Wednesday 31 August 2011

Books That Make Me Go Ooooooh (12) Dearly Departed By Lia Habel

 Waiting On Wednesday is a brilliant book blog feature hosted by Breaking The Spine
 



Dearly Departed By Lia Habel
Published In The UK By Doubleday Childrens Books
Due For Release September 2011
Amazon LINK

"From the ruins of a cataclysmic ice-age a new society has emerged, based on Victorian customs. Nora Dearly, a feisty teenage girl and apparent orphan, leaves her exclusive boarding school for the holidays to return home - only to be dragged into the night by the living dead.
Luckily for her, this particular crack unit of zombies are good guys - sent to protect her from the real nasties roaming the countryside and zeroing in on major cities to swell their ranks. Nora must find a way to defeat the evil undead with help from Bram, a noble, sweet and surprisingly hot zombie boy for whom she starts to fall..."


I only heard of this recently.  I'm so glad I have though, as this sounds like it mixes my favorite things - Teen years, Historic setting, Romance, ZOMBIES - I NEED TO READ THIS.......NOW!!!

Sunday 28 August 2011

In My Mailbox (27)

In My Mailbox Is An Awesome Blog Post Idea Hosted By The Story Siren
All links will take you to Amazon


Annoyingly had a bit of an icky week, thanks to colds and then my Dad having to have surgery to save his fingers - yep its been a bit of a disaster.  But books saved me from going crazy, here's what I got....

Bought 

I got the first part of this series a few weeks and back, so snapped this up when I found it at my local charity shop!

I LOVE the Vampire Academy series, so have been mega excited for this spin off series.  Cannot wait to start it!

Recieved

I've been wanting to read this for a while and my fabulous friend Caroline over at Portrait Of A Woman was offering out some of her ARCs, she kindly gave me this one - THANK YOU!!!!

This chapter sampler was sent to me by the fab people at Usborne - Thank you guys!!!


Won

 These Two I won from the Fierce Fiction page over on Facebook

I've not actually heard of this before but it sounds great.  Look forward to giving this a read!
I actually blogged about this book a while a go, as I am going to be meeting the author at a Twilight convention in October.  Thrilled to have won this!!


So that's my book week, what did your week bring you?...

L-L
xoxo



Friday 26 August 2011

Review - Revelations By Melissa De La Cruz

As this is a review for the third book from a series spoilers are possible!!!


"For the Young, Fabulous and Fanged...All is never what it seems. Schuyler Van Alen's blood legacy has just been called into question: is the young vampire in fact a Blue Blood, or is it the sinister Silver Blood that runs through her veins? As controversy swirls, Schuyler is left stranded in the Force household, trapped under the same roof as her cunning nemesis, Mimi Force, and her forbidden crush, Jack Force. But when an ancient place of power is threatened in Rio de Janeiro, the Blue Bloods need Schuyler on their side. The stakes are high, the battle is bloody; and through it all Schuyler is torn between duty and passion, love and freedom."

Once again I am loving this cover.  The UK designers made some slight tweaks to the US version and I think they were perfect.  It does take a while to understand the relevance of the cover, but it is there.

This is the third book in the Blue Bloods series and is once again a treat.  Melissa has a wonderful way of building a nicely paced story, which is intriguing and fun to read.

Melissa adds quite a few pop culture references which make the book very current & adds a whole other connection to the book.  When the characters talk of famous people that you know it kind of puts you on parr with them and shows that you are looking up to the same people.  But what Melissa did very cleverly was mentioning people that are somewhat in the paranormal / fandom bubble and so shouldn't really become people that readers won't know in the future giving the series more longevity.  I was particularly excited to see a mention of Rob Zombie.  Made me think of a few friends of mine that love him!!!

This book continues the love triangle of characters Schuyler, Jack & Mimi.  And I have to say this is growing into quite a beautiful tale.  I even felt myself feeling some sympathy for Mimi, the character we love to hate in the series.  But I'm pleased to say that didn't last too long.  I really do love to hate her!!!

The book leads to quite a huge revelation as the title of the book suggests.  I was rather stunned by it, which is pretty fantastic.  This is an amazing addition to the Blue Bloods series & highly recommended to all you vampire fans!!


Rating 3 Out Of 5

Published In The UK By ATOM

This Can Be Purchased HERE and at good book retailers

Wednesday 24 August 2011

Books That Make Me Go Oooooh (11) Twilight: The Graphic Novel Part 2

Waiting On Wednesday is a brilliant book blog feature hosted by Breaking The Spine
 
Twilight: The Graphic Novel Part 2
By Stephenie Meyer 
Art By Young Kim
Published In The UK By ATOM
Due For Release 11th Oct 2011
Amazon LINK

"Having uncovered the dark secret of her enigmatic classmate, Edward Cullen, Bella Swan embraces her feelings for him, trusting Edward to keep her safe despite the risks. When a rival clan of vampires makes its way into Forks, though, the danger to Bella has never been more real. Will she make the ultimate sacrifice to protect the people dearest to her?"

OK so Twilight has become kind of old for some people, but its what reignited my love of books and made me feel passionate about something again which I hadn't felt like in forever, so the series will always be special to me.
I loved the first part of this graphic novel and am so excited to see the second part.  I adored the artwork in the first & am sure I will feel the same about this.

Sunday 21 August 2011

In My Mailbox (26)

In My Mailbox Is An Awesome Blog Post Idea Hosted By The Story Siren
All links will take you to Amazon


Yet another week where I thought I wouldn't have many books to report on, but actually ended up with a few beauties.

Bought

All By Michelle Harrison

The Awesome Michelle was doing a signing at one of my local Waterstones stores, so I had to take up the opportunity of meeting her.  She was so super duper lovely!!!



Won
These I won from the Fabulous Tara over at Hobbitsies
I got these two gorgeous books and also a pre order for another :D
Wolfsbane By Andrea Cremer US HB
The page edges are AWESOME!!!


I also got some sweet signed book marks!!

What books hit your mailbox this week?

L-L
xoxo

Saturday 20 August 2011

Review - Forever By Maggie Stiefvater

"In SHIVER, Grace and Sam found each other. In LINGER, they fought to be together. Now, in FOREVER, the stakes are even higher than before. Wolves are being hunted. Lives are being threatened. An love is harder and harder to hold on to as death comes closing" 

Beautiful cover as always with this series of books.  Very similar style, although the colour scheme went a bit out of the window as they had already used the only black & white combinations that they could.  The silver is nice and shiny though - I like a lot!!

Possibly the most exciting book release for me this year.  I've been addicted to the Sam & Grace love story from the beginning.  I even bought the US hardback editions, I am that much of a fan!!  Then book twos introduction of Cole had me a giggling school girl.  I tell you, what I feel for him is true love!!!

The story starts of with a rather big scene - amazing way to start the book.  You're then left wondering how long as passed since the end of the last book.  It doesn't feel like long, but that is soon answered.

When Maggie says that she quite likes to induce tears in her readers she is not joking.  From very early on in the book, I was left feeling so sad.  I must say parts were in 'The Time Travelers Wife' style for me - yep that sad!!!

As with the other books Maggie kept writing from different peoples perspectives.  I love that.  You really can see the change in speech and thought.  Its really fun for your mind to adjust from one person to the next in quite short spaces of time.

I was left questioning some of the processes in the book at times and felt a little confused, but this was generally cleared up quickly and so I wasn't left scratching my head too much.

Towards the end the book takes quite a dramatic turn, which was expected seeing as its the last book in the series.  I really enjoyed the 'BIG' scene.
Sadly I have to say the conclusion to the book wasn't quite what I was hoping for.  For me there was rather a large question still left unanswered.  I have read and enjoyed other books that have done similar things, but with this book I really wanted a thorough ending and so felt some what cheated of that.  None the less this is a great finale and I'm still and always will be a huge Maggie fangirl.  I'm itching to read The Scorpio Races!!!

Follow-up
Since writing this review it seems there has been lots of speculation as to whether Forever ended on a cliffhanger or not.  Maggie has stated that it doesn't, but still for me there was a little too much speculation.  I really do think everyone should read this & then tell me their thoughts on it!!!

Rating 3 1/2 Out Of 5

Published In The UK By Scholastic

This Can Be Purchased HERE and at good book retailers

Wednesday 17 August 2011

Books That Make Me Go Oooooh (10) Glow By Amy Kathleen Ryan

Waiting On Wednesday is a brilliant book blog feature hosted by Breaking The Spine
 
 
Glow By Amy Kathleen Ryan
Published In The UK By PanMacmillan
Due For Release 7th October 2011
Amazon LINK

"16 years ago, Waverly and Kieran were the first children born in space. Now a perfect couple, they are the pride and joy of the whole spaceship.
They represent the future.
The ship is their entire world.
They have never seen a stranger before.
Old Earth is crumbling, and the crew is hoping to reach (and colonise) New Earth within fifty years. Along with their allies on the second spaceship - who set off a year before them and whom they have never met.
One day, Kieran proposes to Waverly. That same morning, the 'allies' attack - and Kieran and Waverly are separated in the cruellest way possible. Will they ever see each other again?"

I've only recently heard of this book, but was instantly drawn to the look and sound of it.  This sounds on similar lines to Across The Universe By Beth Revis, Which happens to be one of my favorites of 2011 so this has got me mega excited!!  Plus we don't have too long a wait for it now!!!

Sunday 14 August 2011

In My Mailbox (25)

In My Mailbox Is An Awesome Blog Post Idea Hosted By The Story Siren
All links will take you to Amazon


I didn't buy any new books this week, which was slightly distressing BUT I did find 3 awesome books in charity shops and had to snatch them up........

Bought
 

So I don't actually have the first book of the series to this yet, but I have it on good authority that this is an amazing series.  Had to buy it whilst I had the chance

Litterally the night before I found this book I was discussing the book and series with friends - all told me I was missing out big time

Admitedly I hadn't actually heard of this book, but on reading the blurb thought it sounded right up my street.


What did you guys get this week???

L-L
xoxo

Thursday 11 August 2011

A Tangle Of Magicks Giveaway - Winner

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I had an absolute ball running my A Tangle Of Magicks week

And now have to pleasure of announcing the winner of my Giveaway

Congratulations to - 

CLAIRE M

Claire has been contacted and her copy of the book shall be on its way soon!!

Thank you to all who took part!!!

Wednesday 10 August 2011

Books That Make Me Go Oooooh (9) Shatter Me By Tahereh Mafi

Waiting On Wednesday is a brilliant book blog feature hosted by Breaking The Spine


Shatter Me By Tahereh Mafi
Due For Release In November 2011
Published By Harper Teen
Amazon LINK
Goodreads LINK


"Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days. The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old-girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

In this electrifying debut, Tahereh Mafi presents a world as riveting as The Hunger Games and a superhero story as thrilling as The X-Men. Full of pulse-pounding romance, intoxicating villainy, and high-stakes choices, Shatter Me is a fresh and original dystopian novel—with a paranormal twist—that will leave readers anxiously awaiting its sequel."


I found this on someone else WoW a few weeks ago & have been finding myself thinking of it ever since.  This sounds such an awesome idea & I'm sure will have me gripped!!!

Tuesday 9 August 2011

In My Mailbox (24)

In My Mailbox Is An Awesome Blog Post Idea Hosted By The Story Siren
All links will take you to Amazon

Firstly I am really sorry for the lateness of this!  I was at a True Blood convention with my brother over the weekend and just didn't have time.  I need to sort my time managment out!!

Gift

My oldest & best friend sent me this beauty for my Birthday.  I really do love these HB editions & am hoping to get it signed when Maggie is in the UK again!


 

Handmade bookmark from my lovely friend Becca, once again for my Birthday - How cool are my friends???

Won

I won this cool 'The Immortals' goodie bag from the awesome people at My Kinda Book  THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!

I hope you all had great book weeks too?!

L-L
xoxo

Friday 5 August 2011

Guest Post - Stephanie Burgis - A Tangle Of Magicks Book Setting

PhotobucketOne of the best gifts I’ve ever given myself was this: I set A Tangle of Magicks in Bath.

I first fell in love with Bath in 2005, years before I ever started to write Tangle. I went for a day trip, and I spent the entire day in a state of bliss. The Regency-era buildings…the Roman baths…the Jane Austen Centre…the fashion museum…for a history geek like me, it was total heaven. Then add in all the great shops (because even history geeks can enjoy some modern shopping!), and what was there not to love? I came home and spent the next several years thinking wistfully about how wonderful it had been.

Guess how many times I went back, though? Zero. That’s right. For years and years, I felt nostalgic for my daytrip, but somehow or other, I just never ended up going back. I was living in Leeds, after all, several hours away, so there was all the hassle of travel to be arranged…and what about our dog? What would she do if I was out all day? And then I had a baby, and everything else got overwhelmed by the single, overriding priority of oh, please, let me just get some sleep again someday

…And it might have stayed that way forever, except for that one fabulous moment when I begun to wonder: where should my heroine go for her second adventure? It had to be a recognized centre for Regency-era society so that there would be plenty of snobs for Kat to shock with her escapades; it had to be really, really fun to write about (because otherwise, what would be the point?); and it had to be ripe and bubbling with magic. It only took a moment before I realized: I knew exactly where to send her.

And oh, what a wonderful excuse! For the first time in years, I didn’t just think, “Wouldn’t it be nice to go back to Bath one day?” Instead, I had a really compelling reason why I had to go back to Bath, immediately. No, really! It wasn’t because I wanted to soak up the magic of the Roman baths for purely selfish reasons…or because I wanted to sigh over the Regency dresses in the Jane Austen Centre…or because…

…*Ahem*. That is, for purely objective reasons of Historical Research I had to go back, whether I liked it or not. It was the only proper thing to do! Just ask any author!

PhotobucketBut I have never in my life had as much fun doing research as I did researching Tangle, traveling back to Bath again and again to…er…make sure I’d got it right. Really. That was all. *Clears throat, whistles.*

Now I wonder where I should send Kat next? Not that I’m looking for a fun holiday with my family, or anything frivolous like that… ;)


Thank you so much Stephanie for the wonderful insight into your writing.  I'm thinking a great destination for Kat would be Barbados, but not quite sure  how that could be pulled off! ;)


My review Of A Tangle Of Magicks, plus a Giveaway of the book can be found HERE

Wednesday 3 August 2011

Review - A Tangle Of Magicks By Stephanie Burgis AND Giveaway

"After her antics in A Most Improper Magick, Kat Stephenson is back to cause more chaos! Stepmama drags the family to Bath to find Kat's sister a new suitor. But, unknown to most of its gossipy visitors, Bath is full of wild magic. When Kat uncovers a plot to harness this magic in the Roman Baths, she finds her brother Charles is unwittingly involved. Kat must risk her newfound magical powers as she defies the Order of the Guardians to foil the plot and clear her brother's name"

This is my very first ARC I have been sent from publishers - uber excitement in my house I can tell you!!  So the book I read actually just had a yellow cover, but I was also sent a taster card of the actual cover which is once again so beautiful.  Fits in well with the first book, but has its own look.  I highly approve!

I will be as careful as I can with this post knowing that the book isn't actually out for a little while yet.  Lucky for me I got to read this straight after the first book, so the story flowed really well.  It would have flowed just as well with a 3 month break though.

There is some spectacular use of magic at the beginning of the book which I found fabulous!  If I had magical powers I would want to be able to do what the girls are able too!

This book changes location to Bath (the location for some of Jane Austen's books, also regency era books) I absolutely LOVED this.  Bath is one of my favorite places, I actually did a whole blog post on the place HERE!  I can confirm the town is EXACTLY how it is described in the book.  I did find myself reading and squealing a little as I knew and have visited the spots that the Stephenson's were visiting.  This book also answered a question for me - what the Bath pump rooms were used for!!  So huge thanks to Stephanie for that!!!

Again Stephanie wrote with funny moments, suspense, peril all of which is hugely enjoyable.  I felt a lot of concern for the characters which are signs of a great writer and fantastic story!

The characters were all just as enjoyable to read about & I feel I have found mirror characters for a few of them, which I won't mention just yet.  It actually made me like and even bond with the characters even more!!  I will say that I could really do to have a tutor like Mr. Gregson in my life - I would definitely benefit from someone giving me some direction!!!

Another fantastic installment, that has left me wanting more - Please Stephanie Can we have some more???!

Rating 4 Out Of 5

Published In The UK By Templar

This can be ordered HERE and at Good Bookstores


Monday 1 August 2011

A Tangle Of Magicks Week

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I am thrilled to announce that this week will be A Tangle Of Magicks Week here at Leanne-Luce - YA FOREVER

I was very luckily sent an ARC of the book a few months back and absolutely adored it.  And to add the cherry on the cake I was asked to be a part of the Blog tour - YAY!!

On Wednesday I'm going to be posting my review of the book, followed by a contest to WIN a copy of the book.

Then the Fabulous author of the book Stephanie Burgis has kindly written a wonderful post for my blog, which will be up on Friday.  Its all about the awesome setting of the book - BATH!!!

I cannot wait to share all the goodies with you and am going to kick off the fun by sending you guys over to Stephanie's blog to read a Kat Mini story set between books 1 and 2 ENJOY!!!!

KAT MINI ADVENTURE - DUELLING MAGICKS