Deity Review

"History is on repeat, and things didn't go so well the last time. "

Alexandria isn't sure she's going to make it to her eighteenth birthday--to her Awakening. A long-forgotten, fanatical order is out to kill her, and if the Council ever discovers what she did in the Catskills, she's a goner... and so is Aiden.

If that's not freaky enough, whenever Alex and Seth spend time "training"--which really is just Seth's code word for some up-close and personal one-on-one time--she ends up with another mark of the Apollyon, which brings her one step closer to Awakening ahead of schedule. Awesome.

But as her birthday draws near, her entire world shatters with a startling revelation and she's caught between love and Fate. One will do anything to protect her. One has been lying to her since the beginning. Once the gods have revealed themselves, unleashing their wrath, lives will be irrevocably changed... and destroyed.

Those left standing will discover if love is truly greater than Fate...
I expect you might have heard before what a huge Jennifer L. Armentrout fan I am and how I'll read ANYTHING she writes and I love all her books, right?  And how much I love the Covenant series?  Well, it will come as no surprise that I couldn’t wait to read Deity and probably no surprise to know that it was just as fabulous as the rest of the series.  If you haven’t started these books yet, you sure do need to and I would advise that you stop reading this review and go find them (starting with the first one of course) as you will encounter spoilers.  If you’re interested or you just want a reminder, my review of Daimon is here, Half Blood is here and Pure is here.

In a nutshell, Deity is basically all wrapped up in Godly politics. You may remember at the end of Pure that Alex killed a Pure Blood out of self defence when he turned on her and Aiden covered it up by compelling the witnesses.  However, Telly is suspicious about the whole turn of events and basically, following the Daimon attack and subsequently the release of the furies, the world of Half’s and Pure’s is in upheaval.  THE PLOT THICKENS MY FRIENDS and this is where my review becomes difficult because I don’t want to give away too much.  Let’s just say that as a potential God Killer and the only Apollyon who hasn’t awoken yet, Alex is in more danger than ever and Aiden becomes even more protective *swoon*.  Alex is counting down the days until her birthday (and her awakening) and is terrified of losing herself but she shows a maturity throughout the book that we’ve only ever seen glimpses of before.  Baby girl is growing up y’all.  Seth kinda broke my heart in this book as appears to have gone on a bit of a power trip and his motives are questionable at best (so, no change there then) but we get more of an insight into his behaviour that helps us understand things a little better.  Alex knows she has to stay away from Seth but it’s not going to be that easy as fate has plans for them both and the Gods are sitting up and taking notice *gulp*.

Deity was an awesome read with some devastating twists and turns and an especially WTF? moment which blew me away.  Sometimes I found the plot a little complicated to keep up with but I managed and the politics are important to the whole story.  Ever wanted to know the real reason why relationships between Pure’s and Half Blood’s are forbidden? Read Deity and find out.  Deity manages to answer all the questions you came up with after reading Pure and just hands you a set of new ones.  Now, excuse me while I head off to read Elixir before pre-ordering Apollyon ;)

Deity was published on 6th November, 2012.  Elixir, a digital novella intended to be read after Deity is available now as a free download from here. Apollyon will be published on 9th April, 2013.  To find out more about Jennifer L. Armentrout and her books, please click here to visit her website.

The Selection Review

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself--and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

I want to start by saying that this is one of the most beautiful book covers I have ever seen and I would have bought it for that alone had I known nothing about the story.  Thankfully, the story is pretty interesting too ;) Imagine a dystopian, YA version of ‘The Bachelor’ involving a Prince and that basically sums up The Selection.

After being dumped by Aspen, the love of her life, America is chosen as part of the selection process to compete for Prince Maxon’s heart only HER heart really isn’t in it and she agrees to take part only for the paycheques her family will receive.  If America HAD been using a strategy during the selection process, then it’s a bloody good one.  Feign disinterest and play hard to get.  GENIUS.  Only she really ISN’T interested and decides that honesty is the best policy where Prince Maxon is concerned. She offers him a friend and confidante in her only their relationship blossoms, especially for Maxon.  I think because the pressure was off, it allowed them to be more natural with each other and we all know that there’s a fine line between best friends and something more.  In the midst of everything, rebel attacks are increasing and no one seems to know what’s going on.  And guess who should show up at the palace but Aspen and now he’s a soldier who’s fighting for more than just the palace.  He wants America back.  ARGH.

I know this book has had some mixed reviews but I absolutely loved it and am still thinking about the characters hours after finishing reading.  I loved how strong and opinionated America was and how she wasn’t willing to trade in her morals to increase her social standing.  She agrees to be part of the selection process for her family as they are poor and she’s honest with Maxon from the outset.  She even offers to help him choose by giving him insider information on the other girls, for goodness sake.  Speaking of boys, I loved Prince Maxon and Aspen equally and therein lies the problem – I have no idea which team I’m on!  They’re both decent, cute guys.  Aspen is the underdog in a way, a solider fighting his way out of servitude to give himself and his family a better life and Maxon is a Prince born into privilege and responsibility.  They both have something to offer America and whilst the selection process isn’t over, I think Maxon has already made his choice; he’s just making sure that she chooses him too ;)  But Aspen is back on the scene and he’s not going down without a fight. OH THE ANGST.

Besides the romance, one of the most interesting things about The Selection was the world building and the idea of a caste system.  The higher the number, the lower down in the pecking order and ultimately the more limits placed on that group of people.  America starts off as a five but just being part of the selection moves her up to a three.  Aspen started out low too but being a solider puts him on an equal footing with America and suddenly, he feels worthy of her again.

I was a little disappointed with the ending of this book BUT ONLY BECAUSE I WANTED MORE.  There is no time limit so we have no idea how long the selection process will go on but we do know that Prince Maxon has to whittle it down to six girls who will become The Elite (cue the title of the next book) and I cannot wait to read it.  I’m also positively giddy at the fact that The CW have picked this up as a TV series *fangirl screams* and I can’t wait to add it to my list of favourite TV shows.

The Selection was published on 24th April, 2012 in the US and my birthday, 7th June, 2012 in the UK.   The sequel, entitled The Elite will be published on 23rd April, 2013 in the US and 6th June, 2013 in the UK.   There will also be a digital novella entitled The Prince and this will be available from 5th March, 2013.

To find out more about Kiera Cass and her books, please 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 Goddess by Josephine Angelini. Here's the synopsis:

After accidentally unleashing the gods from their captivity on Olympus, Helen must find a way to re-imprison them without starting a devastating war. But the gods are angry, and their thirst for blood already has a body count.

To make matters worse, the Oracle reveals that a diabolical Tyrant is lurking among them, which drives a wedge between the once-solid group of friends. As the gods use the Scions against one another, Lucas’s life hangs in the balance. Still unsure whether she loves him or Orion, Helen is forced to make a terrifying decision, for war is coming to her shores.

In Josephine Angelini’s compelling conclusion to the masterfully woven Starcrossed trilogy, a goddess must rise above it all to change a destiny that’s been written in the stars. With worlds built just as fast as they crumble, love and war collide in an all-out battle that will leave no question unanswered and no heart untouched.

Lusting after the final book in a series is always a bittersweet experience because on one hand, you are DESPERATE to find out what happens next but at the same time, you don't want it to end.  THAT'S how I feel about Goddess by Josephine Angelini.  I loved the first two books and I love the relationship between Lucas and Helen (Sorry Orion, you are an unwelcome distraction).  As always, I would probably be willing to lose a minor body part in order to read this now but unfortunately, we'll all have to wait until 28th May, 2013 in the US and 6th June, 2013 in the UK.

Seeking Crystal Review

Sparks will fly . . . Passion will ignite . . .

Crystal Brook has always been the dud Savant in her family; paranormal powers just aren't her thing. Dropping out of school with a clutch of 'E' grades and no future, she lives in the shadow of her high-flying sister Diamond. On a trip to Denver, a chance encounter with the dashing Benedict brothers leaves Diamond head over heels in love and engaged to be married. Crystal, on the other hand, is unimpressed by their charms . . . in fact no boy can annoy her as much as Xav Benedict! Back in Venice, their families assemble for Diamond's wedding and a powerful enemy seizes the opportunity to attack. Crystal and Xav must join forces to save their loved-ones, unlocking a secret that, until now, has lain deeply buried...
I’d been looking forward to reading Seeking Crystal for ages as I love this book series, or more specifically the Benedict family.  Obviously as a diehard romantic, the idea of ‘soulfinders’ reduces me to a puddle on the floor and I wish it wasn’t just fiction *le sigh*. This time it’s Xavier’s turn (and incidentally, his brother Trace too) and from what I’d seen of Xavier, I couldn’t wait to read his story. Unfortunately though, he started annoying me early on with his constant deluge of affectionate terms such as “cupcake”, “darlin” and “beauty”, I mean come on Xavier, the girl has a name and you’re just coming across as a creep.

Having said all that, I did enjoy the relationship build up between Xavier and Crystal and the setting was heavenly.  Venice was brought to life by Joss’ rich and vibrant description and it’s still on my list of ‘must see’ places.  Xavier won me over eventually because you know, he’s a Benedict and I just can’t resist them.  My favourite scenes were when Xavier and Crystal had to kiss for a movie shoot and Xavier skiing down the mountain like a badass.   It's a good look for him ;)

Whilst Seeking Crystal was mostly about Xavier and Crystal, I liked the way the soulfinders story also developed and we are introduced to ‘soulseekers’ although I won’t say much about that for fear of spoilers.

What I will say though is that with only two or three brothers left needing to find their mates (and I do believe they are out of the YA bracket) I fear this could be the last in the series but I sincerely hope not as I don’t care that they are older.  Thankfully, Joss gives us hope that they will find each other regardless. 

Seeking Crystal wasn’t the strongest book in the series but it was certainly entertaining and enjoyable.  I just hope there’s more to come.

Seeking Crystal was published on 4th October, 2012.  To find out more about Joss Stirling and her books, please click here to visit her website.

Letterbox Love (#27)

As always, Letterbox Love is a weekly feature that I'm hosting on the blog and basically, the idea came out of a discussion with other UK book bloggers about the need to do a weekly meme with more of a British feel to it. Therefore, Letterbox Love was born and the logo was lovingly designed by Dark Readers. Letterbox Love is a way for us to share the books that come through our letterbox, galleys and e books (through our electronic letterbox) and any other bookish goodies that we want to tell you about. Letterbox Love is intended to showcase upcoming books and build up some excitement for them as well as let you know what is available out there. It is not about competing with other bloggers or boasting of any kind (c'mon, we're British and we don't do drama!)

Review Books

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson

"What if you had the chance to live your life again and again, until you finally got it right?" is the opening line of the marketing blurb and I can't decide if that is a perfect idea or the beginning of a nightmare.  This book sounds a bit like Groundhog Day meets Sliding Doors and I'm very excited to read it, however I'm not allowed to say anything about it until next February so I'm not rushing to read this one.  

 

How to Fall by Jane Casey

This sounds like a crime/mystery YA novel and one that I have not heard of until now.  I don't usually read crime novels but I may be willing to give this one a go after I see a few more reviews first.

Thank you publishers!

 Books Bought

Crewel by Gennifer Albin

I LOVE the US cover for this and so naturally, I had to get the hardback.  I still haven't read it yet but I keep hearing amazing things about it. 

 

Touching the Surface by Kimberly Sabatini

I'm pretty sure this is a debut novel and it's a YA paranormal featuring the afterlife.  I think it sounds fantastic and I'm looking forward to reading this. 

Breaking Lauren by Jordan Deen

I didn't actually buy this, it was gifted to me from Jordan.  I actually beta read this book before it was published and it's so nice to see it in print :) 

EBooks

Kissed by an Angel by Elizabeth Chandler (Bought)
I'm sorting out my bookcases at the moment and I'm getting rid of some books that I still want to read but am not that bothered about keeping.  In some cases, I'd rather read a book on my iPad so that's why I've bought a digital copy of Kissed by an Angel.  Does that make sense to anyone else but me? I'm not sure!

Dark Heart Forever by Lee Monroe
Same scenario as above, I'd rather read this on the iPad so I bought a digital copy and will give the paperback to my sister and then I'll have a bit more room on the shelves.

Deity by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Bought)
You all should know by now how big a fan I am of Jennifer's books and this is a series that I like to buy for my iPad AND have a paperback copy.  I'm just weird like that, don't question it.  I've read it already and it's fantastic as always.  Review coming soon. 

Existence by Abbi Glines (Bought)
As you can probably see from this list, I've bought pretty much all of Abbi Glines books lately.  Why? Because I read The Vincent Boys and LOVED IT.  I'm also pretty stoked that she is being published by two major UK publishing houses in the near future. Being stalked by death? Falling in love with him? Sounds like this book is right up my street!

Predestined (Existence) by Abbi Glines (Bought)
Part of the Existence series that I'm looking forward to reading.

Ceaseless (Existence) by Abbi Glines (Bought)
Part of the Existence series that I'm looking forward to reading.

Leif (Existence) by Abbi Glines (Bought)
Part of the Existence series that I'm looking forward to reading.

Breathe by Abbi Glines (Bought)
Book one in the Sea Breeze series. This is a teen romance and probably more of a Summer book but we'll see when I get round to reading it. 

Because of Low by Abbi Glines (Bought)

This is book two in the Sea Breeze series.

While it Lasts by Abbi Glines (Bought)
This is book three in the Sea Breeze series.

The Proposition by Katie Ashley (Bought)
This is an adult book and one I've just read and really enjoyed! So much so, that I can't wait for the sequel The Proposal coming next year.  The only problem? I NEED IT NOW!

Love Left Behind by S.H. Kolee (Bought)
An adult book with great reviews about a young woman who tries to reinvent herself in NYC.

Roar and Liv (An Under the Never Sky Story) by Veronica Rossi (Bought)
I LOVED Under the Never Sky and cannot wait to read the sequel.  This is an interim novella that apparently needs to be read in order to understand the sequel better.  I always wanted to find out more about Roar and Liv anyway so I'm looking forward to reading this. 

Goblin Fruit by Laini Taylor (Bought)
This is a short story from Lips Touch I believe and I've just realised that I probably shouldn't have bought this since I have a hardback of Lips Touch already.  Only sometimes do I have a hard copy and a digital copy and I didn't need it in this case but oh well!

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry (Bought)
This was one of my favourite contemporary reads this year and when I saw that it was only 20p on Amazon Kindle, I knew I had to get it despite having a hardback!

The Siren by Tiffany Reisz (Bought)
I confess that I've actually already read this but I saw it for 20p on Amazon Kindle and bought it.  Whilst it was a little out of my comfort zone (it is an adult book and very VERY naughty), it was so well written and I do actually want to continue with the story. 

The Perfect Game by J. Sterling (Bought)
A new adult book with great reviews.  I do love a book about challenging romances :)

As you can see, I may have gone a little overboard again with the eBooks but it's difficult not to, especially when they are reasonably priced and then you end up not realising just how many you've bought until you are shamed into listing them every week lol.  I hope you all had a great week for books and as always, please leave your links below.

Crewel Blog Tour: Gennifer gets grilled!

I've wanted to read Crewel for the longest time now and so I'm thrilled to be part of the blog tour and to welcome Gennifer Albin to the blog today.  Before she gets grilled though, here's some information about the book...

Incapable. Awkward. Artless.

That’s what the other girls whisper behind her back. But sixteen year-old Adelice Lewys has a secret: she wants to fail.

Gifted with the ability to weave time with matter, she’s exactly what the Guild is looking for, and in the world of Arras, being chosen as a Spinster is everything a girl could want. It means privilege, eternal beauty, and being something other than a secretary. It also means the power to embroider the very fabric of life. But if controlling what people eat, where they live and how many children they have is the price of having it all, Adelice isn’t interested.

Not that her feelings matter, because she slipped and wove a moment at testing, and they’re coming for her—tonight.

Now she has one hour to eat her mom’s overcooked pot roast. One hour to listen to her sister’s academy gossip and laugh at her Dad’s stupid jokes. One hour to pretend everything’s okay. And one hour to escape.

Because once you become a Spinster, there’s no turning back.

How important is music in your writing process and do you have a playlist?

I actually did not while I was working on Crewel, because I didn't own headphones.  I was too broke. Sad, huh?  Now I listen to Pandora when I'm writing, because I can change stations to suit the mood of the chapter I'm working on.  I have a playlist up on creweltrilogy.com.  It's full of Florence + the Machine and angry girl rock.


How did you come up with the idea for Crewel?

I think it stemmed from a painting, Embroidering the Earth’s Mantle by Remedios Varo. It’s referenced in a Thomas Pynchon novel [The Crying of Lot 49]. It’s quite a beautiful painting. A group of women are embroidering the world, in a tower. I’d had the book on my shelf for years, and one day I looked at it, and I was working on a very different idea at the library that wasn’t going anywhere. I opened up a new document and almost word for word the prologue came out.


What’s the story behind the title?

Crewel actually refers to a form of free embroidery, often involving twisting of the yarn or thread.  I was looking for a title and I came upon it in a sewing book, and it was perfect!  Although I often have to spell it for people.


What’s been your best moment regarding publication so far?

On the last day of book tour, a girl walked into the bookstore we were going to be signing in.  She went over and picked up my book off the shelf and started reading it.  It was just wild to see someone come in and pick up my book!  I may have asked her if I could take a picture.


What’s the question that you wish people would ask you? (And please answer it)

Cake or pie?  And the answer depends on whether the icing on the cake is made with butter.  If not, the answer is pie.


Do you read YA? Any recommendations? What are you reading at the moment?

I do read YA!  I have pretty broad taste in books though.  Right now, I'm starting The Evolution of Mara Dyer.


Will Crewel be part of a series and can you tell us anything about what's to come?

Crewel is a trilogy, so there are two more books coming!  And all I can tell you is that Adelice will discover the source of her power and there is a lot more kissing.


A huge thank you to Gennifer for appearing on the blog today.  Crewel was published in the US on 16th October, 2012 and 18th October, 2012 in the UK.   To find out more about Gennifer and her books, please click hereto 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 Invisibility by Andrea Cremer and David Levithan.  Here's the synopsis:

Stephen has been invisible for practically his whole life — because of a curse his grandfather, a powerful cursecaster, bestowed on Stephen’s mother before Stephen was born. So when Elizabeth moves to Stephen’s NYC apartment building from Minnesota, no one is more surprised than he is that she can see him. A budding romance ensues, and when Stephen confides in Elizabeth about his predicament, the two of them decide to dive headfirst into the secret world of cursecasters and spellseekers to figure out a way to break the curse. But things don’t go as planned, especially when Stephen’s grandfather arrives in town, taking his anger out on everyone he sees. In the end, Elizabeth and Stephen must decide how big of a sacrifice they’re willing to make for Stephen to become visible — because the answer could mean the difference between life and death. 

At least for Elizabeth.

Okay, firstly this book has not one but TWO fantastic authors, the cover is very striking and the synopsis has me SOLD.  For some reason the book reminds me a little of the movie Just Like Heaven but with a magical twist and I can't wait to read it!  Invisibility is published on 7th May, 2013.  

UKYABB Secret Santa

Are you a UK book blogger who reviews Young Adult books?  Are you a big fan of Secret Santa? This year, we've combined the two to give UK YA book bloggers an opportunity to exchange books and gifts for Christmas.  It's just a nice little way of spreading Christmas cheer and sharing the book love.  Now, I know there is another scheme similar to this one out there that is international but this is UK ONLY and was set up in response from other UK book bloggers.  To find out more information and if you want to take part this year, please click here to visit the website.

I'm so excited about this, I can't wait to get started but you only have until the 8th November, 2012 to sign up so GO DO IT!

Letterbox Love (#26)

As always, Letterbox Love is a weekly feature that I'm hosting on the blog and basically, the idea came out of a discussion with other UK book bloggers about the need to do a weekly meme with more of a British feel to it. Therefore, Letterbox Love was born and the logo was lovingly designed by Dark Readers. Letterbox Love is a way for us to share the books that come through our letterbox, galleys and e books (through our electronic letterbox) and any other bookish goodies that we want to tell you about. Letterbox Love is intended to showcase upcoming books and build up some excitement for them as well as let you know what is available out there. It is not about competing with other bloggers or boasting of any kind (c'mon, we're British and we don't do drama!)

Unfortunately, there's no photographs this week as it would take too long.  Just to give you a picture of what's going on here - we've just had my boyfriend's parents here this weekend, I've been to work today (Sunday) and got home at 9pm and tomorrow I have to work a 14 hour shift so yeah...Also, I cannot even GET to where my books are right now so that doesn't help either.  Rather than NOT do Letterbox Love this week, I thought I'd give you a list without the pics.

Review Books

Finale by Becca Fitzpatrick

I have to admit that I am behind with this series and didn't read past the second book as I got a little sick of Nora.  I do still plan on reading it though although I'm not sure when at this point.  Still loving the covers and this is possibly my favourite so far. 

Darklands: A Deadtown Novel by Nancy Holzner

I'm thoroughly confused why I've been sent this book which is a mid series book of an author and series I've never heard of and in fact, I haven't heard of the publisher either and have no idea how they got my address.  It's all a little weird to be honest and I don't plan on reading it because there's another 4-5 books in front of this one!  If you're a massive fan of this series and want this book, let me know.

It's possible I got more books but worryingly, I cannot even find the ones above let alone any others at the moment.

Thank you publishers!

Books Bought

How Not to Write a Novel by Howard Mittelmark and Sandra Newman

Rather than the masses of writing books out there, I think I will probably get more out of this one which is a what NOT to do.  I'll give it a go anyway and if nothing else, I have a feeling it will be entertaining.

The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart by Leanna Renee Hieber

I really enjoyed Darker Still and so NATURALLY I had to get the sequel which continues the story.  I'm looking forward to this one and might read it over Halloween actually as it has a bit of the creep factor to it.

E-Books

Vanish by Sophie Jordan (Bought)
This is a series I haven't actually started yet but this was 99p and I couldn't resist.

Tempting the Player by J. Lynn (Bought)
I LOVE anything that's written by Jennifer L. Armentrout who of course is behind "J. Lynn".  I thoroughly enjoyed Tempting the Best Man and this is a companion novel featuring another one of the Gamble brothers.  Sadly, I've not been able to access this yet as apparently I need to update my kindle software.  I've not seen this message before but I'm going to try and fix it when I can.

This is a slow week for me books wise but I'm glad as like I said, I cannot find anything at the moment and I'm not liking it.  Next week will be different FOR SURE.   As always, please leave your links and I hope you had a great week :)

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 Color of Rain by Cori McCarthy.  Here's the synopsis:

The Color of Rain is about a girl who, desperate to get medical help for her dying brother on a distant planet, makes a dangerous trade with a space captain, only to find herself aboard a ship where girls are commodities and the vulnerable are trafficked into slavery.

This is the only information I have so far on this book so far other than it's the first book from debut author Cori McCarthy and it's basically YA in space.  YES!  This is definitely my kind of book and I'm lusting after this like nobody's business.  I have no idea whether or not it will publish in the UK but the pre-order link is live.  The Color of Rain is published on 14th May, 2013.

Letterbox Love (#25)

As always, Letterbox Love is a weekly feature that I'm hosting on the blog and basically, the idea came out of a discussion with other UK book bloggers about the need to do a weekly meme with more of a British feel to it. Therefore, Letterbox Love was born and the logo was lovingly designed by Dark Readers. Letterbox Love is a way for us to share the books that come through our letterbox, galleys and e books (through our electronic letterbox) and any other bookish goodies that we want to tell you about. Letterbox Love is intended to showcase upcoming books and build up some excitement for them as well as let you know what is available out there. It is not about competing with other bloggers or boasting of any kind (c'mon, we're British and we don't do drama!)

Review Books

Through To You by Emily Hainsworth

This is the UK paperback copy of Through To You which quite frankly, sounds amazing. 

Silent Saturday (Forbidden Spaces Trilogy) by Helen Grant

I actually thought this was an adult book when it arrived, mostly because of the cover but it turns out that the protagonist is a 17 year old girl and the book is written by the same author who gave us The Glass Demon.  I don't quite know what to make of the book or what sub genre to put it in so I need to look further into what the story is about.

Infinite Sky by C.J. Flood

How BEAUTIFUL is this cover?  It sounds like a great Summer book which is why I'm curious who made the decision to launch it in...February.  Anyway, I think it sounds good and I'm always up for a bit of a forbidden relationship over the Summer. 

Thank you publishers!

Books Bought

Fair Coin by E.C. Myers

I've been wanting to read this book for ages now although I've always hesitated over getting it.  In the end, I decided to buy it based on some reviews I'd read.  I think it sounds interesting.

Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness

I have the first book (A Discovery of Witches) and although I haven't read it yet, it got great reviews.  I bought the sequel based on that and it was a good price over at The Book People. 

Darkness Falls by Cate Tiernan

I have the first book in this series in hardback and I wanted to buy the second one but I couldn't find it for less than a tenner which was disappointing.  I ended up finding it at The Book People and so I bought it.  Now I just have to start reading them LOL.  My sister loves this series though so even if I don't like it, I can give the books to her.

E-Books

Inbetween by Tara Fuller (Bought)
Don't laugh when you find out that I already own the paperback and reviewed this last week.  Sometimes I buy digital copies of books I love so I can have them on my kindle/iPad.  I loved this book and if you're interested, my review is here.

Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson (Bought)
This is the same sort of scenario as above, I've already read and reviewed this here and I have a signed paperback but I wanted a digital copy and it was reasonably priced.  If you haven't started this series yet then OMG DO IT NOW as it's really, really good and I have to thank my fellow friends and UK book bloggers for finally making me read it!!

Awkward by Marni Bates (Bought)
I recently bought Decked with Holly by the same author and I heard a friend talking about how good her other book Awkward was.  I read the synopsis and decided that I can definitely identify with awkwardness so I bought it.

Losing It by Cora Carmack (Bought)
I'd heard quite a bit about this New Adult book and have been waiting patiently for publication date.  I've already read it and it was quite enjoyable actually.  Review coming soon.

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion (Bought)
I've been meaning to read this since Maggie Stiefvater raved about it which was some time ago now.  If you know me at all, you'll know that I don't generally do zombies unless someone hides that fact from me or calls zombies by another name so I don't realise until I'm into the story.  I stay away from all things zombies as body parts falling off? Just. Doesn't. Do it for me.  HOWEVER, everyone raves about this book and I know it's going to be a movie next year so I've decided to take the plunge and read it.  Wish me luck and the bets are open as to whether I'll finish it. 

One Night With a Hero by Laura Kaye(Bought)
This is an adult book and I love reading the Brazen line of books as they're easy reading and I can usually finish them in one sitting.  This one sounds quite romantic and that's just what I like.

Love Machine by Electra Shepherd (Bought)
This is an adult book and I bought this after seeing a couple of friends talking it on Twitter as I think it sounds really funny (although I'm not sure it's intended that way).  It's a short erotic story about a robot called Blue.  A robot...so...yeah, I'll let you know.

Devoured by Emily Snow (Bought)
This is an adult book and one that I've read recently.  Whilst I enjoyed it, I thought Lucas was a bit of a prick to be honest so I'm still figuring out my feelings about it.  If you want to read about a hot rock star who likes to be dominant, then this is the book for you.

A Dark Kiss of Rapture by Sylvia Day (Free) 
Another adult book and I don't know a lot about it but I recognised the author's name and it was free. 

So, as you can see, I'm still on an e book kick and this is mainly because I LOVE reading on my iPad at night.  It's actually beginning to feel weird to hold a real book in my hands at this point and that fact freaks me out a little.  I hope you all had a great week for books and please leave your links :)

Inbetween Review

Since the car crash that took her father’s life three years ago, Emma’s life has been a freaky — and unending — lesson in caution. Surviving “accidents” has taken priority over being a normal seventeen-year-old, so Emma spends her days taking pictures of life instead of living it. Falling in love with a boy was never part of the plan. Falling for a reaper who makes her chest ache and her head spin? Not an option.

It’s not easy being dead, especially for a reaper in love with a girl fate has put on his list not once, but twice. Finn’s fellow reapers give him hell about spending time with Emma, but Finn couldn’t let her die before, and he’s not about to let her die now. He will protect the girl he loves from the evil he accidentally unleashed, even if it means sacrificing the only thing he has left…his soul.

Picture this.  You’re a busy nurse, working a night shift and you get your break about two in the morning.  You don’t sleep and would prefer to read a book but you’re a little tired and don’t know how well you’re going to be able to concentrate.  You decide to read Inbetween by Tara Fuller and the very first chapter is so good that BAM, you are literally pulled into the story and before you know it, it’s time to get back to work.  Yes people, this happened.  Inbetween did an AMAZING job of holding my attention and keeping me awake and I was sad when I had to put it down! 

When I first read the description for the book, I had a feeling I might like it but I didn’t realise just how much I would ADORE it and now it’s right up there with the other books-I-loved-like-woah which are - Anew (by Chelsea Fine), Larkstorm (by Dawn Rae Miller) and Beautiful Disaster (by Jamie McGuire) with how I feel about it.  The book is actually a little close to a story I’ve been working on for years (maybe that’s why I like it so much) but thankfully, there are enough differences to separate the stories.  There are no reapers in my book!

One of the things I liked most about Inbetween was the fact that whilst it was generally about the afterlife, refreshingly, there were no angels and demons as this story was all about reapers.  We find out that there are three different kinds of reapers who collect souls and send them on their way – a reaper for heaven, a reaper for hell and a reaper for the “inbetween”.  Our main protagonist Finn is a reaper who just so happens to be in love with one of the living.  He’s made it his mission to protect her at any cost but it’s interfering with his job and when the boss finds out he’s tampering with things he has no business tampering with, there’s going to be trouble.  But can Finn let go of the girl he loves? 

I have to say that I absolutely adored Finn and had a lot of fun picturing Zac Effron (like he was in Charlie St. Cloud, before he bulked up) in the role. He was swoonworthy and a half but what makes him so appealing is his personality (the guy doesn’t have a body after all) but he would literally go to hell to protect Emma.

Our other protagonist, Emma AKA the clueless object of Finn’s affection, keeps having “accidents” that basically nearly kill her but she keeps escaping unharmed, thanks to Finn, only she’s never met him and doesn’t know he’s there...until now.    

I loved ALL the characters in the book and I have to give a quick shout out for Scout as I LOVED the scene in his uncle’s garage which had me giggling.  Out of all of them though, I especially had a soft spot for Cash who felt so damn real.  I loved his sexy, snarky self although I often wondered if there was more or potentially more between him and Emma and if not, why not?!  Was it because they’d grown up together and felt more like brother and sister?  Cash did say at one point that if he “went there” with Emma, he’d ruin their relationship and he definitely didn’t want to do that so maybe that’s why.   I did love the hints at a possible relationship between him and Anaya and I believe this may be explored in the sequel entitled Blurred, which will be written in dual perspective again but from Cash and Anaya’s point of view this time (Cash gets his own book!)

Inbetween was a fabulous story with great primary and secondary characters.  I was a little frustrated (only because of how much I love the story) to find several spelling mistakes towards the end of the book and I even found a small continuity error but thankfully, it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book.  I’m really glad I ended up buying a finished copy (rather than an eBook) and I cannot wait to read the sequel which will be out next summer.  I’ve just downloaded Tara’s other book, Perigee Moon onto my kindle as I think I’m her newest fan and proud to be so.

Inbetween was published on 28th August, 2012.  To find out more about Tara Fuller and her books, please 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 Under The Light by Laura Whitcomb.  Here's the synopsis:

Helen needed a body to be with her beloved and Jenny needed to escape from hers before her spirit was broken. It was wicked, borrowing it, but love drives even the gentlest soul to desperate acts.

When Jenny returns to her body, she finds that someone has been living her life while she was away. She doesn’t remember being Billy’s lover or defying her family. But now she is faced with the consequences. And Helen, who has returned to warn Jenny—to help her—finds herself trapped, haunting the girl she wished to save.

In this captivating companion novel to A Certain Slant of Light, the love story between Jenny and Billy begins out-of-body—where they can fly and move the stars--and continues into the tumultuous realm of the living, where they are torn away from each other even as they slowly remember their spirits falling in love.

I can't tell you how long I've been waiting for this book.  I ADORED A Certain Slant of Light (although I think I read this before I started blogging so I can't find a review of it although I did comment on Amazon) and I'm excited to read a continuation of the story that captured my imagination and had me sending a copy of the book to my mother to read!  It makes me want to re-read the first book to be honest and I might just do that so I can write a proper review of it.  I'm so happy that Laura finally finished the sequel and it's DEFINITELY on my wish list.  Under the Light is published on 14th May, 2013.  

Crush Review

Cami Wimberley has a plan, and that plan includes no room for boys—especially the big time party animal, Hunter Wilder, no matter how handsome and charismatic he is. She’s beautiful, a senior, extremely talented, gets good grades, and is working her way toward her dream college to be a musical theater major. Everything is perfect.

Hunter Wilder does not want a girlfriend—that would complicate his life way too much right now. He especially doesn’t want this girl, Miss-Goody-Two-Shoes, so how come he can’t keep his eyes off her? He tries to keep her at arms length, but fate seems to keep pushing them together. Before long, it’s obvious to everyone they’re crushing on each other.

As sparks begin to fly, Hunter finds himself sinking deeper and deeper into hot water. Soon he’s scrambling to keep Cami from discovering his dark secret—one that can destroy their entire relationship.

I love the cover for Crush by Lacey Weatherford and I went into reading it with the idea that it was going to be a hot, contemporary romance.  I’m happy to tell you that whilst this is indeed the case, the book is about so much more.   I didn’t expect the drug abuse, the mental health issues, the secrets and downright lies floating around like snowflakes.  The romance was present but there was also something else going on and this made for one of the best books I’ve seen from Lacey.

Cami is Miss-Goody-Two-Shoes and Hunter is the relatively-new-NEW-GUY and Hunter is instantly drawn to Cami.  He really doesn’t need to be complicating his life right now with girls but in Cami’s case, he really can’t help himself.  Hunter comes across as a decent bad boy – he smokes, he drinks, he parties and dabbles with drugs occasionally but he’s a decent guy nonetheless.  Cami’s not exactly approving of his alternative lifestyle but she cannot deny the mutual attraction between them. Now, the guys aren’t exactly lined up for her (only because they think she is TOO good for them) so imagine her surprise when her BFF Clay has the makeover of the season and goes from geek to chic within 24 hours before professing his undying love for her.  Unfortunately, Cami doesn’t reciprocate and sees him more like a brother.  Can you say AWKWARD?  Enter Hunter who provides a healthy distraction for Cami, only Clay doesn’t like it one bit *sings* There may be troubleeee aheeeeeead....

I have to say that I have a bit of a crush on Hunter myself.  Whilst I don’t like his lifestyle, he is sexy, and confident and when he falls for Cami, he falls hard.  The best thing about Cami is that she is non judgemental and she will be friends with whomever she wants to thank you very much, despite the fact that this has landed her quite firmly in the geek’s corner.  As for Clay? All I will say is that taking everything into account, I can do nothing but feel sorry for him.

I’m desperately trying not to give away anything but I will say that there may be one or two twists to the tale.  I actually guessed one of them about halfway through but this might be my writer brain taking over and to be honest, I’m HAPPY to be proven right as that’s what I was hoping for in the story.

A lot of YA books shy away from edgy subject matter for fear of being blacklisted and this makes me sad.  We don’t live in a perfect world and we shouldn’t paint a picture that is all rainbows and unicorns because that isn’t real.  Whilst Crush wasn’t “hardcore”, it does touch on some edgy subject matters but it’s a great story and one that needs to be read.  I dare you to fall in love with Crush.

Crush is published on 20th October, 2012.  To find out more about Lacey and her books, please click here to visit her website.   You can read chapter one here.

Entice Review (Who Will You Entice Blog Tour)

On her seventeenth birthday Violet Eden’s whole life changed. One minute she was a normal teenager obsessed with her art…and Lincoln. The next she has to get her head around the knowledge that angels do exist, both light and dark and she’s not altogether human either. Violet is Grigori – part angel and part human. Oh, and Lincoln knew it all along.

Coming to terms with her destiny is tough, but Violet thought she knew all the secrets. She was wrong. The ancient battle between exiled angels and humanity is far from over. And now Violet has to learn to live with her feelings for Lincoln while working with him to stay alive and stop the exiles discovering the key to destroy all Grigori. It isn’t easy. Especially when the electricity between her and Phoenix ignites and she discovers his hold over her has become more dangerous than ever.
 

Searching for the answers she needs will take Violet halfway across the world to the sacred mountains of Jordan, where ancient stories come to life and her warrior spirit will be called upon to make things right … but even then her choices have consequences she never saw coming.

I freaking love this book series so damn much and besides Jennifer Laurens' Heavenly, this of the best YA book series featuring angels I have read so far!  It goes without saying that as this is the second book in the series, if you have not read Embrace (review here) then do not go any further as you WILL encounter spoilers.


Before reading Entice, I was unsure whether or not I would have to re-read Embrace to remind me of some of the major plot points.  I asked around and was assured that I didn’t need to do this but I ended up doing it anyway because I felt like re-reading and I think it helped (but it’s not entirely necessary). 

I’m going to start by going in for the kill and saying that Entice did not disappoint ONE BIT although that being said, I was a little disappointed with Phoenix’s behaviour but I understand that there was only one way he could go.....and that’s bad.  Basically, he’s hurting BIG TIME.  I think because Violet was the first person to believe in him, to really care about him and show him that he’s worth caring about and I think despite the alleged lies and deception on Phoenix’s part, he cared about her too.

I want to give a big shout out to the awesome new secondary characters, especially Spence. Dude! I love his mischievous spirit and if Violet didn’t have Lincoln...I mean Phoenix...I mean Lincoln then Spence would totally be up for the part.  Also, Steph the non-new-character-and-general-best-friend needs a mention because she’s smart, she makes me laugh and I’d love to have a best friend just like her.  I also enjoyed seeing Onyx play at being a human but I shall say no more about that.

I have to say that despite how much I love Lincoln (and I do, I really do) I guiltily enjoyed and understood the hold Phoenix still has on Violet.   Amidst everything, Lincoln and Violet are still pussyfooting around each other, trying to define just what their relationship is and he really needs to learn to STOP hiding things from Violet *rolls eyes* boys... I’m also really glad that Violet is fully up to speed with what she is now and is certainly embracing (no pun intended) her fate with flare.

You’ll be pleased to know that as ever, the book is not just about Violet and Lincoln’s relationship as there are more important things at stake like...oh, I don’t know....only the fate of all Grigori on Earth!  I LOVED the whole ‘race to the scriptures’ element which made things more exciting and the traitor amongst them certainly upped the ante by adding more conflict to the mix.   There is no way I would EVER have seen what was coming at the end of the book, that’s for sure and for someone who can usually see the plot twists, this made for a refreshing change.    Let’s just say that book three is set up nicely, thank you very much and never has the temptation to buy the Australian copies been stronger, especially as they are available over there RIGHT NOW (but it would probably cost me an arm and a leg to do it!)

Entice was everything I thought it was going to be and more, I think this series just keeps getting stronger and stronger and I cannot wait to find out what happens next.  Australian friends? SAY NOTHING.

Entice was published in the US on 4th September, 2012 and the UK on 6th September, 2012.  To find out more about Jessica and her books, please click here to visit her website.

Letterbox Love (#24)

As always, Letterbox Love is a weekly feature that I'm hosting on the blog and basically, the idea came out of a discussion with other UK book bloggers about the need to do a weekly meme with more of a British feel to it. Therefore, Letterbox Love was born and the logo was lovingly designed by Dark Readers. Letterbox Love is a way for us to share the books that come through our letterbox, galleys and e books (through our electronic letterbox) and any other bookish goodies that we want to tell you about. Letterbox Love is intended to showcase upcoming books and build up some excitement for them as well as let you know what is available out there. It is not about competing with other bloggers or boasting of any kind (c'mon, we're British and we don't do drama!)  You may notice that I didn't take any photographs this week and that's simply because it's a lot of effort, only to have one book in the photo so I grabbed an image instead.

Review Books

Crewel by Gennifer Albin

I already had a digital version of this from Netgalley but I just couldn't read it like that as the formatting was all messed up so thankfully, Faber & Faber sent me a paperback copy and I'm reading this next! 

    

Books Bought

Through to You by Emily Hainsworth

I'd actually forgotten that I'd pre-ordered this ages ago and so it was a nice surprise to receive it, especially as the UK version isn't out yet.  I think this book sounds FASCINATING and I can't wait to read it.

E-Books

The Dating Deal by Melanie Marks (Bought)
You may or may not though this but I've read and reviewed some of Melanie Marks books before and during that time, I came to realise that she does romance VERY WELL which is why I got this book.  

After Adam by Katie Aleo (Bought)
This is a short novella at 27,000 words (the average YA novel is above 60,000 words) and so I know it will take me no time at all to read this. It's had some good reviews and for 77p, it's not a big deal if I don't like it however I think it sounds interesting.

Reading Like a Writer by Francine Prose (Bought)
I bought this on the recommendation of a friend (thanks Liz) as I like the idea of reading like a writer (which I think I do anyway) but it sounded like a good read.

The Providence Trilogy (Providence, Requiem and Eden) by Jamie McGuire (Bought)
So, recently I read Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire and became OBSESSED with Travis.  This book has ruined me, RUINED ME I tell you for other books and I knew I had to do something, so I ordered the rest of her books to keep me ticking over until Walking Disaster is released.

Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan (Bought)
I actually read this last Christmas although I never reviewed it at the time so I might just re-read this year as I loved the story and it comes highly recommended.

Screenwriting Tricks for Authors (and screenwriters!) by Alexandra Sokoloff (Free)
I'm thinking this might be my next writing book to read as I've seen nothing but five star reviews for it and SCORE, it was free when I got it. 

So, I hope this post proves to you that I don't ALWAYS have an epic week with how many books get delivered through my door (whether they're for review or I've bought them) but for me, it's always going to be quality over quantity anyway ;)  I hope you all had a great week for books and as always, please leave me your links :)

Apollyon Cover Reveal

Are you as big of a fan of Jennifer L. Armentrout as I am?  If you've read Half Blood and Pure, then I know you will be DYING to read Deity, which is the third book in the Covenant Series and is published on 6th November, 2012.  Here's the book trailer with one of my favourite songs of 2012:



Now, if you read an ARC of Deity and have been dying to get your hands on Elixir, the novella told in Aiden’s POV that picks up right after the end of Deity, well, you don’t have to wait any longer. The free novella is available now. Be warned though, DO NOT read Elixir if you have not read Deity. It will spoil Deity for you and not to mention, you will have no idea what is going on. Elixir will be available in print. Kindle, and Nook formats on November 27, 2012. Click here to read Elixir.

And *drum roll* I am VERY EXCITED to share the cover for the 4th book in the Covenant Series, Apollyon, which is due to be published in April, 2013.

To find out more about Jennifer L. Armentrout and her books, please click here to visit her website.  You can also follow her on Twitter and Facebook.

Beautiful Disaster Review

The new Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn’t drink or swear, and she has the appropriate percentage of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance between her and the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University's Walking One-Night Stand.

Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby needs—and wants—to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the ultimate college campus charmer. Intrigued by Abby’s resistance to his appeal, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis’s apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match.

I didn’t mean to stay up until after 3am reading Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire but that’s exactly what I did because from the moment I started reading (about 5 hours earlier) I could. Not. Put. It. Down.  This book was spellbinding and would not let go of my attention until I had finished it.  Even now, I’m still thinking about it and all I want to do is flip back to the beginning and read it all over again.  SERIOUSLY.  And you know what? The following night, I did just that and I’m flabbergasted as there has only been one other book that has affected me in this way so you know...it must be good!!!

Beautiful Disaster is aimed at older YA readers as it contains swearing, some sexual content and violence (although no domestic abuse).  It’s set on a college campus and we get to see the world through Abby’s eyes. She’s come to college to get away from her past, reinvent herself if you will and the last thing she needs is to hook up with someone like Travis and so they decide to be friends but after losing a bet, she has to stay in his apartment for one month and gradually, the lines get a little blurry.

I’m trying not to go all fan girl here but all I want to say is OH MY GOD I LOVE THIS BOOK.  This is one of the best romances I’ve ever read and it’s INSANE to think that this started out as a self published book.  The writing is superb and the dialogue is SPOT ON.  I believed every. Single. Word. And the characters feel like real people to me in a crazy good way.    I never thought I would say this about a player but GOD, how I love Travis.  Yes, I’m totally in love with him, you know, once you get past the playboy exterior and discover the real him underneath (and boy would I like to!)  He’s the ultimate bad boy – shaved head, hot body, tats, rides a motorbike and fights with nothing but his fists for money.  Whilst he’s a little temperamental, what I love most about him is that he’s full of passion, full of spirit and he’s smart too – he aces his subjects.  He’s also sadly, the ultimate one night stand but Abby is the exception. I loved how she wasn’t interested in Travis in the beginning and I would totally be the same.  I’m not into player’s, in fact it’s a real turn off for me, despite how good looking the guy is.  I can’t stand the thought that some guy thinks he can have whoever he wants and neither can Abby.   The fact that it shocked the hell out of Travis just adds to my amusement.  I liked how their friendship was very natural – it started off as a bit of bantering and then Abby became defensive when others trash-talked Travis as she knew him like no one else.  You can see where this is going; Travis falls for Abby....HARD.  But he’s the kind of guy who keeps fucking up repeatedly and the question is, can Abby deal with it?  Can any relationship withstand all the shit that’s thrown their way?

Basically, Abby and Travis are both a little fucked up and their relationship is dysfunctional at best.  It’s full of drama, full of tension and certainly not boring!  But, something about them together just works. At times, I felt like banging their heads together to knock some sense into them as some of their actions? Left me speechless, throwing my hands in the air out of frustration because basically, let’s just say that they had a bit of a communication problem at times.  I mean how long did it take for Travis to come out and admit how he felt about Abby TO Abby.  Maybe he thought his actions spoke louder than words but us girls need to hear the words and you need to say it like you mean it!

I can’t not mention America and Shepley too – the best friends and secondary characters.  I loved how loyal America was to Abby and equally, how loyal Shepley was to his cousin and roommate Travis.  America and Shepley’s relationship was cute and at some points, they reminded me of Dionne and Murray from Clueless, I have no idea why but their relationship was lighter than Travis and Abby’ so maybe that’s why.

With this kind of book, it’s always going to evoke strong reactions from readers – both positive and negative.  All I can say is that I don’t want to read about perfect relationships because you know what? THAT’S NOT REAL.  It’s actually more harmful to paint a rosy picture all the time because when your relationship doesn’t turn out like that, you think that there’s something wrong with it.  Not all guys are perfect (by God, do I know this one) and not all relationships are either.  These people are damaged and they’re going to act damaged.  Relationships aren’t all sunshine and rainbows, this is raw and real.  Travis and Abby went through some tough times both separate and together and they couldn’t truly be together until they’d dealt with their own demons.

I think you can guess by now that I loved this book from start to finish X a million and still as much the second time around.  I’m ECSTATIC to find out that Warner Brothers has picked up the movie rights and I CANNOT WAIT to see it up on the big screen.  This is my new favourite and I hope you love it too.  There’s a reason I just paid a small fortune to order the signed, special edition hardback from the States.

Beautiful Disaster was published on 14th August, 2012 in the UK and US although it originally published in May, 2011.  I’m delighted to tell you that Walking Disaster, a companion novel...wait for it...written from Travis’ point of view *insert fan girl scream here* will be published in March, 2013 and I am pre-ordering STAT.  I cannot get enough of Travis and I can’t wait to get inside that boy’s head! The prologue has already been released online and you can read teasers and listen to the official playlist on Jamie’s website here.  

There is no book trailer at present so I thought I would share what I think is Abby’s song and what is Travis’s song- they just happen to be two of the most beautiful songs in the world. Ever.  Enjoy

Abby’s Song


  Travis’ Song

Oh, and this is who I picture for Travis.  This guy is is an actor called Colton Haynes.  You're welcome ;)

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 Revel by Maurissa Guibord.  Here's the synopsis:

There’s an island off the coast of Maine that’s not on any modern map.

Shrouded in mist and protected by a deadly reef, Trespass Island is home to a community of people who guard the island and its secrets from outsiders. Seventeen-year-old Delia grew up in Kansas, but has come here in search of her family and answers to her questions: Why didn’t her mother ever talk about Trespass Island? Why did she fear the open water? But Delia’s not welcome and soon finds herself enmeshed in a frightening and supernatural world where ancient Greek symbols adorn the buildings and secret ceremonies take place on the beach at night.

Sean Gunn, a handsome young lobsterman, befriends Delia and seems willing to risk his life to protect her. But it’s Jax, the coldly elusive young man she meets at the water’s edge, who finally makes Delia understand the real dangers of life on the island. Delia is going to have to fight to survive. Because there are monsters here. And no one ever leaves Trespass alive.

I've never read a book by Maurissa Guibord but this one sounds right up my street.  A little island? Check.  Secrets? Check.  Greek mythology? Check.  I am totally sold on the synopsis and if Angie Frazier (author of Everlasting) loves it then I know I am going to love it too!  Adding to my wish list immediately.  

Revel is published on 12th February, 2013 with no UK release information as of yet.