French kiss - Review

French kiss by Sarra Manning

Diary of a crush book one.

Available now.

www.atombooks.net 

What's it about?

New town, new college, new people, Edie's feeling overwhelmed. What if nobody wants to be her friend? But then something happens that turns her life upside down: Edie spots Dylan. Messy-haired, pouty, frustratingly elusive Dylan. . .

Fast forward to the college trip to Paris and things are really heating up. In between the shopping, the clubbing, the kissing and the making up, something happens between Edie and Dylan that changes both their lives for ever. But do boys like Dylan ever play for keeps?

My review 

French kiss was a fun, short read. Although I found it slightly immature for me - the protagonist is only fourteen - I did enjoy this book, its was a nice light read and was perfect after I'd just finished working my way through a big series.

Edie's slightly dramatic and immature at times but she was a nice character to read and I can just imagine her sitting down and writing the things we read in her diary, if you didn't already know, this book is written as her diary.

I didn't always like Dylan, there was a few times he wasn't a good guy and it made it hard to like him, I had to wonder what Edie saw in him but I liked her friend Shona once we got to know her.

This book is what the title suggests, its more about a crush, than a big love story, not that there aren't some little romantic moments in the book, but it was more about that first teenage crush, being a bit obsessive over your crush and dramatic about it when it goes wrong and when it goes right.

My thoughts on the cover

I like this cover, I like the mix of still life and drawing, its fun and so is the bright font that looks like its been crayoned on. It suits the book perfectly.

Favourite quotes

'I knew then that nothing else mattered because I wanted to die from Dylan's kisses. He did things to my mouth that made me realise what it was for. All the time I'd been using it to eat and talk and blow bubbles from wads of Hubba Bubba and instead its sole purpose in life was to be the place where Dylan's tongue stroked along my teeth and the insides of my cheeks and danced with mine.'

''I love you,' I choked out. 'I can't help it. And I know you'll come up with a million reasons why we can't go out with each other, but that's my one god reason why we should.''

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Showcase Sunday (43)

'Showcase Sunday' is hosted by Vicky at Books, biscuits and tea.

22nd - 28th April '13

Hello everyone, I had another great book week an got some books I'm really excited about, check out the video to see which :)

Books mentioned

Bought

Intrusion by Ken MacLeod

The originals by Cat Patrick

Gift

Deadlands by Lily Hearne

For review

Fall of night by Rachel Caine

The drowning by Rachel Ward

The 5th wave by Rick Yancey

Imposter by Jill Hathaway

The elite by Kiera Cass

Life after theft by Aprilynne Pike

Red moon by Benjamin Percy

What did you get this week?

UK vs THE WORLD (65)

UK vs. The world is a weekly meme I made up lol.

It's simlair to UK vs. US except the UK covers are battling it out with their foreign counterparts from all over the world, because who doesn't love judging books by their covers!

UK                          vs                      Greece

A discovery of witches by Deborah Harkness

All souls trilogy book one.

('Μάγισσες' translates to 'Witches.' - According to Google translate.)

Mist: I'm so in love with the Greek cover, its an easy win for me, I love the colours, the birds and the intesity. All I like about the UK cover is the red smoke, the rest is kind of boring. The Greek cover has lots of mystery and is what I'd be more likely to pick up.

Ninfa: A Discovery of Witches: I don't really get the UK cover, I have to admit. The font is lovely, and I like the smoke-like red tendrils too, but I'm not sure what it all has to do with the book...maybe it's one of those you only get when you actually read the book.
The Greek cover is gorgeous, really atmospheric. I love the eyes in particular, they just draw you in, and I love that the model is a red head, I always associate red hair with witches 😊
The blue smoke and the necklace are also interesting touches on this cover.
Greece gets it right for me this time.
It's a Greek win 😊

Which do you prefer?

The 5th wave - Book trailer and excerpt

The 5th wave by Rick Yancey 

The Passage meets Ender’s Game in an epic new series from award-winning author Rick Yancey. 

After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one. 

Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.

The Fifth Wave EXTRACT

Gone - Quickie series review

Gone, Hunger, Lies, Plague, Fear and Light by Michael Grant. 

What's it about?

(Blurb for book one.)

In the blink of an eye. Everyone disappears. GONE. 

Except for the young. Teens. Middle schoolers. Toddlers. But not one single adult. No teachers, no cops, no doctors, no parents. Just as suddenly, there are no phones, no internet, no television. No way to get help. And no way to figure out what's happened. 

Hunger threatens. Bullies rule. A sinister creature lurks. Animals are mutating. And the teens themselves are changing, developing new talents—unimaginable, dangerous, deadly powers—that grow stronger by the day. 

It's a terrifying new world. Sides are being chosen, a fight is shaping up. Townies against rich kids. Bullies against the weak. Powerful against powerless. And time is running out: On your birthday, you disappear just like everyone else...

My review

This is just a quick review of the series as a whole so I can add three of the books to the TBR challenge. I actually read the first two books a couple of years ago and always wanted to get to more but other books got in the way, I finally finished off the series this month when the final book Light was released and completely devoured the last four books in 10 days, they're an average of 500 pages each. The Gone series is easily one of the most imaginative and intriguing series' out there, I cannot praise it enough. Throughout each book Grant comes up with situations I just couldn't see coming and constantly throws new things at the reader I couldn't predict how any one book would start or end or guess the middle for that fact, I was so hooked through each and every edition. I don't think I could pick a favourite from the six, none were weaker than the others as can be the case with a long series, they all had there own place in the main plot and had great pacing and explosive endings. If you haven't tried this series then I urge you to, especially if you've enjoyed books like The maze runner or The hunger games.

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Showcase Sunday (42)

'Showcase Sunday' is hosted by Vicky at Books, biscuits and tea.

15th - 21st April '13

Books mentioned

Gift

Wish you were dead by Todd Strasser

For review

You don't know me by Sophia Bennett

The sea sisters by Lucy Clarke (AKA Swimming at night)

Unlocking the spell by E.D Baker

French kiss by Sarra Manning

If I should die by Amy Plum

The rising by Kelley Armstrong

Inferno by Sherrilyn Kenyon

What did you get this week?

Dare you to - Review

Dare you to by Katie McGarry

Pushing the limits book two

Available 7th June 2013

www.miraink.co.uk 

What's it about?

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all....

Other books in the series
Pushing the limits - Book one
My review

(4.5)

I absolutely loved Pushing the limits last year, Katie McGarry's debut book. Dare you to is more of a companion book rather than a sequel as its centred around a secondary character from the first book and some new characters. I really enjoyed Dare you to, I just didn't feel quite the same amount of tension as I did with the first but it was still brilliant. Katie McGarry has a brilliant way of creating complex characters and then making it easy for you to understand them, she effortlessly brings forth their emotions and fears onto the page, so every time they do something 'questionable' you just think 'Yeah, I can totally see that.' Beth and Ryan are not perfect characters and their love story is not a perfect one either but that's what I like about the authors books, because sometimes falling in love with someone isn't a smooth ride, sometimes you don't even realise it's happening and she does a wonderful job of capturing that imperfect love story which makes all the more brilliant.
Beth and Ryan are both great characters and as we delve into the book we find out more about them, what's happened to them in the past, how they've become how they are. The whole story is told at a gripping pace that keeps you from wanting to put the book down.
It's certainly one I would recommend and as far as I'm concerned Katie McGarry is one of the best YA contemporary writers out there at the moment.

My thoughts on the cover
The couple on this cover, almost kissing in the rain look so freakin hot and I love the image, but I have to be honest, I don't love the title font, its too big and has an old cheesy horror movie feel to it, its even dripping like the book should be scary when actually it's a beautiful story.

Sorry, no favourite quotes as I read an uncorrected proof copy.

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Guest post: Dianna Hardy - Vlog and a giveaway

Hi guys, if you'e already a fan of Dianna, then you might know that Cry of the wolf is released today, here's an exclusive vlog and giveaway from the author herself.

Cry of the wolf

Eye of the storm book two.

The full moon is a week away, and although Lydia is as excited as it gets to run as a wolf for the first time, she is also fighting to keep her independence while trying to understand her role in the lives of the three males that have come to rule hers: compassionate, tender Taylor; impetuous, fun-loving Ryan and distant, cold Lawrence.

There's also a fourth man in Lydia's life. Brendan, her previous "friend with benefits", is tirelessly searching for her. He's about to uncover things that should be kept hidden.

However, the testosterone surrounding her is the last thing she should be worrying about. Her family bear truths about her heritage she's not ready to face ... she may not have a choice, because the greatest danger to them all comes from within. The past never stays buried for long, and among the shadows of their species it is rising with a vengeance, threatening to tear their pack apart for good.

Giveaway info:
1 x Releasing The Wolf signed paperback
1 x Cry Of The Wolf signed paperback
3 x signed quote postcards
1 x signed bookmark

Terms: This is an international giveaway, but the author will not be liable for any country custom taxes that the winner may have to pay for receipt of the goods, nor shall the author be liable if the winner cannot receive the goods because of their country's legislations.

The paperbacks and swag will be posted out around the 3rd May, after the author has received the print copies of Cry Of The Wolf. An email will be sent to the winner on the day of postage to confirm that it has been sent.
Fill in the form to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author bio

Dianna Hardy is a multi-genre author of paranormal things, dark things, poetic things, sexy things, taboo things, and sometimes funny things. She writes about witches, demons and angels ... and now werewolves.

If you have to put her in the genre box, she writes about what you may consider to be "the paranormal", including paranormal romance, dark fantasy, urban fantasy, gothic poetry and occult books.

Although quite active online, Dianna is a self-confessed hermit, preferring the company of nature and animals to the hustle and bustle of people. She loves anything paranormal (she doesn't really consider it "para"), organic food, walking barefoot, the smell of the woods after rain, and summer days.

However, she is also sustained by coffee, chocolate and the occasional vodka.

She lives in the UK with her partner and their daughter, where she devotes her time to parenting, publishing and writing.

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Showcase Sunday (41)

'Showcase Sunday' is hosted by Vicky over at Books, biscuits and tea.

8th - 14th April '13

Hey guys, hope you've all had a good week and enjoyed the Easter holidays. My kids are back to school tomorrow which I think we're all happy about lol. I like having them home but they get bored and the bad weather makes going out difficult, plus we've had chicken pox in our house!

Anyway, on to the books!

I received three books this week, all for review. Angelfall by Susan EE was a random one, I hadn't even realised it was being officially published until this pretty paperback came through my letterbox, I've had the self pubbed version on my Kindle for more than a year so its probably time I got around to reading the book, I've heard great things about it.

I requested Girl in the clockwork collar by Kady Cross because I already have books one and three so now I have the set and will read and review them together.

And lastly, Lost worlds by Andrew Lane, I think I asked to be on the list for this one at the start of the year but honestly can't remember but it sounds great and I'm looking forward to it.

eBooks

I purchased Waiting for the storm by Marie Landry this week cus she's a great author and a lovely lady :)

What did you get this week?

Nail your books (11)

'Nail your books is a feature started by Cristina at The princess of storyland, where we share our book inspired manicures.

This weeks manicure is based on the cover of my current read, Lies by Michael Grant.

I painted my nails with 'Sky high' by Rimmel and the rest I did using Barry M's new nail art pens in black and silver, they're really easy to use and I love the results, my little man isn't perfect but still cool. I like to think I did the cover justice, but what do you think?

UK vs THE WORLD (64)

UK vs. The world is a weekly meme I made up lol.

It's simlair to UK vs. US except the UK covers are battling it out with their foreign counterparts from all over the world, because who doesn't love judging books by their covers!

UK                       vs                    Turkey

The madman's daughter by Megan Shepherd

The Madman's daughter book one.

('Kaçığın Kızı' translates to 'Freak girl.' - According to Google translate.)

Mist: I like both of these covers, but I don't love either of them. For the Turkish cover I like the crazy eye thing it's got going on, it matches the fact that the story is about the daughter of a crazy man but I don't like the colours. And for the UK cover, I like the background and the tagline but I don't really like the heart. If choosing which to put on my shelf I would likely go for the UK cover so I'd say that's my winner this week.

Ninfa: I really, really like the UK cover. It has a classic feeling, and at first sight it looks lovely, but once you make out the heart picture in the oval it gets a whole creepy addition that really makes this cover. I like the tag line too
The Turkish cover is a little messy for me. I really dislike the yellow tinges around the edges and on top, and the expression of the part of the face we can see is more surprised than mad. Not really sure what they were doing with this one, but it's not for me.
UK wins, all the way.

Which do you prefer?

With all my soul - Quickie review

With all my soul by Rachel Vincent

Soul screamers book seven

Available now

www.miraink.co.uk 

What's it about?

After spending the last year undead, Kaylee Cavanaugh has had enough of the paranormal creatures who have plagued her ever since she came into her banshee powers. Now she's ready to take her school back from the evil hellions, once and forever.

To protect her friends, Kaylee will need to find a way to turn the living incarnations of Avarice, Envy and Vanity against one another.

Yet when one more person close to her is taken, Kaylee realises she can't save everyone she loves without making some powerful sacrifices...

Previous titles in the series
My soul to lose - Book 0.5
My soul to take - Book one
My soul to save - Book two
My soul to keep - book three
Reaper - Book 3.5
My soul to steal - Book four
If I die - Book five
Never to sleep - Book 5.5
Before I wake - Book six
My review

With this being the seventh and final book in a series, as you can imagine I was anxious to get to it and actually started the book within seconds of it being in my hands!

I enjoyed it a lot and think Rachel Vincent came up with a great ending to her series, everything was wrapped up nicely by the end and all my questions answered.
I liked the outcomes for each character and thought they were well fitted. Kaylee has always been admirable character, always willing to give everything she has and she's no different in this one and Tod is as swoon worthy as always. It was also good to see Nash dealing with his demons and making slow steps to move on with his life and I felt so bad for Em and the struggles she has to face after the events at the end of Before I wake.
I'd rather not say too much as I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but I can confidently say that if you enjoyed the previous books, then you'll like this one too. I think If I die is still my favourite of them all but the whole series is brilliant and I loved each and every instalment, I'm actually a little sad to see the series end but I always enjoy all of Vincent's books, so I'm looking forward to whatever she writes next and jumping into the new world she'll create because they're always brilliant.

My thoughts on the cover
Possibly my favourite one of the lot! I love the smudged mascara that gives her a dishevelled appearance and that Tod is on the cover! Even though his  hair is the wrong colour lol unless its supposed to be someone else. And I love the bright pink lipstick she's rocking.

Favourite quotes

'"Okay, I always try to be careful." But the truth was that "careful" doesn't always get the job done. If you're not willing to risk everything you have and everything you are for those you love, what's the point in living?'

'"With everything I have and everything I am. With all my soul."
I lost control of a sob. Just one, and Tod kissed the tears from my cheeks.'

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Guest post: Megan Shepherd

How I became a Bookaholic.

By Megan Shepherd

I have always been a reader. Growing up in my family’s bookstore, I was surrounded by books from the time before I could walk. Books were like bricks to us—we built our lives on them. And though I was always an avid reader, I never truly crossed into Bookaholic territory until I went to one place that had almost no books.

After university, I joined the US Peace Corps and was sent to a tiny village in Senegal for two years to work with school children. The village had no electricity or indoor plumbing, and involved a hike through the desert to get there. Needless to say, there were no bookstores or libraries. So every time I went to my region’s capital town I would visit the Peace Corps office and stock up on books from our unofficial library. I’d forgo useful things like canned goods or batteries so I could fit more books in my backpack.

Temperatures in Senegal were regularly over 100 F, which meant that for the hottest part of the day, my village farmers would pack up their tools and sit under a mango tree for five or six hours until it was cool enough to work again. I adopted the same schedule, and used that time to read. I averaged two or three books a week, often hefty volumes and classics. I was fascinated by living in this tiny remote village and reading about all different places and times. I was hooked.

When I came back to the US, my addiction for books didn’t go away. I kept wanting to read a book every few days, and found myself in bookstores during lunch breaks and weekends, greedily looking over the titles, buying more than I should have but unable to quit. Now, years later, every room in my house is packed with books. I don’t feel guilty buying books anymore, because I know it’s supporting fellow authors. I’m just running out of shelf space!

The madman's daughter

London, 1894. Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself-working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all, no one ever proved the rumours about her father′s gruesome experiments. But when she learns her father is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations were true.

Juliet is accompanied by the doctor′s handsome young assistant and an enigmatic castaway, who both attract Juliet for very different reasons. They travel to the island only to discover the depths of her father′s madness: he has created animals that have been vivisected to resemble, speak, and behave as humans. Worse, one of the creatures has turned violent and is killing the island′s inhabitants. Juliet knows she must end her father′s dangerous experiments and escape the island, even though her horror is mixed with her own scientific curiosity. As the island falls into chaos, she discovers the extent of her father′s genius-and madness-in her own blood.

About the author
Megan Shepherd was "born" into the book world, growing up in her parents' independent bookstore in Western North Carolina. When Megan is not writing, she can usually be found horseback riding, day dreaming at coffee shops, or hiking in the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains. She is represented by Josh Adams at Adams Literary.

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Showcase Sunday (40)

'Showcase Sunday' is hosted by Vicky at Books, biscuits and tea.

1st - 7th April 2013

First off I just want to apologise for the lack of posts this week! I've just been busy and not finishing any books to write reviews for and I've had nothing else to put up :( I'll try to pick things up this coming week.

I also had a slow week for books and only received one.

It was Lost worlds by Andrew Lane, to be honest I don't really remember asking for this for review but I guess I must have lol since it doesn sound like something I'd be interested in checking out. It comes out on the 25th of this month but I doubt I'll get to it before then but as soon as I can!

What books did you get this week?

UK vs THE WORLD (63)

UK vs. The world is a weekly meme I made up lol.

It's simlair to UK vs. US except the UK covers are battling it out with their foreign counterparts from all over the world, because who doesn't love judging books by their covers!

UK                         vs                  Australia

Skin deep by Laura Jarratt

Mist: Both of these covers are pretty in their own ways but I think if I have to pick a favourite, I'd maybe go for the Aussie cover because the butterflies and the light reflection are really nice. The UK cover is nice but when you take a good look there isn't much to it and there are a million other covers like it, though I do like the title font and the tagline. The Aus cover just has a bit more mystery to it.

Ninfa: Although the images are very different, there's a fresh, young feeling about both these covers. I like the UK cover's tag, and the font of the title is adorable. But the Aussie cover does it for me, there's a sweetness and an innocence about it that really capture that age of first love, and that special transition. Australia wins this one for me :)

Which do you prefer?