Young Adult Books

This is my first Top Ten Tuesday! I really enjoy reading this feature, hosted by The Broke and The Bookish and while I doubt I'll take part EVERY week (no point in actively setting myself up for a fall) I plan on taking part as often as possible. This week, it's a topic close to my heart - book covers: Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater I love the minimal use of colours, the fairytale connotations of woodland and heart-shaped leaves and the blood spatter that hints at a darker story. Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce Another fairytale, clearly, and again using minimal colours, this one is beautifully clever in its double aspect. The Fault in our Stars by John Green Controversial in its simplicity I think this cover is rather beautiful. It's eye catching and screams literary fiction. Gorgeous. The Radleys by Matt Haig Er, clearly I like the use of red, white and black because this again is a cover that I found massively eye-catching. A crossover novel, this is the YA cover - which, in all honestly, is far more striking than the adult one. The Snow Spider by Jenny Nimmo A change of pace here, but at eight years old this was the first book I ever bought for myself and that was largely due to the cover which my eight year old tastes thought was the most beautiful I'd ever seen. Delirium by Lauren Oliver This is the original UK hardback cover and is quite lovely. Sadly, the UK publisher has seen fit to change the covers of Oliver's trilogy not once, but twice and they are now horribly generic and lack the beauty and simplicity seen here. The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson This is cheating slightly as the cover is enhanced by the packaging of this story as a whole. Still, the blue sky and rough texture of this cover image perfectly illustrate the bittersweet magicality of Nelson's wonderful story. The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney I like the starkness of this cover, the graphical nature of the bird and the colour scheme. It's eye catching and simple making me want to pick up the book and find out more. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan Again with the black and red, but this cover is so special. Beautiful yet oddly discomfiting it has little relation to the contents of the book yet complements the feel of it perfectly. Very clever. Seraphina - Rachel Hartman This is old school "here be dragons" sort of stuff. Beautifully drawn, sumptuous to look at, perfect for the story found in its pages. Sadly, the UK cover was far less alluring - I'm glad I have this one. Shadow and Bone - Leigh Bardugo Initially, this was published with a boring cover and a different title in the UK but now they've got with the programme and have produced this beauty. Again, the simple colour scheme is eye-catching and the Russian aspects representative of the story without hitting you about the head with it. And there you have it. It appears that I like simple covers with few covers and, importantly, no people... who knew?? Let me know about your favourite pretties in the comments - I'm intrigued to see what others like.

Hey all! Today I have the lovely Maya from The Book Nook on the blog for a guest post in which she'll be telling us all about her favourite places to read. It's a great guest post so I hope you all enjoy reading it as much as I do! Afterward, you should all head on over to her wonderful blog and give it a follow! :)????????????????????????????????????????????????my book nook!My all time favourite place to read in is my book nook. It's a cupboard under the stairs containing an armchair, a small desk, a book case and, of course, hundreds of books. Only some of the books actually fit in the book case, and so most of them are just in piles along the walls. (Oh, and there are also two 3-week-old chicks in here at the moment - but that's a different story.) I'm allowed to draw on the walls on here, and I've also pinned up some book cover posters and a world map. The desk is not so much as a board of wood which has two piles of books underneath it as legs. It isn't very high up so I sit on a cushion on the floor and use the 'desk' to write at. I love it in here; it's so cosy and I love having all my books close to hand. me reading in my book nook!Another nice place to read at is my kitchen table. When I have breakfast, I'm usually the only person at the table (on weekdays my mum and sister are up earlier than I am and my brother up later, and on weekends I'm always the first one up) and I always sit down with my book to eat. At the weekend, I often sit here for at least an hour and it's really nice first thing in the morning.????????????????where I like to go 'ralking' ;)?On warm days, I like sitting on the bench outside my house to read. When I do this, a cat will invariably come padding along and decide that my lap would be a great place to have a nap on. Another thing I enjoy is going for walks, and sometimes I take a book with me to read and walk at the same time. I have yet to come up with a name for this activity - 'ralking' just sounds strange.???????Happy Reading,Rachel xoxoPS: Where do you like to read? :)

The Rules for Disappearing by Ashley Elston Hardcover, 320 pages Published: May 14th, 2013 by Disney Hyperion Source: ALAMW She’s been six different people in six different places: Madeline in Ohio, Isabelle in Missouri, Olivia in Kentucky . . . But now that she’s been transplanted to rural Louisiana, she has decided that this fake identity will be her last.Witness Protection has taken nearly everything from her. But for now, they’ve given her a new name, Megan Rose Jones, and a horrible hair color. For the past eight months, Meg has begged her father to answer one question: What on earth did he do – or see – that landed them in this god-awful mess? Meg has just about had it with all the Suits’ rules — and her dad’s silence. If he won’t help, it’s time she got some answers for herself.But Meg isn’t counting on Ethan Landry, an adorable Louisiana farm boy who’s too smart for his own good. He knows Meg is hiding something big. And it just might get both of them killed. As they embark on a perilous journey to free her family once and for all, Meg discovers that there’s only one rule that really matters — survival. As soon as I started reading this book I found myself incredibly anxious to know why Meg and her family are in Witness Protection. I was so curious I almost flipped to the back, but I knew that would ruin it, so I just kept reading it as normal, but perhaps a little more quickly than I might have if I wasn't dying of curiosity. I liked Meg from the get go. She might have tried to push people away to keep from losing people again, she didn't want to get close to anyone who may disappear from her life in a short time. But she was never real good at it, at least when it came to cute guy Ethan. He had this way of seeing through some of her antics and he just pushed forward, determined to know her. He was great to her, even when she was rude, and he was great with Megs sister who quickly grows close to him. Ethan was a pretty great character, I enjoyed his personality a lot and liked at how he could see through Meg's antics. He knew something was up and he was determined to get to the heart of it and figure it all out. He was sweet and it was his moments with Mary, Meg's sister, that really sold him for me. He was very good with her and a guy like that is hard to find. Most are uncomfortable with younger kids and he definitely was not. The family dynamic in the story was great. They were really suffering and needed some help. Meg's father kind of closed everyone out and her mother had turned to drinking and spent all her time drunk. Meg was what was holding the family together and she feels she's going to crumble at any minute. Her sister, Mary, has been struggling and is drawing into herself and Meg will do anything to try to heal her family. The only way to do that is to get out of Witness Protection. I enjoyed being along for the ride as things start piecing together. I got creeped out when Meg felt someone was watching her and those moments she knew she was being followed or messed with. I just wanted to run FOR her, to get away from whoever was there. As things came together I found myself surprised at a few twists and enjoyed finally figuring everything out. I was definitely satisfied with how the story wrapped up but still had this little 'something' that could work for a future book. It could be a stand alone, but it looks like there is a second book scheduled for release next year and that makes me happy. I definitely recommend this one! Disclosure: I received this book at ALAMW. All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way. Thanks for subscribing!

The first day, a guest; the second, a burden; the third, a pest. Attribution Edouard R. Laboulaye

Trophy Husband by Lauren Blakely Publication date: May 21st 2013 Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance (the author describes it as mid-20s Sex and the City vibe) Synopsis: Sometimes you can't help falling in love, even when you try to do the opposite...Successful fashion blogger McKenna Bell has spent far too long protecting herself after the way her ex-fiancé left her at the altar for a college chick he met the night of his bachelor party. Loving again, trusting again, well, that's just not in the cards. Especially now that her ex is back in town with his new woman, demanding custody of McKenna's favorite creature in the whole world--her dog. No effing way. McKenna's had enough of him, and she decides to even the score by finding her own hot young thing -- a Trophy Husband. Sure, she's only twenty-seven, but doesn't that make it even more fun -- and infuriating to her ex -- to pursue a younger man? When she declares her intentions on her daily blog, her quest quickly skyrockets in popularity, and that's when Chris enters the picture, and he’s got all the assets. He's handsome, successful, and turns her inside out with a kiss to end all kisses, the kind that makes you feel like a shooting star. But loving again could mean losing again, and it's so much easier to focus on getting even, isn't it? Unless, you just can't help falling in love. Which means McKenna will have to come face to face with what she really wants in life -- protecting her heart from hurt, or letting go of her fears of a new beginning. Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17666712-trophy-husband Purchase Links: Barnes & Noble | Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.ca | Smashwords AUTHOR BIO Lauren Blakely is an unabashed fan of clever jokes, toast, and good guys in novels. Like the heroine in CAUGHT UP IN US, she thinks life should be filled with movie kisses and coffee drinks. Lauren lives in California with her husband and children, and spends her days writing both true stories and make-believe ones. Links:Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Lauren Blakely Goodreads EXCERPT Normal 0 false false false EN-CA X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} My timing is impeccable. I do not want to miss a chance to see Chris walk across the sand, so there’s no reason for me to be on time when I can be early. I park on Taraval Street along Ocean Beach, get out of my car, and wait. I try my best to look busy, fiddling with my phone, and checking compartments in

Love Me by Diane Alberts Take a Chance #2 Publisher: Entangled Release Date: May 13, 2013 Pages:  134 Source: Publisher Buy the Book: Amazon | B&N Rating: 3.5 stars Thomas Jones has come to Vegas to win yet another account for his marketing company. But when he sits across from beautiful and sensual Brianna Faulk to deliver his pitch, his desire to leave Vegas as quickly as possible is replaced by the need to get close to her. Yet she resists his charm. Brianna knows a date with Thomas could jeopardize her job, but he’s so maddening and insistent, she has a hard time denying him just one date. But that’s all it can be: one date. Because she has to protect her job and her secrets, even if it means giving up a chance at a life she never thought she’d have again. Love Me by Diane Alberts took me awhile to get into completely, but once I did, I found a delightfully charming story. Brianna and Thomas was so different from one another, but together they just worked. The romance between Brianna and Thomas was cute – though I never completely got really invested in their storyline. Katelyn and Cody were absolutely charming and quite possibly my favorite part of the book. They were such charming kids and really just made the story. This was my first read from Diane Alberts and I would definitely like to pick up some more from her in the future. Related posts: Tour: Princess of the Wild Swans by Diane Zahler Seducing Cinderella by Gina L Maxwell Book Review Second Chances by Rita Oberlies Book Review

This week's Top 10 Tuesday prompt asks which covers are our favorites from the books we've read. I'll admit it, I totally judge a book by its cover. Yes, I am guilty of this. But sometimes those covers can surprise me! I'm drawn to so many different elements on a cover, as you can see by my choices I've picked. Be sure to check out The Broke and the Bookish for more details on this awesome weekly feature. 1. Attachments by Rainbow Rowell [add to goodreads] 2. Where the Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller [add to goodreads] 3. Love and Other Perishable Items by Laura Buzo [add to goodreads] 4. My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick [add to goodreads] 5. Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley [add to goodreads] 6. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith [add to goodreads] 7. The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta [add to goodreads] Aussie edition 8. This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen [add to goodreads] 9. Amplified by Tara Kelly [add to goodreads] 10. Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson [add to goodreads] UK edition

You ever start a book and find yourself mind numbingly bored, so then you open up a different one and am like, okay just a few pages and then I will go back to my obligation? THEN before you know it you have finished the interesting book and find yourself craving WAY more contemporaries? Okay, maybe I am coming from left field here, but recently I started a boring book and then I was like ugh dreading, SO THEN I picked up Dare You To by Katie McGarry as a distraction book and I stayed up late to read it, amidst many HUN, HUN, HUN, nagging from Tony, because he does this thing before we go to bed where if I am so distracted by a book and time is ticking and we have to be up early the next day he basically says HUN HUN HUN HUN until I look up with rage-face and reminds me to go do my get ready for bed stuff. Anyways, I totally got that treatment from Tony while reading Dare You To, up to the point where I snuck the book with me into the bathroom and hung out there just to squeeze in an extra 15 minutes of reading. Y’all, to me this book was SO absorbing and exactly what I needed last week. Dare You To by Katie McGarry opens up at Taco Bell. Ryan Stone is there after a baseball game with his teammates. They are playing another game of dares where whoever gets the most numbers wins. Beth Risk walks into this Taco Bell, all attitude and bad news. Ryan’s friends dare him to get her number. It doesn’t work, but he doesn’t care because he figures he will never see the girl again. Fast forward just a little tiny bit. After being arrested for a crime she did not commit, Beth’s uncle Scott takes her to live with him in the small town of Groveton. On the first day of school, she discovers that the annoying boy who wanted her number is one of her classmates AND her neighbor. OH AND, Scott was a former baseball player for the Yankees, so he is loaded. Anyways, Beth finds herself continually getting in trouble and she’s also filled with worry about her mother who has an incredibly abusive boyfriend and is into substance use. Meanwhile, Ryan looks perfect on the outside but he’s dealing with family drama. There’s a definite attraction between Beth and Ryan, yet different things keep pulling them apart. Will they dare to be together? Y’all have to read this book to find out but if you aren’t an idiot, you can guess based on the cover and on the summary. Beth is tough as nails, with a hard exterior. It’s not as though her attitude is unearned though. Girl has been through so much pain and hardship. Let’s just say her mom is not at all a fit parent. Her dad is long gone. She’s been physically abused. She’s been used by guys. She has had to deal with mean girls. I actually really felt for her. Further, she actually feels responsible for her mom as though she has to save her and that sucks. It always makes me sad to see children take on parenting roles. Also, Beth has a mouth like a sailor and I LOVE IT. So, because of all the strife she’s been through she does not trust easily. She certainly has walls built up around her. As a reader, it’s quite emotional seeing her walls come down and I could not help but actually care for her and want good things to happen to her. I wanted her to let her mother take care of herself and to enjoy the new life and chances she has been given. However, Beth can’t do that, she’s loyal to the end, ya know? On the other hand, the other main character of Dare You To, Ryan does not have a nearly as complicated life as Beth. Sure, there’s family trouble and pressure but it pales in comparison and in perspective. He’s actually a pretty good guy and not at all a jerk to Beth. Like, yeah he starts out liking her as a dare but it develops into something way more and genuine like. Beth has a hard time believing he actually wants her for more than sex because her self esteem is so low. Yet, Ryan does his best

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature created at the fabulous The Broke and the Bookish, featuring weekly top ten lists on a variety of bookish topics. This Tuesday’s topic is Top Ten Book Covers – specifically covers from books that we have read. I thought about just making a YA list, but I kept coming back to a couple of these adult titles. I didn’t include picture books because that would have taken me all night to narrow down (confession: I love picture books as much as YA!). But after much deliberation, here is a nice sampling of books that win big time in the judge them by their covers competition. The Passage by Justin Cronin The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro Dry by Augusten Burroughs Level Up by Gene Luen Yang and Thien Pham The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins Wonder by R.J. Palacio Insurgent by Veronica Roth The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart Since I have read all these books I can vouch for them all being as fabulous on the inside as they are on the outside, with one exception…. Can you guess which book I was more crazy for the cover than the story and writing?

Hardcover: 224 pages Publisher: Feiwel & Friends (May 28, 2013) Language: English ISBN-10: 0312569041 ISBN-13: 978-0312569044 Buy the book on Amazon Trapped in a superstore by a series of escalating disasters, including a monster hailstorm and terrifying chemical weapons spill, brothers Dean and Alex learned how to survive and worked together with twelve other kids to build a refuge from the