30 July 2014

Waiting on Wednesday #84

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event,  hosted by breaking the spine, that spotlights upcoming
releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:


Falls the Shadow by Stefanie Gaither
Series: No
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: September 16th 2014


When Cate Benson was a kid, her sister, Violet, died. Two hours after the funeral, Cate’s family picked up Violet’s replacement. Like nothing had happened. Because Cate’s parents are among those who decided to give their children a sort of immortality—by cloning them at birth—which means this new Violet has the same smile. The same perfect face. Thanks to advancements in mind-uploading technology, she even has all of the same memories as the girl she replaced.

She also might have murdered the most popular girl in school. 

At least, that’s what the paparazzi and the anti-cloning protestors want everyone to think: that clones are violent, unpredictable monsters. Cate is used to hearing all that. She’s used to defending her sister, too. But Violet has vanished, and when Cate sets out to find her, she ends up in the line of fire instead. Because Cate is getting dangerously close to secrets that will rock the foundation of everything she thought was true.

How freaking amazing does this sound?! The minute I saw the word 'clone' I knew I just HAD to read this book. I'm dying to find out more about the clones; Whether Violet did kill the most popular girl in school and what secrets are being hidden! It just sounds amazing!

What are you waiting on this week?

29 July 2014

Ten Authors I Own The Most Books From

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish
This weeks topic is:

Ten Authors I Own The Most Books From
I've decided to only go with physical books & e-books for this weeks Top Ten. There are some authors that I tend to always buy on my kindle because I'm too impatient to wait for the physical copy to turn up, so I had to include them.

1. Rachel Caine - 22 books
I own every single book in Rachel Caine's Morganville series (15 books) and I own 7/9 of her Weather Wardens series

2. J. K. Rowling - 19 books
This is mainly because I own a lot of doublers of her books. I have the full set in the UK children's hardbacks; I have 1-5 & 7 in the UK children's paperbacks; 6 & 7 in UK adult hardbacks; An unusual copy of Chamber of Secrets; Quidditch Through the Ages; Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and The Tales of Beedle the Bard. But J. K. Rowling will probably end up being my most owned author ever since I intend to collect all of the different versions of the series that are in English.

3. Jodi Picoult - 17 books
I may own a lot of Jodi Picoult books, but I think I've only read about 5 or 6. I went through a phase back in 2012 when I just wanted to read Jodi Picoult - and it lasted for about a month. In that time, I picked up a hell of a lot of her books from charity shops and ever since then I haven't gone near them. I definitely need to start working my way through them.

4. Jennifer L Armentrout - 16 books
I only own one of her books in a physical copy - White Hot Kiss- but I have books 1-4 in her Lux series; the full Covenant series (5), Bitter Sweet Love & Don't Look Back on my kindle. I also have her NA books written under J. Lynn - Wait For You, Trust in Me, Be With Me & Frigid.

5. Louise Rennison - 12 books
Louise Rennison was my favourite author when I was younger and I collected the full Georgia Nicholson series. I also have books 1 & 2 in the Tallulah Casey series because they're really light hearted and hilarious. 

6. Cassandra Clare - 8 books
I own the full Mortal Instruments series and I'm only missing Clockwork Angel from Infernal Devices. I borrowed them all from my library when I read them so it's just a case of getting around to buying it when I've got some spare money.

7. Rick Riordan - 8 books
I have the full Percy Jackson and the Olympians series and books 2-4 in the Heroes of Olympus. Yet again, I borrowed that full series from my library so I'll grab my own copy when it's cheap and I have spare money. 

8. Cecelia Ahern - 8 books
Cecelia Ahern is definitely my favourite chick-lit author. Every single book of hers that I've read, I've loved. I don't think there's been one that I haven't loved. There's still a few of hers that I need to grab, but she'll always be on my shelf.

9. Scott Westerfeld - 7 books
I may own 7 of Westerfelds books, but I've only read 1. I have books 1-3 in the Uglies series, books 1 & 2 in his Leviathan series and both books in his Peeps duology.

10. Colleen Hoover - 7 books
I have the complete Slammed trilogy, the Hopeless duology & the novella and Maybe Someday all on my kindle.

Let me know in the comments who your most owned author is!

28 July 2014

Nash by Jay Crownover

Nash by Jay Crownover
Series: Marked Men #4
Publisher: Harper
Publication Date: April 24th 2014
Source: Bought



Nash Donovan, tattooist and good-time guy, never knew his father. Instead, he was brought up by his Uncle Phil, the best role model and mentor a guy could have. But when Phil is rushed to hospital and reveals he’s at the end stages of lung cancer, he wants Nash to know the truth. Reeling from the family secret Phil has let slip, Nash needs something to hold on to – and the nurse with the beautiful grey eyes taking care of Phil seems remarkably familiar...

Saint Ford doesn’t know what to think when Nash crashes back into her life. They went to school together what feels like a million years ago and although she feels – and looks – very different, she can’t tell if Nash is still the same guy: the guy who teased and bullied her way back when and who she vowed never to forgive.

But Nash is impossible to stay away from. From his flame-tattooed head to his multiple piercings, and his all-round good guy attitude, he’s unlike anyone Saint has ever known – does she still carry a flame for the first guy to steal her heart? And can she forgive him – and herself – for the mistakes of the past?

Jay Crownover's Marked Men have stolen my heart, but Nash definitely has to be my favourite by far. I knew as soon as I picked up Rule that Nash was going to be my favourite and I definitely wasn't disappointed. 

Nash is quite possibly the sweetest and most protective guy ever. He may not look it since he's cover in tattoos and piercings, but after 4 books of getting to know Nash, there's no way you could call him anything other than a big softie. My heart melts around Nash because he just amazing. He's had a tough upbringing - his stepfather hated him and his mother basically didn't give a shit about him - so he was raised my his Uncle Phil. But now Phil has let a secret slip that turns Nash's life upside down. I just wanted something good to happen for Nash for once. He deserved it after everything life had thrown at him.

I knew I was going to love Saint from the moment I met her. She's slightly awkward, neurotic and is clinging onto a moment in the past that broke her heart. Saint has been hung up on Nash since high school, but he hurt her, and Saint can't get past that. Her idea of love has been trashed by all of the awful guys she's been with and also by her father who cheated on her mother. Saint is uncomfortable in her own skin and never believes anyone when they pay her a compliment. Saint had a lot of shit to work through in this book, the main thing being learning to love herself.

Saint finds herself unable to stay away from Nash and she wants to help him. She vowed never to forgive him but as they spend more time together, Saint starts to realise that Nash isn't that bad of a guy. The main problem with their relationship was Saint. Saint had a lot of shit to work through and she was basically building a wall between her and Nash. She wasn't sure what she was doing, wasn't sure of her feelings and she didn't know whether she could let herself love Nash. Saint's been through a lot, but there were times I wanted to shake some sense into the girl and make her see that Nash is the most perfect person for her ever. 

Nash's struggle with the big family secret that was revealed was hard to read about sometimes. His family screwed him over and my heart broke for him. He didn't have enough time to fully wrap his head around everything, and I just wish his mother hadn't been such a horrible human being and at least told him the truth before it was too late.

I also really loved getting to see all of my old favourites as well. Rome and Cora had their baby and named her Remy (which had me squeeing!), Ayden and Jet are just as amazing together as ever and there was a scene with Rule and Shaw that had me tearing up (I just love those two so much). I'm really starting to warm up to Asa a lot more and Rowdy is still such a mystery! I also really loved meeting Royal. Saint may have been a bitch to her, but they became great friends and I'm hoping we'll get to see more of her in the rest of the series.

The epilogue at the end has gotten me even more excited to read Rowdy! I can't wait to finally find out about his past and find out more about him. Also, did anyone else have the same reaction that I had when Rule mentioned that Shaw was ill? SPOILER (Is Shaw pregnant? Cora seemed to think so! And I kind of thought so too). Overall, Nash was such a fantastic read and October better hurry up because I need more of these boys!

27 July 2014

Showcase Sunday #76

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Vicky at Books, Biscuits and Tea. This meme allows book bloggers to show off the books they collected over the last week.

Hi everyone! Apologies for being quiet on the blog this week. I'd planned to have review up and get a lot of reviews written since my mum and sister were in London, but it turns out I underestimated how much stuff I had to do in the house. Plus I was working this week as well so today it the first day this week I've had to relax. Hopefully I'll be able to get some reviews written next week and be able to start scheduling posts again!

Bookwise, since I still have quite a bit of money left this month I just decided to splurge on some books. I did buy some physical books from Amazon, but they won't be here until next week.

I did buy quite a few NA books and I also borrowed a few from my library.

Bought
• kindle
Fearless (Elemental #1.5) by Brigid Kemmerer
Lost and Found (Lost and Found #1) by Nicole Williams
Come Back to Me by Mila Gray & Sarah AldersonTen Tiny Breaths (Ten Tiny Breaths #1) by K. A. Tucker
Foreplay (The Ivy Chronicles #1) by Sophie Jordan
Real (Real #1) by Katy Evans
Branded (Sinners #1) by Abi Ketner & Missy Kalicicki

Library
A Proper Family Holiday by Chrissy Manby
Down London Road (On Dublin Street #2) by Samantha Young

What books did you get this week?

22 July 2014

Waiting on Wednesday #83

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event,  hosted by breaking the spine, that spotlights upcoming
releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:


The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey
Series: The 5th Wave #2
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Publication Date: September 16th 2014


How do you rid the Earth of seven billion humans? Rid the humans of their humanity.

Surviving the first four waves was nearly impossible. Now Cassie Sullivan finds herself in a new world, a world in which the fundamental trust that binds us together is gone. As the 5th Wave rolls across the landscape, Cassie, Ben, and Ringer are forced to confront the Others’ ultimate goal: the extermination of the human race.

Cassie and her friends haven’t seen the depths to which the Others will sink, nor have the Others seen the heights to which humanity will rise, in the ultimate battle between life and death, hope and despair, love and hate.

Ever since I read The 5th Wave in May last year I've been dying to get my hands on the sequel because of that soul destroying cliffhanger! I just HAVE to know what's going to happen next and whether Evan will be OK (he has to be!). I'm just super excited for some more alien-y awesomeness. 


What are you waiting on this week?

20 July 2014

Showcase Sunday #75

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Vicky at Books, Biscuits and Tea. This meme allows book bloggers to show off the books they collected over the last week.

Hello everyone! Apologies for not having a Showcase Sunday last week, I completely forgot all about it. So this week I have two weeks worth of books to show you!

Bought
• physical


Last Thursday I went to the Rainbow Rowell event in Glasgow with my friend Erin, and it was so awesome! We were lucky enough to grab seats quite close to the front and there were packs of rainbow drops on every seat! Rainbow Rowell is such a lovely and hilarious person. She talked about the possibility of an Eleanor & Park sequel; the Eleanor & Park movie rights being sold;  How she doesn't think Harry should have ended up with Ginny and loads of other stuff. The queue for the signing was a bit of a shambles to start with, but we ended up near the front so we didn't have to stand for too long in the queue. Obviously I couldn't resist buying a second copy of Eleanor & Park since the cover is completely different from the one I first bought.
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

kindle
Boomerang (Boomerang #1) by Noella August [PART 3]
On Dublin Street (On Dublin Street #1) by Samantha Young

Netgalley
Atlantia [SNEAK PEEK] by Ally Condia
Stone Cove Island by Suzanne Myers
I Want it That Way (2B Trilogy #1) by Ann Aguirre
Creed by Trisha Leaver & Lindsay Currie
Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld
Gates of Thread and Stone (Gates of Thread and Stone #1) by Lori M. Lee

Gifted
Drums of Autumn (Outlander #4) by Diana Gabaldon

What books did you get this week?


16 July 2014

Waiting on Wednesday #82

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event,  hosted by breaking the spine, that spotlights upcoming
releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:


Opposition by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Series: Lux #5
Publication Date: August 5th 2014
Publisher: Entangled: Teen


Katy knows the world changed the night the Luxen came.

She can't believe Daemon welcomed his race or stood by as his kind threatened to obliterate every last human and hybrid on Earth. But the lines between good and bad have blurred, and love has become an emotion that could destroy her—could destroy them all.

Daemon will do anything to save those he loves, even if it means betrayal.

They must team with an unlikely enemy if there is any chance of surviving the invasion. But when it quickly becomes impossible to tell friend from foe, and the world is crumbling around them, they may lose everything— even what they cherish most—to ensure the survival of their friends…and mankind.

War has come to Earth. And no matter the outcome, the future will never be the same for those left standing.

It's only like 3 weeks until Opposition is released!! I'm so excited for the conclusion to the Lux series. I fell in love with this series when I binge read it last year and I just can't wait to see what Jennifer L. Armentrout has got in store for me in this one! August 5th better hurry up!

14 July 2014

Top Ten Favorite TV Shows!

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish
This weeks topic is:

Top Ten Favorite Movies or TV Shows
I've decided to go with my top 10 favourite TV shows for this topic. I love my movies, but I love my TV shows more. This is actually a super hard topic for me because there are so many TV shows that I love.
1. Supernatural
I think I started watching Supernatural when it was halfway through season 4. I do remember watching a few episodes of season 2 a few years before, but it wasn't until around 2008 that I really started getting into it. I binge watched the first couple of seasons and I was hooked! I still can't watch it at night though because some of those monsters are terrifying. Even though I'm super behind with season 9, Supernatural is definitely my all time favourite show.

2. Orphan Black
Orphan Black is my new obsession! Have you guys seen it? It's this awesome show about clones and Tatiana Maslany is one of the best actresses ever. I honestly couldn't tell you how many times this series has left me with my jaw hanging open because of all the twist. I love the science aspect and the clones fascinate me. Cosima has to be my favourite.

3. Gilmore Girls
Gilmore Girls will probably always be one of my favourite TV shows. I fell in love with it when E4 used to show it and I watched it every single day (even if it was re-runs) and sometimes I watched the same episode more than once a day... Rory was just so awesome and smart, and she loved reading! And Lorelai was such an amazing character as well. I loved that the whole show centered around a mother daughter relationship. I also really loved all of Rory's love interests, but Jess was the one that stole my heart.

4. Arrow
Ever since Smallville I've been a huge Green Arrow fan and when I heard that Green Arrow was getting his own show I was super excited! I honestly couldn't have predicted how amazing this show would be. I'm completely addicted. I love that Oliver is a lot darker in this one and that his family and all their drama are thrown in as well. I'm a hardcore Olicity shipper and if they don't stop teasing me with their relationship (Especially the season 2 finale!) I may explode. They better get together.

5. Doctor Who
I started watching Doctor Who during Tennants last season and then I began to kick myself for not watching this wonderful show sooner. I think I mainly never watched it before because I used to sit downstairs with my family on a Saturday and watch TV, and they never watched Doctor Who. So when I became anti-social and spent all of my time in my room, I decided to finally watch it. It's one of the best TV show I've ever seen. The Doctor is hilarious, crazy and just fantastic. I love the adventures through time and space and I love the companions! I've loved both Tennant and Smith, and I'm excited to see Capaldi next!

6. Pretty Little Liars
I've been watching Pretty Little Liars ever since it started and I still love it. I know there are a lot of fans out there that are getting sick of the show and just want to know what the hell is going on, but that's why I love it so much. I love that there's so much mystery surrounding Alison and who 'A' is, and I want it to keep going because I just don't want it to end! I love all of the Liars in different ways, but I think either Hanna or Emily have to be my favourites.

7. Teen Wolf
My obsession with Teen Wolf started last year and it's only gotten worse. I binge watched the first two seasons and then caught myself up with season 3, and I'm obsessed! I've watched the first two seasons numerous times since and I've also made a lot of my colleagues at work watch it as well. I love every single character in the show (apart from Malia and Kira because neither of them have grown on me yet), but the show wouldn't be the same without Stiles. Also, I'm a hardcore Stydia shipper and I need more of them together.

8. Vampire Diaries
My obsession with Vampire Diaries started when I should have been studying for Uni. I decided to start my free month trial on Netflix and then I binge watched the first 3 season and caught up with season 4 - all while I should have been writing a presentation for University. Netflix is dangerous. I'd actually put off watching Vampire Diaries for years, mainly because I was sick of vampires but also because one of my friends at school kept going on and on about it and I was sick of hearing about it. But I'm glad I finally caved and watched it because I love it (even if it does continually make me sob).

9. Grimm
As soon as I saw the previews for Grimm on the TV, I knew I just had to watch it. It's about Nick Burkhardt who is a cop, and he finds out from his Aunt that he's a Grimm - which means he can see monsters basically. I love Grimm and for me it's getting better and better each season. I mean, the season 3 finale? WHAT THE HELL?! 
I love all of the monsters, the fighting, the cop drama and just everything about it.

10. Once Upon a Time
My list would not be complete without Once Upon a Time. A show centered around fairy tale characters that have been transported from the Enchanted Forset to a town called Storybrooke and they don't remember who they really are? Of course I was going to love it! So far this show has done nothing but completely surprise me and it always keeps me on my toes. We visit different worlds like The Enchanted Forest, Neverland, Wonderland and Oz. We also have tons of different villains that are always lurking around corners waiting for their moment to strike. 

Honorable mentions: Friends, Smallville, Sherlock, American Horror Story, Game of Thrones, The Newsroom, Bates Motel, Sleepy Hollow & Modern Family

Let me know what some of your favourite TV shows are in the comments!

11 July 2014

City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare

City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare
Series: The Mortal Instruments #6
Publisher: Margaret K. Elderry Books
Publication Date: May 28th 2014
Source: Bought



ERCHOMAI, SEBASTIAN HAD SAID

I am coming.

Darkness returns to the Shadowhunter world. As their society falls apart around them, Clary, Jace, Simon and their friends must band together to fight the greatest evil the Nephilim have ever faced: Clary’s own brother. Nothing in the world can defeat him — must they journey to another world to find the chance?

Lives will be lost, love sacrificed, and the whole world changed in the sixth and last installment of the Mortal Instruments series!

REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS

10 July 2014

Landline by Rainbow Rowell

Landline by Rainbow Rowell
Series: No
Publisher: Orion
Publication Date: July 3rd 2014
Souce: Netgalley



Georgie McCool knows her marriage is in trouble. That it’s been in trouble for a long time. She still loves her husband, Neal, and Neal still loves her, deeply — but that almost seems besides the point now.

Maybe that was always besides the point.

Two days before they’re supposed to visit Neal’s family in Omaha for Christmas, Georgie tells Neal that she can’t go. She’s a TV writer, and something’s come up on her show; she has to stay in Los Angeles. She knows that Neal will be upset with her — Neal is always a little upset with Georgie — but she doesn’t expect to him to pack up the kids and go home without her.

When her husband and the kids leave for the airport, Georgie wonders if she’s finally done it. If she’s ruined everything. That night, Georgie discovers a way to communicate with Neal in the past. It’s not time travel, not exactly, but she feels like she’s been given an opportunity to fix her marriage before it starts...

Is that what she’s supposed to do?

Or would Georgie and Neal be better off if their marriage never happened?

Rainbow Rowell very quickly became one of my authors last year after reading Eleanor & Park and Fangirl. As soon as I read the synopsis for Landline I couldn't wait to have it in my hands. I was lucky enough to get accepted for a review copy on Netgalley (Thank you, Orion!) and I couldn't wait to dive right into it. 

Landline is the first adult book by Rainbow Rowell that I've read (I know she's written Attachments, but I haven't read it yet) and I was completely blow away by how fantastic it was. Landline deals with real life issues that a lot of couples probably go through every now and again.

Georgie is goal orientated. She's loves her job and she'll do absolutely anything to further her career, which in turn distances her from her family. Georgie, her husband and the kids are supposed to travel to Omaha for Christmas, but Georgie has a job opportunity that comes up and she has to stay in LA. Neal packs up the kids and they head off to Omaha - without Georgie - which is the last thing she ever expected. Georgie starts to wonder if she's ruined her marriage and whether her and Neal will be able to get past this. And then something strange happens: Georgie comes across a way to communicate with Neal in the past in the form of an old landline. Georgie's not sure whether this opportunity will help her fix her marriage or end it before it starts.

The main thing I loved about Georgie was that she's extremely flawed. She loves her career and she would do absolutely anything to get ahead. She often forgets about her husband and kinds of neglects him to a certain extent. It kind of felt like she'd completely lost herself in her career. Georgie's character development throughout the book was fantastic. She begins to question the way she's been acting and the way she's been treating her husband, and it makes her realise that she's been putting her family second and her job first. I adored Georgie.

The whole idea of being able to communicate with someone from the past was such a fantastic concept, and the fact that it was through a landline just made it even more amazing and added a really unusual aspect to the story. I adored seeing Georgie and young Neal's conversations. It was a little strange since Georgie already knew everything that had happened, but she had no idea what the outcome of these conversations would have on her life. The conversations also helped me connect with both Georgie and Neal a lot more because I was learning a lot about the both of them and it made me really start rooting for them.

Overall, I absolutely adored Landline. Honestly, it's probably my favourite Rainbow Rowell book right now, I just want to go and re-read it all over again (which I might actually do). This is definitely one book that I'm going to be recommending to everyone because I just completely loved it.

9 July 2014

Waiting on Wednesday #81

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event,  hosted by breaking the spine, that spotlights upcoming
releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:


Chasing Before by Lenore Appelhans
Series: The Memory Chronicles #2
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: August 26th 2014


“I’m a ticking time bomb. And one day soon everything is going to explode.”

Felicia and Neil have arrived in Level 3 and are supposed to prepare for their divine vocations.

But during Felicia and Neil's training period, a series of explosions rips through Level 3. Tension is high, and casualties are mounting. A rift forms between the pair, one that grows wider when Felicia receives memories from the Morati. The memories cast doubt on the people she loves the most, but Felicia can't stop her curiosity. She has to know the truth about her life – even if it means putting at risk everything she’s worked for in her death.

I feel like I've been waiting FOREVER for this book! I read Level 2 (aka The Memory Chronicles) way back at the start of last year and I still remember my reaction to that ending! Honestly, as the release date gets closer, I get even more excited. I cannot wait to see what's in store for Felicia and Neil next! And I'm also keeping my fingers crossed that a certain character from book 1 will make a reappearance!

What are you waiting on this week?

7 July 2014

Rome by Jay Crownover

Rome by Jay Crownover
Series: Marked Men #3
Publisher: Harper
Publication Date: January 2nd 2014
Source: Bought



Cora Lewis is a whole lot of fun, and she knows how to keep her tattooed bad boy friends in line. But all that flash and sass hide the fact that she’s never gotten over the way her first love broke her heart. Now she has a plan to make sure that never happens again: She’s only going to fall in love with someone perfect.

Rome Archer is as far from perfect as a man can be. He’s stubborn and rigid, he’s bossy and has come back from his final tour of duty fundamentally broken. Rome’s used to filling a role: big brother, doting son, super soldier; and now none of these fit anymore. Now he’s just a man trying to figure out what to do with the rest of his life while keeping the demons of war and loss at bay. He would have been glad to suffer it alone, until Cora comes sweeping into his life and becomes the only color on his bleak horizon.

Perfect isn’t in the cards for these two, but imperfect might just last forever...

Rome follows our two main characters Rome (Rule’s brother) and Cora. Cora has been a main part of the previous two books – Rule & Jet – so I was definitely looking forward to finally getting to learn more about her character.

Rome is back from his last tour in Iraq and something has changed about him. He’s guarded, angry and on a self-destructive path and he won’t open up to anyone. Cora is looking for her perfect Mr Right. She got her heart torn out by her ex and now she’s looking for someone who’s knows what they want in life and someone who’s put together. Cora and Rome are thrown together one night when Cora goes to pick Rome’s drunk ass up, and they have a magical moment the next morning. But Cora doesn’t want to get serious with Rome because he’s not her Mr Right. But then Cora and Rome are thrown together again by a mistake they both made. They both have to figure their shit out and find out whether they actually have a future together or not.

I’m going to be honest here, when I first started Rome, I only read the first chapter and then put it down. I couldn’t stand the way Rome was acting and I honestly wanted to punch him. And then a month or two later I decided to go back to it – mainly because I really wanted to read Nash – and I managed to get past the first chapter and understand why Rome was acting the way he was. I’m extremely glad I decided to give Rome a second chance because I ended up loving it.

Cora is honestly the most kick ass girl in this whole series. She doesn’t take shit from anyone and even though she’s tiny, she’s got a dangerous bite and you definitely don’t want to get on the wrong side of her. But Cora’s been hurt in the past and she’s still trying to deal with it. Her ex completely pulled the rug out from under her and now she has a completely unrealistic view of love and is closing herself off from every guy who isn’t Mr Perfect. She’s feisty, loyal, sweet and fiercely protective of her friends. She’s such a fantastic character.

I did have a love/hate relationship with Rome throughout the book. He could be such a sweet guy one minute and then he’d have me wanting to shake some sense into him. But Rome has a lot of issues. He’s hiding something that happened on his last tour and it’s eating him alive. He’s suffering with PTSD and is experiencing some traumatic nightmares. He’s struggling to open up about what happened and Cora is really the only thing keeping him sane – even if he does sabotage it sometimes. But Rome is honestly one of the most caring and one of the sweetest guys ever and it was breaking my heart to see him struggling.

I did predict the mistake that brought Rome and Cora together again. It was pretty obvious – in my opinion – but I was really looking forward to seeing how they both dealt with it and how it would affect their relationship.

Cora and Rome had some serious chemistry, and it was obvious from the very first night they spent together. Even though they’re complete opposites and would never go for people like each other, they were perfect for each other. They complimented each other and I loved seeing their relationship develop.

I also really loved seeing Rome dealing with his PTSD. At first, he wasn’t coping well with it, but after he started working at the bar and talking to other soldiers, he slowly started to get better. He did have a few setbacks, but gradually Rome started to overcome his PTSD and I was so proud of him.

The ending was completely unexpected and left me shocked. Jay Crownover sure knows how to write a gut-wrenching twist. There was also a really sweet (and extremely sad) encounter between Rome and his brother that had tears running down my face.


Overall, I’m so glad I gave Rome a second chance because I ended up loving it. I honestly can’t recommend Jay Crownover’s ‘Marked Men’ series enough to anyone who’s a fan of New Adult because it’s definitely one of my favourite NA series ever.

6 July 2014

Showcase Sunday #74

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Vicky at Books, Biscuits and Tea. This meme allows book bloggers to show off the books they collected over the last week.

Hello everyone! It's been a few weeks since I've done a Showcase Sunday due to internet issues, so I've got quite a few books to share with you guys!

Bought
• physical
Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander #2) by Diana Gabaldon
You're the One That I Want by Giovanna Fletcher
Ruin and Rising (Grisha #3) by Leigh Bardugo
Picture Perfect (Geek Girl #3) by Holly Smale

13 Little Blue Envelopes (Little Blue Envelope #1) by Maureen Johnson
Allies & Assassins (Enemies of the Prince #1) by Justin Somper
The Name of the Star (Shades of London #1) by Maureen Johnson
Two Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
Landline by Rainbow Rowell

• kindle
Boomerang (Boomerang #1) by Noelle August [PART 2]
Sentinel (Covenant #5) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Netgalley
Pieces of Olivia (Charleston Haven #1) by Melissa West

Edelweiss
Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White
The Perfectionists by Sara Shepard

Review
Eversea (Eversea #1) by Natasha Boyd
Forever, Jack (Eversea #2) by Natasha Boyd
Thank you Bookbridgr!

What books did you get this week?

4 July 2014

The Vanishing Season by Jodi Lynn Anderson

The Vanishing Season by Jodi Lynn Anderson
Series: No
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: July 1st 2014
Source: Edelweiss



Girls started vanishing in the fall, and now winter's come to lay a white sheet over the horror. Door County, it seems, is swallowing the young, right into its very dirt. From beneath the house on Water Street, I've watched the danger swell.

The residents know me as the noises in the house at night, the creaking on the stairs. I'm the reflection behind them in the glass, the feeling of fear in the cellar. I'm tied—it seems—to this house, this street, this town.

I'm tied to Maggie and Pauline, though I don't know why. I think it's because death is coming for one of them, or both.

All I know is that the present and the past are piling up, and I am here to dig.I am looking for the things that are buried.

To say that I was excited for The Vanishing Season is a massive understatement. After reading Tiger Lily at the end of last year I had extremely high expectations for Jodi's next book. The synopsis sounds fantastic and it has all of the elements to be such an amazing book, but it fell flat for me.

Maggie and her family move to the remote village Door County in Wisconsin. Girls are disappearing and turning up dead and no one knows who the killer is. The main thing that fell flat for me in this novel was the characters. I didn't connect to a single one of them and I never really got to know them.
Maggie is basically a 40 year old trapped in a teenagers body. She's so preoccupied with planning her future that she doesn't focus on doing anything fun, which made her kind of boring. Pauline is very child-like. She doesn't like making decisions and she only lives in the moment. It's true what they say about opposites attracting, because Maggie and Pauline instantly became friends the second they met.

The only part of the story that piqued my interest was the killer. I wanted to know why the killer decided to strike all of a sudden and what their motive was. The rest of the story fell flat. I wasn't really interested in the love aspect of the story - Maggie & Liam and Pauline and Liam - and the fact that the story was so slow didn't help either.

I can't really say much else about the story or anything that happened because I don't want to ruin anything. I actually felt like the ending was an anti-climax. Everything had been building up slightly towards the end and then it was just such a meh ending. I honestly didn't feel a thing at the end and I was extremely disappointed because I wanted to love this book so much.

But despite all of that, I found myself unable to put the book down. And the credit for that goes to Jodi Lynn Anderson's beautiful writing style. Yet again I found myself captivated and unable to stop reading the beautiful prose, even though I wasn't particularly enjoying the book.

Overall, The Vanishing Season was a huge disappointment for me. Despite the beautifully written prose, I just couldn't get into this book at all and I really didn't enjoy it. The Vanishing Season has probably been one of the biggest disappointments for me this year.