In My Mailbox 49

This meme was started by the fabulous Kristi who was inspired by Alea. If you want more information check out their blogs. All summaries are from the book jackets.

For review:

My Worst Best Friend - Dyan Sheldon

“Promise me you’ll always be my best friend, Gracie,” said Savanna.
“No matter what happens. Promise. Promise. Promise.” I laughed. “Of course I will,” I promised.

It was a no-brainer. There was nothing that could ever end our friendship. We were soul sisters. We were cosmic twins and would be forever.

As least that’s what I thought then.

Thanks to Walker for a review copy of this book. I’m looking forward to it!

How to Train Your Dragon - Cressida Cowell

Can Hiccup pass the Dragon Initiation Programme with a toothless dragon AND fight the Sea Dragonus Maximus before it gobbles up every Viking on Berk?

It’s time for Hiccup to learn how to be a Hero.

This was a surprise from Hodder and it looks hilarious. I also got a really cool booklet and the movie trailer DVD.

Bought:

Nobody’s Girl - Sarra Manning

Life is hard for dreamers…

Plain, frumpy, dull as mud - that’s Bea. So when super-cool Ruby and her posse want to hang with her, it has to be practical joke. But an invitation to a girly holiday in Malaga with Ruby and co. seems like the real deal. Even better, Bea can get away from her annoying mum.

But after forty-eight hours in Spain, Bea is heading to Paris to find the father she’s never met. On the way she meets Toph, an American student backpacking around Europe, and as they search for her dad in the cafés and boulevards of Paris, she loses her heart instead.

Is Bea Toph’s girl or the good girl her mum expects her to be? Or will this be the magical summer that Bea finally becomes her own girl?

I LOVE Sarra Manning’s books so when my sister spotted this in WH Smith’s, I nearly lost it with excitement.

Along for the Ride - Sarah Dessen

Auden has always felt like the odd one out.

Since her parents’ divorce she’s shied away, studying lots and staying out of the party scene.

But now Auden’s realised there must be something more and, just like that, she changes everything. Moving to her dad’s house opens up a whole new world of beach parties, food fights - and simply having fun.

As she gets to know herself - and a secretive boy with dark, brooding eyes - can Auden begin to let go and finally feel like she truly belongs?

*Squee* Thank you, thank you, thank you, Jenny! (Can you tell I’m excited to read this one?)

The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove - Lauren Kate

All it takes is one fatal mistake.

What she wanted:
Natalie Hargrove wants one thing and one thing only - to be her high school’s Palmetto Princess. Among the other Southern Belles, a.k.a. Bambies, competing for the crown, she’s by far the most beautiful, and the most deserving. Or so she thinks.

The catch:
Her boyfriend, Mike King, is on the brink of losing Palmetto Prince to Nat’s nasty nemesis Justin Balmer. And let’s just say Natalie and Justin have a history so shady it could wither flowers. Sure, Natalie could share the throne with Justin - over her dead body.

The trick:
So Nat convinces Mike to help her play a naughty little prank on Justin…just to make him look bad. Little do they know, the plan is about to go terribly, terribly wrong.

The fatal flaw:
Natalie and Mike desperately try to cover up what happened to Justin. But blackmail and buried desire, dark secrets and even darker deeds slowly begin to tear them apart. Because fate is the one thing more twisted than Natalie Hargrove.

Very excited for this one because I loved Fallen.

Some Girls Are - Courtney Summers

Climbing to the top of the social ladder is hard--falling from it is even harder. Regina Afton used to be a member of the Fearsome Fivesome, an all-girl clique both feared and revered by the students at Hallowell High... until vicious rumours about her and her best friend's boyfriend start going around.

Now Regina's been "frozen out" and her ex-best friends are out for revenge. If Regina was guilty, it would be one thing, but the rumours are far from the terrifying truth and the bullying is getting more intense by the day. She takes solace in the company of Michael Hayden, a misfit with a tragic past who she herself used to bully. Friendship doesn't come easily for these onetime enemies, and as Regina works hard to make amends for her past, she realizes Michael could be more than just a friend... if threats from the Fearsome Foursome don't break them both first.

Tensions grow and the abuse worsens as the final days of senior year march toward an explosive conclusion in this dark new tale from the author of Cracked Up To Be.

I've heard amazing thing after amazing thing about this book so I hope it meets my expectations.

Sophie

Featured on Friday: Pam Bachorz

Pam Bachorz lives just outside Washington, D.C. with her husband and their son. Candor is her first novel.

1. Is there a specific time or place that you do your best writing in?
I do most of my writing in my study, surrounded by tall, tall built-in bookshelves that are stuffed with my favorites. They keep me company like old friends. I also like meeting writer friends at coffee shops to write--somehow it's harder to take "breaks" and surf the web when a writer you like and admire is tapping away across from you!

2. Who were your favourite authors as a teenager? Are they different to your current favourites?
As a teen, some of my favorite authors were L.M. Montgomery (a fave now and since I was 8 or 9), Lois Duncan, Mildred Ames, anybody who wrote for the Sunfire Romance series... I especially liked creepy stories with paranormal or sci fi elements. These days, I read YA almost exclusively and have so many favorites. One of my recent favorites is James Dashner's MAZE RUNNER.

3. If you were only allowed to take three books to a desert island, what would they be?
Anne of Green Gables, by L.M. Montgomery. The True Meaning of Smekday, by Adam Rex (because it makes me laugh out loud and I still quote it, a year after reading it). And an anthology of the best-ever science fiction short stories.

4. Is there a novel that you wish you’d written? Why?
Well, gee, I think one hundred authors could have the same idea and produce one hundred entirely different books... so I can't say there's another book by another author that I wish I had written. Of course there are plenty of authors I admire. Right now I'm still swooning over Lev Grossman's THE MAGICIANS... the detail, the character development, the fact that I never wanted to skip a single word... (rare for me)

5. What inspired you to write Candor?
I've always been freaked out by brainwashing and mind control. Back when my family was living in a planned community in Florida, I was out walking the dog and the mosquito truck drove by. It sprayed the "harmless" citrus spray all over us and I thought, "what if this stuff had Prozac in it? what if it made everybody here happy and friendly?" From there I jumped to brainwashing through messages hidden in music... not too tough when you're living in a town that plays music OUTSIDE when you're in the downtown area!

6. The ending of Candor is heartbreaking; it made me cry! What made you end it in that way!
Once I thought of it... after many drafts... I felt like there was no other way it COULD end. I'm not a big fan of neat endings!

7. Most dystopias are set far in the future. Why did you choose to set Candor in the present?
I love writing stories that could be happening this very minute... that you can imagine you might be in the middle of, if your life had taken a different path.

8. Are you working on anything at the moment? Can you tell us anything about it?

I am currently revising DROUGHT, another book for teens that Egmont USA will be publishing. It's a dark fantasy set in the woods of upstate New York, this time with a girl for a main character.

Thank you very much, Pam! You can visit Pam on her website here and read my review of Candor here.

Sophie

My Love Lies Bleeding - Alyxandra Harvey

My Love Lies Bleeding - Alyxandra Harvey

Pages: 248
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Release Date: 4th January 2010

Other Titles in the Series: Blood Feud (UK 05/07/10)

“They’re close,” she murmered. “Watching.”

“Run?” I suggested. “Like right now?”

She shook her head. “If we act like prey, they’ll act like predators.”

Solange has always known she is a vampire. And as the only female vampire ever born, not initiated, she is surrounded by danger on all sides - from other vampire tribes who want to take her blood into their lineage, and from the bounty hunters who are set on destroying her and her family.

When she is kidnapped, it’s up to her older brother, Nicholas, and best friend, Lucy, to save her.

But can Lucy save herself from Nicholas, who tempts her with every look - what will be her own fate if she surrenders her heart to a vampire?

My Love Lies Bleeding is the addictive first book in what I’m sure is going to be a fantastic new vampire series.

For me, this book can be summed up in just two words: pure fun. I was giggling aloud to myself the entire way through; mostly at Lucy. She’s such a brilliant character! Equal parts mad, loyal, funny and caring. Whenever she said anything remotely serious, she added a funny line at the end and her comebacks to the Drake boys and Kieran were hilarious. The spilt narrative of My Love Lies Bleeding also allowed us to hear Solange’s side of the story. I didn’t connect with her as much as I did with Lucy as she was most definitely out-shouted by her and didn’t feel quite as alive (no pun intended!).

But as much as I loved the girls, the boys completely stole their crown. I’m a sucker for a vampire guy; it’s becoming a serious problem! All of Solange’s brothers are completely kickass and would do anything for their little sister. Nicholas, however, is by far my favourite. His seriousness, beauty and killer smile reminded me of a certain other vampire, which could explain why I like him so much! All of the boys provided many comic moments that just made me love My Love Lies Bleeding all the more.

When I began reading My Love Lies Bleeding I wasn’t too impressed with the vampire mythology; it seemed a little samey. As I read on, I realised just how different it actually is and soon came to love Solange’s, rather confusing, world. I loved all of the older Drake vamps wearing their period outfits and sitting in their parlours, having balls and eating blood-laced raspberry mousse.

I loved My Love Lies Bleeding and I’m excited to read the next instalment of the Drake Chronicles, Blood Feud, when it’s released in July.

For my 2010 Debut Author Challenge, 2010 100+ Reading Challenge

Sophie

Signing Report: Maria V. Snyder

Last Thursday, Maria V. Snyder came to my local Waterstone’s and did a talk, reading, Q & A and signing. Naturally, I had to go along and meet her. Maria is completely lovely, really funny and very chatty. Here are some pictures of my signed books (sorry you can't read them properly, it was too dark for without a flash and the flash was too bright) and all of what I can remember of what Maria told us in her talk and in answers to questions:

- Poison Study took Maria 5 years to write.
- Now a book only takes between 4 and 6 months.
- She is a “seat of the pants” writer.

"Welcome to my Study Hall - today's lesson Poison!"

- Maria dreamt Inside Out from beginning to end, characters and plotline.
- She has a degree in Meteorology, which helped with the construction of the Stormdancer clan.
- Maria’s editor asked for the Glass trilogy because she felt that Opal was an interesting character and although Maria initially resisted, she was soon full of ides for the trilogy.

"Magic, murder and mayhem...Have you studied? I hope so."

- Short stories from the Study trilogy, Power Study and Ice Study are on Maria’s website.
- Maria would like to one day go back and write about the Commander and Valek set before Poison Study.
- She also wants to write more books in the Study trilogy one day.

"Good ahead play with fire - I won't tell!"

- Maria learnt about food tasting from her food taster husband for Poison Study.
- Maria learnt to horse ride for Magic Study.
- Maria learnt to blow glass for Fire Study.

"Caught in a riptide, which way would you go?"

- The UK covers of her books are her favourite.
- The image on the US Sea Glass is her editor’s Waterford Crystal starfish.
- Spy Glass will be released in the UK in October (I think) and Inside Out in December.

"The sea is full of treasure."

I had a fantastic time and I encourage you to go and meet Maria if you get a chance. You won’t regret it!

Sophie

In My Mailbox 48

This meme was started by the fabulous Kristi who was inspired by Alea. If you want more information check out their blogs. All summaries are from the book jackets.

For review:

Lex Trent Versus the Gods - Alex Bell

Cheats never prosper. At least that’s what everyone else would have you believe. But Lex Trent knows better. Lex knows that, with a bit of luck, the quickest route to success is a lie, swindle and cheat all the way to the top.

Unfortunately Lex has taken his scams a step too far… Rather than see his neck in a noose, he’s forced to go on the run in a world of irritable Gods, fearsome magicians and strange beasts.

But luck is still on his side, just.

The Gods’ favourite pastime is The Games… and Lex has just become one of the human playing pieces. With fame, glory and untold wealth at stake, Lex isn’t going to lose (especially as that so often means dying) - in fact, he fully intends to beat the Gods at their own game.

Thanks to Headline for a copy of this to review.

Bought:

Sea Glass - Maria V. Snyder (signed)

Her abilities remained hidden - until challenged by enemy forces.

Student glass magician Opal Cowan’s newfound skills to steal a magician’s strength make her too powerful.

Kept under house arrest, Opal dares defy her imprisonment to search for Ulrik, the man she thinks she loves. Thinks because she is sure another man - now her prisoner - has switched souls with Ulrick.

In hostile territory, without proof or allies, Opal isn’t sure whom to trust. And now everyone is after Opal’s special powers for their own deadly gain…

I managed to pick this up at Maria’s signing on Thursday, so I’m very excited to start the trilogy after hearing Maria read a section. A full signing report will be up Monday.

Undead Much? - Stacey Jay

Q: How many guys does it take to make your boyfriend wild with jealousy?
A: Only one, if he’s undead.

Megan Berry had a perfectly average new-sindress-and-boy-obsessed life - until her power to settle the Undead returned. Oh, and her best friend tried to kill her - and ruin homecoming - with a bunch of black magically raised zombies. At least she got a spot on the pom squad and a smoking’ boyfriend (Ethan). But now Megan is in deep fertilizer all over again. Why? Well, let’s see…

- Feral new super-strong zombies? Check.
- Cheerleader vs. pom squad turf war threatening the end of the half time as we know it? Check.
- An Undead psychic hottie (Cliff) who’s predicting a zombie apocalypse - and doing his best to tempt megan away from Ethan? Check. - Earth-shattering secrets that could land Megan in Settler prison for life. Um…It wasn’t me!!

Everyone thinks Megan’s at fault for the new uber-zombie uprising. Looks like she’ll need the help of both Cliff and Ethan if she’s going to prove her innocence before it’s too late.

So excited for the one! I loved You Are So Undead to Me.

Sophie