10 September 2015

Book Tag - 7 Deadly Sins of Reading

The Reading Pile has taken inspiration from the vloging Book Tag community over to the blogging world. Like her I'm not actually going to tag anyone but you're more than welcome to give it a try like I have just head over to her page and leave a link in her comments or in mine as I'm nosey and love to know what everyone else has done.

Over at The Reading Pile she has done the posts every Thursday and has already done a few so I thought I would go through the ones she has already done and do the ones I like the look of.

My Book Tag post this week is: 7 Deadly Sins of Reading:

I am not claiming this picture as my own – I found it on Google. The image its self is of the homunculus from Full Metal Alchemist. The sins from left to right: Sloth, Greed, Wrath, Pride, Gluttony, Lust and Envy. Wording used from The Reading Pile.

Greed - What is your most inexpensive book? What is your most expensive book?
 
I have brought a lot of free books from Amazon and Significance was one of many but that one was my favourite free read ever. I don't really spend a lot on my books hardbacks are usually the dearest, however I did buy a special edition of Wizard of Oz. I can't remember how much it was but it was dearer than your average hardcover cover book.

Wrath - What author do you have a love/hate relationship with?
 
Alyson Noel - I loved the first two Immortals books but the further I went into the series I got fed up with it and the characters. Then I went onto her Soul Seekers series which started off ok but book two not so much. I haven't read anymore books as of yet but I will try some more eventually and hopefully they will be as good as Evermore but I'm wary about them.

Gluttony - What book have you deliciously devoured with no shame whatsoever?
 
I adore both of these books and reread them within the space of a month or so and I feel like I need to read them again this year as well and hopefully I will get around to them soon.

Sloth - What book have you neglected due to laziness?
I've had this book since its release but I haven't gotten around to reading it as of yet I keep wanting to read it but every time I look at the sheer size of it, it puts me off plus after reading the previous books I know that the chapters will also be long which also puts me off reading short books let alone long books like this one.

Pride - What book do you most talk about in order to sound like a very intellectual reader?
I don't talk about certain books just to come off intellectual I talk about them if I love them. The only kind of books I could even think of for this answer would be college/university books that I had to read to get a better understanding of the subject but not to make me sound like an intellectual reader although since the books I read in Uni where about design and the different signs used makes me feel like I could sound like an intellectual reader if I wanted to come across that way.

Lust - What do you find most attractive in male or female characters?
This one is so hard it really depends on the way in which the characters are written because there are times when I love the bad arrogant boy but recently I also love the good guy as well. The most common trait that most of the guys that I like in books are they are funny, tall and fit. I'd say that all the Stage Dive guys written by Kylie Scott all have attributes that I love as they all come across as a guy I would love.

Envy - What book would you like to receive as a gift?
Another hard question as I pretty much get books that I want however, I am so far behind on books by Abbi Glines I have the first few in all of her series but then I stop getting them for some reason. I also get very envious over people who are able to get signed books, I do have a few but not by any of my favourite authors :(

6 September 2015

Book Review: Making a Play (Hometown Players, #2) by Victoria Denault

(Click image to take you to Goodreads)

Format: Kindle
Publishers: Forever Yours
Published: 8th September 2015
Pages: 288
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Sport Romance
Main Characters: Rose, Luc
Date Read: 1st September - 5th September 2015

Rating Given:
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Synopsis:He'll do whatever it takes to win—on and off the ice. 
Luc Richard is the hottest player in the NHL—and it has nothing to do with hockey. His racy relationship with his supermodel ex set the tabloids on fire but nearly put his career on ice. To avoid being traded, Luc agrees to take a break from the spotlight—and from women—and spend the off-season at home in Silver Bay, Maine. It's the perfect plan... until he reconnects with Rose. 
Rose Caplan is tired of being shy, sweet, and safe. She's ready for passion, romance—and Luc. Having loved him longer than she can remember, she's finally ready to prove she's not the same innocent little girl he once knew. Off the ice Luc doesn't do games, but this new Rose makes him feel like playing a little dirty. If he's really got a shot at her heart then he's not just playing to win. He's playing for keeps.

 I received a review copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Another cover that I'm in two minds over as I do think the guy on the cover could definitely be Luc but the tattoo doesn't look right you can tell it's been photoshopped on him.

After loving the first book in the Hometown Players, One More Shot I was very much excited about book 2 and for the most part it lived up to my high expectations there was just a couple of things that annoyed me apart from that it was a really good and entertaining book. I loved that Luc and Rosie started off as friends as it gave their romance more believability which was definitely needed as there was a couple of times that I didn't see any deeper feelings it felt like it was more lust than love until the end and then it felt like there was more to their relationship than just sex. A big dramatic scene happens towards the end that left me thinking what just happened there and even though it was a bit predictable I still was on tenter hooks to see how everything got resolved. I did like the ending but I would have liked to have seen them either a couple of years or months later but I suppose it won't be too bad if they are in the next book like Jordan and Jessie where.

Rosie started off as a kind and sweet girl but then she tried to change herself to get the guy which I hated as she shouldn't have to feel like she needed to do that and she didn't really even though it kind of came across as she did as he did take notice but what she didn't know was he had always liked her. I liked Luc but I didn't love him as some of the things that he did annoyed the hell out of me plus he came across as a little shallow. I really liked Callie in this book so I'm glad hers is the next book in this series and I'm very intrigued as to how her story will play out.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book but it wasn't as amazing as the first book but I'm still excited about her next book in this series.


Showcase Sunday #117


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.

Here's what I received in the month of August!

Paperback Books Recieved
I received this for review from the publishers so thanks to them especially with me forgetting I was getting it, made for a nice surprise.

Kindle Books Bought
I adored The Substitute so naturally I had to get book 2 which I am very excited to read, I just hope it lives up to book 1.

Free Kindle Books
  
 

Review Kindle Books
  
  
  
 
I went a little crazy on netgalley in August but in my defence there is some amazing books coming out soon and these books I am super excited to be reading.


What did you receive?

4 September 2015

Book Review: Deep (Stage Dive, #4) by Kylie Scott

(Click image to take you to Goodreads)

Format: Kindle 
Publishers: Pan MacMillan
Published: 31st March 2015
Pages: 271
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance, 
Main Characters: Lizzy, Ben
Date Read: 27th August - 31st August 2015

Rating Given:
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Synopsis:
Don't miss a beat with the fourth and final novel in theUSA Today bestselling Stage Dive series from Kylie Scott.
Positive. With two little lines on a pregnancy test, everything in Lizzy Rollins' ordinary life is about to change forever. And all because of one big mistake in Vegas with Ben Nicholson, the irresistibly sexy bass player for Stage Dive. So what if Ben's the only man she's ever met who can make her feel completely safe, cherished, and out of control with desire at the same time? Lizzy knows the gorgeous rock star isn't looking for anything more permanent than a good time, no matter how much she wishes differently.
Ben knows Lizzy is off limits. Completely and utterly. She's his best friend's little sister now, and no matter how hot the chemistry is between them, no matter how sweet and sexy she is, he's not going to go there. But when Ben is forced to keep the one girl he's always had a weakness for out of trouble in Sin City, he quickly learns that what happens in Vegas, doesn't always stay there. Now he and Lizzie are connected in the deepest way possible... but will it lead to a connection of the heart?

I've not had this book waiting for me to long as I just couldn't do that as I have loved every minute spent with the Stage Dive boys and I couldn't wait to find out more about Ben...

I'm not a huge fan of Ben's cover as the guy who is supposed to be portraying Ben on the cover just doesn't work as him in my mind he is bigger, wider and more tattoo's. I prefer the first edition cover as he is a bit more Ben (although still not my idea of Ben).

As soon as I started Deep I knew I was going to like it just as much as the previous books and I wasn't wrong as the more I read the more I fell in love with the characters and their story. I loved the way it started as it started with the pregnancy but then it went back in time to how Ben and Lizzy first met. There was a huge surprises in this book about another couple that I just didn't see coming which I loved because it was nice to see a bit more to their story. I loved Ben and Lizzy they had so much chemistry that just jumped off the pages even when Ben was dragging his feet you could still feel like he felt something for her. I found myself laughing out loud with this book just like the others it was just so funny with some of the things that was said and done. I absolutely adored the ending it was the perfect way to end the story I just wish it wasn't over, I am going to have to start the series all over again soon as I already miss Stage Dive.

I loved the characters, it's hard not to love characters that I have already come to know and love. There was one character that I wasn't a huge fan of but in that end I may have started to change my mind. Lizzy was such a great character I felt like she was a little bit like a female version as Mal but not as crazy. She came out with some funny things but not only that she also showed she wasn't to be walked over. I loved seeing more of Ben as I felt like he was the only Stage Diver that I didn't know much about as he was hardly in the other books. Ben started off a little stand offish but the more we got to know him more of his sweet and caring side came out which was nice to see. Mal seemed to be even more funny in this book than even his own book he was hilarious.

Overall, an amazing series that ended with a bang. I loved every minute of this book even with all of those ups and downs it was hard not to enjoy it.


3 September 2015

Book Tag - Inside Out

The Reading Pile has taken inspiration from the vloging Book Tag community over to the blogging world. Like her I'm not actually going to tag anyone but you're more than welcome to give it a try like I have just head over to her page and leave a link in her comments or in mine as I'm nosey and love to know what everyone else has done.

Over at The Reading Pile she has done the posts every Thursday and has already done a few so I thought I would go through the ones she has already done and do the ones I like the look of.

My Book Tag post this week is Inside Out:

1. Joy - What book brings you the most joy?
The Substitute by Denise Grover Swank - This was such a funny and light hearted book, I would definitely recommend this one if you need a little pick me up and watch out for Megan's Grandmother she was hilarious.

2. Disgust - Which book grossed you out?
At Any Price by Brenna Aubrey - The thought of anyone selling their virginity disgusts me and yes I knew that was what the book was about but I thought maybe it would be written in a way that would make me understand where the character was coming from but it never it just left me feeling disgusted in the character.

3. Fear - Which book scared you the most?
The Departed by J.A. Templeton - I don't read scary/horror books and generally stay away from them so the most creepiest book I've read would be the MacKinnon Curse. This series did have a bit of a creepy factor with ghosts that where evil and I would say that the more I went into the series the creepier it got with this one (book 3) scaring me a little.

4. Sadness - Which book made you cry the most?
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - I cried like a baby at certain points in this book it was just so sad I couldn't even stop crying once I put it down.

5. Anger - Which book pissed you off?
Avoiding Commitment by K.A. Linde - Everything about this book got my back up. The characters really did piss me off with all their back and forwards with one another and all the cheating they just didn't fit together yet they kept going back for more heartache.

2 September 2015

Waiting on Wednesday - Wild Crush by Simone Elkeles


"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...

Wild Crush (Wild Cards, #2) by Simone Elkeles
Expected Publication: 22nd September 2015

Synopsis:
When the only girl you want is the one you can't have... 
Bad boy Vic Salazar breaks all the rules except one: Don't make a move on your best friend's girl. It’s a Guy Code that Vic lives by. It doesn't matter that he's had a crush on her for years. Monika Fox is off limits. 
Monika has a secret of her own and when a tragedy throws her and Vic together, the only boy she trusts is the one she shouldn’t confide in. Vic. 
As Vic struggles to keep his distance, and Monika struggles with her secrets, will their wild connection violate every rule both vowed never to break—about relationships, about friendship, about love?

It's been a while since Wild Cards was released I was starting to think there wasn't going to be a book 2  so I'm so excited to finally see it's going to be released in September I just hope the release date isn't pushed back.



What are you waiting on?

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1 September 2015

Book of the Month - August

It felt like a slow reading month as there was days when I didn't even read but I did read 8 books so it wasn't too bad in the end.

Here's what I read in August:


  • His Forbidden Princess (Royal Holiday, #4) by Jeannie Moon - 3.5/5
  • The Accidental Assassin (The Assassins, #1) by Nichole Chase - 4.5/5
  • Catching Heat (Feeling the Heat, #3) by Alison Packard - 4.5/5
  • Sentinel (Covenant, #5) by Jennifer L. Armentrout - 4/5
  • The Edge of Never (The Edge of Never, #1) by J. A. Redmerski - 3.5/5
  • Never Never by Brianna Shrum - 2.5/5
  • The Elite (The Selection, #2) by Kiera Cass - 3/5
  • Deep (Stage Dive, #4) by Kylie Scott - 5/5

And the book of the month goes too...


This was an easy pick this month as it was my only 5 star book. I was starting to think that it was going to be my first month in a long time that I never read a  5 star book but I knew I was on to a winner with a Stage Dive book and I wasn't wrong it was just as good as the others in this series.



What's your favourite book you read in August?