Happy Thanksgiving!

Hi y'all! I'm just popping in really quickly to wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving today! It's one of my favorite holidays, so I'm certainly looking forward to the food, family, and parade. :) I hope you all eat altogether too much and are uncomfortably full.

And if you're not in the US, well, happy Thursday! It's a cold one here, so stay warm if that's the case for you too! I'll be back tomorrow with a review.

Oh, and hey! Be sure to enter my "I'm Thankful for You" giveaway since you're here. :)

Waiting on Wednesday: Sisters' Fate (The Cahill Witch Chronicles #3) by Jessica Spotswood {22}

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly awaiting!!

Title: Sisters' Fate (The Cahill Witch Chronicles #3)
Author: Jessica Spotswood
Release date: August 14, 2014
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile

A fever ravages New London, but with the Brotherhood sending suspected witches straight to the gallows, the Sisters are powerless against the disease. They can’t help without revealing their powers—as Cate learns when a potent display of magic turns her into the most wanted witch in all of New England.

To make matters worse, Cate has been erased from the memory of her beloved Finn. While she’s torn between protecting him from further attacks and encouraging him to fall for her all over again, she’s certain she can never forgive Maura’s betrayal. And now that Tess’s visions have taken a deadly turn, the prophecy that one Cahill sister will murder another looms ever closer to its fulfillment.

So I admit I haven't read the second book yet, which means I haven't even read the synopsis for this one, but I can't help but be excited for this final book! This is easily my favorite cover of the three redesigned ones, though the original cover for the first book is my favorite of them all. :)

So what are you guys waiting on this week? :)

Teaser Tuesday: Shadowplay (Pantomime #2) by Laura Lam {49}

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

Title: Shadowplay (Pantomime #2)
Author: Laura Lam
Release date: January 4, 2014
Pages: 400

The circus lies behind Micah Grey in dust and ashes.

He and the white clown, Drystan, take refuge with the once-great magician, Jasper Maske. When Maske agrees to teach them his trade, his embittered rival challenges them to a duel which could decide all of their fates. People also hunt both Micah and the person he was before the circus--the runaway daughter of a noble family. And Micah discovers there is magic and power in the world, far beyond the card tricks and illusions he's perfecting...

A tale of phantom wings, a clockwork hand, and the delicate unfurling of new love, Shadowplay continues Micah Grey’s extraordinary journey.

My teaser, from 17% in the egalley:

But the feeling lingered still, as I sat there bathed in the soft cobalt glow.

I did not sleep the rest of that night.

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked the first book, so I'm super excited to read this! I love circus-themed things! :)

I'll be visiting around and visiting back, so leave me links to your teasers! Have a lovely Tuesday!

Review: Pawn (The Blackcoat Rebellion #1) by Aimee Carter

Release date: November 26, 2013
Author info: Website | Twitter | Facebook
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 296
Format: Egalley
Source: Publisher provided through Netgalley
Buy the book: Barnes & Noble | Amazon | The Book Depository

YOU CAN BE A VII IF YOU GIVE EVERYTHING.

For Kitty Doe, it seems like an easy choice. She can either spend her life as a III in misery, looked down upon by the higher ranks and forced to leave the people she loves, or she can become a VII and join the most powerful family in the country.

If she says yes, Kitty will be Masked - surgically transformed into Lila Hart, the Prime Minister's niece, who died under mysterious circumstances. As a member of the Hart family, she will be famous. She will be adored. And for the first time, she will matter.

There's only one catch. She must also stop the rebellion that Lila secretly fostered, the same one that got her killed, and one Kitty believes in. Faced with threats, conspiracies and a life that's not her own, she must decide which path to choose and learn how to become more than a pawn in a twisted game she's only beginning to understand.

I keep reading that the dystopian trend is waning, that people don't want to read them anymore. I don't know about anyone else, but that's not the case for me. I haven't read many recently, but I still love 'em. The only problem with the number of dystopians that have been published in the past couple of years is that it's harder and harder for them to feel original. And while I feel like Pawn is certainly an enjoyable enough read, I don't feel that it's adding something terribly original to the mix. There are bright spots, but they aren't quite enough to make Pawn more than pretty good.

Kitty has modest dreams. She only wants to take her assessment and get a IV, enough to live a comfortable life with Benjy, her boyfriend. But when she gets a III, she takes things into her own hands. Soon, she's meeting the prime minister and he's giving her a chance to become a VII. When she wakes up, it's been weeks and she's been Masked--made to look exactly like Lila Hart, the prime minister's niece, who was secretly murdered. Quickly Kitty is being pulled in two directions--either help the revolution Lila was fostering and endanger Benjy and herself, or help out those who are suffering, just like she did.

Though I didn't find Pawn to be life changing, I did find it pretty darn entertaining. The plot never stops and we're fed information slowly but surely, which kept me engaged the entire book. I was fascinated by the idea before I even picked up the book and that never stopped.

There is almost a love triangle, but Kitty always loves Benjy and she never wavers, so not really. I'd like to see more of both Benjy and Knox and really get to know a little more about each of them, since I feel like we didn't get hear all that much from them. Kitty herself is an interesting character, and she has a lot of potential that I'd like to see expounded upon in the next book. It's a very different idea that she's got something akin to dsylexia and can't read, which is really what sets off the story, since she has to have someone read the test to her.

So, there's good and bad. No, this is not likely to become the next dystopian sensation, but Pawn is ridiculously entertaining and has a lot of potential to become more than that. I had a lot of fun reading it, especially as the plot started to twist and turn like a maze. Here's to the next book being even more fun!

Stacking the Shelves {43}

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? Mine's been pretty good! ALMOST THANKSGIVING. :)

For review:

The Queen's Choice by Cayla Kluver

A big thanks to Harlequin Teen and Netgalley for this! 

Purchased:

Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen

A recap of the week here on Paper Cuts:
Monday - I helped reveal the cover for Seeking Her by Cora Carmack.
Tuesday - I teased from The Promise of Amazing by Robin Constantine.
Wednesday - I'm waiting on A Mad, Wicked Folly by Sharon Biggs Waller.
Thursday - I'm thankful for you! And to celebrate, a giveaway!
Friday - I reviewed The Girl With the Iron Touch by Kady Cross.

Books I read this week:
The Girl With the Iron Touch (The Steampunk Chronicles #3) by Kady Cross

I'm currently reading:
Pawn by Aimee Carter

So that's been my week! Two classes and then I'm freeeeee. That means food, family, friends, and reading! Hoorah! :) 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!

Review: The Girl With the Iron Touch (The Steampunk Chronicles #3) by Kady Cross

Release date: May 28, 2013
Author info: Website | Twitter | Facebook
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 384
Format: Egalley
Source: Publisher provided through Netgalley
Buy the book: Barnes & Noble | Amazon | The Book Depository

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...

It took me forever, but I am so happy I finally picked up The Girl With the Iron Touch! This is one of the most fun series and while this isn't the last book, just thinking about it being over with the next book just makes me sad. What's great about these books is that each is its own mostly contained episode even as it furthers the stories of the characters. While the villain recurs, each book ends with a kind of finality, never leaving us feeling cheated, but also making us want more.

With each book, it seems that Kady Cross is having more and more fun with this world. I thought the goings on in the last couple of books were pretty crazy, but the automatons are just getting out of control! Even on the verge of death, the Machinist proves to be a formidable opponent for Griffin, Finley, and the gang. But now his automatons are gaining a will of their own, one that allows them to think and reason. And yet, this spurs a huge development that I believe we've only seen the beginning of, and I am crazy excited to see how it turns out in the last book.

Although I love the world, what keeps me coming back are the characters and this book is so gratifying in that department. Sam and Emily continue to be ridiculously adorable but also so real and strangely communicative, considering Sam's nature. And finally Finley actually puts into words what we've known all along regarding a Mr. Jack Dandy. FINALLY. If you're all about Finley and Griffin, this is the book for you. I do wish Jasper had been around more. It felt like he just popped into scenes here and there with no real purpose aside from being sad. Blerg.

As a third installment in a series of four books, The Girl With the Iron Touch could have fallen prey to second book syndrome (even as it's not a second book, but you know what I mean!) and simply been a stepping stone between the group's adventures in New York and their ultimate showdown with the Machinist, but it's not. Not only do we get so much development in terms of the world, plot, and characters, but it's just such a fun read. There's not a lagging moment, and it'll only leave you even more excited for the last book, The Girl With the Windup Heart.

I'm Thankful For You Giveaway!

So, it's almost Thanksgiving! (At least in the US. Otherwise I guess it's just getting close to the end of November...) I've been thinking about what I'm grateful for, and one important thing on the list is this blog and those who read it. I realized I hadn't done a just-because giveaway in quite a while, and I thought I'd change that.

I just had to use him. Snoopy's so cute. :)

It's hard to believe I've been blogging for two and a half years now, but I love it just as much now (if not more) as I did when I began. Checking on the blog and seeing your comments, or just that I had a good day in page views, can make a bad day better. :)

I'm making this giveaway pretty simple. One winner will be randomly chosen to win the book of their choice, up to $15, from The Book Depository (or Amazon/Barnes & Noble, if in the US). Pick anything you choose, an old book, a new book, a pre-order of something you're dying for. I want you to get something you really want, and the best way to do that is simply to let you choose.

Rules, as always:

• You must be 13 years of age or older to enter--or have express permission from your parents. (Honor system, y'all.)
• Giveaway is international, so long as The Book Depository ships to you!
• The giveaway will run until the end of December 5.
• The winner will be contacted via the email they sign into Rafflecopter with (if you want to use a different one, let me know somehow--comment, whatever.)
• The winner will have 48 hours to respond or I will pick another winner. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Waiting on Wednesday: A Mad, Wicked Folly by Sharon Biggs Waller {21}

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly awaiting!!

Title: A Mad, Wicked Folly
Author: Sharon Biggs Waller
Release date: January 23, 2014
Publisher: Viking Juvenile

Welcome to the world of the fabulously wealthy in London, 1909, where dresses and houses are overwhelmingly opulent, social class means everything, and women are taught to be nothing more than wives and mothers. Into this world comes seventeen-year-old Victoria Darling, who wants only to be an artist—a nearly impossible dream for a girl.

After Vicky poses nude for her illicit art class, she is expelled from her French finishing school. Shamed and scandalized, her parents try to marry her off to the wealthy Edmund Carrick-Humphrey. But Vicky has other things on her mind: her clandestine application to the Royal College of Art; her participation in the suffragette movement; and her growing attraction to a working-class boy who may be her muse—or may be the love of her life. As the world of debutante balls, corsets, and high society obligations closes in around her, Vicky must figure out: just how much is she willing to sacrifice to pursue her dreams?

I'm so excited for this!! I love love love the sound of it, and I will read almost anything set in the early 1900s. :)

So what are you guys waiting on this week? :)

Teaser Tuesday: The Promise of Amazing by Robin Constantine {48}

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

Title: The Promise of Amazing
Author: Robin Constantine
Release date: December 31, 2013
Pages: 384

Wren Caswell is average. Ranked in the middle of her class at Sacred Heart, she’s not popular, but not a social misfit. Wren is the quiet, “good” girl who's always done what she's supposed to—only now in her junior year, this passive strategy is backfiring. She wants to change, but doesn’t know how.

Grayson Barrett was the king of St. Gabe’s. Star of the lacrosse team, top of his class, on a fast track to a brilliant future—until he was expelled for being a “term paper pimp.” Now Gray is in a downward spiral and needs to change, but doesn’t know how.

One fateful night their paths cross when Wren, working at her family’s Arthurian-themed catering hall, performs the Heimlich on Gray as he chokes on a cocktail weenie, saving his life literally and figuratively. What follows is the complicated, awkward, hilarious, and tender tale of two teens shedding their pasts, figuring out who they are—and falling in love.

My teaser, from 41% in the egalley:

"You made it," he said, shaking it vigorously over his shoulder.

That mouth.
Had been.
On mine.

"Yeah, pretty crazy."

I'll be starting this soon, since I'm part of the blog tour coming up! I'm so excitedddd. :) And isn't the cover adorable?

I'll be visiting around and visiting back, so leave me links to your teasers! Have a lovely Tuesday!

{Cover Reveal} Seeking Her by Cora Carmack

I'm excited to be helping reveal the cover for the second novella in Cora Carmack's Losing It series, Seeking Her, which will be out January 28th! And holy flail it's pretty! Even though I've only read the first book so far, I love the series and am so looking forward to continuing with it soon! :) Without further ado...

Pre-order: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Google Play | iBookstore

About the book:

A few months after being honorably discharged from the military, Jackson Hunt is still struggling to adjust back to the real world. He needs to get a job and find a sense of normalcy if he’s going to keep his own demons at bay. The job that falls into his lap, though, is anything but normal.

Bodyguard (and baby-sitter) to spoiled-rich-girl Kelsey Summers isn’t exactly what he’d been looking for, but it’s a chance to travel, to get away from the home that has felt stifling ever since his return. It would be a pretty sweet gig if it weren’t for the fact that Kelsey’s father doesn’t want Kelsey to know she’s being followed. Hunt feels guilty (and a little bit creepy) as he watches her from afar. She’s vibrant and infuriating, exciting and reckless, mysterious and familiar. When he sees her falling into the same patterns that he suffered years ago, he decides it’s time to stop watching and help her instead. But getting to know her is more difficult than he thought, especially because the more he knows her,the more he wants her.

Stacking the Shelves {42}

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? Mine's been pretty good! ALMOST THANKSGIVING. :)

For review:

A Creature of Moonlight by Rebecca Hahn (egalley)

A big thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Edelweiss for this! 

Purchased:

Unravel Me (Shatter Me #2) by Tahereh Mafi
The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook

Eve & Adam by Michael Grant and Katherine Applegate
The Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas

Finding It by Cora Carmack

A recap of the week here on Paper Cuts:
Monday - I reviewed The Collector by Victoria Scott.
Tuesday - I teased from These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Megan Spooner.
Wednesday - I'm waiting on Savage Drift by Emmy Laybourne.
Thursday - I discussed verse novels.
Friday - I posted an update on Negalley November.

Books I read this week:
The Collector by Victoria Scott

I'm currently reading:
The Girl With the Iron Touch (The Steampunk Chronicles #3) by Kady Cross

So that's been my week! This has felt like the weirdest week, for some reason. I'm feeling very tired, so it's a good thing it's almost Thanksgiving--and then Christmas! :) 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!

Netgalley November: Update #1

Hello, hello, and a happy Friday to you all! I'm just here to do a quick check in with Netgalley November.

As has been the case this semester, I'm not getting as much reading done as I'd like to, but I've been able to do a bit in my free time. With that, I have read one sad, lonely book for Netgalley November thus far. I am currently reading a second, though, so hopefully I'll get that done this weekend. :)

Read and reviewed so far (click on the picture to see my review!):

Currently reading:

But, Thanksgiving is coming, and my classes are actually going to get less demanding at the end of the semester, so that bodes well for my reading! :) Cheers!

Let's Talk About... Books Not Written in Prose

I had a hard time titling that one. By "not written in prose" I mean books that are not written in the style most books are written, full paragraphs, etc.

I have always had some weird prejudice against books that are written in poetry, or any style other than
classic prose. I know everyone in the world seemed to love Ellen Hopkins's Crank books, but I never read them. Originally this was because I'm just not the biggest fan of poetry. But somehow that dislike has changed to a weird prejudice against books written in that form. I don't know why or how, but it's happened.

Just the other day I got a review request for a book written in that kind of style. It had weird shapes made out of the words and I immediately decided I'd not read it. (It also didn't really appeal to me, but that was secondary.) For some reason, this kind of writing comes off as a gimmick. I can't explain why this is true for me, but it is.

So I'm curious. What do y'all think of these kinds of books? Do you read them? Should I, because I'm missing out?

Waiting on Wednesday: Savage Drift (Monument 14 #3) by Emmy Laybourne {20}

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly awaiting!!

Title: Savage Drift (Monument 14 #3)
Author: Emmy Laybourne
Release date: May 6, 2014
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

The survivors of the Monument 14 have finally made it to the safety of a Canadian refugee camp. Dean and Alex are cautiously starting to hope that a happy ending might be possible.

But for Josie, separated from the group and trapped in a brutal prison camp for exposed Type Os, things have gone from bad to worse. Traumatized by her experiences, she has given up all hope of rescue or safety.

Meanwhile, scared by the government's unusual interest in her pregnancy, Astrid (with her two protectors, Dean and Jake in tow) joins Niko on his desperate quest to be reunited with his lost love Josie.

Author Emmy Laybourne reaches new heights of tension and romance in this action-packed conclusion to the Monument 14 trilogy.

I've loved the first two books in this series, so of course I'm excited to see how it ends! I hope it goes out with a BANG. :)

So what are you guys waiting on this week? :)

Teaser Tuesday: These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Megan Spooner {47}

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

Title: These Broken Stars
Author: Amie Kaufman and Megan Spooner
Release date: December 11, 2013
Pages: 384

It's a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone.

Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they’re worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help.

Then, against all odds, Lilac and Tarver find a strange blessing in the tragedy that has thrown them into each other’s arms. Without the hope of a future together in their own world, they begin to wonder—would they be better off staying here forever?

Everything changes when they uncover the truth behind the chilling whispers that haunt their every step. Lilac and Tarver may find a way off this planet. But they won’t be the same people who landed on it.

A timeless love story, THESE BROKEN STARS sets into motion a sweeping science fiction series of companion novels. The Starbound Trilogy: Three worlds. Three love stories. One enemy.

My teaser, from22% in the egalley:

"Your key concerns at that stage?

"Well, Miss LaRoux had a party that she didn't want to miss, and I--"

"Major, you don't seem to understand the seriousness of your situation."

"Sure I do. What the hell do you think our key concerns were?"

I've had this for forever but have had to resist reading it since it doesn't come out until next month. It's within the month now, though, so I'll be reading it soon!! :) Yay!

I'll be visiting around and visiting back, so leave me links to your teasers! Have a lovely Tuesday!

Review: The Collector by Victoria Scott

Release date: April 2, 2013
Author info: Website | Twitter | Facebook
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Pages: 352
Format: Egalley
Source: Publisher provided through Netgalley
Buy the book: Barnes & Noble | Amazon | The Book Depository

He makes good girls...bad.

Dante Walker is flippin’ awesome, and he knows it. His good looks, killer charm, and stellar confidence have made him one of hell’s best—a soul collector. His job is simple: weed through humanity and label those round rears with a big red good or bad stamp. Old Saint Nick gets the good guys, and he gets the fun ones. Bag-and-tag.

Sealing souls is nothing personal. Dante’s an equal-opportunity collector and doesn't want it any other way. But he’ll have to adjust, because Boss Man has given him a new assignment:

Collect Charlie Cooper’s soul within ten days.

Dante doesn't know why Boss Man wants Charlie, nor does he care. This assignment means only one thing to him, and that’s a permanent ticket out of hell. But after Dante meets the quirky Nerd Alert chick he’s come to collect, he realizes this assignment will test his abilities as a collector…and uncover emotions deeply buried.

I'm coming off finishing The Collector with some mixed emotions.

On one hand, I definitely get why people love Dante. He's got a lot of charisma and his narration is hilarious. I found myself laughing out loud at several things he said. I also really liked his progression as a character, how he really comes to see the value in goodness. He's lived a certain way for a long time and that's a hard kind of habit to break, and that struggle is good to see. It's not an easy road. Even so, he's a character I'd only like in short doses; his certain brand of confidence is one that could get annoying very quickly.

Aside from Dante, I pretty much liked everyone else a whole lot. Charlie is just so endearing in everything she does that I couldn't help but like her. If Annabelle were real I probably would have high-fived her six or seven times, and Blue was so earnest yet tough that it broke my heart. Also, can I please get some background on Max and Valery? Maybe even an entire book. Yes.

But, on the other hand, there was nothing in this story that really captured me, making me want to live in the world. I can't think of any "wow' moments or times I found myself thinking just how much I was loving the book. It's not that it was a bad book in any way, but I just couldn't find an emotional connection.

Even so, The Collector is a laugh-out-loud hilarious paranormal romance that is full of memorable characters, one that kept me reading until after 3 a.m. And for those great characters, I will happily continue the series.

Stacking the Shelves {41}

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? Mine's been good! One of my professors asked if she could publish an adaptation I wrote for class on a website she runs with a couple of other professors in Canada. :) :) I don't consider myself a "creative writer", so I had to do a big happy dance!

For review:

Dangerous by Shannon Hale (egalley)
Talker 25 by Joshua McCune (egalley)

Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anne Blankman (egalley)
The Taking by Kimberly Derting (egalley)

A big thanks to Bloomsbury Children's, Balzer + Bray, HarperTeen, Edelweiss, and Netgalley for these! 

Purchased:

Unteachable by Leah Raeder (ebook)
Champion (Legend #3) by Marie Lu (hardcover, SIGNED!)

A recap of the week here on Paper Cuts:
Monday - I reviewed Across a Star-Swept Sea by Diana Peterfreund.
Tuesday - I teased from Roses by G.R. Mannering.
Wednesday - I'm waiting on Cress by Marissa Meyer.
Friday - The blog tour for Everything Between Us stopped by with my review and a giveaway.

Books I read this week:
Across a Star-Swept Sea by Diana Peterfreund
Everything Between Us by Mila Ferrera

I'm currently reading:
The Collector by Victoria Scott

So that's been my week! I was going to put off buying Champion since I can't read it this month, BUT I went to Target to get groceries and did my customary check of the books, only to find that they had signed copies! So I had to have it to match my signed Prodigy. Target has had lots of signed books recently, and I love 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!

{Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway) Everything Between Us by Mila Ferrera

So if you haven't noticed, I have it listed on my sidebar that this post was supposed to happen on Monday, the 4th. I hate to say that it just completely slipped my mind, and I feel absolutely terrible. Luckily, Giselle at Xpresso Book Tours and Mila have been nice enough to let me post today, despite my mess up, so I have to say thank you, thank you, thank you to them! And please check out the rest of the tour by clicking on the banner! There are some great reviews, so you won't regret it. :)

Release date: November 5, 2013
Author info: Website | Twitter | Goodreads
Format: Egalley
Source: Provided for review for blog tour
Buy the book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Daniel’s got everything figured out. He makes a good living as an artist … mostly through offering “private shows” to the wives of local wealthy businessmen. He never stops playing the game and never lets anyone touch his heart. But when his current fling offers him a few hundred an hour for art lessons for her reclusive, college-dropout daughter, Daniel finds himself forgetting his own rules. The girl is rude. Insulting. Incredible.

And she sees straight through him.

Stella is hiding from the world, not because she wants to, but because crippling panic attacks await her every time she tries to live a normal life. She’s determined to push everyone–including her handsome new art teacher—away. But Daniel makes it utterly impossible. The guy is irritating. Mocking. Magnetic.

And makes her want things she knows she can never have.

What starts as a battle of wills turns into passion, where giving in means facing the things that scare them most.

New adult books have felt a little hit or miss for me. I've had both good and bad experiences with them thus far, and nothing has quite proven the viability of the genre to me... BUT Everything Between Us might make me reconsider that decision. I signed up for the blog tour because I like the way it sounded and I loved the cover (and I still LOVE the cover, especially after reading the book! I just love when a cover really, really fits--and this one definitely does), and I figured it'd be a nice, semi-light read. Hahahahahaha. Funny. Yes, Everything Between Us has a lovely and very satisfying romance, but the romance is really tangential to (and a catalyst for) a story that embraces the power of making your life what you want it to be, of facing your fears no matter how largely they loom.

I see so much potential in the idea behind new adult that I want it to work so badly. I so want to read about college-age protagonists who deal with real things. A person's reaction to events in their life can change drastically from high school to college and from college to adulthood, so seeing that stage of life is interesting--especially as I'm living it. My frustration with new adult comes when the books fail to deliver any kind of situation aside from romance. Here, both Stella and Daniel are dealing with some of the hardest moments in a person's life. Both are crippled by insecurities and by their fears, but it's not just their love interest that propels them out of this. Sure it spurs them on, but it's their strength of will, their desire to live full lives, that make it happen--regardless of that other person. No one can make those changes for you, and it's a hard road, but with the help of the other, they make it happen--though even that doesn't promise perfection. It's a great progression to see play out, and really worth the read just for that. :) Like I said, this is a book that makes me believe in new adult.

I know sometimes that dual narrators turn me off. Do they do that to y'all? It's just one of those things that gets to me if you can tell an author doesn't have a real reason for giving us the POVs, but they thought it sounded like a good idea. Not the case here. While the story would have been put across just fine without both Daniel and Stella narrating, it would have lacked quite a lot of dimension. We are able to experience Stella's panic, knowing just how she feels as her body wheels out of her control. We hear Daniel's thoughts as to why and how he shuts down his emotions, just so he can't be hurt. We see both of their frustration with the situation they're in, even as we hope that it'll get better.

Normally I end reviews a little more formally (with something like, "Everything Between Us is a heartfelt, emotional, and well-written novel that has made me believe in new adult again, and hopefully it'll do the same for you"), but I'd just like to leave you with this, because I like it and it is, honestly, more eloquent that I could possibly be. :)

"How am I supposed to know when I've found the right woman?"...
"She'll be able to see right through you, Daniel Alexander Van Vliet."...
"Why would I ever want that?" I tease.
"Because she'll like what she sees."

About the author:

Mila Ferrera lives in New England, where she has a family and a job and does various normal, everyday things, all while plotting novels in her head. She has a passion for writing new adult/adult romance featuring psychological twists and tortured heroes. Her own psychology internship involved plenty of consultation, but alas, no sexy Swedish doctors, and her decision to make one up is what sparked her self-publishing adventures. She's the author of SPIRAL (available now), ONLY BETWEEN US (9/3/13), and EVERYTHING BETWEEN US (11/5/13).

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

Giveaway:

As part of the tour, each stop gets to give away an ecopy of the book! So, hey! If you like the way it sounds (and why wouldn't you??), be sure to check out the rest of the tour stops for an even better chance to win a copy! :) The giveaway is international, and mine will end at midnight on November 23th. The winner will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond. Easy, right? :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Waiting on Wednesday: Cress (Lunar Chronicles #3) by Marissa Meyer {19}

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly awaiting!!

Title: Cress (Lunar Chronicles #3)
Author: Marissa Meyer
Release date: February 4, 2014
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Rapunzel’s tower is a satellite. She can’t let down her hair—or her guard.

In this third book in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles series, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army.

Their best hope lies with Cress, who has been trapped on a satellite since childhood with only her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker—unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice.

When a daring rescue goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing stop her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only ones who can.

I could have sworn that I featured this one already! And I JUST NOTICED HOW MANY PAGES IT HAS. Y'all. 560. Seriously. I might pass out of excitement.

So what are you guys waiting on this week? :)

Teaser Tuesday: Roses by G.R. Mannering {46}

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

Title: Roses
Author: G.R. Mannering
Release date: November 2013
Pages: 352

"As the gates clicked shut behind them, she heard the distant roar of a beast."

She bears no name. Her silvery appearance is freakish to the numerous inhabitants of Sago, the cosmopolitan capital of Pevorocco in a fantasy realm. With her mother vanishing at the instance of her birth, she is sent to live with the cruel, rich Ma Dane, where she is punished daily for something, though she knows not what. Tauntingly named Beauty, she flees Sago in a violent uprising that sets out to massacre all Magics and journeys to the furthest point of the country.

But Beauty cannot hide in the grassy Hillands forever. Before long, the State officials find her and threaten to take her back to war-torn Sago where death surely awaits. In a midnight blizzard she escapes them, running into a deep, enchanted forest to a great and terrible beast who will bargain for her life.

But can Beauty accept Beast? Eternity is a long time.

My teaser, from p. 179:

The forest rushed closer and Beauty refused to shut her eyes. She stared at it, meeting it headlong with a narrow, challenging gaze. There was a whine of wind and then suddenly they were swallowed whole, and the darkness was all about them.

I got this one for review last week and am so excited to start it soon! Beauty and the Beast is my favorite fairy tale, so I read every retelling I can get my hands on. :)

I'll be visiting around and visiting back, so leave me links to your teasers! Have a lovely Tuesday!

Review: Across a Star-Swept Sea by Diana Peterfreund

Release date: October 15, 2013
Author info: Website | Twitter | Facebook
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 464
Source: Purchased
Buy the book: Barnes & Noble | Amazon | The Book Depository

Centuries after wars nearly destroyed civilization, the two islands of New Pacifica stand alone, a terraformed paradise where even the Reduction—the devastating brain disorder that sparked the wars—is a distant memory. Yet on the isle of Galatea, an uprising against the ruling aristocrats has turned deadly. The revolutionaries’ weapon is a drug that damages their enemies’ brains, and the only hope is rescue by a mysterious spy known as the Wild Poppy.

On the neighboring island of Albion, no one suspects that the Wild Poppy is actually famously frivolous aristocrat Persis Blake. The teenager uses her shallow, socialite trappings to hide her true purpose: her gossipy flutternotes are encrypted plans, her pampered sea mink is genetically engineered for spying, and her well-publicized new romance with handsome Galatean medic Justen Helo… is her most dangerous mission ever.

Though Persis is falling for Justen, she can’t risk showing him her true self, especially once she learns he’s hiding far more than simply his disenchantment with his country’s revolution and his undeniable attraction to the silly socialite he’s pretending to love. His darkest secret could plunge both islands into a new dark age, and Persis realizes that when it comes to Justen Helo, she’s not only risking her heart, she’s risking the world she’s sworn to protect.

In this thrilling adventure inspired by The Scarlet Pimpernel, Diana Peterfreund creates an exquisitely rendered world where nothing is as it seems and two teens with very different pasts fight for a future only they dare to imagine.

For Darkness Shows the Stars, the first book set in this world, drew me in because it was a retelling of one of my favorite Austen novels, Persuasion, but I wanted to read Across a Star-Swept Sea because of how lovely, respectful, and well-written the first was. There's a lot of pressure to live up to a book's predecessor, and Across a Star-Swept Sea not only lived up to that pressure but outshone For Darkness Shows the Stars by leaps and bounds!

Diana Peterfreund has created a fascinating and very well-built world that one can't help but want to know more and more about. In this quasi-sequel, we see an entirely new part of the world, one that has reacted to its history in a completely different way. They've eradicated the Reduction, but that doesn't mean everything is calm in New Pacifica, though. The people of Galatea are revolting against their monarch and punishing their enemies with a drug that brings back the Reduction. While Albion is mostly peaceful, the governing body refuses to intervene--that's where Persis Blake, aka the Wild Poppy comes in.

Persis is, by far, one my favorite characters in a long time. She is an aristo, born into wealth and convenience, the heir to her family's vast estate, and best friend to the princess regent. She is whip smart, but chooses to hide her great qualities in order to help those who can't help themselves. Instead of being the unmatched brain and beauty in her country, she settles for being just the unmatched beauty, who no one believes could think any deeper than how her shoes look with her dress. She's got her reasons to want to save those dosed by the revolutionaries, but most in Albion and Galatea are too selfish to act. Persis, who has so much to lose and no connections to Galatea, saves countless people--some of whom don't even thank her. It's an effort to avoid her deep-seated fears, but it's so admirable. To me, Persis is amongst the best of female heroines.

That's not to say there aren't innumerable aspects of Across a Star-Swept Sea that are fantastic. The plot will immediately draw you in and keep you hooked until the last page--at which point you'll want there to be more. Justen is a perfect match for Persis, though neither of them know it at first, and it's great to see them square off. The mix of the two books is done just perfectly and not too heavy-handed; each book has its own world and characters, but they intertwine to create a larger, fascinating whole. The writing is beautifully descriptive but not too flowery to overpower the story itself. Peterfreund's world is lushly drawn.

Across a Star-Swept Sea is an adventure that excites with its intricate plot, rich characters, satisfying ending, and a romance that makes you want to swoon. I can't hope enough that there will be another book set in this world!

Stacking the Shelves {40}

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? Mine's been good! Fall break has been nice, though I put off most of my homework... And there's a lot to do. :)

For review:

Shadowplay (Pantomime #2) by Laura Lam (egalley)
Roses by G.R. Mannering (hardcover)

A big thanks to Strange Chemistry, Netgalley, and Sky Pony Press for these! 

Purchased:

Tyger, Tyger by Kersten Hamilton (ebook, technically a freebie but...)
Emerald Green (Ruby Red #3) by Kerstin Gier (ebook)
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell (ebook)

Across a Star-Swept Sea by Diana Peterfreund (hardcover)
Columbine by Dave Cullen (hardcover)

A recap of the week here on Paper Cuts:
Monday - I (mini) reviewed novellas The First Star to Fall and Finding Cinderella.
Tuesday - I teased from Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier.
Wednesday - I'm waiting on The One by Kiera Cass.
Thursday - I took part in the blog tour for and reviewed The Devil's Tattoo by Nicole R. Taylor.
Friday - I set my goals for Netgalley November.

Books I read this week:
The First Star to Fall by Diana Peterfreund
Finding Cinderella by Colleen Hoover
The Devil's Tattoo by Nicole R. Taylor

I'm currently reading:
Across a Star-Swept Sea by Diana Peterfreund

So that's been my week! I wasn't going to buy so many ebooks, but Emerald Green and Fangirl, among a bunch of other Macmillan recent releases, were $1.40! How does one resist? :) 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!

Netgalley November: Goals

I can't believe it, but it's already November! It's absurd how quickly the past few months have gone--the entire year, really. Anyways, that means it's time for me to start Netgalley November! I'm so excited to be participating, partially so I can make some new friends and partially because I'm so, SO behind on my egalleys that I'm kind of ashamed to share with you some of the books that I'm planning on reading. Yep. Also, I'm doing both Netgalley and Edelweiss galleys, though most will be from Netgalley.

I keep a spreadsheet of all the books I receive from Netgalley and Edelweiss and I updated it the other day to be accurate for this... It was sad. My plan is to get the oldest books on the list done. If I manage that, I'll set up some new goals and go from there. We'll see!

Please don't judge me... :) Here is my batch of books! (Click on the book covers to see their Goodreads pages!)

If I can get these done, I will feel like much less of a failure, though there are many more to go! Aside from school books--and the book I started yesterday!--these should be all I will be reading during the month of November.