Book Review - Yesterday by CK Kelly Martin

THEN: The formation of the UNA, the high threat of eco-terrorism, the mammoth rates of unemployment and subsequent escape into a world of virtual reality are things any student can read about in their 21st century textbooks and part of the normal background noise to Freya Kallas's life. Until that world starts to crumble.

NOW: It's 1985. Freya Kallas has just moved across the world and into a new life. On the outside, she fits in at her new high school, but Freya feels nothing but removed. Her mother blames it on the grief over her father's death, but how does that explain the headaches and why do her memories feel so foggy?

When Freya lays eyes on Garren Lowe, she can't get him out of her head. She's sure that she knows him, despite his insistence that they've never met. As Freya follows her instincts and pushes towards hidden truths, the two of them unveil a strange and dangerous world where their days may be numbered.

Unsure who to trust, Freya and Garren go on the run from powerful forces determined to tear them apart and keep them from discovering the truth about their shared pasts (and futures), her visions, and the time and place they really came from.

Goodreads Page is here.


My Review


5/10

The idea for this story is very interesting.  It's a mix of political/futuristic/ya that I had not read before.  I have to admit that this book was a little slow paced for me so it took me a little while to get into the story.  I would have to say that the first 1/3 of this book was lead up to the action that was going to take place later on in the story and although enjoyable to read, this was the part that was slow for me as I was waiting for all the action to take place.


This story was also based half in the future and half in the 80s.  Now, I was born in 1981 so a lot of the 80s is a bit of a blur for me as I was so young.  In the parts of this story that were in the 80s, there were lots of references to 80s people, music etc that I could not relate to and I think that is probably why it took me a while to get into the story.   


If I had to describe this story in a sentence, I would have to say that it is a puzzle that needs to be put back together.  Every step you take, you are given a little bit more information to fit into the puzzle and that is what I really enjoyed about this book.  It certainly kept me thinking all the way through trying to figure out what was going on.



For me, this was a mix of a very good storyline mixed with slow paced action.  I am glad that I stuck it out to finish it because this story had a good ending.

Best wishes

Debs :-)





 

Book Review - Kill Me Softly by Sarah Cross

Mirabelle's past is shrouded in secrecy, from her parents' tragic deaths to her guardians' half-truths about why she can't return to her birthplace, Beau Rivage. Desperate to see the town, Mira runs away a week before her sixteenth birthday—and discovers a world she never could have imagined.

In Beau Rivage, nothing is what it seems—the strangely pale girl with a morbid interest in apples, the obnoxious playboy who's a beast to everyone he meets, and the chivalrous guy who has a thing for damsels in distress. Here, fairy tales come to life, curses are awakened, and ancient stories are played out again and again.

But fairy tales aren't pretty things, and they don't always end in happily ever after. Mira has a role to play, a fairy tale destiny to embrace or resist. As she struggles to take control of her fate, Mira is drawn into the lives of two brothers with fairy tale curses of their own . . . brothers who share a dark secret. And she'll find that love, just like fairy tales, can have sharp edges and hidden thorns.

The Goodreads Page can be found here.

My Review  

OMG what a great YA fiction story.  I have to be honest and say, straight up, that the cover did draw me into this one.  There's just something about an innocent rose covered in what looks like blood that makes me think, what on earth is this story is about, I just had to find out what that was about.  I was so glad that I did.

This story is not like any story I have read before.  It has a great mix of various fairytales intertwined with various characters that Mirabelle meets when she ends up in her birthplace, Beau Rivage.  Mirabelle wants to find out more about her past and more about her parents who died when she was little so just before she turns sixteen she decides to go and find out.  Little does she know that there are far more secrets in Beau Rivage than she could have ever expected.

Not only does this story have a great spin on fairytales but it does have that classic love triangle with Mirabelle being smack bang in the middle of.  What will she choose.

I absolutely loved this story and for all those out there who love a bit of love triangle romance mixed with fairytale magic, this is the story for you....


My Video Review

Best wishes

Debs :-)

Waiting on Wednesday - All These lives by Sarah Wylie

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly memo that is hosted by Breaking the Spine Blog.

 

Expected Release Date:   5th June 2012
(Release date obtained from Goodreads)


Goodreads link is here.

Sixteen-year-old Dani is convinced she has nine lives. As a child she twice walked away from situations where she should have died. But Dani’s twin, Jena, isn’t so lucky. She has cancer and might not even be able to keep her one life. Dani’s father is in denial. Her mother is trying to hold it together and prove everything’s normal. And Jena is wasting away.

To cope, Dani sets out to rid herself of all her extra lives. Maybe they’ll be released into the universe and someone who wants to live more than she does will get one. Someone like Jena. But just when Dani finds herself at the breaking point, she’s faced with a startling realization. Maybe she doesn’t have nine lives after all. Maybe she really only ever had one.

Book Review - The Camera Never Lies by Tess Daly

Britt Baxter is unaware of the effect she has on people. A big-hearted, no nonsense northern girl, she naturally looks for the best in everyone she meets, but in her attempts to make it as model she finds she struggles against being pinned down on the casting couch by the most unlikely people… 

So when a happy accident lands her a career as a presenter on breakfast television, it looks as if she has made it out of the modelling world of close-ups and cattle calls and into the big time – or at least daytime TV. But scarcely has Britt had time to wonder at how far she has come, when backstage machinations propel her with ever increasing speed through a series of trapdoors and she soon realises that the drama backstage far eclipses anything that happens in front of the camera. Tess Daly has written a fast-paced novel with perfect comic timing and as many twists and turns in the plot as her heroine has costume changes. 


Goodreads Page - click here
Tess Daly Wikipedia Page - click here





My Review   (video review at bottom of post)


10 out of 10


Right when I was feeling a bit overloaded with reading a lot of paranormal stories, here comes this utterly fantastic chicklit book that makes me laugh, cry, frown and cheer and sometimes all at once!  I really cannot tell you how much I loved this story, oh wait... yes I can.... I LOVED IT!


Britt Baxter is a character that stands up for what is right and not afraid to take chances.  We follow her at the start being a model and going for an absolutely shocking interview where it comes down to the fact that if she wants the job she will have to sleep with the interviewee.  I felt that Britt made absolutely the right decision.  She travels to Tokyo, on the advice of her agent, to try modelling out there but when something unexpected happens to a member of her family, she returns home.  

Aside from her career, Britt has a lot on her plate to deal with in the love department.  At the beginning of the story, she has a boyfriend although my feeling at the time was that it was a situation that was not working for either of them.  


Poor Britt in this story has a lot of ups and downs but this is one tough character and I was completely rooting for her all the way through.

What made this story even more intriguing to me is the fact that the author Tess Daly was a model and also a presenter so that made me think about how much of this story was actually based on real life.    I have popped a link to her Wikipedia page above if you want to learn more.

A great romance chicklit mixed with celebrity drama and mystery. 


Video Review   

Best wishes

Debs :-)

Book Review - Socialpunk by Monica Leonelle

Ima would give anything to escape The Dome and learn what’s beyond its barriers, but the Chicago government has kept all its citizens on lockdown ever since the Scorched Years left most of the world a desert wasteland. When a mysterious group of hooded figures enters the city unexpectedly, Ima uncovers a plot to destroy The Dome and is given the choice between escaping to a new, dangerous city or staying behind and fighting a battle she can never win.

Goodreads Page - click here.

My Review   

7 out of 10


I have to admit that at the start of this story I was thinking what on earth is going to happen in this story but when the hooded characters came onto the scene, things became very interesting indeed!  

I did find it confusing when halfway through the story, Ima decided to change her name to Cinder.  Although I completely understand why she did it in the story, because she was becoming a new person and wanted a new identity, it took me a while to catch up and try and remember that every time I read the name Cinder, it was Ima.. 


What I thought was really enjoyable about this book was the fact that Ima/Cinder definitely has quite a few chaps wanting her attention (if you know what I mean ;-) and watching her reaction to those advances.  

After Ima/Cinder learning that all may not be what she seems, she has to make some really tough decisions but I felt that she chose the right ones.   



Things are definitely not what they seem in this story and there are a lot of secrets to be uncovered and not a lot of time to uncover them.   


Without spoiling the ending, I will just say that there is a very surprising twist that I was completely not expecting... 





Best wishes


Debs :-)

BooK Review - Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Since she'd been on the outside, she'd survived an Aether storm, she'd had a knife held to her throat, and she'd seen men murdered. This was worse.

Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland - known as The Death Shop - are slim. If the cannibals don't get her, the violent, electrified energy storms will. She's been taught that the very air she breathes can kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He's wild - a savage - and her only hope of staying alive.

A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile - everything he would expect from a Dweller. But he needs Aria's help too; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, Aria and Perry must accept each other to survive. Their unlikely alliance forges a bond that will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky.

You can find the Goodreads page here.

My Review  

What a great futuristic story.  This is a post apolcaliptic story of people who live in domes who communicate with each other via 'realms' on something like an internet that is connected to your body via a eye piece.   This is definately a very interesting idea, with the thought that you could be sitting in your little dome room on the one hand but on the other you could be having drinks at a party in a medieval realm or something like that.  But as we know with a lot of futuristic stories, things are not always what they seem.  Who are the baddies and who are the heros?

Aria is the main character that we follow in this story.   Her mother works in medicine in another part of the dome.  One day she loses contact with her mother and desperate to find out what happens decides to take matters into her own hands.  Things get very out of control and Aria finds herself out of her depth and fighting for survival.  


This is such a great story with a great romance tucked in there as well.  I did have to chuckle at a few comments as well between some of the characters especially the moment where Aria finds out that she is having her first period and she is comparing it to death, thinking that she is dying.  Being a woman, I can completely relate to that lol!!!


My Video Review

Best wishes

Debs :-)

 

Book Review - Immortal City by Scott Speer

Jackson Godspeed is the hottest young Angel in a city filled with them.

He's days away from becoming a full Guardian, and people around the world are already competing for the chance to be watched over by him. Everyone's obsessed with the Angels and the lucky people they protect - everyone except for Madison Montgomery.

Maddy's the one girl in Angel City who doesn't breathlessly follow the Angels on TV and gossip blogs. When she meets Jackson, she doesn't recognize him. But Jackson is instantly captivated by her, and against all odds the two fall in love.

Maddy is swiftly caught up in Jackson's scene, a world of glamour, paparazzi - and murder. A serial killer is on the loose, leaving dead Angels' wings for the police to find on the Walk of Fame. Even the Guardians are powerless to protect themselves in the face of this threat & and this time it's up to Maddy to save Jackson.

 My Review


What a great combination for a story - angels and celebrities.  The thought of Angels being celebrities in the human world intrigued me so much I knew I had to read this story.  Basically, the Angels have 'come out' to human kind, revealling their existence.  Now people know they are there, they set about making money.  They set up a 'service' where for a very very high price, you can be 'protected by an angel'.  


We follow the story of Maddie who, after her parents died when she was very young, lives with her Uncle Kevin.  Kevin runs a diner where Maddie works after school to help out.  Things take a turn for Maddie when she meets Jackson Godspeed (who is the Justin Bieber of Angels) but does not really know who he is.  There is also something special about Maddie that she cannot put her finger on.


Even though I felt the romance between Jackson and Maddie did happen a bit quick, I really did enjoy this story, the concept of Angels being celebrities and the added murder mystery that weaves through the story. 


If you would like to see my video review, please see below

Best wishes

Debs :-)

Book Review - From Fame to Shame by Veronica Blade

When good-girl Maddie switches places with her famous bad-girl twin Jackie, she has some pretty high stilettos to fill.

Despite the danger of tabloid drama if their identity swap is discovered, Maddie has to save her sister's butt. When Jackie’s ex-boyfriend shows up with a rekindled spark for “Jackie,” his deep gray eyes and sweet kisses make Maddie's heart thumpety thump. But dating the guy who dumped her sister is a no-no. Too bad Dallas isn’t used to girls saying no. What will happen when he discovers Maddie’s deception?

Link to Goodreads page here

My Review

This is such a great short story.  Veronica Blade knows how to write great stories.  The characters in this story had such depth that I really felt like I was going through all the feelings the characters were, especially Maddie who is the typical good girl who takes over and pretends to be her celebrity attention-seeking sister.  I could also relate a lot to Maddie as she is comfortable with herself and  is a reader who likes the comfort of her own home, which is very much like myself.

The only problem for Maddie is that when she is pretending to be her sister, she starts to really like the guy  that her sister dated.  It seems as though she has a choice to make.

This is a fantastic chick lit story with a great romantic build up and I would definately recommend it to all those who love a good dramatic romance.

My Video Review

Best wishes

Debs :-)

Book Haul/In my Mailbox - 18th April 2012

Best wishes

Debs :-)

Book Review - The Stag and Hen Weekend by Mike Gayle

The Stag and Hen Weekend is the story of Phil and Helen, a couple in their thirties about to commit their lives to one another . . . that is of course if they can just manage to get through their respective stag and hen weekends (his: Amsterdam; hers: a country house and day spa in the Peak District) without falling apart. Told in the unique form of two separate stories that have common characters as well as themes and conclusion, The Stag and Hen Weekend can be read from front to back or from back to front putting the reader in the driver's seat as to which story they wish to read first. Feisty, fun and thought provoking.

My Review

I enjoyed this book so much I don't know where to start in telling you how fantastic this is.   I would have to say that this is more two stories that meet in the middle than one story and both equally as funny, sad and also romantic.  

I started off reading the 'Stag' side of the story, which follows Phil and his mates as they head off to Amsterdam.  It all starts out like a typical lads weekend until a few dramas unfold and things are not always what they seem.  I loved the friendships between the lads and especially the friendship between Phil and his mate Simon who has some revellations of his own.  

Moving over to the 'Hen' side of the story, which follows Helen as she heads off to a spa with her friends (and a future sister-in-law that she cannot stand).  All goes well until she bumps into her ex who seems to be around every corner.

Although you could read the Hen side first and the Stag side second, I felt like I read this story the right way around with reading the Stag side first.  In the Stag side of the story, there are a few questions that do get answered in Hen side. 

This was such a great romantic and funny chick lit I could not put it down.  Mike Gayle really knows how to write a really good chick lit story, especially when it comes to the woman's perspective. 

To see my video review, please see below - 

Best wishes 

Debs   :-)

Let's Talk About ARC & Net- Galley Review Books

Best wishes

Debs :-)

Waiting on Wednesday - This is not a Test by Courtney Summers

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly memo that is hosted by Breaking the Spine Blog.

 

Expected Release Date:   19th June 2012
(Release date obtained from Goodreads)


Goodreads link is here.

It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self. To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up. As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually want to live. But as the days crawl by, the motivations for survival change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life—and death—inside. When everything is gone, what do you hold on to?


Best wishes

Debs :-)

Book Review - The Jane Austin Marriage Manual by Kim Izzo

A sparkling first novel in which a Jane Austen devotee decides to find out if she can, indeed, marry for money.
 

Katherine Shaw is happy with her life. She has supportive friends, a glamorous magazine career, and a love of all things Jane Austen. So what if her boyfriend ran off with all her money? So what if she's about to turn forty? She'll move on. 

But when she loses her job, when her beloved grandmother falls ill and her mother's gambling debts force a sale on the family home, Kate finds herself facing a crisis that would test even the most stalwart of Austen heroines. Friends rally round, connecting her to freelance gigs, and presenting her with a birthday gift-- title to land in Scotland--that's about to come in very handy. 

Turns out that Kate's first freelance assignment is inspired by Jane Austen herself: is it possible, in these modern times, to marry for money? It's all hypothetical, of course, until Kate considers the venture a way to solve her family's financial woes. What begins as an article turns into an opportunity as Kate--now Lady Kate--pursues and is pursued, until at last she is forced to choose between Mr. Rich and Mr. Right.


My Review - 10 out of 10

If you are looking for a really fantastic chick lit book that makes you smile, laugh and almost cry (for all the good reasons), this is the book to pick up.  I absolutely loved this book.

We follow Kate in this story who is giong to be turning 40, has not really committed herself to a permanent job and has not yet found the right man. 

This story is very much about three things - Kate's family, friends and work.  The most heartbreaking part of this story for me was the relationship between Kate and her grandmother.  With Kate's mother unable to care for her and her sister, her grandmother brought her up.

As for her love life, there are a few characters that could be Kate's one and only but which one would she choose and will she make the right choice?

If you love a bit of romance, this is the book to pick up......

My Video Review

 

Best wishes

Debs

Book Review - Twisted Heart by Eden Maguire (Book 2, Dark Angel)

Below is the blurb from book 1, Dark Angel.  The Goodreads page for Twisted Heart is here.


Tania's heart belongs to Orlando. Nothing can rip them apart. Until the seduction begins in a flurry of glamour and magic, music and parties all orchestrated by the mysterious and mesmerising Zoran, an iconic rock star who has retired to a remote ranch in the nearby mountains. And there Tania meets the dark side. Can she resist temptation?

My Review - 6 out of 10


I read this book pretty much straight after reading the first book in the series.  The plot in this story is very similar to the plot on Dark Angel.  In Dark Angel, you have the friend in trouble and the myterious charactrers and in Twisted Heart you have the same mix so there was an element of same old same old with this story.  That being said, it was a very enjoyable story and I did want to find out how it paned out.  I'm very intrigued to find out what happens in the third book in the series.... 

Best wishes

Debs :-)

Book Review - Dark Angel by Eden Maguire (Book 1, Dark Angel)

Tania's heart belongs to Orlando. Nothing can rip them apart. Until the seduction begins in a flurry of glamour and magic, music and parties all orchestrated by the mysterious and mesmerising Zoran, an iconic rock star who has retired to a remote ranch in the nearby mountains. And there Tania meets the dark side. Can she resist temptation?

Check out the Goodreads page here.

My Review

This was a very interesting and confusing book for me.  It had great suspense and build up even though I was not quite sure what it was building up to and some of the time not quite sure what the build up was.  


Tanya lives with her mother and father in this remote place which had been rebuilt after a massive forest fire.   She is plagued by nightmares of forest fires coming to get her and hearing strange voices.  She is not sure what is happening to her.


Meanwhile, a rock star, Zoran, decides to build a ranch up in Black Rock Mountain but he is not what he seems.   After one of Tanya's friends gets into trouble in the mountain, its a race against time to try and save her.  


I would like to point out that there is a sensitive issue in this story that I would not recommend to younger readers.  (I won't say what that it because I don't want to ruin the story, but if you would like to know, please do email me at debrasbookcafe@gmail.com and I will let you know what this is).


Video Review

Best wishes 


Debs :-)

Book Review - Shaken by Susan Hatler

(Mind Reader Series, Book One) High school junior, Kylie Bates, can suddenly read minds. When she touches people’s hands, she’s able to see their deepest thoughts. As if that’s not freaky enough, her dad sends her to help hottie detective, Sam Williams, track down a missing girl. Way too much pressure, especially for a girl who can’t watch Scream without getting nightmares.

Then, finding the missing girl leads to much more than Kylie’s prepared for. Like discovering that her dad has been lying to her. That she has a family she never knew about. That the girls have powers similar to hers. Oh yeah, and that someone is out to get her.

When the detective’s teenage wanna-be-cop cousin, Trip Williams, approaches Kylie at school insisting she help him solve the case, she discovers Trip might be the only one she can trust, and the only one to help her unravel the secrets behind her mysterious gift .


My Review:  9 out of 10

I really enjoyed reading this fast paced paranormal style story.  Kylie seemed to come into her powers really quickly and probably based on instinct knew what she had to do, which I enjoyed the most about that character Being able to see someone's deepest thoughts must be quite a scary thing to deal with, but Kylie takes it in her stride.  

I did have to feel sorry for her at some parts in the story as there is a guy at the school which she attends that she has a crush on and there goes her best friend flirting with him..   That is definitely not the kind of best friend I would want!  But Kylie has much more important things to focus on, especially when it comes to Trip Williams. 

Another powerful element to this story is Kylie's relationship with her mother, who unfortunately died when she was a young girl.  Kylie keeps a journal and writes letters to her mother telling her all about what is happening. 

There are a lot of elements to this story that keeps it fast paced until the very end - mind reading, secrets in the family, secrets surrounding the missing girl, secrets with other characters and so on.

If you like a bit of fast paced paranormal action, this is definitely one to pick up and place on your shelf.

Best wishes

Debs :-)

Book Haul/In My Mailbox - 5th April 2012

Best wishes

Debs :-)

Waiting on Wednesday - The Princesses of Iowa by M Molly Backes

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly memo that is hosted by Breaking the Spine Blog.

 

Expected Release Date:    8th May 2012
(Release date obtained from Goodreads)


Goodreads link is here.

What does it mean to do wrong, when no one punishes you? A smart and unflinching look at friendship, the nature of entitlement, and growing up in the heartland.

Paige Sheridan has the perfect life. She's pretty, rich, and popular, and her spot on the homecoming court is practically guaranteed. But when a night of partying ends in an it-could-have-been-so-much worse crash , everything changes. Her best friends start ignoring her, her boyfriend grows cold and distant, and her once-adoring younger sister now views her with contempt. The only bright spot is
her creative writing class, led by a charismatic new teacher who encourages students to be true to themselves. But who is Paige, if not the homecoming princess everyone expects her to be? In this arresting and witty debut, a girl who was once high-school royalty must face a truth that money and status can't fix, and choose between living the privileged life of a princess, or owning up to her mistakes and giving up everything she once held dear.




Best wishes


Debs :-)

Book Review - Starters by Lissa Price

HER WORLD IS CHANGED FOREVER

Callie lost her parents when the Spore Wars wiped out everyone between the ages of twenty and sixty. She and her little brother, Tyler, go on the run, living as squatters with their friend Michael and fighting off renegades who would kill them for a cookie. Callie's only hope is Prime Destinations, a disturbing place in Beverly Hills run by a mysterious figure known as the Old Man.

He hires teens to rent their bodies to Enders—seniors who want to be young again. Callie, desperate for the money that will keep her, Tyler, and Michael alive, agrees to be a donor. But the neurochip they place in Callie's head malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, and going out with a senator's grandson. It feels almost like a fairy tale, until Callie discovers that her renter intends to do more than party—and that Prime Destinations' plans are more evil than Callie could ever have imagined. . .

Check out the Goodreads page here.


My Review:   10 out of 10

For the video review, please see the bottom of this post....



OMG.....    This story completely blew me away.  First off, I have to say that the cover is absolutely amazing.  Its pretty and creepy at the same time.  Alluring but slightly frightening.


This story is original right down to the core for me.  This is the first time I have read something that has the idea of renting out your body to another human being.  Basically, its for people who are older in life but young in spirit and want to relive their youth.  The only way they can do this is by, what it seems like to me, trading souls for an amount of days. 


For Callie, she has come to the end of the line.  With a brother to take care of and no parents or grandparents around, she is tired of having to live on the run.  For the amount of money that Prime Destinations offers, Callie figures that she will be in and out in no time and will have plenty of cash to set her and her brother up with somewhere to stay and, most importantly safety and security.  Unfortunately for Callie, things are not going to go according to her plan.  


As part of the contract with Prime Destinations, she has to take part in three 'donations'.  The first two go without a hitch but the third one goes wrong.  She wakes up in her own body in a club with no knowledge of how she got there and what is happening.  From then on, she has moment where she is back in her own body and there moments where the Elder who has rented her body comes back to take control.  


Also, you have the added mystery of the Old Man who runs Prime Destinations.  No one seems to know who he is.  I have to admit that about three quarters of the way through I did figure out who it was but that certainly did not make the last half of the book any less AMAZING....   

Best wishes

Debs :-)

Book Review - Truth or Dare by P J Night

During a round of Truth or Dare, Abby Miller confesses her crush on Jake Chilson. The only people who know her secret are her friends at the sleepover—and whoever sent her a text message in the middle of the night warning her to stay away from Jake…or else! 

But Abby isn’t going to stay away from Jake, especially not after he asks her to the school dance. 

As the night of the dance comes closer, some very creepy things start happening to Abby. Someone definitely wants to keep her away from Jake. Is it a jealous classmate or, as Abby begins to suspect, could it be a ghost?

My Review:  10 out of 10

If you would like to see the video review, please see the end of this post.  


This is such a great creepy book.   I believe it is a middle grade but definately a great creepy read for all ages.

This story is creepy right from the beginning when you have Abby who gets this feeling that someone is watching her but there's no one about.  This is even before having her sleepover.

At the sleepover, her and her close friends Nora, Chloe and Lea play a game of truth and dare where Abby reveals that she likes Jake.  After that, Abby receives frighening messages telling Abby to stay away from Jake and from then on its a guessing game as to who is behind the messages.

There is a great backstory to a year before the sleepover which adds to the mystery of who is sending Abby messages.

A great creepy story for all ages, I love this one.

Book Review - Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin

Meet Rachel White, a young attorney living and working in Manhattan. Rachel has always been the consummate good girl--until her thirtieth birthday, when her best friend Darcy throws her a party. That night, after too many drinks, Rachel ends up in bed with Darcy's fiance'. Although she wakes up determined to put the one-night fling behind her, Rachel is horrified to discover that she has genuine feelings for the one guy she should run from. In her wildest dreams (or worst nightmare?) this is the last thing on earth Rachel could ever have imagined happening. As the September wedding date nears, Rachel knows she has to make a choice. In doing so, she discovers that the lines between right and wrong can be blurry, endings aren't always neat and sometimes you have to risk all to win true happiness. 'Something Borrowed' is a phenomenal debut novel that will have you laughing, crying, and calling your best friend.

My Review : 






Best wishes

Debs :-) 

Book Review - OldSoul by Dan Haring

Jason Gouvas doesn’t want to believe he has special abilities or that he's an Oldsoul-- a vessel for the souls of people who have passed away, but the dead girl in his mind can be very persuasive.

Her name is Erin, and through her Jason is able to access the knowledge and skills of the souls within him. And with a group of power-hungry immortals bent on destroying the Oldsouls and overthrowing humanity, he's going to need them all.

My Review:  10 out of 10

(To see my video review, please see the end of this post)


I was very lucky to be able to read and review this for my blog as part of a blog tour that was organised by the wonderful Krista (you can find her blog (and an interview she has with the author) here.  The OldSoul announcement page is here.

I absolutely loved this book, and a very interest concept for a story.  This is the first time I have come across a story about people being vessels that hold the souls of people long before.  


At the beginning, we see Jason who is a young policeman who has been caught by, what I believe to be, the mob with no form of escape until a group of 'people' break in and take him away to another realm, which he never knew existed.  


For me, this story was very fast paced which held by interest all the way through the novel.  You also had a few twists and turns that definately made me sit up and pay attention to the story.  There are a few family mysteries that have to be discovered.


There was a small element of romance in this story which I did enjoy but I would have to say that this story is more action packed than anything else.  


What a fantastic good versus evil story (never really knowing who was who until nearer the end) that I would very highly recommend.

Amazon.com Link here.
Amazon.co.uk Link here.


Old Soul Trailer



Visit the Blog here.


Best wishes


Debs

Waiting on Wednesday - In Honor by Jessi Kirby

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly memo that is hosted by Breaking the Spine Blog.

 

Expected Release Date:    8th May 2012
(Release date obtained from Goodreads)


Goodreads link is here.

A devastating loss leads to an unexpected road trip in this novel from the author of Moonglass, whose voice Sarah Dessen says “is fresh and wise, all at once.”Hours after her brother’s military funeral, Honor opens the last letter Finn ever sent. In her grief, she interprets his note as a final request and spontaneously decides to go to California to fulfill it.     Honor gets as far as the driveway before running into Rusty, Finn’s best friend since third grade and his polar opposite. She hasn’t seen Rusty in ages, but it’s obvious he is as arrogant and stubborn as ever—not to mention drop-dead gorgeous. Despite Honor’s better judgment, the two set off together on a voyage from Texas to California. Along the way, they find small and sometimes surprising ways to ease their shared loss and honor Finn’s memory—but when shocking truths are revealed at the end of the road, will either of them be able to cope with the consequences?

Book Review - 90 Miles to Freedom by K C Hilton

"The counselor suggested I start a journal and write down my thoughts. He called it ‘Journal Therapy’ and said it would help me cope with my feelings."

"I’m not sure where to begin, except to say that I had a wonderful life. Actually, it was a perfect life. A loving family and everything money could buy. A life envied by all, but it was stolen from me. I know I made a mistake. But I'm the one struggling to forgive myself."

"To explain I need to start from the beginning. But before I do, I must be honest and admit that I wasn’t perfect. No, I had a secret. A secret that came with a price. A secret that will haunt my dreams forever."

Prepare yourself for an emotional roller coaster. 



My Review

Oh my goodness, what can I say about this book.  This book is amazing.  It completely surprised me in so many ways.  I do not want to spoil it for those of you who are interested in reading this book but I will just say that this book is not what it seems.

A very emotional story that kept me on the edge of my seat and the characters are so full of life, it just made the story so much more enjoyable....

If you would prefer to see the video review, please see below.



Best wishes 

Debs :-) 

Fragment Friday - Eon by Alison Goodman (Book 1, Eon)

Best wishes

Debs :-)

Book Haul/IMM - 22nd March 2012

Best wishes

Debs :-)

Waiting on Wednesday - Struck by Jennifer Bosworth

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly memo that is hosted by Breaking the Spine Blog.

 

Expected Release Date:    8th May 2012
(Release date obtained from Goodreads)


Goodreads link is here.

Mia Price is a lightning addict. She’s survived countless strikes, but her craving to connect to the energy in storms endangers her life and the lives of those around her.
Los Angeles, where lightning rarely strikes, is one of the few places Mia feels safe from her addiction. But when an earthquake devastates the city, her haven is transformed into a minefield of chaos and danger. The beaches become massive tent cities. Downtown is a crumbling wasteland, where a traveling party moves to a different empty building each night, the revelers drawn to the destruction by a force they cannot deny. Two warring cults rise to power, and both see Mia as the key to their opposing doomsday prophecies. They believe she has a connection to the freak electrical storm that caused the quake, and to the far more devastating storm that is yet to come.
Mia wants to trust the enigmatic and alluring Jeremy when he promises to protect her, but she fears he isn’t who he claims to be. In the end, the passion and power that brought them together could be their downfall. When the final disaster strikes, Mia must risk unleashing the full horror of her strength to save the people she loves, or lose everything.

Best wishes

Debs :-)

Book Review - Tumbleweed Heights by Joan Bird

Danger won't find Gilly in tiny Briarwood, Colorado. Right? Banking on her instincts is all she has left. That and a dream of a simpler life as a rancher. Luke Hudson has secrets. Living a lie, he recognizes a kindred spirit the moment he lays eyes on Gilly. What are her secrets quickly becomes how can he protect her when violence slams through her front door. Will truth ruin their fragile bond or will time run out before they have the chance to admit their love?

Moving to Briarwood, Colorado had not been in Gilly Casey’s original life plan. Sure, she’d dreamed of owning a horse ranch, but as kind of a part-time gig, in Topanga Canyon maybe. But the best laid plans of this high-powered L.A. attorney turn to dust when more than her bar card is threatened. Fleeing to a life she had never imagined quickly becomes a cat and mouse game just to stay alive.

Luke Hudson’s road to Briarwood was no less bumpy. Hiding from his own demons, he’s no longer able to float below the radar when he recognizes the feisty Miz Casey is in more trouble than she’ll admit. Donning the hero mantle years after he’d shed that skin, Luke realizes that rescuing Gilly might just save him, too.

With so many secrets between them, does love stand a chance? When the past trains its loaded gun on them, truth may not be enough to safeguard Gilly and Luke.


My Review - 6 out of 10

This book was an ok for me.   I did struggle to get into the book to start with and did feel that the story left me wanting more, maybe another level to the stories.

What I really liked about this story was the two mysterious main characters, Gilly and Luke.  GIlly who has moved to Briarwood for some mysterious reason, it seems like she's running from something...  Luke is much more of a mystery.  We know that he has not lived in Briarwood all his life, but what did he do beforehand  The suspense of trying to find out the pasts of each of the characters was very interesting to read. 

This book is definately worth a try if you like a bit of romance, suspense and mystery.


Best wishes

Debs :-)

Book Review - The Good Father by Diane Chamberlain

Four years ago, nineteen-year-old Travis Brown made a choice: to raise his newborn daughter on his own. While most of his friends were out partying and meeting girls, Travis was at home, changing diapers and worrying about keeping food on the table. But he’s never regretted his decision. Bella is the light of his life. The reason behind every move he makes. And so far, she is fed. Cared for. Safe.

But when Travis loses his construction job and his home, the security he’s worked so hard to create for Bella begins to crumble....

Then a miracle. A job in Raleigh has the power to turn their fortunes around. It has to. But when Travis arrives in Raleigh, there is no job, only an offer to participate in a onetime criminal act that promises quick money and no repercussions.

With nowhere else to turn, Travis must make another choice for his daughter’s sake.

Even if it means he might lose her.

Check out the Goodreads page here.

If you would prefer to see the video review, please see the end of this post.

My Review

What a great book.  This is the first book I have read written by Diane Chamberlain and already she is becoming one of my favourites.  I loved the style of writing.  This story has a good mix of tragedy, love and hope and believe me, I did a lot of hoping when reading this book, hoping that Travis would make the right decision and Bella was happy.

This book is split into three viewpoints; Travis, Erin and Robin.  Travis is Bella's father and he needs to get a job so that he can support his daughter.  He has to make a tough decision.  Erin is a lady that Travis and Bella meet when they go into a coffee shop (which they go in nearly every day) and who they become close friends with.  Erin has her own sad past as well, which is equally as heartbreaking as the story of Travis and Bella.  Robin is Bella's mother.  As a child, Robin was very ill and being pregnant with the prospect of dying.

This story is very slow paced but that just adds to the magic of this story.  It allowed me to take my time and digest each of the characters, their surroundings and the choices they have to make.

This is a great emotional story.  For those who like Jodi Picoult, I would recommend you give this a go.

 

Best wishes

Debs :-)

Book Review - Hana by Lauren Oliver (Book 1.5 Delirium Series)

In the world of Delirium, love is a disease. And like all eighteen-year-olds, Lena and Hana must take the cure.

At the start of their last summer of freedom, they were the closest of friends. Until Hana made a decision that tore them apart... In Delirium, we heard from Lena. Now, Hana gets to tell her side of the story. And nothing is what we first thought.

Hana is a powerful, moving and beautifully told original eBook short story, with a shocking twist that will leave you with your heart in your mouth.

My Review - 7 out of 10

Check out my Review for Delirium (Book 1)  here.
Check out my Review for Pandemonium (Book 2) here.

This was such a great short story and I had only wished  I had read this after I had finished Delirium.   If I was to recommend this, I would definately say that the best time to read this book is straight after Delirium when the story is fresh in your mind.  Although this story does go through some of the same storyline that is in Delirium, this story gives Hana's side of the story (Hana is Lena's best friend). 

This book has a great storyline and an especially great ending...

Best wishes

Debs :-)

Book Review - A Bite's Tale by Veronica Blade

A Cinderella who spends her nights as a wolf. A prince with a taste for blood. This is more than your average fairy tale.

The Cinderella: Seventeen year old Cydney struggles against her werewolf nature, attempting to keep everyone around her safe. She tries to carve out some semblance of a life, but can’t forget the boy she loved three summers ago — or what she did to him after losing control and shifting. No way will Cydney risk exposing the beast at the prince’s ball, no matter how her two cousins try to persuade her.

The Prince: Turned into a vampire to save his life, the prince refuses to live up to his royal duties. He just wants to find the girl he loved and lost...the werewolf girl who bit him. But his father, the king, commands him to attend a ball where he must choose a wife. Can he find his Cinderella before he's forced to marry another? He doesn’t even have her real name, much less a glass slipper. 

Check it out on Goodreads here.



My Review  : 9 out of 10




I absolutely loved this short story from Veronica Blade (who also wrote Something Witchy this Way Comes, which I have also read and reviewed and you can find here - Debs' Review of Something Witchy This Way Comes)


What I loved about this story, was the romance element to it.  This Cinderella like story of a couple who meet, have a wonderful summer together not really knowing who the other is.  They are torn apart by an incident that Cydney blames herself for entirely.  Will they be reunited?  I especially enjoyed the werewolf and vampire mix in this story.  


If I had only one wish, I would have loved for this story to have more pages so I could have stayed in the story for a while longer...

This is such a fun romantic story that I would very much recommend to all those of you out there who like a bit of werewolf/vampire romance...




Best wishes

Debs :-)