The Best Books Ever

M Is for Maple Leafs: An Official Toronto Maple Leafs Alphabet Book By  Melanie Rose, Mike Ulmer Published on October 14th 2014 Published by Tundra Books Source: Publisher For nearly a century, the Toronto Maple Leafs have stood as one of the most popular hockey franchises in the NHL. With M Is for Maple Leafs, children across North America will discover the alphabet while being introduced to interesting Leaf history. From people (such as Mats Sundin and Johnny Bower) to hockey terminology (line change and face-off) and places and things (dressing room, Air Canada Centre, puck), the world of hockey is depicted in this fun and lively picture book. Featuring rhyming text from author Mike Ulmer and striking illustrations from Melanie Rose, this book captures the spirit of "Canada's game." M Is for Maple Leafs is destined to become a classic that will be handed down from generation to generation. So apparently I have two weaknesses when it comes to children's

This fabulous meme Is hosted by the even more fabulous  The Broke and the Bookish! Physically, emotionally or mentally, each of these books had their own reasons for being hard to get through. Without further ado.... The Book Thief  by Markus Zusak This story is stunning, it is perfection, and it sent me on one of the most emotional book coasters I have experienced to date. There were times that I had to put the book down, and just sit and breathe. EVERYONE should read this book! Swoon  by Nina Malkin A LOT of people didn't like this book, and since it is on my list you might think I am one of them. But, I honestly liked it. It was incredibly different, and intriguing. However, it embarrassed the crap out of me, and some parts were just... disturbing. So, it took me a while to finish it.  Illusions  by Aprilynne Pike Don't hate me, Wings series lovers out there, but this series just didn't sit well with me. At all. Wings was a go

Sweet Unrest By  Lisa Maxwell Published on October 8, 2014 Published by Flux Source: ARC provided by Netgalley Lucy Aimes has always been practical. But try as she might, she can’t come up with a logical explanation for the recurring dreams that have always haunted her. Dark dreams. Dreams of a long-ago place filled with people she shouldn’t know…but does. When her family moves to a New Orleans plantation, Lucy’s dreams become more intense, and her search for answers draws her reluctantly into the old city’s world of Voodoo and mysticism. There, Lucy finds Alex, a mysterious boy who behaves as if they’ve known each other forever. Lucy knows Alex is hiding something, and her rational side doesn’t want to be drawn to him. But she is. As she tries to uncover Alex’s secrets, a killer strikes close to home, and Lucy finds herself ensnared in a century-old vendetta. With the lives of everyone she loves in danger, Lucy will have to unravel the mystery of her dreams before it all

Thanks to the publisher, we are pleased to present a review and giveaway of Tabula Rasa, a new sci-fi thriller from Kristen Lippert-Martin.  Check out my thoughts on the book, then enter the giveaway (US/Canada only)! Tabula Rasa By  Kristen Lippert-Martin Published on September 23rd 2014 Published by EgmontUSA Source: Publisher The Bourne Identity meets Divergent in this heart-pounding debut. Sixteen-year-old Sarah has a rare chance at a new life. Or so the doctors tell her. She’s been undergoing a cutting-edge procedure that will render her a tabula rasa—a blank slate. Memory by memory her troubled past is being taken away. But when her final surgery is interrupted and a team of elite soldiers invades the isolated hospital under cover of a massive blizzard, her fresh start could be her end. Navigating familiar halls that have become a dangerous maze with the help of a teen computer hacker who's trying to bring the hospital down for his own reasons, Sarah s

Sebastian and the Balloon By Philip C. Stead Published on October 7 2014 Published by Roaring Brook Press Source: Publisher On a boring day, on a dull street, Sebastian sat high atop his roof--something he was never supposed to do. When he launched himself into the air in his balloon made of Grandma's afghans and patchwork quilts, his journey took on a life of its own and his boring day turned into the adventure of a lifetime. From award-winning author/illustrator Philip C. Stead, comes another timeless adventure with his trademark whimsical illustrations and an unwavering spirit.A Neal Porter Book There's a reason why Philip C. Stead won the Caldecott Medal for A Sick Day for Amos McGee. His illustrations are fantastic! And Sebastian and the Balloon  is another imaginative work of art that kids will love. When Sebastian gets bored, he builds a hot air balloon out of his grandma's quilts, and his imagination floats away! Along the way, he meets many new fri

  The Green Dagger (BlackMyst Trilogy) by Kelly Hess Publisher: Booktrope Expected Publication: December 2, 2014 Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy Tensions rise between Delvengard and Sorak as the Sorak queen demands the return of the Blade of Torrill. As Delvengard scrambles to locate the mythical weapon, many fear war is inevitable. Fritz, who secretly possesses the dagger, is tormented by its evil. Eager to take control of its power, he journeys in search of a mysterious being who may be able to help. The Green Dagger, Book Two of the BlackMyst Trilogy, continues the adventure, five years after the events of Book One, Eyes of the Enemy. Add to Goodreads About the Author Kelly Hess grew up with a love of reading science fiction and fantasy that inspired him to write his own fantasy trilogy. He lives in Vacaville, California with his wife and son, and is putting the final details on the last two books of his BlackMyst Trilogy: The Green Dagger and The Third Po

Follow along with the entire tour at  Xpresso Book Tours! Made For You By  Melissa Marr Published on September 16, 2014 Published by Harper Collins Source: ARC from Edelweiss Bestselling author of the Wicked Lovely books Melissa Marr’s first contemporary YA novel is a twisted southern gothic tale of obsession, romance, and murder. A killer is obsessed with Eva Tilling. Can she stop him, or will he claim her? When Eva Tilling wakes up in the hospital, she’s confused—who in her sleepy little North Carolina town could have hit her with their car? And why? But before she can consider the question, she finds that she’s awoken with a strange new skill: the ability to foresee people’s deaths when they touch her. While she is recovering from the hit-and-run, Nate, an old flame, reappears, and the two must traverse their rocky past as they figure out how to use Eva’s power to keep her friends—and themselves—alive. But while Eva and Nate grow closer, the killer grows incre

Curiosity Quills is excited to reveal the cover for urban-fantasy, paranormal-romance DeadGirl , by B.C. Johnson , which is scheduled for release November 6, 2014 . The fantastic cover was designed by Andy Garcia .    About DeadGirl:  Dead is such a strong word … Lucy Day, 15 years old, is murdered on her very first date. Not one to take that kind of thing lying down, she awakens a day later with a seemingly human body and more than a little confusion. Lucy tries to return to her normal life, but the afterlife keeps getting in the way. Zack, her crush-maybe-boyfriend, isn’t exactly excited that she ditched him on their first date. Oh, and Abraham, Lucy’s personal Grim Reaper, begins hunting her, dead-set on righting the error that dropped her back into the spongy flesh of a living girl. Lucy must put her mangled life back together, escape re-death, and learn to control her burgeoning powers while staying one step ahead of Abraham. But when she learns the devastating p

Salt & Storm By  Kendall Kulper Published on September 23, 2014 Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers A sweeping historical romance about a witch who foresees her own murder--and the one boy who can help change her future. Sixteen-year-old Avery Roe wants only to take her rightful place as the witch of Prince Island, making the charms that keep the island's whalers safe at sea, but her mother has forced her into a magic-free world of proper manners and respectability. When Avery dreams she's to be murdered, she knows time is running out to unlock her magic and save herself. Avery finds an unexpected ally in a tattooed harpoon boy named Tane--a sailor with magic of his own, who moves Avery in ways she never expected. Becoming a witch might stop her murder and save her island from ruin, but Avery discovers her magic requires a sacrifice she never prepared for. Goodreads  |  Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble Well, this book is definitely not

The Island of Excess Love By  Francesca Lia Block Published on August 26th 2014 Published by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) Source: Publisher Pen has lost her parents. She’s lost her eye. But she has fought Kronen; she has won back her fragile friends and her beloved brother. Now Pen, Hex, Ash, Ez, and Venice are living in the pink house by the sea, getting by on hard work, companionship, and dreams. Until the day a foreboding ship appears in the harbor across from their home. As soon as the ship arrives, they all start having strange visions of destruction and violence. Trance-like, they head for the ship and their new battles begin. This companion to Love in the Time of Global Warming follows Pen as she searches for love among the ruins, this time using Virgil’s epic Aeneid as her guide. A powerful and stunning book filled with Francesca Lia Block’s beautiful language and inspiring characters. Love in the Time of Global Warming was one of my favorite books last year, so when

Top Ten Tuesday hosted by  The Broke and the Bookish Unmade  by Sarah Rees Brennan Winterspell  by Claire Legrand The Fall  by Bethany Griffin Ravencliffe  by Carol Goodman Mortal Heart  by Robin LaFever Mary: The Summoning  by Hillary Monahan I'll Give You the Sun  by Jandy Nelson Famous Last Words  by Katie Alender Antebellum Awakening  by Katie Cross They All Fall Down  by Roxanne St. Claire Yet another incomplete list, but definitely full of books I cannot wait for! Man, it is going to be a great Fall this year!

Adrenaline Crush By  Laurie Boyle Crompton Published on September 23rd 2014 Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) Source: Publisher When a daredevil teen pushes herself too far, she must choose between two boys: the one who wants to keep her safe, and the one who dares her to return to her old self. Seventeen-year-old Dyna comes from a family of risk takers and is an avid thrill-seeker herself, until the day she splinters her ankle in a terrible fall. Her whole life goes from mountain biking and rock climbing to sitting at home and attending group sessions at the bizarre alternative healing center that her hippie mother found. The boy who witnessed Dyna’s accident believes her injury is a wakeup call and he encourages her mild new lifestyle, but a young Afghanistan War veteran she meets at the healing center pushes her to start taking chances again. Forced to face the consequences of her daredevil impulses, Dyna finds herself in danger of risking the one thing she’s

A Little Something Different By  Sandy Hall Published on August 26th 2014 Published by Swoon Reads Source: Publisher The creative writing teacher, the delivery guy, the local Starbucks baristas, his best friend, her roommate, and the squirrel in the park all have one thing in common—they believe that Gabe and Lea should get together. Lea and Gabe are in the same creative writing class. They get the same pop culture references, order the same Chinese food, and hang out in the same places. Unfortunately, Lea is reserved, Gabe has issues, and despite their initial mutual crush, it looks like they are never going to work things out. But somehow even when nothing is going on, something is happening between them, and everyone can see it. Their creative writing teacher pushes them together. The baristas at Starbucks watch their relationship like a TV show. Their bus driver tells his wife about them. The waitress at the diner automatically seats them together. Even the squirrel who

Don't Touch By  Rachel M. Wilson Published on September 2nd 2014 Published by HarperTeen Source: Publisher A powerful story of a girl who is afraid to touch another person’s skin, until the boy auditioning for Hamlet opposite her Ophelia gives her a reason to overcome her fears. Step on a crack, break your mother’s back. Touch another person’s skin, and Dad’s gone for good. Caddie can’t stop thinking that if she keeps from touching another person’s skin, her parents might get back together... which is why she wears full-length gloves to school and covers every inch of her skin. It seems harmless at first, but Caddie’s obsession soon threatens her ambitions as an actress. She desperately wants to play Ophelia in her school’s production of Hamlet. But that would mean touching Peter, who’s auditioning for the title role—and kissing him. Part of Caddie would love nothing more than to kiss Peter—but the other part isn't sure she's brave enough to let herself fall

A Bed for Kitty By  Yasmine Surovec Published on September 23rd 2014 Published by Roaring Brook Press Source: Publisher Sweet dreams, Kitty! This adorable bedtime book from the creator of I See Kitty is perfect for tucking the very youngest cat lovers in at night. Kitty sleeps everywhere: on the TV, in the sink, even in her litter box! But she never sleeps in her own bed. This follow up to Yasmine Surovec's I See Kitty shows that sometimes it takes a friend to find the perfect place to sleep. With bright, bold artwork, A Bed for Kitty will charm very young readers with its gentle humor and genuine warmth. A Bed for Kitty is the newest picture book from one of my favorite cat cartoonists on the internet, Yasmine Surovec, of Cat vs. Human .  Anyone who has ever had a cat in their life will appreciate this book, which looks like it would be a great bedtime story for your little ones. If you've ever had a cat. you've suffered through the indignity of buying a pe

The Slug By Elise Gravel Published on August 5 2014 Published by Tundra Books Source: Net Galley One in a series of humorous books about disgusting creatures, The Slug is a look at the land slug. It covers such topics as the slug's two pairs of tentacles, one pair for seeing, one pair for smelling (it can see you're a kid and smell like broccoli), its breathing hole (on the side of its head!), and its pretty gross mucous covering (in order to find a partner, the slug can follow another slug's mucous trail. True love!). Although silly and off-the-wall, The Slug contains real information that will tie in with curriculum A certain somebody I know, who shall remain nameless, hates slugs. So, I requested this book in hopes of convincing him-- and you-- that slugs are fun! This picture book is both educational and very funny! I really appreciate how facts about slugs are presented in a kid-friendly way within the context of the story, instead of stuck at the en

Tour Schedule can be found at  Chapter by Chapter Predator By  Janice Gable Bashman Published on September 16, 2014 Published by Month9Books, LLC.   “Predator is a fast-paced, creepy page-turner! Bashman had me at the opening sentence and she’s still got me. I want more!” Nancy Holder, New York Times Bestselling Author, The Rules The hunt is on! Sixteen-year-old Bree Sunderland must inject herself with an untested version of her father’s gene therapy to become a werewolf in order to stop a corrupt group of mercenaries from creating a team of unstoppable lycanthrope soldiers. When Bree went with her scientist father to Ireland, she thought it would be a vacation to study bog bodies. She never expected to fall in love with a mysterious young Irishman and certainly never expected to become the kind of monster her father said only existed in nightmares. Dr. Sunderland discovers that lycanthropy was not a supernatural curse but rather a genetic mutation.