[HALLOWEEN BUDDY READ- THE REVIEWS] Splintered by A.G Howard

Booking Through Thursday 30/10/2014

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

What’s the scariest book you’ve ever read?

It took me a long time to think of this one, as to be honest, 'scary' books re not something I pick up very often.
I don'tread a lot of horror or thrillers as I'm more a contemporary or regency romance fan.
But I would say The Hallowed Ones by Laura Bickle.  Vampires and Amish - there were moments that actually made me jump as I was reading.

One that I had hoped would be scary was The Book Of You by Claire Kendal, but it fell flat.

Waiting on Wednesday 29/10/14 'The Retribution of Mara Dyer'

This week the book that I'm waiting on is The Retribution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin.
The 3rd and final book in the Mara Dyer trilogy.
Released November 4th,

Mara Dyer wants to believe there's more to the lies she’s been told.
There is.

She doesn’t stop to think about where her quest for the truth might lead.
She should.

She never had to imagine how far she would go for vengeance.
She will now.

Loyalties are betrayed, guilt and innocence tangle, and fate and chance collide in this shocking conclusion to Mara Dyer’s story.
Retribution has arrived.

W...W...W...Wednesday 29/10/14

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 Worth Any Price by Lisa Kleypas

I recently finished Lady Sophia's Lover by Lisa Kleypas

I think my next read will be The Outside by Laura Bickle

Teaser Tuesday 28/10/2014 'Worth Any Price'

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 teaser.

This week my current read is Worth Any Price by Lisa Kleypas. Teaser comes from page 83.

"Lottie struggled from his lap and straightened her clothes.  She went to pour herself some brandy from the crystal decanter at the magogany sideboard.  She was dizzy, and her knees felt jelly,which were good indications that more spirits were the last thing she needed."

Filthy Beautiful Love (Filthy Beautiful Lies #2) by Kendall Ryan

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 2529 KB
• Print Length: 316 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1502327228
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Kendall Ryan Books (29 Sep 2014)
• ASIN: B00MRQRBCU
• I never expected to watch Sophie walk away. She was mine. I would own her. She just didn’t know it yet. New goal: Seal the deal and rock her world so thoroughly she never wanted to leave again. 
  
  Highly sexual and emotionally charged, Filthy Beautiful Love is the provocative conclusion to Filthy Beautiful Lies.
  
  
  **Warning: this book contains an additively filthy alpha male who will dampen your panties and own your days and nights. Proceed at your own risk.**
• Cover:  I neither love nor hate this cover.  

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, Filthy Beautiful Lies, and I blazed through it, reading it in just a day.
I've loved Kendall Ryan's other books that I've read, Hard to Love and Resisting Her, she is an author that I really enjoy.
This one was such a fast paced, sexy contemporary read.
I loved that we got both Sophie and Colton's points of view.
After the way book one ended on such an evil cliffhanger - I couldn't wait to get into this one.
I did enjoy it- but definitely feel they could have been condensed into just the one book, as they were so short, I'd rather have read one normal length novel.
Definitely recommend if you love hot, sexy, quick little reads.
3.5/5 stars.

Read from September 30 to October 01, 2014

Messenger of Fear by Michael Grant

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Electric Monkey (28 Aug 2014)
• Language: Unknown
• ISBN-10: 1405265159
• ISBN-13: 978-1405265157

I remembered my name – Mara. But, standing in that ghostly place, faced with the solemn young man in the black coat with silver skulls for buttons, I could recall nothing else about myself.

And then the games began.

The Messenger sees the darkness in young hearts, and the damage it inflicts upon the world. If they go unpunished, he offers the wicked a game. Win, and they can go free. Lose, and they will live out their greatest fear. 

But what does any of this have to do with Mara? She is about to find out . . 

Cover:  This cover is amazing in person.  A bright neon red/coral, with striking black pages, and creepy images under the dust jacket.

I've heard so many amazing things about Michael Grant, in particular, his Gone series,  But I had yet to read anything by him.
Then I was just casually browsing the book charts in the Supermarket, and I admit this cover stood out, and made me pick it up.  The creepy, dark synopsis instantly made me think it would be a fantastic read for October, as well as a chance to read something by Michael Grant.
And I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I flew through it, reading it in just two days.  
It was a dark, gruesome and creepy read and it WAS perfect for October.
Mara wakes up with no memories, when Messenger appears and starts showing her horrible things- a girl's suicide, brutal attack etc (think Scrooge and the ghosts of Christmas but way darker.)
Why is he showing her these things?  To teach her to take over his job.
Judging when evil has been done, and what is to be done with them.  Offering them a game.  If they win, they go free, if they lose- they have to face their greatest fear.
The whole concept was amazing.
There was a big twist, that I did guess, but only about 10 pages before it was revealed, and it was GENIUS.  
I was a little confused at points.  The world building I did think could have been stronger.  But the actual plot was sound.
Highly recommend as a Halloween read, but not for younger readers because there is a lot of graphic content that could definitely be considered disturbing and nightmare inducing.
4/5 stars.  I look forward to seeing where this story goes.

Read from October 06 to 07, 2014

W...W...W...Wednesday 22/10/2014 (On a Thursday...again)

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 Opposition by Jennifer L. Armentrout.

I recently finished reading Vampire Academy:  The Graphic Novel.

I think my next read will be Lailah by Nikki Kelly.

Waiting On Wednesday (On a Thursday...again) 22/10/2014 'Stone Cold Touch'

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 Stone Cold Touch by Jennifer L. Armentrout.
Even though I am yet to pick up book 1, White Hot Kiss, Jennifer Armentrout is hands down one of my favourite authors.
Released October 23rd.

Every touch has its price

Layla Shaw is trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life—no easy task for a seventeen-year-old who’s pretty sure things can’t get worse. Her impossibly gorgeous best friend, Zayne, is forever off-limits thanks to the mysterious powers of her soul-stealing kiss. The Warden clan that has always protected her is suddenly keeping dangerous secrets. And she can barely think about Roth, the wickedly hot demon prince who understood her in ways no one else could.

But sometimes rock bottom is only the beginning. Because suddenly Layla’s powers begin to evolve, and she’s offered a tantalizing taste of what has always been forbidden. Then, when she least expects it, Roth returns, bringing news that could change her world forever. She’s finally getting what she always wanted, but with hell literally breaking loose and the body count adding up, the price may be higher than Layla is willing to pay…

Teaser Tuesday 21/10/2014 'Opposition by Jennifer L. Armentrout'

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 teaser.

My current read is Opposition by Jennifer L. Armentrout.

Teaser comes from page 120.

[Daemon]

"There were moments in my life whe I seriously couldn't believe things could get any more fucked up than they already were, especially with Dee running off to join the damn Luxen circus.

But each time, I was proven, yet again, how wrong that thought was."

 

It Must Be Your Love (Sullivans 11) by Bella Andre

Format: Kindle Edition
Print Length: 400 pages
Publisher: Oak Press, LLC (20 Nov 2013)
ASIN: B00GGRBCNU

Mia's Story (Seattle Sullivan #2)

Successful Seattle Realtor Mia Sullivan is nobody’s fool…apart from that one week five years ago when she gave away her heart to a sexy musician who gave her nothing in return but a few sinfully perfect days—and nights—in his bed. Though she swears she never wants to see him again, he’s the one man she’s never been able to forget.

One of the hottest rock stars in the world, Ford Victor can have any woman he wants…except Mia Sullivan. But now he knows millions of strangers singing along with his songs can’t fill the hole inside of him. Only Mia’s love has the power to do that—so he vows to do anything and everything it takes to win her heart again.

From the first moment they see each other again, intense sparks of attraction fly. Between irresistible kisses, a romantic Sullivan wedding in Napa Valley, and a deeply sensual connection that neither of them can deny, can Mia and Ford finally rediscover a love—and a friendship—strong enough to last forever?

Cover: All the covers to this series are pretty similar, and I like them all.  I really enjoy the cutesy, romantic covers.

I'm a big fan of Bella Andre.  I've been reading this series for over a year now, and I love to read these, they're light, quick, fluffy reads.
And while this one was enjoyable, I didn't connect with it as much.
I didn't find myself rooting for Mia and Ford.  I didn't find feel any chemistry between the protagonists.
Not my favourite in the series, but still a nice little contemporary read.
3/5 stars.

Read from March 11 to 14, 2014

The Hallowed Ones by Laura Bickle

Paperback: 311 pages
Publisher: Graphia Books; 1 edition (25 Sep 2012)
ISBN-10: 0547859260
ISBN-13: 978-0547859262

Katie is on the verge of her Rumspringa, the time in Amish life when teenagers can get a taste of the real world. But the real world comes to her in this dystopian tale with a philosophical bent. Rumors of massive unrest on the “Outside” abound. Something murderous is out there. Amish elders make a rule: No one goes outside, and no outsiders come in. But when Katie finds a gravely injured young man, she can’t leave him to die. She smuggles him into her family’s barn—at what cost to her community? The suspense of this vividly told, truly horrific thriller will keep the pages turning.


Cover: A great cover!  Perfect match for the story.

I had heard a lot of amazing things about this book, so finally took the plunge and picked it up.
And I'm so glad that I did!  I loved it.
Vampires and the Amish.  Doesn't sound like the two go together.  But it made for a dark, creepy read.
There were definitely moments where I was creeped out.  There was even a few moments that made me jump.
It was much darker and graphic than I was expecting, which isn't normally something I'm drawn to, but I was hooked.
I loved Katie as a character, her struggle between how she has been raised and how to actually feels.
I was hooked from the get go, and couldn't put it down.  I can't wait to pick up the sequel.
4.5/5 stars.

Read from July 13 to 17 2014

Book Haul/In My Mailbox 17/10/2014

Booking Through Thursday 16/10/2014

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

What’s your favorite genre that other people might not read? I mean, mysteries, romances, real-crime … these are all fairly widespread categories. But real readers don’t usually limit themselves to just the “big” genres … so what’s your favorite little-known type of book? Books on dogs? Knitting books? Stories about the space race? Mathematical theory?

To be honest, the genre I read the most of is 'romance'.  Whether it's historical romance, contemporary romance, paranormal romance or new adult.  
I don't consider that I read many 'niche' genres.
I do however, enojoy books that are retellings classics or fairytales.

Waiting On Wednesday 15/10/14 'Hold On Tight'

This week the book I'm waiting on is Hold on Tight by Abbi Glines, book 8 in the Sea Breeze series. 
Released October 23rd.




Get ready for another steamy summer fling from the NYT bestselling author and online sensation, Abbi Glines. Dewayne Falco has been a fixture in Sea Breeze since his appearance in the very first book, Breathe. He always had the one-liners and smart remarks that made you laugh. But there was never any insight into his life. Other than being best friends with Marcus, Preston, and Rock all his life, you knew little else. Until now. In Hold on Tight, Dewayne's past pain is brought front and centre while he realizes not all was lost-and that there may be hope for him yet.

W...W...W...Wednesday 15/10/14

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 Cross Stitch (Outlander #1) by Diana Gabaldon.

I recently finished reading Splintered by A.G. Howard.

I think my next read will be Rowdy by Jay Crownover.

Teaser Tuesday 14/10/14 'Cross Stitch by Diana Gabaldon'

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 teaser.

This week my current read is Cross Stitch (Outlander #1) by Diana Gabaldon.

Teaser comes from page 302. 

 

 "The hard won intimacy of the night seemed to have evaporated with the dew, and there was considerable restraint between us in the morning.  After a mostly silent breakfast taken in our room, we climbed the hollock behind the inn, exchanging rather strained politeness from time to time."

 

Stay With Me (Wait For You #3) by J. Lynn

Format: Kindle Edition
Print Length: 451 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0062294806
Publisher: Harper (25 Sep 2014)
ASIN: B00HY5VAOE From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wait for You and Be with Me comes a daring tale that pushes boundaries . . .

At 21, Calla hasn't done a lot of things. She’s never been kissed, never seen the ocean, never gone to an amusement park. But growing up, she witnessed some things no child ever should. She still carries the physical and emotional scars of living with a strung-out mother, Mona—secrets she keeps from everyone, including her close circle of college friends.

But the safe cocoon Calla has carefully built is shattered when she discovers her mom has stolen her college money and run up a huge credit card debt in her name. Now, Calla has to go back to the small town she thought shed left behind and clean up her mom’s mess again. Of course, when she arrives at her mother’s bar, Mona is nowhere to be found. Instead, six feet of hotness named Jackson James is pouring drinks and keeping the place humming.

Sexy and intense, Jax is in Calla’s business from they moment they meet, giving her a job and helping her search for Mona. And the way he looks at her makes it clear he wants to get horizontal . . . and maybe something more. Before Calla can let him get close, though, she’s got to deal with the pain of the past—and some very bad guys out to mess her up if she doesn't give them her mom.

Cover:  I really like this cover.  I think it's really pretty.  Not my favourite of the series though, that would go to the second book.

I love J. Lynn.  Her New Adult novels are definitely some of my favourites.  Hands down.  I know when I pick up one of her books, I'm in for a treat.
Her Wait For You series is for sure, one of my all time favourites.
I couldn't wait to read Stay With Me.
I wasn't disappointed.
While it took me a little while to warm to Calla, she seemed more immature and childish than the previous protagonists, I still really liked her.
This book handles a lot of issues, heartbreaking issues, and they were handled so well.  My heart went out to Calla.
Jax was just perfection.  So sexy.  Sweet. Romantic.  Protective.  Totally swoon worthy.
I loved their romance- even if I wanted to shake Calla sometimes!!

I really hope Roxy and Reece get their own story- they were really great side characters, and there is definitely some tension there!

4/5 stars.  Highly recommend for fans of New Adult contemporary.

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green [AUDIO EDITION READ BY JOHN GREEN]

I read the physical copy of The Fault In Our Stars back in 2012, and loved it.  It became one of my all time favourite books. Then in July this year, I went to the cinema and saw the movie.  Loved that too.
And when I saw that John Green was releasing the audio book that he narrated, I needed it.  So I pre-ordered it.
It arrived.  Listened to it.  And fell in love with the story all over again.  All I wanted to do was sit down and do nothing but listen to John Green read his book to me.
When I've previously tried to listen to audio books, I've been lulled to sleep.  No matter what time of day I try to listen to them.
I did not have that probably with this one.  I loved it from start to finish.
I highly recommend EVERYONE listen to this one.
5/5 stars!!!!

#FridayReads + Updated 10/10/2014

Waiting On Wednesday (On a Thursday! Oops!)

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 My True Love Gave To Me: 12 Holiday Stories- an anthology edited by Stephanie Perkins.  I'm particularly excited to see it includes a story from my favourite author, Laini Taylor!
Released October 9th.

 

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

W...W...W...Wednesday 08/10/2014

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 Splintered by A.G. Howard.

I recently finished reading Messenger of Fear by Michael Grant.

I think my next read will be Cross Stitch by Diana Gabaldon.

 

Teaser Tuesday 07/10/2014 'Messenger of Fear by Michael Grant

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 teaser.

 This week, my current read is Messenger of Fear by Michael Grant.

Teaser comes from page 145.

"Emma's flesh and clothing alike were marked with red lines.  She reminded me of charts I had seen in butcher's shops, of cows divided by roast and streak and rib.  She blinked. "Oh," she gasped.

Her arm, severed at the elbow, fell to the ground."