Book Review - Fateful - Claudia Gray ARC

I was given an ARC of Fateful by Claudia Gray (which due for release in September 2011). It is about werewolves on the Titanic and it was really well done. I quite enjoyed reading this book as Claudia seems to have done much research on the Titanic and the lives of servants in service to British Nobility. Also one thing that caught my eye was (the fact as we Australian's mostly descend from English stock, so our speech and writing are mainly British) the use of the word 'Mum'. Claudia got it correct. When the characters were in Britain they used the spelling 'Mum' Then when an American came onto the scene the spelling changed to "Mom'. I know it is something small, but it really made me want to keep reading simply for that fact.

Okay now I will stop going on about spelling and what nots and get to what you want to hear - what the story was like!
 

I thought the story was good, I know we all know how the book was going to end in parts (who doesn't know that the Titanic sunk??) The end still made me start in suprise - I didn't think she would do what she did. Tess is a spunky girl who dreams of becoming more than a servant in a household of people who think she is beneath them. Then comes Alec - who saves her from danger and must now introduce her into a world she thought was myth. There are about three or four different storylines running through the book and they all come together well. All in all a very enjoyable book and it is a must for any fans of Claudia's 'Evernight Series' and LJ Smith's 'Vampire Diaries'

Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Manga

Even More to Sink Your Teeth into

Inner Ghoul
To get in touch with your inner ghoul...
a. go shopping
...b. cuddle a teddy bear
c. brains...brains?

Tatsuya Tsugawa loses his wealthy parents in the middle of high school. Trying to fulfill his father's dying wish of becoming an upstanding man, Tatsuya attempts to save a girl from obsessive bullies only to be consumed with intrigue and slight obsession himself. But what will Tatsuya do when his good will and earnest efforts lead him into a twisted fantasy world infested with mermaids and mind-controlling parasites?

For fans of Bleach and Death Note:

Raised by Father Fujimoto, a famous exorcist, Rin Okumura never knew his real father. One day a fateful argument with Father Fujimoto forces Rin to face a terrible truth, the blood of the demon lord Satan runs in Rin's veins! Rin swears to defeat Satan, but doing that means entering the mysterious True Cross Academy and becoming an exorcist himself. Can Rin fight demons and keep his infernal bloodline a secret? It won't be easy, especially when drawing his father's sword releases the demonic power within him!

The Cherry Blossom Princess Reborn!

Sakura is the granddaughter of a mysterious moon princess who slew demons with her Blood Cherry Blossom sword.

All her life Sakura has been forbidden to look at the full moon without knowing why. Then one night, unhappy over her impending marriage, Sakura gazes up at the moon, only to see a demon attacking her...

 

Book Review - Mercy - Rebecca Lim

Mercy ′wakes′ on a school bus bound for Paradise, a small town where everyone knows everyone else′s business -- or thinks they do. But they will never guess the secret Mercy is hiding ....

As an angel exiled from heaven and doomed to return repeatedly to Earth, Mercy is never sure whose life and body she will share each time. And her mind is filled with the desperate pleas of her beloved, Luc, who can only approach her in her dreams.

In Paradise, Mercy meets Ryan, whose sister was kidnapped two years ago and is now presumed dead. When another girl disappears, Mercy and Ryan know they must act before time runs out. But a host of angels are out for Mercy′s blood and they won′t rest until they find her and punish her -- for a crime she doesn′t remember committing ...

I have heard a lot of hype about this book so I was a bit hestitant to read it. Yesterday morning I picked it up as I needed something to read and I finished it last night. It was well written and the story was great. Mercy is an angel who has committed a terrible deed she doesn't remember. Her punishment is to take over the bodies and lives of random people who need her. She has lost all her memories of her former angel self and doesn't know what she is. Only she is starting to remember. In this book, Mercy is Carmen, a sorprano singer in a choir who gets caught up in a case everyone tells her to leave alone. I really enjoyed this book and it was easy to read. I like the idea that her memories come back to her slowly as we grow closer to the character.

A very good read and I can't wait to read Exile, the 2nd book in the series. 

Author Signings - Garth Nix, Sean Williams & Keri Arthur

The end of May and beginning of June is going to be a very busy time for us at Castle Plaza Bookshop. Not only do we have Garth Nix & Sean Williams instore signing their new book 'Troubletwisters' on the 27th May but on the 3rd June we have paranormal author Keri Arthur signing copies of her new book 'Mercy Burns'.

Very exciting and we can't wait to see these wonderful authors. Make sure you save the dates so you don't miss out on meeting you're favourite authors.

Royal Wedding - William and Kate

Wasn't the Wedding beautiful! Everyone looked so happy and the dress was fantastic. Now in theme with the Royal Wedding, we have in stock a few books on the Royal couple.

Gardener's Guide to Growing Money Trees - Dave Bell

The gardener’s guide to Growing Money Trees is the first in a series of books by author Dave Bell, which combines his deep love of nature, with a lifelong fascination with life, business and ‘what we learn along the way’.

The book is a photographic journey looking at the ‘big picture’ … a journey laced with humour, to reflect our observation that life seems to have a way of gently laughing at us all, even in our darkest moments.

It was produced in collaboration with photographer and award-winning landscaper James Morcom, who has been described by some as a ‘nature paparazzo’ to all our feathered and furry friends. 

A big congratulations to Dave for winning a Bronze Award in the 'Living Now Book Awards.'

Dave Bell is an Adelaide author and after a rather rocky start to his working life, Dave finally graduated from the school of financial hard knocks in 2000, majoring in ‘the art of working really hard, while going broke slowly’.

Through the help of a share market savvy friend, and aided by a ‘never say die’ attitude, Dave was eventually able to turn his financial fortunes around and rise above the poverty trap.

To celebrate this achievement, he quit his day job to do something really creative. So was born ‘The gardener’s guide’, a book which took two years of blood, sweat, and fun to finish!

If you would like to know more, then visit Dave's site 

 

Best Sellers 1/04/2011 - 23/04/2011

1. Earth's Children #1 Land of Painted Caves - Jean Auel (FIC)
2. Mortal Instruments #4 City of Fallen Angels - Cassandra Clare (TEEN)
3. Black Dagger Brotherhood #9 Lover Unleashed - J R Ward (PAR)
4. Specky Magee #8 And the Best of Oz - Felice Arena (CHJ)
5. Troubled Man - Henning Mankell (CRM)
6. Sweet #5 Sweet Possession - Maya Banks (ERO)
7. Kelly Group #3 Hidden Away - Maya Banks (ROM)
8. Demonwar Saga #2 At the Gates of Darkness (FAN)
9. Cardcaptor Sakura Omnibus (MANGA)
10. Black Jewel #8 Twilight's Dawn - Anne Bishop (FAN)

Happy Easter

                        Happy Easter!!!!!

We hope everyone has a lovely holiday. We look forward to seeing and hearing from you after!

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