May 2020 Releases

The following is a list of books released in May 2020, which was last month.

Books I Read & Rated 5 Stars in 2015

A short list – only six books – but a good collection. Only one was published in 2015; the others are from previous years.

[REVIEW] Resistance – Jenna Black

Jenna Black
Resistance (Replica, Book 2)
Macmillan Tor (US: 11th March 2014; AU: 1st September 2014)
Buy (US Kindle Edition) Buy (US Paperback) Buy (UK Kindle Edition) Buy (UK Paperback) Buy (CA Kindle Edition) Buy (CA Paperback) Buy (Worldwide)

TRIGGER WARNING: Threat of sexuality “reprogramming”.

(Just a threat; it doesn’t happen.)

Why is this novel’s society advanced enough to create replicas of particular people, yet the Chairman’s Heir’s sexuality has to be kept secret? Supposedly because of the financial/political benefits of an arranged marriage, and then possible heirs, but I’m not entirely convinced.

Anyway, why did I wait so long to read this Resistance? Possibly because Book 1, Replica, is worth five stars, and I worried this wouldn’t have the same quality? I shouldn’t have been concerned, because Resistance is another five-star read in this amazing trilogy. Early on in the book I had a theory, and it turns out to be correct, but that didn’t stop me loving the book, anyway.

And yes, plot convenience seems to trump realism when teens easily overpower their adult adversaries in physical combat, and get away with sneaking around on “sanctuary”/”retreat” grounds.

And Nate Hayes is SO BLOODY ANNOYING in this book, though his opinion later changes somewhat. Can I forgive him because he shows character development by novel’s end? I won’t entirely, because his thoughts and behaviour in regards to Agnes Belinski are absolutely appalling. The trilogy’s world is rather classist, yet what bothers Executive teen Nate the most? Someone who’s “not beautiful” (which is the nicest thing said about Agnes’s appearance in this novel) and lacks social skills. Oh, but then Nate figures it’s good Agnes is meek, because she’ll just go along with whatever he says.

Not cool, Nate. Not cool.

By the end of the story, Nate comes to the conclusion that Agnes isn’t so bad after all, compared to the novel’s villains, but still… However, Nadia Lake is much nicer about, and towards, Agnes – though this might be counted as Nadia’s “save the cat” moment (in scriptwriting terms). Yes, she criticises Agnes’s looks, outfits, and behaviour, but only silently. Outwardly, Nadia is much nicer to her.

But Agnes’s ill-fitting and unflattering clothes don’t make sense, anyway. She’s an Executive, so surely her family could afford a stylist, or for someone else to provide her wardrobe? Maybe her lack of style is just another thing that Nate can hold against her.

Admittedly, Nate has reason to not like Agnes (they’re being forced into an arranged engagement), but still…that’s their parents’ fault; not her doing.

These criticisms aside, I loved the book and highly recommend this trilogy.

September 2014 Releases

Done with August 2014 Releases? Here are September 2014 Releases. For future releases, check Reading Wishlist.

11th March 2014 Releases

Happy Release Day to:

Jenna Black
Resistance (Replica, Book 2)
Macmillan Tor Teen (US: 11th March 2014)
Buy (US) Buy (UK) Buy (CA) Buy (Worldwide)
Nate Hayes is a Replica. The real Nate was viciously murdered, but thanks to Paxco’s groundbreaking human replication technology, a duplicate was created that holds all of the personality and the memories of the original. Or…almost all. Nate’s backup didn’t extend to the days preceding his murder, leaving him searching for answers about who would kill him, and why. Now, after weeks spent attempting to solve his own murder with the help of his best friend and betrothed, Nadia Lake, Nate has found the answers he was seeking…and he doesn’t like what he’s discovered. The original Nate was killed because he knew a secret that could change everything. Thanks to Nadia’s quick thinking, the two of them hold the cards now – or think they do. Unfortunately, neither of them fully understands just how deep the conspiracy runs.

Laurie Cinotto
The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee
Macmillan Roaring Brook (US: 11th March 2014)
Buy (US) Buy (UK) Buy (CA) Buy (Worldwide)
The skinny on itty bitty kitties, from a real-life Kitten Wrangler! What do kittens eat? Why do they love to play? How should you hold a kitten? Can you train them? Or do they train you? This photo-heavy, breezy-yet-informative guide book for middle-grade readers and up comes from the hugely popular Itty Bitty Kitty Committee website. It’s full of useful information about kittens as well as funny stories about the many kitties the Itty Bitty Kitty Committee has fostered over the years. The author is the site’s mastermind, Laurie Cinotto, who brings years of practical kitten experience to bear. She’s joined by another pre-eminent expert on raising kittens – Charlene Butterbean, Laurie’s permanent adult cat.

Bree Despain
The Shadow Prince (Into the Dark, Book 1)
Random House Egmont (US & CA: 11th March 2014)
Buy (US) Buy (UK) Buy (CA) Buy (Worldwide)
Haden Lord, the disgraced prince of the Underrealm, has been sent to the mortal world to entice a girl into returning with him to the land of the dead. Posing as a student at Olympus Hills High – a haven for children of the rich and famous – Haden must single out the one girl rumoured to be able to restore immortality to his race. Daphne Raines has dreams much bigger than her tiny southern Utah town, so when her rock star dad suddenly reappears, offering her full tuition to Olympus Hills High’s prestigious music program, she sees an opportunity to catch the break she needs to make it as a singer. But upon moving into her estranged father’s mansion in California, and attending her glamorous new school, Daphne soon realises she isn’t the only student in Olympus who doesn’t quite belong. Haden and Daphne – destined for each other – know nothing of the true stakes their fated courtship entails. As war between the gods brews, the teenagers’ lives collide. But Daphne won’t be wooed easily and when it seems their prophesied link could happen, Haden realises something he never intended – he’s fallen in love. Now to save themselves, Haden and Daphne must rewrite their destinies. But as their destinies change, so do the fates of both their worlds.

March 2014 Releases

Done with February 2014 Releases? Here are March 2014 Releases. For future releases, check Reading Wishlist.

Now Available for US Pre-Order

Jenna Black: RESISTANCE: 11th March 2014: Buy (US)
Jessica Brody: UNFORGOTTEN: 26th February 2014: Buy (US)
Meljean Brook, Carolyn Crane, & Jessica Sims: FIRE & FROST anthology: 25th May 2013: Buy (US)
Megan Crewe: THE LIVES WE LOST (paperback): 7th January 2014: Buy (US)
Erica Hayes: CHERRY KISSES: 23 May 2013: Buy (US)
Rhiannon Held: TARNISHED (mass market paperback): 1st January 2014: Buy (US)
Sarah K.: BONDS OF LOVE: 21st January 2014: Buy (US)
Mary Miller: THE LAST DAYS OF CALIFORNIA: 20th January 2014: Buy (US)
Monica Seles: LOVE MATCH: 25th February 2014: Buy (US)
Kassy Tayler: REMNANTS OF TOMORROW: 4th February 2014: Buy (US)
Bethany Wiggins: CURED: 4th March 2014: Buy (US)

4 New Covers (Bick, Black, Cohn, Mead)