Me & Books and Books & Me

This is a total cop out of a real post, so I am apologising at the get set for this.  I am currently reading Tempted, and I plan to have it finished by Sunday at the very latest.  I think this one is going to be my favourite of the series, as i'm already pleased with myself for sticking with the series, even if some of the phrases used "like totally freak me out". 

I am a fan girl at heart and today I had my inner fan girl indulged very very mucho.  I enjoyed a lovely chat with the fabulous Maggie Stiefvater and had fun talks of books and playlists.   Whilst I've been induldged today, manicure included, I thought I would pass on the loving.  How you may be asking; which is a very good question.  Well my lovlies, I am going to let you peek into the craziness that is me.  This is the picture post.

This is me, I love food as much as I love books. 

*I think the phrase "Give me a real spoonful" was swirling round my mind*

Here is my favourite part of my bookcase

*check my Shiver and COG loving*

You see the red book about my Werecats series? Yeah? Well for you American types thats my copy of Incarceron, which will be hitting your shelves at the end of January 2010.  Are you jealous?

Right, well thats it for me.  Hope you have a fab Halloween and remember, I fight crime at night so be good.

In which there is awards....

I had no idea that bloggers could give other bloggers awards.  I'm still quite new to this whole blogging business, so it was such a nice suprise to learn I had been given an award.  And look, just look at the picture, how cute is that!!! 

I got the One Lovely Blog award from Lauren @ I was a teenage book geek. Cheers Lauren, if I could give the award back to you too, I so would.

Here are the rules: Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link. Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.
 
Okay, so I am going to admit something, i'm coming out of the closet; i'm a blog stalker.  I like to randomly wander round the blogosphere and nosy at peoples posts, see what they're upto and get ideas for new book purchases.  So this should be really easy right, picking 15 blogs which are new to me.  Not so much, because my memory is about as efficient as a fish's, around 2 minutes after visiting a blog, I totally forget their web addresses.  I tried to fix this and wrote down all the amazing blogs I found, and then I lost the list.  So, I may not be able to give 15 people right now, but I will work on my list, its a pinky promise.

Steph @ Stephsureads
Everyone @ Chicklish
Becky @ The Bookette
Sara @ The Hiding Spot
The Girlies @ Mundie Moms
Carolyn @ Book Chick City
Lori @ Pure Imagination
Sammee @ I want to read that

I will be back armed with more awards so hang fire...

Thats all

Waiting on Wednesday - Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready

Idea hosted by Jill @ Breaking The Spine

Publisher: Simon Pulse (18 May 2010 UK)
Pre-Order on Amazon right here


When her boyfriend dies a "most" untimely death, Aura--who can see ghosts--is forced to reconsider her relationship with the living and dead.
 
So, this is Jeri's first adventure into the YA world, having published romantic and urban fantasy.  As you will probably know, urban fantasy is my favourite favourite genre.  I love these kind of books, so I did a little happy dance when I found out about this book.  And look at the luscious cover, I am loving these dark covers recently.  A few adult authors have decided to dip their toes into the YA waters and I am so glad they have.  2010 is going to be a great year, though I am expecting to be broke for the best part of the year.

What books are you all waiting for?

Review - The Demons Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan

Publisher: Simon and Shuchster 1 June 2009
Order on Amazon here

Nick and his brother Alan are on the run with their mother, who was once the lover of a powerful magician. When she left him, she stole an important charm – and he will stop at nothing to reclaim it. Now Alan has been marked with the sign of death by the magician’s demon, and only Nick can save him. But to do so he must face those he has fled from all his life – the magicians – and kill them. So the hunted becomes the hunter…but in saving his brother, Nick discovers something that will unravel his whole past…

Okay, so I love the cover. Boys with black hair and menacing good looks will always have a special place in my heart. Authors take note, put a hot boy on your cover and I am guaranteed to buy your book. I love the text and the colors instantly grab your attention.


First off, I think I should let you all know, I read this book a few months ago and have been recommending it ever since. I decided to do a re-read even though my pile of books is taking over my house; it’s like alien invasion only with books. The world Sarah manages so perfectly to create is unbelievable, I know I won’t do the book justice but I sure am going to try. The way the characters were so artfully formed, how well she constructed this world where the abnormal co-exists with the normal. This books still whirls round my mind now, so many months after first reading and for a first time novelist, this is groundbreaking stuff.


The story follows the life of Nick, our 16 year old main character, from a 3rd person narrator. He lives with his brother Alan and his crazy insane mother, Olivia. They seem to be a normal family, living a mundane existence, but this is far from the truth. First off , Olivia is a magician, born a human but with mounds of power and magic. Ever since Olivia stole a talisman from a powerful magician, they have been on the run. Nick and Alan’s dad died the same night protecting them, and Alan got crippled. Nick is the fighter of the family, preferring swords and knifes as his weapon of choice. He will do anything to keep his brother Alan safe. But Alan isn’t as powerless as Nick thinks he is; he is a shooter and hardly ever misses his target. Well, let me just say, from my point of view, hot boys who use swords are keepers. Together, the brother’s work together to keep their mother safe, although one of them wishes she would hurry up and die.


Nick is such an angry, cold angsty boy. The narrative is disturbing and bleak, constant thoughts of killing and suffering whirling through his mind. The anger spills over when his brother Alan is marked by a demon. Enter Jamie and Mae. Jamie has been marked twice by a demon, one more mark and he will be dead, and Alan decides to help him. Maybe because he has a crush on Mae or maybe just because he is such a loving and thoughtful boy. Either way, Nick is not happy with this choice, unable to understand the concept of real emotions. Soon the hunted become the hunters, and the boys along with Mae and Jamie take their lives into their own hands, to pursue those who are looking for them. No more about the plot, because I don’t want to spoil it for you all.


The characters in this book are the reason why I loved this so much. Even though the story is told in third person narrative, each person’s views and feelings shine out of the pages. Nick was the perfect character to lead this amazing tale. Through his eyes we can see this world full of love and of feelings and of connections, and know what he is missing. Understand why he gets puzzled around people who care for others, appreciate how truly special love can be and how much of a role it plays in normal every day existence.


The demons in this story are as well formed as the characters. They want to seduce humans to gain possession of them to get out of the world they hate into ours, to get a taste of what it is truly like to be a person, to be human.  The way they are described makes me feel like Sarah has actually seen demons, they are that three dimensional, like they really could exist from her descriptions alone.  I was amazed at how her writing was so strong and powerful, how it made everything in the book seem so real.



So, I have another book added to my pile of must reads. I am counting down the days for the release of The Demons Covenant. I know Sarah will achieve the impossible once again; I man how could she not. People with this talent were born to write and I am so glad she decided to out pen to paper. Oh, and a big plus for me? It’s set in the UK, the UK, where I live!! You will never comprehend how excited I was to read a book set in my home country. Especially a book as outstanding as this one.

In My Mailbox #4

 This post is hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren and inspired by Alea @ Pop Culture Junkie

Okay, so me = fail, as I totally forgot to add the book I received for review this the picture.  But, I'm literally doing this before I shoot out of the dooor for a day of fun fun fun at an amusement park.  So, here goes:

For Review:

The Dresskeeper by Mary Naylus

Bought:

Midnight Alley by Rachel Caine

Feast of Fools by Rachel Caine

Lord of Misrule by Rachel Caine

Beautiful by Any Lynn Reed

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The Dresskeeper by Mary Naylus

Publisher - Prospera Publishing November 2009

Have you ever pretended to be someone else?Picky Robson thought things couldn't get any worse. Her life is a boy-free aone, she's being bullied at school, then mum announces she has to look after gran every weekend for the foreseeable future. One night, unknowingly tempting fate, Picky slips into a flouncy old dress from the depths of an ancient chess and finds herself back in 17th Century London. But she is not alone. A weirdo in a wig is trying to kill her - mistaking her for a girl called Amelia. Who is Amelia? Can Picky change the past by exposing the murderer? And will she make it back alive?

Hope you all have had a fab week and I'll be back later to see what you all got :-)

Review - The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Publisher: Delacorte Press 6 Oct 2009 US
Order on Amazon - Here


When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.


Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.


Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers.


Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.


I always like to kick off my reviews with a little intro about the covers, what can I say, I’m really superficial. I got myself a lovely hardback, which is something special for us here in the UK, because the majority of books on sale in our bookshops are paperback. The cover is absolutely lush, all nice and textured, and the raised font is a nice touch. Plus, check that maze out!! How freaky is that. This is one of those books that I would buy based on cover alone, its just that nice.


Now onto the book. I love dystopian novels, so when this was recommended to us by Aprillyne Pike over the summer in an author chat, I couldn’t wait to see what all the fuss was about. Dystopia, well it hit’s a chord with me, I just love these kind of books. Those of you who have read The Hunger Games will know what I’m talking about. A dystopian society is dangerous and alienating, it is a culture where the condition of life suffers from terror, oppression and deprivation. Which sums up the world James has created so perfectly.


The story rocks the male lead surprisingly well, I loved Thomas as a character. He was strong and level headed despite the traumas he’s been through. After waking up in the lift and being introduced into life in the Glade, you can almost hear the clogs turning in his mind. How to figure out a maze that the Gladers have been studying for two years and why everyone was placed there in the first place


I loved the Maze in this book, even if it did frighten me more than I like to admit. The Shining marked Mazes as a bad thing for me a long time ago. The way the Gladers can only go into the Maze during daylight before the walls are closed. How the walls move during the night, so any sense of direction or purpose is destroyed. James did a very good job of making the Maze a dark and dangerous place, something to be feared, but also seen as something important, a way out of the world the characters are trapped in. The Gladers work hard to unlock the key to the Maze, trying desperately to find a way home. The determination in these characters was amazing, how day after day they worked together, never giving up hope.


I wont say anything more about the plot, because I’ll get carried away with myself and spoil it for those of you who haven’t read it yet. However, I will add that this book far surpassed my expectations. The world James has created seems so real, even though the society the characters live in is as unrealistic as they come. You can almost see the High stone walls of the maze, covered in crawling ivy, smell the fear in the air. I loved how the descriptions of the Glade were so vivid, you could fully form how everything looked in your mind.


The characters are a credit to James writing skills. I loved learning the secrets of the Maze through Thomas’s eyes and how fully formed a character he was. I never once thought the book would be better from a females perspective. My favourite character was Newt, how even at such a young age he took on the responsibility of leading the boys, making sure they never gave up hope, keeping them going when the answers they so desperately needed were never given.


This book is the best start to a series I have read in a long time. I am truly amazed at how much I was sucked into this book and riveted until the last page. Every time I thought I figured out what was going on, another spanner was thrown in the works. I have never questioned what the writers intention was so much when reading a book. I couldn’t put this book down, the twists and turns keep you glued to your seat. An outstanding novel and I cant wait to read the sequel. I ask again, is it 2010 yet??

Adult Books I Love...

As you all know, I am a little addicted to Young Adult books, have been for quite a while now.  Some may say i'm obessesed and maybe I like books a little too much.  To these people I say, what of it? I think these people are just a little scared to enter the teen department in a bookstore.  If your reading this, looking over your shoulder to make sure no one sees what your looking at, don't worry, this post is about Adult books.  I can keep a secret I promise, I never saw you, you were never here.  If you need an alibi just drop me an email.  No, really, for those of you who are ashamed to walk into the teen department, stop worrying.  You know those old people you see on the train or the bus reading a classic, they've really got a copy of Twilight or City of Bones hid in there somewhere, I promise.  More people these days are embracing their love of Young Adult fiction, and why shouldnt they.

Anyways, I digress once again.  I just wanted to share a few of the adult books that I love just as much as my young adult collection.  Yes, they are fantasy books and you've all probably heard of them.  If you've not read these books, please do.  They are amazing reads and you will come back here thanking me for it.

Werecats Series By Rachel Vincent

I look like an all-American grad student. But I am a werecat, a shape-shifter, and I live in two worlds.

Despite reservations from my family and my Pride, I escaped the pressure to continue my species and carved out a normal life for myself. Until the night a Stray attacked.

I'd been warned about Strays: werecats without a Pride, constantly on the lookout for someone like me: attractive, female and fertile. I fought him off, but then learned two of my fellow tabbies had disappeared.

This brush with danger was all my Pride needed to summon me back for my own protection. Yeah, right. But I'm no meek kitty. I'll take on whatever and whoever I have to in order to find my friends. Watch out, Strays cause I got claws, and I'm not afraid to use them.

 

I love this series and have recomenned this so many times to lovers of fantasy.  It has everything you could wish for in a good book.  Romance, danger, steamy hot characters and suspense.  I like that it's told in first person and you really get sucked into Faythes world.  Rachel is the queen of action scenes and torturing her characters.  These are a must read!!

 

There are six books planned for the Werecats series, four of which have been released.  The series goes as follows; Stray, Rogue, Pride, Prey, Shift and Alpha. 

 

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Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harris

 

 

 

 

Sookie Stackhouse is a small-time cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana. She's quiet, keeps to herself, and doesn't get out much. Not because she's not pretty. She is. It's just that, well, Sookie has this sort of "disability." She can read minds. And that doesn't make her too dateable. And then along comes Bill. He's tall, dark, handsome -- and Sookie can't hear a word he's thinking. He's exactly the kind of guy she's been waiting for all her life.

But Bill has a disability of his own: he's a vampire with a bad reputation. He hangs out with a seriously creepy crowd, all suspected of -- big surprise -- murder. And when one of Sookie's co-workers is killed, she fears she's next.
 
I dont think I need to go into too much detail about these books, as I am sure you have either heard of the books or watched True Blood.  Vampires = enough said.  So far there are nine books in the series, with the tenth book being released next spring called Dead in The Family.  For the record, I am firmly on Team Eric.

 

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Mercy Thompson Series by Patricia Briggs

 

Werewolves can be dangerous if you get in their way, but they'll leave you alone if you are careful. They are very good at hiding their natures from the human population, but I'm not human. I know them when I meet them, and they know me, too.

Mercy Thompson's sexy next-door neighbor is a werewolf.
She's tinkering with a VW bus at her mechanic shop that happens to belong to a vampire.

But then, Mercy Thompson is not exactly normal herself... and her connection to the world of things that go bump in the night is about to get her into a whole lot of trouble.
 
Werewolves for me are the best-est supernatural creature ever!! nothing comes close, nor do I think they ever will.  So, when I found these books, I literally run out of the bookstore to get home, I swear you could see smoke from my shoes.  I love love love these books.   Brooding gorgeous Alpha Adam is what makes these books for me, hotter than the sun this guy is.  Plus, Mercy isn't a silly stupid girl, she can kick butt and look after herself; a girl after my own heart. 
 
At the moment there is four books in the series; Moon Called, Blood Bound, Iron Kissed and Bone Crossed, with the next installment out in Feruary Silver Bourne.  I can't wait!!!
 
So, these are the only adult books which are gracing my shelves at the moment.  Hows about you???

Waiting On Wednesday: Sleepless by Cyn Balog

Idea hosted by Jill @ Breaking The Spine

Sleepless by Cyn Balog

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Published: July 13 2010 US (no date for UK release as of yet)

Eron De Marchelle isn't supposed to feel a connection. He is a Sandman, a supernatural being whose purpose is to seduce human charges to sleep. While he can communicate with his charges in their dreams, he isn't encouraged to--after all, getting too involved in one human's life would prevent him helping his other charges get their needed rest.

But he can't deny that he feels something for Julia. Julia, with her fiery red hair and her sad dreams. Just weeks ago, her boyfriend died in a car accident, and Eron can tell that she feels more alone than ever. Eron was human once too, many years ago, and he remembers how it felt to lose the one he loved. Eron has always felt protective of Julia . . . but now, when she seems to need him more than ever, he can't seem to reach her . . .


Sandmen are forbidden from communicating with humans outside their dreams. But will Eron be willing to risk everything for a chance to be with the person he loves?
 
Romance: Check
Supernatural Beings: Check
Teenage Angst: Check
Love: Check
 
Right, whats not to love about this book, i'm in love with it already and I searched the internet high and low to see if this could be pre-ordered.  Alas, I had no luck and can only hope 2010 comes as quick as christmas seems to be coming this year.  This book looks amazing, and I love the cover, black is in right now, am loving all the black covers.  Plus, how sweet does Eron sound?? (Note, the above check list is my checklist of awesomeness)  Is it 2010 yet?

Review - Wake by Lisa McMann

Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK

Publication Date: 29 October 2009
Order on Amazon here
Not all dreams are sweet.

For seventeen-year-old Janie, getting sucked into other people’s dreams is getting old. Especially the falling dreams, the naked-but-nobody-notices dreams, and the sex-crazed dreams. Janie’s seen enough fantasy booty to last her a lifetime.

She can’t tell anybody about what she does — they’d never believe her, or worse, they’d think she’s a freak. So Janie lives on the fringe, cursed with an ability she doesn’t want and can’t control.


Then she falls into a gruesome nightmare, one that chills her to the bone. For the first time, Janie is more than a witness to someone else’s twisted psyche. She is a participant….

Wow - the synopsis instantly drew me in and my book brain went into lust overload. Only a few books have made me so intrigued before I have read the first page and Wake most certainly is high on that list. Plus, I love the UK cover and the quote from Cassie will do wonders for this book even if that marvellous synopsis didn’t.

First off, I love Lisa’s writing style, it very unique and stands out from the crowd. On the first page I was a little wary with the writing style and thought I would struggle with the book. Well, my mistake. I was instantly hooked and devoured the book in one sitting. It was as if the book was super glued to my fingers, I couldn’t put it down even if I wanted to.

Janie is seventeen years old and is just your average teenager; well, if your average teenager has the ability to fall into peoples dreams. Snapped into peoples dreams without warning, Janie struggles to keep any sense of normalcy in her life. It doesn’t help that her mums a drunk, who simply really couldn’t care less. Janie starts to see a pattern in the dreams she falls into; they all ask her for help. But how can she when her voice doesn’t make a sound? Because of this, she is forced to watch the dream unfold.

Janie is seen as white trash, coming from the wrong side of town, having to work to forge a life for herself in a household that wouldn’t notice if she disappeared. With old clothes and hardly any friends, Janie bears her secret alone. Even her best friend, Carrie doesn’t know her secret. But Carrie is keeping her own secrets, a secret about a lake and a little boy named Carson.

Cabel is the loner at school, notorious for his drug abuse when he was younger. But Janie sees something in Cabel she is drawn too, even if she knows he is hiding secrets of his own.  There is something in Cabel that makes Janie share her burden with, and by doing this she learns what it truly means to have her gift.  Can she give people the help their looking for?

Right, I absolutely loved this book and was very glad this is a series of books and not a stand alone novel. The characters were so vibrant and alive and I actually cared about what happened to them. I loved that even though both Janie and Cabel are from broken homes, they still managed to be strong individuals. The story told for me was really a take on growing up, how to cope with being different and how to make sense of everything about us that makes us unique.

Yeah, I’m not old and I can remember being a teenager and feeling the same worries and oh the angst, I miss the angst!! I recognise and connect with Janie and Cabel because I can remember what it was like to feel the same fears and worries (well maybe not worries about being in peoples dreams).

The concept is excellent and just the right amount of romance was injected into the story. It is official, Cabel is one of my favourite fictional characters. He is so sweet and endearing, I just want to reach into the pages and give him a cuddle. Janie is a well formed character, and I loved how the story was told from a third person POV and was short clipped staccato sentences. A thrilling start to a new series, I would recommend this book to everyone. Go buy it….now…..run, quick.

In My Mailbox #3

Idea is hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren and Alea @ Pop Culture Junkie

Bought -

Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger (signed)

The Time Travellers Wife by Audrey Niffenegger (signed)

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Strange Angels by Lili St Crow

The Dead Girls Dance by Rachel Caine

Won -

Skinned by Robin Wasserman

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I wont bore you all again with my ramblings about my Audrey books.  For those of you who haven't heard, I went to a signing even this week, with Jenny from Wondrous Reads.  Audrey was lovely and answered a number of fabulous questions and a number of downright bizarre.  To see more, please click on the link right here, where you can see a photo of my signed book and some of the information she shared, was tres fun!!

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Skinned by Robin Wasserman (am quite excited to read this one)

Some miracles come with a price . . .

Lia Kahn was perfect: rich, beautiful, popular. Until the accident that nearly killed her.

Now she has been downloaded into a new body that only looks human. Lia will never feel pain again, she will never age, and she can't ever truly die.

(What do you guys think of the UK cover, I think I prefer it to the US one, makes it look more creepy me thinks?)

 
 
 

 

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The Maze Runner by James Dashner (I have been waiting for this one since spring, and I'm reading it now and its FAB)

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.

Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.

Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers.

Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.
 
 

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The Dead Girls Dance by Rachel Caine (i'm a bit behind in the times, what of it?)

Claire has her share of challenges. Like being a genius in a school that favors beauty over brains; homicidal girls in her dorm, and finding out that her college town is overrun with the living dead. On the up side, she has a new boyfriend with a vampire-hunting dad. But when a local fraternity throws the Dead Girls' Dance, hell is really going to break loose.

 

(Same here, I prefer the UK cover, think it seems more YA than the US version and look at the lovely font.  Man, here in the UK we have some fab covers.  Though, some are horribly bad)

 

 

 

 

 

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Srange Angels by Lili St Crow (in my opinion Fang = Vampires, i'm keeping my fingers crossed)

Dru Anderson has what her grandmother called 'the touch.' (Comes in handy when you're traveling from town to town with your dad, hunting ghosts, suckers, wulfen, and the occasional zombie.)

Then her dad turns up dead - but still walking - and Dru knows she's next. Even worse, she's got two guys hungry for her affections, and they're not about to let the fiercely independent Dru go it alone. Will Dru discover just how special she really is before coming face-to-fang with whatever - or whoever - is hunting her?

 

 

 

 

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Hope you all had a good week!!! :-)

Review - Deadly Little Secret by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Published November 2008 by Hyperion

Some secrets shouldn't be kept...

Until three months ago, everything in sixteen-year-old Camelia's life had been fairly ordinary: decent grades, an okay relationship with her parents, and a pretty cool part-time job at the art studio downtown. But when a mysterious boy named Ben starts junior year at her high school, Camelia's life becomes anything but ordinary.

Rumored to be somehow responsible for his ex-girlfriend's accidental death, Ben is immediately ostracized by everyone on campus. Except for Camelia. She's reluctant to believe he's trouble, even when her friends try to convince her otherwise. Instead, she's inexplicably drawn to Ben.and to his touch. But soon, Camelia is receiving eerie phone calls and strange packages with threatening notes. Ben insists she is in danger, and that he can help-but can he be trusted? She knows he's hiding something... but he's not the only one with a secret.

Right, I am totally going against the grain here and am writing a review for a book that has been out for nearly a year. There is a reason for this; all will be revealed at the end of the review. I bought this book the month it was released, which was November 2008. I was trying desperately to get out of Twilight mode, I seriously read them non stop over and over and over for months. Ring any bells?? I’m sure it does.



First off, although this review may not be very peachy, I did enjoy the book, it was a good start to the Touch Series. However, this did not do the writer justice, because even though I found the book sucked me in and creeped me out more than I like to admit, déjà vu happened to me all the way through the book.

Picture this: Your stood in the school parking lot and you hear a screeching sound, a noisy horrible sound that reverberates around your mind tinged with danger and fear. Oh no, it’s a car, and guess what? It’s heading right your way. Your about to die, right there on the grubby asphalt on the crummy school parking lot. No wait!! A hot guy turns up and pushes you out of the way. He is gorgeous and stares right into your eyes and touches your belly, gives you a look that’s so hot you almost set on fire. Your mesmerised but he just gets up and walks away like nothing has happened. Is it just me or does this sound vaguely familiar?!?


Camelia is just a regular teenage girl; but weird things start happening when new guy Ben starts at her school. Yeah, got it in one; he’s the guy who saved her from the crazy car incident. Things are even worse; Ben has been accused of killing his late girlfriend. Chaos ensues at the school, but Camelia doesn’t care about the allegations, she wants him to touch her again. Now this is where my problem lies. Why on earth would you want an accused killer to touch you, when you know nothing about him apart from the fact he is a little rude.

Notes and pictures of her start to be delivered to Camelia’s house threatening her, someone is stalking her and leaving these bizarre messages. Who is Camelia to trust and is it Ben who is behind this? Plus, in Chemistry class she has no partner, so they have to pair up. I mean yeah ok, you could get away with either the lab partners or the car crash, but using both is taking it a little too far.

Ben is hiding a secret, which is the reason behind all the mystery and not letting Camelia get too close. This secret could harm Camilla, so Ben is being the good guy and trying to stay away from her; unsuccessfully. Need I say it again?


Also, for you New Moon fans, the ending of Deadly Little Secret is déjà vu from that book too, if you catch my drift. I was quite surprised by my feelings towards this book, I mean the storyline didn’t really float my boat, but it was very very addictive regardless. I was still glued to the pages as there were a lot of plot twists that I never saw coming. Plus, Laurie is a very good writer. I personally feel if some of the Twilight-esque scenes were not in the book, I would have loved this book. Regardless, I am still looking forward to the next book in the series.


Lauries writing style is very strong and is different from other authors out there, even if her plot lines are not. It is one of those books that confuses you when your reading, you don’t want to put it down despite its flaws, which is remarkable as far as I’m concerned.


And here is the big reveal, I am going to read the sequel, so the book isn’t craptastic and neither is it excellent. The sequel, Deadly Little Lies, is out in November and I will most definitely be buying a copy. Have any of you read this book? I would love to hear your comments.

News: Spinebreakers need your help

So, those of you who love Penguin books will know a little something about SpineBreakers, who by the way, are awesome beyond belief.  Well, they need your help : ) They are looking for creative whizzes, book heads, musos and budding writers.  They are recruiting a team of 13-18 year olds to become the next line up of music and book editors for Penguins online community http://www.spinebreakers.co.uk/ which is run by teens for teens.  Yeah, I know, how cool is that.  I often wish I was a teenager again, and this makes me want it even more.


Here is a little bit more info on why you should join the SpineBreaker team:

Spinebreakers launched in 2007 and is now crammed full of creative content inspired by books, contributed by 13-18 year olds. The website is backed by publisher Penguin but the content of the site is totally in the hands of the young editors.


The past editors have had brilliant experiences interviewing famous authors like Nick Hornby, being the first to hear and review brand new music from Island records, sitting on the first ever Orange Prize for Fiction Youth Panel, attending the Underage Festival, speaking at events, and letting the world know their opinions when it came to books.  They are now looking to recruit a second generation of editors: this is your chance to fill their footsteps, gain some amazing experiences and be a part of something unique.


You will:


- Receive tonnes of free books

- Get to listen and review some of the hottest new music around

- Work with industry professionals

- Meet and interview famous authors and musicians

- Explore imaginative topics around books and writing

- Unleash your creativity

- Get something totally amazing on your CV

- Have all travel expenses covered



“I have to say my involvement with Spinebreakers has helped me a great deal, not only it's given me the confidence to stand out within a crowd, public speaking, writing articles, but it has also given me the opportunity to be on BBC Radio 4, which I'm really proud of.” Osman Diallo (ex-Spinebreakers Editor, aged 20)
 If you have a passion for books, music, reading, writing, drawing, filming – anything creative – then they want to hear from you.  So go, sign up, it will be an experience you will never forget.

The editors will receive a half-day workshop at a youth marketing agency in London. You need to be:


- Available on 26th October 2009

- Within commuting distance of London (for Books Editors only)

- Able to attend monthly meetings at Penguin in Central London

- Able to commit to creating monthly content
 To apply, show them what you can do!!!. Send your favourite piece of writing you’ve done – it could be a short story, book or album review, rant or feature. Plus tell them in 100 words or less why you should become one of their teen editors. And, don’t forget to state if you’d rather be a books or music editor. Send the info to: jointheteam@spinebreakers.co.uk



Please send your submissions to reach them no later than 22nd OCTOBER 2009


Please visit www.spinebreakers.co.uk to find out more about the site and to apply to become an editor. jointheteam@spinebreakers.co.uk

I so wish this has been around when I was a teenager, as this is something I would've loved to do, especially being such a bookaholic.  Free books and the chance to meet authors!!! < this is making me a little jealous of all the teenagers out there.

News: Time Travelling and Vampires

 

Right, so as many of you alreadyy know, I went to an event at Waterstones last night to see Audrey Niffenegger with Jenny @ WondrousReads who by the way, loves books just as much as me and is very very cool!!! So, I thought i'd share a few little things with you all. Look:

 

 

How friggin cool is that!!! The Time Travellers Wife is my all time favourite adult book, the story she weaved was mesmorising and has stayed with me even now, five years after first reading the book.  Heres a few things that I learned from the event, because Audrey was nice enough to answer questions (no, I didn't ask any myself, I was frozen in fan girl glee):

• She has never seen the film adaptation; she doesn't plan to either.  Apparantly, as soon as she found out the film wasn't set in Chicago, it was a good enough reason not to see the film.  Audrey does agree though that Eric and Rachel are mega hot!
• The first things she wrote of The Time Travellers Wife was the last two chapters, the rest of the book was built around that ending.  She likes to torture her characters
• When researching Time Travel, she read a book called "Time Travel for Writers" how funny : )
• Two timelines were saved on her computer; one cataloging Claire and one for Henry, to make sure they were the right ages throughout the book and meeting on the correct dates
• It took six years from starting the book to it being published, she never expected it to be a best seller, her estimate was maybe 2,000 - 5,000 copies would sell
• Her advise to writers; take your time and write a story you want to write, not something you think would be popular or make lots of money

Also, here is the stupidist questions of the night, yep, there is always one idiot in the crowd that asks the stupidist question they could think of:

 

"On page 44, it says the date 29 September, and thats the date I was reading that page.  Did I time travel?" Audrey and the rest of the crowd was all like: WTF?!?!?! was tres funny.

 

And heres where the vampires come into play; I got an email today with a promo for the new Houst Of Night book, Tempted.  I really enjoyed the other books in the series and can't wait to read the new installment, and guess what?? it comes out really really soon!  Also, look at the cover! I think this is my favourtie cover so far in the series, Zoey looks all grown up

 

 

 

You can view the synopsis and read the first chapter on the House of Night website right here.  Plus, they have made a really good book trailer.

 

Enjoy : )

Waiting On Wednesday - Before I Fall

Idea from Jill @ Breaking The Spine

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver



Published by HarperCollins (US) 2 March 2010
                        Walker (UK) 2 March 2010


Pre Order on Amazon here


What if you had only one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life? Samantha Kingston has it all—looks, popularity, the perfect boyfriend. Friday, February 12th should be just another day in her charmed life. Instead, it’s her last. The catch: Samantha still wakes up the next morning. In fact, she re-lives the last day of her life seven times, until she realizes that by making even the slightest changes, she may hold more power than she had ever imagined.



The cover of this book is absolutly stunning, one of the nicest covers I have seen in a long time.  The model is beautiful and I like how clean and fresh it looks.  Plus, the books sounds so intriguing.  I am really looking forward to reading Samanthas story, I just know I am going to love this book!

And guess what?!?!?! I get to read this book very soon, which is so exciting. A few weeks ago the fabulous author Lauren, who's on Twitter by the way, so follow her @oliverbooks, posted on her blog about the book and here's what she said:

"So...there's a dearth of available galleys (I only have one copy in my possession!) and a few wonderfully enthusiastic bloggers/reviewers have been asking to read my book, so I decided to send my galley off on a little cross-country adventure. On its journey, it will make pit-stops at the homes of interested readers, before jaunting off to the next location. Think of it like the Sisterhood of the Traveling Copy of Before I Fall."

You can view Laurens blog right here
I put my name down and then got an email to say I would be added to the list. YAY, so Before I Fall is on a transatlantic mission to my house, stopping off at other UK bloggers houses on the way.  This is suuch a cool thing for Lauren to do, so THANK YOU Lauren, your amazing.

What are you all looking forward too?

Review - Fallen by Lauren Kate

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (December 8, 2009) US
Publisher: Doubleday (17 Dec 2009) UK

There's something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price's attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He's the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce--and goes out of his way to make that very clear--she can't let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.

Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, Fallen is a page turning thriller and the ultimate love story.

After hearing about this book a while ago, I was desperate to get my hands on a copy. And then I saw the cover, and true book lust began. I mean, look at that cover, it’s absolutely gorgeous and I love the dark shades used; makes it seductive and more than a little scary. I was instantly intrigued by the gothic girl and ominous woods on that luscious cover.



The story begins with Lucinda, known throughout the book as Luce, is enrolling at Swords and Cross school, following a disturbing incident during the summer. Luce doesn’t want to go to this morbid school, full of teenage delinquents, she just wants to be a normal kid, at a normal school. But little does Luce know things are about to get a lot weirder. I liked Luce as the protagonist; she wasn’t dull or self involved, she was just an average teenager with issues. Issues where dark shadows lurked in the air around her, a constant companion she doesn’t know the meaning behind.


Enter Daniel, the brooding and mysterious boy that catches Luce’s attention on the very first day. There is something about him that’s so familiar, like a friend you forgot you had. The description of him in the book is dark hair and icy grey ices speckled through with violet. Instantly, the description alone made me like him, I mean who wouldn’t, he’s your perfect male lead; gorgeous and unattainable, everything a teenage girl desires. But he’s hiding a secret, a secret that would destroy everything Luce holds dear, but will she listen to save herself?


There’s also the gorgeous Cam, with his golden hair and piercing green eyes; swoon! Luce is drawn to him, like a moth to a flame for an inexplicable reason, how can you resist those gorgeous eyes and yes I’ll say it, amazing physique. He’s the only boy at Swords and Cross that gives Luce the time of day, but is he trying too hard and if so what’s the reason behind his motives? Surely someone that good looking can have anyone he wants?


In a school full of kids with issues, who is Luce to trust? Well, this was a question I asked myself all the way through the book, along with a few others. The main question for me was, what is Daniels problem? I think the secret to this books success, which it most certainly will be, is that it keeps you guessing until the very last page, where still, not all of the questions flowing through my mind were answered. This is the perfect set up for a book with a sequel, because it kept me a reader intrigued about what will happen next. Cliffhanger endings are my favourite.


The characters in the book were really well formed, and I have to say my favourite supporting character in the book was Penn. She is the perfect best friend, with her eay friendship and trusting ways, I never once questioned her motives for befriending Luce. She is genuinely a nice girl and her personality shines from the pages, I loved her.


I will admit I found the pace of the story to be a little slow, but it was a bit like watching a fire; how the wood burns slow at first but you stay engrossed because you know soon enough it will be engulfed in fire. That’s what the book was like. Little tendrils of information crucial to the plot are handed to you in small doses, enough to keep you interested until the next time. As the reader you find out the story before Luce does, then its just waiting for the pieces to fall together in her mind about the reality of what’s happening to her.


Onto the forbidden love; my favourite kind. The chemistry between Luce and Daniel progressed quickly, and I found myself wondering Really? But you don’t even know each other that well? But hey, it worked for Twilight and it is sure going to work for Fallen. The sexual tension between the two of them drips off the pages and you just want them to throw themselves at each other in a passionate embrace. The sexual tension between them just built and built and built, until I just wanted to reach into the pages and bang their heads together.

I really enjoyed the storyline, especially the action packed ending, which by the way, was worth waiting for. There are more twists and turns in the book than a dance sequence, seriously, I had no clue about what was going to happen at the end of the book or where the story was leading me. I do know one thing; the sequel Torment, could not be released fast enough.


I have read a LOT of books, and not one of them compares to Fallen, I have tried thinking of books that are similar or share the same sort of story line and came up short. Fallen is an amazing start to a series and a refreshing change to the genre.

Books to Covet

There are so many books coming out in the next 12 months that I am really looking forward too.  I spent 5 minutes on Amazon yesterday and found 15 books that I want, and they've all not been released yet.  So, I thought i'd share some of them with you all.  Disclaimer: I accept no responsibility for extreme book lust or scarcity funds post reading this.

Everwild by Neal Shusterman

Deadly Little Lies by Laurie Faria Storlarz

My Love Lies Bleeding by Alyxandra Harvey

Gone by Lisa McMann

The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

Nearly Departed by Rook Hastings

The Mark by Jen Nadol

Shift by Rachel Vincent

Tempted by P.C Cast and Kristen Cast

My Soul to Save by Rachel Vincent

I am so excited for all of these books and some.  Roll on 2010, it couldn't come fast enough, i'm going to be in book heaven!!