Books, Biscuits, and Tea has moved!

If you are seeing this post, please note that my blog moved from Blogger to Wordpress in April 2012. This blogspot site is no longer active - my blog can now be found at

www.booksbiscuitsandtea.co.uk

If you would still like to follow me, please visit me at my new website and subscribe via RSS, Networked Blogs or email. Thank you!

Review Copy Cleanup [challenge 5] - Love Will Find a Way

Hello everyone and welcome to our fifth and final Review Copy Cleanup Challenge! As all of you know, the sign up for the Review Copy Cleanup are closed. Last week's winners have been chosen by Random.org and are announced here. If you're on the list but we haven't contacted you yet, don't worry, we will!

In the Love Will Find a Way Challenge we're sharing our all-time favourite books. If you were stuck on an island, or in a cave, which books would you bring? We're not limiting you to bring a certain amount of books, so give us your best!

And as usual, we have a bunch of goodies to give away to those of you who complete our final challenge. Here's what's up for grabs:

Prize pack 1:

• A bath/soap basket, courtesy of Shannon Mayer (US only)
• An ebook copy of Fire Baptized by Kenya Wright
• An ebook copy of Covert Dreams by Michael Meyer
• An ebook copy of Jake West: The Keeper of the Stones by M J Webb
• An ebook copy of Jake West: Warriors of the Heynai by M J Webb
• An ebook copy of Lawless Justice by Karina Kantas
• An ebook copy of All's Fair in Vanities War by Karina Kantas + matching bookmarks

Prize pack 2:

• A signed paperback copy of American Girl by Tony Talbot
• An ebook copy of Fire Baptized by Kenya Wright
• An ebook copy of Covert Dreams by Michael Meyer
• An ebook copy of Jake West: The Keeper of the Stones by M J Webb
• An ebook copy of Jake West: Warriors of the Heynai by M J Webb
• An ebook copy of Lawless Justice by Karina Kantas
• An ebook copy of Justice by Jade Varden

Prize pack 3: 

• A signed paperback copy of Over the Mountains by Tony Talbot
• An ebook copy of Fire Baptized by Kenya Wright
• An ebook copy of Covert Dreams by Michael Meyer
• An ebook copy of Jake West: The Keeper of the Stones by M J Webb
• An ebook copy of Jake West: Warriors of the Heynai by M J Webb
• An ebook copy of Lawless Justice by Karina Kantas
• An ebook copy of Crystal Shade: Angeni, Volume 1 & 2 by István Szabó Ifj

Prize pack 4: 

• A signed paperback copy of Taken by Tony Talbot
• An ebook copy of Fire Baptized by Kenya Wright
• An ebook copy of Covert Dreams by Michael Meyer
• An ebook copy of Jake West: The Keeper of the Stones by M J Webb
• An ebook copy of Jake West: Warriors of the Heynai by M J Webb
• An ebook copy of All's Fair in Vanities War by Karina Kantas + matching bookmarks
• An ebook copy of Blind Sight Through the Eyes of Aniela Dawson by Eliabeth Hawthorne + an ebook copy of Blind Sight Through the Eyes of Leocardo Reyes

Blogging Know-How: Mentors, blog buttons, and sharing ARCs

Welcome to the second instalment of Blogging Know How, my brand new weekly feature here on Books, Biscuits, and Tea. The aim of this feature is to answer some of your blogging/ reading/ reviewing/ social networking related questions. If there's anything you've been wondering about, you can't figure out or just want me to help you out with, you can send it to me via email or the little contact form I'll post at the end of these posts.

"I've been watching youtube videos and reading other blogger tips/tricks of the trade and a lot of them say to get a mentor. More experienced bloggers must have a TON of help requests. How would a fairly new blogger go about getting a seasoned mentor when they don't know anyone? And thanks for this feature, I love it! I'll definitely support it. :)" - Mandee

Thanks Mandee! Having someone more experienced helping you out is great and it definitely makes blogging and exploring this whole blogoverse much, much easier but I can see why it's so hard to find someone to help you. It's not the fact that people don't want to help or not even the fact that you don't know anyone. It's rather that blogging takes a hell of a lot of time and most of us go to school or work full time besides blogging and taking on a mentee would mean that they'd have even less time for reading and well.. everything else. So how do you get started? I'll tell you what I did when I started my blog and entered the blogosphere, the great unknown for the first time.

Review: Agatha Raisin: As The Pig Turns - M.C. Beaton

Title: Agatha Raisin: As The Pig Turns 
Author: M.C. Beaton 
Publication date: April 19th, 2012
Publisher: Constable & Robinson
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 978-1-78033-160-7
Length: 294 pages
Genre: Mystery
Age group: Adult
Source: Publisher
Add it: Goodreads
Buy it: Amazon US | Amazon UK | The Book Depository

Winter Parva, a traditional Cotswolds village next door to Carsely, has decided to throw a celebratory hog roast to mark the beginning of the winter holiday festivities. And Agatha Raisin has arrived with friend and rival in the sleuthing business, Toni, to enjoy the merriment. But as the spit pig is carried towards the bed of fiery charcoal, Agatha - and the rest of the village - realise that things aren't as they seem...

Very quickly it transpires that the hog roast is in fact the body of Gary Beech, a policeman not much loved in Winter Parva. And although Agatha has every intention of leaving the affair to the police, she just can't resist in joining the fray to try and solve the case herself!

The Agatha Raisin series was recommended to me by many of my bookish friends, so naturally, I had to find out what the hype was about. When I first read the synopsis, I was expecting something along the lines of a modern day Miss Marple or the female version of Sherlock Holmes, but that's where I was wrong. M.C. Beaton's series, in fact, is quite different from both Doyle's and Christie's novels. Did I still enjoy it? I would say yes.

To be frank, I haven't read any of Beaton's previous books in the series but I had no difficulties with getting into the story whatsoever. As The Pig Turns is the 22nd instalment but don't be put off if you haven't read any Agatha Raisin books before - you'll be able to figure out who's who soon enough. Agatha Raisin is a middle-aged woman with a nicotine addiction and a penchant for swearing, and being disagreeable. Even though I was expecting something entirely different and it took me some time to actually get to know and like her, I managed to warm to her after a while. Even though she has a reputation for her 'stiff upper lip', you cannot help noticing that there's a more vulnerable side to her and despite the fact that she deals with murder on a daily basis, she's still as frightened as we are.

I'm on Formspring!

Hello everyone! Just a quick note to let you know that once again, I'm back on Formsprin. Feel free to stop by and say hello or ask me anything at http://www.formspring.me/vickysreviews :)

For those of you who haven't come across this website before: Formspring is basically a questions-answers website. It allows you to set up a profile page for yourself, where anyone can ask you questions about given topics (or anything, basically). I used to have a page a few years ago but I decided to give it up. Now that I have a book blog, I thought I'd give it a try once again - I think it's another fantastic way to keep in touch and get to know fellow bloggers and their reading habits. It's fab, come and join us! :)

In My Mailbox #23

Hi everyone and welcome to my 23rd In My Mailbox! In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. It's our opportunity to get a sneak peek into what books everyone is received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders.

I didn't do an IMM post last week because I didn't have anything to show you but this week was amazing book-wise and I got lots of amazing books. Shall we check them out?

Purchased:

A Kestrel For a Knave by Barry Hines (paperback)
Love on the Dole by Walter Greenwood (paperback)
Billy Elliot by Melvin Burgess (paperback)
Union Street by Pat Barker (paperback)

Review: The Look - Sophia Bennett

Title: The Look
Author: Sophia Bennett
Publication date: March, 2012
Publisher: Chicken House
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 978-1-906427-91-7
Length: 327 pages
Genre: Contemporary fiction
Age group: Young Adult
Source: Publisher
Add it: Goodreads
Buy it: Amazon US | Amazon UK | The Book Depository

Ted is fifteen, and...oh yes...tall. When she's spotted by a model agency, she can't believe it. At the same time, Ted's fashionista sister, Ava, is diagnosed with cancer. With her world turned upside down, Ted has a lot of growing up to do, some of it in five-inch platforms. Should she be the model sister for Ava? Life in front of the camera is harder than it looks. And will they still be smiling when it’s over?

The Look is without a doubt one of those books that will make you roar with laughter one minute, shed a few tears the next but most importantly, it will make you think and re-evaluate your life. I loved everything about it, from the characters and the plot to Bennett's writing style - just brilliant.

Writing from a 15-year old girl's point of view is quite risky and and it can go horribly wrong since many times these teenagers sound a bit too mature, too adult-ish and I can't seem get over the fact that I didn't talk or think like that when I was their age, but Sophia Bennett pulls it off perfectly. Her ironic/sarcastic sense of humour definitely fits Ted's personality and it's one of the things that make this book as good as it is.

What I loved about this story, however, is the message that it's trying to convey to its readers. I liked how different Ava becomes after she learns about her illness. She transforms from this stunning and popular older sister into someone brave and more mature. It's interesting how different people think when they know they might lose the battle against the illness. I loved how she was behind Ted the whole time and encouraged her to go for it and give modelling a shot. It's as if she said we only live once and we shouldn't be afraid of taking chances...because what's the worst that can happen? In the end we only regret the chances that we didn't take and the decisions that we waited too long to take. The Look is an incredibly motivating and optimistic novel which will no doubt give hope to teenagers all around the world.

At the same time, it's not a depressing and heart-wrenching novel which tells the story of a girl who's trying to survive cancer, quite the opposite. Don't be afraid to pick it up if you don't like highly emotional stories because it's not like that. If you like contemporary / chick lit novels then I can guarantee that you'll love this one. The characters will really grow on you along the way and you'll be amazed how much they change by the end of the story and how much the two sisters' relationship itself changes.

The modelling world itself was very well researched and written - I've always had a soft spot for fashion so I was really excited about reading this book and it didn't disappoint me one bit. If I had to make comparisons, I'd say it's like America's Next Top Model and The Devil Wears Prada rolled into one, sprinkled with a pinch of humour and topped off with a great sisterly bond, witty and amiable characters, and gripping storyline. What's not to love?

Rating:

*Thank you to Chicken House for sending me a review copy of this book*

Review Copy Cleanup [challenge 4] - Mysterious Meetup

Hello everyone and welcome to our fourth Review Copy Cleanup Challenge! As all of you know, the sign up for the Review Copy Cleanup are closed. Last week's winners have been chosen by Random.org and are announced here. If you're on the list but we haven't contacted you yet, don't worry, we will!

In the Mysterious Meetup Challenge you can have that conversation with your favourite book character of all times. Who would you want to meet? What questions would you ask him or her? Share your Mysterious Meetup with us!

And once again, we have some books to give away to those of you who complete the challenge. Here's what's up for grabs:

1x ebook copy of Covert Dreams by Michael Meyer

1x ebook copy of  The Keeper of the Stones by M J Webb

1x ebook copy of Warrior of the Heynai by M J Webb
1x ebook copy of Better Off Without Him by Dee Ernst
1x paperback copy of Quicksilver by Joy Spraycar

Five lucky winners will get to choose from the five prizes listed above. It's first come, first serve - which means that the first winner will get to choose first, the second winner chooses next, and so on.

RCC Challenge #4: Mysterious Meetup

Hello everyone! Here's my own entry for the fourth Review Copy Cleanup challenge. So, the task this week was to tell you about my favourite book character - in other words, I had to pick a fictional character who I'd like to meet and tell you why and what I'd ask him/her.

This is actually pretty easy for me, although I'm not sure I can narrow it down to one person only. *cough* Celine *cough* is this cheating? I hope not. Ahem. Anyway, I'm having a hard time here because there are so many characters I love that it's just impossible to choose. What I'll do instead is show you my top 3 list. Sounds okay? Let's see.

#1: Hercule Poirot (from Agatha Christie's novels)

Okay, here's the thing. When I started reading Christie's books about 6-7 years ago, I didn't really like him and I kept saying how arrogant he was and that I preferred Miss Marple. Then, something happened and I started to enjoy the Poirot stories more and more and now I'd pick him over Marple any time, he's brilliant. And what would I ask him about? I'd ask him to take me on as his mentee and teach me how to exercise my "little grey cells". (And maybe beg him to take me to his next investigation - that would be fantastic!) *dreamy look* Can you tell I'm a tiny bit obsessed with Agatha Christie? Ahahaha :)

#2 Severus Snape (from J.K.Rowling's Harry Potter series)

Here's another funny story. When I first picked up book #1 in the HP series, Snape instantly became my favourite character. I don't know why, maybe it was his mysteriousness or the fact that he didn't seem to like Harry (I wasn't the biggest Harry fan myself), I don't know. But the funniest thing was that when the film came out, I realized that Snape was played by one of my all time favourite actors, Alan Rickman. Coincidence? So anyway, I adore both Snape as a character and of course Alan - he's flipping brilliant. And his voice is just gorgeous. I don't even care that he's almost 70... So if I met him, I would probably have a hard time concentrating... let alone ask him anything. Ha! (: I would probably ask him to talk to me so that I could listen to his voice all day long. *fangirl rant over*

#3 Mark Darcy (from Bridget Jones's Diary)

Bridget Jones's Diary is STILL one of my all time favourite books - I adore almost everyone in that book but Mark Darcy is definitely my favourite. If you've read the book (or seen the film - mind you, they are totally different), you know how gorgeous he is so I won't go into details. (: If I met him, I'd ask him to forget Bridget and marry me. :D If he said no, I'd ask him - and Bridget too, because I like both of them - to be my friend. They'd be the coolest friends ever.


Who would you guys like to meet? :) Feel free to leave me a link to your own posts so that I can visit you and check out your pick!

Introducing a new feature: Blogging Know-How

Hello bookaholics! As some of you might have already noticed, I've had a poll set up on my blog for about a week now and I've been collecting your votes on what you'd like to see more of on my blog ever since. Many of you said that you'd like to see more giveaways, but what surprised me the most was that almost 20 people voted for 'blogging tips'. In addition to this, some of you have emailed me in the past few weeks asking for advice on social networking, blogging, and book reviews. So I thought about it and decided to start a new feature on my blog, namely Blogging Know-How. If you guys support me and this whole idea then I might make it a weekly feature on Books, Biscuits, and Tea - because... well, why not? :)

How it's going to work? Each week (or every two weeks, it depends on you) I will try to answer some of your blogging/reading/reviewing/social networking related questions here on my blog. If there's anything you've been wondering about, you can't figure out or just want me to help you out with, you can send it to me via email or the little contact form I'll post at the end of these posts. You can stay anonymous if you want to, of course. Easy peasy, right? :) If you'd like me to keep this up then I'll post my Blogging Know-How answers on Thursdays.

Waiting on Wednesday (12)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, which spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. 

My pick for this week:

Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard
ISBN: 9780385739375
Format: Hardcover
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: March 13th, 2012
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Add it to your Goodreads wishlist

Are you a Global Vagabond?

No, but 18-year-old Bria wants to be. In a quest for independence, her neglected art, and no-strings-attached hookups, she signs up for a tour of Central America—the wrong one. Middle-aged tourists are hardly the key to self-rediscovery.

So when Bria meets Rowan, devoted backpacker and dive instructor, and his outspoken sister Starling, she seizes the chance to ditch her group and join them off the beaten path. Bria's a good girl trying to go bad. Rowan's a bad boy trying to stay good. As they travel through Mayan villages and remote Belizean islands, they discover they're both seeking to leave behind the old versions of themselves. The secret to escaping the past, Rowan's found, is to keep moving forward. But Bria realizes she can't run forever. At some point, you have to look back.

Why I can't wait: It was love at first sight. I just LOVE travelling so any book that is connected to travelling in some ways is an absolute must-have. I've recently read Juhina's review of this book and she made me want to read it even more. I can't wait to pick this one up. :) Have you guys read it yet?

What are you waiting on this week? Make sure to leave me a link below!

Teaser Tuesday #16 - The Look

Hello everyone! It's Tuesday which means that I'm back with another fab teaser :) Teaser Tuesday is a weekly event, hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Each week we grab the book we're currently reading, let it fall open to a random page and share two sentences from that page. Sounds easy, right? Of course anyone can participate, just make sure to read the rules by clicking here.

My teaser comes from Sophia Bennett's The Look this week.

"Nightmare Boy sticks his hands in his jeans pockets and looks as though he doesn't want to say anything at all. His face bristles with discomfort behind his glasses. "

I started reading this one a few days ago and even though I'm only 10 pages in, I can already tell that it's going to be a real page-turner. I love the two protagonists already and Bennett's style is great! Has anyone read this one yet? If you have, what did you think?

What are you guys reading this week? C'mon, tease me! x

Review + giveaway: The Long Weekend - Savita Kalhan

Title: The Long Weekend
Author: Savita Kalhan
Publication date: November 11, 2008
Publisher: Andersen Press
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781842708460
Length: 180 pages
Genre:  YA thriller
Source: Author
Add it: Goodreads
Buy it: Amazon US | The Book Depository

Sam knows that he and his friend Lloyd made a colossal mistake when they accepted the ride home. They have ended up in a dark mansion in the middle of nowhere with man who means to harm them. But Sam doesn't know how to get them out. They were trapped, then separated. Now they are alone. Will either of them get out alive?

The Long Weekend is one of those stories that you can easily read in one sitting: partly because it's a relatively short book and partly because the plot is so intriguing that it is guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat. Even though I was quite sceptical at first, it did wow me in the end.

The book tells the story of two eleven-year-old boys who get picked up after school by a seemingly rich guy but little do they know that they are heading towards a deserted area in the Hertfordshire countryside, towards a huge, desolate mansion. Their long car ride soon turns into a nightmare when they find themselves locked up, with no escape routes whatsoever.

To be honest, I've heard many people say how creepy and unsettling this book is so I was literally prepared for the worst and scariest things when I picked this book up. But interestingly, I didn't find it as shocking as I thought I would, or at least not to such an extent that it should bother me or put me off. It was scary and I would think twice before I let my teenage children read it but it didn't affect me as much as I thought it would. Having said that, it definitely is a quick read, a real-page turner that you will find hard to put down.

Bloggiesta!

Bloggiesta is a completely new event for me - I have been invited by a fellow blogger on Goodreads and I thought, why not? I love bookish events and getting to know you all so I had to sign up for this. What is Bloggiesta, you ask? In short, it’s a blogging marathon revolving around ticking off those items on your to-do list and improving your blog while in the good company of other awesome bloggers doing the same thing.

I have been extremely busy in the past few weeks/months and even though I haven't completely abandoned my blog, there are things that I'd like to improve and work on during these couple of days. Bloggiesta runs from 30 March to 1 April (next weekend) - and you can still sign up by clicking here if you'd like to join in the fun.

My aims:

• Get to know some fellow bloggers
• Make new friends
• Re-write my review policy
• Reply to my comments 
• Visit as many blogs as I can and comment on other people's reviews
• Take part in challenges
• Schedule some discussions for the following weeks
• Schedule 5 WoW posts for the following weeks

Is anyone planning to take part in this event? Do let me know! :)

Review Copy Cleanup [challenge 3] - Don't Be Such a Tease!

Hello everyone and welcome to our third Review Copy Cleanup Challenge! As of today, the sign up for the Review Copy Cleanup are closed.

Last week's winners have been chosen by Random.org and are announced here. If you're on the list but we haven't contacted you yet, don't worry, we will!

The Don't Be Such a Tease challenge is all about being the biggest tease possible. We are all reading books that aren't published yet, and what is more fun than showing other readers how awesome your current read is! The challenge is to share a few sentences from the RCC book you are reading right now, so we can all get a little taste. And once again, we have some books to give away to those of you who complete the challenge. Here's what's up for grabs:

1x ebook copy of Promise Cove by Vickie McKeehan

1x ebook copy of  Just Evil by Vickie McKeehan

1x ebook copy of Vampires Rule by K.C. Blake
1x paperback copy of Thank You for the Flowers by Scott Nicholson
1x ebook copy of Paradox - Special Edition: The Angels Are Here / Progeny Of Innocence by Patti Roberts + postcards

Five lucky winners will get to choose from the five prizes listed above. It's first come, first serve - which means that the first winner will get to choose first, the second winner chooses next, and so on.

Review: Mice - Gordon Reece

Title: Mice
Author: Gordon Reece
Publication date: February 28, 2011
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780230751880
Length: 329 pages
Genre:  Suspense thriller
Source: Publisher
Add it: Goodreads
Buy it: Amazon US | The Book Depository | Barnes & Noble

Sixteen year old Shelley and her mother move to Honeysuckle cottage in the middle of the countryside, fleeing their fears and anxieties and hoping to put behind them years of suffering at the hands of others. Shelley has endured terrible bullying from the girls who used to be her best friends, and her mother has been left reeling following a divorce from her selfish, demanding husband. For Shelley and her mother are 'mice' timid, nervous and obliging. And for a while, in their cottage-haven, the women flourish. But one night, their fragile peace is shattered when Shelley wakes to hear a creak on the stairs. Someone has broken into the house ...

In the shocking, chilling events that follow, Shelley's world is turned on its head, as the women find themselves tested as never before. And as their lives spiral out of control, the tension reaches fever pitch, and Shelley begins to wonder: if she and her mother are not mice after all, then what are they?

Having received a review copy of this book, I was really excited about picking it up and reading it because it sounded really promising.  As those of you who follow my reviews might know, I absolutely love murder mysteries - I have some kind of an obsession with crime fiction, in fact. Even though Mice is actually a thriller - a genre I haven't actually read before - it was right up my street. It's one of those books that you're simply unable to put down, something that makes you stay up at odd hours in order to find out what happens next. It draws you in to such an extent that you literally can't move until you've finished reading it - only when the story reached a conclusion did I feel like I could breathe again.

What really struck me literally two pages in the story was Reece's writing style. I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of authors whose style simply blew me away but Reece is definitely one of them. His story is so clever and is written in such a sophisticated, such an eloquent way that you cannot help being completely drawn into his world and "listen" to every word he says, or in this case every word the narrator (and protagonist), the sixteen-year-old Shelley says. If I had to choose two aspects of the book that I loved the most then the author's style would be one of them, followed by its unique storyline.

It's very difficult to talk about the plot without giving anything away so I won't go into details. The book, among many other things, deals with a situation where a mother and her daughter know they need to stay calm and not to panic but they've repressed their emotions for such a long time that something just snaps. They do something they'd never have done before and their momentary outburst causes several difficulties. Even though Mice is a thriller, the first incident that basically starts the ball rolling wasn't terrifying in itself, at least for me. The way Reece gives us an insight into what goes on in their mind and how he describes the situation and the consequences was more haunting and effective for me.

All in all, I think Mice would fit into the category of psychological thriller perfectly, where the main emphasis is on characters and the consequences of their actions - or in other words, what they do when reality sinks in.  I wasn't familiar with Reece's work right until now but he quickly became one of my favourite writers and after reading this book, I'll make sure to keep an eye on his upcoming books. He's just brilliant. I can't praise him enough.

Rating:

* Thank you to Pan Macmillan for sending me a copy of this book for review *

Waiting on Wednesday #11

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, which spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. 

My pick for this week:

Pigeon English by Stephen Kelman
ISBN: 9781408826140
Format: Paperback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: January 2012
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Add it to your Goodreads wishlist

Eleven-year-old Harrison Opoku, the second best runner in Year 7, races through his new life in England with his personalised trainers - the Adidas stripes drawn on with marker pen - blissfully unaware of the very real threat around him. Newly-arrived from Ghana with his mother and older sister Lydia, Harri absorbs the many strange elements of city life, from the bewildering array of Haribo sweets, to the frightening, fascinating gang of older boys from his school. But his life is changed forever when one of his friends is murdered. As the victim's nearly new football boots hang in tribute on railings behind fluorescent tape and a police appeal draws only silence, Harri decides to act, unwittingly endangering the fragile web his mother has spun around her family to keep them safe.

Why I can't wait: I saw this title on the publisher's website the other day and I know I'm cheating again (shame on me!) because it was actually published in January this year, but I still wanted to feature this in this week's WoW because it sounds fantastic. Anyway, why am I looking forward to reading it? Because I've read a similar book last year and I absolutely loved it!! Getting used to a new lifestyle AND gangs? Yes please!

What are you waiting on this week? Make sure to leave me a link below!

Teaser Tuesday #15

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly event, hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Anyone can participate, just make sure to read the rules by clicking here.

My teaser comes from Gordon Reece's Mice this week.

" Staring up at the sky, I'd like to imagine that I lived in a simpler, more innocent time - ideally a time before there were any human beings at all, when the earth was one vast green paradise and cruelty, hurting for the pleasure of hurting, was completely unknown."  - pg. 10

I literally just started reading this one but I love it already. Reece's writing style is so captivating that he makes it really hard for me to put the book down. I can't wait to find out what happens - and I have a feeling that I'm going to like this one. We have a national holiday this week which means that I'll be able to stay at home and get some reading done, thank goodness. Keep an eye on my blog for the review, I'll post it soon! :-)

What are you guys reading this week? C'mon, tease me! x

Review: Never Coming Home - Evonne Wareham

Title: Never Coming Home
Author: Evonne Wareham
Publication date: March 15, 2012
Publisher: Choc Lit
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781906931704
Length: 356 pages
Genre:  Romantic thriller

Order from Amazon US  | The Book Depository | Add it on Goodreads

When Kaz Elmore is told her five-year-old daughter Jamie has died in a car crash, she struggles to accept that she’ll never see her little girl again. Then a stranger comes into her life offering the most dangerous substance in the world: hope.

Devlin, a security consultant and witness to the terrible accident scene, inadvertently reveals that Kaz’s daughter might not have been the girl in the car after all. What if Jamie is still alive? With no evidence, the police aren’t interested, so Devlin and Kaz have little choice but to investigate themselves. Devlin never gets involved with a client. Never. But the more time he spends with Kaz, the more he desires her – and the more his carefully constructed ice-man persona starts to unravel . The desperate search for Jamie leads down dangerous paths – to a murderous acquaintance from Devlin’s dark past, and all across Europe, to Italy, where deadly secrets await. But as long as Kaz has hope, she can’t stop looking…

Do you know that feeling when even though you have to go to school or work in the morning, you still stay up until 2 a.m in order to finish a book? Now, that's what happens when you find something fantastic. And that's how it was with Never Coming Home. When I picked it up, I expected to read a romance or maybe a family drama. But boy, was I wrong. What I thought would be a family saga with a bit of suspense and with some romance on top turned out to be a gripping romantic thriller. It just blew me away.

Evonne Wareham's masterpiece was thoroughly gripping and full of suspense from the very first page. You literally cannot guess what's going to happen next which makes Wareham's book even more brilliant. To make it even better, it was quite easy to connect to to the characters. I wasn't really keen on Kaz if I'm completely honest, but Devlin and Kaz's mother's characters definitely make up for this. It was interesting to see that even though they're both grown ups, Kaz still behaved like an angry and rebellious child at times and her mother was the one who made sense of everything and tried to calm her down or make her think logically.

As for Devlin, I think he was the most interesting character in the story and definitely my favourite one. Apart from the fact that he's good looking, there's something about him that makes you love him even more. What I liked the most was that we don't know much about his past and he's full of secrets. We know nothing about his family or his life in general and it's as if he himself doesn't want to remember either. He built up a cold and confident exterior but at the same time, you can't help feeling that there's something in there, deep down, a vulnerable side to him that he tries to control. I'm always drawn to these types of characters so naturally, Devlin was a first-class addition to the novel.

I could go on and on about how sensational Never Coming Home was but I think you'll believe me if I say it's a must read. I've ready a lot of mysteries in my life but Evonne Wareham takes suspense to a whole new level. It's shocking, it's dark, but at the same time quite hopeful and optimistic - you'll love it.

Rating:

* Thank you to Choc Lit for sending me a copy of this book for review *

RCC Challenge #2: Cuddle Up With a Book - my favourite place

Hello everyone! Here's my own entry for the second Review Copy Cleanup challenge. So, the task this week was to show you guys my favourite reading place. I know some of you have already seen it since I was guest posting about it a few times but I hope you'll like the photos all the same.

My favourite reading place has to be my bed. Since I only read in the afternoon or in the evening, that's the comfiest place I can usually find. I always bring some biscuits, crisps and tea with me before I start reading - these are the essentials! I don't know why but just like Celine, I can't read unless I'm eating at the same time. It's very odd, isn't it?

The photo was taken this morning so you can't see the heaps of food/tea/sweets on my bed, or the blankets, but yeah. This is where I read the most. I sometimes have my laptop with me as well. (yes, I'm a full time Internet addict!) And of course my cat tends to join me while I read - she likes to take part in the reading/reviewing process, haha. :) Translation: she likes to fall asleep in my arms so that I have to hold both my book AND the cat. And I know this has nothing to do with my favourite reading place, but here's how my bookshelf looks at the moment.(second picture)

What's your favourite reading place?

Review Copy Cleanup [challenge 2] - Cuddle Up With a Book

Hi everyone, and welcome to our second Review Copy Cleanup Challenge! For those of you that haven't signed up for the Review Copy Cleanup yet, you still can! Just go here and add your name to the Linky.

Last week's winners have been chosen by Random.org and are announced here. If you're on the list but we haven't contacted you yet, don't worry, we will!

The goal of the Cuddle Up With a Book Challenge is to share your favourite place to read. We love pictures - but if that's not possible, a description will do too (: Tell us why you love it! And maybe you have some reading habits you would love to share. Do you listen to music while reading? Or can you only read during the night? We're very curious to see our fellow bookworms' reading spots and read about their customs! And yet again we are combining the challenge with a giveaway. Here's what's up for grabs:

     

1x ebook copy of Between The Land And The Sea by Derrolyn Anderson

1x paperback copy of Caribbean Calling by J.D.Gordon (US only)

1x ebook copy of Hippocampus by Tom Tancin
1x paperback copy of Hippocampus by Tom Tancin +  bookmarks

Four lucky winners will get to choose from the four prizes listed above. It's first come, first serve - which means that the first winner will get to choose first, the second winner chooses next, and so on.

Doxology Blog tour: excerpt + your chance to win!

Hello everyone! As part of the Doxology blog tour, I have some reeeeeeally good things to show you. First, please enjoy this excerpt from Brian Holer's Doxology. Then read on to learn how you can win huge prizes as part of this blog tour, including $450 in Amazon gift cards, a Kindle Fire, and 5 autographed copies of the book.

Sunday is Vernon’s wash day. And though he has enough money to buy a dozen of the nicest washing machines known to man, Vernon Davidson washes his clothes by hand. For his washing, as for everything else Vernon does, he has a system. As far as Vernon is concerned, his clothes come out looking cleaner and newer than any machine could get them. He wears all of his clothes during the week according to the schedule he has printed in black marker on the insides of the garments. Five sets of work clothes, three sets to rotate before or after work on those five days, and two sets for the weekend. When he wakes each Sunday and slips off his underwear, his drawers and closet are completely empty. If the morning is cool, Vernon goes out and washes his clothes wearing only a cotton robe. But if any warmth hangs in the air, as it often does by the first of March, Vernon goes out in the yard and washes his laundry naked.

Vernon wakes on the first Sunday in April with a nagging headache. He rubs his temples and lies thinking about Leonard. Finally he shakes it off, opens his eyes and stands up. Though spring is well along, a touch of chill is in the air, so he puts his robe on after kicking his underwear into the giant laundry pile, then goes into the kitchen to start breakfast.

For the last dozen years, since he quit going to church, Vernon starts Sunday mornings with a large breakfast of eggs, bacon, French toast, orange juice and coffee. He could have started working Sundays years ago if he had wanted, just to fill the time, but he never has. Sunday is the only day of the week he eats anything besides fried bologna and cheese sandwiches, which he makes twice a day for himself in the same greasy cast iron skillet he uses on Sundays to make his breakfast.

Waiting on Wednesday #10

Just like Teaser Tuesday, I haven't had much time to post my WoW entries lately - but I'm glad to say that I'm back with some new books I'm dying to read! 

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, which spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. 

My pick for this week:

The List by Siobhan Vivian
ISBN: 9780545169172
Format: Hardback
Publication date: 12 April 2012
Publisher: Push
Add it to your Goodreads wishlist

An intense look at the rules of high school attraction -- and the price that's paid for them.It happens every year. A list is posted, and one girl from each grade is chosen as the prettiest, and another is chosen as the ugliest. Nobody knows who makes the list. It almost doesn't matter. The damage is done the minute it goes up.This is the story of eight girls, freshman to senior, "pretty" and "ugly." And it's also the story of how we see ourselves, and how other people see us, and the tangled connection of the two.

Why am I looking forward to this? I've had my eyes on this one for a few weeks, I just never had the chance to actually blog about it. First of all: the cover. High school drama? Yes please. This book sounds quite original - I love the idea of this list and I just want to find out what it's all about. Has anyone read it yet? What did you think?

What's your "waiting on" pick this week? Feel free to leave a link with your own WoW in the comments below. xxx

Teaser Tuesday #14

Hello everyone! Teaser Tuesday is back :) I haven't done a TT post in ages because I was desperately trying to catch up with myself and my review copies but I'm back and I have a brand new teaser for you.

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly event, hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Anyone can participate, just make sure to read the rules by clicking here.

My teaser comes from Evonne Wareham's Never Coming Home

" His heart was pounding. He forced himself to breathe slowly. The whole thing might still be a windup.

He patted his pocket, where he kept his cigarettes. Always a good opener - gave the snout the chance to ask for a light.

Head down, fumbling with the wrapper, the first inkling he had that he was no longer alone was the cold touch of metal on the back of his neck."

I'm only 27% done with this book but boy, it has everything you need for a purr-fect read: romance, suspense, action, everything. I've really enjoyed it so far!

Has anyone read it yet? What did you think? Make sure to leave me a comment with a link to your own teaser so that I can visit you back :)

In My Mailbox #22

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. It's our opportunity to get a sneak peek into what books everyone is received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders.

Hi everyone! Let's kick this month off with a brand new In My Mailbox post :o) I'm still trying to get through my HUGE review copy pile - which includes 38 titles at the moment - so I'm not taking any review requests and I try not to request Netgalley titles either, BUT I still managed to get two books this week. No photos this time since one of them is an ebook (and I'm super lazy :D):

Masquerade by Cambria Hebert (for review)
Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer (puchased)

I won't be able to start reading them for a while but I'm really excited about both. I read the first few pages of Life As We Knew It and it sounds fantastic! Have you read any of these two? What did you get in your mailbox this time? Make sure to leave a link to your own post below so that I can check out your books too! :)

PS: Make sure to enter my March giveaway if you haven't yet - It's INTERNATIONAL!

http://www.booksbiscuitsandtea.com/2012/03/international-book-giveaway-march.html