Waiting on Wednesday (269) The Evil Queen (The Forest of Good and Evil #1) by Gena Showalter

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

This week I'm waiting on:

The Evil Queen (The Forest of Good and Evil #1) by Gena Showalter

 

Welcome to the Forest of Good and Evil. A dream come true, and a living nightmare.

Evil isn’t born, it’s made. One thought and action at a time. Take a good look at what you’ve made.

Far, far away, in the realm of Enchantia, creatures of legend still exist, magic is the norm and fairy tales are real. Except, fairy tales aren’t based on myths and legends of the past—they are prophecies of the future.

Raised in the mortal realm, Everly Morrow has no idea she’s a real life fairy tale princess—until she manifests an ability to commune with mirrors.

Look. See… What will one peek hurt?

Soon, a horrifying truth is revealed. She is fated to be Snow White’s greatest enemy, the Evil Queen.

With powers beyond her imagination or control—and determined to change Fate itself—Everly returns to the land of her birth. There, she meets Roth Charmaine, the supposed Prince Charming. Their attraction is undeniable, but their relationship is doomed.

As bits and pieces of the prophecy unfold, Everly faces one betrayal after another, and giving in to her dark side proves more tempting every day. Can she resist, or will she become the queen—and villain—she was born to be? (Blurb via Goodreads)

Expected publication: June 25, 2019

What are you waiting on?

Waiting on Wednesday (85) The Closer You Come (The Original Heartbreakers #1) by Gena Showalter

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

This week I'm waiting on: 

The Closer You Come (The Original Heartbreakers #1) by Gena Showalter

New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter introduces the Original Heartbreakers, where three not-quite-reformed bad boys are about to meet the women who will bring them to their knees.

Just released from prison, Jase Hollister has only one goal: stay out of trouble. Strawberry Valley, Oklahoma, sounds like the perfect place for him and his two brothers-by-circumstance to settle down and live a nice, simple life. Model citizen isn’t exactly this rugged bachelor’s default setting—especially when it comes to a certain hot-blooded Southern beauty—but he's determined to play by the rules.

Brook Lynn Dillon has always been the responsible type. Not that it’s done her much good. The down-on-her-luck waitress is broke, single and wouldn’t know fun if it bit her. Or so she thinks. Jase makes bad look oh, so good. Dangerous, sexy and tempting as sin, he is everything she never knew she wanted. Passion sizzles between them, but is it enough to melt his resistance? After all, the right kind of trouble might be just what he needs… (Blurb via Goodreads)

Expected publication: March 31, 2015

What are you waiting on?

Waiting on Wednesday (52) The Queen of Zombie Hearts (White Rabbit Chronicles #3) by Gena Showalter

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

This week I'm waiting on: 

The Queen of Zombie Hearts (White Rabbit Chronicles #3) by Gena Showalter

I have a plan.

We'll either destroy them for good, or they'll destroy us.

Either way, only one of us is walking away.

Alice 'Ali' Bell thinks the worst is behind her. She's ready to take the next step with boyfriend Cole Holland, the leader of the zombie slayers; until Anima Industries, the agency controlling the zombies, launches a sneak attack, killing four of her friends. It's then she realizes that humans can be more dangerous than monsters; and the worst has only begun.

As the surviving slayers prepare for war, Ali discovers she, too, can control the zombies and she isn't the girl she thought she was. She's connected to the woman responsible for killing and turning Cole's mother. How can their relationship endure? As secrets come to light, and more slayers are taken or killed, Ali will fight harder than ever to bring down Anima even sacrificing her own life for those she loves. (Blurb via Goodreads)

Expected publication:  September 30th 2014

What are you waiting on?

{YA Review} Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter

{YA Review} Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter

She won’t rest until she’s sent every walking corpse back to its grave. Forever.

Had anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that’s all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone.

Her father was right. The monsters are real….

To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn’t careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies….

I wish I could go back and do a thousand things differently.
I'd tell my sister no.
I'd never beg my mother to talk to my dad.
I'd zip my lips and swallow those hateful words.
Or, barring all of that, I'd hug my sister, my mom and my dad one last time.
I'd tell them I love them.
I wish... Yeah, I wish.

(Blurb from Goodreads)

{Details}: Harlequin Teen, Released September 25, 2012, 404 pages. Source: Library

{Stars} 4/5

{Review} Alice in Zombieland started slow. Sad. I could see where it was going, I could see the train wreck at the end of the tunnel. So I put the book down and moved onto something less ... sad. But I picked it up again the next day and I'm so glad I did, by the time I was 10% in, I was hooked.

Poor lost Alice. She leaves everything behind, even her name. She can't be Alice, can't be anything she was before. Though Ali has lost everything she's brave. She's afraid but chooses to fight anyway, to confront the monsters in the dark. And she refuses to back down for anyone, which made me cheer her on. I'm glad that Showalter gave Ali Kat, a supportive and caring friend. Kat is awesome in her own right and an awesome friend for Ali, she brings levity to an otherwise dark story.

Cole. Loved Cole. Really loved Cole. Hot, skilled, complex. He's got depth, we see it in the way he cares for his friends, in the way he cares for Ali.

Showalter is a skilled storyteller. Her writing was snappy, descriptive and the story never lagged. She also isn't afraid of causing trauma, emotional and physical, to her characters. There was a large supporting cast but they are memorable. They retained their distinct personalities instead of becoming that girl who ... or that guy who ... Each character had a distinct voice.

At the end of the book we're left with questions. There was a definite ending, no cliffhangers in sight, thank goodness because I hate those, but there were unanswered questions. Questions about Ali's abilities, about Emma, about the journal, the visions. I can't wait until the next book, Through The Zombie Glass, comes out in September.