Book of the Month! Featuring Babies, Revenants, and NYC

Hi guys, welcome to June’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.

June's book of the month is...The Truth About You by Melissa Hill

Holy smokes guys! For the first time since last January an adult book is book of the month! I’ve actually read 2 adult books this month and funnily enough they’re both my favourites of this month. The Truth About You just tops the other for me though as I love, Love, LOVE Melissa Hill and her mind blowing twists and turns. She’s my favourite chick-lit author and The Truth About You is a very worthy BotM in my opinion. To learn more about The Truth About You stop by my review here for an in depth look at why it’s so awesome.

Best Plot: The Midwife's Confession by Diane Chamberlain
Best Writing: The Truth About You by Melissa Hill
Best Cover: Die for Me by Amy Plum
Best Characters: Forgotten by Cat Patrick
Best Ending: The Truth About You by Melissa Hill
Best Romance: Jessie Hearts NYC by Keris Stainton
Most un-put-down-able: The Midwife's Confession by Diane Chamberlain
Most Memorable: The Truth About You by Melissa Hill
Best Moral: Jessie Hearts NYC by Keris Stainton


Books read this month
36.) Forgotten by Cat Patrick (4*)
37.) The Truth About You by Melissa Hill (5*)
38.) The Midwife's Confession by Diane Chamberlain (4.5*)
39.) Die for Me by Amy Plum (4*)
40.) What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen (4*)
41.) Birthmarked by Caragh M. O’Brien (4*)
42.) Jessie Hearts NYC by Keris Stainton (4*)

Top 3 Most Recommended Books: The Truth About You, The Midwife’s Confession and Forgotten

Bookish Highlights of the month
My first blogoversary was a big one! Getting to do another Random Ramblings post I love doing those, and taking part in Lauren Kate’s tour for Passion was really fun, that post got so many hits!

Bookish Lows of the month
Book Buying Ban, and not reading a YA book that blew me away this month :|

Book’s I’m looking forward to in July
*Jumps up and down excitedly* FOREVER! OH MY GOD! Guys I am SO excited for that book I’ve got my copy all pre-ordered 9 days people! I’ve also pre-ordered Sean Griswold's Head that’s coming out in the UK in a few days. I’ve also got my eye on Hereafter that one looks pretty good too!

So there you have it my June 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 The Truth About You! – You won’t regret it! ^_^

I’m Guest Posting!

Hi guys,

Just to let you know that today I’m guest posting at one of my very favourite blogs Heaven, Hell and Purgatory. Vicki and Lyndsey are doing a wonderful Summer Series perfect to get you in that summer time mood!

Today I’m doing one of their infamous So I Say Thank You For The Books- Summer Edition! Where I’ll be doing quite a personal post about a certain favourite author, her books, and how they’ve had a huge impact on my life. I’m not going to say anymore than that I just wanted to get you all intrigued so that you’ll stop by HERE! Comment love on the post would be much appreciated and make sure you check out what other fantastic posts the girls have lined up for Summer Lovin’ in their schedule here.

As always much love and happy reading until next time,

Jess x
P.S Don’t forget to stop by my 1st blogoversary giveaway!

Review for The Midwife's Confession by Diane Chamberlain

Synopsis
'I don't know how to tell you what I did.' The unfinished letter is the only clue Tara and Emerson have to the reason behind Noelle's suicide. Everything they knew about Noelle - her calling as a midwife, her passion for causes, her love for her family - described a woman who embraced life. But they didn't know everything. Because the unaddressed letter reveals a terrible secret...and a legacy of guilt that changes everything they thought they knew about the woman who delivered their children. A legacy that will irrevocably change their own lives - and the life of a desperate stranger - forever.

The Midwifes Confession is my first book by Diane Chamberlain, despite being tempted by her previous books I’d never actually picked one up. However upon reading the intriguing sounding synopsis and seeing the Jodi Picoult guarantee (Picoult being my favourite author) I knew I just had to give this book a shot.

I have to admit that it took me a little while to get into the story. It takes a few chapters for Chamberlain to set the story up and despite being intrigued to where she was taking us I was a little bored at the beginning. However I picked this up again the next day and as soon as I hit around the 150 page mark I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. Seriously, I read the rest of The Midwifes Confession right then and there in one sitting. And me struggling with the beginning was totally worth getting through for the rest of this amazing book.

As soon as we start delving in to Noelle’s mysterious past and find out how events link in with the other women in this story The Midwifes Confession quickly becomes a riveting mystery that can indeed stand proudly next to Jodi Picoult’s finest work. There’s definitely a lot of similarity between the authors with their epic family sagas. If you enjoy novels about families going through real life heart wrenching problems with plenty of twists and turns along the way this is the book for you. Diane Chamberlain definitely has a little something to offer everybody with motherhood and lifelong female friendships that will appeal to women, the teen angst and relationship drama that’s going on with their daughters Grace and Jenny which teens will identify with and there’s even a fast paced plot with a hearty dollop of mystery to satisfy male readers.

Whilst I loved all of these aspects about the book I think what I enjoyed most was the emotion that Diane Chamberlain writes with. The chapters are told alternately between each character and whilst reading from each woman’s point of view I could really connect with them and feel what they were going through. Diane Chamberlain explores human nature and why certain thoughts and feelings can lead people to do the most unspeakable things. Diane perfectly maps out each characters thought process making them feel very vivid and human.

This book kept me on my toes right up till the very end with a shocking twist that completely surprised me. Chamberlain weaves a lifetimes worth of lies, hurt and betrayal all surrounding one woman’s actions who has ultimately had an epic affect on every character mentioned in this story. Even though Noelle is dead and gone in this book she still remains a very potent character and I loved getting inside her head and uncovering her secrets.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Midwifes Confession and am already on the lookout for more of Diane’s novels. If you’re looking for a book that will make you think and keep you up late reading The Midwifes Confession is the book for you and Diane Chamberlain an author to watch.
My Rating 4.5/5 stars

Synopsis taken from Amazon

Thanks go to Mira for sending this book for review

1st Blogoversary Giveaway! A Choice from My Favourite Books

Hello readers!

Today marks the start of Jess Hearts Books! I can’t believe I’ve been blogging for a year, in some ways it feels like its forever been a part of my life in others I still feel like such a newbie with a lot to learn! I feel really proud of all that I’ve accomplished in a year and surprised that my little blog which I started on a bored whim has been going for a year and how much I’ve actually fallen in love with writing about books and the blogging community. Today I wanted to celebrate by giving a little something back to my readers who have followed me and make this all worthwhile, and what better way I thought than to giveaway a book of your choice from my favourite and most recommended books? Here’s a list of all the books up for grabs and all the important details to enter. I hope you enjoy this giveaway and there’s a little something for everyone. Happy birthday little blog! And here’s to another great year ahead!

WIN...

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

Gorgeous historical fiction, my favourite book of last year!

Other Words for Love by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal 

Beautiful coming of age story about a girl getting over her first love.

Rockoholic by C.J. Skuse 

One of the funniest, feel good books I've ever read. I defy anyone not to laugh out loud when reading this one!

Audrey, Wait by Robin Benway 

An old favourite of mine, perfect contemporary, music lovers will love this one!

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness 

Stunning novel about a young boy coming to terms with his mothers cancer. Powerful and moving you'll need tissues for this one!

Flawless by Lara Chapman 

Cute contemporary about body image and accepting who you are

Swim the Fly by Don Calame

Hilarious summer read about three mischievous boys, fans of John Green will love this!

The Maze Runner by James Dashner 

I'm a big fan of dystopian books and this ones one of my favourites. If you love The Hunger Games you'll love this.

Clarity by Kim Harrington

A kooky, original story with a kick ass heroine.

Dead Beautiful by Yvonne Woon 

A different kind of Paranormal Romance, looking for something fresh and original? Look no further.

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

I think everyone and their mothers read this book but I had to throw it in because its so freaking fantastic!

Forgotten by Cat Patrick

A recent read of mine, very different and very romantic with hugely likable characters.

Rules
* Open Internationally (wherever The Book Depository ships please make sure they ship to your country before entering) there will be 1 UK winner and 1 international winner
* Followers of this blog only (Winners will be checked up on via google name)
* Contest ends Friday 8th July
* Two winners will be chosen by random.org
* The winners will be contacted via e-mail, and will be given 1 week to respond. Otherwise, a new winner will be drawn

All you have to do to enter is leave me a comment stating which book you would like to win, your country and your email address so I can contact you if you win. Good luck! :D

This Giveaway is now CLOSED and winners have been announced here. Please do not enter as it will not be counted.

Review for Passion by Lauren Kate

This is the third book in the Fallen series. Although this review will contain NO spoilers from Passion by talking about the plot there may be unintentional spoilers from the first two books in the series.

Synopsis
""Every single lifetime, I'll choose you. Just as you have chosen me. Forever."

Luce would die for Daniel. And she has. Over and over again. Throughout time, Luce and Daniel have found each other, only to be painfully torn apart: Luce dead, Daniel left broken and alone. But perhaps it doesn’t need to be that way. . .

Luce is certain that something—or someone—in a past life can help her in her present one. So she begins the most important journey of this lifetime . . . going back eternities to witness firsthand her romances with Daniel . . . and finally unlock the key to making their love last.

Cam and the legions of angels and Outcasts are desperate to catch Luce, but none are as frantic as Daniel. He chases Luce through their shared pasts, terrified of what might happen if she rewrites history.

Because their romance for the ages could go up in flames . . . forever."

Passion is the highly anticipated third book in the Fallen series and let me tell you it certainly lives up to its name! Passion for me is the most romantic book of the series so far. Luce spends the entire book travelling from announcer to announcer going back in time through her past lives. Ever since finding out about Luce and Daniels previous lives together I’ve wanted to go back and see what they were like then and Passion gives readers the chance to do that.

Luce’s past lives fascinated me and I loved going on this race against time with Luce to try and break her and Daniels curse. Seeing a love span out across thousands of years makes for some very romantic reading and Luce and Daniel relight the flame they had in Fallen that dwindled into a lot of arguments and insecurities in Torment. It was great to have Luce and Daniel’s epic love story back on track with Passion and if anything Luce learning for herself about their love in past lives and the curse that bounds them makes them stronger than ever.

However it has to be said that I did get a little bored at some points whilst reading this book. With Luce diving into the past nothing is really happening during the present tense not really pushing the story forward and without the present breaking it up and the appearance of characters like Arriane and Shelby we’ve come to know and love the story gets pretty intense and repetitive with Luce going back in time and each lifetime having the same outcome. Some of Luce’s past lives were super interesting and provided a lot of food for thought on Luce and Daniels relationship but others not so much. They were just there because they needed to be and didn’t really add much to the story making the whole do over thing a little slow going at times.

That being said Passion seems to be very much a bridge book taking us from the events in the first two books to the last book Rapture. Passion needs to happen to tie together Torment and Rapture so whilst it may not be the most compelling book of the series fans need to read it in order to get some answers and to be in the know for the potential awesome that Lauren has set up in final book Rapture. Passion is the book that ties up loose ends and shows us the exit to the end making it a very important book that’s not to be missed.

As always Lauren Kate’s writing is haunting and beautiful. In Passion fans of the series will get to find out the answers we’ve all been craving about the curse and Luce’s reincarnations. Luce and Daniel’s love is put to the ultimate test making for some very tender scenes between our star-crossed couple. Whilst Passion might not be my favourite book in the series there’s no denying that it’s an important one and I absolutely can’t wait to see how Lauren ends things in Rapture.
My Rating 3.5/5 stars

Synopsis taken from goodreads
Thanks go to Random House for sending me this book to review