Book Review: If I Stay by Gayle Forman.

Product details:
Publisher: Black Swan.
Paperback, 272 pages.
Release date: April 22nd 2010 (first published 2009)
Ages: 14+
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Source: Received from publisher for review.

In a single moment, everything changes. Seventeen-year- old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall riding along the snow-wet Oregon road with her family. Then, in a blink, she finds herself watching as her own damaged body is taken from the wreck... A sophisticated, layered, and heartachingly beautiful story about the power of family and friends, the choices we all make—and the ultimate choice Mia commands.

This is a simply beautiful book, and it is beautiful in it’s simplicity. Apart from the multitude of five-starred reviews I’d seen for If I Stay, I didn’t actually know much about the book or the direction the story would take before I read it, and I think that’s the best way to be where this one is concerned. I had no expectations at all when I started If I Stay, and I was pretty much blown away by the intensity of the storyline, and by Forman’s writing. In short, I loved this. Gayle Forman has written something pretty special here - raw, powerful, emotional and real, this is a life-affirming book, and one everyone should read. It will bring you down, lift you up, make you cry and stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

We are introduced to seventeen year old Mia as she sits down to breakfast with her family one morning. She has very cool parents, an adorable little brother called Teddy, and an exciting future ahead as she ponders her entry into college, and what that might mean for her relationship with long-term boyfriend, Adam. It’s a day like any other save for the fact that snow has fallen overnight, and Mia and Teddy now have an unexpected day off from school. To make the most of this, the family decide to make a fun day trip, visit some old friends, and stop off at a favourite used book store on the way back home. But that never happens, because there’s an accident…

In these opening pages, Forman lulls the reader into a false sense of security, and the shock, when it comes, is profound. In describing the accident, and it’s aftermath, Forman’s writing is gritty, real and unsettling. She invites you into Mia’s world through a series of flashbacks, in which present day Mia, now in a coma and fighting for her life in hospital reflects on the significant events in her life. While she still has a lot of lot to live for, she knows that her life will never be the same again if she decides to stay. This book takes you on a journey with Mia as she struggles to make her decision.

I thought everything about this book was pretty much perfect.  Forman writes wonderful characters, and I can honestly say that by the end of the book I cared about each and every one of them. I also loved the use of music throughout the book Mia is a gifted musician, her boyfriend Adam is in an upcoming band, and I loved reading about how their relationship evolved through music. Personally I love music just as much as I love to read, so I could totally relate to that aspect of the book. I loved the relationship between these two, and also that between Mia and her best friend Kim. All the relationships in this book were very real, and were a joy to read.

I think everyone who reads this book will be affected by it in some way. It’s a quick read, but oh so powerful. I was in tears by the end of the book, and shed even more tears when I read that this story was inspired by real life events. I should also point out that I rarely, if ever, cry at books, so this one had a pretty powerful effect. This is definitely up there with some of my favourite books of all time, and  I eagerly await it’s sequel, Where She Went in 2011.

Book News: Immortal Beloved UK cover art & Low Red Moon trailer.

I've been quite excited to read Cate Tiernan's Immortal Beloved for a while now, and I have to say I love the UK cover art for this one.  Looks like this one isn't out in the UK until January 2011 (I first thought it was out in October, but that seems to have changed). If you can't wait that long the US release of the book is only a week away, so I look forward to reading reviews soon!

Everlasting Life (Immortal Beloved #1) by Cate Tiernan

Paperback, 416 pages.
Published January 6th 2011 by Hodder & Stoughton.

New name, new town, new life. Nastasya has done it too often to count. And there's no end in sight. Nothing ever really ends ...when you're immortal. But now, after centuries of feeding from the lives of the innocents around her, of living with little care for others, Nastasya is ready to turn towards the light. 'After some of the events I've witnessed I felt like I was a shell with nothing alive left in me. I hadn't been going around killing people, but people were hurt -- the memories just kept trickling in like rivulets of fresh acid dripping into my brain until I wanted to scream. It was in my blood, I knew. A darkness. The darkness. I had inherited it, along with my immortality and my black eyes.' Captivating, intense and with an incredible and original voice, EVERLASTING LIFE is a haunting story of friendship, love and secrets, tragedy and loss. Sometimes life is eternal...

I'm also excited to read Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin coming from Bloomsbury (UK) in February 2011.  This one has a September release in the US, so you guys will get to read it first!

A heart-stopping tale of love, death . . . and fatal attraction

The only thing Avery Hood can remember about the night her parents died is that she saw silver -- deadly silver, moving inhumanly fast. As much as she wants to remember who killed her parents, she can't, and there's nothing left to do but try to piece her life back together. Then Avery meets the new boy in school -- Ben, mysterious and beautiful, with whom she feels a connection like nothing she's ever experienced. When Ben reveals he's a werewolf, Avery still trusts him -- at first. Then she sees that sometimes his eyes flash an inhuman silver. And she learns that she's not the only one who can't remember the night her parents died. Part murder mystery, part grief narrative and part heart-stopping, headlong romance, Low Red Moon is a must-read for teen paranormal fans.

As breathless as Twilight and as spooky as Shiver, this is a book to be devoured in one sitting -- by an acclaimed YA author making her paranormal debut under the pseudonym Ivy Devlin.

Find out more about Low Red Moon at http://www.bloomsbury.com/lowredmoon

In My Mailbox #12 - New books this week!

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

I'm really happy with the books I got this week - one for review (Crescendo! Yay!) and one from Bookmooch, which I love the sound of. But, I'm also not happy with the fact that lately a lot of my books seem to be taking ages to arrive or just not turning up at all. We have a new postman, and I'm not too impressed. I'm not quite sure what all this has to do with my IMM post, but I like to have a little rant sometimes. Hopefully the other books I was expecting will arrive soon. Grrr....

Nora should have know her life was far from perfect. Despite starting a relationship with her guardian angel, Patch (who, title aside, can be described 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 farther Nora delves into the mystery of her father's death, the more she comes to question if her Nephilim blood line 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?

Thanks to Simon & Schuster for sending me this for review.

 Jenny Shepherd is twelve years old and missing…

Her teacher, Sarah Finch, knows better than most that the chances of finding her alive are diminishing with every day she is gone.

As a little girl her older brother had gone out to play one day and never returned. The strain of never knowing what has happened to Charlie had ripped Sarah’s family apart. Now in her early twenties, she is back living at home, trapped with a mother who drinks too much and keeps her brother’s bedroom as a shrine to his memory.

Then, horrifically, it is Sarah who finds Jenny’s body, beaten and abandoned in the woods near her home. As she’s drawn into the police investigation and the heart of a media storm, Sarah’s presence arouses suspicion too. But it not just the police who are watching her...

Let me know what you think of the books I got this week, and share your picks in comments! :)

Giveaway! The White Queen by Philippa Gregory.

I had planned to do this giveaway last week as part of The Red Queen blog tour, but I had problems with my internet and it messed up my schedule! Anyhow, here it is! The White Queen is the first book in Philippa Gregory's Cousins' War series, and it's a great read.  I have an extra copy, and I'm happy to share it with one of you lucky readers!

Brother turns on brother to win the ultimate prize, the throne of England, in this dazzling account of the wars of the Plantagenets. They are the claimants and kings who ruled England before the Tudors, and now Philippa Gregory brings them to life through the dramatic and intimate stories of the secret players: the indomitable women, starting with Elizabeth Woodville, the White Queen.

The White Queen tells the story of a woman of extraordinary beauty and ambition who, catching the eye of the newly crowned boy king, marries him in secret and ascends to royalty. While Elizabeth rises to the demands of her exalted position and fights for the success of her family, her two sons become central figures in a mystery that has confounded historians for centuries: the missing princes in the Tower of London whose fate is still unknown. From her uniquely qualified perspective, Philippa Gregory explores this most famous unsolved mystery of English history, informed by impeccable research and framed by her inimitable storytelling skills.

COMPETITION CLOSED!

WINNER ANNOUNCED SOON!

Winner of Second Hand Heart by Catherine Ryan Hyde.

The lucky winner of an ARC of Second Hand Heart by Catherine Ryan Hyde is Larisa LaBrant!

Congratulations Larisa! I have sent you an email and will be sending the book once I have your contact details.

If you missed out on this competition, don't worry! I have another competition coming up tomorrow and then for the month of September I have a pretty special treat in store giveaway wise!

Stay tuned for more!

Book Review: The Poisoned House by Michael Ford.

Product details:
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing.
Paperback, 282 pages.
Release date:  August 16th 2010.
Ages: Young Adult.
Rating: 3 out of 5.
Source: Received from publisher for review.

The year is 1856, and orphan Abigail Tamper lives below stairs in Greave Hall, a crumbling manor house in London. Lord Greave is plagued by madness, and with his son Samuel away fighting in the Crimea, the running of Greave Hall is left to Mrs Cotton, the tyrannical housekeeper. The only solace for the beleaguered staff is to frighten Mrs Cotton by pretending the house is haunted.

So when a real ghost makes an appearance - that of her beloved mother - no one is more surprised than Abi. But the spirit has a revelation that threatens to destroy Abi’s already fragile existence: she was murdered, and by someone under their very own roof. With Samuel returned to England badly wounded, it’s up to Abi to nurse him back to health, while trying to discover the identity of the killer in their midst. As the chilling truth dawns, Abi’s world is turned upside down. 

Greave Hall, the setting for The Poisoned House is one of those creepy, atmospheric old houses that can send shivers down your spine as soon as you step inside it‘s doors. Full of creaking floorboards, creepy cobweb-filled cellars and things that go bump in the night, it holds a lot of dark secrets. It is also home to Abigail Tamper, a teenage servant girl who we first meet as she tries to make her escape from the house. She is soon captured and returned to the clutches of Mrs. Cotton, a menacing housekeeper, who treats Abi with contempt and rules the house with a rod of iron.

It soon becomes apparent to Abigail on her return to the house that certain happenings in the Greave Hall may be of the otherworldly variety. Her mother, who died a year previously is not at rest, and is a ghostly presence throughout the house. It is up to Abi to uncover the mystery of her mother’s death, which she increasingly believes could have been sinister. There are definite gothic undertones to proceedings, although I felt that the ghostly theme was too underdone here. I love horror, and the house in this book really reminded me of the creepy Eel Marsh House in Susan Hill’s The Woman in Black, so I was expecting some really big frights. However, that never happened, and while most readers will be happy with that, I really wanted a good scare. This book is a slow burner rather than an all-out horror, and while it is tense and atmospheric at times, I felt that it failed to deliver that final punch!

That said, there are some good twists in the tale, and the characters in the book are well written and believable. Abi is an easy character to warm to, and I felt for her as she went about her work in the house, watched over my the eagle eyed Mrs. Cotton, a character who reminded me of the devilish Mrs. Danvers from Du Maurier’s Rebecca. There is also a good cast of supporting characters in the book. Abi has good friends amongst the servants, and then there’s the return to the house of her childhood friend Samuel, who certainly makes life  more interesting in Greave Hall.

Overall, this is a good tale for younger readers who might like something a little spooky to add to their winter reading list. The writing style is simple and direct making  this a quick read. While I do think that the ending was a little rushed and inconclusive this book was, for the most part, entertaining,  and would be best read curled up by the fire while there’s a storm brewing outside.

Waiting on Wednesday #21 - Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

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

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Paperback, 496 pages

Release date: October 4th 2010.

Target Age Group: Young Adult.

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

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

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

Jennifer Donnelly, author of the award-winning novel A Northern Light, artfully weaves two girls’ stories into one unforgettable account of life, loss, and enduring love. Revolution spans centuries and vividly depicts the eternal struggles of the human heart.

I love the sound of this one, especially since it's set in Paris.  Paris, je t'aime!   Also, this one has different covers for the US and UK releases.  Which one do you prefer? I'm kinda torn, since I like them both! Share  your thoughts and WoW links in comments!

Any New Books? - a great new book notification service for book lovers like you & me!

This is just what I've been looking for!  Like many book bloggers I spend a lot of time checking out book catalogues, author blogs and various other sources trying to keep up with the latest book releases. So, how happy was I when I received an email from this great new site last week? Yes, you guessed it, I was very happy!

Any New Books is a new service where you can sign up to receive weekly email updates about new release books. Best of all, it's totally free! I just signed up and I'm eagerly awaiting my first email updates.  There are lots of categories to choose from (42 in all).  I'll be getting updates on new releases in Entertainment, Horror, Literature and Fiction, Mystery and Thrillers,and Teen genres, amongst others.

So, if you want to sign up (it's quick and easy), just do so at this link:

http://anynewbooks.com/

Twitter:

http://twitter.com/anynewbooks

Book Review: The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller.

Product details:
Publisher: Razorbill
Hardcover, 416 pages.
Release date: August 19th 2010.
Ages: Young Adult.
Rating: 4½ out of 5.
Source: Received from publisher for review.

What if love refused to die?

Haven Moore can’t control her visions of a past with a boy called Ethan, and a life in New York that ended in fiery tragedy. In our present, she designs beautiful dresses for her classmates with her best friend Beau. Dressmaking keeps her sane, since she lives with her widowed and heartbroken mother in her tyrannical grandmother’s house in Snope City, a tiny town in Tennessee. Then an impossible group of coincidences conspire to force her to flee to New York, to discover who she is, and who she was.

In New York, Haven meets Iain Morrow and is swept into an epic love affair that feels both deeply fated and terribly dangerous. Iain is suspected of murdering a rock star and Haven wonders, could he have murdered her in a past life? She visits the Ouroboros Society and discovers a murky world of reincarnation that stretches across millennia. Haven must discover the secrets hidden in her past lives, and loves¸ before all is lost and the cycle begins again.

If you’re looking for a fresh, exciting new read, then this book is for you! With her tale of love across the ages, Kirsten Miller has turned the paranormal romance genre on it’s head and delivered a completely unique tale, one which I can pretty much guarantee will keep you enthralled right until the last page. The Eternal Ones is the first book in an exciting new Young Adult series, and I have to say, I can‘t wait to get my hands on the sequel! I’ve always been interested in themes of reincarnation and past lives, and when you add a shady secret society, some swoonworthy romance and a sassy heroine into the mix, what you get is a really great read!

We are introduced to our heroine, Haven Moore, a small town girl whose big time dreams are being hampered due to mysterious visions she has experienced from an early age. These visions take Haven back to 1920’s New York and into the lives of doomed lovers Constance and Ethan. Haven is shunned by her deeply religious community who reject the notion of reincarnation and declare Haven’s visions to be the devil’s work. Haven knows that she is destined to be with Ethan, and so, when she sees Iain Morrow the world’s hottest movie star on an evening news report, and finds herself inextricably drawn to him, she knows she must travel to New York to uncover the truth. There she meets Iain and also enlists the help of The Ouroboros Society - a powerful secret society dedicated to the study of reincarnation. Soon enough, everyone wants a piece of Haven and the information she holds, but who, if anyone, can she trust?

I loved this book right from the start. The writing style, short chapters and fast-paced plot kept me entertained, so much so, that once I picked up this book, I didn’t put it down until I was done. Added to it‘s stunning mystery and epic romance, this book has great crossover appeal, and is one that will be enjoyed by teenagers and adults alike. At times, Haven is a little naïve in her actions and she makes some strange choices, but overall she’s a great character, as are her supporting cast.  It also helps that her love interest, Iain happens to be smokin’ hot! I loved learning of the history of The Ouroboros society - secret societies are one of my major obsessions - and I was thoroughly engrossed when reading about this one.  I can't wait to find out more! There are lots of exciting  twists and turns in this book right up to it's stunning conclusion in the Eternal City of Rome, where you will definitely be left wanting more. Overall, this is a great read. Highly recommended!

Book News: Read the First Chapter of Out for Blood by Alyxandra Harvey.

The third installment in Alyxandra Harvey's fun vampire saga The Drake Chronicles is out in November, but now, thanks to Bloomsbury, you can get an exclusive sneak peak and read the entire first chapter for free!

Hunter Wild is the youngest in a long line of elite vampire hunters, a legacy that is both a blessing and a curse at the secret Helios-Ra Academy, where she excels at just about everything. Thanks to her friendship with Kieran Black, Hunter receives a special invitation to attend the coronation of Helena Drake, and for the first time, she sees the difference between vampires that must be hunted and vampires that can become friends—or even more. When students at the academy fall victim to a mysterious illness, Hunter suspects they are under attack from within. She will need someone she can trust to help her save the future of Helios-Ra . . . help that shockingly comes in the form of Quinn Drake, a drop-dead gorgeous vampire. Who said senior year would be easy?

Read the First Chapter of Out for Blood by Alyxandra Harvey

Red Queen Blog Tour: Interview with author Philippa Gregory.

The Red Queen is the second installment in Philippa Gregory's riveting Cousins' War series. I'm very happy to have Philippa along to the blog for a Q&A on her work.  Read on to find out more about Margaret Beaufort, the subject of The Red Queen, and upcoming works in The Cousins' War series.

Elizabeth Woodville proved to be a popular heroine amongst readers of The White Queen.  How do you think readers will react to her bitter rival, the fervently religious Margaret Beaufort, the subject of The Red Queen?  

For some people it will be a bit of a stretch to see the enemy as an interesting and worthwhile character - but so she is. Margaret is harder of heart and more ambitious than Elizabeth Woodville but she is a great exemplar of a woman determined on her own education and her family's improvement. I think she will make readers think about the medieval world and women's place in it in a way that no-one else could do.

The Twitter serialisation of The White Queen last year was a lot of fun.  If you had to describe The Red Queen as a tweet (140 characters or less), how would you describe it? 

The Story of a girl who believes, against all odds, that her son could be king, and herself the greatest woman in the land - and makes it so.

If you were to concentrate on a period of history or a certain historical dynasty outside of Britain, what period of history or characters would you be interested in focusing on? 

I am rather interested in the fabulous court of Aquitaine and the Queen Eleanor as the foundation of the troubadour art and romantic love.

Of all the characters you have written about, who do you feel has been the most misinterpreted or misunderstood throughout history? 

Mary Boleyn was certainly neglected till I looked at her; Margaret Beaufort is a woman whose achievements have not been recognised. Some of Henry VIII's queens: Katherine Howard and Anne of Cleves have been absolutely slandered because of a very judgmental view by historians.

I review a lot of Young Adult literature on my blog, and historical fiction is a genre that is becoming increasingly popular in that sector.  Do you have any Young Adult historical fiction books you can recommend for younger readers to enjoy?    

Georgette Heyer, The Spanish Bride. 

Whenever I travel I love to visit places of historical interest.  What are some places of historical significance you have visited and loved? 

Hever Castle in Kent, the home of Anne Boleyn is wonderful, and though it is well known it is hard to beat the Tower of London. Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh is a powerful place, and Ludlow Castle is a gem.

The third book in the Cousins’ War series, The Rivers Woman, set for release in 2011, will focus on  Elizabeth Woodville’s mother, Jacquetta, who I loved reading about in The White Queen. Can you tell me more about this book and what aspects of Jacquetta’s life the book will focus on?  

I think it will now be called The Lady of the Rivers and is the story of Jacquetta, the mother of Elizabeth Woodville. Jacquetta was born into European royalty and married the Duke of Bedford, regent of France.  She was present at some of the greatest events of the day and was a significant player during the Cousins war in England. Descended from the goddess Melusina and always suspected of witchcraft she is an interesting character to explain the difficulties and dangers of life in medieval England. The Lady of the Rivers will look at Jacquetta's extraordinary eventful life and the mystical and spiritual world of her family as well as the events of the cousins war, and her long loyal affection for Margaret of Anjou.

Are you still planning to write a book focusing on Elizabeth Woodville’s daughter, Elizabeth of York?   Besides The White Princess, are there any other characters that you’d particularly like to concentrate on for further books in The Cousins’ War series? 

 I still plan to write the White Princess, the story of Elizabeth of York, her marriage to Henry VII and the arrival of the boy who may be her brother, Richard coming to England to claim his throne as the York prince. Gloriously, the research thrown up some other fascinating characters and I expect to stay in this period for some time.

Thanks so much to Philippa for answering my questions. The interview was certainly very insightful, and I'm really looking forward to the forthcoming books in this series.

Find out more about Philippa Gregory's The Red Queen:

Philippa Gregory's Website

The Wars of The Roses Website

Read my Review of The Red Queen

Book Review: The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory.

Product details:
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd.
Hardcover, 432 pages.
Release date:  August 19th 2010.
Rating: 3½ out of 5.
Series: The Cousins' War #2.
Other books in series: The White Queen.
Source: Received from publisher for review.

The second book in Philippa's stunning new trilogy, The Cousins War, brings to life the story of Margaret Beaufort, a shadowy and mysterious character ...more The second book in Philippa's stunning new trilogy, The Cousins War, brings to life the story of Margaret Beaufort, a shadowy and mysterious character in the first book of the series - The White Queen - but who now takes centre stage in the bitter struggle of The War of the Roses. The Red Queen tells the story of the child-bride of Edmund Tudor, who, although widowed in her early teens, uses her determination of character and wily plotting to infiltrate the house of York under the guise of loyal friend and servant, undermine the support for Richard III and ultimately ensure that her only son, Henry Tudor, triumphs as King of England. Through collaboration with the dowager Queen Elizabeth Woodville, Margaret agrees a betrothal between Henry and Elizabeth's daughter, thereby uniting the families and resolving the Cousins War once and for all by founding of the Tudor dynasty.

The Red Queen, the second book in Philippa Gregory’s Cousins’ War series focuses on deeply religious Margaret Beaufort, heiress to the house of Lancaster, and polar opposite to the enchanting Elizabeth Woodville, protagonist of The White Queen. When we are introduced to Margaret as a young girl she has already acquired “saints knees” from her hours spent in prayer, has what she believes to be visions from God, and believes she is blessed by Him, just like her heroine, Joan of Arc. But she is not destined to follow in the footsteps of Joan of Arc - she will not fight, but instead her purpose in life is just one. To produce an heir for the house of Lancaster. To this effect, she is married at age twelve, and becomes a mother at just age thirteen, to her only son, Henry Tudor, who she believes is destined to take the throne of England, a feat she will stop at nothing to accomplish.

In this book, I believe Gregory set herself a difficult task, in that she has presented to us a character who is near impossible to warm to. I felt some amount of sympathy for the loveless marriage and horrendous childbirth Beaufort had to suffer so early on in her life, but throughout the rest of the book, even though she presents herself as being deeply religious, in reality Beaufort is devious, cunning, spiteful and even brutal at times. She is unrelenting and absolutely single-minded in her quest to see her son, Henry ascend to the throne, and the measures she is prepared to take to ensure this are extremely unnerving. All that said, I believe Gregory succeeded in her aim to tell the story of Beaufort - she does not vilify her, but explains the thinking behind her actions to the point where I understood her motivations, even though I may not have agreed with them.

I very much enjoyed reading of Beaufort’s rivalry with Elizabeth Woodville in this book, and gaining a different perspective on Woodville and the House of York. Beaufort’s hatred of Woodville is not all politically motivated - she is also jealous of her beauty and her fruitful marriage. She sees Woodville as a commoner and a witch, who has  used her magic to attain the life which she believes is rightfully hers. The scenes between the two women, and those where Beaufort meets Woodville’s daughter Elizabeth of York, were some of my favourites in a book that was in parts too focused on battle scenes and political scheming for my tastes.

While I found the character of Beaufort less engaging than that of Woodville, I found this perspective on The Wars of the Roses told through the eyes of the House of Lancaster very compelling. These books have definitely piqued my interest in the history of this period, and I am especially interested in the tale of the lost princes in the tower, a mystery which is detailed in both books in this series. I am really looking forward to reading the forthcoming books in the series, The Rivers Woman, which will tell the story of Elizabeth Woodville’s mother Jacquetta, and The White Princess which will detail the life of Elizabeth of York.

Blog Tour: The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory - schedule, competitions & more!

This week I'm taking part in the blog tour for Philippa Gregory's new book, The Red Queen, which is the second book in The Cousins' War series.  I'll be celebrating the release of the book with a few special posts this week.  I hope some of you historical fiction fans can stop by and pay me a visit. :) This week on the blog, here's what you can look forward to:

My review of The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory.

An exclusive interview with the author herself.

A giveaway of The White Queen (the first book in the series) by Philippa Gregory.

And there's more for you to check out!

Simon & Schuster have launched a dedicated website for this series of books: http://pages.simonandschuster.com/the-red-queen

Check out this great competition from Simon & Schuster UK in which you can win a signed copy of The Red Queen. This competition is international! Click here to enter.

There are also some great YouTube videos dedicated to The Red Queen. In the following, Philippa Gregory talks about the story of Margaret Beaufort, The Red Queen.

In My Mailbox #11 - New books this week!

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

Super busy week with real life getting in the way of reading and blogging! Argh! Hopefully normal service will be resumed very soon!  In the meantime, I had lots of lovely books in my mailbox this week!

Click on links for Goodreads/Amazon descriptions. 

For review:

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

I've heard so many good things about this book. I received it as part of the Transworld summer reading challenge I'm taking part in.

A Trick of the Dark by B.R. Collins

Dead of Winter by Chris Priestley

I'm going to save this one for a winter's night when I can curl up in front of the fire and read it. Sounds like a spooky ghost story!

The Legacy by Gemma Malley

Bought:

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

I'm so excited that my copy of Dark Flame finally arrived three weeks after I ordered it. Three weeks!! Anyway, I can't wait to read it. Love this series!

Bookmooch:

Schooled by Anisha Lakhani

I've heard this is a little like Gossip Girl. Should be a fun read!

The Girl Who Stopped Swimming by Joshilyn Jackson

Gift:

St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human t ...more St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger. . . .

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.

I've wanted to read this for a long time, and now thank to the lovely Simay at Zimlicious I can since she sent me a copy as a gift. Thank you! <3

If you've read any of these books, I'd love to know what you thought. Share your IMM links in comments.

Waiting on Wednesday #20 - Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick...and Competition Winners!

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

 

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

Simon & Schuster

Hardcover, 432 pages.

Release date: October 14th 2010.

Target Age Group: 14+

Nora should have know her life was far from perfect. Despite starting a relationship with her guardian angel, Patch (who, title aside, can be described 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 farther Nora delves into the mystery of her father's death, the more she comes to question if her Nephilim blood line 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?

I'm definitely eagerly awaiting this one. I know lots of my fellow bloggers have already read this one from all those IMM posts a few weeks back where it seemed like the whole world (except little old me) had been sent this for review! I'm not bitter, I swear! :-D So, those of you who've read it, is it as good as I think it's going to be? Do share your thoughts & WoW links in comments.

COMPETITION WINNERS

Sorry for the delay - it always takes me soooo long to count up all those entries!

The Winner of a signed copy of Beautiful Malice by Rebecca James is Brandileigh2003.

The Winner of My Love Lies Bleeding and Blood Feud by Alyxandra Harvey is Jaz Parks.

Congrats you two! I'll be sending you both emails and waiting for your mailing addresses!

Daisy Chain Book Reviews Big Summer Bash - Giveaway #3 ; Win Second Hand Heart by Catherine Ryan Hyde.

Today I'm giving away an ARC of Second Hand Heart by Catherine Ryan Hyde. This is my review copy and has been read once (by me!). I'll be announcing the winners of my Beautiful Malice & Drake Chronicles giveaways tomorrow. I have a LOT of counting to do tonight!

Vida is 19 and has never had much of a life. Struggling along with a life-threatening heart condition, her whole life has been one long preparation for death. But suddenly she is presented with a donor heart, and just in time. Now she gets to do something she never imagined she'd have to do: live.


Richard is a 36-year-old man who’s just lost his beloved wife, Lorrie, in a car accident. Still in shock and not even having begun the process of grieving, he is invited to the hospital to meet the young woman who received his wife’s donor heart.

Vida takes one look at Richard and feels she’s loved him all her life. And tells him so. Richard assumes she’s just a foolish young girl. And maybe she is. Or maybe there’s truth behind the theory of cellular memory, and maybe it really is possible for a heart to remember, at least for a time, on its own.

Read My Review of Second Hand Heart

Just fill out the form below to enter!

Good Luck!

THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED!

WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED SOON!

Interview: Lani Woodland author of Intrinsical.

Today I have an interview with debut author Lani Woodland, who talks about her forthcoming novel Intrinsical.  I've been excited to read this book since I first heard about it.  Read on to find out more about the story behind Intrinsical, and that gorgeous book cover!

I've read the first chapter of Intrinsical, and really enjoyed it.  Can you tell my readers a little about the book and also tell me where you got the inspiration to write the story? 

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

The whole idea for the book actually started during a visit to the Queen Mary, an old ocean-liner that has been turned into a hotel in Long Beach, California. My friend Melonie, my husband, and I went to visit the Queen Mary because an episode of our favorite TV show had been filmed there and we wanted to check out places from the show. I was taking a tour and I got a really creepy feeling in the first-class swimming pool. I imagined the show's characters there, and it totally inspired me to start writing a fan fiction set on the Queen Mary. I wrote a novel length fan fiction and after I was done, I wondered if I could actually morph it into a book. Many major revisions later, I have my novel.

Being a soon to be published author must be very exciting! Can you tell me about your path to publication?

My path to publication was paved with rejection, revision, tears, hope and ultimately a belief that Intrinsical was worth fighting for. I had been shopping Intrinsical around for about a year and a half. There was some interest, but mainly rejection. I took every bit of constructive criticism and really worked to improve the book. There were many times when I wanted to quit, but no matter how discouraged I got I couldn’t give up. All of those suggestions really helped mold my book into a much better story than it had started out being. When Kamilla from Pendrell Publishing told me she wanted to represent my book I was ecstatic and so grateful that I hadn’t given up.

How has your life changed since the book sold, and how did you celebrate when you heard you were going to be published? 

I jumped around, screamed, did some really old-school dance moves and didn’t believe it was real until I signed my contract. It wasn’t until a few months had passed that I started telling people because I was afraid I might be dreaming. My life hasn’t changed; I’m still reading and writing as much as ever.

Intrinsical is set in a boarding school, which is a setting I love and it’s one that is very popular in Young Adult fiction at the moment.  What do you think it is about boarding schools that is so appealing to readers?

I think what makes a boarding school location so appealing is it takes out the presence of parents and makes the characters have to face up to their problems alone or with their closest friends.

Since I featured Intrinsical on my blog lots of people have been talking about the gorgeous book cover, which I agree is pretty special.  I also believe that you were the photographer on this project.  How much fun was it to be involved in that whole process?

Thank you so much for the cover praise, I love my cover too. The process of creating it was amazing! It makes me feel that the whole book is really mine. When Kamilla (who is also a photographer) told me she was willing to let me shoot the cover, I was ecstatic. Shooting underwater was a new experience for both of us and it wasn’t the easiest thing to do. We actually had a practice shoot before the real one and lets just say it was a good thing we did. If I showed you the behind-the-scenes photos I think you’d be amazed at the finished product. We did the shoot in my friend’s pool and we had to weigh ourselves down so we wouldn’t keep floating to the top. The model on the cover is actually half Brazilian and exactly who I pictured when I described Yara. In my mind I had a vision of my cover and when we got back the images, Kamilla and I were overjoyed. They were exactly what we had discussed and hoped for.

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

I just finished The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong and My Double Life by Janette Rallison.  I really enjoyed both of them. Recommending one book… wow there are so many books I love. I’m something of a book addict. I would have to say the book everyone should read would be The Hunger Games. I loved that book!

Can you tell me what you are working on next? Is Intrinsical set to be part of a series, or will your next book be something completely different?

I wrote Intrinsical to be a stand-alone but the ending does leave it open for a sequel. I have some ideas for another book in the series if my publisher wants me to write it. My next project is deeply underway and I’m really excited about it. It is totally different than Intrinsical. It’s going to be a trilogy and I’m co-authoring it with my friend Melonie.  Yes, it’s the same Melonie who was with me when I first got inspired to write Intrinsical.

Thanks so much to Lani for agreeing to do this interview. Make sure you check out Intrinsical when it's released on August 20th!

In My Mailbox #10 - New books from the past two weeks!

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

Click on links for Goodreads/Amazon descriptions. 

Night of the Solstice by L.J Smith.

Intrinsical by Lani Woodland.

Look out for my interview with Intrinsical author Lani Woodland soon!

Radiance by Alyson Noel .

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater.

 Read my review

Halo by Alexandra Adornetto.

I love the cover of  Halo so much. Can't wait to read it!

If you've already read any of these books, I'd love to know what you though! Share your IMM links in comments. :)

Waiting on Wednesday #19 - Finding Sky by Joss Stirling.

Finding Sky by Joss Stirling
Oxford University Press
Paperback, 320 pages.
Release date: October 2010.
Target Age Group: Young Adult.

Finding your soulmate has never been so dangerous 

When Sky catches a glimpse of Zed for the first time, lounging against his motorbike at school, she is drawn to him just like every other girl in Wickenridge. But Zed sees something special in her that the other girls don't have. Zed tells her they are both Savants - people with special powers like telepathy and the ability to see into the future. Not only that, she is a Savant too, and his soulfinder - meant to be together. When a soulfinder speaks telepathically to her partner, it's like all the lights coming on in a building. You lit me up like Vegas. But for Sky it's just not that easy - she's a mystery to herself, haunted by nightmares from her past before she was adopted, and riddled with doubt and insecurity. Just when Sky is slowly coming round to the idea of being with Zed she is kidnapped by a family of criminal Savants. In a chilling twist, Sky and Zed's relationship is put to the ultimate test and the fate of those she loves lie in Sky's hands. Will Sky have the strength to embrace her power and be brave enough to control her own destiny, or will the dark demons of her past prevent her from realising her true potential? 

Soulfinders and Savants...I like the sound of this! Let me know what you think and share your WoW picks in comments!

Don't forget to check out the two great competitions I'm running at the moment!

Enter to win a signed copy of Beautiful Malice here. I also have the first two books in Alyxandra Harvey's Drake Chronicles series up for grabs here. Good luck to all who have entered!

Book Review: Linger by Maggie Stiefvater.

Product details:
Publisher: Scholastic UK.
Paperback, 416 pages.
Release date: July 20th 2010.
Ages: Young Adult.
Rating: 3 out of 5.
Series: The Wolves of Mercy Falls.

In SHIVER, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in LINGER, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping dangerous secrets. For Sam, it means grappling with his werewolf past ... and figuring out a way to survive the future. But just when they manage to find happiness, Grace finds herself changing in ways she could never have expected...

I was all prepared to fall in love with Linger, the second book in Maggie Stiefvater’s Wolves of Mercy Falls series, and while I ultimately found it to be a worthwhile read, I encountered more than a few stumbling blocks along the way…

Just like Shiver, I found Linger to be quite slow moving. This worked for me in Shiver as I loved getting to know the characters of Sam and Grace, and seeing their relationship develop, but I felt as though the storyline dragged a little here. Linger unfolds through the voices of four different narrators, so along with Sam and Grace, we now hear the voices of snarky Isabel Culpeper, who also featured in Shiver, and hot newcomer, rock star turned werewolf, Cole St. Clair. These two are pretty strong characters, and while I liked the four-person viewpoint, and felt it was very well handled, I thought that Sam and Grace were pushed into the background a little due mainly to the introduction of Cole. I found Cole to be an extremely compelling character - he’s an edgy bad boy with a dark past, and for me, I’m afraid, Sam seemed a little mundane by comparison. Sam is very sweet, but I always like those bad boys!

Sam and Grace didn‘t work for me in this novel like they did in Shiver. I found that most of the time, those two did not act or speak like a teenage couple in love. They are saccharine sweet to the point where I almost fell into a sugar coma. While their relationship was quite passionate in Shiver, they now talk of poetry, coffee pots and marriage. Yes, I understand why focusing on the future is very important to them with the struggles they are facing, but ultimately their behaviour in this book was not endearing to me. The pair’s behaviour then doesn’t explain why Grace’s parents, notably laidback and bohemian in the first book, now decide to become ultra protective of her, while at the same time taking an intense dislike to Sam. This was one of several plot holes in the book that I wasn‘t happy with- another being that Cole is presented to us as a famous rock star, and yet goes largely unrecognised by the teenage trio of Sam, Grace and Isabel.

If it sounds like I’m nitpicking, I’m not. I had high expectations for this book, and I’ve seen a lot of five-starred reviews for it, which led me to believe that I would fall in love with it too. I’m very fond of the first book in this series, and while I also enjoyed reading this one, due largely to Steifvater’s special way with words, at times the storyline just did not work for me. I found it very predictable in parts, and I personally feel that it was just missing that something special. That said, the ending of the book does present some surprises, and sets things up nicely for the final book in this trilogy Forever, released 2011, which I am looking forward to. I think this will be a good one, where Stiefvater weaves everything together beautifully. One things for sure, it’s not going to be an easy ride for Sam and Grace from this point on!