Red Flame: Wizards' School by Pamela Shine

Release Date: 13/08/12
Publisher: Upfront Publishing
Pages: 114
Target Audience: Kids
Genre: Fantasy/Adventure


Synopsis: Hi, my name is Resha Valentine, I'm a 17 year old wizard who wants to join the strongest Wizards' School, Red Flame. I meet Aiden and Kat, 17 year old twin wizards just like me. Only it turns out they're in the running for the strongest wizards in Red Flame Wizards' School!

Review: Usually I find writing reviews for books pretty straight forward because essentially the authors are all adults with life experience behind them and years of schooling or at least some knowledge of literary skills and devices. Occasionally however, I need to re-evaluate how I look at a book because the author is different. In this case, the author is only 12 years old.

When I think back to when I was twelve there is no way on this earth I had the urge to read much let alone write something. And if I did write stories, I got bored very quickly, so I have to give Pamela Shine full credit for her determination and staying power to the task at hand. To review her like an adult however, would be unfair.

Red Flame: Wizards’ School is a fun fantasy adventure about a group of wizards who go to the Red Flame School, one of many in the world of Wizland. These wizards are given missions and jobs to go on and in the case of some of the wizards, get to go out and cause a lot of trouble (the child in me grinned wickedly at this) and they also get into fights with other competing schools.

The powers the characters have were different to what I usually expect from a book centred on magic. It is often too easy to make your main character super powerful with an insane complicated power, but Pamela has created abilities for her characters which tend to stem from something simple or basic and become surprisingly powerful when used.

The story itself is fast paced and quickly comes to a conclusion without any messing around or going off on a tangent (something some adult authors are guilty of), whereas it  is the way of the teenager or younger person to get the point. Having said that, as an older reader I think I would have liked a bit more explanation as to background and character history and description of the places the events were set. The ability to do this is something I feel she will develop over time and gain with experience, but if I were to give this to a younger person as it stands now I feel they will love it to bits without the added description. As this book is aimed at 8 to 12-year-olds then I think it would be nice if this book got a bit more publicity as I’m sure children in that age group will love it.

One important point to note while reading this, and as a reader it is one of my big sticking points; I hate grammatical errors and I was expecting some from such a young author, but you know what? There were NONE. None what-so-ever. I’ve been known to mark books as DNF because the grammar mistakes are so bad and this book has absolutely none at all. So I give 10/10 for her brilliant spell checking and grammar skills.

If Pamela writes a sequel I will definitely be reading it as I’m interested to follow her career and to see where she goes from here. I’m sure that with more experience and knowledge she will become a very competent adult author. 

The Facebook Diet by Gemini Adams

Release Date: 30/01/12
Publisher: Live Consciously Publishing
Pages: 146
Target Audience: Adults
Genre: Humour

Synopsis: There are now 1 billion people on Facebook. That's 1 in every 7 people on the planet. And 34% of all users check their account before brushing their teeth or hair in the mornings! 

Everyone can confess to an addictive Facebook habit, whether it's stalking an ex, faking bathroom breaks to read news, checking-in wherever they go, or art-directing photo's for the perfect profile pic.

The Facebook Diet (the first in The Unplug Series) takes a tongue-in-cheek look at this love for social media, featuring 50 hilarious cartoons that pinpoint the more idiotic, embarrassing and cringe-worthy behaviors of this modern approach to communication.

It’s the ideal gift for Facebook junkies everywhere. Helping them find light-relief and the ability to laugh at this tech-takeover, which may inspire them to occasionally unplug with a tech-detox.

My Review: This is a funny and very short snappy read that you can fit quite easily  around your Facebook addiction and hopefully find a way to fit other things that aren't Facebook related into your life. How many of these cartoons did I relate too? Admittedly not many. This is because I go on Facebook to play a few games and chat to a few people rather than stalk ex's, however I do know a few people who popped into my head when reading this and I couldn't help but laugh.

The Cartoons were funny and slightly naughty in some cases and yet rung oddly true. How many people do you know who sneak off to the toilet just to check there Facebook feeds? I have to admit though, if you  have a partner/wife/husband who is threatening to cut the power cord to your computer due to your Facebook addiction then you probably do need a trip to Facebookaholics Anonymous. 

On a more serious note, and yes this book does have one, there are some helpful suggestions for things you could do instead of Facebook, some of which were honestly good advice. So if you know someone who spends more time writing on an imaginary wall than writing letters or who has started sticking post-it notes saying 'like' on people the maybe give them this book. They might find it useful. 

Failing that there's always the option of attacking that power cord with those scissors...

Uses for Boys - Erica Lorraine Scheidt

Release Date: 15/01/13
Publisher: St Martin's Griffin
Pages: 240
Target Audience: Young Adults/Adults
Genre: Fiction/Romance

Synopsis: Anna remembers a time before boys, when she was little and everything made sense. When she and her mom were a family, just the two of them against the world. But now her mom is gone most of the time, chasing the next marriage, bringing home the next stepfather. Anna is left on her own—until she discovers that she can make boys her family. From Desmond to Joey, Todd to Sam, Anna learns that if you give boys what they want, you can get what you need. But the price is high—the other kids make fun of her; the girls call her a slut. Anna's new friend, Toy, seems to have found a way around the loneliness, but Toy has her own secrets that even Anna can't know.

Then comes Sam. When Anna actually meets a boy who is more than just useful, whose family eats dinner together, laughs, and tells stories, the truth about love becomes clear. And she finally learns how it feels to have something to lose—and something to offer. Real, shocking, uplifting, and stunningly lyrical, Uses for Boys is a story of breaking down and growing up.

My Review: There's no real way to describe this novel without using the following word: Harrowing. Because that's exactly what this book is. There's not one particular point or event that makes this novel shocking but rather the book as a whole.  And if you're sensitive to underage sex, rape, neglectful parents and abortion then maybe you should give this book a miss.  However, if you have a strong stomach and you're not easily scared off then this is an eye opening, lyrical, shocking and yet oddly uplifting and hopeful read.

I wouldn't trade places with Anna even if all the money in the world were offered to me. Part of me was infuriated that she could keep making bad decisions and treating herself so poorly, but it's hard not to sympathise for her and the situation she finds herself in. I wouldn't wish her predicament on any young woman.  It saddens me to know that this  definitely happens in real life and that there are 13 to 16 year old girls out there having sex, being used and neglected, but sadly it is true that it happens. Sadly, girls like Anna are not just works of fiction.

It did made me wonder how many of those so called 'sluts' at school are actually very lonely girls who, like Anna, have gotten confused and forgotten and used boys and sex as a means of escape from life. 

It isn't all doom and gloom though and there's some important lessons to be learned from reading this; you can change your life. You can find happiness and love and you don't need to be with another person to be happy either, sometimes the person who can make you happiest is yourself.

I wanted to scream at some of the boys Anna meets because some of them were absolute jerks and knowingly took advantage, others were just as lost as her and I felt sympathy for them too. I disliked Anna's mother with a passion, and I think she wrote the guidebook on 'How to be a Bad Parent' and I hated the fact she left Anna alone so much.

Overall this was a well written and emotive story, written in a way that was almost poetic. The only fault I could find  was that I would have loved to have known more of what happens to Sam and Anna after the the story ended. The ending was very abrupt and a little confusing, but other than that an enlightening  shocking and eye-opening read. Many thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read this before the release date.

While I'm Still Myself by Jeremy Mark Lane

Release Date: 10/01/12

Publisher: Tate Publishing

Pages: 78

Target Audience: Adults/Older Teens/Young Adults

Genre: Fiction/Short Stories

Synopsis: A passionate December love affair. The meeting of an unexpected traveller. The consequences of protecting a young new acquaintance. A journey into an unknown past. 

In the stories of While I’m Still Myself, Jeremy Lane eloquently describes the life changing impact of the brief encounter, showing that life and love are not shaped by an entire lifetime, but by the fleeting moments with unexpected people in unexpected places

My Review: I'd like to thank Mr Lane for asking me to review his book and for being patient with my very busy work schedule and insane amount of books on my to-read list :)

Well, where to start! I really liked this collection of shorts and they will stick in my mind for a long time to come.

Mr Lane focuses on some sensitive topics including Racism, Drug addiction, Child abuse and Mental Illness and considering each story is limited to around 10 pages(ish) they have a certain depth to them, similar to that of a  longer novel.

One story that particularly made me gasp was the story of the girl who runs away from home to live her life as much as she can as she's in fear of becoming mentally ill like her mother. The last paragraph stopped me cold with it's conclusion because despite my over-thinking brain, I simply never saw it coming and believe me, you probably won't either.

Each story was poignant in it's own way and I took something from each one. I think I'll definitely be looking out for more books by Jeremy Lane because there is no doubting that he is a skilled writer with the ability to write engaging and thoughtful stories without the need to babble. Genius.

Blood and Ash by Kate Aaron

*Contains Adult Content*

Release Date: 26/06/11

Publisher: Self-published/Smashwords/Amazon

Pages: Unknown

Target Audience: Adults

Genre: Fantasy/M-M Romance/Faerie

Synopsis: War is coming...

Ash has never left the palace. For seventeen years he has been kept close by his father and brother, bound by their vow to protect him. He has grown up safe, innocent, and lonely.

Now the fae Realm is under attack, and the witches have threatened Ash personally. To protect his younger brother, Skye has done something unthinkable. He has brought a vampire into the Realm.

Azrael owes Skye a great debt. He takes his position as Ash's guardian out of loyalty to his brother, but everything changes when he finds himself falling for the young prince: the first mortal he's loved in a thousand years.

With his enemies closing in, and the king slowly dying, can Skye trust Azrael to protect Ash while he prepares to defend the Realm? Will Azrael be able to control his feelings for Ash as he reconciles the demons from his past? And will Ash ever feel like he truly belongs anywhere?

'Blood & Ash' is the first book in the Lost Realm series.

My Review: I hadn't read any male/male romance or erotica before and I wasn't sure really what to expect. Honestly, I can't say I'm a huge fan of the bedroom scenes, maybe it just isn't my thing. That isn't against the author or against anything else either, just didn't appeal to me a lot. You may therefore be wondering why it got four out of five?  Simply put, the emotional romantic side coupled with the incredible Faerie/Vampire story was amazing!

I enjoyed reading about Azrael's past and about his developing relationship with Ash, despite the obstacles that they both have to overcome in order to get there and  it made a change seeing a male/male romantic relationship develop in such challenging circumstances. Among all the usual conventional romances out there, it really stands out.  As well as romance, there is no shortage of action, peril and danger as war is set to be unleashed on the Lost Realm, with Ash at the centre of the conflict. 

I think after reading this I will definitely read the sequel at some point simply to find out what happens next. There is so much potential for this series to take flight to greater heights and there's so much that could be explored in future books and so much I want to know about Ash's and Azrael's world. 

Finally, I have to admit I stumbled on this book by accident but clearly that's the best way to find some books, if you love your romance and your faerie or vampire tales, give this book a go! :-)

Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler

Release Date: 18/10/10
Publisher: Harcourt Graphia
Pages: 177
Target Audience: Teens/Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy/Fiction

Synopsis: Lisabeth Lewis has a black steed, a set of scales, and a new job: she’s been appointed Famine. How will an anorexic seventeen-year-old girl from the suburbs fare as one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse? 

Traveling the world on her steed gives Lisa freedom from her troubles at home: her constant battle with hunger, and her struggle to hide it from the people who care about her. But being Famine forces her to go places where hunger is a painful part of everyday life, and to face the horrifying effects of her phenomenal power. Can Lisa find a way to harness that power — and the courage to battle her own inner demons?

My Review: This is not a light read and it's a pretty hard hitting story, though with a fantastical twist that softens the edges enough that it isn't over-bearing.

The horsemen of the apocalypse was such an original idea and combining that with the internal struggle of Lisa's anorexia makes this book a stroke of genius which anyone who has ever counted the calories, will relate too.


On a more basic and erm slightly girly level...Death sounds pretty nice! I don't mean dying of course, I mean the horseman who is Death. Not only is he described as being just a bit hot, he's also (ironically enough) probably the most caring of the horsemen and perhaps the one who teaches Lisa the most about her job.  
There is a lot more to this book than spreading the need to eat lots or depriving people from food and it's amazing how Lisa manages to turn, not only her abilities around, but her life around in the process of being a horseman. Oh and watch out for War, I really really did not like that girl!

Girl Parts by John M Cusick

Release Date: 01/06/11
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Pages: 240
Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults
Genre: Sci-fi/Fiction/Romance

Synopsis: David and Charlie are opposites. David has a million friends, online and off. Charlie is a soulful outsider, off the grid completely. But neither feels close to anybody. When David's parents present him with a hot Companion bot to encourage healthy bonds and treat 'dissociative disorder', he can't get enough of luscious red-headed Rose - and he can't get it soon. 


Companions come with strict intimacy protocols, and whenever he tries anything, David gets an electric shock. 
Severed from the boy she was built to love, Rose turns to Charlie, who finds he can open up, knowing Rose isn't real. With Charlie's help, the ideal 'companion' is about to become her own best friend. 


My Review:  Do you know someone who won't shift from their computer? Do you know someone who just doesn't get on with people? Hand them this book, it's a valuable lesson in why it's important to talk to actual people and why people need other people.  The irony being, that it's a robot that teaches the two boys in this how to feel, and boy does she do it well.


Rose was by far my favourite character though closely followed by Charlie. David annoyed me though I have to admit even he learned a lot from his experience with Rose as he did change in some respect by the end of the book.  
Rose's voice is honest, innocent and very earnest and though she's the robot in all this, I can't help but think that she was perhaps the most human in how she behaved, especially after the incident with David part way through.


Though there are some valuable lessons to be learned about sex (and it's meaningfulness) in this book, the main focus is emotional attachment and it was wonderful seeing Charlie learn to how to form a connection with Rose and opening up a bit more, which really does beg the question...Just because Rose is a robot, does that make her feelings any less real? My personal opinion would be she is as real as the two boys, but I'll let you decide that for yourself.
I really really hope there's a second book because the way this ended will really bug me a bit if I don't find out what happens after the end of the book. Cliffhanger alert :)

Reckoning by Lilith Saintcrow

Release Date: 01/11/2011
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 307
Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults
Genre: Fantasy/Fiction


Synopsis:
Nobody expected Dru Anderson to survive this long. Not Graves. Not Christophe. Not even Dru. She's battled killer zombies, jealous djamphirs, and bloodthirsty suckers straight out of her worst nightmares. But now that Dru has bloomed into a full-fledged svetocha - rare, beautiful, and toxic to all vampires - the worst is yet to come.
Because getting out alive is going to cost more than she's ever imagined. And in the end, is survival really worth the sacrifice?


My Review:
I'll start by saying that, unlike a few reviews I've read, I love the ending! I loved the fact it was more about Dru than about the boys in the book, as a result the ending was unexpected and left room for more books in the future, even if it does leave you a little surprised.

For the most part, all the ends are tied up and there are some fantastic twists and turns, with some truly heartbreaking moments that had me near tears.


There were some unusual events that crept up sneakily and quite literally made my jaw drop and I was more than impressed with Dru in this book. She's changed so much and it was weird in a sense having her follow her own instincts instead of being told what to do.  
Yes, Graves and Christophe play a big part, but in the end Dru is the one who shines and it was brilliant finding out what made her so different from previous Svetocha. Not anything I would have imagined in any stretch of the imagination.


The big question though is...do we find out what 'Dru' is short for? Well I'm not telling you if you do or not. 
Whether your happy with the ending or not, there is no denying that this is an incredible fantasy/paranormal story that draws on some truly interesting ideas and legends of creepy supernatural beings. I certainly wouldn't want to exist in Dru's world.

Hexult by Perry Aylen

Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults
Genre: Fantasy/Fiction

After much kindle trouble I finally got to finishing this book and a big thanks to the author for the endless patience! A big big thank you goes to Perry Aylen (actually two very clever people working on the same novel!) for asking me to review this book.
To kick my review off here's the Goodreads synopsis to give you a brief introduction:

'When the seas rose and the world froze, much knowledge was lost.
Mysterious twins, Jacob and Elya, shipwrecked in Hexult, discover their superior understanding of science is mistaken for magic by the superstitious islanders.
With the aid of Aulf the mailman and his fiery crewmate, Ingar, the twins must overcome terrible tragedy and danger, to save their reputations and their lives.'


I love a good fantasty novel, especially as I'm one of those people who can imagine themselves in the places described in a book and I had no problems in doing so with this one. The text is so richly descriptive and highly imaginative that I found I could picture everything with clarity, from the Varja Crevasse and on to the wonderfully named Islands of Orking Do, Quayven and Pelago (among others!).
With regards to this, perhaps the only issue I had with this novel was that there was a lot of new terms and places to absorb and at first I found myself struggling to take it all in, but by the time I was further into the novel and place names and people had been repeated I found that it had all sunk in, so much so that even with the huge gap in reading this book due to my broken kindle, I was able to remember names of places and people with ease when I went to finish it.


For those who love your adventure and magic (erm science, I mean) this is also an adventure story with a twist and I found myself laughing on occasion at the citizens of Hexult who, in the bigger part, drove me nuts with their superstitions, and I found myself wanting to yell at them all.
One of the things that I quickly came to wonder was if the seas did rise and the world froze over and people forgot about science and common sense, would we go back to believing such things as magic, prophecy and judging people on such things? Or would we at least retain some of our knowledge? To me it would feel like a step backwards, but reading this book, it makes complete sense, because it would be quite easy in the absence of knowledge to revert to a very medieval attitude.


All that aside, the trips across the ice coupled with the fights, the raiding and the fantastical buildings that are created captured my imagination with ease and had my heart racing in some instances and I was left fascinated by some of the ideas and by the simple thought that it only takes a small group of people to change the world, even in the face of so much adversity and superstition. 
Character wise I loved the twins and how they dealt with the situation they were dropped into despite everything that was against them and I got rather attached to Aulf and Ingar too so I will definitely be reading the sequel to this to find out what happens next.


If your looking for something different to read give this a go, you won't be disappointed.







For more info on Hexult or the Author, visit the website: Hexult

Enormous Boobs: Stupidest Bloopers and Hilarious Headlines by Richard Benson

Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults/Adults
Genre: Humour/Non-Fiction


This book is funny on so many different levels. Admittedly, it's not the funniest book I've ever read but still it ranks up there pretty high.  I honestly couldn't believe how so many people can write the stupidest things in classified ads, headlines and other such things.
Most of the problems seemed to be down to misplaced comma's and apostrophes, much to my own amusement. The rest of them were a mix of famous people unable to keep there mouths shut and editors not editing their newspapers correctly.

A lot of the jokes would probably go over a young child's head which is why I've recommended it for Teens and Adults as opposed to young children, although having said that, if they have a wicked sense of humour I would not want to deter anyone from reading this, whatever age they may be.

I can't really write much for this without posting great chunks of the book so I'll just say that if you aren't laughing at the first few 'boobs' then I'll be very surprised. And in the meantime when you're writing things don't forget to proof read it ;-)

The Naughtiest Girl Again (Naughtiest Girl Two) by Enid Blyton

Target Audience: Kids/Nostalgic Adults
Genre: Fiction


For those who haven't read the first book, here's a brief synopsis of the general series.  The Naughtiest Girl in the School followed Elizabeth Allen who, after being a mostly spoiled and naughty child for most of her life, was sent to school. After the first half-term being the naughtiest girl in the school she soon finds the error of her ways and changes, this book follows her adventures during the Winter term at Whyteleaf School where she gets into even more trouble despite her best attempts not too.

Being 24 and reading this (a big difference to when I read the first book as a little girl) I thought I might find this one pretty silly. I didn't however! If I'm honest the plot doesn't differ much from book to book. Yes, different things happen and Elizabeth matures quite a bit but the general premise is the same: Elizabeth tries to do something good and it backfires.
There are some very valuable lessons about friendship, loyalty and even bullying in this novel and I think this would be an enjoyable read for a lot of young ten and under's but having said that, it's good nostalgia for adults who grew up reading Enid Blyton.

There will be some elements that a lot of people will find incredibly old fashioned (such as the idea of sweets causing spots, yes I know they didn't have all the research on hormones then, but still) And some ideas nagged at me; just because a girl isn't overly pretty does not mean she's horrid and spiteful, as some of the characters were painted to be.
My overall consensus though is that you really need to take this book with a pinch of salt. Don't take all of it too seriously and it's a light, entertaining read :-)

I Loved You First by Reena Jacobs

Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults
Genre: Romance/LGBT Fiction


First of all I'd like to say a big thanks to Reena for asking me to review her book and also for asking me to take part in her up-coming blog tour, it's always amazing to be asked to take part in these events.
I have to say, I loved this book and although it's a novella and quite short it tackles a very important issue and with sensitivity, care and has just as much impact as a full length novel would have.

Alex has just started college along with her best friend Seth who she has known since they were at school together. Things are pretty much going OK apart from two things. Number one, Alex is in love with Seth and number two, Seth is gay and only Alex knows about it. As all is revealed Alex faces some tough times and choices as she risks losing both her best friend and the person she loves.

To an outsider reading this review it may appear a bit odd that a straight girl is in love with a guy she knows is gay. But for anyone who's ever been in love you'll know how irrational love can actually be and regardless of the circumstances, you can't help who you fall in love with and in what circumstances.
I can't write an in-depth review without posting spoilers accidentally but what I can tell you is that this is a wonderful story of self-discovery, honesty and learning to love yourself.

I have to admit, I did not envy either Alex or Seth, especially towards the half-way point of the story when they both faced some truly difficult times. Alex is in every way the sidekick to Seth's stronger character and it was wonderful to see things change as the story progressed and as Seth also changed and adapted (I have to admit I was furious with both him and Alex on several occasions because of some of the things that happened).  As someone who has and had both Gay and Bi friends, I found some of the characters attitudes to being gay absolutely horrifying, some people are so judgemental it's unbelievable and we see some extreme reactions in this novel with some extreme consequences.

Other characters play a major part in this novel, in both good and bad ways including Dink, who I still haven't made my mind up about, and Trinity, who is just simply awesome in every way. I think if I were to have any of these characters as a friend, it would be Trinity.  Even Cheyenne who, to put it mildly, is not my favourite person plays a part in things being different towards the end and the scene with her and Trinity had me doubled up laughing.

As I've previously said, this is a short novella but it's impactful. I'd recommend this book for Straight, Gay, Lesbian, Bi, Curious and everyone else in the world really. Reena tackles some difficult issues in this novel and although this is not a heavy read, it will make you think.
In short, this is a stunning book with lessons to be learned in both loving yourself, loving others, being true to yourself and breaking free and with an ending I'm sure most readers will love.

Predators of Darkness: Aftermath by Leonard D. Hilley

Target Audience: Adults
Genre: Horror/Sci-fi/Dystopia

I'd like to start by thanking Mr Hilley for asking me to review his novel and for allowing me to publish my review on my blog. I will now go on to say that this is a brilliant read and definitely one for lovers of sci-fi and horror, oh, and talking cats!
Before going on I'll give you a brief spoiler-free synopsis and I am also going to warn that this book contains content of an adult nature and some bits that some teenage or younger readers may find upsetting.

Following a missile strike, the inhabitants of Pittsburgh now live in the research center hiding from monsters that now stalk the streets. These creatures known as Shifters are able to change shape at will and get stronger feeding off other creatures. Daniel, the leader of the group of survivors discovers that Pittsburgh is fenced off and that nothing is as it seems leading them all to question whether the Shifters were an accident or whether they were placed there on purpose.

This book struck me as very different from a lot of other horror/sci-fi novels I have read in my time and it really took me by surprise. I am going to be honest and say that It took me a few chapters to get into it and there was a strong macho air about the story (for example, women fighting to be with the men they wanted and men fighting to be at the top of the pecking order) but this was a minor niggle for me and it didn't take anything from the plot.  The story moved quickly and without any jumping around, which was a relief and I was reading very fast towards the end as the pieces came together and everything made complete sense.

There were some instances that had me absolutely horrified and scared out of my skin. I have a very active imagination so anything I read I can picture very clearly and the thought of monsters running around eating people and humans becoming monsters terrified me to no end.
The writing is very well done and I couldn't help but imagine how these people were living and I had a strong sense of claustrophobia just reading about the living conditions.

On a character front I have to say that there are a lot of them but only a few are looked at closely. Those few including Daniel, Lucas, Dr Helmsby, Julia, Johanna and a few others, the rest of them are touched upon but aren't focused upon as much.
On the Shifter side of things very few of them are focused on and  I can't say who or what without spoiling the plot for those who haven't read it, so I'm keeping my fingers away from the keyboard in that area.
The thing I liked the best in this book though...the talking cat! Yes, there's a talking cat called Morton! This alone is a reason to read this book, he's awesome :-)

Anyway, in all seriousness, if you love your sci-fi, horror and a dash of romance and some truly creepy and scary scenes definitely give this a read. I will definitely be reading the next in the series.

Half-Inch by McCarty Griffin

Target Audience: Adults

Genre: Fiction/Dark Chick lit

I hadn't really heard of this sort of genre before but when I got an email from the author asking me to review her book I thought it'd be an interesting read so I agreed to do it. I'm very glad I did since it seems to twist murder and humour with effortless ease. Just think of a pretty good chick lit novel with a rather morbid twist and a hell of a lesson to be learned.

Pammy had been married to her abusive husband for years before finally their about to be divorced. Pammy however feels she will never be free of him and so decides to kill him. Years of being stuck inside and watching murder programmes has enabled her to envision the perfect murder plan, and so she puts it into action. And wow is it an incredible plan!

I really loved this! It's short and yet to the point and there is no rambling and although I don't condone murder in any sense, I have to say I had massive sympathy with Pammy and the situation she was in. The recalls of abuse weren't too graphic although I will say that anyone who has ever been in her situation may find this book a little too close to home.
Her murder plan was truly ingenious and the end part of it had me laughing at the idea of it; the scale of it is incredible and that's all I'm saying since I don't want to spoil it for anyone!

There was a one bit i did find a bit weird and that was with who else the plan for murder included. I didn't understand why and that did bug me a little, but none the less this doesn't take much from the otherall quality of the story.
Pammy is an inspirtional if not slightly nutty character and although I don't agree murder is the way out of an abusive relationship there are some very clever hints throughout about getting out of these relationships quickly and not letting it get as bad as it got for the main character in this book. There is always an escape. As if to reinforce that everything has a consequence, Pammy gets to find out something at the end that maybe makes her slightly regret her plans and I found the ending added a bit of balance, although I was cringing on behalf of Pammy.

All in all, if you love a bit of chick lit with a rather morbid twist then give this a go. Pammy is a likeable and very tough character and despite her plans you will warm to her (in an odd kinda way!)
Anyway, don't be too judgemental :-)

Between by Cyndi Tefft

Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults
Genre: Fantasy/Romance/Historical Fiction

First of all I'd like to say a big thank you to Cyndi for asking me to review this for her, it's always an honour to be asked :-)
As usual I'll start my review with a brief, spoiler-free synopsis:
Lindsey waters is on a date when tragedy strikes and she is killed in a car accident, but for Lindsey, this is only the beginning. Soon after her death a very handsome Scot names Aiden appears who tells her he is there to transport her to heaven.
But as Lindsey and Aiden spend more time together and their attraction grows, Lindsey finds herself resisting the lure of heaven itself in order to be with him. Can love really be strong enough to transcend the boundaries of life and death?

If your reading the above and thinking it sounds to similar to other supernatural and paranormal love stories then you couldn't be more wrong. Between takes all of the elements that are needed for a good romance and has a twist of it's own.
The idea of a transporter is a fascinating thing to me, after all, how can we be expected to die and immediately know where to go? The answer? We can't. Therefore it'd be nice to have a guide, and that is what Aiden is.
This story does not start gently and I was taken aback a little (in a good way) by the beginning because I did not see it coming at all, which is weird, because I knew that Lindsey was dead from the start because of the synopsis.
In relation to that however, I will confess that the story goes a little slow just before the middle, but this soon picks up again and it wasn't much of an issue at all.
There's also a massive twist half way through that I honestly didn't see coming, and my jaw literally dropped because it was the last thing I was expecting!

I really really loved the all the trips to various times and places (although I won't say too much because I don't want to spoil anything) through the eyes of both Lindsey and Aiden. To me this made the whole afterlife seem much more adventurous and having the ability to look back at things is a fascinating concept, especially when considering the fact you may notice different things while looking at something you've already experienced (again I will say no more, I shall spoil nothing!)

Ultimately this is a romance with an historical twist and if your a Scottish fan (or if your an eighth Scottish like me) you will be drawn in by the Scottish history and landscape just like I was. If your not a Scottish fan, then it really doesn't matter because this is a truly enchanting story and not to be missed in any way, shape or form.
And as for Aiden himself, well I think I fell for him, every girl in the world young or old dreams of finding a man who is that devoted, loyal and romantic and Aiden is all that and more *swoons while typing*
I challenge any woman reading this, not to want Aiden, I really do!

In summary, I loved this novel. Cyndi has created a very imaginative and original world that has no bounds or limits, I have to admit, I would never have imagined an afterlife like this.  Romantic, pacey and with several jaw-dropping twists, I think all readers will be left longing for the next in the series. Amazing book!

The Advice Girl by L.A. Shaw

Target Audience: Adults/Young Adults
Genre: Fantasy/Romance/Paranormal

When I was asked to review this by the author I jumped at the chance after reading the blurb (do people still use that term?) This book was a quick read but it that doesn't diminish much from the overall affect and is a wonderfully compelling read that kept me hooked from beginning to end.

In summary, Kira and Sophia are best friends. They live together, spend a lot of time together and they both really really love coffee (I just love fellow coffee fiends!). The story picks up one day shortly after Christmas when both girls are getting ready to go to work, Sophia however isn't feeling well and doesn't go in. Later, on arriving back from work, Kira finds out that her friend has been killed in an accident.
Kira is left devastated until a note hints at Sophia's possible survival and she finds herself caught up in a war between two sides that she didn't even know existed, and things are about to get a whole lot worse.

I was gripped with this book from the prologue which seemed completely different to the title of the book. My initial thought was what has this got to do with an advice girl? But this was a good thing, the change in direction really grabbed my attention and the plot came together nicely without it seeming forced or ridiculous.
As a fan of fantasy and sci-fi I love anything that has extraordinary people in an ordinary setting and Sophia was one such person. But the thing I found the most amazing was that despite the fact that Sophia was the character with special abilities, Kira had her own talents and I found her determination and loyalty to be just as compelling as Sophia's ability.

As well as the gripping plot, I also took a personal liking the the fact that it was partially based in the UK (biased I know, but hey!) It makes a book feel more personal when you can imagine the setting very clearly and in this case I could. Having been to London and considering the size of it, it was so easy to imagine the events in this book taking place there and around the area.  This may not be important in all books, but it sure added to the affect this novel had on me.

But, as we know and as I often say, it is the characters that can make or break a novel and the characters in this one are fantastic! Without a doubt it was Kira, Sophia and Ethan that stole the show (or book in this case) and my personal favourite was Kira. Why you might ask? She had no extra special powers, she wasn't some amazingly talented being, yet she was brave, intelligent, gutsy and would have done anything for Sophia, and that to me is an extraordinary ability even if it isn't in the conventional sense.
Sophia came a close second for me and I loved her attitude towards life. She had an enormous amount of horrible stuff happen to her yet she dealt with it in courageous fashion where most people would have caved in and given up. Don't get me wrong, this wasn't done to any extreme, she was still very sensitive and able to cry which was also a good thing; some authors take their heroines and make them insensitive and as hard as nails...women can be strong and still feel, and Ms Shaw has had no problems displaying this in this novel.
Now Ethan, I loved him to bits! Such a great guy and I want to say so much more about him but I don't want to go into too much depth in case I ruin the story!

Now, moving on I have to confess that there were a few little bits that niggled me, but they were minor so I'll be very brief. I did think this book could have been longer as bits of the story felt a bit rushed, such as the progression of Sophia's relationship with Ethan and I would have liked to know a little bit more about Sophia's talent. Admittedly though, this is the first in the series and I am well aware of the fact that there is plenty of time to explore these things so I haven't judged this book to harshly on those things.
And also, don't be fooled by the age of the characters. Yes, they are adults but this book could sit quite comfortably in both adult fiction and YA, so please don't let that stop you.

In summary, this is a pacey, romantic, energetic and original novel that I believe, deserves a lot more attention. It is well written, intelligent and gripping from start to finish, and definitely not to be missed if your a fan of fantasy/sci-fi and romance.
Personally, I can't wait for the next in the series especially since the this book ended the way it did, I love a good cliffhanger!  Whatever you taste in books, I definitely would say this book is worth reading and whether it's your cup of tea or not, there is no denying that Ms Shaw is a talented writer and has a promising career ahead of her as an author.

Beautiful Sins: Olivia Lowery by Jennifer Hampton

Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults
Genre: Fantasy/Paranormal


I was sent the first book in the Beautiful Sins series by Jennifer, and I was so thrilled by it that I then went on to buy this one. Before I go any further I will tell you that I have also downloaded the third too, because I am dying to know what happens next!
I'll also say that everyone who loves a good fantasy/paranormal with a hint of romance should give Jennifer's books a go because they are amazing and inventive. I'm not going to lie, there are quite a few grammatical errors and spelling mistakes but that it because she has done the editing herself, look past that, and you have an fantastic story capable of a good few hours escapism.

Anyway, this book continues a little while after the end of the previous which ended on one hell of a cliffhanger. The difference being, 'Olivia Lowery' starts in a different place with a different lead character. Yes, this may seem a little confusing but don't worry, it makes complete sense once you start reading it.
Olivia's life is perfect and she lives with her father, step-mother and step-brother with lots of money and a place at the very exclusive school with her clique friends. Then on her sixteenth birthday she wakes up slightly different and everything changes, turning her world upside down and revealing a string of lies and secrets that have been kept from her.
To make things worse, she finds herself teleporting near a girl who looks exactly like her and Olivia knows that she has to save her and if that wasn't bad enough, her annoying step-brother turns out to be the person she must now rely on most.

I'll admit that I liked this a little less than 'Leigha Lowery' as the plot was a bit confusing in places, but it wasn't enough confusion to make a massive impact to my rating. I could still understand it and I loved it to bits, and Jennifer is clearly a talented writer because she managed to take so many different aspects of the plot and bring it together so it made sense, always a good thing!
This book breathes life into a genre that often runs stale and it was fascinating seeing different ideas of werewolves, vampires and demons. Then of course there was the new species of the 'Cleaner' which was a brilliant idea, a supernatural creature with so much power they clean up the mess left by the other supernatural creatures in whatever form that might take.

The story itself linked nicely, and I loved how both Leigh and Olivia finally came together and how the truth came out in the end. There are also some truths revealed regarding Alexander from Leigha's story, bringing in a new twist on the chronicles and the introduction of some new characters that are just as engaging and absorbing to read about.
In this book though, it is some of the secondary characters that end up taking center stage, such as Jazmine and Blu (and I have to admit part of Blu's story almost had me in tears). Those two really stole the show in a couple of chapters near the end and their relationship became of vital importance towards the end of the book.
With regards to other characters, I found Olivia and Eric really funny. Their relationship was light hearted, witty and yet oh so serious at times and I would love a brother like him. Everyone should have an Eric in their lives.  Leigha also plays a big part in this and it was great to see her break out and do different things, and her relationship with Olivia was fantastic, despite the fact they'd only just met.

I can't say much more without spoiling masses of the plot and I really don't want to do that for anyone. I will say that at some points in this book I wanted to cry, at others I wanted to laugh and at others I just wanted to jump into the book and give Gabriel a big kiss. But in all seriousness, there is one particular gruesome bit of description in one chapter that made even me flinch, and I've read a lot of things.
Anyway, I'll let you find out for yourself! Check out Jennifer's books on Amazon.co.uk or .com if your reading this in the states!

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults
Genre: Fantasy/Romance


Woohoo! The forth Mortal Instruments book! And is it as good as the hype? Yes it is! It's amazing. It's sexy. It's funny. And it has Jace in it! What more can I say? plenty actually :-)
City of Fallen Angels picks up a little while after the end of City of Glass (COG for those who are into the acronyms). Jace and Clary are finally together, Simon is attempting to date two very fiery women at once (asking for trouble!), Luke and Jocelyn are planning their wedding and everything seems fine. But it doesn't stay that way for long as an ancient vampire names Camille comes onto the scene and seeks out Simon, Shadowhunters are turning up dead and Jace is pulling away from Clary with no apparent explanation.

Sound exciting? Well it is and that's putting it mildly. There is no off switch with this book and for that I am extremely thankful. Is anyone aware of that feeling when your reading a book and it seems to be going very slow? Well with this it was the opposite. One minute I'd be 50 pages in and the next I was 200 without realising I'd been reading for a couple of hours straight (A very good reason why I didn't read this at work).
The way the plot came together was extraordinary and somehow several unconnected events became interlinked with one another which is something I love about Clare's writing; she has a true gift for story telling and for world shaping which marks her out as a truly remarkable author.

For those wondering about the razor sharp wit that we usually experience from Clare's work, well, it's still there and in good form. I couldn't stop laughing at one paragraph with a song dedication, containing the following lyrics: "I want to bang you like a drum". I was in stitches while sitting in Costa Coffee drinking hot chocolate, and I was getting very weird looks :-)
Simon and Jace are both just as funny as they were as well, especially when faced with imminent danger or certain death, and why not? Because lets face it, if your going to die you may as well die making a joke as opposed to begging for your life.

The best part about returning to the world of the Shadowhunters? Has to be the characters and all the old favourites are back. Jace and Clary's relationship was stellar in this and there is one scene in particular had my heart racing, not just because of the all the romance and heat but because of the tension and emotion, I was left stunned.  Those two are meant to be and every time they interact sparks fly.
Simon's relationships with Isabelle and Maia are wonderful and have unexpected twists involving a character that we've never seen but has been mentioned. I won't say any more on that front because it will spoil a good chunk of the novel and I am not going to do that.
For Magnus and Alec fans, don't fear! Our favourite Shadowhunter/Warlock couple is back and they are so amazing, I love them both and I really want a happy ending for them. Magnus, you'll be pleased to hear, still has his extraordinary fashion sense ;-)

I could go on and on and on about this but I will end up spoiling things. So I will end by saying the plot is amazing, it will make you laugh and cry in equal measure. There are a few "ah ha!" moments as well as you link events from past books to this one and the story takes some amazing twists.
The ending will leave you longing for the next in the series and I am dying to get my hands on book 5. Why must I wait do long? It is torture I tell you, Torture!
Anyway, read this, read it, read it, READ IT!
That is all, thank you xxx

Fairy Tale by Cyn Balog

Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults
Genre: Faerie/Romance


I'd come across mixed opinions when reading reviews on this book and I was reluctant to start it because of the number of negative reviews I'd read. Which goes to show why you should never ever read reviews and decide not to read a book because this book is really really good :-)

Morgan is 15 and about to celebrate her sweet sixteen along with boyfriend Cam, who she has known forever. Things look set to be perfect and their future as perfect couple is set. That is until, Pip comes to stay and it's revealed that Cam is actually a Faerie King and has to go back to Otherworld on his sixteenth birthday. Determined to keep her boyfriend, Morgan and Cam come up with a plan for him to stay,  but as Cam continues to change Morgan begins to wonder, is it really for the best that he stays?

Fairy Tale is a lot more than a fairy story, it is a beautiful love story as well as a tale of growing up, making difficult choices and making sacrifices for those you love. I had huge respect for Morgan in this book and with the final choice she made, I knew it was going to happen yet I was still surprised when it did.
The story itself was cleverly written and I loved the growing relationship between Pip and Morgan, and the changing relationship between Cam and Morgan. There were a lot of highly amusing moments as well as the emotional and romantic storyline.

Perhaps one of my favourite characters was Pip, he was so selfless and I haven't read about such an innocent and sweet person in a long time. And as the story unfolded, I felt even more for him, and by the time the ending came along I was routing for something good to happen to him.
I won't spoil the ending, but the chemistry between all of the various characters was flawless and beautiful, and the romance had me internally going 'awwwwwwww'

I will say one thing, although it isn't a cliff hanger, it will feel like one. And you'll want to know what happens after. But sadly people, as far as I'm aware, this is a stand alone novel, so you will have to use your imagination.

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults
Genre: Dystopia/Romance



Lauren Oliver's books have been on my to-read list for ages, but I had such a backlog that I had to let my younger sister read this first. I'm nice like that :-)

Lena is a 17-year-old girl living in Portland, America. She has an older sister, a best friend, a home and a family. The one major difference between her world and this one? She lives in a world where love is forbidden. Now only 95 days from the procedure that will make her to unable to love, she does the last thing she imagined she'd do, she falls in love.

One of the things I really really liked about this book was Lena herself. She was so refreshingly normal; she screamed, she cried, she raged, she felt and most importantly she loved and this made the book all the more human and believable. No one about to undergo such a traumatic procedure and to suffer what she suffered would just breeze through life. That's not how life works, and too many authors have fearless heroine's and it drives me nuts! Lauren is not guilty of this, simply put, she's a very clever and very emotional writer.

The story itself was really good for the most part and the world building was fantastic. It did slow down a little at times and I found myself sort of drifting a little, but this is a minor complaint, as with any first novel in a series there is quite a bit of description of both characters and back story.
To me it was the concept itself that really dragged me in and I could feel the closed in feeling eminating from Lena, Alex and Hana.
The relationship between Lena and Alex reminded me a little of Romeo and Juliet; the forbidden meetings and hiding how they felt, were very reminiscent of Shakespeare's tragedy. Other than that slight similarity in the relationship though, everything else is completely different, and very beautiful.
I really felt for Lena, I couldn't help it, the frustration of having the people who should be closest to you treating you like an almost stranger must be incredibly painful and very difficult to deal with.

On a more personal basis, the idea of being devoid of love just seems empty to me, and this book really brought the concept home. No matter how much heartache I might suffer in my life, I would never wish to be without emotions, the idea wouldn't even compute in my brain, so to read this felt like experiencing a nightmare. Im slightly claustrophobic and this book really made me feel it, whether your trapped physically or emotionally, it is a devastating thing to feel.

Anyway, I'll stop my babbling and just say, this is an amazing novel with some truly frightening ideas, a beautiful love story, some thrilling action and a lesson in love that I will never forget.
I can't wait for the next in the series.