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Half Bad by Sally Green

Summary from Goodreads Half Bad by Sally Green is a breathtaking debut novel about one boy's struggle for survival in a hidden society of witches. You can't read, can't write, but you heal fast, even for a witch. You get sick if you stay indoors after dark. You hate White Witches but love Annalise, who is one. You've been kept in a cage since you were fourteen. All you've got to do is escape and find Mercury, the Black Witch who eats boys. And do that before your seventeenth birthday. Easy. Paperback , 400 pages Published March 3rd 2014 by Penguin (first published January 1st 2014) My Review Half Bad is a debut to get all shouty about! It has a real interesting mix of qualities which make it stand out from the crowd and have me seriously excited! Sally Green is a fantastic writer who has managed to build her world extensively and to complete perfection! She has crafted her characters in such a vivid way, that t...

Zom-B Gladiator (Zom-B #6) by Darren Shan

Summary from Goodreads The sixth book in the series. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, B Smith has decided to live -- and to fight for good as long as possible. However, London is overridden with the brain-eating undead and swarming with human mercenaries whose sense of right and wrong dissolved when society did. When they lay a trap, B is captured. And it'll take dozens of battles -- and the fight of a lifetime -- to escape. Filled with gripping, bloody action sequences, the sixth book in Darren Shan's horrifying Zom-B series promises the fright -- and the fight -- of your life. Hardcover , 213 pages Published January 2nd 2014 by Simon and Schuster My Review Zom-B Gladiator is the 6th instalment in the fantastic Zom-B series. It sees us at the halfway point and really anything could happen....and probably will! I really enjoyed the events in this story and as usual Mr Darren Shan never fails to bring the awesome! He is developing B so beautifully and I read ...

In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters

Summary from Goodreads In 1918, the world seems on the verge of apocalypse. Americans roam the streets in gauze masks to ward off the deadly Spanish influenza, and the government ships young men to the front lines of a brutal war, creating an atmosphere of fear and confusion. Sixteen-year-old Mary Shelley Black watches as desperate mourners flock to séances and spirit photographers for comfort, but she herself has never believed in ghosts. During her bleakest moment, however, she’s forced to rethink her entire way of looking at life and death, for her first love—a boy who died in battle—returns in spirit form. But what does he want from her? Featuring haunting archival early-twentieth-century photographs, this is a tense, romantic story set in a past that is eerily like our own time. Hardcover , 387 pages Published April 2nd 2013 by Amulet Books (Expected paperback publication: October 7th 2014 by Amulet Paperbacks) My Review ...

Waiting on Wednesday #61

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking The Spine , that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is: The Spell of Summer by Dianna Hardy Summary from Goodreads Romantic fiction with a touch of magic. Hurtling into your life June, 2014 Meredith is leading a straight-laced life in London with her straight-laced fiancé, determined to forget her reckless, wild-child past. They're about to get married. Jamie is an old, poetic soul with a broken heart returning home to Cornwall to get his life back in order. What binds them? One chance meeting thirteen summers ago; one innocent spell spoken after one perfect night... And now history is unravelling; the past and present, merging... Words can change everything, but can it change your destiny? And in the messy world of magic, what part does love play? It's summer all over again, but the spel...

Far From You by Tess Sharpe

Summary from Goodreads Nine months. Two weeks. Six days. That's how long recovering addict Sophie's been drug-free. Four months ago her best friend, Mina, died in what everyone believes was a drug deal gone wrong - a deal they think Sophie set up. Only Sophie knows the truth. She and Mina shared a secret, but there was no drug deal. Mina was deliberately murdered. Forced into rehab for an addiction she'd already beaten, Sophie's finally out and on the trail of the killer - but can she track them down before they come for her? Paperback , 352 pages Expected publication: March 27th 2014 by Indigo My Review Far From You is a gripping read, totally fearless too! It takes the reader to new places and gives them pause for thought! I actually read this through twice, just to make sure I didn't miss out on any of the delicious detailing! I love Tess Sharpe's fantastic writing style, she writes outside the box, pushing her readers to new heig...

On the Cover #48

On The Cover is a feature I am going to doing every now and again. I will pick one book cover that sticks out, is really interesting or just beautiful - I particularly like a book cover that has a stunning landscape. I think the cover of a book is very important, it's the first thing a person sees and some of the time it's the reason why a person will pick a book up and read the back. I will just pick a book that catches my eye from throughout the week. So come on Book Cover Lovers, share with me your favourite book covers. My Pick This Week: Sleepers (The Swarm Trilogy #1) by Megg Jensen Summary from Goodreads An adoptee raised in a foreign land, sixteen-year-old Lianne was content with her life as handmaiden to the queen, until a spell cast on her at birth activated. Now she's filled with uncontrolla...

Specials (Uglies #3) by Scott Westerfeld

Summary from Goodreads Tally thought they were a rumor, but now she's one of them. A Special. A superamped fighting machine, engineered to keep the uglies down and the pretties stupid. But maybe being perfectly programmed with strength and focus isn't better than anything she's ever known. Tally still has memories of something else. But it's easy for her to tune that out--until she's offered a chance to stamp out the rebels of the New Smoke permanently. It all comes down to one last choice: listen to that tiny, faint heartbeat, or carry out the mission she's programmed to complete. Either way, Tally's world will never be the same. Paperback , 400 pages Published May 1st 2012 by Simon & Schuster Children's (first published May 9th 2006) My Review Specials is the 3rd book in the Uglies series and again it has taken directions I never saw coming and had me utterly riveted from beginning to end! I...

Incinerator (Crusher #2) by Niall Leonard

Summary from Goodreads London ganglord The Guvnor is in hiding, and Finn Maguire has begun a new life running a boxing gym with his old friend and coach Delroy. But when Finn's lawyer Nicky Hale vanishes overnight with all his money, Finn finds himself in hock to a loan shark with a vicious gang of enforcers. Desperate to track down Nicky and repay his debts, Finn investigates her other clients and soon finds himself engulfed in a web of lies, betrayal, malice and madness, with only his wits and his fists to keep him alive. Paperback , 384 pages Published January 30th 2014 by Corgi Childrens My Review Crusher was a real stand out read for me last year and to be honest I thought it was going to be a stand alone....so I was more than thrilled that I would be getting more dishy Finn action *wink* This is a fast and very lively read, actually I think it's a lot grittier that Crusher. There are so many big heart pounding shockers and in between ea...

Betrayed (House of Night #2) by P.C. & Kristin Cast

Summary from Goodreads All any of us could talk about was Chris's disappearance and how bizarre it was that he had last been seen so close to the House of Night. I didn't want to believe it. But everything inside me said that the kid would be found, but he'd be found dead... Things seem to be going pretty well for Zoey Redbird. She's settled in at the House of Night finishing school and is coming to terms with her incredible new powers. It all seems too good to be true. And guess what? Someone has begun murdering human teenagers, and all evidence points to the vampyres at Zoey's school. Which means her first assignment as the leader of the Dark Daughters is finding out which one of her classmates or - gulp - teachers is a killer. Sigh. And she thought her boyfriends (yes: plural) were going to be her biggest problem this year... My Review Betrayed is the second instalment in the House of Night series and I think the tone just got a whole lot darker and a ...

Interview with Jenny Colgan

Interview Being such a busy mum, where do you find the time to actually sit down and write? This is the most boring answer ever: I hire someone to look after the house and work when the children are at school. I'm just a working mum like everyone else, except I'm luckier because I get to pick my own hours, so it's actually a lot less stressful. I am in total awe of women who work full-time, they do an amazing job, it looks so hard. What do you get up to on Mothers Day? Do you have any family traditions? No, it's awful, I'm british, my husband is a kiwi and we live in France, and all the days are different in each country. So everyone forgets until the 5 year old stands at the end of the bed and sings his special Mother's Day song. What's the best gift you have ever received for Mother's Day? (bet it's something handmade) Well, we get things they do in school, I suppose, but, without sounding evil, I'm not mega impressed by the stuff...

Deeper by Robin York - Blog Tour!

Summary from Goodreads When Caroline Piasecki's ex-boyfriend posts their sex pictures on the Internet, it destroys her reputation as a nice college girl. Suddenly her once-promising future doesn't look so bright. Caroline tries to make the pictures disappear; hoping time will bury her shame. Then a guy she barely knows rises to her defence and punches her ex to the ground. West Leavitt is the last person Caroline needs in her life. Everyone knows he's shady. Still, Caroline is drawn to his confidence and swagger - even after promising her dad she'll keep her distance. On late, sleepless nights, Caroline starts wandering into the bakery where West works. They hang out, they talk, they listen. Though Caroline and West tell each other they're 'just friends,' their feelings intensify until it becomes impossible to pretend. The more complicated her relationship with West gets, the harder Caroline has to struggle to discover what she wants for hersel...

Far From You by Tess Sharpe - Countdown, Excerpt & Giveaway!

Summary from Goodreads Nine months. Two weeks. Six days. That's how long recovering addict Sophie's been drug-free. Four months ago her best friend, Mina, died in what everyone believes was a drug deal gone wrong - a deal they think Sophie set up. Only Sophie knows the truth. She and Mina shared a secret, but there was no drug deal. Mina was deliberately murdered. Forced into rehab for an addiction she'd already beaten, Sophie's finally out and on the trail of the killer - but can she track them down before they come for her? Excerpt It doesn’t start here. You’d think it would: two terrified girls in the middle of nowhere, cowering together, eyes bulging at the gun in his hand. But it doesn’t start here. It starts the first time I almost die. The first time, I’m fourteen and Trev’s driving us home from swim practice. Mina has the windows rolled down, her hands dancing to the music, rings glinting in the late afternoon sunlight as we speed past barbed wire fences ...

Marked (House of Night #1) by P.C. & Kristin Cast

Summary from Goodreads When sixteen-year-old Zoey Redbird gets Marked as a fledgling vampire she must join the House of Night school where she will train to become an adult vampire. That is, if she makes it through the Change. But Zoe is no ordinary fledgling. She has been chosen as special by the Goddess Nyx and discovers her amazing new power to conjure the elements: earth, air, fire, water and spirit. When Zoey discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school’s most elite group, is misusing her Goddess-given gifts, Zoey must look within herself to embrace her destiny—with a little help from her new vampire friends. Paperback , 348 pages Published October 1st 2012 by Atom (first published May 1st 2007) My Review Marked is a real kick-butt start to the House of Night series. I thought it was totally un-put-down-able and I loved the mystery and fun surrounding the storyline! Zoey Redbird is...

The Devil in the Corner by Patricia Elliott - Blog Tour

Summary from Goodreads A gorgeously gothic historical tale from the author of THE PIMPERNELLES Penniless, and escaping the horrors of life as a governess to brutal households, Maud seeks refuge with the cousin-by-marriage she never knew. But Juliana quashes Maud's emerging friendships with the staff and locals - especially John, the artist commissioned to restore the sinister Doom in the local church. John, however, is smitten with Maud and makes every effort to woo her. Maud, isolated and thwarted at every turn, continues to take the laudanum which was her only solace in London. Soon she becomes dependent on the drug - so is this the cause of her fresh anxieties? Or is someone - or something - plotting her demise? Is the devil in the corner of the Doom a reality, or a figment of her imagination? Paperback , 400 pages Expected publication: March 6th 2014 by Hachette Children's Books Guest Post It is often hard when you've finished a novel to reme...

The Pretenders (Cemetery Girl #1) by Charlaine Harris & Christopher Golden

Summary from Goodreads Calexa Rose Dunhill was just fourteen when she woke in a cemetery. Bruised, bloody and left for dead, with no memory of her previous life, she took a new name from the headstones that surrounded her. Now, three years on, Calexa still lives in Dunhill Cemetery, struggling with the desire to know her true identity – and the all-consuming fear of what she might discover when she does. Then, when she witnesses a gang of teenagers staging a stunt that goes horribly, fatally wrong, Calexa Rose Dunhill discovers she has a unique ability. One she cannot control… Paperback , 120 pages Published January 2nd 2014 by Jo Fletcher Books My Review I'm not usually a big fan of graphic novels, but Charlaine Harris super fan that I am, I just had to read this - and it totally rocked! There is so much detailing to this story and I adored loosing myself to all of it's thrilling little moments. Calexa, is such an interesting character...