Waiting on Wednesday - White Cat by Holly Black

Idea is hosted by Jill @ Breaking The Spine

Publisher - Margaret K Elderry

Published - 4 May 2010

Pre-Order on Amazon here

Cassel comes from a family of curse workers -- people who have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, by the slightest touch of their hands. And since curse work is illegal, they're all mobsters, or con artists. Except for Cassel. He hasn't got the magic touch, so he's an outsider, the straight kid in a crooked family. You just have to ignore one small detail -- he killed his best friend, Lila, three years ago.

Ever since, Cassel has carefully built up a façade of normalcy, blending into the crowd. But his façade starts crumbling when he starts sleepwalking, propelled into the night by terrifying dreams about a white cat that wants to tell him something. He's noticing other disturbing things, too, including the strange behavior of his two brothers. They are keeping secrets from him, caught up in a mysterious plot. As Cassel begins to suspect he's part of a huge con game, he also wonders what really happened to Lila. Could she still be alive? To find that out, Cassel will have to out-con the conmen.

Holly Black has created a gripping tale of mobsters and dark magic where a single touch can bring love -- or death -- and your dreams might be more real than your memories.

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OMG how friggin ace is that cover!!!! I would marry this cover and have lots of little pretty book cover babies!! And how hot does Cassel sound, like maybe he may spontaneously combust?? I cannot wait for this book!

Review - Of All the Stupid Things by Alexandra Diaz

Published 22 December 2009
Publisher - Egmont USA
Order on Amazon here

It really was a stupid thing that Brent Staple did – doing it (so the rumour goes) with Chris Sanchez, one of the guy cheerleaders. Who’d have thought that Brent, the school’s hottest jock, could be gay? But the doubt about Brent doesn’t just hurt Tara – it’s the beginning of the end for an inseparable trio of friends. Tara’s training for the marathon, but also running from her father and her fear of ever being abandoned again. Beautiful Whitney Blaire’s got everything and nothing, because her parents have never had time for her. And Pinkie has a compulsive need to mother everyone to make up for the mom she never stops missing. The girls couldn’t be more different, but doesn’t that just prove the strength of their friendship?

Then new-girl Riley arrives in school, wafting her long black hair and a scent of lilacs. Suddenly, Tara starts to feel things she’s never felt before for a girl - and to reassess her feelings about Brent and what he may/may not have done. Is Tara gay – or does she just love Riley? And can the map of her deepest friendships ever be redrawn in a post-Riley world?

It kicks off with Tara hearing a rumour that her boyfriend Brent was doing the dirty on her with one of the cheerleaders. It sucks when your boyfriend cheats on you, but you know what makes it worse?? The fact that it was a male cheerleader. Tara decides to move on and leave Brent and the nasty rumour behind. Bu then new girl Riley shows up, and Tara starts to feel things for her that she’s never felt before, but she isn’t gay, so what does this mean? not only is Riley making Tara question her sexuality but also her friendships, which are put to the test.

The story follows three best friends, Tara, Whitney Blaire and Pinkie, and we get to know each of them through the alternating perspectives. While they each have different characteristics, its not hard to see why they are so close friends. Tara is the athletic one with abandonment issues, Pinkie is the mother hen of the group, always making sure everyone is okay and Whitney Blaire is the spoilt rich kid used to getting her own way. At first I wasn’t too sure why they were friends as they seemed to have very little in common, but through the writing and alternating perspectives you get to see why they’re such good friends.

Alexandra did a really good job of explaining the new feelings Tara was having towards Riley. I haven’t read a book so far where the main love interest was a member of the same sex, so how it was handled in such a perfect way really intrigued me. I never once doubted their feelings towards each other, and it all seemed very real, the emotions strong and raw.

My favourite character had to be pinkie, the mother hen, also known as the paranoid friend. There are a few scenes where she calls a guy she likes over and over, even drives past his work to see if he was still alive. These scenes were my favourite, as they perfectly captured that teenage feeling of rejection and worry, plus, they made me laugh so hard at long forgotten memories. I however think even through the different perspectives were a really nice touch, it made me feel that the characters were not developed enough to really stand out of the pages and make their mark.

One thing this book does well at is the love drama, god, girls just love the drama. It displays how effectively Chinese whispers and rumours can destroy lifelong friendships, and how nasty some teenage girls can be, it was like being teleported back into high school. The premise of the book was really original and the messages displayed are really powerful, how its easy to judge other people for the path that they may have chosen, but how thing are suddenly so different when your on the same path. I really enjoyed this book.

In My Mailbox #11

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

Review

The Poison Throne by Celiene Kierney, published by Orbit, 1 April 2010

Young Wynter Moorehawke returns to court with her dying father. But her old home is cloaked in fear. Once benevolent King Jonathon is now a violent despot, terrorising his people while his son Alberon plots a coup from exile. Then darkness spreads as the King appoints Alberon's half-brother Razi as heir. Wynter must watch her friend obey his father's untenable commands, as those they love are held to ransom. And at the heart of matters lies a war machine so lethal that none dare speak of it. The kingdom would belong to its master, yet the consequences of using it are too dire to consider. But temptation has ever been the enemy of reason.

It sounds like I am going to love this book, fantasy is my favourite genre!

Bought

Struts and Frets by Jon Skovron

Carter finally gets it by Brent Crawford

Audrey, wait! by Robin Benway

Knife by R J Anderson

Parasite Positive by Scott Westerfeld

One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

At Graves End by Jeaniene Frost

Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs

Okay, so I hope you all had a Happy Christmas, I am unable to move at the minute due to the excessive amount of food I have consumed.  I hope you guys all feel the same :-p

Waiting On Wednesday: Claire De Lune by Christine Johnson

Idea is hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine

Publisher: Simon Pulse (US) Simon & Schuster Chilren's books (UK)
Publishing: 18 May 2010 (US) and 5 August 2010 (UK) 
Pre-Order on Amazon here

Hanover Falls hasn't had a werewolf problem in over one hundred years. But when people suddenly start dying in Claire Benoit's town, panic spreads fast. At Claire's sixteenth birthday party, the gruesome killings are all anyone can talk about. Claire, however, is more interested in the fact that the gorgeous Matthew Engle keeps chatting and flirting with her as if she's the only girl there. But that night, she discovers something that takes away all sense of normalcy: she's a werewolf. As Claire is initiated into the pack of female werewolves, she must deal not only with her changing identity, but also with a rogue werewolf who is putting everyone she knows in danger. Claire's new life threatens her blossoming romance with Matthew, whose father is leading the werewolf hunt. Now burdened with a dark secret and pushing the boundaries of forbidden love, Claire is struggling to feel comfortable in either skin. With her lupine loyalty at odds with her human heart, she will make a choice that will change her forever...

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I don't even think I an adequately explain to you just how excited I am for this book.  Also, can I just say that me and the protagonist share the same initials?? It's a sign from the book gods, it couldn't get more subtle than if Zeus threw a ligthening bolt at me from the clouds.  There is forbidden love, which by any standards is the best kind, it even says so in the description.  Last but by no means least, this is a book about wolves.  Wolves! did I say Wolves! *faints* I am super excited that 2010 is mere days away, people, I have gone into overexcited overdrive, stand back and watch me goooooooooooo..........(I know, i'm a nerd).

My Top Reads of 2009

Wow, its December already and we're neraly in 2010. If what they say is true, you know, the world ending in 2012, then I have a lot of reading to do. But guys, its nearly 2010, which in itself is absolutly crazy. I can remember what I was wearing when I saw in the year 2000, which was a mini lilac skirt and a white blouse. I was 13 guys, give a girl a break! So in the spirit of it being the end of the year, I thought I’d be mighty nice and let you all know which books made my reading year.

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
If you know me but at all, you will know that I am a major Maggie fan girl. I love her to put it lightly, if someone offered me a Linger ARC, but the one stipulation was to kill someone for it, I so would (well, not really……maybe) This book for me was flawless, her writing is stunning, lyrical and beautiful. And it has wolves, wolves that also turn into men, more specifically, Sam, who I love, so hands off.


City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

If you haven’t heard of the Mortal Instruments trilogy, then I don’t believe you, and if you haven’t read them, what are you waiting for. The final instalment of the series was everything I hoped it would be and more. Witty, scary, dramatic and romantic all rolled up in one shiny luscious book. This is one of my favourite young adult series, and Cassie is a legend. Jace Wayland…….enough said.

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
Okay, I know this may be classed as cheating, but i'm a cheater, what of it?? Yeah, this book isn't released until March 2010, but I read it this year, hence why its on this list.  Everyone needs to read this book, even people who don't like reading, this book will change their minds.  Yep, its really that good.  This book made me view my life from a totally different perspective, it made me more aware of how I treat others.  Made me feel that although horrendous things do happen to people, things that can destroy your soul, its okay to be happy and to be able to move on, even if a piece of you is broken beyoind repair.  That its okay to move on from a tragedy not with fear in your soul, but love.  Words will never come close to how much this book meant to me, and like I said to Lauren, her words shine so bright, it will hurt your eyes to look.

The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins
First off, I have a signed copy *sticks out tongue* Okay, so now thats over with, I am sure I dont need to convey just how fricking fantastic this book is.  Its dystopia for one, and two, the hidden romance.  This book has me sat on the edge of my seat, biting my nails, gasping out loud and scared senseless.  Suzanne rocked the very boundries of the YA dystopia genre and pegged the genre up a notch.  I think everyone who loves books may just have read this book, hell, even Steven King agrees just how awesome this book is.  I cheated again by adding trilogy, because this means that Catching Fire is inloved too.  And for the record, Team Gale.

The Demons Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan
Its set in London, which is the UK, where I live, which is a very desirable bonus. The journey Sarah takes us on is one that you can’t help but be sucked into, I was mesmorised with the behaviours of the characters. Aboltutly stunning writing, that I couldn’t help but love, you would never believe this was a debut novel, Sarah writes like she’s done it for more than one lifetime.  Nick is a perfect (anti) hero, who has swords and a rockin bod, need I say more?

If I Stay by Gayle Forman
This book absolutely destroyed me, I was distraught for days and days, I still think about it now. The premise of this book is heart-breaking, yet also life affirming. I think this book has a guaranteed place on the list of the best books I have ever read.


Going too Far by Jennifer Echols
Jennifer captured a pitch perfect teen voice in this novel. I think she may have even raised the bar for YA romance books me thinks. I can’t honestly describe just how perfect this book is, only that it is, and you should read it, read it now.


Okay, so these books will go down in the history of books, as the best books I read in 2009.  I would award them each a trophy, if I had mad trophy making skillz, which alas, I do not have *sigh* So, what about you, what books floated your boat this year?

Review - Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

Published by Harcourt on 1 February 2009
Order on Amazon here

The undead can really screw up your senior year . . . .

Marrying a vampire definitely doesn’t fit into Jessica Packwood’s senior year “get-a-life” plan. But then a bizarre (and incredibly hot) new exchange student named Lucius Vladescu shows up, claiming that Jessica is a Romanian vampire princess by birth—and he’s her long-lost fiancé. Armed with newfound confidence and a copy of Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire’s Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions, Jessica makes a dramatic transition from average American teenager to glam European vampire princess. But when a devious cheerleader sets her sights on Lucius, Jess finds herself fighting to win back her wayward prince, stop a global vampire war—and save Lucius’s soul from eternal destruction.

Jessica is a normal teenager, that is until Lucius tumbles up; a hot Romanian exchange student, who claims to be a vampire prince. He claims that Jessica is his fiancé, they have been betrothed since birth. Well Jessica isn’t happy that this guy is claiming that she too is a vampire, she just wants to date cute Jake and have a normal senior year. Jessica finds out her real name is Antanasia Drogomir, and to prevent a vampire war, she must marry Lucius, whether she wants to or not.

Okay, so vampires are like the new black. They have taken over our bookshelves, our DVD players and our hearts. I think they may well be sticking around, so I thought, why not embrace it for what it’s worth. I wasn’t expecting much from this novel. I thought it was going to be a carbon copy of all the other vampire romance novels for teens. But I was wrong, this was a fresh take on vampires and had me laughing until my stomach hurt.

The book moves at quite a fast pace, which is easily followed, and is a nice change. Beth managed to recreate the vampire genre and put her own stamp on it, and her character building was exceptional, I loved that Jessica had a backbone and stood up for herself. All of the feelings she expressed her genuine and I felt I really got to know her throughout the book.

Lucius was the perfect male lead, hot, mysterious with a sexy accent, girls will go crazy for him. I loved how when he was first introduced in the book, I didn’t really relate to him as a character, and I was constantly questioning his motives. However, when he seemed to relax and embrace being free from his families shackles, he was witty, annoyingly smart and funny all wrapped up in one hot guy package.

My favourite part was the letters written from Lucius’ perspective to his uncle. They were hysterical, peppered with him mocking how commercialisation has taken over the US and how teenagers in the twenty first century acted and behaved. I giggled so much reading the letters, they were a very nice touch to the novel and made the story more believable. The secondary characters were well formed too, Mindy, the stereotypical sex-starved teenager lusting after every male in a pair of gym shorts.

I think the ending was handled really well and wrapped up nicely. This is a funny, witty romantic read about vampires, and a very life like representation of how teens are today. I even think Beth could write a sequel, even though the book stands nicely as a stand-alone novel. Teen girls will love this.

In My Mailbox #10 + V-Log

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren and inspired by the awesome Alea @ Pop Culture Junkie

Review

My Totally Secret Diary - Reality TV Nightmare by Dee Shulman

Published by Doubleday 4 February 2010

Polly Price didn't think it was possible for her actress mother, Arabella Diamonte, to be any more embarrassing than on the trip to San Francisco last summer. That is until she agrees to take part in a television program called Celebrity Home Watch and a camera crew arrives at their home to film. Her mother lacks volume control at the best of times, so this is truly a reality tv nightmare - with no escape for Polly! Dee Shulman has created a real hit for young readers with her charming full-color illustrations and interactive concept.

Bought

The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness

Ironside by Holly Black

A Gathering Light by Jennifer Donnelly

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

Mentions

Shannon Delany author of 13 to Life - A Werewolf Tale

If you haven't visited Shannon's blog, then please do! She writes some awesome posts on werewolves and how ridiculously amazing they are.  She is one of the nicest authors out there and I cannot wait to read her book.

Happy Holidays and Happy Reading :-)

Waiting On Wednesday - The Tension of Opposites by Kristina McBride

Idea hosed by Jill @ Breaking the Spine

Publisher: EgmontUSA

Published: 25 May 2010 (US)

Pre-Order on Amazon here

It’s been two years since Noelle disappeared. Two years since her bike was discovered, sprawled on a sidewalk. Two years of silence, of worry, of fear.

For those two long years, her best friend Tessa has waited, living her own life in a state of suspended animation. Because how can she allow herself to enjoy a normal high school life if Noelle can’t? How dare she have other friends, go to dances, date boys, without knowing what happened to the girl she thought she would share everything with?

And then one day, someone calls Noelle’s house. She’s alive.

A haunting psychological thriller taken straight from the headlines, The Tension of Opposites is a striking debut that explores the emotional aftermath of a kidnapping on the victim, and on the people she left behind.

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I just love this cover, its quite eerie and more than a little creepy.  Psycological thrillers for adults scare the beejesus out of me, so I am quite excited to read a YA version and see how they differ.  Also, I think I would relate to Tessa quite easily, because like her, I suppose I would also live my life in suspended animation.  Wouldn't you? See? it even has me thinking about how i'd cope and what I would feel and do in the same cirumstance and I haven't even read the book yet.  I am suspecting this will be a moving powerful novel, with more than a few sharp twists and turns.  We'll see......

Review - Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols

Published by MTV Books
Published 20 April 2009
Order on Amazon here

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

Seventeen year old Meg is a bit of a rebel, a blue haired teen in a small town in Alabama, a town that she needs to leave behind. Meg and a few of her friends, including waste of space sort-of boyfriend Eric, have too much to drink and head to the railway bridge in town. The bridge is off-bounds, but kids from town keep on going back there for dares; a couple is rumored to have died on the bridge in a tragic accident years ago. They get caught by Officer After, who patrols the bridge obsessively, and as punishment Meg is made to ride for a week with him in his police car. But Officer After is not the middle aged man with wife and kids at home like Meg had thought, he’s a nineteen year old boy; a boy she went to school with.

The storyline of the book is very simple, it’s the characters that make this book something extraordinary. Meg needs to leave town, where as John has decided to stay. She is the crazy girl in the small town and even though her college of choice is 20 minutes away, that 20 minutes will make all of the difference to her. Whereas John is serious, aloof and takes his job as seriously as he takes his mission to watch the bridge. The both know the path they want to follow, but will five nights together change the direction they wander?

First off, I read this book in one sitting, I literally couldn’t put it down. I surprised myself, because even though I expected the book to be good, I wasn’t prepared for how amazing this book was. The characters are extremely complex and driven, their lives were written with so much care and detail that they seemed real, and the struggles they dealt with were moving. The relationship between Meg and John was multi layered and I was fascinated with their interactions with each other and how it was both simple yet complex at the same time.

This is a book about love, loss, understanding and hope. Echols has written a powerful story that was breath-taking. It explores how the past can affect the future and how even though some ghosts wont leave you entirely, you can learn to accept them, and bear the scars. An insight into how complicated and powerful real relationships can be. I don’t want to say much more for fear of spoilers but I will say this; as far as character driven novels go, this one is my favourite. I love Meg and John, and I love this book. I’ve no doubt this story will stay with me for a long time.  Extraordinary novel.

In My Mailbox #9 + V-Log

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

Review

Of All The Stupid Things by Alexandra Diaz

Bought

Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen

The Truth about Forever by Sarah Dessen

If I Stay by Gayle Forman - Review here

Going too Far by Jennifer Echols

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantasky

Tithe by Holly Black

Destined for an Early Grave by Jeannie Frost

Soulless by Gail Carriger

Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs

Mentions

Jenny from Wondrous Reads

Heidi R Kling

Hope you all have a fab week :-)

Review - Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

Published: 16 June 2009 by Viking Childrens Books (US)
Published: 4 February 2010 by Puffin (UK)
Order on Amazon here

It’s been so long since Auden slept at night. Ever since her parents’ divorce—or since the fighting started. Now she has the chance to spend a carefree summer with her dad and his new family in the charming beach town where they live.

A job in a clothes boutique introduces Auden to the world of girls: their talk, their friendship, their crushes. She missed out on all that, too busy being the perfect daughter to her demanding mother. Then she meets Eli, an intriguing loner and a fellow insomniac who becomes her guide to the nocturnal world of the town. Together they embark on parallel quests: for Auden, to experience the carefree teenage life she’s been denied; for Eli, to come to terms with the guilt he feels for the death of a friend.

The story follows Auden, an insomniac overachiever who doesn’t know how to let her hair down and have a fun time. Ever since her parents messy divorce she’s been unable to connect to anyone her age and has always struggled when making friends. Her mum is a influential scholar and drills it into Auden’s head that being intelligent and getting good grades is far more important than having friends. During the summer after graduating from high school, Auden decides to go and stay with her dad and his new wife, Heidi, in the beach town of Colby. The normal girl would pack mementos of her friends and family, but not Auden, she packs her case full of text books, hoping to get a head start on reading before her freshman year.

Once in Colby, Auden finds Heidi is a broken mess, struggling to deal with her new arrival, and Auden discovers everything her mum told her about her dad is true; he is a terrible father, preferring to work on his novel. Sick of being stuck in the house with a screaming baby, Auden roams the town of Colby in the night, and what she finds is something she never imagined; a friend. Eli is another insomniac, struggling to deal with events from his past. He helps Auden do all the things she missed out on in her childhood. An unlikely connection occurs, but can it last the summer, or is it just something that exists in the dead of night?

I bought this book straight after reading This Lullaby and I was not disappointed. Sarah Dessen is the master at young adult romance novels and this is proved in this amazing novel about self discovery; about how friends can shape the way your life pans out and that maybe this isn’t necessarily a bad thing like some people think. I was drawn into the world of Colby instantly and loved all the locals and connected with every character, even the ones I had little in common with. The characters are well formed and the relationships are so real, I felt like she was talking about people I knew; friends even. This is Sarahs strong point; her characters are always so life like and she has a way with words that actually makes you care what happens to them.

I loved the connection between Auden and Eli, their relationship developed at a natural pace and didn't seem forced.  Eli was a fascinating character, one whose life had been turned upside down by events out of his control.  How things that happen in your past can change your whole outlook on life and how it doesn't help you or the people who love you to be give up, no matter how much you want to.  The messages in this book were extremely powerful and profound for a young adult novel, and Sarah dealt with this issues extremely well.

The issues that the characters have to deal with aren’t far-fetched, they could easily happen to me or you. She shows us how girls don’t have to fit the stereotypical mould, they can be grungy or immensely girly, its not appearance that cements you as a good person. The book tells us that sometimes awful things happen to normal people, things that can destroy your life; but these things don’t define you as a person, its how you put yourself together that does. I really loved this book and will continue to read every single Sarah Dessen book I can get my hands on. She is truly an extraordinary writer.

Waiting On Wednesday - Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus

Idea hosted by Jill @ Breaking The Spine

Publisher: Egmont USA

Published: 13 July 2010

Hardcover, 400 pages

Pre-Order on Amazon here

Since her sister’s mysterious death, Persephone “Phe” Archer has been plagued by a series of disturbing dreams. Determined to find out what happened to her sister, Phe enrolls at Devenish Prep in Shadow Hills, Massachusetts—the subject of her sister’s final diary entry.

After stepping on campus, Phe immediately realizes that there’s something different about this place—an unexplained epidemic that decimated the town in the 1700s, an ancient and creepy cemetery, and gorgeous boy Zach—and somehow she’s connected to it all.

But the more questions she asks and the deeper she digs, the more entangled Phe becomes in the haunting past of Shadow Hills. Finding what links her to this town…might cost her her life.

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I love this cover and the colours are beautiful.  And how mysterious does this book sound, I can't wait to follow Phe's story and find out what her dreams mean, and maybe who this gorgeous Zach is.  This book sounds like something I am going to love.

Fallen Giveaway Winners Announced

Hey Everyone, Just wanted to say and big thank you to everyone who entered to win a copy of Fallen, but there could only be three winners.  And those lucky three are:

Book Crazy Jenn

Brizmus

Book Snob

I have emailed you all for your home address and as soon as I receive a reply, I will make sure the books are sent.  I hope you love it as much as I did.  For those of you who did not win, fear not, for I shall have some awesome sauce contests coming soon.

Review - If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Publisher: Doubleday
Published: 7 May 2009 (UK)
Order on Amazon here

In a single moment, everything changes. Seventeen-year- old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall riding along the snow-wet Oregon road with her family. Then, in a blink, she finds herself watching as her own damaged body is taken from the wreck...

Mia is seventeen years old and is a Cello player extraordinaire, and has the most amazing family anyone could wish for. She lives with her funny quirky ex-punk rocker dad and feisty feminine mum, and her adorable if slightly hyper younger brother Teddy. When school is cancelled due to the snow, her mum decides to call in work and get the day off so they can spend the day together. On the drive to visit her grandparents, their car skids on the slick road, right into the path of truck. Suddenly, Mia is stood next to the road, looking on at the car wreck in front of her.

Throughout the book we follow Mia’s journey from the morning of the accident to the events that unfold over the next 24 hours. The storyline flows from present tense; Mia in the hospital, watching her family and friends struggle with the turn of events, to her significant memories of the past. Memories of her and her family, of her friends and her loving boyfriend Adam are predominant, memories of their love of music and the happiness and even sadness it can bring.

I would like to firstly apologise, I know that my review will never give this book the justice that it deserves, but I’m sure going to try. I have read only two books in my life that have really affected the way I view my life and the people in it. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver is one and If I Stay is the other. This is a story of love and of friendship and of how even when you know things will never be the same, you carry on regardless, because dying is the easy part, its living that is much harder. The way Gayle wrote this story is truly breathtaking and I am in awe of how she wove this story into something so heart breakingly sad but also so uplifting and life affirming.

Mia is easily relatable; she deals with a lot of emotional conflict from her family and Adam, and learns over time how to deal with these struggles and insecurities. The relationship between her and her family was strong and well developed, and so easy to fall into that when she saw them on the road broken, a part of me broke too. They were not perfect by any means, but the moments of happiness they shared together were saturated with love and understanding. Each and every character in the book had the chance to shine in their own personal defining moments. This book is an absolutely stunning novel and broke me in a way only exceptional books can.

This book is so thought provoking and I constantly asked myself throughout the book; Would I stay?? My family arrangement is quite like Mia’s, we both have younger siblings around the same age, so maybe that’s why my favourite character was Teddy. The adorable yet still annoying younger brother, reminded me so much of my own sister, so the hardest part for me was following his story. The thought of living in a world where my own family on longer existed is more than unbearable, but like Mia’s family, would they be upset if I give up, surrendered. To be honest, I am not sure what I would do. What about you? Would you stay?

Review - Blue Bloods by Melissa De La Cruz

Published by Hyperion
Published 1 May 2006 (US)
Order on Amazon here

When the Mayflower set sail in 1620, it carried on board the men and women who would shape America: Miles Standish; John Alden; Constance Hopkins. But some among the Pilgrims were not pure of heart; they were not escaping religious persecution. Indeed, they were not even human. They were vampires.The vampires assimilated quickly into the New World. Rising to levels of enormous power, wealth, and influence, they were the celebrated blue bloods of American society.

The Blue Bloods vowed that their immortal status would remain a closely guarded secret. And they kept that secret for centuries. But now, in New York City, the secret is seeping out. Schuyler Van Alen is a sophomore at a prestigious private school. Suddenly, when she turns fifteen, there is a visible mosaic of blue veins on her arm. She starts to crave raw food and she is having flashbacks to ancient times. Then a girl from her school is found dead... drained of all her blood. Schuyler doesn't know what to think. Could those vampire legends really be true?

Vampires. They are the one thing that will never fail to captivate an audience. We are inexplicably drawn to them like a moth to a flame. No matter that essentially they are a damned creature who is dead; there is something about them which will never fall out of pop culture. There are all different types of vampire lore; the ones who sparkle in the sun or the ones who want to be essentially a human. And then there’s the Blue Bloods; fallen angels condemned to be vampires. I was instantly hooked. If fallen angels are the new vampires as many publishers are saying, then what about the fallen angels who are now vampires?

Schuyler Van Alen is different than everyone else at her private school, Duchesne. Unwilling to conform to the preppy ways of her classmates, Schuyler shuns the lifestyle, much preferring her own miss-matched style. Being in the in-crowd has never been something Schuyler has cared about, much preferring to hang out with her best friend Oliver. After the death of one of her classmates, she is forced into the New York high society, and discovers something even more disturbing about her classmates and herself. She is a vampire. A Blue Blood. Untouchable. But are they?? And is Schuyler the most vulnerable of them all?

I read this book in one sitting, it was such a fast and easy read. Although I didn’t relate to the fashion aspect of the books; lots of references to articles of clothing and designers, I thought the premise of the story was really good. Basically, the Blue Bloods are fallen angels, who were cast down to earth after Lucifer’s downfall, doomed to wander the earth until they earn their way back into heaven. I am a big fan of Paradise Lost and I love it when angels, demons, nephilim etc are used in literature.

I feel I would have loved the book if the characters would have been more drawn out, but it seems more time was taken describing what they were wearing and how they looked, than who they were as characters. The book seems to be more aimed at younger readers, and gives a fresh new twist on the vampire genre. Fans of vampires and Gossip Girl will soak this book up.

Waiting On Wednesday - 13 to Life by Shannon Delany

Idea is hosted by Jill @ Breaking The Spine

Publisher: St Martins Press

Release Date: 22 June 2010

Read an Excerpt here

Something strange is stalking the small town of Junction...

When junior Jess Gillmansen gets called out of class by Guidance, she can only presume it’s for one of two reasons. Either they’ve finally figured out who wrote the scathing anti-jock editorial in the school newspaper or they’re hosting yet another intervention for her about her mom. Although far from expecting it, she’s relieved to discover Guidance just wants her to show a new student around—but he comes with issues of his own including a police escort.

The newest member of Junction High, Pietr Rusakova has secrets to hide--secrets that will bring big trouble to the small town of Junction—secrets including dramatic changes he’s undergoing that will surely end his life early.

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Okay, so if you know me but at all, you will know what my favourite things are in the whole world.  Yep, thats right, werewolves.  The full title of the book is 13 to Life - A Werewolves Tale.  So this book has got me hook line and sinker.  Plus, that cover is delicious, I love that the guy in the background still seems to be the main focus of the cover, even though the girl is in the foreground.  It makes the feel of the book intriguing and I am wondering (and have been for a while now) who that boy is, will we get to meet him, is he as lush as he looks on the cover?  My brain is a whirlwind of questions, and this may be because full book lust mode has set in.  Werewolves, man, they are the way forward.  Shannon is officialy my new favourite person and I can't wait to get my paws on a copy of this divine looking book.  I was going to ask if it was 2010 yet, but you know what people? it will be in 29 days!!