Friday 19 September 2014

Drops of Rain - Kathryn Andrews


So this book was a total impulse buy. I have loads of books on my to-read list, but couldn't find one that I wanted to read when I came across this book. The synopsis really intrigued me and the book had some amazing reviews. I was excited...



The prologue really sucked me in and the rest of the book was just as good. The fact that both the characters are so eager to get their ideal place at College, isn't really the main focal point of the book. It is definitely a part of it, but the book mainly explores the healing and growth of the characters.

Both characters had been dealt a really bad hand in life, Drew more than Ali, but these two tortured souls found a way to live. Drew is a champion swimmer and Ali a dancer. I loved the fact that Ali wasn't the shy, easily intimidated kind of girl that you find in most books like this. She was strong. There was obviously a little insecurity, but what was different, was that it wasn't played out for most of the book. The problem was dealt with relatively quickly.

The character that i loved the most was Beau. I loved him and his protectiveness. You don't usually see brothers have many heart to hearts but there were some in this book and I found it refreshing.

I give this book 5/5 stars. It was a quick and easy read. It made me shed a tear, smile and it was well written. I cannot wait to read the next book.

Thursday 18 September 2014

Compulsion - Martina Boone

Compulsion (The Heirs of Watson Island, #1)Compulsion by Martina Boone


My rating: 1 of 5 stars



First I have to say that I LOVE the cover. Whoever says that you do not judge a book by its' cover is wrong. The cover caught my attention then the blurb.

I had very high expectations for this book. The amazing reviews from some of my favorite authors made me want the book even more.

The book started off very average. Most books start off slow but get better as you progress. This book did not. The slow pace of this book was unbearable and I could not finish it. I got to Chapter 20 and stopped because it was not going anywhere.

The main character, Barrie, really got on my nerves. I could not connect with her and her decisions made me want to hit her. Seriously annoying. Eight was, however, very charming. Maybe a little too understanding but I did like him. I also love Pru. Her story was very well written.

It is very important to me that I am able to get engrossed into a book. I love reading everywhere and if that is not possible, even in a loud place, i know that the book is not for me. I was reading this in a quiet place and yet the smallest noise would distract me. I would find excuses not to read the book.

I would not recommend this book.



View all my reviews

Wednesday 17 September 2014

Screwdrivered (Cocktail Series) - Alice Clayton

Screwdrivered (Cocktail, #3)



Readers back for a third round of the bestselling Cocktail series will enjoy a madcap romantic comedy about bodice ripping and chest heaving, fiery passion and love everlasting. Plus a dash of paperwork filing and horseshi—wait, what?

By day, Viv Franklin designs software programs. By night, Vivian’s a secret romance-novel junkie who longs for a knight in shining armor, or a cowboy on a wild stallion, or a strapping firefighter to sweep her off her feet. And she gets to wear the bodice—don’t forget the bodice.
When a phone call brings news that she’s inherited a beautiful old home in Mendocino, California from a long-forgotten aunt, she moves her entire life across the country to embark on what she sees as a great, romance-novel-worthy adventure. But romance novels always have a twist, don’t they?
There’s a cowboy, one that ignites her loins. Because Cowboy Hank is totally loin-ignition worthy. But there’s also a librarian, Clark Barrow. And he calls her Vivian. Can tweed jackets and elbow patches compete with chaps and spurs? You bet your sweet cow pie.
In Screwdrivered, Alice Clayton pits Superman against Clark in a hilarious and hot battle that delights a swooning Viv/Vivian. 
Also within this book, an answer to the question of the ages: Why ride a cowboy when you can ride a librarian?

This is the third book in the series and I was soooooo excited to read it. The first two books in the series were amazing  so I was expecting a lot from it. I was not disappointed.

I advise you to find a quiet space to read because you will laugh out loud whilst reading these books. They are funny, steamy and just plain swoonworthy. The first book in the series - Wallbanger -  is my favourite but this one was fresh and had a slightly different type of male/female relationship to the first and second. 

Viv is spunky and in the words of Clark an 'impossible woman'. She featured in the second book Rusty Nailed as Simon's high school friend. She is a lover of  Smutty Romance books and falls upon a chance to live her own romance story.

Then you have Hank. The hot cowboy she believes is the star of her romance novel. He is the first man she sees and falls into lust. Her loins want him.


Then she meets Clark, the hot librarian, slightly awkward and someone who irritates her immensely.
I loved Clark, maybe because he reminded me of Superman - who happens to be my favourite superhero- but also because he wasn't the dominant character that you see in books with plots like this. The roles between Hank and Clark are usually reversed. 


I am going to give this book 4.5/5 stars because it wasn't my favourite book of the series but it was an entertaining read. I cannot wait for the second one.

Tuesday 16 September 2014

What If - Rebecca Donovan

What If

A new novel by the USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Breathing Series . . . 

What if you had a second chance to meet someone for the first time?

Cal Logan is shocked to see Nicole Bentley sitting across from him at a coffee shop thousands of miles from their hometown. After all, no one has seen or heard from her since they graduated over a year ago.

Except this girl isn't Nicole.

She looks exactly like Cal's shy childhood crush, but her name is Nyelle Preston and she has no idea who he is. This girl is impulsive and daring, her passion for life infectious. The complete opposite of Nicole. Cal finds himself utterly fascinated-and falling hard. But Nyelle is also extremely secretive. And the closer he comes to finding out what she's hiding, the less he wants to know.

When the secrets from the past and present collide, one thing becomes clear: Nothing is what it seems.

 I have to admit that I was pretty scared before I started this book simply because I LOVE the Breathing series and I didn't want to be disappointed. I wasn't. This book had everything you need, chemistry, mystery, romance and an awesome best friend.

Nyelle was an eccentric character, and for me she was perfect. Cal isn't a bad boy and he reminded me a lot of Evan.

I usually find it hard to get into books which have many characters POV, because I find it hard to follow or unnecessary. In this book it was necessary. It gave you the perfect insight into the characters past and made you understand the characters in a way which you wouldn't without them.

I shed a tear which means that the book connected to me in some way. I hope that it does with you too.

5/5 stars.

Saturday 6 September 2014

Importance of Book Covers

I believe book covers are immensely important. It is the first thing that you see and it is the thing that draws you in. We all judge the book based on the cover and it is usually a good thing because it gives you an insight into what the book is going to be like.

For me, typography is really important. If the text on the page looks good an fits the genre and the book well, it is a job well done. If you look at this cover...



the typography is awesome. It is bright and was the thing that caught my eye. It tells you that it is a book for younger people and tells you that there is a twist in the story.

I am a huge Colleen Hoover fan. I Love her books. The American covers for her books are amazing.

                         

The UK covers, which are the one's that I own are not amazing. Frankly I hate them. They do not embody the genre or the feel of the books. The typography is bad and makes the books look like they are made for the older generation, when in fact they are New Adult books.

                         

For Maybe Someday and Ugly Love, the image, however beautiful it is, had nothing to do with the book itself. The font used for the authors name is usually used on Chick Lit Adult books.

The one that disappointed me the most was the cover for Hopeless. I looks like it is an adult books and the image on the front has nothing to do with the book itself.

However, there are are some UK covers which I prefer. An example of this is the cover for Graceling by Kristin Cashore.

5099602             

Another think which is really important is consistency in book covers of, for example, trilogies. We all like the way books look on our shelves and when there is the odd book which doesn't fit, it aggravates me. The idea that book covers suddenly have to change on the last book is beyond me.

I understand that you need to update the covers but do it after the last book comes out. One example is the Lux series books. the first four books were these amazing covers that went do well on my shelves, then the covers changed before the last book came out and I do not like them.

I also understand that it is the publishers that have the say in these things to I do not blame the authors in any way, but it is a make or break thing. I have to be honest and say that if I saw the new book covers on Goodreads, I would not have clicked on it to look further into them. That would have been awful because they were the first JLA books I ever read and i may never have discovered her if were not for the amazingly good-looking guy and all round amazing cover.

Opposition (Lux, #5) new                         Obsidian (Lux, #1) old

I think that I have vented enough. Please leave a comment and tell me how you feel on these things.

There are links to all the books (Goodreads), and authors (Blogs) mentioned.

This Is How It Ends - ARC Review - No spoilers



If you could see the future, would you want to? After the disturbing visions Riley and his friends see turn out to be more than hallucinations, fate takes a dangerous twist in this dark and suspenseful page-turner.
Riley and his friends are gearing up for their senior year by spending one last night hanging out in the woods, drinking a few beers, and playing Truth or Dare. But what starts out as a good time turns sinister when they find a mysterious pair of binoculars. Those who dare to look through them see strange visions, which they brush off as hallucinations. Why else would Riley see himself in bed with his best friend’s girlfriend—a girl he’s had a secret crush on for years?

In the weeks that follow, the visions begin to come true...including a gruesome murder. One of Riley’s closest friends is now the prime suspect. But who is the murderer? Have Riley and his friends really seen the future through those mysterious binoculars? And what if they are powerless to change the course of events?

The book follows a male protagonist and I liked that a book like this did that. However, I did not like the male character. He kept going on about Sarah but, I the part that i read, never did anything about getting her to be his.

The writing style was good and the idea unique to me, but I did not connect with any of the characters. this is really important to me. If I do not fell the emotions that they are, it is not a job well done. I found myself making excuses not to read the book and went to read others.

I have to say that just because I did not enjoy it does not mean that others will not. I just did not connect with the story.

P.S. I LOVE THE BOOK COVER. book covers are immensely important to me because that is the first thing that draws me to clicking on the link or picking it up in the book store.