Pages

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Boomerang Books Giveaway # 1

Boomerang Books has a great giveaway happening on their site right now until July 22nd


We've got four Top Gear Boxed Sets to giveaway, courtesy of our friends from Random House. Each boxed set contains three retro Top Gear titles:My Dad Had One of Those, Midlife Crisis Cars, and Crap Cars.

Three great car books from the Emmy and BAFTA-winning Top Gear television series in the UK, presented by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May.


You have to be a member of their site, but it only takes a minute to sign up.

(AUSTRALIA ONLY)

Monday, July 18, 2011

Maria V. Snyder Book Signing

LOCATION : Kinokuniya
Level 2, The Galleries
500 George Street,
Sydney 2000
Australia

TIME : 6.00pm to 8.00pm

WHEN : Monday August 15th 2011

Saturday, July 2, 2011

GLASS HOUSES by Rachel Caine

First Published in Great Britain by Allison and Busby Ltd
This edition published by Penguin Group (Australia 2011)
Paperback - 361 Pages
ISBN : 978 - 1 - 9218 - 8006 - 63
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Welcome to Morganville. Just don`t stay out after dark.

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 . . .

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Yes - I loved it - this book had a little of everything for me.
Claire, smart and new to town - and picked on by the 'queen bitch' of Morganville.
Michael, mysterious and sexy - and never around when you need him.
Shane, funny and caring - watching Claire's back at every turn.
Eve, insecure and brash - trying to push people away, when she really wants them to hold her in their arms.

Put these 4 characters in the one house, in a town that is run by Vampires ... and no doubt there is going to be trouble. And where Claire goes, trouble seems to follow.
Monica Morrell has it in for Claire, just because she can! And when she learns that Shane and Claire are friends and hanging out together, that only fuels her anger towards Claire even more.

There is a learning period that Claire must go through - who to trust, who not to trust, keeping her eyes and ears open, and whatever you do - do not piss off a vampire. Once Claire finds out what the vampires are really after (apart from blood) she sets out on a mission to deliver it to them for the bargaining price of being able to live in peace. And finding out who the true 'head' vampire is, is proving harder than it looks.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Well written book, with some twists that shocked me - especially towards the end of the book just when I thought that peace had been restored (enter Shane's father, who has a passion to kill off every vampire in the town). And so the pain, the looking over the shoulder, and avoiding being killed will continue on in Book 2 of this series.

I loved it - and can't wait to read the next book.

RATING ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ (4 hearts = good read)

CLOCKWORK ANGEL by Cassandra Clare

First published in Great Britain in 2010 by Walker Books Ltd
Paperback - 479 Pages
ISBN 978 - 1 - 4063 - 2881 - 3
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Magic is dangerous - but love is more dangerous still

When 16yo Tessa Gray arrives in England during the reign of Queen Victoria, something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Friendless and haunted, Tessa seeks refuge with the Shadowhunters, a band of warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons. Drawn ever deeper into their world, she finds herself fascinated by - and torn between - two best friends, and quickly realizes that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I knew nothing about this book - but was totally drawn by the cover ... I think it's amazing.
I very quickly became engrossed with the story and felt alot of empathy for Tessa as she finds herself in a horrible situation, all alone and at the mercy of the Dark Sisters - and worried about her brother who no one has seen or heard of for ages.

When Tessa does find a way to escape the Dark Sisters, she finds herself being taken to the refuge of the Shadowhunters, with Will and Jem taking her under their care. Tessa finds her temper matching against Wills, and wondering what is going on with Jem, finding him very sickly from time to time.

The Shadowhunters are aware of Tessa's talent, and understand how the Downworld would like to have her, and use her for their own needs and desires, but they promise to protect her at all costs. And when 'All Costs' nearly does come true with Tessa's life under threat, they also find Tessa's brother Nathaniel - near death and being used by the Vampires.

Many things occur from this point - leading to danger and distrust, and also the attack on her haven, making her believe that her time with the Shadowhunters is under threat. Will and Jem come to the rescue just in time, and things between Will and Tessa change, as he thought that he had lost her to the Magister. And just when you think it's going to be a Happy Ever After ending, think again. You will have to read the 2nd book in the series "Clockwork Prince" to follow the story even further.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I liked this book - found the characters believable and likeable - except for the Dark Sisters, and her servants.
I could clearly picture in my head the different locations, and also the characters - especially Henry, who is very quirky but not silly.
The beginning of a love story between Tessa and Will is always going to be under threat considering the talent that Tessa posesses, and the DownWorld wants. Whether Will can walk away from her, or if he takes that step to make the relationship grow, we will have to no doubt read in CLOCKWORK PRINCE.
The one downside for me was the Angel that Tessa wears around her neck .. I don't know why, but I did expect it to be more prominent in the book (maybe it has something to do with the name of the book) .. but I guess it served it's purpose.

I think you will enjoy this book .. I know that I did.

RATING ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ (4 hearts = good read)

Freedom Giveaway Hop

AMAZING Giveaways - 200 Blogs are involved, with quite a few international giveaways
CLICK HERE to enter the blog hop now

And good luck to everyone that enters ♥

Friday, July 1, 2011

WOOHOO ... love the new look

.... and it's all thanks to my bestest buddy POOKER at Elegant Inspirations

Pooker has made my day - redressing 2 of my blogs and doing an absolutely amazing job too!

THANKS ... you have totally outdone yourself ♥