Follow Friday is an opportunity to discover and follow other book related blogs! Want to join? Check it out at Parajunkee.
This week's question feature is Deneé @ Novel Reveries
Friday, 30 November 2012
FF (98)
Follow Friday is an opportunity to discover and follow other book related blogs! Want to join? Check it out at Parajunkee.
This week's question feature is Deneé @ Novel Reveries
Cover Reveal - Fanged Princess
I will not let my brother suffer the same loss…
Hadassah’s father, the Vampire King, punished her for her choice to love a human. Now her brother, the only person in the world who still matters to her, has fallen for a human girl. Determined to keep the girl safe, the three of them flee from their home in New England and find themselves cornered with their father’s minions closing in. If they want to escape, their only hope may be to join forces with the mortal enemies of their kind…
Be ensnared in this dark tale of enduring love, loyalty, and revenge from teenage author, Elisabeth Wheatley.
Goodreads Author Page: http://www.goodreads.com/
Twitter Page: https://twitter.com/#!/
Fanged Princess Goodreads Page: http://www.goodreads.com/book/
Monday, 26 November 2012
Book Tour & Review - A Part To Play
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Title: A Part To
Play
Author:
Jennifer L. Fry
Genre: YA
Contemporary Romance
Pages:
261
Book Blurb:
When fifteen-year-old actress Lucy Carter loses
her older sister in a car accident, her mother shuts down and her father can’t
hold the family together. Their only choice is to ship Lucy off to the Edmond
School for Performing Arts. But boarding school is no cure for Lucy’s grief.
With failing grades, wooden stage performances, and curfew violations, Lucy is
threatened with expulsion. For the once talented Lucy, it feels as though she
has nowhere to turn.
One night, Lucy hears mysterious music drifting
through the school’s old heating system. The music leads her to a troubled but
passionate songwriter whose brilliance gives her the strength to perform like
never before. Yet their intense relationship puts Lucy in a precarious
position: if she follows her muse, will she lose herself? And if she breaks it
off, can she stand on her own again?
About
Jennifer L. Fry:
Jennifer
L. Fry is a writer, artist, and teacher in Marin County, California, where she
lives with her wonderful husband, two adorable dogs, and orange tabby cat.
Though she has been writing since she was young, A Part to Play is her first
novel.
Author Links:
Author website: http://www.jenniferlfry.com/home/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/frygurl
YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/component/content/article/28-young-adult-indie/13056-a-part-to-play
My ReviewI was invited to take part in this blog tour and the book sounded interesting so I decided to give it a go. At just 261 pages I knew it would be quite a quick read which is just what I need at the moment as I am finding that I don't have much time to read right now.
Lucy has been shipped off to boarding school, her sister died in a car accident and her family has fallen apart, she feels unwanted and unloved, being seperated at a Boarding School is the last thing she needs.
I quite liked Lucy as a character from the start, you can real feel her pain and loneliness and you kind of want to root for her, however through out the book I did find myself becoming annoyed with her.
Her best friend at the school, Isa is really cool, she's feisty and willing to stick up for her friends, I actually felt for her a lot, Lucy bails on her quite a lot and keeps secrets from her but Isa never backs away, she remains a good friend and really works hard to make the friendship last. It's rare to find people like that and I liked her, but that is part of the reason why Lucy annoyed me, she takes what she has for granted.
I know she is lost in her grief for her sister but she doesn't tell anyone about it, not even her new best friend. She would cry and break down in front of her but not confide in her. It just made the relationship feel very one sided.
As for the mysterious boy, he starts as a real Prince Charming and you do feel your heart race a little, but without giving much away, he really turns into an ass. I was desperate for Lucy to walk away but she wouldn't. Even her best friend tries to dissuade her.
But I suppose that's the way of life, people fall hard and can't see a different way. So that was actually very well written.
I mostly enjoyed the book and found it to be a sweet little read with a mix of self-discovery, friendship, romance and a real sort of coming of age story.
The only thing that I found un-realistic is the fact that Lucy goes to drama class and her teacher hands out improv scenes, Lucy gets given the part of an ambulance driver attending a car crash which of course freaks her out with memories of her sister, but no one knows why she is so upset. Having parents work in schools my whole life I know that if someone has suffered with something -all the teachers are informed of it. Of course they don't spread it round or even let on they know, but they of course are sensitive to it and therefore the teacher would have known the issue and never given her that part.
Of course this would have changed the whole dynamic of the book because someone would have known her secret and she tries hard not to let anyone know. But that's just the way it happens.
Anyway apart from that one bit I did enjoy the book and it's worth a read.
My Rating
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Sunday, 25 November 2012
Book Review - Sweetness
Author: Lindsay Paige
Series: Bold as Love (book 1)
Publisher: CreateSpace
Release Date: 15 Oct 2011
ASIN: B005VT40WO
ISBN13: 9781466438781
Synopsis
Emily wished she was invisible. But after moving to a new town with her dad, a charming boy makes it impossible for her to disappear. Despite her feelings of unworthiness, Emily soon finds herself drawn to the safety of Jake's world.
Good looking and the star of the hockey team, Jake has a lot going for him. What most people don't see is the difficult life he has at home. When quiet Emily steals his heart, Jake vows to help her discover she is worthy of love.
Just when the two of them realize the sweetness of their relationship, they are put to the test. Only together can they overcome their haunted pasts to fight for a future together.
My Review
I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I have to confess I've had this for ages, I didn't realise just how long this has been on my pile, I knew I was behind with reviews but let me just apologize to the author, I'm so sorry it took so long. This was next on my list and I opened it tonight to remind myself of what it was (sat so long I couldn't remember) And noticed it was only 105 pages which is very short for me so I started to read and had finished it within an hour.
Although this book is so short it covers a lot of quite heavy issues -but does it in a way that doesn't make you uncomfortable which is always good. This book tackles abuse -physical and verbal, rape, and alcoholism. So all very serious subjects.
Emily want to just disappear, if no one can see her, no one can hate her or hurt her anymore, she spends her days with her ipod on and her eyes down. Disappearing into the background. Until she is paired with Jake, star of the hockey team, for a school project. The pair hit it off and Jake is determined to make Emily embrace life again.
This story is bitter-sweet and strikes a chord with you, it makes you really feel for the character and root for their happiness. It's the first in a trilogy and makes you want to read more. I will be looking out for book 2 as soon as possible. It's fast paced and makes you just speed through it. Once you start you won't be able to stop as something is always happening or moving the story forward.
Obviously due to some of the issues dealt with, this book may not be suitable for younger readers.
My favourite character is Drake, Jakes' little brother, he's a little spark of light and laughter throughout. Cheeky and hyper with a great sense of humour, he really lightens the tone making this book feel fresh and easier to read.
This book is a sweet little story and perfect for a lazy day read. It may not be perfect literary material but it's definitely worth a read.
My Rating
Guest Post Nya Jade
Hello! Thanks so much for hosting me here today! In honor of my book's title, Phoebe Pope and the Year of Four, I thought it would be fun to share four random facts about the story.
Fact 1:
The
story takes place in a setting that's loosely based on my New England
boarding school. I loved my high school campus! And I remember feeling
that it had an element of mystery to it. That it held ancient secrets. I
tapped into that feeling as I wrote about a supernatural school hidden
beneath the grounds of a regular school. . . .
Fact 2:
I
thought it would be entertaining to make my husband a character in the
book - at least use his name. When I asked him what kind of character he
wanted to be, he thought long and hard about it. He really took the
"casting" opportunity seriously. After a day or so of thinking, he
announced that he wanted to be the guy the other characters feared. The
funny thing is that his name is Al. And the name Al does not make anyone
tremble with fear. I added a few more letters to Al and came up with
Alexori. I'm happy to say that Al/Alexori is quite pleased with his
character.
Fact 3:
Phoebe Pope and the Year of Four
comes with music! How? Well, I'm a singer-songwriter and I wanted to
incorporate music with my book. When you get to the end of the story
you'll find a link to where you can download a FREE copy of my soul/pop
album, The Road to Adam. It's my small way of saying thank you to all readers!
Fact 4:
One
of my main characters, Colten Chase, has his own website! He's a
gorgeous movie star so it makes sense for him to have one! Check him out
at www.coltenchase.com.
Synopsis for Phoebe Pope and the Year of Four
The
students of Green Lane Academy roam their halls unaware that below
their manicured campus exists a prestigious school of an entirely
different kind . . .
Sixteen-year-old
Phoebe Pope has enrolled at the Campus Below: a spy academy for
shape-shifters hidden deep beneath the grounds of a boarding school
whose humans unknowingly protect it. There, thanks to a carefully
planned schedule, she leads a double life: spy trainee Below and normal
teenager Above.
As
if two course loads, concealing a secret power she alone wields, and
coping with her father’s recent death weren’t enough, Phoebe finds
herself developing major feelings for actor and teen heartthrob Colten
Chase, who attends the Campus Above and appears to be majoring in
winning Phoebe’s heart. But when officials learn that Phoebe may be at
the center of a startling prophecy, she becomes the target of
shape-shifting assassins who will stop at nothing to suppress the truth.
Now
Phoebe’s lessons about Shaper’s enemies and spycraft take on great
importance as a menace stalks the campus, with Phoebe as its target.
Meanwhile, what began as an unlikely relationship with Colten, quickly
morphs into heartache when she suspects that something sinister lurks
beneath this movie star’s glitter and fame. Suddenly, Phoebe’s caught in
a mesh of lies, betrayals, and danger where she doesn’t know who to
trust, and needs to rely on herself—and her secret power—to get to the
truth and to stay alive.
Nya Jade's Bio
Nya
Jade is a singer-songwriter and author based in San Francisco. Her
music videos have aired on the VH1, BET, and MTV networks. USA Today
hailed Nya as a “young female troubadour worth keeping your eyes and
ears on,” in an entertainment feature on up-and-coming
singer-songwriters. “Her cool singing voice recalls Sade,” said the LA
Times.
Between
writing and performing new music, Nya took a musical sabbatical to
focus on writing a novel—an endeavor she found quite daunting, until she
began looking at each chapter as a verse in a very long song. Phoebe
Pope and the Year of Four is her first novel.
In
her free time, Nya enjoys hanging out with family and friends,
searching for amazing gluten-free desserts, and bargain hunting for her
next pair of funky shoes.
Nya holds a B.A. in Economics and an M.A. in Sociology, both from Stanford University.
To learn more about Nya Jade please visit:
Web - www.nyajade.com
Facebook - www.facebook.com/
Twitter - @TheNyaJade
Friday, 23 November 2012
FF (97)
Follow Friday is an opportunity to discover and follow other book related blogs! Want to join? Check it out at Parajunkee.
This week's question feature is Julie @ My 5 Monkeys
Q: Are you thankful for a fellow blogger? Tell us about him or her.
My Answer: I am thankful for so many bloggers. This is a great community and you all make each other feel very welcome and I know I can ask for help if I ever need to or share gossip and of course book talk. Blogs that spring to mind though are 'Alison Can Read' and 'Annettes Book Spot'. I have had lovely conversations with both these bloggers and I regularly comment and visit. They have awesome blogs and I am glad to know them.
Happy Hopping & Blogging. :D
Don't forget to enter for your chance to win an e-book of 'Forever Me'
Thursday, 22 November 2012
Book Promo & Giveaway - Forever Me
Hannah Richards isn't your typical 16 year-old at Wichita Falls High. Fashions, trends, cosmetics and style are unimportant to her. An avid reader, guitar player, classic movie and television buff, Hannah marches to the beat of her own drum. Visible only to her Father the town Sheriff, and her two best friends. Hannah lives a simple, un-pampered life as an "Eastie."
After coming to the aide of Taylor Monroe, a popular member of the ultra snobby "Stilettos" at school, Hannah's life beings spiraling out of control. As she starts spending more time with Taylor, her best friends abandon her, following a series of misunderstandings, causing Hannah to re-invent herself.
Hannah quickly gets caught up in a life much different than the one she knows, where status, glamour, makeup, appearance and acceptance become her masters. And what of the dark secret that haunts the streets of Wichita Falls?
Can Hannah survive the lies, deceit, jealousy and rage that are now waiting for her behind every corner? Will she succumb to the pressures of popularity? Or will she be crushed under the heels of the "Stilettos"?
~High school is hard enough just being yourself, let alone trying to be someone you're not~
Connect with Thomas Amo online.
Giveaway!!!
Thomas Amo is generously offering one winner a copy of his book on either Nook or Kindle. If you would like to be in the chance of winning the book just join the linky list below.
Here are the rules:
1) Competition opens 22nd November 2012
2) Competition closes on 29th November Midnight GMT
3) Enter your Name, E-mail and Blog Link in the Linky List Below (email will be hidden, if you don't have a blog just enter your Facebook or Twitter page)
1) Competition opens 22nd November 2012
2) Competition closes on 29th November Midnight GMT
3) Enter your Name, E-mail and Blog Link in the Linky List Below (email will be hidden, if you don't have a blog just enter your Facebook or Twitter page)
4) You Must be a Follower to enter!
5) One Name will be selected at random from the list.
6) Contest open Internationally
7) Winners will be contacted by e-mail8) Winners will have 3 days to reply or another winner will be selected.
You MUST fill in the Linky form to be in with a chance to enter. Do NOT put your details in the comments section.
I don't have time to go through all the comments or add you on the list myself.
All you need to do is put your name/blog name in the box that says 'Contest Entry', a link to your blog/facebook in the box that says 'Link' and then your email address in the box that says 'Email'
Tuesday, 20 November 2012
Book Release Day Blast! & Review - Timeless
So today (November 20th) marks the release of the next and final part in the 'Transcend Time' saga by Michelle Madow.
I have loved this series since I first got my hands on 'Remembrance' (book 1) and am thrilled to be a part of introducing you to the next installment.
You can read my reviews of 'Remembrance' and 'Vengeance' by clicking on the titles.
Now, I had the privilege of receiving an e-arc of 'Timeless' to read and review for you. First I will give you the synopsis:
In Remembrance, Lizzie and Drew changed the course of fate so they could be together.
In Vengeance, Chelsea set fate back on its original, deadly path.
Now, strange things keep happening to Lizzie. Things that are omens of darkness to come. A curse has doomed her to die an early death, just as she did in her past life. To make things worse, even if she can figure out who cast the curse, it's irreversible. There's only one option left for her to save herself. It's crazier than anything she's heard yet, and to do it, she'll need Drew and Chelsea's help.
Because to make things right, they must go back to when it all began
My Review
Over the course of the series we have seen Lizzie really grow as a character, in the first book she is quite nervous and quiet being pushed around by her then boyfriend Jeremy, but she has found her voice and confidence, possibly with the help of Drew but has evolved into this goal driven, feisty girl who will fight for what she wants and when it comes down to it her very existance.
Drew irritated me a little bit in the first book, he seemed a bit arrogant and at times slightly obnoxious but as the series has gone on he has handled himself well and learnt to show who he is better, he also stands beside Lizzie and helps her more which was really nice to see. This book had potential to be an 'insta-love' situation but I'm glad that Michelle avoided this, although they have the link from their previous life together they have to work at their relationship and build it up together.
Chelsea really is one of the worst best friends ever up to a point, she doesn't trust her friend and turns on her when things get complicated, but she tries to make things right and I commend her for holding her hands up and admitting that she was wrong - it takes cuts to do that.
This book carries on from book 2 perfectly and is full of plot twists, excitement and pure awesomeness. I loved how Michelle introduced the whole magic theme in this one, it can be hard to do but it was approached just right and not overdone. There is also a bit of a mystery plot in this book which kept me hooked and trying to figure out what was happening, my guess at who was responsible was correct but I did doubt myself a few times as Michelle threw more twists and turns in!
This book also features a time travel plot, now you may have seen me mention before that time travel in books tend to irritate and confuse me unless they are done perfectly. It has to make sense both before, during and after, there can be no plot holes or confusing loops or cross overs etc otherwise I just get a headache trying to figure it out. I am pleased to say that this was one of the few time travel books i have read that didn't confuse me. Michelle handled the whole situation perfectly and made it exciting and enjoyable. I actually found myself looking forward to reading and in fact finished the whole book in just one day. I couldn't put it down.
This series is definitely a worthy rival of some modern fairy-tales, it has that essence of magic and spark to it that captivate you, and the whole thing just leaves you feeling good. The ending is just beautiful and I felt my heart beat faster as i read it.
An absolutely breath-taking series. One worth picking up!
My Rating
I have loved this series since I first got my hands on 'Remembrance' (book 1) and am thrilled to be a part of introducing you to the next installment.
You can read my reviews of 'Remembrance' and 'Vengeance' by clicking on the titles.
Now, I had the privilege of receiving an e-arc of 'Timeless' to read and review for you. First I will give you the synopsis:
In Remembrance, Lizzie and Drew changed the course of fate so they could be together.
In Vengeance, Chelsea set fate back on its original, deadly path.
Now, strange things keep happening to Lizzie. Things that are omens of darkness to come. A curse has doomed her to die an early death, just as she did in her past life. To make things worse, even if she can figure out who cast the curse, it's irreversible. There's only one option left for her to save herself. It's crazier than anything she's heard yet, and to do it, she'll need Drew and Chelsea's help.
Because to make things right, they must go back to when it all began
My Review
Over the course of the series we have seen Lizzie really grow as a character, in the first book she is quite nervous and quiet being pushed around by her then boyfriend Jeremy, but she has found her voice and confidence, possibly with the help of Drew but has evolved into this goal driven, feisty girl who will fight for what she wants and when it comes down to it her very existance.
Drew irritated me a little bit in the first book, he seemed a bit arrogant and at times slightly obnoxious but as the series has gone on he has handled himself well and learnt to show who he is better, he also stands beside Lizzie and helps her more which was really nice to see. This book had potential to be an 'insta-love' situation but I'm glad that Michelle avoided this, although they have the link from their previous life together they have to work at their relationship and build it up together.
Chelsea really is one of the worst best friends ever up to a point, she doesn't trust her friend and turns on her when things get complicated, but she tries to make things right and I commend her for holding her hands up and admitting that she was wrong - it takes cuts to do that.
This book carries on from book 2 perfectly and is full of plot twists, excitement and pure awesomeness. I loved how Michelle introduced the whole magic theme in this one, it can be hard to do but it was approached just right and not overdone. There is also a bit of a mystery plot in this book which kept me hooked and trying to figure out what was happening, my guess at who was responsible was correct but I did doubt myself a few times as Michelle threw more twists and turns in!
This book also features a time travel plot, now you may have seen me mention before that time travel in books tend to irritate and confuse me unless they are done perfectly. It has to make sense both before, during and after, there can be no plot holes or confusing loops or cross overs etc otherwise I just get a headache trying to figure it out. I am pleased to say that this was one of the few time travel books i have read that didn't confuse me. Michelle handled the whole situation perfectly and made it exciting and enjoyable. I actually found myself looking forward to reading and in fact finished the whole book in just one day. I couldn't put it down.
This series is definitely a worthy rival of some modern fairy-tales, it has that essence of magic and spark to it that captivate you, and the whole thing just leaves you feeling good. The ending is just beautiful and I felt my heart beat faster as i read it.
An absolutely breath-taking series. One worth picking up!
My Rating
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