Waiting on Wednesday (2)

Darkfall by Janice Hardy

These books are amazing. And so is Janice Hardy who never runs out of useful things to write about on her blog. I have a feeling this final book will be amazing.



Rage Of Lions by Curtis Jobling

There is no description on Goodreads, which is pretty awesome in its own way. Leaves you open for anything = ) I can't wait to see delve back into the epic WereWar!

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking The Spine

Will You Still Love Tomorrow? - Claudia Carroll

Absence makes the heart grow fonder…doesn’t it?

What happens when two people decide to give themselves the year off…from each other?

Annie and Dan were the perfect couple. But now the not-so-newly weds feel more like flatmates than soul mates and wonder where all the fun and fireworks went …

When Annie lands her big break in a smash-hit show that’s heading for the bright lights of Broadway, she’s over the moon. Goodbye remote Irish village of Stickens, hello fabulous Big Apple! But with their relationship already on the rocks, how will Annie and Dan survive the distance?

They’re hitting the pause button on their marriage. One year off from each other – no strings attached, except a date to meet in twelve months at the Rockefeller Centre to decide their fate.

Will they both turn up? Or is it too late for love?

Lose yourself in a fabulously entertaining and poignant love story – perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella and Marian Keyes.

Will you still love me tomorrow is the first book I’ve won from Good reads and I had no idea what to expect from it, but I shall read more books from this genre after the pleasant surprise I got from this one.

The story starts in a unique setting in the moors in Ireland, where Annie, a talented theatre actress moved out of Dublin to be with her perfect husband Dan, all her friends are jealous of her living the perfect life but really she’s miserable. Dan in a way is so perfect that he’s not. He owns a veterinary and is the town hero, always happy to help, and a lot of the times, too happy to help. Leaving Annie with nothing to do and no one to talk to.

I really felt for Annie, who was away from her friends and family to be with her husbands family and puts up with so much and I completely understood her dilemma, how can she be so selfish to demand Dan’s time when he’s out there working so hard for others. But at the same time how much longer can she suffer in silence?

 When Annie get’s an offer to act in a play in New York we see the old phoenix ignited in her again. Both Dan and Annie go through all kinds of trails and errors as they face the world without each other.

It’s not like my usual urban fantasies with twists and deaths at every chapter, this was a much smother and real pace; though I predicted the end, I still went along for the ride and was curious to know how the characters will get there.

Claudia Carroll has such a vivid style and description of her characters, I could imagine them living down my street.

It’s a great choice for your summer read. 

In my mailbox #6 And TV musings

Hosted my The Story Siren

Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?

I won this won from Goodreads, first book I've won from them. It was pretty good not my usual genre but I gave it a shot and it was eerily relatable to my life : o

I won the red box set a while back from penguin books but never told you guys, I'm reading Last Sacrifice but for some reason I can't get into it. I know, I thought I'd be glued since it was the final book, but it's just not interesting me at the moment. Hopefully it changes my opinion. But the red versions are cool and the blood at the top right never gets old. 

Now that Vampire diaries is over I've resorted to Game of Thrones and Camelot as my TV filler is anyone else watching them too? 

Game of Thrones is awesome and I can't wait to devour the books! I suspect they will be my next blog layout.

Whereas Camelot is rather crap tbh, It's like Skins they have really good sets and designs but really bad writers... Nonetheless it was still somewhat entertaining. Oh and that guy has been cast as Jace if you didn't already know. I personally don't think he's Jace at all but then again I don't like him as Arthur either. 

What's in your mailbox?

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

I think Wuthering Heights could be the most original book I've ever read, I see why it’s stood the test of time for so long. With Characters like Heathcliff and Catherine being such anti-heroes it made for an intriguing and intense read, I can only imagine the controversy it must have created back in 1847.

I’ve decided not to look at any of the Goodreads reviews in risk of it swaying my opinion; I wanted to write what I felt now, after I've just finished it. This review is freshly squeezed from my memory.

I admit it took me a long time to get into it and was very confused by the narration, my mum had to clarify to me that the first narrator was actually a man as I thought it was a girl for some unknown reason. But once I got into it I couldn’t stop, I don’t know if I was enjoying it or just pushing on in horror, the story was so gripping I lost count how many times I read into the wee hours of the morning.

The tale is told to us by the maid of Wuthering Heights, Nelly Dean and she tells us how she lived with the Catherine and her servant Heathcliff when they were children. And how Catherine could not marry Heathcliff even though she wanted to but Society did not approve of it. The heartbroken Heathcliff leaves Wuthering Heights and this is where the story really begins.

I read on in horror as Heathcliff returned as a seemingly well mannered Gentleman but quite quickly he showed his true colors inside I believed he was evil I also thought the transformation was too quick there was no build up from good to evil, but I guess that could have been intended, I know a lot of people say if you read the book without any judgments its beautiful. And I tried that but I just could not see any redeemable qualities in him, he ruined too many peoples life’s and enjoyed it, he beat old men and girls up, brainwashed his family, kidnapped people and all kinds of horrible things.

I wasn’t expecting this book to be such a bloodbath even the characters that are ruined by Heathcliff somehow at the end do something redeemable, but Heathcliff couldn’t, he never learnt from those who he destroyed, he still let his hatred control his life.

I loved Isabella and I thought it was beyond mean what happened to her and how her brother abandoned her. We all make mistakes and I didn’t think Isabella deserved to be judged so harshly when she innocently developed a crush on Heathcliff. But she was one of the few characters who managed to reduce Heathcliff to tears which I felt he truly deserved and he still didn’t get half of what he deserved. And I really liked the dynamic between Isabella and Hindly, though their page time together was so short their mutual respect for each other was one of the biggest impacts I felt from the book.

   

All in all I think Emily Bronte deserves five stars as the characters she created have paved the way for generations of inspiration. And she quite possibly created the most hated character of all time. It was an experience I’ve never felt before when reading a book and I doubt I’ll ever forget. 

5/5

Gripped into books Giveaway!

Head over to gripped into books to win a number of great books!

Blue Fire by Janice Hardy

Part fugitive, part hero, fifteen-year-old Nya is barely staying ahead of the Duke of Baseer’s trackers. Wanted for a crime she didn’t mean to commit, she risks capture to protect every Taker she can find, determined to prevent the Duke from using them in his fiendish experiments. But resolve isn’t enough to protect any of them, and Nya soon realizes that the only way to keep them all out of the Duke’s clutches is to flee Geveg. Unfortunately, the Duke’s best tracker has other ideas.

My review...

Blue Fire was another incredible book by Janice Hardy. Everything from the world building to characters to writing was amazing. What I really loved about this book was you have absolutely no idea what will happen next, so you only open the book and hold on tight for the ride.

Blue Fire begins shortly after the ending of Pain merchants, Nya and the gang continue their quest to rescue the takers who’ve fallen victim to the duke’s cruel experiments. But as the guards lock down Nya and her friends she realizes she can no longer stay in Geveg. But her escape plan goes horribly wrong.

Once again Nya finds herself in all kinds of risky and perilous situations. I found that Nya’s voice really shines through in Blue fire; it’s the first time when we can see a faint light at the end of the tunnel and her raw determination really pushes the story forward, I mean this girl gives Katniss Everdeen a run for her money.

The secondary characters were okay too, and they somehow managed to keep up with Nya. Well most of the times. What I love about the secondary characters is they all have their uses, and their flaws. Old faces from Pain merchants return for the sequel, good and bad guys. Unfortunately Soek wasn’t in this one much, which I was looking forward to as he showed a lot of promise in the first one but hopefully he’ll be back for the third one. My main problem with the secondary characters was that their opinion never took center stage, in places they did but for the majority they just listened to Nya, but I still love them.

Blue Fire was unputdownable; fans of the hunger games who are still recovering from their post Mockingjay depression will love this. Perfectly paced with action, magic, thrill, humour and a tad bit of romance Blue fire should definitely be on your wish list. The Pain Merchants is the first one; it’s called the Shifter in US. And I can't wait for the third book which is shaping up to be an epic finale to a great series. 


Read my interview with the author Janice Hardy


Also I'm sorry for neglecting this blog for so long but my reader brain has been switched back on and I can't stop! Expect more reviews soon.

Tomorrow's Guardian Review

Experiencing episodes of déjà-vu, eleven year old Tom believes he is going mad. Then, he meets the adventurer Septimus Mason, who shows him that he is a "Walker" - someone who can transport himself to other times. Septimus explains that these abilities can be removed leaving him, once more, an ordinary schoolboy. Given the hurt these talents have caused, the choice would seem easy enough, but it is not so simple. In dreams, Tom has experienced life as other "Walkers" in times of mortal danger: Edward Dyson killed at the Battle of Isandlwana, 1879; Mary Brown who perished in the Great Fire of London, 1666; and finally Charlie Hawker, a sailor who was drowned on a U-boat in 1943.Agreeing to rescue them, Tom has three dangerous adventures before returning to the present day. Tom's finds he has drawn the attention of individuals who seek to bend history to their will. Soon Tom's family are obliterated from existence and Tom must make a choice between saving them and saving his entire world.


Review

In the beginning of Tomorrow’s guardian we are introduced to the protagonist Tom who seems normal but then unwittingly travels through time at random points in his life. Fans of Doctor Who and other Sci-fans will enjoy it as well as fans of YA.

What I enjoyed about Tomorrow’s guardian was that Tom went back to all kinds of ages and places that most books don’t, Like the Zulus and the great fire of London. It’s nice to explore the history in our own world and not travel to other worlds. And Richard Denning’s prose really eases the story forward.

The cast of characters very different from usual books, as there’s quite an age gap between them… literally, which is a good thing because its not like most books you’ve read.   

I recommend this book to people who are looking for an action packed historical thrill ride. The book appeals to anyone, It’s more for younger YA like Tweens and even younger than that, but I can see people of all ages enjoying it. 
Thanks to Richard Denning for sending me the book  = )

In my mailbox #5

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren.

All the books I ordered from Amazon.

Heidi - I remember watching the cartoon when I was little and I never saw the ending so I thought I'd read it. Should be nostalgic : )

I got Wuthering Heights because I was stuck in waterstones waiting for my friends and I decided to read a book, I read Wuthering Heights up and it was really interisting so I ordered it! And also because of Kate Bush lol.

And then I got The fire Within and Angels blood.
So I'll have a good reading month. What's in your mailbox?

BLOG TOUR: Wereworld: Rise of the wolf - Review

'You're the last of the werewolves son. Don't fight it...Conquer it'. When the air is clear, sixteen year-old Drew Ferran can pick up the scent of a predator. When the moon breaks through the clouds, a terrifying fever grips him. And when a vicious beast invades his home, his gums begin to tear, his fingers become claws, and Drew transforms ...Forced to flee the family he loves, Drew seeks refuge in the most godforsaken parts of Lyssia. But when he is captured by Lord Bergan's men, Drew must prove he is not the enemy. Can Drew battle the werecreatures determined to destroy him - and master the animal within.

 Review

I’d say the best way to describe this book is Pirates of the Caribbean meets Lord of the rings. Curtis Joblings introduces us to a completely unique and exciting world full of unpredictability and adventure.

But don’t be fooled by his graceful writing style, he doesn’t pull any punches. The amount of horrible things that happen to the main characters especially Drew really makes you wonder exactly how much pain not only can a character but a reader endure. 

The first half of the book develops at a calm steady pace, as there is a lot to set up in the world of Lyssia. The second half goes at a much faster pace as the plot really kicks in, but at times I found it hard to keep up with the array of plot twists, and had to flip back and reread a few pages.

My favorite character in Rise of the wolf was Gretchen; I experience every emotion possible towards her, from irritation and anger to downright hate then to sympathy and worship, Gretchen is officially an awesome character. Her witty jokes definitely lighten the mood of the novel.

Overall Wereworld was a great read; it’s not like the other werewolf books. It’s packed with, action, violence, romance, betrayal and likeable and also hateable characters. I’m really interested to see what the characters will do next as the Wereworld is such a rich and dense world, anything could happen. I’ll definitely be reading the sequel to see what happens next in the werewar.     

4/5