Sunday, 31 August 2014

Stacking the Shelves (#59) Harper Collins Edition: Part One & Recap

STSmallStacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

So, how was everybody's week? Mine was good! Firstly, I want to say, everybody who told me to read the Throne of Glass series, I HATE YOU RIGHT NOW. It's taking over my life.

Crown of Midnight
 That is all.  
 
 
For Review


Friday, 29 August 2014

Review: The Jewel




The Jewel
Author:
Publication Date: September 4th 2014        
Publisher: Walker Books Ltd.
~A copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review~
 
A shocking and compelling new YA series from debut author, Amy Ewing; The Handmaid's Tale meets The Other Boleyn Girl in a world where beauty and brutality collide.

Violet Lasting is no longer a human being. Tomorrow she becomes Lot 197, auctioned to the highest royal bidder in the Jewel of the Lone City. Tomorrow she becomes the Surrogate of the House of the Lake, her sole purpose to produce a healthy heir for the Duchess. Imprisoned in the opulent cage of the palace, Violet learns the brutal ways of the Jewel, where the royal women compete to secure their bloodline and the surrogates are treated as disposable commodities.

Destined to carry the child of a woman she despises, Violet enters a living death of captivity – until she sets eyes on Ash Lockwood, the royal Companion. Compelled towards each other by a reckless, clandestine passion, Violet and Ash dance like puppets in a deadly game of court politics, until they become each other’s jeopardy – and salvation.



I don't know what I was expecting with The Jewel, but it wasn't this. In a good way this time. It was a lot darker and twisted than what you'd think- especially with the gorgeous cover. In that aspect, I read Only Ever Yours by not that long ago, and The Jewel reminded me a lot of it- not in character or storyline- but the message behind the book. The way women (in this case, the Surrogates) are viewed and valued and used and treated in a world that has less morality than ours right now. It's deep rooted in power among the rich and Royal bloodlines.

Thursday, 28 August 2014

Blog Tour: Crossing the Ice Guest Post & Giveaway




Welcome to my spot on the Crossing the Ice blog tour! Today, we have author Jennifer Comeaux on the blog, talking about what inspired her to use Figure Skating as the main feature in Crossing the Ice. Firstly, thank you for sharing, Jennifer, and give her a warm welcome guys. :)

 So, over to Jennifer!








 Crossing the Ice
Author:
Publication Date: August 3rd 2014

Falling hard never felt so good.
Pair skaters Courtney and Mark have one shot left at their Olympic dream. They vow not to let anything get in their way, especially not Josh and Stephanie, the wealthy and talented brother and sister team.

The heart doesn’t always listen to reason, though…

The more time Courtney spends with sweet, shy Josh, the harder she falls for him. But they are on opposite sides of the competition, and their futures are headed in opposite directions. Will their friendship blossom into more or are their paths too different to cross?

This is the first book in the new ICE series.




 
I’d like to thank Kirsty-Marie for having me as a guest on her blog! She asked me to share what inspired me to write about figure skating in my new release, Crossing the Ice.

Wednesday, 27 August 2014

Waiting on Wednesday (#60)

 "Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases.


 

Expected publication: April 28th 2015 by ATOM
 
 
 






Beneath the streets of New York City live the Avicen, an ancient race of people with feathers for hair and magic running through their veins. Age-old enchantments keep them hidden from humans. All but one. Echo is a runaway pickpocket who survives by selling stolen treasures on the black market, and the Avicen are the only family she's ever known.

Echo is clever and daring, and at times she can be brash, but above all else she's fiercely loyal. So when a centuries-old war crests on the borders of her home, she decides it's time to act.

Legend has it that there is a way to end the conflict once and for all: find the Firebird, a mythical entity believed to possess power the likes of which the world has never seen. It will be no easy task, but if life as a thief has taught Echo anything, it's how to hunt down what she wants . . . and how to take it.

But some jobs aren't as straightforward as they seem. And this one might just set the world on fire



I *cough* much prefer the UK cover, because you know, it hasn't got the feel of The Nightmare Affair.


What're you waiting on?


Tuesday, 26 August 2014

Review: Of Monsters and Madness






Of Monsters and Madness
Author:
Publication Date: September 9th 2014        
Publisher: EgmontUSA
~A copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review~

A romantic, historical retelling of classic Gothic horror featuring Edgar Allan Poe and his character Annabel Lee, from a New York Times best-selling author.Summoned to her father's home in 1820's Philadelphia, a girl finds herself in the midst of a rash of gruesome murders in which he might be implicated. She is torn romantically between her father's assistants-one kind and proper, one mysterious and brooding-who share a dark secret and may have more to do with the violent events than they're letting on.



 
I'm not going to pretend I know anything about the poem of Annabel Lee. I know it, of course, but I've never studied it, and although I do like poetry, it's not exactly my favourite thing in the world. I've seen Mary Lindsey's Ashes on Waves that made me want to read it, so when I saw Of Monsters and Madness I couldn't resist (I mean, have you read that title? Of. Monsters. and. Madness. It practically screams read me!) Besides, In the land of Gods and Monsters...I had Lana Del Rey's Gods & Monsters in my head the whole time (don't ask why, my brain doesn't know. And we're not talking about my love for Lana Del Rey, we're talking about the book, right? No more music talk.)

Monday, 25 August 2014

Review: Day 21 (The 100 #2)







Day 21 (The 100 #2)
Author:
Publication Date: 25th September 2014
Publisher: Hodder
~A copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review~

In this pulse-pounding sequel to Kass Morgan's The 100, secrets are revealed, beliefs are challenged, and relationships are tested. And the hundred will struggle to survive the only way they can - together.

Now a major TV series on E4. In this pulse-pounding sequel to Kass Morgan's The 100, secrets are revealed, beliefs are challenged, and relationships are tested. And the hundred will struggle to survive the only way they can - together.



It's been 21 days since The 100 landed on Earth. They're the only humans to set foot on the planet in centuries... or so they thought. Facing an unknown enemy, Wells attempts to keep the group together. Clarke strikes out for Mount Weather, in search of other Colonists, while Bellamy is determined to rescue his sister, no matter the cost. And back on the ship, Glass faces an unthinkable choice between the love of her life and life itself
 



No spoilers for Day 21, but maybe slight spoilers for The 100.

I enjoyed The 100, it was a fun, simple, easy mindless read that I needed, I liked the characters, the plot and world-building was a little wish-washy. However, what I hoped would happen in the next with the plot development, didn't come through in Day 21.