Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets—and human lives.
Sydney would love to go to college, but instead, she’s been sent into hiding at a posh boarding school in Palm Springs, California–tasked with protecting Moroi princess Jill Dragomir from assassins who want to throw the Moroi court into civil war. Formerly in disgrace, Sydney is now praised for her loyalty and obedience, and held up as the model of an exemplary Alchemist.
But the closer she grows to Jill, Eddie, and especially Adrian, the more she finds herself questioning her age–old Alchemist beliefs, her idea of family, and the sense of what it means to truly belong. Her world becomes even more complicated when magical experiments show Sydney may hold the key to prevent becoming Strigoi—the fiercest vampires, the ones who don’t die. But it’s her fear of being just that—special, magical, powerful—that scares her more than anything. Equally daunting is her new romance with Brayden, a cute, brainy guy who seems to be her match in every way. Yet, as perfect as he seems, Sydney finds herself being drawn to someone else—someone forbidden to her.
When a shocking secret threatens to tear the vampire world apart, Sydney’s loyalties are suddenly tested more than ever before. She wonders how she's supposed to strike a balance between the principles and dogmas she's been taught, and what her instincts are now telling her.
Should she trust the Alchemists—or her heart?
“I tried to be a better person for her– but it was to impress her, to get her to want me. But when I’m around you, I want to be better because… well, because it feels right. Because I want to. You make me want to become something greater than myself."
After finishing Vampire Academy series I was so excited about the spin off series and Bloodlines, the first book in the series did not disappoint. I completely devoured it and was left wanting more. I just couldn't wait for the next installment and was counting down the days until I had my hands on it. Saying that it has took me so long to finally get around to reading this book. Life got in the way and after getting the book on audio I read... well listened to it.
The Golden Lily was a fantastic follow up to the amazing start to this series. I really love following Sydney, Adrian, Jill and Eddie and seeing their adventures. I fell in love with them in the original Vampire Academy series so it's amazing to get their stories too.
I fell more and more in love with Adrian the more I read of this book. I have to admit that with this particular audio it took a while for me to warm to Adrian... not the character as I already loved him but just the voice for him as to me the voice the narrator put on for Adrian just sounded really strange. Once I had gotten used to it then I loved him all the more. He is most definitely the guy that everyone will love as he is just perfect.
Sydney is the character I identify the most with. Not just in this series but in fiction in general. She is super smart and relies on her smarts rather than anything else to get her through and I totally admire her for that. It's awesome to finally have a heroine that is super smart.
I loved The Golden Lily. It was an action-packed, super awesome installment in the Bloodlines series. It was full of romance, action and heart-melting moments. I admit I was kinda yelling at Sydney at some point as I just really wanted her to pull it together and be with Adrian. The Golden Lily is the perfect second book in the installment and left me dying for more and immediately downloading the next audiobook in the series.
"I don't care if he's not the emotional type or the complimentary type or what. No one can look at you in this dress, in all that fire and gold, and start talking about anachronisms. If I were him, I would have said, 'You are the most beautiful creature I have ever seen walking this earth."
Samantha is a stranger in her own life. Until the night she disappeared with her best friend, Cassie, everyone said Sam had it all-popularity, wealth, and a dream boyfriend.
Sam has resurfaced, but she has no recollection of who she was or what happened to her that night. As she tries to piece together her life from before, she realizes it's one she no longer wants any part of. The old Sam took "mean girl" to a whole new level, and it's clear she and Cassie were more like best enemies. Sam is pretty sure that losing her memories is like winning the lottery. She's getting a second chance at being a better daughter, sister, and friend, and she's falling hard for Carson Ortiz, a boy who has always looked out for her-even if the old Sam treated him like trash.
But Cassie is still missing, and the facts about what happened to her that night isn't just buried deep inside of Sam's memory-someone else knows, someone who wants to make sure Sam stays quiet. All Sam wants is the truth, and if she can unlock her clouded memories of that fateful night, she can finally move on. But what if not remembering is the only thing keeping Sam alive?
It's no surprise to anyone how much of a fan of Jennifer L Armentrout I am. I have been super obsessed with her and her books since I read her debut in 2011. I have read every book of hers to date... multiple times. There is nobody who quite compared to JLA to me. She is already the queen of YA Paranormal, Adult Contemporary and NA Contemporary. I am constantly counting down the days until I get my hands on her next book. I was super excited for this book. It sounds good, the cover is gorgeous and well Jen wrote it... However I have to admit I was a bit nervous. Don't Look Back is a thriller... and I really don't like thrillers. They are the kinds of books I tend to avoid but I knew I would read it anyway because Jen wrote it and she's my favourite author of all time.
Don't Look Back completely blew me away. Coming from the person who hates thrillers I adored this book. It's a contemporary romance, it's a mystery and it's a thriller. Jennifer completely changed my perception of the thriller genre. I couldn't get enough of this book and I couldn't stop reading it.
When Sam is found on the side of the road everyone can't wait to find out what happened to her and her best friend Cassie. There's just one problem... Sam doesn't remember anything, not even who she is. The more Sam continues with her life the more she starts to gradually remember who she is... the problem is she doesn't like who she was and doesn't want to remember but she can't let go of what might have happened to Cassie. Will remembering help her or could it endanger her life?
Sam is such a complex character and I have such conflicted feelings for her. I really sympathise with her and loved going through the journey with her as she tried to remember what had happened. BUT as we met 'before' Sam I realised that I was so glad the book didn't start with the 'before' as I hated Sam. She was horrible and bitchy and just generally not a very nice person. I have to say I'm very relieved that she is better 'after' and I ended up liking her.
Jennifer L Armentrout just continues to blow me away with every book she releases. I was so nervous about Don't Look Back but it surpassed all my expectations and more. It completely changed my perception of thriller books and I won't instantly dismiss thriller books based on the genre. Jen is just phenomenal and she has once again proven that she can write anything and be phenomenal and she is officially the Queen of... well... everything. I just adore her!
Don't Look Back was such a phenomenal read. It has everything that you could possibly want in a YA novel. Humour, romance, action and mystery. I was completely enraptured by this novel and could not possibly put the book down. It's utterly phenomenal and I think it may be my favourite JLA book to date. She is just phenomenal and I am yet again counting down the days until I can have her next book in my hands.
Alex has big plans for camp this year, starting with making it the best summer ever. Having fun and breaking some rules will get her the payback she wants against her parents and her ex-boyfriend. Because of his disgusting texts, she's headed to a super strict all-girls school in the fall. Then she meets Javier and revenge doesn't seem nearly as important as getting to know the troubled loner determined to keep a low profile at camp. But Alex's trouble-magnet personality and Javier's need to stay in the background don't mix nearly as well as their irresistible chemistry. With her home life eroding under her feet and her last year of summer camp speeding to a close, Alex wants to make her mark on the world and squeeze every bit of fun out of her time with Javier. Too bad her old plans for revenge turn back on her just in time to ruin everything. Will she lose Javier too?
After reading and devouring the first book in this series Camp Boyfriend I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book. I loved the first book and JK Rock completely captured me with their amazing writing style and story-telling skills. I have to admit that I did not like Camp Payback quite as much as Camp Boyfriend. It didn't have the magic that I felt Camp Boyfriend did but it was still a fantastic follow-up to Camp Boyfriend.
Camp Payback follows Alex, Lauren's best friend, as she faces a year at Camp Juniper without her best friend. After having broken up with her former camp-love she wants to get him back for all the trouble he has caused her with her family. Enter Javier, the new, hot guy at camp he seems the perfect person to help her get her revenge. But as they get closer Alex's revenge is the last thing on her mind. She wants to get to know Javier and when sparks fly she knows that the story of her revenge could ruin everything.
I admit that even though I knew Lauren's story was over I missed her so much. I really thought we might get a glimpse of Lauren and Matt and when I realised that they weren't present in the book I was a little bit disappointed. It didn't take long for me to get completely caught up in Alex and Javier's story. I really enjoyed reading their story and they are amazing characters and Javier is most definitely my new book boyfriend. He is awesome.
My major issue with the book is that I still find the friends in the book so unlikable. They are so bitchy and unloyal and betray their friends even though they are claimed to be friends for years. It really frustrates me as I end up getting annoyed at the main character as I just don't understand why they would stay friends with someone like that. I most definitely don't understand the friendship when it's such a dysfunctional friendship that Alex could do so much better without.
Camp Payback was an amazing romantic story that any hopeless romantic will love and devour. It's a super fun, drama-filled love story that will have you laughing one minute and then dying for things to work out the next. I loved it and although I very much missed Seth I still ended up loving this one too.
The Camp Boyfriend series is a great YA Contemporary series that is a must-read for every fan of YA Contemporary novels. I really love the setting especially since we don't really do summer camp in the UK so it's a totally new thing for me. Although Camp Payback didn't have the same magic that I felt the first one it is still a very good book that I really enjoyed. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series and hoping that I will finally understand why this group of friends are actually friends in the next book.
Olivia Warren used to be a normal girl with a bright future.
But on one fated night, everything changed.
Hiding the scars of her past up her sleeves, Olivia transfers her enrollment from Columbia University to The College of Charleston, determined to pursue her own dreams for the first time in her life.
She intends to allow herself a bit of alone time to heal... that is, until she meets Preston.
Preston is best friends with her roommate, completely hot, and off-limits. But the chemistry between them is instantaneous—and as the pair begins to spend more time with one another, their feelings for each other build into something undeniable, something powerful enough to heal Olivia’s deepest scars.
Olivia tries to put her own past behind her and trust Preston, but she discovers that his past might be more present than she ever bargained for…
"I can't breathe when you're around. I can't think. I can't control my mind and forget my body. I am useless and weak and I hate this version of myself. Yet... I have never wanted anyone like I want you."
I have been such an enormous fan of Melissa West since reading her debut novel Hover. I fell head over heels in love with her characterisation and her writing skills. I couldn't wait for more and now have read everything that she has wrote to date. When I heard she was writing a New Adult Contemporary novel I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. I have been on such a massive contemporary kick lately and for my favourite sci-fi author to turn to contemp I couldn't wait to see what she would come up with. Melissa West can officially write anything. Her first turn to Contemporary Romance is a masterpiece. This book is just fantastic.
All Olivia wants is to have a new start. To escape her past and never have to think about it again. She just wants to be alone and have time to heal. But then she meets her new roommate... and her super hot best friend. Preston is a no-strings-attached guy but when he meets Olivia he can't help but want to know her better. He wants to know about the past Olivia is so desperate to forget... but he has a past that he doesn't want her to know. Can they put their pasts behind them in order to be together, or are they destined to tear them apart?
Pieces of Olivia is one of the most unique and different New Adult books I have read to date. After reading a lot of NA books I started to become a little bored as they all had such similar themes I felt like I was reading the same book just told in different ways. Pieces of Olivia is so different to the others that are out there. It's completely unique and it has such an addictive quality that you just can't stop reading until you have finished the entire thing.
I absolutely loved Olivia in this book. She is such an amazing character to follow throughout the story. The great thing about this book is that we meet Olivia present day so at the start of the book we don't actually know what had happened in her past. Just that is required for her to get professional help. We go on this journey with her as she heals while at the same time go through the journey of finding out what had actually happened to her in the past to make her as she is. It's such a cleverly way to write a book and I really bow down to Melissa. This book purely shows just how much of a talented author she is.
Preston is without a doubt the character that all the girls will fall head over heels in love with. He is super swoony and super sweet and he is just the boy next door that anyone could meet. In a lot of novels you find that the main guy is so perfect there is no way that he could be real. Preston is the realistic guy. The guy who makes mistakes and learns from them. He is perfect in the way that he is totally not perfect.
Pieces of Olivia is an incredible, uplifting story of healing and learning from the mistakes and events of our past. Melissa West is definitely here to stay and this book has her claiming one of the top spots in the list of best NA authors. Pieces of Olivia blew me away. I loved every single moment and it is definitely one of the better NA Contemporary novels out there. A must-read for everyone.
"I'm here, right now, and I am out of my mind in love with you. I love you so much that it feels like my chest might explode."
A modern day thrill ride, where a teen girl and her animal companion must participate in a breathtaking race to save her brother's life—and her own.
Tella Holloway is losing it. Her brother is sick, and when a dozen doctors can't determine what's wrong, her parents decide to move to Montana for the fresh air. She's lost her friends, her parents are driving her crazy, her brother is dying—and she's helpless to change anything.
Until she receives mysterious instructions on how to become a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed. It's an epic race across jungle, desert, ocean, and mountain that could win her the prize she desperately desires: the Cure for her brother's illness. But all the Contenders are after the Cure for people they love, and there's no guarantee that Tella (or any of them) will survive the race.
The jungle is terrifying, the clock is ticking, and Tella knows she can't trust the allies she makes. And one big question emerges: Why have so many fallen sick in the first place?
After reading and loving Victoria Scott's Dante Walker series I couldn't wait to read her new series. Add to the fact that it's dystopia and I have an unreal love for dystopia series I was so anxious to get started on this series. Fire and Flood has a good storyline and is a great addition to the dystopia genre.
All Tella wants is to go back to how it used to be. After her brother got sick and the doctor's couldn't determine what was wrong with him their whole lives were uprooted and moved to Montana. Tella, more than anything, wants her brother to get better. So when she is given the chance to fight in the Brimstone Bleed Tella is determined to fight and win. Her prize? The cure for her brother. But only one person can win and their is no guarantee that she will survive the race in the first place.
I have such conflicted feelings for this book. I couldn't wait to read it. It sounded like such an awesome book and completely my kind of book. With it being a YA Dystopia novel comparisons to The Hunger Games were bound to happen. I can usually bypass that and see the books as they are on their own... but with this one there is just too much that is completely similar that it's hard to look past it and look for the originality. Tella enters a competition that is a fight to the death to save her brother and some of the competitors start to band together to increase their chances of survival. It's just too similar for comfort with me.
Add this to the fact that I completely and utterly hated Tella. One of my biggest problems with novels is if I don't like the characters then I can't stand the book for the most chance. Tella may be doing the Brimstone Bleed for good and selfless reasons but she is selfish, vain and just completely unlikable to me. Especiall when she started saying how she could have been friends with a girl if she didn't want to kill he because she was beautiful and looked good. Seriously... kill me now!
Fire and Flood was such a tough read for me but it had one majorly redeeming quality... there is one aspect which is totally realistic. Enter the Pandoras. Pandoras are eggs that hatch into an animal that can have magical powers and cannot. I loved this part of the book. It's so original and it was this part of it that really had me keeping reading. I have to be honest that if it wasn't for this part of the book I probably would have DNF'd it.
Fire and Flood is a good storyline and it's jampacked full of action and romance. If you love your Hunger Games eske novels with a new unique aspect and can look away from lots of similarities this is the book for you. I still adore Victoria Scott and her writing is so talented and is an amazing author but this book is just not for me. I am unsure whether I will read book 2 or not.
It’s time.
Evil is running rampant and sweet Anna Whitt is its target. Nobody knows when or how the Dukes will strike, but Anna and her Nephilim allies will do anything necessary to rid the earth of the demons and their oppressive ways.
The stakes are higher than ever, and Anna is determined that the love she feels will be her strength, not a liability. But trying to protect the ones she loves while running for her life and battling demonic forces proves to be perilous—especially as faces are changing and trust is fleeting. When the Duke of Lust sends Anna’s great love, Kaidan Rowe, to work against her, Anna must decide how much she’s prepared to risk.
In the most sensual and fast-paced installment yet, Sweet Reckoning brings all the beloved Neph together one last time to fight for their freedom.
"There was going to be a reckoning here tonight, both sweet and terrible."
Having fallen in love with this addictive Nephilim series with the first two installments Sweet Evil and Sweet Peril I couldn't wait to get my hands on the final installment in the series. When I was accepted for an early ARC from the publisher I couldn't contain my excitement and forgot everything I needed to do and read it... in one sitting.
Sweet Reckoning tells the story of the final leg on Anna and Kaidan's journey to not only free themselves from the evil running their lives but also their fight to finally be together. After all of the drama from the previous installment of the series you'd think they are bound to get a break... think again. Sweet Reckoning is jam packed full of action and drama and swoon-worthy romance.
Wendy Higgins truly mesmorises me. Her writing is completely addictive and I could not put this book down. I was already head over heels in love with these characters and I just could not wait to see what was going to happen to them. The journey to the end is a tough one and it has you sat on the edge of your seat unable to turn the pages quick enough. You will laugh and cry and scream and throw things. Sweet Reckoning is without a doubt an emotional rollercoaster and you will love every single moment.
I have to admit I was slightly concerned about reading Sweet Reckoning. After a few less than satisfying endings to a trilogy I was worried but I needn't have. Wendy gives the fans the perfect ending to the perfect series and I was swooning so hard! It is pure perfection.
Wendy is without a doubt one of my auto-buy authors. I don't even need to know what it is about I will read it purely just because Wendy has wrote it. She sure knows how to write a perfect ending. She is amazing and Sweet Reckoning was utter perfection. I am so sad so say goodbye to this series and these characters but it was perfect and I loved it so much. The best book of the series without a doubt. This is definitely a case of saving the best till last.
"Love is the strongest force. The binding substance. The element worth existing for. That is what makes you pure of heart."
In book three of the Testing series, the United Commonwealth wants to eliminate the rebel alliance fighting to destroy The Testing for good. Cia is ready to lead the charge, but will her lethal classmates follow her into battle?
She wants to put an end to the Testing
In a scarred and brutal future, The United Commonwealth teeters on the brink of all-out civil war. The rebel resistance plots against a government that rules with cruelty and cunning. Gifted student and Testing survivor, Cia Vale, vows to fight.
But she can't do it alone.
This is the chance to lead that Cia has trained for - but who will follow? Plunging through layers of danger and deception, Cia must risk the lives of those she loves--and gamble on the loyalty of her lethal classmates.
Who can Cia trust?
The stakes are higher than ever-lives of promise cut short or fulfilled; a future ruled by fear or hope--in the electrifying conclusion to Joelle Charbonneau's epic Testing trilogy. Ready or not…it's Graduation Day.
The Final Test is the Deadliest!
Holy Crap! Now THAT is what you call a finale!
There are no words to explain how excited I was to get my hands on this book. I absolutely loved the first two installments in this action-packed, phenomenal YA dystopia series. With themes of The Hunger Games and Divergent I couldn't help but just adore this series. I have been dying to get my hands on the finale and to see how it was all going to end. Joelle is definitely does not fit into the 'great series, not to great finale's' category. Graduation Day was utterly amazing.
Cia has fought so much and came so far but the deadliest test is still to come. Faced with an impossible task Cia knows that she needs help... but who can she trust? While everyone is keeping secrets from each other Cia knows trusting the wrong person can mean not only the failure of her mission but death but she has no other choice. She needs allies to complete her mission... and that's if she can even complete it.
Cia is one of the strongest most amazing heroine's I have ever come across in YA novels. She is so smart and really thinks everything through before making a decision. It's so refreshing to have a heroine who is crazy smart and trusts her intellect. I loved that.
Tomas... oh Tomas. I just love him. He is such an amazing character and even though there are moments where you don't know his intentions he always comes true in the end. His loyalty to Cia is awesome.
Graduation Day is an explosive and incredible finale to the series that had me turning the pages as fast as I possibly could. I couldn't put it down and was constantly sat on the edge of my seat dying to know what was going to happen. I loved every single second of this book and it completely blew me away. I really wasn't sure how much it was going to live up to how much I loved the first two installments but it totally excelled them. It was utterly phenomenal. I really hope that Joelle decides to write a spin-off of this series as I would love to know what happened after the conclusion of Graduation Day but if she doesn't then it was the perfect ending regardless. The Testing series will continue to be one of my favourite dystopia series ever and I know I will read it again and again.
Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it.
New Berlin, 2040. Rebels prepare to fight against the New World Order, bent on bringing down the world’s greatest tyrant. One girl wanted nothing to do with it, content to keep her head down and make the best of this new world. That is, until she has no choice but to work with the rebels and infiltrate the NWO headquarters. Every moment she spends there puts her in danger, especially when one man, the second in command to the New World leader, continues to make his way into her every thought. She must stay focused and protect not just her mind and body, but also her heart. Will she be able to complete her task without being unmasked? Or will the one man standing in her way ruin it all?
"I don't deserve to know any piece of heaven found with you. You're far too good for me."
Ever since I read her debut novel, Eden, I have been completely enraptured by the work of Janelle Stalder. She is such a fantastic author and has such a skill and talent when it comes to the written word. Every book is a fast action-packed, romance-filled roller coaster ride and Masked is no different. I thought nothing could quite beat the wonder that was Switch but Masked made me eat my words. Janelle has taken this new dystopic world and upped the stakes by a million.
Bridgette has taken her sisters place in the home of the enemy. Challenged with a task she must complete Bridgette must make sure her identity is kept secret or her life may be threatened. But that is easier said than done when Roman elicts feelings in her nobody has before. Will Bridgette do her job or are her feelings entangled too far already?
I seriously fell head over heels in love with this book. After finishing the first novel in this series I already liked Roman and was looking forward to reading his story. It was not a disappointment and I believe that I may have preferred this book over its predecessor. Right from the start I was pulled into the storyline and I couldn't put it down.
Bridgette is such a great character. She is nothing like Charlotte but that is a great thing. Bridgette has not been hardened by the world and she has a vulnerability. Everyone knows how much I love a tough kick-ass heroine but it is so important to have a heroine that has weaknesses and is vulnerable as well and I think it's something that a lot of readers tend to forget about. Having a character that is very vulnerable allows you more room for character development and growth and Janelle most definitely took advantage of this and the way she made Bridgette the way she is showed just how cleverly planned out this book is. Bridgette definitely goes on a journey thoroughout the book and by the end of the book she is still true to herself and still has that softness but she's a lot more capable and kick-ass. The best thing about this is that we get to experience the things that make her this way with her rather than coming into the story with her already being toughened. I adored that about this book.
Masked was a fantastic journey and I genuinelly loved every single moment of it. Janelle Stalder is definitely one of my favourite authors of all time and there is nothing that this woman can write that I won't devour. If you haven't yet started this series I urge you to do so immediately. You won't be disappointed. This is a fantastic, fast-paced, action-packed and romance-filled dystopia series that is most definitely up there as one of the best in the genre. I loved it.
"You've got me completely at your mercy. My heart, my body, my spirit belongs to you now."
Teresa Hamilton is having a rough year—she’s in love with her big brother’s best friend, but he hasn’t spoken to her since they shared a truly amazing, mind-blowing, change-your-life kiss. She got out of a terrible relationship. And now an injury is threatening to end her dance career for good. It’s time for Plan B – college. And maybe a chance to convince Jase that what they have together is real.
Jase Winstead has a huge secret that he’s not telling anyone. Especially not his best friend’s incredibly beautiful sister. Even though he and Teresa shared the hottest kiss of his life, he knows that his responsibilities must take priority. He certainly doesn’t have time for a relationship. But it doesn’t help that all he can think about kissing the one girl who could ruin everything for him.
As they’re thrown together more and more, Jase and Tess can’t keep denying their feelings for each other. But a familiar danger looms and tragedy strikes. As the campus recovers, the star-crossed couple must decide what they’re willing to risk to be together, and what they’re willing to lose if they’re not…
"God, Tess, there isn't a part of you that's not perfect in my eyes."
It's no secret to anybody that Jennifer L Armentrout is my hero. She is my favourite author of all time and nobody could ever compare to her and her books, nor replace the special place that she has in my heart. I have been dying... and I mean DYING to get my hands on this book for what feels like forever. I fell head over heels in love with Wait For You, her first attempt at NA and it still remains one of the best books I have ever read. Although I wanted more Cam and Avery I was super excited to get my hands on Jase and Tess' story and my goodness it did not disappoint. I loved every single second of it.
Tess has been in love with Jase since like forever. And she can't stop thinking about him since their first kiss a year ago. The problem? Jase is Tess' older brother, Cam's best friend and there are lines that Jase is not willing to cross no matter what he feels. But when they reconnect at the same college sparks fly. Can Tess convince Jase to give their relationship a chance? Or is there something else in the way... something bigger than Tess being Cam's little sister that is stopping Jase?
I love love loved this book. I loved the glimpse of Jase and Tess that we saw in Wait For You and I remember emailing Jen going so you're writing Jase and Tess' story right? I couldn't wait for them to get their happy ending and even though it was one hell of an emotional journey I loved every single second of it.
Tess is such an awesome character to live through. She has been through so much to get to this point, overcoming an abusive relationship when she was sixteen and even though it may not be in the same way heroines from supernatural and paranormal books are she is just as kick-ass because of how incredibly strong she is. I just loved her.
One thing you come to know from a JLA book is that she pours her heart and soul into her work and it shows. I can no longer read one JLA book without being in tears at least once. They are just so real and emotional and hit you hard where it hurts... but no matter what you can count on all the hurt and emotional trauma worth it because she knows what she is doing and she knows her readers and what they want. She is the perfect author and nobody could ever beat her in my eyes. She may smash my heart into smithereens but she slowly picks those pieces up and starts slowly sewing them back together.
Be With Me is everything I expected and more. It's such a surprising book with a twist I never saw coming. I was literally left speechless going hold on what? This is what JLA is perfect at! I loved every single second of it and I cannot wait to read her next book. Whatever it is I will be devouring it in hours as I always do. She is the literary queen and she is just amazing. Roll on Stay with Me!
"And I'm more than willing to spend the rest of my life making it up to you, because I love you, Tess. I am so fucking in love with you in a way I've never loved someone before."
Savannah. Courtney. Peyton.
The three sisters grew up not knowing their father and not quite catching a break. But it looks like their luck is about to change when they find out the secret identity of their long-lost dad—a billionaire Las Vegas hotel owner who wants them to come live in a gorgeous penthouse hotel suite. Suddenly the Strip's most exclusive clubs are all-access, and with an unlimited credit card each, it should be easier than ever to fit right in. But in a town full of secrets and illusion, fitting in is nothing compared to finding out the truth about their past.
I have some pretty mixed feelings about this book. The Secret Diamond Sisters was the first book I have read from Michelle Madow and she really impressed me with her storytelling and writing style. It was incredibly easy to fall into the story and that's just the kind of book I like. Something that just makes you forget everything but the story and that's what this book did.
Savanna, Courtney and Peyton have grown up with next to nothing for their whole life. Suddenly they are thrust into a world of glamour and money. Secrets and lies. Finding out that their father is a millionnaire in Vegas they are shipped off to live with him and their whole life changes.
I really enjoyed the storyline and it was really unique and different from any other YA novel that I have come across. I enjoyed reading from all of the sisters perspectives and Michelle really showcased her talent for writing here. A lot of the time with books where we have multiple perspectives, particularly perspectives of more than two characters I start getting confused and having a moment where I'm like okay who is talking here? and having to go back to the beginning of the chapter to find out. You do not have this problem in this book. Michelle really shows how multiple point of views should be done. She excels at this and is really in-tune with all of her characters and gives them such different voices that you always know who is talking and telling the story. I was very impressed with her incredible talent.
I really loved the storyline of having these three downtown girls thrown into such a high society and it was entertaining to read. However I started to get a little bit more disappointed when the story truly turned into being all about the romance. There is such potential for a fantastic storyline that could keep you on the edge of your seat wondering what was going to happen right the way through. It started this way and I loved it. I loved the twists and turns and the secrets but when it turned all about the romance I started slowing down with my reading and going days without picking it up again.
The Secret Diamond Sisters has incredible potential to be a phenomenal unputdownable series but I just didn't connect all that much after the focus came purely on the romance. Michelle Madow blew me away with her talent of writing and I will most definitely be picking up her other series. I see a lot of potential with this series and I will be looking out for the sequel but I am a little disappointed and I have hopes that we will focus more on a storyline in the follow up.
The Scarlet Letter meets Minority Report in bestselling author Sophie Jordan's chilling new novel about a teenage girl who is ostracized when her genetic test proves she's destined to become a murderer.
When Davy Hamilton's tests come back positive for Homicidal Tendency Syndrome (HTS)-aka the kill gene-she loses everything. Her boyfriend ditches her, her parents are scared of her, and she can forget about her bright future at Juilliard. Davy doesn't feel any different, but genes don't lie. One day she will kill someone.
Only Sean, a fellow HTS carrier, can relate to her new life. Davy wants to trust him; maybe he's not as dangerous as he seems. Or maybe Davy is just as deadly.
The first in a two-book series, Uninvited tackles intriguing questions about free will, identity, and human nature. Steeped in New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan's trademark mix of gripping action and breathless romance, this suspenseful tale is perfect for fans of James Patterson, Michelle Hodkin, and Lisa McMann.
I've been a huge fan of Sophie Jordan since I picked up her YA debut Firelight. Her incredible writing style and her insane storytelling talent sucked me in and I couldn't wait for whatever she should write next. I then devoured her debut NA novel and yet again I was left dying to read more of her work. It's no surprise to anyone that I adore dystopia novels so when I heard that Sophie was writing a dystopia I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. I just knew it was going to be awesome... and it was. Uninvited is the unique dystopia novel that everybody has been dying to get their hands on.
Imagine if we knew who was dangerous and who wasn't? Would it change our whole world and the way we act in social groups? Well we can. The kill gene has been identified and everyone is getting tested for the kill gene. Davy has always been the perfect girl. Dating the most popular boy in school and already set for her scholarship for Julliard her life is perfect. Until she finds out that she tested positive for the kill gene. Soon her whole life has been turned upside down and everyone withdraws and fears her... even her mother shows fear. Davy knows that this has to be a mistake but how can she prove them wrong when everyone has already branded her as dangerous? And can she prove them wrong or is there a deadly person hiding underneath the facade?
Uninvited completely blew me away. One thing I adore about dystopia novels is trying to wrap my mind around these extremist future worlds. I love how different they are and I love delving into these new worlds where everything is insane. This is one of the books that made me think the most. To imagine just what it would be like if they did find out that we have a 'kill gene'. How it would make us rethink everything we had thought about those people. Sophie Jordan does an insanely amazing job of bringing us this incredibly thought-provoking novel. I couldn't put the book down once I had started it.
We live the story through Davy. We step into her shoes and find out what it would be like to be excluded by everyone apart from those who we had always perceived as dangerous. We really identify with Davy and go on this incredibly personal journey with her. She really goes through a lot and starts to question everything she knows.
I cannot wait for the sequel to this novel. I just know it is going to be incredible. Sophie Jordan has proven once again that she truly can write anything and excel at it. Be it paranormal, contemporary romance or dystopia her novels are truly heartstopping, thought-provoking and masterful. I loved every single second of this novel and I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel and find out what is going to happen.
"I can't pretend you don't exist for me."
Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.
First off let me just say that this book has been sat on my shelf for so long and I never dared pick it up... for a good reason. I am seriously the most emotional person ever and I cry at everything. Having said that this book broke me. Like seriously... I don't think I have ever cried so much in my entire life.
Hazel is terminal. She knows she will never live into full adulthood. While at Cancer Kid Support Group Hazel meets the gorgeous Augustus Waters, and her life changes. Entering into this incredibly friendship and romance with Augustus Hazel knows that it can't last forever. She doesn't want to leave Augustus by dying but can she really step away from the only joy she has ever known?
This was the first John Green book I read and it was also the first audiobook that I listened to. The narrator was superb and she really brought a great voice to Hazel and portrayed her perfectly. For my first audiobook I am very very impressed. As for it being my first John Green book it is one of the most moving and emotional books I have ever read. It is incredibly well written and so thought-provoking and moving. I will most definitely be looking out more of John Green's books... though not before staking my freezer with Ben and Jerry's for the after-effects.
Hazel and Augustus are two of the best characters I have ever read about. Their love of books really made me identify with them. This was an incredibly clever move on John Green's part. Who would be reading this book? Book lovers so let's make both our protagonists book lovers so they identify with them. It worked and I just loved both of them. Hazel was such a strong character. She is dying having terminal cancer and not able to go anywhere without her oxygen tank yet she is so strong and looks at the positive in everything which is just so admirable in her. Augustus is just the epitome of awesome. I just adore him. He is such a sweetheart and the more and more I read the more I fell in love with him.
The Fault in our Stars was the book that I had wanted to read for forever but never picked it up because I knew it would break me... and it did. With John Green's powerful words my heart was in a vice and I could feel him slowly squeezing the life out of it the more I read until he ripped it out and splintered it into a million pieces. This book utterly broke my heart but it is still one of the most beautiful and incredible books I have ever read. I would most definitely suggest it to everybody... as long as you have tissues and comfort food for afterwards.
Cat Crawford just wants to be normal—or at least as normal as a daughter of Hollywood royalty can be. And it looks like fate is granting her wish: she’s got an amazing boyfriend, Lucas; her fabulous cousin, Alessandra, living with her; and her dad planning his second marriage to a great future stepmom. That is, until her prodigal mother reveals on national television that she has something important to tell her daughter…causing a media frenzy.
Lucas Capelli knows his fate is to be with Cat, and he’s worked hard to win her over once and for all. Unfortunately, Lucas has his own issues to deal with, including a scandal that could take him away from the first place he’s truly belonged.
As secrets are revealed, rumors explode, and the world watches, Cat and Lucas discover it’s not fate they have to fight if they want to stay together…this time, it’s their own insecurities.
Well, and the stalkerazzi.
**Please Note: This review is based on the Beta Copy of this book**
"Miss Crawford, you best prepare yourself, because you're gonna swoon your ass off."
Ever since starting this amazing series I have been dying for Rachel to write a third book. I was so excited when I heard that there would be a third book in the series. My Not So Super Sweet Life is everything I could have wanted in this wrap-up of the series. It wraps everything up nicely and I really loved getting the closure and happy ending for all the characters I had come to love in the previous books in the series.
Cat has been through everything. From travelling back in time to Reneissance Italy to finding her ancestor turning up at her house in present day. Finally everything is going back to normal. With her ancestor staying in present day with her and Cat and Lucas finally becoming a real couple. But then Cat's fame-hungry mother ruins everything. Faced with the mother that left her being back in her life Cat doesn't know what to think. Can she trust her mother and believe that she actually wants to be in her life or is it all just a publicity stunt?
I loved Cat right from the start of the first book in this series. She was such an awesome character to follow and throughout the previous books we finally saw Cat find herself. Throughout this book we see her struggling with herself and Cat really grows throughout the book and we really sympathise with her more than in the previous books. I loved following her and Lucas' story.
Rachel yet again blew me away with her addictive storytelling skills and I couldn't put this book down. Her characterizations are amazing and just when I thought there wasn't much more of the story left she just blew me away with this uplifting and incredibly important journey for Cat.
I will admit that this is my least favourite book of the series. That by no means means that I didn't love every single second because I did. I just really missed the time-travel aspect that the previous two books had and I really missed Rayna's presence in the novels.
My Not So Super Sweet Life was an awesome wrap-up of the series and really left everyone happy with a awesome future to look forward to. A must-read for fans of the previous books in the series.
"Cat, you give me something to fight for. I meant it when I said I wasn't going anywhere, that I wasn't giving up until you told me to stay away."
One kiss could be the last.
Seventeen-year-old Layla just wants to be normal. But with a kiss that kills anything with a soul, she's anything but normal. Half demon, half gargoyle, Layla has abilities no one else possesses.
Raised among the Wardens—a race of gargoyles tasked with hunting demons and keeping humanity safe—Layla tries to fit in, but that means hiding her own dark side from those she loves the most. Especially Zayne, the swoon-worthy, incredibly gorgeous and completely off-limits Warden she's crushed on since forever.
Then she meets Roth—a tattooed, sinfully hot demon who claims to know all her secrets. Layla knows she should stay away, but she's not sure she wants to—especially when that whole no-kissing thing isn't an issue, considering Roth has no soul.
But when Layla discovers she's the reason for the violent demon uprising, trusting Roth could not only ruin her chances with Zayne…it could brand her a traitor to her family. Worse yet, it could become a one-way ticket to the end of the world.
"I'd look sexy in just about anything. Modesty belongs to losers. Something I am not."
Holy Freaking Gargoyles!
There are no words for how freaking phenomenal this book is! Jennifer L Armentrout fast became my favourite author of all time with her Lux and Covenant series in 2011 and just when I thought her books couldn't get any better... THIS HAPPENED! White Hot Kiss is THE book of 2014!
Layla tries to fit in but being a half demon half gargoyle isn't easy. Most of her Warden family don't trust her because of her dangerous abilities and none of her friends know what she is. She wants a normal life and the only one she feels normal around is Zayne. But when demon Roth enters the picture things start to get complicated. Torn between everything she has ever thought was good and learning that maybe the demon part of her isn't all that bad Layla has a tough decision to make. Can she make the right one without destroying her family... or the world?
If you'd have asked me about a book about Gargoyles a few years back I'd have probably replied don't be silly who would write about gargoyles? What story is there there? Jennifer L Armentrout is the queen of taking unusual creatures and making me fall in love with them. First there was Obsidian that made me love an alien book. Something I never thought I would love. Now I'm pretty sure I'm in love with a Gargoyle!
Gargoyle's are such unusual creatures to write about and I honestly never thought I would see the day where there was a awesome paranormal book featuring gargoyles. It doesn't surprise me whatsoever that it comes from the incredibly talented hands of the one and only Jennifer L Armentrout. Jennifer's phenomenal and addictive writing style just draws you in to this wonderful world of Wardens and Demons and she just doesn't let your attention wander for one second until you have finished the entire book! It's so freaking phenomenal!
Layla is such an awesome character. One thing I adore about Jennifer L Armentrout's characters is that you never see one of her heroines moaning about their life and troubles or waiting around for a guy to save her. Layla is no different. She is totally kick-ass and she wants to be out there killing the evil demons. I love her. She shows she is completely capable of everything the male Wardens are and I love it about her.
Zayne and Roth... how confused I am. Now usually in a YA Paranormal series when it comes to the love triangle I have a team. I know who I am rooting for and I get pretty damn angry regarding the other guy in the love triangle (think of my hatred of Seth in Covenant). Now this happens in every single book series! Jennifer what have you done to me? I can't choose! I can't like one more than the other. I immediately loved Zayne coz he is the good guy best friend who just wants to protect Layla and I always love the good guy and root for the good guy. BUT... the more I read of this book the more I started to love Roth and now I am just damn confused. I love them both equally and for the first time EVER I just can't choose between them. But I know what you are up to Ms Armentrout. I know she is going to make us even more confused in the next book! You mess with my mind Jen!
White Hot Kiss completely took over my life. I could not put it down. Not for a second. I sat and read the entire thing in one sitting (it's a damn good job I was off work the week I got this). The storyline is completely addictive where you are seriously hanging on the edge of your seat dying to know what happens. The romance is just heartmelting and you just can't wait to see what it going to happen regarding the relationships of the characters.
Jennifer L Armentrout is THE author to read. I could easily just re-read her books over and over and never read anything else by anyone else and still be perfectly happen. She is a writing god and I can't praise her enough. There are so many feels that you go through throughout all of her books but particularly this one. Jennifer is the best author in the world to me and no book quite compared to hers. In both the addictive story and the emotional trauma I seem to go through with every single one of her books. I just adore her.
White Hot Kiss is going to be THE series of 2014. It is a must-read for everyone and if you haven't read anything by JLA before well... what the hell are you waiting for? GO GO GO! White Hot Kiss completely blew me away and left me dying for more. I need Stone Cold Touch like RIGHT NOW!
"People with the purest souls are capable of the greatest evils. No one is perfect, no matter what they are or what side they fight for."
Braden Carmichael never imagined he'd fall as hard and as fast as he did for Jocelyn Butler. He also could not have anticipated how difficult it would be to convince her to give in to love. But now that he has her, he's never letting go. He's got it all planned - the passionate proposal, the dream wedding, the sexy Hawaiian honeymoon - even the perfect family they'll start.
After trying to flee from her painful past, Joss is finally allowing herself to embrace the future. But when things start moving faster than she anticipated, she finds herself panicking over something Braden can't understand. After everything they've been through, Joss is sure that their love can survive even her worst fears. But, this time, she may push Braden too far - and risk losing everything all over again...
On Dublin Street was one of my first reads this year and it introduced me to the awesomeness that is Samantha Young. I fell head over heels in love with Joss and Braden and when I heard about this novella that continued their story I just had to read it. I haven't yet read Until Fountain Bridge nor Down London Road but I couldn't help but dive into this one.
Castle Hill really reminded me about how much I love Samantha Young books and it has definitely made me want to read Until Fountain Bridge and Down London Road very very soon. I had completely forgotten how much I loved her book and Castle Hill is fantastic and just dragged me back into this breathtaking romance and storyline.
Joss and Braden will continue to be one of my favourite couples in literature ever and I will always come back and re-read this along with On Dublin Street where their relationship started. If you loved On Dublin Street then Castle Hill is a must read. You don't need to read the other books in the series to read this one as long as you have read Joss and Braden's story you won't be lost.
My only issue is that I wished this novella lasted longer. I just wanted more, it was over far too fast. I cannot wait to read Samantha's other books and I will definitely be reading them soon. I love this series. It's just fantastic and they are really good uplifting quick reads.
An exclusive novella featuring Ellie and Adam, much loved characters from On Dublin Street and Down London Road
Ellie Carmichael has been in love with Adam Sutherland for as long as she can remember. What started as a childhood crush on the protective and best friend of her older brother bloomed into full-blown infatuation over the years. Unfortunately, it also meant full-blown heartache, as Adam refused to fall for his mate's little sister.
But it takes a crisis for Adam to realize he's wasted too much time denying his feelings for her. Unwilling to waste a second more, he decided to make Ellie his, no matter what the consequences. Now happily settled with the woman he's pined after for years, he's about to find out what their ten year courtship was like for her, through the journals she kept during their ups and many downs. And though Adam may have Ellie now, he has no idea how close he came to losing her . . .
Right from the moment I started On Dublin Street I fell in love with Samantha Young's writing and storytelling. One of my favourite characters in On Dublin Street was Ellie and so when I heard Samantha was publishing a short story that would tell Ellie and Adam's story I couldn't wait to get my hands on it.
Ellie has been in love with her brothers best friend for as long as she can remember. She never thought that he could love her back. But now he does. As Ellie and Adam sit down with her many diaries they revisit their past and all the time they could have been together... and how Adam could have lost Ellie forever.
One thing I loved about this novella was the incredibly clever way Samantha wrote this. When I sat down to read it I was prepared to be going back in time before the time that On Dublin Street is set... and we do in a way. I wasn't prepared to be faced with happy Ellie and Adam present day living through their past through Ellie's diaries that she has wrote. I really loved how we got all of these events through Ellie's point of view but at the end of each chapter we got how it also affected Adam. It was so superbly and cleaverly written.
Ellie and Adam's story is so cute and amazing. I am so happy that Samantha wrote this and we got to see their story both pre and post On Dublin Street. Until Fountain Bridge is an amazing installment in the series and is a must read for any fan of Samantha Young.