Review Time! #20

Dante's Girl by Courtney Cole

I have spent every summer since I was ten years old with my father in London. Every summer, since I was ten years old, has been uneventful and boring.
Until this year.

And this year, after a freak volcanic eruption strands me far from home, I have learned these things:

1. I can make do with one outfit for three days before I buy new clothes.
2. If I hear the phrase, “You’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto,” even one more time, I might become a homicidal maniac.
3. I am horribly and embarrassingly allergic to jellyfish.
4. I am in love with Dante Giliberti, who just happens to be the beautiful, sophisticated son of the Prime Minister of a Mediterranean paradise.
5. See number four above. Because it brings with it a whole slew of problems and I’ve learned something from every one of them.

Let’s start with the fact that Dante’s world is five light-years away from mine. He goes to black-tie functions and knows the Prime Minister of England on a first name basis. I was born and raised on a farm in Kansas and wear cut-off jeans paired with cowboy boots. See the difference?

But hearts don’t care about differences. Hearts want what they want. And mine just wants to be Dante’s girl.

My heart just might be crazy. (from goodreads.com)

Dante's girl is a sweet summer romance novel that delievers both on the mystery and swoon scales. Reece is on her way to London until she is delyed at Amsterdam, due to a "freak volcanic eruption", lucky for her that she meets Dante. Dante who manages to get her out of the airport when they think that it is a terrorist attack. Dante who is quite handsome and from the Mediterranean. Dante who just happens to take a shine to Reece. Oh and did I mention that he the Prime Minsters son?

After reading this it makes me want to go the Mediterranean, to Caberra or even just meet the Caberra boys. The summer romance of Dante and Reece is a whirlwind, one minute they're in Amsterdam the next on a helicopter to Caberra. While the novel isn't just romance, you also have the tension between Reece and her best friend Becca who is back home, but also the reltionship that Dante has with his friends, espically Nate and Elena.

The events that take place on Caberra both suprise and sometimes you can see them coming. The atmosphere created helps drag you in, wanting to get to know more about Dante, Reece and even the minor characters such as Mia and Becca.

The characterisation makes you understand the characters, espically Reece and Dante, they really grow on you and make you feel for them. While some of the minor characters arn't as well developed, the novel still drags you in.

This contemporary summer romance filled with mystery, romance and a beautiful Meditettanean landscape that takes you in and doesn't suck you back out until the very end!

Rate: 4.5/5

Thankyou to Lakehouse Press for the review copy on netgalley!

Keely x

Review Time! #19

Gracie Faltrain Gets it Right (Finally) by Cath Crowley

As Gracie begins Year 12 she has only one thing on her mind, and it's not schoolwork. It's not even Martin, now that he's dumped her for a third time. It's soccer: a new season, a new team, a new league. This is the big time, the state trails, and Gracie can't wait. Expect there's one small problem. She's no longer the biggest fish in the pond, and one of the other players is the cousin of her arch enemy, Annabelle Orion.

Gracie wants to get it right this year, but everything seems to be going wrong - she hardly has time to see her friends, Martin won't talk to her, and she falling even further behind at school.

Gracie needs help both on and off the field, but when it shows up, it is not from the person she expected... (from back of book)

This the final book in the Gracie trilogy and the best. Gracie, Jane and Alyce are back for their final year of school. Jane is back from England, Alyce is going out with Brett Mason and Gracie, well Gracie has a lot going on. Told from each of the girls P.O.V throughout the novel we get to see how each girl is coping with their own problems.

Gracie is failing school. At least she has soccer, Jane and Alyce. But this year Gracie is getting help from those who you'd least expect; Kally and Dan Woodbury (remember him? The one who tried to get Gracie last year and also Annabelle's ex). In this novel, Gracie finally gets it, she needs to stop with the past events and plan for the future, she starts working towards what she wants both on and off the pitch even when things start to go wrong, Gracie is still learning from the mistakes she made before.

Jane is back from England and is finally noticing Corelli, the guy who wrote her Valentines for 11 years. But Jane's GPS starts to misfire and she doesn't know what choice she should make: stay in Melbourne for Uni or go back to London and study journalism where her parents are? But like always Jane is there to keep Gracie in line and makes sure she doesn't do anything too stupid...

Alyce has moved on from Flemming to Brett, but will her old feelings for Flemming ruin her relationship? She also forgot one thing... to help people. Her dreams of doing the Young UN program may be shot after she forgot to help people. But when she finally does, the people she works with and helps may just be the people to help her find the way that she had been looking.

Overall the Gracie Faltrain series is more than just a girls dream to get into the world up, but one of friendship, loss and redemption. This final novel to an amazing series justs puts everything together with old enemies becoming no more and friendships emerging when you thought that it would be impossible.

Rate: 5/5

Keely xx

Guilty pleasures #1

Hey Guys! Sorry for the inactivity of late but I am in my last term of high school FOREVER! Exciting right? So I have been bombarded with assignments and tests and haven't had the chance to review anything! (But it hasn't stopped me reading)

I thought I'd kick off this week with a new meme! I don't actcually know if this is already a meme... but I thought I would share each week one of my guilty pleasures when it comes to reading! This week I thought I'd start with a genre that I have been loving and that is Surfing themed novels!

Surf Themed Novels!
I think that my love for the ocean has gone over into what I read! I love surfing themed novels and movies. This is just one of themes that if I see a book that has it I have to read it! While I admit some haven't been amazing, most have been just fanatastic to read. I am from a surfy town so that and the fact I am a lifesaver must have just gotten into my head about what I like to read.

These novels are some the surf themed novels that I have read. I loved Surf Ache because it is set in my home town, blue water high because I loved the TV series and had to read Fly's book, Surf School & Sisters was a great story of friendship and surfing,  the Indigo Girls wasn't all surf themed but it was there and is another Aussie novel and finally one of my favourite surf themed series/novels is the starfish sisters series they were both great reads as the girls try to get what they have worked so hard for and seeing the friendships form and recover was great!

So that is this weeks guilty pleasure! Feel free to join in on the fun and post a guilty pleasure every monday for everyone to find out what your guilty pleasure is! Don't forget to link me to your guilty pleasures each week!

Keely xx



IMM #4

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren. I'm only going to do this when I get a chance, exams coming up and year 12 is terrible! So this is from the last few weeks!

Well it has been almost a month since I last posted so this is what I got! I am easing back on buying books since I have so much study to and which is why the blog is a bit unactive at the moment.

What I bought:

Spellbound by Rachel Hawkins:

After reading and loving the first two hex hall books, this one just made the series end in just the right way. A lot of series have been ending lately and which is making me sad, this one mainly because I never get to read about Cal or Archer again :( I could never pick between the two boys at all!

Sirensong by Jenna BLack:I am not a major fan of this series but still I love faires so this keeps me and going. Am yet to read this and I've had it the longest of the above books. However it will be good to see how Dana and her friends go travelling into Faerie.

The Traitor and the Tunnel by Y.S.Lee:

I love this series and I am so glad that it is no longer a trilogy! Mainly because I love the Mary and James romance, I also like the detective and mystery side of it! Best out of the series!

Instructions for a Broken Heart by Kim Culbertson:

As it is widely known, I am a huge sucker for contemp. novels and this one was a good one. I know many don't like it but hey I liked it and it was predtictable but still I enjoyed the travelling to Rome and how clueless poor Jessa was.

The Summer of no Regrets by Katherine Bond:

I liked this book however for once it is contemp that I rate below 4 stars. I still enjoyed it and enjoyed the journey but it still was a little bit annoying at times.

The Forsaken by Lisa M. Strasse:

I really enjoyed this book! It was such an intriguing plot that lasted I think a months span? Anyways it was a different dystopian novel which yes had aspects of all dystopian novels a totalitarian society and of course rebels!

And that is it for my mailbox this week! I hope everyone had a great week with books and I can't wait to see what you got this week!

Keely xx

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