Read For Your Future: March 2013

March 28, 2013

Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza Giveaway Hop!

Waiting on Wednesday

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Fearless by Cornelia Funke

Series, Mirrorworld #2

Release Date: 2 April 2013

Pub. By Little, Brown Books for Young

Readers

Jacob Reckless returns once again to the Mirrorworld--filled with profound characters, extraordinary creatures, and epic life-or-death treasure hunts that could only come from the mind of the master storyteller of our generation, Cornelia Funke.

Jacob Reckless has only a few months left to live. He's tried everything to shake the Fairy curse that traded his life for his brother's--legends such as the All-Healing Apple, the Well of Eternal Youth, the blood of a northern Djinn. And yet hope after hope is extinguished. After months of fruitless searching, Jacob journeys through his father's mirror one final time to deliver the bad news to Fox.

But there they hear of one last possibility--an item so legendary that not even Mirrorworlders believe it exists: a crossbow that can kill thousands, or heal one, when shot through the heart. But a Goyl treasure hunter is also searching for the prized crossbow. Jacob must find it first--and somehow convince Fox to do whatever it takes to save him.
What are you waiting on?

March 26, 2013

Stacking the Shelves

Stacking The Shelves is a fun weekly post that RFYF participates in, courtesy of Tynga's Reviews, where we share the books, physical and otherwise, that have been procured for this site for review and subsequent donation to the kids at Franklin High School. We welcome you to join us in sharing the books that you won/bought/borrowed/downloaded over the past week! You may include books in any format, of course.

Tynga's Guidelines:

Create your own Stacking The Shelves post. You may use the graphic supplied on Tynga's page or create your own.

You may set your post in any format that you wish. A book list, covers, pictures, vlogs, the sky is the limit.

I post Stacking The Shelves on Saturday or Sunday, but please feel free to post yours any day that fits you.

Visit Tynga's Reviews on Saturday and add your link so that others can visit you!!

Reviews:

Bloodspell by Amalie Howard

The Soul Seekers by Amy Saia

Cerulean Isle by G.M. Browning

Farm Girl by Karen Jones Gowen

The Magic Wakes by Charity Bradford

Super Cowboy Rides by Daris Howard

The Mist on Bronte Moor by Aviva Orr

The Pirate Slayers: Ghost Waves by W. Everett Prusso

Tanned, Toned and Totally Faking It by Whitney Boyd

Children of the Underground: The Children of Paranoia Series by Trevor Shane

Earth Girl (Earth Girl, #1) by Janet Edwards

Alien Legends: A Selection from the Repository of Imagination by Gill Shutt

Furious by Jill Wolfson

Children of the Underground: The Children of Paranoia Series

Alien Legends: A Selection from the Repository of Imagination

Bought:

Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices, #3) by Cassandra Clare

So what did YOU get???

Teaser Tuesday 3/26/2013 - Clockwork Princess

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read

Open to a random page

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!

Share the title and author so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

                           This teaser Tuesday is from Clockwork Princess By Cassandra Clare
                                                                        page #196

     He broke off, turning his face away. The light that came down through the window high above illuminated cheek and chin and the curve of his jaw.
     "Only What?"
     "You remember what else i said to you that day in the drawing room"he said"I want you to be happy, and him to be happy. And yet when you walk that isle to meet him and join yourselves together forever you will walk the invisible path of the shards of my heart,Tessa. I would give my own life for either of yours. I would give my own life for your happiness.I thought perhaps when you told me that you did not love me that my own feelings would fall away and atrophy, but they have not.They have grown every day. i love you now more desperately, this moment, than I have ever loved you before, and in an hour I will love you more than that. It is unfair to tell you this, I know, when you can do nothing about it" he took A shuddering breath "How you must despise me"

March 25, 2013

Fairy Tale Giveaway Hop

His eyes, Katsa had never seen such eyes. One was silver, and the other, gold. They glowed in his sun-darkened face, uneven, and strange. She was surprised that they hadn't shone in the darkness of their first meeting. They didn't seem human....
Then he raised his eyebrows a hair, and his mouth shifted into the hint of a smirk. He nodded at her, just barely, and it released her from her spell.
Cocky, she thought. Cocky and arrogant, this one, and that was all there was to make of him. Whatever game he was playing, if he expected her to join him he would be disappointed.
In a world where people born with an extreme skill—called a Grace—are feared and exploited, Katsa carries the burden of the skill even she despises: the Grace of killing. She lives under the command of her uncle Randa, King of the Middluns, and is expected to execute his dirty work, punishing and torturing anyone who displeases him.
When she first meets Prince Po, who is Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change.
She never expects to become Po's friend.
She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace—or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away...a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.

Review: Paranormal Properties by Tracy Lane

Summary-

Jake Weir, while on the set of his parents ghost hunting TV show, agrees to help a ghost investigate a 61 year-old murder.
Jake Weir is not like the other kids in Dusk, North Carolina. Then again, Dusk, North Carolina is not like other cities. Known as one of the most haunted cities in America, behind Salem, Massachusetts and New Orleans, Louisiana, Dusk is ground zero for Jake's ghost hunting parents.
The Weir family has arrived in Dusk eager to scope out some of the town's 127 reported "paranormal properties," which just happens to be the name of their own ghost hunting show: Paranormal Properties. What Jake doesn't know, and what his parents could never imagine, is that Jake can see ghosts! And hear them. And talk back to them! This talent comes in handy when he runs into Dusk's oldest, most famous ghost: one Frank Barrone, a one-time lounge singer made famous by his booze-soaked ballad, "Barroom Eyes."
Frank was gunned down by a local mobster in 1951 and has been searching for his killer ever since. When he learns that Jake can see and hear him, Frank makes young Jake a deal: if Jake will help Frank find his killer, Frank will help his parents find a ghost to film for their upcoming Halloween Special on Public Access Channel #319. Jake enlists the only friend he's made in Dusk, an overweight tomboy nicknamed "Tank," to help him track down Frank's killer. As clues emerge and old leads heat up, Frank and Jake learn they make quite a team. But will Jake find Frank's killer? And will Frank find a real haunted house in time for Halloween?

Review-

The plot for this book revolves around Jake, a high school-aged teenager who travels with his parents across the country investigating haunted properties for their cable show, Paranormal Properties. In this installment, Jake meets his new best friend, Tank, and Jake's new ghostly sidekick, Frank Barrone. I say installment because Tracy Lane completed the book with an open-ended finish. The mystery behind Frank's murder is an interesting story line that offers readers a chance to see what the 1920's and Prohibition were like. A sneaky but, nonetheless effective, way to get a bit of history in. Tank and her father's strained relationship add a bit of sensitivity to the subject matter, although Lane barely touches on it. The book, in general, is a light, fun read without full character development or real reader-to-character emotional attachment. I was interested in finding out who killed Frank Barrone but not to the point that I had to stay up late at night. The writing flowed smoothly and quickly, which I always appreciate. It's an easy and accessible read for middle schoolers who like a bit of adventure with the added bonus of an interesting historical perspective.

Publisher- Pants of Fire Press

Reviewer Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by~Cindi

Thank you to the Author for the donation of this book to the Read for your Future book Program in exchange for a honest review!~

Summary-

Wren MacAvoy works as a coal miner for a domed city that was constructed in the mid-nineteenth century to protect the royal blood line of England when astronomers spotted a comet on a collision course with Earth. Humanity would be saved by the most groundbreaking technology of the time. But after nearly 200 years of life beneath the dome, society has become complacent and the coal is running out. Plus there are those who wonder, is there life outside the dome or is the world still consumed by fire? When one of Wren's friends escapes the confines of the dome, he is burned alive and put on display as a warning to those seeking to disrupt the dome’s way of life. But Alex’s final words are haunting. “The sky is blue.” What happens next is a whirlwind of adventure, romance, conspiracy and the struggle to stay alive in a world where nothing is as it seems. Wren unwittingly becomes a catalyst for a revolution that destroys the dome and the only way to survive might be to embrace what the entire society has feared their entire existence.

Review-

When we first started this whole read & review thing I was majorly into the ever popular Vampire thing. It would have taken a good nudge to even get me to consider a dystopian. Fortunately, I've gotten out of that very narrow-minded, awful habit. Now, I look forward to a good dystopian story. This book happens to be one of my favorite from that category. I really enjoyed this book from the first page until I turned the very last one. It starts out with an adrenaline rush of action. Never letting up through the whole story. The main character is very personable & easy to admire. Her friends, family and community add a lot to this harrowing adventure. The author does a wonderful job of putting a unique spin on their way of life and the ever increasing problems of humanity. A little rebellious blood is a good thing from time to time. I highly recommend this dystopian tale. Even if it's not you're type of book, you should give it a try. I promise you will be pleasantly surprised!

Publisher-St. Martin's Griffin

Reviewer Rating: 4.5 Stars

Reviewed by~Mechele

Thank you to the publisher for the donation of this book to the Read for your Future book program in exchange for a honest review~

Summary-

She won’t rest until she’s sent every walking corpse back to its grave. Forever.
Had anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that’s all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone.
Her father was right. The monsters are real….
To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn’t careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies….

Review-

One of the first things I learned about read was you never judge a book by it's cover. The same rule applies to the title of this book. No other book has fallen under this basic rule as much as this one does. Another positive point this book has going for it is the Author. I have read a few books in different genres from this writer. Almost every one of them have been rated with a 4 or above. Her characters are always unique in their personalities, motives, actions and the emotions they have to deal with. This is absolutely a one-of-a-kind necromancer/zombie story. Not at all the usual necro traits. Also, a very strange flip to the ʺnormalʺ zombies of late. I'm not really firmly rooted in the whole zombie craze, however I felt that this was a remarkably intriguing storyline. I was completely wrapped up in this book and read it straight through. If you are looking for a different kind of necro/zombie book then you should give this one a try. Believe me, you won't be disappointed. I highly recommend this book. Can't wait to read the next book in The White Rabbit Chronicles!!

Publisher-Harlequin Teen

Reviewers Rating: 4.5 Stars

Reviewed by~Mechele

Thank you to Nastashya at Harlequin for the donation of this book to the Read for your Future book Program in echange for a honest review~

Summary-

Jodi Marshall isn't sure how she went from normal teenager to walking disaster. One minute she's in her junior year of high school, spending time with her amazing boyfriend and her best friend. The next she's being stalked by some guy no one seems to know.
After the stranger, Alex, reveals himself, Jodi learns he's not a normal teenager and neither is she. With a kiss that kills and a touch that brings the dead back to life, Jodi discovers she's part of a branch of necromancers born under the 13th sign of the zodiac, Ophiuchus. A branch of necromancers that are descendants of Medusa. A branch of necromancers with poisoned blood writhing in their veins.
Jodi's deadly to the living and even more deadly to the deceased. She has to leave her old, normal life behind before she hurts the people she loves. As if that isn't difficult enough, Jodi discovers she's the chosen one who has to save the rest of her kind from perishing at the hands of Hades. If she can't figure out how to control her power, history will repeat itself, and her race will become extinct.

Review-

While necromancer books have not been impossible to get ahold of, they have not been incredibly common either. That is until the last few days. I have read 2 within the last 10 days. Maybe, they are becoming more popular. If those kinds of stories are fast rising to the top, I can't help but feel like I've had the good fortune to review the best. This book is a perfect example of this to come. The storyline is incredibly unique. I have not read anything this exciting in a few months. I loved the way the author threw together all the elements to make this story over-the-top. The main character & her cast of friends never has dull moment. They go from one misadventure head long right into the next. A copmlicated mixture of past, present & the Zodiac signs. With some mythology twisted in for good measure. Fortunately, they figure it out just in the nick of time. I hope to be able to read the rest of this amazing story in the sequels. This book shows a fresh new face to the world of paranormal abilities. Very recommended to all young readers.

Publisher-Spencer Hill Press

Reviewer Rating: 4.5 Stars

Reviewed by~Mechele

Thank you to the author for the donation of this bok to the Read for your Future book program in exchange for a honest review~

Summary-

Rylie's been bitten.
She's changing.
And now she has three months to find a cure before becoming a werewolf... forever.
Rylie Gresham hates everything about summer camp: the food, the fresh air, the dumb activities, and the other girls in her cabin. But the worst part is probably being bitten by a werewolf. Being a teenager is hard enough, but now she's craving raw flesh and struggles with uncontrollable anger. If she doesn't figure out a way to stop the transformation, then at the end of summer, her life is worse than over. She'll be a monster.

Review-

A good first book to yet another Werewolf series. I like the way the author accents the different details of this storyline. It never fails to amaze me how very unique a wolf story can be. You would think that if you've read one then you've read them all. That is sooo not true. Each story deserves it's own time to shine. Even if you are getting burned-out on this type of story, I urge you to give this one a fair shake. The main character does a very believable job of transforming from a little girl into an independent young lady. Her surrounding characters are wonderful as well. Even the not so likable ones. The descriptions of the beautiful settings are authentic. You will get the feeling that you have seen these places in real life. The storyline is filled with strong details, making this a very enjoyable read. I am really glad I gave this book a chance. Hope you feel the same way, Happy Reading!!

Reviewer Rating: 4 Stars

Reviewed by~Mechele