Thursday 29 April 2010

I want to read that...


Freefall by Mindi Scott

From Goodreads:
How do you come back from the point of no return?

Seth McCoy was the last person to see his best friend Isaac alive, and the first to find him dead. It was just another night, just another party, just another time where Isaac drank too much and passed out on the lawn. Only this time, Isaac didn’t wake up. Convinced that his own actions led to his friend’s death, Seth is torn between turning his life around . . . or losing himself completely. Then he meets Rosetta: so beautiful and so different from everything and everyone he's ever known. But Rosetta has secrets of her own, and Seth will soon realize he isn’t the only one who needs saving . . .
I think this sounds great! It's published October 5th 2010 by Simon Pulse (US).

Wednesday 28 April 2010

Song Quest by Katherine Roberts (Blog Tour)


Becky at The Bookette has started a campaign to get this book back in print. All information about this can be found here. You can read her review or sign up for the tour here. She is also hosting an awesome contest to win the second book in this series by designing a book cover for Song Quest. You can find all the details for that here. You can visit Katherine Roberts' website here.


From Goodreads: Welcome to a world from another time -- where legendary half-creatures still exist. A world where nature itself can be controlled by unearthly music. A world where the forces of good and evil are held in harmony by the Singers who have mastered the secret Songs of Power. A world on the brink of destruction, threatened by a dark lord whose evil knows no bounds. Rialle and Kherron, two novice Singers, are all that's left to stand in the enemy's way. Stranded in a strange land with only one another to rely on, these former rivals must work together if they are to survive. In a timeless coming-of-age journey, Rialle and Kherron discover the strength of spirit that lies within them in their quest to help good triumph over evil.

This is one of those books I really wish I had read when I was younger. As an adult it’s a book I really enjoyed but as a child I would have absolutely treasured it.

I love Rialle from the get go. She came across as really caring and sweet, vulnerable yet strong and I really enjoyed spending time with her. I also adored Frenn - he was really kind and obviously cared a great deal for Rialle. I wasn’t sure how much I like Kherron in the beginning – but as the story progressed he really started to grow on me.

I liked the dual aspect of the book – getting the story from Rialle and Kherron’s point of view. I do think I favoured Rialle as a narrator (possible because I liked her more) but the story definitely benefits from having the two points of view and gives it a appeal to both male and female readers.

The story itself is great – many twist and turns and plenty of action. I found myself holding my breath in parts - either anxious to know what was going to happen or shocked by the turn of events. I found it completely unpredictable and loved that!

I will admit this is a book that is slightly outside my comfort zone. Although I read many books that have fantasy elements in them I’m not usually very good at reading a ‘straight’ fantasy. There is something about all the made up names and places that confuses me. I believe it is testament to Roberts' writing that this wasn’t the case here. I found myself so completely immersed in the story that it wasn’t a problem at all. I would definitely recommend it for readers who are looking for their first fantasy read.

Overall - Fantastic characters, a wonderful story and lovely writing. Brilliant!

Tuesday 27 April 2010

Della says: OMG! Review and Interview (Blog Tour)

I am really excited to be a part of Keris Stainton's Blog Tour. You can find a full list of tour dates here.

Review Copy: Orchard Books. Published 6 May 2010
From Goodreads: Della’s over the moon when she kisses her long-standing crush at a party – but then she discovers her diary has disappeared... When scans of embarrassing pages are sent to her mobile and appear on Facebook, Della’s distraught – how can she enjoy her first proper romance when someone, somewhere, knows all her deepest, darkest secrets?

I have been looking forward to reading this book for ages. I loved the idea behind the book – it had me completely intrigued – and I’m pleased to say I really loved it. It was different than I expected it to be but in a really good way – I loved the whole missing diary aspect that we are told about in the synopsis but the book is so much more than that.

The writing is brilliant – very witty and a pleasure to read. All the characters are really well crafted and come across as completely believable. I loved Della – very unassuming and I enjoyed watching her grow. Her family were great and I especially liked her parents – very different in a good way. Her friend Maddy was wonderful and there’s an excellent story surrounding her character that I enjoyed just as much as Della’s. As for Dan Bailey – he is adorable! I have officially developed a new crush! Not only is he (in my mind) completely gorgeous but he is also really kind and sweet and I felt a real connection between him and Della. You can really tell how much he cares for her – and I loved how he helped Della with her problem.

I didn’t find it predictable at all – in fact the ending took me by surprise (although it is possible that I was focusing too much on Dan Bailey and missed the signs!). I loved how the book was really funny but also dealt with real issues and emotions. I think it is safe to say I cannot wait to read more by this author.



Keris also stopped by to answer a few questions...

What inspired you to write Della Says: OMG?
When I was about 16, my sister had a party when my parents were away and the next day I couldn't find my diary. I was quite paranoid anyway and I was sure someone had taken it and was laughing at me behind my back. So then I started thinking about what could happen these days, with social media and mobiles - potential for much more widespread humiliation!

Do you have a favourite scene in the book?
I like the scene in Lytham. It's a nice, summery scene of friends having fun, but with a few undertones as well. It also features one of my favourite lines in the book.

You find yourself in the same situation as Della: Your diary is missing and now pages are being posted on Facebook. What do you do?
Ooh, good question. Um. Well if it happened now, I'd make sure it was investigated, but I'd also try and be okay with it. Make a joke about it. I'm always writing personal stuff online anyway, so I don't think it would be too disastrous (I hope...). But when I was Della's age, I would have been devastated. I would have stayed in my room with the curtains drawn, crying. Which, thankfully, is not what Della does.

If you could make Della Says: OMG into a film who would you cast in the roles?
I've been waiting for someone to ask me that! When I watched "Married, Single, Other" on ITV recently, I thought the daughter in that would make a good Della - Leila Mimmack, the actress is called. And although I've never watched Skins, I saw a photo of the cast and Megan Prescott who plays Katie looks like I imagine Della to look. As for Dan... I'm not sure who could live up to it! I'd love to know who people think of when they read it.

Did you always intend on becoming a writer?
No, not at all. In fact, it took me an embarrassingly long time to think of it, considering I wrote all the time! It should have occurred to me much sooner to try and do it professionally, but I think I just didn't have the confidence.

What was the publication process like for you?
I was very lucky, it was pretty straightforward. It's taken a long time - I signed with my agent four years ago - but there was nothing too painful along the way. I do feel strongly that everything happened when it was supposed to though.

Who are some of your favourite authors? Are there any books you would recommend?
Ooh yes. My absolutely favourite YA author is Meg Cabot, but I also love Maureen Johnson, E Lockhart, Luisa Plaja and Susie Day. As for books (apart from all the books by the authors I just mentioned), A Bad Boy Can Be Good For A Girl by Tanya Lee Stone is brilliant. It's written in verse, which I imagine puts people off (I admit it put me off), but it's just brilliant and should be compulsory reading for all teenage girls (and probably boys too).

What’s next for you?
I've got another book coming out with Orchard around the same time next year (I think). I've written a first draft and I need to get on and finish it. So far it's set in New York and features a very foxy American boy.

---

Thanks Keris! Foxy American boy? Yep - so there:)

You can check out the next stop on the tour at Good Golly Miss Holly tomorrow.

Saturday 24 April 2010

In My Mailbox (36)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren

Review:

Wasted by Nicola Morgan (Walker Books: Published 3 May 2010)
From Amazon: Jack worships luck and decides his actions by the flip of a coin. No risk is too great if the coin demands it. Luck brings him Jess, a beautiful singer who will change his life. But Jack’s luck is running out, and soon the stakes are high. As chance and choice unravel, the risks of Jack’s game become terrifyingly clear. An evening of heady recklessness, and suddenly a life hangs in the balance, decided by the toss of a coin. In the end, it is the reader who must choose whether to spin that coin and determine: life or death.

The Named by Marianne Curley (Bloomsbury - available now)
From Amazon: Imagine if you were able to change history. By altering one tiny thing you could start a chain of catastrophic events. Ethan is one of the Named, fated to stop this ever happening, although the forces of chaos have other ideas and Ethan is finding it more and more difficult to stay one step ahead. He is also a normal schoolboy, whose life is rapidly becoming far too confusing. So when Isabel arrives on the scene she is only going to make matters worse or is she? This is history in the making - literally.

Girl, 16: Five Star Fiasco by Sue Limb (Bloomsbury: Published 7 June)
From Amazon: The teenage world of Jess Jordon is looking characteristically chaotic: Mum has joined an online dating programme and has recruited Jess as advisor, while Jess' best friend Flora has a rich new boyfriend who Jess can't possibly keep up with. Then Jess' own boyfriend, Fred, does something unbelievably treacherous and spineless. Jess is becoming completely fed up with the male sex, and is beginning to think that the only reliable form of male is e-mail ...Never mind, there's Valentine's Day to look forward to. Fred is sure to make amends then. Isn't he? Full of Sue Limb's very funny take on teenage life and problems, fans of "Girl, 15" will be thrilled to have available a new Fred and Jess story. It's only when you've stopped laughing that you realise that, in addition to writing with wit and warmth, Sue Limb has also dealt effortlessly with bigger and important themes of friendship and loyalty.




Bought:

The Sky Always Hears Me: And the Hills Don't Mind by Kirstin Cronn-Mills
From Goodreads: I borrow the car again from Grandma and drive out to my hill. I scream I AM A BIG FAT ZERO, plus I AM SWEARING OFF KISSING FOREVER, and I HATE BEING A SECRET SEX FIEND, about sixteen times each. Then I sit very still and watch a hawk swirl over the fields. I have to get a new life before I go crazy.

Sixteen-year-old Morgan lives in a hick town. Her mom was killed in a car accident when she was two, her dad drinks, and her stepmom is a non-entity. Her boyfriend Derek is boring and she can't stop staring at her coworker Rob's cute butt. Then there's the kiss she shared with her neighbor Tessa . . . But when Morgan discovers a devastating secret about the one person she completely trusted, her entire world crashes and she must redefine her life and herself.

Compelling and complex, The Sky Always Hears Me is a fast-paced narrative with raw humor and a heart-wrenching twist.


Moonlight by Rachel Hawthorne
From Goodreads: I see him and know what this turmoil inside of me means: He's the one. My forever.
kayla is the nature lover, the all-American beauty who can't understand why she's so drawn to distant, brooding Lucas. Adopted as a young child, she has no way of knowing that she's inherited a terrifying—and thrilling—gene that will change her life forever.

lucas is dangerous, gorgeous...and a werewolf. As leader of the Dark Guardians, shape-shifters who gather deep within the state park, he has sworn to protect his pack. But when Lucas finds his true soul mate, his love could put them all in harm's way.

As Lucas and Kayla struggle with their feelings for each other, a greater danger lurks: Humans have discovered the Dark Guardians and are planning their destruction. Kayla must choose between the life she knows and the love she feels certain is her destiny.


This World We Live In by Susan Pfeffer
From Waterstones.com: It's been a year since a meteor collided with the moon, catastrophically altering the Earth's climate. For Miranda Evans life as she knew it no longer exists. Her friends and neighbours are dead, the landscape is frozen and food is increasingly scarce. Miranda and her family are on the edge. And then a small party of surviors arrives on their doorstep, threatening to stretch supplies to dangerous limits. Alex Morales is amongst them, and he and Miranda must put aside their differences in order to fight for food - with all of the odds against them...


Spells by Aprilynne Pike
From Goodreads: Six months have passed since Laurel saved the gateway to the faerie realm of Avalon. Now she must spend her summer there, honing her skills as a Fall faerie. But her human family and friends are still in mortal danger--and the gateway to Avalon is more compromised than ever.

When it comes time to protect those she loves, will she depend on David, her human boyfriend, for help? Or will she turn to Tamani, the electrifying faerie with whom her connection is undeniable?


Hope you all had a great week:)

Thursday 22 April 2010

Cover Wars: Incarceron by Catherine Fisher



UK / US

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Incarceron -- a futuristic prison, sealed from view, where the descendants of the original prisoners live in a dark world torn by rivalry and savagery. It is a terrifying mix of high technology -- a living building which pervades the novel as an ever-watchful, ever-vengeful character, and a typical medieval torture chamber -- chains, great halls, dungeons. A young prisoner, Finn, has haunting visions of an earlier life, and cannot believe he was born here and has always been here. In the outer world, Claudia, daughter of the Warden of Incarceron, is trapped in her own form of prison -- a futuristic world constructed beautifully to look like a past era, an imminent marriage she dreads. She knows nothing of Incarceron, except that it exists. But there comes a moment when Finn, inside Incarceron, and Claudia, outside, simultaneously find a device -- a crystal key, through which they can talk to each other. And so the plan for Finn's escape is born ...

This is an easy one for me - I love the US one! What do you think - and has anyone read it? It sounds really good!

Wednesday 21 April 2010

I want to read that...


Empty by Suzanne Weyn
From Goodreads:
It's the near future - the very near future - and the fossil fuels are running out. No gas. No oil. Which means no driving. No heat. Supermarkets are empty. Malls have shut down. Life has just become more local than we ever knew it could be.

Nobody expected the end to come this fast. And in the small town of Spring Valley, decisions that once seemed easy are quickly becoming matters of life and death. There is hope - there has to be hope - just there are also sacrifices that need to be made, and a whole society that needs to be rethought.

Teens like Nicki, Tom, and Leila may find what they need to survive. But their lives are never going to be the same again.


I'm really loving the sound of this! It's published October 1st 2010 by Scholastic Press (US). Here's hoping for a UK release too:)

Tuesday 20 April 2010

Spilt by a Kiss by Luisa Plaja

REVIEW COPY: Luisa Plaja
From Amazon: Jo has just moved to America with her mum. She's always been a fairly average girl - not a nerd but certainly never one of the popular kids. But on her first day in her new school, she seems to be adopted by the It girls - and is invited to one of their parties. There, she meets Jake Matthews, officially the hottest boy in school, and when they begin to play the kissing-in-the-closet game, Seven Minutes in Heaven, amazingly Jake picks Jo join him in the closet! She can't believe her luck. But the reality of being kissed and groped by Jake is not quite as great as the fantasy...Jo has a choice to make: should she carry on, kiss Jake and secure her position in the It crowd - or should she tell him where to get off and risk relegation back to the land of the ordinary ...? At this moment - Jo splits. She's Josie the Cool - girlfriend of Jake, member of the It crowd. She's also Jo the Nerd - rejected by the It crowd, single ...Will her two halves ever come back together again? Is Jake the guy she's meant to be with or could some of the other people she meets along her journey - Rachel the scary goth, David the misfit or Albie the rocker - be the answer? A fabulously inventive, heartwarming and funny take on the Sliding Doors idea, for teen readers.


I really, really loved this! I didn’t want to put it down – I loved the story and the characters were brilliant, especially our main character Jo/Josie. I found her funny and sweet and really enjoyed spending time with her. The other characters were great too. I really loved Tori and her brother Albie, as well as David and Rachel.

The premise was excellent. I was a bit nervous about how it would work and whether it would be confusing but it wasn’t at all. I instantly knew if it was Josie or Jo, not just because of the font change and picture but also because Jo and Josie’s ‘voice’ was different enough to keep them separate but still believable as the same character. I enjoyed both scenarios (although I would have been Jo the Nerd and slapped him one!) and I loved how the different paths were really dissimilar to begin with but as time went on started to have more and more similarities. I really liked the parallels in the stories – how some choices were the same but with different people and I loved how things seemed ‘fated’. I adored the ending – I was definitely rooting for that one!

I also loved that the story was set in the US. It really reminded me of my school exchange trip when I was 14. I completely identified with the differences in sayings – how often did I get a packet of crisps when I had been dying for chips!. And there’s nothing quiet as mortifying as realising I really should have asked for an eraser and not a rubber if the stunned silence was anything to go by... I would have so loved to have had the opportunity to live there for a year like Jo – so it was great to live it vicariously through her.

Also, any book that has references to Buffy will get my vote – although I would have to agree with Ablie and say I loved season 2 the best:)

Overall - aaah-some!


Monday 19 April 2010

The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott

From Goodreads:
Everyone knows the unwritten rule: You don't like you best friend's boyfriend.

Sarah has had a crush on Ryan for years. He's easy to talk to, supersmart, and totally gets her. Lately it even seems like he's paying extra attention to her. Everything would be perfect except for two things: Ryan is Brianna's boyfriend, and Brianna is Sarah's best friend.

Sarah forces herself to avoid Ryan and tries to convince herself not to like him. She feels so guilty for wanting him, and the last thing she wants is to hurt her best friend. But when she's thrown together with Ryan one night, something happens. It's wonderful...and awful.

Sarah is torn apart by guilt, but what she feels is nothing short of addiction, and she can't stop herself from wanting more...


I'm not completely sure what it is about Elizabeth Scott novels that I love,  but love them I do! I knew as soon as I started this I would enjoy it – I find her style of writing so easy to get in to and I just adore her characters. I love the way they feel real – how she allows them to have flaws but still manages to make them likeable and believable. I took to Sarah straight away and you could feel how torn she was over her feelings for Ryan and her friendship with Brianna. I don’t necessary agree that she made the right choices and I spent most of the book wishing she would stand up for herself and not let Brianna treat her in the way she sometimes did – but I understood that it’s not always that simple. I felt sorry for Brianna – her home life isn’t the best and I got the impression that she’s constantly looking for something she will never find which is really sad. I did not like the way she treated Sarah though, even if it did seem to echo the way she was treated by her mother. Ryan was really sweet and I loved the connection he had with Sarah – it felt real and one based on friendship. I did want to kick him a few times though for not being honest in the beginning.

I liked how the story was really about Sarah - her perception of herself and how the choices she makes shapes her as a person. I liked how her character grew and got stronger and I liked how no-one in this situation was completely innocent or completely to blame. They were all victims in one way or another – either by their own doing or by the actions of others – and the story showed that the choices we make do have consequences.

Overall this was another great Scott book. I don’t think it quite knocks Perfect You and Stealing Heaven off the top spot as my favourites but it gave them a good run for their money. Really good!


Saturday 17 April 2010

In My Mailbox (35)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren

Della says: OMG! by Keris Stainton For review: Orchard. Published May 6th 2010. Woop woop! I'm reading this now and really enjoying it!
From Amazon: Della’s over the moon when she kisses her long-standing crush at a party – but then she discovers her diary has disappeared...
When scans of embarrassing pages are sent to her mobile and appear on Facebook, Della’s distraught – how can she enjoy her first proper romance when someone, somewhere, knows all her deepest, darkest secrets?


I tried to be good and not buy anything this week but it kind of went wrong!

Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles
From Goodreads: When Carlos Fuentes returns to America after living in Mexico for a year, he doesn’t want any part of the life his older brother, Alex, has laid out for him at a high school in Colorado . Carlos likes living his life on the edge and wants to carve his own path—just like Alex did. Then he meets Kiara Westford. She doesn’t talk much and is completely intimidated by Carlos’ wild ways. As they get to know one another, Carlos assumes Kiara thinks she’s too good for him, and refuses to admit that she might be getting to him. But he soon realizes that being himself is exactly what Kiara needs right now.

How to Ruin a Summer Vacation by Simone ElkelesFrom Goodreads: Going to Israel with her estranged father is the last thing Amy wants to do this summer. A spoiled American teenager with an attitude that matches her killer Jimmy Choo slides, she's got a serious grudge against her dad, a.k.a Sperm Donor, for showing up so rarely in her life. Now he's dragging her to a war zone to meet a family she's never known, including her ill grandmother who's the only source of comfort in this strange land. Sharing a room with her unfriendly cousin, igniting a brawl at the local disco, and having her Ferragamo sandal stolen by a mutt . . . one hilarious humiliation after another tests Amy's Ăžerce spirit. Finding her place in a foreign culture isn't easy, but as Amy learns to shed her tough-girl persona, she discovers that making friends, falling in love, and connecting with her family and heritage isn't impossible after all.

Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson
From Goodreads:
Who is Jenna Fox?
Seventeen-year-old Jenna has been told that is her name. She has just awoken from a year-long coma, and she's still recovering from the terrible accident that caused it. Her parents show her home movies of her life, her memories, but she has no recollection. Is she really the same girl she sees on the screen?
Little by little, Jenna begins to remember. Along with the memories come questions—questions no one wants to answer for her. What really happened after the accident?


Waking Beauty by Julie Parrish
From Goodreads: What happens when Sleeping Beauty wakes up and it's 2009? Then discovers that her Prince is a boy in trouble with the police? Can there still be a fairy tale ending? Waking Beauty is a funny and moving fairytale played out against a backdrop of gritty council estates, posh schools and evil witches. Summer, London 1909: Princess Anna pricks her finger, under a curse cast by a wicked witch when she was born. Initially doomed to die, the curse is altered by a good fairy, so that Anna and her family will, instead, sleep for one hundred years, until the princess is woken up by a prince. Summer London 2009: Sixteen-year-old Leo Prince is a boy in care and in trouble with the police. Sentenced to community service, he has to help clear the overgrown land surrounding an old Manor House. Inside, he stumbles across the sleeping Princess Anna. In answer to a dare he kisses her, breaking the curse and waking her. An awkward friendship blossoms between the unlikely pair, but the descendents of the old witch are in London and determined to finish what she started. As a result, Anna finds herself being drawn away from Leo and towards Michael, who is good looking, sporty, clever, charming and sophisticated. A modern day fairy in disguise attempts to guide Anna towards the right choice. But what could possibly make her give up the school heart throb? Leo also suspects that all is not as it should be with Michael and his family and that Anna is in danger. But can he overcome his past to save her?

Shadows by Amy Meredith
From Goodreads: Fifteen-year-old Eve Evergold is cute, sassy and enjoying a busy social life. What she doesn't know yet is that someone close to her is an evil demon that only she has the supernatural power to defeat. She needs to work out who it is - and fast! Because although there's something very attractive about the dark side...dating a demon? Pure hell!

Hope you all had a great week:)

Thursday 15 April 2010

Lovestruck Summer by Melissa Walker


From Goodreads:
Austin music fest Yay, summer in Austin! Good food, good times. Fun for everyone! Okay, living with my sorority-brainwashed cousin, who willingly goes by "Party Penny," is not exactly what I had in mind. All your favorite bands. But the cute musicians I've met totally make up for it . . . like Sebastian. Swoon. All ages welcome. So why can't I stop thinking about Penny's friend All-American Russ and his Texas twang?? Saturday & Sunday, from noon to midnight. Don't wait up!


This was a really fun, if rather quick read. I liked the characters - Quinn was great as the central character - especially towards the end when she starts to realise that what we think we want is not always what we actually want. She and Russ have some great chemistry and I really enjoyed their scenes together. I also really liked Penny and Jade, and Miss Tiara was just so cute! I didn't like Sebastian though, but I'm not sure if I was supposed to.

I had a good idea how the story was going to end, but there were also things that happened that took me by surprise. I loved the ending - really sweet! Goofy smile sweet!

Overall a bit predictable but good fun, and let’s just say that any book that has a cross dressing dog in it gets my vote!

Tuesday 13 April 2010

Calling Christopher Pike Fans...

As you will probably know from my Golden Oldie post I am a big Christopher Pike fan - I loved his books when I was younger and would love to see them all re-released.

So I was really happy to hear that some are being released in 2010 *cue happy dance*

Remember Me (Complete Trilogy) is being published 6 July in the US and 2 September in the UK. I l really love the first book in this series and can't wait to see what the UK cover looks like:)

From Amazon: She won't let them forget?
Shari Cooper wakes up dead. The last thing she can remember is falling from a balcony during her friend's party. Her death has been ruled a suicide, but Shari knows she was murdered. All of her closest friends are now suspects. As she tries to find her killer from the other side, she discovers her friends may not have been so loyal to her after all. Now, Shari is not just out for justice, she's out for revenge?.


To Die For (Slumber Party and Weekend) is being published 1 September 2010 in the US. No date yet for the UK. I loovvvee the cover for this and Weekend is probably my favourite Pike book!

From Goodreads: This juicy volume features two classic Christopher Pike thrillers: SLUMBER PARTY and WEEKEND. In SLUMBER PARTY, mysterious events begin to unfold around a group of friends vacationing at a ski resort. As they become snowbound, things heat up...for the killer in their midst. In WEEKEND, another group of friends partying at a remote tropical beach manor are forced to confront an ugly event in their past -- or suffer violent consequences in the present.
In each of these dream-vacations-gone-bad, not everyone is who they seem, and someone is bloodthirsty....
This double feature of romance, betrayal, and horror is to die for!


and


It looks like Sita from The Last Vampire series (aka Thirst) will return in 5 October (US) for another installment called The Eternal Dawn. Can't wait and I love the US covers for this series!

So here's hoping they re-release all of his books, especially the Final Friends Trilogy, Chain Letter 1 & 2, Witch, The Midnight Club....yep okay I could go on forever...

AND...*tries to contain her excitement*

NEW BOOK ALERT! or at least it's not one I've read or heard of before:

The Secret of Ka (published 13 September 2010 in the US)
From Goodreads: One minute Sara's bored on vacation in Istanbul. The next, she's unearthed a flying carpet that cleverly drags her to the mysterious Island of the Djinn—or genies. By her side is Amesh, a hot boy she's starting to love but doesn't yet trust. When Amesh learns the secret of invoking djinn, he loses control. He swears he'll call upon only one djinn and make one wish. The plan sounds safe enough. But neither Sara nor Amesh are any match for the formidable monster that that swells before them. It hypnotizes Amesh, compelling him to steal Sara’s flying carpet—the ancient Carpet of Ka—and leave her stranded.
Discovering the Carpet of Ka has sparked a new path for Sara, one that will lead her to battle creatures even deadlier than djinn. In this fight, Sara can save mankind, herself, or the boy she loves. Who will she be forced to sacrifice?


Woop woop!

Monday 12 April 2010

I want to read that...


Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce

Scarlett March lives to hunt the Fenris-- the werewolves that took her eye when she was defending her sister Rosie from a brutal attack. Armed with a razor-sharp hatchet and blood-red cloak, Scarlett is an expert at luring and slaying the wolves. She's determined to protect other young girls from a grisly death, and her raging heart will not rest until every single wolf is dead. Rosie March once felt her bond with her sister was unbreakable. Owing Scarlett her life, Rosie hunts fiercely alongside her. Now Rosie dreams of a life beyond the wolves and finds herself drawn to Silas, a young woodsman who is deadly with an ax-- but loving him means betraying her sister and has the potential to destroy all they've worked for. Twenty-five-year-old Jackson Pearce delivers a dark, taut fairy tale with heart-pounding action, fierce sisterly love, and a romance that will leave readers breathless.

Me likey! I also love the cover:) It's published 7 June in the US and 3 June in the UK.

Saturday 10 April 2010

In My Mailbox (34)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren

Far From You by Lisa Schroeder
From Goodreads: Lost and alone...down the rabbit hole
Years have passed since Alice lost her mother to cancer, but time hasn't quite healed the wound. Alice copes the best she can, by writing her music, losing herself in the love of her boyfriend, and distancing herself from her father and his new wife.
But when a deadly snowstorm traps Alice with her stepmother and newborn half-sister, she'll face issues she's been avoiding for too long. As Alice looks to the heavens for guidance, she discovers something wonderful.
Perhaps she's not so alone after all...


What Would Emma Do? By Eileen Cook
From Goodreads: While juggling friendship issues (her best friend isn't speaking to her), a love triangle-turned-square (okay, maybe she shouldn't have kissed her best friend's boyfriend...but it was totally an accident!...sort of), and escalating mayhem in her small religious town (uh-oh...what would Jesus do?), Emma realizes she has to stop trying to please everyone around her and figure out what she wants for herself. It's time to start asking, "What would Emma do?"

Wintercraft by Jenna Burtenshaw (review copy: Headline. Published 13 May) - Woo Hoo! Thank you Headline:)
From Goodreads: Ten years ago Kate Winters' parents were taken by the High Council's wardens to help with the country's war effort. Now the wardens are back...and prisoners, including Kate's uncle Artemis, are taken south on the terrifying Night Train. Kate and her friend Edgar are hunted by a far more dangerous enemy. Silas Dane -- the High Council's most feared man -- recognises Kate as one of the Skilled; a rare group of people able to see through the veil between the living and the dead. His spirit was damaged by the High Council's experiments into the veil, and he's convinced that Kate can undo the damage and allow him to find peace. The knowledge Kate needs lies within Wintercraft -- a book thought to be hidden deep beneath the graveyard city of Fume. But the Night of Souls, when the veil between life and death is at its thinnest, is just days away and the High Council have their own sinister plans for Kate and Wintercraft. To help Artemis, Edgar and herself, Kate must honour her pact with a murderer and come face to face with the true nature of death.

What did you get this week?

Thursday 8 April 2010

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

From Goodreads: When Sophie Mercer turned thirteen, she discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-Gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hecate Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward prodigium, a.k.a. witches, fae, and shapeshifters. By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard. Three powerful enemies who look like supermodels; a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock; a creepy, tag-along ghost; and a new roommate, who happens to be the most-hated person and only vampire on campus. Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her friend Jenna is the number one suspect. Meanwhile, Sophie has a more personal shock to grapple with. Not only is her father the head of the prodigium council, he's the most powerful warlock in the world, and Sophie is his heir. As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all prodigium, especially her.

I think it’s safe to say I have been looking forward to reading this for months so I’m please to say it’s good. Really really good!

It’s one of those books that gripped me straight away. I loved the main character Sophie and really enjoyed spending time with her. I found her to be incredibly sweet and funny - someone I could easily imagine myself being friends with. I loved her friendship with Jenna and Archer Cross is just hot! Oh boy oh boy – I feel another obsession coming on!

I love the world created here and how we get to learn about it alongside Sophie. The story was really fast paced and I didn’t find it predictable at all. In fact there were some twists and turns I really didn’t see coming. The ending is somewhat of a cliffhanger, and because of this the book feels like part one of a larger story. This is not necessarily a bad thing – except that I have to wait until next year for book two! Nooooo! There are some loose ends that need tying up and there is definitely scope for plenty more books in the series – and if they are anything like this one they will be outstanding!

I can’t wait for more of this series. It is an amazing debut and I loved Hawkins style of writing. Completely addictive!


Wednesday 7 April 2010

I want to read that...


Claire De Lune by Christine Johnson

From Goodreads: 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?

This sounds sooo good! It's published in the UK by Simon and Schuster 5 Aug 2010 and is published in the US May 18th 2010 by Simon Pulse

Tuesday 6 April 2010

Mr Monster by Dan Wells

Review copy: Headline. Published 4 March 2010
From Goodreads: From the author of I AM NOT A SERIAL KILLER...John Wayne Cleaver has always known he has a dark side but he's fought hard to oppress it and live a normal life -- separating John from Mr Monster to survive. But after confronting and destroying the vicious killer that was terrorizing his town, his inner monster is getting stronger and harder to contain. And now more bodies are being discovered...With the police failing to catch Clayton County's second serial killer John is going to have to use his secret knowledge of the first demon-killer to trap the second...but will he be able to avoid suspicion falling on him, and, in the face of extreme horrors, will he be able to restrain Mr Monster?

For some reason the first book in this series completely passed me by so I am really pleased I was given the opportunity to review Mr Monster. I really loved it and think it’s fast become one of my favourite YA horror books.

Dan Wells has a charming style of writing and I found myself completely immersed in John’s story from the first few pages. It felt completely original and unlike anything I had read before. I found it easy to follow even though I hadn’t read the first book (‘I am NOT a Serial Killer’) so you can easily read this as a standalone if you wish but I felt like kicking myself for not reading the other one first. I enjoyed this one so much I really wish I had started at the beginning.

Described in the press release as a cross between ‘Dexter and The X-files’ I found myself comparing it more to the show ‘Supernatural' – perhaps because I associate The X-files more with aliens and this story is demon based but also because it has a more young and fresh feel. I have also got to admit I had the ‘Supernatural’ tag line ‘Scary just go sexy’ going through my mind the whole time I was reading it – although in the case of John Cleaver perhaps it should be ‘sexy just got scary’!

Despite the fact he is a sociopath I found myself really liking John Cleaver, which considering the type of thoughts he has on a day to day basis, was somewhat disturbing. But I really did and I think this is testament to how good a writer Wells is. I actually enjoyed spending time with John and look forward to future instalments.

The story itself is really, really good. It’s also rather scary for a YA novel. Actually I’d compare it to many of the adult horror stories that are available – it is rather dark and there were moments when I actually had to put the book down. Definitely creepy - it also felt very believable and Wells doesn’t shy away from some of the more ‘horrific’ aspects of the story –and it is so much better because of it.

Slightly disturbing but also rather awesome! I can’t wait to read more books by this author. I will have to go back to the beginning and read I am NOT a Serial Killer’ in my wait for the next book featuring John Cleaver.

Sunday 4 April 2010

In My Mailbox (33)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren

Geek Charming by Robin Palmer
From Goodreads: Dylan Shoenfield is the princess of L.A.-s posh Castle Heights High. She has the coolest boyfriend, the most popular friends, and a brand-new -it- bag that everyone covets. But when she accidentally tosses her bag into a fountain, this princess comes face-to-face with her own personal frog: selfprofessed film geek Josh Rosen. In return for rescuing Dylan-s bag, Josh convinces Dylan to let him film her for his documentary on high school popularity. Reluctantly, Dylan lets F-list Josh into her A-list world, and is shocked to realize that sometimes nerds can be pretty cool. But when Dylan-s so-called prince charming of a boyfriend dumps her flat, her life-and her social status- comes to a crashing halt. Can Dylan-with Josh-s help-pull the pieces together to create her own happily-ever-after?

Dark Secrets: Legacy of Lies and Don't Tell by Elizabeth Chandler
From Goodreads: Two girls haunted by the past...and destined to relive it
In Legacy of Lies, Megan has to stay with the uptight grandmother she wants nothing to do with. She's determined to get through the visit without any drama, but when she falls into a twisted love triangle with potentially fatal consequences, Megan may be caught up in her family's legacy in more ways than she realizes.
In Don't Tell, Lauren knows that by returning to the town where her mother drowned seven years ago, she'll be reliving one of her most haunting memories. When she arrives, she is propelled into a series of mysterious events that mimic the days leading up to her mother's death. Maybe her mother's drowning wasn't an accident after all...and maybe Lauren is next.


Mealtimes and Milestones by Constance Barter - we had a launch for this at work and my friend Kirsty @ The Book Mogul tells me it's brilliant!
From Goodreads: This book presents an astonishingly moving and mature account of a young woman's struggle with anorexia nervosa, a serious mental illness affecting 1.1 million people in the UK. At fourteen years of age, Constance Barter was admitted as an in-patient to a specialist eating disorders unit where she remained for seven months. During that time, she kept a diary which sheds light on what it means to have anorexia, how it affects your life, and how it is not just a faddy diet or attention seeking disorder. Constance is an example to anyone suffering from this potentially life-threatening illness that with perseverance and support it can be beaten and sufferers can go on and lead a fulfilling, everyday life. This inspirational diary will help and inspire other sufferers to seek help and overcome their illness as well as providing an invaluable insight into the nature of the illness to families and friends.

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
From Goodreads: When Sophie Mercer turned thirteen, she discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-Gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hecate Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward prodigium, a.k.a. witches, fae, and shapeshifters. By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard. Three powerful enemies who look like supermodels; a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock; a creepy, tag-along ghost; and a new roommate, who happens to be the most-hated person and only vampire on campus. Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her friend Jenna is the number one suspect. Meanwhile, Sophie has a more personal shock to grapple with. Not only is her father the head of the prodigium council, he's the most powerful warlock in the world, and Sophie is his heir. As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all prodigium, especially her.

The Dead Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan
From Goodreads: Gabry lives a quiet life. As safe a life as is possible in a town trapped between a forest and the ocean, in a world teeming with the dead, who constantly hunger for those still living. She’s content on her side of the Barrier, happy to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. But there are threats the Barrier cannot hold back. Threats like the secrets Gabry’s mother thought she left behind when she escaped from the Sisterhood and the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Like the cult of religious zealots who worship the dead. Like the stranger from the forest who seems to know Gabry. And suddenly, everything is changing. One reckless moment, and half of Gabry’s generation is dead, the other half imprisoned. Now Gabry only knows one thing: she must face the forest of her mother’s past in order to save herself and the one she loves.

The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks
From Goodreads: Seventeen-year-old Veronica 'Ronnie' Miller's life was turned upside-down when her parents divorced and her father moved from New York City to Wilmington, North Carolina. Three years later, she remains angry and alienated from her parents, especially her father ...until her mother decides it would be in everyone's best interest if she spent the summer in Wilmington with him. Ronnie's father, a former concert pianist and teacher, is living a quiet life in the beach town, immersed in creating a work of art that will become the centerpiece of a local church. The tale that unfolds is an unforgettable story about love in its myriad forms - first love, the love between parents and children - that demonstrates, as only a Nicholas Sparks novel can, the many ways that deeply felt relationships can break our hearts ...and heal them.

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter (Review copy, UK Proof, Orchard books: published 6 May 2010)
From Goodreads: The Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women is a fairly typical all-girls school—that is, if every school teaches advanced martial arts in PE, chemistry always consists of the latest in chemical warfare, and everyone breaks CIA codes for extra credit in computer class. So in truth, while the Gallagher Academy might say it's a school for geniuses what they really mean is spies. But what happens when a Gallagher Girl falls for a boy who doesn't have a code name?

Cammie Morgan may be fluent in fourteen languages and capable of killing a man in seven different ways (three of which involve a piece of uncooked spaghetti), but the Gallagher Academy hasn't prepared her for what to do when she meets an ordinary boy who thinks she's an ordinary girl. Sure, she can tap his phone, hack into his computer, and track him through a mall without him ever being the wiser, but can she have a regular relationship with a regular boy who can never know the truth about her? Cammie may be an elite spy in training, but in her sophomore year, she's doing something riskier than ever—she's falling in love.


Princess for Hire by Lindsey Leavitt (won - big thanks to Sasha @ The Sweet Bonjour)
From Goodreads: When a well-dressed woman steps out of a bubble and wants to know if you'd like to become a substitute princess, do you
A) run
B) faint
C) say yes?
For Desi Bascomb, who's been longing for some glamour in her Idaho life, the choice is a definite C). Desi has a rare ability: with the help of "Royal Rouge," she can temporarily transform into the exact look-alike of any princess who needs her subbing services. Dream come true, right?
Well, Desi soon discovers that subbing involves a lot more than wearing a tiara and waving at cameras.... In this winning debut, one girl's dream of glamour transforms into the desire to make a positive impact. And an impact Desi makes, one royal fiasco at a time.

Hope you all had a great week and wishing you a good Easter:)

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