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Sunday, 31 October 2010

WHITE CROW by Marcus Sedgwick


It’s summer. Rebecca is an unwilling visitor to Winterfold – taken from the buzz of London and her friends and what she thinks is the start of a promising romance. Ferelith already lives in Winterfold – it’s a place that doesn’t like to let you go, and she knows it inside out – the beach, the crumbling cliff paths, the village streets, the woods, the deserted churches and ruined graveyards, year by year being swallowed by the sea. Against her better judgement, Rebecca and Ferelith become friends, and during that long, hot, claustrophobic summer they discover more about each other and about Winterfold than either of them really want to, uncovering frightening secrets that would be best left long forgotten.

Interwoven with Rebecca and Ferelith’s stories is that of the seventeenth century Rector and Dr Barrieux, master of Winterfold Hall, whose bizarre and bloody experiments into the after-life might make angels weep, and the devil crow.

Let me start by saying: wow! I was totally hooked by this book from the moment I picked it up. Seriously, I grabbed it this morning and kept reading, and reading... until I finished it. Took me less than a day because I got totally carried away by Rebecca and Ferelith's stories.

Rebecca has just moved with her father into a cottage in the coastal town of Winterfold. She hates that she's forced to live here, in a place that takes her twenty-five minutes to explore. She hates that she's left her friends and boyfriend behind in London and none of them want anything to do with her. But most of all, she hates that they had to move because of something that happened to her father, the policeman. Something serious enough to force them to run, and alienate them from each other.

Ferelith is a very strange and odd girl. She's got a troubled past and believes herself to be so clever that she dropped out of school at the age of fourteen. She's odd and mysterious, very secretive, but totally taken by the new girl in town. So much that she befriends her, shows her the sights and tells her ghost stories about Winterfold, while quietly manipulating Rebecca into a very dangerous situation.

This book was one whirlwind combination of stories. Rebecca and Ferelith's tales are also joined by that of a man of the cloth. The pages of the Rector's journal--dated 1798--tell the very personal and horrifying story of how the priest slowly loses his faith and is seduced into the world of science and mysticism that the French Dr. Barrieux introduces him to. These horrid experiements are their way of finding out what happens after death--do angels or devils await? And all relate to what eventually happens to the girls during the summer they spend together, because Ferelith wants to find the answer to that question too.

White Crow is a brilliant, haunting gothic story about an unstable friendship between a troubled girl, and one who's lost. It's also about life, death, and sin--a dark, atmospheric tale about what makes people tick, how experiences shape them, and how every decision we make can affect our lives and change them forever.

It's also a great thriller, with thick tension on every page. The deeper I got into the book, the more tense I became, waiting to see what awaited on the next page. Yet, I couldn't stop. I was engrossed from beginning to end, which is always an awesome thing! Yep, loved it.

This is the first Marcus Sedgwick book I've read, but I doubt it'll be my last.

White Crow, September 2010, ISBN 9781842551875, Orion's Children's Books Hardback

Saturday, 30 October 2010

KISS OF DEATH by Rachel Caine

Vampire musician Michael Glass has attracted the attention of a big- time producer who wants to cut a demo and play some gigs-which means Michael will have to enter the human world. For this, he's been assigned escorts that include both a dangerous immortal as well as Michael's all-too-human friends. And with that mix of personalities, this is going to be a road trip from hell...

This is book eight in The Morganville Vampires, and just like the others that came before... it didn't disappoint. I always love catching up with Claire, Shane, Eve, and Michael. The kids from the Glass House sure have a knack for trouble.

In this installment, they get the chance to leave Morganville. Of course, they need to have a vampire chaperone, Oliver, but at least they're leaving the creepy run-by-vamps town of Morganville. Except, in usual fashion, they end up on the roadtrip from hell. Seriously, nothing goes right. As soon as they make their first stop, they get themselves into some very human trouble... which leads into some of the vampiric kind.

I had a blast, love this series! Can't wait for the next one. Although I probably won't get it until next year, when it comes out in paperback. :)

Today...


Well, yesterday, I sent out my November/December Newsletter. That's right, it'll be the last one for this year. And while I'm at it, I've also decided that I'm going to change the format of how/when I send them out.

At the moment, I've been sending out a bimonthly newsletter announcing new releases, news, new covers, and all that jazz... which means it ends up being quite a long newsletter. So...

I've decided to change the frequency. From the beginning of 2011, I'll be sending out a much shorter (and to-the-point) Newsletter every time I've got a new release (and news, of course). It'll make it a lot easier to keep everyone updated on all the things that matter, when they matter. I might even start doing it as a Word/PDF attachment. I've got a few months to decide, so yay!

If you're interested, this is where my Newsletter's at. ;)

Well, NaNoWriMo's just a couple of days away, and while I'm totally itching to get started on it guess what I received in my Inbox this morning? Edits for my upcoming Christmas novella. Gotta do some multi-tasking... and speaking of which, gotta do some of that right now!

Have an awesome Halloween weekend.

Thursday, 28 October 2010

It's dark outside


Yep, looks like another overcast/rainy day. Which totally sucks when it's a weekday and I have to take my daughter to school, and then go for my walk in the puddles.

Sucky, much? lol.

I haven't minded the rain so much lately, but because of it yesterday afternoon I lost my most fave skull phone charm. It was hanging off my phone one second, and then the raincoat must've done something to it, and the next time I checked, it was gone! :( So sad. I loved it. Gave my phone extra personality.

Anyway. The final round of edits for THE SOUL DEALER: Redemption have been done! Wooohooo.

I just finished them now. I worked on it yesterday (and reached pg34/72) and then got stuck into them as soon as hubby left really early this morning. Not kidding, he had to get to work by 5am. So, the extra time helped me achieve my goal before my daughter was even awake.

Of course, I haven't actually emailed them in yet because I want to take one last/quick look at them, pick out an excerpt, and then send it in. That also means that I should have a release date very, very soon. Cool! I'll keep you posted. 

Phew. That pretty much means that I've got the rest of the day to keep up with the notes, catch up with a little bit more reading, and even (maybe) squeeze in a yoga workout. Depends how I feel after the walk. Did another weights workout last night. Ouch! Still, the soreness from that won't hit me until this afternoon, so it might just be okay. ;)

Well, that's it for today. Se ya later!

Wednesday, 27 October 2010

Just thinkin'

You guys already know about my fascination with 30STM, right? But I'm not sure if you know that I have a very similar fascination with MCR. There's just something about these two bands that gets my creative juices totally flowing! It's awesome.

So when I drop my daughter off at school, I always switch on my MP3 player and listen while I walk. The last few days I've been plugging back into The Black Parade. Before that I was listening non-stop to Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge. Both albums are totally awesome, I can't get enough, but this is also a way for me to gear up for their next album. We've already pre-ordered it. And I just can't stop listening/watching Na Na Na. It totally rocks! And I love the fictional angle that Gerard Way gives his albums/songs. He's very creative, and even writes comic books.

So, there you have it. These bands are two of my biggest musical influences, and I've gotten several story ideas just from listening to their songs. Just thought I'd share. ;)

We've hit mid-week again. Yikes! Today, hubby started work super early so we got up at 4m. We'll be doing that again tomorrow. And even though I kinda feel like a lightheaded zombie waking at that time, it also gives me a lot of extra time to do stuff before my daughter wakes up. Like this morning, I wrote/proofread/scheduled my upcoming Samhain blog post. It'll go live on October 29, but I wanted to get it done a few days before. It's a little post about NaNoWriMo. I'll post the link here when it's posted.

I also received the final round of edits for my upcoming Evernight Publishing novella, THE SOUL DEALER: Redemption. Instead of throwing myself into it all day today, I'm going to tackle the beginning of it, and then plan to have it finished by tomorrow afternoon. Friday, at the very latest. I've just got a small list of other things that need doing as well, especially for my upcoming NaNoWriMo novel, which I'm now super excited about! Yay.

Either way, looks like I'll be pretty busy for the rest of the week. So, I better get started, huh? See ya later!

Tuesday, 26 October 2010

On an UF roll...

Well, as you can see below, I finished reading another awesome book yesterday.

It capped off a weekend of awesome reading for me, so when I went over to my bookshelves (after adding the 2 Jane True and 2 Corine Solomon books to my UF keeper shelf) to pick the next book to read, I thought I'd grab a horror one that I've heard great things about.

I started to read it and had to put it down after less than a chapter. It was meh for me. Just couldn't get into it at all, so I put it aside and picked up the latest Morganville Vampires book on my shelf, KISS OF DEATH. Ah, as always, it's good to be back with Claire, Shane, Eve, and Michael.

I've decided that between my review reading (and I've got an absolutely awesome selection of books waiting for me) I'm going to squeeze in my own UF book stash, because I don't want to fall behind on my fave series... like I've been doing lately. Oh, and I've got a bunch of eBooks on my Kindle 3 that I'm itching to get to, as well.

So, from now on, it's all about balancing the TBR pile. :) We'll see how I go, lol.

Anyway. We're now on Tuesday, and as I was saying to hubby yesterday: my NaNoWriMo planned novel is eating my brain. It keeps waking me up in the middle of the night, and early in the morning. It's the last thing I think about before dozing off, and the first thing as soon as I wake up. :/ Obsessive, much? Not long before I can get stuck into it, but I've got so much of it in my head that I started a chapter-by-chapter outliney-kinda thingy. Something I don't usually do. But I am for this story.

Oh, and while working out with the hubby last night, a new idea--well, let's be honest, it's not a new-new idea but something that's been on my mind for several months but had stalled until now--hit me upside the head and I've started notes on that too. This is for an urban fantasy tale. Always exciting to get new ideas, isn't it?

Ooops, sorry. Just had to duck away from the computer to put a load of laundry into the washing machine. It looks like the rainy weather's decided to leave us and I want to take advantage of the clear sky. :) Yeah, multitasking's the way. ;)

I guess I should get going now. Got some stuff to do before getting my daughter to school, speak to you tomorrow!

Monday, 25 October 2010

TRACKING THE TEMPEST by Nicole Peeler


Jane True has almost come to terms with her supernatural heritage…almost.

Valentine's Day is fast approaching, and Ryu – Jane's bloodsucking boyfriend – can't let a major holiday go by without getting all gratuitous. An overwhelming dose of boyfriend interference and a last-minute ticket to Boston later, and Jane's life is thrown off course.

Ryu's well-intentioned plans create mayhem, and Jane winds up embroiled in an investigation involving a spree of gruesome killings. All the evidence points towards another Halfling, much to Jane's surprise…

Okay, so I have to say it again: I absolutely LOVE these covers. They're just so cute and totally capture the mood of each book.

This is the second book in The Jane True series, and I couldn't wait to get stuck into it. And, uh, that's exactly what I did. I spent most of yesterday reading it. It was a rainy day, and this wonderful book helped soothe the horrible weather away. I do believe it's now become one of my fave series. (Check the tags below, lol.)

Jane might be getting some personal lessons from Nell the very powerful gnome, and she's learning how to set up defensive shields as well as mage lights (though the latter's a little harder), but she's still got a lot of learning to do about the secret world of the supernaturals she's now become a part of.

She's back in Rockabill and several months have passed since her ordeal at the Alfar Compound (can't say too much about the incident because it's riddled with spoilers). She's back at work, back with her father, enjoying her normal existence, and having a long-distance relationship with the vampire, Ryu. It's all a lot of fun. Until he surprises her with an open-ended ticket to go visit him in Boston for Valentine's Day. It's all very romantic and passionate, but Ryu's perfect plans are interrupted when they get attacked by a halfling ifrit who's escaped the laboratory he'd been locked up in. He's causing a whole lot of chaos and leaving dead bodies behind.

Of course, Ryu being an investigator, he's on the case of Conleth the halfling, and so Jane meets his deputies: Julian, a fellow halfling and tech-wiz, who also happens to be the son of Camille, who's a vamp. Daoud, a djinn with an amazing arsenal in his pants, and Caleb, a satyr with amazing healing powers. She also (unfortunately) meets a team of very dangerous creatures lead by the tiny but deadly Alfar, Phaedra, who've been sent in by Jarl.

After realising it's not safe in Boston for her, Jane heads back to Rockabill, only to be pursued by Conleth. Afraid that he'll torch her family and friends, she goes back to Boston to help figure things out. Only, at first none of them realise that this halfling ifrit's got an obsession that has nothing to do with his impulse to burn things. He's got his sights set on Jane, and is willing to do whatever it takes to get to her.

Tracking the Tempest was another amazing and fast-paced installment in this excellent series! I was out of breath a few times because things moved so fast, and poor Jane finds herself in some very sticky and scary situations that almost get her killed. This book is when she realises that this world of the supernatural is just a little too intense and insane for her, and she's got a lot of learning and dealing to do.

Ryu might be back as her boyfriend, but Anyan is also there every step of the way. She's pretty convinced that Anyan's interest in her extends from a caring almost paternal instinct, but I think she's totally wrong about him. And as you can see from the cover for the third book, it looks like she'll be spending some time with Anyan... which can only be a good thing! :)

I seriously love (love) this series, and Jane's awesome. She's a strong character with as many human vulnerabilities as supernatural ones. The poor thing goes through a lot of punishment in this book, but this weird and wonderful world she's found herself in is also very awesomely scary. Bring on the next book...

Tracking the Tempest: Jane True #2, August 2010, ISBN 9781841499673, Orbit Paperback

Last week of October

Do you ever (actually) look at the rain? I do. It's something I've done since I was a kid.

I have to admit that I've never been a fan of the rain. For starters, it makes my hair go curly. Not a nice curly, either. It also means that I have to carry an umbrella, which I really don't like doing. And of course, for some reason, people always go a little nuts when it rains, especially the traffic. Not sure what it is, but it's how it goes. :/

But on the rare occasion, I actually sit by the window and watch the rain fall. It's a calming experience, if you don't have anywhere to go that day. Yesterday was like that. A lazy, rainy Sunday. We spent most of the day hanging out, watching UFC (so glad Velasquez beat Lesnar), and reading. I did a lot of reading this weekend. Am almost finished TRACKING THE TEMPEST. Only about 20pgs to go now, can't wait. I'm really lovin' this series.

So. Anyway, how was your weekend? Did you have a quiet one, or a busy one?

Ah, here we are again: Monday. And what do I have planned for this week? I want to squeeze in as much reading as I can, get back into the proper workout routine (last week was a little wonky because I wasn't feeling well), and take lots & lots of NaNoWriMo notes. Actually, I wrote so many pages worth during the last few days that my right hand/wrist/arm hurts heaps. I'm wearing a wristband while on the computer to help.

I have to admit that I'm really excited about the NaNo first draft I'll be working on. Can't wait to get started, and with the ideas flowing as quickly as they are, by this time next week (can you believe November's that close? Yikes) I should be bursting to get started. :)

Well, see ya!

Sunday, 24 October 2010

WINTERGIRLS by Laurie Halse Anderson

Lia and Cassie are best friends, wintergirls frozen in matchstick bodies, competitors in a deadly contest to see who can be the skinniest. But what comes after size zero and size double-zero? When Cassie succumbs to the demons within, Lia feels she is being haunted by her friend's restless spirit.

In her most emotionally wrenching, lyrically written book since the multiple-award-winning Speak, best-selling author Laurie Halse Anderson explores Lia's descent into the powerful vortex of anorexia, and her painful path toward recovery.

The other day, my daughter wanted to pop into the library to pick up a book, and while we were there I took a quick look at the YA section. I was very surprised to find this book on the bookshelf, which at first I didn't recognise because I'm used to this cover:


Still, I knew the name of the book and what it was about, so I borrowed it. Or rather, borrowed it on my daughter's card. lol.

Anyway, this is a book that I've had my eye on for a while. I've heard some really good things about it, and the subject matter's intriguing. So I'm very glad that I read this book.

It might deal with some very heavy and shocking issues, but it's so raw and honest that I couldn't help but be drawn in by Lia's haunting narrative. She's lost her best friend, even if they'd been alienated for several months, and can't get over the fact that Cassie left her message after message on her phone the night she died. Actually, it's so bad that she sees Cassie's ghost everywhere. *shiver*

This is a book that every (older) teenager should read. It's powerful, descriptive, moving, and very (very) sad. I was deeply moved by Lia's struggle and how everyone around her is trying to help, yet only manage to make things worse for her. Until she almost literally disappears.

I particularly loved when she finally realises that no matter what the number on the scale says, it will never be enough. She can never lose enough weight to be happy. But I guess, in the end, the difference between Cassie and Lia is that one of them definitely wants to live. Lia might reach the lowest of lows before she realises that, but she does.

I really enjoyed this book, it's an amazing and very powerful story.

Oh, and I particularly loved this quote: "The word ghost sounds like memory. The word therapy means exorcism."

Saturday, 23 October 2010

TEMPEST RISING by Nicole Peeler


Living in small town Rockabill, Maine, Jane True always knew she didn’t quite fit in with so-called normal society.

During her nightly, clandestine swim in the freezing winter ocean, a grisly find leads Jane to startling revelations about her heritage: she is only half-human.

Now, Jane must enter a world filled with supernatural creatures that are terrifying, beautiful and deadly – all of which perfectly describe her new ‘friend’ Ryu, a gorgeous and powerful vampire.

It is a world where nothing can be taken for granted: a dog can heal with a lick; spirits bag your groceries; and whatever you do, never – ever – rub the genie’s lamp.

First of all, I just have to say that I absolutely LOVE this cover. No, let me rephrase that: I absolutely LOVE all of the covers for this series so far. They all match, and they're absolutely gorgeous, don't you think? I do. So, so lovely.

This is the first book in The Jane True series, and boy, did it start things off with an awesome (resounding) bang. Seriously, I'm totally hooked already. 

Jane is twenty-something, single, and works in a bookstore called Read It and Weep in the small town of Rockabill, Maine. She might live in a very small and average place, but she's anything but average. Her life has been riddled with mystery and non-stop gossip. To start with, her mother appeared out of a storm one day and then disappeared during one, too. Leaving a very young Jane and her father with a loss they were never able to get over. Not to mention that Jane became the talk of the town for a lot of other things that had nothing to do with her MIA mother.

Still, she has a great friendship with her boss, Tracy, and her boss's girlfriend, Grizelda. Oh, and she loves to swim, so she spends a lot of time in 'her secret cove'. Actually, because of this cove and the Old Sow (one of the biggest whirlpools on earth) her whole life changes, and she finds herself thrust into the middle of a murder investigation. After finding the dead body of a tourist called Peter, she finds herself discovering that the world around her is not as it seems. And shortly after, she starts to meet supernatural creatures she never knew existed. Some of them she's even known for years.

According to this secret supernatural community, her mother was just like them. Actually, she was a selkie who couldn't resist the call of the sea, and therefore that makes Jane a halfling.

When the very alluring and attractive Ryu walks into the bookstore to start his investigation into the death of Peter the tourist (with a secret or two), she gets swept off her feet. Not just by Ryu, but also by the events that start unfolding, and the new world she now finds herself a part of. It happens to be a very dangerous world where none of the rules are set by human standards, and most of the inhabitants don't hold much respect for human life. And even less for those who happen to be half-human.

Tempest Rising was fantastic! Not only is the worldbuilding, mythology, creatures that inhabit this secret world, their rules, society, and the writing awesome, but the characters were charming, scary, dangerous, and all-round wonderful. Jane's voice was so engrossing and hilarious that it was an actual pleasure to spend time with her, discovering a whole new way to look at the world she thought she knew. Her personal story is both interesting and heartbreaking, riddled with a guilt she hasn't been able to overcome for years.

Oh, and I can't talk about the book without mentioning Ryu and Anyan. Ryu's her love interest in this installment and they instantly click, but I couldn't help but like Anyan even more. I mean, don't get me wrong, Ryu's smooth and nice, a sexy vampire, but there's something much deeper about Anyan that leads me to believe that he's actually the one who really, truly cares about Jane. Especially after we find out what he did for her during her time of need. Very sweet, indeed.

This book is a total winner!

I've said it before (probably a thousand times) but urban fantasy never lets me down. I love this genre so much. Luckily for me, I've got the next book in this awesome series already on my bookshelf. I can't wait to get to it! This book's a total keeper, and Jane and her world are already on their way to being one of my faves.

Tempest Rising: Jane True #1, August 2010, ISBN 9781841499666, Orbit Paperback 

Friday, 22 October 2010

Reading & Planning

Well, I'm having an awesome time reading TEMPEST RISING by Nicole Peeler. OMGosh, it's so darn good!

It's got all my fave UF ingredients in it. I'm absolutely loving it, and have just over 100 pages left to read. I'm hoping to finish it later today or tomorrow, because I can't wait to find out what's going on.

Love it when I get this involved with a book!

Other than having a good ol' time reading, my brain's been working overtime with the story I plan to write during NaNoWriMo. So much that it's kinda been waking me up at night with snippets and tidbits. :/ I'm not complaining though, that's always a good indication that the story's pretty much ready to be told. So today, I plan to grab a notebook, or maybe sit behind the computer, to dump all this info outta my head and onto paper. I've got another week of thinking it over and fitting everything into something that makes actual sense, so I think I'm going to enjoy that.

I also hope that the next round of edits for TSD:R comes in sometime next week. :)

Oh, and I finally sat down to work out that in order for me to write 50k, I need to get 2,273 words written/day. You see, I don't use the whole 30 days because I take weekends off, so it actually ends up being 22 days of writing. Of course, hubby's been working Saturdays (on-and-off) during the last few months, so if he happens to work during November as well, I'll be sure to squeeze in some extra sessions.

See, not feeling so restless anymore, huh?

Well. I think my daughter will probably wake up very soon, so I'm going to go and do a few other things before she does.

Have an awesome, awesome weekend!

Thursday, 21 October 2010

The Mind of the Restless

Yeah, that's been me for most of this week. I've been a little restless and unable to concentrate on the one thing. So I've been taking it easy, catching up on reviews, sorting my TBReviewed bookshelf, and making lists.

Anyway. Yesterday, Tim Marquitz posted an Author Spotlight with me on his blog. It was a lot of fun. 

<---As you see to the left... I've finally made the decision. I will be taking part in NaNoWriMo again this year. Yay! Or at least, I've signed up for it. :) This'll be my fifth year in a row, so I'm pretty determined to get there again. It might include a little juggling--if I get more edits during next month--but I'm going to stay as positive as I can about it. Besides, how can I pass up the opportunity to write another novel? ;)

I'd been debating whether to sign up for a few weeks now, and when I spoke to hubby about it, he said the same thing he always says: what have you got to lose? Just give it a go! Of course, he's right. He knows me so well. And I absolutely love, not just his support, but how he helps me work through the times when I'm figuring things out, and what to do next. He's awesome!

If you're taking part too and you'd like to add me as a buddy, this is me: *Y* I know, weird name, huh? But it's what I set up when I first signed up and now I don't know how to change it, lol. So I guess it's gonna have to stay that way. Not a big deal, I suppose.

As I mentioned above, I've been thinking (a lot) about what to work on next. I even had a list of anthologies that I wanted to write new stories for and sub them in by the due dates. And I mean a big list. But you know, I realised that I was putting pressure on myself for no reason. It's not like I was invited to sub to them, I'm just a sucker for an anthology. So, I decided to scrap the whole list. I'm not going to push myself to meet unrealistic deadlines and end up having to put other things aside.

I think my projects next year are going to be about: less is more. As in concentrating on less projects at a time, but longer works, and in turn ending up being more. Does that even make sense? Oddly, it does to me. :) Don't know what it is about this time of the year, but it always makes me get all pensive and itching to plan ahead for the new year.

For now, I'm going to focus on the planning for my NaNoWriMo novel... which is kinda already whispering inside my head. Has been for a few weeks now. I started taking notes last night, and I'm getting pretty excited about it. Oh, and speaking of excited, I'm currently reading this book. Wow, it's so much fun so far. It's no wonder that I love urban fantasy so much.

Well, have a great & productive day! 

Wednesday, 20 October 2010

EMBRACE by Jessica Shirvington

Violet Eden is dreading her seventeenth birthday. After all, it’s hard to get too excited about the day that marks the anniversary of your mother’s death. The one bright spot is that Lincoln will be at her birthday dinner. After he gives her the world’s most incredible kiss – and then abandons her on her front doorstep – Violet is determined to get some answers. But nothing could have prepared her for Lincoln’s explanation: he is Grigori – part angel and part human – and Violet is his eternal partner. As Violet gets caught up in an ancient battle, she must choose between dark and light.

The wrong choice could cost not only her life, but her eternity...

I was looking forward to reading this book, especially when I found out it was about angels. :)

Violet doesn't enjoy her birthday because every year she can't help but remember that when she was born, her mother died. So this year's no different. She's once again not looking forward to celebrating, and turning seventeen brings a whole new set of things that no average teenager would expect.

She doesn't have too many people in her life. There's her mostly absent, workaholic father. Her best friend, Steph, who helps keep her socially-active, and Lincoln. He helps her stay physically active and strong by training her in a variety of sports. Something that stems from an incident that made her feel weak and useless, but training keeps her in shape. Besides, she loves spending time with Lincoln, and is hoping that one day their close friendship will turn into something more. Even if he always seems a little distant in that respect, it's obvious that he cares about her.

But everything changes on the rainy day she decides to surprise Lincoln with a visit to let him know exactly how she feels. Now that he knows the dark, deep secret she's been keeping from everyone else, she figures she's got nothing to lose. Except, when she gets there she stumbles on him having a heated conversation with a man named Griffin. And they happen to be talking about her. Even if what they're saying sounds fictional.

When Violet finds out the truth about what she is, what Lincoln is, and what she's expected to do because of it, she's angry and refuses to believe that any sort of angels walk the earth. Yet, it's a fate she can't fight, and after meeting the very alluring, Phoenix, her life only gets more complicated. Now she finds herself torn between two guys and a destiny she doesn't want but her mother hinted towards in a letter she instructed Violet's father to give her on her seventeenth birthday.

She might not want to become a Grigori by embracing her duty but if she doesn't, other angels called exiles are willing to force her hand. That's when she finds herself in the middle of an ancient battle, making one wrong decision after another, and putting her trust in the hands of the wrong person. It's not until the life of someone she cares about deeply is on the line, that she chooses to accept the only option left.

I really enjoyed this book, even if Violet annoyed me several times with her stubborn and sometimes immature reactions. She kept reacting so harshly towards those trying to help her that I couldn't help but feel frustrated about some of the trouble she gets herself into. Then again, who can blame her for being so confused and angry? It can't be easy to hear someone tell you such an incredible story, or realising that the one person you've trusted and loved for a while now has always known and kept it from you.

Embrace was an interesting paranormal YA book that puts angels into our everyday, contemporary life. I also liked how the author managed to create and expand on a lot of the myths and lore that I've researched myself. I really like it when an author does that--takes the research and then bends it to make it their own, it's a very cool world.

Check this out:

Embrace, October 2010, ISBN 978-0-7344-1184-6, Lothian Books

UP IN SMOKE & ME AND MY SHADOW by Katie MacAlister

Being held hostage by a demon lord is getting considerably chilly, especially when May Northcott s heart still burns for Gabriel Tauhou, the flaming-hot leader of the silver dragons. Destined to be together and yet pulled apart…will there ever be a way to overcome what separates them without disaster? Thankfully Gabriel has a plan to rescue his beloved mate. But it s risky and would also force May to become a pawn in a very dangerous game involving hell, fire and all of humanity, just in order to secure her freedom. She insists she d do anything to be with Gabriel. But if the deal falls through and things get too hot, will she be able to withstand the blaze? Or will her life go up in smoke?

Up In Smoke is the second book in the Silver Dragons series. It's a fast-paced, funny paranormal romance, with an edge of darkness and a world inhabited by shapeshifting dragons. May, who happens to be a doppelganger, might have accepted being Gabriel's mate, but she's not having any sort of HEA. Nope, she's stuck with her demon lord, Magoth.

Magoth has other plans for May, and she's stuck with him for now. But that's not all that's plaguing her. She's also got to help her naiad twin out of yet another mess, because she's become so preoccupied and convinced that she's Kostya's mate, that she lost her spring. Giving up her common sense wasn't such a good idea after all.

There's a lot going on in this book, and if you're hoping for some sort of romantic resolution, I suspect that won't happen until the end of the trilogy. Still, it's a lot of fun.

Up in Smoke: Silver Dragons #2, July 2010, ISBN 9780340993019, Hodder Paperbacks



May Northcott is at the end of her tether. Her demon boss has moved in and is making life hell. Her scorching hot dragon lover seems to think everything can be solved with a fiery kiss. And worse still, she s being shadowed by her ditsy twin sister a naiad who simply can t seem to stay out of trouble. The arrival of a nearly-dead man on May s doorstep could be the final spark that sets light to their tinder-box world. And with dragon war imminent, it s looking increasingly like it will be up to May (and her watery shadow) to stop it before the fire consumes them all, and their lives end up in smoke...
Me and My Shadow is the third book in the Silver Dragons series. This is another fast-paced installment plagued with danger and chaos. The annoying demon, Magoth, is still in the scene. But May has something else to contend with--the Shard. Still, Gabriel is determined to keep his beloved by his side, but a confrontation is also brewing between the dragons.

Just like the other two before it, there is a lot of stuff going on but at least in this one, many of the threads that started in the first book and carried on into the next one, have been tied into a satisfying end. :)

If you're a Katie MacAlister fan, you certainly won't be disappointed with this smokin' trilogy.

Me and My Shadow: Silver Dragons #3, July 2010, ISBN 9780340993002, Hodder Paperbacks

Tuesday, 19 October 2010

Y'know...

No matter how many times it happens, I'm still surprised when one day it can be warm and super sunny all day. Then the next, you wake up and it's raining. :/

That's exactly what happened this morning, lol.

I have to admit that although I don't mind walking in the rain, I hate that I have to wear a raincoat and hold an umbrella. Yeah, I'm just bitching about the weather. ;) Maybe it'll clear up later. Who knows? This spring is turning out to be a little wonky, so far.

Well, those two interviews that I wanted to have done by yesterday are now done & emailed in. Of course, I only got one finished yesterday, but I got the other proofread (and done) this morning, so now I'm free to move onto something else. And, um, just looking at the calendar on the desk, I just realised that October's closing in on me, and I still haven't made a decision about NaNoWriMo.

Other writers are already starting to register, and here I am, still undecided. :/ I think I should make it a priority this week, weigh out all the options. I mean, can I afford to lose a day here and there during November if I have to put NaNo aside to concentrate on edits? Hmmm. Like I said, there are things to think about, that's for sure.

Oh, and I'm halfway through the book I'm currently reading, plus have some other reviews I need to catch up on, too. So many things to do, uh?

Have a good day!

Monday, 18 October 2010

Good morning to ya, Monday!

Firstly, I just wanted to wish my daughter a HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY again. Sure, it was yesterday and I told her about a hundred times, but I just wanted it to be on my blog, too. She had an awesome day, and so did we. :)

Well, here we are again. At the beginning of yet another week. Not long to go of this month, so I really have to make a decision about whether or not I'll be taking part in NaNoWriMo. I'm a little undecided because I really want to take part, this'll make it my 5th year in a row if I do, but my head's a little scattered at the moment. And I'm pretty sure that some edits will make their way towards me during that month.

Hmmmm. Decisions, decisions.

At least I met my three goals for last week: the first round of edits for THE SOUL DEALER: Redemption were done and emailed to my editor, The Hidden outline/proposal for the next three books was done and emailed, and I finished reading + reviewing BY MIDNIGHT. (see below)

Oh, and before I forget, I got my first (very awesome) review for THE SOUL DEALER: Deception: "Yolanda Sfetsos took a great idea and ran with it, turning it into a killer story. The Soul Dealer: Deception is a great spooky Halloween story." 5 Hearts, Marissa, Sizzling Hot Book Reviews. You can read the whole review here.

Now that I'm faced with a new week, it's time to set some new goals. We'll see what I can manage. I've got a few things in mind, but I need to put a small list together. Though I do know that I need to get two interviews done and emailed sometime within the next few days. Maybe this'll also be the week when I manage to get that short story written. Maybe. Hopefully.

But for now, have a great week!

Sunday, 17 October 2010

BY MIDNIGHT by Mia James

April Dunne is not impressed. She's had to move from Edinburgh to London with her parents, leaving behind her school, her friends…her entire life, basically.

Ravenwood, her new school, might be a prestigious academy for gifted super-rich super-smart students but there s more going on there than meets the eye.

Practical jokes on new students are normal, but when her new friend Gabriel saves her from… something… in Highgate Cemetery and then she discovers that a murder took place just yards away from where she had been standing, April has to wonder if something more sinister is going on. And whether she s going to live through it…

*There may be some (minor) spoilers in this review*

Isn't the cover for this book pretty? Let me start by telling you that I was absolutely hooked by this book, from the very beginning. Wow, what a story.

April Dunne is sixteen years old and has just moved to Highgate in north London. She's not happy about having to leave Edinburgh behind, where all of her friends and even her crush lives. But her father has found himself a new job here--he's an investigative journalist who also writes books about conspiracies and other strange phenomena. Having her parents argue all the time, and being distant from her mother doesn't help. Not to mention that she's pretty sure her parents, and even her grandfather, are keeping secrets from her.

Having to attend the prestigious school called Ravenwood doesn't improve things. Everyone's either super rich, or super intelligent. Still, meeting a conspiracy-nut called Caro, and the gorgeous Gabriel help matters a little. Yet, things don't seem to be normal in Highgate. People act strange around her, especially the boys. But she figures it's just because she's the new girl.

When a murder happens in the nearby cemetery and Gabriel saves her, April's life begins to spiral downward.

Suddenly, she finds herself in the middle of some very scary situations, one of which takes her father away from her. Determined to get to the bottom of it, she begins to suspect everyone, and is determined to find out who killed her father. Putting her own life on the line.

And when she finds out the truth about who and what she really is, it will challenge everything she's ever believed.

I absolutely loved every moment of it, and couldn't wait to get back to reading. April seems like such an average girl dealing with typical teenage angst after having to start fresh in the middle of the school year in a new school. But life throws some very serious and painful things her way, things that normal teens don't have to deal with. Being forced to face a myth that actually turns out to be a reality, after she argued with her father about it just before he died, makes everything that little bit harder to deal with.

By Midnight was brilliant! Everything about this story was drenched in suspense so thick that every time I turned to a new page, it was with a combination of excitement and anticipation. I couldn't get enough of the events and enjoyed how they slowly unravelled the mystery of Ravenwood, leading to a very violent conclusion.

I loved this book so much. It's intriguing, heartbreaking, interesting, deep, and just... wonderful. An absolute page-turner. April was a great character to get to know, and I liked Gabriel. I found him to be an enigma, but I never suspected him. I also love that the vampire lore has been challenged here, introduced, and dealt with in a very unique way.

I can't wait to find out if there will be more, because reading another book set in this world would be an awesome thing!

By Midnight: Ravenwood Mystery, September 2010, ISBN 9780575095533, Gollancz Paperback

Saturday, 16 October 2010

MCR is back & I'm lovin' it!

I absolutely, effing love this:



I can't wait to get my hands on their new album!

Wednesday, 13 October 2010

Lots o' stuff on my mind...

You know, I was originally looking for a picture featuring dark clouds, or some sort of overcast day, because... well, that's the kinda day I've woken up to today. And most of every other day this week, if I'm honest.

But instead, I found this one. And I couldn't go past it because it's perfect inspiration for Sunny & Silver #2. If you've read/plan to read the book, you'll know what I mean.

Anyway. How's everyone doing today? Keeping busy? I think it would be awesome if we could buy extra hours in the day from somewhere, lol. But, as we all know, that's not possible. So I find myself pushing every moment I do have to the very limits. Or until I collapse at the end of the day. ;)

Well, I had some writing plans for this week: I wanted to write a sexy 5-10k short story to sub to this anthology, but it's not working out that way. It's my daughter's first week back at school, and my brain's exhausted. So, I've pushed it back to next week. The deadline is November 5, so I'm hoping there'll still be enough time to write & revise it by then. 

This week, I've decided to go back into Trina's world of The Hidden. I'm putting together a proposal for the next three books in the series (book 7, 8 & 9) that I'm hoping to have ready to send to my editor by the end of this month. It's always a lot of fun to visit her  world, but before I do anything I need to establish the timeline. Which is going to be tricky. Still fun, though.

Yesterday, I started to read BY MIDNIGHT by Mia James, and I have to say it's really interesting. I'm totally intrigued by what's going on in April's life, and can't wait to see what happens. I'm currently sitting on pg89. Must squeeze in some more reading later. ;)

I'm going to sign out with this cute and hilarious video:

Tuesday, 12 October 2010

DEATH MOST DEFINITE by Trent Jamieson

Darkly humorous and dangerously hip, this novel breathes new life into the business of death.

Steve knew something was wrong the moment he saw the dead girl in the Wintergarden food court. Nothing new, he saw dead people all the time, but this one was about to save his life…

Steve works in the family firm. He is a Pomp – tasked with easing spirits from this dimension to the next after death. And he s kind of OK with that, until someone high up the corporate hierarchy makes a bid to be Australia s new Regional Death. This means killing all of the current Pomp necromancer he ever knew has been killed, Steve is left to make a reluctant stand.

But to do this he must stay alive. Threatened at every turn, Steve and the dangerously attractive (and dead) Lissa go on the run to save what s left of their world.

I have to admit that I've been interested in reading this book since the first time I saw the cover and read the blurb. And now that I've read it, I'm very happy to say that I've been sucked into this series.

Steven de Selby is a Pomp who lives in Brisbane. It's in his blood, and while he doesn't actually love the job, it's a way to pay the bills and not have to do/think too much about the job. You see, Pomps help the spirits of the dead to pass over after death. All it takes is a touch, and the spirits use him as a conduit to the next phase in their life... or should I say, death? It's a business, and there are many Pomps to keep the job balanced between them in their separate regions of the world.

But the day that a beautiful dead girl (Lissa) appears, warning him that he's in danger, his world changes--turns upside down. All of a sudden, he's getting shot at. He's continually being chased, his house blows up, and he's forced to go on the run. And not only that, but his family, friends, and co-workers are being slowly killed off. One after the other, until the number of Pomps is so small that most of the dead are using him as a gateway.

Oh, and then there's the problem with the Stirrers. These are horrible creatures who reside in the Underworld and like to literally suck the life out of people, and then inhabit the bodies of the dead. Someone's helping them make this easier by killing off the Pomps, since they're the ones who keep them in check with their blood and touch.

Soon, Steven and Lissa find themselves in the middle of a Regional Apocalypse and are forced to travel from one side of Brisbane to the other, and even into rural Queensland. As they try to save a ravaged Australia from being totally killed off and consumed by these disgusting things.

Death Most Definite is an amazing roller-coaster ride of a book that hooked me in from the very beginning and wouldn't let go. I pretty much strapped in for the ride and stayed with it until I got to the end, which only took me about a day. This is an urban fantasy story that has a bit of everything in it: action, betrayal, secrets, surprises, vivid locations, a real Aussie feel/appeal, a little romance, an intoxicating plot, and characters that get under your skin and you just can't shake. It's also got some pretty awesome world building, and a voice that makes the story flow.

I loved everything about this book, and really liked Steven. He might be a bit of a smart–aleck with his snarky humour, and carefree attitude, but I loved that about him. And hey, I always get a real kick out of reading an urban fantasy book set in Australia.

This one's a total keeper! And I want to read the next book in the series. Now. ;)

If you like urban fantasy, you've got to check this out!

Death Most Definite: Death Works #1, August 2010, ISBN 9780733624834, Orbit Paperback

Sunday, 10 October 2010

DEXTER IS DELICIOUS by Jeff Lindsay


Everything’s changing for our friendly neighbourhood serial killer. As if getting married wasn’t enough to complete his nice-guy persona, Dex is now the proud father of a baby girl.But even if fatherhood is distracting Dexter from his midnight excursions to rid Miami of a few more lowlifes, there’s no let-up at work. Two young girls are missing – and it’s not long before one of the bodies turns up, partially eaten. But as Dexter and Miami PD’s finest investigate, Dex can’t shake the feeling that somebody’s watching him…

At home, there’s no rest for the wicked. His stepchildren are clamouring to learn how to control their bloodlust and Dexter must train up his young apprentices. But to do that, he’ll have to find the missing girl, find out who’s tailing him and survive a dark journey into a underground community who really have a taste for death.

Talk about a fitting title! This is the fifth Dexter book, and if you're wondering if Dexter's ever going to lose his need to kill... this is the book. Or is it? Well, that's how it seems at the beginning.

You see, something strange has happened to Dexter. He's a lot of things--reluctant husband, mentor to his stepchildren, blood spatter specialist, punching bag for his sister--but he's now become something more. After Rita gives birth to their child, he becomes Dex-Daddy. And just like every new father, he can't help but look at his new daughter, Lily Anne, with wonder and awe. A need to protect and love her actually takes such a deep hold of him that he neglects, and even becomes convinced that he can do without, the Dark Passenger.

Of course, that's until he gets caught up in a case with Deborah. A strange case that begins with the apparent kidnapping of a teenage girl, which then evolves into something a lot darker, and quite horrifying. In spite of wanting to stay out of it, Dexter finds himself being dragged from a school campus, to homes, the Everglades, and even into a nightclub called Fang, that seems to cater to a very, very strange crowd. Are they vampires? Maybe. Maybe not.

The deeper they delve into it, the more Dexter starts to realise that he's not the only person in this world who hides and craves some very sick and dark desires. I actually found my stomach turning a few times, because of just how sick all of this turns out to be. I'll just give you one hint: cannibals in Miami.

Oh, and did I mention that Dexter's older brother, Brian, actually makes an appearance in this book? Well, he does, and he can tell what Cody and Astor are as well as Dexter could when he first met them. He also plants himself right in the middle of Dexter's family life, even impressing Rita. Much to Dexter's dismay, because he knows what type of monster his brother is.

Dexter Is Delicious is another excellent installment to this wonderfully dark and morbid series. It takes the reader on another wild and very dangerous ride through some pretty gross and disturbing subject matter that comes to an amazing Dexteresque conclusion. With plenty of surpises. 

I particularly liked that Dexter finds himself in uncomfortable and alien territory--actually feeling, and caring, like a human. Yikes! That definitely makes for some great reading!

Dexter Morgan, you never disappoint. This is another keeper! :)

Dexter is Delicious, September 2010, ISBN 9781409113478, Orion Fiction

KEVIN McCLOUD'S GRAND TOUR OF EUROPE


ABC's Kevin McCloud shows us how to experience the highs - and the lows - of a grand tour through France, Italy, Greece and Turkey.

Loosely following in the footsteps of the most notorious grand tourists Kevin clambers in, on and amongst the greatest buildings, ruins and cities in Europe and also veers drastically off the official path to visit the brothels, bathhouses and drinking dens which formed the other half of the grand tourists’ experiences.This accumulation of sights sounds and smells allows a sense of what it must have been like for a callow Briton to have come face to face with the heat and the noise, the drama and still living history of the civilisations of Europe.

As always, Kevin, who speaks French and Italian fluently, is an entertaining and masterly companion as we delve behind the facades we all think we know so well.

I have to admit that I'm a fan of Grand Designs, a show hosted by Kevin McCloud. I enjoy watching other people's dreams as they share it with Kevin, and take the building of their homes from idea, to concept, to actually making it a home with cameras there at every step.

It's exciting to watch, and hardly ever goes according to plan as far as finance and time are concerned. Still, Kevin's got a knack for capturing the good, the bad, and the in-between. He's also got a good eye for design.

So when Kevin McCloud's Grand Tour of Europe was played on the ABC, I watched it with interest. And Kevin didn't disappoint. He takes us on a wonderful journey of design, architecture, and a whole lot more. He starts in England and soon travels to Paris, and makes his way into Italy. Where he shares some personal memories about his own experiences. Before moving to Greece, and showing us some wonderful and very influencial architecture.

He takes the hard roads that the old Gand Tourists used to take in order to get a taste for European design and everything else it had to offer, things they brought back to England. As well as tasting the many other delicacies available to them. Venice was a lovely stop-over, but I enjoyed the insight of every spot he travelled to, even his last stop in the Alps.

This book is a wonderful companion to the series. As I read each chapter, I couldn't help but hear Kevin's voice inside my head, as if he was reciting the book to me. It was a strange, but entertaining experience. I actually enjoyed reading his adventure as much as I did watching it. There are also some really cool pictures throughout the book, and isn't the cover really cool?

Kevin McCloud's Grand Tour of Europe is a very interesting book packed with facts, insights, opinions, and a lot of history. I really enjoyed tracing the path of travellers from so many years ago, and finding out what they encountered along the way. I also liked checking out the designs that account for so many of the most characteristic buildings we know today. As well as the beautiful scenery, he goes to some lovely places.

It doesn't matter if you've seen the show beforehand, or even if you decide to watch it afterwards, I think this book will captivate anyone who likes design or history. Or just an interesting journey.

Kevin McCloud’s Grand Tour of Europe, September 2010, ISBN 9780753827888, Phoenix Paperback

THE THIEF-TAKER'S APPRENTICE by Stephen Deas


A teenage thief becomes a teenage assassin and must live with the consequences.

Berren has lived in the city all his life. He has made his way as a thief, paying a little of what he earns to the Fagin like master of their band. But there is a twist to this tale of a thief.

One day Berren goes to watch an execution of three thieves. He watches as the thief-taker takes his reward and decides to try and steal the prize. He fails. The young thief is taken. But the thief-taker spots something in Berren. And the boy reminds him of someone as well. Berren becomes his apprentice.

And is introduced to a world of shadows, deceit and corruption behind the streets he thought he knew.

This is a YA fantasy, featuring a character called Berren. He's a thief, and an orphan, though he has a master that offers him a roof over his head as long as he pays him some of what he steals. But the day Berren witnesses the execution of three thieves, he also stumbles on a mysterious man in an alley. A dangerous man who happens to be a thief-taker--a person who hunts, finds, and delivers thieves for a price.

Berren is fascinated by this man, and actually dares to steal his takings. So when his master wakes him and tells him he's been sold to someone else, Berren is less than thrilled to find out it's the thief-taker. Still, he becomes the man's apprentice, and is looking forward to learning how to fight and use a sword. But it's not all action and excitement because the thief-taker wants him to learn things the right way.

The Thief-Taker's Apprentice is an interesting story about one teen's adventure within a fantasy setting, in the city of Deephaven. The characters are interesting and even mysterious. The events do take a while to unfold, though I suppose that was probably intentional to introduce this world, characters, and situations.

This is a good, well-written story for teens.

The Thief-Taker’s Apprentice, October 2010, ISBN 9780575094482, Gollancz

Saturday, 9 October 2010

The first Soul Dealer novella is here!

If you like paranormal romance, you might enjoy Alana and Matt's story of love lost... and found.

When someone is killed too suddenly or tragically, there’s a creature ready to bargain for their soul…

Fate’s cruel hand took Alana from Matt before he had a chance to tell her how he felt.

A year later, he’s still mourning her loss but Matt doesn’t realize that he hasn’t completely lost her. Yet, he’ll never know how close she really is if he continues to ignore his ability.

Alana has struck a deal that’ll save Matt before the end of All Hallows Eve, but time is running out. And if it does, both of their souls will be lost.



The second novella, THE SOUL DEALER: Redemption is coming soon from Evernight Publishing.

Sunday, 3 October 2010

IMMORTAL BELOVED by Cate Tiernan


New name, new town, new life. Nastasya has done it too often to count. And there s no end in sight. Nothing ever really ends . . . when you re immortal. But now, after centuries of feeding from the lives of the innocents around her, of living with little care for others, Nastasya is ready to turn towards the light.

After some of the events I ve witnessed I felt like I was a shell with nothing alive left in me.

I hadn t been going around killing people, but people were hurt the memories just kept trickling in like rivulets of fresh acid dripping into my brain until I wanted to scream. It was in my blood, I knew.

A darkness.
The darkness.

I had inherited it, along with my immortality and my black eyes.

Nastasya is an immortal. She's currently living in London with a bunch of immortals who like to party and drink their days away. This suits her fine, because it helps keep her emotional side dormant. She's had a lot of fun with her friends, but the night one of them hurts a person by using magic, she starts to question the way she's living her life.

Being so old and having survived through so many different lifetimes has given Nastasya an edge of experience that no one suspects because she still looks so young. But there are a lot of suppressed memories that slowly filter out into her current life when she decides to flee London and instead makes her way towards Boston. She's looking for a woman called River, someone she met only briefly eighty years ago, but made an impact on her.

When she finds her, Nastasya finds herself living in a secluded farm where immortals go to rehabilitate themselves, re-evaluate their lives, and realise what they have/want to do next. Here she does a bunch of chores everyday, learns meditation, gets a human job, and slowly starts to realise some hard truths about herself that she's never bothered to focus on, or has chosen to ignore.

This is also where she meets Reyn, the guy who looks like a Viking and seems to hate her. He's also familiar, though she can't remember why, at first. And when the truth comes out about him, her life is changed forever. 

Immortal Beloved was an exciting story told through the eyes of an old soul who's been through several human lifetimes, yet manages to keep a modern appeal to her outlook and voice. There's a little bit of everything--intrigue, mystery, a puzzle to solve, an interesting cast of characters, and even a dash of romance. And all the time, I could feel something dark lurking in the background, which added tension. 

Immortal Beloved, October 2010, ISBN 9781444707052, H&S Fiction

Saturday, 2 October 2010

HOW TO LOVE A WEREWOLF by Sophie Collins


He's tall, dark and handsome. He picks you up when you're down. And he's always there for you. But... he's a werewolf?

Whether he’s been your best friend for years or you’ve suddenly sprung a crazily close bond with the new kid on the block, a werewolf is a girl’s best friend. But what if he wants more?Don’t let confusing feelings mess up your friendships, or crazy crushes stand in the way of true love. Whether you’ve got a vampire love to die for, or fancy running with wolves for a change, we show you how to track down your werewolf, get in with his pack and untangle even the trickiest of love triangles.Packed with charts, quizzes, and the savviest advice around, this little guide can sort a supernaturally complicated love life, and help you figure out your feelings once and for all (without leaving him in the doghouse).

I have to admit that when I saw this cover, I was very curious about this book.

So when I received a copy for review, I picked it up and started reading. It's a lovely book filled with helpful information for any girl who's ever wondered if keeping a werewolf as a best friend, or taking that next step into making him your boyfriend, is the best option. It gives you a bunch of different scenarios, and even lets you compare the difference between a werewolf and vampire potential boyfriend.

The inside looks like a cross between a teen magazine and a diary--filled with tidbits, helpful info, comparisons, and quizzes. You can even take notes to help you figure things out. It's a must-have for teens. It's also a short read that I got through in one sitting. I also got a laugh out of it, too. The pictures are zany, the information hilarious... and what I liked the best is that it's all in the name of fun!

How To Love a Werewolf is a very cute book that any werewolf fan should check out at least once. :)

How to Love a Werewolf, October 2010, ISBN 9781846013683, Spruce Hardback
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