Review: Annabel by Lauren Oliver

Annabel by Lauren Oliver - WARNING! I cannot review this book without spoiling the others in the series. Read no further if you're planning on reading this series and don't want it spoilt for you.

Lena's mother, Annabel, has always been a mystery - a ghost in Lena's past. Until now. Discover her secrets in Lauren Oliver's brilliant original digital story set in the world of international bestsellers Delirium and Pandemonium. Through chapters that alternate between her past and present, Annabel reveals the true story behind her failed cures, her marriage, the births of her children, her imprisonment, and, ultimately, her daring escape. From Amazon UK

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End of Year Book Survey 2012

Jamie of The Perpetual Page-Turner is holding the 3rd Annual End of Year Book Survery - 2012, and I thought I would give it a go! I'd not heard of it before, but it sounds like a great idea! So without any further ado, here are my answers:


BEST IN BOOKS 2012
1. Best Book You Read In 2012?
The very best was The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, but The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern and Don't Let Me Go by J.H. Trumble are close seconds. All three make my top three fave books of all time. Don't make me put them in order.

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?
The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jeniffer E. Smith
The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg
Hollow Pike by James Dawson
Lovely, Dark and Deep by Amy MacNamara

All of these books sounded awesome, but when it actually came to reading them, I was left feeling "meh", disappointed, or plain annoyed.

Continue reading End of Year Book Survey 2012

Review: Um... Mommy, I Think I Flushed My Brother Down the Toilet by Jeff Rivera

Um... Mommy, I Think I Flushed My Brother Down the Toilet by Jeff Rivera (review copy) - Welcome to ’Yuck Kingdom’! The streets are made of smelly jelly fellies. The trees are all winding, dinding and finding. And the hills are made of slushy gushy mush. It’s the Kingdom of Yuck and the last place that Falisha Whiskers wants to be in. But Falisha needs to find her brother Jesse.

She didn't mean to flush Jesse down the toilet… not entirely at least! And now, she needs to find him and take him back home before her daddy gets back or they’re both going to be in heaps of trouble! But the Kingdom of Yuck has more twists and turns than a water slide. Will Falisha find her brother in the twisting streets made of smelly jelly fellies? And will she be able to get him back in time, and all bathed and clean, before their mommy tells their daddy that Falisha flushed her little brother down the toilet? From Amazon UK

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Review: When It Snows by Richard Collingridge

When It Snows by Richard Collingridge (review copy) - When everything grinds to a halt because of the snow, one small boy and his teddy bear refuse to allow the weather to spoil their fun. They embark on an amazing journey in which they ride a polar bear and meet huge snowmen, an ice queen, fairies, elves, a giant reindeer and Father Christmas.

And at the very end of the story, in a wonderfully cosy and festive fireside scene, there's a clever twist - he has simply become immersed in the magical scenes of his favourite book. From Amazon UK

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Bloody Book Snobs - Or Why I'm Not Ashamed to Read YA

So this post is going to be a little bit of a rant. Last night Sarah of Saz101 mentioned in her End of Year Survey (go read it, it's great!) a post Lisa from Badass Bookie wrote about YA not being trashy. Lisa's post inspired me to write this, because I'm sick and tired of being judged for what I read by book snobs.

I read YA, as well as fantasy. They're what I like. But I now actually start to dislike when people who don't know me ask me what I read. I'm perfectly happy to jabber on about my blog and reading in general, but when this question is asked, it's with a sinking heart that I answer. Not because I'm embarrassed, but because I know what's going to come directly after I answer: the eye-roll, the eyes glazing over, the polite but clear disinterest, then shortly dismissed, or the verbal equivalent - "But they're for kids!"

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Christmas Songs!

Christmas is coming! I've been thinking about doing something on the blog to celebrate that fact, but the only things I could think of would take more time than I had to organise it all. Then I heard a Christmas song on the radio (thank you, Slade!), and had a brain wave! Why not ask people on Twitter what their favourite Christmas songs are, and share them?! So I did!

Laura of Sister Spooky said:

@sisterspooky: I wish it could be Christmas everyday! I can't help dancing and singing along badly to it.

And it's one of my faves too!

I Wish it Could Be Christmas Everyday by Wizzard

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Review: Lovely, Dark and Deep by Amy McNamara

Lovely, Dark and Deep by Amy McNamara (review copy) - Since the night of the crash, Wren Wells has been running away. Though she lived through the accident that killed her boyfriend Patrick, the girl she used to be didn't survive. Instead of heading off to college with her friends as planned, Wren retreats to her father's isolated studio in the far-north woods of Maine. Somewhere she can be alone. Then she meets Cal Owen. Dealing with his own troubles, Cal's hiding out too. And when the chemistry between them threatens to pull Wren from her hard-won isolation, Wren has to choose: risk opening her broken heart to the world again, or join the ghosts who haunt her. From Amazon UK

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Winners: A Medal for Leroy by Michael Morpurpo and Ruby Redfort: Take Your Last Breath by Lauren Child

It's time to announce some winners! For both giveaways, Randomizer.org has done it's thing, and the winners are:



A Medal for Leroy by Michael Morpurpo - Emily

Ruby Redfort: Take Your Last Breath by Lauren Child - Elise M
Congratulations to you both! Both winners have been emailed, and their details have been passed on to my contact. Better luck next time to those who didn't win - thanks for entering!

Continue reading Winners: A Medal for Leroy by Michael Morpurpo and Ruby Redfort: Take Your Last Breath by Lauren Child

Irresistible by Liz Bankes Blog Tour: The Rise of New Adult

Today, I'm honoured to have the Irresistible by Liz Bankes blog tour stopping by Once Upon a Bookcase! Liz has kindly taken the time to write about the New Adult genre.

The Rise of New Adult Fiction

I think the key word when talking about New Adult is ‘new’. You are reading about love and passion at the point where they begin. New Adult books tell the stories of the first time these things happen – they are unknown, exciting and new.

Mia in Irresistible is sixteen. She’s had one boyfriend before the summer begins, but she’s never been in love or experienced the passion and confusion that she’s about to find herself thrown into. For me, New Adult books are about the guesses and the missteps you make trying to negotiate love, or other big experiences, for the first time. I think reading a New Adult book puts you on the brink – you are about to throw yourself into the unknown.

Continue reading Irresistible by Liz Bankes Blog Tour: The Rise of New Adult

Falling Kingdom Blog Tour: Morgan Rhodes Introduces the Main Characters

Today, I have the pleasure of handing my blog over to Morgan Rhodes, author of YA high fantasy Falling Kingdoms, to talk about the book's main characters.

Falling Kingdoms – Main Characters

Falling Kingdoms was a really fun book to write because I got to follow not just one character’s story, but the stories of four very different teenagers whose lives are destined to intertwine…

Princess Cleiona (Cleo) Bellos is the princess of Auranos, the privileged golden kingdom. Because of this, well… Cleo’s a bit of a spoiled brat. How could she not be? Her courage and strength has never been tested before. Beneath it all, however, Cleo has a very pure heart and will go to the ends of the earth – literally! – to help save someone she loves.

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Weekly Gossip

Here is your bookish news from the past week.

First up, some creepy Christmas news from Bloomsbury:

• Are you the kind of person who takes delight when people slip on ice?
• Do you often wonder what dark plans that angel must be forging while stuck at the top of the tree?
• Have you ever noticed that your snowman is in a slightly different position from before?

If you have, then you sound like someone who enjoys a bit of a scare at Christmas time and will surely love the brand new ebook from Chris Priestley – Christmas Tales of Terror.

In this specially written ebook you will find malevolent snowmen, carol-loving corpses and a toy with an evil mind of its own. Chris Priestley is on top form in these atmospheric, clever and thoroughly chilling stories. Add a new kind of chill to the fluffiest of seasons with seven brilliantly conceived examples of why you'd better be good at Christmas time.

The book can be bought on Amazon for the very festive price of £2.48.

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Recommended: Don't Let Me Go by J.H. Trumble

Don't Let Me Go by J.H. Trumble - Some people spend their whole lives looking for the right partner. Nate Schaper found his at high school. In the eight months since their cautious flirting became a real heart-pounding relationship, Nate and Adam have been inseparable. Even when local kids take their homophobia to brutal levels, Nate is undaunted. But when Adam graduates and takes an off-Broadway job in New York, that certainty begins to flicker. Don't Let Me Go captures the giddiness of first love, whilst also presenting a timely discourse about bullying, bigotry and hate that is rife in schools today. From Amazon UK

This is not a review, this is a recommendation. I was sent this book to review for my LGBTQ YA Month next July, but having finished it, I can't wait until then to talk about it. Don't Let Me Go is absolutely amazing.

Brutally honest, in this novel, Trumble shows the harsh reality gay people can face. It covers all issues or problems imaginable; coming out, fighting for gay rights, and horrific homophobic attacks. We all know homophobia exists, but Don't Let Me Go is a real eye-opener, showing us exactly what people can go through. It made my blood run cold, it broke my heart, it made me feel physically sick, and more angry than you can possibly imagine.

Yet, it's also a love story, and one of the most beautiful I have ever read. This is a story that shows epic love can exist without the supernatural or paranormal. It's big, it's powerful, it's passionate, and it's just so amazing.

I don't want to say too much more, I'll save all the details for my review. I just had to tell you about this fantastic book. One of my top 3 favourite books I've ever read. I implore you to read it, it's absolutely incredible.



Published: 16th February 2012
Publisher: Kensington
J.H. Trumble's Website

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Book Blogger Needs YOU - Sophie's Blog Ink Video Blog Tour

I am a book blogger's blogger, by which I mean I am a huge fan of the people behind the various blogs I read as well as the blogs themselves. One of those such bloggers is Sophie of So Many Books, So Little Time, which is why I had no hesitation in agreeing to help her out with her own video blog tour.

Sophie has been exceptionally lucky in being picked as one of the Top Ten entrants in Mira Ink's Blog Ink competition - a competition for a blogger to win a year's paid contract with Mira Ink as their blogger in residence! Making it through to the Top Ten, Sophie has got through the first round, but now it's round two! Round two works two-fold; Sophie has had to record a 60 second video explaining why she should be Mira Ink's blogger, and also run an online campaign to show she is social media savvy to get as many views and comments on her video as possible. So for her campaign she is hosting a blog tour with her video and a giveaway, and today is my stop.


I have met Sophie a few times now, and not only does Sophie run a fantastic blog and write brilliant reviews, she's also a lovely lady. She's hugely passionate and enthusiastic about the books she reads, and she knows her stuff. Sophie deserves to win this competition. So now, on behalf of Sophie, I'm asking you a huge favour. Please watch the video above, comment on this post, go to the video's YouTube page and comment on it there, and please share the video on Facebook, Twitter, and anywhere else. Every single RT (so you can retweet my own tweet - easy, see!), comment, view and share - on all platforms - help!

Sophie has also said that for every 100 views the video has, she'll be giving away a book to a commenter who has commented anywhere; on the video on YouTube, on her blog, or any of the other blogs taking part in the blog tour. So get to it! Let's make Sophie's video viral!

Be sure to visit Painting with Words tomorrow for the next stop!

Continue reading Book Blogger Needs YOU - Sophie's Blog Ink Video Blog Tour

A Novel Cover Up: Tom Sanderson on One Seriously Messed-Up Weekend and the Otherwise Un-Messed-Up Life of Jack Samsonite by Tom Clempson

A Novel Cover Up is a semi-regular feature that looks at how covers are made. I have been fortunate enough to interview book jacket designer Tom Sanderson about how he designed the cover for One Seriously Messed-Up Weekend in the Otherwise Un-Messed-Up Life of Jack Samsonite by Tom Clempson, the second book in the Jack Samsonite series. Except for the final covers and the movie poster, all images in this post are copyrighted to Tom Sanderson and used with permission, and can be clicked to enlarge.

Can you tell us about the cover for OSMUWeekend? What do you hope it tells readers about the story?

This is Tom Clempson’s second book about Jack Samsonite. I designed the first cover about 18 months ago for Atom. The new cover very much follows the style of the first book, it is meant to look quite doodley and graphic. As you can see the book has a very long title so the cover had to have a very typographic approach. The books have elements of Adrian Mole and The Inbetweeners, and the cover needed to reflect this and be contemporary and look cool, so a hand drawn approach was the right way to go with it.

Continue reading A Novel Cover Up: Tom Sanderson on One Seriously Messed-Up Weekend and the Otherwise Un-Messed-Up Life of Jack Samsonite by Tom Clempson

Weekly Gossip

Here's your weekly news from the past week!

First up, cover reveals!

The cover for Andy Robb's second novel, Geekhood: Mission Improbable has been released by Stripes Publishing:

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