Waiting on Wednesday - Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection from me is:

 Haunting Violet by Aletxandra Harvey

Violet Willoughby doesn't believe in ghosts, especially since her mother has worked as a fraudulent medium for a decade. Violet has taken part in enough of her mother's tricks to feel more than a little jaded about anything supernatural. The ghosts, however, believe in Violet and she's been seeing them everywhere. One ghost in particular needs Violet to use her emerging gift to solve her murder ...and prevent the ghost's twin sister from suffering the same fate. 

I *adore* the UK cover for it's colours and sense of mystery.  It's completely different from the cover of the US version which you can see below:

I don't like comparing authors, however I loved The Body Finder, and this one seems to offer a twist on a similar vein - girl with ghost seeing talent.

This will be a new author for me, but I'm curious to see how it's going to work :)

 

Waiting on Wednesday - The Taker by Alma Katsu

Waiting on Wednesday is a chance for readers and bloggers to let others know what they are eagerly anticipating, and it's hosted by Breaking the Spine

This weeks pick from me is a debut book from Alma Katsu, The Taker:

I love the cover on this.  It doesn't tell you anything about the book itself, but it's very ornate and just different.

This is released on the 14th April (1 days time!!!) and sounds intriguing - blending paranormal with history and romance.....I love a good love story, and if it's paranormal then even better :)

Book synopsis:
TRUE LOVE CAN LAST AN ETERNITY ...

Have you ever loved someone so much that you'd do anything for them?

When Dr Luke Findley turns up to his hospital shift in the small town of St Andrews, Maine, he's expecting just another evening of minor injuries and domestic disputes. But instead, Lanore McIlvrae walks into his life - and changes it forever. For Lanny is a woman with a past...

Lanny McIlvrae is unlike anyone Luke has ever met. Hers is a story of love and betrayal that defies time and transcends mortality - and cannot end until Lanny's demons are finally put to rest. Her two hundred years on this earth have seen her seduced by both decadence and brutality - but through it all she has stayed true to the one true love of her life. Until now.

An unforgettable novel about the power of unrequited love to elevate and sustain, but also to blind and ultimately destroy, The Taker is an immortal love story on an epic scale...

Waiting on Wednesday - Forgotten by Cat Patrick

Waiting on Wednesday is a chance for readers and bloggers to let others know what they are eagerly anticipating, and it's hosted by Breaking the Spine

Forgotten is my pick for this week, another debut novel, but this time from Egmont releasing in June.

Book synopsis:
 With the intrigue of Memento and the romance of The Time-Traveller's Wife, Forgotten is the perfect YA novel. Here's the thing about me: I can see the future in flashes, like memories. But my past is a blank. I remember what I'll wear tomorrow, and an argument that won't happen until this afternoon. But I don't know what I ate for dinner last night. I get by with the help of notes, my mom and my best friend Jamie, and the system works ...Until now. Everything's falling apart. Jamie's going of the rails. My mom is lying to me. And I can't see the boy I adore in my future. But today, I love him. And I never want to forget how much ...Forgotten is the story of a girl for whom yesterday is lost, today is an adventure, and tomorrow is a memory.  An unforgettable read. 

I must admit, as a parent I can totally understand where the author was coming from when she wrote this!  This sounds like a heart wrenching read.

Waiting on Wednesday - Long Lankin by Lindsey Barraclough

Waiting on Wednesday is a chance for readers and bloggers to let others know what they are eagerly anticipating, and it's hosted by Breaking the Spine

This weeks WoW from me is Long Lankin.  The description sounds nail bitingly scary and curious.  I'm betting it's going to be a book which is hard to put down.

Title: Long Lankin
Author: Lindsey Barraclough
Publisher: Random (Bodley Head)
Published: April 2011
ISBN:  9780370331966

Book synopsis:
 

A chilling, beautiful debut novel inspired by a haunting folk song about murder, witchcraft and revenge.

Beware of Long Lankin, that lives in the moss . . .

When Cora and her little sister Mimi are sent to stay with their elderly aunt in the isolated village of Bryers Guerdon, they receive a less than warm welcome, and are desperate to go back to London. But Auntie Ida's life was devastated the last time two young girls were at Guerdon Hall, and now her nieces' arrival has reawoken an evil that has lain waiting for years.

A haunting voice in an empty room ... A strange, scarred man lurking in the graveyard ... A mysterious warning, scrawled on the walls of the abandoned church . . . Along with Roger and Peter, two young village boys, Cora must uncover the horrifying truth that has held Bryers Guerdon in its dark grip for centuries - before it is too late for Mimi.

Intensely atmospheric and truly compelling, this is a stunning debut.

This is a UK debut, so another one for the BBC list :)

Waiting on Wednesday - Goddess of Vengeance by Jackie Collins

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases which bloggers are eagerly anticipating.

My pick this week is Jackie Collins' new book which is due out April 2011 in the UK.

I've read all of Jackie Collins' books to date, I thoroughly enjoy the celebrity settings, gangster lifestyles and hard and fast lives of the Santangelos.   These books for me are pure escapism...I can loose myself in these books really easily.

Book synopsis:

Lucky Santangelo is back with a vengeance - in a novel full of power, passion, revenge, and the raging family dynamics of the Santangelo clan - and, as always, Lucky comes out on top! In Goddess of Vengeance Lucky Santangelo rules with her high profile casino and hotel complex - The Keys in Vegas. Lennie, her ex-movie star husband is still writing and directing successful independent movies, while Max, her wild and gorgeous teenage daughter is about to celebrate her 18th birthday, and her son, Bobby, owns a string of hot clubs.

Lucky has everything. Family. Love. Life. And everything is exactly what billionaire businessman Armand Jordan is determined to take from her one way or the other. Born a Prince in the small but affluent Middle Eastern country of Akramshar, Armand comes to America with his American mother at an early age, and rises to become a real estate business titan. Armand regards women as nothing more than breeding mares or sexual playthings, so when his people inform him that the one property he covets more than anything, The Keys, is not for sale, he is shocked. That a mere woman would turn down his offer to buy The Keys is unthinkable, and Armand vows to force Lucky's hand whatever it takes. And so the battle for power begins ...Meanwhile Bobby and Max are getting into their own trouble. Bobby inadvertently becomes involved in his ex-best friend, Frankie Romano's, drug problems, causing friction between him and his girlfriend, L.A. Deputy D.A., Denver Jones. And young Max is getting restless. Not interested in college, she fights with Lucky, and embarks on a series of adventures that could turn out to have deadly consequences. But Max is like a little Lucky, and eventually she proves her strength in more ways than one.

Waiting on Wednesday - Live Wire by Harlan Coben

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases which bloggers are eagerly anticipating.

This is my pick this week, I've already got my order in for what is bound to be a thrilling ride of a book, I like Myron, hes always jumped in to help others, and Live Wire looks like it's going to be an explosive perception changer....I thoroughly enjoy Harlan Coben's storytelling :)

 
Live Wire by Harlan Coben - released date May 2011


Over the years, Myron Bolitar has walked a tight rope between sports agent, friend, problem solver and private eye, his big heart quick to defend his clients' interests so fiercely that he can't help but jump in to save them, no matter the cost to his own happiness. So when former tennis star Suzze T and her rock star husband, Lex, encounter an anonymous Facebook post questioning the paternity of their unborn child, Lex runs off, and Suzze - at eight months pregnant - asks Myron to save her marriage, and perhaps her husband's life. 
But when he finds Lex, he also finds two people he wasn't looking for: his sister-in-law, Kitty, wife of Myron's estranged brother, and her teenage son, Mickey, who is achingly familiar. But this boy that he has never met blames Myron for everything that has happened to his parents... As Myron races to locate his missing brother while their father clings to life after a savage heart-attack, he must face the lies that led to the estrangement long ago - including the ones told by Myron himself. He must also answer the questions that Mickey's arrival has thrown up. Who is Myron Bolitar really? And can he heal the damage of the past? We thought we knew Myron, but Harlan Coben now shows us we never did. An electric, stay-up-all night thriller that unfolds at a breakneck pace, Live Wire proves that Coben still has the ability to shock us anew. 

Waiting on Wednesday - The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore

Firstly, where has this week gone???!!!  I can't believe it's Wednesday already!

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases which bloggers are eagerly anticipating.

I've just finished reading I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore, so this WoW is a no brainer for me, as I absolutely fell in love with the way it was written, so this weeks pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection from me is:

The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore

Like I said, I fell in love with I Am Number Four, the first in the series.  The Power of Six is the next in the series, and looks to be equally as stunning if the extract was anything to go by.  

The first book saw Number Four and his struggle to stay alive whilst trying to settle into his new school and life after yet another upheaval with his guardian.  Their homeland of Lorien was invaded by the Mogadorians, and in almost Noah Ark style, 9 children and their guardians flee to preserve their way of life in the hope to someday to return and repopulate Lorien.  The second book in the series, we get to meet Marina, Number Six, who is biding her time before setting out to try and find the rest of her kind, or what is left of them.  The danger is not over for her though, as the Mogadorians are tracking and killing the Loriens in sequence.  This is Marina's story as she struggles to find her kin.

The Power of Six is due out in August 2011 - I can't wait to see what's in store.  I'll be sharing my review of I Am Number Four over the weekend.

Waiting on Wednesday - Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases which bloggers are eagerly anticipating.

This weeks pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection from me is:

Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey

I saw this cover about a month ago and have been waiting to see if any other info came out about it....synopsis from the author's website:

Mary Lindsey's SHATTERED SOULS, a dark and dangerous forbidden love story about a Speaker who helps lingering ghosts pass to the spirit world and the Protector who has pledged to serve her.

I *love* this cover!!!  Every time I look at it I see something different...rose petals...butterflies, gorgeous colours...the synopsis sounds intriguing as well :)

Can't find any details about a UK release, but due out in the US  Dec 2011 from Philomel/Penguin.


Credit to Goodreads for the book cover and the author's website for the book trailer.

Waiting on Wednesday - Duty Calls (Dunkirk) by James Holland

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases which bloggers are eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection from me is:

 Duty Calls - Dunkirk by James Holland


I was really pleased to hear James Holland talking about his new book which is due out in June 2011.  It wasn't hard to see that James loves history, immersing himself in it - the woolly WW2 coat was a great prop - not very comfy though I should imagine, luckily it wasn't raining :)


We *love* living education.  So I know without a doubt this is going to be a big hit in our household.  James has used actual stories and experiences of those who took part in the war for authenticity in this book which is aimed at boys ages 9-12.  Shaun, our eldest child reviewer, doesn't know this is coming out - he's not long finished reading one of the Our Story books, and is drooling at the prospect of reading more adventure orientated history books,  so I know how over the moon he's going to be when a surprise parcel in his name arrives from Amazon with this in :)  June's not that far away really is it?!

This is the first book in a series from James on the human experience of war.  Duty Calls - Dunkirk is about the nitty gritty of war, rather than secret missions. James is a war historian and a presenter to BBC2's Battle of Britain documentary series.  His forum is a fantastic resource for WW2.

Many thanks to Penguin for the opportunity to attend the Children's Media Presentation.  It was lovely to hear about so many fantastic books which are coming out this year, including this one from James Holland.  

Waiting on Wednesday - The 13 Secrets by Michelle Harrison

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

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection from me is:

 The 13 Secrets by Michelle Harrison

I've read the last two in the series, The 13 Treasures and The 13 Curses, and have been looking forward to this one being released in February this year.

I love the mix of faeries, alongside really interesting characters who are expanding their skills and saving loved ones, which have left me wanting to read more and follow the series in full.  

Book synopsis:

Red is now living at Elvesden Manor under her real name, Rowan, and trying to put her past behind her. But staying on the straight and narrow isn't as easy as she had hoped...Hounded by fairy messengers who are trying to convince her to participate once more in the changeling trade, Rowan is haunted by dreams of the Hedgewitch's cottage and the chained-up Eldritch, who threatens revenge against her. Her past is about to catch up with her - can Tanya and Fabian prevent it consuming her altogether?

Waiting on Wednesday - Trial by Fire by Jennifer Barnes

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

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection from me is:

Trial by Fire (Raised by Wolves Novel) by Jennifer Barnes


This is the follow on from Raised by Wolves which I thoroughly enjoyed.  I'm looking forward to seeing what happens with Bryn.

Book Synopsis:

At seventeen, Bryn is has the usual schoolgirl worries: a new boyfriend, a new school and a new home. But she has one major concern that her friends don't have: she is an alpha - a human girl in charge of her own werewolf pack.

When Bryn and her closest friends, Dev and Lake, broke from the werewolf Callum's pack, it had all felt right. Together with Chase, Bryn's new love, they had rescued some newly made female werewolves from a despicable master and established their own pack, with Bryn as leader.

Yet Bryn has always resented the rules of Pack life - the constant bowing to authority, the submission to the alpha. And she is determined to live differently, to run this pack openly and justly.

Then one night, a badly beaten werewolf shows up on her territory. He needs help, sanctuary, care. But taking him in could violate inter-pack rules, and no one knows better than Bryn the costs of challenging those rules.

Obedience is law in Pack life, but Bryn is going to break the rules, again.

Waiting on Wednesday - Wintercraft Blackwatch by Jenna Burtenshaw

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

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection from me is:

 Wintercraft - Blackwatch by Jenna Burtenshaw

Book Synopsis:

'Kate has escaped the clutches of the High Council and Silas has left Albion for the continent. But their lives are forever linked and as the veil weakens, causing Albion's skilled to fear for everyone's safety, Silas and Kate find themselves drawn together by the mysterious and corrupt Dalliah Grey.'

I really enjoyed the debut Wintercraft from Jenna last year, so I'm eagerly awaiting the next in the series of Wintercraft books, which is due out for release in April 2011 in the UK.  

Silas was a chillingly evil character in the first book, and one of my favorite characters from 2010.  I can't wait to see what lies in store for Kate and Silas. 

That's my pick, what's yours?

Waiting on Wednesday - The Hunter by Tom Wood

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

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection from me is:

The Hunter by Tom Wood

I love reading thrillers, the kind that make you hide behind the sofa with one eye shut, but end with you thinking you know the ending - until the very last bit when you find you're way off base.

Authors like Lee Child, Harlan Coben and Cat Connor are on the top of my scoreboard and are my favourite authors in this genre, so when I read a write up about the style of this debut Brit author's book, it sounded too good to miss. (Another one for the British Author Challenge - yey!)

Book Synopsis:

'Victor is an assassin - a man with no past and no surname. But when a Paris job goes spectacularly wrong, Victor finds himself running for his life across four continents, accompanied by a woman too beautiful to trust, pursued by enemies too powerful to escape. Blazing with suspense, romance, and white-hot action, The Hunter is the thriller of the year.' 

I'm looking forward to this with relish.  Shame it's release is so far away, being in May 2011 in the UK, but it's something to look forward to, and sounds like it's worth the wait.  


NB: Links above will take you to the host/author sites.


What's your pick this week?

Waiting on Wednesday - River Marked by Patricia Briggs

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

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection from me is:

River Marked by Patricia Briggs

Book Synopsis:

"Car mechanic Mercy Thompson has always known there was something different about her, and not just the way she can make a VW engine sit up and beg. Mercy is a shapeshifter, a talent she inherited from her long-gone father. And she's never known any others of her kind. Until now. As Mercy comes to terms with this new information, an evil is stirring in the depths of the Columbia River. Something deadly is coming, facts are thin on the ground and Mercy feels ill at ease. However, her father's people may know more. To have any hope of surviving, Mercy and her mate, the Alpha werewolf Adam, will need all the resources the shifters can offer. Or death will be the least of their worries."

I've not read any books as yet from Patricia Briggs, so I hope this one works as a standalone book although I know it's in a series...so fingers crossed! I like the sound of it, but really won't have time to read the whole series before reading this, mores the pity. I like books with shapeshifters in and the addition of an Alpha mate should be interesting.

Title: River Marked

Author: Patricia Briggs

Publisher: Orbit

Published: March 2011

ISBN: 1841497975

Author's Website: http://www.patriciabriggs.com/

Waiting on Wednesday - Shadowspell by Jenna Black

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

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection from me is:

 Synopsis:
"Dana Hathaways adventures in Avalon continue as she s pursued by the deadliest admirer of them all in the second shimmering instalment of the Faeriewalker series On top of spending most of her time in a bunker-like safe house and having her dates hijacked by a formidable Fae bodyguard, Faeriewalker Dana Hathaway is in for some more bad news: the devastatingly handsome Erlking and his followers known as the Wild Hunt have descended upon Avalon. With his homicidal appetite, immortal powers, and striking good looks the Erlking has been long been the nightmare of Faerie, the Fae realm. A fragile treaty, sealed with a mysterious spell, is the only thing that keeps him from hunting unchecked in Avalon, the only place on Earth where humans and Fae live together. He can only hunt there with a Faerie Queen s permission. Which means Dana s in trouble, since it s common knowledge that the Faerie Queens want her, and her rare Faeriewalker powers, dead. The smouldering and sexy Erlking s got his sights set on Dana, but does he seek to kill her, or is there something else he has in mind"

I love the cover on this, especially the wispy smoke effect detail.  Whilst I'm still waiting to read Glimmerglass, I've previously enjoyed Jenna's Secrets in the Shadows.

What are you waiting on?

Waiting on Wednesday - Shadows on the Moon by Zoe Marriott

 Our Current Giveaways:

Voices on the Waves by Jessica Chambers HERE International, Ends 16th Dec
Book Depository £10 voucher, 3 books HERE  Most International ends 15th Dec
Emma's River by Alison Hart HERE  International, ends 21st Dec

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

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection from me is:

Title: Shadows on the Moon
Author: Zoe Marriott
Publisher: Walker
Published: 4th July 2011 (in UK, no date on US on Amazon)
Author's website: http://www.zoemarriott.com




Just look at that cover!!!!  Without any further prompts you know its background is an Oriental one.  I love the blossoms around the page, and the font of the title, as well as the colour of it.  So simple, yet very eye catching.

I'm a sucker for fairy tales and twists on legends.  I enjoy that type of book, so when I stumbled upon Zoe's website earlier this week it was like the proverbial sweet shop again!!  Shadows on the Moon sounds like an epic book...I'm already drooling at the thought of it.  I loved Memoirs of a Geisha, and this one is that combined with Cinderella.  I'm so looking forward to reading it <squeal!!>

Book Synopsis:
"A powerful tale of magic, love and revenge with a strong female lead set in fairy-tale Japan; this is Cinderella meets Memoirs of a Geisha."

"Trained in the magical art of shadow-weaving, sixteen-year-old Suzume is able to recreate herself in any form – a fabulous gift for a girl desperate to escape her past. But who is she really? Is she a girl of noble birth living under the tyranny of her mother’s new husband, Lord Terayama, or a lowly drudge scraping a living in the ashes of Terayama’s kitchens, or Yue, the most beautiful courtesan in the Moonlit Lands? Whatever her true identity, Suzume is destined to capture the heart of a prince – and determined to use his power to destroy Terayama. And nothing will stop her, not even love." 

"Waiting on Wednesday" Wereworld: Rise of the Wolf by Curtis Jobling

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

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection from me is:

Wereworld: Rise of the Wolf by Curtis Jobling

This cover is very expressive, I love the dual intent and detail on this..it gives you a really good idea of what the book is about, even before you read the synopsis.

Book Synopsis from Amazon:
‘YOU’RE THE LAST OF THE WEREWOLVES SON. DON’T FIGHT IT . . . CONQUER IT.’ When the air is clear, sixteen year-old Drew Ferran can pick up the scent of a predator. When the moon breaks through the clouds, a terrifying fever grips him. And when a vicious beast invades his home, his gums begin to tear, his fingers become claws, and Drew transforms . . . Forced to flee the family he loves, Drew seeks refuge in the most godforsaken parts of Lyssia. But when he is captured by Lord Bergan’s men, Drew must prove he is not the enemy. Can Drew battle the werecreatures determined to destroy him – and master the animal within?' 

Check out the book's trailer as well, this book looks really exciting if you ask me, and it's a debut by a Brit author.  I'm really looking forward to it, with most of the books I've read recently featuring female heroines or as the main character, this will be a welcome read :)






Title: Wereworld: Rise of the Wolf
Author: Curtis Jobling
Publisher: Puffin
Published: Jan 6th 2011
ISBN: 0141333391
Author's Website: www.curtisjobling.com

"Waiting On Wednesday" - Halo by Alexandra Adornetto

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that bloggers are eagerly anticipating.


This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection from me is:

Title: Halo
Author: Alexandra Adornetto
Publisher: Atom
Published: End of Jan 2011
ISBN: 1907410759
Author's website: none found



This is Alexandra's UK debut, I already love the cover, looks really romantic and I like the Halo script used, just what's needed before Valentines Day!  I'm trying to include more UK authors in my reading, so pleased to add this one :)

Synopsis from Amazon:
"Three angels are sent down to bring good to the world: Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany, a teenage girl who is the least experienced of the trio. But she is the most human, and when she is romantically drawn to a mortal boy, the angels fear she will not be strong enough to save anyone-especially herself...Is love a great enough power against evil?" 


Sounds intriguing.  I love the idea of angels coming down to do good, the three characters sound interesting, especially Ivy, the healer (like the name).  I fancy reading some good romances leading up to Valentines, so this is one of them :)  It was a hard choice this week, as there's so many drop dead gorgeous books due for release...think my next pick might have to be a steamier one :)

"Waiting On Wednesday" The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney

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

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection from me is:

Synopsis from Amazon:

"Freak.

That's what they call seventeen-year-old Donna Underwood at Ironbridge High School. A horrific fey attack that killed her father when she was just a child left Donna branded with iron tattoos that cover her hands and arms - and magically enhanced strength, that she now does all she can to hide.
Now, after ten years of wishing for a normal life, Donna finally accepts her role in the centuries-old war against the darkest outcasts of Faerie - the dark elves. Aided by Xan, a gorgeous half-fey dropout, Donna must save her best friend's life - and that means betraying one of the world's greatest secrets and confronting the very thing that destroyed her family."

The cover on this invites me to know more, and gives me empathy and compassion for Donna.


The Iron Witch sounds like a really good book filled with fey outcasts and confrontation.  Imagine being branded in such a way you feel that you have to hide away, cover yourself, and blend in with everyone else, rather than live life to the full....I'm really looking forward to reading it.(On Amazon UK it's a pre-order for £3.49)

Title: Iron Witch
Author: Karen Mahoney
Publisher: Corgi
Published: February 2011
ISBN: 0552563811
Author's Website: http://www.kazmahoney.com/

"Waiting on Wednesday" - Wither by Lauren DeStefano

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

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection from me is:

Title: Wither  
Author: Lauren DeStefano 
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Published: March 2011
ISBN: 1442409053





Book Synopsis from Goodreads:
"What if you knew exactly when you would die?

Thanks to modern science, every human being has become a ticking genetic time bomb—males only live to age twenty-five, and females only live to age twenty. In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out.

When sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by the Gatherers to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Despite her husband Linden's genuine love for her, and a tenuous trust among her sister wives, Rhine has one purpose: to escape—to find her twin brother and go home.

But Rhine has more to contend with than losing her freedom. Linden's eccentric father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant she trusts, Rhine attempts to break free, in the limted time she has left"

I find the idea around this book fascinating.  I enjoy reading books about different cultures, but this would be a completley different spin on marriages.  Imagine someone kidknapping you so you could marry somone completly unknown...Imagine knowing when you are going to die...would you come to fear the end...would it be a release after craming so much into your life?  Going against the tide of what is meant to be, or percieved as the norm is not easy, Rhine seems to be running against the tide trying to use what time she has left to find her twin brother.  Sounds fascinating, and sad as well.