Showing posts with label standalone. Show all posts
Showing posts with label standalone. Show all posts

Tuesday, 6 September 2016

With Malice by Eileen Cook

Published by: HMH books for Young Readers
Genre: Young Adult, Mystery/Thriller, Contemporary
Rating: ****

With Malice follows the disjointed narrative of protagonist Jill Charron. She's eighteen, about to go to college, and is currently under investigation for an incident that happened abroad. Something that she doesn't really remember due to amnesia and other injuries.

The worst part, though?

The victim was her best friend.


I found this book absolutely fascinating. These kinds of books either frustrate or fascinate me. Cook writes a thrilling story of one girl's attempt to find out what exactly happened in Italy and whether it was actually Jill's fault. Yet, there was something about the ending, the lack of information for after the events of the book, that made me stop at four stars.

Without actually knowing the aftermath of the events, the book seemed to crumble slightly and feel more and more unfinished. Especially since it's supposed to be a stand-alone. But who knows, maybe Eileen Cook will write a sequel, or just publish a short story about the events. I'll cross my fingers for now.

You can buy With Malice from Amazon now.

Wednesday, 15 June 2016

The Problem with Forever by Jennifer L. Armentrout.

The Problem with Forever by Jennifer L. Armentrout.
Published by: Harlequin Teen
Genre: YA Contemporary, YA Romance
Rating:****

The problem with The Problem with Forever is that it took forever to get to the good part.

Don't get me wrong. I've been a fan of Jennifer Armentrout for ages but this book did not appeal to me as much as her supernatural and fantastical series have. Maybe it's because I cast her into those genres or my love of the Lux series? Either way, I did not appreciate the book for what it was and that was disappointing.

Instead, the book focuses on the female protagonist Mallory, or Mouse as people of her past called her. She has endured a lot in her time on the book's Earth. But most of all, the surprising aspect is the way Armentrout approaches this dark past.

I was pleasantly surprised to read these snippets with emotion. Rarely do I get to read these scenes without feeling bored of them and that is the strange part. This novel made me care about Mallory/Mouse.

Yet Mallory's story takes a turn when she decides to attend high school despite her inability to perform via speech classes. Therefore, when a character from her past, a very important guy named Rider Stark, walks into her classroom, Mallory cannot help but feel trapped and excited at once.
The two characters reunite despite fellow classmates being wary of the relationship. It's a strange predicament. But as a reader, you can understand both sides of the argument.

It's a funny book with funny situations. I cannot fault it too much because it is a well-written novel. However I did knock it down a star due to my lack of interest in the novel.

Apologies Ms Armentrout. I do love your other books though!

The Problem with Forever can be purchased from Amazon UK.

Saturday, 23 April 2016

Tone Deaf by Olivia Rivers

Tone Deaf by Olivia Rivers


Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Romance, Music
Rating: ****

Tone Deaf is literally every fangirl's dream book in the sense that the main character gets to spend time with a famous band. I mean who wouldn't want to do that?

Ali Collins is different though. She used to be a prodigy but now she's deaf and stuck in a home with a father who hates her disability and will try anything he can to belittle or hide the fact that she isn't like him. It's only until she goes to a concert with her friend and wins a backstage tour that she meets Jace, the lead singer of Tone Deaf, a very popular band.

He acts spoilt and awful to Ali until another encounter between the two of them leads to Ali coming on tour with him and learning that first impressions aren't everything. Sound familiar? That's because its a little Pride and Prejudicey in parts. But don't let that deter you. It's a good book. I really enjoyed it and found myself rushing to read the final pages before I got off the bus.

There's something about it that will make the toughest of hearts feel for the characters. It also contains very serious topics and illnesses that are now becoming more and more talked about like abuse and deaf. Think Nial from ANTM or ABC (Freeform)'s Switched at Birth.

Tone Deaf is published May 3rd via Sky Pony Press.



Sunday, 3 April 2016

Wandering Wild by Jessica Taylor

Wandering Wild by Jessica Taylor


Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Rating: ****

Wandering Wild is a very different story that revolves around wanderer Talia and her brother Wen. Living a life away from what other might, the duo travel state to state as they work cons and earn money in unethical and illegal ways.

In all honesty I forgot I requested this and when it appeared in an email, I was reminded of what made me want to request it. The sheer-non fiction elements of this, that people do live this way and it interests me to read, if fictionate, accounts of lives like this because it makes you wonder whether or not there is someone out there like this. 

Talia is both likeable and not. Her attitude is understandable and her behaviour is just right for a young woman of her age and position in the world. It's got to be hard to be alone, no mother or father and forced to carry on with the amount of anger for that said mother. But she carries on. Despite knowing bad things that are about to happen in her life, Talia remains strong even when she wants to break down.

It all changes though, when she meets Spencer Sway. 

He's kind and studious but can work a con just like Talia can if given enough time to prepare. They're a weird and doomed duo that it breaks your heart assuming nothing good can ever come of them being together as the book develops into something I didn't expect to read.

Again being honest, I didn't think I would enjoy this but I did. It was a true page-turner and will make a great impact on the fiction charts, or at least it should.

Wandering Wild will be published on May 3rd by Sky Pony Press.

Friday, 19 February 2016

The Taming of the Drew by Stephanie Kate Strohm

The Taming of the Drew by Stephanie Kate Strohm

Published by: Sky Pony Press
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary
Rating: Four Star

A huge thank you to Sky Pony for letting me read this in advance.

I wasn't too sure what to expect from this other than a retelling of Shakespeare in a contemporary way. My expectations were medium to low as I remembered that I'd requested this from Sky Pony. But as I devoured the book, I was impressed.

The Taming of the Drew follows Cass McKay as she plays the character of Kate from the Taming of the Shrew (Remember 10 things I hate about you? That's the same plot there minus Heath Ledger). It follows her ups and downs as a camper and actor and her joining up with fellow campers to cause chaos at the camp. It's quirky and funny. I didn't think it would be as much as it is but the book is genuinely fantastic.

Cass's world is rocked when she meets Drew. He's like the boy we all hate but secretly love. The pair of them literally become modern day versions of their characters and its all a little cliche as it goes along. We all know how it ends but I think the development of Cass as a character is quite good. She's not as annoying in the end. Yes that was my initial view of her but camp changes her. Life changes us all and it's just who we are. Strohm captures how even a summer can change a teenagers life and how the addition of annoying boys can be both good and bad.

The Taming of the Drew will be available to buy from the 5th April 2016.



Monday, 31 August 2015

Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella

Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella


Published by: Delacorte books for Young Readers
Genre: Young Adult romance, Social issues, YA contemporary

A new read for me especially since I bought a copy months ago. Now I've finally had time to read the book cover to cover, I can say that it's certainly entertaining.

Finding Audrey is about protagonist Audrey who suffers from anxiety, like a severe form of anxiety, and depression. We don't know exactly what happened but the book introduces the reader into the manic world she lives in. It's actually remarkable that her family haven't caused her more stress. But at the same time, you laugh and smile at how insane they are. It's literally like having that weird uncle every family has.

But Audrey's brother is the one whosuffers the most. He's addicted to some computer game similar to World of Warcraft, and their mother isn't a fan of that. A compulsive Daily Mail reader, she takes time to go out of her way and try and cure the poor lad of his addiction and in turn pushes the mysterious Linus into Audrey's life.

Whilst this all happens, Audrey is taking steps to get better and just be able to go back to the person she was before, or at least some version of that.

It's a magical story that I loved. I just wished we were told the full extent of what happened to her.



The book can be bought in the UK from Amazon or Amazon US.



Wednesday, 30 July 2014

ARC Replies and possible insight into the Writing industry

As an ARC (Advanced Reading Copy) reviewer, I generally get sent books and I choose which ones I want to read and I selected Appaloosa Summer which was a fairly lovely and simple summer read. (My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/971715104?book_show_action=false)


But what I didn't expect was to recieve such a lovely email back from the author herself. Sometime soon I will be starting to contact and post interviews, advice and more from published (Contracted, self pulished and one day the bigger housed) authors in the world.

Friday, 23 May 2014

5 titles I'm reading (and recently read) that you should read

1.If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch

"My emotions swirl like leaves caught in the breath of a dust devil, and the only thing I can seem to hold onto is the anger"
Carey is keeping a terrible secret. If she tells, it could destroy her future. If she doesn't, will she ever be free?

For almost as long as she can remember, Carey has lived in the heart of the woods with her drug-addicted mother and six-year-old sister, Jenessa.

Their mother routinely disappears for weeks at a time, leaving the girls to cope alone. Survival is Carey's only priority - until strangers arrive and everything changes..

I found this book on display at my local Waterstones. Picking it up, I was immediately attracted by the plot and kind of thought it to be a crime novel but it was going to be bought regardless. Turns out I had a good hunch as the book turned out to be amazing, I just loved Murdoch's writing style and how you as a reader were placed into the storyline so gently. I cried and laughed and I just attached to Carey and Jenessa and even the other characters. I honestly cannot stop recommending this book.

2. The 100 (The One Hundred #1) by Kass Morgan
"Orange streaks appeared in the blue, like an oboe joining a flute, turning a solo into a duet. That harmony built into a crescendo of colors as yellow and then pink added their voices to the chorus. The sky darkened, throwing the array of colors into even sharper relief. The word sunset couldn't possibly contain the meaning of the beauty above them, and for 
the millionth time since they'd landed, Wells found that the words they'd been taught to describe Earth paled in comparison to the real thing"
In the future, humans live in city-like spaceships orbiting far above Earth's toxic atmosphere. No one knows when, or even if, the long-abandoned planet will be habitable again. But faced with dwindling resources and a growing populace, government leaders know they must reclaim their homeland... before it's too late.

Now, one hundred juvenile delinquents are being sent on a high-stakes mission to recolonize Earth. After a brutal crash landing, the teens arrive on a savagely beautiful planet they've only seen from space. Confronting the dangers of this rugged new world, they struggle to form a tentative community. But they're haunted by their past and uncertain about the future. To survive, they must learn to trust - and even love - again

So I found this by coming across the tv series (Which is really good but not entirely to the book as expected). But I love both. The novel is more down to earth and less about boys and love, instead it shows how our Earth has evolved, there's a lot more description that is beautiful (My above chosen quote) but altogether Clarke is a nicer person, well okay, she's a lot more harder and well a teenage girl in the book (She doesn't love blank!) but the show is good too. I don't know what more to say because if I carry on, I'll probably give a lot of spoilers too. But The 100 is on tv Wednesday nights on CW (Gossip Girl, 90210 etc) and the book is available everywhere now!

3.The Program (The Program #1) by Suzanne Young
"If it's meant to be, you'll find each other again."

In Sloane’s world, true feelings are forbidden, teen suicide is an epidemic, and the only solution is The Program.

Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.

Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them

To be honest I haven't actually finished this book, I'm 5-10% done with it but I have a feeling that when I get past the first few chapters it might get better. Who knows? But it is a great plot and story. 

4. The Lost World (Jurassic Park #2) by Michael Crichton



"All your life people will tell you things. And most of the time, probably ninety-five percent of the time, what they'll tell you will be wrong"
It is now six years since the secret disaster at Jurassic Park. Six years since that extraordinary dream of science and imagination came to a crashing end - the dinosaurs destroyed, the park dismantled, the island indefinitely closed to the public.

There are rumours that something has survived.

So I bought this late last year when filming a project for uni. Since then it's been under my bed until yesterday when I thought what the heck, I'll read it. I haven't read the first nor bought it so I'm probably making a mistake here but yeah. I've reached the first eighth of the book and it seems quite good. As I've seen the films I have a brief knowledge of what's happening/what happened in the first book but yeah. Geology seems quite cool right now (That's a joke by the way)

5. Slammed by Collen Hoover (Currently Reading - 50% read as of this morning)
"Sometimes life gets in your way. 
it gets all up in your damn way. But it doesn't get all up in your damn waybecause it wants you to just give up and let it take control. 
Life doesn't get all up in your damn way because it just wants you to hand it all over and be carried along."
Following the unexpected death of her father, 18-year-old Layken is forced to be the rock for both her mother and younger brother. Outwardly, she appears resilient and tenacious, but inwardly, she's losing hope.


Enter Will Cooper: The attractive, 21-year-old new neighbor with an intriguing passion for slam poetry and a unique sense of humor. Within days of their introduction, Will and Layken form an intense emotional connection, leaving Layken with a renewed sense of hope.

Not long after an intense, heart-stopping first date, they are slammed to the core when a shocking revelation forces their new relationship to a sudden halt. Daily interactions become impossibly painful as they struggle to find a balance between the feelings that pull them together, and the secret that keeps them apart


I've had a lot of reservations about this book/series. Hoover seems like a good author, I've researched around her books wanting to read them but not knowing if I should. Slammed is one goodreads continuously recommended me and so here I go.

So far it's really good but I'll let you know how that goes when I've read it.