March - month in review & great new books for April!

Books Reviewed:

Click on links to read reviews: 

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

 Cuckoo by Julia Crouch
Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting
Firelight by Sophie Jordan

Jenna and Jonah's Fauxmance by Emily Franklin and Brendan Halpin

Siren by Tricia Rayburn
Raising Demons by Rachel Hawkins

Book News/Features:

Bloomsbury News round-up: A writing competition, upcoming releases cover reveals etc.
 Introducing Indigo - the new YA Imprint from Orion Children's Books
Book Trailer: Abandon by Meg Cabot

Blog Tours/Interviews/Guest Posts:

Delightful Debutantes #12: Gwen Hayes & Falling Under. 
Delightful Debutantes #13: Lisa & Laura Roeker & The Liar Society.
Firelight Blog Tour: Sophie Jordan picks her Firelight movie cast.

New Books for April - my picks:

Click on links for Goodreads descriptions: 

Dead Beautiful (UK) - Yvonne Woon (Review coming soon!)
Lucky Break - Esther Freud
The Goddess Test by Aimeé Carter

Stay - Deb Caletti

Summer and the City - Candace Bushnell (Review coming soon!)

Sweet Valley Confidential - Francine Pascal The Taker  - Alma Katsu (Review coming soon!)
Where she Went - Gayle Forman (Review coming soon!)

Competition Reminder:
Click on link to enter: 

Win Raising Demons by Rachel Hawkins
International - Ends April 11th.

Comments are disabled on this post, but you are welcome to check out any of the links in this post and comment there. You know I love reading your comments! :)

  

Roman Holiday!

Yes, that's right! I'm going to Rome! We fly out tomorrow at 6a.m (Boo to ridiculous flight times!).  I've always wanted to go to Rome, but somehow I've never managed to get there..until now! In fact, the last time I planned on going to Rome, I ended up in Bratislava, and then Vienna....

So, I've already mentioned this trip on twitter, but for anyone who hadn't seen and was wondering where I'd got to, I'll be in Rome! I don't plan on blogging while I'm away (I am so not organised enough to have scheduled any posts!) but I will have lots of exciting stuff in store when I return!

I will definitely tell you all about my trip and post photos too!

So...if anyone has any tips on what I should do or see, let me know in comments. I have a list already, but maybe I missed something!

I also wanted to go on a day trip to Florence, but since it's a short trip, and there's so much to do in Rome, I don't know if I'll have time. 

Oh well!

Ciao, ciao for now! :)

Image from: We heart it

Recommend me some Contemporary YA Fiction!

So, as mentioned in my review of Anna and the French Kiss, I don't read a lot of contemporary YA fiction. I'm a paranormal romance girl at heart, but after reading and loving ANNA, I thought I'd branch out a little with my reading.  Trouble is, although I've gotten a lot of great recommendations, I'm not sure where to start!

Jenny from Wondrous Reads has given me some great recommendations, such as The Truth about Forever by Sarah Dessen, and The Boys Next Door by Jennifer Echols.  Jess from Jess Hearts Books recommends Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway, which is also recommended by Stephanie Perkins as a book people who love Anna and the French Kiss should read, so I'll definitely be adding that one to my list!   I want to read Jenny Han's Summer series after reading a lot of amazing reviews, and also Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson which releases here in July.

 Even though I've picked up some great recommendations, I'm pretty sure that with all my time spentIreading about vampires and werewolves, I've missed out on a lot of amazing reads, so I want to know what your top Contemporary YA reads are?  Tell me all your top reads and I'll make a list!

For the record, the only YA contemps that I've read (besides ANNA) are The first two books in the Perfect Chemistry series by Simone Elkeles and If I Stay by Gayle Forman.  I love them all, so I really should read more like them, right?

Tell me the books you think I simply must read in comments!

Book Review: Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins.

Product details:
Publisher: Dutton.
Release date: December 2nd 2010.
Hardcover, 372 pages.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Ages: 12+

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris—until she meets Étienne St. Clair: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home.

As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near-misses end with the French kiss Anna—and readers—have long awaited?

Anna and the French Kiss, the debut novel from the oh, so, talented Stephanie Perkins is a book that will warm your heart and make you smile. I usually don’t read a lot of YA contemporary fiction, but ANNA has changed all that for me. This isn’t just just going on my ‘recent favourites’ list – it will be added to my all time favourites! I’ve already been recommending this to everyone I know. It’s a special book, and while far removed from my usual paranormal reads, there is a certain magic at play here. In her wonderful descriptions of Paris, Perkins brings the city to life on the pages of Anna and the French Kiss. If you have never been to Paris, this book will make you want to go, and if like me, you’ve already visited, this will make you want to return! I totally felt like I was right there, strolling along the Seine with Étienne St. Clair by my side. Swoon! I wish! Oh, Étienne – he is a total book crush of mine, and even a rival for my favourite book boy of all time, Jay Heaton! Oh yes, he’s that yummy!

First things first though – let me tell you about the story of Anna. She’s about to embark on her senior year of High School in Atlanta, when she is unceremoniously uprooted and shipped off to Paris by her sappy romantic novelist father who is hoping a little bit of Parisian sophistication and worldliness will rub off on her. Anna was getting along just fine in Atlanta, thanks to her perfect part-time job, and her crush on Toph, her co-worker who also just happens to be a hot guy in a band. And who she just happens to have kissed right before she left town! So, she’s not too impressed with her father butting in and RUINING her life. She soon changes her tune though, when she claps eyes on Étienne St. Clair – with his perfect hair (his hair is so beautifully described – I read back over that passage at least five times!), charming manner, and swoonworthy accent, she is immediately drawn to him. He seems to like hanging out with her too, and she soon has her very own (very hot) personal tour guide to show her the Parisian sights. There’s just one problem. He has a long term girlfriend…

We follow Anna and Étienne as they struggle with their attraction to each other – always trying to do the right thing, but sometimes making mistakes along the way. I loved these two as characters and I loved watching the progression of their relationship. Even though they are totally drawn to each other, circumstance dictates that they should just be friends, and watching their friendship unfold is wonderful. Étienne is a nice guy, but he’s flawed, he messes up, and he could be seen as the bad guy here, but he’s not – he struggles with his attraction towards Anna and his loyalty to his girlfriend. Anna’s voice is totally authentic. She tries to remain level headed as she struggles with her attraction towards Étienne, but she can’t help herself! She becomes possessive of him, analyzing every look, every word. Although Anna and Étienne take center stage, the supporting cast of characters is also wonderfully well written, as is Anna’s love of cinema. The inclusion of cinema and the part it plays in Étienne and Anna’s relationship resulted in some of my favourite scenes in the book. Perkins writes about issues that we can all relate to. I’ve totally been where Anna and Étienne are, and I’m sure many others have too. Their relationship is first love, it’s friendship, it’s about finding that person you can turn to and tell all your deepest, darkest secrets to. It’s very special.

Read this book. I promise you will love it! It will make you so happy. It will make you smile a lot! It’s a book that will appeal to everyone, at least everyone who has a heart. Stephanie Perkins truly has a special way with words. Her writing is a total gift. Her descriptions of Parisian life are breathtaking. I have never read a guy so beautifully described as St. Clair is here. The kissing scenes are simply stunning too - I thought you should know that! Stephanie’s writing voice is cute, witty and all kinds of wonderful. There were so many things I loved about this book that I could talk about it all day long! It’s true – I have already been bugging people to read it. I want everybody to know how special this book is. As soon as I had finished reading this, I wanted to pick it up and re-read it. I wasn’t ready to leave my new friends. I didn’t want this book to end! I already know that I will be reading everything Stephanie Perkins writes in the future. Highly recommended, if you didn’t already guess!

Lola and the Boy Next Door, a companion novel to Anna and the French Kiss will be released in September 2011 from Dutton. I can’t wait!!

Book Trailer: Abandon by Meg Cabot.

Can you believe it - I have never read a book by Meg Cabot. Stranger than strange, I know! I think I'll be starting with this one, though. I love the sound of Abandon, and check out that cover.  Total cover candy! I just spotted the book trailer and thought I'd share it here.

What do you think? Will you be reading this one? 

If you're one of the lucky people who've already read this one, let me know what you thought!

Abandon will also be released in the UK (Macmillan) in 2012.

Abandon by Meg Cabot

Publisher: Scholastic.

Release date: April 26th 2011

Ages: 14+

New from #1 New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot, a dark, fantastical story about this world . . . and the underworld.

Though she tries returning to the life she knew before the accident, Pierce can't help but feel at once a part of this world, and apart from it. Yet she's never alone . . . because someone is always watching her. Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back.
But now she's moved to a new town. Maybe at her new school, she can start fresh. Maybe she can stop feeling so afraid.

Only she can't. Because even here, he finds her. That's how desperately he wants her back. She knows he's no guardian angel, and his dark world isn't exactly heaven, yet she can't stay away . . . especially since he always appears when she least expects it, but exactly when she needs him most.

But if she lets herself fall any further, she may just find herself back in the one place she most fears: the Underworld.

Competition! Win Raising Demons (Hex Hall #2) by Rachel Hawkins! (International).

If you've read my review of Raising Demons by Rachel Hawkins (What? You haven't?! - Go read it!) you'll know that I loved the book, and I'm happy to share my extra copy with one of you! This competition is for a shiny UK copy of the book, and I'm opening it Internationally, so that everybody can enter. Yay!  All you have do is fill in the form below.

Competition closes Monday, April 11th 2011.

One Entry per person

Open Internationally - Yay! Tell all your friends!

You don't have to be a follower or tweet the contest or anything like that to enter, but if you want to, then, extra big thank you's! :)

COMPETITION CLOSED!

Winner Announced Soon!

Book Review: Raising Demons by Rachel Hawkins.

Product details:
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Childrens Books
Release date: March 3rd 2011
Paperback, 359 pages.
Rating: 4½ out of 5
Ages: YA.
Series: Hex Hall #2
Other books in series: Hex Hall
Source: Received from publisher for review.

Sophie Mercer thought she was a witch.

That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, and fairies). But that was before she discovered the family secret, and that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth.

Turns out, Sophie’s a demon, one of only two in the world—the other being her father. What’s worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will destroy her powers.

But once Sophie arrives she makes a shocking discovery. Her new friends? They’re demons too. Meaning someone is raising them in secret with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they’re using Archer to do it. But it’s not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she?

* Please Note: There are spoilers for Hex Hall in this review!

Raising Demons is the addictive second installment in Rachel Hawkins exciting Hex Hall series. This book takes place shortly after Sophie Mercer’s eventful first term at Hecate a.k.a Hex Hall in which she found out she was one of only two demons in the world, while also dealing with mean girls, evil hauntings, murders, and one huge crush in the shape of Archer Cross. Oh yeah, Archer Cross – remember him? The totally hot guy of many secrets who stole Sophie’s heart and left us readers with a whole lot of questions at the end of the first book. He’s back, along with a great cast of characters who make this book a very fun read. In fact, while I enjoyed Hex Hall, I have to say that this book, with its exciting plot, dramatic events at every turn and hot romantic scenes is a major step up! This one is so good that it’s gone straight on the list of my favourite books of 2011!

Raising Demons sees Sophie travel to England where she will reside at Thorne Abbey, a huge old Manor, with no less than three hundred rooms, and a whole lot of dark history. The reasons for Sophie’s stay are two-fold. She’ll get to know her dad, also a demon, and the Head of the Council of Prodigium, a little better. She’ll also find out more about her demon powers, and whether she wants to keep them or undergo The Removal, a scary sounding procedure which will rid her of her magical attributes once and for all. Along for the ride are Sophie’s best friend Jenna (I loved their friendship in the first book!) and Cal – you might remember him from Hex Hall, but here is plays a much bigger part and is set to be a very important figure in Sophie’s life. Hmmmm…. Do I sense a love triangle a-forming?

Well, yes. And no. Because it’s always been all about Archer for me! Sophie and Archer are meant to be and the pages practically sizzle whenever they have a scene together. Admittedly Cal is cute, a nice guy, and has a lot of appealing physical attributes, which don’t go unnoticed by Sophie, but it’s clear that her heart belongs to Archer. What doesn’t help is that Archer, a demon hunter, is her sworn enemy, and hated by those around her. Of course the dangerous and forbidden aspect of their romance just makes it all the more appealing to us. And to Sophie. She can’t resist! But can she trust him? And what of all the other secret enemies who seem to be emerging from the woodwork and who appear to be raising demons for their own evil intent? Yikes!

There are a lot of shocking revelations in this book – it’s totally unpredictable, very fast-paced and a whole lot of fun! I remember when reading Hex Hall that I got a little overwhelmed with all the different characters I was introduced to, but that didn’t happen to me here. The cast of characters is still large, but very well developed. I felt like I got to know Sophie a whole lot better - she’s witty and sarcastic, always quick to answer back, but also thoughtful and understanding. I felt as though Sophie had matured a lot since the first book, and the overall tone of this book is in keeping with that fact. The storyline is richer and more accomplished than in Hex Hall.

Also, I love the ending of this one! OK, so cliffhanger endings drive me insane, but I still can’t get enough. The ending of this one is just WOW!! There were some things that I had figured out, but just like in Hex Hall, Hawkins surprised me over and over again with some amazing plot twists. The ending of this book is stunning! I want to read the next book right now. I have so many questions, and I just need to know if certain characters make it thorough the night! Overall, Raising Demons is a fantastic read. It’s a total page turner that I read in one sitting, and I can’t wait to find out what happens next!

Waiting on Wednesday #32 - Forgotten by Cat Patrick.

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

Forgotten by Cat Patrick
Publisher: Egmont Books LTD

Release date: June 6th 2011

Each night when 16 year-old London Lane goes to sleep, her whole world disappears. In the morning, all that's left is a note telling her about a day she can't remember. The whole scenario doesn't exactly make high school or dating that hot guy whose name she can't seem to recall any easier. But when London starts experiencing disturbing visions she can't make sense of, she realizes it's time to learn a little more about the past she keeps forgetting-before it destroys her future.

Part psychological drama, part romance, and part mystery, this thought-provoking novel will inspire readers to consider the what-if's in their own lives and recognize the power they have to control their destinies.

Australian Cover for Forgotten by Cat Patrick

Oooh, I love the sound of this one! A psychological thriller with romance and mystery, I've heard it described as Memento crossed with The Time-Traveller's Wife, and I can't wait to read it.  Also, the movie rights to this one have already been snapped up by Paramount with Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit) attached to play London. Exciting!

Also, this book has had a lot of different covers, but, as far as I know, these are the final covers for the US, UK and Australian releases. Which one do you like best? I'm not a huge fan of the US cover, but I like the UK cover a lot, and I think the Australian cover is oh, so pretty!


Let me know what you think, and share your WoW picks in comments! :)

Book Review: Siren by Tricia Rayburn.

Product details:
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Release date: February 3rd 2011 (first published 2010).
Paperback, 320 pages.
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Ages: YA
Source: Received from publisher for review.

Seventeen-year-old Vanessa Sands is afraid of everything—the dark, heights, the ocean—but her fearless older sister, Justine, has always been there to coach her through every challenge. That is, until Justine goes cliff-diving one night near the family’s vacation house in Maine, and her lifeless body washes up on shore the next day.

Though her parents hope that they’ll be able to find closure back in Boston, Vanessa can’t help feeling that her sister’s death wasn’t an accident. After discovering that Justine was keeping a lot of secrets, Vanessa returns to Winter Harbor, hoping that Justine’s boyfriend might know more. But Caleb has been missing since Justine’s death.

Soon, it’s not just Vanessa who’s afraid. All of Winter Harbor is abuzz with anxiety when another body washes ashore, and panic sets in when the small town becomes host to a string of fatal, water-related accidents in which all the victims are found, horrifically, grinning from ear to ear.

Vanessa turns to Caleb’s brother, Simon, for help, and begins to find herself drawn to him. As the pair try to understand the sudden rash of creepy drownings, Vanessa uncovers a secret that threatens her new romance—and will change her life forever.
 

Siren, the first book in a new trilogy by Tricia Rayburn is a captivating read, and with its combination of murder, mystery and magical mythology, definitely adds a something a little different to the ever-popular field of YA paranormal romance. For me, Siren was a slow burner, and I admit that it took me a little while to connect with the story and its characters, but, once I did, I was completely hooked. This one just kept on getting better with every page.  With numerous plot twists and a seductive romance that I just loved, the dramatic conclusion of this one has left me in shock and wondering what on earth will happen next!

Siren revolves around two sisters, Justine and Vanessa Sands who have been vacationing at the beach community of Winter Harbour for many years. I grew up in a small town beach community and I just love books that have this appealing, romantic setting. Beach communities just come alive in the summertime, and they are wonderful settings for both sweet first kisses, and hot summer romances!  Justine and Vanessa couldn’t be more different. Justine, the older sister, is a beautiful, feisty daredevil who has had lots of boyfriends and is an all round popular girl. Vanessa, on the other hand, is quiet and cautious, and hasn’t had much experience in the boy department.  Nonetheless, the sisters are as close as can be and they spend their days hanging out with the boys next door, Simon and Caleb Carmichael.  They are looking forward to a summer of fun and frolics on the beach, until tragedy strikes when Justine dies in a mysterious accident.  Vanessa knows immediately that there is more to Justine’s death than meets the eye, and so she goes about uncovering the mystery of her sisters death. What she finds is very dark and scary, and it looks like nothing in Winter Harbour is as it first seems…

Ooooh….this one is actually quite creepy at times, and so, Vanessa is glad that she has Simon Carmichael for company as she goes about uncovering the strange things that are happening in Winter Harbour.  Simon is the strong and silent type, and I liked him right from the start.  Since reading The Body Finder and falling for Jay, I have developed a penchant for love interests who are of the ‘unassuming boy-next-door with no magic powers’ variety.  I loved watching the relationship between Vanessa and her older guy crush, Simon, grow.  It rang true, was easy to relate to, and was also pretty steamy in places!  I love a good steamy YA romance, as you all know.  So, while Simon and Vanessa are falling for each other, they are also trying to figure out what is happening in once sleepy seaside town of Winter Harbour.  It seems that Justine’s death has set a series of events in motion, and now something or someone is on a killing spree, and this time the men of Winter Harbour are in danger. Could Simon and Caleb be next on the list?! Eeek!

From here the action is non-stop, and oh, there are some great plot twists.  This book is just full of surprises!  The character of Vanessa annoyed me a little at the start of the book, but this book is all about her coming of age, and she really blossoms as a character as the book progresses. I was really rooting for her as the story raced towards its dramatic conclusion.  The mystery of Winter Harbour lies in its history, and we learn about the town’s past and that of its inhabitants, another element of the story that I really loved.  We are left on quite a cliffhanger and the end of this one with some amazing revelations about certain characters and quite a few unanswered questions. I’ve found a new series to add to my must-read list, and I can’t wait for the next installment Undercurrent which is due for release later this year.

Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday!

I can hardly believe that the blog is one year old today, and that I've stuck with it! My first attempt at blogging was very short-lived fashion blog 'Champagne & Tiaras' (Yes, I do think I'm Paris Hilton. haha!) which lasted a mere two weeks.  I started this blog on a total whim,  and I didn't put any real thought into it at all, yet it's still going strong. Yay!

That's thanks in part to YOU!

Thank you to everyone who takes the time to read this blog, and especially to those of you who take the time to comment. I take the time to read all the comments here, and I respond to a lot of them. I'm definitely one of those bloggers who loves comments, so keep them coming!  I have found some great blogger friends this past year.  I'm going to cop out here and not name you all because I'm terrified I'll forget somebody, and anyway, you all know who you are, right? :)

I know a lot of bloggers like to celebrate blog birthdays with a giveaway, and while I don't have any for you today, I do have some pretty cool giveaways coming up soon (one at the end of this week, in fact), so keep an eye out for those!

Happy birthday, little blog! Here's to many more years spent blogging! :)

Image from: We heart it.

Cover Candy #10 - Recent Swoonworthy Cover Reveals!

It's time for another Cover Candy post.  If it's a book cover that I'm swooning over, I might feature it here! I love finding new books, especially those with gorgeous covers, but I can't feature them all as my Waiting on Wednesday picks, so I decided to dedicate this feature to them instead!

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

 ******************************  


How beautiful is this cover for The Mephisto Covenant by Trinity Faegen. Swit Swoo. I love it!  This is the first in a new series, and will be available in September 2011!

The Mephisto Covenant by Trinity Faegen
Publisher: Egmont USA
Release date: September 2011
Ages: YA

Sasha is desperate to find out who murdered her father. When getting the answer means pledging her soul to Eryx, she unlocks a secret that puts her in grave danger—Sasha is Anabo, a daughter of Eve, and Eryx’s biggest threat.

A son of Hell, immortal, and bound to Earth forever, Jax looks
for redemption in the Mephisto Covenant—God’s promise he will find peace in the love of an Anabo. After a thousand years, he’s finally found the girl he’s been searching for: Sasha.

With the threat of Eryx looming, Jax has to keep Sasha safe and win her over. But can he? Will Sasha love him and give up her mortal life?

I really enjoyed Intrinsical by Lani Woodland when I read it last year, so I am excited to see what lies in store for Yara, Cherie, Brent and Co. when Indelible releases in September 2011.  The cover of intrinsical was truly gorgeous, and this one is just as beautiful. Love it!

Indelible (Yara Silva trilogy #2) by Lani Woodland.

Publisher: Pendrell Publishing.

Release date: September 2011. 

Ages: YA

Yara is beginning to understand just how much her life has changed now that she is a full-fledged Waker. After narrowly escaping death during her junior year, all she wants is a ghost-free senior year at Pendrell Academy with her boyfriend Brent and her best friend Cherie. But Yara soon discovers that there are more dark secrets in her school’s history than just the curse she broke last year. While an angry ghost makes Yara question everything she thought she knew about spirits, she and Brent learn that they might not have escaped last year as unscathed as they thought. Yara finds herself in the center of another deadly mystery, and this time all of her enemies might not be dead.

Wow! The description of this book sucked me right in! I can't wait to find out the mystery behind Colin's strange behaviour.  The cover is captivating too! This one is high on my wishlist!

Still Waters by Emma Carlson Berne

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Release date: December 2011

Ages: 14+

Hannah and Colin seem to have the perfect relationship, but as her second-to-last year of school draws to a close and Colin prepares to head off to college, Hannah feels he might be slipping away. She knows they need some real quality time alone if she’s going to hold on to him. So when she finds pictures of his old family lake house, she secretly schemes to get him there. But when they arrive, he’s not thrilled. Actually, he’s totally freaked out. And though she gets him to relax, his behavior become stranger by the day: he disappears for long stretches of the night, has a bizarre breakdown in a nearby diner, and when the car stops running, he seems completely unconcerned about fixing it. The lake house holds secrets, and what Hannah doesn’t know and Colin can’t remember just might kill them both.

This is another  great cover that caught my eye this week, and the haunting storyline with it's ghostly love triangle also sounds pretty great! Best of all, this one is available on Netgalley right now! Yay!

Wherever You Go by Heather Davis

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Release date: November 2011

Ages: YA

Seventeen-year-old Holly Mullen has felt lost and lonely ever since her boyfriend, Rob, died in a tragic accident. The fact that she has to spend most of her free time caring for her little sister and Alzheimer’s-stricken grandfather doesn’t help. But Holly has no idea that as she goes about her days, Rob’s ghost is watching over her. He isn’t happy when he sees his best friend, Jason, reach out to help Holly with her grandfather—but as a ghost, he can do nothing to stop it. Is his best friend really falling for his girlfriend? 

As Holly wonders whether to open her heart to Jason, the past comes back to haunt her. Her grandfather claims to be communicating with the ghost of Rob. Could the messages he has for Holly be real? And if so, how can the loved ones Rob left behind help his tortured soul make it to the other side? 

Told from the perspectives of Holly, Jason, and Rob, Wherever You Go is is a poignant story about making peace with the past, opening your heart to love, and finding the courage to move forward into the light.

Finally, here's the cover to Entralled: Paranormal Diversions, a new anthology edited by Melissa Marr and Kelley Armstrong, and featuring stories from, amongst others, Claudia Gray, Carrie Ryan,  Jeri Smith-Ready and Kimberly Derting.  With such a stellar line up, I will have to check this one out! I am particularly interested in finding out what Kimberly Derting's story is all about! This one releases in September 2011 from HarperCollins.

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

Book Review: Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting.

Product details:
Publisher: Headline Book Publishing.
Release date: March 17th 2011.
Paperback, 358 pages.
Rating: 4½ out of 5.
Ages: 14+
Series: The Body Finder #2.
Other books in series: The Body Finder.
Source: Received from publisher for review.

The missing dead call to Violet. They want to be found.

When Violet Ambrose's morbid ability to sense the echoes of those who've been murdered leads her to the body of a young boy, she draws the attention of the FBI. She is reluctantly pulled into an investigation that will endanger more than just her secret...but her relationship and possibly her life as well.

Oh, how I swooned over The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting. That book grabbed me right from the first page, and made me fall completely and utterly in total book love. Then there was Jay, who I also fell completely and utterly in love with. Oh, swoon! If you are a regular reader of this blog, or if you follow me on twitter, you will know that I literally never stop talking about Jay Heaton! Out of all my book boyfriends, Jay is my number one. So, with all this in mind, you can imagine I how excited I was for this sequel, and I can safely say that Desires of the Dead totally impressed me. It’s a taut, fast-paced mystery, with the same great characters you’ve come to know and love, and of course, that hot romance that fans of the series just can’t get enough of!

For Violet, Desires of the Dead is all about her coming of age, self discovery and the realisation that her ability may lead to greater possibilities than she ever imagined. Three months on from that fateful night at the school prom, Violet is coming to terms with what her ability to sense the dead might mean for the future.  When Violet senses an echo and takes matters into her own hands, she unwittingly attracts the attention of an FBI agent and her mysterious co-worker, and these two might be about to change Violet’s life forever…

While the storyline here is multi-layered and engrossing, I will say that Desires of the Dead lacks a little of the suspense of The Body Finder, especially the darkly sinister elements of the first book that really made it stand apart from anything else I've read in YA literature. I loved the inclusion of the Seven Deadly Sins chapters here, and a certain stalker element that had Vi seething with jealousy, but I did think that the mystery here was more predictable than before. What this one lacked in suspense, it more than made up for in the hot romance department though! Oh yes!

In The Body Finder, we saw Jay and Violet transition from best friends to boyfriend and girlfriend. Watching their relationship unfold was adorable, and here their relationship naturally progresses and goes through changes. Jay and Vi have their ups and downs for sure. Their relationship is unique in the love-at-first-sight world of YA literature. It’s totally real, very relatable, and oh, so romantic!

While I have always liked Violet, it’s safe to say that she can be very stubborn and she sometimes doesn’t make the best choices. Here she is reluctant to confide in Jay because of the change in their dynamic. I didn’t entirely understand this at first. She’s been through so much with Jay, and has no reason to distrust him. But this is all about Violet finding her own way, and she does that. And then she realizes that she doesn’t have to do it all on her own. Awww…

Can I dedicate some time to Jay now!! I didn’t think I could love Jay more than I did in The Body Finder, but after reading this one, oh I do! Jay is the sweetest, most perfect guy ever! I love his sexy, lopsided grin. I love that he’s so hot, and is completely oblivious to that fact – guys like that are so totally appealing! And I love how he is so protective of Violet – her rock, her constant, and always there for her. I could probably go on for days about Jay, but, OK, I’ll stop now!

With Violet learning more about her ability and the new world of possibilities it brings to this series I seriously can’t wait to find out what happens next. I also think that the introduction of FBI agent, Sara Priest, and the mysterious Rafe with his connection to Vi means that things are about to get even more interesting in her already drama-filled life.  I am especially intrigued by Rafe, and what he might bring to the table. Hmmm...yes, indeed!   I have no idea where book #3 will take us, but I can't wait to read more about Violet and Jay. I hope I don't have to wait too long for my next fix!

Competition Winner! Immortals Series Giveaway!

The winner has been contacted, details have been sent off to the publishers, and you should  have your books soon! I hope you enjoy them!

Winner of The Immortals Books 1-5 

Gwen Thomas

Congratulations Gwen - hope you enjoy your prize!

If you didn't win this one, why not check out my Desires of the Dead giveaway - details in the sidebar. It ends later tonight (midnight GMT) so hurry!

Delightful Debutantes #13: Lisa and Laura Roecker & The Liar Society!

I've been hearing so many good things about Lisa and Laura Roecker's debut The Liar Society - have you read it yet? And I'm excited to invite these delightful debutantes along to the blog today!

Read on to find out more about the inspiration behind the book, what it's like to work as part of a writing duo, and more!

I've seen The Liar Society described as Veronica Mars meets Pretty Little Liars. I think I love it already!  Can you tell me a little about the story and about the inspiration behind the book? 

Oh that description makes us swoon! The Liar Society features Kate Lowry who gets an email from her dead best friend on the anniversary of her death. Kate has always felt that Grace's death was more than just an accident. The email sends Kate on an investigation to discover the truth and in the process she uncovers some pretty shocking secrets about her snooty private school.  

We were actually inspired by a tragedy. Lisa lost someone a few years ago and would periodically email him updates about her life and kids telling him how much everyone missed him. One day she considered what would happen if he wrote her back. The Liar Society tells that story.  

I've never interviewed a writing duo before, and I'm interested to find out more about how you guys write together.  What are the different elements that you each bring to the writing process?  And what happens if one of you writes something the other really doesn't like? Eeek! Has anything like that ever happened? 

We are naturally very similar so our writing style is virtually the same. We quickly discovered that we do each have specific strengths as writers and luckily they are different. Lisa is a pro at dialogue, the queen of snark and absolutely loves mapping out our plot and Laura obsesses over the setting and character details that make a book come alive. Because we alternate chapters (Lisa writes a chapter and Laura edits and writes the next chapter, etc.) if you don't like what the other person wrote, you just change it. You don't even have to ask! Whenever the document is shipped back, your chapter may have changed but it's usually for the better. If we ever have a huge difference of opinion in terms of the direction of the plot, we usually hash it out on the phone and that's when the catfighting comes in. Okay, maybe not catfighting, but there's usually a lot of annoyed sighing.  

The Liar Society sounds like it just might have some hot boys for me to swoon over.  Is there any special guy in The Liar Society that I might be adding to my very special book crush list? 

There are a couple boys Kate swoons over throughout the book. When she was younger, she had a gigantic crush on Bradley Farrow (big man on campus, captain of the lacrosse team, total hottie). *Spoiler Alert* he comes back full force in book 2. But her heart currently belongs to Liam Gilmore, alternative artiste and music junkie with shaggy hair and vintage shirts. Our hearts, however, belong to Seth, Kate's nerdy next-door-neighbor whose goofy personality would win us over in a heartbeat.  

I read your most fabulous blog, and I know that you two actually cried when you saw the cover art for The Liar Society.  Can you tell me the story behind the cover and your reaction to it?  For the record, I love the pink hair!  It's a super sassy cover!

The cover for The Liar Society was a tricky, tricky beast. The book is a mystery at heart, but has a somewhat light touch and the designers really wanted to nail that. We saw a number of different comps throughout the process and were pretty happy with them. We had no idea pink hair was in the running so when we were told that was the direction the cover designers were going in we were kind of floored. Kate didn't even have pink hair! That's what upset us the most. As readers, we get frustrated if the cover doesn't accurately reflect the main character and we didn't want our readers to be confused! We made a choice to trust our publisher (they're the experts after all) and begged them to let us make some last minute changes to the text. So now Kate rocks some pretty fabulous pink hair.  

Can you name three other books that you think readers of your book might enjoy? 

Deception by Lee Nichols, any book in the Pretty Little Liars series and The Body Finder series. 

Can you tell me what you are working on next? 

We're currently hard at work on a book outside of The Liar Society series that features a girl who loses her memory and her sister on the same night and must retrace her steps to piece back together the story.

Thank you for the great interview, Lisa and Laura. I gotta say, I am loving that pink hair on you guys! ;)

The Liar Society is available now! Go buy it!

Lisa and Laura's Blog

Lisa and Laura's Website

Follow Lisa and Laura on Twitter

Next up on Delightful Debutantes: Cynthia Hand & Unearthly.

Introducing INDIGO - the new YA Imprint from Orion Children's Books.

 I have some exciting publishing news to share today!

 Orion are launching a new YA imprint called Indigo which will see the publication of four titles a month beginning September 2011.  Among the first  titles on offer will be the first YA offering from superstar crime writer Harlan Coben.  His first foray into YA, Shelter, publishes September 15th.  I've read a couple of Coben's adult titles and  they are always  fast paced and exciting with lots of  great plot twists.

I can't wait to see what he can bring to the YA market. I'm sure it'll be all good! 

Also publishing in September will be the first in Kate Harrison's new trilogy Soul Beach which mixes murder mystery with virtual worlds, and sounds truly fascinating. I can't wait to read that one!

Indigo will also be publishing Darkness Falls, the second installment in Mia James Ravenwood Mysteries series.  By Midnight the first book in the series was one of these books I was all excited about last year, and yet I still haven't read it.  It has everything I love to read about - a boarding school with a lot of mystery, hot boys, vampires - Must get to it soon!!

Other authors lined up for releases from Indigo include: Holly Black, Marcus Sedgwick, Sara Grant, Cliff McNish and Cinda Williams Chima who's book The Warrior Heir will be released on September 1st.

 Fiona Kennedy publisher of the imprint goes on to say: "Indigo will publish teen fiction with style and poise, as the clutch of starry authors on the list shows. It will give our teen titles an identity and status as a whole, and each book more profile individually.

 "A number of our authors have been writing older novels and Indigo will give them the support and freedom to develop their work for this readership, as well as giving us the perfect opportunity to extend the range of titles we publish. As always, our list will be one of hand-picked titles that we feel passionately about."

I think Indigo sounds like a great new imprint and a fantastic addition to the YA market.  I can't wait to read some of these titles, particularly Soul Beach, which I'm really excited for!  

 Additional info and quotes: TheBookseller

Cover Candy Special Edition: Next in a Series Cover Love!

When I first started this blog, my main objective was just to keep track of all the different series I was reading.  Since I've been blogging and reading more and more first in a series books, it's impossible for me to keep up with every series, but what I do like to keep up with is those shiny book covers!

All of these are worthy cover candy picks, and even though I haven't yet read Anna and the French Kiss (eek It's next on my list - promise!) I love the cover and description of Lola and the Boy Next Door.

What's your favourite cover amongst these?

Which book are you most excited for?

*Please Note: Spoilers may be included for the first book in the synopsis for the second book.

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

 OK - there's a reason I haven't read Anna and the French Kiss yet, and it's this.: Anna was released in December, and I wanted to save it for springtime, because it seemed like a springtime book, and it's set in Paris. I love Paris in the springtime! So, that's why. I will be reading it soon.  Everybody I know loved it! I'm already excited to meet Lola and this hot boy next door!

Lola and the Boy Next Door
Publisher: Dutton.
Release date: September 29th 2011
Ages: 14+

n this companion novel to Anna and the French Kiss, two teens discover that true love may be closer than they think.

For budding costume designer Lola Nolan, the more outrageous the outfit—more sparkly, more fun, more wild—the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins move back into the house next door.

When the family returns and Cricket—a gifted inventor and engineer—steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

Check out the beautiful cover for Beautiful Days, the follow up to Anna Godbersen's Bright Young Things.  While I didn't love Bright Young Things, I did feel as though the storyline picked up towards the end of the book, and I'm looking forward to seeing what lies in store for  Cordelia, Letty and Astrid in Beautiful Days!

Beautiful Days by Anna Godbersen
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release date: September 20th 2011
Ages: 14+

In this must-have sequel to Bright Young Things, Cordelia and Letty are small-town girls no longer. Letty is ready at last to chase her Broadway dreams. Cordelia thought she lost her true love, but a chance meeting will change her fortune—and her future. The unflappable flapper Astrid Donal has promised herself to Charlie Grey, Cordelia’s half-brother, but isn’t sure their love is true enough to survive. And a bitter rivalry will ensnare them all in a dangerous feud played out in the speakeasies of Manhattan and on the great lawns of Long Island. As these bright young things live out their beautiful days in the summer of 1929, they find romance and heartbreak, adventure and intrigue, new friends and unexpected rivals.

Fans of The Luxe series, A Great and Terrible Beauty, Martin Scorsese’s hit HBO series Boardwalk Empire, and, of course, The Great Gatsby, will delight in the Jazz Age setting, a time when girls were enjoying newfound freedom and excitement could be found behind any door in Manhattan. 

Matched by Ally Condie was the first YA dystopian I read when it was released last year  It was much-hyped around the blogosphere, and I will admit that it fell a little short for me.  It was just too slow moving for my tastes, and I needed a hotter romance! However, I like the cover for Crossed. I like how it depicts Cassia breaking free of the restraints of her society.  The colour choice is also interesting if you've read the first book. I'm guessing there will be some red in the cover of the third book!

Crossed by Ally Condie
Publisher: Dutton
Release date: November 1st 2011
Ages: 13+

In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky — taken by the Society to his certain death — only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake.

Cassia’s quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander — who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia’s heart — change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever.

 Last but not least is Vanish, the follow up to Firelight by Sophie Jordan.  I can't wait to discover the mystery of the cover, and the major twist in the story that I've heard is going to happen.  I'm definitely counting down the days to this one!

Vanish by Sophie Jordan
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release date: September 6th 2011
Ages: 12+

To save the life of the boy she loves, Jacinda did the unthinkable: She betrayed the most closely-guarded secret of her kind. Now she must return to the protection of her pride knowing she might never see Will again—and worse, that because his mind has been shaded, Will’s memories of that fateful night and why she had to flee are gone.

Back home, Jacinda is greeted with hostility and must work to prove her loyalty for both her sake and her family’s. Among the few who will even talk to her are Cassian, the pride’s heir apparent who has always wanted her, and her sister, Tamra, who has been forever changed by a twist of fate. Jacinda knows that she should forget Will and move on—that if he managed to remember and keep his promise to find her, it would only endanger them both. Yet she clings to the hope that someday they will be together again. When the chance arrives to follow her heart, will she risk everything for love?

In bestselling author Sophie Jordan’s dramatic follow-up to Firelight, forbidden love burns brighter than ever.

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

International Giveaway! Ask Kimberly Derting a question & be in with a chance to win a copy of Desires of the Dead!

Desires of the Dead, the follow up to Kimberly Derting's most excellent debut, The Body Finder,  is being published in the UK next week (March 17th). I've read it - totally amazing!  Today I'm hosting a giveaway with a twist to celebrate!  To be in with a chance to win a copy of Desires of the Dead, just leave a question for Kimberly in the comments section.  Think of  the best question you can think of, as Kimberly will be picking her favourite question as the winner!

If you don't want to be entered into the competition, but would still like to leave a question for Kimberly, that's fine too. Just let me know that you don't want to be entered into the comp.

All your questions will then be forwarded to Kimberly, and when I get the answers I will post them up here for everybody to see.

So, if you have a burning question you'd like to ask Kimberly, now's the time to do it.

Just leave your questions in comments.

You can submit questions until March 17th.

Competition is open INTERNATIONALLY!

Also, you might like to take a look at this video message Kimberly made for me! So cool! Thanks to the lovely Sam at Headline for arranging this, and of course to Kimberly for the sweet message!

Firelight Blog Tour: Sophie Jordan picks her Firelight movie cast!

Firelight, the first in Sophie Jordan's Firelight series was a joy to read, and went straight on my 2011 favourites list.  With hot guys like Will and Cassian to swoon over, and a great female protagonist in Jacinda, I couldn't wait to see who Sophie Jordan would pick for her perfect Firelight movie cast.

The movie rights to this one have been snapped up (I can't wait to see some draki action on the big screen!), so it will be interesting to see if any of Sophie's movie cast picks make it to the big screen version!

Over to Sophie:

I had certain actors in my head as I was writing Firelight. Sometimes I envision a certain celebrity (or even a person I know) in order to have a visual point of reference. I feel it makes for more realistic writing. That said, I have no idea who might actually be cast in these roles should Firelight reach the big screen – and yes, it’s in the process of development right now!

Read here for more on the Firelight movie!

I have no doubt Mandalay will pick a wonderful cast ... but imagining who gets to play the roles is half the fun! So here’s what I got:

Jacinda: When I wrote Firelight, I always pictured a young Mila Jovovich in my head. Yes, I know she’s too old for the role, but she has such screen presence, not to mention she’s striking and unique looking. Also, Jacinda is a bit of a hybrid. She’s tough and tomboyish but also feminine. For me, that screams Milla Jovovich.

Cassian: While I had no specific person in my head as I wrote Cassian, I know how he looks, and when I recently saw actor Thomas McDonell on TV, he jumped out as a very close fit. He’s got that dark broody thing going for him.

Catherine: As I wrote the character of Catherine, I had two people in mind. She’s a cross between my sassy-beyond-her-years-6-year-old daughter and actress Kat Dennings. Dennings has a very memorable smoky drawl – just like Catherine in Firelight.

Severin: Who else could I have pictured but Jeremy Irons? Ooooh, that voice ... and what other actor has the ability to pull off such understated menace?

 

Sophie's Firelight Movie Cast!

I think a young Mila Jovovich is a great pick for Jacinda, although she's not going to be able to  play her in the movie! I can't wait to see who's cast as Will!

Stop by Dark Readers tomorrow for the next stop on the Firelight blog tour  where you'll get to read an interview with Sophie Jordan.

Book Review: Firelight by Sophie Jordan.

Product details:
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Paperback, 336 pages.
Release date: March 3rd 2011 (First published September 2010)
Rating: 4½ out of 5
Ages: 12+
Source: Received from publisher for review.

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form. 

Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide. 

From its stunning opening sequence to its exciting action-packed conclusion, Firelight, the first book in Sophie Jordan’s new dragon-themed YA trilogy impresses in every way.  I’ve read countless YA Paranormal Romances, some I’ve loved, some not so much, but nothing I’ve ever read has been quite like this one. Firelight is rich in mythology, totally unique in theme, and definitely a new series to obsess over.  Impressed by it’s sense of mystery, danger and of course a totally hot and forbidden romance, I read this in one sitting, and I was totally left wanting more!

Dragon themed, eh? Well, actually, it’s draki – descendants of dragons, with the ability to shift into human form. I never thought dragons or their descendants could be so utterly appealing to me, but Jordan makes it so.  We join Jacinda, a draki who is unique amongst her kind due to a special gift which brings with it a whole new set of pressures.  Jacinda’s favourite form of escape is to fly in the early dawn light, and while it is beautiful and magical, it is also highly dangerous and goes against the fundamental rules of her pride.  When Jacinda’s early morning flight ends in near disaster, she, along with her mother, and twin sister Tamra, must go on the run, and escape the wrath of the pride.

Away from her pride and her world, Jacinda’s draki begins to fade, that is until she encounters Will, a mysterious boy from her recent past.  Jacinda already knows Will’s secret, but if he finds out what she really is, it could mean the end for Jacinda, her whole family, her entire pride and every draki in existence.

 Don’t you just love a dangerous edge to your romance? I do! This romance is totally forbidden, it’s dangerous, dark, edgy and also sizzling hot!  Jacinda and Will’s chemistry practically leaps off the page, and even though they know they shouldn’t be together, they just can’t resist each other. Can Jacinda trust Will with her secrets, even though she knows he could be a deadly threat to her? And what of Cassian, the hot alpha-in-waiting of her pride who keeps on showing up unexpectedly, all dark and brooding and promising to take her back to where she belongs, where her draki will flourish, and where she can truly be herself.  While this book very much focused on Jacinda and Will and their actual smokin’ hot kissing scenes, I think we’ll be finding out more about Cassian in the next book, something I’m definitely looking forward to.

As for Jacinda, I loved her character. She is flame-haired, fierce, feisty and entirely free-spirited, which leads to some interesting situations to say the least. I also found the dynamic between Jacinda and her twin sister, Tamra very interesting.  I didn’t quite take to Tamra, and she annoyed me quite a bit in places.  Having never manifested, she’s pretty much a normal teenage girl, and is resentful of Jacinda and her special gift.  She also harbors a crush on Cassian, who is fixated solely on her sister, so there are some pretty fraught scenes between the two.  I definitely felt for Jacinda, away from her pride, and living with a mother and a sister who don’t understand her and who just want to live normal lives like normal people.

Firelight ends on a nice twist, a cliffhanger and unanswered questions that have left me counting down the days until the next book in the series. With wonderful romance, appealing characters, captivating world-building and mythology, and blistering action sequences, I enjoyed everything about this one.  If you’re looking for something a little different from your usual YA fare, then look no further than Firelight. Highly recommended!

 

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

Vanish, the next book in the series will be released in September 2011 in the US & UK. I am totally intrigued by this cover, and can't wait to figure out the mystery behind that blonde hair. Hmmm...Very interesting!

Stop by tomorrow when Sophie Jordan will be here to tell you about her dream Firelight movie cast as part of the Firelight blog tour!