Showing posts with label Joss Stirling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Joss Stirling. Show all posts

Wednesday, 28 September 2016

Review: Angel Dares - Joss Stirling

Angel is impulsive.
Disguising her savant ability to control water doesn't come easily to her.

Then she meets the broodingly handsome Marcus at a music festival where they're both performing, and finds herself all at sea. For when he sings, her soul answers with its own music.

Like the tide, their mutual attraction cannot be held back but Marcus's mistrust of Angel's gift is even stronger. How can they ever be together if Marcus is unable to accept who Angel is or what they could mean to each other?

And with the net closing in on the Savant community - it is time for everyone to choose a side.

Savants Series:
Finding Sky
Challenging Zed (Free Short Story)
Stealing Phoenix
Burning Yves (Free Short Story)
Seeking Crystal
Misty Falls
Angel Dares
Summer Shadows

Check out Joss Stirling's website for more information

Review:
This series is a bit of a comfort read for me, the books are all cute, funny and incredibly easy to read and they're perfect palette cleansers when I'm in the mood to read something light hearted. I love the concept of the Savants, for anyone new to the series Savants are people born with some kind of psychic ability, they all have completely different powers so you never know quite what idea the author will come up with next so it's always interesting to see how each of the characters abilities work.

Angel Dares is a perfect summer read since most of it takes place at a music festival. We met Angel in the previous book so this story gives us a chance to catch up with previous couple Misty and Alex as well as some of the other Benedict brothers that we've all fallen in love with along the way. Angel is a talented musician and singer and along with her band she's at the music festival hoping to land her big break, the last thing she expects is to stumble across her soulfinder. Angel is a little wild and very impulsive which has a tendency to get her in trouble, her Savant powers allow her to control water which makes for a fancy party trick but she has to work very hard to keep her secret because using her ability is second nature to her and she has a habit of using it as a way to calm down when she's nervous. Marcus is her complete opposite in most ways, he's also a talented musician but he's part of an already successful group and they're headlining the festival. He is much more serious than Angel and doesn't really know what to make of her, it really doesn't help that he knows nothing about the Savant community either he doesn't even know that he has an ability so the whole thing comes as quite a shock to him, especially when Angel starts talking about Soulfinders and communicating with him telepathically.

I loved Angel, she was so much fun and she's definitely the kind of girl you'd want to be friends with. Marcus is harder to like and at times he really annoyed me because of the way he treated Angel. I get that she threw him for a loop and he was struggling to know how to react to her but let's face it he was a bit of an arse at times and there were moments when I found it hard to root for them as a couple. No matter how much he irritated me one minute he did have some incredibly sweet moments and the more you find out about him the easier it is to understand where he's coming from, I wish he'd come around just a little sooner (and I could have done without one particular event towards the very end of the book) but it all worked out in the long run so I've forgiven him now.

I love that there is always some kind of mystery or extra element to these stories alongside the romance and it looks like the Savants are now facing an enemy who is determined to get evidence of their powers and expose them to the general public. I'm not going to go into more detail for now but I will be very interested to see how that continues to play out throughout the series. I also love that we're getting to see the older Benedict brothers find their soulfinders throughout the series, I get that they're a little old to be main characters in a YA series (although I really would have loved separate books about each of them!) but this is a nice way to tie all of the stories together. It's Will's turn to fall in love in Angel Dares and I'm really hoping Victor will be up next as he's always been my favourite! The main character of the next book, Summer, is best friends with both Angel and Misty so I'm sure we'll be seeing more of them and I'm hoping with the introduction of a new group of Savant characters means that the series might continue on beyond Summer Shadows.

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle:

Review: Burning Yves - Joss Stirling

In this FREE explosive short story, discover what Yves Benedict was thinking when he met his soulmate Phoenix for the first time.The Benedict brothers all have different abilities and powers. One can move things with his thoughts alone, another can heal. Yves Benedict is the second youngest of the seven brothers and he has the ability to set things on fire with his mind. This means he must keep a tight rein on his emotions which isn’t easy when he meets his soulmate . . . Phoenix is nothing like Yves imagined. She’s secretive, elusive and a thief. Yves lives by a strict code of honour and Phoenix is tangled up in a web of crime. But their fiery attraction cannot be denied.  Sparks will fly as their destinies and hearts collide.  A brilliant addition to the Finding Sky series for both new and old fans alike.

Savants Series:
Finding Sky
Challenging Zed (Free Short Story)
Stealing Phoenix
Burning Yves (Free Short Story)
Seeking Crystal
Misty Falls
Angel Dares
Summer Shadows

Check out Joss Stirling's website for more information

Review:
Burning Yves is the second of Joss Stirling's free short stories in the Savants series and it gives us a second chance to see the first meeting between Yves and Phoenix but this time from his point of view. Again I'd recommend reading the short story after the main book (Stealing Phoenix) so you're familiar with the characters.

The story starts a little before the beginning of the first book and it's nice to get a chance to see inside geeky Benedict brother Yves' head. He's not as confident as the rest of his brothers and feels a little like the odd one out but he's also extremely intelligent and loves to learn. His first meeting with Phoenix doesn't exactly go to plan since she attempts to rob him but he's surprisingly protective of the would be thief.

I don't think I enjoyed this one quite as much as Challenging Zed but it was still a fun, quick read and I'm sure fans of the series will enjoy eat up any chance to spend more time with the Benedicts!

Source: Free ebook short story can be downloaded from Amazon

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Kindle:

Review: Challenging Zed - Joss Stirling

Want to know what Zed Benedict was thinking when he met his soulmate Sky Bright for the first time? Find out for FREE in this compelling short story.

The Benedict brothers all have different abilities and powers. One can move things with his mind, another can heal. Zed Benedict is the youngest and the most powerful of the seven brothers and he is on the road to destruction until he meets his soulmate, Sky Bright. She is his balance, the light to his dark. Together they are even more powerful. Zed knows that they are meant to be together and that there is a connection that cannot be denied. But how can he convince Sky that their destinies are entwined when she doesn’t even realize the true nature of her potential? A brilliant addition to the Finding Sky series for both new and old fans alike.

Savants Series:
Finding Sky
Challenging Zed (Free Short Story)
Stealing Phoenix
Burning Yves (Free Short Story)
Seeking Crystal
Misty Falls
Angel Dares
Summer Shadows

Check out Joss Stirling's website for more information

Review:
Challenging Zed is a free short story written by Joss Stirling that links in with her Savants series. It gives us the chance to see Zed and Sky's first meeting from his point of view and also gives a bit more insight into the Benedict family when the brothers were all much younger.

Although this could be read as an introduction to the series I think you'd be much better off picking it up after you've read Finding Sky so you're already familiar with both the characters and the world. I really enjoyed the chance to get inside Zed's head and see exactly what he was thinking in the early days when he first met Sky, he runs a bit hot and cold with her in the beginning and this really helped to explain his actions.

I would have loved for this story to be longer but considering it's completely free to read I'm not going to be ungrateful and complain about that. If you're a fan of the series then you'll definitely enjoy this & I'm looking forward to reading the second free short story Burning Yves.

Source: Free ebook short story can be downloaded from Amazon

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Kindle:

Monday, 23 May 2016

Review: Shaken - Joss Stirling

In Manhattan, New York, there is a girl with a secret.

That girl is Rose Knight. She needs to raise millions of dollars to save her father's life by any means necessary.

The arrogant and suave Damien Castle is good at uncovering secrets. He's even better at catching criminals.

When Damien meets Rose he knows she's trouble. It isn't her terrible dress sense that drives him to distraction, or even her obsession with Egyptology. It's the fact that he has never felt this way about a girl before.

But when duty and love are both on the line, which one will Damien choose?

Young Detective Agency Series:
Storm and Stone (now re-released as Struck)
Stung
Shaken

Check out Joss Stirling's website for more information

Review:
Life isn't easy for Rose, she's only 16 but she's also the only person in her family that is even slightly responsible when it comes to money and she's definitely the only one who doesn't dabble in illegal activities. For months her father has been held hostage by criminals he owes money too and Rose is being blackmailed into paying a ransom fee for his safety. It's a good job she's extremely intelligent and has a knack for playing the stock market but that is only going to get her so far and things are about to get a whole lot worse. Damien is visiting fellow member of the YDA Joe and his family in New York when he meets their kooky next door neighbour Rose. Rose intrigues him but he can tell she's keeping secrets and it's not long before the boys start meddling in Rose's business trying to find out exactly what is going on. When things quickly go downhill Damien is determined to help Rose solve her problems but will she be willing to trust him when he already betrayed her once by sticking his nose in where it wasn't wanted?

I love Joss Stirling's books, they're always such fun and quick reads and a brilliant way to keep myself entertained for a few hours. You do have to suspend believe a little (what 16 year old would really be capable of raising millions of dollars in just a couple of weeks by buying and selling shares on the stock market?) but as long as you can just go with the flow and have fun with it I'm sure you'll enjoy these books. I love the idea of the Young Detective Agency, it's a school for teens that aims to teach them everything they need to know to go into a future career with law enforcement so it's at least somewhat believable that the students would be good at problem solving and investigations.

Damien is a character we've seen in the previous books and he's always been fun but definitely not a boy who is looking for a serious girlfriend. He's actually quite horrified that two of his best friends are now in a relationship and he makes a big point of telling Joe that he's planning on playing the field for a while longer. Of course everything changes when he meets Rose, she's nothing like the girls he normally goes for and he finds her all the more fascinating because of it. Rose is incredibly smart but not so good with people, she spends so much of her time looking after her father and brother and holding the home together that she doesn't have much left for anything other than studying so her social life is nonexistent. She would love to fit in but she just doesn't have the same interests as most of the people in her class and she's so focused on passing her exams and heading off to uni that she lets everything else pass her by. Damien pulls her out of her comfort zone a little which is really good for her, he finds her social awkwardness endearing but he won't let her hide away from the world. They actually fit together surprisingly well and I enjoyed seeing the friendship build between them.

There is plenty of action in the story, Rose is determined to do things her own way and although she does make a couple of really silly decisions they were forgivable because of her age. She wants to solve her family's problems and she has a dangerous plan but I had to admire the way she was so determined to do the right thing even when it meant putting herself in harm's way. Damien makes a couple of mistakes too but he steps up when she really needs him and that's the most important thing. I also enjoyed getting to know Joe a bit better so I'm really hoping he's going to be getting his own book too.

Source: Received from Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle:

Monday, 2 March 2015

Winners: Stung - Joss Stirling


I have some winners to announce today with the help of Rafflecopter and you have all won a copy of Stung by Joss Stirling!

Without further ado I'm happy to announce that the winners are:

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Congratulations to you all! I have sent you an email asking for your addresses and you now have 1 week to respond with your address or a new winner/s will be chosen. Your prize will be sent out directly by my contact Oxford University Press so you'll need to give me permission to pass your details to her so she can send the prize.

Thanks so much to Oxford University Press for sponsoring this giveaway & thanks to everyone who entered. I'm sorry if you didn't win but I'll have more giveaways coming up soon so make sure you check back for another chance to win prizes.

Wednesday, 18 February 2015

Review: Stung - Joss Stirling (+ UK Giveaway)

Sixteen-year-old Kate has a talent for disappearing. Framed for murder, and hunted by a violent gang, she's running for her life . . .

Nathan is the young recruit tasked with finding Kate before her enemies track her down. He's determined to stay detached no matter what. But when Nathan and Kate's paths collide, neither is prepared for the electricity that sparks between them.

As the net tightens, can they trust each other long enough to stay alive?

Or will their next kiss be their last?

Young Detective Agency Series:
Storm and Stone (now re-released as Struck)
Stung
Shaken

Check out Joss Stirling's website for more information

Review:
As a member of the Young Detective Agency Kate was sent to Indonesia on a mission to infiltrate the Scorpion gang and help put a stop to their human trafficking operation. She was betrayed by her partner though and is now being hunted by dangerous criminals. The YDA have been trying to find Kate since she disappeared a year ago and now that there are rumours she has returned to England Nathan and his team are sent to bring her back to safety. Kate has good reason to believe that there is a mole in the YDA though and she fears going back will be the death of her. Can Nathan convince Kate to trust him and can he keep her safe while he tries to figure out who has betrayed them?

I'm a huge fan of Joss Stirling, I love her Savant's series and I really enjoyed the first YDA book Struck (originally released as Storm and Stone) so I was very excited to get my hands on a copy of Stung and couldn't wait to read it. The story is just as action packed as you'd expect and I loved the mystery and trying to uncover who was working for the Scorpions. I also enjoyed learning about Kate's original mission and how she had been conned by both the gang and her YDA partner which lead to her giving away critical information unwittingly.

Kate has been through a lot and she hates herself for what happened, she also finds it very hard to trust anyone and has has spent a whole year living moment to moment trying to stay one step ahead of the gang. After the betrayal by her friend and partner Tina it's completely understandable why she didn't turn to the YDA for help and why she is so reluctant to trust Nathan now. Nathan is a great character too, he is charming, smart and protective of both the YDA and of Kate and I enjoyed seeing him slowly putting everything together. It was great to catch up with the other members of the YDA too, I loved Raven and Kieran in the first book and it was nice to see how they're getting on as well as getting to know some of the other team members who I'm assuming will get stories of their own further down the line.

Where Stung fell down a bit for me was with the romance. Although I really liked both characters individually and even felt that they made a good couple I thought the romance a bit too rushed considering the circumstances. They pretty much fell straight into a relationship which I didn't find believable because of Kate's trust issues. I get that they knew each other before everything went wrong for her but at the same time she had already been badly hurt by friends and I think she would have needed more time to be sure that Nate was one of the good guys. The romance didn't spoil my enjoyment of the story but I think it would have been so much better if it had been a slow burner.

Stung is still a great read though and one I'd definitely recommend to anyone who enjoyed the first book in the series. There is plenty of action along with a great mystery and I'm sure Joss Stirling fans will enjoy it.

Source: Received from Oxford University Press in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle:



Giveaway Details:

Thanks to the lovely people at Oxford University Press I have 3 copies of Stung to giveaway to some of my UK followers.
    Giveaway terms & conditions:
    • Giveaway is open to UK residents only and closes on the 28th of February at 23:59 GMT
    • You can enter using the Rafflecopter form below, THREE winners will be chosen at random and contacted soon after the giveaway ends for their contact information.
    • The prizes will be sent out directly by Oxford University Press so you must give me permission to share your address if you wish to receive your prize.
    • You will have 1 week to respond to my email or new winners will be chosen

    a Rafflecopter giveaway

    Monday, 13 October 2014

    Review: Misty Falls - Joss Stirling

    Fall for the lie . . . then unravel the truth.

    Misty is a one-girl disaster zone. Born with a Savant 'gift' that means she can never tell a lie, her compulsive truth-telling gets her into trouble wherever she goes.

    So when she meets Alex: gorgeous, confident, and impossibly charming, Misty instantly resolves to keep her distance . . . Someone so perfect could never be hers, surely?

    But a dark shadow has fallen across the Savant community. A serial killer is stalking young people who have these special mental powers. Soon one of them will be taken to the edge of death . . . and beyond.

    Savants Series:
    Finding Sky
    Challenging Zed (Free Short Story)
    Stealing Phoenix
    Burning Yves (Free Short Story)
    Seeking Crystal
    Misty Falls
    Angel Dares
    Summer Shadows

    Check out Joss Stirling's website for more information

    Review:
    I love Joss Stirling's Savants series and was excited when I found out she was planning another three books set in the same world. I'll admit I was a little disappointed when I realised that the hero of Misty Falls wasn't one of the Benedict brothers though, I've become so invested in the family and was worried that things wouldn't be the same without them. Thankfully my fears were over nothing because although the Benedicts aren't the main characters here we still see plenty of the previous couples and we even get to see Uriel meeting his soulfinder! I'm actually quite glad that we're getting new characters and families introduced because I think it's going to give the series some fresh blood so to speak.

    I can't remember if we met Misty in the previous books but she is Crystal's niece and because of that family connection she is friends with most of the characters we've already met. The story sees Misty travel to South Africa for the summer to visit family and she is travelling with Uriel because he is going to search for his soulfinder who he knows is in Cape Town thanks to Crystal's Savant ability. Misty has a very interesting Savant ability that means she is incapable of lying, she can't even tell a white lie to spare a friend's feelings and she always knows if people aren't telling her the truth. If she doesn't keep a tight reign on her ability people around her will find themselves suddenly blurting out their secrets and the things they most desperately want to keep hidden and I'm sure you can imagine what kind of trouble that gets her into. Misty is a fantastic character and she was constantly saying or doing things that were hilarious, she would try so hard not to hurt people's feelings but she had no choice in the matter and I laughed a lot at the things she ended up blurting out almost against her will.

    When she meets Alex it is pretty much hate at first sight on his part, his ability allows him to charm anyone he talks to but because Misty forces him to be honest it reacts badly with his powers and he suddenly finds he isn't able to talk people around to his way of thinking. Misty doesn't really understand why Alex seems so dead set against her but she's also convinced that he would never look twice at someone as socially inept as she is. I enjoyed the antagonism between the two characters but was pleased when they finally figured out what was really going on. Because of the whole soulfinder thing the characters in this series do tend to fall in love very quickly but although I normally hate insta-love for some reason it's never bothered me in these books. I just have so much fun reading them that I don't mind how quickly things happen.

    I don't want to say too much about the rest of the plot but there is a lot more to this story than a romance. Uriel may be searching for his soulfinder but he is also investigating a serial killer who is targeting savant teenagers. Misty inadvertently catches the attention of the murderer and it becomes a race against time to see whether she will be his next victim. The mystery was good, the story moves at a fast pace and Misty Falls was a very quick, light hearted and funny read. I loved getting to meet a whole new bunch of Savant characters and learning about all kinds of different abilities they had. I have a feeling that Misty's two best friends may end up being the future heroines in the rest of the series but I hope we get to see more of Misty's cousins and I'm sure the Benedict's will all be there on the sidelines.

    Source: Received from OUP in exchange for an honest review

    Other Reviews:
    If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

    Paperback / Kindle:

    Tuesday, 11 February 2014

    Review: Storm and Stone - Joss Stirling (Now re-released as Struck)

    Original Cover and Title
    High school can be deadly . . .

    Behind the ivy-clad walls of an exclusive boarding school, lurks a sinister web of corruption, scandal, and conspiracy.

    American student Raven Stone has noticed something is horribly wrong. First there were the unexplained disappearances. Then there were the teachers’ lies. And now the death threats . . .

    Also entangled in the disturbing turn of events is the enigmatic Kieran Storm – a fellow student with a killer intellect and a body to die for. He’s heading for trouble and taking her with him. Raven can feel herself falling in love, but can she trust a boy she knows almost nothing about?

    Young Detective Agency Series:
    Storm and Stone (now re-released as Struck)
    Stung
    Shaken

    Check out Joss Stirling's website for more information

    Review:
    As a huge fan of Joss Stirling's Benedict Brothers of course I jumped at the chance of reading her latest novel Storm and Stone. I'll tell you straight away that this is completely separate to her other series and the story has no paranormal elements but that doesn't mean it isn't a fabulous read and it's one I really enjoyed. I'm not sure if this is a stand alone story or the start of a new series but I'm really hoping that we're going to get to revisit these characters in the future, there is definitely plenty of scope for stories about this duo so I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

    Storm and Stone is set in an exclusive English boarding school, one that caters to the children of the extremely wealthy and somewhere that students are supposed to make connections that will help them throughout their lives. Raven isn't from a well off family though, she is a scholarship student who has been allowed to attend the school because her grandfather is the school caretaker as well as her guardian. Raven has had it tough in the last few years, not only has she lost both of her parents but she was bullied badly at her last school and she just wants to find a place where she fits in. Things at Westron haven't been too bad, some of the kids may look down on her but she has a good friend Gina and the others tend to leave her alone. Well, they always did in the past but since the beginning of term things have become decidedly more difficult. Gina hasn't returned after the holidays so Raven is alone and she's facing accusations that she is a thief, Raven has obviously been set up but she has no idea why people have turned against her so suddenly.

    The only people still taking to Raven are the new boys Kieran and Joe who seem willing to look past the rumours and see the truth. They not only believe Raven but also stand up for her against the others but it doesn't seem to make much of a difference, especially when Gina returns and acts nothing like the girl that Raven was friends with. Kieran and Joe seem to be on Raven's side but she knows they are keeping secrets from her and it makes it hard for her to trust them completely. But what are the boys hiding and why have they joined the school so late in the year?

    I really liked Raven's character, she suffers from horrendous bullying that would break most people but she holds her head up high and refuses to let the bullies see how much she is hurting. Inside she is vulnerable and in pain but she has such a tough outer shell and appears to let things bounce off without effecting her. Kieran was fabulous too, he reminded me of a teenage mixture of Sherlock and Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory - he's supremely intelligent but completely clueless when it comes to social situations. The friendship between Kieran and Joe was great, Joe is much more relaxed and is an expert at making friends and fitting in something that Kieran struggles with, but together they make a great team. I loved how they both took such good care of Raven, they were annoyed with the way the others were treating her and determined to help her prove her innocence. The romance that develops between Raven and Kieran didn't feel rushed and I liked the fact that they became friends before anything else.

    This story has a great underlying mystery but I don't want to say too much about that for fear of giving spoilers. My only complaint was that we didn't really get to see justice for Raven after one particularly horrible bullying incident - I wanted to see the culprits caught and made to pay for what they did but their actions were kind of lost within everything else that happened at the end of the book. The story definitely feels like a set up for the beginning of a series, again I can't say too much about why I think that without giving spoilers so I'll settle for saying that I'll be the first in the queue to buy any more books that Joss Stirling does write about these characters. If you enjoyed this author's other books then I'd definitely recommend giving this one a try, it doesn't focus quite as heavily on the romance as her Savants books do but what we get is well written and believable and I have high hopes for Raven and Kieran if we are given more books about them.

    Source: Received from Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review

    Other Reviews:
    If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

    New Cover and Title
    Paperback / Kindle:

    Wednesday, 12 December 2012

    Review: Seeking Crystal - Joss Stirling

    Crystal Brook has always been the dud Savant in her family; paranormal powers just aren't her thing. Dropping out of school with a clutch of 'E' grades and no future, she lives in the shadow of her high-flying sister Diamond.

    On a trip to Denver, a chance encounter with the dashing Benedict brothers leaves Diamond head over heels in love and engaged to be married. Crystal, on the other hand, is unimpressed by their charms . . . in fact no boy can annoy her as much as Xav Benedict!

    Back in Venice, their families assemble for Diamond's wedding and a powerful enemy seizes the opportunity to attack. Crystal and Xav must join forces to save their loved-ones, unlocking a secret that, until now, has lain deeply buried . . .

    Savants Series:
    Finding Sky
    Challenging Zed (Free Short Story)
    Stealing Phoenix
    Burning Yves (Free Short Story)
    Seeking Crystal
    Misty Falls
    Angel Dares
    Summer Shadows

    Check out Joss Stirling's website for more information

    Review:
    Crystal comes from a large family of Savants but she has always felt like a failure compared to her brothers and sisters, she is the only one who isn't able to communicate telepathically and she has the most useless Savant ability ever. The only thing she is any good at is finding things that people have lost - so she's the person who her family turn to when they lose their car keys but not for much else. Crystal has travelled to Denver with her sister Diamond for a conference arranged by the Benedicts and it is there that Diamond immediately recognises Trace as her Soulfinder and the couple are quickly engaged to be married. Back at their home in Venice Crystal is in charge of organising Diamond's hen party and she is in competition with Trace's brother Xav for who can come up with the best night out. Xav and Crystal have taken an instant dislike for each other but when the family come under attack and several of the Soulfinders are taken hostage it is up to the two of them to figure out how to save the others.

    I'm a massive fan of this series so have been looking forward to reading Seeking Crystal for ages now and I'm pleased to say that it was everything I hoped it would be. Fans of the series are sure to enjoy this instalment just as much as the previous ones and I'm really hoping that this isn't the last we have seen of the Benedicts - please someone tell me there will be another book! The romance between Diamond and Trace does move incredibly quickly but as they aren't the main characters for this book I felt that was understandable. Especially when you consider that they are both much older than Crystal and Xav so have been waiting a long time for their Soulfinder to come along, knowing full well that they might never find them. It made sense to me that they would accept their relationship much faster, they are both confident in who and what they are and are delighted to find the missing piece of themselves.

    Crystal wasn't always the easiest character to like, at times she could be very childish and I got frustrated with her and the temper tantrums she threw but at the same time I could understand why she was so upset. She has spent her whole life feeling like she is useless and when she finally finds something that she thinks she could be good at her family are completely against the idea. I did feel that Diamond and Trace could have done a much better job of explaining to her why modelling wasn't such a great idea but she worked it out for herself eventually. When things start to go wrong and Diamond and other family members disappear Crystal really does step up to the plate and show how strong she can be. I loved the developments with her abilities and think that will add a really interesting element to any future books we might see.

    I really liked Xav, he could be cocky and arrogant but he often tended to put on an act and deep down he was a really nice guy. He knew how to push Crystal's buttons and went out of his way to irritate her but that was just his way of teasing the newest member of his family. It was obvious from the beginning that they were attracted to each other but not believing they were Soulfinders meant there was no point in pursuing things further. Xav's power as a healer makes him very protective of everyone around him, he wants to be able to keep everyone safe and finds it distressing that he was unable to stop his family members being hurt. I really loved the banter between Xav and Crystal, the way they constantly snipped at each other was fun to watch but they grew to respect each other when they started working together.

    I loved the Venice setting for this story, the previous books were set in Denver and London so it was nice to visit somewhere different. I've never been to Venice (it's somewhere I always wanted to go) but the descriptions were so well done that it really felt like I was there and I was able to picture things very clearly. I have to say that the plot of Seeking Crystal was the best of the series so far, the story was fast paced, action packed and included some great new side characters. We also got to see some of the previous characters which was nice although the circumstances didn't allow us to catch up with the girls as much as I would have liked. I loved getting to see the Benedict boys all working so well together though, they certainly prove themselves a force to be reckoned with! I'd definitely recommend this series to fans of YA paranormal romance, I think you could probably get away with reading this as a standalone novel but personally I think the series works much better if you read them in order. If you've not already read Finding Sky and Stealing Phoenix then you really don't know what you're missing.

    Source: Received from OUP in exchange for an honest review

    Other Reviews:
    If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

    Paperback / Kindle:

    Saturday, 24 September 2011

    Review: Stealing Phoenix - Joss Stirling

    What do you do when your soulmate turns out to be a thief?

    Steal her, of course.

    Phoenix was raised within the Community, a gang of thieves with paranormal powers, under the control of a harsh master known as the Seer. The notion that there's a soulmate out there for every person with a paranormal gift is mere myth in Phoenix's world. That is until the Seer gives Phoenix the details of her next target, Yves Benedict.

    He's more than just her next victim, he is her destiny. To be together, Phoenix must break away from the Community but resistance against the Seer puts them both in mortal danger. Phoenix has never trusted anyone before, now it's time to trust Yves with her life.

    Savants Series:
    Finding Sky
    Challenging Zed (Free Short Story)
    Stealing Phoenix
    Burning Yves (Free Short Story)
    Seeking Crystal
    Misty Falls
    Angel Dares
    Summer Shadows

    Check out Joss Stirling's website for more information

    Review:
    Phoenix (Phee) has been bought up in a community of savants who are all controlled by the Seer.  He has strong powers of mind control and has instilled fear into the entire community, if they don't do what he tells them too then there will be severe consequences.  Phee is often sent out to steal for the Seer and has to bring back whatever he requests but when she is asked to steal from Yves things don't quite go to plan.  When Yves realises that Phee is his soulfinder he is horrified by the fact that she is a thief but as he learns more about her upbringing he becomes determined to save her from the Seer's clutches.  It isn't going to be an easy task though and they will need the help of his family to do it.

    I loved the first book in this series Finding Sky so was very excited about getting my hands Stealing Phoenix. Now, having read both books, I'm really struggling to decide which one I liked best - Yves may just have stolen my heart from Zed!  In my review of Finding Sky I said that it was a must read for fans of YA paranormal romance who were looking for something different and I can definitely say the same about Stealing Phoenix.  This is a series you want to watch out for and I'm very excited to know we're going to get to see more of the Benedict brothers in the future.

    Phee is a character you can relate to from the very beginning, she may be a thief but it is down to the way she has been raised rather than a personal choice she has made.  The Seer is a baddie with truly horrific powers and I spent a lot of the book worrying about how Phee and Yves could possibly escape from him.  Phee may be under the Seer's control but she is still a strong character and she does her best to stand up to him.  She hasn't had the best start in life but she dreams of something better and meeting Yves and his family finally shows her what things could be like.  Although she desperately wants that happy family she is scared to trust that that could be an option for her, she is frightened of what the Seer is capable of and worried about what could happen if she tries to escape.

    I've already said that I liked Yves even more than Zed which is something I wasn't expecting because I loved Zed!  Yves has the whole geeky genius vibe going for him and I have to admit to having a soft spot for the geeky guys.  He is extremely intelligent but also very shy and has no idea of the effect he has on the women around him which was quite funny to watch.  I loved getting to see him with his family and just like in the first book I enjoyed the banter between all of the brothers and the fact that although they tease each other they still have each other's backs.

    The plot is fast paced and had me on the edge of my seat but I also enjoyed the romance between Phee and Yves as she slowly learns to trust him.  I can't wait to see what Joss Stirling comes up with next and am very much looking forward to reading Xav's story which I understand is up next.  If you haven't started this series yet you could probably read Stealing Phoenix as a stand along story but I'd highly recommend starting with Finding Sky, both are great books and you'll be missing a treat if you don't!

    Source: Received from OUP in exchange for an honest review

    Other Reviews:
    The Book Addicted Girl
    If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

    Friday, 23 September 2011

    OUP Blogger Event with Joss Stirling & Dave Cousins - 21st September 2011


    For my stop in the Stealing Phoenix blog tour I'm doing a write up from the fantastic event I was lucky enough to attend earlier this week.  I had planned to get this post up first thing this morning but I've spent the best part of the last 2 days trying to get the pictures uploaded - my internet connection reallys sucks at the moment :o( - so I'm sorry it's a bit late.  Still, better late than never so finally here is my write up!  Make sure you check back tomorrow to read my review of Stealing Phoenix.


    On Wednesday I was part of a group of bloggers who were invited to an event with OUP (Oxford University Press) to celebrate the launch of Stealing Phoenix by Joss Stirling and to introduce us to Dave Cousins an author whose debut novel 15 Days Without A Head will be published in January 2012.  We were treated to cocktails and canapes and had time to mingle with the authors, staff and other bloggers before getting to hear both authors talking about their work.

    Jennie (OUP) introducing Joss Stirling & Dave Cousins

    First to chat to us was Joss Stirling who told us that she decided to have a go at writing dark romance because her daughter was stuck in a Twilight loop, re-reading the 4 books over and over, refusing to give anything else a try.  Joss wanted to tempt her to read something different so decided that she would have to write something for her, she wanted it to be about something other than vampires and werewolves and came up with the idea of characters with psychic abilities.  She hadn't planned on writing more than 1 book so although she was happy to continue the series she isn't quite sure how she will be able to write books for the older brothers as they aren't really the right age range for the YA market.  We did speak to her about this earlier on in the evening and she reassured us that she knows the fans all want to see each of the brother's stories and she is currently thinking about possible ways to do this.

    Joss reading from Stealing Phoenix

    When Joss decided to write Yves' story for the second book in the series she thought it would be nice to set the story in London rather than in the US.  Yves is the right age to have come over to London for a college conference and she had fun setting the story in an area that she knows well.  She wanted to make Phoenix very different to Sky and decided to not to give her the same stable background.

    When asked about how many drafts she writes Joss told us that she doesn't tend to plan her books in advance and makes it up as she goes along.  She said that her first draft usually ends up being quite similar to the finished book although there can be some changes along the way.  Talking about the names she gives her characters she said that she wanted to give them unusual names because they are unusual characters.

    If you read my review of Finding Sky then you'll already know how much I was looking forward to Stealing Phoenix and I can tell you now that I loved it even more.  You'll have to come back tomorrow if you want to read my full review but if you haven't started reading this series yet then I'd highly recommend ordering your copy now!  I'm very excited to be able to confirm that Xav's story is definitely coming next, Joss hasn't started writing it yet but it is due to be published in February 2013 (I know, that sounds like a horribly long wait doesn't it!!).  The working title for Xav's book is currently Seeing Crystal but please be aware that this might change by the time the story is written and ready to publish.

    Dave tells his life story in under 8 minutes

    Dave Cousins was introduced by his editor Jasmine who told us that Dave was the winner of the Undiscovered Voices competition.  Part of his novel was included in an anthology that was sent around to the publishers and as soon as Jasmine read it she knew she wanted to be the one to publish it.  In fact, she went as far as getting one of her male team members to dress as a woman to convince Dave that OUP was the publisher for him (that will make much more sense when you've read a bit more of my write up!).

    Dave started by giving us a quick run down of his life so far, he has been writing stories since he was a child but joined a band when he was at college studying for his art degree.  The band got a record deal and were almost famous for a while in the 80's and spent time touring the country.  (Despite our attempts to persuade him we didn't manage to get the band name out of him, although I think he may have let it slip to Carly so I'm intending to try and drag the information from her next time I see her!).  When he decided it was time to retire his leather trousers and get a proper job he started working for a design company but he had always wanted to go back to writing stories.  He got up at 5am every day to write before work but despite doing this for 4-5 years and completing several manuscripts whenever he re-read them he was convinced they weren't good enough and would stick them under the bed and start all over again.

    One day when in a pub he was sitting at a table next to a drunk obnoxious woman who was there with her two children, one about 15 and the other much younger.  He started to wonder what the children's lives must be like - was the mother always like that?  Did the older brother have to look after the younger one?  In the end this is what sparked the idea for 15 Days Without A Head.  Dave re-wrote the book twice and spent over 2 years on it but he was still convinced that it wasn't good enough.  Eventually he got his wife to read it and luckily for us she was the one who persuaded him to enter the Undiscovered Voices competition. 

    Dave did a reading from 15 Days Without A Head and I have to tell you now you want to add this book to your wish lists as it was absolutely hilarious (I had tears in my eyes from laughing so much!).  In the part he read the main character Laurence (who is 15 and has to hold things together at home for his younger brother 6 year old Jay because their mum is always out drinking) is desperately in need of money because they haven't eaten properly for days.  Laurence has found a bank book in his name but he needs his mum to be present to withdraw any money so he decides he'll have to pretend to be his mum and go to the bank.  The descriptions of poor Laurence trying to put on tights and a bra were so funny and I can't wait to read the rest of the book!  Dave did confirm that he tried dressing up as a woman himself before writing the scene and you can tell it was written from personal experience.

    Casey, Hayley, Viv, Liz, Dwayne, Jasmine & Joss

    Harriet, Stacey, Karen, Casey, Hayley, Viv & Liz

    Carly, Darren, Sammee, Megan & Harriet

    Dave & Joss

    I'd like to say a massive thanks to OUP for organising such a fab evening and to both Joss and Dave for telling us all about their new books.  I already know I love Stealing Phoenix and I'm sure I will enjoy 15 Days Without A Head.

    Who was there:
    Jennie, Jasmine & Harriet - Oxford University Press
    Joss Stirling - Website
    Dave Cousins - Website
    Casey & Hayley - Dark Readers

    Wednesday, 31 August 2011

    Book Trailer: Stealing Phoenix - Joss Stirling

    Stealing Phoenix by Joss Stirling has got to be one of the books I've most been looking forward to this year so I had to share this trailer with you!



    Stealing Phoenix is released in the UK this month so if you haven't read the first book Finding Sky yet I'd highly recommend picking it up now so you can read it before Stealing Phoenix (you can read my review of Finding Sky here).  I've included the Finding Sky trailer below in case you need a little more encouragement:

    Wednesday, 13 July 2011

    Puffin Summer Party - 28th June 2011


    I was really excited to get an invite to the Puffin Summer Party a couple of weeks ago, I wasn't too sure what to expect or who would be there but I jumped at the chance to get to mingle with some of the Puffin authors.  I'd arranged to meet up with Sammee (I Want To Read That) & Sophie (So Many Books, So Little Time) at lunch time and we had an afternoon of book shopping planned.  As it turned out to be one of the hottest days of the year so far we quickly changed our minds - the underground was unbearable and we couldn't face it a second time!  We made it as far as the big Waterstone's in Piccadilly where we spent quite a few hours hiding in the cafe in the basement.  We still had a great time chatting away but it was so nice to be out of the heat.

    The party was held at Banqueting House in Whitehall which was an absolutely amazing building.  I didn't think of taking pictures of the outside but check out the ceiling of the room the party was in below (impressive isn't it!)


    We arrived right at the start of the party and after being welcomed by Jayde we soon found a group of other bloggers to chat to.  I don't know about anyone else but I was in awe of the location, the overwhelming number of people and a little star struck by so many fantastic authors all in one place!

    Liz, Sammee, Rhys & Sophie

    I was a bit nervous about going over and talking to the authors but we had lovely chats with Julia Golding (who was at the event wearing her Eve Edwards hat but I have met before in her Joss Stirling persona), Sarwat Chadda, Helen Grant and Curtis Jobling.  Despite the fact that I wandered around with my camera in my hand for the whole evening I took hardly any pictures (not like me at all I know!) but we did ask Curtis for pictures.  He was the only author that I knew in advance would be there and since I loved the first Wereworld book Rise of the Wolf (you can read my review here if you haven't already seen it) I was really looking forward to meeting him.  Curtis was really friendly and we managed to get some spoilers about the Wereworld series that have me very excited but I'm afraid we were sworn to secrecy so I can't share the news here!

    Sophie, Curtis & Sammee
    Me, Curtis & Sammee

    It was fun spotting different authors amongst the crowds including Alex & Simon Scarrow, Michelle Paver & Phil Earle.  We found out later that Melvin Burgess and Charlie Higson were also there but I didn't see them.  I'd like to say a massive thanks to everyone at Puffin for hosting such a great event and letting some of us bloggers tag along!  It was great to meet so many lovely authors & I had a fab time :o)

    Who was there:
    Jayde - Puffin
    The authors we saw & or spoke to:
    Alex & Simon Scarrow - Website
    Curtis Jobling - Website
    Helen Grant - Website
    Michelle Paver - Website
    Phil Earle - Website
    Sarwat Chadda - Website
    The bloggers:

    Wednesday, 2 February 2011

    Review: Finding Sky - Joss Stirling

    Discovering your soul mate has never been so dangerous.

    'You have half our gifts, I have the other...'

    When English girl, Sky, catches a glimpse of bad boy Zed in her new American high school, she can't get him out of her head.  He talks to her with his thoughts.  He reads her mind.  He is the boy she will love forever.  Shadows stalk her past but a new evil threatens her future.  Sky must face the dark even if it means losing her heart.

    Savants Series:
    Finding Sky
    Challenging Zed (Free Short Story)
    Stealing Phoenix
    Burning Yves (Free Short Story)
    Seeking Crystal
    Misty Falls
    Angel Dares
    Summer Shadows

    Check out Joss Stirling's website for more information

    Review:
    Sky has lived with her adoptive parents since she was 10 years old and remembers little of her life before she was with them.  Her parents have been offered jobs running a new arts centre in Colorado and although this means the family leaving their home in Richmond, England they are excited about moving to America.  Sky is beginning to settle into her new school and finds herself drawn to the school bad boy Zed.  At first he ignores her but then she starts hearing his voice in her head and she thinks she is losing her mind.  Is there an explanation for everything that is happening?  Will Sky accept it when Zed tells her they are soul mates?

    Finding Sky is a great debut and one that stands out in a crowded young adult paranormal romance market.  Although I love stories about vampires, werewolves and angels they do seem to have overtaken the shelves at the moment so it makes a refreshing change to read a story about characters with psychic abilities.  Sky has no idea that she is a savant so when Zed starts talking to her about her abilities and the fact that she is his soulfinder she doesn't believe him at first.  It takes time for him to gain her trust and for her to accept the things he is telling her.

    I was a little worried that the fact they are soul mates would mean they were instantly in love and a happy couple before you could blink so it was nice to see how slowly things developed between them.  The romance is sweet, quite amusing in places and just a joy to read.  In fact I'd happily have continued reading if only there had been more pages.

    One of the things I liked the most was the fact that both Sky and Zed have supportive families.  Sky may not remember her real parents but her adoptive parents both care for her a great deal and are prepared to do anything to help her.  I liked the fact that they were prepared to give up their dreams and move back to England if that was what Sky wanted.  Zed's family were great, his parents and 6 brothers are all savants with a variety of different psychic abilities that I enjoyed learning about.  I loved the banter between them all and watching them together was like watching any family - there were squabbles but when it came down to it they all love each other and will always stick together.

    I want to know more about each of the Benedict brothers so I'm really hoping this turns into a series and we get to see each of their stories.  I was pleased to find out Joss Stirling is currently working on a sequel called Stealing Phoenix and I'm very much looking forward to reading it as soon as it comes out.  If you enjoy paranormal romance but are looking for something that is fresh and exciting then you can't go far wrong with Finding Sky!

    Source: Received from OUP in exchange for an honest review

    Other Reviews:
    If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

    Wednesday, 3 November 2010

    OUP Celebration of Dark Fiction Halloween Event - 27th October 2010


    I was thrilled to be invited to the OUP Celebration of dark fiction and have been looking forward to this event ever since I first found out about it.  I was looking forward to the readings by Joss Stirling, William Hussey and Rhiannon Lassiter - I hadn't read anything by these authors but had heard great things about all of them.  Thanks to Jennie at OUP who sent me a copy of Witchfinder: Dawn of the Demontide which I actually started reading on the train to London for the event!

    One of my favorite things about blogging has been getting the opportunity to meet not only some fabulous authors but also some amazing bloggers.  It's so nice to chat to others who are as passionate about books as I am and it's great fun to meet up with them before / after events to catch up on all the latest news.  Sammee (I Want To Read That) and I decided to make a day of the event so although it didn't start until 7pm we met up at Waterloo train station at lunch time.  We'd arranged to meet Becky (The Bookette) at about 3pm so that left us with plenty of time to have a look around Piccadilly Waterstones, if you've read any of my other event reports you'll probably have guessed by now how much I love that store!  I think we've both added quite a few books to our wish list but I was impressed with our willpower and the fact that neither of us actually brought anything.

    We had arranged to meet Becky outside Holborn tube station and the 3 of us ended up spending a couple of hours sitting in Starbucks chatting away about books.  I think I could happily chat with the others forever and the time literally flew by before Becky had to leave to go to her writing class.  Sammee & I headed over to Tottenham Court Road tube station where we were meeting up with Caroline (Portrait of a Woman) for dinner before the event (Becky was meeting us at the event after her class finished).  Sammee & I had time for a quick stop in the Holborn Waterstones before we left & I'm still not quite sure I believe this but we both managed to resist buying for a second time!  I did to a little shopping on Oxford Street though when we were scouting out the event location while we waited for Caroline to arrive (nothing book related but I did buy a very cool pair of fingerless gloves & a fab backpack!).

    Caroline had to fight the commuter traffic to get to us but luckily we had time for a quick dinner in McDonald's before heading to The House of St Barnabas where we met up with Lauren (I Was A Teenage Book Geek) Lyndsey (Heaven, Hell and Purgatory) outside before going in.  It was so nice to finally meet Lyndsey, we've been chatting on Twitter for ages so it already felt like I knew her but it was lovely to meet face to face.

    We were let into the building by a doorman who had to tick us all off on his list (luckily we were all on there!) and then a really friendly member of staff from OUP (I'm so sorry I didn't catch her name!) showed us to the cloak room where we could leave our coats and bags and we made our way to the room where the event was being held.  I have to say what a beautiful building it was, I'd love to go back there and explore a bit with my camera.  A lot of people had already arrived but we were greeted with drinks and found a nice spot to sit ready for the readings.

    Lauren, me, Sammee, Caroline & Lyndsey

    The lovely Joss Stirling, who we found out is actually Julia Golding (I'm going to have to check out some of her other books!) came and sat with us for a while.  She was so friendly and genuinely seemed interested in finding out about our blogs and how we find the time to run them.  Unfortunately it was quite loud in there so I did struggle to hear some of the things she was saying but we were all very excited when she happily signed our copies of Finding Sky for us.  We also got to meet author Victoria Connelly (author of A Weekend with Mr Darcy which is another book that has been added to my wish list!) who came and sat with us and Joss. 

    Victoria Connelly & Joss Stirling

    At about 8pm it was time for the author readings and first up was William Hussey who was reading from the beginning of the second book in his trilogy Witchfinder: Gallows at Twilight which will be released in January 2011.  I'm currently reading the first book Witchfinder: Dawn of the Demontide and I can definitely attest that it's perfect Halloween reading material!  William attended the event with his demon familiar (a giant spider) who spent the evening sitting on his shoulder.  He told us a little about the main character in the series Jake who is a proud geek with dark hair who thinks he is funny (just like William - and those are his words not mine!).  Jake is obsessed with horror stories which is probably a good thing as it comes in useful when he finds out that demons, witches and monsters are real and that he'll have to fight them.

    William Hussey reading from Witchfinder: Gallows at Twilight

    After listening to the reading I'm definitely very excited about getting my hands on Gallows at Twilight which includes trolls, skin walkers, time travel, civil war zombies and is at least partly set in a monster hotel! Sounds like a fun read doesn't it?  The reading was fab but not for the faint hearted or squeamish, all I'm going to say about that is read the book and wait until you get to the part about the witches' stew and something that looks like sausages!  William also mentioned an infamous line about a shopping bag that he was only just allowed to include in the final version of the story and I'm just about dying of curiosity to find out why.  I was interested to discover that William has previously published 2 adult horror books Through a Glass, Darkly and The Absence and I think I'm going to have to get my hands on copies of both of these.

    Rhiannon Lassiter reading from Ghost of a Chance

    The next author reading was by Rhiannon Lassiter who was reading from her newest book Ghost of a Chance that will be available in January 2011.  Rhiannon is the daughter of famous author Mary Hoffman (who also attended the event but I didn't get to speak to) and had her first book published before her 19th birthday.  She has written 13 books for children and young adults so I'm going to have to make sure I get hold of some of those to read.  Ghost of a Chance is set in a large (and creepy) stately home owned by a family who can't afford the upkeep.  The family have opened the house to tourists to raise money and are thinking of starting offering ghost walks.  Eva lives in the house with her Grandfather but there are apparently lots of unpleasant family members who visit regularly. 

    Rhiannon read from chapter 4 which is titled Invisible Girl and we got to follow Eva down into the cold, dark cellar where she finds an array of torture devices that have been collected by the Chance family through the generations.  The story was incredibly creepy and I have a feeling it will be one I'll be reading while peeping out from behind a cushion but I'm definitely looking forward to it!

    Joss Stirling reading from Finding Sky

    Last but by no means least was the reading by Joss Stirling from her book Finding Sky.  Joss is well known as Julia Golding but she wanted to indulge in her English love for the Gothic with Finding Sky and is using a different name as this book is aimed at an older audience.  Before the reading Joss talked about her road trip across America and how she was inspired by the Rocky Mountains, she did admit to hating Las Vegas though.  I've not yet read Finding Sky but it is high on my to read pile and I'm very much looking forward to getting stuck into it.  Her main characters all have the gift of ESP (something I love to read about) but they have to pay a price for their gifts.  Each character has a soul mate who was born at the same time as they were but may be anywhere in the world and could be impossible to find.

    The reading was a snippet from Sky's second date with Zed which was suitably set on Halloween and included a misunderstanding between them and some trick or treaters which had the audience laughing out loud.  Joss talked about the theme of the book being how gifts can backfire and it shows how people can use or abuse the powers they have been given.  I'm definitely planning on reading this book soon so keep an eye out for my review

    William Hussey

    I didn't have much time to mingle after the event as Sammee & I were both worried about the possibility of missing our trains home but I did get to have a quick chat with William Hussey and get my copy of Witchfinder: Dawn of the Demontide signed.  I think I may have embarrassed myself just a little bit when I confessed how squeamish I am but told William that I'm a big girl now & I can take it (please someone remember to chaperone me at future author events and stop me opening my big mouth LOL).  I also got to talk to lovely blogger and aspiring author Natalie (The Writer Side of Life) and I said a brief hello to Liz (My Favorite Books) but unfortunately didn't have time to chat with her properly - hopefully next time Liz!

    Here is a slide show with a few more pictures from the event, I'm sorry I didn't manage to get better pictures of the authors during the readings but I didn't have a great view from where we were sitting.


    I'd like to say a massive thank you to all of the staff at OUP who worked hard to make this such a great event.  I'm sure I can speak for all of us when I say what an amazing time we had and I really enjoyed listening to all of the author readings.  Thank you also for the lovely goodie bags, I've been enjoying the sample chapters and was thrilled to be able to get my copy of Finding Sky signed by Joss!  Jennie it was lovely to meet you, even if it was only for a brief hello as we left to catch our trains.

    Who was there:
    Oxford University Press - website
    Joss Stirling - website - Joss' Event Report
    William Hussey - website
    Rhiannon Lassiter - website
    Victoria Connelly - website - Victoria's Event Report
    Becky - The Bookette
    Liz, Sarah & Mark - My Favorite Books - Liz's Event Report

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