*Review* The Vincent Boys - Abbi Glines

The Vincent Boys - Abbi Glines

Series : #1 The Vincent Boys

Released : 14th November 2012

Publisher: Hot Key Books

Format : Paperback

Source : Publisher (Thank you!)

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

Overall rating

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

Beau Vincent is rude, bad, and dangerous to know. So why can't good girl Ashton Gray keep away from him? She already has the perfect boyfriend - her town's local Prince Charming, Sawyer Vincent. But Sawyer is away for the summer, and in the meantime Ashton is bored, and the heat between her and Beau is undeniable - as well as irresistible. Ashton is about to unleash her bad girl - but what will she do when Sawyer comes home? And how will Sawyer react when he returns to find his girlfriend in the arms of his best friend - and cousin?

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

In Short

- The action starts pretty much from the first chapter.

- There are constantly new twists with lots of action and character building. 

- Harper really pushes some boundaries in this book. 

- I disliked how Jackson felt a lot younger than he was. 

In Long

I picked The Vincent Boys up not really knowing what to expect from it. I hadn't read any reviews on it or heard much so I was looking forward to reading it to see if I enjoyed it. Abbi really looked like the sort of author who I would like. Her blurbs and covers all look and sound awesome so I was excited to start The Vincent Boys.

The Vincent Boys nearly straight away went above my expectations. I was straight away drawn into the story and bonded with the main character, Ash. She has a very likeable character, one which is kind and caring as well as having a more outgoing and fun character. I loved how she appeared to be a good girl but inside was dying to show she isn't an angel.

What made this book different for me was it NEVER annoyed me! So often with books like this I just want to shake the main character and say ‘Wake up! Your being stupid!’. However with Ash I could totally see why she was having such a hard time making a choice and how she was tempted by Beau. Beau is this tough, sexy, bad boy and Sawyer is this good, caring and down to earth boy. I wouldn't be able to choose myself!

Both Sawyer and Beau are swoon worthy for different reasons. I loved how they were both so different because I could see why Ash was struggling so much with making decisions. Everyone thinks they want the perfect boyfriend but when it comes down to it, do they?

The storyline surprised me as it wasn't the usual YA book but had quite a few little twists throughout it which definitely made the storyline more gripping. Although I didn't think the storyline necessarily needed it as I was addicted from the beginning. 

Final Thoughts

The Vincent Boys is an addicting read which you will no doubt struggle to put down. I was straight away, from the first page, wrapped up in Ash’s world where she has some difficult choices to make.

Swag Giveaway!

Hi Everyone!

I wanted to do a New Year Giveaway but never got round to it so I thought I would do a swag giveaway for you all! 

Good luck =)

If you live in the UK you can enter BOTH! 

International Giveaway 

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Ends 27th January

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UK Giveaway

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Guest Post - 2nd Instalment by Deborah White

Deceit is the sequel to Wickedness and is released this month (January)

Deborah has writen an exclusive story about the previously untold story of Nefertaru, Egyptian priestess who features in both Wickedness and Deceit but whose story is never fully explored. This story is going to be published on blogs throughout January. 

1st Installment (7th January) - The Book Bag

When I wake, I am out on the river Nile and it is dark still. There is a lamp hung at the curved prow of the boat but I can see very little. Only the shape of men bent at their oars… and another man at the stern of the boat who steers it and marks time for the men rowing. I scramble to sit up, but a hand reaches out and holds my wrist so tightly I think it will snap in two.

“Stay calm. We will be at Men Nefer by daybreak.”

I look up into the face of the man who has snatched me away from everything I love… and it is ugly. Everything about it is distorted. His chin is too large and jutting. His eyes are set too deep in their sockets, sunken like those of someone long dead. And his voice makes me shiver… it is dry and whispering like the wind threading through the reeds that line the riverbank.

When daybreak comes, the river has widened out into a great delta and as the boat comes close in to the shore, I can see that buildings of all shapes and sizes are stretched out along it for many khets.

HE, the man who I later learn is Setna, the High Priest at the Temple of Sekhmet, stands up as the oars are shipped and the men make ready to land at the quayside. He pulls me in close to him and when the boat is safely moored we step ashore…

There is a line of men waiting on the quay. They look solemn, official and very afraid as Setna towers above them. He inclines his head – barely moving it at all – and the line breaks apart. A young woman, wearing a heavy black wig and dressed in a fine linen shift, steps forward. She bows down before Setna. Keeps her eyes fixed on the ground.

“This is Asru,” Setna says. I have to lean towards him to catch her name. “She is to be your companion until Thoth has need of you.”

Asru does not move, but she draws in her breath sharp. She stays motionless until Setna has stepped up into his chariot… until she hears the noise of the chariot’s wheels turning and the thud of the horse’s hooves on the hard earth. Even then she raises herself up cautiously. Dusting off her tunic, she allows herself a smile as she looks straight into my eyes. As she steps forward and rests her right hand gently on my shoulder.It is then that I notice she is wearing a ring. A beautiful gold ring set with lapis lazuli carved in the shape of a crocodile’s head resting on the palm of a hand. And she smells sweetly of lotus blossom and her kohl-rimmed eyes are dark and gentle.

To read the 3rd instalment visit Totally Bookalicious (16th January)

Find Deborah 

Website
Goodreads

Amazon (UK/USA)

The Time Will Come #87

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!

Dead Beautiful - Yvonne Woon

This is one of those books which  have put me off due to their size. It's over 500 pages so that's quite a big book for me. I always worry that if I can't get into a big book that well but don't want to put it down it will take me weeks to read it.
It takes a lot for me to put a book down, I have to really not like it at all.
Hopefully when I do get to this book i will fall in love with it so it won't take long to read or bore me. 
It does sound like a great book! Let me know if you have read it and what you thought of it if you have =) 

The Blurb

After Renee Winters discovers her parents lying dead in California’s Redwood Forest in what appears to be a strange double murder, her grandfather sends her off to Gottfried Academy in Maine, a remote and mysterious high school dedicated to philosophy, “crude sciences,” and Latin: the Language of the Dead. It’s here she meets Dante, a dark and elusive student to whom she feels inexplicably drawn.
As they get to know each other better, Dante can’t seem to control his attraction either, and their desires gradually deepen into a complex and dangerous romance. Dangerous because Dante is hiding a frightening secret. A secret so terrible, it has him fearing for Renee’s life.
Dante’s not the only one with secrets, though. Turns out Gottfried Academy has a few of its own... Like, how come students keep disappearing? Why are the prefect-like Monitors creeping around campus during the night? And what exactly are the Headmistress and Professors really up to? Renee is determined to find out why.
Dead Beautiful is both a compelling romance and thought-provoking read, bringing shocking new meaning to life, death, love, and the nature of the soul.

*Review by Ryan* - Losing my Virginity by Richard Branson

This review is written by my brother, Ryan. Thanks for a wonderful review Ryan! 

I'm really glad that I am able to feature different sorts of books on my blog and aim to do more of this in 2013. 

Losing My Virginity - Richard Branson

Series : No

Released : May 2009

Publisher: Virgin Books

Format : Paperback

Source : Publisher (Thank you!)

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

Overall rating

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

"Oh, screw it, let's do it."
That's the philosophy that has allowed Richard Branson, in slightly more than twenty-five years, to spawn so many successful ventures. From the airline business (Virgin Atlantic Airways), to music (Virgin Records and V2), to cola (Virgin Cola), to retail (Virgin Megastores), and nearly a hundred others, ranging from financial services to bridal wear, Branson has a track record second to none.
Losing My Virginity is the unusual, frequently outrageous autobiography of one of the great business geniuses of our time. When Richard Branson started his first business, he and his friends decided that "since we're complete virgins at business, let's call it just that: Virgin." Since then, Branson has written his own "rules" for success, creating a group of companies with a global presence, but no central headquarters, no management hierarchy, and minimal bureaucracy.

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

In Short

- I enjoyed reading about the many aspects of Richard Branson’s life

- I would happily read more about his life

- He explains his personal life as well as speaking about the Virgin Empire

- There are many funny moments in the book

- I would highly recommend this read for anyone interesting in the life of Richard Branson or Virgin.

In Long

I have long had an interest in Richard Branson’s rise in the business world. His attitude towards business impressed and inspired me in many ways. When he released his autobiography “Losing my Virginity” I knew it would be a play on words and would involve a lot of information about the Virgin Empire. The book starts with a story about his plan to travel around world in a hot air balloon and then moves onto his life at school/boarding school. He explains in great detail that his success was only possible due this his determination and the support of his family, a family who were in no way rich and who had to support Richard through many different troubles as a young business man. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about his life and how intelligent, brave and bold he has been to create his vast business empire.

Not only does he discuss his business life but he goes on to explain some of the extraordinary things he has done. He speaks in great detail about his past and the many relationships he has had with friends, family and girlfriends. Many of these relationships were seemingly strained by other aspects of his life. The reasons for the respect he receives on a daily basis are explained in the book and it shows, to this day, what a hard working man he is.

Final Thoughts

There are many funny moments in the book which were a pleasant surprise and I look forward to reading or watching more about Richard Branson in the future

By Ryan Lane