Review: Glass Houses by Rachel Caine

Glass Houses by Rachel Caine

UK Publication Date: 26 May 2008
Publisher: Allison & Busby
Pages: 361
Series: The Morganville Vampires #1
Format: Paperback
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Vampires, Young Adult
Rating: 4 out of 5

Morganville is a small town filled with unusual characters - when the sun goes down, the bad come out. In Morganville, there is an evil that lurks in the darkest shadows - one that will spill out into the bright light of day.

For Claire Danvers, high school was hell, but college may be murder. It was bad enough that she got on the wrong side of Monica, the meanest of the school's mean girls, but now she's got three new roommates, who all have secrets of their own. And the biggest secret of all isn't really a secret, except from Claire: Morganville is run by vampires, and they are hungry for fresh blood...

Glass Houses tells the story of Claire Danvers, a brainy 16 year old, who has been sent to college in Morganville by her parents. Not only is Claire the youngest college student in Morganville, she is also having a hard time making friends. This isn't made any easier as she has to share a dorm with girls that torment her for just being her.

Claire, realising that she's had enough of dorm life, decides to try living off campus. After looking a few different places, she finds an advertisement for a roommate at the Glass House. But what Claire doesn't realise is that the occupants of the Glass House have secrets of their own.

Once Claire moves in the story really picks up and doesn't stop until its shocking climax.

I found Glass Houses to be an interesting read, with characters that I both loved and hated at the same time. Rachel Caine has created a intriguing and mysterious town that I cannot wait to find out more about.

I recommend this book to fans of vampire novels.
(please note this review was written back in November, but was never published on the blog.)

Review: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

UK Publication Date: 15 September 2011
Publisher: Harvill Secker
Pages: 400
Format: Hardcover
Genre: Literary Fiction, Fantasy, Romance
Rating: 5 out of 5

In 1886, a mysterious travelling circus becomes an international sensation. Open only at night, constructed entirely in black and white, Le Cirque des Reves delights all who wander its circular paths and warm themselves at its bonfire.

Although there are acrobats, fortune-tellers and contortionists, the Circus of Dreams is no conventional spectacle. Some tents contain clouds, some ice. The circus seems almost to cast a spell over its afficionados, who call themselves the reveurs - the dreamers. At the heart of the story is the tangled relationship between two young magicians, Celia, the enchanter's daughter, and Marco, the sorcerer's apprentice. At the behest of their shadowy masters, they find themselves locked in a deadly contest, forced to test the very limits of the imagination, and their love.

The Night Circus is a book that only comes around once or twice a year, by this I mean it’s a book that captivates the reader so much that you can’t help thinking about it when you’re not reading it.This happen all the time for me.

I first became aware of this book whilst visiting my local bookstore and overheard a conversation between the assistant and a customer. He was basically asking her if she could recommend a really good book, and of course this was the book that she recommended. So being a curious person I had to have a look for myself.

The cover was mesmerizing.  I had never seen a cover that was black and white, with only a splash of red. When I picked it up and read the blurb I didn’t think it would be for me, but I decided to give it a go and I am so pleased that I did.

No sooner had I opened the book and read the first paragraph:

The circus arrives without warning.
No announcements precede it, no paper notices on downtown posts and billboards, no mentions or advertisements in local newspapers.  It is simply there, when yesterday it was not.

I was hooked. It took me back to the first time I visited the circus as a child. The mysterious tents, the strange sounds and the strangely dressed people. But the circus that I saw as a child was nothing like this one.

But you haven’t come to read about my childhood you’ve come for the review and so here it is. Erin Morgenstern has created a story that captivates the reader from beginning to end. She has created a world that is truly believable. Whilst reading I felt that I was really there seeing the circus, smelling the caramel popcorn. There are so many characters in this book, the circus being one of them that I would be lying if I said I didn’t like them all.

The story does tend to jump between different time periods, which can be a bit confusing at times, but I found this really interesting.It reminded me a lot of The Time Travellers Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, who is quoted on the cover of the book as saying ‘This is a marvelous read’ and ‘The Night Circus made me happy. Playful and intensely imaginative, Erin Morgenstern has created the circus I have always longed for.’

I will admit that I totally agree with her. Not only are the characters believable but Erin Morgenstern’s writing style is so lyrical. At times I thought I should be reading this book aloud. I guess this is helped by the fact that Erin is also a painter.

The Night Circus is a must read for anyone who is looking to escape into a world of magic, fantasy and romance. If this review hasn’t wetted your appetite to read it. Take a look at the book trailer.

Book Review: Mozart's Last Aria by Matt Rees

Mozart's Last Aria by Matt Rees
Publication Date: 2011
Publisher: Corvus
Pages: 291
Format: Hard Cover
Source: Library
Genre: Historical Crime
Rating: 5 out of 5

Synopsis from inside cover

The year is 1791 and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is enlightenment Vienna's brightest star. Master of the city's music halls and devoted member of the Austrian Freemason's guild, he stands at the heart of an electric mix of art and music, philsophy and science, politics and intrigue.

Six weeks ago, the great composer told his wife he had been poisoned. Yesterday, he died.

The city is buzzing with rumours of infidelity, bankruptcy and murder. But Wolfgang's estranged sister Nannerl, returned from the provinces to investigate his death, will not believe the gossip. Who but a madman would poison such genius?

Yet as she looks closely at what her brother left behind - a handwritten score, a scrap of paper from his journal - Nannerl finds traces of something sinister: the threads of a Masonic conspiracy that reach from the gilded ballrooms of Viennese society to the faceless offices of the Prussian secret service.

Only when watching Wolfgang's bewitching opera, The Magic Flute, does Nannerl truly understand he beloved brother once again. For, encoded in his final aria, she detects a subtly crafted blueprint for a radical new tomorrow. Mozart hoped this would determine his future. Did it seal his fate instead?

My Thoughts

Mozart's Last Aria is an historical crime novel, that is set around the time of Mozart's death in 1791. It is told from the viewpoint of his sister Maria Anna 'Nannerl' Mozart.

Although Nannerl is telling the story, the main character is Mozart himself.  All the way through the story Mozart's work is mentioned. Matt Rees even includes a chapter music list at the end of the book, I found this to be very useful as it really helped me visualise the settings that the music was used in.

Even though this is an historical crime novel, it is also a conspiracy novel at the same time.  It reminded me of Dan Browns The Da Vinci Code.  We have Freemasons, Secret Police and characters that you don't know whether to trust or trust.  The main characters in the story were all real, and this also helped bring the story to life.

Matt Rees descriptive powers are outstanding, and I really felt like I was standing in the main locations mentioned in this book, especially the Flour Market and St Michael's Church.

Mozart's Last Aria is an excellent crime?conspiracy novel that grabs the readers' attention and doesn't let go till the very end.  I highly recommend this book

Review: Playing In Traffic by Gail Giles

Playing In Traffic by Gail Giles
Publication Date: 2006
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Pages: 176
Format: Paper back
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult, Psychological Thriller
Rating: 4 out of 5

Synopsis

Skye Colby? She's the multi-pierced Goth girl hanging around the internet cafes; always out at odd hours in stange places. All the boys call her slut puppy; the girls wrinkle their snub noses in distaste. Some people think she's brilliant, others say she's unstable. Skye is all those things, and more...

So why has she singled out Matt for special attention? Clearly, she has a dangerous agenda, but how can Matt resist the mystery and drama Skye trails in her wake? Despite warnings from people at school, Matt is totally mesmerised by Skye - She promises a way out of his dreary existence - but at what price?

My Thoughts

I saw this book quite a few times in my local library and didn't really know what to make of it, so I decided on a whim to give it a go and I am so glad I did. This is the first book I have read by Gail Giles and I have to say I was hooked from the start.

The characters are believable and I was instantly drawn to Matt. I really felt sorry for him. First of all his parents are never around, they are always working, so he's had to raise his sister Katy all by himself. Secondly he knows the secret about Katy, but can't bring himself to tell her and thirdly he's hooked up with Skye, the slutty somewhat mentally troubled Goth girl who only wants to know him when they are alone.

The story starts off a bit slow but it quickly builds to its dramatic climax. There are plenty of twists in the story to keep you hooked.  The only thing that lets this book down is its title, I can't see the connection to the story.

Overall Playing In Traffic is a quick, intense read. I would recommend this book to fans of psychological thrillers. I will definitely be reading more of Gail Giles books.

Review: Megan by Mary Hooper

Megan by Mary Hooper
Series: Megan #1
Publication Date: 1999
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Pages: 186
Format: Paper back
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult,
Rating: 4 out of 5

Synopsis from back cover

Megan is fifteen. One day she finds out in the worst possible way, the worst possible news - she is pregnant.

What will she do?
How will her friends react?
How will her ex-boyfriend react?
How will her mum react?

My Thoughts

Megan, the first book in the Megan trilogy, tells the story of 15 year old Megan Warrell. Megan has just found out that she is pregnant and has no idea what she should do. Megan has confided in her best friend Claire, but isn't sure if she should her ex-boyfriend, Luke, and her mother. Although Megan does tell Luke, it's the reaction from her mother that hurts her the most.

I don't want to give too much away, but this is a must read for every teenage girl. Although I am far from being a teenage girl, I am a parent of a teenage girl and I have often wondered how I would react in this situation, hopefully better that Megan's mother did.

This is a quick read that grips the reader from the very beginning. Mary Hooper has created characters that, at times, I felt really sorry for.

Review: White Lies by Cathy Hopkins

White Lies by Cathy Hopkins
Series: Truth, Dare, Kiss, Promise #1
Publication Date: 25 April 2008
Publisher: Piccadilly Press
Pages: 157
Format: Paper back
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult, Chick Lit
Rating: 3 out of 5

Synopsis from back cover

Cat's always been the perfect girl next girl. Thoughtful friend. Supportive girlfriend. Surrogate mother to her three younger siblings, a great help to her dad since her mum died. But now Cat's facing some major dilemmas.

A game of Truth, Dare, Kiss or Promise lands her in hot water when she's asked a truth she can't reveal. On top of this she doesn't want to hurt her boyfriend by telling him the truth, but she knows it's over between them.

Is it right to tell lies to protect people or keep the peace? Can the truth be too hurtful?

My Thoughts

I'd seen this book quite a few times in my local library so decided to take the plunge and give it a go. I will say that I enjoyed it, but I wasn't thrilled by it. I'm not sure if its the subject matter or the genre that I didn't get on with.

White Lies is the first chick lit book I have read and unfortunately it might be the last. Although I found the characters believable I just didn't find the story that interesting, again I think this has to do with the genre. As I said at the beginning of this review I did enjoy it.

At 157 pages White Lies is a very quick read that would appeal to fans of the Chick Lit genre. Overall White Lies is an enjoyable read.

Review: In The Arms Of Stone Angels by Jordan Dane

In The Arms Of Stone Angels by Jordan Dane
Publication Date: 22 March 2011
Publisher: Harlequinn Teen
Pages: 313
Format: eBook
Source: Harlequinn Teen via NetGalley
Genre: Murder Mystery, Young Adult
Rating: 5 out 5

Synopsis:

Two years ago, Brenna did the unthinkable. She witnessed the aftermath of a murder and accused her only true friend--the first boy she ever loved--of being a killer.

Now sixteen, Brenna returns to Oklahoma only to discover that Isaac "White Bird" Henry isn't in juvie. The half-breed outcast is in a mental hospital, frozen in time, locked in his mind at the worst moment of his life. And when Brenna touches him, she's pulled into his hellish vision quest, seeing terrifying demons and illusions she doesn't understand.

Feeling isolated and alone, she's up against the whole town, targeted by bullying former classmates, a bigoted small town sheriff, and a tribe who refuses to help one of their own. But when Brenna realizes she's as trapped by the past as White Bird is, this time she won't turn her back on him. She's the only one who can free them both.

Even if she has to expose her secret--a "gift" she's kept hidden her whole life.

My Thoughts:

I have had this book sitting in my To Be Reviewed pile for quite some time, and I have to say I wish I'd read it sooner.  This book was amazing.  I was completely hooked from the first page.

What I liked about this book was the fact the we got the murder mystery element straight away. There was no beating about the bush, their we are standing at the side of Brenna witnessing White Bird standing over the body of a young girl.

Did he do it or didn't he? Jordan Dane keeps the reader guessing all the way through this book.  There are plenty of red herrings in this book to keep you guessing. I don't have a favourite character in this book, as they all compliment each other. There were times in this book when I found myself wanting to scream out loud, thats how engrossed I was in the story.

Jordan Dane has created a book that is joy to read. I highly recommend this book. If you haven't read it, you really need to.  If this review has convinced you, then take a look at the book trailer.

Book Trailer:

Review: Blind Traveler Down A Dark River by Robert P. Bennett

Blind Traveler Down A Dark River by Robert P. Bennett
Publisher: PublishAmerica
Publication Date: 2 May 2005
ISBN: 978-1413769999
Genre: Science Fiction, Crime
Pages: 205
Kindle Size: 256 KB
Rating: 4 out of 5

Synopsis:

Douglas Abledan is blind. But a blind man may just see something everyone else missed. A modern day miracle, a Virtual Sensory GPS unit, helps him navigate his world - but on one critical day it fails and Douglas apparently stumbles upon the scene of a what may just have been a murder. Disoriented and confused, he isn't the first man a retiring cop wants to listen to.
In the year 2021 increasing global earthquakes threaten civilization’s infrastructure. Unimat Incorporated is trying to stop the destruction by introducing a new building material. Special interests are up in arms. Environmentalists blame technology for the problem and want a different solution. Steel workers worry about jobs and safety. Now someone has hired a contract killer to stop the project. Can one lone blind man expose the killer without becoming a target?

Review:

I love science fiction and crime novels and to have both in one book was like heaven for me.  I requested this book from Robert P. Bennett, who kindly agreed to let me review it, without even reading the synopsis.  I was more intrigued by the title, Blind Traveler Down A Dark River. What an awesome title for a book.  As I started reading it I found that I was completely engrossed in the story and couldn't tear myself away.

First of all we have the character of John Haggerty, the CEO of Unimat. Unimat have been researching a product called Plasteel.  Basically they have taken the best properties of steel and combined it with plastic. How futuristic is that? Secondly we have Douglas Abledan, a blind R & D guy who uses a technology called the Virtual Sight GPS unit to help him get around. Again how futuristic does that sound? So how does this become a crime novel.

Well John Haggerty gets shot in a seemingly random drive-by shooting and Douglas Abledan witnesses it. Nobody believes that Douglas witness the murder, not even the police. How can a blind man witness a crime when he wasn't even in the area where it happened? Well basically his trusty Virtual Sight GPS unit malfunctions and tells him he's somewhere where he knows he isn't. So Douglas sets out to solve the crime himself.  That is when this book becomes a crime novel.  So how does Douglas go about solving this crime, well you're going to have to read the book to find out.  All I will say is I couldn't stop reading.

This is a fantastic book from beginning to end. I liked all the characters but I like the character of Douglas Abledan more. I hope Robert P. Bennett writes more novels like this, as I will definitely be buying them. This is a must read for fans of science fiction and crime novels, although I think anyone would enjoy it.

Review: Vampires and Cells by Agnieszka Biskup - Edited

Title: Vampires and Cells
Author: Agnieszka Biskup
Illustrator: Jok
Publisher: Capstone
Publication Date: 1 August 2011
Genre: Non-fiction, Science, Childrens,
Pages: 34
Format: Arc eBook
Source: Capstone via NetGalley
Rating: 3 out of 5


Synopsis:

What happens when you mix zombies, werewolves, and aliens with the science of motion, matter, and energy? You get some of the wackiest science books you’ve ever read! Dive into the science of animal and plant cells with vampires. Join Bigfoot on an exploration of adaptation. Check out what ghosts can teach you about atoms. The entire Monster Science series shows you what happens when the world of science collides with your favorite monsters!

Review:

I don't normally review non-fiction but I just had to review this one.

Vampires and Cells isn't your typical science book. Its a fun book to read as it combines a science text book and a comic.  The artwork by Jok is outstanding, if I had pictures to show you I would. I found Vampires and Cells to be very funny and really should be in every school on the planet, I would have paid more attention in my Science class if we had this book.  As the synopsis states it is part of a series, and if the rest of the series are as good as this, then these books should do well. Overall  Vampires and Cells is a very entertaining science book.

Reason for edit - Capstone kindly emailed a high resolution image to use in this review. So I would like to say a big thank you to them for doing that.

Review: The Forgotten Echo by Jennifer Wylie

Title: The Forgotten Echo
Author: Jennifer Wylie
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult, Short Story
Published: Feb 23 2011 by Echelon Press
Top Seller and top rated on OmniLit eBooks site
Word Count: 11 096
Rating: 5 out of 5

Synopsis:

Sometimes death is only the beginning...

Even after the bad day she's had, Cassy is still surprised to find herself shot, an innocent bystander in a drive by shooting. Bleeding to death in an empty parking lot, she knows she is going die.

What she doesn't expect, is the arrival of a strange, and unnaturally handsome, man who tells her he can keep her from passing on in return for being his forever. In desperation, she agrees but afterwards she is beyond dismayed to discover she has died.

To make matters worse, the stranger has disappeared, leaving her spirit to wander through a series of worlds unknown to her. Her existence is one of fear and loneliness, until she meets another like her and discovers she's not a ghost at all but something much more.

Teaser:

Before I do my review on The Forgotten Echo, here is a quick teaser to whet you appetite:

I barely made it to the parking lot before the yelling and shooting started.  A car speed by, passengers shooting at their rivals two feet from me.  In reflex, I turned as the car passed.  A bullet ripped through me like a punch to the stomach.  The force knocked me up against the side of a van.

Review:

The Forgotten Echo, part of the Immortal Echo series, by Jennifer Wylie is a short story that tells the tale of Cassy who is accidentally shot in a drive-by shooting.  Whilst Cassy is bleeding to death in an empty car park she is approached by a mysterious, but handsome, stranger who promises to save her life. All he needs is her last breath.  In giving her mysterious savor her last breath, Cassy has doomed herself to becoming an Echo.

After spending a week alone and facing strange creatures that seem to glow, Cassy meets a fellow Echo.  It is during this encounter that Cassy learns what she has become and who her mysterious stranger is.  If you think an Echo is like a ghost, then think again.  Echoes are so much more...

From the opening paragraph to the last, I couldn't stop reading.  Jennifer Wylie has created a story that grabs you and doesn't let go, even after you have finished reading it. The Forgotten Echo is a must read for fans of paranormal romance.

The Forgotten Echo is available to buy from:

Buy Links: 0.99

OmniLit: http://www.omnilit.com/product-theforgottenecho-518338-234.html
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/43756
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Forgotten-Echo-Immortal-Echoes-ebook/dp/B004P5NQ1G
Amazon Uk: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004P5NQ1G
B&N: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Forgotten-Echo/Jen-Wylie/e/2940012227799

Review: Honestly, Red Riding Hood was Rotten by Trisha Speed Shaskan

Title: Honestly, Red Riding Hood was Rotten
Author: Trisha Speed Shaskan
Illustrated by: Gerald Guerlais
Publisher: Capstone
Publication Date: 1st August 2011
Format: Arc eBook
Source: NetGalley
Pages: 24
Category: Children's Book
Reading Age Group: 4-8 years
Rating: 4 out of 5

Synopsis:

Of course you think I did a horrible thing by eating Little Red Riding Hood and her granny. You don't know the other side of the story. Well, let me tell you ....

Review:

Overall this is a very funny book, that is engaging to the young audience that it is aimed at.  My two daughters, aged 2 and 7 years, both enjoyed this book so much I have had to read it to them every night.  My 7 year old said that she found the story very funny and liked the fact that it was a retelling of the children's classic Little Red Riding Hood, but from the wolf's point of view.

The illustrations by Gerald Guerlais are first class and add to the overall appeal of the book.

Honestly, Little Red Riding Hood was Rotten is a must have for people with young children. My children and I can't wait to read the other books in the series.

I received this eBook arc courtesy of Capstone Publisher via NetGalley.

Review: The Strange Case of Finley Jayne by Kady Cross

Title: The Strange Case of Finley Jayne
Author: Kady Cross
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Format: Ebook
Source: Harlequin Teen
Series: The Steampunk Chronicles
Pages: 78
Rating: 5 out of 5

Synopsis:

Finley Jayne knows she's not 'normal'. Normal girls don't lose time, or have something inside them that makes them capable of remarkably violent things. Her behavior has already cost her one job, so when she's offered the lofty position of companion to Phoebe, a debutante recently engaged to Lord Vincent, she accepts, despite having no experience. Lord Vincent is a man of science with his automatons and inventions, but Finley is suspicious of his motives where Phoebe is concerned. She will do anything to protect her new friend, but what she discovers is even more monstrous than anything she could have imagined…


Review:

This is the first steampunk book I have read and I can honestly say that it wont be the last.  The Strange Case of Finley Jayne tells the story of Finley a young girl who isn't quite all she seems to be.  After being fired from her previous job  it isn't long before Finley is being offered a new one. This new job sees Finley in the role of companion to Pheobe Morton, a young debutante who has recently become engaged to Lord Vincent. It is during her role as companion to Phoebe that Finley starts to have concerns regarding the intentions of Lord Vincent, who is also not all he seems to be.

The Strange Case of Finley Jayne is the prequel book to The Girl in the Steel Corset.  This is a novella so it isn't very long and is a quick read. Even tho this is a novella I found the characters very believable and I couldn't tear myself away, if I did have to put this book down I was always wondering what was going to happen next.

I am sad to say that The Strange Case of Finley Jayne isnt available to buy on any UK websites, so I had to get this book directly from the American publishers.  To get your free copy of this ebook click here
Overall The Strange Case of Finley Jayne is an awesome action packed book with characters that you care about. I can not wait to read The Girl in the Steel Corset, which is available for review on NetGalley.

Review: A Hopscotch Summer by Annie Murray

Publisher: MacMillian
UK Publication Date: 1st May 2009
Pages: 400
Source: Local Library
Format: Hardcover
Rating: 5 out of 5
Synopsis from: Amazon.co.uk

Emma Brown is a happy-go-lucky child, content to work hard at school, and to play hopscotch with her friends on the pavement outside her house in the run-down Nechells area of Birmingham. As long as everything is alright at home with her Ma and Pa, her little sister Joyce and brother Sid, then life is good. But after Em’s mother Cynthia has her baby she just doesn’t seem to be able to cope. Her life-long friend and neighbour Dot helps as much as she can, but she has children of her own, and no man to hand; Cynthia’s husband Bob, too, does his best, but begins to feel that he’s losing the wife he has loved so much; and little Em just can’t find enough hours in the day to do all the washing and cleaning. Soon, it seems, the only thing is for Cynthia to go and stay across the city with her tyrannical older sister.

With Cynthia away, life only gets harder for Em. Her best friend Kate ostracizes her, leaving only poor, stinky Molly Fox at her side, and when the Board Man comes to call, wanting to know why she’s not at school, things are really bad. When Bob stays out later and later in the evenings, always the worse for wear, and spending too much time with a local very merry widow, Em decides to travel across Birmingham to fetch her mother home, but the mother she discovers is a far cry from the proud, upright and loving figure she has known so well . . .


Review:

Being an avid reader of Annie Murray I couldn't wait to read this book, so when it appeared in my local library I knew I had to have it. Annie Murray has again created another outstanding novel. From the first page I was instantly drawn into the world of Emma Brown and her friends, Molly Fox and Katie O'Neill.

Out of all the characters in this book I found myself drawn to Emma and her friend Molly Fox. My heart went out to little Emma as she had to grow up fast. When Emmas' mother, Cynthia Brown, gave birth to Violet things in the Brown household started to change. Cynthia develop a severe case of depression which caused her to, first, being sent to live with her sister Olive, and then being sent to HollyMoor Aslyum. It was at this point that Emma had to give up school and stay at home to do everything. Emma also had to come to terms with the fact that her father, Bob Brown, had started a relationship with the local merry widow, Flossie Dawson.

Where Emma was popular, Molly Fox was the outcast. Molly was the only daughter of Iris and Joe Fox, and had problems of her own. Molly had to face hardships of her. Not only was she being bullied at school, but she was also having to face the abuse that she was subjected to at home from both her mother and her grandfather. It was due to these problems that a bond stated to form between Molly and Emma.

Annie Murray has a way of creating characters that are highly believe able and love able. There were times when I would find myself laughing and crying at the same time.I highly recommend A Hopscotch Summer to fans of historical fiction. A Hopscotch Summer is the first book in a trilogy and I cannot wait to read the others.

Review: Diary of a Wimpy Vampire by Tim Collins

Publisher: Michael O'Mara Books Limited

UK Publication Date: 20 May 2010

Pages: 222

Source: Library

Format: Paperback
Rating: 4 out of 5

Synopsis from: Amazon.co.uk

Like Edward Cullen in "Twilight", Nigel Mullet was transformed into a vampire when he was still a teenager, and will remain this age forever. Unfortunately, Nigel became a vampire at the awkward age of fifteen, and must spend eternity coping with acne, a breaking voice, and an ineptitude with girls . . . In this, his excruciatingly funny diary, Nigel chronicles his increasingly desperate attempts to be noticed by the love of his life, Chloe Sparrow, the constant mortification caused by his vampire parents (not to mention the worry that they might accidentally eat one of his friends), and the frustration one feels when you ve got the whole of boring eternity stretching out in front of you.

Review:

Diary of a Wimpy Vampire is a humorous story told, as the title suggests, in diary form.  It tells the story of Nigel Mullet, a 100 year old vampire, who was transformed at the age of fifteen and his daily struggle with acne, a breaking voice and an ineptitude with girls, especially Chloe the new girl at his school.

Unlike his parents and sister, Nigel doesn't exhibit the usual vampire traits such as super speed, the ability to mesmerize people or hunt for food.  Nigel is, in essence, a Wimp.

I found this book to be very funny and was totally engrossed from the first page.  The artwork contained within the book, by Andrew Pinder, made the story even more engrossing.

Diary of a Wimpy Vampire reminded me of  The Secret Diaries of Adrian Mole by Sue Townsend, this is isn't a bad thing as I enjoyed them as well.

I will definitely be buying a copy of this book for my bookshelves, as well as its sequel Diary of a Wimpy Vampire: Prince of Dorkness.

Review: Deadly Little Secret by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Series: Touch Novels - Book 1

Publisher: Hyperion Books

UK Publication Date: 19 Nov 2009
Pages: 272

Format: Paperback

Source: Local Library
Rating: 4 out of 5

Synopsis from back cover:

SOME SECRETS SHOULDN'T BE KEPT...

Until three months ago, sixteen-year-old Camelia's life had been fairly ordinary.  Then a mysterious boy named Ben started junior year at her school and changed everything.
Rumoured to be somehow responsible for his ex-girlfriend's accidental death, Ben is immediately ostracized by everyone on campus.  Except for Camelia.  Despite the rumors, she's inexplicably drawn to him....and to his touch.  But soon, Camelia is receiving eerie phone calls and strange packages with threatening notes.  Ben insists she's in danger, and that he wants to help - but can he be trusted?  She knows he's hiding something ... but he's not the only one with a secret.

Review:

I had heard quite a few things about this book before I started reading it, but I wasn't expecting it to be as good as it was.  Deadly Little Secret blends paranormal romance with a gripping thriller undertone.

The characters, in Deadly Little Secret, are well developed and I found myself caring for Camelia and Ben.  I have seen reviews that compare this book to Twilight, and I have to say that I understand why. Camelia is saved from a car accident by Ben in a similar way to how Edward saves Bella in Twilight, but that is where the comparison ends.

I was gripped by the story from the very first page and found that I was reading into the early hours of the morning. Laurie Faria Stolarz has written a fantastic starter to a series of novels that I know I will be reading.  My only complaint with this book was the cover.  I just didn't feel that the cover suited the book.

Review: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Title: The Hunger Games
Author: Suzanne Collins
Series: The Hunger Games - Book 1
ISBN: 9781407109084
Publisher: Scholastic Children's Books
UK Publication Date: 2009
Pages: 454 pages
Format: Paperback
Reading Challenges: Dystopia, 100+ reading challenge
Rating: 5 out of 5

Synopsis from back cover:

In a dark vision if the near future, a terrifying reality TV show is taking place.  twelve boys and twelve girls are forced to appear in a live event called the Hunger Games.  There is only one rule: kill or be killed.

When sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen steps forward to take her sister's place in the games, she sees it as a death sentence.  But Katniss has been close to death before.  For her, survival is second nature.

Review:

I want to start this review by saying that this was an awesome book. The Hunger Games was the first dystopian novel I have read, and it has really made me want to read more of them.  Suzanne Collins has created a world that is both fascinating and terrifying at the same time. Out of all the characters in this book Katniss was by far my favourite.

I know she was the protagonist of the story but there was just something about her that intrigued me. Although the ending of the book was excellent the most memorable part of the book for me was the friendship between Katniss and Rue, I don't want spoil it for anyone that hasn't read the book but if you have read The Hunger Games then you know what I'm talking about.

I will definitely be reading the other books in this series as well as any other books that Suzanne Collins writes.

Review: My Love Lies Bleeding by Alyxandra Harvey

Title: My Love Lies Bleeding
Author: Alyxandra Harvey
Series: The Drake Chronicles - Book 1
ISBN: 9781408803400
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication Date: 2010
Pages: 248
Format: Paperback
Rating: 5 out of 5

Synopsis from back cover:

Solange has always known she is a vampire.  And as the only female vampire ever born, not initiated, she is surrounded by danger on all sides - from other vampire tribes who want to take her blood into their lineage, and from the bounty hunters who are set on destroying her and her family.

When she is kidnapped, its up to her elder brother, Nicholas, and her best friend, Lucy, to save her.  But can Lucy save herself from Nicholas, who tempts her with every look - what will be her own fate if she surrenders her heart to a vampire.

Review:

My Love Lies Bleeding is the first book in the Drake Chronicles by Alyxandra Harvey, its also Alyxandra Harvey's debut novel, and I have to say its an awesome book.  I couldn't put this book down. As the synopsis says it tells the story of 15 year old Solange Drake, the only female vampire to be born into the Drake family. Not only does Solange have to put up with being the only female born into the Drake family, but she also has to face being the next Vampire Queen, something that she isn't interested in. Solange just whats to make it through the bloodchange alive, well so to speak.

I liked the fact that each chapter was told from both Solange and Lucy's points of view, as I feel this keep the story interesting. I am looking forward to reading more about the Drakes.  As Solange has seven brothers, this should make for an interesting series of books. One interesting thing I found whilst reading this book is that in America its known as Hearts at Stake.

My Love Lies Bleeding is a must read for anyone looking for non-stop action, romance and deadly confrontations at every turn.