GoodRead – The 13 Secrets

I got my hands on The 13 Secrets by Michelle Harrison randomly via Twitter. I won it on a competition that the UK publisher, Simon & Schuster (Love ya @simonkids_uk!), talking about three covers and I tweeted that I adore the shiny cover of the 13 Secrets. Because of that, I won and got a copy a month and a few weeks before the book came out (the end of December).

Now, for the shocking fact: I have never read the previous two books in the 13th Treasures trilogy by Michelle Harrison. SORRY! So, I basically won a book and read the final book in a trilogy without reading the rest of the series. HOW DARE I!

So, if you are a fan of the trilogy and want a true review of the final book in this trilogy, read the brilliant review from Wondrous Reads. If you have randomly picked up 13 Secrets (like I have), then stick around.

Red is now living at Elvesden Manor under her real name, Rowan, and is trying to put the past behind her with Tanya and Fabian. But her past isn't staying behind her. People from her past want her to participate one last time in a changeling trade and Red is having nightmares about Hedgewitch's cottage and Eldritch, who has sworn revenge when she left him trapped there.

But, when events begin to take a sinister turn and Rowan's past beginning to catch up with her, what will she, Tanya and Fabian do?

So... where to start? Yes, it's the last book in the trilogy. Yes, I should have read the first two books, The 13 Treasures and the 13 Curses, because stuff is touched upon within 13 Secrets that happened in the previous two books. Yes, this does make me a slight hypocrite to me friends and family when I tell them to read the series in order. Yes, yes, yes, I KNOW!

But, I fell under this book's charm. It was a joy to read. It was darker than I first expected. I expected it to be light and fun. Yes on the fun part, no on the light. It went in a direction that I loved (I have a dark reader's soul. What can I say?) and there were times I read the book and it revealed a nasty twist (oh, there are several of those!) and went, “What? What?! WHAT?!” or “No freaking way!” . And if I did that while reading this, a guy who randomly won a copy, I shuddered to think of the reactions the readers of the series!

And the tweets – oh, once I read the book, I spend a few days tweeting the author, Michelle Harrison (@HarrisonMM) & Jenny from Wondrous Reads (@WondrousReads) and generally getting excited and go “I want a tea caddy brownie!” (after snooping on Wondrous Reads website, I have found out he appears more in 13 Curses.)

I fell under this book's charm. So much so that when I was at Cat Clarke's book launch, I saw Michelle there and went all starstruck. So much so, that I kept my distance. I fear Michelle's reaction if I came up to her and went, “Hi!”. I would probably come across as some deranged fan!

But I really enjoyed reading 13 Secrets and, yeah, once I can afford it/make room on my To Be Read pile, I will be getting my hands on 13 Treasures & 13 Curses. I want very badly to return to
Elvesden Manor...

*

And now, for the book trailer and for music I listened to while I was reading this book. ENJOY!

GoodRead - UK Cover vs US Cover

It feels like AGES since I did a UK Cover vs US Cover blog (just checked. It hasn't. Last time I did, it was the beginning of January this year). So, am going to try and do one here with an adult novel that I saw and I am planning to read soon - I hope.

The novel in question is THE POSTMISTRESS by Sarah Blake. So, here is the UK cover...



And here is the US cover for THE POSTMISTRESS...



I like the US cover. But I prefer the UK. There's something about the UK cover that has an edge over it. No idea what. But I really prefer the UK cover.

But what do you guys think? Leave a comment and let me know, please!

Fancy a Cup of Tea?

Becca Fitzpatrick UPDATE

Even since Becca Fitzpatrick Said the title of her third book in her Hush Hush saga was TEMPEST then she took it back, saying it didn't feel right for the book, readers of Nora and Patch have been waiting... and checking out Fallen Archangel... and waiting...

And now, we have a title!



And this was what Becca said:

At long last! I am thrilled to finally announce the title of the third book in the Hush, Hush saga! If you follow me on Twitter, or if you're a fan of my Facebook page, you've probably noticed there has been (just a little!) drama surrounding this title recently. Ever since I decided Tempest wasn't the right title for the book, I've been on the search for a worthy replacement. I spent weeks sorting through titles and, in the end, for one reason or another, none of them felt right.

I always thought the title of the third book would be loud— something a crescendo would build up to. And it made sense; the storyline of the third book is daring and twisty and oh so romantic. Which is why I was surprised to find, in the end, the title I chose isn't flashy or loud or culminating. Instead, it's a haunting word, quietly powerful, filled with mystery and beauty. A word that means to put doubt, fear and anxiety to rest. A word that is synonymous with stillness, secrecy and all that is forgotten.

The noise between Patch and Nora is gone in this book. They've overcome the secrets riddled in Patch's dark past...bridged two irreconcilable worlds...faced heart-wrenching tests of betrayal, loyalty and trust...and all for a love that will transcend the boundary between heaven and earth. Armed with nothing but their absolute faith in one another, Patch and Nora enter a desperate fight to stop a villain who holds the power to shatter everything they've worked for—and their love—forever.

With much pleasure, I give you the title of the third book...



If you want to read a transcript that Fallen Archangel & MundieMoms had with Beccam click here!

Tomorrow When The War Began & Hunger Games Movie Update

HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY, FOLKS!!!

As it's Australia Day, one of my fave sites revealed a trailer for Australia smash, TOMORROW WHEN THE WAR BEGAN. The book series, written by John Marsden, is huge down under and, if this trailer is anything to go by, it might become huge in the UK and the USA!



According to DigitalSpy, the film will be out in the UK on 15th April. Not sure who has the publishing rights to this book series, but if you are waiting for the Hunger Games movie, this might be the film you need to see.

Speaking about the Hunger Games movie, Liongate and the director, Gary Ross, have revealed the US release date for the movie. The date in question is 23rd March 2012. This comes mere days after Liongate hired Debra Zane as Casting Director. Some people will know her as the casting director for Breaking Dawn.

But what do you think? Do you think that Liongate can make a great movie within a short time period?

My reaction: I can't wait to see how the film looks, but I always thought we would get the film at the end of 2012, the start of 2013. But I feel I can trust the director and the script writers (the author herself, Suzanne Collins, wrote the first draft) so I can trust them. But I do worry over the CGI/Special Effects - my example is the first Twilight movie...

Cat Clarke's Launch Party

I was invited to a launch party for a debut novel, Entangled, by Cat Clarke that happened last night.



It was so cool!

Before the event, I met up with Sya from Mountain of Insteads and Lauren from I Was A Teenage Book Geek. Now, I have been Twitter-friendly with Sya for a while, but it was lovely to meet her in the flesh! Both were lovely and, because they were friendly and made me feel completely at ease, I beg you to check their blogs!

So, when the three of us turned up at the launch party, it was FULL! Loads of people turned up! And I bumped into Book Bloggers I met once before at the Atom Books Bloggers Event. I met Liz from My Favourite Books & Sarah from Feeling Fictional again and I met new bloggers. I met Carly from Writing From The Tub, Caroline from Portrait of a Woman.

There were, also, some authors there. As well as Cat herself (who I hugged! She's awesome!), there was Michelle Harrison (who I got a bit starstruck over and, because of that, I stayed away. If I did go up to her, I would have probably come across like some crazy!) & another debut author, Karen Mahoney, who I chatted to later that evening. I love her laugh! Also, the model who was on the cover of Entangled came! A "Surprise Surprise" guest!

Actually, I have a story about Karen Mahoney. When I first entered the party and bumped into Liz, she silently pointed to a woman who had her back to me. "That's Karen Mahoney," she whispered. My reaction: "Shout up!" and Liz must have seen the giddiness/hyperness in my eyes and said, quickly, "Don't hug her from behind! She's a Londoner and will beat you up!"

It was a really cool night and I really think you should read it! Go on... you know you want to...

I got a few pictures (see below), but Sarah from Feeling Fictional or @sarahreviews took loads and they look MEGA professional! And, yes, there is a photo of me. *sobs* Click here to see them!

Let's Have A Random Moment, Shall We?

I thought we should have a random blog where we can have our smile on our face as today is National Hug Day! *Hugs you lovely people!*





Also, last night while at the Launch Party for the novel "Entangled" by debut author Cat Clarke, another just-published YA author, Karen Mahoney, spotted this out the corner of her eye and a few of us laughed!



No New Moon, I see... And there was me getting ready to choose a side - Twilight Saga or Warrior Cats...

Books and Their Theme Songs (Volume 5)

Why, hello again! It's been a while since I did a Book and Their Theme Songs blog, but am doing it now. I hope the next blog won't be as long as this one...

But, let's get started, shall we?

THE KILLING PLACE by Tess Gerritsen = "I Am Here" by Sia



MATCHED by Ally Condie = "Catalyst" & "Wreck of the Day" by Anne Nalick





NIGHTSHADE by Andrea Cremer = "Head Over Heels" by Digital Daggers & "Human" by Ellie Goulding





SHADE by Jeri Smith-Ready = “If I Ever Leave This World Alive” by Flogging Molly, “Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol & “I Will Possess Your Heart” by Death Cab for Cutie







PARANORMALCY by Kiersten White = "Freeze" & "Choices" by Honey Ryder





ENTANGLED by Cat Clarke = "Bloodstream" by Stateless, "Cut" by Plumb with "Hurting Me Now", "Cloud" & "Oh Father" by Sia (with an afterthought of "Must Be Dreaming" by Frou Frou.)













And now, THE 13TH SECRETS by Michelle Harrison (I will review and update the blog nearer the time of the book's release) - "Only Girl (In The World)" & "Complicated" by Rihanna.