Review Time! #18

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Thanks to Bloomsbury for holding the competition on twitter! I was lucky enough to win an ARC of Throne of Glass!

Meet Celaena Sardothien.
Beautiful. Deadly. Destined for greatness.

In the dark, filthy salt mines of Endovier, an eighteen-year-old girl is serving a life sentence. She is a trained assassin, the best of her kind, but she made a fatal mistake: she got caught.

Young Captain Westfall offers her a deal: her freedom in return for one huge sacrifice. Celaena must represent the prince in a to-the-death tournament—fighting the most gifted thieves and assassins in the land. Live or die, Celaena will be free. Win or lose, she is about to discover her true destiny. But will her assassin’s heart be melted?

This novel had me at assassin. Think of it like Maria V. Snyder's Study series with a female Valek. Celaena is taken from the death camp in the salt mines of Endovier to become Prince Dorian's "champion" a.k.a assassin for a competition to see who will be the King's champion. Celaena's identity is hidden from the other competors to give her the 'underdog' advantage in the final showdown.

But like any novel there of course is a twist. A magical creature is murdering the other contestents and other competitors are getting stronger. At first I didn't realise that it had a strong magical side to it which made it much more interesting. Prince Maxon and Chaol spend alot of time with Celanena as she prepares for each 'task' and of course romance spikes, but who falls for her I shall not reveal but it is quite unsual how they end up with each other.

The characterisation of the three main characters Celaena, Maxon and Chaol is different for each other them as they each have different upbringings. Celaena an orphan from a young age then trained into an assassin, both Maxon and Chaol grew up at court and became friends however Chaol abdicated being a lord to become Captain of the guard and we know that Maxon is a Prince. And then we have Nehemia, the Eyllwe princess who becomes friends with Celaena but doesn't know who she really is, it is intriuging as to how they let a trained killer be with a princess.

The supernatural twist that this story has makes it must more interesting and makes you want to read about Celaena and her life. The assassin aspect still holds a great part of the story which I liked because I have a thing for spies, thieves, assassins and murderous teens, don't ask me why.

All in all this a great start to a promising series which I cannot wait to read more of! I must admit I am yet to read the novellas which I will start to read shortly!

Rating: 5/5

Keely xx

Top Ten Tuesday! #2

Top Ten Tuesday is a week feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Every Tuesday, book bloggers post a top ten list in response to predetermined prompt. To learn more about Top Ten Tuesday or to see a list of future topics, head on  over to The Broke and the Bookish.
Top Ten Favorite Books You've Read During The Lifespan Of Your Blog:
 I started my blog back in March so it isn't a hard list to make for me!

1. Out Of Sight, Out Of Time by Ally Carter
Ally Carter's novels are my thing teenage spies and thieves, number five in the Gallagher Girl's series is the best read I've had since March. However many have come close but Carter just wins again.
2. The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead
This came in as a close second and Mead has done it again in the Bloodlines world creating new romances & adventures.
3. Until I Die by Amy Plum
Vincent <3 and Kate's romance and story just captivate me along with the setting of Paris.
4. Storm by Brigid Kemmerer
If it wasn't for all those Aussie Bloggers on twitter raving about this read I wouldn't have picked this novel up, however it is now one of my favourite books.
5. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Having only reading this last week this book is full of action and kindling romance. This book had me at Assassin reminding me of Maria V. Sydner's work as well as Ally Carter's
6. The Body at the Tower and The Traitor and the Tunnel by Y.S. Lee
Both these books are Mary Quinn novels and I love Mary Quinn and the agency's adventures espically when they involve a Mr James Easton. Trurth be told I only finished the third novel (Traitot and the Tunnel) yesterday.
7. The Last Echo by Kimerbly Derting
I love the body finder series and this just added to my love of it. Jay and Violet's relationship is amazing and hope it continues!
8. Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson
This tearjerker is now rising the list and becoming one of my favourite contemps YA of the year.
9. Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally
This Sport YA is amazing! My love of sport and female power are all in this novel it is awesome!
10. Instructions for a Broken Heart by Kim Culbertson
Don't care if people hated it, what matters is that I loved it! A well known fact by know is that I'm a sucker for a good contemp read.

So that is my Top Ten this tuesday!

Keelyxx

Review Time! #17

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

From the Flying Start author of Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour, a powerful novel about hope in the face of heartbreak.

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.

When Taylor never came back to her families lake house after the summer that she was Tweleve she was relieved that they didn't go back. However, this time they are going back because it is her father's last wish that they have a normal and together summer at their lake house one last time, Taylor's father has cancer.

As we go through the present day and those summer days five years ago, you see Taylor reconnect with the characters from her past espically her first boyfriend and her summer best friend. The secret that tore her apart from them is found out throughout the novel but Henry and Lucy still don't know why she ran away back home that summer.

Matson shows us that Taylor isn't perfect and with her flaw of running away when things get tough is exporled throughout. Taylor really grows throughout the story, she becomes less afraid and starts to accept the fact yes her father is going to die, yes she made a mistake five years ago and yes she is still running away from situations without actually running away.

Lucy was Taylor's old best friend and both are now working together along with their old friend Elliot at the beach shack. As Taylor and the other characters start to reconnect it unravels what happened five years ago. Henry and Taylor, well they start to continue their relationship after avoiding each other for a good half of the summer (bit hard when they live next door to each other) but it is still complicated and Taylor's flaw kicks back into gear.

Matson has created a great contemp YA read with the reconnection of friends and romance, the realities of life and brings in the strong sense of family values which seem to missing nowdays. The book is a tearjerker and I must say that Matson doesn't believe in happy endings one bit!

Rating: 5/5

Keelyxx

Review Time! #16

The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting
Words cannot describe how much I love the body finder series, it is just amazing and a series that is quite different from other YA books around.

In the end, all that’s left is an echo.

Violet kept her morbid ability to sense dead bodies a secret from everyone except her family and her childhood-best-friend-turned-boyfriend, Jay Heaton. That is until forensic psychologist Sara Priest discovered Violet’s talent and invited her to use her gift to track down murderers. Now, as she works with an eclectic group of individuals—including mysterious and dangerously attractive Rafe—it’s Violet’s job to help those who have been murdered by bringing their killers to justice.

When Violet discovers the body of a college girl killed by “the girlfriend collector” she is determined to solve the case. But now the serial killer is on the lookout for a new “relationship” and Violet may have caught his eye....

Violet is back and it is no longer a huge secret that she can sense the dead, well many people still don't know about it but Sara Priest's team now does along with Violet's family and Jay. Violet has teamed up with Sara's team as she helps them find the serial killer they call "the girlfriend collector" and once again puts her life at risk.

The new characters from Sara's team are either annoying (well okay just one) or supportive and helpful to Violet. Raf is back, he was in book two and saved Violet's life twice, and he seems different this time around much more friendlier? well I still wouldn't call him a warm person. However, Jay is still with Violet and worries about her, he is still sweet but more understanding of why she does what she does it. Raf and Jay still don't see eye to eye with Jay seeing Raf as a threat (which everyone knows Jay would always win no matter what).

Violet once again is in danger and this time for following leads and attracting unwanted attention by more than one person. This book is much darker than the other two and is much more interesting as the story develops more. I still love how Derting has the killers perspective throughout the book as she makes you understand them and their actions. This book is action packed with mystery, a little bit of romance and whole lot of action, Derting once again delievers a compelling novel which is full of dark twists and turns.

Rating: 5/5

Keely xx

Waiting on Wednesday #3

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly blog feature hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine which spotlights future releases that we may be eagerly anticipating. Here is my pick for the week:
Finale by Becca Fitzpatrick

Nora is more certain than ever that she is in love with Patch. Fallen angel or no, he is the one for her. Her heritage and destiny may mean that they will always be enemies, but there is no turning her back on him. But now they face their biggest challenge. Can their love survive a seemingly insurmountable divide. And in the end, will there be enough trust left to rebuild what has been broken? The lines are drawn - but which sides are they on?

In the final installment of the Hush Hush series, we will finally see how it ends once and for all. I love this series ever since my best friend told me "Read this it is amazing" I cannot help but love Patch and Nora, even if Nora annoys me sometimes, Patch makes up for it! Plus look at the cover!

This final installment is released October 23 2012. So everyone who hasn't read Hush Hush GET OUT THERE AND READ IT!

Keely xx

Review Time! #15

No Such Thing As Forever by Ali Cronin

Real love. Real lives. The real thing . . .

Four girls, three boys, turning 18. Get set to follow their eventful final year at school.

Cass is Ms Monogamy. Ashley is a player. Donna is a party girl. But what about Sarah? Her friends tease her for being uptight, but she's waiting for The One. Now she's found him, but is he forever - or is Sarah just his summer fling?

Girl Heart Boy is the irresistible new romantic series for teenage readers. Immerse yourself in the stories and engage with the characters through our books, ebooks and online webisodes. Real love, real lives, real sex: Girl Heart Boy is the most thrilling must-read series. (Bio from netgallery.com)

No such thing as forever is a new romantic/contemprary YA. I was dragged in on the first page and instantly connected to the main characters; Sarah is such a relatable character for many older teenagers with her relationships with friends, family and of course boys. As she struggles to make sense of her relationship with Joe it strains her relationships with friends and her family.

Throughout the book you see underlying relationships which you can see but Sarah can't which makes you feel for the other characters. The strain that one relationship has on her other relationships is something which many readers can relate to.

This book is more relatable to teenagers 16-20 as much of what is explored and addressed in the books is what teenagers go through. This and the relatable characters of Sarah, Donna, Cass and Ashley drag you into the book and don't let you until your left wanting more.  This group of friends has everything a player, a party girl, a loyal girlfriend and Sarah, the girl who falls in love on a holiday romance and trys to make it work back in Brighton.

The characterisation of the characters make you feel for them and understand what they are going through. With the relatable characters you know what they are going through and what they want to do but don't.

This is the first book in the Girl Heart Boy series by Ali Cronin and I honestly cannot wait for book two!

Rate: 4.5/5

Top 10 Tuesday! #1

Top Ten Tuesday is a week feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Every Tuesday, book bloggers post a top ten list in response to predetermined prompt. To learn more about Top Ten Tuesday or to see a list of future topics, head on  over to The Broke and the Bookish.

This week it is Top Ten Books On My Summer TBR List! However since it is winter here in Aus, I am going to do my Winter TBR!

1. My Life Next Door by Huntly Fitzpatrick

This Contemp YA debut is right up my ally! Romance and Friendship! It looks like an amazing read and the cover is adorable!

2. The Summer Of No Regrets by Katherine Bond

This book is on order! I love Summer and Summer romances (Yes there will be a summer theme on my TBR, Yes I am having beach withdrawal) It just looks like a book that I would read over and over until Summer comes around.

3. The Fine Art of Truth or Dare by Melissa Jensen

This debut contemp YA looks amazing! It seems to like the romance in Anna and the French Kiss! Romance is what I love so this book looks like a great read!

4. Instructions for a Broken Heart by Kim Culbertson

This book may have been out for a while but I have just recently found it and cannot wait for it to arrive!

5. Siernsong by Jenna Black

This series is a different take on Fairies which I love, I really wanna see how this series pans out after the last two.

6. The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

I've heard nothing but great things about this book and just wanna read it! Also it would get me out of this beach withdrawal I'm going through!

7. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

My best friend reccommened this read and well, she is never wrong! So I can't wait to read it!

8. Flirting in Italian by Lauren Henderson

This YA contemp looks different and interesting! Summer + Italy + Hot Boys = Something I Want To Read!

9. Pushing The Limits by Katie McGarry

This YA contemp sounds amazing after her so much great things from other book bloggers I can't wait to read it!

10. The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

After loving Derting's body finder series I am looking forward to reading this one!

And that is my Top 10 Winter TBR!

Keely xx