Hi Guys! Hope you’re having a great weekend. Here’s the low down on what happened at BCC this week…

GUESTS

• Dana Fredsti, author of the zombie novel, Plague Town, lists the top ten things that make her happy for our Authors Top 10 feature. Great, fun post.
• Gabi Stevens, author of the Time of Transition paranormal romance series, stops by for a guest post, “Magic is so much fun!”
• Diana DeCameron, author of paranormal romance novel, Courting the Flame, is this week’s Debut Author Spotlight. Diana is kindly giving away two copies internationally too, so make sure you stop by to enter!

REVIEWS

• 5 Star Review – Immortal Hope by Claire Ashgrove
• 4.5 Star Review – Bloodstone by Gillian Philip
• 4 Star Review – The Time of my Life by Cecelia Ahern
• 4 Star Review – Deadlock by Moira Rogers
• 4 Star Review – The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa
• 3.5 Star Review – Blameless by Gail Carriger
• 3 Star Review – Sword and Blood by Sarah Marques
• 2.5 Star Review – The Amazing Spiderman (Film Review)

OTHER POSTS

• Laura’s Monday Mashup
• Laura’s Top 10 Poolside Recommendations
• Cover Art: Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare
• New Series Alert: Fated Blades by Steve Bein

LAURA’S ROUNDUP

This week I have finished reading DEADLOCK by Moira Rogers. Book number three in the Southern Arcana series, which I thoroughly enjoyed (review here). Then I delved straight into one of my book purchases last week, LOVER REVEALED by J. R. Ward. This is book number four in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. What can I say this book just seems to be getting better and better! I didn’t expect to like Butch’s story quite as much as the others, but if anything it’s the best!

I’m not sure what book to pick up next, it’s either going to be LOVER UNBOUND the next one in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series or ALL TOGETHER DEAD book number seven in the Sookie Stackhouse series, ready for our Sookie read-a-long at the end of July. I think it’s probably going to be the latter. I have resisted buying any new books this week, but I did have a great afternoon on Tuesday watching the Olympic Torch travel through town!

GEMMA’S ROUNDUP

This week has been a pretty quiet week all round. I managed to finish THE LINGERNING DEAD by J N Duncan which was all kinds of awesome. The ending was a corker and left me wanting more. Luckily I have the prequel, BLOOD JUSTICE on my kindle, but I know it won’t be enough.

Next up, I’m going to start TARNISHED by Karina Cooper. Rather looking forward to starting this new series. Hope it’s good.

Non-Bookwise, I went to see Magic Mike at the cinema. It really wasn’t what I was expecting. In a change to my usual Friday Film Review, Vicki and I are going to do a joint review. Let’s see how it compares. Lol!

Book buying is still at a low and I haven’t got any new books. A couple of Pre-Orders came through the post. These being GOD SAVE THE QUEEN by Kate Locke and the other being A HUNGER SO WILD by Sylvia Day.

REBECCA’S ROUNDUP

This week has been a bit of a slow reading week for me, as I finished reading THE CITY’S SON by Tom Pollock, which was a bit disappointing for me (review coming soon). It just didn’t have the spark that I was looking for, and so it was starting to drag by the end of my reading.

This changed a bit when I started and finished EARTH GIRL by Janet Edwards, a new sci-fi YA book that takes place hundreds of years in the future. It was interesting to hear the author’s take on what Earth might be like in the future, and the main character has lots of drama going on too! (Review coming soon)

I’m just about to start historical romance A ROGUE BY ANY OTHER NAME by Sarah MacLean, for our Alternative Romance feature, and I have to say I’m really looking forward to reading this book, as the cover is beautiful (I always feel more motivated to read when the covers are pretty!). I look forward to giving you my thoughts in next week’s roundup!

MELANIE’S ROUNDUP

Soooo, if you are looking at the number of new books I read this week then I would get a big 2/10 on productivity.  If however, I was being scored on books read to review then maybe a bit more along the lines of 8/10.  I am going for the higher score. I blame falling asleep three nights on the tube for losing out on reading time.

So on the new front I discovered a couple of short stories from the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series…which I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE called SINS OF THE FATHER and THE PRECARIOUS CHILD.  I am not a lover of short stories as I am always left wanting more but despite this these were great stories, especially the Wellington Books one. I finished reviewing THE JANUS AFFAIR and PHOENIX RISING so stay tuned as these will be posted soon.

I finally finished THE TROUPE.  I LOVED IT!  It was weird, gross and fantastic in equal measure.  Maybe I will get the chance to review it so don’t want to spill too many of the beans.  I also started THE BANDIT KING by Lilith Saintcrow.  It is very different from the Jill Kismet series I finished recently.  This is on the reading ‘to do’ for next week.

I also went to see Timon of Athens at the National.  As much as I like Shakespeare this play was rather dated which I thought was unusual for the playwright. I wonder how many modern novels are based on one of his stories.

Anyway, planning for more reading productivity next week.  For once, I have a number of books on Kandy to get through.  Wish me luck!

BECS’ ROUNDUP

Reading wise I’ve not been very productive this week as I struggled to read CRIMSON GROVES by Ashley Robertson (review to come) and I’ve only just finished SWITCHED by Amanda Hocking (review to come). Hocking is my queen of Kindle, she became a millionaire through self-publishing. I admire her determination so I may be a little biased.

I’m now starting PRETTY WHEN SHE DIES by Rhiannon Frater. I am excited to try this author as I’ve heard so much about Frater from As the World Dies series and have been meaning to purchase it so if I enjoy this one you can safely bet The First Days will be on my purchase list next week.

I’ve been better behaved on book buying this week. I only bought three books: DREAMLESS by Josephine Angelini, ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD by Kendare Blake, and TORN by Amanda Hocking (which was only 20p on Kindle, such a BARGIN). Next week brings a chance to read THE TAKER by Alma Katsu, 172 HOURS ON THE MOON by Johan Harstad, and SHATTERED DREAMS by Ellie James. Such Choice!

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