Waiting on Wednesday - Even in Paradise by Chelsey Philpot

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Here's this week's book I can't wait for...

Even in Paradise by Chelsey Philpot

Expected Publication - 14th October 2014

Synopsis:
When Julia Buchanan enrolls at St. Anne’s at the beginning of junior year, Charlotte Ryder already knows all about the former senator’s daughter. Most people do... or think they do.
Charlotte certainly never expects she’ll be Julia’s friend. But almost immediately, she is drawn into the larger than-life-new girl’s world—a world of midnight rendezvous, dazzling parties, palatial vacation homes, and fizzy champagne cocktails. And then Charlotte meets, and begins falling for, Julia’s handsome older brother, Sebastian.
But behind her self-assured smiles and toasts to the future, Charlotte soon realizes that Julia is still suffering from a tragedy. A tragedy that the Buchanan family has kept hidden … until now.

This one is thanks to WOW meme as I wouldn't have known about this book otherwise but now that I have seen it I am really excited about reading it as it sounds like it will be my kind of book.


What are you waiting on?

Book Review: Spark (Elemental, #2) by Brigid Kemmerer

(Click image to take you to Goodreads)

Buy: Amazon UK | Amazon US | Book Depository

Format: Paperback

Publishers: Kensington

Published: 28th August 2012

Pages: 345

Genre: YA, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy

Main Characters: Gabriel, Layne
Date Read: 1st July - 4th July 2014

Rating Given:

Synopsis:
Gabriel Merrick plays with fire. Literally. Sometimes he can even control it. And sometimes he can't. Gabriel has always had his brothers to rely on, especially his twin, Nick. But when an arsonist starts wreaking havoc on their town, all the signs point to Gabriel. Only he's not doing it. And no one seems to believe him. Except a shy sophomore named Layne, a brainiac who dresses in turtlenecks and jeans and keeps him totally off balance. Because Layne has a few secrets of her own...

The raw emotion clawed at his chest, at his throat, at his eyes, spilling over until he was crying in earnest.
Then Nick had an arm around his back and Gabriel was crying into his brother's shoulder.
"I'm sorry," he said. "Nicky, I'm sorry."

I have the first three books in this series for a while now but as soon as I read and loved the first one Storm I knew I wouldn't be waiting very long to read this one and I'm glad I never waited as I loved this book just as much maybe even more than the first one...

As I said in my review for Storm I really don't like the covers for this series as I really don't think that the models are fitting for the characters especially the main one in this cover who is supposed to be Gabriel and in my head he looks nothing like this guy and I imagine him taller. I do like the use of different colours in this series of covers especially with the way they have used the colours what you would associate with that particular element.

I must admit I was a little nervous about starting this book as sometimes the sequals can be bad but I needn't have worried as I loved this book as it was just as beautifully written as the first one. Like Storm, Spark also had more to the story than just the romance as the romance took a back seat but it was there and I loved the hint of it as it just showed me that there is more to a story than love and that I can enjoy it that way. The romance that was there wasn't an instant thing it was like a slow build up which I felt it made real and it was so sweet as well as HOT! I loved that there was some serious issues addressed especially the bullying which was written in a delicate manner but it seemed so real making want to cry for them. The ending was great with some questions unanswered but that felt like it was setting up the rest of the series.

I loved pretty much all of the characters at different times as there where times when some of the good characters wasn't so nice. Gabriel I loved in what we saw of him in the first book but with us getting to know more about him in this book it made me love him even more which I didn't think was possible. There was a lot of this book that Gabriel broke my heart as it seemed like no one believed in him including his family and it's no wonder that he finds it hard to believe that someone is being genuinely kind to him. I really liked Layne's character as she had a lot of personal problems but she still held her head high she seemed so strong yet sensitive at the same time. I was surprised that I wasn't a huge fan of Nick in this book but I think that had more to do with me being on Gabriel's side but he did have his good Nick moments too. Throughout this book I was really liking Hunter but then I wouldn't be sure about him which does make me more nervous about his book which is coming next.

Overall I had so much love for this book and of course Gabriel!

Gabriel turned his head to look at her. His entire life was going to shit, but seeing her here was like finding a little glimmer of light amid the darkness.

Book Review: City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments, #5) by Cassandra Clare

(Click image to take you to Goodreads)

Buy: Amazon UK | Amazon US | Book Depository

Format: Paperback

Publishers: Walker Books

Published: 6th September 2012

Pages: 544

Genre: YA, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy

Main Characters: Clary, Jace, Simon, Alec, Isabelle, Magnus

Date Read: 17th June - 30th June 2014

Rating Given:

Synopsis:
The New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments continues—and so do the thrills and danger for Jace, Clary, and Simon.
What price is too high to pay, even for love? When Jace and Clary meet again, Clary is horrified to discover that the demon Lilith’s magic has bound her beloved Jace together with her evil brother Sebastian, and that Jace has become a servant of evil. The Clave is out to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. As Alec, Magnus, Simon, and Isabelle wheedle and bargain with Seelies, demons, and the merciless Iron Sisters to try to save Jace, Clary plays a dangerous game of her own. The price of losing is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she still trust him? Or is he truly lost?
Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge. Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series.

“Kill me, little sister. Kill me and you kill Jace, too.”

I had put off reading this book when I first got it as I knew there was going to be a long wait for the next book and now I kind of wished I hadn't put it off for so long...

I do like that these covers have all been kept similar as you know that it's a part of a series. I didn't used to be a fan of these covers but the more I see them the more I like them. I love the way it looks like they are shining as it makes them stand out and I feel like it adds something more beautiful to the cover.

It may look like it took me awhile to read this book but I did actually stop reading it once a book that I had been waiting on had arrived so in actually fact I read this in maybe less than a week and considering the size of the book thats a feat in itself. I did feel like I needed to read this quicker than normal because I wanted to get it over with but my the end I was reading it faster because I was enjoying it and I couldn't wait to find out what happened next. At the beginning I did find that I couldn't remember what had happened in the previous book which I think was because I left it so long but there was subtle reminders so I didn't feel too lost. There was a lot happening in this book so I loved that it was told from alternating points of views as I didn't feel like I was missing out on something. I really enjoyed the ending as it answered some questions but it also left it wide open for the last book and even though this wasn't my favourite book I am still really excited to see what happens in the last book.

With this book being in alternating points of views we was able to get a better understanding of each of the characters. Jace was the only one we didn't really get to know better as one minute he was the Jace we all know and love from the first three books and then the next minute there was a more sinister side to him. There was a lot of times when I warmed towards Sebastian but then I would remember that I don't like him. Clary seemed to be the same old Clary but there was a few times when I saw how much she really has grown throughout this series. I loved Simon and I felt so sorry for him in one particular scene. There was times when Isabelle annoyed me as she said one thing but meant another thing which did get tiring very fast. I loved Alec and Magnus together but there was something that did happen that made me want to knock some sense into Alec.

Overall for me it felt like the spark was missing from this book compared to the first three which is a shame as this was one of my favourite series but after this one and the previous one it has slipped from the number one series.

“Unhappy? I was lucky. So, so lucky. And I couldn’t see it.” His eyes met hers. “I love you,” he said. “And you make me happier than I ever thought I could be. And now that I know what it’s like to be someone else—to lose myself—I want my life back. My family. You. All of it.” His eyes darkened. “I want it back.” 

Book Review: A Safe Space by E.M. Tippetts

(Click image to take you to Goodreads)

Buy: Not available at time of review

Format: Kindle (earc)

Publishers: Indie

Published: Mid July 2014

Pages: n/a

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance

Main Characters: Lizzie, Devon

Date Read: 24th June - 28th June 2014

Rating Given:

Synopsis:
Everyone needs a safe space.
For Lizzie Warner, that space has always been in front of the camera on her hit show, or on stage to a sold out concert arena. Since before she can remember, she’s been a star, but that may be about to change.
She’s nineteen. Her show has been cancelled and now she’s going to play the lead in a new prime time drama series, but is the world ready to take her seriously, or will she be typecast as the cute tween queen forever?
Her network has decided to be aggressive and has invested millions of dollars in an ad campaign for her show, money she’s not sure she can earn back. Her co-star can’t stand her, and the writing for the show turns out to be poor at best. The only reason Lizzie didn’t walk away from the job offer to begin with is because she’s broke, the victim of a decade of bad money management.
Then there’s Devon, the personal trainer at her gym. Arrogant and abrasive, he’s the last guy she should ever find attractive, but she has a hopeless crush on him anyway, and he doesn’t seem entirely disinterested either. In fact, sometimes he’s downright sweet to her. If only he weren’t an untamable bad boy who uses and dumps women like they’re nothing. Though Lizzie’s friends warn her to stay away, he’s the only person who can create what she needs: a safe space. But is there any way she can break him of his years' long habit of being a user?

I imagine a shimmering force field around the set, which is of the living room of my character, Jess. As I step across it I imagine everyone else being pushed away. I'm in my safe space now, where I am in control.

I had joined Emily's mailing list a while ago now so when there was an email asking if anyone want to review this book I jumped at the chance as I have enjoyed all her books that I have read and this one sounded just as good...

I must say out of all of her book covers this one has to be my favourite. I love the use of colour (which ties in with the story) and I also love the patterns down the side as they really do add something extra to make the book stand out to me.

As soon as I started this book I was addicted to it I just didn't want to stop reading it and when I had to put it down I just kept thinking about what was happening and what was going to happen next. There was times when I was thinking that this was going to be five star rating but there was just a couple of things that made me go for the four star rating. I felt that the romance side of the story wasn't very believable at the beginning as it felt like the love came a bit out of the blue but towards the end I started to see where it was coming from I also didn't feel like there was any real chemistry coming from the both of them it seemed a bit one sided for the most part. I loved that this wasn't just about romance but it was about the celebrity world and as well as illnesses which isn't always portrayed in books. I absolutely adored the ending as it was so sweet and it was a few years later which as you will know from other reviews that's a huge plus for me.

For me I felt like Lizzie was a bit too perfect as she didn't seem to have any faults and she was always thinking of other people before herself and she was so sweet. I really did feel sorry for her as even though she was this famous child star in the past she still found it hard to get anywhere plus I felt like a lot of people walked all over her and she just let them. I really liked Devon at the beginning but there was times when I found him to be a bit of a jerk but in the end we do find out why he acted the way he did so I was able to like him again.

Overall I found this to be a sweet book that was very much an addicting read even if there was things that happened that I didn't like.

I'm done running from this because I love you and I know I can trust you with my heart... if you want it. Although honestly, it's yours whether you want it or not.

Waiting on Wednesday - The Fine Art of Pretending by Rachel Harris

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Here's this week's book I can't wait for...

The Fine Art of Pretending (The Fine Art of Pretending, #1) 

by Rachel Harris

Expected Publication - 30th September 2014

Synopsis:
According to the guys at Fairfield Academy, there are two types of girls: the kind you hook up with, and the kind you're friends with. Seventeen-year-old Alyssa Reed is the second type. And she hates it. With just one year left to change her rank, she devises a plan to become the first type by homecoming, and she sets her sights on the perfect date—Justin Carter, Fairfield Academy’s biggest hottie and most notorious player.
With 57 days until the dance, Aly launches Operation Sex Appeal and sheds her tomboy image. The only thing left is for Justin actually to notice her. Enter best friend Brandon Taylor, the school’s second biggest hottie, and now Aly’s pretend boyfriend. With his help, elevating from “funny friend” to “tempting vixen” is only a matter of time.
But when everything goes according to plan, the inevitable “break up” leaves their friendship in shambles, and Aly and Brandon with feelings they can’t explain. And the fake couple discovers pretending can sometimes cost you the one thing you never expected to want.

I love the sound of this book as it definitely sounds like something that I would enjoy. I haven't read anything by this author as of yet but I have heard so many great things about her books that I'm sure this one will be no different.


What are you waiting on?

BOTM #33

I honestly didn't think I read that much and some of these books that I read in June I actually thought I read in May but I guess not!

Here's what I read in June:

• Red at Night by Katie McGarry - 4.5/5
• Fathomless (Fairytale Retellings, #3) by Jackson Pearce - 2/5
• Fire of Stars and Dragons (Stars and Souls, #1) by Melissa Petreshock - 4.5/5
• Burned (Miller Sisters, #2) by Sarah Morgan - 4/5
• Come Back To Me by Mila Gray - 5/5
• Jane by April Lindner - 3/5
• Beautiful Oblivion (Maddox Brothers, #1) by Jamie McGuire - 5/5
• Wait For You (Wait For You, #1) by J. Lynn - 4/5
• A Safe Space by E.M. Tippetts - 4/5
• Just One Night (Sex, Love & Stiletto, #3) by Lauren Layne - 4/5
• City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments, #5) by Cassandra Clare - 3.5/5

And the book of the month goes to...

 

Here we go again with another great month of books I've read and I just couldn't pick out of these two as they where both as good as each other in their own way.

I would highly recommend both of these books to anyone who loves a GREAT contemporary romance!

What's your book of the month?

Showcase Sunday #88

Showcase Sunday is a weekly Meme that I am taking part of. This weekly meme is hosted by Vicky over at Book, Biscuits and Tea.

Click images to take you to Goodreads.

Kindle Books Bought

  

Only read the first book in both of these series but looking forward to seeing how each of them end. New book from Jessica Sorensen which sounds really good. All books where 77p so bargains for me that I couldn't say no to.

Free Kindle Books

  

 

Some very cheesey covers but they all sound like something I would like plus there free!

Review Kindle Books

  

  

These all sounded good and to be honest I can't even remember requesting His Reverie but I'm sure it will be good by looking at the synopsis for it.

What did you get this week?