Guest Post - Interview with Marilyn Kaye

Please welcome Marilyn Kaye to Books for Company! 

Marilyn has kindly answered my questions, thanks so much Marilyn. A fan of White lies and Tiaras myself it's a privilege to have you on Books for Company!

I love the title of the book, White Lies and Tiaras, how did you come up with this title and were they are other titles you were considering?
I knew that I wanted the title to reflect something about lying, but I also wanted something to indicate that the story revolved around a wedding. It was my editor at that time who suggested 'tiaras,' and I was a little confused at first. I'm an American living in France, and I'd never been to a wedding where the bride wore a tiara. The editor told me it was more common in the UK -- but I thought that was only for members of the royal family. But of course, that fits right on with the character Nathalie's pretentious attitude!


Did you start writing White Lies and Tiaras knowing it would be a stand alone novel?
Although it's part of the 'Ticket to Love' series, the novel was always meant to stand alone. The premise behind 'Ticket to Love' is the idea that it incorporates a romance with an out-of-town situation -- but each novel is unique, with its own characters and story line.


What part of White Lies and Tiaras was your favourite to write? Start, Middle or End?
The beginning of any novel is always the hardest part -- introducing the characters and setting up the situation in an 'active' way is never easy. It's a real challenge -- but I think that also makes it the most enjoyable part.


What do you think are the main features in a male character which makes him swoon worthy and do you incorporate this into your male characters?
Great question! I think we all have our fantasy images of a swoon-worthy man -- someone incredibly good-looking, fabulously charming, and maybe a little mysterious. But deep in our hearts, we end up falling for someone with whom we can really communicate and connect. And in my particular case, someone who can make me laugh! And I do feel like I incorporated this in my male characters. Christophe is the fantasy man for Lara; Cal is very nice but there's no real communication between him and Alice; Alice has a strong connection with Jack; and Harry makes Lara laugh.


Which do you feel is more important in a book, strong characters or a strong storyline?
Hard to say -- it depends on the type of book, I think. In some books I've written, I started with a character, and in others, with a story. With White Lies and Tiaras, the story occurred to me first, and then I tried to create characters who would react in an interesting way to the situation.


What's your favourite cover out of all your books?
I do love the simple, romantic look of the 'Ticket to Love' books -- they suggest what's inside the covers without giving anything away!

Find Marilyn Kaye

Website

Goodreads

Buy White Lies and Tiaras

Amazon (UK/USA)

Book Depository 

*Review* - Blackwood by Gwenda Bond

   Blackwood - Gwenda Bond

Series : No

Released : 4th September 2012

Publisher: Strange Chemistry 

Format : Paperback/Audio Book

Source : Publisher/Audio Go

Buy : Amazon Paperback (UK/USA)/Audio Go
Overall rating

 .................................... The Blurb  ....................................

On Roanoke Island, the legend of the 114 people who mysteriously vanished from the Lost Colony hundreds of years ago is just an outdoor drama for the tourists, a story people tell. But when the island faces the sudden disappearance of 114 people now, an unlikely pair of 17-year-olds may be the only hope of bringing them back.

Miranda, a misfit girl from the island’s most infamous family, and Phillips, an exiled teen criminal who hears the voices of the dead, must dodge everyone from federal agents to long-dead alchemists as they work to uncover the secrets of the new Lost Colony. The one thing they can’t dodge is each other.

 .................................... My Thoughts   ....................................

Audio Review 

I received an audio copy of Blackwood from AudioGo. Below is my review of the audiobook itself. Thank you to Patrick and AudioGO!! 

This was my first ever audio book (Yes, honestly!) and I was unsure about whether or not audio books would be for me. Lately I am finding it hard to find time to read so if audio books ‘worked’ for me then it could mean I would be able to read/listen to a lot more books. I started to listen to Blackwood while at the gym and I straight away found that I was able to shut the world out and focus on the audio book. I was able to get into Blackwood just as much as I do books I am reading myself and found just because it was being read by someone else to me it didn't affect me putting images into my mind about what was happening, in fact because of how Blackwood was read it helped me!
Stephanie, the voice reading Blackwood, was able to create a voice for each character. At some points I did feel that she didn't change someone’s voice enough but I was still able to follow the story well and I never lost interest.
I am really pleased that I got the chance to experience my first audio book and that I was able to get into Blackwood so easily. Thank you very much to Patrick from AudioGO. Definitely check this audio book out!

Book Review

I also got a paperback of Blackwood for review from Strange Chemistry  Below is my review and thoughts on the actual book and storyline etc. 

I have to admit that at the beginning I didn’t think Blackwood would be the sort of book I would enjoy but I was quickly proved wrong when Miranda was introduced into the story. Her character was one of my favourite things about this book. She has a really hard time but manages to stay strong and is so caring towards her father despite everything. 

Phillips is another great character. When he is first introduced to the story I had my doubts about whether I would like him but I quickly warmed to him and towards the middle of the book I found his character more interesting than Miranda's. It was nice to have two main characters who I liked and really helped me get into the book.

The storyline is one I have mix feelings about. It’s definitely a unique storyline which often had me gripped. However I never felt like it got to the ‘punch line’. It felt like there was this massive build up to something big but it kind of never happened. Nothing really 'exploded' and I was never 'WOW!'. There wasn't ever a point where I wasn't able to put the book down and I couldn't help but be a bit disappointed. 


Blackwood is a very unique read which I enjoyed. As I said above there was some points when the story got a bit slow and it never got to the point where I said 'WOW. However the two main characters managed to carry the book through the duller parts I am glad I read/listened to Blackwood. 

Guest Post - Tamara Ireland Stone on Time Travelling

One of  my favourite things about blogging is authors doing a guest post for my blog having read their book and loved it! This is one of those times, I recently read and loved Time Between Us so it's a massive privilege to have Tamara on Books for Company. My review of Time Between Us is below this post, have a look! =) This guest post is most definitely in my top 4 guest posts, if not my favourite of all time! 

Anyway without further ado please welcome Tamara to Books for Company! 

Bennett’s time travel rules by Tamara Irelend Stone

Time Between Us is a time travel story, but it’s more of a character-driven, contemporary romance than a Sci-fi novel.

Bennett Cooper has the ability to travel through space and time, a talent he uses to see concerts and rock climb all over the world. But then he meets Anna Greene. He can give her the adventure of a lifetime, but he’s also going to have to test his rules if he wants to stay with her. There’s a lot at stake when you find yourself falling in love with a girl who lives seventeen years in your past.

My primary goal for Bennett’s rules: Keep them simple. I wanted readers to understand what he could do, and then lose themselves in a story about two people who never should have met, but accidentally find each other and fall in love. Bennett’s unique abilities are at the center of the challenges they face—and they provide a bunch of fun plot twists—but it was important to me to deliver a good balance and not weigh the story down in time travel rules and details.

In Time Between Us, Bennett is still figuring out some of these rules, but I know them well. It was my job to set them up, stick to them like glue, and leave it to him to push their limits:

Bennett can only travel within his lifetime.Early in the development of this story, I decided that Bennett’s time travel would be restricted to his lifetime: His birthday—March 6, 1995—to the present day. That gave me lots of interesting avenues to explore, while allowing me to keep the story contemporary. He doesn’t steal future technology or battle dinosaurs.

Bennett can’t stay in another time. In my construct for time travel, time has a way of “righting itself” when things get out of whack. If Bennett spends too long outside his present day, he eventually gets knocked back where he belongs. This is a big challenge when you’re from 2012 and falling for a girl who lives in 1995.

Bennett doesn’t believe he should change things.Many time travel books and movies explore the question of whether or not history is changeable or set in stone. I went into this story with more of a Back to the Future perspective:  events in the past can be changed. Rather easily, in fact. But Bennett believes that messing around with them could have disastrous consequences.

Bennett makes little changes here and there—mostly because he’s a seventeen-year-old guy and it’s hard to resist a good “do-over”—but he avoids the big stuff. Which is why this rule will be tested the most.

Bennett can take people with him. Have you ever had a first date with a person who could hold your hands and take you anywhere in the world you wanted to go at the speed of thought? Anna has.

Creating a solid structure and a set of rules around Bennett’s time travel ability helped me keep the parameters intact, but that’s not to say it’s been easy. I’ve paid close attention to every single detail along the way, and I have put together timelines and calendars, maps and sketches, and files and files of research on time travel theory. And since writing about something so complex can lead to mistakes, I’ve relied on my husband and editor to talk through some of the trickier scenarios with me. They are brilliant time travel logic partners.

I’ve loved geeking out on time travel, and forcing myself to figure out how to sort out every puzzle I’ve come up with. I hope I’ve made the story fun and the time travel interesting. If you let out an audible, “Whoa” as you’re reading, I’ve achieved what I was going for.

Find Tamara

Website

Goodreads

Twitter

Buy Time Between Us

Amazon (UK/USA)

Book Depository

*Review* - Time Between Us By Tamara Ireland Stone

   Time Between Us - Tamara Ireland Stone 

Series : No

Released : 25th October 2012

Publisher: Doubleday Childrens/Random House

Format : Paperback

Source : Publisher

Buy : Amazon Paperback (UK/USA)/Book Depository

Overall rating

 .................................... The Blurb  ....................................

Anna and Bennett were never supposed to meet: she lives in 1995 Chicago and he lives in 2012 San Francisco. But Bennett has the unique ability to travel through time and space, which brings him into Anna’s life, and with him a new world of adventure and possibility.

As their relationship deepens, the two face the reality that time may knock Bennett back to where he belongs, even as a devastating crisis throws everything they believe into question. Against a ticking clock, Anna and Bennett are forced to ask themselves how far they can push the bounds of fate, what consequences they can bear in order to stay together, and whether their love can stand the test of time.

Fresh, exciting, and deeply romantic, Time Between Us is a stunning, spellbinding debut from an extraordinary new voice in YA fiction.

 .................................... My Thoughts   ....................................

In Short

- Time Between Us has a great mystery feel to it all.  

- Both the main characters are very likeable and make the story. 

- I love the time travelling and how thought out yet simple it is. 

- Time Between Us is a well rounded book with amazing characters and an enthralling storyline.   

In Long

Time Between Us was a book I was really intrigued by when I first read the blurb and I straight away wanted to read it. I found myself quickly getting into the story and within the first few chapters I started to struggle to put it down.

The whole feel about the book is one of mystery, I never knew what was going to happen next and because I had forgotten most of the blurb by the time I got to the book everything which happened surprised me.

Time Between Us starts in kind of reverse order but kind of not (Confusing I know!). I loved that it was written this way round though as I spent a lot of the time trying to figure out what the beginning of the book means to what is happening now. Definitely a way to grab the readers attention!

Anna was a character who I really liked pretty much from the first few pages, she is a kind and warm character who is hard not to like. With this sort of storyline it was definitely important I liked her or it would have been hard to be able to get into the storyline and understand her feelings and actions. Bennett is a normal but lovely guy who I would love to meet in real life. He really wants to do right for Anna and the situation, I found him just adorable. The relationship between Bennett and Anna was one which I loved reading about, throughout the whole book I was constantly intrigued with how the relationship grew and changed as well as changed the characters themselves. It's definitely a special relationship because of the time travel and the 'baggage' this comes with. It makes everything so much more complicated but even more interesting.

Anna’s best friend Emma was a great ‘extra’ to the book. I love it when the main girl character has a best friend, it adds a lot to the relationships in the book but I also feel it shows Anna’s best side off. Girl’s are always themselves with their best friends right! =)

Final Thoughts

The storyline along with the characters definitely add up to make this a great well rounded book with an addictive storyline as well as great characters. Time Between Us is a sweet and heart warming book  about a romance which possibly shouldn't have existed but is unmistakably right. I would not have known this was a debut book for Tamara if I hadn't read it, I hope she brings more books out soon, I will definitely be reading them.

Guest Post - My Favourite Teen Reads by Becca Fitzpatrick

Please welcome Becca Fitzpatrick to Books for Company.

I have a lot to thank Becca for. Hush Hush was one of my first paranormal books and because I loved Hush Hush so much I am now a big fan of paranormal books. So as you can imagine it's a massive privilege for me to be able to have Becca on Books for Company.

Favourite Teen Reads 

By Becca Fitzpatrick 

First off, thanks to Books for Company for having me here today as part of the Finale blog tour – I'm excited to talk a little about my favorite teen books. 

I was a teen during the 90s, growing up in Small Town, U.S.A., and I don't remember a YA section in my library or in the small bookstore located in our strip mall. YA fiction has grown tremendously in the past decade—I'm envious of the selection available to teens today. I feel like one of those grannies waving her cane and shouting at teens, “Don't take books for granted! Back in my day, we had squat!” 

But I do vividly remember a small cart at my local library filled with Sweet Valley High paperbacks, and lots of gory stories by R.L. Stine and Christopher Pike. (My favorite R.L. Stine book was The Snowman. Someone tries to bury the main character alive...inside a snowman! How creepy is that?) The library cart was always picked-over, but I think, over the span of several years, I was finally able to check out and read every Sweet Valley High. I definitely related to Elizabeth more than Jessica. Elizabeth was studious, friendly, and wanted to be a writer. 

As an older teen, I moved on to the classics. I loved Wuthering Heights, Pride and Prejudice, short stories by Edith Wharton, and The Great Gatsby. I was in love with Heathcliff. At eighteen, I remember thinking I wanted to marry my own Heathcliff. When I reread Wuthering Heights as an adult, I was horrified by his character. He's so brutal and controlling! The only character in the book I consider heroic is Hareton Earnshaw. He has a good heart. I think he turns out all right in the end. 

If I could retroactively gift my teen self books that are on the shelves today, I would choose Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, Graceling by Kristin Cashore, The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han, and all of Sarah Dessen's books. Part of the joy of reading is feeling like, somewhere out there, someone knows what you're going through. 

-Becca

Find Becca

Website

Goodreads

Twitter

Facebook

Buy/Pre-Order Finale 
Amazon (UK/USA)
Book Depository 

2nd Blogoversary - Your questions!

A few weeks ago I asked you to fill in a form which any questions you had/wanted to ask me. Thank you so much to everyone who filled the form in.

If you have any questions yourself just comment below and I will reply asap! 

Books and Me 

Do you have any "bad" book/reading habit?
I don’t know if it counts as a bad book habit but I tend to not review the book as soon as I have finished it which is a terrible habit I have got into. Marius - Maruis Reads
What's your favorite place to read?

It has to be my bed! Although with a heavy book it can be annoying to get comfortable and often fall asleep. I love my bed and I love my books so together they are perfect. 

Marius - Maruis Reads

What is your favorite film adaptation of a a novel?
The notebook! Although I haven't actually read the book so not sure if it counts but I do love The Notebook <3
Marius - Maruis Reads

What books are you looking forward to in 2013?
So many! Little list =) - Everbound, Requiem, Unravel Me, Just One Day, If I Should Die, Perfect Scoundrels etc etc etc! 
Kyra - Blog of a Bookaholic
When you request ARCs when do you send them the review? Do you send it early or wait until you post it and then send them the link? 

I will put the review up live on my blog and then send it through to the publisher or author
Michelle  - Book Briefs

What author have you learned to love that you never thought you would like?
Wow that is a good question I haven't ever had before! I actually can't think of an author who  haven't liked. All authors I have been in touch with are so kind and lovely! 

Lisa - Lisa's World of Books

What's your favourite snack while reading? 

Any sort of junk is good for me. Crisps, chocolate etc etc =)
Mel - Mel's Random Reviews

What's your favourite children's book?

An older childrens book which I still have and love is Hanging Onto Max by Margaret Bechard. The Very Hunger Caterpillar is a younger children book I love as well as Charlotte's Web and The BFG. 
Sarah - Parents in Touch

What are your top five favourite books you've read this year so far? 

The Fifty Shades Series, Beautiful Diaster, Trafficked (Non fiction), Divergent and Pushing the Limits .
Chloe - YA Booklover

Blogging and Me 

What's your advice for someone who's thinking about creating a blog?
Be patient with things like getting followers and review books and just concentrate on making a fun and unique blog. Make blogging part of your routine so you have time to keep it up to date. Most importantly make it fun! Blogging can be stress so making it fun is very important. Marius - Maruis Reads

What's the best experience you've had while blogging?

It's amazing when one of my favourite authors do a blog post for me. Working alongside the publishers and authors is amazing!

Kyra - Blog of a Bookaholic

How do you balance everything with your blog? Do you have a schedule?

Being honest. I have sucked at this lately! Hence the lack of blog posts. However I tend to try to do them all the weekend and schedule them for the following week so I don't have to stress about doing them when I get home.
Michelle  - Book Briefs 

Favorite blogging moment, like the post you wrote that you loved the most, or a comment from a follower, or an author commenting on your review.

Wow it's hard to think back to the last two years. Lots of things. I have had an author comment on a review which was great. I love getting review requests and the authors show they have took an interest in my blog. Also I have had some comments saying how much they loved my blog etc which means so much! 

Jessica S - Thoughts at One In The Morning

How difficult was it approaching publishers for that first contact/How did you do that?

It's very difficult and scary. It's hard to know what to say. However every publisher is so friendly and open to blogs it's amazing! I think if I went back in time I would introduce myself first and leave it at that. Then the publishers know about me and can ask for reviews if they wish.
Mel - Mel's Random Reviews 

I am a UK reader of PNR and UF with some YA and there seem to be very few UK / European based Blogs that review the Authors / Genres that I like most. I have followed your Blog for some time now, Happy Anniversary !
Why do you think the overwhelming majority of Blogs for these books are from US/Canada.
Or is it just me not looking in the right places and I can't find more than half a dozen in the UK :)

First off, thank you very much. I am so glad you enjoy my blog! 

I think the overwhelming majority of blogs are from US/Canada is because they are both very big countries and also, especially the USA, have such a big number of publishers. Most books published in the UK have been published in the USA first. Also the population compared to other countries. However there is a nice number of UK blogs. Check out - http://bookbloggersuk.blogspot.co.uk

Irene

Why did you start blogging? How do you promote your blog and the giveaways on your blog?
I started to blog for a place to share my reviews of the books I was reading and to keep a record of what books I have read etc. Then it slowly became much much more into a blog which I post on daily about not just reviews but books coming out, what books I got that week etc. I tend to promote with tweeting and also putting on my giveaway blog UKbookgiveaways
Sarah - Parents in Touch 

How you started your blog? i want to start my own but i don't know how should i do it... i have made a blog on blogger but don't know how i should start posting.

I would start with introducing yourself, who you are, what type of books you are reading. Then start with reviews and what books your reading next, books you can't wait to out. Join in with some meme etc =)
Anubha

2nd Blogoversary - Bookshelf Tour!

To celebrate my 2nd blogoversary I have done a tour of all my books! =) Hope you enjoy. ALL are unread. I didn't show my read bookshelf!

2nd Blogoversary - The Blogger Behind Books for Company

This is me with my boyfriend, Sam and my nephew and niece, Joey and Lacey. 

Hi! As I am sure you know, my name is Jodie. I am 20 years old.

I live in England, in the East Midlands. I still live at home with my parents and my brother. My sister and her boyfriend lives across the road (Literally) and has a little boy (3 years old) and a little girl (nearly 2 years old). I have been with my boyfriend, Sam for 3 and half years.

I am very family orientated and they come before anyone and anything. 

My household consists of 6 animals. I am, as well as my parents, animal lovers. 

I have 4 hamsters which are in my room. They are my babies. I have an instagram for them @chocolatehamsters. 

We also have a family dog, Alfie who is 5 and a Bearded Dragon who we adopted, he is around 4. 

Here they are together! 

I work as an assistant childminder. I basically work at another childminders home  and together we look after other people's child in her home (the other childminders). I love my job and couldn't wish my a better job, I never dread going and miss it if I am off ill or anything! 

Book Tour - Betrayal by Gregg Olsen

Today I have for you an extract from Betrayal by Gregg Olsen. Betrayal is the second book in the Empty Coffin series. 

Olivia Grant wasn’t exactly sure what she’d expected America to be like, but Port Gamble, Washington, most certainly wasn’t it. As the sixteen-year-old foreign-exchange student had boarded the late summer flight from London Heathrow to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and plunked herself down next to a smelly man and his chubby little boy, she daydreamed of palm trees and movie stars. The travel magazine in the seat pocket in front of her all but confirmed the glamour awaiting the redheaded teen in just a few short hours: the cover featured a big splashy photo of beautiful people living in sunny, USA splendor. She was almost giddy, but she held it inside. British reserve, of course.

Olivia immersed herself in American TV the entire way over the polar ice cap to Seattle and wondered if the little boy to her left was going to be a kid contestant on The Biggest Loser. His father definitely was destined for some kind of makeover show. He not only smelled vaguely bad—garlic—but his mustache hung over his lip like an inverted vacuum cleaner attachment. The stylist who cut his hair had apparently used a saucepan for the template. When he looked over, she simply smiled. Olivia Grant was always very, very polite.

As it had turned out, Port Gamble wasn’t sunny Southern California. Not by a long shot. Instead, even in late August when she’d arrived, it was about as soggy and dismal as Dorchester was in the middle of winter. Gray. Wet. Windy. The people who lived there were average teachers, cooks, millworkers, nurses.

So not movie stars with golden hair and perfectly straight teeth.

Olivia pondered this while sitting in the living room of her first American party. Olivia conceded that her first American beer wasn’t what she thought it would be either. Brianna Connors, her new best friend, had promised that her dad’s favorite craft brew was no big deal, even at 11 percent alcohol content. Tonight at Brianna’s Halloween party, Olivia—in full costume—had sucked down the amber liquid like water and at first felt great. Then all of a sudden, somewhere between fending off some geeky, eye-linered, pirate boy’s cringe-worthy come-on (“Hey hot wench, you lookin’ for a first mate?”), arguing with her host roommate Beth Lee, and trying to cozy up to Jason Deveraux, the hottest guy at Kingston High, a wave of nausea hit her like a mini- tsunami. With the party still in eardrum-splitting full swing, Olivia went upstairs and sought refuge in Brianna’s acre-sized bed.

Olivia curled up for an hour, maybe two. If she’d been able to recount it later, it would have been hard to say exactly how long. Time came and went in the way that it does in a dream. Vapors. Mist. She wondered if she’d been drugged. She had only had one beer, two at most. She ran the scenario in her head. It was true that she had felt a little sick that morning. Maybe it was nerves? Maybe it was the onset of the bug that had been going around school? She hadn’t really eaten a thing since breakfast. Could it be just the combination of really bad American beer and no food?

Where was Brianna? Olivia thought, feeling sicker by the minute as the room started to spin.

About Gregg :
Gregg Olsen has a huge readership in the US and beyond and has been compared to Joseph Wambaugh and James Patterson. He is the author of eight true crime books including Cruel Deception and Starvation Heights. His fiction includes Heart of Ice, and Closer than Blood which charted on both the New York Times and USA Todaybestseller lists on publication. The Bone Box was number one on the US’s list of best-selling e books on publication in April. He also contributed a short story to Killer Year, an anthology edited by Lee Child.

Find Gregg 

Website

Amazon (UK/USA)

Goodreads

Buy Betrayal

Amazon (UK/USA)

Book Depository

2nd Blogoversary - UK Giveaway

This is a UK giveaway. The giveaway is for one of the following books below (You choose) Sorry it's only UK but postage is too much! (I have posted an INT giveaway)

Rules :

UK Only

Must be Follower

Ends 2nd November

Winner can choose one from the list below 

These are read books which are on my shelf

 I can change this list and ask the winner to choose a different book if she some reason can not send the requested book

a Rafflecopter giveaway

2nd Blogoversary - Publisher Questions

So I asked all the different book publishers that I am in contact with to ask me a random question about my reading habits and such.

I hope you enjoy this post, I thought it was something different and wanted to include the publishers in my blogoversary because they are all great! (Not all publishers are in this post)

Thank you so much to everyone who sent me questions =)

Have you ever read a book and thought, hang on, this character is ME? That is me, on the page, a collection of letters and spaces but me nonetheless 
Samantha, Headline. 
Yes! Haha I do this quite a lot. I haven’t ever found a character which is exactly like me as I find they always do something which I think I wouldn’t do. However Jody from Rockaholic by CJ Skuse is quite like me. She is very blond and does silly but hilarious things.
.

.

.Where is your favourite place to read? 
Hannah, Walker 
I love reading in bed. Although the disadvantages are I get really sleepy! I also love reading in the garden in the sun with my bearded dragon and dog (both!) sat on me.

Tea or coffee or hot chocolate when reading?

Hannah, Walker
Ok so I am going to sound a bit crazy but I don’t really like either three! I don’t mind hot chocolate but would much rather have some smoothie or something! Do you swap books with friends often? 
Hannah, Walker
I do lend out books to family but sadly I don’t have any friends that live close to me that read. However I do swap with my online book friends all the time =) How many books do you read a year? 

Hannah, Walker
Well last year when I wasn’t working for the first half it was nearly 100 but this year now I am working it may only be 60 =(

What’s your favourite reading snack? Hannah, Walker
Anything which is junk food! Chocolate is definitely up there ;)

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Who is your favourite character that you have met and would love to be friends with in real life? And of all the different places (towns, cities, countries, continents) you’ve visited in books, which one did you love the sound of so much it made you want to visit?
Jenny, Egmont
Well the place I would most love to visit after reading a book is Paris. Die For Me just totally made Paris sound beyond amazing!
And for which character would I most love to be friends with in real life? Probably Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele (from Fifty Shades). Sorry that is two characters but I couldn’t just be friends with Mr Grey is I wasn’t also friends with Ana ;) .

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What, in your opinion makes a great book?
Lauren, Random House Wow this sort of question could lead to a few pages answer. However I will make it quite short and sweet. I think, for me, the most important thing is the characters. I have been able to really get into a book which I found predictable from the beginning because the main character was amazing and had so much depth to them. Whereas I struggle to get into a book with an amazing storyline if there isn’t a character I love! So for me it’s strong characters as the main thing with an intriguing storyline and good writing which is easy to get into to. 
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If you could interview any character from any book on your blog, who would you pick?
Hannah, scholastic
I know I have already included him in an answer already but I think it would Christian Grey. Or even Anastasia! In fact I would love to interview Anastasia from Fifty Shades. No idea what I would ask but it would be interesting!

The Books I Love International Blogoversary Giveaway

To celebrate my second blogoversary I have put together a list of nearly all the books I have rated 4.5/5 stars. These are the books I have read over the past 2 years and have loved! 

If you are the lucky winner you get to choose one of the books from either the picture below or the list below! 

Rules :

International

Must be Follower

Ends 2nd November

Winner can choose one from the list below 

 I can change this list and ask the winner to choose a different book if she some reason can not order the requested book

Fifty Shades of Grey

Fifty Shades Darker

Fifty Shades Freed

Desires of the Dead

Divergent

The Last Echo

A Beautiful Evil

Slide

Forgive My Fins

Everneath

Flip

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If I Stay

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Die For Me

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But I Love Him

The Body Finder

Anna and The French Kiss

Deadly Little Secret

Stolen - A Letter to my Captor

Hourglass (Claudia Gray)

Darkness Becomes Her

Cryers Cross

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Delirium

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2nd Blogoversary!

Hi to my LOVELY followers!

I know I haven't been posting a huge amount lately but I am trying not to stress myself out where I get to the point that I end up not blogging any more.

Instead I have decided to blog when it's possible! 

Anyway I am going to try to make it up to you because ...

It's Books for Company's 2nd blogoversary! 

My first post ever was on 19th October 2012

Since then I have done 

- 846 Posts

- 55 + Giveaways 

- 81 The Time Will Come Posts

- 130 Reviews (Not enough, I know!)

To celebrate I have :

International giveaway

UK Giveaway

Swag Giveaway

Ask Jodie (I answer the questions I was sent)

Bookshelf Tour

Publisher Questions (I answer questions from the publishers)

About Me (I tell you more about the blogger)

All this week!

Make sure you check back every day! =)

*Review* The Monster Within by Lola Rayne

The Monster Within - Lola Rayne

Series : #1 Mounting Darkness

Released : 2nd October 2012

Publisher: Self Published

Format : E Book

Source : Author (Thank you)

Buy : Amazon PB (UK/USA)/Amazon Kindle (UK/USA)

Overall rating

 .................................... The Blurb  ....................................

Sometimes the monster that haunted you as a child truly is real...
All it took was one phone call to bring Nicole Jones's life crumbling down around her. Now a nightmare she thought she'd left in her past is back, and he's not exactly bringing her candy and flowers. While fleeing, in a non-terrified fashion, she meets a menacing man in a dark alley. Then promptly passes out at his feet.
Gideon Evans hasn't exactly been having the best run of luck, but all that changes when a buxom little blonde collapses right in front of him. Or at least he thinks it has. It doesn’t take him long to realize that bombshell is an appropriate description for more than just her looks. Now he's facing several problems, including a surprising enemy, his own dark past, and a rather inconvenient case of lust.
Can they work together to battle the nightmare that's chasing them? Or will they succumb to the monster within?

 .................................... My Thoughts   ....................................

In Short

- I loved the concept behind The Monster Within

- Both the main characters were characters which I liked.

- I was constantly on edge wondering what was going to happen next. 
- It's a short read but still has so much happening.  

In Long

The blurb for The Monster Within really intrigued me. I really wanted to find more out about Nicole, when I read ‘While fleeing, in a non-terrified fashion, she meets a menacing man in a dark alley.’ It made me ask myself so many questions and the only way to answer them was to read the book! I loved the idea that Nicole was fleeing in a non-terrified fashion, how is that possible and what is she fleeing from? I have to admit that although the blurb made me want to read this I didn’t realise that I would enjoy it as much as I did.

The concept behind The Monster Within is one which I straight away knew I would like. The idea that Nicole passes out in front of a stranger and together they fight against this ‘nightmare’ which is following them. There are so many twists to this storyline, it’s obviously been very well thought out because I am constantly on edge wondering what will happen next.

Both Nicole and Gideon are characters I liked. I wouldn’t say that this story is strongly character lead because it’s quite a short story there isn’t time for that. However Lola definitely created characters which were strong enough to lead the story. I didn’t bond that strongly with them but I definitely liked their personalities. Gideon is a great guy, he is definitely the type of guy who I can see myself swooning over!

I really liked how everything came together towards the end, even more so because I didn't see it coming so it there was some twists in the story. 

Final Thoughts

The Monster Within is a short book but definitely grabbed my attention. This is one of my favourite short books because of how much it manages to accomplish in such a short number of pages.