Naomi's Book Reviews

Kindle Sample: Entangled by Cat Clarke

2012-02-01T07:00:00.000Z

~About Entangled~

The same questions whirl round and round in my head:What does he want from me?How could I have let this happen?AM I GOING TO DIE? Seventeen-year-old Grace wakes up in a white room, with table, pens and paper - and no clue how she got there. As Grace pours her tangled life onto the page, she is forced to remember everything she's tried to forget. There's falling hopelessly in love with the gorgeous Nat, and the unravelling of her relationship with her best friend Sal. But there's something missing. As hard as she's trying to remember, is there something she just can't see? Grace must face the most important question of all. Why is she here?

~My Thoughts~

The Entangled sample is about a girl called Grace that sets out to go and commit suicide and ends up meeting a guy called Ethan and he kidnaps her (the sample does not include how he manages to kidnap her). The story alternates between her already kidnapped and before the kidnapping.

The sample gives enough of the story to give you a good taste of the book and when I got to the end of the sample I thought "oh, finished already, I was enjoying that". I will definitely be reading the whole book, I want to find out how Ethan kidnaps Grace, what his intentions are and how Grace comes out of all this, also I want to find out why Grace wanted to commit suicide in the first place.

You may remember my recent review on Torn also written by Cat Clarke I loved that book so I am sure I will enjoy this one.

You can download the sample for Entangled on Amazon

In My Mailbox...

2012-01-29T13:54:00.000Z

Here is this weeks IMM i am really grateful for all the books i receive for review and i always enjoy the ones i read, and i am looking forward to reading the ones i have yet to read and share them with everybody.

For Review

I received this choccie mobile (as my son calls it) in the post with a tag on it for Sophie Kinsella' s new book I've Got Your Number which is being released in February. My son is dying to get his chops around it.

A few days later i received a copy of the book, it has been on my wish list so i was really excited to have received a copy, i cannot wait to read it.

Library

I got Beautiful Malice from the library i have reviewed the Kindle sample.

I am going to put my amazon wish list as a page on my blog so i can keep track of what is on there etc and what one's i have now and what one's i need to buy. I was reading a post the other day about organising as a book blogger and all the comments on there, i love hearing how people go about their book blogging and reviewing. I have been blogging since 2006 and i still have not found a way to keep organised, i treat blogging as a hobby, something i enjoy spending my free time on so i am quite relaxed about it, i have a busy enough job so i save my worries for that.

A huge amount of people read my posts but don't comment, please feel free to drop me a comment so i know you have stopped by and i can check out your blog to if you have one. I always reply to my comments.

I am reading Delirium at the moment it was a bit slow to start with but i think i am getting into it now.

Enjoy the rest of your weekends :o)

Book Review: Before I Die by Jenny Downham

2012-01-25T07:00:00.000Z

Format: Paperback

Pages: 336

Publisher: David Fickling Books (PB) (29 April 2010)

Buy the book: Amazon

Source: Library

Genre: Fiction

Language: English

Rating: 5 / 5

Synopsis

Tessa has just months to live. Fighting back against hospital visits, endless tests, drugs with excruciating side-effects, Tessa compiles a list. It’s her To Do Before I Die list. And number one is Sex. Released from the constraints of ‘normal’ life, Tessa tastes new experiences to make her feel alive while her failing body struggles to keep up. Tessa’s feelings, her relationships with her father and brother, her estranged mother, her best friend, and her new boyfriend, all are painfully crystallised in the precious weeks before Tessa’s time finally runs out.

My Thoughts

Before I die is a story about a teenage girl called Tessa who is dying of cancer, she makes a list of things she wants to do before she dies and she sets about achieving each one with the help of her best friend Zoey.

The story is written from first person perspective (Tessa's). While reading the book I felt like I was Tess going through everything she was going through, the emotions that were described were raw and very real.

Jenny's style of writing plugs you right into Tessa's feelings and thoughts. I was happy for her at times and I was sad for her at times and I cried at the end.

All the characters were well thought out, I loved Tessa's dad my heart went out to him as he was doing his best for Tessa but at the same time was in denial that she would eventually die.

This book also made me feel grateful for my health and the value of the life I have and how quickly it could be snatched away.

I read this book very quickly it is the kind of book where you can't put it down you just want to keep turning the pages until you reach the end.

Book Review: Every Boy's Got One by Meg Cabot

2012-01-22T21:00:00.000Z

Format: Paperback

Pages: 272

Publisher: Pan; 3 edition (4 Feb 2005)

Buy the book: Amazon

Source: Library

Genre: Chick-Lit

Language: English

Rating: 3 / 5

Synopsis

When cartoonist Jane Harris's best friend Holly announces that she's eloping to the Italian Riviera with longtime boyfriend Mark, and asks Jane to be her maid-of-honour, Jane jumps at the chance, delighted by the prospect of her first ever trip to Europe. What Jane doesn't gamble on is Mark's choice for best man, journalist Cal Langdon.

It's hate at first sight for Jane and Cal. But when Holly and Mark's wedding plans hit a major snag that only Jane and Cal can repair, the two find themselves having to put aside their mutual dislike for one another in order to get their best friends on the road to wedded bliss - and end up on a path neither of them ever expected to tread... Told in diary form and in emails, this is a brilliant, funny and highly original follow on to the internationally successful Meg Cabot adult novels, THE GUY NEXT DOOR and BOY MEETS GIRL. BOY MEETS GIRL 'This tale is a hoot' Entertainment Weekly 'Cabot's novel is delightfully fun to read' Booklist.

My Thoughts

Every boy's got one is about a couple eloping to italy to get married because their parents are not in favour of their relationship.

The bride's best friend Jane goes along with them and the story is written from her perspective as she is writing a travel diary to document the whole trip with the intention of giving it to them as a wedding present. The book is written in the format of her travel diary mixed in with emails from and to the other characters in the book and Cal's (grooms bestfriend) PDA where he is writing down his thoughts during the trip.

It was great fun reading a book written this way, Meg has made the story very funny, a good chick-lit read. I did find Jane very over the top to the point of slightly irritating at times but I did have fun reading the book.

In My Mailbox..

2012-01-22T20:39:00.000Z

Tideline by Penny Hancock

Nine Uses For An Ex-Boyfriend by Sarah Manning

Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

In My Mailbox

2012-01-15T13:11:00.000Z

Here are the books i received for review this week...

I just finished reading Every Boy's Got One by Meg Cabot (Review will be posted during the week) and i have started reading Before I Die by Jenny Downham.

In My Mailbox

2012-01-07T11:37:00.001Z

I have some great books to share from over the last couple of weeks, now things have died down from Xmas and i have recovered from a nasty cold i am now ready to face 2012.

For Review...

From the Library...

Charity Shop finds...

Brought(xmas pressie to myself)...

Book Review: Torn by Cat Clarke

2011-12-01T10:23:00.001Z

Format: Paperback

Pages: 384

Publisher: Quercus Publishing Plc (22 Dec 2011)

Buy the book: Amazon

Source: For review from Quercus

Genre: UK YA Fiction

Language: English

Rating: 5 / 5

Synopsis

Four girls. One dead body. A whole lot of guilt.

Alice King isn't expecting the holiday of a lifetime when she sets off with her classmates on a trip to the Scottish wilderness, but she's not exactly prepared for an experience beyond her darkest nightmares...

Alice and her best friend Cass are stuck in a cabin with Polly, the social outcast, and Rae, the moody emo-girl. Then there's Tara - queen of mean. Powerful, beautiful and cruel, she likes nothing better than putting people down.

Cass decides it's time to teach Tara a lesson she'll never forget. And so begins a series of events that will change the lives of these girls forever...

A compelling story of guilty secrets, troubled friendship and burgeoning love.

My Thoughts

Torn is a UK YA fiction book which makes a change from all the American YA Fiction i have been reading, Torn has a brilliant story line I was hooked from the first page.

Cat has written Torn from first person perspective which I love because i could really get into the story. Her writing style makes me feel familiar with everything she describes and how she describes it. Her characters are very realistic.

Alice is the main character and I really like her, she is a nice girl but not to nice, I think Cat done well with all the emotions Alice went through in the book. The themes that were covered in the book were mainly death related, Cat covered 3 different types of deaths very well, I think it helped that it was from first person perspective it takes some skill to make it all sound realistic, I was not surprised when i read up that Cat is an experienced writer and is the co-founder of a literary agency.

Alice's dad was another of my favourite characters, i liked his and Alice's relationship he was not only a father to Alice but also a friend, he seemed to have the right balance with her.

I enjoyed Polly's character i was very intrigued at how her character developed through the book, i really did not expect her to develop the way she did in the book.

I loved the whole book and everything about it, if Cat decides to write a follow on from this book i would be the first to buy it. Torn tells a story of how easily things can go terribly wrong, and that hiding a serious secret will eat you up inside until it can never be a secret anymore...

If you love young adult fiction then you will love this book, I think it is something different from the typical YA fiction that is out right now, just what we need to break away from the same vampire and fairy stuff being churned out.

Go read this book you won't regret it!

Book Review: The Woman He Loved Before by Dorothy Koomson

2011-11-29T07:00:00.000Z

Format: Paperback

Pages: 480

Publisher: Sphere (4 Aug 2011)

Excerpt Available for Kindle: Yes

Download the Kindle Addition: Here

Buy the book: Amazon

Source: Library

Genre: Womans Fiction

Language: English

Rating: 5 / 5

Synopsis

Libby has a good life with a gorgeous husband and a home by the sea. But over time she is becoming more unsure if Jack has ever loved her - and if he is over the death of Eve, his first wife. When fate intervenes in their relationship, Libby decides to find out all she can about the man she hastily married and the seemingly perfect Eve. But in doing so she unearths devastating secrets. Frightened by what she finds and the damage it could cause, Libby starts to worry that she too will end up like the first woman Jack loved ...

My Thoughts

I loved this book i just kept turning those pages, the best thing i liked about this book was Eve's Diary's, i love reading Diary structured books. because of the nature of the story i think Dorothy did well to write from all 3 main characters points of view, so we could get inside their heads and get their take on things.

The story line was very serious and covered some big issues like prostitution, loss of a loved one, getting over a serious car crash. Everything was well written and very believable, the story of how Eve ends up becoming a prostitute was cleverly written you could understand how she resorted to it.

I liked Libby and could really sympathise with her, i really felt her emotional torment and i was thinking oh dear what should she do. I love Benji the dogs role it was a very nice touch.

This is a good page turner for anyone that likes woman's fiction a book to really get stuck into.

WARNING MILD SPOILER ALERT (I very rarely do any spoiling and i have tried not to spoil things to much when answering the questions)

Who was the character with whom you most identified in the book? why?

I could identify with Eve the most because of her struggles, i have not gone through the same type of struggles she went through but the struggles i have been through have been serious enough, so i could definitely i identify with how she felt in certain situations for example she went through a certain situation with Elliot, and his response to the situation was exactly the same response i have had from someone about a very similar senario, it really did make me think.

Who was the character you disliked the most? why?

I disliked Ceaser i really hated him, he was a despicable man!

Why do you think that Libby decided to give Jack a chance after he made such a bad first impression on her? Would you have given him the same chance?

I think after Jack showed up with the coffee and croissants at Libby's work place, Libby realised that there was more to Jack than she first thought, I think because he was persistent with her and was not her usual type, i think it sparked her interest, i would have felt that way and would of been curious to see how things would go.

Do you think it was romantic or reckless of Libby to agree to marry Jack when she knew so little about him?

From the outside looking in yes it does seem reckless, but when your in love and your happy it would of seemed right to Libby even though she knew that she could potentially be doing the wrong thing.

Why do you think Jack behaved the way he did after the crash?

He behaved in the only way he knew how, the man was distraught and scared, from Libby's point of view he should have behaved differently, at the time she had no idea what was going on in Jack's head and if he had been more open with his emotions it would of helped Libby to understand why he was acting the way he was.

If you had found Eve's diaries, do you think you would have read them first or given them straight to Jack?

I would of without a doubt read them, i would of read them because i would of been desperate for answers to help me understand Jack and what he was going through. It was a last resort for Libby in order for her to decide what she was going to do.

Which women do you think Jack loved more: Eve or Libby? Why?

I think that Jack loved Eve more in the way that we all have that special type of love for our first love's, i think Jack's love for Libby was more wholesome, he appreciated the kind of effect that Libby had on him. Not only was Libby his wife but also his best friend.

Do you think Libby was right to end her marriage to Jack?

I do not think she was right or wrong, she was doing what she thought was best all round even though she did not want to end it.

How do you think Eve manages to remain a sweet person despite all the things she endures?

It was in Eve's nature to be sweet but that sweetness should not be mistaken as weakness, although what she was doing to make ends meat was morally wrong, at the same time she had the strength and the guts to go and do what she had to do, to get by.

What do you think Eve could have done differently to save herself from the choices she was forced to make?

I think she should of got rid of Elliot a lot sooner, she should never have agreed to Ceaser's offer that was probably the biggest mistake of all falling victim to the likes of Him.

How does finding out Eve's secret impact on Jack?

I think it had a devastating effect especially because of the fact he was a virgin and also because of his experience when he was younger.

Do you think justice was done at the end?

I think justice was done someone had to put a stop to Ceaser’s antics, before he wrecked anymore lives.

What are the main themes of The Woman He Loves Before?

The main themes were relationships, dealing with death, prostitution.

In My Mailbox

2011-11-27T10:55:00.001Z

I have not done a IMM for a while so i thought i would do a update...

For Review

Covenant by Dean Crawford

Already Gone by John Rector

The Watch Tower by Lee Carroll

An Autumn Crush by Milly Johnson

My Mother Was Viennese by Peter Flatter

Defender of Rome by Douglas Jackson

Don't Let Me Go by Catherine Ryan Hyde

Driver by Alex Sharp

Footloose by Rudy Josephs

Eating Smoke by Chris Thrall

Hero of Rome by Douglas Jackson

The Jewels of Manhattan by Carmen Reid

The Reckoning by Lili St. Crow

Torn by Cat Clarke

Miracle on Regent Street by Ali Harris

Ashes by Lisa Bick

Dead Centre by Andy McNab

Dictator by Tom Cain

Carver by Tom Cain

The Necklace of The Gods

Deception by Lee Nichols

The Assassin's Prayer by Ariana Franklin

From the Library

The Chocolate Run by Dorothy Koomson

The Cupid Effect by Dorothy Koomson

Before i Die by Jenny Downham

Boy Meets Girl by Meg Cabot

Every Boy's Got One by Meg Cabot

What did you get in your Mailbox?

Stumbled upon picks: The Night Circus

2011-11-22T13:42:00.001Z

I was in WH Smith's yesterday eyeing up all the books, i like to keep a check on what is going on in there bookwise!

Well lookie what i stumbled across, The Night Circus, this book looks fabulous very sha sha! i snatched it up and had a good look inside, the quality and the layout is excellent. I immediately got the needy feeling, in order to read it, it has to be in this version to enjoy it, the look is all part of the theme of the story!

But there was a slight financial issue so i had to put it back on the shelf, but not before i read the first few pages, i am really intrigued by the whole story, it is not like anything i would normal take notice of. This hard copy version is £9.99 in WH Smith so i will have to wait for now :o(

On a brighter note i did download the Kindle Sample so i can read a bit more, i will be letting you know my thoughts on the sample and that will be the final decider in me buying this book.

Synopsis

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus performers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.

Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart.

Another cover version i found on Goodreads:

Have any of you read/reviewed this? do you want to read it to?

Musing Mondays

2011-11-21T13:53:00.001Z

Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading

This week’s musing asks…

How do you decide to read a book by an author you haven’t read before? What sort of recommendations count most highly in making that decision?

My Answer

Just yesterday i was choosing my next book to read and out of my huge pile i chose a book by a author i have not read before, firstly i look at the cover (I know, but covers always help) then i read the synopsis and if i like the synopsis and just to make sure before i pop it in my bag for my train journey reading i always read the first page or two and if it catches my attention the it is a goer!

Reviews of books always influence my wish list, because i have a Kindle what i do is if i have read about a book on some blogs and it is getting good reviews, i go to Amazon and download the sample and i review the sample on my blog to say if i would read it or not, and if i like the sample i purchase the book or get it from the library.

So as you can see i am very cautious about the books i read, i am quite fussy and do not read any old thing, i have my selection processes lol!

Fallen Angel Book Tour: Author Spotlight

2011-11-14T07:00:00.000Z

Today the spotlight is on Maggie Wilson and her latest book Fallen Angel, Maggie is doing a Virtual Mini Book Tour with UK & Beyond Book Tours. Maggie is a crime writer and is the author of Inside Out and Fallen Angel.

Maggie Wilson, a trained nurse and midwife, was brought up in the beautiful countryside of Berkshire. She has 26 years experience in Nursing and Midwifery, and has used her extensive career to draw on experiences in many clinical environments within her fiction writing.

Maggie says: ‘The legacy of having made my mark in the world and leaving something behind is hugely inspiring to me. For my grandchildren to pick up my books in years to come will be a unique and exciting gift to have left for them.’ She continues, ‘I’ve come to realise that truth really is stranger than fiction and that sometimes, with great effort and personal discipline, dreams really can come true!’

About Fallen Angel

DS Charlie Hammond is back in Westwood General Hospital three years after the tragic loss of his wife, but this time he walks the corridors in different footing. Whereas he once strode as a bereaved soul he now heads the investigation into the murder of four patients.

Ward Sister Cate Carter had been in charge of ward 73 for many years, yet the job she had made her existence came crashing down the day Charlie arrived at her office door. Furthermore, finding herself in the middle of a murder investigation and coming to terms with the fact that she and her staff are all suspects becomes a little too much to bear.

As evidence runs thin, Charlie uncovers a past case that could just be the lead to his murderer. Yet facts just don’t match up, and the case seems impossible to break, until a fluke déjà vu moment leads to the break he’s been waiting for.

Fallen Angel is available on Amazon

Maggie will also be stopping at the following blogs throughout her tour this week:

Tuesday 15th November

Book review by Sassy Brit at Alternative-Read

Wednesday 16th November

Author Spotlight/ Interview & Giveaway at Diary of a Bibliophile

Friday 18th November

Guest Post & Giveaway at itsacrimeuk

Sunday 20th November

Book Review by Catarina at Bibilophilia

Don't forget to leave a comment to say you stopped by if you do visit :o)

Kindle Sample: Pucker Up

2011-11-12T10:47:00.001Z

~About Pucker Up~

Felicity has racked up quite a list of matchmaking fumbles, but right now she’s beaming with joy. Not only has she learned that her longtime crush, Derek, is also a cupid, but he is now officially her boyfriend! But Felicity is terrified when she discovers her recent connection with Derek is due to the magical matchmaking of her boss at Cupid’s Hollow. Is Derek truly in love with Felicity, or is it all due to magic? Felicity has two weeks before the love spell wears off. And she’ll do whatever it takes to make sure this love match lasts!

~My Thoughts~

My first impression of Pucker Up was that it is your typical American high school story, lot's of american words like Dork, Awesome, Super Good, not a bad thing, i liked it, i just think it is quite funny how English teen books are written in comparison to American teen books, i do think the American teen books can be more fun because the language used is different to me as a UK reader.

The sample consists of Felicity and Derek who are Cupid's and work at Cupid's Hollow match making agency, Felicity comes across as disorganised and lazy about her role as a Cupid, whereas Derek is more serious about making sure he is making quality matches. They both have PDA's called Loveline3000 i thought that was a nice touch.

Felicity and Derek have just started going out with each other and Derek is helping Felicity to undo some of the love spell's she has put on pupils at her high school to fancy Derek. The sample ends with Felicity finding out that her boss Janet has match made her and Derek.

The sample was quite short but it was enough to get you into the swing of the story and the characters, Felicity instantly irritated me with her lazy attitude, i am one of those people that likes everything to be done properly hah! I would need to read more about Derek to decide what i think of him, so far he seems likeable.

I would read the whole book, it is one of the those light fun reads you could easily get through if you did not fancy reading anything to heavy.

One thing i did not like was the cover, with a story as girly and fun as this you could really go mad with the cover and have some cupid's, hearts the works on it, i would of gone all out. I think the cover could turn potential readers of reading the Kindle book, which is a shame.

I did like the nice touch to the chapter pages, i took a pic to share:

You can download the free Kindle Sample at Amazon

BBC Children In Need

2011-10-24T15:17:00.000+01:00

My little munchkin is doing a sponsored dance with his friends at Nursery on the 18th November to raise money for BBC Children In Need.

If you are supportive of this charity and can spare some change for my lil man to dance then you can sponsor him online.

Thank You :)

Book Review: Out for Blood (The Drake Chronicles)

2011-10-24T10:29:00.001+01:00

Format: Paperback

Pages: 304

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC (1 Nov 2010)

Excerpt Available for Kindle: Yes

Download the Kindle Addition: Here

Buy the book: Amazon

Source: Review copy from Bloomsbury

Genre: Young Adult Fiction

Language: English

Rating: 4 / 5

Synopsis

Hunter Wild just wants to get through her last year at the secret Helios-Ra Academy. To do so, she'll have to betray her grandfather, date a vampire and possibly take down the entire League - all before the end of term.

My Thoughts

This is the third book in the Drake Chronicles, this one was from Quinn Drake's point of view (he is the twin of Connor Drake), and Hunter Wild's point of view, Hunter is a Vampire hunter and attends an academy that trains up Vampire Hunters, her Grandfather is a legend is vampire hunting.

I really loved Hunter she was a very pretty girl with a great personality and also a excellent vampire hunter, the vampire hunters have a treaty with the Drakes they both have mutural concern about all the Hel-Bla (feral vampires) that are appearing everywhere. The book is centred around the academy and all the students and Hunters closet friends, there is a poisonous pill curculating the school and Hunter and her freinds try to find out what it is and where it came from.

Quinn and Hunter come together in this book, i loved both their personalities, there were both fun to read about. You also still get to read about Kieran and Solange, Nick and Lucy. My favourite bit that made me laugh out loud was when Hunter's grandfather caught her kissing Quinn, his reaction was really funny.

All in all i would say this book was a fun read and if you liked the previous books you will definitely enjoy this one.

Book Review: Blood Feud (The Drake Chronicles)

2011-10-05T07:00:00.000+01:00

Format: Paperback

Pages: 256

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC (4 Jan 2010)

Excerpt Available for Kindle: Yes

Download the Kindle Addition: here

Buy the book: Amazon

Source: Review copy from Bloomsbury

Genre: Young Adult Fiction

Language: English

Rating: 4.5 / 5

Synopsis

It has been centuries since Isabeau St. Croix survived the French Revolution. Now she's made her way back to the living and must face the ultimate test by confronting the evil British lord who turned her into a vampire and left her buried for two hundred years. That's if she can control her affection for Logan Drake, a vampire whose bite is as sweet as the revenge she seeks...

My Thoughts

This is the second book in the Drake Chronicles, this time its is from the points of view of Logan, one of the Drake boys, and Isabeau a vampire outside of the Drake family, when i first opened the book to see that it would be from Logan's point of view instead of Solange's (which i was expecting) i was intrigued because there was not much about Logan in the first book except that he likes to dress as though he is from the 17th century.

I found this book interesting because it had a different spin on it, on Isabeau's point of view it was from the present but also reverted back to before she was turned into a vampire and how she survived being on the streets of France during the French Revolution, so you could read about what happened to her and how she came to be a vampire, i loved this aspect of the story because i have a thing about balls and ball gowns, i would love to try on a full ball gown from the 17th century. I thought that it was all well written, i built up a sense of what it must of been like to live through such a awful time of life.

Also what was interesting is the fact that Isabeau was not the same type of vampire as Logan she had been raised by a vampire witch and lives with dogs, all very interesting, so you can safely assume i really enjoyed reading about Isabeau i found her fascinating.

I liked Logan and love that he dresses as though he still lives in the 17th century, he is very charming and sweet, it was nice how his romance blossomed with Isabeau, there was not much depth to Logan's character he was funny and i liked reading about him. That being said it was hardly a sweet love story, just like the first book it was action packed with lot's going on, fighting, staking vampires and lot's more.

You still get to hear about Kieran and Solanges romance and also Lucy and Nicholas' romance as things follow on nicely from the first book just from different points of view.

I will now be moving on to the last book Out For Blood, so look out for my review for that.

Book Review: My Love Lies Bleeding (The Drake Chronicles)

2011-10-03T12:52:00.001+01:00

Format: Paperback

Pages: 256

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC (4 Jan 2010)

Excerpt Available for Kindle: Yes

Download the Kindle Addition: here

Buy the book: Amazon

Source: Review copy from Bloomsbury
Genre: Young Adult Fiction

Language: English

Rating: 4.5 / 5

Synopsis

The Drakes are rather different to your usual neighbours. They are vampires and some of the members of the family date back to the twelfth century. One of the children, Solange, is the only born female vampire known and, as such, she poses a direct threat to the vampire queen. Her best friend Lucy is human, and when Solange is kidnapped Lucy and Solange's brother, Nicholas, set out to save her. Lucy soon discovers that she would like to be more than just friends with Nicholas. But how does one go about dating a vampire? Meanwhile, Solange finds an unlikely ally in Kieran, a vampire slayer on the hunt for his father's killer ...

My Thoughts

This is the first book in the Drake Chronicles, the Drakes are vampires and there are 5 boys who are newly turned vampires and a girl Solange who is a vampire but at the beginning of the book she has not gone through the change which turns her into a fully fledged vampire, until her 18th birthday she is as good as human. They all live in a big farmhouse with their mother, father and aunt Hyacinth who are ancient vampires.

The book has alternating chapters from Solange and Lucy's point of view, Lucy is human and she is Solange's best friend, she hangs out with the Drakes. The book is focused mainly around Solange's upcoming change because once she has gone through the change she is entitled to become the next vampire queen, and because of that she is under threat of being killed by the current vampire queen so she can keep her throne.

I really enjoyed the book it was fast paced and a quick read, there is lot's going on, there is certainly never a dull moment, the only thing i could not accept was the fact that when the vampires get killed they turn to dust, and i kept thinking 'oh is that all' (don't ask me what alternative death i was expecting maybe something more drawn out and painful lol).

At times i did find Lucy and bit over bearing, but other times i found her fun and amusing, Solange i liked as if she was a friend of mine, she is a deeper character and more interesting as a person/vampire. All the brothers were the typical good looking teen vampires all with their own personalities. I enjoyed Lucy and Nicholas' little romance and the romance between Solange and Kieran they were fun to read about and i look forward to seeing what comes of them.

Soon as i finished this book i picked up the next one Blood Feud which i have also finished and i will be posting the review for this on Wednesday. Now i have to dig out the last one which i have somewhere and read it to see how it all rounds off. It took me probably a just over a week to read each book and that was just on my journey to and from work so they really are quick reads.

Lookie what i found...

2011-09-06T12:12:00.002+01:00

I was doing my usual browsing and came across these book review book marks, how handy are these for Book Bloggers?

I really need to print some of these out on some nice card :o)

Image from http://wildolive.blogspot.com/2011/04/print-book-reviews.html

Enjoy!

Emma Michaels Interview about her book Anasazi

2011-09-01T13:50:00.000+01:00

Today i interviewed Emma Michaels over at UK & Beyond Book Tours about her new book Anasazi the sequel to The Thirteenth Chime. Go have a read...

~About Anasazi~

One year ago, something happened to David. Following the only clue he had he headed out into the desert.Now he has asked me to come see him. But when I arrived, he was gone. The people in town claim they have never heard of him and everyone wants me to leave.

But I know he was here and he is in trouble.

He can’t survive out there for long.

Can he?

David. I will find you.

*Emma will be doing a week long Virtual Book Tour in November for Anasazi over at UK & Beyond Book Tours if you would like to take part drop me a email ukbbooktours @ gmail.com (no spaces), her tour page will be up on UK & Beyond Book Tours shortly.

Kindle Sample: Forget You by Jennifer Echols (My Thoughts)

2011-08-30T06:19:00.000+01:00

~About Forget You~

WHY CAN’T YOU CHOOSE WHAT YOU FORGET . . . AND WHAT YOU REMEMBER? There’s a lot Zoey would like to forget. Like how her father has knocked up his twenty-four- year old girlfriend. Like Zoey’s fear that the whole town will find out about her mom’s nervous breakdown. Like darkly handsome bad boy Doug taunting her at school. Feeling like her life is about to become a complete mess, Zoey fights back the only way she knows how, using her famous attention to detail to make sure she’s the perfect daughter, the perfect student, and the perfect girlfriend to ultra-popular football player Brandon. But then Zoey is in a car crash, and the next day there’s one thing she can’t remember at all—the entire night before. Did she go parking with Brandon, like she planned? And if so, why does it seem like Brandon is avoiding her? And why is Doug—of all people— suddenly acting as if something significant happened between the two of them? Zoey dimly remembers Doug pulling her from the wreck, but he keeps referring to what happened that night as if it was more, and it terrifies Zoey to admit how much is a blank to her. Controlled, meticulous Zoey is quickly losing her grip on the all-important details of her life—a life that seems strangely empty of Brandon, and strangely full of Doug.

~My Thoughts~

I liked this sample better than the one for her other book. I got really wrapped up in the main characters emotions that she was going through when she found out her dad was having an affair with one of her friends and then her mum finds out and tries to commit suicide, this sample give you a good taste of what the full book would be like, and i am sure there is a lot more to come. Really looking forward to reading this book.

You can download this Kindle Sample at Amazon

The Help - By Kathryn Stockett (Audio Book Review)

2011-08-28T07:00:00.002+01:00

Audio Download: Amazon / Audible

Listening Length: 18 hour(s) and 6 min.

Program Type: Audiobook

Version: Unabridged

Source: Purchased

Publisher: Whole Story Audio Books (2 March 2010)

Language: English

Rating: 3/5

Synopsis

Jackson, Mississippi, 1962. Aibileen is a black maid raising her seventeenth white child. Minny, Aibileen's best friend, is the sassiest woman in Mississippi: a wonderful cook with a gossip's tongue. Graduate Skeeter returns from college with ambitions, but her mother will not be happy until she's married. Although world's apart, Skeeter, Aibileen and Minny's lives converge over a clandestine project that will change the town of Jackson forever. This recording is Unabridged. Typically, Abridged audiobooks are not more than 60% of the author's work and as low as 30% with characters and plotlines removed.

My Thoughts

This book was quite long it had the voices of 3 different woman all telling the story from their points of view, 2 were help (Aibileen and Minnie) and one was a white lady (Skeeter) daughter of one of the women that employed help.

The Help is written about a state called Jackson in USA back when they employed black people as what we would call maids to raise their children and keep the house, racisim was bad back then and black people were treated really badly. Skeeter the white woman wants to write a book about the Help and get the points of view of the Help, what it is like working for the white folk of Jackson and put them all into a book to be published.

I won't spoil the end but i will say that it was really emotional as i felt like i was part things having got to know the 3 main characters, i was going through all the emotions with them. I enjoyed the story from Minnie and Aibileen's point of view mostly, i loved Minnie's the best because she was so funny.

My only critiscim is that it did not really grab my interests to the point where i could not wait to listen to it again, i was listening to it whilst at work and i could leave it for days without being concerned about listening to it, some parts i found a little boring mainly in Skeeter's parts i found her quite dull. I feel if i was actually reading a copy of the book i would have struggled, it was the different voices that brought the book to life and kept my interests the accents really brought the story to life.

Book Blogger Hop

2011-08-27T14:52:00.001+01:00

It has been a while since i took part in the hop, i like to try and take part every now and then. This weeks question is non-book related "Do you have any pets?"

Well my answer to that is no, i grew up with dogs in the house and i have had two cats before the last cat i had was called Nellie and she was old and deaf but very sweet and loving, but because of her needs i could not keep her as she needed company all through the day so i thought it unfair to leave her alone.

Since then i have not had any pets mainly because i now have my son and also because i think it is unfair to have pets unless you can devote the time to them and be there most of the time with them. i trained to work with animals and done a lot of re-homing of dogs so i know the importance of what having a dog or cat is all about.

Kindle Sample: Going to far by Jennifer Echols

2011-08-15T16:08:00.000+01:00

~About Going to Far~

HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO?

All Meg has ever wanted is to get away. Away from high school. Away from her backwater town. Away from her parents who seem determined to keep her imprisoned in their dead-end lives. But one crazy evening involving a dare and forbidden railroad tracks, she goes way too far...and almost doesn't make it back.

John made a choice to stay. To enforce the rules. To serve and protect. He has nothing but contempt for what he sees as childish rebellion, and he wants to teach Meg a lesson she won't soon forget. But Meg pushes him to the limit by questioning everything he learned at the police academy. And when he pushes back, demanding to know why she won't be tied down, they will drive each other to the edge -- and over....

~My Thoughts~

This author is always being talked about by book bloggers and I thought I would try out some kindle samples of her books to get a feel of them.
The sample was very short, there was a table of contents with no contents, it prob took me less than 15 minutes to read the sample, I felt it could have been a little longer.

Going to far is written in first person from teenager Megan's point of view, her and her boyfriend along with another couple trespass on a railway bridge drunk and get caught by the police, that is all that happened in the sample. Megan is supposed be the rebellious type smokes weed, drinks, does what she is not supposed to be doing.

I liked the style of writing, although not much happened in the sample Jennifer does draw you in to make you want to read more about the characters, I imagine this would be a good page turner. I will be reading the full book at some point.

You can download the sample for free here at Amazon

Kindle Sample: Divergent (My Thoughts)

2011-08-03T12:38:00.000+01:00

~About Divergent~

She turns to the future in a world that’s falling apart. She turns to the future in a world that’s falling apart. For sixteen-year-old Tris, the world changes in a heartbeat when she is forced to make a terrible choice. Turning her back on her family, Tris ventures out, alone, determined to find out where she truly belongs. Shocked by the brutality of her new life, Tris can trust no one. And yet she is drawn to a boy who seems to both threaten and protect her. The hardest choices may yet lie ahead….A debut novel that will leave you breathless.

~My Thoughts~

I was intrigued to read this sample seeing as it has so many good reviews. Divergent is written in first person of the main character Beatrice, she is 16 and she lives in a world were everyone is divided into fractions and each fractions lives by a certain value, the fraction she has been raised in is the Abnegation were they live by selflessness, I felt sorry for Beatrice living in a fraction she clearly does not belong but the rest of her family do.

Once they reach 16 they all have to be tested and then choose between a new fraction or whether to stay with their family in the fraction they have been raised in, the sample gets up to the point of Beatrice and her brother having been tested, and her results being not what was expected so she has a big decision to make the following day at the choosing ceremony.

If it was not for the fact that I have loads of books to read I would buy the rest of this book I was really enjoying the sample and would love to know what fraction Beatrice ends up choosing. I will definitely be reading the rest in the near future. For some reason I think she may end up in the dauntless fraction where its value is being fearless.

You can download the Kindle sample at Amazon