Summer!

So even though it's the summer, I've noticed we are on less. I just wanted to update you all on the reasons why.
So at the moment I'm working in a charity shop sorting out the thousands of books - now that is only on Tuesday and Thursdays - but also I'm reading the books Méabh has written reviews about that I have yet to read and history books so that's mainly why O haven't been on.

As for Méabh she doesn't have a laptop of her own for the summer and she has been very busy from going to Switzerland and breaking her collarbone (typical) to hanging with her American cousins.

So ya that's basically that.

But I got photos of the beautiful books I'm working with for you all. So enjoy being jealous ;) and I hope he all are having a brilliant summer! 

Divergent by Veronica Roth

“We believe in ordinary acts of bravery, in the courage that drives one person to stand up for another.”

Okay lets see what we have here. Oh ya it's Divergent by Veronica Roth. Now this book is simply amazing. It kept me captivated throughout and had me bouncing in my chair waiting for Insurgent.

As you all probably know this book was made into a film. Just let me tell you that is was amazing. It was really well put together and Theo James! Oh man there aren't even words. But i'm not reviewing the film i'm reviewing the book. So here goes!

Divergent was a well thought out roller coaster of a story. It is set in a futuristic Chicago where society is split into five groups (factions). Erudite (the intelligent), Amity (the peaceful), Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless) and Dauntless (the brave). Every year all sixteen year olds are given the choice to switch factions or stay in their old ones. They are given a test that will confirm what faction is their true faction.

But for Beatrice Prior that is not the case. She has never felt like she belonged in her faction (Abnegation). So when the time comes for her test she is both scared and hopeful. Little does she know that the results of this test will change her life forever.

Fast forward now and Beatrice aka. Tris has switched factions. Leaving her old life behind she sets out to embrace her new life as a Dauntless initiate. Enter Four. Now this guy just about captured my heart. Being an initiate trainer he instructs Tris and co. in combat and weapons training. He is mysterious, smart and level headed. Tris is put through her paces. Working to become a Dauntless member and keeping her secret that if found out would be the end for her. But something is coming. Tris and Four are going to have to use all of their training if they want to survive.

“Fear doesn't shut you down; it wakes you up”

Veronica Roth writing is very intricate and thought out but in a simple way. The descriptions of the character and setting are well worded. The plot is fast paced and action packed. The romance in the story doesn't overtake the action and that is something you don't see often in books and I find really refreshing.  

The story as a whole is captivating and heart stopping. It deals with concepts and topics that are very real today. It will leave you wanting more.

“I feel like someone breathed new air into my lungs. I am not Abnegation. I am not Dauntless. 

I am Divergent.” 

So now I think you can guess what my rating is! I really had no problems with this book so if you like dystopian futuristic novels then give this one a try!

Goodread's link

The Selection by Kiera Cass

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself--and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

The Selection by Kiera Cass, literally kept me up all night.

Her writing was very simple, her story line not too complicated, It was an easy going book, a break from the heart-ache and stress of bigger more complicated series out there. It wasn't action-packed or had a love story that made your heart swell, but it was beautiful in it's own way. 

We've all read the books with the future that consists of different classes of people and so on. So in respect to that aspect of the book it wasn't much different than the likes of the 'Hunger Games' or 'Divergent.' 

This book consisted of a love triangle, something I'm not the biggest fan of and I have Suzanne Collins to blame for that. After breaking my heart with Katniss ending up with Peeta instead of Gale. I just don't trust authors who write love-triangles anymore. 

I fell in love with Aspen the moment I heard his name. I loved him even when he broke her heart, because I understood why. Why he had done what he had done. He'd been looking out for her and I got that. 

As for Max, I didn't want to fall in love with him, but overtime he grew on me. He was a sweetheart. An awkward boy that had never experienced love, or anything about life for that matter. He had a kind heart. 

America Singer was the main character in this book and she was truly special. She was an independent woman that knew the difference between wrong and right. Between telling the truth and lies. She was special and I really truly loved her character. 

One aspect of the book that really annoyed me was how America treated someone as kind as Max, she couldn't even say she loved him. Yet she could say she loved Aspen, so why keep Max thinking he has a chance?

"No, I’m not choosing him or you. I’m choosing me."

I look forward to reading the next book in this series, but It's not at the top of my list at the moment anyways. Kiera Cass is a talented writer and storyteller. 

This book gets 3 out of 5 stars from me for the fact that it actually kept me interested, and I actually found I enjoyed it. It loses 2 stars because it wasn't heart-stopping, it didn't make me jump with happiness or break down in tears. It was a slow paced book, but enjoyable all the same. I also adore the cover of this book, it is elegant and sophisticated - a perfect resemblance of the story.

Goodread's link

Measuring Up by Nyrae Dawn

“He hurt me more than anyone ever has, but he loved me better than anyone ever did, too.”

I have yet to read more books of Nyrae Dawn's but her writing captured me in Measuring up. She used simple words, simple sentences yet altogether they made something very beautiful.

Annabel Lee is a 17 year old girl that isn't a size 0, or close to. Her mother is in very nice words a complete and utter witch. Having hired a personal trainer to help her lose weight during the summer. The last thing she expects is for her personal trainer to be blonde, muscular and funny. His name is Tegan and in her eyes just another jerk, but Tegan is much more than that. He's the boy that teaches her to box when she's having a bad day, Who jogs with her letting her set the pace.

Fitness isn't all that is on either of their minds though, and soon he offers her much more than just working out together. His kisses leaves her always wanting more. The way he looks at her makes her feel much more beautiful than what the scales read and most of all unlike her mother he does not expect perfection, or tends to shield her from the world like her father does. Tegan has a lot to learn from Annabel though. He needs to learn that he can't always protect those he loves and that sometimes you have to do what's right for you instead of what's right for others in order to ever be truly satisfied in life.

Love is a complicated thing though, and soon both of them have to learn that loving someone doesn't always mean needing someone.

Measuring up is a book that you read within a night, it's a book that makes the smallest, the simplest things in life matter. It's a book that makes you realize love is not need. To love you do not have to need that person, if anything you should love them but never need them because that love can disappear from your life in a matter of seconds.

This book gets 3 out of 5 stars from me, it was beautifully written and a perfect romance. I guess the reason it wouldn't get 5 out of 5 though is because we've all seen this story before, boy meets girl - girl isn't good enough for boy. Boy loves girl anyways, girl loves boy. Life gets in the way and then they get the perfect ending. But this book does have more than that in it, it's message is what we should all keep within our hearts for years to come.

Need is not love, and vice-versa.

Goodread's link

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

“The worst type of crying wasn't the kind everyone could see--the wailing on street corners, the tearing at clothes. No, the worst kind happened when your soul wept and no matter what you did, there was no way to comfort it. A section withered and became a scar on the part of your soul that survived. For people like me and Echo, our souls contained more scar tissue than life.”

'Pushing the Limits' is the first book in Katie McGarry's  Young Adult 'Pushing the Limits Series'. The book follows the story of Echo Emerson and Noah Hutchins. Two High School seniors who have dealt with more than their fair share of issues. The story is narrated by both Echo and Noah, in alternating first person every few chapters.

I read this book a while ago and it has stayed in my head since. So when I got the opportunity to write reviews for books this book was on the top of my list!

For both Echo and Noah their lives could have been described as content up until a point where both of them were shattered. Noah lost his parents and was put into foster care with his younger brothers. Echo lost her brother in Afghanistan and something happened to her that she doesn't remember but it had something to do with her unstable mother and the scars will be forever a reminder.

While Noah resorted to drugs and alcohol to cope Echo became closed off and shy. They may seem different but both of them are lost and looking for way to pick up the broken pieces of their lives. But that's kind of hard when you're labeled destructive and unstable, and all aspects of your life being controlled by your father and his pregnant girlfriend.

Noah and Echo first meet outside of the school counselor's office where they both attend sessions. Here starts the roller coaster that will push Noah and Echo to their limits.(see what I did there?!)

Both characters stole a piece of my heart. Echo feared so much because of that night even though she can't remember it but she still finds it in herself to help Noah. And then we have Noah, oh Noah, if I had a guy like you lets just say my life would be complete! Underneath that bad boy persona is a guy that is loving, caring and protective.

“Because growing up means making tough choices, and doing the right thing doesn’t necessarily mean doing the thing that feels good.”

Katie's writing is beautiful. It was simple but conveyed the emotions of the characters so well that you felt what the characters felt. Sometimes I found myself wishing that I could just give all of them a hug! It is really hard for authors to accomplish this but Katie did it with ease. The character development in the book was another high point it wasn't too fast or too slow. You could see how the characters began to evolve, transition and overcome.

I can really not fault this book. I think it would just be a waste of time trying to. Katie gives us an insight into how unfair life can be, the bad side to foster care and how surrounding yourself with the right people can help heal the broken pieces of ones heart and soul.

This is a book that stays with you long after you read it and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book to anyone!

This book deserves the five stars that it is getting. It was an amazing, heart breaking and emotional read.    

Goodread's link

Special Cover Reveal!

Lux: Beginnings (Obsidian & Onyx) and Lux: Consequences (Opal and Origin) will be released on the 3rd of June, 2014.

So we have been hlessed with the opputunity to help with the revealing of the book covers for both 'Beginnings' and  'Consequences.' We could not be more honoured, as we are massive fans of Jenniefer L. Armentrout's beautiful writing and creative stories!

Official Blurb:

Obsidian

There's an alien next door. And with his looming height and eerie green eyes, he's hot...until he opens his mouth. He's infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, he lights me up with a big fat bulls-eye. Turns out he has a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal his abilities and the only way I’m getting out of this alive is by sticking close to him until my alien mojo fades. If I don’t kill him first, that is.

Onyx 

Daemon’s determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarro alien connection. So I’ve sworn him off, even though he’s running more hot than cold these days. But we’ve got bigger problems. I’ve seen someone who shouldn’t be alive. And I have to tell Daemon, even though I know he’s never going to stop searching until he gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him? And what does the DOD want from them—from me?

Here is the cover reveal...

LUX: BEGINNING (Obsidian & Onyx) Links: Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19081403-beginningsAmazon: http://www.amazon.com/Lux-Beginnings-Obsidian-Jennifer-Armentrout/dp/1622664809/Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lux-jennifer-l-armentrout/1117748506

Official Blurb: 

Opal  

After everything, I’m no longer the same Katy. I’m different... And I’m not sure what that will mean in the end. When each step we take in discovering the truth puts us in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing alien hybrids, the more I realize there is no end to what I’m capable. The death of someone close still lingers, help comes from the most unlikely source, and friends will become the deadliest of enemies, but we won’t turn back. Even if the outcome will shatter our worlds forever.

Origin 

Daemon will do anything to get Katy back. After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he’s facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. But the most dangerous foe has been there all along, and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on? And will they even be together?

Here is the cover reveal...

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19081402-consequencesAmazon: http://www.amazon.com/Lux-Consequences-Jennifer-L-Armentrout/dp/1622664817/Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lux-jennifer-l-armentrout/1117748505

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer Armentrout lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell, Loki.
Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen.
She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Additional links to Jennifer’s pages:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jlarmentrout

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferLArmentrout

Website: http://www.jenniferarmentrout.com/

White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Seeing as it's my first post I'd thought I'd start with a much newer series. 

The Dark Elements 

Jennifer L. Armentrout or as some of you may know her alter ego J. Lynn writes very unique stories. From Greek mythology all the way through to aliens from outerspace. We just can't get enough of her flawless writing, beautiful stories and perfect covers.

White Hot kiss: 

'White Hot kiss,' is the first book of her newest Young-adult Series 'The Dark Elements.' It is a fantasy book, about good vs. evil. It has plenty of drool worthy boys. It has the typical good guy which in this case is a warden, with a hot body and kind eyes. But what good book doesn't have the typical bad boy with the hot tattoos (That come alive!) and the beautiful body that is also a dark, mysterious and dangerous Demon in disguise. 

Layla is the star of this series, she's far from ordinary with her eye-capturing beauty, but that's not all. One touch of her lips can steal away not just your breathe but your soul. Longing for the boy she has grown up next to, but never being able to cross that line. She is destined for a sad and miserable life of loneliness. That is until she meets Roth, a higher level demon with no soul that surely is going to lead her down the wrong road. Little does she know, he's actually out to keep her safe. Why? I hear you ask. Well you'd have to read the book to find that out. 

This series is nothing less than what you'd expect from Jennifer, she leaves us with yet another cliff-hanger (but I promise it isn't as bad as Origin's) and makes us fall for two boys at once. The question is which team will you be, Roth or Zayne?

This book was yet another beautiful story by Jenn and it was a pleasure reading it. But I'll have to deduct 1 star from it for the slow start, and also for making me have to chose between two beautiful boys. Love triangles just aren't my thing!

4 out of 5 stars for Armentrout's skillful writing and heart-stopping stories. 

Goodread's link