Book Thoughts: Forgotten and Die for Me

Because I receive a lot of books for review I’ve found lately that I don’t always have time to review on my blog all of the books that I purchase myself like I used to. I like to try and mix reviews with meme’s and other posts to keep things fresh and because I need to review the books that I get sent to me I’ve been finding that my purchased books have been getting left behind.


I want to offer you guys a range of reviews from different publishers and I don’t want my blog to be one big promotion. I want to share with you guys my thoughts on the books that I buy too and so I’ve come up with book thoughts! Instead of a full on lengthy review, every so often when I’ve read 2 or 3 books I bought myself I want to group them together and write a brief book thought on each book just to let you guys know my opinion and if it’s worth a read just like I would in a review, just in less detail!


I hope you enjoy this new series and I would love some feedback on if this is helpful to you or if you’d rather I just stick with my usual reviews and review my bought books as and when I can. I haven’t included a synopsis for now just because I don’t want them to be too long however if you’d like to see one for each book in future book thoughts let me know in the comments :-)

Forgotten by Cat Patrick

Forgotten reminded me a lot of a “The Time Travellers Wife” for teens. It’s about this girl called London who’s just like me or you but here’s the deal, London knows what’s going to happen in the future but she remembers nothing about her past- nada- not even what she had for dinner the night before. So when she falls in love with perfect, lovable, Luke she’s devastated that she doesn’t know him in her future. Meaning she won’t BE with him in the future. But she loves him today and she never wants to forget how much.

This book has a real contemporary feel to it than that of a paranormal book. London lives in our world and is a normal girl except for her unique ability. There’s nothing paranormal about this book at all and so I found it very original and different to any other YA books out there. I loved the characters; London’s a very likeable, funny, teenage voice. And I loved her sweet and tender relationship with Luke. I defy any girl NOT to fall in love with Luke as every day he gets London to fall in love with him all over again. This book was quirky, fun and a complete breath of fresh air to read.
4 stars.

Die For Me by Amy Plum

Books set in Paris seem to be a big trend in YA right now and I’ve got to say I am loving it! A paranormal romance set in the most romantic city in the world? Err yes please! Amy Plum creates a beautiful backdrop for this story. Whether it’s with Kate sitting in a French cafe reading a book or Kate and Vincent taking a romantic boat trip on the river Seine *swoons* Amy Plum uses Paris to her advantage to capture some really magical, romantic moments that girls are going to go crazy for.

Our main character Kate is a big reader and I definitely connected to her as our heroine. I love Amy Plum’s brand new paranormal creature the Revenants and loved learning their “rules.” Amy creates a whole too believable world and a fantastic cast of vibrant, colourful characters to fill it up with. I loved this escapist, paranormal love story and can’t wait for book 2.
4 stars.

Random Ramblings 3: My Top 10 Bookish Peeves and Loves

Hi guys I haven’t posted in over a week because my pups been ill. He’s had to have an operation and since then I’ve been keeping a very close eye on him! He’s on the mend now but just as he’s started to get better I’ve been struck down with a cold! I really wanted to do a post today but my brains not quite functioning well enough to write a review so I’ve decided to do a fun random rambling on 10 of my book related peeves and loves, I hope you enjoy them!

Peeves
1.) Brand new damaged/dirty books. I don’t know how many of you have experienced this but I HATE it when I go into a bookshop to buy a book and there’s one copy left and it’s really dirty. Sometimes there can be a big crack down the spine where somebody’s opened it or the bottom of the pages can be dirty thanks to dusty shelves. When I’m paying for a brand new copy I like it to look just that- brand new! When there’s a gross looking book left over and I REALLY want the book I can get pretty mad.

2.) People talking to me when I read. I hate when people try to strike up a conversation when I’m trying to read my book. Okay so some people read as a pass time because there’s nothing better to do but I’m NOT the kind of person who’ll put their book down when “something better comes up” or someone comes along to talk to.

3.) People who tell other people what or how they should be reading. I’m a big believer in letting people read what they want to read without shame and I really hate it when people try to push books on to other people telling them that’s what they SHOULD be reading. I also hate it when people get onto others about having e-readers or dog earring pages. I personally like to keep my books as neat as possible but if I see somebody dog ear their own books it doesn’t make me cringe like it does some people. I don’t care HOW people read I just care that they read.

4.) Gross second hand books. See above. I’m talking suspicious stains, bound together by tape books. No matter how cheap the deal I just cannot do it *shrugs* personal preference.

5.) Book sellers who know nothing about the books their selling. You know the kind. Ask them for a recommendation and they point you straight towards the charts and bestsellers no matter what books you say you like.

6.) People who smoke whilst borrowing your books. I have nothing against smokers but smoking whilst reading a borrowed book is horrible. Ruins the lovely bookish smell AND makes the pages yellow.

7.) Book snobs. You know the kind of people who make it their mission to read every classic ever written and indulge in obscure literature. I don’t mind if that’s what people enjoy reading in fact I’m all for it but I hate when people turn their noses up at those who don’t read or enjoy the fancy pants stuff.

8.) Mothers/fathers who let their children run riot in bookshops and libraries throwing books everywhere and STANDING on them! I’m all for kids enjoying themselves looking for a new book and deeply encourage it but some kids really push the boundaries on having fun and making the place look like an earthquake hit.

9.) Covers that change! There’s nothing that I hate more than when your half way through a series and the publishers decide to give the covers a makeover.

10.) Series that go on forever. I’m talking 8 books or over, I mean really do we need that many? I’m looking at you Gossip Girl, Morganville Vampires, House of Night and Pretty Little Liars!


Loves
1.) Bookmarks! I’m a huge lover and collector of bookmarks. You’ll never see me cram a bit of paper in to mark my book I even select the bookmark I’m going to use based on the book. I really like it when they match. For instance right now I’m reading Die For Me by Amy Plum and I’m using an I love Paris bookmark.

2.) New book smell. I love the smell of books with a passion.

3.) Relaxing with a book. Reading is definitely my favourite way to unwind. There’s nothing I enjoy more than getting a drink be that glass of wine/ hot chocolate/ diet coke and running a bubble bath/snuggling up in bed/ laying out on the grass and getting lost in someone else’s story.

4.) The anticipation of a new release you’ve been pining for. Whether you receive the book early for review or go to the bookstore and buy it on its release date nothing beats that feeling of holding a book you desperately want and have waited ages for in your hands for the first time.

5.) Talking about books. Especially now that I’m part of the blogosphere there’s nothing I love more than a good book discussion with blogger pals on twitter!

6.) Spreading the book love. I love doing giveaways or swapping or lending my books especially when I have read and loved the book I can’t wait to share the experience with somebody else.

7.) My Kindle. I never thought I would be but I’m a big fan of my kindle, I find it easier to read on there and always enjoy downloading the cheap/free books off Amazon!

8.) This brings me on to my next love cheap books. Whether there from a charity shop, second hand shop, Amazon or special offer in a book shop nothing beats those book bargains!

9.) The feeling after you’ve just closed a really great book where you feel content and happy and the story’s still going through your mind.

10.) Lastly it has to be books themselves. Although I love my kindle nothing for me beats the smells and feel of a book. I love the pretty covers and having them on my bookshelf so I can look and see how many books I’ve read. Books themselves are so special and I treasure every single one of mine :)

So those are just a few of some of my top bookish peeves and loves. Do any of them make your top 10’s? Are there any you think I’ve missed out? I’d love to hear them! Feel free to drop me a comment with some of your own loves and peeves :-)

Review for The Truth About You by Melissa Hill

"When the baby is found on the doorstep of Ella's café, everyone asks - what sort of parent would abandon their child?


Jess feels increasingly left out as the only non-mum amongst her friends. Terrified she might lose them altogether, she embarks on becoming a mother too. But is she really ready?


Hollywood actress Ruth Seymour is home in the small town of Lakeview for the summer. But has an ill-advised fling with a handsome co-star resulted in a seriously unplanned consequence?


Nina has come to live with her estranged father, Patrick, after a bad break-up. But will she ever dare tell him about the secret she is concealing?


One thing's for sure: someone knows more than they're telling.
And the truth won't stay hidden forever..."

I’m a HUGE fan of Melissa Hill, I’d even go as far as to say that she’s my favourite chick-lit author. I’ve read five of her novels to date and have thoroughly enjoyed each and every one of them but The Truth About You is on a whole other scale and has quickly become my favourite.

What I love most about Melissa’s books is her ability to keep me totally absorbed from start to finish. I’m a big fan of chick-lit don’t get me wrong but unless its well written and offers something original I easily become bored of the easy going boy meets girl type story. However Melissa Hill always brings to the table something fresh and interesting and never do I get bored of her stories! Melissa expertly entwines everything that I love about chick-lit- the romantic love story, the lovable funny heroines, the feel good writing style- with a fast paced plot full of twists and turns with a delicious dash of mystery surrounding the story making for a compelling, indulgent read.

As is the norm with all of Melissa Hill’s books The Truth About You took me on a rollercoaster of a ride. One minute I thought I knew exactly how the book was going to end and then in the next few chapters Melissa would have me completely re-guessing myself with a new discovery being thrown into the mix. Melissa’s books are unpredictable and fresh and as always this books conclusion completely took me by surprise and blew me away leaving me back tracking through the book wondering how I didn’t pick up on the clues Melissa subtly leaves along the way. I love being taken by surprise and Melissa’s clever twists never disappoint.

As well as the compelling plot The Truth About You is chock full of fantastic, full bodied, characters. I loved the way this book was told from the alternate perspectives of Nina, Ruth and Jess. The girls are all very different despite having the one big thing in common and I found switching between their perspectives fresh and interesting to read. Ultimately I loved how as you get further into the book the women’s lives all begin to entwine and we got to see them face the prospect of motherhood together. Melissa Hill’s characters are very real and honest in that they make mistakes but as the reader I could always see where each girl was coming from and never judged them despite each woman’s insecurities over becoming a new mum and the ultimate decision of whether they should keep their baby.

I absolutely adored this book. It’s by far the best chick-lit novel I’ve read this year and my favourite by Melissa so far. If you’re a fan of this author you won’t want to miss this new instalment. And if you’ve not read anything by this author yet I highly recommend that you do! If you’re looking for an excellent summer read that will keep you on your toes this is the book for you.
My Rating 5/5 stars

Synopsis taken from Amazon

Passion Blog Tour: Lauren Kate’s Favourite Luce and Daniel Moments including a scene from Passion and upcoming and final book Rapture!

So those of you who’ve read the Fallen books are sure to have some of your own favourite moments between our starstruck couple Luce and Daniel I mean there are plenty of heart wrenching, romantic scenes to choose from right?! When I was approached to take part on a tour for the latest book in the series Passion it got me to thinking about what Lauren’s favourite moments are and which pull on your heartstrings moments were her favourite to write so without further ado let’s take a look! Lauren has chosen a favourite interaction that represents the title of each book including a sneak peak from upcoming novels Passion and even the final book in the series Rapture!

Fallen: I really loved writing the scene under the peach tree at the Sword and Cross cemetery--where Daniel first tells Luce about their history. She doesn’t believe him at first. She is standing up to leave when he pulls her back and goes into a long catalog of memories of all their lives together. To Luce, the details are impossible--but they also ring a bell somewhere in the back of her soul. For me, this is the moment when Luce stops lusting over Daniel and actually falls in love with him. (I didn’t realize at the time that this list of lives would eventually give me a backbone of the narrative for Passion, but all the lives are there.)

Torment: Torment is a growing-pains book for Luce. Her interactions with Daniel are limited and, most of the time, pretty frustrating. For the book to work and for Luce to grow, they have to argue a lot, which was tough for me to write. I would have much rather they get along. The scene where Daniel pulls her away from the party on the beach is pivotal because it’s romantic (they’re dancing on the ocean together), and because it shows how hard they’re both trying not to fight. They argue over Luce dying her hair--and she knows is dumb even in that moment, but she can’t help herself from getting angry. This rang true to me; I can be particularly stubborn in an argument. Its a big part of what pushes her character further--first further from Daniel, then ultimately, closer to him.

Passion: Passion is a steamy, steamy book. My favorite Luce and Daniel moment is one of the steamiest of the series. I won’t tell you what happens, but I will say it takes place in Helston, England--a redux of the prologue from Fallen--and it’s the most wrenching kiss I’ve ever written.

Rapture: I just finished the first draft of Rapture and already, I can’t wait until it comes out. This book is the first one that woke me up at night. There’d be a little voice in my head saying, “Make sure you don’t forget this!” and “How are you going to explain that?” There is one particularly rapturous moment in the book, a dialogue between Luce and Daniel. Again, I’ll have to be a little bit mysterious about the details for now, but I will say it was the first time I’ve ever cried during the writing process, and all of that emotion is poured right into the book.

Big thank you’s to Lauren for stopping by the blog today! I have to agree that Lauren’s favourite moments are some of mine too especially the scene on the beach in Torment *swoons* and I’m so excited to see what beautiful moments await our couple in Rapture! I recently had the pleasure of reading Passion early and let me tell you guys it’s the most romantic book of the series so far! Chock full of gorgeous, tender moments between Luce and Daniel. I’ll have a review for Passion going up before the release date so make sure you keep your eyes peeled for that!

The next stop on the Passion blog tour will be with my good friend Ellie at Musings of a Bookshop Girl so make sure you stop by there tomorrow! Passion will be released in the UK on 23 June. For a full list of bloggers taking part on the rest of the tour I’ve included this banner, be sure to stop by :-)

Monsters, Laxatives and Big Noses, Oh My!

Hi guys, welcome to May’s book of the month and monthly round up! This is a feature to sum up for you my reading and recommendations for the past month and to share with you the exciting things that have been going on on the blog and books I’m looking forward to in the following month.

May’s book of the month is...A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

A Monster Calls is hands down my favourite book of the month. Patrick Ness spins a harrowing, lyrical, emotional tale from the final story idea of Siobhan Dowd. These two award winning authors have created one of the most beautiful stories I’ve ever read about a young boy whose struggling to deal with his mother’s battle with cancer. With stunning illustrations by Jim Kay this is a book that demands to be read and discussed and it comes with the highest of recommendations from me just make sure you have a box of tissues on hand! For more info on the book make sure you stop by my review here.

Best Plot: A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
Best Writing: A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
Best Cover: Wither by Lauren DeStefano
Best Characters: Swim the Fly by Don Calame
Best Ending: City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare
Best Romance: Passion by Lauren Kate
Most un-put-down-able: Swim the Fly by Don Calame
Most Memorable: A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
Best Moral: Flawless by Lara Chapman

Books read this month
28.) City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare (4.5*)
29.) A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness (5*)
30.) Flawless by Lara Chapman (4.5*)
31.) It Happened One Summer by Polly Williams (3.5*)
32.) Wither by Lauren DeStefano (4.5*)
33.) Swim the Fly by Don Calame (5*)
34.) Passion by Lauren Kate (3.5*)
35.) Stolen by Lucy Christopher (3.5*)

Top 3 Most Recommended Books: A Monster Calls, Swim the Fly and Flawless

Bookish Highlights of the month
I got to take part in my very first blog tours for Dead Beautiful and Swim the Fly two books that I really enjoyed and the blog got a new makeover something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time and I’m very happy with the results!

Bookish Lows of the month
Book Buying Ban and computer fails, need I say more?

Book’s I’m looking forward to in June
So many! It’s going to be such a hard month with my book buying limit being only 4 books The Single Girls To Do List by Lindsey Kelk, Wish Me Dead by Helen Grant. There are also some fantastic books coming out that I’ve received for review already like What Happened to Goodbye Sarah Dessen’s latest book. Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini, About Last Night by Adele Parks and Ultraviolet by R.J. Anderson I can’t wait to delve into those! There’s plenty to look forward to :-)

So there you have it my May reading summed up for you guys. Have you read any of the books I’ve read this month? What were your thoughts on them? Leave me a comment and let me know and don’t forget to treat yourselves to A Monster Calls! – You won’t regret it! ^_^