Blog Planner

Every now and then I ask the Twitter Gods for something I want that I cannot find and a little while ago, I said I wanted a planner/diary that was set up for a book blogger. I scoured the internet and I couldn't find what I was looking for but I'm pleased to say that purely by accident, I have found it! AND even better, it's free.

I can't take credit for it at all but please visit WILDOLIVE here so that you can download the pages and make yourself a kickass planner. Thank you so much to the person that designed this and I'm very excited to print out my own planner :)

Bloodrose Review

If you want to read my review of Bloodrose, you'll have to go over to Wastepaperprose where I'm also blogging now. Click here to read it and let me know what you think!

WINNERS!

So you may remember that a couple of weeks ago it was my two year blogoversary and to celebrate, I held a massive contest. Thank you to everyone who participated and the winners who have been chosen at random are...

1. LIVEOTHERWISE wins the UK paperback of Clockwork Prince (Collector's Edition) by Cassandra Clare.


2. SUSANKMANN wins the UK paperback boxset (SIGNED) of The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare including City of Fallen Angels


3. MEMYSHELFANDI wins the US paperback (SIGNED) of City of Glass by Cassandra Clare


4. DEBBIE wins the UK hardback of Fallen in Love by Lauren Kate


5. E.MAREE wins the UK paperback (SIGNED) of The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater


6. RONYKA7 wins the US paperback (SIGNED) of Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare


Congratulations all!!! The winners have been notified and have 48 hours to confirm their prizes otherwise alternative winners will be chosen.

Important Announcement

I’ve been thinking about my blog for some time now, especially as it was my two year blogoversary recently. In December, you may have noticed that I took an unofficial blog hiatus which was unintentional hence the reason why I didn’t post anything about it on the blog. This continued well into January, not helped by the many things going on in my personal life (which are still going on) and sadly, I don’t have the time I would like to put into my blog :( It’s pretty difficult to work full time as a nurse, run a household and blog all at the same time and believe me when I tell you that it’s been a difficult realisation to come to that I am not indeed superhuman.

I don't know how many of you know but I'm also an aspiring writer on top of everything else and I've also realised that all my spare time is used to read and review other people’s books instead of WRITING MY OWN and that has to change. So, I’m going to be slowing down a bit and obviously that is going to have an effect on my blog.

I will still be keeping my blog for the foreseeable future where I will continue to post occasional reviews however my announcement is this: I’ve come to realise that successful blogs are usually run by more than one person and so with this in mind, I will be joining the team over at Wastepaperprose (www.wastepaperprose.com ). I’m really hoping that if you like my reviews, you’ll follow me over there as that is where most of them will be posted from now on. I suspect that eventually, I might decide to wind the blog down and move over there permanently but not just at the moment. Thank you to everyone who has supported this blog and I hope you continue to read my reviews :)

The Book of Blood and Shadow Review

I’d not read any books by Robin Wasserman before but when I heard about The Book of Blood and Shadow, I was intrigued. Part murder/mystery with a generous helping of alchemy and a sprinkling of faith, this is an intelligent book for older readers, interested in more than just a paranormal romance. Here’s the synopsis:

“It was like a nightmare, but there was no waking up. When the night began, Nora had two best friends and an embarrassingly storybook one true love. When it ended, she had nothing but blood on her hands and an echoing scream that stopped only when the tranquilizers pierced her veins and left her in the merciful dark.

But the next morning, it was all still true: Chris was dead. His girlfriend Adriane, Nora's best friend, was catatonic. And Max, Nora's sweet, smart, soft-spoken Prince Charming, was gone. He was also—according to the police, according to her parents, according to everyone—a murderer.

Desperate to prove his innocence, Nora follows the trail of blood, no matter where it leads. It ultimately brings her to the ancient streets of Prague, where she is drawn into a dark web of secret societies and shadowy conspirators, all driven by a mad desire to possess something that might not even exist. For buried in a centuries-old manuscript is the secret to ultimate knowledge and communion with the divine; it is said that he who controls the Lumen Dei controls the world. Unbeknownst to her, Nora now holds the crucial key to unlocking its secrets. Her night of blood is just one piece in a puzzle that spans continents and centuries. Solving it may be the only way she can save her own life.”

Okay, first of all, what is with all these YA books coming out that have some sort of combination of the words “blood”, “shadow”, “bone” etc. It’s confusing and I don’t know about you but I’ve mixed up several titles already which does make for some slight amusement amongst bookish friends. Regardless, I would describe The Book of Blood and Shadow as Indiana Jones meets the Da Vinci Code meets End of Days. It’s one of those stories where you’re never quite sure who to trust and you don’t fully know what’s going on until the end. It’s abundantly clear that Robin has done a ton of research in order to write the book and this should be commended first and foremost. It’s refreshing to see an intelligent plot line and one which I have not seen before in YA literature. My only criticism of the book is that in my opinion, it is too long. At 432 pages, I have to say that approaching 300 pages, I was losing steam and could not wait to get to the end. It is most definitely an interesting book but not one that can be read in one sitting and not one that I found myself rushing home from work to read.

I have to say that I was really confused about the relationships in the book. First off, we’re introduced to Nora who is best friends with Chris and his girlfriend Adriane. Nora has what looks from the outset as a flirty relationship with Chris when really she is the third wheel in this scenario. I think it makes for an awkward dynamic. Along comes Max who quite honestly, acts like a dick for the majority of the book and I would have kicked him to the kerb a long time ago but Nora puts up with him. Now, Ely is arguably the better guy and whilst there were elements of flirting between him and Nora, nothing ever came of it which is a shame. Perhaps it was harmless banter between the two characters but I believe the reader was led on and this was disappointing.

Having said all that, I did enjoy the book for the most part and my favourite aspect was the way the past interweaved with the present by way of the connection between Elizabeth Weston and Nora Kane. I also enjoyed the Latin element and the fact that the reader goes on an adventurous journey to Prague. Overall, this is a really difficult review to write because I did enjoy the story which was really interesting and unique but I'm afraid it went on far too long for me.

The Book of Blood and Shadow was published on 19th January, 2012 in the UK and will be published on 10th April, 2012 in the US. The kindle version is also available now. To find out more about Robin and her books, please click here to visit her website. She is also active on Facebook and Twitter.

Waiting on Wednesday

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, originally started by Jill at Breaking the Spine , that highlights upcoming book releases everyone is waiting on...hence the title. This week's pick is The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater. Here's the synopsis:

"Filled with mystery, romance, and the supernatural, The Raven Boys introduces readers to Richard “Dick” Campbell Gansey, III and Blue Sargent. Gansey has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on the hunt to find Glendower, a vanished Welsh king. Legend has it that the first person to find him will be granted a wish—either by seeing him open his eyes, or by cutting out his heart.

Blue Sargent, the daughter of the town psychic in Henrietta, Virginia, has been told for as long as she can remember that if she ever kisses her true love, he will die. But she is too practical to believe in things like true love. Her policy is to stay away from the rich boys at the prestigious Aglionby Academy. The boys there—known as Raven Boys—can only mean trouble. When Gansey and his Raven Boy friends come into her life, Blue realizes how true this is. She never thought her fortune would be a problem. But she was wrong."

So unless you don't know me or you've been living under a rock for a couple of years, Maggie Stiefvater is one of my favourite YA authors and you know what? I don't even care what this book is about, the fact that Maggie wrote it means it's an immediate pre-order for me. I have to say that I thought Maggie's last book The Scorpio Races (review here) was her best book yet and so I'm immensely excited to see what she comes up with next. And the cover? Gorgeous! The Raven boys is published on 18th September, 2012 in the US and the UK date will be the same or similar. I recommend you add this to your wish list right now.

Girl Meets Boy Review

Girl Meets Boy is an anthology of stories told from both a male and female perspective. Surprisingly though, I’ve only heard of one of the authors involved. Regardless, I absolutely loved the concept and was excited about the possibilities. Here’s the synopsis:

“What do guys and girls really think? Twelve of the most dynamic and engaging YA authors writing today team up for this one-of-a-kind collection of "he said/she said" stories-he tells it from the guy's point of view, she tells it from the girl's. These are stories of love and heartbreak. There's the good-looking jock who falls for a dangerous girl, and the flipside, the toxic girl who never learned to be loved; the basketball star and the artistic (and shorter) boy she never knew she wanted; the gay boy looking for love online and the girl who could help make it happen. Each story in this unforgettable collection teaches us that relationships are complicated-because there are two sides to every story.”

I have to start by saying that I expected a lot more romance than I got but I did enjoy the majority of the stories. One in particular stands out for me and that was the story featuring gay characters which I thought was very cleverly written. In fact, not one of the stories was predictable or stereotypical but each one tackled every day issues and the diversity was wonderful.

One of the good things about this book is that it is a quick read overall and because it is a collection of short stories, you can stop and start as much as you want and not have to remember what’s happened previously as the stories are all different. On the flip side however, I did miss not being able to get into the story and see characters and plot lines develop. I missed the unputdownable nature of a lot of books I’ve read recently but then that is to be expected of course as it’s a collection of short stories.

I thought Girl Meets Boy was an interesting read and I would love to see this concept used in a novel. I’m not talking about just having alternate points of view as that’s been done but we’ve seen time and time again when authors post scenes from another character’s point of view after their book has been published, how much we as readers love it. I’m almost surprised no one has done this yet and hope that someone takes up the challenge!

Girl Meets Boy was published on 28th December, 2011 in the US and will be published on 1st March, 2012 in the UK.

Tempest Review

If you know me at all, you’ll know that I’m a massive fan of all things time travel and so when I find a YA book with this very important element as part of the book, then I immediately start lusting after it, knowing that I’m probably going to love it. I’m happy to report that Tempest by Julie Cross lived up to my expectations and I really enjoyed it. The book was action packed and there was never a dull moment. Here’s the synopsis:

“The year is 2009. Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.

That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.

Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities. But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler. Recruit… or kill him.

Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly… and possibly the entire world.”

When I first started reading this book, immediate comparisons with the movie JUMPER sprung to mind and I hoped that it would not just be a re-hash of the same story but then I realised that jumpers in the movie cannot time travel. Funnily enough, Tempest reads just like a movie and I understand that the film rights have been sold already and I cannot wait to see it up on the big screen. I would say that the plot was maybe a little farfetched at times but it was definitely interesting and creative. I’d love to learn more about the origins of time travellers and how the enemies of time came about and I’m hoping that this will come in the form of a sequel, prequel or spin off.

I have to say that I really enjoyed Jackson and Holly’s relationship but I did not like the fact that Jackson was always lying to her. I see why he did it (to protect her) but it disappoints me that he thought she wouldn’t understand. I also have a soft spot for Adam who is very cool in a smart-yet-geeky kind of way and I have no idea why but in my head he looked like Dev Patel (from Slumdog Millionaire).

As some of you may or may not know, I like to go on what I like to call “pre-order frenzies” and sometimes I’m lucky enough to read an ARC beforehand (if it’s releasing in the UK) and what has now become my test of whether I’ve enjoyed the book is to not cancel my pre-order and with Tempest, I have not cancelled.

Tempest was an unputdownable, compelling read and I’m pretty sure there is a sequel in the works. If I could time travel myself, I would be reading it right now.

Tempest was published on 5th January, 2012 in the UK and 17th January, 2012 in the US. There is a short prequel available for free entitled Tomorrow is Today which you can order from Amazon in the US and here if you are in the UK. To find out more about Julie and her books, please click here to visit her website. She is also active on Facebook and Twitter.

Everneath Review

I accidentally met Brodi Ashton last year whilst attending BEA (Books Expo America) in New York City. Obviously, at the time I had no idea who she was but she told me that she had written a book and showed me the cover which I fell in love with immediately (I know, but LOOK AT IT). I’ve been dying to read this book for ages so I was very happy when I learned it was going to be published in the UK and was sent a copy to review. I’m happy to say that I absolutely LOVED this book. A LOT. And I’m still thinking about it days after I finished reading. Here’s the synopsis:

“Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's..”

Everneath is of course based on the Greek myth of Hades and Persephone and in case you haven’t noticed, there has been an influx of YA books coming out based on Greek mythology lately. Whilst part of me wants to sigh in response at this, the other part of me is always curious and I have to say that this is the best one I’ve read so far. I thought Everneath was an amazing read, there was never a dull moment, no lagging middle section and I never found my thoughts wandering at any point. I would have read this in one sitting if I could have!

Now I KNOW you want to know about the guys, right and who’s been added to my ever growing list of literary boyfriends? Well, there are TWO of them. Yes, you read that right. First up is Jack who is a totally swoonworthy hero and I can’t see how any girl can resist him. Whilst he once was the quarterback football hero and a bit of a player with the ladies (I know what you’re thinking, that doesn’t do it for me either but wait...) he has turned into a one woman guy with an eyebrow piercing no less who will stop at nothing to get Nikki back. I really enjoyed the way that Brodi messed with the stereotypical image I have in my head of a quarterback as we find out at some point that Jack wears glasses. I realise this might sound stupid but I was surprised at this and it just made him cuter so it worked.

Now then, I bet you’re curious about guy number two and how he might compare to Jack. Enter Cole who has spent over 100 years with Nikki in the everneath and it’s clear that he has some sort of connection with her by the way that he treats her. I loved the fact that Cole wasn’t painted as the bad guy, it’s a case of he is what he is although nothing is set in stone it would seem and I can’t wait to see how his character develops in book two. That’s all I can say about that but I do expect to see a lot more of him! ;)

Overall, I thought Everneath was an impressive debut novel that held my attention and would not let go even after reading. I loved both the plot and the characters and I can’t wait for book two!

Everneath was published in the US on 24th January, 2012 and in the UK on 2nd February, 2012. To find out more about Brodi and her books, please click here to visit her website.

The Other Life Review

The Other Life by Susanne Winnacker is one very clever, trickster of a book. Not ONCE did it mention the word ZOMBIE and even when we find out that effectively the rabies virus has infected everyday people and turned them into flesh eating monsters (or y’know, ZOMBIES) that word still isn’t mentioned. Why is it clever? Because I don’t read stories about zombies. I don’t even like zombies. And a zombie romance? FORGET IT. I’m pleased to report however that despite the presence of “Weepers” (or y’know, ZOMBIES) I really enjoyed the book and am glad that I read it without knowing what it was about otherwise I might never have picked it up and I would have missed out on an awesome story. Here’s the synopsis:

“3 years, 1 month, 1 week and 6 days since I’d seen daylight. One-fifth of my life. 98,409,602 seconds since the heavy, steel door had fallen shut and sealed us off from the world.

Sherry has lived with her family in a sealed bunker since things went wrong up above. But when they run out of food, Sherry and her dad must venture outside. There they find a world of devastation, desolation...and the Weepers: savage, mutant killers.

When Sherry's dad is snatched, she joins forces with gorgeous but troubled Joshua - an Avenger, determined to destroy the Weepers.

But can Sherry keep her family and Joshua safe, when his desire for vengeance threatens them all?”

The Other Life is a dystopian novel but I think the point is that it could happen at any time and could easily be set in present day which makes it a very scary thing to contemplate. Having said this, if you are the type of person who does not go anywhere near scary or creepy books then don’t worry. I’m hesitant with those sorts of books too, mainly because I have a fantastic imagination and I tend to read late at night which is not always the best combination but I did not find this book creepy and it did not give me nightmares. The scariness comes in knowing that this could be a real scenario someday.

In contrast to the real life nightmare Sherry finds herself in, I really enjoyed the way that at the start of every chapter, we are privy to a snapshot in time of Sherry’s other life, the life she had before everything changed. It was a stark reminder of how different things had become.

The romantics amongst you (myself included) will be happy to know that there is a little bit of something going on and the relationship between Sherry and Joshua is quite innocent and natural. Quite often in YA literature, we’re treated to the concept that two teenagers are soul mates or star-crossed lovers and the relationship between the two main characters is quite mature, shall we say. In The Other Life, these two young people are thrown together out of necessity, in order to survive and I think their relationship grows out of that. It’s only natural for people who share a traumatic event to form a bond however, it’s still a sweet thing to read about.

Overall, I enjoyed this book much more than I expected and it’s undoubtedly worth reading. The revelations towards the end of the book are quite startling and effectively repaint the landscape of what you thought the book was about and how the environment is shaped. It definitely paves the way for a sequel which I believe is already in the works, entitled “The Life Beyond” and I will definitely be picking it up as I know we’re in for a hell of a ride ;)

The Other Life was published on 1st February, 2012. To find out more about Susanne and her book, click here to visit her website.

Waiting on Wednesday

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, originally started by Jill at Breaking the Spine , that highlights upcoming book releases everyone is waiting on...hence the title. This week's pick is Pure by Jennifer L. Armentrout. Here's the synopsis:

"There is need. And then there is Fate...

Being destined to become some kind of supernatural electrical outlet isn't exactly awesome--especially when Alexandria's "other half" is everywhere she goes. Seth's in her training room, outside her classes, and keeps showing up in her bedroom--so not cool. Their connection does have some benefits, like staving off her nightmares of the tragic showdown with her mother, but it has no effect on what Alex feels for the forbidden, pure-blooded Aiden. Or what he will do--and sacrifice--for her.

When daimons infiltrate the Covenants and attack students, the gods send furies--lesser gods determined to eradicate any threat to the Covenants and to the gods, and that includes the Apollyon... and Alex. And if that and hordes of aether-sucking monsters didn't blow bad enough, a mysterious threat seems willing to do anything to neutralize Seth, even if that means forcing Alex into servitude... or killing her.

When the gods are involved, some decisions can never, ever be undone."

Pure is of course the sequel to Half Blood which I read recently and absolutely LOVED. One thing I will say about Jennifer Armentrout is that she writes a compelling story that is both unputdownable and drives you on to read more, even when the book has finished. I cannot wait to get my little mitts on this book and if you haven't started the series yet? Then I highly recommend it, especially for the older YA crowd as it has immense crossover appeal. Pure is published on 3rd April, 2012 and as soon as I finished reading Half Blood, I pre ordered Pure. Nuff said.

Happy 2 Year Blogoversary

Today is my blogoversary and a celebration of 2 years blogging about books. I've loved every minute of doing it and I still do. I've met some amazing friends and authors, read some pretty awesome books (often before they are released) and got to go to BEA last year which rocked my literary world. I want to say a huge thank you to my followers as without you, there would be no one to read and comment on my reviews. I know I've been slacking a bit lately (due to personal reasons) but I've read a ton of books and am ready to start writing the reviews so they are coming! To celebrate my blogoversary and as a thank you to my followers, I've got some fantastic books to give away. You can win:

UK Hardback of Fallen in Love by Lauren Kate (perfect for Valentine's Day)

UK paperback (SIGNED) of The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

UK paperback boxset (SIGNED) of The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare including City of Fallen Angels

US paperback (SIGNED) of City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

US paperback (SIGNED) of Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

UK paperback of Clockwork Prince (Collector's Edition) by Cassandra Clare

In case you're wondering, I met Cassandra Clare not that long ago and her books are AMAZING so I got lots of extra copies! All you have to do to enter, is click on the Rafflecopter link. Winners will be chosen at random using random.org. Good luck everyone and remember YOU HAVE TO BE A FOLLOWER TO ENTER. This contest is for UK followers (due to cost reasons) but if you are from another country and are willing to pay for shipping, then feel free to enter :)

Waiting on Wednesday

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, originally started by Jill at Breaking the Spine , that highlights upcoming book releases everyone is waiting on...hence the title. This week's pick is Pandemonium by the very brilliant Lauren Oliver. Here's the synopsis:

"I’m pushing aside the memory of my nightmare,
pushing aside thoughts of Alex,
pushing aside thoughts of Hana and my old school,
push,
push,
push,
like Raven taught me to do.
The old life is dead.
But the old Lena is dead too.
I buried her.
I left her beyond a fence,
behind a wall of smoke and flame.

Lauren Oliver delivers an electrifying follow-up to her acclaimed New York Times bestseller, Delirium. This riveting, brilliant novel crackles with the fire of fierce defiance, forbidden romance, and the sparks of a revolution about to ignite."

I'm cheating a little here, not because the book is out as it isn't yet but because I've already read the ARC and OMG if you were a fan of Delirium, then YOU NEED TO READ THIS BOOK and that's all I can say on the matter other than look out for my review very soon! I'm not entirely sure about the cover design change as I'm not a big fan of doing this right in the middle of a series. I don't know when industry professionals are going to realise that this is never a good idea as then the books don't match and generally, there is outrage among the book blogging community. Anyway, what you see here is the UK cover and if you're interested, here is the US cover...
Again, the US cover is of a different design to Delirium but I have to say that I prefer the US covers in this instance. Pandemonium is published on 28th February, 2012 in the US and 1st March, 2012 in the UK.

Waiting on Wednesday

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, originally started by Jill at Breaking the Spine , that highlights upcoming book releases everyone is waiting on...hence the title. This week's pick is Purity by Jackson Pearce. Here's the synopsis:

"Hours before her mother died, Shelby promised her three things-- to listen to her father, to live life without restraint, and to love whenever possible.

Those promises were easy to keep when she was younger, but things get tricky when she turns sixteen. Shelby's still-grieving father joins a committee at their church to host a Princess Ball-- a dance where young women pledge their purity (namely, their virginity) to their father's safekeeping until they marry.

But Shelby has a Life List-- things she wants to do, to live without restraint like she promised her mother-- and getting married young isn't on it. Waiting until she's thirty to have her first time isn't on it either. But how is she supposed to keep her promise to listen to her father if she refuses to pledge? By exploiting a loophole- by losing her virginity before the Ball.

She and her best friend Jonas make a list of potential partners, but somewhere in-between failed attempts at losing her virginity, trying to answer some lingering questions about God, and planning the Ball with her Dad, Shelby starts to understand what her mother really meant, what her father really needs, and who really has the right to her PURITY."

I really enjoyed Sisters Red which as it stands, is the only book I've read of Jackson's although I still have As you Wish and Sweetly to read. I do like the idea behind Purity and am looking forward to the exploration of it through Shelby's eyes. I think it will be both entertaining and thought provoking and did I mention how much I like the cover? Simple yet effective. Purity is published in the US on 24th April, 2012 with no word of a UK release at present. To find out more about Jackson and her books, click here to visit her website.

Waiting on Wednesday

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, originally started by Jill at Breaking the Spine , that highlights upcoming book releases everyone is waiting on...hence the title. This week's pick is a book I heard about from the lady herself, last year when she was in London and that book is Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. Here's the synopsis:

"Every other day, Kali D'Angelo is a normal sixteen-year-old girl. She goes to public high school. She attends pep rallies. She's human.

And then every day in between . . .She's something else entirely.

Though she still looks like herself, every twenty-four hours predatory instincts take over and Kali becomes a feared demon-hunter with the undeniable urge to hunt, trap, and kill zombies, hellhounds, and other supernatural creatures. Kali has no idea why she is the way she is, but she gives in to instinct anyway. Even though the government considers it environmental terrorism.

When Kali notices a mark on the lower back of a popular girl at school, she knows instantly that the girl is marked for death by one of these creatures. Kali has twenty-four hours to save her and, unfortunately, she'll have to do it as a human. With the help of a few new friends, Kali takes a risk that her human body might not survive. . .and learns the secrets of her mysterious condition in the process".

I think this book sounds hilarious and a little bit superhero like but with...interesting consequences. One day you have power. The next day you don't. So what happens when you're forced to face down your enemies on a day you have no super powers whatsoever? I for one am dying to find out. I also need to mention that I LOVE the cover. I'm a huge fan of hourglasses, red is my favourite colour and obviously that it supposed to be blood so I'm guessing it fits with the story. I really hope Jennifer injects a dose of her humour into this story as only as she can and you know what? I've already got this one on pre order. Every Other day is published on 2nd February in the UK, 8th March in the US and for some strange reason it is already available on kindle but you'll pay a premium for it.

The Book of Blood and Shadow Blog Tour

I believe I am an unofficial stop for The Book of Blood and Shadow Blog Tour that has been happening lately and so without further ado, I'd like to welcome the author Robin Wasserman to the blog. Have you ever wondered what's involved in writing books? Or what an author's typical day looks like? Well, Robin is here to tell you all about hers...

ROBIN WASSERMAN – A Day in the Life

7:30 AM – Wake up. Check email. Notice the time and feel very proud of starting the day so early. Resolve to jump out of bed and be immediately productive.

7:35 AM – Back to sleep.

8:30 AM – Wake up again, begrudgingly. Skim the headlines, watch Daily Show and Colbert clips on gawker, whine on twitter, Google self, exhaust all potential procrastinatory activities and finally, get up.

9:25 AM – Crank up Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep,” dance, sing. NOW READY TO FACE THE DAY!

9:30-10:30 AM – Get waylaid on the path to productivity by clogged shower drain. Drano. Drano. Plunge. Plunge. Drano. Despair.

10:45 AM – Settle into coffee shop and either make small talk with fellow easily distracted writers or stare moodily into hot chocolate while mulling the chunk of story that lies ahead.

11 AM – Write.

11:10 AM – Check email. Check Gawker. Check twitter. Google self, again. Turn off internet as preventative/punitive measure.

11:30 AM – Write.

11:45 AM – Check email on phone.

12 PM – Cookie time!

12:10 PM - WRITE. No excuses this time. Internet off. Eyes forward. Type words and try to ignore how crappy they might be. Continue typing until the day’s word count is met.

3:30 PM – Triumph! Slam laptop shut and resist urge to throw it in the trash. Head home for productive afternoon of email triage, website management, book promoting, secret freelance project writing.

3:45 PM – Instead, re-engage with shower battle. More plunging. More Drano. More shouting.

4:30 PM – Email editor with minor question.

4:32 PM – No response from editor. Refresh email approximately every thirty seconds.

4:35 PM – Decide editor must hate me. Career is over. All is darkness and gloom. Start considering law school applications or refrigerator repair school.

4:40 PM – Google self again. Check in on Goodreads to prove to self that some people like my books.

4:42 PM – Remember that some people do and some people…don’t. Try not to weep.

5:00 PM –Busywork: Write more blog posts for blog tour. Answer fan mail. (Feel guilty about answering it so slowly.) Pay taxes. Finally get together copies of books to mail out to bloggers…discover that post office has been closed for hours.

7:00 PM – Dinner with writerly friends. Assure each other our books are not terrible, our careers are not over, our manuscripts will get finished. Feel very confident that’s true for everyone else.

9:00 PM – Wine and ice cream consumed. Feel very confident about pretty much everything.

11:00 PM – TV: Try to decide between catching up on Gossip Girl, rewatching Torchwood, starting Breaking Bad. Take the path of least resistance and watch current episode of Private Practice. Feel deep sense of shame.

12:00 AM – Lights out. Go to sleep vowing that next day will be more productive. Up and working by 7:30 AM, no questions asked.

Hey, it could happen.

Thanks Robin and WOW, that's pretty full on. The Book of Blood and Shadow is published on 19th January, 2012 in the UK and 10th April, 2012 in the US. You should check back soon for my review :) To find out more about Robin, please click here to visit her website. She is also active on Facebook and Twitter.

Waiting on Wednesday

So, yes I've been a little quiet on the blog lately sue to the craziness that was Christmas and new year, but I'm back! "Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, originally started by Jill at Breaking the Spine , that highlights upcoming book releases everyone is waiting on...hence the title. This week's pick is Gilt by Katherine Longshore. Here's the synopsis:

"In the Tudor age, ambition, power and charismatic allure are essential and Catherine Howard has plenty of all three. Not to mention her loyal best friend, Kitty Tylney, to help cover her tracks. Kitty, the abandoned youngest daughter of minor aristocracy, owes everything to Cat – where she is, what she is, even who she is. Friend, flirt, and self-proclaimed Queen of Misrule, Cat reigns supreme in a loyal court of girls under the none-too-watchful eye of the Dowager Duchess of Norfolk.

When Cat worms her way into the heart of Henry VIII and becomes Queen of England, Kitty is thrown into the intoxicating Tudor Court. It’s a world of glittering jewels and elegant costumes, of gossip and deception. As the Queen’s right-hand-woman, Kitty goes from the girl nobody noticed to being caught between two men – the object of her affection and the object of her desire.

But the atmosphere of the court turns from dazzling to deadly, and Kitty is forced to learn the difference between trust and loyalty, love and lust, secrets and treason. And to accept the consequences when some lessons are learned too late."

Although this is historical and based around real events, I actually quite like the sound of it. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed movies like Girl with a Pearl Earring, Perfume and The Other Boleyn Girl and so I'm excited to read this. I always like the idea of seeing stories from another perspective and so the best friend aspect is one that works for me. Gilt is published on 15th May, 2012 with no news of a UK release as of yet. To find out more about Katherine, please click here to visit her website.

Waiting on Wednesday

So last week, I did not participate in Waiting on Wednesday. Yes, sometimes I suck. I can't even begin to tell you how busy I am at the moment ESPECIALLY as now I have to add Christmas to the to do list. Anyway, I'm definitely doing it this week! Just to remind you, "Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, originally started by Jill at Breaking the Spine , that highlights upcoming book releases everyone is waiting on...hence the title. This week's pick is a book I've been excited about since I first heard about it at BEA - False Memory by Dan Krokos. Here's the synopsis:

"Miranda wakes up alone on a park bench with no memory. In her panic, she releases a mysterious energy that incites pure terror in everyone around her. Except Peter, a boy who isn’t at all surprised by Miranda’s shocking ability.

Left with no choice but to trust this stranger, Miranda discovers she was trained to be a weapon and is part of an elite force of genetically-altered teens who possess flawless combat skills and powers strong enough to destroy a city. But adjusting to her old life isn’t easy—especially with Noah, the boyfriend she can't remember loving.

Then Miranda uncovers a dark truth that sets her team on the run. Suddenly her past doesn’t seem to matter...when there may not be a future."

I've been wanting to read this for a long time now as I think it sounds potentially very good and I know Dan is a debut author and I want to support him. I'm certainly not quite done with the dystopian genre and like anything to do with memory as I find the subject fascinating which means this book is well and truly on my radar. The cover was just revealed recently and I think it's stunning. It kind of reminds me of the movie "The Running Man" but that's OKAY. False Memory is published on 14th August, 2012. No news of foreign rights sales as of yet.

WINNERS!

Recently, I've had two giveaways and it's time to announce the winners! Thank you to EVERYONE who entered the contests but there can only be one winner and random.org has chosen the following people.

For the Stacey Kade book of their choice:

Brandi from Brandi's Book Musings.

For the UK hardback of The Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor:

Girlinthelens from Girl in the Lens

Congratulations ladies! The winners have now been e mailed and will have 48 hours to respond otherwise a new winner will be chosen. There will be more contests in the near future.

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight Review

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith may have a ridiculously long title but somehow it works and it’s highly appropriate considering the content. You know that part of the book when you finally realise why it has a particular title and/or the title gets used within the text? That’s one of my favourite parts of a book and I melted when this title was used in dialogue by one of the main characters. A fitting title perhaps from one of the most romantic books I’ve read in a while. It gave me the same warm and fuzzies I got from reading Anna and The French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. Not only is it an easy read, it’s hugely entertaining and you WONT WANT to put it down. Here’s the synopsis:

“Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. She's stuck at JFK, late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon to be step-mother that Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's in seat 18B. Hadley's in 18A.

Twists of fate and quirks of timing play out in this thoughtful novel about family connections, second chances and first loves. Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it.”

This book reminded me a little of the movie Before Sunrise where two strangers meet on their travels and spend 24 hours with each other. I have to say that I loved the concept of SPOLAFS from the outset. I mean, have you ever flown solo on a really long flight? If so, I’m sure you wondered about whom you’d be sitting next to, what they would be like. What’s funny about plane journeys is that they’re actually quite intimate. There’s no escape and you have to spend hours with complete strangers, making conversation and possibly getting to know each other. And if you’re lucky enough to meet someone that you’re interested in then it’s always sad to say goodbye when the journey reaches its final destination. But who says you have to say goodbye, right?

SPOLAFS is the ultimate romantic book and one of the strongest things about it? The dialogue. It was so natural and charming; there was nothing false or cheesy about it. Oliver was so lovely; I would quite happily sit next to him on a plane ride :) Speaking of which, there was a particular line in the book that that brought a tear to my eye and although it’s a personal story, I will still tell it. When I was 18, I was an au pair in America and I stayed out there for about 13 months without going home once. I bought endless phone cards and tried to talk to my parents whenever I could. I remember having a particularly rough day, crying down the phone when my mum said to me “Honey, I may be back in England but I love you and at the end of the day, it’s only geography”. There’s a really similar line in the book and it caught me off guard. Good job I already had some tissues at the ready!

I can totally see this book as a movie and I hope to God some hot shot production company buys the film rights as it totally deserves to be up on the big screen. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight is dripping in gorgeousness and has stolen my heart. Whenever I have to fly solo in the future, I’m always going to be wondering if an Oliver will be sat next to me.

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight is published on 2nd January, 2012 in the US and 5th January, 2012 in the UK. I’d definitely recommend you put this one on your Christmas list!