The Geekish Reader

Title:   The Sweetest Spell Author:   Suzanne Selfors Genre:   YA, Fairy Tale re-telling Pages:   416 Published:   August 2012 Publisher:   Walker Childrens Source:   via Author Buy Links:   Amazon, Kobo, Book Depository Synopsis: Emmeline Thistle, a dirt-scratcher's daughter, has escaped death twice-first, on the night she was born, and second, on the day her entire village was swept away by flood. Left with nothing and no one, Emmeline discovers her rare and mysterious ability-she can churn milk into chocolate, a delicacy more precious than gold. Suddenly, the most unwanted girl in Anglund finds herself desired by all. But Emmeline only wants one - Owen Oak, a dairyman's son, whose slow smiles and lingering glances once tempted her to believe she might someday be loved for herself. But others will stop at nothing to use her gift for their own gains-no matter what the cost to Emmeline. Magic and romance entwine in this fantastical world wher...

Title:   Secrets of the Henna Girl Author:   Sufiya Ahmed Genre:   YA Pages:   270 Published:   March 2012 Publisher:   Penguin Source:   via Publisher Where to buy:   Amazon Synopsis: Life as Zeba knows it could be over for good... Zeba Khan is like any other sixteen-year-old girl: enjoying herself, waiting for exam results... and dreaming of the day she'll meet her one true love. Except her parents have other plans. In Pakistan for the summer, Zeba's world is shattered. Her future is threatened by an unthinkable - and forced - duty to protect her father's honour. Zeba has finished school for the year and is eagerly awaiting the results for her exams and is looking forward to school the following year.  The annual trip home to Pakistan to visit her parents relatives isn’t something she’s been looking forward to, she’d rather spend the summer with her best friend. Arriving in Pakistan, Zeba’s life is drastically changed.  She fi...

Title:   Dust Girl Author:   Sarah Zettel Genre:   YA, Paranormal Pages:   304 Published:   June 2012 Publisher:   Random House Source:   NetGalley Where to buy:   Amazon Synopsis: Callie LeRoux lives in Slow Run, Kansas, helping her mother run their small hotel and trying not to think about the father she’s never met. Lately all of her energy is spent battling the constant storms plaguing the Dust Bowl and their effects on her health. Callie is left alone when her mother goes missing in a dust storm. Her only hope comes from a mysterious man offering a few clues about her destiny and the path she must take to find her parents in "the golden hills of the west": California. Along the way she meets Jack, a young hobo boy who is happy to keep her company — there are dangerous, desperate people at every turn. And there’s also an otherworldly threat to Callie. Warring fae factions, attached to the creative communities of American society, are very m...

Title:   The Wild Queen Author:   Carolyn Meyer Genre:   Historical Fiction, YA Pages:   432 Published:   June 2012 Publisher:   Harcourt Source:   via Publisher Where to buy:   Amazon Synopsis: Mary Stuart was just five years old when she was sent to France to be raised alongside her future husband. But when the frail young king dies, eighteen-year-old Mary is stripped of her title as Queen of France and set adrift in the harsh world, alone. Determined to reign over what is rightfully hers, Mary returns to Scotland. Hoping that a husband will help her secure the coveted English throne, she marries again, but the love and security she longs for elude her. Instead, the fiery young queen finds herself embroiled in a murder scandal that could cost her the crown. And her attempts to bargain with her formidable “sister queen,” Elizabeth I of England, could cost her her very life. A young woman who wants nothing more then love and security in her l...

Title:   Pilgrims Don’t Wear Pink Author:   Stephanie Kate Strohm Genre:   YA, Contemporary Pages:   204 Published:   May 2012 Publisher:   Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Source:   Thomas Allen Where to buy:   Amazon Synopsis: A story of crushes, corsets, and conspiracy. Libby Kelting had always felt herself born out of time. No wonder the historical romance-reading, Jane Austen-adaptation-watching, all-around history nerd jumped at the chance to intern at Camden Harbor, Maine’s Oldest Living History Museum. But at Camden Harbor Libby’s just plain out of place, no matter how cute she looks in a corset. Her cat-loving co-worker wants her dead, the too-smart-for-his-own-good local reporter keeps pushing her buttons, her gorgeous sailor may be more shipwreck than dreamboat — plus Camden Harbor’s haunted. Over the course of one unforgettable summer, Libby learns that boys, like ghosts, aren’t always what they seem. I have to say I really related to Libb...

Title:   Purity Author:   Jackson Pearce Genre:   YA, Contemporary Pages:   218 Published:   April 2012 Publisher:   Little Brown Source:   via Publisher Where to buy:   Amazon Synopsis: A novel about love, loss, and sex -- but not necessarily in that order. Before her mother died, Shelby promised three things: to listen to her father, to love as much as possible, and to live without restraint. Those Promises become harder to keep when Shelby's father joins the planning committee for the Princess Ball, an annual dance that ends with a ceremonial vow to live pure lives -- in other words, no "bad behaviour," no breaking the rules, and definitely no sex. Torn between Promises One and Three, Shelby makes a decision -- to exploit a loophole and lose her virginity before taking the vow. But somewhere between failed hook-up attempts and helping her dad plan the ball, Shelby starts to understand what her mother really meant, what her father ...

Title:   Sisters of Glass Author:   Stephanie Hemphill Genre:   YA, Historical Pages:   160 Published:   March 2012 Publisher:   Alfred A. Knopf Source:   NetGalley Where to buy:   Amazon Synopsis: Maria is the younger daughter of an esteemed family on the island of Murano, the traditional home for Venetian glassmakers. Though she longs to be a glassblower herself, glassblowing is not for daughters—that is her brother's work. Maria has only one duty to perform for her family: before her father died, he insisted that she be married into the nobility, even though her older sister, Giovanna, should rightfully have that role. Not only is Giovanna older, she's prettier, more graceful, and everyone loves her. Maria would like nothing more than to allow her beautiful sister, who is far more able and willing to attract a noble husband, to take over this role for her. But they cannot circumvent their father's wishes. And when a new young glassblower ...

Title:   Illuminate Author:   Aimee Agresti Genre:   YA, Paranormal Pages:   534 Published:   March 2012 Publisher:   Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Source:   via Thomas Allen Where to buy:   Amazon Synopsis: Haven Terra is a brainy, shy high school outcast. But everything begins to change when she turns sixteen. Along with her best friend Dante and their quiet and brilliant classmate Lance, she is awarded a prestigious internship in the big city— Chicago—and is sent to live and work at a swanky and stylish hotel under the watchful eyes of a group of gorgeous and shockingly young-looking strangers: powerful and alluring hotel owner Aurelia Brown; her second-in-command, the dashing Lucian Grove; and their stunning but aloof staff of glamazons called The Outfit. As Haven begins falling for Lucian, she discovers that these beautiful people are not quite what they seem. With the help of a mysterious book, she uncovers a network of secret passageways fro...

Title:   Rae of Hope Author:   W. J. May Genre:   YA, Paranormal Pages:   247 Published:   September 2011 Publisher:   Mitchell Morris Source:   via Bewitching Book Tours Where to buy:   Amazon Synopsis: How hard do you have to shake a family tree to find out the truth of the past? Fifteen-year-old Rae Kerrigan has never questioned her family’s history. That is until she accepted a scholarship to Guilder Boarding School in England. Guilder is a very unique, gifted school. Rae has no idea what she is getting herself into or that her family’s past is going to come back and taunt her. She learns she is part of an unparalleled group of individuals who become marked with a unique tattoo (tatù) on their sixteenth birthday. The tatù enables them to have supernatural powers particular to the shape of their marking. Both her parents were marked though Rae never knew, as they passed away when she was young and never told her. Learning about her family’s p...

About the Author: Wanita May grew up in the fruit belt of Ontario - St.Catharines.  Crazy-happy childhood, she always has had a vivid imagination and loads of energy. The youngest of six -- four older brothers, and sister -- they taught her at a young age to be competitive in all aspects of life. At sixteen, she began competing in athletics (track and field) and before she turned seventeen, she was representing Canada in high jump.  She continued to compete, breaking Canada's JR High Jump record (1.92m - 6' 3 1/2" for those metric-ly challenged).  She attented University of Toronto, and Kansas State University - graduating with a BS degree in Kinesiology and beginning her Masters in Business. She is currently married, and the mother of three adorable kids. After her father passed away in 2009, from a six-year battle with cancer (which she still believes he won the fight against), she began to write again.  A passion she'd loved for years, but reali...

Title:   The Agency – The Traitor in the Tunnel Author:   Y. S. Lee Genre:   YA, Historical Pages:   373 Published:   February 2012 Publisher:   Candlewick Press Source:   NetGalley Where to buy:   Amazon Synopsis: Get steeped in suspense, romance, and high Victorian intrigue as Mary goes undercover at Buckingham Palace - and learns a startling secret at the Tower of London. Queen Victoria has a little problem: there's a petty thief at work in Buckingham Palace. Charged with discretion, the Agency puts quick-witted Mary Quinn on the case, where she must pose as a domestic while fending off the attentions of a feckless Prince of Wales. But when the prince witnesses the murder of one of his friends in an opium den, the potential for scandal looms large. And Mary faces an even more unsettling possibility: the accused killer, a Chinese sailor imprisoned in the Tower of London, shares a name with her long-lost father. Meanwhile, engineer James Ea...

Title:   The Wicked and the Just Author:   J. Anderson Coats Genre:   Historical Fiction Pages:   352 Published:   April 2012 Publisher:   Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Source:   via Publisher Where to buy:   Amazon ~ Book Depository Synopsis: Cecily’s father has ruined her life. He’s moving them to occupied Wales, where the king needs good strong Englishmen to keep down the vicious Welshmen. At least Cecily will finally be the lady of the house. Gwenhwyfar knows all about that house. Once she dreamed of being the lady there herself, until the English destroyed the lives of everyone she knows. Now she must wait hand and foot on this bratty English girl. While Cecily struggles to find her place amongst the snobby English landowners, Gwenhwyfar struggles just to survive. And outside the city walls, tensions are rising ever higher—until finally they must reach the breaking point. Furious with her father, poor, poor Cecily has been for...

Title:   Mark of the Seer Author:   Jenna Kay Genre:   YA, Paranormal Published:   March 2012 Publisher:   Crushing Heart and Black Butterfly Publishin Source:   Bewitching Book Tours Where to buy: Amazon Synopsis: CLARITY MILLER always thought of her life as semi-normal. She had friends that would do anything for her, a boyfriend that was madly in love with her, and a roof over her head that she shared with her aunt. Everything seemed to be falling into place. That is, until the day she met Sam. When Sam informs her that he’s her guardian angel and that she has been given the gifts of a Seer, her life starts spiraling out of control. She wants nothing to do with the spiritual realm. All she wants is to have a normal life as a teenager, but when a tragedy occurs that causes the whole town of Garlandton to fall to its knees she realizes that she has a very important decision to make. Should she embrace the life of a Seer? Onl...

Title:   A Million Suns Author:   Beth Revis Genre:   Science Fiction, YA Pages:   386 Published:   January 2012 Publisher:   Razorbill Source:   Publisher Where to buy:   Amazon Synopsis: Godspeed was fueled by lies. Now it is ruled by chaos. It's been three months since Amy was unplugged. The life she always knew is over. And everywhere she looks, she sees the walls of the spaceship Godspeed. But there may just be hope: Elder has assumed leadership of the ship. He's finally free to enact his vision - no more Phydus, no more lies. But when Elder discovers shocking news about the ship, he and Amy race to discover the truth behind life on Godspeed. They must work together to unlock a puzzle that was set in motion hundreds of years earlier, unable to fight the romance that's growing between them and the chaos that threatens to tear them apart. We pick up with Amy, Elder and the occupants of the Godspeed exactly where we l...

Title:   Touch of Power Author:   Maria V. Snyder Genre:   Paranormal, YA Pages:   394 Published:   December 2011 Publisher:   Mira Source:   Netgalley Synopsis: Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan absorbs their wounds and diseases into herself. But rather than being honored for her skills, she is hunted. Healers like Avry are accused of spreading the plague that has decimated the Fifteen Realms, leaving the survivors in a state of chaos. Stressed and tired from hiding, Avry is abducted by a band of rogues who, shockingly, value her gift above the golden bounty offered for her capture. Their leader, an enigmatic captor-protector with powers of his own, is unequivocal in his demands: Avry must heal a plague-stricken prince—leader of a campaign against her people. As they traverse the daunting Nine Mountains, beset by mercenaries and magical dangers, Avry must decide who is worth healing and what is worth dying...

Title:   Drink Slay Love Author:   Sarah Beth Durst Genre:   YA Paranormal Pages:   320 Published:   September 2011 Source:   Galley Grab - Simon & Schuster Synopsis: (via GoodReads) Pearl is a sixteen-year-old vampire... fond of blood, allergic to sunlight, and mostly evil... until the night a sparkly unicorn stabs her through the heart with his horn. Oops. Her family thinks she was attacked by a vampire hunter (because, obviously, unicorns don't exist), and they're shocked she survived. They're even more shocked when Pearl discovers she can now withstand the sun. But they quickly find a way to make use of her new talent. The Vampire King of New England has chosen Pearl's family to host his feast. If Pearl enrolls in high school, she can make lots of human friends and lure them to the King's feast -- as the entrees. The only problem? Pearl's starting to feel the twinges of a conscience. How can she serve up her new friends—es...

Title:   Bloodlines Author:   Richelle Mead Genre:   Paranormal YA Synopsis: (via GoodReads) The first book in Richelle Mead's brand-new teen fiction series - set in the same world as Vampire Academy. When alchemist Sydney is ordered into hiding to protect the life of Moroi princess Jill Dragomir, the last place she expects to be sent is a human private school in Palm Springs, California. But at their new school, the drama is only just beginning. Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Bloodlines explores all the friendship, romance, battles and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive - this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone's out for blood. About the Author: Scorpio Richelle Mead is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of urban fantasy books for both adults and teens. Originally from Michigan, Richelle now lives ...

Title:   The Crepe Maker's Bond Author:   Julie Crabtree Genre:   YA, Fiction Pages:   288 Published:   October 2010 ISBN:  1571316930 Publisher:   Milkweed Editions Source:   Publisher via NetGalley Synopsis: Ariel is the head chef in her family kitchen. Cucumber salads, fettuccine carbonara, fish tacos, and peanut butter pie are just a few of the dishes she crafts when she’s feeling frustrated by the world. And it’s turning into a frustrating year.  Ariel, Nicki, and Mattie have been inseparable friends since they were little kids, but now Mattie’s mom has decided to move away. It’s the girls’ last year in middle school, and they can’t fathom being separated. The friends concoct a plan that will keep Mattie in the Bay area — she’ll move in with Ariel and her family. But before you can say "BFF," the party is over. Everything Mattie does gets on Ariel’s nerves, and it’s not long before the girls are avoiding each ot...

Title:   Devil's Kiss Author:   Sarwat Chadda Pages:   352 Genre:   YA, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Published:   July 2010 ISBN:  1423120221 Publisher:   Hyperion Source:   via Pam from Bookalicious for review Synopsis: As the youngest and only female member of the Knights Templar, Bilquis SanGreal grew up knowing she wasn't normal. Instead of hanging out at the mall or going on dates, she spends her time training as a soldier in her order's ancient battle against the Unholy.  Billi's cloistered life is blasted apart when her childhood friend, Kay, returns from Jerusalem, gorgeous and with a dangerous chip on his shoulder. He's ready to reclaim his place in Billi's life, but she's met someone new: amber-eyed Michael, who seems to understand her like no one else, effortlessly claiming a stake in her heart. But the Templars are called to duty before Billi can enjoy the pleasant new twist to her life. One of the order...