Waiting on Wednesday #29

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine where you share an upcoming release that you're anticipating on reading.

Uses for Boys by Erica Lorraine Scheidt 

Expected Publication: January 15, 2013

From an extraordinary new YA talent comes a debut novel about a girl who turns to boys—until she finally learns to lean on herself.

Anna remembers a time before boys, when she was little and everything made sense. When she and her mom were a family, just the two of them against the world. But now her mom is gone most of the time, chasing the next marriage, bringing home the next stepfather. Anna is left on her own—until she discovers that she can make boys her family. From Desmond to Joey, Todd to Sam, Anna learns that if you give boys what they want, you can get what you need. But the price is high—the other kids make fun of her; the girls call her a slut. Anna's new friend, Toy, seems to have found a way around the loneliness, but Toy has her own secrets that even Anna can't know.

Then comes Sam. When Anna actually meets a boy who is more than just useful, whose family eats dinner together, laughs, and tells stories, the truth about love becomes clear. And she finally learns how it feels to have something to lose—and something to offer. Real, shocking, uplifting, and stunningly lyrical, Uses for Boys is a story of breaking down and growing up.

Why I'm Waiting?

1. Cover

It rocks my world and more. It's simple, yet sexy and sweet and it just makes me want to grab the book and just devour it whole. 

2. Premise

It's nothing I've ever encountered. Instead of the boy using girls, its the girl using boys. That along caught my attention and I knew, just knew, that I must must must read this book. 

3. Love Story

I love a good romance like the next hopeless romantic and this one is so up my alley. I have a feeling I'll be falling in love with Sam alongside Anna <3

4. Girl and Boy.

Troubled girl meets Good Boy = yessss please.

What are you waiting on?

REVIEW: Freeing Carter by Nyrae Dawn

Title: Freeing Carter
Author: Nyrae Dawn - Website || Twitter
Published: July 17, 2012
Format: Kindle ebook, 196 pages
Rating: 5/5 stars

His whole life Carter’s fought to hold it together: To help Mom run their store. To be there for his special needs sister, Sara, and be the perfect boyfriend Mel wants. To dominate on the basketball court—the only place he ever feels free. And to carry Mom up the stairs when she’s too smashed to make it on her own. 

It isn't like she has a problem. Mom loves them. If she doesn't drink every day, she's not really an alcoholic, right? 

Wrong.

Then Kira Dawson, a girl with a bipolar wardrobe and rotating hairstyles comes to town. Somehow, she sees the truths he hides from the world. “You have skeletons, too, Carter Shaw. Don’t think I don’t know it.” For the first time, he wants someone to see his inner scars—to really know him. 

When his mom finally goes too far, will Carter be able to man-up, even if it means turning his back on her and stepping out from behind the façade he’s fought so hard to keep in place?

Get it: Amazon || B&N

My thoughts, feelings, and reactions.

Nyrae Dawn has done it again! She never ceases to amaze and astound me with her beautiful and mesmerizing writing, her ability to enchant with any story, and the way she can move me with every character she creates. 

Freeing Carter was just so intense with heavy issues, drama, and heartache. Everything in this book just really pulls at all the heart strings and the whole story really stays with you. What I loved about this book was how real, raw and true it was. Nyrae Dawn just tells it straight, she doesn’t sugar-coat Carter’s issues and she really brings out the best and worst when facing such serious topics. 

Carter was a remarkable character. My heart shattered piece by piece having to read all that he goes through. In the beginning, Carter kept a wall up to ward people off from his imperfections and problems at home. For a long time he’s been struggling to  save face and to keep up pretenses and hide away the secrets that seem to tear him down nearly everyday. Carter also struggles with guilt for being angry at his mother for drinking her pain away. Even though he feels this way, Carter was a great son and brother. He has so much on his plate, but he still manages to think of his mother and sister first, putting their care above all else. Because of this, I saw Carter as a person who is caring and unselfish. He’s cocky sometimes, but he’s so sweet. He’s a great guy at heart despite all the demons he faces every single day. I found him to be truly strong and brave, especially when he decided to do the right thing in the end. 

When he meets Kira, bits and pieces of my broken heart were put back together.  I was so glad that Carter found someone to confide in; someone that he can let in through all his barriers. Kira was a different girl, someone Carter has never encountered before. She’s cool and spunky and she seems to really get Carter. Most of all, she sees through his facade of perfection to the real Carter behind it all. And Carter is really drawn to this eccentric girl. He’s intrigued and fascinated all the same. I loved watching them fall in love because I could see how good Kira was for Carter and vice versa. I see how free-spirited Kira was and how she didn’t care what anyone thought of her. I was glad that Carter was the same way, loving Kira no matter what his classmates said. I was absolutely taken with their relationship. They were such an unforgettable couple.

The ending of the book was probably my very favorite part because it was a realistic ending that rang true to the story and the characters and it ended on a note of happiness, change and hope for the future to come. 


Overall, Freeing Carter was just plain beautiful. 



Keep these marvelous books coming, Nyrae, because I simply cannot get enough of your fabulous writing!

Teaser Tuesday #30

Teaser Tuesday is weekly meme hosted by MizB from Should Be Reading.

Karma Bites by Nyrae Dawn

Publication Date: August 15, 2012

"I feel like an idiot. Like he has to wear his kid gloves with me because I'm the girl with no friends. "I wouldn't have minded somewhere private."

Gabe smiles. "I guess I'm being a gentleman for no reason, then." Page 75.

----

"Then come with me." I want nothing more than to do as he says. I peek my head inside and when I do, Caleb grabs my hand. "Come on, Abby. Please?" There's no way I can deny him. Not when he's looking at me with those forest green eyes than remind me of the woods we spend so much time in. Page 100.

*sigh* I seriously lovelovelove Caleb. He makes me feel things. lol

Special thanks to  @dduffield75 for randomly choosing these page numbers on twitter and for everyone who participated when I asked :)

And thanks to Nyrae Dawn for Karma Bites <3

What do you guys think of those teasers?

Let me know and leave me your cool links!

Blog Tour: Integration by Imogen Rose Review + Swag Giveaway

Title: Integration (Bonfire Academy #2)
Author: Imogen Rose - Website | Twitter | Facebook
Published: July 10, 2012
Format: Kindle ebook*
Rating: 4/5 stars
Get it: Amazon || B&N

Second haiku warning:

A boyfriend missing
A lover must pay in blood
A princess must die

Welcome back to Bonfire Academy.

My thoughts, feelings and reactions.

Integration is the follow up and sequel to Imogen Rose’s first book in the Bonfire Academy series, Initiation. In this second book, Imogen picks up from where the story last left off. Cordelia comes back to Bonfire Academy to start her year as Professor Bern’s apprentice. 

The book starts off with a very mysterious prologue that hooked me from the start. It had me eager to keep on reading because I felt I was finally going to get answers to all my questions from Initiation. Other familiar characters who I grew to love are back and not even a day has passed from when Cordelia arrives at BA when trouble starts up all over again. This time, the stakes are higher. Everyone Cordelia’s close to is in danger and even more lives are at risk. There’s so much threats surrounding not only Cordelia, but Faustine as well and it seems like no one can be trusted.

Imogen Rose really added in the suspense and thrill I was looking for in the first book. I didn’t know what to expect in Integration and Imogen surely shocked me with the events that happened that I never thought to expect. Her writing is still just as addicting as it was in Initiation, but even more so. I couldn’t help but want to keep reading to find out what was really going on, to discover why all this creepy stuff was happening to Cordelia. I was happy that Imogen gave me enough information to appease my curiosity, but she still kept plenty in the dark to keep me begging for more.

I really admired Cordelia in this book because she really started to take matters into her own hands. She finally started making her own decisions for herself and she also realized what was best for her and the people around her. I was proud of Cordelia for finally letting go the things and the people that needed to be let go. I just thought that Cordelia really stepped up her maturity in this book. I saw that she was really growing into herself, finding out what she truly wanted and needed for herself. I love that Cordelia continued to be such a great friend and protector towards Faustine. I also love Cordelia’s determination to get to the bottom of things. Cordelia does everything she can to help solve the problems happening  around her and she won’t stop until the threats and danger that continue to plague them all finally cease. Cordelia is a true heroine and I can‘t wait to see what she does next!

Overall, Integration was a great addition to the Bonfire Academy series. It was even better than the first. It was fun, fast-paced and exciting. Fans of Imogen Rose will love this book and paranormal lovers will enjoy such a different world and amazing characters created in this book!

I can’t wait for the next book and if you haven’t started reading this series, I highly recommend it!

*Thanks to Roxanne from Bewitching Book Tours for sending a copy for review :)

Check out the other stops on the tour HERE.

~ GIVEAWAY~
3 Winners (INT) will win an Integration Swag Pack!

Courtesy of Amy K.
Non-Integration Promo Items Not Included

To Enter just fill in the Rafflecopter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Integration Teaser:

Broken. I couldn’t think of a better word to describe it. I felt as if I’d been torn to bits, maybe even shredded. I was suffocating, surrounded by a wet tightness of skin and flesh all crusted together. My body was home to excruciating stabs of pain searing about randomly before a final thrust of sheer agony. I couldn’t tell if the source of the pain was within me or if I was being repeatedly sliced open with a knife. Did it matter? I felt as though it was only a matter of seconds before my thoughts would end.   “Cordelia!”
My name. I flinched as the same voice repeated my name again and again. Why? Who was it? It—he—sounded familiar. I heaved as the voice triggered the memory of his face. Then, not being able to stop the bile from traveling up my throat, I gagged and purged, emptying my stomach completely. The next time he muttered my name, his voice was laced with disgust. But his revulsion couldn’t compete with my utter repugnance and disbelief at what he’d done. Him. Someone I had trusted with my life, even though the rule was clear:   Trust No One.

About the Author:

Imogen Rose is the author of the bestselling series, Portal Chronicles, which has attained cult status within indie literature and become a favorite among teens and adults alike. An immunologist by profession, Dr. Rose published her first work of fiction in 2010. She now writes full time and is currently working on her second teen series, Bonfire Chronicles. Imogen was born in Sweden and has lived in several places, counting London among her favorites. She moved to New Jersey in 2001. A self-confessed Hermès addict, Imogen freely admits to being obsessed with Kurt Cobain. She enjoys shopping, traveling, watching movies, and hanging out with her family, friends, and Chihuahua.

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