Best of the Bunch August 2013

Best of the Bunch is a book blog hop hosted here on the last day of each month, where we can look back over the books we have read over this past month and give a Best of the Bunch award to our favourite book of that month.
I always put up my post on the last day of the month, but remember, you can add your link in anytime in the following month :D
For more info and to grab the button and stickers visit the BOTB page here and then when you've written up your post, add your linky to the list below. 

Check it out!!  I got a new button courtesy of Emma from The Graphicness (thanks Emma!). Feel free to use the new button on your own posts and share it around.

August 2013

This month I have read-

• With All My Soul by Rachel Vincent (Soul Screamers #7)- 4 of 5 stars
• Angel Fever by L.A Weatherly (Angel #3)- 5 of 5 stars
• Collide by Gail McHugh (Collide #1)- 1 of 5 stars
• Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers (His Fair Assassin #2)- 4.5 of 5 stars
• The Night Itself by Zoe Marriott (Name of the Blade #1)- 3 of 5 stars
• Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead (Bloodlines #3)- 4 of 5 stars

And the winner of Best of the Bunch August 2013 goes to...

...drumroll...

Angel Fever by L.A Weatherly!

Goodreads

In the devastated remains of the world, millions of people live in "refugee" camps provided by the angels who have all but enslaved humanity. As this angelic stranglehold tightens, Willow and Alex are recruiting and training new Angel Killers while struggling to hold ground on the celestial battlefield. But Willow continues to have feelings for Seb, and her love and resolve are tested as a shattering revelation sends Alex on a separate journey. Now that the final battle versus the angels is about to begin-and the fate of the world hangs in the balance-each of them must face the consequences of their own choices. Will love endure? Will the human race survive?

This was just a phenomenal ending to what has been one of my favorite YA series. It was exciting, it moved me, it engrossed me and ultimately left with that contented warm and fuzzy feeling. Love this series. 

Honourable mention goes to Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers. I can't let this book slip by unmentioned- it is amazing- historical fantasy at it's finest. Characters that got under my skin, intrigue and rescues... such a great book.

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So I'd love to know- what was the best book you read/ reviewed this month? Link it up here! 

Already written up a monthly wrap-up post? Why not link it up here!? And don't forget to visit the other blogs to get some great new book recs. 

Just let me know- Who gets your bananas?

Thanks for stopping by!

Wishlist Wednesday #34

Wishlist Wednesday is a weekly book blog hop hosted by Dani at Pen to Paper where we will post about a book that has been on our wishlist for some time, or just added, that we can't wait to get off the wishlist and onto our bookshelves.

Of Beast and Beauty  by Stacey Jay
Goodreads

In the beginning was the darkness, and in the darkness was a girl, and in the girl was a secret...

In the domed city of Yuan, the blind Princess Isra, a Smooth Skin, is raised to be a human sacrifice whose death will ensure her city’s vitality. In the desert outside Yuan, Gem, a mutant beast, fights to save his people, the Monstrous, from starvation. Neither dreams that together, they could return balance to both their worlds.

Isra wants to help the city’s Banished people, second-class citizens despised for possessing Monstrous traits. But after she enlists the aid of her prisoner, Gem, who has been captured while trying to steal Yuan’s enchanted roses, she begins to care for him, and to question everything she has been brought up to believe.

As secrets are revealed and Isra’s sight, which vanished during her childhood, returned, Isra will have to choose between duty to her people and the beast she has come to love.

A fantasy retelling of an old fairytale, with some magic and romance thrown in? I'm in! This one sounds really good I think, and that 4.1 review average on Goodreads is really promising. Unfortunately this book hasn't been published yet in the UK, so this one will have to stay on my wishlist for now. 

Some reviews of this book-
Bookish Brunette- 5 of 5 stars
Nick's Book Blog- 5 of 5 stars
Never Ending Stories- 5 of 5 stars

Sunday Post 25th August 2013

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba at The Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~ It's a chance to share news~ to recap the past week on the blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

I got a bunch of cool new books this week!

Bought:

• All Our Yesterdays by Christin Terrill. I hadn't really been drawn to this one, but then I saw some amazing reviews of the book and found out that it's time-travel with an epic romance- I was hooked! I don't like this cover either, the US cover is much jazzier. 
• On the Fringe by Courtney King Walker. This book had been on my wishlist for a long while, and then suddenly for some reason I noticed Amazon had it listed for about half the price, so I went and snapped it up! 
• Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst. Yes! I have been dying to read this book since it first came out. It's just been released in a more affordable paperback, and it's mine now! 

• Shadow and Bone and Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo. I have already read the first book in this series- I borrowed it from the library when it was first published under a different title, but I wanted to buy the series now with the pretty matching new covers. I think I'm going to be reading Siege and Storm next. 

-August's Best of the Bunch post goes live on Saturday, and I have a shiny new meme button created by Emma of The Graphicness, so please feel free to go and grab the new button to use on your post if you're planning on taking part. (If you don't know- Best of the Bunch is a monthly wrap-up post meme hosted here on the last day of every month. Sum up your blogging month and nominate one of the books you read/ reviewed the title of "Best of the Bunch". Add your post to the linky.) 

-Next week I'll be posting all the exciting new YA releases publishing this September that I'm looking forward to reading, so stop back here next Sunday to check them all out (there's lots!). 

That's it! It's been crazy at work lately so I haven't had the energy to write up any book reviews this week, and I'm busy preparing for a job interview later this week (wish me luck!), so my time has been limited. But let me know what new books you got this week.

Thanks for stopping by- happy reading!

Wishlist Wednesday #33

Wishlist Wednesday is a weekly book blog hop hosted by Dani at Pen to Paper where we will post about a book that has been on our wishlist for some time, or just added, that we can't wait to get off the wishlist and onto our bookshelves.

It's the cover that initially drew me to this book- back months ago, and I'm still drooling over it now (and hoping it might get released in paperback soon so I can afford to own it). It sounds like an epic post-apocalyptic novel set in New York, with a strong female lead character. It's getting some mixed reviews but I'm still itching to read it.

The Ward  by Jordana Frankel
Goodreads

Sixteen-year-old Ren is a daredevil mobile racer who will risk everything to survive in the Ward, what remains of a water-logged Manhattan. To save her sister, who is suffering from a deadly illness thought to be caused by years of pollution, Ren accepts a secret mission from the government: to search for a freshwater source in the Ward, with the hope of it leading to a cure.

However, she never expects that her search will lead to dangerous encounters with a passionate young scientist; a web of deceit and lies; and an earth-shattering mystery that’s lurking deep beneath the water’s rippling surface.

Jordana Frankel’s ambitious debut novel and the first in a two-book series, The Ward is arresting, cinematic, and thrilling—perfect for fans of Scott Westerfeld or Ann Aguirre.

Some reviews of this book-
Alexa Loves Books- 4 of 5 stars
Books Live Forever- 3.5 of 5 stars
Xpresso Reads- 2 of 5 stars
The White Unicorn- 5 of 5 stars

What do you think- looks good right? Has anybody read it already?

Sunday Post 18th August 2013

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba at The Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~ It's a chance to share news~ to recap the past week on the blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

I only got one new book this week- but there are a few bits of bookish news I wanted to get out there.

• Borrowed from the library- Ink by Amanda Sun- a fantasy set in Japan- this sounds really interesting. 

• Bout of Books 8.0 starts off tomorrow- possibly one of the biggest and well known readathons in the book blog sphere- there are a massive 423 readers as of right now signed up to take part in this week long readathon, full of events, prizes and twitter chats. A chance to network with other blogs, tackle that TBR pile, and have fun doing it. From the Bout of Books website-

Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional.

• Lovely Kimba over at the Caffeinated Book Reviewer is celebrating her 2 year blogoversary with a giveaway of either a box of books or a $20 gift voucher. Go check it out and support her awesome blog! 

• Have you SEEN the new trailer for the Vampire Academy movie yet?! I love these books so this is very exciting news to me!

• Also- (this news is a few days old now but I just found out) that two of my favourite YA authors and absolutely lovely people- Ransom Riggs and Tahereh Mafi are engaged!

I don't know why this news makes me feel all warm and fuzzy but it does- such lovely news! 

So- that's the week on the blog- did you get any lovely new books this week? Let me know!

Thanks for stopping by!

Wishlist Wednesday #32

Wishlist Wednesday is a weekly book blog hop hosted by Dani at Pen to Paper where we will post about a book that has been on our wishlist for some time, or just added, that we can't wait to get off the wishlist and onto our bookshelves.

Okay- I'm always a sucker for apocalyptic, end-of-the-world type survival stories anyway, but I also love this cover of a girl emerging from a bunker into a grey world. And it sounds really cool too, check it out...

P.O.Ds  by Michelle Pickett
Goodreads

Seventeen-year-old Eva is a chosen one. Chosen to live, while others meet a swift and painful death from an incurable virus so lethal, a person is dead within days of symptoms emerging. In the POD system, a series of underground habitats built by the government, she waits with the other chosen for the deadly virus to claim those above. Separated from family and friends, it's in the PODs she meets David. And while true love might not conquer all, it's a balm for the broken soul. 

After a year, scientists believe the population has died, and without living hosts, so has the virus. That's the theory, anyway. But when the PODs are opened, survivors find the surface holds a vicious secret. The virus mutated, infecting those left top-side and creating... monsters. 

Eva and David hide from the infected in the abandoned PODs. Together they try to build a life--a new beginning. But the infected follow and are relentless in their attacks. Leaving Eva and David to fight for survival, and pray for a cure.

What do you think- looks good right? Has anybody read it already?

Wishlist Wednesday #31

Wishlist Wednesday is a weekly book blog hop hosted by Dani at Pen to Paper where we will post about a book that has been on our wishlist for some time, or just added, that we can't wait to get off the wishlist and onto our bookshelves.

This was published a couple of years ago, but is now being re-released this month with this awesome looking cover. I love fantasy books with kick-ass girl leads, and this one is high on my wishlist. 

Slayers by C.J Hill
Goodreads

Dragons exist. They’re ferocious. And they’re smart: Before they were killed off by slayer-knights, they rendered a select group of eggs dormant, so their offspring would survive. Only a handful of people know about this, let alone believe it – these “Slayers” are descended from the original knights, and are now a diverse group of teens that includes Tori, a smart but spoiled senator’s daughter who didn’t sign up to save the world.

The dragon eggs have fallen into the wrong hands. The Slayers must work together to stop the eggs from hatching. They will fight; they will fall in love. But will they survive?

What do you think- looks good right? Has anybody read it already?

Sunday Post 4th August 2013

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba at The Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~ It's a chance to share news~ to recap the past week on the blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

This is a few weeks worth of books, but I got some good 'uns!

Bought:

• Angel Fever by L.A Weatherly (Angel, book 3). I love this series!
• Timeless by Gail Carriger (Parasol Protectorate, book 5). I have only read the first book in this series so far, but I have all the others and this one was on sale so...  ☺

From the Library:

• Elegy by Tara Hudson (Hereafter, book 3)
• If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch- I can't wait to read this one, it sounds amazing!
• The Night Itself by Zoe Marriott. I LOVE this author's books and am very excited to read this one.
• Stormbringers by Philippa Gregory (Order of Darkness, book 2)

For Review:

• Noble Conflict by Malorie Blackman. I think this author is amazing and I'm looking forward to reading this one as well. Many thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishers for the review copy. 

I posted-

Best of the Bunch July - a monthly wrap up post with my nomination for my favourite book of the past month. 

Exciting New August book releases -Where I squeal over which upcoming YA book releases I'm looking forward to in the coming month.

On Saturday I went to a book signing with local author Lee Weatherly, (who was absolutely lovely) and got my book autographed. Authors are my rock stars and I always end up babbling and fangirling like a lunatic when I meet one! TEAM ALEX!

What books did you get this week? Any of mine you've read already? What did you think of them?

Let me know in the comments. Thanks for stopping by!

Exciting New August Releases

These are some of the new books coming out this month that I am most excited to read...

Most hotly anticipated

Angel Fever by L.A Weatherly (Angel series, book 3)  Goodreads 

Why I'm looking forward to reading it...
I have LOVED this series right from the very beginning- everything about it from the sweet romance, the action, and the writing in general which just sucks me into the story. I have been looking forward to this one all year!

Also released this month-
(please note these are the UK covers and release dates)

• Cruel Summer by James Dawson
• Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas (Throne of Glass, book 2). I have read an advance copy of this one already and it is brilliant!
• Earth Star by Janet Edwards (Earth Girl, book 2)

• Because it is my Blood by Gabrielle Zevin (Birthright, book 2) Published for the first time in the UK
• Control by Kim Curran (shift, book 2)
• Soul Storm by Kate Harrison (Soul, book 3)

• Debutantes in Love by Cora Harrison 
• Linked by Imogen Howson. Published in the UK for the first time.
• The Sound by Sarah Alderson 

• Starlight's Edge by Susan Waggoner (Timedance, book 2)
• Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan
• Elegy by Amanda Hocking (Watersong, book4)

• Fracture by C.J Daugherty (Night School, book 3)
• Rolling Dice by Beth Reekles
• The Weight of Souls by Bryony Pearce

Any of these that you're also excited to read? Any books that I've missed off this list that you are looking forward to this August?