Reviewed by Jen: Smoulder by Brenna Yovanoff.

Product details:
Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
Release date: January 5th 2012.
Paperback, 368 pages.
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Ages: 13+
Source: Received from publisher for review.
Reviewed by: Jen

Everything is made of steel, even the flowers. How can you love anything in a place like this?

Daphne is the half-demon, half-fallen angel daughter of Lucifer and Lilith. Life for her is an endless expanse of time, until her brother Obie is kidnapped - and Daphne realizes she may be partially responsible. Determined to find him, Daphne travels from her home in Pandemonium to the vast streets of Earth, where everything is colder and more terrifying. With the help of the human boy she believes was the last person to see her brother alive, Daphne glimpses into his dreams, discovering clues to Obie's whereabouts. As she delves deeper into her demonic powers, she must navigate the jealousies and alliances of the violent archangels who stand in her way. But she also discovers, unexpectedly, what it means to love and be human in a world where human is the hardest thing to be.

This second novel by rising star Brenna Yovanoff is a story of identity, discovery, and a troubled love between two people struggling to find their place both in our world and theirs.

Brenna Yovanoff’s novel Smoulder, titled The Space Between in the U.S., is a book that has found a home at the top of my favorites list for 2012.  I absolutely loved this book! The imagery Yovanoff creates is stunning and the characters are endearing.  I found myself completely unable to put this book down and saddened to leave the characters behind when I finished.  I suppose that is the problem with rushing through a great book; it eventually has to end. 

I don’t even know where to start because there were so many aspects to this book that I loved.  The visual imagery was stunning.  Hell is portrayed as a city, named Pandemonium, where demons live and work.  The business of taking souls is a serious one and it is the livelihood of almost everyone who resides in Pandemonium.  The entire city burns an angry red when the furnace, where the damned souls are sent, is running.  Everything there is made of steel because it is the only material that won’t melt.  This is the only world that Daphne has ever known.  Being the daughter of Lilith, a demon, and Lucifer, the fallen-angel and ruler of Pandemonium, has had its advantages.  Daphne has spent her centuries in Pandemonium doing essentially nothing.  Daphne has always been fascinated by Earth and collects trinkets that her brother brings back for her, yet she has never had a reason to travel there herself.  That is until her brother Obie goes missing. 

           

The contrast between Pandemonium and Earth is stark.  Daphne chooses to look for Obie in Cicero, Illinois, a working class suburb of Chicago.  Being from Chicago I thought that Yovanoff got the flavor of the city and surrounding suburbs perfectly.  I always try to catch any mistakes authors may make in their descriptions of my favorite city, but Yovanoff even had the El lines exact.  I was impressed!  The reason Daphne chooses Cicero is because she knows that Obie had once helped a boy named Truman who lives there.  She hopes he can help her find her brother.  Unfortunately, when Daphne reaches Truman he is in the process of slowly killing himself in a multitude of ways.  Truman is about as tragic a character as they come, which was his ultimate appeal. 

           

As the relationship between Daphne and Truman unfolds Daphne comes to the realization that there may be more to her life than just sitting around Pandemonium doing nothing.  It takes her awhile, but she finally understands that being a demon doesn’t have to mean that she is completely devoid of emotion.  Smoulder is an enthralling story that has a little bit of everything; mystery, fantasy, action, and romance.  The plot is bolstered by Brenna Yovanoff’s unique writing style, which she has obviously worked on perfecting.  Fans of her debut novel, The Replacement, will not want to miss Smoulder.

Book Review: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin.

Product details:
Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
Release date: March 1st 2012 (first published September 2011)
Paperback, 452 pages.
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Ages: 14+
Source: Received from publisher for review.

Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.

It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.

There is.

She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.

She's wrong.

Complex, creepy and all consuming, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin is a multi-layered mystery of mind bending-proportions, and while it’s a book that left me totally dazed and confused, playing on my mind and creeping me out for days after I’d finished it, I can safely say that I loved every minute of this wonderfully accomplished debut.

Who is Mara Dyer?

Well, here’s what we know. We know that Mara survived an accident which killed her boyfriend and her two friends. We don’t really know what happened, because Mara doesn’t remember the details of the night when they died, but we know that she’s haunted by their deaths and plagued by memories of them.  When we meet Mara she’s about to move to a new city. She needs to start over, but her new start is impossible, because she can’t escape her past. She can’t escape the night that her friends died…

And that’s all I’m saying, because you don’t need to know anything else about this one. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is like nothing I’ve ever read before, and it truly is best read without knowing too many details.  Also, I might as well admit, that despite a whole lot of theorising, I’m not sure if I know what the hell is going on with Mara Dyer.  I’m not entirely sure what happened to Mara or why, or how, but I can tell you that I had a whole lot of fun guessing. This book kind of reminded me of my reaction to Twin Peaks first time I watched it when I was way too young to understand any of it.  Back then I didn’t know what was happening in that show for the most part, but still, I loved every second of it.  I felt the same way about this book.

Since I am a theories person, and since this book demands speculation on what is happening in Mara’s world, I’ll share some of mine, just so you can see how thrown I was with this book.  I’d love to hear your theories too, but try to keep them spoiler free (I had a whole lot of better theories than posted here that I couldn’t share in case of spoilers). I still have plenty to go round, though.  I considered everything from time travel to alternate universes to doppelgangers.  Heck, I think I may have thrown aliens into the mix at one point.  None of my theories ever quite added up, though. Every time I thought I had things figured out, Hodkin would set me off course again with those clever plot twists of hers.

While I loved The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, I can understand the mixed reviews I’ve read too. This is going to be a book that will evoke strong reactions from people, and it’s one that you’ll either love or hate.   I can see why people might be frustrated by the lack of resolution here and by all the unanswered questions throughout the book. For me, that was part of the fun, although if things aren’t explained in the next book, I may not be as enthralled as I am right now. I did think the ending of this one was pretty awesome, though! Holy cliffhanger!

Guess what else held me in thrall to this book? The boy, of course!  I totally lost my heart to Noah Shaw.  If you love Adrian Ivashkov from Richelle Mead’s Vampire Academy series, then you will fall hard for Noah Shaw.  He’s all sexy and disheveled in that kind of Adrian way, with his bad habits and his general bad boy ways. And his British accent, and his wonderful way with words, and the way he wears his clothes, and the way he styles his hair, and….I found him utterly irresistible. Couldn’t get enough.  I always fall for those types.

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is dark, haunting, atmospheric and eerie.  You may not even think so while you’re reading it but it will play on your mind for a while after you’ve finished, and you may have nightmares about creepy bathtubs and scary mirrors. I was also further intrigued when I read an interview with Michelle Hodkin where she mentioned the story was based on real events, with Mara inspired by a real life girl. I would so love to know more about the story behind the story!

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is, in my opinion, a total must read, and I can’t wait to read the sequel The Evolution of Mara Dyer, publishing in October 2012.  I’m counting down the days already!

Cover Candy #20 - Recent Swoonworthy Cover Reveals!

Time for a Cover Candy catch-up! This time round I'm featuring some hot new covers, as always, and I've also picked some new looks for two books I really enjoyed reading last year!

Let me know what you think of the featured covers in comments. Will you be adding any of these to your wish list?

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

First up is Foretold: 14 Tales of Prophecy and Prediction, a new YA anthology publishing in August 2012. Featuring short stories from Richelle Mead, Simone Elkeles and Laini Taylor amongst others, this one sounds like it is not to be missed! The main reason I'm counting down the days to this one is because it features a Rose-and-Dimitri-in-Russia short story from Richelle Mead. Yes, THE ROSE & DIMITRI!! And look at that cover - gorgeous!

Foretold: 14 Tales of Prophecy and Prediction edited by Carrie Ryan

Publisher: Random House Children's Books

Release date: August 2012

Ages: 12+

Have you ever been tempted to look into the future? To challenge predictions? To question fate?

It’s human nature to wonder about life’s twists and turns. But is the future already written—or do you have the power to alter it?

From fantastical prophecies to predictions of how the future will transpire, Foretold is a collection of stories about our universal fascination with life’s unknowns and of what is yet to come as interpreted by 14 of young adult fiction’s brightest stars.

I'm sure most, if not all of you, have heard about Burn for Burn by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian by now  - I know a lot of people are excited for this one! The cover reveal was last week, and I love it! Burn for Burn is the first in a new trilogy, and will be followed by Fire with Fire (2013) and Ashes to Ashes (2014).

Burn for Burn by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Release date: September 2012
Ages: 14+

The start of a brand-new young adult trilogy about three very different girls who overcome their differences and band together to seek revenge on those who have wronged them, uncovering a supernatural secret about what brought them together and why in the process. Each book will rotate back and forth between the perspectives of all three characters.

Now onto some new cover looks! I've linked the original covers too, so let me know which covers you prefer!

Envy (Fury #2) by Elizabeth Miles is releasing in October, and it looks as though Simon and Schuster are going with a whole new look for the series with this one.  The paperback edition of Fury (Fury #1) - KEEP UP! ;) - releasing in June has also been given a makeover and will look very pretty sitting on your shelf beside that new copy of Envy. 

I like these covers, I do. I like them a lot, but I LOVED the original US cover for Fury, which I thought was a pretty great cover. Still, I like these too!

Which covers do you prefer? The originals or are you happy that these books got a whole new look?

Fury US Hardback

Fury UK Hardback

Another book that's getting a paperback makeover is Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts. Have you read this one yet? You need to. It is AWESOME! (Totally sorry about all the caps in this post, btw. I must be feeling a little shouty today or something!)

I love this new UK paperback cover for the book (releasing in May). Definitely my favourite out of all the covers for this one. What do you think?

Dark Inside US Hardcover

Dark Inside UK Hardcover

 * Please note: These covers may not be  final and may be subject to change.  
** All Cover Images have been taken from Goodreads/Amazon/Authors/Publishers websites.

Reviewed by Jen: All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin.

Product details:
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Release date: March 29th 2012.
Paperback, 352 pages.
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Ages: 14+
Source: Received from publisher for review.
Reviewed by: Jen

Sixteen year-old Anya becomes the head of a mafia family after her parents are both murdered by rival gangs. Although Anya is embrolied in the criminal world, she is determined to keep her brother and sister out of the mafia family, but her father's relatives aren't so keen to let them go. When Anya's violent ex-boyfriend is poisoned with contaminated chocolate – chocolate that is produced illegally by Anya's mafia family – she is arrested for attempted murder and sent to the notorious jail on Manhattan Island.

Eventually she is freed by the new D.A. in town, who believes she has been framed. But this D.A. is the father of Win, a boy at school to whom Anya feels irresistibly drawn, and her freedom comes with conditions. Win's father wants to be mayor, and he can't risk having his ambition jeopardised by rumours spreading that his son is seeing a member of a notorious crime family. Anya knows she risks the safety of her family by seeing Win again, but the feeling between them may be too strong to resist...

Anya Balanchine, the main character of Gabrielle Zevin’s All These Things I’ve Done, is by far my favorite character of 2012.  Not only is she smart and sassy, but she knows how to handle a gun as well.  Anya is not a girl you would want to end up on the wrong side of in a fight.  She is everything I love in a female protagonist!  Anya was not the only reason why Zevin’s new Birthright series is at the top of my “to read” list.  The entire book was a page-turner that kept me wanting more!  One of the problems with reading advanced copies is that you need to wait all that much longer before the next installment comes out.  This is going to be a long wait!

All These Things I’ve Done takes place in the year 2083 in New York City.  While the basic tenets of society are still intact, keeping the story from being truly dystopian, things in New York are not going well.  The once glorious city is broke, all forms of culture have disappeared, water is scarce, and chocolate is illegal. Anya’s father became the Al Capone of chocolate, but like many gangsters, his life ended violently leaving Anya and her siblings in the care of their grandmother.  As the book begins the only thing keeping grandma alive are the machines that pump air into her lungs.  It is actually Anya who is taking care of the family, trying desperately to keep Child Protective Services away.  As if things aren’t complicated enough Anya has the unfortunate luck of falling in love with the son of the new District Attorney; a man who has vowed to destroy Anya’s family if she doesn’t stay away from his son.  Then there is the little problem of Anya’s ex-boyfriend, who she is accused of trying to kill with poisoned chocolate.  As much as Anya tries to distance herself from the family business she just keeps getting sucked right back in.  Being the heir apparent of a major crime syndicate is not an easy destiny to walk away from. 

I loved all of the characters in this book.  The bad guys were despicable and smarmy and the good guys were genuine and extremely likable.  The only complaint I have is that I would have liked to have seen a more in depth progression of Anya’s relationship with Win.  It seemed to move along at a break-neck speed when the characters never really spent that much time together.  I am not a big fan of romance, but in this case I wanted more!

Gabrielle Zevin makes numerous bold choices in the plot of All These Things I’ve Done that keeps the action moving along and the tension cranked high.   There are so many different aspects to this book I think that it will offer something for every type of reader.  I added my copy to my classroom library last week and I didn’t even get a chance to put it on the shelf before it was checked out and the waiting list is a mile long!

2 Years and a Blogoversary Giveaway!

The blog is two years old today, well, actually, it was yesterday, but what's a day between friends right?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BLOG!

To celebrate I'm hosting a giveaway for all for friends and followers, all the people who stop by every day to leave comments or to read my posts! I appreciate all the support from each and every one of you! :)

To enter to win a birthday prize pack, just fill in the form below. 

Competition is international and will run until April 27th 2012. (I know, I know - this one is running for ages! I'm taking a short blogging break soon and won't be around for most of April - more on that later - so I'm letting the comp run in my absence.)

One winner will win a prize pack containing copies of  The Future of Us by Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler, The Book of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman and Skin Deep by Laura Jarratt.

Following the blog is required to gain entry to this competition!

You can follow via Google Friend Connect, Linky Followers, Email Subscription (all found in sidebar) or on Bloglovin'  You can also follow on Twitter or Facebook. (Or all of them if you want to keep really up to date!)

COMPETITION CLOSED! WINNER ANNOUNCED SOON!

Winner: Kelly M.

Book Review: Perception by Kim Harrington.

Product details:
Publisher: Scholastic Point
Release date:  March 1st 2012
Hardcover, 288 pages.
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Ages: 12+
Series: Clarity #2
Other books in series: Clarity

When you can see things others can't, what do you do when someone's watching you?

Everybody knows about Clarity "Clare" Fern. She's the psychic girl in school, the one who can place her hands on something and see hidden visions from the past.

Only Clare would rather not be a celebrity. She prefers hanging back, observing. Her gift is not a game to her.

But then someone starts playing with her head . . . and heart. Messages and gifts from a secret admirer crop up everywhere Clare turns. Could they be from Gabriel, the gorgeous boy who gets Clare's pulse racing? Or from Justin, Clare's hopeful ex-boyfriend who'd do anything to win her back?

One thing is certain. Clare needs to solve this mystery, and soon. Because the messages are becoming sinister, and a girl in town has suddenly disappeared.

Please note: There may be spoilers for previous books in the series in this review.

Perception, the sequel to Kim Harrington’s debut novel Clarity, picks up soon after the thrilling events of the first book which saw teenage psychic Clarity ‘Clare’ Fern solve a murder mystery and catch a killer.  Perception sees Clare dealing with the consequences of these actions, which are more far reaching than she could ever have imagined. Romance also takes center stage here as it’s time for Clare to choose between the boys who are out to capture her heart. Will she pick ex-boyfriend Justin, the guy who cheated on her, but also saved her life, or hot newcomer Gabriel, the new-guy-in-town with whom she shared a few hot summer kisses?  It looks like there could be third contender in the running for Clare’s affections too. Lately she’s been receiving messages from a secret admirer, something she doesn’t take too seriously at first, not until she hears news of a missing girl and her secret admirer turns sinister, leading Clare to believe that she might be a target instead of an object of affection. It’s time for Clare to solve another mystery…

Just like its predecessor Clarity, Perception is a fast-paced, exciting page turner; chock full of the same engagingly witty dialogue that made Clarity such a joy to read.  The love triangle is more prominent in this one, and we are able to find out more about both Justin and Gabriel, the two very different guys who are both totally into Clare. I didn’t really fall for either guy in Clarity, but here, even though I didn’t realize it almost right until the end,  I had picked a winner, especially when I found out a certain something about one of the guys . Was I happy with Clare’s choice?  Um, no, not entirely. I don’t think it’s the choice I would have made, but then, even though I love Clare as a character, I know that we’re very different people, and I guess that Clare’s choice makes sense for her right now. I’d like to see how it plays out in future books, though!

There have been a lot of changes in Clare’s life since we first met her, and these changes have seen her mature, and become a little more reserved than she once was.  Never fear though, her snark is still there even though she has to deal with problems at home in the form of her once fun-loving brother, Perry, who is now a virtual recluse, spending day after day locked away in his room, which causes their easy relationship to suffer.  The aftermath of the events in Clarity sees the kids at school treating her differently too.  She’s no longer labeled a ‘freak’ but is instead seen as something of a town hero, which, if you know Clare, just makes her feel like even more of a freak show!  Friendships are also changing, with new girl Mallory on the scene, and old friend Nate away at college and mostly absent here.  Aw, I missed Nate, I gotta say!

Of course this book is not all about love dilemmas and friendship dramas – there’s a mystery to be solved too! Perception revolves around a missing person’s case, but there’s also that creepy secret admirer whose eyes are on Clare everywhere she goes. *shudders*

While the mystery in Clarity kept me guessing right to the end, I did think that this one was more predictable, and in actual fact, I figured out what was going on here pretty much straight away. Hate when I do that!

When I read the final pages of Clarity I was pretty sure that Perception was going to revolve around the mystery of Clare’s dad. He’s mentioned quite a lot in Clarity, and I really wanted to know more about him and why he disappeared from Clare and Perry’s life, but sadly this isn’t explored in Perception.    Still, it’s not like I was hanging around waiting for stuff to happen in this book. When in the company of Clare, there’s never a dull moment, and I can safely say that Perception kept me entertained throughout.  I would love for this series to continue (I’m not sure if there are more books planned?) because there is so much more I want to discover about Clare’s world – not only those questions about her dad, but also the secrets of her psychic abilities, and, of course, Nate.  Out of all the guys Clare knows, I think Perry’s best friend is the one who interests me most; especially because of those none-too-subtle hints Perry has been dropping about him! More please!

Book Review: Poison Heart by S.B. Hayes.

Product details:
Publisher: Quercus.
Release date: March 1st 2012.
Paperback, 352 pages.
Rating: 3 out of 5.
Ages: 12+
Source: Received from publisher for review.

An idle glance through the window of a bus changes everything for Katy Rivers.

A mysterious girl, with luminous green eyes, stares back and from that moment on she haunts Katy and appears to know her every move, even what she is thinking. What is the strange connection between them? And what is the power of the emerald pendant which the girl bestows on her?

‘I’m everything you’re not and I’m going to take over your life… I’m your worst nightmare.’

These chilling words mean that Katy is gradually backed into a corner, alienated from everyone she holds dear, even her own mother. Only her best friend Luke, keeps faith and together they must find a way to defeat the girl who is determined that she will be with Katy...even until death.

POISON HEART combines psychological suspense with teen romance and makes for a thoroughly chilling read.

Have you ever felt like someone was out to steal your life?

That’s exactly how Katy feels as soon as beautiful but deadly Genevieve Paradis walks into her life one day and refuses to leave.  Everything that’s important to Katy is now under threat, from her friends, to her school work, to her boyfriend Merlin, and the worst thing is that everybody seems to be totally charmed by Genevieve. Nobody can see her for what she really is.  Katy has no idea why Genevieve has singled her out or why she wants to ruin her life, but she does know that she’s not going to go down without a fight. Genevieve is hiding something in her past, and Katy, with the help of her journalist friend, Luke, is determined to find out what it is.

My interest was immediately piqued when I read the synopsis of Poison Heart. For a start, I love a good psychological thriller and the synopsis of this one has a little of the Beautiful Malice or Choker about it.  All three books deal with crazy ass girls with dark secrets, and I for one can never get enough of that stuff!

But while I loved the premise of Poison Heart, and while it’s definitely a page turning debut that shows a lot of promise, this book fell a little flat in terms of characterization.  I never warmed to Katy, while Genevieve, who is undoubtedly a little strange, never totally creeped me out. I never got those all important shivers down my spine when I was reading this book.  Then there’s the love interest, Merlin, who might have an interesting name, but as a character, he was as bland as could be.  I wanted these characters to make me care about them, I wanted to be invested in Katy and Merlin’s romance so that when Genevieve came along and tried to split them up, I’d be positively seething at her actions, but Genevieve’s games never got that kind of response from me.  I was interested in the secrets Genevieve was hiding, for sure, but the cast of characters in this book just didn’t appeal to me.

Poison Heart is a fun entertaining read, all the same, and there are plot twists galore as Katy begins to delve into Genevieve’s past and uncovers some very strange information indeed. Is Genevieve just a normal, if slightly crazy girl with a vendetta, or is there something much more sinister, something supernatural at work here?  I bet you want to know the answer, but you’ll just have to read Poison Heart to find out those dark secrets that lie behind Genevieve’s disarming smile.

Book Review: Fracture by Megan Miranda.

Product details:
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Release date: January 17th 2012.
Paperback, 262 pages.
Rating: 3 out of 5.
Ages: 12+
Source: Received from publisher for review.

Eleven minutes passed before Delaney Maxwell was pulled from the icy waters of a Maine lake by her best friend Decker Phillips. By then her heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead. And yet she somehow defied medical precedent to come back seemingly fine. Everyone wants Delaney to be all right, but she knows she's far from normal. Pulled by strange sensations she can't control or explain, Delaney finds herself drawn to the dying. Is her altered brain now predicting death, or causing it?

Then Delaney meets Troy Varga, who recently emerged from a coma with similar abilities. At first she's reassured to find someone who understands the strangeness of her new existence, but Delaney soon discovers that Troy's motives aren't quite what she thought. Is their gift a miracle, a freak of nature-or something much more frightening?

The day that should have been Delaney Maxwell’s last day on earth started out like any other day, but then a tragic accident saw her fall into the icy waters of a frozen lake, and remain under for too long to survive. Delaney was without oxygen for eleven minutes. Her death should have been a certainty at ten. But Delaney is alive, and better yet, the accident hasn’t left her with any lasting damage, at least not that anyone can see. But Delaney has changed, she’s been touched by death, and now the dead are calling to her.

A lot can change in eleven minutes…

I wanted to love Fracture, I really did, but while the premise and opening chapters of Megan Miranda’s debut novel are excellent and really piqued my interest, as I read on, I felt as though I really wasn’t connecting with this one. I know that a big part of that was due to the characters.  Delaney herself left me cold – I never really felt like I got to know what was going on with her, and what I did know of her, I didn’t really like. Her reactions to certain events and to certain people were strange to me – from her uneasy relationship with her parents, to her friendship that may be something more with best friend Decker, to her  strange association with mysterious newcomer Troy – none of these relationships seemed to ring true or sit easy with me. I’ll talk about the boys later, but don’t even get me started on Delaney’s mother and how she treated her daughter. I mean, this woman obviously has longstanding issues of her own, but lets just say those parenting skills were lacking.

When I started reading this book, I expected mystery with a supernatural slant, but that’s not really what Fracture is. Sure there is the mystery of why Delaney is drawn to the dying, but there’s never really any resolution offered to this, and I guess that’s not really the point here. While I initially thought that Fracture had its roots in the paranormal, the book instead is a study of the complexities and mysteries of the brain, of Near Death Experiences and why sometimes people walk away from accidents that should have left them dead. If I had known all this before I started my reading, then maybe I would have enjoyed this one more, but instead I just kept on waiting for that supernatural twist.

Troy initially seems to have the answers that Delaney needs. He’s the only one who really knows what Delaney is going through, having gone through a similar experience, and so she finds herself drawn to him despite the fact that he’s kind of a creep with scary stalker tendencies. Right from their first meeting Troy struck me as unhinged, so I didn’t really buy it when Delaney indulged in an impromptu make-out session with him which pretty much came out of the blue and seemed totally out of character for her.

Troy has a rival for Delaney’s affections in Decker, the boy who saved Delaney’s life, and her best friend. Now, I love best friend turned romantic interest storylines, and there’s all this tension between Delaney and Decker, but for the most part, they are just downright nasty to each other at times.  I will say though that Decker was my favourite of all the characters. He’s so obviously in love with Delaney and she just doesn’t seem to get it, so who can really blame him for hooking up with someone else…

While Fracture just didn’t work out for me, I know I’m in the minority. I’ve read a whole lot of glowing reviews for the book, but we just didn’t connect. That said, one thing I did like was Megan Miranda’s writing style, so even though I didn’t fall in love with her debut, I’ll definitely be checking out future releases from her.

UK Cover Reveals: Burn Mark by Laura Powell, The Glimpse by Claire Merle +++ Introducing a new debut author from Simon & Schuster!

The latest UK cover reveals and exciting YA acquisition news are coming your way...

First up The Sopranos meets Witch Child with a touch of Spooks in Laura Powell's Burn Mark from Bloomsbury which sees witch-crime take to the streets of East London.

If you'd like to find out more about Burn Mark, read an extract or even be in with a chance to win an exclusive proof copy, check out Hooked on Books Bloomsbury's new Facebook page dedicated to all things YA.

You can also keep up to date with all the latest news by following @hooked_books on twitter.

Burn Mark by Laura Powell

Publisher: Bloomsbury.
Release date: June 2012


Cleo is from a family of witches. She is desperate to develop the ‘Fae’ and become a witch herself.

Lucas is the son of the Chief Prosecutor for the Inquisition and his privileged life is very different to the world of witches that he lives alongside.

And then on the same day, Cleo and Lucas both develop the Fae. In one fell stroke, Cleo and Lucas’s lives are inextricably bound together, whether they like it or not . . .

Next up is one for fans of YA dystopian fiction. The Glimpse from Claire Merle releases from Faber & Faber in June 2012.

Find out more about The Glimpse on the dedicated Facebook page www.facebook.com/theglimpse and THE SPARK page www.facebook.com/thesparkpage, Faber's exciting new online community where books provide the inspiration for young talent. 

The Glimpse by Claire Merle
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Release date: June 2012


Once you've seen into the future, can you change your destiny?

In a near future, society is segregated according to whether people are genetically disposed to mental illness. 17-year-old Ana has been living the privileged life of a Pure due to an error in her DNA test. When the authorities find out, she faces banishment from her safe Community, a fate only thwarted by the fact that she has already been promised to Pure-boy Jasper Taurell.

Jasper is from a rich and influential family and despite Ana’s condition, wants to be with her. The authorities grant Ana a tentative reprieve. If she is joined to Jasper before her 18th birthday, she may stay in the Community until her illness manifests. But if Jasper changes his mind, she will be cast out among the Crazies. As Ana’s joining ceremony and her birthday loom closer, she dares to hope she will be saved from the horror of the City and live a ‘normal’ life. But then Jasper disappears.

Led to believe Jasper has been taken by a strange sect the authorities will not intefere with, Ana sneaks out of her well-guarded Community to find him herself. Her search takes her through the underbelly of society and into the pits of the human soul. And as she delves deeper into the mystery of Jasper's abduction she uncovers some devastating truths that destroy everything she has grown up to believe, but she also learns to love as she has never loved before.

Do certain elements of these covers remind anyone else of the covers for two pretty well known YA books? If anyone has any thoughts on the books I'm thinking of, let me know in comments, and I'll let you know if you guessed right! :)



Now onto exciting acquisition news from Simon & Schuster UK who have signed up a debut author for both a funny fiction and a chilling dystopia...

The Disappeared by Candida Harper

Harpers first novel, The Disappeared, begins a hard-hitting thriller series, set in a future where children are segregated into institutions that range from comfortable Learning Communities to prison-likeAcademies. Seventeen-year-old Jackson is an academic high flyer, living in a top Learning Community, but when he is sent on an errand with his best friend, the two boys are attacked, leaving Jackson badly beaten and his friend dead. Jackson returns to the Learning Community only to be dismissed by his teachers, who claim not to know him. He is sent to an Academy, and finds himself immersed in a harsh, violent, semi-articulate society where the students have created their own hierarchy based on fighting ability. Jackson starts to realise that his whole life has been based on half-truths, and as he builds alliances and begins to educate those closest to him, a plan for rebellion and escape gradually comes into shape. The Disappeared will be published under the name C. J. Harper and is scheduled for publication in February 2013, with a second book in the series to follow in 2014.

Have a Little Faith by Candida Harper

The second series from Harper begins with Have a Little Faith. Being fourteen is a minefield: with fashion dilemmas, teacher trauma, embarrassing parents and boy drama, Faith is just hoping to make it through Year Ten without too many disasters. But when she and her best friend Megs sign up to take part in an inter-school choir with the local boys comprehensive, Faith's life gets even more complicated. Just how is she supposed to concentrate on becoming the next Cheryl Cole when she's trying to understand how teenage boys minds work? Have a Little Faith will be published in May 2013, under the name Candy Harper, with a second book to follow.

What the Publishers are Saying

"Candida Harper is a rare find: an author who can write convincing and engaging novels in two very different genres. From the page-turning, atmospherically-rich thriller, The Disappeared, which had everyone in the office gripped, to Have a Little Faith, a novel that makes you laugh-out-loud with its perfectly-pitched teen angst, and which is bound to win the hearts of fans of Louise Rennison and Joanna Nadin. I'm really happy to have acquired two such fantastic titles from a brilliant debut author, and I know Candida is going to be a wonderful addition to the Simon & Schuster list." - Jane Griffiths, Fiction Editor, Simon & Schuster.

 * Please note: These covers may not be  final and may be subject to change. 

Additional info & quotes: 

booktrade.info,

Book Review: Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard.

Product details:
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Release date: March 13th 2012.
Hardcover, 352 pages.
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Ages: 14+
Source: Netgalley.


It all begins with a stupid question:

Are you a Global Vagabond?

No, but 18-year-old Bria Sandoval wants to be. In a quest for independence, her neglected art, and no-strings-attached hookups, she signs up for a guided tour of Central America—the wrong one. Middle-aged tourists with fanny packs are hardly the key to self-rediscovery. When Bria meets Rowan, devoted backpacker and dive instructor, and his outspokenly humanitarian sister Starling, she seizes the chance to ditch her group and join them off the beaten path.

Bria's a good girl trying to go bad. Rowan's a bad boy trying to stay good. As they travel across a panorama of Mayan villages, remote Belizean islands, and hostels plagued with jungle beasties, they discover what they've got in common: both seek to leave behind the old versions of themselves. And the secret to escaping the past, Rowan’s found, is to keep moving forward.

But Bria comes to realize she can't run forever, no matter what Rowan says. If she ever wants the courage to fall for someone worthwhile, she has to start looking back.

                                                                                  

 When it feels like all is lost, how far would you go to find yourself?

That’s the question facing eighteen year old Bria Sandoval when she signs up for a guided tour of Central America.  The Global Vagabonds tour group promises days of glorious abandon, exploration and adventure, which is exactly what Bria needs as she strives to regain her independence in the aftermath of a destructive break-up which has seen her lose her passion for the art she once loved, and also mess up her college applications. When her friends bail on her, scuppering her summer travel plans, Bria decides to take charge of her life, to set off on her own, to be her own person, and maybe indulge in a few random hook up’s in order to forget the nasty ex.

But the Global Vagabonds tour group is not quite what she’s expecting and instead of hanging out with a group of  well traveled backpackers like the group she spotted at the airport on her arrival in Guatemala, Bria instead finds herself lumbered with a pack of middle-aged tourists who are intent on sticking resolutely to their travel itinerary. There’s no room for self-discovery amongst them, that’s for sure, so instead Bria drifts towards the bohemian Starling, and Rowan, a beautiful bad boy and seasoned backpacker, who might just be running from a dark past of his own.

Wanderlove is as inspirational story that truly comes to life thanks to Kirsten Hubbard’s beautiful prose, wealth of personal travel experience, and her own beautiful sketches which are here included in the text as part of Bria’s journal. A story of friendship and a journey towards self-discovery, everyone will find something to relate to in the both the life lessons and travel anecdotes that populate Wanderlove.  I love to travel and to discover new places, but even if you don’t have the travel bug, Wanderlove will make you want to grab a backpack and just go! Even though I’ve never been to Central America, and I prefer the comfort of hotels to roughing it with a backpack, I felt like I was right there with Bria on her journey, thanks to the beautifully descriptive writing in Wanderlove. Of course, it helps that Wanderlove also comes complete with a visual companion, located at: http://wanderlove.com/

As a character, I found Bria entirely relatable.  She’s a little difficult to warm to at first, but I soon grew to like her, and she’s very real. At the beginning of the novel Bria is uncomfortable in her own skin, a broken girl who has lost a little bit of herself to the guy who treated her so badly and shattered her confidence.  She’s learned some hard life lessons thanks to that relationship and she’s still a little dazed, still a little bit in shock at how the guy who she thought loved her, was really just looking out for himself.   She needs to rebuild herself, to get to know herself again, because she’s let herself down in ways that she didn’t think were even possible. And she needs to trust again.   She’s not sure if she can trust Rowan, but with Starling called away to work, he’s her only travel companion, and let’s just say that if every backpacking adventure came equipped with its very own Rowan, I would ditch those comfy hotels in a heartbeat!

For anyone who loves contemporary reads, romance, travel and adventure, this is the perfect book for you.  Wanderlove is a beautiful slow-burn of a book, with every page deserving to be savoured.  If you want to pick up a great contemporary read in 2012, you won’t go wrong with Wanderlove. This is truly a book that will stay in your heart long after you’ve turned its final pages.

The Things We Did for Love Blog Tour: Interview with author Natasha Farrant.

Please welcome Natasha Farrant to the blog today as part of the blog tour for h The Things We Did for Love a story of heartbreak and betrayal set in occupied France during World War II.

Read on for more on Natasha's inspirations and influences and also for news of an exclusive writing competition in which you could win an iPad!

The Things We Did for Love is inspired by the horrific real-life events in World War II.  How difficult was it to write about such events and why did you decide to do so?

I have been obsessed with both World Wars since I was a teenager:  descriptions in history lessons of trench warfare, of concentration camps and gas chambers, of bombed cities, all made a profound impression on me.  I just couldn’t understand how human beings, with their capacity for love and compassion, could also allow such nightmares to take place.

THE THINGS WE DID FOR LOVE is based on events which took place in a village called Oradour-sur-Glane, which was destroyed by the Germans towards the end of World War 2. The village has been left exactly as the Germans left it, and it’s devastating. I couldn’t stop crying the first time I went there.  I walked through the ruined streets and in my mind I wanted to imagine away all the reminders of the massacre which took place there to see the village as it was before.  Writing about it became a way of trying to make sense of what had happened, and also of all the questions which had haunted me since those history lessons at school. With so much conflict in the world I do think it’s important to reflect on what war really means to people actually who live them,  and for me books do this far more effectively than news bulletins. 

War is fascinating for writers because it presents such opportunity for extremes – cruelty, heroism, despair, courage – as well as notions of good and evil, right and wrong.  It’s interesting to explore how, far from being defined, the line between these is often terribly blurred.  That is why the love story is such an important part of THE THINGS WE DID FOR LOVE, and also why the act of sacrifice at the end comes from such an unexpected quarter.  They offer hope and redemption. 

 The most difficult challenge for me was to construct a new story while staying true to real life events.  No reason was ever given for the massacre at Oradour.  Real life is often inconclusive and muddled, but it’s difficult to get away with this when you are writing fiction.  Readers, quite rightly, expect resolution.  They expect a story to make sense.  So I constructed reasons, characters, a story, whilst trying to keep to the real life timeline.   Above all, I wanted to be respectful, not to sensationalise or sentimentalise events but to present them  in as powerful and sober way as possible. 

What kind of research did  you undertake while writing The Things We Did for Love?

I visited the excellent Centre of Remembrance at Oradour several times and read a number of books about France under the occupation.  My favourite by far is Joseph Kessel’s L’Armée des Ombres (The Army of Shadows), but Irène Némirovsky’s SUITE FRANÇAISE is also brilliant (and available in English).

There is a lot of strong YA/Crossover historical fiction on the market right now. Can you recommend any books of this type that fans of The Things We Did for Love might also enjoy?

I’m really looking forward to reading Lydia Syson’s A WORLD BETWEEN US, which Hotkey Books publish in July, described as a sweeping love story set in Spain during the Civil War.  Teresa Breslin’s REMEMBRANCE, set in World War I, is a classic, and I love Meg Rosoff’s HOW I LIVE NOW.  For something lighter but just gorgeous, my favourite children’s writer ever Eva Ibbotson’s A SONG FOR SUMMER, set in England and Central Europe during World War 2, is a delight.

What were some of your favourite books as a teen? Did any of the authors you read back then inspire you to become a writer?

We didn’t have the wealth of YA literature then that we do now, but nonetheless I read voraciously as a teenager, mainly books I found on my parents’ bookshelves.  I loved almost anything by Daphne du Maurier – Frenchman’s Creek always springs to mind. I adored PG Wodehouse, and used to take his books with me whenever I was sent on a language exchange, to stop me feeling homesick!  And Jilly Cooper, who taught me a lot about navigating the challenges of life as a young adult.

I can’t say that any one author inspired me to become a writer.  What inspired me was more the fact that I always found the world of books so much more fascinating than everyday life. 

What are your top three tips for aspiring authors?

1.   Show, don’t tell: your readers want to see your characters in action, they don’t want you to tell them what happened.  So: “Livia was sad because her boyfriend said he didn’t love her any more” becomes: “

“We’re over.”

“But why?”

I don’t love you anymore.”

Livia started to cry.”

A silly example, but you see my point.

2.   Take your time. When you’ve finished, put your writing to one side.  Do something else.  Forget about it.  Come back to it a few days later, re-read. Cut, sometimes drastically.  Re-write.  Set aside.  Come back to it… Etc. 

3.  Read.  Read all the time, and ask yourself what makes some books exciting, others dull, why some books about a sad subject make you cry while others leave you cold.  Learn from other writers.

 What are you working on next?

Something completely different! A contemporary story, told in diary format, about a family recovering from the death of a child.  It’s sad but also very funny and slightly mad.  I love it.

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The Things We Did for Love by Natasha Farrant published by Faber & Faber is available to buy now, £9.99 hardback, Ebook £6.99

To celebrate the launch of The Things We Did for Love by Natasha Farrant Faber & Faber have launched a writing competition with some great prizes on offer! All details available here:  http://www.facebook.com/thesparkpage?sk=app_128953167177144. 

Book Review: The Things We Did for Love by Natasha Farrant.

Product details:
Publisher: Faber & Faber.
Release date: March 1st 2012.
Hardcover, 225 pages.
Rating: 3 out of 5.
Ages: 12+
Source: Received from publisher for review.

France: February, 1944.
As war rages in Europe, teenagers Luc and Arianne fall passionately in love. But German forces are closing in and Luc, desperate to atone for his family's past, is drawn into the dangerous world of the Resistance. Arianne will do almost anything to keep him safe, but someone else is secretly in love with her - someone who will stop at nothing to get rid of his rival...

Inspired by harrowing real life events, The Things We Did for Love by Natasha Farrant is a heart-wrenching tale of love and loyalty, betrayal and loss set against the backdrop of Nazi-occupied France during World War II.

Revolving around the relationship of Luc and Arianne, two teenagers in love, The Things We Did for Love initially lulls us into a sense of false security as we witness the connection between Arianne and Luc, a boy from her childhood who has returned to her village after five years away.  Luc is initially secretive and distant, but soon warms to Arianne who falls head over heels in love with him.  A passionate affair soon follows, and their relationship develops quickly leaving in its wake a trail of jealousy and bitter destruction that will impact on the lives of everyone they know.

The Things We Did for Love has all the potential to be a tale of relentless Nazi brutality, but instead it saves it hard-hitting punches for its final chilling chapters which serve to show us, that even during times of brutal war and terrible betrayal, we should never underestimate the unwavering power of loyalty and the redemptive qualities of love.

The Things We Did for Love is a novel of friends, family, love and loss, set against a historical period that I love to read about, so while I was initially interested in reading this novel, and while I loved its final twist, I did feel that it was a little lacking in its characterization and plot development. I never fully connected with Luc and Arianne or became invested in their relationship. The writing style throughout the novel is taut and restrained, and is perfectly suited to a novel which has a raw and powerful conclusion, making it a worthwhile read for me.

Delightful Debutantes #30 - Jill Hathaway & Slide.

Jill Hathaway, author of the awesome Slide has stopped by the blog today for her turn as a Delightful Debutante. Slide is a great murder mystery with a supernatural twist - just the kind of book I love!

Over to Jill who will tell you more about her inspirations for Slide, the music behind the book, and of course, that all important info about book #2...

Slide introduces us to Vee Bell, an ordinary girl in every way, save for the fact that she can slide into other people’s heads and see through their eyes. I absolutely love the premise of this book. It’s so original and unique. What were your inspirations and influences for writing Slide?

I wanted to write a really gritty mystery. My original idea was to have someone find themselves standing over a dead body, holding a bloody knife, with no idea of what happened. How did I get a person in that position? The sliding evolved from that.

I love a good murder mystery that makes me second-guess pretty much every character I meet. I won’t even tell you the bad things I thought about some good people in Slide! Did you have a clear baddie in mind right from the start, or did you change your mind lots as the story progressed? 

 The killer actually completely changed from the rough draft to the finished novel!

The music was another aspect of Slide that I loved. Vee listens to all the 90’s music that I adore! Can you pick five songs that tell the story of the characters in Slide?

Thinking of You by A Perfect Circle; Jealousy by the Gin Blossoms; Alive by Pearl Jam; Black by Pearl Jam; To Forgive by the Smashing Pumpkins

Can you name three other books that readers of Slide might also enjoy? I’m always on the lookout for murder mysteries that have a little supernatural twist added to the mix.

Fracture by Megan Miranda; Clarity by Kim Harrington; Between by Jessica Warman

Since this feature is all about debut authors, can you tell me what upcoming 2012 debut novels are you most excited to read?

 I am SUPER EXCITED to read Butter by Erin Lange.

There’s more to come from Vee when Imposter (Slide #2) releases next year. Care to share any juicy bits of information about that one? I can’t wait to find out more!

Well, let's just say Vee might not be the only slider in town! ;)

Thanks for having me!!!

Find out more:

Jill's Website

Jill's Blog

Jill on Facebook

Jill on Twitter

Skin Deep Blog Tour: Laura Jarratt on the Skin Deep Soundtrack!

Skin Deep by Laura Jarratt
Publisher: Egmont
Release date: March 5th 2012

Ugly people don't have feelings. They're not like everyone else. They don't notice if you stare at them and turn away. And if they did notice, it wouldn't hurt them. They're not like real people. Or that's what I used to think. Before I learned...

After the car crash that leaves her best friend dead, Jenna is permanently scarred. She struggles to rebuild her life, but every stare in the street, every time she looks in the mirror, makes her want to retreat further from the world. Until she meets Ryan. Ryan's a traveller. When he and his mother moor their narrow boat on the outskirts of a village, she tells him this time it will be different. He doesn't believe her; he can't imagine why this place shouldn't be as unwelcoming as the rest. Until he meets Jenna. But as Jenna and Ryan grow closer, repercussions from the crash continue to reverberate through the community. And then a body is found...

Guest Post: Laura Jarratt on the Skin Deep Soundtrack

This is a collection of the tracks I was listening to when I was writing and editing the book. Some of these I used to get me into a certain mood to write and others are ones that I connect with some of the characters – not necessarily ones they’d be listening to but ones that help me get into their heads. So the soundtrack is a bit of a mash-up but this is what writing Skin Deep sounded like.

THE BOATMAN – The Levellers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NC7cfpCDxLc

This song was totally in my head when I started writing the opening chapters with Karen and Ryan together, and it’s one I came back to over and over again throughout the book

LIBERTY SONG  - The Levellers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JW6nk3rBGe4&feature=fvst

Another one from The Levellers – this song always conjures Karen up for me, with all her anger at authority and the system. It was also the inspiration for the name of her boat.

MAKE ME SMILE – Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBw4YuBylvs

And this one conjures Cole – there’s something irrepressible about it that says Cole.

VAGABONDS – New Model Army

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feeVAo-3SNg&ob=av2n

This is a track Karen would have been listening to around the time she was deciding to take up a travelling lifestyle. It’s known as the song that launched a thousand kitbags.

TEARDROPS ON MY GUITAR – Taylor Swift

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKCek6_dB0M&ob=av2e

This is my Jenna song, though for the record I hate this video. It’s not the kind of sound I’m usually into but this sums up unrequited teen crushes so well that I respect the lyrics – everyone has been or will be here at some time.

CLOSE – Drumsound and Baseline Smith

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULeapWB1Ij8

I had this on loop while I was doing the final edits for the book – and I do love this video. It kept me in the right mood while I was making those last changes and I never had a Ryan song before this, but this is the track I always associate with him now.

SPECIAL NEEDS – Placebo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6U1pggOPdi0&feature=related

I’ve never written a book without a Placebo track playing over and over during the time I was writing. This is just beautiful. The whole sound of it and the emotion behind it sums up Skin Seep for me. It’s not the lyrics – this is a mood song.