Book Review: Crave (The Clann #1)

Crave (The Clann #1) by Melissa Darnell

Format: e-arc
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Published: 25th October 2011
Pages: 416
Main Characters: Savannah and Tristan
Date Started: 20th November 2011
Date Finished: 30th November 2011
Rating Given: *****

Netgalley:
Forbidden to Love
                           Doomed to Fail
Savannah Colbert has never known why she’s so hated by the kids of the Clann. Nor can she deny her instinct to get close to Clann golden boy Tristan Coleman. Especially when she recovers from a strange illness and the attraction becomes nearly irresistible. It’s as if he’s a magnet, pulling her gaze, her thoughts, even her dreams. Her family has warned her to have nothing to do with him, or any members of the Clann. But when Tristan is suddenly everywhere she goes, Savannah fears she’s destined to fail.
For years, Tristan has been forbidden to even speak to Savannah Colbert. Then Savannah disappears from school for a week and comes back… different, and suddenly he can’t stay away. Boys seem intoxicated just
from looking at her. His own family becomes stricter than ever. And Tristan has to fight his own urge to protect her, to be near her no matter the consequences…
Bloodlust.    Magic .    Forbidden secrets.

The only reason I wanted to read this book was because I was looking for a book to request from netgalley (very much addicted to that site) and I saw this front cover and so I just had to give it a try. After getting my request accepted I read what it was about and got really excited to read it. It took me awhile to start this book as I had a load of other books to read but then I kept looking at reviews for it and got a little nervous to read it as there was a lot of mixed reviews. That there is my lesson learnt just because one person doesn't like a book doesn't mean I won't as I loved this book.

From the moment I started this book I just knew I was going to fall in love with it and I wasn't mistaken as I found myself loving and understanding the two main characters which I find a huge help when reading a book. I was nearly always on the edge of my seat thinking what is going to happen and telling Savannah don't you remember anything they told you (which I always do in TV but never in books). Then the ending happened and I was like you just can't end there as it is a huge cliffhanger especially if you read the little teaser for the next book.

Savannah's character I really felt for through out this book. She had a group of friends that she loved especially Tristan that is until the fourth grade where her friends all turn on her which hurt but not as much as Tristan turning on her. What she never knew was why they where told to stop seeing her until one day she gets ill in which she never had before when she wakes up she finds out her whole childhood was a lie as now she is a half vampire half witch. The main and most important rule for her is to stay away from Tristan!

I just felt so sorry for her thinking no one likes her even her dad which isn't the best of relationship until we find out more towards the end of the book so I would hope to see her relationship with her dad grow in the next book. She is a tough character with the way she copes with everything that is thrown at her and I hope she continues to grow as a character through out the series.

Tristan I start off not liking until the author changes to his point of view and we get glimpses of what he has to go through and what he feel and then I just love him more and more as the book goes along and can't wait to see what the future hold between these two main characters.

I do like the new friends she made especially Anna as you could tell she had Savannah's best interests at heart and would do anything for her even go ask help from who she thinks as the enemy. Although they seem to be great friends I found by the end they where starting to make Savannah feel guilty about spending time doing the thing she loves nearly the most I hope that works out in the next book though.

I felt it was similar to the Twilight Saga but I didn't mind as I loved this book just as much if not more I just hope it continues to get better with the series and I can't wait to continue with them.

Book Review: New Beginnings

New Beginnings by Rebecca Emin

Format: Paperback, ARC
Publisher: Grimoire Books
Publishes: 23rd January 2012
Pages: 168
Main Characters: Sam, Chloe
Date Started: 28th November 2011
Date Finished: 29th November 2011
Rating Given: ****

Goodreads:
Sam Hendry is not looking forward to starting at her new school. Things go from bad to worse as the day of truth arrives and all of her fears come true... and then some.

With her new friends and interests, will Sam finally feel able to face the bully who taunts her, and to summon up the courage to perform on stage?

Rebecca Emin was kind enough to ask if I would like to read her book as a RAK and I agreed straight away. When I went to read what it was about I got a little bit nervous as this a completely different kind of genre that I have read before and I had said I would do a review so I was nervous it would not be my cup of tea, however I needn't have worried as I really enjoyed it.

This book is about a young girl at the age of 11/12 going to a new school where she encounter's a bully, but Sam doesn't know what to do or who to turn to.

I found that I connected with Sam straight away as from the front cover it reminded me of one of my cousin's who is around the same age, so I always pictured her as Sam. I didn't like that I pictured my cousin in this role as me and my family would be devistated if she was to go through what Sam had to go through. So I found myself crying at all the bullying parts and smiling and laughing with her happy moment, which there was quite a few moments being happy it was only the school days when she was upset at least she had Chloe there to give her the support she needed.

There was a few questions in the story that I would have liked to have been answered.

I liked both Sam and Chloe but I didn't really get Anna as she actually witnessed quite a lot of things that happened but never said anything to anyone, I know Sam said not to say anything but wouldn't the right thing be to tell their teacher, and how the teacher never saw anything I will never know but I guess that is very true to life as bullies don't want to be found out.

What I really enjoyed about this book was that it was set in England to all the culture refrances I understood and actually knew who they was talking about.

I really enjoyed this book especially after reading a book that was nearly 900 pages long I needed a short book to read which this was. It was a bit of a heavy subject matter but one that needs to be talked about more and I definitely commend Rebecca Emin on the sensative way in which she wrote her book and I would definitly recommend other people to give it a try and they might be pleasantly surprised at how enjoyable the book was even if it is about bullying.

It's Monday What Are You Reading? #6

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







                                           
                                                 Currently Reading

                                        Crave by Melissa Darnell

                                                       New Beginnings by Rebecca Emin

Reading Next

Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber

Firelight by Sophie Jordan

I am enjoying Crave and I am nearly finished so I can't wait to start Darker Still. I am yet to start New Beginnings but when I do I don't think it will take me long to read as there isn't many pages and then I can finally start Firelight I have had this for a while now and I really want to read it.

Book Review: Inheritance (Inheritance #4)

Inheritance (Inheritance #4) by Christopher Paolini

Format: Hardback
Publisher: Doubleday/Random House
Published: 8th November 2011
Pages: 860
Main Characters: Eragon, Saphira, Roran, Arya, Nasuada, Murtagh
Date Started: 12 November 2011
Date Finished: 27th November 2011
Rating Given: ***

Goodreads:
Not so very long ago, Eragon—Shadeslayer, Dragon Rider—was nothing more than a poor farm boy, and his dragon, Saphira, only a blue stone in the forest. Now the fate of an entire civilization rests on their shoulders.

Long months of training and battle have brought victories and hope, but they have also brought heartbreaking loss. And still, the real battle lies ahead: they must confront Galbatorix. When they do, they will have to be strong enough to defeat him. And if they cannot, no one can. There will be no second chances.

The Rider and his dragon have come further than anyone dared to hope. But can they topple the evil king and restore justice to Alagaësia? And if so, at what cost?

This is the much-anticipated, astonishing conclusion to the worldwide bestselling Inheritance cycle.

It has been quite a few years since we last heard from Eragon and Saphira and finally we got the fourth and the last of the series and I was so excited about it and just couldn't wait to get my hands on it but I was a little bit disappointed.

First of all this book is far too long at 860 pages it was a bit too much for me especially when some of the story dragged a bit. The bits that dragged was really bad and felt like giving the story 1 star but then there was a lot of parts that was so entertaining that I wanted to give it 5 stars which was why I went halfway with 3.

I liked that before we even got into the story there was a brief history of what has happened in previous book, however I didn't think that it was enough as I found myself wondering what they was on about in certain places and even who some of the characters was. I don't think it's a series I could have re-read before reading this one as like this book there is a lot of pages to read.

I also liked that at the end of the book we got a pronunciation guide which we have had in all the books which really does help with some of the really difficult and words that we have also not heard of before. I do wish we got it at the front because by the time you get to the guide it is a little bit too late at least by this book we know where it is so we can go straight to the back before we start so we know how to pronounce the words.

I found the battle scene's was done really well and the last battle was brilliantly done and I was always on the edge of my seat just wondering who was going to survive or what was going to happen with the injured. One of the death's in the last battle was actually surprising I wasn't expecting that person to die.

I loved the way Eragon had grown as a person in this and the other books I would loved to have seen him grow in the future. I also love his relationship with him and Saphira it was beautiful to watch them bond even more. I found myself feeling sorry for both of these characters by the end of the book but I won't spoil it for anyone else plus this could just be me.

Overall I would have loved more to the ending where we went more into the future of their lives and less in some other places. What would have been even better was if it was split into two books as it would have been easier to read. I loved parts and hated parts but all in all it was a descent end to the series.

In My Mailbox #7

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:

• Blood Feud by Alyxandra Harvey - I can't wait to read this book as I loved the first one so much. I got this on a swap from readitswapit.
• New Girl by Paige Harbison - I got this from netgalley as it sound like it is going to be a good read.
• HUSHED by Kelley York - Another one from netgalley which also sounded good and it has had some good reviews.

Follow Friday #7

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 The Book Addict and .Books and Beyond.




Q:  It's Thanksgiving Day in the U.S. so we want to know what you are Thankful for - blogging related of course! Who has helped you out along the way? What books are you thankful for reading?


A: Well first of all Happy Belated Thanksgiving to everyone that celebrates Thanksgiving as with me being from the UK I don't celebrate this holiday.
Now as for bloggers I am thankful to all my followers, thankful for them following me, thankful for any help they have given me and I am thankful for all the blogs that I visit as it helps me in some kind of way to make my blog even better.
As for the books that I am thankful for well the first and most thankful is as you may have seen in an earlier post is The Twilight Saga as this series got me back into reading in a big way and I would have never have known what I wanted to do with my life as now I know I definitely want to work in the book creating business. I am also thankful for the Harry Potter series as I think it's great that we was in the time when it was created and to be a part of a legend is awesome!
The most important that I am thankful for is my mum as she is a great support in what I want to do and without her I wouldn't be able to drive myself forward to get the kind of jobs I want and also I know I would definitely not have half the books I do today.

Teaser Tuesday #2 & Top Ten Tuesday #6

Teaser Tuesday #2

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

My Teaser:
Crave by Melissa Darnell

"Then again, no girl, normal or otherwise, seemed to mess with my thoughts quite like Savannah did. So maybe I was just desperate to find any reason besides my own weakness to blame for the crazy hold she had on me.
At least she made algebra interesting." - Page 33.
(E-ARC so could be different from the finished copy)


I have picked an early quote as I am not far into it and I don't want to go looking for any other quotes as I don't want to spoil it for myself I haven't even read the last page (yet). I am really enjoying Crave and I never thought I would because of all of the bad reviews it has been given I guess it just goes to show you should always try it out for yourself as you never know you might like it like I have done many a time.

                                                                                                                                                                  

Top Ten Tuesday #6

It's Monday What Are You Reading is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish in which we plan our reading week!


This weeks topic is: My top ten authors I would want to be at my table on Thanksgiving. (Even if I am from the UK and we don't celebrate Thanksgiving I am still going to do it.)

1. Cassandra Clare - She is the author of one of my all time favourite series and she gave us Jace and Will need I say more!
2. Alyxandra Harvey - I have only read one of her books but already I am in love with the world she has created so I would love to ask her questions.
3. Stephenie Meyer - And the reason behind this well I will give you two words Edward Cullan!
4. J.K. Rowling - I would love to her her thoughts on Harry Potter the books and the films.
5. Roald Dahl - Obviously this would be if he was still alive but I would love to meet the guy who created some of the best children's books.
6. Becca Fitzpatrick - Love her Hush, Hush series and Patch!
7. Simone Elkeles - She is one of my favourite non-paranormal authors so I would to meet her to ask her loads of questions.
8. Rachel Caine - I love her Morganville series and I would just love to ask her questions on this series.
9. Richelle Mead - I just adore her books.
10. J.R.R. Tolkien - Again this would be if he was still alive as I would love to know what he made of the films and plus how did he create such a fascinating world just loads of questions that I will never find out!