IMM: In My Mailbox [7]

In My Mailbox is an epic feautre run by The Story Siren and my links go to Amazon UK but other book sellers are out there too!

So this week was the winding down of a very manic few weeks and so i'm coming back into the routine of daily life and blogging etc

Borrowed

Rockoholic by C.J.Skuse  Lent to me by the lovely Emma at Asamum Booktopia because she said that after my month of Rock music madness she though I'd love this book and that I'd really identify with the characters etc. SOOO looking forward to reading this one!

Happy Reading

XOXO

Blog Update

Just a quick post to say that I am still here and so sorry for lack of posts most of this week and also a BIG sorry to any of my twitter followers that got a great deal of updates from me about all my antics over the last few weeks.

I've been having a surreal few weeks including seeing my favourite all time band live about 4 times, meeting them twice, getting into their soundtrack, radio performance, NME awards ceremony to see them perform and accept 2 awards (as well as have Dave Grohl perform practically on top of me on stage among other events of that even including Foo Fighters playing with Roger Daltrey !$%! amazing, cast of Being Human and Misfits, Muse and meeting a bunch of awesome fans), going to a super small gig that was being filmed for the new music video which I'm hopefully seen in and to top it all off I think I've found a house share to move into, had car trouble and then got hit in the back of said car after it was finally working again!

 

 

 

So I'm hoping to be returning to my usual book blogger regular features with IMM tomorrow and then starting a couple regular features for in the week aside from my usual reviews.  If anyone is interested in my rock overload few weeks then leave a comment and i'll try and post a link to my other blog for photos, video and general madness :-)

Hope all is well with my dear followers!

HAPPY READING

XOXO

Review: Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

I was sent a copy of this book from a lovely blogger friend, the ever epic Jenny at Wondrous Reads wit ha note that said 'Really hope you enjoy this!'  I think she knew I would but there is always that small fear that someone won't no matter how much you yourself love it.  Never fear Jenny I LOVED it.

First thoughts on this book was how much the main character Evie reminded me of other favourite characters of mine.  Buffy Summers meets Veronica Mars.  Oh how I love these strong female characters and how they combine comedy with action without seeming to harsh and brutal.  Evie may be armed and dangerous but her Taser is pink and all she wants is a normal life like her favourite teen soap drama Easton Heights.  I loved Evie's view on the world from a very teenage point of view but also quite unique because she is so isolated from the outside world and only has TV and brief outings to judge her experiences on.

The story unfolds as a break-in at the IPCA centre (International Paranormal Containment Agency) leads to Evie asking questions about who she is, what the IPCA is really all about, who is the mystery shape shifter guy that broke into the centre and what was he looking for?  So many questions and so little time to work it all out as paranormals are dying with no visible cause or reason and anyone might be a target next.  Oh and did I mention the shape shifter guy is totally gorgeous and swoon worthy.  What makes life harder for Evie is her general lack of real teenage interaction and her sucky ex-boyfriend of sorts Reth, a faerie with a serious attitude and creeper issues.  At least with the appearance of Lend into her life and the Centre things are looking up but life is never that simple so she has to deal with the fact that things are afoot that she doesn't understand and she can't be sure who to trust.

Want more; you'll have to read it because anymore and I'll potentially be spoiling the drama that unfolds.  Kiersten writes in a way that you can't help but fall in love with.  I just loved the characters she created and the world they exist in and I really can't wait to see what happens next in the aftermath of Paranormalcy.  It was also delightful to have a teen character that was still in teen-mode.  She was an action girly girl that loved her fashion and shiny things that happen to be deadly weapons too.  Evie is a teen with teen troubles like 'Oh how can I talk to this boy without looking like a total fool' and the supernatural action type of troubles like 'Oh god, scary evil thing wants to kill me.  I hope I can kill it first.' One of my favourite parts in the book was just how excited Evie gets at the idea of a normal high school and having a locker.  It's the simple things she wants when she is faced on a daily basis with having to tag and track vampires and other paranormal beings due to her unique talent to see beyond the Glamours.

Supernaturally is due out this year and the cover has JUST been released online and I can't wait to see where Evie's adventures go and how her discoveries change her choices now that she has things to lose and things to gain from the new knowledge she has.

Rating: 9/10 (only because then I have wiggle room to give the sequel the full 10 if needed)
Published by Harper Collins and available here and all good bookshops

Fictional Husbands Round Up and Blog Question

So I've posted all my Fictional Husband selections for this week of LUUUURVE and here is a round up of all the final winners!

Dimitri Belikov
Cole St Clair
Simon Lewis
Alan Ryves
Peeta Mellark
Seth (from Wicked Lovely)
Callum McGregor

I posted on my twitter but I shall ask again here for any other regular features that you'd like to see here or that you take part in and think I might like.  I'm looking for book related ones but any will do really because I'm just interested in what people like doing feature wish and what they like to read on other blogs.

So far I currently do the In My Mailbox feature, Reviews and general book news posts such as cover/title reveals or things that spark my interest but would love to have a couple ones I do every week.  So leave comments with suggestions, links to your own features if you do them or ideas.

I hit my 30 followers mark today and coudn't be more pleased and hope you all stay for the ride.  I'm hoping to maybe get to 50 by my birthday in June but no matter if I get more followers and it takes years I'll just keeep reading and writing and hope you enjoy it and stay around.

:-)

Fictional Husbands: Callum McGregor

So last day of this week and this is the final Fiction Husband post!

But good news my lovelies;  due to the success of this week's Valentines daily posts of Fictional Husbands I've decided to keep it as a feature here and though I can't say it'll be a regular feature just yet, I am to have Fictional Husband post pop up now and then.

Today's is a more unusual one because I hadn't really considered him a Fictional Husband candidate before but with all these choices this week I've been going over my book shelves and realised he was perfect for it so today's FH is


Callum McGregor from Noughts and Crosses by Marolie Blackman

Firstly I recommend this series to everyone because it's so well written and is one of those books that really sticks with you.  It's haunting, touching and the characters and raw and honest.  Love LOVE LOVE this series.  I was lucky enough to get the whole set a few years ago when I did work experience at the wonderful Random House Children's Books Office in the Publicity Dept and at the end of the two weeks they told me to basically take whatever I wanted from the shelves.  I had a VERY full bag. It was just before Double Cross came out so I'd been hearing a great deal about the series in the office and so took copies of the 1st 3 books and read them all in about a week.

Callum is brave, opinionated and strong minded but the bare bones of his character is just a boy that wants to be with the girl he loves.  His world revolves around Sephy and their world revolves around the barriers between being a Nought and being a Cross.  They're paths are so inter twinned that it's hard to believe that they won't be in each others lives for good or bad and yet the story keeps you guessing.  He is a fighter in so many aspects that his passion makes his very easy to love as a Fictional Husband!  Someone with a strong mind and a strong heart can make you weak at the knees!

I kinda don't want to say too much about Callum because I would rather just leave u a taste for him and then you go and buy the book or check it out in your local library.  It's something everyone should read.  Trust me when I say that his character, his relationships and my love for him is much more complicated because of the context and the world this story exists in.  The lines of love and hate, good and bad, right and wrong is very blurred and a matter of opinion and I decided to add Callum as my last Fictional Husband because of this.  Love isn't clear cut and simple just like Callum and Sephy's relationship; there are ups and downs but can be worth fighting for.

ENJOY!

IMM: In My Mailbox [5 & 6]

In My Mailbox is an epic feautre run by The Story Siren and my links go to Amazon UK but other book sellers are out there too!

So last weekend was a bit manic and so this Sunday covers the last 2 weeks instead.

Bought

 

The Betrayl of Nathalie Hargrove by Lauren Kate  I enjoyed Lauren's other book and thought i'd have a look at this new one by her too.  Plus it's purple!

Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr I already own this and have read it but i love these covers and it was a pretty hardback too :-)

Just in Case by Meg Roseff The cover swayed me and it was in an offer but it sounded really interesting so I took a risk

Gifts

 

So some of my dear friends and I have only just exchanged our Christmas gifts because the snow in December cancelled our meet-up plans and this was the 1st time we'd seen each other since we live a while from each other.

DIY Fashion by Selena Francis-Bryden I'm a bit of a DIY fashion freak.  I love to add bits and remove parts of clothes, make my own prints and I never throw out clothes but rather I just cut them up and make something new so this book looks ace.  THANKS SARAH

Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life by Bryan Lee O'Malley I am a comic/graphic novel geek and this is very much my sense of humour (and reality).  THANKS ROZ

I got lots of other lovely goodies too but these are just my book related gifts

Happy Reading

XOXO

Fictional Husbands: Seth (Wicked Lovely)

SORRY: I thought I set this post up to auto post today while I was out visiting friend's after work but it seems it didn't so here is one VERY late post and more to come in the morning xoxo

Only one more day to come but do not be sad dear followers because today we celebrate

Seth from Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

Now with the exception of the lovely Dimitri it is quite possible that Seth is my drean guy.  He is a mix of the two worlds that I love in reality: Book Smart Emotional Boyfriend meets Hard Edged Tattooed Rocker Dream Boat.  It's like Melissa took a rock star exterior and mixed him with a cool and quirky second hand book store employee that recommends cool books to you because he's just that amazing.

BTW if anyone knows of a single guy like this please forward him on to me because i'd totally dump Dimitri for him.  Just saying!

Seth is both a man of action and a sensitive soul and I think he is a mix of both sides of the world that Aislinn is caught between.  He's not supernatural but he's the source of knowledge and strength she needs and the guide to keep her safe and happy.  He's ever so cool with a converted train carriage as a home and a pet snake but he's surrounded by books and can pluck quotes and facts from out of nowhere.

Though Seth may be my dream guy in theory I think it probably wouldn't work out in the long run.  When fight over book storage space, i'm not a fan of snakes really and we'd both always be in some sort of pain from getting tattoos all the time as we egg each other on to get more.  I'm bad enough as it is; I don't need the encouragement!

I love that he is a create creature and doesn't like his image or the ideas he see's around him confine his world view.  It's refreshing to see and it's a nice quality in anyone let only a Fictional Husband.  Much more happens to Seth as this series continues but I'm trying to be spoiler free in these features so I just encourage you to read on!

Tomorrow is Sunday and so I shall be making a final FH post (of which i'm keep secret for now) and then I may do a round up of the week's events and my double IMM post which isn't huge but still is worth posting :-)

Oh and before I forget; I guest posted over on Fluttering Butterflies as part of Love Month and I see there have been some lovely comments over there too so here is a link to the post I anyone hasn't seen my tale of woes when it comes to loving YA boys and also check out the rest of Love Month because it's quite excellent.  Thanks to Clover for inviting me to join in on the fun considering that i'm a newbie to the blogger field.

Love Month on Fluttering Butterflies

Fictional Husbands: Peeta Mellark

Friday I'm in love, time for another Fictional Husbands posts

Today it's time for the turn of Peeta Mellark from The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins

This one could be the sore point for some followers because from what I've seen our this particular fandom the divide is pretty evenly spilt between the two camps.  However the heart wants what it wants and it's the sensitive and thoughtful Peeta that grabbed mine from book one.  Though in the first book it's sort of hard to tell what is real from Katniss' point of view because it's all about playing up to the cameras and appearing one way to protect yourself I think Peeta's affection shines through it all.

Peeta is made of strong morals and a strong character who makes huge gestures with small actions.  When Katniss describes him giving her the bread years before it was such a small thing but made a huge impact on both their lives.  He is creative and free thinking but also willing to have his heart crushed in front of the nation to just have that small chance that it won't be shine out. 

As the books go on he shows how strong his emotions lie and how much he is willing to risk his heart but I won't go too into the details just in case I spoil it for anyone that hasn't read these books yet.  Let's just say the last book had me in tears all the way through practically.  He is someone you can have faith in because he has faith in others.  He has hope in others strength and this makes him so powerful as a person.

He isn't a classic hero really but his courage and pure nature makes him so appealing as a fictional husband.  Plus a man that bakes is never and I repeat NEVER a bad thing.

Saturday means it's nearly over for this little game of Fictional Husbands but I think I might keep it as an on going feature that will pop up from time to time when I meet another FH to add to the long and growing collection.

Tomorrow's Fictional Hubby is Seth from Wicked Lovely :-)

Fictional Husbands: Alan Ryves

Fictional Husband for Thursday is none other than

The lovely Alan Ryves from The Demon's Lexicon/Convenant by Sarah Rees Brennan

If you read my previous FH post about The Mortal Instruments' Simon it wouldn't be a huge shock that I've picked Alan over the charming Nick in this series as my Fictional Husband of choice.  I must point out that though Simon and Alan have similiar qualities they are very different so should NOT be written off as clear cut choices.  It should also be pointed out that between Nick and Alan it was a tight race but Alan won out because he's the real hero in this series for me.

Completely self sacrificing of himself physically and emotionally; he gives all he has and rarely asks for anything in return and you could say is shocked when he does get any response back.  I think he is a very underestimated love interest in the YA world.  He has his war wounds from battle but can still put up a good fight and even when he's down he'll keep fighting because that's just the kind of person he is.  If he gives you his heart, trust or faith he gives it completely and utterly and that's just the way he is.  I love that about him so much.  He'll protect those he loves even if it means he has to suffer in the long run.

Plus he has the whole book worm and smart guy thing going on that is so adorable.  He could share books with me and then we could go and fight demon's together.  That would be so awesome!

Tomorrow and Saturday I have Fictional Husbands picked out but I'm still umming and ahhing what to do on Sunday.  I guess it'll be a surprise for us all. lol

Tomorrow it's time for Peeta in The Hunger Games :-)

Fictional Husbands: Simon Lewis

Today's Fictional Husband is the geek king of the YA world in my opinion

Simon Lewis from The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare

I am all about the Geek Chic; I was geek before it was chic so to have a figure in YA that embodies all that I wanted in a boyfriend when I was 15/16 is almost too impossible to resist for me!

Simon isn't your normal hero/leading man type and it's quite clear that Jace in the series is the 'main man' because he is classically good looking and cool etc etc but it is Simon that steals my heart every time.  He's funny and cool without even realising it.  He interests are with movies, comics and music which is basically what I love too and he is a devoted friend.  Even when faced with impossible dangers and foes he would defend those he loves.  He has little or no super cool powers like the Shadowhunters in City of Bones when we first meet him; he's just an average guy compared to Jace or Alec and yet he is impossibly adorable because he doesn't let that stop him.

I don't want to get to spoiler with my gushing but let's just say that stuff goes down and Simon comes off as even more of a hero because even when things look bad or desperate he is still himself and quite often is the comic relief in a tense moment and who doesn't love a guy that make them laugh.  It's one of the things on every girl's list of dream guy qualities: To make me laugh and quite often to be able to laugh at themselves.  Simon is set to feature even more in Cassandra's new book City of Fallen Angels and he's even on the cover. WOO HOO!

Geeks are cool because at the end of the day most of the geeky and socially awkward guys at school and college are the one's that suddenly turn of awesome in later life and generally don't change who they are.  A geek guy is someone that will be the hero when you need him and be the shoulder to cry on when you are feeling blue.  Most of all they will be that guy that most girls won't take a second look at but perhaps they should because they have all the good boyfriend qualities they are looking for in the bad boys that just don't exists.

Next up is another geek love of mine and a character that I think just doesn't get enough love: Alan in The Demon's Lexicon/The Demon's Covenant by Sarah Rees Brennan

Fictional Husbands: Cole St. Clair

So Fictional Husband number 2

Cole St. Clair from Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

Now you may be saying 'Excuse me; What so you mean Cole? Surely you meant to say Sam right?'  My reply is yes I do love Sam, who wouldn't but it is Cole that has stolen my heart!  Now I have it on good authority that Maggie has said that I and my friend's can not marry Cole because she won't allow it because he's basically a bad influence but I continue to dream on Cole.

Why is he in the fictional hubby list? Well I love a bad boy with a troubled past.  Who hasn't wanted the bad boy, it's part of their allure that you think you can change them or that maybe you'd get to be a little bad yourself too.  He's in a band and not just any band but an awesomely cool rock band and I am hands down taken in by a guy in a rock band.  My other love in life is rock music and seeing bands so Cole is like the meeting of two perfect worlds for me.

He's sarcastic and cool and even though he has an appearance that says 'oh I'm too cool for you and so wonderful to look at and don't care if you do' he's really a broken guy that needs someone to snap him out of the world he lives in and make him think again about his own life by seeing others.

I want him so bad!  I'm really looking forward to seeing what happens to him in the 3rd book in the Wolves of Mercy Falls series Forever and hope that he doesn't change too much.  I still love a good old bad boy!

Next up is probably a very extreme opposite to the lovely Cole and it is Simon from The Mortal Instruments Series

Fictional Husbands: Dimitri Belikov

To "support" Valentine's Day I have decided to expose one of the best games ever!  It's called 'Fictional Husbands' and I play probably too much with my book blogger buddies Leanne (YA Forever) Andrew (Pewterwolf) and Krystal (Bookshelf Banter)

We basically do battle over our favourite book characters and see who can get the most in the quickest time via twitter.  The real trouble is we so often want to "have" the same characters and so for the next 7 days I shall select one each day that I lay claim too (of course I have to share but these are just 7 that I ALWAYS try to nab before anyone else!)

So Day One has to go to my favourite of the bunch.

Number One with a Bullet

Dimitri Belikov

As seen in Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy Series

There isn't much to say really because he's so flawless and even when it comes to his flaws they make him even more desirable to me!  He's a strong protective type but he has good morals and clearly would put others needs before his own even if that means risking his own heart and romance.  He loves his job and is dedicated to being the best he can be and bringing out the best in other.  He has crazy action skills and is basically like a stealth ninja with a stake!  I won't be shallow and say it's all about the looks but from what I read; he's a bit of a looker.  I'm just saying that it doesn't hurt.

In times of trouble he is the one you'd go to and when he crumbles even for a spilt second, you crumble with him.  He likes cheesy Western novels and how can you not love a man that reads a good book.  He comes from Russia originally and thus a man with an accent makes me swoon just a tad and he's basically around my age too so it's very much less creepy!

He kinda reminds me of Angel from 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' with his noble charm and allure and badass hero skills.  Which is odd that I love him so much because I never really 'loved' Angel.  Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't turn him away but I was always a Spike girl at heart.  I like the bad boy with a wounded heart more which leads us on nicely to my next Fictional Husband coming up tomorrow!

Cole from Linger by Maggie Steifvater

Cover Reveal: Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

So yesterday the cover of Bloodlines, the follow up spin off series to Vampire Academy (one of my favourite series ever I might add) , was revealed.

I could barely hold it together enough to click the link to see the artwork.  Getting a cover is always awesome cause it's like a huge teaser to what the book might contain.  This is my theory anyway. Ha Ha

So here it is:

My intial thoughts;  I don't hate it but I don't love it as much the Vampire Academy books.  I'm trying to remembering that this is the US cover so the UK cover will probably be a bit different but I was hoping to have more mystery about the appearance of the characters because I have my own ideas of how they look in my mind.  The use of read works because it makes it stand out against the VA book covers.  Peraps I'll grow to love it more or perhaps i'm just missing VA still but I have seen worse covers and I like the title font and the roses in the scrolled font.

What do you think???

For the Love of Books!

So with Valentines soon upon us I thought I'd talk a little about my love for books and partily about my love for the Library as it is a topical theme over the last few months and specifically last Saturday with a nation wide SaveLibraries campaign in the UK to help stop the closure of Libraries that have and wish to continue to serve the general public.

I'm so fussy about my books and only lend the mto people I trust will be kind to them.  I would hate to borrow a book from someone and return it ruined beyond belief.  Gradual 'love-damage' is expected and makes a book look worn and loved; which all books should be.  It's one of the many reasons I love Libraries and second hand stores because the stories are never just in the book itself.  The book's story is in the slightly torn pages or creased spines that says 'I've been read and enjoyed and i'm ready to continue this tradition.

In the spirit of this i've taken photos of my own mini library and am going to share with you all my books, where they live at my house and the books I love.  Next week I shal be posting about the characters from some of my favourite books I love and coming up this month is my guest post on Fluttering Butterflies as part of the Love Month.

The To Be Read Pile

 Guilty Pleasure books are Cookbooks :-)

Comic books all bagged and boarded cause i'm a real uber geek

What does your bookself look like? How to you organise all your books? Do have favourites?

This weekend I'm very busy seeing my favourite bad ever, My Chemical Romance and I won a contest to see them at a radio station so from tomorrow til Sunday my posting and reading will be limited so my IMM post may be delayed or missed but I shall do my best, I promise.

IMM: In My Mailbox [4]

In My Mailbox is an epic feautre run by The Story Siren and my links go to Amazon UK but other book sellers are out there too!

 So not a big week this week.  No new books were bought or received but this is probably for the best because I have 3 gigs this month and a friend's birthday but I know that i'll end up with some books along the way!

Thus is the life of a book addict *shrugs*



I did however go out on my lunch break to visit the local library today in my own show of support for the Save Libraries movement.  Libraries are SO important that I may have to do a whole seperate blog about my love for them.  In fact I shall do that in the week.

Borrowed from Library

Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr

Fourth in this series and very interested to see where it goes in this book

Leviathan and The Midnighters: Touching Darkness by Scott Westerfeld

I got the 1st Midnighters book in a charity shop and really liked the concept and the story so I've borrowed this copy until I can get a copy myself that matches the run of covers I have (the exact one here!) and also I've heard fab things about his latest series so this is the Hardback edition of the 1st book

Happy Reading

XOXO

Love Month over on Fluttering Butterflies

So with the start of February also leads us into Fluttering Butterflies Love Month!  The lovely Clover is hosting a month long blog theme with a mix of loved up book reviews and special guests post all with the theme of luuuuurve.

I shall be making a post on the oh so trying nature of being in love with some truly drool worthy YA boys and living the life as a victim of YA love sickness.  Running along side this I shall be posting here on my own blog a selection of my favourite characters that hold the object of my affection.  I may spread these over a couple post but I'll probably post on pre-Valentines and one towards the end of the month.

So head over to Fluttering Butterflies for lots of loved up goodness this month and be sure to check in here for the usual reviews and posts and the special linked up 'My Fictional Husbands' posts.

Yay for Love Month!