Author Interview: Rebecca James & Beautiful Malice giveaway!

Today I have an interview with Australian author Rebecca James who has written one of my favourite reads of this year Beautiful Malice.  Read on for your chance to find out more about Rebecca and for a chance to win an ARC of Beautiful Malice.

About Rebecca James:
from publishers website

Rebecca was born in Sydney, Australia, in 1970. She spent her early twenties working as a waitress, her late twenties teaching English in Indonesia and Japan, and most of her thirties having babies and working as a kitchen designer.

She has started several university degrees but has yet to place any letters after her name. Despite her highly developed procrastinatory skills she has somehow managed to finish writing a book or two - and plans to spend her forties, fifties, sixties, seventies, eighties and nineties finishing several more.

She lives in Armidale, Australia with her partner and their four sons.

Find out more about Rebecca:

WEBSITE

BLOG

TWITTER

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Q:  Beautiful Malice is  a publishing sensation having sold to 37 countries and you are being hailed as the new J.K Rowling by the Wall Street Journal.  It must be a very exciting time for you! How has your life changed since your book was sold, and how did you celebrate when you heard that you were going to be published?

A: Yes, it has been an incredibly exciting time - exciting and terrifying and surreal all at once! My life has changed most significantly in that I'm now a full time writer - which is a great privilege indeed and I couldn't be happier. I've had several celebrations in the last 10 or so months and most of them have involved a lot of champagne, plenty of delighted squealing, and even, once or twice, a few happy tears.

Q: You've written a wonderful psychological thriller in Beautiful Malice. I was totally engrossed in the story and the characters. Where did you get the inspiration for the story? Were there any particular people or certain events in your life that you drew inspiration from?

A: Thank you. I guess I'm just really interested in dysfunctional relationships - and the numerous different ways they can manifest. I'm also fascinated by the fact that so many people tolerate toxic friendships and love thinking about the reasons why. What makes a person vulnerable? And equally interesting, what motivates the bully - what personal demons might they be dealing with themselves?

Personally, I've had quite a few less-than-perfect friendships. My best friend in pre-school used to pull my hair daily! But, thankfully, I've never met anyone quite like Alice.

Q: Was Beautiful Malice written as a Young Adult book or did you have an adult audience in mind when you wrote it? The book is being published as Young Adult in Australia, but as an adult book in the US, while the UK is marketing it towards 15-30 year olds. What was your intended audience?

A: I didn't really think about the audience much until I was nearing the end and wondering how to pitch it to agents. My agent, Jo Unwin, eventually pitched it as both an adult and YA novel and that's reflected in how it's being published.

Q: I think Beautiful Malice would make a great movie.  As I was reading it, I was playing casting director in my head.  Is there any possibility of a Beautiful Malice movie? Have the movie rights been optioned?

A: I'd love it to be made into a movie - but there's nothing concrete yet ! It would be great fun to cast Alice...

Q: Your next book is a thriller called Cooper Bartholomew is Dead. Can you give me any further details on this one? 

A: Top secret - well, not really, just not ready to talk about it until it's in better shape. 

Q: What prompted you to start writing? Was it something you always did in your spare time, or was it because you had a great idea for a book that just had to be written?  How long did you spend writing Beautiful Malice from start to finish? 

A: I started writing in my thirties when I had four very young sons  - I  think I needed an escape, and a creative outlet. Beautiful Malice took about two years to write from start to finish.

Q: Can you recommend a great book that you think everybody should read and let me know what you're reading at the moment?

A:  I can thoroughly recommend Vilette by Charlotte Bronte  and  I'm currently  reading So Much For That by Lionel Shriver.

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WIN, WIN, WIN!
*Contest closed!*

Thanks so much to Rebecca for taking the time to answer my questions.  To be in with a chance to win an ARC of Beautiful Malice, all you have to do is comment on this interview.  If  you comment and don't want to be entered into the competition, please state this. :) You don't have to be a follower to enter, but if you don't follow, please remember to check back here on Monday, June 7th to find out if you've won.  I'll be picking a winner then who will have 48 hours to email me with their contact details before I pick a new winner.  This contest is international.

BEAUTIFUL MALICE ON GOODREADS

READ MY REVIEW OF BEAUTIFUL MALICE

Carrie Diaries competition: We have a WINNER!

Wow! This was a huge competition. So many entries. Thanks to all of you who spread the word via twitter, blogs etc.  A few of you also posted this on your Facebook & MySpace so if you did that, I also gave you an extra entry, and of course, the top commentators in the cloud got an extra five entries.

The winner of The Carrie Diaries is....

SA TOYA TREMAINE

entry #318 chosen by random.org

Congratulations Sa Toya!

I'll be emailing Sa Toya soon for her address, and the book will be then ordered through The Book Depository. If I don't hear from Sa Toya by the end of the week, I'll choose another winner.

As a fun extra question, I asked who you would cast to play the teen Carrie. I got some great answers, and also some funny, unusual answers, and a lot of laughs! These were the top three. Blake Lively was the runaway winner with Miley Cyrus (Candace Bushnell's pick for the role!) and Dakota Fanning tying in second place.

Thanks to everyone who entered.  If you didn't win, don't worry, I'll have another competition coming up soon.  In fact, I have another competition coming up tomorrow!

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New releases: My hot picks for June 2010.

Each month I'll be highlighting some new book releases which I think are must-reads.  I love finding out about new books that I might not have heard of so feel free to let me know what your must have new books are and let me know what you think of my picks in comments.

Click on the links for book descriptions. 

Dark Flame (The Immortals #4) by Alyson Noel 

Release date: June 22nd 2010 (US)

I'll be pre-ordering this one from the US, as I can't wait until September for the UK release. I'm a big fan of the series and can't wait to read the latest installment.

Cum Laude by Cecily Von Ziegesar

Release date: June 1st 2010.

The latest offering from the Gossip Girl author is a coming-of-age tale and sounds like a perfect summer read to me.

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella by Stephenie Meyer

Release date: June 5th 2010.

Like a lot of adults who love Young Adult fiction, the Twilight books were the books that re-introduced me to the genre.  I'll be checking this out at http://breetanner.com/ where you can read the entire novella for free from June 7th-July 5th 2010. I'll also buy this to add to my Twilight collection.

Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes.
Release date: June 8th 2010 (US)
I've heard some great reviews of this one, and I'm looking forward to reading it, although I'll probably wait until the September UK release to purchase.

A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
Release date: June 15th 2010.
I've read a few books by Egan, and though while I haven't loved either of them, I like the sound of this one, so will be checking it out.

Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce
Release date: June 7th 2010.
I love the cover of this one, and I've read some good reviews, so I'll be checking it out. I actually won an ARC of this a while back, but I haven't received it yet. *sobs*
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I hope you found some new reads for June!

Release dates and book descriptions taken from Goodreads.

Waiting on Wednesday #10 - Prophecy of the Sisters & Guardian of the Gate by Michelle Zink.

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

Prophecy of the Sisters (Prophecy of the Sisters #1)

ATOM (UK)

Paperback, 352 pages.

Release date: August 5th 2010.

Target Age Group: Young Adult.

Sixteen-year-old Lia Milthorpe and her twin sister Alice have just become orphans, and, as Lia discovers, they have also become enemies. The twins are part of an ancient prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other. To escape from a dark fate and to remain in the arms of her beloved boyfriend James, Lia must end the prophecy before her sister does. Only then will she understand the mysterious circumstances of her parents' deaths, the true meaning of the strange mark branded on her wrist, and the lengths to which her sister will go to defeat her. Debut novelist Michelle Zink takes readers on an unforgettable journey where one sister's fateful decision could have an impact of Biblical proportions. Prophecy of the Sisters is the first of three books.

Guardian of the Gate  (Prophecy of the Sisters #2)

ATOM (UK)

Paperback, 352 pages.

Release date: August 5th 2010.

Target Age Group: Young Adult.

The ultimate battle between sisters is nearing, and its outcome could have catastrophic consequences. As sixteen year-old Lia Milthorpe searches for a way to end the prophecy, her twin sister Alice hones the skills she'll need to defeat Lia. Alice will stop at nothing to reclaim her sister's role in the prophecy, and that's not the only thing she wants: There's also Lia's boyfriend James.

Lia and Alice always knew the Prophecy would turn those closest to them against them. But they didn't know what betrayal could lead them to do. In the end, only one sister will be left standing. 

I know that Prophecy of the Sisters is not a new release, but it is for me as I decided to wait for the paperback release of this one.  In a way I'm glad I did,  as I love the sound of Prophecy and this means I won't have a long tortuous wait for the sequel!  If you've already read the first book, let me know what you thought of it, and be sure to share your WoW links in comments.

Exciting book news: Read the first chapter of Becca Fitzpatrick's Crescendo!

Becca Fitzpatrick's Crescendo, the follow up to the amazing Hush, Hush is one of my most anticipated books of the year, so I was really excited to see that the first chapter has been released via Fallen Archangel  In addition to this the US publication date of the book has been pushed up to October 19th 2010.

I've read the first chapter, and all I can say is OH MY GOD! AMAZING!! I can't wait to read more.  The prologue involving Nora's dad was great and really got me thinking - who is his dark haired assassin? I hope it's not who I'm thinking it is....No, it couldn't be, right?! 

The first chapter is pretty hot.  Patch sounds more delicious than ever, but I wonder what made him rush off like that at the end?  I'm thinking there may be trouble ahead.  If you guys read the first chapter, let me know what you think.  Maybe I shouldn't have read it, because now I just want MORE!! 

I can't wait to read the rest of this.  I just know it's going to be great!

CLICK TO READ THE FIRST CHAPTER OF CRESCENDO

Special thanks and extra competition entries for your comments!

Yesterday I installed a comment cloud on the blog courtesy of  BloggerSentral and now that I can see the names of those who regularly comment on the blog, I wanted to say a big thank you!  I'm still pretty new to blogging, and when I started this blog I didn't know if anyone would ever read it, much less comment.  I'm still at the stage where I'm excited every time I get a new follower or a comment, so I really appreciate each and every comment.

As a special thanks the people who comment on my posts most often, anyone who appears in the Top Commentators cloud will get extra entries into competitions, I'll be visiting your blogs more often (although I visit a lot of them regularly already), and there may even be a special competition for you guys at some point to show my appreciation.  

Make sure you check out the blogs of  my top commentators.  They are all fabulous! (Sorry I couldn't include everyone who's listed in the cloud - if your name is in the cloud, anyone who clicks on it can go directly to your profile and check out your blog that way).

Simay @ Zimlicious

Carrie @ In the Hammock Blog

Christina @ Confessions of a Book Addict

Emidy @ Une Parole

Jan @ Eating Y.A. Books

Kim @ Queen Bee

Sa Toya @ Paper, Pens & Lipgloss
Alayne @ The Crowded Leaf

 

I just had a thought - wouldn't it be funny if this post about comments didn't get any comments?! I have a strange sense of humour...

Contest Reminder: There's still a few days left to enter to win a copy of The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell! Enter here if you haven't done so already!  Anyone who enters and is a top commentator is getting five extra entries as a thank you.

In My Mailbox #4 - May 23rd 2010.

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

Just one in my mailbox this week.  I got sent this for review and I'm really excited to read it, as I've been a fan of Emily Barr's books for quite a while now.  Love the cover on this one, and I've always wanted to travel to Italy, so I love the fact that this one is set in Venice.  Let me know what books you got this week!

For Lucy Riddick, Venice has always been the dream destination. A dream inspired by the pretty picture pinned to her mother’s kitchen wall. To Lucy, Venice seems the ideal place to lose herself. And now she needs to do just that. The secret she’s been keeping from her boyfriend and her friends has finally caught up with her and Lucy needs to disappear – and fast. There’s no better time to pack her bags and head for Italy. But what if, when she sets foot in Venice, Lucy finds that the one thing she has been running from, the one thing she has been trying to escape, is already there, lying in wait for her? Time to run away again? Or time to end the chase, once and for all?

Book Review: The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting.

Product details:

Publisher: HarperCollins

Hardcover, 336 pages.

Release date: March 16th 2010.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Target age group: Young Adult.

Product description from Amazon:

Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her "power" to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes the dead leave behind in the world . . . and the imprints that attach to their killers. 

Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find dead birds her cat left for her. But now that a serial killer is terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he's claimed haunt her daily, Violet realizes she might be the only person who can stop him. 

Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet find the murderer—and Violet is unnerved by her hope that Jay's intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she's falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer . . . and becoming his prey herself.

The Body Finder has joined the list as one of my favourite books of 2010. Simply put, I picked up this book one evening, and didn’t put it down until I was done with it.  I loved it from start to finish, and can’t wait to read more from Kimberly Derting.  This is a total page turner, a fast-paced murder mystery, with a great female protagonist, and a wonderful romance to boot. 

We first meet Violet when she is eight years old and discovering the ability which allows her to sense dead bodies.  It’s morbid, but she pretty much takes it in her stride, as apart from one gruesome discovery, she only occasionally has to deal with the unpleasant ‘echoes’ left by dead animals in the woods near her home.  Fast forward to her teenage years, and things are rapidly changing for Violet.  Not only is she harbouring a pretty huge crush on her best friend since childhood, Jay, but there’s also a serial killer on the loose,  and Violet’s ability may help find him.

This book is interesting in the sense that Derting has written chapters from the point of view of the killer, and it certainly adds a chilling aspect to the book.  It’s not something I’ve experienced in Young Adult fiction before and I felt that reading the thoughts and motivations of the killer really added a new sinister dimension  to proceedings.  These chapters definitely left me feeling spooked and sent shivers down my spine.

My favourite aspect of the book though, was the relationship between Violet and Jay, and though the murder mystery aspect of the book sometimes seems to take a back seat to their developing relationship, I was pretty OK with that.  Derting’s descriptions of Jay are simply mouth watering.  Not only is Jay a total hottie, he is a really nice guy too and very protective of Violet.  She’s a lucky girl.   I couldn’t wait for these two to figure out that they were meant to be so much more than friends, and when they did, there was no holding back.  Violet is a great female protagonist and even though she is desperately in love with Jay, she stays true to herself.  If she’s not happy with his behaviour, she will let him know in no uncertain terms.  These two are great together, and one of my favourite pairings in a long time.

For once I am really glad that I didn’t figure out the ending to this one.  I had thought that things were headed in a very dark direction, and  everything certainly got pretty tense towards the end of the book.  This story is pretty well concluded and it works well as a standalone, so I was excited to read that there is a sequel in the works.  I can’t wait to get another peek into the world of Violet and Jay.  Roll on Desires of the Dead in 2011.

Waiting on Wednesday #9 - Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen.

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

Bright Young Things - Anna Godbersen.

HarperCollins

Hardcover, 416 pages.

Release date: October 26th 2010.

Target age group: Young Adult.

Bright Young Things is the first in an epic four-book series about three teenage girls finding their way in the glittering metropolis of New York City and the glamorous mansions of Long Island. It’s 1929 and Letty Larkspur and Cordelia Grey have escaped their small Midwestern town to chase big dreams and even bigger secrets. In New York, they meet Astrid Donal, a flapper who has everything she could ever want, except for the one thing Letty and Cordelia have to offer—true friendship. Set in the dizzying summer before the market crash, against the vast lawns of the East End and on the blindingly lit stages of Broadway, the three girls will find romance, intrigue, and adventure.

Just as The Luxe books brought the Gilded Age to readers of Gossip Girl, Bright Young Things will bring the Jazz Age to bestselling author Anna Godbersen’s devoted fans and to new readers alike.

I still haven't gotten around to reading The Luxe series by Anna Godbersen, even though it's a series I really think I'd like.  I love the sound of this new book from the author, and can't wait to read it!

What is your Waiting on Wednesday pick for this week?

It's Monday, what are you reading? #3

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: The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell.  Such a fun read!  Make sure to read my review & enter the giveaway for this one!

I also read The Day I Died by Polly Courtney, which started off well, but was a pretty average read overall.

This week I'm going to get started on The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting.  I've read so many  good reviews of this one, and I'm really excited to read it.  After that I plan to read Stolen by Lucy Christopher. I don't really know much about this one, but I liked the description.

Click on the links for more info on the books I'm reading, and let me know what you'll be checking out this week!

Competition time! Win The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell.

I promised  you a competition today, and here it is! You can win your very own copy of The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell.  I really enjoyed this one.  It's a great coming of age tale, and the perfect summer read. 

READ MY REVIEW HERE

1. FILL OUT THE FORM BELOW TO ENTER.

2.You must be a follower to enter.  You can follow using Google friend connect at the right-hand side of the page, or by Email subscription.

3. Contest is open wherever The Book Depository ships.  Click here to see if your country is on the list.

4. Contest is open until Friday, May 28th 2010.  

5.Winner will be chosen using random.org. Book will be shipped via The Book Depository.

6. *Hint* so you can know you entered this contest, comment in this post!

***CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED***

It's Friday! Time for a weekly round up, blog hopping and blogroll love!

Happy Friday everyone!  I won't be around much today since I'm going away later, but I will be back tomorrow evening to catch up with all the blog hoppers I've missed, and also to present you with a  great new competition!  Don't you just love competitions? I do.  Even though I can't enter my own, obviously.  The picture on the left is where I'm going for the night.  Pretty, huh? It's in West Cork, Ireland, so fingers crossed that the sun stays shining for me!

While you're here, why not take a look around at the recent happenings on the blog.  You can read my review of The Carrie Diaries, find out about new books from Tyra Banks and Hilary Duff and read about the latest offering from Gossip Girl creator Cecily Von Ziegesar.

I did my first "Blogroll Buddies" post last week, and enjoyed checking out my new blogroll friends.  If you'd like to be added to my blog roll, just add me to yours and I'll do the same in return.  If you've already added me, and I haven't added you back, let me know here and I will add you ASAP!   My blogroll only lists five blogs at a time, so you might have to scroll down to see yours.

 

If you're hopping by from the blog hop, leave a comment here or anywhere else on the blog, and I will check out your blog.  If you follow from the blog hop, I will check out your blog and follow back . :)

I love finding new blogs to check out so this weekly event hosted by Jennifer at Crazy-for-Books is perfect for me.

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!!

Let's do The Hop!

Book Review: The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell.

Product details:
Publisher: Harper Collins Children's Books.
Paperback, 400 pages.
Release date:  April 29th 2010.
Rating: 4½ out of 5
Target age group:  Young Adult.

Meet Carrie before Sex and the City.

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.

This is a fantastic coming of age story.  I loved meeting Carrie before she moved to New York and finding out all about her drama filled high school days and the inspiration behind her writing career.  I really wasn’t sure if I was going to like this one, as I found Bushnell’s writing style and her characters difficult to connect with when I read Sex and the City.  Here though, Bushnell has written a book with a great female protagonist that girls of all ages can relate to, and have a lot of fun with.  

I featured this book on the blog before it‘s release, and, along with a few readers, I questioned whether the book, being set in the eighties would appeal to it’s intended teen audience.  Now, I’m not a teen, but I think the answer is yes. For one, the book does not stand out as being set in the eighties. There are maybe one or two references, but  it’s not a nostalgiafest by any means.  Bushnell has let Carrie’s individuality shine though.  Sure, she has big hair, but she’s not obsessed with the fashion fads of the time, and instead her creativity and love of vintage fashion is incorporated into the story.  I think this book will appeal to both teens and adults, since it has everything a great coming of age story needs - toxic friendships, high school dilemmas, family dramas, lessons learned and bad boys.

Let’s talk about those bad boys for a while.  In her teen years, Carrie definitely has a penchant for the drop dead gorgeous heartbreakers. It’s something I can definitely relate to, and while Sebastian Kydd sure does sound delicious, he’s also trouble with a capital T.  Even so, I totally understand why Carrie goes weak at the knees for this guy and puts him before everything else in her life.  It’s amazing what a girl will do when she’s totally obsessed with a boy, right?  Do you think that maybe Carrie would save herself a lot of drama and heartbreak and fall for nice guy George instead who genuinely likes her and treats her well?  If you know Carrie at all, you’ll know the answer to that one!  There is a lot of relationship drama in this book, and we’re provided with some pretty good explanations as to why Carrie really never quite figures out how to deal with her guy dilemmas even as she grows older.

Overall, I thought this was a great read. I loved finding out about Carrie’s family and her old high school friends.  One of my favourite parts of this book has to be the fantastic ending.  This one ends on a very important phone call, with a very integral person in Carrie’s life, just after she arrives in New York,  and is the perfect opening for the next instalment in The Carrie Diaries, due for release summer 2011, which will document Carrie’s first summer in the city.  I cannot wait to read it!

Book News: Two more join celebrity turned author ranks for your guilty reading pleasure!

That's right, Hilary Duff and Tyra Banks are joining reality TV veteran Lauren Conrad as celebrities turned authors.  I've been trying to think of any books I've read by celebrities turned authors, and nope, I can't think of one.  I am a fan of The Hills, though, and I admit that Lauren Conrad's L.A Candy series is on my guilty reading pleasures wishlist.  Sometimes you just want a book that is candyfloss for the brain, right?  I see these as fun summer reads, to be enjoyed on the beach,  and not to be taken too seriously.  If you've read any of the L.A Candy series, let me know what you think.  Should I check them out, or are these books so bad they should be avoided at all costs?

Does it sometimes annoy you that these celebrities might get book deals just because of who they are, when other authors may struggle for years to get published just because they don't have these connections. For all I know, Duff and Banks might be great writers and may well deserve their publishing deals. We shall see...

- Hilary Duff's Elixir will be published in October 2010.  Honestly, I don't think the plot description sounds all that enticing, but I find it hard to resist a dangerous love triangle, so maybe I'll check it out sometime.  Also,  whileI love the colour purple, I think a little more effort is needed with this cover art.  It's a little bland, no?  Maybe you love it.  I can be difficult to please at times.

             Summary from Goodreads:

As the daughter of a renowned surgeon and a prominent Washington D.C. politician, Clea Raymond has felt the glare of the spotlight her entire life. And though she dreads the paparazzi who track her every move, she herself is a talented photojournalist who takes refuge in a career that allows her to travel to the most exotic parts of the world.

But after Clea’s father disappears while on a humanitarian mission, eerie, shadowy images of a strange and beautiful young man begin to appear in Clea’s photos—a man she has never seen in her life.

When Clea suddenly encounters this man in person she is stunned—and feels an immediate and powerful connection. As they grow closer, they are drawn deep into the mystery behind her father’s disappearance and discover the centuries-old truth behind their intense bond.

Torn by a dangerous love triangle and haunted by a powerful secret that holds their fate, together they race against time to unravel their past in order to save their future—and their lives. 

- Meanwhile, Tyra Banks has landed a three-book deal with Random House and promises to take her readers "to a fantastical place you’ve never seen, or heard about, or read about before… Where dreams come true and life can change in the blink of a smoky eye."  I guess this could be fun.  I really think Tyra should have put a little more thought into the name  though.  Modelland? It doesn't really work for me.  Also, while it wouldn't surprise me if Tyra put herself on the cover of her book, I don't think this is the final cover art for modelland. :)  No release date confirmed for this one yet.

Image and summary from Tyra.com

The story happens in a make-believe place called Modelland - every girl in the world wants to go there because it’s where “Intoxibellas” are trained.  Intoxibellas are drop-dead beautiful, kick-butt fierce and, yeah, maybe they have some powers too.  (But I’m confirming NOTHING! Ha. You gotta wait for the book.)  The story follows a teen girl and her friends who find themselves magically transported to Modelland, even though they’re really not supposed to be there. (Okay, now, that’s ALL I’m saying!)

Modelland has always been a part of my mind and my heart.  As you might know, I step into a bookstore and I shake (really!) because I love books so much.  Ever since I was a kid, I couldn’t wait to pick up a new book and see what worlds the writers had created for me. I especially loved books with strong girls and women – you know, girls with guts, smarts and attitude – and then one day it came to me… MODELLAND!   I’m getting it ready for you through my new division called Bankable Books and now I’m shaking for a different reason…  I’m excited that you’ll be able to read about this magical world that’s been living in my dreams for so many years.

Will you be checking these out, or will you give them both a miss? Let me know in comments.

Waiting on Wednesday #8 - Cum Laude by Cecily Von Ziegesar.

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

Cum Laude - Cecily Von Ziegesar

Hyperion Books.

Hardcover, 272 pages.

Release date: June 1st 2010.

Dexter College is a small liberal arts college in the quiet town of Home, Maine. But it won’t stay quiet for long with this new group of freshmen. There’s Shipley—blond, and beautiful, the object of envy and more than a little lust. Her edgy roommate, Eliza, has an attitude and a mouth to match. There’s Tom, the artist/jock, and Nick, his pot-smoking roommate. Adam, the introvert, lives at home with his parents and not-so-little sister. And finally there’s the requisite older guy who never quite left school...

Cum Laude is a witty, intimate, and unconventional take on the coming-of-age story. College is about more than just cramming and keg parties. It’s about doing things you’d never imagine yourself doing because you’re madly in love, stuck in the middle of nowhere, and may have just taken a mind-altering substance.

I've wanted to post this as my WoW for quite a while, but the final cover wasn't released until quite recently for some reason. I'm a fan of Gossip Girl, the TV show (never read the books).  I think this will be a fun summer read.  I generally love coming-of-age tales.  This is being published for an adult audience, but I reckon it's something that older teens might like too.

Share your picks for this week!

Beautiful Malice winners announced!

I counted up the votes earlier, and there were lots! 478  entries in total. Thanks to everyone who entered and helped spread the word about this contest.  Also, thanks to Faber & Faber for giving  me the opportunity to host this via my blog.  It's such a good book and I'm happy to spread the word.

Did you win?  The winners were chosen by random.org.  I'm sending emails out now and the winners will have 48 hours to reply.  If I don't get a reply by then, I'll have to chose another winner.

1. Entry #355 - Spav

2. Entry #191 - Simay

3. Entry #93 - Christie/Mama Bookworm

4. Entry #81 Jen7waters

5. Entry #29 Kathy Martin

Congratulations to the winners.  The books will be sent by Faber & Faber.  I hope you enjoy it and look forward to reading your reviews.

It's Friday! Time to do the Blog Hop, make some Blogroll buddies, and remind you of my Beautiful Malice contest!

Phew! That was an action packed title, huh?!  Today I decided to incorporate the blog hop with a few other things that I've been meaning to get around to on the blog.  Never fear, I'll still be hopping, but this week the Hop has to share it's space!

- First off, I've been meaning to get around to making some blogroll buddies! You add me to your blogroll and I'll add you to mine. That sort of thing.  I've already added a bunch of book blogs to my blogroll - mostly those I like reading every time they update, or which have already added me on theirs. If you've added me to your blogroll and I haven't added you back, it was just an oversight on my part.  Let me know here with a link to your blog, and I'll add you.  If you'd like to put me on your blogroll and want me to do the same in return, let me know here.  Then we'll be blogroll buddies! 

If you're hopping by from the blog hop, leave a comment here or anywhere else on the blog, and I will check out your blog.  

It's Friday, which means it's time to do The Hop.  I love this weekly event hosted by Jennifer at Crazy-for-Books 

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!!

Let's do The Hop!

- If it's your first time visiting the blog I'm running a great contest at the moment,  courtesy of Faber and Faber where you can win one of five ARC's of Beautiful Malice by Rebecca James.  There's only a few days left to enter, so do it now, or miss out on reading a great book! 

You can also read my review of the book and find entry details here

Book Review: Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey.

Product details:

Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers.

Hardcover, 352 pages.

Release date: May 6th 2010 (UK)

Rating: 3½ out of 5.

Target age group: Young Adult.

Source: ARC received from International Book Tours for review.

Product description from Amazon:

This is an intriguing YA urban fantasy in the tradition of Holly Black and Wicked Lovely. Set in New Zealand, Ellie's main concerns at her boarding school are hanging out with her best friend Kevin, her crush on the mysterious Mark, and her paper deadline. That is, until a mysterious older woman seems to set her sights on Kevin, who is Maori, and has more than just romantic plans for him. In an effort to save him, Ellie is thrown into the world of Maori lore, and eventually finds herself in an all-out war with mist dwelling Maori fairy people called the patupaiarehe who need human lives to gain immortality. The strong, fresh voice of the narrator will pull readers in, along with all the deliciously scary details: the serial killer who removes victim's eyes; the mysterious crazy bum who forces a Bible on Ellie telling her she needs it; handsome, mysterious Mark who steals the Bible from her and then casts a forgetting charm on her. All of this culminates in a unique, incredible adventure steeped with mythology, Maori fairies, monsters, betrayal, and an epic battle.

Wow!  This book was like a breath of fresh air for me.  It’s unlike anything I’ve read before, and I really enjoyed it.  I read a lot of young adult urban fantasy, and while for the most part I really enjoy this genre, I feel that sometimes the characters and the settings can become a little formulaic.  Not in this book, though!  Karen Healey has created a unique story here.  The setting is New Zealand, and the theme, Maori myths and legends.  As an added bonus, you have Ellie Spencer to guide you on your way.  She’s one of my favourite female protagonists in a while.

We’re first introduced to Ellie as she wakes up tired and hungover after a night of drinking cheap beer and sharing secrets with her hunky best friend, Kevin.  I liked Ellie right from the start .  She’s very easy to relate to.  She’s not perfect, she makes mistakes, and she likes to break the rules.  I also liked the fact that she’s not a picture perfect female protagonist with supermodel good looks who has guys falling at her feet.   She feels awkward and slightly overweight, suffers from bad skin and is nervous around her major boy crush, the mysterious Mark Nolan.  So, just your typical teenager then, but it’s actually very refreshing that she’s written this way.

I admit having known absolutely zero about Maori mythology before reading this book, and while at times I had had a little difficulty keeping track of all the different gods and legends, mostly the story flowed quite easily as the writing style is very engaging. There’s also a glossary of Maori words at the back of the book, which is very helpful, so be sure to check that out.  I stayed up late into the night reading this one, even though I admit, my interest did wane just a little during the battle scenes -  not because they weren’t well written and entertaining, but just because I am not really one for major battle scenes and bloodshed.

For me the ending of the book was a little surprising, and while Guardian of the dead works well as a standalone novel, I can definitely say I was left wanting more.  According to Karen, if the demand is there for a sequel, she is ready and willing to write it.  So, get reading people.  I’m just dying to know what’s in store for Ellie and Mark, and where those two will go from here.

In the meantime, I’m looking forward to reading Karen’s second novel, Summerton, due out 2011 which is, in Karen’s words “a YA paranormal adventure thriller where three teenagers try to find the real reason for their older brothers' apparent suicides. They're about to discover that Summerton's sunny weather hides some stormy secrets.”  Sounds intriguing!

NetGalley, Scribd and why I may decide to change my review policy.

So, in my review policy I have stated that I don't accept eBooks for review, and this largely remains the case.  I don't have an eReader of any sort - honestly, I dont' even know much about them, nor do I have any intention of getting one.  They don't really appeal to me.  Haven't you guys noticed that I'm kind of obsessed with cover art and having lots of pretty books on my shelves!

However, in the past few days, I've actually downloaded not one, not two, but three eBooks.  Will I actually be able to sit at my computer and read them all the way through? I do not know.  I don't have a laptop, and sitting at my PC for hours to read a book on screen...I'm still not sure if it appeals to me.  But, and there is a but, there are so many good eBooks out there for free right now, that I have been very tempted by them, and I'm willing to give this a shot.  And perhaps change my review policy in the process.

The first eBook I downloaded came courtesy of a post on my friend Simay's blog Zimlicious.  We bonded over a mutual love (total obsession in her case!) of Edward Cullen a few years back, and also share a love of vampire fiction.    She did a post on Marta Acosta's  The Shadow Girl of Birch Grove which has been described as 'a modern day gothic treat for vampire fans' by LoveVampires.com, and which is available here as a free download on Scribd.  I liked the description of the book, and the cover art, and I reckon that if I'd seen this on Amazon, I would have ordered it, so I went ahead and downloaded it.

Then I received an email from author Kersten Hamilton who was doing a little research on NetGalley.com and was emailing bloggers to gather some opinions.  She also mentioned her new book Tyger, Tyger which is available as a free download on the site.   Well, I thought this one sounded interesting too, and there's an Irish interest here, so I went ahead and downloaded it.  While I was on NetGalley, I discovered that The Bad Queen: Rules and Instructions for Marie-Antoinette by Carolyn Meyer is also available as a download, so I signed up for that one too.  I have always been really interested in Marie-Antoinette and I really want to read this one.  I'm sure there are many great books on there available for download, but I thought that two was enough for me right now, so I stepped away from NetGalley.   It's a great service, especially for us new book bloggers who are starting out and find it difficult to come by ARC's or pre-release books for review.  Also, this is open internationally, which is great.  Sometimes our resources, as book bloggers, are very limited in comparision to our American friends.

Do you use NetGalley or any other site that offers free eBooks for review?  How do you feel about reading eBooks?  There are a lot of great resources out there now as far as eBooks go, and I'm just hoping that I can sit at my computer and read a whole book on screen.  I haven't actually tried it before!  Wish me luck!

Waiting on Wednesday #7 - Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernan.

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

 

Immortal Beloved - Cate Tiernan

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Hardcover, 416 pages.

Release date: September 7th 2010.

Age group: Young Adult.

Nastasya has spent the last century living as a spoiled, drugged-out party girl. She feels nothing and cares for no one. But when she witnesses her best friend, a Dark Immortal, torture a human, she realizes something's got to change. She seeks refuge at a rehab for wayward immortals, where she meets the gorgeous, undeniably sexy Reyn, who seems inexplicably linked to her past.

Nastasya finally begins to deal with life, and even feels safe--until the night she learns that someone wants her dead.

Cate Tiernan, author of the popular Sweep series, returns with an engaging story of a timeless struggle and inescapable romance, the first book in a stunning new fantasy trilogy.

I haven't read any of Cate Tiernan's previous books, but I think this one sounds really good.

What book are you eagerly awaiting this week?

Hex Hall Winner!

I counted up the votes earlier, and there were lots! 354 entries in total. The lucky number drawn by random.org was #26.

DARLYN YOU ARE THE WINNER! 

!CONGRATULATIONS!

 I'm sending an email to Darlyn now, and she has until Friday to reply.  If I don't get a reply by then, I'll choose another winner.

If you didn't win this time, all is not lost! I'll be running more competitions soon!

Don't forget you still have a chance to enter to win one of five ARC's of Beautiful Malice by Rebecca James.

CLICK FOR ENTRY DETAILS.

Book Review: Firespell by Chloe Neill.

Product details:
Publisher: Signet Books.
Paperback, 256 pages.
Release date: January 5th 2010.
Rating: 3 out of 5.
Series: Dark Elite Book 1.
Age group: Young Adult.

New Girl. New School. Old Evil.

As the new girl at the elite St. Sophia’s boarding school, Lily Parker thinks her classmates are the most monstrous things she’ll have to face…

When Lily’s guardians decided to send her away to a fancy boarding school in Chicago, she was shocked. So was St. Sophia’s. Lily’s ultra-rich brat pack classmates think Lily should be the punchline to every joke, and on top of that, she’s hearing strange noises and seeing bizarre things in the shadows of the creepy building.

The only thing keeping her sane is her roommate, Scout, but even Scout’s a little weird—she keeps disappearing late at night and won’t tell Lily where she’s been. But when a prank leaves Lily trapped in the catacombs beneath the school, Lily finds Scout running from a real monster.

Scout’s a member of a splinter group of rebel teens with unique magical talents, who’ve sworn to protect the city against demons, vampires, and Reapers, magic users who’ve been corrupted by their power. And when Lily finds herself in the line of a firespell, Scout tells her the truth about her secret life, even though Lily has no powers of her own—at least none that she’s discovered yet…

Despite having read some really positive reviews of  Firespell, I have to say  I had a pretty lukewarm reaction to this one to begin with.  Being the first in a series, I expected to encounter a lot of background information and a lot of character introductions, and generally that’s OK with me.  I actually love books that are heavy on character development , but here it just didn’t really work for me. I think this was partly to do with the writing style which was very direct and to the point, with not much room for description.  I really felt that this affected the flow of the story, and at times I struggled to continue with the book.

Firespell really didn’t pick up for me until maybe five chapters from the end which was when the action really kicked in.  On the strength of those chapters I want to read the next book in the series.  Also, while I didn’t really enjoy this book at times, I think the concept of the series is actually really interesting, and Lily, once I warmed to her and her endless sarcasm, is a pretty sassy protagonist.  The friendship between Lily and Scout was also fun to read and pretty humorous.

As always, there is a love interest, and here the connection between Lily and Jason is well written, and believable, although their budding romance wasn’t really developed in this book.  However, I’m sure this will be explored much further in the next book. Also, I liked the fact that while Lily is obviously attracted to this hot guy, she doesn’t turn to jelly and fall at his feet whenever he‘s around, preferring to remain her sassy self at all times.  I sense a love triangle further on in the series too  Let's just say that I'm very interested in finding out more about the mysterious reaper Sebastian.

There are a lot of unanswered questions at the end of this book, and a lot more to be explored in book two, which despite my initial reservations, I am looking forward to checking out.

Here's the cover art and a quick synopsis of  Hexbound - Dark Elite #2 due for release January 2011.   Loving the colours on the cover art here!

 

Lily Parker is new to St. Sophia’s School for Girls, but she’s already learned that magic can be your best friend…or your worst enemy.

They say absolute power corrupts absolutely. Turns out, even a little magic can turn you to the dark side. That’s why Lily has to learn how to control her newly discovered paranormal abilities, on top of avoiding the snobs who think they run her school, nursing a crush on a cute sophomore with a big, werewolf-y secret, and fighting the good fight with her best friend Scout as they take on Chicago’s nastiest nightlife—including the tainted magic users known as Reapers.

Then Lily’s invited to a private meeting with Sebastian. He’s hot, powerful, and offering to help her harness the magic flowing in her veins in a way no one else can. He’s also a Reaper. Lily can’t hide her suspicions. But she’ll soon find out that the line between good and evil isn’t always clear…

In My Mailbox #3 - May 1st 2010.

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

I usually put this up on Sunday, but I'll be busy tomorrow  with family stuff, so here you go! I was pretty much on a book buying ban for the first three months of 2010, but when I started blogging I felt it was important to keep up to date with the new releases (any excuse!), so while I have been buying new books lately, I didn't buy any this week.  However, I did receive three from Bookmooch, and I also received my first ARC from International Book Tours.

Received from BookMooch:

Stolen by Lucy Christopher

Whores on the Hill by Colleen Curran

How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff

Received from International Book Tours for review:
I think this one sounds interesting.  Has anyone read it yet?

Product description from Amazon:

This is an intriguing YA urban fantasy in the tradition of Holly Black and Wicked Lovely. Set in New Zealand, Ellie's main concerns at her boarding school are hanging out with her best friend Kevin, her crush on the mysterious Mark, and her paper deadline. That is, until a mysterious older woman seems to set her sights on Kevin, who is Maori, and has more than just romantic plans for him. In an effort to save him, Ellie is thrown into the world of Maori lore, and eventually finds herself in an all-out war with mist dwelling Maori fairy people called the patupaiarehe who need human lives to gain immortality. The strong, fresh voice of the narrator will pull readers in, along with all the deliciously scary details: the serial killer who removes victim's eyes; the mysterious crazy bum who forces a Bible on Ellie telling her she needs it; handsome, mysterious Mark who steals the Bible from her and then casts a forgetting charm on her. All of this culminates in a unique, incredible adventure steeped with mythology, Maori fairies, monsters, betrayal, and an epic battle.

Link me up with your new reads!