Thursday 31 December 2009

Favourite Reads of 2009

So here are my favourite reads of 2009. I tried to cut them down to my top 10 but it proved too hard so I gave up!



My favourite read, though, had to be Hush Hush. I just loved that book!

Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick (review)
Two Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt (review)
You Are So Undead to Me by Stacey Jay (review)
Zombie Queen of Newbury High by Amanda Ashby (review)
Bite Me by Melissa Francis (review)
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater (review)
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (review)
Hold Still by Nina LaCour (review)
The Hate List by Jennifer Brown (review)
Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols (review)
Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler (review)
Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr (review)
Cracked Up to Be by Courtney Summers (review)
Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott (review)
If I Stay by Gayle Forman (review)
My Love Lies Bleeding by Alyxandra Harvey

Oops I forgot Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead - loved that one too:)

Tuesday 29 December 2009

I want to read that...


I’d love a cup of coffee. I wish she knew how pretty she was. I wish I could drop this kid in the dryer sometimes. I just want her to be happy. I hope she didn’t find out what Ben said about her. I wish I knew how many calories were in a bite of muffin

Joy is used to hearing Whispers. She’s used to walking down the street and instantly knowing people’s deepest, darkest desires. She uses this talent for good, to make people happy and give them what they want. But for her older sister, Jessica, the family gift is a curse, and she uses it to make people’s lives—especially Joy’s—miserable. Still, when Joy Hears Jessica whisper: I want to kill my Hearing dead, and kill me too if that’s what it takes, she knows she has to save her sister, even if it means deserting her friends, stealing a car and running away with a boy she barely knows—a boy who may have a dark secret of his own.

This sounds really good! It's published April 27th 2010 by Balzer & Bray (US)

Cover Wars: 13 Treasures



UK / US


I love 13 Treasures by Michelle Harrison and love the UK cover. I saw the US cover on a IMM post on Sunday and thought it looked really interesting! I really can't decide which one I like best.

Which do you prefer?

Monday 28 December 2009

Favourite Covers of 2009














Here are my favourite covers of 2009 - I've only included books published 2009 and I'm sure I've missed a few good ones ... so let me know if there are any you think I should have included:)

Sunday 27 December 2009

In my mailbox (20)

In my mailbox is hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren

Even though I promised myself I would not buy any books this week as my TBR pile is ridiculously high I succumbed to these:

Sucks to be Me: The All-true Confessions of Mina Hamilton, Teen Vampire (maybe) by Kimberly Pauley
From Goodreads: Mina Hamilton's parents want her dead. (Or undead to be precise.) They're vampires, and like it or not, Mina must decide whether to become a vampire herself. But Mina's more interested in hanging out with best friend Serena and trying to catch the eye of the too-hot-for-high-school Nathan Able than in the vampire training classes she's being forced to take. How's a girl supposed to find the perfect prom date and pass third-year French when her mom and dad are breathing down her neck--literally?

My Love Lies Bleeding by Alyxandra Harvey
From Amazon: The Blakes are rather different to your usual neighbours. They are vampires and some of the members of the family date back to the twelfth century. One of the children, Solange, is the only born female vampire known and, as such, she poses a direct threat to the vampire queen. Her best friend Lucy is human, and when Solange is kidnapped Lucy and Solange's brother, Nicholas, set out to save her. Lucy soon discovers that she would like to be more than just friends with Nicholas. But how does one go about dating a vampire? Meanwhile, Solange finds an unlikely ally in Kieran, a vampire slayer on the hunt for his father's killer.


How did you all do?

Wednesday 23 December 2009

Extreme Kissing by Luisa Plaja


REVIEW COPY: Luisa Plaja
From Amazon: Carlota and Bethany are best friends. Bethany is the sensible one with a long-term boyfriend, Carlota is the crazy one with a wild past and rebellious nature. All is fine in their world - apart from Carlota hating her stepdad and longing for a old flame. And apart from Bethany thinking her boyfriend is about to dump her and that her period is late...Carlota comes up with a plan to put all their troubles behind them and go on a girls-only wild day out, with only their favourite magazine to guide them through the day. If they open it on a fashion page they have to get hold of a fabulous new outfit and pretend to be models. If they open it to a page on snogging, they have to find a boy to snog. The magazine will take them everywhere they need to go - but will it help them to reveal the secrets they are keeping from each other?

This really exceeded my expectations. I had a good idea that I’d like it as it’s my kind of book but it had much more depth than I was expecting. It was really witty and good fun – I’m really taken by the whole extreme travelling and am tempted to try it myself – but in addition to that we also get some brilliant characterisation. I connected to Bets straight away and she is the kind of girl I could see myself being friends with. Carlota took a longer for me to warm to but I have the feeling that was intentional – it wasn’t until we are introduced to Yves and Zac that I really felt as if I was ‘seeing’ the real Carlota – something I felt was brilliantly executed by the author . I also have to add that I REALLY loved the character of Zac and the moments between him and Bets are some of my favourites.

The main reason I loved this book though is that it covers so many different things and you don’t even realise it. I loved getting to see Carlota’s relationship with her parents unfold, to see the girls realised that although they share a strong bond they don’t know everything about each other and to see Bets finally realise what has been going on. Which brings me nicely to the ending. I did not see it coming and it was brilliant! I won't say anymore because I don’t want to ruin it for anyone else as it was such a great moment for me.

In other reviews I have seen comparisons to Louise Rennison and liz Retting and I agree with these completely, but I would also compare it to Meg Cabot for the fun factor and to Sara Zarr for the brilliantly created characters. I thoroughly enjoyed it and am really looking forward to reading Split by a Kiss :)

Tuesday 22 December 2009

I want to read that...

My So-Called Death by Stacey Jay

Just because you don't have a pulse doesn't mean you can't be perky. One second, sophomore Karen Vera's on top of the most fabulous cheer pyramid ever. The next, she's lying on the pavement with seriously unflattering cranial damage. Freakishly alive without a pulse, Karen learns that she's a genetically undead zombie. Soon, Karen is sent off to DEAD High, a boarding school for the "death-challenged," and her non-life is suddenly an epic disaster. She's stuck with a greasy-haired, wannabe-Goth roommate who hates her guts. She's chowing down on animal brains every day to prevent rot (um, ew?). Even worse, someone is attacking students and harvesting their brains for a dark ritual . . . and it might be the hottest guy at DEAD High, the one who makes Karen's non-beating heart flutter! As more brains are stolen—including her best friend's—Karen tracks down the brain snatcher to save her fellow students from certain zombie death.


I loved 'You Are So Undead To Me' so I am really looking forward to this:) It is published (in the US) March 2010

Saturday 19 December 2009

In my mailbox (19)

In my mailbox is hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren

This week I bought:

The Knife of Never Letting Go (Chaos Walking, #1) by Patrick Ness
This is an unflinching novel about the impossible choices of growing up, by an award-winning writer.Imagine you're the only boy in a town of men. And you can hear everything they think. And they can hear everything you think. Imagine you don't fit in with their plans...Todd Hewitt is just one month away from the birthday that will make him a man. But his town has been keeping secrets from him. Secrets that are going to force him to run...

Hope you all had a great week:)

Friday 18 December 2009

I recommend that... Adult Crossovers

This post is inspired by the fantastic posts on Chicklish recommending books for gifts/presents to buy. You can check them out here


Here are some Adult Books I'd recommend that I think would appeal to Young Adult readers. Please bear in mind though that they are adult titles so some of the content might not be suitable for younger readers:)

The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons

From Fantastic Fiction: Set in Leningrad in 1941 against Hitler's invasion of Russia, this story tells of the impossible love between a Russian girl, Tatiana, and a young officer named Alexander. It is a love that could tear Tatiana's family apart and it carries a secret that could mean death for anyone who hears it.

This is one of my favourite books ever! It took me a day to read this and I didn't move until I'd finished - LOVE IT!!!!! It's the first in a trilogy - followed by Tatiana and Alexander and then The Summer Garden.



The Time Travellers Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
From Goodreads: Audrey Niffenegger's innovative debut, The Time Traveler's Wife, is the story of Clare, a beautiful art student, and Henry, an adventuresome librarian, who have known each other since Clare was six and Henry was thirty-six, and were married when Clare was twenty-three and Henry thirty-one. Impossible but true, because Henry finds himself periodically displaced in time, pulled to moments of emotional gravity from his life, past and future. His disappearances are spontaneous, his experiences unpredictable, alternately harrowing and amusing. The Time Traveler's Wife depicts the effects of time travel on Henry and Clare's marriage and their passionate love for each other, as the story unfolds from both points of view. Clare and Henry attempt to live normal lives, pursuing familiar goals - steady jobs, good friends, children of their own. All of this is threatened by something they can neither prevent nor control, making their story intensely moving and entirely unforgettable.

Recently been made into a film (which I haven't seen yet - is it any good?) - I just loved the whole idea of this. I gave a copy to my 13 year old niece who (apparently) sobbed her way through it and then told her mum she just had to read it as it's amazing!

Size 12 is Not Fat by Meg Cabot
From Goodreads: HEATHER WELLS ROCKS!

Or, at least, she did. That was before she left the pop-idol life behind after she gained a dress size or two -- and lost a boyfriend, a recording contract, and her life savings (when Mom took the money and ran off to Argentina). Now that the glamour and glory days of endless mall appearances are in the past, Heather's perfectly happy with her new size 12 shape (the average for the American woman!) and her new job as an assistant dorm director at one of New York's top colleges. That is, until the dead body of a female student from Heather's residence hall is discovered at the bottom of an elevator shaft.

The cops and the college president are ready to chalk the death off as an accident, the result of reckless youthful mischief. But Heather knows teenage girls . . . and girls do not elevator surf. Yet no one wants to listen -- not the police, her colleagues, or the P.I. who owns the brownstone where she lives -- even when more students start turning up dead in equally ordinary and subtly sinister ways. So Heather makes the decision to take on yet another new career: as spunky girl detective!

But her new job comes with few benefits, no cheering crowds, and lots of liabilities, some of them potentially fatal. And nothing ticks off a killer more than a portly ex-pop star who's sticking her nose where it doesn't belong . . .


My favourite Meg Cabot series - they are great fun and I really hope she writes more soon. There are currently 3 in the series with the next being Size 14 is not Fat Either and then Size Doesn't Matter (AKA Big Boned)

Grave Sight by Charlaine Harris
From Goodreads: Harper Connelly has what you might call a strange job: she finds dead people. The way Harper sees it, she's providing a service to the dead while bringing some closure to the living-but she's used to most people treating her like a blood-sucking leech. Traveling with her stepbrother Tolliver as her manager and sometime-bodyguard, she's become an expert at getting in, getting paid, and getting out fast. Because for the living it's always urgent-even if the dead can wait forever.

I love Charlaine Harris and this is my favourite series of hers. I love the premise and the mysteries are always really good. There are currently 3 in the series and a new one to be published in January 2010. Alternatively, the Sookie Stackhouse books are also good:)

Storm Front by Jim Butcher
From Goodreads: Harry Dresden — Wizard

Lost items found. Paranormal investigations. Consulting. Advice. Reasonable rates. No Love Potions, Endless Purses, Parties, or Other Entertainment.

Harry Dresden is the best at what he does. Well, technically, he's the only at what he does. So when the Chicago P.D. has a case that transcends mortal creativity or capability, they come to him for answers. For the "everyday" world is actually full of strange and magical things—and most of them don't play well with humans. That's where Harry comes in. Takes a wizard to catch a—well, whatever.

There's just one problem. Business, to put it mildly, stinks. So when the police bring him in to consult on a grisly double murder committed with black magic, Harry's seeing dollar signs. But where there's black magic, there's a black mage behind it. And now that mage knows Harry's name. And that's when things start to get... interesting.

Magic. It can get a guy killed.


This is kind of like a grown up Harry Potter turn PI - I really enjoyed it! It is a bit scary in parts though - or I'm just a big wimp:) If you like it there are loads in the series.

Wednesday 16 December 2009

I want to read that...


Something Like Fate by Susane Colasanti


Lani and Erin are bonded for life. One thing that connects them is their fascination of fate. Lani wonders how much of our lives has already been decided and how much we can actually influence. Since the Unknown can unexpectedly change our lives forever, how much can we really control? From the minute Lani meets Jason, she can't deny the intense connection they share. It feels like she's known him forever. She's not sure if he feels it, too. But it doesn't matter. Because Jason is Erin's boyfriend. Lani is determined to ignore her feelings for Jason, no matter how powerful they are, rather than risk hurting her best friend. How long can Lani keep running from the boy who might be her destiny?


I really like the sound of this and I love the cover:) It's published (in the US) in May 2010. You can check out the author's website here

Monday 14 December 2009

I Recommend that ... Tearjerkers

This post is inspired by the fantastic posts on Chicklish recommending books for gifts/presents to buy. You can check them out here

I couldn't decide what to call this one - I was going to do it as realistic fiction but I wasn't sure 'If I Stay' would qualify so I called it Tearjerkers for the simple reason they all made me cry! So, in this category I would recommend...

If I Stay by Gayle Forman
From Goodreads: In a single moment, everything changes. Seventeenyear- old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall riding along the snow-wet Oregon road with her family. Then, in a blink, she finds herself watching as her own damaged body is taken from the wreck...
A sophisticated, layered, and heartachingly beautiful story about the power of family and friends, the choices we all make—and the ultimate choice Mia commands.


This just blew me away! I recommend this one to everyone:) You can read my review here.

Before I Die by Jenny Downham
From Goodreads: Tessa has just months to live. Fighting back against hospital visits, endless tests, drugs with excruciating side-effects, Tessa compiles a list. It’s her To Do Before I Die list. And number one is Sex. Released from the constraints of ‘normal’ life, Tessa tastes new experiences to make her feel alive while her failing body struggles to keep up. Tessa’s feelings, her relationships with her father and brother, her estranged mother, her best friend, and her new boyfriend, all are painfully crystallised in the precious weeks before Tessa’s time finally runs out.

This one definitely made me cry - I pretty much sobbed my way through the second half! I loved how it is written and it really feels as if you are in Tessa's head experiencing everything with her.

Cracked Up To Be by Courtney Summers
From Goodreads: What's the worst thing you've ever done? When "Perfect" Parker Fadley starts drinking at school and failing her classes, all of St. Peter's High goes on alert. How has the cheerleading captain, girlfriend of the most popular guy in school, consummate teacher's pet, and future valedictorian fallen so far from grace? Parker doesn't want to talk about it. She'd just like to be left alone, to disappear, to be ignored. But her parents have placed her on suicide watch and her counselors are demanding the truth. Worse, there's a nice guy falling in love with her and he's making her feel things again when she'd really rather not be feeling anything at all. Nobody would have guessed she'd turn out like this. But nobody knows the truth. Something horrible has happened, and it just might be her fault.

I love this one. I was surprised at how clever this was - the small snippets of what had happened and the final revelation. You can read my review here.

Always & Forever by Lurlene McDaniel (US Publication)
From Goodreads: 16-year-old Melissa Austin has always worked hard to get what she wants. As the school year begins, her work is paying off: Her grades are up and she’s landed a coveted spot on the Brain Bowl team. She and her best friend, Jory Delaney, are determined to have the best junior year ever.Then Melissa receives devastating news about her health. At first she refuses to accept the doctor’s diagnosis, but as her illness gets worse, she cannot deny the truth. Only with the loving support of her family, and especially Jory, can Melissa come to terms with the mysteries of living . . . and dying.

I read this when I was a teenager and fell in love with it. I had been trying to track it down for ages when I finally found this release. I haven't re-read it yet but I am hoping it will live up to the memory of it.

Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume
From Amazon: Davey's father was murdered when a break-in at his store went horribly wrong. Now, Davey, her mother and her little brother are left shattered, with no idea how to go about rebuilding their lives. The family flees to New Mexico, to escape the painful memories. In this alien place, with its arid landscape and sunbaked earth, Davey meets Wolf, a mysterious boy who understands her without asking questions. Slowly she begins to piece the broken fragments of herself together again.

One of my favourite stories ever. I absolutely adore Judy Blume. You can read my review here.

Hate list by Jennifer Brown
From Goodreads: Five months ago, Valerie Leftman's boyfriend, Nick, opened fire on their school cafeteria. Shot trying to stop him, Valerie inadvertently saved the life of a classmate, but was implicated in the shootings because of the list she helped create. A list of people and things she and Nick hated. The list he used to pick his targets. Now, after a summer of seclusion, Val is forced to confront her guilt as she returns to school to complete her senior year. Haunted by the memory of the boyfriend she still loves and navigating rocky relationships with her family, former friends and the girl whose life she saved, Val must come to grips with the tragedy that took place and her role in it, in order to make amends and move on with her life.

This is such a powerful and raw book - I loved it. You can read my review here.

Hold still by Nina LaCour
From Goodreads:
dear caitlin, there are so many things that i want so badly to tell you but i just can’t.
Devastating, hopeful, hopeless, playful . . . in words and illustrations, Ingrid left behind a painful farewell in her journal for Caitlin. Now Caitlin is left alone, by loss and by choice, struggling to find renewed hope in the wake of her best friend’s suicide. With the help of family and newfound friends, Caitlin will encounter first love, broaden her horizons, and start to realize that true friendship didn’t die with Ingrid. And the journal which once seemed only to chronicle Ingrid’s descent into depression, becomes the tool by which Caitlin once again reaches out to all those who loved Ingrid—and Caitlin herself.


This is one of my favourite reads in 2009. You can read my review here.

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler
From Goodreads: "Don't worry, Anna. I'll tell her, okay? Just let me think about the best way to do it." "Okay." "Promise me? Promise you won't say anything?" "Don't worry." I laughed. "It's our secret, right?" According to her best friend Frankie, twenty days in is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy ever day, there's a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there's something she hasn't told Frankie---she's already had that kind of romance, and it was with Frankie's older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago. Beautifully written and emotionally honest, this is a debut novel that explores what it truly means to love someone and what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every single moment this world has to offer.

I thought this was beautifully written - I didn't want it to end! You can read my review here.

Saturday 12 December 2009

In my mailbox (18)

In my mailbox is hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren

This week I got the following books:

Fallen by Kate Lauren
There's something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori. Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price's attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He's the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move. Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce--and goes out of his way to make that very clear--she can't let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her. Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, Fallen is a page turning thriller and the ultimate love story.

Perfect Girl by Mary Hogan
Ruthie Bayer is stuck. Her mom is totally overprotective, her dad is nonexistent, and her best friends can't help her now when she needs them most: Out of the blue, Ruthie has fallen in love with the boy next door, Perry. Perry has suddenly grown up and made her heart go thwang, and Ruthie has no idea what to do about it.
Then a new girl shows up at school, and Ruthie realizes she has to do something, and fast. Jenna is perfect, from her perfectly straight hair to her perfectly manicured toes. Perry's noticed her, too, and worse, Jenna has noticed him right back. Ruthie knows she has to call her aunt, New York's "Goddess of Love." If Aunt Marty, romance columnist and woman of the world, can't turn Ruthie into a perfect girl, no one can . . . but she might also turn Ruthie's entire world upside down.


and many thanks to Becky @ The Bookette for sending me:

Ondine: The Summer of Shambles by Ebony McKenna
This is a brilliantly witty fairy tale with a mystery that is as surreal as it is sinister. One girl. One boy. One spell to be broken. Ondine de Groot is a normal fifteen-year-old who lives with her family in the European country of Brugel. She has a pet ferret called Shambles. But Shambles is no ordinary ferret...He's Hamish McPhee, a boy cursed by a witch. A witch who happens to be related to Ondine. When Shambles turns back into Hamish temporarily, Ondine knows that she has to help him break the spell. He is the most gorgeous boy she has ever met and her one true love! He just can't remain a ferret forever. Can he?

Hope you all had a great week:)

Friday 11 December 2009

I recommend that... Supernatural

This post is inspired by the fantastic posts on Chicklish recommending books for gifts/presents to buy. You can check them out here

Here are my recommends for Supernatural reads. I had a really tough time narrowing them down to the following picks. I tried to include some old and new:)

You Are So Undead to Me by Stacey Jay (US publication).
From Goodreads:
Q: HOW MANY ZOMBIES DOES IT TAKE TO RUIN A SOCIAL LIFE?A: NOT MANY.
Megan Berry is a Zombie Settler by birth, which means she's part-time shrink to a whole bunch of semi-dead people with killer issues. All Megan really wants is to go to homecoming, but when you're trailed by a bunch of slobbering corpses whenever you leave the house, it's kinda hard to score a date. Let's just say Megan's love life could use some major resuscitation.
Megan's convinced her life can't get any worse - until someone in school starts using black magic to turn average, angsty Undead into scary, hardcore flesh-eating Zombies. Now it's up to Megan to stop the Zombie apocalypse. Her life - and more importantly, the homecoming dance - depends on it.


I just LOVED this. Her writing reminds me of Meg Cabot (which is excellent!) and this book is just fun. It's also a bit scary in places!

Mediator Series by Meg Cabot.
From Goodreads: Suze is a mediator -- a liaison between the living and the dead. In other words, she sees dead people. And they won't leave her alone until she helps them resolve their unfinished business with the living. But Jesse, the hot ghost haunting her bedroom, doesn't seem to need her help. Which is a relief, because Suze has just moved to sunny California and plans to start fresh, with trips to the mall instead of the cemetery, and surfing instead of spectral visitations.
But the very first day at her new school, Suze realizes it's not that easy. There's a ghost with revenge on her mind ... and Suze happens to be in the way.


Yes it's Meg again - I promise I'm not a Meg stalker - I just love her books. I love the Mediator series - the books are great fun, action packed and I adored the ending to the series. You can also check out her 1 - 800 Series which is also fantastic.

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
From Goodreads: St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger. . . .
Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.


Hmm Dimitri - need I say more? This is an excellent series that I'm sure anyone will love! You can read my review here.

City of bones (mortal Instruments Series)
From Goodreads: When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder - much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing - not even a smear of blood - to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy? This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know....

I adored this book and loved Jace! Loads of action, great characters - superb!

Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
From Goodreads: For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment. But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel. For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

I had to include this - it's just amazing. You can read my review for it here.

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
From Goodreads: For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human ... until the cold makes him shift back again. Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human--or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

This is also amazing. More of a love story and much more slow paced than the others but I really love it. You can read my review of it here

Old magic (US Publication)
From Goodreads: Jarrod Thornton is mesmerizing, but Kate Warren doesn't know why.
The moment the new guy walks into the room, Kate senses something strange and intense about him. Something supernatural. Her instincts are proven correct a few minutes later when, bullied by his classmates, Jarrod unknowingly conjures up a freak thunderstorm inside their classroom.
Jarrod doesn't believe in the paranormal. When Kate tries to convince him that he has extraordinary powers that need to be harnessed, he only puts up with her "hocus pocus" notions because he finds her captivating. However, the dangerous, uncontrolled strengthening of his gift finally convinces Jarrod that he must take Kate's theories seriously. Together, they embark on a remarkable journey -- one which will unravel the mystery that has haunted Jarrod's family for generations and pit the teens against immense forces in a battle to undo the past and reshape the future.


I read this years ago and absolutely loved it. Magic, time travel and romance!

Circle of Friends Series - L J smith (US publication / published in the UK 2010)
From Goodreads: The circle's power has lured her home
Forced to move from sunny California to gloomy New England, Cassie longs for her old life. Even so, she feels a strange kinship to a terrifying group of teens who seem to rule her school. Initiated into the coven of witches that's controlled New Salem for hundreds of years, she's drawn into the Secret Circle, a thrill that's both intoxicating and deadly. But when she falls for the mysterious and intriguing Adam, Cassie must choose whether to resist temptation or risk dark forces to get what she wants—even if it means that one wrong move could ultimately destroy her.


This is my favourite series by L J Smith. Witches, love triangles, action - it has it all! It's strangely divided into 2 books when it's a trilogy so I'd recommend getting both books!

Thursday 10 December 2009

If I Stay UK Paperback Covers

They are showing the new covers for the paperback releases of If I stay by Gayle Forman on Amazon and Goodreads. You can read by review for the book here - it's amazing!


Adult / Teen


What do you think of the new covers. I'm quite taken by the adult one but I much prefer the original hardback and absolutely love the US cover:

Hardback/ US


Which is your favourite?

Wednesday 9 December 2009

I Recommend that... Romance

This is inspired by the fantastic posts on Chicklish recommending books for gifts/presents to buy. You can check them out here. I thought it was such a good idea that I've stolen (borrowed?) it to do some recommendation posts of my own:) I'm divided them into themes with the first being ... Romance.

Audrey Wait by Robin Benway
From Amazon: Audrey Cutler is a normal Southern California girl. OK, her cat is overweight, but her best friend is awesome, and her parents might be hippies, but they adore her - because Audrey is funny, charming, and she likes her music loud. So she struggles with dumping her musician boyfriend, Evan. She loves his band, but he's just too self-involved. Audrey needs to move on. Then at one of Evan's gigs, Audrey gets to hear their brand new single and moving on doesn't seem so easy now: the song is called Audrey, Wait and it's all about her, and not in a good way ... The song storms quickly up the charts and reaches the top. Suddenly everyone wants to know: who is Audrey? The media is all over her like a rash, and what started out as annoying is becoming a nightmare! On top of this, it is ruining her chances with James, her colleague at Scooper Dooper ice cream parlour. Audrey's life is veering out of control and there's only one thing for it. She's going to have to stand up and tell the world her side of the story ...

This was really good fun. I liked the premise – speaking as someone who pretty much hates being the center of attention the idea of suddenly finding myself famous is cringe worthy - so it's fun watching Audrey try to deal with it. The romance is really sweet and well done.

Guyaholic by Carolyn Mackler
From Amazon: A hockey puck knocks V Valentine out and into the lap of Sam Almond. This is a turning point in V's life as Sam turns out to be a wonderful and caring boy, and he and V have a long and lasting relationship. But ultimately V is unable to deal with commitment. On the night of graduation she goes off with another boy, leaving Sam devastated. Sam moves to California and V embarks on a road trip to visit her mother in Texas during which she mulls over her relationship with Sam. She realizes what she has lost and changes direction, heading for California...

I love Carolyn Mackler. I’ve read all her books and loved them. This one is by far my favourite. I really loved V – and found it to be a sweet and sensitive love story. I read it in one sitting as I just had to know how things turned out between her and Sam.

Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols
From Amazon: High school senior Meg revels in being a rebel. She sports choppy blue hair, and tight t-shirts, cuts class, and is often found where she's not supposed to be. Like hanging out on a railroad-tracks-covered bridge that's off-limits to trespassers. When she and her friends are busted for trespassing and underage drinking, she's sentenced to spend her spring break riding along with a rookie police officer on his nightshift patrol. Compounding the punishment is the fact that the cop, John After, is only two years older than Meg, and a former classmate to boot. He thinks he has Meg's number and has nothing but contempt for her childish rebellion. Meg in turn has nothing but contempt for Officer After's straight-laced, by-the-book attitude. But Meg has her reasons for lashing out, and John has his reasons for his need for law and order. And they're about to discover that they have a lot more in common than either one of them could have dreamed...

This is just amazing and Jennifer Echols is fast becoming on of my favourite authors - see my review here.


All American Girl by Meg Cabot
From Amazon: Sam Madison never knew life could change overnight. But that’s exactly what happens when she saves the life of the President of the United States as she’s bunking off art class one night. Now an instant (if highly reluctant and very unlikely) celebrity, not to mention teen ambassador to the United Nations, Sam finds herself not only hanging out at the White House, but trying to stop herself falling for David, the President’s son . .

It's Meg - do I need to say more? This is my favourite romance of hers. I love Sam and think her and David are really cute together.

Two Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt (US publication)


From Amazon: There are two sides to every breakup.This is Jordan and Courtney, totally in love. Sure, they were an unlikely high school couple. But they clicked; it worked. They're even going to the same college, and driving cross-country together for orientation.Then Jordan dumps Courtney -- for a girl he met on the Internet.It's too late to change plans, so the road trip is on. Courtney's heartbroken, but figures she can tough it out for a few days. La la la -- this is Courtney pretending not to care.But in a strange twist, Jordan cares. A lot.Turns out, he's got a secret or two that he's not telling Courtney. And it has everything to do with why they broke up, why they can't get back together, and how, in spite of it all, this couple is destined for each other.

I just completely loved it and you get both sides of the story! See my review here.

Tuesday 8 December 2009

I want to read that...


Freaksville by Kitty Keswick

From Goodreads: High school is hard enough when you’re normal. There’s peer pressure, book reports, the in crowd and the enormous zit that has a life of its own. Having a family whose skeletons in the closet lean toward the paranormal is not a topper on anyone’s list. Sophomore Kasey Maxwell is busy juggling the typical teen angst. Add visions, ghosts and hairy four-legged monsters into the mix and you get FREAKSVILLE. It’s a wonder Kasey has survived. Every woman in the Maxwell family has the gift of sight. A talent sixteen-year-old Kasey would gladly give up. All she wants is a normal life. Shopping and talking about boys with her best friend and long-time sidekick Gillie Godshall consume her days. Until Kasey has a vision about Josh Johnstone, the foreign exchange student from England. The vision leads her into new waters, a lead in a play, a haunted theater…and into the arms of the Josh. Yet, both Kasey and Josh have secrets lurking in dark corners. Can Kasey’s new romance survive FREAKSVILLE?

This sounds really good! You can check out the author's website by clicking here. According to Goodreads it is published (by Leap Books) in January 2010 (in the US), but I haven't found it listed on any of the usual sites yet which is a bit worrying as I really want to read it! You can check out the trailer below:)



Monday 7 December 2009

Cover Wars: Hex Hall

The US cover of Hex Hall is now featured on Goodreads and the author's website and Amazon uk is showing the following cover for the UK release. I've got to say I REALLY like the US cover - I just find it really appealing. I think the UK one is okay but just doesn't have the same impact.



US / UK
What do you think?

Saturday 5 December 2009

In my mailbox (17)

In my mailbox is hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren

This week I purchased:

Hunted by P C and Kristen Cast Contains spoliers for previous books

From Amazon: 'The door closed with a sickening thud of finality, shutting my friends out and leaving me alone with my enemy, a fallen angel, and the monstrous bird creature his ancient lust had created. Then I did something I'd only done twice before in my life. I fainted.' It's all happening, though Zoey Redbird wishes it wasn't. She has her friends back, which is great. But a dark angel has taken over the House of Night, supported by High Priestess Neferet. Not so great. This leaves Zoey hiding out with the (supposedly friendly) red fledglings in Tulsa's prohibition-era tunnels. The not greatness continues. Zoey has some boy-thoughts to distract her, with a chance to make-up with super-hot-ex Eric. But thoughts of the archer that died, semi-permanently, in her arms also keep distracting her. Then he shows up as Neferet's newest minion. Well, hell. Zoey and friends need a plan to put things right, soon, if she's to keep both head and heart intact.

Tempted by P C and Kristen Cast Contains spoliers for previous books

From Amazon: Zoey needs a break after some serious excitement. Sadly, the House of Night school for vampyres doesn't feature breaks on its curriculum - even for a High Priestess in training and her gang. Plus juggling three guys is no stress reliever, especially when one is a sexy Warrior so into protecting Zoey that he's sensing her emotions. Wider stresses lurk too, and the dark force in Tulsa's tunnels is spreading. Could Stevie Rae be responsible for more than a group of misfit fledglings? And Aphrodite's visions warn Zoey to stay away from the immortal Kalona and his dark allure - but they also show that only Zoey can stop him. She's not exactly keen to meet up, but if Zoey don't go to Kalona he'll exact a fiery vengeance on those closest to her. She just has to find the courage to do what's necessary, or everything that's important to her will be destroyed

The Princess Diaries 10 by Meg Cabot

From Amazon: Mia is about to turn eighteen and has decided to put down her princess pen for good. This is your one and only chance to find out how it all ends – including the answers to hotter than hot questions like: Is the practically perfect J.P. the real love of Mia’s life? Will an election in Genovia mean the end of princessdom for Mia? Is she REALLY the last virgin at Albert Einstein High? And finally, crucially, will Michael Moscovitz return from Japan and make a last-minute romantic gesture just in time to save our heroine from making a VERY big mistake??? You have so got to read the book!

How did you all do?




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