*Review* : Pretty Bad Things - C.J. Skuse

Review of Pretty Bad Things - C.J. Skuse

Released : 1st March 2010 (UK)

Finished : 27th March 2011

Source :  C.J./Publishers 
Plot : 4/5
Cover : 4/5
Page Turner : 4/5

Characters : 5/5
Ending : 4.5/5

Overall Rating :

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Sixteen-year old twins in Candy-Store crime spree. Twins, Paisley and Beau Argent are in the headlines again. Last time, they were the 'wonder twins', when as six-year-olds they were found alive in woods after three days missing following their mother's death -three days spent looking for their dad. Now at sixteen, life's not so wonderful. Out-cast and exploited by their money-grabbing grandmother, they're still clueless about their dad's whereabouts. Until they discover an old letter from him. That's when they decide to hit the road - and make headlines again. Holding up fast-food joints might seem extreme but if they can get on the news, and tell their dad they need him, they might get the dream reunion they thought could happen.

I really didn’t know what to expect with this book. It’s not the sort of book l am always reading at the moment but l think l will always like to go back to these sort of books every now and then as l do enjoy them.

When l started to read this book l was very glad l pick it up from my pile of books. The 1^st page of this book grabbed my attention straight away and l cannot see it failing to win any person over. What l loved most about the 1^st page is how it introduced us to the first character in the book, Paisley, how quick l felt l know her. Seriously, from the first page l knew more about Paisley than l did about most characters within 2/3 chapters. C.J. then went on to introduce Beau, Paisley’s twin brother. I also felt like l knew him rather quickly. Not only did l love how quickly l felt like l knew them, l loved their characters. Skuse did such a great job of building up their characters, making them different, stand out and making sure their actions were true to the characters she had portrayed.

Pretty Bad Things is written from the POV of two people, Paisley has one chapter and Beau has the other. At the beginning l much preferred Paisley’s chapters because of the character she is but as the book got more into it l very much enjoyed seeing into Beau’s mind too.

The story line is quite a fast paced one and although l felt like this book was a character lead story (in no way bad!) l did also enjoy the twins journey in this book. I liked how the book kept to realistic things, especially as l got so into this book l felt like it had really happened and l was there with them. Bringing something ‘fake’ into this book would have ruined it, once or twice Paisley or Beau said about a fairytale but how this wasn’t one.

Overall this is a great read, l really recommend it to everyone, even if this isn’t your usual type of book. C.J. has put so much character into this book, one minute you will be laughing and the next you will have a worried expression on your face! 

Thank you C.J. for sending me this book!

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2011 Books Challenges 

None

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The Goddess Test - Aimee Carter (Rabid Reads)
Forbidden - Tabitha Suzuma (Once Upon A Quote)
Legend Of Healer - R.A. McDonald (I Swim For Oceans)

The Time Will Come #11

Posting it a bit early! (Thursday feature)

My new meme/feature - 

Basically every Thursday l am going to list a book which l really want to read/keep meaning to get to. These are all books which have been on my shelf for awhile now but don't have to be, maybe you got it two weeks ago and really want to read it! Or even a book you have had on your shelf for a while but aren't sure about.

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Other 'The Time Will Come' Posts -

#1  #2  #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 #9 #10

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Dead Until Dark - Charlaine Harris 
Yes, you have not gone mad. l have NOT read this series. 
l kinda brought nearly the whole series of books before even reading the first to see if l liked them BUT l know how popular this series is and how many thousands of people love this series so how could l know? It did end up only being £1 each because l brought them in a set.
Anyway l actually have this as a 2011 challenge but l think l may sadly fail it =( It is a big series and as l haven't read ANY of them l think reading the whole series is a bit of a trick challenge when l have so many books to read. I haven't really read many vampire books and l have loved the ones l have so l very much not yet bored of them!

Let me know if you read this series/book and also add your links if you join in!
The linky is removed after 2 weeks. 

Waiting on Wednesday (#13)

Waiting on Wednesday
"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
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Silence - Becca Fitzpatrick
This is probably the book l am most looking forward to because of how Crescendo ended. For anyone who hasn't read this series then l really recommend it! (Maybe wait until Silence is out so you don't have to go through the torture like l am!)
I can not wait to see the cover for this book, l loved the other two and l know they are very popular with everyone.
I actually got recommended this series by the librarian and l am glad l listened to her =)

Paperback or Hardback? (#14)

Other PB vs HB Posts- #5 #6 #7 #8 #9 #10 #11 #12 #13

The Accidental Mother - Rowan Coleman

>> Hardback 

Paperback <3 <<

This is obviously the sort of book which a lot of you wouldn't read but l have this on my romance bookshelf so thought l would compare the covers. l have the HB cover (but in PB) but l do actually prefer the PB, although l think it makes it look like it's for older readers. I just find the picture of the little girl so sweet and l love the font. 

Faking 19 - Alyson Noel

>> Paperback 1

Paperback 2 <3 <<

This is comparing two released instead of HB vs PB. PB 1 is the oldest release and l think this shows how covers have changed. l much prefer PB 2 (New release) although l don't love either of them. If l seen PB 2 in my library in the summer l would definitely pick it up! The summer just really puts me in the mood for these sort of reads. 

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The Killing Dance - Laurell K.Hamilton

>> Hardback <3

Paperback <<

I really can not get on with covers like this PB one. These covers never attract me to a book and actually put me off it.l love action movies but not books which revolve around constant action and killing/hunting and l feel these sort of covers remind me of a dvd cover.

I really like the HB cover because it's purple (my favourite cover) and also makes you ask questions.  

*Review* : The Body Finder - Kimberly Denting

Review of The Body Finder by Kimberly Denting

Released : 11th November 2010 (UK)

Finished : 22nd March 2011

Source :  UK Book Tours
Plot : 5/5
Cover : 4/5
Page Turner : 5/5

Characters : 4.5/5
Ending : 4.5/5

Overall Rating :

Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her "power" to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes the dead leave behind in the world . . . and the imprints that attach to their killers.

Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find dead birds her cat left for her. But now that a serial killer is terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he's claimed haunt her daily, Violet realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.

l work hard to make my reviews non spoiler reviews. Please email/comment me if you feel a review has a spoiler in it and you haven't been warned.

This is one of those books l would have never read if it wasn’t for all you bloggers and it’s definitely one of those books which makes me have even more faith in your amazing taste, my fellow bloggers!

I actually, not long ago, finished ‘Deadly Little Secret’ and l absolutely loved how it included chapters from the stalkers point of view. For a lot of Deadly Little Secret' l found myself looking to see how far it was until the next chapter by the stalker. Now, not much longer ‘down the line’ l find this gem of a book which also has a chapter every now and then from the POV of the murder. I really have fallen in love with this way in which a book is written and Kimberly did it great. It really adds to the mystery of the books and doesn’t really give many clues away at all but instead just makes you ask more questions. 

Anyway, this book starts in quite a calm way which l liked as l got to know Violet and straight away fell in love with Jay. Not long after the action picked up quickly and l was totally engrossed in this book! What l mostly loved is it’s not all about Violets ‘powers’ but also has a few interesting relationships in this book. I found the relationship with her parents an interesting one which felt very thought through by Kimberly. And then of course there is the relationship between Violet and Jay which takes a very front seat in this book (and l hope continues into the second book)

Violet felt like a very normal girl who l am sure a lot of people will feel like they can relate to with her problems (not her powers!) I have seen some people felt she sometimes made silly decisions which l do agree with but then l think maybe you would with how Violet felt. I think Kimberly did amazing to understand how someone in that situation would feel.

I am excited to read Desires Of The Dead but l do fear it will not be as good as The Body Finder, l just feel that this book ended in a great way. We will have to see though!
There is just one reason why it's not 5/5 and is instead 4.5/5 and that's just because l felt a relationship in this book changed too easily and l like to see and feel things are a bit more 'real' which l felt Kimberly did all the way through the book till then. (Explained below,spoiler)

Overall l would really recommend this read to everyone. I feel some scenes may not be suitable for much younger readers (10/11) and l was certainly on edge at points and wouldn’t have wanted to read at night by myself (l am often called a wimp though)
If you haven't read this l recommend reading half the blurb, l didn't read the other half and l am glad l didn't, it lets you know the half of it!

SPOILER BELOW 

*For me, the changed between Violet and Jay going from best friends (since they were VERY young) to boyfriend and girlfriend seemed so quick and they just didn't have any awkward moments. I kind of felt Violet should have thought something more than relief (as she had wanted this for a while*

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2011 Books Challenges 

None

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Check out the Lit Express post on Labels

Do Bloggers Sell Books? - Reading Teen

Book Selling Maths for Book Bloggers - Sniffy Kitty

Cover Crazy #11 and Daily Dose #5

Other Cover Crazy posts - #1  #2  #3  #4 #5 #6 7(?) #8 #9 #10

Hosted by thebookworms

Purple Daze - Sherry Shahan

 I love this cover for a number of reasons -

 l think it totally stands out!

The colours are amazing. Purple is my favourite colour and l love the use of the different shades of purple. 

I love her yellow dress, it makes her stand out and goes well with the purple.

The font is also really cool and l like the position of it, doesn't get in the way of the actual picture. 

Makes me think of summer.

Click here to see Daily Dose

This Week's Round Up

Reviews 
I have two to write up for you all, sorry l haven't got to it yet. This must be the first ever week l haven't done any. 

Event's/Meme :
Cover Crazy

Paperback vs Hardback

Waiting On Wednesday

The Time Will Come

E Reader vs Paper/Hardback

A Year Gone By

IMM

Guest Post - Marsha Ganman

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My Favourite read this week -

l just finished 'Pretty Bad Things - C.J. Skuse' and have also read The Body Finder, l loved them both but just because The Body Finder is the sort of book l am into at the moment it has to be my favourite read this week =)

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In my Mailbox! (#16)

ARC Delirium|Being Billy|Small Blue Thing|Personal Demons|Across the Universe|

The Pace|Hellhole|If l Stay|Fixing Delilah

Just realised l have around 8 for next week already (more than l thought) as l have some from last week and this week l didn't include. 

Thank yous

Fragments of Life

Shelena Shorts

Book Chick City

Little Brown Publishing

Daisy Chain Book Reviews (!!)

The Madhouse Family Reviews

Guest Post! - Marsha Ganham

Please giveaway Marsha a warm welcome to Books for Company!

SWEPT AWAY is an action-packed adventure set in Regency England.  A half-naked man has washed ashore.  He is badly beaten, with no memory of who he his or how he came to be there.  Is he a spy or a traitor?  Is he working for the English, or is he in Napoleon Bonaparte’s inner circle of conspirators?  Who tried to kill him and why is there an assassin trying to hunt him down and kill him before the English can find him and arrest him for treason?
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 Click here to read a brief excerpt of Swept Away

A Year Gone By... (#12)

Aries Rising - Bonnie Hearn Hill
Released - 2nd March 2010
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I have never heard of this book before. It sounds ok! Not sure if it's something l would read or not. 
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Reviews

Chicklish

Teenage Fiction For All Ages

The Book Bag

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Voices of Dragons - Carrie Vaughn

Released - 16th March 2010

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I have seen quite a few postive reviews on this and a lot of people who plan to read it. l am just so unsure about dragon books, l think it is something which l won't be able to get into to. 

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Reviews

Steph Su reads

Lov Liv Life Reviews

All Things Urban Fantasy

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My Blood Approves - Amanda Hocking

Released - 17th March 2010

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I am pretty sure l have this one on my kindle. I am amazed how cheap they are to buy when l know this series is very popular. 

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Reviews

Electrifying Reviews

Book Rants

My Vamp Fiction

E Reader vs Paper/Hardback - Part 2

      Part 2 (Part 1 link below)

PART 1

So last week l did a discussion on the advantages of having an e reader. Sorry l put Kindle vs PB/HB in the title! It was because l have a kindle but l had mean't to put E reader. Anyway, onto the advantages of Paper/hardback books. 

Damage

My Thoughts :

Although with an e reader you don't have to worry about actually damaging the book itself, it is a worry with an e reader that it could break. For example l accidentally fell on my kindle (don't ask!) and broke it, with HB/PB you don't have to worry about that. Can you seriously imagine putting your e reader in your pocket like in the kindle advert? I would sit on it! You can put it in your bag and not have to think "Will it break in there?". Yes you can get cases, which l actually need to do, but it is still a worry (for me anyway). 

Others Thoughts

Sally from Always Lost In Stories said -  Also still haven't bought a cover for my kindle yet, so I'm too terrified to take it out of the house in case it gets damaged or scratched up in my bag! 

Relaxing

                                            My Thoughts :

l actually put in the e reader post how e readers are easier to read. Which they definitely are because you can read them with one hand without struggling to turn the page. With a book you can't BUT l have always felt nothing beats laying down with a book in bed or out in the sunshine. Sometimes it's nice to get away from technology.

Others Thoughts :

Chloe from YA Book Lover said - Books are supposed to be relaxing -  you curl up on the couch with them. I don't see myself curling up on the couch with an e-reader. It seems too electronic.

Kavyen from Read Between The Lines said -  Nothing like lying on my couch with a warm cup of green tea and reading a mystery fiction book.

Sense's

I never thought of it this way before but it may be why l find paper books more relaxing. With a paper book you are feeling, seeing and smelling it. A lot of people actually mentioned in the form about the smell of a book!

Others Thoughts :

Yiota from Splash Of Our Worlds said - A reader can't give you the feeling of holding a book. The smell, to see how big it is and look happy, the beautiful covers and binding,the yellow, from the reading, pages.

Kate from That Book Blog said -  I love holding a book in my hands when I read it, I love the smell of dusty old books, I love sitting on the floor of bookshops reading blurbs until I find the right one. 

Jackie from Books n Tea said -  I do like feeling the pages between my fingers and the occassional sniff of the book.

Lending/Swapping 

                                                                                                                   My Thoughts : 

I swap a lot of books, l actually never keep a book (Apart from one in the past) because l would rather have unread books on my shelves than read books. I swap my PB/HB books but with my kindle l can't swap my e books. This is quite a big disadvantage for me as swapping books saves a lot of money.

Others Thoughts : 

Small Review from Small Review said - Lending capabilities and standardization (some e-books only work on certain readers) are two biggies for me. (Disadvantages)

Covers

                         My Thoughts : 

For me, a big thing with e books is how you don't get to enjoy the beautiful covers like you can when you get a PB/HB book. An e book can't sit on your shelf looking pretty and waiting to be read! Instead they are just some ink on your e reader. I absolutely love covers and l know the blogging community does because of the meme like Cover Crazy. 

                           Others Thoughts : 

Chloe said - Personally, I am a huge sucker for pretty books

Sally said -  If the cover is simply gorgeous I'll have to own the book for the artwork!

Cheaper

My Thoughts : 

After mentioning how e books are cheaper than PB/HB books some people commented on how this isn't always true. They were very right! For some crazy reason, sometimes, e books can be quite a bit more than the books. For me l find this strange, l can not imagine buying an ebook instead of PB when they are the same price! Especially as with a PB/HB you can swap them for other books. I think this can be a big disadvantage if you are no longer wanting to buy PB books. 

Others Thoughts :

Karen from The Slowest Bookworm said - Usually depending on which is the cheaper edition and it's NOT always the ebook which is cheaper!

Excitement

                                                   My Thoughts :

I love the feeling of waiting for a book in the post, getting a book and not being sure which one it is. Is it the one which a friend sent me? Is it the one which l swapped or brought? Is it the one l am getting for review? Ye, you get my point! When l buy off Amazon for my kindle l never get this excitment, to be honest l don't get any feeling!

Others Thoughts :

Kate said - More pleasures that come out of owning a physical copy of the book: having it arrive at your house after waiting a few days.
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Statistic

Thank you - 

Chloe - YA Book Lover

Yiota - Splash Of Our Worlds

Karen - The Slowest Bookworm

Jackie - Housewife Blues and Chihuahua Stories

Kate - That Book Blog

Sally - Always Lost In Stories

Jackie - Book n Tea

Thinking Cat - Thinking Cat

Kavyen - Reading Between pages

Small Review - Small Review

Next week l am doing blog hop so no discussion!

I do have a form for the next discussion which will be posted on 8th April - 

The next discussion is about how many books you read at one time. I know some people will only ever read one and others can be reading 3 at a time. PLEASE let me know your thoughts

FORM