In My Mailbox (58)

In My Mailbox Is An Awesome Blog Post Idea Hosted By The Story Siren

All links will take you to Amazon

Sadly my friend went home to Canada *sob* BUT it does mean I have more time for my blog - YAY!!!  

   Generally been a good week, went to my very first book club meeting!!  Also got sent some incredible books, so here we go......

BOUGHT

The World Of The Hunger Games

This is a hard back beauty that I think is another fab edition to the series

RECIEVED

The Peculiars By Maureen Doyle McQuerry

I got this from the lovely Amulet / Abrams & Chronicle - I am SO EXCITED to read this one

 Ghost Flower By Michele Jaffe

I got this from ATOM books.  This sounds pretty interesting, really want to give this one a go!

A Face Like Glass By Frances Hardinge

This Is From MacMillan.  I've not read anything by Frances before, so quite intrigued

These are from the fantastic people at MIRA Ink

The Immortal Rules By Julie Kagawa

Eeeeep!  This sounds incredible, and it was signed to ME :D

The Goddess Test & Goddess Interrupted By Aimee Carter

I've heard some great things about this series and would love to give these a read

THANK YOU so much to all the lovely publishers for sending me there books!!!

Hope you had a spiffing week?

Leanne

xoxo

Review - Welcome, Caller, This Is Chloe By Shelley Coriell

"Big-hearted Chloe Camden is the queen of her universe until her best friend shreds her reputation and her school counselor axes her junior independent study project. Chloe is forced to take on a meaningful project in order to pass, and so she joins her school's struggling radio station, where the other students don't find her too queenly. Ostracized by her former BFs and struggling with her beloved Grams's mental deterioration, lonely Chloe ends up hosting a call-in show that gets the station much-needed publicity and, in the end, trouble. She also befriends radio techie and loner Duncan Moore, a quiet soul with a romantic heart. On and off the air, Chloe faces her loneliness and helps others find the fun and joy in everyday life. Readers will fall in love with Chloe as she falls in love with the radio station and the misfits who call it home." from Goodreads

I was asked to review this a few weeks ago and although having not heard of it before and it not particularly being the first book that would jump out at me from the bookshelf, something about it got my interest and I felt a need to read this book.  I am so pleased I did!!

Firstly the cover is very cool.  It tells you loads about the story, its bright so very eye catching and the model is very character appropriate.  I think this was a great choice!!!

The story starts with our lead character Chloe Camden.  She seems to have it all - she is very privileged, is popular & has awesome best friends.  Quickly though her life somewhat begins to unravel, both in school and at home.  Despite the rather angsty subjects dealt with Chloe manages to keep a very sassy teen image.  Her speech is totally correct with how you hear teens speak - although at times, the OMGs could be a little aggravating, they needed to be there and by the end of the book I couldn't have imagined the book without them.

I adored Chloe's ability to carry on and keep her head held high whilst she was going through a lot of turmoil and strife.  I found her to be such a positive and strong role model, that I wish I could have read about back when I was at school.

Before reading this I had never really thought about the world of radio and the work that goes into it both on and off air.  I loved getting this little insight into it and actually would love to see / read  more about it!!

On starting this I really wasn't sure I would like the characters or form any sort of connection to them, but I really did.  The characters all became like friends to me and I will miss them, not being in my literary world.
I'm so hopeful that Shelley will write more books with amazing characters like I found in this!!!

Rating 4 Out Of 5

Due For Release May 2012

Published In The UK By Amulet (Abrams And Chronicle)

This Can Be Purchased HERE and from good book retailers

In My Mailbox (54)

In My Mailbox Is An Awesome Blog Post Idea Hosted By The Story Siren

All links will take you to Amazon

This time last week I was having a blast in Stratford Upon Avon with some blogger friends.  Had an amazing time, so keep an eye out for my post on it soon!!!

Not only did I buy a few older books this week, but I also got sent lots of books to review - Kinda wish I had been sent a few more hours for my days too!!

BOUGHT

 Graveminder By Melissa Marr

This was one of my bargain buys, sounds really cool!

Revolution By Jennifer Donnelly

I've heard so many wonderful reports of this - must read it as soon as I can

Keys To The Repository By Melissa de la Cruz

This is a compendium to the Blue Bloods series, handy little book to have

Rosebush By Michele Jaffe

Another bargain buy, that sounds pretty cool

RECEIVED

Macmillan

After The Snow By S.D. Crockett

 This is a great sounding dystopian

Jane Austen Stole My Boyfriend By Cora Harrison

I do love me some Jane Austen, and although different to her work this sounds fab

Mice By Gordon Reece

Awesome sounding read, that may be just a little unsettling for me

TOR

Torn By Amanda Hocking

I'm still to read Switched, but am thrilled to have the next part to leap on to

Headline

Book Of Summers By Emylia Hall

I really like the look of this, hoping to read it very soon

Amulet / Abrams And Chronicle

Welcome, Caller, This Is Chloe By Shelley Coriell

I loved the sound of this, so was thrilled to be sent a copy - currently reading and Loving it!

ATOM

Infamous By Sherrilyn Kenyon

I still haven't got the first book of this series, but intend to get it when I can!!

Simon And Schuster

Unrest By Michelle Harrison

I am SOOOOO Excited for this book!  Did a little chair dance when I opened my parcel!!!

When You Were Mine By Rebecca Serle

I've been excited to read this since I heard about it in December, I'm loving the idea of it!!

Many Thanks to all the publishers that sent me books this week, You ROCK!!!!

Hope you all got lots of bookish treats??

Leanne

xoxo

The Peculiars By Maureen Doyle McQuerry Cover Reveal

Yesterday the lovely guys at Abrams And Chronicle (Amulet) did a big cover reveal for their upcoming title

The Peculiars

By 

Maureen Doyle McQuerry

"On her 18th birthday, Lena Mattacascar decides to search for her father, who disappeared into the northern wilderness of Scree when Lena was young. Scree is inhabited by Peculiars, people whose unusual characteristics make them unacceptable to modern society. Lena wonders if her father is the source of her own extraordinary characteristics and if she, too, is Peculiar. On the train she meets a young librarian, Jimson Quiggley, who is traveling to a town on the edge of Scree to work in the home and library of the inventor Mr. Beasley. The train is stopped by men being chased by the handsome young marshal Thomas Saltre. When Saltre learns who Lena's father is, he convinces her to spy on Mr. Beasley and the strange folk who disappear into his home, Zephyr House. A daring escape in an aerocopter leads Lena into the wilds of Scree to confront her deepest fears."

 Not only does this sound amazing, but it looks truly gorgeous too.  I would love this book on my shelf NOW!!  Sadly I have to wait till May - or do we???

The lovely Abrams & Chronicle are going to be giving away a very special Pre-publication copy to one lucky person.  All we have to do is get their facebook page to 1000 likes - Simple!!!  So Go follow now and be in with the chance to get this in your life soon!!!

A&C Kids UK Facebook

Review - The Storyteller By Antonia Michaelis

"Anna and Abel couldn’t be more different. They are both seventeen and in their last year of school, but while Anna lives in a nice old town house and comes from a well-to-do family, Abel, the school drug dealer, lives in a big, prison like tower block at the edge of town. Anna is afraid of him until she realizes that he is caring for his six-year-old sister on his own. Fascinated, Anna follows the two and listens as Abel tells little Micha the story of a tiny queen assailed by dark forces. It’s a beautiful fairy tale that Anna comes to see has a basis in reality. Abel is in real danger of losing Micha to their abusive father and to his own inability to make ends meet. Anna gradually falls in love with Abel, but when his “enemies” begin to turn up dead, she fears she has fallen for a murderer. Has she?"  taken from Goodreads

The Cover - Very subtle but beautiful.  When you really look at it, you can see spots of blood that is just a little chilling.  All very apt for the story within.  Big thumbs up from me!!

I must admit on first starting this I was left kind of confused.  I couldn't tell exactly where the story was going but this was enthralling enough that I wanted to keep reading and see where it was leading.


After a little while you find that parts of the story are told within another story - yep that does sound confusing but it works.  Its gives a slight fantasy twist on what is a very real style story.  Definitely would appeal to two lots of reading fans.
These parts of the story had me thinking of two different movies.  One more obvious choice is Pans Labyrinth with the darkness of the story.  One maybe not quite as obvious pick for me was Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - don't laugh, I mean it in the way that 'the storyteller' takes aspects of their lives and weaves it into this epic fantasy tale.  There were even some lyrics in the story, although not as jolly as Chitty Chitty Bang Bangs!!

There are some rather harrowing scenes in the book that I was really not quite pre-pared for.  They came somewhat out of the blue and left me kind of reeling.  Whilst being aghast I was also very keen to read on and see what the explanations were for the roads taken.


I had times of being so angry with different characters and then heart warmed by them.  I felt at times their actions were somewhat out of character and I wanted to shout at them 'what the hell are you doing?'  By the end most actions were accounted for and although still not forgivable, I did reach a place of understanding.

This book wreaked absolute havoc on my emotions.  I was asked what I thought when I finished and all I could think of was :O  for about an hour after.  I can sum it up slightly by saying I was left with a deep feeling of sadness, but there was a glimmer of hope and I think its hope that gets you through all turmoil.


Rating 4 Out Of 5


Published In The UK By Amulet


This Can Be Purchased HERE and from good book retailers