Book Haul (#89)

Hey,

I HOPE YOU'RE ALL OKAY AND ENJOYING THE LOVELY HEAT OF SUMMER! And enjoying books and holidays and all the rest of it! It feels like a long time since I've done a book haul post. I haven't taken many trips to the library and I've only just been requesting books to review so.. here we goo!

Also, I've started reading The Maze Runner! I've FINALLY made a start and I'm really liking it and I can't wait for more of my questions to be answered because I'm like 30 pages in.

ALSOALSOALSOOOOO, this week I've been obsessing over the sci-fi TV show The 100. YOU AMERICANS YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT! It's been out for a few weeks in the UK but the series has already finished in the US and THAT is how I have seen the whole of season 1 despite being in the UK... yes, I watched them online and cheated and watched them all in under 24 hours. 

Damn it's just so good. I might write a whole post about how much I love it. Actually I will do that at some point!! By the way, I am 100% shipping #Linctavia. AND season 2 will be out on October 22nd so all of you who haven't started watching it can go and do so... NOW!!

This week I received:

Better Than Perfect (Wild Cards #1) by Simone Elkeles - Received -
Thank you so so so much Bloomsbury! Also, thank you for the Skittles, I was quite confused but when reading the book it made sense. I read this in one sitting, I honestly couldn't put it down. *Sigh* This book has reminded me how much I miss Simone Elkeles' books. I want like 10 more please... even better if they're about Ashtyn and Derek. My review shall be out soon. Get ready for some gushing.
Unmarked (The Legion #2) by Kami Garcia - Received - 
Thank you, Simon and Schusters and Netgalley! I liked Unbreakable so I thought I'd have a go at this one as it is said to be better than the first. This is about ghosts and it's pretty darn creepy!

The Parts I Remember by A.K. Mills - Received -
Thank you, A.K. Mills! I'm actually quite excited about the premise for this which is why I've agreed to take part in the blog tour for the sequel in October so my review should be in the next month.

Leave a link to your Book Haul/Stacking the Shelves/In My Mailbox/Showcase Sunday/Letterbox Love in the comments below so I can check it out!

Have a great week and enjoy your books!
Sam :)

Beach Reads in August Giveaway Hop

Hey,

This giveaway hop is hosted by Valerie over at Stuck in Books.

We all need a good beach read that will hold our attention while we're bathing under the glorious sun. One winner will one book from below. The giveaway is international as long as the Book Depository ships to you!

Storm and Stone by Joss Stirling

Cruel Summer by James Dawson

Things I Can't Forget by Miranda Kenneally

Undeniable by Liz Bankes

The Summer I Became a Nerd by Leah Rae Miller

How My Summer Went Up in Flames by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski

Wait For You by J Lynn
White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
A Midsummer's Nightmare by Kody Keplinger

Such a Rush by Jennifer Echols
Forget You by Jennifer Echols

To enter simply fill out the Rafflecopter below.

**GIVEAWAY CLOSED**

Winner: Clair W.

She picked My Life Next Door.

Thank you all for entering!

Thanks for entering and good luck! Check out some other giveaways:

Sam :)

Waiting on Wednesday (114)

Hey,

This week I'm waiting for...

Suspicion by Alexandra Monir

Release Date: December 9, 2014

Mysterious. Magnificent. Creepy. Welcome to Rockford Manor.

"There's something hidden in the Maze." Seventeen-year-old Imogen has never forgotten the last words her father said to her seven years ago, before the blazing fire that consumed him, her mother, and the gardens of her family's English country manor.

Haunted by her parents' deaths, Imogen moves to New York City with her new guardians. But when a letter arrives with the news of her cousin's untimely death, revealing that Imogen is now the only heir left to run the estate, she returns to England and warily accepts her role as duchess.

All is not as it seems at Rockford, and Imogen quickly learns that dark secrets lurk behind the mansion's aristocratic exterior, hinting that the spate of deaths in her family were no accident. And at the center of the mystery is Imogen herself--and Sebastian, the childhood friend she has secretly loved for years. Just what has Imogen walked into?

That cover though! It's a real beauty. BUT THE CONCEPT SOUNDS AMAZING ALSO. Mazes. I love mazes. AND THERE'S A ROMANCE. A maze, mystery, and a romance... Could I have it now please?

Leave a link to your WoW post in the comments below so I can check it out!

Have a good week,
Sam :D

My review of Before You

Before You (Before & After #1) by Amber Hart
Release Date: July 29, 2014
Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon | The Book Depository

Some say love is deadly. Some say love is beautiful. I say it is both.

Faith Watters spent her junior year traveling the world, studying in exquisite places, before returning to Oviedo High School. From the outside her life is picture-perfect. Captain of the dance team. Popular. Happy. Too bad it’s all a lie.

It will haunt me. It will claim me. It will shatter me. And I don't care.

Eighteen-year-old Diego Alvarez hates his new life in the States, but staying in Cuba is not an option. Covered in tattoos and scars, Diego doesn't stand a chance of fitting in. Nor does he want to. His only concern is staying hidden from his past—a past, which if it were to surface, would cost him everything. Including his life.

At Oviedo High School, it seems that Faith Watters and Diego Alvarez do not belong together. But fate is as tricky as it is lovely. Freedom with no restraint is what they long for. What they get is something different entirely.


Love—it will ruin you and save you, both.

Reading Before You was like reading Simone Elkeles' Perfect Chemistry. They follow a similar story line of an exotic Spanish-speaking dude who moves to the high school after being in a dangerous gang. At the beginning our heroine can't stand him, but then she realises that she can't resist him and their racy romance just gets going from there.

Before You was not a bad read, I actually really enjoyed it, and I hate to say that it's not as good as Perfect Chemistry as I felt that it had a lot more to offer than just the similar plot. For instance, Faith's best friend Melissa who was just completely hilarious and could not have been a better portrayal of a best friend. I admired her confident attitude and how she would always stand with Faith no matter what, but also Faith's father who plays a big part in her character development through out the novel. He is a pastor which means that she is expected by the community to be a certain way and she's really just wanting to make father happy while also longing to end the fake image that she has to up hold.

Faith and Diego's relationship is bittersweet and the author takes you on a crazy roller coaster as there are some extreme appearances from dangerous gangs who just mess everything up. It's a shaky start between the two, but obviously they begin to fall for each other. Their relationship is enjoyable and I loved watching them fall for each other in the time in which they were given.

I some how felt that the story was a bit predictable and didn't hold that extra spark that Perfect Chemistry had. Nevertheless, I felt that Before You was an engaging read that would definitely be perfect for the summer or for any contemporary fans out there looking for another book like Perfect Chemistry.

Rating

A review copy was provided by the publisher

Blogging Crisis and What Am I Reading?

Hey there my fellow chums,

I was scrolling through my posts (as I do when I need some inspiration) and noticed that I don't post that much. I compared my posts during months from when I first started blogging to now and I feel disgusted. Most of the reason is due to my busy schoolwork schedule that is gradually becoming more hectic, but part of the reason is down to laziness. I have so many ideas for posts, so many blogs I want to stalk, so many readers I want to interact with... but I feel like I've lost my spark. 

I started this blog because I genuinely loved books with all my heart and I loved the idea of sharing my reviews and getting to know others with the same passion. Obviously I still love books, but that extra spark I once had has dimmed. Has it completely gone? I don't think so. Perhaps I'm just not cut out for blogging but I will keep going because I actually really enjoy it once I get into the routine. All I can is a gigantic sorry for being a lazy bug and hardly posting anything interesting, while also offering a big thank you to you all for being so supportive and amazing and everything because it has really opened my eyes that I need to try harder, do more, EXPRESS MY FEELLLLS FOR BOOOOOKS! You will be washed away by all my feels.

Now that mini crisis is over. I thought it'd be cool to share with you guys what I'm reading right now, what I think about them, etc. 

Before You (Before and After #1) by Amber Hart - July 29, 2014
I requested this from Netgalley because it just sounded like a really nice YA contemporary read. It's hard to make contemporaries stand out nowadays because it seems like all the unique concepts have been done (but some authors will find ways, I'm sure.) Now this book follows in the well-known "bad-boy" style. Actually, I'd compare this very closely with Perfect Chemistry. The only redeeming qualities so far have been the supporting characters and the main character's pastor father. I'm really liking it so far but it's not entirely unique and the concept will seem like dave ja vu if you've read Perfect Chemistry. But I've heard there are some twists in this one to come so I'll be looking out for them. 

If you want to see my updates on the books I'm reading regularly then you can friend me on Goodreads.

Have a good weekend,
Sam :)

Waiting on Wednesday (113)

Hey,

This week I'm waiting for...

Heir of Fire (Thrown of Glass #3) by Sarah J. Maas

Release Date: September 2, 2014

Lost and broken, Celaena Sardothien's only thought is to avenge the savage death of her dearest friend: as the King of Adarlan's Assassin, she is bound to serve this tyrant, but he will pay for what he did. Any hope Celaena has of destroying the king lies in answers to be found in Wendlyn. 

Sacrificing his future, Chaol, the Captain of the King's Guard, has sent Celaena there to protect her, but her darkest demons lay in that same place. If she can overcome them, she will be Adarlan's biggest threat - and his own toughest enemy. 

While Celaena learns of her true destiny, and the eyes of Erilea are on Wendlyn, a brutal and beastly force is preparing to take to the skies. Will Celaena find the strength not only to win her own battles, but to fight a war that could pit her loyalties to her own people against those she has grown to love? 

THESE BOOKS ARE SO AMAZING; I CAN'T DEAL! One of the best fantasy series I've ever read (and I've only read two of the books in the six books series.) Throne of Glass and Crown of Midnight  were brilliant and I am desperate for this book. I just want it. On my shelf. In my hands. HERE NOW!

Leave a link to your WoW post in the comments below so I can check it out!

Have a good week,
Sam :D

My review of Little White Lies

Little White Lies by Katie Dale
Release Date: August 1, 2013
Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon | The Book Depository

The first time Lou meets tall, dark, and handsome Christian, she knows he's hiding something. Why does he clam up every time she asks about his past? Why doesn't he have any family photos and why does he dye his blond hair black? 

Then suddenly his terrible secret is unveiled to the world - and it seems everything he's ever told Lou is a lie. Can what the media are saying about him really be true? Should Lou trust him? Or is she in terrible danger? But Christian isn't the only one keeping secrets. For what if their chance meeting was no accident at all ...? 


As lie follows lie, nothing is as it seems, and soon Lou finds herself ensnared in a web of deceit, her loyalties torn, her emotions in tatters as she faces a heart-wrenching dilemma: should she shatter the lives of those she holds dearest, or betray the guy who, against all odds, she's fallen in love with?

Little White Lies is a mystery-thriller that you will not be able to put down to the very end. The storyline is gripping and mysterious. It is a book that will keep you guessing. If you're looking to step away from the fluffy romance contemporaries, pick this up; for you will not regret it!

This story is about Lou. She's having a normal life in university until Christian turns up; but he's not like everyone else. He acts suspiciously and everyone knows he's hiding a big secret which he continues to cover up with lies. Piece by piece, the truth is uncovered and Christian is definitely not who anyone expecting...

Dale has done extremely well delivering a stunning second novel which provides everything and more than what you could ask for from a YA contemporary thriller/mystery. It ticks all the major boxes for me and Dale's writing style is the icing on the cake! 

I enjoyed the characters very much indeed. Lou is extremely interesting and the way she thinks is intriguing to follow. However, sometimes I felt like I needed to slap her round the head and get some sense into her because she's quite confused and naive at times, but the information about her life is slowly revealed to us to keep us on our toes.

Don't brush Little White Lies to the side, definitely give it a go. It is one of a kind with a storyline that will not let you go. There is a romance side, but mainly it focuses on mystery and crime. Perfection.

Rating

Waiting on Wednesday (112)

Hey,

This week I'm waiting for...

Trial by Fire (The Worldwalker Trilogy #1) by Josephine Angelini

Release Date: September 2, 2014

Love burns. Worlds collide. Magic reigns.

This world is trying to kill Lily Proctor. Her life-threatening allergies keep her from enjoying many of the experiences that other teenagers take for granted...which is why she is determined to enjoy her first (and perhaps only) high-school party. But Lily's life never goes according to plan, and after a humiliating incident in front of half her graduating class Lily wishes she could just disappear.

Suddenly Lily is in a different Salem - one overrun with horrifying creatures and ruled by powerful women called Crucibles. Strongest and cruellest of all the Crucibles is Lillian . . . Lily's identical other self in this alternate universe. This new version of her world is terrifyingly sensual, and Lily is soon overwhelmed by new experiences.

Lily realizes that what makes her weak at home is exactly what makes her extraordinary in New Salem. It also puts her life in danger. Thrown into a world she doesn't understand, Lily is torn between responsibilities she can't hope to shoulder alone, and a love she never expected.

But how can Lily be the saviour of this world when she is literally her own worst enemy?

I am a loyal fan of Josephine Angelini after her amazing Starcrossed trilogy (Starcrossed, Dreamless, Goddess) and I'm anxious to see what she can pull out of the bag now!!

Leave a link to your WoW post in the comments below so I can check it out!

Have a good week,
Sam :D

My review of Defy the Stars

Defy the Stars (Flynn #4) by Sophie McKenzie
Release Date: January 2, 2014
Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon | The Book Depository

After months apart, everyone thinks that River is successfully building a future without Flynn. Indeed, she has almost convinced herself that she is moving on. And then, one day, Flynn is back, bringing with him tales of his glamorous new life. River suspects his lucrative new work involves some form of criminal activity, but will she let herself be drawn back into Flynn's world? Or is this, finally, the end of the line for them both?

Defy the Stars is the fourth and final book in the contemporary series Flynn set over the course of over two years. It follows a girl named River who meets her first love Flynn. And their romantic relationship does not follow a steady course. After many bumps in the road, we finally witness whether their fierce and burning love was really meant to last.

This is not a contemporary series that I would rave about because I'm not particularly obsessed with the storyline. However, I have enjoyed what the books have had to offer and how the characters have wonderfully developed over the course of the four books.

River isn't the best protagonist and her decisions are not always great; but she is tolerable.  In the first book, Falling Fast, she seems so young compared to how she is in this book. She's grown and matured and the way she narrates the story is not too bad either. As for Flynn, he's now got a hold of his anger and temper issues and is attempting to make something of himself. I couldn't help but cheer their relationship on to the very end of the book.

The ending may not be what we are exactly expecting, but it's a great twist that will surprise you and bring you to tears! I really liked how the author rounded the story off, and I would recommend this series to anyone wanting a contemporary series that is short, sweet, and compelling while dealing with some difficult and daring issues.

Rating

Waiting on Wednesday (111)

Hey,

This week I'm waiting for...

A Thousand Pieces of You (Firebird #1) by Claudia Gray

Release Date: November 4, 2014

Marguerite Caine’s physicist parents are known for their radical scientific achievements. Their most astonishing invention: the Firebird, which allows users to jump into parallel universes, some vastly altered from our own. But when Marguerite’s father is murdered, the killer—her parent’s handsome and enigmatic assistant Paul—escapes into another dimension before the law can touch him.

Marguerite can’t let the man who destroyed her family go free, and she races after Paul through different universes, where their lives entangle in increasingly familiar ways. With each encounter she begins to question Paul’s guilt—and her own heart. Soon she discovers the truth behind her father’s death is more sinister than she ever could have imagined.

A Thousand Pieces of You explores a reality where we witness the countless other lives we might lead in an amazingly intricate multiverse, and ask whether, amid infinite possibilities, one love can endure.

I haven't read anything from Claudia Gray since her Evernight series and I really like the sound of this. I am familiar with her writing style and I know that I will immensely enjoy this.

Leave a link to your WoW post in the comments below so I can check it out!

Have a good week,
Sam :D