5 Words: Intense, hot, shocking, deception, love.Full review to come tomorrow as part of the blog tour. Yaaay
Switch (New World Series) (Volume 1)
5 Words: Deception, anger, love, betrayal, hope.Wow. What a book.
I bought this a while ago and it's been sitting on my kindle waiting for me to read it. What prompted me to pick it up? The blog tour for the second book in the series.
I loved the characters in this. There was so much depth to them. They changed and grew and made mistakes. Some pretty big mistakes. There were characters I loved and characters I loathed and characters that really spoke to me. I love the relationships between them too.
Switch is a pretty dark book. It's a chilling read. But the author writes very well and there are small injections of humour to stop it being too doom-and-gloom.
I loved the world that Janelle Stalder created - it's all kinds of complicated craziness. There was a real sense of confusion surrounding what's good or bad, right or wrong.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I would definitely recommend it. I can't wait to get started on the next one!
5 Words: Sexy, unexpected, passion, friendship, blackmail.4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars. Full review to come. But in the mean time, head on over to Tea Party Princess to read the review, my favourite quotes, and enter a giveaway!
The Deep End of the Sea
Tea Party Princess Review, Excerpt and Giveaway5 Words: Greek, gods, love, lust, power.
My favourite parts of this book were the beginning and the end. Because they are masterfully written.
I was apprehensive when I started this - you just have to look at how I reacted to the Starcrossed series to know what can happen when someone messes with something I know and love (Greek Mythology). But this is done so well. The way it is written, the reasons given for the changes, this is a wonderful story which I loved from start to finish.
Heather Lyons takes Ovid's story of Medusa, and everything that was wrong about it, and brings her some justice.
This story is hard to read at times, but push through. It's really a story of girl power, of springing back up and being strong. I was smiling by the end. I think because of the rage I felt (mostly at Poseidon and Athena) I ended up feeling pretty good by the end, with a smile on my face.
Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer
5 Words: Creepy, mysterious, ghost, Paris, friendship.I have to be totally honest - this isn't the best book in the world. In fact, I probably wouldn't have liked it at all if I'd read it at any other time. But right now, it was exactly what I needed. And because I am completely inconsistent in my ratings it gets four stars.
It's full of clichés and spoiled brats and trips around Paris and hidden histories and an evil ghost. Usually this sort of crap makes me rage. But I found that I could completely fall into this story, become completely immersed and suspend disbelief. The evil murderous ghost on top of the ever so slightly over-the-top plot probably helped a lot.
What drew me to this book was the cover and the title. I mean, look at those pretty colours and that killer title. I'm like a freaking magpie, I pick up anything pretty.
Hannah is the biggest bitch to have graced the earth and Colette is a very close second. The two of them are so shallow, so spoiled. Even now that Colette is a "poor" scholarship student she is still so up herself. But not so up herself and self important as Hannah. Jeez, that bitch deserved to be played.
I liked how Colette changed and did some much needed growing up. I even liked how terribly predictable the whole story is.
This books is as fun and fluffy and teenteenteen as it looks. Don't take it seriously and don't expect to read the best thing ever and you won't be disappointed. You might even have fun. Perfect for a rainy day when you need to rage a little to cheer yourself up.
Kiss and Make Up (Diary of a Crush)
5 Words: Obsessive, psycho, growing-up, toxic, angsty.Oh Edie, what has happened to you? You're just not the same girl any more. I liked you more when I was younger.
This whole series is basically a re-read of my teenage years. I couldn't resist those gorgeous new covers.
This is still fluffy and fun, but Edie is all kinds of stalker-obsessive-psycho and it's scary. As this book is written as her diary it's a crazy-mad ride. And it was just too much for me. Edie is relentless in her pursuit of Dylan. Dylan is a Grade A dick. Dylan's new girlfriend Veronique is only slightly more bat-shit than Edie. And Veronique's brother Carter is as toxic as they come.
If you like toxic, poisonous relationships then look no further as this book has them in spades. I guess that's why I can't stop reading this series.
This is a guilty pleasure read for me. Sarra Manning will always be the Queen of Teen to me. When I was the same age as the protagonist I related much more to her. But now that I'm a lot older I just don't get it.
But hey, we do crazy things in the name of love.
The Three RS
Put a picture of the Angel of the North on the cover of a book and then challenge me not to read it. I'll fail. I'm a sucker for all things local.So, hopefully I can get a read of this soon and post a review.
I See London
International Giveaway, Release Day Blitz, Excerpt AND Review at Tea Party Princess. I really do spoil you all.5 Words: Fun, playful, growing-up, new-adult, sexy.
I SEE LONDON, I SEE FRANCE, I CAN SEE YOUR UNDERPANTS!
So sorry. I had to get that out of my system.
Book by book, my faith in New Adult is being restored. This is the second NA in a row which has impressed me and kept me reading. And..? No eye rolling.
This book did have me feeling a little rage-y at points, but it worked so so well by the end of the book. When you get to the bit when you think "Really, Maggie?" just keep reading on. Because it's written for a reason. And when you get to the end, everything will fall into place and you'll be feeling all warm and fuzzy and totally understand everything.
What this story does best is the main character, Maggie. She is one of the best written NA characters I've ever read. She changes and it's not always for the better. She loses sight of who she is and what she wants, but in the end everything works out wonderfully, but not without a lot of hard work and heartbreak. And it's right that it does. Maggie's journey is completely relatable and exactly what the New Adult genre should be about.
I think I See London actually worked really well all on its own. As much as I'd love to see where Maggie and Samir go next, I was content with how it ended. There's no pressure on me to read on, no pressing cliff-hanger. But I will read on, because that was a great read. And I want to know more about Maggie's dad. And Fleur. I loved Fleur.
Broken Beauty (Broken Beauty Novellas)
5 Words: Not. My. Cup. Of. Tea.This was only just 2 stars. Very disappointing.
This book deals with such terribly serious issues that it's almost too much to read. Throw in the main character Mia and the fact that this seems to be more a portion of a book than a novella, and I just about put it down.
Mia is the biggest problem with this novella. She is so immature. Too immature. I wanted to scream at her, to smack her around the face and tell her to grow up. She "hates" her Daddy but she only ever calls him Daddy. Daddy. Seriously. That's not what you call your mostly-absent father who seemingly doesn't give a crap about you. She uses her best friend, puts up with her. This is her best friend who is incredibly supportive and frankly, a wonderful friend. Heck, I want her as a friend.
When I got to the end of this I honestly sat there thinking "where's the rest?" This is not a novella. It's part of a book. It's part of a book that has been hacked into chunks in a bid to make more money. You won't find any closure at all with the end of this. It's like perhaps the first 1/4 of a book where it's setting the scene and just when you get to the BIG ISSUE that will shape the rest of the story, you
See what I did there? That's how it ends.
On the flip side this did deal with the issues it tackled quite well. It did also remind me why I'm so so glad I was born and live in Britain. America, in some ways you suck.
I will read on, in the way I'd carry on after 80 pages of a naff book to see if it will get better. 49p seems OK, but I'd rather this was free. I got it from NetGalley in exchange for review but I wouldn't pay for it, not as it is.
A February Bride (A Year of Weddings Novella)
5 Words: Sweet, love, mistakes, marriage, restoration.More like 3.5 stars.
This was another sweet, short read.
But A February Bride felt somewhat rushed, particularly towards the ending. I thought I had another 10% to go but there wasn't, there was a chapter sample for the first in the series *seriously?).
Nonetheless, I did enjoy this. I just feel that it didn't fulfil its potential. I liked Allie and her love of all things turquoise and antique.
London Falling
5 Words: Fiesty, love, laughs, reality, conflict.I may be taking part in the tour, but I purchased this book to review. And how glad I am that I did.
I'm often a bit hit-and-miss with New Adult - unfortunately it's usually a miss. But London Falling has somewhat redeemed New Adult books in my eyes. I really really enjoyed this read. I had a huge smile on my face the whole time I was reading.
London Falling is a sweet and slightly steamy romance which slowly and subtly grows and changes as the relationships between the characters develop.
More to come...
Release Day Blitz and Giveaway at Tea Party Princess.
The Bunker Diary
5 Words: Brutal, intense, heart-breaking, pensive, horrific.5 More Words: Addictive, amazing, shocking, unbelievable, lost-for-words.
There's something about [a:Kevin Brooks|114266|Kevin Brooks|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1208535203p2/114266.jpg]' style of writing that I just can't get enough of. I guess it's because the way the narrative flows is similar to the way my own thoughts flow. It just feels so right to read.
This is an author who is not afraid to take chances and be controversial. He's not afraid to hit you hard and shock you. And The Bunker Diary just proves this all over again.
I was so close to tears while reading much of this. But there is some humour too. Just when it might be getting too much there's an injection of humour to stop you from curling up in a ball and crying.
This is an amazing book which will shock you and likely break your heart.
The ending of this book was just... I mean... WHAT?! If you've ever read [b:Black Rabbit Summer|2584942|Black Rabbit Summer|Kevin Brooks|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1328838362s/2584942.jpg|2601845], then this is Raymond all over again. It is just incredible how [a:Kevin Brooks|114266|Kevin Brooks|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1208535203p2/114266.jpg] can blow your mind all through a book and then just blow your whole being to pieces at the end.
Now, I'm off on a [a:Kevin Brooks|114266|Kevin Brooks|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1208535203p2/114266.jpg] binge. I'll probably cry a lot and I have some ARCs to catch up on, but there are another two books of his I haven't read and I've always got time to reread his other books.
Mercy (French Edition)
AUDIOBOOK5 Words: Brutal, slow, intense, horrific, blah.
I didn't enjoy this at all to start. I wasn't so keen on the narrator and I wasn't keen at all on Carl. But then we were introduced to Merete and I couldn't put it down.
But my, is it a long listen.
I didn't like Carl and the way he consistently objectified women and belittled them for not falling at his feet. It actually made me feel sick and is absolutely NOT what I want from a main protagonist.
The scenes with Merete were pretty brutal. I listened curled up, my hands in fists, my jaw clenched. They were disturbingly well written.
I liked Assad. He brought some well needed humour - and even a thread of mystery - to the story. Without him it would have been too heavy.
1
Red
5 Words: Clever, teen, drama, high school, blackmail.I can't say that I 100% enjoyed this book. It was entertaining and I loved that it was a witty piece of social commentary and liked the way it was presented, but it just wasn't quite my cup of tea.
I'm not really such a fan of high-school dramas. Been there, done that, it's never like the books. Yeah, there was bitching and blackmail and bullying, but books always seem to make it so over-the-top dramatic.
This is quite a summery book - it's just got that kind of sunshine-and-blue-skies feeling that works best in summer. So maybe that's a reason I didn't mesh so well with it - it's winter and freezing outside.
I wasn't so keen on Felicity - she is in no way as innocent as she thinks she is and she doesn't even realise it.
Stay Alive
5 Words: Thrilling, twisting, unexpected, brutal, love.5 More Words: Intricate, countryside, police, mystery, drama.
This is a very intricate thriller, which keeps you guessing and continuously keeps you on your toes. Just when you think you have something figured out, then BAM! You were wrong.
The thing I loved most about this book was the unbelievable pace. I was almost out of breath reading this and didn't want to put it down. So much happens between these pages, and to so many people.
I wasn't so keen on the timeline of the book, the way it was written did confuse me at first - but then everything clicks into place and I just sat thinking "oh". Once I'd finished, I knew exactly why it had been written in the way that it was. It easily makes the story much more powerful than if it had been written in a more chronological manner.
The characters in Stay Alive are almost as complex as the plot. There are many layers, many realist qualities to them. They have faults and strengths and weaknesses and beliefs.
I've never read Simon Kernick before, but I will definitely read more by this author.