Clean Sweep ARC Challenge May 2013: Wrap-Up Post

So this post is just going to summarise our ARC reviews (or reviews of books that were given to us for review, really) from May 2013!


NARA
The Lost Prince- May 3
The Gingerbread House- May 5
The Gift of Darkness- May 10
Scent of Magic- May 17
Screwed- May 18
Gameboard of the Gods- May 24
The Pirate's Wish- May 31

CHANTELLE
Game. Set. Match- May 1

The Gingerbread House- May 5
Twisted- May 7
The Rose Throne- May 12
Twerp- May 14
The Last Wild- May 21
True- May 28

ARC Review: The Pirate's Wish by Cassandra Rose Clarke

Title: The Pirate's Wish (The Assassin's Curse #2)
Author: Cassandra Rose Clarke
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Adventure
Release Date: June 4, 2013
Source: Strange Chemistry via NetGalley
Goodreads | The Book Depository | Amazon

After setting out to break the curse that binds them together, the pirate Ananna and the assassin Naji find themselves stranded on an enchanted island in the north with nothing but a sword, their wits, and the secret to breaking the curse: complete three impossible tasks. With the help of their friend Marjani and a rather unusual ally, Ananna and Naji make their way south again, seeking what seems to be beyond their reach.

Unfortunately, Naji has enemies from the shadowy world known as the Mists, and Ananna must still face the repercussions of going up against the Pirate Confederation. Together, Naji and Ananna must break the curse, escape their enemies — and come to terms with their growing romantic attraction.

Review by Nara

ARC Review: True by Erin McCarthy

Title: True
Author: Erin McCarthy
Genre: New Adult Romance

Goodreads rating: 3.70 out of 5.00 (1 ,200+ ratings)
Goodreads | Amazon

When Rory Macintosh’s roommates find out that their studious and shy friend has never been with a guy, they decide that, as an act of kindness they’ll help her lose her virginity by hiring confident, tattooed bad boy Tyler Mann to do the job…unbeknownst to Rory.

Tyler knows he’s not good enough for Rory. She’s smart, doctor smart, while he’s barely scraping by at his EMT program, hoping to pull his younger brothers out of the hell their druggy mother has left them in. But he can’t resist taking up her roommates on an opportunity to get to know her better. There’s something about her honesty that keeps him coming back when he knows he shouldn’t…

Torn between common sense and desire, the two find themselves caught up in a passionate relationship. But when Tyler’s broken family threatens to destroy his future, and hers, Rory will need to decide whether to cut her ties to his risky world or follow her heart, no matter what the cost…


Review by Chantelle

Review: The Madman's Daughter by Megan Sheperd

Title: The Madman's Daughter (The Madman's Daughter #1)
Author: Megan Sheperd
Genre: Young Adult, Sci-fi, Mystery
Goodreads | The Book Depository | Amazon

In the darkest places, even love is deadly.

Sixteen-year-old Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself in London—working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all, no one ever proved the rumors about her father's gruesome experiments. But when she learns he is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations are true.

Accompanied by her father's handsome young assistant, Montgomery, and an enigmatic castaway, Edward—both of whom she is deeply drawn to—Juliet travels to the island, only to discover the depths of her father's madness: He has experimented on animals so that they resemble, speak, and behave as humans. And worse, one of the creatures has turned violent and is killing the island's inhabitants. Torn between horror and scientific curiosity, Juliet knows she must end her father's dangerous experiments and escape her jungle prison before it's too late. Yet as the island falls into chaos, she discovers the extent of her father's genius—and madness—in her own blood.

Inspired by H. G. Wells's classic The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Madman's Daughter is a dark and breathless Gothic thriller about the secrets we'll do anything to know and the truths we'll go to any lengths to protect.

Review by Nara

Stacking the Shelves [7]

Hi, Chantelle here and it's that time of the month again for me to Stack the Shelves with the books that I received, borrowed or bought this month!

ARC Review: Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead

Title: Gameboard of the Gods (Age of X #1)
Author: Richelle Mead
Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Adult
Release Date: June 4, 2013
Source: Penguin Group Dutton via NetGalley
Goodreads | The Book Depository | Amazon

In a futuristic world nearly destroyed by religious extremists, Justin March lives in exile after failing in his job as an investigator of religious groups and supernatural claims. But Justin is given a second chance when Mae Koskinen comes to bring him back to the Republic of United North America (RUNA). Raised in an aristocratic caste, Mae is now a member of the military’s most elite and terrifying tier, a soldier with enhanced reflexes and skills.
When Justin and Mae are assigned to work together to solve a string of ritualistic murders, they soon realize that their discoveries have exposed them to terrible danger. As their investigation races forward, unknown enemies and powers greater than they can imagine are gathering in the shadows, ready to reclaim the world in which humans are merely game pieces on their board.

Gameboard of the Gods, the first installment of Richelle Mead’s Age of X series, will have all the elements that have made her YA Vampire Academy and Bloodlines series such megasuccesses: sexy, irresistible characters; romantic and mythological intrigue; and relentless action and suspense.

Review by Nara

Incredible Giveaways over at Cafebiblioart!

Woah!
Seriously, guys, these giveaways are absolutely amazing! And they're all international! Check them out:

ARC Review: The Last Wild by Piers Torday

Title: The Last Wild
Author: Piers Torday
Genre: Children's Fiction

Goodreads rating: 3.61 out of 5.00 (10+ ratings)
Goodreads | The Book Depository | Amazon


In a world where animals no longer exist, twelve-year-old Kester Jaynes sometimes feels like he hardly exists either. Locked away in a home for troubled children, he's told there's something wrong with him. So when he meets a flock of talking pigeons and a bossy cockroach, Kester thinks he's finally gone a bit mad. But the animals have something to say... The pigeons fly Kester to a wild place where the last creatures in the land have survived. A wise stag needs Kester's help, and together they must embark on a great journey, joined along the way by an over-enthusiastic wolf-cub, a spoilt show-cat, a dancing harvest mouse and a stubborn girl named Polly. The animals saved Kester Jaynes. But can Kester save the animals?



Review by Chantelle

A Special StS Post

So, I realise that I usually do monthly StS posts, and so my next one is a fair while away, but I had to share the awesomeness. Thanks to Harlequin Teen Australia, I won SIGNED copies of The Immortal Rules and The Eternity Cure!

ARC Review: Screwed by Laurie Plissner

Title: Screwed
Author: Laurie Plissner
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Source: F+W/Adams Media
Goodreads | The Book Depository | Amazon

Grace was the girl who always did everything right, until the night she fell for a boy's sleazy line and became pregnant. Nick couldn't care less about pretty math-geek Grace or the baby he fathered. He's had a dozen girls like her, and he'll have a dozen more. When Grace confesses to her super-religious, strait-laced parents, they deliver a shocker: They've scheduled an abortion. All they want is to pretend this never happened.

When Grace balks, they literally throw her out in the street. A rich, elderly neighbor takes her in, and, with the help of the friendship she needs in Charlie, the old woman's great-nephew, she must make the toughest choice of her young life. The people she believed in were only playing a role, while others, in an unlikely way, are true heroes.

Grace can never have the life she planned, but she has one chance to be the person she will have to live with for the rest of her life. Her choice will cost her, big time, either way--and no one can make it except her.

Review by Nara

Review: Scent of Magic by Maria V. Snyder

Title: Scent of Magic (Healer #2)
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Source: Harlequin (UK) Ltd via NetGalley
Goodreads | The Book Depository | Amazon

Hunted, Killed—Survived?

As the last Healer in the Fifteen Realms, Avry of Kazan is in a unique position: in the minds of her friends and foes alike, she no longer exists. Despite her need to prevent the megalomanical King Tohon from winning control of the Realms, Avry is also determined to find her sister and repair their estrangement. And she must do it alone, as Kerrick, her partner and sole confident, returns to Alga to summon his country into battle.

Though she should be in hiding, Avry will do whatever she can to support Tohon’s opponents. Including infiltrating a holy army, evading magic sniffers, teaching forest skills to soldiers and figuring out how to stop Tohon’s most horrible creations yet; an army of the walking dead—human and animal alike and nearly impossible to defeat.

War is coming and Avry is alone. Unless she figures out how to do the impossible ... again.

Review by Nara

Love in Bloom Giveaway Hop + Author Interview with Nell Carson

Recently, we had the delightful opportunity of reading and reviewing a fun and heartwarming romance by Nell Carson: The Gingerbread House. You can read our joint review of the novel here. We were lucky enough to get an interview with Nell herself, and we'll be giving away a copy of The Gingerbread House and a book of choice from The Book Depository.

Waiting on Wednesday [6]

It's time for Nara's monthly Waiting on Wednesday post! This one will feature books which will be released some time in June. So, here they are:

ARC Review: Twerp by Mark Goldblatt

Title: Twerp
Author: Mark Goldblatt
Genre: Middle Grade Fiction

Goodreads rating: 4.14 out of 5.00 (80+ ratings pre-release)
Goodreads | The Book Depository | Amazon

It's not like I meant for Danley to get hurt. . . .

Julian Twerski isn't a bully. He's just made a big mistake. So when he returns to school after a weeklong suspension, his English teacher offers him a deal: if he keeps a journal and writes about the terrible incident that got him and his friends suspended, he can get out of writing a report on Shakespeare. Julian jumps at the chance. And so begins his account of life in sixth grade--blowing up homemade fireworks, writing a love letter for his best friend (with disastrous results), and worrying whether he's still the fastest kid in school. Lurking in the background, though, is the one story he can't bring himself to tell, the one story his teacher most wants to hear.

Inspired by Mark Goldblatt's own childhood growing up in 1960s Queens, Twerp shines with humor and heart. This remarkably powerful story will have readers laughing and crying right along with these flawed but unforgettable characters.


Review by Chantelle

Top Ten Books Dealing With Tough Subjects

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme where book bloggers come up with their Top Ten list for a particular book topic. Here at Looking at the Panacea, Chantelle and Nara each pick their top five to give a combined list of ten. This week's topic is:

Top Ten Books Dealing With Tough Subjects 

Children's Book Week Giveaway Hop + Author Interview with Erin JadeLange (SIGNED BOOK GIVEAWAY!)

AHHH YOU LUCKY, LUCKY U.S. PEOPLE!!! You all have the chance to win a SIGNED COPY OF BUTTER BY ERIN JADE LANGE as part of the Children's Book Week Giveaway Hop! To repeat, that's BUTTER, one of the THE biggest, best, débuts of the year, and SIGNED no less. Seriously, guys, this book is mind-blowingly amazing, whoever doesn't enter is seriously silly! To say we, mere aussie girls, are jealous is probably the understatement of the year (We hate you shipping fees!). We were however, lucky enough to interview Erin who sheds some light on both Butter and her next novel, Dead Ends.

ARC Review: The Rose Throne by Mette Ivie Harrison

Title: The Rose Throne
Author: Mette Ivie Harrison
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Goodreads rating: 3.33 out of 5.00 (45+ ratings pre-release)
Goodreads | The Book Depository | Amazon

Richly-imagined fantasy romance from the author of Princess and the Hound, a tale of two princesses--one with magic, one with none--who dare seek love in a world where real choice can never be theirs. For fans of Megan Whalen Turner, Catherine Fisher, and Cassandra Clare. 
Ailsbet loves nothing more than music; tall and red-haired, she's impatient with the artifice and ceremony of her father's court. Marissa adores the world of her island home and feels she has much to offer when she finally inherits the throne from her wise, good-tempered father. The trouble is that neither princess has the power--or the magic--to rule alone, and if the kingdoms can be united, which princess will end up ruling the joint land? For both, the only goal would seem to be a strategic marriage to a man who can bring his own brand of power to the throne. But will either girl be able to marry for love? And can either of these two princesses, rivals though they have never met, afford to let the other live?

Review by Chantelle

ARC Review: The Gift of Darkness by V.M. Giambanco

Title: The Gift of Darkness
Author: V.M. Giambanco
Genre: Thriller, Mystery
Release Date: June 6, 2013
Source: The Book Depository Affiliate Program
Goodreads | The Book Depository

Twenty-five years ago in the woods near the Hoh River in Seattle, three boys were kidnapped. One did not come home.
A quarter of a decade later, a family of four is found brutally murdered, the words thirteen days scratched near their lifeless bodies.

Homicide Detective Alice Madison ran away from home as a child, one breath away from committing an unforgivable act; as an adult, she found her peace chasing the very worst humanity has to offer. Madison believes these murders are linked. And she has thirteen days to prove it.

To stop a psychopath, Madison must go back into the woods and confront the unsolved mystery of the Hoh River Boys. She must forget her training and follow her instincts to the terrifying end as enemies become allies and, in the silent forest, time is running out to save another life.

Review by Nara

Book Blitz: The Heiresses by Allison Rushby (Guest Post + Giveaway)

In Allison Rushby's Heiresses, three triplets--estranged since birth--are thrust together in glittering 1926 London to fight for their inheritance, only to learn they can’t trust anyone--least of all each other.

When three teenage girls, Thalia, Erato and Clio, are summoned to the excitement of fast-paced London--a frivolous, heady city full of bright young things--by Hestia, an aunt they never knew they had, they are shocked to learn they are triplets and the rightful heiresses to their deceased mother's fortune. All they need to do is find a way to claim the fortune from their greedy half-brother, Charles. But with the odds stacked against them, coming together as sisters may be harder than they think.

Clean Sweep ARC Challenge May 2013: Goals Post

Both of us here at Looking for the Panacea have such an overflowing May ARC review schedule that we decided to take part in the Clean Sweep ARC Challenge of May 2013! This challenge is hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer and The Windy Pages. If you want to sign up too, here's the link. This post will just be outlining what books we want to read and review for the challenge.

Waiting on Wednesday [5]

Hi! And welcome to Chantelle's post for Waiting on Wednesday, where I'll be spotlighting my most anticipated releases over the next month! So without further delay,

This month, I am going completely crazy waiting for...

ARC Review: Twisted by Marjorie Brody

Title: Twisted
Author: Marjorie Brody
Genre: Contemporary Young Adult, Suspense

Goodreads rating: 4.20 out of 5.00 (5 ratings pre-release)
Goodreads link | Book Depository | Amazon

Sarah Hausman must hide a secret-even from herself. If she acknowledges the truth, it will destroy everyone she loves. 
Timid fourteen-year-old Sarah wants her controlling mother to stop prying into what happened the night of the freshman dance. Confess to the police? No way. Confide in her mother? Get real. The woman is too busy, too proud, and too jealous of Sarah to really care if her life disintegrates. Besides, her mother will say Sarah is totally to blame for what the boys did-which Sarah believes is true. So she doubly needs to shield the truth. Not just from Momma. But from everyone. Including herself.
Beautiful, confident, eighteen-year-old Judith Murielle lives the ideal life. She has college plans, respect from family and friends, and a fiance she adores. But as a mysterious connection pulls her toward Sarah, Judith's perfect world unravels. Acting as Sarah's sole confidante, Judith gains the power to expose her secret. Will the truth be worth the sacrifice? Or will Sarah stop at nothing to keep Judith quiet?

Review by Chantelle

Book Blitz: Come Back to Me by Coleen Patrick (Excerpt + Giveaway)

Title: Come Back to Me
Author: Coleen Patrick
Publication date: March, 2013
Genre: YA Contemporary

Goodreads | Amazon

Whitney Denison can’t wait to start over.

She thought she had everything under control, that her future would always include her best friend Katie… Until everything changed.

Now her life in Bloom is one big morning after hangover, filled with regret, grief, and tiny pinpricks of reminders that she was once happy. A happy she ruined. A happy she can’t fix.

So, she is counting down the days until she leaves home for Colson University, cramming her summer with busywork she didn’t finish her senior year, and taking on new hobbies that involve glue and glitter, and dodging anyone who reminds her of her old life.

When she runs into the stranger who drove her home on graduation night, after she’d passed out next to a ditch, she feels herself sinking again. The key to surviving the summer in Bloom is unraveling whatever good memories she can from that night.

But in searching for answers, she’ll have to ask for help and that means turning to Evan, the stranger, and Kyle, Katie’s ex-boyfriend. Suddenly, life flips again, and Whitney finds herself on not only the precipice of happy but love, too, causing her to question whether she can trust her feelings, or if she is falling into her old patterns of extremes.

As she uncovers the truth about her memories, Whitney sees that life isn’t all or nothing, and that happy isn’t something to wait for, that instead, happy might just be a choice.

Review: The Gingerbread House by Nell Carson

Title: The Gingerbread House
Author: Nell Carson
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Source: The author

Goodreads rating: 3.95 out of 5.00
Goodreads | The Book Depository | Amazon

After a tumultuous past, Greta Kendall has focused mainly on her bridal shop, located on the first floor of her beloved Queen Anne Victorian near Aspen. For two years she’s fought to save her house from Stephanie Harwood of Harwood Development, who is intent on razing her home to build a new mall. But now Greta’s running out of time. The town council is about to approve the final plans for the mall.

When Gray Daniels walks into her shop, Greta is immediately attracted to his rugged good looks and midnight blue eyes, until she learns he’s Stephanie Harwood’s fiancé. She’s furious to find they’ve tricked her into a publicity stunt aimed at garnering support for the mall. So now her little war has a new front: Gray Daniels. If only she could also fight her growing attraction to him.

A knock on the door brings a return of old danger, and Greta must now put aside her anguish over the house to discover if she’s at last capable of looking the past in the eye and overcoming it—and if she’s finally free to love again.

Review by Nara and Chantelle

Stacking the Shelves [6]

It's time for Stacking the Shelves with Nara again! This time I'll be showing you some of the books I've collected in April.

Review: The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Lost Prince (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten #1)
Author: Julie Kagawa
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Source: Harlequin (UK) Ltd via NetGalley
Goodreads | The Book Depository | Amazon

Don’t look at Them. Never let Them know you can see Them.

That is Ethan Chase’s unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs—including his reputation—begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he’d dare to fall for.

Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister’s world—the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myth and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten.

Review by Nara

Spring Fling Giveaway Hop/100 Follower Giveaway

Looking for the Panacea has reached 100 Followers!! (Okay, this was a while back, but we haven't had a chance to celebrate yet!) We decided to take part in this hop to celebrate. So, on this stop, you can win a book of choice from TBD. Here are some suggestions:

ARC Review: Game. Set. Match. by Jennifer Iacopelli

Title: Game. Set. Match. (Outbanks Tennis Academy #1)
Author: Jennifer Iacopelli
Genre: Contemporary New Adult, Romance, Sports

Goodreads rating: 4.33 out of 5.00 (30+ ratings, pre-release)
Goodreads | Amazon

Nestled along the coastline of North Carolina, the Outer Banks Tennis Academy is the best elite tennis training facility in the world. Head Coach, Dominic Kingston has assembled some of the finest talent in the sport. From the game's biggest stars to athletes scraping and clawing to achieve their dreams, OBX is full of ego, drama and romance. Only the strong survive in this pressure cooker of competition, on and off the court.

Penny Harrison, the biggest rising star in tennis, is determined to win the French Open and beat her rival, the world’s number one player, Zina Lutrova. There’s just one problem, the only person who’s ever been able to shake her laser-like focus is her new training partner. Alex Russell, tennis’s resident bad boy, is at OBX recovering from a knee injury suffered after he crashed his motorcycle (with an Aussie supermodel on the back). He's hoping to regain his former place at the top of men’s tennis and Penny’s heart, while he’s at it.

Tennis is all Jasmine Randazzo has ever known. Her parents have seven Grand Slam championships between them and she’s desperate to live up to their legacy. Her best friend is Teddy Harrison, Penny’s twin brother, and that’s all they’ve ever been, friends. Then one stupid, alcohol-laced kiss makes everything super awkward just as she as she starts prepping for the biggest junior tournament of the year, the Outer Banks Classic.

The Classic is what draws Indiana Gaffney out of the hole she crawled into after her mom’s death. Even though she’s new to OBX, a win at the Classic is definitely possible. She has a big serve and killer forehand, but the rest of her game isn’t quite up to scratch and it doesn’t help that Jasmine Randazzo and her little minions are stuck-up bitches or that Jack Harrison, Penny’s agent and oldest brother, is too hot for words, not to mention way too old for her.

Who will rise? Who will fall? 

Told from rotating points of view, GAME. SET. MATCH. is a 'new adult' novel about three girls with one goal: to be the best tennis player in the world.


Review by Chantelle