Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, it highlights upcoming books that we cannot wait to read! This week my picks are....

 Starry Nights by Daisy Whitney


Seventeen-year-old Julien is a romantic—he loves spending his free time at the museum poring over the great works of the Impressionists. But one night, a peach falls out of a Cezanne, Degas ballerinas dance across the floor, and Julien is not hallucinating.

The art is reacting to a curse that trapped a beautiful girl, Clio, in a painting forever. Julien has a chance to free Clio and he can't help but fall in love with her. But love is a curse in its own right. And soon paintings begin to bleed and disappear. Together Julien and Clio must save the world's greatest art . . . at the expense of the greatest love they've ever known.

Like a master painter herself, Daisy Whitney brings inordinate talent and ingenuity to this romantic, suspenseful, and sophisticated new novel. A beautifully decorated package makes it a must-own in print.


                                                   
 Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Mass

After a year of hard labor in the Salt Mines of Endovier, eighteen-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien has won the king's contest to become the new royal assassin. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown – a secret she hides from even her most intimate confidantes.

Keeping up the deadly charade—while pretending to do the king's bidding—will test her in frightening new ways, especially when she's given a task that could jeopardize everything she's come to care for. And there are far more dangerous forces gathering on the horizon -- forces that threaten to destroy her entire world, and will surely force Celaena to make a choice. 





Conjured by Sarah Beth Durst

Eve has a new home, a new face, and a new name—but no memories of her past. She’s been told that she's in a witness protection program. That she escaped a dangerous magic-wielding serial killer who still hunts her. The only thing she knows for sure is that there is something horrifying in her memories the people hiding her want to access—and there is nothing they won’t say—or do—to her to get her to remember.

At night she dreams of a tattered carnival tent and buttons being sewn into her skin. But during the day, she shelves books at the local library, trying to not let anyone know that she can do things—things like change the color of her eyes or walk through walls. When she does use her strange powers, she blacks out and is drawn into terrifying visions, returning to find that days or weeks have passed—and she’s lost all short-term memories. Eve must find out who and what she really is before the killer finds her—but the truth may be more dangerous than anyone could have ever imagined.




 Where the Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller

Stolen as a child from her large and loving family, and on the run with her mom for more than ten years, Callie has only the barest idea of what normal life might be like. She's never had a home, never gone to school, and has gotten most of her meals from laundromat vending machines. Her dreams are haunted by memories she’d like to forget completely. But when Callie’s mom is finally arrested for kidnapping her, and Callie’s real dad whisks her back to what would have been her life, in a small town in Florida, Callie must find a way to leave the past behind. She must learn to be part of a family. And she must believe that love--even with someone who seems an improbable choice--is more than just a possibility.

Trish Doller writes incredibly real teens, and this searing story of love, betrayal, and how not to lose your mind will resonate with readers who want their stories gritty and utterly true.

Title: Transparent
Author: Natalie Whipple
Format: Paperback, 368 pages
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Release Date: May 21, 2013
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: eARC supplied by the Publisher for honest review

Purchase
Amazon | Chapters | TBD | Goodreads





Plenty of teenagers feel invisible. Fiona McClean actually is.

An invisible girl is a priceless weapon. Fiona’s own father has been forcing her to do his dirty work for years—everything from spying on people to stealing cars to breaking into bank vaults.

After sixteen years, Fiona’s had enough. She and her mother flee to a small town, and for the first time in her life, Fiona feels like a normal life is within reach. But Fiona’s father isn’t giving up that easily.

Of course, he should know better than anyone: never underestimate an invisible girl.


I had read some very mixed reviews about this book before reading it myself, and I will admit I was a little hesitant. Because of two things, one being the superhero powers that are given to the characters, and because of the Mob family dynamic that really isn't discussed in YA. But I will say that I was really happy and surprised by how much I enjoyed this book.

To start, I thought the main character was written brilliantly, she was spunky and full of attitude--which would happen if you were the only invisible person in the whole world. I also loved that the main character had a very hard time trusting anyone that wasn't her brother Will. It gave us a chance to see the family dynamic without having to be told about it by the character herself.

The secondary characters were also well done because of their ability to advance the plot but also serve a purpose--They each added something to every scene. I also thought the love story that appeared at the beginning was very refreshing because it is not what you think it is, and I loved that. It was very sweet and their connection was felt from the very beginning. But I did think that it was a little predictable at times.

Fiona's father was a very interesting character because he was so terrfying from the word of mouth that happened throughout the book. But to be honest when we meet him in person I didn't find him all that scary. And I think that was something that took me away from the story, especially ay the end. Speaking of the end, although semi realistic, I felt like it could have been better. I felt like the resolution was swift and a little too perfect for me. I wish I could go into more detail but I can't because of spoilers :(

Overall I thought Transparent was extremely entertaining and fast paced read that kept me reading from page one. Its a perfect read for those days on the beach or just sitting on your porch!

Title: September Girls
Author: Bennett Madison
Format: Hardcover, 256 pages
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Release Date: May 21, 2013
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: eARC supplied by Publisher for honest review

Purchase
Amazon | Chapters | TBD | Goodreads






 When Sam's dad whisks him and his brother off to a remote beach town for the summer, he's all for it-- at first. Sam soon realizes, though, that this place is anything but ordinary. Time seems to slow down around here, and everywhere he looks, there are beautiful blond girls. Girls who seem inexplicably drawn to him.

Then Sam meets DeeDee, one of the Girls, and she's different from the others. Just as he starts to fall for her, she pulls away, leaving him more confused than ever. He knows that if he's going to get her back, he'll have to uncover the secret of this beach and the girls who live here.

I went into this book being super excited about it. One, because it was a new author for me and because the concept sounded extremely interesting. But what I was left with was a sour taste in my mouth.

I will say that the cover of this novel is absolutely gorgeous and its suits the content to a certain degree. The narrator is a seventeen year old boy named Sam who is whisked away by his father to a beach house for the summer. Sam also has an affinity to swear for no reason and reference sex non stop. His brother is even worse if that is possible. I felt like I was reading a very long conversation between two very young teenage boys, and honestly after a while I got a little tired of it.

Don't get me wrong, I have, at times, had a mouth like a trucker and have been known to talk about sex but I don't make it the topic of EVERY conversations or thought. I do understand that being a virgin in high school, especially for boys is a big deal, but these characters' obsession with getting laid was too much for me. I wanted to connect and relate to these characters but I really had no opportunity to do that.

I also have to talk about The Girls. These mysterious creatures that live on this beach and can never leave were interesting. The concept for these characters was really alluring and I really wish the author had focused more on them then then Sam and his brother. The Girls were different and that what I think I liked most about the book, because it definitely wasn't the reveal at the end. For one, I saw it coming from a mile away and the explanation was vague enough for me not to really understand completely.

Overall, I thought September Girls was an interesting concept, but the execution was lacking. I wanted more from the characters and the plot overall. I will be honest and say I was deeply disappointed with this book.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, it highlights upcoming books that we cannot wait to read! This week my pick is....

                           Falling Kingdoms | Pivot Point| Revolution


                            Fall for Anything | Starcrossed | Hourglass


           Leftovers | The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer | Tiger Lily | Defiance