Dandelions in the Garden (Countess Bathory # 1) by Charlie Courtland - Book Review

Title: Dandelions in the Garden (Countess Bathory # 1)
Author: Charlie Courtland
Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: 2009
Pages: 426
Format: Paperback
Genre: Historical
Source: Xmas Gift

The Urban Sea: Cities of the Mediterranean by Dennis Hardy - Book Review

Title: The Urban Sea: Cities of the Mediterranean
Author: Dennis Hardy
Publisher: Blue Gecko Books
Publication Date: 2013
Pages: 364
Format: Paperback
Genre: Non-Fiction
Source: Free Copy from Author

Ink (Paper Gods # 1) by Amanda Sun - Book Review

Title: Ink (Paper Gods # 1)
Author: Amanda Sun
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: 25 June 2013
Pages: 377
Format: E-Book - PDF
Genre: Fantasy YA  
Source: ARC via NetGalley

Dead Europe by Christos Tsiolkas - Book Review

Title: Dead Europe
Author: Christos Tsiolkas
Publisher: Atlantic
Publication Date: 2011 (2005)
Pages: 400
Format: Paperback
Genre: Literary Fiction      
Source: Xmas Gift

Dead Ever After (Sookie Stackhouse # 13) by Charlaine Harris - Book Review

Title: Dead Ever After (Sookie Stackhouse # 13)
Author: Charlaine Harris
Publisher: Gollancz
Publication Date: 2013
Pages: 338
Format: Paperback
Genre: Paranormal  
Source: Bought Copy

Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami - Book Review

Title: Norwegian Wood
Author: Haruki Murakami
Publisher: Vintage
Publication Date: 1987
Pages: 400
Format: Paperback
Genre: Literary Fiction  
Source: Xmas Gift

The Girl with the Iron Touch (Steampunk Chronicles # 3) by Kady Cross - Book Review

Title: The Girl with the Iron Touch (Steampunk Chronicles # 3)
Author: Kady Cross
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: 28 May 2013
Pages: 384
Format: E-Book - PDF
Genre: Steampunk
Source: ARC via NetGalley

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar (Steampunk Chronicles # 2) by Kady Cross - Book Review

Title: The Girl in the Clockword Collar (Steampunk Chronicles # 2)
Author: Kady Cross
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 416
Format: E-Book - PDF
Genre: Steampunk  
Source: Review Copy from Publisher

Focus on Close-Up and Macro Photography by Clive Branson - Book Review

Title: Close-Up and Macro Photography
Author: Clive Branson
Publisher: Focal Press
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 185
Format: E-Book - PDF
Genre: Non-Fiction
Source: ARC via NetGalley

The Girl in the Steel Corset (Steampunk Chronicles # 1) by Kady Cross - Book Review

Title: The Girl in the Steel Corset (Steampunk Chronicles # 1)
Author: Kady Cross
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: 2011
Pages: 473
Format: E-Book - EPUB
Genre: Steampunk  
Source: Review Copy from Publisher

The Knightmare by Deborah Valentine - Book Review

Title: The Knightmare
Author: Deborah Valentine
Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: 2013
Pages: 335
Format: E-Book - PDF
Genre: Fantasy  
Source: Review Copy from Author

Julie Kagawa - Interview

Today I am thrilled to welcome Julie Kagawa to the blog. Julie has kindly answered a few questions for me regarding her Blood of Eden series. Book Two, The Eternity Cure is out now!

1) What made you decide to exchange fairies for vampires in your latest series and has this led to any change in your writing style?
Early in my writing career, I told myself I wouldn't write a vampire book, but not long after finishing The Iron Fey, my agent asked if I would try writing a vampire series.  I'd been toying with the idea of a post-apocalyptic YA book, so I wondered what would happen if I combined the two.  So I did, and The Immortal Rules was born.

The Eternity Cure (Blood of Eden # 2) by Julie Kagawa - Book Review

Title: The Eternity Cure (Blood of Eden # 2)  
Author: Julie Kagawa  
Publisher: HarlequinTeen
Publication Date: April 2013
Pages: 446
Format: E-Book - PDF
Genre: Paranormal YA
Source: ARC via NetGalley

The Neverending Story - Michael Ende - Book Review

Title: The Neverending Story
Author: Michael Ende
Publisher: Dutton Children's Books
Publication Date: 1997 (1979)
Pages: 396
Format: Hardback
Genre: Fantasy  
Source: Xmas Gift

Elise K. Ackers - Guest Post & Promo

Today I welcome author Elise K. Ackers to the blog to tell us about her new release  Ask me to Stay: A Homeland Book. Over to you, Elise.

Genre jump
Although Ask Me To Stay: A Homeland Book is my fourth book, it’s a first for me in many ways. It is my first rural romance, my first romantic elements title, and my first series. Prior to now, the books I have written have been contemporary single title and largely focused on the romantic development of the male and female protagonists.

Mini-Hiatus - Moving House

Well, the next 5-6 weeks are going to be really busy for me, so I just wanted to let you all know why I may be a bit quiet for a while.

This week I'll be moving out of the unit and hubby and I will be spending four weeks staying with his parents where there is *shock* *horror* no Internet. Yes, you did read that correctly, unbelievable as it is! Then end of May/early June, we'll be moving into our new house and will get Internet again there.

I have set up some posts ready for reviews of books I have here to read, so I'll try to keep on top of the reviews at least when I can grab a moment online somewhere, but there may not be much other content during May and early June - sorry!

That said, I do have a special Julie Kagawa treat for you all in a few days' time, so watch out for that and I'll be back soon!

Underground by Haruki Murakami - Book Review

Title: Underground
Author: Haruki Murakami
Publisher: Vintage
Publication Date: 2003 (1997)
Pages: 309
Format: Paperback
Genre: Non-Fiction
 Source: Xmas Gift

Character Interview - Be My Alien by Julie Lynn Hayes & M. A. Church

Today, I hand over to Julie Lynn Hayes and M. A. Church for a fun character interview and promo for their new release, Be My Alien....

Thanks so much for having us here today! Oh wait, who are we, I can hear some of you ask? Let me back up a mo and start again. I’m Julie Lynn Hayes, she’s M.A. Church, heretofore to be known as Michelle. Just call me Julie. We’re here today to talk about our first joint project, Be My Alien, which will be released by Dreamspinner May 8th.

Let’s start at the beginning. I totally blame Michelle for hooking me on aliens.
Michelle: *snort* I corrupted her, or so she says.
Julie:  *laughs* That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it. It wasn’t until I read your most excellent book, Nighttime Wishes, that I first encountered your fixation on beings from other worlds, and… wait, hold on a second. What are you two doing here?

Winner - Shower of Books Giveaway Hop

Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway. A random selection has been made and the winner is:

Ioana S. 

Congratulations. I have emailed the winner!

The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay - Book Review

Title: The Sea of Tranquility

Author: Katja Millay

Publisher: Atria

Publication Date: 4th June 2012

Pages: 448

Format: E-Book - PDF
Genre: YA

Source: ARC via NetGalley