Sunday, July 21, 2013

New Books On My Shelf #67

Here's what I got in the past few weeks. Some books I've already, THE SOUND being my favourite. Others like TEN or DANGEROUS GIRLS are reserved for my vacation in August. What did you get in the past week? Feel free to link to your posts in the comments. 



Ten by Gretchen McNeil (Bought - Kindle)
Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendra Blake (Bought - Kindle)
The Maze Runner by James Dashner (Bought - Kindle)


Infinityglass by Myra McEntire (Read - Netgalley)
Letters to Nowhere by Julie Cross (Read - Author) 




For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund (Bought)
Everbound by Brodi Ashton (Bought)
Timepiece by Myra McEntire (Read - Bought)



The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey (Won - Thank you Tammy @The Book Fairy's Haven!)
Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas (Bought)
The Sound by Sarah Alderson (Read - For Review - Thanks to Simon & Schuster UK!)

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Teaser: The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler

The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler

"We left the barn and walked toward his motorcycle, parked next to Papi's old truck, and Emilio grinned. "You'll be seein' a lot of this pretty face around here."
"How is that good news?"
He took a step closer and stared me down, unblinking, and my stomach flip-flopped.
"Jude, I never thought I'd feel this way, but..." He held his hand over his heart. "I think I'm in love..."
His eyes drilled right through me, and my breath hitched as he licked his lips and leaned in close...
"With empanadas," he whispered. "

― p. 51 - 52

Book Review: Truly, Madly, Deadly by Hannah Jayne


Title: Truly, Madly, Deadly
Author: Hannah Jayne
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Publishing Date: July 2nd 2013
Length: 272 pages
Keywords: YA, fiction, thriller, murder, stalking, romance
Source: Netgalley

Sawyer Dodd has it all. She's a star track athlete, choir soloist, and A-student. And her boyfriend is the handsome all-star Kevin Anderson. But behind the medals, prom pictures, and perfect smiles, Sawyer finds herself trapped in a controlling, abusive relationship with Kevin. When he dies in a drunk-driving accident, Sawyer is secretly relieved. She's free. Until she opens her locker and finds a mysterious letter signed by "an admirer" and printed with two simple words: "You're welcome."

Summary by Goodreads  






"You're welcome". Simple words of complaisant nature. But what if they were to be connected to a car accident that killed a student? Sawyer Dodd was the girlfriend of said student and she is the one who receives a note with exactly those words on it. That's what got me promptly hooked on the story of TRULY, MADLY, DEADLY. Seemingly friendly intentions and gestures lead to misjudgements and even murder. It's pretty creepy and instant-goosebumps inducing that the lines between right, wrong, imagination and reality can blur and be manipulated to such fatal extents.
After the first, the killer keeps sending notes, and every time Sawyer found a new one chills ran down my spine. Some even  made me laugh, they were just so plain impudent.

TRULY, MADLY, DEADLY is set in a small town. Don't you think they are the best for a good killing spree to be set? 
Stories like Sawyer's always make me feel like space in town is narrowing down with every scary incident. Even Sawyer's own home doesn't feel safe anymore. It's the never-knowing, always wondering what or who's lurking in the shadows that drives up your adrenaline and demands a certain level of fright and alertness.
Unlike other killers this one only means to be helpful and do good. The person is fixed on eliminating people who could mean harm to Sawyer. This killer scared me very much, because he's killing out of love which is one of the strongest pulls to commit a crime. He is obsessive and uncontrollable in his stalker behavior and it's no wonder that you suspect everyone who's seen around Sawyer at some point in the story.

After Kevin's accident everyone expects Sawyer to mourn the death of her perfect relationship and her popular and caring boyfriend. She's doing her best to pretend, to look hurt on the outside. Secretly she's relieved she's found a way out of their relationship. What started as something innocent and good had long turned into something unhealthy for Sawyer who more often posed as Kevin's punching bag. Knowing that background info Sawyer's story certainly gains a new stage of graveness. But for my taste there wasn't enough emphasis on Kevin's abusive behavior and I would have wanted to know more about Sawyer's past. 

All the elements for a well-written thriller YA are there (and that's what mainly counts), it are just the sometimes missing depth of detail and lacking focus on romantic aspects that could have been improved. Even when I pick up a YA book knowing it's a thriller I can't resist to expect a great love story hidden between all the action, so I would have been perfectly content with a few more detailed scenes about Sawyer's new romance.






1) of an always-being-watched feeling à la Pretty Little Liars
2) of a pretty disturbing admirer and his humorous notes
3) of a great adrenaline rush
4) of a hero with perfect timing
5) its fast paced writing enables you to fly through the story






4/5 **** TRULY, MADLY, DEADLY - Admirer turned stalker turned killer. An intense and menacingly good YA thriller debut!

When I saw TRULY, MADLY, DEADLY on Netgalley I somehow assumed it was Hannah Jayne's debut novel until I discovered that she had written another series which is urban fantasy. Her writing shows that she isn't new to the business. And even though I always preferred thrillers with mystery or fantastical elements strewn into the story, TRULY, MADLY, DEADLY is in no way inferior to them.
There will be two more YA trhillers set in Sawyer's neighborhood and I'll make sure to put both on top of my wishlist.






* Can't get enough? Then you should put SEE JANE RUN (coming out Jan 2014) on your wishlist!

* Click here to read an excerpt of TRULY MADLY DEADLY.

* For further information about Hannah Jayne and her books visit www.hannah-jayne.com

* Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the chance to review TRULY MADLY DEADLY!



Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Book Review: Famous Last Words by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski


Title: Famous Last Words
Author: Jennifer Salvato Doktorski
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Publishing Date: July 2nd 2013
Length: 288 pages
Keywords: YA, fiction, contemporary, romance, friendship, newspaper, internship
Source: Publisher

Sixteen-year-old Samantha D’Angelo has death on the brain. Her summer internship at the local newspaper has her writing obituaries instead of soaking up the sun at the beach. Between Shelby, Sam’s boy-crazy best friend; her boss Harry, a true-blue newspaper man; and AJ, her fellow “intern scum” (aka the cute drummer for a band called Love Gas), Sam has her hands full. But once she figures out what—or who—is the best part of her summer, will she mess it all up?

As Sam learns her way around both the news room and the real world, she starts to make some momentous realizations about politics, ethics, her family, romance, and most important—herself.

Summary by Goodreads 






FAMOUS LAST WORDS is set over the course of one summer, my favourite time for YA contemporaries to be set. Samantha D'Angelo is sixteen and interning at her local newspaper, The Herald Tribune. We get to follow Sam from week one on her journey from obituary writer to investigative journalist star. This is her chance to live her dream and write the story of her life even if she doesn't know it yet.
   Sam's story is much about personal development and growth. Writing obituaries proves to be not as bad as she thought. Her work at the local newspaper is teaching her to be more open and curious, also to stand up for herself.
   Obits are not just some random collections about boring facts that have to be said about people who passed way. They are each a new chance to tell stories about lives, about people who affected us. FAMOUS LAST WORDS is about learning to appreciate every person, their varied lifestyles and knowing that every person's life can be special in its very own way.

The busy newsroom buzz immediately gets into your bloodstream, injecting you with that curious and restless energy that seems to be appertain to journalists. Readers will be offered a fabulous chance to spend time in a newsroom, learn more about publishing and the dynamics of its internal and external relations. You'll also be supplied with a dubious case that should make a brand new sensational story for the newspaper, newsroom jargon included. Get ready for a meeting with the The Herald Tribune's team. Hard shell, yet always encouraging boss Harry, busy detective type Michael, ally Meg, snappy editor Bernie, always friendly intern AJ, and of course immediate crush material Tony.
   Unsurprisingly Sam's focus is all set on features intern Tony. But what about fellow intern AJ, the sweet and supportive guy at her side?
     I totally wouldn't mind a sequel to FAMOUS LAST WORDS to see where Sam's writing skills take her and what's her life like on the romantic side. Her love story was like one big research task and sadly it took her some time- too much- to see the important facts that would help her find happiness.

Jenniver Salvato Doktorski puts great emphasis on family and friendship. Sam's parents and her best friend Shelby are always there for her. Sticking together, caring about the other, worrying, setting boundaries, but also giving room for your own decisions and experiences.
Relationships in FAMOUS LAST WORDS might not be as complicated as in other current YA contemps, but it's a definite upbeat and feel-good read. 





1) of the best playlist ever
2) internships can be fun 
3) of its energetic newspaper vibe
4) armadillos explain everything
5) of strong family ties






4/5 **** FAMOUS LAST WORDS - Noteworthy YA news! A light-hearted and endearing story that should be next on your summer reading list.

The The Herald Tribune's newsroom is where you'll be wanting to spend your summer. See how stories are made, intrigues spun and what a sixteen-year-old intern is doing at the obit desk. There's so much motivation and energy buzzing through the newsroom that you can't but feel welcome to take a look behind the scenes of publishing. 
All together, newspaper development and romance parts, the story comes along a bit too predictable. Nevertheless it's still a lot of fun and a YA contemp I'd always recommend as a light and cute summer read.







* Check out Jennifer's debut, HOW MY SUMMER WENT UP IN FLAMES!

* Read an excerpt of FAMOUS LAST WORDS

* Jennifer arranged an interview for Sam and Rosie. Want to read it? Click here.

* Click here for the FAMOUS LAST WORDS playlist. 

* For further information about Jennifer Salvato Doktorski and her books visit www.jendoktorski.com

* Thanks to Jennifer Salvato Doktorski, Christy Ottaviano and Henry Holt for sending me a copy of FAMOUS LAST WORDS for review!

Monday, July 1, 2013

Giveaway: Infinityglass by Myra McEntire

Fans of Myra McEntire's HOURGLASS series should get excited now! In a bit over a month INFINITYGLASS, the third book in Myra's trilogy will be released by Egmont USA and I am very happy about the chance to offer you a copy of INFINITYGLASS + an INFINITYGLASS poster. Thanks to Egmont USA and Karen at Media Masters Publicity!


About INFINITYGLASS (Egmont USA, August 6, 2013)

The stakes have risen even higher in this third book in the Hourglass series.

The Hourglass is a secret organization focused on the study of manipulating time, and its members — many of them teenagers -­have uncanny abilities to make time work for them in mysterious ways. Inherent in these powers is a responsibility to take great care, because altering one small moment can have devastating consequences for the past, present, and future. But some time trav­elers are not exactly honorable, and sometimes unsavory deals must be struck to maintain order.

With the Infinityglass (central to understanding and harnessing the time gene) at large, the hunt is on to find it before someone else does.

But the Hourglass has an advantage. Lily, who has the ability to locate anything lost, has determined that the Infinityglass isn't an object. It's a person. And the Hourglass must find him or her first. But where do you start searching for the very key to time when every second could be the last?


About Myra McEntire

Myra McEntire has had her nose in a book since she could hold one. She was once caught reading in the shower (true story) and only stopped when her father disconnected the hot water heater. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband and two boys. 

You can visit her online at www.myramcentire.com or follow her on twitter at @MyraMcEntire




a Rafflecopter giveaway

* You enter for a chance to win one copy of INFINITYGLASS and an INFINITYGLASS poster
* US only
* The giveaway starts on July 1st and will end on July 31st
* Enter the rafflecopter form!
* Good luck :)