Review - The Intern By Dillon Khan

When Jay Merchant lands an internship for the best job in music television, he is given a backstage pass to the biggest gig of his life. The velvet rope to the biggest VIP parties and hottest celebrities has been lifted and now he's got to capture it on camera. But with only six months to turn his intern dream into a real job, does he have what it takes? It's time to face the music..  taken from goodreads

I hadn't actually heard of this book until Puffin the publishers asked if I would be interested in reading a copy.  I did a bit of bookish research and instantly loved the idea of the story and so jumped at getting a copy.

The cover is very cool and funky.  Its perfect fitting for the story and the time in which the story is set.

The story is set in 2000 - this is back when I was 15 turning 16 and so brought back so many memories for me.  This really was a time that I LOVED everything music and TV, so could relate to so much of what the lead character Jay was talking about.
So Jay has left uni and is desperately trying to get a job in the media industry.  He sets his sights on working at THE BEAT.  Jay literally goes all out to secure an internship working there and so the story goes on.  I loved reading of the lengths he goes to.

The internship leads not only to hard work, but some hard play.  Having had a somewhat not so secret longing to be included in the VIP, celebrity circuits I could really enjoy these tales of fun and scandal.  Its all the sorts of stuff that you imagine happening, but can barely dream of witnessing.
I've always had a really keen interest in the media industry, but being kind of shy it would never have worked me.  Reading this, even though not gospel truths on the industry (I must remember its fiction!) has made me feel more dubious and even kind of freaked at the idea of it.  If even half of this stuff really goes on, then I know I wouldn't last long!!

All the chapters titles are song names - this is just awesome.  I recognised the majority of them, but there are definitely a few I need to look up.

I was stunned at some of the details Dillion managed to put in.  This as I mentioned brought up so many memories for me, all I can think is Dillon either has an amazing memory or impeccable researching skills??  This does lead to a slight concern for me in that for some younger readers they aren't going to have a clue what the TV shows or music being spoken about are - I really hope this doesn't limit the possible fan base for the book.  That's probably just me being harsh on readers out there though!!

The touches of having a few real life celebrities mentioned in the story, made it feel a whole lot more real than most stories I read.  It was kind of like reading a reality show - something I had never considered before, but something that works really well.
There were a few questions I was left with, but nothing majorly important!!
This is such an enjoyable fun read.  It really was impossible for me to put down at the end as I couldn't go to sleep without knowing how things were going to end.  I hope to see more from this world in the future.

Rating 3 1/2 Out Of 5

This Is Published In The UK By Puffin

This Can Be Purchased HERE and from all good book retailers

Trailer Excitement for THE INTERN

I'm currently reading The Intern By Dillon Khan, which I am loving.  It just happens to take place back in 2000, when I was just turning 16 and so happily reminds me of times past.


"When Jay Merchant lands an internship for the best job in music television, he is given a backstage pass to the biggest gig of his life. The velvet rope to the biggest VIP parties and hottest celebrities has been lifted and now he's got to capture it on camera. But with only six months to turn his intern dream into a real job, does he have what it takes? It's time to face the music..."






To Celebrate the release of the book, Puffin have created this incredible trailer - hope you enjoy!!!!

Title AND Cover Reveal: Matched Book 3 By Ally Condie

On Friday the wonderful Ally Condie not only revealed the title for the third part of her 'Matched' trilogy, but we also got the cover reveal for the stunning finale too.  The Final part will be called

REACHED

To me the title says coming to a climax, getting to a goal, coming to an end, etc so I'm confident this is going to be a fitting conclusion

And the cover is

How Gorgeous??  This is the US cover, so it is very likely that the UK cover will have a few little tweaks, but I can live with that.

I love the evolution of the covers going from a character being contained and sedate to smashing out of her constraints.  I'm so excited to see how this concludes!!!

Review - Legend By Marie Lu

"The United States is gone, along with its flooded coasts. North America's two warring nations, the western Republic and the eastern Colonies, have reached a breaking point. In the midst of this broken continent and dark new world are two teenagers who will go down in history....

Born into the slums of Los Angeles, fifteen-year old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. A mysterious boy with no recorded image or fingerprints. A boy who should no longer exist. A boy who watches over his family until one evening, when the plague patrols mark his family's door with an X--the sign of plague infection. A death sentence for any family too poor to afford the antidote. Desperate, Day has no choice; he must steal it.

Born to an elite family in Los Angeles' wealthy Ruby sector, fifteen-year old June is the Republic's most promising prodigy. A superintelligent girl destined for great things in the country's highest military circles. Obedient, passionate, and committed to her country--until the day her brother Metias is murdered while on patrol during a break-in at the plague hospital.

Only one person could be responsible.

Day.

And now it's June's mission to hunt him down.

The truth they'll uncover will become legend."

I first heard of this last July when the book was starting its release promotion in the USA.  I researched it, as I do all books that interest me and knew this was my kind of thing.  When I was asked if I'd like to review I had to contain my extreme excitedness.  I hope I acted cool.......

The UK cover is somewhat reminiscent of the original Divergent cover for me.  That doesn't make it any less stunning though.  Its almost like the girl standing there has the world at her feet - like she is powerful.  I also like the setting sun, its kind of provocative to me in that things are going to go down!!

You start the story reading from the view of Day - a boy on the wrong side of the law.  He lives to cause havoc for the Republics wealthy and to look after his family.  You find his family has been marked as plague victims and so starts his mission to save them.  I was rather shocked to read of how the poor are treated in this world.  It left me with a  feeling of fear for them, but also for us.  Marie uses the facts of today, like growing population and lack of resources and builds a new warped version of the world.  I do find when I read dystopian tales like this I wonder - What if???

The next chapter shifts to another character JUNE - it also switches to a new font, that was so helpful - you can just look at the writing and know who's side of the story is being told!
June's life is greatly different to Day's, she is rich and privileged.  Through actions in the story though she becomes the sworn enemy of Day and so her story of revenge begins.
I found it utterly fascinating to read of the diversity of the characters life.  How much like in our world today being born to some people can bring great fortune and to others bring great suffering.  Its actually great thinking material for the life we live now.  Sometimes the grass is not greener on the other side, but just sometimes I think it is.

For me the story although interesting dragged a little in the first half, but the second half was so much more exciting.  It was in this half that revelations started pouring out and you could see where the story was going.  At this point I was utterly enthralled.

The book concludes on a somewhat shocking note, but is a great set up for the next part.  I'm just not sure where the story is going and that is so attractive to me - I want shocks and think I may just get some!!

This is a brilliant debut that not only had me questioning the world in the book, but the world be live in today.

Rating 3 1/2 Out Of 5

Published In The UK By Puffin

This Can Be Purchased HERE and at good book retailers

Review - Cinder By Marissa Meyer

"A forbidden romance.
A deadly plague.
Earth's fate hinges on one girl . . .
CINDER, a gifted mechanic in New Beijing, is also a cyborg. She's reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister's sudden illness. But when her life becomes entwined with the handsome Prince Kai's, she finds herself at the centre of a violent struggle between the desires of an evil queen - and a dangerous temptation.
Cinder is caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal. Now she must uncover secrets about her mysterious past in order to protect Earth's future.
This is not the fairytale you remember. But it's one you won't forget."

I heard about this recently and was instantly excited by the idea of it.  All girls grow up hearing the fairy tales of Cinderella, Snow White, etc.  We all know the stories so well, so finding out that the story is being retold but with a futuristic twist is beyond exciting!!  I wasn't sure when I was going to get the opportunity to read this, but looked through the UK Book Tours blog and found they were touring a copy - OMG I had to get on board with that and literally JUST finished reading it!!

The UK cover is still undecided I believe, but this cover seems to be the only one on show.  I really do hope it is picked as the UK cover as it pretty much is perfect.  It tells you exactly what you need to know about the book and is a great opener to the story.

I must admit when I started to read this, although I was really excited by it, I wasn't that keen.  It just felt too strange having the mix of fairytale and sci-fi.  But I was determined to carry on and I'm so glad I did, as I enjoyed it more and more.

I was a little concerned at the beginning of the story that this would go exactly on the same lines as the original fairytale, meaning that there would be no surprises.  Once again I am thrilled to say my concerns were unwarranted.  You don't lose any of the wonderfulness of 'Cinderella' but just get a whole load of new and fantastic parts that actually fit in with the original premise.  For me it just made this tale completely fresh.

You are left with somewhat of a cliffhanger, again this is really exciting.  I'm so eager to read what is going to develop, but also how the tales of Red Riding Hood, Snow White & Rapunzel are going to be woven in.

Rating 4 Out Of 5

This Is Published In The UK By Puffin

Due For Release January 2012

This Can be Pre-Ordered HERE and will be available from good book retailers

Books That Make Me Go Oooooh (16) Crossed By Ally Condie

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

Crossed By Ally Condie
Published In The UK By Puffin
Due For Release 24th November 2011
Amazon LINK

"Rules are different outside the Society.

Chasing down an uncertain future, Cassia makes her way to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky-taken by the Society to his certain death-only to find that he has escaped into the majestic, but treacherous, canyons. On this wild frontier are glimmers of a different life and the enthralling promise of rebellion. But even as Cassia sacrifices everything to reunite with Ky, ingenious surprises from Xander may change the game once again.

Narrated from both Cassia's and Ky's points of view, this hotly anticipated sequel to Matched will take them both to the edge of Society, where nothing is as expected and crosses and double crosses make their path more twisted than ever..."

This has to be one of my most anticipated releases of the year.  Matched was one of the first dysotopian books I'd really read and totally gave me the bug for reading that genre.  Bring on Crossed!!!

Books That Make Me Go Oooooh (14) Legend By Marie Lu

Waiting On Wednesday is a brilliant book blog feature hosted by Breaking The Spine
 
Legend By Marie Lu
Published in the UK By Puffin
Due For Release Feb 2012
Amazon LINK
Goodreads LINK

"What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills."
 
I heard about this back in July, when ARCs had started to be given out.  Like always I see a shiny cover and I am intrigued.  The American edition of the book sure is shiny.  But what intrigued me even more was the details about the book.  This simply sounds amazing, dysotopian (YES)  which is my big love at the moment. So excited!!!