ReCAP by Danielle Pearl - COVER REVEAL

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Read my review for the first book in the series here.

About the book: A Normal Novella

Will be up for presale on Dec. 15 and will be FREE for the week of presale.

Release on Dec. 22 at 99c

This is a novella, NOT a full-length novel, and it is Book 1.5 of the Something More series (Normal from Sam's POV) NOT a standalone. 

Rory and Sam fell in love in NORMAL, and we all fell in love right along with them. Now see it all unfold through Sam's eyes, and learn just how the new girl with anxiety issues stole the heart of the gorgeous heartthrob, and turned his world upside down.

About the Author: Danielle Pearl lives in New Jersey with her husband and delicious little boys. She is a life long book enthusiast who has been writing ever since she could hold a pencil.

The Star Catcher by Stephanie Keyes - Blog Tour and REVIEW

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Magick and destiny intertwine as he fights to save his kingdom and the goddess he loves.Her kiss…the feel of her skin…the beat of her heart…For seventeen-year-old Kellen St. James, each memory is marred by a single sentence on a lone strip of paper.
Cali has been taken…
Armed with an amulet that channels the ultimate power of Faerie, Kellen searches for his love. However, control of the amulet’s energy comes with a price, and Kellen soon learns that Cali’s captor has plans for the stone. With the threat of the Star Catcher’s evil looming above Kellen and his kingdom, he’ll have to free the Heart of Faerie and break the curse the binds the Children of Danu to the darkness. But before that, he has to find his real father, the king. No pressure, right?
Kellen and Cali will battle bewitched armies and unknown foes as they fight to stay together. Will Kellen embrace his immortal destiny? Or will his world, and the man he is fated to become, be destroyed by The Star Catcher?

Addicted After All by Krista and Becca Ritchie - REVIEW

                                  AMAZON 

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SUMMARY

Two addicts. One epic love story. 

Prepare for the worst. 

That’s what Lily and Lo try to do when Jonathan Hale schedules an “important” meeting. The problem: after being swept into the public eye and battling their addictions, they’re not sure what the worst is anymore. 

In a sea of many changes—including Ryke & Daisy living with them—Lily realizes that the best part of her fluctuating hormones might just be the worst. 
Her sex drive is out of control. 

Loren knows that she’s insatiable, but he’s not giving up on her. She’s too much a part of him. And as he carries more and more responsibility, some of the people that he loves doubt his resolve. 

In the conclusion to their love story, Lily & Lo stand side-by-side to fight, one last time, for their happily ever after. 

**AUTHORS' NOTE**
Due to the 2-year gap between Addicted for Now (Addicted #2) and Addicted After All (Addicted #3), you must read Thrive (Addicted #2.5) or the Calloway Sisters spin-off series before reading Addicted After All.

So we're finally at the end of the road for LiLo. In Ryke's words (and mine): It's the best fucking road.
 
Lily and Lo have been through so much as both people and as a couple and to see all their hard work come together so beautifully. In addition, this is the first book where we get to see Raisin  Raisy as an actual couple and it makes me both excited and scared for where they're gonna go as a couple but I just have believe in that happy ending. Coballoway were hilarious as always.

My guess on the babies genders were actually correct but I'll leave that to you to find out ;) 

I'm not going to spoil the plot in anyway, especially as this is the last of 5 books in a series but I do have to say this:

Lo- I've gotten to know you very well since I started this series in January and I have to say you have exceeded expectations (Harry Potter reference for you) there!) and become one of the greatest men I will ever read about. I wish I could tell the 13 year old Loren that hated himself how incredible he'd be but sadly I think he needed the lows to truly experience the highs. You have an amazing girlfriend, amazing friends, and brother that would pull out his own beating heart for you. You've managed to beat life,I promise you.

Lily - This whole thing started in your POV and if I hadn't loved you so much I wouldn't have continued. You're one of the strongest people I've ever read about and you don't even know it. The amount of love you exude is a ray of brightness and your compassion makes even the worst situation not as bad. You're an amazing friend, sister and girlfriend and you don't even realise how easy it is to love you. If I could tell the girl in the first chapter of Addicted To You how her life would turn out, she probably wouldn't believe me because she was still too ashamed of how she lived her life but you really and truly do not know your own strength. You don't know that your best friend will become the love of your life, that your sisters will be the closest relationships you have, including your sister's husband and your boyfriends' brother. You don't know that your boyfriends' brother is determined to hate you but will end up loving you as much as he loves Loren, and you will love him as much as you love Rose. You're going to be an extraordinary woman, and you didn't even need superpowers to get there.

I'd like to say thank you to Krista and Becca for this amazing series and the ability to make me cry while reading a book, then again when saying goodbye to two of my favourite POVs. I cannot wait for the rest of this series!

Recommend to: fans of New Adult (who have read the series), fans of realistic fiction

Rating: 5 stars

Addicted After All Promo Tour - Teaser Poster + GIVEAWAY

OUT AUGUST 31st



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SUMMARY

Two addicts. One epic love story. 

Prepare for the worst. 

That’s what Lily and Lo try to do when Jonathan Hale schedules an “important” meeting. The problem: after being swept into the public eye and battling their addictions, they’re not sure what the worst is anymore. 

In a sea of many changes—including Ryke & Daisy living with them—Lily realizes that the best part of her fluctuating hormones might just be the worst. 
Her sex drive is out of control. 

Loren knows that she’s insatiable, but he’s not giving up on her. She’s too much a part of him. And as he carries more and more responsibility, some of the people that he loves doubt his resolve. 

In the conclusion to their love story, Lily & Lo stand side-by-side to fight, one last time, for their happily ever after. 

**AUTHORS' NOTE**
Due to the 2-year gap between Addicted for Now (Addicted #2) and Addicted After All (Addicted #3), you must read Thrive (Addicted #2.5) or the Calloway Sisters spin-off series before reading Addicted After All.

I cannot believe that we're already at this point of the Addicted Series! It feels like just yesterday when I stayed up until 5am to get Hothouse Flower despite having a 9am lecture (don't worry Mum, I went to my lecture) and now Thrive has come out and AAA is nearly with me!

Teaser Poster ahead:

The Last Anniversary by Liane Moriarty REVIEW + NEW RELEASE

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From the bestselling author of The Husband's Secret comes a compelling story where nothing is as simple as it seems.

Seventy-three years have passed since sisters Rose and Connie Doughty found an abandoned baby in the only other house on their little island, Scribbly Gum. And since then the 'Munro Baby Mystery' has brought them fame and fortune.

But now, with Connie dead and newcomer Sophie Honeywell inheriting her home, and everyone around them tirelessly trying to solve the mystery, Rose begins to wonder if they made the right decision all those years ago. How much longer they can cover up the truth behind the mystery that has sustained their community for four generations? And what other secrets might be revealed?
Review ahead!

Normal by Danielle Pearl -REVIEW

***Before you start this review, there is a trigger warning for domestic violence, abuse, panic attacks and rape.***

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It's the kind of situation most people would dread. Starting at a new high school, in the middle of my senior year, in a new town, in a new state. I know no one. No one knows me. That's what I'm counting on.

A year ago, Aurora "Rory" Pine was just a normal teenage girl - just as sweet and naive as the fairy tale princess she was named after.

But this isn't a year ago.

Rory is broken, and now suffering from a debilitating anxiety disorder, wrought with precarious triggers, she moves across the country to escape the source of her troubles. Her plan is anonymity, but that's easier said than achieved for the new girl having a panic episode outside of calculus. The worst part? There's a witness - and a gorgeous one at that.

Sam is a walking trigger for Rory. Incredibly handsome, built like the star athlete he obviously is, and undoubtedly popular, Sam outwardly represents everything Rory despises about high school. But as the fates keep throwing them together, a connection sparks that neither ever expected, and certainly couldn't ignore.
But Sam has issues too, and Rory's past won't just stay in the damned past. When friendship evolves into something deeper, can a girl utterly destroyed by the worst kind of betrayal and a boy battling demons of his own ever have a normal relationship? Is that even what they want? Find out in NORMAL, a gritty story of trust and abuse, heartbreak and salvation, and if they're lucky - love. This is not a flowery romance - not for the faint of heart. 

Review ahead!

Thrive by Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie REVIEW

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Two years will change them forever. 

When rumors spread like wildfire—like having three-ways with her boyfriend’s rock climbing brother—Lily Calloway spirals into a dark place. Her bedroom. Loren Hale is more confident and determined to keep their sex life private, even from their friends, and he helps Lily in the only way he knows how. But how much love is too much? 

Their lives are filmed, watched, and criticized. And through it all, Lily and Loren have to face enemies they never thought they’d see, demons they don’t know if they should bury, and setbacks they didn’t think they’d meet. Not this soon. 

And one rumor could be too much for them to handle. It will test their greatest limitations, and if they don’t hold onto each other, someone is going to drown. 

A full-length New Adult Romance that bridges the gap between the second and third books. Thrive must be read before Addicted After All if you have not read the Calloway Sisters spin-off series.
Review ahead!

Outshine by Nola Decker

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When agoraphobic Gabe and his outgoing nemesis Jessa go on a moonlit road trip to locate Gabe’s missing brother, the two teens discover they are both hiding unnatural abilities: Gabe is a living lie detector and Jessa is a kick-ass powerhouse pretending to be a delicate diva.

Gabe’s sole reason for searching for Watts, his hot-tempered younger brother, is to clear his own name: he’s been framed for Watts’ alleged murder. Jessa is after Watts because she is, well, after him.

They find him with Deacon, the twisted eugenicist responsible for their unusual powers. He encourages them to stay and join his "Family" where they'll be able to live openly as the genetically-modified freaks that they are. When Jessa and Gabe uncover the truth about Deacon's past--and what he wants for the future--they band together to stop him. Watts, however, may have other plans . . .

I have to say until recently I've actually stayed away from Sci-Fi both in books and on television but this reminded me that clearly I'm making a big mistake.

The story starts with Gabe being told his brother is missing and being happy about it which at first I found a bit odd but honestly, we literally just have to meet Watts to be like "Nah, your initial assessment was spot on, carry on"
I liked that the truth about Gabe and Jessa was revealed very early on, there's nothing more I hate than having it be so clear that there's something "other" about the characters, and it's in their POV but you still can't be told what is actually different about them.

Gabe is a human lie detector and Jessa has unbelievable speed and strength, and we find out that they are experiments and now the people that "created" them want them back and we find Gabe and Tessa fight for their lives and their right to live their lives considering they didn't sign up to be the way they are.

As soon as I got into this book, I found it breaking into my daily schedule until I read it for a solid 4 hours, it was very enjoyable and I'm very excited where the sequel will take the story.

Recommend to: fans of YA, fans of Sci Fi, people willing to try new books

Rating: 4 stars

The Fallen Stars by Stephanie Keyes - REVIEW

When all is lost, he will have to make the ultimate decision.

Kellen St. James was just your average seventeen-year-old prodigy, until he eighty-sixed the Lord of Faerie and proposed to the Celtic Goddess, Calienta. But then everything in Kellen’s life gets turned upside-down when he and Cali end up on the run from a seriously irritated group of faeries. The worst part? They have zero idea why they’re being hunted.

Suddenly, Kellen is stuck in the middle of another prophecy that foresees him turning away from Calienta and embracing the dark. He’ll be forced to take sides in a struggle to claim his birthright, while discovering secrets about his father’s past. Meanwhile, his passion for Cali grows stronger, even as the prophecy threatens to tear them apart.
In the end, will Kellen and Cali survive the fates? When the ultimate power is within reach, which side will he choose?


After reading The Star Child I was anxious to get started on The Fallen Stars and it did not disappoint.
The story begins with what should be Kellen and Calienta's wedding but it gets interrupted and is the beginning of the couple going on the run with Gabe (Kellen's friend and ex roommate.) This was actually very enjoyable and I liked that although the sequel was nothing like the first book, it was still captivating and kept me on my toes.

In The Star Child Kellen is told that the prophecy regarding him is two-fold but the second part is not mentioned. We find it out near the end of the book and I truly don't believe Kellen could have continued his original quest knowing what lay ahead. It reminded me of Harry Potter not recieving the full prophecy until The Order of the Phoenix and then not even acting on it until Half Blood Prince/Deathly Hallows. As amazing as Harry is, eleven year old Harry Potter would not have been able to handle it and the same holds true for Kellen at the beginning of his journey.

A lot of the St.James family history is revealed in this book and it honestly just makes me more excited for the final book in the trilogy. Also there were some plot points - *coughs* Gabe - that promise to be revealed at a later date.

Recommend to: fans of fantasy,fans of YA fantasy
Rating: 4 stars

Silver Shadows by Richelle Mead - NON SPOILER REVIEW

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Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets - and human lives.

In The Fiery Heart, Sydney risked everything to follow her gut, walking a dangerous line to keep her feelings hidden from the Alchemists.

Now, in the aftermath of an event that ripped their world apart, Sydney and Adrian struggle to pick up the pieces and find their way back to each other. But first, they have to survive.

For Sydney, trapped and surrounded by adversaries, life becomes a daily struggle to hold on to her identity and the memories of those she loves. Meanwhile, Adrian clings to hope in the face of those who tell him Sydney is a lost cause, but the battle proves daunting as old demons and new temptations begin to seize hold of him...

Their worst fears now a chilling reality; Sydney and Adrian face their darkest hour.

Non Spoiler Review ahead!

Bitter River by Julia Keller REVIEW

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Phone calls before dawn are never good news. And when you’re the county’s prosecuting attorney, calls from the sheriff are rarely good news, either. So when Bell Elkins picks up the phone she already knows she won’t like what she’s about to hear, but she’s still not prepared for this: 16-year-old Lucinda Trimble’s body has been found at the bottom of Bitter River. And Lucinda didn't drown—she was dead before her body ever hit the water.

With a case like that, Bell knows the coming weeks are going to be tough. But that’s not all Bell is coping with these days. Her daughter is now living with Bell’s ex-husband, hours away. Sheriff Nick Fogelsong, one of Bell’s closest friends, is behaving oddly. Furthermore, a face from her past has resurfaced for reasons Bell can’t quite figure. Searching for the truth, both behind Lucinda’s murder and behind her own complicated relationships, will lead Bell down a path that might put her very life at risk.
Review ahead!

Thrive Promo Tour - Excerpt + Giveaway!

      OUT JULY 18TH 

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SUMMARY

Two years will change them forever.

When rumors spread like wildfire—like having three-ways with her boyfriend’s rock climbing brother—Lily Calloway spirals into a dark place. Her bedroom. Loren Hale is more confident and determined to keep their sex life private, even from their friends, and he helps Lily in the only way he knows how. But how much love is too much?

Their lives are filmed, watched, and criticized. And through it all, Lily and Loren have to face enemies they never thought they’d see, demons they don’t know if they should bury, and setbacks they didn’t think they’d meet. Not this soon.

And one rumor could be too much for them to handle. It will test their greatest limitations, and if they don’t hold onto each other, someone is going to drown.

A full-length New Adult Romance that bridges the gap between the second and third books. Thrive must be read before Addicted After All if you have not read the Calloway Sisters spin-off

I started the Addicted Series in February and luckily for me just after Kiss the Sky was released. As a series it has transcended any and all expectations I've ever had of it and even better, taught me about important things such a friendships, and moral/social issues that a lot of the time we don't even think about.
To top it off, in addition to being amazing writers, Krista and Becca are so interactive with their fans (e.g this blog tour) and I'm so glad I got the chance to read their books and talk to them.

Fun fact about this blog/this series: The Hothouse Flower blog tour is what inspired me to finally start my own book blog because I loved what Krista and Becca were doing.

**************************************************

EXCERPT:

I try to hold out my leopard-print canister of pepper spray for self-protection, but I practically have a T-

Rex claw hand, not able to outstretch my arm very far. 

“Who’s better in bed, Lily?!” a cameraman shouts. “Loren or Ryke?!”

Fire burns my belly. I wish I was a T-Rex. I’d eat him. 

In a non-sexual way. Just to be clear.

My neck heats. 

“Lily,” Lo says, his lips right beside my ear. “Breathe.”

I realize that I’m taking slow, shallow breaths. My forehead sweats, and my upper lip is probably 

perspiring. How sexy. “Lo,” I whisper over the shouting paparazzi, snapping photos and hollers to move back! 

from Ryke. “Are we going to make it?”

**************************************************

   Krista & Becca Ritchie are identical twins. They write New Adult books that make you cringe, gasp, and 

go ooh-la-la. (If you do that sort of thing.) They are currently working on the spin-offs and final books in 

the Addicted series. Connect with them on twitter and their website: kbritchie.com

Addicted Series Recommended Reading Order

Addicted to You (Addicted #1)

Ricochet (Addicted #1.5) 

Addicted for Now (Addicted #2)

Kiss the Sky (Spin-Off)(Calloway Sisters #1)

Hothouse Flower (Spin-Off)(Calloway Sisters #2)

Thrive (Addicted #2.5)

Addicted After All (Addicted #3)

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Locks by Sarah J. Pepper - REVIEW

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Rapunzel isn’t the stereotypical Damsel in Distress. Her Bad-Boy Prince Charming is a renowned mercenary, and their Happy Ending plays out like a bad movie. However, she is determined to breakout from her tower prison—love be damned—and do it in a fabulous pair of heels. 
***
Gunned down by the Mercenary, the deadliest assassin in The Badass Archives, isn’t exactly Rapunzel’s end-game. Falling for him isn’t either, but his Rated-R demeanor is strangely charming. Even though most girls wouldn’t fall for their captors, Rapunzel isn’t like most dames. Her major girl-boner for the Mercenary is so pathetic it verges on cliché. Yet, in spite of his appeal, Rapunzel must escape before she’s locked away in the Château de Immortelle’s highest tower—forever.

I did a cover reveal for this book a few weeks ago, isn't the cover gorgeous?

Review ahead!

Addicted To You by Krista and Becca Ritchie - REVIEW

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She’s addicted to sex. He’s addicted to booze…the only way out is rock bottom.

No one would suspect shy Lily Calloway’s biggest secret. While everyone is dancing at college bars, Lily stays in the bathroom. To get laid. Her compulsion leads her to one-night stands, steamy hookups and events she shamefully regrets. The only person who knows her secret happens to have one of his own.

Loren Hale’s best friend is his bottle of bourbon. Lily comes at a close second. For three years, they’ve pretended to be in a real relationship, hiding their addictions from their families. They’ve mastered the art of concealing flasks and random guys that filter in and out of their apartment.

But as they sink beneath the weight of their addictions, they cling harder to their destructive relationship and wonder if a life together, for real, is better than a lie. Strangers and family begin to infiltrate their guarded lives, and with new challenges, they realize they may not just be addicted to alcohol and sex.
Their real vice may be each other. 

Review ahead! 

City of Heavenly Fire Character Analysis + Giveaway!

This is kind of a long post, bear with me. Or you could go right to the bottom for the giveaway I guess ;)

I will say the recommended reading order in my personal opinion though. I would say it should be read (this is how I read it): City of Bones, Ashes, Glass, Clockwork Angel, Prince, Princess, CO Fallen Angels, Lost Souls and then Heavenly Fire. Others also recommend publishing order but personally I wouldn't appreciate moving from 2012 to the 1800s and back again.

I went into this book with the mindset "expect the unexpected" and Cassandra Clare definitely delivered. This book is the culmination of 7 years building the Shadowhunter world and I commend Cassandra Clare for it.


Whilst I'm not going to go in depth in terms of the plot, due to this being the last book in the series I am going to go into depth with the character analysis due to all these characters having grown up from City of Bones until now.

I know there were some people that found themselves disappointed by this, but for myself, it was the book that cemented the fact that I can trust Clare's writing skills. There's a healthy dose of angst, terror and setting up of the next chapter of the Shadowhunter Chronicles.

Having read the book I have to say a lot of Clare's snippets were extremely misleading and released to cause undue stress. If she ever decides to quit writing, she'd probably be the best saleswoman ever.

Okay, so as there's no formal review (maybe next month) let's get on with the character analysis!

• Clary - I personally don't feel like this was Clary's story. I noticed more about the other characters and I'm not sure whether she really had an opportunity to grow. She did heroic things, but I'm not sure what made them any better than her actions in City of Glass. It has already been shown that Clary is perfectly happy to kill anyone that she thinks/is correct about being a threat to her and her loved ones. I like that she was fully confident in her role as a daughter, friend, Shadowhunter and lastly girlfriend.
• Jace - It's so easy to forget that Jace is just a 17 year old boy. Then he packs certain items to other realms and you're like "oh yeah." But seriously, with the whole Heavenly Fire thing and the Council/Clave refusing to acknowledge his very important point of view it's easy to sympathize with Jace. Similarly to Clary, it's shown that Jace has become more comfortable in who he is and where he fits in in life and most importantly what he can show to other people. My favourite thing about Jace is definitely that no matter what's going on he's known his place is with Alec and Isabelle as their sibling.
• Alec- Alec was amazing in this book. It is amazing what heartbreak can do to some people and to Alec it made him the warrior he was always meant to be. As the Shadowhunters say "Sed lex, dura lex" Alec took this to heart in this book and was unforgiving and if I'm honest, to me, it brought out the best of Alec. He's a fierce warrior - as all Shadowhunters should be - but normally his role is looking out for Jace or Isabelle because no one decided to teach his siblings not to fight recklessly. We see the beginnings of this Alec at the end of COLS when Clary notices that it's him that is using the bow and arrow but in this book it's no longer a weapon. It's an extension of Alec himself. Alec is able to learn who he is and wants to be as a man regardless of his romantic life
  In a snippet released we had a lovely quote about Alec (said to Jace) coming to terms with where he fits in in his family: "You needed me. So I realized that there was one person who didn’t assume you were better than me. You."
• Isabelle - Isabelle didn't seem to be herself to me in this book. I understand that with so many characters it is hard to go into depth with each character as much as the readers would like. While I prefer Character X, someone could wish Character Y got more page time so I'm willing to forgive authors for whichever mix they think is best, even if it is the last book in the series. From the little we do see of Isabelle she's full of emotion and therefore life. She starts the book angry. She's angry at her parents. She's angry her brother is dead. She's angry at Sebastian for killing Max. She's angry at Sebastian for being alive. She's angry at Sebastian for trying to take her other brother away from her. She's angry at her parents for being partially responsible for the entire situation. And then after she begins to either let go of this anger or realising that it cannot be at the forefront of her mind she becomes sad. She's sad her brother is dead. She's sad her boyfriend can never really be with her because he's a Downworlder and they can't have kids anyway.
  A lot of fans were worried that Isabelle would become an Iron Sister or something equally drastic so I'm happy that she got at the very least a chance at a happy ending. (I don't know if you can tell, but I love Isabelle)
• Simon - I hope I'm not spoiling anything when I say Simon started and ended the series in the same way. That is to say he started as Clary's best friend willing to follow her anyway through anything and finished like that as well. Simon really became a man in this book. He was in charge of his own destiny and it was a nice fit for him. Previously he only survived because he had the Mark of Cain and obviously that came with it's own side effects that he was unable to control. I liked him and Jace coming to a place of like and mutual respect with each other.
• Magnus - The man can keep secrets. It may be his biggest flaw. An unwillingness to share secrets about himself actually caused a couple of problems in the books but he's entertainment so I'll keep him around. I think in this book Magnus became more open and was more willing to put himself out there regardless of what happened.
• Sebastian/Jonathan - He's insane. Somehow it works, obviously I have to actively root against him because he's causing actual harm to characters that I like more than him but he has a certain charm that almost makes me wish I was on his side. Jonathan was a sweet guy though, somehow showing people what they're missing can hurt more than just letting them get on with their lives.
• Emma - Whilst I appreciated Clare setting up the next "phase" of the Shadowhunters Chronicles I'd have preferred it if she had spent more time on the main six characters. However Emma proved to be an interesting heroine. She's strong and knows what she wants. We see how she becomes parabatai with Julian and honestly, it was dumb. She really should've thought it through more but we'll deal with the consequences of that in The Dark Artifices.

Recommend to: Fans of the Shadowhunter Chronicles, 12-17 year olds, people appreciative of a story coming together with a satisfying ending

Rating: 4 stars

********Open Internationally********

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The Bitches of Brooklyn by Rosemary Harris - REVIEW

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Four friends from Brooklyn await the arrival of a fifth at a Cape Cod bungalow where they spend an all-girls weekend every summer. But this time the fifth woman doesn't show. Instead she sends a note that reads - "I've run off with one of your men."
Fast, funny and filled with Harris' trademark snappy dialog and quirky characters forced to reevaluate their friendships, their marriages and their memories.
By the author of Agatha and Anthony nominated PUSHING UP DAISIES and the Dirty Business mystery series


Review ahead

This book has its good and bad qualities. A good quality is that there are females with a strong friendship that aren't all backstab-by with each other. 

I feel like this book was supposed to have distinct characters but every time a character was mentioned without being there, I had to actively remember who they were and who they were supposed to be married to. Perhaps there were too many named characters, or I momentarily forgot how to keep track of everyone

In terms of the plot, there was a lot of moving from one location to another and I wasn't always sure where the women were meant to be. The "main" plot sort of goes around in circles with the women going from defending their husbands/significant others to be sure that they would never leave or that Abby would never be with them and it's relatively tedious.


This was a quick read, yet I cannot decide whether fleshing it out would have made it a better read or a worse one. There was no main point of view in this book, and whilst I'm not saying that's necessary in books, I think it would have been easier to remember who each of the characters were if they all had distinct voices. It feels more like Harris is telling me that the women have varied and established personalities rather than showing me. I would have loved to have a narrative that was motherly and instinctively know it was character A, followed by a narrative that was more brash that I would instinctively know was character B etc.  

Recommend to: fans of quick reads

Rating: 3 stars

GUEST POST - Matt Cain Author of Shot Through The Heart

Twitter

My Los Angeles

I first went to Los Angeles in 2002 when I was making arts and entertainment programmes for ITV. Straight away I fell in love with the place – and my new love affair came as a complete surprise.

Before I’d left for LA loads of people had told me it was a soulless city and everyone who lived there was superficial. But what struck me first of all was something nobody had ever mentioned – just how beautiful it is. The beaches are gorgeous and as you look out to the horizon you can see dolphins jumping through the waves of the Pacific. Many of the streets are lined with palm trees that shimmer in the light breeze, the dramatic desert is just next door, and if you drive up into the hills you can see stunning views over the whole city. And, of course, the sun is always shining – that much I had been expecting. It was all quite overwhelming for a boy from Bolton.

On top of all that, I discovered that the restaurants and diners are amazing and offer all kinds of food that staff don’t mind you adapting to suit your own tastes. The shopping is great – much cheaper than Britain and you’re always served by people who seem happy to help. On practically every street you pass the house of a major international star – and, if you’re lucky, you might even bump into them in person. And all this takes place against the backdrop of the Hollywood sign sparkling out at you from the sunlit hills.

But, best of all, everywhere you look in LA you see hot men – on the streets, in bars, running through Laurel Canyon, working out on Muscle Beach and beaming at you with their perfect smiles from the windows of their cars. I don’t think I’ve ever seen as many handsome men in one place and all of them seem to come with amazing bodies as standard. No wonder they call it la-la-land. And not only that but everyone I met in LA seemed to love Brits. Very quickly I understood why so many of our biggest stars, from Robbie Williams to the Beckhams, have spent time living there.

Over the next few years I was sent back to LA to shoot several more programmes for ITV. And, as I got to know the place better, I realized it simply isn’t true that all the people who live there are superficial. Alright, loads of them do spend ages making sure they look good but so many of them are also into self-help and self-improvement, whether that’s rhapsodizing about a new therapist they’re seeing or telling you all about their discovery of Buddhism. And I think that’s what made the most impact on me about LA – the hope, the optimism, the fact that anything seems possible. You’re never too old to reinvent yourself or start again and no-one will ever write you off as a lost cause.

Of course, LA isn’t all perfect. Over the years I’ve met plenty of people there who tell you whatever you want to hear and just gush over you without ever backing it up with concrete action. I’ve always been lucky enough to have a job to do each time I’ve been there and I remember thinking once that it must be a tough place to live if you’re a struggling actor or writer or director and can’t get a break. Back in Britain, I once interviewed Michael Caine when I worked for Channel 4 News and he told me that when he lived in LA he really missed the cycle of the seasons. As someone who grew up in the rainy and usually grey North West of England, I can’t imagine ever feeling the same way. But I do remember one time I was there filming with the actor Ian McKellen and he took me to a school for underprivileged children in the desperately run-down area of Koreatown where he was involved with a charity project. It was a side of the city I’d never seen before and it suddenly struck me that LA wasn’t all sunshine and smiles.

But despite this, my overwhelming memories of the place have always remained positive – and I think that’s why I decided to set my debut novel Shot Through the Heart there. I started to write the book years after my first visit to LA when I was feeling miserable and unhappy with my life in London. My career wasn’t going the way I wanted it to, I’d received a romantic rejection from a friend I’d totally fallen in love with and my mum had just been diagnosed with breast cancer. When I sat down to write I just wanted to escape. And it seemed like the logical thing to do to escape to LA.

Shot Through the Heart has just been published by Pan Macmillan. It’s a romantic comedy about a Hollywood actress who falls in love with a paparazzi photographer. The pap’s a Brit who loves LA so many of his impressions of the city are my own. Although I’ve tried not to lose sight of the dark side I’ve sometimes glimpsed through the sunshine.

I hope you enjoy reading the book. And, if you still haven’t been to LA, I hope it persuades you to consider it the next time you can afford a dream holiday!

**********************************************************************

My Review for Matt's book can be seen here

Locks by Sarah J Pepper - COVER REVEAL

About the book:  Gunned down by the hottest killer in the history of the Badass Archives wasn’t exactly Rapunzel’s end-game. But when her reputable extraction skills fail, she uses unorthodox methods to gain her freedom from the Mercenary, whose icy blue eyes have serious panty-dropping capabilities. Even though most girls wouldn’t fall for their would-be assassin, Rapunzel isn’t like most dames. Her major girl-boner for the Mercenary is so pathetically intense it verges on cliché.

Regardless, Rapunzel’s hands are tied. Love chooses its victims, not the other way around. She isn’t the stereotypical Damsel in Distress. Her Bad-Boy Prince Charming is a renowned mercenary, and her “Happy Ending” plays out like a bad movie. However, she is determined to find her freedom—love be damned—and she’ll do it in a fabulous pair of heels.

About the author: Sarah J Pepper specialize in dark, paranormal romance – think “happy ever after” but with a twisted, dark chocolate center. Real-life romance isn't only filled with hugs, kisses, bunnies, and rainbows. True-love can be more thoroughly described in times of darkness and tribulation. It’s in those harsh moments where you see what a person is truly capable of – both the good and bad. Sometimes prince-charming isn't always on time, and the glass slipper is a little snug. However, it doesn't mean Charming is not Mr. Right, and who says every shoe is the perfect fit?

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The Star Child by Stephanie Keyes + GIVEAWAY

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The world is about to be cloaked in darkness. Only one can stop the night. 

Kellen St. James has spent his entire life being overlooked as an unwanted, ordinary, slightly geeky kid. When the sudden death of his Gran takes him from the East coast to the rugged cliffs of Western Ireland, all that changes. That is until a beautiful girl, one who has haunted his dreams for the past eleven years of his life, shows up spinning
tales of a prophecy. Not just any old prophecy either, but one in which Kellen plays a key role.

Suddenly, Kellen finds himself on the run through a Celtic underworld of faeries and demons, angels and gods, not to mention a really ticked off pack of hellhounds, all in order to save the world from darkness. But will they make it in time?

Review ahead!

We Were Liars by E Lockhart REVIEW + NEW RELEASE

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A beautiful and distinguished family.
A private island.
A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.
A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.
A revolution. An accident. A secret.
Lies upon lies.
True love.
The truth.
 
We Were Liars is a modern, sophisticated suspense novel from National Book Award finalist and Printz Award honoree E. Lockhart. 

Read it. And if anyone asks you how it ends, just LIE.
Review ahead

The Dr Pepper Prophecies by Jennifer Gilby Roberts REVIEW

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25-year-old Mel Parker has a few tiny problems:
* Her job is terrible
* She's been dumped yet again
* Her ex is now her boss
* Her parents think she's a loser compared to her perfect younger sister
* All her efforts to improve her life seem doomed to failure
* There just isn't enough chocolate in the world to make up for the above.

The one good thing in her life has always been her best friend Will, who has seen her through every crisis from lost toys to pregnancy scares. But his girlfriend (who's prettier, better-dressed, more successful and secretly evil) is determined to replace Mel as the woman in his life and how is Mel supposed to compete?

So what do you do when you've pretty much given up on your own life? Help others, of course!

After all, what's the worst that can happen? 
Review ahead

Tease by Amanda Maciel REVIEW + NEW RELEASE

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Emma Putnam is dead, and it's all Sara Wharton's fault. At least, that's what everyone seems to think. Sara, along with her best friend and three other classmates, has been criminally charged for the bullying and harassment that led to Emma's shocking suicide. Now Sara is the one who's ostracized, already guilty according to her peers, the community, and the media. In the summer before her senior year, in between meetings with lawyers and a court-recommended therapist, Sara is forced to reflect on the events that brought her to this moment—and ultimately consider her own role in an undeniable tragedy. And she'll have to find a way to move forward, even when it feels like her own life is over.

Shot Through The Heart by Matt Cain REVIEW

     OUT 24th APRIL        Goodreads           Amazon
Mia Sinclair is the first lady of love, a beautiful goddess known for her romantic roles on the silver screen. But in reality life does not imitate art and love is not as easily found in the real world as it is in the movies. Leo Henderson is the Brit living in L.A, enjoying the lifestyle and photographing the stars when they least expect it. He knows that being a paparazzi has its pitfalls, but he’s living the Hollywood dream and enjoying every minute of it.
Billy Spencer, the handsome screen idol of the moment, is sexy, tanned and hiding a secret that could easily end his career as a leading man. When Mia meets Leo, the sparks fly. But is dating a paparazzi the biggest mistake of her life? And as Mia and Billy look to star in the biggest movie of their careers, will their smouldering on screen relationship destroy a chance of happiness before it begins? Shot through the Heart is Matt Cain’s debut novel, a Hollywood tale of romance, heartbreak and the lengths some will go to maintain that unblemished movie star image

Spoilers ahead!

Reed by Allison Saltz REVIEW

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Reece Reed has her fair share of baggage. After an abusive childhood and a less than ideal love life she tends to keep people at arm’s length. When she is hired by the FBI she accepts hesitantly, knowing this will mean fostering relationships with coworkers. As she develops new equipment to investigate crime scenes, she also develops relationships with those around her. she begins to let her walls down and let herself believe she may be able to have a normal life. Just when she starts to think true love may be within her reach, her dark past comes back to haunt her. Will she ever be able to live without looking over her shoulder? 
Reed is an inspirational story about overcoming obstacles. It contains crime, romance, drama, action, and snarky sarcastic dialogue. Witty and compelling, if you are looking for a good read, then read Reed.

Spoilers ahead