Waiting on Wednesday: The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff

 
Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly memo that is hosted by Breaking the Spine Blog.


This week I am featuring The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff

So more about the book….


Expected Release Date: 15^th November 2011

 
Everything is made of steel, even the flowers. How can you love anything in a place like this?

Daphne is the half-demon, half-fallen angel daughter of Lucifer and Lilith. Life for her is an endless expanse of time, until her brother Obie is kidnapped - and Daphne realizes she may be partially responsible. Determined to find him, Daphne travels from her home in Pandemonium to the vast streets of Earth, where everything is colder and more terrifying. With the help of the human boy she believes was the last person to see her brother alive, Daphne glimpses into his dreams, discovering clues to Obie's whereabouts. As she delves deeper into her demonic powers, she must navigate the jealousies and alliances of the violent archangels who stand in her way. But she also discovers, unexpectedly, what it means to love and be human in a world where human is the hardest thing to be.

   
Best wishes     

 
Debra's Book Cafe


 

The Kissing Tree Book Tour Coming Soon......

Book Review - Misfit by Jon Skovron

Jael has always felt like a freak. She’s never kissed a boy, she never knew her mom, and her dad’s always been superstrict—but that’s probably because her mom was a demon, which makes Jael half demon and most definitely not a normal sophomore girl. On her sixteenth birthday, a mysterious present unlocks her family’s dangerous history and Jael’s untapped potential. What was merely an embarrassing secret before becomes a terrifying reality. Jael must learn to master her demon side in order to take on a vindictive Duke of Hell while also dealing with a twisted priest, best-friend drama, and a spacey blond skater boy who may have hidden depths.

Author Jon Skovron takes on the dark side of human nature with his signature funny, heartfelt prose.


Released:  1st August 2011

 My Review 



Best wishes

Debs

In My E-Mailbox - 25th September 2011

Hi Guys!!  So here is a batch of ebooks that I have received over the past couple of weeks.....







Best wishes

Debs

IMM/Book Haul - 24th September 2011

Hiya!  So here is my haul for this week.....



Best wishes

Debs :-)

Fragment Friday - Jinx by Meg Cabot

It's not easy being Jinx.

Jean Honeychurch hates her boring name (not Jean Marie, or Jeanette, just . . . Jean). What's worse? Her all-too-appropriate nickname, Jinx. Misfortune seems to follow her everywhere she goes even to New York City, where Jinx has moved to get away from the huge mess she caused in her small hometown. Her aunt and uncle welcome her to their Manhattan town house, but her beautiful cousin Tory isn't so thrilled. . . .

In fact, Tory is hiding a dangerous secret one that could put them all in danger. Soon Jinx realizes it isn't just bad luck she's been running from . . . and that the curse she has lived under since the day she was born may be the only thing that can save her life.


Released : 2007

This is a book that I absoloutely loved.  It is the first book I have read written by Meg Cabot and immediately loved it...  A very good witchy book.......




Best wishes

Debs :-)

Waiting on Wednesday: Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

 
Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly memo that is hosted by Breaking the Spine Blog.


This week I am featuring Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

So more about the book….


Expected Release Date: 15^th November 2011

 

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days. The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old-girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

In this electrifying debut, Tahereh Mafi presents a world as riveting as The Hunger Games and a superhero story as thrilling as The X-Men. Full of pulse-pounding romance, intoxicating villainy, and high-stakes choices, Shatter Me is a fresh and original dystopian novel—with a paranormal twist—that will leave readers anxiously awaiting its sequel.

 
 
Best wishes


 
Debra's Book Cafe


 

Monday’s Author Spotlight – Carlos Ruiz Zafon

 
Monday's Author Spotlight is a meme that I started to showcase different authors and their works.


 

This week, I am showcasing Carlos Ruiz Zafon.

 
For more information, please visit the author's website here - http://www.carlosruizzafon.co.uk/


 
Best wishes


 
Debs J

You Tube Issues and New YouTube Layout Testing

Hey guys!  I thought I would just drop an email here just in case you have missed any of the videos that I have posted today.  A lot of people have been having problems with seeing videos in their subscription panel, I have posted all my videos here on this blog too....  

I also wanted to let you guys know about new layout testing on YouTube.  I am testing it now and I am really loving it...  If you want to try it, the link is below

http://www.youtube.com/cosmicpanda

Best wishes

Debs

Book Review - The Winters in Bloom by Lisa Tucker

Kyra and David Winter are happier than they ever thought they could be. They have a comfortable home, stable careers, and a young son, Michael, whom they love more than anything. Yet because of their complicated histories, Kyra and David have always feared that the life they created was destined to be disrupted. And on one perfectly average summer day, it is: Michael disappears from his own backyard.

The only question is whose past has finally caught up with them: David feels sure that Michael was taken by his troubled ex-wife, while Kyra believes the kidnapper must be someone from her estranged family, someone she betrayed years ago.

As the Winters embark on a journey of time and memory to find Michael, they will be forced to admit these suspicions, revealing secrets about themselves they’ve always kept hidden. But they will also have a chance to discover that it’s not too late to have the family they’ve dreamed of; that even if the world is full of risks, as long as they have hope, the future can bloom.

Lyrical, wise, and witty, The Winters in Bloom is Lisa Tucker’s most optimistic work to date. This enchanting, life-affirming story will charm listeners and leave them full of wonder at the stubborn strength of the human heart.

Release Date : 13th September 2011

My Review



Best wishes

Debs :-)

Book Review - Drink Slay Love by Sarah Beth Durst

Pearl is a sixteen-year-old vampire... fond of blood, allergic to sunlight, and mostly evil... until the night a sparkly unicorn stabs her through the heart with his horn. Oops.

Her family thinks she was attacked by a vampire hunter (because, obviously, unicorns don't exist), and they're shocked she survived. They're even more shocked when Pearl discovers she can now withstand the sun. But they quickly find a way to make use of her new talent. The Vampire King of New England has chosen Pearl's family to host his feast. If Pearl enrolls in high school, she can make lots of human friends and lure them to the King's feast -- as the entrees.

The only problem? Pearl's starting to feel the twinges of a conscience. How can she serve up her new friends—especially the cute guy who makes her fangs ache—to be slaughtered? Then again, she's definitely dead if she lets down her family. What's a sunlight-loving vamp to do?

Release Date : 13th September 2011

My Review 





Best wishes

Debs

Book Haul - 18th September 2011

Hi there!  So here is my book haul for this week.  I think I got some really great bargains this time....



Best wishes

Debs :-)

Book Review - The Chocolate Diaries by Karen Linamen

Ready to Make Some Sweet Changes?
Karen Linamen dishes up a satisfying blend of moxie and mocha, sharing stories from dozens of women who reveal savvy strategies for embracing a sweeter life—even while traveling rocky roads. If you’re hungry for more joy, reasons to laugh again, ideas to help you heal, and reliable hope leading to a sweeter future, this journey will leave you satisfied.

Funny, transparent, and uplifting, The Chocolate Diaries is like taking a road trip with good friends who are wise about life. And while you’re at it, indulge (just a little) in the quirky recipes for concocting chocolate delights out of whatever ingredients you can round up in your kitch. The road may still be bumpy, but you’ll be having too much fun to care.
  


Best wishes 

Debs :-)

Fragment Friday - A Kiss in Time by Alex Flinn

Meme hosted by Book Chic Club

Waiting on Wednesday: Past Perfect by Leila Sales

 
Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly memo that is hosted by Breaking the Spine Blog.


This week I am featuring Past Perfect by Leila Sales

So more about the book….


Expected Release Date: 4^th October 2011


 
All Chelsea wants to do this summer is hang out with her best friend, hone her talents as an ice cream connoisseur, and finally get over Ezra, the boy who broke her heart. But when Chelsea shows up for her summer job at Essex Historical Colonial Village (yes, really), it turns out Ezra's working there too. Which makes moving on and forgetting Ezra a lot more complicated…even when Chelsea starts falling for someone new.


Maybe Chelsea should have known better than to think that a historical reenactment village could help her escape her past. But with Ezra all too present, and her new crush seeming all too off limits, all Chelsea knows is that she's got a lot to figure out about love. Because those who don't learn from the past are doomed to repeat it….



Best wishes


 
Debra's Book Cafe


 

Monday's Author Spotlight - Rebecca Ryals Russell

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rebecca Ryals Russell writes MG and YA Dark Fantasy and Horror while living with her family in a Victorian house on five acres of North Florida countryside. She also runs a Vacation Rental Log House on the property: Florida Black Bear Cabin. ( http://flablackbearcabin.com )

She is a fourth generation Floridian. She was born in Gainesville, grew up in Sunrise, lived in Orlando and Jacksonville before moving outside Lake City to care for ailing parents.

The daughter of an Elementary-school principal and secretary, for fourteen years she taught Middle Grades, preferring English and Creative Writing. She had several students’ works published in anthologies as well as her own poetry, photography and stories. Her main interests are her four children ages 22, 19, 16, 11 and Irish hubby of 35 years. She enjoys spending her time writing, drawing, going to movies, reading, discussing philosophy with her 17-year-old son.

Over the course of the next few years she has several books being published.

Be sure to check out the special interactive Middle Grade Reader website http://tweenwordquest.com for tons of information about Stardust Warriors as well as the other projects Rebecca has in the works.

 

17-year-old Myrna is drawn into the middle of an epic battle between Seraphym and Demons. An average High School student from Florida, struggling with inner demons resulting from an attack when she was 15, she wakes one morning on the Steampunk planet of Dracwald, home of the demon-dragons responsible for her brother’s recent murder as well as many other atrocities in the news. She meets sweet and sensitive Michael, who explains that according to prophecy, Myrna must gather the remaining six Vigorios (teen warriors with special talents) then train with the Majikals on an enchanted island. He accompanies her on the quest, but harbors a secret past that ironically would destroy all the faith she has placed in him. A handsomely roguish Scientist with suspect motives haunts her dreams and makes sudden appearances in unlikely places, while a sensual dragon warrior defends her against her will.

Will love and lust, jealousy, greed, deceit and distrust break the delicate tie that binds these teen warriors called The Vigorios? Can a troupe of teens help the Seraphym finally defeat the massive empire of evil dominated for eons by the demon-dragons of Dracwald? 

 

14-year old Zarena spends time with a Holy Order of Clerics on their hidden world of Revrum Natura, while she receives training in Martial Arts, Herbology, Astronomy, Weaponry and Mind Control. Destined to become the leader of the Vigorios, child warriors, who will assist the Seraphym in the war against the demon-dragons of Dracwald, Zarena grows up in a hurry. Lonely and homesick, she meets a Mermaid who encourages her to talk about her training. Is this new friend too good to be true? Zarena learns a valuable lesson about trust and betrayal—a lesson that will serve her well as leader of the Vigorios.

 

For centuries the residents of Solsyl lived in peace and harmony with the planet. Then the dragon-demons arrived, causing the Great Shuddering. Majikals from everywhere scurried to find shelter from the evil while humans hid. Laud regretted his rash decision of exiling the demons on Solsyl and asked one of his advisors, a member of The Conscientia, to protect his people. Jeremiah Holyfield agreed to leave the peaceful world of Revrum Natura for a life of constant strife and fear on the newly renamed planet of Dracwald. But Narciss, ruler of Tartarus and King of the demons, desperately wants what Jeremiah has sworn to protect—a Prophecy of Narciss’s future doom. And Narciss refuses to take no for an answer. But Jeremiah discovers allies along his path and even true love, which he never dreamed possible.

But forever is a long time to protect something without ever letting down one’s guard.

ESTIMATED RELEASE DATES

April 2011-Odessa, Seraphym Wars YA Series-available at Amazon

July 2011-Zarena, Stardust Warriors MG Series

September 2011-Prophecy, Seraphym Wars

October 2011-Don’t Make Marty Mad (adult Horror story)

November 2011-Jeremiah, Stardust Warriors

January 2012-Harpies, Seraphym Wars

February 2012-Laman, Stardust Warriors

April 2012-Mercy, Stardust Warriors

June 2012-Magaelbash, Stardust Warriors

For more information, please check out the author's website :-   http://rryalsrussell.com/

Best wishes 

Debs :-)

(Note.  All information above has been supplied by the author direct)

If you are an author and would like to feature here, please do let me know.

If you would like to do this meme on your blog, please feel free to do so.

Leave a comment for Rebecca’s posting. One commenter will be chosen at random to win a FREE ebook or other PRIZE, such as an illustrated calendar, keychain, cover art notepad. You can’t win if you don’t comment. More details available at http://rryalsrussell.com/september-blog-a-thon/

Fragment Friday - The Hollow by Jessica Verday

Meme hosted by Book Chic Club

Best wishes

Debs

Waiting on Wednesday: Fateful by Claudia Grey

 
Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly memo that is hosted by Breaking the Spine Blog.


This week I am featuring Fateful by Claudia Grey

So more about the book….


Expected Release Date: 1^st/12^th September 2011


It's about a servant girl named Tess in 1912, who wants to escape from the house where she works, and most particularly the lecherous young lord of the manor. But that's not her biggest problem. While on a voyage to America, where she plans to escape and start a new life, she meets Alec, who's ruggedly handsome, fabulously wealthy, intelligent and yet so clearly troubled that she'd rather not fall for him, but she does. That also is not her biggest problem. Alec, it turns out, is a werewolf ... one cursed to change every night, unless and until he surrenders his independence and joins the Brotherhood, a pack of violently misogynistic werewolves who have been tracking him for months. You'd think that would be their biggest problem, wouldn't you?                                                   

But no. Their biggest problem -- though they don't know it yet -- is that they're aboard the RMS Titanic



Best wishes




Debs :-)


 

Book Review - The Mephisto Covenant by Trinity Faegan (The Mephisto Covenant Book 1)

Sasha is desperate to find out who murdered her father. When getting the answer means pledging her soul to Eryx, she unlocks a secret that puts her in grave danger—Sasha is Anabo, a daughter of Eve, and Eryx’s biggest threat.

A son of Hell, immortal, and bound to Earth forever, Jax looks for redemption in the Mephisto Covenant—God’s promise he will find peace in the love of an Anabo. After a thousand years, he’s finally found the girl he’s been searching for: Sasha.

With the threat of Eryx looming, Jax has to keep Sasha safe and win her over. But can he? Will Sasha love him and give up her mortal life?

Expected Release Date:  27th September 2011

My Review: 







Best wishes


Debs :-)

Book Review - The Hidden by Jessica Verday (The Hollow Book 3)

 

Love and mystery mix in the final installment of this spine-tingling, hauntingly gorgeous trilogy, which L.J. Smith calls "Spectacular!"

                

In the long-awaited conclusion to the bestselling saga of Abbey and Caspian, readers finally learn the truth about Kristen's untimely death, the dark destiny that links Abbey to Caspian and ties them both to the town of Sleepy Hollow, and the hard choices that Abbey must make if she is to accept Caspian's love and their unexpected fate. Beautifully spun, emotionally gripping, and irresistibly romantic, The Hidden will leave readers breathless.

 

 

Release Date - 6th September 2011

My Review - 10 out of 10

*** Warning the below review may contain spoilers****

Best wishes

Debs

Read an Exerpt from The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson here....

For more information on the story - The Name of the Star (Shades of London)

To read an exerpt from the book - http://www.scribd.com/doc/63600546/The-Name-of-the-Star-Shades-of-London-1-by-Maureen-Johnson

I found this on a tweet from Maureen Johnson..

Enjoy!

Best wishes

Debs :-)

The Best Song Ever for all book lovers out there.....

Hiya!!

This song is amazingly brilliant and funny



Best wishes

Debs :-)

In My Mailbox/Book Haul - 5th September 2011

Best wishes

Debs :-)

Monday’s Author Spotlight – Sarah Addison Allen

 
Monday's Author Spotlight is a meme that I started to showcase different authors and their works.


                            
This week, I am showcasing Sarah Addison Allen.


        

I have read all of her books apart from The Peach Keeper, which I can't wait to get my hands on...  I absolutely love her book.  Her style of writing is so magical....                            



For more information, please visit the author's website here - http://www.sarahaddisonallen.com/


 
Best wishes


 
Debs J

Review Featured on K C Hilton Website

Hey!

Check this out - 

http://www.kc-hilton.com/2011/08/video-book-review-by-debras-book-cafe/

Best wishes

Debs

Waiting on Wednesday: Beautiful Days by Anna Godbersen

 
Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly memo that is hosted by Breaking the Spine Blog.

This week I am featuring Beautiful Days by Anna Godbersen, which is book 2 in the Bright Young Things series.


So more about the book….

Expected Release Date: 20^th September 2011


 
****WARNING – MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS ******


 
For the bright young things of 1929, the beautiful days seem endless, filled with romance and heartbreak, adventure and intrigue, friendship and rivalry. 


After a month in New York, Cordelia Grey and Letty Larkspur are small-town girls no longer. They spend their afternoons with Astrid Donal at the Greys' lush Long Island estate and their nights in Manhattan's bustling metropolis. But Letty's not content to be a mere socialite. She is ready at last to chase her Broadway dreams—no matter the cost. 


Cordelia is still reeling from the death of her father at the hands of Thom Hale, the man she thought she loved. Now she is set to honor Darius Grey's legacy . . . and take her revenge. 


Promised to Cordelia's half brother, Astrid is caught up in a world of dazzling jewels and glittering nights—and the sparkle is blinding. Charlie Grey is a gangster playing a dangerous game; and for Astrid, Cordelia, and Letty, the stakes could be deadly. 


From the New York Times bestselling author of The Luxe comes the second book in an epic series set in the dizzying last summer of the Jazz Age.


 
Best wishes


 
Debs


 

Book Review - The Magic of Finkleton by K C Hilton

Most folks say, "Mother Nature controls the rain". However this is not the case in the village of Finkleton. In the perfect little village of Finkleton, the weather is always perfect. Every farm grows the best, biggest, healthiest crops in the entire world, and everyone is happy. 

Soon after the Finkles inherit their Uncle Harry's shop and move to Finkleton, they discover magical secrets hidden in his shop. One clue at a time, Jack, Lizzy and Robert learn the town's amazing secret. No, Mother Nature is not in charge in Finkleton! 

Ever since Uncle Harry's death, the weather has not been cooperating. Farms are starting to fail. Will the Finkle children be able to solve all the magical mysteries before the village is destroyed? Come along to Finkleton. A very special, magical adventure is about to begin!

My Review:




Best wishes

Debs :-) 

In My Mailbox - 28th August 2011

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme started by The Story Siren.

So, here are the books I received this week.....




Best wishes

Debs :-)

Book Review - Fury by Elizabeth Miles

Sometimes sorry isn't enough....

It’s winter break in Ascension, Maine. The snow is falling and everything looks pristine and peaceful. But not all is as it seems...
Between cozy traditions and parties with her friends, Emily loves the holidays. And this year’s even better--the guy she’s been into for months is finally noticing her. But Em knows if she starts things with him, there’s no turning back. Because his girlfriend is Em’s best friend. 

On the other side of town, Chase is having problems of his own. The stress of his home life is starting to take its toll, and his social life is unraveling. But that’s nothing compared to what’s really haunting him. Chase has done something cruel...something the perfect guy he pretends to be would never do. And it’s only a matter of time before he’s exposed. 

In Ascension, mistakes can be deadly. And three girls—three beautiful, mysterious girls—are here to choose who will pay. 

Approx. Release Date - 30th August 2011

My Review




Best wishes

Debs :-)

Waiting on Wednesday: The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore

 
Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly memo that is hosted by Breaking the Spine Blog.


This week I am featuring The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore. Although this book came out yesterday, I thought it would be worth a mention on my first ever Waiting on Wednesday meme post. I very much enjoyed I Am Number Four (both the movie and the book were amazing) and I am very much looking forward to getting stuck into the second in the series….

So more about the book….


Release Date: 23^rd August 2011 


*** SPOILER ALERT ***


The below blurb may give away spoilers from the first book in the series, I Am Number Four.


 
I've seen him on the news. Followed the stories about what happened in Ohio. John Smith, out there, on the run. To the world, he's a mystery. But to me . . . he's one of us.

Nine of us came here, but sometimes I wonder if time has changed us—if we all still believe in our mission. How can I know? There are six of us left. We're hiding, blending in, avoiding contact with one another . . . but our Legacies are developing, and soon we'll be equipped to fight. Is John Number Four, and is his appearance the sign I've been waiting for? And what about Number Five and Six? Could one of them be the raven-haired girl with the stormy eyes from my dreams? The girl with powers that are beyond anything I could ever imagine? The girl who may be strong enough to bring the six of us together?

They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They tried to catch Number Four in Ohio—and failed.

I am Number Seven. One of six still alive.

And I'm ready to fight.


 

 
Best wishes


 
Debra's Book Cafe


 

Book Haul - 20th August 2011

How long does it take you to finish a book?

I have been asked this question a lot recently so I thought I would sit down and write a little article about it. How long it takes me to read a book is like saying how long is a piece of string. It depends on many factors:

• size of book;
  
• whether I am 'into' the book or not; and
  
• what mood I am in on that particular day.
  

Let's take, for example, a book that I have recently been reading, which is Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult. This is quite a long book at about 450 pages and the font is quite small. I tend to read anywhere up to about 50 pages a day; Mondays to Fridays when I am working I read in the evenings until I am near falling asleep and at the weekends it really does depend on whether it is a weekend doing activities or a weekend of just lazing around reading. If it is a weekend of just lazing around, I can easily get through a book a day (depending on the size and complexity of the book).

As to whether I am a fast reader, which also depends on the type of book I am reading. If it is an easy to read YA fiction book then I can probably wiz through it but still enjoy it and take in all the goodness of the story. If it is a slightly more detailed story (for example, Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult) I will tend to slow down and absorb all the complexities of the story and really enjoy and absorb the wonderfulness of the story.

Best wishes

Debs

Book Haul - 14th August 2011

Book Review - Witchlander by Lena Coakley

High in their mountain covens, red witches pray to the Goddess, protecting the Witchlands by throwing the bones and foretelling the future.


It’s all a fake.


At least, that’s what Ryder thinks. He doubts the witches really deserve their tithes—one quarter of all the crops his village can produce. And even if they can predict the future, what danger is there to foretell, now that his people’s old enemy, the Baen, has been defeated?


But when a terrifying new magic threatens both his village and the coven, Ryder must confront the beautiful and silent witch who holds all the secrets. Everything he’s ever believed about witches, the Baen, magic and about himself will change, when he discovers that the prophecies he’s always scorned—


Are about him.

Anticipated release at the end of August 2011
My review - 10 out of 10  



Best wishes

Debs