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Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Waiting On Wednesday (15): Penguin Spring 2012 Catalog

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking The Spine in which an upcoming, eagerly anticipated release is highlighted on the blog.

Is anyone else tired of winter and excited for spring to finally get here? I know I am - not just for the weather to change, but also for the great books that will be released in the springtime. This week, I've chosen a few picks from the Penguin Spring 2012 Catalog:


A Temptation of Angels by Michelle Zink
Date: March 20, 2012


When her parents are murdered before her eyes, sixteen-year-old Helen Cartwright finds herself launched into an underground London where a mysterious organization called the Dictata controls the balance of good and evil. Helen learns that she is one of three remaining angelic descendants charged with protecting the world's past, present, and future. Unbeknownst to her, she has been trained her whole life to accept this responsibility. Now, as she finds herself torn between the angelic brothers protecting her and the devastatingly handsome childhood friend who wants to destroy her, she must prepare to be brave, to be hunted, and above all to be strong, because temptation will be hard to resist, even for an angel. 

I love the combination of paranormal plus historical fantasy. Also, because I've read a lot of not so great angel stories, I'm eager to have my mind changed about them and I'm hopeful that A Temptation of Angels can accomplish that!



My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
Date: June 14, 2012


The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, numerous, messy. And every day from her balcony perch, seventeen year old Samantha wishes she was one of them… until the day Jase Garrett climbs her terrace and changes everything.

Jase can sense that his beautiful neighbor is missing something in her sterile home, and as the two fall fiercely in love, his family makes her one of their own.

But when the bottom drops out of Sam's world, which perfect family will save her–and will her perfect love survive? 


Ever since reading Anna and the French Kiss last year, I've been opening my mind to the possibility that maybe contemporary romance isn't as bad as I thought it was. Maybe it can even be kind of amazing? And I'm thinking My Life Next Door might be kind of amazing too.



Tokyo Heist by Diana Renn
Date: June 14, 2012


Sixteen-year-old Violet loves reading manga and wearing scarves made from kimono fabric, so she’s thrilled that her father’s new painting commission means a summer trip to Japan. But what starts as an exotic vacation quickly turns into a dangerous treasure hunt.
Her father’s client, the wealthy Yamada family, is the victim of a high-profile art robbery. Someone has stolen van Gogh sketches from the Yamadas’ Seattle mansion, and is holding them hostage until the Yamadas can produce the corresponding van Gogh painting.
The problem is that nobody knows where this painting is hidden, and until they find it, all of their lives are in danger. Violet’s search for the missing van Gogh takes her from the Seattle Art Museum, to the yakuza-infested streets of Tokyo, to a secluded inn in Kyoto. As the mystery deepens, Violet’s not sure whom she can trust.
But she knows one thing: she has to find the painting and the criminals—before it’s too late.


Ever since reading and loving White Cat, I've been really into the heist/con concept in novels. It takes a considerable amount of intelligence in an author to pull off a considerably good heist and mystery, and I'm hopeful Diana Renn will deliver in Tokyo Heist. Plus, I love Tokyo as a setting!



The Vindico by Wesley King
Date: June 14, 2012


Led by the sinister Baron, the Vindico are a group of super villains who have been fighting against the League of Heroes for as long as they can remember. The Vindico kidnap a group of teenagers and train them to be the next generation. Mysteriously arriving at the Baron’s mansion together, James, Lana, Hayden, Emily and Sam are forced to train with their mentors and given powers beyond their wildest dreams.

While struggling to uncover the motives of this evil group, the teens learn to trust each other and even form friendships. They plan to rebel against their mentors as soon as they are deemed ready to fight against the League of Heroes, but then they learn things may not be as cut-and-dry as they seem: both in their new roles and in their outside lives.


The Vindico sounds super fun! I adore superhero stories. I also love multiple narrators, but I think it's pretty tricky to get it done right, so hopefully Wesley King can pull off having distinct voices in all of his characters.


How about you? Are you waiting on any of these Penguin Spring 2012 reads? Are there any upcoming books from the Penguin Spring 2012 Catalog that I didn't include here that you feel I should add to my list?

35 comments :

  1. SO EXCITED for A Temptation of Angels and My Life Next Door, those cannot release soon enough! The other two are new to me but sound fabulous, so they're of course getting added to the list. So many good books coming out in the next few months, I love it!

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    1. I know! I've never really taken the time to peruse through catalogs so in depth, but I'm finding after doing it now that there are soooo many good books about to come out - and I don't have that much time in the day :)

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  2. AAAAAAAAH A Temptation of Angels is HIGH on my list! I just adore Michelle Zink and can't wait to get my hands on it! And that cover? Gorgeous! Also really excited for My Life Next Door! Great choices!

    Check out my WoW this week!

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    1. I've yet to have read anything by Michelle ZInk actually!

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  3. Great choices temptation of angels is my fave, interesting. Good choice.

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  4. Oooh, I hadn't heard of The Vindico so I'm glad you featured it! I love superheroes, too, and this sounds like it'll be really great. Off to add it to my list!

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  5. "A Temptation of Angels" has been on my list for a while, but the others I hadn't heard of. I'm glad you shared because I am now going to add them all to my TBR list! Great choices and thank you :)
    Becs @ Wicked Ink

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  6. Temptation of Angels and My Life Next Door and high on my wishlist, too!! Penguin is awesome! :D

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  7. Can't wait for My Life Next Door!
    New follower :)

    Claire
    http://clairelouisereads.blogspot.com.au/

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  8. I also cannot wait for My Life Next Door and Temptation of Angels either! Fantastic choices :D

    My WoW this week

    Amy @ Turn the Page (YA)

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  9. The book by Michelle Zink looks pretty amazing!

    Hope you have a great day (:

    Celine ~ Nyx Book Reviews
    My WoW

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  10. You know why I'm loving contemporary YA more than paranormal/supernatural YA, because you rarely get those love triangle situations going on. My Life Next Door sounds awesome. I didn't know about it before this post. Thanks!

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    1. I don't read a lot of contemporary, but from what I've gathered, you're quite right. There does seem to be less romance shenanigans. More realistic.

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  11. SO with you on the first two. FAB list :)

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  12. I love the sound of My Life Next Door and The Vindico! I'm on a contemp binge right now, so My Life Next Door sounds like my kinda thing. I'm going to write these down!

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  13. Hi!

    My Life Next Door is a book I'm waiting since a few weeks already. It's exactly the kind of book I like to read sometimes. :)

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    1. Hi! It's not really my kind of book, but I am hoping to start reading more contemporaries.

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  14. Great picks - I REALLY love the look of My Life Next Door!

    Mine is here if you'd like to take a look.

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  15. Sounds like great choices , enjoy!

    http://tributebooksmama.blogspot.com/2012/02/waiting-on-wednesday_15.html

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  16. I had never heard of Tokyo Heist before, but now it's added to the TBR list! Great picks!

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  17. Tokyo Heist piqued my interest because of art heists + Tokyo, my favourite place in the world. I haven't heard of Vindico either but I love superheroes and team bonding! It really does so fun and I hope the author pulls it off too. Love your picks!

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    1. I know, I would love to go to Tokyo someday!!

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  18. Oh, how I love Penguin's catalogs. There's always a ton of great stuff! I'm especially looking forward to My Life Next Door (sounds so cute!) and A Temptation of Angels. :)

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  19. Can't wait for A Temptation of Angels! Thanks for sharing =)

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  20. Oh wow these all look awesome! I especially can't wait for Temptation of Angels!

    Giselle
    Xpresso Reads

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  21. I'm excited for all of these, but I think Tokyo Heist looks the coolest.

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  22. Great picks.
    I don't know how I feel about the Temptation of Angels, mostly because it sounds like a love square.

    But the other books sound really great! particularly Tokyo Heist!

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    1. Eh, yeah... really not into love triangles so of course, love squares are far worse.

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  23. they have such an awesome catalog! I love THE VINDIGO though :)

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  24. I'm dying to read Temptations of Angels and My Life Next Door as well !! I hadn't heard of The Vindico until now and it sounds very unique so thank you Aylee :) !!
    Great picks ;)

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  25. Tokyo Heist sounds like it'll be such fun! I'm definitely looking forward to all of these,

    Awesome choices! :)

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  26. I can't wait to read Temptations of Angels. I love Zink's books. I'm also very excited about Tokyo Heist! I've always wanted to visit Tokyo.

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    1. I've yet to read anything by Zink... I've heard mixed things about her Prophecy of the Sisters series, but I am curious to try out something of hers myself.

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