"Waiting On" Wednesday #4

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

It's been a really long time since I last participated and it does feel good to come back. 

For this week, my WOW is 'Haunting Violet' by Alyxandra Harvey. I love her Drake Chronicles and I hope I will like this one.

Description: Violet Willoughby doesn't believe in ghosts. But they believe in her. After spending years participating in her mother's elaborate ruse as a fraudulent medium, Violet is about as skeptical as they come in all matters supernatural. Now that she is being visited by a very persistent ghost, one who suffered a violent death, Violet can no longer ignore her unique ability. She must figure out what this ghost is trying to communicate, and quickly because the killer is still on the loose.

Afraid of ruining her chance to escape her mother's scheming through an advantageous marriage, Violet must keep her ability secret. The only person who can help her is Colin, a friend she's known since childhood, and whom she has grown to love. He understands the true Violet, but helping her on this path means they might never be together. Can Violet find a way to help this ghost without ruining her own chance at a future free of lies?

The hardcover edition will be available from June 21, 2011 onwards. And I'm hoping I can get my hands on it as soon as it's available here in Malaysia.

In My Mailbox #2

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted at The Story Siren every Sunday. The aim is to share the new stuff we got for the week with other participants of the meme. Books don't have to literally come in our mailbox. The idea is just to share what's new on our book stacks.

This is how my mailbox looks like this week:

Title: Keep Me in Your Heart: Three Novels

Author: Lurlene McDaniel

Publication Year: 2010

Genre: Young Adult

Three of Lurlene McDaniel's bestselling novels in one volume. Readers will relate to the compassion and strength of the characters as they piece their lives back together after tragedy strikes.

Saving Jessica: Jessica McMillan and Jeremy Travino are a perfect couple. When they met in high school, Jessica's upbeat spirit helped Jeremy to see that there must be a reason he was spared in the car accident that killed his brother. But now Jessica has been diagnosed with kidney failure. Her only hope is a kidney transplant but no one in her family is a match. Jeremy believes that his life was spared so he could save Jessica by donating a kidney. Will Jeremy go against his parents' wishes to do what he must to save Jessica?

Telling Christina Goodbye: Trisha Thompson and her best friend, Christina, are having a great senior year. The girls love to double-date -- which would be perfect if only Trisha got along with Christina's boyfriend, Tucker. Their lives are forever changed when one night Tucker drives them all home from a basketball game. He hits black ice and the car overturns. The aftermath is devastating. Can those who are left behind learn to heal and find the courage to move on?

Letting Go of Lisa: Nathan Malone has always been home-schooled, so he hasn't spent much time with kids his own age. Then circumstances change. On the first day of senior year at a local school, he notices Lisa. Lisa is a loner, but she is attracted to Nathan. Nathan is the happiest he's ever been. But Lisa has a tragic secret and when she decides to deal with it herself, Nathan has to make a choice. Can he ever let go of Lisa?

Now three novels in an edition, isn't that just great? I'm on the second novel.

And I also got myself this:

Title: City of Flowers (Stravaganza, #3)

Author: Mary Hoffman

Publication Year: 2005

Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy

Everything changes for Sky when he finds a perfume bottle that whisks him away to the city of Giglia, an ancient city similar to Florence. This may be the beautiful City of Flowers, but things that seem beautiful might also be deadly. As a new Stravagante - someone who can travel through time and space with the help of a talisman - Sky finds himself caught in a deadly feud between Giglia's two ruling families. Now, the Stravaganti must do all they can to avoid further bloodshed as politics, conspiracy and espionage unfold.

What have you got in your mailbox?

Follow Friday (March 11)

Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee's View.
This week's feature: Ashley of Bookaholic Does Blogging
This week's question: Just like Ashley said "Ashley the girl..." who are You the Boy/Girl, instead of You the Blogger?

As far as Nadea the girl, I'm a final year law student at a local university, the University of Malaya. After 5 years in law (including my A-Level), I still have no idea why I'm doing law or where I'm heading. My life is pretty much uninteresting. I don't do a lot of stuff and of the things I do, they are nothing exciting. I spend a lot of my time reading, watching movies and hanging out with my friends. I love anything fruit-related...especially cakes and perfumes. And I tend to abandon lots of things whenever I get caught up in something...be it work-related or just for pleasure.

My life in law school consists of attending events, including public lectures and annual dinners, cheering for my batch futsal team and endless workloads. Here's a sneak peek of what it looks like:

Follow Friday (Feb. 25)

Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee's View.
This week's feature: Nakesha of Totally Obsessed!
This week's question: Share your current fav television show! Tell us a bit about it...
I'm torn between The Vampire Diaries and Glee. I adore both so much (I don't think 'adore' is the correct word...but whatever). Hehe. Now come to think of those two, I realize I also love Merlin by BBC. But, right now I'm totally in Glee mood! I guess I've been glee-d. I seriously cannot get Glee's rendition of Blame It (On the Alcohol) out of my head after the last episode. I guess the cuteness of Sam Evans helps contributing to my addiction.

What's your current fav television show?

Teaser Tuesdays (Feb. 15)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along. Just do the following:

• Grab your current read.
• Open to a random page.
• Share (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page.
• Be careful not to include spoilers! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week, my current read is 'City of Stars' by Mary Hoffman. It is the second installment of of the young adult series, Staravaganza.

Georgia is an ordinary girl, living in London with her mother, stepfather and bully of a stepbrother and coping with the difficulties of growing up. But all that changes when she buys a tiny figurine in the form of a winged horse and suddenly finds herself swept up into the world of the Stravagante. Her talisman, the figurine, transports her to Remora the Talian parallel to Siena, Italy.

My teaser: Dreaming of a city with flying horses was one thing - even if it turned out not to be a dream and the city was real. But coming face to face with someone from her own world, someone she knew to be dead - that was something else again. (pg 76)

In My Mailbox #1

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted at The Story Siren every Sunday. The aim is to share the new stuff we got for the week with other participants of the meme. Books don't have to literally come in our mailbox. The idea is just to share what's new on our book stacks.

Here are what I have in my mailbox for this week.

Title: Rampant (Killer Unicorns, #1)

Author: Diana Peterfreund

Publication Year: 2010

Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy

Astrid had always scoffed at her eccentric mother's stories about killer unicorns. But when one of the monsters attacks her boyfriend—thereby ruining any chance of him taking her to the prom—Astrid finds herself headed to Rome to train as a unicorn hunter at the ancient cloisters the hunters have used for centuries.

Title: City of Stars (Stravaganza, #2)

Author: Mary Hoffman

Publication Year: 2003

Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy

Georgia is an ordinary girl, living in London with her mother, stepfather and bully of a stepbrother and coping with the difficulties of growing up. But all that changes when she buys a tiny figurine in the form of a winged horse and suddenly finds herself swept up into the world of the Stravagante. Her talisman, the figurine, transports her to Remora the Talian parallel to Siena, Italy.

Title: The Blue Noon (Morning, Noon and Night, #2)

Author: Robert Ryan

Publication Year: 2003

Genre: Historical Fiction/WW2

East End chancer Harry Cole is consumed with a burning desire to transcend his social class and when WW2 breaks out he joins the British army in France and reinvents himself as the suave Captain Mason. He becomes involved with an attractive French nurse, who persuades him to set up and run an escape line. As the debonaire Captain Mason, he helps dozens of soldiers to safety, including one Airey Neave. But when his true identity is discovered by the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), Harry is faced with his toughest moral dilemma - the acceptance he craves at the cost of betraying his comrades-in-arms. Meanwhile, back in London, Neave is furious that Harry had the gall to impersonate a British officer and sends instructions to apprehend Harry at all costs. Harry realises he is involved with forces far more ruthless and devious than he could ever have imagined.

Title: After Midnight (Morning, Noon and Night, #4)

Author: Robert Ryan

Publication Year: 2005

Genre: Historical Fiction/WW2

In 1944, a Liberator bomber pilot writes a letter to his daughter on the occasion of her first birthday, he posts it moments before embarking on a mission in Northern Italy. Tragically he never returns and neither the wreckage of his plane nor his body has ever been found. In 1964, Linda Carr resloves to find out what happened to her father on that terrible night. She employs the help of Jack Kirby, a Mosquito pilor during the war and a man with his own inner demons. What Jack and Linda discover in their journey deep into uncharted mountain regions where they attempt to piece together the fragments of their personal stories, is more dangerous and life-changing than anyone could ever have imagined.

What's in your mailbox this week?

On My Wishlist #3

On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City which runs every Saturday. It's where you list all the books you desperately want but haven't actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming. To participate just head on to the said website.

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It's been some time since I had a wishlist. Though I still haven't got hold on the books from my previous lists, here I am with a few more books. I seriously can't help keeping my wishlist from growing. And this time, I'm in a historical fiction mood.

"Dying Day" by Robert Ryan Ever since I finished reading 'The Last Sunrise', I can't help thinking about this book. I've looked everywhere for this. Even BookDepository does not have it in ready stock. Wonder where can I look next. Hmm...

Description: Laura is determined to track down her missing sister, but is in danger of getting caught up in a country on the brink of the Cold War.

She is waiting on a street corner in Piccadilly, London, with a Colt .32 in her handbag. Laura McGill is desperate to find out what happened to her sister Diana. Both were Special Operation Executive (SOE) spies during World War Two. One night in 1944, Diana was flown into occupied France but never returned. Could she still be alive?

James Hadley Webb, the man who sent Diana on her final mission, is now a spy in Berlin. Despite attempts to stop her, Laura travels to Germany to confront him and soon becomes caught in the crossfire of a bloody turf war fought between the East and the West for control of the city.

"By Fire, By Water" by Mitchell James Kaplan I have to admit, Spanish Inquisition is not really something I know by heart. In fact, my knowledge on the subject is very limited. A friend suggested this book a few days ago...and from the reviews, it does sound good. Time to delve into another one of most talked about historical periods.

Description: Luis de Santángel, chancellor to the court and longtime friend of the lusty King Ferdinand, has had enough of the Spanish Inquisition. As the power of Inquisitor General Tomás de Torquemada grows, so does the brutality of the Spanish church and the suspicion and paranoia it inspires. When a dear friend’s demise brings the violence close to home, Santángel is enraged and takes retribution into his own hands. But he is from a family of conversos, and his Jewish heritage makes him an easy target. As Santángel witnesses the horrific persecution of his loved ones, he begins slowly to reconnect with the Jewish faith his family left behind. Feeding his curiosity about his past is his growing love for Judith Migdal, a clever and beautiful Jewish woman navigating the mounting tensions in Granada. While he struggles to decide what his reputation is worth and what he can sacrifice, one man offers him a chance he thought he’d lost…the chance to hope for a better world. Christopher Columbus has plans to discover a route to paradise, and only Luis de Santángel can help him.

"Revolution" by Jennifer Donnelly I never intended to read this book. But that was before I knew what it actually is about. The premise sounds promising. And the reviews are good.

Description: Two girls, two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi finds Alexandrine’s diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession. There’s comfort and distraction for Andi in the journal’s antique pages—until, on a midnight journey through the catacombs of Paris, Alexandrine’s words transcend paper and time, and the past becomes suddenly, terrifyingly present.

Meet Me On Monday (Feb. 07)

This week I'm trying out new meme, Meet Me On Monday hosted by Java at Never Growing Old. Every week, 5 get-to-know-you questions are posted so that we can copy and paste into our own Monday post. Head on to Never Growing Old to participate.

This week's questions are:

Did you watch the Superbowl? Nope. Having come from outside the USA, I never really know what the Superbowl really is.

What is the last book that you read? 'Wishing Upon a Star' by Martina Reilly. A good read and I enjoyed it so much.

What is your favorite kind of cake? Hmm, I don't really eat cake. But, if I have to take my pick, it would be cheesecake. I love cheesecake so much especially blueberry cheesecake. And occasionally, I'd get cupcakes with coffee frosting. They taste so good.

Do you snore? So far, no one has ever complained. So maybe nope.

Do you play an instrument? Nope. I wish I do though. I played clarinet for a while in elementary school but I just stopped when I went to high school. Currently, I have to make do with enjoying my brother's guitar playing. Maybe one day, I'll ask him to teach me basic guitar.

What are your answers?

Teaser Tuesdays (Feb. 1)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along. Just do the following:

• Grab your current read.
• Open to a random page.
• Share (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page.
• Be careful not to include spoilers! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week, I'm reading 'Wish Upon a Star' by Martina Reilly, an Irish author.

It's hard for Lucy, being the sister of supermodel Tracy, especially now that Tracy has landed a part in a major Hollywood movie and all Lucy ever wanted to do is act. Worse than that, Lucy's daughter wants to get to know her father - only Lucy never told him that she was pregnant. So, against the advice of her best friends and her doom-laden mother, Lucy begins the search to trace the boy she has tried so hard to forget...

My teaser: But my dreams were shattered. And I had to blame someone and that someone was him because he'd given me hope in the first place. (pg 70)

Follow Friday (Jan. 28)

Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee's View.
This week's feature: Marie of Mission To Read
This week's question: What is/was your favorite subject in school?
In high school, it was Physics. I loved learning the logics and principles behind every day's occurrences, simple things that most people never really think about. I also liked History but only on a few chosen topics. In university, I really enjoyed Public International Law and for this semester, I'm enjoying the Spanish class. Oh, I love languages and I enjoyed learning and discovering how a set of laws can or cannot prevent international conflicts from occurring and also the rationales behind every international convention.

Friday's Round-Up (Jan. 21)

Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee's View.

This week's question: Who do you cheer for?

I'm not exactly a sport buff. But, I do like watching football (soccer) as well as NHL. For soccer, it's Real Madrid CF all the way (go Iker Casillas and Kaka!!!). I think I can safely say that I'm a madridista through and through. As for NHL, it's Toronto Maple Leafs. And occasionally I cheer for Anaheim Ducks and Colorado Avalanche. I don't really watch other sports that much. Oh, maybe tennis...where I cheer for Rafael Nadal.

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The Friday 56 is weekly hosted by Freda's Voice.

• Grab a book, any book.
• Turn to page 56.
• Find any sentence that grabs you.
• Post it.
• Share it.

Elena blinked, forcing herself to deal with her new situation. She hadn't seen Stefan for nearly long enough. But her memories of their short, sweet time together were wrapped in jonquils and lavender and nothing could ever take them away from her. - pg 56, The Vampire Diaries The Return: Shadow Souls by LJ Smith.

Wednesday's Round-Up (Jan. 19)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This meme spotlights upcoming release that we're eagerly anticipating.

My choice for WOW this week is a Young Adult fiction, 'Waterfall' by Lisa T. Bergren. It's the first novel in the River of Time series and set to be released on February 01, 2011.

Description: Gabriella has never spent a summer in Italy like this one. Remaining means giving up all she’s known and loved…and leaving means forfeiting what she’s come to know…and love itself.

Most American teenagers want a vacation in Italy, but the Bentarrini sisters have spent every summer of their lives with their parents, famed Etruscan scholars, among the romantic hills. Stuck among the rubble of medieval castles in rural Tuscany on yet another hot, dusty archeological site, Gabi and Lia are bored out of their minds… until Gabi places her hand atop a handprint in an ancient tomb and finds herself in fourteenth-century Italy. And worse yet, in the middle of a fierce battle between knights of two opposing forces.

And thus does she come to be rescued by the knight-prince Marcello Falassi, who takes her back to his father’s castle—a castle Gabi has seen in ruins in another life. Suddenly Gabi’s summer in Italy is much, much more interesting. But what do you do when your knight in shining armor lives, literally, in a different world?

My notes: I'm a sucker for both young adult fiction and historical fiction. There's little that could make me more happier as a reader than both genres combined. I hope this turns out to be good and live up to my expectations.

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WWW Wednesdays is a weekly event hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just answer the following 3 questions:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you'll read next?

What are you currently reading? I'm reading 'Here Lies Arthur' by Philip Reeve. It's a retelling of Arthurian legend as we know it but from a view point of a young servant girl, Gwyna. I'm currently halfway to finishing the book and I'm hoping to finish it by the end of this week.

What did you recently finish reading? I've just finished reading 'After the Break' by Penny Smith. Not the best novel ever written, but it wasn't the worst either. An 'okay' one.

What do you think you'll read? Hmm, I think I'll try to read 'The Vampire Diaries: The Return: Shadow Souls' by LJ Smith. I've had the book since forever but I'm yet to start reading it.

Teaser Tuesdays (Jan. 18)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along. Just do the following:

• Grab your current read.
• Open to a random page.
• Share (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page.
• Be careful not to include spoilers! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week, my read is 'Here Lies Arthur' by Philip Reeve.

Arthur fights giants, rescues maidens and tricks the Devil with his words - or so they say. Gwyna is overwhelmed. She's only a slave-girl and he's a king. Soon Arthur's magician, Myrddin, will show her the real secret behind Arthur's power...

My teaser: Myrddin was right. People see what they expect to see, and believe what you tell them to believe. (pg 43)

It's Monday! What Are You Reading #1

It's Monday! What Are You Reading is a weekly meme hosted at Book Journey. It is to share what we have read this past week as well as what we plan to read this week.

I've been busy this past week with Will Drafting as well as with other things which comprise the life of a law student. And I expect this week to be the same, third week into the new semester.

Despite that, I managed to read a few books this past week. Among 'em are:

'My Love Lies Bleeding' by Alyxandra Harvey

'Blood Feud' by Alyxandra Harvey

'After the Break' by Penny Smith

And this week, I'm reading and planning to read:

'Out for Blood' by Alyxandra Harvey

'Here Lies Arthur' by Philip Reeve

'Atonement' by Ian McEwan

'Dead Spy Running' by Jon Stock

On My Wishlist #2

On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City which runs every Saturday. It's where you list all the books you desperately want but haven't actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming. To participate just head on to the said website.

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I don't think I should have a wishlist when I still have 9 books left to finish. I've been reading between these books back and forth and haven't managed to finish any. But here I am, wishing for more. Here are this week's picks.

"City of Masks (Stravaganza, #1)" by Mary Hoffman At first, I thought this was one of the books in the Mortal Instruments series (haven't read any of the books from the series, I'm quite clueless) but the synopsis at the back reveals that this is another series altogether.

Description: Set in Talia, a parallel world very similar to 16th-century Italy, the narrative follows Lucien, who in our world is very ill. Given a marbled notebook to use as a diary, the notebook is the unexpected means that transports Lucien to this dangerous new world; a world that thrills to the delight of political intrigue and where a life can be snuffed out with a flash of a merlino blade. The city of Bellezza (Venice in our world) is astonishingly evoked, with a filmic eye to detail, from the sensuousness of silks and velvets, to the thrill and danger of assassination attempts both and foiled and successful.

"Poison Study (Study Series, #1)" by Maria V. Snyder I came across this book a few days ago while browsing BookXcess. But, since I already picked up four other titles, I decided it could wait and now I'm dying to get my hands on it.

Description: About to be executed for murder, Yelena is offered an extraordinary reprieve. She'll eat the best meals, have rooms in the palace - and risk assassination by anyone trying to kill the Commander of Ixia. And so Yelena chooses to become a food taster. But the chief of security, leaving nothing to chance, deliberately feeds her Butterfly's Dust - and only by appearing for her daily antidote will she delay an agonizing death from the poison. As Yelena tries to escape her new dilemma, disasters keep mounting. Rebels plot to seize Ixia and Yelena develops magical powers she can't control. Her life is threatened again and choices must be made. But this time the outcomes aren't so clear.

WWW Wednesdays (Jan. 12)

WWW Wednesdays is a weekly event hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just answer the following 3 questions:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you'll read next?

What are you currently reading? I'm currently reading 'After the Break' by Penny Smith. It tells the story of Katie, a television presenter who is at the evening of her career. To help with her career, she takes part in a reality TV show called Celebrity X-Treme. I would say that it is an enjoyable read and currently, I'm 60 pages away from finishing the book.

What did you recently finish reading? That would be 'Blood Feud' by Alyxandra Harvey. It's book #2 in the Drake Chronicles series and it was an easy read. Typical vampire love story though.

What do you think you'll read? Let's see. I'm yet to read 'Atonement' by Ian McEwan. And I also got 'The Last Sunrise' by Robert Ryan. Both are historical fiction with the setting around World War II. I'm a sucker for historical fiction.

Top 5 Sundays #1

Top 5 Sundays is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Larissa at Larissa's Bookish Life. Head on to the website to find out more and also to participate. =)

This week's theme is Book Covers I'm Coveting for 2011.

So, here are my Top 5...in no particular order.

Waterfall (River of Time, #1) by Lisa T. Bergren

Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey

Haunted (Dreaming Anastasia, #2) by Joy Preble

Timeless by Alexandra Monir

The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal