Waiting on Wednesday (23): Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Echols

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly feature hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. I love it because it is basically a squee-fest where book lovers can choose one book that they are DYING to get their hands on. Check it out!

Dirty Little Secret

by Jennifer Echols

Amazon | Goodreads

Bailey wasn’t always a wild child and the black sheep of her family. She used to play fiddle and tour the music circuit with her sister, Julie, who sang and played guitar. That ended when country music execs swooped in and signed Julie to a solo deal. Never mind that Julie and Bailey were a duet, or that Bailey was their songwriter. The music scouts wanted only Julie, and their parents were content to sit by and let her fulfill her dreams while Bailey’s were hushed away.

Bailey has tried to numb the pain and disappointment over what could have been. And as Julie’s debut album is set to hit the charts, her parents get fed up with Bailey’s antics and ship her off to granddad’s house in Nashville. Playing fiddle in washed-up tribute groups at the mall, Bailey meets Sam, a handsome and oh-so-persuasive guitarist with his own band. He knows Bailey’s fiddle playing is just the thing his band needs to break into the industry. But this life has broken Bailey’s heart once before. She isn’t sure she’s ready to let Sam take her there again…

SHUT UP, FIDDLER. I can’t even deal with the fact that Jennifer Echols is taking on music right now. She’s gotten me to read about cops (DUH love them), swimmers, horses, pilots, and now musicians. Is there anyone out there who thinks she’s not going to knock DIRTY LITTLE SECRET one out of the park, too? And I’m loving that this has a sister vibe going on, too. I really enjoy reading about siblings, especially when there’s drama. 

Honestly, though, let’s just cut to the chase: Sam. First of all, he’s in a band. Second of all, he’s the guitar player. Third of all, he lives in Nashville, which is one of those cities that I would LOVE to go to. I’m swooning over the little bits we get of him in just the two sentences up there in the synopsis. I can’t even IMAGINE how swoony he’s going to be in DIRTY LITLE SECRET. Am I the only Nashville watcher who is getting Gunnar and Scarlett feels from this synopsis??? AHHH YAY!! Love Jennifer Echols so much!

DIRTY LITTLE SECRET is coming out July 16, 2013 from MTV Books.

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Waiting on Wednesday (22): Poison by Bridget Zinn

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly feature hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. I love it because it is basically a squee-fest where book lovers can choose one book that they are DYING to get their hands on. Check it out!

Poison

by Bridget Zinn

Sixteen-year-old Kyra, a highly-skilled potions master, is the only one who knows her kingdom is on the verge of destruction—which means she’s the only one who can save it. Faced with no other choice, Kyra decides to do what she does best: poison the kingdom’s future ruler, who also happens to be her former best friend.

But, for the first time ever, her poisoned dart . . . misses.

Now a fugitive instead of a hero, Kyra is caught in a game of hide-and-seek with the king’s army and her potioner ex-boyfriend, Hal. At least she’s not alone. She’s armed with her vital potions, a too-cute pig, and Fred, the charming adventurer she can’t stop thinking about. Kyra is determined to get herself a second chance (at murder), but will she be able to find and defeat the princess before Hal and the army find her?

Kyra is not your typical murderer, and she’s certainly no damsel-in-distress—she’s the lovable and quick-witted hero of this romantic novel that has all the right ingredients to make teen girls swoon.

I am ALWAYS on the lookout for solid-sounding new fantasies, friends, and POISON by Bridget Zinn sounds like exactly that. The story of Kyra sounds not only full of fantasy goodness, but also emotional stress and complicated relationships, what with former best friends who are current heirs to the throne and ex-boyfriends who hang around. ALSO ALSO ALSO!! THERE’S A CUTE PIG!! AHHH! First of all, the little piggy is on the cover. Love it. Second of all, he also merits a mention in the synopsis, which means there’s a great chance of some important piggy moments in the book. (I love pigs. I think they’re adorable, especially baby ones.)

In fact, the only bummer about POISON is the fact that it’s the first and last book that we’ll likely ever get from Bridget Zinn–she passed away last year. Epic sad face. But her debut effort sounds wonderful, and I can’t wait to read it.

POISON is coming out March 12, 2013 from Disney Hyperion.

Waiting on Wednesday (21): Handbook for Dragon Slayers by Merrie Haskell

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly feature hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. I love it because it is basically a squee-fest where book lovers can choose one book that they are DYING to get their hands on. Check it out!

Handbook for Dragon Slayers

by Merrie Haskell

When a runaway princess throws her lot in with a couple of would-be dragon slayers, before long she is facing down the Wild Hunt, befriending enchanted horses, battling fire-breathing dragons, and learning more about herself than she ever expected…

I can’t deal with how amazing this sounds, guys. A runaway princess, dragonslayers, enchanted horses. I DIE. Seriously. That little blurb is so freaking short, but I’m still fidgeting with anticipation. I read and very much enjoyed Merrie Haskell’s THE PRINCESS CURSE, which was a retelling of the 12 Dancing Princesses tale. But this one sounds like high fantasy at it’s best. PLUS. I love the cover! The illustration is so incredible!

HANDBOOK FOR DRAGON SLAYERS is coming out May 28, 2013 from Harper Collins.

Tripping Over January

Five Books I’m Looking Forward to in January

New year = clean reading slate, friends. I can’t believe how many excellent books are coming out this year, and how many of them are coming out THIS MONTH! 2013 is off to a great start, guys, and I’m particularly excited to start the year by reading these five books (among others, no doubt).

Amazon | Goodreads

Just One Day: Just One Day #1 by Gayle Forman 

I just loved Gayle Forman’s previous duo, IF I STAY/WHERE SHE WENT, and I’m hearing really excellent things about JUST ONE DAY. I’m dying to read it. DYING.

Amazon | Goodreads

Prodigy: Legend #2 by Marie Lu

DUH. LEGEND is one of my favorite dystopians. I even liked it a touch better than DIVERGENT. I’ve been fortunate enough to read PRODIGY already and, guys? I promise, this is one of the best series around right now. Great action, great pacing, great characters, great world-building. ALL GREAT THINGS.

Amazon | Goodreads

The Archived: The Archived #1 by Victoria Schwab

Umm, a book about kick-ass librarians who are keepers of the DEAD who exist as BOOKS?? I can’t even. It just sounds so clever and, if it’s anything like THE NEAR WITCH, a little dark and gorgeous, too.

Amazon | Goodreads

The Cadet of Tildor by Alex Lidell

Friends, I am reading this one right now and REALLY enjoying myself. It’s one of those fantasies where it just kind of effortlessly  (even though you can totally tell that so much thought went into the world-building) sucks you in and strings you along. I’m only about a quarter of the way through and I’m invested in the drama, and the characters are unique and have great relationships. (I’m loving the contentious doings between Savoy and Renee!)

Amazon | Goodreads

Shadowlands by Kate Brian

I’m totally fascinated by the sound of this one, friends. A contemp about a young girl who survives an attack by a serial killer who must go into witness protection when he gets out of jail, only to have mysterious things happen in the new home she shares with her father and sister. It sounds mysterious and awesome.

 

Tripping Over October

Five Books I’m Looking Forward to in October

Guys, I LOVE October. You start to get that first hint of nip in the air, the leaves start changing colors. Fall is officially upon us. This October is all of those great things PLUS the release of these five books. I’m stoked.

The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There (Fairyland #2) by Catherynne M. Valente

Amazon | Goodreads

Guys, the first book in this spectacularly imaginative series was amazing. Vibrant, clever, sumptuous, and pretty much captivating. I’m looking forward to more from September and her friends in Fairyland. I have total faith that Catherynne Valente will blow me away again. (October 2, 2012 from Feiwel and Friends.)

Through to You by Emily Hainsworth

Amazon | Goodreads

 I am really looking forward to this book. It’s got some science-fictiony vibes to it, with alternate universes where dead loved ones are alive. It sounds emotionally complicated and clever. (October 2, 2012 from Balzer + Bray.)

Valkyrie Rising by Ingrid Paulson

Amazon | Goodreads

Don’t even tease me with anything Norse-sounding, people. I can’t even deal with how much I love that shizz. This story about a girl visiting family in Norway where her brother is abducted and all kinds of epic mythological shenanigans ensue sounds FUN, and right up my alley. (October 9, 2012 from Harper Teen.)

The Lost Prince (The Iron Fey: The Call of the Forgotten #1) by Julie Kagawa

Amazon | Goodreads

One of these days I’m going to review the original Iron Fey series because it is, hands down, my favorite fairie series of ever. This new series centers around Meghan Chase’s now-grown brother, Ethan. Julie Kagawa can do no wrong with the fairies, friends. (October 23, 2012 from Harlequin Teen.)

The Crimson Crown (Seven Realms #4) by Cinda Williams Chima

Amazon | Goodreads

YOOOO!!! I cannot WAIT to read this book. I have only recently caught up on the first three books in Cinda Williams Chima’s series, but I am so glad that I did. Because it basically rocks my socks. Han and Raisa have a war on their doorstep, not to mention their really complicated feelings for each other. It’s going to be GOOD. I know it. (October 23, 2012 from Hyperion Children’s.)