Waiting on Wednesday: Rook by Sharon Cameron {74}

Title: Rook
Author: Sharon Cameron
Release date: April 28, 2015

Who needs a wedding ring when you can pick up a sword? A remarkable and utterly inventive novel from Sharon Cameron, author of THE DARK UNWINDING, which USA TODAY called "spellbindingly imaginative."

History has a way of repeating itself. In the Sunken City that was once Paris, all who oppose the new revolution are being put to the blade. Except for those who disappear from their prison cells, a red-tipped rook feather left in their place. Is the mysterious Red Rook a savior of the innocent or a criminal?

Meanwhile, across the sea in the Commonwealth, Sophia Bellamy's arranged marriage to the wealthy René Hasard is the last chance to save her family from ruin. But when the search for the Red Rook comes straight to her doorstep, Sophia discovers that her fiancé is not all he seems. Which is only fair, because neither is she. 

As the Red Rook grows bolder and the stakes grow higher, Sophia and René find themselves locked in a tantalizing game of cat and mouse. 

Daring intrigue, delicious romance, and spine-tingling suspense fill the pages of this extraordinary tale from award-winning author Sharon Cameron.

I haven't read Sharon Cameron's other books, but does that matter? NOPE. While I've not read The Scarlet Pimpernel, I loved Across a Star-Swept Sea, which was also based on the book. I should probably read The Scarlet Pimpernel.

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

Teaser Tuesday: A Cold Legacy by Megan Shepherd {100}

Title: A Cold Legacy (The Madman's Daughter #3)
Author: Megan Shepherd

Release date: January 27, 2015

After killing the men who tried to steal her father’s research, Juliet—along with Montgomery, Lucy, Balthazar, and a deathly ill Edward—has escaped to a remote estate on the Scottish moors. Owned by the enigmatic Elizabeth von Stein, the mansion is full of mysteries and unexplained oddities: dead bodies in the basement, secret passages, and fortune-tellers who seem to know Juliet’s secrets. Though it appears to be a safe haven, Juliet fears new dangers may be present within the manor’s own walls.

Then Juliet uncovers the truth about the manor’s long history of scientific experimentation—and her own intended role in it—forcing her to determine where the line falls between right and wrong, life and death, magic and science, and promises and secrets. And she must decide if she’ll follow her father’s dark footsteps or her mother’s tragic ones, or whether she’ll make her own.

With inspiration from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, this breathless conclusion to the Madman’s Daughter trilogy is about the things we’ll sacrifice to save those we love—even our own humanity. 

My teaser, from 12% in the egalley:

Reading the future was nonsense, but there was a grain of truth in how his predictions had made me feel--as though escaping Father was impossible, even in death. Maybe, just maybe, I should stop trying so hard to fight it.

As flawed as this series is, especially when it comes to the love triangle that I keep hoping is resolved, I seriously cannot wait to see how it ends!

I'll be visiting around and visiting back, so leave me links to your teasers! :) Happy Tuesday!

Review: Mistletoe and Mr. Right by Lyla Payne

Release date: November 20, 2014
Author info: Website | Twitter | Facebook
Publisher: Bloomsbury Spark
Pages: 150
Format: Egalley
Source: Publisher provided for review through Netgalley
Buy the book: Barnes & Noble | Amazon

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring…but lust refused to settle in for a long winter's nap. 
She might be all nestled, snug in her bed, by why, oh why, do visions of the wrong guy dance in her head?

Jessica, (not Jessie), figures that nothing could be better than a trip to the Emerald Isle for Christmas break. So she takes a flying leap and follows her boyfriend home for the holidays, not only sure that he will finally agree they're destined for each other, but also that Ireland will provide the perfect backdrop to the beginning of their happily-ever-after. 

But it turns out his family--and his gorgeous ex-girlfriend--don't feel the same way, and even the family goat seems to be conspiring against her well-laid plans. The only person making the trip worthwhile is the very last one she should be thinking about, but Grady, the local farmhand, has a way of showing up when Jessica needs him most...and least.

USA Today bestselling author Lyla Payne wraps up the perfect holiday novella, ties it with a ribbon of romance, and tops it with a light dusting of snow. Perfect to curl up with under the tree. Just add hot cocoa!

Even though Christmas Day has passed, I know I'm certainly in the Christmas spirit, wishing for snow days and nights snuggled up with tea by the fire with a cute book. If you're like me, Mistletoe and Mr. Right would absolutely complete that night.

Not only does Mistletoe and Mr. Right deliver the cute romance you expect, the romance isn't the total focus of the story. Jessica is given a lot more character development in 150 pages than some characters are given in books double the length. Given that it's a novella, sure, there are bits of history and relationship development that could be expanded on, but given the length, I was quite the happy camper. :)

No matter the season, Mistletoe and Mr. Right is just the right dose of cute romance and holiday atmosphere to warm even the scroogiest of hearts.

About the author:

Lyla Payne has been publishing New Adult romance novels for a little over a year, starting with Broken at Love and continuing with the rest of the Whitman University series. She loves telling stories, discovering the little reasons people fall in love, and uncovering hidden truths in the world around us – past and present. In her spare time she cuddles her two dogs, pretends to enjoy exercising so that she can eat as much Chipotle as she wants, and harbors a deep and abiding hope that Zac Efron likes older women. She loves reading, of course, along with movies, traveling, and Irish whiskey. Lyla’s hard at work, ALWAYS, and hopes to bring you more Whitman University antics and at least one more Lowcountry ghost tale before the end of the year.

Stacking the Shelves {98}

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 great!! How was your Christmas, if you celebrate? :) We didn't do anything special, just the normal family time. I got the greatest shoes known to man, hand-painted Beauty and the Beast sneakers, from my brother and sister-in-law! I'm seriously in love with them, but haven't gotten to wear them yet because they needed a little more drying time, then it rained badly yesterday, and I'm working today. Maybe Wednesday? My parents did pre-order This Shattered World for me from Books of Wonder, so that will come next month, signed and with goodies. I can't wait! A fun week in general, but a boring one for books...

For review:

The Cage by Megan Shepherd
I Remember You by Cathleen Davitt Bell

A recap of the week here on Paper Cuts:
This week I participated in Top 10 of 2014, so all posts are related to that!
Monday - Best Books I've Read
Tuesday - Best Covers
Wednesday - Best Debuts
Friday - Books I'm Looking Forward To in 2015

Books I read this week:
Mistletoe and Mr. Right by Lyla Payne
The Boy Next Door by Katie Van Ark

I'm currently reading:
City of a Thousand Dolls by Miriam Forster

So that's been my week! I'd love to hear all about your Christmas, if you feel like sharing! :) Otherwise, have a lovely Sunday and a fabulous week!

Top 10 of 2014: Books I'm Looking Forward To in 2015

Helloooo! For the third year, I'm participating in Top Ten of 2014 (or '13 or '11, obviously--didn't do 2012). I've had such fun doing this in the past few years, so of course I had to do it again! This event is hosted by Rachel at Reading YA Rocks, Jaime of Two Chicks on Books and Mindy of Magical Urban Fantasy Reads.

Today we're listing the books we're most excited for next year! This is a hard one, since there are SO many books I'm dying for next year! I'm not including books I already have copies of, though, which hopefully should help. :) So, in no particular order, here we go!

So there we go! I have a feeling it's pretty clear what books I really love... :) What do you think of my picks? If you're participating, please leave me a link to your post so I can visit back!

Top 10 of 2014: Best Debuts

Helloooo! For the third year, I'm participating in Top Ten of 2014 (or '13 or '11, obviously--didn't do 2012). I've had such fun doing this in the past few years, so of course I had to do it again! This event is hosted by Rachel at Reading YA Rocks, Jaime of Two Chicks on Books and Mindy of Magical Urban Fantasy Reads.

Today we've been given a little choice of topics, and I've chosen best debuts that I read this year. I don't really keep track of how many debut authors I read, but I think it's a fair enough number to do a top ten list. :D In no particular order...

So that's it! That was harder than I thought, largely because a lot of books I kind of thought were debuts weren't. :) What do you think of my picks? Please leave me a link to your post if you're participating in the event! :D

Top 10 of 2014: Best Covers

Helloooo! For the third year, I'm participating in Top Ten of 2014 (or '13 or '11, obviously--didn't do 2012). I've had such fun doing this in the past few years, so of course I had to do it again! This event is hosted by Rachel at Reading YA Rocks, Jaime of Two Chicks on Books and Mindy of Magical Urban Fantasy Reads.

Today we're listing our top 10 covers of the year! These were all released in 2014, and I've read...most, maybe not quite all, of them. Again, in no particular order...

Can you tell I like pretty colors? :) This one was surprisingly easy, since there aren't too many covers I obsess over. These were the ones that got me excited, though!

What do you think of my picks? If you're participating in Top 10 of 2014, please leave me a link to your post so I can come visit! :D

Top 10 of 2014: Best Books I've Read

Helloooo! For the third year, I'm participating in Top Ten of 2014 (or '13 or '11, obviously--didn't do 2012). I've had such fun doing this in the past few years, so of course I had to do it again! This event is hosted by Rachel at Reading YA Rocks, Jaime of Two Chicks on Books and Mindy of Magical Urban Fantasy Reads.

Today we're listing our top 10 reads of the year. And this is going to be hard! While last year I know I listed my books in order, I don't think I could even begin to do so this year. I couldn't fully narrow it down, so there are three honorable mentions as well. So, in no particular order, here we go!

And the honorable mentions...

Woah. That was hard! There were at least four or five more books that were in the mix, that I cut in order to keep this a decent list. I've just read too many great books this year! :)

So, what do y'all think of my list? If you're participating in Top Ten of 2014, please leave me a link to your post so I can visit back. :D