to give up on it at the beginning but I am so glad I finished it. It does have a lot of medical description and detailed writing but it is such a good book and emotionally rewarding to those who make it through.

This is a prequel novella to Cinder. I thought it was nice to get a little bit of background to Cinder's arrival in New Beijing but it didn't offer much else.

I love this mystery series and while I was a bit disappointed with the mystery aspect of the story this time around, I still thought it was an excellent book.

Hana is set during the same time as Delirium and it gives insight into her character and what is going on with her during her fight with Lena. It also hints at something and I feel that I need to go back and reread Delirium now.

I liked Garden Spells but I thought it could have been better. It is Sarah Addison Allen's first book and I still plan to read The Girl Who Chased the Moon and Sugar Queens.

I was warned that this book would be a tearjerker but I didn't think I would succumb. I was wrong...

Books reviewed:

How to Eat a Cupcake by Meg Donohue

Currently reading:

I am enjoying this book so far. Karou is quite a character. Still haven't met Akiva or Brimstone yet but I'm sure I'll like them too.

What I plan to read next:

I do hope I get to this book this week. I started it weeks ago and then put it aside so I'll probably have to start all over again.

Not sure if I'll read The Garden Intrigue this week but I thought I'd put it on the list anyway. At the moment it is easier on my wrist to read Kindle books than hardcovers. 

I am definitely going to do my best to read this book soon. It is one I have been waiting for ever since I read an excerpt and I was fortunate to get an e-ARC this past week. 

If I have time I am going to try to read this one. I like Jodi Picoult but some of her books have disappointed me. Should be interesting to read about wolves and I am sure it will be a good emotional read too.

In My Mailbox (75)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren to share what books you received for review, purchased, or checked out from the library during the past week.

For review:

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

I was so thrilled to receive this from NetGalley during their two day special promotion. Grave Mercy is one of my most anticipated YA debuts for this year.

The House of Velvet and Glass by Katherine Howe

I haven't read The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane but her new book sounds interesting and it is partly set on the Titanic.

Purchased:

Timeless by Gail Carriger

I am looking forward to reading this final book in the series. I was disappointed with Heartless but hope this book will be much better-plus it takes place in Egypt!

Hana by Lauren Oliver

This novella takes place during the same time as Delirium but gives us a little perspective of what is going on in Hana's life after her fight with Lena.

From the library:

Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult

I am not really sure what this book is about but I've enjoyed most of the Jodi Picoult books I've read so I picked it up on a whim when I saw it at the library.

Bond Girl by Erin Duffy

Bond Girl seems to be a Devil Wears Prada for the financial sector. I love the cover.

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

I've already finished this book and I liked it. I think I would have liked it more if I hadn't listened to the audio book.

Julia's Chocolates by Cathy Lamb

I have been wanting to read Cathy Lamb's books for awhile and when I saw that this was available for download from the library, I decided to give Julia's Chocolates a try. It has mixed reviews on Goodreads so we'll see...

Downton Abbey Reading Challenge Reviews

Add your reviews for the Downton Abbey Reading Challenge in the linky below. Each review is an entry to win the book of your choice (up to $15).  

For more information, visit the Downton Abbey Reading Challenge Sign Up. It is not too late to participate!

Matched Trilogy Final Book...Cover Reveal!

What do you think of the title and cover?

I love the color and can't wait to find out more about the final book in the Matched trilogy.

Review: How to Eat a Cupcake

How to Eat a Cupcake

By Meg Donohue

Publication date: March 13, 2012

My review:

How to Eat a Cupcake focuses on the damaged friendship of Annie and Julia, two very different young women who were once close friends until one betrayed the other. Years later, they have the chance to work together when the wealthy Julia offers to help Annie set up her own cupcake business. It is a struggle for Annie to trust Julia's motives but even as the two try to reforge a semblance of friendship, someone is determined to destroy the new business and their lives.

Annie Quintana is a pastry chef who draws comfort from trying to recreate her late mother's recipes. Annie is still grieving from the death of her mom who had been a housekeeper to the St. Clair family. Julia St. Clair was Annie's childhood best friend until she betrayed that friendship on her rise to popularity in high school. Now Julia is a successful businesswoman on the verge of getting married. On the surface Julia is a bit of a snob though she doesn't seem to realize the way she comes across, particularly to Annie. She has a life of privilege though there is a painful secret she carries around with her and that secret helps to make her a little more sympathetic to the reader than she would be otherwise. I definitely preferred Annie's character over Julia but Julia did grow on me and it helped to be able to read chapters told through her eyes as well.

There is an element of mystery concerning the vandalism at the cupcakery and the strange man who keeps appearing on the scene. There is also the question of what happened to the cookbook/journal that belonged to Annie's mother. Unfortunately, I think this was a weak spot in the novel and wish the story had focused more on the mending of Annie and Julia's friendship. The ending wrapped up a little too quickly as well. Still, this is an enjoyable exploration of how complicated friendships and family can be. I also loved all the descriptions of cupcakes! I would have loved it if the author included some recipes in the back. Overall, I was pleased with this debut novel and I will definitely be looking forward to the author's next book. 

Readalikes: The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen, Seven Year Switch by Claire Cook, The Opposite of Me by Sarah Pekkanen, The Kitchen Daughter by Jael McHenry, Stay by Allie Larkin, Hope in a Jar by Beth Harbison

Note: I received an ARC of this book for review through the Amazon Vine program

Waiting on Wednesday (85)

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly meme to discuss upcoming books we can't wait to get our hands on. Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. 

This week, I'm waiting on:

The Crown of Embers by Rae Carson

Publication date: September 18, 2012

Description:

Elisa is the hero of her country. She led her people to victory against a terrifying enemy, and now she is their queen. But she is only seventeen years old. Her rivals may have simply retreated, choosing stealth over battle. And no one within her court trusts her-except Hector, the commander of the royal guard, and her companions. As the country begins to crumble beneath her and her enemies emerge from the shadows, Elisa will take another journey. With a one-eyed warrior, a loyal friend, an enemy defector, and the man she is falling in love with, Elisa crosses the ocean in search of the perilous, uncharted, and mythical source of the Godstone’s power. That is not all she finds. 

A breathtaking, romantic, and dangerous second volume in the Fire and Thorns trilogy.

The Girl of Fire and Thorns was my second favorite book of 2011 (after Divergent) so I can't wait to get my hands on The Crown of Embers.