Anticipated Book Reads of 2013

Glancing at your to be read pile and thinking it looks at bit low currently? Well here are some upcoming books that could spice it up incredibly in the near future:

1) According to Goodreads 'City of Heavenly Fire - Cassandra Clare' was voted the current most popular upcoming book and as the sixth book in the immensely popular series it will be eagerly anticipated. Unfortunately though, the relase date is set to be around March 2014.

2) The book voted into second place was 'Clockwork Princess - Cassandra Clare' this is the third book in the Infernal Devices series. This book is hopefully set to release around mid-March 2013.

3)  Third on Goodreads list was 'The Soul - Stephenie Meyer' which is book number two in The Host series, unsure when it is out. However, The Host movie is set to release soon in the cinema.

Here are my most anticipated book reads of 2013:

1) Goddess by Josephine Angelini

This is the third book in the already mindblowing series and I cannot wait to read it. Based on greek mythology this series is original and brilliant.

2) Untitled by Ally Carter
The sixth book in the Gallaghr Girls series is currently unnamed but is set to be as great as the previous books. I love all of the books in the series so far, and for me Ally Carter is now one of my favourite authors; I wish I was a Gallagher Girl (or a spy) based on this series alone.

3) Awaken by Meg Cabot
Another book based around Greek Mythology but based on Hades and his love Persephone. This is the third book in the series and I can't wait to read it.

4) Dare You To by Katie McGarry
This author won my heart with her book Pushing the Limits, where I fell in love with all the characters and the intriguing plot of the story. I'm hoping Dare You To will be just as great.

5)  The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen
Another book by Sarah Dessen that will hopefully be filled with the usual friendships, family and love that she provides in a great summer book read.

6) My Name is Rapunzel by K.C.Hilton
Based around the traditional fairytale, it seems to be a curious read. I've never read one of her books before and am looking forward to reading this one.


What are your most anticipated book reads of 2013?

Any Red-Blooded Girl - Maggie Bloom

The last thing fifteen- year- old Flora wants to do is spend her summer vacation stuck in a tent with her overprotective parents and angst- ridden brother, especially when she should be in Europe with her best friend Jessie.                                                                                      
But since her parents trust her as much as they trust a cat burglar at the moment, Flora has no choice but to suffer through the boyfriend- less summer of her discontent from the back of a rented SUV, until ...              

Fate tosses a sexy, sophisticated gypsy boy into her path, making Flora wonder if destiny might know best.Because just as Flora falls head over heels, an unexpected turn of events threatens to land her in the slammer - or worse separate her from the man of her dreams.  



Any Red-Blooded Girl is a fun, feisty story; automatically you're introduced to Flora who's a quirky and hot tempered girl. She never wanted to go on a trip to the wilderness with her family, especially when hot European boys are available in a completely different trip. Expectations are shattered when Flora meets an adorable boy, who makes her forget any potential European boys. This leading to one of Flora's best trips in her life...

Laugh out loud comedy, this story was simple and sweet. Maggie Bloom creates interesting characters and portrays a believable teenage voice throughout the novel.   

However, the relationship between Flora and Mick (whilst sweet and caring) it bordered onto obsession and crazy stalker love. They loved each other tremendously and that was only after 2/3 days of meeting, so it was close to instant love. Also, Flora's relationship with her brother could of being developed more, to help improve the family set up.

Simple flaws shouldn't put anybody off this book as it is a good read.
I read it in one sitting and thoroughly enjoyed it. Memorable characters with a fabulous plot, favourite lines from Any Red-Blooded Girl including:

' "I love you." What?! Did I really just say that out loud? Did he hear me? "I mean, I'd love to." '

' my father suddenly shouted, in his just-hit-the-lottery voice. "Hot diggity! Put your party pants on people!" '

3 stars out of 5


                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Lament - Maggie Stiefvater

Sixteen-year-old Dee is a cloverhand - someone who can see faeries. When she finds herself irresistibly drawn to beautiful, mysterious Luke, Dee senses that he wants something more dangerous than a summer romance.                          

 

 But Dee doesn't realize that Luke is an assassin from the faerie world.

 

And she is his next target.

 

 

Lament (noun)

1)      Phrase of grief or sorrow

2)      Phrase of regret, disappointment, annoyance

3)      Lamenting death – poem/song of mourning

 

Expectations of the book Lament are summed, upon my reading of it, in number 2. Disappointment. An intriguing blurb caught my attention, along with the promise of once again reading an excellent faerie book (the best faerie book being Wings – Aprilynne Pike). Maggie Stiefvater is the author of the fabulous Shiver, a book I immensely enjoyed, and kept me on watch for another Maggie Stiefvater book.

Admittedly, the plot was interesting, and I read out of curiosity of what would come next. However, description in the book was lacking and I was constantly re-reading unsure what had happened since parts of the plot raced by leaving me confused.

Characters helped to keep me interested. Luke and James were both characters that had been cleverly developed, both with intriguing pasts and loveable personalities.  Dee however was a character that should have been developed more, I found her character annoying; upon receiving news that would make anybody hyperventilate with shock, she reacted with no more concern or alarm than as if friendly dog was licking her hand. She did have good qualities that made her seem interesting; but she seemed to fall in love with Luke after about two meetings.

The romance was good though, and was why I kept reading to see how the romance would plan out. Unfortunately, the ending was saddening and left me with several unanswered questions.

To an extent I enjoyed the book, but it was overshadowed by obvious flaws. Book two in the series is out and curiosity gets the better of all of us so I will read it, perhaps book two is better and answers my questions. Maggie Stiefvater is a good writer and I can partially understand the allure of the book from faerie book fans. Maybe I'd been in the wrong sort of mood for this type of book, since the blurb had sounded brilliant.

2 stars out of 5

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Feature and Follow

Feature and follow is set up to help find new followers and to find great blogs to follow yourself, this blog hop is hosted by Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read, who both pick a blog to feature that week. This weeks feature blogs are: Bewitched Bookworms and My 5 Monkeys.

Q)  What blog are you thankful for?

A) I am thankful for so many blogs as they all inspired me to start blogging myself, so picking one is tough. However I am most thankful for http://thebookscout.blogspot.co.uk/ after reading that blog I knew that I definitely wanted to start blogging.

Seeking Crystal - Joss Stirling

'I'm coming back to get you whatever happens...'     

When fate throws Crystal Brook into the path of Xav Benedict, the personality clash is explosive. It's hate at first sight. As their families gather in Venice, a powerful enemy seizes the opportunity to attack. Xav and Crystal must unite to save their loved ones, discovering a secret that entwines them forever...


Only a few authors make it onto my favourites list and Joss Stirling did, with her fabulous soulfinders series. With an idea similar to that of soulmates, many would brush it aside with the 'oh it's just another romance novel' but they shouldn't - I do happen to love romance novels myself though - these books have a certain twist and these soulfinders have so much love and passion that they do put ordinary soulmates to shame. These are the books that make me really wish I had a hidden savant power that will be revealed - I'm secretly trying to lift a magazine off the table with my mind as I type.

Seeking Crytal is the third book in this series based on those with savant powers and like all others it delivered with a kick. There are so many things I loved it is just easier to make a list:

- The action, one of the best things in this book. I love the conflicts created in the book, and how they chose to deal with it. It's almost like a brilliant spy novel - just without all the paperwork and government checks that spies have to do. But the action is balanced perfectly with . . .

- Friendship and other characters, I loved all of the new characters. Such as, Steve, at the start I thought he was just big headed like most celebrities, but he startled me with his understanding of savants and relating to them. Every character added to the story - I epecially enjoy side love stories like Steve's and Lily's - but I enjoyed learning more about original characters (the Benedict brothers and they're parents). Diamond and Trace's first meeting was so good - no messing arond just the joy of finding each other, unlike . . .

- Xav and Crystal, I love the part where they realise they're soulfinders, that was one of my favourite parts of the novel, I kept re-reading it because it was so sweet. They were the perfect couple, Xav and his jokes and his cheery personality, colliding with Crystal who has serious problems on her mind - neither understanding each other, but somehow (even before they knew they were soulfinders) they understood each other completely. All helped along with . . .

- The location, Venice was perfect. The complicated streets reflecting the complications in all the characters lives. And Venice just adding extra romance, with the flooding and gondola's. I imagined it as a vibrant place, some areas with wide open squares whilst having twisting alleys that are easy to get lost in . . .

- Just like the entire book, it was so easy to get lost in the sheer brilliance and I read into the night. I really hope Joss Stirling writes more to complete a so far perfect series, and if she does I will hit, kick and bite anybody who gets in the way of me reading it (metaphorically of course).

4.5 stars out of 5

Never Forget Your Favourite Books

With lots of new books coming out all the time, I feel that I've forgotten about all the books I used to love reading and made me want to start blogging in the first place. So this month I'm just going to re-read all my old favourites: Ally Carter (the Gallagher Girls series and Heist Society series); Meg Cabot, and Joss Stirling.
                                           



Between the Lines - Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer

Delilah knows it's weird, but she can't stop reading her favourite fairy tale. Other girls her age are dating and cheerleading. But then, other girls are popular.

Delilah loves the comfort of the happy ending, and knowing there will be no surprises.

Until she gets the biggest surprise of all, when Prince Oliver looks out from the page and speaks to her.

Now Delilah must decide: will she do as Oliver asks, and help him to break ot of the book? Or is this her chance to break into happily ever after?

After discovering the book I found the plot very interesting, it seemed for me different than any other YA romance book I've read before. It's told in alternating character points of view and with the fairy tale retold between chapters. Illustrations throughout the book and coloured writing however reveal that this book is geared towards more early teens.

I love a good romance story and almost always in a romance story is conflict and trouble; but one of the characters being a fictional character trapped in a book, is a big heap of trouble. From the start you're thrown into their separate worlds: Oliver's hate for being trapped and Delilah's hate for being stuck in high school - where everybody hates her.

Oliver has friends that are as close as family, and a good life. But despite everything he isn't happy. What I like about the alternating character chapters is that you get to understand more about Oliver's hobbies, sometimes in these sort of books you only see the girls opinion of the boy and discover no personality to him. We also know that Oliver is very good looking (and to be a Prince in a fairy tale he has to be) but he is also caring and quite clever. Since he has to try so many ways to get out of the book.

Delilah has a few people that care about her: her mum and best friend Jules. Everybody thinks she has gone crazy, and with her reputation falling her mum becomes more disappointed in her. All we really know about Delilah is that she enjoys reading and is a good girl in school, for me her personality could of been developed more, as it seemed to cover the same points (her obsession with the book, unpopularity at school...).

The romance between Oliver and Delilah was sweet, and understandable, and caring, but I felt some passion was missing - only slightly because of their instant love. Occasionally I would wonder if Delilah had fallen for the fairy tale Prince Oliver.  Other characters though were developed more deeply - especially from the fairy tale book - and most characters all showed a hidden side: Jules through her scary outfits was a caring friend, Rapscullio being the bad guy and his love of art, and Captain Crabbe being an evil pirate whilst loving dentistry; showing everybody is more than what you see.

Overall this book seemed a bit young for me but had a very cute romance. The beautiful drawings were very good and fitted the fairy tale theme, and help create a feeling of reality for the fairy tale. The ending was different to what I expected but was slightly unrealistic (even though characters coming alive is unrealistic) I am happy with the ending though as it answered all questions and problems that could have occured.

3 stars out of 5