Winners: Noah Barleywater Runs Away by John Boyne

With the help of random.org I can confirm that the 4 winners of my John Boyne giveaway (each winning a copy of Noah Barleywater Runs Away) are:

UK Winners: (each winning a finished copy that will be sent directly by RHCB)

Rhiana (From Rhiana Reads)

&

Iffath (From Love Reading X)
&
Lanta (From Mayitbe Book Recommendations)


International Winner: (winning the ARC copy I was sent for review)
Kai (From Amaterasu Reads)

Congratulations to you all!  If you can email me at sarahsreviews at ymail dot com with your full address I will get your books posted to you.  UK winners your address will be forwarded to RHCB and they will be sending your prizes so by sending me your address you are agreeing for me to pass it on to them.  If I don't hear from you within 48 hours then a different winner will be chosen.  I'd like to say a massive thank you to RHCB for allowing me to host this giveaway for them.

Sorry if you didn't win but I have plenty more giveaways coming soon so check back for your chance to win.  In fact I am currently hosting a giveaway of a copy of the paranormal romance Cattitude by Edie Ramer so if you haven't entered already click here for a chance to win.

Review: First Drop of Crimson - Jeaniene Frost

The night is not safe for mortals. Denise MacGregor knows all too well what lurks in the shadows - her best friend is half-vampire Cat Crawfield - and she has already lost more than the average human could bear. But her family's past is wrapped in secrets and shrouded in darkness - and a demon shapeshifter has marked Denise as prey. Now her survival depends on an immortal who lusts for a taste of her.

He is Spade, a powerful, mysterious vampire who has walked the earth for centuries and is now duty-bound to protect this endangered, alluring human - even if it means destroying his own kind. Denise may arouse his deepest hungers, but Spade knows he must fight his urge to have her as they face the nightmare together...

Night Huntress World Series:
(This is a spin off from the Night Huntress Series that fits into the time line after Destined for an Early Grave)
First Drop Of Crimson
Eternal Kiss of Darkness

Night Huntress Series:
Halfway to the Grave
One Foot in the Grave
At Grave's End
Destined for an Early Grave
One for the Money (Short Story in the Magic Graves Anthology)
This Side of the Grave
One Grave at a Time
Home for the Holidays (Novella available as an ebook or as part of The Bite Before Christmas anthology)
Up from the Grave

Night Prince Series:
(This is a spin off from the Night Huntress series that fits into the time line after One Grave at a Time)
Once Burned
Twice Tempted

For more information visit Jeaniene Frost's website

Review:
First Drop of Crimson is the first book in Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress World series, a spin off from her Night Huntress series featuring Cat and Bones. While the original series straddles the line between paranormal romance & urban fantasy and focuses on one couple through all of the books this new series definitely fits into the paranormal romance category and will feature a different couple in each of the books. The characters that it is focusing on have all been introduced as side characters in the first series so I'd recommend reading the Night Huntress books before starting this book but I do think you are given enough information that you can probably catch up if you are new to Jeaniene Frost's work. You will pick up spoilers if you read this first and then move onto Cat & Bones' series though.

I absolutely love the Night Huntress series (I am crazy about Bones!) so I was really looking forward to reading First Drop of Crimson. Spade has been a character I have liked whenever we have seen him in previous books and I was keen to find out more about his past. Denise is Cat's best friend and (mostly) human and I never really felt we got to know her in the other series so I wasn't too sure what to expect from her in this book. I have to say she really grew on me and I enjoyed getting to know her better and watching her change throughout this book. I loved Spade (he'll never replace Bones in my affections but he isn't a bad stand in!) and really feel I understand him a lot better now.

Although Denise could be a little irritating at times I felt that the way she acted was understandable considering her recent experiences at the hands of vampires. It isn't surprising that she has no trust of the supernatural and doesn't want anything to do with them - all she wants is to have a quiet life where she won't be in danger any more. She doesn't get much choice in the matter because an ancestor has put her whole family at risk and if she is going to have a chance to save them she will need help. When she is unable to get hold of Cat or Bones she turns to the only other person she can think of - Spade. Luckily Spade is willing to help, he has been attracted to Denise ever since he first saw her but he has also been hurt in the past and is scared to get into the same situation again. I really felt the attraction between them (the shower scene in particular had me more than a little flustered!) but I liked the way they didn't jump right into a relationship. They both had issues that needed to be dealt with first and I liked the fact that they were able to discuss things. I think they're very well suited to each other and I'm hoping that we get to see more of both of them in future books in both series.

If you've already read Jeaniene's work then you'll already know to expect plenty of action and some interesting plot twists and I don't think you'll be disappointed even though there is more focus on the romance as their story is only told in one instalment. I love the fact that we are introduced to new supernatural creatures in the demons & I'm curious to see if they'll cross over into the Cat & Bones series. I also really liked the fact that we get to see some of the other characters we've come to know and love - Cat & Bones in particular but also Mencheres and Ian (who is growing on me the more I see of him & I'm hoping he will get his own story eventually).

Overall I probably like the Night Huntress series slightly more but I've spent 4 books with Cat and Bones and adore them both so that probably isn't surprising. When you compare this to other standalone PNR stories then it really does hold it's own. I'm looking forward to reading Eternal Kiss of Darkness - I'm so curious to read Mencheres story! I would recommend this series to fans of the Night Huntress series but also to people who enjoy a good PNR book that has a fast paced plot as well as hot romance.

Source: Library

Other Reviews:
Ink and Paper
Story Wings
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.

My Perfect Chemistry Review Was Quoted!!

OK so I know I'm behind with my reviews but I seem to have lost my reviewing mojo over the last few days - I'm hoping it's just where I'm still recovering from the tail end of my cold!  I'm sure I'll get back on track soon as I've been reading some great books recently.  In the meantime I wanted to share a little bit of news that made my day week.  I received a copy of Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles for review from Simon & Schuster (which was exciting enough in it's own right as I've been dying to read this one since I read Perfect Chemistry!) and part of my review was used in the press release!!  I know that's probably not a massive thing to some of the bigger bloggers out there but I had to jump up and down doing a happy dance when I saw it :o)

Front of the press release



Back of the Press Release (my quote is in the top left corner)

Close up of my quote

You can click on any of the pictures to see a larger image.  My quote is in very good company alongside quotes from some of my favorite blogs - Wondrous Reads, Once Upon A Bookcase, The Bookette & I Was A Teenage Book Geek (links will take you to their reviews of Perfect Chemistry) Congratulations to you all girls!!  You can also read my review of Perfect Chemistry here.  Thanks so much to S&S for sending me Rules of Attraction and for making my week by using my quote!

Anyway, I think I've rambled on enough - I just had to share my excitement with you all :o)  Hopefully I'll be back on track and get a review posted tomorrow for you all.

Quercus Blogger Party with Jennifer Lynn Barnes - 4th October 2010

The fabulous Jennifer Lynn Barnes

When I first heard about the Artwork my ARC tour of Raised by Wolves that was arranged by Parul from Quercus and Lynsey (Narratively Speaking & UK Book Tours) I couldn't wait to take part.  I really loved Raised by Wolves (you can read my review here) so the idea of getting to meet Jen was too good to resist.  The idea behind the tour was that we would all get to make notes, draw pictures & generally decorate an ARC of the book that would then be presented to Jennifer Lynn Barnes at a party during her UK tour.  I'd like to say a massive thanks to both Parul & Lynsey for all the effort they went to organising the tour and the event - it was such a fun idea and I'd love to take part in something similar again! 

I know Lynsey was getting quite stressed worrying about getting the book back in time to present to Jen so we arranged to meet up early on the day of the event for lunch & so I could add my notes.  I ended up getting to London really early so as Lynsey was delayed I spent a couple of hours sitting at a coffee shop in Waterloo station.  I'd planned on drawing some pictures in the book but since I had time to kill I drew them on paper instead so I could stick them in the book before the presentation.  I ended up keeping a few other travellers amused while they sat drinking their coffees watching me doodling.  I'd printed off quite a few pictures from google to help give me ideas & here are the pictures I came up with:

Because of strikes on the underground we'd come to London prepared to have a nightmare travelling around but luckily the only tube line we needed was still open.  We had agreed to meet Jenny (Wondrous Reads) at Euston station so we could all figure out the bus to the event together but as we had plenty of time Lynsey & I decided to have a look around Waterstone's in Piccadilly first.  We managed to get a tube to Leicester Square & then had to walk to Piccadilly but luckily with the help of a couple of passersby we managed to find it quite easily.  We happily spent ages wandering around the YA books (they have such a huge selection to choose from!) and then completely lost track of the time after getting chatting to a lovely member of staff (Hey Nicole!!) who was an absolute expert about all things YA. 

By the time we'd dragged ourselves away from Waterstone's and made it to Euston Station we were very late meeting up with Jenny (I'm so sorry Jenny!!) but at least we found her in the end.  I have to say it was so lovely to finally get a chance to meet Jenny, I've been following her blog ever since I started blogging but hadn't had a chance to meet her before now.  We just about had time to grab some food and for Jenny & I to make quick notes in the book before we had to leave for the event.  I didn't have quite enough time to add everything I wanted to but at least I had already prepared my pictures to stick in.

I don't think any of us had ever needed to navigate London by bus before so we were all a bit nervous that we wouldn't know when to get off the bus but luckily Parul had given us fantastic directions & we found Truckles bar really easily.  It was a lovely surprise to find that Lauren (I Was A Teenage Book Geek) was at the event, I hadn't seen Lauren for ages so it was good to have a chance to catch up.  It was so disappointing that Caroline (Portrait of a Woman) couldn't make it though - we can blame that one on the tube strike!  I did manage to get her a special pressie though, so I'm looking forward to seeing her soon to give it to her.  When we arrived we were greeted by Parul and given drinks & these fabulous Raised by Wolves cupcakes

Aren't they cute?!

We also got given these lovely carved wooden wolf pens (& yes one of the ones I'm holding in this picture might just be for a halloween giveaway I'm planning for the end of the month along with a signed copy of Raised by Wolves)

Me, Jen & Lynsey

After spending some time chatting with Jen (who is absolutely lovely by the way) and getting to meet some of the staff from Quercus it was time for speeches and for Lynsey to present Jen with the ARC we'd all doodled in.  It was great fun listening to Jen talking about Raised by Wolves, she got inspiration for Brynn from growing up as the only girl hanging around with her older brother & his friends so she knows exactly what it's like to be the younger, smaller girl who the boys want to protect.  Having a degree in cognitive science and spending time studying primates has also come in handy when it comes to writing about a werewolf pack.

Lynsey & Jen after the presentation

After the presentation Jen was happy to spend time chatting to us bloggers and signing all of the books we'd brought with us.  She really is so sweet and I'm amazed at how much she has achieved at such a young age - she wrote the first draft of Golden in just 3 weeks when she was only 19 years old and it was sold to a publisher just before her 21st birthday.  I don't know where Jen found the time to write & publish 7 novels while studying for her degree but it is obvious from talking to her that she is very passionate about both her writing and science so she works hard to fit it all in.  We did manage to get a few hints about Trial by Fire (the sequel to Raised by Wolves) and I was very excited to find out that she is currently in talks with her US publisher about writing a 3rd book in the series.  We won't know if this is going to happen for at least a couple of months but I for one am keeping my fingers crossed!

Another fun Jen fact for you - she is the only person I know who reads books in the shower (yes the shower!), she has perfected the art of holding the book with one hand and still being able to turn the pages while using her other hand to wash with.  I'd never heard of anyone doing that before but Jen assured us that Sarah Rees Brennan does the same so perhaps it's an author thing!

Me & Jen

The picture above shows Jen and me with a werewolf picture I'd made for her with encaustic wax.  I have to confess I'm very new to encaustic art so it isn't a fantastic picture but I had fun trying to create it - it's amazing what you can do with coloured wax and a travel iron!

Lauren, Lynsey, Jen, Jenny & me

I'd like to say a huge thank you to Jen for being so lovely and answering so many of our questions.  I can't wait to get my hands on Trial by Fire (is it 2011 yet???) and I'm really hoping you get to write a third book in the series!  I'm definitely planning on ordering Jen's previous books too (hopefully we'll get them publised in the UK soon).  Thanks again to Parul and all of the staff at Quercus who went out of their way to be so welcoming to us bloggers - we had a fantastic time :o)

Here is a slideshow of some more of the pictures I took that evening:

Who was there:

Jen - Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Parul - Quercus

Lynsey - Narratively Speaking

Jenny - Wondrous Reads

Lauren - I Was A Teenage Book Geek - Lauren's Event Report

ARC Review: Boys Don't Cry - Malorie Blackman

You're waiting for the postman - he's bringing you your A level results.  University, a career as a journalist - a glittering future lies ahead.  But when the doorbell rings it's your old girlfriend: and she's carrying a baby.  You're fine to look after it, for an hour or two, while she does some shopping.  Then she doesn't come back and your future suddenly looks very different.

Seventeen year old Dante is left holding the baby.  His baby.  Not only does he have to come to terms with the fact that he is now a father but he is also faced with the realisation that his life is about to dramatically change.  He needs to learn how to raise his daughter when he still feels like a child himself.

Boys Don't Cry releases in the UK on the 28th October and is a book not to be missed.

Visit Malorie Blackman's website for more information

Review:
Dante is just seventeen years old and is anxiously waiting for his A level results to see if he can get a place at university to study journalism.  He is an intelligent young man - proven by the fact that he has taken his A levels a year early - and he is looking forward to a glittering future.  Everything changes the day his results arrive, but not in the way he was expecting.  When his ex-girlfriend turns up out of the blue with a pushchair he is shocked and horrified - especially when she tells him the baby is his.  Melanie asks him to look after baby Emma while she does some shopping and disappears before even giving him time to reply.  When she calls him to say she won't be coming back Dante finds his life has been turned upside down.  Although he scored top marks in his exams it looks like university is no longer an option - he is a single father now and his daughter needs him.

Boys Don't Cry is the first book I've read by Malorie Blackman but it definitely won't be the last.  I've heard such good things about her Noughts and Crosses series and after reading this book I can't wait to get stuck into those books too.  Boys Don't Cry is an amazing read and one I would recommend to anyone - adults and teenagers alike - it will turn everything you've ever thought about teenage parents on it's head.  This book made me laugh a lot and cry a little - it really was a roller coaster of emotion and one I couldn't put down - I read it in just one sitting.

Dante is a great character - he is smart and ambitious, the last person you would expect to become a teenage father but that just goes to show how easy it is to get into a situation like this.  After just one drunken, very forgettable sexual encounter at a party Dante now finds himself a single father - something he definitely wasn't planning and isn't at all prepared for.  The emotions he goes through are so realistic that this book could easily be a personal account of a true story.  At first he is shocked and then comes anger - he didn't ask for this & it shouldn't have happened to him - but his feelings for Emma gradually turn into love and he comes through for her in a big way.  Yes he makes mistakes along the way but that just makes him more real in my eyes, I don't think anyone can say they've never done something they regretted in life.  Human nature is flawed and it's how we cope with the challenges along the way that shows what kind of person we really are and as Dante becomes a man he becomes the kind of person anyone would be proud to know.

The story shows just how hard it is to be a parent at any age but it must be particularly difficult when you still feel like a child yourself.  Dante is lucky to have the support of his father and his younger brother, both of whom throw themselves into helping him care for Emma.  Although Dante's father is disappointed with his son he is an instant support and dotes on Emma from the beginning.  Even with the support of his family Dante finds out just how difficult it is caring for a baby and gradually comes to realise how hard it must have been for Melanie who was completely on her own.  Dante also has to face prejudice wherever he turns - he can't even go to the shops without people criticising him for being such a young father and he is treated even worse because of the fact that he is a single father.

Although I loved Dante I think it was Adam that stole my heart most - he is such a sweet character with a sunny attitude that you just can't help falling for.  Adam is openly gay and proud to tell the world about it - a character to admire for sure and the challenges he faces along the way really were heartbreaking to read about.  I just wanted to climb into the book and protect him (I'd have given Emma a massive hug while I was in there because she was just too adorable for words!).  I was routing for Adam the whole way through and just wanted him to be happy.

Boys Don't Cry in no way glamorises teenage pregnancy, quite the opposite in fact as it shows just how hard parenting can be.  Although it also shows the joys of parenthood I know this book would have made me extra careful as a teenager because I wouldn't have wanted to end up in Dante's situation.  I really think this book is a must read for all teenagers and their parents - it would be a great way to start a discussion about using protection and being careful.  I love the way the story shows that it isn't just up to the girl to take responsibility for using protection.  This coming of age story may be written from the male perspective but it is relevant for both boys and girls and I think anyone would find something they can relate to in the characters.  I found this was a heartwarming read that really shouldn't be missed and I'd strongly recommend you order yourself a copy of this book now.

Source: Received from RHCB in exchange for an honest review

Other reviews of this book:
I Was A Teenage Book Geek
Girls Without a Bookshelf
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.

Giveaway: Cattitude - Edie Ramer - NOW CLOSED

*UPDATE - THIS GIVEAWAY HAS NOW ENDED - Winner announced here*

It’s all in the Cattitude . . .

After Belle the cat switches bodies with a psychic on the run from a murderer, she wants her perfect cat body back instead of this furless human one. But she doesn’t count on falling in love with her former owner. Or that a CEO and a beauty queen want to use up her nine lives. Now is her chance to prove anything a human can do, a cat can do better.

Visit Edie Ramer's website for more information.

Cattitude can be purchased from Smashwords and is also available in the Kindle store from Amazon.






I really enjoyed Cattitude (you can read my review here) and I'm very excited that Edie Ramer has offered to give a copy of this ebook away to one of my readers. 

Giveaway Details:

• Edie Ramer has offered to give 1 ebook copy of Cattitude to a lucky winner.  The winners email address will be forwarded to Edie so she can send you your ebook.
• All you need to do to enter the giveaway is give your name and email address in the form below.
• You don't have to be a follower to enter (although of course I'd love it if you were LOL!)
• You can get extra entries by following either me or Edie on Twitter.
• You can get extra entries by spreading the word but that isn't required.
• You can also get extra entries by commenting on my review of Cattitude here or Edie's guest post here (again this is not required)
• To enter please fill in the form below
• You have until 22nd October to enter the giveaway and I'll announce the winner within a couple of days of the giveaway ending.  I will email the winner & they will have 48 hours to respond and confirm their email address or another winner will be chosen.
• If you are the winner you are agreeing for me to pass your email address over to Edie Ramer so that she can send you your copy of Cattitude

Review: Cattitude - Edie Ramer

It’s all in the Cattitude . . .

After Belle the cat switches bodies with a psychic on the run from a murderer, she wants her perfect cat body back instead of this furless human one. But she doesn’t count on falling in love with her former owner. Or that a CEO and a beauty queen want to use up her nine lives. Now is her chance to prove anything a human can do, a cat can do better.

Visit Edie Ramer's website for more information.
 
Cattitude can be purchased from Smashwords and is also available in the Kindle store from Amazon.
 





Review:
Belle is happy with her life as a cat, she lives with her owner Max and is adored by him and his brother & sister.  She rules the roost as all cats do and is fed, petted and fussed over on demand - it's a cats life!  When she is in an accident and exchanges bodies with a human she is horrified with her new hairless, clumsy body and wants nothing more than to go back to her life as a cat.  However with more than one person out to get her she is going to have to use all her cat wiles to make sure her human body survives long enough for her to change back into a cat.  As she tries to find out what is going on she becomes closer to Max realising she has feelings for him that she never felt when she was a cat.  Will she decide to remain human so that her and Max can be together?  And if she does what will happen to the human who is now trapped in her old body?

I wasn't quite sure what to expect from Cattitude, I love cats so on the one hand I was really looking forward to it but I was a bit unsure about the whole idea of a cat becoming a human and falling in love with a man.  I just wasn't sure how well it would work & if it would be easy to relate to Belle.  I have to say I was impressed with this story & thought Edie Ramer did a fantastic job.

Belle is a wonderful character and Edie has perfectly captured the essence of a cat in her - Belle's attitude to life & humans reminded me of my cats so many times.  I loved watching Belle adjust to life in a human body - everything she knows about humans comes from the way she has been adored by the family who rescued her and from watching TV with them so she has some very funny ideas about how things work. 

The supporting characters are all well written and really help to make the story.  I really loved Max and his family and even the bad guys are well rounded so you find out more about why they act the way they do.  Sorcha (the woman who ends up in Belle's cat body) could be a little irritating at times but then again she has just been switched into a cats body without being given a choice in the matter so I guess it was understandable and I really liked the way there is a happy ending for her as well as for Belle.

Cattitude is a sweet romance that will have you laughing out loud and is a must for any cat fans.  The story is light hearted, comes with a great cast of characters and an amusing tale that will keep you turning the pages and leaving you wanting more.  I'd definitely recommend giving it a try and am looking forward to seeing what Edie Ramer comes up with in the future. 

Source: Received from author Edie Ramer in exchange for an honest review.

Other reviews of this book:
I'd So Rather Be Reading
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.