Books, Biscuits & Tea

Review Copy Cleanup [challenge 1] - Show Off Your Pile

2012-03-02T12:00:00.008+01:00

Hi everyone, and welcome to our first Review Copy Cleanup Challenge! For those of you that haven't signed up for the Review Copy Cleanup yet, you still can! Just go here and add your name to the Linky.

The Show Off Your Pile Challenge is very simple. All you have to do is share what you are planning to read (or have read already!) this month during the Review Copy Cleanup. Feel free to take a photo of your TBR pile you are aiming to devour this month - or if you don't have a camera at hand or you're reading ebooks, just make a list of your books or post the cover image. Not only can we then spy on you what you're reading, but you can also win some very cool books in the first giveaway of the Cleanup!

What's up for grabs?

3x ebook Curse of Ancient Shadows by Rod Tyson

1x ebook Hard Day's Knight by John G. Hartness

1x ebook Ethereal Influence: The Birth by Lana Bradstream

Five lucky winners will get to choose from the three ebooks listed above. It's first come, first serve - which means that the first winner will get to choose first, the second winner chooses next, and so on.

Challenge guidelines:

▶ Be signed up in the linky here (Sign up ends Thursday, March 15)
▶ You have to follow both this blog and Nyx Book Reviews in order to compete for the prizes
▶ Leave us a direct link to your challenge post in the linky below (this is not the same Linky as the sign-up one!) The linky is the same on both of our blogs so you only have to enter your name once. :)
▶ The challenge ends on Thursday, March 8 - the winners will be contacted by email and announced during next week's challenge.

Leave us a link to your challenge post in this linky:

RCC Challenge: Showing Off My Pile!

2012-03-02T11:59:00.001+01:00

Here's my own entry for the first Review Copy Cleanup challenge. Even though I'll start the challenge late because I have to read a book for one of my classes next week, I hope I'll be able to read some of my review copies that have been sitting on my bookshelf for a while. My aim is to read 5 books - we'll see how it goes.

The books I'm aiming to read during the challenge:

(in no particular order)

So, that's it :) What are you guys going to read?

International Book Giveaway - March

2012-03-01T00:05:00.004+01:00

Hello, bookaholics. March is finally here and what better way to start this month than by doing a giveaway! :)

The giveaway runs from today until 31 March and it's international!

And what do you win, you ask? Well, I have a paperback copy of Kathryn Erskine's Mockingbird to give away to one lucky winner, courtesy of Usborne Publishing. I absolutely loved this book and I'm sure you'll like it just as much as I did. :) If you have a minute, you can read my review here.

Giveaway details:

♥ Open to international followers
♥ The winner will receive a paperback copy of Mockingbird. To check out this book on Goodreads, click here.
♥ There's only one mandatory entry and a bunch of optional ones - the more you fill out, the better chance you have of winning :)
♥ You must fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter
GOOD LUCK! :)

Giveaway button:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: My Name is Olivia...and I Can't Do Anything About It - Jowi Schmitz

2012-02-29T16:43:00.000+01:00

Title: My Name is Olivia...and I Can't Do Anything About It
Author: Jowi Schmitz
Publication date: May 1, 2012
Publisher: Lemniscaat USA
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1-935954-11-8
Length: 178 pages
Genre: Middle grade fiction

Order from Amazon US | The Book Depository | Barnes & Noble

How do you cope with the loss of your mother, while your father is jolted as well? With wit, courage, humor and improvising.

Olivia is ten years old. The major problem in her life is that her mother died. The second major problem is that her father doesn't really know what to do ...

Olivia and her father live on a small boat in the garden of a barbershop. Temporarily, says her dad. But how long is temporarily? And how do you get away from a boat in a garden with a father who doesn't know what to do, without a mother, but with lots of memories of how life was before?

If you've been following my blog and my reviews for a while then you might know that I really enjoy middle grade and young adult novels dealing with loss and recovery. I don't know why - I guess I just like emotional stories in general. This is how I stumbled upon My Name is Olivia...and I Can't Do Anything About It and that is why I was so eager to start reading it. I had a feeling that Jowi Schmitz's novel was going to be (sorry for the cliché here) an emotional roller-coaster and I was right. My Name is Olivia...and I Can't Do Anything About It gripped me from the very first word and managed to reduce me to tears many times throughout the story.

Children's books written from a young kid's perspective can and do go horribly wrong many times. I've read several YA and middle grade stories where youngsters were supposed to be the narrators - while in reality, all I could think about when I was reading them was that 13 year olds do not talk or think like this, for goodness' sake. As opposed to this, Schmitz's ability to tell a story from a 10 year old girl's point of view is just spot on.

It was very easy for me to connect to Olivia, a ten year old girl from Friesland who has to cope with the loss of her mother and look after her father at the same time. Even though I can't even imagine going through the things Olivia had to face in the novel, I could literally feel her confusion and anger throughout the story. Jowi Schmitz's depiction of Olivia and her childish father makes it really easy for readers to emotionally connect to this little girl. A girl who has just lost her mum, who has no friends whatsoever, is bullied at school, lives in poverty and on top of that, has to look after her dad, who has no clue how to go on living.

The only thing I didn't like about this book was the fact that the author keeps jumping back and forth in time during the first half of the story - something that made me a little bit confused at times. Schmitz wants to give us some insight into Olivia's past and tell us what happened to her mum (which is inevitable for the plot), nevertheless I had a hard time separating present from past when I started reading the book.

On the whole, I adored My Name is Olivia...and I Can't Do Anything About It. Olivia's charming personality will no doubt grow on you and her attempts to find a friend and move on will make you smile and cry at the same time. It's a captivating read which I would definitely recommend to anyone who likes emotional but optimistic stories.

Rating:

Other reviews you might be interested in:

☁ Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine
☁ Tempest by Julie Cross
☁ Fracture by Megan Miranda

Review: Growing Pains: Kendra's Diaries - K.P. Smith

2012-02-27T11:00:00.000+01:00

Title: Growing Pains: Kendra's Diaries
Author:K.P. Smith
Publication date: May 25, 2011
Publisher: Doin It
Format: Ebook
ISBN: 2940012784421
Length: 268 pages
Genre: YA fiction

Order from Smashwords | Amazon US

How would you feel if you had to put on a brave face each morning you leave the house and pretend you're okay? If you couldn't tell what's going on, not even to your best friend - and at the same time, your family was falling to pieces? Yes, that's right - that's what Kendra has to face each day of her life.

Meet Kendra Foster. She is smack in the middle of growing up. Oh boy! Just like anyone in the "maze" of growing up, there are challenges along the way. She is facing problems at home and with her family. She thought making cheerleader would be the "best thing in the world". But she learned quickly there are two sides to every coin. As if she doesn't have enough to deal with, high school is quickly approaching and her dreams of attending The Academy seems more impossible with each passing day. Every time she thinks she has an answer, they change the question. But never count her out. Her story is one of determination, perseverance and strength.

All in All, Kendra's Diaries was a good read. There were many things I really enjoyed about it and a few things I think could have been a little bit better. I like the fact that it has an optimistic message and it will definitely make you stop and think: if she can do it and move on, then why couldn't I?

Another thing I liked about it is the fact that it's very realistic. It could happen to anyone, which makes the characters (and the plot itself) easily relatable. Smith's story focuses on Kendra, a 13 year old girl from New Orleans. She's just an ordinary teenager with ordinary friends, whose biggest dreams is to get into the cheerleader team. But as her family is starting to fall apart and she can't ignore the fact that her parents are arguing non stop anymore, she realizes that there are more important things in life than this. Kendra is a fun character who is just like any of us. She has to learn how to make decisions and how to learn from her mistakes and she faces everyday problems just like us.

What didn't really work for me was how the author handled emotional scenes. Kendra goes through a lot during the novel (and I don't want to spoil anything for you) but I felt like these scenes should have been more developed, more elaborate. We are given the facts - her dad has left the family, for example - but I had a hard time connecting to her emotionally. I didn't feel her pain.. well, not as much as I should have. It's almost as if she accepted it and moved on. No drama, no tears. Just like that. This is the main reason why the book becomes a bit predictable and repetitive after a while, if you ask me.

Other than that, it's an enjoyable coming of age novel for girls from the younger audience. Girls from the age of 12 upwards will no doubt find this story fantastic and easily relatable, since they're going through the same problems themselves. On the whole, Growing Pains: Kendra's Diaries is a nice summer read for anyone from the younger audience.

Rating:

* Thank you to the author of the book for sending me a copy for review *

In My Mailbox #21

2012-02-26T00:15:00.000+01:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. It's our opportunity to get a sneak peek into what books everyone is received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders.

Hi guys! I know I keep saying this but I can't believe another week has just passed. Oh my. Anyway, it's going to be a super short IMM this week since I'm still trying to catch up with my review copies (which is going to take a pretty long time) so I haven't requested any more books for a while. I'm not on a book buying ban because ... well, I just can't resist the temptation. Plus, my own copies can wait and I don't feel guilty if I don't have time to read them for another 3 months. Anyway, here's what came in the mail today:

Room by Emma Donoghue (purchased)
All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin (for review)

That's it! I'm super excited about these two! I've heard great things about both of them so I'm really looking forward to picking them up. And can I just say how gorgeous the cover of ATTID is?! I can't take my eyes off her eyes. *____*

So that's it for this week, folks - what did you get in your mailbox? Have you read these two books? Make sure to leave a link to your own post below so that I can check out your books too and visit you back! :)

Bookish Ramblings #3: Writing Negative Reviews

2012-02-24T15:01:00.000+01:00

Hello everyone! Bookish ramblings à la Vicky @ Books, Biscuits, and Tea is back :) I was planning to write this post for quite a long time now but I never had the time to actually sit down and do it. The time has finally come.

Today's rambling was inspired by this whole Goodreads authors vs. bloggers fiasco which happened to take place last month. If you haven't heard about it, you can catch up with this whole craziness here. I tried to stay out of it but it made me think . . .

What should bloggers do if the book sucks? a.k.a Writing negative reviews without hurting anyone.

That, judging by some people's reaction, is quite difficult nowadays. But still, what do we do if the book in question is terrible? Do we review it at all? Well, here's what I think.

1. Even if you hated the book, respect the author. At least take into consideration the fact that he/she spent a tremendous amount of time writing that book. Did this author do anything against you personally? No. Then show some respect. We understand that you didn't like the book but you don't need to diss the author.

2. Keep in mind that other people might have liked the book. What I hate the most is arrogant behaviour. People who act like their opinion is superior to anyone else's and there's no way anyone likes the book in question. Well, brace yourself m'dear, there are a bunch of people out there who happen to like it. You're entitled to your opinion but don't be rude towards other people who don't agree with you.

Having said that, I have nothing against negative reviews. I myself write negative reviews if I have to and I didn't really like the book. The most important thing -for me, at least- is not being arrogant and respecting other people's opinion. So what would I, or actually, what do I do if I don't like the book? If it's a book I purchased then I might consider not reviewing it. If it's a review copy then I do review it but without sounding like an arrogant little... brat, especially if I know the author. I keep in mind that they took the time to send me a review copy (which I didn't have to pay a single penny for) and everything I said before, but it doesn't mean that I won't state my opinion. I'm not going to lie just because I know you.

I usually start with what I liked about the book (because if there's nothing I liked about it then I probably won't review it at all). I tell a few things about what made me keep on reading despite the fact that I couldn't really connect to the story, etc. And then comes the not so good part. What the most important thing for me here is to be honest but fair. I state my opinion and let other people know what I thought or what didn't work for me but I don't start criticising the writer.Why should I? I have nothing against them and the fact that I didn't like their book doesn't mean I have a right to treat them like poop.

That's my humble opinion in a nutshell. What do you guys do when you don't like a book? :) Do you still review it?

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Review: Mockingbird - Kathryn Erskine

2012-02-23T00:10:00.001+01:00

Title: Mockingbird
Author: Kathryn Erskine
Publication date: January 2012
Publisher: Usborne
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781409538585
Length: 236 pages
Genre: YA / Middle grade fiction

Order from Amazon US | The Book Depository | Barnes & Noble

Caitlin misses her brother Devon. Since his death, she has no one to explain the world to her. And for Caitlin, the world is a confusing place, full of emotions and colours she can't understand. Dad tries to help, but he spends a lot of time crying in the shower.

So when Caitlin reads the definition of "closure" in the dictionary, she decides that's what they need. And as she struggles to find it, she learns how to let a world of colour into her black-and-white life...

Kathryn Erskine's Mockingbird is a touching, poignant, but at the same time utterly hopeful story which will no doubt stay with you for a long time. Narrated by the 11-year-old Caitlin who suffers from Asperger's syndrome, the book deals with how people can deal with the loss of a loved one and how our lives might be different if we understood each other a little bit better. First person narration can be tricky and it can go wrong in so many ways but Erskine nailed it - seeing everything through Caitlin's eyes is what makes this novel so special and gripping.

After finishing Mockingbird, all I could say was... WOW. Just wow. Even though it's been a few hours since I put it down, I'm still in a complete awe - I just can't praise it enough. It's a beautifully written story that grabs you at the very beginning and makes you keep on reading until the very end.

What I loved about this novel the most was the first person narration. It's interesting to see everything from Caitlin's perspective. The author's aim with this was "to have readers see the world the way she sees it. If they could live in her shoes, they could better understand why she talks and behaves the way she does" and it works. You cannot help imagining what life must be for Caitlin - or anyone else who has a similar illness. You see how each day is a battle for her - going to school and facing everyone when all she would like to do is to hide under the sofa cushions at home. You see how everyone is constantly making fun of her because she's different and doesn't behave the way other people do and it's quite easy to emphasize with her throughout the story. Reading about how she was trying to make people understand her - or at least accept her or talk to her -reduced me to tears several times throughout the book.

Another thing I really enjoyed in the story was Caitlin's relationship with her brother and her only friend, Michael. Erskine's description of Caitlin and her brother's relationship is just spot on. We learn that Devon, her brother who is a victim of a tragic school shooting, was the one who taught her everything. He told her what to do and what not to do at school so that people don't laugh at her. He was there for her when she was terrified or confused and now that he's no longer there for her... Caitlin is confused. Michael is a 6-year-old kid from Caitlin's school who eventually becomes her friend. He's the only one, after Devon, who gets her - someone who doesn't laugh even if what she says or does doesn't make too much sense.

To sum up, I would say that the author managed to get her message across and Mockingbird is a huge wake up call for everyone of every age. It teaches us to be more emphatic towards others and not to judge them since we don't know what the other person is going through in his or her life. Mockingbirds is a beautifully written, powerful and poignant story which will stay with you for a very long time. Make sure to grab a packet of tissues before you pick it up because you're in for an emotional ride. Brilliant. Unique. Something I'd be glad to recommend to absolutely everyone - you won't be disappointed.

Rating:

* Thank you to Usborne for sending me a copy of this book for review *

Waiting on Wednesday #9

2012-02-22T10:00:00.000+01:00

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, which spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My pick for this week:

Secrets of the Tides by Hannah Richell
ISBN: 9781409142959
Format: Hardback
Publication date: 12 April 2012
Publisher: Orion
Add it on Goodreads

Every family has its secrets. Some are small, like telling a white lie or snooping through a private drawer. Others are more serious like infidelity and betrayal. And some secrets are so terrible they must be hidden away in a deep, dark place, for if they ever came to light, they would surely tear a family apart.

The Tides are a family full of secrets. Returning to Clifftops, the rambling family house high up on the Dorset coastline, youngest daughter Dora hopes for a fresh start, for herself and the new life she carries. But can long-held secrets ever really be forgiven? And even if you can forgive, can you ever really learn to love again?

Secrets of the Tides is a compelling family drama with a dark thread of suspense at its heart.

Why am I looking forward to this? The first thing I noticed about this book was its gorgeous cover. Then I read the synopsis and fell in love. I just LOVE these type of books - family sagas with lots of hidden secrets. AND it's supposed to have a touch of suspense as well? Even better. Can't wait to read it!

What's your "waiting on" pick this week? Feel free to leave a link with your own WoW in the comments below. xxx

Review: Awakening - Karice Bolton

2012-02-21T17:09:00.001+01:00

Title: Awakening (Book #1 in The Watchers series)
Author: Karice Bolton
Publication date: September 27, 2011
Publisher: Purely Persistent
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 978-0-615-53518-0
Length: 312 pages
Genre: Paranormal fiction

Order from Amazon US | The Book Depository | Barnes & Noble

Alone in snowy, remote Whistler village, Ana tries to build a new life since losing her parents. With a cozy condo, a sweet-faced bulldog and an evening job to leave the days free for the slopes, life slips into a great routine. If only she could shake the guilt for not remembering anything about her parents and banish the night terrors that haunt her every dream. On a whim, Ana goes out with Athen, a guy she's just met in the Grizzly Pub... The only problem is that she feels like she already knows him.

Within 48 hours of meeting Athen and his family, Ana's world implodes. She falls for Athen quickly and before she knows it, a past life begins to resurface. As thrilling as the revelations appear at first, she fights against the chilling information that Athen is from the underworld. Soon she begins to struggle as her own supernatural gifts are slowly unveiled, and she realizes that the nightmares she's been having might be premonitions and not dreams at all. It is up to Ana to decipher between fact and fiction before it is too late, and her new love, Athen, follows in her same fate - one that is lost between two worlds.

All in all, Awakening was a good read and an interesting start of a new trilogy. What made me interested in the story in the first place was its mysteriousness, the fact that Ana (the main character) meets this guy but she feels like she already knows him. I was looking forward to finding out what happened and in this respect, the story didn't disappoint me.

What I like about this book most was the fact that Ana asks the exact same questions the readers are thinking about. One day, soon after meeting this mysterious guy called Athen and his family, she learns that she belongs to them - they are fallen angels whose aim is to protect human beings from making bad decisions or be influenced by the dark demons. Which is a lot to take in all at once. Just imagine that you're working as a bartender in a local pub one day when you meet three people and within two days, it turns out that you've known them for centuries and you are, in fact, a fallen angel. Bolton portrays Ana's confusion very well and she asks questions we're all wondering about.

Another thing I really liked about Awakening was the concept behind the story. The way the author describes the fact that these fallen angels can feel other people's emotions is definitely thought-provoking. It's interesting to think about life like this - that there are greater forces behind all of our decisions in life and there's a constant battle between the good and the evil side.

Even though the concept was great, there were a few things I didn't particularly like about this book. Ana falls in love with this really handsome guy called Athen - we can say it's a love at first sight kind of thing. And then, all she can think or talk about is him. Her obsession with Athen and his family (ie. his sister and her fiancé) put me off, unfortunately. I know the point was that she felt like she's known him for a long time and she felt an instant connection but it made me feel like I was reading the same thing over and over again. How great Athen is, how gorgeous he looks and how much she wants him.

Another thing I didn't really like, or understand rather, is that the story seemed to focus on just four people having fun. Ana meets them, falls in love with Athen and she feels like she belongs to them. Which is all right but then the focus shifts to how much fun they have when they go dog sledding together. Then they go on a road trip to Seattle, they go shopping, they start decorating the Christmas tree... and I'm starting to wonder, where is this story going exactly? I felt like it dragged on a little bit, to be frank. The story ends with a cliffhanger which partly makes up for this lack of action in the first half of the book.

To sum up, although Awakening wasn't as action-filled as I expected it to be, it was a great way to start the series and introduce the characters and the main idea behind the story. The ending definitely made me interesting in what is going to happen in the sequel and it looks like it might be a little bit more fast paced than Awakening was. If you enjoy young adult fiction with a touch of fantasy, this one might be perfect for you.

Rating:

Recruiting For Blog Tour - $1,300 in Cash Prizes up for grabs!

2012-02-20T00:19:00.000+01:00

Novel Publicity is recruiting bloggers for three upcoming blog tours, running from March 5 to April 8, 2012. What's up for grabs, you ask? $1,300 in cash prizes, 3 Kindle Fires, 15 autographed book copies, and eBook copies for all reviewers. And you don't even have to read the books in order to win or participate in the tour!

That's right. You can sign up for a review OR if you don't have time to read the book, you can choose to post a pre-written guest post/interview instead. Sounds good? It does, I can assure you. You can win a bunch of goodies AND it definitely brings some traffic to your blog. Most of you might remember that I took part in a Novel Publicity blog tour in November 2011 and won $200 in cash - it's definitely worth it! It takes 3 seconds to sign up and it's tremendous fun. :-) Come and join us, it'll be great!

You can check out all three upcoming tours & sign up by clicking on the link below.
http://www.novelpublicity.com/whirlwind-recruitment/

You can sign up for only one or even more - to help you decide, here's the synopses for all three books.

After a lifetime of abuse and loss—from fights with other boys staged for his father’s entertainment, to the death of his only son—sixty-one year old Vernon Davidson is angry. He’s ready to get back at God, his paper mill coworkers, and everyone else in his north Louisiana town. Constantly drunk to numb his pain, the normally cautious Vernon spirals into recklessness; drinking on the job, facing down a younger man at work over a parking spot, scandalizing his former fellow Baptists with displays of his nakedness. Meanwhile Jody Davidson, Vernon’s estranged nephew, struggles to survive a similarly tragic past by self-imposed exile, inserting himself into a new, seemingly different family a thousand miles away.
The two men are reunited when Vernon agrees to retrieve Jody for his dying brother so they can say goodbye—and that’s when they each embark on a journey that will ultimately change their lives.

When Princess Amelie of Amborix is murdered by magical means, Annie Pearce and Bobby “Cham” Chamsky of the Wizard’s Guard are called in by the FBI. Their job is to help solve the crime while keeping the non-magical world from discovering the existence of the Wizard Council.
During their investigation, Annie and Cham discover that Princess Amelie’s death is connected to a series of other crimes in the Chicago area. A larger plot involving, a vampire, a rogue wizard and an army of soul-less zombies is revealed, but can Annie and Cham discover who is responsible before The Day of First Sun?

“Sykosa (that’s “sy”-as-in-“my” ko-sa) is the story of a sixteen year old girl who is trying to reclaim her identity after an act of violence shatters her life and the lives of her friends. A year removed from this act, Sykosa’s struggles are complicated by her meddling best friend, Niko, who has started to war with other girls for social supremacy in their school, and by her first love, a boy named Tom, who also happens to have saved her in the violent act. Using the backdrop of the biggest party of the year, the book places Sykosa and Tom at Niko’s high-class cottage in Coeur d’Alene for a weekend of unsupervised badness. During such, Sykosa will have to confront her lingering pain, resolve her feelings for Tom, and decide if this is the weekend they should have sex for the first time.”

And remember, you don't need to read the books in order to participate. I've already signed up - have you? :-) x x x

In My Mailbox #20

2012-02-19T01:23:00.001+01:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. It's our opportunity to get a sneak peek into what books everyone is received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders.

Hi guys! Can you believe it's Sunday already?! Time is going by so flippin fast! Anyway, I didn't get a lot of books this week since I'm still trying to catch up with my review copies. Although I did request two Netgalley titles - I just couldn't resist the temptation!

For Review:

The Look by Sophia Bennett (paperback)
The Raft by S.A.Bodeen (e-ARC)
Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne (e-ARC)

That's it for now :) I'm still waiting for a book I ordered from the Book Depository so that's probably what I'm going to show you next week.

PS: Is your pile of review books getting way too large? Are you in need of some inspiration? Would you like to have fun in the process? Why don't you join us in the Review Copy Cleanup? Our aim is to read as many review books as we possibly can between 1-31 March. What's more, we have some amazing challenges and GIVEAWAYS! :) If you'd like to sign up, just click on the event's button or here.

So that's it for this week - what did you get in your mailbox this time? Make sure to leave a link to your own post below so that I can check out your books too! :)

Cover reveal: Open Heart

2012-02-18T11:43:00.000+01:00

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen! I have some veeeeeeery exciting news for you today! Emlyn Chand, author of Farsighted and president of Novel Publicity, revealed the cover of her second book the other day which looks absolutely stunning. Open Heart is the second book in the series and it is coming out in May 2012. If you haven't read Farsighted (the first book in the series) yet then I would definitely recommend that you do so. And now for the exciting stuff. Would you like to see the brand new cover for book #2? *drumroll*

Simmi Shergill’s life is a mess. Her powers of psychic feeling are on the fritz, and Grandon Township’s sudden population boom has brought quite a few unsavory characters to town. She also looks like an over-blown balloon in her size 14 pants, but not even starving herself seems to be working as a diet plan. Well, at least her boyfriend, Alex, loves her so much he’d do anything for her. Last summer he even risked his life to protect her from the mysterious boy everyone was convinced wanted to kill her.

The problem is, she’s not so sure she feels the same way. Is Alex really the man of her dreams? And why can’t she stop fixating on her would-be killer, Dax? Whenever he’s around, part of her wants to run screaming in the other direction while the other part longs to run into his embrace, no matter who she’d hurt or what she’d risk.

Simmi’s loyalty is on the line. Who will she choose—the blind seer who loves her, or the charming telekinetic with “bad idea” written all over him? Emotions run high as the tension mounts in book two of the Farsighted series.

Seriously, isn't it gorgeous??? I love this shattered glass kinda effect on the right and the green/blue-ish colours! What do you think? Are you looking forward to reading Open Heart? Then here's some fun stuff for you guys: feel free to grab the countdown widget for your blog or flick through the official Open Heart playlist!

Open Heart Playlist by Emlyn Chand on Grooveshark

Review Copy Cleanup: Sign Up

2012-02-17T11:26:00.008+01:00

Welcome to the 2012 Review Copy Cleanup!

My bookish friend, Celine from Nyx Book Reviews and I were getting swamped in review books. We decided to make it all a bit more fun and are challenging you all to read your review copies with us! Clean up that big pile of books this March and join the Review Copy Cleanup. We have lots of fun challenges and tons of prizes in store for you guys, so make sure to join us on a quest to clean up our review copy pile and to have some fun in the process.

Challenge guidelines:

✦ This challenge runs from 1 to 31 March, 2012
✦ Sign-ups are open until 15 March 2012. After that the linky list will be closed and participation in the challenges and giveaways won't be possible for anyone who hasn't previously signed up.
✦ To sign up, just fill in the Mister Linky form below. Link to your sign up post directly, please! The Linky is the same for both our blogs, so you only have to sign up once.
✦ When you post your sign up post on your blog, either include the challenge button with your post or link it back to this article so that people know where to sign up. Thank you!
✦ Every book you received for review counts towards the challenge, both ebooks and hard copies, including all genres and lengths.
✦ You don't need to follow the two hosts in order to be able to sign up for the event (although it's appreciated), but you do have to follow us in order to be able to enter our giveaways. In order to be entered in the giveaway, simply complete the given challenge and add the link to your post in the linky list.
✦ Challenges will be posted every week on Fridays and will last throughout the week until Thursday the next week. Every challenge ends with a giveaway. To enter in the challenges and giveaways, simply add the link to your challenge post in the Linky list in the main challenge post. It will be posted on both blogs.
✦ At the end of the event we will host our Massive Giveaway. This contains tons of prizes donated by awesome authors. All you'll need to do in order to enter this giveaway is to fill in a Rafflecopter form - as simple as that. :)
✦ Most of our giveaways will be open INTERNATIONALLY but you'll find all the relevant info about each giveaway when we post the challenges.
✦ Feel free to use the #RCCleanup hashtag on Twitter for your RCC related tweets or join in the Twitter party at http://tweetchat.com/room/RCCleanup and meet lots of lovely bloggers :)

Challenge schedule:

✦ March 2 - Show Off Your Pile
✦ March 9 - Cuddle Up With a Book
✦ March 16 - Don't Be Such a Tease!
✦ March 23 - Mysterious Meet-up
✦ March 30 - Love Will Find a Way

Button for the event: (feel free to grab the code)

Make sure to sign up below in order to participate in the Review Copy Cleanup:

Review: BeSwitched Witch - Molly Snow

2012-02-16T00:55:00.002+01:00

Title: BeSwitched Witch (Book #2 in the BeSwitched series)
Author: Molly Snow
Publication date: 2011
Publisher: Breezy Reads
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 978-0-975-97847-4
Length: 150 pages
Genre: Middle grade/ YA fiction

Order from Amazon US | Createspace | Barnes & Noble

Idis, a hot-tempered witch, was prnounced dead Halloween night. Her runaway cat, Surla, has a horrific premonition-come-true, when Idis escapes the morgue and then a mental hospital. These two enemies unexpectedly cross paths in the woords, triggering the curse of being BeSwitched.

A powerful opportunity comes with Surla switching bodies with her witch. She can dominate the now little black furball, giving her an education, teaching her patience and taking the shrewd to the salon for a fun makeover.

The two go to high school together, when Surla passes as a teenage girl with a little help from magic. When Surla is magnetically drawn to the curious new guy, Jax Morreau, she is infatuated. Could ravens, coffins, or a cursed ring keep Surla away from her invitation to the Morreau Family Reunion at Lake Sequoia? An ancient mystery will be revealed but at what cost?

If you've read my review of BeSwitched, book 1 in the BeSwitched series then you might remember that it took me a while until I got into the story. BeSwitched Witch in this respect was a pleasant surprise - since I was familiar with the characters and the writing style, I managed to get into the story quite quickly.

BeSwitched Witch is an action filled read for the younger generation - the story focuses on Idis, the witch who is trapped in her cat's body and Surla, her cat who is trapped in the witch's body, as the two of them are desperately trying to find the last remaining Spellbook. (a book without which they can't switch their bodies back) Snow introduces a couple of new characters in the second instalment of the series, a school bully called Brad, a young and extremely handsome boy called Jax, his father and grandfather. I really liked the new characters and I think it made the story even more intriguing.

The only reason why I "only" gave this book 3 stars (which is a fairly good rating, mind you) is that I still feel that the writing style could be much better. Based on the fact that I thoroughly enjoyed the plot itself and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series, it could even get 4 or 5 stars if it wasn't for the style. I always try to compare each book to the other books I've previously read from the same genre and I still feel like it's a bit lukewarm. I've read middle-grade and young adult books with much more sophisticated and eloquent style before so that's the only reason why I'm not fully satisfied with this series. Maybe it's just me, I don't know.

Other than that, I would definitely recommend that you pick up a copy - the plot certainly makes up for the lack of eloquence and you'll find yourself not wanting to put it down. I'm looking forward to book 3!

Rating:

*A review copy was provided by the author for review*

Waiting on Wednesday #8

2012-02-15T11:45:00.000+01:00

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, which spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My pick for this week:

Survive by Alex Morel
ISBN: 9781595145109
Format: Hardback
Publication date: August 2nd, 2012
Publisher: Razorbill
Add it on Goodreads

Jane runs away from Life House, a facility for kids with mental health disorders and addictions. She boards a plane to Montclair, New Jersey, though her destination does not matter—she doesn’t plan to be alive when the plane lands. Jane has planned the perfect suicide: she’ll fall asleep on the plane and never wake up. As she’s reaching for her pills in the cabin’s bathroom, the plane hits turbulence. Another jolt, and the engine’s down. The plane crashes into the mountains of Montana, and Jane and a boy named Paul are the only two survivors. What starts out as a death mission quickly becomes a fight for life.

Why am I looking forward to this? I noticed this book during last week's Wow and it went straight on my wishlist. It has some kind of a Survivor vs. Lost -ish feeling and I'm sure I'd love this book. I just wish I didn't have to wait until August!!

What's your "waiting on" pick this week? Feel free to leave a link with your own Wow in the comments below xxx

In My Mailbox #19

2012-02-12T08:00:00.002+01:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. It's our opportunity to get a sneak peek into what books everyone is received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders.

Hello everyone! I hope everyone had a nice week! :) I had quite a hectic week - I'm back at uni, I'm trying to read all the remaining review books I have, I'm working as a blog tour assistant (which I really enjoy!), and if it wasn't enough, I'm working on two blog templates at the moment. So I'm very glad I actually managed to find the time to put this post together, wahoo! So, let's see what came in the mail this week.

Gifted:

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - A massive thank you to Dani @ Pen to Paper for sending me this. I might be the only one who actually hasn't read this book yet so now's the time to pick it up! :)

For review:

The Long Weekend by Savita Kalhan
On the Fringe by Courtney King Walker
Mice by Gordon Reece
Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine
The Truth About Celia Frost by Paula Rawsthorne
The Other Life by Susanne Winnacker

A huge thank you to Dani, Savita Kalhan, Courtney King Walker, Macmillan,
Kimberley Williams and Usborne!

So, that's it for this week. I'm VERY excited about these books - I've been dying to read them for a while! :) What did you get this time around? Feel free to leave a comment below with a link to your own IMM and I promise I'll visit you back as soon as I can. x x x

PS. I finished my custom blog template for Tara @ Tater's Tall Tails the other day. What do you think? *Shameless plug: if you're looking for a custom blog template at a reasonable price, make sure to visit Sweet Dreams Design at http://sweetdreams-design.blogspot.com. :) *

Review: Tempest - Julie Cross

2012-02-10T23:19:00.003+01:00

Title: Tempest
Author: Julie Cross
Publication date: January 17th, 2012
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books
Format: Hardback
ISBN: 9780230756267
Length: 412 pages
Genre: YA fiction

Order from Amazon US | The Book Depository | Barnes & Noble

The year is 2009. Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.

That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.

Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities. But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler. Recruit… or kill him. Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly… and possibly the entire world.

I've never actually read any time travel books before so I was really excited when I received my copy of Julie Cross's debut novel, Tempest. But most importantly, as much as I had no idea what to expect at first, it turned out to be a fantastic book I could barely put down - something which I'd definitely recommend to anyone who likes an exciting, action-packed young adult romance.

I must admit that Jackson and Holly - the two main characters- did not really appeal to me at first. While the story was interesting and it kept me going, I kept thinking about how cold Holly's personality was and how much of a 'spoilt brat' Jackson was. What made me even more doubtful was the fact that this whole time-travel thing with its parallel universe theory and different time lines is quite a confusing issue and Cross keeps you in the dark for a long time. Hence my initial worry about not understanding the story and not being able to emotionally connect to the characters. But what can I say? I was completely wrong.

The characters completely grew on me and I realized how much I misjudged them at first. Jackson is a down-to-earth guy with a likeable nature, someone who's very charismatic and who will no doubt be a favourite with the female audience. I found it quite touching that even though he's a cool, rich and popular guy, he had a great relationship with her sister who passed away a few years prior to the beginning of the story, and how much his family meant to him. And how much he loves Holly, of course. The author did a great job letting us a take a glimpse behind the cool exterior and see his more emotional, softer side.

Cross raises several questions in her novel and you can't help thinking about them either. What happens to your body during a time jump? How come Jackson can go back in time but not forward? Even though she reveals bits of information from time to time, we are constantly faced with new questions we want to find an answer for. Time travel is a tricky issue, a topic that could easily confuse readers but Julie Cross handles it very well, without making it too simplistic or utterly complicated.

Tempest is a brilliant debut novel with a touch of romance and action - a real page turner with a potential to be the next big thing, and a fascinating story that will keep you on the edge of your seat from the very beginning. The second part of the novel raises another question which has, along with Jackson's solution, completely taken me by surprise and I'm eagerly waiting for the sequel and finding out how their story continues.

You know your girlfriend is in danger if she stays with you and the only way to protect her or keep her alive is to let her go. Would you?

Rating:

* Thank you to Macmillan Children's Book for sending me a review copy of this book*

Booking Through Thursday #13 - Only Five

2012-02-09T11:53:00.000+01:00

This week' question is: If you had to pick only 5 books to read ever again, what would they be and why?

Wow, good question! *starts scanning her bookshelf desperately* If I could choose 5 books only, I would probably choose five different books from five different genres. Or at least I'd try to pick one from my favourite genres :) My top 5 picks in no particular order would be:

1. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

I don't think it comes as a surprise to anyone who has been reading my blog for a while, tee hee. :) Let's just say I've read this book 3 times already and it's detective fiction at its best.

Ten...' Ten Strangers are lured to an isolated mansion off the Devon coast by a mysterious 'U.N.Owen'.
'Nine...' At dinner a recorded message accuses each of them in turn of having a guilty secret, and by the end of the night one of the guests is dead.
'Eight...' Stranded by a violent storm, and haunted by an ancient nursery rhyme counting down one by one... as one by one... they begin to die.
'Seven...' Which amongst them is the killer and will any of them survive?

2. Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding

I know most people are familiar with this title because of the film version - but seriously, if you liked the film, read the book. It's a hundred times better and a lot different! It's one of my all time favourites.

A hilarious year in the life of a confused thirty-something Singleton who would have all the answers if she could just lose seven pounds, stop smoking and attain Inner Poise.

This laugh-out-loud chronicle charts a year in the life of Bridget Jones, a single girl on a permanent, doomed quest for self-improvement -- in which she resolves to: visit the gym three times a week not merely to buy a sandwich, form a functional relationship with a responsible adult, and not fall for any of the following: misogynists, megalomaniacs, adulterers, workaholics, chauvinists or perverts. And learn to program the VCR.

Caught between her Singleton friends, who are all convinced they will end up dying alone and found three weeks later half-eaten by an Alsatian, and the Smug Marrieds, whose dinner parties offer ever-new opportunities for humiliation, Bridget struggles to keep her life on an even keel (or at least afloat). Through it all, she will have her readers helpless with laughter and shouting, "Bridget Jones Is Me "

3. The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher

Pilcher has been one of my favourite authors for at least 4 or 5 years now and The Shell Seekers is simply breathtakingly beautiful. It's so well written, it's impossible not to be moved by the story. Loved it.

Set in London and Cornwall from World War II to present, The Shell Seekers tells the story of the Keeling family, and of the passions and heartbreak that have held them together for three generations. The family centers around Penelope, and it is her love, courage, and sense of values that determine the course of all their lives, Deftly shifting back and forth in time, each chapter centers on one of the principal players in the family's history. the unifying thread is an oil painting entitled "The Shell Seekers," done by Penelope's father. It is this painting that symbolizes to Penelope the ties between the generations. But it is the fate of this painting that just may tear the family apart.

4. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K.Rowling

I'd pick the whole series, if I was allowed to pick more. Anyway, out of all the Harry Potter books I think this one was my ultimate favourite. Mainly because Snape has been my favourite character from the very beginning and this book was FULL of Snape related scenes. Ahem. Anyway, I just LOVE Harry Potter. It's a definite must!

J. K. Rowling continues to bewitch readers everywhere with the third book in her magical Potter series, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Harry's ongoing exploits, along with those of his contemporaries, teachers, and relatives, are as imaginative, entertaining, and mysterious as ever. For during Harry's third year at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he must face his greatest challenge yet: a confrontation with Sirius Black, an escaped convict and madman who is rumored to be in cahoots with Harry's archenemy, the Dark Wizard Lord Voldemort. This alone would be daunting enough, but Harry's task is made even more trying when he discovers that Sirius is suspected of being the one who killed Harry's parents.

5. The Secret Garden by Frances H. Burnett

I read this one many many years ago but I know I loved everything about it. It's such a lovely story so if you haven't read it yet, please do!

When orphaned Mary Lennox comes to live at her uncle's great house on the Yorkshire Moors, she finds it full of mysterious secrets. There are nearly one hundred rooms, most of which are locked, and the house is filled with creepy old portraits and suits of armor. Mary rarely sees her uncle, and perhaps most unsettling of all is that at night she hears the sound of someone crying down one of the long corridors.

The gardens surrounding the odd property are Mary's escape and she explores every inch of them--all except for the mysterious walled-in, locked garden. Then one day, Mary discovers a key. Could it open the door to the garden?

Have you read any of these? What five books would you choose? :) Feel free to leave a comment below and share your thoughts! x x x

Waiting on Wednesday #7

2012-02-08T12:05:00.000+01:00

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, which spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My pick for this week:

The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney
ISBN: 9780316090544
Format: Paperback
Publication date: January 2nd, 2012
Publisher: Little, Brown Books
Add it on Goodreads

Some schools have honor codes. Others have handbooks. Themis Academy has the Mockingbirds.

Themis Academy is a quiet boarding school with an exceptional student body that the administration trusts to always behave the honorable way-the Themis way. So when Alex Patrick is date-raped during her junior year, she has two options: Stay silent and hope someone helps, or enlist the aid of the Mockingbirds-a secret society of students dedicated to righting the wrongs of the student body.

In this account of a teenage girl's search for her voice and the courage to use it, debut author Daisy Whitney reminds readers that standing up for someone, especially yourself, is worth the fight.

Why am I looking forward to this? One simple reason. BOARDING SCHOOL! I think I have an obsession with them, seriously. I. Need. To. Read. This. I know, I know - I'm cheating since it was released in January. But it's only been out for a month and it's on my wishlist so why shouldn't it be featured in this week's Wow? :)

What's your "waiting on" pick this week? xxx

Review: Fracture - Megan Miranda

2012-02-06T12:00:00.003+01:00

Title: Fracture
Author: Megan Miranda
Publication date: January 17th 2012
Publisher: Walker Books
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781408817391
Length: 268 pages
Genre: YA fiction / paranormal

Order from Amazon US | The Book Depository | Barnes & Noble

By the time Delaney Maxwell was pulled from a Maine lake’s icy waters by her best friend, Decker Phillips, her heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead.

But somehow Delaney survived—despite the brain scans that show irreparable damage. Everyone wants Delaney to be fine, but she knows she’s far from normal. Pulled by strange sensations she can’t control or explain, Delaney now finds herself drawn to the dying, and when she meets Troy Varga, a boy who recently emerged from a coma with the same abilities, she is relieved to share this strange new existence. Unsure if her altered brain is predicting death or causing it, Delaney must figure out if their gift is a miracle, a freak of nature—or something else much more frightening….

Fracture, Megan Miranda's debut novel, simply took my breath away. As a combination of amazing writing style, intriguing plot and easily relatable characters, it has all the ingredients of a perfect book. Miranda manages to grab your attention on the very first page and make you keep on reading until the very end. Fracture is a real page-turner from a highly talented debut author - a definite must have for the fans of YA fiction.

If I had to choose one thing about this book I loved the most, I'd be at a loss. The story is very intriguing and fast paced - it grabs you at the very beginning and doesn't let you put the book down right until the end. It has everything an excellent story should have: a little bit of mystery, hidden secrets, and romance as well. I'm always a little bit scared when it comes to YA romance because sometimes it comes off a bit cheesy, but Fracture is everything but cheesy. Miranda's writing style is just brilliant. She describes everything in such a way, in such details that it's almost as if you watched a film instead of reading the book. It's as if you were there with the characters and experienced everything they were going through.

In addition to a marvellous plot and writing style, Miranda's characters are easily relatable and quite likeable. Delaney and Decker are a fantastic duo and they make the book even better. There's something about him, something I can't quite put my finger on that makes you love him even if he's being rude or annoying. I found Delaney's relationship with her mother how she was turning into her own mother quite interesting as well. Coming from a family where her father abused her and her mother didn't care about her at all, Delaney's mum does everything she can to get rid of her past and forget her painful memories. I found it interesting how she was always scrubbing the kitchen counter even if it was immaculately clean, almost as if she wanted to erase something from her life and how Delaney started doing the same thing towards the end of the book.

With a gripping storyline comes a surprising and thrilling ending - I seriously couldn't have predicted what was about to happen and the author had me on the edge of my seat all along. I'm not lying when I say I loved everything about this book. Every single detail was perfectly written and I literally devoured it within 24 hours. A fantastic debut from a brilliant author whose work has completely taken me by surprise - I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

Rating:

Wicked Winter Read-a-thon updates and wrap up

2012-02-05T23:01:00.000+01:00

Although the Wicked Winter Read-a-thon is still going strong for another 6 or 7 hours, this is where it ends for me. :-( I'm going back to uni tomorrow so I have to get up super early (well... early for me anyway).

I read 400 pages during the read-a-thon which is I think pretty good, considering the fact that I was working on a blog design, did a uni assignment and wrote two reviews in the meantime. I had a lot of fun and enjoyed all the mini-challenges too! Thank you so much to Bex and April for hosting this event again! :)

Also, my review for Fracture is going up tomorrow so keep an eye on my blog if it's on your wishlist. ;) Have a good night everyone! xxx

Review: BeSwitched - Molly Snow

2012-02-04T17:09:00.004+01:00

Title: BeSwitched
Author: Molly Snow
Publication date: 2011
Publisher: Breezy Reads
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 978-0-975-97840-5
Length: 138 pages
Genre: Middle grade/ YA fiction

Order from Amazon US | Smashwords | Barnes & Noble

When a magical black cat, Surla, runs away from her bombastic witch, Idis, she has no idea that she will soon be living as a teenage girl, confronting both the mean girls and the popular—and very cute—guys of Washington High on a daily basis.

While Surla may look like Cathy, her peers notice a dramatic change in her personality when she starts standing up for herself, dressing differently, snagging dates, and picking up strange habits. Meanwhile, the witch Idis is a flaming red-haired fury as she awkwardly tries to fit into society. She must hunt down her familiar in order to be able to continue performing spells. In spite of their circumstances, Surla and Cathy learn more about themselves and gain great self esteem by being each other. Not only this, but the usual drama and young love in high school life is kindled in BeSwitched as Todd, the handsome quarterback, shows sincere interest in Cathy. The "curse" of being BeSwitched winds up being the most purr-fect secret these new best friends could ever have!

I received a review copy of BeSwitched and its sequel, BeSwitched Witch from the author before the BeSwitched blog tour but I haven't managed to read it up until now. Being a black cat owner myself, I was quite excited about this book and it turned out to be a cute read.

If I had to make comparisons, I would say that BeSwitched was a bit like Freaky Friday and Sabrina the Teenage Witch rolled into one. To be honest, it took me quite a while to get into the story and I wasn't sure I was going to like it but it turned out to be a fun read. Surla and Cathy were fun and I started to enjoy all the crazy situations they found themselves in. My favourite character was Todd, a handsome but still not overly popular footballer, who happens to be Cathy's classmate. He was really sweet and I'm definitely looking forward to finding out what happens to him in BeSwitched Witch.

The reason why I struggled to get into the story was probably down to to things: the book's target audience is, I would say, somewhere around the age of 13, and the writing itself wasn't as good as I expected it to be. On the other hand, considering the fact that the author wrote the book when she was 16 herself, it's quite a good read. The second half of the book certainly makes up for the first half and the ending will no doubt make you want to pick up the sequel. BeSwitched is a fun and cute fairytale and I would say give it a shot if you like middle-grade/ YA fiction with a bit of a twist.

Rating:

*A review copy was provided by the author*

Challenge & Giveaway: Welcome into the Unknown [Wicked Winter Read-a-thon]

2012-02-04T01:58:00.040+01:00

Hello and welcome to the third mini-challenge of the Wicked Winter Readathon.

Until 12 a.m EST each WWReadathon participant has a chance to compete and win some amazing prizes! One lucky winner gets to choose from one of the ebooks listed below. The contest is of course open internationally.

Remember that to be eligible to win the challenge you must be signed up to participate in the read-a-thon HERE (Sign Up ends Saturday, Feb. 4) and you have to cComplete the following task and leave a link to your blog post in the comments below, before 12 a.m EST.

I wanted to make this challenge fun and ... well, a little bit different and easy, considering the fact that it's the last challenge for today. And since I always like to meet new bloggers and get to know them and their habits, I had an idea. So, my challenge is:

Everyone has their own reading habits and their own reading space. What is yours like?

Take a photo of your reading space/corner, the place where you're blogging from right now - and make it fun! Showcase the books you chose for the read-a-thon, the snacks you bought for this event, your pets who sleep next to you while you read, etc. Feel free to tell us a few words about why you chose this place for reading or about your reading habits so that we can get to know each other a little bit better. :)

The winner will be selected at the end of the challenge by Random.org. And what do you win?

The winner gets to choose one of the ebooks listed below.

Good luck everyone and I'm really looking forward to seeing your entries! :)

Here's two photos from me:

This is the place I do most of my reading from right now - my bed. It's frrrrreezing cold out there so I'm curled up under the blanket with my Kindle and my kitty. She usually sleeps right next to me while I read so I have to hold her with one hand and hold my Kindle with the other, ha! :) One of my habits - when it comes to reading - is that I literally can't read/concentrate until I have a hot cup of tea or hot chocolate and some snacks in hand. Seriously. I think I'll probably die in tea overdose in 10 years, if I keep this up. As for my current read, I'm reading Fracture by Megan Miranda at the moment and it's just... WOW! I know most of you have already read it but I've only just started and I'm in love with it already. If I manage to finish it tomorrow then my next read is going to be (see the picture) Tempest by Julie Cross.

Update: Thank you for your entries guys, I love them! :) Our friend (Random.org) has just picked a winner who iiiiiiiiis *drumroll* Kai from Fiction State of Mind. Congratulations Kai! I emailed you.

Make sure to visit the next mini-challenge:

10AM – 2PM EST | The Wicked Winter Ball | Kimberly @ Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer

Wicked Winter Read-a-thon, here we go.

2012-02-03T13:07:00.001+01:00

Hosted by Bex @ Kindle Fever and April @ My Shelf Confessions

And here's what we've been waiting for so long - the Wicked Winter Read-a-thon has finally started this morning! Even though I've already wasted about 6 or 7 hours, I'm determined to read as much as I can this weekend. It'll be a great way for me to catch up with my review books before uni starts on Monday as wall as have some fun!

For more information about the readathon and how you can sign up (yes, sign up is still open), click here and read this post. :)

I'm going to host a mini-challenge and giveaway tomorrow morning (or 12AM EST) so make sure to stop by and check it out, it's gonna be fun! In the meantime, you'll see my read-a-thon progress on the right sidebar. And as always, you can catch us on Twitter by using the #WWReadathon hashtag - it's a fab way to meet new bloggers and believe me, you won't regret joining us!

Oh and I almost forgot: the books I'm aiming to read this weekend

I'm only aiming to read these two because -as you know- I'm a slow reader and I'm working on a blog design in the meantime as well. Anyway, I hope I'll be able to finish at least one of these and I hope to see you guys around. And please say hello if you happen to stop by, I love meeting new bloggers! *hugs*

Update: Picture Puzzle Challenge by Michelle @ Book Briefs

Michelle is hosting the last challenge for today which is my all time favourite! How does this work? First you pick a book. Then you find pictures to represent the words in the book title. Then you put the pictures/clues together and try to guess what the book title is. Get creative and make it as challenging as you want. Make a post with your Book picture puzzles and go around to different blogs and try to guess some of the puzzles.
My entry:

Easy peasy! :) What's yours? xxx

Review: Sign Language - Amy Ackley

2012-02-02T14:00:00.020+01:00

Title: Sign Language
Author: Amy Ackley
Publication date: August 18th 2011
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Format: Ebook
ISBN:978-0-670-01318-0
Genre: YA fiction

Order from Amazon US | The Book Depository | Barnes & Noble

Abby North's first hint that something is wrong with her dad is the scar that appears on his stomach after he goes in for kidney surgery. Soon, the thing she calls "It" has a real name: cancer. Before, her biggest concerns were her annoying brother, the crush unaware of her existence, and her changing feelings for her best friend, Spence. Now, her mother cries in the shower, her father is exhausted, and
nothing is normal anymore.

Sign Language, with its blend of raw hurt and love and humor, explores the changing dynamics that occur in the wake of a family member's terminal illness as well as the aftermath of loss.

WOW. I knew it would be an emotional story and I knew I would like it but I had absolutely no idea what effect it was going to have on me or how I would feel after reading it. Sign Language is an emotional roller-coaster that renders you speechless within the first hour of reading it. It's heart-breaking, it's touching and it's going to teach you some life lessons along the way. I wasn't familiar with the author's work before but I'm very glad I picked this up.

Although Sign Language features a third person narrator, it's still Abby whose thoughts we hear most of the time. Abby is an average 13 year-old American girl - a little bit of a Goody two-shoes who still depends on her parents, who's good at most subjects at school but is quite unpopular when it comes to boys of her age. The novel follows Abby's and her family's story before her dad is diagnosed with cancer and after his death, when the family slowly but surely starts to fall apart.

Abby wasn't someone I had an instant connection with and there were times when she was verging on annoying but still, she had many characteristics I could easily relate to. After the loss of his father, she turns from an innocent girl to a rebellious and angry teenager. She's angry with herself, with her dad for leaving them and she starts to gradually alienate herself from her friends. As her friend Leise sums it up: it's as if she wants to make sure she's never going to be happy again - she's too afraid of losing people she loves that she's determined not to love anyone again. My favourite character has to be Josh, Abby's older brother. What I liked about him the most was how the trauma of losing his dad has changed him. For me Abby and him seemed to be like complete opposites. While losing their dad made the innocent and friendly Abby bitter and angry, it made Josh, the rebellious teenager, caring and helpful. It was nice to see how much he cared about his sister, even if he didn't show any signs of it before.

Apart from the emotional storyline, what I really liked about this story was the message it conveys. It shows us that family is something we take for granted and the fact that people don't appreciate what they have until it's all gone. It shows you who your real friends are and who are the ones who will be there for you no matter what you do. Sign Language is a real tear-jerker, a heart-breaking but still very hopeful novel from the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award winner Amy Ackley. I highly recommend it to everyone - it's been the best YA novel I've read so far. Simply amazing.

Rating:

Bookish Ramblings #2: How Authors Should Approach Bloggers

2012-02-01T13:26:00.000+01:00

If you've read my blog last week, you already know that I posted an article about how I think we should and should not behave on social media websites and how I think authors should not approach bloggers and ask for review copies. If you missed my post, click here.

I was SO glad so many of you joined in the conversation, including authors! A blogger suggested that I post about the good ways to approach reviewers, so here we go.

I wanted to make this week's article a bit more complex so I asked fellow book bloggers to fill out a short questionnaire. My aim was to sum up their answers - I do have my own opinion on the subject -which I'm going to tell you just in a second - but I felt that it might be more useful if I tell you how other bloggers feel about this topic. So, let's see.

How authors should approach book bloggers and request a review - in my opinion.

1. First and foremost, read the blogger's review policy. It doesn't take more than 2 minutes to go over the policy and you earn the blogger's respect by doing so. I'm not kidding. Most people don't even reply to emails that come from authors who clearly didn't read their policy. Plus, if it turns out that the blogger doesn't even review that genre then once again, sending them an email is a waste of time. This is probably my biggest pet peeve when it comes to blogging and most bloggers will agree with me on this. So my advice would be:
- Read our review policy
- Check whether the blogger in question accepts that genre or not
- Check the blogger's preferences: some people don't accept ebooks, for example, so sending them a review request for an ebook will probably earn an instant delete.
- Try to remember the blogger's name: most people don't like to be referred to as "Dear blogger"

2. Contact us via email not Twitter/ Facebook / Goodreads and other social networking websites.
Some people don't mind being contacted via Twitter so I would say it's a personal preference. As for me, I don't like it. Although I would add that the reason why I don't like it is that people who contact me on Twitter, for example, do not read my review policy. If you read my policy and then message me on Facebook or Twitter, that's perfectly fine. Other than that, take the time to go to the blog, read the review policy (see advice #1 above) and shoot an email to the blogger or use the contact form.

For me, these two are the absolute must. If you respect my policy, take the time to find out my name, contact me via email with a book and format I DO accept and I have time to review your book then I probably will.

How to make your review request more effective - a.k.a other bloggers' preferences

3. Checking out some of our previous reviews is a big yes. It's a win-win: you'll know what to expect from the bloggers' reviews, what their preferences are and bloggers likes compliments.

4. Be polite. Bloggers do not like pushy people.

5. Be patient and understanding of time frames. Most bloggers have a waiting list and it may take some time until they're able to finish your book but they will. Keep in mind that most of us work or study full time besides blogging.

6. Include all the relevant information in your email:
- Your name
- How you found the blogger
- Why you think he or she would like your book
- Title and summary of the book (v. important - don't make us look it up)
- Specify the genre and format of the book

Of course each blogger has their own preferences but I think as long as you keep the things mentioned above in mind you ought to get a friendly response. I hope you'll find this advice helpful and thank you so much to all my lovely bloggers who filled in the survey! Make sure to leave a comment below and tell me what you think. Much love xxx

Teaser Tuesday #13

2012-01-31T13:40:00.000+01:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly event, hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Anyone can participate, just make sure to read the rules by clicking here.

My teaser comes from Amy Ackley's Sign Language, from page 291.

" I wanted to be with you today because, you know, I thought you might need someone. And if you needed someone, I wanted you to need me."

I'm about 90% done with Sign Language and all I can say is, it's brilliant. It's such a moving and tear-jerking story, a real page turner. And this quote has been probably my favourite in this book - it's so sweet.

What do you think? What is everyone reading this week? Make sure to leave a comment below with a link to your own teaser so that I can visit you and check out your awesomesauce books! xxx

In My Mailbox #18

2012-01-29T10:00:00.002+01:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. It's our opportunity to get a sneak peek into what books everyone is received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders.

Hello and welcome back! :) I hope everyone had a nice week! I had a super great week book-wise and otherwise as well. Let's get down to business and see what was in my mailbox this week. I got...

For review

Tempest by Julie Cross (hardback) - SO excited about this one!
House on Plunkett Street by Lorena Bathey (ebook)
Straight to Hell by Michelle Scott (ebook)
The Starboard Sea by Amber Dermont (ebook)
Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley (ebook)
Life is But a Dream by Brian James (ebook)

Gifted

A purse and a cute little Union Jack charm, along with some lovely bookmarks from Nat @ Besotted with Books. I love them, they're so cute! AND they remind me of London until I can go back to the UK :)
PlusDivergent by Veronica Roth, sent by the lovely Kayleigh @ K-Books
I'm SO looking forward to reading this one! Thank you guys! *hugs*

AND! I got auto-approved for Macmillan Children's Books' titles on Netgalley!!!! Yeee-haw!

So, that's it for this week. :) What did you get this time around? Feel free to leave a comment below with a link to your own IMM and I'll visit you back asap. x x x

PS: I have a special event coming up very soon so stay tuned! :)

Review: Twenties Girl - Sophie Kinsella

2012-01-28T15:08:00.004+01:00

Title: Twenties Girl
Author: Sophie Kinsella
Publication date: January 28th 2010
Publisher: Black Swan (Transworld Publishers)
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 978-0-552-77437-6
Genre: Chick-lit

Order from Amazon US | The Book Depository | Barnes & Noble

If you suddenly had a friend that only you could see or hear, what would you do?

You could worry that your stressful life has tipped you over the edge and you have lost the plot, big time... you could hide under your duvet, hoping that they would go away... or you could have some fun... You could make your ex boyfriend take you back...You could solve the mystery of the dragonfly necklace, make a fool of yourself many times, get your business back on its feet... You could dance with a gorgeous man who just can't resist you... And you could just discover the best friend you ever had.

Sophie Kinsella has been one of my favourite authors for at least five or six years - I picked up one of her books, 'Can You Keep a Secret?' a few years back and I fell in love with her style and became a huge fan right away. In the past few year, I've read all of her books - the whole Shopaholic series and each novel she published, except Twenties Girl. And now that I was finally able to sit down and read it, I'm more certain than ever that no matter what she writes, it's guaranteed to be the best book you've ever read.

Twenties Girl follows the story of Lara, niece to a millionaire guy called Bill Lington who runs a successful coffee chain all over the world. Lara is an ordinary twenty-something businesswoman who works at a head-hunting company she set up with her best friend Natalie.. right until Natalie decides to disappear, leaving her in the lurch, not having the slightest clue what to do or how to run the company all alone. To make things even worse, her mother has anxiety problems, she just broke up with her boyfriend Josh and to top it all, she has to attend her great-aunt's funeral as well. At the funeral, Sadie's (the great-aunt's) 23-year-old self appears as a ghost but as it turns out, only Lara can see and hear her, no one else. She tells Lara about her dragonfly necklace - something she wore at a time when she was genuinely happy and something without which she can't rest - and wouldn't leave her alone until she promises to find out where it is. I could go on and on about the story but I don't want to give too much away.

Twenties Girl was nothing but pure brilliance. Kinsella's writing is something that I absolutely adore - you can't help clinging to every word she says, every word she puts down on paper - it's amazing. Very witty, sometimes sarcastic and immensely funny, her style is just great. She writes with such ease and depth that she never fails to captivate her readers from the very first page. She managed to laugh out loud and cry almost at the same time and even though the story itself is laugh-out-loud funny, the ending is very emotional.

Along with the great writing style came an amazing plot - even after a whole series and several standalone novels, she manages to write something completely original and unique. What I loved about it most is the characters. Sadie - the ghost - started to annoy me at times but still, her friendship with Lara was something I really liked about the story. If I had to pick a favourite character, it'd either be Lara (because of her sarcasm and witty remarks) or Ed - an American guy who rarely smiles, lives in his own little shell, puts on a tough exterior and doesn't really open up ... until she meets Lara. Ed reminded me of myself in this respect and I found his character easily relatable.

In short, Twenties Girl is a definite must-have: it's a real page turner that won't let you put it down. Wonderfully witty, laugh-out-loud funny and highly emotional at the same time, it will definitely stay with you for a long time. Simply brilliant.

Rating:

Follow Friday #1

2012-01-27T13:53:00.001+01:00

Follow Friday is a weekly event hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read– it's my first Follow Friday post but it looks like a great way to discover new blogs and make new friends so I decided to jump on the bandwagon. I'm really looking forward to meeting you all!

If you want to subscribe to my blog, you can follow me via GFC, RSS, email or Networked blogs as well - each of them can be found on the sidebar.

Q: Which book genre do you avoid at all costs and why?

A: I avoid all types of non-fiction books - memoirs, short stories, biographies, etc. I've never been fond of non-fiction to be honest. When it comes to fiction, I usually try to give each genre a shot. :) There are a few types of books I don't really enjoy, though. Science fiction or historical fiction have never been my favourites - these are the two genres I probably wouldn't pick up in a bookshop. Although I've been trying to broaden my horizons since I started blogging and I find myself reading books I wouldn't have read under normal circumstances. I've never really read any paranormal books before I started my blog (I know, I know...) but now I don't refuse these type of books either. Blogging has definitely been a great experience so far. :)

What genre do you try to avoid?

Bookish Ramblings: What Bloggers Hate The Most a.k.a Dos and Don'ts for Authors

2012-01-26T16:27:00.000+01:00

I've been thinking about this thing for a while but never got round to actually writing about it: up until now. As a book blogger, I get an increasing number of review requests (which I'm very grateful for!), I use social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter ... but there are certain things that have been bugging me for a while. Which is kind of a response to Kate's fabulous article with some additions from me.

How not to behave on the Internet and how to approach book bloggers and request reviews.

How to behave on Twitter: I'm not an author but I can imagine how hard it is to get enough reviews and find bloggers to review your book - it's a tremendous amount of work. I know it's hard and I know you'd like to advertise your book, but believe me, sometimes less is more. What I mean is this. There are a lot of people out there who use Twitter to advertise their work, which is completely fine. Until you go overboard and become annoying. Just a few examples:

▶ Do not tweet "My book is only $2.34 on Amazon right now. Go buy a copy, you'll love it" every 30 seconds. We get the point. Your book is out and you'd like to sell it but there's no need to literally flood our Timeline by tweeting the exact same message 7815 times a day. Even if you tweet about it 2 or 3 times a day, those of us who are interested in your book will go and check it out. As opposed to this, if I see the same tweets all over my Timeline, there's no way I'm going to click on it.

▶ Do turn off auto-response: see above. I do not want to buy your book or like you on Facebook. If I do, I will anyway, without you sending me computer-generated messages.

▶ Do learn to use hashtags. Hashtags are great unless #you #use #them #a million #times #in #every #sentence.

▶ Do stay in touch with fellow authors and bloggers. If someone @mentions you, or sends you a link to their review of your book, at least say thank you. Even such small gestures like favouriting our tweets or retweeting them means a lot to us! It takes one second but it can make our day. :o)

How to approach bloggers and request book reviews:

Here comes the tricky part. There are several things that might be big no-no's but we all have our own pet peeves, I suppose. I'll tell you some of mine.

▶ People emailing me without reading my review policy. For me this is the biggest no-no and I know I'm not the only one who says this. I've had people asking me to review their memoirs, their non-fiction books, books from the erotica and religious genre - which would be fine if my review policy didn't state clearly that I do not review any of the genres listed above. Which, of course, means that the person in question didn't read my review policy and it's a waste of time for both of us. It's a waste of time for him/her because they spent x minutes composing and sending me the email and I'm not going to accept their book anyway. I know emailing bloggers takes a lot of time but I do agree with Kate on this one: "Yes, it takes time to read each review policy and tailor each query. But you know what takes a lot MORE time? Reading your book (10-15 hours), writing up and formatting a review post (30 min? 1 hour? 2 hours?), promoting the post, and cross-posting the review on AmazonB&NGoodreads."

▶ Requesting book reviews via Facebook or Twitter. Seriously? I've had people -and once again, I'm not the only one - requesting reviews via social networking sites before and I still don't get it. How do you know what type of books we like? If you add us on Facebook/Twitter, go and check out our blog (and review policy!!!) and THEN DM or tweet us, that's okay. But most of the time it's not the case. In a nutshell, please take the time to open your browser, visit our blog, read the policy and email us.

Of course these are my opinions only and I don't want to hurt or criticize anyone - take it as constructive criticism. :-)

What do you think? What are your biggest pet peeves?

Teaser Tuesday #12

2012-01-24T12:01:00.001+01:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly event, hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Anyone can participate, just make sure to read the rules by clicking here.

My teaser comes from Sophie Kinsella's Twenties Girl, from page 29.

[The vicar and Lara's -the main character's- family are talking about her great-aunt who has just passed away at the age of 105 but literally no-one in the family knew her]

'Did you never visit her?' The vicar is clearly forcing herself to stay polite.
'Of course we did!' says mum defensively.'We popped in to see her in...' She thinks. '1982, I think it was. Lara was a baby.'
'1982?' The vicar looks scandalized.

Hahahaha, oh dear. I actually laughed out loud when I read this part last night. I don't know if it sounds funny now that it's taken out of context but believe me, it does when you're reading it! :) This book has been sitting on my bookshelf for a very long time - and when I say very long, I mean it. I think I bought it sometime last year or even before that and I have no clue why I haven't read this before. I adore Sophie's books so I'm sure it's going to be a fun read. 46 pages in, I'm in love with it already!

What is everyone reading this week? Make sure to leave a comment below with a link to your own teaser so that I can visit you and check out your awesomesauce books! xxx

A Winter's Respite Read-a-Thon 2012 - sign in post

2012-01-23T20:16:00.005+01:00

So, the time has finally come - I'm done with my exams, wahoooo! Which means that I'll be able to go back to reading and blogging full time for a few weeks at least. And what better way to start these few weeks than to take part in a read-a-thon!

This one is organized by the True Book Addict and it's called the Winter's Respite read-a-thon. It runs from January 23rd to 29th, with lots of mini-challenges and giveaways. You can also chat with other read-a-thoners using the #wintersrespite hashtag on Twitter.

I have lots of books to be read and reviewed and since I'm participating in the 2012 TBR Reading Challenge as well, I should probably read some books off my TBR pile as well. Too many books, too little time. Ha! Anyway, what I'm gonna do now is list all the books I'm aiming to read within this one week. I'm definitely a mood reader so there's a chance I may change my mind later but I'll try to stick to these books as closely as I can. Okay, so let's see what's on my TBR list for this week.

1. Spider's Web by Agatha Christie
2. Love Unfinished by Darian Wilk
3. Gone by Michael Grant
4. Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella

Click on the titles to check them out on Goodreads - and click on the photo to enlarge. :-)

Since I belong to the slow readers' category, I probably won't be able to finish them all, but we'll see. I'll read as many as I can but the most important thing now is to have fun, isn't it? ;) I'm really looking forward to meeting new people during #WintersRespite - I'm sure it's going to be tremendous fun!

Would you like to join in? You can still sign up by clicking here.

In My Mailbox #17

2012-01-22T09:24:00.000+01:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. It's our opportunity to get a sneak peek into what books everyone is received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders.

I had a great week book-wise - I got some great books for my Kindle and I only have two exams left! :) Which means that by the end of next week, I'll be able to go back to normal: reading, blogging and designing blogger templates for my gawjusss bookish friends. Wahoo!

Downloaded for Kindle (purchased, borrowed from friends, for review)

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Death Comes to Pemberley by P. D. James
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
The Next Always by Nora Roberts
Happy Birthday to You by Brian Rowe - free for Kindle! I bought the first book in the trilogy last week so I only need the second one :)
Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson
Delirium by Lauren Oliver
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
11/22/63 by Stephen King
My Name is Olivia and I Can't Do Anything About It by Jowi Schmitz (for review)
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews (for review)

So, that's it for this week. :) What did you get this time around? Feel free to leave a comment below with a link to your own IMM and I'll visit you back asap. x x x

PS: Books, Biscuits, and Tea is now on Google+ :) Let's circle up!

Waiting on Wednesday #6

2012-01-18T00:40:00.000+01:00

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, which spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My pick for this week:

Victims by Jonathan Kellerman
ISBN: 9780755374502
Format: Hardback
Publication date: March 1, 2012
Publisher: Headline
Add it on Goodreads

Not since Jack the Ripper terrorised London has there been such a gruesome crime scene. By all accounts acid-tongued Vita Berlin had not a friend in the world, but who did she cross so badly to end up arranged in such a grotesque tableau? One look at her apartment turned charnel house is enough for hard-bitten LAPD detective Milo Sturgis to summon The Crime Reader. But even Alex Delaware's finely honed skills may be stymied when more slayings occur in the same ghastly fashion . . . yet with no apparent connection between the victims. And the only clue left behind--a blank page bearing a question mark.

Milo is under pressure to end the bloody spree and prevent a citywide panic when he discovers a link between the victims. Meanwhile, Alex navigates the secretive world of mental health treatment, from the sleek office of a Beverly Hills therapist to a shuttered mental institution where he once honed his craft; and where an unholy alliance between the mad and the monstrous may have been sealed in blood. As each jagged piece of the puzzle fits into place, an ever more horrific portrait emerges of a sinister mind at its most unimaginable - and an evil soul at its most unspeakable. 'This one was different,' Alex observes at the start. This one will haunt The Crime Reader's waking life, and his darkest dreams, long after its end.

I haven't read any Jonathan Kellerman books before but this one sounds like my cup of tea! I'm a huge fan of crime fiction so it's a must have. :) What made me want to read it in the first place was the fact that there's no connection between the victims except a blank paper left behind with a question mark on it. It sounds like a real page turner and I can't wait to read it!!!!

What's your "waiting on" pick this week? xxx

In My Mailbox #16

2012-01-15T10:10:00.000+01:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. It's our opportunity to get a sneak peek into what books everyone is received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders.

I had quite a hectic week with lots of studying, an exam (and I'm nowhere near the end!) and some pretty good news AND I managed to get some fantastic books as well. So, shall we get started?

Here's my IMM haul for this week - as always, click on the book covers to read the Goodreads synopsis.

BeSwitched Witch by Molly Snow - ARC (paperback)

Gone by Michael Grant - puchased (paperback)
A Great Deliverance by Elisabeth George - purchased (paperback)

Free Kindle deals:

Killing Hope by Keith Houghton (mystery-thriller)
Man of Wax by Robert Swartwood (thriller)
Blown Away by Shane Gericke (mystery-thriller)
The Afterlife Club by Jude Ryan

AND *drumroll please* something completely irrelevant but still super exciting: as most of you probably know, I have a design studio called Sweet Dreams Design where I design custom Blogger templates. Now, I finished the custom template for Donna and Jess @ Book Passion for Life the other day - and this is how it looks:

What do you think? :) And also, what books did you get this week? :o) Make sure to leave a comment below with a link to your own IMM so that I can check them out. Much love and thank you for stopping by! Have a lovely weekend x x x

Booking Through Thursday #12 - Reading habits (interview)

2012-01-12T16:06:00.000+01:00

This week's questions are:

1. What’s your favourite time of day to read?
I'm a full time night owl so I always read at night. One of the many reasons for this is that I go to uni so I don't have much time during the day. But even if I've no classes or I'm at home, I just can't read before let's say... 6 o'clock or even later. I just concentrate with all the noise outside - I like to read when everyone has gone to bed and it's all quiet. :)

2. Do you read during breakfast? (Assuming you eat breakfast.)
Nope - as I said, I usually don't read in the morning. I usually check my emails and blog post comments while I'm having breakfast.

3. What’s your favorite breakfast food?
Oh, that's a tough one. I don't think I have any! I don't even like breakfast - the only reason why I do eat breakfast is that I don't want to pass out on my way to uni or wherever I have to go. I love mushroom and tomato flatbread and cheese on toast though. AND I need to have my breakfast tea each morning, otherwise I'll be really grumpy all day. Seriously. Don't mess with me until I've had my cuppa.

4. How many hours a day would you say you read?
I do read a lot when I don't have to prepare for my exams or hand in 10 page long essays the next morning. I do spend a lot of time in front of my computer networking, working on blog designs and that sort of thing but nights are all about reading. So I usually read... well, 5 hours maybe?

5. Do you read more or less now than you did, say, 10 years ago?
Much more! I've always liked reading but I've never read as much as I do now that I have my blog. I guess the main reason why I wasn't much of a bookworm in my teens is that none of my friends really like reading so there was no inspiration, I suppose. I started reading more before I went to university but I didn't have my blog back then.

6. Do you consider yourself a speed reader?
Certainly not. I'm quite a slow reader compared to most bloggers! There were books that I was able to finish in about a day (Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None) but only because they were SO good that I literally couldn't put them down. Plus, I was reading non-stop so I was completely knackered by the time I finished it, haha!

7. If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
Being invisible? Yes please. I've always preferred staying in the background to being the centre of attention so I could really use an invisibility cloak sometimes.

8. Do you carry a book with you everywhere you go?
Nope. Even if I was a commuter, I probably wouldn't. I have motion sickness so ebooks and paperbacks are out of the question for me. Plus as I said, I can't read in crowded/noisy places so there's no point in carrying a book with me. Although I do like to go to the park in summer and lie down with a good book while sunbathing. :)

9. What KIND of book?
A light read preferably - something that doesn't require too much concentration. A chick-lit maybe?

10. How old were you when you got your first library card?
Oh, I've no clue to be honest. About 8 or 9? I had one while I was in primary school, that's one thing I remember. As for now, I haven't had a library card for many years.

11. What’s the oldest book you have in your collection?
I think it's a Shakespeare collection - I have about 6 Shakespeare books on my shelf which are really old!

12. Do you read in bed?
Aye! Since I prefer reading at night, I usually curl up in bed under a warm blanket with a hot cup of tea (or hot chocolate), some biscuits and my book - that's my favourite place to read.

13. Do you write in your books?
Never!

14. If you had one piece of advice to a new reader, what would it be?
Read what you'd like and not what others tell you to read. :)

Waiting on Wednesday #5

2012-01-11T10:10:00.000+01:00

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, which spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My pick for this week:

Pear Shaped by Stella Newman
ISBN: 978-1-84756-270-8
Format: Paperback
Publication date: January 19, 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Imprint: Avon
Add it on Goodreads

Girl meets boy. Girl loses boy. Girl loses mind.

Sophie Klein walks into a bar one Friday night and her life changes. She meets James Stephens: charismatic, elusive, and with a hosiery model ex who casts a long, thin shadow over their burgeoning relationship. He’s clever, funny and shares her greatest pleasure in life – to eat and drink slightly too much and then have a little lie down. Sophie’s instinct tells her James is too good to be true – and he is.

An exploration of love, heartbreak, self-image, self-deception and lots of food. Pear-Shaped is in turns smart, laugh-out-loud funny and above all, recognizable to women everywhere.

I love these type of "girly reads" and Avon, of course, so it's only natural I'm looking forward to this one. :) The US publication date may differ from the one indicated above: the Canadian pub date is in March 2012, that's for sure. Anyway, what's your "waiting on" pick this week? xxx

Musing Mondays #12 - Raved reads

2012-01-09T12:13:00.000+01:00

Musing Mondays is a weekly event hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Each week MizB asks a book related question and bloggers answer with their thoughts about the given topic. This week's musings asks:

Are there any “raved reads” – books that everyone seems to be talking about– that you’re hoping to get read this year yourself? What books are they and why are you hoping to read them? Is it because you want to say you’ve read it? Or, would you have chosen to read it, even if you’d discovered it yourself, and no one was raving about it?

Oh, I love this one! And the answer is yes, there are lots of books that everyone's talking about and I'm hoping to read this year. The thing is, living in small country in Eastern Europe means that our local book shops doesn't have a wide range of books written in English. Especially not from the YA fiction range. So most books I see or add to my wishlist come from recommendations from friends, Goodreads or Blogger. Anyway, there are lots of books I've heard about and want to read. Some of them are books I would have read if I saw them in store but some of them are definitely not. For example, The Scorpio Races, The Hunger Games trilogy or Anna Dressed in Blood are books I'm not sure I would have picked up in a book shop but I can't wait to read them now. The same applies to certain genres as well - normally I wouldn't have read paranormal or dystopian books, for example. But ever since I started blogging, I constantly find myself wanting to read books I wouldn't have read before - partly because I want to know what the hype is about and because I'd like to expand my horizons. :)

How about you? Are there any raved books you're hoping to read this year? Feel free to leave a comment below! x x x

In My Mailbox #15

2012-01-08T10:10:00.002+01:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. It's our opportunity to get a sneak peek into what books everyone is received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders.

I just realized that I forgot to do an IMM last week. *facepalm* Anyway, here's what's been in my mailbox in the past 1 or 2 weeks. As always, click on the book covers to see their Goodreads page.

For review

Addison Blakely: Confessions of a PK by Betsy St. Amant
Point, Click, Love: A Novel by Molly Shapiro
Fracture by Megan Miranda
Stay Tuned by Lauren Clark

Downloaded for Kindle:

Night School by C.J.Daugherty - won from April and Bex

Happy Birthday to Me by Brian Rowe - won from April and Bex

Breaking the Ice by Mandy Baggot - it was free on Kindle

Results Not Typical by Catherine Ryan Howard - it was free on Kindle

Physical copies { purchased }

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
Ordeal by Innocence by Agatha Christie - click here to read my review

Thank you to Netgalley for the e-ARCs, Lauren Clark, April and Bex for the Amazon Gift Card, and Mandy Baggot and Catherine Ryan Howard.

What books did you get this week? :o) Make sure to leave a comment below with a link to your own IMM so that I can check them out. Love to everybody and thank you for stopping by! x x x

Review: Ordeal by Innocence - Agatha Christie

2012-01-05T15:37:00.005+01:00

Title: Ordeal by Innocence
Author: Agatha Christie
Publication date: 2003
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 978-0-00-715491-3
Genre: Mystery

Order from Amazon US | Amazon UK | The Book Depository

According to the courts, Jacko Argyle bludgeoned his mother to death with a poker. The sentence was life imprisonment.

But when Dr Arthur Calgary arrives with the proof that confirms Jacko's innocence, it is too late - Jacko died behind bars following a bout of pneumonia. Worse still, the doctor's revelations re-open old wounds in the family, increasing the likelihood that the real murderer could strike again.....

Reading these few lines was enough for me to know that it's going to be a great read - I fell in love with it in an instant, picked it up and came home, eager to start reading it. At two in the morning, exhausted from sleep deprivation and reading for such a long time, I simply couldn't put it down. And I was right - Ordeal by Innocence is pure brilliance.

I don't usually like books that don't feature either Poirot or Marple but it was an exception. What's more, I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much if it featured one of them. It was just perfect the way it was written, without any detectives.

It's quite hard to talk about Christie's novels without giving too much away but believe me, it's a marvellously written story. It's similar to some of her other books in that there's a house full of suspects and they all know one of them did it but still, this time it's a bit different. Mainly because it's not a real family - the five children were all adopted, therefore they're all different. As Mr. Argyle put it, you can't predict what's going on in their minds because they're not your own, they're not like you. In addition to this, Ordeal by Innocence is said to be one of Christie's darkest novels for a reason - it focuses very strongly on psychology. One of the most powerful lines for me was "It's not the guilty who matter. It's the innocent."

The characters aren't particularly likeable but there's no doubt about them being a queer lot. My personal favourite was Philip Durrant - an ex-pilot who was afflicted with polio of the paralytic type and became an invalid. Even though he can't move around as much as he'd like to, I think he played an important part in the novel - he was an invalid, but he was very strong mentally.

Ordeal by Innocence is another masterpiece from the Queen of Crime. It doesn't matter how many whodunnits you've read before, Christie will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout the whole story and keeps you guessing until the very end. I'd definitely recommend it to everyone who likes a good mystery.

Rating:

My blogging space

2012-01-04T16:28:00.000+01:00

Hello everyone! I just wanted to let you know that I'm guest posting on Cathy's blog today - if you'd like to see where I'm blogging from or how my bookshelf looks, make sure to head over to Kittling Books and check out my post. :-)

http://www.kittlingbooks.com/2012/01/scene-of-blog-featuring-vicky-of-books.html

BeSwitched blog tour - guest post and giveaway

2012-01-04T10:45:00.031+01:00

Hello everyone! :o) I'm pleased to tell you that we have a guest author for today - Molly Snow, author of BeSwitched has stopped by Books, Biscuits & Tea with a guest post and a giveaway.

About the book:

After spending hundreds of years under the boot-heel of Idis, a frenzied witch, Surla (a magical black cat) decides to run away to find freedom, but there's one catch-- The Black Cats' Rule states it will switch bodies with a lonesome soul. Cathy, an extremely shy teenage girl, can't muster the guts to ask her crush on a date or stand up to the three biggest snobs at school. What's a girl to do? Could being BeSwitched be the answer to her wishes?

So without further ado, please welcome ~~Molly~~ Surla, the star cat of Beswitched. :-)

Catty Makeover Advice from Surla, Star Cat of BeSwitched

1. Nails. One of the first things I do when switching bodies with a human is give their nails a makeover. As a cat, I love to clean mine and keep them sharp. As a human, I learned quickly, that you don’t need to have them sharp, but do keep them pretty. Idis, my witch, was good with clipping her nails, but they were always yellow and hard, sometimes even poking through her socks. Find ways to keep your nails healthy by checking out some products on the market for nail strengthening, and always consider length; long nails are better than short.

2. Hair. Something most humans don’t know, is that a dab of saliva in an emergency can help with flyaway hairs. When I switched bodies with Idis, this was a constant technique of mine, since I had long hair and the November winds are strong. Just lick the back of your hands and gently wipe them across the trouble areas. This works well with bangs as well.

3. Makeup. Eyeliner and shadow are extremely important for getting that just right cat-eye look. Mesmerize boys with black liquid liner, swept up at the corners. This is very important to enhancing your human appearance. Some humans already have this trick down, like Angelina Jolie, and look at the who she nabbed. Yes, even cats can spot a handsome human when we see them. You know a cute cat when you see one, too, right?

4. The Walk. When going to Washington High as a teenage girl, I noticed other girls with their heads down as they walked the halls (That’s what Cathy used to do). I also noticed girls who would hunch like my witch Idis would at times. This shows you are uneasy with who you are or your height. When I switched with Idis, I was taller than the average girl. Instead of hunching and putting my head down, I sashayed my way through the halls. I also proudly would wear heels. Embrace yourself and practice a sassy, confident walk in front of your bedroom mirror.

5. Style. When I went shopping for new outfits, or rummaged through Cathy’s mom’s closet (she has some style!), I chose what looked good on me. Did I care that Idis hated the pink polka dotted shirt I bought, when I switched bodies with her? No! Those pink polka dots were so cute on me with my strawberry blond hair that even Jax’s father, Mr. Morreau, bought me a pair of pink polka dotted boots for when I went frog catching at Lake Sequoia. Be you, and wear it proudly!

This ends my catty makeover advice. I hope you enjoyed my tips. Which was your favorite?

Love, Surla

* * * *

Giveaway

Molly is giving away an ebook copy of her book BeSwitched and its sequel, BeSwitched Witch to one lucky winner. Sounds good? For your chance to win, just fill in the Rafflecopter form below. There's no mandatory entry so following me or Molly's blog is completely optional, though very much appreciated. Good luck to everyone! When you're done, make sure to visit the author's blog for your chance to win an Amazon Kindle and signed paperback copies of her book! :) Molly, thanks for joining us today and for this fab giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Teaser Tuesday #11

2012-01-03T11:00:00.006+01:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly event, hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Anyone can participate, just make sure to read the rules by clicking here.

My teaser comes from Agatha Christie's Ordeal by Innocence this week, from page 124.

"At least it seems to me very unlikely that your mother would sit down at a table and let that person pick up a poker and hit her on the back of her head. No, she was at her ease, confident, with someone she knew in the room."

I got Ordeal by Innocence for Christmas and I absolutely love it, just like most of Christie's books. Feel free to check out the synopsis on Goodreads by clicking on the title above the teaser or scroll down the page and you'll find it in this week's Musings Monday post. :-)

What is everyone reading this week? Make sure to leave a comment below with a link to your own teaser so that I can visit you and check out your awesomesauce books! xxx

Musing Mondays #11

2012-01-02T11:58:00.000+01:00

The one I'm reading right now is Agatha Christie's Ordeal by Innocence. It's been great so far and I'm looking forward to finding out more! The next one is probably going to be a review copy since I'm way behind with those too.

Recovering from amnesia, Dr. Arthur Calgary discovers that he alone could have provided an alibi in a scandalous murder trial. It ended in the conviction of Jacko Argyle. The victim was Jacko's own mother, and to make matters worse, he died in prison. But the young man's innocence means that someone else killed the Argyle matriarch, and would certainly kill again to remain in the shadows. Shaded in the moral ambiguity of murder, the provocative psychological puzzler of guilt, vengeance, and blood secrets is among Agatha Christie's personal favorites.

How about you? What are you reading for the new year? Feel free to leave a comment below with a link to your own Musing Mondays post or your answer. Have a great day :) x x x

Recap of 2011 - Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T22:26:00.000+01:00

2012 is only 2 hours away, can you believe it? Where'd this year go?

2011 was a great year for me reading-wise. I started blogging at the end of September and made lots of blogger and author friends along the way. I somehow managed to get almost 600 followers, which is just incredible - I can't even tell you how grateful I am for sticking with me and for all the support and love I got from you all! I'm really happy that I met you all.

I'm looking forward to meeting some new people in 2012, to co-hosting the 2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge with a bunch of lovely ladies and of course, reading lots of great books!

I wish you all a very happy New Year - see you in 2012!
Hugs 'n' kisses x x x

Netgalley month December wrap up and Q & A with Lindsey Rudnickas

2011-12-31T11:33:00.002+01:00

Good morning, everyone. Can you believe December and this year is almost over? It's so unbelievable! And just like December, NetGalley month is drawing to a close for 2011. First of all, I'd like to say a massive thank you to everyone who joined us - it's been fun! As I promised, I'll post a linky at the end of this post where you can submit all your reviews that you posted during NG month, so that everyone can check each other's out. PLUS, we have a very special guest for today - Lindsey Rudnickas from Netgalley is joining us today to answer some questions about Netgalley and reviewing e-galleys. Sounds good? :o)

First off, however, here are my totals - I did pretty good, considering the fact that I didn't have much time due to my uni exams. I managed to read and review 3 books and I started my 4th one the other day. The titles I did finish are:

Q & A with Lindsey Rudnickas from Netgalley

1. Should we include our blog statistics (number of followers, unique visits) in our public bio?

YES! Definitely! The more information you can include about your “reach” the better – how many people visit your blog, how many subscribers/followers you have, how many people follow you on Twitter/Facebook, anywhere else that you post your reviews and/or promote books, etc. Publishers want to know how you get the word out about the books you read/review.

The information in your bio is what publishers see when deciding to approve your galley requests. It’s very important to check the Publisher Approval Preferences page for guidance. Publishers are telling you exactly what they’re looking for in your Bio in order to approve you, so be sure to follow their advice! And don't forget to indicate if you are a member of any Associations, like the ALA or ABA (under Account Information).

2. Does the number and quality of our previous reviews influence publishers' decision to approve future requests? Do they read our previous reviews before approving our requests?

That depends on the publisher. Some check your previous reviews before approving or declining you, but it depends. I would say the general rule of thumb is that if you consistently send reviews back to the publisher, then they’ll be more likely to approve you again and again, since they know you’re promoting their books in return for the galley.

3. Do publishers use our reviews after we submit them?

Great question, and again, it depends! Some publishers definitely use quotes/blurbs from blog reviews in their marketing materials.

4. Why are some books only visible for some people on NetGalley?

Publishers have lots of flexibility in how they can use NetGalley. Some choose to make all their titles available for requests in the catalog, and others keep all their titles private and only invite select people to access them. Most publishers do a combination—allow requests for many of their titles but may keep just a few titles private. Plus, they could keep a title private at first but then make it available for requests later (closer to the pub date, let’s say). It all depends on their specific marketing campaign for that particular title.

5. What happens if we don't make the deadline? If the galley expires or the publisher archives the given title before we manage to read it or post our review, I mean.

Glad you brought this up, as we’re hearing about this more and more. We strongly urge publishers to put a disclaimer in the title description that clearly states when they plan to archive the title, so you know when the dead-stop expiration date is. Remember that until a publisher archives a title, you can keep re-downloading if you run out of time on the individual download (55 days). But once the publisher archives the title on their end, you can now longer re-download. Most publishers archive titles around the pub or on-sale date, but it is entirely up to each publisher when they choose to archive each title. If you haven’t finished reading the book before it is archived and therefore don’t plan to review it, always best to notify the publisher—so they know why you aren’t reviewing it. For the sake of your own organization, you may wish to press the Archive button on your MANAGE MY REVIEWS page, so that you don’t see the title in the list of your other active galleys. In general, I think it’s always a good idea to request titles that you know you have time to read/review, and then once you’re approved, try to download and start reading right away.

6. Should we let publishers know when we post our reviews by emailing or tweeting them?

Yes, definitely—do both! You can email them directly if you are already in contact with them, but you can also use the tool in NetGalley to send your review notifications. It’s great if you do send via NetGalley since publishers will have a record of how many titles of theirs you have reviewed. Remember, NetGalley members are under no obligation to finish reading a title or write a review—but it is strongly encouraged, and publishers will be more inclined to give you access to future titles if you review.

If you do choose to write a review, you can use NetGalley to send the review to the publisher. Your review is shared with the publisher as a courtesy — but the content and publishing rights for that review belong solely to you. NetGalley does not post or publish your review — instead, we are providing an “electronic tear-sheet.” Most publishers will appreciate if you also include a link or other information with the review that says where the review will be published. You can also use NetGalley to let the publisher know that you are declining to review.

Login to your account, go to MY REVIEWS, and press the pencil icon (“write”) to send your review to the publisher. Make sure to select the REVIEW COMPLETED button, include the link to your review, the date it was published, and anything else relevant. Then hit SAVE!

7. Do publishers check how many pending requests we have before approving our requests?

Great question. Publishers can only see the pending requests that you have for THEIR titles—not all pending requests that you have across all publishers. Depending on their internal process for approving requests, it could be a different person who looks at the pending requests for each title (for instance, if the publicist assigned to a title only logs in to approve requests for that particular title). Or, it could be that one person is approving all blogger requests, so they may very well see all your pending requests for their titles.

8. Who do publishers choose to auto-approve and why?

Individual publishers can auto-approve individual NetGalley members for all their titles in the catalog. This means that when you press the Request button for that publisher’s titles, you’ll receive the galley immediately on your home page. If you are auto-approved by a publisher, you’ll receive an email saying: “You have been auto-approved for any of Publisher’s titles in the NetGalley catalog. Next time you click the REQUEST button for one of their titles, you’ll be automatically approved. Congrats!”

Generally, publishers are likely to auto-approve you if you are consistently approved for their titles and send them reviews. Think of it this way: it’s a time-saver for the publishers—if they realize, hey, I always approve this person, so I might as well auto-approve them so that I don’t have to keep manually approving each of their requests. But you should also check the Publisher Approval Preferences page for specific criteria that each publisher has for who they auto-approve!

9. Why do some bloggers get rejected from certain titles on Netgalley? What are publishers looking for when they're trying to decide whether to approve or reject our request?

Check the Publisher Approval Preferences page for guidance. Publishers are telling you exactly what they’re looking for in your Bio in order to approve you, so be sure to follow their advice!

Lindsey, thank you so much for joining us and for all the useful advice! I hope it answered some of your questions guys. :)

If you took part in NetGalley month, make sure to use the linky below and submit all your reviews you posted during NGmonth so that we can all check them out! Just click on "Click here to enter", fill in the first required field with your review's title and the second one with the link to your review. As simple as that. :) Feel free to submit as many reviews as you like!

Thank you for joining NetGalley month in December and HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone! xxx

Booking Through Thursday #11 - Best of 2011

2011-12-29T11:53:00.000+01:00

This week's question is:

What were your favorite books of 2011?

I've been thinking about the exact same thing since Monday morning and I'm still clueless. There were so many great books I read this year, I don't even know how I should list them all in one post. I'll tell you what. I'll try to narrow it down to the best five.

#1 The Brightest Star in the Sky by Marian Keyes

It's not a surprise, is it? I've been fangirling over this book for months now and I'm still in complete and utter show. It was just amazing. I know many people who like Marian's books but this one didn't work for them - well, it did for me. It's true, it's a bit different from her other novels but for me, it was her best book so far. It's mysterious, witty, funny and emotional at the same time - it made me bawl my eyes out by the end. If you like chick-lit or romance, make sure to pick it up in 2012, it's really good!

My review | Goodreads | The Book Depository

#2 How to Eat a Cupcake by Meg Donohue

This one was provided for review by Netgalley and I have to say, it's been my favourite ebook this year. I loved the story, I loved the characters, the setting, and ... well, everything. It literally made me want to pick up some biscuits or cupcakes while I was reading it, though! Meg is currently working on her second novel (which is not a sequel to How to Eat a Cupcake, unfortunately) and it's going to be released in 2013 if I remember correctly. I wish we didn't have to wait that long!

My review | Goodreads | The Book Depository

#3 Seeing Cinderella by Jenny Lundquist

Something for the fans of middle grade fiction out there. :o) I got this book for review from Jenny herself and I enjoyed every minute of it. It's been a long time since I read any middle grade fiction (well, in middle grade, to be exact) but I fell in love with the story right away. Don't be put off if you don't normally read MG - I don't, either. It doesn't matter where you live or how old you are, you will be able to relate to this story and its characters.

My review | Goodreads | The Book Depository

#4 Farsighted by Emlyn Chand

I'm sure you remember this one, right? I've never really read paranormal fiction before so Farsighted was literally the first such book I've ever read - and it made me fall in love with the genre. It was a real page-turner and I just couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen! Seriously, if you haven't read it, pick up a copy and do - you'll love it. The sequel, Open Hearts is on its way and is going to be released in late spring in 2012!

My review | Goodreads | The Book Depository

#5 The Secret of Lies by Barbara Forte Abate

The Secret of Lies was the biggest surprise for me this year. It's a captivating and very emotional story and the writing style is pure brilliance. I have a soft spot for literary fiction and this book just left me speechless. I had an instant connection with Stevie, the main character, which made me want to find out what was about to happen even more. A great tear-jerking coming of age novel with relatable characters and an excellent storyline - I loved it.

My review | Goodreads | The Book Depository

I could probably list a bunch more but these were the ones that really stood out for me this year. :o) Have you read any of them? What were your favourites? x x x

Custom blog design and HTML tutorials

2011-12-28T21:04:00.000+01:00

Good evening, cupcakes! I hope everyone's enjoying the last couple of days in 2011 :-) So, as some of you already know, I have some great news to tell you. I had many people asking me about my Blogger templates, headers, buttons, etc in the past few months so I decided to start a Design Studio last night. What does it mean exactly?

Well. If you need a custom blog design, that is, a new blogger template, just give me a holler and we'll get started. :o) I have two design packages you can choose from at the moment but don't worry if you're looking for something else, we'll figure it out.

Another thing I'd like to mention here is that I'll probably upload some Blogger/ HTML related tutorials on my design blog so if you have any questions about Blogger, templates, or HTML, feel free to leave a comment here, tweet me, DM me on Facebook, or email me and I'll answer all your questions on the blog.

All my blog templates should look something like Melissa's @ Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf and Kathy's @ I Am a Reader Not a Writer because I'll use scrapbooking kits as well. But even if you're thinking about getting a new blog design and you want something different, no worries - we'll figure it out.

More info and contact on the website:
http://sweetdreams-design.blogspot.com/

Review: Miracle at the Museum of Broken Hearts - Talli Roland

2011-12-27T20:09:00.005+01:00

Title: Miracle at the Museum of Broken Hearts
Author: Talli Roland
Publication date: December 22nd, 2011
Publisher: Notting Hill Press
Format: Kindle Edition
ASIN: B006LLBWFE
Genre: Romance / Chick-lit

Order from Amazon US | Amazon UK | Goodreads

All Rose needs is a Christmas miracle... or does she?

When chief romantic Rose Delaney scores her dream job at London's quirkiest new attraction, The Museum of Broken Hearts, she thinks she's got it made. Sure, it's a little depressing dealing with relics of failed relationships each day, but Rose is determined not to let it break her 'love conquers all' spirit. After discovering the museum's handsome curator is nursing a broken heart of his own, Rose steps in to fix it. Can Rose heal the rift in time for the holidays, or will this Christmas crush her fantasies forever?

I'm usually quite sceptical when it comes to reading short stories for a number of reasons. Well, two actually. The most obvious one is that by the time I get to know the characters and start enjoying the book, it's over. Not to mention the fact that there are many authors whose books I absolutely adore but they just don't succeed when it comes to writing short stories. However, Talli Roland's Christmas novella, Miracle at the Museum of Broken Hearts has simply blew me away.

Even though Miracle at the Museum of Broken Hearts is quite short, you can't help falling head-over-heels in love with Roland's characters. The main characters are Rose, a hopeless romantic with a charm you can't resist, her best friend Mel, who's the complete opposite of Rose and doesn't believe in love at first sight or happy endings, Rose's drop-dead gorgeous but broken hearted boss Heath and his mother Liz, who has built a successful career but alienated herself from his son in the process. Being a Londoner herself, the author manages to describe the book's setting perfectly - reading Miracle at the Museum of Broken Hearts brought back millions of memories of London: trying not to breathe through your nose on the Central Line, the grand stairs of the British Museum, the ever-present hot dog vendor in front of the building and the inedible sausage you should never, ever try.

Amiable characters, great story line and character development and a perfect ending that will bring tears to your eyes - Miracle at the Museum of Broken Hearts has all the ingredients of a great read. With her incredible sense of humour, charming personality and her talent in keeping you on the edge of your seat while making you cry and laugh out loud almost at the same time, Talli Roland will definitely render you speechless. What can I say? I'm her newest fan.

Rating:

Teaser Tuesday #10

2011-12-27T10:32:00.000+01:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly event, hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Anyone can participate, just make sure to read the rules by clicking here.

My teaser comes from Practical Jean by Trevor Cole.
(4% on Kindle)

"More than once, Milt," she said. "More than once, when I was feeding Mom in bed? And she would lay her head back and fall asleep? I thought about pinching her nose and her lips closed and just holding them like that. Holding them tight."
"Until she died?"
"Until she died."

This quote is from an e-ARC therefore it might have been changed in the finished copy.

I started reading this book the other day and even though I'm not too far in, it looks quite promising. I've heard some very good and some... not so good things about it so I'm looking forward to reading it now! :) What are you reading? Feel free to leave a comment below with a link to your own teaser!

Top 10 Book Covers of 2011

2011-12-26T11:51:00.000+01:00

Hello bookaholics! Today I'm going to show you my top 10 book covers for this year! These are the ones that immediately caught my attention and made me want to pick up the book itself. It's been really tough trying to narrow down all these gorgeous covers to only 10 because there are so many fab books and covers out there, but here's my top 10:

#1 - Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey
#2 - Exiled by RaShelle Workman
#3 - The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen
#4 - On The Fringe by Courtney King Walker
#5 - Eve by Anna Carey
#6 - Halo by Alexandra Adornetto
#7 - How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr
#8 - Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma
#9 - Happy Birthday to Me by Brian Rowe
#10 - Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson

Of course the list is entirely subjective - I guess we all have different taste in books, just like in everything else. So feel free to let me know what you think and what your favourite covers of 2011 are! x x x

In My Mailbox #14 - Christmas edition

2011-12-25T21:07:00.001+01:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. It's our opportunity to get a sneak peek into what books everyone is received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders.

First off, I'd like to wish everyone Happy Holidays! I hope you have a great time celebrating and I hope you all got some great books as well. :-)

Here's my haul for this week:

Slide and Touch of Power - e-ARCs from Netgalley
Ordeal by Innocence - Christmas present :-)

Downloaded for Kindle:

I'd like to say a massive thank you to both Blake Crouch and Talli Roland for letting us download their books for free! :-) Miracle at the Museum of Broken Hearts is still free on Amazon US and UK so if you like a good romance/chick-lit, feel free to check it out. Thanks Talli!

So, this is my IMM for this week. What did you all get in your mailbox or for Christmas? xxx

Review: Saving June - Hannah Harrington

2011-12-24T20:53:00.004+01:00

Title: Saving June
Author: Hannah Harrington
Publication date: May 1st 2011
Pub: Harlequin Teen
ISBN: 978-037321-024-4
Pages: 336 (paperback)
Genre: YA fiction

Order from Amazon | Barnes &Noble | Indiebound

Everyone's sorry. But no one can explain why.

Harper Scott's older sister, June, took her own life a week before high school graduation, leaving Harper devastated. So when her divorcing parents decide to split up June's ashes, Harper steals the urn and takes off cross-country with her best friend, Laney, to the one place June always dreamed of going—California.

Enter Jake Tolan, a boy with a bad attitude, a classic-rock obsession…and an unknown connection to June. When he insists on joining them, Harper's just desperate enough to let him. With his alternately charming and infuriating demeanor and his belief that music can see you through anything, he might be exactly what Harper needs. Except…Jake's keeping a secret that has the power to turn her life upside down—again.

Hannah Harrington's story has completely and utterly left me speechless in every possible way. With its loveable and easily relatable characters and gripping plot, Saving June is guaranteed to leave a lasting impression on every reader.

With her elegant and captivating style, Harrington makes sure to get the readers' attention from the very first page. In addition to the fact that I enjoyed the story itself most of the time, what made this book as good as it is was the writing style. The story is told by 16-year-old Harper, June's younger sister who -for me - made this book worth reading.

It turns out soon enough that Harper is just a failure for the family, who's always the second best, no matter what she does. She knew she'd never live up to her sister so she says, why should I even try? She's fed up with always being compared to her sister, with living in her shadow so she turns into someone who has problems with showing her emotions and who's angry all the time. For me Harper's vulnerability was something that made her even more relatable. Another thing I really liked about her and her best friend Laney is their sarcastic and witty humour. If there's one thing they have in common it's definitely their sense of humour, which was right up my street because I'm quite sarcastic myself.

The plot itself is good - I wouldn't say it's the best story I've read this year but it's certainly entertaining. What I found quite strange is that it's supposed to be an emotional read -a girl making her dead sister's last wish come true and all that. Still, this element didn't really come through for me. I found myself thinking, they're going on a road trip, how fun! And I thoroughly enjoyed everything they've been trough on their way to California, for all the wrong reasons. So to put it simply, except for the last 20-30 pages, the emotional aspect of the story didn't really work for me - it was a fun read that leaves you wanting more, and there were times when I even forgot why they're going to California and kept thinking, I don't want them to go home yet!

If there's one thing Harper taught me, however, it's that we can't live our lives in a shell forever. We need to experience things and push beyond our comfort zone even if we don't want to or if we make a fool out of ourselves in the process.

If you're looking for an exciting and entertaining read, I would definitely recommend Saving June. Whether or not you connect with the emotional side of the story, I'm sure you'll have fun reading it. I certainly did.

Rating:

Traditional Hungarian Christmas cake recipe

2011-12-23T12:43:00.001+01:00

Since Christmas is almost here, I decided to jump on the bandwagon and share one of the most popular Christmas recipes with you - Hungarian style. :) If you would like to surprise your families with a special Christmas cake or you feel adventurous, give it a go - I can guarantee it's delicious!

Poppy seed and walnut rolls (Beigli)

Ingredients for the dough (for 4 rolls)

◈ 1 kg white flour
◈ 200 g butter
◈ 150 g lard
◈ 80 g sugar
◈ 3 tablespoons of sour cream
◈ 1 egg
◈ 10 g fresh yeast, started in 1 dl warm milk
◈ pinch of salt

In one bowl, combine flour, butter, lard, sugar, salt, and crumble them together.In another bowl, mix together milk, yeast and egg. Mix until smooth.Pour the liquids into the solids, and knead until you get a smooth dough. Do not overknead! Stop as soon as the dough becomes uniform.Once the dough is smooth, divide it into 4 equal parts, roll them up into balls, cover with cling wrap and let them rest in the fridge for a couple of hours.

Ingredients for the filling for 4 rolls:

◈ 300-350 g ground walnuts OR 300-350 g of ground poppy seeds, depending on which roll you're making (we usually make 2 rolls of each one)
◈ 150 g sugar (adjust to your taste)
◈ 2 lemons
◈ vanilla extract
◈ honey
◈ rum extract
◈ ground cinnamon
◈ 1 l milk

Mix the ground walnuts (or the poppy seed – whichever you are making) with the other spices in a saucepan, and add enough milk to make a thick paste. Add the zest (scraped off rind) and juice of one lemon. Don’t make the filling runny, or it will leak out of the dough later. Heat the mixture slowly, stirring continuously and carefully to avoid burning! Set aside to cool. (Alternatively, you can mix the dry ingredients in a bowl and boil the milk separately, then douse the dry stuff with the milk. Just be careful to achieve a thick consistency.) Remember: each of the two types of filling (walnut and poppy seed) will fill TWO rolls, to make a total of four at the end. So divide your walnut filling into two portions and your poppy seed filling into two portions.

Once the dough has been well rested in the fridge, use a rolling pin to create an even rectangle of dough. The width should be the width of the cookie sheet in your oven and make sure the thickness is even. Now spread the filling on the rectangle of dough, making sure to leave a quarter of an inch free around the edges. Fold the edges over the filling and press down on all four sides and roll up the dough along the longer side. Make holes in the top with a fork to let steam escape. This will help to keep the rolls from splitting along the top. Spread egg yolk on the top of the beigli with a brush. Let it dry. Then spread egg white on top of the beigli. Let it dry.

Put the rolls on a cookie sheet covered with baking paper. Put them in a pre-heated oven at 200C for 15 minutes, then lower the heat to 190C, and bake until golden and the beigli are firm to the touch, which is approximately an additional 15 minutes. So total baking time should be around 30 minutes, but this of course depends on your oven, on the thickness of your beigli, etc. Once they are done, wait for them to cool before slicing and serving.

Do let me know if you decide to give it a go! :) And I'd like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas! :) See you after the holidays xxx

Waiting on Wednesday #4

2011-12-21T09:22:00.000+01:00

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, which spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My pick for this week is actually available on NetGalley and I got the e-galley the other day. I don't know when I'll have time to read it, but I'm definitely looking forward to it. :)

My pick for this week:

Heft by Liz Moore
ISBN: 9780393081503
Format: Hardcover
Publication date: January 23, 2012
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Add it on Goodreads

Former academic Arthur Opp weighs 550 pounds and hasn't left his rambling Brooklyn home in a decade. Twenty miles away, in Yonkers, seventeen-year-old Kel Keller navigates life as the poor kid in a rich school and pins his hopes on what seems like a promising baseball career—if he can untangle himself from his family drama. The link between this unlikely pair is Kel’s mother, Charlene, a former student of Arthur’s. After nearly two decades of silence, it is Charlene’s unexpected phone call to Arthur—a plea for help—that jostles them into action. Through Arthur and Kel’s own quirky and lovable voices, Heft tells the winning story of two improbable heroes whose sudden connection transforms both their lives. Like Elizabeth McCracken’s The Giant’s House, Heft is a novel about love and family found in the most unexpected places.

What's your "waiting on" pick this week? xxx

International giveaway (Mid-Winters Eve blog hop)

2011-12-20T18:35:00.000+01:00

Hello and welcome to the Mid Winter's Eve Giveaway Hop! :-) It's almost Christmas time and what better way to celebrate the festive season than with a giveaway to my gorgeous followers?

That's right folks! I will be giving away not one but TWO books to one lucky winner. And to make it even better, it's open INTERNATIONALLY! Woo hoo! So, what are the books up for grabs, I hear you ask.

Well, author Karice Bolton is giving away two paperback copies of her books, Awakening and Legions. (click on the covers to check them out on Goodreads)

Sounds good?

- CLICK HERE TO ENTER -

Teaser Tuesday #9

2011-12-20T11:11:00.000+01:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly event, hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Anyone can participate, just make sure to read the rules by clicking here.

My teaser comes from Saving June by Hannah Harrington.
Page 18

"The whole time Laney watches me cautiously, like she's afraid at any moment I'll collapse on the kitchen floor in tears. Everyone has been looking at me that way all day."

This quote is from an e-ARC therefore it might have been changed in the finished copy.

I actually haven't had time to start this one yet because I have an exam tomorrow, but it sounds like a fantastic read, isn't it? As always, feel free to leave a comment with a link to your own Teaser Tuesday post so that I can check out your current read as well. :)

Musing Mondays #10 - Recommendations

2011-12-19T14:22:00.000+01:00

Hohohoho, you know this one, right? :) Being a massive Agatha Christie fan, I always recommend And Then There Were None to everyone. Seriously, it's incredible.

Ten...' Ten Strangers are lured to an isolated mansion off the Devon coast by a mysterious 'U.N.Owen'.

'Nine...' At dinner a recorded message accuses each of them in turn of having a guilty secret, and by the end of the night one of the guests is dead.

'Eight...' Stranded by a violent storm, and haunted by an ancient nursery rhyme counting down one by one... as one by one... they begin to die.

'Seven...' Which amongst them is the killer and will any of them survive?

How about you? What's your pick? Feel free to leave a comment below with a link to your own Musing Mondays post or your answer. Have a nice day folks! xxx

In My Mailbox #13 + changes

2011-12-18T12:06:00.000+01:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. It's our opportunity to get a sneak peek into what books everyone is received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders.

I can't believe another week has just passed and it's Christmas next week! It's unbelievable. I hope everyone had a great week though! I had a pretty good one book-wise so let's see what's in my mailbox!

Bought

Last Chance Saloon by Marian Keyes

Rachel's Holiday by Marian Keyes

As you know I adore Marian Keyes so I was thrilled when I saw these books at the local book shop. I got some book vouchers last week so they came in handy! :o) I can't wait to read them!

Won

I won an ebook copy of Build a Man from One More Page which is awesome! I've wanted to read this book for a while so I can't believe I actually won a copy. Thanks Amanda and Talli!

Slave to the rich, rude and deluded, cosmetic surgery receptionist Serenity Holland longs for the day she's a high-flying tabloid reporter. Unfortunately, every pitch she sends out disappears like her clients' liposuctioned fat, never to be seen again. Then she meets Jeremy Ritchie -- the hang-dog man determined to be Britain's Most Eligible Bachelor by making himself over from head to toe and everything in between -- giving Serenity a story no editor could resist.

With London's biggest tabloid on board and her very own column tracking Jeremy's progress from dud to dude, Serenity is determined to be a success, even going undercover to gain intimate access to Jeremy's life. But when Jeremy's surgery goes drastically wrong and Serenity is ordered to cover all the car-crash goriness, she must decide how far she really will go for her dream job.

Gifted

The biggest surprise this week was a gorgeous postcard from the equally gorgeous Darian Wilk, author of Love Unfinished. Darian sent me a lovely and sparkly Christmas card with a bookmark - take a look at it, aren't they fab? Thanks Darian, I love them!!!!! :o)

And we have some changes as well - as you can see, Books, Biscuits & Tea has a brand new template. That's right folks, I made a new one last night - AND I got a custom domain for my blog. What does it mean exactly? It means that from now on (well... after the setup is complete), you'll be able to visit my blog at www.booksbiscuitsandtea.com - cool, huh? :) Don't worry, even if you go to booksbiscuitsandtea.blogspot.com, you'll be automatically redirected to the new address.

So, that's it for this week - what books did you get? Feel free to leave a comment below with a link to your own IMM post and let me know what you think of the new template! :)

Review: Pretty Crooked - Elisa Ludwig

2011-12-16T17:49:00.004+01:00

Title: Pretty Crooked
Author: Elisa Ludwig
Publication date: March 13rd 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins
Imprint: Katherine Tegen Books
ISBN: 978-006206-606-0
Pages: 368 (hardcover)
Genre: YA fiction

Pre-order from Amazon | Barnes &Noble | Indiebound

Willa’s secret plan seems all too simple: take from the rich kids at Valley Prep and give to the poor ones.

Yet Willa’s turn as Robin Hood at her ultra-exclusive high school is anything but. Bilking her “friends”—known to everyone as the Glitterati—without them suspecting a thing is far from easy. Learning how to pick pockets and break into lockers is as difficult as she’d thought it’d be. Delivering care packages to the scholarship girls, who are ostracized just for being from the “wrong” side of town, is way more fun than she’d expected.

The complication Willa didn’t expect, though, is Aidan Murphy, Valley Prep’s most notorious (and gorgeous) ace-degenerate. His mere existence is distracting Willa from what matters most to her: evening the social playing field between the haves and have-nots. There’s no time for crushes and flirting with boys, especially conceited and obnoxious trust-funders like Aidan. But when the cops start investigating the string of thefts at Valley Prep and the Glitterati begin to seek revenge, could Aidan wind up being the person that Willa trusts most?

Pretty Crooked is an entertaining, fast-paced story about high school drama, inequalities, prejudices, bullying and of course love and friendship. At first glance, it seems to be your average YA story with likeable characters, glamour and hot guys, but you need to read between the lines in order to see it's more than that.

Elisa Ludwig's story shows how easy it is to judge people based on their skin colour, their past, their clothes or their wealth and how unfair our society is. Willa's new friends, the Glitterati are rolling in money - they have wealthy parents, glamorous homes and everything they need. Everything. Literally. Unfortunately, not everyone is as lucky as they are. At Valley Prep (Willa's new school) people are being discriminated based on what they wear, where they came from or how much their parents earn. Which, in a way, applies to what we experience everyday, doesn't it? That's why Willa, the main character, decides to even things out and give money to the less fortunate ones at school - by stealing from the Glitterati. The story could have got really cheesy, and maybe it did start off a bit cheesy (and a bit slow-paced for my taste) if I'm completely honest, but it turned into a gripping and very exciting book by the end.

The characters are very well written - Willa is extremely likeable - witty, fun and even a bit sarcastic. There are two male characters, Aidan and Tre. Aidan is portrayed as "the flirt" and I thought I wasn't going to like him but I was wrong. Just like most of the characters, he grown on me by the end. Tre was my favourite throughout the whole story so I would've liked him to appear more often, though.

Another thing I really liked about Pretty Crooked is that it's current. There are continuous references to current artists or films, like Lady Gaga or Freaky Friday which most youngsters are familiar with, so the story doesn't seem outdated. Similarly, the language Ludwig uses is great - it's something teenagers would use nowadays, which works perfectly in the story.

Mean Girls meets Robin Hood, Pretty Crooked is a young, cool, and current read for anyone who is looking for an exciting and charming read. There are some unanswered questions at the end and I was really looking forward to finding out what happens, who this mystery man is, but it's another reason why I'll just have to wait for the sequel. There's only one thing I know for certain: it's worth the wait.

Rating:

Booking Through Thursday #10 - Character or Plot?

2011-12-15T13:30:00.001+01:00

This week's question:

What’s more important to you? Real, three-dimensional, fleshed-out fascinating characters? Or an amazing, page-turning plot?

For me, obviously both are important and I'd probably stick with a mixture of these two, but if I had to choose one, I'd go with a page-turning plot. I don't care how amazing or realistic the characters are if the plot bores me to death. Seriously. I prefer fast paced stories and as long as it's exciting, intriguing and makes you want to keep on reading, I don't care about fascinating characters, or the lack of them, for that matter. :-)

Which one would you choose? Feel free to leave a comment below with your own BTT post or your answer. :) xxx

Waiting on Wednesday #3

2011-12-14T12:24:00.001+01:00

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, which spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My pick for this week:

In The Bag by Kate Klise
ISBN: 9780062108050
Format: Paperback
Publication Date: May 1, 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins (William Morrow Paperbacks)

A successful chef and single mother, Daisy Sprinkle, is on vacation with her teenage daughter, Coco, who picks up the wrong duffle bag at the airport. That situation is not improved by the note Daisy finds tucked into her carry-on, apparently from the man in 13-C. Daisy is in no mood for secret admirer notes or dinner dates. Or even men, for that matter.

Andrew doesn’t know what possessed him to do something like that. Hitting on strange women on airplanes is definitely not his typical style. But there was something about the woman in 6-B that could not be ignored. Of course, now he has no time to think about her, since his son Webb seems to have made off with a budding fashionista’s luggage.

Determined to make the best of a bad situation, Daisy cooks up a plan to calm her daughter’s panic over the lost bag with a week of fabulous food, shopping, and museum hopping. Andrew is busy woking on his latest project and hoping Webb finds enough to entertain himself. Little do they know the teens are making their own plan. . . one that will ultimately reunite Ms. 6-B and Mr. 13-C.

Even though I'm not familiar with Kate Klise's work, this one sounds promising. Not to mention the fact that the description says "The Parent Trap meets You’ve Got Mail in this fun new novel" - and I just LOVE The Parent Trap! It sounds fun, definitely something I'd like to read next summer. :o)

What's your "waiting on" pick this week?

Review: How to Eat a Cupcake - Meg Donohue

2011-12-13T00:13:00.004+01:00

Title: How to Eat a Cupcake
Author: Meg Donohue
Publication date: March 13rd 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins
ISBN: 978-006206-928-3
Pages: 320 (paperback)
Genre: Chick-lit

Order from Amazon | Barnes &Noble | Indiebound

Funny, free-spirited Annie Quintana and sophisticated, ambitious Julia St. Clair come from two different worlds. Yet, as the daughter of the St. Clair’s housekeeper, Annie grew up in Julia’s San Francisco mansion and they forged a bond that only two little girls who know nothing of class differences and scholarships could—until a life-altering betrayal destroyed their friendship.

A decade later, Annie is now a talented, if underpaid, pastry chef who bakes to fill the void left in her heart by her mother’s death. Julia, a successful businesswoman, is tormented by a painful secret that could jeopardize her engagement to the man she loves. When a chance reunion prompts the unlikely duo to open a cupcakery, they must overcome past hurts and a mysterious saboteur or risk losing their fledgling business and any chance of healing their fractured friendship.

Witty, funny, heart-wrenching and engaging at the same time, How to Eat a Cupcake is the perfect read for a rainy day and a quiet night in. I can honestly say it has been one of the best chick-lit books I've read this year, without a doubt. It made me smile, it made me bawl my eyes out, but most importantly, it was simply unputdownable.

The plot is just pure brilliance. It focuses on Annie and Julia, two childhood friends who fall out after a series of events and don't see each other for over a decade. When they finally meet, Annie finds herself in an interesting position: does she go with her original plan and tries to put a painful past behind her or does she forgive the one who made her life so miserable a decade ago in order to make her lifelong dream come true?

The characters are are very likeable - I loved Annie's sarcasm and wit and at the same time, I felt sorry for Julia. She's a typical only child who grew up in a wealthy family. She has had everything she wanted all her life, she lives in a huge mansion, surrounded by only the best of everything. But still, her life is far from perfect. She leads an artificial life and puts on a mask every day, an immaculate smile and pretends she's fine. But she's clearly not. And as it turns out, despite the fact that she has all the money in the world, her secrets are getting the best of her and she's on the verge of falling apart.

I loved the fact that the two girls take turns in narrating the story. It's interesting to hear the story from two completely different perspectives. Because let's admit it, the two of them couldn't be any more different. Annie and Julia are an ill-matched pair of friends who have a great bond and who are -deep down- more similar than they think they are. Which makes How to Eat a Cupcake even more excellent.

Donohue adds a little bit of mystery to the story as well which, being a huge Agatha Christie fan, I really appreciated. There is a Mystery Man in the story who wants to sabotage their whole plan and wants to see the cupcakery fail - but does he succeed? I had a feeling who this man might be (having read at least 30 murder mysteries, I'm seriously thinking about becoming the next Miss Marple, haha) and I was right!

How to Eat a Cupcake has all the ingredients of a marvellous book and I can guarantee you'll love this one. Donohue's masterpiece definitely makes you want to curl up in bed with a cup of hot chocolate and some cupcakes - but don't start reading it on an empty stomach!

Rating:

In My Mailbox #12

2011-12-11T09:30:00.001+01:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. It's our opportunity to get a sneak peek into what books everyone is received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders.

Purchased

I got my Kindle skin yesterday!!! I ordered it about two weeks ago but it was shipped from Canada so it took quite a long time to get here. I'm in love with it. I mean, isn't it just GORGEOUS?! (click on the photos to enlarge)

Books for review

I got two books and some swag this week:

Future King by Larry Pontius

BeSwitched by Molly Snow

+ 2 gorgeous bookmarks from K.C. Neal, author of Pyxis

Ebooks for review

(Click on the covers to read the Goodreads synopsis)

Special thanks to:

Larry Pontius, Molly Snow, K.C. Neal, Marie Landry, Margie Gelbwasser and Netgalley.

What did you get in your mailbox this week? Feel free to leave a link to your own IMM post so that I can visit you and check out your books. :) Have a great day! x

Netgalley month - December

2011-12-10T20:37:00.008+01:00

I've been thinking about it for a while but never posted about it on my blog. I've been a Netgalley member for a pretty long time and I absolutely love it. :) However, I have way too many e-galleys on my Kindle, waiting to be reviewed - which gave me an idea. Why not declare December to be a Netgalley month and read as many e-galleys as I can? I know April @ Red House Books is the one who usually hosts Netgalley months but since I won't be able to participate the next NG readathon in January (I think that's the next NG event, right?), I decided to give it a try now and let's see how it works. :)

And, since there's no fun in doing it all one, I'm inviting you guys to join me! C'mon, it's gonna be great! I don't know how many of you will join in the fun (or if anyone will join me at all) but here's how it's gonna work:

❄ Netgalley Month runs until December 31
❄ Our aim is to read as many Netgalley books as we can in order to get ourselves through our TBR piles. You can read as many as you like: if you only read one book, that's perfectly fine. If you can't participate throughout the whole month, once again, that's fine. It's all up to you!
❄ Make your own blog post about the event and sign up using the linky below, so that we know who participates. :)
❄ If you have Twitter, feel free to use the hashtag #NetGalleymonth when you update your status.
❄ I'll make a linky at the end of the month where you can list all your reviews you managed to post in December so that everyone can read them :)

Feel free to grab the event's button and spread the love:

The Netgalley titles I'm aiming to read this month are:

Sounds good? :o) Please find the sign-up linky below and feel free to join me and/or spread the word!

Review: In Leah's Wake - Terri Giuliano Long

2011-12-09T21:06:00.005+01:00

Title: In Leah's Wake
Author: Terri Giuliano Long
Publication date: October 1st 2010
Publisher: CreateSpace
ISBN: 978-145631-054-7
Pages: 352
Genre: Literary fiction

Order from Amazon | Barnes &Noble | Indiebound

Protecting their children comes naturally for Zoe and Will Tyler—until their daughter Leah decides to actively destroy her own future.

Leah grew up in a privileged upper-middle class world. Her parents spared no expense for her happiness; she had all-but secured an Ivy League scholarship and a future as a star athlete. Then she met Todd. Leah’s parents watch helplessly as their daughter falls into a world of drugs, sex, and wild parties. While Will attempts to control his daughter’s every move to prevent her from falling deeper into this dangerous new life, Zoe prefers to give Leah slack in the hope that she may learn from her mistakes. Their divided approach drives their daughter out of their home and a wedge into their marriage.

Twelve-year-old Justine observes Leah’s rebellion from the shadows of their fragmented family. She desperately seeks her big sister’s approval and will do whatever it takes to obtain it. Meanwhile she is left to question whether her parents love her and whether God even knows she exists. What happens when love just isn’t enough? Who will pay the consequences of Leah’s vagrant lifestyle? Can this broken family survive the destruction left in Leah’s wake?

In Leah's Wake is a beautifully written, emotional family saga about growing up, about the road to adulthood. The novel deals with a situation which most parents and teenagers go through at some point in their lives, which makes the story easily relatable.

The author did an excellent job by describing the Tyler family and how Leah's reckless lifestyle affected her family members. She gives a detailed description of the perfectionist father who keeps pushing Leah throughout her life - who wants her to go to Harvard, even though she doesn't want to go there. We soon find out that Leah lives under constant pressure: she says 'she would disappoint her father anyway so why should she try?'. Her mother leads seminars for working women and gives them advice on how to be more efficient, more organized and successful, while it's her life that she should concentrate on instead. She ignores her daughters to the extent where she literally plans how much time she can spend with them each week. One of the most striking parts of the novel for me were where Long says "Though it shamed her to admit it, there were days when, if she [Zoe, the mother] knew her daughter was there, she would do almost anything - paperwork, errands that could easily wait - to avoid going home." This, in addition to the fact that Leah hates her parents so much that she refuses to eat with them and she only sneaks downstairs to help herself to the leftovers when everyone had fallen asleep, tells a lot about the family and how bad the situation was.

The characters are easily relatable - Justine, Leah's younger sister, was the one I could identify with the most. It's very touching how Justine takes care of the whole house all by herself - how she goes to school, does her homework and the housework, cooks, feeds the dog and she doesn't even get a single thank you in return. She is constantly being ignored, pushed aside, her problems are always less important than Leah's and her parents'. She's the one who takes control when everything seems to fall apart and she's only 12. I felt really sorry for her and admired her at the same time - I know I wouldn't have been able to do the same thing if I was her.

In Leah's Wake is like an emotional roller-coaster. You cannot help feeling sorry for certain characters, being angry at some of the others - and in the meantime, you're waiting for something to happen, someone to save the family. There were parts where the story felt a bit slow paced for me, but in spite of all this, it's a brilliant debut novel by Terri Giuliano Long which is guaranteed to stay with you for a long time.

Rating:

Booking Through Thursday #9 - Mystery or Love Story?

2011-12-08T11:33:00.002+01:00

This week's question:

All things being equal, which would you prefer – a mystery? Or a love story?

Okay, confession time. (haha) I'm a mood reader. Yes, I am. Even though I'd normally prefer mysteries, there's no guarantee that when I wake up tomorrow, I'll be in the mood to pick up a mystery and read it. Anyway, back to the question. It's easy-peasy, mystery is my all time favourite genre, without a doubt. There's nothing wrong with a love story either, but I don't really read romance as such. If it's a chick-lit kind of love story then it's a difficult question because I love both mysteries and chick-lit. Having said that, I would probably stick with mysteries. :o)

Which one would you choose? Feel free to leave a comment below with your own BTT post or your answer. :) xxx

Waiting on Wednesday #2

2011-12-07T09:57:00.001+01:00

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, which spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My pick for this week:

Painter of Silence by Georgina Harding
ISBN: 9781408821121
Format: Hardback
Publication Date: March 2012
Publisher: Bloomsbury

When she leaves the ward she feels the whiteness of the room still inside her, as if she is bleached out inside. It is the shock, she tells herself. She feels the whiteness like a dam holding back all the coloured flood of memory.

1948. A man is found on the steps of the hospital in Iasi, Romania. Wet with morning dew, he is as frail as a fallen bird and utters no words. It is days before anyone realises that he is deaf and mute. The ward sister, Adriana, whose son still has not returned from the war in Russia, sits at the man’s bedside and whispers to him, keeping herself company. But it is a young nurse called Safta who thinks to bring paper and pencils with which he might draw. Slowly, painstakingly, memories appear on the page: a hillside, a stable, a racing car, a grand house as it was before everything changed for ever.

The man is Augustin, the son of a cook at the manor house in Dumbraveni where Safta was the privileged daughter. Born six months apart, they had a connection that bypassed words, but while Augustin’s world stayed the same size Safta’s expanded to embrace languages, society, the breathless possibility of Paris. And love, one dappled summer’s day, in the form of a fleeting young man in a green Lagonda.

Pictures are always in the present. But a war has raged and ebbed since those days, leaving in its wake a new, Communist regime. Walls have ears, words and images are more dangerous than ever before, and even neighbours with old-world mirrors and samovars cannot be trusted. Georgina Harding’s kaleidoscopic new novel is as intense and submerging as rain, as steeped in the horrors of our recent history as it is in the intimate passions of the human heart.

I was flicking through Bloomsbury's 'Coming Soon' section when I saw this book - I read the synopsis and I instantly fell in love with it. It sounds like a beautiful and gripping story, something I'd definitely enjoy. :-)

What's your "waiting on" pick this week?

Teaser Tuesday #8

2011-12-06T09:25:00.002+01:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly event, hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Anyone can participate, just make sure to read the rules below:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My teaser comes from the Kindle version of

In Leah's Wake:

Images flashed through his mind, Will in a rage, seizing his daughter, watching her fall. Over and over the vision played, like a horror movie on an endless reel, the nightmare waking him with a jolt, starting all over again each time he fell back to sleep.

- In Leah's Wake, Terri Giuliano Long

I'm reading this book because I'm part of the blog tour (keep an eye on my blog for the review at the end of this week) - and it's been great so far, I'm really enjoying it! Has anyone read it?

Also, feel free to leave a comment with the link to your own teaser! :) xxx

Musing Mondays #9

2011-12-05T11:50:00.001+01:00

How many books do you read in a week? Month? Year?

I usually read 1 or 2 books per week and somewhere between 3 and 8 books per month, depending on how much time I have. I go to university and I'm about to start working on my thesis so I don't have that much time at the moment, unfortunately. That's another reason why I'm looking forward to the summer holidays. No classes, no essays to be done, more time for reading. :-)

In the meantime, I read whenever I can, usually on my days off, in the evening or before going to bed. I'm quite sure I won't be able to read as much as I used to when I start writing my thesis but I'll try. :o) I just can't wait to finish it and get back to reading and blogging.

How about you, how many books do you read on average? Feel free to leave a comment below with your answer or with a link to your own Musing Mondays post. I hope everyone had a great weekend! xxx

In My Mailbox #11

2011-12-04T09:16:00.001+01:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. It's our opportunity to get a sneak peek into what books everyone is received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders.

I had such a slow week, in every respect, I cannot even tell you. Since my exams start next week, I tried to minimize my ARC requests, so it came as no surprise that I didn't get any physical books this week. :-( I'm gutted but hey ho, I need to get my exams done first. Anyway, I still have a few things to show you so keep reading!

Ebook for review

Growing Pains: Kendra's Diaries by K.P.Smith

"Growing Pains; Kendras Dairies is the first book in the series chronicling the journey of Kendra Foster from adolescence to adulthood. I aspire to encourage, entertain, and inspire young adults. Life has its ups and downs, its bumps and its bruises. But with perseverance, determination, and faith you can be all you were born to be. Never Give Up!"

Won

First of all, I'd like to say a massive thank you to Emlyn Chand, author of Farsighted and everyone who voted for me during the Farsighted blog tour, you're the best! And here comes to good news *drumroll* I won both the traffic breaker pollaward and the most creative blog entry award. I still can't believe it! I'll definitely throw an international giveaway some time in the future to celebrate and thank you all - probably after the holidays because I'm not sure what's the last shipping date for the Book Depository. :-)

And there's more to come! I won two ebooks from JoAnne @ the Fairytale Nerd!!!! Thank you so much to JoAnne and Alison!

The Amulet (Custodian Novel #1) by Alison Pensy

Faedra doesn’t know faeries exist, or that they control nature with a book. Nor does she know she’s next in line to protect an ancient fae amulet that controls the weather. She doesn’t realize the book has been stolen, or that the thief wants the amulet and is willing to kill for it. Until now Faedra is blissfully unaware of it all, but she’s about to find out…

The Emerald Staff (Custodian Novel #2) by Alison Pensy

Faedra was enjoying the fact that everything was back to normal. Well, as normal as it could get when you had the ability to manipulate energy, were protector of an ancient Fae amulet, and lived with a fairy guardian 24/7. Her dad had even started dating. Yes, all was right again in Faedra’s world, or so she thought…

Purchased

A shiny, new Kindle 4 with a matching cover! :-) I'm a happy bunny right now!!! It's incredible how fast UPS was this time - I ordered it on Tuesday and got it on Friday, even though it was shipped from the US. I love it already! <3

What did you get in your mailbox this week? Feel free to leave a link to your own IMM post so that I can visit you and check out your books. :) Have a great day! x

Interview and giveaway with Jenny Lundquist, author of Seeing Cinderella

2011-12-02T10:30:00.004+01:00

Hello bookish folks! :-)

I'm happy to tell you that I have a lovely guest today! Those who have been following me for a while know that I read and reviewed Seeing Cinderella last month and I absolutely loved it. I don't usually read middle grade books - not anymore - but this one was seriously amazing. So, to whet your appetite and show you how great this book is, I would like you to meet the author herself ... *drumroll*

J: First of all I just want to say thanks so much for having me today. I feel constantly blessed by how supportive the book blogging and kidlit community is.

V: I'm happy to have you on Books, Biscuits, and Tea! Thank you for joining us today :-) I really enjoyed your book but for those people who haven’t read it yet, please tell us a little bit about yourself and Seeing Cinderella.

J: Hmmm, I have a hard time talking about myself, that's probably why I don't blog more often. But here goes…I'm the mother of two rambunctious boys and a writer. This means I drink too much coffee, and my house is usually a mess. I'm horrible at most sports, but I play a mean game of hearts. I can't carry a tune, but secretly when I'm alone in my car I rock out to Kelly Clarkson and unleash my inner diva…How's that? :0)

Seeing Cinderella is my debut middle grade novel about a shy seventh grader who receives a pair of magic glasses that can read people's thoughts. She uses the glasses to navigate middle school life and better understand the world around her. Or to put it another way, she spies on her mom, best friend, and long-time crush to find out what they really think of her.

V: What motivated you to write Seeing Cinderella? How much is it based on personal experiences and your own childhood?

J: Seeing Cinderella is partly inspired by an incident that that happened to me in the seventh grade. It involved my glasses, a cute boy, and spit. You can read about it here. I never owned a pair of magic glasses but I was much like Callie in that I felt overwhelmed by middle school life and wanted to hide out in my room with my books.

V: What was the hardest part of writing your book?

J: The hardest part by far was figuring out where I wanted to go with my initial idea. Originally I tried to write a short story about a girl who received a pair of magic glasses that could read people's thoughts, but I could never make it work. Once I decided the idea was better suited as a novel it took me several months to develop the story. I kept asking myself what kind of girl needs magic glasses to really "see" the world around her. And I struggled to develop my secondary characters. Since Callie's glasses would allow her to see their thoughts, I knew I needed to spend time getting to know them and get a feel for each character's emotional world. All in all, it took me two and a half years to write Seeing Cinderella. Which is kind of funny, because it's taken me two and half months to write my second book, Plastic Polly.

V: But it was worth it! ;-) What do you hope readers will learn from your book? What’s the main message you want to get across?

J: When I write a story, I never start with a message that I want to share. I always begin with an idea that intrigues me, or a character voice in my head that just won't go away. But as I began writing Seeing Cinderella, I remembered how awkward and afraid I felt in seventh grade. In many ways I was frozen, afraid to pursue my interests, and certain everyone thought I was a dork. I guess it's my hope that after reading this book, other girls will realize they're not alone—that many other people share their worries and insecurities, even if they don't voice them, and that they'll be able to step confidently into the next season of their life.

V: Which character or characters could you relate to the most?

J: Callie was the character I related to the most, but actually, in some ways I related to all of them. Ellen, Callie's outgoing and grade-obsessed best friend, was me in the fourth grade. Stacy, Ellen's new friend and Callie's rival, was someone I wanted to be in seventh grade. And Raven is me when I'm super cranky. (Though hopefully I do a better job keeping my crankiness to myself!)

V: Is there going to be a sequel to Seeing Cinderella or are you working on a new book at the moment?

J: At this time I have no plans to write a sequel, though one day I may write a book about Dr. Ingram (Callie's optometrist/fairy godfather) helping another girl, though I suspect he won't be an optometrist. Maybe a guidance counsellor? Currently, I'm revising my second novel, Plastic Polly, which comes out in Spring of 2013 and I'm having a blast with it.

V: Who or what was your biggest influence in becoming a writer?

J: When I was younger I loved to write, but I bought into the lie that I wasn't "creative enough" to be a writer, so I never pursued it. Then after my kids were born I felt like I needed to do something for me—something that didn't involve dishes or dirty diapers. After thinking about it, and praying about it for a while, I decided the time was right to start writing. I still sometimes struggle with the "I'm not creative enough" lie, but I've discovered that a lot of times we have it backwards: we think we need to have a great idea before we start writing. When in fact, the opposite is true: if we sit down and start writing, eventually, the ideas will come.

V: What are some of your favourite books?

J: I'm a committed Harry Potter and Hunger Games fan. But I also like adult literary novels—Empire Falls by Richard Russo is my favorite. As for other middle grade novels I loved Thirteen by Candice Ransom, when I was in middle school. I recently read Solving Zoe by Barbara Dee and loved it. The list could go on and on.

V: What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

J: I love to read. In fact, it's a toss-up which I enjoy more: reading or writing. I never have to force myself to read (although I frequently have to force myself to stop reading). But nothing fulfils me like writing. I also love getting together with my Journey Girls—six of my soul sisters—and catching up with each other over a long dinner. Also, I love time with my husband and two sons.

V: What’s one piece of advice you would give to aspiring authors?

J: Keep writing, and don't give up. Seeing Cinderella is my first published novel, but it's the second one I've written. My first novel also took me a couple years to write and when it came down to it, it just wasn't good enough for publication. I was thirty when I started writing my first novel, and by the time Seeing Cinderella releases, I'll have turned thirty-six. I'm glad I didn't know how long it would take to get published.

My other piece of advice is don't compare yourself with other authors. Some authors publish in less than six years, for some it takes much longer. Every writer has their own unique journey to publication, and it will only discourage you to measure yourself by other's paths.

V: Night owl or early bird?
J: Early bird, definitely. Having kids has pretty much forced me to become an early bird.

V: What are some of your favourite places to travel?
J: I lived in Russia for a few months in Nizhny Novgorod when I was in college, and I miss it desperately. One day I'd like to take my husband there so he can see Moscow, Saint Petersberg, and Nizhny. Who knows? Maybe I'll have to make a special stop in Hungary. We can drink tea and talk books! [I'm in, I'm SO in! ;-)]

V: Ebooks or paperback copies?
J: Paperbacks. At this point, I don't own an e-reader.

V: Favourite films?
J: My all-time favorite film is Sleepless in Seattle. I'm pretty sure my husband is sick of watching it. And I'm so excited for the Hunger Games film to come out.

V: TV or Internet?
J: Internet. I watch very little TV. With the exception of Friday Night Lights, which I stream online.

V: Winter or summer?
J: I'll go for Option C: Autumn. Northern California is beautiful in the fall. It's by far my favorite time of the year.

Jenny, thank you so much for joining us today! I hope everyone will enjoy Seeing Cinderella just as much as I did. I've never been to the US before but I'm with you on the summer/winter debate: autumn and spring are the best. :-) And I'll definitely keep an eye on your website because I have a feeling that Plastic Polly is going to be a great read!

If you'd like to win a copy of Jenny's book, Seeing Cinderella and a pair of funky socks, head over to her website and make sure to enter! The contest runs through midnight 12/4 Pacific Standard Time.
Click here to enter

Review: The Secret of Lies - Barbara Forte Abate

2011-12-01T16:45:00.005+01:00

Title: The Secret of Lies
Author: Barbara Forte Abate
Publication date: June 2010
Publisher: Dog Ear Publishing
ISBN: 978-160844-418-2
Pages: 304 (ebook )
Genre: Literary fiction

Order from Amazon | Barnes &Noble | Indiebound

Propelled by an insurmountable sense of desperation, Stevie Burke is recklessly abandoning home, husband, and outwardly contented life under cover of night; at last resigned to defeat in her long battle against the tortured memories of her past.

Days later, lost and floundering in a dreary motel room without plan or destination, it is a long ago song playing on the radio that gently tugs Stevie back through the dust of remembrance. 1957 - The last summer spent at the ancient house overlooking the North Atlantic. A season which had unfolded with abundant promise, but then spiraled horribly out of control - torn apart by a shattering tragedy that remains splintered in fragments upon her soul. And it is only now, when Stevie at last lifts her eyes to stare deep into the heart of her long sequestered memories, that the long held secrets of past and future are at last unveiled.

The Secret of Lies has to be one of the best stories I've read this year, without a doubt. The writing style is brilliant in itself - Abate writes with such elegance and sophistication that you cannot help being drawn to the story and the characters.

What I loved about the set up is that the prologue starts with the end of the story. We know from the start that Stevie runs away from home, we know the consequences - but we don't know how it all happened. Abate keeps you in agonising suspense from the very beginning and makes you want to find out what's the cause of Stevie's misery.

The first half of the book serves as a flashback - we get to know Stevie and her older sister, Eleanor - two teenagers who used to spend their summer vacations with Uncle Cal and Aunt Smyrna on Long Island. Up until something happens (I don't want to give too much away, you see *wink wink*) and a dark, scandalous secret tears apart their family. The second half of the book, set on the family farm a few years later, deals with how Stevie can cope with this childhood trauma and all these emotions she managed to bottle up throughout the years.

All the characters are very relatable but Stevie was the one who I had an instant connection with. I could almost feel what she felt back then - how she was held captive by the same life she always had. How she was afraid to fall in love, to let others see her emotions, how she turned into someone twice her age while she gradually alienated herself from her friends and family, while she kept saying "they don't understand".

The only negative thing I can mention is that for me the novel started out a little bit slow, but still, it's not too slow to put you off, and there are always subtle references to later parts of the story which leave you wanting more, wanting to find out what's going on.

The Secret of Lies is a captivating, tear-jerking coming of age novel with a great storyline, relatable characters and sophisticated writing style. Abate describes everything in so much detail, with such eloquence that The Secret of Lies is guaranteed to leave you in complete awe. I would definitely recommend it to everyone and I'm looking forward to see what the author comes up with next.

Rating:

Waiting on Wednesday #1

2011-11-30T15:32:00.001+01:00

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, which spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. I've seen this event all over the Blogoshpere in the past few weeks and I decided to jump on the bandwagon. :o)

My pick for this week:

I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella
ISBN: 9780593059814
Publication Date: 16/02/12
Publisher: Random House

I've lost it. The only thing in the world I wasn't supposed to lose. My engagement ring. It's been in Magnus's family for three generations. And now, the very same day his parents are coming, I've lost it. The very same day. Do not hyperventilate Poppy. Stay positive!!

Poppy Wyatt has never felt luckier. She is about to marry the ideal man, Magnus Tavish, but in one afternoon her 'happy ever after' begins to fall apart. Not only has she lost her engagement ring but in the panic that followed, she has now lost her phone. As she paces shakily round the hotel foyer she spots an abandoned phone in a bin. Finders keepers! Now she can leave a number for the hotel to contact her when they find her ring. Perfect!

Well, perfect except the phone's owner, businessman Sam Roxton doesn't agree. He wants his phone back and doesn't appreciate Poppy reading all his messages and wading into his personal life.
What ensues is a hilarious and unpredictable turn of events as Poppy and Sam increasingly upend each other's lives through emails and text messages. As Poppy juggles wedding preparations, mysterious phone calls and hiding her left hand from Magnus and his parents... she soon realises that she is in for the biggest surprise of her life.

I abolutely love Sophie Kinsella's books and I've read all of them, except for one, so it's only natural that I'm looking forward to I've Got Your Number. February seems like ages away, though!

What's your "waiting on" pick this week?

Wishlist Wednesday #10

2011-11-30T10:00:00.001+01:00

Wishlist Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Dani at Pen to Paper. The aim of this event is to highlight one book per week which has either been on our wishlist for some time, or just has been added (it's entirely up to you), a book that we can't wait to get off the wishlist and onto our bookshelves. It's another great way to find new books you can add to your TBR list. :)

This week I'm going to cheat a little bit - I found so many interesting books last week that I simply couldn't decide which one to start with: so here they are.

On my wishlist this week:

Miracle on Regent Street by Ali Harris

Evie Taylor, a girl with a big heart, gets lost in the big city. For the past two years, Evie has lived an invisible life in London. Her neighbours think she’s just moved in, her sister mistakes her for a live-in nanny, and even Evie’s manager at work can’t remember her name. But all that is about to change …this Christmas has brought a flurry of snow and unimaginable possibilities into town. Evie works in the stockroom of an old-fashioned, family-run, London fashion department store. Hardy’s is a beautiful, wood-panelled jewellery box of a building, but it’s in dire need of a makeover. One day Evie overhears that if the entire store’s takings don’t turn round by Dec 26th – 3 weeks’ time – the family who own it will be forced to sell to one of the big chains. Hardy’s is in need of a Christmas miracle. Determined to save her beloved store, Evie hatches a plan to secretly transform it into a magical place to shop again. But has the time come for her to be noticed too? When an accidental romantic encounter with handsome, enigmatic Joel gives her the chance of a whole new identity, she takes it.

It's chick-lit. It's set in London. It sounds like a great story AND it's perfect for Christmas. Do I need to say more? It landed right on my wishlist. :o)

On my wishlist this week #2

Unlocked by Ryan G. Van Cleave

Andy is the janitor's son, an outcast, a nobody. Then the rumor starts-that Blake has a gun in his locker. In a moment of misguided hopefulness, Andy steals the keys from his dad and opens up Blake's locker, hoping that finding the gun will change his own status. But the gun isn't there and Andy remains an outcast. When an unlikely friendship develops between the two loners, Blake shares most of his secrets with Andy, including the gun. But there's one secret that worries Andy more than anything-the date circled on Blake's calendar. Does Blake have something planned? Something that Andy can prevent? In a fascinating look at how teens deal with the now constant threat of school violence, debut author Ryan G. Van Cleave provides a unique, emotional perspective on how it feels to be the one who can prevent a tragedy.

I noticed this one somewhere on Blogger and I got hooked right away. It's supposed to be a good, quick read and it's very well written, as far as I know. I've heard some great things about it and I'd love to read it myself. :-)

How about you? What's on your wishlist this week? Feel free to leave a comment below with your answer or a link to your own WW post xxx

Blogger in Town #1 - Christmas lights

2011-11-29T21:12:00.000+01:00

The time has finally come: the Christmas lights were switched on in town last weekend! :-) Even though I can't stand cold weather/snow/winter/you name it, I absolutely adore this time of the year. Soooo, I decided to go out and take some photos to show you how gorgeous my hometown looks at the end of November. (The best thing is, I actually live right next to the main square where these photos were taken)

(Click on the images to enlarge)
Isn't it beauuuuuuuutiful? *sigh*

Important updates - please read it :)

2011-11-28T22:52:00.000+01:00

I'm sure most of you have already heard about the news concerning GFC. If you haven't, you can read the article here. In short, Google is planning to get rid of this whole GFC follower system next March. It applies to all non-Blogger blogs but at this point, we don't know whether they remove it from Blogger as well, or not. This is why I decided to take precautions, just in case.

What does it mean exactly?
As you can see, I added a Networked Blogs widget just below the GFC one - so if you're following me and you're reading this, please go and follow me on NetworkedBlogs too, so that you don't miss out on reviews, giveaways and such in the future. Better safe then sorry. ;-) Oh and if you added Networked Blogs to your own blog, please give me a holler so that I can follow you too!

Another thing: You can see my new Facebook and Google+ profile on the right sidebar - feel free to add me! :)

Thank you! Love to everybody x x x

Musing Mondays #8 - Buying Books for the Holidays

2011-11-28T12:20:00.000+01:00

Will you be buying books for the holidays, this year? If so, for whom, and why?

Yes I will! :-) I've already bought two books for two friends of mine but I'll probably buy another one for my mum as well. Friend number one is going to get Marian Keyes's The Brightest Star in the Sky because we have a very similar taste in books and I know for certain that she's not familiar with either this book or Marian herself. Friend number two, as known as Nat from Besotted with Books has already got her early Christmas present, that is, Agatha Christie's A Pocket Full of Rye. Why this one? Well, *cough* I'm trying to convert her, Bex and April to being Agatha Christie fans, haha! *cough* Just kidding. I recommended her a Christie book a couple of weeks ago and she really enjoyed it, so I thought she might enjoy this one too. :-) As for my mum, she's going to get Agatha Christie's Secret Notebooks: Fifty Years of Mysteries in the Making. She loves Christie so I'm sure she'd love it.

As for myself, I usually get book vouchers for Christmas so despite the fact that I'm completely broke, I think I'll be able to get one or two books for myself as well. We'll see. :-)

How about you, are you planning to buy books for the holidays? Feel free to leave a comment below with a link to your own Musing Mondays post. I hope everyone had a great weekend! xxx

Review: Double Clutch - Liz Reinhardt

2011-11-27T23:15:00.005+01:00

Title: Double Clutch
Author: Liz Reinhardt
Publication date: September 28th 2011
Publisher: CreateSpace
ISBN: 978-1-466-25444-2
Pages: 316 (ebook version)
Genre: Young Adult, Romance

Order from Amazon | Barnes &Noble | Smashwords

What happens when you fall for the perfect guy...twice...in one day?

Double Clutch tells the story of Brenna Blixen, a sixteen year old American teenager who has been home-schooled in Denmark for a year before returning to New Jersey. Back in the States, she has to settle back into school, make new friends - and she's determined to make her year unforgettable. But little does she know what life has got in store for her.

On her first day at school, she falls head over heels in love with Saxon, a charming but arrogant soccer player with a dark secret, who happens to be her best friend's ex-boyfriend. On the same day during another class, Jake Kelly takes her breath away with his irresistible smile and kindness. What makes things even more complicated is that the two guys actually know each other - in fact, they're enemies. As her relationship with the two boys reaches a whole new level and she gets to know them, she realizes she has to make a choice. But how is she supposed to choose one when it would mean breaking the other's heart?

Double Clutch was definitely a pleasant surprise for me. I haven't really heard anything about this book before so I didn't know what to expect - but it turned out to be a very exciting and captivating read.

It's a fast paced story, a real page turner with great character development. Although my favourite has to be Jake, I really liked Saxon's character. I didn't like him at first but there's something mysterious about him, something you can't exactly put your finger on -and it's part of why it's such an excellent story - it makes you want to find out what his secret is, what happened in his past, what he's hiding from us. There's a thin line between love and hate, and even if you don't like him in the beginning, you can't help falling for him at the end.

On the other hand, I found it a little bit hard to connect to the main character, Brenna. For me she was just too perfect: she's beautiful, she has a great relationship with her parents, she's good at sports, she's good at arts, she's an only child who has everything and she's popular (well, at least everyone seems to like her).

Another thing that didn't really work for me was the fact that I didn't feel like the main characters (but mainly Brenna) were only sixteen - it felt like they were older, more experienced in general, more mature. It might be just a cultural difference, but for me she seemed too be too level-headed to be a teenager. It may be just me, I don't know, but you'll see what I mean if you read the book. :-)

All in all, I would definitely recommend this book for anyone who likes young adult fiction or romance. There's a great twist near the end which makes it impossible to foretell what's going to happen next, I absolutely loved it. The author keeps you in suspense until the very end and even though there are hints about what Saxon's "secret" might be, I was completely taken by surprise. The sequel was published last month so I'm looking forward to finding out how the story continues! Make sure to pick up a copy and read it, I can guarantee that you'll like it.

Rating:

In My Mailbox #10

2011-11-27T12:51:00.003+01:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. It's our opportunity to get a sneak peek into what books everyone is received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders. I had a great week book-wise so let's see what's in my mailbox! :o)

Gifted

Daughter of Smoke and Bone (hardcover edition, signed by the author)
A set of gorgeous bookmarks (with my favourite quotes)
A poem from Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None

I received all these goodies from my soon to be neighbour (*wink wink*) Nat @ Besotted With Books as an early Christmas present - and it made my entire week. Thank you SO much hun! By the way, Nat made the bookmarks herself, aren't they gorgeous?!

Little Women by Louisa M. Alcott
A bookmark

A lovely friend of mine has recently visited Italy and brought me this fab bookmark and her favourite book, Little Women as a gift. (Although I've already read it and I own a hardback copy, I prefer this edition) :o)

Ebooks for review

I know I'm supposed to be on a Netgalley ban because of my uni exams, but I just couldn't resist the temptation! :-D And the good news is: I got auto-approved for Harlequin's Netgalley titles!!! *jumps up and down*

(Click on the covers to read the Goodreads synopsis)

Special thanks to:

Natalie @ Besotted with Books, Netgalley, Harlequin and

Harlequin UK, HarperCollins, and Istvan Szabo Ifj.

What did you get in your mailbox this week? Feel free to leave a link to your own IMM post so that I can visit you and check out your books. :) Have a great day! x

Mocked by Destiny guest post + giveaway

2011-11-25T17:52:00.000+01:00

Hi guys! I have another guest for today - Michele Richard, author of Mocked by Destiny stopped by Books, Biscuits & Tea today with a guest post and an international giveaway. Sounds good? ;-)

Hello Everyone!

Thank you for letting me stop by today! Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgivings Day! So I have some exciting news to share. In addition to the giveaway the ebook for Mocked by Destiny is on sale $3.99 this weekend only! http://www.thewriterscoffeeshop.com/publishinghouse/books/detail/14

So why write a book on teen pregnancy? Simply put, the teens of today needed it, and the moms needed the right opening for them to discuss it. Mocked by Destiny provides that. Putting the real life problems into a fictional formatted character allowed me to reach the teens. I’ve had mothers thank me for giving them the right story to approach the subject with their daughters.

I know how and why it happens since I’d been there with my family on the base and flooded the boardwalk after everything shut down. Since I also had family who lived there I knew what happened after we left. I was asked a question to answer today so here it is:

When creating your characters, what traits did you pull from yourself, or those in your life, and give to them?

As for Stella running away when things became too much for her to handle came from a teen I know. She lost her mother, which was one of my closest friends. Mikayla ran several times hoping to out run her pain. As for Stefan, his loyalty and devotion that came from my husband. That’s how he would have handled the situation.

Daisy’s reaction to the unexpected pregnancy came from my grandmother’s reaction to my own aunt’s teen pregnancy. Like with Stella, Nana, wouldn’t talk to my aunt until she had reached her delivery. In the question what trait came from me? The fact of not knowing my biological father and the abandonment that comes with it. I could understand how it felt to be her.

My fans like to tell me I torture my characters and I do. I put them through a roller-coaster ride. So if you like books that draw you in and hold you there, my fans recommend this for you!

Thank you for letting visit here and I hope you check it out. Feel free to leave a comment or a question and I’ll be popping in to answer any.

Michele Richard

- Giveaway -

For Stella Richards, life in the charming town of Virginia Beach is not as magical as one would think. Sun, fun, and sand only guarantee one thing, unwanted visitors. Stella learned long ago to never befriend anyone visiting the beach. They're here; then they're gone, drifting in and out as the tide ebbs and flows. She vowed to never connect with anyone vacationing in Virgina Beach - until spring break. Stefan changed everything.

Stefan Sterling lives life never knowing where he will end up next. Bouncing from one Military base to another has hampered his ability to connect to those around him. That's what happens when your father is a high-ranking officer in the military. Raised in a world of discipline, control, and strangers, Stefan never expected to find anyone he'd want to be close to...let alone love.

A family curse verses a loving abnormality promises to keep Stella and Stefan on their toes. Was it an accident or could it be destiny? Will they be able to survive their families? And, is there ever a time when you can fully let go of the person who awoke your soul?

A story of love, sacrifice, and growing up before it's time.

The author is giving away two e-book copies of her book to two lucky winners.For your chance to be one of them, simply leave your name and email address below.

Extra entries:

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Contest is open internationally and closes on December 2. Good luck to everyone! :)