BOTM #1

It is now the end of September and I have chosen my BOTM .

The choices from what I read this month was:

• Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
• Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev
• Overprotected by Jennifer Laurens
• The Lost Saint by Bree Despain
• Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater
• Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

And the book of the month goes to...

                                                              
This was a hard choice between two of my 4 stars (no five stars to pick from) I decided on this one because it's a first in the series as the other one was second and compared to the first it wasn't as good which was the reason why I ended up with this book plus I prefer the front cover to the other.

I would definitely recommend anyone to read this book as its different to what is out there and its just as good as the others. It's funny, it has romance in it and it keeps you guessing. Check out my review here.

The Time Will Come #1

Every Thursday Books For Company hosts a meme in which we will post a book we really want to read, or have been meaning to take off our shelves and read for a while.
So I thought I would join in the fun!

Want to join in?

• Pick a book you have been meaning to read.
• Do a post telling us about this book.
• Link up the post in the Linky
• Visit the other blogs!
 

Firelight by Sophie Jordan

Goodreads:

A hidden truth.
Mortal enemies.
Doomed love.

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.

Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.
Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.

I had wanted this book for a while and for a long time I couldn't find it but once I did I just had to get it especially hearing a lot of good things about it.
When I received it I put it on my shelf just waiting for me to read it but that was months ago now. I will read it soon but I am nervous about reading it as a lot of books that I have been excited about have been a let down. It does sound great so here's hoping I will enjoy it!

The Life of Lee

The Life of Lee is out today yay!
I was just wondering after seeing a few comedians promoting their book if Lee Evans has one. I just got an email from Waterstones to tell me what is out today and guess what Lee Evans was there shining like a beacon.
I have only read a couple of autobiographies and have never really liked them but Lee Evans is my all time favourite comedian I just have to have this book even if it is a autobiography. Thank god I have some money left over from my Nanna am sure she would want me to have this!

Book Review: Uglies (Uglies #1)

Uglies (Uglies #1) by Scott Westerfeld

Format: Paperback
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Published: 1st January 2006
Pages: 425
Main Characters: Tally, David and Shay
Date Started: 17th September 2011
Date Finished: 29th September 2011
Rating Given: *

Goodreads:
Everybody gets to be supermodel gorgeous. What could be wrong with that?
Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait. Not for her license -- for turning pretty. In Tally's world, your sixteenth birthday brings an operation that turns you from a repellent ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty and catapults you into a high-tech paradise where your only job is to have a really great time. In just a few weeks Tally will be there.
But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to be pretty. She'd rather risk life on the outside. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world -- and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally the worst choice she can imagine: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. The choice Tally makes changes her world forever.

I wanted to read this series a few years ago although am not sure why as that was when I would only read fantasy books (I have broadened my horisons now) but I never got around to actually buying the book so I just left it at that for a few years. That changed when someone wanted to swap one of my books on Goodreads and this book was there so I thought I would give it a go I wish I never bothered...
There are three parts to this story and the first part I thought I was going to quit it but as usual I kept going hoping that it would get better.
This story is about children being Ugly until they reach the age of 16 and then they have an operation to make them pretty which I thought was a bit shallow but I thought that maybe there would be some depth into it but there really wasn't especially in the first part.
Tally dreamed about becoming pretty and would do anything to have this dream become reality even if it meant betraying a friend, which I thought was terrible usually the main characters that you rout for are the good guys and wouldn't even think about betraying a friend. She made excuses to why she was going to do this but I still thought it was a horrible thing to do and nothing she did made me symathise with her character. Her friend Shay however seemed like the person you would want the story to be about as she did have depth she seemed a lot more relatable than Tally.
By the end of part one I couldn't stand Tally and didn't think that could change that bit I was wrong about. Tally seemed to be a completely different character she seemed more strong which I like in a female character. Shay was the same she changed but she changed in a bad way as she became more annoying. We met a new character in this part called David, he was what this story was missing in the beginning. He was kind, strong, independant and had a lot of depth to his character, this character I was routing for.
There was more action in the second part well the beginning of the second part anyway. There was more going on and I was starting to think it was improving but once the action stopped so did the flow of the story.
The third part again started off with action which I liked and I was really starting to like Tally and hate Shay as there characters just flipped from what they started off like. I really felt sorry for David by the end of this book and wanted to strangle both Shay and Tally as they both just seemed to forget their values and just ended up being shallow.
I won't continue with this story as it was far too shallow for me and it was too slow in most places I just know that if I got the next book I wouldn't look forward to reading it so there is no point in even trying. Such a disappointing book that took me ages to read longer than I have ever taken to read a book that wasn't over 500 pages this book just wasn't for me.

Reading Update #2

I am still reading Uglies by Scott Westerfeld I have nearly finished. I will probably be finished by tomorrow which I can't wait for as it's taken me nearly two weeks the longest I have ever taken on a book that isnt over 500 pages. I haven't started any other books as of yet as I want to just get this one done plus I will probably won't start another book until October (Saturday) just so I can get over this book :(
I hope I have better luck with my next book!

Shiver Series

The Shiver series is another of my favourite book covers with the first one Shiver being my favourite out of the bunch. I love the slight difference in each of them but keeping the overall feel of it the same. I also think that it does this showing the actual trees in the second one rather than the branches gives it a different look yet also keeping it similar. With the third one it kind of combines them both which maybe is to show that it is complete which the third one is the end so it makes sense to do in this way.
In a way it is similar to the Hush Hush series of book covers as in these are also black and white but in a more literal sense with a hint of red.
The reason why I love the first one the most is because it looks more dramatic with the background colour being black. With Linger having the background colour being white it looks incomplete and it doesn't have the same edge as the first one does. Linger is my least favourite of the three because it looks a bit too sparse but even so I still love it which could be because I love black and white together. I wish the third one didn't add any more colour to it as it makes it look a lot more different to the other two.
I do prefer these the UK versions over the USA book covers. There reason why I prefer the UK ones is because they have kept the books the same colour and I think they look more dramatic but this could be me being biased as like I have said before I do love Black and White together. They have kept the overall layout the same as the UK ones but in the US ones they add people and werewolf to each which I like better as then you know more about what the book is about.

Book Review: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith

Format: Paperback
Publisher: Quirk Classics
Published: 4th April 2009
Pages: 317
Main Characters: Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy
Date Started: 26th July 2011
Date Finished: 1st August 2011
Rating Given: *

Goodreads:
"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains."

So begins Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, an expanded edition of the beloved Jane Austen novel featuring all-new scenes of bone-crunching zombie mayhem. As our story opens, a mysterious plague has fallen upon the quiet English village of Meryton and the dead are returning to life! Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet is determined to wipe out the zombie menace, but she's soon distracted by the arrival of the haughty and arrogant Mr. Darcy.

What ensues is a delightful comedy of manners with plenty of civilized sparring between the two young lovers and even more violent sparring on the blood-soaked battlefield as Elizabeth wages war against hordes of flesh-eating undead.

Can she vanquish the spawn of Satan? And overcome the social prejudices of the class-conscious landed gentry? Complete with romance, heartbreak, swordfights, cannibalism, and thousands of rotting corpses, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies transforms a masterpiece of world literature into something you'd actually want to read.

I am a huge fan of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice well in the film/TV as I haven't actually read the book as I had tried on of Jane Austen's other books but I couldn't understand the language so I didn't want to be put off. I am also a huge fan of anything Paranormal especially with romance involved so it was obvious to me to give this book a try and I was very much looking forward to reading it. I am feeling after reading it that I should never have gone anywhere near this book it was such a disappointment. The only reason why it got one star was because I love Pride and Prejudice so much and it most part that was what it was and if it didn't have Zombies in the title it would have gotten the full five stars. With Zombies in the title I was expecting blood, guts and gore but it wasn't that and when there was Zombies it just felt like it was glazed over. It was like the author decided to say oops forgot to put in the zombies best put some in here it just didn't sit right with me. It made it a dull story and that is definitely not what Pride and Prejudice is with me.
The characters wasn't right especially Lydia's character. Lydia starts of as a strong independent woman like her older sister Elizabeth but the way she ended up just didn't go with her character I can't imagine Lydia's character to stay at home and look after her husband she would want the best in life. If your going to change a character from the original book you should keep her that way not change them completely it just doesn't make sense.
I did love the illustrations in this book they where more dramatic than the actual story.
I have learned my mistake the hard way I should stay away from a remaking if I love the original as I will only be disappointed. Although some fairytales' have gone through a revamp and I love them so maybe I won't give up and just make sure I will like them.

Book Review: The Maze Runner (Maze Runner #1)

The Maze Runner (Maze Runner #1) by James Dashner

Format: Paperback
Publisher: Chicken House Ltd
Published: 2nd August 2010
Pages: 371
Main Characters: Thomas
Date Started: 2nd August 2011
Date Finished: 5th August 2011
Rating Given: ***

Goodreads:
When the doors of the lift crank open, the only thing Thomas remembers is his first name. But he's not alone. He's surrounded by boys who welcome him to the Glade - a walled encampment at the centre of a bizarre and terrible stone maze. Like Thomas, the Gladers don't know why or how they came to be there - or what's happened to the world outside. All they know is that every morning when the walls slide back, they will risk everything - even the Grievers, half-machine, half-animal horror that patrols its corridors, to find out.

I have wanted to read this book for awhile now as it was recommended to me as well as it was said that if you liked The Hunger Games (which I did) then you will love The Maze Runner.
Although I did find some similarities between The Hunger Games and The Maze Runner, for example it was mainly about the children being able to see if they can survive on their own I just didn't like this book as much as The Hunger Games. It took a long while to get into the story and when I did I didn't understand some of the language that was used as they would use a word for different reasons so I couldn't keep up with what was going on. Which was a shame as I did like the story once halfway through. I liked the suspense throughout the book (once it got going that is) I just wanted to know if they where ever going out and who the bad guy was but am still not really sure who they where which you will probably have to read the rest of the series to find that out.
It was hard to figure out which was my favourite character as if one was being good they could turn bad and vice versa. I did like Chuck however as he was so sweet and caring and the kind of friend you do with in this kind of situation but Thomas wasn't always nice to him which I didn't like. I would have liked to have found out more about Teresa she seemed nice but wasn't really in it until nearer the end.
I did like this book even if it was a bit confusing but because of that I am not sure if I will or even want to continue with the series.

Book Review: Starcrossed (starcrossed #1)

Starcrossed (Starcrossed #1) by Josephine Angelini

Format: Paperback
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books
Published: 3rd June 2011
Pages: 514
Main Characters: Helen and Lucas
Date Started: 8th August 2011
Date Finished: 13th August 2011
Rating Given: ***

Goodreads:
Set on the island of Nantucket, STARCROSSED tells the tale of Helen Hamilton, a young woman whose destiny is forever altered when she meets Lucas Delos and tries to kill him in front of her entire high school. Which is terribly inconvenient, not only because Lucas is the most beautiful boy on the island, but also because Helen is so achingly shy she suffers physical pain whenever she is given too much attention.

Making matters worse, Helen is beginning to suspect she’s going crazy. Whenever she’s near Lucas or any member of his family she sees the ghostly apparitions of three women weeping bloody tears, and suffers the burden of an intense and irrational hate. She soon learns that she and Lucas are destined to play the leading roles in a Greek tragedy that the Three Fates insist on repeating over and over again throughout history. Like her namesake, Helen of Troy, she’s destined to start a war by falling in love. But even though Lucas and Helen can see their own star-crossed destiny, they’re still powerfully attracted to each other. Will they give up their personal happiness for the greater good, or risk it all to be together?

The reason why I wanted to read this book was the front cover as I find it beautiful. Another reason why was because I had heard a lot of good things about the book. All in all I wasn't that disappointed with reading the book.
The main reason why it only got 3 Stars was because it took a long time to get into it which at one point I really wanted to stop (which I don't do) but I kept going. Eventually mid-way through I really got into it and was looking forward to what was going  to happen on the next page/chapter. However the ending was disappointing as I thought there was another chapter but when I turned over and found it wasn't so I felt let down it just ended abruptly. I know some books have cliffhangers but this didn't feel like a cliffhanger it just felt unfinished.
With the characters I thought they was alright I just didn't think they where developed as much as they could have been. However I think this could be because at the beginning Helen and Grace literally hate other and bring out the worse in each other. So I am looking forward to seeing how they move on in the next book.
I did like the book and I thing it was a good debut book for Josephine Angelini and I am looking forward to seeing what she can offer in the next installment of Starcrossed and any other realm she will create.

Book Review: Forbidden (The Demon Trappers #2)

Forbidden (The Demon Trappers #2) by Jana Oliver

Format: Paperback
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books
Published: 5th August 2011
Pages: 416
Main Characters: Riley, Beck and Ori
Date Started: 14th August 2011
Date Finished: 19th August 2011
Rating Given: ***

Goodreads:
Riley's beginning to think being a demon trapper isn't all it's cracked up to be. Her dad's been stolen by a necromancer, her boyfriend's gone all weird and she's getting warm and fuzzy feelings for someone who's seriously bad news. It's tempting to give it all up and try to be normal, but that's not an option. Because the demons have plans for Riley. And they're not the only ones.

With loving Forsaken so much I just had to read the second in this series and I was very much looking forward to what was going to happen with Riley next but what I didn't count on was it not being as good.
I can't believe how much the characters had changed from the first one, I know things can change a person but not as much as Simon did. I loved his character (even if I was team Beck) in the first book he was sweet and charming but in this book he changed for the worse. He was awful to Riley to an extent I just couldn't believe I was glad he wasn't in it much as he got on my nerves. Beck I loved even though he did annoy me a bit when he kept telling Riley what to do he isn't her father! I also wanted to slap him upside the head at times as you just know he loves Riley in a romantic way but he just can't admit to it. We found out more about Ori in this book and I was surprised at what and who he really was I just never saw that one coming which was a great twist to the story. With Riley she was annoying but she has been through a lot so you can forgive her character for the things that she does.
There are a lot of things that kept happening that you just don't expect and it did keep you on the edge of your seat which is what I love in the books that I read.
With the ending of this book it did make me excited for the next book Forgiven and a bit nervous as well.

Book Review: Eyes Like Stars (Theatre Illuminata #1)

Eyes Like Stars (Theatre Illuminata #1) by Lisa Mantchev

Format: Ebook
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Published: 7th July 2009
Pages: 352
Main Characters: Beatrice, Nate, Ariel, Peaseblossom, Moth, Cobweb and Mustardseed
Date Started: 18th September 2011
Date Finished: 25th September 2011
Rating Given: ***

Goodreads:
All her world’s a stage.
Bertie Shakespeare Smith is not an actress, yet she lives in a theater. She’s not an orphan, but she has no parents. She knows every part, but she has no lines of her own. That is, until now.
Enter Stage Right
NATE. Dashing pirate. Will do anything to protect Bertie.
COBWEB, MOTH, MUSTARD SEED, and PEASEBLOSSOM. Four tiny and incredibly annoying fairies. BERTIE’S sidekicks.
ARIEL. Seductive air spirit and Bertie’s weakness. The symbol of impending doom.
BERTIE. Our heroine.
Welcome to the Théâtre Illuminata, where the actors of every play ever written can be found behind the curtain. They were born to play their parts, and are bound to the Théâtre by The Book — an ancient and magical tome of scripts. Bertie is not one of them, but they are her family — and she is about to lose them all and the only home she has ever known.
Lisa Mantchev has written a debut novel that is dramatic, romantic, and witty, with an irresistible and irreverent cast of characters who are sure to enchant the audience.
Open Curtain

I wanted to read this awhile ago now but was put off by all the negative comments that it was given, but then I found I didn't any books to read with the letter E for some of my challenges on Goodreads so I thought I would give it a try.
To start with I was agreeing with the negative comments and was going to give it a low rating as it was slow and very confusing. I found that I didn't know what was going on as none of it seemed to make sense. Once I got a bit further into the story and things was starting to get explained I found I was starting to enjoy it as it was different to other books that I have read before. Although it was different to any books I have read I did find it similar to a couple of Charmed episodes but I wasn't too upset by this as I did enjoy both the Charmed episodes and this version of the story from the book.
Beatrice did annoy me to start with but by the end she grew on me and I loved the way she didn't let anyone boss her around like some other main female characters do in other books it was rather refreshing. With Ariel I got confused to start with as I thought it was a female character like from The Little Mermaid so I was surprised to find he was a male character. However I still didn't warm to his character until maybe the last chapter but who knows what he will be like in the next book. I kind of liked Nate's character although I couldn't understand some of his dialogue but I guess that was the point as he was pirate. As for the four little faeries I loved them they was very funny characters and always stood up for Bertie definitely made the book!
The other thing that I didn't really like was that I could guess what was going to happen and who Bertie's mum was, which annoyed me a bit as I like to be kept guessing.
I didn't like the ending either as it was left with loads of questions but I would like to hope they would be answered in the books to follow.
I did find it a charming read in the end though and will read the next books but maybe next year.

Book Review: Infinite Days (Vampire Queen #1)

Infinite Days (Vampire Queen #1) by Rebecca Maizel

Format: Paperback
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books
Published: 1st April 2011
Pages: 400
Main Characters: Lenah and Justin
Date Started: 23rd August 2011
Date Finished: 30th August 2011
Rating Given: **

Waterstones:
For 500 years Lenah Beaudonte has been a vampire. 500 years of seduction, blood and destruction. But she is sickened by her dark powers and longs to feel the sun on her skin, grass under her bare feet, and share the breath of a human kiss. She wants to be mortal again. But is she really capable of being human, after her long years of darkness? Waking up as a sixteen-year-old girl brings Lenah many things the life she has missed, taste, touch, love. But a vampire soul is not easily shed. And her coven the four vampires she led in decadence and thrilling destruction want their queen back ...

For Rebecca Maizel this is here debut novel and with nothing to read of hers before Infinite Days I had to go on the front cover which I loved and the description and I saw a lot of people reading it so I thought I would give it a try but I must say I was quite disappointed.
I found this story to be quite different to what is out there usually its a human turning into a vampire not a vampire turning into a human which I liked and it worked.
I did actually love the whole story but what I didn't like was the characters they really pulled this book down for me. I thought the two main characters were shallow, unrelatable, annoying. With Justin he was a bit of a jerk to start with but then by the end of the book he was completely different which I found rather strange as no one change that much if he started of like he did at the end it would have been better. Lenah was the same but with her character going through the changes she goes through you can kind of accept that however she loved that many different characters it just didn't seem real with any of them. I did like one of the side characters Rhode he seemed the most believable and selfless character out of the lot of them but we don't see much of him.
As for the ending I hated it I thought with the way it ended there wasn't going to be another book and that it was a standalone novel but I was mistaken. I won't be reading the second because I just couldn't get into this book and sometimes the second is usually better than the first but I just don't even want to give it another try.

Book Review: Unearthly (Unearthly #1)

Unearthly (Unearthly #1) by Cynthia Hand

Format: Paperback
Publisher: Egmont UK
Published: 2nd May 2011
Pages: 435
Main Characters: Clara, Christian and Tucker
Date Started: 1st September 2011
Date Finished: 5th September 2011
Rating Given: ****

Goodreads: 

In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.
Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.

Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart.

This is Cynthia Hand's debut so I hadn't know what her book would be liked but I found I was drawn to it because of the beautiful front cover, the description and I had also heard a lot of good things from this book so I just had to try it for myself and I wasn't disappointed.
As soon as I started this book I found I already was starting to like it and a few chapters into it and I was hooked I just had to find out what was going to happen next which a part towards the end with Christian surprised the hell out of me. I just didn't see it coming which for me is great as usually you know what is going to happen to a certain degree but that one I didn't but that could just be me! There was also other things that I was guessing at but I got them completely wrong which I am pleased about as it just kept me reading and well guessing.
I loved the different take on the Angel's lore as it is different take on Angels to most Angel books (that I have read anyway) I found it rather intriguing.
Clara was nice enough I did find her a bit shallow but she did have some depth to her which made her more likable than what she could have been. Tucker I loved , his character was so likable as he was funny which I find the best trait in characters which makes them more relatable. With Christian I didn't really like him as he really was shallow and cocky but not in a funny way like Tucker there was times however when he showed a better side which I liked maybe in the next book we might see more of that side of him.
The only reason why I didn't give the book the full marks in which it did actually deserve was because of the ending which ended in  a bit of a rush it should have maybe had a few more pages so it wouldn't have been as rushed.
There was a cliffhanger which the more books I read the more I am liking the cliffhangers as it makes me want to read the next book all the more I just wish that they came out quicker.
Overall Cynthia Hand's debut was a great way to start and I can't wait to read more from her and not just in this series but in others that are sure to come.

Book Review: The Lost Saint (The Dark Divine #2)

The Lost Saint (The Dark Divine #2) by Bree Despain

DON'T READ IF NOT READ FIRST BOOK!

Format: Paperback
Publisher: Egmont
Published: 7th March 2011
Pages: 404
Main Characters: Grace, Daniel and Talbot
Date Started: 11th September 2011
Date Finished: 15th September 2011
Rating Given: ****

Goodreads:


A family destroyed. A love threatened. An enemy returns.

Grace Divine made the ultimate sacrifice to cure Daniel Kalbi. She was infected with the werewolf curse while trying to save him, and lost her beloved brother in the process.

Desperate to find Jude, Grace befriends Talbot, a newcomer to town. But as the two grow closer, Grace's relationship with Daniel is put in danger - in more ways than one.

Unaware of the dark path she is walking, Grace begins to give into the wolf inside of her - not realizing that an enemy has returned and a deadly trap is about to be sprung.

Bree Despain delivers sizzling romance and thrilling action in the heart-pounding sequel to the The Dark Divine.

After reading the first book The Dark Divine I just fell in love with the story and when the next one was released the obvious choice was to buy it so I could continue with Grace and Daniels story which I wasn't that disappointed with the second book.
The start of this book I absolutely loved it and I got into it straight away but then when secrets was starting between both Daniel and Grace I was starting to get annoyed as I was scared to what was going to happen between the both of them. As the story continued and we met a new character called Talbot I got even more scared I just didn't trust this character and am still not sure whether to trust him or not by the end as he sure did bring out the worse in Grace.
Grace was a bit different in this book compared to the first book which is because of the wolf side of her so her dark side was coming through in this book which I didn't like. Daniel seemed to have more secrets in this book than the first which I also didn't like. Jude wasn't in this book as much as the first one but when he was I didn't know if I liked him or not he just kept changing his mind but again that would be the wolf inside of him. Graces' mum was rather annoying in this book but I guess if one of your children go missing I am sure anyone would be the same. As for her dad who wasn't in it much until nearer towards the end I just didn't know what to make of him for just disappearing on the family when he knew how much his family needed him but again there is probably reasoning in his madness. We also got see more of Gabriel in this one which I liked knowing more about him.
As for the ending well it was a huge cliffhanger which makes me both excited and scared to read the next one but one things for I will be!

Book Review: Overprotected

Overprotected by Jennifer Laurens

Format: Ebook
Publisher: Grove Creek Publishing
Published: 29th April 2011
Pages: 243
Main Characters: Ashlyn and Colin
Date Started: 11th September 2011
Date Finished: 17th September 2011
Rating Given: ***

Goodreads:


Ashlyn: A lonely society princess living in New York City.
Daddy hired you to be my bodyguard.
Colin: Childhood enemy, now her protector.
Daddy thought I’d be safe. He thought I’d never fall in love. He thought he could keep me forever. Charles: obsessed with keeping her safe, keeping her his, he hires the one person he knows she could never fall in love with: Colin.
Daddy was wrong.

The first reason why I wanted to read this book was because I have read Heavenly which was written by the same author so I thought I would like this book as well and the second reason was because of reading the description of the book I found I liked what the story was about. In most parts I wasn't wrong as I did like it.
I didn't quite like the beginning of this book because it took me awhile to get into it as it was very slow I think it was about halfway through when I started to get into it.
I found the characters alright they wasn't characters that you liked straight away but in the end I found myself routing for Ashlyn to stand up to her father. With Colin I found he was nice enough but when you hear about how he used to be with Ashlyn I just couldn't help thinking that he was going to do something that would hurt Ashlyn. As for her parents well I just didn't like them especially her father but I am sure that was how we are supposed to feel about him I can't believe any parents can be that controlling!
With the ending I found it came up a little short it could have just had a bit more explanation to it.
Overall I found it was a quick read that I may well read again.

Book Review: Ballad: A Gathering Faerie (Books of Faerie #2)

Ballad: A Gathering Faerie (Books of Faerie #2) by Maggie Stiefvater

Format: Paperback
Publisher: Scholastic
Published: 5th May 2011
Pages: 336
Main Characters: James and Nuala
Date Started: 5th September 2011
Date Finished: 11th September 2011
Rating Given: *

Goodreads:

In this mesmerizing sequel to "Lament", music prodigy James Morgan has joined his best friend, Deirdre, at a private conservatory for musicians. James' almost unearthly gift for music has attracted the dangerous attentions of Nuala, a soul-snatching faerie muse who fosters and feeds on the creative energies of exceptional humans until they die. Composing beautiful music together leads James and Nuala down an unexpected road of mutual admiration ...and love. Haunted by a vision of raging fire and death, James realizes that Deirdre and Nuala are being hunted by the Fey and plunges into a soulscorching battle with the Queen of the Fey to save their lives.

After reading the Shiver series I was excited to read what Maggie Stiefvater could offer me. I read the first one in this series Lament and thought it was good not as good as Shiver but still not bad but then I read this book...
The reason for giving this book only one star was because I really didn't like it at all from start to finish. When I first started it I knew I wasn't going to like it and usually I am proven wrong but in this case I was proved right. I couldn't stand the main characters James and Nuala. James I found was just plain annoying and arrogant and I just didn't understand why anyone would fall in love with this guy, I never warmed to him which I usually do so I was very surprised that I actually hated him. As for Nuala I just didn't get who she was about until right at the end and I still didn't like her. In this book Deidre was a side character (who was the main character in the first book Lament) and she was just as annoying as the main characters I liked her in Linger but in this one I just didn't care what was going to happen to her. There was some other side characters which I actually liked and wished there was more about them especially Paul and Sullivan.
I loved the way it was about the music as it was very intriguing just like the first one and it was written beautifully and I would have probably liked this book more if the characters was more lovable.
I hated the ending as well as I was just starting to get into it and then it was ended in that way which left more answers than questions and there doesn't seem to another book in this series that I can tell I hope there is just for the readers who love this book so that they can get the ending that they deserve but I don't think I would read it as I wasn't a huge lover of the first one and then not to like this one I would just think reading another would be a waste of my time.

Fallen

There is three book out in this series however I loved these two more than the last as it just does not have the same feel to it especially the background in which you could tell it was fake and it didn't look as dramatic as these do.
I prefer Torment over Fallen which I think is because I love the colours although if I was to choose out of the actual story it would be Fallen.
I love the way that the in Torment the main focus well to me anyway is the dress as it takes up all the frame and it adds texture to the image. Whereas in Fallen I love the way the main focus is the background and I think that is because it has a darker feel to it and with the tree's it adds the texture. I think I just love texture in images so it draws my eye to it if there is any texture in the image.
I hope the fourth book cover is better than the third one!

Ordered book #1

Yay I have finally ordered Silence I thought I had longer until it was out even though I knew it was out on the 4th Oct I just didn't realize the date. I just had to get this book as I have loved the first two and plus I just really love the cover I just can't wait to read it!!

Hush Hush

The book covers for this particular series are my all time favourites as they just look stunning especially when you see them all together they just stand out from any other series!
I love the colours that have been used the way in which they are black and white but then just a hint of red gives them the dramatic look that I am sure they where looking for. I love the way that there is a hint of light in each of the books for me it says that there is a light at the end of the tunnel which I hope is correct for Nora and Patch.
I feel that the covers get even better the more that come out as Silence could well be my favourite of the the lot as it has more in the frame than the others which just works. It also looks more dramatic than the other two books. I hope that this book lives up to the cover like the other two have and I am sure it will do!

Reading Update #1

Every Wednesday I am going to do a midweek reading update.
At the minute I am reading two books One called Eyes Like Stars which I am enjoying although I didn't start off enjoying it. As for my other book Uglies it's taking its time to even get the slightest bit interesting for me to continue (I will continue) I just hope it gets better soon as it feels like I have been reading it for weeks rather than days!

The Secret Circle - Series Preview

New series starts 28th September (next Wednesday)!
Another series from L.J. Smith so I hope it lives up to Vampire Diaries!!

Books received #1

I brought this from Asda today as it has been looking at me every time I have a look at what they have it's such a beautiful cover and it sounds good from the back I just hope it lives up to it!