Musing Monday (7)

Hi guys! It's Monday... not the day that brings the best out in me (to say the least) but at least I get to have my first go at 'Musing Monday'.

So the question for today is: Do you listen to audiobooks? If not, why not? And, if so, what has been one of your favourite, so far?


My Answer: Well this question was obviously made for me! I LOVE AUDIOBOOKS!! <3 Sadly it's been quite a while since I've listened to one although I can remember when I was little I'd go to the library and take out an audiobook.. then spend the next three weeks listening to it over and over... never once did I get bored of it. Unlike some of the people who have also answered this question I've never had a problem with the whole 'zoning out' thing and my favourite time to listen to them is when I go to sleep (weird huh?).

My favourite audiobook? Well my the first one that comes to mind is 'The Princess Diaries' from when I was about 9 years old, I loved the fact that Anne Hathaway even did all the voices, but thinking of all the audiobooks I would say 'Lola Rose' by Jacqueline Wilson was my all time favourite. Now I'm not a particular fan of Jacqueline Wilson as I think that all her books are depressing (would it kill her to write an actual happy book?) but this book for some reason completely grabbed me! I recall I renewed that audiobook at least twice before my mother forced me to return it, so I went and bought the book and read that instead... now I'm thinking that I totally have to start listening to audiobooks again!

So whats your answer? Share your link with me or tell me in the comments if you don't have a blog.
Email me at: confessionsofabookaholic@LIVE.CO.UK

Song on Sunday (8)

Welcome to 'A Song On Sunday', an original meme here at Confessions Of A Bookaholic.

To take part all you have to do is:
1. Pick a song you love
2. Match it with a book you've read
3. Grab my button
4. Link back to me
5. Leave me a link so I can see your post
Simple as that


Well as Emily says it's as 'simple as that'. Well I've found that with Sunday coming to a close and Song on Sunday not being placed on my trusty list that I'm under the pressure of time as well as trying to think of a song to share with you... and I've decided that I'm gunna make my life a lot easier and turn the tables so it's up to you, here's my song, anyone got any book suggestions I'd love to here them!! :)

I found this song ridiculously catchy after hearing my sister play it and have liked it since... great I'm going to be singing it all night now! oh well it was worth it for you guys ;) What do you think?

Email me at: confessionsofabookaholic@LIVE.CO.UK

Feature And Follow (3)

Feature & Follow is a blog hop hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read.  It is a great way to make new friends and get new followers.  Both of which I LOVE. I mean who doesn't?

You can follow me via any of the following:

GFC and/or Email

And of course don't forget to tell me if you are following and leave your own link so that I can follow you. I wont check you followed, if you said you did I believe you. So here's today's question:

Have you had a character that disappointed you? One that you fell in love with and then "broke up" with later on in either the series or a stand-alone book? Tell us about him or her.

I mean seriously?

Anyone who reads my rants reviews will know I regularly fall out of love with characters but they're mostly female so to challenge myself I will pick a male character. If you want to know which female characters then go to My Top 10 Worst Female Characters. I can't be the only one to notice that female characters are always the most frustrating! Anyway back on subject. The character that most disappointed me was by far Edward Cullen. You see we begin the book with a mysterious guy, obviously a vamp. Intriguing right? Not! We then find out this mysterious vamp is in fact a sparkling fairy princess by day and a possessive stalker by night. You see my disappointment? And don't even get me started on Robert Pattinson. Ew.



Share yours with me!
Email me at: confessionsofabookaholic@LIVE.CO.UK

Author Interview: Julie Rainey

Look! We have an author interview, It's been a while. I have a few more lined up though so watch out for more. Today's interview is with the lovely Julie Rainey author of Lost Princess - The Journey Home. I haven't read it but it looks promising.

Tell me about yourself 

This is me, a full time mom and part time novelist, lover of rock music, science, space and the vast unknown that awaits us in the universe. I have a wonderful husband and two beautiful children who support me immensely. I live in rural Missouri near a town no one has ever heard of, unless you're a studying to be an engineer and love to drink on St. Pats, then you know where Rolla is.  Actually I think the college used to hold the record for most alcohol consumed in one evening.

Tell me about your book/s 

Eighteen years after two caring strangers decide to take her in Anne must face the harsh reality that everything in her life has been a complete and utter fabrication. With the help of her friend and Protector, she sets out on a journey back home, to planet she never even knew existed. Will she be able to defeat the terrifying evil that awaits her and uncover the truth about what's really happening there before it’s too late?

What are your favourite books?

My favorite book of all time is Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card followed by a close second and third, Wicked by Gregory Maguire and Forever War by Joe Hadleman.

Who is your inspiration?

My inspiration for this particular book series strangely enough came from an Astronomy class I took in high school. I had a very close friend who took the class with me and one day we decided to mess with the teacher a bit. We were studying constellations and we each had to pick a particular constellation to research and then give a presentation on. I picked Orion and it just so happened that on my arm, in freckles, you could distinctly pick out the design of Orion. Weird, I know. We presented this to the teacher amidst giggles which only garnered us a strange look. Once we had returned to our seats, we theorized that I was actually from Orion. That was nearly ten years ago but the story stuck with me and I eventually expanded on it with the encouragement of the same friend.

Are you working on any books we should look out for in the future?

Currently I am working on book two of the Lost Princess series, Fight for Stiros. It follows the same characters five years in the future as they discover an underground cave system on the previously uncharted continent of Agonos, which reveals an entirely different planet unknown to any on Eirini. By visiting this new world, Isabella has unwittingly left it open and vulnerable to her own enemies. Will she be able to defeat this formidable force before it destroys the once safe planet of Stiros?

What is your favourite quote?

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.”

-Albert Einstein

If you could be any character from any book who would you be and why?

Arwen from the Lord of the Rings, totally cheesy I know, but who wouldn’t want to be an elf?

What is your favorite genre? 

My favorite genre is science fiction by far. I love all things space and science. The other thing that interests me about science fiction is that it inspires real life inventions like with the screens in Minority Report (Philip K. Dick novel). Scientists are actually developing those now (per a report in Popular Science).

 

Who are your favourite authors?

My favorite author is Orson Scott Card. Others I enjoy are Joe Hadleman, Gregory Maguire, Dan Brown and Jane Austen (everyone needs a little romance).

What tips would you give young aspiring writers?

 

*Be brave. The hardest part is getting started. Take a deep breath and go for it.

*Don’t give up. If this is a passion for you, don’t let the speed bumps in life stop you.

*Have thick skin. Not everyone is going to love what you write and take their criticism in a constructive way.

 

If you could live in any story world what would it be?

I would like to say Ender’s world, but with aliens attacking and all, I don’t think I would want to be involved in that so I will have to say…the world in the Accidental Time Machine by Joe Hadleman. I’m always curious to see how life will progress into the future and without being able to live thousands of years a time machine would be perfect.

 

What is the worst book you've ever read?

I attempted to start reading the Fantastic Voyage by Isaac Asimov, which I should have loved considering the whole Science Fiction thing but for some reason I couldn’t get into it. I didn’t make it past the first chapter.

WWW Wednesday (6)

Hi everyone sorry I haven't posted in a while but I've been busy busy busy. So busy I needed to write it three times!

WWW Wednesdays is a weekly meme hosted at the awesome blog  Should Be Reading.

To play along, just answer the following three questions…
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

What are you currently reading?

I am currently reading Before I fall by Lauren Oliver. After loving Delirium I thought I would give this a try. It's okay so far but I'm reading it reeeeaaaaallllllyyyy slowly and that's never a good sign. I just need it to speed up and get exciting. 

 What did you recently finish reading?

I recently finished reading A Great And Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray. It was quite a good book, not a favorite but I would recommend it. It was very unique though and I will be reading the second soon.  Read my review here.

What do you think you’ll read next?

I think I will read Unearthly by Cynthia Hand next because it's been calling me from my bookshelf for a while.  I need to go shopping, I only have three books left. It is very traumatic for me! 

What's your WWW Wednesday? Share them with me in the comments.

Email me at: confessionsofabookaholic@LIVE.CO.UK

A Song On Sunday (7)

 Welcome to 'A Song On Sunday', an original meme here at Confessions Of A Bookaholic.

To take part all you have to do is:
1. Pick a song you love
2. Match it with a book you've read
3. Grab my button
4. Link back to me
5. Leave me a link so I can see your post
Simple as that


Today's song is by my favorite band of all time. I've been searching frantically for a book to go with this song and at last I thought of one. Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman. I loved this series and it's all about racism and inequality. While this song isn't about racism it is about inequality and I think it gets the message across pretty well. All of The Script's songs make me feel very sorry for Danny (main singer) whoever keeps breaking his heart has a lot of fans to answer to! Read my review of Nought and Crosses here and enjoy the video.

Do you think the song goes well? Could you think of a better one? What is your Song On Sunday? Share them with me. Music + Reading, can you think of a better combination? I can't except maybe reading and chocolate. Hmm...
Email me at: confessionsofabookaholic@LIVE.CO.UK

A Great And Terrible Beauty By Libba Bray

Cover Rating: 4.5/5 Stars - Love it!
Overall Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Synopsis: A Victorian boarding school story, a Gothic mansion mystery, a gossipy romp about a clique of girlfriends, and a dark other-worldly fantasy--jumble them all together and you have this complicated and unusual first novel. It’s 1895, and after the suicide of her mother, 16-year-old Gemma Doyle is shipped off from the life she knows in India to Spence, a proper boarding school in England. Lonely, guilt-ridden, and prone to visions of the future that have an uncomfortable habit of coming true, Gemma’s reception there is a chilly one. To make things worse, she’s been followed by a mysterious young Indian man, a man sent to watch her. But why? What is her destiny? And what will her entanglement with Spence’s most powerful girls—and their foray into the spiritual world—lead to?

I wasn't sure that I was going to like this book. To be perfectly honest I bought it because of the cover alone. I had no idea what it was about until it arrived. I was nicely surprised. I like books that involve visions and psychic's. It was set in Victorian times, only the second series I've read that is. I found the differences between then and now quite amusing. In particular the things Gemma found 'scandalous' like walking unaccompanied. Oh the horror! It is very interesting though. The best way to describe this book is a victorian edition of Mean Girls, only the girls are slightly smarter and likeable. I didn't love any of the characters in this book, a few were okay though. Gemma herself was annoying at times but other times she was a good main character who's thoughts were very interesting. Felicity, the leader of the pack, was mean at first but halfway through you began to see she wasn't so bad after all, Pippa was blunt and not very clever but I quite liked her, Ann had no backbone and was just cowardly. The mysterious guy who's name I have forgotten was okay though he was hardly in the book. He was so insistant with his warnings but he didn't try very hard to make sure they did what he said. I hope to see more of him in book 2.

This book was intriguing and thought provoking yes but it was also very slow and boring in places. Not much happened and the ending seemed a little too neat when there was going to be another book. I liked the setting because what better place to set a victorian story than a boarding school? In the next book I hope to see the characters develop more and I want to see more of mystery guy who's name isn't really very memorable (Kartin? Karton? Something like that). I look forward to the next one but I'm not in a huge hurry to read it. I'd recommend this book to people who like steam punk (I think that's what it's called) and Gothic novels. I would give it 3.5 stars because it was slightly tedious but still good. I hope the next book is better.

My Favorite Quote:
“I want to ask him if it’s possible that a girl can be born unlovable, or does she just become that way?” 


Email me at: confessionsofabookaholic@LIVE.CO.UK

TGIF is hosted over at Mel Cusick-Jones's blog go check out her's and find out how to join in!


FUNNY – What made you laugh this week?
READING – What were you reading this week?
INSPIRED – What inspired you this week? 
DONE – What were you mainly doing this week?
ANGEL – Who was your angel/star of the week?
YUCK – What made you go ‘ewwww’ this week?

Correction - This is how I wish it had ended!

FUNNY - Well I'm always discovering hilarious things on the internet that make me laugh, a lot of them dissing Twilight. Before everyone damns me to hell for being a Twilight hater let me explain. I don't hate Twilight I just hate Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart and the fact Edward Cullen sparkle's like a fairy. Yes I do think Stephanie Meyer got it wrong and Edward was in fact queen of the fairy's but each to their own. Before I insult the millions of Twi-Hards out there any further look at the picture to the side. You HAVE to laugh at that whether your a devoted Twilight worshiper or not.

READING - I've not read too much this week because I have been way to busy. I have read Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning and City Of Ashes by Cassandra Clare. Go check out both my reviews! I'm currently reading A Great And Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray, it's okay so far I'm waiting for it to speed up. Look out for my review.

INSPIRED - My inspiration this week has been other book blogs, I love seeing how they do things and getting tips to improve my own reviews.

DONE - This week I was mainly doing work, very boring work I may add. Sadly it has got in the way of everything else. This weekend I am working again so post's will probably be later.

ANGEL - My angel has been my friend - who you know from guest post's - Beka. She's been on and on at me to write more so a message for her: I am going to write more!


YUCK - All of those horrible TV shows like Embarrassing Bodies. The kind of thing that always happens to me is I lose the remote and while I'm searching for it frantically because I'm missing Vampire Diaries or Glee a really sick TV show will come on and I will be powerless to turn it off. It always happens.

What's your look back?
Email me at: confessionsofabookaholic@LIVE.CO.UK

Feature & Follow (2)

Feature & Follow is a blog hop hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read.  It is a great way to make new friends and get new followers.  Both of which I LOVE. I mean who doesn't?

Anyway...

You can follow me via any of the following:

GFC and/or Email

Don't forget to tell me if you are following and leave your own link so that I can follow you. I wont check you followed, if you said you did I believe you. Hopefully this wont be like the loyalty box in my village, I don't think anyone actually leaves money in that haha. Who knew England was so trusting? Before I get too sidetracked here's today's question:

Fight! Fight! If you could have two fictional characters battle it out (preferably from books), who would they be and who do you think would win?

Well this is a very difficult question because there are so many characters I would love to see 'battle it out' but I think I will pick some from two of my favorite series at the moment. Magnus Bane from The Mortal Instruments AND The Infernal Devices (He's so cool he get's to be in two series) and Myrnin from the Morganville series (he has a pet spider called Bob, need I say more?). Both of these character's are kinda crazy and for some reason they seem very similar to me. To find out more about Magnus Bane read my latest review - City Of Ashes - and to find out more about Myrnin you will have to wait until I read Black Dawn which is being released very soon, can't wait!  

I know it said two characters but who else would like to see Jace Wayland (The Mortal Instruments) and Will Herondale (The Infernal Devices) battle it out? I wouldn't want either of them to be hurt though because I love them both but I'm still curious as to who would win. Sorry Jace but I would be betting - and cheering on - Will because I love him a tiny bit more. 

Who of my characters do you think would win? What characters would you want to go at it? In a fighty way of course if any of you are imature enough to see it any other way. Yes you! Haha. Share your links and I will follow back.

Email me at: confessionsofabookaholic@LIVE.CO.UK

City Of Ashes By Cassandra Clare

Cover Rating: 3/5 Stars
Overall Rating: 5/5 Stars
Synopsis: Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go — especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil — and also her father. To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings — and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace. How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?


Once again Cassandra Clare has exceeded my already - impossibly high - expectations. I loved this book, I think it was better than the first. It's still not as good as The Infernal Devices but it's getting closer. City of Ashes made me love the characters first introduced in City of Bones. Clary is quite a good heroine and she's not too annoying, Simon on the other hand is slightly irritating. Clary and Jace are the ones that I desperately wanted to get together but since they found out they were brother and sister I doubt it will happen. One thing I don't get is why would they listen to Valentine? He is an evil psychopath so why would they just take his word for it? Someone call Jeremy Kyle, we need a DNA test! Jace I loved as I did in the first, he really reminds me of William Herondale (The Infernal Devices) he has the whole tortured soul thing going on.

I think the story line was a lot more fast paced than City Of Bones and all of the characters became a lot more likable. I wasn't sure about Alec in the first book but he is now my second favorite character with the epic Magnus Bane at third. Magnus is very hard to describe but I did like Simon's description "He's a warlock who looks like a gay Sonic the Hedgehog and dresses like the Child Catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang." Overall I loved this book and would recommend it to EVERYONE. I would give this book 5/5 stars and more if I could.

My Favorite Quote's (Lucky you 2 for 1)

“I don't want to be a man," said Jace. "I want to be an angst-ridden teenager who can't confront his own inner demons and takes it out verbally on other people instead."

"Well," said Luke, "you're doing a fantastic job.” 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“We came to see Jace. Is he alright?"

"I don't know," Magnus said. "Does he normally just lie on the floor like that without moving?” 

Email me at: confessionsofabookaholic@LIVE.CO.UK

WWW Wednesday (5)

Have you noticed the most meme's seem to be on a Wednesday? It's very strange! Anyways... WWW Wednesdays is a weekly meme hosted at the awesome blog  Should Be Reading.

To play along, just answer the following three questions…
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

What are you currently reading?

I am currently reading City Of Ashes by Cassandra Clare. Anyone who reads my posts will know just how much I love her books and City Of Ashes is no different. I love nearly all of the characters and even some I didn't like last time I now LOVE. Jace will never beat Will Herondale but he's close. Look out for my review and in the meantime read my review of City Of Bones.

What did you recently finish reading?
I recently finished Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning, I liked it but didn't love it. Anyone else feel the way because it seems I'm the minority. It was an enjoyable read but didn't really - in my opinion - go anywhere. It was hard to write a review on for some reason but after a few false starts I managed it. Read my review here. 

What do you think you’ll read next?
If you listen to me rambling on you will know I just ordered loads of books from Amazon so I have plenty to read. So whats the problem? Well I now can't decide what to read! 
Help me out?


Tell me which you think I should read next! So what's your WWW Wednesday? Leave me a link or tell me in the comments.
Email me at: confessionsofabookaholic@LIVE.CO.UK

Bloodfever By Karen Marie Moning

Cover Rating: 3/5 Stars
Overall Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Synopsis: "I used to be your average, everyday girl but all that changed one night in Dublin when I saw my first Fae, and got dragged into a world of deadly immortals and ancient secrets...
In her fight to stay alive, MacKayla must find the Sinsar Dubh—a million-year-old book of the blackest magic imaginable, which holds the key to power over the worlds of both the Fae and Man. Pursued by assassins, surrounded by mysterious figures she knows she can’t trust, Mac finds herself torn between two deadly and powerful men: V’lane, the immortal Fae Prince, and  the ever-inscrutable Jericho Barrons, a man as irresistible as he is dangerous. For centuries the shadowy realm of the Fae has coexisted with that of humans. Now the walls between the two are coming down, and Mac is the only thing that stands between them."

I started the Fever series with HUGE expectations, everyone is always going on about it and I wanted to know more about this Barrons person everyone is talking about. Well I read the first book and thought it was good but not amazing so I looked at some reviews all of them saying to keep reading because it gets better. So I had huge expectations for the second book and once again it has disappointed me. Not massively because it was a good book but I am still yet to see what all the fuss is about. Third book lucky? Hopefully. In my last review I said I hated V'lane, I now sorta like him. I don't know why and I don't want to like him but I do. Barrons on the other hand is kinda annoying me, he I want to like. He seems to scary and he bosses Mac around to much. He actually grounded her! Also anyone who has read this; is it just me or has MacKayla NEVER seen Barrons during the day? He always appears at night. I don't know what he is but I think that is crucial to it. I would give you my theory but it may be seen as a spoiler. MacKayla is back to annoying me again because of the stupidity of the things she does. I think she is too weak a character because she lets Barrons get away with way to much and does the opposite of everything he says if it's keeping her safe and if it's a stupid request she will do it.

I don't mean to turn this into a rant because I do like it but characters who act like Barbies must annoy more people than just me. I think the plot didn't really go anywhere in this book but it wasn't really very slow. Everyone is head-over-heels in love with Barrons so I'm hoping the next book lets him redeem himself and the plot gets more interesting. As for Mac and Barrons, it's obvious they are going to get together so I wish they would instead of denying it. It will happen! I would recommend this book to Adult Paranormal Romance lovers. I would give this book 3.5 stars and I am looking forward to the next book.

My Favorite Quote:
“Burns from dropped matches, Ms. Lane? Matches one might have dropped while flirting with a pernicious Fae, Ms. Lane? Have you any idea the value of this rug?”
I didn’t think his nostrils could flare any wider. His eyes were black flame. “Pernicious? Good grief, is English your second language? Third?” Only someone who’d learned English from a dictionary would use such a word.
“Fifth,” he snarled. “Answer me.” 

Email me at: confessionsofabookaholic@LIVE.CO.UK

Trailer And Excerpt Reveal: Taste By Kate Evangelista

Cover Rating: 4/5

Synopsis: "At Barinkoff Academy, there's only one rule: no students on campus after curfew. Phoenix McKay soon finds out why when she is left behind at sunset. A group calling themselves night students threaten to taste her flesh until she is saved by a mysterious, alluring boy. With his pale skin, dark eyes, and mesmerizing voice, Demitri is both irresistible and impenetrable. He warns her to stay away from his dangerous world of flesh eaters. Unfortunately, the gorgeous and playful Luka has other plans. When Phoenix is caught between her physical and her emotional attraction, she becomes the keeper of a deadly secret that will rock the foundations of an ancient civilization living beneath Barinkoff Academy. Phoenix doesn’t realize until it is too late that the closer she gets to both Demitri and Luka the more she is plunging them all into a centuries old feud."

Taste is the new book coming very soon from author Kate Evangelista. I haven't read this book but it looks really great. I mean with that cover who wouldn't want to read it? The author has kindly provided me with the cover, trailer and excerpt from this awesome looking new book. I've never read a book with this concept so it seems a unique read. So want to read and excerpt? Want to watch the trailer? 

A Song On Sunday (6)

Welcome to 'A Song On Sunday', an original meme here at Confessions Of A Bookaholic.
To take part all you have to do is:
1. Pick a song you love
2. Match it with a book you've read
3. Grab my button
4. Link back to me
5. Leave me a link so I can see your post
Simple as that!

Like last time I've picked a character again, I just love breaking my own rules. Today I have chosen Will Herondale from The Infernal Devices. He is my absolute favorite character of all time (at the moment) though Adrian and Jace are not far behind. Will is a tortured soul and when you read the books the reasons behind his actions becomes clear. It's impossible not to love him once you know why he does the things he does. This song I think fits him because he just wants to be loved but he can't - for reasons that will become clear - so he pushes people away apart from his best and parabatai Jem also the reason behind that will become known. Has that made you want to read them? I hope so because they are AMAZING books from Cassie Clare an AMAZING writer. So here's the song:

What do you think? Does it fit him? What is your song this week?
Email me at: confessionsofabookaholic@LIVE.CO.UK

You know how usually an author brings out a book and then a year later they bring out another and everyone gets frustrated with waiting? Well it seems Rachel Caine is a lot faster than most authors, Black Dawn her twelfth Morganville book is coming out in a few weeks and already the thirteenth Morganville's book cover and synopsis has been released. Now that's what I call fast working.
Here's the cover, don't you love it?

I'm sure your wondering why I haven't shared the synopsis with you. Well the reason is I accidentally read it and it literally told me what was going to happen in Black Dawn. I was very annoyed and I don't want my lovely followers to got through that so I will share it closer to the time. Do you like the cover? I think it's supposed to be Claire on the front which begs the question who is on the Black Dawn cover? 

Personally I'm very excited for Black Dawn and Bitter Bloods. I just love this series. I know lots of fans around the world would be upset that the twelfth book is coming out soon because it was going to be the last but guess what? There is now going to be fifteen. They just don't get old, Rachel Caine is definitely one of my favorite authors. Are you looking forward to it?

Email me at: confessionsofabookaholic@LIVE.CO.UK

Justice By Jade Varden

Cover Rating: 2/5 - Not crazy about the pink myself
Overall Rating: 4/5
Synopsis: "A House of Cards... When you build an entire life on a foundation of lies, it only takes one truth for the whole thing to come crashing down. I never invited the truth in. I never went searching for it. I never had any reason to suspect that the two people I loved most were dishonest with me every second of every day. I made one bad decision, and in a single day my entire world changed. If I'm ever going to discover the truth about myself and my parents, I have to trace all the lies back to their source. I have to try to find the truth that they're hiding. The more I discover about myself, and my past, the more I realize that lies really are better than the truth. But now that I know the lies are all around me, I can't stop until I've discovered them all. I'll pull each lie away, one by one, and examine it to see what's underneath…until this house of cards crumbles into dust at my feet.  I just hope I can survive the crash."

This book saved my life, well not literally. I had run out of books and was about to freak out but luckily Melanie (Cusick-Jones) offered to ask the author of this book if I could have a review copy and I was given one. I really enjoyed this book and it had been one of the only ones I haven't been able to predict. I was constantly thinking I didn't see that coming! When usually I'm like I knew that was going to happen, I bet this will happen next... oh what do you know, I was right. Rain Ramey was quite a good main character and she didn't annoy me too much. There was the stereotypical mean girl character but I didn't hate her either weirdly enough, her brother was okay. I really liked Owen at the beginning and I loved River. The only character I actually hated was Violet, she was just so annoying.

The book is a mystery with a pinch of romance mixed in. Wow it sounds like a recipe now. When we got closer to the end I began to feel creeped out by a certain character - not saying who - and I have suspicions that I need validating! I think I know something important but knowing this book there will be another twist and my suspicions will prove to be wrong. I'm not really one for a mystery but after reading this I don't know why. It was a change from my usual genre but a good one. I would recommend this book to people who like working out mystery's along with the main character. Like a competition who can work it out first, usually I'm good at that. I would give this book 4/5 stars and look forward to reading the second book.

My favorite quote:
"I never meant to run off on you the other day. Believe me, I've got no problem with pretty girls who want to hit on me," he actually had the nerve to wink."

Email me at: confessionsofabookaholic@LIVE.CO.UK

TGIF is hosted over at Mel Cusick-Jones blog and it looked cool so I thought why not I will do one.
To take part just answer the following.


FUNNY – What made you laugh this week?
READING – What were you reading this week?
INSPIRED – What inspired you this week? 
DONE – What were you mainly doing this week?
ANGEL – Who was your angel/star of the week?
YUCK – What made you go ‘ewwww’ this week?

Funny

FUNNY - Many things made me laugh this week but in particular some Hunger Games themed pictures. I'm not that sad they're funny! If you've read the books you will get the picture. Want more pictures feel free to ask I was laughing for ages.


READING - This week I've read quite a lot. 5 books to be exact, I could list them but I'm not going to so look for my reviews instead :) I'm currently reading Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning but I have another 7 books on my bookshelf so I shouldn't run out any time soon.


INSPIRED - I'm not sure I have been particularly inspired this week, I do need inspiration though because I've had no idea's for my writing. Hopefully inspiration will come next week.

Yuck

DONE - I've been reading and writing loads but I haven't actually got any work done. Not so good.


ANGEL - My angel/s this week would have to be my lovely followers who have followed me and entered my giveaway and of course Michael Cargill the author who supplied the giveaway book. Three cheers!

YUCK - I'm not sure if I had an 'ewwww' moment this week except maybe some of the book covers I've come across. Come on I can't be the only one freaked out by that cover!


So what's your TGIF Look Back?


Email me at: confessionsofabookaholic@LIVE.CO.UK

Feature & Follow (1)

Feature & Follow is a blog hop hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read.  It is a great way to make new friends and get new followers.  

You can follow me via any of the following:

GFC and/or Email

This Weeks Question:

What is one book that you would be nervous to see a movie adaption of because you think the movie could never live up to the book?

Well originally I would have said The Hunger Games but that's been done and they did a pretty good job of it. I think I would say Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare. Just because it's set a long time ago and I think film makers could go overboard and have Downton Abbey only with Demons, Vampires, Shadow Hunters and of course Magnus Bane. I don't think they would get Will right either, he'd be like a young Mr Darcy instead of a of the arrogant pretty boy we all know and love. Jem I think would be easier to do as would Tessa. I've said it before I will say it again, Magnus Bane is awesome so they would HAVE to get him right!

So what would your answer be? Tell me about it, I like to know these things!
Email me at: confessionsofabookaholic@LIVE.CO.UK

My Sister's Keeper By Jodi Picoult

Cover Rating: 2/5

Overall rating: 3.5/5

Synopsis: Anna is not sick, but she might as well be. By age thirteen, she has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions, and shots so that her older sister, Kate, can somehow fight the leukemia that has plagued her since childhood. The product of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, Anna was conceived as a bone marrow match for Kate - a life and a role that she has never challenged...until now. Like most teenagers, Anna is beginning to question who she truly is. But unlike most teenagers, she has always been defined in terms of her sister - and so Anna makes a decision that for most would be unthinkable, a decision that will tear her family apart and have perhaps fatal consequences for the sister she loves. Should you follow your own heart, or let others lead you?"


I started this thinking 'it will be fine, I never cry at books' I finished it thinking 'Why did I read that? I should have known it would make me cry!' I've been wanting to watch the film of this for ages and I finally remembered that there was a book, even better. I knew it was going to be sad but Thirteen Reasons Why put me in the mood for a sad book - yes I've got more sad books lined up after this one. I have never read any books by Jodi Picoult before but I plan to read some more in the future. For some reason charity book shops always have her books in them. Throughout the book I couldn't help thinking how selfish Anna was for denying her sister the organ she needed to survive. When we got to the end and it was explained a bit more I stopped thinking Anna was selfish but brave instead but I think it should have been properly explained before. The only character I liked throughout the whole think was Campbell - Anna's lawyer - he was hilarious. 


I think the book was very well done for such a sensitive subject though it was a bit slow in places. The book is written in multiple point of views which worked well. I particularly enjoyed Campbell and Anna's point's of view. The thing that brought my review down was the ending, I feel it was unnecessary. It was as if Jodi was just taking the easy way out of a nearly resolved situation. It was done for the shock and nothing else. I would recommend this book to people in the need of a good cry. It was originally going to be a four star review but the ending brought it down to 3.5/5 stars. 


My favorite quote:
“You don't love someone because they're perfect, you love them in spite of the fact that they're not.” 


Email me at: confessionsofabookaholic@LIVE.CO.UK

Thirteen Reasons Why By Jay Asher

Cover Rating: 3/5
Overall Rating: 5/5
Synopsis:"Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a strange package with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers several cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker - his classmate and crush - who committed suicide two weeks earlier. Hannah's voice tells him that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out why. Clay spends the night crisscrossing his town with Hannah as his guide. He becomes a firsthand witness to Hannah's pain, and learns the truth about himself-a truth he never wanted to face. Thirteen Reasons Why is the gripping, addictive international bestseller that has changed lives the world over. It's an unrelenting modern classic."

WOW! I have no idea why I picked this up, I saw the synopsis and thought that looks really depressing. My next thought? I have to read it! I wasn't expecting to like it I just had the urge to read it. Well I started it at 12 am thinking that I would just read a few pages. I couldn't stop though until I had finished it. At 4am. Even after that I was kept up thinking about it. The whole book was so real. At first I was thinking why did they keep passing on the tapes knowing all their secrets were being revealed to the other twelve people but then I realized they were doing it out of fear. They knew what would happen if they didn't. I really liked Clay and personally I don't think he deserved to be on the tapes.

I got very annoyed with myself halfway through because I couldn't help hating Hannah. No this time it's not just for the sake of it. Hannah making these tapes be passed around was cruel, she was blaming her death on these people who would have to live with it for the rest of their lives. Some of them may have deserved it but not all of them. Some of the people on the tapes had been trying to help her but she had taken the help the wrong way. Those kind people are given this guilt to carry. I hated myself for it but I began to think Hannah was being very selfish in what she did but if you think about it she needed her story told and this was the only way she could think of to do it. Apparently there is going to be a film of this book staring Selena Gomez, personally I probably wont go to see it - I don't like seeing books I love Disney-fied.  I would recommend this book to people who like a serious book that will play on their minds long after being read. I would give this book 5/5 stars.


My Favorite Quote
“You don’t know what goes on in anyone’s life but your own. And when you mess with one part of a person’s life, you’re not messing with just that part. Unfortunately, you can’t be that precise and selective. When you mess with one part of a person’s life, you’re messing with their entire life. Everything. . . affects everything.” 


Email me at: confessionsofabookaholic@LIVE.CO.UK

WWW Wednesday (4)

I have managed to go a week without a meme so I've let myself do this one. WWW Wednesdays is a weekly meme hosted at Should Be Reading.

To play along, just answer the following three questions…
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

What are you currently reading?

 Well I'm currently reading two books, I was in the middle of Justice by Jade Varden but then I had the urge to read My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. I am really enjoying both books so look out for some positive reviews coming soon.

What did you recently finish?
I recently finished Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher and I LOVED it. I have already written a review and it's scheduled for tomorrow - because I eventually figured out how to do that - so come back tomorrow for the review.


What do you think you will read next?
I have no idea because one of my orders just arrived so I have two new books (Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver and Unearthly by Cynthia Hand) but I can't choose. I may just reread The Hunger Games or Clockwork Angel because I've been wanting to do that for a while and I have enough reviews scheduled to keep you occupied.  


What's your WWW Wednesday?
Email me at: confessionsofabookaholic@LIVE.CO.UK