Top Ten Tuesday: Favourite Book Spines

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish.

Each week they will post a new Top Ten list that one of their bloggers over at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join.

This week’s topic is: Top Ten Book Covers of Books You’ve Read

buttt….. I did a topic very similar to this when I posted my favourite book covers a few weeks ago. So I’m mixing things up a bit and posting my favourite book spines of books I own. Looking at my bookshelves I see so many fantastic book spines every day – I see them more often than I see the actual covers.

Here are some of my favourites.

Slated (Slated #1) and Fractured (Slated #2) both by Teri Terry

 

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

The Diviners (The Diviners #1) by Libba Bray — This was the book that got me thinking about spines and inspired this TTT. I absolutely LOVE the spine of The Diviners. It’s just so beautiful.

Halo (Halo #1) by Alexandra Adornetto

Shadows (The Rephaim #1) by Paula Weston — I met Paula on Saturday at Literati 2013 and just HAD to buy this book after hearing her talk. I’ve only just started Shadows but am already loving where it’s going.

Bloodlines (Bloodlines #1), The Golden Lily (Bloodlines #2) and The Indigo Spell (Bloodlines #3) all by Richelle Mead

Venom (The Secrets of the Eternal Rose #1) by Fiona Paul

Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyer

 

So that’s my TTT for this week. How fantastic are book spines?! Are there any that you adore that I’ve missed? Any that you agree on. Feel free to comment – I love hearing from everyone.

 

The Lizzie Bennet Diaries: Episodes 51-60

It’s Friday again so that means that here on whYAnot it’s time for another watch and review for The Lizzie Bennet Diaries!

Okay, so I missed last week. Sometimes life just gets too busy and then you can’t find enough time to watch YouTube! Don’t you just hate that? So now this week I’m discussing episodes 51 through 60..

NOTE: The links below in the episode titles will take you to the video for the episode on the Lizzie Bennet Diaries website so you can watch and join the fun.

It’s official. Lizzie and Charlotte are Together Again! In the offices of Collins & Collins, Lizzie and Charlotte reconcile their feud and are best friends forever again! Ricky stops by and dangles a proposition in front of Lizzie that might just be too good to pass up on.

In Better Living, Lizzie tries to work out what she really wants in life – With Charlotte and Jane gone is there any point in going home? But never fear! No matter where Lizzie goes she will always bring her role playing cloths with her.

“My name is Lizzie Bennet and tomorrow I dine with royalty!” (Episode 53: Royal Dining) But Lizzie’s invitation to eat with Catherine de Bourgh comes with a list of behaviour suggestions complied by Mr Collins. Lizzie is slightly nervous but thankfully Ricky is around to put her at ease with a tour of the office…

“Have you seen my office? Its view of the car park is… breathtaking”

After meeting Catherine de Bourgh and acquainting herself with Annie Kins, Lizzie is horrified to find out that Ms de Bourgh’s nephew is none other than William Darcy. Yes – that William Darcy. Lizzie has no idea why everyone she loves seems to be somehow associated with Mr Darcy. And never one to let an opportunity to dress up pass by, Lizzie shows us just what she thought about the infamous Ms. Catherine de Bourgh.

Lizzie as Ms de Bourgh and her tiny asthmatic dog…

Alone at the office on a Sunday, Lizzie goes a little crazy (Robot Surprise). And not just because she finds out that Ms. de Bourgh’s new consultant is none other than Mr William Darcy… Lizzie wonders if Darcy is really a robot with a malfunctioning social interaction program…

More surprising than Darcy turning up at Collins & Collins is that his friend Fitz is surprisingly fun! Lizzie has found A New Buddy! Upon finding out about Lizzie’s vlog, he insists on being featured in them and even takes on Darcy in one of Lizzie’s interactions.

Meet Fitz!

In Episode 57, Lizzie is Weirded Out. At the office on a Sunday and Charlotte in meetings, an unexpected visit from Darcy is the last thing she was expecting. And an awkward and nervous Darcy? Even weirder.

In an attempt to help cheer Jane up, Lizzie enlists new buddy Fitz to help her make some  Care Packages for her broken hearted sister. In the middle of packaging up some fun! food and love, Fitz unintentionally drops a bomb and spills the beans on just who was to blame for Bing’s spontaneous relocation to Los Angeles…

Fitz brings the Fun!

Still reeling from the most recent Darcy Development, Lizzie is devastated in Staff Spirit . It’s been three days of avoiding him and trying to hold in her murderous rage focused in Darcy’s direction.

Are you kidding me! is probably one of the most anticipated episodes to date – it’s a first full on Darcy sighting! And oh my… does he drop a bombshell! In addition, he shows that perhaps Lizzie’s impression of him may not be all that far from the mark when he manages to both insult her family and compliment Lizzie all in the same breath.

The One, The Only, Mr William Darcy!

—

I loved this series of ten episodes. Each one adds critical plot developments and culminates with the introduction of Mr William Darcy – I’ll admit I fan-girled just a little. These episodes had some of my favourite moments – the introduction of Fitz, Charlotte and Mr Collin’s Halloween costumes, and that all important Darcy sighting. But more than that, they are just so brilliantly put together. The consistency of characters, costume changes and the adherence to the original story. I fell a little more in love with this web series this week.

Coinciding with these ten episodes are some more Lydia Bennet episodes and a Lizzie Q&A with new buddy, Fitz. Links to those are below.

• Lydia Bennet: Episode 8 – Miss Me Yet?
• Lydia Bennet: Episode 9 – Study Break
• Lydia Bennet: Episode 10 – Ditching
• Episode QA6: Lizzie and Fitz
• Lydia Bennet: Episode 11 – Girl Talk
• Lydia Bennet: Episode 12 – Life of the Party
• Lydia Bennet: Episode 13 – Runaway
• Lydia Bennet: Halloween, Holla!!
• Lydia Bennet: Episode 14 – The High Life

Book Review: When in Paris by Beverley Kendall

Title: When in Paris (Language of Love #1)
Author: Beverley Kendall
Genre: Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Romance, New Adult 
Publisher: Season Publishing LLC
Publication Date: 4th January 2013
Pages: 350
Rating: 3.5 stars

Synopsis (from goodreads): College freshman Olivia Montgomery is thrilled at the chance to start over, escape the rumors that plagued her in high school. And she can finally put her juvenile crush, Zachary Pearson, where he belongs–in her past. Then her unrequited love strolls into her French class, shattering Olivia’s newfound peace, and the feelings she’d thought buried for good come rushing back. Now she can’t shake her unwanted attraction to the one guy who can twist her stomach into knots with just a smile…but has never given her the time of day.

Zach’s good looks may have always gotten him his pick of girls, but it’s the star quarterback’s skill on the football field that gives him his pick of the Big Ten colleges. To escape the crushing demands of his win-at-all-costs father, Zach opts for a private university in upstate New York where…his present and past collide. And the one girl he’s always wanted but can’t have–and a class trip to Paris–turn out to be the ultimate game changer that has him breaking every one of his rules.

My Review:

Olivia Montgomery sees college as a chance to reinvent herself – get away from the rumours of high school and make a new start. But when Zach Pearson saunters into her French class, it’s like high school all over again. The gorgeous football player is still as standoffish as ever, pointedly ignoring her and going out of his way to make her feel uncomfortable. But when Liv’s best friend Hope pulls out of the school Paris trip and Zach needs a way to avoid his father over break, the two find themselves walking the Champs Elysees together and the Parisian air works its magic on the two former enemies…

I love books about people travelling to Europe – and that was the main draw-card for me wanting to read this novel. But whilst I came for the travel, I stayed for the romance. The chemistry between Olivia and Zach is clear from first eye contact exchange. Zach is the big man on campus, football star and guy all the girls want. Olivia is no exception – but she is a little more reserved than some of her classmates. I liked that these characters had a history – albeit mostly in each other’s heads – together and their relationship was a gradual progression rather than insta-love.

Hope, Rebecca and Troy are perfect supporting characters. They manage to show off Zach and Olivia in their best light and I’m delighted to see that there’s a novella featuring Rebecca’s story and Hope gets her own novel too!

As in a lot of New Adult novels I’ve read lately there is a huge emphasis in this story on sex. Whilst I acknowledge that it’s a big issue for people (and characters) at this age I wanted there to be a little less on the sex and a bit more on the romance and other facets of their lives. Also – I wanted more Paris. More sightseeing and more about the food (was I the only one disappointed that they were only in Paris for a week and yet they kept eating American food? It’s a travesty!) and more about what makes them who they are. That said, I liked that Olivia had her theatre and Zach is at a crossroads deciding if he’s as passionate about football as his father is.

This is a fun and romantic book about life and love and the pitfalls of ex’s, rumours and family.

Thanks to Beverley for the digital review copy

Amazon
Barnes and Noble 

Book Blitz: The Forgotten Ones by Laura Howard

The Forgotten Ones

 

The Danaan Trilogy

 

Book One

 

is now available exclusively on Amazon!

And until May 19 it’s only 99 cents!

 

Allison O’Malley’s plan is to go to grad school so she can get a good job and take care of her schizophrenic mother. She has carefully closed herself off from everything else, including a relationship with Ethan, who she’s been in love with for as long as she can remember.

What is definitely not part of the plan is the return of her long-lost father, who claims he can bring Allison’s mother back from the dark place her mind has gone. Allison doesn’t trust her father, so why would she believe his stories about a long forgotten Irish people, the Tuatha de Danaan? But truths have a way of revealing themselves. Secrets will eventually surface. And Allison must learn to set aside her plan and work with her father if there is even a small chance it could restore her mother’s sanity.

About Laura Howard

Laura Howard lives in New Hampshire with her husband and four children. Her obsession with books began at the age of 6 when she got her first library card. Nancy Drew, Sweet Valley High and other girly novels were routinely devoured in single sittings. Books took a backseat to diapers when she had her first child. It wasn’t until the release of a little novel called Twilight, 8 years later, that she rediscovered her love of fiction. Soon after, her own characters began to make themselves known. The Forgotten Ones is her first published novel.

Connect with Laura:

 

Blog | Twitter | Facebook |

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Top Ten Tuesday: Books Dealing with Tough Subjects

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish.

Each week they will post a new Top Ten list that one of their bloggers over at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join.

This week’s topic is: Top Ten Books Dealing With Tough Subjects

I’m going to break this down into a few different categories.

Suicide

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher [review]

The S-Word by Chelsea Pitcher [review]

Saving June by Hannah Harrington [review]

Teen Pregnancy

Megan, Megan 2 and Megan 3 by Mary Hooper

Abuse

Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Cancer

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green [review]

A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks

Sarah Dessen

She gets a category of her very own. She writes such lovely books that sometimes deal with really tough issues. Eating disorders, Teen Pregnancy, suicide, death, divorce – I think she may be the queen when it comes to young adult books that deal with tough issues.

A few of my favourite by her are:

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen

The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

So I may have cheated and gotten a few more than 10… but I liked coming up with books for this week’s topic. There are so many books out there dealing with serious issues and I can’t wait to check out other people’s lists from this week to see the books they listed!

Book Review: Name-Given by David McLean

Title: Name-Given (Riddle-Quest #1)
Author: David McLean
Genre: Action, Adventure, Middle School 
Publisher: Delta Psi
Publication Date: 1 April 2013
Pages: 152
Rating: 3.5 stars

Synopsis (from goodreads):
Cast into the night, four young travellers must venture from the comfort of their villages to find their names. Each has a staff, a challenge and a history of riddling to help them on their way. But the press-heavy sounds of animals approaching, the limb-sky of the forest and the fear of the unknown are all about. How will they survive? The answer may just be in the riddle – “What always runs but never walks, often murmurs, never talks, has a bed but never sleeps, has a mouth but never eats?”

My Review:

In a world where riddles are a way of life, young people must undergo a quest to find their name – and their position within the village. Meeting up with other young travellers also searching for their names, Stumbler and his new companions riddle their way through the forest and towards their futures.

I love riddles and one of the best things about Name-Given is the way the riddles interspersed throughout the novel are not just entertaining to read but are imperative to the plot. The language used is easy to read and very inventive at the same time – the short hand compound words (like Name-Given, heart-warm and pocket-close) which McLean created for his characters are so simple and yet so clever. The characters evolve throughout the short novel constantly learning more about the world, each other and themselves as they journey on their quest.

This is a quick and fun book which I think would appeal to younger aged readers.

Thanks to Delta Psi for the review copy.

Purchase the novel from:

Amazon

Cover Reveal: Obsession by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Today I have the pleasure of revealing the cover for Jennifer L. Armentrout’s new novel – Obsession. Obsession is the first book in a new series set in the same world as Armentrout’s Lux series. Taking place in between Opal (Lux #3) and Origin (Lux #4) however Obsession is a lot more adult in nature and not aimed at the YA audience. So if you’re under 18 I don’t recommend this book for you but I thought I’d bring it to the attention of my followers just in case you want to follow all the adventures of the Arum and the evil Department of Defence (DoD). I have to admit I think the cover is gorgeous and this books is one that I can’t wait to read!

Obsession by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Obsession

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Released: 31st May 2013

Publisher: Entangled Covet

Blurb (link to goodreads):

He’s arrogant, domineering, and… To. Die. For.

Hunter is a ruthless killer. And the Department of Defense has him firmly in their grasp, which usually doesn’t chafe too badly because he gets to kill bad guys. Most of the time he enjoys his job. That is, until he’s saddled with something he’s never had to do before: protect a human from his mortal enemy.

Serena Cross didn’t believe her best friend when she claimed to have seen the son of a powerful senator turn into something…unnatural. Who would? But then she witnesses her friend’s murder at the hands of what can only be an alien, thrusting her into a world that will kill to protect their secret.

Hunter stirs Serena’s temper and her lust despite their differences. Soon he’s doing the unthinkable—breaking the rules he’s lived by, going against the government to keep Serena safe. But are the aliens and the government the biggest threats to Serena’s life…or is it Hunter?

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

 

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell, Loki.

 

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen.

 

She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

 

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