Spies & Prejudice by Talia Vance

Fields’ Rule #1: Don’t fall for the enemy.

Berry Fields is not looking for a boyfriend. She’s busy trailing cheaters and liars in her job as a private investigator, collecting evidence of the affairs she’s sure all men commit. And thanks to a pepper spray incident during an eighth grade game of spin the bottle, the guys at her school are not exactly lining up to date her, either.

So when arrogant—and gorgeous—Tanner Halston rolls into town and calls her “nothing amazing,” it’s no loss for Berry. She’ll forget him in no time. She’s more concerned with the questions surfacing about her mother’s death.

But why does Tanner seem to pop up everywhere in her investigation, always getting in her way? Is he trying to stop her from discovering the truth, or protecting her from an unknown threat? And why can’t Berry remember to hate him when he looks into her eyes?

With a playful nod to Jane Austen, Spies and Prejudice will captivate readers as love and espionage collide.

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Published by Egmont USA 

Genre: YA Contemp | Released 11 June 2013| Source: From Publisher via Netgalley | Rating: Five out of Five

I just have to get this out there: I think I have author love for Talia Vance. Having now read all three books by Talia, I am in complete admiration of her writing style and her uber awesome talent. 

This book is possibly one of my favourite contemporaries of the year. In saying that, I was already looking forward to reading it, but that anticipation was nothing compared to the joy I felt while reading. It was, to put simply, amazing.

To begin with, the mixture of spy and Pride and Prejudice just has to be one of the most amazing crossovers ever. Ingenious, really. And what I loved the most wasn't that this isn't just a retelling of Pride and Prejudice. I loved how it wasn't just a by-the-book retelling. It's a remaining of such a wonderful story done by someone who can totally blow the plot out of the water by incorporating it into something modern and hip. I love retelling re-imaginings of Jane Austen novels (they're like a drug, I swear!), and this is definitely on that is high up on my list of favourites!

Berry Fields was an incredibly sassy and witty character from the get go. She had her fair few moments of flawed annoyances, like her instant distrust of Tanner and even Ryan to a certain extent, but you could see why she'd feel wary about them. Two hot guys taking a sudden interest in you? Sure, even I'd be weirded out. And strangely attracted to say, Tanner like Berry is.

The romance was steamy and just how I like it, with Tanner definitely making on to my Book Boyfriends list. He was such a good partner to Berry; just like Darcy & Elizabeth complimented each other in so many ways that they didn't know, so do Berry & Tanner. Their relationship is rocky at first, built on a series of misunderstandings, but as they progress through, they work through all this minor details and come to realize that they can actually be more than just friends. I love seeing two people who, while they are attracted to each other, fight against that attraction to begin with. There's something more sexy about lingering touches and forbidden touches that makes me squee like a little girl.

If you are a fan of Veronica Mars and are totally devastated that the Lizzie Bennet Diaries is over, then read this book. Full of little quips and funny one liners, Spies and Prejudice will have you swooning left right and centre. Beautifully written, Spies and Prejudice is definitely one of those books I'll keep wanting to re-read over and over again.

Gilt by Katherine Longshore

In the court of King Henry VIII, nothing is free-and love comes at the highest price of all.

When Kitty Tylney's best friend, Catherine Howard, worms her way into King Henry VIII's heart and brings Kitty to court, she's thrust into a world filled with fabulous gowns, sparkling jewels, and elegant parties. No longer stuck in Cat's shadow, Kitty's now caught between two men--the object of her affection and the object of her desire. But court is also full of secrets, lies, and sordid affairs, and as Kitty witnesses Cat's meteoric rise and fall as queen, she must figure out how to keep being a good friend when the price of telling the truth could literally be her head.

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Published by Simon & Schuster Australia

Genre: YA Historical | Released 15 May 2013 | Pages: 406 | Source: From Publisher | Rating: Five out of Five

I'm a big Tudor fan. Wait, let's start over again. I'm a big Henry VIII fan. Anything to do with his reign I am besotted with. It's just such an amazing period in history that's so rich and full of something that just makes me shiver whenever I think about it. The courts, the dresses, the romances, the obsessions, the power play, the politics...I love it all. I remember going to Hampton Court Palace, and even the Tower of London, for the first time and thinking, "They walked here. Anne Boleyn stood in this very spot. It's a magical feeling, and if anyone who loves history - particularly the Tudors - like I do, then I'm sure that you'll understand that feeling. The one where if you close your eyes, you can almost imagine stepping into Tudor England. Wouldn't it be glorious? Sort of, any way!

So it will come as no surprise then, that Katherine Longshore's debut novel filled a gap in my heart that no other book has been able to fill. This was one of those reads that I couldn't put down, it was so intoxicatingly thrilling.

Gilt tells the story of Kitty Tilney, whose best friend, Catherine Howard, known as Cat, sets her sights on becoming Queen to one of the most powerful men in the world - Henry VIII. On the outside, court is considered to be one of glamour, with lavish gowns and elegant parties. But Kitty soon begins to learn about the dark side of court, and it's only too soon that time may run out for Cat and her ways.

If you know anything about Henry's wives, then you'll know that Catherine was Henry's fifth wife, and the second to be beheaded for infidelity. She was also the youngest, a mere child compared to Henry's old age. While there's always been talk about who Catherine really was - a pawn in her family's game for power, or a utter bitch (excuse my French) - Longshore is able to portray a side of Catherine that I think hits the mark close to home.

In a world where status is everything, Cat always knew that she was destined for more than what she was. Her downfall, however, is that she constantly strives for more. Being wife to the King wasn't enough. As soon as she realizes she's stuck in a loveless marriage, the one to blame if an heir is not produced, she turns in other directions - always at the risk of discovery. And unfortunately, she brings Kitty into her mess with a vengeance  As I said before, Cat is a complete bitch. She's selfish and vain, and she doesn't understand the value of true friendships, even in her time of need. She constantly blames others for her faults. In way, you feel sorry for Cat, but then at the same time, she'll do something that will make you just want to scream.

Kitty, on the other hand, is the complete opposite of Cat, considered her closest friend and confidante. She's loyal and quiet, but stronger than any of the other girls. She has to grow up so fast - they all do, really - and Kitty learns the hard way about the viciousness that runs throughout Henry's court. She learns to love and she's incredibly strong. But for all her strengths, Kitty does have her weaknesses. Her involvement in Cat's life from an early age condemns her to fall if Cat does, and she's easily manipulated by her best friend, who doesn't want to see her happy when her own fortune is not so glamorous. I felt so sorry for Kitty; any chance of some happiness and it was destroyed in some way or another. She often reminded me of the way that Mary (yes, that Mary!) was portrayed in the television series).

But we all know how the story ends, and it's not a pretty one.

What I loved about this novel was Longshore's passion for the subject really shining through. What I really appreciate is someone who has taken their time to put in a great effort to make sure that their novel is historically accurate. Of course, this can't happen all the time, seeing as there is still so little information that we know about the Tudor period, but Longshore works with what she has, and she uses it well. I've read a few reviews where people didn't like the way Cat was portrayed as a character, but Longshore hit the nail on the head perfectly. A young girl who wanted not just the stars, but the whole universe. A girl that was used and manipulated by her family, leaving her insecure and bitter against any one who had a chance to live happy. 

This is one that I'd definitely recommend for history fans and those new to historical novels alike. If you don't tend to read a lot of historical fiction, but want to, then go for this one. The language, which stays as true to the time period as much as a modern day author can write, may be a little hard to understand at first, but stick with it, and you'll be given the most wonderful story that will take your breath away. I for one am high anticipating Longshore's next novel, Tarnish!

How My Summer Went Up In Flames by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski

First she lost her heart. Then she lost her mind. And now she’s on a road trip to win back her ex. This debut novel’s packed with drama and romance!

Rosie’s always been impulsive. She didn’t intend to set her cheating ex-boyfriend’s car on fire. And she never thought her attempts to make amends could be considered stalking. So when she’s served with a temporary restraining order on the first day of summer vacation, she’s heartbroken—and furious.

To put distance between Rosie and her ex, Rosie’s parents send her on a cross-country road trip with responsible, reliable neighbor Matty and his two friends. Forget freedom of the road, Rosie wants to hitchhike home and win back her ex. But her determination starts to dwindle with each passing mile. Because Rosie’s spark of anger? It may have just ignited a romance with someone new…

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Published by Simon Pulse | Genre: YA Contemporary | Released: 7 May 2013 | Pages: 320 | Source: From Publisher via Edelweiss | Rating: Four out of Five

I have to say, reading just the blurb of this book had me hook, line and sinker. Let's dissect for a second. Impulsive  Set her cheating's ex-boyfriend's car on fire. Stalking. Temporary Restraining Order. Summer vay-cay. Heartbroken. Furious.  Let's just say awesome in a paragraph.

How My Summer Went Up In Flames was a snappy and sassy read that made me laugh, cringe and swoon all in the space of about four hours. It is possibly one of the perfect summer reads you need to add to your list.

Rosie was a beautifully flawed character. She was the best of everything - snarky and sassy with a sharp set of claws. She's quick to judge, has a fiery temper and isn't very rational in her way of thinking. Rosie needs a lot of work, and even though she doesn't exactly change by the end of the book, the ambiguous ending lends something great in the idea that from Rosie's point of view, change doesn't just happen overnight. It takes time, and Rosie's outlook on the future is just that. Change is possible, and it takes time. And who knows what the future may hold? She does come across as a bit whiny and selfish throughout the book, which was a trait I felt dragged on a bit too much.

It's not just Rosie that makes this book. It's the supporting characters in the boys she travels across country with. All three guys - Matt, Spencer and Logan are extremely quirky and geeky guys. As time goes on, Rosie learns that she cares more for them that she realises. Her brother Matt, of course, was this awesome best friend who really cared for Rosie. I loved his geekiness. 

Most of the novel is set on the road trip, and the conclusion is a little rushed, but I liked how this wasn't a novel about a girl trying to get her ex back, but more about her getting over her ex and forging her own path.

This is one novel that will make you laugh the whole entire way through. And the places they stop at on the road - man, I'm so excited to be heading to America! Add this one to your reading list this summer, it's one that will definitely be worth the read. Summer here you come!

The Last Book in the Slated Trilogy Has a Title!

I am SO SO excited today you guys! And not just because it's the first day of BEA aside from the Blogger Conference yesterday, but today I have the insane pleasure of revealing to you the title for Teri Terry's final book in the Slated Trilogy!

So before I go any further, let me just give you a quick recap on the Slated trilogy thus far. 

Kyla’s memory has been erased,
her personality wiped blank,
her memories lost for ever.

She’s been Slated.

The government claims she was a terrorist, and that they are giving her a second chance - as long as she plays by their rules. But echoes of the past whisper in Kyla’s mind. Someone is lying to her, and nothing is as it seems. Who can she trust in her search for the truth? .

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Kyla's memory has been erased,

her personality wiped blank, 

her memories lost forever.

Or so she thought.

Kyla shouldn’t be able to remember anything. But she can – and she’s beginning to realise hat there are a lot of dark secrets locked away in her memories. When a mysterious man from her past comes back into her life, she thinks she’s on her way to finding the truth. But the more she learns about her history, the more confusing her future becomes...

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So now to the exciting stuff. 

The third book is titled.....

....

....

YES. I am all for this book. Until it's actually released...

A Quick Q&A with Teri Terry!

Q. How do you come up with the titles for your books? Is there any sort of process involved?

This REALLY varies. A lot. Sometimes, I instantly know the title and never want to change it. An example would be Slated. It came from the story idea - of underage criminals having their memory wiped, then given a new family and a second chance. a new life - ie. given a clean slate. That is where Slated came from. I didn't have to hunt for it; it was just there, pretty much right from the beginning. 

Other times it is much more tortuous. I originally wanted to call the second book Rooked - I think anyone who has read Fractured will get the reference. My publishers thought this was too obscure and wouldn't grab people; I think they were probably right. After that I came up with a long list of suggestions, and everyone - me, included - liked Fractured the best.

Choosing the third title was even more long and involved - but amazingly enough, Shattered was the original title I had for it. We went through endless lists of alternatives, but in the end came back to Shattered.

Q. What three words would you use to describe Kyla?

Strong, vulnerable, layered: because everything I come up with to say about her is a contradiction.

Q. For all of those (including me!) desperately waiting for Book 3, what can we expect from the final book in the series?

This is hard, as I haven't even started thinking of blurbs for it yet! So this is going to be messy. Hmmm.....

Kyla stops running from her past; she learns who she is, what she wants, and sets out to get it. But sometimes what you think you want and what you need aren't the same things...

That sounds a little blurby, doesn't it? I should also say there is chaos, conflict and change coming for Kyla, MIA, and the Lorders. Whether they are ready for it, or not.

Q. Kyla's journey might soon be over, but is there anything in the works for you after this?

Yes, definitely! But I can't tell you what yet. I've got a number of ideas I'm thinking about. Stay tuned for updates!

In conjunction with the title reveal, Teri, the amazing woman that she is, has offered one copy of Fractured to giveaway! If you haven't read the series yet, then you can choose to have Slated instead. Please note that this is a giveaway for Australian/New Zealand residents only. All other entries will be void. For the other blogs in the title reveal, check out Teri's blog!

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The Ward by Jordana Frankel

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.

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Published by Katherine Tegan Books (HarperTeen)

Genre: YA Dystopian |Released 30 April 2013 | Pages: 465 

Source: From Publisher via Edelweiss |Rating: 4 out of 5

First things first - COVER LOVE. I adore this cover. While it's not exactly the perfect representation of the book, the idea of Manhattan's skyline immersed in water and looking as if it is falling off into a waterfall is damn impressive. And even the watery shadows in the title font as well are so pleasing, this cover immediately jumped out as something awesome.

Aside from the amazing cover, I thoroughly enjoyed this Dystopian read. A unique and fresh outtake on a trend that can at times, become quite boring, The Ward kept me interested for most of the way through.

While I enjoyed it, this wasn't a book I overly loved. The book jumps right into the action, which is a big tick from me, and the plot moved quick enough to keep me entertained. However, what was a big letdown for me was that there wasn't enough world-building to begin with. I can only assume that we'll be given more in the next book, but it would have been even better to have more of a development into what actually happened for this new world to be created. I find that generally, most Dystopian books lack this type of information, and it would be nice to see that gap. 

The Ward was definitely more about the characters than the plot itself. I loved the range that we got, from Ren herself, to the friends that were introduced. I did feel like that the minor characters were rather left to themselves, and could have been brought out of their shells a bit more, but that's what its keeping me interested in reading the sequel. Ren is a girl with passion and fire. She's incredibly loyal, and we see how much her family and friends mean to her throughout the course of the book.

I loved the romance too; albeit was a little underdeveloped and again, could have used a bit more attention. Derek was a guy that you instantly fell for, despite knowing he had a bit of a shadyness about him. But I was totally cool with that. 

The book is a little rocky, but there are all the signs of a great series in the making here. And with such a thrilling premise, then this is one series that I will definitely keep reading.

Top Ten Tuesdays - Ten Books On My Holiday Reading List

This is a fun weekly meme hosted by the great girls over at Broke and Bookish. Every Tuesday will feature a new list, usually of up to ten books and our thoughts. It's a great way to learn about your fellow bloggers, their fave books and get more recommendations and more books to read. Plus who doesn't love a list?

Funnily enough, this week's Top Ten Tuesday is totally relevant, because as this is posted, I am currently UP IN THE AIR. That's right, I'm on a plane, flying to America!!!! This is what is on my Kindle, ready for reading on my fabulous holiday. Because I'm headed to BEA, I've strictly told myself no paperbacks allowed.

Not A Drop To Drink by Mindy McGinnis | Ink by Amanda Sun | The After Girls by Leah Konen

Dance of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin | Confessions of an Almost Girlfriend by Louise Rozett | Parallel by Lauren Miller

A Wounded Name by Dot Hutchinson | The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey | Dare You To by Katie McGarry | The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa

Are you about to go on holiday? Or are you compiling your holiday reading list at the moment? Don't forget to link me to your TTT in the comments!

I'm Off To America & BEA!

Hey guys!

So we all now that BEA, or Book Expo America, is next weekend, and this girl is going! Yes, I know my post is really late, considering most have already posted about the event, but now it's my turn! If you are going, then let me know somehow as I'd LOVE to catch up with you!

I fly out on Monday night from my little piece of Australia for just under four weeks of fun, fun, fun!

So what am I looking forward to at BEA this year?

The authors! So many fantastic authors are heading to BEA, and I can't wait to meet them all!

And I don't even know if that's half the people on my SQUEE list. I'm not going to even start listing books - that's another story altogether. And it's not just authors and books - meeting up with fellow bloggers & authorly friends is going to be amazing!

Look out for me - I'll be the one with the Aussie accent trying to imitate y'all!

I'm deadly excited; not only is this my first BEA, it's my first time in America! I'm going to make the most of my time in the States by taking in the sights around New York after BEA, then heading to San Fransisco for a tour with Topdeck Travel to Los Angeles via Las Vegas & the Grand Canyon. If you have any traveller tips at all, let me know as well as I'd love to hear your thoughts!