Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society - Mary Shaffer & Annie Barrows

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows
Release Date: June 2009
Publisher: Allen and Unwin
Pages: 280

My Rating: 

From Goodreads: "It's 1946, and as Juliet Ashton sits at her desk in her Chelsea flat, she is stumped. A writer of witty newspaper columns during the war, she can't think of what to write next. Out of the blue, she receives a letter from one Dawsey Adams of Guernsey - by chance he's acquired a book Juliet once owned - and, emboldened by their mutual love of books, they begin a correspondence.

Dawsey is a member of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, and it's not long before the rest of the members write to Juliet - including the gawky Isola, who makes home-made potions, Eben, the fisherman who loves Shakespeare, and Will Thisbee, rag-and-bone man and chef of the famous potato peel pie. As letters fly back and forth, Juliet comes to know the extraordinary personalities of the Society and their lives under the German occupation of the island. Entranced by their stories, Juliet decides to visit the island to meet them properly - and unwittingly turns her life upside down."

See below the bump for the review! :D

Review: Of Poseidon by Anna Banks

Of Poseidon by Anna Banks
Release Date: June 1st 2012
Publisher: Hardie Egmont Grant
Pages: 324
Series: Of Poseidon #1
Source: Borrowed from Jade <3
Find it on Goodreads
My Rating: 

From Goodreads: "Galen is the prince of the Syrena, sent to land to find a girl he's heard can communicate with fish. Emma is on vacation at the beach. When she runs into Galen — literally, ouch! — both teens sense a connection. But it will take several encounters, including a deadly one with a shark, for Galen to be convinced of Emma's gifts. Now, if he can only convince Emma that she holds the key to his kingdom . . .

Told from both Emma and Galen's points of view, here is a fish-out-of-water story that sparkles with intrigue, humor, and waves of romance."

See below the bump for the review!

Review: Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Release Date: October 2012 (first published 2001)
Pages:336
Publisher: Canongate
Format: Movie tie-in paperback
Source: Borrowed from a friend
Find it: Goodreads | Collins (AU)| Dymocks (AU) |Book Depository (INT) | Amazon (INT)

My Rating: 

From Goodreads: "Pi Patel is an unusual boy. The son of a zookeeper, he has an encyclopedic knowledge of animal behavior, a fervent love of stories, and practices not only his native Hinduism, but also Christianity and Islam. When Pi is sixteen, his family emigrates from India to North America aboard a Japanese cargo ship, along with their zoo animals bound for new homes.

The ship sinks. Pi finds himself alone in a lifeboat, his only companions a hyena, an orangutan, a wounded zebra, and Richard Parker, a 450-pound Bengal tiger. Soon the tiger has dispatched all but Pi, whose fear, knowledge, and cunning allow him to coexist with Richard Parker for 227 days lost at sea. When they finally reach the coast of Mexico, Richard Parker flees to the jungle, never to be seen again. The Japanese authorities who interrogate Pi refuse to believe his story and press him to tell them "the truth." After hours of coercion, Pi tells a second story, a story much less fantastical, much more conventional-but is it more true?

Life of Pi is at once a realistic, rousing adventure and a meta-tale of survival that explores the redemptive power of storytelling and the transformative nature of fiction. It's a story, as one character puts it, to make you believe in God."


See below the bump for my review :)

Review: Liar by Justine Larbalestier

Liar by Justine Larbalestier
Released: September 29th 2009
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Source: Library
Collins | Dymocks | Book Depository | Amazon

My Rating: 2/5 Stars

From Goodreads: "Micah Wilkins is a liar.

But when Michah's boyfriend, Zach, dies under brutal circumstances, the shock might be enough to set her straight. Or maybe not. Especially when lying comes as naturally to her as breathing. Was Micah dating Zach? Did they kiss? Did she see him the night he died? And is she really hiding a family secret? Where does the actual truth lie? "

*This review contains spoilers*

There is a lot happening in this book and the tables seem to turn more often than they don't, and not in a way I liked. So the first nearly half of the book you're thinking that Michah is just your average high school girl, she barely ever tells the truth, no really, like ever. For starter's I'm not a big fan of characters who are constantly lying, they make me uneasy. Which I guess was the goal of this book, but it just didn't sit well with me. Liar is almost written as a kind of journal, Michah is telling us about her life, but she also lies to us. She tells us about her brother, only she doesn't have a brother. She is lying.

Review: Storm by Brigid Kemmerer

Storm by Brigid Kemmerer
Series: The Elementals #1
Published: April 1st 2012 (US), May 2012 (AU)
Publisher: Kensington (US) Allen and Unwin (AU)
Format: Paperback ARC, US edition
Source: Rebecca @ Reading Wishes
Find it: Goodreads | Collins | Dymocks | Book Depo | Amazon

My Rating: 5/5 Stars
(that's a total lie, more like 10/5 stars!!)

From Goodreads: "Becca Chandler is suddenly getting all the guys all the ones she doesn't want. Ever since her ex-boyfriend spread those lies about her. Then she saves Chris Merrick from a beating in the school parking lot. Chris is different. Way different: he can control water just like his brothers can control fire, wind, and earth. They're powerful. Dangerous. Marked for death.

And now that she knows the truth, so is Becca.

Secrets are hard to keep when your life's at stake. When Hunter, the mysterious new kid around school, turns up with a talent for being in the wrong place at the right time, Becca thinks she can trust him. But then Hunter goes head-to-head with Chris, and Becca wonders who's hiding the most dangerous truth of all.

The storm is coming"

I know I know!! I was incredibly late on the Storm band wagon. I KNOW. I seriously do not know why it took me so long to get my hands on it. I had only heard amazing things about it and I had been dying to read it for so long. It just so happened that I met up with Rebecca from Reading Wishes, who is so lovely she had stalked my goodreads page and saw that I hadn't read it. She had an extra copy so she gave it to me. wha?!! I think my eyes literally bulged out of their sockets. So thank you SO much Rebecca!! <3

Anyway on to the actual review, I apologise if it is all over the place, I'm still trying to organise my thoughts!

Review: Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson
Release Date: June 7th 2012
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Source: Received for review from Publisher
Collins | Dymocks | Book Depository

My Rating: 5/5 Stars.

From Goodreads: "Taylor Edwards’ family might not be the closest-knit—everyone is a little too busy and overscheduled—but for the most part, they get along just fine. Then Taylor’s dad gets devastating news, and her parents decide that the family will spend one last summer all together at their old lake house in the Pocono Mountains.

Crammed into a place much smaller and more rustic than they are used to, they begin to get to know each other again. And Taylor discovers that the people she thought she had left behind haven’t actually gone anywhere. Her former best friend is still around, as is her first boyfriend…and he’s much cuter at seventeen than he was at twelve.

As the summer progresses and the Edwards become more of a family, they’re more aware than ever that they’re battling a ticking clock. Sometimes, though, there is just enough time to get a second chance—with family, with friends, and with love."

Firstly I would like to say a massive thank you to the lovely people at Simon and Schuster for sending me a copy of this book for review purposes. This does not in any way alter my review or opinion of this book. 

I absolutely LOVED this book, I mean all caps LOVED. Morgan Matson is fast becoming one of my favourite YA contemporary authors. I adored Amy and Roger's Epic Detour, click the link to check out that review. After reading her first book I was seriously excited for Second Chance Summer, and it did not disappoint! 

Review: The Secret Hour by Scott Westerfeld

The Secret Hour by Scott Westerfeld

Released: February 14th 2004
Series: Midnighters #1
Publisher: Atom
Source: Library

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Oh my golly gosh. This book was awesome. If you could publish awesome, it would be in the form of this book. Big statement I know. But stay with me, because this book deserves much more attention!

Most of the YA community (in my experience) has read or at least heard of the Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld. Don't get me wrong, I adored that series too. But this? This was on a whole other level.

Now the Uglies series is still awesome, but since reading the books, I have come across books that are similar in some ways. Delirium being one, which I feel is a combo of Uglies and Matched. They are not exactly the same but that had the same feel. ANYWAY. The Secret Hour? So original! At least in my opinion. 

Review: Speechless by Hannah Harrington

Speechless by Hannah Harrington

Release Date: September 2012
Publisher: HarlequinTeen
Source: Received from publisher

Quick Thoughts: Really enjoyed Speechless. A strong story about the consequences of gossiping and bullying

Rating: 4/5 stars

Thank you to the wonderful people at HarlequinTeen for supplying me with a review copy of Speechless. This does not alter my review in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is the first book I have read of Hannah Harrington's, though I have been trying to get my hands on a copy of Saving June!

I want to stop here and look at the cover. It in its self sends is so powerful and thought provoking that I just couldn't wait to dive into this book.

Speechless is thought provoking young adult novel, about the consequences of gossiping and bullying. Teens these days are faced with these everyday, becoming victims of gossip and bullying. Hannah gives a powerful voice to those being bullied. As in the case with Speechless the topic of bullying is Homophobia. Hannah approaches this issue with great care and a well thought out plot line.

Chelsea, the school gossip, and main character, finds herself in a very awkward situation. Having walked in on a boy from her school making out with another boy at a party, she instantly runs downstairs to tell her friends what she saw. Something that Chelsea ordinarily wouldn't think twice about. However, as soon as the words leave her mouth and she see's the reaction of the 'popular' boys at the school she regrets ever opening her mouth.

Chelsea later finds out that the boy from her school has been hospitalised. He was walking home from the party that night and was attacked and brutaly beaten up, winding up in hospital.

The last thing Chelsea says is to the police, revealing who beat up the boy and why. This begins Chelsea's vow of silence. After being the school gossiper for so long, and having now realised what effect it can have, she no longer wants the words to come out of her mouth to cause something like this again.

Chelsea carries on with her school year, becoming shunned by nearly the entire school. Now finds she is being bullied herself. In the only class she has a chance of escaping from all of that is art. But on the first day back at school she realises that Noah's best friend, Sam is in the class with her, not only that, the only seat left is the one next to her. This is going to be a total train wreck. Or so she thinks. You guessed it. She meets a boy, Sam. But he's not just any boy, he's Noah's best friend. Yikes! She feels guilty as hell but finds that Sam 

Speechless is a captivating story about a girl who was once a gossiper and bully herself, becoming the victim, allow with others in the story. Chelsea along the way tries to figure out who really matters, and how to be the type of person she doesn't hate and to just be happy. Through her journey of silence she makes new and unexpected friends and finds herself happier than she has ever been. 

I really loved this book and I just chewed through it so fast. Speechless keeps a good pace, that kept me interested throughout. Chelsea really grows as a character through this book and props to Hannah Harrington for achieving this really effectively!! Love love loved!

So, have you read Speechless? What were your thoughts?

Happy reading!
- Amy

Review: Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
Release Date: December 2nd 2010
Publisher: Dutton
Goodreads | Book Depository | Amazon

Quick thoughts: I absolutely adored this book! Definitely a must read. 

From Goodreads: "Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris - until she meets Etienne St. Clair: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home.

As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near - misses end with the French kiss Anna - and readers - have long awaited?"

I have waited for my hold of this book to come into my library for (I kid you not) 3 months at the least. So I have been waiting a good long while to be able to read this one. When I finally got the email that it had come in I was so excited. I have read Lola and the Boy Next Door and really enjoyed it, though I would have liked to read this one first since both Anna and Etienne (<3<3<3 siiiiighhh) were mentioned.

Anna and the French Kiss follows the story of Anna and the gorgeous St. Clair, or as he is later known, Etienne (at the start of this book this really confused me, I thought they were two different people for a while... Oops! Pay attention Amy!) Anna is sent to Paris, against her wishes, to the American school there. She doesn't want to leave her friends, how will she survive a whole year away from her best friend when they do everything together? Her first night there, after her parents leave, she breaks down, she can't imagine what life will be like here and frankly she doesn't want to. That is until Meredith knocks on her door to check on her. The walls are paper thin and Meredith is her neighbour, she heard Anna crying. She invites Anna to her room where Anna discovers walls of endless posters. On leaving Merediths room for the night she (literally) runs in to Etienne, the most dreamy boy at the school. Later she finds out that Etienne is the St. Clair that Meredith told her about. Meredith introduces Anna to the rest of her friends and they integrate Anna into the group.

Along the way Anna finds herself falling for Etienne, er - St. Clair.. Even though she knows he has a girlfriend (booo!) and that Meredith likes him and has liked him for long time. All of that aside she and Etienne spend more and more time together. Especially when they are two of only a few who stay at the school over the break. They become best friends. He becomes the one who knows her better than anyone else there, and he is the one who steals her heart.

Stephanie Perkins has succeeded in creating a contemporary YA novel that is light hearted but at the same time invigorating. Anna and the French Kiss is a book that I could easily read over and over, which I rarely do, without getting bored. I anxiously await Isla and the Happy Ever After, said to be released in 2013. How on earth will I wait that long??!!

For those of you who have read both Anna and Lola, I ask you this: Etienne or Cricket?
Tough question for myself to answer... I think would have to say Etienne <3

Happy reading!
- Amy

Review: Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
Release Date: August 14th 2012
Series: Beautiful #1
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Australia
Source: Copy supplied by publisher
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Quick thoughts: Must read! Edge of your seat good.

From Goodreads: "The new Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn’t drink or swear, and she has the appropriate number of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance from the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University's Walking One-Night Stand.

Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby needs—and wants—to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the ultimate college campus charmer. Intrigued by Abby’s resistance to his appeal, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis’s apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match."

Before I get into the review I would like to thank Simon and Schuster for supplying me with a copy of Beautiful Disaster for review. This does not in any way alter my review of this book. All opinions expressed are my honest thoughts.

I hadn't heard a lot about this prior to receiving it, I have been a bit absent from the book world. I was also on a book buying ban for a while so I didn't want to discover to many books that I needed or my purse would complain! Anyway onto the review.

I seriously could not put this book down. I didn't want to answer the phone, I didn't want to go to sleep, I didn't want to leave the house, not until I had finished this wonderful book.

Abby Abernathy. Where do I start. She is a good girl, but she hasn't always been. She moves towns and changes college to get away from her father and her past. She tries her best to keep her past a secret from everyone except her best friend, who not only witnessed her past but was part of the events that made Abby want to escape. I don't want to give too much away, but you know you're best friends when they up and leave with you to help get your Dad out of debt... And this is exactly what Abby's best friend does. Countless times. (I cannot for the life of me remember her name, but I have a feeling it's Maddie.... Could be wrong though).

Then there is Travis. The lean-mean-fighting machine. Oh and he tends to sleep around... A lot. All the girls on campus knows who he is, and most of them have spent one night with him. Only one. He has issues. lots of them. He is a fighter, 'the first rule of fight club: you don't talk about fight club' kind of fighter. I wasn't Travis' biggest fan in the start, but I sure did learn to love him!!

When Travis and Abby meet for the first time, she is at one of his fights, finding her self splattered with blood and way to close for comfort to the fight. This isn't her usual scene, but she was talked into it by her best friend and her boyfriend (Who so happens to be Travis' best friend!). The second time they meet Travis tries to work his charm on Abby and she shuts him down, Intriguing him even further.

Love is just around the corner for these too, but they keep making wrong turns and doing u-turns and 8 point turns.. I think you get the picture. It ends up being somewhat of a beautiful disaster.

Jamie McGuire has done an excellent job of creating characters with such depth and passion. There are twists and turns that I didn't see coming, particularly about Abby's past. I just couldn't figure out what had happened. I love being surprised by books and not being able to predict what's going to happen next. Beautiful Disaster had me on the edge of my seat the entire time that I am surprised I didn't fall off. If you haven't already, I highly suggest you read it!

I don't want to wait for the second book in this series. I am very curious about how Jamie McGuire will go about it. According to the media release the second book, Walking Disaster will be release in 2013 and the story will be continued from a 'different and surprising point of view.' So excited!!!

Have you read Beautiful Disaster? If so, what did you think?

Happy reading!
- Amy

Review: When Copper Suns Fall by KaSonndra Leigh

When Copper Suns Fall by KaSonndra Leigh
Release Date: December 6th 2011
Publisher: TriGate Press
Source: Ecopy sent by author
Goodreads | Book Depository | Amazon

My Rating: 4/5 Stars

From Goodreads: "In fifteen-year-old Chela Prizeon’s city, alchemy is forbidden and angels hide among the mortal. With a deadly virus ravaging the globe, Chela’s nightmarish memories compels her to experience a past riddled with gloom, and now her brother is infected.

Chela’s only hope is the Caduceans, slayers sworn to protect the last seven Light Keepers and the ancient memories they share. A group led by the sometimes elusive, sometimes infuriating boy who intrigues Chela. But can she trust this boy with the mysterious past, someone who can influence her memories?

With the Caduceans aid, Chela races to defeat her rivals, to unearth dark family secrets, desperate to find a cure…only to discover the glutovirus is far more than a simple disease.

In this haunting debut, KaSonndra Leigh offers an escape into an intriguing new world filled with celestial creatures, fascinating villainy, high-stake choices, and a secret romance, When Copper Suns Fall, is a fresh and original urban fantasy—with a dystopian twist—that will take readers on an unforgettable adventure."

Thank you to Kasonndra Leigh for sending me a copy for review, this in no way influences my review.

When Copper Suns Fall is so far unique to the other YA books I have been reading. First of all think dystopian, then think dystopian but with Angels. I didn't know what to expect but I was pleasently surprised!

I finished When Copper Suns Fall in two sittings, which hasn't been happening often lately. I have been in a bit of a reading slump.

The characters have great depth and the plot was well thought through. I would not give the plot justice, if I tried to explain it, it would be confusing. Though it wasn't confusing while reading it.

Chela, the female lead is part of a very small group of rare descendants. Chela has great power, that she must keep a secret, as she discovers along her journey. Magic is forbiden. What is more forbiden? No one can know her secret. No one can know she has power. WHen it comes down to the 'man in charge' she winds up being penalised for using magic. She jsut can't risk word of her power getting out.

Faris *sigh*. Faris keeps showing up in Chela's life at the most convenient times and she doesn't understand why. But oh lordy, who could complain! Faris is a loveable character, who is not perfect. He is flawed in more ways than one. The only other thing about Faris I will say is, expect a few great twists involving him!

Seth is the character out to 'get' Chela. He wants to use her and her power and will stop at nothing. He kidnaps her best friend and threatens to kill her. He has been posing as a SOC (authorative figures) but is far far from it.

With very unexpective twists and turns, captivating characters and an enthralling story line, When Copper Suns Fall  is a story about a journey, love and friendship.

Happy reading!
- Amy

Review: Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

*Check out my 300 follower giveaway for your chance to win!*

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
Release Date: January 3rd 2012
Publisher Australia: Murdoch Books. America: Harper Collins
Goodreads | Book Depository | Amazon


My Rating: 4/5 stars


From Goodreads: "Aria has lived her whole life in the protected dome of Reverie. Her entire world confined to its spaces, she's never thought to dream of what lies beyond its doors. So when her mother goes missing, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland long enough to find her are slim. 

Then Aria meets an outsider named Perry. He's searching for someone too. He's also wild - a savage - but might be her best hope at staying alive. 

If they can survive, they are each other's best hope for finding answers."

Review: Pure by Julianna Baggott

*Check out my 300 follower giveaway for your chance to win!*

Pure by Julianna Baggott
Release Date: February 8th 2012
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Edition: ARC, 448 pages

My Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

From Goodreads: "We know you are here, our brothers and sisters .

Pressia barely remembers the Detonations or much about life during the Before. In her sleeping cabinet behind the rubble of an old barbershop where she lives with her grandfather, she thinks about what is lost-how the world went from amusement parks, movie theaters, birthday parties, fathers and mothers . . . to ash and dust, scars, permanent burns, and fused, damaged bodies. And now, at an age when everyone is required to turn themselves over to the militia to either be trained as a soldier or, if they are too damaged and weak, to be used as live targets, Pressia can no longer pretend to be small. Pressia is on the run.

Burn a Pure and Breathe the Ash . . .
There are those who escaped the apocalypse unmarked. Pures. They are tucked safely inside the Dome that protects their healthy, superior bodies. Yet Partridge, whose father is one of the most influential men in the Dome, feels isolated and lonely. Different. He thinks about loss-maybe just because his family is broken; his father is emotionally distant; his brother killed himself; and his mother never made it inside their shelter. Or maybe it's his claustrophobia: his feeling that this Dome has become a swaddling of intensely rigid order. So when a slipped phrase suggests his mother might still be alive, Partridge risks his life to leave the Dome to find her.

When Pressia meets Partridge, their worlds shatter all over again."

I borrowed an ARC of this book from a friend who wasn't sure if they were enjoying it. So she gave it to me to read to see if I enjoyed it. With this book that is a tough question to answer. It's safe to say that this book is very unique. Pure is not like anything I have ever read before. 

It was hard for me to decide what rating to give this book, it was either going to be 3 or 3.5 stars. I contemplated not finishing this book, the first half of the book was tough for me to get through, it was slow moving and mainly setting up the world the characters live in and giving background on what has happened. I know this was necessary since it's the first book in a new series but I just couldn't get into it. However the second half made up for this. The second half was action packed and twists were revealed that I wouldn't have even thought to expect. I was expecting there to be a love triangle, and here was me thinking 'not ANOTHER love triangle, I can't cope!" But no I was wrong, there was no love triangle... But I won't tell you why, for spoiler reasons! 

Pure follows the story of Pressia, Partridge and Bradwell. They live in a world that has changed drastically. A dome has fallen on their town and unless you were within the dome when it fell like Partridge was, you became literally attached to the closest object to you. For Pressia it was a baby doll, which she now has as a hand. For Bradwell it was birds, he now has birds on his back. This blew my mind. The birds didn't die, they still flap their wings and everything. Pressia and Bradwell were lucky, others not so much. Some people were only close to the ground or glass or something else solid that caused them to die a very unfortunate death.

For those inside the dome life seems perfect, they don't know what goes on outside and most of them see no reason to care. Partridge used to be one of them. Until he breaks out, something that has not been done before. He breaks out and sees what life is like outside and begins to hate is Father who is the equivalent of a mayor for inside the dome. 

Julianna Baggott has succeeded in creating such a unique story that the idea alone is enough to warrant you reading this book. I'm hoping that the second instalment of this book will be more action filled and fast paced. Obviously this first book has to set up the world that the characters live in and that takes a bit of time, now that this has been done, hopefully the second book will pick up the pace!

I did enjoy this book and if this sounds up your alley then you should give it a go!

Have you read Pure? I'd be interested to hear what you thought of it!

Happy reading!
- Amy

Review: A Witch in Winter by Ruth Warburton

A Witch in Winter by Ruth Warburton
Release Date: January 5th 2012
Publisher: Hodder Children's Books
Edition: Proof Copy, 346 pages
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

My Rating: 4/5 Stars

From Goodreads: "Anna Winterson doesn't know she's a witch and would probably mock you for believing in magic, but after moving to the small town of Winter with her father, she learns more than she ever wanted to about power. When Anna meets Seth, she is smitten, but when she enchants him to love her, she unwittingly amplifies a deadly conflict between two witch clans and splits her own heart in two. She wants to love Seth, to let him love her – but if it is her magic that's controlling his passion, then she is as monstrous as the witch clan who are trying to use her amazing powers for their own gain. 

Although a perfect fit for the paranormal romance genre, A WITCH IN WINTER avoids fangs, excessive body hair and submissive female leads, and tells the heart-wrenching story of a couple meant to be together, but being forced apart. Seth is utterly irresistible and Anna is an empowered, proactive young woman with unimaginable magic inside her. This is fast-paced, sensuous writing with believable incantations inspired by Warburton's research into witchcraft legend and old English"

I won this book in a giveaway hosted by the author, Ruth Warburton on twitter, so I would like to say thank you! Receiving a free copy of this book does not influence my review. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Though it did take a lot longer to read than I would have liked. This had nothing to do with the writing or the story, purely because I was so busy that I didn't have much time to read. 

Anna is a witch. A witch who doesn't believe in witches. When she moves to a small town and into 'Wicker House,' things start to change. Anna experiences crazy storms and finds a very unusual book, and manages to enchant a boy into loving her. Sounds juicy right? Well it is. 

Anna is a great female lead. She has been without a Mother most of her life and she has turned out just fine. Though she wishes that her Dad would tell her what happened or even more about her Mum. Especially once she finds out she is a witch. She manages though, finding a clan that are willing to help her and in turn she is willing to help. When it comes down to it, she will put her life on the line to save her new town and her new friends. 

Seth, oh lovely lovely Seth. The boy with the bad reputation. The same boy that Anna casts a love potion on. A nice twist to the story as we think that he is in love with Anna because the spell, while towards the end we aren't sure. There are also questions raised about who Seth is. Upon meeting one of his relatives who tells Anna to leave them alone her type aren't good for them. So there are many questions to be answered in the second instalment! 

Overall this was a fast paced, action packed, filled with boy drama novel that Ruth Warburton has managed to carry out very well. She has done an amazing job creating a unique and very intriguing story that kept me hooked the entire way! Can't wait for the second book!

I know this review is a little sparse compared to my others, but I read it a couple of weeks or so ago and should have written the review then, but I found myself without the time! Pretty much all you need to know though, is that this book was amazing, and you should check it out :)

What are you all currently reading? I'm on a book buying ban so I will be living vicariously through you until I finish my TBR pile!! 

Happy Reading!

- Amy

Review: No Rules of Engagement by Thomas Wilson

No Rules of Engagement by Thomas Wilson
Release Date: August 30th 2011
Publisher: Smashwords
Edition: Ebook, 304 pages
Goodreads | Amazon

My Rating 3/5 stars

From Goodreads: "For eight year old orphan, Alexander Hawk, the question, "Is there other Intelligent life in the Universe?" has been answered with a resounding YES! 

Plucked from a correctional facility for boys because of a test he never even finished, Alexander is sent to train for combat against an alien race of Alligators which is attacking another group of aliens, the Macktonics, who have allied with United States in return for advanced technology. 

The United States' gathers an army of children so they will arrive at the perfect age for fighting. Alexander faces grueling training exercises as he struggles to rise to the challenge of preparing to save the placid Macktonic alien civilization from pending attack. Before his training is complete he comes face to face with the enemy. Alexander becomes student and teacher as they square off against a superior aggressor. Traveling through time portals crossing time and space to gain intelligence, and ultimately to hunt down their foe before they attack the Macktonics."

Let me start by saying thank you to Thomas Wilson for supplying me with an ecopy of his book. This in no way impacts my review. All opinions are my own.

No Rules of Engagement isn't like any book I have read before. This is the first book I have read that revolved around aliens. I wasn't too sure that this book would be for me as I am more of a paranormal fan. For the most part I was right, this book is a little bit far out of my favourite genre's but it was still an enjoyable read. 

Alexander Hawk is an 8 year old orphan who has been recruited for a special government program. He will be sent into space for a 6 year trip to fight an army of aliens (the Alligators) of unknown size and unknown strength. In the 6 years leading up to their arrival they will train and train and train. They are allied with another alien species, the Macktonics, who are far more advanced technologically than humans. They have discovered the secret to time travel. This is how they know that the Gators will eventually attack the Macktonics and take over their worlds. To avoid this the Macktonics allied with the United States, as they needed an army filled with people who know violence. In return the United States have been promised that they will remain the worlds superior power for the next century. 

My first thought when reading this book was, "Alexander is 8!? Why so young?!!" Later I found out that it was because they would be travelling for 6 years and would be at their fighting prime by the time of their arrival. Still that only leave his at 14 years old. Though he is the youngest on the ship, everyone else started out 10, on arrival 16. So at 8/10 years old these kids were taken from orphanages around the US to train to fight this alien army. Though it does make sense that by the time they reach their destination the kids will be 16 (or 14 in Alexander's case), I still thought that this was way to young for kids to be actively training for combat situations. I just couldn't seem to get passed the fact that he started out being 8.

The man in charge of the operation is General Deke Harrbinger. Who was arrogant, rude and hot headed. Which I suppose he would have to be to see it as a-okay to train 10 year old kids in combat! At the start of this book there is a chapter when he picks Alexander up from the orphanage and is really rough with him, which made me seriously not like him as a character. Though throughout the book he did calm down a lot and he did grow on me as he grew as a character. Eventually he realised that Alexander was smart. Smart enough to see flaws where he hadn't.

Age aside I did like Alexander as a character (I kind of chose to ignore that he was starting out 8 years old though). Again though, he did grow on me throughout the story. At the start he was incredibly violent (even slamming General Harrbinger's hand in the car door - ouch!) He was the youngest of the kids but he was also the best. The kids would train in a very advanced and high tech simulator that simulated situations of war. This I liked. The kids were able to play out different situations and tactics without actually dying, though the simulation did cause them to feel if they came into forms of impact. 

Alexander liked to show his superiority by intimidating the people who were condescending or thought they were better than him. He did this through violence, which I found similar to Deke. I don't remember what age he was but at one point he breaks someones finger to prove that he is superior. I know this fits with his character but it was still very unsettling. 

Thomas has taken modern day America and mixed it with an alien life force, creating a world that is very intriguing. During the first couple of chapters the pace seemed a little bit off, but as the story started taking shape this improved. There is room for improvement here and there, but Wilson has created a very appealing story. So if this sounds up your ally, check it out!


Happy reading!
- Amy

Review: Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

*Check out my 100 follower giveaway for your chance to win!*

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

Release Date: June 11th 2009

Publisher: Penguin Books

Edition: UK Paperback, 424 pages

Goodreads | Book Depository | Amazon

My Rating 4/5 stars

From Goodreads: "It’s been so long since Auden slept at night. Ever since her parents’ divorce—or since the fighting started. Now she has the chance to spend a carefree summer with her dad and his new family in the charming beach town where they live. 

A job in a clothes boutique introduces Auden to the world of girls: their talk, their friendship, their crushes. She missed out on all that, too busy being the perfect daughter to her demanding mother. Then she meets Eli, an intriguing loner and a fellow insomniac who becomes her guide to the nocturnal world of the town. Together they embark on parallel quests: for Auden, to experience the carefree teenage life she’s been denied; for Eli, to come to terms with the guilt he feels for the death of a friend."

This was my first Sarah Dessen book! I don't know how I took so long to jump on board, she must have slipped through my radar somehow. This was one I picked up at my library, because I felt like an easy contemporary read. Along for the Ride really fit the bill for that!

I really loved Auden's character. Really academic and not so social. She feels it's her fault that her parents got divorced. Surely she could have prevented it? Once she realised that her parents waited for her to go to bed before arguing she would stay up later and later in hopes they wouldn't fight at all. Eventually it didn't matter what time she went to sleep, her parents would still fight. But by this point she was pretty much an insomniac and was awake and alert for all of the fights. She blames herself, and as a result she tries to please her parents by being academic. 

Auden decides that she wants to spend her summer after senior year with her Dad and his wife Heidi and their new baby girl Thisbe (don't particularly like the name, but then neither do half the characters in the book). Having spoken to her mum previously about the new baby and finding out that when raising Auden and her brother, her mum pretty much did it all alone as her dad 'needed his full 9 hours sleep,' Auden walks into pretty much the same situation with her Dads new family. Heidi is stressed to the max, not knowing how to look after Thisbe and run a business and do all of the domestic things that are expected of her. 

Auden was never very good in social situations so when she first meets the girls working at Heidi's shop, she is pretty judgemental. The girls are far more into their looks and into boys than she has ever been. Finding herself with a job working at the store doing Heidi's books, she realises that there is much much more to the girls there and she can finally call them friends. 

Of course along the way she meets a boy, Eli, but of course he is socially unavailable, and has been since the car accident. He doesn't talk to anyone and he rarely goes to the parties or hangs out with his friends. But somehow he finds himself talking to her, she is different to everyone in town. She doesn't look at him with pity for what happened and he finds it refreshing. They take comfort in each other during the night, as they both are insomniacs. Word starts to get around that the old Eli is starting to show himself again.

Sarah Dessen is a great YA writer, though I did find that some of the information included could probably have been skipped. I thought that it took a little bit too long for the story to get going. I really didn't care much for Auden's Mums dinner party with her students that seemed to drag on for a couple of pages at the start of the book. I would have preferred the start of the book to be more about Auden and not her Mum. However once the book got underway it was a really great read, I look forward to reading more of Dessen's work!

Have you read any of Sarah Dessen's work? What would you recommend?

Happy Reading!

- Amy

Blog Tour: Reveal by Brina Courtney

Hi everyone!!

 I'm very excited to be part of the Reveal blog tour which is stopping by my blog today. Thank you to the lovely Brina for asking me to be part of her tour! For information on the blog tour or more information regarding the author, please visit her blog.

**Reveal is released TODAY 16th of December!**
 Reveal by Brina Courtney
Release Date: 16th December 2011
Format: eARC
Series: Cryptid Tales #1
Goodreads | Smashwords | Amazon

 My Rating 3.5/5 Stars

 From Goodreads: "Shay Tafford is not normal. Being a cryptid is not normal. Seeing ghosts is not normal. Her father’s disappearance is not normal. Lucky for Shay, Hugh isn't normal either. 
 So when he enters her life through her dead best friend, Shay knows he may be her only chance at a normal life. A life she is desperately searching for."

The eARC was supplied to me by the author for the purpose of this blog tour, this in no way alters my review. All thoughts are my honest opinion.

Reveal follows the story of Shay, a high school student that has been through a lot. Her Father went missing when she was a young girl and ever since that night, life hasn't been the same. Shay was close to her Dad and to this day, they don't know what happened to him. Since that night, Shay has been able to communicate with ghosts. Specifically a boy named Jeremy, who we were first introduced to in Ignite. He lived in a orhpanage until someone burnt it down and all the kids inside were killed. Now they are all ghosts carrying out certain tasks.

Jeremy has been Shay's best friend for many years, that is until they have a fight and she unknowingly banishes him. Forced to spend more time with living people Shay makes friends with Olivia, who she now spend the majority of her time with. During their trips to the coffee shop they come across a boy named Hugh. Who she later finds out is like her, he even knows more about it than she does. Shay discovers that there is a whole tribe of people just like her, Cryptids. People who can see ghosts or change into cats. As their relationship grows Hugh's parents realise that they could be the Cryptid couple of the prophecy. The couple that is supposed to defeat the "darkness."

I found the story to be intriguing and pretty unique as stories these days go! I liked Courtney's writing style and found it to be a fairly quick read. The pacing of the book was a little bit fast in parts, a little slow in others, but the other elements of the story definitely make up for it.

Shay is a very like able character. She is a fairly normal teenage girl, here is no mention of her being an outcast or popular, she is just your average girl. This I liked, so often the main character is incredibly 'uncool,' then all these things start happening to him/her and they make friends with one or more of the popular teens. Shay and her family have been darkly effected by the disappearance of their father and husband. Entirely understandable. They are moving on with their lives but there are still unanswered questions that are keeping them down. As the story develops we see Shay discover things about herself and the people close to her that she never knew.

Hugh is the love interest in the story. He's a college boy, while Shay herself is still in high school. As the story progressed I found Hugh to be pretty full on as a character. Shay is the reason he is in town (I won't say much, I don't want to spoil any surprises!) even before Shay knew he existed.

Both Shay and Hugh were left with room to develop both as characters and in their relationship, I look forward to seeing this in the next book in the series.

One thing I will say though - That ending? I did NOT see that coming!! I really thought that it would be your typical happy ending to the first book in a series. Though there were still plot lines that were left open at the point in time of the ending things had died down. Or so I thought. Until the final sentences of the novel! This was very well done! Just when I thought the story was coming to a close, it gets blown wide open!

This is only the second book I have read primarily about ghosts and I was not disappointed! Courtney has done a great job of leaving her readers hanging! I can't wait to find out what will happen next!

Don't forget to stop by the next blog on the tour Word Spelunking for an author Interview!

What do you think? Does this sound like a book you would like?

Happy reading!
- Amy