Waiting on Wednesday #13

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we are highly anticipating.

The One (The Selection #3)
by Kiera Cass
Release Date: May 6th 2014

The Selection changed the lives of thirty-five girls forever. And now, the time has come for one winner to be chosen.

America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown—or to Prince Maxon's heart. But as the competition approaches its end and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realizes just how much she stands to lose—and how hard she'll have to fight for the future she wants.

From the very first page of The Selection, this #1 New York Times bestselling series has captured readers' hearts and swept them away on a captivating journey... Now, in The One, Kiera Cass delivers a satisfying and unforgettable conclusion that will keep readers sighing over this electrifying fairy-tale long after the final page is turned. - Goodreads

Why am I Waiting?

A couple pages into the 1st book in this series, The Selection, it was like love at first sight. I knew I wanted to spend every moment in this world and with these characters. Unfortunately, the problem with starting a series where not all the books are publish is the wait...and it doesn't help that I am the most impatience person.

I love Maxon so I hope America and him end up together but I also know from the author's blog that there are people who don't like Aspen so I wonder if Cass would have America end up with him or alone for a twist. Unlikely, but nevertheless possible. I really think Aspen and Lucy should end up together. All I ask for is some more romantic tension scenes with America and Maxon. I am interested to see what transpires with the Northerns/Southerns, Maxon's father and America. 

Will America join the Northern rebellion? Will she contact the Italians for help? Will Maxon find out about Aspen and her? Aren't there cameras everywhere in the palace? Does Maxon or his father already know about Aspen and her? Should America trust Maxon?

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Top Ten Scariest Book Covers

This is this week's Top Ten Tuesday, which is hosted by The Broke & the Bookish.

This week's topic: Top Ten Scariest Book Covers

Rachel and I don't really do scary books.  In my late teens I was into thrillers, but that was some time ago.  So we aren't going to be much help with this Top Ten.  Sorry we are kind of lame this week.  These are the scary books I remember reading when I was younger, not that they were all that scary.

Hopefully your top ten is a little better than ours.  What did you have?

Sunday Showcase #13

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

I find it ironic that it is our 13th Showcase Sunday and Halloween is this week. Thirteen is my favorite number, but I know plenty of people who associate 13 with black cats and series of unfortunate events. However, this week has been a very fortunate one when it comes to picking up books. Even though I am still slacking on my reading, I was able to pick up a stack of potentially good books at Stuff Ect, a consignment store, while I was looking for some last minute items to complete my Wonder Woman costume.

At Stuff Etc, I picked up...

- The Last of the Mohicans. I loved the movie so I hope the book is just as good. Plus, I think this is something my mom would like to read when I am done with it.

- The Witch of Blackbird Pond. I remember adoring this book when I was a teen so I want to read it again when I have some downtime. 

- The Unbearable Lightness of Being. I never heard of this classic but it has great reviews on Goodreads.

- To The Lighthouse. I haven't read anything by Virginia Woolf but I always wanted to so I thought I would give this book a shot. 

- Moth Smoke. I read The Reluctant Fundamentalist by this author. His books provide an insight into Pakistanis' lives in the United States.

- Cleopatra. I find Cleopatra one of the most interesting women in history so I bet I will love reading a historical fiction book about her. 

- Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. My mom and both of my sisters have read books by Barbara Kingsolver. I can't remember which one is their favorite, but now that I own this book I can just pick it up when I want to give one of Kingsolver's books a try versus having to venture to the library. I am not fond of going to the library once it gets cold and snowy outside.

- Starters. I haven't heard of this book series but it has a pretty good rating on Goodreads so I am pretty excited for this young adult read. 

I got all these books for under $8.00. Now, I just need to figure out where to put them since there isn't anymore room on my bookshelf. I also received The First Phone Call From Heaven by Mitch Albom in the mail from a Goodreads' giveaway last week. I have read The Five People You Met in Heaven and One More Day by him. His book are great when I need something thought provoking that will renew my outlook on life. 

Melissa purchased Allegiant by Veronica Roth which she has already finished. I am a little nervous about reading this book since Melissa wasn't very happy with this book and the ending. This weekend, another person told me not to read this book. Melissa also bought Embody and Image by Jamie Magee. 

Have you purchased or read any of these? What did you find this week?

Friday's Featured Freebie: Everflame by Dylan Lee Peters

Everflame
by Dylan Lee Peters
Free on Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Long ago, when the earth was young. . . Four ancient beings created man to be the bastion of the earth and its creatures. But when The Great Tyrant came and chased The Ancients away, the world was transformed into a place of fear and isolation. Over time humans lost the connection they had with a world they had been created to protect. Now, deep in the forests that surround Gray Mountain, two bears find a small child that is abandoned and left for dead. They name him Evercloud, and raise him as a member of their kingdom. Teaching him the secrets of the elders, they tell him of the ancient beings that created man and the rumors of their return. Evercloud must now go on a quest to return The Ancients to power. However, in another corner of the land, a man known only as The Messenger travels the land under a white hood, on a mission to prevent the return of The Ancients. We follow the paths each of these men take until their stories collide in an epic battle of good versus evil.

Top Ten Unusual Character Names

This is this week's Top Ten Tuesday, which is hosted by The Broke & the Bookish.

This week's topic: Top Ten Unusual Character Names

We picked ten books that contain unusual character names and they are not in any particular order. Sorry that this post is a day late. I have been crazy busy this month - I love Halloween and everything else this amazing month has brought with it (costumes, pumpkin carving and decorating) except this snow we have been getting. It isn't supposed to snow in October. Time to break out the hot chocolate.

1. Sayer, Lorcan, Kaitrianna, Turloch, Maeve and Dunkirk from the Ancients of Light series. Melissa contemplated renaming one of sons Sayer while reading Broken.

2. Pia and Eio from Origin.

3. Eilidh and Saor from the Caledonia Fae series.

4. Bitterblue, Greening Grandemalion (aka Po), Sapphire (aka Saf) and Leck from the Graceling series.

5. Jett and Settak from Firedancer. 

6. Leith, Syrus and Forest from Forbidden Forest.

7. Gemma, Harper and Penn from the Watersong series.

8. Albus, Fleur, Bellatrix, Severus, Draco, Luna and Rubeus from the Harry Potter series. 

9. Mina and Teague from the Unfortunate Fairy Tale series.

10. Peeta, Primrose and Katniss from the Hunger Games series.

Any unusual character names are we missing?

Waiting on Wednesday #12

Happy Wednesday!  So, what did you all think of Allegiant?  Wait, don't tell me yet.  I'm not finished with it, hopefully by tonight it will be added to my read bookshelf.  I might have a book hangover tomorrow, but it's worth it.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we are highly anticipating.  November 5th is going to be another big day for me.  The last time this happened was August 27th when everything I was waiting for came out all at once.   In addition to Champion by Marie Lu and Sentinel by Jennifer L. Armentrout, Heritage by S.M. Boyce is also to be released.  Can you guess what I'm doing that week?  I even took Monday November 4th off of work to get everything done so I can spend the rest of the week reading!

Heritage (The Grimoire Saga, #3) by S.M. Boyce

Kara Magari isn’t normal, even by Ourea’s standards—and in a world of shape-shifters and soul stealers, that’s saying something. To the royalty, she’s a loose cannon. To the masses, she’s a failure. But Kara’s arrival in Ourea started a war, and she’s going to end it.

An ancient isen named Stone takes an interest in Kara’s training, and it turns out he has more answers than he originally led her to believe. In an effort to unearth a secret that might end the bloodshed, Kara instead discovers an ugly truth about her family—and how much she has in common with an infamous mass-murderer.

Braeden Drakonin has slowly rebuilt his life after the betrayal that tore it apart. His father wants him dead, and frankly, his so-called allies wouldn’t mind that either. Private alliances are formed. Secrets are sold. Tension is driving the armies apart. A single battle will end this war, and it’s coming. Braeden may be a prince, but it will take more than that to survive. He must take the fight to his father’s door—and win. ~Goodreads

What are you waiting for this Wednesday?

Showcase Sunday #12

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.

This weekend is going by too fast.  It's Sunday already and I haven't done much of anything.  I did finish The Maze Runner yesterday and now I'm seeing trailers for Ender's Game.  It's never ending, I'm half tempted to scrap my list of books for me to read this month so I can read Ender's Game.  The only thing that is stopping me is the fact that Allegiant will be released on Tuesday and I will be starting that book this week.  I noticed that some people are planning mid-night release parties for Allegiant.  Just a tad bit of crazyness for me.  I've already pre-ordered my copy and will be fast asleep while it's downloaded to my nook.  I wonder how many people will have it read before I wake up?  And you thought I had a problem?  I guess we will just have to wait and see.

Rachel is on a book break this week.  Which means that these are all mine!  I received a gift card from my team at work this week for Boss's day.  They know me so well, they got me Barnes and Noble gift card.  Yep, it's already spent.  I bought Legend and Prodigy by Marie Lu.  I want to get these read before the release of Champion.  I've heard really good things about this series.  I also picked up for free Evolution by Kelly Carrero on Friday.

What did you pick up this week?