Discussion: BookTube- Staying, Going, a Numbers Game?

Booking Through Thursday 27/11/14

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

How much do you actually read? Few of us get as much time as we’d really LIKE for reading, but do as much as we can, so … how many books do you read? How many hours a day?

My reading can vary, as I think it must do with most people.
I go through stages, other wise known as the dreaded 'reading slump'.
Also, it depends on the size of the books.
But, I have been keeping a rather steady pace.  I normally read on average, two books a week.
I've read 107 books so far this year.
I do most of reading on my journey to work, as I use public transport, it takes about 45 minutes.  That gives me an hour and a half a day just to read.
Plus I'll normally read for an hour or so in the evening.

W...W...W...Wednesday 26/11/14

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 Cowboy, It's Cold Outside by Katherine Garbera

I recently finished reading I Love How You Love Me by Bella Andre

I think my next read will be The Snow Globe by Sheila Roberts

Waiting On Wednesday 26/11/14 'You Were Mine'

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 You Were Mine by Abbi Glines.
Released 2nd December.
I love Abbi Glines and collect her books, so clearly this is one I need to pick up.

From #1 "New York Times "bestselling author Abbi Glines comes a brand-new Rosemary Beach novel about Tripp Newark and his hidden romantic past with Bethy Lowry. 

In the eyes of the wealthy playboys who frequent Kerrington Country Club in Rosemary Beach, Tripp Newark is a hero. Under pressure from his parents to become a lawyer and lead a conservative, upper-class life, Tripp disappeared from town five years ago to travel the world, forfeiting the opportunity to inherit millions. Yet few know what he was really running from...

Bethy Lowry was unraveling long before her boyfriend drowned in a riptide trying to save her after she'd had one too many drinks--again. A trailer park kid working as a cart girl among the wealthy patrons of Kerrington Country Club, Bethy has always been impressionable. But five years ago, before she earned her reputation as a hard-drinking, easy girl, she had spent a single summer with Tripp Newark that changed her life forever...

Teaser Tuesday 25/11/14 'I Love How You Love Me'

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 I Love How You Love Me by Bella Andre.
Teaser comes from the 63% mark.






"Grace had never known that she could completely lose herself in another person and just want to stay lost forever and ever.  Was it because Dylan loved her?  And, despite all the ways she's tried to protect her heart, had she fallen in love with him right back?"

Archer's Voice by Mia Sheridan

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 2422 KB
• Print Length: 356 pages
• Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
• ASIN: B00I29VGMC

When Bree Prescott arrives in the sleepy, lakeside town of Pelion, Maine, she hopes against hope that this is the place where she will finally find the peace she so desperately seeks. On her first day there, her life collides with Archer Hale, an isolated man who holds a secret agony of his own. A man no one else sees.

Archer's Voice is the story of a woman chained to the memory of one horrifying night and the man whose love is the key to her freedom. It is the story of a silent man who lives with an excruciating wound and the woman who helps him find his voice. It is the story of suffering, fate, and the transformative power of love.

THIS IS A STAND-ALONE SIGN OF LOVE NOVEL, INSPIRED BY SAGITTARIUS. New Adult Contemporary Romance: Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18. 

Cover:  Not going to lie...that is not a bad back to look at.  At all.  But, it's not exactly the kind of cover you want people to see you reading on the bus is it.

I heard about this one in a recommendations video by a BookTuber, and I immediately went to Goodreads and saw the sheer amount of rave ratings and reviews.
So I knew I had to check it out.
And I am so glad that I did.
This is one of the best New Adult novels I have ever read.
I love the New Adult genre, but there have been those that were average or just plain dull.
This was a fantastic New Adult novel.  I loved the way it built- the relationship between Archer and Bree.
They became friends first- Bree opening up Archer's world to more than his garden, being the only person able to communicate with him via sign language.
And Archer is able to heal Bree, after a vicious attack that left her father dead, Bree packed up in search of a place she could feel safe.
It was just so beautiful.
I loved the friendship.  I loved the romance.
I enjoyed having both their points of view.  I did feel that there was more of Bree's perspective than Archer's- so would have enjoyed a bit more balance.  To be honest, I just loved Archer so much, that I was craving more of his point of view.  Particularly nearer the start of the novel.
This book dragged me in from the get go.  I got so emotionally involved in it, and the ending was perfection.
Over all, I highly recommend for all fans of New Adult novels- one of the best I have picked up.
5/5 stars.

Read from November 07 to 10, 2014

#FridayReads 21/11/14

Booking Through Thursday 20/11/14

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

If you could change the ending of any book you’ve read, which would it be and how would you change it?

I would choose Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas.
I love the book.
I love the series.
I love the characters.
And I gave Crown of Midnight 5/5 stars.
But the end of that book broke my heart.  Shattered it into a million pieces- because I'm a sucker for a romance and happy ending...and boy was it so far from that.

W...W...W...Wednesday 19/11/14

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 Come Home For Christmas, Cowboy by Megan Crane

I recently finished reading A Million Dirty Secrets by C.L. Parker

I think my next read will be The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons

Teaser Tuesday 18/11/14 'A Million Dirty Secrets'

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 A Million Dirty Secrets by C.L. Parker.  Teaser comes from page 230.

Lanie




"I was dreaming. I could feel Noah's body against my backholding me under a star-filled sky and whispering sweet nothings into my ear as I drew his arms tighter around my waist.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't know," he whispered. But ow that I have you here, I can never let you go. Never, Delaine. You are a part of me now."

Rush Too Far (Too Far #4) by Abbi Glines

Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Atria Books (6 May 2014)
ISBN-10: 147677594X
ISBN-13: 978-1476775944

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.

Cover: Mmmm what a beautiful cover.  Love it. 

I love the Never Too Far series by Abbi Glines.  It's one of, if not my favourite New Adult series.  It's super cheesey, but I love it.  It's one of my guilty pleasure reads.
Rush Too Far is essentially the first book, Fallen Too Far in the guy's, Rush's, point of view.  As in the first book we only had the girl's, Blaire's, perspective, but in books 2 and 3, we had alternating perspective between the two of them.
So I was really happy to get Rush's perspective.
I really, really enjoyed this book.  Loved his perspective for book one.
Totally swoon worthy guy.  If you loved Falen Too Far, this is one you need to read.
4.5/5 stars.

Book Haul/In My Mailbox 14/11/14

Vampire Academy: The Graphic Novel

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Razorbill (23 Aug 2011)
• ISBN-10: 1595144293
• ISBN-13: 978-1595144294

After two years on the run, best friends Rose and Lissa are caught and returned to St. Vladimir’s Academy, a private high school for vampires and half-bloods. It’s filled with intrigue, danger—and even romance.

Enter their dark, fascinating world through a new series of 144-page full-color graphic novels. The entire first Vampire Academy novel has been adapted for book one by Leigh Dragoon and overseen by Richelle Mead, while the beautiful art of acclaimed British illustrator Emma Vieceli brings the story to life.

Cover:  A nice cover that I think incorporates the original cover of the novel well.

I don' read a lot of graphic novels, but after enjoying the movie, and then the novel- I decided that I wanted to recap Vampire Academy before moving on to the 4th book in the series.
I enjoyed this- it was a quick and easy way to refresh my memory on the first book in the series without having to re-read the actual book.
I did think that it was a little choppy and that the transitions were lost- it jumped from one scene to another very quickly, and if I hadn't read the book, I think I would have been a bit lost.
The artwork was quite simple- not my favourite that I've seen, I think that would still be the Twilight graphic novels.
Over all it was a great, quick read that I definitely enjoyed and would recommend for fans of the series, but if you're looking to start the series- I would suggest picking up the novel instead.
4/5 stars.

Read on October 19, 2014

W...W...W...Wednesday 12/11/14

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 Deluge by Lisa T. Bergren.

 I recently finished reading The Exile:  Outlander Graphic Novel.

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

Teaser Tuesday 11/11/14 'The Exile'

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.

Something a little different this week- my current read is the graphic novel The Exile by Diana Gabaldon, and illustrated by Hoang Nguyen.

Teaser is an image of my current page.

Lady Sophia's Lover (Bow Street #2) by Lisa Kleypas

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Piatkus (2 May 2013)
• Language: Unknown
• ISBN-10: 0749958561
• ISBN-13: 978-0749958565

Can Lady Sophia seduce the most eligible man in London?

Lady Sophia Sydney would do anything to ensnare the unattainable Sir Ross Cannon. Her goal is to ruin his reputation and cause a scandal that would be the talk of all London. So, she charms her way into his life by gaining his trust and living in his house.

Every morning, her lush presence tempts him beyond all reason and every night she promises with her eyes - and her body - that the hours before dawn could be spent in unbridled passion instead of restless sleep - if only he'd let her share his bed.

She knows he is falling more in love with her each day. But she never counted on falling in love with him. And she never dreamed he might, very respectably, ask for her hand in marriage . . . 

Cover:  A fairly typical, cute Regency romance cover.

Lisa Kleypas is not an author I have read much of.  But I love Regency romance books, so when I had the chance to pick up her Bow Street series really cheap in The Works, I did.  I read the first book about a year ago, and really enjoyed it.
When I'm in a book slump or simply don' know what to read, I turn to Regency romance.
And I really enjoyed this one.
A fast paced, enjoyable read.
Sophia wants to punish the man that sent her brother to his death in a prison hulk by ingratiating
But the man that she meets, is quite different to the one she expected.
Ross has been celibate since his wife passed away several years, ago.  Throwing himself into running the Bow Street offices.  He is immediately attracted to Sophia.
I loved this book from start to finish.  I loved the characters, the humour, and the chemistry between Ross and Sophia sizzled off the page.
A fantastic regency read, that I highly recommend for fans of the genre, or for someone looking to start reading Regency or historical romance.
5/5 stars.

Read from October 26 to 27, 2014

October 2014 Reading Wrap Up

Hard Time by Cara McKenna

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 615 KB
• Print Length: 352 pages
• Publisher: Piatkus (6 Nov 2014)
• ASIN: B00LTUC9PY

By the bestselling author of After Hours and Unbound, this is romance like you've never seen it before. Utterly intense, unforgettable and not for the faint-hearted, Hard Time will turn your world upside down . . .
--------------------
My pounding heart went still, eerie as birds fallen silent in the wake of a gunshot.

He was big. Tall frame, wide shoulders-but not burly. His near-black hair was due for a cut, curling under his ears. Dark brows, dark stubble, dark lashes and eyes.

And he was handsome. So handsome it broke your heart.

A deck of cards was split between his hands, paused midshuffle. Some of the men wore navy scrub tops and bottoms, some navy tee shirts, a few white undershirts. This man wore a tee, with COUSINS stenciled on the front, above the number 802267. Those digits imprinted on my brain, burned black as a brand.

He watched me. But not the way the others did. If he was trying to picture me naked, his poker face was strong, though his attention anything but subtle. His entire head moved as I passed through his domain, but his eyes were languorous. Lazy and half-lidded, yet intense. A hundred looks in one. I didn't like it. Couldn't read it. At least with the horny jerk-offs, I knew where I stood.

I wondered what the worst thing you could do and still only get sent to a medium-security prison was. I hoped not to ever learn the answer. 

And I hoped to heaven inmate 802267 hadn't signed up for any of the day's programs.

Cover: I much prefer this cover to the US cover.

This was a little bit different.
A romance starting from erotic love letters exchanged between a convict and a volunteer librarian.
Definitely an interesting premise.
A lot of this book was focused on erotica, and preludes to sex.
I tend to lean more towards the romance side of things, so this in comparison for me, was a tad brash and rushed.  I didn't feel this supposed passion and chemistry, it fell a bit flat for me.
The first half, was quite suspense filled as it was the exchanging of the forbidden letters.  Exciting because nothing could seemingly happen between the two of them.
And then Eric is released.
For me, then it dissolved a little bit.
And the angst from his family was far too easily resolved at the end.
Over all, not one for me.
2/5 stars.

W...W...W...Wednesday 05/11/2014

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?

My current read is Hard Time by Cara McKenna.

I recently finished reading Breathe by Abbi Glines.

I think my next read will be Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson.

Teaser Tuesday 04/11/2014

 

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 Hard Time by Cara McKenna.  Teaser comes from 50%.

"The world inside my eyelids was dark pink, and I peeked through those curtains to find the man from my fantasies sitting up beside me in bed.  He was cross-legged, sheets and blankets pooled around his waist.  And godness, he looked nice there."

Cross Stitch (Outlander #1) by Diana Gabaldon

• Paperback: 880 pages
• Publisher: Arrow; New Ed edition (3 Mar 1994)
• ISBN-10: 0099911701
• ISBN-13: 978-0099911708

CLAIRE RANDALL IS LEADING A DOUBLE LIFE, SHE HAS A HUSBAND IN ONE CENTURY - AND A LOVER IN ANOTHER...

In 1945, Claire Randall is back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon in Scotland. Innocently she walks through a stone circle in the Highlands and finds herself in a violent skirmish taking place in 1743. Suddenly she is a Sassenach, an outlander, in a country torn by war and by clan feuds.

A wartime nurse, Claire can deal with the bloody wounds that face her. But it is harder to deal with the knowledge that she is in Jacobite Scotland and the carnage of Culloden is looming. Marooned amid the passion and violence, the superstition , the shifting allegiances and the fervent loyalties, Claire is in danger from James Fraser, a gallant and courageous young Scots warrior. Jamie shows her a passion so fierce and a love so absolute that Claire becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire, and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.

Cover:  A simple, pretty cover with significance!!

I have been seeing all over the internet, about Outlander, the TV show, and then a revival of interest in the book because of said TV show.  Naturally I was intrigued.  And I was dying to watch the TV show, but I wanted to read the book first.  And the book is a beast, coming in at 880 pages.  If I watched the show first, would I bother to read the tomb?  Probably not.
So I was dying to read this book from the moment I ordered it.
And.
I loved it.
I haven't read a book so big in a very, very long time.  With book blogging, I think the timescale is a worry- How long will it take me to read this?!?!  I need to keep posting content and not be held up!  So the larger books get bumped further and further down the to-be-read pile.
It definitely is not for everyone.  There's some cheese.  Some cringe.  Some scenes of a sexual nature.  Some sexual abuse orture.
It was a little slow to get into, hardly surprising with a book this size and with so much to set up.
But once it got to the hundred page mark- I was hooked.
Jamie Fraser.  Total book crush right there.  Rugged, charming highlander...need I say more.
There was definitely a lot that was hard to read- and I can see why a lot of people wouldn't have enjoyed it.  Particularly towards the end of the book.  There is a lot of sexual torture and abuse that was difficult to read.  So be aware.
Over all, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and will definitely picking up the rest of the series, although maybe not straight away  as they just get bigger and bigger.
4.5/5 stars.

	Read from October 11 to 18, 2014 * To note, I've to date now watched 3 episodes of the tv series, and...I'm loving it.  I think they're done a great job not only of casting it, but also adapting it.  They've been very faithful to the book, (again so far) and yet the changes have been minor but I think necessary to make the show work.