Sunday 30 June 2013

Friday 28 June 2013

Book Review (238): Rockoholic - C.J Skuse



Rockoholic

by 
But when she gets him home to her garage she finds that he is nothing like his public persona that she is in love with, instead he's an ungrateful, rude, drug addict whom doesn't like people physically touching him and in his own words is incapable of love.
With the help of her 'gay' best-friend Mac they hide him as best as they can from Jody's Mother and sister especially when he's reported missing and with everybody on the look-out for him Jackson refuses to leave, not wanting to go back to his rock star lifestyle that he's so desperate to escape from.
I love having this book set in England, I don't get to read too may books set here so it's great when I find a book that is, the English slang I guess you could say isn't too bad at all, although in saying that both my parents are English so that may be why I find it easier to understand.
This is a very quick read that all fans of Contemporary books should pick up.
I give this 3.25/5 Stars.

“I only got to see three songs, Mac"
"That does not entitle you to take home the lead singer, Jody"
"I know"
"Most people settle for a T-shirt or a poster. Not Jody. Jody wants actual band members”
 

Book Highlight & Giveaway: The Plunge - Sindhu S.





Love is madness…
 When a thirty-something journalist Anjali meets the charismatic Siddharth, she has no intention of becoming romantically involved with him. Anjali is a strong, independent woman, angered by the man’s world she lives in and traumatised by events in her past. She has no desire to fall in love. Anjali is certain that, after months of chatting online, when she finally meets Siddharth the charm will be broken. But she is surprised to find herself attracted to him – and shocked when they fall into bed together on their first date. Seized by new emotions that go against everything she believes in, Anjali is caught in a battle between her head and her heart, between love and self-protection. For the first time in her life, Anjali is at the mercy of her emotions and desires…and as she plunges into an affair with a man she knows little about, she risks losing everything. Set in India, The Plunge is a frank and powerful examination of modern relationships that every woman will identify with. Told with astonishing emotional insight, this debut novel will take your breath away.





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Born in 1966, Indian writer Sindhu drew inspiration for 'The Plunge' from her days as a journalist in her home country. She loves writing human interest stories and is drawn to women centric issues.As a child she "had suffered from the ugly duckling syndrome", she says. She quit her job as a school teacher on realising it was beyond her ability to discipline students, and switched over to journalism.She moved to the Gulf (Middle East) six years ago. Currently based in Bahrain, she is currently working on her new book, a non-fiction on relationships, and two more projects, among them a novel set in the Middle East. 







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Thursday 27 June 2013

11 Books I'm Dying To Read Right Now!

Origin (Lux #4)

Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.

After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he’s facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in his way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.

All Katy can do is survive.

Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don’t seem entirely crazy, but the group’s goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys? Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?

Together, they can face anything. 

But the most dangerous foe has been there all along, and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on? And will they even be together?
Expected publication: August 27th 2013 by Entangled Publishing
Note: After The Cliffhanger That Book 4 Opal left us on I'm desperate to read this, I Need My Daemon Black Fix!

White Hot Kiss (The Dark Elements #1)

Wednesday 26 June 2013

Book Review (237): Awaken (Abandon Trilogy #3) - Meg Cabot


Awaken (Abandon Trilogy #3)

Publication: 1st July 2013
Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia
Pages: 343
Genre: Fantasy/Paranormal
Age Appropriate: Young Adult
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot, the dark reimagining of the Persephone myth comes to a thrilling conclusion.

Death has her in his clutches. She doesn’t want him to let go.

Seventeen-year-old Pierce Oliviera knew by accepting the love of John Hayden, she’d be forced to live forever in the one place she’s always dreaded most: the Underworld. The sacrifice seemed worth it, though, because it meant she could be with the boy she loves.

But now her happiness — and safety — are threatened, all because the Furies have discovered that John has broken one of their strictest rules: He revived a human soul.

If the balance between life and death isn’t fixed, both the Underworld and Pierce’s home back on earth will be wiped away. But there’s only one way to restore order. Someone has to die.
My Thoughts.
So we've come to the end, the finale of this trilogy which has had me captivated from the get go.
It's sad to see this series end, I had become quite attached to all the characters and I loved sharing their journey with them.
Awaken may just be my favourite out of the three, heart-pounding, nail-biting and at times humorous, this book has a bit of everything to satisfy everyone.
The story takes place shortly after the second book ended, Alex and Kayla are settling in down in the Underworld after the events that ocurred at the end of the last book. Everything is going along perfectly, Pierce and John have settled into a rhythm, and then the Furies arrive in the Underworld and all hell let's loose, culminating in the death of a main character, having this happen so early on in the story is a huge shock. Pierce is devastated and resolves to set it straight, no matter what it costs her or what she has to do.
Once again in Isla Huesos, Pierce finds herself surrounded by Furies, trusting her necklace to tell her who's possessed or not, she also discovers the whole back story of why her Uncle Chris was sent to jail for the last sixteen years and how finding out the truth will impact all involved, some for the good, some for the bad.
My absolute highlight of the whole entire book is John meeting Pierce's parents, having them find out just who and what John is, is just hilarious, some definitely take the news better than others.
This series and all it's loose ends are tied up perfectly and it's not often that I can say that about any final book in a series, I can't see anyone being disappointed with the conclusion to this story.
A fitting end for a fantastic series.
I give this 5/5 stars.
A big thanks to Pan Macmillan Australia for the review copy.

Tuesday 25 June 2013

Book Review (236): Blooded (Jessica McClain #0.5) - Amanda Carlson


Blooded (Jessica McClain 0.5)

Publication: 11th April 2012
Publisher: Orbit
Pages: 66
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Age Appropriate: Adult
Jessica McClain was born the only female in an all male race. The only problem is — she's no wolf. Called a curse, a witch and the Daughter of Evil by the superstitious wolves, Jessica decides to fight for her freedom, at age nineteen, the only way she can — in the ring.

When she's brutally attacked right after her fight, is it enough to finally earn her freedom off Compound, or will she be forced to endure the hatred even longer...
My Thoughts.
This is a prequel novella to the Amanda Carlson series Jessica McClain.
Only 66 pages long we still get a lot of story and action in such a short amount of time.
Jessica is the only female born into the world of werewolves, but she was born an anomaly, in her world werewolves are males only and it's because of this that she is believed to be cursed and they've been ordered not to touch her, that doesn't stop them from taunting her or trying to physically hurt her, even though she's never shifted and is considered human, her twin brother Tyler and her Father who is the Alpha of the pack, aren't always around to protect her and that's how she finds herself in a fight with a member of the pack at the beginning of this novella.
I loved this story, and if this is any indication as to how this series is going to be, well then I know for a fact that it's going to become a favourite of mine.
If you like reading stories involving kick-ass heroines then definitely pick this one up.
I give this 5/5 Stars. 

Monday 24 June 2013

Book Review (235): Underworld (Abandon Trilogy #2) - Meg Cabot


Underworld (Abandon Trilogy #2)

Publication: 8th May 2012
Publisher: Point
Pages: 318
Genre: Fantasy/Paranormal
Age Appropriate: Young Adult
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot, the dark reimagining of the Persephone myth begun in ABANDON continues ... into the Underworld.

Seventeen-year-old Pierce Oliviera isn't dead.

Not this time.

But she is being held against her will in the dim, twilit world between heaven and hell, where the spirits of the deceased wait before embarking upon their final journey.

Her captor, John Hayden, claims it's for her own safety. Because not all the departed are dear. Some are so unhappy with where they ended up after leaving the Underworld, they've come back as Furies, intent on vengeance... on the one who sent them there and on the one whom he loves.

But while Pierce might be safe from the Furies in the Underworld, far worse dangers could be lurking for her there... and they might have more to do with its ruler than with his enemies.

And unless Pierce is careful, this time there'll be no escape.
My Thoughts.
The second book in this trilogy is just as thrilling as the first.
With a lot more action and suspense, plus a whole lot more of John you really can't go wrong.
Stuck in the Underworld with John again, Pierce has been brought back to keep her safe from the Furies that are intent on killing her, resigned to having to live there for the forseeable future until it's safe to return home. Whilst there Pierce discovers a video on her phone of her cousin Alex stuck inside a coffin, seeing him in distress she knows that she needs to get back to Isla Huesos to rescue him, but she knows that it won't be an easy task convincing John to take her back.
Of course when she does get back everyone believes Pierce to have been kidnapped by John, and with her Father posting a million dollar reward for any information, getting around town without being noticed is going to be a little bit tricky.
There's a few new characters featured in this book, two favourites being Henry and Frank who is very intrigued with Pierce's friend Kayla (she has definitely become a favourite of mine over the past couple of books) and they all add a bit of humour to the storyline. 
Of course Henry and Frank add a bit more intrigue to John's past before becoming Lord Of The Underworld, they were all shipmates aboard the ship Liberty that would end up being the death of them all, which having them around also leads to quite a few revelations about John's past coming to light which he has always been loathe to talk about with Pierce, which adds a lot more depth to his character.
All in all this was a great follow up to the first book, not just a filler like some second books in series seem to be, now to read the third and final book of the series, I'm very intrigued to see how this one ends.
I give this 4/5 Stars.

Saturday 22 June 2013

Book Review (234): Abandon (Abandon Trilogy #1) - Meg Cabot


Abandon (Abandon Trilogy #1)

Publication: 26th April 2011
Publisher: Point
Pages: 304
Genre: Fantasy/Paranormal
Age Appropriate: Young Adult
New from #1 New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot, a dark, fantastical story about this world . . . and the underworld.

Though she tries returning to the life she knew before the accident, Pierce can't help but feel at once a part of this world, and apart from it. Yet she's never alone . . . because someone is always watching her. Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back.

But now she's moved to a new town. Maybe at her new school, she can start fresh. Maybe she can stop feeling so afraid.

Only she can't. Because even here, he finds her. That's how desperately he wants her back. She knows he's no guardian angel, and his dark world isn't exactly heaven, yet she can't stay away . . . especially since he always appears when she least expects it, but exactly when she needs him most.

But if she lets herself fall any further, she may just find herself back in the one place she most fears: the Underworld.
My Thoughts.
This was my very first Meg Cabot novel and it definitely won't be my last.
For reasons I can't figure out, this book has a lot of negative reviews, when I posted that I was reading this on Instagram I had no positive remarks given about the book, instead I had people telling me how bad it was, now I would rather give something a go myself before judging it, but I can honestly say I was a little bit worried because so many people can't be wrong right? But I'm happy to say that I'm in the minority of readers that loved it, so much so that I didn't want to put it down at times, and that to me is a sign of a good book.
This story had everything I love in a book, a fantasy/paranormal setting add in the mythology of Hades and Persephone which this book is loosely based on and one hot Death Deity named John and you've got your self one helluva story that kept me entertained all the way through until the very end.
The plot is about seventeen year old Pierce, at the age of fifteen she 'died' drowning in her backyard swimming pool (she was revived but technically dead for a short while), and while dead she found herself in the Underworld, the place where you find out whether you end up in heaven or hell, when she spots a guy who she had met when she was seven years old in a cemetery after her Grandpa's funeral, she immediately goes up to speak with him to tell him what he's doing wrong while running the place, stunned he asks her if she wants to go away somewhere else with him and she agrees, but what Pierce doesn't understand is that by going with him she has become the consort of the Lord Of The Underworld John. After discovering this she panics and manages to escape, but throughout the next couple of years whenever Pierce is in trouble John has a knack of knowing exactly when she needs help and shows up to help her.
After her parents divorce Pierce and her mother move to Isla Huesos, it's there she discovers that not only is the island a big part of John's past but that Furies (spirits that did not end up in heaven) are not happy that she escaped the Underworld two years ago, and they will possess whomever they need to to kill Pierce and destroy John.
But can these two admit their feelings towards each other and unite together to beat the evil out to get them?
I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in these kind of stories, now I'm off to devour the second book in the trilogy Underworld.
I give this 5/5 Stars.