Try it Tuesday (12)

'Try it Tuesday' is a weekly meme hosted here at Bookaholics where each week me and Ninfa take turns to recommend a book we think you should try and why.

This week’s pick is

Stray by Rachel Vincent
Werecats book one.

I look like an all-American grad student. But I am a werecat, a shape-shifter, and I live in two worlds.
Despite reservations from my family and my Pride, I escaped the pressure to continue my species and carved out a normal life for myself. Until the night a Stray attacked.
I'd been warned about Strays--werecats without a Pride--constantly on the lookout for someone like me: attractive, female and fertile. I fought him off, but then learned two of my fellow tabbies had disappeared.
This brush with danger was all my Pride needed to summon me back...for my own protection. Yeah, right. But I'm no meek kitty. I'll take on whatever--and whoever--I have to in order to find my friends. Watch out, Strays--'cause I got claws, and I'm not afraid to use them..

Why I’m choosing this book
To be honest, when I got this book I thought it sounded a bit cheesy but I was plesantly surprised when I read it, and the rest of the series right after. It's a great urban fantasy with great characters and exciting storylines. Urban fantasy is always a hit or miss genre with me but I loved this onethe werecats was different to werewolves so it had it's own unique spin.

Five reasons I love this book
1. It has a kick ass lead character.
2. It also has kick ass hot guys!
3. A gripping storyline that flowed well throughout the six books.
4. Imaginative ideas.
5. Great writing that really captures what's happening.

Who I think will love this book
Any fans of urban fantasy should love this and people who like Rachels YA series and are looking for something a little more adult. Try it if you like Richelle Mead, Ilona Andrews or Kelley Armstrong.

I hope this inspires you to pick up the book, and if you do

Let me know what you think!

Try it Tuesday (11)

'Try it Tuesday' is a weekly meme hosted here at Bookaholics where each week me and Ninfa take turns to recommend a book we think you should try and why.

This week’s pick is

Confessions of an ugly stepsister by Gregory Maguire
We have all heard the story of Cinderella, the beautiful child cast out to slave among the ashes. But what of her stepsisters, the homely pair exiled into ignominy by the fame of their lovely sibling? What fate befell those untouched by beauty ... and what curses accompanied Cinderella's looks?

Set against the backdrop of seventeenth-century Holland, Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister tells the story of Iris, an unlikely heroine who finds herself swept from the lowly streets of Haarlem to a strange world of wealth, artifice, and ambition. Iris's path quickly becomes intertwined with that of Clara, the mysterious and unnaturally beautiful girl destined to become her sister. While Clara retreats to the cinders of the family hearth, Iris seeks out the shadowy secrets of her new household -- and the treacherous truth of her former life.

Why I’m choosing this book

Fairy Tales re-tellings are quite popular at the moment. This is a version of the Cinderella story, but from the point of view of one of her stepsisters and it's beautifully told and very melancholic. I really enjoyed it.

Five reasons I love this book

1. Iris is a wonderful character, sweet, deep and with a lovely story to tell.
2. The story is set in Seventeenth Century Holland, and it has some very interesting historical references.
3. Clara (Cinderella) is not the usual innocent, darling girl, she has a different depth and it was a nice change to see her in this more adult form.
4. A very good historical take on the fairy tale, with characters you will either love or hate.
5. It's nice to see the story from a different point of view, you really feel for Clara's acquired family and although the story has moslty sad undertones, in the end it is actually a very uplifting tale.

Who I think will love this book
Historical Fiction lovers should enjoy this lovely book, but also readers that like a touch of dark, almost Gothic feel to their stories.

I hope this inspires you to pick up the book, and if you do

Let me know what you think!

Try it Tuesday (10)

'Try it Tuesday' is a weekly meme hosted here at Bookaholics where each week me and Ninfa take turns to recommend a book we think you should try and why.

This week’s pick is

Dark time by Dakota Banks
Growing up in a 19th-century funeral home might have set the tone for Dakota Banks's life. In her debut fiction, she proves the point by conjuring up an infernal tale about a burned-at-the-stake witch who refuses to let bygones be bygones. Two hundred years of savage carnage later, the demonically inclined Susannah Layton, now known as Maliha, decides that she wants to retire, but unless she can perform some good deeds quickly, she will be consigned to the very hottest parts of hell.

Why I’m choosing this book

Because it's fantastic! Lots of action, mythology, sexy characters and a lot of fun!

Five reasons I love this book

1. Maliha's back story is heartbreaking and I love it.
2. Jake Stackman...one word for you: YUM!
3. The relationships described in the book are so real, it makes the story incredibly involved for the reader.
4. There's a lot of action and some incredible twists in the plot that keep it fast, furious and delightfully fresh.
5. The mythology of the story is just breathtaking: Demons, Ageless Assassins, Gods...it's such a wonderful new world to explore and it definitely drew me in from page 1!

Who I think will love this book
Urban Fantasy lovers will really enjoy this, and anyone that likes a fast, eventful plot with high tech gadgets, a strong heroine and a group of fantastic characters to get to know, in this first installment of "The Mortal Path series"

I hope this inspires you to pick up the book, and if you do

Let me know what you think!

Try it Tuesday (9)

'Try it Tuesday' is a weekly meme hosted here at Bookaholics where each week me and Ninfa take turns to recommend a book we think you should try and why.

This week’s pick is

The lightening thief by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson and The Olypians book one.

Percy Jackson just discovered he is the half-mortal son of Poseidon, and he's wanted dead. Fighting to discover his true purpose in life, and to stay alive, Percy meets many obstacles, but also gains some friends. It all ends in a one-on-one match with Hades, god of the Underworld. Will Percy live to tell about it?

Why I’m choosing this book
As much as I love Harry Potter, after the fifth time reading it I wanted to find a similar series to get stuck into, so with the movie about to be released at the time I decided to try Percy Jackson and optimistically bought all five books in the series. I was so glad that I did because I really enjoyed them and the read the series back to back. The only way it's like Harry Potter is that it's aimed at the same age group and it follows a young boy.
It sparked a love of mythology in me that had me hitting the library for books about Greek mythology and eating up all the wonderful stories which eventually led me to reading The Odysey by Homer which I loved! I'm yet to read The Iliad but I will.

Five reasons I love this book
1. The use and wealth of Greek mythology is all woven together brilliantly.
2. Great humour that can keep adults giggling as well as younger readers.
3. Wonderful characters including a strong lead that young boys can look up to.
4. A wonderful, imaginative world.
5. It's full of action from start to finish.

Who I think will love this book
Definitely one for fans of Harry Potter and, though I haven't read them, I think fans of the Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz and H.I.V.E by Mark Walden would enjoy it. Though it's aimed at young boys I think people of all ages and genders would like it, and the rest of the series of course :p

I hope this inspires you to pick up the book, and if you do

Let me know what you think!

Try it Tuesday (8)

'Try it Tuesday' is a weekly meme hosted here at Bookaholics where each week me and Ninfa take turns to recommend a book we think you should try and why.

This weeks pick is

The wiching pen by Dianna Hardy

The Witching pen novellas book one.

It's hard being the most powerful witch on the planet. It's even harder when you're a twenty-five year old virgin who'll lose all of that power the moment you sleep with someone ... that's why Elena's never slept with her best friend and flatmate, Karl, despite the true feelings they harbour for each other.

Elena's about to discover that there are even more difficult things in life to deal with. One of them comes in the form of a pen she discovers one day, a pen that allows anything she writes to come to pass...

Suddenly, it's not just her powers or her heart that's at stake, but her very soul, as a dream demon with a seductive pull uses the pen to try and turn her away from her reality, and from Karl.

But the pen is just the beginning. Everything Elena has believed in is a lie, and her world is about to fall apart..

Why I’m choosing this book

The Witching Pen is a fabulous mix of Urban Fantasy, Romance and Paranormal. It has all the elements of a great story and a fabulously intricate plot, that is easy to follow but still intriguing and full of surprising twists and turn :)

Five reasons I love this book
1. It's fun, sassy and quirky.
2. Elena is a great narrator and she is so sweet. I loved discovering her secrets and getting to know the people around her, from her best friend Karl, to the fun and misterious Amy, to the reserved Mary.
3. A fabulous Demon mythology, new and refreshing, that had me hooked straight away from page one.
4. Although it is a Paranormal Fantasy story, the relationships and feelings are very real and it's easy to relate to the characters in the story, and their trials and tribulations.
5. Some hot scenes in there, which never disappoint ;)


Who I think will love this book
If you love a light, fun read with a wonderful plot, this is definitely for you. With parts more intense than others, this first book in a series of 3 (with the second one, "The Sands of Time", already out and available for purchase, and the third and final in the series, "The Demon Bride" out in August) will definitely appeal to all adult readers out there looking for a great paranormal story. I loved it, hope you do too.

I hope this inspires you to pick up the book, and if you do

Let me know what you think!

Try it Tuesday (7)

'Try it Tuesday' is a weekly meme hosted here at Bookaholics where each week me and Ninfa take turns to recommend a book we think you should try and why.

This weeks pick is

Glass houses by Rachel Caine

The Morganville Vampires book one.

It’s a small college town filled with quirky characters. But when the sun goes down, the bad comes out. Because in Morganville, there is an evil that lurks in the darkest shadows—one that will spill out into the bright light of day.
Claire Danvers has had enough of her nightmarish dorm situation. The popular girls never let her forget just where she ranks on the school’s social scene: somewhere less than zero. And Claire really doesn’t have the right connections—to the undead who run the town.

When Claire heads off campus, the imposing old house where she finds a room may not be much better. Hew new roommates don’t show many signs of life. But they’ll have Claire’s back when the town’s deepest secrets come crawling out, hungry for fresh blood...

Why I’m choosing this book

Well I'm actually recommending the whole series but since we're not far of the release of book twelve (!) I thought it best just to put the first one lol I was quite late to getting to this series, there were nine books out when I started reading them, but I read all nine books in just a couple of weeks because I enjoyed them so much, they're easy to read so most I got through in a day and even though there's so many books the author has managed to maintain consistent storylines whilst still introducing new things that keep the series fresh, I didn't find any one of them boring or like the series was starting to fizzle out, there are great characters, my favourite being Myrnin, a crazy old Vampire who is hilarious!

Five reasons I love this book
1. Each book always brings something new to the story.
2. Fun and interesting characters, each with their own story.
3. Great friendships between the four main characters.
4. A romance that kept me on the edge of my seat waiting for it to happen!
5. Fabulous writing in a great setting.

Who I think will love this book
Of course, Vampire fans will enjoy this, but also fans of fun YA books. Fans of Vampire academy looking for a slightly lighter read will enjoys these. And also try it if you liked The Goddess test by Aimee Carter, Forgive my fins by Tera Lynn Childs or Vampire beach by Alex Duval.

I hope this inspires you to pick up the book, and if you do

Let me know what you think!

Try it Tuesday (6)

'Try it Tuesday' is a weekly meme hosted here at Bookaholics where each week me and Ninfa take turns to recommend a book we think you should try and why.

This weeks pick is

Kushiel's dart by Jacqueline Carey. The land of Terre d'Ange is a place of unsurpassing beauty and grace. It is said that angels found the land and saw it was good...and the ensuing race that rose from the seed of angels and men live by one simple rule: Love as thou wilt.

Phèdre nó Delaunay is a young woman who was born with a scarlet mote in her left eye. Sold into indentured servitude as a child, her bond is purchased by Anafiel Delaunay, a nobleman with very a special mission...and the first one to recognize who and what she is: one pricked by Kushiel's Dart, chosen to forever experience pain and pleasure as one.

Phèdre is trained equally in the courtly arts and the talents of the bedchamber, but, above all, the ability to observe, remember, and analyze. Almost as talented a spy as she is courtesan, Phèdre stumbles upon a plot that threatens the very foundations of her homeland. Treachery sets her on her path; love and honor goad her further. And in the doing, it will take her to the edge of despair...and beyond. Hateful friend, loving enemy, beloved assassin; they can all wear the same glittering mask in this world, and Phèdre will get but one chance to save all that she holds dear.

Why I’m choosing this book

Because it's gorgeously written, full of romance, political intrigue, a wonderful mythology and a fresh and intriguing retelling of some of the world's history that left me breathless and wanting for more...thank goodness there are several in the series!

Five reasons I love this book
1. It's an intensely emotional story on many levels, Phedre's story is not always a happy story, but her emotions and growth as a character are so involving you can't help but wanting to know where it all leads her.
2. I love Historical re-tellings and Jaqueline Carey does a wonderful job in re-visiting Reinassaince Europe and old myths, legends and stories of the past.
3. This book has everything: love, sword fights and action, political intrigue, a wonderful plot, incredibly detailed characters and settings. You can easily get lost in it!
4. Joceleyn...oh Joceleyn♥
5. I love Phedre and if you like strong, emotional heroines with a hunger for survival then this is the story for you.

Who I think will love this book
Definitely one for the adults with some strong sexual content, I think fans of Historical Fantasy books, full of intrigue and adventures in foreign lands will love this book.
It's beautifully written and the first in a series of 3, though there are another 2 series set in the same world,one of them with some familiar characters in it :)

I hope this inspires you to pick up the book, and if you do

Let me know what you think!

Try it Tuesday (5)

'Try it Tuesday' is a weekly meme hosted here at Bookaholics where each week me and Ninfa take turns to recommend a book we think you should try and why.

This weeks pick is

Divergent by Veronica Roth
Divergent book one.

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves… or it might destroy her
 
Why I’m choosing this book
With the hype of the impending release of book two, Insurgent this last couple of weeks, I couldn't not recommend Divergent to you guys this week! I'm actually currently re-reading it right now and loving it as much as the first time. The first time I read it was about six months ago and I was hooked from the first pages because it's brilliant, it has great story and great characters. It is simply one of the best Dystopias I have read.
 
Five reasons I love this book
1. Tris is a really interesting character with a dark side, she won't let anyone bully her and can stand-up for herself.
2. Four! I've read plenty of books where I've fallen in love with the love interest right alongside the protag, but when the book is finished, I forget about them, not Four though, he still sticks with me now, he's honest and is never patronising to Tris, he's confident in her abilities and would never make her hide to protect her but would have her fighting by his side.
3. The whole book is gripping, I didn't feel bored at any moment.
4. The whole idea of the factions was great, I loved Tris' journey in her new faction and learning about her old one, seeing how different each faction is.
5. It's wonderfully written and described and so imaginative.

Who I think will love this book
Certainly fans of Dystopia should enjoy this but so should anyone who likes strong female leads and exciting plot twists! I know everything is being compared to it right now but I think fans of The hunger games should love it.

I hope this inspires you to pick up the book, and if you do

Let me know what you think!

Try it Tuesday (4)

'Try it Tuesday' is a weekly meme hosted here at Bookaholics where each week me and Ninfa take turns to recommend a book we think you should try and why.

If you'd like to join in, make a post of your own and put it in the linky :)

This weeks pick is:

Sword dancer by Jennifer Roberson
Tiger and Del book one

Tiger and Del--he a sword-dancer of the South, she of the North, each privy to a private kind of magic. Together they dared the dangers of the deadly Punja, the Southron desert, on a quest to rescue Del's brother, kidnapped by slavers long ago. Together they risked bloodthirsty beasts and wizard's spells on this mission from which only the bravest, most skillful, and lucky had even the remotest hope of returning alive....

Why I'm choosing this book
I've been in love with this series since the first time I read a short story with the two main characters. Del and Tiger's interaction is absolutely fantastic to read, and the whole "Sword Dancer" series is full of twists and turns, with an engaging over arching plot, but with each book representing a stand alone book that is enjoyable and captivating.

Five reasong I love this book

1. Female writer, male Point of View. It makes for a lot of fun!

2. Incredible story setting, beautifully written world

3. Characters with depth and emotion that you can sympathize with and grow to love very quickly. Tiger is possibly my favourite male character of all time

4. A story that has a defined beginning and a very satisfying end; there are 6 books in this series and they are fast and engaging reads. You read the first book, you'll be going back for more!

5. Magic, Swords, Vengeance, Betrayal, Love...these books have it all.

Who I think would love this book

Fantasy lovers with a passion for "Sword and Sorcery" stories.

Enjoy Bookaholics! x

 

I hope this inspires you to pick up the book, and if you do

Let me know what you think!

Try it Tuesday (3)

'Try it Tuesday' is a weekly meme hosted here at Bookaholics where each week me and Ninfa take turns to recommend a book we think you should try and why.

If you'd like to join in, make a post of your own and put it in the linky :)

This weeks pick is:

A need so beautiful by Suzanne Young
A need so beautiful book one.
We all want to be remembered. Charlotte's destiny is to be Forgotten...
Charlotte’s best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she’s cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what’s really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth, who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger.
But Charlotte never wanted this responsibility. What she wants is to help her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend's arms forever. But as the Need grows stronger, it begins to take a dangerous toll on Charlotte. And who she was, is, and will become--her mark on this earth, her very existence--is in jeopardy of disappearing completely.
Charlotte will be forced to choose: Should she embrace her fate as a Forgotten, a fate that promises to rip her from the lives of those she loves forever? Or is she willing to fight against her destiny--no matter how dark the consequences.

Why I'm choosing this book:

I'd seen this book around but was never bothered by it, I ended up getting it completely by chance when I was looking for a new audio book and the pickings were slim. Turns out I'm so glad I did! I loved it so much and ended up staying up until midnight cleaning my kitchen so I could listen to the end of it, I seriously need to get myself a hardback copy for a re-read!

Five reasons I love this book:

1. It's absolutely heartbreaking.

2. It's beautifully written, full of emotion.

3. It's not like something I've read before.

4. A strong female lead, who struggles with what she wants and what is the right thing to do.

5. I couldn't guess at what would happen in the end.

Who I think will love this book

I think fans of contemporary books will love this one, though I guess you could consider it paranormal, it has way more than that to it. People who like to be taken on an emotional ride and read beautiful books should eat it up. I don't read many books like this so I'm not sure what I'd compare it to, maybe because it's in a league of it's own.

I hope this encourages you to pick it up and if you do,

Let me know what you think!



Try it Tuesday (2)

'Try it Tuesday' is our brand new feature cooked up by yours truely.

Each week myself and Ninfa will alternate turns and recommend a book we think you should try and why we think you should.

This weeks pick is:

"A chalice of wind" by Cate Tiernan

Book one in the "Balefire" series.

After seventeen-year-old Thais Allard loses her widowed father in a tragic car accident, she is forced to leave the only home she's ever known to live with a total stranger in New Orleans. New Orleans greets Thais with many secrets and mysteries, but none as unbelievable as the moment she comes face to face with the impossible -- an identical twin, Clio. Thais soon learns that she and the twin she never knew come from a family of witches, that she possesses astonishing powers, and that she, along with Clio, has a key role in Balefire, the coven she was born into. Fiery Clio is less than thrilled to have to share the spotlight, but the twins must learn to combine their powers in order to complete a rite that will transform their lives and the coven forever.

Why I'm recommending this book:

Cate Tiernan is mostly famous for her "Sweep/Wicca" series and more recently for her "Immortal Beloved" series. The "Balefire" series is not as well known and yet is one of my favourites. It's full of magic, intrigue, romance and it has a dark edge that makes it different from other Young Adult books I've read.
I love books about Witches and "A chalice of Wind" is a great example of how to keep supernatural characters fresh and original.

Five reasons why I love it:
1)It has a great plot that stretches across 4 books that are really easy and quick to read.
2) It's fun in places but has a dark edge that keeps the story fresh and interesting.
3)It's a book about magic, discovery and personal relationships. The two leads, Clio and Thais are your typical teenagers but there's so much more about them that you discover throughout the 4 books.
4) It has some really interesting characters and some twists and turns in the plot that will surprise you!
5) It's about Witches and let's face it, there're never enough books about Witches in ones bookshelves ;)

Who I think would love this book:
I'd recommend it to both young and older readers who like stories about Witches. Also anyone that loves Young Adult Fantasy books, especially people that like Cate Tiernan's "Sweep/Wicca" series, "The House of Night" series by PC and Kirsten Cast, the "Darke Academy" series by Gabriella Poole and others in the same genre.

I hope this encourages you to pick up the book and give it a try and when you do

Come and let me know what you think!

Try it Tuesday (1)

'Try it Tuesday' is our brand new feature cooked up by yours truely.

Each week myself and Ninfa will alternate turns and recommend a book we think you should try and why we think you should.

This weeks pick is:

The maze runner by James Dashner
The maze runner book one.

When the doors of the lift crank open, the only thing Thomas remembers is his first name. But he's not alone. He's surrounded by boys who welcome him to the Glade - a walled encampment at the centre of a bizarre and terrible stone maze. Like Thomas, the Gladers don't know why or how they came to be there - or what's happened to the world outside. All they know is that every morning when the walls slide back, they will risk everything - even the Grievers, half-machine, half-animal horror that patrols its corridors, to find out.

Why I'm choosing this book.
The Maze runner trilogy is one of my all time favourite series' out there. I'd never even heard of it until someone picked it to be our book of the month in November '10, but I picked it up to join in and I'm so glad I did, it's a really clever, imaginative series with great characters and I love the slang they make up, it gives the books an individuality and makes them so memorable.

Five reasons I love this book.
1. The storyline is like nothing I have seen before.
2. A lead character (Thomas) young boys can look up to.
3. It's full of nail biting suspense.
4. It's unpredictable.
5. It left me desperate to get my hands on the following books!

Who I think would love this book.
Fans of dystopia should love this book especially if you enjoyed Inside out by Maria V. Snyder or Gone by Michael Grant. It's definitely a must for young boys but older people can enjoy it to, I'm proof of that lol It also has a lot of mystery and gritty suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat.

I hope this encourages you to pick up the book and give it a try and when you do

Come and let me know what you think!