Wednesday 30 September 2015

September Wrap Up

Hi Guys

It's been so long since I last did a wrap up. I didn't do too well this month with reading I only read 4 books. I have big plans for next month though so I think my next post will probably be a October TBR.

1. Me, Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
I loved this book. It was so funny and realistic. I felt like that could happen at my school. I gave this book 5/5 stars. My full review is here.

2. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
I didn't really like this book. I thought it was dull and predictable. And the parts that weren't dull were confusing. I only gave this a 2/5stars. I don't think I'll be reading on in the series.

3. Sisters by Raina Telgemeier
This is the second graphic novel I've read. It was based on an event that happened to her but it wasn't that intresting of a story. I gave this x/5 stars. My full review is here.

4. Dangerous Deception by Kami Garcia and Margret Stohl
Tis was my most anticipated book of the year and I only just got round to reading it. I loved it, there were some slight flaw but I can over look them. I gave this book 4/5 stars. My full review is here.

Sunday 27 September 2015

Dangerous Deception (Dangerous Creatures #2) by Kami Garcia and Margret Stohl : Review

Dangerous Deception by Kami Garcia and Margret Stohl
Publication date: May 19th 2015
Published by: Little, Brown Books
Genres: Urban Fantasy, YA

From the world of Beautiful Creatures--a dangerous new tale of love and magic continues in the sequel to Dangerous Creatures. Love is ten kinds a crazy, right?
Let me put it to you this way: If you can get away, run. Don't walk.
Because once you're exposed, you'll never get a Siren outta your head.


Some loves are cursed. Others are...dangerous. Especially the love between wannabe rocker and quarter Incubus, Wesley "Link" Lincoln, and Dark Caster, Siren, and bonafide bad girl, Ridley Duchannes.

But now Ridley is missing, and Link was with her-right up until she vanished. Determined to find her, Link reunites with his New York bandmates and the mysterious Lennox Gates, who wants Rid for himself. Together they travel to the deep south, find the crossroads where blues guitarist Robert Johnson made his deal with the devil, discover a menagerie of Casters locked in cages, and uncover an evil in New Orleans that threatens to destroy them all.

This time, love might not be enough.

Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, the #1 New York Times bestselling coauthors of the Beautiful Creatures series, deliver their signature blend of mystery, suspense, and romance, with a healthy dose of wit and danger in this sequel to the instant New York Times bestseller Dangerous Creatures.


My Thoughts
*This review will contain spoiler from the first book 'Dangerous Creatures'*

This was my most anticipated book of this year. I'm not entirely sure whether it did disappoint me or not because I didn't like Ridley a lot during this book, she was just so different to how she was in the other books but I really did love the ending.

I loved the points of the book that was told from Link's point of view. I think it would have been much better ha it just been told from Link's point of view and occasionally Ridley's. I thought the way they manage to make friendship a key part of the book was really clever because no one wants to just read about ink's despair over losing Ridley.

I thought the change in settings was great it was nice seeing how the rest of the world worked with casters and incubus'.

I didn't really like how Ridley changed though at the end she did redeem herself in my eyes because it opened up some hope for the future of her and Link as well as being the most beautiful part of the whole of this series and 'the caster chronicles'. I also didn't like how Nox just went along with everything Ridley did.

It was quite slow to begin with but once it picked up it was hard too put down

In conclusion, I loved this book. Probably not a good book to bring you out of a reading slump but a good read any other time. I'm giving it 4/5 stars, only because of my whole issues with Ridley and Nox which I feel like i have mentioned enough. another great book from Kami Garcia and Margret Stohl.

Wednesday 23 September 2015

C.J.Daughtery Vist

Hi guys

On Monday I went to a C.J.Daughtery book talk and signing. She was really good, I now want to be a crime journalist. She told us about how she became a novelist and her work as a journalist.

She came to promote her new duology 'The Alchemist Chronicles'. I have never read her 'Night School' but loads of my friends are obsessed with it and when I read the synopsis for 'The Secret Fire' I knew I had to go.

She didn't let me down. I had to hug my friend through the first 5 minutes because she was crying because C.J. Daughtery was in the same room as her. I was enthralled the whole time she was talking. She really knows how to keep an audience captivated. I hope it translates into her books.

After the talk she did a book signing and luckily I was one of the first people in the queue. She was really nice and even gave me the title of the next/final book in her new series for me to put on Lovelaces. So I'm the first person to put this on the internet. She did a personalised note to everyone and mine reads says 'who knows secrets' obviously referring to me knowing the title of her next book.
(I'm sorry about the awful photo quality)

I'm so glad I went to see her and if you ever get the chance to see her speak you should definitely go. Maybe she'll come back when she is promoting her next book 'The Secret City'!!



Sunday 20 September 2015

Sisters by Raina Telgemeier : Review

Sisters by Raina Telgemeier
Publication date: August 24th 2014
Published by: GRAPHIX
Genres: Graphic Novel, YA, True

Three weeks. Two sisters. One car. A True Story

Raina can't wait to be a big sister. But once Amara is born, things aren't quite how she expected them to be. Amara is cute, but she's also a cranky, grouchy baby, and mostly prefers to play by herself. Their relationship doesn't improve much over the years. But when a baby brother enters the picture, and later, when something doesn't seem right between their parents, they realize they must figure out how to get along. They are sisters, after all.





My Thoughts
I read Drama by Raina about 4-5 months ago. Drama was my first venture into graphic novels, so when I saw sisters in the library I knew I had to get it.

It was a pretty quick read. I read it in one day but it was fun. I wasn't really interested in the story, it was quite dull and uneventful. It was a story that you would find really intresting if someone came back from holiday and told you this story but it just wasn't great to read about.

I do love the artwork in her books especially the full page spreads. They're just stunning. My favourite was a page spread of Colorado at night. I just stared at it for a bit before moving on.

Sisters is a companion novel to Smile but you don't have to read that before you read Sisters. I didn't.

My favourite part of the book was the ending, it really made the book for me and turn the message of the book around. I especially loved the final page spread because it really captured what family life is about.

In conclusion, this was a mediocre book. It wasn't anything spectactular but i'm glad I read it. I will still read Smile and any other books that Raina may one day come out with. I always recommend graphic novels to people who don't like reading to much because they are quick reads with easy to understand language. I'm giving Sisters 3/5 stars.

Wednesday 16 September 2015

Top 5 books I would want my children to grow up with

Hi Guys

In honour of it being national Roald Dahl day last Sunday, I'm talking about what books I would want my kids to read, if I ever have kids that is. Roald Dahl is one of my favourite authors and he is know mainly for his books for children. In order to not just have Roald Dahl and Dr. Suess books on this list I'm limiting myself to one book per author. As usual this is in no particular order.

The Lorax by Dr. Suess

 This is  my favourite Dr. Suess book. I think it just have the best message, on that I would love to teach to my children. It has one quote that I especially love that is “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. It's not.”.

Abert Le Blanc by Nick Butterworth
My Granny got this book for me when I was really little and I made my dad read it too me every night for a good 6 months. So purely for sentimental value, this is one of my favourite books.

The Magic Finger by Roald Dahl
This is my favourite Roald Dahl book and it's also really short, I can read it in half an hour, if not less. I love the fantasy that is mixed with reality. I remember desperately wanting a magic finger  , it really sparked my imagination.

The Werepuppy by Jaqueline Wilson
This was the first book I ever read by Jaqueline Wilson and I've reread it so many times. It was such a fun read.

The Enchanted Wood by Enid Blyton
This series is the only series I've ever liked by Enid Blyton. It is just a book that everyone had read when I was in year 1

  

Sunday 13 September 2015

Me, Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews : review

Me, Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
Publication date: March 1st 2012
Published by: Harry N. Abrams
Genres: YA, Contemporary, Cancer

Greg Gaines is the last master of high school espionage, able to disappear at will into any social environment. He has only one friend, Earl, and together they spend their time making movies, their own incomprehensible versions of Coppola and Herzog cult classics.

Until Greg’s mother forces him to rekindle his childhood friendship with Rachel.

Rachel has been diagnosed with leukemia—-cue extreme adolescent awkwardness—-but a parental mandate has been issued and must be obeyed. When Rachel stops treatment, Greg and Earl decide the thing to do is to make a film for her, which turns into the Worst Film Ever Made and becomes a turning point in each of their lives.

And all at once Greg must abandon invisibility and stand in the spotlight.


My Thoughts
I went to see Paper Towns with my friends last Monday and saw the trailer for this an instantly knew I needed to read the book then watch the film. I honestly don't take much interest in books about cancer because as much as I understand that cancer is an awful diseases that effects many people. It is a bit over done in YA fiction. I personally thought this was a breath of fresh air in the realm of cancer based books.

Greg at the start of the book doesn't know anything about cancer and hasn't spoken to Rachel in years but his mum forces him to become friends with him. I think this is so truthful, the idea of people suddenly becoming best friends with someone because tragedy hits.

I loved how even thought Andrews was dealing with a very heavy topic, she managed to make me laugh more at this book then I have at a book for many years. Greg's persistent awkwardness and random rants really make the book for me. There were points when I had to put the book down I was laughing so much.

Another quirky aspect to this book is that it was written as if Greg was writing it. And it was an unedited dairy like book. This added to the humour as close to the end he goes on a massive tangent about how the book is a shame to the English language and how no one would ever get o the end.

One thing that was intriguing about the way Andrews only talks about Earl's past there is barely any mention of Rachel's or Greg's past but there is a good two or three chapters on Earl. Though out the book Earl was constantly surprising me. He would get really passionate about random things then dismissive quite important things.

I thought Andrews dealt really well with Rachel's cancer. We didn't know a lot of the logistic of what was happening to her at what time to do with treatment. Rather then focusing on the disease like most authors do, Andrews focused on the emotions that Rachel was going through and how that effected everyone around her.

The ending of the book was so inspirational I thought it perfectly summed up what knowing Rachel had given him.

In conclusion, I really loved this book. It was surprisingly light hearted and focused mainly on friendship and how cancer emotionally effects people and their outlook on life. I'm giving this book 5/5 stars.

Wednesday 9 September 2015

Self Publishing by Rebecca Yoder : Guest Post

Hi guys

I'm so excited to say that today Rebecca Yoder, the author of 'The Golden Dragon Series', is doing a guest post. I hope you enjoy it and love her as much as I do. Without further ado her is Rebecca Yoder talking about self-publishing.

Hi, my name is Rebecca Yoder and I write books...ok, that was a twist off of a quote from one of my favourite movies Anne of Green Gables.  Now on to the real stuff.


Olivia gave me the opportunity to write a guest post for her blog.  I love the way she writes.  She makes me want to read the books she reviews.  How about that one she did Sunday on Tiger Lily?  Now I have to add it to my Goodreads list!


She asked me to write about self publishing.  Well, I confess, I’m probably not the most experienced person to be talking about self publishing, but I can tell you how I do it.  Fair enough?


Why I Self Publish
Almost four years ago I moved to a new state here in the good old U.S.  I had just left a six-year teaching career (which I hated) and was starting over with nothing.  I decided I wanted to get back into writing.  A few weeks after my move, I met a guy who introduced himself as a writer.  Through him I learned about websites where you can publish an eBook version of your book for absolutely free.  That tickled my ears because I did not want to wait the 2-3 odd years for a traditional publisher to accept me, nor did I want to fork out thousands of dollars to print the book on my own.  These websites were my ticket to getting my work in print with no cost to me.


What I Did First
The first website I used was Smashwords.com.  Five months after hearing about it I published my first eBook.  (I know, I’m fast, right?  lol  *sarcasm alert*  I don’t know why I felt so afraid of it, but I did.)  I wrote that book in about two hours.  It’s a children’s book called Betty Butter that you can check out on Smashwords and Barnes and Noble.  It was my first experiment with self publishing.


I found that the work I had to do to format the book properly was a little daunting.  I think, though, that it sounds more difficult than it really is.  However, there are other websites that make the process much easier for you, and faster.  One of these is Tablo.io.  


How I Self Publish Now
To date, I still have a profile on Smashwords but have not used it to publish since that first experimental book.  I now use the aforementioned site, Tablo.  On this site I can literally copy and paste my work into their word processor thingy then hit “sell in bookstores” and in a week or so my work is available on Amazon and iBooks.  (I like that waaay better than formatting my own work!)


I also have another cool place where I will be selling my books, and that is Etsy.com.  Etsy is a website where you can create your own online shop and list items to sell.  The only catch is that these items have to be handmade, vintage or items that are used to make crafts.  You can sell literal or digital items.  So, for Etsy, I create a PDF version of my book with an enlarged font, making it beautiful to read on phone-sized devices, and create a listing to sell it and -- presto! I have a book for sale.  Etsy does have a small cost, $.20 per listing per month (or maybe it’s for 3 months).  I would keep better track of this, but the cost is so low that who cares!


That’s It!
So, that’s it.  Those are the two ways I self publish.  I find them ridiculously easy and they are the perfect fit for me at this time.

I am currently working on a series called the Gold Dragon series.  I released Book 1, Innocence in March 2015.  I’ve since chosen to update the book a bit and do a relaunch (which started last Friday, September 4th on Wattpad and Tablo!) followed by the release of Book 2, Awakened, coming mid-October 2015.


Here is a preview of the story:
Her mom had promised.  Mint should have known better than to believe her.  A new town, new faces and a new danger meet Mint in Pinewood, North Carolina, the thirteenth place Mint will have lived in her sixteen years, the thirteenth time her mom will have broken her promise to stay put.  A mysterious figure, a teenage murder, a strange, disappearing truck will all try to stand in the way of Mint’s goal: to find her father and move away from her irresponsible, immature, lying mom -- for good.


Innocence is Book 1 of the Gold Dragon series.  At less than ten chapters long, it is the exciting introduction to a story of mystery, danger in unexpected forms, and a struggle to find a place that truly means home.


Follow Mint’s journey in a chapter by chapter release of Innocence, followed by Book 2, Awakened.


You can follow the story on Wattpad and Tablo where you can read it for free.  A new chapter will be released every Friday.  This Friday (Sept 11th), Chapter 2 will be up.  I’m working hard to get a purchase link available for those who don’t want to wait for each week’s release and would rather buy the book right away and put themselves out of the misery of waiting.  I’m hoping to have it ready for Friday.  If I don’t make it, I should have it up for the release of Chapter 3 (Sept 18th).  *cross your fingers!*


Thanks again, Olivia, for inviting me to do a guest post.  If anyone has any questions, you can contact me (and follow me) below.  I would love to hear from you.


Twitter @EdinanRoman

Sunday 6 September 2015

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson : Review

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson
Publication date: July 3rd 2012

Published by: HarperCollins Children Book's
Genres: Peter Pan retelling, romance

Before Peter Pan belonged to Wendy, he belonged to the girl with the crow feather in her hair...

Fifteen-year-old Tiger Lily doesn't believe in love stories or happy endings. Then she meets the alluring teenage Peter Pan in the forbidden woods of Neverland and immediately falls under his spell.

Peter is unlike anyone she's ever known. Impetuous and brave, he both scares and enthralls her. As the leader of the Lost Boys, the most fearsome of Neverland's inhabitants, Peter is an unthinkable match for Tiger Lily. Soon, she is risking everything—her family, her future—to be with him. When she is faced with marriage to a terrible man in her own tribe, she must choose between the life she's always known and running away to an uncertain future with Peter.

With enemies threatening to tear them apart, the lovers seem doomed. But it's the arrival of Wendy Darling, an English girl who's everything Tiger Lily is not, that leads Tiger Lily to discover that the most dangerous enemies can live inside even the most loyal and loving heart.

From the New York Times bestselling author of Peaches comes a magical and bewitching story of the romance between a fearless heroine and the boy who wouldn't grow up.


My Thoughts

I borrowed this book from the library a couple of years ago and I loved it. I kept telling myself I needed to buy it but because I had already read it, it was top of my to buy list. I finally bought it a couple of weeks ago and have just finished reading it for the second time.

I went into this book knowing I was going to love it but I didn't realise that I would love it this much. I picked up loads more then I did the first time I read it. The first time I read it I only really thought about the romance between Tiger Lily but I have now realised it deals a lot with gender and certain gender stereotypes.  

The characters in this book are so 3 dimensional, one thing that I thought was so unique about Jodi's writing was that both Smee and Hook - who were the only pirates you learn the backstory of - came from quite well off background. In this peter pan retelling Smee is much less of a slave to Hook and much more of a villain himself, if anything he is more villainous then Hook.

I loved the fact that Tinkerbell told the story. I tend to find third person very repetitive but I understand that it can be necessary to make the story flow and this was such a genius idea that meant it was told in first person but she could be wherever Jodi needed her to be to move the story along. 

The writing in this book is absolutely stunning. I've marked down 5 or more quotes from the book. It has the most amazing opening to the first chapter and a great ending to the final chapter.

In conclusion, this was one of the best books I've ever read and you definitely get more enjoyment out of reading it a second time because you pick up on little hints that you missed the first time. This is such an under appreciated book and deserves more hype. I would recommend it to everyone and anyone. I'm giving it 5/5 stars


Wednesday 2 September 2015

Gift Ideas For the Book Lovers : Bookmarks

Hi guys

I love reading Viviana, Enchantress of Books' 'Gift Ideas for Book Lovers'. I decided to do my own version of it. This time I'm only focusing on bookmarks. All the items are from Etsy.



Harry Potter Bookmark, It Does Not Do To Dwell On Dreams And Forget To Live, Dumbledore Quote, Harry Potter Gift, Unique Paper Bookmark.
By Wonderflies
£3.02

Coffee stained bookmark features J.K. Rowling's quote "It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live."

- Bookmark is 2" x 6".
- Printed on textured acid-free white watercolor paper

Each bookmark's coffee stain is individually handprinted so part of the beauty is no two will be the same. Each stain's color and hue is unique due to its handprinted nature and the its natural coloration.


 

Bookmark Tinkerbell, silver bell colorful, cute book accessory, handmade, girl woman adolescent child.
by DoucesCreations
£6.81

Pretty bookmark consists of a fairy 5cm long and 4cm wide, a little bell and a sprig floral motif 8cm long.

The color of the bell can be changed on request.

Nickel or lead.
Convenient to put in a book.




Infinity Art Bookmark. Watercolor painting print bookmark. Infinity symbol gift. Book lovers gift. Spiritual art bookmark. Gift for her.
by MartaDalloul
£2.68

Infinity art bookmark.

This bookmark features a print of my original watercolor painting “Infinity”. It measures 2" x 5 2/8".

It is created in my home studio. Printed using high quality Canon inks of high quality which reproduce beautiful, crisp details and long lasting colors that you will love.

It's laminated which makes it long lasting and gives it a nice shine. It comes with coordinating ribbon.

It ships well protected in a cellophane sleeve, ready for gift giving.

Colors may vary from what you see on your screen.





Bookish Mini Magnetic Bookmarks (Mini 3 Pack)
by craftedvan
£4.57

Read and Plan with your very own set of "Bookish" magnetic bookmarks!! With the use of magnets, these bookmarks are able to clip over your page and stay where you last left them. They do a great job at cheering you on through any daily planning or book reading. Designed, printed, hand-made, and assembled with lots of love!

Created using photo stock and thin magnet, these vibrant bookmarks are just the right thickness to ensure they securely keep their spot while not damaging the pages in your book. Each bookmark has a designed front and back as seen in photos. It is a perfect companion while reading!

Magnetic bookmarks are not just for reading or planning! They are also great for: party and wedding favors, textbooks for studying, or recipe holders!

Material: Durable photo stock paper + Magnetic squares

Dimensions: Approximately Approximately 3-4cm (1.2-1.6 inches) when folded. Varies slightly depending on design.

Magnetic bookmarks are not just for reading or planning! They are also great for: party and wedding favors, textbooks for studying, or recipe holders!