News: My Love Lies Bleeding Sample Chapters

Bloomsbury are publishing Alyxandra Harvey's My Love Lies Bleeding (published as Hearts at Stake in the US) in the UK in January, and have sent me some sample pages to post. You can read them below, or here on Bloomsbury's site. There's also a cool Facebook group you can join by clicking here.

Summary from Amazon: The Blakes are rather different to your usual neighbours. They are vampires and some of the members of the family date back to the twelfth century. One of the children, Solange, is the only born female vampire known and, as such, she poses a direct threat to the vampire queen. Her best friend Lucy is human, and when Solange is kidnapped Lucy and Solange's brother, Nicholas, set out to save her. Lucy soon discovers that she would like to be more than just friends with Nicholas. But how does one go about dating a vampire? Meanwhile, Solange finds an unlikely ally in Kieran, a vampire slayer on the hunt for his father's killer.


My Love Lies Bleeding Pp1-17

US Vs. UK: The Book Thief Covers

US // UK

Considering my love of The Book Thief, I can't believe I haven't US/UK'd it yet. These are the YA covers for the book, and although the UK adult edition (as seen on my blog header) is one of my favourite covers of all time, the UK teen one just doesn't have the same effect on me. Don't get me wrong, it's lovely, but it doesn't have the same impact as the image of Liesel dancing with Death.

So, the US cover wins for me this week. The visual image of dominoes, and the inevitable thought of how they all fall down, is a brilliant representation of the story, and kudos to whoever designed it.

Waiting On Wednesday: 13 to Life - A Werewolf's Tale

Waiting on Wednesday idea from Jill at Breaking the Spine.

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13 to Life: A Werewolf's Tale by Shannon Delany

* Published by: St. Martin's Griffin (US)
* Format: Paperback (US)
* Release Date: June 22nd, 2010 (US)
* On Amazon: here.

Something strange is stalking the small town of Junction…

When junior Jess Gillmansen gets called out of class by Guidance, she
can only presume it’s for one of two reasons. Either they’ve finally figured out who wrote the scathing anti-jock editorial in the school newspaper or they’re hosting yet another intervention for her about her mom. Although far from expecting it, she’s relieved to discover Guidance just wants her to show a new student around—but he comes with issues of his own including a police escort.

The newest member of Junction High, Pietr Rusakova has secrets to hide--secrets that will bring big trouble to the small town of Junction—secrets including dramatic changes he’s undergoing that will surely end his life early.

I think this sounds brilliant, and Shannon is a very cool lady. I'm also loving the cover!

Girl, Aloud by Emily Gale

From Amazon: Kass Kennedy is in the spotlight, thanks to her Dad. He plans on selling her soul to the Devil - or at any rate to Simon Cowell when she finds herself pushed into an X-Factor audition. Kass could just say no, but her dad's manic-depressive mood swings are a cnstant worry and he has her in an emotional half-Nelson. Just when things couldn't get worse, Kass falls for a gorgeous older boy, also named Cass. She's amazed when he appears to like her, but it turns out this boy, is her best friend's long-term crush. What's a girl to do?

On the surface, Girl, Aloud looks like a fun, fluffy book about one girl's journey to The X Factor. In reality, it's a well-written, moving story about family, friends, and what it means to stand up for yourself.

It took me a good fifty pages to get into this book, as it's written in such an unusual style. It includes dream conversations, imaginary scenarios and quite a lot of instant messaging. It wasn't at all what I was expecting, but by the end, I absolutely loved Emily Gale's style of writing. It's fresh and new, and makes her stand out from the YA crowd.

Kass's family situation took a while to unfold, and rather than being frustrating, it just made me like the characters that much more. I got to know them as they are, with no drama or medical issues, and that really allowed me to sympathise with the family as all their shortcomings are slowly revealed. Kass is a strong girl who is almost carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders, and I admired her strength and determination. She chooses her own path, along with her own friends and relationships, and proves that it's okay to make your own decisions. Kass's brother Raff was by far my favourite character. He's like a thirteen-year-old money-making businessman, and has some of the best lines in the book. His relationship with Kass develops as her story progresses, and I really enjoyed their subtle sibling rivalry.

Although Girl, Aloud looks like it's all about a reality TV show, it really isn't. The X Factor is a secondary plot thread, and t hough important to a certain degree, it doesn't define what this book is about. Don't let your preconceptions put you off -- Girl, Aloud is a witty, poignant debut novel that will leave you with a newfound appreciation for families and everything that they do.

Night World: The Ultimate Fan Guide by Annette Pollert & L. J. Smith

You loved Secret Vampire and are counting down to the Strange Fate apocalypse. But who was the first made vampire? How do you properly greet a witch? And why are shapeshifters and werewolves rivals? Prepare to test your Night World knowledge with trivia questions from all nine books. Best of all, L.J. Smith shares her inspiration for the series, answers the questions you've been asking, and even reveals fun facts about herself in this official guide.

I remember reading my first Night World book in my secondary school library about ten years ago, and thinking it was the best series I'd read since The Famous Five. It's no longer my favourite series (hello, Twilight), but I still love it, and I think a lot of today's supernatural fiction owes a big thank you to L. J. Smith's fantastic imagination.

Night World: The Ultimate Fan Guide is a must-read for fans of these books, and is an entertaining compendium of facts, figures, quizzes and information. I patrticularly like the original US cover gallery, and the interview with L. J. herself. It's fascinating to get an insight into her mind, and her letter to the fans is nothing but sincere.

You'll be a Night World expert by the time you finish this book and, after reading the Strange Fate excerpt at the back, no doubt you'll be counting down to its release just like I am. Everything you ever wanted to know about the characters and creatures is present in this fan guide, and I can't wait to see if a similar Vampire Diaries volume will follow.

In My Mailbox #46: New Books This Week

In My Mailbox idea from Kristi @ The Story Siren, and all descriptions from Amazon.




I had a better week this week! I got some great books, and had a very fun book shopping trip with Carla (AKA LovesSam).

For review:

Dork Diaries by Rachel Renee Russell (This looks brilliant!)

Nikki Maxwell is not popular, in fact Nikki Maxwell is the opposite of popular; she's a total dork! But Nikki's hoping that by moving to a new school she might just stand a chance of making some friends and leaving her old lame-ways in the past. But life is never that simple! Follow Nikki's life through sketches, doodles and diary entries as she starts her new school, battles with her mum for an iPhone and meets her arch-nemisis, the school's queen bee, Mackenzie. Enter Nikki's world through her sketches, doodles and diary entries.

Bought:

The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima (Love the cover!)


Times are hard in the mountain city of Fellsmarch. Reformed thief Han Alister will do almost anything to eke out a living for himself, his mother, and his sister Mari. Ironically, the only thing of value he has is something he can't sell. For as long as Han can remember, he's worn thick silver cuffs engraved with runes. They're clearly magicked-as he grows, they grow, and he's never been able to get them off.

Meanwhile, Raisa ana'Marianna, Princess Heir of the Fells, has her own battles to fight. She's just returned to court after three years of relative freedom with her father's family at Demonai camp - riding, hunting, and working the famous Clan markets. Although Raisa will become eligible for marriage after her sixteenth name-day, she isn't looking forward to trading in her common sense and new skills for etiquette tutors and stuffy parties.

The Seven Realms will tremble when the lives of Han and Raisa collide in this stunning new page-turner from bestselling author Cinda Williams Chima.

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Dreamland by Sarah Dessen (I think this almost completes my Dessen collection!)

Rogerson Biscoe, with his green eyes and dark curly hair, is absolutely seductive. Before long, sixteen-year-old Caitlin finds herself under his spell. And when he starts to abuse her, she finds she's in too deep to get herself out...

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I'd Tell you I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill you by Ally Carter (Sounds fun!)

Cammie Morgan is a student at the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women, a fairly typical all-girls school-that is, if every school taught advanced martial arts in PE and the latest in chemical warfare in science, and students received extra credit for breaking CIA codes in computer class. The Gallagher Academy might claim to be a school for geniuses but it's really a school for spies.

Even though Cammie is fluent in fourteen languages and capable of killing a man in seven different ways, she has no idea what to do when she meets an ordinary boy who thinks she's an ordinary girl. Sure, she can tap his phone, hack into his computer, or track him through town with the skill of a real "pavement artist"-but can she maneuver a relationship with someone who can never know the truth about her? Cammie Morgan may be an elite spy-in-training, but in her sophomore year, she's on her most dangerous mission-falling in love.

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Happy reading!

GIVEAWAY: Win 5 Copies of The Dresskeeper by Mary Naylus

Thanks to Prospera Publishing, I have five (5) copies of The Dresskeeper by Mary Naylus to give away (review here).

From Amazon: When Picky's Mum forces her to look after Gran, who has dementia, Picky is accidentally transported back to the year 1685, where a man in a wig insists she is someone called Amelia and tries to kill her. Managing to get the dress off just in time, Picky returns to the present with the dress covered in blood. Who is Amelia? Is she dead? Will wearing the other dresses in the chest take Picky back in time too? And does she dare put herself in danger again?


Rules and info:

• This giveaway is open worldwide.
• Only one entry per person, please!
• You don't have to follow my blog to enter.
• Just leave a comment on this post, with a contact email address, and you'll be entered into the giveaway.
• End date: Monday December 14th.

Good luck!