Hi there! I’m Kay: an opinionated book blogger enamoured with the world of novels. Reader of Speculative Fiction (the posh word for Sci-Fi/Fantasy) and Young Adult novels. Believer in the many uses of the towel, the science of deduction and other fandom in-jokes.
This blog has been closed since early 2016. To the publishers and writers: thanks for all the support over the years. To my readers and fellow bloggers: keep in touch!
Recent Reviews
Review: Stealing Heaven by Elizabeth Scott
Stealing Heaven by Elizabeth ScottPublished by HarperTeen
Genres: Contemporary YA, Young Adult
Source: Purchased myself
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Rating:
Dani has been trained as a thief by the best--her mother. Together, they move from town to town, targeting wealthy homes and making a living by stealing antique silver. They never stay in one place long enough to make real connections, real friends--a real life
In the beach town of Heaven, though, everything changes. For the first time, Dani starts to feel at home. She's making friends and has even met a guy. But these people can never know the real Dani--because of who she is. When it turns out that her new friend lives in the house they've targeted for their next job and the cute guy is a cop, Dani must question where her loyalties lie: with the life she's always known--or the one she's always wanted.
Thoughts: I was surprised by Stealing Heaven. I picked it up expecting a cheery, chick-lit read – Ocean’s Eleven a-la-Sophie-Kinsella. That would have been great, but what Scott delivers is about 20x better. Stealing Heaven is a serious book. Dani grows up with a mother who has indoctrinated her into a life of crime – a life that Dani is just not meant for. She’s never been to school, never been able to tell anyone her real name, never had any friends – and, on top of that, there’s her absent father and her mother’s manic relationship with thievery. Less than ideal is putting it mildly.
But even as Dani’s mom behaves in ways unbefitting a mother, Dani is able to recognise why her mother her is behaving so thoughtlessly. It’s really easy for a teen to just turn around and hate their parents – but Dani doesn’t because, even as a teen, she can see her mother with the eyes of an adult. I read this book wishing I could hate her mom – but I just couldn’t. It is fantastic, and adds a whole new level to what could have been a simple break-away-from-your-family book.
Stealing Heaven is about a girl working out who she is, and what that means for her family. About a girl who has to wake up, take her head out of the sand, and truly examine her life. She doesn’t do it for a boy – although she does have an extremely influential romance with, get this, a cop – and she doesn’t do it for a friend – although she makes pals with a lovely girl along the way. Dani changes her life for herself, and it is wonderful to read.
Bottom line? A fantastic contemporary read for young adults. This book is sweet, sad, and thoughtful – you’ll love it. I can’t wait to read more by Elizabeth Scott!
Hexbound Release Day!
Today is the release date of HEXBOUND by CHLOE NEILL! This is book two in Neill’s YA Dark Elite series, which began last year with the novel FIRESPELL.
It is out today in the US (UK hardback out January 27th) and I absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on a copy. I was a big fan of Neill’s first book in the series, which I read as part of the 2010 Debut Author Challenge. FIRESPELL even made my top ten list of 2010, so needless-to-say I am excited about the sequel!
Chloe Neill will be on Bitten by Books later today (18.00 GMT, 19.00 CET) for a release party. You can ask all sorts of questions, and be entered to win a bunch of prizes (some of them international to boot!). Visit the site to RSVP to the event!
Monday Reading (January 3rd, 2011)
It’s Monday! What are you reading this week? is a weekly event now hosted by One Persons Journey Through a World Of Books where we discuss our week of reading!
Currently Reading:
- Night Shift by Lilith Saintcrow – I loved Lili’s YA series (Strange Angels) and have so far really enjoyed this first book in her adult series. The main character is just as touch-as-nails as Dru.
- Mercy by Rebecca Lim – Not sure I will be finishing this any time soon. If I hadn’t gotten it for review, I might have given up by now. Perhaps it will improve with time?
Finished this week:
- Stealing Heaven by Elizabeth Scott – Finished this in one long sitting. I just couldn’t put it down! This book was a lot darker/more intense than I expected (from the cover it looked rather like chick-lit YA) and I adored the unexpected depth in all the characters. Can’t wait to review this one.
2011 Off the Shelf Challenge!
Ok, it has been said that I have a bit of a book-buying issue. I buy lots and lots (although lately I have been a very good girl) and I don’t read nearly enough! So, the Off the Shelf challenge seems the perfect one for me!
This challenge is to read those books you own copies of, but have never got around to reading. I signed up for the On A Roll challenge level – which I have to read 50 books for! Since I am hoping to read at least 75 this year, I feel like I should actually manage to meet this challenge… right?
The challenge lasts all of 2011, and you can sign up for it here!
- Stealing Heaven by Elizabeth Scott
- My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent
- Mercy by Rebecca Lim
- Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernan
- Friday Night Bites by Chloe Neill
- Delirium by Lauren Oliver
- Firmin: Adventures of a Metropolitan Lowlife by Sam Savage
- Night Shift by Lilith Saintcrow
- Sea Change by Aimee Friedman
- Wake by Lisa McMann
- Blood Promise by Richelle Mead
- Lover Revealed by J.R. Ward
- Beauty by Robin Mckinley
- Moloka’i by Alan Brennert
- The Iron Hunt by Marjorie M. Liu
- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
- Night Life by Caitlin Kittredge
- Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough
- Pride by Rachel Vincent
- The Touch of Twilight by Vicki Pettersson
- Bitten by Kelley Armstrong
- The Glass Demon by Helen Grant
- Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs
- The Society of S by Susan Hubbard
- Heat Stroke by Rachel Caine
- Beastly by Alex Flinn
- 13 to Life by Shannon Delany
- The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller
- Dark Goddess by Sarwat Chadda
- Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris
- Succubus Dreams by Richelle Mead
31/50 books read!
2011 Debut Author Challenge
Another year, another YA Debut Author Challenge. I didn’t manage to complete the challenge last year, but really loved participating. I’m hoping that this year I will be more successful!
If you haven’t heard of the Debut Author Challenge (??), it is hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren. The objective is to read at least 12 YA books from debut authors published in 2011. You can sign up for the challenge here, but make sure to read through the guidelines before you do!
So, let’s see my (very) tentative list of my 2011 debut reads. First off, there are the books by the YA Rebels. I have been watching their channel on youtube for aaaages now and feel like I know them. So, these authors are getting top billing on my TBR list for 2011.
- Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton – April 26th 2011 (US) – Read!
- The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff – January 6th (UK) – Read!
- The Iron King by Julie Kagawa – January 21st (UK)
- Unearthly by Cynthia Hand – May 2nd 2011 (UK)
- Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini – June 3rd 2011 (UK)
- Die for Me by Amy Plum – May 5th 2011 (UK)
- Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton – June 9th 2011 (UK) – Read!
- Divergent by Veronica Roth – May 3rd (UK)
- Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs – June 7th 2011 – Read!
- Enclave by Ann Aguirre – April 12th 2011 (US) – Read and Reviewed!
- My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent – January 6th 2011 (UK) – Read and Reviewed!
- Siren by Tricia Rayburn – January 20th (UK) – Read and Reviewed!
- The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney – January 20th (UK) – Read and Reviewed!
- Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor – September 29th 2011 (UK) – Read and Reviewed!
- The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab – August 2nd 2011 (US)
- Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey – September 2011 (US)
- A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford – February 22nd 2011 (US)
- Paranormalcy by Kiersten White – January 6th 2011 (UK)
- Possess by Gretchen McNeil – August 23rd 2011 (US)
- The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton – September 27th 2011 (US)
- Future Imperfect by K. Ryer Breese – April 26th 2011 (US)
- The Rites and Wrongs of Janice Wills by Joanna Pearson – July 1st 2011 (US)
- The Water Wars by Cameron Stracher – January 1st 2011 (US)
- Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey – December 8th 2011 (US)
- The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge – February 22nd 2011
9/12 books read!