Book Review: Angel by L.A Weatherly.

Product details:
Publisher: Usbourne Publishing Ltd.
Paperback, 512 pages.
Release date: October 1st 2010.
Ages: Young Adult.
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Source: Received from publisher for review.

In a world where angels are beyond redemption, Alex thinks he's found one that might deserve mercy. Alex is a ruthless assassin - of angels. Forget everything you've heard about them before. Angels are not benign celestial creatures, but fierce stalkers whose irresistible force allows them to feed off humans, draining them of their vitality until there is barely anything left. As far as Alex is concerned, the only good angel is a dead angel...until he meets Willow. She may look like a normal teenager but Willow is no ordinary girl. Half-angel, half-human, Willow may hold the key to defeating the evil angels. But as the hunter and the hunted embark on an epic and dangerous journey and Willow learns the dark and terrifying secrets of her past, Alex finds himself drawn to Willow...with devastating consequences. Eoin Colfer reinvented the fairy, Stephenie Meyer reinvented the vampire, L.A. Weatherly reinvents the angel! This is a heart-pounding, knuckle-whitening, paranormal romance action-adventure for fans of the "Twilight" series. This is the first in a devastating new trilogy.

I’ve been looking forward to reading Angel for months and months, and I have to say that this book  first fulfilled and then surpassed all my expectations. Angel is a stunning book. L.A Weatherly has reinvented the angel, and in doing so has created something really amazing! The young adult market is abundant with angel books right now, some great, some not so, but if you want one that has everything you need for a truly great read, then check this one out. It has a stunning storyline with intricate plot twists, lots of action and adventure, a great road trip and a swoon worthy romance to boot!

Forget everything you ever knew or thought you knew about angels. In this book the angels are the bad guys. Sightings of angels are increasing, people are awed by their beauty and flock to the cult-like Church of Angels to worship them. While the angels still appear to mortals as beautiful, celestial beings, on the inside they are dark and treacherous, harbingers of death and decay, bringing disease and mental disintegration to the people they touch as they suck the life force out of them. Most people cannot see past their outer veneer of beauty, but Alex can. He’s an Angel Killer and sees angels for what they really are. He believes that the only good angel is a dead angel and his one mission in life is to rid the world of these evil beings. That’s until he meets Willow, a half-angel girl who he should hate on sight, but who instead he finds himself drawn to, and with a bounty on her head, he finds he wants to save her…

Thus ensues a road trip across America where Alex and Willow are on the run. They are  falling for each other fast, but denying these feelings. Their romance simmers under the surface, it’s forbidden and heart-wrenching and all kinds of wonderful. Honestly it’s one of the most touching romances I’ve read in a while. The bond between Alex and Willow really rings true. Weatherly’s writing will pull you right into this world she has created and you won’t want to let go. This novel and it’s characters are truly captivating. Willow is such a unique character and one I warmed to immediately. I also loved the character of Alex. He’s a supremely hot guy, but with the life he’s had, you’ll find that there’s so much more to him than his looks.

This book has major crossover appeal, and I hope it’s going to be a big hit. It certainly deserves to be. I reserve my five star ratings for my absolute favourite reads, and this is most definitely joining that list. I’d recommend it to anybody. The ending of the book is also great. There are major revelations and plot twists that will leave you breathless. This is so good that once I picked it up I didn’t put it down. I raced through it in one sitting and was totally left wanting more. I can’t wait for book 2 in this series, Angel Fire, due for release in Spring 2011.

The Angel blog tour is stopping here October 5th. Make sure you check it out to find out L.A Weatherly's dream movie cast for Angel.

September - month in review & great new books for October!

Books reviewed:

Click on links to read reviews:

Halo by Alexandra Adornetto

Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel

Intrinsical by Lani Woodland

Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld

Radiance by Alyson Noel

Single in the City by Michelle Gorman

Book News:

Check out Usborne's exciting new teen titles for 2011.

Read the first three chapters of The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller.

Read an extract of Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly.

Check out the book trailer for Angel by L.A Weatherly

Blog Tours:

Anastasia Hopcus takes you on a photo journey through Shadow Hills.

Interview: Robin Spano talks about Dead Politician Society.

New Books for October - my picks:

Click on links for descriptions:

Angel by L.A Weatherly - review coming soon

Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick - review coming soon

Finding Sky by Joss Stirling - review coming soon

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly - review coming soon 

The Distant Hours by Kate Morton

Out in paperback: The Songwriter by Beatrice Colin

Competition reminder:

Don't forget to enter my Alyson Noel giveaway!

Copies of Dark Flame & Radiance up for grabs

It's International and runs until October 11th

Click to enter the comp!

Comments are disabled on this post, but you are welcome to check out any of the links in this post and comment there. You know I love receiving comments! :)

Waiting on Wednesday #24 - The Lying Game by Sara Shepard.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted at Breaking the Spine that spotlights eagerly awaited upcoming releases.

The Lying Game by Sara Shepard.

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release date: December 7th 2010.

New York Times bestselling author Sara Shepard’s new series weaves a mystery of long-lost twins, mistaken identities, a duplicitous circle of friends, and cold-blooded murder. Combining juicy plot lines, to-die-for lifestyles, a tangled web of friendship and romance, magnetic characters, and sharp-witted narration from the afterlife, The Lying Game is an alluring cross between Pretty Little Liars and The Lovely Bones.

Foster kid Emma Paxton has only just discovered Sutton Mercer, the wealthy twin sister she never knew she had, when Sutton drops off the face of the earth, asking Emma to cover for her at home, school, and with her friends—just for a few days. At first Emma enjoys trying on her sister’s fabulous life: her fiercely loyal friends, her adoring boyfriend, her close-knit family. But as Emma is drawn deeper into Sutton’s world she finds the friends are not so fabulous, the boyfriend is not who she wants to be with, and the family is clinging to long-buried secrets and a veneer of functionality. And worst of all, Sutton may not be coming back. In fact, someone may have made sure she never could…and that someone knows Emma is not who she claims to be. Emma will need all her wits to survive The Lying Game.

I've never read the Pretty Little Liars series, but I LOVE the sound of this new book from Sara Shepard. Can't wait to read it!  Let me know what you think, and share your picks in comments.

Dead Politician Society blog tour: An interview with author Robin Spano.

Today I'm happy to invite debut author Robin Spano to the blog. Her book Dead Politician Society all about a sassy undercover agent called Clare Vengel is out now, and I'll be reviewing it soon. In the meantime, if you want to find out more about Robin and her book, read on!

 About the author...

Robin Spano grew up in Toronto, studied physics in New Brunswick, and dropped out to explore North America on her motorcycle. She met her husband while working as a waitress and helped him run his Toronto pool room until they moved to Vancouver. She writes full time, plotting murder and living vicariously through her undercover protagonist.

About the book...

A fast-paced, readable debut...Spano spins an intriguing web...a page-turner...an enjoyable read, which bodes well for future entries. - Quill & Quire

Website        Twitter        Goodreads       Read a sample chapter of Dead Politician Society

Q:  I know you like to tweet!  Can you describe Dead Politician Society to my readers as a tweet? (140 characters or less!)

A: A lighthearted mystery where no politician is safe. Is a secret university society to blame? Clare Vengel poses as a student to find out.

Q: Where did you get the inspiration for Dead Politician Society and for the character of Clare?

A:  I was angry at some politicians and my friends were sick of hearing about it. But I still needed to vent, so I turned to murder. The characters are fiction, but the issues are real. The really cool thing was that as I wrote, my rage disappeared. By the time I was halfway through the first draft, I was pleasant and calm and probably a lot easier to be around.

Clare, on the other hand, came from her own imaginary place. Her skills are mostly wish fulfillment (she’s good at all the things I’m not, like car mechanics and lock-picking). Her fears and insecurities are how I imagine I’d feel in her shoes – thrown in undercover in a world I didn’t understand. But how her character developed is a mystery to me – she’s quite independent; she writes herself, for the most part.

Q:  How did you celebrate when you learned the book was going to be published?

A:  I cracked a beer and stopped working for the day. It was mid-afternoon. I called my sister, my husband, and my parents, and basically spent the rest of the day feeling weird and amazing.

Q:  How has your life changed since you became a published author?

A:  It’s gotten busier – I’ve had to work hard to make sure I still keep time for writing and living in addition to all the busywork the job demands.

It’s also become more social – in public, online, and in person. I’ve met some great people through book-related stuff, and some have become friends. As long as I make sure I have time to write, I think it’s a good thing that I can’t hide inside my introverted shell – you learn more about life when you’re out living it, which is important if you want to write about it.

Q:  Clare is a pretty kick-ass and sassy heroine. Who would you choose to play her in a movie of Dead Politician Society?

A:  Thanks! I love to hear Clare described that way.

I also love the actor question, but my favorite thing about it is hearing other people’s answers, because that tells me how readers see Clare. I have three on my short list, and I would love to hear from readers who have other ideas.

1.    Zooey Deschanel (suggested by Kari, from The Kari AnnAlysis) is kickass and independent and smart.
2.    Jessica Stroup (she’s Silver on 90210) has the chameleon quality to be an undercover; she can be sweet or edgy, and she’s good with wry sarcasm.
3.    Every time we see a Katy Perry video, my husband says, “Look – it’s Clare.”

Q:  Can you name three other books that you think readers of your book might enjoy?

A:  That’s a hard one! Every reader is so different, but here are three guesses:

1.    Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum novels (I get compared to her a lot, b/c it’s lighthearted crime with a young urban protagonist.)
2.    Stieg Larsson’s Dragon Tattoo series (Clare is not as disturbed as Lizbeth Salander, but she does ride a motorcycle and speak her mind freely.)
3.    Shopoholic and Baby – laugh all you want, but I think it’s really well-written – funny and smart and the pages turn all by themselves.

Q:  What are you reading right now?

A:  I’ve just cracked the cover of Pulpy & Midge by Jessica Westhead. The writing is fantastic – it’s quirky and original and I’m hooked to see where the story goes. I think it’s part office comedy and part relationship satire – I’ll post on Goodreads when I’m done.

Q:  Pick three songs that you’d have on a Dead Politician society play list.

“Run This Town” by Jay Z
“Friends in Low Places” by Garth Brooks
“I Wish I Knew Natalie Portman” by K-OS

Q:  The Clare Vengel undercover novels are set to continue - so what’s next for Clare in book 2?

A:  Book 2 finds Clare undercover at a poker tournament. Her cover role is a trust fund princess – about the furthest thing from Clare’s real character as you could get. She is searching for the Poker Choker, who strangles high profile poker players in their hotel rooms. Her romantic life heats up – she’s torn between her boyfriend at home and a dark stranger she meets on the poker tour. This case challenges Clare, but she’s becoming a better cop as she moves through the series, so she’s prepared for these higher stakes.

- Thanks for the great interview, Robin!
Dead Politician Society is out now !

Book Review: Intrinsical by Lani Woodland.

Product details:
Publisher: Pendrell Publishing.
Hardcover, 298 pages.
Release date:  August 20th 2010.
Ages: Young Adult.
Rating: 3½ out of 5.
Source: Received from publisher for review.

Sixteen-year-old Yara Silva has always known that ghosts walk alongside the living. Her grandma, like the other females in her family, is a Waker, someone who can see and communicate with ghosts. Yara grew up watching her grandmother taunted and scorned for this unusual ability and doesn't want that to be her future. She has been dreading the day when she too would see ghosts, and is relieved that the usually dominant Waker gene seems to have skipped her, letting her live a normal teenage life. However, all that changes for Yara on her first day at her elite boarding school when she discovers the gene was only lying dormant. She witnesses a dark mist attack Brent, a handsome fellow student, and rushes to his rescue. Her act of heroism draws the mist's attention, and the dark spirit begins stalking her. Yara finds herself entrenched in a sixty-year-old curse that haunts the school, threatening not only her life, but the lives of her closest friends as well. Yara soon realizes that the past she was trying to put behind her isn't going to go quietly.

Intrinsical is a fast-paced and action packed debut that will hook you at page one, and keep you guessing right until the end!

The beautiful cover first grabbed my attention with this one, but I was pleased to find that what lies inside is just as captivating. This has a lot of the elements I love in young adult fiction - it’s got a gripping storyline, one which is very different from the other paranormal fare out there, and it’s set at a boarding school. I love books set in boarding schools, as some of you will know! Even better, this boarding school is mysterious and spooky - it’s got a secret society, eerie haunted buildings and a long standing curse that people prefer not to talk about.

Yara and her friend Cherie arrive at Pendrell Prep and delve straight into the action when Yara saves the life of soon-to-be romantic interest Brent. All is not as it seems at Pendrell, and soon Yara has awakened the ‘walker’ abilities which enable her to see and communicate with ghosts. Sounds pretty cool, but not for Yara who just wants a normal life. From this point in the story there are lots of twists and turns. I can usually figure out where an author intends to take the story, but not here. Woodland certainly knows how to write a page turner that will keep her readers guessing. I never would have figured out this intricate plot, so kudos to the author for that. I like when books make me think!

One of my favourite things about this book was the characters. Yara is a great heroine - she’s funny and feisty and has a great dynamic with her best friend, Cherie. I also liked the flirtation between Yara and Brent which is very realistic and develops at a natural pace. I’m happy to report that Yara is not one of those girls who meets her guy and then loses her personality and falls at his feet after five minutes. Ahem!

If you want some chills in the lead up to Halloween, then Intrinsical is the book for you. There is a sense of foreboding throughout the book, and I'll bet you never guess what is really going on at Pendrell Prep.   Lani Woodland has a great descriptive writing style, which made this book a joy to read. While I did feel that the story dipped a little towards the middle of the book, and got a somewhat repetitive, this is a small complaint for a debut that has so many other plus points. This one works well as a stand alone, but I’d love to see a sequel sometime in the future!

You might also like to read:  My interview with Lani Woodland.


-- I've submitted my review of Intrinsical to Radiant Reviews a great meme hosted at Chrissie's Corner. You should check it out!

In my mailbox , recent reviews and future reads - September 26th - October 2nd 2010.

In my Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren in which bloggers share the books they have received each week.

I decided to mix things up this week and include my recent reviews and upcoming reads on the blog.  As with a lot of blogs out there, I find that meme posts receive more comments than my reviews, so while you're here to check out the memes, why not check out the reviews too! :)

Click on links for Goodreads/Amazon descriptions:

For Review: 

A Gathering Light by Jennifer Donnelly


Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

Two for review this week. Revolution is a book I've been excited about for quite a while now. I can't wait to get started on it. I also love the sound of A Gathering Light. I will be taking part in the blog tour for Revolution soon, so look out for that if you're interested in Jennifer Donnelly's books!

*******************************************************

It's Monday What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme that is hosted by Sheila at One Persons Journey through a world of books

Recent Reviews: 

Click on links to read reviews!

Single in the City by Michele Gorman
Fun chick-lit. A culture clash is on the cards when 26 year old Hannah moves from the US to London!

Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld
 Good coming-of-age tale, but Lee Fiora is an acquired taste.

Halo by Alexandra Adornetto
Beautiful cover but the book was a major disappointment for me.


Future Reads:

After the mayor falls down dead in the middle of a speech, a clandestine student society claims credit for his demise.

Clare Vengel is given her first undercover assignment: to pose as a student and penetrate the society. A streetwise amateur mechanic, Clare finds university a foreign land, and has trouble creating an in with the suspects. She quickly alienates a popular professor and loses the respect of police superiors.

When another politician is killed, Clare kicks herself into high gear. She forges friendships with students and makes inroads into the secret society.

As the body count rises, Clare realizes that the murderer she has to unmask is someone she has come to consider a friend. She only hopes that the friend doesn't unmask her first.

I'm taking part in the blog tour for Dead Politician Society this week, and will be interviewing author Robin Spano. Hope you can stop by and check it out!

Book Review: Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld.

Product details:
Publisher: Black Swan.
Paperback, 512 pages.
Release date: July 22nd 2010 (first published 2005).
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Source: Received from publisher for review.

Curtis Sittenfeld’s debut novel, Prep, is an insightful, achingly funny coming-of-age story as well as a brilliant dissection of class, race, and gender in a hothouse of adolescent angst and ambition.

Lee Fiora is an intelligent, observant fourteen-year-old when her father drops her off in front of her dorm at the prestigious Ault School in Massachusetts. She leaves her animated, affectionate family in South Bend, Indiana, at least in part because of the boarding school’s glossy brochure, in which boys in sweaters chat in front of old brick buildings, girls in kilts hold lacrosse sticks on pristinely mown athletic fields, and everyone sings hymns in chapel

As Lee soon learns, Ault is a cloistered world of jaded, attractive teenagers who spend summers on Nantucket and speak in their own clever shorthand. Both intimidated and fascinated by her classmates, Lee becomes a shrewd observer of–and, ultimately, a participant in–their rituals and mores. As a scholarship student, she constantly feels like an outsider and is both drawn to and repelled by other loners. By the time she’s a senior, Lee has created a hard-won place for herself at Ault. But when her behavior takes a self-destructive and highly public turn, her carefully crafted identity within the community is shattered.

Since it's release in 2005, Curtis Sittenfeld's debut novel, Prep, has divided readers opinions. Some love it, some hate it, and judging from reviews that I've read, there doesn't seem to be any happy middle ground for this one. Let's just say, I have never seen so many one-star ratings and negative reviews for such a well-written book. That said, I understand why these readers didn't like Prep. It's my belief that the negative opinions towards this book have little to do with Sittenfeld's style or story, and everything to do with her choice of female protagonist, Lee Fiora.

We first meet Lee as a shy fourteen year old, all set to start her Freshman year at Ault, an exclusive boarding school in Massachusetts. Lee pretty much decided to apply for a scholarship to Ault because she thought she wouldn't get in, and when she did, well then, she had to go. Now she's a small town girl embarking on a new life in a very different setting.  Lee has hopes and dreams for her time at Ault, but they are soon dashed when she realises that she just doesn't fit in. A scholarship student, she feels out of place amongst the other students, the majority of who are from very wealthy families. From their names to the contents of their closets to their parents occupations, everything about them is different. How will she ever fit in at Ault?

The problem is, she doesn't. We follow Lee from Freshman through to Senior year and she never fits in at Ault. It's partly her own doing.  She doesn't try to fit in at Ault, instead preferring to observe everything around her.  Her actions are exasperating at times, and she's a difficult girl to figure out, but that makes her all the more interesting.   She remains aloof and unapproachable throughout her four years at Ault, and makes only a handful of friends along the way. She doesn't attend dances and parties. Instead she likes to hide out in her room plotting on how she will next bump into her number one crush, school hottie, Cross Sugarman.(You have got  to love the names in this book!) I wanted some romance for Lee, but boy, does she not know how to deal with the opposite sex!  Let's just say that things between her and Cross don't go smoothly and while you'll have to read the book to find out if Lee's time at Ault will end on a happy note, I will warn you that this girl is angst-ridden and has a way of sabotaging the good things that come her way!

Overall, I thought that Prep was an interesting read. I love coming of age tales and especially those set at boarding schools, and while I had my issues with Lee, I did find myself rooting for her from time to time. I often wondered how much Lee had developed as a character during her time at Ault and if the seventeen year old girl embarking on the real world was really all that different in terms of character development from the fourteen year old I'd been introduced to at the beginning of the book.   Mostly I liked the insight that Sittenfeld offered into the world of elite boarding school and her writing style, which was sublime. For a debut, this book was a wonder and I will definitely be checking out more from this author.

Blog Tour Announcement: Angel by L.A Weatherly & book trailer!

I've just finished reading Angel by L.A Weatherly and I totally loved it! Be sure to buy this one when it's released on October 1st. I'll be taking part in the Angel blog tour too, details of which you can find below. There's also a trailer for the book, so be sure to watch!

Movie Cast: Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel.

One of the things I love to do when I'm reading a book is cast the characters for the movie of the book in my mind. I'm sure lots of you do it, but I've never done a post on it before! Now thanks to Rebecca Maizel, I've been inspired!  She's hosting a great giveaway on her blog right now in which you can win a UK copy of Infinite Days along with a necklace inspired by the book.

Visit Rebecca's blog to find out more! Competition ends September 24th and is international!

So, for those of you who've read Infinite Days, what do you think of my cast? I'd love to know!  Tell me if I'm a good casting director or if I'm terrible and should never again attempt to cast a movie from a book on this blog. :)

RHODE:

Rhode - unknown age, could be 17, could be 25. Brunette almost black hair, the bluest eyes you've ever seen. Six foot or taller. At one time a knight with the Order of the Garter. Excellent swordsman, willing to die for Lenah.

For Rhode, I've cast Ian Somerhalder. OK, so he's never going to pass for seventeen, but maybe I'm one of those directors from the 90210 (original series) school of directing who thinks it's perfectly OK to cast a thirty-something in the role of a seventeen year old.  Luke Perry always did it for me! 

Now, while I'm Team Stefan in The Vampire Diaries, I freely admit that Ian Somerhalder is totally sexy and dangerous - just like Rhode. And look at the eyes - perfect baby blues. I think he's a good choice. We already know he makes a good vampire!

LENAH:

Lenah- 16, brunette long hair that falls well past her chest. Blue eyes but nowhere as blue as Rhode's. 5'7 thin but not too waifish - meat on the bones. When she was a vampire she would easily have killed you. Excellent sword fighter. Afterall she learned from Rhode and Vicken. She is British and her vampire aura makes her mysterious.

Initially I had picked another actress to play Lenah, but the more I looked through a bundle of pictures of her, and  on reflection, even though she makes a great vampire, she didn't fit the character.   I went with Michelle Trachtenberg instead, and I'm happy with my choice. I think she has just the right look for Lenah. She can really play innocent, but she has that little bit of evil about her too, and we know that Lenah has a pretty dark past!

Now she just needs to get working on that British accent, but I'm sure she'll do a good job!

VICKEN:

Vicken- Scottish bad boy. 19 was once a soldier, brown eyes incredible fighter, better with knives than swords. Leader of Lenah's coven. Strong jaw and lean. Not bulky.

The role of Vicken goes to Ben Barnes.  He has the sort of hair I imagined Vicken to have, and that's the main reason I picked him for the role. Call me shallow. Also, he's English, so hopefully the Scottish accent won't be too far of a stretch for him, uh, even though the accents are quite different!   Him and Michelle Trachtenberg would look good together, and I've seen him play a soldier/warrior before, but never a vampire!

JUSTIN:

Justin- 17. Blonde, tall, adrenaline junkie. Strong features, slim nose, athlete body. Can be reckless and have trouble with authority. A go getter with a danger streak. He's handsome but that's obvious, he's also caring and passionate.

Everybody from Chace Crawford to Zac Efron wanted this role, but in the end I decided to go with Chris Carmack who used to play Luke in The OC. I haven't seen him in anything much lately, so he needs the break, plus he fits the description of Justin to a tee, don't you think?

When I was reading the book, Justin struck me as the quintessential all-American guy.  He's an all round popular guy, tall and athletic with great looks. I think Chris will do a good job as Justin!

Book Review: Single in the City by Michele Gorman.

Product details:
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd.
Paperback, 342 pages.
Release date: June 24th 2010.
Rating: 3 out of 5.
Source: Received from publisher for review.

What happens when you take one 26 year old American, add to one 2,000 year old city, add a big dose of culture clash and stir?

Hannah Cumming and the population of London are about to find out.

How is Hannah to know that there's a special technique to crossing the street or riding a bus, or that words like tomato will elicit snide elocution lessions from the locals? Hannah lands alone in London only to find that she is totally ill-equipped to live there. Not that a complete lack of forethought has ever stopped her before. She charges headlong into London life, perplexing its residents with continual faux pas and cultural misunderstandings in her pursuit of a new life, new love and sense of herself. 

Single in the City was my first foray into chick-lit territory for quite a while, and I have to say, it was quite a lot of fun!  Michele Gorman has crafted a humorous tale, full of laughs, love,  friendship and dating disasters, all narrated by fashion-loving Hannah, a twenty-something American who has decided to move to London on a whim.

When we  first meet Hannah she has just landed in London and is feeling a little out of place to say the least! From ordering a sandwich at the deli to paying her bus fare, nothing is the same as it is back home.  Her top priorities are finding a job and a place to live.  Somehow or other she ends up in a pub instead (a cultural activity?!) and meets the gorgeous Mark, a man whom she promptly falls into bed with.  Happy ever after? Oh no, not for Hannah! What follows is a hilarious plot which sees Hannah jump from one dating disaster to another and land a job in which she finds herself dealing with the boss from hell. Throughout this, her friends are her sanctuary.  Frequent phone calls from her best friend Stacy back home, along with nights out with London friend Chloe, and long lunches with Irish girl Siobhan are what help her hold it all together through major man troubles and a tumultuous time at work .

Along with these friendships, one of my favourite parts of this book was finding out the differences between US and British cultures. Gorman is insightful and witty as she talks about the numerous differences between America and Britain.  For example, do you ever wonder why we constantly apologise in this part of the world? Somebody bumps into us on the street - we say sorry. Why is that? It’s something that has always annoyed me and I frequently stop myself from saying that I’m sorry for something that wasn’t my fault in the first place.  There are many more instances like this, often hilarious, as we learn along with Hannah all the little things that make up the many differences between the two cultures.

At times, Hannah’s constant pursuit of men made her seem a little needy and desperate to me, but that’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy reading about her escapades.  They say you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you meet your prince, and in Hannah’s case that’s certainly true.  Will her time in London lead to a happy ever after for Hannah?  You’ll just have to read this book to find out!

Overall, Single in the City is a light, fun read.  It’s perfect for holiday reading, or if you just want a little escapism.  Hannah is an engaging character, and one you will warm to.  The men in this book were a little hit and miss for me (well, there is one guy who takes Hannah to the men’s singles final at Wimbledon, and anyone who knows me also  knows that I would marry him on the spot for that!), but it’s the girls and their friendships who are the best characters in this book.  I found the ending of the book a little abrupt, but that’s a minor gripe. Maybe I just wanted to keep reading about Hannah and her adventures!

In My Mailbox #14 - New Books This Week!

In my Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren in which bloggers share the books they have received each week.

I had some spooky books in my mailbox this week. I think I might save them for some Halloween reading! I do love a good ghost story!

Click on links for Goodreads/Amazon descriptions:

For Review:

Tales of Terror from the Tunnel's Mouth by Chris Priestley

The Dead of Winter (finished copy) by Chris Priestley

I haven't read this author before, but I like the sound of these books. Perfectly gothic, and just in time for Halloween too.  In the press release for The Dead of Winter, the author mentions that he has been inspired by Poe and in particluar The Fall of the The House of Usher for this book, which is a tale I love, so I'm looking forward to reading this one!

The Curse of the Wendigo by Rick Yancey

WON:

Dancia Lewis is far from popular. And that's not just because of her average grades or her less-than-glamorous wardrobe. In fact, Dancia's mediocrity is a welcome cover for her secret: whenever she sees a person threatening someone she cares about, things just...happen. Cars skid. Structures collapse. Usually someone gets hurt. So Dancia does everything possible to avoid getting close to anyone, belieiving this way she can supress her powers and keep them hidden.

But when recruiters from the prestigious Delcroix Academy show up in her living room to offer her a full scholarship, Dancia's days of living under the radar may be over. Only, Delcroix is a school for diplomats' kids and child geniuses--not B students with uncontrollable telekinetic tendencies. So why are they treating Dancia like she's special? Even the hottest guy on campus seems to be going out of his way to make Dancia feel welcome.

And then there's her mysterious new friend Jack, who can't stay out of trouble. He suspects something dangerous is going on at the Academy and wants Dancia to help him figure out what. But Dancia isn't convinced. She hopes that maybe the recruiters know more about her "gift" than they're letting on. Maybe they can help her understand how to use it...But not even Dancia could have imagined what awaits her behind the gates of Delcroix Academy.

Let me know if you have read any of these books and share your IMM links in comments. :)

Thanks to Bloomsbury and Simon & Schuster for review copies and to Disney Hyperion for the competition win!

Book News: Read an extract of Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly & find out the inspiration behind the story.

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly is one book I can't wait to read! I love that it combines past and present, and of course I love the historical aspect of the novel. I've long been interested in Marie-Antoinette and the fate of her family, and until now I didn't know that Donnelly had been inspired to write this book after reading a news article about the imprisonment of Marie-Antoinette's children, Marie-Thérése and Louis Charles following the death of their parents during the French Revolution. This news makes me even more eager to read the book.

BROOKLYN: Andi Alpers is on the edge. She’s angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and heartbroken by the loss of her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And she’s about to be expelled from Brooklyn Heights’ most prestigious private school when her father intervenes. Now Andi must accompany him to Paris for winter break.

PARIS: Alexandrine Paradis lived over two centuries ago. She dreamed of making her mark on the Paris stage, but a fateful encounter with a doomed prince of France cast her in a tragic role she didn’t want—and couldn’t escape.

Two girls, two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi finds Alexandrine’s diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession. There’s comfort and distraction for Andi in the journal’s antique pages—until, on a midnight journey through the catacombs of Paris, Alexandrine’s words transcend paper and time, and the past becomes suddenly, terrifyingly present.

 

Revolution will be published in the US by Random House/Delacorte on October 12th and in the  UK by Bloomsbury on October 13th.

Click here to read extracts of A Gathering Light and Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly.
You might also like to check out Jennifer Donnelly's website.

In the following video, Jennifer Donnelly talks about the inspiration behind Revolution.  You can also find a text version of this: here.

Waiting on Wednesday #23 - Where She Went by Gayle Forman.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted at Breaking the Spine that spotlights eagerly awaited upcoming releases.

Where She Went by Gayle Forman

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile.

Release date: April 19th 2011.

It’s been three years since Adam’s love saved Mia after the accident that annihilated life as she knew it . . . and three years since Mia walked out of Adam’s life forever.

Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Julliard’s rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia’s home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future—and each other.

Told from Adam’s point of view in the spare, powerful prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance.

I'm almost in tears already just from reading the summary!  By the way, the summary is spoilerific, and I guess it's too late to warn you now, but since it's already posted on Goodreads, I don't think I've committed  any major faux pas! :) I so can't wait to read this book - definitely top of my wishlist for 2011. Let me know what you think, and share your picks in comments!

Book Review: Halo by Alexandra Adornetto.

Product details:
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends.
Hardcover, 496 pages.
Release date: August 31st 2010.
Ages: 12+
Rating: 2 out of 5.
Source: Received from publisher for review.

Nothing much happens in the sleepy town of Venus Cove. But everything changes when three angels are sent from heaven to protect the town against the gathering forces of darkness: Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany, a teenage girl who is the least experienced of the trio. They work hard to conceal their true identity and, most of all, their wings. But the mission is threatened when the youngest angel, Bethany, is sent to high school and falls in love with the handsome school captain, Xavier Woods. Will she defy the laws of Heaven by loving him? Things come to a head when the angels realize they are not the only supernatural power in Venus Cove. There′s a new kid in town and he′s charming, seductive and deadly. Worst of all, he′s after Beth.

Halo by Alexandra Adornetto has been one of my most anticipated books of the year. Just like everybody else, I fell in love with it's beautiful cover way back, and I am  a fan of the angel theme that's so popular in Young Adult fiction at the moment. Unfortunately, neither the beautiful cover or popular subject matter could save this book for me. I found Halo to be very slow moving, it's prose contrived, and it's characters unappealing. I really wanted to love this one, but honestly, I found it a struggle to get through at times, and I have to say that the thoughts and actions of the main character, Bethany, really annoyed me.

I felt that that Halo had a lot of potential – the summary sounds great, right? Three angels are sent from heaven to protect a sleepy seaside town from the impending danger which threatens it. Evil is at large, and it's up to Gabriel, Ivy and Bethany to save the day. So far, so good. The problem then, is that very little, beyond character development, happens for the first three hundred pages of the book. I've read books like this before where the focus is on the characters rather than major plot development and lots of action, and that's usually okay with me. Regular readers will know that I am a big fan of character driven novels. The only problem here is that I couldn't connect to any of the characters in this book.

Gabriel and Ivy live up to their angel status. They are pure and good and pretty one-dimensional for it. Beth, the youngest angel, is sweet, if a little naïve. I had started to warm to her, but that all changed when Xavier Woods, Beth's love interest and all round hottie, made his entrance. I am such a fan of romances in Young Adult literature, but this one had me tearing my hair out!  Xavier is a likeable guy, and Beth quickly falls for him. Unfortunately as soon as Xavier and Beth become an item, Beth loses the inability to think for herself and acts very much like a clueless damsel in distress who needs her big hunk of a man to protect her at all times. (If you thought Bella Swan was needy and clingy, I can promise you she has nothing on Bethany Church!) Xavier is happy to play the part, and transforms from a cool, laid-back guy into Bethany's ultimate saviour and protector. He answers for Beth, decides who she should talk to, and even has an opinion on when she should eat. Um, hello?! Furthermore, Xavier is from a very religious family, and it is implied that his mother disapproved of his ex-girlfriend because her parents were divorced, and she no longer talked to her dad. I felt that some of the opinions expressed in this book were quite preachy. It's a book about angels that adopts a holier-than-thou attitude at times. The tone of the book is very conservative, and while it's quite suitable for younger readers as Beth and Xavier's relationship doesn't extend beyond chaste kisses, hand holding and study dates, I really don't think that Beth is the best role model for teenage girls. She simply does not have a mind of her own, and cannot function without her man.

If it sounds like I'm dedicating far too much of this review to the relationship between Beth and Xavier, that's because it dominates the book. The intended evil threat, when it happens more than half-way through the book is predictable, and quickly dealt with. I also feel that the book was too long at almost five hundred pages. Adornetto's writing style is very descriptive, and there are some nicely written, if overdone, passages in the book, but overall I felt Halo could have been more concise. I've seen a lot of positive reviews for this book, so you might love it, but obviously it wasn't for me. I think I'll be sticking to those edgy fallen angels from now on. Much more my style!

Giveaway! Win Dark Flame & Radiance by Alyson Noel!

As regular readers will know I'm a big fan of Alyson Noel, and I'm especially a big fan of her Immortals series. Friends and family know this about me too, so much so, that I often receive her books as gifts and end up with duplicates. So, I've decided to share!  One lucky reader will win a hardback copy of Dark Flame (Immortals #4) and an ARC of Alyson's new book, Radiance.

At the start of this mesmerizing new installment of the Immortals series, Ever is helping her friend Haven transition into life as an immortal. But with Haven drunk on her new powers and carelessly putting them all at risk, their friendship becomes more and more strained. At the same time, Ever delves deeper into magick in order to get control over her enemy Roman and free Damen from his power. But when the spell she casts on Roman backfires, she’s bound to her deadliest enemy. Frantic to reverse the spell the moment the moon enters a new phase, she finds her efforts are fruitless—there’s a strange, foreign pulse coursing through her, one that propels her toward Roman. Desperate to break free of this terrible curse before Damen or the twins can discover what she’s done, she turns to Jude and delves deeper and deeper into dark magick, ultimately risking everything she knows and loves—including Damen.

Riley Bloom left her sister, Ever, in the world of the living and crossed the bridge into the afterlife—a place called Here, where time is always Now. Riley and her dog, Buttercup, have been reunited with her parents and are just settling into a nice, relaxing death when she's summoned before The Council. They let her in on a secret—the afterlife isn't just an eternity of leisure; Riley has to work. She's been assigned a job, Soul Catcher, and a teacher, Bodhi, a curious boy she can't quite figure out.

Riley, Bodhi, and Buttercup return to earth for her first assignment, a Radiant Boy who's been haunting a castle in England for centuries. Many Soul Catchers have tried to get him to cross the bridge and failed. But he's never met Riley...

COMPETITION CLOSED!

WINNER ANNOUNCED SOON!

Shadow Hills blog tour: Anastasia Hopcus takes you on a photo journey through Shadow Hills.

Today I'm taking part in the Shadow Hills blog tour. I loved that book and can't wait to read more from Anastasia. I love this photo post Anastasia put together, which takes you on a journey through  the places that inspired Shadow Hills.  To accompany you on your tour of Shadow Hills, I've added some passages from the book so you can see how Shadow Hills looked to Phe on her first day in  this town with it's mysterious dark secrets. If you haven't already read the book, you can now picture the settings and locations. Surely a good thing!

Click on images to enlarge. 

Since her sister’s mysterious death, Persephone “Phe” Archer has been plagued by a series of disturbing dreams. Determined to find out what happened to her sister, Phe enrolls at Devenish Prep in Shadow Hills, Massachusetts—the subject of her sister’s final diary entry.

After stepping on campus, Phe immediately realizes that there’s something different about this place—an unexplained epidemic that decimated the town in the 1700s, an ancient and creepy cemetery, and gorgeous boy Zach—and somehow she’s connected to it all.

But the more questions she asks and the deeper she digs, the more entangled Phe becomes in the haunting past of Shadow Hills. Finding what links her to this town…might cost her her life.

Read my review of Shadow Hills

The main building of Devenish Preparatory was a daunting structure. It was redbrick like the others, but with a double-door entrance and expansive front steps, it was statelier. And it's massive clock tower presided over the campus with an imposing air.

The heavy wooden doors had large wrought-iron hinges bolted onto them, like doors to an old English church. I grasped one of the handles and pulled. 

As I stepped into the foyer of the main office, I survey the vaulted ceilings, marble floor, and curving grand staircase. There was a brass sign on the wall in front of me with the word admissions and an arrow pointing to the left. I walked into the office expecting to see some ancient, possibly with a mole on her face, but I was instead greeted by the sight of a guy about my age. He was sitting in a desk chair behind the counter, scribbling on a sheet of paper and looking bored.  He is definitely  not a decrepit old lady.

 

We came to a stop in front of a smaller building with white stone moldings around the windows. Its looked even older than the main office, and some of the gray roof shingles had a slight greenish cast.  "Well, here we are. Kresky Hall." Graham opened the door for me.

"So here you are. Safe and sound.". Graham took a few steps back toward the entrance, then stopped and turned to me. "Hey, it's kind of quiet before everyone arrives. Do you want to do something tonight?"

I wasn't surprised to see a historical plaque near the front entrance; the place looked like it was hundreds of years old. I quickly scanned the metal script: Shadow Hills Memorial Hospital...best diagnostic unit in the U.S...originally an almshouse in the 1700's...


...I noticed a discreet sign that had been placed next to the plaque.  You are invited to learn more about Shadow Hills hospital, please visit our history museum located to the left of the front lobby

The trees opened up into a circular plot of exposed land.  My hands were suddenly cold as ice. Directly in front of me were the ghostly ruins of an ancient graveyard.

...Every person had died the same year. I surveyed the vast burial ground. There must be at least three hundred graves. I walked up and down the rows more slowly, looking for a death date after 1736.  There were a handful from before then, but I couldn't find even one from 1737 or later.  Something had happened here---a battle or a plague...

If you'd like to find out more about Anastasia Hopcus and it's Shadow  Hills, check out these links:

My Interview with Anastasia

Anastasia Hopcus Website

Anastasia Hopcus blog

Follow Anastasia on Twitter

In My Mailbox #13 - New Books This Week!

In my Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren in which bloggers share the books they have received each week.

Three new books this week, all for review, and quite a nice mixture of genres too.  Should keep me entertained for a while!  This is a scheduled post as I'm away for the weekend, but if you leave a comment, I will be checking out your IMM when I get back.

Click on links for Goodreads descriptions.

For Review:

Single in the City by Michele Gorman - I haven't read much chick-lit in a while, although I used to be an avid reader a few years ago.  This one sounds like fun though. I've started it, and laughed out loud a few times already. I love the cover too. Super cute!

Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld - This one has been around a few years, and has been recently released with a new cover. I like it a lot.  It's a coming of age novel, set in a boarding school, so instantly appeals to me! 

Finding Sky by Joss Stirling - Finding Sky finally arrived last week. I thought it was lost in the post. Love the sound of this one. I like to have a little paranormal romance/urban fantasy amongst my post every week!

Let me know if you have read any of these books and share your IMM links in comments. :)

Sneak Peeks! Read the first three chapters of The Eternal Ones & Bright Young Things in the UK!

The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller was one of my favourite books this summer, and now you can try before you buy with this exclusive sneak peek from Puffin Razorbill.  If you'd like a chance to win a copy of the book, head over to Wondrous Reads where Jenny is hosting a great competition at the moment. (UK only).  Hurry though, the competition closes tomorrow!

 Haven Moore has always known she's different: there are the talents that can't be explained; the knowledge of places she's never been; and then there are the visions that overwhelm her - terrifying visions of a life that ended tragically two decades earlier and more than a thousand miles away in New York City. The citizens of Haven's rural, highly religious community, believe that she's been possessed by a demon. But this is no demon: it's reincarnation. Haven journeys all the way to Manhattan in search of clues about her past life and a decades-old murder. One wrong move could lead her into the clutches of the sinister villain at the center of a conspiracy much larger than she could have ever imagined. But if she makes the right choices, Haven will find the answers she's been seeking her entire life. This is an epic and thrilling romance set in the snake-handling churches of Appalachia, the dusty ruins of ancient Rome, and the grand mansions of Manhattan. The Eternal Ones tells the story of the first battle in a war between undying love and eternal evil.

Read My Review of The Eternal Ones

The Eternal Ones - Chapter One

The Eternal Ones - Chapter Two

The Eternal Ones - Chapter Three

Also coming soon from Puffin Razorbill is Anna Godbersen's highly anticipated new novel Bright Young Things. This is released in the US next month (HarperTeen) and coming to the UK in January 2011. I I can't wait to read this one - it sounds all kinds of wonderful! Courtesy of HarperTeen, you can read the first six chapters of the book!

It's 1929 and Letty Larkspur and Cordelia Grey have escaped their small Midwestern town to chase big dreams and even bigger secrets.

Amongst the glittering metropolis of New York City, they meet Astrid Donal, a flapper who has everything she could ever want, except for the one thing Letty and Cordelia have to offer-true friendship.

Set in the dizzying summer before the market crash, against the vast lawns of the glamorous Long Island mansions and on the blindingly lit stages of Broadway, three girls will find scandal, intrigue, and romance. . .

Read The First Six Chapters of

Bright Young Things

Book Review: Radiance by Alyson Noel.

Product details:
Publisher: Square Fish
Paperback, 192 pages.
Release date: August 31st 2010.
Ages: 9-12.
Rating: 2½ out of 5
Source: Received from publisher for review.

Riley Bloom left her sister, Ever, in the world of the living and crossed the bridge into the afterlife—a place called Here, where time is always Now. Riley and her dog, Buttercup, have been reunited with her parents and are just settling into a nice, relaxing death when she's summoned before The Council. They let her in on a secret—the afterlife isn't just an eternity of leisure; Riley has to work. She's been assigned a job, Soul Catcher, and a teacher, Bodhi, a curious boy she can't quite figure out.

Riley, Bodhi, and Buttercup return to earth for her first assignment, a Radiant Boy who's been haunting a castle in England for centuries. Many Soul Catchers have tried to get him to cross the bridge and failed. But he's never met Riley... 

I don’t usually read Middle Grade books, but I was offered this one for review, and as I’m a huge fan of Alyson Noel’s Immortals series, and I love the character of Riley in those books, I thought I’d check out this spin-off series.

Noel has created a whole new world for Riley in this book, an afterlife in which she has to come to terms with the fact that she will never get to grow up and experience life as a teenager like her sister, Ever.  This has left Riley somewhat bitter and she acts out quite a bit.  I have to say that I found the character of Riley a little different here than she appears in the Immortals books.  There, we only get to meet her from time to time, and I’ve always found her to be quite sweet and endearing. Here, she a little bratty and blunt, and her ways take a time to get used to. I guess she is the annoying little sister!

We know her intentions are good, though,  and as we accompany her on her first assignment as a Soul Catcher her kind heart, sassy nature and good humour win through. In her role as a Soul Catcher, Riley must travel to a castle in England and help a ghost known as  The Radiant Boy on his journey to the afterlife.  This is no mean feat, as this boy is one ghost who is very reluctant to cross over!  In this book we also meet Riley’s mentor, Bohdi, a guy who she dismisses at first as a total dork, before later changing her mind and deciding he‘s totally cute. Buttercup, Riley‘s adorable dog, is also on the journey and he has a special personality all of his own. I love Buttercup!

Even though Riley is dealing with serious issues in her mission as a Soul Catcher, she keeps things light-hearted with her sense of humour.  The ghostly plot will appeal to younger readers, but there are deeper thematic undertones here such as dealing with death and grief and learning how to let go and move on. Noel deals with these issues suitably and sensitively for younger readers.

Overall this is a cute read and it‘s nice to know how Riley has been doing on the other side.  Although this is a spin-off from the Immortals series it can be read as a standalone.

Shimmer, the second book in the Radiance series will be published in spring 2011.

Waiting on Wednesday #22 - The Distant Hours by Kate Morton.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted at Breaking the Spine that spotlights eagerly awaited upcoming releases.

The Distant Hours by Kate Morton

Publisher: Mantle

Hardcover, 320 pages.

Release date: October 15th 2010

Edie Burchill and her mother have never been close, but when a long lost letter arrives one Sunday afternoon with the return address of Millderhurst Castle, Kent, printed on its envelope, Edie begins to suspect that her mother’s emotional distance masks an old secret. 

Evacuated from London as a thirteen year old girl, Edie’s mother is chosen by the mysterious Juniper Blythe, and taken to live at Millderhurst Castle with the Blythe family: Juniper, her twin sisters and their father, Raymond. In the grand and glorious Millderhurst Castle, a new world opens up for Edie’s mother. She discovers the joys of books and fantasy and writing, but also, ultimately, the dangers. 

Fifty years later, as Edie chases the answers to her mother’s riddle, she, too, is drawn to Millderhurst Castle and the eccentric Sisters Blythe. Old ladies now, the three still live together, the twins nursing Juniper, whose abandonment by her fiancé in 1941 plunged her into madness. 

Inside the decaying castle, Edie begins to unravel her mother’s past. But there are other secrets hidden in the stones of Millderhurst Castle, and Edie is about to learn more than she expected. The truth of what happened in the distant hours has been waiting a long time for someone to find it . . .

I love Kate Morton's books and with the long winter nights (boo!) coming soon, this will be the perfect read to curl up with.  I much prefer the UK cover for this one - the US cover is pretty, but much too twee and fairytale for my liking - not something that would attract my attention at the book store, but I'd instantly be drawn to the UK cover.  What's your favourite cover on this one?

Share your thoughts and Waiting on Wednesday picks in comments!