Book Review: The Goddess Experience by Giséle Scanlon.

Product Details:
Publisher: HarperCollins
Paperback, 336 pages.
Release date: February 4th 2010.
Rating: 3½ out of 5.


Product Description:

More than 1000 valuable tips that anyone can afford, to bring a little Goddess magic into your life. 'A divine guide to all the good things in life!.with delicious recipes, fashion advice, top travel destinations and inspirational ideas, any goddess would be mad not to keep a copy by her bed.' Express Following on from the amazing success of style bible The Goddess Guide, The Goddess Experience reveals hundreds of experiences, large and small, for all budgets, to enable all of us to unleash our inner goddess. From dressing tables to dim-sum, trainers to tea, pod hotels to pop-up stores, Gisele brings us the people, places and things to make you smile! / Dicsover how to create luxury in your own home / Explore Gisele's secret address book for all the top places in some of the world's hottest cities / Create scrumptious dishes at home from simple and delicious recipes / Go shopping for the perfect wardrobe basics and pick up Gisele's top tips on how to care for bags and shoes / Read exclusive interviews with Vivienne Westwood, Paul Smith and Lauren Laverne / Join Gisele on the hunt for the perfect cake and cuppa Whatever kind of Goddess you are, you're sure to find inspiration on every page of this beautifully packaged, sumptuously designed book, guaranteed to bring Goddess magic into every life.

The Goddess Experience is an indulgent treat, and the perfect girlie book, filled with beauty and fashion insider tips.  This is a change from the usual reviews I'll be doing, but so many of you were into my 'Carrie Diaries' post, that I reckon maybe there are a few girlie girls reading this! Yes, I love my horror and my paranormal romance, but I also love all things pink!

This book opens with Giséle asking you to post a 'happy list'.  I'm going to share mine with you in a while.  The happy list focuses on the simple pleasures in life, while  Giséle also spills the beans on her favourite indulgent treats.  Warning: If you read this, you will want to take a trip to Paris simply to sample Macaroons from Ladurée.  I've never had one, but I've been swooning over pictures of them for weeks now! Yum!

 Besides fashion, beauty and food, the book also contains a travel section, and an invaluable guide to packing the perfect flight kit which gets a special mention from me, as it's something I always get wrong!  I loved the  'city guides' section of the book, as I love exploring cities and finding out the best places to eat when I go on a trip.  Here you can find out where to stay, eat , shop and play in Berlin, Dublin, London, Paris, NYC and Sydney.

This book is a great go-to book if you are in need of beauty tips, or have a wardrobe dilemma, and  is the perfect gift for any girlie girl. It is also probably the prettiest book I have ever seen, and is beautifully illustrated throughout.

Waiting on Wednesday #2 - The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell.

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

This weeks selection is:

The Carrie Diaries - Candace Bushnell

Harper Teen publishing

Hardcover, 400 pages

Ages: 14 and up

Release date: April 27th 2010

The Carrie Diaries is the coming-of-age story of one of the most iconic characters of our generation.

Before Sex and the City, Carrie Bradshaw was a small-town girl who knew she wanted more. She's ready for real life to start, but first she must navigate her senior year of high school. Up until now, Carrie and her friends have been inseparable. Then Sebastian Kydd comes into the picture, and a friend's betrayal makes her question everything.

With an unforgettable cast of characters, The Carrie Diaries is the story of how a regular girl learns to think for herself and evolves into a sharp, insightful writer. Readers will learn about her family background, how she found her writing voice, and the indelible impression her early friendships and relationships left on her. Through adventures both audacious and poignant, we'll see what brings Carrie to her beloved New York City, where her new life begins.

You can read an excerpt from the book here

I like a little light reading from time to time, and I'm a big fan of Sex and the City, so this fits the bill.  However, this is being marketed towards a young adult audience, and since it's set in the eighties, I'm just wondering how appealing it will be to that audience, or if it will find a place instead with older readers who just love young adult literature (like me!)

I've posted the US and UK covers for the book.  I'm not overly impressed with either of them.  I had hoped for something a little more fabulous, but at a push I guess the US cover is marginally better.

                                               
Now, link me up with your finds. I love finding out about new releases!

Book News: A new novella from Stephenie Meyer - and it's an 'Eclipse' spin-off!

I really wasn't expecting this at all!  I'm a big fan of the Twilight books, although it's been quite a while since I read them, and while I remember the new-born vampires in Eclipse, and the general mayhem they caused, I don't especially recall this character Bree Tanner.  Maybe I need to re-read Eclipse before the movie is released.  It's exciting news nonetheless.  I had wondered when we were going to get anything new from Meyer.  Disappointingly she's still ruling out a Midnight Sun release right now.

Brace yourself, Twilight fans. A new book from Stephenie Meyer is on the horizon.

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella will be released at 12:01 a.m. June 5.

The 192-page story, an offshoot of the third novel in Meyer's best-selling teen vampire Twilight saga, has a first printing of 1.5 million. It's the first new Twilight title since Breaking Dawn, Book 4, was published two years ago.

The new novella is told in the voice of the teenage Bree, a "newborn vampire" whom we meet on page 569 in Eclipse. Ten pages later, she's dead.

"I started writing this a long time ago," Meyer said in an exclusive interview with USA TODAY. "It was when I was editing Eclipse. It was more of just an exercise so I could be clear about what was going on in the story."

The Twilight novels are told from the perspective of Bella, who falls in love with the vampire Edward Cullen.

"There's only so much stuff you can tell when what Bella sees and hears is all you can tell," Meyer says.

Bree is part of an army of newborn vampires created by Cullen family nemesis Victoria. Thirsty for revenge after the Cullens kill her vampire lover James, Victoria's plan is to use her army to kill the Cullens and Bella.

"The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner is pretty much contained in the last week of the newborns' existence before the big fight (between the Cullens and the vampire army) in the meadow in Eclipse," Meyer says. "It's the last week before Bree dies."

In the novella, Meyer says, Bree has been a vampire for about three months. No other details are being released.

But some plot points from the novella have made their way into the Eclipse film, starring  Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, which opens June 30. Meyer gave David Slade, the film's director, a draft to read during production. The character of Bree is played by Canadian actress Jodelle Ferland.

Fans have speculated that the next Twilight title would be Midnight Sun, the story of Twilight told in Edward Cullen's voice.

"I think they're all waiting for Midnight Sun," says Meyer, who put Sun on hold indefinitely in 2008 when a draft was posted on the Internet without her permission and went viral. "But I'm not writing about vampires right now."

In addition to the hardcover release of the book (June 5th) and e-book, fans will be able to read the entire novella for free at breetanner.com a dedicated website that will be up June 7th through July 5th.

additional news source: usatoday.com

It's Monday, what are you reading? #1

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

Last week I read: Shadowland by Alyson Noel

Read my review: here

 

I love this series.  Cannot wait for the next installment 'Dark Flame'. Any other fans of the Immortals out there?

Right now I'm reading: The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry. 

I admit, I often judge a book by it's cover, and I've rarely been disppointed when doing this.  This cover caught my eye, and I love the book description.  Haunting, gothic tales are just my thing! I've just started reading this, and so far, so good.  Expect a review soon. 

Product Description

Drawn by family. Driven by fear. Haunted by fate. Would knowing the future be a gift or a burden? Or even a curse!? The Whitney women of Salem, Massachusetts are renowned for reading the future in the patterns of lace. But the future doesn't always bring good news -- as Towner Whitney knows all too well. When she was just fifteen her gift sent her whole world crashing to pieces. She predicted -- and then witnessed -- something so horrific that she vowed never to read lace again, and fled her home and family for good. Salem is a place of ghosts for Towner, and she swore she would never return. Yet family is a powerful tie. So it is that fifteen years later, Towner finds herself back in Salem. Her beloved Great Aunt Eva has suddenly disappeared -- and when you've lived a life like Eva's, that could mean real trouble. But Salem is wreathed in sickly shadows and whispered half-memories. It's fast becoming clear that the ghosts of Towner's fractured past have not been brought fully into the light. And with them comes the threat of terrifying new disaster. A literary page-turner with depth, narrative power and a story that novels like 'The Thirteenth Tale' can only dream of, 'The Lace Reader' is a bewitching and tightly plotted read.

Up next for me: The White Queen by Philippa Gregory

 I love historical fiction, and loved 'The Other Boleyn Girl' by this author, so I'm looking forward to reading this one next, even though I don't know much about this historical period.

'This fast-paced and incident-packed read vividly recreates the deperate times of the Wars Of The Roses; all murder and strategy, passion, betrayal, castles and long, sweeping dresses. Of [Elizabeth] Woodville herself, Gregory makes a fascinating heroine; strong, ambitious, vengeful, beautiful and tinged with more than a hint of witchcraft. Popular history at its best.'

Now, let me pass the question on to you - what are you reading?

The Book Blogger Hop! #1 March 26th - April 1st 2010.

Go me! I decided to take part in this weekly event hosted by Jennifer at Crazy-for-Books and then promptly messed up my link like the novice that I am, pretty much defeating the purpose of this networking excercise.  Oh well. It's a great idea and there's always next week!

If by any chance you have found and followed me through the book blogger hop, please leave a comment so I can follow back.  I'm all about the networking right now!

About the Hop:

This is a weekly event, hosted here, where book bloggers and readers can connect to find new blogs to read.  It's a great way to network with other bloggers and make new friends!  Every day I seem to find another book blog that I start following. In the spirit of the Friday Follow, I thought it would be cool to do a Book Blogger Hop to give us all bookies a chance to connect and find new blogs that we may be missing out on!  It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed!

Pretty please - Your blog should have content related to books, including, but not limited to book reviews.

If you start following someone through the Hop, leave a comment on their blog to let them know!  Stop back during the week to see other blogs that are added!  And, most importantly, the idea is to HAVE FUN!!

Exciting book news: Crescendo plot details and teaser cover!

I really enjoyed reading Hush, Hush and can't wait for Crescendo!  From reading this plot outline, I'm worried for Nora.  I'm not quite sure that Patch can be trusted at all, despite his heroics in Hush, Hush, that he ultimately has her best interests at heart.  I can't wait to find out what dark secrets he is hiding!

Nora should have known her life was far from perfect. Despite starting a relationship with her guardian angel, Patch (who, title aside, can be described as anything but angelic), and surviving an attempt on her life, things are not looking up. Patch is starting to pull away and Nora can't figure out if it's for her best interest or if his interest has shifted to her arch-enemy, Marcie Millar. Not to mention that Nora is haunted by images of her father and she becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened to him that night he left for Portland and never came home.

The further Nora delves into the mystery of her father's death, the more she comes to question if her Nephilim bloodline has something to do with it as well as why she seems to be in danger more than the average girl. Since Patch isn't answering her questions and seems to be standing in her way, she has to start finding the answers on her own. Relying too heavily on the fact that she has a guardian angel puts Nora at risk again and again. But can she really count on Patch or is he hiding secrets darker than she can even imagine?

 Source

Book Review: Shadowland by Alyson Noel.

Product Details:

Publisher: St. Martin's Press.

Hardcover,368 pages.

Release date: November 17th 2009.
Ages: 13 and up

Rating: 4 out of 5.
Series: The Immortals.

Other titles in series: Evermore[1] Blue Moon[2]

Ever and Damen have traveled through countless past lives—and fought off the world’s darkest enemies—so they could be together forever. But just when their long-awaited destiny is finally within reach, a powerful curse falls upon Damen…one that could destroy everything. Now a single touch of their hands or a soft brush of their lips could mean sudden death—plunging Damen into the Shadowland. Desperate to break the curse and save Damen, Ever immerses herself in magick—and gets help from an unexpected source…a surfer named Jude.

Although she and Jude have only just met, he feels startlingly familiar. Despite her fierce loyalty to Damen, Ever is drawn to Jude, a green-eyed golden boy with magical talents and a mysterious past. She’s always believed Damen to be her soulmate and one true love—and she still believes it to be true. But as Damen pulls away to save them, Ever’s connection with Jude grows stronger—and tests her love for Damen like never before…

Shadowland, the third book in Alyson Noel’s Immortals series impressed me.  Also, I’m really glad that I enjoyed this one, because my feelings towards the previous instalment, Blue Moon, were a little lukewarm.  However, with Shadowland, Noel has really engaged my interest once again.

I feel that the focus in this novel was on the introduction of new characters.  One thing I really love in regards to  Noel’s writing is that she is very strong on character development .  That said, because of this, sometimes things do get stretched a little thin plot wise.  In Shadlowland, you’ll find that there is little plot progression until the very end of the book, but you will fall in love with characters new and old along the way.

The characters of Damen and Ever have charmed me from the start of this series.  However, in both Blue Moon, and this book, I found the character of Ever a little frustrating to say the least!   In Evermore, Ever was a very strong, independent girl.  Now she has distanced herself from most everyone around her, and seems entirely dependent on Damen in order to function.  She doesn’t confide in her friends, and has almost ostracised her aunt to the point of no return.   So, even though I love Damen and Ever, and ultimately want them to be together,  I feel that the introduction of Jude is a necessary and healthy one for Ever.  I also find the past history between Ever and Jude fascinating and hope this is explored and developed further.

I also have to given special mention to Romy and Rayne in this review.  I loved those two in Blue Moon, and was hoping we would find out more about them in Shadowland.  I was pleased to see them back in this book,  and I hope they continue to stick around.  That said, I’m not so sure about Damen as a  father figure.  I’d prefer him to be a little edgier, so  that angle doesn’t really work for me.

As you can see from my review, this book is very character driven.  Roman, Haven are Miles are all here too, and while they are in this book a little less than previous books, there is a very interesting plot twist to this book, which will ensure that both Haven and Roman feature strongly in the next installment.

Overall, despite the flaws I have mentioned, I really enjoyed reading this book. I love the characters and can’t wait to read more.

First Look: Twilight Eclipse movie poster!

I still say I love the Twilight books more than their movie adaptations, but since Eclipse was my favourite of the books along with the original Twilight book, I'm really looking forward to seeing this one.

Are you excited for this movie? What are your thoughts on the movie poster?  I like it, although Edward's expression is very pained.  Maybe they'll let him crack a smile on the movie poster for Breaking Dawn. I also posted a teaser trailer, for your viewing pleasure.

Twilight Eclipse the movie is released June 30th 2010.

'In THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger as Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge.

'In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between Edward and Jacob - knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella is confronted with the most important decision of her life.'

Waiting on Wednesday #1 - Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready.

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

This week's selection is:

Shade

by Jeri Smith-Ready

Publication date: May 4th 2010.

Love ties them together.
Death can't tear them apart.

Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.

Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone.

Well, sort of.

Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan’s violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.

It doesn't help that Aura’s new friend Zachary is so understanding—and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.

As Aura's relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura's heart…and clues to the secret of the Shift.

I am super excited for this book.  I just know it's going to be my next urban fantasy addiction! Best of all, you can now read chapter one of Shade on Jeri's blog.  Enjoy!

Leann at YA Book Queen has a signed ARC of Shade up for grabs. The contest is open internationally, and you can enter here.  But hurry, the contest ends tomorrow!

Book Review: Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick.

Product Details:
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Hardcover, 400 pages.
Release date: October 13th 2009.
Ages: 14 and up.
Rating: 4 out of 5.

Description

Romance was not part of Nora Grey's plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how hard her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch comes along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Patch draws Nora to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is and seems to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For she is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those who have fallen -- and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost Nora her life.

Mini Review:


I read this in one sitting. I love the current trend of well written young adult novels that deal with supernatural beings and forbidden love. This book will appeal to Twilight lovers, but here the supernatural being in question is not vampires, but angels - of the fallen variety.

In parts, I thought the action sequences in the books were a little overdone, and too lengthy in places. Time would have been better spent developing the relationship between Nora and Patch. I felt that there was an intense physical attraction between them, but the characters themselves and their connection needed further development. Patch is a very interesting character, and quite different to the dashing supernatural heroes of other young adult novels. I liked that he is very shady and mysterious, and not altogether good. Also, I really didn't like the names of the two main characters, and this perhaps explains why I couldn't totally connect with them, but overall this is a small gripe as I really enjoyed the story overall, and would read more from this author in an instant.

Book News: Maggie Stiefvater publishing deal!

Forgive me if this is old  news.  OK, I know it is so last week, but I just started this blog today, and I wanted to record this.  As previously mentioned, I loved Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver,  and am eagerly awaiting it's follow up, Linger.  So, I was very  excited to hear that final book in the series Forever is due for release in summer 2011.  I am already counting down the days.  Seriously.  Added to all this, Maggie has signed a deal to write three stand-alone young adult fantasy novels.  Very exciting.  And if that's not enough  excitement for one day, the film rights for Shiver have been optioned by Warner Brothers.  I would so love to see Grace and Sam on the big screen.  I am not sure who I would cast in this movie though.  I usually want Chace Crawford or Paul Wesley to play my brooding romantic hero, but neither of these guys is right for Sam, so I'll have to think about it.   Nevertheless,  this is an exciting time for Maggie, and for us fans too!

As an added bonus, you get a picture of me with my beloved copy of Shiver.  :)

Book Review: The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan.

Product details:
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers.
Release date: March 5th 2009.
Hardcover, 320 pages
Rating: 2 out of 5.

In Mary's world there are simple truths. The Sisterhood always knows best. The Guardians will protect and serve. The Unconsecrated will never relent. And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth. But, slowly, Mary’s truths are failing her. She’s learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future—between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?

 This book came highly recommended to me, but sadly it proved to be a huge disappointment.   I had read countless positive reviews of  this on various blogs, and, though not being a fan of zombie literature, I thought the premise of the book was really interesting, so I went ahead and ordered it. 

The plot did show promise at first, and while I didn't immediately warm to Ryan's writing style, I stuck with it, interested to find out more about the secrets of the Sisterhood. Unfortunately this never happened. In fact, one of my biggest gripes with the book was unfinished plotlines and unanswered questions.  Also, I found that the book really reminded me of M. Night Shyamalan's The Village, a movie which I really didn't enjoy .  I felt that a lot of the time Ryan spent too much time on the mundane here - Mary's entrapment as she enters the Sisterhood, days spent wandering through the forest, which culminated in a slow moving, repetitive book that did not keep me entertained. 

The characters in the book lacked depth, and didn't work for me either.  As our  heroine, I had hoped to like Mary, but I didn’t , finding her fickle and selfish.   The main romance in the book had no foundation and no real emotion, and could have been omitted from the plot entirely.  The ending was abrupt, leaving me unsatisfied, but not wanting more.

Young Adult Urban Fantasy - everything is a saga...

...and, believe me, I love it.  With all these sagas though, it can be a little difficult to keep track of things. Characters names and plot lines tend to get a little tangled. Confusion sets in from time to time.  I read a lot of Young Adult urban fantasy - it's pretty much an addiction at this point, and sometimes it's difficult to separate the werewolves from the fallen angles.  You know how it is, right?  At the moment, I've got three different Y/A urban fantasy series that I'm following, but I fear that I'll be picking up a few more soon.  Oh yes, Jeri Smith-Ready's Shade is pretty high up on my wish list.  So, I decided I'd write reviews here, that's what I'll do.  And then, if I ever need a plot or character refresher, this will provide easy access. 

So, here are the seires that I'm concentrating on right now.  The characters in these books have my heart.  I have gotten very emotionally attached to them all, so I won't be letting go of these guys any time soon.  I'll miss them when they're gone, but I'm sure that another great series will be along to keep me entertained.

First up in Alyson Noel's Immortals series.  Evermore was one of my favourite books of 2009. Damen Auguste was my new Edward Cullen.  Damen totally has my heart.  I have a huge literary crush on him right now, but he's not mine, he's Ever's.  I'm happy for them, really.  I'm on book three of this series Shadowland, which I'm reading right now, and loving so far.

Book four in the Immortals series Dark Flame will be released on June 22nd 2010.

I'm also all caught up with Becca Fitzpatric's Fallen Angels series.  The first book, Hush, Hush, of which I loved, and the follow up Crescendo, which I am eagerly awaiting.  I read the plot summary for Crescendo yesterday, and now, I seriously cannot wait for this book.  I'm really excited at direction in which this series appears to be going.  Also, while Patch is undoubtedly hot, and a fallen angel no less,  I still don't really trust the guy, which is a nice twist on the  usually all-to-perfect leading male in many young adult novels.  I love these perfect specimen's too by the way, but it's nice to have a bad boy in the mix.  I really don't know what to expect from him next.  Sometimes I feel for Nora, I really do.

Book two in the Fallen Angels series Crescendo will be released on November 16th 2010 (US). I'm not sure about the UK release date for this as yet.

The third and final, but certainly by no means least Y/A urban fantasy series that I am loving right now is Maggie Stiefvater's Wolves of Mercy Falls series.  I loved Sam and Grace immediately when I started Shiver, and also loved Maggie's sassy  writing style. The book kept me captivated throughout and I can't wait to read it's follow up ,Linger when it's released this summer.  When it comes to buying books, I'll usually wait for the paperback, but I'll be getting this on pre-order which is a sure sign that I love this series.

Book two in the Wolves of Mercy Falls series Linger will be released on July 20th 2010.

I'm sure there are many more urban fantasy saga's that I'm missing out on.  It's probably too early to have any readers on this blog, but if you're out there, post your comments on these or other young adult saga's that you love.

First post done!