Review: Breathless by Brigid Kemmerer

Breathless by Brigid Kemmerer (review copy) - 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.

Too many secrets. Not enough time.

Nick Merrick is supposed to be the level-headed one. The peacemaker. Since it's just him and his three hotheaded brothers against the world, that's a survival tactic.

But now he's got problems even his brothers can't help him survive.

His so-called girlfriend, Quinn, is going quick as mercury from daring to crazy. Meanwhile, Quinn's dancer friend Adam is throwing Nick off balance, forcing him to recognize a truth he'd rather shove back into the dark.

He can feel it--the atmosphere is sizzling. Danger is on the way. But whatever happens next, Nick is starting to find out--sometimes nothing you do can keep the peace. From Amazon UK

Continue reading Review: Breathless by Brigid Kemmerer

Weekly Gossip

Here is your bookish news from the past week.

Before I start, I should tell you that this will be my last Weekly Gossip post. As you would know from my Changes to Once Upon a Bookcase post, you will know I've been trying to reduce the amount of time I spend on blogging admin so I have time for other things I want to do. I had decided I will only post news posts about things I'm interested in, but after more thought, I've decided I'm going to stop these posts altogether. Unless I'm excited about something and really want to talk about it on the blog, I will no longer be posting any book or author news. However, I will be tweeting news I'm interested in - because I still want to share it, and on Twitter it's much quicker - so if you still want to know about the news I receive, please follow me on there - @Jo_Stapley

So first off, the self-published versions Night Creatures Series by Marianne de Pierres is now available to buy on Amazon!


As I said in March, Marianne decided to self-publish this series on Amazon so it is available worldwide rather than just in Australia and New Zealand from Random House Aus Teens, and now they are available! Check them out at the following links:

Amazon US eBooks and Paperbacks / Amazon UK eBooks and Paperbacks

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First Class Post (48) & Weekly Highlights

First Class Post - because this post is first class!

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London Book Fair - Blogging: The New Community Write-Up

So as you would know from reading this post, I was asked to be the Media Partner for the London Book Fair 2013's Children's Innovation Theatre, and I was also asked to be a speaker. So:

On the 16th April 2013, I went to the London Book Fair.

To speak on a panel.

Called Blogging: The New Community.

AND I DID IT!


Photo taken by Hermione Lawton of Puffin.
So this isn't your normal event report. I'm not going to tell you in detail what was discussed (mostly because it's all a bit of a blur!). This is just a post with a little bit from me, gushing, and some photos.

Continue reading London Book Fair - Blogging: The New Community Write-Up

2013 YA UK Debut Interview: ACID by Emma Pass

We all like supporting YA and New Adult debut authors, but this year, rather than just read their books, I'll be highlighting them on my blog too, so you can hear about these wonderful authors.

Today I'm interviewing UKYA author Emma Pass whose debut YA novel, ACID, is being published by Corgi Children's Books in the UK on 25th April 2013. Read on for more:

Acid by Emma Pass - ACID - the most brutal police force in history.
They rule with an iron fist.
They see everything. They know everything.
They locked me away for life.

My crime?
They say I murdered my parents.
I was fifteen years old.

My name is Jenna Strong. from Goodreads.

Continue reading 2013 YA UK Debut Interview: ACID by Emma Pass

Weekly Gossip

Here's your bookish news from the past week.

First up, cover reveals. Bloomsbury have revealed the cover to Crown of Midnight the sequel to Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas.


I'm not a huge fan. It looks too cartoony for me. I don't like the red flames. What do you think?

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First Class Post (47)

First Class Post - because this post is first class!

Continue reading First Class Post (47)

Weekly Gossip

Here's your bookish news from the past week:

It's all cover reveals this week!

Simon and Schuster Children's Books have revealed the covers for a number of New Adult Novels they have coming out this year:


GOING TOO FAR & FORGET YOU – JENNIFER ECHOLS
Publishing 11th April in paperback

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Month of Men Blog Tour: Abbi Glines on Writing the Bits that Make You Blush

I'm ecstatic to say today is my stop in the Simon and Schuster Children's Books New Adult Month of Men Blog Tour! Abbi Glines, author of the Sea Breeze and Vincent Boys series, is stopping by my blog to talk about writing the bits that make you blush.

Writing the bits that make you blush by Abbi Glines

I’m a romantic. I realized this when I was five years old and all I wanted to do was to have Barbie weddings. Ken and Barbie got married three times a day, seven days a week at my house. I was obsessed with that first kiss. They got a lot of good hot kisses in too.

Continue reading Month of Men Blog Tour: Abbi Glines on Writing the Bits that Make You Blush

First Class Post (46)

First Class Post - because this post is first class!

Continue reading First Class Post (46)

Review: With All My Soul by Rachel Vincent

With All My Soul by Rachel Vincent (review copy) - 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.

KAYLEE CAVANAUGH's Taking her final STAND! After spending the last month undead, Kaylee has had enough of the paranormal creatures who have plagued her ever since she came into her banshee powers. Now she's ready to take her school back from the evil hellions, once and forever. To protect her friends, Kaylee will need to find a way to turn the living incarnations of Avarice, Envy and Vanity against one another. Yet when one more person close to her is taken, Kaylee realises she can't save everyone she loves without making some powerful sacrifices... From Amazon UK

Continue reading Review: With All My Soul by Rachel Vincent

Winner: Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis Swag Pack

Sorry for the late announcement! The giveaway for the Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis swag pack has now ended. Thank you to everyone who entered! Randomizer.org has done it's thing, and the winner is:

June L
Congratulations! The winner has been contacted, and I will be posting her prize shortly.

Continue reading Winner: Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis Swag Pack

Changes to Once Upon a Bookcase

I love blogging, you all know this, but I love doing other things too. I have been finding lately that with the things that go on behind the scenes, what my readers don't see, is eating into a lot of my time, and I just don't have any over for the other things I like to do.

I have decided to try and greatly reduce the time spent on blogging admin - reading and responding to emails, the things I agree to, etc. This mostly won't affect you, readers, it mostly affects the publicists etc. that  contact me, but there will be changes:

• Once Upon a Bookcase will be taking part in fewer blog tours. 
• Weekly Gossip posts will continue to reveal covers and trailers, but the rest of the news will be things I'm interested in, rather than everything I get emailed about that is relevant to YA and/or fantasy.

It doesn't sound like much, but the time I normally spend on these things can take a few hours a week what with the various emails, getting images, formatting the posts. The time instead will be spent on doing other things I enjoy - perhaps even more reading, as I'm pretty sure I spend more time in a day sat in front of the computer rather than actually reading. If you're interested in the other changes I'm making that affect publicists/publishers/PR people - or if you actually are one - please read my Review Policy, which has just been updated.

Thanks for reading and understanding.

Continue reading Changes to Once Upon a Bookcase

Weekly Gossip

Here is your bookish news from the past week.

First up, cover reveals!

Hodder and Stoughton have revealed the cover for the paperback of Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor!


What do you think? Not too different from the hardback, same colours and with the fire, but also linked to the paperback of Daughter of Smoke and Bone, which is of a door. It's pretty eye-catching!

Continue reading Weekly Gossip