Dangerous Lies by Becca Fitzpatrick

* * * 1/2

A teen is forced to make a fresh start after witnessing a violent crime—but love and danger find her anyway in this novel from Becca Fitzpatrick, the New York Times bestselling author of the Hush, Hush saga.

Stella Gordon is not her real name. Thunder Basin, Nebraska, is not her real home. This is not her real life.

After witnessing a lethal crime, Stella Gordon is sent to the middle of nowhere for her own safety before she testifies against the man she saw kill her mother’s drug dealer.

But Stella was about to start her senior year with the boyfriend she loves. How can she be pulled away from the only life she knows and expected to start a new one in Nebraska? Stella chafes at her protection and is rude to everyone she meets. She’s not planning on staying long, so why be friendly? Then she meets Chet Falconer and it becomes harder to keep her guard up, even as her guilt about having to lie to him grows.

As Stella starts to feel safer, the real threat to her life increases—because her enemies are actually closer than she thinks…

Admittedly, I requested to review this book based on Fitzpatrick’s name alone. It’s not just because she wrote one of my favourite series – Hush, Hush. It’s also because she impressed me last year with her standalone release, Black Ice, a departure from the paranormal world she had inhabited. Having enjoyed that, I had no hesitation in reading her latest.

Dangerous Lies follows sixteen year-old “Stella” who has been placed into Witness Protection after agreeing to testify against the perpetrator of a heinous crime she witnessed in her own home. She’s uprooted from her hometown of Philadelphia and taken to Thunder Basin, Nebraska, where she’ll stay for the summer until the case is set to go to trial. This small town is far-removed from her former life. She’s annoyed to be left in the care of a retired cop, Carmina, who actually has the gall to set boundaries and curfews for her, something she’s never had to deal with from her own strung-out, ineffective mother. The only thing that could be a bright side in this middle-of-nowhere town is local hottie, Chet Falconer. The two get along well and Stella has to quell her attraction to him by reminding herself that she does have a boyfriend waiting somewhere out there with whom she hopes to be reunited soon. Carmina warns Stella to stay away from Chet but of course, she doesn’t listen. In fact, Stella spends quite a bit of time at the beginning looking down her nose at people, putting her arrogance on full display and defying Carmina. You can well imagine what sort of stupidity that can lead to.

As I read Dangerous Lies, I challenged myself to gather the clues and put the pieces together before Fitzpatrick’s final unveiling of the truth. She set a nice pace and surprised me with some diversions and twists I didn’t see coming. That's the point, right? Fitzpatrick also gives Stella a strong personality with a voice that expresses her disdain for her current situation. When you first meet her, she's just oozing hostility. And although she's in a new setting, Stella's terrifying nightmares still accompany her along with the guilt over her mother's condition. I was happy to see Stella eventually change her tune as she gets accustomed to Thunder Basin and the locals. Everything in this temporary home has given her a new perspective on what her life was like in Philly and what she has gained in the time she's been here. 

I enjoyed Dangerous Lies and how our heroine went from feeling invincible to realizing that she can allow herself to count on people who care about her. Turns out Thunder Basin is a good place after all!

~ Bel

Waiting on Wednesday (164)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that highlights future releases that we are excitedly anticipating.

By Marina Adair
Publication Date: October 13, 2015

Emerson “Emi” Blake dropped out of culinary school to care for her ailing mother, but she has bigger dreams than running St. Helena’s most popular pita cart. First on the menu: upgrade to a gourmet food truck. A new part-time job as a personal chef will definitely provide the funds, but it also forces her into close contact with her one and only one-night stand, Dax Baudouin, who’s daring her to try a second taste.

Former army Ranger Dax has a clear mission: come home, get healed, and get gone. Yet Emi’s tough-girl exterior and hidden soft side are even harder to resist than her mouthwatering baklava. After years of battles, he knows better than to try and rescue anyone—not that she’ll let him get close enough to try. Truth is, Dax is starting to think that Emi’s the one person who can save him…if he can just persuade her to give him another shot.






By Becca Fitzpatrick
Publication Date:  November 10, 2015

A teen is forced to make a fresh start after witnessing a violent crime—but love and danger find her anyway in this novel from Becca Fitzpatrick, theNew York Times bestselling author of the Hush, Hush saga.

Stella Gordon is not her real name. Thunder Basin, Nebraska, is not her real home. This is not her real life.

After witnessing a lethal crime, Stella Gordon is sent to the middle of nowhere for her own safety before she testifies against the man she saw kill her mother’s drug dealer.

But Stella was about to start her senior year with the boyfriend she loves. How can she be pulled away from the only life she knows and expected to start a new one in Nebraska? Stella chafes at her protection and is rude to everyone she meets. She’s not planning on staying long, so why be friendly? Then she meets Chet Falconer and it becomes harder to keep her guard up, even as her guilt about having to lie to him grows.

As Stella starts to feel safer, the real threat to her life increases—because her enemies are actually closer than she thinks…





By Marie Lu
Publication Date: October 13, 2015

From New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu comes the second book in the exhilarating Young Elites series

Once upon a time, a girl had a father, a prince, a society of friends. Then they betrayed her, and she destroyed them all.

Adelina Amouteru’s heart has suffered at the hands of both family and friends, turning her down the bitter path of revenge. Now known and feared as the White Wolf, she and her sister flee Kenettra to find other Young Elites in the hopes of building her own army of allies. Her goal: to strike down the Inquisition Axis, the white-cloaked soldiers that murdered her love, the Crown Prince Enzo Valenciano.

But Adelina is no heroine. Her powers, fed only by fear and hate, have started to grow beyond her control. She does not trust her newfound Elite friends. Teren Santoro, leader of the Inquisition, wants her dead. And her former friends, Raffaele and the Dagger Society, want to stop her thirst for vengeance. Adelina struggles to cling to the good within her. But how can someone be good, when her very existence depends on darkness?

Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick

* * * * 3/4

Sometimes danger is hard to see... until it’s too late.

Britt Pfeiffer has trained to backpack the Teton Range, but she isn't prepared when her ex-boyfriend, who still haunts her every thought, wants to join her. Before Britt can explore her feelings for Calvin, an unexpected blizzard forces her to seek shelter in a remote cabin, accepting the hospitality of its two very handsome occupants—but these men are fugitives, and they take her hostage.

In exchange for her life, Britt agrees to guide the men off the mountain. As they set off, Britt knows she must stay alive long enough for Calvin to find her. The task is made even more complicated when Britt finds chilling evidence of a series of murders that have taken place there... and in uncovering this, she may become the killer’s next target.

But nothing is as it seems in the mountains, and everyone is keeping secrets, including Mason, one of her kidnappers. His kindness is confusing Britt. Is he an enemy? Or an ally?

BLACK ICE is New York Times bestselling author Becca Fitzpatrick’s riveting romantic thriller set against the treacherous backdrop of the mountains of Wyoming. Falling in love should never be this dangerous…

Becca Fitzpatrick certainly made an enormous impact with the Hush Hush series. That having concluded, it’s interesting to see what she has done next with Black Ice. It’s a departure from what we’re used to and I’ve got to hand it to her, she’s done a bang up job here! Also, how freaking cool is this cover?!

I’ll come clean and say that when I’d first heard of the premise for this book months ago, I wasn’t too impressed. I’m not an outdoorsy gal and the idea of a mountain trek and being lost just didn’t appeal to me. So fast forward to months later, I read the premise again and all of a sudden I’m all over this. I have no idea what changed. Black Ice is well planned out and takes its time to reveal the plot. There are a few things going on here. Britt wants to exert her independence from her ex-boyfriend. She wants to demonstrate this to him but winds up needing to prove this to herself. She and her best friend end up seeking shelter with strangers one night and it’s all awkward and shady. I’ll excuse her few moments of cluelessness here because put next to her needy, whiney and childish bestie, Britt comes off as a perfect angel. When she does realize what’s up, her mind spurs into action and she’s all about making sure her best friend is safe as she formulates a plan to either escape these two fugitives or misdirect them so that she can buy her some time as she leads them to the authorities. Then she unwittingly stumbles upon the murder mysteries and she feels in over her head. But not for long.

I really like that Britt is a resourceful person. She starts off as someone still feeling slighted by her ex but then evolves into a leader. She had no idea she was capable of such things.  Through flashbacks she has a new perspective on her relationship with Calvin. May be it wasn’t all that “perfect” or healthy. Still, being stuck on a mountain with the fugitive Mason, no matter how good looking he is, is not the ideal place to evaluate her relationship history. Her attraction to Mason is concerning as she feels she may be experiencing Stockholm Syndrome. Like I said, she’s smart and clearly no damsel in distress. This experience is opening her eyes to understanding that there are more things to consider that are below the surface.

As I read along, I kept wondering how much longer things could drag on as I just couldn’t fathom what else could be thrown in there. The plot does unravel itself and once Britt gets herself out of her temporary stupor she’s no longer the captive. This changes the nature of her relationship with everyone.

I won’t say any more. Black Ice was a terrific read and far more than I had originally expected. I was able to slowly put the pieces together but most of all, I really liked Britt. How great to see a female character seize upon a perilous and life-changing experience to kick some butt!

~ Bel

Waiting on Wednesday (113)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that highlights future releases that we are excitedly anticipating.


By Becca Fitzpatrick
Publication Date: October 7, 2014

Sometimes danger is hard to see... until it’s too late. 

Britt Pfeiffer has trained to backpack the Teton Range, but she isn't prepared when her ex-boyfriend, who still haunts her every thought, wants to join her. Before Britt can explore her feelings for Calvin, an unexpected blizzard forces her to seek shelter in a remote cabin, accepting the hospitality of its two very handsome occupants—but these men are fugitives, and they take her hostage. 

In exchange for her life, Britt agrees to guide the men off the mountain. As they set off, Britt knows she must stay alive long enough for Calvin to find her. The task is made even more complicated when Britt finds chilling evidence of a series of murders that have taken place there... and in uncovering this, she may become the killer’s next target. 

But nothing is as it seems in the mountains, and everyone is keeping secrets, including Mason, one of her kidnappers. His kindness is confusing Britt. Is he an enemy? Or an ally? 

BLACK ICE is New York Times bestselling author Becca Fitzpatrick’s riveting romantic thriller set against the treacherous backdrop of the mountains of Wyoming. Falling in love should never be this dangerous…




By Nina de Gramont
Publication Date: September 2, 2014

When the boy you love asks you to keep his greatest secret, do you? A thought-provoking, achingly complex novel about prejudice and the many meanings of love from Nina de Gramont, author of Meet Me at the River, which Kirkus Reviews called a “must-read.”

Fifteen-year-old Wren has been content to stay in her best friend Allie’s shadow. It doesn’t bother her that Ally gets the cutest guys, the cutest clothes, and even a modeling gig—Wren is happy hanging with the horses on her family’s farm and avoiding the jealousy of other girls. But when Tim, the most intriguing guy in school, starts hanging out with Ally and Wren, jealousy is unavoidable, but not the kind Wren expects. Because even though Ally is wayyy into him and Wren hasn’t flirted, not one little bit, it becomes increasingly clear that Tim prefers Wren’s company above anyone else’s.


Tim’s unexpected devotion comes at the exact time Wren’s home life is about to be turned upside down. Her parents have just found out that the family horse farm is on land that was once a slave plantation and are struggling with whether to sell it. Wren aches at the thought of losing her horses and leaving town, but at least there is Tim...always a gentleman on their dates. Such a gentleman. Too much of a gentleman, even, and Wren begins to wish he’d be a wee bit less gentlemanly. And as Tim’s church becomes actively homophobic, his pressuring parents don’t understand why he won’t help “spread the word,” and he’s now a wreck. Then he tells Wren his biggest secret, and Wren must decide what she’ll really do for love.

Bel's Top 10 of 2011

Coming up with my favorite 10 reads was no easy task, especially since I've been reading like a fiend for most of the year. But here’s my stab at it and in no particular order …

The Mortal Instruments Series

Like Nat, I have to cheat here because I just couldn't narrow it down. It's like picking out one puppy from the litter - it breaks your heart to separate it from its siblings. Not only do I enjoy the storyline and all the characters immensely, I just simply love Cassie Clare’s writing.  She is so good at writing snark and so good a writing non-smutty smut that we BiblioJunkies would just die if Ms. Clare decided to write an adult series. Can you begin to imagine how far she'd go? In all seriousness, I’ve said this before, this series opened the floodgates for me and because of it I’ve experienced a whole new genre.

Hush Hush & Crescendo

On the subject of snark – I do believe that people are familiar with my, um, deep, deep appreciation (read: lust) for Patch Cipriano. In fact, I'm a wee bit disappointed (gutted if I wanted to be melodramatic about it) that I didn't find him in my Christmas stocking. And I know I'm "cheating" again here by naming two books but seriously, it's Patch! Both are filled with plenty of great one-liners and images that make you want to scream in a good way. And that wicked ending in Crescendo had me all strung up. I simply can't get enough!

The Maze Runner

To me, The Maze Runner is the best of the series. James Dashner upped the ante by removing every one's memory and giving them a blank slate. How do you move forward from that with no reference points and no idea who to trust? Everything from the hellish environment to the relentless action left me banging my head for answers and utterly exhausted.

The Iron Knight

The Iron Fey series is one of the most spectacular and intricate out there but The Iron Knight is the one had the most effect on me. Ash is the ULTIMATE knight in shining armor. The trials he goes through make you ache. His resolve to be with his beloved Megan make you pine for him even more. It's no wonder he has such a rabid legion of fans. And with Puck and Grimalkin as travel companions, how can this not be a thrilling adventure?

Thirteen Reasons Why

My niece recommended this book saying it was one of her favorites.  I have to agree with her. I clung to every page of this story and felt a myriad of emotions because it had of its sensitivity and straightforward bluntness.  While the ending doesn’t exactly make you jump up and cheer, you still feel its quiet but hopeful impact. And sometimes subtle works best. 

Saving June

After having read Thirteen Reasons Why I thought, one - I’d be doing a comparison between these two books and two - I’d be spending a very depressing couple of weeks. I was sooo wrong because this turned out to be one of the best books I’ve read in years! Harrington’s effortless blending of humor and sarcasm balanced perfectly the serious side of the story. And adding to its awesomeness, this book came with its very own soundtrack.

  

The Likeness (non YA)

I love a good psychological mystery and Tana French delivers in this Irish thriller. The mixture of murder and suspense had me on edge throughout.  But what I enjoyed most was how each little plot twist had me gasping. Plus, it's set in Ireland where good things like U2, Snow Patrol, Two Door Cinema Club and Michael Fassbender come from ... not that they had anything to do with the book.

Firelight

Thank you, thank you Sophie Jordan for putting something different out there! I was already on a slight vampire/werewolf overload when I stumbled upon this Romeo and Juliet style dragon tale (ha! see what I did there?). I was so caught up in Will and Jacinda's connection and worried for them non-stop. And the cliffhangers for Firelight and its follow up, Vanish, left me hungry for more.

Clockwork Prince

Oh my! Cassandra Clare you really love to make us suffer. Aside from the excellent story, there are the gorgeous Will and Jem and that poor girl Tessa who has to look at both of them. Through all the publicity we were all made well aware of the DSBS. But boy was I a bit giddy with that other DSBS that came before it! I'm not ashamed to say that those pages have been bookmarked and I've re-read them a few times times. Oh Jem …

Cold Kiss

Morbid, creepy, morbidly fascinating - it didn’t hit me until recently how much I liked this book. It happened when I was listening to my iPod and a gorgeously haunting song came on that encompassed the book's entire theme - sorrow, loss and letting go. I instantly thought of Wren and Danny. It was one of those moments that made me shiver. While the storyline is set in a paranormal arena, Wren's deeply personal loss is one that anyone can understand.  

So there we have it.  Hope your New Year is filled with plenty of good books, surprises and much, much more!

Cheers!

~Bel

Happy New Year Giveaway Hop!

We are happy to be participating in the Happy New Year Giveaway Hop hosted by I Am A Reader and Not A Writer and Babs Book Bistro from now until January 3, 2012.  2011 has been a good year, in addition to many personal achievements for the BiblioJunkies, 2011 marked the year we finally stopped talking about a book blog and actually started a book blog!  The five months we have been the BiblioJunkies has been so much fun and we have gotten to meet and get to know so many fantastic people. 

We are looking forward to an even better 2012 and hope you all continue to share our love of books, boys and pie in the new year!  So to get 2012 started out right, we are giving away an ARC of Tempest by Julie Cross and a signed copy of Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick (because let's face it, we could all use a little Patch to keep us warm on a winter's night).  Unfortunately, this is a U.S. giveaway only.



So, you know the drill.  Use the Rafflecopter below to enter.  On January 4 or 5 we will announce the winner.  We hope you all have a safe and fun New Year's celebration.  There are 202 blogs participating in the Hop, so good luck!

~Shel

Shel's Top 10 of 2011

I know we have been a little lax this holiday season with keeping you entertained, but we will definitely be back to devouring books and driving our readers nutes wiht silliness after the holidays.  Until then, please enjoy my top 10 list:

Here at BiblioJunkies we have been discussing what to do with our 2011 "top" lists.  How many books, etc.  Unfortunately, when it came right down to it, I could not narrow my list down to just 5.  In fact, to get to 10 I had to be pretty specific in my lists - favorite by someone other than Meg Cabot or Janet Evanovich (because let's face it, these ladies will always top my favorite book lists) and lets not forget Rick Riordan, whom I adore.  And then I couldn't narrow down to eliminate books in a series (ie The Mortal Instruments and Infernal Devices, all of which are fantastic).  It really took a lot of thought and planning to get my list down to just 10, because I have read SOOO many truly fantastic books this year.  Each of the books below have touched (Yes, I am talking to you Suzanne Young) or entertained me and stood out among the plethora of books that I read this year.  So, here's my list, in no particular order:

The Infernal Devices and The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare

The Mythos Academy Series by Jennifer Estep

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young

Alex Van Helsing Series by Jason Henderson

Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

Hush, Hush by Becca FitzPatrick

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay

The Chicagoland Vampire Series by Chloe Neill

I recommend all of these books and/or series.  Check them out and let us know what your favorites of 2011 have been!  Happy New Year and happy reading in 2012!

~Shel

Spooktacular Giveaway Hop!

It's that time again folks.  We are having another contest (I know, I know, Nat & Bel are going to kill me if I keep signing up for all these giveaways!)!  So, here's the deal, I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Diary of a Bookworm are hosting this awesome Hop.  There are a ton of blogs participating (see linky below) and tons of prizes to be won.  

The BiblioJunkies recently had the opportunity to meet the fabulous and fun Becca FitzPatrick, author of the Hush, Hush series.  She was gracious enough to sign a bunch of books for us to giveaway here on the blog, so we thought we would start now!  This giveaway includes:

A SIGNED copy of Hush, Hush (paperback)

A SIGNED poster from the Silence Tour!

(Who can resist a poster of the beautiful Drew Doyon & Becca FitzPatrick's autograph?!?!?)

Tantalize by Cynthia Lietich Smith (hardcover)

AND because Halloween is never complete without Vampires and Werewolves vying for our love, a paperback copy of New Moon by Stephanie Meyer.

To enter, follow the instructions in Rafflecopter.  This one is simple, leave a comment (be sure to include your email address) telling us what your favorite Halloween read is - that's the mandatory one.  You can get extra entries for following us on GFC & Twitter.  Neither are mandatory, but we would love it if you would follow our silliness.  The contest will run from 12:01 a.m. on October 24, 2011 to 12:01 a.m. on November 1, 2011.  See the terms & conditions in the Rafflecopter for details on notifying the winner, etc. 

Last time I looked there were over 400 blogs participating, so follow the linky below and check out the other giveaways!  Thanks for stopping by and good luck!

~Shel

Silence by Becca Fitzpatrik

* * * 1/2 

WHEN SILENCE IS ALL THAT’S LEFT,  CAN THE TRUTH FINALLY BE HEARD?

“Nora Grey can’t remember the past five months of her life.  After the initial shock of waking up in a cemetery and being told that she’s been missing for weeks – with no one knowing where she was or who she was with – she tries to get her life back on track.  Go to school, hang out with her best friend, Vee, and dodge her mom’s creepy new boyfriend.

But there is this voice in the back of her head, an idea that she can almost reach out and touch.  Visions of angel wings and unearthly creatures that have nothing to do with the life she knows.

And this unshakable feeling that a part of her is missing.

Then Nora crosses paths with a sexy stranger, whom she feels a mesmerizing connection to.  He seems to hold all the answers…and her heart.  Every minute she spends with him grows more and more intense until she realizes she could be falling in love.  Again.”

Dear Readers, October has been a good month for fun stuff.  My son’s birthday, new music releases by my favorite bands and last but never least, my fictional boyfriend Patch has returned!   You all know that I’m a complete nutter for him so imagine my frustration when I went to a certain retail location and they didn’t have him…err, I mean the book out.  How dare they keep me from my man, I mean book!  Luckily, BiblioJunkies Nat came to the rescue with her stealth-like determination and managed to get me a copy at a different retailer.  She still had to take matters into her own hands and pry open a box to retrieve him/the book.  She saved the day!

But I digress.  Let’s get back to business.  Silence didn’t start off the way I expected it to which was a nice surprise.  It takes place a few months later with Nora having no memories of the previous 5 months.  However, that doesn’t mean she experience déjà-vus and gut feelings nagging at her.  One déjà-vu  in particular from Hush, Hush will bring a smile to your faces.

Things have changed since she’s been away.  Her mother is now dating Hank Millar (gag!) her arch nemesis, Marcie’s dad.  People aren’t exactly being liberal with details to help her fill in the gaps including Vee, her loyal but slightly obnoxious best friend.  The same cast of characters return, Scott Parnell, the beefcake Nephil, Dabria, psycho fallen archangel and Det. Basso who we have yet to figure out.  I hope there’s more to him later.  And the Black Hand’s mark is everywhere.  Nora doesn’t give up.  She knows that there’s something missing and she’s determined to find out.  Even if it means making dumb decisions like walking around alone at night and getting into trouble.  Hello!  You’ve been kidnapped and away for months and whoever did this is still out there!  So some things don’t change.  (BilblioJunkies Nat and I will be having a discussion with Becca about this particular problem).  But Nora is becoming more fearless as the fog clears and she learns more about her family tree and what’s in store for her.

Things have also gotten a bit complicated thanks to the Black Hand. There’s something brewing between the Nephilim and the fallen angels and it’s up to our heroine and Patch to figure it out.  First she must remember him.  Watching her regain her memories of Patch is fun and he’s still as hot as ever (naturally).  As for Patch – I have to say I didn’t think he was as snarky in Silence probably because he’s busy brooding over Nora.  He’s going by Jev and is more serious with his own agenda.  The old Patch comes back later thankfully once he and Nora start reconnecting.  Case in point:

Nora: “ Do you think they’re going to buy that a guy in tacky leather chaps dances like this?”

Patch/Jev: “Keep it up, and I’ll put you in the chaps.”

Oh Patch, you say the sweetest things!  I won’t divulge much else except that while Silence was supposed to be the final book, Becca Fitzpatrick recently announced that there will indeed be a fourth book.  Yay!  Why a fourth?  Because she can.  And also because the book’s recurring theme of Cheshvan, the two-week period where fallen angels take over a human vassal’s body and run rampant like it’s spring break in Ibiza, is fast approaching and this time it looks like there’ll be a showdown between the Nephilim and the fallen angels. 

I liked how Becca Fitzpatrick describes in intricate detail Nora's memories fleeting in and out and how she'd grasp at them, trying to piece them all back together.  You could feel the mental exhaustion she was going through.  I also liked the subtle hints that there's more to Nora we have yet to discover.  Silence was fun and judging by how it started and ended, I have no idea what’s going to happen in the next one.  Patch isn't the only one calling the shots anymore. Nora has had to make some tough decisions that affect them.  We’ll see how they fare...

~Bel

P.S.  There's also a  special edition (available only through Wlamart, Inc) which includes an exclusive chapter from Patch's point of view.  It's about the first time Patch and Nora meet and it's not what you think. ;-)

A Peek in the Biblio-Bin - #4

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. It is a way for bloggers to share what books they have won, received for review, bought from the bookstore, borrowed from the library or friend, etc.

This week Bel is giving you a peek into her section of the Biblio-Bin.

As her freshman classmates move into dorms at Cornell University, Olivia Somerset suffers a nervous breakdown. When months of coaxing and analyzing fail to rouse Olivia from her stupor, big sister Miranda decides the sisters should fly off to Barcelona for some "vacation therapy."

When a mistake at their Barcelona hostel leaves the Somersets in a large co-ed dorm room, Olivia and Miranda are saved by kindly Mr. Brown and his son Greg, who happily volunteer to surrender their private room. But while Olivia feels an instant connection with brooding Greg Brown, Miranda sides with fellow guest and cocky American travel writer Lenny:

The Browns are just plain weird, and must be avoided at all costs.

In the midst of urbane Peruvian priests-in-training and Scottish soccer fans, from the shops of La Rambla to the waters of the Mediterranean to the soaring heights of Montjuic, Miranda works to protect her still-fragile sister while Olivia struggles to understand her burgeoning adulthood, her feelings for Greg, and the fear that makes the next step in her life so impossible to take.

Inspired by E. M. Forster's classic novel A Room with a View, debut author Hannah Sternberg's Queens of All the Earth is a poetic journey of young love and self-awakening set against the beauty of Catalonia. Teenagers and adults alike will be riveted and moved by this coming-of-age novel about the conflicting hearts and minds of two very different sisters.

Summer 1869, and Sherlock Holmes and his friend Irene celebrate her sixteenth birthday by attending the theater to watch a celebrated magician make a real dragon appear on stage. It is the London sensation. Sherlock and Irene meet the magician, Alistair Hemsworth – just as he is arrested for the murder of his rival, The Wizard of Nottingham.

It seems that traces of the missing Wizard’s blood and his spectacles were found in Hemsworth’s secret studio. Hemsworth has a motive: not only is the Wizard his rival, but he also caused a scandal when he lured Hemsworth’s wife away. But is Hemsworth guilty? Sherlock has his doubts, and soon, so does the reader.

With humor and plot turns as dizzying as a narrow London lane, Shane Peacock invites his readers into a fascinating world, and a fresh adventure with one of literature’s favorite characters. The Boy Sherlock Holmes series is an international success with readers and reviewers alike.

The breathtaking conclusion the New York Times bestselling Hush, Hush saga!

The noise between Patch and Nora is gone. They’ve overcome the secrets riddled in Patch’s dark past…bridged two irreconcilable worlds…faced heart-wrenching tests of betrayal, loyalty, and trust…and all for a love that will transcend the boundary between heaven and earth. Armed with nothing but their absolute faith in each other, Patch and Nora enter a desperate fight to stop a villain who holds the power to shatter everything they’ve worked for—and their love—forever..

Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer — they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one wonderful and terrible summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.

.

What if you knew exactly when you’d die? At age sixteen, Rhine Ellery has four years to live. Thanks to a botched effort to create a perfect race, all females live to age twenty, and males live to age twenty-five. While geneticists seek a miracle antidote, the world is crumbling: Orphans roam the streets, crime and poverty have skyrocketed, and polygamy abounds.

When Rhine is kidnapped and sold as a bride, she vows to escape. But then her husband, Linden, exposes her to a world of wealth and decadence she never knew existed. Even if she can’t quite hate her husband, though, she knows to fear her father-in-law, an eccentric doctor bent on finding the antidote and who may or may not be hoarding corpses in his basement lab. At the same time, Rhine is growing dangerously close to Gabriel, a house servant. Will she be able to escape the mansion—before her time runs out?

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In Beatrice Prior’s dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can’t have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the YA scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

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Bel's Birthday Extravaganza Giveaway!

It's Bel’s birthday! This is a huge deal. Why? Because we LOVE birthdays. Birthdays are another excuse (not that we usually need one) to eat cake AND pie. It’s also another opportunity to giggle over our favorite fictional boys.

AND

Birthdays are a perfect reason to giveaway some of our favorite reads to our readers!

The PRIZES:

In honor of Bel’s 19th-ish birthday we are giving away two Bel’s Boys Beginner Prize Packs.

1st Prize

Bel’s Boys – The Vampire Collection:

• Twilight and The Twilight Graphic Novel: Volume 1 by Stephanie Meyer - For so many of us, Edward Cullen marked the beginning of our fictional boy love. This is no different in Bel’s case. You should see her well loved copy of Twilight – complete with post it notes marking all her favorite Edward quotes.
• The Vampire Diaries: Volume 1 by L.J. Smith and Vampire Diaries Card Game– Damon. Need we say more? Just read Bel’s letter to Damon to see what place he holds in her heart.

2nd Prize Bel's Boys - The Angel Collection:

• City of Bones by Cassandra Clare – Jace. *sigh* This angst-y shadowhunter has so many of us wrapped around his finger.  Even Bel is not immune to his snarky and sometimes lovely words. 
• Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick and “Ride the Archangel” iron on patch – “Call me Patch. I mean it. Call me.”  Read Bel’s Love Letter to Patch and see what all the fuss is about. You won’t be disappointed.
We hope you stop by to enter and wish Bel a Happy Birthday!