Wednesday 30 November 2011

Waiting on Wednesday (#31)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, and it's a weekly meme all about the books that are coming out soon that we really can't wait to read.


One awesome-looking book this week!  And it is...


Harbringer
By: Sara Wilson Etienne
Published: 2nd February 2012
Published By: Putnam Publishing

Synopsis From Goodreads:
Girl, Interrupted meets Beautiful Creatures in this fast-paced thriller
When sixteen-year-old Faye arrives at Holbrook Academy, she doesn’t expect to find herself exactly where she needs to be. After years of strange waking visions and nightmares, her only comfort the bones of dead animals, Faye is afraid she’s going crazy. Fast.
But her first night at Holbrook, she feels strangely connected to the school and the island it sits on, like she’s come home. She’s even made her first real friends, but odd things keep happening to them. Every morning they wake on the floors of their dorm rooms with their hands stained red.
Faye knows she’s the reason, but what does it all mean? The handsome Kel tries to help her unravel the mystery, but Faye is certain she can’t trust him; in fact, he may be trying to kill her—and the rest of the world too.
Rich, compelling writing will keep the pages turning in this riveting and tautly told psychological thriller.
I think this looks awesome, and I can't wait for it to come out.


Well, that's what I'm waiting for.

What are you waiting for this week?  :)

Tuesday 29 November 2011

Teaser Tuesday (#24)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Here are the rules:
  • Open your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
  • Be careful not to include spoilers!
  • Share the title and author too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser!
One teaser this week, from a book I got from ATOM, and am loving.  And here it is...


Trapped
From Trapped by Michael Northrop, Chapter Seven, Page 67
We thought that was as bad as it could get.
And then the power went out.
 
Trapped by Michael Northrop
 
See Synopsis From Goodreads:
The Breakfast Club meets The Blizzard of the Century: A young adult suspense novel from PW Flying Start author Michael Northrop.
Scotty and his friends Pete and Tommy are among the last kids waiting to get picked up at their high school. The snow has been coming down for hours, and it's starting to look like no one is coming for them. As the snow piles higher, their teacher Mr. Gossell leaves them behind to seek help--and disappears into the drifts outside. Now the seven remaining students are on their own, with no food and no electricity, facing a night of sleeping on classroom floors. Will their friendships survive the night . . . and will THEY?
I'm loving this book so far - it's amazing!  I'm speeding through; I have to know what happens! :D
 
 
There's my teaser; hope you liked it!
 
What's your teaser this week? :)

Monday 28 November 2011

Winner of Nightshade!


A little while ago, I had a giveaway of Nightshade by Maryrose Wood - a signed copy!  The organisers of the whole giveaway, and of the Poison Diaries Site, Twitter and Facebook, randomly picked a winner out of all the entrants, and that winner is...

Anjana Vasan (@anjanavasan), @ The Kindle & Me

Kindle & Me

Congratulations Anjana!  To claim your prize, go to this link.

Weekly Round-Up (#6&7)

Have you ever wanted to gather up all the posts you've done over the past week and make everything easier to find?  Well, I did a few weeks ago, and therefore I started my Weekly Round-Ups.  And now my little Weekly Round-Up meme is now 'official'.  That means everyone who wants to round-up their week can leave a link in the linky, and other people can follow the link and see everything you've been up to over the past week.


I missed my last Weekly Round-Up because I was setting up my Mr Linky, but now here is what I've been up to over the past couple of weeks...


Book Reviews: 
Just In Case by Meg Rosoff

Memes:


Extras:



Upcoming Review:
Matched (Book One) by Ally Condie


Anyone who does want a Weekly Round-Up, or has a similar meme/feature already, drop a link!  I will go and follow anyone who takes part, and I think everyone who visits my blog should too!
To take part in this meme you do have to be a book blogger (sorry non-book-bloggers, but this is a book-only blog), and you have to have fun looking at everyone's blogs and posts!
Now, if any of you want to take part in my Weekly Round-Up, link it up to my Mr Linky! 

Sunday 27 November 2011

In My Mailbox (#37)


In My Mailbox was created by Kristi at The Story Siren.  It's a perfect way to see who's reading and review what.  Awesome! 

 


I got an awesome review book, some super-cheap Dick Francis...es, and went on a spree on NetGalley.  :-D  And I got...



For Review:

Cardsharp (The Vincent Ward Adventures, Book One) by Paul Westmoreland (Goodreads | Amazon)
I love the sound of this one!   It's described as the James Bond of the art world.  From the little bit I read, it's awesome! :D

 
Bought Super-Cheap:

Straight by Dick Francis (Goodreads | Amazon)
The Edge by Dick Francis x 2 (Goodreads | Amazon)
I picked up one for me and one for my aunt, who loves Dick Francis even more than I do.  :D
Wild Horses by Dick Francis (Goodreads | Amazon)
Longshot by Dick Francis (Goodreads | Amazon)
Break In (Kit Fielding Mystery, Book One) by Dick Francis (Goodreads | Amazon)
Proof by Dick Francis (Goodreads | Amazon)
Come to Grief (Sid Halley Mystery, Book Three) by Dick Francis (Goodreads | Amazon)
Comeback by Dick Francis (Goodreads | Amazon)
To The Hilt by Dick Francis (Goodreads | Amazon)
Bolt (Kit Fielding Mystery, Book Two) by Dick Francis (Goodreads | Amazon)

 
Bought:

Christmas Crafting In No Time by Clare Young (Goodreads | Amazon)
50 Step-By-Step Projects And Ispirational Ideas
I love crafty-stuff, always have, so when I saw this book I just couldn't resist!  It's got the cutest things in it in, including cute reindee cards, the sweetest baby boots and my adorable little mouse.  He's currently blind and noseless, but I love him.  ;) 

 
From NetGalley:
New GirlAllegiance (Legacy, #2)Dust Girl (The American Fairy Trilogy #1)
Sisters of GlassMy Very UnFairy Tale Life
New Girl by Paige Harbison  (Goodreads | Amazon | NetGalley)
They call me 'New Girl'...
What If Nobody Knew Your Name...
I love the sound of this one!  I really can't wait to read it.  :D
Allegiance (Legacy Trilogy, Book Two) by Cayla Kluver (Goodreads | Amazon | NetGalley)
I haven't read Legacy yet, but I do have it and can't wait to read the two of them.  :D
Dust Girl (The American Fairy Trilogy, Book One) by Sarah Zettel (Goodreads | Amazon | NetGalley)
Amid the devastated Dust Bowl in heartland America, the destiny of the fairie world is controlled by one teenage girl...
I love me some faeries, and this book sounds choc-full of them!  Yay! :D
Sisters of Glass by Stephanie Hemphill (Goodreads | Amazon | NetGalley)
A Tale of Two Sisters, True Love, and Venice
I love the sound of this one - and I just adore this cover!
My Very UnFairy Tale Life by Anna Staniszewski (Goodreads | Amazon | NetGalley)
This is One Damsel That Doesn't Need Rescuing
I love the look of this!!  The cover and name just make me laugh!! :D


I had an awesome week, if I don't say so myself!  I'm beginning to think I should start restraining myself, both on NetGallety and with my moneys...  Nah!

What's in your mailbox this week?

Saturday 26 November 2011

Weekly Round-Up


Have you ever wanted to gather up all the posts you've done over the past week and make everything easier to find?  Well, I did a few weeks ago, and therefore I started my Weekly Round-Ups.  And now my little Weekly Round-Up meme is now 'official'.  That means everyone who wants to round-up their week can leave a link in the linky, and other people can follow the link and see everything you've been up to over the past week.

Anyone who does want a Weekly Round-Up, or has a similar meme/feature already, keep an eye out on Monday, when my First Official Weekly Round-Up Meme will be put up, and drop a link!  I will go and follow anyone who takes part, and I think everyone who visits my blog should too!

If this meme takes off, I may introduce Special Features: someone coming and posting one of their posts in my Weekly Round-Up, or maybe Theme Weeks.  Well, whether or not all of this happens is up to you guys, and whether you want to take part...

To take part in this meme you have to be a book blogger (sorry non-book-bloggers, but this is a book-only blog), and you have to have fun looking at everyone's blogs and posts! 

If anyone has an questions, or would like to discuss Special Features or other ideas, please email me at thebookaddictedgirl@yahoo.co.uk.

On My Wishlist (#22)

On My Wishlist is an awesome weekly meme hosted by Book Chick City that runs every Saturday.  It's a place where you can put up all the books you're desperate to read, but haven't actually bought them yet.  They can be old, new or forthcoming.    And, even better, everyone can join in with too, because there's a Mr Linky so you can put your post up.  All you have to do is click on the link below:


Two books on my wishlist today, both really quite different and very random.  And they are...


The Mark (The Mark, #1)The Mark
Series: The Mark, Book One
By: Jen Nadol
Published: 19th January 2010
Published By: Bloomsbury
Found: On Goodreads
Synopsis From Goodreads:
Sixteen year old Cassandra Renfield has seen the mark since forever: a glow around certain people as if a candle were held behind their back.
The one time she mentioned it to someone else, the mark was dismissed as a trick of the light. So Cassie has kept quiet, considering its rare appearances odd, but insignificant. Until the day she watches a man die. Mining her memories, Cassie realizes she can see a person's imminent death. Now how or where, only when: today.
Cassie searches her past, her philosophy lessons, even her new boyfriend for answers, answers, always careful to hide her secret. How does the mark work? Why her?
Most importantly: if you know today is someone's last, should you tell them?
I just love the sound of this one!  I love supernatural powers, and this one sounds awesome!  :D
Away for the Weekend 

Away for the Weekend
By: Dylan Sheldon
Published: 6th October 2011
Published By: Walker
Found: On Goodreads
Synopsis From Goodreads:
A brainbox, a fashionists, and two angels intent on some divine interference - it's going to be an interesting weekend! The only thing Gabriela and Beth have in common is that they are in LA for the weekend. Gabriela is there for frivolity, fashion and fun; Beth for lectures, learning and literature. But what neither girl knows is that they are not alone. Two angels are in LA with them. And the angels have other ideas...This is a fast and funny body-swap comedy from a best-selling author.
This is kind of a guilty-wishing book.  It just sounds so cute!  I can't resist! ;)
Well, that's what I'm wishing for this week. 
What's on your wishlist today?

You Against Me by Jenny Downham

Publisher: David Fickling Books
Format: Hardcover
Number of Pages: 416
Published: 2nd December 2010
Book: Bought
Genre: Realistic-Fiction, Contempory, Mystery, Psychological-Suspense, Romance, YA, YA-Adult Crossover
Recommended Age: 14+
Contains: Violence, Swearing, Alcohol Use, Sexual References


If someone hurts your sister and you're any kind of man, you seek revenge, right? If your brother's been accused of a terrible crime and you're the main witness, then you banish all doubt and defend him. Isn't that what families do? When Mikey's sister claims a boy assaulted her at a party, his world of work and girls begins to fall apart. When Ellie's brother is charged with the crime, but says he didn't do it, her world of revision, exams and fitting in at a new school begins to unravel. When Mikey and Ellie meet, two worlds collide. Brave and unflinching, this is a novel of extraordinary skilfulness and almost unbearable tension. It's a book about loyalty and the choices that come with it. But above all it's a book about love - for one's family and for another.


                                                                   Review:
Karyn says she’s been assaulted.  Tom says she’s just “easy”, that she wanted it but changed her mind later.  Karyn’s brother, Mikey, knows he has to do something.  Karyn can’t make it out the door: she barely even makes it out of bed.  To make her feel better, Mikey knows he has to do something to Tom.  And what better way to gather information than by using Tom’s own sister, Ellie?  But then the unthinkable happens, something that changes everything and brings both Mikey and Ellie’s worlds crashing down.  How loyal should you be to your family, when you know that they’re wrong?  How do you choose between your family and the truth?
I read Jenny Downham’s Before I Die and cried like I’ve never cried before.  I picked up her debut and just could not put it down.  I went through a box of tissues.  It’s one of my favourite books, and I couldn’t wait for You Against Me, knowing it was going to be amazing.  And it was: absolutely, undeniably incredible.  How Downham handles such hard subjects and makes them into the most inspirational stories I don’t know.  But she does it in a way that feels so real that it’s like I’m there, like everything she writes about is actually happening.  She amazes me, and this book has left me desperate for her next.
Mikey was amazing.  He would do anything for his sister, even if it meant getting in trouble.  He was just so strong – inspirationally so, actually.  I just could not get over how much he loved his family, everything he was doing for them, for Karyn.  Mikey took care of them all: his alcoholic mum, his two sisters.  Of course, there were times when I had to question his actions and the logic of them.  But I just loved Mikey to pieces – and his flaws and sometimes silly actions just made him more believable and likeable.  His background was really deprived: he took care of his family, didn’t have many nice things.  I loved him more for how he rose above everything and looked after his whole family, holding it together.
Ellie was really vulnerable, broken after what her brother has been accused of.  She was really sweet, and I loved seeing her gain her confidence and strength.  She came from a wealthy  family, and the complete difference of backgrounds between her and Mikey was amazing, and made the story even more powerful.
And I really could feel their love for one another: it was just so amazing and perfect.  The chemistry was so strong and when they were together… everything dropped away, I could feel it.  The way their relationship grew and changed was really realistic too: no love-at-first-sight here, something that made their love even more brilliant.
A superb modern twist on Romeo and Juliet, You Against Me felt absolutely real to me.  I loved every single moment of it.  I was sucked in from the word go, wrapped up in the lives of Ellie and Mikey.  Written in third person, the book alternated between Mickey and Ellie, letting us get into both of their heads and see what life was like for them both.  I loved seeing their fears, the hopes, their emotions.  And, just like in Before I Die, the writing was amazing.  I could feel the emotions: everything.  I could tell the difference between Mikey and Ellie straight away.  Downham’s writing was raw, emotional and beautiful: I love her!  Whenever I start reading anything by her, I just cannot seem to put it down, and before I know it, the book’s over!  She just… bewitches me, and sucks me into her world, like I’m right there with the characters…  I love it!
Just like Before I Die, right and wrong faltered.  In  Downham’s first novel, the moral question was: should you be able to break the rules and live as full as you can when you know you will die very, very soon?  In You Against Me, the theme was more subtle.  Karyn wasn’t your average victim.  She had been flirting with Tom, kissed him.  She drank too much, sex occurred and she says she didn’t want it.  Tom says she did.  Your classic he-said, she-said.  But should a girl in a short skirt see rape coming?  Rape is never acceptable, no matter how the girl is dressed, but for some reason some people think that sexily-dressed girls are asking for it.  Good old Jenny Downham has really got the various roles of women, stereotypes and presumptions down to a tee.  As I said before, she’s a master at the difficult topics.
Family, friends, choices, love, consequences and the hardest of decisions, You Against Me left me with my emotions everywhere and still has not left my mind.  Jenny Downham is my favourite contempory author out there: her books always leave me stunned and desperate for more.  I can’t wait for her next book!


Star Rating: 
5 Out of 5





Read this book if you liked:
Boys don’t Cry by Malorie Blackman
The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle


Challenges It's Taking Part In:
Megan
Happy Reading