Waiting on Wednesday: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

Hello! Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme that features a book awaiting publication. It is hosted by Jill from BreakingtheSpine. Check out her blog for more information and to link up your own post!

This week, I am enamored by the following title:

Title: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

Author: April Genevieve Tucholke

Release Day: August 15th, 2013

Summary: (goodreads) You stop fearing the devil when you’re holding his hand…

Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White’s sleepy, seaside town…until River West comes along. River rents the guesthouse behind Violet’s crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard. Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more? Violet’s grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery...who makes you want to kiss back. Violet’s already so knee-deep in love, she can’t see straight. And that’s just how River likes it.

Blending faded decadence and the thrilling dread of gothic horror, April Genevieve Tucholke weaves a dreamy, twisting contemporary romance, as gorgeously told as it is terrifying—a debut to watch.

My Thoughts: With such a poetic title, this is one novel that I can fangirl over with class and elegance. An unconventional love story, and such a sinister synopsis make me want to own this book as soon as is possible. I cannot tell you how wonderful this sounds to me and how I so hope that it will deliver all the direct and indirect promises I imagine are being delivered in that powerful summary.

Cover Reveal: No Reverse

Hello, readers!

Today I am participating in a cover reveal for a New Adult novel coming out August 12th, 2013. The details are below in case you want to add this to your to-be-read pile. This is my alternative to WoW this week, and I cannot wait to pick up this book.

Title: No Reverse

Age Group/Genre: New Adult Contemporary

Author: Marion Croslydon

Cover Designer: Phat Puppy Art

Photography: Teresa Yeh

Expected release: Summer 2013 

Cover reveal organized by: AToMR Tours

The Summary That Makes Me Want To Read This Novel:

A girl who needs to undo the past. A boy who wants to forget it. In love, there’s no way back.

At high school in Steep Hill, Kansas, Cassie O’Malley and Josh MacBride were the poster couple for quarterback/cheerleader romance until they starred in their own tale of teen pregnancy. No need to say: their shotgun wedding was low-key. But when there was no baby anymore, they went their separate ways. Five years later, Josh has breezed through Georgetown and is about to finish his post-grad degree at Oxford University. He is set to join a lobbying group on Capitol Hill, owned by his new fiancée’s father. For Josh, the sky is now the limit… only he must first take care of a tiny legal matter: technically, he’s still married to the girl who broke his heart. Meanwhile, Cassie has been waiting tables in Steep Hill to pay for her sick grandmother’s care. On the day of the old lady’s funeral, Cassie is served with two sets of papers. Josh is asking for a divorce. Her heart squeezes, but, well, he moved on a long time ago. But the second envelope shakes Cassie to the core. So, for the first time, she leaves Kansas and heads to good ol’ England. There, Cassie finds that Josh has not just “moved on,” he’s freakin’ engaged to some blue-blooded heiress. The feelings Cassie had buried deep rush back to her. But no matter if he keeps thrusting the divorce papers under her nose, she needs him to save the only person she loves more than Josh, more than life itself…     About the Author Marion loves to share happy vibes, talk book crush, fictional boyfriends and sexual chemistry with like-minded people. And because she spends most of her days on her own deep inside her writing cave, you are welcome to come and say “hello” from time to time. Just to make sure she doesn’t sink into insanity. Her friends, family and arch-enemies (there are quite a few) will be forever grateful for your help.

And Here is the Cover!

Marion Croslydon | Twitter | Facebook

 

GIVEAWAY

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The Evolution of Mara Dyer

Author: Michelle Hodkin

Source: Library

Summary: (goodreads)

 Mara Dyer once believed she could run from her past.

She can’t.

She used to think her problems were all in her head.

They aren’t.

She couldn’t imagine that after everything she’s been through, the boy she loves would still be keeping secrets.

She’s wrong.

In this gripping sequel to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, the truth evolves and choices prove deadly. What will become of Mara Dyer next?

Review: As a huge fan of the first book in this series, I thought I was set to adore the second one  as well. But there were some major cons for me in this story. Although the overall plot was still magnificent and ambitious, the execution for this book faltered way too many times to ignore it.

Way too many things were placed in coincidentally to help keep the ball rolling and it was unrealistic even in this paranormal environment. Did anybody count how many times Mara blacks out? It was so many that I lost track. I don't know if there is supposed to be a secret reason why and maybe all will be revealed in the third book, but it was ridiculous. Mara would black out at the most inopportune times to seemingly make the story longer.

When I look back, I don't feel like much of anything happened in this novel. It was so much of the characters running around and randomly creating new problems to solve. I think this would have been better as one large, stand-alone book instead of a series.

Emotionally, this was an intense part of Mara's story. The psychology is so tangled up that at times I wasn't sure if Mara was a reliable narrator. I even wondered if she had imagined some scenes because of what a nervous wreck she becomes. Her dependence on Noah borders on clingy, which is somewhat understandable given her predicament, but mostly it was just unrealistic.

The ending is tragic, but I cannot say that I cared too much about what happened after Mara blacks out for the umpteenth time. I anxiously awaited this sequel and wanted so much to love it, but those ridiculous plot twists buried the possibility of a five star review.

Nevertheless, The Evolution of Mara Dyer can still provide an exciting tour of the troubled mind and if fans loved the first, then you will at least have some closure (very little, but some) in this one.

But I'm not sure how much more story is left for a third.

Rating: 1 2 3 3.5 4 5

Other Books in the Series:

1. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer
3. The Retribution of Mara Dyer (To Be Released October 22nd, 2013)

Scent of Darkness

Author: Margot Berwin

Source: Publisher

Released: January 29th, 2013

Summary: (goodreads) Evangeline is eighteen years old when her grandmother gives her the ultimate gift-a scent she has created just for her. From the moment Eva places a drop on her neck, her entire life changes. Previously unnoticed, she becomes the object of intense desire for everyone around her. Men dance close to her; women dip their noses deep into her hair; even the cats outside her bedroom cry to be near her. Gabriel, the quiet student Eva has admired from afar, falls head-over-heels in love with her. But soon the gift begins to control Eva's life: strangers follow her around, sniffing and touching her at every turn. When Eva meets Michael, an artist who barely registers her smell, Eva wonders if he is the one person who can love her for herself. Or is her scent impossible to escape? A bewitching, wildly imaginative novel steeped in the mythology of perfume, Scent of Darkness seduces the reader's every sense.

Review: A tangling web of events occur in this New Adult Fiction novel, so rapidly that the reader may be left questioning what exactly was it that happened? Evangeline starts out an ordinary girl her age. A troubled relationship with her mother causes her to feel very alone when her beloved grandmother passes away. But an interesting twist begins her relationship with the hot waiter/medical student she saw one time. Except it isn't necessarily the type she wants.

Evangeline's flaws become rapidly apparent and her low self-esteem is almost palpable. She does not adapt well and refuses to admit to reality. Although the magic of scent is woven in to seem realistic, at times it is so closely woven that the reader wonders if it may not all just be in the unreliable head of the narrator. Evangeline evokes frequent sighs of annoyance from the reader through her senseless actions and infatuation with the power the scent provides her.

The scent really carries her rather than the other way around. Her newfound sexual power is misused and she entangles herself with a parasitic undesirable when she has hoards of men to choose from. And she forgets about who she claimed to love. She embodies the sentiment that it would be better for her to be loved than for her to love someone more. In short, Evangeline is lousy.

The prose was incredible! The writing elicited emotion and the descriptions brought a delightful sensory experience to this novel. It almost feels like the author wasted her talent in writing a piece with so little sensible plot. It was as if the label "New Adult" was a mold she was trying to break into. I've heard the term "College Erotica" thrown around to replace NA, and sadly this novel could easily be construed as so.

Margot Berwin is an amazing writer. The words were so beautiful at times that heartstrings were pulled. Tension and emotions are precisely described and the book was vivid. Berwin just chose to tell the story of a not-so-interesting college girl in need of counseling. Despite the negative reaction to the main character, this is still a recommended novel for those who love art and especially the art of writing.

Rating: 1 2 3 4 5

Book Moments I Cannot Get Over: The Madman's Daughter

Rant time! Sporadically I will do posts like this where I absolutely cannot hold in my opinions, usually negative (But sometimes gushing.), of a book and would like a space to let it out. These posts are not meant to be taken as professional reviews and may contain high doses of snarkiness. Only read if you don't mind spoilers or if you have already read the book! :)

*Contains Spoilers*

Series: The Madman's Daughter

Title: The Madman's Daughter

Author: Megan Shepherd

Summary/Review: Juliet Moreau is the daughter of a doctor exiled from England for his extreme scientific experiments. Among them? Vivisection. But when Juliet comes across her estranged father's assistant, she begs him to take her to her father in an effort to find the truth.

The Doctor lives on an island which ships pass by about once a year. The isolation is perfect for the madman because no law dictates what he can or cannot do with his subjects. Montgomery has been his assistant from very young and travels to England on occasion to bring back supplies...and subjects.

The themes are grossly fascinating and the thought of the possible advancements in science are astounding. Serious questions of ethics are posed and the characters bring to life the turbulence of being clinically detached, but not losing their humanity. Boundaries of society are tested and Juliet finds herself questioning whose side she is on. Did she inherit her father's mental sickness? Or is he simply a victim of an oppressive society? Overall, an amazing novel which I rated 5 stars on Goodreads. Read it if you haven't!

Rant/Gush: Despite how much I loved the book as a whole, there were a few things that really made me want to hurl the book. I found out after I finished reading the novel that this is indeed going to be a series. Which made it a little bit easier to swallow some aspects of the story. Like the fact that Juliet was totally kick-ass in the beginning of the novel! Totally awesome and I loved her character!

She was doing so well on her own. She stayed out of the slums after her mother died and worked an honest job to support herself which was tough for a girl her age and at the time. But then she screwed it all up. My opinion of her went down the drain as soon as she met Montgomery. She was whiny. Overly familiar with him despite the fact that they hadn't seen each other in YEARS. And she treated him like a servant! Even though insisting that they were equal in status since she was of course the daughter of a man that caused the scandal of the century. Juliet picked up her princess syndrome and did not let up THE ENTIRE NOVEL.

To the very end. it was all about how she was in such a difficult position and about what she wanted and how it was her decision. EXCEPT SHE NEVER REALLY MADE A DECISION. She says she is in love with Montgomery? Then why does she feel the urge to kiss Edward when she is with Montgomery? And then Edward makes advances and she daydreams about Montgomery. What is her issue?! I feel she only chose Montgomery in the end because Edward was irrevocably out of the picture.

But again, she didn't really choose Montgomery. She knew him well enough to identify his innate wildness, but refused to see the truth. She chose someone that adored her because she didn't want to be lonely. And because it was a sort of revenge against her mad father. Juliet thinks about how pitiful Balthazar is and how she is going away with Montgomery and never ever stops to consider what the heck MONTGOMERY might be going through. She is all-knowing, of course.

The irony is the regression of the islanders in the end is so much like Juliet's. Instead of growing in this novel, she seriously went backwards. I don't know if this was because the author someway into the book got the okay to make it a series and therefore had to leave room for Juliet's improvement over the course of a few books, but Juliet seriously needs help.

Ending was tragic. I was like...wait?! Is there another book after this?! Please don't let it be another Kartik-type ending! But I suppose the next novel will answer my questions. Like why the hell doesn't she jump in the water? Stupid Montgomery would save her. Would she rather float out to sea on the hope that the Polynesian traders haven't yet passed? Montgomery is usually so organized and he does seem to truly care for Juliet, so why would he just send her on her merry way to who the heck knows where? Or does he know something I don't?

As much as I despised Juliet by the end of the book, the story was extremely compelling. You can bet that I will be snatching the next one up as soon as I can and that I will probably completely be hooked by the plot. There is some seriously amazing stuff to be found and the dilemmas are quite pertinent. I just wish Juliet hadn't been so hot and cold and self-absorbed.

-Isa

Sharing The Books I Own

Hi!

So this post is just going to be a mash-up of couple of book things I wanted to share with you!

-Books I recently acquired.
-My book "shelf".
-I added more books for sale at http://shops.half.ebay.com/mixturesbooks_W0QQmZbooks

Favorite person in my neighborhood and possibly the entire state of Oregon? The mailman. Truly. A big thank you for those who deliver the mail and make someone's day...unless you are delivering bills. But I love getting books! It is like Christmas over and over and over again!

Guess what is in here?

Jealous? I've been waiting for this one to reach my hands since it has so much hype surrounding it. I recently finished it and it was really good! Five stars!

The next item of business is about my collection. I live in an apartment. A small one. My parents are not the most bookish supportive people out there since they say books can accumulate dust and have "weird" covers and take up too much space. Unfortunately, I have had to get rid of huge batches of my books to make room for new ones through donations to my high school library.

And guess what my friends get for their birthdays, Christmas and sometimes randomly? Books from me. That I cannot shelter anymore*tears up a little* T.T Handing out a book is never an easy process and I stopped donating to my high school library, because I didn't think that they were going to be cared for. Yes. I am attached to every single one. Even the ones I did not review because I despised them.

This is the tiny space they are allowed to inhabit. I'm sorry to all these pages full of beautiful words. One day I shall dedicate my own home to you.

I've decided to sell them instead. At least I won't feel like I am completely on the losing end. Don't worry if you are one of my close friends that lives near me. I will still be giving you books for your birthday and Christmas and sometimes for no reason at all. Mostly because I can just hand it to you instead of paying for shipping *shudders*.

Getting paid to part with my books sounds like a much better deal for me. I can then turn around and buy more books. Maybe I can finally put a dent in my atrociously long to-be-read list over at Goodreads. I'm telling my parents that the money will probably go toward my college textbooks, but we all know that Barnes & Noble will probably receive most of it! So that is my bookish post right there.

I mostly did this because I love looking at others' bookshelves, but realized I had not really shared my own. Currently, I am undergoing negotiations with my parents on finding a better place to put my books where they can shine in all their glory! Yay!

The Adoration of Jenna Fox

Author: Mary E. Pearson

Source: Library

Summary: (goodreads) Who is Jenna Fox? Seventeen-year-old Jenna has been told that is her name. She has just awoken from a coma, they tell her, and she is still recovering from a terrible accident in which she was involved a year ago. But what happened before that? Jenna doesn't remember her life. Or does she? And are the memories really hers?

This fascinating novel represents a stunning new direction for acclaimed author Mary Pearson. Set in a near future America, it takes readers on an unforgettable journey through questions of bio-medical ethics and the nature of humanity. Mary Pearson's vividly drawn characters and masterful writing soar to a new level of sophistication.

Review: Not expecting something so profound from this fairly unassuming book. I had many people gush to me about the wonders of this book, but it is really difficult to go into any detail whatsoever without ruining some of what makes it great. The whole idea behind it isn't a huge secret and the book lets it out fairly soon, but the complications from that dilemma are what drive the novel.

If you did not know, I am studying science at a community college and will be going into healthcare sometime in the future. Bio-Ethics is an extremely interesting subject, because of the emotional need to help humans. But this novel explores the blurry lines between going to far with the use of science and technology. It doesn't exactly make a decision about it, but did get me thinking. It is complex because two very different perspectives can be taken if you look at it subjectively or objectively.

The cover perfectly reflects the plot and the although the title seemed selfish to me, it is full of symbolism and has a huge meaning in Jenna's life. Not only does Pearson write about Bio-Ethics, she writes about the strength of the love between a parent and a child, about what defines an individual as human. She incorporates a tiny bit of the religious perspective on the subject and also about freedom of choice and to some extent the mind. I cannot say that I agreed with how things turned out, but to make a decision of that magnitude would be so difficult.

I respect her for taking the topic so seriously and considering so many viewpoints in a novel directed at teens. The YA label can sometimes mean that authors don't write as genuinely as they would if targeting an adult audience, but this is one very loaded novel. I hope those that look down on YA don't miss out on these kinds of gems.

Rating: 1 2 3 4 5

Guest Post:Garden Gnomes by Wendy D. Walter

Hello Fellow Readers!

Today we have a guest here on Mixtures: Books...+ and a very interesting post. I'm a fan of gnomes. Although some may find them as scary as clowns or the like, I find that they are a comforting sign when I pass through some people's gardens. Hurray for gnomes! I hope you enjoy the post and a big thanks to Wendy for being here!
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Ambril’s Tale, Return of the Dullaith

Written and Illustrated by Wendy D. Walter

Garden Gnomes...Tchotchke Warrior Gardeners

Garden gnomes...they rank just a half step up from plastic, pink flamingos, right? I have a confession to make. I secretly love them. Yes, it’s true. Those humble garden tchotchkes, the ones which you normally associate with ladies named Lullabelle, who have too many cats and who smell as if they hadn’t made it to the bathroom in time for the past ten years—they are my favorite garden ornaments. 

Tidily Plugging the Holes in the Universe

Why? Because, they are the MacGyvers of mythical beings. They can fix anything, or at least, look knowledgeable while fumbling around with stuff. Plus, unlike fairies, who always must put on a good show (I have yet to find a way to get fairy dust out of my carpets), they go about their business quietly, without a fuss—no fire, no brimstone and no glittery theatrics.  Gnomes hunker down, and shoulder through their earth kind tasks of plugging the holes in the universe, and digging up of all the precious jewels that they can get their stubby hands on.

Grouchy but Useful

In Ambril’s Tale, the gnomes are a bit grouchy, but thankfully, they are also warrior gardeners. Their prowess in the garden comes in handy when Ambril discovers just how dangerous gardens can be after she stumbles upon her ancestral, magical home.

There are fanged geraniums to dodge, dandy-lions who haven’t been barbered in decades (what a disgrace!) and goooberous slag to be avoided at all costs. Naturally, Ambril doesn’t.  The gnomes laugh when this happens, which prompts Ambril to angrily squelch off, only to tangle with something much scarier.

Will she make it through, to the end? Actually will she make it to sunset?  Find out by reading Ambril’s Tale, Return of the Dullaith.

Ambril’s Facebook page
Wendy’s Facebook page   

Wendy D. Walter on Twitter   

Wendy's blog: WendyDWalter.com

ambrils-tale.com   

Ambril’s Tale, Return of the Dullaith  on Amazon   

Ambril’s Tale-Return of the Dullaith- BarnesNoble

Some of the Illustrations for Book One are available here:

wendydwalter.com/illustrating

Buy Books From Me?

Hello!

For 2013, it seems that my parents are finally determined to get rid of my piles of books to make room for other things. Personally, I really need to get a few of them off my hands to make room for MORE! So  I set up a shop on half.com for the YA books that I have already grieved the loss of. I am ready to let them go.

More will be added as I stare at my collection and decide that the dusty copy of whatever is one that I will never, ever pick up and that might as well find a loving home somewhere around the US. Currently, I have The Spindlers by Lauren Oliver and my paperback of Delirium up for sale. I think that I only have regular shipping available. Anyway, take a moment to browse.

http://shops.half.ebay.com/mixturesbooks_W0QQmZbooks

I will also have to hold a giveaway soon for maybe a couple books for one winner, so stay tuned on the blog for that! Happy Day After New Years Day and Merry Reading.

Nobody's Damsel

Author: Emily Mah Tippetts

Source: Paperback from author.

Summary: (goodreads) Chloe has finished her masters degree and taken a job as a forensic scientist back in her home town of Albuquerque, New Mexico, only the press will not leave her alone. They follow her to crime scenes and report on her every move, eager to show that her marriage to Hollywood A-lister, Jason Vanderholt, is on the brink of collapse. Millions of fans who dream of their own celebrity romance with him want this more than anything. This scrutiny comes at a particularly bad time as Chloe's first case is a crime against a child roughly the same age that Chloe was when she survived a homicide attempt.

Now that she sees the case from an adult's perspective, she realizes it's much harder than she ever dreamed. It's even worse for Jason, who is two steps removed from the crime. He must watch and try to support his wife as she battles with past demons and tries to keep up with a nameless suspect who evades identification and capture. Never has Jason been more frustrated with his job, its frivolities, and its lack of connection to the real world. When he storms off the set of his latest movie, the press goes wild with conjecture. While he says he wants to work on a project that means something, his agent and manager fear this may be the end of his time in the spotlight. Perhaps he never was anything more than a pretty face after all.

Together, Chloe and Jason must find their way past all the popping flashbulbs and through the dark maze of the criminal investigation to discover whether they can balance their professional goals with the demands of a celebrity marriage. The odds are entirely against them

Review: Better than the first book, Nobody's Damsel has much more than a girl's love story to share with the reader. This one is about what happens after achieving your dreams. Does it end there? Does that fairy-tale love last forever? There is so much more that happens after the gorgeous wedding and things don't always turn out according to plan.

The realistic scenarios in Chloe's marriage connect her with the reader. After graduating with her degree, Chloe's dreams change. Now she is determined to get involved with the victims, but that really isn't part of her job. This journey will be about how to juggle work with family. About how work must stay work and also the emotional turmoil associated with traumatic jobs. Not everyone can take on such a challenge, but Chloe Winters is almost fearless. The part that isn't is kept under lock and key, but Jason must step in to make their marriage work.

Either Tippetts writing has highly improved, or Chloe's new life has made for such a great book. I only took a break from it when I was forced to answer the call of nature, but the story never left me. I appreciate the honesty with which the novel progresses. The reality is what is portrayed, although marrying a celebrity may not really be all that realistic...But sure is nice to think about. Just know that, for Chloe, it isn't all rainbows and roses. Excellent read!

Rating: 1 2 3 4 5

Other Books in the Series:

1. Somebody Else's Fairytale (review) (goodreads)