July - Month in review & great new books for August!

Books Read:

Click on links to read reviews: 

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson - rating 4½ out of 5
Before I go to Sleep  by S.J. Watson -review coming soon!

Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton - rating 3½ out of 5
Clarity by Kim Harrington - rating 4½ out of 5

David by Mary Hoffman - rating 3 out of 5
Everlasting (Immortals #6) by Alyson Noel - review coming soon!

Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs - rating 3 out of 5
Fury by Elizabeth Miles - review coming soon!

 Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson - review coming soon!
The Raising by Laura Kasischke - rating 3½ out of 5
Sometimes it Happens by Lauren Barnholdt - rating 4 out of 5
The Truth about Celia Frost by Paula Rawsthorne - rating 4 out of 5

Vanish by Sophie Jordan - review coming soon!

Wuthering Hearts by Kay Woodward - rating 3½ out of 5

 Reviewed by Liz: Mad Love by Suzanne Selfors - rating 4 out of 5
Reviewed by Liz: Pegasus by Robin McKinley - rating 3½ out of 5
Reviewed by Jen: Virals by Kathy Reichs  - rating 4½ out of 5

 July Favourites:


Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson - One of my fave contemporary reads - a great road-trip book with all the trimmings!
Clarity by Kim Harrington - A paranotmal murder mystery that kept me hooked from start to finish!
Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson - Fast-paced and exciting with boys you will totally crush on!

Book News/Features:

Blog News:  Introducing...The History Girls!

Sneak Peek: Angel's Fury by Bryony Pearce.

Blog Tours/Interviews/Guest Posts:

Delightful Debutantes #21: Morgan Matson & Amy & Roger's Epic Detour 
Delightful Debutantes #22: Paula Rawsthorne & The Truth about Celia Frost

Blog Tour: Interview with Alyson Noel author of The Immortals

Guest Post: Kay Woodward on why she loves Wuthering Heights

Guest Post: Mary Hoffman on being a writer of Historical Fiction
Guest Post: Laura from The Zealous Reader of Favourite Reads from Summers Past 
Guest Post: Ruby from Ruby's Reads & her ingredients for perfect summer reading.

New Books for August - my picks

All You Desire (The Eternal Ones #2) by Kirsten Miller

Bloodlines by Richelle Mead
Chain Reaction (Perfect Chemisty #3) Simone Elkeles

Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson

Ingenue (Flappers #2) by Jillian Larkin

The End of Everything by Megan Abbott

Image Source: We Heart It

Summer Spotlight Guest Post: Ruby from Ruby's Reads picks her ingredients for a perfect summer read!

Ingredients for a Great Summer Read (An Acrostic Poem)

Seriously iced drinks
Used books
Mass markets
More daylight hours
Everyone is relaxing
Read to your heart's content.

Now, I know that your first reaction upon reading this masterpiece of a poem is to double check the name of the Poet Laureate. Relax. I write poetry only for myself. And the unfortunate bloggers unsuspecting enough to let me guest post for them. Just kidding. I've practically stalked Leanna (and Daisy Chain Book Reviews) since she innocently responded to a question of mine on LibraryThing. So I want to thank her not only for having an awesome blog, but for allowing me to guest post for her. Thanks!

Okay, so you'll be glad to know that I wrote this poem for a reason. Basically, I'm using it to extol the wondrous virtues of summer reading. It's kind of like an advice column wrapped up in a poem inside a guest blog.

Let's start with "S"--Seriously iced drinks. I live in Southern California, so iced drinks are a must during the summer. There are times when it doesn't feel like there's much difference between night and day, so my first requirement for summer reading is something cold. When I relax in the shade in the hammock (that's a fantasy, I don't actually have one), in a chair in the backyard, or, more likely, in front of the swamp cooler, I like to have a gin and tonic, an iced tea lemonade or even a freezing cold glass of water and a book. The ice is essential because, when I'm done with the drink, there's still something for me to crunch on.

Ingredient number two--Used books--is another absolute essential. I buy used books year round, but in the summer, I actively hunt them down. I do this for two reasons. One, I don't care if a used book gets wet from water on my hands when I get out of the pool or the ocean. Two, I'm an obsessive book buyer. When I travel, I live in fear of having to pay extra because my luggage weighs so much. If I bring used books, I can leave them behind at the hotel without a qualm. It's the smaller hotels and resorts that let you do this, btw. Though I'm sure the occasional cleaning person appreciates the tip.

Mass markets are great for traveling, too. Also known as pocket books, they're small and (relatively) light and they fit in most purses. Of course, nowadays, you can always just bring your eReader along with you. Then again, I have one, and unpacking continues to takes me a while because I'm forever finding the mass markets I bought and tucked in wherever they would fit.

More daylight hours: The longer days of summer give us the illusion that we have more time than in the winter, which means that there's more time after work to laze around and read before going in at night. I make the most of the extra light by reading out of doors when I can, and you should, too. In your hammock. At the beach. On your porch. Don't forget your gin and tonic.

Everyone is relaxing. Summer is the ultimate time for relaxation. Fall is the lead up to the holiday season, winter is long and dark, and spring is about frenzy (as in Spring Cleaning). Luckily for us all, the summer warmth rolls around to remind us to sit back a spell. It's the time when most of us take our yearly vacations. We barbecue and, best of all, we read. God, I love summer.

    

Finally, I view summer as the time to Read to your heart's content. It's time for you to pick up that bubblegummy piece of chicklit you've been wanting to read but haven't bought because you know you'll finish it in one sitting. I've even got a few suggestions for you:

 Do you see the sheer bubblegum pinkness of these books? Sarah Mason is wonderful, and in these two stories she introduces us to the insane-but-still-awesome Colshannon family. Society Girls is my favorite, and it also includes a bit of armchair travel for those so inclined. Whatever book/genre works for you, I say, as long as reading it isn't a chore. You know you do it. And if I'm wrong...well I already knew you were the better person.

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

Thank you, Ruby, for this wonderful guest blog! I had so much fun reading it! :) If you loved Ruby's guest post too, why not stop by her blog Ruby's Reads to find out more!

Reviewed by Liz: Pegasus by Robin McKinley.

Product details:
Publisher: Puffin.
Release date: July 7th 2011.
Paperback, 400 pages.
Rating: 3½ out of 5.
Ages: 9+
Source: Received from publisher for review.
Reviewed by: Liz

This is the first book in a magical two-part tale of fantasy and friendship ...On her twelfth birthday, Princess Sylviianel is ceremonially bound to her own Pegasus, Ebon. For a thousand years humans and pegasi have lived peacefully in the beautiful green country beyond the wild lands. They rely on human magicians and pegasi shamans as their only means of real communication - but not Sylvi and Ebon. Their friendship is like no other...They can understand each other. But as their bond grows more powerful, it becomes dangerous - could their friendship threaten to destroy the peace and safety of their two worlds?

Robin McKinley’s Pegasus is a story that focuses on the bonds between humans and pegasi - graceful, winged creatures that are neither horse nor bird, but somewhere in between. Set in Balsinland, a kingdom surrounded by rich, green lands, the novel chronicles the life of Princess Sylvi and her bonded pegasus, Ebon. In Balsinland, each child of the royal family traditionally is bonded to a child of the pegasi royalty. Sylvi is a princess preparing for her bonding ceremony, which will take place on her twelfth birthday. Tradition dictates that Sylvi should not know anything about her pegasus before the bonding, and though Slyvi has practised and practised for this day, something happens during her bonding that no-one could have prepared for – she hears Ebon’s voice in her head. Ebon and Sylvi have a bond unlike any pegasi and human – they are able to understand each other and can speak to one another silently through their minds. Most humans can barely say “what nice weather we’re having” to their pegasi, so such an unprecedented event is a huge shock to both kingdoms, as since the dawn of the Alliance (when humans and pegasi agreed to become allies in order to fight the monsters attacking their lands) there have been no records of such a relationship between bond-mates. The rest of the novel revolves around whether or not humans and pegasi can, or even should, ever be able to truly communicate with each other without the aid of magicians or shamans (who know enough of both languages to perform simple translations), and looks at the struggles Ebon and Sylvi go through because of their special bond.

The book is quite slow to start – I found myself automatically skimming over a few paragraphs in the first few chapters and then forcing myself to go back and re-read them to make sure I didn’t miss anything. I was tempted to put the book down for a while and start something else, but I kept going, and I was glad I did. Once Sylvi is bonded with Ebon, things start to get a lot more interesting. Ebon and Sylvi’s bond is truly unique, so it was fascinating to read about the reaction of all the people in the kingdom, especially those people who thought the bond was unnatural and believed that Ebon and Sylvi should be separated, such as Fthoom (one of the king’s magicians) who really seemed to hate the connection the two shared. I actually liked finding out about Fthoom, because even though he’s a very slimy and selfish character, he seems to know a lot more about bonds than he lets on, so I’m curious see what he gets up to in the next book. It was also great to see Ebon and Sylvi get to know each other and become close friends.

I really enjoyed reading about the friendship between Ebon and Sylvi – despite being different species, they really seem to understand each other, and genuinely consider themselves to be best friends. When they have to be parted even for just a week, they’re both miserable and lonely. They balance each other out – Sylvi is quite shy, and Ebon is almost the opposite; together they make the perfect pair, and are always able to feel at ease together. Sylvi is fascinated by the pegasi’s world, and always asks Ebon what it’s like at his home – the rich descriptions of the pegasi Caves and their homeland made me feel like I was really there, and whenever Sylvi was flying with Ebon, I felt like I could really see them soaring through the night sky. One of the reasons I love fantasy novels so much is that you feel like you’re really being transported into the worlds being described, and I thought Pegasus did this successfully. 

However, the abundance of flashbacks made the story seem very disjointed; at times I found it hard to work out whether we were in the past or present and I constantly had to flick back a few pages to figure out just where exactly in the story we were. The flashback scenes also seemed to be completely random at times, and I again found myself accidentally skimming over some of them to get back to the interesting parts of the novel. The ending was very abrupt; the last page literally ended halfway through a vital scene, so if you don’t like cliffhangers, I suggest waiting until the sequel is released before reading this series.

Overall, I enjoyed Pegasus and thought it was an intriguing story about the relationships between two very different creatures. I think any fan of fantasy will appreciate McKinley’s depiction of the elegant pegasi and their connection with the human world, and I believe Pegasus could appeal to fantasy lovers of all ages.

Delightful Debutantes #22: Paula Rawsthorne & The Truth about Celia Frost.

I'm excited to welcome Paula Rawsthorne, author of The Truth About Celia Frost to the blog today to take part in Delightful Debutantes. 

Read on to find out more about the author, her path to publication, and of course The Truth about Celia Frost.

The Truth about Celia Frost is a total page turner and kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way through!  Where did you get the inspiration to write this exciting story?

Thanks Leanna, it’s great to hear that it kept you on the edge of your seat!  My inspiration really came from holding onto the idea of what kind of story I wanted to write.  This is my first novel and I knew that I wanted to try to write something for Young Adults that would be gripping, entertaining and, hopefully thought provoking.

Then, even before any plot emerged, the characters of Celia and Janice Frost came to me so vividly that straight away I knew what made them like this.  I realized that there was something about Celia that her mother wasn’t telling her and from that point the plot started to emerge and evolve.  

In addition to containing a mystery that kept me guessing throughout the book, you deal with a lot of hard hitting and topical issues in The Truth about Celia Frost such as medical ethics and gang violence.  What kind of research did you undertake for the book and can you discuss the importance of highlighting such issues in YA literature?

I felt it was important to write an entertaining book that also had something to say.  Believe me, I thought long and hard before deciding to tackle the ethical issue that emerges in the book.  I spent a lot of time researching and considering the kind of scenario I present.  Ethical issues, by their very nature, are often highly charged, complex and uncomfortable but I see this as a reason for me and young adults to engage with them and not to shy away from them.  We live in an era when science is able to do many things but the ethical and philosophical question is, just because we are capable of doing these things, is it right to?  These issues may well touch our lives so it’s never too soon to start thinking about them.

As far as gang violence is concerned I created the Bluebell Estate in the novel as the kind of environment where people feel like they’ve been forgotten and have little to aspire to.  The kind of place where gang’s thrive and young people are easily led into trouble.  However, Sol (Celia’s friend) is a lad who is doing his best to stay away from trouble (even if it does mean bunking off school) and has rejected the gang culture.  At one point in the story a gang leader taunts him for not being man enough to join a gang but what we see in Sol is that quite the opposite is true- joining a gang is the easy option, Sol has chosen the much harder way by refusing to be part of it.     

I’m always interested in hearing about authors paths to publication. Everyone has a different story to tell, and I’ve heard some interesting tales! Tell me a little about your path to publication.  How does it feel to be a soon to be published author?

My path to publication has seemed like a bit of a fairy tale and I’m still pinching myself!  I wrote the first draft of The Truth about Celia Frost and then was pathetically slow about sending it out to agents.   Then one day, I was looking on the internet and found the website for The Society of Children’s Book Writer’s and Illustrators British Isles (SCBWI).  I noticed that they were running a competition called Undiscovered Voices 2010.  You had to have written a book for children but not be published or agented yet.  Well, I definitely fitted the bill, so I submitted the first two chapters of my thriller to Undiscovered Voices.  A few months later, to my utter amazement and delight, I received a phone call telling me I was a winner!

The prize was to have your novel extract included in an anthology of winners and sent out to every publisher and agent in the U.K.  The judging panel for ‘UV’ comprised of publishers and agents.  Jo Unwin of Conville and Walsh was one of these agents.  She’d loved my extract and asked to read the full manuscript.  Once she’d read it she asked if I’d like to be represented by her (Surely the easiest question I’ve ever been asked!).  From that point I worked hard to get the book in the best condition I could and when Jo and I thought it was ready, we sent it out to publishers.

Even before we’d finished the meeting with Usborne I knew that they were the people for Celia Frost:  Their love and commitment to the book was fantastic and I’ve been so lucky working with them.

To hold the finished copy of my novel in my hands was overwhelming.  I couldn’t help stroking and smelling it (which is probably just weird).  To know that soon I’ll be able to walk into bookshops and see Celia Frost on the shelves is mind blowing.  It really is a dream come true and I couldn’t have done it without Undiscovered Voices, Jo Unwin and Usborne.   

 What is it you love about Young Adult fiction, and what do you like most about writing for teens?

I love the variety in Young Adult fiction.  I believe that what most teenagers want out of a book (no matter what genre) is ‘a great story, well told.’  This is what I want as a reader and it was something that I could try to aspire to when writing.  I see teenage readers as the harshest critics as they don’t feel obliged to keep reading a book if it doesn’t engage them.  Therefore, I really wanted to try writing a story that would, hopefully, keep them turning the page until the very end. 

I recently heard about this new blog called The Edge where you’ve been blogging along with a number of other YA authors.  What is Authors at the Edge all about?

I’ve very proud to be a member of The Edge.  We’re a group of eight, published writers who all write novels with an edge!  We hope that our novels get young adults reading and talking.  All our books are very different but what they have in common are gripping tales with teenagers at their heart.  Within engrossing stories we find ourselves exploring often difficult issues - asylum seekers, knife crime, abandonment, witness protection, amongst many others. We’ve come together to offer workshops, readings, panel events to people and organizations interested in YA fiction and getting teenagers enthusiastic about books.  You can get more information from our website where we write weekly blogs about all things to do with YA fiction.

http://edgeauthors.blogspot.com    

Can you name three other books that you think fans of The Truth about Celia Frost might also enjoy?

Pigeon English by Stephen Kelman.  It’s actually been marketed as an adult book but I think it’s an important novel for older teens to read.  It’s narrated by an eleven year old African boy who has recently arrived in England.  It’s one of the funniest and most heart breaking books I have ever read!

When I was Joe by Keren David – a great contemporary story about the consequences of knife crime and witness protection.

Any YA book by Malorie Blackman- She’s a fantastic writer who explores important issues within entertaining stories.

 

  

Can you tell me what you are working on next?

I was lucky enough to get a two book deal with Usborne so I’ve been very busy writing another (stand alone) thriller.  I’m enjoying working on it as it’s full of really interesting characters, tension and enough secrets to keep the reader on their toes.

Thanks to Paula for such a great and insightful interview! Can't wait to read the next book! :)

Authors at the Edge

The Truth about Celia Frost on Twitter

The Truth about Celia Frost on Facebook

Book Review: The Truth About Celia Frost by Paula Rawsthorne.

Product details:
Publisher: Usborne Publishing .
Release date: August 1st 2011.
Paperback, 336 pages.
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Ages: 13+
Source: Received from publisher for review.

 Celia Frost is a freak. At least that's what everyone thinks. Her life is ruled by a rare disorder that means she could bleed to death from the slightest cut, confining her to a gloomy bubble of safetyA". No friends. No fun. No life. But when a knife attack on Celia has unexpected consequences, her mum reacts strangely. Suddenly they're on the run. Why is her mum so scared? Someone out there knows - and when they find Celia, she's going to wish the truth was a lie - A buried secret; a gripping manhunt; a dangerous deceit: what is the truth about Celia Frost? A page-turning thriller that's impossible to put down.

A gritty, fast-paced thriller brimming with plot twists, Paula Rawsthorne’s The Truth about Celia Frost is an impressive debut that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish!

Often dark in its settings and themes, this book introduces us to Celia Frost and her mother Janice, two people who are hidden away from society, leading lonely and solitary lives. Because of a rare blood disorder that means she could bleed to death from even the slightest of cuts, Celia is labeled a ‘freak’ by the other kids at school, and suffers from near constant name-calling and bullying. Celia doesn’t take this kind of behaviour lying down though, and when, one day, she stands up to a bully and gets cut in the resulting fight, her life changes forever and in a way she could never have imagined. Celia finds herself on the run with her mother, and soon figures out that Janice has been keeping secrets from her. It also appears that somebody knows the truth about Celia Frost, and they will stop at nothing to track her down.

The Truth about Celia Frost is an intense page-turner that I read in one sitting. Rawsthorne tackles hard hitting issues such as bullying and gang violence head on, and this book certainly packs a punch as we unravel the secrets that have led Celia and Janice to go on the run, and settle in the dark and dreary Bluebell estate. Throughout the book Celia maintains a sense of hope, even though her life up to this point has been one of isolation, deprivation and loneliness. Her condition has meant that she can’t run, can’t climb, can’t ride a bike or partake in any of the usual rough and tumble of other kids her age. When she meets local boy Sol, friendship blooms, and these two kids, who have had the hardest starts in life, take such pleasure in the little things that most of us take for granted, that it is a pleasure to behold. I loved the friendship between Celia and Sol, and it is a welcome light relief in a book that is otherwise dangerous and deadly in it’s themes.

A thought-provoking read full of secrets, lies and dark deceptions, The Truth about Celia Frost contains a deadly secret and raises questions about society that will keep you thinking long after you’ve turned the final pages.

A week of R&R - Reading and Relaxation!

Hi all!

Just a quick note to let you all know that I won't be around this week to comment on your blogs, answer emails or chat on twitter, as I am off to West Cork for a week of reading, relaxation and hopefully some sun! I'll be staying in Schull, which is a very pretty part of the world, and I hope to take a day trip to Sherkin Island which has lots of perfect picnic spots!

I won't be neglecting the blog entirely though, as I've managed to schedule a couple of posts, including a fun Delightful Debutantes interview with Paula Rawsthorne, author of The Truth about Celia Frost. I'll  also be reviewing the book tomorrow.  Liz from Planet Print will be along on Wednesday with a guest review of Robin McKinley's Pegasus, while Ruby from Ruby's Reads is dropping by on Thursday with a super fun Summer Spotlight guest post that I just loved reading and I hope you enjoy too!

I'm hoping that Blogger will actually play nice this week and publish my scheduled posts. It's been causing me a lot of problems of late, so if you don't see any of the above posts this week - blame Blogger!

I'm also extending my giveaway of Amy & Roger's Epic Detour until July 29th, as I won't be around tomorrow to pick a winner.

I have lots of exciting stuff in store when I return including a Summer Spotlight giveaway special coming up soon!

Have a good week! :)

Book Review: Clarity by Kim Harrington.

Product details:
Publisher: Scholastic Point
Release date: March 1st 2011
Hardcover, 242 pages
Rating: 4½ out of 5
Ages: 14+

Clarity "Clare" Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch a certain object, and the visions come to her. It's a gift.

And a curse.

When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare's ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case--but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare's brother--who has supernatural gifts of his own--becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most?

Exciting, fast-paced and thrilling, Kim Harrington’s Clarity is a paranormal murder mystery that will keep readers guessing right to the end. A stunning debut, this book is a breath of fresh air in a Young Adult market dominated by supernatural beings. Here, there’s not a vampire or werewolf in sight. Instead we are welcomed into the psychic world of the Fern family, and treated to a murder mystery with a dash of supernatural, a dash of romance, and some great plot twists to boot!

Clarity ‘Clare’ Fern is the feisty protagonist of this piece. No ordinary teenage girl, Clare’s summers consist of providing psychic readings for the tourists that flock to her hometown of Eastport, along with her medium brother and telepath mother. Being a psychic sounds pretty cool, but for Clare it has proven to be both a blessing and a curse. She’s labeled a ‘freak’ at school, and has discovered some dark secrets she’d rather not have known. However, when a teenage girl is murdered, and her brother Perry emerges as the prime suspect in the case, Clare is glad that she can use her gift to help track down the killer. Because there’s no way her brother could be a murderer, right? So begins this exciting page turner as we try to figure out the murder mystery along with Clare.

I loved this book in every way. Harrington’s writing style, engaging and effortless, is a joy to read. Summer settings in beach towns always add an extra special element to books for me. Add a sprinkling of paranormal activity, a compelling murder mystery and a complicated love life, and I’m totally sold! The characterization here is also wonderfully done. To truly fall in love with a story, I need to connect with the characters, and this happened here on a number of levels. First off, Clare is a wonderful protagonist. Some might say she is possibly her own worst enemy at times, but she’s also fierce and feisty, outspoken, sassy and brave, and so easy to relate to. I warmed to her immediately. I also loved the inclusion of family life in this book. Clare’s family is unconventional, yes, but they family are always there for each other and are as close as can be. That there is a parental figure in this book is a welcome inclusion, although Starla often struck me as a fragile character that had to be protected by her children. I have an inkling however that this might stem from a troubled past with Clare’s mysteriously absent father, a character who doesn’t appear in this book, but one by whom I’m so very intrigued!

Oh, and the boys! Clare has a complicated love life, with hot new guy Gabriel and ex-boyfriend Justin both vying for her affections. I have to say that I didn’t totally fall for either guy, so I have no clear winner here, although at times I found myself rooting for Justin, who seems very genuine in his affections for Clare, although he’s definitely not without his faults. And Gabriel well, he is a total hottie, but he displays certain behaviour that leaves a lot to be desired no matter how good-looking he might be! What I loved most about Clare and her complicated love life was the realistic portrayal of the characters. They display entirely normal teenage behaviour throughout the story. They mess up. They treat each other badly. There may be insta-attraction, but there is no insta-love. Soulmates are never mentioned. How refreshing!

As you might have guessed, I loved Clarity.  I was kept guessing throughout, and at no point did I guess the outcome of the murder mystery. I was also thankful that the book didn’t end on a cliffhanger, but instead, while the main storyline reaches its conclusion, we are given hints of something dark in Clare’s future, and also more clues on this mysterious father of hers. With this in mind, I am totally counting down the days to the release of Perception, the next book in the series. I can’t wait for more!

Reviewed by Jen: Virals by Kathy Reichs.

Product details:
Publisher: Arrow
Release date: May 12th 2011.
Paperback, 454 pages.
Rating: 4½ out of 5.
Ages: YA.
Source: Received from publisher for review.
Reviewed by: Jen

Tory Brennan, niece of acclaimed forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan (of the Bones novels and hit TV show), is the leader of a ragtag band of teenage "sci-philes" who live on a secluded island off the coast of South Carolina. When the group rescues a dog caged for medical testing on a nearby island, they are exposed to an experimental strain of canine parvovirus that changes their lives forever.

As the friends discover their heightened senses and animal-quick reflexes, they must combine their scientific curiosity with their newfound physical gifts to solve a cold-case murder that has suddenly become very hot if they can stay alive long enough to catch the killer's scent.

Fortunately, they are now more than friends they're a pack. They are Virals.

When it comes to YA mysteries who better to trust than a seasoned New York Times bestselling mystery author?  Kathy Reichs definitely fits that bill.  Not only are her Bones novels, featuring heroine Temperance Brennan, insanely popular, but also is the T.V. show spawned from the series.  Lucky for YA and mystery addicts Reichs has decided to break out of the adult mystery genre and expand her talent into the realm of YA.  The result is a fast paced and intense mystery novel.  The best of both worlds that absolutely does not disappoint!

Tory Brennan’s life has never been easy, but it was comfortable.  That is until a drunk driver kills her beloved mother and Tory is forced to move in with a father she has never met.  To make matters worse Kit, Tory’s newly acquired father, is a research scientist for Charleston University and lives on a remote island off the coast of South Carolina.  All of the residents of Morris Island are also employees of the University and all work on the even more remote and mysterious Loggerhead Island, which is owned by the University.  Although there are only three other teenage residents on Morris Island, and they all happen to be boys, Tory lucks out in the fact that they all share a love of science.  This common interest makes Tory one of the “guys” and the group spends their time exploring the remote landscape, especially the off limits Loggerhead Island.  It is during one of these expeditions that Tory and her friends come across two potential mysteries.  One is a secret lab that is conducting unauthorized experiments on the islands wolf dog population and the other is a set of dog tags dating back to the Vietnam War.   As Tory and the boys work to discover the owner of the dog tags they walk right into a 40 year- old murder mystery, a murder that someone would like to remain a mystery.  As if solving a 40 year-old murder is not enough, Tory still wants to know who is behind the unauthorized experiments.  These experiments have exposed Tory and her friends to a virus that will change their lives and DNA forever. 

The mystery in this novel is deftly written. Reichs does an excellent job of weaving the story lines together in a seamless plot.  At times the action is tense and often leaves the reader needing to know what will happen next.  Tory and her friends are not your average teenagers, but the difference works well because their personalities are fleshed out in such an expert manner.  It is easy for the reader to believe that this particular group of teenagers would posses the skills they do because of the way they were raised within the scientific community.  The scientific portion of the plot is in no way cumbersome to the story.  The science and the action flow together to prevent the reader from becoming bored.  Also, the murder mystery was extremely engrossing leaving me wanting the answers just as much as Tory did. 

Yet, there is more to this story than just mystery and science.  Tory is a fourteen year-old girl who has recently lost the only parent and world she has known.  Her adjustment to her new life is not perfect and she longs to be with her mother once again.  One of the complications of Tory’s life that I enjoyed the most was Whitney DuBois.  Whitney is a tried and true southern debutant and girlfriend of Tory’s father Kit.  Unable to understand why Tory, or any teenage girl, would want to run around with boys all day exploring remote islands Whitney insists that Tory join Charleston’s high society.  This of course involves dresses and dancing and acting like a lady.  Things which Tory has absolutely no use for in her life, but telling Whitney no is not an easy option. 

Virals is definitely a very well done mystery that also incorporates the coming of age aches and pains that are illustrated in many excellent YA novels.  While the characters may seem more mature than their real life counterparts they are not written in a way that will turn teen readers off to the book.  The absorbing mystery and fast paced plot twists create a tense thriller that is sure to be enjoyed by teens and adults both. 

Waiting on Wednesday #35 - Frost by Marianna Baer.

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

Frost by Marianna Baer

Publisher: Balzer & Bray

Release date: September 13th 2011

Leena Thomas’s senior year at boarding school begins with a shock: Frost House, her cozy dorm of close friends, has been assigned an unexpected roommate: confrontational, eccentric Celeste Lazar. But while Leena’s anxiety about a threat to her sanctuary proves valid, it becomes less and less clear whether the threat lies with her new roommate, within Leena’s own mind, or within the very nature of Frost House itself. Mysterious happenings in the dorm, an intense triangle between Leena, Celeste, and Celeste’s brother, and the reawakening of childhood fears, all push Leena to take increasingly desperate measures to feel safe. Frost is the story of a haunting. As to whether the demons are supernatural or psychological . . . well, which answer would let you sleep at night?

Oooh, I really love the sound of this one! Sounds all spooky, gothic and haunting, and the setting - a creepy boarding school!! Cannot wait to get my hands on this one! Love that cover too!

As always, let me know what you think of my choice, and share your WOW picks in comments! :)

Cover Candy #15 - Recent Swoonworthy Cover Reveals!

It's time to feast your eyes on another edition of Cover Candy! Lately it seems that I'm finding more and more pretty covers. Everywhere I look, there's another pretty cover. Which is great for this feature! So, here are my picks of some latest swoonworthy cover reveals!

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

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First up is Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard. I am on a contemp binge at the moment, and I can't wait to get my hands on this book.  Combining travel and romance, this sounds like my perfect book! If anyone has read Kirsten's debut 'Like Mandarin' I'd love to know what you thought of it. It's been on my TBR list for a while, but I haven't picked up a copy yet.
 

Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Release date: March 2012

Ages: 14+

It all begins with a stupid question:

Are you a Global Vagabond?

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

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

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

Oooh, look at the pretty! Michelle Zink's Guardian of the Dead series had some exceptionally pretty covers, and it looks like this is set to continue with her new book, A Temptation of Angels. Can't wait to read this one!

A Temptation of Angels by Michelle Zink.

Publisher: DIAL

Release date: March 2012

Ages: YA

When her parents are murdered before her eyes, sixteen year-old Helen Cartwright finds herself launched into an underground London where a mysterious organization called the Dictata controls the balance of good and evil. Helen learns that she is one of three remaining angelic descendents charged with protecting the world’s past, present, and future. Unbeknownst to her, she has been trained her whole life to accept this responsibility. Now, as she finds herself torn between the angelic brothers protecting her and the devastatingly handsome childhood friend who wants to destroy her, she must prepare to be brave, to be hunted, and above all to be strong because temptation will be hard to resist, even for an angel.

Michelle Zink masterfully weaves history with paranormal romance to create a gripping tale of love and betrayal

I recently stumbled upon Destined by debut author Jessie Harrel, and, I admit, it was the pretty cover that caught my eye. Then I read the synopsis of this one, and I pretty much think it sounds amazing! Look out for this one in November 2011. Hopefully Jessie will be stopping by on the blog too! :) 

Destined by Jessie Harrel

Publisher: Mae Day Publishing

Release date: November 2011

Ages: YA

When Psyche receives a prophecy gone horribly wrong, she learns that even the most beautiful girl in Greece can have a hideous future. Her fate? Fall in love with the one creature even the gods fear.

As she feels herself slipping closer into the arms of the prophecy, Psyche must choose between the terrifyingly tender touch she feels almost powerless to resist and the one constant she's come to expect out of life: you cannot escape what is destined.

Destined is a fresh and heartachingly romantic retelling of the Cupid & Psyche myth from debut novelist, Jessie Harrell.

I love, love, love the synopsis for Fracture by Megan Miranda. This is another debut, and I really can't wait to get my hands on this one! The cover is simply stunning too. Love it! Bloomsbury have the UK rights for this one, so we'll be getting it over  here too. Yay!

Fracture by Megan Miranda
Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers
Release date: January 2012
Ages: 12+



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

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

For fans of best-sellers like Before I Fall and If I Stay, this is a fascinating and heart-rending story about love and friendship and the fine line between life and death.

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

Book Review: The Raising by Laura Kasischke

Product details:
Publisher: Corvus.
Release date: July 1st 2011.
Paperback, 480 pages.
Rating: 3½ out of 5.
Ages: Adult.
Source: Received from publisher for review.

A sudden death: In Godwin Honors Hall, the walls are draped in black. The college is in mourning for Nicole Werner, a blonde and beautiful prom queen who died in a car crash last semester. She was a straight-A student, and a prized member of the Virgin Sisters, the most powerful sorority on campus. A feverish obsession: Nicole's boyfriend Craig was at the wheel that night. He has no memory of the crash, but he is plagued by guilt. For as winter sets in and the nights darken, Nicole's death dominates college life. Candlelit vigils and fetishistic rituals become nightly events -and then the hauntings begin. A flicker of suspicion: Craig's roommate, Perry, doesn't believe in ghosts. A no-nonsense type who always thought Nicole was as manipulative as she was charming, he refuses to be swept up by the hysteria. But when he and his fellow sceptics join forces, he too sees Nicole's spirit in the crumbling college halls. Something very strange is going on...

Mysterious and haunting, The Raising by Laura Kasischke is an ambitious novel which is at times reminiscent of both the best and worst of David Lynch movies. The Raising may not be for everybody, but as frustrating as Kasischke’s latest book might prove to be, I can promise you, just as with all things Lynch, this book, which invites us into a murky secret underbelly of campus life brimming with strange, shady characters, while sometimes confusing and ultimately far-fetched, is, at least, never dull.

For me, Kasischke is an author to whose books I am always initially drawn to, but which I often find fall short of being great reads. While I love the themes that Kasischke explores in her books, she has a style that I find difficult to connect with. I love smart, thought-provoking books that keep me reading through the night, and keep my mind ticking overtime. I am even a fan of a good cliffhanger, and of endings which leave a few strings untied. But I don’t want all my questions left unanswered, and so while this book kept me turning the pages, it’s safe to say that I definitely felt short-changed with what I found in the end.

Despite my reservations with this one though, The Raising gets off to a great start, delving right into the action with a car accident involving a Prom Queen and all round popular girl, beautiful, blonde Nicole Werner and her adoring boyfriend Craig. We are told of the accident by eye-witness Shelly who describes the scene as ‘bloodless, and beautiful….’ And here’s where the story really gathers pace as the local newspaper reports an entirely different accident scene, one that is brutal and bloody. It soon emerges that this is no mere mistake either, as Shelly tries time and time again to get the paper to print the true facts. At first it seems they are reluctant to believe her version of events, but it soon emerges that they are ignoring Shelly and refusing to print her story. So the mystery of Nicole Werner’s death begins, and the outcome is stranger than you might ever imagine or expect.

Kasischke then skips forward in time and we find ourselves back on campus with Craig, who has returned to college despite the fact that nobody, save his roommate, nice guy, Perry, wants him there. Craig has no memory of the accident, not that anybody would ever let him forget that they hold him responsible for Nicole’s death. In death, Nicole has become revered amongst the ‘Virgin Sisters’ of her sorority, and it seems that the entire campus, is mourning not only Nicole’s death, but is consumed by the topic of death in general. During the course of the year following her death, everybody, it seems has been touched by the loss of Nicole. Themes of death, hauntings, vigils and rituals pervade the book and Kasischke provides an interesting insight into young people, their preoccupation with death, and how death can be seen as a novelty , not something to be feared, but something to be fascinated by. While the topics discussed in the book are intriguing, the style in which the book is written, with multiple viewpoints and timeframes, which often change without indication, lends a choppy, disjointed pace to proceedings preventing readers from getting lost in the story. Kasischke’s books, while they are absorbing and will command your full attention, can also be frustrating and difficult to access at times, and that’s certainly true of this book.

Even though I wasn’t very much enamoured with the characters in this book, or the constant narration changes, the mystery of Nicole’s death and all that followed, kept me turning the pages late into the night as I waited for THE BIG REVEAL. I will say, without risking any spoilers, that the ending of this book was a disappointment for me. Kasischke builds everything up for a wonderful finale where all the pieces are finally starting to fall into place, and then she takes it all away again. While there are flashes of brilliance in The Raising, the storyline for the most part is a little too far-fetched, and the ending of the book was, for me, unsatisfactory. That said, it is a compelling read, and so multi-layered that I could envisage it transferring well to the big screen. In book form though, it leaves a little to be desired, often meandering from its course, and leaving the reader with one too many unanswered questions.

Book Review: Sometimes It Happens by Lauren Barnholdt.

Product details:
Publisher: Simon Pulse.
Release date: July 12th 2011.
Hardcover, 320 pages.
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Ages: 14+
Source: Galley Grab.

On the last day of her junior year, Hannah's boyfriend Ryan dumped her. Facing a summer of loneliness, Hannah turns to her best friend Ava for comfort. Ava does what BFFs do: she stays by Hannah's side...until it's time for Ava to head up to Maine for the summer. Also left behind is Ava's boyfriend, Noah, who's such a great guy he gets Hannah a job at the diner he waits tables at. Slowly, Hannah comes out of her funk thanks to Noah's good conversation and their fun times at the diner. But things get complicated when their friendship turns into attraction--and one night, into a passionate kiss. The novel opens on the first day of senior year; the day Hannah is going to see Ava, Ryan, and Noah all in one place. Over the course of the day secrets and betrayals are revealed, and alliances are broken and reformed. In the end, everyone is paired up once again, but not the way you might think...

Lately I’ve been on something of a contemporary YA binge, and this drama-filled slice of summer fun totally satisfied my appetite.  If you love coming of age reads made all the more complex by tangled love lives, then Sometimes It Happens, the latest offering from Lauren Barnholdt is definitely the one for you.  And if you thought your love life was complicated, just wait until you meet Hannah…

Our introduction to Hannah is dramatic. OK, if you must know, Hannah is just one of those people who attracts drama, so wherever she goes, drama will soon follow: ex-boyfriends who just won’t let go, inappropriate crushes et al - that’s Hannah.   We meet her as she is freaking out over the prospect of her first day back at school as a senior. First day nerves, maybe?  Nuh-uh, these are no ordinary first day nerves, and we find out why, as through a series of flashbacks the secrets of the summer gone by are revealed. It soon becomes clear that while Hannah’s summer may have been life-changing and lots of fun in many ways, now there’s a price to be paid, and she has to face the consequences of her actions.

So, lets rewind three months to see how Hannah ended up in this big old mess that has left her so dreading meeting her friends on her first day back at school.  Hannah’s summer opens with a bang when she finds her boyfriend making out with another girl at a party.  Then, as if things couldn’t get any worse, Hannah’s BFF Ava won’t be around to comfort her as she’s decided to take up a last minute summer job offer and relocate to Maine to be a camp counselor.  So, with no best friend to cheer her up, Hannah slips in to a depressing routine of sleeping late every day, practically living in her PJ’s, eating way too much junk food, and watching way too much crappy daytime TV.  That’s where Noah steps in.  He’s Ava’s boyfriend, and she’s sent him along to snap Hannah out of her funk. Bad move, Ava.  Over the course of the summer Hannah and Noah grow closer and soon they are sharing road trips, private jokes, and maybe something more.

As we witness Noah and Hannah’s friendship grow, we can’t help but want something more for them. Seriously, you might think I’m awful for saying this, but that’s how it is!  Their attraction is a slow burning one based on friendship and understanding, and they both constantly fight their growing feelings for each other.  The 'Sometimes It Happens' of the title may sound like a throwaway remark made to excuse infidelity, but that’s not what the message is here.

While Sometimes It Happens is definitely light reading, it’s also an interesting look at friendships and infidelity from a number of different angles, showing that nothing is ever as straightforward as it seems and there are consequences to every action.  While Hannah appears needy and submissive at the start of the book, particularly in her friendship with the overbearing Ava, she grows as the summer progresses,  partly due to the friendship Noah offers her, and in the end she has to ask herself if she is willing to sacrifice friendship for love.

If you are looking for a drama filled read that’s perfect for a trip to the beach, look no further than this.  Sometimes It Happens is the first book I’ve read by Lauren Barnholdt, but it certainly won’t be the last. What can I say, I love the drama! Totally addictive!

Summer Spotlight Guest Post: Laura from The Zealous Reader picks her favourite reads from summers past!

Summer.

The first thing that comes to mind for most readers is summer reading. We love our summer reading lists, our Read-a-thons and challenges, relaxing by the beach with a good book. Beyond that, most book bloggers also imagine all of the awesome debuts coming out this summer. *sigh*

Now don't get me wrong. I'm as excited about Bad Taste in Boys as the next person. But I think it's too easy as book bloggers to be caught up in the hype for new novels that we forget about the "ol' goodies" that graced our shelves years ago. 

Everyone's heard of Alyson Noel, Hailey Abbott, Melissa de la Cruz, and Ann Brashares, right? How about some new faces! Here's a collection of some older YA summer-theme novels published prior to 2008.

Summer in the City by Elizabeth Chandler

Peaches by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Spanish Holiday by Kate Cann

Island Girls (and Boys) by Rachel Hawthorne

Waves by Sharon Dogar

So Inn Love by Catherine Clark

I challenge each YA book blogger to read at least one book this summer, whether it be summer-related or not, published prior to 2008. While I recognize the importance of introducing new titles and authors we should also celebrate authors who paved the way for YA literature to reach the pinnacle it is today.

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Thanks so much Laura for the great guest post! Speaking for myself I know it's easy to get lost in new summer titles, and those old goodies often get neglected! 

If you loved Laura's guest post like I did, you should stop by her very cool blog The Zealous Reader  to find out more about the girl behind the blog!

Reviewed by Liz: Mad Love by Suzanne Selfors.

Product details:
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC.
Release date: June 6th 2011.
Paperback, 336 pages.
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Ages: 12+
Source: Received from publisher for review.
Reviewed by: Liz.

Writing her own love story could drive a girl insane! When you’re the daughter of the bestselling Queen of Romance, life should be pretty good. But 16-year-old Alice Amorous has been living a lie ever since her mother was secretly hospitalized for mental illness. After putting on a brave front for months, time is running out. The next book is overdue, and the Queen can’t write it. Alice needs a story for her mother—and she needs one fast. That’s when she meets Errol, a strange boy who claims to be Cupid, who insists that Alice write about the greatest love story in history: his tragic relationship with Psyche. As Alice begins to hear Errol’s voice in her head and see things she can’t explain, she must face the truth—that she’s either inherited her mother’s madness, or Errol is for real.

Mad Love by Suzanne Selfors was a funny, creative and emotional story, which touched on a range of issues and had the ability to make readers both laugh and cry in the same chapter. The main character, Alice (daughter of Belinda Amorous, “Queen of Romance”), was someone I instantly empathised with – forced to deal with her mother’s severe bipolar disorder, Alice had to do everything herself; pay the bills, do the housework, keep Belinda’s publisher happy all whilst trying to make sure her mother’s mental illness stayed under wraps. It was no easy fate, and unsurprisingly, Alice was under a lot of stress. I really liked Alice because despite all her problems, she tried to stay calm and do everything herself, and even when she thought her worst fear (becoming like her mother) was coming true, she began to realise there was no shame in being who you are, and that hiding it would only lead to more problems. 

I also liked Alice because she cracked me up – after Errol, a strange and beautiful boy who claimed to be Cupid, shot her with his arrow, some of the things she did made me laugh so much I almost had tears in my eyes. Then she had a tantrum after she realised what had happened - I don’t think I’ve laughed so much in a long time. She had a knack for coming up with some witty lines, most of which were aimed at Errol, who did not seem to appreciate her humour at all (which just made it even funnier). Errol himself was an intriguing character. At first I couldn’t decide whether I liked him or not; he was demanding and abrupt, but he was also very funny, especially when trying to convince Alice to write the tragic story of his relationship with Psyche. He grew on me, though, and by the end, he’d become my favourite character in the book. I loved all the interaction between Errol and Alice, and his story about his life with Psyche was so compelling that I felt just as frustrated as Alice when he refused to tell anymore. Having his story written was so important to Errol because it was his way of repenting for some of the things he had done in the past, and his desperation to do it all before it was too late made Alice understand that the life she had been living really was no life at all – she had experienced nothing in comparison to Errol, and I think it was this that spurred a change in her. 

Tony, resident skater boy vying for Alice’s attentions, was another character I liked, because he seemed like a sweet and easy-going kind of guy, but I felt his character was a little underdeveloped, and I wished we could have found out a bit more about him. Though the novel was essentially about Errol’s love story, I enjoyed the sub-plot involving the relationship between Alice and Tony, and I also loved the side-story about Archibald, a man who lived in Alice’s building who seemed like such a charming, kind person, not to mention quite hilarious (I laughed out loud at his comment about Alice’s lovely wall scribblings). I liked Alice’s guardians, Reverend Ruttle and Mrs Bobot, too, but again wished their characters could have been a bit more developed.

Overall, Mad Love was a brilliant read, and I enjoyed it much more than I expected to. I think one of the main messages of the story was to discover yourself and be proud of who you are, which is something Alice learned by the end. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys retellings of love stories, or anyone interested in characters with metal health issues and how this affects the people around them.

Cover Candy Special Edition #2: Next in a series Cover Love!

Time for another special edition of Cover Candy! Today I'm focusing on those all important second in a series books. Second in a series books can be tricky, and can sometimes make or break a series for me. I'm not saying I'll pick up a second in a series book if I didn't like the first just because of the cover, but the pretty never hurts, right? :)

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.

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I simply love the cover for Perception, the sequel to Clarity by Kim Harrington. I loved the cover of the first book too, and I love the sound of the series with it's beach community setting and paranormal elements. So why haven't I read it yet? I dunno. No excuses. I'm moving Clarity to the top of my TBR pile as of today. I don't know why I've left it so long. 

Perception by Kim Harrington

Publisher: Scholastic

Release date: March 2012

Ages: 14+

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

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

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

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

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

I admit, I didn't exactly fall in love with Dead Beautiful by Yvonne Woon, but I was left with so many questions at the end of that one that its sequel, Life Eternal, is one I will be checking out.  For those of you who are interested, this one is available to request on NetGalley at the moment. 

Life Eternal by Yvonne Woon.

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion.

Release date: February 2012

Ages: 12+

Renée Winters has changed. When she looks in the mirror, a beautiful girl with an older, sadder face stares back. Her condition has doctors mystified, but Renée can never reveal the truth: she died last May, and was brought back to life by the kiss of her Undead soul mate, Dante Berlin.

Now, her separation from Dante becomes almost unbearable. His second life is close to an end, and each passing day means one less that she will spend with the boy who shares her soul.

Just when Renée has almost given up hope, she learns of the Nine Sisters-brilliant scholars who, according to legend, found a way to cheat death. She can't shake the feeling that they are somehow connected to her dreams, strange visions that hint at a discovery so powerful, and so dangerous, that some will stop at nothing to protect it.

Renée thought she knew the truth about life and death. But there is a secret woven through history that holds the only hope for Dante and Renée. Unless they find answers soon, their time together is doomed to be cut short.

I love this cover for Darkness Falls the second book in the Ravenwood series by husband and wife team, Mia James. Another confession - I haven't yet read the first book,  By Midnight, but I have a copy and hope to get to it soon. I'm thinking it might make a good Halloween read!

Goodreads has five copies of By Midnight up for grabs at the moment if you want to try your luck in their competiton. It ends July 14th, so get those entries in!

Darkness Falls by Mia James

Publisher: Gollancz

Release date: September 2011

Ages: 14+

April Dunne is having a rough time. There are vampires in her school. Not Goths, or Emos in fancy dress. Dangerous, blood-sucking semi-immortals. They run the school. They pretend to be students at it. And they're using their influence to recruit smart, rich students - aka 'bleeders' - to their own cause. What is that cause? April isn't sure. But she knows they killed a rock star for it, and innocents who got too close to the truth. One of them almost killed her. But that's nothing to what's coming next. Gabriel, her kinda-boyfriend, is dying and unless April can find a cure then not only is she going to be boyfriendless, she's also going to lose one of her major allies in the school. And she really needs allies. Because it turns out April has an ability of her own, one that could prove lethal to the 'Suckers' who've taken over the school. If any of them figure out what she is, then losing her boyfriend will be the least of her problems ...

It looks like there's a whole new look for Pandemonium, the follow up to Delirium by Lauren Oliver.  HarperTeen gave the special edition of Delirium a cover makeover, and it looks like they're sticking with this look for the rest of the series. I prefer the new cover of Delirium to this one, but overall I'm a fan of this change in direction as I wasn't a big fan of the original cover of the book.

 Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release date: March 2012

Ages: 14+

Lauren Oliver captivated readers with Delirium, the first book in a thrilling dystopian trilogy in which Lena Haloway dared to fall in love with Alex and escape the cure, the government-mandated procedure that renders a person immune to the disease of love. Lena and Alex staked their lives on leaving their oppressive society, but only Lena broke free.

Pandemonium continues Lena’s gripping story. After escaping from Portland, Maine, Lena makes it to the Wilds and becomes part of an Invalid community, where she transforms herself into a warrior for the resistance. A future without Alex is unimaginable, but Lena pushes forward and fights, both for him and for a world in which love is no longer considered a disease. Swept up in a volatile mix of revolutionaries and counterinsurgents, Lena struggles to survive—and wonders if she may be falling in love again.

Full of danger, forbidden romance, and exquisite writing, Lauren Oliver’s sequel to Delirium races forward at a breathtaking pace and is sure to appeal to fans who crave the high-stakes action of The Hunger Games and the bittersweet love story of Romeo & Juliet.

  

Bloodlines, Richelle Mead's new Vampire Academy spin-off is one of my most anticipated titles of the year. I am so excited to read it!  I've read a couple of spoiler-free reviews already, and I have to say it sounds amazing! Can't wait for my Adrian fix! The cover for the next book in the series The Golden Lily has been released already. This releases in March 2012 from Razorbill.

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

** Please note: All of these covers, apart from Darkness Falls are the US covers for these books. I'll feature the UK covers once they are released! :)