Graphic made by Eugenia @ Genie in a Book

With the holiday season approaching, we all know the feeling of glancing wistfully at our shelves...and making enormous lists of books we want to add to them for the new year. Thanks to Walker Books Australia and Rachael Craw, I'm giving away the whole SPARK trilogy to one lucky winner from Australia or New Zealand. 

Not to mention...yes - this series is one of my favourites of all time

BUT THEY ALSO LOOK AMAZING. 

You know, for that bookshelf aesthetic that's impossible to turn down.

Image provided by Walker Books Australia

You can also have a read of my thoughts on the series here:

Review: Spark by Rachael Craw
Stray by Rachael Craw Review and Author Interview
Review: Shield by Rachael Craw

Some of my favourite moments from the series

Special post from Rachael Craw

Merry Christmas, friends! A colossal thank you to Walker Books Australia and Spark Army General, Eugenia, for generously hosting week one of the Spark Trilogy Christmas Giveaway on her beautiful blog. And thank you everyone for taking the time to stop by be sure to enter to win a complete set. And if you’re not lucky this week, keep your eyes peeled for Kelly’s blog next week and my newsletter the week after! (Don’t forget to subscribe @ www.rachaelcraw.com)

Since the release of Shield, the final instalment in the Spark series, I have started work on a new novel which is both exciting and daunting. A whole new world to explore, new characters to fall in love with and new dangers and adventures to send me running for the heart medication. Y’all know me well enough by now to expect a story set in the real world with a fantastical/speculative twist. Well, at the moment the twists are giving me whiplash and making my head spin! So, this weekend I indulged in some quality procrastination to ease the agony of drafting my new WIP.

If you’ve been neglecting your nanowrimo or hiding from your TBR here are:

Rachael’s Top 5 No Regrets, Pre-Christmas, Procrastiwriting/Procrastireading Activities.

5. Put up the Christmas tree!

Traditionally, I am a December 1st girl but I have a busy week and no patience for a mid-week decoration project. Besides, our tree is a colossal 6 footer and it takes hours of sweaty, scratchy negotiation to get it up and looking pretty. I must confess to being a bit of a Christmas tree Sergeant Major. I like it, just right. Clearly, I have traumatised my children enough to follow in my footsteps and they all pulled together to produce a dazzler. Can you rope in a sibling or flatmate to get your tree up? Since it’s such a wholesome family activity – bonding over twinkle lights – guilt about avoiding your WIP or TBR recedes nicely.

4. Spring clean a bedroom!

In this case, my little girls’ room. How hard can it be, right? How long could it take? Brace yourselves. My children are chronic hoarders of crap. A dozen supermarket bags full of trash, broken plastic what-nots, bric-a-brac, and miscellanea later and that’s just what was under their beds and hiding in the toy box! I haven’t even started on their wardrobe. It took all of Saturday and Sunday afternoon but oh the glorious smugness of a clear floor. One can’t feel bad about a neglected first draft or review copies waiting to be read when you’re spring cleaning! What’s collecting dust under your bed? Behind your dresser?

3. Pausing over old treasures!

Memory-lane is a sweet place linger. A good tidy up unearths old treasures, photo-albums and journals. Some of my favourite things to keep are the kids’ old “Story Writing” books from school. Dragons, mermaids and talking animals feature a lot. The kids laugh at their handwriting and illustrations. It always warms my heart. See how writing/reading guilt can be smoothed away?

2. Setting aside items for Goodwill or the Salvation Army!

This weekend we culled soft-toys, dress-ups, dolls, tea-sets, books, games and clothes that the girls had grown out of. We put the teddies and costumes through the wash and wiped down the plastic toys. The girls loved choosing things to giveaway – great opportunity to be generous and help others. Have you got anything you could donate to help others have a great Christmas? You can’t feel bad about your draft or your TBR when you’re doing good deeds!

And the number one best way I procrastinated this weekend …

1. Binge watching Gilmore Girls!!!

ARGH!!! I have been binge re-watching the original series in preparation for the Gilmore Girls Revival over the last couple of months and it was AGONISING listening to my eldest daughter squealing and wailing in her bedroom as she watched the new episodes without me! I am halfway through season 6 and live in TERROR of spoilers!!! So, I squeezed in several episodes this weekend and I HAVE NO REGRETS!!! Any Gilmore fans out there?!

Well, I hope I’ve inspired you! Now … I better get back to my WIP!!!! ARGH!!!

Enter here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Watch out for more chances to win this series!

Kelly @ Diva Booknerd will be hosting her giveaway and with another special post from the author next week.

Rachael Craw herself will be hosting the final giveaway, keep an eye out for her newsletter for all the exciting details!

Review: Shield (Spark #3) by Rachael Craw

Shield by Rachael Craw

Released:1st September 2016

Published by: Walker Books Australia

Genre: YA Science Fiction

Source: Publisher

Pages: 429

My Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Goodreads | QBD | Booktopia

Evie is out of options. She must comply with the Affinity Project – obey their rules, play their deadly games, give up Jamie. And her losses keep growing. When she decides to help a small group of Shields trying to affect change, Evie finds herself in the firing line.

Counsellor Knox is intent on revealing her secrets and shackling her to the Affinity Project for life. To protect her family, Evie must betray those closest to her.

The odds of success – let alone survival – are slim. The final thrilling conclusion to the Spark series.

Thank you to Walker Books Australia for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review 

Rachael Craw sure knows how to end a series with a bang! There's a bittersweet feeling which came with turning the final pages of this book, but I was left as impressed as I have been since the trilogy began.

In this high-octane page-turner, Evie is once again up against the Affinity Project, and in closer proximity than ever before. With the introduction of some new faces, and the duplicitous nature of some characters becoming known, a twist is never too far away. She once again demonstrates a strength and ability to seriously kick-butt, but a sensitivity to the delicate, and seemingly futile situation of her fate. There are moral dilemmas to face, more lives at stake, and of course - opportunities to blow things up. Action, emotions and family loyalty are all on the line, executed on a knife-edge with the skill one has come to expect from Rachael Craw.

When it comes to Evie's issues with Affinity, Jamie isn't too far behind. The pair in this installment have more tension between them than ever before. Their bond is clearly electric, modeled into their DNA. Yet of course, nothing is that easy to attain in this world where your destiny is instilled in your blood, with the constant threat of exploitation. If you want to see more of Jamie, it definitely helped to read the novella 'Scar Tissue' before reading this book. Family ties are also tested, with an even greater intensity. How far would you go to save the people you love? What is the ultimate sacrifice? Craw explores these themes in ways which make your heart race, always in anticipation for the next bombshell to hit. Top tip: Have tissues ready.

FINAL THOUGHTS

What a journey it's been! I still remember first receiving SPARK in the mail 2 years ago, and though it definitely had the potential to be a great read just from looking at the blurb, little did I know how much I would come to love the series and want to support it so much. 

As an author, Rachael Craw is a class act; creating storylines with immense suspense, action-packed scenes and sentences which evoke every human emotion. Her characters have so much depth, and you can't help but be drawn into their complex web of dilemmas, following their paths with bated breath. It's the end of an era for the #SparkArmy, but I can't wait to read what she has in store for us next!

Genie's Weekly News (52)

It's the last day of the uni holidays, and I write this after coming home from a very busy day at work - no surprise since it's 'Harry Potter release day'! It of course doesn't have quite the hype of another book being released, but I'll be happy to see how it compares anyway.

*Reading Right Now*

*Previous Posts*

• Review: Breathing Under Water by Sophie Hardcastle
• Review: The Diary of William Shakespeare, Gentleman by Jackie French

*Recommendation of the Week*

ALL THE FEELS.  That is all.
Well, full review to come as well...

*From The Interwebs*

• Jen @ YA Romantics shared her review of 'Three Truths and a Lie'
• Aentee @ Read at Midnight designed more Throne of Glass Wallpapers
• Cait @ Paper Fury shared tips for TV shows to match some of her favourite books
• Mel @ The Daily Prophecy did a a-z getting to know her
• Emily @ Loony Literate offered advice on how to tackle an overwhelming TBR
• Jeann @Happy Indulgence discussed When "diversity" isn't actually diverse

*Haul/Book Event Recaps*

It's been a very bookish week in general, with not one but two book events...and a TBR that has grown even larger in the meantime!

1. Hachette Christmas Roadshow

These publisher events are a great way to bring together booksellers, authors and those working to bring those stories into stores. It was great to see what new books will be coming up from Hachette for the rest of 2016 and 2017, plus those crime/thrillers in the goodie bag look especially intriguing!:

• The Girl Before by J.P. Delaney (February 2017) - A psychological thriller with a house that holds secrets from the past.
• Ragdoll by Daniel Cole (February 2017) - Gory crime, the first in a series.
• See What I Have Done by Sarah Schmidt (April 2017) - A retelling of the Lizzie Borden murders.

2. Rachael Craw Skype Event

Although all Aussie fans of the SPARK series would love to meet Rachael in person, this Skype event at Dymocks and hosted by Emily @UncoverAllure  was the next best thing! It was great to hear her thoughts on the series, and us fans got to ask some burning questions about what's happened in the series. She also shared some details about her next book, and I'm hooked already!

{Blog Tour} Stray by Rachel Craw Review & Author Interview

Stray by Rachael Craw
Series: Spark #2
Released: 1st September 2015
Published by: Walker Books Australia
Genre: YA Science Fiction
Source: Publisher
Pages: 425
My Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Goodreads | Bookworld | Booktopia

It’s hard to remember hating anything as much as I hate Affinity; a bone-deep loathing for the faceless unknown and the concrete walls of my own DNA.

 Evie is a Shield: designed to kill in order to protect, and the Affinity Project have finally come for her. But Evie isn’t ready for the sinister organisation to take control of her life, her body, her mind. She isn’t ready to follow their rules about who may live and who must die – not when it condemns the innocent. She has one option: risk losing everything and everyone – including Jamie – and run.

Thank you to Walker Books Australia for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Spark totally reinvigorated my interest in the YA sci-fi genre, and in this second installment of the trilogy, Rachael Craw has once again blown me away with her awesome storytelling skills and creating a plot which is action-packed and dynamic from the word go. Not only is Stray building on the foundations of its predecessor in terms of the worldbuilding, but the characters have been through so much and now have even more difficult decisions to make. In all, what you get is a book which you can't put down because it will grab you with the kick-ass scenes, make you swoon with the romance, and shock with the inevitable twists to come. Brace yourselves folks!

Don't say I didn't warn you

In Spark there were some detailed references to Affinity and how all the sciency-stuff worked between Synergists and Harvesting etc. - but Stray really ups the ante and this is where the organisation gets really involved. This is where worldbuilding and the creation of a concept can shine, where us readers can grasp the ins and outs of what is happening to the characters and the multiple dilemmas they face. Evie is placed in an even more difficult situation than ever, especially having to deal with the responsibility of harnessing the abilities she has and using them for good. With some new characters on the scene and tensions running high, there's certainly never a dull moment in this book and even with all the information the pacing never slows. 

To break this up though is where the writing style makes this an easy read. I LOVE some good humour and witty dialogue which makes this a fun read above all. Rachael Craw's interjections of normalcy, like a Halloween party at the beginning with some cheeky references, or Kitty's little quirks make the whole novel that much more relatable. This isn't hardcore sci-fi, but then again it isn't meant to be. This is has become a series that seamlessly melds normal life with a big dose of something special to create the perfect balance.

Of course, there's also the relationships to consider. This is a time where the romance doesn't take centre stage, but also has its special role to play. Evie and Jamie are really good for each other (despite the fainting), and though they face challenges along the way I think it's important to see that their bond is realistic and is different from many others considering the Synergist side. He's not someone who would ever take advantage of her, and she is a strong character on her own who continuously seeks to do what is best for her family and friends; both commendable qualities.

But wait - it's not JUST the romantic kinds of relationships in this case either. Stray goes deeper than that and looks at the special dynamics between best friends, parents and children, and colleagues as well.

I love this insight from Miriam on pg. 60

It's all about trust and inconceivable decisions to have to make, trying to stay alive and protect those they love. It's this multitude of character developments and links which makes the story so compelling. Although, with great love can also come great sorrow - and all I'm going to say is once again - be prepared for ALL THE FEELS.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Stray met and exceeded my high expectations, leaving me reeling and seriously NEEDING Shield - the finale in the trilogy coming in 2016. Rachael Craw has done a fantastic job crafting this series into the masterpiece it has become so far, and I can't wait to see where it goes next.

Author Q&A with Rachael Craw!

I have to say, STRAY was absolutely A-MAZING! I didn't think it could be any better than SPARK was, but wow it really delivered. What would be the one thing you would say to people about to read this book - how should they prepare?

Thanks Eugenia, I’m thrilled you enjoyed it! Oh crumbs, I’m not sure how readers should prepare, ha! In the promo-letter that went out with the ARCs I joked that readers ought to carbo-load and brace themselves.

I felt like Stray took it out of me in the experience of writing it, that it dragged me out into deep water, gave me a pounding and left me for dead on the rocks. Sounds like fun, doesn’t it? Stray is probably more intense than Spark and certainly darker. Evie is really taken to the brink in this story.

Jamie is of course one of the best book-boyfriends around (well, he is genetic perfection), but every hero has at least one flaw - what's his?

This question reminded me of a passage I wrote describing Jamie, years ago, and it never made it into Spark. It was a comment about the Gallagher men and that they don’t easily forgive. Jamie carries a tremendous sense of responsibility which makes him a bit of a control freak and this stems from a deep rooted fear that he will not be able to protect the people he loves.This is Jamie’s unbearable feeling and when this fear is poked it makes him lash out.

Evie is also a really strong character, and I love her fierce determination to do what's right by the people she loves. Where did you find the inspiration for her character?

Evie’s character evolved quickly for me. I started with grief because it was the first thing I knew about her, that she had just recently lost her mother. I used myself as the basis for the way she deals with grief. Not so much how I manage it now but how I remembered dealing with it as a teenager. I couldn’t bear to share my grief with anyone after my grandfather died when I was 16. I refused to let anyone see me cry. I was a bury-it-deep-until-it-becomes-a-stomach-ulcer type of kid. (Not any more, I assure you. I’m a very healthy crier!) I also have Evie’s aversion to unwanted attention but she is far more reserved and cautious with people than I am. Evie is not gregarious. Once I had those elements established, as someone suffering grief, I let her lighter side shine through the cracks. You see her warmth and sense of humour in her relationship with Miriam and Kitty. Jamie pushes lots of buttons for Evie, with their history and all, but she also gets to be her true self with him in her strength and vulnerability.

I would also say Evie has a highly developed sense of justice, she has zero tolerance for bullies (Richard Dean, Robert Knox) which is also a trait of mine, I guess. She has courage I could only dream of. There was a line I cut from Stray where Ethan Tesla comments on Evie and Jamie being as stubborn as each other and unafraid of pain. Evie says, “I’m afraid of pain.” Ethan responds, “The fear of pain does not keep you from doing what you have set your mind to do.” (I deeply admire this trait as I am a gigantic wuss.) But Ethan’s right, Evie and Jamie are motivated by the same driving sense of fear and need to protect the people they love.

The concept around the 'Affinity Project' and sci-fi elements of this series are really well thought-out and original. With so many other YA novels out in this genre, how hard is it to make new novels 'stand out from the crowd'?

It’s not something I gave any conscious thought to. My only concern was writing the best story I could. I spent a lot of time growing the world of the Affinity Project by inquiry. I wanted to understand what made them tick, how they started, what their motivations were, how the Fixation Effect changed everything. I spent huge amounts of time asking questions and refusing to be content until I had all the answers. I needed the world of the story and the sci-fi premise to be absolutely water-tight for me to suspend my disbelief and throw myself into Evie’s narrative. But I would say a crucial element for me as a writer and reader, to consider a book a standout, is the sense of authentic voice in characterisation. This includes dialogue and interior monologue. I need to believe the character’s voice to invest.

I know after writing these two fantastic books there are some really excited readers out there who would love to be authors too - what advice would you give aspiring writers?

Read a lot. Work hard on developing your craft. Dream big. Get help. Learn to receive criticism. Trust the creative process. It’s a long tough road but it’s worth it.

And finally - we're all dying to know what happens in SHIELD - can you give us just a tiny hint at what's to come?

Hmmm … Post-traumatic stress. Exclusion. Threats. Search for validation. Assignment. Sparking. Secrets. Worst fears. All. Hell. Breaking. Loose. Kissing. Telepathy. Telekinesis. Nudity. Dreams. Death. Love. Family. Heartbreak. Choices. Will that do?

Check out the other stops on the Tour!

September 1

Happy Indulgence | Diva Book Nerd

September 2

Behind the Pages | Cassie the Weird | YA Midnight Reads

September 3

Liz McShane Blog | Imaginary Misadventure

September 4

Fictional Thoughts | Genie in a Book

September 5

Kids Book Review | Books for a Delicate Eternity | Nicole Has Read

September 6

Loony Literate | Book Nerd Reviews

September 7

Striking Keys | Very Dark Horse

@RachaelCraw | RachaelCraw.com | Subscribe to Rachael's Newsletter http://rachaelcraw.com/subscribe/ 

Review: Spark by Rachael Craw

Spark by Rachael Craw

Released:1st July 2014

Published by: Walker Australia

Genre: YA Science Fiction

Source: Publisher

Pages: 400

My Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Goodreads | QBD | Booktopia

“You think God has a loophole for people who don’t have a choice?” Jamie shrugs. “Hope so, otherwise we’re screwed.” Evie doesn’t have a choice. One day she’s an ordinary seventeen year old, grieving for her mother. The next, she’s a Shield, the result of a decades-old experiment gone wrong, bound by DNA to defend her best friend from an unknown killer. The threat could come at home, at school, anywhere.

All Evie knows is that it will be a fight to the death. And then there’s Jamie. Irresistible. Off-limits.

Thank you to Walker Books Australia for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The undeniably awesome cover for Spark may have been what initially drew me to this novel, but it is the outstanding plot which cinched the deal. With a concept involving with the intriguing topic of genetic mutations, fair share of action-packed suspense and a romance which adds the cherry on top, after reading this impressive book, I can’t wait to see what Rachael Craw will devise in the sequel.

But I want to cry for him, for me, for the loss of innocence that comes with the blood in our veins. Killers by design.

Set in the present day with a science-fiction twist, Spark definitely has all the details of these genetic mutations down. Evie is a Shield, who needs to protect her Spark Kitty from the Stray who is threatening her friend’s life. With enhanced physical and mental abilities, it comes down to Evie to make sure that Kitty remains safe. Add to the background Affinity, the secret agency who is responsible for the Optimal gene which causes these anomalies and you get an awesome plot which keeps you guessing.

At times all the new language and terms relating to this phenomenon felt a bit hard to keep up with, but I am glad that the backdrop was solidly set to make the whole story plausible. If there’s one thing that’s important in any science fiction novel, it’s making sure that those elements are explained properly, and the author definitely delivered on that. I really enjoyed seeing Evie develop as a character, testing out her new skills and always looking out for the best interests of her friend. She turned out to be a strong protagonist, who didn’t let her budding romance with Jame get in the way of the task at hand.

The action and suspense within the plot were both executed really well. Although it did seem a little slow in parts, by the time I got to the 400 page mark, there were definitely some unexpected twists which made me want to power through it to the end. There were some parts where I was turning the pages so fast I had to go over a few paragraphs again because I just couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen next. Evie’s bonds with Miriam and members of the Gallagher family were also tested, and added some realism to a storyline that does have quite a few science fiction elements. In all, I can see how the ending definitely leaves room for book two, and I will be on the edge of my seat with anticipation to see what will unfold next!

CONCLUSION

Spark drew me in from the very beginning, and is one of my favourite YA science-fiction reads of the year. Rachael Craw has definitely proven herself as an author to watch with this book, and you can bet that I’ll be excitedly waiting to see what happens in ‘Stray’.

This review first appeared on Chasm of Books

Cover Reveal: Stray by Rachael Craw

*jumps in* You all know what today is right? You know, that special day where that oh-so-amazing cover for Stray, gets revealed to the world? 

*aaand cue the suspenseful music*

As you all know, I LOVE Spark and I can't wait to read this sequel, and now we all get to bask in the glory of the cover together!

But first I have to ask...

and you probably are going to say something along the lines of...

But are you suuuure? I have to warn you, just looking at it will probably cause a case of extreme fangirling, excitement, and eye strain from staring at your screen for too long.....

Well, in that case...HERE IT IS!

.

.

.

.

.

.

Ta daaaaaaa!

Stray will be released 1st September, 2015 in all good bookstores in Australia and New Zealand, as well as online retailers.

It’s hard to remember hating anything as much as I hate Affinity; a bone-deep loathing for the faceless unknown and the concrete walls of my own DNA. 

Evie is a Shield: designed to kill in order to protect, and the Affinity Project have finally come for her. But Evie isn’t ready for the sinister organisation to take control of her life, her body, her mind. She isn’t ready to follow their rules about who may live and who must die – not when it condemns the innocent. She has one option: risk losing everything and everyone – including Jamie – and run.

Now I don't know about you, but I love it! Not only is it super edgy with that reddish-brown background which matches the 'chaos in blood' slogan, but it matches really nicely with the first book too:

Evie doesn’t have a choice. 

 One day she’s an ordinary seventeen year old, grieving for her mother. The next, she’s a Shield, the result of a decades-old experiment gone wrong, bound by DNA to defend her best friend from an unknown killer. The threat could come at home, at school, anywhere. All Evie knows is that it will be a fight to the death. And then there’s Jamie. irresistible. off-limits

About the author:

Rachael Craw studied Classical Studies and Drama at the University of Canterbury, but became an English teacher after graduation. Working with teenagers has given her a natural bent towards Young Adult fiction and a desire to present a feisty female protagonist in her writing. Her debut novel, Spark, is the first in a series released with Walker Books Australia from 2014. Rachael was born and raised in Christchurch, New Zealand, and currently lives in Nelson with her husband and three daughters. Visit her online at www.rachaelcraw.com

Facebook - Twitter - Goodreads 

 ***

Be sure to keep an eye on the Walker Australia twitter account @WalkerBooksAus , as a special countdown will begin to July 31st where an exclusive short story teaser from Rachael not featured in Spark or Stray will be released on iTunes.

***

I hope you all love it as much as I do and can fangirl with me and the rest of the #SparkArmy!

Genie's Weekly News (37)

Hi everyone and welcome to my weekly blog feature to recap the week with bookish news and what to expect coming up! So without further ado...

*Currently Reading*

*In The Bookish World*

That's right - The #SparkArmy will be proud to reveal the long-awaited cover for Stray by Rachael Craw this week, and let me tell you - I love it already! 

Author Jessica Brooks has some fantastic US + International giveaways happening on her blog at the moment which are ending soon! Click the image to go to the page.

*Previous Posts*

• The Real Neat Blog Award
• Review: The Potion Diaries by Amy Alward
• Review: Risk by Fleur Ferris
• Mini Reviews: A Soulprint for the Haunting where There Will Be Lies and Miracles
• {Blog Tour} Review & GIVEAWAY: The Girl I Was Before (Falling #3) by Ginger Scott
• Review: Fable - Short Story Collection

*Recommendation of the Week*

Aussie YA at its best - poignant, edgy and memorable.

*From The Interwebs*

• Ana @ Butterflies of the Imagination announced a  new feature
• Emily @ Loony Literate shared her favourite 18 books from the past two years
• Kelly @ Diva Booknerd wrote a lovely review for Extraordinary Means by Robyn Schneider
• Sara @ Deadly Darlings did a book recommendations post
• Cait @ Paper Fury discussed why she always finishes books
• Jeann @ Happy Indulgence did two thriller reviews
• Erica @ Novel Ink did the book blogger TMI tag
• Michelle @ The Unfinished Bookshelf did a Q&A with Maureen McCarthy
• Kat @ Cuddlebuggery took a comprehensive look at Beauty and the Beast retellings

*Book Haul*

Thank you to Bloomsbury Australia and Penguin Teen Australia for the review copies!

• An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir - I got this in a trade with Chelsea @ Booknerdigans and am so excited to reading it since I've heard only good things!
• Legend by Marie Lu - Another trade with Chelsea, and I've wanted to start this series for what feels like forever. Now I can!
• Letters from Skye - My final trade with Chelsea, and I love the sound of this historical fiction novel told with letters. 
• Because You'll Never Meet Me by Leah Thomas - I've heard some mixed reviews for this one, but being allergic to electricity is definitely something interesting.
• The Almost King by Lucy Saxon - It's been a while since I'v read Take Back the Skies, which was okay, but I'm hoping this one is better.
• The Devil You Know by Trish Doller - So this is one of those books I've REALLY been looking forward to this year, and I can't wait to get to it ASAP.
• Dumplin' by Julie Murphy - I now have an extra ARC of this since I got one from TeenCon, so I *may* be doing a giveaway for it at some point...stay tuned.
• Pieces of Sky by Trinity Doyle - I won this from Tash @ Confessions From Romaholics and can't wait to read this Aussie YA contemporary.

*Giveaway Reminder*

My giveaway is ending very soon!

How has your week been? 

Genie's Weekly News (28)

Hi everyone and welcome to my weekly blog feature to recap the week with bookish news and what to expect coming up! So without further ado...

*Reading Right Now*

I need a cute and fluffy read after finishing the rollercoaster which was The Winner's Crime. 

*Previous Posts*

• LIFT - Autism Awareness & GIVEAWAY
• #JLBgivesawayanINDIE‏ April Event - Challenge + GIVEAWAY  
• {Blog Tour} We All Looked Up by Tommy Wallach - Bucket List & GIVEAWAY  
• Discussion: Found In Translation  

*Recommendation of the Week*



*From The Interwebs*

• Jeann @ Happy Indulgence shared a tribute to her fellow bloggers
• Jess @ My Reading Dress did a visual review of  Captive by A. J. Grainger
• Ely @ A Book So Fathomless is looking for help on Europe travelling advice
• Laura @ Laura Plus Books discussed a common struggle facing YA female protagonists
• Rachel @ Booktastic Reviews created the Narnian book Tag

*Haul*


Thank you to Allen and Unwin for these review copies!

• Stay With Me by Maureen McCarthy - I'm looking forward to this one, especially with the family drama aspect. 
• Pandora Jones: Reckoning by Barry Jonsberg - This is the last book in the Pandora Jones series and I am looking forward to hopefully having all the answers revealed!

*Movie Reactions*

So I watched Insurgent with some friends this week, and to be completely honest I was a tad underwhelmed. Though I LOVED Divergent since it had that big climax and the action was all there, in this case not only was the movie quite different from the book, but it just for me didn't have that same punch. The special effects were all there and there were some intense moments, but I'd probably only rate this a 6.5/10. Did anybody else feel the same way or is it just me?

*Other News*

TeenCon 2015 is happening which is exciting - and the book boyfriend battles between the various Australian publishing houses is well and truly ON.

I'm with the #SparkArmy team for Jamie from 'Spark' by Rachael Craw

The image above will take you to the Goodreads group which has been made public, and there you can also find some graphics made by the members (including some quote ones from yours truly below), that can be used to spread the word. Jamie may be the underdog, but he does have a fighting chance! #TeamJamie

How has your week been?