Waiting on Wednesday (#87)

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event hosted at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

If You Stay - Courtney Cole
Published : 12th February 2013
Publisher : Lakehouse Press
I have to admit I am a lover of a bad boy so a book which is about a guy who falls in love and doesn't know what to do or how to deal with it makes me swoon just a tad! I have to admit it's just more adorable when a naughty boy falls in love than a sweet guy when he falls in love. 
I have read two extracts from this book and love them both! I really hope to read this book soon and read some reviews from fellow reviewers =)

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The Blurb :

24-year old Pax Tate is an asshole.
Seriously.
He’s a tattooed, rock-hard bad-boy with a bad attitude to match.
But he’s got his reasons.
His mother died when Pax was seven, leaving a hole in his heart filled with guilt although he doesn’t understand why. What he does know is that he and his dad are left alone and with more issues than they can count.
As Pax grew up, he tried to be the kid his father always wanted; the perfect golden boy, but it didn’t work. His dad couldn’t overcome his grief long enough to notice and Pax couldn’t keep up the impossible perfect façade.
So he slipped far, far from it.
Now, he uses drugs and women to cope with the ugliness, the black void that he doesn’t want to deal with. If he pretends that the emptiness isn’t there, then it isn’t, right?
Wrong.
And it’s never more apparent than when he meets Mila.
Sweet, beautiful Mila Hill is the fresh air to his hardened frown, the beauty to his ugly heart. He doesn’t know how to not hurt her, but he quickly realizes that he’s got to figure it out because he needs her to breathe.

Waiting on Wednesday (#86)

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event hosted at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Dear Cassie - Lisa Burstein
Published : 5th March 2013
Publisher : Entangled Teen
I have to admit that it was the cover which first drew me to this book but I was intrigued enough to read the blurb and I am glad I did! I definitely like the sound of this book, the idea that she gets sent away and is in basically a isolated environment  I always find romance interesting in these sort of situations because they can be so much more intense. Definitely sounds like a book with a lot of self discovery in. 
So far it has 4 or 5 stars! 

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The Blurb :

What if the last place you should fall in love is the first place that you do?
You’d think getting sent to Turning Pines Wilderness Camp for a month-long rehabilitation “retreat” and being forced to re-live it in this journal would be the worst thing that’s ever happened to me.
You’d be wrong.
There’s the reason I was sent to Turning Pines in the first place: I got arrested. On prom night. With my two best friends, who I haven’t talked to since and probably never will again. And then there’s the real reason I was sent here. The thing I can’t talk about with the guy I can’t even think about.
What if the moment you’ve closed yourself off is the moment you start to break open?
But there’s this guy here. Ben. And the more I swear he won’t—he can’t—the deeper under my skin he’s getting. After the thing that happened, I promised I’d never fall for another boy’s lies.
And yet I can’t help but wonder…what if?

Cover Crazy (#87)

If I Should Die - Amy Plum
All the covers in this series have been pretty and all quite a like, love that they go well together. Although this is probably my least favourite I still like it and think it's really pretty. (This version is better)

I love this cover because :

- The sky is an amazing colour, it's so pretty. Totally makes the book stand out. 
- I like how it's like the first in the series.
- I like how the pattern goes around her, never seen it used in that way. 

- Paris is a big part of this book, I love that you can see the eiffel tower
Dislike :
- How edited it is =(
- There is way too many lines and pattern used near the title. 

Shadow of The Mark - Leigh Fallon
WOW!
This cover is beautiful, I thought the first in the series, Carrier Of The Mark had a beautiful cover but this is just amazing! 

I love this cover because :

- I adore the colour purple and especially the two different shades of purple used. So pretty. 
- I like that it is has the fact it's a second in the series at the bottom, more books should do that. 
- I haven't even read this series but want this book even just for the cover! 

Dislike :
- I think the title all over the middle of the cover spoils it a little, it's such a pretty picture then has all this writing over the middle of it. 

Probelms

Hi!

I am currently having big problems with my domain.

I don't know when I am going to be able to sort this, I have been feeling ill for a week so haven't been able to answer any emails.

So sorry! 

Fingers crossed it can be sorted.

Thanks

Cover Crazy (#86)

The Seven Year King - Kiki Hamilton
I love the covers in this series so I was excited with Kiki emailed me about the cover reveal, it definitely didn't disappoint!

I love this cover because :

- The previous two covers have been focused on one main colour, pink then blue. I love that this is also the same and is focused on gold.
- Love the mask! SO PRETTY and love that it hides the girls face as I don't often like faces in colours. .  

- Love the font and that it's been the same for all covers. 
- Love books which are part of a series and actually state it on the cover, so helpful! 
- The tagline definitely helps keep your attention and make you read the blurb. 

Send Me a Sign - Tiffany Schmidt
Even though this cover doesn't jump out at you with anything special and it doesn't have any bright colours, I just find it adorable. 

I love this cover because :

- It's simple but so sweet! I just think the cuteness of it would definitely make me read the blurb if I was looking for a cute romance book to read. 
- I love the title! I find myself judging a book on not just the cover but the title (which is naughty I know) but the title is sweet too.
- I would pick this up to read the blurb.  

Dislike :
- I don't know if there's anything you could change without going against the reason me liking it because it's so simple yet so sweet. 

*Review* - Hostage Three by Nick Lake

Hostage Three - Nick Lake

Series : No

Released : 3rd January 2013

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Format : Paperback

Source : Publisher (Thank you!)

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

Overall rating

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

It's a once-in-a-lifetime thing: a girl on a yacht with her super-rich banker father; a chance for the family to heal after a turbulent time; the peaceful sea, the warm sun ...But a nightmare is about to explode as a group of Somali pirates seizes the boat and its human cargo - and the family becomes a commodity in a highly sophisticated transaction. Hostage 1 is Dad - the most valuable. Amy is Hostage 3. As she builds a strange bond with one of her captors, it becomes brutally clear that the price of a life and its value are very different things ..

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

In Short

- Nick covers so many different topics and relationships in this book, I was gripped by so many different parts. 

- Hostage Three starts as it means to go on and pretty much throws you into an emotional roller-coaster. 
- I loved that there was the main storyline and then lots of different stories to keep you engrossed.

- The emotions in this book are so raw. 

In Long

I was rather excited when I read the blurb for Hostage Three by Nick Lake for many different reasons. One being that it was by a male author and I really want to read books by male authors. Secondly I am always looking for new, exciting, different books to read and Hostage Three sounded just like that sort of book. Finally and mainly because Hostage Three really touches on some difficult subjects which are rarely touched on when it comes to YA books so for a number of the subjects to be in one book, wow! 

Hostage Three starts where it means to go on and throws you pretty much into an emotional roller-coaster from the beginning. Meeting Amy was like a whirlwind within itself because at such a young age she has so many different things going on in her life which she is having to deal with. I found myself becoming so wrapped up in her life that I was almost feeling the emotions myself and at the least feeling strong empathy for her. I was really able to bond with Amy right from the start, having her as the narrator of the book made everything feel so real because everything was first hand. This made all the emotions and things going on so raw.

The main storyline is about Amy, her dad and step mother being kidnapped by Somali pirates. For me, this storyline has such huge potential and Nick didn't waste that potential. He put SO many twists and turns throughout the whole book I didn't know what was going to happen next. There are so many different emotions throughout the book from love to hate, aghast to courageous, confusion to clarity.

The difficult subjects which Nick touches on within this book, kidnap, forbidden love, depression, there is so many different things going on. I was constantly impressed by how Nick had the main storyline of the kidnapping but also had almost mini storylines going on between Amy and her mum as well as Amy and her dad. I can imagine for a guy to create a relationship between Amy and her dad and understand Amy’s feelings must be difficult but it felt like he did it with ease. Amy’s emotions felt so real and understandable.

Final Thoughts

Hostage Three is a breath taking read which will have you hooked from page one. Don’t expect to be able to forget about this book when you put it down, if you can put it down!

The Time Will Come #91

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The Time Will Come - 

Every Thursday l am going to list a book which l really want to read/keep meaning to get to. These are mostly 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! 

~

Want to join in?

- Pick a book you have been meaning to read

- Do a post telling us about the book 

- Link the post up in the linky

- Visit the other blogs!

Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

I got emailed about this book and asked to review it. I was honest and stated I was really unsure about it and didn't think it was my sort of book, however would be happy to give it a go. 
Any way I received it for review and had a flick through it, I was really intrigued.  There isn't really any other books out there like this and I was hoping to give it a go.
Any way it got added to my shelf and I haven't yet had the chance to pick it up. I know people either seem to hate or love it, hopefully I will be pleasantly surprised, those are the best type of books!

The Blurb

A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. And a strange collection of very curious photographs. It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children who once lived here - one of whom was his own grandfather - were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a desolate island for good reason. And somehow - impossible though it seems - they may still be alive

Waiting on Wednesday (#85)

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event hosted at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Truly Madly Deadly - Hannah Jayne
Published : 1st July 2013
Publisher : Sourcebooks Fire
This honestly sounds amazing!! I am really hoping  a UK publisher picks this one up and quickly, or it goes up on netgalley!
I so want to read this, I am totally intrigued by it. I hope Sawyer is the sort of character which is likeable, I am interested to see how to copes with it all.
I love reading romantic books but it's nice to read a book like this which really has the potential to totally grip me. I hope I enjoy this book as much as I think I am gonna! 

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The Blurb :

Sawyer Dodd has it all. She's a star track athlete, choir soloist, and A-student. And her boyfriend is the handsome all-star Kevin Anderson. But behind the medals, prom pictures, and perfect smiles, Sawyer finds herself trapped in a controlling, abusive relationship with Kevin. When he dies in a drunk-driving accident, Sawyer is secretly relieved. She's free. Until she opens her locker and finds a mysterious letter signed by "an admirer" and printed with two simple words: "You're welcome."

USA/Can Giveaway - Kate Ellison

This is a giveaway for a hardback copy of Notes from Ghost Town and a paperback of The Butterfly Clues.

Thank you to Egmont USA

USA and Canada Only

(Publisher Request)

End's 22nd February

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Find Kate Ellison

Website

Goodreads

Amazon (UK/USA)

Buy Notes From Ghost Town

Amazon (UK/USA)

The Book Depository

 Buy The Butterfly Clues

Amazon (UK/USA)

The Book Depository

Follower Love Giveaway Hop

Follower Love Giveaway

Rules

International (TBD must ship to you)

Ends 11th February

Must be Follower

Fill in Rafflecopter Below

Winner chooses one book from below

So I know these are the same prizes as my previous giveaway but everyone seemed to like the choice so here are the choices. The winner gets to choose one!

January Releases

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UK Giveaway - Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

Rules

UK Giveaway 

Ends 18th February 

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Buy Warm Bodies

Amazon (UK/USA)

Book Depository 

Find Isaac Marion

Website

Goodreads

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Cover Crazy (#85)

Some Quiet Place - Kelsey Sutton
This cover is pretty unique and I do like it. However I don't think it's as amazing as others think. It just doesn't seem to suit the blurb very much at all, maybe i'm being picky?

I love this cover because :

- I adore how the leaves make her dress and for me that totally makes the cover stand out. It's so different and even though it's dull it's still pretty. 
- I actually like how the title is spaces out like that and getting bigger. 

Dislike :
- I wouldn't ever think the cover and blurb together. I just don't think the cover tells you much about the actual book?
- I am not feeling the background/setting of the cover. 

Fall to Pieces - Vahini Naidoo
As soon as I saw this cover I loved it! 

I love this cover because :

- Well first off I love the curls in her hair, so pretty and really makes the cover stand out! 
- The title is set out in an awesome way which I love. It doesn't interfere with the rest of the cover and looks awesome and unique like it. 

- I love how the title has fall in it and she's obviously falling. Nice idea. 
- I like how it's been kept simple and not crowded. 
- The white background makes it bright and stand out. 
Dislike :
- This cover doesn't give much away about the book. Maybe a quite under the authors name or something would be good?   

*Review* Naked Angel by Logan Belle

Naked Angel - Logan Belle

Series : #3 The Blue Angel Series

Released : 15th November 2012

Publisher: Canvas Books

Format : Paperback

Source : Publisher (Thank you!)

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

Overall rating

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

Naked Angel is the third book in an erotic romance trilogy inspired by the burlesque clubs of New York and Los Angeles. The novels are about an ordinary woman who discovers herself - and her sexuality - through the world of burlesque. It's the biggest night of Mallory Dale's life. She's unveiling her sexy new burlesque club, The Painted Lady, and her boyfriend has a thrilling surprise for her. Alec is ready to propose, and he does it in her favourite place - onstage. But can she give up her boas in the name of happily ever after?

Mallory isn't the only one torn between bliss onstage and off. Ballerina Nadia Grant has hung up her toe shoes, now she's perfecting the art of the striptease and whips the crowd at The Painted Lady into a frenzy. But one man is outraged, and it's the man Nadia loves. Meanwhile, the club's financial benefactor is endangering everything he holds dear when he begins a sizzling affair with a young costume designer. Just when they're so close to having it all, will the stars of The Painted Lady lose everything?

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

In Short

- I still struggled to bond with Mallory which made me not enjoy Naked Angel as much as I would have liked.  

- The storyline has great potential but for me there wasn't any spark. 
- I got into the last 100 pages and was intrigued to see how the story would end.  

- I felt content when I put the book down and felt this series finished nicely. 

In Long

Naked Angel is the 3rd in the Blue Angel series and follows directly on from Fallen Angel. However as in Fallen Angel there are a few new characters in Naked Angel. I kind of felt this could be a good or bad thing from my side of things. Although it did add to the story it emphasized how I felt about the rest of the characters and that is the lack of bond I felt with them. Through all three books I just haven’t been able to get an connection to Mallory. I didn't feel there is much to her personality, she never made me laugh and I found her quite bland. I just didn't feel she had much to give to the book. Alec, Mallory’s boyfriend, is a better developed character, I could see what was attractive about him and why Mallory liked him. However I never really swooned over him or fell for him.

The story line in the Naked Angel had good potential, I really liked the idea of it and at a few points I got into it. I just felt it missed that spark, the wow factor. I never struggled to put the book down and at certain points it really dragged.

Towards the end I got into the book, although I was never shocked by what happened I was able to get into the storyline more and enjoyed finding out what was going to happen. I found it refreshing how Logan didn't make the characters life easy, it wasn't a typical story where everything goes right and I liked that, it was refreshing.

Final Thoughts

Naked Angel is a good end to this series, I enjoyed the last 100 or so pages especially and felt content when I put the book down. I would have liked for it to be more gripping and some unexpected outcomes but as I said, it was a nice end to the series.