Looking Forward To...

So I said in my best of early 2010 post that I'd get up a looking forward to post for the rest of the year up soon. That was a few weeks ago and I haven't. Oops. Never mind, it's here now.

The first half of 2010 has had some awesome releases, but I am just as excited for the second half of it. There are a few final books to series/trilogies coming out which I'm at the same time desperate for and wanting to put off, because I don't want them over. Some debut releases which look and sound fantastic. And the next books in several series that I adore. Listing every upcoming release on my wish list would take a really long while, so here are the highlights and why I'm looking forward to them. (Most of the dates listed are US ones. UK and other countries may differ, check Amazon or whatever book retailer you use for more info. Or order from Book Depository who ship free to most of the world)

Forget You by Jennifer Echols. Standalone book [YA, contemporary, romance] - I actually just read this yesterday (review coming) and loved it. But official release date hasn't passed yet, so I'm leaving it on the list. It's awesome! First chapter is online here. Out July 20th

Waking The Witch by Kelley Armstrong. The Otherworld #11 [urban fantasy] - first book from Savannah's POV who we've seen growing up since book #2. Excited to see what she's really like. Chapters 1-3 here. Out July 27th

Wait For Dusk by Jocelynn Drake. Dark Days #5 [urban fantasy] - Pray For Dawn had a killer cliff hanger, and the blurb for this one only adds to it. This is one I am dying for. Out July 27th

Jealousy by Lili St Crow. Strange Angels #3 [YA, urban fantasy] - after the end of Betrayals, I'm very, very excited to see what happens next for Dru and Graves. Okay, Christophe too, but Graves in my guy ;) Mostly though, I love this series because Dru is another female protagonist who is strong, can stand up for herself, she's flawed, and boys aren't all she thinks about. Out July 29th.

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. Final book in the Hunger Games trilogy. [YA, dystopia] - if you've not yet read the first Hunger Games book, you need to. It is immense and it will explain why this is one of the books I've most wanted all year, let alone just the later half. Out August 24th

Blameless by Gail Carriger. Parasol Protectorate #3. [steampunk, urban fantasy, paranormal romance] - Soulless and Changeless were fantastic, funny, intense and brilliant. Changeless ending on a killer cliff hanger, and I have a desperate need to know what happens next! Out September 1st

Return To Paradise by Simone Elkeles. Sequel to Leaving Paradise. [YA, contemporary, romance] - Leaving Paradise is one of the very best YA books I've ever read. I can not wait for the continuation of Caleb and Maggie's story. Out September 1st (discrepancy on date with 3 different sites, so this may be wrong, apologies if it is!)

Bayou Moon by Ilona Andrews. The Edge #2. [urban fantasy, fantasy, paranormal romance...take your pick] - Ilona and Gordon's Kate Daniels series is immense, but this secondary series of theirs is also very good. Loved the first book and really looking forward to this second one about werewolf William! Out September 28th

Alpha by Rachel Vincent. Shifters #6 [urban fantasy] - this is another book that's been at the very top of my most wanted list. The final book in Rachel's awesome Shifters series. Books 4 and 5 were just incredible, and there is much left unanswered as the war between Prides comes to a head. The ending should be something! Chapter one is here. Out October 1st

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer. Debut book, first of series. [YA, urban fantasy] - werewolf book I've been hearing a lot about lately. Stunning cover and the blurb sounds great. First chapter? Totally awesome!! It's here if you want to read it, and you really should! Very excited to read the rest of it because I'm already really hooked. Out October 19th

Magic At The Gate by Devon Monk. Allie Beckstrom #5. [urban fantasy] - Magic on the Storm, Allie #4, was fantastic (review coming soon) my favourite of the series yet. But its another one that left on a cliff hanger with a lot possible and a lot far from good for Allie! Loving this series a lot and looking forward to finding out what happens next. Out November 2nd

Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead. Vampire Academy #6. [YA, urban fantasy] - anyone who's spent even a little time talking with me, or followed the blog for a short time, will know that Vampire Academy is one of my biggest obsessions and one of my all time favourite series. So of course the final book has been top of my must have list for a long while! Bittersweet because I'll be very sad to see the end of Rose and Dimitri's story, but very, very excited to see just how it ends. Only one thing I'm 100% sure of and that's that Richelle will have something surprising in store, because that's been the case for almost all of her books, YA and adult. Out December 7th.

Few others I'm looking forward to:
Eternal Kiss of Darkness by Jeaniene Frost [paranormal romance] Out July 27th
As Lie The Dead by Kelly Meding [urban fantasy] Out July 27th
Paranormalcy by Kiersten White [YA, urban fantasy] Out August 31st
Firelight by Sophie Jordan [YA, fantasy] Out September 7th
Something Wicked by Michelle Rowen [paranormal romance] Out October 5th
Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick [YA, paranormal romance] Out October 14th
Matched by Ally Condie [YA, dystopia] Out November 30th

And a couple anthologies with great author line ups to also watch for:
Kiss Me Deadly [YA, paranormal romance] Edited by Trishia Telep, authors incl. Rachel Vincent, Karen Mahoney, Becca Fitzpatrick, Carrie Ryan, Michelle Rowen + more. Out August 3rd
Kisses From Hell [YA, paranormal romance] Authors Kelley Armstrong, Richelle Mead, Alyson Noel, Kristin Cast and Francesca Lia Block. Out August 24th.
Dark and Stormy Knights [urban fantasy] Edited by P. N. Elrod, authors inlc. Ilona Andrews, Jim Butcher, Carrie Vaughn, Vicki Pettersson + more. Out 20th July (Book Depository has it in stock already)