Weekly Highlights: the 'Death Warmed Up' edition

Weekly Highlights is a feature borrowed from Faye of A Daydreamer's Thoughts, where I get to highlight my posts of the week, show you my new books and talk about bookish things! 

On The Blog

I'm so sorry guys! I was called into work on short notice Monday and Tuesday after working all weekend, then I caught my dad's cold and felt like crap the rest of the week. Blogging, and in fact most things on the computer, went out the window. No brain power, fuzzy head and snotty nose meant I spent the latter part of the week in my dressing gown. 

Currently Reading

Over half way through Clockwork Princess. Ahh, I am loving this so much but it's breaking my heart!

On My Bookshelf

My True Love Gave To Me by Stephanie Perkins 

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me ...This beautiful collection features twelve gorgeously romantic stories set during the festive period, by some of the most talented and exciting YA authors writing today. The stories are filled with the magic of first love and the magic of the holidays.

Another steal from the staffroom, I had wanted this one anyway in the run up to Christmas. A great set of authors, I will be saving this for December.

Breakdown by Sarah Mussi
It is 2084. Nuclear radiation has poisoned the country. Society has fallen apart. Starvation is rampant, and power shortages have resulted in piles of obsolete gadgetry. Necessity has driven those who've survived to complete self-reliance, if they have the means to do so. For Melissa and her Nan, survival is just about possible, so long as they can guard the tiny crop of potatoes in their back garden and find enough fuel to cook on - and as long as they are safely barricaded inside their home by curfew.

For after dark, feral dogs hunt, and violent gangs from the old Olympic Stadium (now a miserable ghetto) roam to loot and plunder. If they catch you, they are not merciful; so when Melissa falls into the hands of Careem's gang, her prospects look bleak. But Careem soon realises that she might just be more valuable alive, as a ransom victim. However, he hasn't reckoned with Melissa's resourcefulness. Soon part of his young gang are completely beguiled by Melissa and her story of a hidden valley in Scotland - a place that sounds like a comparative paradise, if they can get there. But apparently only Melissa knows the way, and only she can lead them there. But Melissa is hiding a secret. She has never been to Scotland in her life, let alone a mythically Elysian valley there. Can Melissa's stories keep her alive long enough to escape - or will they get her killed?

How amazing does this sound? After I read Riot by the same author in a day, I have high hopes for this one! Thank you Hot Key Books!

Vendetta by Catherine Doyle

When five brothers move into the abandoned mansion next door, Sophie Gracewell's life changes forever. Irresistibly drawn to bad boy Nicoli, Sophie finds herself falling into an underworld governed by powerful families. When Sophie's own family skeletons come to life, she must choose between two warring dynasties - the one she was born into, and the one she is falling in love with. When she does, blood will spill and hearts will break...

A very early review book from Chicken House, I'm really excited by this, it sounds very cool. Thank you Chicken House!