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

Top Ten Tuesday: Books When I Need Something Light and Fun

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 When I Need Something Light and Fun

To be honest – most of what I read is fairly light. When life can get me down I want something to lift me up rather than bog me down emotionally.

These are just a few of my favourites:

• The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight AND This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith
• Pretty much anything by Meg Cabot (Both YA and Adult novels)
• Harry Potter by JK Rowling
• The Princess Bride by William Goldman
• The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
• Most books by Sophie Kinsella (especially the Shopaholic series)
• Anna and the French Kiss AND Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
• The Jessica Darling series by Megan McCafferty
• Got Fangs AND Circus of the Damned by Katie Maxwell
• Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

 

Anyone agree with any of my choices? Or have some fantastically different ones? I’d love to hear from you.

 

The Lizzie Bennet Diaries: Episodes 41-50

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

This week I’m discussion episodes 41 through 50.

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.

In Episode 41, Charlotte decides to help Mr Collins with his pitch (Your Pitch Needs Work). Mr Ricky Collins ends up pitching his proposal… to Charlotte!

Mr Ricky Collins “popping” his pitch to Charlotte Lu

You may have thought Lizzie and Charlotte were Friends Forever but Lizzie thinks Charlotte is making a big mistake with Mr Collins. Lizzie stoops rather low resulting in some sort of emotional blackmail to get Charlotte to stay but Ms. Lu has packed her bags and is leaving this week.

“My name is Lizzie Bennet and I miss my best friend.” Lizzie is Missing Charlotte in episode 43. With Mrs Bennet still annoyed Lizzie passed on Mr Collins and Jane keeping making sure Lizzie has copious cups of tea and all the hugs she can handle, things could be worse… You could have Lydia applying to replace Charlotte as main side kick… oh wait. That’s happening too.

Tea and cuddles a plenty as Lizzie adjusts to a Charlotte free life..

 

Lizzie can’t stay in her Charlotteless depression for long as George Wickham is back on the scene bring a new kind of Darcy Wickham Drama. Our fearless heroine is almost gleeful with the revelation that dastardly Darcy and spectacular swim coach  G-dubs (the one and only George Wickham) have a history. What could George have on Darcy to make him behave so oddly?

In Wickham Story Time we get to see Wickham in the flesh… but he is no stranger to Lizzie’s vlog as he has apparently been watching them for a while. Which makes him more than acceptable to help Lizzie put on a show and fill us in on just how he and Darcy know each other. Lizzie is somewhat not surprised to learn that Darcy is the villain in Wickham’s tale.

Internet – This is George.

 

Bing Lee has a birthday and everyone is invited! Lizzie has a plan to keep her mother off her back whilst still managing to enjoy the party in Birthday Party Battle Plan (episode 46). And because every social situation Lizzie finds herself invited to also involves Darcy being involved – George Wickham is going to attend as Lizzie’s plus one to protect her from his snarkiness.

It’s About Communicating shows some trouble in Swim Coach paradise. Never one to over estimate the involvement Darcy has on a bad situation – Lizzie decides that it’s all his fault when Wickham stands her up for Bing Lee’s party. Lizzie’s confusion over Wickham has her turning to Lydia for dating advice…. and twitter breaks some news.

After Bing Lee, Caroline and Darcy pack up and move to Los Angeles without any warning, Mrs Bennet manages to make the situation all about her (Snickerdoodles). But it’s Jane who Lizzie is really concern about. Lizzie indulges her sister in some “costume therapy” as they re-enact a Wickham/Lizzie phone call.

At least George Wickham is around to distract Lizzie from her paranoia…

 

With Charlotte, Caroline and now Jane all departing for greener pastures, Lizzie may or may Not [be] Paranoid. Unsurprisingly she blames Darcy for Bing and in turn Jane leaving but at least she has George around distract her from her own paranoia… that is until G-Dubs announces that he’s going away for a few weeks too!

Moving On has Lizzie considering her options as Lydia shows up with a break up survival kit prepared to be there for Lizzie. Charlotte calls(!) and Lizzie plans on visiting her very best friend for a few weeks before classes start again.

 

–

It’s episodes like Snickerdoodles that just reiterate to me how much I love the casting of this web-series. The characters are incredible. In the space of a few minutes Jane goes from ecstatic and upbeat to devastated to optimistic over the future – and I was with her the entire way. She is so convincing and I love that I believe her every word and emotion. It also had me googling Snickerdoodles.

There’s quite a bit happening in these ten episodes – Charlotte leaving, Wickham’s story and now Jane and Bing’s relationship issues. I think it’s so clever that even knowing the traditional story I’m on the edge waiting for what I know is happening next and when it happens I adore how everything unfolds.

We’re half way though! Next week I’ll be posting my summary for episodes 51 – 60.

 

Here are a list of the bonus episodes. There’s the first seven Maria of the Lu episodes and a very special Q&A with George helping Lizzie answer questions.

• Maria of the Lu: Episode 1 – Intro to Vlogging September 7, 2012
• Maria of the Lu: Episode 2 – What are you watching? September 11, 2012
• Maria of the Lu: Episode 3 – Vlogging 2.0 September 14, 2012
• Episode QA5: Lizzie and George Answer Questions September 15, 2012
• Maria of the Lu: Episode 4 – Editing Exercise September 18, 2012
• Maria of the Lu: Episode 5 – Mentoring September 21, 2012
• Maria of the Lu: Episode 6 – Employee Evaluation September 25, 2012
• Maria of the Lu: Episode 7 – Without Reservation September 28, 2012

Top Ten Tuesday: Words/Topics That Will Make Me Pick Up or Buy a Book

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 Words/Topics That Will Make Me Pick Up or Buy a Book

There are so many tropes and settings that I ADORE! And they go to the top of my to-read list when I “discover” them.

The top ten are….

Boarding Schools - Vampire Academy, Bloodlines, Harry Potter, Mythos Academy… this list could go on forever. If it’s set in a boarding school – I’m there.

Europe - I would love to move to Europe. But since that’s not exactly possible I love to read books set there. The culture, history, food, fashion – there’s just something magical about this setting.

Australia - Whether the author is an Aussie or it’s set here, those are books I love to read. Thankfully there are a lot of great authors from here!

Epistolary Fiction - Books made up of letters, emails and diary entries are a guilty pleasure. I love them. They are the books that as soon as I buy I’ll read as soon as I can get my hands on them.

Cruise Ships - Ever since I read the Babysitter’s Club Super Special #1 back in the nineties, I have loved the idea of going on a cruise. I’ve never been on one but I love the romantic notion that cruises bring to mind.

Sale: - It’s true. This girl LOVES a bargain.

Box Set - I have a weakness for boxed sets. They just look so pretty and finished and if I see one I must have it. It’s why I’m trying to save up so I can get the gorgeous hard cover (I love hard covers too!) set of John Green books. So pretty…

Valkyries - Some people are mesmerized by vampires, others by werewolves. But for me? It’s Valkyries. There is just something about the Norse mythological creatures that I can’t get enough of.

Soul Mates - I love the idea of each person having a perfect match. The soul mateness overcomes everything else for me. Even my pet hates. At the moment I’m reading a book about a woman who meets a man who she falls completely and irrevocably in love with a man… despite already being in a long-term committed relationship (it’s called Into My Arms by Kylie Ladd just in case anyone’s interested. I’m really enjoying it). I can’t stand cheating in books I read but soul mates? That trumps everything.

Hybrid – I LOVE hybrid creatures. It’s like.. I don’t even know how to describe it. Something that shouldn’t exist but does and is somehow the best and worst of both worlds. Like half-vampire/half-werewolves. Or something equally as bizarre. LOVE LOVE LOVE them.

 

So there is my list for the week! Share with me your lists and comment. They are always appreciated. Hope everyone had as much fun creating their TTT’s as I did.

 

Cover Reveal: Strangely Normal by Tess Oliver

Title: Strangely Normal

Author: Tess Oliver

Book Description:

A unique summer job lands eighteen-year-old Eden Saxon into a lifestyle completely different than her own. She becomes a companion for nineteen-year-old Finley King, the daughter of a rock legend. Finley suffers from severe anxiety, and her father fears her being alone. Eden leaves her loving, but wildly dysfunctional, parents and dreary apartment and enters a world where no luxury is overlooked. She instantly adores Finley and her charming, quirky personality. The whole situation has only one flaw– Finley’s older brother, Jude. Jude King is cocky, arrogant and irritating. Unfortunately, he’s also completely irresistible.

Eden realizes she’s underestimated the depth of Finley’s problems, and suddenly her dream job turns out to be a lot more than she’d expected. Eden soon finds herself in over her head . . . and her heart.

About the Author:

Tess Oliver is a teacher and writer who lives in California with her husband, kids, a small pack of pampered dogs, and the recent addition of three ridiculously cute pygmy goats. She loves horses, chocolate and Jane Austen books. She has a BS of Nutrition Science, and a MA in Curriculum and Instruction. She is also an author published by Barron’s Educational Publisher.

Website | Blog | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter

Teaser:

He placed down his pencil and walked across the floor toward me. The crackling energy I’d felt between us the night before when he’d stood over my bed returned now and grew with hot intensity as the space between us disappeared. I was not the only one noticing the sudden charge in the atmosphere between us. He stopped directly in front of me, and even with loud music bouncing off the walls, I could hear the unnaturally fast rhythm of his breathing.

He hesitated a moment and then his hand came up slowly and brushed the hair off my face. His fingertips had only grazed my cheek, but I felt the sensation of his touch through my entire body. He looked back at me as if he’d smoothed his hands over every inch of my skin. The air between us heated and what had started out as a casual session between an artist and his subject had somehow erupted into something completely different.

–

I love the sound of this book. The cast of characters – from Eden to Finley (and the gorgeous Jude) – feel like they’d deliver a unique story!