Monday 8 December 2014

Kitty Hawk and the Curse of the Yukon Gold - Excerpt!

Title: Kitty Hawk and the Curse of the Yukon Gold (Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency #1)
Author: Iain Reading
Published: 2012

16145727

A brief synopsis; 
Kitty Hawk and the Curse of the Yukon Gold is the thrilling first installment in a new young adult series of adventure mystery stories by Iain Reading. This first book of the Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency Series introduces Kitty Hawk, an intrepid teenage pilot with her own De Havilland Beaver seaplane and a nose for mystery and intrigue. A cross between Amelia Earhart, Nancy Drew and Pippi Longstocking, Kitty is a quirky young heroine with boundless curiosity and a knack for getting herself into all kinds of precarious situations. 

After leaving her home in the western Canadian fishing village of Tofino to spend the summer in Alaska studying humpback whales, Kitty finds herself caught up in an unforgettable adventure involving stolen gold, devious criminals, ghostly shipwrecks, and bone-chilling curses. Kitty's adventure begins with the lingering mystery of a sunken ship called the Clara Nevada. As the plot continues to unfold, this spirited story will have readers anxiously following every twist and turn as they are swept along through the history of the Klondike Gold Rush to a suspenseful final climatic chase across the rugged terrain of Canada's Yukon.

Kitty Hawk and the Curse of the Yukon Gold is a perfect book to fire the imagination of readers of all ages. Filled with fascinating and highly Google-able locations and history this book will inspire anyone to learn and experience more for themselves. 

Wednesday 26 November 2014

Review #21 - Our Dried Voices ¦ Tour Stop!


Title: Our Dried Voices
Author: Greg Hickey
Published: 2014
Publisher: Scribe Publishing Company

22839622

A brief synopsis; (via Goodreads)
In 2153, cancer was cured. In 2189, AIDS. And in 2235, the last members of the human race traveled to a far distant planet called Pearl to begin the next chapter of humanity.

Several hundred years after their arrival, the remainder of humanity lives in a utopian colony in which every want is satisfied automatically, and there is no need for human labor, struggle or thought. But when the machines that regulate the colony begin to malfunction, the colonists are faced with a test for the first time in their existence. 

With the lives of the colonists at stake, it is left to a young man named Samuel to repair these breakdowns and save the colony. Aided by his friend Penny, Samuel rises to meet each challenge. But he soon discovers a mysterious group of people behind each of these problems, and he must somehow find and defeat these saboteurs in order to rescue his colony.

Sunday 23 November 2014

British Books Challenge!

I am excited to be taking part in Fluttering Butterflies' British Books Challenge.

The premise is simple: Over the course of 2015, read 12 books (one a month) by British authors- which is, sadly, something I don't do very often.

Alas, the books I have chosen are:

  1. 1984 - George Orwell
  2. A Clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess
  3. Solitaire - Alice Oseman
  4. Dodger - Terry Pratchett
  5. Ulysses - James Joyce
  6. Coraline - Neil Gaiman
  7. Before I Go to Sleep - S.J. Watson
  8. Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks
  9. Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro
  10. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time - Mark Haddon
  11. The Casual Vacancy - J.K. Rowling
  12. The Hobbit - J.R.R.Tolkien
Note, this books are subject to change, and I may very well end up reading more than twelve. Also, the order above will not be the order they're read in, aha.

Review #20 - If I Stay

Title: If I Stay
Author: Gayle Forman
Published: 2009
Publisher: Dutton (Penguin)

21911416

A brief synopsis; (via Goodreads)
In the blink of an eye everything changes. Seventeen-year-old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall what happened afterwards, watching her own damaged body being taken from the wreck. Little by little she struggles to put together the pieces- to figure out what she has lost, what she has left, and the very difficult choice she must make. 

Thursday 20 November 2014

Review #19 - Krymzyn ¦ TOUR STOP!



Title: Krymzyn
Author: BC Powell
Published: October 4th, 2014
Genres: Fantasy, New Adult, Science Fiction

22495167

A brief synopsis (Via Goodreads)
Chase was twelve the first time he arrived in a strange land where dark, ominous clouds never move, ancient trees violently spring to life during Darkness, and people seem to live without emotion. Doctors tell him they’re hallucinations, but he knows his visits are real. She’s there-Sash-and she’s more real than anyone he’s ever known.

His visits stop but, as years pass, the memories haunt Chase. Without warning, the young man suddenly finds himself again in a world called Krymzyn. Arriving during Darkness, he’s rescued from death by the extraordinary, beautiful, but terrifying young woman he first met when he was twelve.

When Chase is thrust into the war of balance against vile creatures who threaten all who live there, Sash helps him understand his purpose in Krymzyn. A dark secret from the beginning of time reveals he might be able to stay there forever. To prove he belongs in Krymzyn and be with the only woman he can ever love, Chase will have to risk his own life in the ultimate battle.

Thursday 6 November 2014

Author Q&A - Mechelle Vermeulen

Hello again! So, today, I am here with Mechelle Vermeulen, author of the upcoming novel, Hurricane Butterfly. I've asked her a couple of questions about what it feels like to soon be a published author- let's get started, shall we?


Wednesday 5 November 2014

Review #18 - The Maze Runner

Title: The Maze Runner
Author: James Dashner
Published: 2009
Publisher: Delacorte Press

20957276

A brief synopsis; (Via Goodreads)
If you ain’t scared, you ain’t human.
When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He’s surrounded by strangers—boys whose memories are also gone.
Nice to meet ya, shank. Welcome to the Glade.
Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It’s the only way out—and no one’s ever made it through alive.
Everything is going to change.
Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying.
Remember. Survive. Run.

Friday 17 October 2014

Cover Reveal! Hurricane Butterfly

Title: Hurricane Butterfly
Author: MeChelle Vermeulen
Published: December 2014
Genres: New Adult, Romance

A brief synopsis; (via Goodreads)
Twenty-year-old Sophie Blake, is trying her best to get her life back after a horrific dog attack ten months ago. However, this proves to be more difficult than she anticipated. With the help of her best friend Ben Slone, it seems as if she’s making progress, but the truth is that she can feel herself sinking deeper into a black hole…until a tall dark stranger comes knocking, looking for Ben.

Joshua Roxwell has been drowning his demons with Whiskey and woman in an attempt to deal with his guilt after the tragic death of his sister. When he finds an envelope addressed to Ben Slone, written by his sister before her death, he decides to track him down. Instead of resolving their differences, he meets the one girl who silences his demons…but redemption comes at a price.

This is a story of heartache, friendship and love, with a wicked twist…
 Author links:
https://twitter.com/mvermeulens
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mechelle-Vermeulen/101224060077776

Click 'Read More' for the reveal!!!


Thursday 16 October 2014

Review #17 - Dash & Lily's Book of Dares

Title: Dash & Lily's Book of Dares
Authors: David Levithan and Rachel Cohn
Published: October 2010
Publisher: Random House

7741325

A brief synopsis; (via Goodreads)
“I’ve left some clues for you.
If you want them, turn the page.
If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.”

16-year-old Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on her favourite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. Dash, in a bad mood during the holidays, happens to be the first guy to pick up the notebook and rise to its challenges. 
But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?

Thursday 25 September 2014

Review #16 - Love Spirits (What Happens in Venice, Book 1) + GUEST Post! ¦ TOUR STOP!



Title: Love Spirits (What Happens in Venice, Book 1)
Author: Diana Cachey
Publisher: CreateSpace
Published: 2014
Genres: Romance, Paranormal

A brief synopsis;
Louisa Mangotti is a gorgeous American lawyer and Interpol expert who, after being offered a job working with the international crime unit in Venice, receives a mysterious postcard from the Venetian Ghosts, the ancient protectors of the Republic. But Louisa assumes her bad-boy ex, Matteo, sent it in a quixotic attempt to gain her attention.
Louisa may have dismissed the ghosts, but the ghosts aren't quite done with her. When the bodies of two glassmakers wash up on Murano Island, the cryptic messages persist. 
Reluctantly, Louisa calls upon Matteo to help decipher the clues. And before she knows it, a flame that was never fully extinguished is rekindled.
Sensing that her sister is in over her head, Barbara Mangotti rushes to the rescue, only to be lured away by two handsome Venetian men. 
With time running out, can the two beauties solve a crime that could threaten the city of Venice itself?

Wednesday 10 September 2014

Cover Reveal! Play of Light

Title: Play of Light
Author: Debra Doxer
Published: December 8th, 2014
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

This is a stand alone story.

A brief synopsis; (Via Goodreads
I lived in paradise, and I loved Spencer Pierce.  
At fourteen, my life was perfect. The beach was my playground, and the boy who stole my heart lived just around the corner. But perfect never lasts. In one horrifying moment, I lost it all. My family was destroyed, and the boy I believed in turned his back on me. Paradise became a nightmare. 
That was five years ago. Everything changed when we moved from our home by the sea. I’ve changed, and I don’t like who I’ve become. I miss the smiling, carefree beach girl who disappeared that terrible night. I want to find her again. I want to face the people we ran from so long ago. Most of all, I have to face Spencer. So I can prove that when he broke my heart, he didn’t break me. 
But when I see him again, Spencer Pierce is no longer the boy from my memories. He’s now a man who could devastate me if I let him. He watches me when he thinks I’m not looking. There’s regret written on his face when he’s near. Each time I see him, my heart aches for what might have been, and I think his does too. How can I convince myself I’m over him when I suspect he never got over me? 
Click Read More for an exclusive excerpt, the cover design and a giveaway!

Tuesday 9 September 2014

Review #15 - The Kite Runner

Title: The Kite Runner
Author: Khaled Hosseini
Published: 2003
Publisher: Bloomsbury


A brief synopsis; (via Goodreads)

 1970s Afghanistan: Twelve-year-old Amir is desperate to win the local kite-fighting tournament and his loyal friend Hassan promises to help him. But neither of the boys can foresee what will happen to Hassan that afternoon, an event that is to shatter their lives...



Book Highlight - Daughter of Isis


Title: Daughter of Isis
Author: Kelsey Ketch
Series:  Descendants of Isis #1
Release Date: October 26nd, 2013
Genre: Upper Young Adult Fantasy

“Her mouth parted slightly, waiting for Seth to breathe life into her own body, just like in the story. She wanted him to awaken her senses.”

Their worlds collide in California’s high desert.

The last thing Natara “Natti” Stone wants to do is to start anew at Setemple High School. She wished she had never left London. Yet the brutal murder of her maternal grandmother has made her life very complicated. The only clue related to her murder is an ancient, encrypted necklace Natti discovered after her grandmother’s death. And if trying to adjust to American life is not enough, Natti is being stalked by a mysterious, charming high school senior, Seth O’Keefe, who is annoyingly persistent in his attempts at seduction.

Seth O’Keefe is secretly a member of the Sons of Set, an order that worships the Egyptian god of chaos. Seth’s blessing from Set, his “charm,” never failed, except with one person: Natti Stone. Her ability to elude him infatuates and infuriates him, and he becomes obsessed with the chase. But the closer he gets to her, the more his emotions take a dangerous turn, and he risks breaking one of the most valued covenants of his order. The punishment for which is a fate worse than death.

The adventure this unlikely couple becomes engulfed in could cost them their lives and their souls.

*Note: Content for Upper YA*


***Praise for Daughter of Isis***

Daughter of Isis is an addicting and enthralling read brimming with Egyptian mythology. Readers will be pulled into the story after simply reading a page!” —Emily, Reader Rising

I always enjoy a good book about Mythology and Daughter of Isis brings a thrilling modern day spin to one of the tales. Kelsey Ketch wove the story perfectly and sucked me right into her magnificent world.” —Naomi, Nomi’s Paranormal Palace

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•Excerpt•

“Natti, you need to relax,” Seth finally said.
She froze in her place and looked at him. “Relax! Are you mental? My best friend was drugged!”
Seth stood up from the long, ratty sofa, peeled apart her hands, and took them into his. “You don’t know that for sure.” He brushed his thumbs over her skin in soft, smooth strokes. “Just let the doctors worry about it.”
The calm, soft tingle of his touch seeped through her skin, coursing lightly over her nerves and releasing their tension. Her mind and body began to calm down, making her realize how badly every muscle had been physically shaking. Slowly, layer upon layer of fear and stress simply vanished until she felt nothing at all. She looked up at Seth’s eyes, drawn to their warmth and comfort.
“Okay . . .” Natti spoke, almost breathless. “How do you do that?”
“Do what?” Seth’s voice was seductive as he leaned his forehead against hers. His scent of spice cologne, myrrh, and sandalwood consumed her senses, and his eyes captured her soul.
“This,” she pressed. “The sensations of your touch. I’ve been feeling it all night and even before. Ever since we met. And don’t try to lie. I know you’re doing it, but how?”
Seth smirked at her question, his eyes turning their focus to her hands. “It’s nothing.”
Natti couldn’t help smile as more of the tingling sensation slipped over her skin. “Oh, it’s something. What is it?”
His beautiful full lips tempted her with a smile. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
“Try me.”
Silence fell between them while he seemed to think it over, meanwhile massaging her hands with his thumbs and fingers. The pressure, the release, each movement slowly pulling her thoughts and focus onto his hands. “Touch is a magical thing, Natti,” he explained. “It can comfort.” He raised one hand and stroked her cheek, soft and gentle. “It can entice.” His thumb moved along her jaw and applied pressure as it traveled down her neck, causing her to shiver with delight. “And it can hurt. Whatever the intensions, it brings two people together. It makes a certain . . . connection.”
Though there was no heaviness of a lie, she chuckled at his response. “You’re right. I don’t believe you. Touch is just a sense. A tool the human body uses.”
“Yes, and it’s a powerful tool when used the right way.” His honey voice teasing her, tempting her. “Now come sit with me and relax. Wanda will be all right.”

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•About the Author•


During her high school years, Kelsey Ketch could always be found tucked away in a little corner of the hall or classroom, writing her fantasy worlds and creating illustrations and maps. Today is no different, except now she’s writing in the break room at her office building or at the tables of the Barnes and Noble Café in Cary, North Carolina. She is also an avid reader, a part-time book blogger at Ketch’s Book Nook, and lives with her two orange tabbies and awesome and humorous flat-mate.
For more information, please visit her site at kelseyketch.com.



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•Giveaway•

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Highlight hosted by Good Choice Reading Blog Tours


Monday 8 September 2014

Book Raves! Housten and Chapter By Chapter. (PLUS GIVEAWAY)

There are so many great things happening at these two events!

At
New Rochelle, NY

1. You could be a secondary character in Jennifer L. Armentrout’s NEXT book! Learn how here: Secondary Character Contest

2. You can purchase a signed copy of STAY WITH ME if you cannot attend!

3. The day will be filled with a book signing, parties, giveaways, and more! Time is running out so get your tickets before there is not more!


**********************

#HBR14

HOUSTON, TX
Things you can do at HBR
1. Get your books signed
2. Mingle with all the authors before the signing
3. Get TATTOOED!
4. Have a Fun Photo Booth Session with Jay Crownover
5. Check out the Muscle cars from the Marked Men and Welcome to the Point Series
6. Meet cover model Pepe Toth at Jennifer L. Armentrout's table.

more to come!!
Visit our webpage to see all of our events!
TrinDee Events (tdevents.net)


GIVEAWAY

Help us spread the word and you could win a copy of #Rowdy by Jay Crownover!




Saturday 6 September 2014

Stencil Saturday - Week 3!


Welcome to Stencil Saturdays, Week Three!

'Stencil Saturdays' is an original weekly project/meme, starting right here, that I (and hopefully you!) will partake in. The aim is to produce a piece of fiction- creative writing, in the form of poem or prose, describing something- and what that is is totally up to you!

My challenge for you guys is to write your own description, and do this, just like me!

If you wish to partake, then the rules are:
- Write as much or as little as you like!
- You can post your response where ever you feel most comfortable- on your blog, as a comment here, or just keep it to yourself.
- If you do post your response, add the URL of the post or comment containing the entry to the appropriate week's Stencil Saturday into the LinkUp!
- Please link back to my blog, The Book Carousel, in your response!
Each Saturday, I will include in the post my favourite entry of the previous week! This is not a competition, just a little exercise and a chance to have some fun! Good luck and happy writing!

My Entry:

Deep within the murky depths is where I glide, my long, translucent limbs floating by my side, my scaled wings outstretched behind me, fluttering silently, slicing through the water. My body is made for this, I am built to twist and turn through the plants, over and under the marine life forms.

Sea creatures are very beautiful. I do not believe there is anywhere that could compete with the vast array of species that all co-inhabit under the waves. Not even the jungles that lie above the surface.

But that's no matter; I do not need a jungle to see the creature that I seek this fine evening. I do not need the ocean.

To break free of the waves is a refreshing event, as my gills retire and my lungs enter their service period, I climb out of the water, clambering to perch myself upon on some rocks. The moon is high above, the stars scattered and minute, I do not wait long.

Before I know it they are approaching me, wings flitting and bodies completing turns of three-hundred and sixty degrees. They glow in the sky, blues and purples, greens and ambers. The only thing that would make this more perfect is if the glow flies appeared. But the glow flies do not live around these waters.

I cup my hands, holding them out in the open space, allowing them to approach me. When one does, I raise it to my face, softly, inspecting it. Its wings are soft, body plump and round. It is like me, but minuscule. It is like me, but a permanent land dweller. It is like me, but beautiful.

My entry was based on this picture:

Writer’s Block
A picture says a thousand words. Write them.
Mission: Write a story, a description, a poem, a metaphor, a commentary, or a critique about this picture. Write something about this picture.
Be sure to tag writeworld in your block!

Taken from this source, and this blog post.

Thursday 28 August 2014

Review #14 - The Great Gatsby

Title: The Great Gatsby
Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald
Published: 1925
Publisher: Charles Scribner's Sons


A brief synopsis; (Via Goodreads)
The world and his mistress are at Jay Gatsby’s party. But Gatsby stands apart from the crowd, isolated by a secret longing. In between sips of champagne his guests speculate about their mysterious host. Some say he’s a bootlegger. Others swear he was a German spy during the war. They lean in and whisper ‘he killed a man once’. Just where is Gatsby from and what is the obsession that drives him?

Monday 25 August 2014

Innocence Is A Divine Thing

Years ago, I started an account on 'Fiction Press' and decided to have a go at writing my own 'novel'. I only posted one chapter. Now, three years later, I have decided to revisit it!

Under the 'Read More' tab, you will find the new, improved version. (However, if you really feel like reading the first draft, you can click here.)

Synopsis:
One thing is for certain: I did not kill the king. And another thing: everyone believes I did. I'm totally innocent; I was just caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. Cliché, I know, but believe me, it happens. 
 Except now I'm on the run, my horse pretty much hates me, and winter is fast approaching. I don't think I'll be able to camp out in the forest when the snow sets thick.
{Fantasy Adventure, set in Medieval Britain with Germanic roots} 

Saturday 23 August 2014

Stencil Saturdays - Week 2!


Welcome to Stencil Saturdays, Week Two!

'Stencil Saturdays' is an original weekly project/meme, starting right here, that I (and hopefully you!) will partake in. The aim is to produce a piece of fiction- creative writing, in the form of poem or prose, describing something- and what that is is totally up to you!

My challenge for you guys is to write your own description, and do this, just like me!

If you wish to partake, then the rules are:
- Write as much or as little as you like!
- You can post your response where ever you feel most comfortable- on your blog, as a comment here, or just keep it to yourself.
- If you do post your response, add the URL of the post or comment containing the entry to the appropriate week's Stencil Saturday into the LinkUp!
- Please link back to my blog, The Book Carousel, in your response!
Each Saturday, I will include in the post my favourite entry of the previous week! This is not a competition, just a little exercise and a chance to have some fun! Good luck and happy writing!

My Entry:


The air is frozen,
Like a baron wasteland with,
Absolutely no
Sign of living or dead, since
The sun turned its back on us.

The above is a 'waka', one of the earliest forms of haiku poetry. It consists of five lines, with the syllable pattern being 5-7-5-7-7.



Friday 22 August 2014

Review #13 - The Spectacular Now

Title: The Spectacular Now
Author: Tim Tharp
Publisher: Random House
Published: 2008


A brief synopsis; (Via Goodreads)
In the last months of high school, charismatic eighteen-year-old Sutter Keely lives in the present, staying drunk or high most of the time, but that could change when starts working to boost the self-confidence of a classmate, Aimee.

This is one of those books that I stumbled across as an Indie film, and then found out it was a book, and refused to watch the film until I've read the book.

Author Q&A - Dan Thompson

Hey guys! So, today I am here with Here Lies Love author, Dan Thompson. I've asked him a couple questions about the book, and his life, so let's hear what he has to say, shall we?

Warning: This session contains slight spoilers for the book, (within answer to question number 3- it's the last paragraph, so you may wish to skip that section if you haven't finished the book yet!)


Tuesday 19 August 2014

Review #12 - Here Lies Love ¦ TOUR STOP!


 Title: Here Lies Love
Author: Dan Thompson
Published: 2014


A brief synopsis; 
When she is sold by her father, Abbey discovers that nightmares can occur when you’re awake. Trapped inside a wooden cage, Abbey is forced to listen to the horrors and atrocities above; time ticking down until it is her turn. But Abbey isn’t prepared to become a victim; she will escape. 
Although, what Abbey isn’t prepared for, is how harsh and unfair the world can be. With the sun turning its back on humanity long ago, life gives no opportunity. The only thing Abbey can do is learn to survive. To exist. And that means stealing any opportunity that comes her way. Haunted by the unpleasant memories bestowed upon her only nurtures Abbey’s paranoia, until she realises that to truly live in the world, she must confront the person who was responsible for her misfortune – her father. 
Here Lies Love is a New Adult tale of actuality, of facing up to the fact that love comes in many guises. Can Abbey find the one glimmer of the hope or will she be overcome with the darkness of revenge? 

Saturday 16 August 2014

Stencil Saturday! Week 1


This project is going to run every Saturday, starting from now!

'Stencil Saturdays' is an original weekly project/meme, starting right here, that I (and hopefully you!) will partake in. The aim is to produce a piece of fiction- creative writing, in the form of poem or prose, describing something- and what that is is totally up to you!

My challenge for you guys is to write your own description, and do this, just like me!

If you wish to partake, then the rules are:
- Write as much or as little as you like!
- You can post your response where ever you feel most comfortable- on your blog, as a comment here, or just keep it to yourself.
- If you do post your response, add the URL of the post or comment containing the entry to the appropriate week's Stencil Saturday into the LinkUp!
- Please link back to my blog, The Book Carousel, in your response!
Each Saturday, I will include in the post my favourite entry of the previous week! This is not a competition, just a little exercise and a chance to have some fun! Good luck and happy writing!

 My entry: 

This is a child's playground. The air is crisp, the night is young, and the fires are alight all around. People dance with their companions; with strangers, brothers and sisters, cousins and aunties, uncles and grandfathers, prancing around the burning flames.

The smell that lingers in the air is a plethora of difference - the sweet, sticky smell of melted butter and toffee, the sharp, woody smell of embers, floating up and down in the wind like tiny Chinese lanterns. The sounds they hear are a mix of organs, accordions, violins and trumpets, the melody as lulling as the atmosphere itself.

Tents propped up all around house the most wonderful, amazing feats known to man- acrobatics who defy the laws of physics, ventriloquists who possess the dark and sacred powers of voodoo, mediums who commune with the long lost, contortionists who have more talent than bones.

Their bright, sequinned costumes are like beacons in the dark, attractive and glorious, mesmerising and spellbinding.



Thursday 14 August 2014

[Discussion] - Circus Ramblings

Last weekend, I went hiking up the Old Man in the lake District, and then stopped off at Liverpool on the way home. And what did I see upon entering the Albert Docks? (Besides The Beatles exhibition, of course)


A carousel!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Excuse the man butting in on my picture) (Also known as a Merry-Go-Round, which I guess is a more popular name over here, but my life is infinitely influenced by American media)

There was also a lovely circus themed restaurant, named Circo, which my dad wouldn't let us eat in.

Now, I think the circus is my absolute favourite thing. I don't even know why; I just know I am a tad bit obsessed. I mean, if it was viable for me to run away with the circus, then I definitely would. Just sayin'.

Friday 8 August 2014

Review #11 - American Psycho

Title: American Psycho
Author: Bret Easton Ellis
Published: 1991
Publisher: Vintage Books USA
11069578

A brief synopsis; (Via Goodreads)
In American Psycho, Bret Easton Ellis imaginatively explores the incomprehensible depths of madness and captures the insanity of violence in our time or any other. Patrick Bateman moves among the young and trendy in 1980s Manhattan. Young, handsome, and well educated, Bateman earns his fortune on Wall Street by day while spending his nights in ways we cannot begin to fathom. Expressing his true self through torture and murder, Bateman prefigures an apocalyptic horror that no society could bear to confront.

Now, this book was recommended to me by my three soul mates, whom I would gladly read whatever the hell they recommended for me. I was so glad that this was one of them.

Warning: This review (and book) is not for the faint hearted. Proceed with caution.

August TBR!

I'm going away for the weekend, so I decided to compose a list of books I plan to finish in August:
(It's a three hour drive- I'll get through at least 2 books during the journey there and back)

At the end of the month, I'll do a wrap up post!

Wednesday 30 July 2014

Review #10 {!} - The Peculiar Life of a Lonely Postman

Title: The Peculiar Life of a Lonely Postman
Author: Denis Thériault
Publisher: Hesperus Press
Published: Expected Sept. 2014

22181611

I received this free book via Goodreads First Reads in exchange for an honest review. It does not in any way affect my review or thoughts of the book.

A brief synopsis; (Via Goodreads)


A beautifully tragic and thought-provoking tale that perfectly reflects the elegance and style of Murakami and the skill and plotting of Julian Barnes
Bilodo lives a solitary daily life, routinely completing his postal rounds every day and returning to his empty Montreal apartment. But he has found a way to break the cycle—Bilodo has taken to stealing people's mail, steaming open the envelopes, and reading the letters inside. And so it is he comes across Ségolène's letters. She is corresponding with Gaston, a master poet, and their letters are each composed of only three lines. They are writing each other haikus. The simplicity and elegance of their poems move Bilado and he begins to fall in love with her. But one day, out on his round, he witnesses a terrible and tragic accident. Just as Gaston is walking up to the post-box to mail his next haiku to Ségolène, he is hit by a car and dies on the side of the road. And so Bilodo makes an extraordinary decision—he will impersonate Gaston and continue to write to Ségolène under this guise. But how long can the deception continue for? Denis Thériault weaves a passionate and elegant tale, comic and tragic with a love story at its heart.

Sunday 27 July 2014

[Discussion] Haikyu!!

I'm taking a detour from my usual YA Book Blogging and doing a little anime blogging.

You are totally not in anyway required to sit through this, but you totally can!

But today's discussion: Haikyu!! (Or, Sports Anime in general.)


Now, you might recognise those two central characters from some of my headers. I adore them.

Monday 21 July 2014

Review #9 - Picture Me Gone

Title: Picture Me Gone
Author: Meg Rosoff
Publisher: Penguin
Published: 2013

21119937

A brief synopsis; (Via Goodreads)
Mila has an exceptional talent for reading a room--sensing hidden facts and unspoken emotions from clues that others overlook...      So when her father's best friend, Matthew, goes missing from his upstate New York home, Mila and her beloved father travel from London to find him. She collects information about Matthew from his belongings, from his wife and baby, from the dog he left behind and from the ghosts of his past--slowly piecing together the story everyone else has missed. But just when she's closest to solving the mystery, a shocking betrayal calls into question her trust in the one person she thought she could read best.
Now, because of the reputed success of 'How I Live Now' (I have yet too read the book or see the film), it is possible I expected more from this book.


Thursday 17 July 2014

Review #8 - The 5th Wave

Title: The 5th Wave
Author: Rick Yancey
Publisher: Penguin Books
Published: 2013

16101128

A brief synopsis; (Via Goodreads)
After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.
Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker.
Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.

Thursday 10 July 2014

2014 TBR Pile Reading Challenge!

I have a whole load of books to read that have been sitting on my shelf for yonks- so I joined the 2014 TBR Pile Reading Challenge over at evie-bookish!

I know I've joined half way through the year, but I'm still aiming for a good 30-40 more books! So, that's level 'Sweet Summer Fling' (Which I would love to have this summer, haha.)



Click the 'Read More' tab for a list of the books I'm planning to finish!

Review #7 - Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban

Title: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Author: J.K. Rowling
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Published: 1999


The Prisoner of Azkaban is, by far, my favourite book and film.

A brief synopsis; (Via Goodreads)
Harry Potter is lucky to reach the age of thirteen, since he has already survived the murderous attacks of the feared Dark Lord on more than one occasion. But his hopes for a quiet term concentrating on Quidditch are dashed when a maniacal mass-murderer escapes from Azkaban, pursued by the soul-sucking Dementors who guard the prison. It's assumed that Hogwarts is the safest place for Harry to be. But is it a coincidence that he can feel eyes watching him in the dark, and should he be taking Professor Trelawney's ghoulish predictions seriously?

Thursday 3 July 2014

[Discussion] - Fallen Revealed Cast!

Now, I supposed I'm quite late on this one.

'Fallen' was one of the very first YA fantasy books I had ever read, and I fell instantly in love with it. I also, as the years went by, fell out of touch with it. I'm afraid I believe I've only read the first two books, and I honestly can't remember what happened. I plan to re-read them as soon as possible.

Wednesday 2 July 2014

Bloglovin'

Follow my blog with Bloglovin Now if you don't have a Google+ Profile (like me!) you can still follow!

Tuesday 1 July 2014

Review #6 - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Title: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Author: J.K. Rowling


A brief synopsis; (Via Goodreads)
Harry, Ron and Hermione have returned to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizadry for their second year. (But Harry and Ron only just made it-they missed the Hogwarts Express and had to get there in a flying car...!) Soon the threesome are immersed in the daily round of Potions, Herbology, Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Quidditch.
But then horrible things start happening. Harry hears evil voices. Sinister messages appear on the wall. But nothing can prepare the three friends for what happens next...
A brilliant sequel to the award-winning Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

Friday 27 June 2014

Review #5 - Harry Potter & The Philosopher's Stone

Title: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Author: J.K. Rowling


This is my second, possibly third, read of this book. It would be unfair of me to say that I am obsessed with all things Harry Potter, because I believe how strongly I feel about this series far transcends 'obsessed'. It was my childhood. It is now becoming my adulthood.

A brief synopsis; (Via Goodreads)
Harry Potter has never played a sport while flying on a broomstick. He's never worn a Cloak of Invisibility, befriended a giant, or helped hatch a dragon. All Harry knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley. Harry's room is a tiny cupboard under the stairs, and he hasn't had a birthday party in ten years.
But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to a wonderful place he never dreamed existed. There he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic around every corner, but a great destiny that's been waiting for him... if Harry can survive the encounter.

Tuesday 17 June 2014

Review #4 - Thirteen Reasons Why

Title: Thirteen Reasons Why
Author: Jay Asher


A brief synopsis; (Via Goodreads)
Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers thirteen cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, his classmate and crush who committed suicide two weeks earlier. On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list. Through Hannah and Clay's dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers.

Sunday 15 June 2014

Review #3 - The Light Keepers

Title: The Light Keepers (ShadowLight Saga Prequel)
Author: Mande Matthews


A brief synopsis; (Via Goodreads)
From the #1 Bestselling Norse Fantasy Author, comes The Light Keepers, a prequel to the ShadowLight Saga.Isolated because of what she is -- because of the power she holds inside -- Astrid longs for contact with another human being. Her well-intentioned mother locks her away from society in order to protect her from an evil that seeks to use Astrid's abilities for his own means. But the resulting loneliness drives Astrid deeper into the shadowwalk -- a power she is forbidden to use, a magic that lands her directly into the arms of the Shadow. This short prequel to the ShadowLight Saga offers a revealing glimpse into the history of the beautiful and mysterious warrior maiden known as Swan, called Astrid in this prequel. It takes place a few moons before Bonded begins and is a self-contained novelette of approximately 10,000 words.
Now, before I begin talking about this story, let me just say one thing: I am a sucker for free books. If it doesn't cost anything, has relatively good reviews and is a genre I like, I will more than likely download it. This is what happened with this prequel.

The genre is Fantasy, and the cover looked pretty kick ass (I admit, I judge books by their cover, sometimes. Usually.) so I was like; "Hey, Paige, download it. It looks cool. It has more than 3 stars. The feedback is positive. And it's free."

Most of the reviews contained the generic statements of "I couldn't put this book down!" or "I was hooked from the very beginning!"

Unfortunately, that wasn't the case for me.

The beginning of this book seemed very choppy. The writing, at best, was looking simplistic. It was all "She did this. Then she did that. Accompanied by one further action here." It wasn't very exciting, the writing, and I didn't possible understand why people 'couldn't put [the book] down.'

But then I sort of realised, as I ploughed through - this book is short, by the way, only something like 80 pages, I think, if my Kindle is right, so just over an hour's read, I think - that maybe people weren't enjoying it for the writing.

Maybe they were enjoying it for the characters, for the sense of action and adventure. Which were all things I enjoyed, ironically.

Astrid is a good narrator. What makes her different to all those 'rebellious teens' is the fact that she doesn't want to be rebellious. In that sense, the book reminds me of the film Tangled, with Astrid being akin to Rapunzel. And instead of the long, life saving hair, Astrid is a mute. She doesn't talk, but oh, how she wishes she did!

Her anger and frustration at not being able to talk is adequately portrayed in this, which is why, I think, it is so easy to connect with Astrid as a person. The overbearing mother. The over protective father figure.

An act of rebellion, that is met by anger and disappointment.

We've all been there, right? Done that one thing that makes us feel ashamed, think that we're not worthy of our parents.

This prequel revolves around that act, and the repercussions from it.

The next book in the ShadowLight Series is called 'Bonded'. I have yet to buy it (though my copy of 'The Light Keepers' did come with an 8 chaptered preview of the book that I have yet to read) and despite my reservations of the writing, I think I am going to buy it.

I would recommend it, too. It just might take you a few pages to get into it.

Star Rating: 3/5

Saturday 14 June 2014

Introduction

It seems that, in my haste to publish my first two reviews, I forgot to write an introduction post!

Hello, there! My name is Paige, and I am 16 from the UK. I am currently sitting my GCSE exams, and at the time of writing this, I have four left.

I have no idea what I want to be when I get older, specifically speaking, but it is my dream to become a published YA author.

I write a lot, in the hopes of bettering my skills. You can find me on AO3 [here] and on Wattpad, [here].

I have just started reviewing books, because I read a lot, and, well, I may as well do something with them once they're finished, instead of just letting them collect dust!

Chemistry is my favourite subject.

Book Genres I enjoy are;
Young Adult, Comics, Thrillers, Mystery.

My hobbies include, but are not limited to, are;
Horse riding, Writing, Reading, Blogging, Cosplaying.

Some TV shows I enjoy;
Supernatural, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, Young Justice, Orange Is The New Black, Breaking Bad, Arrow, Catfish, Hannibal, The Vampire Diaries.

Some of my favourite films;
21 Jump Street, The Breakfast Club, 3 Weeks Notice, PS I Love You, Zombieland, X-Men Trilogy, Batman Trilogy, Man of Steel, Spiderman Trilogy, Iron Man Trilogy, The Avengers, Thor, (All superhero movies in general), Harry Potter series.

The above is a picture of me and my lovely friend Joss. (I am the one taking the photo)

Friday 13 June 2014

Review #2 - We Were Liars

Title: We Were Liars
Author: E. Lockhart


I don't really know where to begin with this story. I found it this morning whilst browsing through Waterstones, and I decided to buy it, along with 'Thirteen Reasons Why.' I read it in just under two hours, I just couldn't put it down.

A brief synopsis; (Via Goodreads)
A beautiful and distinguished family. 
A private island. A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.
A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.
A revolution. An accident. A secret.
Lies upon lies.
True love.
The truth.
 We Were Liars is a modern, sophisticated suspense novel from National Book Award finalist and Printz Award honoree E. Lockhart. 
Read it. And if anyone asks you how it ends, just LIE. 
I feel compelled to lie to you all about the ending, about this book. It's happy. It's not happy. It's a romance. It's a tragedy. It is all of those things and not.

Like John Green, I agree, this book is utterly unforgettable.

I remember, I absolutely hated first person books, because I thought they were dreary, because my English teachers told me they were trash, because I felt many writers could not encompass the true feelings of a 16 year old girl when they are 35 year old men. I was wrong. I was lied to. I was wrong again.

'We Were Liars' is passionately written, with a broken narrative structure that so fluently represents the feelings and thought process of the main character, Cadence.

The story follows Cadence, as she spends summer after summer on the island her grandfather owns with her three best friends, known eternally as the Liars. As she witnesses her life fall apart. As she wakes up, cold, naked and alone in the shores of the dock with a traumatic head injury. As she spends the next two years asking over and over again what happened, only to forget the next day. As she revisits the island after what seems like an eternity away from it, in the hopes to piece together what happened that night in her 15th summer. As she realises that she is what she has been all along: A Liar.

This book is a mystery. This book has a heart splintering twist, one that is so unexpected you don't know how it could have stayed hidden, how you could have skipped all the hints. I finished it less than an hour ago, and already I wish to start re-reading it, despite having another gazillion things I need to do.

I think, to sum up this book, I can say only what is written on the back:
We are liars
We are broken and privileged
We are cracked and broken
A tale of love and romance
A tale of tragedy
Which are lies?
Which is truth?
You decide.
Star Rating: 5/5