Early Halloween Blog

Ok, I am posting this Halloween blog early cos I'm not going to get the chance to do it on Sunday (am going to a book signing! So excited!).

And so, I thought I should put some videos to get us in the mood of the holiday where we should respect the dead. Well, I said I should, so instead, let's have this instead...!





(Thank you Ellen via YouTube! Although this next one... might be a tad mean... oh well... We might as well show it!)


SO RUDE! XD

One more video...



Happy Halloween everybody!

A Third Important Message

GoodRead – Crescendo

Before I tell you guys my views on this book, sequel to the awesome, “Hush, Hush”, from the bestselling author Becca Fitzpatrick, let's chat about Crescendo...

After the events of Hush, Hush, Nora should have learnt that her life wouldn't return to normal. Not after she got herself a Guardian Angel, Patch (who is anything but angelic). But, recently, Patch has been pulling away from her, spending time with Marcie Millar, a girl who has made Nora's life hell.

Worse, an old family friend, Scott Parnell has returned to Coldwater. Although she finds his attitude infuriating, she finds something drawn to him. Although she has the strong feeling that he's hiding something.

With images of her murdered father haunting her, Nora begins to search for the mysterious truth, putting herself in dangerous situations. But some truths are better left being buried, but if Nora's not careful, the truth could destroy everything – and everyone – she loves and trusts.

I have just literally finished this book and ... WHAT THE HOLY CRABCAKE!?!?!?

This book was, maybe, more gripping than Hush, Hush. And more emotional. There were times that you wanted to get to the characters and shake them, but Becca writes Nora's turmoil and emotional pain almost perfectly. A few reviewers have said that this was like watching two friends tear each other to bits and you being forced to choose a side, and with reviews saying that, you know the the author wrote this with care, and maybe with a touch of glee. What better way to make you want something so badly? Give it to them, then take it away in almost the cruellest way. I take my hat off to you, Becca!

And, before I go any further, Vee! I think Vee was awesome in this book. I liked her in Hush, Hush. But in Crescendo, Vee was awesome. She had the best one-liners!

Now, as much as I want to go any further, the ending... WHAT THE CRABCAKE! A double twist!!! I can not wait for the third book in the series, Tempest!

Plus, I will be meeting Becca at the book-signing this coming Sunday so I can't wait to get a signed copy and maybe grill her over the ending!

SONGS AND BOOK TRAILER TIME! Remember, the song/s (not sure how many I want to add to this blog) are MY choices that I was listening to while I was reading. So, ENJOY!





With this song (which I LOVE!), I am going to say the last minute and a half is perfect (start at the 3 minute mark). The slowly building of the song... I will also add the clip where I heard this song and how perfect it is for Crescendo, then no more YouTube! Promise!

GoodRead – Mrs Fry's Diary

On Twitter, she has a huge following. So, of course, it didn't take long before she became a published author.

Mrs Stephen Fry (aka @MrsStephenFry) finally reveals the truth about her husband. The truth of the window-cleaning, the kerabs, the women, the lager. And with that, she reveals what it's like to be the wife and mother of his five, six or possibly seven children...

This is a fast and stupidly funny book! I loved it and I can't wait for volume two of her diaries! Plus, I can't wait for her to reveal more delicous recipes that include the tin of Spam. Am stockpiling as we speak...

It's Not Halloween Yet!

I was listening to some old music on YouTube when I paused a song. Bad move, because this is what greeted me!



That will be haunting my dreams now!

But, I do like the song! So, here's the video!

Another Important Message

GoodRead - UK Cover Vs US Cover

Last blog of the day, me thinks!

Anyway, this cover is for a book I've just entered a competition for (click here if you wanna enter!) and so, I thought I should do it!

The book is called Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel. And yes, it is another vampire story. But ti looks darker and creepy than the normal YA vampire stories out on bookshelves at the moment.

Anyway, the covers! This is the UK cover...



And this is the US cover...



Very different, aren't they? The UK cover, I suspect, is going for the dark, edgy feel of the book (how very vampire) whereas the US cover is going for a slightly different take.

You know, the more I see the US cover, the more I like it. I think it's the striking blue eyes and the silver tear. But I do prefer the UK cover.

Although, I have just seen the German cover for Infinite Days (or, as it is going to be called in German - The Night is Yours), and I LOVE THE COVER! But then, I do always like blue and underwater-feels to books...

GoodRead - UK Cover Vs US Cover

I AM going to finish reading White Cat, the first book in the Curse Workers series by Holly Black. I PROMISE (damn, reader's Block!)! But, I just saw the UK cover of the sequel, Red Glove, and thought I better show you!!!

Right, here is the UK cover...



And here is the US cover...



I like them both! NOT FAIR! But, unlike the UK cover for the White Cat, I really like the UK cover to the Red Glove. But there's something about the US cover I like to.

Am torn! What do you guys think???

Michelle Zink News

As some of you know, I love Michelle Zink and her trilogy, Prophecy of the Sisters. But somehow, I missed the announcement of what the third and final book in the series was called. For a long time, the rumour mill had us believe that it was simply The Beast. That was a draft name but now, the name of the third and final book has been revealed as...

CIRCLE OF FIRE

I love it. When I first heard it, I thought: "All Hell has Broken Loose!" and I can't wait! Am still reading book two in the series so TELL ME NOTHING!

But, because I wanted to find a cool image, I searched for a Circle of Fire image and found this. LOVE IT!!!

GoodRead - The Body Finder

I finished this book a few days ago and decided that I would take a day or two before I would attempt to write a review for this book. So, let's start, shall we?

Violet Ambrose is your typical teenage girl. Expect she has problems. First, with her best friend, Jay. She started to habour a crush on him. A HUGE crush on him. But she doesn't want to ruin her friendship with him...

Second, she has a morbid secret. She has the ability to sense dead bodies. For most of her life, she has see/hear/taste “echoes” on murdered creatures and she can sense the same echo of the murderer. Mostly her pet cat and dead birds and dead mice.

Expect, now, there's a serial killer on the loose. Praying on young girls and, for once, Violet thinks she can use her morbid gift to tackle down and stop the killer.

But she has to be careful. Because, if she isn't, she could be next on the serial killer's list...

Okay, I LOVE this book! Seriously, I love it! And am ashamed that I had this book for the last few months (imported it from the States in month of May/June), but I had a huge book pile to read. Then I went through a phase of not reading anything. So, after picking books up and putting them down, I decided to attack The Body Finder. And I fell in love with its dark and twistyness.


What I found so interesting about the book is the idea of tackling the issue of serial killers. I don't think any YA books have ever touched on this. Plus, having chapters (which I always saw as interludes), told for the serial killer's point of view, I found quite chilling and had me on the edge of my seat/bed.

But the love story element... awww! Am saying nothing, though. Don't want to spoil it for anyone.

I love this book (am beginning to go “read it” to my friends) and I hunger for the next book in the series, Desires of the Dead. Believe me, if the scary serial killer storyline doesn't grab you, the romantic will!

PS – The Body Finder is out in the UK next month (November) and Desires of the Dead is out in March of next year (for both the US and the UK - YEAH!!!!)

PPS – have you seen the covers?! SO PRETTY!!!

PPS – I have added two interview videos so you can hear what the author has to say. ENJOY!





Argh! I don't have a song for this book, which I usually do! *manically goes through my iPod for a cool song* Okay, I chose two songs and am leaving it up to you which song is this book's theme song.

Meow-Laugh

I thought I would show you this random picture! (I have a sense of humour of a toddler...)



PLUS, I just found this video! MY CAT DOES THIS!!! Does anyone else's?

"Misguided Angel" & "Mrs Fry's Diary" Book Trailers

I'm a book addict. I admit that! But I also like the random book trailers that publishing houses make.

The two I have here are "Misguided Angel", fifth book in the Blue Bloods series by Melissa de la Cruz (I REALLY need to read the fourth book in the series, "The Van Alen Legacy") which is coming out in both the UK and the US later this month.

Now, anyone, what do you think this means...?

Movie Trailers - Movies Blog

The second trailer (much more a fun trailer!) is for "Mrs Fry's Diary", from Twitter phenomenon that is Mrs Stephen Fry (follow here by clicking here. But one question is on everyone's lips: who is Mrs Stephen Fry?

How To Be Alone

Must Get Off Twitter Before Stupid Hour

My twitter friends and I are weird. Seriously. Randomly, three/four of us (myself included and one was offline - I am dreading her reaction tomorrow) started a weird Dibs war on fictional characters in books that we want as husbands/lovers, if we were allowed.

Do authors know that readers do this?

Anywhere, the range of HashTags we used on Twitter was shocking and I wanted to share some with you...

#fictionalhusbandhunting
#planningmyweddingtomyfictionalhusband
#booksarefun
#ThisIsWeird
#ArgumentsOverFictionalPeople
#icantbelieveimplayingthis

& now, my fave!
#ThisStillSoundsKindaCreepyButOhSoFun

am saying nothing more to this, in case you give me weird looks.

A Random YouTube Video (A Strange Harry Potter Vid)

I like random youtube videos! Need I say more?

GoodRead - Book Cover Excitement (The Body Finder)

Hello again.

So, another book cover blog. This time, I am about to show you the cover to The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting. Now, I'm not going to tell you much on this one because the book is coming out in the UK next month, but I can tell you a tagline and a book trailer (at the bottom of the blog!).

Here's the tagline:-

A Girl with a Morbid Ability...
A Serial Killer on the Loose...
And The Boy Who Would Never Let Anything Happen to Her.

Anyway, here is the cover:



I LOVE this cover. I just love it. (Oh, it's not a flower, BTW. Get your head round that!) So much so, am going to show you the cover to the sequel, Desires of the Dead.



Now, the details. The Body Finder will be out in the UK next month &, if you live in the US, is out now. The sequel - Desires of the Dead - will be out in the USA in March 2011. No date for the UK release. :(

And now, the book trailer for the Body Finder.

GoodRead - Book Cover Excitement (Intrinsical)

Hello again, reader of this humble HappyBlog (yes, I have decided to call my blog a HappyBlog).

Now, some of you would know, I like blogging about book covers that look lovely. And I have two blogs of book covers I want to blog today.

The first is a book called "Intrinsical" by Lani Woodland. Now, for those who want to know more about this book, this is the info from the author's website:

Sixteen-year-old Yara Silva has always known that ghosts walk alongside the living. Her grandma, like the other females in her family, is a Waker, someone who can see and communicate with ghosts. Yara grew up watching her grandmother taunted and scorned for this unusual ability and doesn’t want that to be her future. She has been dreading the day when she too would see ghosts, and is relieved that the usually dominant Waker gene seems to have skipped her, letting her live a normal teenage life. However, all that changes for Yara on her first day at her elite boarding school when she discovers the gene was only lying dormant. She witnesses a dark mist attack Brent, a handsome fellow student, and rushes to his rescue. Her act of heroism draws the mist’s attention, and the dark spirit begins stalking her. Yara finds herself entrenched in a sixty-year-old curse that haunts the school, threatening not only her life, but the lives of her closest friends as well. Yara soon realizes that the past she was trying to put behind her isn’t going to go quietly.

Ooooh! Ghost stories. One of my new things I like to read (as well as fallen angels, of course). Now to show you the cover...



Isn't it pretty?! I love it. It's very underwater and, if you read the book, you get way this image was used... The author, Lani Woodland, helped create the cover to her own book (me? Jealous? Never!) and she blogs about what happened and how the cover was created. Click here if you want to read it.

Anyway, what do you think about this cover? I have NO IDEA if this book will ever make it to UK bookshelves. And I keep seeing/wanting it. Maybe it's time for a bit of online shopping...

GoodRead - UK Cover Vs US Cover

Okay, you guys know how much I like Maggie Stiefvater. I mean, I love the Shiver trilogy! But, I somehow missed Maggie's other series. I know it exist but, somehow, I missed that the UK publisher of Maggie, Scholastic, is publishing it in the new year.

For those of you who, like me, missed this news, here is info about this book from Magie's website.

Sixteen-year-old Deirdre Monaghan is a painfully shy but prodigiously gifted musician. She's about to find out she's also a cloverhand—one who can see faeries. When a mysterious boy enters her ordinary suburban life, seemingly out of nowhere, Deirdre finds herself infatuated. Trouble is, the enigmatic and conflicted Luke turns out to be a gallowglass—a soulless faerie assassin—and Deirdre is meant to be his next mark. Deirdre has to decide if Luke's feelings towards her are real, or only a way to lure her deeper into the world of Faerie.

But enough of that, here are the covers! This is the UK cover.


And this is the US cover.


No contest. I LOVE the UK cover. I think it's the red. So striking and very eye-catching! Very different compared to the dark cover of the US cover. Though, after some tiny reason (Amazon.co.uk), I get why the coves on the US cover.

But sorry, I prefer the UK cover.

What do you guys think? Leave a message below and let me know. Also, if you have read the book, let me know what you thought of the book (no spoilers please!).

An Important Message

It's SO Fluffy!!!

Simple things please simple minds like mine...



PS - I just had a look back on my blog and I have no idea how many blogs I have with YouTube videos on there. This ranges from the above video to Simon's Cat, book trailers to goodness know what else. Don't believe me? Click here to see what I mean.

BeforeUGo - September 2010 Recommendations

Hello again!!! Music time!!! So, keeping it short and sweet, here is September 2010's recommendations!

BENJAMIN BLOOM - http://www.myspace.com/benjaminbloom
FAGAN - http://www.myspace.com/thefaganband
RICHARD WALTERS - http://www.myspace.com/richardwalters
PARTY HORSE - http://www.myspace.com/partyhorsemusic
DON'T WAKE AISLIN - http://www.myspace.com/dontwakeaislin

Anyway, hope you like the music. If you want to find us on Twitter or on Facebook, please do! And recommend music to us! We love hearing from you!!!