Welcome everyone :) Things may be a little slow at the moment as I am in my last few months of school so I am swamped with work and exams but if you had time to leave a comment it would make my day!

Monday 28 February 2011

Cover Crazy/Mouth Watering Monday: Across The Universe



US

Isn't it pretty? I love it!

I like:
  • The font. I really love it! (if anyone knows where I can download it, tell me!)
  • The colour scheme. Gorgeous
  • The tagline "What does it take to survive a spaceship fuelled by lies?" How awesome!
  •  The sparkly stars. I like all things shiny!
  • Pretty much everything!
I dislike:
  • NOTHING!

5 Stars



UK

It falls flat for me. Yes it is still gorgeous but with the stars missing it feels a little naked.



4 Stars


Saturday 26 February 2011

In My Mailbox (15)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren.

Mary Hooper Interview

 I am pleased to introduce you today to Mary Hooper. She is the author of historical fiction novels such as At The Sign Of A Sugared Plum and Fallen Grace but has also a contemporary series called Megan about a teenage girl that becomes pregnant.



Why are you drawn to writing historical fiction?

I just find it so much more interesting: highwaymen, king’s mistresses and lost inheritances over i-phones, texting and Facebook.

Can you tell us a bit about your newest book “Fallen Grace”?

It’s about a girl – Grace – who goes to work for a firm of Undertakers. It is set in Victorian times and also involves a lost sister, a baby and a vast inheritance.

Do you read children and young adult novels to help you with the target audience?

I write the sorts of stories I like to read; I don’t have to think about the age group.

What encouraged you to write for children and young adults?

Books are shorter, for a start!

Who was your favourite author as a child and who is your favourite author at present?

Richmal Crompton (she wrote the JUST WILLIAM books) was always my favourite as a child. Now I change my favourites from week to week. At the moment I’m reading Philip Pulman’s Sally Lockhart stories and loving them.

Did you always love writing or did you discover your passion later on in life?

I have always loved writing and started off by doing lots of magazine short stories. Later I wrote serials and then tackled a whole book.

Do you have to do research for your books since they are historical fiction?

Certainly – and research is the very best part of writing. It’s where you find all the interesting little things which will make your book come to life.

Do you read books whilst you are writing a novel or do you feel it hinders your work?

I am always reading. I need a break from writing!

Are you working on any new novels at this time?

I’ve just finished a book called VELVET, which is about a girl who goes to work for a fraudulent medium. It’s set a little later than FALLEN GRACE, in the year when Queen Victoria dies.

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Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions! Make sure you add some of Mary Hooper's novels to your TBR piles today! Her latest novel Fallen Grace is out now!

Friday 25 February 2011

Read, Review, Recommend (6)

It is time for Read, Review, Recommend again! and that means it is Friday. YAY. I hope you have all had a good week and if not, hopefully this great recommendation will cheer you up! The guest blogger today is Leanna from Daisy Chain Book Reviews. She is going to share her review of Beautiful Malice by Rebecca James.


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The book I've chosen to highlight for my Read, Review, Recommend post is Beautiful Malice by Rebecca James. I read this book last year, and it became an instant favourite of mine. If you haven't already read it, do so now! It's a wonderful psychological thriller of toxic friendships and deep rooted secrets that come back to haunt the characters here.  There was  a lot of hype surrounding this book and it's author, and in my opinion, the book totally lives up to the hype. I often find that when books are very buzzed about, they are a let down for me, but not this one!  This was also the first Aussie YA books I read, and since then I've been wanting to find out about more Aussie YA titles. Recently that's been happening a lot since I found out about some great Australian book blogs.


I also had the opportunity to interview Rebecca James, the author of this book, and she is so very nice and was kind enough to send me an Australian edition of the book. I am a little obsessed with book covers and the Australian cover of this one is my favourite.

Beautiful Malice was marketed as an adult book in America, which is why you might not see it all around the (mostly US YA) blogosphere, but in my opinion, it's suitable for anyone 14+ and also has great crossover appeal.  Along with all the dark stuff here, there's some wonderful romance, and characters you will totally fall in love with.  Oh, apart from the character of Alice. She will creep you out!



Rebecca James second book, Cooper Bartholomew is Dead is released later this year and I cannot wait to read it!

Thanks for having me, Alice!

My interview with Rebecca James 


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Thank you so much for taking part Leanna. Make sure you stop by her blog Daisy Chain Book Reviews. It really is wonderful! Also, make sure you add Beautiful Malice to your TBR piles now!

Thursday 24 February 2011

Discussion Post: Hardback Vs Paperback

If you are frequent viewer of my blog you probably know I'm hardcover whore. I will admit it. I have no shame. I will willingly pay £10 for a hardcover book because it is pretty. I love looking underneath the dust jacket and feel that smooth hardcover. I love the shiny font on the spine and the sometimes embossed covers. What I love even more is when they aren't black underneath. Anna and the French Kiss is a beautiful royal purple and Unearthly is a gorgeous grey with gorgeous font.


Am I the only one? I can't be 
surely. I used to be a paperback girl. Cheap and cheerful. I have become much more stuck up. Much more snobby. Much more shallow. I know. Shoot me. I'm a sucker for a hardcover. They remind me of my mum's classics. Just hardbacks, no photos or cartoons. Just simple, old fashioned books! May I just throw in the fact that my mum is in New Zealand right now and is bringing me back some of these beauties here. Gorgeous pretty classics! Score!







So what are you? Hardback or paperback? Tell me below!

Wednesday 23 February 2011

Waiting On Wednesday (6)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Breaking the Spine where you share the the books you are anticipating.







Lina is just like any other fifteen-year-old Lithuanian girl in 1941. She paints, she draws, she gets crushes on boys. Until one night when Soviet officers barge into her home, tearing her family from the comfortable life they've known. Separated from her father, forced onto a crowded and dirty train car, Lina, her mother, and her young brother slowly make their way north, crossing the Arctic Circle, to a work camp in the coldest reaches of Siberia. Here they are forced, under Stalin's orders, to dig for beets and fight for their lives under the cruelest of conditions.


Lina finds solace in her art, meticulously—and at great risk—documenting events by drawing, hoping these messages will make their way to her father's prison camp to let him know they are still alive. It is a long and harrowing journey, spanning years and covering 6,500 miles, but it is through incredible strength, love, and hope that Lina ultimately survives. Between Shades of Gray is a novel that will steal your breath and capture your heart.

  

It looks like such a touching novel. It is something I know little about and I would love to know more about it. I love fictional novels that touch on some of the harsh truths of history. It looks simply inspiring.


Tuesday 22 February 2011

Jenna and Jonah's Fauxmance by Emily Franklin and Brenden Halpin Review

Title: Jenna & Jonah's Fauxmance
Author: Emily Franklin & Brenden Haplin
Pages: 288
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Release Date: February 1st 2011
Source: For Review from Bloomsbury (thank you :D )




Fans of romance don't need to look any further than the fauxmance brewing between teen idols Charlie Tracker and Fielding Withers—known on their hit TV show as Jenna and Jonah, next-door neighbors flush with the excitement of first love. But it's their off-screen relationship that has helped cement their fame, as passionate fans follow their every PDA. They grace the covers of magazines week after week. Their fan club has chapters all over the country. The only problem is their off-screen romance is one big publicity stunt, and Charlie and Fielding can't stand to be in the same room. Still, it's a great gig, so even when the cameras stop rolling, the show must go on, and on, and on. . . . Until the pesky paparazzi blow their cover, and Charlie and Fielding must disappear to weather the media storm. It's not until they're far off the grid of the Hollywood circuit that they realize that there's more to each of them than shiny hair and a winning smile.


It is a typical romance book. Light, fluffy and pretty predictable. Did I expect anything more? No. Did I care? Hell no! I love some light relief. Not every book has to impact your life for it to be enjoyable. It was a bit of fun and I loved every moment of it.


I have a thing for love/hate relationships. I love banter. I love wit. I love bickering. I love sexual tension. It is very fun to watch play out and this book had BUCKETS of it. From the start the bickering was there though I would have liked a slightly smoother transition towards the end.


As explained in the summary the two have to escape the paparazzi after being outed as a fake couple. I would have liked this to happen a little earlier than it did and for the stay to be longer but hey-ho. It was definitely my favourite part of the  book.


Both characters were very likeable. Jonah/Fielding started off as a bit of a jerk but as the novel progresses he becomes a lot more likeable. Jenna/Charlie was a little obsessive and reminded me of Rachel from Glee. Still loved her though ( I love Rachel). The duel narration was really effective, allowing the reader to see what was going on in both of their minds and how they felt about each other.


The ending was fine. Predictable, yes. I would have liked a little more substance than given. I felt it could have been developed more but it was sweet none the less. 

Monday 21 February 2011

Cover Crazy/ Mouth Watering Monday: Jenna & Jonah's Fauxmance








 

I really like this cover. It is cute and fun and speaks true of the novel!

I like:

  • How they use different fonts for their names.
  • The heart shaped clapper (I think that is what it is called)

I don't like:

  • The tagline. It falls a little flat for me.

★★


4 Stars


Daily Dose (6)

Daily Dose is hosted by Good Golly Miss Holly



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Created by me :) I thought it would be nice to see what people are listening to!




Have a great Monday guys :)




Sunday 20 February 2011

In My Mailbox (15)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren.



For Review

Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce
Withering Tights by Louise Rennison

Bought

The Awakening by L.J Smith (The Vampire Diaries #1)
The Struggle by L.J Smith (The Vampire Diaries #2)
The Fury by L.J Smith (The Vampire Diaries #3)
Dark Reunion by L.J Smith (The Vampire Diaries #4)

What did you get in your Mailbox?

Saturday 19 February 2011

Supernaturally Cover Reveal

The cover for the sequel to Paranormalcy by Kiersten White has been revealed. I haven't read Paranormalcy but I thought that cover was gorgeous too!



It is the same model as Paranormalcy and I will admit that she is extremely pretty. The cover has a much softer vibe to the first one, with the warmer tones and the flowers. There is still, however, an overall strength within it, especially in the full cover shot below. Look at that lightning!




What do you think of the cover?

Friday 18 February 2011

Read, Review, Recommend (7)



It is Friday again :) I hope you have all had a great week but if not I have a great recommendation to share with you written by Brittany from Nice Girls Read Books. She has a fabulous blog and is super sweet. I will let her tell you all about her recommendation now :)


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Old Magic by Marianne Curley
Published: February, 2002 by Simon Pulse
View it at Goodreads






The moment the new guy walks into the room, Kate senses something strange and intense about him. Something supernatural. Her instincts are proven correct a few minutes later when, bullied by his classmates, Jarrod unknowingly conjures up a freak thunderstorm inside their classroom.


Jarrod doesn't believe in the paranormal. When Kate tries to convince him that he has extraordinary powers that need to be harnessed, he only puts up with her "hocus pocus" notions because he finds her captivating. However, the dangerous, uncontrolled strengthening of his gift finally convinces Jarrod that he must take Kate's theories seriously. Together, they embark on a remarkable journey—one which will unravel the mystery that has haunted Jarrod's family for generations and pit the teens against immense forces in a battle to undo the past and reshape the future.




I first read Old Magic back in 2007, before it had the shiny new paranormal looking cover it has now to appeal to a wider audience. I was immediately captivated by the premise and the fact it was a fantasy set in my own country of Australia. I was still getting a feel for paranormal YA at the time and this one definitely didn't disappoint.


There is, of course, the tried and true method of new boy meets girl. Kate is a little weird and Jarrod is immediately taken in by the popular folk, but this doesn't stop the chemistry between them quite literally sparking!


Just when I thought this story couldn't get any more intriguing, Marianne adds in a dash of time travel. Yes, you read right, time travel! Kate and Jarrod must go back to an Arthurian-like time, which proves to be full of adventure, to break a curse that's haunted his family for generations.


The relationship between Kate and Jarrod is one I really enjoyed from start to finish. I'm still yet to read anything like Old Magic and it continues to be one I recommend to anyone who's looking for a new read. I haven't come across much hype which tells me this one usually flies under the radar. Sometimes they're the very best finds!


I'm definitely going to have to re-read this one in the near future. As for you, I hope you'll pick it up if you stumble upon it or even order it online if you're so inclined! Either way, I hope I've put this brilliant read on your wishlist.


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Thanks so much Brittany for stopping by and recommending a great book! You can check out her blog Nice Girls Read Books. I promise you won't regret it!

Thursday 17 February 2011

Guest Post: Top 5 YA Lit Crushes

I'm over at Books of Amber today sharing my top five YA lit crushes. You should go check it out. Cicely from Cicely loves books has also done a similar guest post there too! GO SEE.

Tuesday 15 February 2011

Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin

Title: Low Red Moon
Author: Ivy Devlin 
Pages: 244
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Release Date: September 14th 2010
Source: For Review from Bloomsbury (thank you :D )


The only thing Avery Hood can remember about the night her parents died is that she saw silver—deadly silver, moving inhumanly fast. As much as she wants to remember who killed them, she can't, and there's nothing left to do but try to piece her life back together. Then Avery meets the new boy in school—Ben, mysterious and beautiful, with whom she feels a connection like nothing she's ever experienced. When Ben reveals he's a werewolf, Avery still trusts him—at first. Then she sees that sometimes his eyes flash inhuman silver. And she learns that she's not the only one who can't remember the night her parents died.Part murder mystery, part grief narrative, and part heart-stopping, headlong romance, Low Red Moon is a must-read for teen paranormal fans. As breathless as Twilight and as spooky as Shiver, this is a book to be devoured in one sitting—by an acclaimed YA author making her paranormal debut under the pseudonym Ivy Devlin.


First off, Ivy Devlin is actually Elizabeth Scott. I have never read any of her books and because this is very different to her usual writing I am not put off. That being said, I did not enjoy this and since I have heard great things about her contemporary novels so I think it is what she is better at, though I haven't read any.


It wasn't awful. It just didn't work for me. I felt that it had similarities to Twilight with the whole "Guy obsessed with girl, longing gazes, won't act like a normal guy and just talk to her" and the whole googling about the wolf stories and having an epiphany about what he is.  I found it all very forced and unnatural. 


I had some issues with the romance too. I understand that the there was this "bond" between them but it seems to mean they don't have to get to know each other. They barely talk, they barely spend time together. The relationship does get better and I don't know if it was just me but I do have an issue with this attraction that can't be fought and how they MUST be together.  I wanted to read something more real. The relationship at the end did leave me feeling better about it though. I think I just expected more as she writes romance novels normally.


The mystery was definitely a redeeming quality. It has be engaged the way through the novel. The ending was unexpected and the whole time I was like "oh, it is him, oh wait it is that other guy. No, it was the first guy". She managed to keep me guessing the whole time which was refreshing. 


Avery's relationship was lovely. I thought it was very touching. I think it could have been more developed. Actually all of the characters could have been more developed. I didn't feel like I knew any of them particularly well and this did make it harder to sympathise with them. The characters definitely had promise though. Well, expect Ben. I didn't really like him.


Overall, it was okay. I definitely didn't love it but I didn't hate it either. It was bearable and enjoyable at times but not worth re-reading. It might be for you but unfortunately it wasn't really for me.

Monday 14 February 2011

Daily Dose (5)

aily Dose is hosted by Good Golly Miss Holly



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Created by me :) I thought it would be nice to see what people are listening to!


She looks at life like it's a party and she's on the list
She looks at me like I'm a trend and she's so over it
I think her ever present frown is a little troubling
And, she thinks I'm psycho
Cause I like to rhyme her name with things, but
Sophistication isn't what you wear, or who you know
Or pushing people down to get you where you wanna go
Oh they didn't teach you that in prep school
So it's up to me
But no amount of vintage dresses gives you dignity


I Won't Give Up by Jana Kramer


I will be by your side
If ever you fall deep in the dead of the night
Whenever you call
And I won't change my mind
No, I'll see you through
And I won't give up
No I won't give up
I won't give up on you 

I went with a slightly Valentines day theme as it is indeed Valentines day. If you are in a relationship or single show a little love today :)


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