Saturday, 30 June 2012

In My Mailbox #28

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Welcome to  In My Mailbox, a meme run by The Story Siren where each week over 200 bloggers post on their blogs the books they have bought, received to review or won in the past week. 

To find out more information, get involved yourself or see what's in other bloggers mailboxes this week head over to The Story Siren or to find out what is in my mailbox this week, keep reading.

Don't forget to comment and post your IMM link or just let me know what's in your mail box this week.

Awesome week for books this week. Check out below (all synopsis' via Goodreads):

For Review (Thanks to Harlequin Teen Australia)


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Before I Wake by Rachel Vincent

I died on a Thursday-killed by a monster intent on stealing my soul. The good news? He didn't get it. The bad news? Turns out not even death will get you out of high school...  Covering up her own murder was one thing, but faking life is much harder than Kaylee Cavanaugh expected. After weeks spent "recovering," she's back in school, fighting to stay visible to the human world, struggling to fit in with her friends and planning time alone with her new reaper boyfriend. But to earn her keep in the human world, Kaylee must reclaim stolen souls, and when her first assignment brings her face-to-face with an old foe, she knows the game has changed. Her immortal status won't keep her safe. And this time Kaylee isn't just gambling with her own life....

Temptation by Karen Ann Hopkins

Your heart misleads you.  That's what my friends and family say.  But I love Noah. And he loves me.  We met and fell in love in the sleepy farming community of Meadowview, while we rode our horses together through the grassy fields and in those moments in each other's arms. It should be  ROSE & NOAH forever, easy. But it won't be. Because he's Amish. And I'm not.

For Review ( Zondervan via Eidelweiss)


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The Blue Door by Christa Kinde


Zonderkids launches an exciting supernatural series for kids 11 and up. The Blue Door, the first book in The Threshold Series, introduces Prissie Pomeroy, a teen who discovers she can see what others cannot: angels all around. Even more startling is the surprising secret she uncovers about people she thought she knew. As she wrestles with this unexpected ability she must come to grips with the spiritual battles surrounding her. Especially when she learns she received this gift because God has a unique role for her in his bigger plan. But if she's to fulfill it, she'll need faith like never before.This exciting debut by author Christa Kinde draws on the rapidly growing interest in angel stories, an emerging trend in teen and preteen supernatural novels. Boys and girls alike will appreciate her gifted storytelling that captures their imagination with things beyond human sight. And parents will appreciate the family-friendly tone and godly messages maintained throughout this intriguing tale of adventure and spiritual warfare.

Purchased:


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Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky. 

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grows dangerously low. 

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war. 

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages—not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers—beautiful, haunted Akiva—fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

Library:


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My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent

She doesn't see dead people. She senses when someone near her is about to die. And when that happens, a force beyond her control compels her to scream bloody murder. Literally.

Kaylee just wants to enjoy having caught the attention of the hottest guy in school. But a normal date is hard to come by when Nash seems to know more about her need to scream than she does. And when classmates start dropping dead for no apparent reason, only Kaylee knows who'll be next.

My Soul to Keep by Rachel Vincent

Kaylee has one addiction: her very hot, very popular boyfriend, Nash. A banshee like Kaylee, Nash understands her like no one else. Nothing can come between them.Until something does.Demon breath. No, not the toothpaste-challenged kind. The Netherworld kind. The kind that really can kill you. Somehow the super-addictive substance has made its way to the human world. But how? Kaylee and Nash have to cut off the source and protect their friends—one of whom is already hooked.And so is someone else…

My Soul to Steal by Rachel Vincent

Trying to work things out with Nash—her maybe boyfriend—is hard enough for Kaylee Cavanaugh. She can't just pretend nothing happened. But "complicated" doesn't even begin to describe their relationship when his ex-girlfriend transfers to their school, determined to take Nash back.

See, Sabine isn't just an ordinary girl. She's a mara, the living personification of a nightmare. She can read people's fears—and craft them into nightmares while her victims sleep. Feeding from human fear is how she survives.

And Sabine isn't above scaring Kaylee and the entire school to death to get whatever—and whoever—she wants.

The Alchemy of Forever by Avery Williams
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Seraphina has been alive since the 1300's, made immortal when the boy she was beginning to love back then, Cyrus, saved her from death with a strange liquid - a method of alchemy that lets them swap bodies with any human being. But now, in modern day America, Sera has decided that she can no longer bear the weight of stealing people's lives so she can keep living on. So she decides to run away from Cyrus and end her stolen existence once and for all. Her plan goes awry when she accidentally takes the body of a dying teenager and feels forced to take over her life. When the lines between Sera and Kailey's identity begin to blur, Sera finds a reason to desire to live once more. But she can't shake the guilt of having taken Kailey's life, even if she was dying. And what if Cyrus finds her?



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Blood Bound by Rachel Vincent

Bound by blood, condemned by fate

As a bloodtracker, Liv is extremely powerful. And in a world where power is a commodity that can get you killed, Liv's learnt to survive by her own rules.

Rule number one? Trust no one.

But when a friend's daughter goes missing, Liv is bound by a potent magical oath. She can't rest until the child is safe.
And that means trusting her dangerous ex, Cam.

A sinister prophecy tells that she and Cam will be the death of each other, yet Liv's tired of being a slave to destiny. She's ready to play the forces controlling her world at their own game.

No matter what the cost. 


My Soul to Save by Rachel Vincent


When Kaylee Cavanaugh screams, someone dies.

So when teen pop star Eden croaks onstage and Kaylee doesn’t wail, she knows something is dead wrong. She can’t cry for someone who has no soul.

The last thing Kaylee needs right now is to be skipping school, breaking her dad’s ironclad curfew and putting her too-hot-to-be-real boyfriend’s loyalty to the test. But starry-eyed teens are trading their souls: a flickering lifetime of fame and fortune in exchange for eternity in the Netherworld—a consequence they can’t possibly understand.

Kaylee can’t let that happen, even if trying to save their souls means putting her own at risk...

So what was in your mailbox this week?

Wednesday, 27 June 2012

WWW Wednesday #4



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WWW Wednesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…
• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you will read next?

What are you currently reading?



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My Soul to Save (Soul Screamers #2) by Rachel Vincent


Just past half way and am quite enjoying. Slightly different take on the regular paranormal fare which I like :-)

What did you recently finish reading?


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The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead


Loved loved loved this! As usual, Richelle Mead delivers :-) Review to come. Stay tuned.


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My Soul to Take (Soul Screamers #1) by Rachel Vincent


Book 1 of the Soul Screamers series. The first time I read this book, I mustn't have been in the right mood because I didn't get past the second chapter but this time I flew through the entire book in a matter of hours and really enjoyed it. 

What do you think you will read next??



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My Soul to Keep (Soul Screamers #3) by Rachel Vincent


Noticing a pattern yet? I actually just received Before I Wake from Harlequin Teen to review which was a good kick in the pants to finally get around to reading the rest of the series :-)

What are you reading this week?

Monday, 25 June 2012

Teaser Tuesday #28



Welcome to Teaser Tuesdays.


Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:


1. Grab your current read

2. Open to a random page

3. Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too muchaway! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

4. Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!


My current read is My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent and my two lines are from page 245:


Then he inhaled deeply and met my steady gaze. I was ready to hear whatever he had to say.



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Synopsis (via Goodreads): She doesn't see dead people. She senses when someone near her is about to die. And when that happens, a force beyond her control compels her to scream bloody murder. Literally.

Kaylee just wants to enjoy having caught the attention of the hottest guy in school. But a normal date is hard to come by when Nash seems to know more about her need to scream than she does. And when classmates start dropping dead for no apparent reason, only Kaylee knows who'll be next.

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository | Galaxy Bookshop

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link  to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your ‘teasers’ in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks!

Saturday, 23 June 2012

In My Mailbox #27

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Welcome to  In My Mailbox, a meme run by The Story Siren where each week over 200 bloggers post on their blogs the books they have bought, received to review or won in the past week. 

To find out more information, get involved yourself or see what's in other bloggers mailboxes this week head over to The Story Siren or to find out what is in my mailbox this week, keep reading.

Don't forget to comment and post your IMM link or just let me know what's in your mail box this week.

A good this week. Got some awesome titles!

For Review:

This week a title from one of my favourite authors, Kelley Armstrong. Can't wait to read this one. 

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The Hunter and the Hunted by Kelley Armstrong


Giveaways Won:

Won an awesome giveaway from Gypsy Book Reviews. Check it out:






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Storybound by Marissa Burt (signed) + bookmarks, magnet, signed poster and tin of cocoa


Purchased:
I have been anxiously waiting to receive this titles and have already read it! As expected, it was awesome.  Review to come.


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The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead


Library:


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Lover Enshrined by J R Ward


What is in your mailbox this week?

Wednesday, 20 June 2012

Review: Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs



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Title: Sweet Venom
Author: Tera Lynn Childs
Published: 6 September 2011
Source: Purchased Book Depository
Reviewed: Sapphireddragon
SapphiredDragon Rating: ****


Synopsis: Grace just moved to San Francisco and is excited to start over at a new school. The change is full of fresh possibilities, but it’s also a tiny bit scary. It gets scarier when a minotaur walks in the door. And even more shocking when a girl who looks just like her shows up to fight the monster.

Gretchen is tired of monsters pulling her out into the wee hours, especially on a school night, but what can she do? Sending the minotaur back to his bleak home is just another notch on her combat belt. She never expected to run into this girl who could be her double, though.

Greer has her life pretty well put together, thank you very much. But that all tilts sideways when two girls who look eerily like her appear on her doorstep and claim they're triplets, supernatural descendants of some hideous creature from Greek myth, destined to spend their lives hunting monsters.

These three teenage descendants of Medusa, the once-beautiful gorgon maligned by myth, must reunite and embrace their fates in this unique paranormal world where monsters lurk in plain sight.

Review: As a fan of stories based on Greek mythology and brought into the present, I was very much anticipating this read and I am pleased to say I was not disappointed. Sweet Venom is a fast fun read that gets you in and involved with the characters almost immediately. 

Gretchen, Grace and Greer are triplets, descended from Medusa and separated at birth. Their destiny? To hunt Monsters.

Told from the point of view of all three main characters, you really start to get a view of the different worlds all three come from.

Whilst this first book is mostly an introduction of three three main characters and of the story as a whole, it really is a nice blend of Greek mythology and urban fantasy with a story that flows along smoothly and hinting at further layers to the story to look forward to in the next book.. The writing style is simple and straightforward so the reader is in amongst the action at all times and carried along quickly to the end of the novel in surprisingly quick period of time.

I really enjoyed Sweet Venom and can't wait to read the next installment.

A definite 4 stars.

Sapphired Dragon xx

WWW Wednesday #3



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WWW Wednesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…
• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you will read next?

What are you currently reading?



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The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead


About two thirds of the way through and really enjoying it so far. Even though it's been nearly a year since I read Bloodlines and even longer since I read the Vampire Academy series but it's been so easy to fall right back in the world. Should finish it tonight. 

What did you recently finish reading?



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Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs


Loved this! Review to come. 

What do you think you will read next??



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Shatter Me by Taherah Mafi


Can't wait to read this as I have heard great things about it. 

What are you reading this week?

Saturday, 16 June 2012

In My Mailbox #26

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Welcome to  In My Mailbox, a meme run by The Story Siren where each week over 200 bloggers post on their blogs the books they have bought, received to review or won in the past week. 

To find out more information, get involved yourself or see what's in other bloggers mailboxes this week head over to The Story Siren or to find out what is in my mailbox this week, keep reading.

Don't forget to comment and post your IMM link or just let me know what's in your mail box this week.

Another busy week both in real life and in books.  I got some awesome titles this week!

For Review:



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Poltergeeks by Sean Cummings (Strange Chemistry via Netgalley)


June RAK:

Received an awesome June RAK this week from Lisa at Badass Bookie. This is especially awesome as Alyson Noel is heading to Australia in the next couple of weeks so I can now read it and then get it signed.  Thanks again Lisa! :-)


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Fated by Alyson Noel (+2 bookmarks)


Purchased:


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Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs


Library:

Visited a different branch of my library for the first time this week and stumbled on to a veritable YA bonanza then headed back to my normal branch later in the week to pick up a couple of books I had reserved.


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The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde
Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey
The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
Mercy by Rebecca Lim

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Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep
Lover Unbound by J R Ward


And check out my Doctor Who haul! I have been meaning to getting around to watching old Who for a while now and my library had a heap of them available to borrow.  I know what I will be doing this week LOL!
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Doctor Who Underworld The Tom Baker Years 1974-81
Doctor Who Castrovalva The Peter Davison Years 1982-84
Doctor Who Planet of Fire The Peter Davison Years 1982-84
Doctor Who The Caves of Androzani The Peter Davison Years 1982-84
Doctor Who The Trial of a Timelord parts 9-12 The Colin Baker  Years 1984-86
Doctor Who The Trial of a Timelord parts 13-14 The Colin Baker  Years 1984-86
Doctor Who Paradise Towers The Sylvester McCoy Years 1987-89



So what did you get in your mailbox this week?

Thursday, 14 June 2012

On my Wishlist #4

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Welcome to On My Wishlist! 

On My Wishlist is a meme that was originally created by Book Chick City and is now hosted by Cosy Books where we can showcase (and squee about) books that are on our individual wish lists whether already or still awaiting publication.

For more information or to get involved yourself, head over to Cosy Books and check it out!

Lastly, don't forget to comment and let me know what books are on your Wishlist this week.

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Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor


Publish Date: 6 November 2012

Synopsis (via Goodreads ): In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed "Daughter of Smoke and Bone," Karou must come to terms with who and what she is, and how far she'll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, mysteries and secrets, new characters and old favorites, Days of Blood and Starlight brings the richness, color and intensity of the first book to a brand new canvas.

Comment: This book is the second in the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series. And let me tell you, Daughter of Smoke and Bone was awesome and the way it ended... Let's just say that this title cannot come soon enough. Bring on November!

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Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor


Publication Date: 27 September 2011

Synopsis (via Goodreads ): Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky. 

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grows dangerously low. 

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war. 

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages—not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers—beautiful, haunted Akiva—fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

Comment: So why is this on my Wishlist when I have just been giving it all kinds of praise just a few lines above this? Well, the copy I read was actually from the library so I would really love my own copy so I can read it again, preferably just a little before Days of Blood and Starlight is released :-)

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Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness


Publish Date: 10 July 2012

Synopsis (via Goodreads ):"Together we lifted our feet and stepped into the unknown"—the thrilling sequel to the New York Times bestseller A Discovery of Witches

Deborah Harkness exploded onto the literary scene with her debut novel, A Discovery of Witches, Book One of the magical All Souls Trilogy and an international publishing phenomenon. The novel introduced Diana Bishop, Oxford scholar and reluctant witch, and the handsome geneticist and vampire Matthew Clairmont; together they found themselves at the center of a supernatural battle over an enchanted manuscript known as Ashmole 782.

Now, picking up from A Discovery of Witches’ cliffhanger ending, Shadow of Night plunges Diana and Matthew into Elizabethan London, a world of spies, subterfuge, and a coterie of Matthew’s old friends, the mysterious School of Night that includes Christopher Marlowe and Walter Raleigh. Here, Diana must locate a witch to tutor her in magic, Matthew is forced to confront a past he thought he had put to rest, and the mystery of Ashmole 782 deepens.

Deborah Harkness has crafted a gripping journey through a world of alchemy, time travel, and magical discoveries, delivering one of the most hotly anticipated novels of the season.

Comment: Another book two in a series. I read book 1, A Discovery of Witches, in October last year and I loved it. A combination of magic, history, supernatural and time travel and beautifully written, it ticked all the right boxes for me for a great story and I expect no less from this, the second book. I have actually already received a digital copy to read and review ( which I will be reading and reviewing in the coming weeks so watch tis space) but I can't wait to also buy my own finished print copy as I have no doubt whatsoever it will be worth the wait. 

What is on your Wishlist this week?

Wednesday, 13 June 2012

WWW Wednesday #2



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WWW Wednesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…
• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you will read next?

What are you currently reading?



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Timepiece by Myra McEntire

I am just past halfway and really enjoying this so far. Can't wait to see what happens. 

What did you recently finish reading?




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Hourglass by Myra McEntire

This was all I expected and more and there is a review yet to come. 

What do you think you will read next?




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Black Dawn by Rachel Caine

Book 12 of the Morganville Vampire series. I can't wait to read this!  Book 11 was awesome and finished with things up in the air so I can't wait to read this next installment :-)

So what are you reading this week?

Saturday, 9 June 2012

In My Mailbox #25

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Welcome to  In My Mailbox, a meme run by The Story Siren where each week over 200 bloggers post on their blogs the books they have bought, received to review or won in the past week. 

To find out more information, get involved yourself or see what's in other bloggers mailboxes this week head over to The Story Siren or to find out what is in my mailbox this week, keep reading.

Don't forget to comment and post your IMM link or just let me know what's in your mail box this week.

So this week kind of overtook me a little. Between the baby and lack of sleep, the last half of the week is a bit of blur and I didn't get all the posts out I wanted too northe reading donethat i wanted to. Hopefully. I will catch up this week. 

However I did manage to score a number of great titles this week and have great time participating armchair BEA - at least in the first part of the week anyway :-p 

For Review (via Netgalley)
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Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness (Penguin Group Viking)
Moonglow by Kristen Callihan (Grand Central Publishing, Forever)
Shadow Rising by Kendra Leigh Castle (Grand Central Publishing, Forever)
Monster in my Closet by R L Naquin (Carina Press)
Unearthed by Lara Stauffer (Cedar Fort Inc.)


Really excited about these titles this week especially Shadow of Night. I absolutely loved the first book in the series a Discovery of Witches and actually had this title slated for my next On My Wishlist post when I discovered it was available on Netgalley. I was in the middle of a night feed when I got the email that my request was approved and nearly woke the baby with my squeeing :-p. actually I think I will leave this title on my Wishlist as I plan to get a finished copy when its finally published to complete my set :-)

I also am particularly excited to read Moonglow by Kristen Callihan. It is book 2 of the Darkest London series and I read the first book Firelight earlier this year. You can find my review here

I also can't wait to read the other titles either as they all sound different and interesting :-)

Giveaways Won

This week I won a cookbook the Sweet Life by season 3 Masterchef Australia winner, Kate Bracks in a QBD Bookshop Twitter competition.  A book full of delicious desserts yum :-)
 


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Library:


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When Lightning Strikes by Meg Cabot
Missing You by Meg Cabot
Safehouse by Meg Cabot

I used to watch and enjoy the television series based of this Meg Cabot series so I decided I should see here it originally came from. 

So what did you get this week?

Tuesday, 5 June 2012

WWW Wednesdays #1



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WWW Wednesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…
• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

What are you currently reading?

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Hourglass by Myra McEntire

So far I am about 108 pages in and I am really enjoying it so far. I am looking forward to hopefully having some quality reading time this afternoon so I can hopefully finish it and start on time piece. I love books about time travel and this seems to have a great twist on it so this right up my alley :-)

What did you recently finish reading?

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Lover Revealed by J R Ward


So technically I haven't actually finished reading this as it was due back at the library yesterday and I had already renewed it once. Then when I went to reborrow it half an hour later. It was already gone :-( so I have rereserved it and will get to finish it as I was really enjoying it and also because I want to continue reading the awesome black dagger brotherhood series!

Other books read this week:

Dark Visions by L J Smith
Lover Eternal by J R Ward
Lover Awakened by J R Ward

What do you think you’ll read next?

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Timepiece by Myra McEntire

The second book in the Hourglass series

So what are you reading this week?