Books for Company

The Time Will Come by Katie Dale (#56)

2012-02-23T09:00:00.038Z

Please welcome Katie Dale to Books for Company.
Katie is a debut author of 2012, her first book is Someone Else's Life. I have seen Someone Else's Life on numerous blogs with lots of bloggers saying how excited they are to read this book, me included!
Find Katie :
Website
Twitter
Goodreads
Amazon (UK/USA)
Book Depository

The Time Will Come -

Every Thursday l am going to list a book which l really want to read/keep meaning to get to. These are mostly books which have been on my shelf for awhile now but don't have to be, maybe you got it two weeks ago and really want to read it!

Want to join in?

- Pick a book you have been meaning to read

- Do a post telling us about the book

- Link the post up in the linky

- Visit the other blogs!

15 Days Without A Head - Dave Cousins

I have been itching to read this book for AGES! It’s not my usual choice for a YA read – normally I favour older YA with teen girl protagonists (Sarah Dessen, Sharon Creech, Sarra Manning) but I first heard about FIFTEEN DAYS WITHOUT A HEAD way back when the opening chapter was selected as a winner of Undiscovered Voices 2010. As a fellow UV winner (The first chapter of SOMEONE ELSE’S LIFE was chosen for the 2008 anthology) I was lucky enough to receive a copy of the 2012 edition, with its sneak peeks of the next exciting generation of talented authors.

Since then, I’ve met and become friends with the very lovely Dave Cousins, and we’ve formed THE EDGE – a group of eight Edgy YA authors – and you’d think being friends with the author would get you an advance copy, but no! – demand has been so great that his publisher ran out of advance copies!

Consequently my anticipation has grown exponentially! Then came the explosion of rave reviews – The Sunday Times, The Bookseller, bloggers everywhere extolling the genius, the humour, the heart of this wonderful book. And I finally got my hands on a shiny red copy.

But still I haven’t started reading it. Why? Because just now I’m a bit of a headless (get it?) chicken rushing round organising book launches and writing lovely guest blogs and interviews and all the lovely things that surround the publication of your first book, and I know that when I read Dave’s book I want to be able to sit down and savour it, to take my time and enjoy every line.

This is going to be a read to remember.

Check the blurb out here
-
Chosen by
Katie Dale, Author of Someone Else’s Life
Published by Simon & Schuster February 2012

Waiting on Wednesday (#55)

2012-02-22T09:00:00.000Z

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event hosted at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

The Night She Disappeared - April Henry
Published : 10th April 2012
Publisher : Henry Holt
This blurb totally draws me in!! As soon as I read this blurb I straight away throught how engrossing and addictive this book could easily become. The storyline definitely has a lot of potential, I just hope it lives up to it! Also I am pretty sure this is a stand alone which will be refreshing to read as so many are series now.
April seems like a really good author who deals with difficult subjects and story lines, I also really want to read her other book called Girl, Stolen!

-
The Blurb :
Gabie drives a Mini Cooper. She also works part time as a delivery girl at Pete’s Pizza. One night, Kayla—another delivery girl—goes missing. To her horror, Gabie learns that the supposed kidnapper had asked if the girl in the Mini Cooper was working that night. Gabie can’t move beyond the fact that Kayla’s fate was really meant for her, and she becomes obsessed with finding Kayla. She teams up with Drew, who also works at Pete’s. Together, they set out to prove that Kayla isn’t dead—and to find her before she is.

Cover Crazy (#56)

2012-02-20T09:00:00.001Z

Hosted by The Book Worms

Unrest - Michelle Harrison
Love how unique this one is! It really would stand out on a bookshelf.

I love this cover because :

- It's one of the most unique covers I have seen in a while!
- I love how it actual represents what the book is about.

- Love how the 'smoke' comes off the title and the colours, really striking.

- I love the tagline, it definitely makes me want to read the blurb.
- It gives the book a mysterious feel.
- It's not too crowded but has enough to draw you in.

Dislike :

- The only thing I would change if I could is how big the authors name is and the font.

Nerve - Jeanne Ryan
Another really unique cover!

I love this cover because :

- This cover really intrigues me

- Without even having read the blurb it feels like this cover represents the story and definitely gives off a vibe about what the book is about

- I like that this is mainly just two colours, black and blue.
- The use of lines is so unique and gives me a feeling it has something to do with the book and title - Nerve.
- I like how the title goes smaller making it feel like its been shouted

Dislike :
- I don't love this cover but because of the colours and lines used it really does stand out.

This Week's Round Up

2012-02-19T14:43:00.001Z

Reviews

Posts

Cover Crazy

Guest Post with Allison Rusby

Paperback or Hardback

Waiting On Wednesday

The Time Will Come

Upcoming Releases

Upcoming Releases - UK Publishers

2012-02-17T09:00:00.000Z

This is a new post which I am very excited to be doing.

Every Friday I will be highlighting different books which are being released that month by all the different UK publishers. Hope you enjoy!

February Releases

Penguin

Grave Dance - Kalayna Price|Sweet Little Lies - Alison Bond
The Catastrophic History of You and Me|Legend

Chicken House

Shadow Runners - Daniel Blythe

Simon and Schuster

Shadow Fall|Black Heart Loa|Dead On The Delta|Everneath

The Straight Road to Kylie|Someone Else's Life A Beautiful Evil

My Thoughts

Pretty much all of these sound awesome! I have to admit I love Simon and Schuster, they are constantly releasing tons of awesome books! I have read A Beautiful Evil and Everneath and both were awesome =)

Chicken House are constantly growing and have released one of my favourite books - Stolen by Lucy Christopher

I have to admit I don't read a lot released by penguin but they do release so many awesome books and I have lots on my shelf which I have brought because they have sounded so good.

The Time Will Come #55

2012-02-16T09:00:00.002Z

The Time Will Come -

Want to join in?

- Pick a book you have been meaning to read

- Do a post telling us about the book

- Link the post up in the linky

- Visit the other blogs!

Shadows on The Moon - Zoe Marriott
I wasn't really ever desperate or attracted to this book because of the cover but when I read the blurb I realised how good it sounded. I was lucky to win this one and I since have heard lots of good things about this book.
Any way as it's not a book I have received for review so it sadly hasn't yet been even in my top 10 to read, it's quite big too which always sadly means it takes longer to get to.
I definitely need to read over some reviews on goodreads to talk me into getting to this one sooner and making time for it.
The Time Will Come =)

The Blurb

"On my fourteenth birthday when the sakura was in full bloom, the men came to kill us. We saw them come, Aimi and me. We were excited, because we did not know how to be frightened. We had never seen soldiers before."
Suzume is a shadow-weaver. She can create mantles of darkness and light, walk unseen in the middle of the day, change her face. She can be anyone she wants to be. Except herself.
Suzume died officially the day the Prince's men accused her father of treason. Now even she is no longer sure of her true identity.
Is she the girl of noble birth living under the tyranny of her mother’s new husband, Lord Terayama? A lowly drudge scraping a living in the ashes of Terayama’s kitchens? Or Yue, the most beautiful courtesan in the Moonlit Lands?
Everyone knows Yue is destined to capture the heart of a prince. Only she knows that she is determined to use his power to destroy Terayama.
And nothing will stop her. Not even love.

Waiting on Wednesday (#54)

2012-02-15T09:00:00.000Z

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event hosted at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Perfect Escape - Jennifer Brown
Published : 10th July 2012
Publisher : Little Brown
Anything written by Jennifer Brown is pretty much a 100% read for me. I loved her book Bitter End and have Hate List on my bookcase waiting to be read. I love how Jennifer deals with tricky subjects in her books and doesn't hide from anything.
I haven't read a book which focuses on sister and brother relationships for ages (don't know if I even have!) so this one will be an interesting read and I look forward to seeing how Jennifer portrays their relationship.

-
The Blurb :
Kendra has always felt overshadowed by her older brother, Grayson, whose OCD forces him to live a life of carefully coordinated routines. The only way Kendra can stand out next to Grayson is to be perfect, and she has perfection down to an art -- until a cheating scandal threatens her flawless reputation.
Behind the wheel of her car, with Grayson asleep beside her, Kendra decides to drive away from it all -- with enough distance, maybe she'll be able to figure everything out. But eventually, Kendra must stop running and come to terms with herself, her brother, and her past.
With undeniable grace and humor, acclaimed author Jennifer Brown explores OCD, the pressure for perfection, and the emotional highs and lows of a complex sibling relationship.

Paperback or Hardback? (#37)

2012-02-14T09:00:00.001Z

Shift - Jeri Smith

>> Hardback

Paperback </3 >>

I haven't ever really liked the covers in this series, none have attractive covers which grab your attention. I do like the red bit which the title is in on the HB copy but that's about all. So if I had to choose it would the PB copy, I love the all the red and mystery feel. Also love that it has the guy in the cover.

Queen of The Dead - Stacey Kade

<< Hardback </3

Paperback >>-

I only recently discovered how awesome this series sounds and that's because I haven't ever been interested in them due to the covers. The PB is just awful (sorry) and the HB is ok but not that's great. They both just feel a bit childish. Although the HB does follow the 'theme' of the book (with her being faded)

The Hidden - Jessica Verday

<< Hardback </3

Paperback >>

Another two covers which are both covers I don't love. I have never liked covers which have rings on, they just feel a bit boring to me and make me think historical and I don't like historical books. I do kind of like the HB though, the red ring against the red background is quite pretty and it does stand out.

Please note, some covers l feature are also in other formats. For example a HB cover is usually also in PB and a PB cover is also sometimes on a HB etc.

Also sometimes the PB may be a UK one and the HB may be USA.

It's just a way to compare covers.

</3 - Meh
<3 - Like

<33 Love

Guest Post : Q&A With Allison Rushby

2012-02-13T09:00:00.001Z

About Shooting Stars

What's Shooting Stars about?
Shooting Stars centers on Jo, a sixteen-year-old paparazzo living in LA. Jo is all about getting the perfect shot and doesn't mind doing what it takes to get it, either. That is, until she's sent on an undercover assignment to shoot Ned Hartnett – teen superstar and the only celebrity who's ever been anything close to kind to her – at an exclusive rehab retreat in Boston. Taking, or not taking, the job is a huge decision for Jo. Taking it would mean finally having enough money to pay for her dream: real photography classes. But when she falls in love with Ned…? Suddenly everything in Jo's world isn't as black and white as it usually is.

Was there something in particular that inspired you to write this book?
The initial inspiration was reading an article about a real-life sixteen-year-old paparazzo. I found my eyes boggling as I read about how he got around LA either on his bicycle, or his dad drove him late at night. I couldn't imagine what this part-time job must be like (as I guessed it had to be extremely cut-throat, especially compared to working at McDonald's!), so I decided to imagine away and came up with Jo. I had an absolute ball researching this book, including reading trashy magazines and a lot of books written by, and about, the paparazzi (fellow Aussie Darryn Lyons's Mr Paparazzi is a fabulous one if you're looking). The things they had to say about celebrity – about the dark side of celebrity and fame – were truly revealing.

The love interest in Shooting Stars is a celebrity. Was it difficult writing about a celebrity and non-celebrity characters at the same time?
I think the most important thing here was removing Ned (and Jo) from the LA environment. In rehab, it doesn't matter who you are – everyone is on neutral ground (or so I hear!) and this is how things are for Ned and Jo. If I'd left them in LA I'm sure they would never have gotten together – their jobs were too much a part of what defined them as people. But in a neutral environment, their personalities are more important than their job definition, so they're able to get to know each other as real people.

About the author

Do you have a favorite television show, or series?
Oh, that's easy. Downton Abbey, Downton Abbey, Downton Abbey (*shakes pompoms*)! I am completely in love with this series. So much so, I'm ashamed to admit I know they're starting filming again next week at Ealing Studios and will then move on to filming the scenes at Highclere Castle (one must refrain from stalking!). I've always been a huge fan of the 1920s and am very excited that this is where Downton is headed next. Of course, I'll have to wait for some time to watch the next series as we've seen all of season 2 in the UK, as well as the Christmas special. In the meantime, I'm having my own fun watching both seasons again on DVD.

Do you have any special talents (tying cherry stalks with your tongue etc.?!).
I think mine would have to be my secret bargain hunting habit. I am a slave to eBay and Gumtree. I love a bargain and am good at selling, too. It's the Taurean in me (I like to blame it on this or I just sound cheap!). I love giving things away on Freecycle too. I am crazy about de-cluttering.

What are you working on next?
I recently finished writing another YA novel tentatively titled Being Hartley. Since finishing that, I've moved on to writing something very different – a Downton Abbey-esque six episode e-serial for St Martin's Press, tentatively titled The Honourables, which will be published Summer 2012, with one episode being published per month. It's been a very steep learning curve learning all about writing serialized fiction, but I'm enjoying the writing very much, especially as the series is set in London in the 1920s.

What do you do when you're not writing?
I'm currently living in the UK for 18 months, so am trying to pack in a lot of travel throughout Europe in my free time. I've just got back from a long weekend in Dublin, the next trip is a week in Lapland and then I'm off for two weeks in Berlin, Prague and Vienna at Easter. On the way back home to Australia in August, I'm taking a 14 day cruise through Spain, France, Turkey, Italy and Greece, which I'm really looking forward to. I'm not sure I'll recognize the sun when I see it again.

What sort of books do you like to read?
Anything and everything! At the moment, I'm reading a lot of lovely fiction and non-fiction set in the 1920s, which has been great in helping to shape the dialogue in the historical e-serial I'm writing. A YA book I've read recently that I just adored was Stephanie Perkins's Anna and the French Kiss and I have Lola and the Boy Next Door all ready and waiting for me on my Kindle. I'm really looking forward to getting to it!

Do you have any pets?
I have a gorgeous Devon Rex cat, Violet, who is currently living with my parents in Australia while we're in the UK. I miss her sitting on my shoulders and keeping me warm while I'm writing! Devon Rex cats are very odd – rather like monkeys. They like to be up high, on top of bookcases (and shoulders!). After you've had a Devon Rex, you'll never go back to a normal cat! At one point we had three of them. Trust me, that's a lot of Devon Rex.

Thank you Allison! I really enjoyed your answers and can not wait to read Shooting Stars! I keep looking at it on my bookcase - I swear it's staring at me. I keep telling it the time will come very fast.

I hope your enjoying your time over here in the UK. Sounds like you are having lots of different experiences over here! (Oh and sorry about the lack of sun.. I hope you have enjoyed the snow though ;])

I will be looking out for Being Hartley.

Make sure you pick up your copy of Shooting Stars!

Find Allison

Website

Goodreads

Amazon (UK/USA)

Book Depository

Cover Crazy #55

2012-02-13T09:00:00.000Z

Hosted by The Book Worms

Casey Barnes Eponymous - E.A. Rigg
I love so much about this cover, there isn't anything I can pick fault with.

I love this cover because :

- The lightening in this book gives it more of a real, summer day feeling
- Really loving how simple this is

- The font of the title and author's name both go really well with the cover and 'theme'

- It tells you a lot about the book and what the book is about but still keeps you kind of guessing too
- I definitely think this is a unique cover
- I really like how it doesn't have faces in. So many covers have people in now

Dislike :

- There isn't anything really!

Fissure - Lily Collins
Another unique cover which makes me think 'What the hell?' as well as 'Wow!'

I love this cover because :

- This is such a unique but also very strange cover that makes you try to understand what the book is about

- Loving the colours used in this book and they definitely add to the 'wow' factor.

- It's just so strange you can't help but stop and stare at it
- Definitely makes me want to read the blurb, therefore the cover has done it's job!
- It makes me ask myself so many questions about the book

Dislike :
- I guess I don't like the colour of the title but it does goes with the cover.

This Week's Round Up

2012-02-12T19:56:00.000Z

Reviews

A Beautiful Evil - Kelly Keaton

Posts

Cover Crazy

Paperback or Hardback

Follower Love Giveaway

Waiting On Wednesday

The Time Will Come

January 2012 Round Up

2012-02-12T16:18:00.000Z

Sorry this is late!

Stats

My Aim : 6 Books

Total number of read books : 3

Comments

It looks like hardly any books! Well I guess 3 is hardly anything and I am sad to say, it will pretty much be like this most months. Now I am working full time and have two hamsters (who take up 2 hours a night) I am struggling to find time to read. In my holidays I am hoping to read two extra books so some months will hopefully be around 6 books =)

Book of January

Both Skin Deep and A Beautiful Evil were 4.5/5 but I am doing with Skin Deep as it's such a unique story which is heart warming and heartbreaking.

Cover of January

Definitely a cover which makes you go 'wow!'

Review : A Beautiful Evil By Kelly Keaton

2012-02-11T19:15:00.001Z

A Beautiful Evil - Kelly Keaton

Series : #2 Gods and Monsters

Released : 2nd February 2012

Publisher : Simon and Schuster

Format : Paperback

Source : Publisher

Buy : Amazon (UK/USA)|Book Depository

Overall rating

.................................... The Blurb ....................................

A power she can’t deny. A destiny she’s determined to fight.
When Ari first arrived in the dilapidated city of New 2, all she wanted was to figure out who she was. But what she discovered was beyond her worst nightmare. Ari can already sense the evil growing inside her—a power the goddess Athena will stop at nothing to possess.
Desperate to hold on to her humanity and protect her loved ones, Ari must fight back. But Athena’s playing mind games, not just with Ari but with those she cares about most. And Athena has a very special plan for the brooding and sexy Sebastian.
Ari is determined to defeat Athena, but time is running out. With no other options, Ari must unleash the very thing she’s afraid of: herself.

.................................... My Thoughs ....................................

In Short

- A Beautiful Evil is definitely action packed with lots of twists in

- I love how Kelly challenged her characters

- The characters and their relationships grew stronger in this book

- I do feel that this could have been rounded off nicely without needing a 3rd in the series

- I would have loved for Kelly to just go over what happened in Darkness Becomes Her

In Long

I have to admit that I sadly didn’t remember much from Darkness Becomes Her but I did remember that I loved it so I was very excited to read A Beautiful Evil. A Beautiful Evil didn’t really recap much from Darkness Becomes Her which sadly meant it took a while for everything to come back to me. But it did! Slowly I started to remember things and the more I remembered the more I got into the book.

The main thing I love about this book is the twists and turns throughout it. Keaton did an amazing job at keeping my attention throughout most of the book and I was surprised constantly by twists which I didn’t expect. I also love how Keaton doesn’t seem to hold much back. She puts her characters through a very hard time and it left me feeling shocked and very sorry for poor Ari. But I really liked that Kelly dares to go that little bit further than most authors do and push her characters to the limit.

The characters got stronger in this book as well as the relationships. I enjoyed getting to know Ari more in this book although I didn’t find myself becoming any fonder of her. I can’t really say much about any of the other characters as I sadly couldn’t place them due to not being able to remember them from the previous book. I would have loved for Keaton to just go over who they are in a subtle way.

I don’t know if there is going to be a third in this series, the ending makes me think there is but this kind of puts me off this book. I found that although I enjoyed this book a lot the actual story could have ended after A Darkness Becomes Her and it can definitely end with A Beautiful Evil. I feel like Keaton has took her characters as far as they can go and has tested them as much as possible.

Final Thoughts

I did enjoy A Beautiful Evil, it’s action packed with twists throughout the book which will keep you guessing what’s going to happen next for the whole book. I do feel that this book could have been rounded up nicely but I am guessing it’s been left open for the 3rd in the series. I don’t feel too excited about reading a 3rd in the series as I feel everything has happened that needs to. I am sure I would read the 3rd though and hope that Keaton would blow me away.

The Time Will Come #54

2012-02-09T09:00:00.001Z

The Time Will Come -

Want to join in?

- Pick a book you have been meaning to read

- Do a post telling us about the book

- Link the post up in the linky

- Visit the other blogs!

Forbidden - Jana Oliver
Well I haven't even read the first in this series (Forsaken) but this one deserves it's own The Time Will Come Post too! I have had these books for months and really honestly keep telling myself that I will start reading this series next but I never do!
I honestly think that maybe the covers are what are putting me off? I really don't like the covers. The girl on the cover is really freaky so it kinda makes me wonder about the character in the book (bad I know!) Anyway I will definitely read this one soon. If you have a review of this book leave a link below for me and hopefully if you enjoyed it you can talk me into actually getting to this series.

The Blurb

Riley Blackthorne is beginning to learn that there are worse things than death by demon. And love is just one of them…
Seventeen-year-old Riley has about had it up to here. After the devastating battle at the Tabernacle, trappers are dead and injured, her boyfriend Simon is gravely injured, and now her beloved late father’s been illegally poached from his grave by a very powerful necromancer. As if that’s not enough, there's Ori, one sizzling hot freelance demon hunter who’s made himself Riley’s unofficial body guard, and Beck, a super over-protective “friend” who acts more like a grouchy granddad. With all the hassles, Riley’s almost ready to leave Atlanta altogether.

Waiting on Wednesday (#53)

2012-02-08T09:00:00.000Z

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event hosted at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Trafficked - Kim Purcell
Published : 16th February 2012
Publisher : Viking Juvenile
I was so so glad when I found this one today! I straight away knew after reading the blurb that this would be a book I am dying to read! I really like books which put characters in difficult situations and to see how the characters develop.
The blurb makes it sound like there will be twists throughout this book so I can't wait to see where Kim takes the story and the characters. This seems to be Kim's first proper book and I love finding new authors. Hoping this will live up to my exceptions =)

-
The Blurb :
A gripping thriller, ripped from the headlines
Hannah believes she's being brought from Moldova to Los Angeles to become a nanny for a Russian family. But her American dream quickly spirals into a nightmare. The Platonovs force Hannah to work sixteen-hour days, won't let her leave the house, and seem to have a lot of secrets - from Hannah and from each other. Stranded in a foreign land with false documents, no money, and nobody who can help her, Hannah must find a way to save herself from her new status as a modern-day slave or risk losing the one thing she has left: her life.

Follower Love Giveaway!

2012-02-07T09:52:00.001Z

Find linky at I am a Reader Not a Writer

INTERNATIONAL

If UK winner more books will be added.

Rules :

The winner can CHOOSE one book

International (BUT please check this list)
Follower Required

Ends 14th January

Fill out Rafflecopter (Below)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Paperback or Hardback? (#36)

2012-02-07T09:00:00.001Z

Angel Fire - L.A. Weatherly

>> Hardback <3

Paperback >>

I haven't really ever looked at the HB version of this one close enough but the closer I look the more I love it! I love love the gold with the lines coming out from the dress. It's such a unique and awesome cover! Stands out so much. PB ; I have always found this cover quite strange and creepy!

If I Die - Rachel Vincent

<< Paperback 1 <3

Paperback 2 <3 >>-

I really like most of the covers from this series. I haven't ever seen the PB 2 before but I love it! It's so unique and really like the font of 'Die'. PB 1 is amazing, stands out with the green and black and the actual picture is really unique and also not a typical posing picture.

Exile - Rebecca Lim

<< Paperback 1 <3

Paperback 2 <3 >>

I like both of these covers but feel the pose in PB 2 spoils it a little bit. I love the colouring and feel of summer in it though. PB 1 is a bit plain for me but I do like the purple title and how pretty this cover is, I do love the feeling it gives off. How strange one is summery and the other winter!

Please note, some covers l feature are also in other formats. For example a HB cover is usually also in PB and a PB cover is also sometimes on a HB etc.

Also sometimes the PB may be a UK one and the HB may be USA.

It's just a way to compare covers.

</3 - Meh
<3 - Like

<33 Love

Cover Crazy #54

2012-02-06T09:00:00.000Z

Hosted by The Book Worms

Breathe - Melanie Mccullough
WOW! This cover stands out so much to me. I love the use of colours in this cover so much.

I love this cover because :

- Love how the title is big and stands out. Breathe is such a powerful word.
- Really like the colours used in this. The different shades of blue with the pink lipstick.

- Really like the bit of splashed water

- It makes me wonder what part water plays in this book.
- The cover definitely gives of a mysterious feel
- It's such a unique cover which will definitely stand out.

Dislike :

- Not too keen on how the line goes across the middle of the page, the water doesn't look real enough at all.

Masquerade - Cambria Hebert
I like this cover but I do have things I dislike and things I like.

I love this cover because :

- Well it's definitely a unique cover which makes you wonder what the book is about.

- I like the font used for the title and the colour outlining.

- The 'eyelashes' are strange but awesome
- I like the colours used - To an extent

Dislike :
- Although I like the colour outlining of the title it's kinda hard to read.
- Authors name is hard to read due to the yellow/glold circles. Maybe authors name in bold would be better.
- Not too sure about how 'pose-y' this picture is.

In my Mailbox! (#41)

2012-02-05T11:05:00.000Z

Choker|The Look|Hunting Lila

Thank you

UK Book Tours

Karen

Tasnim

Lesley

Kate

Simon and Schuster

Chicken House

Giveaway + Excerpt - Winterborne and Ravenstoke

2012-02-03T09:00:00.000Z

Excerpt from Ravenstoke :

Once back at the house, I creep in through the patio door and jet upstairs before Georgia sees me. The last thing I need is to explain why I’m soaking wet and what happened to my pants. Mia is already upstairs. Upon hearing my footsteps, she hurries into my room and lets out a hearty laugh when she sees the state I’m in.
“Hey, don’t mock,” I say, taking off Cian’s black jacket and stripping off the rest of my wet clothes. I grab a towel and rub it vigorously all over me. “I almost died.”
“In your Hello Kitty underpants? That would’ve sucked.”
“Yes, Mistress of the Obvious, it certainly would have. I root around for a decent outfit. “Have you read anything about kelpies?”
Mia thinks for a moment. “They look like horses and drag people to their death under water, usually a lake or river.” She glances at the wet pile of clothes on the floor and back at me. “Are you serious? A kelpie in Salcey Ridge?”
“Why not?” I sigh. “Bring us your kelpie, your homicidal pixies, your huddled masses of magic-folk yearning to practice the black arts freely.”
“Hyberbolic much?”
I pull on a pair of jeans and a light blue sweater. There, much more flattering, although I don’t know why I care how I look for Cian McSlick. Basic vanity, I guess.
“Whose jacket is that?” she asks, eyeing the clearly masculine jacket on the bed.
I give my head a little shake to clear away memories of the pixie. “Cian’s. Oh yeah, forgot to mention Cian.”
“Keane? Like the band?”
“Yes, the entire band of Keane happened to pass by and rescue me from the clutches of a kelpie. They’re standing on the riverbank in a brooding formation, playing a song about it as we speak.”
Mia ignores my sarcasm. “Stranger things have happened to us.” I can’t argue with that. “So who is he?”
“Some Universal assigned to stalk me until Andreas gets back.”
“Someone you met in Sanctuary?”
“Nope. New guy.”
“Is he hot?”
“He’s slimy and sleazy and I’ll bet the only animal he can morph into is a snake.”
“Wow,” Mia says, “all that in how many minutes of meeting him? Sounds like a keeper. So where can we find this Cian? Somewhere Only We Know?”
I groan. An actual Keane joke from Mia. Will wonders never cease? “He’s staying at the cabin. Please come with me. I feel like he’s going to pull the old yawn, stretch so he can put his arm around me.”
“Well, he already managed to get you out of your pants.”
I roll my eyes in disgust. “I need back-up, not back talk.”
“Wild horses couldn’t drag me away,” she says with a wink. Oh, the hilarity at my expense. I’ll remember this the next time she skids toward death.

Find Augusta Blythe

Giveaway

Rules :

The winner will win ebook copies of Winterborne and Ravenstoke

International

Ends 12th February

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The Time Will Come #53

2012-02-02T09:00:00.000Z

The Time Will Come -

Want to join in?

- Pick a book you have been meaning to read

- Do a post telling us about the book

- Link the post up in the linky

- Visit the other blogs!

The Come Back Girl - Katie Price
You will probably be all quite surprised that I like this sort of book, it's more like the books I used to read (Used to love these sort of books!). I still like to read these sort of books every now and them, although I think I would go insane if I only read these sort of books instead of YA and ones which have a bit of meaning behind. Any way I have liked all of Katie Price's book. I know most people who 'know her' (people in the UK) wouldn't ever read one of her books because of her reputation but honestly, they are good reads. I believe she has a ghost writer but either way the storyline and the writing is good. I keep meaning to read this one, got it from the library and have renewed the reservation 7 times (!!)

The Blurb

Once upon a time, Eden had it all; she was one of the most successful young singers in the UK, and the darling of the pop industry. Life couldn’t have been better. But just two years after a sell-out tour, Eden is regarded as a has-been, better known for her drinking and the kiss-and-tell stories that a string of men have sold to the papers.
Desperate to get back in the big time, Eden begins recording a new album with songwriter Jack Steele, a man who drives her crazy for all the wrong reasons. And then she’s asked to be a judge on the TV talent show Band Ambition. It’s just the break she needs and she’s determined not to mess it up, so falling in love with Stevie, a contestant on the show, is probably not a very good idea. But Eden has always followed her heart, and she is sure Stevie is 'the one'.
But is Eden setting herself up for another fall

Waiting on Wednesday (#52)

2012-02-01T09:00:00.000Z

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event hosted at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

The Boy On Cinnamon Street - Phoebe Stone
Published : 1st February 2012
Publisher : Scholastic
I really like the sound of this one, it sounds like it will hopefully be a very cute story while also being an eye opener. I can't wait to find out how the girl finds her way and how it all turns out for her. Will she connect with the guy? Will she gets lots of friends? Will she discover why she never had this in the first place. The blurb gives you so many questions.
The cover is very cute and I have to admit that the cover first attracted me to it, definitely a plus!

-
The Blurb :
A story about a wounded girl and the boy who won't give up on her.7th grader Louise should be the captain of her school's gymnastics team - but she isn't. She's fun and cute and should have lots of friends - but she doesn't. And there's a dreamy boy who has a crush on her - but somehow they never connect. Louise has everything going for her - so what is it that's holding her back?Phoebe Stone tells the winning story of the spring when 7th grader Louise Terrace wakes up, finds the courage to confront the painful family secret she's hiding from - and finally get the boy.

Review : Skin Deep by Laura Jarratt

2012-01-31T10:58:00.001Z

Skin Deep by Laura Jarratt

Series : No

Released : 5th March 2012

Publisher : Egmont UK

Format : Paperback

Source : UK Book Tours/Publisher

Buy : Amazon (UK/USA)|Book Depository

Overall rating

.................................... The Blurb ....................................

Ugly people don't have feelings. They're not like everyone else. They don't notice if you stare at them and turn away. And if they did notice, it wouldn't hurt them. They're not like real people. Or that's what I used to think. Before I learned...
After the car crash that leaves her best friend dead, Jenna is permanently scarred. She struggles to rebuild her life, but every stare in the street, every time she looks in the mirror, makes her want to retreat further from the world. Until she meets Ryan. Ryan's a traveller. When he and his mother moor their narrow boat on the outskirts of a village, she tells him this time it will be different. He doesn't believe her; he can't imagine why this place shouldn't be as unwelcoming as the rest. Until he meets Jenna. But as Jenna and Ryan grow closer, repercussions from the crash continue to reverberate through the community. And then a body is found...

.................................... My Thoughs ....................................

In Short

- Laura straight away throws you into the storyline, I was gripped from the first page.

- Both Jenna and Ryan are strong characters which I felt was partly because they both have their own chapters.

- I love the big twist half way through the book and how it comes from nowhere.

- Skin Deep is a meaningful book with a strong meaning behind it.

- I did feel a bit disappointed with how Ryan's character suddenly changed.

In Long

Skin Deep is a book which left me feeling mixed things. There is so much I love about this book but there is also things which I felt could have been improved. I guess I was a little gutted about the few things I disliked as it did ruin the book a little for me. Till about half way through this book it was going to be a 5/5 then I felt everything went a bit downhill before picking up again.

Let’s start with the positives. You are straight away thrown into the story, I almost felt like Laura had thrown me into the scene and I loved that. It definitely shows how talented Laura is to be able to make me feel like I was there with the characters within 2 pages!

Right from the start I was made to feel empathy for Jenna for a number of reasons and I almost felt protective over her. This also made me quickly grow a bond with Jenna, her feelings always felt so real to me and I always felt like they were feelings which most people would feel in her situation (instead of being a bit over the top). Another reason I felt I was able to connect with both her and Ryan was that I was able to see into both ‘their minds’. Having a chapter each definitely made both Jenna’s and Ryan’s characters stronger. Ryan was another character I really liked but was also the reason I kind of disliked part of the book. Laura built Ryan’s character up in a great way and I really liked him, just like I did Jenna. Then suddenly all the characteristics I felt Laura had built up were gone and Ryan did something I didn’t really expect. And then he kind of undid it but then did it again. This bit kind of confused me. I can see the storyline needed it to happen but maybe not in that way. I can’t really explain it in any other way without it becoming a spoiler.
Another thing which made this not a 5/5 for me was the age of the characters. I felt this book would have been so much better with just slightly more mature characters. Jenna was only 14 (I believe) and although it didn’t affect most of the book at some points she came across as very immature and I had to remind myself she was only 14.

The storyline quickly pick up again and Ryan was back to how I had come to know him. Suddenly a big unexpected twist comes from nowhere which made me forget (or almost) all the little things I disliked and become totally engrossed into the book. I struggled to put the book down towards the end.

This book really has a strong meaning and although I didn’t really feel this came through properly until the end it definitely did come through. The ending was very powerful, I did kind of wish Laura would have made the rest of the book that powerful but the ending felt very thought out. It was definitely my favourite part of the book.

Final Thoughts

Skin Deep is a meaningful book in which Laura has been able to create some strong characters to portray a very strong storyline. I would definitely recommend reading Skin Deep, you can not help but be dragged into the story.

Cover Crazy #53

2012-01-30T09:00:00.000Z

Hosted by The Book Worms

Before I Wake - Rachel Vincent
I love all the covers for this series! They are all really pretty and I love how they all follow the same theme.

I love this cover because :

- Love how all the covers in this series follow the same theme yet are all very unique.
- Love this colour pink! Not too bright and not too dark.

- Love how it slowly fades

- Love the font used for the title and the position of the title.
- Love the pink against the black
- Simple but definitely stands out!

Dislike :

- Not really liking where the authors name is. It kind of ruins the cover a little.
- Not too sure of the pattern around the title.

Taken by Storm - Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Another series which has covers that are a lot. I am unsure on where this one stands compared to the other two covers but I do like this cover.

I love this cover because :

- Love the colour (ofc, my favourite colour!)

- Really like the sketchy effect of this cover, it's not used in many covers but definitely benefits this cover.

- Really like the font used and feel the title is like part of this cover.

- Love the background and how it goes with the title.
- I like the font used for the title, really feels it suits the cover.

Dislike :
- I am not really too sure on this pose, it's probably my least favourite pose out of the three covers.

This Week's Round Up

2012-01-29T15:20:00.000Z

Posts:

Cover Crazy

Waiting On Wednesday

The Time Will Come
Paperback or Hardback?

Guest Post + Giveaway : Luisa Plaja

Books for Company

The Time Will Come by Katie Dale (#56)

Waiting on Wednesday (#55)

Cover Crazy (#56)

This Week's Round Up

Upcoming Releases - UK Publishers

The Time Will Come #55

Waiting on Wednesday (#54)

Paperback or Hardback? (#37)

Guest Post : Q&A With Allison Rushby

Cover Crazy #55

This Week's Round Up

January 2012 Round Up

*Review* : A Beautiful Evil By Kelly Keaton

The Time Will Come #54

Waiting on Wednesday (#53)

Follower Love Giveaway!

Paperback or Hardback? (#36)

Cover Crazy #54

In my Mailbox! (#41)

Giveaway + Excerpt - Winterborne and Ravenstoke

The Time Will Come #53

Waiting on Wednesday (#52)

*Review* : Skin Deep by Laura Jarratt

Cover Crazy #53

This Week's Round Up

Review : A Beautiful Evil By Kelly Keaton

Review : Skin Deep by Laura Jarratt