My Book Boyfriend #5

My Book Boyfriend is hosted by the awesome blogger Missie at The Unread Reader.   What is My Book Boyfriend you might ask.  Well it is a weekly meme where we talk about a literary crush including stats, a picture of what you imagine he looks like and some quotes from him that make you swoon.  If you are interested in participating please check out Missie blog The Unread Reader.

Ren from Nightshade

Sexy, strong, charming, protective dangerous alpha male with a wicked smile. 

Need I say more?  I really can't resist those delicious bad boy types.  ______________________________________________________________________

Favourite Quotes:

When he whispered, his warm breath brushed over my lips. “Just let me kiss you, Calla. You don’t know how long I’ve wanted to. No one has to know.”
My lips parted as I drew a sudden, startled breath and in that instant his mouth was on mine, soft as velvet. I closed my eyes against the rush of a hundred wings that suddenly beat in my chest and soared through my body.
His scent was all around me. Leather, sandalwood, bonfires in autumn. He pulled back, but only for the sake of moving his lips to trail over my neck.

His sharpened canines traced my skin, scratching but not breaking the surface. My body quaked and I pivoted in his arms, pushing against his chest, making space between us.
“I’m a fighter, not a lover,” I gasped.
“You can’t be both?” His smile made my knees buckle.



This is where you belong, Calla.” He pulled me closer, tilting my chin up. “Be with me. Tell me it’s what you want.”
I couldn’t tear my eyes from his. “What I want?”
“Yes. Anything, everything you need, I’ll give you. Always. I promise. Just tell me one thing.”
“What?”
“That you want this, us.” His voice dropped so low I could barely hear him. “That someday you’ll love me.”
My hands began to tremble where they rested around his neck. “Ren, you know we’re going to be together. We’ve both known that for a long time.”
He gave me a hard look. “That’s not what I’m talking about.”
“Why are you asking me this?” I tried to pull back, but he held me against him.
The glimmer of a smile appeared on his lips. “Why not?”
My temper flared. “Are you trying to say that you love me?”
I meant it as a challenge rather than a serious question, but his eyes seemed to catch fire.
“What do you think?” He touched his lips to mine, softly at first, gradually building pressure, parting them."

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What do you think of Ren?  Who are you crushing on?

And don't forget to stop by Missie blog, The Unread Reader. 

Talk to Me Tuesday #5

Talk to Me Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by one of my favourite blog I Swim For Oceans where we will discuss anything (and everything) literary-related in an open forum of honesty.  If you are interesting in participating make sure to go I Swim For Oceans and link your post.

This week's discussion is:

Who are your all-time favourite male & female characters and why?

My favourite male character will be no surprise to those of you who regularly stop by my blog.  Of course it is Thomas Mackee from The Piper's Son and  Saving Francesca.

First off he is flawed and believable.  No super powers, he is just a normal guy, someone you could easily know.   He loves his family and friends even if his relationships with both have been rocky.   He is a character that has grown and change for the better in each book and has made me laugh and cry .  What I love the most is the complete HONESTY of Thomas Mackee's character.

Some other notable mentions are: Etienne St Clair from Anna and The French Kiss and Peeta from The Hunger Games.



Picking my favourite female character was a little tougher.  But after careful consideration it has to Katniss from The Hunger Games. 

So many reason why I love her - strong, loyal, smart, determined, fierce and so much heart.  She doesn't need anyone to save her, she is the kind of girl who saves herself and everyone else while she is at it.  And most of all Katniss is an INSPIRING character.  She makes you want to be a better person.

Some other notable mentions are: Carly from Raw Blue and DJ from The Dairy Queen.

I would love to hear who your favourite male and female characters are?  And don't forget to stop by Melissa blog, I Swim For Oceans.

Angel by L.A. Weatherly

Angel by L.A.Weatherly
Published: October, 2010
(See bottom of review for US release date details)

Goodreads Description: In a world where angels are beyond redemption, Alex thinks he's found one that might deserve mercy. Alex is a ruthless assassin - of angels. Forget everything you've heard about them before. Angels are not benign celestial creatures, but fierce stalkers whose irresistible force allows them to feed off humans, draining them of their vitality until there is barely anything left. As far as Alex is concerned, the only good angel is a dead angel...until he meets Willow. She may look like a normal teenager but Willow is no ordinary girl. Half-angel, half-human, Willow may hold the key to defeating the evil angels. But as the hunter and the hunted embark on an epic and dangerous journey and Willow learns the dark and terrifying secrets of her past, Alex finds himself drawn to Willow...with devastating consequences.

My Review:

Favourite Quote:  "It' worth it you know," said Alex, smiling into my eyes.  "What is?" I said.  His thumb moved slowly over my cheek.  "All of this.  Having you.  It's worth - anything."

I have found another awesome angel book.  Last year it seemed I was having the worst run with angel themed books.  They were all a little too similar and I was thinking maybe they weren't for me.  But Angel is nothing like any other angel book I have read before.  Not only does it have a unique concept but has great blend of heart pumping action, surprising twists and turns and a captivating romance.

First off the mythology is really something that makes this book standout from the rest.  Angels feed off humans causing them death, insanity and disease and it is called angel burn.  And most people can't see it as they are too blinded by the angel's beauty.   The mythology though is easy to understand and comes together well as the story is explained and is quite interesting.

Angel alternates from both Willow's and Alex's points of views and smoothly changes from one to the other. Also every now and then you get a point of view from two of the secondary characters that play an important part in the story. The pace is mostly quick and engaging.  There are couple of slow points in the book but it is 500 pages long and overall held my interest the whole way through.

The characterization was good.  Willow is a little different from the average girl with her psychic abilities and love of cars.  She is instantly likeable.   Alex is the dark, sexy, mysterious type and completely crush worthy.   Their romance builds slowly at first but then turns into that epic type of love.  Very mushy but in a good way.

Overall, this was fantastic start to this trilogy and I can't wait for more!

Overall rating: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Romance: 4/5
Cover: 4/5

For more info: Visit the Angel website

For more reviews: Daisy Chain Book Reviews

NOTE:  This books is a UK title and has not been released in the US yet.  It's release date is 24th May, 2011 by Candlewick Press and with the title Angel Burn and the gorgeous cover below.

My favourite love stories

In honour of Valentine's Day and also because I am a romantic sap, I thought I would post my top 5 favourite love stories.

Anna and The French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins - I loved how Anna and St Clair's relationship developed from friendship to something else.  They had some sizzling chemistry even when they would accidentially touch knees there was sparks flying.

Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley - Lucy's & Ed's romance will make you reminisce your teen days.  So much fun yet so much heart. 

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson - This is another one of those slowing building relationships filled with sweet yet real moments.

Thrill Ride by Rachel Hawthorne -  This book is the perfect escape for a few hours.  A quick, funny, sweet read with absolutely swoon worthy crush.

Beatle Meets Destiny by Gabrielle Williams -  The romance in this book is kind of like an adventure as Beatle's and Destiny's romance never went smoothly but was always entertaining.

I would love to know your picks for best love story.  So leave a comment of any great books that you would recommend.

In My Mailbox #15

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

A quite week for me since I am trying to stick to a book budget.

FOR REVIEW:

Luxe by Anna Godbersen -  This series has been out for a while and is YA historical fiction.  I have a copy already so I plan on doing a giveaway with my review soon.   Thanks to Penguin Australia for providing me with a copy. 

Swag from The Class of 2k11 - Bookmarks and stickers to send out to readers. 

What did you get this week in your mail box? 

Interview with Cath Crowley

I am so happy to have one of my all time favourite authors Cath Crowley stopping by for an interview.  Seriously I am jumping up and down with excitement.  Cath Crowley is an Aussie author of A Little Wanting Song (known in Australia also as Chasing Charlie Duskin), Graffiti Moon and the Gracie Faltrain series.

Why YA?

I like writing about firsts – first dates, first loves, first longings. In Graffiti Moon Lucy says that she feels like bare skin shining in darkness. I remember feeling like that when I was a teenager, as though great and terrible things could happen at any moment.

What is your typical writing day/night like?

It varies. Once I have my plot mapped out and I know my characters I write from about five in the morning until about two in the afternoon. I don’t have a set routine when I’m still working on the idea. I might go for a walk or see a film. I’m still working but it’s mostly not in front of the computer.

What were your inspirations for Graffiti Moon?

Ed and Lucy, the main characters, connect through art. So their conversations are inspired by the artists that I love - Mark Rothko, Sam Leach, Rosemary Laing, Jeffrey Smart, Pablo Picasso, Johannes Vermeer, Michael Zavros, Rosalie Gascoigne, Bethany Wheeler, Ghostpatrol and Miso. I wanted to write about people who speak through images as well as words.

The characters are all fictional, but they were inspired a little from people I met. A girl with long plaits told me she was psychic. A tattooed guy read me a line of his poetry. A glass artist told me stories about taking lessons when she was in Year 12. Ed reminds me of teenagers that I’ve taught over the years. He’s smart but he doesn’t realise it because he learns in a different way to most of the kids he knows.

A Little Wanting Song and Graffiti Moon are both written in dual narrations. Was that the original plan or did you ever consider tell either story a different way? And were any of the characters easier to write than others?

I had always planned to write both books as dual narratives.

I love writing characters that bounce off one another.

In the first draft of Graffiti Moon Lucy was an angry character and Ed was quite playful. It wasn’t working, though, so I switched their characters. One I did that they were easy to write. The second draft rolled out pretty quickly.

Charlie Duskin was a hard character to write. My editor at Pan Macmillan, Brianne Tunnicliffe, helped me a lot.

Charlie changed again when I rewrote her for the US version. Allison Wortche edited that version and her help was invaluable. I like that Charlie became more upbeat with every draft. I was lucky to have two brilliant editors.

Music is a big part of the story in a Little Wanting Song.  If it had a soundtrack name one song that would be on it?

Galaxies by Laura Veirs.

And maybe A Little Bit of Sunshine by Reamon

What was your journey to publication like?

I studied Professional Writing and Editing at RMIT in 2001, when I was about twenty-nine. I loved the subjects Literary Non-fiction and Writing for Young Adults. Some of the articles and short stories that I wrote in class were published in newspapers and magazines.

While I was writing those smaller pieces I finished my novel and in 2003, Pan Macmillan published The Life and Times of Gracie Faltrain. I’ve been published with them since then.

After I was published I had to work hard to get better – I’m still working hard at this. And it took me a while to find my style. I think I’m getting close to that in Graffiti Moon. That book has sold overseas, as has A Little Wanting Song (Chasing Charlie Duskin), which is great.

What are some of your favourite Aussie YA titles?

Notes from the Teenage Underground by Simmone Howell

Six Impossible Things by Fiona Wood

On the Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

Five Parts Dead by Tim Pegler

When Dogs Cry by Markus Zusak

Little Paradise by Gabrielle Wang

Are you working on another book?  Can you tell us anything about it?

I’m working on a book called The Howling Boy. It’s a dual narrative, told from the perspectives of Audrey and Crow. It’s a mystery and a love story. I’m preoccupied with the same themes – teenagers on the fringe and how they find a way to fit in.

A BIG thank you to Cath Crowley for stopping by my blog and answering my questions.  I am so thrilled that she is writing another dual narrative book.  I will be eagerly awaiting The Howling Boy's release.    

Don't forget to check out my reviews for Graffiti Moon and A Little Wanting Song.  I absolutely LOVE both of those books.  You can also visit Cath Crowley's blog here.

Slice by Steven Herrick

Slice: Juicy Moments From My Impossible Life
by Steven Herrick
Release date: June, 2010

Goodreads Description:
A funny, refreshing look at the most awkward time in any young boy's life—from school, girls, and parties to parents, friends, and the dreaded "sex talk"

 
Darcy Walker is a normal 16-year-old boy—but he can handle that. He can even cope with parents, deal with parties, and soldier through the occasional fight. He's certainly got his infatuation with the beautiful Audrey under control, is clearly the best at spending quality chess-time with his nerdy best friend, Noah, and doesn't blink an eye at the misadventures that can occur when kayaking on a school excursion. He's a teenage boy—he can handle anything. That is, if only he'd learn to keep his mouth closed first.

My Review:

My favourite quote: "I'm sixteeen years old and my mouth runs ahead of my brain.  Our friend Pete would describe it as - ahem  - premature enunciation.  Mum say I talk without thinking.  She's wrong.  I mean what I say, I just shouldn'st say it aloud."

Slice was a deliciously fun read.  I love books that make you laugh and leave you feeling good and that sums up Slice perfectly.

Slice is the story of 16 year old boy Darcy, who's mouth is constantly getting him into trouble.  He is quirky, lovable and HILARIOUS.  Herrick really did an amazing job of writing the character Darcy and he offers a brilliant and honest insight into the world of a teenage boy.  It was interesting to see what guys really think.

There is also plenty of impressive and slightly off beat secondary characters like Audrey, Noah and  Darcy's parents.  It was awesome to read a book where parents were a positive and entertaining part of the story.

The writing was simple yet clever.  Unlike the previous books of Herrick's that I have read this one wasn't written in verse.  It was actually his first YA prose novel.  Personally, I prefer his verse books because they get across more emotion.  Don't get me wrong this book was still warm and touching just not as powerful.  However, the slight lack of emotion is made up for by the dialogue that is full of humor.  I loved the conversations that Darcy had in this book with various characters but especially Audrey.

'You say like to say the first thing that comes into your head, don't you, Darcy?'
'Not if I can help it.'
Audrey looks reproachfully at me.
I nod, 'Yeah, I can't help myself.'
'Have you ever played "word association"?  You'd be an expert.'
'Is that where someone says a word and I say "sex" back?'

The romance between Darcy and Audrey is tender, amusing and realistic.  Herrick captures how awkward yet sweet young love can be.

Overall, if you are looking for a smart and funny coming of age story this might be for you.

Overall rating: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Romance: 4/5
Cover: 5/5

Recommend for fans of : Six Impossible Things by Fiona Wood, Beatle Meets Destiny by Gabrielle Williams.

For more info: Steven Herrick's website.

Note:  This is an Australian title.  Slice is not available internationally yet on The Book Depository (it says out of stock).  Herrick does however sell his books signed directly on his website.