Friday, July 6, 2012

Beat the Heat with an Enthralling Reads

Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin

Everything is in ruins.

A devastating plague has decimated the population. And those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles to pieces around them.

So what does Araby Worth have to live for?

Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery make-up . . . and tantalizing ways to forget it all.

But in the depths of the club—in the depths of her own despair—Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club. And Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither boy is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does.

And Araby may find something not just to live for, but to fight for—no matter what it costs her.


Claire de Lune by Christine Johnson

Torn between two destinies?

Claire is having the perfect sixteenth birthday. Her pool party is a big success, and gorgeous Matthew keeps chatting and flirting with her as if she's the only girl there. But that night, she discovers something that takes away all sense of normalcy: she's a werewolf.

As Claire is initiated into the pack of female werewolves, she must deal not only with her changing identity, but also with a rogue werewolf who is putting everyone she knows in danger. Claire's new life threatens her blossoming romance with Matthew, whose father is leading the werewolf hunt. Now burdened with a dark secret and pushing the boundaries of forbidden love, Claire is struggling to feel comfortable in either skin. With her lupine loyalty at odds with her human heart, she will make a choice that will change her forever?


The Obsidian Blade by Pete Hautman

The first time his father disappeared, Tucker Feye had just turned thirteen. The Reverend Feye simply climbed on the roof to fix a shingle, let out a scream, and vanished - only to walk up the driveway an hour later, looking older and worn, with a strange girl named Lahlia in tow. In the months that followed, Tucker watched his father grow distant and his once loving mother slide into madness. But then both of his parents disappear. 

Now in the care of his wild Uncle Kosh, Tucker begins to suspect that the disks of shimmering air he keeps seeing - one right on top of the roof - hold the answer to restoring his family. And when he dares to step into one, he's launched on a time-twisting journey- from a small Midwestern town to a futuristic hospital run by digitally augmented healers, from the death of an ancient prophet to a forest at the end of time. Inevitably, Tucker's actions alter the past and future, changing his world forever.

Dark Vengeance by Jeff Mariotte

When a gorgeous stranger seeks refuge at Kerry’s summer-share house, she knows her life is about to change. Daniel Blessing is mysterious and charismatic—and on the run from a powerful witch named Season. Kerry and her friends don’t believe in witches and spells, but Kerry can’t help believing Daniel…and falling for him.

But falling for Daniel pulls her into a feud his family has been waging for generations. A dark feud of passion, magic, and revenge. Which means all of their lives are in serious danger. Because now Season wants Kerry and her friends dead, too.


Our Kingdom by Naduki Koujima

Upon the death of his grandmother, country boy Akira Nonaka is taken in by the immensely wealthy and powerful Takatou family. To this simple boy's surprise, he is told of his candidacy to become heir of the Takatou name. However, the princely and handsome Rei, is also a likely contender. Far from being competitive, Rei shows no interest in the prospect of inheritance, and instead takes an immediate liking to Akira. Rei's aggressive showings of affection bewilder the naive country boy, until Akira begins to discover a budding attraction towards Rei within himself.


Menkui! Volume #2 by Suzuki Tanaka

Our lovers, Kotori and Akaiwa continuing to keep their relationship a secret from everyone, but their one confider, Chikage, is running out of patience. Before they can figure out whats got their friend in such a bad move, Kotori finds himself captured by a beautiful ancient ghost in one of the school's bathroom mirrors. On top of that, a special houseguest drops by to pay Kotori a visit when he gets sick.



Menkui! Volume #3 by Suzuki Tanaka

Kotori and Akaiwa may be getting along fine so far but what will happen when a girl from the past shows up to get in the way? Will the couple's bond remain strong, or will Akaiwa's out of control fits of jealousy become too much for poor Kotori? And what crazy adventures await when Kotori finds himself in a bizarre parallel world where all of his friends are acting out of character?