Alright so I've decided to kick things back off by doing a 'Thursday Tag post' the idea coming from Tyler - Rose over at The Reading Pile, I'm going to start this Thursday, right now! And this tag was found on Tyler's blog this morning 'The Book Sacrifice Tag', so, shall we begin? Here's the link to the original tag video by Ariel Bissett.

1) An Over-Hyped book: Let’s start this off with a Zombie Apocalypse! Let’s say you’re in a book store, just browsing, when BAM! ZOMBIE ATTACK. An announcement comes over the PA System saying that the military has discovered that the zombies’ only weakness is over-hyped books. What book that everyone else says is amazing but you really hated do you start chucking at the zombies knowing that it will count as an over-hyped book and successfully wipe them out?!

- Okay, for me this definitely has to be 'Born at Midnight' by C.C.Hunter. This book would wipe them zombies out in one. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it. But SO MANY people told me how amazing it was, so many YouTube videos hyped it, and many blog posts poured over it. And lets be honest, it was really just OK.

4) A Sequel: Let’s say you’ve just left the salon with a SMASHING new haircut and BOOM: Torrential downpour. What sequel are you willing to use as an umbrella to protect yourself?

- There aren't really any sequels I've disliked enough to do this, In fact even if I hated a book I couldn't ruin it! However I have to choose, so here goes: 'The Elite' by Kiera Cass, I enjoyed it, but it was slightly disappointing after 'The Selection' which I thoroughly enjoyed!

3) A Classic: Let’s say you’re in a lecture and your English teacher is going on and on about how this classic changed the world, how it revolutionized literature and you get so sick of it that you chuck the classic right at his face because you know what? This classic is stupid and it’s worth detention just to show everyone how you feel! What Classic did you chuck?

- Wuthering Heights, I have tried time and time again to read this book and get into it, and EVERY time I just lose focus, nothing about it grabs me! But I wont let it defeat me! One day I will complete it!

4) Your least favourite book of life!: Let’s say that you’re hanging out at the library when BAM global warming explodes and the world outside becomes a frozen wasteland. You’re trapped and your only chance for survival is to burn a book. What is the book you first run to, your least favourite book of all life, what book do you not fully regret lighting?

- Clockwork Orange. I had to study this book for my English Literature GCSE and I hated it. I enjoyed the story! But I could not for the life of me get my head round the stupid 'Nadsat' that Alex and his stupid little gang use. I hated it. So much. But maybe that was the point? Either way, BURN.

Charlotte's Secrets by Maryam Malik

Charlotte’s secrets, Demon’s love 

Synopsis:

As the dark ages reign over England, Julian, an ordinary village boy is condemned for Charlotte’s mysterious murder, his wife and to his surprise - a princess of royal blood. Oblivious of the presence of a centuries old demon, Julian is imprisoned in Elijah’s inescapable dungeon where he waits for the injustice of gruesome death. But when the young ban is rescued at the hands of an unexpected guardian…he learns of his role as salvatoris libeeret - the single truth that will alter his destiny forever. As alliances form, secrets unfold, and enemies reveal themselves, Julian must decide  who to trust and how far he is willing to go of the only woman he’s ever loved. 

My review: ****

This book is honestly one of the best debut novels I have come across.  The imagery, character development and writing style in general amazed me, everything seemed so vivid and real, which I really was not expecting from a debut. Julians love for Charlotte is very real, and you can’t help but love them for it. Julian is very much that character you cannot help but root for from the very beginning, his determination and what I can only call worship of Charlotte really makes you feel for him. 

As you know I am mainly a reader of Young Adult books so to delve into this book has really opened up a whole new reading world for me. The paranormal and magic was so easily intwined throughout the book, I worried it may feel somewhat out of place in what I first assumed would solely be a ‘historical romance’ however the whole thing flowed beautifully. My only one issue was that I would have loved to have read more about Watson and even the Queen. Especially from their perspectives. Fingers crossed for book 2 ‘Reign of a New Queen’ which I cannot wait to get my hands on!

'Robin in the Hood' By Diane J Reed

Robin McArthur has the perfect life, that is until it begins to fall apart, piece by piece. Her wealthy father is hospitalised after a stroke, her stepmother flees the country and to top it all off it turns out her father may not be as wealthy as she assumed and instead has been racking up million in debts. Robin is left with two choices, stay in a care home where she will most likely never see her father again, or risk it and sneak her dad out of the hospital and hit the road. but not before stealing a care and acquiring some well needed money. Robin finds herself flung from the high life to a backwoods trailer park brimming with magic, hope and most surprisingly to her, love. Cue Creek, Robins literal partner in crime, the typical bad boy you cannot help but love, which is really the last thing Robin needs. Creek not only steals her money but something much more precious, her heart.

I have to say the character building in this novel was brilliant! When I first came across this book I was skeptical about Robin as a person, I instantly assumed due to her background story that she would be shallow and spoilt, but much to my surprise Robin was strong,witty and clever, everything I admire in a female protagonist. Robin and Creeks love connection was absolute perfection, it was so real and clung to my heart the whole way. Definitely one of the most original modern day takes on a original fairytale, and by far a superb book! Definitely worth the read!  (4/5 stars)

I'm Back!

So these past few months I have been quiet busy going through the transition of 'Relatively carefree student' to 'Full time, slightly lost in orbit woman child' which apparently has left me with little time to actually review anything. But now I am slightly more settled into my current stage of life I am ready and raring to go! I currently have two new reviews ready to go live within the next week or so so stay tuned because they are absolute belters!

Thanks for sticking around!

Chelsea Jade (slowly regaining momentum and hopefully not so lost in orbit)

'Lobsters' By Tom Ellen and Lucy Ivison

'She's your lobster!' - Phoebe Buffay (Friends)

Ok I'm not going to lie as soon as I saw this title in the bookshop that episode of 'Friends' instantly popped into my head which meant I just had to buy it, I couldn't walk past it right?

Well I am extremely glad I didn't! This book is a shiny new contemporary gem amongst the usual teenage angst. A story of 'Sam and Hannah', two 18 year olds in search of 'the one' with only one summer to do so before university begins. 

This book will have you crying with laughter, cringing behind the pages and beaming from ear to ear. A must read for this summer!

I do advise a reading age on this book however of around 15-16 up dependent on the maturity of the reader. Other than that this is a perfect book for any gender or age (above 15) riddled with truth, friendship and vulnerability all of which is very realistic and relatable.

                                           *4 out of 5* 

'The Selection' by Kiera Cass

35 girls, one palace, one prince, one winner...and an army of rebels threatening their lives.

The selection, a competition that is designed to help the sheltered Prince Maxon find love. For many girls it's the chance of a lifetime, dazzling dresses, glittering jewels and a chance at a better life. For America Singer it is a chance to support her family and nothing more. That is until a surprising turn of events. But can America let go of her past and move on? More to the point can her past let go of her.

A stunning first book of the selection trilogy, with heart warming romance and friendship. What more could you want from a YA book?

*5 out of 5*

'Briar Rose' by Jana Oliver

Did your parents ever read you bedtime stories? Stories about a princess who is doomed until her Prince Charming comes to rescue her? Well so did Briars and now she has found herself in her own fairytale, except this isn't the kind of story her parents ever told...

Briar knows she is not to speak or even go near to Josh her ex-best friend who tried to save her life, but she doesn't understand why, not until her 16th birthday anyway when she is thrown into a fairytale land where she meets Mr Prince Charming Ruric who is in search for his princess. Briar is given many obstacles to overcome and finds friendship in the most unlikely places.

Jana Oliver's 'Demon Trapper' trilogy is still amongst my favourite books ever! And I must admit that this was no let down, I was skeptical at first as I am not usually one for the whole fairytale take on a story but this was definitely not your usual and predictable fairy tale.

4/5 I would definately recommend this book to young adults of about 12+ perfect for those who love a bit of romance mixed in with abit of action.

Review: Wake by Amanda Hocking

Ok, sorry it's been so long guys, I have been a bit preoccupied with AS exams and just haven't had time to read or review, but now i'm back! Hopefully I will be able to get up a few reviews up in the next few days, so keep your eyes peeled!
Alright, so my first review is going to 'Wake' by Amanda Hocking, this should have been last month's review, but you know, exams.

'Wake' is a superb and brilliantly written book for all YA romance and fantasy lovers.

Synopsis: Goodreads
Fall under the spell of Wake—the first book in an achingly beautiful new series by celebrated author Amanda Hocking—and lose yourself to the Watersong.
Gorgeous. Fearless. Dangerous. They're the kind of girls you envy; the kind of girls you want to hate. Strangers in town for the summer, Penn, Lexi and Thea have caught everyone's attention—but it’s Gemma who’s attracted theirs. She’s the one they’ve chosen to be part of their group.Gemma seems to have it all—she’s carefree, pretty, and falling in love with Alex, the boy next door. He’s always been just a friend, but this summer they’ve taken their relationship to the next level, and now there’s no going back. Then one night, Gemma’s ordinary life changes forever. She’s taking a late night swim under the stars when she finds Penn, Lexi and Thea partying on the cove. They invite her to join them, and the next morning she wakes up on the beach feeling groggy and sick, knowing something is different.Suddenly Gemma is stronger, faster, and more beautiful than ever. But her new powers come with a terrifying price. And as she uncovers the truth, she’s is forced to choose between staying with those she loves—or entering a new world brimming with dark hungers and unimaginable secrets.

My review:
Ok so i'm not usually one for stories about 'mermaids' however this novel took me by surprise! The use of greek mythology really did it for me (I'm a sucker for that stuff!)
The storyline is so original and gripping that it makes it hard to actually put the book down! For me the only problem was the pace at the start, in my opinion it felt like I had read half of the book until we were into the swing of things and the story truly began, however once that story did begin I was hooked. Overall it was an easy read which probably took me around a day to read. I would recommend this book to anybody who (like me) loves the concept of greek mythology within a modern day story, or just all fantasy and YA lovers.

4/5

The Academie By Amy Joy

How do you control an unruly and growing population? Simple, with The Academie.

Imagine this, you finally finish school and move on to college, you finally think all that drama is behind you. That is until the government set up The Academie. Allie is 19 and couldn't have been more happy that that chapter of he life is over, until she is told that she must return to high school until she reaches the age of 22. No visits home, no personal possessions and especially no questioning The Academie's policies.

I LOVED THIS BOOK. Honestly the idea behind the whole book was just utterly amazing. The fact that this book had such a huge impact on me I believe was the fact that this could already happening and we would never know..Spooky right?

I would most definitely recommend this book to all dystopia and well to be honest everyone, it has something for all book lovers!

This book deserves more than 5/5 however 5 is my highest so I suppose that will have to do!

 

Accounts update..

Ok so basically I have set up a few accounts, just so if anybody is interested you can see when I have posted a new review, so please follow and share! Thanks!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LovinLiterature @LovinLiterature
Tumblr: http://lovingliteraturebookreviews.tumblr.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LovingLiterature
Instagram: http://instagram.com/lovingliterature @lovingliterature

Thanks again!

Untimed by Andy Gavin

So last year I reviewed Andy Gavin's 'The Darkening Dream' which I must add was an utterly amazing and a must read for all book lovers, aged 13+ (In my opinion).

Untimed is Andy's newest novel about a young boy named Charlie who has lived his life in the background, not even his parents remember his name.A mysterious clockwork man tries to kill him during the modern day in Philadelphia, Charlie then tumbles through a hole in 1725 London. The reader is taken on a thrilling adventure through time witnessing young love, murderous machines and history itself.

I have to admit I was extremely excited to get started on Untimed, especially after reading the wonderful novel that is 'The Darkening Dream'. The book for me was a little slow in places, but then again what book isn't? I was however slightly dubious of the illustrations at first, as I like to imagine the people and scenes myself, though they did actually really work for me, as there are not that many and are really quiet beautiful and have a wonderful effect on the story. Yet again a must read for all time travel lovers! 4/5

Accounts!

Hey guys I have created a twitter account, Instagram, tumblr and Facebook pages, I will post the links as soon as I have them up and running smoothly. Also look out for my next review which will be one day by David Nichols!

Forget me never by Gina Blaxill

Minutes after Sophie visits her cousin Dani, Dani is dead.

The Police verdict? Suicide.

Once Sophie recovers from the shock, she knows instinctively that the verdict is wrong. But who would have wanted Dani dead? When she finds an incriminating memory stick in a pair of Dani's jeans, Sophie decides to uncover the truth.

She asks her friend Reece for help, and together they discover that Dani was involved with something very dark. Something very dangerous. As they get in deeper, they but themselves in serious danger, accessing secret data, facing kidnap attempts and worse - while also facing their felling for each other...

Sophie needs to trust her instincts-

And her heart.

When Gina Blaxill's Pretty Twisted came out I have to admit I was not overly keen on it, merely down to my own preferences however Forget me never was a total exception! This book had me on the edge of my seat wondering if Sophie and Reece were going to make it through, It was beautifully written and I would recommend it for ALL young book lovers! 4/5

The Darkening Dream By Andy Gavin

The Darkening Dream is a new dark fantasy novel by Andy Gavin.Even as the modern world pushes the supernatural aside in favor of science and steel, the old ways remain. God, demon, monster, and sorcerer alike plot to regain what was theirs.
1913, Salem, Massachusetts - Sarah Engelmann's life is full of friends, books, and avoiding the pressure to choose a husband, until an ominous vision and the haunting call of an otherworldly trumpet shake her. When she stumbles across a gruesome corpse, she fears that her vision was more of a premonition. And when she sees the murdered boy moving through the crowd at an amusement park, Sarah is thrust into a dark battle she does not understand.
With the help of Alex, a Greek immigrant who knows a startling amount about the undead, Sarah sets out to uncover the truth. Their quest takes them to the factory mills of Salem, on a midnight boat ride to spy on an eerie coastal lair, and back, unexpectedly, to their own homes. What can Alex's elderly, vampire-hunting grandfather and Sarah's own rabbi father tell them? And what do Sarah's continuing visions reveal?
No less than Gabriel's Trumpet, the tool that will announce the End of Days, is at stake, and the forces that have banded to recover it include a 900 year-old vampire, a trio of disgruntled Egyptian gods, and a demon-loving Puritan minister. At the center of this swirling cast is Sarah, who must fight a millennia-old battle against unspeakable forces, knowing the ultimate prize might be herself.

I loved the fact that the book involved many ethnicity's and different points of views from these religions including Jewish, Greek Orthodox and Christian. Another thing that I loved was the way the story was told. It wasn't your typical vampire novel the fact that the vampire wasn't portrayed as a sparkly human loving creature was a big plus for me don't get me wrong Twilight were good books aswell but the fact that these vampires were SCARY made it for me. Also the way alot more mythological beings and monsters were incorporated made it much more of an interesting read. Gripping and Thrilling 5/5!

Debutantes by Cora Harrison

It's 1923 and London is a whirl of jazz, dancing and parties. Violet, Daisy, Poppy and Rose Derrington are desperate to be part of it, but are stuck in the middle of the country in a enormous crumbling house, with no 
money to buy any fashionable dresses as to make an impression. The excitement of the city seems to be a world away.

Luckily the girls hatch a plan to escape their dreary way of life: Rose want's to become a novelist, Poppy a jazz musician and Daisy to be a famous film director, Violet on the other hand wants nothing more than to become the perfect Debutante so she can go to London and catch the eye of an eligible bachelor and out an end to the family's money problems.

However a house as large and old as Beech Grove manor holds many a secrets, and Daisy is about to uncover a secret so large it could ruin their plans and even lives- forever..

Debutantes surprised me, usually I get bored while reading a period drama type book, however Debutantes gripped me, the mystery of the book really did it for me along with the originality of the family we are reading about. This book is original and I certainly can not wait for the next one. I for one will be first in line!

Foretold by Jana Oliver

The end is most definitely nigh!

Riley's always known that beck had a chequered history, but she is not prepared for what it actually means to be in love with a guy with this many dark secrets. Now that he has admitted to himself that he's in love with her too, there's no hiding the truth and as it turns out, fending off a demon apocalypse is nothing compared to what's to come! Follow Riley Blackthorne in this thrilling fast paced conclusion to the demon trappers series!

Riley Blackthorne kicking hells ass one demon at a time! But will this be the last?

I loved the Demon Trappers series right from the very start and this was no exception! Foretold is a gripping and spellbinding conclusion to this dark and wonderful series!  Jana Oliver was witty and clever in the way she tells us the story of Riley and Beck's roller coaster of a relationship. 

One thing is for sure, the Demon Trappers have seriously gone out with a bang! 

Review: Cracks By Caroline Green

Who do you trust when your whole life is a lie?

Cal’s world splinters apart when he finds out he’s been in a deliberately induced coma state for most of his life, and what he thought was real was only an illusion.

Escaping his captors, Cal goes on the run, determined to fight the forces behind the nightmare he finds waiting for him in the real world, and to discover his true identity.

This book honestly had me that on edge that i was actually digging my nails into the palm of my hand! The tension never  stops getting more intense. Beautifully written, I found myself many times wanting to actually get in the book and help Cal, but instead had to hold my breath and read on. Such an amazing thriller! 4/5

Teaser Tuesday os hosted over at Should be Reading to participate:

1) Grab your current read.

2) Open to a random page.

3) Share two 'Teaser' sentences from that page.

4) Share the title and author(s) so that people can add it to their TBR pile if they like it!

My Read is:

Cracks by Caroline Green

"He's huge - about six foot five - and he wears a long, greasy black coat that makes him look like a vulture"

"I walk past silent houses and shops and cafés where lights are on and music plays but no one is home."

It's Monday is a weekly meme hosted over at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books. Each week we will post what books we have just finished are currently reading and are planning to read.

Just Finished Reading:

Being Human by Patricia Lynne

The Dead Girls Dance by Rachel Cain

Midnight Alley by Rachel Cain

Currently Reading:

Cracks by Caroline Green

Dreamless by Josephine Angelini

Planning to Read:

Tangi's Teardrops by Liz Grace Davis

Dark Genesis by A.D Koboah

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

So what are you reading?

Being Human by Patricia Lynne

For Tommy, there is only one thing he needs to do: survive. 

Only surviving isn't that easy. The hunt for blood can be tricky when humans know to fear the night. Desire sits on the edge of his mind, urging him to become the monster humans think he is. Vampire Forces, a special branch of police, is determined to turn every vampire to ash. Tommy included.

The only human Tommy can trust is his twin brother. A bond connects them, and with Danny's help, Tommy starts to understand the human world he struggles to survive in. He'll learn what friendships means and feel the sting of betrayal, find that sometimes the worst monsters are very human, and come to understand that family means more than blood.

Tommy just wants to survive and he knows what he needs to do. But with the number of humans that mean more to him than a meal growing, he'll learn there's more to life than simple survival. He'll discover being human doesn't mean being a human.

( POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT!)

Tommy wakes up a vampire his human memories slipping fast , survival is all he knows, Tommy kills his parents to quench his thirst, only one person remains, his twin brother, Tommy's last link to his humanity.

Being Human is such an unusual twist on your 'average' vampire story, It is written in first POV (Tommy) and is wrote in sections rather than chapters, It spans across around 30-40 years (My guesstimate) which is something that i found unusual but really enjoyed as you got to see how everything changed but Tommy, how his brother grows old as he stays the same.

The story is set in the near future, where vampires are known about but not accepted, people always walk in crowds and carry mini flame throwers to protect themselves!

Being Human was surprisingly touching and I often found myself wanting to befriend Tommy to help him regain his humanity. It explored the bonds of Family, no matter who or what your family are you stand by them if they mean that much to you. Altogether it was a great read and always had me wanting to know what happened next! 4/5