May - Month in review & great new books for June!

Books Read:

Click on links to read reviews: 

Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson - Review coming soon!
Angel Kiss by Laura Jane Cassidy - rating 4 out of 5
Die for Me by Amy Plum - rating 5 out of 5
Guest review: The Girl who Leapt Through Time by Yasutaka Tsutsui - rating 2 out of 5
 The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter - rating 3 out of 5
It's Not Summer Without You (Summer #2) by Jenny Han -  rating  3½ out of 5
Guest review: Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin - rating 3 out of 5 
Shift (Shade #2) by Jeri Smith-Ready - rating  3½ out of 5
Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini - rating 4 out of 5
The Summer I turned Pretty by Jenny Han - rating 4 out of 5
 Sweet Valley Confidential by Francine Pascal - rating 4 out of 5
Swim the Fly by Don Calame - review coming soon!


 May Favourites:

Die for Me by Amy Plum - Sexy Paranormal Romance set in Paris. Lots of hot boys!
Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson -A road trip book with all the trimmings. I loved it!

Book News/Features:

Cover reveal: Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick
UK Book News: Bloomsbury launches poll to find favourite Harry Potter character
UK Book News: Pan Macmillan signs self-publishing star Amanda Hocking
UK Book Trailer:Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini
US Book Trailer: Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini 
UK Cover Reveal: The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Special Feature: Summer Spotlight on...Mermaids and Sirens
Sneak Peek & Book trailer: Swim the Fly by Don Calame (first chapter extract)

Blog Tours/Interviews/Guest Posts:

Delightful Debutantes #17 - Amy Plum & Die for Me
Delightful Debutantes #18 - Laura Jane Cassidy & Angel Kiss 
Guest Post: Jodie from Books for Company talks about her favourite summer covers!

New Books for June - my picks

Forgotten by Cat Patrick - review coming soon!

Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton - review coming soon!

Hereafter by Tara Hudson

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini - read my review

Swim the Fly by Don Calame - review coming soon!

The Twisted Tale by Charlotte Beacon

A Need so Beautiful by Suzanne Young

The Sick Rose by Erin Kelly

Book Review: Shift by Jeri Smith-Ready.

Product details:
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Childrens Books.
Release date: June 9th 2011.
Paperback, 320 pages.
Rating: 3½ out of 5.
Ages: 14+
Series: Shade #2
Other books in series: Shade
Source: Received from publisher for review.

Aura's life is anything but easy. Her boyfriend, Logan, died, and his slides between ghost and shade have left her reeling. Aura knows he needs her now more than ever. She loves Logan, but she can't deny her connection with the totally supportive, totally gorgeous Zachary. And she's not sure that she wants to.

Logan and Zachary will fight to be the one by her side, but Aura needs them both to uncover the mystery of her past—the mystery of the Shift.

As Aura's search uncovers new truths, she must decide whom to trust with her secrets…and her heart.

With it’s unique premise, ghostly theme and characters infused with a love of all things rock n’ roll, Jeri Smith-Ready’s Shade was a book I totally should have loved, but while I thought it had a lot of potential it lacked that special something that makes a great read. I read this next installment with high expectations, thinking that after my shaky start, I would now surely connect with this series that is such hit with so many fans of Paranormal Romance. However, while this book did give me many of those much needed answers to the questions I had after reading the first book, I’m sorry to report that this one also failed to excite.

While I have a couple of issues with this series, I should point out that I adore Jeri Smith-Ready’s writing style. Her prose is witty and engaging, and this book is fast-paced throughout. Despite my reservations with this series, I think I’ll be reading her books for a long time to come. Even though I find this series pretty average partly in terms of plot and mostly in terms of character, I can assure you that Smith-Ready’s writing style is anything but ordinary.

My main problem with Shift, just as with Shade is that I once again, failed to connect with the characters. I thought I might have sided with one of the guys by now, but while it seems Aura is as confused as ever, I can safely say I don’t want to be on Team Logan or Team Zach. I find them both completely unappealing. Logan should be my kind of guy. A bad boy rocker who is in touch with his emotions, I should swoon. But he annoyed the hell out of me in the first book, and I can’t say he fared much better here, although he finally showed a little spark of maturity just when I was giving up hope! He definitely fared better than his rival Zach, though, who after marking as potential crush-worthy at the end of Shade, I really disliked in this book. For me, Zach’s character is exaggerated and clichéd. He’s presented to us as a patriotic and sometimes aggressive Scotsman, and I struggled to find anything appealing about him.

While I usually love books that feature a lot of romance, and I just relish a good love triangle, this one is all a little lost on me as I am having such a hard time with the guys here. If you are a fan of either Logan or Zach though, you can expect plenty of hot scenes! Smith-Ready doesn’t hold back in the romance department and she writes some scorching hot make-out scenes for you to enjoy!

While Aura is still torn between the ghost of Logan and the very real form of Zach, who she still has that strange, unexplained connection to, she is also very confused and messed up in this book, as she seeks out the truth about her parentage, her part in the Shift and her connection to Zach. While I find Aura sassy and smart, and for the most part think she’s a likeable character, I was literally screaming at her to make up her mind here. This is the love triangle that keeps going round in circles! If anything, and I don't often say this, I thought there was too much of an emphasis on Aura's love life in this book. Thankfully though, by the end of the book, Aura has finally made her choice. At least I think so, but who knows what unexpected twists are to come!

I think a lot of people will love Shift, just as they did Shade, and while I personally didn’t connect with the characters, this one still had enough in the way of unexplained mysteries and exciting plot twists to keep me entertained and invested in the series. I’m looking forward to finally unlocking the mysteries of the Shift when the third and final book Shine releases in 2012.

Summer Spotlight Guest Post: Jodie from Books for Company talks about her favourite Summer Covers!

l don't know about you but l love summer and there is nothing better than laying outside, in the sun reading. (and possibly near a pool if you're lucky enough!)

 When it comes to choosing a book to read l am definitely very tempted by all the amazing summer covers out there and they really grab my attention when it's summer time.

Here are a few great summer covers which may just be perfect summer reads!

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Forbidden Boy - Hailey Abbott: This is definitely a very summery cover! Swimming costumes, sand, sea, romance and sun! Perfect.  Looking at Hailey's other books, most have summery covers but this has to be my favourite, so simple but yet such a sweet cover! I love the colours, blue sky, tanned skin and the pink. They all go together really well but still keep the cover pretty simple. Oh and of course, the most important part, the male in this cover looks pretty cute? I mean you can't see much but just enough l would say ;)   More of Hailey's covers

That Summer - Sarah Dessen Sarah is another author who has a lot of summery covers with a lot of romance and beach on them. I was struggling to choose between this cover and Someone Like You but in the end I chose to include That Summer cover just because it's not all about romance in this cover but is instead about FUN! Well, she looks like she is having fun right? In her summer clothes on a very lovely looking beach, l find myself rather jealous and wanting myself to be transported in her world. As l said, Sarah Dessen has a lot of summery covers so check them all out here.

 The Book Of Luke - Jenny O'Connell: I love this cover! It actually made me nearly buy the book without even reading the blurb just because l get a feeling l am going to love it. The main reason l love it? Because the girl is laughing. When I think of summer I always think of happy people because I find everyone is always happier in the summer. Therefore this book just makes me want to read it thinking (and hoping) it will be a great summer read!

Also it's one of those covers which is very summery without including the beach, yes you can see a bit of sea but it's still focused on the two people (couple?) sunbathing and relaxing!

Between Here and Forever - Elizabeth Scott:  Something else which reminds me of summer is flowers. Yes l admit, l hate them. Not because they aren't pretty or smell nice but because l suffer from hayfever but when l get to see them on book covers l can look at them, think how pretty they are and then not be sneezing two seconds later! This cover is one of those which l really love for every reason. Seriously, l can see nothing which could be added to this cover to make it any better. The title and authors name doesn't interfere with the cover but are still visible. I just love it, the bright yellow is definitely a bright colour that stands out alongside the white of her top and green of the grass. It all goes together really well!

Thanks Leanna for having me at Daisy Chain Book Reviews, l really enjoyed doing this post and are really in the mood to visit a beach with a book right now!

Thank you Jodie, for the great guest post! I love all the covers you picked,especially The Book of Luke which is fab and makes me want to read the book already!


If you'd like to read more from Jodie, you should check out her great blog Books for Company  I'm a regular visitor over there!

If you'd like to write a Summer Spotlight guest post, drop me an email at daisychainbookreviews(at)gmail(dot)com with Summer Spotlight in the subject title.

Competition Winner - Angel's Fury (ARC) by Bryony Pearce!

The lucky winner is...

Kara-Karina

Congratulations! 

I hope you enjoy your prize!

Blog Tour Announcements: Forgotten by Cat Patrick and Passion by Lauren Kate.

I mentioned last week that it seems to be the season for blog tours, and today I have two more to announce! On June 12th I'll have a double dose of blog tour goodness on here when I take part in tours for Forgotten by Cat Patrick and Passion, the third book in Lauren Kate's popular Fallen series.

 *********************

I'm super excited to be taking part in the blog tour for Forgotten by Cat Patrick. Forgotten is one of my favourite debuts of 2011. For my stop on the blog tour, Cat will be taking part in Delightful Debutantes. It's a fun interview, so keep an eye out for it!

 TOUR STOPS

To celebrate the upcoming release of Passion by Lauren Kate, along with taking part in the blog tour, I'm also planning a special Lauren Kate spotlight on the blog, with a series review, exclusive extra content from her books and more!  Lauren wrote a movie cast piece for my stop on the tour, that I'm excited to share with  you all!

TOUR STOPS

Book Review & UK Book Trailer: Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini.

Product details:
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books.
Release date: June 3rd 2011.
Paperback, 480 pages.
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Ages: 13+
Source: Received from publisher for review.

Set on the island of Nantucket, STARCROSSED tells the tale of Helen Hamilton, a young woman whose destiny is forever altered when she meets Lucas Delos and tries to kill him in front of her entire high school. Which is terribly inconvenient, not only because Lucas is the most beautiful boy on the island, but also because Helen is so achingly shy she suffers physical pain whenever she is given too much attention.

Making matters worse, Helen is beginning to suspect she’s going crazy. Whenever she’s near Lucas or any member of his family she sees the ghostly apparitions of three women weeping bloody tears, and suffers the burden of an intense and irrational hate. She soon learns that she and Lucas are destined to play the leading roles in a Greek tragedy that the Three Fates insist on repeating over and over again throughout history. Like her namesake, Helen of Troy, she’s destined to start a war by falling in love. But even though Lucas and Helen can see their own star-crossed destiny, they’re still powerfully attracted to each other. Will they give up their personal happiness for the greater good, or risk it all to be together?

Set to be one of this summers blockbuster reads, Josephine Angelini’s Starcrossed is an addictive blend of majestic storytelling, inventive plot twists and a forbidden, dangerous romance that will leave readers breathless and wanting more.

I’m always a little wary of books that are much buzzed about and hyped. What can I say, I’ve been burned before. But then there are those that truly live up to the high expectations placed upon them, and I’m glad to report that Starcrossed is one of those books. Fans of Greek Myths and Legends, as well as just about anyone who appreciates great storytelling will love this one. The writing style is intricate, evocative and engaging while the pace, while slow at first, builds to an exciting crescendo and  includes an unexpected plot twist that has left me with a lot of questions and wanting the next book already!

Starcrossed tells the tale of Helen Hamilton, a girl who is different in more ways than one. For a start, she is stronger, faster, taller and more stunningly beautiful than your average teenage girl, and while Helen tries to keep her head down so as not to draw attention to herself, its difficult on the Island of Nantucket where she lives, and where everybody knows her name. Still, her life is pretty uneventful until, that is, the mysterious Delos family arrives in Nantucket. With their arrival, everything in Helen’s blissfully normal life is turned upside down. First the nightmares start, and then she is haunted by terrible visions. Then there’s Lucas Delos, there mere sight of who fills the normally mild mannered Helen with a ferocious rage!

Whoa! Not what you were expecting right? Honestly, when I saw the title of this book, and when I read the description of Lucas (totally hot, by the way) I was expecting a serious case of the dreaded insta-love to infiltrate Starcrossed, but it’s not so, I’m glad to report! You could cut the tension between this two with a knife, and it’s not tension of the good kind! There’s a lot more to Lucas and Helen’s connection that unfolds as the story goes on, and while I’m not going to spoil anything here, I will say that the development of their relationship was one of my favourite parts of this enjoyable story. However, while I warmed to Lucas immediately, Helen took a while to grow on me. Helen is timid and cautious and suffers from a number of unexplained ailments that she mentions quite a lot. I found her to be a little annoying at first, but as she learns more about her background and her heritage, I warmed to her, and I was totally rooting for her by the end of the book.

Along with Lucas and Helen this book is filled with a wealth of great characters. I love when authors develop secondary characters to such an extent that I feel as though I know them all well, and although this book has a large cast of characters, you can tell that Angelini has put a great deal of time into crafting her characters and each and every one of their personalities shines through. Honestly, I hate it when secondary characters just blend into the background and I don’t get to know anything but their names, and I really appreciate it when authors go that extra mile in developing great casts of characters for readers to enjoy. I cant’ wait to find out more about the complex characters of Hector and Cassandra in particular.

Epic in scope and with major crossover potential, Starcrossed is a wonderful tale of myths and legends, long held family feuds and secrets and a simmering romance that can only get hotter as the series progresses. I can’t wait to read Dreamless the next book in this series when it releases next year. For Josephine Angelini and Starcrossed, I predict a big summer hit!

Watch the UK book trailer for Starcrossed:

UK Book News: Pan Macmillan signs self-publishing star Amanda Hocking!

 I admit to not knowing a great deal about the self-publishing book world, but I've certainly heard of Amanda Hocking, the  superstar of the self-publishing world, who recently signed a major deal with St. Martin's Press in the US, and has now inked a seven book deal with Tor Books an imprint of Pan Macmillan in the UK. It's pretty exciting stuff!

Tor will be publishing Hocking's Trylle Trilogy as well as a new four book series called Watersong.  Described as a romantic coming-of-age tale of two sisters, this one sounds right up my street!

The Trylle Trilogy will be published in Spring 2012, with Wake, the first book in the Watersong series following in Autumn 2012. 

Julie Crisp, editorial director at TOR says of Hocking: "We're thrilled to have Amanda Hocking on the Tor UK list. She’s been incredibly successful at self-publishing her Trylle series already and we’re thrilled to be able to work with her in publishing these, and her new Watersong series, and helping her to reach a much bigger readership.

"She’s a wonderfully imaginative, original and accomplished writer and I’m sure she’ll be a worldwide sensation."

Have you read anything by Amanda Hocking? All I know is that there's a lot of hype surrounding her deals with traditional publishers and I also believe she sold more than a million copies of her titles as a self-published author.  If you've read any of her books, I'd love to know what you thought of them. Is the hype justified?

Additional information & quote: The Bookseller.

Special Feature: Summer Spotlight on...Mermaids and Sirens!

I love to follow bookish trends, and while dystopian fiction is still very much the main buzzed about trend in YA fiction, and if you haven't noticed, Summer 2011 is all about Greek Myths and Legends, I've also noticed another trend emerging recently, that of mermaids and sirens. I was super excited to hear that Stephanie Meyer is obsessed with mermaids and has a "very elaborate outline" for a mermaid novel. So, they must be the next big thing, right?  I guess it makes sense! These books are perfect summer reading with their beach locations, and summer romances. I read Siren by Tricia Rayburn a couple months back, and I really enjoyed that one, so I looked around to see if I could find any books that sounded similar in theme, and I found a whole lot of them!

Have you read any of the books I've featured?

If you have any other mermaid or siren recommendations, I'd love to hear them!

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First up is Tempest Rising by Tracey Deebs.  This one was released in the US this month, and will be released in the UK in July by Bloomsbury. It sounds like it has all the right ingredients for an enjoyable Paranormal Romance!

Tempest Rising by Tracey Deebs

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Release date: July 2011

A contemporary paranormal romance out just in time to ride the wave of the newest creature craze: mermaids!

Tempest Maguire wants nothing more than to surf the killer waves near her California home; continue her steady relationship with her boyfriend, Mark; and take care of her brothers and surfer dad. But Tempest is half mermaid, and as her seventeenth birthday approaches, she will have to decide whether to remain on land or give herself to the ocean like her mother. The pull of the water becomes as insistent as her attraction to Kai, a gorgeous surfer whose uncanny abilities hint at an otherworldly identity as well. And when Tempest does finally give in to the water's temptation and enters a fantastical underwater world, she finds that a larger destiny awaits her—and that the entire ocean's future hangs in the balance.

I remember a lot of buzz surrounding Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs when I first started blogging last year, and now it's set to release in the UK from Templar.  I believe they're organising a blog tour for this one, so I'll be checking that out!

Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs

Publisher: Templar

Release date: July 2011

Lily Sanderson has a secret, and it’s not that she has a huge crush on gorgeous swimming god Brody Bennett, who makes her heart beat flipper-fast. Unrequited love is hard enough when you’re a normal teenage girl, but when you’re half human, half mermaid like Lily, there’s no such thing as a simple crush.

Lily’s mermaid identity is a secret that can’t get out, since she’s not just any mermaid – she’s a Thalassinian princess. When Lily found out three years ago that her mother was actually a human, she finally realized why she didn’t feel quite at home in Thalassinia, and she’s been living on land and going to Seaview high school ever since, hoping to find where she truly belongs. Sure, land has its problems – like her obnoxious, biker boy neighbor Quince Fletcher – but it has that one major perk – Brody. The problem is, mermaids aren’t really the casual dating type – when they “bond,” it’s for life.

When Lily’s attempt to win Brody’s love leads to a tsunami-sized case of mistaken identity, she is in for a tidal wave of relationship drama, and she finds out, quick as a tailfin flick, that happily-ever-after never sails quite as smoothly as you planned.

Ah - a siren book! I'm looking forward to this one!, even though I almost missed it when I was searching for books for this feature, as the doesn't scream SIREN BOOK to me. I guess that's good in a way - it's different from all the sea-based mermaid books! I haven't seen any foreign rights sales for Ripple (yet!), but it's being published by Razorbill in the US, so there's hope for a UK release!

Ripple by Mandy Hubbard

Publisher: Razorbill/Penguin

Release date: July 2011

Lexi is cursed with a dark secret. Each day she goes to school like a normal teenager, and each night she must swim, or the pain will be unbearable. She is a siren - a deadly mermaid destined to lure men to their watery deaths. After a terrible tragedy, Lexi shut herself off from the world, vowing to protect the ones she loves. But she soon finds herself caught between a new boy at school who may have the power to melt her icy exterior, and a handsome water spirit who says he can break Lexi's curse if she gives up everything else. Lexi is faced with the hardest decision she’s ever had to make: the life she's always longed for - or the love she can't live without?

 I love the sound of Between the Sea and Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore. I'm a sucker for forbidden romance! I thought this book was out sooner - in June, but no, it looks like it's been pushed back to October. Still, I think it may just be worth the wait! :)

Between the Sea and Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Release date: October 2011

For as long as Esmerine can remember, she has longed to join her older sister, Dosinia, as a siren--the highest calling a mermaid can have. When Dosinia runs away to the mainland, Esmerine is sent to retrieve her. Using magic to transform her tail into legs, she makes her way unsteadily to the capital city. There she comes upon a friend she hasn't seen since childhood--a dashing young man named Alandare, who belongs to a winged race of people. As Esmerine and Alandare band together to search for Dosinia, they rekindle a friendship . . . and ignite the emotions for a love so great, it cannot be bound by sea, land, or air.

Those are my top picks in mermaids and sirens, and if I've piqued you interest, you might like to check out the following books too...

All links lead to Goodreads:


Lost Voices by Sarah Porter
Mermaid: A Twist on the Classic tale by Carolyn Turgeon
Sea by Heidi R. Kling
Sea Change by Aimee Friedman
Siren by Tricia Rayburn
Undercurrent (Siren #2) by Tricia Rayburn


I took my research further and started reading all about mermaid mythology. It's interesting stuff! Here's a good article I found.


Stephenie Meyer quote: source.

Reviewed by Jen: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time by Yasutaka Tsutsui.

Product details:
Publisher: Alma Books Ltd.
Release date: May 25th 2011.
Paperback, 200 pages.
Rating: 2 out of 5.
Source: Received from publisher for review.
Reviewed by : Jen

One of Tsutsui’s best-known and most popular works in his native Japan, The Girl Who Leapt through Time is the story of fifteen-year-old schoolgirl Kazuko, who accidentally discovers that she can leap back and forth in time. In her quest to uncover the identity of the mysterious figure that she believes to be responsible for her paranormal abilities, she’ll constantly have to push the boundaries of space and time, and challenge the notions of dream and reality.

After the success of Paprika, Hell, The Maid and Salmonella Men on Planet Porno, this is the fifth work by one of the greatest and most acclaimed living Japanese writers to be translated in English, displaying all the author’s dry humour and relish for the absurd.

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is an English translation of the original book by famed Japanese Sci-fi writer Yasutaka Tsutsui.   Since it’s release in 1967 the story has been adapted into a movie and manga book of the same name.  Given the popularity of both the film and the book many YA fans were eagerly anticipating the release of the English translation of the original story.  Unfortunately, the filmmakers took great liberties with the plot and the manga book is based on the film rather than the original story written by Tsutsui.  Due to the constraints of when the piece was written and the translation from Japanese to English The Girl Who Leapt Through Time fails to stand on it’s own as a novel that will appeal to a wide variety of readers. 

To begin with, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is actually a short story rather than a complete novel.  Also included in this edition is a translation of another Tsutsui short story, The Stuff that Nightmares are Made of.  Each story is written in a very stark prose that does nothing to guide the reader into a visualization of the story.  In fact, the writing and the plot lines come across as very generic and unimaginative, while the characters are completely flat. Both stories seem more appropriate for an elementary basal reader than as a stand alone YA novel.  The situations and dialog between the characters is dated.  The Girl Who Leapt Through Time deals with the idea of teleportation becoming a reality by the year 2660.  Teleportation was a popular topic in science fiction during the 1960’s, but now the idea is almost prosaic given the advancement of technology.  In The Stuff that Nightmares are Made of the main characters younger brother is terrorized by his mother who threatens to “cut his weenie off” if he continues to play with girls.  The point of the story is to face and overcome your fears, yet it is done in a way that seems more absurd than realistic. 

Overall I chose to give The Girl Who Leapt Through Time 2 out of 5 stars.  I do not see today’s YA audience relating to these stories at all.  Rather than promoting this book as a YA title I feel that it is written more at an upper elementary level.  Appropriate for a 4^th or 5^th grader rather than a teen or adult reader.  Also, fans of the movie and manga will be disappointed in this book.  The flair and visualization that have made those so popular is clearly missing from the original work.

Waiting on Wednesday #34 - The Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory.

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

The Lady of the Rivers (Cousins War #3) by Philippa Gregory.

Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK

Release date: September 15th 2011

Jacquetta, daughter of the Count of Luxembourg and kinswoman to half the royalty of Europe, was married to the great Englishman John, Duke of Bedford, uncle to Henry VI. Widowed at the age of nineteen she took the extraordinary risk of marrying a gentleman of her house-hold for love, and then carved out a life for herself as Queen Margaret of Anjou's close friend and a Lancaster supporter - until the day that her daughter Elizabeth Woodville fell in love and married the rival king Edward IV. Of all the little-known but important women of the period, her dramatic story is the most neglected. With her links to Melusina, and to the founder of the house of Luxembourg, together with her reputation for making magic, she is the most haunting of heroines.

I'm a big fan of historical fiction, and Philippa Gregory's books are always good reads. I've been following this series from the start, and I'm particularly excited for this book as it's all about one of my favourite characters Jacquetta, who we met in the first book of the series, The White Queen, and who we now get to know more about.  I also love the UK cover for this one! You guys in the US get a different cover and the book is out over there in October.

As always, let me know what you think of my choice, and share your WOW picks in comments! :)

Delightful Debutantes #18: Laura Jane Cassidy & Angel Kiss.

Today's Delightful Debutante is Laura Jane Cassidy, author of Angel Kiss, a book which I recently read and enjoyed very much.  If you haven't heard of Angel Kiss, you can read my review here and then you must rush out and buy a copy! It really is a good read!

Over to Laura...

Combining an unsolved murder mystery with elements of the supernatural, Angel Kiss is unique and really stands out in a YA market dominated by vampires, angels and werewolves.  Where did you get the inspiration to write Angel Kiss?

Thank you! I love reading mysteries and crime, especially ones set in Ireland, and I read a lot of this stuff in my teens and early twenties. The younger characters in these books tended to be the children of the protagonists rather than the leads themselves, so I wanted to write something with a teenage girl in the central role. I basically wrote the kind of book I really wanted to read!

                     

I really connected with the character of Jacki in Angel Kiss. She’s easy to relate to and even though she can’t help but obsess over the gorgeous Nick, she maintains a strong independent streak throughout the novel, which I think is really important.  What do you like most about the character of Jacki and can you name any of your favourite female protagonists in books or movies who might have inspired the character?

What I like most about Jacki is, as you mention, her sense of independence. I can’t think of any particular characters from books or movies that inspired her, but I was definitely inspired by T.V. shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Sabrina the Teenage Witch, which both had strong female characters with supernatural powers in the lead role. These characters could do extraordinary things but, like Jacki, they also had to deal with everyday problems. I loved these shows as a teenager, still do!

Music plays a huge part in Angel Kiss. Jacki is a musician and her songs feature throughout the book. Can you name three songs that would feature on an Angel Kiss playlist?

There are so many to choose from but these three would definitely be on it!

Dancing in the Moonlight -Thin Lizzy.

The Only Exception – Paramore

He Loves You – The Pretty Reckless

                                                            

For anyone who doesn’t know, Angel Kiss is set in Ireland, and I loved that element of the book as I don’t get to read a whole lot of Irish YA fiction.  Can you recommend any other Irish YA fiction that I should be reading?

I love Claire Hennessy’s books, she writes contemporary, realistic fiction set in Ireland and her latest Every Summer is one of my favourites. Sarah Webb’s Amy Green series is seriously funny. There are also some great new writers emerging in Ireland at the moment like Sheena Wilkinson, Deirdre Sullivan, Anna Carey and Geraldine Meade. 

While we’re talking about book recommendations, can you name three books that fans of Angel Kiss might also enjoy?

That’s a great question, it’s hard to say because Angel Kiss is sort of a mix of genres, but some of my favourite YA books include Looking for Alaska by John Green, Finding Violet Park by Jenny Valentine and What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell. They all have a mystery at their core and are amazing reads, these authors write the kind of books I aspire to! 

Angel Kiss is the first in a series and Jacki’s story is set to continue in your next book 18 Kisses.  Can you tell me anything about that one? Any sneak peeks into what happens next?

I can’t give too much away yet, but I can tell you that it involves Jacki trying to solve the mystery of a girl who went missing on the night of her 18^th birthday party. It’s due for publication in May 2012 and I’m really excited about it!

I'm really excited to read 18 Kisses! Thanks for the great interview, Laura!

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Book Review: Angel Kiss by Laura Jane Cassidy.

Product details:
Publisher: Puffin.
Release date: May 5th 2011.
Paperback, 304 pages.
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Ages: YA.
Source: Received from publisher for review.

Jacki King is fifteen and adjusting to her new life in a small village. She's missing Dublin but she's making new friends: artistic Colin, feisty Emily - and Nick, gorgeous yet unavailable. But no sooner is Jacki settled than the torturous headaches and nightmares begin - followed by strange visions, voices and signs...Jacki refuses to believe that something paranormal is happening. But then she discovers the unsolved murder that occurred in the village years before ...

In a Young Adult market dominated by vampires, angels and werewolves, Laura Jane Cassidy’s debut novel, Angel Kiss is a breath of fresh air. When I first heard about this one, I marked it as yet another angel novel, but I was wrong. In actual fact there’s not a celestial being in sight. Instead, Cassidy presents to us a perfect blend of mystery, spooky supernatural happenings and romance which all combine for an exciting, unique debut that will keep you reading late into the night.

Angel Kiss tells the story of fifteen year old city girl Jacki King, a sassy, music loving teen who has recently relocated from Dublin to the small village of Avarna. If Jacki thought that country living was going to be boring, though, she was wrong. Avarna may be a small town but it’s harbouring a big, dark secret. Soon after moving to Avarna, Jacki begins suffering from headaches and terrible visions, and then the nightmares begin. It seems that something, or someone, is trying to reach out to Jacki from beyond the grave, and she needs to uncover their secret, because the nightmares won’t stop…

If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you’ll know that one of my all time favourite books is The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting, and I can’t give this book higher praise that to say it reminded me in part of Derting’s debut. In The Body Finder the missing dead call to Violet, and though the books are different in a lot of ways, Jacki and Violet’s spooky abilities definitely mirror each other. Also, when I first read The Body Finder there was nothing else quite like it on the YA market and this one has is similarly refreshing in its unique concept and dangerous edge.

In addition to its compelling storyline, Angel Kiss has some great characters that definitely add to the appeal of the book. Jacki, independent and feisty, is a great protagonist who I connected with immediately, while her friend Colin fast became one of my favourite characters. Artistic, sweet and thoughtful, Colin is definitely someone I warm to if I ever met him. Then there’s Nick. Dark, brooding and oh, so handsome, Nick is just my type. I would have liked a little more romance in Angel Kiss, but I’m looking forward to seeing how Nick and Jacki’s relationship develops in the next book in this series.

While I’ve always enjoyed adult crime fiction, I think adapting it for the YA market and adding a supernatural element is a winning combination. This book is set in Ireland and as someone who is well used to Irish village life, I found that Cassidy captured the tone of her setting perfectly. I read Angel Kiss in one sitting, and I can’t wait to see what Cassidy has in store for Jacki in her next book, 18 Kisses, released in 2012. This one comes highly recommend from me, especially if you’re looking to step out of your paranormal romance comfort zone. I promise you will find something new and exciting in Angel Kiss!

Stop by tomorrow, when Laura Jane Cassidy will be featured as this weeks Delightful Debutante!

Press Release: Bloomsbury launches poll to find favourite Harry Potter character!

 Bloomsbury have launched the first global search to find the world's favourite Harry Potter character...

 So, who are you going to vote for?

Click Image to Vote!

J.K ROWLING would choose: ‘Harry, although I believe I am unusual in this, Ron is generally more popular (I love him too, though) Now that I have finished writing the books, the character I would most like to meet for dinner is Dumbledore.  We would have a lot to discuss, and I would love his advice; I think that everyone would like a Dumbledore in their lives’

Bloomsbury Publishing is launching the first official global search to find the world’s favourite character from the Harry Potter books.

Over the course of seven bestselling books Harry Potter has met a huge cast of incredible characters. Bloomsbury has drawn up a list of 40 of those characters which can be found on the home page of www.bloomsbury.com/harrypotter where visitors can vote. If a character is missing, then there is also the opportunity to add your favourite.

The poll opens on Monday 16th May 2011 and runs until Friday 26^th August 2011. The winning character will be announced on Tuesday 30^th August 2011. The poll will be supported by regular Facebook updates. 

Thanks to Ian at Bloomsbury for providing image and info!

Blog Tour Announcement: Immortal War (Vampirates) by Justin Somper!

It seems to be the season for blog tours!  This latest tour I'm telling you about is being organised by Simon & Schuster UK in order to celebrate the release of the sixth and final book in Justin Somper's much loved Vampirates series.  I'm pretty excited to read the guest post that Justin is writing for my stop on the tour. In it, he'll talk about the end of the Vampirates era and saying goodbye to those characters that he's come to know and love. 

Check back on June 13th when the tour will be stopping here.  In the meantime, you can check out all the other great blogs that are partaking in the tour! Why not also check out the dedicated Vampirates website where you can find out lots more about the series, and even download an extract of Immortal War!

A bloody war is raging across the oceans, with the Pirate Federation and Nocturnals in alliance against the renegade Vampirates, led by Sidorio and Lola. Lola might be heavily pregnant with twins, but it doesn't stop her from remaining an active in battle!

Connor and Grace Tempest each have important roles to play - he as a pirate warrior at the heart of the fight; she as a powerful healer working with the war-wounded. As the twins face their greatest challenges to date, old allies and foes return to play their part in the ultimate battle of Pirate versus Vampirate.

Watch this great video where Justin announces the tour & talks about the plot of Immortal War:

Tour Stops: 

Monday 6th June -- Chicklish - Extract #1 

Tuesday 7th June -- My Favourite Books - An interview with Justin Somper

Wednesday 8th June -- The Crooked Shelf - Guest Post: on Lady Lola Lockwood & The Women of Vampirates

Thursday 9th June -- Feeling Fictional - Animal Antics

Friday 10th June -- The Bookette --Extract #2

Saturday 11th June - Girls Without A Bookshelf - Playlists & The Music of Vampirates

Sunday 12th June - Wondrous Reads - 10 Ways to Know You're Obsessed with Vampirates

Monday 13th June -- Daisy Chain Books - Guest Post: Ending An Era -- Killing Off Vampirates

Tuesday 14th June -- Empire of Books -- Top ten Vampirates characters ever

Wednesday 15th June -- Book Zone For Boys -- Q&A with Justin

Thursday 16th June - I Want To Read That - WIN! Vampirates swag

 

Blog Tour Announcment & first chapter sneak peek: Swim the Fly by Don Calame!

To celebrate the upcoming release of Swim the Fly by Don Calame, Templar Publishing has organised a fun blog tour which I'm delighted to be taking part in.  Touted as a laugh out loud coming of age read, Swim the Fly is sure to be a big summer hit, and it might just be the book to get those hard-to please boys reading!

Read on for more info on the tour! I've also included a fun book trailer for Swim the Fly and a sneak peek of the first chapter of the book!

I'll be reviewing Swim the Fly on June 1st (publication day!) and I'll also be giving away an exclusive signed copy of the book thanks to Templar Publishing.

Swim the Fly by Don Calame
Publisher: Templar Publishing
Release date: June 1st 2011
Ages: YA

Three adolescent boys with a single goal: see a real-live naked girl. The result? Razor-sharp, rapid-fire, and raunchy, of course. And beyond hilarious.

Fifteen-year-old Matt Gratton and his two best friends, Coop and Sean, always set themselves a summertime goal. This year's? To see a real-live naked girl for the first time — quite a challenge, given that none of the guys has the nerve to even ask a girl out on a date. But catching a girl in the buff starts to look easy compared to Matt's other summertime aspiration: to swim the 100-yard butterfly (the hardest stroke known to God or man) as a way to impress Kelly West, the sizzling new star of the swim team. In the spirit of Hollywood’s blockbuster comedies, screenwriter-turned-YA-novelist Don Calame unleashes a true ode to the adolescent male: characters who are side-splittingly funny, sometimes crude, yet always full of heart.

Tour Stops:

Fri 27th May

First up, we'll be at Jess Hearts Books where Don will be dropping of his first guest post, talking about the importance of balancing out all the chick lit out there with some decent dude lit and promoting summer reads for boys.

Sat 28th May

Next up there'll be a tantalising exclusive extract over at our good friend Chicklish. You'll also have a chance to win one of very few exclusive signed copies of Swim the Fly with the first giveaway of the tour.

Sun 29th May

On the third day, Don will be over at the first blog for boys on the tour. Bookzone 4 Boys will be hosting another great guest post from Don so don't miss out!

Mon 30th May

Mostly Reading YA will be hosting the first Q&A on the tour, probing Don for some juicy insights and giving readers another chance to win a signed copy of Swim the Fly.

Tue 31st May

On the eve of publication, we'll be at The Crooked Shelf for another guest post from Don, counting down those last few minutes of a United Kingdom full of people without Swim the Fly in their lives.

Wed 1st June

Publication day, and if you still have reservations then make sure you read Daisy Chain Book Reviews review and another exclusive extract. If that leaves you convinced you can enter Daisy Chain's giveaway to win one of our exclusive signed copies of Swim the Fly.

Thu 2nd June

Past the halfway mark and Don will be dropping off another guest post over on Overflowing Library, so if you want some more revelations or are just plain nosey then head over here.

Fri 3rd June

You'll find another great interview at Love Reading X today so check it out to see what Don has to say for himself.

Sat 4th June

The penultimate stop will be at Empire of Books where you can find another dude's perspective on the book with the final interview of the tour. You'll also have your last chance on the tour to get your hands on one of our signed copies of Swim the Fly so make sure you enter!

Sun 5th June

On the last day we'll be with Magic Bean Review with a mystery feature... Stay tuned for more!

Book Trailer:

Read an Extract:

Swim Fly Extract



You can also....Follow Templar Fiction on Facebook for news on their latest releases and more!

Book Reviews: The Summer I Turned pretty and It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han.

Product details:
Publisher:
Release date: June 3rd 2010
Paperback, 288 pages
Rating: 4 out of 5
Ages: 12+
Source: Received from publisher for review.

Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer -- they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one wonderful and terrible summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.

The Summer I turned Pretty is one of those books that I’ve been meaning to read for absolute ages, and with the launch of my Summer Spotlight feature, I thought it was high time I got to reading the adventures of Belly and her favourite boys, Conrad and Jeremiah. While I expected a light and fluffy read with a good helping of romance, I instead found The Summer I Turned Pretty to be heartfelt and even sad at times. This is a great coming of age read with a highly relatable female protagonist and a host of swoonworthy boys to boot.

Isabel, or Belly, as she’s known to friends and family has always lived for summers spent at Cousins Beach with Susannah and her sons, Conrad and Jeremiah. Conrad, the older of the two, is Belly’s longtime crush and it’s easy to understand why. Totally gorgeous, a little aloof and entirely unattainable, Conrad is just the kind of guy that teenage girls yearn for. Belly’s been in love with him since she was ten, and can’t see herself ever feeling that way about anybody else. Until now, Conrad has always viewed Belly as a little sister, but this summer, his attitude to her seems to have changed. For one thing, he’s looking at her like never before, but then, so is his brother Jeremiah. Funny and friendly, Belly has never seen Jeremiah as anything but a friend, but now it looks like he wants to be something more than just friends…

Having grown up in a beach community, I could totally relate to Belly and her absolute love of summer. Like her, I lived for summer as a teen and I confess I counted down the days until the boys of summer arrived! For me, this book really rang true as it centers around the notion of that special summer that will provide you with fond memories forever. Han expertly employs the use of flashbacks to show us the changing relationships between Belly and the boys throughout summers past. We learn of shared secrets, broken hearts and Belly’s ever growing crush on Conrad. The caring and thoughtful Conrad of years gone by though is different to the mean and moody Conrad we’re presented with in The Summer I Turned Pretty, and this change in his personality hints at a dark secret that will come to taint Belly’s carefree summer.

The Summer I Turned Pretty is a great summer read, and Han’s most engaging style will ensure that you read this in one sitting. Belly is a great protagonist, and you will enjoy her summer adventures as she embarks on her first real summer romance, while all the while yearning for Conrad and battling with her ever-changing feelings for Jeremiah. As for me, let me tell you in my next review whose team I’m on, and why…

Product details:

Publisher: Puffin.

Release date: May 5th 2011.

Paperback, 288 pages.

Rating: 3½out of 5.

Ages: 12+

Source: Received from publisher for review.

Can summer be truly summer without Cousins Beach?

It used to be that Belly counted the days until summer, until she was back at Cousins Beach with Conrad and Jeremiah. But not this year. Not after Susannah got sick again and Conrad stopped caring. Everything that was right and good has fallen apart, leaving Belly wishing summer would never come.

But when Jeremiah calls saying Conrad has disappeared, Belly knows what she must do to make things right again. And it can only happen back at the beach house, the three of them together, the way things used to be. If this summer really and truly is the last summer, it should end the way it started--at Cousins Beach.

I cracked open It’s Not Summer Without You expecting more tales of Belly’s long, lazy summer days and romantic nights at Cousins Beach with her two favourite boys, Conrad and Jeremiah Fisher. This book though, is quite a departure from The Summer I Turned Pretty. A whole lot of things have changed in Belly’s world, and as for the boys, their lives will never be the same again. All three have had a lot of growing up to do in the year since we last met them. Their lives have been touched by loss, and there is a melancholic air to proceedings. The tragedy that has struck their lives also means that those perfect summers at Cousins Beach may just be a thing of the past.

So, instead of finding Belly all loved up with Conrad as I had hoped, we instead find her spending a boring summer at home, and just to make things worse, it seems as though her and Conrad are not on speaking terms! Noooo!! How did it all go so wrong? I had high hopes for those kids. We find out the answers to all this and more as Belly reminisces about the year gone by, including the time where her and Conrad snuck away to spend a perfectly romantic winter’s night at the beach house and a not so perfect night at the Prom where Conrad really left me questioning my Team Conrad status.

Yes, that’s right - I’m Team Conrad, and have been since day one. Conrad may be moody and distant, difficult to figure out and a lot of hard work, but out of the two brothers, he’s my clear winner. While Conrad keeps everything locked up inside, Jere wears his heart on his sleeve. There are no mixed signals from him, while Conrad keeps his feelings so cocooned it would drive a girl insane. It may seem that Jere is the obvious choice here. He’s funny, friendly and open about his feelings for Belly, but, for me, there’s just something about Conrad…

So, while the choice for me is easy, it’s not so easy for Belly. By now, she and Conrad have a complicated history, while Jeremiah is as funny and friendly as ever, and he’s making a play for her heart. With the inclusion of chapters from Jeremiah’s point of view, we now realize that Jeremiah’s feelings for Belly are just as strong as her feelings for Conrad. This information leaves us with one great love triangle to obsess over!

It’s Not Summer Without You is an altogether more serious read than The Summer I Turned Pretty. Dealing with grief and loss, Han handles these tough subjects expertly and her writing style is such that even though the subject matter may be serious, her words are still a joy to read. The characters are more mature in this book and it becomes obvious that Conrad and Jeremiah are no longer just the boys of summer; they will forever be in Belly’s life. But who will have her heart?

This book ends on quite a cliffhanger, and I have been totally left wanting more of this series. I can’t wait to see who Belly finally chooses, and I’m also intrigued to see how Han will give readers the happy ending they so desire, while also leaving one boy on the losing side in the quest for Belly’s heart. I anticipate lots of twists and turns in We’ll Always Have Summer, the third and final book in this series.

 

Guest Blogging at Confessions of a Book Addict!

Today I'm partaking in Christina's Summer Kickoff season which promises twenty days of Summer fun! Along with a bunch of other bloggers I'm talking about my all time favourite summer reads, and what I'll be reading this summer! Stop by to check out the post here.

Christina's blog is one of my favourites and she always has the best summer book recommendations!

Book Review: The Goddess Test by Aimée Carter.

Product details:
Publisher: Harlequin Teen.
Release date: April 19th 2011.
Paperback, 304 pages.
Rating: 3 out of 5.
Ages: YA.
Source: Netgalley.

It's always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he's crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.

The Goddess Test by Amy Carter has been a much buzzed about book around the blogosphere, and as soon as I saw its beautiful cover and read that this was a modern retelling of the Hades/Persephone myth, I was really excited to read it. What I expected was a dark and dangerous tale, with a deadly but sexy hero and a lot of hot romance. Maybe I set my expectations too high, but for a number of reasons, The Goddess Test was not a hugely enjoyable read for me.

The Goddess Test takes place in Eden, a small middle of nowhere town, where Kate Winters has relocated to with her terminally ill mother so that she can live out her final days in the place where she grew up. The relationship between Kate and her mother is beautifully written, and is truly heartfelt and touching. From the start, the reader feels a connection with Kate. We can sympathise with the pain she feels over the impending loss of her mother, and appreciate how tough her life must be. She has no friends to speak of and not much of a social life either. That’s until Ava, the resident mean girl at her new school decides to take Kate under her wing, leading to tragedy, a meeting with the mysterious Henry and a chain of events that will change Kate’s life forever…

What follows on from Kate’s first meeting with Henry should be full on exciting and action packed, but instead I found that things moved really slowly from here on in. Sometimes I don’t mind slow moving books, but only if I can become completely invested in the characters, and I’m sorry to report that did not happen here. Unfortunately, if I had to pick one word to sum up Henry, it’s dull. Henry, you see, is meant to be Hades, lord of the dead and ruler of the underworld. I’m thinking he should be all dark and dangerous, but instead Henry is drab. He’s a sensitive sort who is prone to sulking, and since Persephone isn’t around anymore, he needs to find a new wife. Enter Kate. Kate doesn’t love Henry and it doesn’t seem that Henry much loves Kate, and because of this the relationship between the two seems very forced and contrived. While I liked Kate at the start of the book this soon changed because of her actions as the story progressed. It seemed to me that Kate developed feelings for Henry just because he's available. I didn’t sense any spark or attraction between the two. Similarly, her friendship with Ava occurs just because there is nobody else around for her to be friends with. I mean, Ava is downright nasty to Kate. Why be friends with her?!

The title of The Goddess Test itself is mysterious and appealing, but as I read further and further into the book I was wondering if these tests were ever going to happen. Most of the book involves Kate trying on pretty dresses, eating delicious food and drinking hot chocolate, and I was really left wondering if and when these mysterious tests were going to occur. We hear of Kate taking one written test, and then nothing…

While the tests themselves, along with Kate’s fate are revealed towards the end of the book, it was all too little too late for me. Honestly when I found out what the tests were, I was really disappointed. You’re offering this girl immortality and goddess status, and that should come at a price. I never really felt that Kate was truly tested, although since I’ve read lots of glowing reviews, it’s safe to say I’m in the minority with my thoughts on this one. With its unexpected ending and emergence of a possible rival for Kate’s affections in the final pages of the book, fans of The Goddess Test will surely be left wanting more. However, my journey ends here.