Waiting on Wednesday (25)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine where we all feature upcoming books we're eagerly anticipating.


I've altered things a little to include one book that hasn't come out yet and one that has already been published but I still haven't gotten around to reading yet.

Snow in Summer by Jane Yolen
The Decoy Princess by Dawn Cook


Goodreads description of Snow in Summer (November 10, 2011):

With her black hair, red lips, and lily-white skin, Summer is as beautiful as her father's garden. And her life in the mountains of West Virginia seems like a fairy tale; her parents sing and dance with her, Cousin Nancy dotes on her, and she is about to get a new baby brother. But when the baby dies soon after he's born, taking Summer's mama with him, Summer's fairy-tale life turns grim. Things get even worse when her father marries a woman who brings poisons and magical mirrors into Summer's world. Stepmama puts up a pretty face, but Summer suspects she's up to no good - and is afraid she's powerless to stop her.

This Snow White tale filled with magic and intrigue during the early twentieth century in Appalachia will be hard to forget.

Why I want to read it:

OOooh a Snow White retelling! I'm all for that. I don't think I've ever seen one set in early 20th century Appalachia either, so I'm really curious to see how the author adapts the story to this setting. And how can I say no to that gorgeous cover?

Product description of Everlasting (June 1, 2010):

Sailing aboard her father’s trade ship is all seventeen-year-old Camille Rowen has ever wanted. But as a girl of society in 1855 San Francisco, her future is set: marry a man she doesn’t love, or condemn herself and her father to poverty.

On her final voyage before the wedding, the stormy arms of the Tasman Sea claim her father, and a terrible family secret is revealed. A secret intertwined with a fabled map, the mother Camille has long believed dead, and an ancient stone that wields a dangerous—and alluring—magic.

The only person Camille can depend on is Oscar, a handsome young sailor whom she is undeniably drawn to. Torn between trusting her instincts and keeping her promises to her father, Camille embarks on a perilous quest into the Australian wilderness to find the enchanted stone. As she and Oscar elude murderous bushrangers and unravel Camille’s father’s lies, they come closer to making the ultimate decision of who—and what—matters most.

Beautifully written and feverishly paced, Everlasting is an unforgettable journey of passion, secrecy, and adventure.
 

Why I want to read it:

Let's see...historical setting, family secrets, a magical stone, a fabled map, murderous bushrangers, a handsome sailor, shipwrecks, adventure, a perilous quest...why would I not want to read it?! This just sounds like everything I love all wrapped up into one beautiful book. The sequel, The Eternal Sea (with a disappointingly meh cover) just came out earlier this month, so I should really get to reading this book already!

Have any of you read either of these books? Would you recommend them? 

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