Shiirleyy's Bookshelf has migrated to Dear Shirley ! I will continue to post book reviews but there will also be a lot of personal and travel-related posts :)

Cover Reveal: Luminosity by Stephanie Thomas.

27 Feb 2012

Luminosity
by Stephanie Thomas
Released: September 2012
by Entangled Publishing 

Blurb:
"My name is Beatrice. When I was born, I was blessed with the Sight. I was
immediately removed from my parents and enrolled in the Institution. At
the age of twelve, I had my first true vision, earning my raven’s wings.
And when I turned seventeen, one of my visions came true. Things haven’t
been the same since.

The Institution depends on me to keep the City safe from our enemy, the
Dreamcatchers, but I’m finding it harder to do while keeping a secret from
everyone, including my best friend Gabe. It is a secret that could put us
all in danger. A secret that could kill me and everyone close to me.

But the enemy has been coming to me in my dreams, and I think I’m falling
in love with him. He says they’re coming. He says they’re angry. And I
think I’ve already helped them win."


WOW.
LOOK AT THAT GORGEOUS COVER! AND THE EYE MAKE-UP!
I'm so intrigued by this "Sight" and the visions she's having! Plus...I LOVE books where the heroine falls in love with the enemy! Sooo excited for this <3


Waiting on Wednesday #19

22 Feb 2012

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine , that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Author: Kat Zhang
Publisher: HarperTeen
Expected Release Date: September 18th 2012

NEVER LET ME GO meets HIS DARK MATERIALS in a beautiful, haunting YA debut, the first book in The Hybrid Trilogy.

Eva and Addie live in a world where everyone is born with two souls, but where only the dominant one is allowed to survive childhood. Fifteen years old, and closer even than twins, the girls are keeping Eva, the ‘second soul’, a secret. They know that it’s forbidden to be hybrid, but how could they ever be apart?

When a dramatic event reveals what really happens to hybrids if they are discovered, Eva and Addie face a dangerous fight for survival, neither wanting to be the one left behind…


Oohhh this sounds like a completely original and EPIC read. Wow, everyone is born with TWO souls? I've never read anything like this before! Ahhh SO EXCITED FOR THIS <3

What are you waiting on this week?

Book Review: Legend by Marie Lu

21 Feb 2012

Title: Legend
Author: Marie Lu
Publisher: Penguin Australia
Release Date: November 28th 2011
Format: Hardcover
Source: Bought


What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias' death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills.

If I EVER put off reading such a fabulous book again, I assure you I might do something suicidal. Why I didn't devour this the moment it arrived, is beyond me. Books like Legend, are exactly the reason why YA-dystopian has become my favorite genre. Heart-pounding and full of action, Legend was an unforgettable rollercoaster ride! DO NOT MISS IT!

June was such an independent, strong and kick-ass heroine! (and I mean KICK-ASS both mentally and physically!) The girl fights better than half the military men, who are twice her age, and her head works in miraculous ways that no one can decipher but her. She possesses all the admirable qualities I look for in a YA protagonist, without coming off as too perfect or unbelievable.  I can't believe I'm saying this, but she's almost on par with ROSE from VA on my list of favorite YA heroines EVER! 

Day, the most wanted criminal in The Republic frequently causes havoc but The Republic has never been able to catch him, no matter how hard they try. At first I was a bit skeptical of how a 15 year-old can become a notorious criminal  and managing to leave each 'crime scene' without ever being caught but after meeting him personally and reading about those stunts, I have to say, the boy is a genius! You'd think that a criminal has no heart, doesn't give a crap about anything, but Day is possibly the most caring and kind-hearted criminal you'll come across. Everything he does- stealing and doing illegal things- was for the benefit of his family and the poor.

I was utterly amazed by Marie Lu's splendid world-building! We're exposed to this tragic world where a diffident plague strikes every year, causing the deaths of so many innocent people from the poor sector. The government had dominated every inch of the place; military guards are everywhere and your every move may be watched. The population is pretty much divided in two categories: those who pass the Trial at the age of ten will survive, while those who fail...well...let's just say they're never see again. This may sound like every other Dystopian world, but unlike every other Dystopian book, the world-building is one of the main focus of the story, and Lu has successfully created it in a way that I felt like I was living in such a destructed place as well.

Legend was not only entertaining, but thought-provoking as well. Some scenes felt so real, that I wondered if, perhaps, similar actions have been performed in the past (like, methods to prevent protesters from advancing further). Overall, Legend was action-packed and plot-driven with the perfect amount of romance. Like, I said above, don't miss out! It's a guaranteed keeper!


Cover Reveal: INBETWEEN (Kissed by Death) #1 by Tara Fuller

20 Feb 2012


Inbetween (Kissed by Death #1)
by Tara Fuller
Released August 2012, 
from Entangled Publishing 


Blurb:
Since the car crash that took her father’s life three years ago, Emma’s
life has been a freaky—and unending—lesson in caution. Surviving
“accidents” has taken priority over being a normal seventeen-year-old, so
Emma spends her days taking pictures of life instead of living it. Falling
in love with a boy was never part of the plan. Falling for a reaper who
makes her chest ache and her head spin? Not an option.

It’s not easy being dead, especially for a reaper in love with a girl fate
has put on his list not once, but twice. Finn’s fellow reapers give him
hell about spending time with Emma, but Finn couldn't let her die before,
and he’s not about to let her die now. He will protect the girl he loves
from the evil he accidentally unleashed, even if it means sacrificing the
only thing he has left…his soul.


Like it? LOVE it? Intrigued by the blurb? ('cuz I AM! There needs to be more reaper stories out there!) I've no doubt this will be AMAZING; I mean, Entangled Publishing publishes the best books ever, right!? 


In My Mailbox #21

18 Feb 2012

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren, which allows bloggers to share what books they've borrowed, received in the mail or bought in the past week.

(Sorry for the crappy photo quality! I'm using my dodgy Ipad camera since my phone is dead and my camera is well...somewhere in my room :S And yes, my room is so messy I can't even find my camera!)

I was sooo excited when I found out I won this <3 Thank youuu to the lovely Melissa from Book Nerd Reviews! I'm so glad I can read it since it won't be published in Australia anytime soon :S
I've read mixed reviews about this, but still excited to start it <3 Apparently, you don't even find out the name of the main character until the very end! 
Eeeee!! AN AUSSIE BOOK :D This came as a complete surprise but I can't wait to read it <3 I haven't read an Aussie novel in AGES. 
OH.MY.GOODNESS. YES! I FINALLY HAVE A COPY <3333 This one was a lovely surprise too, and I nearly had a heart-attack when I opened the package! Seriously, I've been pining for this since FOREVER and now I can FINALLY read it!! YAY! Will be starting this...VERY SOON. 
FAERIES. Need I say more? I seriously hope I'll enjoy it since I've read mixed reviews though :S
I LOVE the Aussie cover for this! But it's soooo short :S I was expecting like 300 + pages but its SO THIN. I'll be starting this soon as well :D
I can't believe I haven't read this series yet! It's like...the most popular + famous crime fiction and I HAVEN'T READ IT YET. Urghh..I must get to this series soon <3
This is the third one in the trilogy! Now, I must get hold of the first book now :D Oh, and I can't believe I haven't watched the movie yet either! WHAT HAVE I BEEN DOING?!?!
SIGNED COVER JACKET OF STORM by Brigid Kemmerer 
EEEEEE!! THANK YOUUUUU SOOO MUCH BRODIE <33333 The lovely Brodie sent this to me after I begged and begged and used our friendship as bribery :P  hehee looks like begging DOES pay off sometimes, eh? And isn't Brigid's writing GORGEOUS & stylish! <3

A MASSIVE thank you to Melissa @Book Nerd Reviews, Pan Macmillan, Harlequin Teen, Penguin, Murdoch Books/Pier 9, Bloomsbury, Simon & Schuster & the AMAZING Brodie@ Eleusinian Mysteries for the above awesomeness<3 You guys ROCK :DD

What did you get in your mailbox? 

Book Review: Freshman Year & other Unnatural Disasters

17 Feb 2012



Title: Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters 
Author: Meredith Zeitlin 
Publisher: G.P Putnam's Sons
Release Date: March 1st, 2012 
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher for review (Thank you!)


Kelsey Finkelstein is fourteen and FRUSTRATED. Every time she tries to live up to her awesome potential, her plans are foiled – by her impossible parents, her annoying little sister, and life in general. But with her first day of high school coming up, Kelsey is positive that things are going to change. Enlisting the help of her three best friends — sweet and quiet Em, theatrical Cass, and wild JoJo — Kelsey gets ready to rebrand herself and make the kind of mark she knows is her destiny.

Things start out great - her arch-nemesis has moved across the country, giving Kelsey the perfect opportunity to stand out on the soccer team and finally catch the eye of her long-time crush. But soon enough, an evil junior’s thirst for revenge, a mysterious photographer, and a series of other catastrophes make it clear that just because KELSEY has a plan for greatness… it doesn’t mean the rest of the world is in on it.

Kelsey’s hilarious commentary throughout her disastrous freshman year will have you laughing out loud—while being thankful that you’re not in her shoes, of course…

After reading this fun and quirky novel, I’m still sitting here bursting out in laughter. Ms. Zeitlin sure knows how to bring happiness and laughter to people’s lives! Freshman Year and other Unnatural Disasters is a light and enjoyable read that will have you clutching your stomach, laughing non-stop until you’re in tears! I absolutely ADORED this!
From the title, you can probably guess the story revolves around the life of a certain Freshman girl. 14 year old Kelsey Finkelstein has just started her first year of high school, and like every other freshman girl on the planet, she has dreams of finally becoming popular, catching the attention of her life-long crush, Jordan and becoming a soccer star at school– Basically Freshman year will be a blast! After all, it’s HIGHSCHOOL and things are suppose to get better now…right?
Bur of course, nothing goes according to plan! It was so hilarious watching Kelsey encounter one disaster another  –from being bullied by an upperclassman to being cast as a fat, bearded old man in her school play, and even discovering her best friend had betrayed her! *gasp* So much for those big plans! Seriously, I assure you that once you start reading, you won’t be able to stop. You’ll be snickering at the horribly embarrassing situations Kelsey gets herself into, and desperately curious to find out what other catastrophes will happen!
Our girl, Kelsey was such an adorable character! She was so naïve and overly optimistic about starting high school at the start of the novel, believing that THIS WILL FINALLY BE HER YEAR. The way she was portrayed was so realistic, and it was incredibly easy to connect with her! The whole time, I was thinking, ‘back in 9th grade, did I dream of the same things as her?’ I loved how her actions and the way she handled situations reflected her age and innocence, and throughout the year, she never purposely change herself just to ‘fit in’. Her crush on Jordan also felt realistic- I mean, I’m pretty sure many of us have had a crush on the gorgeous/most popular guy in school! And it was great that Kelsey didn’t whine and act childish when she found out that perhaps he wasn’t the perfect Prince Charming. Then there’s her romance with Ben, who’s so cute and likable, and you’ll be bursting out in laughter at the hilarious interactions between the two <3. Finally, I loved how Kelsey’s character gradually developed throughout the book; while she was the same girl she was at the start of the year, her experiences helped her grow and mature.
So, if you’re looking for a sweet and fun read,- nothing too serious, something to lighten the mood, then you’ve found the right book! If you liked Anna and the French kiss, and are looking for, perhaps Anna’s adventures when she was younger, then try this one! Kelsey definitely reminded me a lot of Anna! Ms. Zeitlin has definitely made a fan out of me –I’ll be sure to look out for her books in the future! Oh, and pretty please, can there be a sequel, with the title starting with ‘Sophomore Year’. PRETTY PLEASE? 


Blog Tour: Near Death

14 Feb 2012

Welcome to  my stop on the virtual blog tour for Near Death by M.B Mulhall! Today, I will be sharing with you an excerpt from Near Death!

~Excerpt~

As Gabe turned to leave, Sara grabbed his arm. He started to ask what she wanted and saw
she was staring across the field. Gabriel followed her gaze and saw what she was fixated on.
The mysterious boy was standing in plain sight in the middle of the empty playground. Jackson
turned and noticed him too. Jack glanced at Gabe and gave him a slight nod. Gabriel leaned
down to Toji and told him he’d be right back and that he should wait there with the girls. He
dropped the boy’s hand and returned Jackson’s nod. In a flash, the two teens took off towards
the playground in pursuit of the green-eyed boy. Jackson veered left while Gabriel veered right,
hoping to catch the stranger in the middle. The mysterious boy stood there, eyes wide, panic
evident.
 His body shook with fear.
The boy turned his head, looking for an escape route. There was nowhere to go. Jackson
and Gabriel were coming up on him quickly. They both reached out to grab the blond boy and
somehow ended up grabbing each other. They fell to the ground in a tangled mess. While trying
to extract themselves from each other, the girls ran up to them, Toji in tow. Marisol lent a hand
to help Gabriel up while Jackson stood up and brushed off his clothes.
“Where did he go?” Jackson asked. “He was right here! You all saw he was here, right?
Where could he have gone? I thought I had his arm in my hand...How did it end up being Gabe’s
arm? Am I losing it?! Tell me you guys saw him too!”
“Relax, Jack. We all saw him. It’s not some crazy dream or a hallucination,” Sara said. “He
just seemed to vanish into thin air.”
Marisol nodded in agreement.
“One second he was there and the next he wasn’t.”
Gabriel knelt down so he was at eyelevel with Toji.
“Toji, did you see the boy that was on the playground?” Toji looked frightened, but
nodded. “Have you ever seen him before today? Is he a friend of your sister or your family?”
Gabriel continued. Toji was reluctant to answer. His small hands were clenched tightly in front
of him and his little body was shaking slightly.
“It’s okay,” Marisol said. “You can tell us.”
“I saw him once before,” Toji said in his soft voice.
“When was that?” Gabriel asked gently.
“It was....It was the day of the accident,” Toji said, barely audibly. Gabriel looked up at his friends with a worried expression.
“You saw that same boy the day your parents were killed in the car accident?” Marisol asked.
Toji’s lip trembled, tears rolling down his cheeks.
Gabriel glared at his sister.

Book Review: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by MIchelle Hodkin

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer, #1)Title: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer
Author: Michelle Hodkin
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Australia
Release Date: September 27th 2011 (US)/ February 2012 (AUS)
Format: Paperback
Source: Publisher for review (Thank you!)


Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.
It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.

There is.

She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.

She's wrong.

NOAH SHAW
Like 90% of bloggers on the planet, I’ve completely fallen for Noah Shaw’s charms <3 Sooo, when is my own NOAH-FREAKING-SHAW GOING TO APPEAR IN MY LIFE?!?!

Now, on to the story…
Mara wakes up in hospital, after an ‘accident’ that killed her friends and boyfriend. She cannot remember what happened the night of the accident, and in an attempt to start over, she and her family moves away. But her past starts to haunt her. She’s having hallucinations-seeing the faces of her dead friends every where she goes-and hears eerie voices that belong to no one. Even worse, once she wishes for a person’s death, it seems said person will die instantly in exactly the same way in which she imagined. (How utterly CREEPY is that?!) All this hallucination seriously messed with my mind; I had no idea what was real and what was a figment of Mara’s imagination. I don’t know about you, but I actually considered time travel as a possible theory! (I know it’s lame, but really, what other choice did I have? I was so confused!)

The Unbecoming Of Mara Dyer had one of the best beginnings I’ve ever read. Wait. Scratch that. That explosive beginning was probably the best I’ve read. Ever. It was so eerie and immediately captured my undivided attention, and held it, until the very end of the book.

And we’re back to Noah…
Oh.my.goodness. Please don’t even get me started on Noah Shaw! I’ll admit that he possessed the desirable qualities of a typical YA male lead, but really, I can NEVER get enough of these sexy men! Imagine a tall, fit, and possibly the hottest guy you’ve ever seen slumped on a bench looking like he just rolled out of bed (Isn’t that enough to make you swoon? But WAIT. There’s more!) Add in a sexy British accent, flirty smile and an irresistible I-own-this-place attitude. Seriously? Can you resist someone like that?

Mara was this, confused, and at times, seemingly lost girl, yet incredibly determined to unravel the truth behind her abilities. I found her really easy to relate to, and though she was extremely stubborn at times, it never annoyed me.

I know a lot of people have said that this started off brilliantly, and then the plot disappeared as the story started focusing mainly on Noah and Mara’s relationship; then picked up again towards the end. However, I felt that while the relationship was quite significant, it never overrode the main storyline. When I think back, I remember more of Mara’s disturbing hallucinations, and her determination to find out what happened, rather than the romance. That’s probably the reason why I’m liking Mara more and more now!

Mara Dyer is one hell of a spine-chilling psychological thriller, that will leave you in a state of utter confusion. But in a good way. You’ll be left wondering what really happened, and whether the hallucinations were in fact, real. My adviceIMMEDIATELY.

I originally gave this 4 stars, but later changed to 5. This is one of those books, where as soon as I finished reading it, I thought ‘wow..that was pretty good!’, but then after a few weeks, I began to think ‘noo…it deserves more than 4 stars! It was so much better than a mere ‘good’; it was BRILLIANT!’. So, Mara now sits on my 5-star + favourites + I-WANT-THE-SEQUEL-NOW shelf!

Shatter Me #2 TITLE REVEAL!

11 Feb 2012

SQUEEEEEEEE!!! The lovely author of SHATTER ME, Tahereh Mafi has revealed the title to the sequel!  Sound EXCITING? 
Watch the video below <3


Eeeeee!! *squeals in delight*
Isn't the title PERFECT <3 But seriously, we have to wait ONE WHOLE YEAR! 
I don't think I can SURVIVE ONE YEAR WITHOUT KENJI AND ADAM! </3

What do you think of the title? :D

Giveaway: Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder!

9 Feb 2012

Today, I have a seriously AMAZING giveaway for you guys <3 
The lovely people at Harlequin TEEN Australia have offered 2 copies of Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder to give away! Two lucky winners will each win a copy of this beauty :D
Sound exciting? Read on for the details!
Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan assumes their wounds and diseases into herself. But rather than being honored for her skills, she is hunted. Healers like Avry are accused of spreading the plague that has decimated the Territories, leaving the survivors in a state of chaos.

Stressed and tired from hiding, Avry is abducted by a band of rogues who, shockingly, value her gift above the golden bounty offered for her capture. Their leader, an enigmatic captor-protector with powers of his own, is unequivocal in his demands: Avry must heal a plague-stricken prince—leader of a campaign against her people. As they traverse the daunting Nine Mountains, beset by mercenaries and magical dangers, Avry must decide who is worth healing and what is worth dying for. Because the price of peace may well be her life...
 Find Touch of Power on: 


Details
- Open to Australian/New Zealand residents only. 
- Ends 23rd February 2012
- Winner chosen through random.org

Extra Entries:
[+2] - Like the HarlequinTEEN Australia Facebook Page. 
[+2] - Follow HarlequinTEEN Aus. on Twitter! (
[+2]- For every time you share this (tweet/facebook..etc)

Ready to Enter? Fill out this FORM!

Good Luck <3

Blog Tour: Ties to the Blood Moon by Robin P. Waldrop - Guest Post

8 Feb 2012


Welcome to the third stop of the blog tour for Ties to the Blood Moon by Robin P. Waldrop! Robin has kindly written a post on Writing and Music and also revealed her Playlist for her debut novel!

Title: Ties to the Blood Moon
Author: Robin P. Waldrop
Release Date: November 1st, 2011

Genevieve is a teenage girl who moves in with her aunt in Alaska after the death of her mother. Soon after her arrival she learns the things she was raised to believe only existed in fairytales are in fact a big part of her history. When it gets to be too much she seeks refuge in the arms of her new boyfriend, William, only to find out he's not who she thought he was either.




~Guest Post~

Writing while listening to music soothes my soul and allows me to zone in when I’m writing various scenes. Before I started writing YA I wrote FBI Suspense/Thrillers and I didn’t listen to music. Nope. Instead, I kept the television tuned on shows like CSI, and Criminal Minds because that’s what held me in the writing mode.
Once I discovered the world of YA—which I love wholeheartedly—I realized rather quickly that cop shows just weren’t going to cut it. I needed music! Music that reminded me of my younger days and could help me get inside my YA characters’ heads. So, I went searching and soon discovered a website called playlist.com with a gazillion song choices where I could create and share various playlists of music.

I started listening to groups like Maroon 5 and Nickelback, then suddenly, a whole new world opened up for me and the words began to flow. That’s how I wrote Ties To The Blood Moon.  I mean, when you think about it music and writing have something in common. They both tell a story.

The songs were my inspiration…I would hear a certain song like “New York” by Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys and would instantly be in the mood to write . Actually, that song became my theme song. Each morning I would begin my day by listening to it and then start writing. Why “New York” you ask, well…I don’t really know. I just thought it was catchy and knew it put me in the mood. There’s nothing about New York in Ties to the Blood Moon but hey, it worked.

~Playlist~
1.     Sick Puppies – You’re Going Down
2.     Kings of Leon- Radioactive
3.     Bob Marley- Everything’s Gonna Be Alright
4.     Breaking Benjamin- The Diary of Jane
5.     Maroon 5- She Will Be Loved
6.     3 Doors Down- When I’m Gone
7.     Nickelback- Far Away
8.     Avril- Lavigne- When You’re Gone\
9.     Train- Marry Me
10.   Jay-Z  - New York feat. Alicia Keys



(What an AMAZING playlist!! I remember a few years ago, when Avril's 'When You're Gone' was released, I was addicted to it! I would listen to it day & night and it was probably my favourite song back then :D)

Bree and Robin are also hosting a Name-That-Book contest in search of the perfect name for the second book in the series! You can join the fun HERE.
The Next post will be held at Nicole's Library with a review!

Waiting On Wednesday #18

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine , that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Author: Kathleen Peacock
Publisher: HarperCollins
Expected Release Date: May 8th 2012

Mackenzie and Amy were best friends. Until Amy was brutally murdered.

Since then, Mac’s life has been turned upside down. She is being haunted by Amy in her dreams, and an extremist group called the Trackers has come to Mac’s hometown of Hemlock to hunt down Amy’s killer: A white werewolf.

Lupine syndrome—also known as the werewolf virus—is on the rise across the country. Many of the infected try to hide their symptoms, but bloodlust is not easy to control.

Wanting desperately to put an end to her nightmares, Mac decides to investigate Amy’s murder herself. She discovers secrets lurking in the shadows of Hemlock, secrets about Amy’s boyfriend, Jason, her good pal Kyle, and especially her late best friend. Mac is thrown into a maelstrom of violence and betrayal that puts her life at risk.

Kathleen Peacock’s thrilling novel is the first in the Hemlock trilogy, a spellbinding urban fantasy series filled with provocative questions about prejudice, trust, lies, and love.
Just LOOK AT THAT COVER! Isn't it enough to have you swooning after it? And the MURDER MYSTERY! There's nothing better than an enticing and mysterious read :D I'm so jealous of those lucky bloggers who received ARCs of this :S hahaa, looking forward to reading this one <3

What are you waiting on this week?