Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

Goodreads Description - Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything--including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?

My Review:-

Favourite Quote: "I could smell his fear but was intrigued by the other, more alluring scents beneath it.  Clover, rain, sun-warmed fields.  I leaned toward him, taking in the shape of his lips, the light in his pale green eyes.  He wasn't looking at me like I was a freak.  His eyes were full of fear and wanting.  I wondered what he could see in my eyes". 

What an incredible debut!  Nightshade was a gripping read that will pull readers into it unique and beautiful world full of passion, mystery and romance.

Right from page one I was drawn into this complex plot.  So much history and plenty of secrets that slowly unravelled.  It definitely kept me turning the pages to figure out what the Keeper's were hiding. 

The characters from Nightshade are well crafted.  Calla is a strong, smart, genuine and loyal.  You have to admire her strenght.  She had many hard decisions but she always choose to do the right thing.    Not only will you adore Calla but also the entertaining bunch of secondary characters like Ansel, Mason, Bryn and Dax.  They bring some funnier moments to this intense story. 

Let's get to the romance.  One word for it DELICIOUS!  This love triangle actually worked.  Both Shay and Ren were just as strong characters as each other and you could understand Calla's confusion.  But I am so team Ren.  He was just sexy as hell and I am crushing on him big time.  Although I have a funny feeling he is not going to end up with the girl and I might have to write an email to Andrea Cremer begging her to make sure Calla picks him.

Now the ending...talk about major cliffhanger.  On a rating of 1 to 10.  Definitely a 10.  Why do authors do that to us and then make us wait for forever for the sequel.  It drives me crazy.  Thankfully Cremer is releasing Wolfsbane on 12th July, 2011.  So only 8 months instead of the usual 1 year and it can't come soon enough!  I really need more.

Overall, Nightshade lived up to all the hype and is one of the best paranormal romance reads of the year!

Rating: 4.5/5

Want to read more awesome reviews for Nightshade: Makeshift Bookmark and Bibliophie Brouhaha

For More Info: Check out the Nightshade website

Trailer:

Follow Friday #4

I am loving this Follow Friday as I have found lots of amazing blogs through it.  Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee's View.  ParaJunkee also asks us follower's to answer a question each week, so today's question for the follow is:

What is your usual monthly book budget?

I have to admit I am a book addict and my usual budget is between $100 to $200 (AUD).  It is a lot but books are very expensive here.  Usually between $20-$25 a book.  I am trying to it cut down to but there are just too many good releases lately.

Thanks for stopping by my blog.  Make sure to leave a comment and follow so I can return the favour.



Up for a challenge!

I have just signed up for The Contemps Challenge.  I am a big fan of Contemporary YA fiction and want to celebrate and spread the word on how awesome it is! 

Here is some info from the website on The Contemps Challenge:

“The Contemps” officially launched on August 17 with a mission to help teens, booksellers, librarians and publishers connect with books that feature real-life settings, characters and situations. Group members range from debuts to veterans with several titles on the shelves, and all have new releases coming out between September 2010 and August 2011. They hope to not just build buzz for members’ books, but to create excitement and appreciation for the contemporary realistic genre in general.

“There are so many wonderful authors writing contemporary realistic fiction,” said Contemps co-founder Lisa Schroeder. “As much as we love other genres, the marketplace can feel dominated by paranormal, fantasy and dystopian novels. We want to celebrate the unique way that contemporary stories help teens feel they’re not alone in this real world.”

Accept the Contemps Challenge and promise to read at least 18 of the 21 upcoming Contemps books between now and August 15, 2011. One lucky challenger will win the grand prize: ALL 21 of our books! That's like a whole bookshelf of books!

The 21 authors involved are Brent Crawford, Hannah Harrington, April Henry, Kirsten Hubbard, Denise Jaden, Kody Keplinger, Jo Knowles, Lindsey Leavitt, Sarah Darer Littman, Michael Northrop, Sarah Ockler, Micol Ostow, Lisa Schroeder, Elizabeth Scott, Mindi Scott, Emily Wing Smith, Courtney Summers, Kristen Tracy, Melissa Walker, Sara Bennett Wealer, and Daisy Whitney.

Go check out the website if you want more info or to see the 21 titles available.  If you are interested in participating in the challenge make sure you sign up by 15 November, 2010.

Waiting on Wednesday #3

 "Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Trapped by Michael Northrop
Release Date:- Jan 01 2011

The Breakfast Club meets The Blizzard of the Century: A young adult suspense novel from PW Flying Start author Michael Northrop.

Scotty and his friends Pete and Tommy are among the last kids waiting to get picked up at their high school. The snow has been coming down for hours, and it's starting to look like no one is coming for them. As the snow piles higher, their teacher Mr. Gossell leaves them behind to seek help--and disappears into the drifts outside. Now the seven remaining students are on their own, with no food and no electricity, facing a night of sleeping on classroom floors. Will their friendships survive the night . . . and will THEY?

Why?  The first thing that grapped me about this book was the line in the description that said 'The Breakfast Club meets The Blizzard of the Century'.  The Breakfast Club is one of my all time favourite movies and a book with a similar concept can only be awesome (well that my theory anyway).  The description also makes it sounds like it is going to be a pusle pounding read.  Also it part of the Contempts Challenge which I  have just signed up for.

What are you waiting for? 

Leave a comment with you link to WOW if you like and I'll make sure to check it out! 





Freefall by Mindi Scott

Goodreads Description - How do you come back from the point of no return?

Seth McCoy was the last person to see his best friend Isaac alive, and the first to find him dead. It was just another night, just another party, just another time where Isaac drank too much and passed out on the lawn. Only this time, Isaac didn’t wake up.

Convinced that his own actions led to his friend’s death, Seth is torn between turning his life around . . . or losing himself completely.

Then he meets Rosetta: so beautiful and so different from everything and everyone he's ever known. But Rosetta has secrets of her own, and Seth will soon realize he isn’t the only one who needs saving . . .

My Review:-

Favourite Quote:  "But maybe it's like free-falling.  You feel like you'd rather do anything than have to face it, but once you do it you realize it's the best feeling you've ever had."

Lately I have been craving contemporary fiction and Freefall filled my need nicely.  It had all the things that I look for - good writing, a plot that gets you thinking and most importantly honest characters.

Freefall is not a tear jerker but a book that gets under your skin.    My emotional reading experience went a little like this - sad, hopeful, happy, extremely happy, sad, anxious, ahhhh happy again.  Scott's writing talent is the characters she creates.  You become invested in them and the compelling journey they are on.  

Seth is flawed, honest and broken.  He caused me plenty of anxiety waiting to see if he could turn his life around and making it extremely hard to stop reading.   Rosetta, was a surprising character. She was sweet,  sometimes shy and a lot more complicated than I thought.  I could easily relate to her, especially her awkwardness and shyness around Seth.  There is one scene in the book where she is trying to get Seth to kiss her and uses a metaphor.  It is quite funny and something that I would have done.  

Seth and Rosetta had a strong connection.  They both could relate to loss, guilt and fear. Their romance was a little bit awkward at first, there were mistakes, misunderstandings but plenty of sweet moments too:

"She smiled at me in that way she has that gets me all wound up, but somehow calms me at the same time."

It was just nice to see an honest portrayal of a teenage relationship. 

Overall, a wonderful debut.  A book that took me on a emotional ride but in the end left me feeling good.

Rating: 4.5 stars


For More Info check out Mindi Scott's website.

Some interesting info: On Mindi Scott's website you can read her old diary enteries from age 13 to 16.  Very entertaining - worth a read.

She was originally going to call Freefall The Fake McCoy, then Scratching at the 8-ball before settling on Freefall.

Check out the Trailer:

Great Giveaways

INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY

Over at Sparkling Reviews there is a INTERNATIONAL giveaway for a kindle.  You can enter this awesome giveway at Sparkling Reviews.

AUSTRALIA ONLY GIVEAWAY

Cass at Words on Paper is giving away two ARC of Stork and Girl Parts.  Go check out her wonderful giveaway at Words on Papers.

Good luck!

In My Mail Box #3

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi at The Story Siren and inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.

Bought

The DUFF - This is my favourite buy of the week.  Not only because of it's gorgeous cover but I have heard it is honest, compelling and edgy.  Keplinger is a debut author and is only 18.  Pretty amazing.
Stolen - I finally picked up a copy of this.  It has been on my wishlist for a while.  Apparently a thought provoking novel.  Lucy Christopher is an Aussie author.
Once a Witch - This book has been around for a while now (since 2009).  All I have heard is good things about this.  I am hoping though it doesn't end of a cliffhanger because the sequel isn't until August 2011.

Trade (Thanks Holly, you are awesome)
How Not To Be Popular - A 2008 release.  I think this books is going to be loads of fun!
Take Me There - My first signed copy of a book! Another book that I am crazy about the cover.
Genesis (The Rosie Black Chronicles) - A dystopian novel by an Australian author.  
The Legacy -Another dystopian book.  This is the final instalment in the triology.  Might you add I still have to read the first two yet!

I also got this week a short story (ebook format) by Amber Vilate for review called The Undead Crimefighting League: Sophie and the Wolf.  Thank you Amber.

What did you get in your mail box?