Blog Tour Annoucement: Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly - stopping here!

I'm reading Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly right now, and loving it. It's released on Wednesday October 13th in the UK, and it's one you should definitely check out.  The blog tour for Revolution will be stopping here on October 14th when Jennifer will reveal her fantasy dinner party guests.

Here's the full line blog tour up:

Monday 11^th October – The Book Smugglers 

Tuesday 12^th October – Once Upon A Bookcase 

Wednesday 13^th October – Bloggers Heart Books 

Thursday 14^th October – Daisy Chain Book Reviews 

Friday 15^th October – Chicklish 

 There's also a shiny blog tour button available if you'd like to add it to your blog and help spread the word!

Jennifer Donnelly on: Facebook   |   Twitter   |

HarperTeen & NetGalley team up- it's a match made in book heaven!

Just thought I'd share this exciting piece of news with you! I've been a big fan of NetGalley ever since I started blogging. They have some great pre-release books on there, and even better all their galleys are available to international bloggers. Now, NetGalley has teamed up with HarperTeen, and you should see the titles on offer. Amazing!  If this doesn't make me invest in an ereader, nothing will! Actually, I don't know why I've put it off for so long. I already know what ereader I want to buy - I did a post about it on here a while back. Now I think it's going to happen!

Check out the full list of titles available: here

I've added a couple of some of the top titles available.  I'm most excited for The Lying Game and Delirium.  If they added Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting, I'd be their BFF forever! 

*Edited to add: So I've heard that a lot of bloggers are being declined for these galleys. I guess they are getting a lot of requests from them, and not everyone can get them. I suggest you have all your NetGalley info up to date - full profile filled in. Other than that, I can't offer much advice. I haven't requested any of these titles yet. I don't know if the best thing is to get in there fast and try to get a galley or to wait it out until the hype dies down. Good luck everyone!

The Lying Game by Sara Shepard.

Release date: December 7th 2010.

New York Times bestselling author Sara Shepard’s new series weaves a mystery of long-lost twins, mistaken identities, a duplicitous circle of friends, and cold-blooded murder. Combining juicy plot lines, to-die-for lifestyles, a tangled web of friendship and romance, magnetic characters, and sharp-witted narration from the afterlife, The Lying Game is an alluring cross between Pretty Little Liars and The Lovely Bones.

Foster kid Emma Paxton has only just discovered Sutton Mercer, the wealthy twin sister she never knew she had, when Sutton drops off the face of the earth, asking Emma to cover for her at home, school, and with her friends—just for a few days. At first Emma enjoys trying on her sister’s fabulous life: her fiercely loyal friends, her adoring boyfriend, her close-knit family. But as Emma is drawn deeper into Sutton’s world she finds the friends are not so fabulous, the boyfriend is not who she wants to be with, and the family is clinging to long-buried secrets and a veneer of functionality. And worst of all, Sutton may not be coming back. In fact, someone may have made sure she never could…and that someone knows Emma is not who she claims to be. Emma will need all her wits to survive The Lying Game.

Delirium by Lauren Oliver
Release date: February 1st 2011

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -the deliria- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton
Release date: February 15th 2011

When seventeen-year-old Ellie starts seeing reapers - monstrous creatures who devour humans and send their souls to Hell - she finds herself on the front lines of a supernatural war between archangels and the Fallen and faced with the possible destruction of her soul.

A mysterious boy named Will reveals she is the reincarnation of an ancient warrior, the only one capable of wielding swords of angelfire to fight the reapers, and he is an immortal sworn to protect her in battle. Now that Ellie's powers have been awakened, a powerful reaper called Bastian has come forward to challenge her. He has employed a fierce assassin to eliminate her - an assassin who has already killed her once.

While balancing her dwindling social life and reaper-hunting duties, she and Will discover Bastian is searching for a dormant creature believed to be a true soul reaper. Bastian plans to use this weapon to ignite the End of Days and to destroy Ellie's soul, ending her rebirth cycle forever. Now, she must face an army of Bastian's most frightening reapers, prevent the soul reaper from consuming her soul, and uncover the secrets of her past lives - including truths that may be too frightening to remember.

There's also a lot of other great teen titles on there (Unearthly by Cynthia Hand is one I'll be checking out) and a couple of adult titles from HarperCollins that I'm interested in reading. The new novel from Jessica Anya Blau, Drinking Closer to Home, sounds good.

Have you used NetGalley before? What did you think?
Any questions about NetGalley? Ask me in comments. :)

Waiting on Wednesday #25 - Born at Midnight by C.C Hunter.

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

Born at Midnight (Shadow Falls #1) by C.C Hunter 

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin.

Release date: March 29th 2011.

Kylie Galen has had a lot of crap tossed in her lap. Her parents are getting a divorce. Her boyfriend broke up with her because she wouldn’t put out. Her grandmother died and now Kylie’s acquired a stalker. Unfortunately, she’s the only one who seems to be able to see the stalker. And that gets her sent to a psychologist’s sofa.

The kooky psychologist gets Kylie sent to Shadow Falls Camp. Kylie and her parents think it’s a camp for troubled teens.

They thought wrong.

It’s a camp of supernaturals: vampires, werewolves, fairies, witches and shape shifters. And if she believes the camp leader, Kylie is one of them, too.

Just because she’s seeing ghosts, just because she was born at midnight, does that really mean she’s not human? And if so, what is she? Not even the other supernaturals can tell her.

As Kylie attempts to cope with the realization that these creatures actually exist, and that she might even be one of them, the ever present stalker/ghost appears to have secrets that could unravel the mystery of Kylie’s identity and her destiny.

But getting a ghost to open up is as hard as getting a guy to talk about his feelings.

As Kylie struggles to find answers, two hot guys, a werewolf and a half-fairy vie for her attention. However, Kylie’s determined that before she lets her heart discover a new love, she needs to solve her indentify crisis and unearth the truth of her destiny.

This is the first book in what sounds like a great new series. I can't wait to read it.  Unfortunately the release date is quite a way off, but I've added it to my wishlist.  Let me know what you think in comments, and share your WoW picks! :)

Angel Blog Tour: L.A Weatherly picks her Angel movie cast!

Well, as you all know by now, I loved Angel by L.A Weatherly, and I recommend that you all read it.  Today, L.A Weatherly has stopped by for a fictional film focus where she picks the cast for the movie version of Angel.

Alex:

17-year-old Alex has dark hair and blue-grey eyes, strong features, and a medium build with firm, toned muscles. He’s extremely good-looking, though doesn’t have much awareness of this. Often mistaken for being older than he is, Alex is mature beyond his years. An expert Angel Killer, he faces danger on a daily basis without becoming fazed by it, though doesn’t deal well with things not going to plan. He’s lived an adult life for most of his teenage years, and has a jaded, slightly cynical view of the world. To those who don’t know him, he can come across as brusque; to his friends he is easy-going and relaxed, with a good sense of humour.


Canadian actor Corey Sevier was a strong contender for the role of Alex, but in the end I had to go with Sean Faris (Never Back Down, Forever Strong), whose chiselled features and general air of danger fit Alex to at ‘t’. OK, so he’ll have to wear contact lenses to get the eye colour right, but I think we can all live with that!

Willow:

16-year-old Willow is petite and slim, with long, wavy blonde hair, green eyes and elfin features. She’s very attractive in a somewhat offbeat way; pretty rather than beautiful. Confident within herself, Willow has little need to go along with her peers in her small New York town – who see her as ‘Queen Weird’ for her preference for vintage clothing, ability to fix cars, and her psychic abilities. The latter have allowed Willow to experience many walks of life besides her own, so although she’s a bit naïve in a way – she tends to believe the best of people –at the same time she’s very accepting of the quirks and foibles of others, and gives off a calm, soothing vibe. Though Willow isn’t aware of it at first, she’s actually a half-angel.


Amanda Seyfried (Mamma Mia!) was the hands-down winner for the role of Willow. Her look is perfect – and I think that she and Sean Faris together will definitely generate some sparks!

Raziel:

In his human form Raziel the angel is as extremely attractive as are all angels; he’s tall and slim, with black hair and a poetic, sensitive look to him. He is actually ruthlessly ambitious, selfish, and cares nothing at all for the humans in our world – they are there to be used, so far as he’s concerned.  

Peter Facinelli (Twilight) has just the look of angelic beauty with a touch of deviousness to it that’s needed for the role of Raziel. Plus he must be getting tired of playing a blond vampire by now, so I’m sure he’ll be delighted to accept! ;-)

Beth:

17-year-old Beth is the golden girl at the small high school which she and Willow both attend. She is Miss Perfect: poised and beautiful, a straight-A student, and head of every club and committee going. In fact, though, Beth is only so perfect because she’s too frightened not to be; her seeming poise hides an extreme insecurity. Beth also has a secret which no one knows, and when it comes out, it is the catalyst of the story – events beyond anyone’s control are soon set into deadly motion. 

AnnaSophia Robb (Race to Witch Mountain) is perfect for the role: beautiful and elegant, but with just a hint that perhaps all is not what it seems beyond her outer poise.

I love the cast picks for Angel. Us bloggers often do posts like this, but it's great to get some author insight, don't you think? I especially love Lee's picks for Alex (hottie!) and Willow - while I was reading the book I imagined a different actress in the role, but I have to say that Amanda Seyfried is just perfect!

What do you think?

Check out Empire of Books tomorrow for the next stop on the tour, when you'll get to find out about L.A Weatherly's Angel road trip!

Book Review: Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick.

Product details:
Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
Hardcover, 432 pages.
Release date: October 14th 2010.
Rating: 4½ out of 5.
Ages: 14 +
Series: Hush, Hush #2
Other books in series: Hush, Hush.
Source: Received from publisher for review.

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

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

A compulsive page-turner with non-stop plot twists and relentless action, Crescendo demands to be read in one sitting. Once you start this one, you may not be able to stop till you’re done. Even better than Hush, Hush, here Fitzpatrick’s writing is more refined, the storyline richer, the action more intense and the romance even more sizzling hot than before! Sometimes while reading Hush, Hush, I felt that things got a little predictable, but I can guarantee you that won’t happen here. Hush, Hush fans, this has everything you’ve been waiting for, and more!

We delve back into Nora Grey’s life as she is enjoying her first summer of love with guardian angel, Patch. He’s still a sexy bad boy at heart, but his love for Nora knows no bounds, and things are definitely getting steamy as they spend long summer days and nights on Delphic Beach. Life couldn’t be more perfect, until strangely Patch starts keeping his distance from Nora. Even worse he’s started hanging out with Nora’s sworn enemy Marcie Millar. If that wasn’t enough, Nora’s old childhood friend Scott has returned to the scene and is hiding some dark secrets of his own. Meanwhile, Nora is still haunted by images of her dead father, and her determination to find out what really happened on the night he died could lead to major trouble for her, and the emergence of a whole new set of enemies.

In Crescendo, everybody is hiding a secret or else has their own agenda. Becca Fitzpatrick weaves a tale full of unpredictable plot twists, and in the end, I just didn’t know who to trust. In Patch, Fitzpatrick has created a total enigma. He’s a difficult guy to figure out. When he was first introduced in Hush, Hush, I went weak at the knees for him, but I also had major trust issues with him, and those issues were still there throughout Crescendo. Nora is wise to his ways though, and has developed as a character since she first fell for Patch. She’s stronger, sassier and smarter in this book, although she still takes some stupid risks at times. Vee also returns in this book, and her friendship with Nora provides some welcome comic relief from the non-stop threats to Nora’s safety. With Patch withdrawing from Nora and otherwise occupied, it’s time to introduce some new characters into the mix. Enter mysterious new boy Scott and Patch’s friend Rixon who has a new love interest all of his own. Nora’s old enemy Marcie Millar also features prominently here, and she’s a character you’re really going to love to hate!

Out of all the things I loved about this book, I have to say the best part was the ending which totally caught me by surprise. There are some major plot twists and revelations throughout this book, and then just when I thought Becca Fitzpatrick was all out of surprises, she sprung that ending on me!  Talk about a cliffhanger!  I was not expecting it at all, and I can’t believe I have to wait a whole year to see what happens next. With this book, the Hush, Hush, series has become one of my favourites. It’s a really great read and highly recommended. I can’t wait to read more!

* In Crescendo, you’ll also find out Patch’s real name. I’m not going to tell you what it is (sorry!), but I will say that it's a definite improvement on Patch. :)

Book News: Angel by L.A Weatherly to be published in the US.

There's been a lot of buzz surrounding Angel by L.A Weatherly in this part of the world, and it's quite justified since it's  a wonderful book. Now you guys in the US can also enjoy this book, but not for a while yet.  The trilogy has been picked up by Candlewick with the first book due in fall 2011.  You don't want to miss out on this one.  If I were you I would just order this one on import or from The Book Depository. It's a must read!

I love the cover art on this one.  I wonder if they'll change it for the US market?

You might also like to read :  my review of Angel by L.A Weatherly.

Stop by on Tuesday when the Angel blog tour will be stopping here with L.A Weatherly's picks for her Angel movie cast.

~Info from Publisher's Marketplace.

In My Mailbox / What I'm reading - October 3rd - 9th 2010.

A 2-in-1 meme!

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

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

Click on links for Goodreads descriptions.
Thanks to Bloomsbury & Simon & Schuster UK for review copies.

For review:  

 

Out for Blood  (Drake Chronicles #3) by Alyxandra Harvey.

The third instalment in Alyxandra Harvey's Drake Chronicles. I'm looking forward to finding out what happens next.

Rules of Attraction (Perfect Chemistry #2) by Simone Elkeles.

I LOVED Perfect Chemistry. Can't wait to read this one!

The Back Door of Midnight (Dark Secrets #3) by Elizabeth Chandler.

I haven't read the first two books in this series, although I do like the sound of them. If anyone has read this series, let me know what you think!

Recently read:

 Angel by L.A Weatherly  - read my review

Crescendo (Hush Hush #2) by Becca Fitzpatrick - Review coming soon

Dark Flame (The Immortals #4)  by Alyson Noel-  Review coming soon

Reading now:

When Sky catches a glimpse of Zed for the first time, lounging against his motorbike at school, she is drawn to him just like every other girl in Wickenridge. But Zed sees something special in her that the other girls don't have. Zed tells her they are both Savants - people with special powers like telepathy and the ability to see into the future. Not only that, she is a Savant too, and his soulfinder - meant to be together.

When a soulfinder speaks telepathically to her partner, it's like all the lights coming on in a building. You lit me up like Vegas. But for Sky it's just not that easy - she's a mystery to herself, haunted by nightmares from her past before she was adopted, and riddled with doubt and insecurity. Just when Sky is slowly coming round to the idea of being with Zed she is kidnapped by a family of criminal Savants. In a chilling twist, Sky and Zed's relationship is put to the ultimate test and the fate of those she loves lie in Sky's hands. Will Sky have the strength to embrace her power and be brave enough to control her own destiny, or will the dark demons of her past prevent her from realising her true potential?