Review: Arrows by Melissa Gorzelanczyk

Arrows by Melissa Gorzelanczyk

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Publication Date: January 26, 2016

Rating: 4 stars

Source: ARC sent by the publisher

Summary (from Goodreads):

People don’t understand love. If they did, they’d get why dance prodigy Karma Clark just can’t say goodbye to her boyfriend, Danny. No matter what he says or does or how he hurts her, she can’t stay angry with him . . . and can’t stop loving him. But there’s a reason why Karma is helpless to break things off: she’s been shot with a love arrow. 

Aaryn, son of Cupid, was supposed to shoot both Karma and Danny but found out too late that the other arrow in his pack was useless. And with that, Karma’s life changed forever. One pregnancy confirmed. One ballet scholarship lost. And dream after dream tossed to the wind.

A clueless Karma doesn’t know that her toxic relationship is Aaryn’s fault . . . but he’s going to get a chance to make things right. He’s here to convince Danny to man up and be there for Karma. But what if this god from Mount Olympus finds himself falling in love with a beautiful dancer from Wisconsin who can never love him in return?

This fast-paced debut novel explores the internal & external conflicts of a girl who finds herself inexplicably drawn to a boy who seemingly doesn't reciprocate her  feelings, touching on the issues of love, sex and responsibility, with a heroine struggling to control her destiny--perfect for fans of Katie McGarry's novels and MTV’s 16 and Pregnant.

What I Liked:

This book was recommended to me by Kathy MacMillan in October, which is how I discovered the novel. I'll be honest - this definitely isn't something I'd typically read. I tend to avoid books with teenage pregnancy, usually because those books are the tough-issue contemporary types, the realistic contemporary novels with mental health issues or trauma or sad, sad stories. I just can't read and enjoy those types of books, so I don't read them. This book, however, was different. There are plenty of "tough issues" addressed in this book, but with a mythological context, and a light tone to the story. It's pretty cool how Gorzelanczyk pulled it off!

Aaryn, son of Cupid, shot Karma with an arrow, and he was supposed to shoot her boyfriend Danny with one too. But a mistake happened, and only Karma got shot with the love arrow. A year later, Aaryn's mistake is found out, and he is sent to Earth as a human (no longer a god) to right his wrong in ninety days. A lot has changed in a year; Karma had a baby, who is now three months old. Karma is desperately in love with Danny, and overlooks so many faults of his. Danny isn't a loving boyfriend, but Aaryn needs Danny to love Karma just as much as she loves him, in order to fix Aaryn's mistake and keep him on Olympus. 

I wasn't expecting this book to be quite as... tough-issue-heavy as it was! Nine months after Aaryn shot Karma with an arrow, she had her baby, Nell. Karma is basically raising Nell by herself, with her mother and sister and the help of a few friends here and there. Danny isn't quite a deadbeat dad, but he is constantly too "busy" to watch his daughter on the one to two nights a week. "Busy" meaning partying with other high schoolers, getting drunk, hanging out with his friends, football practice... hooking up with someone else?!

Meanwhile, Karma is so love-struck - literally - that she can't see past his lies and bulls***. She forgives him every time, even makes excuses for him when her mother or sister or friends point out that he is a horrible boyfriend and father. It would be sickening to read (Karma's naivety) if we didn't know exactly why she felt the way she did (she was hit by Cupid's arrow)!

Despite all of that, I really liked Karma. You can't blame her for staying with her jerk boyfriend who is a terrible person and not good for her or her daughter at all. Karma is a very talented dancer, so good that she didn't lose any chance of getting scholarships or winning competition because of her pregnancy. Karma is so strong and tough and normal, even. She's got a baby and she loves her daughter, but she also works hard in school and even harder on the dance floor. Karma never expected to get pregnant or have a baby, but she is such a great teen mom.

Aaryn was a god until he was sent down to Earth to make Danny fall in love with Karma - rather, somehow get Danny to propose to her... yup, that's not going to be easy, with no arrows or god powers or help from Olympus. Aaryn feels awful about how drastically Karma's life changed after his mistake. He's such a sweetie, such a nice and caring guy. Maybe it's because he's a god, or because he's seen so much more than most people, but Aaryn is a genuinely good person.

This book is told in both Aaryn and Karma's first-person POV, starting with Aaryn's. I preferred Aaryn's POV to Karma's because he's such a sweetheart, but also because Karma's denials about Danny's infidelity, her excuses for him, her naivety, grated my nerves a bit. I couldn't fault her, but I REALLY wanted to strangle Danny! 

I loved seeing the positive female relationships in this novel. Karma has several girl friends who are also fellow dancers that really support her in everything - dancing, watching Nell (SUCH nice friends!), having her back with Danny. Karma's sister Leah nags Karma about Danny a lot, but Leah means well. There are so many great relationships among females in this book - not a bunch of catty, b****y ones that you usually see in YA contemporary.

I absolutely LOVE the romance in this book. There is subtle chemistry between Aaryn and Karma, but this book isn't about Karma and Aaryn's romance at all, so it's there but it's not. The romance builds very, very slowly - as you might expect, since all Karma can see is Danny. No love triangle (I know, how am I saying that, given this book's structure?!) - you'll have to trust me on that. I love how the romance resolves in this book.

Greek mythology, yo! Aaryn is a son of Cupid, living on Olympus. I love the touch of Greek mythology in this book - more than a touch, really. Everything started with a cupid's arrow...

This book was nothing I expected, nothing I would usually read, but so much that I enjoyed. Overall, I am so glad that I sought out a copy of this one after Kathy MacMillan recommended it to me. It's not something I would find myself reading, but I so enjoyed it!

What I Did Not Like:

Putting a comment about this in the dislikes section - you'd think I wouldn't like the romance, given the way it's set up, but I really liked it. I loved seeing Karma work through relationships, sex, college applications, and making some pretty life-changing decisions.

Yes, I definitely got annoyed with how much she stuck up for Danny. Yes, I really wanted to punch Danny. But then I would remember - it's not Karma's fault!

Would I Recommend It:

If you're a tough-issue contemporary fan, I would DEFINITELY recommend this novel. Yes, it's a mythology-based novel, but it's set in the modern world, and the "tough issues" are heartbreaking and so real. Not something I would usually enjoy (I'm more of a fantasy girl!), but I really liked this book!

Rating:

4 stars. What a unique and fresh debut novel! Not all heartbreak and doom, but an important story of self-discovery, love, sex, and relationships. Side note - if only guys like Aaryn really did exist!

Author Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Was this review helpful? Please let me know in the comments section!

Review: Sword and Verse by Kathy MacMillan

Sword and Verse by Kathy MacMillan

Publisher: Harper Teen 

Publication Date: January 19, 2016

Rating: 5 stars

Source: eARC from Edelweiss

Summary (from Goodreads):

Raisa was just a child when she was sold to work as a slave in the kingdom of Qilara. Despite her young age, her father was teaching her to read and write, grooming her to take his place as a Learned One. In Qilara, the Arnathim, like Raisa, are the lowest class, and literacy is a capital offense. What’s more, only the king, prince, tutor, and tutor-in-training are allowed to learn the very highest order language, the language of the gods. So when the tutor-in-training is executed for teaching slaves this sacred language, and Raisa is selected to replace her, Raisa knows any slipup on her part could mean death.

Keeping her secret is hard enough, but the romance that’s been growing between her and Prince Mati isn’t helping matters. Then Raisa is approached by the Resistance—an underground army of slave rebels—to help liberate Arnath slaves. She wants to free her people, but that would mean aiding a war against Mati. As Raisa struggles with what to do, she discovers a secret that the Qilarites have been hiding for centuries—one that, if uncovered, could bring the kingdom to its knees.

What I Liked:

Sword and Verse was one of those books that I knew I would enjoy, upon reading only the synopsis. I remember seeing the title, and then the synopsis, and then the cover... I remember discovering that the author was a fellow Baltimorean, which is REALLY exciting. Of all of Harper's 2016 Winter and Spring debuts, Sword and Verse was the one I wanted to read the most. You probably already saw my top five reasons why I think you should read this book, but this will be a more in-depth and coherent log of my thoughts on the book - which was superb!

Note: I will not do this book justice, with this review. I couldn't do it with my Top Five Reasons post (which you should check out, it's slightly more condensed), and I know I can't do it here. There are some books that are that great that I just want to say, "TRUST ME AND READ IT!" and be done with the review. Still, I hope I can write a nice review (and not spoil things).

As a child, Raisa was chosen to be the next tutor, and so she began to learn to read and write alongside the crown prince of Qilara, Mati. Years later, Raisa's feelings for Mati have grown, and she has also become a very accomplished Tutor, mastering the language and symbols with ease. Raisa and Mati know they shouldn't feel anything towards each other... but they do. When war breaks out against Qilara, Raisa will help the Resistance or stay loyal to Qilara - there is no easy way out of her past, present, or future.

This book is written from Raisa's POV, and it starts in the past, when Raisa is small. She wasn't always a distinguished tutor-in-training - she used to be a slave in the kingdom. As an Arnath child, she never felt welcome in Qilara anyway. Raisa is a different heroine from what we typically see in YA fantasy these days. She isn't bent on saving the world, or wielding swords, or defying royalty. She's loyal to Mati, and she doesn't forget her people, but she doesn't want to necessarily help the Resistance when it could mean hurting Mati (indirectly). Raisa is a mentally and emotionally strong young woman, which is just as important as being physically tough. She is intelligent and kind, and has to work through an incredible amount of emotional burden throughout the book.

Mati is the male protagonist of the book, and a very important character in the story. He has to lead Qilara for various reasons, and the learning curve is steep. He never wanted to be a part of the conflict and war that Qilara is deeply entrenched in, but he takes steps to ensure Qilara's success. Mati is selfless and clever, which is one of the reasons why I think him and Raisa are a great pair.

So much of this book revolves around language and writing and symbols. The Resistance is desperate to have Raisa helping them because she can read and write, and she is in the palace. Raisa's role as Tutor will be to teach Mati's children how to read and write, as well as train the next Tutor. 

So you see that Raisa and Mati's roles were clearly defined from that start... but it didn't stop either of them from falling for each from the start. We know that Raisa has feelings for Mati since she was little, and we find out that he has feelings for her too. The romance is a strange one; no love triangle, but it isn't like any romance I've read. There was a point in the book that broke my heart, and it was less than halfway through. This book takes place over a year (maybe a little over a year?), not including the prologue. A LOT happens during that time, in terms of the romance (and in terms of the entire story). This book is a fantasy novel through and through, so there are certain elements of the story that intersect with the romance that really only occur in fantasy novels... you'll have to read the book to know what I mean, but the romance in this book is very unconventional. 

And I say all of that and mean it in a GOOD way. I absolutely love how MacMillan constructed the romance, how it developed. The romance wraps up in a satisfying way, and there is no love triangle. NO LOVE TRIANGLE. None. The romance is one of my favorite aspects of this book. So. Good. Lots of swoon and fangirling from me, I will assure you.

MacMillan also does a great job with the world-building. Sometimes high fantasy novels seem to blur together, in terms of the worlds. I didn't find it the case with this book; the emphasis on language and symbols made this book highly distinctive, as well as the structure of the court and kingdom, and the role of religion. 

The ending is stunning, in my opinion. The book takes it time for the most part, in terms of pacing, but the climax picks up speed and the ending is eye-opening. I love the pacing of the book overall, and I really liked how the ending felt. Everything comes together, and the ending wraps up all the loose threads. I was really happy with the ending, especially in the last few pages. 

This book is a standalone, and the ending is perfect for it. It's not as tightly wrapped as I would have hoped (there are one or two things that I thought were open-ended), but I have it on good authority that things will be addressed in the future - but not as a series. So. Standalone for the win!

What I Did Not Like:

This book was really satisfying for me, so I don't think I have complaints. One of the things that I mentioned above was that I found that there were a few things that were open-ended. Usually this would be a complaint of mine if the book is a standalone (which this one is), but if those elements will be addressed in future companion novels, then by all means!

Would I Recommend It:

I highly recommend this novel. Fantasy fan, YA fan, someone who enjoyed Kristin Cashore's books, or Alexandra Bracken's Brightly Woven, etc. It's a standalone with an incredible and totally unique romance, and high-stakes action, and unforgettable world-building. This stunning debut did not disappoint on any level!

Rating:

5 stars. <--- That's a rare rating from me. I like it when I build a novel up in my head for forever, and then the novel turns out to be really, really wonderful. If you get a chance to read this book, do it! Don't miss this book!

Author Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Was this review helpful? Please let me know in the comments section!

Preorder incentive | Swoon Thursday

Stacking the Shelves (#152)

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, in which bloggers share the books and swag they've received in the past week!

So, what did I get in the week of Sunday, November 15th to Saturday, November 21st?

(all links to Goodreads are provided!)

In the mail:

FROM THE PREVIOUS WEEK (11/08-11/14):

An ARC of The Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman

Eon and Eona were two of my childhood favorites! I've been dying for something new by Goodman for years. Thank you, Penguin!

A hardcover copy of The Shards of Heaven by Michael Livingston

Never heard of this one - it sounds like something by sister's boyfriend might like. Thanks, Tor!

An ARC of Sweetest Scoundrel by Elizabeth Hoyt

Gah! I've loved the Maiden Lane series so far. ASA'S STORY!

To All the Boys I've Loved Before notebook and pen

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea bookmark

I saw the notebook on #booksfortrade and immediately wanted it! Thank you for the trade, Skye. :)

A ton of Jodi Meadows swag

Thank you, Jodi! Seriously made my day.

FROM THIS WEEK (11/15-11/21):

A paperback copy of Blood Kiss by J.R. Ward

Thank you so much, Berkley!

Truthwitch, fish, and "made with love" pendants!

Made by a fellow Waterwitch Babe, Kim! Thank you so much!

"Where my witches at?" magnet

This was made by another fellow Waterwitch Babe, Olivia! Thank you!

From Edelweiss:

The Rogue Not Taken by Sarah MacLean

A new series by this author! This will be my first by her.

The Vanishing Throne by Elizabeth May

Yaaassss, I can't wait to read this!

I'm home for Thanksgiving! Since the semester started really early at my university, we get the whole week off. Time to do some papers, problem sets, and READ! :)

Review: Dirty Deeds by Megan Erickson

Dirty Deeds by Megan Erickson

Book Three of the Mechanics of Love series

Publisher: Avon Impulse

Publication Date: December 8, 2015

Rating: 3 stars

Source: eARC from Edelweiss

***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***

Summary (from Goodreads):

Alex Dawn is saying no to men. No to bad relationships, disappointments, and smooth-talkers. Focusing on her family and her job at Payton and Sons Automotive keeps her mind occupied and her heart content. She doesn’t really miss a man’s touch, until one night, a man shows up with the body of a god and a voice from her dirtiest dreams.

L.M. Spencer is only in Tory, Maryland, to scope out the town as a possible site for one of his company's hotels. The British businessman didn’t expect his car to break down or to find the hottest little American he’s ever seen holding a tire iron, piercing him with bright blue eyes.

They agree to one hot night, one dirty deed to burn out the chemistry between them. But from their first kiss, Alex can’t stop saying yes to this man. And when Spencer’s company threatens everything she cares about, they must make the choice to stand together or apart.

What I Liked:

I was slightly nervous about this book before starting it - I LOVED Dirty Thoughts, but didn't quite love Dirty Talk as much as I'd hoped. It was still good (a three-star read), but I worried that Dirty Deeds would follow the decline. Thankfully, it didn't really slump, and I enjoyed Spencer and Alex's story (for the most part)!

Spencer is in Tory, Maryland, doing his job - investigating the town to see if Royalty Suites should build a hotel there. He enjoys his job, his position, and his money. But when he meets Alex Dawn in Tory, he begins to think that maybe she was missing in his life. Alex is moving on from past life with her ex-boyfriend, and she knows better than to form attachments. But there is something about L.M. Spencer that she can't shake - if fact, he's all she can see. But he'll be leaving for New York and never coming back, and neither of them are willing to give up their current lives. Or will they?

Spencer is the new character in this series - he wasn't in Dirty Thoughts or Dirty Talk. He's a tall, broad, handsome, posh British guy with a wicked accent that even little Violet is obsessed with. Spencer is very refined and polished... and yet he's as dirty-talking and alpha as they come. Alex totally misjudges him, and she's surprised by the instant and unwavering chemistry between them. But what's more, Spencer is a thoughtful and sweet guy. He apologizes when he's wrong, he wants things to be clear, he likes to talk things out. Such a perfect guy, right?

Alex, on the other hand, doesn't like talking about feelings or anything deep. She doesn't want to get emotionally entangled with Spencer (but she does, her bad). Alex is a difficult girl with a sad past, and it's Spencer who indirectly lifts her to her feet, and she finds her way in this book. I love how tough Alex is, but I also love that she lets her walls down. For Spencer.

I love how Alex and Spencer's relationship unfolds; you'd think it'd be difficult to pull off, with Spencer in town for days at a time. He comes, leaves for New York, comes back, stays for a little longer than the first time. They agree to enjoy time together while he's in Tory, nothing more. But along the way, they both fall for each other.

The chemistry between these two was pretty hot! Somehow, this book didn't seem as hot as Erickson's other books that I've read, and I expected more. But there were several hot scenes in the book (though, unfortunately, nothing memorable). Alex and Spencer are definitely a great pair together, both physically and emotionally.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It's not my favorite of the series, and there isn't much that makes it stick out to me. It seems a bit lackluster compared to Dirty Thoughts, but maybe it's just that I LOVED Dirty Thoughts so much.

What I Did Not Like:

This is a general thing, but it's SO cliche that a romance novel has to have a breakup as part of the climax. It's so typical, and so annoying. Spencer and Alex's breakup is something I saw coming, as well as the reason. I hate how the guy is always the one that has to grovel and beg and throw himself at her feet. I think Alex could have done something too! I get that it seems like it's usually "the guy's fault". But in this case, Alex was being a bit unfair.

And, like I've been saying, there wasn't a lot of memorable scenes or things going for this book. Sure, Spencer is a hot Brit. But the sex scenes weren't memorable (they were okay, pretty hot, but nothing special). Alex + Spencer weren't particularly special. Sure, I liked them, but their relationship wasn't powerful and beautiful or cute and adorable, or amazing and, well, memorable. The whole plot of this book is soooo cliche (girl with tortured past, guy with rough past - are we back to this?) - right down to the super cliche climax. And ending. Agghhhh.

Don't get me wrong. I loved that Spencer and Alex got a great ending, and I loved seeing them get together. But there was nothing that made this book special. Like, I would never reread this one (whereas I've reread Dirty Thoughts at least a few times already).

Would I Recommend It:

I'd recommend this book if you're a huge Megan Erickson fan (like myself), or if you love this series. If you're new to the series, I recommend Dirty Thoughts, but maybe stop there. Grumpy Cal is literally the BEST male protagonist of this series. Not to say that Brent and Spencer aren't - and not to say that Dirty Talk and Dirty Deeds weren't great. They just weren't... amazing. Or wonderful. Or special. Quit while you're ahead!

Rating:

3 stars. I liked this book, but I doubt I'll ever reread it. It's not one I'd go on the streets recommending, either. I wish I loved it, but it wasn't anything special. My biggest problem was that it's just another cliche romance novel, with a hot British guy to make it slightly different. Unfortunately, that's not quite good enough for me! But that's *me*. 

Author Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Was this review helpful? Please let me know in the comments section!

Swoon Thursday (#147): The Killing Jar by Jennifer Bosworth

Swoon Thursday is a hot meme hosted by the fabulous ladies at YA Bound!

- From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering

- Try to make the swoon excerpt 140 characters (or less), if you are going to tweet about it. Use the hashtag #YABOUND when tweeting

This week, my swoon is from The Killing Jar by Jennifer Bosworth!

His kiss was just like him: considerate, gentlemanly, sweet. It frustrated the hell out of me. After so much time spent keeping him - keeping all guys, all people - at a safe distance, I was finally ready to let one of them in. I wanted more than a polite kiss.

I made my lips softer but kissed him harder. He responded, arms wrapping me, fingers burrowing into my hair. A sublime sense of vertigo, a magnetic gravity overcame me. I was falling and standing at the same time. Our kiss became less considerate, more impatient and eager, and there it was: the ferocity under the sweetness. The rogue under the clean-cut boy next door. 

- ARC, page 39

Author Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

My review | Giveaway (USA only)

This book took me by surprise - I really enjoyed it, despite not knowing much about it specifically. A really great standalone!

Book Blitz and Giveaway: Once Upon A Power Play by Jennifer Bonds

Welcome to the release week celebration for Once Upon a Power Play by Jennifer Bonds! This book received a rare five stars from me - it's definitely one of my favorite Brazen novels! Check out my review (HERE), and check out the excerpt and giveaway below. Enjoy!

Once Upon A Power Play by Jennifer Bonds

Book Two of the Risky Business series

Publisher: Brazen

Publication Date: November 16, 2015

Summary (from Goodreads):

He'll do whatever it takes to get her against the boards…

Sidelined by a potentially career-ending injury, the only thing hockey player Ryan Douglas should be thinking about is recovery. But after sharing a near death experience and a night of passion with a spunky brunette, the only thing on his mind is five and a half feet of sexy sarcasm. And he'll do whatever it takes to get her back in his bed--even if it means playing dirty.

Chloe Jacobs is done with fairytales. And men. She's kissed her share of frogs and what's it gotten her? Dumped by text--again. Determined to eighty-six illusions of romance and prove she's more than just a good-time girl, the last thing she needs is a pushy, arrogant hockey player testing her resolve. Especially one who's sinfully good with his hands and thinks date-by-blackmail is a perfectly acceptable social convention.

Ryan wants to play games? Fine by her, but this is one faceoff he's going to lose.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | iBooks

About the Author:

Jennifer Bonds writes sizzling contemporary romance with sassy heroines, sexy heroes, and a whole lot of mischief. When she's not writing or wrangling toddlers, she can be found curled up with a good book and a bottle of wine. Jennifer lives in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where her overactive imagination and weakness for reality TV keep life interesting. She's lucky enough to live with her own real life hero, two adorable children, and a pair of rambunctious dogs. Loves Buffy, Mexican food, the Winchester brothers, and all things zombie. Sings off-key.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

The Excerpt:

“Hey! That’s mine!”

Ryan Douglas froze in his tracks, slowly turning around to find a tiny, pissed off brunette glaring at him with one hand on her hip and the other hugging a gallon-sized jug of margarita mix. “Excuse me?”

“The lime,” she said, nodding her head and enunciating each word as if he might not speak English. “I saw it first.”

It was impossible to suppress the grin that spread over his face. Was she serious? His gaze raked over her, taking in the fancy upsweep of her dark hair and the lacey gold dress—if you could call it that—that revealed more than it covered peeking out from under her unbuttoned coat. The furry brown boots climbing halfway to her bare knees? Those he could do without, but the rest was pretty damn sexy. There wasn’t a winter coat around that could hide those curves. She had the kind of body a man could sink his teeth into. And he. Was. Ravenous.

“Like what you see?” She raised her brow and hooked a thumb over her shoulder. “The meat department is two aisles over.”

He laughed, and it was an honest-to-God, full-on belly laugh. She was a fiery little thing. But that didn’t mean he was giving her the lime. Maybe if she’d asked nicely. But with that attitude? It’d be a cold day in hell.

“Last I heard, possession is nine-tenths of the law.” He tossed the lime in the air and caught it with his right hand. She glared at him, and for a moment he thought she’d kick him in the balls with her big furry boots. He was being an ass, but she wasn’t exactly Miss Manners herself. Besides, it was the most fun he’d had all day. Which spoke volumes about his shitty afternoon, most of which had been spent getting his ass kicked by a sadistic physical therapist. His leg hurt like hell, but he’d tough it out. He had no other choice if he wanted to salvage his career.

The brunette rolled her eyes, the dark irises shimmering like black coffee under the soft glow of the overhead lights. “It’s not my fault you have inhumanly long lumberjack arms.” The smirk that followed told him yes, she was in fact referring to his worn flannel shirt.

Typical self-important New York princess, judging him by something so superficial. Not that he gave a fuck what she thought, but man, what he wouldn’t give to wipe that little grin off her heart-shaped face. And with years of experience antagonizing his two older sisters, he had a pretty good idea of how to do it. He waved the lime in front of her again, wondering if she’d try to make a play for it. Not that she could get her hands on it if he didn’t want her to. He towered over her by nearly a foot, and his reflexes were pretty damn good. “Princess, I wouldn’t give you this lime if you got down on your knees and begged, but if it means that much to you, you’re welcome to give it a go.”

The Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Waiting on Wednesday (#151): The Glittering Court by Richelle Mead

"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, I'm featuring:

The Glittering Court by Richelle Mead

Book One of The Glittering Court series

Publisher: Razorbill

Publication Date: April 12, 2016

Summary (from Goodreads):

A dazzling new fantasy series set in a mix of Elizabethan and frontier worlds that’s dripping with romance from Richelle Mead, #1 internationally bestselling author of Vampire Academy.

Big and sweeping, spanning the refined palaces of Osfrid to the gold dust and untamed forests of Adoria, The Glittering Court tells the story of Adelaide, an Osfridian countess who poses as her servant to escape an arranged marriage and start a new life in Adoria, the New World. But to do that, she must join the Glittering Court. 

Both a school and a business venture, the Glittering Court is designed to transform impoverished girls into upper-class ladies capable of arranging powerful and wealthy marriages in the New World. Adelaide naturally excels in her training and even makes a few friends: the fiery former laundress Tamsin and the beautiful Sirminican refugee Mira. She manages to keep her true identity hidden from all but one: the intriguing Cedric Thorn, son of the wealthy proprietor of the Glittering Court.

When Adelaide discovers that Cedric is hiding a dangerous secret of his own, together, they hatch a scheme to make the best of Adelaide’s deception. Complications soon arise—first, as they cross the treacherous seas from Osfrid to Adoria, and later, when Adelaide catches the attention of a powerful governor.

But no complication will prove quite as daunting as the potent attraction simmering between Adelaide and Cedric. An attraction that, if acted on, would scandalize the Glittering Court and make them both outcasts in wild, vastly uncharted lands. . . . 

Author Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Soundless was my first Mead book, and I thought it was pretty good. I'm interested in seeing what the author does with this concept!