Friday's Featured Freebie: The Shadow and the Rose by Amanda DeWees

It is supposed to snow tonight, tomorrow and Sunday so I picked up this free book from the comfort of my own home. Stay warm this weekend wherever you are....

The Shadow and the Rose (Ash Grove Chronicles #1)
by Amanda DeWees
Free on Amazon and B&N

In the breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains, Ash Grove High School for the Performing Arts draws the brightest and most talented teens. But beneath the peaceful surface, supernatural forces are at work.

When ordinary high-school junior Joy Sumner visits a graveyard at midnight on a dare, she doesn’t expect to end up sharing a kiss with brooding teen model Tanner Lindsey. And she definitely doesn’t expect to make an enemy of Tanner’s seductive, sinister mentor, the ageless supermodel Melisande—who may not be entirely human—or to find that her sleepy little corner of North Carolina is buzzing with supernatural energy.

While Joy fights to free Tanner from Melisande’s grasp—and from his own self-doubt—she finds that she’s pregnant. And when Tanner’s love for her puts his life in danger, will she be able to rescue him and save their future together?

Top 10 Books That Made Us Cry

This week's Top Ten Topic is REWIND! (Pick from previous topics that you want to do again or may have missed). Therefore, I picked Top Ten Books That Made Us Cry since I love tearjerker films and books and I am notorious for crying at sappy, sentimental stuff such as the Budweiser horse and puppy commercial that they played during the Superbowl. As always, Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely The Broke & the Bookish.

Melissa's Picks:

1. Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

2. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak *

3. Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda *

4. Allegiant by Veronica Roth 

5. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green* 

Melissa doesn't like books that make her cry. Time and time again, she has repeatedly voiced this to me. I in turn, being the good friend that I am, blatantly disregard this fact. My last three book club picks as noted by the asterisk above have made her cry. I need to keep on this streak going so if you have any tearjerker book recommendations let me know. 

Impressive Fact about Melissa: These five books are the only ones she remembers crying for. 

Rachel's Picks:

1. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter #5) by J.K. Rowling - Harry finally gets a real relationship with his godfather and then it is snatch away from him. What a cruel, cruel world...

2. Mockingjay (The Hunger Games #3) by Suzanne Collins - Prim...Do I really need to say anymore.

3. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver - The ending was so beautiful, sad and endearing.

4. Invisible Thread by Laura Schroff - I was choked up this entire book and it does not help that it is based on a true story.

5. For One More Day by Mitch Albom - His books always get me but especially this novel when the narrator recounts the "Times my mother stood up for me" and the "Times I did not stand up for my mother." I would recommend this for any child who could appreciate their mother a tad more at times.

I could include another whole book shelf on this list -Sarah's Key, Stargirl, Room, Their Eyes were Watching God, A Thousand Splendid Suns, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, etc but we would be here all day. Let us know if you enjoyed our list and if you have read any of these books.

Also, we would love to hear what great books you have read that made you cry.

Showcase Sunday #23

Welcome, nice to see you again!  Sorry Rachel and I haven't been on here lately.  Not sure what we have been up to.  Anyways, glad you stopped by.

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Vicky at Books, Biscuits and Tea where you show what books you've purchased, borrowed, checked out from the library, received from giveaway, etc.

These last two weeks I've picked up The Guard (The Selection, #2.5) by Kiera Cass, Punished (Arelia LaRue, #2) by Kira Saito, and Every Day by David Levithan.

I've already finished the novella by Cass and looking forward to Punished.  Every Day is this month's book club choice so I'm obligated.  It does sound interesting.  I will probably like it, it's just not my typical Sci-Fi Fantasy.  I did watch the premier of Star- Crossed on the CW which is promising.  I will just have to get my fix that way.

I'm not sure what Rachel picked up if anything this week.  ;)

What did you pick up this week?