In My Mailbox (89)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren



Review

The Captain Jack Sparrow Handbook by Jason Heller
Captain Jack Sparrow!  It's bound to be awesome!

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
I'm very intrigued by this - it sounds nice and creepy!  And it took me a while to realise the girl on the cover was not touching the ground!  Eek!

Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton (Proof)
I'm loving the sound of this and I've heard really good things.

OTOLI by Bryony Allen
I'll be doing a giveaway for this one too - so keep an eye out for that.  Looking forward to seeing what I think of it:)

Divergent by Veronica Roth
I've heard so many amazing things about this one and I can't wait to read it.

The is What it is Chronicles: Living with Feet Too Big for a Glass Slipper by Lynne Tapper
Can't wait to see what I make of this one!  Sounds seriously quirky and fun:)

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
This looks awesome and I adore the cover.  I love the back of it too - it looks like a postcard! 

Small Change for Stuart by Lissa Evans
This sounds really quirky and I'm looking forward to it.  And I love the cover:)

A big thanks to everyone who sent books for review:)



Bought

Before I Go To Sleep by S. J. Watson
I'm really looking forward to this one - and this copy is a signed first edition so bonus!

My Soul to Keep by Rachel Vincent
Yay!  Love this series

Dreaming Anastasia by Joy Preble
I've heard mixed things about this one but I really like the sound of it.  Hopefully it will be good.

Give Up The Ghost by Megan Crewe
I've been looking forward to reading this one for ages. 

Abandon by Meg Cabot
Squeeeeee!  Squeeeee! And more Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Family by Micol Ostow
I didn't realise this is in episodic verse.  I'm reading it as part of the contemp challenge so I'll be interested to see what I make of it.

To Marry a Royal by Sophie Page.
With the whole Royal Wedding this weekend  (plus the fact I missed it due to being at work all day *sulks*) I couldn't resist this one when it came in to the shop.

Hope you all have a great week:)

Boys Don't Cry Trailer and MyCribaby APP

For those of you who haven't scene the trailer for Malorie Blackman's Boy's Don't Cry yet you can check it out below.



There is also a MyCribaby APP - here is a teaser trailer for it:



How awesome is that? I love it!

There is a sneak peak of the book on my sidebar if you want to check out the first few chapters of the book. Enjoy:)

I want to read that...

Ashes, Ashes by Jo Treggiari

From Goodreads: A thrilling tale of adventure, romance, and one girl's unyielding courage through the darkest of nightmares.

Epidemics, floods, droughts--for sixteen-year-old Lucy, the end of the world came and went, taking 99% of the population with it. As the weather continues to rage out of control, and Sweepers clean the streets of plague victims, Lucy survives alone in the wilds of Central Park. But when she's rescued from a pack of hunting dogs by a mysterious boy named Aidan, she reluctantly realizes she can't continue on her own. She joins his band of survivors, yet, a new danger awaits her: the Sweepers are looking for her. There's something special about Lucy, and they will stop at nothing to have her.

I've got to admit it was the cover for this one that really caught my eye and I love the sound of it!  I'm really liking the sound all the dystopian/post apocalyptic type stories being released at the moment.

 It's published 1 June 2011 by Scholastic (US)

Where She Went by Gayle Forman

For Review: Random House
Published: 28 April 2011

From Goodreads: It's been three years since the devastating accident . . . three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever.

Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Juilliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future and each other.

Told from Adam's point of view in the spare, lyrical prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance.

If I Stay was one of my favourite reads of 2009 - it was one of those books that became so much more than just the sum of it parts.  It completely blew me away.  When I heard there was going to be a sequel I have to admit I was excited but also worried - I just couldn't see how it could possibly compare.  But how wrong was I to be even slightly concerned? I loved this one as much as If I Stay, maybe even more!

It's been 3 years since the events of If I Stay and Adam is now at the 'height' of his musical career.  Famous, easily recognised he finds his success not what he thought it would be.  And despite it being years since she left, Adam hasn't stopped loving Mia.  When he finds himself stuck in New York for the night it leads to a meeting with Mia ...

I really like Adam in If I Stay but I absolutely adored him in this.  There is just something so raw and brutally honest about his narration.  He obviously misses Mia but it's more than that - he's still grieving for her family.  I also found it interesting that he didn't like the fame that came with his success as a musician - that he no longer enjoyed what it was he loved about playing in the first place.

Mia was just as I remembered her and I enjoyed seeing her through Adam's eyes.  Losing your whole family is impossible to conceive - and how you would continue your life after is equally unfathomable.  I would imagine you would either embrace whoever is left in your life or lash out at them.  I'm guessing cutting Adam out of her life must have been her way of lashing out.  But everything she says - has done - makes complete sense.

The interaction between the two felt as if they were just picking up where they left off - and that fate brought them back together at just the right time.  I just couldn't stop reading - I honestly felt as if I could have read forever and I had to know if these two characters would get a 'happy' ending.

A stunning sequel, beautifully written, with characters that will capture your heart.  It is a story of loss and love - choosing how you want to live your life and having the courage to actually live it in the way you want.

A perfect companion to If I Stay - I absolutely loved it!

Author Interview: Barbara Dee

Barbara Dee is the author of Solving Zoe, Just Another Day in My Insanely Real Life, This Is Me From Now On and Trauma Queen.  She kindly took the time to answer a few of my questions...

What inspired Trauma Queen?
I’ve noticed that when girls hit their tween/young teen years, they often feel embarrassed by their moms, even when they love their moms very much. Moms often feel as if their daughters are pulling away, and they’re not sure exactly why. It can be such a tricky time for both moms and daughters that I thought it would be fascinating to explore this theme in a book!

I loved Marigold, and her mother is such a great character! How do you come up with the characters for your books?
Thanks, Sammee! Mostly I just use my imagination, but I’m also always observing. New York is such a great town for people-watching and eavesdropping—wherever you go, you can notice someone quirky! I keep a little notebook in my pocket so I can jot down snatches of conversation, weird outfits, etc. So far, I haven’t been caught.

Is there a scene in the book which really stands out for you?
I don’t want to give out any spoilers, so all I’ll say is that I’m proud of the climax of the novel. As I was typing it, I was smiling and crying at the same time!

If you could cast a TV or film version of Trauma Queen who would be your ideal cast?
What a fun question! Hmm. Well as long as I could have absolutely any actor on the planet (because of course we’d have an unlimited budget!!!) for Becca I’d want someone fearless and vanity-free, like Kate Winslet, Toni Colette or Laura Linney. Marigold would be trickier to cast—she has to be just as intense as Becca, but in a quieter way. The actress who was so good in the Coen brothers’ True Grit, Hailee Steinfeld, could be perfect, or (in another year or so) Kiernan Shipka from Mad Men. For Gram, I think I’d want someone earthy and tough, like Melissa Leo. And now we have to find a role for George Clooney. Let’s make him Dad, or maybe the principal, okay?

What authors/books did you love when you were growing up? Did any of these inspire you to become a writer yourself?
When I was a kid, I read constantly. Two books that had an especially strong impact on me were Little Women and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Jo March made me want to become an “authoress,” and I found Francie Nolan fascinating—an ordinary girl who was so sensitive and complex. When you read characters like these (over and over!), your brain naturally starts creating characters on its own.

What is your favourite aspect of being a writer? And the most challenging? The best thing about being a writer is… writing! Yes, it’s often agonizing, but when it’s going well, there’s nothing better than thinking about characters and words all day long. The second best thing is hearing from readers. I feel as if I have friends all over the world! As for the most challenging thing—well, I’m not the most patient person, so it’s hard for me to wait eighteen months or so to see a manuscript become a book. Once I’ve written something, I just want to share it right away!

What is a typical writing day like for you? Are there any ‘must-haves’ you need before you sit down to write?
I get the kids off to school, exercise on the treadmill and get to work until they come home. When I’m writing I confess I chew a lot of sugarless gum and drink gallons of herbal tea. I’m trying my best to drink green tea these days, but what I really like is Chamomile Mango, because it’s sweet. And if I get writer’s block, I’m allowed to have chocolate. Unlike Becca, I’ve never declared a Chocolate Day—but it’s tempting!

---

Thanks Barbara! And yes, I agree, there should be a role for George Clooney!  In fact,  there should always be a role for George Clooney lol

You can find Barbara at the following places:

Twitter
Facebook
Website
Blog
Goodreads

In My Mailbox (88)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren



Review:

Caddy's World by Hilary McKay
I haven't read anything by Hilary McKay before but this sounds really good!  Looking forward to getting stuck in.

It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han
Squeeee!  Love this series!  Jeremiah or Conrad?  Can I have both please?

Wild by Aprilynne Pike
I still need to read Spells but I loved Wings so am looking forward to catching up with this series!

Big thanks to Hodder, Puffin and Harpercollins for sending books for review:)

Bought:

Boot Camp by Todd Strasser
I've heard some great thing about this author so I thought I'd try this one.  It looks really good.

Death's Daughter by Amber Bensen
The power of twitter was behind the purchase of this one.  A video clip of Amber Bensen at a book signing reading a sex scene from her book.  Hilarious!

The Locket by Stacey Jay
I love this author and the Megan Berry series is one of my favourite series so I can't wait to see what I think of this one. 

Hope you all had a great week:)

Trailer: Enclave by Ann Aguirre

From Goodreads: New York City has been decimated by war and plague, and most of civilization has migrated to underground enclaves, where life expectancy is no more than the early 20's. When Deuce turns 15, she takes on her role as a Huntress, and is paired with Fade, a teenage Hunter who lived Topside as a young boy. When she and Fade discover that the neighboring enclave has been decimated by the tunnel monsters—or Freaks—who seem to be growing more organized, the elders refuse to listen to warnings. And when Deuce and Fade are exiled from the enclave, the girl born in darkness must survive in daylight, in the ruins of a city whose population has dwindled to a few dangerous gangs. As the two are guided by Fade’s long-ago memories, they face dangers, and feelings, unlike any they’ve ever known.

Sounds great doesn't it? I've just ordered myself a copy:)

You can also read the first two chapters here

Girl Missing by Sophie McKenzie

For Review: Simon & Schuster
Published:  October 2006

From Goodreads:  Lauren has always known she was adopted but when a little research turns up the possibility that she was snatched from an American family as a baby, suddenly Lauren's life seems like a sham. How can she find her biological parents? And are her adoptive parents really responsible for kidnapping her? She manages to wangle a trip across the Atlantic where she runs away to try and find the truth. But the circumstances of her disappearance are murky and Lauren's kidnappers are still at large and willing to do anything to keep her silent…

I really enjoyed this.  I find Sophie McKenzie has the habit of making me completely addicted to whatever she writes.

The story follows Lauren who has always known she was adopted.  But when she discovers that she might actually be the missing child of an American family it makes her determined to her biological parents. Unfortunately, it might not be that easy...
 
I really liked Lauren.  I found her very single minded in her quest to find out about her biological parents and what really happened to her - which at time made her come across as selfish but I could also completely understand her motivation.  She didn't just want to know she needed to know.  I also thought that her determination to find answers didn't really give her the opportunity to stop and think about the consequences of what she was doing.  Both in terms of the danger she was putting herself in and what the answers would mean in the long term.
 
I absolutely loved her friend Jam!  I loved all of his scenes and really enjoyed his relationship with Lauren - he came across as a great friend and just great fun to be around.
 
The story moves along quickly and I found myself reading this in one go.  I think my favourite part was the end - really exciting and I loved Lauren's decision!  I don't want to go into too much detail because I don't want to spoil anything - it's one of those books it's best to read and discover for yourself.

I can't wait for the sequel Sister Missing when it's published this year - I'm really looking forward to revisiting these characters.

 

I want to read that...

Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay

From Goodreads:
"These violent delights have violent ends
And in their triumph die, like fire and powder,
Which as they kiss consume."
—Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

The most tragic love story in history . . .

Juliet Capulet didn't take her own life. She was murdered by the person she trusted most, her new husband, Romeo Montague, a sacrifice made to ensure his own immortality. But what Romeo didn't anticipate was that Juliet would be granted eternity, as well, and would become an agent for the Ambassadors of Light. For 700 years, she's fought Romeo for the souls of true lovers, struggling to preserve romantic love and the lives of the innocent. Until the day she meets someone she's forbidden to love, and Romeo, oh Romeo, will do everything in his power to destroy that love.

I love Stacey Jay's Megan Berry series so I'm really looking forward to seeing what I think of this one. It sounds ace! It's published September 2011 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers.

Blackwatch Blog Tour : The Man In The Marketplace (Guest Post)

I'm really thrilled to present a guest post from Jenna Burtenshaw, author of Wintercraft and it's sequel Blackwatch.
---

The Man In The Marketplace

When I first pictured Silas Dane standing on the rooftop of a market square with flocks of blackbirds dying around him, I knew he belonged within the pages of Wintercraft. Here was a man whose life had been altered irrevocably by knowledge contained in the book at the very centre of the story, yet it took him a long time to make his presence known. He is a man of few words; a mystery to those who fear him and a nightmare to those he is sent to hunt. It is hard to believe now that Silas was not originally a character in the first book. He walked into one of my later drafts and changed everything.

As the leader of the High Council’s wardens, Silas has commanded men, served as a soldier in the ongoing war between Albion and the Continent, and worked as a collector: hunting down people for the High Council. Having been sold into warden training by his family at a young age, serving Albion quickly became a way of life. He lived to a tight code of personal honour and gained the respect of those he served until - twelve years before the events of Wintercraft - his loyalty to his government faced its greatest test.

The councilwoman, Da’ru Marr, made Silas an unwitting subject of her experiments into the veil between the living and the dead. She was attempting to do something that had only ever been done successfully once before: tear a soul from a living body, trap it within the deepest depths of the veil, and bind it to her own. She wanted a soldier who would serve her implicitly; a man with a broken soul whose connection to the veil made him heal swiftly from illness and injury. A protector who could never die.

After two years of being tested and tortured in Feldeep Prison, Silas proved his continuing worth to the High Council and resigned himself to their service once again. But living with a torn spirit has taken its toll upon him. His connection to the woman who stole his life causes him to endure endless spiritual pain. He has barely aged a day since the experiment that changed him twelve years ago, but his experiences have made him cruel and vicious. Under his command, the wardens spread fear across Albion as they gather people to serve in the war. His dead grey eyes reveal no humanity and he thinks nothing of murdering those who stand in his way.

Silas is my favourite character to write for in the books, but he is also the most difficult, because he is unpredictable. Once he starts working outside the council’s control, there is no way of knowing what decision he will make next. He trusts no one, but respects those who behave honourably. He wants to protect his country, yet loathes those who govern it. He is a man of contradictions and that makes him very interesting to me.

Since Wintercraft was published in 2010, I’ve heard from a lot of people who dislike Silas at the beginning of the story, but choose him as their favourite character in the end. I like that people see something special within him, because I knew he wasn’t a typical ‘villain’ right from the start. Silas carries many secrets. It took me a long time to uncover all of them, but I know a lot more about him than has been revealed so far in the books. I see him as an honourable man who was forced into a life he did not want. He has a past and it has changed him: from the moment his father sold him to the wardens at ten years old, to the night he finds Kate Winters and sees her as a tool to help end his suffering.

Because of his fearsome reputation, Silas lives an isolated life with only a loyal crow as his companion. It has travelled with him since his days spent serving as a high-ranking soldier, and the story of their first meeting is one I would love to tell one day. The crow is one of Silas’s few true allies and I couldn’t imagine them apart.

If events in Silas’s early years had been different, I know he would have become a very different man. He is a natural protector, trained to kill and to enforce the policies of a council who are slowly bringing his country to its knees but, deep inside, there are some glimmers of the good man he may have become.

Silas has been silent for a long time. He is tired of life and tired of pain, but his story is far from over. I want him to find the peace he is looking for, but fate has set him on a very different course. That, however, is a story that is yet to be told.
---

Thanks Jenna:)

You can find more information about the Wintercraft series at its website here. And you can find Jenna Burtenshaw on Twitter and her blog.

In My Mailbox (87)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren



Review:

Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson
This sounds so awesome and I'm already hearing great things about it!  Can't wait to get started!

Six Words and a Wish by Karen McCombie
This sounds great and I hadn't heard of it before.

Divine Freaks by Fiona Dunbar
I love the sound of this - I haven't read anything by Fiona Dunbar before but keep looking at her books.  I'm looking forward to trying this one.

Die For Me by Amy Plum
Wow - the cover for this is amazing!  And it looks so good!  I think this one might be next up:)

The Game by Krystyna Kuhn
Looks interesting - looking forward to seeing what I think.

Huntress by Malinda Lo
I haven't read Ash (yet) but am really excited to read this.

Duty Calls: Dunkirk by James Holland
I'm not sure this is one I would have picked up for myself but it sounds like it should be good.  I'm interested to see what I make of it:)

Big thanks to Atom, Orchard, Puffin, Scholastic and Simon & Schuster for sending books for review:)



Bought:

Long Lankin by Lindsay Barraclough
I had to get myself a lovely hardback of this one.  I LOVED it!  You can read my review here.

Saving Zoe by Alyson Noel
Faking 19 by Alyson Noel
These both look really good so I couldn't resist!

Dead Beautiful by Yvonne Woon
Again I couldn't resist!  I really like the sound of this one.

Dante Valentine: The Complete Series by Lilith Saintcrow
I really looking forward to trying this series!  I love her Strange Angels series. This is all five books in the Dante Valentine series so it's a bargain as well!

Hope you all had a great week:)

Trauma Queen by Barbara Dee

For Review: Barbara Dee
Published 19 April 2011

From Goodreads: Every tween girl knows what it's like to have a mom who can be a little embarrassing at times. But for Marigold, it goes way beyond embarrassing. Marigold's single mom is a performance artist, meaning she stages dramatic, wacky performances to express her personal beliefs. Things like wrapping herself in saran wrap for a piece on plastic surgery, or inviting people over in the middle of the night to videotape her sleeping. In fact, Marigold's mom's performances caused such a ruckus in their last town that the two of them, along with Marigold's little sister, have just had to move. Now Marigold's starting a new school, missing her best friend like crazy, and trying to fit in all over again in the shadow of a mom who's famous for all the wrong reasons. As if that's not bad enough, Marigold's mom takes on a new job--teaching drama at Marigold's school! Now all the kids know instantly just how weird her mom is, and Marigold's worried she'll never be able to have a friendship that can survive her mother.

Having read and loved This Is Me From Now On I jumped at the chance to review Trauma Queen. Infused with the same humour and charm, Trauma Queen is an absolute joy to read.

The story begins with Marigold's first day at her new school and on her mother's instruction she turns up in her pajamas.  Unfortunately Pajama Day was a month earlier!  Whoops! Marigold's mother is a performance artist and rather quirky - she seems to constantly embarrass and cause problems for Marigold, so when she gets a job at her new school , Marigold is rather alarmed.  Will there be chaos or will Marigold start to see her mother in a different light?

I love how Barbara Dee manages to combine humour with real issues, and create believable characters who I enjoy spending time with.  Marigold is really likeable and fun.  You can understand why she finds her mother embarrassing, but at the same time you can see something in her mother that she doesn't see yet.  I really liked her mother - I though her heart was always in the right place even if the way she went about things (sometimes) made them worse! And I loved her Gran.  There is a scene between her and Marigold that is particularly poignant and gives great insight into Marigold's mother.

I also loved her friends, especially Layla and Ethan.  I would have liked to have gotten to know both even more and am hoping for a sequel to Trauma Queen - I'm not ready to leave these characters just yet!

A great story about friendship and families, and realising that your parents are people too.  Thoroughly enjoyable!

Blackwatch Blog Tour Schedule

Headline have organised a blog tour for Blackwatch by Jenna Burtenshaw.  You can check out the schedule below for all the stops!    Hope to see you back here on the 18th!

In the meantime here is my review for the first book in the series, Wintercraft and you can check out the Wintercraft website here.

You can find Jenna Burtenshaw on Twitter and her blog.

I want to read that...

Angel Kiss by Laura Jane Cassidy

From Goodreads: Jacki King is fifteen and adjusting to her new life in a small village. She's missing Dublin but she's making new friends: artistic Colin, feisty Emily - and Nick, gorgeous yet unavailable. But no sooner is Jacki settled than the torturous headaches and nightmares begin - followed by strange visions, voices and signs...Jacki refuses to believe that something paranormal is happening. But then she discovers the unsolved murder that occurred in the village years before ...

Oooh!  Sounds good doesn't it.  I love the tagline - 'The dead don't talk.  Unless they have a secret to tell...'. 

Angel Kiss is published 5 May 2011 by Puffin Books.

The Taker by Alma Katsu

For Review: Random House/Century
Published 14 April 2011

From Amazon:
TRUE LOVE CAN LAST AN ETERNITY ...

Have you ever loved someone so much that you'd do anything for them?

When Dr Luke Findley turns up to his hospital shift in the small town of St Andrews, Maine, he's expecting just another evening of minor injuries and domestic disputes. But instead, Lanore McIlvrae walks into his life - and changes it forever. For Lanny is a woman with a past...

Lanny McIlvrae is unlike anyone Luke has ever met. Hers is a story of love and betrayal that defies time and transcends mortality - and cannot end until Lanny's demons are finally put to rest. Her two hundred years on this earth have seen her seduced by both decadence and brutality - but through it all she has stayed true to the one true love of her life. Until now.

An unforgettable novel about the power of unrequited love to elevate and sustain, but also to blind and ultimately destroy, The Taker is an immortal love story on an epic scale...

The Taker was one of those books that captured my interest straight away - as soon as Lanore began to tell her story I was completely hooked. Spanning over hundreds of years, Lanny's story is one I can't seem to stop thinking about.  Haunting and mesmerising, it is a compelling story.

I loved Lanny.  Yes,  she was selfish at times and she also made some really bad decisions - ones that had severe consequences (and not just for her) but I couldn't help but really like her.  There is something very honest about her - she is aware that not all her actions have been 'right' but she constantly fights to do the right thing.  She never seemed to give in - I'm not sure I would have had the same strength in her situation and she comes across as fearless at times.

Jonathon was a character I couldn't completely make my mind up about. Unfortunately I could not see what Lanny saw in him. Perhaps he was beautiful and made you feel as if you were the only person in the world but I also found him selfish and constantly in the need for affection.  I couldn't decide if what Lanny felt for him was love or obsession. I did feel sorry for him in the end though - but I do feel he played a part in what happened to him.  His actions had consequences too and they gave Lanny the opportunity to do what she did. Adair on the other hand was terrifying - I found him so compelling even knowing exactly what he was capable of. He truly scared me yet I looked forward to his scenes and his interactions with Lanny.

I didn't feel as if I knew Luke all that well.  He came across as likeable though, and his actions towards Lanny are explained in his experiences at his mother's death.  I would like to get to know him better, and I thought his relationship with Lanny developed nicely. I'm interested to see how it progresses.

I loved Alma Katsu's writing - especially the sections where Lanny was narrating.  The story is cleverly edited together - by giving us Lanny's past as a story she tells Luke we are already aware of what has happened and this gives her story a sadness that would have been missing otherwise. I also liked how the book reads like fiction that happens to be about something supernatural rather than a 'supernatural fiction' book. This gives the story believability and, as such, there are quiet a few scenes that prove difficult to read. There seems to be an undercurrent of brutality that permeates Lanny's whole story - which would make me reluctant to recommend to younger readers of YA but adult readers will definitely find cross over appeal.

I was really pleased with how it ended.  I'm so glad there was not a cliffhanger! You get answers but there are enough things left unanswered to make me want to pick up the next book in the series. I understand it will be a trilogy and I'm looking forward to more of Lanny's story.

Cover to Covet (12)

LOVE book covers. Love, love love them. So I decided to make it a regular post - each post featuring a cover I love.



Tris & Izzie by Mette Ivie Harrison

I really love the colours and just find it very pretty!  Here's the synopsis:

From Goodreads: A modern retelling of the German legend "Tristan and Isolde", "Tris and Izzie", is about a young witch named Izzie who is dating Mark King, the captain of the basketball team and thinks her life is going swimmingly well. Until-- she makes a love potion for her best friend Brangane and then ends up taking it herself accidentally, and falling in love with Tristan, the new guy at school.

Light, contemporary romantic fantasy for teens.

It's published October 2011

In My Mailbox (86)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren



Review:

Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder
Outside In by Maria V. Snyder
I am constantly being recommended books by this author so I'm really looking forward to trying these - they sound so good!

Montacute House by Lucy Jago
This sounds great!  I love books about witchcraft so this sounds very intriguing!

Thanks to Mira and Bloomsbury for sending books for review:)

Bought:

Nevermore by Kelly Creagh
I've read so many great reviews for this recently I had to get it.  It's massive! 

Anxious Hearts by Tucker Shaw
I am in love with the cover! And on the plus side it sounds good:)

A Year without Autumn by Liz Kessler
I'm really excited to read this one - it sounds like my cup of tea!

Tattoo by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Love the concept and I've heard great things about the author.

The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan
I still haven't read The Dead Tossed Waves yet but I loved The Forest of Hands and Teeth so I'm looking forward to reading both.

Hope you all had a great week:)

I want to read that...

Amplified by Tara Kelly

From Goodreads: When privileged 17-year-old Jasmine gets kicked out of her house, she takes what is left of her savings and flees to Santa Cruz to pursue her dream of becoming a musician. Jasmine finds the ideal room in an oceanfront house, but she needs to convince the three guys living there that she's the perfect roommate and lead guitarist for their band, C-Side. Too bad she has major stage fright and the cute bassist doesn't think a spoiled girl from over the hill can hack it. . . .

In this fresh new novel by critically acclaimed author Tara Kelly, Jasmine finds out what happens when her life gets Amplified.

I'm loving the sound of this. And I love the cover - it really caught my eye!

It's published October 2011 by Henry Holt & Co.

Long Lankin by Lindsey Barraclough

For Review: Random House. 
Published 7 April 2011

From Goodreads:  A chilling, beautiful debut novel inspired by a haunting folk song about murder, witchcraft and revenge. Beware of Long Lankin, that lives in the moss ...When Cora and her little sister Mimi are sent to stay with their elderly aunt in the isolated village of Bryers Guerdon, they receive a less than warm welcome, and are desperate to go back to London. But Auntie Ida's life was devastated the last time two young girls were at Guerdon Hall, and now her nieces' arrival has reawoken an evil that has lain waiting for years. A haunting voice in an empty room ...A strange, scarred man lurking in the graveyard ...A mysterious warning, scrawled on the walls of the abandoned church ...Along with Roger and Peter, two young village boys, Cora must uncover the horrifying truth that has held Bryers Guerdon in its dark grip for centuries - before it is too late for Mimi. Intensely atmospheric and truly compelling, this is a stunning debut.

Not only was Long Lankin one of those books I wanted to reread as soon as I'd finished it but I also wanted to thrust a copy into the hands of everyone I know and demand they read it.  The story is as creepy and atmospheric as the cover suggests and I completely and utterly fell in love with it.

The story begins with Cora and her little sister Mimi arriving in Bryers Guerdon to stay with their Aunt Ada. It soon becomes apparent that their Aunt does not wish for them to stay with her,  but not necessarily for the reasons they first think. Quickly befriending Roger and his brother, the four are drawn into the mystery surrounding the village. Who is the strange man they see lurking in the graveyard? And why is Cora's Aunt adamant they do not go near the old church? Determined to find all the answers Cora begins to undercover the terrifying truth... but will it be too late?

I honestly don't know where to begin. I found the story completely mesmerising - I could not put the book down and I found myself transported back in time to the 1950's to this small village called Bryers Guerdon. Told in alternating viewpoints between Cora, Roger and Ada we slowly uncover the truth. This works brilliantly, cleverly infusing the book with an energy that might have been missing otherwise. It also gives readers the opportunity to get to know each of the characters really well.

Cora is great as the driving force behind the story. She is very determined to find out what is going on, and as such comes across as very strong willed. I found myself liking her straight away. Roger is a fabulous character and I instantly liked him. His segments provide amusement and I loved his family. He prevents the story from being too melancholy and I found myself laughing out loud many times during his narration. At first I didn't particularly like Ada, but as I learned more and more about the history of the village and everything that happens I came to understand and really like her.

The story itself is brilliantly crafted. It's completely believable and compelling - a slow and intense build up that pays off beautifully at the end.  The scenes featuring Long Lankin towards the end are especially creepy - wonderfully so in my opinion.  I can't fault this one at all. A stunning debut.

Alyxandra Harvey: UK event dates

Alyxandra Harvey will be coming to the UK in May to promote her forthcoming book Haunting Violet. Below are details of events:

7pm Tuesday 24th May

Alyxandra will be talking about Haunting Violet in the Simpson Room at Waterstone’s, 203 / 206 Piccadilly, London W1J 9HD

Tickets priced £2 redeemable against a copy of Haunting Violet on the night:
Tel: +44 (0)20 7851 2400

For more details click here

4:30pm Wednesday 25th May

Alyxandra will be signing copies of the Drake Chronicles and Haunting Violet at Waterstone’s, 4 / 5 Milsom Street , Bath BA1 1DA

Tel: +44 (0)1225 448 515

For more details click here

11:30am Saturday 28th May

Alyxandra will be appearing at the world famous Hay Festival with Marcus Sedgwick, author of Revolver and White Crow

Tickets priced £4

For more details click here

For more details on events check out the Facebook page. You can also find Alyxandra at her blog and website

I'll leave you with a video of Alyxandra Harvey talking about her new book, Haunting Violet:

Book Trailer of the Month: April

The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens



I love the illustrations! It looks amazing and I'm really looking forward to reading it. It's published 7 April 2011.

In My Mailbox (84) & (85)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren

Review:



Blackwatch by Jenna Burtenshaw (UK Proof) - Thanks to Headline:)
Shadowing: Hunted by Adam Slater - Thanks to Egmont:)
Prisoner of the Inquisition by Theresa Breslin  - Thanks to Random House:)
Trauma Queen by Barbara Dee (ARC) - Thanks Barbara:)
Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton - Thanks to Simon & Schuster:)
The Gun by Bali Rai
The Fall by Anthony McGowan - Thanks to Barrington Stoke:)

Bought:



Soul Love by Lynda Waterhouse
The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong
Wilma Tenderfoot and the Case of the Frozen Hearts by Emma Kennedy
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra CLare
A Royal Match by Tyne O'Connell
13 to Life: Secrets and Shadows by Shannon Delany
Defiance by Lili St. Crow
Broadway Lights by Jen Calonita

Hope you all had a great week:)

Siren by Tricia Rayburn

For review: Faber and Faber.  Published February 2011
From Goodreads: Seventeen-year-old Vanessa Sands is afraid of everything—the dark, heights, the ocean—but her fearless older sister, Justine, has always been there to coach her through every challenge. That is, until Justine goes cliff-diving one night near the family’s vacation house in Maine, and her lifeless body washes up on shore the next day.

Though her parents hope that they’ll be able to find closure back in Boston, Vanessa can’t help feeling that her sister’s death wasn’t an accident. After discovering that Justine was keeping a lot of secrets, Vanessa returns to Winter Harbor, hoping that Justine’s boyfriend might know more. But Caleb has been missing since Justine’s death.

Soon, it’s not just Vanessa who’s afraid. All of Winter Harbor is abuzz with anxiety when another body washes ashore, and panic sets in when the small town becomes host to a string of fatal, water-related accidents in which all the victims are found, horrifically, grinning from ear to ear.

Vanessa turns to Caleb’s brother, Simon, for help, and begins to find herself drawn to him. As the pair try to understand the sudden rash of creepy drownings, Vanessa uncovers a secret that threatens her new romance—and will change her life forever.

A seductive paranormal romance full of unexpected twists, Siren is certain to make a big summer splash.

I really enjoyed Siren - it's a great mix of paranormal, romance and mystery.

Vanessa is a great character.  She thinks of herself as afraid of everything but her sister's death seems to trigger something in her because she comes across as very different.  Yes,  she does have fears, but she's very determined to find out what happened to Justine and the real reason for all the deaths that have occurred since.  She could have just gone home and tried to forget all about it but she doesn't, which I think says a lot about her character. 

I loved Simon, especially his tendency to completely 'geek' out every now and then, and I thought he had great chemistry with Vanessa. They come across as great friends, giving their relationship a genuine feel and I could honestly see why they were attracted to each other.  I also really liked Caleb, Paige and Betty.  In fact I would say the characterisation as a whole is really great and one of the things I really liked about Siren

I also really enjoyed the mystery element and piecing everything together.  The paranormal aspects of the story were mixed into this really well.  I found the book to be cleverly plotted - everything seemed to happen for a reason even if you didn't understand what it meant at the time.  There are still several things that need answering so I'm really looking forward to the sequel.  I am now very invested in both Vanessa and Simon and am really excited to see how their story progresses.