Suddenly Royal by Nichole Chase

Release date: April 19, 2013
Author info: Website | Twitter | Facebook
Pages: 452
Format: Ebook
Source: Purchased
Buy the book: Barnes & Noble | Amazon

Samantha Rousseau is used to getting her hands dirty. Working toward a master’s degree in wildlife biology while helping take care of her sick father, she has no time for celebrity gossip, designer clothes, or lazy vacations. So when a duchess from the small country of Lilaria invites her to dinner, Samantha assumes it’s to discuss a donation for the program. The truth will change the course of her life in ways she never dreamed.

Alex D’Lynsal is trying to keep his name clean. As crown prince of Lilaria, he’s had his share of scandalous headlines, but the latest pictures have sent him packing to America and forced him to swear off women—especially women in the public eye. That is, until he meets Samantha Rousseau. She’s stubborn, feisty, and incredibly sexy. Not to mention heiress to an estate in his country, which makes her everyone’s front-page news.

While Sam tries to navigate the new world of politics and wealth, she will also have to dodge her growing feelings for Alex. Giving in to them means more than just falling in love; it would mean accepting the weight of an entire country on her shoulders.

Suddenly Royal is my first foray into new adult, one that I took rather hesitantly, since I've heard very mixed things about the classification. Personally, I don't see the need, but that's a discussion for another day. Looking past all of that, as a whole I enjoyed reading Suddenly Royal. It was very predictable and very formula, but I expected that going in. With that in mind, I found it to be a perfectly fun and light read; it's definitely a good one for the summer, despite taking place in the cold. :)

Suddenly Royal follows grad student Samantha Rousseau, who has always considered herself the height of average. She smart and has always worked hard, rather than partied hard. So when the lady-killing prince of L:ilaria shows up at the campus of her school, she can't help but roll her eyes. But when his aunt, a duchess, invites Samantha to dinner, her whole world is turned upside down with the news that she is royalty, not to mention the prince (who she has to admit is astoundingly attractive) is making eyes at her. Samantha is faced with the choice of accepting her history and going to Lilaria to take her place or staying put, where things are familiar.

Because I wasn't expecting anything groundbreaking going into the book, I was really able to mindlessly enjoy this. If I'd been reading more critically, I would complain about how I didn't really connect with most of the characters (barring Chadwick) and how the plot was kind of meh and how the new adult classification shouldn't be something that lets an author just throw gratuitous sex scenes into a book that is otherwise very young adult (because there are most definitely some decently graphic ones, not Fifty Shades, but more than I care to read). I would complain, I would. But, sometimes I just don't care. I can tune a lot out when all I want is something uncomplicated and easy.

For me, there's something about sitting down to read a book you know isn't going to be a classic, you know it's not what you should be reading. It's the same reason so many people read trashy romance novels in the summer; it's fun. Simple as that. And I think that Suddenly Royal is fun. I honestly enjoyed reading it and I don't think there's anything remotely wrong with that.

IT'S MY 2 YEAR BLOGOVERSARY! + GIVEAWAY

I stole this from here. :)

Can you believe it?? I certainly can't! Two years ago today I decided to start a blog. My first review was for  A Kiss in Time by Alex Flinn (but don't go and find it; it's horrible.) I had no idea that two years later I'd still be posting here or I'd have such a lovely and loyal readership. :) For some reason, two years seems like so much longer than one.

Before I get to the fun of the post, I just want to say thank you. Without people reading and commenting here, I doubt I would still be here. Blogging has become such an integral part of my life that I don't know what I'd do without it, or without you guys! Not only do I love it, but blogging has helped me define my future. When I began my blog, I was debating changing my major back to English from Pre-Pharmacy. After spending that first summer reading, writing, and meeting others who love reading like I do, I did change my major! I'm now about to start my second semester as a junior (Disney put me behind one semester. Oops!), I've got an editorial internship, and I'm absolutely loving where my life is going. That is in a large part due to this blog. So thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Now, I know what you're looking for. A GIVEAWAY! What better way to celebrate my anniversary and my lovely readers? I wanted to do something special, but I don't have any cool autographed books and I'm not going to any signings any time soon. So I figured, who doesn't love winning a book of their choice? So that's what you can win! :)

One winner will receive the book of their choice (up to $20 USD) from The Book Depository! That means this is INTERNATIONAL, as long as TBD ships to your country. There's only one winner for now, but if I'm feeling nice (and rich) or y'all are just too awesome, I may add more winners. We'll just see. (Wink wink.) This will end at midnight EST on June 30 (Yes, a month to get lots of entries!)


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Teaser Tuesday: Towering {24}

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Title: Towering
Author: Alex Flinn
Release date: May 14, 2013
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 293

At first, I merely saw his face, his hands on the window ledge. Then, his whole body as he swung himself through the window. Only I could not see what he swung on.

Until, one day, I told my dream self to look down. And it was then that I saw. He had climbed on a rope. I knew without asking that the rope had been one of my own tying.

Rachel is trapped in a tower, held hostage by a woman she’s always called Mama. Her golden hair is growing rapidly, and to pass the time, she watches the snow fall and sings songs from her childhood, hoping someone, anyone, will hear her.

Wyatt needs time to reflect or, better yet, forget about what happened to his best friend, Tyler. That’s why he’s been shipped off to the Adirondacks in the dead of winter to live with the oldest lady in town. Either that, or no one he knows ever wants to see him again.

Dani disappeared seventeen years ago without a trace, but she left behind a journal that’s never been read, not even by her overbearing mother…until now.

My teaser, from 36% in the egalley:

Still, I stood a moment. And then, I heard it, a voice singing. I ran toward it, unconcerned about noises or foxes or anything but finding out what it was.

I have a weakness for Alex Flinn's books. I've read all of her fairy tale retellings and enjoyed most of them. They're not mind-shattering or anything, but they're always fun, so I'm enjoying this one thus far, though I'm not far. Plus, her name is Rachel! :) Also, my 2 YEAR BLOGOVERSARY is tomorrow and the first book I reviewed on here was one of hers, so it fits.

If you leave me a link to your post I am definitely going to be visiting back, it just won't be until late in the day today since I'll be at work till 5. Have a lovely Tuesday!

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

Release date: May 7, 2013
Author info: Website | Twitter | Facebook
Publisher: Putnam
Pages: 457
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased
Buy the book: Barnes & Noble | Amazon | The Book Depository

After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.

Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.

The 5th Wave was not a book I was originally excited about. I thought the premise sounded fine, but I'd tried to read The Monstrumologist previously and just couldn't get into it. But then the rave--and I mean rave--reviews started to roll in. After seeing person after person telling me that I had to read this book, I decided that I did, in fact, need to read it. Luckily, the hype did not disappoint!

Based on the synopsis, I thought we'd really only follow Cassie, but the book is split (mostly) into two narratives--there are four in all, but two are very brief--those of Cassie and Ben. Cassie is sarcastic and strong, but damaged. She's seen the death of her father and is fighting to find her little brother, who has been taken from her. There are times where she desperately wants to give up, but her love for and promise to Sammy keep her going. She finds companionship in Evan just when she needs it most. I found Evan compelling, mostly in that he was someone who belonged nowhere, but I still find myself not trusting him. We'll just have to see, maybe I'm just too skeptical.

While I found myself drawn to and interested in Cassie, I really waited for Ben's parts. Watching him become who he is at the end of the book is just awesome. In many ways, his struggle is much harder than Cassie's. Ben has a painful past, just as Cassie does, but he has no one to fight for. There's no little brother who believes in him waiting on the other side. He has to live with profound regret and the repercussions of his actions. It would be so easy for him to give up, to say that he's had enough and there's nothing worth living for. But he doesn't, and that's why he is the one I was rooting for most of all.

While I did find the plot twists somewhat predictable, I didn't care. I was still kept on the edge of my seat, waiting with bated breath to see what happened next. I am terribly excited to see where this series goes and hope there are lots and lots more aliens to come.

Stacking the Shelves {17}

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews where we get to share the books we've bought, been gifted, or received for review!

How was everybody's week? I had a good one! :)

Purchased:

Everblue by Brenda Pandos (A freebie, really, but Amazon acts like it bought it! Hehe.)
Tear by Rachel Van Dyken

A recap of the week here on Paper Cuts:
Monday - I reviewed Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo.
Tuesday - I teased from The Girl With the Iron Touch by Kady Cross.
Wednesday - I talked about my time as an editorial intern thus far.
Friday - I discussed choosing books.

Books I read this week:
The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

I'm currently reading:
Suddenly Royal by Nichole Chase

So that's been my week! Nothing terribly exciting, nor am I getting much reading done--which isn't fun--but I spend all day reading other things! :) Anyways, I'd love to see what y'all got, so leave me links! I'll be visiting about in just a little while. :) Have a lovely Sunday and a fabulous week!

Let's Talk About... Choosing Your Next Book

I know, I know, this seems like a weird thing to "discuss", but as I'm sitting here, trying to figure what to post about for Friday (today!), I can't help but let my mind wander to what I'm going to read next. (Hint: I'm writing this Thursday night, so greetings from the past!) I finished The 5th Wave Wednesday night, and it was excellent. But now I still haven't picked my next book to read.

It's not like I don't have two hundred books all of kinds sitting around, waiting to be read. Some of them are review books, some aren't.

Oddly enough, picking my next book is quite a challenge for me. I don't read on a schedule, like a lot of bloggers do. I know that if I force myself to read things--aside from what I have to read for school--I will read so slowly that I'll get desperately behind, or my mood will affect my enjoyment of a book. (This happened with The Iron Prince most recently.) So without a schedule, I pick my next read when it becomes necessary.

The problem is, I don't know what to read! I'm a mood reader (Just like I'm a mood eater, but that's different...) A lot of times I'm in the mood for a specific type of book, and if I don't have any of that kind, I'll go out and find one. But other times I'm not in the mood for anything specific, so nothing jumps out at me as something I must read. Everything sounds okay, but nothing sounds like it's going to knock my socks off.

When I get like this, I pick up between three and six different books (on average), read a page or two, and put them down again. Eventually, something catches my fancy and I go on, but the couple of days that I don't have a book to be immersed in are the worst.

Anyways, this doesn't feel much like a discussion, does it? More like a mope. Oh well! I want to know how you pick your next book! Do you read on a schedule? Or do you just pick up what sounds interesting? Also, is there anything that's mind-blowingly awesome that I should be reading? :)

Life as an Editorial Intern: Week 1

So, you may know that I'm currently interning with a small publishing company outside of New Orleans, called Pelican Publishing Company. I haven't broadcasted it everywhere, but I've made it known. I've been thinking about blogging about my time with Pelican and just today decided to do so--it may be obvious because it's Wednesay and I started last Monday. (Sometimes I'm indecisive. Plus, the head of the promotion department said I could. :) Thanks Antoinette!) Pelican is a medium-sized independent publisher. They publish books of interest to the area--Southern history, lore, food, etc.--general history, and children's

books.

This was the perfect first internship for me! I live just over an hour away from New Orleans and am staying with a family friend during the week, commuting home for the weekends. In an editorial internship, I'm doing exactly what I want to do and enjoying the heck out of it. One of the advantages of working with a smaller company is that I'm given the opportunity to do a lot more than I could with a large company. There are only two editorial interns, and the other girl doesn't start until near the end of June. I get one-on-one time with the editor-in-chief and the other two editors. The first day they let me start proofreading a book going to print in a couple of weeks.

What have I been doing for the past week? I'll tell you! :)

Monday the 13th was my first day. I was nervous and excited, and had no idea what to expect. The other two interns and I had an opportunity to look over Pelican's releases from the past year, then I sat down to return rejected manuscripts. I was a little bit too excited to do this. Maybe I'm cruel? This gave me the opportunity to see just why Pelican turns down the titles, though, and that was valuable information. Why? Because the next thing I did was go through the editor's mail, which is the submissions that come in each day, before she does! That way, I knew what to look for in the manuscripts. So cool.

I spent much of the rest of the week editing the second half of a book. And I mean really editing. I also practice edited a children's book, read the original of a book being reprinted to check for mistakes, and did several manuscript evaluations.

So far I'm having a ball at my internship. Sometimes I get tired of starting at the computer screen or reading the same chapter on squash three times in a row, but I know this is a big step in getting to my ultimate goal. Everyone at Pelican is as nice as they could be and always happy to help.

Teaser Tuesday: The Girl With the Iron Touch {23}

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Title: The Girl With the Iron Touch (Steampunk Chronicles #3) 
Author: Kady Cross
Release date: May 28, 2013
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 384

In 1897 London, something not quite human is about to awaken.

When mechanical genius Emily is kidnapped by rogue automatons, Finley Jayne and her fellow misfits fear the worst. What's left of their archenemy, The Machinist, hungers to be resurrected, and Emily must transplant his consciousness into one of his automatons—or forfeit her friends' lives.

With Griffin being mysteriously tormented by the Aether, the young duke's sanity is close to the breaking point. Seeking help, Finley turns to Jack Dandy, but trusting the master criminal is as dangerous as controlling her dark side. When Jack kisses her, Finley must finally confront her true feelings for him...and for Griffin.

Meanwhile, Sam is searching everywhere for Emily, from Whitechapel's desolate alleyways to Mayfair's elegant mansions. He would walk into hell for her, but the choice she must make will test them more than they could imagine.

To save those she cares about, Emily must confront The Machinist's ultimate creation—an automaton more human than machine. And if she's to have any chance at triumphing, she must summon a strength even she doesn't know she has...

My teaser, from 52% in the egalley:

And then tossing frustration and vexation to the wind, she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. That was the end of any and all conversation.

I RESISTED LOOKING AT WHO SHE IS KISSING. EEEEEEE. I'm so sad to see the end of this series, since it was one of the first I began as a blogger. It's hard to believe I've been blogging long enough to see entire series through. Whew! If you leave me a link to your post I am definitely going to be visiting back, it just won't be until late in the day today since I'll be at work till 5. Have a lovely Tuesday!

Siege and Storm (The Grisha #2) by Leigh Bardugo

Release date: June 4, 2013
Author info: Website | Twitter | Facebook
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Pages: 448
Format: Egalley
Source: Publisher provided through Netgalley
Buy the book: Barnes & Noble | Amazon | The Book Depository

Darkness never dies.

Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land, all while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. But she can’t outrun her past or her destiny for long.

The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her–or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm.

Siege and Storm is one of those books that I don't feel like my words can do justice to. It's one of those books that just entraps you in its pages and spits you out at the end, leaving you a wreck begging for more but also unsure if you could take any more. The people and the world inside feel so real that you can't help but need to hug them and reassure them that everything will somehow turn out okay. But then you remember that they're not real, at least not outside of your head, and you're almost beside yourself with grief. Siege and Storm is a book best rated by emotions, because your rational mind has gone out the window.

There is no strongest aspect of Siege and Storm. The setting, the characters, the plot, and the world-building all work together to create a reading experience. There's no need to pick this book apart; you won't want to.

Even so, Alina's journey is one of the most fascinating I've read. In Shadow and Bone she learned of her physical powers; she honed extraordinary skills and became a Grisha. But in this sequel, Alina is pushed far beyond any bounds she could have imagined. Not only does she have to withstand mental and physical challenges like she's never endured, but she has to take on unprecedented responsibilities--with the lives of many others on her hands. Everything she thought was secure is falling away and she is helpless to stop it--maybe she doesn't want to. There is darkness inside, and she may just have to embrace it to win the war.

Siege and Storm tackles war in such a way that is heartbreaking yet utterly real. It hurts to see people so beat down that they'll believe in anyone who offers a way out. It's difficult to read of men and women who walk to their deaths with their heads held high, all for love of country. War tears countries apart and replaces innocence with hardness.

Siege and Storm is possibly better than Shadow and Bone. Actually, I can almost certainly say it is. Even as Alina has only just found her place, she must fight to preserve that place's dignity--even if it means sacrificing herself in the process. This is a sequel (and a series) you absolutely do not want to miss.

Special note: As I wrote this review, I listened to "Winter Prayer", a song that Leigh wrote, inspired by Shadow and Bone. Find it here.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Stacking the Shelves {16}

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews where we get to share the books we've bought, been gifted, or received for review!

How was everybody's week? I had a good one! :)

For review:

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, to be published September 10, 2013 by St. Martin's Griffin (Netgalley)
Tumble & Fall by Alexandra Coutts, to be published September 17, 2013 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) (Netgalley)
Dance of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin, to be published June 11, 2013 by Greenwillow (Edelweiss)

Purchased:

The Vincent Boys by Abbi Glines

A recap of the week here on Paper Cuts:
Monday - I reviewed Cascade (River of Time #2) by Lisa T. Bergren.
Tuesday - I teased from What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang.
Wednesday - I discussed "girl books" versus "boy books".
Friday - I reviewed What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang.

Books I read this week:
What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang

I'm currently reading:
The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

So that's been my week! The first week of my internship is done, and I'm really enjoying it so far! They're letting me do a lot of hand-on work, including critiquing manuscripts and actual editing. I like it! :) BUT, I work ALL DAY and have so little time to read or blog, so that's no fun.  I'm managing to get posts up, but I  don't know if I'll always be able to. We'll just see! Anyways, I'd love to see what y'all got, so leave me links! I'll be visiting about in just a little while. :) Have a lovely Sunday and a fabulous week!

What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang

Release date: September 18, 2012
Author info: Website | Twitter | Facebook
Publisher: Harper
Pages: 343
Format: ARC
Source: ARCycling (from Montana @ The Book Belles!)
Buy the book: Barnes & Noble | Amazon | The Book Depository

I should not exist. But I do.

Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren’t they settling? Why isn’t one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn’t . . .

For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable-hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet . . . for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.

What's Left of Me is another one of those books that I, for whatever reason, had decided probably wasn't very good, though I wanted to read it and knew I would eventually. Honestly, I really need to get over myself because I'm always wrong! I loved this book. The concept is such an intriguing one and one that brings up a lot of great questions about what makes us human and valuable (I always enjoy books that make me think a little!) As we follow Addie and Eva, we see how they are two separate and unique entities, just stuck in the same body. We wonder how one soul could possibly be more important than the other and how anyone could wish to destroy a sentient, thoughtful being.

In a kind of alternate future, Addie and Eva are two souls living in the same body. In their world, to be born this way is normal. What's not normal is to not "settle", for one soul to not fade away. For the past three years, Eva has been living silently, watching the world around her and Addie without letting anyone but Addie know she's there. For if they did, she and Addie would be locked away to be "treated" for hybridism, a very dangerous situation. Despite their best efforts, someone finds them out and offers Eva a way to move again, to be in control. It's the biggest risk they could take, but Eva has to live again, or fade away forever.

The back of my ARC sells this as The Golden Compass meets Never Let Me Go, and I wholeheartedly agree with that! (By the way, two of my favorite books of all time. So, yeah, I needed to read this.) Both books are shocking in the best kind of way, drawing you in and making you squirm. What's Left of Me is the exact same way.

I loved loved loved the relationship between Addie and Eva. Theirs is a kind of relationship we as readers have no way of truly identifying with, no background to build on, but Kat Zhang made them and their dynamic so realistic and believable that it just didn't matter. Addie and Eva fought like sisters, in many ways, but they have the distinct disadvantage of being in the same head and the same body, with no way of getting away from one another. They know each other like themselves and their personalities complement one another. I was fascinated to read their arguments and see their dependence on one another.

The only thing I have to complain about in What's Left of Me is the world-building. I did find it, at times, a little bit lacking. I've waxed poetic about how world-building is really not a big concern for me, but, for whatever reason, it was in this book. The explanations of the hybrids just weren't enough. The discussion of the state of the rest of the world just wasn't enough. All in all, I just wasn't give enough information. There weren't holes in the world-building, but I just couldn't get a firm grasp on it.

Even so, What's Left of Me is a fantastic read. Not only is it fascinating and thought-provoking, it is action-packed and a little bit romantic. You'll feel for Addie and Eva and the other hybrids and you'll be dying to know more after it's over. Luckily Once We Were, the second book, is out in September (which isn't the longest time to wait, but it's also not especially short...)

Let's Talk About... Boy Books and Girl Books

There's been a lot of discussion recently about "boy books" and "girl books". Most of us, me included, don't like books being labelled as for boys or for girls. Books are books and shouldn't be relegated to only being enjoyed by one gender.

I know there are boys that like books that may be labeled "girly" and girls that like books that are "boyish". Just because I'm a girl doesn't mean I can't enjoy an action story or relate to a male narrator. I think, for whatever reason, boys fear the stigma that comes with being seen as less "manly" and that reading a book that may seem girly makes them look girlish. I think girls have a similar experience, though to a lesser extent. A girl who reads science fiction is generally perceived as either "weird" or a guy's girl. It just depends on who is making the judgement, so she never knows where she stands with people.  But what people think of you for reading a certain book doesn't matter!

Obviously, there are books that boys aren't generally going to like and books that girls aren't generally going to like. Just because it's the norm doesn't mean it's the rule, though. I know I read whatever piques my interest; it doesn't matter what it is or who it may be targeted towards.

I'm really not trying to go into anything deeper other than that we should look at books past their cover value. Read what interests you because it interests you. Don't worry about what other people think of you for reading. Only worry about what you get out of it. Reading is a personal experience and you're responsible for what you put into your mind, so enjoy yourself!

Other posts on this topic:
Maureen Johnson for Huffington Post Books: The Gender Coverup
Renae @ Respiring Thoughts: "Boy Books" and "Girl Books"--What About "Book Books"?
Marie Lu for Huffington Post Books: Writing a Book for Boys

Teaser Tuesday: What's Left of Me {22}

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Title: What's Left of Me (The Hybrid Chronicles #1) 
Author: Kat Zhang
Release date: September 18, 2012
Publisher: Harper
Pages: 343

I should not exist. But I do.

Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren’t they settling? Why isn’t one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn’t . . .

For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable-hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet . . . for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.

My teaser, from p. 182 in the ARC:

The last thing we heard before the door shut was Ryan's voice, finally having found what he'd wanted to say.

"Don't believe them, Addie. Don't--"

And that was all.

Oooooh. I'm really enjoying this one so far, though I'm reading really slowly. Been busy busy busy with life and all. :) If you leave me a link to your post I am definitely going to be visiting back, it just won't be until late in the day today since I'll be at work till 5. Have a lovely Tuesday!

Cascade (River of Time #2) by Lisa T. Bergren

Release date: June 1, 2011
Author info: Website | Twitter
Publisher: David C. Cook
Pages: 399
Format: Ebook
Source: Purchased
Buy the book: Barnes & Noble | Amazon | The Book Depository

Mom touched my underdress—a gown made six hundred years before—and her eyes widened as she rubbed the raw silk between thumb and forefinger. She turned and touched Lia’s gown. “Where did you get these clothes?”

Gabi knows she’s left her heart in the fourteenth century and she persuades Lia to help her to return, even though they know doing so will risk their very lives. When they arrive, weeks have passed and all of Siena longs to celebrate the heroines who turned the tide in the battle against Florence—while the Florentines will go to great lengths to see them dead.

But Marcello patiently awaits, and Gabi must decide if she’s willing to leave her family behind for good in order to give her heart to him forever.

Ever since I finished Waterfall, I've been absolutely dying to read Cascade, the second book in the series. I was ready to jump back into Gabi and Lia's adventures as they help the ancient Sienese, and I was especially ready to see more Marcello. I really enjoyed Waterfall, but I think I just might have enjoyed Cascade even more.

Cascade picks up right where Waterfall left off. Gabi and Lia have just arrived back in the present day, where they somehow have to convince their mother of the truth. But all Gabi wants is to return to ancient Siena and Marcello. She doesn't care that she knows how history is supposed to go for the country; plague and wars can't keep her away from the man she loves. The two Wolves of Siena return in good time to find that it's been a month since they left and, while there is unrest, the Sienese seem to be settling into a rhythm again. Little does anyone know, Firenze has some schemes up their sleeves and Gabi and Lia are about to be embroiled in something bigger than they could have ever expected, perhaps changing the course of history.

While I thought Waterfall was pretty action-packed, it's got nothing on Cascade. There is nonstop action, and Gabi and Lia again prove themselves to be girls who are not to be messed with. I love that they are two girls who have powerful men at their side, yet they don't need those men to take care of them. They aren't simpering, they aren't weak, and they definitely aren't like any other protagonists I've read about. It's so refreshing to read about girls who take care of themselves!

Even though Gabi and Lia are empowered characters, they've got their handsome counterparts, and I must admit I waited with baited breath for scenes with Marcello. (Really, though, how could you blame me?) I like that the couples respect one another and truly seem to value one another's opinions and wishes.

I thought Waterfall was a fun and refreshing read, but I think Cascade is simply a great book. It's fun and refreshing as well, but it's got deeper questions underlying the fun that are just handled so well and delicately. I am so excited to read Torrent!

Stacking the Shelves {15}

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews where we get to share the books we've bought, been gifted, or received for review!

How was everybody's week? I had a good one! :)

For review:

A Wounded Name by Dot Hutchinson, to be published September 1, 2013 by Carolrhoda Lab (through Netgalley)

Purchased:

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (paperback)

A recap of the week here on Paper Cuts:
Monday - I shared a few of my distractions from reading (and, thus, why there was no review!)
Tuesday - I took part in the Clear Your Shelf giveaway hop!
Wednesday - Christian Schoon, author of Zenn Scarlett, stopped by with a guest post for the blog tour.
Friday - I shared a few bookish Mother's Day recommendations.
Saturday - I helped promote The Heiresses by Allison Rushby with a guest post and giveaway of paperbacks.

Books I read this week:
Cascade (River of Time #2) by Lisa T. Bergren

I'm currently reading:
What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang

So that's been my week! I loved having some time off to just relax, which somehow always results in very little reading getting done. It was the same this week. I start my internship TOMORROW and I'm quite nervous about it.  Anyways, I'd love to see what y'all got, so leave me links! I'll be visiting about in just a little while. :) Have a lovely Sunday and a fabulous week!

{Book Blitz: Guest Post + Giveaway) The Heiresses by Allison Rushby

Title: The Heiresses
Author: Allison Rushby
Author info: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Release date: May 7, 2013
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Buy the book: Barnes & Noble | Amazon

In Allison Rushby's Heiresses, three triplets--estranged since birth--are thrust together in glittering 1926 London to fight for their inheritance, only to learn they can’t trust anyone--least of all each other.

When three teenage girls, Thalia, Erato and Clio, are summoned to the excitement of fast-paced London--a frivolous, heady city full of bright young things--by Hestia, an aunt they never knew they had, they are shocked to learn they are triplets and the rightful heiresses to their deceased mother's fortune. All they need to do is find a way to claim the fortune from their greedy half-brother, Charles. But with the odds stacked against them, coming together as sisters may be harder than they think.

 Crashing Downton Abbey

You can always pick people's happiest memories by the photos they stick up as backgrounds on their desktops. One of my happiest memories from the year my family and I spent living in Cambridgeshire happened quite by accident, but now takes pride of place when I start up my laptop each morning.

Knowing we would only be living in England for a year, we were active weekend and holiday travelers. On this occasion, we had just spent the weekend in Oxford and were on our way back home to our converted flour mill beside a lock in the little village of Buckden (yes, the word 'idyllic' springs to mind…).

I was, and still am, a huge Downton Abbey fan and remembered reading that the village scenes were shot in a real village in Oxfordshire.  Thus, before we set off home, we planned a quick detour to the village of Bampton.

Before long, we reached the outskirts of the village, which was when we began to see little neon production signs – all sorts of arrows and codes directing the production team to different surrounding fields and areas. It was a cold Sunday in February and already quiet on the roads, but it became quieter still as we navigated our way into the village itself, because it started to snow in a very nasty, rainy, sleety kind of way (sorry, Australians aren't great at describing these things. Let's put it this way: you were far better off being at the pub). By the time we got to the heart of the village, it was truly miserable weather.

Even before we parked the car, my mouth was on the floor. There was the church, complete with huge cameras wrapped up in red plastic and security guards sitting in their cars out front. There was Downton Cottage Hospital, complete with its sign. There was the pub. And the post office. The highlight, however, had to be the white bunting, strung up all over the village. Someone was getting married, I realised!

As my husband and two children looked on, somewhat amused, I spent the next hour running around like an absolute mad thing in the sleet, insisting they take my photo in front of this and in front of that. They put up with me for some time. Until the point where I insisted on having my photo taken on the stairs of the portable female loos, because Dame Maggie had probably been there.

Yes, we all froze half to death, but it was worth it (or at least I thought it was…) for those desktop photos that will last forever!

Having failed at becoming a ballerina with pierced ears (her childhood dream), Allison Rushby instead began a writing career as a journalism student at The University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. Within a few months she had slunk sideways into studying Russian. By the end of her degree she had learned two very important things: that she wasn't going to be a journalist; and that there are hundreds of types of vodka and they're all pretty good. After several years spent whining about how hard it would be to write a novel, she finally tried writing one and found it was quite an enjoyable experience. Since then, she has had nine novels published. She keeps up her education by sampling new kinds of vodka on a regular basis.

There is a blitz-wide giveaway for 20 (yes, TWENTY!) paperback copies of  The Heiresses for readers in the US and Canada. If this sounds like your kind of book (and it definitely sounds like mine!), get to entering! :)


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A Bookish Mother's Day Shopping List

If any of you are like me, you're probably only planning for Mother's Day today. I'm set to go buy her present with my soon-to-be sister-in-law tomorrow, and I still don't know what we're doing for lunch tomorrow. But never fear bookish friends, I have solutions for you! I've compiled a list of literary-inspired presents for you to give. Since we're the lazy ones only planning the day before, I didn't look at Etsy for handmade things, given that they definitely won't be delivered in time, (Shame on us! There are some seriously cute things.) but some of these things may have to be ordered online.

My mom is a hard one to peg. She absolutely does not like the same kinds of books I like, and she is, for whatever reason, very averse to technology. Where I like books heavy with adventure, romance, and action, she likes more quiet stories, where a heroine discovers family secrets and finally rights her relationship with an estranged parent. (For example.) For the moms like mine, here are some picks:

Moleskine Book Journal: My mom refuses to use Goodreads, but loves to keep track of what she reads. I think she'd love to have this pretty, quality journal just for keeping up with her books. (You could easily go with a non-specialized pretty journal too, if you don't like the look of this!)

Book Tote: My mom also refuses to go digital, so she's stuck carrying around a bunch of books with her all of the time. What better way to carry around books than with a book-themed bag? I picked the Jane Eyre one, because it's a personal favorite, but they also have Alice in Wonderland and The Great Gatsby, among others.

Book: Obviously, if your mom loves bookish things, she probably loves books. My mom loves Kate Morton, so I'm recommending her newest book The Secret Keeper. (You could really substitute any of her others.) Not mom's style or she's already read it? Maybe she'd like The Paris Wife by Paula McLain or The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey!

Perhaps your mom is a classics kind of girl? She may read other things, but always comes back to the books she read in high school and college (or maybe later in life?) and perhaps loves a good BBC miniseries. Check out some of these gifts:

A Classic Book: Try the new Penguin Drop Caps! They're beautifully bound copies of some of your favorite classics, like Pride & Prejudice and A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.

Movie Based on a Classic: One of my favorite BBC miniseries is one of their more recent ones. They've adapted Jane Austen's Emma in a four-part miniseries from 2009. It stars Romola Garai, Johnny Lee Miller (of Elementary!) and Michael Gambon (DUMBLEDORE!) and is excellent. I've probably watched it twenty times. It's out on DVD, but you can also get it from iTunes or Amazon Instant Video for less than 10 dollars. Spend an afternoon watching it with mom, drinking tea, and munching on scones. (This is what I'd do if I could!)

Perfume Made Just for Booklovers: Demeter has a perfume called "Paperback", which they say is "Sweet and lovely with just a touch of the musty smell of aged paper." Could be perfect for the woman who has everything...except book perfume! 

This is just a VERY small collection of items I think would make good gifts. There are so many other things I thought of, but your attention span in only so long (I know mine is at least, which is why I'm finishing here.) But, I LOVE PICKING OUT GIFTS, so if you'd like more suggestions or specific ideas based on your very own mom, just let me know in the comments and I'll be happy to make some recommendations! (Also, food. I like theming food, so again, if you want suggestions...Have at 'em.)

Zenn Scarlett Blog Tour: Guest Post from Author Christian Schoon

I am over the moon to have Christian Schoon, author of the fabulous Zenn Scarlett, here as part of the blog tour! So when I first heard about the book, I learned from Christian that he had previously worked for Disney. Now, being the Disney alum and fangirl that I am, I had to know more. When I was asked about a topic for a guest post for this tour, I immediately knew I wanted to hear more about his time working for Disney, not because it really relates to the book, but because it's fascinating and I, personally, love to know more about author's backgrounds. I hope you enjoy what Christian has to say about his time with Disney; he obviously has some great stories and I am insanely jealous. :)

About the book:

When you're studying to be exoveterinarian specializing in exotic, alien life forms, school... is a different kind of animal.

Zenn Scarlett is a resourceful, determined 17-year-old girl working hard to make it through her novice year of exovet training. That means she's learning to care for alien creatures that are mostly large, generally dangerous and profoundly fascinating. Zenn’s all-important end-of-term tests at the Ciscan Cloister Exovet Clinic on Mars are coming up, and, she's feeling confident of acing the exams. But when a series of inexplicable animal escapes and other disturbing events hit the school, Zenn finds herself being blamed for the problems. As if this isn't enough to deal with, her absent father has abruptly stopped communicating with her; Liam Tucker, a local towner boy, is acting unusually, annoyingly friendly; and, strangest of all: Zenn is worried she's started sharing the thoughts of the creatures around her. Which is impossible, of course. Nonetheless, she can't deny what she's feeling.

Now, with the help of Liam and Hamish, an eight-foot sentient insectoid also training at the clinic, Zenn must learn what's happened to her father, solve the mystery of who, if anyone, is sabotaging the cloister, and determine if she's actually sensing the consciousness of her alien patients... or just losing her mind. All without failing her novice year...

First off, thanks to Rachel for inviting me to stop by and for hosting this portion of Zenn’s blog tour. Rachel asked me to write a bit about my time at Disney, and I’m happy to oblige.

Apparently, when I applied for a copywriter position with Walt Disney Home Video (back in the day…) I was one of about 500 applicants. At least, that’s what my boss told me after I got the gig. Maybe she was just being nice.

In any case, this was really a dream job for someone like me. As a grade schooler, I’d visited the Anaheim Disneyland and immediately wrote to the company asking how I could be a guide on the Jungle Cruise and “…when could I start?” And so I got my first rejection letter. Polite, but dispiriting, as they all are.

So, jump ahead a few years. I’m now a copywriter at Altec Lansing, a consumer electronics company whose offices were, coincidentally, about a quarter mile from Disneyland. Shortly after Altec moved to another SoCal site, I saw an ad in ADWEEK for the Disney copywriter slot. I applied and forgot about it, got called in for an initial interview, then two more interviews over the next month, then was offered the job. Very excited.

When I started at Disney, home video was still housed on their Burbank studios lot. I was seriously toon-struck as I walked down Goofy Street or Mickey Lane (might be Mickey Street/Goofy Lane, I can’t remember). Some of home video’s offices were in the old Ink & Paint Building, where the cells for the revered Disney animation classics were laboriously hand inked. For lunch, I’d get a sandwich from the commissary and walk over to the back lot and eat sitting on the old, crumbling stucco walls of the Zorro set, or maybe hang out with the studio’s half-feral felines on the porch of the That Darn Cat house or stretch out in the yard of the house Tommy Considine (sp?) lived in when he transformed into The Shaggy Dog.
As for my work, I was suddenly spending time in screening rooms watching some of the truly wonderful old Disney films and TV shows I’d grown up with – and then getting to write about them. I did back of video package synopsis copy, press releases, taglines, magazine ads, short “behind the scenes” or other promotional video scripts. For some of the scripts, we’d then do remote shoots. I spent a day poolside with Annette Funicello when she graciously agreed to help us roll-out the home video release of “The Mickey Mouse Club.” Classy lady. (and I had SUCH a crush on her as a kid.)

Good times, good times…

A year or so after I started, most of the home video department was moved just across the street from the studio to a small complex known as the Pago Pago Building (it was named after the still-operating little bar on the corner, where some of the Classic-age Disney animators used go drink after work).
It was shortly after this move that the Great Awakening took place: for a number of years, Walt’s son-in-law, Ron Miller had presided over a more-or-less sleepy interlude in Disney’s history. So, he was edged out, and Paramount’s Michael Eisner brought in as CEO, with Warner Bros. Frank Wells as President. This utterly transformed the place. Movie production went from almost moribund to life in the fast lane. Before I knew it, they were bulldozing the Zorro set and all the other unused units on the back lot and putting in trailer houses full of hot new creative types and accountants.

It was an amazing process to witness. Suddenly, Disney was reaping massive profits again. But I gotta say, the atmosphere was also radically different. About this time my boss left to work for a start-up video and film production company. She made me an offer to follow her, and I took it. A year or so after that, I struck out on my own and became a full-time freelance writer. And while the freelance life suits my temperament much more than cubical-dwelling, I look back on my Disney years with a huge amount of nostalgia and fondness. It was a great time to be there. Oh, and I never did get to captain a Jungle Cruise boat. But, as part of what they called the Disney Way One management program, I got to spend part of a day at Disneyland dressed up as Eeyore and wandering among the guests at the park. Now, I’m a kinda cynical guy, I admit it. But the pure, streaming, unambiguous love that emanated from kids the second they laid eyes on that donkey… I can still feel it. And while Eeyore isn’t technically a Disney character, the bulky, kid-magnet costume I was encased in certainly was. And all I can say about that is “Well done, Walt, well done.”

About Christian:

Born in the American Midwest, Christian started his writing career in earnest as an in-house writer at the Walt Disney Company in Burbank, California. He then became a freelance writer working for various film, home video and animation studios in Los Angeles. After moving from LA to a farmstead in Iowa several years ago, he continues to freelance and also now helps re-hab wildlife and foster abused/neglected horses. He acquired his amateur-vet knowledge, and much of his inspiration for the Zenn Scarlett series of novels, as he learned about - and received an education from - these remarkable animals.

Author info: Website | Twitter | Goodreads
Buy the book: Barnes & Noble | Amazon | The Book Depository

Clear Your Shelf Giveaway Hop!

I'm super excited to be taking part in the Clear Your Shelf Giveaway Hop, hosted by Kathy at I Am a Reader, Not a Writer! I sure y'all are all just as guilty as I am of having bunches of books sitting on your shelves that you've read and will never read again or have never read and won't ever read. Luckily for you, I am giving away a BUNCH of mine. :)

I'd love to be rid of quite a few books, so this giveaway is going to have FIVE winners. Each winner will be able to pick two books from the books pictured. The first winner I draw will have first pick and so on. There are eighteen books pictured (You can see Shut Out and Entice in the picture, but they are not part of the giveaway. Just bad photography on my part.) I must stress that this is US ONLY. I desperately cannot afford to send these packages overseas.

The books to choose from (All links lead to Goodreads):

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter (paperback, fair)

Double by Jenny Valentine (ARC, unread)

The Devouring by Simon Holt (paperback, like new)

Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon (ARC, like new)

Through the Eyes of a Geek by Kat Brookes (paperback, unread)

The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa (paperback, very good)

A Breath of Eyre by Eve Marie Mont (ARC, very good)

Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin (ARC, very good)

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dreadfully Ever After by Steve Hockensmith (ARC, unread)

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick (paperback, unread)

Dream Chaser by Angie Stanton (paperback, unread)

iBoy by Kevin Brooks (ARC, unread)

The Butterfly Clues by Kate Ellison (ARC, very good)

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith (paperback, very good)

After: Nineteen Stories of Dystopia edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling (ARC, unread)

Ripper by Stefan Petrucha (ARC, unread)

Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston (paperback, unread)

The School of Night by Louis Bayard (ARC, very good)

The giveaway runs through the 13th, and I will be contacting winners shortly thereafter. They will have 48 hours to respond my email, or I will choose another winner in their stead. Easy enough, eh? Happy hopping! :)

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Why There's No Review Today

Since I got home from school on Wednesday, I've been kind of meh towards reading. I think it's mostly exhaustion from school, and I'll be back on track once I've had time to rest and relax. But, because I'm up to date on reviews, if I don't finish a book I don't have anything to review. Hopefully I'll get a little bit ahead soon, but you never know. :)

Now, normally I'm all about books on here, with the rare exception. I'd like to make today one of those rare exceptions. Besides reading, I am a pretty passionate movie buff and music fan. I listen to music no matter what I'm doing, and I see A LOT of movies. Those are not things I get to talk about often, so I thought I'd be a little different and tell you what I'm loving right now.

Movies:

I finally watched Wreck-It Ralph today. SO CUTE. I loved all the little fan throwbacks and allusions, plus it was just funny.

I'm also a little obsessed with Silver Linings Playbook. I saw it over Christmas originally, then again in February, and am so excited it's finally out on DVD. I'm listening to the audiobook on my iPod right now as well. (Very different vibe, by the way!)

I haven't seen Iron Man 3 yet, and probably won't for another week or two, but I am dying to see (and will be seeing Friday) The Great Gatsby.

Music:

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This is out from left-field, but I'm thoroughly in love with Jason Forbach's cover of "Touch Me" from Spring Awakening. Jason Forbach is an actor who plays Enjolras in the US touring version of Les Miserables, and he has this fantastic commanding voice that I just love. (I also love musicals. Clearly.)

I am always listening to Andrew Belle, a singer-songwriter out of Nashville, and his "In My Veins" has been on repeat in the past couple of weeks.

I've been missing Disney World a lot in the past week or two, since on the 11th it'll be a year since I finished my college program, so I've been listening to the official parks album, especially "Grim Grinning Ghosts" (the song from The Haunted Mansion), the Fantasmic! exit music, and the Main Street Electrical Parade music.

Yeah... This is a bit of an odd assortment of things, but these are legitimately the things I watch and listen to. What do y'all do when you're not reading? Anything I should check out? :)

Stacking the Shelves {14}

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews where we get to share the books we've bought, been gifted, or received for review!

HAPPY CINCO DE MAYOOOOO! School is done! I've got a week or so until I begin my internship, so hopefully I'll get lots of reading done this week. :)

For review:

The S-Word by Chelsea Pitcher, to be published May 7, 2013 by Gallery Books (through Netgalley)

A recap of the week here on Paper Cuts:
Monday - I reviewed Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell.
Tuesday - I teased from The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa.
Wednesday - I reviewed Of Triton (Of Poseidon #2) by Anna Banks.
Friday - I discussed reviewing and how we do it.

Books I read this week:
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

I'm currently reading:
Zenn Scarlett by Christian Schoon

So that's been my week! I put off starting a new book after Eleanor & Park for a few days so I'd actually study for finals, which worked. :) Anyways, I'd love to see what y'all got, so leave me links! I'll be visiting about in just a little while. :) Have a lovely Sunday and a fabulous week!