Saturday, August 28, 2010

Lacemakers of Glenmara by Heather Barbieri (4)


"You can always start again," Kate Robinson's mother once told her, "all it takes is a new thread." Overwhelmed by heartbreak and loss, the struggling twenty-six-year-old fashion designer follows her mother's advice and flees to her ancestral homeland of Ireland, hoping to break free of old patterns and reinvent herself.

She arrives on the west coast, in the seaside hamlet of Glenmara. In this charming, fading Gaelic village, Kate quickly develops a bond with members of the local lace-making society: Bernie, alone and yearning for a new purpose since the death of her beloved husband, John; Aileen, plagued by doubt, helplessly watching her teenage daughter grow distant; Moira, caught in a cycle of abuse and denial, stubbornly refusing help from those closest to her; Oona, in remission from breast cancer, secretly harboring misgivings about her marriage; Colleen, the leader of the group, worried about her fisherman husband, missing at sea. And outside this newfound circle is local artist Sullivan Deane, an enigmatic man trying to overcome a tragedy of his own.

Under Glenmara's spell, Kate finds the inspiration that has eluded her, and soon she and the lace makers are creating a line of exquisite lingerie. In their skilled hands, flowers, Celtic dragons, nymphs, fish, saints, kings, and queens come to life, rendered with painterly skill. The circle also offers them something more—the strength to face their long-denied desires and fears. But not everyone welcomes Kate, and a series of unexpected events threatens to unravel everything the women have worked so hard for. . . .



The book was an enjoyable read, The Lacemakers were a group of women who gathered together to do something they enjoyed, but also formed a bond of friendship. The book reminded me of our own little bookclub group, not only do we gather together to do something we enjoy,(reading) we have grown into a group of firm friends.

I give it a rating of 4****

Friday, August 27, 2010

Book Give Away - Meridian by Amber Kizer


My name is Meridian Sozu. I am a Fenestra. I have always shared my world with the dead and the dying. But I really didn't understand what that meant until I turned sixteen and glimpsed my own mortality... Sixteen-year-old Meridian has always been surrounded by death. As a child, insects, mice, and salamanders burrowed into her bedclothes to die. As she grew, the animals got bigger, and soon they were finding her at school to die in her presence. Meridian became an outcast, labeled by her classmates as Reaper, Gravedigger, and Witch. Each death she witnesses weakens her body, and loneliness weakens her spirit. On her sixteenth birthday, she witnesses a deadly car crash. Though she’s untouched, Meridian's body explodes with the victims’ pain. Before she can fully recover, Meridian is told that she's a danger to her family and rushed to her great-aunt's house in Revelation, Colorado. It's there that she learns the secret her mother has been hiding her entire life: that she is a Fenestra, the half-angel, half-human link between the living and the dead. It's crucial that she learn how to transition human souls to the afterlife and preserve the balance between good and evil on earth. But Meridian and her sworn protector and love, Tens, face great danger from the Aternocti, a band of dark forces who capture vulnerable souls on the brink of death and cause chaos. Dark, lovely, and lushly romantic, MERIDIAN introduces a powerful heroine who will entrance readers.


This lovely book is up for grabs ......



The Rules are simple .....

#1 - Anyone can enter but you need to be a follower of our Book Blog so join up

#2 Leave a comment below .......

#3 The comment needs to be what YA author is your favourite at the moment

#4 Make sure you make the comment before the deadline of 15th September 2010


Good Luck Everyone :) ..........


Closing Date 15th September 2010

Winner for Guardian of the Gate by Michelle Zink


The Winner is ....


Well done woman .... send us an email with your postal address and we will post it out to you !!!

Thursday, August 26, 2010

"I was Jane Austen's Best Friend" by Cora Harrison [3 1/2]



It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single
girl in possession of a journal must write
all her secrets in it.
Meet Jenny Cooper: shy, pretty cousin of clever,
sparky Jane Austen
[who has lots of handsome brothers and a vivid imagination.]
These are Jenny's secrets:
* She has never gone to a ball.
* She hates her school.
* She longs to wear a new gown and flirt with a handsome
naval officer.
* She wishes real life could be more like a novel.
This is a really cute little novel that is written in the style of a diary, and all 13 -14 year old girls will just love this book. Inside you'll find all sorts of drawings and little notes. The hardback cover is just pretty and this is the UK version but I have also seen the US version that will come out eventually and I must admit that one is just beautiful.
So the basic story is that Jenny and Jane are at boarding school and get extremely sick and are brought home ... from then on it's about life under the Austen household and Jenny's desire to be married like all girls at her tender age of 16.
While it is such a sweet book and the characters are all likable and the humour is ... well funny, I did find the book for me a little boring and I kept losing interest in reading it. It is well written and light hearted and I loved the way truth and fiction were woven into making this story, but I definitely think it is one for the younger teens. Actually if you have any girls in the family think about this book as a stocking filler for Christmas because they will get a thrill out of reading it.
I rate this book 3 1/2 stars.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

In the Post ... The Space between the Trees by Katie Williams

This just arrived today and I just have to share it with you because it is GORGEOUS ......



This picture really doesn't do the book justice .... It is hard backed and the trees on the front are cut out in lattice work .... Again it is GORGEOUS ........

Here's what the books about:

This story was supposed to be about Evie how she hasn't made a friend in years, how she tends to stretch the truth (especially about her so-called relationship with college drop-out Jonah Luks), and how she finally comes into her own once she learns to just be herself but it isn't. Because when her classmate Elizabeth "Zabet" McCabe's murdered body is found in the woods, everything changes and Evie's life is never the same again.

I am excited to read this novel by Katie Williams as it is her first novel.

Teaser Tuesday


TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:
Grab your current read.
Let the book fall open to a random page.
Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
Please avoid spoilers


It certainly was agreeable to fare sumptuously on fresh blood, drive in a fine carriage, wear her best frock every night, and do nothing but enjoy herself. It suited her exactly, and soon she began to imitate the manners and conversation of those about her, use French phrases, show off her fangs, decorate her dresses with blood splatters and play parlour games upon vampirists.


Pg 83 of Little Vampire Women by Lousia May Alcott and Lynn Messina

Monday, August 23, 2010

"Ravishing in Red" by Madeline Hunter [4]


The Domino requests that Mr. Kelmsley meet him
at the Two Swords in Brighton two nights
hence to discuss a matter of mutual benefit.

Hoping to clear her dead father's name, Audrianna Kelmsleigh decides to respond to the advertisement placed by the mysterious "Domino." Armed with her cousin's gun, she takes a room at the Two Swords Coaching Inn. But the handsome man of commanding sensuality who shows up is not the Domino at all, but Lord Sebastian Summerhays - one of her father's persecutors - who has been lured by the same advertisement. When Audrianna's gun accidentally fires, the situation suddenly becomes mortifying public ...
There is only one way out of the scandal that erupts, and so these two passionate and headstrong adversaries find themselves joined in a marriage of necessity. Expecting a practical alliance, Audrianna quickly discovers she is helpless to resist Sebastian's seductive persuasions as he teaches her the meaning of erotic desire. But she remains determined to exonerate her father, even if it means risking her life, her marriage - and her heart ...

This is the first in a series of Regency romance ... the second novel in this series is called "Provocative in Pearls." The covers are just gorgeous ...
I actually wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy this book, as it did take a little while to get into ... but after the initial few pages it became quite interesting. So the story basically is ... Audrianna is trying to defend her father who commits suicide because he is unable to live with the consequence's of decisions made through his work, she believes he is innocent and tries to prove it.
While reading through the paper she comes across the advertisement by the Domino and believes he will be able to shed some light on her father's plight. Meanwhile Lord Sebastian has been heading up the investigation into her father's situation and believes there is more to it than meets the eye. Through the accidental meeting and what comes of it these two people have to get married. Yes sparks fly between them, but Sebastian is the enemy as he was out to destroy Audrianna's father. As they both get too know each other, they start to realize that they have the same purpose in mind and work together ... kind of!

This will be an interesting series as it seems to be the stories about each of the women who live in the 'Rarest Blooms' a house owned by Daphne, Audrianna's cousin. Each of these four women are strong minded and want a life of their own without being depended on men. They have a good friendship with each other and care about each other. The men in the story are typical for this kind of novel, dashing, brooding, carefree, selfish ... rakes who all need to find that one special woman in their lives that will make a difference to it.

It was a good light read with nothing too heavy about the storyline ... there is a little mild erotica in it but nothing too bad. Looking forward to the next installments to read about the rest of the women.

I rate this book 4 stars.

Grrrrr Covers .....

Don't you just love going down to the Post Box and turning the key to find that you have some little white parcels sitting in there waiting for you to open .... Well I got a load of new books today and I sat on my bed and very slowly opened the parcels up ... One by One ...

And one by one I saw gorgeous lovely covers until this one showed it's ugly head ....



Now don't get me wrong ... I don't think it is hideous but I just didn't remember ordering this book ... So I jumped online to scan my recent purchases and low and behold this is the cover that I should have got and ordered ..... GRRRRRRRRRRRR


Please tell me I am not the only one that really looks at the covers and orders accordingly .... The only problem I am now faced with is that if I really like this novel I am going to have to re-purchase the book in the cover that I wanted and ordered in the first place ..... Again with the GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR ...

Angels' Blood by Nalini Singh (3)


Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux knows she's the best—but she doesn't know if she's good enough for this job. Hired by the dangerously beautiful Archangel Raphael, a being so lethal that no mortal wants his attention, only one thing is clear—failure is not an option...even if the task is impossible.

Because this time, it's not a wayward vamp she has to track. It's an archangel gone bad.

The job will put Elena in the midst of a killing spree like no other…and pull her to the razor's edge of passion. Even if the hunt doesn't destroy her, succumbing to Raphael's seductive touch just may. For when archangels play, mortals break…

I purchased this book because: I was recommended this series by a fellow book-lover because she knew I loved Vampire Novels ... :)

Opening lines: When Elena told people she was a vampire hunter, their first reaction was an inevitable gasp, followed by, 'You go around sticking those sharp stakes in their evil putrid hearts?'


Well don't you just love the cover to this :) ... I am glad that I purchased the UK cover cos the other ones are not really nice at all .... Well enough of me being a book snob :) ... Good to read an author who is on this side of the world ... Well New Zealand .... Nalini Singh was born in Fiji but lives in New Zealand ...

This is another series that involves Vampires and Angels .... Where Angels and Vampires are seen by humans and live among us ... And it is definitely an adult Read ... There is some violence in the novels but there is quite abit of sexual scenes ... So if you don't like that in your novel this series is not for you ....

The main character of Elena I love .... She is a Vampire Hunter and works for the 'Guild'. When she gets a job from her best friend Sara ( Director of the Guild ) she starts to worry ... Her new employer is none other than Hunky Immortal Archangel 'Raphael'. Elena is not too worried about getting the job done but whether she will be able to survive her new employer ...

There is something very special about Elena which the archangel 'Raphael' senses .... And it will be interesting to learn more about her past as the series develops ....

This is a different twist on the whole vampire genre .... In this series the 'Angels' are the ones that create Vampires .... And when one of them goes walk-about it is up to the 'Guild' to bring them safely back to their masters ... But this new job that Elena has been offered is a little bit different ... She is not asked to hunt a Vampire but an 'Angel' and a very old Angel to boot ...

Some of my favourite quotes: 'What, you got a big hunt coming on? .... No. But I do have a high chance of meeting a horrible death, within the next few hours. Might as well do something good and up my shot at getting into heaven.' pg 12

I did enjoy the novel and the story line is really interesting but it has adult themes running throughout the book .... I probably would have rated it more but for the sex scenes ...

I rate this book 3 ***


Other books in the series in order:
Guild Hunter Series
#1 Angels Blood
#2 Archangel's Kiss
#3 Archangel's Consort ( Released March 14th 2011)

And just to show you the difference in the covers here they are ....


This is the Japanese Cover ....

The German Cover .... Which to be honest isn't that bad ... I quite like it ...



The American cover which I just hate ....

Definitely think I got the better cover of all .... Go the UK !!!

Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson (41/2)


During the summer of 1793, Mattie Cook lives above the family coffee shop with her widowed mother and grandfather. Mattie spends her days avoiding chores and making plans to turn the family business into the finest Philadelphia has ever seen. But then the fever breaks out.

Disease sweeps the streets, destroying everything in its path and turning Mattie's world upside down. At her feverish mother's insistence, Mattie flees the city with her grandfather. But she soon discovers that the sickness is everywhere, and Mattie must learn quickly how to survive in a city turned frantic with disease.


I purchased this book because: It has been on my radar for some time now and finally getting around to reading it :) ...


Opening Lines: I woke to the sound of a mosquito whining in my left ear and my mother screeching in my right. 'Rouse yourself this instant!' Mother snapped open the shutters and heat poured into our bedchamber. The room above our coffeehouse was not large.


Well this is my first read of Laurie Halse Anderson and it will certainly not be my last .... I loved this little book and was quite impressed by how much research the author had done to make this book come alive ....


The book is set in Philadelphia in 1793 when a disease known as 'Yellow Fever' strikes the city and brings it to it's knees. And how through one girls eyes she tries to survive when everyone around her is getting infected ...



I loved the main character of Mattie ... She is a very strong willed girl who is determined not to let this disease change her or her dreams of the future ... But even though she is a strong character she still has a very vulnerable side ... The author Laurie gives us just enough information to let us know the extent of this disease without going overboard .... But you still get the sense of how devastating this disease actually was for the people who stayed in Philadelphia .... I think what makes this book work is that Laurie did alot of research into the breakout of 'Yellow Fever' in 1793 and you really do get caught up in the story and just how far medical science has come on .. Thankfully for us ....


Some of my favourite quotes: ' A Low voice and soft address are the common indications of a well-bred woman.' pg 24


'Mother looked at the old man. He just wanted a quiet afternoon, that much was clear. I saw him wink at her. I didn't know which one made me angrier, but somehow they had both won.' Pg 42


'Those filthy refugees and creatures who live in the crowded hovels by the river, they're always sick with something. But it is a gross injustice that my gala should suffer because the lower class fall ill.' Pg 51


'You're turning into a regular scold, Mattie Cook. You sound like your mother, ordering menfolk around.' Pg 79


'The grave diggers had dug trenches as deeply as they could, then planted layer after layer of fever victims. Some of the dead were decently sewn into their winding sheets, but most were buried in the clothes they died in. ' A field plowed by the devil,' I murrured. 'They're not even using coffins' Pg 120


'I could read, write, and figure numbers faster than most. I was not afraid of hard work. I would set my own course.' Pg 216


This book goes to show that disease and illness doesn't care about social graces or class and as always the rich do have better means to run away from the disease where as the poorer classes are left to cope and mourn for their losses ...


This is a short wee book with big writing so you could get through it quite quickly ... I will definitely be tempted to read more of her works ... This book is suitable of anybody over the age of 12 ...


I rate this book 4 1/2 ****






Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Teaser Tuesday


TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:
Grab your current read.
Let the book fall open to a random page.
Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
Please avoid spoilers


I saw a figure stand under the tree. I tried to call Grandfather's name, but could make no sound. The wind carried a roaring sound. Why was I carrying these rocks? I stumbled. Where was Mother? Where was Eliza? The balloon. I'll be up in a minute, Mother. Just let me sleep.

Pg 95 of .... Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson

Monday, August 16, 2010

"If I Stay" by Gayle Forman [4 1/2]



Life can change in an instant.
A cold February morning ...
a snowy road ...
and suddenly all of Mia's choices are gone.
Except one.
As alone as she'll ever be, Mia must
make the most difficult choice of all.
Living's all about
making choices.
Dying's no different ...

From the moment you start reading this thought provoking story you realize just how precious life is and the importance of the choices we make throughout it. It is a simple but powerful story ... love, friendships, heartache and tragedy and all this makes for a heartwarming and memorable reading experience.

What choice would you make if you knew your family wasn't with you anymore ... this is the choice Mia has to make after a terrible accident takes her family from her. While lying unconscious in hospital Mia relives all the wonderful experiences that have come in her life at the young age of 17. Her love of music, her friendship with her best friend, her first boyfriend and first love and most precious of all her family. But with such a tragic loss is there even something worth staying for?

'Stay.' With that one word, Adam's voice catches, but he
swallows the emotion and pushes forward. 'There's no word
for what happened to you. There's no good side of it. But
there is something to live for. And I'm not talking about me.
It's just ... I don't know. Maybe I'm talking shit. I know I'm
in shock. I know I haven't digested what happened to your
parents, to Teddy ...' When he says Teddy, his voice cracks
and an avalanche of tears tumbles down his face. And I
think: I love you.

Sometimes painful, other times funny but always touching this is a novel that you just have to read ... impossible to put down. There is also talk of making this novel into a movie, and what a powerful movie that would be.
[ there is bad language in this book as well as adult concepts]

I rate this book 4 1/2 stars.

"The Storyteller's Daughter" by Cameron Dokey [5]






After a bitter betrayal, a king vows never to be deceived again.
But the king's plan to protect himself will endanger all of the realm's
young women, unless one of them volunteers to surrender
her life to marry the king.
To everyone's relief and horror, Shahrazad, the daughter
of a legendary storyteller, steps forward. On her wedding night,
Shahrazad begins to weave a tale for the king.
Fascinated, the king lets her live night after night. Just
when Shahrazad dares to believe that she has found a way to keep
her life - and has discovered an unexpected love -
a treacherous plot disrupts her plan. Now Shahrazad must hope that
love is strong enough to save her.

We have all at same stage in our lives either read or saw a movie about the 'Arabian Nights', well this lovely little book is told from the storyteller's daughter and is so fascinating and captivating that before you know it you've finished to book. Shahrazad is such a wonderful character that you truly believe in her gift of storytelling and you just pray that all will work out for her in the end. The stories inside the story are wonderful and magical ... this is a little book that you can read over and over again and not grow tired of it.
So here is a little snippet ...

A story is alive, as you and I are.
It is rounded by muscle and sinew. Rushed with blood.
Layered with skin, both rough and smooth. At it's core lies soft
marrow of hard, white bone. A story beats with the heart of
every person who has ever strained ears to listen. On the
breath of the storyteller, it soars. Until its images and deeds
become so real you can see them in the air, shimmering like
oases on the horizon line.

Everyone at sometime in their lives needs to read this lovely novel and just immerse yourself into the telling of the story. Read it to your children and it will be something they will never forget ... one of the all time classics ...

ONCE UPON A TIME ... is just timeless !

I rate this book 5 stars.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Guardian of the Gate by Michelle Zink (41/2)


The ultimate battle between sisters is nearing, and its outcome could have catastrophic consequences. As sixteen year-old Lia Milthorpe searches for a way to end the prophecy, her twin sister Alice hones the skills she'll need to defeat Lia. Alice will stop at nothing to reclaim her sister's role in the prophecy, and that's not the only thing she wants: There's also Lia's boyfriend James.

Lia and Alice always knew the Prophecy would turn those closest to them against them. But they didn't know what betrayal could lead them to do. In the end, only one sister will be left standing.

I purchased this book because: The second installment of the Prophecy of Sisters Series


Opening Lines: Sitting at the desk in my chamber, I do not need to read the words of the prophecy to recall them. They are embedded in my mind as clearly as the mark that brands my wrist.

This book is so much better than the first book and it will have you reading until you finish it in the wee hours of the morning :) .........

The relationship between Lia and Alice is brilliant with Lia battling to do the right thing and Alice her sister just not caring except to stop Lia at all costs not to find the missing pages of the prophecy ....

The book is mostly about Lia and her faithful companions Sonia, Luisa and Edmund travelling to reach Lia's aunt in order to obtain the missing pages of the prophecy .... The horse rides will have you at the edge of your seat as you read .... Not only are they trying to escape the souls but also Hell Hounds are on their trail ........

But you know what else makes this book yummy to read .... Enter Dimitri ..... Oh yes ladies he is delicious ... Move over James for here is a man who is ready to fight for his lady ....

Lia has some really important and hard decisions to make in this book ... Will she be able to let her head overrule her heart ....

Some of my favourite quotes: 'There are those who might say all trees look alike, that it is impossible to tell one wood from another, but this is the landscape of my childhood and I know it for what it is.' pg 4


'Alice and I are destined to meet as enemies. Now it is just the keys, the prophecy, and me.' pg 27


' He is right, of course. If the measure of reality is based only on things in which the rest of the world believes, there is no Samael, no Lost Souls, no prophecy. Yet we know them to be real. It only makes sense to them, to accept the reality in which we find ourselves, however far that reality may be from everyone else's' pg 79


'Worse than anger, worse than ambivalence, I see the pleasure she takes in holding the power to harm another.' Pg 89


'What moves through the forest is no simple animal. I hear howling screams and know immediately that a wolf or a dog would be a blessing compared to what follows us. It is not the growl of an animal but something much, much more terrifying.' pg 105


' I could not stop myself from intervening. From the first moment I saw you, I felt ..... something.' pg 123 AHHHHH


' I need less sleep than you might imagine. Besides, lately when I sleep, I only dream of you anyway.' pg 143


' I shake my head, wondering if a gag for her condescending mouth would be too much to ask' pg 187


'When I meet his gaze, a slow smile spreads from his eyes to his mouth and he raises his eyebrows as if he know exactly what I am thinking.' pg 199

'The Prophecy has taught me well that some things must be done however much we wish to avoid them.' pg 218

Well I am abit sad that this book is finished .... It has been a really great read .... Fast pacing all the way to the end .... And now we have to wait for the next installment .... GRRRRRR

I rate this book 41/2 ****


Books in the Series in order
Prophecy of the Sisters
#1 Prophecy of the Sisters
#2 Guardian of the Gate
#3 (Released 2011)

Ok You know that you want to read this book ........ And we happen to be giving a copy of it away this month .... So click the picture of the book on your right and enter .......

The Lacemakers of Glenmara by Heather Barbieri (41/2)


"You can always start again," Kate Robinson's mother once told her, "all it takes is a new thread." Overwhelmed by heartbreak and loss, the struggling twenty-six-year-old fashion designer follows her mother's advice and flees to her ancestral homeland of Ireland, hoping to break free of old patterns and reinvent herself.

She arrives on the west coast, in the seaside hamlet of Glenmara. In this charming, fading Gaelic village, Kate quickly develops a bond with members of the local lace-making society: Bernie, alone and yearning for a new purpose since the death of her beloved husband, John; Aileen, plagued by doubt, helplessly watching her teenage daughter grow distant; Moira, caught in a cycle of abuse and denial, stubbornly refusing help from those closest to her; Oona, in remission from breast cancer, secretly harboring misgivings about her marriage; Colleen, the leader of the group, worried about her fisherman husband, missing at sea. And outside this newfound circle is local artist Sullivan Deane, an enigmatic man trying to overcome a tragedy of his own.

Under Glenmara's spell, Kate finds the inspiration that has eluded her, and soon she and the lace makers are creating a line of exquisite lingerie. In their skilled hands, flowers, Celtic dragons, nymphs, fish, saints, kings, and queens come to life, rendered with painterly skill. The circle also offers them something more—the strength to face their long-denied desires and fears. But not everyone welcomes Kate, and a series of unexpected events threatens to unravel everything the women have worked so hard for. . . .


I purchased this book because: My Book Club choice for this month of August


Opening Lines: What you will need: A sewing machine, your mother's, yes, the sky-blue Singer, its hum a lullaby from infancy, you in a Moses basket at her feet, grabbing at bright threads.


Well I finished this book off in one sitting ... I really loved it ... Was it because I loved the sense of humour in the book or just that it was set in Ireland and got abit homesick when reading about the rolling green hills and the slanty rain which you can only get in Ireland. :) .... or for the fact that as a child my own grandmother and mother would sit me on their knee and teach me to sew .

I made so many post-it notes in my copy of the book especially at the beginning it was getting ridiculous .... I could so picture Kate walking along ( My mom would be proud I didn't use the word DOWN ... lol ) the country lanes .... I could picture the cliffs and the beautiful sea .... I could sympathise with the fishing community especially a wee country town as I came from one just like it .... How everyone knew everyone else and had a special bond that you can only get from a small village .... People are so invested in each others lifes and it just feels like home ....

The friendships between all the lace making woman is lovely and you do get caught up in their world ... It is lovely to see that link of friendship and love as no age boundaries ... Everyone no matter how small as a part to play and something to give ... Denny and Niall where really funny characters and I did find myself chuckling when their banter was in full flow ...

I really loved this wee book .... The story line was nice .... The characters where lovely and I could identify with them ... There was a wee bit of romance with the dashing Sullivan .... And some really funny parts that did have me laughing out loud .... Alot ...

Favourite Quotes: 'Pincushion, apple-shapped, with a felt stem, to keep pins from getting lost. pg 1 ( love this because my grandmother had one just like it ..)


'She couldn't stop thinkin about him, imagined making arguments far more winning than was capable of in real life.' Pg 6

'Each step she took left a mark, some visible, some not; marks that said, I was here, I exist. That was one of the reasons people went away, wasn't it, to forget, to reinvent themselves?' Pg 7


'To Ireland. Land of her ancestors, land of the green, of rainbows and magic and pots of gold.' pg 11


'You're too young to give in to disappointment. The joy will come again, and when it does, it will be all the better because of what you've suffered. Love is life, you know.' pg 17


'They were like family, Aileen said, without the excess baggage.' pg 26


'Don't believe everything you hear about the Irish,' Denny said. 'We're full of contradictions' pg 41


'I see you've already met the Glenmara welcoming committee .... The COOFs ... What does that stand for? .... A couple of old farts,' pg 42


''Last time she'd tried rock-climbing at the Vertical Club in Seattle with Ella. How come you look like a dominatrix in that harness, and I just look like an idiot? She's asked, laughing so hard she'd turned upside down and had to be lowered to the ground on a cable.' Pg 57


'I was just thinking how funny life is. Seems like the more you want something, the more it eludes you. Then when you least expect it, there it is.' Pg 146


'He said she was his figurehead, that he could always see her when he rounded the bend and entered the bay. No different from that first day long ago, her brown hair gleaming in the sun, gone silver now. Her face lined, but as beautiful to him as ever. His constant, she was.' Pg 168 AHHHHHH


'That even though we lose the ones we've loved, they aren't gone from us forever, that they are with us, still, but in a different way.' Pg 235


This is a lovely wee read about friendships, loss and finding each other .....

I rate this book 4 1/2 ****

Friday, August 13, 2010

"Guardian of the Gate" by Michelle Zink [4 1/2]



"While Altus holds the answer to the final pieces
of the prophecy's puzzle, there are those who will not want us to reach it's safe haven.
The Souls will not let us pass unchallenged.
And neither will my sister."
Sixteen year old Lia Milthorpe must journey to the uncharted isle of Altus to search for the missing pages of the Book of Chaos - the pages that could tell her how to end the prophecy that turned generations of sisters against each other.
But her twin sister Alice will stop at nothing to reclaim Lia's role as the Gate. And that's not the only thing she wants: there's also Lia's true love.
I have been looking forward to this next installment from this series, and it's been very good. So we left off with Lia and her friend Sonia travelling to London to find the next pieces of the prophecy and also the last two keys. Meanwhile back in New York her sister Alice is growing stronger by the day and she doesn't care for the rules of magic and steps outside the boundaries.
Aunt Abigail is the Lady of Altus and she is dying so she sends for Lia to give her the clues for the rest of the manuscript to find the missing pieces of the prophecy. Of course Lia is helped by the hunky Dimitri and a new passion arises between these two, but what about James who she left behind in New York and still has feeling for?
This has been a good second novel, it's fast paced and gets straight into the story without to much catch up. All of this novel is about Lia getting to Altus and then her next journey to find more information about the prophecy. I'm starting to really enjoy the character of Lia, she is becoming a strong young woman who is dealing with the lost of all her family including her sister Alice to the "DARK SIDE". She has to deal with betrayal in this novel and that is a difficult thing for her to forgive. The introduction of Dimitri is great and I must admit I like my tall, dark and handsome men, who seem a little mysterious as well. Dimitri has an instance connection with Lia and it is the same with Lia to a degree, but she hasn't forgotten James ... she just doesn't have time to deal with the relationship side as yet.
So here is a little piece to wet your appetite ...
"Are you not afraid, out here in the dark?" The deep voice comes to me from the shadows.
I straighten, unable to make out the face or form of the man to whom the voice belongs.
"No. Are you?"
He chuckles, and it is like warm wine spreading its fingers through my body.
"Not at all. In fact, sometimes I think I should be more afraid of the light."
I pull myself back to the present, opening my palms to the darkness around us. "If that is true, then why don't you show yourself? There is no light here."
"So there isn't."
He steps into the dim glow of the half moon, his dark hair gleaming even with so little illumination.
With just over 300 pages it is an afternoon read ... without interruptions of course. So now we'll all be hanging out for the next installment ... please come soon!
I rate this book 4 1/2 stars.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Fingers crossed for Unwind


Well you all know how much I loved the book Unwind by Neal Shusterman ... And I have just heard that it could be made into a movie .... Yeah !!! ......... Neal pitched the idea to Universal back in the middle of July .... So fingers and toes crossed for him because it would be a fantastic movie .... And also there is going to be a sequel to Unwind .... Yes folks it is called Unwholly and due to come out sometime in 2012 ....

Neal is also handing his script of Everlost into Universal this week ... Which is going to be my next series that I will be reading ........ Oh happy days of Reading :) ...........

And if your a huge fan like I am you can talk to Neal on his Facebook Page and keep up to date with all the news !!

"Dreaming Anastasia" by Joy Preble [4 1/2]



Anastasia Romanov,
the daughter of the last Tsar of Russia,
is believed to be dead by the world, but she is alive,
and when she sleeps, she dreams ...
Anne Michaelson
doesn't know much about Russian history; she is
more worried about getting into a good college.
But then the dreams start ...

In her dreams Anne is somewhere else. She is someone else.
The dreams seem as real as her waking life, and they terrify her.
Then a stranger offers to explain them - a boy who by
all appearances is her age. He claims he has been waiting for someone who can help save Anastasia. And through him, Anne sees: you don't need to be imprisoned to be trapped.

Irish said to me you'll just love this cover Legs ... well she was right, it is just beautiful and looking closely you'll see an image of Ethan with his stunning blue eyes. The second book is just as beautiful ... yes there is a next installment called "HAUNTED" coming early 2011.
So the cover drew me first followed closely by the write up from the back cover ... it sounded very intriguing. I love the idea of taking a story about Anastasia Romanov and the Russian history and blending it with a story of now. But did it live up to this idea?

So the main three characters of this novel are Anastasia, Anne and Ethan with a supporting role from Tess, Anne's best friend. Each of these characters were strong in their own individual ways and complemented the story. The author has given each character a chapter so you don't get confused with what's going on and it's good to read from the male point of view. Anastasia has written letters to her family and through this you get the background information you need to know about the magic in the novel and what happens to her. The blending of past and present was really well done and you do get a sense of Anastasia's history. Our handsome male hero is swoon worthy and our heroine is coming up to scratch with her destiny and her new abilities.

But ... I did feel like the author rushed the ending of the novel just a little. I was hoping for Anne to do something more with her powers and perhaps more to develop between Ethan and Anne, sadly not to be ... at least at this stage. I don't know if the next book continues off from where this one left of, or if it's another character altogether?

This is a book that you'll really enjoy and it reads really well, you won't want to put it down until your finished. There are a couple of swear words in it so I'd probably not recommend to under 15's. It's a novel about LOVE. MAGIC, and the POWER of DREAMS.

I rate this book 4 1/2 stars

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Guardian Give-A-Way ..... Win a Free Copy ... Guardian of the Gate by Michelle Zink ...



The ultimate battle between sisters is nearing, and its outcome could have catastrophic consequences. As sixteen year-old Lia Milthorpe searches for a way to end the prophecy, her twin sister Alice hones the skills she'll need to defeat Lia. Alice will stop at nothing to reclaim her sister's role in the prophecy, and that's not the only thing she wants: There's also Lia's boyfriend James.

Lia and Alice always knew the Prophecy would turn those closest to them against them. But they didn't know what betrayal could lead them to do. In the end, only one sister will be left standing.

With the Guardian of the Gate just being released the second installment of the Prophecy of the Sisters.... We have a FREE Copy to give away



The Rules are simple .....

#1 - Anyone can enter but you need to be a follower of our Book Blog so join up

#2 Leave a comment below .......................

#3 The comment needs to be what Series you are reading at the moment that you are loving and WHY!!!

#4 Make sure you make the comment before the deadline of 25th August 2010


Good Luck Everyone :) ..........


Deadline closes 25th August 2010

Teaser Tuesday


TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:
Grab your current read.
Let the book fall open to a random page.
Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
Please avoid spoilers


I do not want to turn at the sound of my name, but my eyes are drawn inexorably to his. His voice is a command. I cannot ignore, through it is as gentle as the mist that hangs in the woods as night descends.

Pg 116 of Guardian of the Gate by Michelle Zink

Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (5)


Adopted by the Alpha of a werewolf pack after a rogue wolf brutally killed her parents right before her eyes, fifteen-year-old Bryn knows only pack life, and the rigid social hierarchy that controls it. That doesn't mean that she's averse to breaking a rule or two.

But when her curiosity gets the better of her and she discovers Chase, a new teen locked in a cage in her guardian's basement, and witnesses him turn into a wolf before her eyes, the horrific memories of her parents' murders return. Bryn becomes obsessed with getting her questions answered, and Chase is the only one who can provide the information she needs.

But in her drive to find the truth, will Bryn push too far beyond the constraints of the pack, forcing her to leave behind her friends, her family, and the identity that she's shaped?

I purchased this book because: I wanted to read about Werewolves instead of Vamps

Opening Lines: Bronwyn Alessia St. Vincent Clare! .. Four names, five words, one pissed-off werewolf. The math this particular equation never came out in my favor.

OH MY GOODNESS .... If twilight was for Vampires .... Then Raised by Wolves is for Werewolves ....

I could not put this book down ..... I Loved every minute of it and now have to wait until next year to read the second part :( .... Darn ......

You will find you will get pulled into Bryn world ..... You will feel the power struggle between Bryn being human and being raised in a very Alpha Male Society ... Loved the character of Callum the Alpha Leader of the Pack and his relationship with Bryn
( And wouldn't mind a spin-off book about him .... Hint Hint to Jennifer !!! )
... I loved the character of Ali who is one feisty lady and not willing to give up her belief's even if it means risking everything to do it .....

I loved the Chemistry between Chase and Bryn ... When you are reading it you can feel the connection and the energy that the two of them have .... Can Bryn who is forever pushing the boundaries play by the rules of the pack .... Or will she push to far and have to suffer the consequences ....

I loved everything about this book ... It is written really well and if you are anything like me you will not be able to put this book down ... I loved all the characters and felt a connection to each of them ... It has been a wee while that I have come across a new series that all I wanted to do was read and block the whole outside out ....

Some of my favourite quotes ... And there where alot!!!! .... 'Come out, Come out, wherever you are, little one. No sense hiding from the Big Bad Wolf. I'll always find you in the end ... ' pg 5

'If werewolves had been into using 'property of' stickers, I would have been mummified in them' pg 8'She was a typical Ark Valley girl, A little too quiet, a little too sweet, with metaphorical claws lurking just under the surface.' pg 32'Darn tootin', 'If you poke enough angry bears with sticks, someday you're going to get burned, sweetheart.' pg 38

'As I began cutting through the restraints, the sound of inhuman screams echoing in my mind, I tried not to think about the fact that my vow to abstain from stupidity had lasted for all of forty-five seconds.' pg 54

'There are bad people in the world: murderers and psychopaths and telemarketers who won't take no for an answer.' pg 65

'Just you wait, I told her silently. It's all fun and games until they ground you until you're thirty.' pg 67

'I was fast, I was light, and I wasn't afraid of playing dirty.' Pg 116

'They say not to bring a knife to a gunfight.' pg 120

'He wasn't Attila the freaking Werewolf Hun.' pg 125

'Straw met camel's back. Breaking commenced.' pg 131

'I needed a plan. I needed to be strong. So I just kept running, because come hell or high water, a girl couldn't afford to be weak or human at a time like this.' pg 225

'Either way we were outclassed, outnumbered, overwhelmed, and screwed. In that order.' pg 346

Well Werewolves seem to be the new red this summer witBoldh so many new werewolves books emerging onto the market .... But I have to say that this book is my Fav so far and the rest of them books out there have alot to live up to ....

Do yourself a favour and rush out and buy this book .... But make sure you have at least 3 to 4 hours of not being disturbed because you are going to need it ....

I rate this book 5 *****



Books in Order of Series
Raised by Wolves
#1 Raised by Wolves
#2 Trial By Fire (Released summer 2011)


Monday, August 9, 2010

Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon (31/2)


At fourteen, Nick Gautier thinks he knows everything about the world around him. Streetwise, tough and savvy, his quick sarcasm is the stuff of legends. . .until the night when his best friends try to kill him. Saved by a mysterious warrior who has more fighting skills than Chuck Norris, Nick is sucked into the realm of the Dark-Hunters: immortal vampire slayers who risk everything to save humanity.

Nick quickly learns that the human world is only a veil for a much larger and more dangerous one: a world where the captain of the football team is a werewolf and the girl he has a crush on goes out at night to stake the undead.

But before he can even learn the rules of this new world, his fellow students are turning into flesh eating zombies. And he’s next on the menu.

As if starting high school isn't hard enough. . .now Nick has to hide his new friends from his mom, his chainsaw from the principal, and keep the zombies and the demon Simi from eating his brains, all without getting grounded or suspended. How in the world is he supposed to do that?

I purchased this book because: Really liked the cover and heard good things about the author

Opening Lines: Free Will .. Some have called it the greatest gift bestowed on humanity. It is our ability to control what happens to us and exactly how it happens. We are masters of our fate and no one can foist their will on us unless we allow it.

What a great opening line ...... I have to say I did enjoy this book which is the 1st in yet another series .... But it is definitely a boys book ... And although I did find myself laughing out loud on a number of occasions ... The banter was definitely a teenage boy with lots of blood and guts and zombies attacking the local high school football team ....

I loved the main character of Nick .... He was brilliant .... And his sense of humour was awesome ... How he looked at things around him and reacted to them was really funny .... Although I did have to keep reminding myself that he was only 14 years of age and not older ....

The side kicks in this book, especially the character of Bubba was brilliant ... And the scary thing is that I actually know a few people like his character ... lol ..... Another character which I loved was Simi she could totally Kick Butts in a really cute but deadly way ...

Some quotes which I loved ...'He'd much rather have brains than money. Though right now, a rocket launcher might be nice too' Pg 10

'Man, first I'm shot, now I'm going to be a friggin' zombie. At this rate, I'll never live to have my first date or a driver's license. Ah, Gah!' Pg 86

'This little bugger in front of him was destined to alter his future. No wonder he couldn't use his powers against him.' Pg 121

'He honestly didn't know what to say that wouldn't make her twice as mad, which was not his goal right now. The name of the game ... Survival. I value my freedom, but I see severe restrictions ahead.' Pg 202

'If I can't take care of your problems one way ... I'll take care of them anotha' Pg 205

Nick scoffed. 'This ain't the army, boy. It's every man for himself. Fall behind. Get eaten.' Pg 223

'Just when you think nothing get better, it always does. Trust me. My akri says that tragedy and adversity are the stones we sharpen our swords against so that we can fight new battles.' Pg 234

'Girls ain't nothing but trouble. Yeah, but it was the only kind of trouble he wanted to launch himself into headfirst and wallow there until he was pruny from it.' Pg 240

This is not a bad book just I am not an older teenage boy reading it .... It will be interesting to see the other characters develop in the rest of the series ...

This book as abit of everything really romance, zombies, demons, vampires and loads of fight scenes .... Every boys dream .... But I would recommend that the other teen boys would read it as there is violence and grown up themes throughout ...

I rate this novel 3 1/2 ***




Other books in order in the Series:
Chronicles of Nick
#1 Infinity
#2 Invincible ( Released 1st Feb 2011)

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