New Books

Ok I dont have any new books . . . Yet!

Have just ordered some off Amazon!

It's my valentine's present from Phil! - Isn't he kind


And here it is!!

The Immortals Series!

I cant wait, have heard some good things about these books so really looking forward to reading them!



As for my read of the now, it's House of Night - Book 7; Burned!

Book 7 - Let's Meet on Platform 8

Well to say I hadn't finished a book in a couple of weeks and now I finish 2 in a matter of days - I think I can safely say I have csught up!!

I started this book after breakfast (9.30amish) and finished by dinner time (6pmish).

Now although it was finished within a day does not make it a great book. In fact it was only an OK book.

It started off great and then went down hill from there. The characters were not very believable especially Jamie and to be honest I didn't really feel anything from them, no back story was expanded on as the book went on let alone touched upon a single moments. The story itself was very repeptetive.

To say it was about affairs - starting on at a train station - there was more story about communting on trains than the actual relationship of any of the characters. Now don't get me wrong, I myself was a commuter once upon a time and can see where parts of the story were true to life, but it just went on for too long, especially when more could have been done to the people, backgrounds etc.

The ending too was left unresolved and for me very predictable.

So this does not get a thumbs up and in fact it gets an "ehh" hand wobble.

About train commuters, for train commuters, a 2.5/5

Book 6 - Crescendo

This is actually a re-read for me but I love this book so much that I had to read it again! Finished it last night before going to sleep!

I loved Hush Hush, thought it was a great concept - hadn't read any books involving angels/fallen angels etc - and couldn't put it down. The cover drew me in first of all and loved the look of it.

I couldn't wait for the sequel so bought it as a hardback (I usually buy paperbacks or if its a series I try and keep the same looking books for the whole of it!).

Again I couldn't put it down. The romance, the suspense, the deepening of everyones story. I have to admit, I like to read books which are told in the first person - in this case the two books have been told by Nora. This book did not disappoint.

The ending has left me with the need to read the next book but it's not out until forever!! - OK not forever but October is such a long way a way!!!!

Some sections (few and far between) were a bit samey but they were also needed to continue the story and to strengthen Nora's feelings and reasons for the actions she takes, so this makes those sections acceptable!!

A big thumbs up for this book - 4.5/5

Will try a new author next - maybe Carole Matthews

Book 5 - Last Sacrifice

Well I have finally finished this book. It's not that it takes a long time to read, it's just I haven't been reading as much this past week or so!! opps - I'll make it up again I'm sure!

Anyway, Last Sacrfice - what can I say!! Was brilliant. The last in this series - very sad. Was a great way to end it though. I was on the edge of my seat through a lot of it and without giving anything away the twists at the end were fab and the ending itself was the way I wanted it to end.

There are a few things left unresolved but with the new spin off series coming from Richelle Mead I am convinced they were there on purpose - not though I need a reason to read the spin off series books, he he!

I love reading the Vampire Academy series, thought all of them were really good. I adore Rose's character and think the way she is and acts is just how I would like to be if I had the courage and confidence!!

As a side note, I am in love with the new red covers however I am slightly upset that this one did not come out in the old covers that my other 5 did. Now I have an odd one out of the group!! Tee Hee - ah well if thats all I have to complain about thats not too bad!!

All in all a great end for a great series - this gets my 5/5 rating approval. Bring on the Spin Offs!!!!!

Outraged!

Not quite book related - well you'll see!

Phil bought me "My Sister's Keeper" DVD for Christmas. He knows I have read the book and loved it and have been waiting for a very long time for our DVD rental company to send me a copy but have yet to receive it. So he bought me my own copy.

Here comes the outrage . . .

. . . They changed the ending!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They changed the perfectly good, fantastic, crying buckets ending!!!!!!! How, why and what for I have no idea. This is just ridiculous. The book was great just the way it was. The way it was written, all the things that the story was trying to get across was neatly wrapped up in the book ending.

The film ruined this and changed the message, meaning and story altogether.

Shame on this film.

I have always heard the book is better than the film and mostly I agree with this (Twilight Saga nearly making this untrue!) and after this film it has not changed my opinion. In fact I am more in the book camp than I was before.

Re-Shuffle

Have decided to have a little sort out of my books. Have had so may new ones recently that they have just been going where they can fit. So have moved my bookcases around and have separated my books into genres!! It looks good - even if I do say so myself!

Here is the somewhat mess I had the dining room in!! - With my baby girl trying to help mummy!!!


This is my YA/paranormal/sci fi shelves - Anything vampire, werewolf or angel will be found here! Including DVD and CD's


This is my Chick Lit/Rom Com shelves


And then the miscellaneous shelves


There are a load of books in the attic but they are more for the younger me so have updated my reading lists!!!! haha!!!

Book 4 - Three in a Bed

Another book down!

It was one of the £1 books I bought the other week.

This is also a new author to me, never read her work before and it was new experience reading it now - let me tell you!!

It was an ok book. There were some good parts and some bad parts. Also some down right boring parts which you had to read through in oreder for it to get better!

Good points - I could relate well to the story, it was about a new mum and all the things you deal with during pregnancy and newborn bbay stages. There were some funny aspects and some nodding of the head in agreement. Liked how the story went and liked the ending.

Now for the bad points - Far too much swearing. Now don't get me wrong I am by no means a sweeter than light, holier than thou kind of person because I am not. BUT when you read the C word being used (you know the one), one too many F**kings it kind of gets a bit tedious. For me there was no need for half the swear words, they seem to be in for the sake of it rather than to emphasise the story. There were also a few too many down time chapters - you know, where they have filler chapters for the background, you need the past before you can move on. I had to keep perervering with these parts.

So this book gets a 2.5/5 - When it was good it was very very good, but when it was bad it was boring!

My next book goes back to YA - Last Sacrifice!!

Book 3 - The Lucifer Code

This was a complete surprise book to me. Have never read this author before (has to be a first for everything right) and it's very rare I read this type of book. I am much more a chick lit/YA/supernatural sort of person.

Some people looking at the description of this book may think it's a copy of "The Da Vinci Code" but this book came before that and is a very different story all in all.

The characters are great and well defined, each with their own back story which help them come to life. The story itself is well written. It took me a while to figure the style of writing and at first each character had their own chapter and own start story but soon they all joined together and then it really flowed. The book then became a "I can't put it down" and a "I just need to read one more chapter then I'll stop" (hence me still reading this book while cooking dinner) type book.

Despite the non put downable aspect there were a few things that failed it for me but this is only due to my own beliefs (or lack there of). This book explores God, souls and the afterlife so not exactly how I look at the world. This is not a bad thing just not a me thing!! Some things (like the very high tech gadgets and technology that is described) are just not believable sometimes - but hey I read vampire books, who am I to judge!!!!

I give this book 3.5/5 - liked it but not a type of book I am used to.

What next - choices, choices, choices!

Book 2 - Torment

Finished this book last night (well to be truthfull about 1am this morning)!

Well this is the sequel to Fallen.

I loved Fallen - it was a fluke, I needed to buy another book to fulfill the 2 for 3 offer so thought why not!!! When I realised it was a series and there were to be sequels well it was on my wish list (just as Passion is now).

Torment is different but the same - I know doesn't make sense! What I mean is you still have the same characters in the first book but a few more in this one but without losing the story or getting confused on who is who. The story keeps you guessing all the time and has a few twists and turns and leaves you with the feeling that there is still plenty to come.

I loved the romance aspect but liked they way the story delved into Luce's past and not just commenting on the here and now and the future.

All in all a very good second book with a great ending to wet your appetite for the third installment!

I will give this a 4/5 bring on Passion!

Wanted List

Despite the new and bought books I have, I have a very long wish/want list!! 2 of which came out today!!! - see the side bar for my wish list!!

Think I will have to wait a few weeks before I can get any more. I suppose I better read the ones I have first!!!

Started Torment, very good so far!

Another Reading Challenge!

Well I found another reading challenge. This one is to read YA (Young Adult) books being hosted by For the Love of YA. I may be 25 but I love young adult books!!

Have decided to go for the "Fun Size" level. Which is 20 YA books. The next level is 40 but think that's being too optimistic. We'll have to see later on in the year!

Book Challenge

Well this is a first - but seeing as this whole blog is new and a first why not!!!!

I have decided to try a book challenge!

It's being hosted by The Book Vixen and its about out doing yourself. I have decided to jump in the deep end and go for the "You're on Fire" category which is to read 16+ books in 2011. I'm not sure how many I read in 2010 but I'm pretty sure it was more than 16!!

I may just have to have a look around and see if there are others.

Have seen one to read 100 books this year, don't think that will happen so I will start off small and see how it goes!!

Book 1 - Stefan Diaries

Well first book of 2011 finished.

Stayed up until just gone midnight to finish this book!

At first I was slightly confused as I hadn't read anything about this book when I asked for it and was shocked to find it was from the TV series world and not the original books.
This however didn't stop me reading it! When I got my head in the TV series mind set, it was great. Some parts were the flashbacks you see on and the rest was filling in the gaps. It was well written although very simple (easy plot, easy navigation) and its great to get to hear Stefan's thoughts.
I loved the original books, absolutely love the TV series "swoon" and now this Stefan series! Can't wait to read the next 2!

I give this a 3.5 / 5 could be better but it's certainly not rubbish!

Now the hard question, what to read next?!?!

Bargains!

We did a bit of shopping this morning and what do I find - Asda selling books for a pound each!!!! Couldn't believe it. There weren't any books there that I normally read but thought it's a good enough time to try a new book/new author!

So I bought 4:
* Three in a Bed = Carmen Reid
* Let's Meet on Platform 8 = Carole Matthews
* It's a Kind of Magic = Carole Matthews
* The Lucifer Code = Michael Cordy

Quite a variety but should be happy reading for me!

On another note, nearly finished the Stefan book!

Christmas Presents and A Happy New Year

Well Happy New Year, this will be a great year for books!!!! Haha!!!

I was bought several books for Christmas and can't wait to get stuck in.

Was given:
* Stefan's Diaries Vol.1 = L.J Smith
* Burned - House of Night Book 7 = P.C and Kristen Cast
* Torment - Fallen series Book 2 = Lauren Kate
* Last Sacrifice - Vampire Academy Book 6 ("sob sob" last in the series) = Richelle Mead

Think I will read Stefan's Diaries first, its only a short one so should be able to read the other great books in no time!!!

Loving my presents!!!!!

Books Books and More Books!!

So I thought New Year, New Blog!

I absolutely love books. They can take you away from a stressful day, they can help you to relax, they can even make you happy, sad, cry, angry at just a few turns of a page. Words are a powerful thing and when written down in a great novel can come alive!

I would dread to think how many hours I have actually spent reading - actual novels I don't just mean any old text book etc - but I shouldn't think there have been very many days that I have gone without reading at least one chapter since I was about 7/8 years old. My usual reading is about an hour of a night (I try for more but life gets in the way)!

I remember my mum taking me to book fairs at school when I was younger, wondering what book to buy. I always tried to go for the most value for money - so 3 in 1 books were great!

Now I'm married and still love going to buy new books! At the moment its a case of buying new bookcases to put the books on! Luckily Phil understands and just shakes his head when I'm drawn to the book stand when we go shopping. I love it even better when it there is a sticker saying buy one get one free - still loving the value for money!

So now I have decided to create somewhere where I can go to worship my books! Where I can slate or rate them, pick at them and basically love them!!