DARE YOU TO (ARC) by Katie McGarry

Title: Dare You To (ARC)
Author: Katie McGarry
Publisher: Harlequin (UK)  Limited
Date published: 7 June 2013
Genre: Young Adult fiction

My review:
I really liked this book. I'm a sucker for an odd pairing in characters and Ryan and Beth definitely fall into that category. I love that the book touches on the fact that although things seem perfect, everyone has their secrets.

Ryan has such a strong 'I don't lose' mentality that at first it comes of as arrogant and cocky. It also seems he's slightly possessive however everyone has some kind of possessive side when it comes to love. Once he opens up you see he isn't as arrogant and cocky as he first appears. He is actually quite a respectful gentleman.

Poor Beth had no chance in life until her uncle tries to make a life for her in Groveton. You really feel for this girl right from the beginning. She is always thinking that when good stuff happens to her, bad news is not far behind. Thank goodness for Uncle Scott.

I love the plot. It's all tied up at the end very neatly and you ARE NOT left wondering 'hmmm wonder what happened to that character'. A very good read with loveable characters. Looking forward to a spin off book.

My rating: 4/5

SPELLBOUND by Emmie Dark

Title: Spellbound (ARC)
Author: Emmie Dark
Publisher: Penguin Books Australia-Destiny romance
Date: 15 March 2013
Genre: Adult Fiction/Romance

My review:
Well it definitely was hot and heavy which I liked. It was the in-between bits that I wasn't so sure of. I'm glad that I wasn't able to pick the twist however I think I was a little disappointed that Nick needed so much prompting from Aunt Gertrude. I think if Aunt Gertrude wasn't in this book and Nick had worked it out for himself with a few little clues, like through the whole thing in the lift, it would have had more of a love pulling them together rather than old Gerty. If the lift thing was elaborated on they could have worked out that she wasn't psychic but she could project her thoughts onto people... And maybe if her self esteem also had something to do with why she sucked at being a witch and when they worked everything out in the end then she was able to make the blanket, that was just out of her reach, come to her unlike the scissors at the start.  I liked the concept but a few things unfortunately just didn't click.

My rating: 2.5/5

A SHIMMER OF ANGELS by Lisa M Basso

Title: A shimmer of Angels (ARC)
Author: Lisa M Basso
Publisher:  Month9Books
Date published: 29 January 2013
Genre: YA Fantasy

My review: I really enjoyed this book. I loved how I couldn't really guess if she was crazy or not.  At some stages I thought 'oh poor Ray, no one believes her. They think she's crazy' and in the next few pages I was thinking 'oh but what if that's the twist? What if she really is crazy and it's an insight into an unstable mind'. I was happy with how it all tied in at the end and would encourage Angel book readers to give this a read.

My rating: 4/5

ON THE ISLAND by Tracey Garvis Graves.

Title: On the Island 
Author: Tracey Garvis Graves
Publisher: Penguin
Date published: August 2012
Genre: Adult fiction/Romance/Adventure-survival

My review:

Read it in one day. Couldn't put it down. This is a romance and hits on a few issues relating to teachers and students... What do you do if you are stranded on an island for years with a late-teens boy becoming a man?... Its a lovely story. I think I read somewhere that this was Tracey's debut and she has written it very well. Very easy to read and I loved it. It is a fave of mine now. 

My rating: 5/5

'DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE' & 'DAYS OF BLOOD & STARLIGHT' by Laini Taylor

 

Title: Daughter of smoke and bone
Author: Laini Taylor
Publisher:Hodder & Stoughton
Date published: Sept 2011
Genre: Fantasy/Romance/YA Fiction

My review: The first book in the series. I enjoyed this book. It ends 'to be continued' but it ends well, pulling the first installment to a close and book two will be the beginning of a new adventure for Karou and Akiva. A tricky little twist at the end made me say 'oh bugger. Akiva, you idiot'. The story takes place on Earth with flashbacks happening in Eretz (another world accessible through portals).

My rating: 4/5


Title: Days of blood and starlight
Author: Laini Taylor 
Publisher:Hodder & Stoughton 
Date published: 2012
Genre: Fantasy/Romance/YA Fiction

My review: The second book in the series. I enjoyed this book as much as the first. It again ends 'to be continued' and again it ends well. In this instalment Karou's life seemed to be the main focus and there was not as much interaction with Karou and Akiva. There were moments of Karou and the white wolf, Thiago. There were moments of Akiva, Liraz and Hazael. Even though they aren't getting along and do not know what the other has planned, they still end up striving toward the same dream they dreamed together. I absolutely love how Laini pulls her stories into a neat, tight knot with a twist in the end. They all end up coming together so fantastically. I cannot wait for the third instalment.

My rating: 4/5

FREEDOM by Jonathan Franzen

Title: Freedom
Author: Jonathan Franzen
Publisher: 4th Estate/HarperCollins Publishers
Date published: 2011
Genre: Literary fiction

My review:

This book for me was B.O.R.I.N.G! Don't get me wrong, it is written well and had it had a different storyline it my have evoked a different opinion. It was the storyline that had me thinking once I turned the last page, 'is that it?'. It was reviewed on The Circle Book Club and Cheryl couldn't talk it up enough so I persevered through hoping it would take a turn for the better. I was disappointed. It's about a family, the Berglunds. It includes a teenage sexual assault, marriage, kids, affairs etc and then ends up finishing with Patty & Walter as an old couple once the kids have flown the nest. I think it was hyped up because apparently Jonathan has written a good book prior. Maybe it's just that I like books of fantasy and make believe. Although I do like Rachael Treasure and Di Morrissey books and they are about fictional life/love stories, I just found this storyline boring. Other people such as Oprah and President Obama loved it according to Wikipedia so it is a book you will either love or not. Unfortunately it was the latter for me :( 

My rating: 1/5

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO by Stieg Larsson

Title: The girl with the dragon tattoo
Author: Stieg Larsson
Genre: Mystery/Crime/Thriller

My review: 

Calling all murder mystery lovers, this one is for you. Unfortunately it's not my kind of book as it took me about a third of the book to get into. I need a book to pull me in from the get-go. I persevered and eventually got into it and enjoyed the last half of the book. A guy is hired to solve a disappearance and solves more than just that with the help of a strange but smart chicky. If you love mystery, you will like this series and I know my friends may rate it better than me but I can only give it a 2.5 out of 5. It wasn't a major disappointment, it just took ages to get into and took me a good month to finish.

My rating: 2.5/5

THE ELEMENTAL SERIES by Brigid Kemmerer:

Title: The Elemental Series
Author: Brigid Kemmerer
Publisher: KTeen/Kensington
Date published: Storm (1st book) May 2012
Genre: Young Adult/ Romance/Fantasy

My review:

I love this series! Four brothers that can control the elements, trying to lay low while they learn to control what they can do. If they stir up too much commotion, the guides will come to take them out. Breathless & Spirit are the only ones not released. Brigid writes so I'm literally LOL and gasping at the good bits. 

My rating: 5/5


Title: BREATHLESS (ARC) - The Elemental Series
Author: Brigid Kemmerer
Publisher: KTeen/Kensington
Expected publish date: 30 April 2013
Genre: Young Adult/ Romance/Fantasy


My review:
I cannot believe my luck.  I got my hands on an ARC!! OMG!! The twist... All the way through I'm thinking 'No! It cannot be! Not Nicky' but it was to be that way... All the signs were there looking back now. I still absolutely love him to bits though. I'm so glad he finally has a story line all to his own now. I cannot wait for Spirit. I LOVE this series. With Brigid's writing style I am literally LOL at the good parts and looking forward to the next instalment when i finish. I'll be sad to see this series end xxxxxx 

My rating: It's definitely a 5+++++++++/5 for this series.


Title: SPIRIT - The Elemental Series
Author: Brigid Kemmerer
Publisher: Allen & Unwin/Kensington
Publish date: 2013
Genre: Young Adult/ Romance/Fantasy


My review:
I love this series. It's nice to read something not dead boring but not overly-raunchy either. I do love me some raunchy stuff but this was nice... Just a bit of teenage love. Don't get me wrong, there is some major teenage lusting between Hunter & Kate. I shed a little tear throughout the pages but I'm glad at how it turned out. I love following these boys growing up and become great guys. Well done Brigid. I'm so happy to hear there will be more to come in this series :)

My rating: It's still a 5+++++++++/5 for this series.

THE FAULT IN OUR STARS by John Green

Title: The fault in our stars.
Author: John Green
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Date published: January 2012
Genre: Young Adult

My review:

This is an absolutely BEEAAUUTTIIFUL book about love and loss and how we all deal with loss differently. It follows 16 yo Hazel to a cancer support group and the changes to her life that follow because her mum forced her to attend this group. It portrays teenagers very well. It's funny and sad and just overall beautiful. 

My rating: 5/5

'The girl you left behind' by Jojo Moyes

Title: The girl you left behind.
Author: Jojo Moyes
Publisher: Penguin
Date published: Sept 2012
Genre: Adult fiction

My review: I have read Jojo's previous book 'Me before You' under recommendation from A girlfriend of mine. I loved it and when I walked past her new book 'The girl you left behind', my hand shot out and I grabbed it on the way past without hesitation... It practically jumped off the shelf and into my hands. Jojo is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. This is a beautiful story that follows Sophie LeFevre from 1917 in the war through to 2006 when a painting of her is found on the wall of Liv Halston's home. Jojo links these two women, a century between them, in such a gorgeous way that they stay with you even after you have turned the last page and closed the back cover. It left a wide smile on my face. Devastating and heartbreaking as to what they had to endure in the war but also gave me the warm and fuzzies on love and life. I absolutely loved this book. 

My rating: 5/5

Well hi there :)

Hi all,
I'm glad you have come to read my blog. I am an avid reader & I'll be reviewing and rating the books I read here.  I will not purposely try to offend any readers who like certain genres or any authors. These are simply my thoughts and I will try to give reasons for my opinions when I can. I am not a trained reviewer. I am a person who enjoys sharing the different thoughts and emotions evoked by reading.