W...W...W...Wednesday 29/09/2015

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 The Last True Vampire by Kate Baxter

I recently finished reading Leo's Chance by Mia Sheridan

I think my next read will be Down London Road by Samantha Young

Teaser Tuesday 29/09/2015 'The Last True Vampire'

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 pageShare 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's teaser comes from page 186 of The Last True Vampire by Kate Baxter.

"Mikhail's tongue passed over her throat and he nuzzled into her.  "You are mine, Claire" he said through ragged pants of breath.  From this moment until the gods decide otherwise.  
She swallowed down the fear that welled up fresh inside of her.  Holy crap, Claire.  What have you gotten yourself into?"

Tempting The Best Man (Gamble Brothers #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Hodder Paperbacks (13 Aug. 2015)
• ISBN-10: 1473615941
• ISBN-13: 978-1473615946

The addictively steamy first book in New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout's Gamble Brothers series...

Madison Daniels has worshipped her brother's best friend since they were kids. Everyone thinks she and Chase Gamble would make the perfect couple, but there are two major flaws in their logic. 1) Chase has sworn off relationships of any kind, and 2) after blurring the line between friends and lovers for one night four years ago, they can't stop bickering.

Forced together for her brother's wedding getaway, Chase and Madison decide to call a truce for the happy couple. Except all bets are off when they're forced to shack up in a tacky 70's honeymoon suite and survive a multitude of "accidents" as the family tries to prove their "spark" can be used than for more than fighting. That is, if they don't strangle each other first...

Cover:  Neither love or hate this cover.

This was a short, sweet and steamy adult read from Jennifer L. Armentrout.
I'm a big fan of Jennifer L. Armentrout, and have wanted to read this series by her for a while now.
I finally picked it up and I definitely enjoyed it.  It's a quick read at only 208 pages.
It could have been fleshed out a little bit more.
Madison has loved Chase forever, that's repeated, A LOT.  But why???  We don't really get to see much of these character's personalities.  Not to any great length.
The humour that has become the signature for Jennifer L. Armentourt's books, was present.  Definitely some funny moments.
Overall, definitely worth picking up for fans of Jennifer L. Armentrout's books, but not my favourite.
3.5/5 stars.

Read from September 15 to 16, 2015

TMI Tag

W...W...W...Wednesday 23/09/2015

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 recently finished reading Leo by Mia Sheridan

This week my current read is Leo's Chance by Mia Sheridan

I think my next read will be Eon by Alison Goodman

Teaser Tuesday 22/09/2015 'Leo's Chance'

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 pageShare 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's teaser comes from the very beginning, page 1, of Leo's Chance by Mia Sheridan.

"I lay in my hospital bed, staring up at the ceiling, swimming in my own grief.  How had it come to this.  How had life brought me to this place- not just this room in this building, but the unbearable state of my own heart and mind?  I want to escape myself, I want to crawl out of my own head and become a shadow curled up in the corner, just a ball of emptiness."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass #4) by Sarah J. Maas

• Hardcover: 656 pages
• Publisher: Bloomsbury U.S.A. Children's Books (Sept. 2015)
• ISBN-10: 1619636042
• ISBN-13: 978-1619636040

The queen has returned.

Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she's at last returned to the empire—for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past . . .

She has embraced her identity as Aelin Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen. But before she can reclaim her throne, she must fight.

She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die for her. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen's triumphant return.

The fourth volume in the New York Times bestselling series contrinues Celaena's epic journey and builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world.

Cover:  I love the covers to this series.  Perfect, kick ass cover.

I have loved this series ever since first reading Throne of Glass back when it first released in 2012.
It's a series that just goes from strength to strength.
Even though Crown of Midnight and Heir of Fire haven't alway gone in the direction that I've previously wanted, but with Queen of Shadows, it's changing my mind...slowly.
I have been a hardcore Chaol fan, shipping him and Celeana since the get go.
So books two and 3 (not to spoil anyone) broke my heart.  Such a roller coaster of emotions that it was hard to read, and yet I couldn't stop myself.
I've slowly come round, and while I still love Chaol, I've developed a sweet spot for Rowan.  Brooding, ancient Fae warrior- definitely a character I can appreciate.
I really enjoyed seeing more of Rowan in this installment.  Actually getting his perspective, and his relationship with Aelin is interesting to read.
Aelin is growing as a character.  You get to see so much of her character in this book.  Her skill as a warrior, her smarts and cunning, her caring and her humour.  There's many layers to her.
There is a lot going on in this book.  I loved hearing from multiple characters point of views, characters from the previous books, as well as a couple of new ones.
I don't want to spoil the book for anyone- and anyone who is a fan of the series is going to pick this one up anyway, but for anyone that hasn't yet read this series- YOU NEED TO.
One of my favourites.
5/5 stars.

Read from September 01 to 14, 2015

September 2015 Huge Book Haul/In My Mailbox

Waiting On Wednesday 16/09/2015 'A Thousand Nights'

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

This week the book that I'm waiting to be released is A Thousand Nights by E.K. Johnston.
A re-telling of 1001 Nights, and I NEED that cover in my life.  It is simply stunning.
Released Octover 22nd.

Lo-Melkhiin killed three hundred girls before he came to my village, looking for a wife. When Lo-Melkhiin - a formidable king - arrives at her desert home, she knows that he will take her beautiful sister for a wife. Desperate to save her sister from certain death, she makes the ultimate sacrifice - leaving home and family behind to live with a fearful man. But it seems that a strange magic flows between her and Lo-Melkhiin, and night after night, she survives. Finding power in storytelling, the words she speaks are given strange life of their own. Little things, at first: a dress from home, a vision of her sister. But she dreams of bigger, more terrible magic: power enough to save a king ...if only she can stop her heart from falling for a monster.

Set against a harsh desert backdrop, A Thousand Nights by E K Johnston is an evocative tale of love, mystery and magic that would not feel out of place if Scheherazade herself were telling it. And perhaps she is...

W...W...W...Wednesday 16/09/2015

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 Tempting The Best Man by Jennifer Armentrout

I recently finished reading Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

I think my next read will be Me, Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews

Art Therapy | Enchanted Forest by Johanna Basford [1.2]

Teaser Tuesday 15/09/2015 'Tempting the Best Man'

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 pageShare 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's teaser comes from page 28 of Tempting the Best Man by Jennifer Armentrout.

 

"He always had to stand close.  Like right now, there was barely an inch between their bodies.  She could feel the natural heat that rolled off him and if she closed her eyes, she was pretty sure she could remember what it felt like to have his arms around her, cradling her to his hard chest as his hand skated under the hem of the dress she'd worn just for him, sliding up...

Madison pulled herself from the memory.  So not going there."

 

Kiss Me Like This (Morrisons #1) by Bella Andre

Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 4051 KB
Print Length: 300 pages
ISBN: 1938127463
ASIN: B00IS8VATQ
 From New York Times bestselling author, Bella Andre, comes a New Adult contemporary romance series about The Morrisons!


“KISS ME LIKE THIS is pure Bella Andre magic—sweet, sexy and enrapturing as her books always are—but this time around it's got a good, healthy slice of New Adult edge to it that makes it even more fun to read. Don't miss this one!” ~ Jasinda Wilder, NYT bestselling author


"KISS ME LIKE THIS is an absolute must read for 2014 and had me obsessed until the very last page. Fans of New Adult will rejoice! Bella Andre is at her best, you'll laugh, cry, sigh, and yes probably swoon. This is the reason I read--for books that take my breath away." #1 NYT Bestselling Author Rachel Van Dyken


BOOK DESCRIPTION: Sean Morrison, one of six siblings and the top college baseball player in the country, is reeling from a heartbreakingly painful loss. Nothing seems to matter anymore...until the night Serena Britten unexpectedly ends up in his arms.


Serena is a world-famous model who has only ever wanted to be normal, even though her mother has always pushed her to become a superstar. Though it isn't easy to try to leave everyone and everything she knows behind, Serena is determined to enroll in college. More than anything, she wants to turn her love for books into a new career that she actually loves. Only, she never expected to meet someone like Sean on campus—or to be instantly consumed by their incredible chemistry and connection.


But when the pressures of her high-profile modeling career only get bigger and more demanding, will it make living a normal life as a college student—and falling in love with the hottest guy on campus—impossible?


(Note: Serena made an appearance in JUST TO BE WITH YOU, part of "The Sullivans" series! KISS ME LIKE THIS is a full-length, standalone New Adult contemporary romance novel of 300+ pages/90,000 words and is intended for readers 18+.)

But he didn't seem to need her to finish her sentence as he said, “I know. When you kiss me, it's like that for me, too.”

Cover:  Just the sort of sickly sweet cover that I love.  Unashamedly.

I'm a big fan of Bella Andre's adult contemporary series- The Sullivans.  I devour each book in that series.  So when I saw that Bella was venturing into the world of New Adult fiction, I was so excited- practically giddy.
Because New Adult fiction is something I've really been enjoying over the past year or so now.
And I wasn't disappointed.
I loved it.
Sean and Serena were adorable.  I loved how they each had their probelms, but together they helped each other through them.  They were each what the other needed.
Sean is grieving the loss of his mother- going through life and college numb.
Until he sees Serena dancing at a party and is immediately drawn to her.
Serena has gone against her mother's wishes.  Her mother wants a glamorous modeling and acting career for her daughter- living vicariously through her.
But that isn't Serena's dream.  Serena dreams of college and working with books in some way.
So that's what she does- enroling in college against her mother.
Being a celebrity on campus proves hard.  Until she meets Sean- who doesn't know who she is at first.  And even when he does- he just sees Serena the girl, not Serena the model.
I really loved this one.  A cute, feel good read.
I did love how there was no arbitrary angst or arguments.  No sily misunderstandings or splitting up and getting back together.  That is something that begins to grate on the nerves after a while.
So this made a really nice change.
I enjoyed seeing the cameos of a couple of The Sullivans.
I also loved having both Sean and Serena's points of view- I love it when a novel has that.  I love hearing from both protagonists.

4.5/5 stars.

Read from July 28 to 30,2015

August 2015 Favourites

Waiting On Wednesday 09/09/2015 'Furiously Happy'

 

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 Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About HorribleThings by Jenny Lawson.
Released 28th September.
Whilst I own Let's Pretend This Never Happened, I love the sound of it and can't wait to pick it up.
So this was on my radar, and I just love this cover.  A lot.

In LET'S PRETEND THIS NEVER HAPPENED, Jenny Lawson baffled readers with stories about growing up the daughter of a taxidermist. In her new book, FURIOUSLY HAPPY, Jenny explores her lifelong battle with mental illness. A hysterical, ridiculous book about crippling depression and anxiety? That sounds like a terrible idea. And terrible ideas are what Jenny does best.

According to Jenny: "Some people might think that being 'furiously happy' is just an excuse to be stupid and irresponsible and invite a herd of kangaroos over to your house without telling your husband first because you suspect he would say no since he's never particularly liked kangaroos. And that would be ridiculous because no one would invite a herd of kangaroos into their house. Two is the limit. I speak from personal experience. My husband says that none is the new limit. I say he should have been clearer about that before I rented all those kangaroos."

"Most of my favorite people are dangerously fucked-up but you'd never guess because we've learned to bare it so honestly that it becomes the new normal. Like John Hughes wrote in The Breakfast Club, 'We're all pretty bizarre. Some of us are just better at hiding it.' Except go back and cross out the word 'hiding.'"

Jenny's first book, LET'S PRETEND THIS NEVER HAPPENED, was ostensibly about family, but deep down it was about celebrating your own weirdness. FURIOUSLY HAPPY is a book about mental illness, but under the surface it's about embracing joy in fantastic and outrageous ways-and who doesn't need a bit more of that?

W...W...W...Wednesday 09/09/2015

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?

Still currently reading Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

The last book I finished is still Sweet Rome by Tillie Cole

I think my next read will be Castle Hill by Samantha Young

Teaser Tuesday 08/09/2015 'Queen of Shadows'

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 pageShare 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's teaser again comes from Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas.
Page 283.



"Gods, his side hurt badly enough he thought he might be bleeding.
The Fae Prince spoke so quietly that even Aelin couldn't hear.  "Your queen gave you an order to stop- for your own good.  Because she needs you healthy, and because it pains her to see you injured.  Do not ignore her command next time."
Aedion was wise enough not to snap a retort, nor to move as the prince dug in the tips of his sticks a little harder.  "And," Rowan added, "if you ever speak to her again the way you did last night, I'll rip out your tongue and shove it down your throat.  Understood?""

The Prince and I (The Oxenburg Princes #2) by Karen Hawkins

Format: Kindle Edition
Print Length: 400 pages
Publisher: Headline Eternal (25 Aug. 2015)
ASIN: B00S53JES8 From New York Times bestselling author Karen Hawkins, the lively and sizzling second book in a new fairytale-based Scottish historical romance series, The Princes of Oxenburg.

Max Romanovin, Oxenburg’s warrior prince, is escorting his grandmother to a house party deep in the Highlands when he and his entourage are robbed at sword point by a group of ruffians led by a man the locals have dubbed “The Scottish Robin Hood.” The battle-savvy prince instantly realizes there’s something different about this thief, and it’s not just the Scottish accent—it’s the fact that “he” is really a “she.”

Lady Murian, a young widow out for revenge against the powerful earl who killed her husband and stole his birthright, is now living in the woods with her family’s banished retainers. To stay alive, she and her band of men rob rich nobles coming to visit the evil earl. But when she ambushes the Prince of Oxenburg’s golden coach, she gets far more than she expected. For when the prince uncovers her true identity, she’s afraid that he might be the real thief…of her heart.

Cover:  I really the covers for this series.  Typical Regency covers but I love how vibrant they are.  Some of my favourites.

I read the first book in this series a couple of months ago - and instantly fell in love with the writing, the characters, the humour and the romance.  I found a new author that I'm looking forward to making my way though all of her books.
Book one, The Prince Who Loved Me was a Regency reimagining of Cinderella.
This second installment, The Prince and I, is a reimagining of Robin Hood.  And I loved it as much as the first.
Max is a soldier, Prince second.  He's seen too many wives become widows, and children lose their fathers- to want to do that to someone. 
Determined to stay away unattached he accompanies his grandmother on a visit to Scotland.
Where he is promptly held up by a gang of thieves- and thrown into a sword fight with the gangs fiery and intriguing leader.
Once unmasked as a woman, Max is irrevocally drawn to the frutratingly determinded woman fighting to reclaim her castle that was stolen from her and her loyal band of retainers.
I loved how this was a retelling of Robin Hood- and you could really tell.
This was a really fun, light hearted read.
I loved how tough and kick ass Murian was.  I really loved and respected her.
And Max was definitely a swoonworthy Prince.
I've really become a fan of Karen Hawkins writing.  She really endears me to her characters.
Highly recommend for fans of Regency Romance.
4.5/5 stars.
I'm really looking forward to the next installment in this series.

Read from August 07 to 10, 2015

August 2015 Reading Wrap Up

W...W...W...Wednesday 01/09/2015

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 Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

I recently finished reading Sweet Rome by Tillie Cole

I think my next read will be Raze by Tillie Cole

Waiting On Wednesday 'The Weight of Feathers'

 

Waiting on Wednesday is all about sharing the books that I'm eagerly waiting to be released.
This week the book that I'm waiting on is The Weight of Feathers by Anna-Marie McLemore.
I'm not 100% sure that the actual release date for this one as Goodreads says released September 15th and other places say 12th October.
But it is one of my most highly anticipated releases so didn't want to miss the opportunity to feature it.

For twenty years, the Palomas and the Corbeaus have been rivals and enemies, locked in an escalating feud for over a generation. Both families make their living as traveling performers in competing shows—the Palomas swimming in mermaid exhibitions, the Corbeaus, former tightrope walkers, performing in the tallest trees they can find.

Lace Paloma may be new to her family’s show, but she knows as well as anyone that the Corbeaus are pure magia negra, black magic from the devil himself. Simply touching one could mean death, and she's been taught from birth to keep away. But when disaster strikes the small town where both families are performing, it’s a Corbeau boy, Cluck, who saves Lace’s life. And his touch immerses her in the world of the Corbeaus, where falling for him could turn his own family against him, and one misstep can be just as dangerous on the ground as it is in the trees.

Beautifully written, and richly imaginative, The Weight of Feathers is an utterly captivating young adult novel by a talented new voice.

Teaser Tuesday 01/09/2015 'Queen of Shadows'

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 pageShare 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's teaser comes from page 22 of Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas.




"She stared flatly at him, and then said, "through years of stealing knowledge and some strange archaic power, the King has been able to stifle magic, while also summoning ancient demons to infiltrate human bodies for his growing army.  He uses rings or collars of black stone to allow the demons to invade their hosts, and he's been targeting former magic wielders as their gifts make it easier for the demons to latch on."
Truth, truth, trust- but not the whole truth."