W...W...W...Wednesday 30/04/14

To play along, just answer the following 3 questions:

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

My current read is Fight For You by Magan Vernon.

 I recently finished reading Nash by Jay Crownover.

 I think my next read will be When I break by Kendal Ryan.  As you can see, I'm on a bit of a New Adult kick at the moment.

Waiting On Wednesday 30/04/14 'Rush Too Far'

Waiting on Wednesday is all about sharing the books that I'm eagerly waiting to be released.
This week the book I'm waiting on is Rush Too Far by Abbi Glines.  The 'Too Far' trilogy is one of my favourite New Adult series, and I felt the first one was lacking when compared to book 2 and 3 because we only had Blaire's POV and not Rush's.  But now with 'Rush Too Far' we finally get that.
Released May 6th.

Fallen Too Far was Blaire's story. Now it's time for Rush to share his side.

Everyone in Rosemary Beach thinks they know how Rush Finlay and Blaire Wynn fell in love. But Rush is back to tell his side of the story...

Rush has earned every bit of his bad-boy reputation. The three-story beach house, luxury car, and line of girls begging for time between his sheets are the envy of every guy in Rosemary Beach, and Rush handles it all with the laid-back cool of a rock star’s son. All he needs are his best friend, Grant, and his sister, Nan.

Until Blaire Wynn drives into town in her beat-up pickup truck with a pistol under her seat. The Alabama farm girl instantly captures Rush’s attention once he discovers that the angelic beauty is his new stepsister, but he vows to keep his distance. Even if she needs his help. Even if he craves her.

Because Rush knows why Blaire is all alone in the world, forced to ask for help from the father who abandoned her three years ago. And he knows if he gets too close it will destroy Nan, who has a secret connection to Blaire.

He has every reason in the world to stay away from her. Find out why he doesn’t.

Teaser Tuesday 29/04/14 "Nash"

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
  Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

This week my current read is Nash by Jay Crownover.  As it's a Kindle book the teaser comes from 74%

I was so busy trying to show her the value in the person I was, I forgot that I had always had value, even if I did get busted running my mouth and acting like a typical teenage idiot.  Maybe I needed to start asking why she couldn't see the value and worth in herself.

Dreams of Gods and Monsters (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #3) by Laini Taylor

Hardcover: 528 pages
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton (17 April 2014)
ISBN-13: 978-1444722727

By way of a staggering deception, Karou has taken control of the chimaera rebellion and is intent on steering its course away from dead-end vengeance. The future rests on her, if there can even be a future for the chimaera in war-ravaged Eretz.

Common enemy, common cause.

When Jael's brutal seraph army trespasses into the human world, the unthinkable becomes essential, and Karou and Akiva must ally their enemy armies against the threat. It is a twisted version of their long-ago dream, and they begin to hope that it might forge a way forward for their people.

And, perhaps, for themselves. Toward a new way of living, and maybe even love.

But there are bigger threats than Jael in the offing. A vicious queen is hunting Akiva, and, in the skies of Eretz ... something is happening. Massive stains are spreading like bruises from horizon to horizon; the great winged stormhunters are gathering as if summoned, ceaselessly circling, and a deep sense of wrong pervades the world.

What power can bruise the sky?

From the streets of Rome to the caves of the Kirin and beyond, humans, chimaera and seraphim will fight, strive, love, and die in an epic theater that transcends good and evil, right and wrong, friend and enemy.

At the very barriers of space and time, what do gods and monsters dream of? And does anything else matter?

Cover:  When I first saw the cover reveal for the final book in this trilogy, I was underwhelmed.  It's just not as striking as the US editions.  But, in person it is very pretty, and I do really like it.  My favourite UK cover in the series remains Days of Blood and Starlight.  And all together the series looks stunning.

When pre-order arrived- I actually hyperventilated.  Of course the excitement for the final installment of this series was enough to do that, but when I opened it up, I had received one of the signed special editions with the illustration of Karou by Laini herself *died* it's simply stunning and counted amongst my most prized possessions, as Laini Taylor has cemented herself as my favourite author with this series.

There is no way that I can give this book the review it deserves.  I just can't find the words.
This book is my most highly anticipated release of the entire, and possibly of ever.  
The first two books 'Daughter of Smoke and Bone' and 'Days of Blood and Starlight' instantly became favourites.  And the tension and unresolved questions that racked up made this a 'must-read-as-soon-as-it's-in-my-hands book.
Obviously, if you haven't read the first two books in this trilogy, you're not going to pick up book 3.  So I say to you -PICK UP THE FIRST TWO BOOKS.
Laini Taylor has the most beautiful, lyrical writing style.  I've never read anything else quite like it.  And yet, while you have these poetic moments, there are also parts with quick witted and sharp humour.
She endears me to her characters, making me fall in love with them, and praying for their success.
There were a few moments in this book where I'm convinced Laini Taylor stopped my heart.
A lot was riding on this book- I wanted a happy ending for Karou and Akiva, and it was looking as if that may not be a possible outcome (I won't spoil it for you...obviously).
The moment I picked this up, I was absorbed again into the world Laini Taylor created.  It's over 600 pages and yet I flew through- both hoping for it never to end, and for it to have it's happy ending.
I cannot recommend this series enough.
I love everything about it.
Favourite. Ever. Series.
There I said it.
Without doubt 5/5 stars.
Everyone must read this series.

Just a few quotes showing why I love Laini Taylor's writing so much:-

“You are a conniving, deceitful hussy. I stand in awe."
"You're sitting."
"I sit in awe.” - Zuzanna to Karou

“Wasn't that what religions did? Squint at one another and declare, "My unprovable belief is better than your unprovable belief. Suck it.” 

“Once upon a time, a girl went to see a monster menagerie where all the exhibits were dead.” 

Confessions of a Royal Bridegroom by Vanessa Kelly

Received for review via NetGalley
Format: Kindle Edition
Print Length: 352 pages
Publisher: Zebra Books (1 April 2014)


 They are the Renegade Royals, illegitimate sons of the Royal Princes, each finding his rightful place in society--and the woman destined to be his perfect match. . .
Some men are born into scandal. Others pursue it with a passion. Griffin Steele, secret son of the Duke of Cumberland, is guilty on both counts. Yet somehow London's most notorious scoundrel has been saddled with an abandoned baby boy--and with the unflappable, intriguing spinster summoned to nurse him. . .
Justine Brightmore may be a viscount's niece, but she's also a spy's daughter, determined to safeguard the infant when his suspected royal parentage makes him a target. Yet how to protect herself from the rakish Griffin? Marriage might shield her reputation, but it can only imperil her heart, especially with a groom intent on delicious seduction. . .

Cover: A very typical regency romance cover, a little cheesy, but nothing out of the ordinary.

I love my Regency romances, and I picked this one up on a whim because I didn't know what to read, and I was accepted for it on NetGalley.
I really did enjoy it.
I was pleased we had both protagonists perspectives, fairly equally, throughout the book.
I enjoyed their somewhat volatile relationship and attraction.
I recommend this for Regency fans, I wouldn't say it was anything 'stand-out', but it was a nice, fluffy filler read that I enjoyed.
3.5/5 stars.

The Big Book Phobias TAG

Booking Through Thursday 24/04/14

Booking Through Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by Booking Through Thursday and a different question is posted every week.

Do you have a favorite book? What do you say when people ask you? (This question always flummoxes me because how can you pick just one, so I’m eager to hear what you folks have to say.)
And, has your favorite book changed over the years??

Ahh this is a tough one.  To quote one of my favourite films 'I could no sooner choose a favourite star in the heavens.' (Know the film?  Comment below ;) )

There are several books that I consider favourites- for a variety of different reasons.  I really don't think I could ever pink it down enough to one, single book.  And that it what I tell people when they ask.  That, and I give them the list.  Of course, the list if fluid- books can be added to it all the time.
But, my favourites have to be:-

• Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
• Written In Red by Anne Bishop
• The Fault In Our Stars by John Green
• Daughter of Smoke and Bone (the entire trilogy) by  Laini Tayl
• Boy Meets Girl by Meg Cabot

W...W...W...Wednesday 23/04/14

To play along, just answer the following 3 questions:

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

My current read is Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor.

I recently finished reading The Forever of Ella and Micha by Jessica Sorensen.

I think my next read will be The Book of You by Claire Kendal.

Waiting On Wednesday 23/04/14 'In The Shadows'

Waiting on Wednesday is all about sharing the books that I'm eagerly waiting to be released.

This week the book I'm waiting on is In The Shadows by Kiersten White and Jim Di Bartolo.
I haven't read anything by Kiersten White but have heard amazing things about her Paranormalcy series, and Jim Di Bartolo illustrated Laini Taylor's book Lips Touch, while I haven't read it yet, I love the illustrations in it, so I'm dying to see more of his artwork.
Released April 29th.

From the remarkable imagination of acclaimed artist Jim Di Bartolo and the exquisite pen of bestselling author Kiersten White comes a spellbinding story of love, mystery, and dark conspiracy, told in an alternating narrative of words and pictures.

Cora and Minnie are sisters living in a small, stifling town where strange and mysterious things occur. Their mother runs the local boarding house. Their father is gone. The woman up the hill may or may not be a witch.

Thomas and Charles are brothers who’ve been exiled to the boarding house so Thomas can tame his ways and Charles can fight an illness that is killing him with increasing speed. Their family history is one of sorrow and guilt. They think they can escape from it . . . but they can’t.

Teaser Tuesday 22/04/14 'Dreams of Gods and Monsters'

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
  Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

This week my current read is my most anticipated release of the year, Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor.

The teasers come from page 324.

"The seraphim had had the advantage of staging their arrival.  They brought their own musical accompaniment, had costumes made for the occasion, and calculated their destination for effect."

Wrecked (#1) by Priscilla West

Received for review via NetGalley
Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 2822 KB
Print Length: 329 pages
Language: English
ASIN: B00HALMAEG


“There would be no happy ending for us. He was too damaged. I was too broken.”

Two years ago, Lorrie’s mother was murdered. But that wasn’t the end of it. Reeling from the tragedy, Lorrie’s father spiraled into alcohol, depression, and finally suicide.

The two most important people in Lorrie’s life are both gone but she’s still alive.

Trying to recover from the tragedy, Lorrie returns to campus, ready to pick up the pieces of her life. All Lorrie wants is to get back to “normal.”

Then she meets Hunter. The man, the legend, “the Hammer.”

Hunter is a cage fighter who takes on every fight like he’s got nothing to lose. His life is a tangled mess of girls, booze, and fist fights. And while it may seem like he’s got a devil-may-care attitude, he’s fighting a private cage-match with a monster he can’t defeat.

Lorrie knows that Hunter is the exact type of guy she should stay away from, especially in her fragile state, but Hunter has other ideas.

As Hunter and Lorrie grow closer together, will they be able to overcome their pain and heal each other? Or will they both end up wrecked?
Cover:  It's kind of relevant, but it's not the hottest-meant-to-be-hot-cover I've ever seen.

When I saw this on NetGalley I requested it right away.  I love my New Adult novels so jumped on this.
The classic damaged heroine meets damaged but alpha type male has worked for so many New Adult novels I've read, but for some reason, it completely fell flat for this one.
I didn't conntect to either character.
Lorrie is attracted to Hunter but won't let herself actually date him, so instead they're friends for much of the novel with UST.
When they finally do give in, and by this point, the was the pulling back was seriously irritating, we have pages and pages of unrealistic sex...which was cringey.
The long wait for the two to actually get together, made any chemistry there was to fizzle out.
The supposed angst just didn't do anything for me, and the big reveal at the end, I saw coming but the cliffhanger?- hasn't really left me wanting to pick up book 2.
2/5 stars.

Lick (Stage Dive #1) by Kylie Scott

Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 986 KB
Print Length: 288 pages
Publisher: Pan (21 Nov 2013)
ASIN: B00GTLCL4W

Evelyn Thomas's plans for celebrating her twenty-first birthday in Las Vegas were big. Huge. But she sure as hell never meant to wake up on the bathroom floor with a hangover to rival the black plague, a very attractive half-naked tattooed man, and a diamond on her finger large enough to scare King Kong. Now if she could just remember how it all happened. One thing is for certain, being married to rock and roll's favourite son is sure to be a wild ride.





Cover:  A typical New Adult cover.

I had high hopes of this one, but unfortunately, this is a New Adult novel I didn't enjoy.
I didn't connect with either of the protagonists, and they actually irritated me.
Evelyn wakes up married to a rock star.  Can't remember the night before.  Yet we never actually fully find out the events from that night.
David has anger and abandonment issues.  For most of this book he's a jerk.  Not a guy I was swooning over.
Evelyn is so changeable.  One minute she never wants to see David again because he broke her wittle heart.  The next she just can't live without him.
She hardly knows the guy!!!
A lot of people are loving this book if the Goodreads reviews are anything to go by.  But unfortunately I just don't see it.
1/5 stars.

#FridayReads 18/04/14

9 Rules To Break When Romancing a Rake (Love By Numbers #1) by Sarah MacLean

Paperback: 432 pages

Publisher: Piatkus (1 May 2014)
ISBN-13: 978-0749959661

A lady does not smoke cheroot. She does not ride astride. She does not fence or attend duels. She does not fire a pistol, and she never gambles at a gentlemen's club.

Lady Calpurnia Hartwell has always followed the rules, rules that have left her unmarried—and more than a little unsatisfied. And so she's vowed to break the rules and live the life of pleasure she's been missing.

But to dance every dance, to steal a midnight kiss—to do those things, Callie will need a willing partner. Someone who knows everything about rule-breaking. Someone like Gabriel St. John, the Marquess of Ralston—charming and devastatingly handsome, his wicked reputation matched only by his sinful smile.

If she's not careful, she'll break the most important rule of all—the one that says that pleasure-seekers should never fall hopelessly, desperately in love.

Cover: A pretty standard Regency romance novel, I don't love it, but I don't dislike it either.

I'd heard a lot of good things about this author, and in particular, this series.  When it showed up for review as a surprise, I couldn't wait to read it.
I blazed through this, reading it very quickly.
I thoroughly enjoyed it.
It's a cute, funny, sexy, quick, light and fluffy read that is perfect for regency fans.
I liked the fun characters, the humour, as well as the sexy sizzle between the protagonists Calpurnia and Gabriel.
I really felt for Callie, a spinster and wallflower, there are moments that made ma laugh, and moments where I really felt for her, and almost teared up for her.
I'm really looking forward to reading the next two books in this series.
I recommend for fans of Stephanie Laurens and Lisa Kleypas.
4.5/5 stars.

Waiting On Wednesday 16/04/14 'The Fearless'

This week the book I'm waiting for is The Fearless by Emma Pass.  I loved ACID by Emma last year, and it became one of my favourite ever books.  So I'm looking forward to this new novel by her.
Released April 24th.


The Fearless. An army, powered by an incredible new serum that makes each soldier stronger, sharper, faster than their enemies. Intended as a force for good, the serum has a terrible side-effect - anyone who takes it is stripped of all humanity, empathy, love. And as the Fearless sweep through the country, forcing the serum on anyone in their path, society becomes a living nightmare.

Cass remembers the night they passed through her village. Her father was Altered. Her mother died soon after. All Cass has left is her little brother - and when Jori is snatched by the Fearless and taken to their hellish lair, Cass must risk everything to get him back.

W...W...W...Wednesday 16/04/14

To play along, just answer the following 3 questions:

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

I'm currently reading The Forever of Ella and Micha by Jessica Sorensen.

I recently finished reading 9 Rules To Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean.

I think I'll read Covet by Melissa Darnell next.

Teaser Tuesday 15/04/14 '9 Rules To Break When Romacing a Rake'

 

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
  Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

This week my current read is 9 Rules To Break When Romacing a Rake by Sarah MacLean.

The teaser sentences come from page 188. 

"Yes to be me.  An aging spinster with a newfound penchant for the ruin of her reputation.  It did appear that Mariana no longer considered her passive however."

 

 

Be With Me by J. Lynn

Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Harper (13 Feb 2014)  
ISBN-13: 978-0007530991 

 From the bestselling author of WAIT FOR YOU, prepare to be blown away by her next New Adult story of love, lust and longing - containing an exclusive bonus scene that isn’t in the ebook that you won’t want to miss!

There are a lot of reasons why Teresa and Jase should steer clear of each other…

Firstly, Teresa is Jase’s best friend’s little sister – and Jase has a pretty good idea of how Cam will feel about anyone messing her around.

Secondly, Teresa’s dreams of being a dancer have just been put on hold – maybe permanently. The last thing she needs is a player like Jase distracting her when she needs to find direction.

Thirdly, Jase has a secret. A big one. And he’s not ready to risk sharing it with anyone apart from the people closest to his heart.

But there is one electric reason why they can’t stay away from each other…

Cover:  I really like this cover.  I love the colours ad overall look of the cover.  I much prefer this cover, to the UK cover of Wait For You, which is just boring.

I read Wait For You last year, and absolutely fell in love, not only with Jennifer L. Armentrout's writing, but her characters.  She has since become a much loved author of mine.  So I was highly anticipating Be With Me.
I loved this one.
At a push I would say that Wait For You has the edge, but this was still a fantastic New Adult Novel.
I love the drama, chemistry, and her hilarious female protagonists.  Their thoughts just speak to me- things they come out with, I hear myself saying or thinking.
Both Jase and Teresa were interesting characters.
Teresa has lost her dream being a professional dancer.
Jase has secrets, but is finding it increasingly difficult to fight his attraction to Teresa.
Teresa is in love with Jase.  Has been for some time.
Jase holds himself back, partly because of Teresa being his best friend's sister, but also something in his past.
I really rooted for Jase and Teresa.  I  was totally absorbed by their story.
I was really pleased with how it wrapped up, and highly recommend reading Jennifer L. Armentrout's/J. Lynn's books.
4.5/5 stars!  Definitely a favourite New Adult, I didn't give it the full 5 stars purely because I feel Wait For You was that little bit better.

Book Haul/In My Mailbox 11/04/14

Booking Through Thursday 10/04/14

Booking Through Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by Booking Through Thursday and a different question is posted every week.

Does the price of a book affect your decision about buying it? Do you wait for cheaper editions of books you want?

This is a really great question.
The price of a book has definitely affected my decision about buying it in the past.
I live in the UK, but a lot of the books that I want to read are released in the US, meaning that most of the time, I purchase US editions from the BookDepository, and a lot of the time they are in hardback, so it's converts to about £10.  Of course I pick up paperbacks too.
There have occasionally been books that have been more about the £15 mark.  Those are ones that I think, 'is this a book I really, really want?'
If it is, the pirce isn't an obstacle.
For example, Written In Red by Anne Bishop is a book I really wanted to own, I bought it back in January, the hardback was £15, even the ebook was £13, the mass market paperback was available for preorder for £4.50...but I really wanted it in hardback, so I paid the price for it.
I consider, reading is my main hobby.  I don't smoke.  I don't drink an awful lot or very often.  So books are what I spend the majority of my disposable income on.
If a book is exspensive, it makes me think twice, but doesn't stop me.

Waiting On Wednesday 09/04/14 'Dreams of Gods and Monsters'

Waiting on Wednesday is all about sharing the books that I'm eagerly waiting to be released.

This week the book I'm waiting for is Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor.  The third and final book in the Smoke and Bone trilogy.
This is withour doubt my most anticipated release book of the year. 
I'm dying to see how it all ends for Karou and Akiva.
Released April 17th here in the UK.  I have it on pre-order.  Can't wait!!

By way of a staggering deception, Karou has taken control of the chimaera rebellion and is intent on steering its course away from dead-end vengeance. The future rests on her, if there can even be a future for the chimaera in war-ravaged Eretz.

Common enemy, common cause.

When Jael's brutal seraph army trespasses into the human world, the unthinkable becomes essential, and Karou and Akiva must ally their enemy armies against the threat. It is a twisted version of their long-ago dream, and they begin to hope that it might forge a way forward for their people.

And, perhaps, for themselves. Toward a new way of living, and maybe even love.

But there are bigger threats than Jael in the offing. A vicious queen is hunting Akiva, and, in the skies of Eretz ... something is happening. Massive stains are spreading like bruises from horizon to horizon; the great winged stormhunters are gathering as if summoned, ceaselessly circling, and a deep sense of wrong pervades the world.

What power can bruise the sky?

From the streets of Rome to the caves of the Kirin and beyond, humans, chimaera and seraphim will fight, strive, love, and die in an epic theater that transcends good and evil, right and wrong, friend and enemy.

At the very barriers of space and time, what do gods and monsters dream of? And does anything else matter?

W...W...W...Wednesday 09/04/14

To play along, just answer the following 3 questions:

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

 

This week my current read is The King by J.R. Ward.

 

 I recently finished reading Loving Ellie by Lindsey Brookes.

 

I think I'll read Landline by Rainbow Rowell next.