Saturday 29 March 2014

Weekly Book Round Up! 29th March


Welcome to the latest weekly book round up! Every week I try and recap some of the latest YA related news stories as well as catching up on what I've been reading and blogging about. Without further ado, here's what's been happening this week!

In the News

Ellie Goulding has released the music video for her song Beating Heart which features on the Divergent soundtrack. Watch it below!




The cover for Holly Black and Cassandra Clare's upcoming middle grade novel The Iron Trial has been revealed. See it over on FangirlDaily!

Details have been released about the film adaptation of John Green's Paper Towns. Read more over on Deadline and check out John's tweets below.




He also announced international release dates for The Fault in Our Stars film which will be released on 20th June.


And Chloe Grace Moretz has been speaking about her role playing Mia in the film adaptation of Gayle Forman's If I Stay. Read her thoughts on the film and the casting over on Entertainment Weekly.

On the Blog

I started out the week being part of the Blinded by the Light blog tour. I loved getting the chance to interview author Joe Kipling who had some great insights on the character of MaryAnn from the book. Read the interview here!

This week I also reviewed Echo Boy by Matt Haig. Read my review here.

What I've Been Reading

I'm currently switching between Before You Sleep by Amy Martin and The Recruit by Robert Muchamore, both of which I'm very much enjoying!

What are you reading this week? Anything exciting? Let me know in the comments!


Thursday 27 March 2014

Review: Echo Boy by Matt Haig


 Echo Boy by Matt Haig

Author: Matt Haig Website|Twitter
Published: 27 March 2014 (Random House Children's Books)
Format: Kindle e-book (ARC)
Pages: 416
Buy the book: Amazon|Hive|BookDepository
Buy the e-book: Kindle|Kobo

Source: Received free copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks Random House!

Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
Audrey's father taught her that to stay human in the modern world, she had to build a moat around herself; a moat of books and music, philosophy and dreams. A moat that makes Audrey different from the echoes: sophisticated, emotionless machines, built to resemble humans and to work for human masters.

Daniel is an echo - but he's not like the others. He feels a connection with Audrey; a feeling Daniel knows he was never designed to have, and cannot explain. And when Audrey is placed in terrible danger, he's determined to save her.

THE ECHO BOY is a powerful story about love, loss and what makes us truly human.


My Review:
I've read one book of Matt Haig's before (The Radleys) which I really enjoyed, so I was keen to check out his new YA offering. Echo Boy follows Audrey, the niece of a powerful businessman who creates Echos - robots designed to serve humans.

There was plenty to enjoy about Echo Boy. It definitely appealed to the sci-fi/post-acpocalyptic fan in me! The story is set in 2115 in a word dominated by advance technology, particularly the Echos. I liked how the author has posed a lot of questions about whether the technology has gone too far in Audrey's world.

The book is told from both the perspective of Audrey and Daniel, a prototype Echo who is a lot more human than other robots. Their entries take the form of "mind logs" implying a kind of diary journalling their experiences, but it didn't really feel like reading a diary. I think it was more a way to tie in the storytelling to the world. I liked the alternating points of view, and I really loved getting an insight into Daniel. His character was a real highlight for me. The two characters develop a bond throughout the book and I liked that they could both identify as being different, with Daniel standing apart from Echos, and Audrey being an orphan who doesn't fit in with her new family.

Whilst the story had enough to keep me interested, I spent a lot of my time reading Echo Boy feeling a little disappointed. I love this genre of YA, and yet I think that was the downfall of this book. Not a lot of it was original. The technology was interesting, but I just felt so much of it had been done before. Every time a new piece of terminology was introduced I would find myself questioning where I had read it previously and getting that feeling of de jav u. It may have stood out a bit more a few years ago, but it just felt a little bit dated now there are so many similar novels out there that I enjoyed a lot more.

I had a few problems with the pacing as well. The story tended to get bogged down with exposition meaning you would leave the action at key points just to explain how some piece of equipment worked or explain the history of something which would end up having little relevence to the present situation. There was one moment towards the climax of the book where Audrey stopped to explain the material the walls of a particular building were made out of some fancy futuristic material that just baffled me and took me out of that exciting scene.

I didn't dislike Echo Boy, but it just left me feeling a little flat. There are some good action scenes in there, and I enjoyed the ending which provided a few last minute twists I thought were smart, and I thought Audrey's uncle made a great villain. I was perhaps just hoping for a little more.

Rating: 2.5*
Books like this: Cinder by Marissa Meyer, Hope's Daughter by Melanie Cusick-Jones

Monday 24 March 2014

[Blog Tour] Interview with Joe Kipling, author of Blinded by the Light


Today I'm excited to have Joe Kipling, author of Blinded by the Light, on the discussing her book, characters and the writing process. Read on for a great giveaway!

Mary-Anne Hunter ‘human marmite?’

In Sarah’s review of Blinded by the Light she referred to MaryAnn as a marmite character. I loved this description and thought it was a very apt reference.  Love her or hate her (and there have been some pretty strong reactions) MaryAnn is not to everyone’s taste. Now I happen to love marmite, so maybe that’s the reason why I adore her.

I feel that MaryAnn is the character that goes on the toughest journey. At the beginning of the book she’s 15 and has been born into a life of privilege and entitlement. She’s an Alpha; an elite in the Neighbourhood and expects to be treated as such.  She doesn’t question the validity of this; whether it’s right or wrong . .  . . it just is.  She worries about the small things; how popular she is, having the right boyfriend, whether her friends like her. These are the things that matter to her peers so they’re important to her. The Neighbourhood she lives in might be a safe haven from the Sandman Virus that decimated the UK population and from the feral wastelands Outside, but it’s a sterile, almost claustrophobic environment.

During the course of the book MaryAnn has to face up to some quite harrowing situations. She finds this very difficult because she’s not naturally heroic, she doesn’t even have superpowers or an attractive teen boyfriend to rely on when she gets into trouble. For large parts of the book she’s very much alone. As she goes through these experiences we see her become increasingly aware of what’s really happening in the Neighbourhood and the legitimacy of the environment she’s grown up in. I felt that these experiences mirror those of lots of teenagers. When we’re young we unquestioningly believe that those with authority know what’s best for us.  Our opinions and beliefs are often based on those of our parents, teachers and friends. We generally mix with people from the same social background, creating quite a flat emotional landscape. It is not until we grow older and enter our teens that we start to meet new people, sometimes move away from home and suddenly we’re exposed to new ideas and ways of thinking. This is when we start to question our vision of the world and to develop our own understanding of what’s right and wrong.

I think that MaryAnn is also a testament to the fact that as a teenager people can often place you in a box.  Living in the Neighbourhood MaryAnn has been constrained by the society she was born into and has never had the opportunity to grow or explore new ideas. In the words of the late great John Hughes, people might see you as a ‘brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess or a criminal,’ but that might not be who you really are.  MaryAnn is very much seen as a princess at the beginning of the book, but to me she’s so much more than that. Once she starts to question the status quo we really start to catch glimpses of the person she’s going to become. As we follow her story through books 2 and 3 I think that we’ll start to see some real growth in her character.

Interview with Jo Kilpling

In my review I described MaryAnn as a Marmite character (personally I loved her!). When we first meet MaryAnn we learn about her background - the fact she's a politician's daughter. Did you ever worry about people warming to her as a rich, privileged character?
This is definitely something I really did worry about. Sometimes it seems that the protagonist of a story has to be the underdog and fight insurmountable odds to make it to the top. When we start the book MaryAnn is already at the top.  I think it’s easy for us to think that just because someone is rich and appears privileged, life is easy. In the story we see that MaryAnn experiences the same anxieties as anyone else; she worries about what other people think about her, having friends, being liked. Everyone faces those concerns; rich or poor.

I loved the journey she goes on. Did you know she was going to grow so much throughout the book when you first started writing Blinded by the Light?
I had to really think hard before answering this question, because I’ve lived with MaryAnn for over 3 years and sometimes it feels that she doesn’t grow as quickly as I would like her too, then at other times she totally surprises me. She does go on quite a journey in the book. I think that these events, however difficult they may be, bring out the best in her. They force her away from her friends so she has to make decisions based on what she thinks. At heart she’s a good person, but is easily swayed by others. In books 2 and 3 there are moments when her behavior has totally taken me by surprise, she refuses to take the easy way out and really does start to show her true character.

I thought MaryAnn was a very empathetic person - really aware of the suffering of others. Was this something that was important to you when you were writing the book?
Yes it was. I wanted MaryAnn to be a real person, faults and all. She is spoilt and a little demanding at times, but she redeems herself because she cares about others. She really does want to do the right thing.  She’s just not sure what that is sometimes.

When you planning your books, what comes first, the story or the characters?
This is a difficult question to answer as they often arrive in a bit of a muddle.  I don’t really plan a lot, well to be completely honest I don’t plan at all.  The stories just seem to reveal themselves to me once I start writing them down. Normally I have a vague plot idea but its not until I get a main character that the idea becomes a solid story.

In Blinded by the Light it was Peter who appeared first and I thought the book was going to be about him, but the story just wouldn’t come together and then MaryAnn appeared on the scene and from that point it just seemed to write itself.

Who was your favourite character in Blinded by the Light and why?
I do love Flash Gordon as I have a bit of a soft spot for dogs in dress up.  He provides a little bit of comic relief, and hopefully balances some of the darker parts of the story.

I also like Peter as he’s such an interesting character to write. Sometimes I wish that I’d had the opportunity to write his point of view, but unfortunately that’s not how the story worked out. He’s suffered a lot of tragedy in his life and he’s a little bit closed off, but he’s also intensely loyal and has a really great sense of humour. He’s definitely someone you’d want on your side in a fight


Book giveaway!

Check out the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win a copy of the book!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thank you so much to Joe for answering my questions! Blinded by the Light is out now. Buy it here on Amazon or find out more on Goodreads.

Wednesday 19 March 2014

Waiting on Wednesday (#25): American Savage by Matt Whyman

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine and gives bloggers the chance to highlight upcoming releases we're excited about.


American Savage by Matt Whyman
Published: 4th June 2014 (Hot Key Books)
Pre-order: Amazon
Plot summary: Vegan, veggie, carnivore... humanitarian? Welcome to the top of the food chain.



The Savages are back - this time in a country where servings come supersized. Titus, Angelica and the kids go to great lengths to fit into their new lives in sunny Florida. But that's not easy when their appetite runs to feasts of human flesh.

In this dark comic serving of everyday family life with contemporary cannibals, the Savages seek to hide in plain sight by setting up a vegan café. But when the venture turns out to be a surprise sensation, and bad apples bob to the surface, Titus is forced to question whether the family have finally bitten off more than they can chew.




I loved The Savages and got to meet the author at Leakycon last year, so I'm so excited there's a sequel! What are you waiting on this week? Let me know in the comments!

Tuesday 18 March 2014

Teaser Tuesdays: 18th March

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
"I'm trying not to be too concerned, but I can't help but feel a creeping dread - it's a sensation I get a lot where the Laniers are concerned. 
'I'll walk you back--or, I'll drive you, if I can borrow the truck again'"
- 23% (Kindle), Before You Sleep (In Your Dreams, #3) by Amy Martin

Sunday 16 March 2014

Weekly Book Round Up! 16th March



Hi everyone! Time for another round up of what's been happening here on the blog and in my reading life generally. This week was another busy one for me but I did manage to finish a book, something I've been struggling to do recently! My reading time has been cut down a lot which makes me sad. I'm hoping to get back into the swing of things soon. On a positive note, this sunny weather has been lovely! I'm hoping it won't be long until I'm outside again in the garden with a book.


What I've Been Reading



This week I finished Echo Boy by Matt Haig. My review will be up in a few weeks time to keep an eye out! I've just started Before You Sleep by Amy Martin and am already enjoying being swept up with Zip and Kieren again. It's the third book in the In Your Dreams series.

Book Haul


My friend very kindly lent me two books this week after reading my popular authors I've never read post. I hadn't read either Terry Pratchet or Neil Gaiman so I'm super excited to get stuck into Neverwhere and Good Omens! I also bought my mum a Neil Gaiman book - Smoke and Mirrors - for her birthday, which I'm sure I'll be borrowing.

On the blog

It's been a quiet week on the blog, but I did manage to share my Waiting on Wednesday which is Dawn O'Porter's Goose.

I also posted my review of Panic by Lauren Oliver over on Fandomsnews.com!


What have you been reading this week? Let me know in the comments!




Wednesday 12 March 2014

Waiting on Wednesday (#24): Goose by Dawn O'Porter



Waiting on Wednesday is hosted over at Breaking the Spine, and gives bloggers the chance to feature 
upcoming releases we're excited about! 


Goose by Dawn O'Porter
Published: 3 April 2014 (Hot Key Books)
Buy the paperback: Amazon|Hive
Plot Summary: It's a year and a half on from Paper Aeroplanes, and Renée is now living with her Aunty Jo. They even have geese, and Renée likes to sit and watch them, wondering if she'll ever find 'the One' - someone who will love her no matter what, and be there for her no matter how bad things get. She and Flo are in their final year at school, and they've got some tough choices to make - like will they go to university? And if so where - and will they go together? Renée's usual ambivalence on the matter shocks Flo, who had assumed they'd continue as they were, the best and closest of friends, forever. She feels as though she needs Renée's support more than ever, so when a handsome young boy enters Flo's life, she finds herself powerfully drawn to his kindness, and his faith. Renée and Flo's friendship will soon be tested in a way neither of them could have expected - and if Paper Aeroplanes was a book about finding friendship, Goose is the novel that explores whether it's possible to keep hold of it.


Paper Aeroplanes was one of my favourite books of last year, so it's no surprise I'm dying to read the follow up! Plus I love contemporary YA that focuses on friendship and growing up. I'm all kinds of excited for Goose! What are you waiting on this week? Let me know in the comments!

Saturday 8 March 2014

Weekly Book Round Up! 8th March



Welcome to another weekly book round up! This is where I recap what's been happening over the past week (or slightly longer than a week in this case!) here on the blog and catch you up on all my reading and book buying adventures. Enjoy!
 
In the News

World Book Day took place this week, with school children across the country dressing up as their favourite book characters as well as special £1 books being released that they can use their World Book Day tokens to buy. Read more information about World Book Day over on the official site.

On the blog

What I've Been Reading



I'm currently reading Echo Boy by Matt Haig, which is a YA sci-fi novel. I finished the incredible Trouble by Non Pratt this week which was one of my favourite books of the year so far!

Book Haul

So I'm a bit overdue on this post which means there's even more books to talk about - yay! I've been going a bit crazy - oops. But I got some great bargains so that's okay.


I got Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo for 99p on Kindle this week. I've been meaning to read it for ages so I couldn't resist!



My charity shop bargain of the week was Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson, and I bought The Boy in the Smoke by Maureen Johnson which is one of this year's World Book Day books.



Recently I stopped by The Works where I picked up Deception by C. J. Redwine, Infinite Sky by C. J. Flood and Emma Hearts L.A by Keris Stainton on their 3 for £5 offer.



I also used a WHSmith gift card to buy Trouble by Non Pratt.



From the library I picked up The Name on Your Wrist by Helen Hiorns which I saw featured in this blog post over on Fluttering Butterflies a while ago and Independent Study by Joelle Charbonneau - sequel to The Testing which I adored!

And I also downloaded The Recruit by Robert Muchamore from NetGalley as The Cherub series is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year with a cover relaunch, and as I'm yet to read the series I thought this was a great opporunity! Thanks Hachette Children's for the review copy.

What have you been reading this week? Let me know in the comments!

Friday 7 March 2014

Review: Panic by Lauren Oliver


 Panic by Lauren Oliver

Author: Lauren Oliver Website|Twitter
Published: 6 March 2014 (Hodder & Stoughton)
Format: Proof copy
Pages: 416
Buy the book: Amazon|Hive|BookDepository
Buy the e-book: Kindle|Kobo

Source: Proof copy provided by publisher and gifted from Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books in exchange for an honest review.

Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
Panic began as so many things do in Carp, a dead-end town of 12,000 people in the middle of nowhere: because it was summer, and there was nothing else to do.

Heather never thought she would compete in Panic, a legendary game played by graduating seniors, where the stakes are high and the payoff is even higher. She’d never thought of herself as fearless, the kind of person who would fight to stand out. But when she finds something, and someone, to fight for, she will discover that she is braver than she ever thought.

Dodge has never been afraid of Panic. His secret will fuel him, and get him all the way through the game, he’s sure of it. But what he doesn't know is that he’s not the only one with a secret. Everyone has something to play for.

For Heather and Dodge, the game will bring new alliances, unexpected revelations, and the possibility of first love for each of them—and the knowledge that sometimes the very things we fear are those we need the most.


My Review:
It's exciting to finally be writing this review, because it feels like I've been waiting for this book for ever! I love Lauren Oliver and she was one of my first favourite YA authors after she won me over with Before I Fall. Panic follows Heather and Dodge as they take part in the game of Panic, where a group of teenagers are put through a set of dangerous set of tasks until only the bravest survive.

I remember when the novel was first announced people were quick to compare it to The Hunger Games, what with the plot summary detailing a bunch of teenagers competing against each other. Panic is in no way like The Hunger Games and I want to get that out the way quite quickly. It's contemporary/realistic fiction and all the challenges the kids face are extreme versions of high school dares and pranks that have been escalated to dangerous levels, so it is very much placed in the real world.

The book is told from dual points of view from Heather and Dodge's POV. Heather is living in a trailer park with a reckless mother and a younger sister to look after and could really do with the prize money that winning the game of Panic provides. Dodge lives with his wheelchair bound sister and wants revenge for the indident that damaged her legs. Both characters are driven and determined which really powered the story. I found the tone of the book to be quite dark. I loved the way the story took on fear and really made you feel what the characters were going through during those terrifying moments. There were some great twists and turns caused by secrecy and betrayal of trust as well which really shook things up.

I think Lauren Oliver has conjured up the small town vibes really well. The book is set in Carp, a town that doesn't seem to have much going for it yet is pretty tough to get out of. The characters we meet are in quite bleak situations and you can really feel their desperation to win Panic and how many opportunities to escape their current lives that would give them.

As well as Heather and Dodge, we meet Heather's friends Natalie and Bishop, who are both also caught up in the game of Panic. I liked the developing relationships between the four of them and how there's a few romantic tensions thrown in there to amp up the emotional side to things. I was definitely drawn a lot to Dodge. I also loved the scenes with Heather and her younger sister Lily as they try and fight their way out of some pretty miserable circumstances. I always love a good sister relationship!

The only downside for me was that the story jumps in just as the game of Panic is getting underway. I felt it could maybe have done with a bit more build up at the start of the book to get to know the characters before they're forced into these dangerous situations, so I could feel them out and get to know them a little more.

I love Lauren Oliver's beautiful writing and that was no different in Panic. The use of language just blows me away every time. I loved the little bits of foreshadowing throughout the book and how there were still plenty of surprises and plot twists on top of that. I got so invested in the characters and their fates with those intense moments Heather and Dodge go through. If you loved Oliver's previous books then I have no doubt that you'll enjoy this one. 

Overall I was really impressed by Panic. It was different to what I was expecting, but had me hooked to the pages and by the last couple of chapters the adrenaline was really going! It was different to what I was expecting - bleaker is the word I'd use - but it's one of those books that stays with you long after you close the pages which is one of the best complements I can give.

Rating: 4*
Books like this: Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver, Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Thursday 6 March 2014

Review: Trouble by Non Pratt


 Trouble by Non Pratt

Author: Non Pratt Website|Twitter
Published: 6 March 2014
Format: Paperback
Pages: 384
Buy the book: Amazon|Hive|BookDepository
Buy the e-book: Kindle|Kobo

Source: Bought

Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
A boy. A girl. A bump. Trouble.

Hannah’s smart and funny ... she’s also fifteen and pregnant. Aaron is new at school and doesn’t want to attract attention. So why does he offer to be the pretend dad to Hannah’s unborn baby?

Growing up can be trouble but that’s how you find out what really matters.


My Review:
As 2014 debuts go, I think it's safe to say that Trouble was up there as one of my most anticipated releases. The book tells the story of teenager Hannah who finds herself pregnant and on her own. Luckily the school new boy Aaron is on hand to play father to her unborn child.

I loved this book. Like a lot. A lot, a lot, a lot. I love realistic fiction that can take on subjects others may shy away from, and teen pregnancy is something I have not read a lot about, so I was excited to see how it was done. And the result? It was done brilliantly. Trouble doesn't sensationalise teen pregnancy, nor does it come across as judgemental. Hannah's situation is not blown up in to some big drama. It felt real, honest, and had the perfect balance of humour, heart and emotion thrown in. Everything about it was just spot on. It never felt like an issue book, it was a book about a great girl and the ups and downs she goes through in all areas of her life. I'm a huge fan of YA contemporary and would urge everyone else who is to pick up Trouble, because it's a perfect example of why this genre is so great!

Then there's the fantastic characters. Take Hannah. We meet her as this girl who is confident around boys, but not in a way that is anyway frowned upon. She's just a typical teenager. She fights with her mum and drinks at parties, but she's sweet and funny and felt so real and likable. Non Pratt has created some wonderful characters who both reminded me of people I met at school, or made me wish I'd met people like them at school. And Aaron - where do I start with Aaron? I love him, and I'm pretty sure everyone who reads Trouble will too.

Trouble alternates between Aaron and Hanna's POV and what works so well is that they both have separate things going on their lives - their own secrets and pasts - but their two stories intertwine so beautifully. I loved how natural the bond between them was - it never felt forced. I loved that they both had this respect for each other which meant they never pushed the other to tell them anything they weren't happy talking about, and that they could completely relate to each other despite how different their situations are.

Throughout the book there's a lot of focus on family and I adored the relationship Hannah had with her sister and grandmother. I think a lot of young people will relate to Hanna's frustrations with her mother, especially at the beginning of the book where there's these constant fights over homework! One of my favourite parts was the friendship between Hannah and Katie and how it changes over time. I could really relate to a lot of those moments where things are becoming different between them.

I had a huge amount of respect for the writing. The school environment the book takes place in was so spot on and so much of it was recognisable, not just through the brilliant characters but the brilliant pop culture references. I think sometimes reading YA it's easy to start picking apart the scenes that would never happen in real life, but I couldn't find any in Trouble. In fact I couldn't find anything I disliked about it. It's probably as close as it comes to a perfect book!

There is so much more I could say. Basically I will be shouting about this book from the rooftops for a long time to come. When I finished Trouble, I kept turning the pages wanting more and more. I just didn't want to leave those characters whose lives I had become so invested in. At the same time, I loved that it left me feeling like that. I think it's so special to have a book that lives with you long after you've closed the pages.

Rating: 5*
Books like this: How to Love by Katie Cotugno


Tuesday 4 March 2014

Top Ten Tuesday: Popular Authors I've Never Read

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted over at The Broke and the Bookish and this week's top ten is populat authors I've never read. This brings on all kinds of shame! Several of these authors' books are sitting on my shelf unread, others are ones I just keep meaning to buy or borrow.





Neil Gaiman
Jennifer L. Armentrout/J. Lynn
Sarah Dessen
Tahereh Mafi
Louise Rennison

I own the first and second books in the Georgia Nicholson series by Louise Rennison but have yet to read them. Plan to change that soon! Every time I mention on Twitter that I haven't read anything by JLA I get many, many tweets telling me to change that.




Malorie Blackman
Terry Pratchett
Laurie Halse Anderson
Holly Black
Libba Bray

Malorie Blackman is probably the one I feel most shame about not having read, but I bought Noughts and Crosses a few weeks ago so fingers crossed I'll read that soon! I've also just bought Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson.

Of the other authors listed, which books would you recommend I try out first? Let me know in the comments!


Sunday 2 March 2014

Excerpt & Giveaway: Summer Demons by Mia Hoddell

Today I'm excited to take part in the book blitz for Mia Hoddell's new YA book Summer Demons! You can find out more about the book and read an excerpt below, plus there's an awesome giveaway!



Summer Demons
by Mia Hoddell

Genre: YA Romance
Release Date: 26th February 2014
Length: Novella

Blurb:
Jenna Shaw ran away to escape her past. In fact, she jumped on a plane and flew to Portugal to try and forget it. However, it turns out leaving everything behind isn’t as easy as it sounds.

She thought she could move on and break free of her fears—that if she had some space the pain would stop. But as memories resurface due to an ill-timed joke, the past crashes into her present once more and she didn’t see it coming.

Jenna’s plans for normality are derailed by the charismatic Ethan Brooks. She sees him as an annoyance; he sees her as a challenge. But as he tries every trick known to him to impress her, they only serve to push her further away. He’s never faced this problem before and Ethan has to work harder than he ever has if he wants to win over and help his mysterious girl.


Download in now for FREE!
Only free 1st & 2nd of March

Excerpt

She saw red. Seeping into the crystal clear water it spread, bleeding and merging as the ripples around her pushed it closer towards her feet. The deep crimson only grew darker as it surrounded her.
She could feel her breathing quicken, coming in short, sharp rasps as she started to panic. Her chest constricted, an unbearable pressure tightening like a boa constrictor refusing to release her from its clutches. Her throat felt dry, her increased breathing doing nothing to help the situation as she forced herself to swallow in the hope of dislodging the lump that had formed there.
This isn’t happening. This isn’t real. I came here to escape this, she told herself repeatedly as she laid there, her turquoise bikini embellished with golden sequins shining in the sun as her back tanned slowly. Bringing up an arm to adjust her chestnut-brown hair that was dangling in the water, she tried to pull away before the colour reached her and tainted the beautiful locks. The damage done would be irreparable if it touched her.
Moving it just in time, she threw it over her shoulder so it rested between her shoulder blades, the damp tips feeling nice as they cooled her back by trailing droplets of water down either side. She tried not to flinch as her gaze returned to the bloodied water that lapped at the li-lo beneath her chin. With every wave it seemed to grow closer, making its way further up the yellow plastic to try and touch her. The tapping that was normally so soothing tormented her now, like a crowd clapping and cheering her sanity on as it fled for safety.
Rather than listen to the logical side of her brain, her body had other ideas. Shuffling back, she put a bigger distance between her face and the abnormal pool beneath her. As her toes dipped into the cool water behind her though, she flinched, automatically drawing herself up so that no part of her body was near the edge. No matter how disgusted she was, she couldn’t stop staring; her eyes were hypnotised by the gentle movements that swirled the colour into the water even more. The red had become so thick that not one tile beneath the surface was visible.
The more she stared, the more she remembered.
The more she remembered, the more she was pulled into her memory.
It might not have been real at that moment in time, but it had been, and Jenna was once again pulled into the unbearable memory.

About the Author

Mia Hoddell lives in the UK with her family and two cats. She spends most of her time writing or reading, loves anything paranormal and has an overactive imagination that keeps her up until the early hours of the morning.

With three poems published before the age of sixteen, Mia moved on to short stories but finding she had too much to tell with too little space, Mia progressed to novels. She started her first series (The Wanderer Trilogy) at the age of fourteen and since then hasn’t stopped writing. Elemental Killers is her second series and with an ever growing list of ideas, Mia is trying to keep up with the speed at which her imagination generates them.


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**Giveaway**

Prize: x3 Amazon gift cards ($5 or UK equivalent)

Rules: 
Winners must be able to accept Amazon gift cards.
Open to US and UK residents only.
Winners have 48hrs to respond before a new winner is chosen.



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