Glass of Wine

I am delighted to be hosting a stop on the Dandelion Clocks blog tour. Rebecca Westcott is a very talented debut author who's beautiful tale of loss was emotionally charged and surprisingly gentle. Diary entries play a big part in the storyline and I'm thrilled to be sharing a diary entry from an 11 year old Rebecca Westcott! Enjoy! Summary from Goodreads Dandelion Clocks by Rebecca Westcott Smith will be loved by fans of Jacqueline Wilson, Cathy Cassidy or Annabel Pitcher. Liv takes us on a journey through her life from "Thirteen Weeks Before" to "Six Months After". We discover Liv's passion for photography, her brother's obsession with sticking to the rules, the stupidity of Moronic Louise at school, and how the family copes as Mum's terminal illness takes hold...Guided by Mum's own childhood diaries, Liv finds a new way to live. This book is real, funny, utterly touching and absolutely heartwarming. Despite the sadness at the hear...

Summary from Goodreads The riveting conclusion to the sci-fi thriller STARTERS! Someone is after Starters like Callie and Michael - teens with chips in their brains. They want to experiment on anyone left over from Prime Destinations -With the body bank destroyed, Callie no longer has to rent herself out to creepy Enders. But Enders can still get inside her mind and make her do things she doesn't want to do. Like hurt someone she loves. Having the chip removed could save her life - but it could also silence the voice in her head that might belong to her father. Callie has flashes of her ex-renter Helena's memories, too . . . and the Old Man is back, filling her with fear. Who is real and who is masquerading in a teen body? No one is ever who they appear to be, not even the Old Man. Determined to find out who he really is and grasping at the hope of a normal life for herself and her younger brother, Callie is ready to fight for the truth. Even if it kills her. Paper...

Summary from Goodreads Sworn to protect, honour and slay. Because chaos won’t banish itself… Kit is proud to be a Blackhart, now she’s encountered her unorthodox cousins and their strange lives. And her home-schooling now includes spells, fighting enemy fae and using ancient weapons. But it’s not until she rescues a rather handsome fae prince, fighting for his life on the edge of Blackhart Manor, that her training really kicks in. With her family away on various missions, Kit must protect Prince Thorn, rely on new friends and use her own unfamiliar magic to stay ahead of Thorn’s enemies. As things go from bad to apocalyptic, fae battle fae in a war that threatens to spill into the human world. Then Kit pits herself against the Elder Gods themselves – it’s that or lose everyone she’s learnt to love. Paperback , 400 pages Expected publication: February 27th 2014 by Tor UK   My Review    Gahhh...I don't know where to start with this mind blow...

I am delighted to be sharing the fabulous cover for Laure Eve's new book The Illusionists! I am a huge fan of Laure's writing and her debut Fearsome Dreamer rocked my socks off last year! I just can't wait to have my hands on this second instalmet. So without further ado...   Summary A shocking new world. A dangerous choice. Two futures preparing to collide... Having left White behind her in Angle Tar, Rue is trying to make sense of her new and unfamiliar life in World. Its culture is as baffling as is it thrilling to her, and Rue quickly realises World's fascination with technology can have intoxicating and deadly consequences.  She is also desperately lonely. And so is White. Somehow, their longing for each other is crossing into their dreams, dreams that begin to take increasingly strange turns as they appear to give Rue echoes of the future. Then the dreams reveal the advent of something truly monstrous, and with it the realisation that Rue and White will ...

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: Cursed by Diamonds by J.K. Ensley Summary from Goodreads Jenevier and Jezreel are childhood friends spending the summer with Jenevier's dying Aunt Marlise, the healer in a town called Moorglen. At Marlise's Life Celebration feast, the twisted Prince of Wrothdem marks...

Summary from Goodreads The third book in the erotic, dark paranormal fantasy series, Eye Of The Storm. Lydia becomes ever closer to her three mates. However, with unrest all around, she is struggling to keep her wolves together for her first full moon, just twenty-four hours away. A trip back home for Ryan could bring much needed support for them all, but at what cost? As The Trident close in on Ryan's pack, the pack itself becomes divided over Lydia's presence and Lawrence is encouraged to return as the Alpha. But they don't know his secret, and he's doubtful of his ability to protect them. Can he fulfil his rightful role, or will his efforts prove fatal? Meanwhile, among the arid plains of Egypt, in a long-forgotten city, one man is pitting himself against the beast inside him in order to find salvation, only to realise, so much more is at stake than his soul. (Notes: Book three of a series - it is highly recommended that the books are read in order. This...

"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:   Don't Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout Summary from Goodreads What if you had the chance to start again...but only if you promised never to look back? Samantha is popular, rich, and seemed to have it all...until the night she and her best 'frenemy' Cassie disappeared and only Sammy resurfaced, with no recollection of who she is or what happened. Sammy's a stranger in her own life - a life she no longer wants any part of. Losing her memory is a chance to start again. Then Sammy begins receiving mysterious notes warning her about that night, urging her to not look back. But she can't let it go. As she starts poking around in her past she begins to remember...and something sinister begins to surface.   UK , 368 pages Exp...

Summary from Goodreads Gorgeous. Popular. Perfect. Perfectly wrong. Tally has finally become pretty. Now her looks are beyond perfect, her clothes are awesome, her boyfriend is totally hot, and she's completely popular. It's everything she's ever wanted. But beneath all the fun -- the nonstop parties, the high-tech luxury, the total freedom -- is a nagging sense that something's wrong. Something important. Then a message from Tally's ugly past arrives. Reading it, Tally remembers what's wrong with pretty life, and the fun stops cold. Now she has to choose between fighting to forget what she knows and fighting for her life -- because the authorities don't intend to let anyone with this information survive. Paperback , 384 pages Published May 24th 2012 by Simon & Schuster (first published May 5th 2005) My Review Pretties picks up after the events of Uglies and Tally's pretty operat...

Summary from Goodreads Tonight is a special, terrible night. A woman sits at her father's bedside watching the clock tick away the last hours of his life. Her brothers and sisters - all traumatised in their own ways, their bonds fragile - have been there for the past week, but now she is alone. And that's always when it comes. As the clock ticks in the darkness, she can only wait for it to find her... Hardcover , 144 pages Published December 5th 2013 by Jo Fletcher Books (first published 2009) My Review I just don't know how to explain how this book made me feel - it's like I stumbled upon something not quite like what I was expecting and completely loosing myself to it's beauty. In the end I knew that I truly had held something very special in my hands! I think this is a bravely told story, brave because it's honest and a lot of people will relate to the thoughts and feelings that they may feel...

"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: Goose by Dawn O' Porter Summary from Amazon UK It's a year and a half on from PAPER AEROPLANES, and Renée is now living idyllically with her Auntie Jo. They even have geese, and Renée likes to sit and watch them, wondering if she'll ever find 'the One' - someone who will love her no matter what, and be there for her no matter how bad things get. She and Flo are in their final year at school, and they've got some tough choices to make - like will they go to university? And if so where - and will they go together? Renée's usual ambivalence on the matter shocks Flo, who had assumed they'd continue as they were, the best and closest of friends, forever. She feels as though she needs Renée's support more than eve...

Summary from Goodreads 'He's the seventh son of a seventh son. His name is Thomas J. Ward and he's my gift to the County. When he's old enough we'll send you word. Train him well. He'll be the best apprentice you've ever had and he'll also be your last.' These were the words of Tom's Mam to the county Spook some years ago. As Tom, the Spook and their allies prepare to battle with the Fiend on a huge scale, to finally enact their revenge, it now remains to be seen whether Mam's declaration will come true. Hardcover , 336 pages Published December 5th 2013 by Bodley Head My Review Aw, what a bitter-sweet moment this is! I have lived and breathed this epic series and I'm very sad to see it coming to an end - but what a conclusion it was! The tone to this final instalment has changed somewhat slightly from previous books and I think it's mainly to do with the change in Tom himself! He has grown into such a ma...

Summary from Goodreads Darkness never dies. Alina and Mal are on the run. Hunted and haunted, but together at last, they can't outrun Alina's past or her destiny forever. The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and he needs Alina to realise his dangerous plan. There are others who would like to use Alina's gift too. And as her power grows, somehow, she must choose between her country, her power, and her love - or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm. Glorious. Epic. Irresistible. Romance. Perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore and Laini Taylor. Paperback , 386 pages Published June 6th 2013 by Indigo (An Imprint of Orion Publishing) (first published June 4th 2013) My Review Siege and Storm is a fabulous sequel to the epic Shadow and Bone - which I devoured a little while ago! I most definitely wasn't disappointed, Leigh Bardugo brought the awesome yet again! I was...

Summary from Goodreads Dane Washington and Billy D. couldn't be more different. Dane is clever and popular, but he's also a violent rebel. Billy D. has Down's syndrome, plays by the rules and hangs out with teachers in his lunch break. But Dane and Billy have more in common than they think - both their fathers are missing. They're going to have to suck up their differences and get on with helping each other. There are answers to be found. Powerful, funny, moving - the ultimate coming-of-age novel. Hardcover , 370 pages Expected publication: February 6th 2014 by Faber and Faber (You can check out my glowing 5* review of Dead Ends here ) About the author Erin Lange writes facts by day and fiction by night. As a TV news producer, she is inspired by real-world issues and uses her writing to explore how those issues impact teenagers. She grew up in the cornfields of northern Illinois, along the Mississippi River, but now lives in the sunshine in Arizona...

"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: Blackfin Sky by Kat Ellis Summary from Goodreads When Sky falls from Blackfin Pier and drowns on her sixteenth birthday, the whole town goes into mourning – until she shows up three months later like nothing happened. Unravelling the mystery of those missing months takes Sky to the burned-out circus in the woods, where whispers of murder and kidnapping begin to reveal the town’s secrets. But Sky’s not the only one digging up the past – the old mime from the circus knows what happened to her, and he has more than one reason for keeping quiet about it. Paperback , 252 pages Expected publication: May 14th 2014 by Firefly Press (first published January 1st 2014)    Why this book?   The blurb d...

Summary from Goodreads Three sisters with Big secrets. Get ready to meet...SAVANNAH COURTNEY PEYTON The Diamond sisters never knew their father and never could catch a break. But their luck is about to change when they find out the secret identity of their long-lost dad – a billionaire Las Vegas hotel owner who wants them to come and live in a gorgeous penthouse suite. Suddenly they have access to all that their dad’s money can provide, meaning it should be easier than ever to fit right in. But in a town full of secrets and illusions, fitting in is nothing compared with finding out the truth about their past… Expected publication: March 7th 2014 by Mira Ink   My Review Oooh, this is a super glitzy and glamorous read full of the most fantastic trio of characters! Michelle Madow is a wonderful writer, her lush descriptors of Vegas transported me to the bright lights, sounds and bustle of the strip. I couldn't of been happier loosing myself to the deligh...

 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:     The One (The Selection #3) by Kiera Cass   Summary from Goodreads The Selection changed the lives of thirty-five girls forever. And now, the time has come for one winner to be chosen. America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to ...