Romance is in the Air Giveaway Hop!

For the first time in quite a while, I'm participating in a giveaway hop! And what better way to celebrate Valentine's Day than with a giveaway for a romantic book? I can't think of one. :) This hop is hosted by I Am a Reader Not a Writer and Rachael Anderson and runs from today, February 8th to the 14th.

For this giveaway, one winner will get their choice of (romantic) book up to $20 from Barnes & Noble or The Book Depository (depending on where you live!) I don't care what you pick, so long as it's romantic! :) And in case you're stuck for inspiration, here are a few of my favorites (It was hard to contain myself on this! Also, I tried to include only happy-ending romances--though I don't know about the end for the romance in Chosen Ones yet!--since who needs heartbreak on Valentine's Day?):

As for rules, you must be 13 or older to enter the giveaway. The giveaway runs until 11:50 p.m. (EST) on February 14th. It is international, so long as The Book Depository ships to you! Winner will be contacted via the email address in Rafflecopter (so make sure it's one you check!) and will have 48 hours to respond or I will choose another winner. Book will ship from Barnes & Noble or The Book Depository, depending on where the winner lives.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to check out all the other awesome giveaways going on for this hop! There are over 150 blogs signed up, so there are tons of chances to win!

Review: The Boy on the Bridge by Natalie Standiford

Release date: July 30, 2013
Author info: Website | Twitter
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pages: 256
Format: Egalley
Source: Publisher provided through Netgalley
Buy the book: Barnes & Noble | Amazon | The Book Depository

Laura Reid goes to Leningrad for a semester abroad as Cold War paranoia is peaking in 1982. She meets a young Russian artist named Alexei and soon, with Alexei as her guide, Laura immerses herself in the real Russia--a crazy world of wild parties, black-market books and music, and smuggled letters to dissidents. She must keep the relationship secret; associating with Americans is dangerous for Alexei, and if caught, Laura could be sent home and Alexei put under surveillance or worse. At the same time, she's been warned that Soviets often latch onto Americans in hopes of marrying them and thus escaping to the United States. But she knows Alexei loves her. Right?

As June approaches--when Laura must return to the United States--Alexei asks Laura to marry him. She's only nineteen and doesn't think she's ready to settle down. But what if Alexei is the love of her life? How can she leave him behind? If she has a chance to change his life, to rescue him from misery, shouldn't she take it?

The Boy on the Bridge is one of those books I don't really know how to react to. I wanted to read it because I thought it'd be a cute little romance set in an interesting time and place, one we don't see often in YA books. I don't know how I expected it to end, but I certainly didn't like how it did end. But that's not really where my problems with the book lie, but instead my problems stem more from the weirdness of the relationship between Alexei and Laura and the ending.

When American student Laura, who is studying in Leningrad for the semester, meets Russian artist Alexei--who goes by Aloysha--she quickly falls in love, both with him and the Russia he shows her. This sounds cute, right?? And it is, at first. Laura is in awe of the cute artist boy who seems so earnest and truthful, overeager even. But their relationship progresses into love so quickly. Instalove is not something that bothers me all that often; many times, I can really see why the relationship works. But, in this case, it is only possible that Laura falls in love with the idea of Aloysha. Their worlds are so different, and she only sees a glimpse of how he lives. She only sees that he works as an artist and romanticizes Russia's situation, flauting her school's--and the government's, at times--rules. She is constantly shown the reality of what most of the Russian citizens want from the Americans in their country, but she never questions Aloysha's motives in their relationship.

Not only is the relationship naive and formed on a romantic notion, but Aloysha's actions verge on stalking and obsession, and Laura also never picks up on it. I mean, her class goes to Moscow for a week and the boy follows them there, waiting outside of their hotel until he sees her. They can't be apart for a week? Really? Even as Laura's friend is explicitly telling her that he is likely trying to get her to marry him so he can get to the United States, she foolishly believes it's all love. Even if he does love her, you know there's that motivation too. It's obvious, but Laura refuses to face that and the fact that his actions might be out of the ordinary.

All of this could have been cleared up had we had some view into Aloysha's thoughts and feelings. But it's so hard to discern, given that the story is told in third-person past tense from Laura's point of view and Laura's inability to face reality and bring up the hard topics. Fans of closure will not like this ending. I often don't need much closure, but the ending infuriated me. There's absolutely no indication of what will happen in the future, nor is there ever indication of Aloysha's real motivations.

With the ending and my inability to accept the book's relationship, I can't really recommend the book. It's not that there's nothing redeeming, because I really enjoyed the setting and even the romance at first. I liked seeing Russia portrayed from Laura's point of view and especially liked watching her opinion of the country evolve as she learns more about it. I could see the lessons Laura learned while in Russia, but what was the point of her relationship with Aloysha, in the end? Without knowing even a little bit of how their story might continue, it's hard to know. I guess I can just say I was met with disappointment with The Boy on the Bridge. It's not the worst book I've ever read, by far, but it's also not going to be a favorite by far.

About the author:

Natalie Standiford, author of "How to Say Goodbye in Robot," "Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters," and the popular "Space Dog" and "Dating Game" series, has written picture books, nonfiction, chapter books, teen novels, and even horror novels for young adults. Standiford also plays bass in the rock band Tiger Beat, with fellow YA authors Libba Bray, Daniel Ehrenhaft, and Barnabas Miller. Find out more at her web site, www.nataliestandiford.com.

Hermione & Harry? Not Hermione & Ron?

By now, I'm sure just about everyone who has any idea of what Harry Potter is has seen J.K. Rowling's new statements about how she would change the conclusion of the relationships between Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

I've got a lot of thoughts on this, and I can see both sides of the argument. And while I can justify why J.K.

Rowling said what she said, I can't say that I like it. Funnily enough, though, I have no reason even to write how I feel because Erin Strecker, in a letter on EW.com, has put to words everything I feel. (GO READ IT.) I was honestly going to talk more about this, but after seeing the letter, I have no need to do a whole lot of talking.

Yes, an author's book will always be their creation, their baby, and they have the right to say what they want in regards to it but it's so important to remember that when a book is put into a reader's hands, this book--for better or worse--becomes a part of their life, big or small. They have experiences, memories, and feelings associated with this book. When it comes to Harry Potter, millions of readers and movie viewers have made Harry part of their lives. Millions will always remember the time and place they fell in love with Harry Potter and every little tweak to the world J.K. Rowling makes alters her audience's view. I think this is paramount to remember.

That's all I'm going to say, but I want to know how y'all feel! Were you shocked at J.K. Rowling's statements? Or were you a justifed Harry/Hermione shipper? How do you feel about her coming out with new revelations about the world more than 5 years after the final book's release? And in general, how do you feel about any author revealing information, especially regarding changes they would make now, following its release?

Waiting on Wednesday: The Girl from the Well by Rin Chupeco {32}

Title: The Girl from the Well
Author: Rin Chupeco
Release date: August 5, 2014

You may think me biased, being murdered myself. But my state of being has nothing to do with the curiosity toward my own species, if we can be called such. We do not go gentle, as your poet encourages, into that good night.

A dead girl walks the streets.

She hunts murderers. Child killers, much like the man who threw her body down a well three hundred years ago.

And when a strange boy bearing stranger tattoos moves into the neighborhood so, she discovers, does something else. And soon both will be drawn into the world of eerie doll rituals and dark Shinto exorcisms that will take them from American suburbia to the remote valleys and shrines of Aomori, Japan.

Because the boy has a terrifying secret - one that would just kill to get out.

The Girl from the Well is a YA horror novel pitched as Dexter meets The Grudge, based on a well-loved Japanese ghost story.

I was sold the moment the first section of the synopsis referenced Dylan Thomas's "Do Not Go Gentle', aka my favorite poem ever (and I don't even like poetry that much.) It doesn't hurt that the book sounds plain awesome otherwise and that the cover is gorgeous. I NEED.

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

Teaser Tuesday: Landry Park by Bethany Hagen {58}

Title: Landry Park
Author: Bethany Hagen
Release date: February 4, 2014
Pages: 384

Downton Abbey meets The Selection in this dystopian tale of love and betrayal.

In a fragmented future United States ruled by the lavish gentry, seventeen-year-old Madeline Landry dreams of going to the university. Unfortunately, gentry decorum and her domineering father won't allow that. Madeline must marry, like a good Landry woman, and run the family estate. But her world is turned upside down when she discovers the devastating consequences her lifestyle is having on those less fortunate.

As Madeline begins to question everything she has ever learned, she finds herself increasingly drawn to handsome, beguiling David Dana. Soon, rumors of war and rebellion start to spread, and Madeline finds herself and David at the center of it all. Ultimately, she must make a choice between duty - her family and the estate she loves dearly - and desire.

My teaser, from p. 70 in the ARC:

Whatever wall I had been holding against him fell away, but I steeled myself against that smile, against that warm hand, against the flight of fancy on the velvet grass. I refused to be the kind of star-crossed girl who falls in love with the eager knight.

But then I found myself smiling back.

Honestly,  I didn't need to read past "Downton Abbey meets The Selection." Love 'em both, so easy-peasy.

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

Review: Cress (Lunar Chronicles #3) by Marissa Meyer

Release date: February 4, 2014
Author info: Website | Twitter | Facebook
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Pages: 560
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
Buy the book: Barnes & Noble | Amazon | The Book Depository

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.

Going in, I knew I was going to love Cress. Between my love of the first two books in the series and the rave reviews I'd been reading, it was obvious. And that was completely true, but what's more is that I am so engrossed and in awe of the world and characters Marissa Meyer has created. I mean, I loved the first two books, but something about Cress made me realize the scope of what Marissa Meyer has written. It's almost incomprehensible, but also so wonderful.

With each book, the world is expanding and we're getting to know more and more characters. Each plot line is being intricately pulled in, showing the depth of story and leading up to what will ultimately a knock-down drag-out of a finale in Winter. In Cress, we meet Crescent Moon, the brilliant hacker Lunar girl who's been locked in a satellite orbiting Earth for years. She's naive and inexperienced, but she sees past the lies of Levana and tries her best to help those on Earth, though there's only so much she can do from her vantage point. Soon, she is able to leave her satellite, but her dream of going to Earth comes with a price and a whole new set of challenges. Here, she seems like she'd wilt under the pressure--and really almost does at times--but she keeps fighting.

And while Cress' strength is not the same kind of strengths of Cinder or Scarlet, that's what's largely so endearing and appealing about her. She's not physically strong, but she's smart and optimistic. The girl can hack into just about anything. She's loving and always wants to see the best of people. A strong female character is not necessarily one who can beat up people but is instead one who has courage in the face of adversity, who fights for those she loves--even if she isn't physically strong. I love the mix of strong female characters is this series.

Cress is an absolutely fantastic addition to an already outstanding series. I've given each book thus far five stars, but I think this one is my favorite so far. With so much going on and so many characters narrating and doing so many things, you'd think it'd get confusing or overwhelming, but that never happens. Each character is fully imagined and so easy to root for. The writing is lovely. And y'all, THE ENDING. I absolutely cannot wait to read Winter, though seeing this series end will be difficult.

About the author:

Marissa Meyer's first two books in the Lunar Chronicles, CINDER and SCARLET, debuted on the New York Times bestseller list. Marissa lives in Tacoma, Washington, with her husband and their three cats. Visit her at www.marissameyer.com.

Stacking the Shelves {53}

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! Awesome actually. We got quite a bit of snow on Tuesday, and that meant classes were cancelled for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. This also means I went to a total of one class this week, instead of the eight I'd normally go to. You'd think that meant I got a lot of reading done. Not really. I instead spent time doing... Nothing. It was awesome. :)

For review:

Once Upon a Masquerade by Tamara Hughes

A big, big thanks to Entangled and Netgalley for this! :)

Purchased:

Pantomime by Laura Lam
Shadowplay (Pantomime #2) by Laura Lam

A recap of the week here on Paper Cuts:
Monday - Review: Mind Games by Kiersten White
Tuesday - Teaser Tuesday: Cress (Lunar Chronicles #3) by Marissa Meyer {56}
Wednesday - Waiting on Wednesday: Ignite Me (Shatter Me #3) by Tahereh Mafi {30}
Thursday - Let's Talk About... What Makes You Pick Up a Book?
Friday - Interview with Sophie Jordan, author of Uninvited

Books I read this week:
Cress (Lunar Chronicles #3) by Marissa Meyer
Her Dark Curiosity (The Madman's Daughter #2) by Megan Shepherd
The Boy on the Bridge by Natalie Standiford

I'm currently reading:
The Geek Girl and the Scandalous Earl by Gina Lamm

So that's been my week! I've already read Pantomime and Shadowplay but I decided I needed finished copies, and they're so pretty. :) Have a lovely Sunday and a fabulous week!