Elifylop

In My Mailbox 41

2012-01-29T20:27:00.000Z

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Books I received this week.

In The Post:

Bad Taste In Boys - Carrie Harris

Kindle:

Stay Tuned - Lauren Clark

Seriously slow week for me which makes a change. But it's all good as for the past few days I have been totally captivated by Stieg Larsson's Millennium Trilogy. They are so fantastic I have been devouring them every moment I get. In the middle of the last book - must get back to it.

That's all for now.

In My Mailbox 40

2012-01-21T19:38:00.000Z

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Books I received this week.

In The Post:

The Tempest - Julie Cross

The Storyteller - Antonia Michaelis

The Book of Blood and Shadow - Robin Wasserman

Call the Midwife: A True Story of the East End in the 1950s - Jennifer Worth

Kindle:

Blue Sky Days - Marie Landry

With This Kiss - Victoria Lynne

Playing For Keeps - R.L. Mathewson

QI: The Second Book of General Ignorance - John Lloyd and John Mitchinson

Dangerous Angels - Francesca Lia Block

Netgalley:

Kiss Me, I'm Irish - Roxanne St Claire, Jill Shalvis, Maureen Child

That's all for now.

Waiting On Wednesday 36

2012-01-18T18:38:00.000Z

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that highlights an upcoming book release that we are eagerly anticipating.

Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves by Matthew Reilly.
Released 2nd February 2012.

At an abandoned Soviet base in the Arctic, the battle to save the world has begun...

THE SECRET BASE

It is a top-secret base known only as Dragon Island. A long-forgotten relic of the Cold War, it houses a weapon of terrible destructive force, a weapon that has just been re-activated...

A RENEGADE ARMY

When Dragon Island is seized by a brutal terrorist force calling itself the Army of Thieves, the fate of the world hangs in the balance, and there are no crack units close enough to get there in time to stop the Army setting off the weapon.

ONE SMALL TEAM

Except, that is, for a small equipment-testing team up in the Arctic led by a Marine captain named Schofield, call-sign SCARECROW. It's not a strike force; just a handful of Marines and civilians. It's not equipped to attack a fortified island held by a vicious army. But Scarecrow will lead the team in anyway, because someone has to.

THE ULTIMATE HERO IS BACK, FACING THE ULTIMATE ARMY OF VILLAINS

I love love love Matthew Reilly's Shane Schofield series and I am so happy that a new one is coming out - already pre-ordered my copy.

That's all for now.

Teaser Tuesday 39

2012-01-17T18:27:00.001Z

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly book meme hosted by Should Be Reading.

The idea is to:
Grab the book you are currently reading.
Open it up to a random page.
Share two teaser sentences.

Give the name and author of said book.

And remember No Spoilers!

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green.

I haven't actually started reading this one yet but it's up on deck.

"I felt this weird mix of disappointment and anger welling up inside of me. I don't even know what the feeling was, really, just that there was a lot of it, and I wanted to smack Augustus Waters and also replace my lungs with lungs that didn't suck at being lungs."

Page 20.

Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now. Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means) Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault. Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly, to her interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.

That's all for now.

In My Mailbox 39

2012-01-14T22:55:00.001Z

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Books I received this week.

In The Post:

On Lavender Lane - JoAnn Ross

Bossypants - Tina Fey

The Fault In Our Stars - John Green

Daughter of Smoke and Bone - Laini Taylor

The Perfect Play - Jaci Burton

Safe Haven - Nicholas Sparks

Fracture - Megan Miranda

Kindle:

The 7th Month - Lisa Gardner

Netgalley:

Lies Beneath - Ann Greenwood Brown

In The Flesh - Portia Da Costa

That's all for now.

Booking Through Thursday 22

2012-01-12T20:29:00.000Z

Booking Through Thursday is a weekly meme which asks a bookish question which you have to answer. This weeks question is:

But enough about interviewing other people. It’s time I interviewed YOU.

1. What’s your favorite time of day to read? I pretty much read every spare minute I have but my favourite time to read is really late at night when it's dark and quiet and I don't have to get up early the next morning.

2. Do you read during breakfast? (Assuming you eat breakfast.) I don't eat breakfast (bad I know) I literally roll out of bed wash up and drag myself to work. However back when I was younger and had to go to bed super early and could therefore get up super early yes I did read during breakfast.

3. What’s your favorite breakfast food? (Noting that breakfast foods can be eaten any time of day.) Again I don't really do breakfast but if I did it would would be something simple like toast - my stomach just can't handle food that early.

4. How many hours a day would you say you read? Quite a bit but really it all depends on my mood. Some days I will only read for an hour or so other days I can read nonstop for 6 or more hours.

5. Do you read more or less now than you did, say, 10 years ago? 10 years ago I was at college which didn't really slow down my non-school reading so I would say it's about the same.

6. Do you consider yourself a speed reader? No I don't. Everyone else seems to think I read pretty fast but I don't really I just spend more time reading than most people.

7. If you could have any superpower, what would it be? Tough one I go back and forth between many superpowers. It used to be flying but recently it's a toss up between super speed and time travel but ask me again next week and I'll have a different answer.

8. Do you carry a book with you everywhere you go? Ha yes I try to. Either my kindle or a real life book. I got in trouble with my Dad over Christmas when he caught me trying to fit a book into my pretty small bag when we were going out to a family dinner. His question - What the hell are you doing? Me - I might get bored.

9. What KIND of book? Usually a paperback that I don't mind getting beaten up a bit as it usually does in my bag or my kindle as long as I am going to keep my bag with me. For some reason I usually take books that I've already read and want to re-read.

10. How old were you when you got your first library card? Thanks to my Mum very very young. I was reading when I was about four so I would say then. Looking back I don't remember a time when I wasn't going to the library when I was a child.

11. What’s the oldest book you have in your collection? (Oldest physical copy? Longest in the collection? Oldest copyright?) No clue really. I have a lot of my old childhood books like my Enid Blyton collection. And I have some early Enid Blyton books that I got from my Nan.

12. Do you read in bed? Yes it's where I do most or my reading and typing - I'm there right now actually!

13. Do you write in your books? Oh dear God no. I can't imagine anything worse. I had a huge problem even highlighting my text books when I was at University - I had to use post-its.

14. If you had one piece of advice to a new reader, what would it be? Read what YOU want to read not what everyone else thinks you should be reading.

15. What question have I NOT asked at BTT that you’d love me to ask? (Actually, leave the answer to this one in the comments on this post, huh? So I can find them when I need inspiration!) OK I have two:

Have you ever bought a book, started reading it and then realised you have already read it? If so, how far did you get? (Can you tell this happened to me for the first time ever this week!?!)

If I said to you think of a book you've read what would be the first one that comes to mind? Now tell me why it was that book.

That's all for now.

Teaser Tuesday 38

2012-01-10T07:05:00.000Z

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly book meme hosted by Should Be Reading.

The idea is to:
Grab the book you are currently reading.
Open it up to a random page.
Share two teaser sentences.

Give the name and author of said book.

And remember No Spoilers!

Someone Else's Life by Katie Dale.

"I wish I'd never come here, wish I'd never found out, wish I'd never been born. This man is breaking into pieces before me and it's all my fault."

Page 189.

How can you face your future when your past it a lie? When Rosie Kenning's mother, Trudie, dies from Huntingdon's disease, her whole world falls apart. Not only does Rosie desperately miss her mum, but now she has to face the fact that she could have inherited the fatal illness herself. Until she discovers that Trudie wasn't her biological mother at all ...Rosie is stunned. Can this be true? Is she grieving for a mother who wasn't even hers to lose? And if Trudie wasn't her mother, who is? But as Rosie delves into her past to discover who she really is, she is faced with a heart-breaking dilemma - to continue living a lie, or to reveal a truth that will shatter the lives of everyone around her...

That's all for now.

In My Mailbox 38

2012-01-07T23:06:00.000Z

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Books I received this week.

In The Post:

Supernaturally - Kiersten White

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight - Jennifer E. Smith

Someone Else's Life - Katie Dale

The Duke is Mine - Eloisa James

Enemy Within - Marcella Burnard

Not Quite A Husband - Sherry Thomas

Kindle:

Wither - Lauren DeStefano

I Love the 80s - Megan Crane

Iris and Ruby - Rosie Thomas

Sowing Secrets - Trisha Ashley

Netgalley:

The Vanishing Game - Kate Kae Myers

Scarlet - A. C. Gaughen

Shooting Stars - Allison Rushby

Unbreak My Heart - Melissa Walker

Tempted By Her Innocent Kiss - Maya Banks

That's all for now.

Teaser Tuesday 37

2012-01-03T21:09:00.000Z

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly book meme hosted by Should Be Reading.

The idea is to:
Grab the book you are currently reading.
Open it up to a random page.
Share two teaser sentences.

Give the name and author of said book.

And remember No Spoilers!

Supernaturally by Kiersten White.

"After a long day I didn't even mind the humiliation of climbing on the old, yellow bus with its cracked seats. I was the only senior without a car, but none of them were going on international, human-saving missions after school."

Page 120-121.

Evie finally has the normal life she’s always longed for. But she’s shocked to discover that being ordinary can be . . . kind of boring. Just when Evie starts to long for her days at the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she’s given a chance to work for them again. Desperate for a break from all the normalcy, she agrees.

But as one disastrous mission leads to another, Evie starts to wonder if she made the right choice. And when Evie’s faerie ex-boyfriend Reth appears with devastating revelations about her past, she discovers that there’s a battle brewing between the faerie courts that could throw the whole supernatural world into chaos. The prize in question? Evie herself.

So much for normal.

That's all for now.

In My Mailbox 37

2012-01-01T07:17:00.000Z

(Sorry for the dodgy picture the flash decided to take the day off and I couldn't take another one because the battery ran out.)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Books I received this week.

For Christmas:

Shakespeare's Landlord - Charlaine Harris
Shakespeare's Champion - Charlaine Harris
Shakespeare's Christmas - Charlaine Harris
Shakespeare's Trollop - Charlaine Harris
Shakespeare's Counselor - Charlaine Harris

The Lincoln Lawyer Novels - Michael Connelly
The Fifth Witness - Michael Connelly

Dead Stop - Jamie Denton
Remain Silent - Jamie Denton

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) - Mindy Kaling

TwiLite: A Parody - Stephen Jenner

In The Post:

Legacy - Jayne Ann Krentz

Daniel's Bride - Linda Lael Miller

A Game of Thrones - Gerorge R. R. Martin

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen - Paul Torday

Kindle:

A Sister's Gift - Giselle Green

Breaking the Silence - Diane Chamberlain

Darke: Septimus Heap Book 6 - Angie Sage

The Fortune Hunter - Diane Farr

That's all for now.

2012 Debut Author Challenge.

2012-01-01T07:15:00.000Z

OK so I failed miserably at last years Debut Author Challenge I think it's possible that I read 12 debut books but I did not review them all. But 2012 is a new year and completing this challenge is one of my New Year's Resolutions so it will be done. So thank you to Kristi @ The Story Siren for creating this Challenge hopefully I'll do better this year.

That's all for now.

New Year's Resolutions

2012-01-01T07:12:00.000Z

It's been a while since I have posted on the blog - had to take a little break as life got a little busy. But hopefully starting in the New Year I will be around a little more, starting back up with the memes and posting some reviews. Fingers crossed.

So on to the resolutions.

Number One is of course to blog more. Even though I have been away from the blog I have still read tons of books so there's no excuse not to write a few reviews. Maybe I ought to think about making a schedule and writing some posts in advance.

Number Two is to watch less TV. I love TV especially American tv shows but lately my whole life is being consumed by them and it's not so healthy. So less tv and more blogging.

Number Three is to cut down on the book buying. I have hundreds of unread books and yet I still keep buying more. Just not good - especially considering I am trying to save money so I can go back to University.

Number Four is to read my netgalley books - no more requesting until I have read the ones I already have. (Ok so this one is already looking a little impossible for me.)

And finally Number Five is to actually finishing the 2012 Debut Author Challenge. I signed up for the 2011 Challenge started off OK then sought of lost my way but this year I am going to do it!

That's all for now.

Waiting On Wednesday 35

2011-09-14T07:13:00.000+01:00

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that highlights an upcoming book release that we are eagerly anticipating.

The Stalker Chronicles by Carley Moore.
Released 27th March 2012.

Sophomore Cammie Bliss has long been labeled a stalker by her peers, but when a cute new boy named Toby arrives at her small town high school, Cammie has a chance to be "normal." Trouble is, she can't really help herself and she's up to her old tricks of "intense observation and following" pretty quick. Making things worse, her younger brother is dating one of the most popular girls in the school, her parents have separated, and her dad has begun to watch their house most nights. Cammie has simply got to figure out why she behaves the way she does, and end it once and for all.

I am intrigued by the main character's stalker past I want to know more! And I love the super cute cover with the pink binoculars.

That's all for now.

Teaser Tuesday 36

2011-09-13T20:24:00.001+01:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly book meme hosted by Should Be Reading.

The idea is to:
Grab the book you are currently reading.
Open it up to a random page.
Share two teaser sentences.

Give the name and author of said book.

And remember No Spoilers!

Fitzwilliam Darcy, Rock Star by Heather Lynn Rigaud.

"She had not been lying that first night of the tour. She would do what she had to do to succeed; she would play whatever skanky club or travel as long as she must, but she'd be damned before she tried to sleep her way to the top."

Page 124.

Fast music, powerful beats and wild reputations on stage and off have made Slurry the band of the year--and the media's newest bad boys. Described as temperamental by their kindest critics, they've just lost their latest opening act and their red-hot summer tour is on the fast track to disaster.

Fitzwilliam Darcy, Slurry's tall, dark, and enigmatic virtuoso guitarist, knows that this is no time to be picky, but he never expected what was waiting when he, Charles Bingley and Richard Fitzwilliam crashed the Meryton Public House.

Elizabeth Bennet, the fiercely independent and talented lead singer of Long Borne Suffering has serious reservations about joining such a trouble laden tour with the bad boys of Rock and Roll, but the opportunity is just too good to pass up!

On the Slurry tour, the music's hot, but backstage is an inferno.

Finished this one last night and I absolutely loved it - I am a total sucker for anything Pride and Prejudice related.

That's all for now.

In My Mailbox 36

2011-09-11T22:27:00.000+01:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Books I received this week.

In The Post:

Fitzwilliam Darcy, Rock Star - Heather Lynn Rigaud

Shadow Kin - M. J. Scott

The (Not Quite) Perfect Boyfriend - Lili Wilkinson

Enthralled - Melissa Marr and Kelley Armstrong

Kindle:

Bright Young Things with Bonus Material - Anna Godbersen

Netgalley:

Geek Girl - Cindy C. Bennett

That's all for now.

Waiting On Wednesday 34

2011-09-07T14:46:00.000+01:00

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that highlights an upcoming book release that we are eagerly anticipating.

Shooting Stars by Allison Rushby.
Released on 12th February 2012.

Meet Josephine Foster, or Zo Jo as she’s called in the biz. The best pint-sized photographer of them all, Jo doesn’t mind doing what it takes to get that perfect shot, until she’s sent on an undercover assignment to shoot Ned Hartnett—teen superstar and the only celebrity who’s ever been kind to her—at an exclusive rehabilitation retreat in Boston. The money will be enough to pay for Jo’s dream: real photography classes, and maybe even quitting her paparazzi gig for good. Everyone wants to know what Ned’s in for. But Jo certainly doesn’t know what she’s in for: falling in love with Ned was never supposed to be part of her assignment.

I love a good YA contemporary romance and this one sounds awesome - can't wait.

That's all for now.

Teaser Tuesday 35

2011-09-06T21:38:00.000+01:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly book meme hosted by Should Be Reading.

The idea is to:
Grab the book you are currently reading.
Open it up to a random page.
Share two teaser sentences.

Give the name and author of said book.

And remember No Spoilers!

Trickster's Queen by Tamora Pierce.

"For a moment Aly hoped the god was not placing more trust in her abilities than she deserved. Then she shrugged. There was one way to find out if she was as good at her task as she and Kyprioth hoped, and that was to pull off a war."

Page 15.

Aly’s adventure continues. . . . No longer a slave, Alanna’s daughter is now spying as part of an underground rebellion against the colonial rulers of the Copper Isles. The people in the rebellion believe that a prophecy in which a new queen will rise up to take the throne is about to be realized. Aly is busy keeping the potential teenage queen and her younger siblings safe, while also keeping her in the dark about her future. But Aly, who is usually adept at anticipating danger and changes, is in for a few nasty surprises.

I've been having a bit of reading trouble lately nothing new is really appealing to me so I have decided to go with an old favourite. I pretty much love all of Tamora Pierce's books and I have read and re-read them many times. If you haven't read any of her stuff I really recommend it.

That's all for now.

In My Mailbox 35

2011-09-04T20:37:00.000+01:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Books I received this week.

In The Post:

Shadowfever - Karen Marie Moning

Good Girls Don't - Victoria Dahl

Archangel's Blade - Nalini Singh

Kindle:

Once A Princess: Sasharia en Garde! Book 1 - Sherwood Smith

Stars Collide: Backstage Pass Series, Book 1 - Janice Thompson

Freaks - Tess Gerritsen

That's all for now.

Teaser Tuesday 34

2011-08-30T07:16:00.000+01:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly book meme hosted by Should Be Reading.

The idea is to:
Grab the book you are currently reading.
Open it up to a random page.
Share two teaser sentences.

Give the name and author of said book.

And remember No Spoilers!

After Obsession by Carrie Jones and Steven E. Wedel.

"Aimee thinks she can push right between them and on toward the school. They move to let her past, but the three of them close around me and I'm convinced we are going to get physical right here and now, until another voice stops everyone."

Page183.

Aimee and Alan have secrets. Both teens have unusual pasts and abilities they prefer to keep hidden. But when they meet each other, in a cold Maine town, they can't stop their secrets from spilling out. Strange things have been happening lately, and they both feel that something-or someone- is haunting them. They're wrong. Despite their unusual history and powers, it's neither Aimee nor Alan who is truly haunted. It's Alan's cousin Courtney who, in a desperate plea to find her missing father, has invited a demon into her life-and into her body. Only together can Aimee and Alan exorcise the ghost. And they have to move quickly, before it devours not just Courtney but everything around her.

I wasn't sure if I was going to like this one or not as I am not a fan of the Need series by Carrie Jones but I absolutely loved her other three books so I thought I might as well give this one a go and I'm glad I did because I am really enjoying it.

That's all for now.

In My Mailbox 34

2011-08-27T21:57:00.000+01:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Books I received this week.

In The Post:

After Obsession - Carrie Jones & Steven E. Wedel
Reading this one at the moment (along with about 20 other books) good so far.

Bloodlines - Richelle Mead
No idea why I bought this seeing as I haven't finished the VA series yet.

One Grave At A Time - Jeaniene Frost
Soooo excited - want to start reading it right now but I can't as I have about 20 books already on the go.

Netgalley:

The Butterfly Clues - Kate Ellison

The Sweetest Thing - Christina Mandelski

The Spy Who Jumped Off The Screen - Thomas Caplan

So this week I seem to be having major reading issues. I'll start reading one book get most of the way through it then abandon it for a new shiny book. I hate when I do this - very annoying. So I now have about five books that I am in the middle of with no real desire to finish any of them. I'm going to try very hard not to start reading a sixth and to at least finish one of the five this weekend.

That's all for now.

Waiting On Wednesday 33

2011-08-24T07:05:00.000+01:00

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that highlights an upcoming book release that we are eagerly anticipating.

One Grave At A Time by Jeaniene Frost.
Released 30th August 2011.

The grave is one wrong step away.

Having narrowly averted an (under)world war, Cat Crawfield wants nothing more than a little downtime with her vampire husband, Bones. Unfortunately, her gift from New Orleans' voodoo queen just keeps on giving--leading to a personal favor that sends them into battle once again, this time against a villainous spirit.

Centuries ago, Heinrich Kramer was a witch hunter. Now, every All Hallows Eve, he takes physical form to torture innocent women before burning them alive. This year, however, a determined Cat and Bones must risk all to send him back to the other side of eternity--forever. But how do you kill a killer who's already long dead?

So today I've decided to go with the book I am most looking forward to at the moment. I freaking love this series and the sixth book comes out in a few days. I have already pre-ordered my copy and I cannot wait to get my hands on it.

That's all for now.

Teaser Tuesday 33

2011-08-23T20:15:00.000+01:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly book meme hosted by Should Be Reading.

The idea is to:
Grab the book you are currently reading.
Open it up to a random page.
Share two teaser sentences.

Give the name and author of said book.

And remember No Spoilers!

Finding Sky by Joss Stirling.

"He rested his head against mine. I made a subtle move to retreat but he curled his fingers around my nape, holding me gently to him."

Page 89.

You have half our gifts, I have the other . . .

When English girl Sky, catches a glimpse of bad boy Zed in her new American high school, she can't get him out of her head. He talks to her with his thoughts. He reads her mind. He is the boy she will love for ever. Dark shadows stalk her past but a new evil threatens her future. Sky must face the dark even if it means losing her heart.

I was hoping to have this one finished long before now but I have been doing extra driving practice to get ready for my test. But I am pretty close to finishing and I have loved it so far.

Oh and btw I had my driving test today and I passed!!!

That's all for now.

In My Mailbox 33

2011-08-20T22:02:00.000+01:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Books I received this week.

In The Post:

Shut Out - Kody Keplinger
Already read - loved it.

The Adventurers - Jane Aiken Hodge

Stealing Phoenix - Joss Stirling
Currently reading the first book in the series, Finding Sky, and loving it.

The Language of Flowers - Vanessa Diffenbaugh
Been waiting for this one for ages hopefully going to read it next.

At The Shops:

Breaking Dawn - Stephanie Meyers
Thought I had a hardback copy but couldn't find it so I bought the paperback.

Kindle:

How To Talk To A Widower - Jonathan Tropper

The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud - Ben Sherwood

Bought two of my favourite books for my kindle.

Netgalley:

You Are My Only - Beth Kephart

Fatal Destiny - Marie Force

Every Other Day - Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Simon & Schuster Galley Grab:

Fake Me A Match - Lauren Barnholdt

Past Perfect - Leila Sales

Virtuosity - Jessica Martinez

So many books this week I wish I had more time to read them all.

That's all for now.

Waiting On Wednesday 32

2011-08-17T07:16:00.001+01:00

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that highlights an upcoming book release that we are eagerly anticipating.

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson. Released 8th May 2012.

Taylor's family might not be the closest-knit – everyone is a little too busy and overscheduled – but for the most part, they get along fine. Then Taylor's dad gets devastating news that changes everything. Her parents decide that the family will spend the summer together at their old vacation home in the Pocono Mountains.

Crammed into a place much smaller and more rustic than they are used to, they begin to get to know each other again. And Taylor discovers that the people she thought she had left behind haven’t actually gone anywhere. Her former summer best friend is still around, as is her first boyfriend. . . and he's much cuter at seventeen than he was at twelve.

As the summer progresses, the Edwards become more of a family, and closer than they’ve ever been before. But all of them are very aware that they’re battling a ticking clock. Sometimes, though, there is just enough time to get a second chance – with family, with friends, and with love.

I am so unbelievably excited for this book. I loved Amy and Roger's Epic Detour it was one of my favourite books last year and although this one doesn't involve a road-trip I am sure it's going to be excellent.

That's all for now.

Teaser Tuesday 32

2011-08-16T21:32:00.000+01:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly book meme hosted by Should Be Reading.

The idea is to:
Grab the book you are currently reading.
Open it up to a random page.
Share two teaser sentences.

Give the name and author of said book.

And remember No Spoilers!

Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning.

"The black-shrouded specter stood, dark folds rustling, one ghostly hand on the rusted gate, watching me. Its darkness was as enormous as the night."

Page 76.

I used to be your average, everyday girl but all that changed one night in Dublin when I saw my first Fae, and got dragged into a world of deadly immortals and ancient secrets. . . .

In her fight to stay alive, MacKayla must find the Sinsar Dubh—a million-year-old book of the blackest magic imaginable, which holds the key to power over the worlds of both the Fae and Man. Pursued by assassins, surrounded by mysterious figures she knows she can’t trust, Mac finds herself torn between two deadly and powerful men: V’lane, the immortal Fae Prince, and Jericho Barrons, a man as irresistible as he is dangerous.

For centuries the shadowy realm of the Fae has coexisted with that of humans. Now the walls between the two are coming down, and Mac is the only thing that stands between them.

Totally just realised that I hadn't posted a teaser today - very bad of me. So I have just started the second book in the Fever series. The first book wasn't what I was expecting but I did enjoy it lets see how the second book goes.

That's all for now.

In My Mailbox 32

2011-08-13T22:08:00.000+01:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Books I received this week.

In The Post:

Luminous - Dawn Metcalf
So pretty.

Tyger Tyger - Kersten Hamilton
I've heard really good things about this series so I just had to get it.

Spell Bound - Kelley Armstrong
I'm not up-to-date with this series at the moment as I have decided to wait and read the Savannah arc all in one go - I hate cliff hangers and waiting between books.

Hooked - Catherine Greenman

Kindle:

Her Best Friend - Sarah Mayberry
Been wanting to try Sarah Mayberry for a while now (mostly because they recommend her over at Breezing Through).

Won:

Blood Magic - Tessa Gratton
Thank you to the very awesome Leanna @ Daisy Chain Book Reviews who went above and beyond in getting this book to me!

Netgalley:

Ladies in Waiting - Laura L. Sullivan

Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink - Stephanie Kate Strohm

Radiate - Marley Gibson

Oh Netgalley why do you keep tempting me with all these lovely books I just can't control myself around you. I'm just going to have to stop checking the site completely until my netgalley tbr pile is a lot smaller.

That's all for now.

Waiting On Wednesday 31

2011-08-10T07:08:00.000+01:00

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that highlights an upcoming book release that we are eagerly anticipating.

Fitzwilliam Darcy, Rock Star by Heather Lynn Rigaud. Released 30th September 2011.

Fast music, powerful beats and wild reputations on stage and off have made Slurry the band of the year--and the media's newest bad boys. Described as temperamental by their kindest critics, they've just lost their latest opening act and their red-hot summer tour is on the fast track to disaster.

Fitzwilliam Darcy, Slurry's tall, dark, and enigmatic virtuoso guitarist, knows that this is no time to be picky, but he never expected what was waiting when he, Charles Bingley and Richard Fitzwilliam crashed the Meryton Public House.

Elizabeth Bennet, the fiercely independent and talented lead singer of Long Borne Suffering has serious reservations about joining such a trouble laden tour with the bad boys of Rock and Roll, but the opportunity is just too good to pass up! On the Slurry tour, the music's hot, but backstage is an inferno.

OK so I am a huge fan of Pride and Prejudice continuations and modern re-tellings and this one sounds freaking awesome!

That's all for now.

Teaser Tuesday 31

2011-08-09T07:06:00.000+01:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly book meme hosted by Should Be Reading.

The idea is to:
Grab the book you are currently reading.
Open it up to a random page.
Share two teaser sentences.

Give the name and author of said book.

And remember No Spoilers!

Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning.

The Fever series has been on my tbr pile for a long time and as I should be getting the final book in the series at the end of the month I figured now was the time to read them.

"My philosophy is pretty simple - any day nobody's trying to kill me is a good day in my book. I haven't had many good days lately."

Page 1.

OK so I cheated. I didn't go for random lines this time I chose the first two lines of the book cause I loved them. I just hope I'm going to love the rest of the series too.

MacKayla Lane's life is good. She has great friends, a decent job, and a car that only breaks down every other week or so. In other words, she's your perfectly ordinary twenty-first-century woman. Or so she thinks . . . until something extraordinary happens. When her sister is murdered, leaving a single clue to her death - a cryptic message on Mac's cell phone - Mac journeys to Ireland in search of answers. The quest to find her sister's killer draws her into a shadowy realm where nothing is as it seems, where good and evil wear the same treacherously seductive mask. She is soon faced with an even greater challenge: staying alive long enough to learn how to handle a power she had no idea she possessed - a gift that allows her to see beyond the world of man, into the dangerous realm of the Fae . . .

That's all for now.

In My Mailbox 31

2011-08-06T22:06:00.000+01:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Books I received this week.

In The Post:

The Demon Trappers: Forbidden - Jana Oliver
Now that I have the second book I can finally read the first.

He's After Me - Chris Higgins
Sounds kinda mysterious.

Hunting Lila - Sarah Alderson
Oooh can't wait to start this one.

Epic Fail - Claire LaZebnik
Just read this one - very cute - I love Jane Austen re-tellings.

Dreamland Social Club - Tara Altebrando
Wanted this one for ages - finally have it.

Kindle:

It's Always Been You - Victoria Dahl
Love Victoria Dahl's books.

Netgalley:

There You'll Find Me - Jenny B. Jones
I have got to stop requesting books on netgalley.

No photo this week my parents took the camera on holiday. I got some awesome books but I've got to cut down my tbr pile is out of control.

That's all for now.

Six Month Blogoversary Giveaway Winner!

2011-08-06T22:02:00.003+01:00

It's time to announce the winner of my six month blogoversary giveaway. OK so it's way past time I should have had this post up almost a week ago but things keep getting away from me.

Thanks to all those who entered. I generated the winner through random.org and the number/name it spat out was:

53 - Jadey!

Congratulations you have won the book of your choice from thebookdepository.co.uk up to the value of £10 an email has been sent to you. You have 48 hours to respond and a week to choose your book.

That's all for now.

Waiting On Wednesday 30

2011-08-03T07:06:00.000+01:00

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that highlights an upcoming book release that we are eagerly anticipating.

Stay With Me by Paul Griffin. Released 8th September 2011.

An urban romance that will capture your soul, break your heart, and restore your faith in the human spirit

Fifteen-year-olds Cece and Mack didn't expect to fall in love. She's a sensitive A student; he's a high school dropout. But soon they're spending every moment together, bonding over a rescued dog, telling their secrets, making plans for the future. Everything is perfect. Until. Until. Mack makes a horrible mistake, and in just a few minutes, the future they'd planned becomes impossible. In this stark new reality, both of them must find meaning and hope in the memories of what they had, to survive when the person they love can't stay.

From award-winning writer Paul Griffin, Stay with Me is both heartbreaking and uplifting, filled with characters (both dog and human) that will forever change the way you look at the world.

I love contemporary YA romance and this one sounds perfect - as long as it has a happy ending!

Also be sure to enter my six month blogoversary giveaway to win the book of your choice from The Book Depository. All the info here.

That's all for now.

Teaser Tuesday 30

2011-08-02T07:03:00.001+01:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly book meme hosted by Should Be Reading.

The idea is to:
Grab the book you are currently reading.
Open it up to a random page.
Share two teaser sentences.

Give the name and author of said book.

And remember No Spoilers!

I can't believe I'm finally reading Ghost Story by Jim Butcher - it's been such a long wait! I have loved every single book in the Dresden Files series and I'm hoping this one will be no exception. Here's the teaser:

"The living were all kissing hardwood floor as I plunged into the wall of the house. I wasn't worried about the wards keeping me in-no one ever designed their wards so that bad things couldn't leave, only so that they couldn't enter."

Page 104.

Meet Harry Dresden, Chicago's first (and only) Wizard PI. Turns out the 'everyday' world is full of strange and magical things - and most of them don't play well with humans. That's where Harry comes in. But he's forgotten his own golden rule: magic - it can get a guy killed. Which didn't help when he clashed with unknown assailants with his murder in mind. And though Harry's continued existence is now in some doubt, this doesn't mean he can rest in peace. Trapped in a realm that's not quite here, yet not quite anywhere else, Harry learns that three of his loved ones are in danger. Only by discovering his assailant's identity can he save his friends, bring criminal elements to justice, and move on himself. It would just be easier if he knew who was at risk. And had a (working) crystal ball. And access to magic. Instead, he is unable to interact with the physical world - invisible to all but a select magical few. He's also not the only silent presence roaming Chicago's alleys. Hell, he put some there himself. Now, they're looking for payback.

Also be sure to enter my six month blogoversary giveaway to win the book of your choice from The Book Depository. All the info here.

That's all for now.

NetGalley Month Wrap Up Post

2011-08-01T22:55:00.000+01:00

Emily over at Red House Books declared July NetGalley Month. For those who don't know what netGalley is I suggest you go to the website right now and check it out because it is the greatest thing ever!

Emily created an awesome challenge where you had to try to read as many netGalley books in July as you could. This was perfect for me as I had a huge backlog of netGalley books to read.

Now that July is over it's time to take stock and see how I did.

I managed to read seven netgalley books, which is one more than last time but no where near as many as I wanted to read. Oh well there's always October.

Here they all are:

The Beginning of After - Jennifer Castle
Tris & Izzie - Mette Ivie Harrison
Luck of the Devil - Patricia Eimer
Pregnant Pause - Han Nolan
Good Girls Don't - Victoria Dahl
Never Eighteen - Megan Bostic
Yours To Keep - Shannon Stacey

I was hoping to link to the reviews but I haven't had time to write any yet hopefully I'll start next week.

That's all for now.

In My Mailbox 30

2011-07-30T21:54:00.000+01:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Books I received this week.

In The Post:

And Then Things Fall Apart - Arlaina Tibensky

Imaginary Girls - Nova Ren Suma

Rival - Sara Bennett-Wealer

A Courtesan's Guide to Getting Your Man - Celeste Brady & Susan Donovan

Ghost Story - Jim Butcher
So excited when this arrived!!

The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie - Jennifer Ashley

Original Sin: A Sally Sin Adventure - Beth McMullen

Kindle:

Sophie & Carter - Chelsea Fine
So sad but so sweet - loved it.

First Frost - Jennifer Estep
Free prequel of Jennifer Estep's new YA series.

Touch of Frost - Jennifer Estep
Had to get it.

Netgalley:

Oh netgalley how you tempt me with all those awesome books.

Ditched - Robin Mellom

Double - Jenny Valentine

Life Eternal - Yvonne Woon

The Way We Fall - Megan Crewe

Until There Was You - Kirstan Higgins

So many great books this week just have to find time to read them all. Last week I took a photo of one of my dogs - Pip - along with all of my books this week it's the turn of my other dog - Beau. So freaking hard to take this picture she wouldn't sit still.

Also be sure to enter my six month blogoversary giveaway to win the book of your choice from The Book Depository. All the info here.

That's all for now.

Waiting On Wednesday 29

2011-07-27T20:55:00.000+01:00

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that highlights an upcoming book release that we are eagerly anticipating.

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin.
Released 27th September.

Mara Dyer doesn't believe life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there. It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her strangely unharmed. There is.

She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love. She's wrong.

I know everyone has been picking this one lately but I couldn't resist making it my WoW today. I have heard awesome things about this book, I pre-ordered it a few months ago and now I can't wait for it to arrive.

Also be sure to enter my six month blogoversary giveaway to win the book of your choice from The Book Depository. All the info here.

That's all for now.

Teaser Tuesday 29

2011-07-26T07:14:00.000+01:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly book meme hosted by Should Be Reading.

The idea is to:
Grab the book you are currently reading.
Open it up to a random page.
Share two teaser sentences.

Give the name and author of said book.

And remember No Spoilers!

Yours To Keep by Shannon Stacey.

"They oohed and aahed along with the rest of the crowd and, as the show built toward the grand finale, Russell's hand bumped hers. It rested there for a moment and then he threaded his fingers through hers."

Location 1419 of 2743. 51%

Sean Kowalski no sooner leaves the army than he's recruited by Emma Shaw to be her fake fiancé. Emma needs to produce a husband-to-be for her grandmother's upcoming visit, and, though Sean doesn't like the deception, he could use the landscaping job Emma's offering while he decides what to do with his civilian life. And, despite his attraction to Emma, there's no chance he'll fall for a woman with deep roots in a town he's not planning to call home.

Emma's not interested in a real relationship either; not with a man whose idea of home is wherever he drops his duffel bag. No matter how amazing his "pretend" kisses are...

So I think this is my seventh netgalley book this month. I'm a little disappointed as I was hoping to get through more than that but I got a little distracted by a couple of non-netgalley books. I still have a few days to read a few more maybe.

Also be sure to enter my six month blogoversary giveaway to win the book of your choice from The Book Depository. All the info here.

That's all for now.

In My Mailbox 29

2011-07-24T11:13:00.000+01:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Books I received this week.

In The Post:

The Invention of Hugo Cabret - Brian Selznick
Have you seen the pictures in this book? Amazing.

Love Story - Jennifer Echols
Already read it but I wanted my own copy.

A Hunger Like No Other - Kresley Cole

Tempt Me Not - Eve Byron

Waking Up With The Duke - Lorraine Heath
Love Lorraine Heath's historical romances.

Netgalley:

Bad Boys Do - Victoria Dahl
Love Victoria Dahl

Unclaimed- Courtney Milan

Bride For A Night - Rosemary Rogers

The Sleepwalkers - J. Gabriel Gates
Saw this one on a WoW post this week and it sounded really good.

Yeah so my dog - super not impressed with me taking a picture of her - this photo cost me two dog biscuits and half hour of her ignoring me. I'll try get a photo of my other dog next Sunday she's a little more camera friendly.

Also be sure to enter my six month blogoversary giveaway to win the book of your choice from The Book Depository. All the info here.

That's all for now.

Waiting On Wednesday 28

2011-07-20T21:26:00.001+01:00

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that highlights an upcoming book release that we are eagerly anticipating.

Thief's Covenant: A Widdershins Adventure by Ari Marmell. Released 21st February 2012.

I love fantasy/adventure type books but I don't read enough of them. This one sounds super awesome and I can't wait to read it.

Once she was Adrienne Satti. An orphan of Davillon, she had somehow escaped destitution and climbed to the ranks of the city's aristocracy in a rags-to-riches story straight from an ancient fairy tale. Until one horrid night, when a conspiracy of forces—human and other—stole it all away in a flurry of blood and murder.

Today she is Widdershins, a thief making her way through Davillon's underbelly with a sharp blade, a sharper wit, and the mystical aid of Olgun, a foreign god with no other worshippers but Widdershins herself. It's not a great life, certainly nothing compared to the one she once had, but it's hers.

But now, in the midst of Davillon's political turmoil, an array of hands are once again rising up against her, prepared to tear down all that she's built. The City Guard wants her in prison. Members of her own Guild want her dead. And something horrid, something dark, something ancient is reaching out for her, a past that refuses to let her go. Widdershins and Olgun are going to find answers, and justice, for what happened to her—but only if those who almost destroyed her in those years gone by don't finish the job first.

Also be sure to enter my six month blogoversary giveaway to win the book of your choice from The Book Depository. All the info here.

That's all for now.

Teaser Tuesday 28

2011-07-19T21:36:00.000+01:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly book meme hosted by Should Be Reading.

The idea is to:
Grab the book you are currently reading.
Open it up to a random page.
Share two teaser sentences.

Give the name and author of said book.

And remember No Spoilers!

I'm taking a brief break from netgalley month to re-read Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater so I can get to the next two books Linger and Forever as soon as possible.

"I couldn't figure how I could smell the blood so strongly, and then I looked down at my shaking arms and saw the red smeared on my hands and over my wrists. I had to struggle to remember it was Shelby's blood."

Page 264 and 265.

the cold.
Grace has spent years watching the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—watches back. He feels deeply familiar to her, but she doesn't know why.

the heat.
Sam has lived two lives. As a wolf, he keeps the silent company of the girl he loves. And then, for a short time each year, he is human, never daring to talk to Grace...until now.

the shiver.
For Grace and Sam, love has always been kept at a distance. But once it's spoken, it cannot be denied. Sam must fight to stay human—and Grace must fight to keep him—even if it means taking on the scars of the past, the fragility of the present, and the impossibility of the future.

Be sure to enter my six month blogoversary giveaway to win the book of your choice from The Book Depository. All the info here.

That's all for now.

In My Mailbox 28

2011-07-16T23:20:00.000+01:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Books I received this week.

In The Post:

Sass & Serendipity - Jennifer Ziegler
A modern retelling of Sense and Sensibility - I'm all over it.

Touched By An Alien - Gini Koch
Alien Tango - Gini Koch
I've only ever read a few sci-fi type books and these looked really cute.

Texas Gothic - Rosemary Clement-Moore
Small Town Sinners - Melissa Walker
I have been waiting for these two books for soooo long and now they are finally here!

Forever - Maggie Stiefvater
The series is complete. I plan to read all three next month.

An Affair To Remember - Karen Hawkins
I do love a good historical romance.

Kindle:

The Sweet Gum Tree - Katherine Allred

Undeniably Yours - Shannon Stacey

Crave - Melinda Metz and Laura J. Burns

For the Love of Charley - Katherine Allred

Netgalley:

Ashfall - Mike Mullin

The Iron Knight - Julie Kagawa
Haven't read the first three books yet but I do own them and plan to read them soon.

In Total Surrender - Anne Mallory

Simon & Schuster Galley Grab:

Drink, Slay, Love - Sarah Beth Durst
Never read anything by SBD before but this looks like fun.

Sacrifice - Melinda Metz and Laura J. Burns
Had to buy the first book in the series (Crave - see above) when I saw this one on the GG.

You have no idea how badly I wanted to read all the books I got this week but alas I couldn't. It's Netgalley month and I am taking it very seriously. I am on my 7th Netgalley book so far and I hope to read double that by the end of July. Although I got slightly distracted by Harry Potter this week - I managed to watch all seven movies in preparation for tomorrow. Yes that's right at 18:15 I will be watching the final movie! I am currently alternating between absolute excitement at finally getting to see it and true sadness that it will all be over. Either way I am going to cry buckets.

Be sure to enter my six month blogoversary giveaway to win the book of your choice from The Book Depository. All the info here.

That's all for now.

Waiting On Wednesday 27

2011-07-13T07:12:00.002+01:00

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that highlights an upcoming book release that we are eagerly anticipating.

Girls Don't Fly by Kristen Chandler. Released 13th October 2011. I read Kristen Chandler's first book Wolves, Boys, & Other Things That Might Kill Me recently and I really loved it so I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

Myra is used to keeping her feet firmly on the ground. She's got four younger brothers, overworked parents, and a pregnant older sister, and if Myra wasn't there to take care of everyone, they'd probably fall apart. But when her boyfriend unceremoniously dumps her, Myra feels like she's lost her footing. Suddenly she's doing things she never would've a few months earlier: quitting her job, applying for a scholarship to study birds in the Galapogos, and falling for a guy who's encouraging her to leap from her old life . . . and fly.

Set on the shores of the Great Salt Lake, Girls Don't Fly is a tale of evolution, the personal kind.

Also be sure to enter my six month blogoversary giveaway to win the book of your choice from The Book Depository. All the info here.

That's all for now.

Teaser Tuesday 27

2011-07-12T15:27:00.002+01:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly book meme hosted by Should Be Reading.

The idea is to:
Grab the book you are currently reading.
Open it up to a random page.
Share two teaser sentences.

Give the name and author of said book.

And remember No Spoilers!

I've already read four netgalley books so far this month and the fifth is Good Girls Don't by Victoria Dahl. Love Victoria Dahl's books. I've only just started this one so my teaser is from the first page.

Tessa Donovan stared across the parking lot of Donovan Brothers Brewery, mesmerized by the flashes and swirls of blue and red across the gray brick of the building. She couldn't help but stare. The police lights were so at odds with the birdsong and pale sunlight of the early-morning hour.

1% Location 30-34.

With her long ponytail and sparkling green eyes, Tessa Donovan looks more like the girl next door than a businesswoman – or a heartbreaker. Which may explain why Detective Luke Asher barely notices her when he arrives to investigate a break-in at her family’s brewery. He’s got his own problems – starting with the fact that his partner Simone is pregnant and everyone thinks he's the father. The last thing he needs is a nice girl like Tessa getting under his skin.

Tessa has her hands full, too. Her brother’s playboy ways may be threatening the business, and the tensions could tear her tight-knit family apart. In fact, the only thing that could unite the Donovan boys is seeing a man come after their “baby” sister. Especially a man like Luke Asher. But Tessa sees past the rumors to the man beneath.

Don't know how many netgalley books I am actually going to get through this week as I plan to re-watch all seven Harry Potter movies in preparation for Sunday (which is when I am going to see the final movie) and I haven't even started yet!

Also be sure to enter my six month blogoversary giveaway to win the book of your choice from The Book Depository. All the info here.

That's all for now.

In My Mailbox 27

2011-07-10T07:50:00.001+01:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Books I received this week.

In The Post:

A Bad Day's Work - Nora McFarland
Already read and loved this book - I have a thing for those screwball mystery/romance books. I got the sequel from the S&S GG can't wait to start it.

One Summer - JoAnn Ross
Second in one of JoAnn Ross's awesome romance trilogies.

Jessie Hearts NYC - Keris Stainton
Saw this one and bought is straight away sounds like so much fun.

Sean Griswold's Head - Lindsey Leavitt
Pre-ordered this one ages ago and it finally arrived.

After Midnight: A Youngbloods Novel - Lynn Viehl
Sounds like Romeo and Juliet with vampires.

Queen of Shadows - Dianne Sylvan
Always looking for new UF/Paranormal series and this looked like it could be good.

Kindle:

Haunting Violet - Alyxandra Harvey

Firelight - Sophie Jordan
Amazon were offering these pretty cheap this week so I snapped them up.

Demon Kissed - H. M. Ward and M. James

Ushers, Inc. - Rusty Fisher
I saw this on somebody's blog this week (can't remember whose - sorry) and it looked hilarious so I had to get it.

Ready For Love (The McCarthys of Gansett Island) - Marie Force
Finally have the whole trilogy so I can start reading.

The Accidental Wedding - Anne Grace
Just bought this one after Nath over at Books, Books and more Books recommended it.

Netgalley:

A Knight's Work - Karen Duvall

Ambitious - Monica McKayhan

Good Girls Don't - Victoria Dahl
Love Victoria Dahls romance novels - going to read this one next.

It's still netgalley month and I am in the middle of my fourth netgalley book so I am pretty pleased with myself - hope I can keep it up for the rest of the month.

Also be sure to enter my six month blogoversary giveaway to win the book of your choice from The Book Depository. All the info here.

That's all for now.

Waiting On Wednesday 26

2011-07-06T08:17:00.000+01:00

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that highlights an upcoming book release that we are eagerly anticipating.

Ghost Story by Jim Butcher. Released 28th July 2011.

22 days to go! I am so unbelievably excited for this book. I LOVE The Dresden Files it's my all time favourite urban fantasy series and I know that I am going to squeal like a little piglet when it arrives.

Meet Harry Dresden, Chicago's first (and only) Wizard PI. Turns out the 'everyday' world is full of strange and magical things - and most of them don't play well with humans. That's where Harry comes in. But he's forgotten his own golden rule: magic - it can get a guy killed. Which didn't help when he clashed with unknown assailants with his murder in mind. And though Harry's continued existence is now in some doubt, this doesn't mean he can rest in peace. Trapped in a realm that's not quite here, yet not quite anywhere else, Harry learns that three of his loved ones are in danger. Only by discovering his assailant's identity can he save his friends, bring criminal elements to justice, and move on himself. It would just be easier if he knew who was at risk. And had a (working) crystal ball. And access to magic. Instead, he is unable to interact with the physical world - invisible to all but a select magical few. He's also not the only silent presence roaming Chicago's alleys. Hell, he put some there himself. Now, they're looking for payback.

Also be sure to enter my six month blogoversary giveaway to win the book of your choice from The Book Depository. All the info here.

That's all for now.

Teaser Tuesday 26

2011-07-05T07:07:00.000+01:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly book meme hosted by Should Be Reading.

The idea is to:
Grab the book you are currently reading.
Open it up to a random page.
Share two teaser sentences.

Give the name and author of said book.

And remember No Spoilers!

So it's officially netgalley month around here which means that I am trying to read only netGalley books in July. I probably won't stick to it - alright to be honest I'm already reading an in real life book too - but I am determined to seriously reduce my netgalley backlog. I've already finished one and am on to my second - Tris and Izzie by Mette Ivie Harrison. Because I'm reading it on my kindle I'm just going to give you a teaser from where I am right now.

Branna said she didn't want him to fall in love with her because of a potion, but how would she know the difference, once it had happened? It was what a friend would do for a friend who was lonely, right?

6% Location 166

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

Also be sure to enter my six month blogoversary giveaway to win the book of your choice from The Book Depository. All the info here.

That's all for now.

6 Month Blogoversay and Giveaway!

2011-07-03T07:05:00.000+01:00

Yep that's right folks I have reached the big half year! Woo Hoo!!! I am pretty impressed that I have made it this far especially lately as I have a lot going on in real life. But I love book blogging so I am going to keep at it even if it gets a little slow around here for a while.

To celebrate my blogoversary I am holding my second ever giveaway. Here's all the info:

The lucky winner will receive the book of their choice from the bookdepository.co.uk up to the amount of £10.

It's open internationally as long as the bookdepository.co.uk ships to your country. Check here.

One entry per person. You must be over 13 to enter.

You don't have to be a follower but it is greatly appreciated if you are.

Closing date is the 3rd of August 2011.

The winner will be chosen by random.org. I will email the winner and they will have 48 hours to reply and a week to choose their book.

All you have to do is fill out this teeny tiny form:

Loading...

That's all for now.

In My Mailbox 26

2011-07-02T22:45:00.000+01:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Books I received this week.

In The Post:

When Beauty Tamed the Beast - Eloisa James

Burn the Night - Jocelynn Drake

Bella at Midnight - Diane Stanley

Kindle:

Unlocked - Courtney Milan

NetGalley:

The Beginning of After - Jennifer Castle

Tris and Izzie - Mette Ivie Harrison

That's all for now.

July is NetGalley Month!

2011-07-01T19:01:00.009+01:00

Emily at Red House Books has declared July NetGalley Month! For those who don't know what NetGalley is I suggest you go to the website right now and check it out because it is the greatest thing ever!

Emily created an awesome challenge back in April where you try to read as many NetGalley books in a month as you can. She is doing it all over again this month and I am definitely going to be taking part as I have a huge backlog of NetGalley books to read.

Check out this post to learn more, she is generously offering prizes too!

I have no idea how many I am actually going to be able to read but I am going to give it my best shot. Making it a challenge always gives me an added incentive to actually read books so I would like to say a big thank you to Emily for doing this. I'm hoping to at least equal my April total which was six NetGalley books read.

Here's the list of books I have to read:

Whisper Falls - Toni Blake

Queens of All the Earth - Hannah Sternberg

My Favourite Band Does Not Exist - Robert T. Jeschonek

The Vampire Voss - Colleen Gleason

Long Gone - Alafair Burke

Bluefish - Pat Schmatz

A Long, Long Sleep - Anna Sheehan

The Last Little Blue Envelope - Maureen Johnson

The Vampire Dimitri - Colleen Gleason

Mercy - Rebecca Lim

Spell Bound - Kelley Armstrong

Never Eighteen - Megan Bostic

Pregnant Pause - Han Nolan

The Vampire Narcise - Colleen Gleason

The Girl in the Steel Corset - Kady Cross

68 Knots - Michael Robert Evans

Bite me, Try Me and Fang Me - Parker Blue

The Art of Forgetting - Camille Noe Pagan

Of Dukes and Deceptions - Wendy Soliman

Courting Disaster - Carol Stephenson

A Marriage of Inconvenience - Susanna Fraser

The Betrayal of Maggie Blair - Elizabeth Laird

The Magnolia League - Katie Crouch

The Near Witch - Victoria Schwab

Queen of the Dead - Stacey Kade

Phoenix Rising - Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris

Spellbound - Cara Lynn Shultz

Ultraviolet- R.J. Anderson

Misfit - Jon Skovron

Flyaway - Helen Landalf

Wisdom's Kiss - Catherine Gilbert Murdock

The Inquisitor's Apprentice - Chris Moriarty

Yours To Keep - Stacey Shannon

Ashes - Ilsa J. Bick

Luck of the Devil - Patricia Eimer

The Beginning of After - Jennifer Castle

Tris and Izzie - Mette Ivie Harrison

Wow I have way more to read than I though I did - I have to stop requesting so many.
Things are a little full on in real life at the moment so I haven't been writing as many reviews as I would like but I am really going try this month.

That's all for now.

Waiting On Wednesday 25

2011-06-29T07:00:00.004+01:00

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that highlights an upcoming book release that we are eagerly anticipating.

I just read and loved The DUFF by Kody Keplinger last week so it seemed kind of obvious what my WoW should be this week - her next book Shut Out.
Released September 5th 2011.

Most high school sports teams have rivalries with other schools. At Hamilton High, it's a civil war: the football team versus the soccer team. And for her part, Lissa is sick of it. Her quarterback boyfriend, Randy, is always ditching her to go pick a fight with the soccer team or to prank their locker room. And on three separate occasions Randy's car has been egged while he and Lissa were inside, making out. She is done competing with a bunch of sweaty boys for her own boyfriend's attention. Lissa decides to end the rivalry once and for all: She and the other players' girlfriends go on a hookup strike. The boys won't get any action from them until the football and soccer teams make peace. What they don't count on is a new sort of rivalry: an impossible girls-against-boys showdown that hinges on who will cave to their libidos first. And Lissa never sees her own sexual tension with the leader of the boys, Cash Sterling, coming.

I have no idea why but I love YA/sport novels. I am not in the least bit sporty but for some reason I love books with this theme. Crazy I know.

That's all for now.

Teaser Tuesday 25

2011-06-28T07:39:00.000+01:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly book meme hosted by Should Be Reading.

The idea is to:
Grab the book you are currently reading.
Open it up to a random page.
Share two teaser sentences.

Give the name and author of said book.

And remember No Spoilers!

I have been waiting for Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter for a while so now I actually have the book I am trying to savor it and not race through it like I usually do. This will probably not work and no doubt I will have finished it by the end of today but I do like to try.

She turned to Hale, who didn't say a thing. He just pulled her phone from her pocket and handed it to Gabrielle. "Make the call."

Page 146.

Katarina Bishop has worn a lot of labels in her short life: Friend. Niece. Daughter. Thief. But for the last two months she’s simply been known as the girl who ran the crew that robbed the greatest museum in the world. That’s why Kat isn’t surprised when she’s asked to steal the infamous Cleopatra Emerald so it can be returned to its rightful owners. There are only three problems. First, the gem hasn’t been seen in public in thirty years. Second, since the fall of the Egyptian empire and the suicide of Cleopatra, no one who holds the emerald keeps it for long — and in Kat’s world, history almost always repeats itself. But it’s the third problem that makes Kat’s crew the most nervous, and that is . . . the emerald is cursed. Kat might be in way over her head, but she’s not going down without a fight. After all, she has her best friend — the gorgeous Hale — and the rest of her crew with her as they chase the Cleopatra around the globe, dodging curses and realizing that the same tricks and cons her family has used for centuries are useless this time. Which means, this time, Katarina Bishop is making up her own rules.

That's all for now.

In My Mailbox 25

2011-06-26T00:15:00.000+01:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Books I received this week.

In The Post:

A Need So Beautiful - Suzanne Young
Read it. Loved it. Waiting for the next book.

Hush, Hush - Becca Fitzpatrick
Crescendo - Becca Fitzpatrick
I am going to wait for the third book to come out before I even consider reading these.

The Deadly Sister - Eliot Schrefer
Love a good YA mystery.

Carnal Innocence - Nora Roberts
Love vintage Nora Roberts.

Witches of the East - Melissa de la Cruz
Never read any of her books before this seemed like a good place to start.

Instructions for a Broken Heart - Kim Culbertson
Wanted this one for ages, finally got it.

The DUFF - Kody Keplinger
LOVED it. So GOOD. Really looking forward to her next book, Shut Out, which I have already pre-ordered.

Uncommon Criminals - Ally Carter
OMG! I am so happy it arrived. I may have squealed when I opened the package. Reading it now.

Heartless - Gail Carriger
Love this series.

Passion - Lauren Kate
Another series I am putting off reading. Going to wait until the final book comes out next year before I read them all.

Money Run - Jack Heath
I love Jack Heath's books. He is a young Australian author and I have to wait ages to get his books in the UK but they are so good it's worth the wait.

Kindle:

The Summoner - Layton Green

Charming - Susie Kaye Lopez

Beautiful Disaster - Jamie McGuire

Just a few Kindle books that were recommended this week.

Netgalley:

Ashes - Ilsa J. Bick

Luck of the Devil - Patricia Eimer

Man alive I had such a good book week! Of course I bought way too many but who cares I love them! Now I just need some time off work so I can read them all.

That's all for now.

Waiting On Wednesday 24

2011-06-22T06:51:00.004+01:00

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that highlights an upcoming book release that we are eagerly anticipating.

Legacy by Molly Cochran. Released 20th December 2011.

When her widowed father dumps 16-year-old Katy Jessevar in a boarding school in Whitfield, Massachusetts, she has no idea that fate has just opened the door to both her future and her past. Nearly everyone in Whitfield is a witch, as is Katy herself, although she has struggled all her life to hide her unusual talents. Stuck at a boarding school where her fellow studens seem to despise her, Katy soon discovers that Whitfield is the place where her mother commited suicide under mysterious circumstances when Katy was just a small child. With dark forces converging on Whitfield, it’s up to Katy to unravel her family’s many secrets to save the boy she loves and the town itself from destruction.

I love a good witch/mystery/boarding school story. And I am loving that cover.

That's all for now.

Teaser Tuesday 24

2011-06-21T07:00:00.007+01:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly book meme hosted by Should Be Reading.

The idea is to:
Grab the book you are currently reading.
Open it up to a random page.
Share two teaser sentences.

Give the name and author of said book.

And remember No Spoilers!

A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young arrived in the post yesterday. I wasn't going to start it straight away because I have like three other books to finish but I couldn't help it it looked so good.

"His mouth opens in surprise, or maybe he's thinking of arguing, but before he can respond, it happens. I'm struck with a shooting heat over my body and I'm doubled over before I can stop it."

Page 223.

We all want to be remembered. Charlotte's destiny is to be forgotten.

Charlotte's best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she's cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what's really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger.

But Charlotte never wanted this responsibility. What she wants is to help her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend's arms forever. But as the Need grows stronger, it begins to take a dangerous toll on Charlotte. And who she was, is, and will become—her mark on this earth, her very existence—is in jeopardy of disappearing completely.

Charlotte will be forced to choose: Should she embrace her fate as a Forgotten, a fate that promises to rip her from the lives of those she loves forever? Or is she willing to fight against her destiny—no matter how dark the consequences?

That's all for now.

In My Mailbox 24

2011-06-18T20:42:00.000+01:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Books I received this week.

In The Post:

Sisterhood Everlasting - Ann Brashares
So good but so sad.

Hourglass - Myra McEntire
Which I won from the lovely Karen C @ The Slowest Bookworm. Thank You Karen!!!

Never Sit Down in a Hoopskirt and Other Things I Learned in Southern Belle Helle - Crickett Rumley
Yay! Looks so good.

Hexed - Ilona Andrews, Yasmine Galenorn, Allyson James and Jeanne C. Stein
I got this mostly for the Ilona Andews book but I'm looking forward to the others too.

Dead Girls Are Easy - Terri Garey
Another book blogger recommended this but I can't remember who - so sorry but thank you.

Simon & Schuster Galley Grab:

The S&S GG is the bestest thing ever.

The Babysitter Murders - Janet Ruth Young

Michael Vey - Richard Paul Evans

Dust & Decay - Jonathan Maberry

Fury - Elizabeth Miles

The Unwanteds - Lisa McMann

Witchlanders - Lena Coakley

Completely unrelated to books but it arrived this week too.

MY VERY FIRST CAR!!!

Thank you Dad!!!
Now I just have to pass my test.

That's all for now.

Waiting On Wednesday 23

2011-06-15T07:00:00.004+01:00

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that highlights an upcoming book release that we are eagerly anticipating.

Today my WoW pick is Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick by Joe Schreiber. Released on 25th October 2011.

Perry Stormaire is a normal high school senior– he is busy applying to college and rehearsing with his band –until he agrees to go to the prom with the Lithuanian exchange student who is staying with his family. It turns out that Gobi Zaksauskas is not the mousy teenager that she seems but rather an attractive, confident trained assassin. Instead of going to the prom, Perry finds himself on a wild ride through the streets of New York City as Gobi commandeers the Jaguar his father lent him for the prom in order to take out her targets. Perry learns a lot about himself – and ends up with some amazing material for his college application essays.

I saw this one for the first time last week and as soon as I read that summary I knew I had to have it. Doesn't it just sound all kinds of crazy awesome? Exactly the kind of book I would love. I seriously cannot wait to get my hands on this one I may go pre-order it right now.

That's all for now.

Teaser Tuesday 23

2011-06-14T09:35:00.005+01:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly book meme hosted by Should Be Reading.

The idea is to:
Grab the book you are currently reading.
Open it up to a random page.
Share two teaser sentences.

Give the name and author of said book.

And remember No Spoilers!

I read Sisterhood Everlasting by Ann Brashares last night and I swear I have never cried so much during a book in my life. Seriously first page to last page cried like a baby. My eyes are so puffy right now I can barely see the computer screen.

"She expected him to ask why and what for, but he held back. She almost wished he would ask and demand and blame, because then maybe she could feel angry at him instead of this terrible missing."

Page 169.

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Ann Brashares comes the welcome return of the characters whose friendship became a touchstone for a generation. Now Tibby, Lena, Carmen, and Bridget have grown up, starting their lives on their own. And though the jeans they shared are long gone, the sisterhood is everlasting.

Despite having jobs and men that they love, each knows that something is missing: the closeness that once sustained them. Carmen is a successful actress in New York, engaged to be married, but misses her friends. Lena finds solace in her art, teaching in Rhode Island, but still thinks of Kostos and the road she didn’t take. Bridget lives with her longtime boyfriend, Eric, in San Francisco, and though a part of her wants to settle down, a bigger part can’t seem to shed her old restlessness.

Then Tibby reaches out to bridge the distance, sending the others plane tickets for a reunion that they all breathlessly await. And indeed, it will change their lives forever—but in ways that none of them could ever have expected.

As moving and life-changing as an encounter with long-lost best friends, Sisterhood Everlasting is a powerful story about growing up, losing your way, and finding the courage to create a new one.

That's all for now.

In My Mailbox 23

2011-06-11T22:15:00.001+01:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Books I received this week.

In The Post:

Money Shot - Susan Sey
I love a good contemporary romance and I loved her first book Money, Honey which I read last year the second was just as good.

Hexed - Kevin Hearne
Second in a new urban fantasy series. I read the first a couple of weeks ago and loved it.

Stupid Fast - Geoff Herbach
Recommendation from Kristi @ The Story Siren.

Don't Stop Now - Julie Halpern
Road trip!

Thirteen Reasons Why - Jay Asher
I've had this one on my wishlist for a while now everyone has been saying how great it is so I finally bought it.

Fairy Bad Day - Amanda Ashby
The summary kinda reminds me of Paranormalcy I'm hoping it will be as good.

Netgalley:

The Inquisitor's Apprentice - Chris Moriarty

Flyaway - Helen Landalf

Wisdom's Kiss - Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Yours To Keep - Shannon Stacey

I do not remember requesting these so it must have been quite a while ago. I have been trying to lay off of netgalley as I have so many to read but a few more won't hurt.

That's all for now.

Review: Die For Me - Amy Plum

2011-06-11T20:30:00.000+01:00

I received Die For Me by Amy Plum from netgalley courtesy of HarperCollins.

My life had always been blissfully, wonderfully normal. But it only took one moment to change everything. Suddenly, my sister, Georgia and I were orphans. We put our lives into storage and moved to Paris to live with my grandparents. And I knew my shattered heart, my shattered life, would never feel normal again. Then I met Vincent. Mysterious, sexy and unnervingly charming, Vincent Delacroix appeared out of nowhere and swept me off my feet. Just like that, I was in danger of losing my heart all over again. But I was ready to let it happen. Of course, nothing is ever that easy. Because Vincent is no normal human. He has a terrifying destiny, one that puts his life at risk every day. He also has enemies...immortal, murderous enemies who are determined to destroy him and all of his kind.

So I'm not going to write anything too spoilery in my review because I went in to this book not really knowing anything more than what's in the summary above and enjoyed it so much more because of it. Let me start by saying that it was super cute and super awesome.

I loved the main characters Kate and Vincent I think they may have made it in to my top ten favourite fictional couples. They seem well suited and I really liked how well Kate took the news about Vincent's deep dark secret. I love all the extra abilities that Kate and Vincent have together it makes there relationship seem meant to be.

I also loved both Kate and Vincent's families, they made the book far more interesting and gave it a lot more depth than if it had just focused on the main couple. Although I am a little wary of Jules because I really don't want this to be a Edward/Bella/Jacob thing - I can't stand love triangles. Kate's relationship with her sister Georgia was one of the highlights of the book, although they still fought like sisters do they had this bond because of what they had been through that meant no matter what happens and no matter what they had been fighting about they would always come through for each other and that was nice to see.

I'm really looking forward to reading the next book in the series although it's going to be a long wait I can't wait to find out what's in store for this couple, I'm sure it's not going to be an easy journey for them.

Die For Me is an excellent addition to the YA paranormal romance genre and it's one of my favourites so far this year.

That's all for now.

Review: Sixteenth Summer - Michelle Dalton

2011-06-10T21:30:00.000+01:00

I received Sixteenth Summer from the Simon & Schuster Galley Grab Program.

Anna is dreading another tourist-filled summer on Dune Island that follows the same routine: beach, ice cream, friends, repeat. That is, until she locks eyes with Will, the gorgeous and sweet guy visiting from New York. Soon, her summer is filled with flirtatious fun as Anna falls head over heels in love.

But with every perfect afternoon, sweet kiss, and walk on the beach, Anna can’t ignore that the days are quickly growing shorter, and Will has to leave at the end of August. Anna’s never felt anything like this before, but when forever isn’t even a possibility, one summer doesn’t feel worth the promise of her heart breaking….

Sixteenth Summer is a cute, light, summer read. Our main character Anna is looking at a long lonely summer as the third wheel to her two best friends who have decided to become more than friends, until she meet tourist Will. The book gets off to a bit of a slow start with Anna coming off as slightly desperate and annoying but given her situation it's quite understandable. It picks up pace as her relationship with Will deepens.

Anna and Will had a very sweet teen romance which came off as being quite realistic to me. Although sometimes it felt as though Anna was creating a lot of problems for herself and Will, after a few ups and downs they got to a good place in the end.

One of the things I truly loved about this book was the setting, the beach town were Anna lived just seemed too good to be true. I really really can't stand the sunlight - I am a very pale red head, the sun really hurts my eyes and yes my Dad does joke about me being a vampire - so the beach is pretty much off limits to me but wow did this book make me want pack up and move there. I especially want to go to Anna's family's fourth of July party!

If you are looking for a light summer read about first love this is the perfect book for you.

That's all for now.

Booking Through Thursday 21

2011-06-09T16:18:00.005+01:00

Booking Through Thursday is a weekly meme which asks a bookish question which you have to answer. This weeks question is:

All things being equal (money, space, etc), would you rather own copies of the books you read? Or borrow them?

At the moment I buy all of my books. I used to go to the library every week when I was younger and I very rarely bought books only received them as gifts. But as soon as I got a job and had the money I bought as many as I could. I recently got a new library card and started borrowing books again but because I work six days a week and never know what day I am going to get off I just never have the time to go. As soon as work calms down and I pass my driving test I fully intend to use the library more often. I've always seen it as a good thing that I own my books because I love to re-read. Entire books or favourite passages there is nothing better than reading those familiar lines.

That's all for now.

Waiting On Wednesday 22

2011-06-08T14:39:00.005+01:00

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that highlights an upcoming book release that we are eagerly anticipating.

Today I have chosen The Rites and Wrongs of Janice Wills by Joanna Pearson. Released on July 1st 2011.

For anyone who's ever survived a rite of passage or performed a mating dance at Prom . . .

The Japanese hold a Mogi ceremony for young women coming of age. Latina teenagers get quinceaneras. And Janice Wills of Melva, NC ... has to compete in the Miss Livermush pageant.

Janice loves anthropology--the study of human cultures--and her observations help her identify useful rules in the chaotic world of high school. For instance: Dancing is an effective mating ritual--but only if you're good at it; Hot Theatre Guys will never speak to Unremarkable Smart Girls like Janice and her best friend, Margo; and a Beautiful Rich Girl will always win Melva's annual Miss Livermush pageant.

But when a Hot Theatre Guy named Jimmy Denton takes an interest in Janice, all her scientific certainties explode. For the first time, she has to be part of the culture that she's always observed; and all the charts in the world can't prove how tough--and how sweet--real participation and a real romance can be.

Funny, biting, and full of wisdom, this marks the debut of a writer to watch.

I'm not loving the cover for some reason I can't quite work out but the title and summary are super cute and it comes out in less then a month so I can't wait to read it.

That's all for now.

Teaser Tuesday 22

2011-06-07T10:27:00.007+01:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly book meme hosted by Should Be Reading.

The idea is to:
Grab the book you are currently reading.
Open it up to a random page.
Share two teaser sentences.

Give the name and author of said book.

And remember No Spoilers!

Just started reading Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews last night and I'm not very far in yet but I love this series so I'm hoping to finish it today. Here's the teaser:

"You're such a violent woman. Always with the threats. You should look into some meditation techniques..."
I jumped on the couch and put the Beast Lord into an arm-lock.

Page 89.

Plagued by a war between magic and technology, Atlanta has never been so deadly. Good thing Kate Daniels is on the job.

Kate Daniels may have quit the Order of Knights of Merciful Aid, but she's still knee-deep in paranormal problems. Or she would be if she could get someone to hire her. Starting her own business has been more challenging than she thought it would be-now that the Order is disparaging her good name. Plus, many potential clients are afraid of getting on the bad side of the Beast Lord, who just happens to be Kate's mate.

So when Atlanta's premier Master of the Dead calls to ask for help with a vampire on the loose, Kate leaps at the chance of some paying work. But it turns out that this is not an isolated incident. Kate needs to get to the bottom of it-and fast, or the city and everyone dear to her may pay the ultimate price...

That's all for now.

In My Mailbox 22

2011-06-04T22:45:00.002+01:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Books I received this week.

In The Post:

What Happened to Goodbye - Sarah Dessen
Read this one in the week liked it but it's not one of my favourite Dessen's.

Infernal Affairs - Jes Battis
The fourth book in an urban fantasy series I really like.

Forgotten - Cat Patrick
Words cannot describe how much I loved this book - it's so freakin' awesome. As soon as I get back to writing reviews (hopefully next week) I will try to tell you why I loved it so much.

Just Like Heaven - Julia Quinn
Love her historical romances.

A Bridge Too Far - Cornelius Ryan
The Thorns Birds - Colleen McCullough
Bought these for a friend.

Kindle:

Fool For Love - Marie Force
Love Marie Force. This is the second in her new series - not going to read them until the third and final book is out next month.

Netgalley:

Misfit - Jon Skovron

I also got a couple of free ebooks from eHarlequin.

Summer's Crossing - Julie Kagawa
The Strange Case of Finley Jayne - Kady Cross

That's all for now.

Booking Through Thursday 20

2011-06-02T16:13:00.006+01:00

Booking Through Thursday is a weekly meme which asks a bookish question which you have to answer. This weeks question is:

Do you read book reviews? Whose do you trust? Do they affect your reading habits? Your buying habits?

The short answer is yes I do read book reviews. The long answer depends on the book.

If the book being reviewed is one that I am definitely absolutely positively going to buy no matter what then I will not read any reviews until after I have read the book because I do not want other peoples opinions clouding my judgement.
If it's a book I am on the fence about as in not really sure whether or not I want to read it then I will read the reviews to get a general idea of the book but I will not read any with huge spoilers.
If it's a book I don't really like the sound of say one with a major love triangle (which I hate) I will maybe read the reviews including ones that give away all the major plot lines.

I read reviews on amazon, goodreads and other blogs. I wouldn't say it's a matter of trust when it comes to reading reviews more a matter of opinion. Reviews are people opinions and everyone has a different way of looking at things. This is why I don't really base my book buying on reviews too much. Just because someone else liked it doesn't mean I will and vice versa. I like to form my own opinions and not be swayed by other people's so much.

That's all for now.

Waiting On Wednesday 21

2011-06-01T07:00:00.007+01:00

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that highlights an upcoming book release that we are eagerly anticipating.

This week I have chosen the final book in one of my all time favourite urban fantasy series Burn the Night by Jocelynn Drake. Released on the 28th June 2011.

The Great Awakening approaches…

After eons in exile, the naturi have broken their chains and now roam the Earth bent on revenge. It is the sworn duty of Mira, the Fire Starter, to protect the Nightwalker race—though even she may be powerless to withstand the horrific onslaught. As Mira and her brave lover, the vampire slayer Danaus, stand ready to do battle, thousands of winged shapeshifters darken the skies. The war of ultimate extermination has begun, and the battleground is Mira’s home turf.

The humans don’t yet recognize the doom descending upon them. And the Nightwalkers will surely perish unless they unite with outcast naturi who claim to want peace. But these unexpected “allies” are the same demons who have long worked for Mira’s destruction—and in these darkest of days the lines between friend and foe will blur treacherously before the bloody end of all things.

I love this series, I mean seriously love it and I can't believe this is the final book. There had better be a happy ending for one of my favourite couples or I am going to be very cross.

That's all for now.

Teaser Tuesday 21

2011-05-31T20:46:00.006+01:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly book meme hosted by Should Be Reading.

The idea is to:
Grab the book you are currently reading.
Open it up to a random page.
Share two teaser sentences.

Give the name and author of said book.

And remember No Spoilers!

I started reading What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen earlier today - loving it.

"Odd how it was so easy for a stranger to assume such familiarity. Especially when those who were supposed to know you best often didn't, not at all."

Page 90.

Mclean never lets herself get too attached . . .

After the scandal of her mother’s affair, Mclean and her dad chose life on the road. But since losing her family and home, Mclean has lost herself too; she’s been Eliza, then Lizbet, then Beth - changing her name as often as she changes towns. Until now. Her new neighbour, Dave, is like no one she’s met before. Is it finally time to stop reinventing? Or will Mclean turn her back on the new life she loves, without even saying goodbye?

That's all for now.

In My Mailbox 21

2011-05-28T22:30:00.001+01:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Books I received this week.

In The Post:

So Much Closer - Susane Colasanti
Love the sound of this one can't wait to read it.

Corsets & Clockwork - Trisha Telep
I love anthologies - steampunk anthologies even more so.

Brilliant - Rachel Vail
Final book in the Avery Sisters trilogy, I can finally start reading them.

All Unquiet Things - Anna Jarzab
Love a good YA mystery.

The Little Women Letters - Gabrielle Donnelly
I loved Little Women when I was a kid this looks like a good spin on things.

Magic Slays - Ilona Andrews
I am sooooo excited to read this I just wish I had the time right now.

That's all for now.

Booking Through Thursday 19

2011-05-26T18:50:00.008+01:00

Booking Through Thursday is a weekly meme which asks a bookish question which you have to answer. This weeks question is:

Do you ever feel like you’re in a reading rut? That you don’t read enough variety? That you need to branch out, spread your literary wings and explore other genres, flavors, styles?

Yes I feel like I'm in a reading rut all the time. Don't get me wrong I read all kinds of books and there's no genre I won't read but I do have phases where I will only be reading one type of book for weeks on end and end up getting tired of it.

I feel bad for not reading more classics and literary books but I just tell myself that I read for pleasure and if the books I read make me happy then what does it matter. There are some weeks where I can't find anything that interests me and I end up reading nothing - those are the worst weeks. I usually have to go back to an old favourite to get me into the reading mood again.

I do however have one permanent rut that I wish I could get out of and that is is that I only like books with happy endings yes I know it's stupid but I can't help it. If I am going to get invested in these characters lives like to know that it all ends well for them.

That's all for now.

Waiting On Wednesday 20

2011-05-25T07:00:00.003+01:00

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that highlights an upcoming book release that we are eagerly anticipating.

This week I have chosen Hexed: The Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne. It's released on the 7th June 2011. I am currently reading and loving the first book in this series, Hounded, so I thought it would make sense to feature the second book in my WoW post this week. Especially considering that it is coming out in just a few days and even better the third book in the series, Hammered, is due out at the start of July - I love back-to-back release dates.

Atticus O’Sullivan, last of the Druids, doesn’t care much for witches. Still, he’s about to make nice with the local coven by signing a mutually beneficial nonaggression treaty—when suddenly the witch population in modern-day Tempe, Arizona, quadruples overnight. And the new girls are not just bad, they’re badasses with a dark history on the German side of World War II. With a fallen angel feasting on local high school students, a horde of Bacchants blowing in from Vegas with their special brand of deadly decadence, and a dangerously sexy Celtic goddess of fire vying for his attention, Atticus is having trouble scheduling the witch hunt. But aided by his magical sword, his neighbor’s rocket-propelled grenade launcher, and his vampire attorney, Atticus is ready to sweep the town and show the witchy women they picked the wrong Druid to hex.

That's all for now.

Teaser Tuesday 20

2011-05-24T13:09:00.009+01:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly book meme hosted by Should Be Reading.

The idea is to:
Grab the book you are currently reading.
Open it up to a random page.
Share two teaser sentences.

Give the name and author of said book.

And remember No Spoilers!

I started reading Hounded: The Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne this morning so my teaser is going to come from there today. I almost missed my bus stop earlier because I was so in to it.

"Thank the Goddess I don't look like a guy who met Galileo-or who saw Shakespeare's plays when they first debuted or rode with the hordes of Genghis Khan. When people ask how old I am, I just tell them twenty-one, and if they assume I mean years instead of decades or centuries, then that can't be my fault, can it?

Page 1.

Atticus O’Sullivan, last of the Druids, lives peacefully in Arizona, running an occult bookshop and shape-shifting in his spare time to hunt with his Irish wolfhound. His neighbors and customers think that this handsome, tattooed Irish dude is about twenty-one years old—when in actuality, he’s twenty-one centuries old. Not to mention: He draws his power from the earth, possesses a sharp wit, and wields an even sharper magical sword known as Fragarach, the Answerer.

Unfortunately, a very angry Celtic god wants that sword, and he’s hounded Atticus for centuries. Now the determined deity has tracked him down, and Atticus will need all his power—plus the help of a seductive goddess of death, his vampire and werewolf team of attorneys, a sexy bartender possessed by a Hindu witch, and some good old-fashioned luck of the Irish—to kick some Celtic arse and deliver himself from evil.

That's all for now.

In My Mailbox 20

2011-05-21T22:45:00.002+01:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Books I received this week.

In The Post:

Summer At Seaside Cove - Jacquire D'Alessandro

Seemed like a nice light summer read.

The Shel ters of Stone - Jean M Auel

Th e Land of Painted Caves - Jean M Auel

Bought these two for a friend.

Netgalley:

Legac y - Cayla Kluver

Simon & Schuster Galley Grab:

I love the GG so much!!!

Love Story - Jennifer Echols
Read this one already - loved it.

Wilde fire - Karsten Knight

Someti m es It Happens - Lauren Barnholdt

Dream s of Significant Girls - Cristina Garcia

No photo this week as I only got one real life book and it didn't seem worth it so I just used pictures instead. I have been controlling my book buying pretty well lately which is good as I need to save money for the massively expensive car insurance. That is if I ever actually pass my driving test and get a car.

That's all for now.

Booking Through Thursday 18

2011-05-19T16:20:00.001+01:00

Booking Through Thursday is a weekly meme which asks a bookish question which you have to answer. This weeks question is:

In contrast to last week’s question–What do you think of censoring books BECAUSE of their intended age? Say, books too “old” for your kids to read?

Well I don't have any children and don't intend to have any in the future so I am not really sure I am the right person to be answering this question but I will give it a go. I suppose I think it's up to the parents to limit what their children read if that's what they feel is necessary, but I only think this applies to their own individual children. I don't believe in blanket bans or general censorship on anything and I do not believe anyone has the right to tell other people what they can or cannot read.

Personally my parents never had a clue what I was reading and it never did me any harm. I don't really think it's a good idea to censor something just because it is uncomfortable or difficult to explain, generally speaking openness and honesty is best.

That's all for now.

Waiting On Wednesday 19

2011-05-18T07:10:00.001+01:00

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that highlights an upcoming book release that we are eagerly anticipating.

This week I have chosen And Then Things Fall Apart by Arlaina Tibensky. Released on the 26th July 2011.

Keek’s life was totally perfect.

Keek and her boyfriend just had their Worst Fight Ever, her best friend heinously betrayed her, her parents are divorcing, and her mom’s across the country caring for her newborn cousin, who may or may not make it home from the hospital. To top it all off, Keek’s got the plague. (Well, the chicken pox.) Now she’s holed up at her grandmother’s technologically-barren house until further notice. Not quite the summer vacation Keek had in mind.

With only an old typewriter and Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar for solace and guidance, Keek’s alone with her swirling thoughts. But one thing’s clear through her feverish haze—she’s got to figure out why things went wrong so she can put them right.

Sounds like there is a lot going on in this book and I am really looking forward to reading all about it. Loving the cover (no picture of a girl in a dress - woo hoo!) and the main character's name is awesome - Keek!

That's all for now.

Teaser Tuesday 19

2011-05-17T07:25:00.000+01:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly book meme hosted by Should Be Reading.

The idea is to:
Grab the book you are currently reading.
Open it up to a random page.
Share two teaser sentences.

Give the name and author of said book.

And remember No Spoilers!

Today I am going to give you a teaser from The Lucky Kind by Alyssa B. Sheinmel. I finished reading it last night and it was awesome just as good as her debut The Beautiful Between which was one of my favourite books last year.

"I walk Eden to the subway, and the whole walk there, I know I'm going to kiss her good-bye, and I know she's going to kiss me back. I feel the kiss coming up from my stomach, as though that's where every kiss originates, waiting in your belly, growing stronger as it climbs up your rib cage, fluttering a bit when it passes your heart, and waiting, patiently in your throat, until you tilt your head and move you lips, and it knows it's time to come out from inside you."

Page 58.

High school junior Nick Brandt is intent on getting a girlfriend, and Eden Reiss is the one that he wants. He has exactly four semesters to get the girl, but when the phone rings on an otherwise ordinary Tuesday night, life for Nick and his parents will never be the same. What had been a seemingly idyllic home life has become something else entirely. But with this shake-up comes a newfound confidence for Nick; he's become a bolder version of himself, no longer afraid to question his parents, and no longer afraid to talk to Eden. Alyssa B. Sheinmel has written a powerfully gripping story about family secrets, falling in love, and finding luck in unexpected--and sometimes unwelcome—circumstances.

That's all for now.

In My Mailbox 19

2011-05-14T23:10:00.002+01:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Books I received this week.

In The Post:

The Ghost and the Goth - Stacey Kade
I have been meaning to get this for ages and now I have the second book from netgalley I thought it was time.

The Lucky Kind - Alyssa B. Sheinmel
I have been looking forward to this book for months as I loved her first novel soooo much.

Wolves, Boys, and Other Things That Might Kill Me - Kristen Chandler
Another book I have been wanting to get for ages.

Something Like Fate - Susane Colasanti
Her new book just came out and I realised I hadn't got her last one so I had to get it.

Twenty Times A Lady - Karyn Bosnak
It's just been made into a movie and it looks hilarious so I thought I would give the book a try first. Recommendation from a fellow blogger - ames @ Thrifty Reader.

Hard Bitten - Chloe Neill
The fourth book in the Chicagoland Vampire series. I have the first three in my tbr pile. I think I will wait until the fifth book comes out in November before reading them.

The Mammoth Hunter - Jean M Auel
The Plains of Passage - Jean M Auel
Not pictured as they were bought for a friend.

Well I hope you all had a better week than me because mine sucked. Work has been pretty hard and I have been exhausted this entire week. All I managed to do in terms of reading was finish up Moonglass which is so not like me, I can usually read two or three books a week but I just haven't had the energy. I have however watched the first 20 episodes of The West Wing, one of my all time favourite shows so that's cheered me up some. Here's hoping next week will be better.

That's all for now.

Booking Through Thursday 17

2011-05-11T21:30:00.000+01:00

Booking Through Thursday is a weekly meme which asks a bookish question which you have to answer. This weeks question is:

Do you read books “meant” for other age groups? Adult books when you were a child; Young-Adult books now that you’re grown; Picture books just for kicks … You know … books not “meant” for you. Or do you pretty much stick to what’s written for people your age?

I definitely read books meant for other age groups but it's not something I ever really think about too much. I read what I want to read no matter who it's aimed at. Right now I read a mixture of adult and young adult books. Sometimes I go through periods where I will only read one of these then I get a little burnt out and have to mix it up. But usually I just pick up whatever book I feel like reading at the time whether it be adult or young adult.

When I was younger I was obsessed with the library. I went through most of the children's and young adult books (the library was quite small) by the time I was about eleven but you had to be 13 to get out adult books so I had to use my Mum's card. My Mum only reads romance novels so when I was younger and had run out of things to read I used to read her books too.

I don't really read children's books (except when I am feeling nostalgic and want to read some Enid Blyton - my favourite childhood author) or picture books but I'm hoping that might change as my one year old niece gets a little older and I start reading with her.

That's all for now.

Waiting On Wednesday 18

2011-05-11T07:00:00.007+01:00

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that highlights an upcoming book release that we are eagerly anticipating.

This week I have chosen Never Sit Down in a Hoopskirt and Other Things I Learned in Southern Belle Helle by Crickett Rumley. Released on 18th August 2011.

Expelled from thirteen boarding schools in the past five years, seventeen-year-old Jane Fontaine Ventouras is returning to her Southern roots, and the small town of Bienville, Alabama, where ladies always wear pearls, nothing says hospitality like sweet tea and pimento cheese sandwiches, and competing in the annual Magnolia Maid Pageant is every girl’s dream. But Jane is what you might call an anti-belle—more fishnets and tattoos than sugar and spice. The last thing on her mind is joining the Magnolia Maid brigade and parading around town in a dress so big she can’t even fi t through doors. So when she finds herself up to her ears in ruffl es and etiquette lessons, she’s got one mission: Escape. What’s a hipster to do? Will Jane survive Bienville boot camp intact or will they—gasp!—make a Southern belle out of her yet?

I know this book doesn't come out until August which is ages away and usually I hate to pick books that have far off release dates but it sounds so funny and quirky that I had to choose it. Besides it has the best title I've heard in ages and the authors name is super cool.

That's all for now.

Teaser Tuesday 18

2011-05-10T07:00:00.005+01:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly book meme hosted by Should Be Reading.

The idea is to:
Grab the book you are currently reading.
Open it up to a random page.
Share two teaser sentences.
Give the name and author of said book.
And remember No Spoilers!

I just finished Moonglass by Jessi Kirby late last night. I loved it so I thought I would give you all a teaser from it today.

"She'd been all those things, all at once, and we'd tiptoed around her even then. And now, here, she'd stirred up the placid surface of my life and thrown me into rough, dark water-a deep ocean of secrets."

Page 148.

When Anna was little, she and her mother used to search for sea glass, but since they looked at night, they called it moonglass. Now, ten years after her mother's mysterious death, her father is working as head lifeguard on the same beach where her mother grew up and her parents first met and fell in love.

Reluctant to get close to anyone (including her father) and not pleased about having to start at a new school, Anna begins to spend more time alone, running the length of the beach and wondering about who her mother really was. After meeting a lifeguard named Tyler, she slowly lets her guard down and together they start exploring the abandoned houses that dot the beach.

But when learning more about her mother's past leads to a painful discovery, Anna must reconcile her desire for solitude with ultimately accepting the love of her family and friends.

That's all for now.

In My Mailbox 18

2011-05-07T23:50:00.000+01:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Books I received this week.

In The Post:

Tangled Threads - Jennifer Estep
Read it. Loved it. Can't wait for the next book.

Moonglass - Jessi Kirby
Reading right now.

Hounded - Kevin Hearne
Next up.

The Lies of Locke Lamora - Scott Lynch

Irresistible - Susan Mallery

I'm Not Her - Janet Gurtler

Kindle:

Maid for Love (The McCarthy's of Gansett Island) - Marie Force
I love Marie Force and I love the fact that she keeps releasing books.

Netgalley:

Guarding A Notorious Lady - Olivia Parker

Simon & Schuster Galley Grab:

Forbidden - Tabitha Suzuma
I'm not to sure about this one, it can't possibly have a happy ending, I don't think I should have downloaded it.

Possession - Elana Johnson

For Review:

Between - Cyndi Tefft
I think it's the first book in a new YA paranormal series. Looking forward to reading it.

I got a few more books this week than I thought I would but it's no where near as crazy as it has been. I think this whole self-control thing is working out quite well for me.

That's all for now.

Booking Through Thursday 16

2011-05-05T16:30:00.000+01:00

Booking Through Thursday is a weekly meme which asks a bookish question which you have to answer. This weeks question is:

And–the reverse of last week’s question. Name one book that you hope never, ever, ever gets made into a movie (no matter how good that movie might be).

Without a doubt anything in the horror genre. I can't specify one book but if it ends up as a horror movie I'm not watching it. I used to be able to watch horror movies when I was younger but I had a few bad experiences and now I just get too freaked out. I once watched The Hills Have Eyes late at night and ended up having to watch three hours of the shopping channel until the sun came up before I could go to sleep. And that movie Jeepers Creepers - scared the crap out of me, anytime I hear the song of the same name I have horrendous flashbacks. Scary books don't really bother me but movies - not good.

As for books so awesome it would ruin them if they were made into movies. I would have to go with any book written by Tamora Pierce. Her books, to me, are so perfect I can't even imagine them as movies. That said if anyone did make them into movies I would so be there - but I really hope they don't.

That's all for now.

Waiting On Wednesday 17

2011-05-04T07:00:00.006+01:00

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that highlights an upcoming book release that we are eagerly anticipating.

This week I have chosen What Happened To Goodbye by Sarah Dessen. Released on the 2nd June in the UK and on the 10th May in the US.
I have been a big fan of Sarah Dessen's work for years. Just Listen and The Truth About Forever are my favourites and if you've never read any of her books I suggest you go do it now.

Who is the real McLean? Since her parents' bitter divorce, McLean and her dad, a restaurant consultant, have been on the move-four towns in two years. Estranged from her mother and her mother's new family, McLean has followed her dad in leaving the unhappy past behind. And each new place gives her a chance to try out a new persona: from cheerleader to drama diva. But now, for the first time, McLean discovers a desire to stay in one place and just be herself, whoever that is. Perhaps Dave, the guy next door, can help her find out. Combining Sarah Dessen's trademark graceful writing, great characters, and compelling storytelling, What Happened to Goodbye is irresistible reading.

That's all for now.

Teaser Tuesday 17

2011-05-03T11:30:00.000+01:00

When a young lord tries to take advantage of Finley, she fights back. And wins. But no normal Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full-grown man with one punch….

Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her that says she's special, says she's one of them. The orphaned duke takes her in from the gaslit streets against the wishes of his band of misfits: Emily, who has her own special abilities and an unrequited love for Sam, who is part robot; and Jasper, an American cowboy with a shadowy secret.

Griffin's investigating a criminal called The Machinist, the mastermind behind several recent crimes by automatons. Finley thinks she can help—and finally be a part of something, finally fit in.

But The Machinist wants to tear Griff's little company of strays apart, and it isn't long before trust is tested on all sides. At least Finley knows whose side she's on—even if it seems no one believes her.

That's all for now.

Review: Mostly Good Girls - Leila Sales

2011-05-02T23:30:00.001+01:00

Mostly Good Girls by Leila Sales.

The higher you aim, the farther you fall….

It’s Violet’s junior year at the Westfield School. She thought she’d be focusing on getting straight As, editing the lit mag, and figuring out how to talk to boys without choking on her own saliva. Instead, she’s just trying to hold it together in the face of cutthroat academics, her crush’s new girlfriend, and the sense that things are going irreversibly wrong with her best friend, Katie.

When Katie starts making choices that Violet can’t even begin to fathom, Violet has no idea how to set things right between them. Westfield girls are trained for success—but how can Violet keep her junior year from being one huge, epic failure?

OK so while it's not the best book I've ever read it's certainly not the worst. The main problem I had with this book is it's narrator she was whiny, naive and pretty much a total snob. Maybe I am being a little harsh but this is how she came off to me. And seriously how many times did she have to say that she was useless and her best friend was perfect, it just became so annoying and repetitive. In the end Violet claims to have learnt a lesson about being judgemental and a poor friend but I just wasn't feeling this. It would come as no surprise to me if a few weeks later she just reverted to the same judgemental, school work obsessed, clueless girl she was before, I'm doubtful that any real change has taken place. It is so hard to like a book when I find the narrator so unlikeable. Perhaps others would be able to relate to Violet better than I could, maybe it is a lack of empathy on my part.

Alright enough of the bad stuff I really did enjoy the writing style it was very easy to read and there were some funny moments in the book that actually made me laugh. I really liked Violet's best friend Katie, honestly I didn't feel like she did was doing anything that crazy it just felt to me that she was changing things up and Violet couldn't really handle it.

Just because I didn't love Mostly Good Girls it won't put me off wanting to read Leila Sales's next book. I enjoyed the writing just not the main character and I'm willing to give her next book a try.

That's all for now.

Review: Dead Is Not An Option - Marlene Perez

2011-05-02T07:00:00.010+01:00

I received Dead Is Not An Option by Marlene Perez from netgalley courtesy of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

There are four previous books in the Dead Is series Dead Is the New Black, Dead Is a State of Mind, Dead Is So Last Year and Dead Is Just a Rumor all of them are fantastic and the latest Dead Is Not An Option is no exception.

The Dead Is series is about Daisy Giordano and her crazy little town called Nightshade. As the name suggests Nightshade is not your normal town. It is populated with all sorts of paranormal creatures from vampires and werewolves to witches and mermaids. Daisy, her sisters, and their Mother are all psychic and they use their abilities to solve mysteries. Their father was kidnapped by a shadowy group called the Scourge who exist to rid the world of paranormals. Daisy, her family and pretty much all her friends are paranormals so this means they fight the Scourge.

This book centres around a brewing Vampire werewolf fight, Daisy’s boyfriend Ryan is a werewolf and her sister’s boyfriend is a vampire so there is a lot of tension. Running parallel to the mystery aspect of this book is the fact that Daisy has come the end of high school and she must figure out what she is going to do now and what is going to happen with her relationship with Ryan.

Dead is Not an Option flies along at a really fast past as there is so much action which is probably why I read it in one sitting. While there are many different aspects to the story which could make it complicated Marlene Perez makes it very light and easy to read.

I love the fact that everyone is aware of all the mysterious happenings in Nightshade, there are so many other books where everything is kept a secret which makes things unnecessarily difficult, the Dead Is series is not like that. Instead everyone is in on the secret and is willing to help each other out.

I don’t want to give to much away but there is an incident near the end of the book that I did not see coming and if I am being honest the book would have been better with out it. However the incident was used in a way to keep two characters together so I suppose I can live with it.

I didn’t realize going into this book that this is the last book to feature Daisy as the main character, at least I assume it is because it seemed that way in the end. I got the feeling that there maybe other books set in Nightshade with a new lead character, I don’t know for certain but I really hope so.

I recommend you read the first four books in the series before reading this one because a lot of past plot lines are involved in this book. But it would be totally worth your time. This is definitely a series I will be re-reading.

That's all for now.

NetGalley Month Wrap Up Post

2011-05-01T20:00:00.000+01:00

Emily over at Red House Books declared April NetGalley Month. For those who don't know what netGalley is I suggest you go to the website right now and check it out because it is the greatest thing ever!

Emily created an awesome challenge where you had to try to read as many netGalley books in April as you could. This was perfect for me as I had a huge backlog of netGalley books to read. Check out this post to learn more, she generously offered prizes too.

Now that April is over it's time to take stock and see how I did.

I managed to read six netGalley books.

The Twisted Tale of Stormy Gale - Christine Bell
The Dark Enquiry - Deanna Raybourn
Die For Me - Amy Plum
Putting Makeup On Dead People - Jen Violi
Wherever You Go - Heather Davis
Girl Wonder - Alexa Martin

Reviews will be posted as the books are released.

I wanted to read way more than this but I suppose six is OK considering I was reading other books in April too.
Of course I still have a massive backlog of netGalley books to read. I've already started reading The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross. However Emily is going to do this all over again in July so I will for sure be taking part again.

That's all for now.

In My Mailbox 17

2011-04-30T23:00:00.001+01:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Books I received this week.

In The Post:

Eleven Scandals To Start To Win A Duke's Heart - Sarah MacLean

Divergent - Veronica Roth

Clan of the Cave Bear - Jean M Auel
The Valley of Horses - Jean M Auel
Bought these for a friend haven't read them myself.

Kindle:

Photographs and Phantoms - Cindy Spencer Pape

Netgalley:

Ultraviolet - R J Anderson

Simon & Schuster Galley Grab:

All The Things You Are - Courtney Sheinmel

The Day Before - Lisa Schroeder

He's So Not Worth It - Kieran Scott

Ordinary Beauty - Laura Wiess

Gifts:

Harry Potter Film Wizardry

It was my birthday last Sunday and whilst I mostly got money I did get one awesome book from my bff. It's all about the Harry Potter movies and it has so much cool stuff in it including the letter Harry got before he started Hogwarts, the Marauder's Map and the invitation to the Yule Ball. I love it soooooo much.

I was doing so well until the S&S GG newsletter arrived and I went and downloaded four more books. But it's definitely one of my better weeks this year - I really am trying to limit my book buying.

That's all for now.

Review: Girl Wonder - Alexa Martin

2011-04-30T22:30:00.000+01:00

I received Girl Wonder by Alexa Martin from netgalley courtesy of Hyperion.

As if transferring senior year weren't hard enough, Charlotte Locke has been bumped to lower level classes at her new school. With no friends, a terrible math SAT score, and looming college application deadlines, the future is starting to seem like an oncoming train for which she has no ticket.

Then Amanda enters her orbit like a hot-pink meteor, offering Charlotte a ticket to something else: popularity. Amanda is fearless, beautiful, brilliant, and rich. As her new side kick, Charlotte is brought into the elite clique of the debate team—and closer to Neal, Amanda's equally brilliant friend and the most perfect boy Charlotte has ever seen.

But just when senior year is looking up, Charlotte’s life starts to crumble. The more things heat up between Charlotte and Neal, the more Neal wants to hide their relationship. Is he ashamed? Meanwhile, Amanda is starting to act strangely competitive, and she's keeping a secret Charlotte doesn't want to know.

Our main character Charlotte finds herself having to start over at a brand new school, her parents are focused on her getting into a good college but Charlotte has a learning disability relating to math and is struggling to fit in. In an attempt to do this she finds herself doing some pretty out of character things to secure the friendship of Girl Wonder Amanda and the affections of popular guy Neal.

From the beginning it was pretty obvious to me that Amanda and Neal were shady but it was up to Charlotte to figure out this for herself and learn a little in the process.

One of the things Charlotte got involved with was drugs. I didn't really like the drug stuff I actually find any sort of drug taking pretty hard to take. For some reason it makes me feel physically sick when I read about it or see it on the TV and in movies. So that part of the book was pretty uncomfortable but I did appreciate that it was Charlotte's way of trying to keep her new friends and eventually became the reason for her to change.

I admired Charlotte for being able to pull herself out of the mess she had made, she eventually realised where she had been going wrong and with a little help managed to turn it around. Charlotte and Milton, her neighbour, were so cute towards the end of the book this relationship made all the bad in the beginning worthwhile. Charlotte's little brother John Henry also turned out to be a great character too.

I loved the epilogue at the end, I always seem to be a fan of the epilogues. It came in form of a list, it didn't overload you with information but gave you enough to know things ended well. I'm looking forward to seeing what this author writes next.

That's all for now.

Booking Through Thursday 15

2011-04-28T19:55:00.001+01:00

Booking Through Thursday is a weekly meme which asks a bookish question which you have to answer. This weeks question is:

If you could see one book turned into the perfect movie–one that would capture everything you love, the characters, the look, the feel, the story–what book would you choose?

This is such a hard question and I really don't have a straight forward answer. There is no one book that I can point to and say I really wish they would make that in to a movie. Usually movies can't compete with the book versions. Books can include so much more than a movie can and if you read the book first the movie doesn't usually live up to what you imagined it would be. That said there are some stand out movies made from books. The Lord of the Rings and the later Harry Potter movies spring to mind.

OK so while I think it's a little unrealistic to think that anyone can turn a book into a perfect movie there are a few that I can think of that might be good as movies. I would love to see The Spellman Files series turned into movies. These books are hilarious and I would love to see that crazy family on the big screen. I think The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon could be an awesome movie, complicated but awesome. The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets by Eva Rice would make a beautiful movie. And purely because I love the In Death series so much I would love to see the first book made into a movie.

Of course for the movies to have any hope of being perfect I would have to cast, produce, direct and edit them myself which seems like a lot of work so it would probably never happen.

That's all for now.

Review: Stay - Deb Caletti

2011-04-27T07:10:00.000+01:00

I received Stay by Deb Caletti from the Simon & Schuster Galley Grab Program.

Clara’s relationship with Christian is intense from the start, and like nothing she’s ever experienced before. But what starts as devotion quickly becomes obsession, and it’s almost too late before Clara realizes how far gone Christian is--and what he’s willing to do to make her stay.

Now Clara has left the city—and Christian—behind. No one back home has any idea where she is, but she still struggles to shake off her fear. She knows Christian won’t let her go that easily, and that no matter how far she runs, it may not be far enough....

This is my first Deb Caletti book and it won't be my last, I own two of her other books and I will for sure be digging them out and giving them a go soon.

Stay, although it contained a very brutal subject was very beautifully written. There are a lot of books that involve physical abuse in relationships so it was very interesting to read one about emotional abuse and see that it can be just as damaging.

Clara was a very interesting character she felt so guilty believing that she had caused this situation she found herself in. On one hand I knew this not to be the case she was not responsible for Christian's actions but on the other I wondered how she could not see what was happening and not do something about it. But I suppose this it what emotional abuse is all about, manipulation and seeing it for what it is.

I really liked the parallel stories of Clara's past and present which all came together towards the end of the book. It didn't overload me with too much all at once but eased you into it and let the tension build up throughout the book. If it had just been about the relationship between Clara and Christian it could have become overwhelming but instead we get a range of other stories. The changing relationship between Clara and her Dad, revelations about Clara and her Mum, Clara and her new love interest and her Dad and his new love interest. For me this helped to balance the story out.

I loved how the book ended, happy but not unrealistically so. You get the sense that no matter what happened in the future Clara was going to be OK.

That's all for now.

Waiting On Wednesday 16

2011-04-27T07:00:00.004+01:00

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that highlights an upcoming book release that we are eagerly anticipating.

This week I have chosen Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) by Sarah Mlynowski. Released on the 7th June 2011.

2 girls + 3 guys + 1 house – parents = 10 things April and her friends did that they (definitely, maybe, probably) shouldn't have.

If given the opportunity, what sixteen-year-old wouldn't jump at the chance to move in with a friend and live parent-free? Although maybe "opportunity" isn't the right word, since April had to tell her dad a tiny little untruth to make it happen (see #1: "Lied to Our Parents"). But she and her housemate Vi are totally responsible and able to take care of themselves. How they ended up "Skipping School" (#3), "Throwing a Crazy Party" (#8), "Buying a Hot Tub" (#4), and, um, "Harboring a Fugitive" (#7) at all is kind of a mystery to them.

In this hilarious and bittersweet tale, Sarah Mlynowski mines the heart and mind of a girl on her own for the first time. To get through the year, April will have to juggle a love triangle, learn to do her own laundry, and accept that her carefully constructed world just might be falling apart . . . one thing-she-shouldn't-have-done at a time.

Doesn't it just sound so great. One big adventure with some pretty serious consequences. I can't wait to get my hands on it.

That's all for now.

Review: Invincible Summer - Hannah Moskowitz

2011-04-26T23:45:00.001+01:00

I received Invincible Summer by Hannah Moskowitz from the Simon & Schuster Galley Grab Program.

Noah’s happier than I’ve seen him in months. So I’d be an awful brother to get in the way of that. It’s not like I have some relationship with Melinda. It was just a kiss. Am I going to ruin Noah’s happiness because of a kiss?

Across four sun-kissed, drama-drenched summers at his family’s beach house, Chase is falling in love, falling in lust, and trying to keep his life from falling apart. But some girls are addictive....

Going by the description above I really did not think I was going to like this book as much as I did. I am not a huge fan of love triangles and that is what I thought I was going to get. However I think the description of this book is quite misleading, you get the idea that it's going to be a book about a boy who falls in love with his brothers girlfriend but really it's not. Sure it does have that element to it but it so much more than that. It's a book about family and the summers that can change everything. It made me laugh, it made me cry and it made me wish I had siblings like those featured in this book.

Honestly they were all so great. We had Noah the older brother who just seemed to want to run away, Claudia the little sister who was way to grown up for her age, Gideon the deaf little brother who everything revolves around, newbaby who's birth everybody is waiting for and last but not least our main character Chase who tries to keep everything together all by himself. Each character so well written and each one so important in this family. The parents seemed so selfish somehow relying on these kids to bring each other up. But they had each other and that was enough.

I didn't see the big event at the end of the book coming I didn't even feel the impeding doom I usually do when I know something bad is going to happen. It made it that much more powerful. And the consequences for this family were devastating. The book covers four summers and with each summer you get the real sense that these kids were growing up and I loved that. Time passing, things changing and the ending was so bittersweet.

I will definitely be getting a copy of this book for my shelves so I can enjoy it all over again and I look forward to Hannah Moskowitz's next novel.

That's all for now.

Teaser Tuesday 16

2011-04-26T07:00:00.005+01:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly book meme hosted by Should Be Reading.

The idea is to:
Grab the book you are currently reading.
Open it up to a random page.
Share two teaser sentences.
Give the name and author of said book.
And remember No Spoilers!

I am currently reading Uncertain Allies by Mark Del Franco. It is book five in the Connor Grey series, one of my all time favourite urban fantasy series.

"An pale waft of essence welled in the air, and Uno, the large black dog I had told Murdock about, materialized on the couch. He had a true name, as all things do, but neither Shay nor I knew it."

Page 121.

After a night of riots and fires, the Boston neighborhood known as the Weird is in ruins. And when a body is found drained of its essence, ex- Guild investigator Connor Grey is drawn into the case against his will. And he has reason to be wary. Because the case will lead to an explosive secret that threatens to tear apart the city-and the world.

That's all for now.

Review: To Marry A Prince - Sophie Page

2011-04-24T23:50:00.001+01:00

To Marry A Prince by Sophie Page.

One night is about to change Bella’s life for ever…

Bella Greenwood isn’t a fairytale girl. If pushed, she’d probably tell you that her perfect wedding would involve a handful of close friends and family. But as she’s never met anyone she’d like to marry, it’s a moot point.

Until, in a midnight garden, Bella is helped out of an embarrassing situation by a tall, dark, handsome man with laughing eyes. And suddenly her life changes for ever, because the man is the world’s most eligible bachelor: Prince Richard, heir to the throne.

Richard sweeps her off her feet, and before she knows it they’re engaged. Which is when Bella’s problems really begin. Suddenly she is public property, and as if it isn’t enough to have her every move watched – while also learning to curtsy and negotiating the etiquette of how to address her future mother-in-law – she soon finds herself embroiled in bridesmaid politics, a right royal hen night, and a wedding dress controversy that causes a national scandal…

Can this ordinary girl survive the preparations for her very own Royal Wedding?

I loved this book so much. It's light, funny and romantic. Of course it's pretty unrealistic but who cares, it's not about realism it's about suspending disbelief for a few hours and reading a modern Cinderella tale.

The overall tone of the book was set at Bella and Richard's first meeting it was cute and funny and you just knew that something big was going to come out of it. Although it's a fairy tale romance and Richard and Bella obviously love each other quite a bit they have a lot of obstacles to overcome. Interfering families, media attention and crazy wedding planners to name a few. But they have each other and a few great friends to help them along the way and really you know it's all going to end happily ever after anyway.

I think To Marry A Prince worked even better than it usually would considering the big event happening on Friday. I kept trying to picture Kate Middleton and Prince William in some of the situations Bella and Richard find themselves in and it just made the book even funnier.

If you are looking for a light hearted read and something to get you in the mood for the royal wedding next week then this is the book for you.

That's all for now.

In My Mailbox 16

2011-04-24T00:10:00.002+01:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

My sixteenth IMM post - here we go.

Books I received this week.

In The Post:

The Replacement - Brenna Yovanoff
She has another book coming out later this year and I wanted to read her debut novel first.

Mostly Good Girls - Leila Sales
Just finished it. Neither loved it or hated it - didn't really work for me. Review soon.

Uncertain Allies - Mark del Franco
Finally! Can't wait to start this.

But I Love Him - Amanda Grace
I read Stay by Deb Caletti recently and loved it, I'm hoping this will be just as good.

Roadside Assistance - Amy Clipston
I've been reading a lot of grief books lately and this is another.

Kindle:

Flat-Out Love - Jessica Park
The Forest Of Adventures - Katie M John
Saw these on some other book blogs this week and thought they looked good.

Won:

Chime by Franny Billingsley from the lovely Dwayne and Hanna @ Girls Without A Bookshelf. Thanks to them and to Bloomsbury.

Netgalley:

Spellbound - Cara Lynn Shultz

Much better this week only nine books! I think I am developing some self-control. Next week I am going to try for even fewer books so I can make a dent in my gigantic tbr pile.

That's all for now.

Booking Through Thursday 14

2011-04-21T16:00:00.010+01:00

Booking Through Thursday is a weekly meme which asks a bookish question which you have to answer. This weeks question is:

CAN you judge a book by its cover?

No you most definitely cannot judge a book by it's cover. A cover can sometimes tell you the genre but it can never tell you how good or bad a book is going to be. I think it's terrible to judge a book by it's cover but I know many people do it.

I myself have never bought or rejected a book based on it's cover. I buy books because I like the description or because it's by an author I love and will read anything they write. Sometimes I buy a book because I have read a really great review but I don't do this too often because everyone has different tastes and just because someone else hated it doesn't mean I wouldn't love it and vice versa.

However I will say that a really great cover can get my attention but I would never just look at the cover and say I must have that book I would have to read the description and then decide.

So for an example here is a cover that caught my attention recently.

I love the cover of Dearly Departed but I wouldn't have put it on my wishlist if I hadn't read the awesome summary that goes with it.

That's all for now.

Review: The Wreck - Marie Force

2011-04-20T21:50:00.000+01:00

The Wreck by Marie Force.

Carly Holbrook and Brian Westbury are weeks away from their high school graduation. The young couple plans to marry before they head to college, and their future seems bright with promise. Everything changes one spring night when their six closest friends, including Brian's younger brother, are killed in a fiery car accident that Carly and Brian witness. The trauma leaves Carly unable to speak, and Brian is forced to make unimaginable decisions about a future that once seemed so certain. With Carly incapable of going forward with their plans, Brian leaves home-and Carly-for good. Fifteen years later, disturbing new clues indicate the accident that wrecked so many lives wasn't an accident at all, bringing Brian home to face a past—and a love—he's never forgotten.

Marie Force is a new to me author this year. I have read four of her books so far including this one and they are fast becoming must reads for me. She writes a great mix of romance and suspense.

Her characters in this particular book were very well written and had a lot of depth to them. The main characters Carly and Brian they were so cute together. I loved how we go to see them together as teens and then have them come together again as adults.

I figured out who the criminal fairly early on in the book but I like to think it's because I'm pretty good at picking these things up not because the author made it totally obvious. But knowing who did it in no way ruined the book for me, in fact I prefer to know so I can make note of what the character is doing throughout the book and to pick up any clues the author gives you.

I read this book in one sitting I was that invested I just had to know how in was all going to turn out. There was one big twist that I didn't see coming, in fact it totally blindsided me and to be honest I could have done without it because I really didn't like the way it was handled. I am not a fan of keeping such huge secrets from people - can't say more than that or it will ruin the book.

Anyway I just recently bought two more of Marie Force's books and I can't wait to get started on them.

That's all for now.

Waiting On Wednesday 15

2011-04-20T07:00:00.002+01:00

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that highlights an upcoming book release that we are eagerly anticipating.

This week I have chosen Moonglass by Jessi Kirby.
It will be relased on the 3rd May 2011.

When Anna was little, she and her mother used to search for sea glass, but since they looked at night, they called it moonglass. Now, ten years after her mother's mysterious death, her father is working as head lifeguard on the same beach where her mother grew up and her parents first met and fell in love.

But when learning more about her mother's past leads to a painful discovery, Anna must reconcile her desire for solitude with ultimately accepting the love of her family and friends.

Sounds like the perfect blend of romance, mystery and heartache. I've been waiting for this one for a while and am so happy that it's out in a few weeks.

That's all for now.

Review: The Peach Keeper - Sarah Addison Allen

2011-04-19T21:10:00.000+01:00

The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen.

The New York Times bestselling author of The Girl Who Chased the Moon welcomes you to her newest locale: Walls of Water, North Carolina, where the secrets are thicker than the fog from the town’s famous waterfalls, and the stuff of superstition is just as real as you want it to be.

It’s the dubious distinction of thirty-year-old Willa Jackson to hail from a fine old Southern family of means that met with financial ruin generations ago. The Blue Ridge Madam—built by Willa’s great-great-grandfather during Walls of Water’s heyday, and once the town’s grandest home—has stood for years as a lonely monument to misfortune and scandal. And Willa herself has long strived to build a life beyond the brooding Jackson family shadow. No easy task in a town shaped by years of tradition and the well-marked boundaries of the haves and have-nots.

But Willa has lately learned that an old classmate—socialite do-gooder Paxton Osgood—of the very prominent Osgood family, has restored the Blue Ridge Madam to her former glory, with plans to open a top-flight inn. Maybe, at last, the troubled past can be laid to rest while something new and wonderful rises from its ashes. But what rises instead is a skeleton, found buried beneath the property’s lone peach tree, and certain to drag up dire consequences along with it.

For the bones—those of charismatic traveling salesman Tucker Devlin, who worked his dark charms on Walls of Water seventy-five years ago—are not all that lay hidden out of sight and mind. Long-kept secrets surrounding the troubling remains have also come to light, seemingly heralded by a spate of sudden strange occurrences throughout the town.

Now, thrust together in an unlikely friendship, united by a full-blooded mystery, Willa and Paxton must confront the dangerous passions and tragic betrayals that once bound their families—and uncover truths of the long-dead that have transcended time and defied the grave to touch the hearts and souls of the living.

Sarah Addison Allen's books are pure magic. Honestly her books leave me with a such a good feeling when I have finished them. She blends the slightest touch of magic into her books enough that it gives them a sparkly edge but not so much as to make them unrealistic.
Her books contain small towns, larger than life character and sweet romances. They are so easy to read and her characters are simply perfection. She makes me want to know them, be friends with them and live in the same town as them.

In The Peach Keeper you get the perfect balance between romance, mystery and friendship.
The friendship between Paxton and Willa develops naturally and you get the sense that it will last forever. The mystery of the bones add an touch of tension, you know something bad happened in the past you just don't know what and they way it unfolded in the end was very well done. There are two romances running through out the book and while Willa's was cute it was Paxton's that really interested me, it was nice to see the difficulties of best friends becoming more play out and have a happy ending. It was also great to see some of her characters from her other books.

I cannot recommend her books enough and I can't wait to read whatever she writes next.

That's all for now.