My Top 10 Favourties Books 2011

This is my top 10 books that I have read this year and I did find it hard to put them in order but here goes (All books rated 5 stars):

10. Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs

9. Passion by Lauren Kate

8. Across the Universe by Beth Revis

7. Sweetly by Jackson Pearce

6. Crave by Melissa Darnell

5. Halo by Alexandra Adornetto

4. Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles

3. The Merchant's Daughter by Melanie Dickerson

2. Leaving Paradise Series by Simone Elkeles

And now for my favourite read for 2011 and the winner is...


                       1. My Love Lies Bleeding by Alexandra Harvey

This was hard between this book and the Leaving Paradise series. After thinking about it I went for this book as I loved everything about it there was not one thing that I would want to be different. It was a fantastic book and I can't wait to read the rest of the series. We might see the rest of the series in next years top 10 list if this book is anything to go by. I am so glad I gave this book a go as I wasn't going to but I heard some good things about it and they wasn't wrong now I have to catch up on the rest of the series.

My Top 10 Worst Books 2011

This is my top 10 worst books that I have read in 2011.

10. The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove by Lauren Kate

9. On A Dark Wing by Jordan Dane

8. Magic Bites by Kate Daniels

7. Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel

6. The Sweet Scent of Blood by Suzanne Mcleod

5. Entangled by Cat Clarke

4. Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater

3. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

2. Shadow Souls by L.J. Smith

And the worst book that I have read in 2011 is:

              1. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith

I was very surprised at how much I hated this book considering I love Pride and Prejudice but, I guess with Zombies in the title I was expecting well Zombies. Don't get me wrong there was zombies but not enough to have it in the title. When there was Zombies it wasn't as grotesque as what you would expect with the cover or even with what you usually see in the films. I wish I never read this book!

Book Review: On A Dark Wing

On A Dark Wing by Jordan Dane

Format: E-ARC
Publisher: HarlequinTEEN
Published: 27th December 2011
Pages: 320
Main Characters: Abbey, Tanner, Nate, Angel of Death
Date Started: 22nd December 2011
Date Finished: 31st December 2011
Rating Given: **

Netgalley:
I would learn a lesson I wasn’t prepared for.
                                      The choices I had made led to the moment when fate took over.
                                                          And Death would be my willing teacher.
 Five years ago, Abbey Chandler cheated Death. She survived a horrific car accident, but her “lucky” break came at the expense of her mother’s life and changed everything. After she crossed paths with Death—by taking the hand of an ethereal boy made of clouds and sky—she would never be normal again.
Now she’s the target of Death’s ravens and an innocent boy’s life is on the line. When Nate Holden—Abbey’s secret crush—starts to climb Alaska’s Denali, the Angel of Death stalks him because of her.
And Abbey finds out the hard way that Death never forgets.

When I first saw this book cover I knew I just had to read it even before I read what it was about but when I found out I thought it was something different to what I have read before and sent out a request. I found that I was very disappointed.

It started off really slow and very confusing. It is one of the most confusing books I have ever read I just didn't know or even get what was happening.

Once I got well over halfway through I found that some of it was getting really good and I was wondering what was going to happen. It had parts which where really thrilling and you just didn't know how they was going to get out of the situation that they had gotten themselves into.

I really didn't like the lead female character she was very selfish and whinny I just couldn't warm towards her at all. Although at the end she seemed a little bit better but not much. I know she had been through a lot for someone her age but it doesn't mean she should get away with being the way she was.

I really liked Tanner's character he seemed really sweet and very smart which I like in some characters. I didn't get the friendship between him and Abbey because I felt she didn't treat him the way he deserved.

I didn't get Nate's character but I think that was because we didn't get to know the real Nate so I would have loved to have heard more about him. I did love his relationship between him and his sister.

I felt like this was a set-up book for the rest of a series but I am not sure that this is a series but more of a stand alone book which I am disappointed at as I think with more books we could have gotten to know the characters a lot better.

This book I feel would work better as a film rather than a book. I would love to see it as a film as this is my kind of film as I love disaster films.

Overall there was parts that got me really interested but I felt it was left a bit too late.

Follow Friday #11

Follow Friday is a weekly event hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read. This is a great way to discover new blogs and make new friends! This weeks featured are Ex Libris and Kristin Can Read.




Q: The New Year is here -- and everyone wants to know your New Years Blogging Resolution! What are you going to try to revise, revamp and redo for 2012 on your blog?


A: Well I am quite happy with what I have achieved since I started just this September but there is a few area's I would like to do to improve my blog.

• Learn more about blogging - With me being new I don't know everything there is to know about blogging yet. I am always learning new things and I want to continue to do so in the New Year.
• Comment more - I really need to reply more to the comments I get but because my Blogger doesn't work properly it takes up a lot of time. I also want to make this blog even better so I can get other people to comment more as that seems to be really low.
• Giveaways - Every blog I go to seems to have or had a giveaway and it to be the way to go. I would love to give back to my lovely followers.
• Add more content to the other pages - I seem to concentrate on book reviews but when I first started this blog it was supposed to be about the book covers and I haven't added a lot in there recently. I also did to add more book into film reviews.
• Spend more time blogging - When I first started I was always blogging adding new things but recently I have stopped blogging as much.
• ARCS - Try and get more arcs.

Book Review: Stolen Away

Stolen Away by Alexandra Harvey

Format: Paperback ARC
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Publishes: 5th January 2012
Pages: 277
Main Characters: Eloise, Jo, Lucas and Eldric
Date Started: 21st December 2011
Date Finished: 26th December 2011
Rating Given: ***

Goodreads:
For seventeen years, Eloise Hart had no idea the world of Faery even existed. Now she has been abducted and trapped in the Rath of Lord Strahan, King of Faery. Strahan was only meant to rule for seven years, as Faery tradition dictates, and then give up his crown to another. But he won't comply, and now chaos threatens both worlds.

The only one who can break his stranglehold on the Faery court is his wife. . . Eloise's aunt Antonia. Using Eloise to lure Antonia, Strahan captures his wife, desperate to end the only threat to his reign. Now Eloise must become the rescuer. Together with her best friends Jo and Devin, she must forge alliances with other Fae, including a gorgeous protector named Lucas, and Strahan's mysterious son, Eldric—who may or may not betray them.

After only reading the first Drake Chronicles and loving it I just had to read more from Alyxandra Harvey which is how I found out about this book.

I was a bit disappointed in this book as it wasn't as good as the other book that I read but in parts it was just as good.

I loved the fight scene's they really had me wondering what was going to happen to all of them. They was written really well as I could really could picture what was happening which I find a good thing in books you just have to picture what is going on otherwise it wouldn't be a well written book.

The parts that I didn't like where mainly the Eloise chapters as I couldn't find myself warming to her and I didn't really care what happened to her. Some of her traits was good as she was a fighter for she never gave up on anything. I would have liked to learn more about Eloise as I felt we didn't know everything about her.

Eloise's and Lucas's relationship was a strange one as I didn't get it I think more could have been written about them.

I preferred Jo out of the two female leads as she was stronger but what I didn't get about her was the way she was with boys as she was far too obsessed.

Jo's relationship with Eldric was better but again I would have liked more.

Jo and Eloise's friendship was the best thing about the book as you could tell they really cared and loved each other and I loved Devlin's friendship with both the girls as well he was a great character.

I actually thought this was a part of the series but so far I don't think it is I think it's a stand alone book. It did tie up most of the loose ends but maybe a few more could have been answered. Maybe if it was a series then we might have gotten to know and love the characters more than what I did.

Overall I thought it was a good book but because I was expecting more I was left disappointed.

Thanks to Emma Bradshaw over at Bloomsbury for giving me that chance to review this book.

Sorry for my absence

I am ever so sorry for my absence over the Christmas period. I had meant to come on here to wish you all a very Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays on Christmas Eve however, halfway through sorting out my messages we had a bit of a family emergency with all the Christmas chaos on top of it I just never had the time. I will probably be back blogging properly until the New Year.

Book Review: Tempest Rising (Tempest #1)

Tempest Rising (Tempest #1) by Tracy Deebs
May contain spoilers

Format: Paperback (ARC)
Publisher: Walker Books
Published: 10th May 2011
Pages: 352
Main Characters: Tempest and Kai
Date Started: 15th December 2011
Date Finished: 20th December 2011
Rating Given: ***

Goodreads:
Tempest Maguire wants nothing more than to surf the killer waves near her California home; continue her steady relationship with her boyfriend, Mark; and take care of her brothers and surfer dad. But Tempest is half mermaid, and as her seventeenth birthday approaches, she will have to decide whether to remain on land or give herself to the ocean like her mother. The pull of the water becomes as insistent as her attraction to Kai, a gorgeous surfer whose uncanny abilities hint at an otherworldly identity as well. And when Tempest does finally give in to the water's temptation and enters a fantastical underwater world, she finds that a larger destiny awaits her-and that the entire ocean's future hangs in the balance.

I haven't read many books that are about mermaids but the one I did read recently was Forgive my Fins and I loved it so I wanted to try more books about mermaids which is how I found out about this book.

The concept of this book was what interested me in this particular book but I found that that was the main thing that did interest me about this book.

I found it slow in places but the parts that something was actually going on was really good which, there was quite a few moments which was why it got the 3 stars as otherwise it would have only gotten 2.

I found Tempest an annoying character who was very selfish I just could not warm to her character and therefor didn't really care what happened to her. There was flashes of a good character especially her relationship between her and her Father and Brothers as you could really tell the love with each of them and I wish there was more of this shown in the book. Although she wasn't always thinking of her family just how she was suffering as if they do not feel what she does.

I did like Kai's character he was sweet to Tempest (although she didn't always treat him the same way but that could have been because of Marc). I would liked to have seen more growth between Tempest and Kai's relationship as it just came on suddenly for him but I did like her growth of feelings towards him and I am looking forward to reading more about these two as a couple in the next book.

Although I didn't absolutely love this book I will read the next book to see if it gets better with this book being the set-up.

Teaser Tuesday #4

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!



My teaser:

Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs

"The short yet rocky journey between my life and complete and utter insanity had just been fast-tracked. Sometime between checking myself over in the mirror before leaving the house and right now, I had grown gills." - Page 44






I am a lot further in the book than this teaser but when I had read this part I just knew I would have to use it for my teaser as I think it's a great set-up for the story.
I do like this book but it isn't as good as I thought it would be. It seems to get better the further into the book I get.

It's Monday What Are You Reading? #9

It's Monday What Are You Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Book Journey in which we plan our reading week!








                                                      Currently Reading

                                          Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs

I have nearly finished this now and would have probably have finished it today but I have some Christmas shopping to do so will most likely finish it tomorrow. I am not enjoying it as much as I thought I would but it is a good book.

Hushed by Kelley York

Again I though I was going to like this more than what I have done but again it is good. I do find it very addictive though and I keep wanting to read just the next chapter, so maybe I like it more than what I think I do.

Reading Next

Stolen Away by Alyxandra Harvery

I got this book last week and I really can't wait to start it!

Fracture by Megan Miranda

I am going to try and read this one after Stolen Away as again I am really looking forward to reading it and I know that if I wait until next week I won't want to read it as I will have Christmas presents that I will want to read, I really want to read it before it is supposed to come out.

Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barns

This is what I will be reading once I have finished Hushed as I like to try and read one actual book and one ebook. This book does sound good and has had a few good reviews so I am looking forward to giving it a try.

What are you reading this week?

In My Mailbox #10

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme that is hosted by The Story Siren. This is where we show what we have either bought or was given throughout the week gone by.









In my mailbox this week I have been very lucky to receive not one but two arcs from Emma Bradshaw over at Bloomsbury.

• Stolen Away by Alyxandra Harvey - I can't wait to read this book I have only read one of Harvey's books but I loved it that much that I just wanted to read all her books and I was lucky enough to receive this one.

• Fracture by Megan Miranda - Another book I am really looking forward to reading as I tried a few times to get it off Netgalley but I was always declined but I finally got an actual book arc which I prefer as then I get to keep it!

What books did you get in your mailbox today?

Follow Friday #10

Follow Friday is a weekly event hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read. This is a great way to discover new blogs and make new friends! This weeks featured are Books Are Vital and Once Upon A Time.





Q: When you’ve read a book, what do you do with it? (Keep it, give it away, donate it, sell it, swap it..?)



A: Well it actually depends on the book, as if I give it 3-5 stars I will keep it. Anything below that I will see if anyone wants to swap it with me. Although some of my three stars are starting to go on the swap list too.
My self is far too full I need to get rid of some of the books that I have had on my swap list for a while but, some of them are adult books and it seems most of the charity shops around here only want children's books.
Some of what I read are from Netgalley which we don't actually get to keep them which I like because then they are not taking up all the space on my computer but if I like the book I will just have to buy a hardcopy.

Book Review: Entice (Need #3)

Entice (Need #3) by Carrie Jones

Format: Paperback
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Published: 3rd January 2011
Pages: 264
Main Characters: Zara and Astley
Date Started: 10th December 2011
Date Finished: 15th December 2011
Rating Given: ***

Goodreads:
Zara and Nick are soul mates, meant to be together forever.
But that's not quite how things have worked out.

For starters, well, Nick is dead.
Supposedly, he's been taken to a mythic place for warriors known as Valhalla, so Zara and her friends might be able to get him back. But it's taking time, and meanwhile a group of evil pixies is devastating Bedford, with more teens going missing every day. An all-out war seems imminent, and the good guys need all the warriors they can find. But how to get to Valhalla?

And even if Zara and her friends discover the way, there's that other small problem: Zara's been pixie kissed. When she finds Nick, will he even want to go with her? Especially since she hasn't just turned...she's Astley's queen.

I have read all the book that are out in this particular series and I do find them good but not the best series I have ever read.

I wanted this book because I wanted to find out what was going to happen although I was desperate to read it so I didn't mind not getting to it straight away.

This book was just like the rest in which they drag a bit but in parts it's so thrilling and I can't wait to read the next chapter.

There was a slight difference in this book however, as this one feature's a new male main character Astley. We did meet him in Captivate but he has a more leading role. I do like his character and I also feel sorry for him as you can tell he likes Zara more than what she (thinks) does him. I think we are going to have another love triangle on our hands here in the books to come.

Zara was a little more annoying in this book but I think with the things she has gone through I can forgive her for this but I do hope she gets better in the next one although I have a feeling she could get worse!

I loved the relationship between Dev and Issie it was really sweet but not in a cheesey way and I would love to have seen them in a more leading role than what they had done in this book.

Overall it was a bit slow but towards the end it got so much more entertaining so much so that I am really looking forward to reading the next instalment!

Book Review: The Merchant's Daughter

The Merchant's Daughter by Melanie Dickerson

Format: E-ARC
Publisher: Zondervan
Published: 1st December 2011
Pages: 288
Main Characters: Annabebel and  Lord Ranulf
Date Started: 8th December 2011
Date Finished: 15th December 2011
Rating Given: *****

Netgalley:
An unthinkable danger. An unexpected choice.

Annabel, once the daughter of a wealthy merchant, is trapped in indentured servitude to Lord Ranulf, a recluse who is rumored to be both terrifying and beastly. Her circumstances are made even worse by the proximity of Lord Ranulf's bailiff-a revolting man who has made unwelcome advances on Annabel in the past.

Believing that life in a nunnery is the best way to escape the escalation of the bailiff's vile behavior and to preserve the faith that sustains her, Annabel is surprised to discover a sense of security and joy in her encounters with Lord Ranulf. As Annabel struggles to confront her feelings, she is involved in a situation that could place Ranulf in grave danger. Ranulf's future, and possibly his heart, may rest in her hands, and Annabel must decide whether to follow the plans she has cherished or the calling God has placed on her heart.

Here we have another retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I have only read Beastly by Alex Flinn (which I loved) and also one of my all time favourite film the Disney classic Beauty and the Beast.

With The Merchant's Daughter I found myself comparing it to the Disney version and think about the way Melanie Dickerson changed it to become a less paranormal feel to it. I think that this version is just as good as the Disney version which is saying something coming from me!

This version is by far better than Beastly and will probably have to knock a star off of that version as this one outshines it by a mile!

This version is more of a Historical Romance which was set in the 14th Century. I was instantly drawn into this time and place and I just wouldn't imagine Beauty and the Beast set in any other time or place.

We got to see both point of views of both the characters which I loved as it made me love both the characters. I did want to bang their heads together at times especially when you knew how they was both feeling but they didn't believe that that person could love them and vice-versa.

This is the first book that I have read by Melanie Dickerson and after reading it I looked to see if she had any other books to offer and I was glad to see she had also done another re-telling so I will have to try and get my hands on it.

It may not be as magical as most of the retellings but this book was still just as enchanting!

Fracture by Megan Miranda - book trailer

I really want to read this book I tried to get it on Netgalley a couple of times but I kept getting turned down.
Fracture by Megan Miranda is going to be published on 5th January and I for one can't wait to get myself a copy!

Teaser Tuesday #3

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!

My Teaser:
The Merchant's Daughter by Melanie Dickerson

Ranulf didn't want to leave, but he also didn't want to let the young woman haunt him. He was haunted enough as it was. His wife, dead these three years, had also been beautiful. And she'd used her beauty like a dagger.
Beautiful women weren't to be trusted or allowed into a man's heart when that man was less than perfect himself. He'd learnt that lesson well.

Page 85 May differ to finished book as this is an E-ARC.




I absolutely love this re-telling of Beauty and the Beast I keep thinking back to the Disney version (that I watched last week) and thinking 'oh that's the same but also different'. I am still not even halfway through yet but if what I have read already is anything like how it continues this could be my favourite book of the year!

It's Monday What Are You Reading #8

It's Monday What Are You Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Book Journey in which we plan our reading week!







                                                  Currently Reading

                          The Merchant's Daughter by Melanie Dickerson

I am absolutely loving this re-telling of Beauty and the Beast and I just can't wait to find out what is going to happen next.

Entic by Carrie Jones

Like the rest of the books in this series it's good but not great, although I haven't read that much yet.

Reading Next

Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs

Hushed by Kelley York

  I am looking forward to reading both of these books as I have heard a lot of good things about them.
What are you reading this week?

In My Mailbox #9

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme that is hosted by The Story Siren. This is where we show what we have either bought or was given throughout the week gone by.








In my mailbox this week are from netgalley for reviews:

• Pieces of Us by Margie Gelbwasser
• Ripper by Amy Carol Reeves

I think I might be getting far too addicted to netgalley but these books did sound good and I am looking forward to reading them in the future.

                                What's in your mailbox this week?

Book Review: Across the Universe (Across the Universe #1)

Across the Universe (Across the Universe #1) by Beth Revis

Format: Paperback
Publisher: Razorbill
Published: 28th March 2011
Pages: 398
Main Characters: Elder and Amy
Date Started: 4th December 2011
Date Finished: 9th December 2011
Rating Given: *****

Goodreads:
AMY
has left the life she loves
for a world 300 years away.

Trapped in space and frozen in time, Amy is bound for a new planet. But fifty years before she's due to arrive, she is violently woken, the victim of an attempted murder. Now Amy's lost on board and nothing makes sense - she's never felt so alone.

Yet someone is waiting for her.
He wants to protect her -
and more if she'll let him

But who can she trust amidst the secrets and lies?
A killer is out there - and Amy has nowhere to hide...

From the very moment that I started this book I was hooked. Things was always happening even if you didn't actually know what was going on. I was also surprised in some places especially the end as I really didn't see that happening, which I love books that can keep you guessing.

I haven't read many books that are sci-fi but I really enjoyed it. I did get a bit confused with some of the language but you kind of get the idea of what they are saying when you read the whole sentence.

Amy's character I liked as she had to go through a lot of emotions and a lot of things happened to her that could have broken a character but it just made her all the more stronger. I felt that I really went through the same emotions she went through throughout the book at the same time as she went through them.

I also liked Elder's character although there was times I wanted to smack him upside the head and thinking why would he do something like that. When it was explained why he did it I felt sorry for him as it must be a lonely place for him to live.

The Elder and Amy's friendship was really sweet and I can't wait to see if anything develops between them at this point it just seems like they are bonding through the loneliness of living on the ship with know one that they can really talk to but each other.

Overall I absolutely loved this book and I can't wait to see what is going to be thrown there way next one things for sure it looks set to be a bumpy ride!

Follow Friday #9

Follow Friday is a weekly event hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read. This is a great way to discover new blogs and make new friends! This weeks featured are Keeping Up With Roxy's Books and Anonymous Reads.



Q. Keeping with the Spirit of Giving this season, what book do you think EVERYONE should read and if you could, you would buy it for all of your family and friends?

A. From my favourite reads of the year so far I would have to get everyone My Love Lies Bleeding by Alyxandra Harvey. I absolutely fell in love with this book from the moment I started reading it. It is also a quick read which I am now starting to like and it isn't as heavy as some paranormal books can be.

Another book I would just have to get everybody is City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. As this series (The Mortal Instruments) so far is my all time favourite which also includes the prequel The Infernal Devices. This series is a lot heavier than my other book but it is well worth the read as they are such a rollercoaster ride.