Waiting On Wednesday (219) Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.

Wednesday has become my favorite day of the week because I get to share the books that I am super excited about and can't wait to read.

Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye

Expected publication: March 22nd 2016 by G.P. Putnam's Sons

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Reader, I murdered him.

Like the heroine of the novel she adores, Jane Steele suffers cruelly at the hands of her aunt and schoolmaster. And like Jane Eyre, they call her wicked - but in her case, she fears the accusation is true. When she flees, she leaves behind the corpses of her tormentors.

A fugitive navigating London's underbelly, Jane rights wrongs on behalf of the have-nots whilst avoiding the noose. Until an advertisement catches her eye. Her aunt has died and the new master at Highgate House, Mr Thornfield, seeks a governess. Anxious to know if she is Highgate's true heir, Jane takes the position and is soon caught up in the household's strange spell. When she falls in love with the mysterious Charles Thornfield, she faces a terrible dilemma: can she possess him - body, soul and secrets - and what if he discovers her murderous past?

This is definitely different! I like Jane Eyre, so this really interests me.

What are you waiting on this week?

Love in a Small Town (Pine Harbour, #1) by Zoe York

Publication Date: August 26, 2014
Page Count: 186
Published by: ZoYo Press
Source: Kindle

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Six years. Two break ups. One divorce. They should be over each other.

Police officer and army reservist Rafe Minelli knows better than to tell his wife no, particularly since they aren't married anymore. She can’t hightail it out of town, though, not when they’ve finally broken through the post-divorce cold war status quo.

Olivia Minelli needs to leave Pine Harbour. It’s just too hard to see Rafe moving on without her—even if he says he doesn’t want to. But when a new and exciting job falls into her lap, she needs to choose: protect her heart, or take the new job and risk getting emotionally entangled with her ex-husband. Again.

I'm surprised I liked this book as much as I did. I picked it up for free on Amazon so I really didn't know what to expect, especially since this is my first time reading this author. But I ended up enjoying the story so much that I purchased and read the second book, and now I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

Love in a Small Town was just what I had been needing - adult romance with a bit of drama! There was enough angst to make me really feel for the characters. And the perfect balance between the emotional scenes and the humorous and good times kept things interesting. Rafe and Olivia had serious problems that they needed to work through, and both believed their relationship was worth the effort. I loved that the action and dialogue felt so realistic because it really helped me get involved in the story and care about what happened to the characters. I didn't always agree with everything, but I could understand where they were coming from and sympathize with their difficulties. And I couldn't help but want them to get their HEA.

I really liked Rafe and Olivia, and I enjoyed every moment they spent together. I loved the small town setting, even though it added more drama to an already complicated situation. I also liked the secondary characters (and there were a LOT of them!) Overall, this was a well written story with great characters that is definitely worth reading.

**Love in a Small Town is still available for free on Amazon.

My rating: 4 stars

Title: Far from the Madding Crowd

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 1 hr 59 min

Starring: Carey Mulligan, Matthias Schoenaerts, Michael Sheen, Tom Sturridge

Release Date: May 22, 2015

Genre: Drama, Romance

The story of independent, beautiful and headstrong Bathsheba Everdene (Carey Mulligan), who attracts three very different suitors: Gabriel Oak (Matthias Schoenaerts), a sheep farmer, captivated by her fetching willfulness; Frank Troy (Tom Sturridge), a handsome and reckless Sergeant; and William Boldwood (Michael Sheen), a prosperous and mature bachelor. This timeless story of Bathsheba's choices and passions explores the nature of relationships and love - as well as the human ability to overcome hardships through resilience and perseverance.

The Good:

Matthias Schoenaerts. I could have seriously watched him all day and never been bored. This is my first time seeing him as an actor, and I have to say he gave Ryan Gosling (in The Notebook) some serious competition for swoony and romantic. Sigh.

The Bad:

I didn't like Bathsheba. At all. I don't care that this is a period piece, and she's supposed to be portrayed as 'independent'. She stayed single by stringing along 2 guys, keeping them at her beck and call for years, only to thoughtlessly cast them both aside when some snide, arrogant soldier came along. BUT... what was worse is that she continued to string those 2 men along even after things quickly went south with her soldier. I firmly believe both men were nuts to cling to some hope of her finally choosing them when she so obviously was using them. Bathsheba constantly made poor decisions, which not only lead to her own unhappiness, but to those around her as well. If she had made the correct choice in the beginning, the story would have been over in the first 5 minutes. Why make me wait through the agony of 2 hours before you make a wise choice, and I'm left thinking that you deserve to be alone forever!

If this were a book:

It is a book! Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy 1874. I've never read it, and I won't be since I'm not a fan of the movie. It's just as well.

Final thoughts:

Okay, so maybe I'll admit this wasn't all bad, especially because it introduced me to Matthias Schoenaerts. If it weren't for him I wouldn't have anything positive to say about this movie. I'll leave you with the trailer so you can watch for yourself. Actually, if you watch this you won't need to watch the movie because it's all there in the trailer! You're welcome.

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.

Wednesday has become my favorite day of the week because I get to share the books that I am super excited about and can't wait to read.

photo ATyrannyOfPetticoats_zps5dioff6l.jpg

A Tyranny of Petticoats: 15 Stories of Belles, Bank Robbers & Other Badass Girls

Expected publication: March 8th 2016 by Candlewick Press

Synopsis from Goodreads:

From an impressive sisterhood of YA writers comes an edge-of-your-seat anthology of historical fiction and fantasy featuring a diverse array of daring heroines.

Criss-cross America — on dogsleds and ships, stagecoaches and trains — from pirate ships off the coast of the Carolinas to the peace, love, and protests of 1960s Chicago. Join fifteen of today’s most talented writers of young adult literature on a thrill ride through history with American girls charting their own course. They are monsters and mediums, bodyguards and barkeeps, screenwriters and schoolteachers, heiresses and hobos. They're making their own way in often-hostile lands, using every weapon in their arsenals, facing down murderers and marriage proposals. And they all have a story to tell.

With stories by:
J. Anderson Coats
Andrea Cremer
Y. S. Lee
Katherine Longshore
Marie Lu
Kekla Magoon
Marissa Meyer
Saundra Mitchell
Beth Revis
Caroline Richmond
Lindsay Smith
Jessica Spotswood
Robin Talley
Leslye Walton
Elizabeth Wein

Doesn't this sound awesome?

What are you waiting on this week?

So Cute It Hurts!!, Vol. 2 by Gō Ikeyamada

Publication Date: August 4, 2015
Page Count: 192
Published by: VIZ Media LLC
Source: Library

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Kobayashi Mitsuru and Kobayashi Megumi are twin brother and sister, with identical faces but radically different personalities: while Mitsuru is a confident charmer who wins the hearts of dozens of girls, Megumi is an average otaku who is in love with a virtual hero. Yet, the two's lives start to turn upside down after Mitsuru and Megumi switch roles...

A complicated love story starts!

I'll admit that my first attempt at reading Manga didn't go over so well. But that was totally my fault and had nothing to do with the book itself. However, I am happy to say that I finally picked up the 2nd book in this series and had a MUCH better time with it! The story was really easy to get into, and I was soon turning pages and rooting for the twins to get their man (and woman)!

The first book jumped around between the two siblings so much that I couldn't keep anything straight (like who was who.) This time the story focuses mainly on Megumi (who is dressed as her brother) and Sanada, her love interest at the all boys school, so it was much easier to follow.

All of the characters are really likable, but of course Sanada is my favorite! I'm thinking it's the eye patch that does it for me. Several of the characters have their sexuality come into play, all caused by the role reversal between the twins. I also found it interesting that one of the characters uses Japanese sign language to communicate.

Just like the title implies, this story is super cute and fun. There was a major character reveal about halfway through, and I loved the way the twins' reactions were drawn. Overall, the story was a bit predictable, but I really enjoyed the comedy, romance, and drama. The cliffhanger ending came just as major plot points were revealed! I already have Volume 3 and I can't wait to read it.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.

Wednesday has become my favorite day of the week because I get to share the books that I am super excited about and can't wait to read.

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Titans by Victoria Scott

Expected publication: February 23rd 2016 by Scholastic Press

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Ever since the Titans first appeared in her Detroit neighborhood, Astrid Sullivan’s world has revolved around the mechanical horses. She and her best friend have spent countless hours watching them and their jockeys practice on the track. It’s not just the thrill of the race. It’s the engineering of the horses and the way they’re programmed to seem so lifelike. The Titans are everything that fascinates Astrid, and nothing she’ll ever touch.

She hates them a little, too. Her dad lost everything betting on the Titans. And the races are a reminder of the gap between the rich jockeys who can afford the expensive machines to ride, and the working class friends and neighbors of Astrid’s who wager on them.

But when Astrid’s offered a chance to enter an early model Titan in this year’s derby, well, she decides to risk it all. Because for a girl from the wrong side of the tracks, it’s more than a chance at fame or money. Betting on herself is the only way she can see to hang on to everyone in the world she cares about.

I already have my arc waiting to be read....

Preorder TITANS and score a free signed poster and book plate, and be entered to win a Skype chat with author Victoria Scott!

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Book Depository / Indie Bound

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.

Wednesday has become my favorite day of the week because I get to share the books that I am super excited about and can't wait to read.

Rebel of the Sands (Rebel of the Sands #1) by Alwyn Hamilton

Expected publication: March 8th 2016 by Penguin

Synopsis from Goodreads:

She’s more gunpowder than girl—and the fate of the desert lies in her hands.

Mortals rule the desert nation of Miraji, but mystical beasts still roam the wild and barren wastes, and rumor has it that somewhere, djinni still practice their magic. But there's nothing mystical or magical about Dustwalk, the dead-end town that Amani can't wait to escape from.

Destined to wind up "wed or dead," Amani’s counting on her sharpshooting skills to get her out of Dustwalk. When she meets Jin, a mysterious and devastatingly handsome foreigner, in a shooting contest, she figures he’s the perfect escape route. But in all her years spent dreaming of leaving home, she never imagined she'd gallop away on a mythical horse, fleeing the murderous Sultan's army, with a fugitive who's wanted for treason. And she'd never have predicted she'd fall in love with him...or that he'd help her unlock the powerful truth of who she really is.

I wasn't too sure about this book since it's not what I usually read. But then I read a 2 chapter sampler from the author and immediately added it to my tbr. Now I can't wait to read the whole book!

What are you waiting on this week?

I am so excited to bring you the Release Week Blitz for BUILT by Jay Crownover. BUILT is a Contemporary Romance novel being published by HarperCollins, and it is the 1^st full-length novel in The Saints of Denver Series, a spinoff of her New York Times bestselling Marked Men Series. This amazing book is out now so grab your copy today! And be sure to check out the awesome sweepstakes! Info and links below!

Amazon US iBooks Barnes & Noble ** Kobo

About BUILT:

From the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men books comes an electrifying new spin-off series,Saints of Denver, featuring all the characters fans have been dying to read about.

Sayer Cole and Zeb Fuller couldn’t be more different. She’s country club and fine-dining, he’s cell-block and sawdust. Sayer spends her days in litigation, while Zeb spends his working with his hands. She’s French silk, he’s all denim and flannel.

Zeb’s wanted the stunning blonde since the moment he laid eyes on her. It doesn't matter how many smooth moves he makes, the reserved lawyer seems determinedly oblivious to his interest—either that or she doesn't return it. Sayer is certain the rough, hard, hot-as-hell Zeb could never want someone as closed off and restrained as she is, which is a shame because something tells her he might be the guy to finally melt her icy exterior.

But just as things start to heat up, Zeb is blindsided by a life altering moment from his past. He needs Sayer’s professional help to right a wrong and to save more than himself. He can’t risk what’s at stake just because his attraction to Sayer feels all consuming. But as these opposites dig in for the fight of their lives, battling together to save a family, the steam created when fire and ice collide can no longer be ignored.

Excerpt:

He took a step closer to me and put his finger under my chin so that I had no choice but to look at that darkening green gaze. “You know what is a big deal?”

Without thinking I put my wet hand on the center of his chest and watched as my handprint covered the place where his heart was thudding heavy and strong. He felt so vital and real, like everything I had had my hands on before him was just make-believe.

“What?” My voice came out more of a whisper than anything else.

“We hung out, I bought you dinner, we talked about our families and shit. We shared. This was a date, Sayer. Maybe not the best first date ever but it was still a date, so you know what that means.”

I did? I was still trying to get my head around the fact that it really had been kind of a date when his head lowered toward mine and my lips tickled as his beard got close enough to brush against them.

“It means we went on a date, so now you should absolutely put your hands on my dick…a lot. My gentlemanly tendencies only reach so far and with you they have about reached the end of the line.”

I gulped a little. “Oh.” That sounded like so many different kinds of dangerous and delicious. I had never asked him to be a gentleman, and frankly one of the reasons I was so attracted to him was because he seemed so rugged and untamed by the conventions I was used to and bored to death by.

“Yeah, oh…which I fully intend to make you say over and over again while I’m as deep inside of you as I can get.”

When his mouth settled over mine, it was an entirely different mess I was suddenly worried about. There was going to be no cleaning up the wreckage that was going to be left of my heart and body when this man was done with me and that felt entirely like a great big deal even though I was helpless to stop it. It was one mess I intended to embrace and not apologize for even if that went against everything I had ingrained deep down within the very core of me.

Enter to Win a Trip to the MILE HIGH AUTHOR EVENT from Jay Crownover!

Fill out the form at https://a.pgtb.me/sVzsRB!

*Alternate entry methods available. See Official Rules.

And don’t miss the previous novella in The Saints of Denver Series!

LEVELED

About Jay Crownover:

Jay Crownover is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men and The Point series. Like her characters, she is a big fan of tattoos. She loves music and wishes she could be a rock star, but since she has no aptitude for singing or instrument playing, she'll settle for writing stories with interesting characters that make the reader feel something. She lives in Colorado with her three dogs.