The Best Books Ever

The Obsidian Mirror By  Catherine Fisher Published on April 23rd 2013 Published by Dial Source: Publisher Jake's father disappears while working on mysterious experiments with the obsessive, reclusive Oberon Venn. Jake is convinced Venn has murdered him. But the truth he finds at the snow-bound Wintercombe Abbey is far stranger ... The experiments concerned a black mirror, which is a portal to both the past and the future. Venn is not alone in wanting to use its powers. Strangers begin gathering in and around Venn's estate: Sarah - a runaway, who appears out of nowhere and is clearly not what she says, Maskelyne - who claims the mirror was stolen from him in some past century. There are others, a product of the mirror's power to twist time. And a tribe of elemental beings surround this isolated estate, fey, cold, untrustworthy, and filled with hate for humans. But of them all, Jake is hell-bent on using the mirror to get to the truth. Whatever th...

Pastor's Wives By  Lisa Takeuchi Published on April 30, 2013 Published by Plume Source: Publisher for Review What’s it like when the man you married is already married to God? asks Pastors’ Wives, an often surprising yet always emotionally true first novel set in a world most of us know only from the outside Lisa Takeuchi Cullen’s debut novel Pastors’ Wives follows three women whose lives converge and intertwine at a Southern evangelical megachurch. Ruthie follows her Wall Street husband from New York to Magnolia, a fictional suburb of Atlanta, when he hears a calling to serve at a megachurch called Greenleaf. Reeling from the death of her mother, Ruthie suffers a crisis of faith—in God, in her marriage, and in herself. Candace is Greenleaf’s “First Lady,” a force of nature who’ll stop at nothing to protect her church and her superstar husband. Ginger, married to Candace’s son, struggles to play dutiful wife and mother while burying her calamitous past. All their roads co...

Fading Amber By  Jaime Reed Published on December 24, 2013 Published by K Teen Source: Publisher After falling for a Cambion and then turning into one herself, Samara never thought her senior year could get any more complicated. The gaps in her memory, the mysterious deaths and the constant danger that threaten her once quiet town have a common thread: Tobias, a demon with a lot of enemies. He's also Samara's other soul mate and he's suddenly disappeared. But Samara isn't the only one who wants to find Tobias. His enemies are getting closer and their plans for retribution could mean deadly consequences for Samara and her true soul mate, Caleb First of all, it is really beyond me why this series isn't getting more attention- it really is fabulous!  I wish more people out there new about these characters and this story! I have a beef with this cover- well with all of the covers to be honest.  The model who is portraying Samara- GORGEOUS!  I ...

Club Monstrosity By  Jesse Petersen Published on April 29th 2013 Published by Pocket Star Source: Netgalley Natalie’s one of Frankenstein’s creations and works in a New York City morgue. So of course she needs therapy. She and her friends—er, fellow monsters—have formed the world’s most exclusive, most dysfunctional support group. What could go wrong? Undetected in the modern world and under pressure to stay that way, Natalie Grey, Dracula, Bob the Blob, and others (including the fetching wolfman Alec) meet regularly to talk about the pressures of being infamous in the Big Apple. Topics include how long it’s been since their last sighting, how their “story” creates stereotypes they can’t fulfill, and—gasp—sometimes even their feelings. But when their pervy Invisible Man, Ellis, is killed in a manner reminiscent of the H.G. Wells novel, it’s clear someone’s discovered their existence and is down for some monster busting. Led by Natalie—and definitely not helped by Hyde...

Dr. Frankenstein's Daughters By  Suzanne Weyn Published on January 1, 2013 Published by Scholastic Source: Netgalley A new generation is creating a monster.... When Doctor Victor Frankenstein died, he left behind a legacy of horror...as well as two unacknowledged, beautiful twin daughters. Now these girls are seventeen, and they've come to Frankenstein's castle to claim it as their inheritance. Giselle and Ingrid are twins, but they couldn't be more different. Giselle is a glamorous social climber who plans on turning Frankenstein's castle into a center of high society. Ingrid, meanwhile, is quiet and studious, drawn to the mysterious notebooks her father left behind...and the experiments he went mad trying to perfect. As Giselle prepares for lavish parties and Ingrid finds herself falling for the sullen, wounded naval officer next door, a sinister force begins to take hold in the castle. Nobody's safe as Frankenstein's legacy leads to a twis...

This week's topic comes to us via Coranne, who was curios about the best book you've never read . We've all got massive to-be-read piles, and they're sure to include books that everyone's RAVED about and you're sure to get to someday, eventually, once you clone yourself or add four more hours to each day. So I asked our contributors to share their secret haven't-read-it-yet shame with me, and the rest of the internet. Check out our selections and let us know what you think in the comments. The best book I've never read is Veronica Roth's DIVERGENT . I know, I know. It's the best thing since Smarties and Pixie Sticks and Pop Rocks, but I'm holding out until the series is complete. Why? Because I hate cliffhangers and having to wait a year to find out what happens next. So I'm going to bide my time until Miss Roth wraps up the whole shebang, then I'll devour these books in one sitting. Melissa Landers - Alienated  (February 1, ...

Did you miss it yesterday? Doon , by Carey Corp and Lorie Langdon, had its big cover reveal.  Did you see it?  It's really pretty. What, you missed it?  Well, here's your second chance to check it out... Ready?? Isn't it great?  I love the colors, the rolling mists, the whole thing! Doon is scheduled to come out in August, and I hope you're adding it to your to-read lists right now.  Doon By  Carey Corp & Lorie Langdon Expected publication: August 20th 2013 Published by Blink/Harper Collins Veronica doesn't think she's going crazy. But why can't anyone else see the mysterious blond boy who keeps popping up wherever she goes? When her best friend, Mackenna, invites her to spend the summer in Scotland, Veronica jumps at the opportunity to leave her complicated life behind for a few months. But the Scottish countryside holds other plans. Not only has the imaginary kilted boy followed her to Alloway, she and Mackenna uncov...

Well, it wouldn't be a celebration without spending some time getting to know Coranne, who started this blog! Take us through a Day in the Life of Coranne! Do we have to? Ha ha ha.... 4:00am Feed Baby #2 and put him back to bed. Little man #1 inevitably wakes up- get him back to bed and then get baby #2 back to bed again. 6:00am Little man #1 wakes up for the day. After moaning and bribing and begging little man #1 to go back to bed, I crawl out of bed and start our morning routine- potty (we are potty training), breakfast, toys, wiping noses, the fun stuff! This continues on, potty trips, phone calls, cleaning, wiping noses, calming tantrums, keeping number one and two entertained, changing diapers, feeding bottles until about 3pm when my husband gets home. I get a 15 minute shower OF GLORY and then my husband heads back out and I continue on with my day making dinner and taking care of the kiddos. It is exciting, isn't it? Before baby #2 I could ...

The Eternity Cure By  Julie Kagawa Published on April 30th 2013 Published by Harlequin Teen Source: Netgalley Allison Sekemoto has vowed to rescue her creator, Kanin, who is being held hostage and tortured by the psychotic vampire Sarren. The call of blood leads her back to the beginning—New Covington and the Fringe, and a vampire prince who wants her dead yet may become her wary ally. Even as Allie faces shocking revelations and heartbreak like she’s never known, a new strain of the Red Lung virus that decimated humanity is rising to threaten human and vampire alike. Move over, Sarah Rees Brennan; there's a new queen of ripping my heart out and stomping on it, and that someone is Julie Kagawa. I usually wait a little while to write a review after I finish a book, but this time, well, I just pulled my laptop out in the middle of the airport to start writing this. THIS BOOK, YOU GUYS.  I feel like the only way I can accurately convey my love for it is v...

Hello there!  Let's Make this nice and simple shall we?  We have two books up for grabs- so that means 2 winners!  US/ CA only pretty please! What can you win?   Fill out the rafflecopter below and then keep on hopping! (PS- We have a TON of awesome giveaways going on in the right side of our site- multiple boxes of 2013 ARCs, The Elite, and SO much more!) a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Elite By Kiera Cass Published on April 23, 2013 Published by Harper Teen Source: Damaris of Good Choice Reading Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea. America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide. Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their pla...

Our month-long Second Anniversary Celebration is winding to its end, but we've still got a few great surprises and, shall we say, books up our sleeves?  Today we've got a great guest post and giveaway from E.C. Myers, author of Fair Coin and Quantum Coin.  He's a regular participant in our Best Book Ever feature and has definitely added more than a few books to my to-read list! Today, he's joining us to talk about his own favorite Best Books Ever, and his love of sharing favorite stories with the people in his life.   And he's offering a fantastic, generous giveaway: one winner will receive copies of his two favorite books: Interstellar Pig by William Sleator , and The Silver Crown by Robert C. O'Brien .  Keep scrolling to read his post, and don't forget to enter to win! Many of the books I select for the weekly “best book ever” posts are childhood favorites that have stuck with me for more than twenty-five years. Of course, there have been many ...

How Zoe Made her Dreams Mostly Come True By  Sarah Strohmeyer Published on April 23, 2013 Published by Baltzer and Bray Source: Damaris - Good Choice Reading When cousins Zoe and Jess land summer internships at the Fairyland Kingdom theme park, they are sure they've hit the jackpot. With perks like hot Abercrombie-like Prince Charmings and a chance to win the coveted $25,000 Dream & Do grant, what more could a girl want? Once Zoe arrives, however, she's assigned to serve "The Queen"-Fairyland's boss from hell. From spoon-feeding her evil lapdog caviar, to fetching midnight sleeping tonics, Zoe fears she might not have what it takes to survive the summer, much less win the money. Soon backstabbing interns, a runaway Cinderella, and cutthroat competition make Zoe's job more like a nightmare than a fairy tale. What will happen when Zoe is forced to choose between serving The Queen and saving the prince of her dreams? How Zoe Made her ...

 The Heiress of Winterwood By Sarah Ladd Published on April 9, 2013 Published by Thomas Nelson Source: Publisher Darbury, England, 1814 Amelia Barrett gave her word. Keeping it could cost her everything. Amelia Barrett, heiress to an estate nestled in the English moors, defies family expectations and promises to raise her dying friend's baby. She'll risk everything to keep her word-even to the point of proposing to the child's father-a sea captain she's never met. When the child vanishes with little more than an ominous ransom note hinting at her whereabouts, Amelia and Graham are driven to test the boundaries of their love for this little one. Amelia's detailed plans would normally see her through any trial, but now, desperate and shaken, she's forced to examine her soul and face her one weakness: pride. Graham's strength and self-control have served him well and earned him much respect, but chasing perfection has kep...

P.K. Pinkerton and the Petrified Man By  Caroline Lawrence Published on April 18, 2013 Published by Putnam Juvenile Source: Publisher Author Caroline Lawrence returns to the Wild West with another action-packed mystery starring Master-of-Disguise, P.K. Pinkerton. After vanquishing three notorious Desperados, twelve-year-old P.K. Pinkerton opens a private-eye business in Virginia City. P.K.'s skills are quickly put to the test: When a maid named Martha witnesses a murder, she hires the young detective to track the killer before he finds her too. P.K. enlists a trusted ally, Poker Face Jace, to help crack the case—but collecting clues and keeping Martha safe will not be easy. Cunning liars, rogue gunslingers and deadly foes lurk at every turn, and time is running out to bring the murderer to justice. Sharp, thrilling and vividly imagined, P.K. Pinkerton's second action-packed adventure will keep your heart racing through the very last page. P.K. Pinkerton and t...

Flowers in the Sky By  Lynn Joseph Published on March 5, 2013 Published by Harper Teen Source: Publisher for Review Fifteen-year-old Nina Perez is faced with a future she never expected. She must leave her Garden of Eden, her lush home in the Dominican Republic, when she's sent by her mother to seek out a better life with her brother in New York. As Nina searches for some glimpse of familiarity amid the jarring world of Washington Heights, she must uncover her own strength. She learns to uncover roots within foreign soil and finds a way to grow, just like the orchids that blossom on her fire escape. And when she is confronted by ugly secrets about her brother's business, she comes to understand the realities of life in this new place. But then she meets him-that green-eyed boy- who she can't erase from her thoughts, the one who just might help her learn to see beauty in spite of tragedy. Flowers in the Sky by Lynn Joseph is probably one of the most f...

As I've said before, I consider myself (and the blog) very lucky to have a group of awesome, creative, dedicated authors and bloggers who I can turn to for their contributions to our Best Books Ever feature.  You've already heard from Mindy McGinnis -- and make sure you enter to win some signed swag from her! -- and you'll hear from a few more over the rest of the month. Today, I'm featuring the upcoming YA paranormal novel Insomnia , by BBE contributor J.R. Johansson.  This book has been on my TBR pile for quite some time, so I'm very excited about it, and also excited to have J.R. on the blog today, giving away some signed swag to two lucky winners!  Keep reading to see what the book's all about, and make sure you enter to win! Insomnia By  J.R. Johansson Expected publication: June 8th 2013 Published by Flux It’s been four years since I slept, and I suspect it is killing me. Instead of sleeping, Parker Chipp enters the dream of the last pe...

Stranded By  Jeff Probst, Chris Tebbetts Published on February 7, 2013 Published by Puffin Source: Publisher for Review A family vacation becomes a test of survival! It was supposed to be a vacation—and a chance to get to know each other better. But when a massive storm sets in without warning, four kids are shipwrecked alone on a rocky jungle island in the middle of the South Pacific. No adults. No instructions. Nobody to rely on but themselves. Can they make it home alive? A week ago, the biggest challenge Vanessa, Buzz, Carter, and Jane had was learning to live as a new blended family. Now the four siblings must find a way to work together if they're going to make it off the island. But first they've got to learn to survive one another. Jeff Probst (yes, that Jeff Probst) has written a middle grade survival novel with the help of Chris Tebbetts. I love Survivor and had high expectations for this book. I was not disappointed! Stranded follows four kids...

Back of the House: The Secret Life of a Restaurant By  Scott Haas Published on February 5th 2013 Published by Berkley Trade Food writer and clinical psychologist Scott Haas wanted to know what went on inside the mind of a top chef—and what kind of emotional dynamics drove the fast-paced, intense interactions inside a great restaurant. To capture all the heat and hunger, he spent eighteen months immersed in the kitchen of James Beard Award-winner Tony Maws’ restaurant, Craigie on Main, in Boston. He became part of the family, experiencing the drama first-hand. Here, Haas exposes the inner life of a chef, what it takes to make food people crave, and how to achieve greatness in a world that demands more than passion and a sharp set of knives. A lens into what motivates and inspires all chefs—including Thomas Keller, Andrew Carmellini, whose stories are also shared here—Back of the House will change the way you think about food—and about the complicated people who cook it a...

A Noble Groom By Jody Hedlund Published on April 1, 2013 Published by Bethany House Source: ARC from publisher Recently widowed Annalisa Werner has the feeling her husband was murdered but can't prove it. Alone with her young daughter in 1881 Michigan, she has six months left to finish raising the money needed to pay back the land contract her husband purchased, and the land is difficult to toil by herself. She needs a husband. With unmarried men scarce, her father sends a letter to his brother in the Old Country, asking him to find Annalisa a groom. For nobleman Carl von Reichert, the blade of the guillotine is his fate. He's been accused and convicted of a serious crime he didn't commit, and his only escape is to flee to a small German community in Michigan where he'll be safe. He secures a job on Annalisa's farm but bumbles through learning about farming and manual labor. Annalisa senses that Karl is harboring a secret about his past, yet...