Raised by Wolves Giveaway: Winner!

Congratulations to the winning entry:

#7

Theresa Cheng

I will e-mail you shortly for your mailing address. Do reply within 48 hours. Have fun with your new signed copy of Raised by Wolves!

In My Mailbox (13)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren.

These are the books we received this week:

* For Review

Lunarmorte (Sam Young)

Department 19 (Will Hill)

To Conquer a Highlander (Mary Wine) for kindle

*Bought

Unbroken Connection (Angela Morrison) for kindle

Hello, it's Hanna here! While my sister is busy doing this ...

... at university, I'm doing our In My Mailbox today! Or is it In My Mailbox-es since she has her own mailbox already? :D

What did you guys get this week? Happy reading!

Ivy4Evr: Channel 4's new SMS drama!

Ivy has left home because lilsis has done the dirty on her and she's no longer sure who her friends are. For a week she'll tell you *everything* but can she trust you and what will you tell her?

Ivy4Evr is an SMS drama for teenagers created by the BAFTA-nominated interactive artists' group Blast Theory, written by Tony White, author of novels including Foxy-T (Faber and Faber) and commissioned by Channel 4 Education.

Ivy4Evr uses SMS to go places that other dramas can't go - onto your phone and into your pocket. Ivy becomes part of your life over seven dates, getting into your life, sending you messages on the way to school, college or last thing at night. Ivy's life is parallel to yours: she sends boozy updates late on Saturday night and sarcastic chat on a boring Sunday afternoon. And if you send her messages she will chat with you about sex, music and everything else that really matters to a teenager growing up in Britain today.

For seven days starting 10th October, you will receive SMS messages from Ivy, you can send messages back and give her advice on the burning issues in her life.

Ivy4Evr is entirely SMS based. To sign up is free, messages you receive from Ivy are free, SMS messages that you send to Ivy are sent to a standard mobile phone number and will be charged at your normal rate.

To register for the pilot episode please go to www.ivy4evr.co.uk. Everyone who registers and verifies by midnight 9th October goes into the running to win an iPad.

Ivy4Evr is the first ever SMS DRAMA for teens and deals with family issues, music,
drugs, alcohol and sex in a teen context. The SMS drama takes place entirely on the users' mobile phone and gives them the possibility to interact via SMS messages influencingthe narrative as they go along.

You can also search for Ivy4Evr on Facebook and Twitter.

So, calling all teenagers out there - why don't you help Ivy out and have a chance to win an iPad too? Don't forget to register by 9th October!

Book Review: Star Crossed (Jo Cotterill)

'You did WHAT?' screamed Mari. 'You turned down the cutest boy ever? Are you crazy?' 

Fliss isn't exactly outgoing. But on stage she really comes alive. And this summer, she's playing Juliet opposite her dream Romeo - Tom Mayerling. If only she could tell him how she feels! But unless Fliss finds some inner confidence, she's going to miss her chance with Tom. Because someone else has her eyes on Fliss' role - and her leading man...

I had to wrestle with my sister to have the privilege of reading this book first. It didn't matter if she was closer in age to the reading audience, or, like Fliss, she is more likely to act in a play - I has a feeling I'd love this book just as much and I was not wrong! We shared oohs and aahs and agitation over Star Crossed and we both enjoyed this treat.

Fliss is such a lovely character, because in every one of us there's an inner Fliss. Shy and demure, she finds acting her passion and escape. Her mother disapproves of the one thing she feel she's good at. She hates confrontations and would more likely follow than lead. But once she's on stage, her confidence strengthens and her inner strength is revealed. I related well with her thoughts and concerns, despite my age being past the teens years. Which is why I think her character relates to many across age groups, mostly teens, or at the very least reminds you of what it was like to be in pursuit of one's passion. Fliss grows and learns to overcome her insecurities in Star Crossed. It should be very helpful to younger teens as it's not only narrated conversationally, but also in a way that's easy to digest. By that I don't mean it being fickle, but more towards it being easy to follow, hence easily relatable to teenage dilemmas.

Star Crossed also features a great villain, and a handsome prince charming. Samantha plays the perfect villain, who reminds me of fairy tale villains with roots in reality. Tom, the object of Fliss' affection, is also similarly rooted in the middle ground. I think therefore, Star Crossed is a great book for teens who still loves fairy tales but are slowly moving towards more teenage titles. Samantha, villainous as she is, has more to her than just the physical. Her insecurities play a huge role in what she does and why. Of course, despite my dislike of her, when I discovered that (of course) she's not so evil after all, I wanted to read more about her. Hopefully the next book!

How classic is it that your crush plays Romeo when you play Juliet? I'd have loved to change the ending if it were me! So of course my inner fan girl squealed and rejoiced in the romance in Star Crossed - very cute! Reminds me of all the ups and downs, the speculations and stolen stares, the sighs and tears you undergo when nursing that lovely first love.

Star Crossed is an entertaining read and a lovely book all around!

Four Stars.

Waiting on Wednesday (12)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine.

TIMELESS (Alexandra Monir)

When tragedy strikes Michele Windsor’s world, she is forced to uproot her life and move across the country to New York City, to live with the wealthy, aristocratic grandparents she’s never met. In their old Fifth Avenue mansion filled with a century’s worth of family secrets, Michele discovers a diary that hurtles her back in time to the year 1910. There, in the midst of the glamorous Gilded Age, Michele meets the young man with striking blue eyes who has haunted her dreams all her life – a man she always wished was real, but never imagined could actually exist. And she finds herself falling for him, into an otherworldly, time-crossed romance.


Michele is soon leading a double life, struggling to balance her contemporary high school world with her escapes into the past. But when she stumbles upon a terrible discovery, she is propelled on a race through history to save the boy she loves – a quest that will determine the fate of both of their lives.


To be published 11th January 2011 by Random House.


Don't you just love the colour of the cover? And the eyes...!
What are you waiting for today? Have fun waiting ;)

Raised by Wolves: Chapter One audio + Giveaway!

Quercus blog has some special treat for you lot - the first chapter of Jennifer Lynn Barnes' Raised by Wolves! It's a fantastic book with really special characters and you do not want to skip this book. So head over to http://www.quercusbooks.co.uk/blog/raised-by-wolves-audio-sample/ to listen to the first chapter!

As a bonus, Quercus is also giving away a signed copy of Raised by Wolves, to one lucky UK entrant. Fill in the form below to enter!

Rules.

• Open to UK entrants only.
• You do not have to be a follower to enter.
• Deadline for entries will be on 11 October, 12MN BST.
• Winners will be drawn through random.org
• Winners will be contacted via e-mail, and will be given 48 hours to response. Otherwise, a new winner will be drawn.
• Any details will be deleted after use and will not be passed on to any third party.

Ghost and the Goth Winner!

Congratulations to:

199

Eleanara G.

You've won yourself a brand new copy of the fabulous Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade. You have been sent an e-mail so do check and reply asap. 

Thanks to everyone who entered my Ghost and the Goth giveaway, and even if you didn't win, I hope you'll still give it a try - totally worth it, I promise! Besides, check out the next post as there is another giveaway for you!

In My Mailbox (12)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren.

It was quite an exciting week this week, because I moved to a university accommodation! So I suppose if my university had a IMM I would have been included in it :D But here are what really arrived this week:

My KINDLE. (!!!)

* Bought

Firelight (Sophie Jordan) - which I left in London :(

* Won from the YA Bake Sale

Shadowed Summer (Saundra Mitchell) and swags!

Being at university is...thrilling, to say the least. Except for the internet connection, that is. I spent hours trying to sort this post out, grrr. Hopefully tomorrow will have a better, faster connection (please!).

Have a lovely weekend!

Book Review: Boys Don't Cry (Malorie Blackman)

This is the explosively page-turning new novel for teenagers from the author of the award-winning "Noughts and Crosses" sequence. You're about to receive your A-level results and then a future of university and journalism awaits. But the day they're due to arrive your old girlfriend Kendra turns up unexpectedly ...with a baby ...You assume Kendra's helping a friend, until she nips out to buy some essentials, leaving you literally holding the baby ...Malorie's dramatic new novel will keep you on the edge of your seat right to the final page.

There is no one word that can describe just how good of a read Boys Don't Cry is. This book is one of the few that should be read by every teenage boy in the world - it's packed with life's lessons and I'm sure I'm not the only one who says that this book is a thought-provoking and a reflective read.

When Dante Bridgeman finds the biggest surprise in his life lying in a baby buggy, to say that his life is turned upside down is an understatement. Suddenly, he is no longer a typical student waiting for his A level results and university, but a single father to an eleven-month baby, Emma. With his ex-girlfriend and the baby's mother Melanie suddenly MIA, he finds his future veering dangerously towards the unknown. The changes in Dante's life - every minute details - is well described and highlighted. I'm familiar with the difficulty of babysitting, but not quite with the difficulty of single parenting. Dante's narration is vivid and so real it's almost like a first hand account. Nothing quite gets to you than the voice of someone who has really been there - I got that from Dante. His sacrifices opens the reader's eyes to the reality of being a parent - single, teenage or otherwise. His concerns starts from the basic (what about university? How do I stop her from crying?) and evolves to the bigger (will I be a good father? How will I provide for Emma?) questions. I am a lot like Dante in situation (A level results, university...) but it is his questions that makes him so normal, so average. That, more than anything, makes Dante real. His actions, his thoughts and his words show his flaws, but it also channels his growth as a person, as a brother, as a son and as a father to Emma.

Interspersed with Dante's life changing moments are his brother Adam's. My heart went out to Adam in this book - he's a cheerful lad who is neither ashamed nor afraid of his sexuality. The challenges that face him are not the easiest ones to face nor read. Despite that, he has an indomitable spirit that rises up and faces these challenges head on. Of course, Adam has his share of challenges, but with his family's support never once leaving his side, Adam's strength is clear for all to see. I'm not sure who between him and Emma I find more adorable - but both of them are near top of the list of characters I love hugely.

There are varying sub plots in the book in support of the main plot. These elaborates more on the characters and are very well ingrained with the narrative. Mostly, they are resolved and I am one happy reader with how everything turned out. The secondary characters are involved in these subplots and are also very important as they are foils to and frame the protagonists. Quite simply, I have no complaints! It's my first Malorie Blackman read and I sure will check out more of her works.

Boys Don't Cry is an eye-opener, a complex novel that is one of the few which effectively thrusts the reader into issues that matter most in the big world. It made me cry, it made me think and it made me want to read so much more. I love this!

Five Stars!


* A huge thank you to RHCB for my proof copy.

ANGEL Blog Tour: L.A. Weatherly's reaction and a Treasure Hunt!

Happy Publication day to L.A. Weatherly! ANGEL is now available to everyone - and to celebrate, ANGEL blog tour is stopping here at Girls Without a Bookshelf for some Treasure Hunt clues. You Londoners are in for a treat!

But first, I have L.A. Weatherly's Reaction to Publication Day:

'Though I’ve had over 30 books published now, Angel has a very special place in my heart, and I’m as excited over its publication day as I was when my first book came out over 10 years ago now. While the story came together fairly quickly when I finally sat down to write it, Angel has actually been many years in the making – both Alex and Willow have been in my head for a very long time. I love them both, and am thrilled that their story is, at long last, about to go out into the world. A huge THANK YOU to Usborne for loving Angel as much as I do, and for making it happen!'

Are you ready for the...

Treasure Hunt

After months of waiting Angel publication day is finally here! To celebrate we are taking to the streets to distribute Angel goodies including exclusive Angel tasters, posters, flyers and bookmarks. Two lucky souls will get a goodie bag that includes actually copies of Angel by L.A Weatherly!

So how do you get your hands on these Angel goodies? Well we are holding the Angel treasure hunt online and in London. The first part of the hunt is for answers, if you've been following our Angel blog tour closely it should be easy as all the answers to the following questions have been answered in the posts:

1) What are the two main characters in Angel called?
2) Which K.M Peyton book is one of L.A. Weatherly's top 5 books?
3) What is the first song on the Angel soundtrack?

Then armed with the answers to those questions come and find us in one of the two locations (we've got a special good bag for each location) with the password Angel Fever - we'll be the ones with the wings! First person to find us at each location gets the bag.

We will be in Central London in these two locations, at the allotted times:

Location 1,

from 4.00

and Location 2,

from 4.30

Sorry for the non London folk but we'll be doing more Angel giveaways next week and we've got lots more events planned (see events poster below) so please do come and join us at any of them.

Don't forget to check out the rest of the blog tour stops at my post HERE. Next up will be at Rhiana Reads, so check it out tomorrow!

And, don't forget to follow the folks on twitter:  L.A. (@LA_Weatherly), Angel Book (@Angel_Book) and Usborne: (@Usborne)

Waiting on Wednesday (11)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine.
Today's pick is:

YOU AGAINST ME (Jenny Downham)

If someone hurts your sister and you're any kind of man, you seek revenge, right? If your brother's been accused of a terrible crime and you're the main witness, then you banish all doubt and defend him. Isn't that what families do? 

When Mikey's sister claims a boy assaulted her at a party, his world of work and girls begins to fall apart. When Ellie's brother is charged with the crime, but says he didn't do it, her world of revision, exams and fitting in at a new school begins to unravel. 

When Mikey and Ellie meet, two worlds collide. Brave and unflinching, this is a novel of extraordinary skillfulness and almost unbearable tension. It's a book about loyalty and the choices that come with it. But above all it's a book about love - for one's family and for another.

To be published 2nd December 2010 by David Fickling Books.

I am so very excited for this title! My sister gushes about Before I die and this one holds a premise just as good. And I loove the cover - don't you just feel the longing for their forbidden love? *sigh*

I hope they take out the Before I Die cover at the bottom though, too bright for the cover and a little distracting. I'm sure they can do with a one liner to replace that, right?

Crescendo Trailer plus Free Torment Poster!

The eagerly awaited trailer of Crescendo debuted last Saturday, courtesy of Fallen Archangel. The official fansite has a brand new look (which I love) by the way, so head over and check it out!

In the mean time, if you haven't seen it yet, here's the Crescendo trailer:

Do you want a free Torment poster?

I was not very pleased with Torment, but I know a lot of you are or are still waiting for it, so this should be a gem! Amazon is currently having a promotion in which you can buy the book for £6.49 and get a free poster!

I'm not sure if it's available to other countries outside of the UK but I think for the rest of the EU, yes. I'll leave the link below, have fun!

Torment (Amazon Exclusive Poster edition)