February Books/word of the month

The first book of the month is I am number four by Pittacus Lore.
Why? To celebrate the movie out this month and because it's awesome and I think you all should read it!

I know there are a whole bunch more different covers but I went with this one because it's the one I own!

Synopsis:
John Smith is not your average teenager. He regularly moves from small town to small town. He changes his name and identity. He does not put down roots. He cannot tell anyone who or what he really is. If he stops moving those who hunt him will find and kill him. But you can’t run forever. So when he stops in Paradise, Ohio, John decides to try and settle down. To fit in. And for the first time he makes some real friends. People he cares about – and who care about him. Never in John’s short life has there been space for friendship, or even love. But it’s just a matter of time before John’s secret is revealed. He was once one of nine. Three of them have been killed. John is Number Four. He knows that he is next . . .

The next book is No Permanent scars by Michael Hemery. It was suggested by Silenced Press

Synopsis: No Permanent Scars reads how creative nonfiction should read: Like fiction. Like nonfiction. Like memoir. Like humor. Like literature. Like life. It’s about childhood, adulthood, the neighborhood and what it means to be a kid, a parent, a teacher, a human. Michael Hemery illuminates an honest working-class existence, offering both the sober realities of class discrimination and the humor and love of family. Intertwined with serious issues such as suicide, alcoholism, abuse, religion, and immigration, Hemery also endures a painfully slow and often naive coming of age (he once mistook an obvious prostitute for an office supply store employee). This is going to be the best book you’ll read this year.




And the word of the month is

Suggestions:

Eternal by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Eternal by Craig Russell

Eternal Rider by Larissa Ione

Eternal kiss of darkness by Jeaniene Frost

The fire eternal by Chris d'Lacey

The eternal Dawn by Christopher Pike

The eternal kiss anthology edited by Trisha Telep

The eternal ones by Kirsten Miller

Eternal hunger by Laura Wright

Please note some of these are out of series' so check before reading.

If you have suggestions just comment and I'll add them to the list.

The Replacement review

The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff


What's it about?
Mackie Doyle is a replacement - a fairy child left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago, to replace the baby when it was stolen away by the fey. So though he lives in the small town of Gentry, Mackie's real home is the fey world of tunnels and black, murky water, a world of living dead girls ruled by a little tattooed princess. Now, because his fey blood gives him fatal allergies to iron, blood and consecrated ground, Mackie is slowly dying in the human world. Mackie would give anything just to be normal, to live quietly amongst humans, practice his bass guitar and spend time with his crush, Tate. But when Tate's baby sister goes missing, Mackie is drawn irrevocably back home to the fey underworld of Gentry, known as Mayhem, where he must face down the dark creatures, rescue the child, and find his rightful place - in our world, or theirs.


My review:
3/5

I finished this book still not knowing how I felt about it, I had to sleep on my review to really think about it.
I felt extremely frustrated at the start because there wasn't any 'world building.' it jumps straight in and I was very confused with exactly what was happening sometimes, like I'd accidentally missed a chapter, it was only after that I realised this was to echo the towns reluctance to talk about or acknowledge the strange goings on in the night.
I also struggled with the main character mackie, instead of dark and brooding, I thought he went to far and became dreary and depressing, a few times when I put this book down I actually felt down myself, but I have to credit some of that to pregnancy hormones heightening my emotions, which I think gave me a stronger reaction than someone else.
It wasn't until well in that I felt the eerie sense of the book and could read easier and I can honestly say I've never read anything like it before, there's no holding back on the gruesome parts and the monsters really are scary to think of.
I really felt mackie redeem himself in the end in a scene that almost had me in tears and by the end I really feel like I hope everything works out for him.
So to conclude I guess I'd say maybe don't read if your pregnant but certainly give it a shot if you like a challenge in your reading and don't give up after a few pages of confusion.

For more on Brenna Yovanoff visit her website: http://www.brennayovanoff.com/

Buy the book here (UK)

Wound too tight review

Wound too tight by TJ Perkins


What's it about?

Summer vacation in Maine promises to be exciting for Shawn and his friends until they uncover a lost treasure from an evil pirate named Simon de Cruel and a very special watch. Each boy decides to keep some of the treasure for himself, but an inscription on the inside of an enchanted pocket watch warns of danger to those who touch the pirate's treasure. One by one the boys begin to disappear, and the curse of the pirate touches the lives of all those close to Shawn. It's up to him to discover the secret of the watch, save the lives of his friends, and put an end to the wickedness unleashed on his home town - before time runs out!  

My review:
4/5
I can't wait to give this book to my son (he's only 19 months so I have a wait) although I think girls and adults will love it to, i think it's perfect for little boys, with a strong male lead, a tight group of friends and of course pirates! I found Shawn to be laid back and head strong and a natural leader amongst his group, even if he doesn't realise it. The writing is easy to get into and the story is lovely. I recommend to all.
You can see more of TJ Perkins and find out where you can buy this and more books by her here

Fantasy casting #2

With the confirmed date for the movie release of the much anticipated The hunger games movie adapted from the popular 'The hunger games' book by Suzanne Collins, casting can't be far away.
Already somebody has mentioned they think Nicola Peltz, most recently seen in The last airbender, is perfect for the role of Katniss Everdeen.
What do you think? Do you agree, or do you think someone else is better suited?

Wednesday worldy covers - week 2

This week German Vampire Academy

And Swedish Vampire Academy

And check out Richelles website for international covers of all her books

Guest poster - Will Wyatt

And a Paycheck, Too!

By Will Wyatt

http://www.andapaychecktoo.com/

    

      

    I am always thrilled to share my book with new audiences. I have been in the fire service for over 25 years. My friends and co-workers have told me for years I should write a book. When I finally accepted the challenge I knew I didn’t want to write a story book on one time I did this and one time I did that. I didn’t want to write a text book on fire tactics and procedures. I wanted to write a book that the average person in the community could read and perhaps get a new outlook on the people who protect their community. The next time they pull over and allow an emergency vehicle to pass maybe they might stop and think of what fire fighters really do. A book that a person who has no knowledge of the fire service could relate to.

     It’s fun, fear, humor and horror, usually all in one day. I make the point in the book the average fire fighter sees as much death as a mortician. We see death in all forms. The young, old, murder, suicide and just being at the wrong place at the wrong time routinely. When I was young I always just brushed it off as seeing another dead person. After I had children I began to change. Post children when I gazed at a lifeless person I realized this at one time was somebody’s child or this was somebody’s mother. A person having a good day was about to get a phone call or a knock on the door that a loved one was gone.

Excerpt:

People die of natural causes just about anyplace and anytime. I have seen people who have died in bed, in cars, on the floor, and on the toilet. When the end comes, it is pretty sudden. I saw a gentleman in a recliner one night with the foot rest extended with his feet crossed, one hand on top of the other, his head gently laying back on the head cushion and dead. Just like he was napping and somebody flipped a switch. I always wonder if anything was different about their last day.

When a person falls to the ground in front of loved ones, that is a very traumatic and significant benchmark in a family’s history. A mother, father, grandparent, husband, wife, or child has just died. A person you came into the world with and that you always thought would be with you forever. Subconsciously you know that can’t really be true, but most people refuse to think of it in any other terms. A person from whom you first learned about trust and understanding, among a lot of other traits, has just taken their last breath in front of you.

     If this wasn’t bad enough, you look up and here we come. An ambulance and fire truck pull up to your house and we all storm inside. We move furniture, lay the person on the floor, begin mashing on their chest, and a whole variety of activities

     I’m on Face Book and my e-mail is andapaycheck2@aol.com. Let me hear from you.

Mystery of the attic review

Mystery of the attic by T.J Perkins


What's it about?
Melissa is just an average thirteen year old with a semi average life until she moves into an eighteenth century farmhouse. There she discovers that the house is haunted by two ghosts - one good and one evil. With the help of her stepsister, they unravel an age-old mystery and solve an unsolvable crime; one that was never intended to be solved. Many evil hauntings attempt to prevent the girls from discovering the truth. It's a race against time and a battle of wits to see which will prevail - the living or the dead.


My review
4/5
Although this book is aimed at younger readers aged from 8 - 14 I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a short read and I made quick work of it! The writing style is easwy to get into and I really like the chracter of Melissa, I thought she was very mature and clever for her age and extremely determined, I also liked her relationship with her younger sister, they're friends but there's also the common sibling rivalry there that made the relationship feel more real. And along with Melissa I found myself extremely curious about the mystery of the attic. I'll definitely be looking to get my hands on the sequel, On forbidden ground and I'll also be saving the book for my children in a few years.


For more on TJ Perkins visit her page here
Find out where you can buy the book here

Bloody valentine review

Bloody valentine by Melissa De La Cruz
What's it about?
They're Young, Fabulous and Fanged...Vampires have powers beyond human comprehension: strength that defies logic, speed that cannot be captured on film, the ability to shapeshift and more. But all too often the only thing that eludes their grasp is love. So when two young lovers are kept a part by a centuries old decree, they'll be forced to learn that, in matters of the heart, not even immortals have total control...or do they?


My review.
3/5
With a title like Bloody valentine I was expecting something more... well bloody, but then I was also expecting one story and not three when I started the book.
The first 'Just another night in suck city' is the shortest and is about Oliver getting over Schuyler after she leaves with Jack at the end of The Van Alen legacy. It's short and sweet and was nice to read but I think it was more just an introduction to Melissa's upcoming series Witches of east end due out in Summer.
The second story 'Always something there to remind me' is about a young Allegra Van alen (Schuylers Mom) and how she came to meet the red blood who would be Schuylers Father, this story was my least favourite, probably because how they met has never been a burning question for me, I've always felt the books are more about Schuyler and her friends, it was however written well enough, the romance was sweet and being set in the 80s left lots of room for fun pop culture references (there are a lot)
And lastly the third story 'Ring of fire' was my favourite and what made the book worth buying, it features Schuyler and Jack right after Misguided angel (And I assume before Lost in time) getting bonded before heading in their seperate directions.
It's the only story of the three that sees some action mixed in with the romance and it was also the only story that had me not wanting to put the book down.
The rest of the book is a sizable chunk of Misguided Angel.
All in all I enjoyed the book and it would be good for a quick read but I don't think I'll read it again.


For more on Melissa De La Cruz visit her website: http://www.melissa-delacruz.com/
Buy the book here (UK)

Guest Blogger - Linda Boulanger

Obsession of the BEST kind by Linda Boulanger
The shelf life of a novel writing book writer

I have a name, but you may as well call me Bookaholic!  I’m obsessed with books – so much so that I decided to start my own small press publishing company (TreasureLine Books & Publishing) to support my addiction. Now, on a daily basis, I read and promote books by new and rising authors.  You might call it a bookaholic obsession of the worst kind because working with every detail of these books - from editing to formatting to cover creation to marketing - I know I’m going to become extremely involved in their characters, almost as if they were my own.  I actually love that!  To me, it’s an obsession of the BEST kind.

 

I’m pretty sure my obsession started when I was a young pre-teen.  We lived in Alaska and trips “home” came with 12 plus hours of flying and waiting in various airports.  My mom presented me with a stack of age-appropriate novel options.   As I grew up, romance books captured my heart – I always blamed it on my February birthday.  It is also my genre choice as an author.  I can’t resist a happy-ever-after ending, though I do want a certain amount of turmoil and characters who make me route for them before they get their happy life.  That’s the type of life I enjoy reading about and also the type I created for my character Claire in my newly released Arms of an Angel. (I'm just a little excited about this book!)

 

A bookaholic obsession provides a means of escape of the best kind; one I don't want to do without.  Where else are you not only able but also allowed to disappear and live the life of another, except when you find the time to slip into the pages of a good book?!

http://www.lindaboulanger.com/

Guest Blogger - Jayne O'Hagan

A glimpse into the world of a Bookaholic by Jayne O'Hagan
This blog has got no name

Hi I'm Jayne & i'm a bookaholic yet i don't have any desire to be cured....EVER!!!!. When i was younger i always read, i remember my sisters buying me books, always reading & i'd also write stories, as my mum use to say living in a fantasy world. Then life sort of took over after leaving school, working, having children. I rarely read,for myself maybe the occasional true life story, i always tried to read as much as possible to my children. That all changed last year when a friend bought the same book twice by accident so she sent it to me. That book was Vampire Academy Frostbite unknown to me it was book 2. Since then i have read the whole series. I then found Morganville vampires as i'd gone into Waterstones the author Rachel Caine was doing a book signing later that week on my birthday so i searched to find out all about the series & loved what i found out.I was even encouraged to buy Twilight i was reluctant as i didn't think it was my thing but i loved it. They so are my thing Twilight isn't only for teenage girls & the same friend sent me New moon & Eclipse. My obsession as taken over everything else it's all i think about, everytime i go out i'm only happy if i come home with a book. My other half asked ''why don't you join the library?'' i looked at him with all seriousness replying ''but i'd have to give them back''. All i'm looking for is people to understand that being a bookaholic isn't anything to be ashamed of lol!! No it's something to be proud of to shout about it. Those who aren't bookaholic's are missing out on so much.