New Release Round-Up: May 26-June 1

Young Adult


One Man Guy
by Michael Barakiva

Release date: May 27, 2014
Available as: hardcover, Kindle edition, ebook, audiobook
Pages: 272
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Suggested tags: young adult, romance, contemporary



From Goodreads:

"Funny and heartfelt, One Man Guy serves up the raucous family humor and gentle romance of My Big Fat Greek Wedding, as told with David Sedaris–style wit

Alek Khederian should have guessed something was wrong when his parents took him to a restaurant. Everyone knows that Armenians never eat out. Between bouts of interrogating the waitress and criticizing the menu, Alek’s parents announce that he’ll be attending summer school in order to bring up his grades. Alek is sure this experience will be the perfect hellish end to his hellish freshman year of high school. He never could’ve predicted that he’d meet someone like Ethan.

Ethan is everything Alek wishes he were: confident, free-spirited, and irreverent. He can’t believe a guy this cool wants to be his friend. And before long, it seems like Ethan wants to be more than friends. Alek has never thought about having a boyfriend—he’s barely ever had a girlfriend—but maybe it’s time to think again."

We Are the Goldens
by Dana Reinhardt

Release date: May 27, 2014
Available as: hardcover, Kindle edition, ebook
Pages: 208
Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books
Suggested tags: young adult, realistic fiction, contemporary



From Goodreads:

"Nell knows a secret about her perfect, beautiful sister Layla. If she tells, it could blow their world apart.

When Nell and Layla were little, Nell used to call them Nellaya. Because to Nell, there was no difference between where she started and her adored big sister ended. They're a unit; divorce made them rely on each other early on, so when one pulls away, what is the other to do? But now, Nell's a freshman in high school and Layla is changing, secretive. And then Nell discovers why. Layla is involved with one of their teachers. And even though Nell tries to support Layla, to understand that she's happy and in love, Nell struggles with her true feelings: it's wrong, and she must do something about it."

Other YA new releases for this week:

Middle Grade


New Beginnings
by Victoria Schwab

Release date: May 27, 2014
Available as: paperback, Kindle edition, ebook
Pages: 208
Publisher: Scholastic
Suggested tags: middle grade, paranormal, angels



First in the Everyday Angel series. From Goodreads:

"Meet a guardian angel like no other, from a writer like no other. Bold rising star, Victoria Schwab, makes her whimsical, inspiring, and clever middle-grade debut.

At a first glance, Aria seems like your average twelve-year-old girl. She has coppery hair, colored shoelaces, and a passion for cupcakes. But there's more to Aria than meets the eye. She can dream things into existence, use her own shadow like a door, and change the world in small, important ways. Aria is a guardian angel. She's been sent here to earn her wings. But to do that, she'll have to help three different girls.

Aria's first mission is Gabby Torres. Gabby's always been quiet, but ever since her brother got sick, she's barely said a word. When a new school offers her a fresh start, Gabby wants badly to be someone new, but she quickly learns it's hard to make friends while keeping half her life a secret.

And then Aria shows up. Aria, who knows exactly what to say and do to make Gabby feel better. Will she be able to help Gabby find her voice? And will Gabby still trust Aria when she finds out exactly what she is?

Think John Green for middle grade, with a touch of magic!"

The Swift Boys & Me
by Kody Keplinger

Release date: May 27, 2014
Available as: hardcover, Kindle edition, ebook
Pages: 272
Publisher: Scholastic
Suggested tags: middle grade, realistic fiction, contemporary



From Goodreads:

"Nola Sutton has been best friends and neighbors with the Swift boys for practically her whole life. There’s the youngest, Kevin, who never stops talking; the oldest, Brian, who’s always kind and calm; and then there’s Canaan, the ringleader and Nola’s best-best friend. Nola can’t imagine her life without the Swift boys — they’ll always be like this, always be friends.

But then everything changes overnight.

When the Swifts’ daddy leaves without even saying good-bye, it completely destroys the boys, and all Nola can do is watch. Kevin stops talking and Brian is never around. Even Canaan is drifting away from Nola — hanging out with the neighborhood bullies instead of her.

Nola just wants things to go back to the way they were — the way they’ve always been. She tries to pull the boys back to her, only the harder she pulls, the further away they seem. But it’s not just the Swifts whose family is changing, so is Nola’s, and she needs her best friends now more than ever. Can Nola and the Swift boys survive this summer with their friendships intact, or has everything fallen apart for good?

Nola’s struggle to save her friends, her unwavering hope, and her belief in the power of friendship make Kody Keplinger’s middle-grade debut a poignant story of loss and redemption."

Other Middle Grade new releases for this week:

Review: A Shimmer of Angels by Lisa M. Basso

A Shimmer of Angels
by Lisa M. Basso

Available as: paperback, Kindle edition, ebook
Pages: 321
Publisher: Month9Books
Publication date: January 29, 2013
Suggested tags: young adult, paranormal, romance, angels



First in the Angel Sight series. From Goodreads:

"Sixteen-year-old Rayna sees angels, and has the medication and weekly therapy sessions to prove it. Now, in remission, Rayna starts fresh at a new school, lands a new job, and desperately tries for normalcy. She ignores signs that she may be slipping into the world she has tried so hard to climb out of. But these days, it’s more than just hallucinations that keep Rayna up at night. Students are dying, and she may be the only one who can stop it. Can she keep her job, her sanity, and her friends from dying at the hands of angels she can't admit to seeing?"

{ I received this as an ebook from NetGalley. }


Any YA paranormal book with ghosts or mermaids, I will pick up in a heartbeat. I'm a little more picky with fairies and witches, but I'll usually give them a try too. Anything else, I really haven't read too much of. But I have been trying to branch out and widen my paranormal horizons, so when I saw A Shimmer of Angels available on NetGalley, I decided I should give an angel book a try.

Overall, this was a pretty good intro to angel books. It had a little bit of everything: there was a "good angel" (Cam), a "bad angel" (Kade), an evil force they had to fight against, a mystery with students' deaths at Rayna's school... quite a bit was going on, actually. A good part of the book is devoted to Rayna's interactions with Cam and Kade. I preferred Cam at first, but as the book went on, he seemed to get a little dull. His personality kind of hit a plateau. Kade, however, got more interesting and more complex as the story went on. (SPOILER - highlight to read: Although I'm kind of confused about the hints dropped that there was something between Kade and Rayna's mom? That whole insinuated sitation seemed a little weird to me. Maybe it will be explained more in the next book...)

Rayna's ability to see angels is treated as a form of mental illness, which I thought was an interesting twist. I kept imagining myself in her place - if I had been told all along that I was sick and that what I was seeing wasn't real, would I believe it when the angels started trying to convince me they were real? Rayna has a hard time with it all, especially when her classmates start dying under mysterious circumstances.

A few aspects of Rayna's personality bothered me a little. She was jumpy and awkward, which I could understand from being treated like she had a disorder and being sent away to mental hospitals. But she was a little too clumsy; her accidents and fumbles were kind of over the top sometimes. Also, the scene with her notebook bothered me quite a bit. (SPOILER - highlight to read: I can totally understand that she would want to write down her thoughts and find a way to vent when she thought she was relapsing. But if I did that, I would guard that notebook with my life. I would NOT leave it lying around. And if by some chance I did and I realized it, I would run and try to get it back right that moment, even if I thought it might be too late. If that notebook was the difference between staying home and being sent back to a mental hospital, I would do everything I possibly could to get it back in my possession. I wouldn't just sit at a diner and exchange witty banter with a dark angel, and then casually go about the rest of my day. I understand that having her notebook found was a crucial part of the plot, and I'm not saying it shouldn't have been found at all; I just thought it could have been done a little more believably.)

Otherwise, though, I did enjoy A Shimmer of Angels and I'm curious to see what happens in the next book, A Slither of Hope, due out in January 2014.


Overall rating: 3 out of 5 stars

{ I read this book for the 2013 Debut Author Challenge! }

Teaser Tuesdays: May 7, 2013

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Each Tuesday, you grab the book you're reading, open to a random page, and share 2 teaser sentences from anywhere on the page.
NO SPOILERS - make sure the sentences you pick don't give too much away!

A Shimmer of Angels by Lisa M. Basso I needed a place to unleash the thoughts circling in my head like vultures, instead of waiting for them to strike at the worst possible moment. The notebook would keep my secrets when no one else could. {ebook ARC, 18%}

A Shimmer of Angels
by Lisa M. Basso

Available as: paperback, Kindle edition, ebook
Pages: 321
Publisher: Month9Books
Publication date: January 29, 2013
Suggested tags: young adult, paranormal, romance, angels


First in the Angel Sight series. From Goodreads:

"Sixteen-year-old Rayna sees angels, and has the medication and weekly therapy sessions to prove it. Now, in remission, Rayna starts fresh at a new school, lands a new job, and desperately tries for normalcy. She ignores signs that she may be slipping into the world she has tried so hard to climb out of. But these days, it’s more than just hallucinations that keep Rayna up at night. Students are dying, and she may be the only one who can stop it. Can she keep her job, her sanity, and her friends from dying at the hands of angels she can't admit to seeing?"

Friday Freebies: August 17, 2012

Click on each title to go to the Amazon Kindle edition listing. Be sure to double-check the price before you download!



Dark Territory
by J. Gabriel Gates & Charlene Keel

Available as: paperback, Kindle edition
Pages: 505 (Kindle edition)
Publisher: HCI Teens
Publication date: July 1, 2011
Suggested tags: young adult, paranormal, romance



First in The Tracks series. From Goodreads:

"Star-crossed love, supernatural evil, and martial arts meet at the abandoned tracks in the deceptively quaint village of Middleburg . . .

When Ignacio Torrez moved from the rough streets of Los Angeles to a small town dead smack in the middle of nowhere, he never expected to find himself in the midst of a gang war. But, he soon learns, these are no ordinary gangs. The wealthy, preppie Toppers on one side of the tracks and the working-class Flatliners on the other adhere to a strict code of honor and use their deadly martial arts skills, taught to them by the wise Master Chin, to battle one another for pride, territory, and survival. When Raphael, leader of the Flatliners, falls for Aimee, a Topper girl, the rival gangs prepare for a bloody, all-out war. The only hope for peace between them lies within the dark territory of the abandoned train tunnels where the tracks cross. Under the direction of the mysterious and frightening Magician, the awesome power within the crossing sends the rivals on a terrifying mystical quest to fight the malevolent force that threatens the existence of Middleburg-and quite possibly, the world."

Forbidden
by Megan Curd

Available as: Kindle edition
Pages: 254
Publisher: unknown
Publication date: October 22, 2011
Suggested tags: young adult, paranormal, angels



First in The Guardian Chronicles series. From Amazon:

"Levi's job is to protect his human until it's their time to go. That's what a Guard does. He's done it for years on end, and he'll spend his eternity doing the same, mundane thing, following the same, mundane rules.

...Watch from afar.
...Never share your name.
...And above all, never touch a human.

What Levi doesn't know is that his newest human to protect, Hannah, just might be the catalyst to tipping the scales between good and evil, and he will be forced to decide which side he belongs to. Which friends will he side with, and who will he ultimately protect: his human, or the delicate balance that hangs on stopping the heartbeat of the person he has sworn to protect?

And, when you're already condemned, what's there to lose by breaking the rules?"

Stirring Up Trouble
by Juli Alexander

Available as: paperback, Kindle edition
Pages: 188 (Kindle edition)
Publisher: Juli Alexander
Publication date: January 11, 2012
Suggested tags: young adult, paranormal, witches



From Amazon:

"Zoe Miller is a 15-year-old witch with a talent for potions. She's working hard to find a substitute for toad slime. Since fat-free margarine has been found to be a substitute for dead man's toe, she's hopeful that she'll find one.

Then there's all the so-called normal stuff. Like high school, her annoyingly selfish "friend" Anya, and her crush on Anya's ex-boyfriend Jake.

Now, Zoe's dad is dating Jake's mom, and things are getting more and more complicated. If only Zoe could brew a potion or two and set everything straight. Zoe can't. If she brews a self-serving potion, bad things will happen to her appearance. Like a crooked nose, giant wart, green skin, rotting teeth--the whole ugly witch stereotype.

Zoe's tired of fate interfering so cruelly in her life. Can you really blame her for putting her potions to not-so-good use and stirring up trouble?"

Friday Freebies: June 22, 2012

Click on each title to go to the Amazon Kindle edition listing. Be sure to double-check the price before you download!



Eternal Youth
by Julia Crane & Nolia McCarty

Available as: Kindle edition, ebook
Pages: 292 (Kindle edition)
Publisher: Valknut Press
Publication date: April 4, 2012
Suggested tags: young adult, paranormal



From Amazon:

"The six years following the abrupt death of her father were the worst of Calista Bishoff's life. Frightened by her own mortality, Callie’s mom threw herself into a search for the Fountain of Youth—and dragged Callie along with her.

Callie should have loved traveling, but instead she hated every minute. When one more failed search sends her mother into depression, they finally return home to California. Sixteen-year-old Callie is ready to hang with her friends and be normal for as long as she can.

But, an unplanned trip to Bermuda with her grandmother throws Callie’s plans awry, and there’s more in store for Callie and her mom than just a simple beach vacation. Callie’s life is turned inside out as she finds herself in a very different world than the one she knows—

Where things exist that she never dreamed were real."

Ethereal
by Addison Moore

Available as: Kindle edition, ebook
Pages: 191 (Kindle edition)
Publisher: unknown
Publication date: March 26, 2011
Suggested tags: young adult, paranormal, angels



First in the Celestra series. From Amazon:

"Sixteen year-old, Skyla Messenger is a dead girl walking.

When her newly remarried mother moves the family to Paragon Island, to a house that is rumored to be haunted, Skyla finds refuge in Logan Oliver, a boy who shares her unique ability to read minds.

Skyla discovers Logan holds the answers to the questions she’s been looking for, but Logan’s reluctance to give her the knowledge she desires leaves her believing Logan has a few secrets of his own.

Skyla’s bloodlines may just be connected to the most powerful angelic beings that roam the earth, and the more she knows, the more danger she seems to be in.

Suddenly an entire faction of earthbound angels wants her dead, at least she still has Logan, or does she?"

The Librarian
by Eric Hobbs

Available as: Kindle edition
Pages: 126
Publisher: unknown
Publication date: September 30, 2011
Suggested tags: middle grade, fantasy



First in the Little Boy Lost series. From Amazon:

"Wesley Bates thinks his life pretty much sucks. He's landed at the bottom of his school's popularity ladder, and bully Randy Stanford seems to be waiting around every corner.

The troubled teen thinks he's found a way to escape his real-world problems when he stumbles upon strange doorways in Astoria's local library that seem to lead into the extraordinary worlds from all his favorite books. Oz, Neverland, Wonderland -- they're all a reality with Wesley's new discovery. Wesley teams with best friend Taylor Williams to embark on a great adventure, both ready to leave the drama of middle school behind.

But the two kids quickly find themselves embroiled in a centuries-old battle for the library and the magic hiding within. Now, fighting alongside the eccentric old man who's vowed to protect the building's power, the pair must help ward off an attack by a shadowy group with a strange tie to Wesley's nemesis, forcing Wesley to face the fears he's been dodging... and one of the most terrifying bullies of all time!

Exclusive to Amazon's Kindle, The Librarian is a thrilling new series that provides kids an opportunity to experience the world’s most beloved fantasy novels in a brand new way – through the eyes of children just like them. And the fun doesn't stop there! Librarian author Eric Hobbs has teamed with The Sylvan Learning Center to launch The Librarian Book Club. Toward the back of the book, each copy of The Librarian contains an exclusive invitation to join. Open to students in grades K-8, the club will bring kids together from around the globe to compete in a monthly reading contest where they’ll have a chance to win exciting prizes: gift cards, autographed books, new toys, video games, DVDs, iPods…even a brand new Kindle Fire! All kids have to do is answer questions about the books they’re currently reading! That’s it! It’s that easy! Pick up the book an join the book club today!"

Peaches (with bonus material)
by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Available as: Kindle edition
Pages: 368
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release date: July 19, 2012
Suggested tags: young adult, realistic fiction, contemporary



First in the Peaches series. From Amazon:

"For a limited time, bestselling author Jodi Lynn Anderson’s endearing coming-of-age story Peaches is available with a special sneak peek of Tiger Lily, the author’s upcoming dark and romantic reimagining of the Peter Pan fairy tale. Three Georgia peaches are in for one juicy summer . . . but Birdie would rather eat Thin Mints and sulk in the AC. Leeda would prefer to sneak off with her boyfriend, Rex. And Murphy just wants to cause a little mischief. Together these three very different girls will discover the secret to finding the right boy, making the truest friends, and picking the perfect Georgia peach."

New Release Round-Up: April 2-8, 2012

Young Adult


Grave Mercy
by Robin LaFevers

Release date: April 3, 2012
Available as: hardcover, Kindle edition, ebook
Pages: 549
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Suggested tags: young adult, historical fiction, paranormal



First in the His Fair Assassin series. From Goodreads:

"Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae's most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?"

Immortal City
by Scott Speer

Release date: April 3, 2012
Available as: hardcover, Kindle edition, ebook
Pages: 336
Publisher: Razorbill
Suggested tags: young adult, paranormal, angels



From Goodreads:

"Jackson Godspeed is the hottest young Angel in a city filled with them. He's days away from becoming a full Guardian, and people around the world are already competing for the chance to be watched over by him. Everyone's obsessed with the Angels and the lucky people they protect--everyone except for Madison Montgomery.

Maddy's the one girl in Angel City who doesn't breathlessly follow the Angels on TV and gossip blogs. When she meets Jackson, she doesn't recognize him. But Jackson is instantly captivated by her, and against all odds the two fall in love.

Maddy is swiftly caught up in Jackson's scene, a world of glamour, paparazzi - and murder. A serial killer is on the loose, leaving dead Angels' wings for the police to find on the Walk of Fame. Even the Guardians are powerless to protect themselves in the face of this threat … and this time it's up to Maddy to save Jackson."

Other YA new releases for this week:

Middle Grade


Cordially Uninvited
by Jennifer Roy

Release date: April 3, 2012
Available as: hardcover, Kindle edition, ebook
Pages: 256
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Suggested tags: middle grade, contemporary



From Goodreads:

"Every girl wishes she was a princess—and Claire’s cousin is living the dream! But will this royal romance end in disaster?

Eleven-year-old Claire Gross is fascinated by all things royal—especially because her very own cousin Belle is engaged to the Prince of England! Even though Claire is going to be a junior bridesmaid, she’s not as excited about the wedding as you might think. For one thing, she can’t tell anyone—not even her best friend. And for another, Claire’s parents are divorced, so she’s not so sure that “happily ever after” even exists.But when Claire gets to England and meets mean-girl Pandora—also a junior bridesmaid—she quickly realizes that whether or not she believes in true love, if she doesn’t take action, Pandora could break up Belle’s relationship! It may be the royal party of the century—but between the mishaps, the mayhem, and an awful social-climbing princess-wannabe, will there still be wedding bells for the happy couple?"

Storybound
by Marissa Burt

Release date: April 3, 2012
Available as: hardcover, Kindle edition, ebook
Pages: 416
Publisher: Harper Collins Children's
Suggested tags: middle grade, fantasy



First in the Storybound series. From Goodreads:

"In the land of Story, children go to school to learn to be characters: a perfect Hero, a trusty Sidekick, even the most dastardly Villain. They take classes on Outdoor Experiential Questing and Backstory, while adults search for full-time character work in stories written just for them.

In our world, twelve-year-old Una Fairchild has always felt invisible. But all that changes when she stumbles upon a mysterious book buried deep in the basement of her school library, opens the cover, and suddenly finds herself transported to the magical land of Story.

But Story is not a perfect fairy tale. Una’s new friend Peter warns her about the grave danger she could face if anyone discovers her true identity. The devious Tale Keeper watches her every move. And there are whispers of a deadly secret that seems to revolve around Una herself....

With the timeless appeal of books like A Wrinkle in Time and the breathtaking action of Inkheart, Storybound has all the makings of a new classic. Brimming with fantastical creatures, magical adventure, and heart-stopping twists, Storybound will leave readers wishing they too could jump through the pages into this enchanting fairy-tale world."

Other Middle Grade new releases for this week: