Win one of my What I'm Reading books!

I have ten books on my What I'm Reading list. Want to win one? All you have to do is follow my blog, 'like' Cotton Candy Reviews on facebook, and for an extra entry post a link on twitter. If I reach 50 followers I will add a third winner, and if I somehow manage to reach 100 followers I will add a fourth winner.

The first winner will have their choice of two books, second winner their choice of what's left and so on.

The winners will choose from:

Falling Under by Gwen Hayes

Matched by Ally Condie

Fallen Angel by Heather Terrell

Exile by Rebecca Lim

Entice by Carrie Jones

Die For Me by Amy Plum

Almost to Die For by Tate Hallaway

Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin

The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney

Wither by Lauren DeStefano 

Books will be shipped from either Amazon or The Book Depository.

GIVEAWAY ENDS 30th JUNE 2011!

Review - Mercy by Rebecca Lim

Title: Mercy - Mercy book 1
Author: Rebecca Lim
Age Group: Young Adult
Release Date: October 19th 2010
Publishers: HarperCollins Children's Books
Available from: Amazon
The Book Depository
Amazon UK

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 ...

*****

There have been quite a few angel stories lately, but Mercy is a little different. She doesn't know what she is, why she moves from person to person and always forgets her previous 'lives'. I enjoyed the premise of the story in Mercy. It's an interesting take on the angel theme. Mercy's character doesn't have a background and you don't really learn too much about her throughout the book. She's quite mysterious, and you only learn tidbits and have to make assumptions, although I found them to pretty obvious. Mercy isn't really about Mercy, which I found a little strange, but it did grow on me, as I realised this was partly about her but mostly about the characters around her. She constantly has to play a part, but is never given a script and has to work things out on her own. There is little romance, and that was a bit disappointing, but she does form a bond with Ryan. I want to see how that pans out over the rest of the books. Mercy is more of a mystery/thriller, with the paranormal aspect only somewhat playing a part. It is an intriguing idea, and have to admit I liked it. Mercy plays detective to help Ryan find his missing sister, Lauren. Is this why she has 'possessed' the latest person? I found I was wrapped up in the story of Ryan's missing sister, and their quest to find her. The paranormal was pushed to the back of my mind. Even though Mercy is in the body of a teenager, she was more mature which is a bonus for an adult reader as sometimes I find YA characters to be annoying. Rebecca Lim has created a very unique heroine and her storytelling is like no other. She has a way with words and I couldn't help but be swept up into the world she has created. Exile is sitting on my cupboard and I'm looking forward to getting into it and seeing where, and who, Mercy is going to be.

3.5/5

Review - Burn Bright by Marianne de Pierres

Title: Burn Bright - Night Creatures book 1
Author: Marianne de Pierres
Age Group: Young Adult
Release Date: March 1st 2011
Publishers: Random House Australia
Available from: Amazon (kindle edition)
Dymocks

Into a world of wild secrets and deadly pleasures comes a girl whose innocence may be her greatest strength. 

In Ixion music and party are our only beliefs. Darkness is our comfort. We have few rules but they are absolute . . . 

Retra doesn’t want to go to Ixion, the island of ever-night, ever-youth and never-sleep. Retra is a Seal – sealed minds, sealed community. She doesn’t crave parties and pleasure, experience and freedom. 

But her brother Joel left for Ixion two years ago, and Retra is determined to find him. Braving the intense pain of her obedience strip to escape the only home she’s ever known, Retra stows away on the barge that will take her to her brother. 

When she can’t find Joel, Retra finds herself drawn deeper into the intoxicating world of Ixion. Come to me, whispers a voice in her head. Who are the Ripers, the mysterious guardians of Ixion? What are the Night Creatures Retra can see in the shadows? And what happens to those who grow too old for Ixion? 

Retra will find that Ixion has its pleasures, but its secrets are deadly. Will friendship, and the creation of an eternal bond with a Riper, be enough to save her from the darkness? 

Listen well, baby bats. Burn bright, but do not stray from the paths. Remember, when you live in a place of darkness you also live with creatures of the dark.

..........

Burn Bright immediately drags you in and doesn't let you go. As soon as I started to read it, I knew it would be a page turner that would have me up all night. 

 The world in which Retra first inhabits seems dull with an underlying darkness, and when she arrives in Ixion - a world of artificial light, pleasure and non stop parties, the dark is even more terrifying. She has grown up in sealed environment where everything is a sin. She escapes her home to find her brother, who already escaped to Ixion. Retra braves the pain of an obedience strip and finds her self on the ship bound for Ixion. To say she doesn't fit in is an understatement. Retra is so far out of her depth, it's not funny. She knows she doesn't belong, but she has an inner strength she doesn't realise. This strength helps her to survive and adapt. You think you've got her character down, but she always did something to surprise me. Ixion seems like the ultimate party place, but it hides so many secrets. My imagination ran wild with Burn Bright. Marianne de Pierres has created an epic sci-fi/fantasy realm that is full of sinister and mysterious characters that you don't know who to trust. Compelling, intriguing, and utterly fantastic, if you haven't read it I highly suggest you do. One of my favourite books this year.

5/5