Upcoming Bloomsbury Author Signings (UK)

There are some great Bloomsbury author signings scheduled for the next couple of months. Check out the details below:

John Green, author of Paper Towns has already sold out his event at Waterstone’s Piccadilly and his event at Edinburgh Festival. Due to popular demand we have added another event to John’s all too brief visit to the UK . If you would like to see John and the amazing Sons of Admirals you can catch them for one night only at Ice Father Nation, 33-35 Commercial Road , London E1 1LN on Saturday 14th August. Doors open at 6:30pm and the main event starts at 7:30pm. Tickets are available on the door priced £7.

For the latest from John take a look at http://www.johngreenbooks.com/ or see the man himself in action at www.youtube.com/vlogbrothers

Mary Hoffman, author of numerous YA novels including the hugely successful Stravaganza series will be at Edinburgh Festival on Saturday 21st August at 1pm. To book your tickets call 0845 373 5888 or visit the website http://www.edbookfest.co.uk/

Cathy MacPhail, author of Underworld, Roxy’s Baby and a whole host of other action-packed titles will be at Edinburgh Festival on Monday 23rd August at 10am. To book your tickets call 0845 373 5888 or visit the website http://www.edbookfest.co.uk/

Simmone Howell is making a rare visit from her native Australia for two appearances at Edinburgh Festival. The author of Notes from the Teenage Underground and Everything Beautiful will be running a workshop on Tuesday 24th August at 6pm and talking about her writing on Wednesday 25th August at 10am. To book your tickets call 0845 373 5888 or visit the website http://www.edbookfest.co.uk/

Ian Beck (Pastworld) will be joining Philip Reeve at Edinburgh Festival on Wednesday 25th August at 5pm to talk steampunk and much more. To book your tickets call 0845 373 5888 or visit the website http://www.edbookfest.co.uk/

Gemma Malley (The Declaration, The Resistance, The Returners and The Legacy) and Sophie Mackenzie will be appearing at Edinbugh Festival on Thursday 26th August at 6:30pm. To book your tickets call 0845 373 5888 or visit the website http://www.edbookfest.co.uk/

Lucy Jago will be at Montacute House, the National Trust property that inspire her book of the same name, on Saturday 28th August at 2pm. She will be signing copies of her book. If you can’t make it, but would like to reserve a signed copy call 01935 823 289

Jim Carrington (Inside My Head) will be on a panel alongside Alex Diaz and C.J. Skuse, chaired by Julia Green (Drawing with Light) at the Bath Festival of Children’s Literature on Thursday 30th September at 8:30pm. To book your tickets call 01225 463 362 or visit the website http://www.bathkidslitfest.co.uk/

Mary Hooper (Fallen Grace) and Celia Rees (Witch Child and The Fool’s Girl) will be talking all things historical at Cheltenham Festival on Saturday 16th October at 6pm. To book your tickets call 0844 576 7979 or visit the website http://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/

Celia Rees will be running a workshop on writing for teenagers at Cheltenham Festival on Sunday 17th October at 10am. Place are limited. To book your tickets call 0844 576 7979 or visit the website http://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/

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Thanks to Emma @ Bloomsbury for providing details:)

Cross My Heart and Hope To Spy by Ally Carter

For Review: Orchard Books. Published 5 August 2010
From Goodreads: After staking out, obtaining, and then being forced to give up her first boyfriend, Josh, all Cammie Morgan wants is a peaceful semester. But that's easier said than done when you're a CIA legacy and go to the premier school in the world... for spies.

Cammie Morgan may have a genius IQ and attend the best school in the country, but as she starts the spring semester of her sophomore year there are a lot of things she doesn't know. Like will her ex-boyfriend even remember she exists? And how much trouble did she really get in last semester? And, most of all, exactly why is her mother acting so strangely?

All Cammie wants is a nice, normal semester, but she's about to learn her greatest lesson yet—that when you go to a school for spies, nothing is ever as it seems.

I officially love this series! The first book, I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You felt like a guilty pleasure - a book I really enjoyed but felt I shouldn't. After reading this one I no longer feel guilty! I positively enjoyed it and can't wait for more.

Cam is back and exactly the same as before. I really like her and her witty observations. Her friends are ace as well - I love Bex and Macey's attitude, and Liz's clumsiness. She really makes me laugh! And of course I love all the spy stuff! I love the whole concept of a spy school and think it's a superb basis for a series of books.

There were some great actions scenes and the whole book felt exciting - with a mystery to solve and a romance. I enjoyed watching Cam and her friends try to work it all out - how they think they have the answers but just end up with more questions! I must admit I did twig what was going on but it didn't spoil my enjoyment one bit. I also liked the romance and felt there was some great chemistry this time. I guess sometimes 'bad boys' really are more appealing! I really hope we get to see much more of Zach.

There was also really good continuation here from the first book. We get more snippets about Cam's father and it is implied there is more to the story than she realises. I'm hoping this will be something we find out more about in future books. I also liked the way events in the previous book were alluded to and that it had a impact on events in this book. I was glad we got to see Josh again and Cam's reaction to it.

This is just such a fun, light read and I recommend it wholeheartedly. I hope the series continues to go from strength to strength and am really looking forward to Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover when it's released in the UK.

Cover to Covet (4)...and I REALLY want to read that!

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

Entangled by Cat Clarke

How much do I LOVE this cover? I love the model and how she catches your eye! I love her hair colour and how it matches the title! I love the font they used for the title and the pattern in the corner. Such an awesome cover and I just love, love, love it! I also CAN'T WAIT to read it - it sounds completely awesome!

From Goodreads: Grace meets enigmatic Ethan the night she's planning to kill herself. The next morning she wakes up in a strange room with a table, chair, pens and paper. There's nothing to do but write, and as she writes, Grace remembers the things she's tried so hard to forget.

The hazy memories lead Grace into a dark place where friendship, heartbreak and betrayal tangle together...

Entangled is published in the UK in Jan 2011, and you can check out the author's Website and Blog by clicking the links.

There is also a Arc tour for this over at UK Blog Tours for any UK reviewers that are interested in signing up:)

The Midnight Charter by David Whitley

For Review: Puffin. Published August 6th 2009
From Amazon: In the city of Agora, anything can be bought and sold. Even children are possessions until their twelfth birthday. Mark has been sold by his father, and Lily, an orphan from birth, has bartered for her life. Thrown together by chance, in the ancient tower of Count Stelli, they face an existence of poverty and servitude, unless they can find a way to break free. But, unbeknown to Mark and Lily, they are being watched by the ruler of the city. Can they survive the traps and treachery that await them and discover the dark secret that binds them together? Their lives depend on this question: what is the Midnight Charter?

This is one of books I am really glad I was offered to review. Although very different from what I usually read I found myself completely charmed by it.

Although technically fantasy it didn’t feel it and I think this is due to David Whitley’s writing style. He had me hooked from the first chapter with his eloquent narrative and I found myself completely engrossed. It took me a while to read this but I wanted to read every word on the page and just savour it.

Whitley has created a very interesting world here. I thought it felt kind of Dickensian – I could really picture it as a BBC Adaptation – with the dialogue and descriptions of Agora really making it feel as if it were set in the past. The concept of everything being something you can trade – including your emotions or even your own child – is a scary one. But it had me completely intrigued. How did this come to be? Why? And why did Mark and Lilly seem so important?

I loved Lilly from the start. She has strength and determination – but she is also very caring. Mark seemed slightly naive – and had a weakness about him that made me not warm to him as much as Lilly. I found both of their stories appealing but must admit I preferred Lilly’s story to Mark’s. I think this is due to there being more characters present in Lilly’s life – Theo, Ben, Laud and Gloria were great characters in their own right.

The story does move at a slow pace, being more of a saunter than a rollercoaster ride, but I really enjoyed the gentle way it lead me to the end. All the pieces of the puzzle cleverly came together, and although you do get answers they do create more questions. And yes, there is a cliff-hanger ending. I must say I am really looking forward to The Children of the Lost and finding out what will happen next.

In My Mailbox (51)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren

For Review:

City of Thieves by Ellen Renner

Five on a Treasure Island by Enid Blyton

Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy by Ally Carter

Blood Ties by Sophie McKenzie

Girl Missing by Sophie McKenzie

Chocolate Box Girls: Cherry Crush by Cathy Cassidy

The Legacy by Gemma Malley

A Trick of the Dark by B. R. Collins

A big thanks to Bloomsbury, Hodder, Orchard, Puffin, and Simon & Schuster for sending review copies:)

Bought:

... and yes I bought too many again. I must be seriously lacking in willpower lately. I have promised myself I will not buy any more for at least a couple of weeks!

Death by Bikini by Linda Gerber

Candor by Pam Bachorz

Bad Faith by by Gillian Philip

Bad Boy Can Be Good for a Girl by Tanya Lee Stone

Room by Emma Donoghue

Theodore Boone by John Grisham

You Wish by Mandy Hubbard

The Cupcake Queen by by Heather Hepler

Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel

Kiss Me Deadly: 13 Tales of Paranormal Love by Trisha Telep

Early to Death, Early to Rise by Kim Harrison

Won:

Gleeeeeee!

Thanks Rhiana!