Favourite Quote:He bent his head and in a voice that Jack couldn't hear, said, "When you came down the stairs and fell into me, that was the moment.'" Then his lips pressed against mine.
Wow! Hunting Lila is such an awesome read. It is a fast paced, entertaining, intensely readable story that is completely addictive.
Alderson has some dazzling story telling skills. I was completely absorbed in this tale and was unable to put it down until the last page. It has a fantastic mix of supernatural powers, suspense, mystery, action and romance. While the supernatural theme in Hunting Lila has an familiar yet enjoyable feel I thought the military element added an interesting element. Hunting Lila also has an upper YA feel too which makes it great read for those of us who are no longer a young adult but still love our YA.
Lila has a genuine and strong narrative makes her instantly likeable. Easy to relate too especially when it comes to her love life (who hasn't crushed on someone older or someone they have know for years?) and she is also a lot of fun. Then we have Alex. Protective, smart and caring (and it doesn't hurt that he is gorgeous too). There is also a well rounded bunch of secondary characters that I am looking forward to getting to know better in the next installment.
The romance is Hunting Lila was perfect. I was swooning at that dreamy and slightly sexy romance within the first couple of chapters. Lila and Alex had believable and sizzling chemistry together with a relationship that moved at the right pace.
Oh and what an ending! Alderson throws us an unexpected twist that leaves me craving book #2 now despite it not being a cliffhanger ending.
Overall, Hunting Lilia is an engaging and passionate read. I suggest you run out and grab a copy of this impressive debut immediately. ...more
A fun and entertaining read. Sometimes the characters drove me crazy and some characters like Hudson there wasn't enough of. Full revRating: 3.5 stars
A fun and entertaining read. Sometimes the characters drove me crazy and some characters like Hudson there wasn't enough of. Full review coming very soon.
Thanks to Crystal for sharing her copy. You are the best...more
Favourite Quote:"The story of my life can be told in silver; in chocolate mill, serving spoons, and service for twelve. The story of my life has nothFavourite Quote:"The story of my life can be told in silver; in chocolate mill, serving spoons, and service for twelve. The story of my life has nothing to do with me. The story of my life is things. Things that aren't mine, that won't ever be mine. It's all I've ever know. I wish it wasn't."
Three words - I LOVED IT! Stealing Heaven is my kind of book. It has a happy and fun feel but also has depth and heart and has one of the most delicious romances I have read in a while.
We all know that Elizabeth Scott is a talented writer. I have read a couple of her books before and enjoyed them but Stealing Heaven is definitely my favourite. Probably because pretty much the whole way through I had a goofy grin on my face. The writing is just so effortless to read and hooks you straight in. It is also so perfectly paced - you are excited for the next page but never feel rushed. And the characters you just click with.
Dani, awww I want to hug her. Her life is pretty sad to begin with. She is closed off from the world and has missed out on her teens years (no friends, no relationships, no school, no home) because of her mother and the life they live as thieves. I loved watching her grow and come to realise what she really wants. And also beginning to stand up for herself with her mother (I was cheering at that part).
Now Dani's mother, I can definitely say she is going on my most disliked parent list. I know that she thought what she did was the best thing for Dani but I all I could think was how selfish she was.
Greg is such a strong supporting character. You just have to say his name and the above mentioned goofy grin appears on my face. Just a great guy. I like that he never gave up on Dani no matter how much she tried to push him away and also that he had made mistakes in his past which helped him be more believable as character.
The romance is so gorgeously written. It comes gently and naturally and very very slowly builds up to that first kiss so that you are screaming KISS NOW! Dani and Greg just had brilliant chemistry.
"Hey," he says, and leans over, brushes his thumb across my mouth. "You'll figure it out." I nod caught by that simple touch. By how good it feels. Being with him makes the whole world sharper somehow. More real. More everything."
Overall, Stealing Heaven is a sweet and real read that is a perfect escape for a few hours. I am off now to squeeze it onto my favourite's shelf.
And again a big thank you to Nomes ((hugs)) for recommending me another brilliant book!
Favourite Quote:"Where is Wilkins, anyway?" Cameron asked. "In the living room, being accosted by eighteen women who think he's a stripper. I thought it was best to duck in here." "So much for never leaving a man behind." "If he starts screaming, I'll lay down a cover fire and go pull him out."
The first word that comes to mind after reading Something About You is DELICIOUS!
I haven't read a good old romantic suspense in a long time but found myself craving some especially with a little steam! And Something About You delivered it perfectly with just the right blend of mystery, humor and smexy times.
The highlight for me of this tale is the characters. They are witty and have some spark about them. Cameron is an enjoyable female protagonist. She is confidence and yet at the same time a little vulnerable when it comes to her heart. Then we have Jack Pallas described as "tall, dark and scowling". Talk about making me melt. It really should say though tall, dark, HOT and scowling. I loved his protective nature. He wasn't that controlling-protective but rather that strong-sexy-protective. (I already have my book boyfriend post planned out for him. LOL!)
And when you add these two together you get some off the charts sizzling chemistry! All that tension lead to some unbelievably hot steamy scenes.
But I really liked that it wasn't all about their romance. Something About You still has a good plot as well that keeps you interested.
Overall, Something About You was a fantastic read. I definitely recommend this if you are in the mood for a good contemporary adult romance. This is one of the best I have read!...more
Favourite Quote:"Music. It's not about those things. It's about a feeling. It's about expressing yourself. It's about letting go."
I Rating: 4.5 stars
Favourite Quote:"Music. It's not about those things. It's about a feeling. It's about expressing yourself. It's about letting go."
I have being trying to write this review for days and I am having a hard time trying to sum up what makes Five Flavors of Dumb so special from most other coming of age stories. It could be Piper's believable and heart felt voice or the loveable bunch of supporting characters or the constantly entertaining plot or the wonderful writing. But whatever the reason is I loved it!
John's writing makes you feel like you are there with the characters. And what an awesome bunch of characters to be hanging out with. They would have to be some of my absolute favourites. Piper is just awesome. Strong, witty and inspiring. She isn't perfect, she makes mistakes but she learns from them pretty quick. Then there is Piper's brother Finn. I loved the interactions between him and Piper. It was absolutely hilarious at times and then they would share a really touching moment. I kind of wish I had a younger brother like him.
There is also a little bit of romance in the story that will make you wish your were Piper (and of course swoon all over the place). And awwww the first kiss, so perfect and completely goofy grin worthy. So I suggest not reading that part in a public place like I did!
Music is another important element in the story. It takes you behind the scenes of the music business. I for one am a big fan of stories regarding music and I loved Piper's journey into the music world.
Overall, Five Flavors of Dumb is funny, smart and completely heartwarming. A must read!...more
Favourite Quote: But I have faith in the people that surround me now, and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they will catch me if I let myself fFavourite Quote: But I have faith in the people that surround me now, and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they will catch me if I let myself fall. And so I do. I let myself fall.
Sometimes a book surprises you and that is the case with This Gorgeous Game. I thought it would be good but I never expected to love it as much as I did. There are just so many brilliant elements to this book like exceptional writing, a thought provoking plot and outstanding characters that makes this one of my favourite reads.
17 year old Olivia wins a writing competition. Her prize is a scholarship for the summer to study a writing course and be mentored by Father Mark at the Holy Mary University. Olivia is super excited at first to be learning from her literary idol and also a well respected and adored priest. Father Mark showers attention and praise on Olivia. But soon his keen interest for Olivia turns into something more.
It is a intense read in a subtle kind of way. It explores such dark areas which such sensitivity. I would say it is emotional but never painful to read. And talk about a powerful story. It just lingers with you for days and days after you have finished.
The characters are impressive. Olivia had such an utterly convincing voice. You could really feel her excitement and joy turn to pain, confusion and a sense of helplessness. And Father Mark ~shudders~. The emotional pain he caused Olivia will definitely make you angry and creep you out a little.
However there are also plenty of moments in this book that will bring you happiness like Olivia's relationship with her family, friends and Jamie. Jamie is a guy Olivia meets at the University. There romance is absolutely beautiful. It was written in a subtle way that didn't take away from the important issues this story deals with.
Overall, This Gorgeous Game is a standout story for me. A real and honest read that will leaving you saying WOW.
Oh what a charming book! The Sky Always Hears Me and The Hills Don't Mind is beautiful.
Little bit quirky, always fun and has a lot ofRating: 4.5 stars
Oh what a charming book! The Sky Always Hears Me and The Hills Don't Mind is beautiful.
Little bit quirky, always fun and has a lot of heart. Cronn-Mills voice is brilliant. She really captures life as a teen especially how confusing those romantic relationship are ~ trying to figure out what you want. Also isn't afraid to talk about sex in a honest way. And if you are sensitive to bad language be warned as it doesn't shy away from that either.
Morgan is such a delightful character. Gosh, she made me laugh and definitely is the star of this book. Morgan also doesn't feel like any character I have meet before.
Rob grins. "Come help me stock cigarettes." I wander over while he studies me. "You must be thinking very serious thoughts." I am not going to tell him the truth; I was pondering his very cute ass, which he displayed as he was working on the smokes. Where has that ass been all my life.
And Rob... completely swoon worthy.
Overall, this is an amazing little book that definitely deserves more love. So glad I read it. It was a fully satisfying read that was smart, playful and heartfelt.
A big thank you to Nomes and Abbey for the recommendation. ...more
Wow! What an awesome debut. This book if full of things I love - ice cream, sweet yet delicious kisses, hot summer days, ice creaRating 4.5 stars
Wow! What an awesome debut. This book if full of things I love - ice cream, sweet yet delicious kisses, hot summer days, ice cream, the beach and did I mention ice cream!
Sixteenth Summer is a feel good read from start to finish. The kind of book you devour in a couple of hours and grin the whole way through. The writing is a style that makes for an effortless read. Dalton also had great eye for detail when it came to describing the beautiful beach side setting and obviously the delicious ice cream since I keep mentioning it. Seriously there is a lot of ice cream in this book! It also has great characterization. Anna is the type of character who reminds you how wonderful it was to be sixteen. And Will he is just gorgeous and so sweet.
The romance is how you imagine the perfect summer love. Seriously I don't think first love gets any sweeter than this book. It is the kind of love most girls dream of. It might be a little unrealistic but it didn't stop me from going awwwwww the whole way through.
Overall, Sixteenth Summer is the perfect summer read. So for those of you in the northern hemisphere this is a must have for your beach bag this summer. And for us over here in the southern hemisphere this is a must have to make you feel all warm and fuzzy this winter.
Thank you to S&S for providing me with a copy for review...more
Is it sad that I am giving this 4 star because of the ever so super sweet romance? I am sure if you look up the meaning romantic fool there would be a picture of me next to it.
Enjoyed this book. It was just a light, relaxing read. Full review coming eventually......more
Favourite Quote: Some ideas are not born of logic and good sense. They are made of clouds and cobwebs. They sprout from nowhere and feed on excitementFavourite Quote: Some ideas are not born of logic and good sense. They are made of clouds and cobwebs. They sprout from nowhere and feed on excitement, sprinkled with adventure juice and the sweet flavor of the forbidden. The psyche moves from the realms of the ordinary and takes a delicate step towards the unknown. We know we shouldn't and that is exactly why we do.
Guitar Rose Highway is a fun read. It is quirky, charming and vibrant story that captures the joy and angst of being a teen.
Lowry's writing has a very lyrical feel and also a little bit different. There is multiple points of views and no punctuation in parts, snapshots and poetry giving it a very unique format. It kind of feel likes a happy place between a verse and prose novel. Also this book is a little bit dated written in the late 90's and has a hippie-grunge kind of feel but I enjoyed it and the memories it brought back.
The story and the characters really capture how it feels to be a teen with such raw honesty. Focusing on how you feel your parents don't get you and the feeling of being restricted. It also has the parents' points of views in a couple of parts showing their feelings.
Rosie and Asher are amusing and heartwarming characters. They are the kind of characters that grow on you more and more as the story goes on and in the end you don't won't to say goodbye.
The is a touch of romance that is sweet, tender and a little bit awkward like first relationships are. It just brings a grin to your face.
"they do not kiss but they both want to instead their feet touch and so do their arms it is electric magic their tiny arm hairs tingling happily lying together the sun warming them watching sky through green-leafed gum branch close enough to hear each other breathe sweet togetherness this lazy lying down dance of love"
Overall, Guitar Rose Highway was an enjoyable and slightly off beat read. Can't wait to read more from Lowry....more
Favourite Quote:"I know you aren't perfect. But it's a person's imperfections that make them perfect for someone else."
As some of you know I take notFavourite Quote:"I know you aren't perfect. But it's a person's imperfections that make them perfect for someone else."
As some of you know I take notes as I read. So I thought I would share some of mine for Lola and The Boy Next Door:
- I like the name Cricket (I don't know why) - YAY for Anna - Cheeky St. Clair - Awwww (several times) - Oh please kiss now - Love (several times) - What are Blow Pops? - Awww... melting - Swoon (several times)
As you can tell from the above I LOVED IT! It was everything I was hoping it would be with it extraordinary writing, entertaining plot, unforgettable characters and yummy romance.
I love Perkins' writing. First up it just effortless to read where the pages just seem to fly by and before you know it you are finished. Perkins manages to write another charming plot that has a lot of heart. But her writing strength is in her characters. There is something special about them.
I adore Lola. Multi-layered and far from perfect. Just instantly likeable and a fun character. Somebody I would love to hang out. She is very confused over her feelings for Criket and her boyfriend Max and make plenty of mistakes along the way. Love and relationship are never simple and it is hard to know what is right sometimes. I found her actions and confusion believable.
Then you have Cricket. Just thinking of him brings a small to my face. While I love St. Clair (even though he is short), Cricket is more my kind of guy (and tall). There is something about his energy that makes him irresistible. He is a little bit nervous but ever so sweet and brilliantly smart.
Perkins knows how to write romance. She has the perfect amount of tension and heart melting moments and some seriously delicious kissing scenes.
There was also plenty of Anna and St. Clair moments and I was glad to see them again. They provided plenty of awwwwww moments.
Overall, Perkins has delivered another amazing novel. Lola and The Boy Next Door is a smart, playful and heart warming story that you shouldn't miss....more
Favourite Quote:"He took his pain and turned it into something beautiful. Into something that people connect to. And that's what good music does. It speaks to you. It changes you."
WOW! I am seriously blown away by how fantastic this book is. I loved Saving June. I am going to try and write a proper review here when all I want to do is go all fan girl about it!
Harper's older sister June takes her life. Harper is devastated and doesn't know why. Her divorced parents decide to split the ashes but Harper isn't about to let that happen. She steals the ashes and runs off on a road trip to California to scatter the ashes across the ocean with her best friend Laney and Jake a stranger that is somehow connected to June.
First up this book is my type of contemp. It is real and honest. It takes you on a journey with these incredible characters. I am so impressed with Harrington's writing. You would never think this is her debut novel. It is clever, gorgeous and full of heart.
Harper, Jake and Laney are believable characters that come alive in the pages. I adored the realistic dialogue between them. It was witty, full of emotion and often humorous. I also like that fact the characters are flawed but still smart and are type of people I would love to be friends with.
Harper is strong and confident in what she believes yet can be afraid to step outside her own comfort zones at times and often doubts how amazing she really is. Laney is her best friend and is a wonderful support person for Harper no matter what. It is the type friendship everybody wants. Now Jake he caused major swooning. He is a bit rough around the edges, is majorly obsessed with music, plays the guitar, sings and has a secret that very slowly unravels.
There is also some delicious romance. I had to go back and re-read those pages over (and over and over and over) again!
Another element I loved about this book is there is loads of music talk. Also playlists at the the end of the book that were mentioned in the story. If you are huge fan of books with music you are going to love this and will want to download all the songs mentioned (if you don't already have them).
Overall, a stunning debut. My favourite road trip book ever. I insist all you fans of realistic fiction give Saving June a read!
Note. I always highlight my favourite parts of a book and as you can see from below I pretty much marked every page!
Favourite Quote: "You . . . smell like rain." Whatever I expected, that hadn't been it. "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" "GoodRating 4.5 stars
Favourite Quote: "You . . . smell like rain." Whatever I expected, that hadn't been it. "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" "Good," he said. "Definitely good."
This book is a hidden gem. I hadn't heard anything really about Psych Major Syndrome until my friend and book guide Nomes read and wrote a rave review for it. I then couldn't get my hands on it fast enough and she was right this book is AMAZING! Psych Major Syndrome is funny, warm, irresistible read that is slightly quirky in a good way.
Thompson writing is clever, witty and charming. It just has a great flow that makes it so easy to get caught up in this story. It is the kind of writing that keeps you amused and causes a silly grin on your face. Please note that as a warning if you read this in a public place.
Leigh, is the girl you want to be bestfriends with. She is just a normal girl and is someone easy to relate too. I love that she drives an old beat up car, likes to read 'incredibly unrealistic and badly written romance novels' and tends to over analyze everything.
And then there is Nathan......awwww ~sighs dreamily~. He ticks all the boxes for me to make a great literary crush. Can play guitar, check. Has a crooked smile, check. And tends to walk around shirtless, check. He also is just a great guy, no bad boy attitude in sight. It will be impossible for anybody not to like him.
The romance in this book is delicious and sweet. The kind that you keeping going back and re-reading again and again and again.
Overall, Psych Major Syndrome is a book that makes you feel good. I say to all contemp and romance fans run out and get this book now!
"She kissed me good-bye. She told me that she loved me more than life itself. Then she stepped through security. She never came back."
Note: My review is not going to do this book justice. I don't think I can possibly express how awesome Where She Went is.
Wow! Where She Went is an intense and breathtaking read. I have to admit I enjoyed If I Stay but I wouldn't say I loved it. But Where She Went is one the BEST books I have ever read. It made my heart ache, it made me smile and of course cry my eyes out (within the first 50 pages might I add).
This story really got under my skin. It consumed my thoughts and I HAD TO read it all in one sitting otherwise I would have been a complete mess. I had to know whether Adam and Mia where going to be okay? Whether they were going to move on or get back together? Because Adam and Mia are characters that you get completely and utterly emotionally invested in.
What to say about Adam? He is intense, broken and flawed (and another musician ~swoons~). The way Forman writes I felt like I could feel every bit of his pain (and it hurt like hell).
Mia, I adore too. I thought I would be mad with her for breaking Adam's heart. But I understood why Mia choose to make that decision to leave Adam thanks to Forman writing such well crafted and believable characters.
The writing is the kind I love - simple yet beautiful and powerful. There are parts of Adam's song lyrics at the beginning of most chapters. I really love books that music plays an important part of and Forman really expresses both Adam's and Mia's passion for music.
Overall, I am just blown away by the heart in this story. Where She Went is a must read for everyone!
***A FAVOURITE READ OF 2011***
A BIG THANK YOU TO ALEXA FOR SHARING YOUR COPY. YOU ARE THE BEST
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