Vampire Academy Giveaway!!

A few weeks ago I was able to get my hands on 10 copies of Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead. With the release of Bloodlines, the new VA spin off, I am having a giveaway. Ten people will a copy of Last Sacrifice, with one winner also winning a copy of Bloodlines!! So, what do you have to do to enter? Well, being a follower of my blog is mandatory, but for an extra entry each, follow me on Facebook, twitter & Goodreads. You can also get extra entries by tweeting and posting about the giveaway on Facebook. Leave a comment with all your entry links and email, so I can contact you if you win.


When alchemist Sydney is ordered into hiding to protect the life of Moroi princess Jill Dragomir, the last place she expects to be sent is a human private school in Palm Springs, California. But at their new school, the drama is only just beginning.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Bloodlines explores all the friendship, romance, battles and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive - this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone's out for blood.


I have 5 copies for Australia & 5 copies to giveaway internationally! Giveaway ends September 30th.

Review: Hades by Alexandra Adornetto

Title: Hades (Halo #2)
Author: Alexandra Adornetto
Age Group: Young Adult
Release Date: August 30th 2011
Publishers: HarperCollins Australia
Available from: Amazon
Amazon UK
Book Depository
The Nile


I received this book from the publisher.


Jake Thorn and his demons have been banished and Xavier and Bethany settle down to resume a normal life. But on the night of Halloween, a childish prank goes terribly wrong and Jake is summoned back to the sleepy town of Venus Cove. Bethany is deceived and like the mythical Persephone she finds herself dragged into the nightmarish underworld of Hades. While the angels call on higher powers to help recover Bethany, Hell decides to play dirty and goes after the one thing she loves more than anything. But to spare Xavier's life, Bethany must make the ultimate sacrifice. Will she make a deal with the Devil? And what will happen to an angel in Hell?

******

Miss Adornetto is a very talented young lady. She has written a captivating and beautiful story, with well defined characters. Her powers of description weave such a potent picture, drawing you into Bethany's world. 

Hades is told from Bethany's point of view, and she has a compelling voice throughout the book, lending it a constant depth. Bethany is human in many respects, and yet is vastly different. Even though she spends most of her time in Hell, we get to see more of her as a character. Her compassion is not hindered by Hell, the whole experience setting her foundations to make her stronger. 
Xavier can sometimes seem too perfect, but he has this quality that makes him stand out. He has a personality that makes him very approachable, and you just can't help but like him. If you were to pit him against the various YA male leads, his light would probably shine the brightest.
I really enjoyed how the story developed, there was always something that would keep me from putting the book down. The ending is momentous, in more ways than one. I am already eagerly anticipating the next book.

4/5

Winners & Announcement!

I have been a little MIA over the last week or so. I attended the Supanova Pop Culture Expo last weekend, and it was so awesome. I met Amy Acker, Sean Maher, Tom Felton and Corin Nemec. I even got photo's with Tom and Corin! 

 SEE!

SEE!

Announcement time:

Myself and several other Aussie bloggers are planning an event in August, so we're trying to sort out details for that. I hope you'll stick around because I think it's going to be pretty great!

Let's move on to the winners from my What I'm Reading giveaway. I'd like to thank everyone for following my new blog. It's great to have reached over 60 followers now! Thanks for entering. Now,

*drumroll*

The first winner is Spav, who gets to choose 2 books.

Skye (In The Good Books) and Ivana choose 1 book each. 

Woohoo *throws confetti*

Please contact me within 48hrs or another winner be chosen. 

Follow Friday #1

This is the first Follow Friday post for Cotton Candy Reviews. Follow Friday is a meme hosted by Parajunkee. This meme is to help all us bloggers out there get to know one another. There is also a weekly featured blogger and this week is Mickey from I'm a Book Shark.

Q. In light of the Summer Solstice, also known as Midsummer...let's talk about fairies. What is your favorite fairy tale or story that revolves around the fae?

I have three. Karen Marie Moning's Fever series, Barrons is just so yummy. I also love her Highlander series, and that's how I got into her Fever series. Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey, I love how it has characters based losely on Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream and Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely. Her books are just that little bit darker.

Waiting on Wednesday 4

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine.

Tiger's Voyage (Tiger Saga #3) by Colleen Houck

Publication Date: November 2011

In the third installment of the Tiger series, Kelsey Hayes pushes through the pain of lost love and strengthens her friendship with Kishan. Despite his strong feelings for her, Kishan has agreed to be her ally in helping her reunite with the man she still loves. Together, they seek to help Ren regain his memory and begin the search for the third magical gift—an object of power that will help break the curse that causes them to live part of their lives as tigers.

They board a luxury yacht and seek Durga's aid once again, who supplies them with her golden weapons. With Nilima, Mr. Kadam, Ren, and Kishan at her side, she soon learns that the task ahead will be even more difficult than the others. Confronting a dark magician, multiple dragons, and terrifying denizens of the deep seems easy when compared to facing the daunting task of stitching up her heart. Just when she thinks she's ready to set her feet on a new path, she is yanked back with a jolt to the one she's determined to leave behind.

The jarring tug-of-war that ensues for Kelsey's heart leaves her anxious and confused. Combined with the stress of almost being killed every other day, it would appear that saving the tigers is almost more than she can handle. Still, she presses on, knowing that a choice is looming on the horizon. One she cannot put off making for long.

Tiger's Voyage is an irresistible romance with a barrage of action on the high seas, where a reader will find a treasure chest full of dragons, sea monsters, knights in shining armor, fabled weapons, and enduring love. The tropic waters of India create the backdrop for the latest installment in the tiger series. This novel, a multicultural take on the classic Beauty and the Beast tale, delves into the complex emotional turmoil and pressure associated with not only making the best choice for a nation but also the best choice for yourself.

I'm going a little crazy for this series at the moment.  It's not a complete cover but, I can not wait until this is released! What are you waiting on?

Review: Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck

Title: Tiger's Curse - The Tiger Saga #1
Author: Colleen Houck 
Age Group: Young Adult
Release Date: January 11th 2011
Publishers: Hodder
Available from: Amazon
Amazon UK
The Book Depository
The Nile

Passion. Fate. Loyalty. 

Would you risk it all to change your destiny? 

The last thing 17-year old Kelsey Hayes thought she’d be doing this summer was trying to break a 300-year-old Indian curse. With a mysterious white tiger named Ren. Halfway around the world. But that’s exactly what happened. Face-to-face with dark forces, spellbinding magic, and mystical worlds where nothing is what it seems, Kelsey risks everything to piece together an ancient prophecy that could break the curse forever. 

Tiger’s Curse is the exciting first volume in an epic fantasy-romance that will leave you breathless and yearning for more.

********

I had heard a few people discussing this books for several months and I decided to finally get a copy. I am so glad I did. Tiger's Curse is a wonderful story that features a young woman who is swept into an epic story featuring two dark, gorgeous brothers and a curse that has kept them as tigers for over 300 years. Colleen Houck has created an enchanting tale that had me glued to the pages. Kelsey is the young heroine who has been in foster care since her junior year after the death of her parents. She's a character that is easy to relate to. I have to say she is one of the better YA female leads that I have read in a long time. She's humble, quite self conscious and is a what-you-see-is-what-you-get kind of girl. Ren is an Indian prince cursed to walk the earth as a tiger, after his brother betrayed him.. To say he's good-looking would be a gross understatement. Cobalt blue eyes, dark golden skin and black hair. I fell in love with him. He's warm, honest, caring, compassionate, noble and admirable. Then there's his brother Kishan. He's the darker of the two and brings humour to the story. He's sarcastic, and likes pushing Ren's buttons. I love the tension between the brothers. It adds a little extra to the story. Who doesn't have a soft spot for the bad boy? Damon, anyone? They're both fiercely protective of Kelsey, and it makes me feel all warm and mushy. I think I better stop now or I'm going to ramble on and on. 

I love the history and mythology that Colleen Houck has woven into this book. Fraught with danger, adventure and a breathtaking love story, Tiger's Curse is definitely one book you have to pick up this year. 

I have to share one quote from Kelsey: "Falling for him would be like cliff diving. It would be either the most exhilarating thing that ever happened to me or the stupidest mistake I’d ever make."  

4.5/5

In My Mailbox #2

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren.

 I went to the shops yesterday and bought these:

-Silvermay by James Moloney

-Tiger's Quest by Colleen Huock

-The Haunted by Jessica Verday

-Divergent by Veronica Wroth

-The Girl in the Steel Corset

-Forgotten by Cat Adams

-Almost Final Curtain by Tate Hallaway

I won these books from the wonderful Kristi @ The Book Faery

-Kiss of Snow by Nalini Singh

-Among Thieves by Douglas Hulick

-Blood of the Wicked by Karina Cooper

-Bonds of Justice by Nalini Singh

I ordered these from Amazon UK because they have free shipping to Aus & NZ when you spend over 25 pounds:

-Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

-Firelight by Sophie Jordan

-A Mortal Touch by Leah Clifford

-Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

And for review I received:

-Bones of Faerie by Janni Lee Simner from Random House Aus.

I think I got quite a nice haul this week. Lol. What about you?