Win a Copy of Icons by Margaret Stohl! (UK Only)

To celebrate the upcoming publication of Margaret Stohl’s (one of the best-selling authors behind Beautiful Creatures!) Icons the UK publishers are providing me with one copy of the book to giveaway to one of my UK readers (sorry to any international readers this was at the request of the publishers as they are the ones providing the book.) In case this book isn’t on your radar yet here is what it’s about…

 

Goodreads Synopsis

"Your heart beats only with their permission. Everything changed on The Day. The day the windows shattered. The day the power stopped. The day Dol's family dropped dead. The day Earth lost a war it didn't know it was fighting. Since then, Dol has lived a simple life in the countryside -- safe from the shadow of the Icon and its terrifying power. Hiding from the one truth she can't avoid. She's different. She survived. Why? When Dol and her best friend, Ro, are captured and taken to the Embassy, off the coast of the sprawling metropolis once known as the City of Angels, they find only more questions. While Ro and fellow hostage Tima rage against their captors, Dol finds herself drawn to Lucas, the Ambassador's privileged son. But the four teens are more alike than they might think, and the timing of their meeting isn't a coincidence. It's a conspiracy. Within the Icon's reach, Dol, Ro, Tima, and Lucas discover that their uncontrollable emotions -- which they've always thought to be their greatest weaknesses -- may actually be their greatest strengths. Bestselling author Margaret Stohl delivers the first book in a heart-pounding series set in a haunting new world where four teens must piece together the mysteries of their pasts -- in order to save the future."

The Trailer

 

Rules 

To enter please fill in the Rafflecopter 

 Open to UK residents only 

 End date: Friday 26th April 2013 

 Winner will be contacted by email and will have 1 week to reply else another winner will be selected. 

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review for Fractured by Teri Terry

Series Warning! 
This review is for the second book in the Slated trilogy and so may contain spoilers from the first book.

Fractured by Teri Terry
Publisher: Orchard
Release: 4th April 2013
Genre: Dystopian, Sci-Fi, Young Adult, Identity
Source: Received in exchange for an honest review from the publishers




Goodreads Summary:

"How do you know where to go when you don't remember where you came from? Kyla's memory has been erased, her personality wiped blank, her memories lost for ever. Or so she thought. Kyla shouldn't be able to remember anything. But she can - and she's beginning to realise that there are a lot of dark secrets locked away in her memories. When a mysterious man from her past comes back into her life, she thinks she's on her way to finding the truth. But the more she learns about her history, the more confusing her future becomes..."

Review 
I love when the second book in a trilogy is just as strong as the first book. I love it even more when the second book propels the series to a whole other level! Fractured jumps straight into the action and mystery of a slated Britain and whilst I loved Slated, I came to love Fractured even more which is such a rarity for a middle book.

My favourite thing about Fractured is that we get to find out a whole lot more about slating and why Kyla is different. Not only is all of this really cleverly explained but it’s fascinating to read about. The book really tackles the subject of identity and how our memories are essentially the foundation of who we are. I loved reading about Kyla’s layered character and finding out why she’s so unique. I loved that straight away we are provided with some huge answers and that Teri Terry hasn’t kept them all hidden until the big finale which was something I found hugely refreshing.

The plot in Fractured allows us to see a different side to Kyla and we get to find out about her life before she was slated as she unravels memories of her past self. We also get to find out more about Free UK (better known as The Anti-Government Terrorists) as we follow the build-up to Kyla being slated. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time reading this book. It was full of action and suspense and never lets up for a moment.

Another thing I love about this series is the complex characters. I’m never quite sure who to trust because all of the characters have both good and bad in them which brings them to life on the page and makes them totally believable. My favourite characters in this book were Kyla’s mum, Tori and Katran whose own stories are just as interesting and developed as Kyla’s.

Slated was about slated Kyla. Fractured is about Kyla’s life just before she is slated and the way this book ends leads me to believe the final book to be about Kyla’s life and family from when she was Lucy. I love that each book explores a new part of Kyla’s memories and personality and how they shape and develop her as our heroine. I can’t wait for the third and final book to find out what happens next! Fractured is one of the strongest sequels I’ve ever read, this series just gets better and better!

 

Letterbox Love (24) An Excellent Book Week!

Letterbox Love is a meme hosted by Lynsey @ Narratively Speaking for UK based book bloggers to showcase the books that they’ve received each week.

 For Review (Proof Copies)

 
The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa
I LOVED The Immortal Rules so I'm really excited to read this one!
Angelfall by Susan Ee
This book arrived so beautifully packaged and is another e-book self published sensation that's been picked up for publishing. This moulds two of my favourite genre's together Angels and Dystopian. It's taking everything I have not to dive into it right this second!
Noble Conflict by Malorie Blackman
I believe this is a new dystopian series from Malorie Blackman. I don't know too much about it, but from what I have heard I'm pretty excited.
The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
I did a happy dance or two when this one arrived this week. The 5th Wave has been getting some phenomenal praise already and I'll definitely be getting around to it very soon. I believe this is about an alien apocalypse.
Two for Joy by Helen Chandler
Another one I haven't heard too much about, but the synopsis sounds good so I'm looking forward to reading it.
Love is a Thief by Claire Garber
Another book I'm HUGELY excited about. This sounds like nothing I've ever read before. It's about the girl who doesn't get the big love, the family, the happy ending. It's a book about self discovery and taking back the opportunities love has stolen from you. I really urge you all to check out this one. I can't wait to read it!

 For Review (Finished Copies)

 
Because of Low by Abbi Glines
While it Lasts by Abbi Glines
Just for Now by Abbi Glines
Really excited that this series is being published in the UK! I have yet to read anything by Abbi Glines but I'm a huge fan of the New Adult genre and can't wait to get started on these.
Getting Over Garrett Delaney by Abby McDonald
This book has been on my wishlist for such a long time so I was thrilled to find out it's being published in the UK. It sounds like a cute contemporary about a girl trying to get over her crush on her best friend.
ACID by Emma Pass
So many bloggers seem to be reading and loving this right now that it's making me really eager to start it soon. This sounds like a brilliant British dystopian, and is another one I can't wait to read.
The Beautiful and the Cursed by Page Morgan
I believe this is based on Gargoyle mythology. It sounds very different and I'm looking forward to reading it.

 Bought

 
The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth
This sounds like a really good coming of age contemporary about a girl coming to terms with her sexuality in a conservative old fashioned family. One I look forward to reading this summer!
In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters
I have heard incredible things about this book so I finally caved and bought myself a copy. It sounds incredibly creepy and there are photographs! Hugely excited to get to this one.
The Sweetness of Forgetting by Kristin Harmel
Foodie chick-lit set in Paris with family history. This sounds like such a 'Jess book'!
A Cottage by the Sea by Carole Matthews
I have yet to read anything by Carole Matthews despite her being really big on the chick-lit scene. This looks like a gorgeous summery read which'll provide some much needed escapism from the rubbish spring we're having in the UK!
The Rising by Kelley Armstrong
I really love this series and this is the last book! I'm looking forward to seeing how it all ends.

 On My Kindle 

Netgalley 

Ink by Amanda Sun 

Icons by Margaret Stohl 

School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins 

Another Little Piece by Kate Karyus Quinn 

Bought 

Wait for You by J. Lynn 

Hopeless by Colleen Hoover 

Needless to say I'm excited about all of these but Ink, Another Little Piece and Wait for You in particular! If they're not on your radar you really need to check them out! 

That’s it from me for another week! If any of these books have caught your eye and you’d like to find out more about them simply click on the title and the link will take you to Goodreads for a full synopsis, reviews, and to add them to your wishlists. As always thank you to the lovely publishing folk for the review copies. If you’re looking forward to a certain book in particular and want to request a review feel free to in the comments and I’ll do my best to get around to the book sooner rather than later. And if you decided to do a Letterbox Love, Book Haul, IMM, Showcase Sunday, Mailbox Monday or whatever else featuring the books you got this week leave me a link as I’d love to check out your books too! ^_^

 Happy reading till next time!

Q&A with Megan Shepherd‏ author of The Madman's Daughter

The Madman's Daughter is a book I’ve had my eye on for a while now and I was so happy when I found out that it was being released in the UK after all the praise I’d heard for it from US bloggers! To celebrate the UK release I was offered the chance to ask the author Megan Shepherd a few questions which I jumped at the chance to. But firstly, in case The Madman’s Daughter isn’t on your radar yet, here’s what it’s all about.

   

London, 1894. Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself-working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all, no one ever proved the rumours about her father′s gruesome experiments. But when she learns her father is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations were true. Juliet is accompanied by the doctor′s handsome young assistant and an enigmatic castaway, who both attract Juliet for very different reasons. They travel to the island only to discover the depths of her father′s madness: he has created animals that have been vivisected to resemble, speak, and behave as humans. Worse, one of the creatures has turned violent and is killing the island′s inhabitants. Juliet knows she must end her father′s dangerous experiments and escape the island, even though her horror is mixed with her own scientific curiosity. As the island falls into chaos, she discovers the extent of her father′s genius-and madness-in her own blood.

Q&A with Megan Shepherd

 
1.) The Madman's Daughter is a re-imagining of The Island Of Dr Moreau. Why did you want to re-tell this story?
I had first read THE ISLAND OF DOCTOR MOREAU when I was a teenager. After watching the TV show LOST, I decided to write a book set on a mysterious island, and it made me remember HG Wells' novella. I re-read it for pleasure and realized the themes were still very relevant today, and that there would be potential to do a spin on that story from a new character's perspective.

2.) In what ways is The Madman's Daughter different from H.G. Wells’ novel? 
The main character of MADMAN, Juliet Moreau, wasn't present in Wells' novella. MADMAN is Juliet's story, following her from her early life in London to when she travels to her father's island, so her internal struggles, her past, the romance, the father-daughter relationship, is new. Though some of the characters, such as Montgomery and Edward, are present in Wells' novella, I think you'll find their characters and backstory quite different in MADMAN.

3.) Could you introduce us to your main character Juliet? What is she like? 
Juliet has never been like other proper young girls--even as a child, she was fascinated by science, was able to stomach things other girls couldn't, and was frustrated that her father ignored her talents. As she learns the true, disturbing nature of her father, she's afraid she's cursed to go mad like him. She struggles between dark curiosities she can't deny and a warm heart that truly cares about people.

4.) The Madman's Daughter is the first in a trilogy – will the other books be re-imaginings too? And which stories will you be re-telling?
The sequels to MADMAN are also inspired by classics, THE STRANGE CASE OF DR JEKYLL AND MR HYDE, and FRANKENSTEIN, although they are less a retelling of those specific plots, but rather deal more with re-examining the science and themes in those books.

5.) What three words would best describe The Madman's Daughter? 
Haunting, Gothic, romantic.

Thanks for stopping by the blog today Megan! I love LOST so I'm happy to hear it inspired some of this story, I love mysterious islands. I'll be getting around to reading The Madman's Daughter very soon and I can't wait!

I got a new blog design!

So some of you may know that I’ve been working on a new blog design for the last week with Lori from Imagination Designs, and I’m pleased to announce that this is the end result! I’m so in love with my blog and I hope you guys like it too.

My last two designs have been really simple so I wanted to go for something a bit different this time and add some personality and fun to the blog yet also keep it clean looking and not too fussy with lots going on. I feel like we got that spot on. I’ve got a hearts/love theme going on to go with my blog name and I have a fantastic new rating system rating books in relationship stages ranging from it’s not me, it’s you to all time love. I’m so excited to start using it!

Hands down my favourite thing about my new design are my gorgeous twin reading owls! I personally love owls and wanted to put that aspect of my personality into my blog. I’ve even named them Millie and Rosie! Yes I am a dork.

This blog design has made me fall in love with my blog all over again and I just want to play around on my blog all of the time now! Working with Lori was such a dream. She was wonderful to work with and kept me updated every step of the way to make sure we were on the same page so I wanted to say a huge thank you to her for creating my dream design!

Needless to say this is one of the reasons I’ve been a bit MIA so far this month, but you can bet that I’ll be back in full force now that this little project is complete. Feel free to have a nosey around the blog to see what changes have been made, I really hope you like the new look and I’ll speak to you all really soon.

 If you'd like to support this blog on your own blog I now have a button you can grab in the sidebar!