I Want To Read That

I want to read that...

2016-03-18T06:00:00.000+00:00

The Art of Not Breathing by Sarah Alexandra

From Goodreads: One minute Eddie was there. And the next he was gone.

Five years on, and it’s Elsie who’s lost. All she knows is the pain she feels. Pain that her twin Eddie’s body has never been found after that day on the beach.

Then she meets Tay; confident, cool and addicted to free-diving. He says it’s too dangerous for her to join; it’s too dark, too scary, too deep. But what does he know?

He doesn’t know that being underwater is the only time Elsie doesn’t ache for her brother. That diving gives her flashbacks. And that uncovering the secrets of that day is the only way for Elsie to start breathing again.

This sounds soooooo good! I want to read it right now! Luckily I don't have too long a wait - it is published 1st Arpil by Usborne (UK) and 26th April (in the US)

Fallout (Lois Lane) by Gwenda Bond

2016-03-17T12:12:00.000+00:00

From Goodreads: Lois Lane is starting a new life in Metropolis. An Army brat, Lois has lived all over—and seen all kinds of things. (Some of them defy explanation, like the near-disaster she witnessed in Kansas in the middle of one night.) But now her family is putting down roots in the big city, and Lois is determined to fit in. Stay quiet. Fly straight. As soon as she steps into her new high school, though, she can see it won’t be that easy. A group known as the Warheads is making life miserable for another girl at school. They’re messing with her mind, somehow, via the high-tech immersive videogame they all play. Not cool. Armed with her wit and her new snazzy job as a reporter, Lois has her sights set on solving this mystery. But sometimes it’s all a bit much. Thank goodness for her maybe-more-than-a friend, a guy she knows only by his screenname, SmallvilleGuy.

I have been super excited about this book - I really liked the idea of a teen Lois Lane! And I did enjoy it overall.

I loved the setting and the characters - especially Lois. I thought the world was really set up in this and while I wasn't the biggest fan of the whole gaming side of the story (I think this is more personal taste as I'm not that interested in gaming or virtual worlds) I did like the way it enabled Lois to connect with 'SmallvilleGuy' - and I'm assuming it will continue to do so in future books. I really liked that dynamic - having him be a part of the whole but making sure this felt like Lois' story.

As I said - overall I really liked this one and will definitely be picking up the next book in the series. I am very interested in seeing how this series progresses!

Looking forward to book 2!

I want to read that...

2016-02-08T06:00:00.000+00:00

The Love That Split the World by Emily Henry

From Goodreads: Natalie Cleary must risk her future and leap blindly into a vast unknown for the chance to build a new world with the boy she loves.

Natalie’s last summer in her small Kentucky hometown is off to a magical start... until she starts seeing the “wrong things.” They’re just momentary glimpses at first—her front door is red instead of its usual green, there’s a pre-school where the garden store should be. But then her whole town disappears for hours, fading away into rolling hills and grazing buffalo, and Nat knows something isn’t right.

That’s when she gets a visit from the kind but mysterious apparition she calls “Grandmother,” who tells her: “You have three months to save him.” The next night, under the stadium lights of the high school football field, she meets a beautiful boy named Beau, and it’s as if time just stops and nothing exists. Nothing, except Natalie and Beau.

Emily Henry’s stunning debut novel is Friday Night Lights meets The Time Traveler’s Wife, and perfectly captures those bittersweet months after high school, when we dream not only of the future, but of all the roads and paths we’ve left untaken.

Friday Night Lights crossed with The Time Traveler's Wife? YES PLEASE!!!

It's published 13th February.

The Year We Fell Apart by Emily Martin

2016-02-05T06:00:00.000+00:00

From Goodreads: In the tradition of Sarah Dessen, this powerful debut novel is a compelling portrait of a young girl coping with her mother’s cancer as she figures out how to learn from—and fix—her past.

Few things come as naturally to Harper as epic mistakes. In the past year she was kicked off the swim team, earned a reputation as Carson High’s easiest hook-up, and officially became the black sheep of her family. But her worst mistake was destroying her relationship with her best friend, Declan.

Now, after two semesters of silence, Declan is home from boarding school for the summer. Everything about him is different—he’s taller, stronger…more handsome. Harper has changed, too, especially in the wake of her mom’s cancer diagnosis.

While Declan wants nothing to do with Harper, he’s still Declan, her Declan, and the only person she wants to talk to about what’s really going on. But he’s also the one person she’s lost the right to seek comfort from.

As their mutual friends and shared histories draw them together again, Harper and Declan must decide which parts of their past are still salvageable, and which parts they’ll have to let go of once and for all.

In this honest and affecting tale of friendship and first love, Emily Martin brings to vivid life the trials and struggles of high school and the ability to learn from past mistakes over the course of one steamy North Carolina summer.

I had been looking forward to this one for ages and I am pleased to say I really enjoyed it! Very character driven - I found myself reading through it quickly. I liked Harper - she very mixed up and not making the best decisions but I think it's the flaws that can really make or break a character and for me it made her much more real. I also loved Declan and Cory - I love the idea of growing up with people and having them be your friends for years. And I thought Mack and Gwen gave a good balance to Sadie - who I really could not warm to.

The romance was great but there were a few elements to the story I wish had been wrapped up more (her mother's storyline and her relationship with Sadie) but overall I thought it was an impressive debut. I will definitely be picking up her next book!

Cover Wars: The Lie Tree

2016-02-04T14:29:00.001+00:00

UK/US

I will admit I do love the US cover - the is just something about it! Having said that I like the UK cover - it looks adult-esque which is good but I'd be more likely to pick up the US one.

Either way I really need to read it!

Which do you prefer?

I want to read that...

2015-10-28T06:00:00.000+00:00

The Year We Fell Apart by Emily Martin

From Goodreads: In the tradition of Sarah Dessen, this powerful debut novel is a compelling portrait of a young girl coping with her mother’s cancer as she figures out how to learn from—and fix—her past.

Few things come as naturally to Harper as epic mistakes. In the past year she was kicked off the swim team, earned a reputation as Carson High’s easiest hook-up, and officially became the black sheep of her family. But her worst mistake was destroying her relationship with her best friend, Declan.

Now, after two semesters of silence, Declan is home from boarding school for the summer. Everything about him is different—he’s taller, stronger…more handsome. Harper has changed, too, especially in the wake of her mom’s cancer diagnosis.

While Declan wants nothing to do with Harper, he’s still Declan, her Declan, and the only person she wants to talk to about what’s really going on. But he’s also the one person she’s lost the right to seek comfort from.

As their mutual friends and shared histories draw them together again, Harper and Declan must decide which parts of their past are still salvageable, and which parts they’ll have to let go of once and for all.

In this honest and affecting tale of friendship and first love, Emily Martin brings to vivid life the trials and struggles of high school and the ability to learn from past mistakes over the course of one steamy North Carolina summer.

*Grabby Hands* This sound so good! It's published 2016.

Torn Away by Jennifer Brown

2015-10-23T06:00:00.000+01:00

From Goodreads: Jersey Cameron has always loved a good storm. Watching the clouds roll in and the wind pick up. Smelling the electricity in the air. Dancing barefoot in the rain. She lives in the Midwest, after all, where the weather is sure to keep you guessing. Jersey knows what to do when the tornado sirens sound. But she never could have prepared for this.

When her town is devastated by a tornado, Jersey loses everything. As she struggles to overcome her grief, she's sent to live with relatives she hardly knows-family who might as well be strangers. In an unfamiliar place, can Jersey discover that even on the darkest of days, there are some things no tornado can destroy?

In this powerful and poignant novel, acclaimed author Jennifer Brown delivers a story of love, loss, hope, and survival.

I admit I was a bit conflicted about this one. I was sucked in straight away and the beginning was amazing (and scary!) but it kind of lost its way a bit in the middle for me. It really picked up again towards the end and I spent that section of the book wishing there had been more of it as I wanted to know what happened next.

I really like Jennifer Brown's writing style and characters. I loved the way Jersey remembered her sister and mother - you really felt the grief in those moments. Jersey really does have a rough time and I have to say really hated Ron!

Although not my favourite of her books - The Hate List still holds the top spot - this is still good and and worth checking out.

I want to read that...

2015-10-21T06:00:00.000+01:00

Truthwitch by Susan Dennard

From Goodreads: On a continent ruled by three empires, some are born with a “witchery”, a magical skill that sets them apart from others.

In the Witchlands, there are almost as many types of magic as there are ways to get in trouble—as two desperate young women know all too well.

Safiya is a Truthwitch, able to discern truth from lie. It’s a powerful magic that many would kill to have on their side, especially amongst the nobility to which Safi was born. So Safi must keep her gift hidden, lest she be used as a pawn in the struggle between empires.

Iseult, a Threadwitch, can see the invisible ties that bind and entangle the lives around her—but she cannot see the bonds that touch her own heart. Her unlikely friendship with Safi has taken her from life as an outcast into one of reckless adventure, where she is a cool, wary balance to Safi’s hotheaded impulsiveness.

Safi and Iseult just want to be free to live their own lives, but war is coming to the Witchlands. With the help of the cunning Prince Merik (a Windwitch and ship’s captain) and the hindrance of a Bloodwitch bent on revenge, the friends must fight emperors, princes, and mercenaries alike, who will stop at nothing to get their hands on a Truthwitch.

I'm LOVING the sound of this one! It's published January 2016

Find Me by Romily Bernard

2015-10-19T06:00:00.000+01:00

From Goodreads:

A girl is dead…

A killer’s closing in…

And two little words are the only clue…

“Find Me”.

These are the words that Wick Tate finds in Tessa Wayne’s diary. And now Tessa has been found … dead. Does someone out there really expect Wick to uncover the truth about her death?

An expert computer hacker, Wick has the skills for the job, but with the threat of her ex-con dad returning, the detective hunting him sniffing around and new foster parents to keep happy, getting involved with a murder case is the last thing she wants to do. Until her little sister, Lily, is the next target.

Foster child. Daughter of a felon. Loner hacker-girl. Wick has a bad attitude and sarcasm to spare. And now she’s going to find this killer, no matter what it takes. Because it just got personal.

I really enjoyed this one! It was pleasantly intense and a very intriguing mystery.

I really liked the main character - Wick - I thought she had a great back story to explain her involvement in the mystery. Sometimes those scenarios can feel forced but I liked this set up and am very keen to see how that progresses in the next two novels. Especially given the set up at the end of this book!

Nice and creepy in places too. And I did not work it out in advance - bonus! I also really liked Griff and am looking forward to seeing how their friendship develops.

I will definitely be reading more in the series!

All The Rage by Courtney Summers

2015-10-16T06:00:00.000+01:00

From Goodreads: The sheriff’s son, Kellan Turner, is not the golden boy everyone thinks he is, and Romy Grey knows that for a fact. Because no one wants to believe a girl from the wrong side of town, the truth about him has cost her everything—friends, family, and her community. Branded a liar and bullied relentlessly by a group of kids she used to hang out with, Romy’s only refuge is the diner where she works outside of town. No one knows her name or her past there; she can finally be anonymous. But when a girl with ties to both Romy and Kellan goes missing after a party, and news of him assaulting another girl in a town close by gets out, Romy must decide whether she wants to fight or carry the burden of knowing more girls could get hurt if she doesn’t speak up. Nobody believed her the first time—and they certainly won’t now — but the cost of her silence might be more than she can bear.　

With a shocking conclusion and writing that will absolutely knock you out, All the Rage examines the shame and silence inflicted upon young women after an act of sexual violence, forcing us to ask ourselves: In a culture that refuses to protect its young girls, how can they survive?

I am a massive fan of Courtney Summer's books and this one is no exception. It is so good!

It is a very powerful story and I found myself sucked into it straight away. Summers' always has the knack of putting me right in there with the main character and really experiencing how they feel. I felt very angry when I was reading this!

Rape is a tough subject to write about and do it justice. There are no easy answers here and I thought Summers' really managed to capture that with this novel. What happens to Romy is awful but the problem is that it does happen - and that in itself is very, very scary.

My only complaint is that I didn't feel as much of a connection between Romy and Leon as I had from the characters in her previous novels. But in some ways that too felt true to Romy's character - the place she was in during the events of this story meant she would probably have been taking very timid steps before establishing a relationship.

Another brilliant read from Courtney Summers. I can't wait to read whatever she writes next.

I want to read that...

2015-10-14T06:00:00.000+01:00

A Week of Mondays by Jessica Brody

From Goodreads: The story of a sixteen-year-old girl having the worst day of her life, culminating in an unexpected break up, which then begins repeating itself, pitched as Groundhog Day meets Why We Broke Up.

A long wait for this one as it isn't published until August 2016 but I can't wait! It sounds amazing and I have loved all of Jessica Brody's books!

Also how awesome is that cover!!! *grabby hands*

I Knew You Were Trouble by Paige Toon

2015-10-12T06:00:00.000+01:00

From Goodreads: Life as the undercover daughter of a rock god isn't going to be easy. How will Jessie adjust to her old boring life again after spending her summer living it up with her dad in LA? With tough decisions ahead (and not just choosing between two hot boys), can she cope juggling her two very different lives?

Summer may be over, but Jessie's story is just beginning…

I really do love this series and the world they are set in. Johnny Jefferson (be still my heart!) is awesome and I love all the drama!

In this installment we get to see how Jessie copes with being Johnny Jefferson's daughter as well as her ever increasingly complicated love life. I thoroughly enjoyed it and am now desperate for the next book! I hope Paige Toon wrties many, many more!

I would still love more Barney scenes because he is the cutest character ever - and I'd like to see more of Jessie interacting with the family as a whole. This really is becoming one of my favourite series. I can really see it as a TV series (and have spent much too long googling actors I'd love to see play the characters...)

Accidental Life of Jessie Jefferson by Paige Toon

2015-10-09T06:00:00.000+01:00

From Goodreads: The first YA fiction novel, from the bestselling adult author Paige Toon.

Meet Jessie, the daughter of Johnny Jefferson, as featured in Johnny Be Good and Baby Be Mine…

My fifteenth birthday was the worst day of my life, and it's inconceivable to think that any single day in my future will ever be as bad. My mum was killed in a freak accident on her way to pick up my cake. Even when there was still no sign of her after two hours later, and my friends started to arrive at our house, it never occurred to me that she wouldn't be coming back.

That was six months ago. My mum died without telling me who my real dad was. And for a while I hated her for it. I thought she's taken the secret of my father's identity with her forever. But she didn't. Holy hell, she didn't. Because three weeks ago I found out the truth. And I'm still reeling from the shock of it. My dad is none other than Johnny Jefferson, mega famous rock star and one-time serial womaniser. And now I'm on my way to LA to meet him and his family.

My tiny little world has just got a whole lot bigger…

Having loved all the books I've read my Paige Toon it comes as no surprise to me that I LOVED this! It's SO good! I loved Jessie, the setting, her relationship with her step dad, finding out who her real dad is, and then her meeting the famous Johnny Jefferson! I think having been a massive fan of the adult novels set in this world I was even more excited to catch up with Johnny, Meg and Barney (who is seriously cute! He needs more scenes!) and to meet Phoenix (also cute!) And I loved seeing them all though Jessie eyes (although I had to then question whether lusting after her dad was a bit weird…?) Anyway…

Can’t wait for more of this series – I have the feeling it will be one of my favourites. I'm looking forward to seeing how see copes with being Johnny Jefferson’s daughter and I can’t wait to see how her relationships with Jack and Tom pan out!

I want to read that...

2015-10-07T06:00:00.001+01:00

The Lies About Truth by Courtney C. Stevens

From Goodreads: Sadie Kingston, is a girl living in the aftermath. A year after surviving a car accident that killed her friend Trent and left her body and face scarred, she can’t move forward. The only person who seems to understand her is Trent’s brother, Max.

As Sadie begins to fall for Max, she's unsure if she is truly healed enough to be with him — even if Max is able to look at her scars and not shy away. But when the truth about the accident and subsequent events comes to light, Sadie has to decide if she can embrace the future or if she'll always be trapped in the past.

I still need to read Faking Normal but this sounds so good I have already preordered it! It's published November 2015.

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Bookish Things I Want to Quit Or Have Quit

2015-10-06T06:00:00.000+01:00

Hosted by The Broke and Bookish

Bookish things I want to quit....

* Finishing a book if I hate it. If I'm not feeling it that's it!

* Love triangles. I kind of love and hate these. If done right they can be really good but in every series? Not so much.

* Cliff hanger endings. The only way to avoid this is to wait for the whole series to be published.

* A year long wait between books. Honestly I am starting to hate this. I guess it ties into the cliff hanger endings bit but knowing there is such a long wait between the books just makes me want to wait for them all to be published!

* Buying ALL the books of a series before I read it! I need to at least read book one first to see if I like it!

* Carrying on with a series when it should have finished about 5 books earlier. Or a series that I've stopped caring about. Why bother?

* Buying more books than I can read. (I think I'm kidding myself with this one lol)

* Collecting bookmarks. I have this addiction for them but I never use one. What is that about?

* Keeping every single book. Even ones I didn't particularly like. I have no more room! Seriously books are everywhere! I have to keep only those I know I'll read again in the future! And maybe those with really nice covers...

* Buying /keeping books because I love the cover. Really ridiculous but I do it all the time!

* Re-buying books because the publishers change the cover mid way through a series (this is sooooooo annoying - why? WHY DO THEY DO IT!!!!) But I need to live with it and not waste my money. I can do it.... maybe....

So that's my list.. What about you? Let me know in the comments below.

Johnny Girl by Paige Toon

2015-10-05T06:00:00.000+01:00

From Goodreads: Meg's life has taken a turn for the perfect. She is the envy of millions with her drop dead gorgeous husband, their two beautiful sons and her new mansion in Henley. Her celebrity PA days are over. But desperate to keep up with her rock star husband, Johnny Jefferson, she uproots her perfect family and moves back to LA.

Meg has to learn to live with her new celebrity status and the insecurities of her old life, which keep reappearing. Under the paparazzi flash of an A-List party, complete with red carpet, champagne and canapés, Johnny's rock star past catches up with him and Meg's worst nightmare becomes a reality…

This is a great short story. I loved catching up again with Meg and Johnny to see how they are getting on – and it sets the scene for The Accidental Life of Jessie Jefferson. I think the idea of this was actually hinted at in Baby be Mine – and I'm glad to see Meg and Johnny react realistically to this turn of events. It wouldn't be easy – and considering Johnny’s past it must be rather unsettling for Meg so I'm very interested to see how it plays out and to see them as a couple through Jessie’s eyes.

So yes I picked up The Accidental life of Jessie Jefferson straight away…

Unremembered by Jessica Brody

2015-10-02T06:00:00.000+01:00

Publisher: Macmillan
ISBN 9781447265528
Release Date: 27 February 2014 (previously published 2013)
Source: Provided for review by the publisher

From Goodreads: Sixteen-year-old Sera is the only survivor of an explosion on a plane. She wakes up in hospital to find that she has no memory. The only clue to her identity is a mysterious boy who claims she was part of a top-secret science experiment. The only adult she trusts insists that she shouldn’t believe anything that anybody tells her. In a tense and pacy novel exploding with intrigue and action, Sera must work out who she is and where she came from. Eventually she will learn that the only thing worse than forgetting her past is remembering it.

This is quite different from Jessica brody’s previous YA contemp novels – but at the same time everything I liked about them is still present here.

This is one of those books that is hard to talk about without giving spoilers – it definitely best to go in not knowing anything about it and let it unfold. I really, really enjoyed it and had no idea what was going to happen or where the author was going to take us! I can’t wait to read the rest of the trilogy because I really want to know what happens next.

Great characters, a brilliant plot and romance to die for (I really loved this element of the book!).

I want to read that...

2015-10-01T06:00:00.000+01:00

A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis

From Goodreads: Grace Mae knows madness.

She keeps it locked away, along with her voice, trapped deep inside a brilliant mind that cannot forget horrific family secrets. Those secrets, along with the bulge in her belly, land her in a Boston insane asylum.

When her voice returns in a burst of violence, Grace is banished to the dark cellars, where her mind is discovered by a visiting doctor who dabbles in the new study of criminal psychology. With her keen eyes and sharp memory, Grace will make the perfect assistant at crime scenes. Escaping from Boston to the safety of an ethical Ohio asylum, Grace finds friendship and hope, hints of a life she should have had. But gruesome nights bring Grace and the doctor into the circle of a killer who stalks young women. Grace, continuing to operate under the cloak of madness, must hunt a murderer while she confronts the demons in her own past.

In this beautifully twisted historical thriller, Mindy McGinnis, acclaimed author of Not a Drop to Drink and In a Handful of Dust, explores the fine line between sanity and insanity, good and evil—and the madness that exists in all of us.

WANT!!!

Luckily I don't have long to wait - it is published next week on the 6th October.

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Books To Read If You Like All The Rage by Courtney Summers

2015-09-29T18:00:00.000+01:00

Top Ten Tuesday is a feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish every Tuesday.

I am a massive fan of Courtney Summers new novel All The Rage so I thought I'd round up books I think you'd like just as much!

Some Girls Are and Cracked Up to Be by Courtney Summers.
Almost by Ann Eliott
What Happen's Next by Colleen Clayton
Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Some Boys by Patty Blount
Raw Blue by Kirsty Eagar
You Against Me by Jenny Downham
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Asking For It by Louise O'Neill

Three Little Words: They Mean So Much by Jessica Thompson

2015-09-29T06:00:00.000+01:00

From Goodreads: As a dark evening draws in, the lives of three women are changed forever.

The worlds they have been living in, the people they thought they knew - in an instant it all changes.

But when everything seems to shatter around them, could three little words be enough to help put the pieces back together again?

It took me a while to get into this. The story is told from several characters points of view and the first few chapters introduce them - building the story - but I found it hard to connect to the characters at first. Once the story gets going I found I enjoyed it a lot more and I loved Bryony's story. I really liked her as a character and loved finding out about her relationship with Max and her growing relationship with Adam. I also enjoyed Keon's story and wish there had been more of it - it was interesting to read about a person who had done something awful but is someone who regrets it and wishes he could undo it. Although I wasn't as invested in Sara or Rachel's story I did enjoy seeing how they were all connected.

Overall I'm glad I read this. I really did enjoy Bryony and Keon's story and based on that, I would be interested in reading more books by this author.

On Writing A Series… With Karen Saunders (Suzy P Blog Tour)

2015-01-26T06:00:00.000+00:00

I love Suzy P so was super excited to host a stop on the Suzy P Blog tour! If you haven't read this series by Karen Saunders yet I recommend you get reading soon - they are ace!

I'll hand you over to Karen, who has stopped by to talk about writing a series...
---

Photo Credit: Neil Griffithsweb

On Writing A Series… With Karen Saunders

Hiya, I’m Karen Saunders, the author of the Suzy P series. Thanks for having me here today!

Suzy P, Forever Me is the third book in the Suzy series, following on from Me, Suzy P and Suzy P and the Trouble With Three. They all feature fourteen-year-old Suzy Puttock, a girl with an embarrassing name, embarrassing family, and altogether embarrassing life. Poor Suzy’s always landing herself in scrapes and saying things she shouldn’t – this time around she’s promised her entire school she can get super-famous band The Drifting to play at their fundraiser, and she’s having to help Mum plan Dad’s surprise birthday party. To make things even worse, both events are happening on the same day… how’s Suzy going to sort out the mess she’s made this time?!

I sat down to write the third Suzy P at the end of 2013. I’m not going to lie, my deadline was pretty tight and I was feeling apprehensive about whether or not I was going to get the book written in time.

I also knew this was likely to be the last Suzy book, so I wanted to make it really good, and finish the series on a high. One of the hardest things was figuring out what the ‘theme’ of the book was going to be, the first one focuses on relationships, the second on friendships, and the third was eventually decided to be about growing up and finding yourself.

The plot took a bit of thrashing out between myself and my editor, but eventually we’d got the outline of how we wanted the story to be. It’s changed since then, although not drastically, this quite often happens when I start to write and realise that things I’ve included in the synopsis aren’t going to work in the book itself. For example, in the original synopsis, Suzy and her best friends all fell out towards the end of the story, but as I got towards writing this part I realised I didn’t want this to happen. I wanted all the friends to be pulling together and working as best they could to sort out the mess they’ve found themselves in.

It was also a bit tricky thinking of new and funny situations for Suzy to find herself in – luckily for me, not all my friends have cottoned on to the fact that if they tell me embarrassing stuff about themselves they may well find I’ve borrowed snippets of their life to put into the books! I was wondering about how to start the book when I had a conversation with a friend about something mortifying that had happened to her, and I adapted it so it could happen to Suzy – which became the basis for what happens in chapter one.

The nicest thing about writing a third book in a series like this is that all the characters feel like mates. It’s like having a catch up with old friends – you know exactly how they talk, their likes/dislikes, what they eat, wear, etc. So you can get straight on with the writing. I also really enjoy the process of deciding where to take their lives and thinking about what might have happened to them since the last book, it’s a lot of fun. This character arc has been particularly obvious with Amber, Suzy’s older sister – in the first book she was getting married, in the second she was pregnant, and in the third she’s trying to figure out how to juggle life with newborn twins.

Although the books are chronological, they can all be read as standalones too. I hope if you read one, you’ll like it enough to go and hunt out the other two! I’ve had such fun creating Suzy, her friendships and her life, I hope you enjoy reading the books as much as I’ve enjoyed writing them.

Thanks so much for having me on your blog!

--- Thanks Karen!

You can read my review for the first book, Me, Suzy P here. You can also read Suzy P's advice on Minimising Cringe aka How not to embarrass yourself ... which she kindly wrote after laughing for about an hour... here.

Suzy P, Forever Me; Suzy P and the Trouble With Three and Me, Suzy P by Karen Saunders are available to buy online and from all good bookshops. If you’d like to find out more about the books or the author, do visit Karen online at www.karensaunders.co.uk, ‘like’ her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/karensaunderswriter or follow Karen on Twitter @writingkaren. Suzy tweets too, @suzyputtock, so don’t forget to follow her, too!

Next stop on the tour is tomorrow over on Nayu's Reading Corner

Hard Time by Cara Mckenna (Blog Tour)

2014-11-07T16:57:00.000+00:00

Source: For review from publisher

From Goodreads: In this all-new novel from the author of Unbound, a woman with a rocky past finds romance in the last place she’d ever expect...

Annie Goodhouse doesn’t need to be warned about bad boys; good sense and an abusive ex have given her plenty of reasons to play it safe. But when she steps into her new role as outreach librarian for Cousins Correctional Facility, no amount of good sense can keep her mind—or eyes—off inmate Eric Collier.

Eric doesn’t claim to be innocent of the crime that landed him in prison. In fact, he’d do it again if that’s what it took to keep his family safe. Loyalty and force are what he knows. But meeting Annie makes him want to know more.

When Eric begins courting Annie through letters, they embark on a reckless, secret romance—a forbidden fantasy that neither imagines could ever be real…until early parole for Eric changes everything, and forces them both to face a past they can’t forget, and a desire they can’t deny.

I really enjoyed Hard Time! I was in the mood for an adult romance (with some sexy times!) so this proved perfect.

I really liked the characters and how they met - it was something a bit different for me. Annie is really sweet and I found her very easy to relate to - I liked that she is a librarian! And Eric is awesome. Yes their relationship is a bit insta-love - in a roll my eyes but secretly love it kind of way- so that's not a bad thing. And really liked those letters! I REALLY liked those letters! Usually I find there a thin line between a book being a great romance with some of those sexy times I was talking about or simple erotic fiction and I found Cara Mckenna did a great job of balancing it all - giving me just the right amount of each.

As I said, I really liked Eric and I enjoyed having his story unfold - the way you know he did something that he was in prison for - that he admits he deserved to go to prison for - but the reason behind it? Kind of made me like him even more... Plus him and Annie have seriously good chemistry!

I can't wait to read more of Mckenna's books - I've already bought myself a copy of Unbound!

Make sure you check out the rest of the blog tour - information is below:-)

Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick

2014-09-29T12:00:00.000+01:00

Source: For review

From Goodreads: Sometimes danger is hard to see... until it’s too late.

Britt Pfeiffer has trained to backpack the Teton Range, but she isn't prepared when her ex-boyfriend, who still haunts her every thought, wants to join her. Before Britt can explore her feelings for Calvin, an unexpected blizzard forces her to seek shelter in a remote cabin, accepting the hospitality of its two very handsome occupants—but these men are fugitives, and they take her hostage.

In exchange for her life, Britt agrees to guide the men off the mountain. As they set off, Britt knows she must stay alive long enough for Calvin to find her. The task is made even more complicated when Britt finds chilling evidence of a series of murders that have taken place there... and in uncovering this, she may become the killer’s next target.

But nothing is as it seems in the mountains, and everyone is keeping secrets, including Mason, one of her kidnappers. His kindness is confusing Britt. Is he an enemy? Or an ally?

BLACK ICE is New York Times bestselling author Becca Fitzpatrick’s riveting romantic thriller set against the treacherous backdrop of the mountains of Wyoming. Falling in love should never be this dangerous…

I really enjoyed this one. I read it in one sitting and couldn't wait to find out what happens.

Having recently read Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas I've come to the realisation that I don't have to like the main characters to enjoy the story. Which is a good thing as I started Black Ice pretty much hating all the characters! Britt was just a tad too spoiled and entitled, her best friend Korbie was seriously annoying and I disliked Calvin from the get-go. However, I did like Mason the first time we met him (his introduction made me laugh! I was so sure Britt was going to get caught out) and Britt completely grew on me as the story progressed. I love stories that have a personal journey for the main character and I really enjoyed reading about how she was so reliant on everyone else and suddenly she'd in a situation where she not only has to fend for herself but actually save herself.

I really like Becca Fitzpatrick's writing style - just like her Hush Hush series it kept me completely gripped. I did find some aspects of the story a bit predictable - or at least I thought I did but then I doubted myself quite a few times - but I loved how it all unfolds. Did some of Britt's decisions annoy me? Hell yes! But that was part of what kept me entertained.

I also like how this one ended. I don't want to say too much but I did really like it. I'm looking forward to reading whatever Becca FItzpatrick writes next.

Black Ice Book Trailer

2014-09-03T15:00:00.000+01:00

Here is the trailer for Becca Fitzpatrick's thrilling new novel, Black Ice, out on 7th October

Looks good right? I really enjoyed Black Ice and my review will be up towards the end of the month. In the meantime you can check out the brilliant new Black Ice microsite at http://blackicebook.co.uk/

Guest Post: The Most Important Qualities in a BFF (Since You've Been Gone Blog Tour)

2014-06-30T06:00:00.000+01:00

I'm really excited to launch the blog tour for Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson. I love her books so am so pleased to have her stop by today to talk about friendship and what it means to her...
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In my new book, Since You’ve Been Gone, there is a big focus on friendship. Friendship is hugely important to me, and I’m lucky to be friends with some of the most awesome, funny and kind people in the known universe. In thinking about what friendship means to me, and why friendship is important, I thought I would make a list of the most important qualities in a BFF (to possess yourself AND to find in others!)

1. Sense of humour
This is HUGE for me. I think my BFF is hysterically funny, and even if she doesn’t think the same about me, she laughs at my jokes, which is very kind. But we can always make each other laugh, and we get a kick out of the same shows and movies. I think this is CRUCIAL in a friendship. You don’t want to always be explaining to someone why something is funny.

2. Snack compatibility
Again, VERY important for me. My BFF is a vegetarian, so we get a lot of veggie food, but she also doesn’t care if I scarf down a burger in front of her. And we like the same movie snacks, which is crucial. We also know each other’s snack preferences, and so she knows what to bring me (and what I need to bring her) if we’re taking a trip together. The one thing she likes that I can’t get on board with is black licorice (EW) but I figure that nobody’s perfect.

3. Kindness
This is such a simple thing, but it seems to be missing from so many friendships, especially those horrible toxic drama-filled ones. It doesn’t have to be that way! You need a BFF who is going to be rooting for you, who’s on your team, who’s happy when good things happen to you and wants to celebrate with dance parties or ice cream or both.

4. Hangout time
This also seems simple, but it’s really a huge bonus if you and your BFF like to do the same stuff. My best friend and I spent more time than I can calculate wandering around New York City, getting Starbucks, and ducking into stores. Sometimes we wouldn’t even try anything on, and sometimes we spent money we REALLY didn’t have. But the actual shopping didn’t matter – it was just a way to keep talking, to keep the endless conversation going. We could have done any number of things. But liking to do the same stuff just makes hanging out for hours (crucial in any BFF-ship) so much simpler.

5. Nothing is too trivial
One of the best things about having a BFF is being able to call someone up because you’re just having too many feelings about the episode of TV you’re watching. Or because your haircut turned out horribly. Or just because you read a tabloid story about Jennifer Lawrence and are concerned. I think one of the best things about BFF-dom is having them there for the big, important stuff, but also the little trivial stuff.
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Thanks Morgan. I concur with all of these!

Since You've Been Gone is published 3 July.

Make sure you check out the rest of the tour - details are below: