Review: Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

THROUGH THE EVER NIGHT
By: Veronica Rossi
Published By: HarperCollins
Release Date: Jan. 8, 2013
Series: Under the Never Sky (#2)
Pages: 341
Genre: Science Fiction
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Publisher
Buy the Book: Amazon

Note: Through the Ever Night is the second book in the Under the Never Sky series, and the following summary may contain spoilers. To read my review of the first book, Under the Never Sky, click here.

Goodreads Summary: It's been months since Aria last saw Perry. Months since Perry was named Blood Lord of the Tides, and Aria was charged with an impossible mission. Now, finally, they are about to be reunited. But their reunion is far from perfect. The Tides don't take kindly to Aria, a former Dweller. And with the worsening Aether storms threatening the tribe's precarious existence, Aria begins to fear that leaving Perry behind might be the only way to save them both.

Threatened by false friends, hidden enemies, and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder, Can their love survive through the ever night?

In this second book in her spellbinding Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi combines fantasy and dystopian elements to create a captivating love story as perilous as it is unforgettable.



Through the Ever Night is proof that you shouldn't necessarily give up on a series based on the first book. Even though I had some issues with Under the Never Sky, those were resolved in this book. Rather than feeling confused about the world or disconnected from the characters, I was quickly drawn into the story and the worries and joys of the characters.

Unlike many sequels, Through the Ever Night picks up several months after the main events of Under the Never Sky. Aria has been on what might be an impossible mission, and Perry has been working to earn the trust and respect of the Tides. Finally they are reunited, but unlike the first book, when they were simply Aria and Perry, now neither of them can escape who - and what - they are. Aria tries to join in the life of the Tides, but as a Dweller, she's met with mostly suspicion. Even though she wants to stay with Perry, she can't help but wonder if they will truly be able to be a couple that the Tides can accept, especially now, when times are more dangerous than ever. The Aether storms are constantly growing worse, and the Tides are struggling more than they have before. Though Perry has to be Blood Lord, Aria still has her own mission, and as the days pass, she realizes that the only way she might be able to complete it is to leave the Tides - and Perry - behind.

Adventure, longing, expectation - these are only a few of the words that can be used to describe Through the Ever Night. From the very beginning, things are intense, and throughout the book even moments that could be sweet or relaxed still have an underlying sense of urgency. Survival is on everyone's mind - not just survival of self, but also survival of friends, family, friendship, and love. Aria and Perry have to work for this, and so do the others, especially Roar. Roar plays a large part in this book (but not as a second love interest for Aria, thank goodness), and I enjoyed getting to know him. He's an all-around good guy, though not without his own suffering, and in some ways I was more touched by his story than even Aria and Perry's. And one other character who came back in this book proved to be a pleasant surprise. After the disconnect I felt in the first book, it was nice to really get a chance to fall in love with the characters, to feel all of their emotions and truly experience their journey with them.

In Through the Ever Night, the stakes are higher, and life is even more complicated than it was in Under the Never Sky. Because of this, I especially liked reading from both Aria and Perry's points of view. Even though Aria and Perry had a journey in Under the Never Sky, in this sequel we see even more of the world and even have some of the history clarified. In addition, this book never lacks action, and it makes for a compelling read. However, the ending of this book did leave me anxiously awaiting the final book in the trilogy - I need to know how things work out for all of the characters!

Once again Veronica Rossi has crafted an inventive story, one that in my opinion far surpasses the first book. With only light touches of science fiction and dystopian elements, as well as memorable characters, this is a story that almost everyone can enjoy. I can't wait until next year to be able to read Into the Still Blue!

"Waiting on" Wednesday

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.



This week's selection is:

LET THE SKY FALL
By: Shannon Messenger
Published By: Simon Pulse
Release Date: March 5, 2013
Preorder the Book: Amazon

Goodreads Summary: Seventeen-year-old Vane Weston has no idea how he survived the category five tornado that killed his parents. And he has no idea if the beautiful, dark-haired girl who’s swept through his dreams every night since the storm is real. But he hopes she is. Seventeen-year-old Audra is a sylph, an air elemental. She walks on the wind, can translate its alluring songs, and can even coax it into a weapon with a simple string of commands. She’s also a guardian—Vane’s guardian—and has sworn an oath to protect Vane at all costs. Even if it means sacrificing her own life. When a hasty mistake reveals their location to the enemy who murdered both of their families, Audra’s forced to help Vane remember who he is. He has a power to claim—the secret language of the West Wind, which only he can understand. But unlocking his heritage will also unlock the memory Audra needs him to forget. And their greatest danger is not the warriors coming to destroy them—but the forbidden romance that’s grown between them.



Why it's wanted:
I love the idea of a book featuring a rarer kind of magic. This sounds like an intriguing and beautiful story, and I can't wait to see how everything comes together.

Teaser Tuesday (67)

I'm very excited to be one of the many blogs participating in Teaser Tuesdays! TT is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To participate:

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
(Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

"She felt his response before she heard it. The words caressed her skin. 'I'm the one who kills you.'

Darkness washed over Claire. And just like that, she was gone."


p. 63 from NOBODY by Jenifer Lynn Barnes
Please share your teasers - post them or link to your blog!

Young Adult Giveaway Hop

Welcome to this stop of the Young Adult Giveaway Hop, hosted by I am a reader, not a writer and BookLove101.

As someone who loves YA books, I am thrilled to have a chance to give away some great YA titles! The beauty of YA books is that there is often something for everyone in almost every book.



~GIVEAWAY~

In order to include international followers, this giveaway will be for a YA book of the winner's choice (up to $15) from Book Depository.

The contest is open internationally as long as Book Depository ships to your country. Must be 13 to enter. Please see my Contest Policy for more information.

Must be a GFC follower to enter.

This contest will close on Tuesday, February 5 at 12:01am CST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Don't forget to visit the many other stops on this hop!

"Waiting on" Wednesday

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.



This week's selection is:

THINGS I CAN'T FORGET
By: Miranda Kenneally
Published By: Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date: March 1, 2013
Preorder the Book: Amazon

Goodreads Summary: Companion to Catching Jordan and Stealing Parker.

Kate has always been the good girl. Too good, according to some people at school—although they have no idea the guilty secret she carries. But this summer, everything is different…

This summer she’s a counselor at Cumberland Creek summer camp, and she wants to put the past behind her. This summer Matt is back as a counselor too. He’s the first guy she ever kissed, and he’s gone from a geeky songwriter who loved The Hardy Boys to a buff lifeguard who loves to flirt…with her.

Kate used to think the world was black and white, right and wrong. Turns out, life isn’t that easy…



Why it's wanted:
I loved Miranda's first two books, Catching Jordan and Stealing Parker. I can't wait to see what's in store in this book!

Teaser Tuesday (66)

I'm very excited to be one of the many blogs participating in Teaser Tuesdays! TT is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To participate:

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
(Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

"He stood and lifted Micha up to carry her to her bed. She looked almost dead, lying in his arms like that. As if someone had cut out her heart with a rapier and left only her body. But her heart was still there...still there dreaming, Anna thought, dreaming of rainbows."


p. 128 (ARC) from THE STORYTELLER by Antonia Michaelis
Please share your teasers - post them or link to your blog!

Review: Asunder by Jodi Meadows

ASUNDER
By: Jodi Meadows
Published By: Katherine Tegen Books
Release Date: Jan. 29, 2013
Series: Newsoul (#2)
Pages: 416
Genre: Fantasy
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Publisher
Buy the Book: Amazon

Note: Asunder is the second book in the Newsoul series, and the following summary may contain spoilers. To read my review of the first book, Incarnate, click here.

Goodreads Summary: DARKSOULS
Ana has always been the only one. Asunder. Apart. But after Templedark, when many residents of Heart were lost forever, some hold Ana responsible for the darksouls–and the newsouls who may be born in their place.

SHADOWS
Many are afraid of Ana’s presence, a constant reminder of unstoppable changes and the unknown. When sylph begin behaving differently toward her and people turn violent, Ana must learn to stand up not only for herself but for those who cannot stand up for themselves.

LOVE
Ana was told that nosouls can’t love. But newsouls? More than anything, she wants to live and love as an equal among the citizens of Heart, but even when Sam professes his deepest feelings, it seems impossible to overcome a lifetime of rejection.

In this second book in the Incarnate trilogy, Ana discovers the truth about reincarnation and will have to find a way to embrace love and make her young life meaningful. Once again, Jodi Meadows explores the extraordinary beauty and shadowed depths of the soul in a story equal parts epic romance and captivating fantasy.



In the first book of the Newsoul trilogy, Incarnate, Jodi Meadows gave us a fresh take on a reincarnation story with a great blend of fantasy and romance. Asunder continues this; inside the gorgeous cover was a story that raised the stakes and made me fall for Sam all over again.

Ana is coming to terms with her life as a Newsoul, but that doesn't mean that everyone is. She is still seen as new and unknown by some people, and so it is easy to blame her for the events of Templedark. Despite the hostility she faces, however, Ana wants to help the residents of Heart. With Sam, she works to find an explanation for what happened during Templedark as well as a way to handle the sylph. Ana begins looking into research and histories, questioning long-held beliefs about Janan. But what she finds could change the way everyone thinks about life forever. However, some people don't want anything to change, and they will make sure their voice is heard. And if that isn't enough, Ana has one more question to answer - could she really be in love?

As I started Asunder, I was excited to be back in the world Jodi Meadows created. The world of Heart, though the city itself has its problems, is also an idyllic setting and a good backdrop for the story that unfolds. In Asunder, we get to delve deeper into this world and its history, which I enjoyed. Some of the questions from the first book begin to be answered, and I look forward to all of the answers in the final book of the trilogy. Beyond that, I loved getting to know the characters more. Ana is determined to thrive; she embraces the friends she's made, works diligently in her music lessons with Sam, and tries to do what she can for the community. Sam is once again wonderful in this book, and I couldn't help but love him. There is also a new character, Cris, who ended up surprising me in a good way. Even though there is some hostility toward Ana, I liked the sense of community that is also present rather than the book focusing exclusively on Ana and Sam.

Asunder didn't seem to have any of the problems that are often found in sophomore books. Instead, everything about the story intensified. Once again the writing was beautiful; I especially enjoyed some of the depictions of music that were scattered throughout the story. I do have to admit that I was occasionally frustrated with Ana and Sam, Ana for overthinking and Sam for being unnecessarily reserved and secretive, but I thought they both redeemed themselves by the end of the book. And with all of the new revelations that this book has, I cannot wait to see what happens in the final installment.

Asunder is one sequel that you definitely want to read, and if you haven't read Incarnate, then what are you waiting for? Jodi Meadows has done a terrific job creating a unique fantasy world and story that is by turns sweet, shocking, and thought-provoking. The last book of the trilogy can't come soon enough!

Cover Reveal: Reclaimed by Sarah Guillory

I'm so excited to be one of the blogs participating in this cover reveal! Sarah Guillory is a 2013 debut author, and her novel will release on October 15 as part of the new contemporary line from Spencer Hill Press. And now, without further ado, I present RECLAIMED by Sarah Guillory.



Jenna Oliver doesn’t have time to get involved with one boy, let alone two.

All Jenna wants is to escape her evaporating small town and her alcoholic mother. She's determined she'll go to college and find a life that is wholly hers—one that isn't tainted by her family's past. But when the McAlister twins move to town and Jenna gets involved with both of them, she learns the life she planned may not be the one she gets.

Ian McAlister doesn't want to start over; he wants to remember.

Ian can’t recall a single thing from the last three months—and he seems to be losing more memories every day. His family knows the truth, but no one will tell him what really happened before he lost his memory. When he meets Jenna, Ian believes that he can be normal again because she makes not remembering something he can handle.

The secret Ian can’t remember is the one Luke McAlister can’t forget.

Luke has always lived in the shadow of his twin brother until Jenna stumbles into his life. She sees past who he’s supposed to be, and her kiss brings back the spark that life stole. Even though Luke feels like his brother deserves her more, Luke can’t resist Jenna—which is the trigger that makes Ian's memory return.

Jenna, Ian & Luke are about to learn there are only so many secrets you can keep before the truth comes to reclaim you.

Find author Sarah Guillory online:
Website | Blog | Twitter | Goodreads



Be sure to add RECLAIMED to Goodreads and look for it in October!

Review: The Dead and Buried by Kim Harrington

THE DEAD AND BURIED
By: Kim Harrington
Published By: Scholastic Point
Release Date: Jan. 11, 2013
Series: None
Pages: 304
Genre: Contemporary Fiction / Mystery
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Publisher
Buy the Book: Amazon


Goodreads Summary: A haunted house, a buried mystery, and a very angry ghost make this one unforgettable thriller.

Jade loves the house she's just moved into with her family. She doesn't even mind being the new girl at the high school: It's a fresh start, and there's that one guy with the dreamy blue eyes. . . . But then things begin happening. Strange, otherworldly things. Jade's little brother claims to see a glimmering girl in his room. Jade's jewelry gets moved around, as if by an invisible hand. Kids at school whisper behind her back like they know something she doesn't.

Soon, Jade must face an impossible fact: that her perfect house is haunted. Haunted by a ghost who's seeking not just vengeance, but the truth. The ghost of a girl who ruled Jade's school — until her untimely death last year. It's up to Jade to put the pieces together before her own life is at stake. As Jade investigates the mystery, she discovers that her new friends in town have more than a few deep, dark secrets. But is one of them a murderer?



I really enjoyed Kim Harrington's first two books, Clarity and Perception. Her books are fun, quick reads that draw you into the mystery and keep you hooked until you've solved it, and The Dead and Buried was no exception.

Jade has always wanted to move to a big city and escape her small town. When her dad and stepmother tell her that they're finally moving, she's thrilled. She even likes their new house - until she learns it's haunted. Her little brother sees a strange girl in his room, and it doesn't take Jade long to learn that it was a girl from her new high school who died last year. Jade is charged with finding her murderer, but the task isn't easy. Many people had motive, and it's hard for her to concentrate with one guy drawing her attention and another trying to draw it away. But the longer Jade takes, the more things there are at stake. Can she figure out who murdered Kayla and keep her house, her family, and her new life safe?

The Dead and Buried is one of those books that hooks you right away. I liked Jade from the beginning, both from seeing how she took such good care of her brother and from watching her defy social conventions when she started her new high school. She befriends one of the unpopular girls, catches the eye of the most popular guy, and finds herself drawn to Donovan, the shy artist who is clearly hiding something. Donovan was a character that I wanted to know more about, and one that I couldn't help but sympathize with. Then there was Kayla. Even though I liked seeing her diary entries to know what was going on inside her head, I have to say that it's a shame there wasn't much of anything redeemable about her, either as a human or a ghost. However, in a way her calculating nature made her intriguing.

There was another aspect to this book, and that was Jade's collection of gems. I really enjoyed learning what all of the different gemstones and what they meant. Beyond that, the mystery of the book was fairly easy to solve, but there were so many other aspects to the story that I was never bored. In fact, I wish the book could have lasted longer just to spend more time with the characters.

If you're looking for a mystery with depth to the characters, look no farther than The Dead and Buried. I'll look forward to seeing what Kim Harrington writes next! Also, if you've read the book already, or if you want a better idea of the characters, check out this fantasy casting post.

"Waiting on" Wednesday

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.



This week's selection is:

MIND GAMES
By: Kiersten White
Published By: Harper Teen
Release Date: Feb. 19, 2013
Preorder the Book: Amazon

Goodreads Summary: Fia was born with flawless instincts. Her first impulse, her gut feeling, is always exactly right. Her sister, Annie, is blind to the world around her—except when her mind is gripped by strange visions of the future.

Trapped in a school that uses girls with extraordinary powers as tools for corporate espionage, Annie and Fia are forced to choose over and over between using their abilities in twisted, unthinkable ways… or risking each other’s lives by refusing to obey.

In a stunning departure from her New York Times bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy, Kiersten White delivers a slick, edgy, heartstoppingly intense psychological thriller about two sisters determined to protect each other—no matter the cost.



Why it's wanted:
First of all, I love this cover. Second, this book sounds really interesting, and coming from Kiersten White it's bound to be good.

Teaser Tuesday (65)

I'm very excited to be one of the many blogs participating in Teaser Tuesdays! TT is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To participate:

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
(Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

"Aria struggled against his grip. She didn't know what to be afraid of. She had no idea what was real, or why her blood felt like boiling water in her veins. She fell back against the farming rows, kicking, fighting, as her vision turned gray and then black."


p. 112-113 (ARC) from THROUGH THE EVER NIGHT by Veronica Rossi
Please share your teasers - post them or link to your blog!

Opening Lines (8)

Opening Lines is a new feature here on Portrait of a Book that showcases the first lines of recent and/or upcoming releases. If you're looking for your next read, let these first lines help you decide!



THEN YOU WERE GONE
By: Lauren Strasnick
Published By: Simon Pulse
Release Date: Jan. 8, 2013
Buy the Book: Amazon

In the tradition of 13 Reasons Why, a suspenseful and heart-wrenching novel from the author of Nothing Like You and Her and Me and You.Two years ago, Adrienne’s best friend walked out of her life. One week ago, she left Adrienne a desperate, muffled voicemail. Adrienne never called back.

Now Dakota is missing. She left behind a string of broken hearts, a flurry of rumors, and a suicide note.

Adrienne can’t stop obsessing over what might have happened if she’d answered Dakota’s call. And she’s increasingly convinced that Dakota must still be alive.

Maybe finding and saving Dakota is the only way Adrienne can save herself.

Or maybe it’s too late for them both.

"Dakota Webb. Boys love her. Freak freshman girls worship her."


PAPER VALENTINE
By: Brenna Yovanoff
Published By: Razorbill
Release Date: Jan. 8, 2013
Buy the Book: Amazon

The city of Ludlow is gripped by the hottest July on record. The asphalt is melting, the birds are dying, petty crime is on the rise, and someone in Hannah Wagnor’s peaceful suburban community is killing girls.

For Hannah, the summer is a complicated one. Her best friend Lillian died six months ago, and Hannah just wants her life to go back to normal. But how can things be normal when Lillian’s ghost is haunting her bedroom, pushing her to investigate the mysterious string of murders? Hannah’s just trying to understand why her friend self-destructed, and where she fits now that Lillian isn’t there to save her a place among the social elite. And she must stop thinking about Finny Boone, the big, enigmatic delinquent whose main hobbies seem to include petty larceny and surprising acts of kindness.

With the entire city in a panic, Hannah soon finds herself drawn into a world of ghost girls and horrifying secrets. She realizes that only by confronting the Valentine Killer will she be able move on with her life—and it’s up to her to put together the pieces before he strikes again.

Paper Valentine is a hauntingly poetic tale of love and death by the New York Times bestselling author of The Replacement and The Space Between.

"My sister, Ariel, is sprawled upside down on the couch, pointing with the TV remote."


DELUSION
By: Laura L. Sullivan
Published By: Harcourt Children's Books
Release Date: Jan. 8, 2013
Buy the Book: Amazon

When two beautiful teenage stage magicians in World War II England meet a pair of handsome men who can do real magic, sparks fly. But is it illusion, or delusion? Opening-night jitters are nothing new for Phil and Fee Albion, who come from a long line of stage illusionists. The girls love to dazzle London audiences, but in the aftermath of the Blitz they're bundled off to the countryside, where they're safe from bombs and Nazis--and bored to pieces. Phil, always the passionate one, discovers a hidden college of real magicians led by the devastatingly handsome Arden. If only Phil can persuade these unworldly magicians to help England win the war! Daredevil that she is, she'll risk anything to give her country a fighting chance, even if it means losing her heart . . . or her life.

"Phil sprinted along the bank of the Thames, unbraiding her hair as she ran, so late she didn't dare ask a passing stranger the time."


JUST ONE DAY
By: Gayle Forman
Published By: Dutton Juvenile
Release Date: Jan. 8, 2013
Buy the Book: Amazon

A breathtaking journey toward self-discovery and true love, from the author of If I Stay

When sheltered American good girl Allyson "LuLu" Healey first meets laid-back Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter at an underground performance of Twelfth Night in England, there’s an undeniable spark. After just one day together, that spark bursts into a flame, or so it seems to Allyson, until the following morning, when she wakes up after a whirlwind day in Paris to discover that Willem has left. Over the next year, Allyson embarks on a journey to come to terms with the narrow confines of her life, and through Shakespeare, travel, and a quest for her almost-true-love, to break free of those confines.

Just One Day is the first in a sweepingly romantic duet of novels. Willem’s story—Just One Year—is coming soon!

"What if Shakespeare had it wrong?"



Do any of these opening lines grab your attention? What are your favorite first lines that you've read lately?

Review: The Dark Heroine by Abigail Gibbs

THE DARK HEROINE: DINNER WITH A VAMPIRE
By: Abigail Gibbs
Published By: Harper Voyager
Release Date: Oct. 11, 2011
Series: The Dark Heroine (#1)
Pages: 549
Genre: Paranormal
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Publisher
Buy the Book: Amazon


Goodreads Summary: The sexiest romance you’ll read this year...

One moment can change your life forever...

For Violet Lee, a chance encounter on a darkened street draws her into a world beyond her wildest imaginings, a timeless place of vast elegance and immeasurable wealth – of beautiful mansions and lavish parties – where a decadent group of friends live for pleasure alone. A place from which there is no escape...no matter how hard Violet tries.

Yet all the riches in the world can’t mask the darkness that lies beneath the gilded surface, embodied in the charismatic but dangerous Kaspar Varn.

Violet and Kaspar surrender to a passion that transcends their separate worlds – but it’s a passion that comes at a price…



I first heard this book described as "Twilight meets 50 Shades." I love Twilight, I'm not opposed to reading books like 50 Shades of Gray, and I will probably always have a soft spot for vampire romances. I was looking forward to reading this book; however, overall I found myself disappointed with it.

When Violet Lee is caught witnessing a bloody massacre in London, she expects that she will be killed as well. But instead, the leader of the killing group takes her back to his house. That leader is none other than Kaspar Varn, who Violet soon learns is the heir to the throne...the vampire throne. Slowly she has to accept that there are other beings and worlds that she never imagined existed. As if that isn't enough, she's started hearing a voice as well as having nightmares of things that are really happening in other places. Even her father isn't the man she always believed him to be. And in the midst of all of this, Violet finds herself strangely drawn to Kaspar, despite all of the things she endures while staying at the Varn castle. Will Violet ever return to her life as a human, or will she choose to join a vampire world forever, despite the consequences it might have?

There were some good things about this book. The story itself has good ideas and was well-written, as well as showing another time of vampire world. Over the course of the book, Violet becomes a stronger character, willing to do what she feels is right to keep those that she cares about safe. Even though I didn't agree with Kaspar on everything, I did enjoy his character as I came to know him.

However, I found it difficult to really connect with the characters, and the book didn't really hold my interest throughout it. There were good scenes, but I found that other portions of the book were slow and not well-integrated into the story. I would have liked to have seen Violet have a friend that she could turn to rather than being so isolated. The ending of the book was promising for what could come in the next one, however.

I know other people have really enjoyed this book, so be sure to look at other reviews:

Once Upon a Twilight
Goodreads Reviews

"Waiting on" Wednesday

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.



This week's selection is:

ARCADIA BURNS
By: Kai Meyer
Published By: Balzer + Bray
Release Date: Feb. 12, 2013
Preorder the Book: Amazon

Note: Arcadia Burns is the sequel to Arcadia Awakens, and the following summary may contain spoilers.

Goodreads Summary: Following the brutal deaths of her sister and aunt, Rosa Alcantara has become what she never thought possible: the very rich and very powerful head of the Alcantara clan. Saddled with this immense responsibility, Rosa must now conduct all business matters--legitimate and not--while negotiating among the greedy, bloodthirsty members of her own family. Not to mention convincing everyone that her blossoming relationship with enemy Alessandro Carnevare won't put the family business in danger.

But loving Alessandro comes at a price. As Rosa continues to fall for him, she discovers the dark secrets of his family's dealings and how they intersect with her own painful past. She wants to believe she can trust Alessandro, but they're so different: Alcantara and Carnevare, snake and panther. How can she love someone whose family wants her dead?

When Rosa and Alessandro uncover an ancient conspiracy intent on destroying both clans, they will do anything to stop it. Racing to put the pieces together, evading their relatives' murderous feud, and learning what it means to control the most influential families in all of Sicily--the two teens must risk everything to love each other and survive.



Why it's wanted:
I enjoyed the first book in this trilogy - it's a fresh story and I'm curious to see what happens next.