Waiting on Wednesday: Hello?

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting on: Hello? by Liza Wiemer
From her agent's website:

Late one night, in a moment of deep grief, Tricia places a call to her deceased grandmother’s old phone number. She expects the click of a dial tone, a disconnect notice, an empty void, but she is thrown when another teen–too, up late and desperate–answers. It’s Emerson, and though the two are perfect strangers, Tricia senses a connection that runs deeper beyond the cross of telephone wires. 

Emerson expects to hear the voice of Angie, his overeager girlfriend, but is transfixed by Tricia’s tenderness and heartache. The two make a pact, thus setting the events of HELLO? in motion. HELLO? is the story of five small town Wisconsin teens who live on the shores of Lake Michigan: Tricia, who has lost her family, and trying to find her way; her over-protective boyfriend Brian, a potter; the perfectionist Emerson; the insecure and unpredictable Angie; and her impressionable best friend Brenda, an aspiring actress and screenwriter. 

Told from all five viewpoints: narration (Tricia), narration (Emerson), free verse poetry (Angie), screenplay format (Brenda), narration and drawings (Brian), HELLO? offers a textured account of five lives, and weaves together the stories of these teens into a compelling narrative of serendipity, fortune, and a whole that is much greater than the sum of its parts.

In the interest of full disclosure, Liza is a friend of mine. We met at a book signing probably three years ago when this blog was in its infancy and I had no idea what I was doing or that a book blogging community even existed. Liza didn't care, though. She was immediately warm and welcoming, following me on Twitter within ten minutes and engaging me in a conversation about what I knew about the YA world from a librarian's point of view. She's been gracious enough to invite me to her Novel Luncheon the past 2 years, we hung out at ALA last summer, have gotten lunch, and she's been holding my hand through my own writing journey, cheering me on every step of the way. I'm so excited for this book of her's finally being published - She's a completely deserving person, and I'd want to read this book even if this woman hasn't fed me the world's most amazing risotto :) Hello? is currently slated to come out in 2015 from Spencer Hill Contemporary. Congratulations, Liza!

Liza Wiemer's Author Website
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Waiting on Wednesday: Illusions of Fate

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting on: Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White
From Goodreads:

Jessamin has been an outcast since she moved from her island home of Melei to the dreary country of Albion. Everything changes when she meets Finn, a gorgeous, enigmatic young lord who introduces her to the secret world of Albion’s nobility, a world that has everything Jessamin doesn’t—power, money, status…and magic. But Finn has secrets of his own, dangerous secrets that the vicious Lord Downpike will do anything to possess. Unless Jessamin, armed only with her wits and her determination, can stop him.

First off, I know it's wrong to judge a book by its cover but how gorgeous is this cover?! Also, this description seems to have a lot of what I love: some history, some magic, a dash of class issues, and girl whom I suspect has gumption (as White's heroines tend to do and I adore that!). So, can it be September now please?

Waiting on Wednesday: Mortal Heart

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting on: Mortal Heart by Robin LaFevers (His Fair Assassin #3)
From Goodreads:
Annith has watched her gifted sisters at the convent come and go, carrying out their dark dealings in the name of St. Mortain, patiently awaiting her own turn to serve Death. But her worst fears are realized when she discovers she is being groomed by the abbess as a Seeress, to be forever sequestered in the rock and stone womb of the convent. Feeling sorely betrayed, Annith decides to strike out on her own.

She has spent her whole life training to be an assassin. Just because the convent has changed its mind doesn't mean she has.

Can you see a theme emerging here lately with my posts? Oh my stars do I love this series! If anyone has an ARC/knows who I can contact to try to get one, PLEASE let me know! I've gotten some students hooked on this too - librarian FTW

Waiting on Wednesday: Sinner

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting on: Sinner by Maggie Stiefvater

From Goodreads:
Sinner follows Cole St. Clair, a pivotal character from the #1 New York Times bestselling Shiver Trilogy. Everybody thinks they know Cole's story. Stardom. Addiction. Downfall. Disappearance. But only a few people know Cole's darkest secret -- his ability to shift into a wolf. One of these people is Isabel. At one point, they may have even loved each other. But that feels like a lifetime ago. Now Cole is back. Back in the spotlight. Back in the danger zone. Back in Isabel's life. Can this sinner be saved?

Confession: I still need to finish Forever, the final book in The Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy. I know, I know, I'm late to the party. But at least I arrived and I'm very interested to see how Cole and Isabel's story continues.

Waiting on Wednesday: Isla and the Happily Ever After

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting on: Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

From Goodreads:
From the glittering streets of Manhattan to the moonlit rooftops of Paris, falling in love is easy for hopeless dreamer Isla and introspective artist Josh. But as they begin their senior year in France, Isla and Josh are quickly forced to confront the heartbreaking reality that happily-ever-afters aren’t always forever.

Their romantic journey is skillfully intertwined with those of beloved couples Anna and Étienne and Lola and Cricket, whose paths are destined to collide in a sweeping finale certain to please fans old and new.

I fell in love with Stephanie Perkins and her amazing writing on page one of Anna and the French Kiss when it came out in 2010. Then I was lucky enough to meet her when the second book in this companion-series Lola and the Boy Next Door in 2011. Words cannot adequately express how excited I am for this book!

Waiting on Wednesday: Lady Thief

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting on: Lady Thief by A.C. Gaughen (Scarlet #2)
From Goodreads:

Scarlet’s true identity has been revealed, but her future is uncertain. Her forced marriage to Lord Gisbourne threatens Robin and Scarlet’s love, and as the royal court descends upon Nottingham for the appointment of a new Sheriff, the people of Nottingham hope that Prince John will appoint their beloved Robin Hood. But Prince John has different plans for Nottingham that revolve around a fateful secret from Scarlet’s past even she isn’t yet aware of. Forced to participate at court alongside her ruthless husband, Scarlet must bide her time and act the part of a noblewoman—a worthy sacrifice if it means helping Robin’s cause and a chance at a future with the man she loves. With a fresh line of intrigue and as much passion as ever, the next chapter in Scarlet’s tale will have readers talking once again.

Back when I read the first book in this series in 2012, I was pleasantly surprised by this retelling of Robin Hood in which Will Scarlet is actually a young woman in disguise and a member of the Merry Men. I got really into it, but sequels hadn't yet been announced so I was afraid of not getting to find out what happened next! Lucky for me, book 2 in this planned trilogy is due out in February.

Waiting on Wednesday: Spit Second

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, I'm waiting on: Split Second by Kasie West (Pivot Point #2)
From Goodreads:

Life can change in a split second. 

Addie hardly recognizes her life since her parents divorced. Her boyfriend used her. Her best friend betrayed her. She can’t believe this is the future she chose. On top of that, her ability is acting up. She’s always been able to Search the future when presented with a choice. Now she can manipulate and slow down time, too . . . but not without a price. 

When Addie’s dad invites her to spend her winter break with him, she jumps at the chance to escape into the Norm world of Dallas, Texas. There she meets the handsome and achingly familiar Trevor. He’s a virtual stranger to her, so why does her heart do a funny flip every time she sees him? But after witnessing secrets that were supposed to stay hidden, Trevor quickly seems more suspicious of Addie than interested in her. And she has an inexplicable desire to change that. 

Meanwhile, her best friend, Laila, has a secret of her own: she can restore Addie’s memories . . . once she learns how. But there are powerful people who don’t want to see this happen. Desperate, Laila tries to manipulate Connor, a brooding bad boy from school—but he seems to be the only boy in the Compound immune to her charms. And the only one who can help her. 

As Addie and Laila frantically attempt to retrieve the lost memories, Addie must piece together a world she thought she knew before she loses the love she nearly forgot . . . and a future that could change everything.

This series by Kasie West is great science fiction for contemporary fans and I have been absolutely dying to get my hands on this ever since I read an ARC of Pivot Point back at the start of 2013. Thankfully the wait is almost over!

Waiting on Wednesday: The Impossible Knife of Memory

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, I'm waiting on: The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson
From Goodreads:
For the past five years, Hayley Kincaid and her father, Andy, have been on the road, never staying long in one place as he struggles to escape the demons that have tortured him since his return from Iraq. Now they are back in the town where he grew up so Hayley can attend school. Perhaps, for the first time, Hayley can have a normal life, put aside her own painful memories, even have a relationship with Finn, the hot guy who obviously likes her but is hiding secrets of his own.

Will being back home help Andy’s PTSD, or will his terrible memories drag him to the edge of hell, and drugs push him over? The Impossible Knife of Memory is Laurie Halse Anderson at her finest: compelling, surprising, and impossible to put down.

Doing this post a day early! Happy Book Birthday to this latest work by Laurie Halse Anderson - I was lucky enough to meet Laurie and get a copy of this at ALA and my review will be going up this weekend.

Waiting on Wednesday: Cress

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, I'm waiting on: Cress by Marissa Meyer (Lunar Chronicles #3)
From Goodreads:
Rapunzel’s tower is a satellite. She can’t let down her hair—or her guard. 

In this third book in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles series, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army. 

Their best hope lies with Cress, who has been trapped on a satellite since childhood with only her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker—unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice.

When a daring rescue goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing stop her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only ones who can.

Okay, so I was actually lucky enough to get an ARC of this at ALA back in June 2013, so I've already read this book. I completely loved it, and I'm anxious for this one to be out in the world so everyone can get their hands on it!