Summer Ebook Haul

So I've recently been buying a lot of books on my kindle, which is quite unusual as I usually prefer physical copies, but there are a lot of books I've wanted to read but are really low on my TBR because I wasn't sure how much I would like them. Then, I noticed how cheap they were on Amazon so I decided to buy them.

Note: My 'blurbs' are always very concise because I dislike knowing too much about a book but I want to give you guys a vague idea about what it is about, if you want to know more you can click on the cover and it will take you to it's Goodreads page.

The Last Summer of Us by Maggie Harcourt 

I saw this book in Waterstones one day and the cover drew me in, I love books with road trips (when done well) and this sounded interesting. It's about three boys who go on a road trip trying to escape their troubled lives for the summer. 

On The Fence by Kasie West

This book has been on my TBR since last year - when it was released, I just never got around to it. The fact that it was £0.99 on Amazon Kindle really influenced my decision to buy it. It's about a girl who has been a tomboy all her life and then starts to develop feelings for the boy next door. I'm a bit antsy about this book because anytime I read a book like this, there is always a lot of girl bashing. I'm hoping this one will be different, I really liked The Distance Between Us so this should be a good read.

Nothing Left to Lose by Katie Mcgarry

This was on my Most Anticipated Releases of 2015, I should have read it already but I'm currently reading the entire ASOIAF series so it's been difficult to read anything else. This is the first book in the Thunder Road companion series and it's about a biker gang called The Reign of Terror. Emily is connected to it by her biological father she rarely sees, and Oz's whole family is involved one way or another and is finally about to join. Their two worlds collide ad I'm really excited. Mcgarry is very good with relationships so I'm excited to see how this one plays out.

Chasing Impossible by Katie Mcgarry

This is a continuation of the Pushing the Limits companion series which I absolutely adore. This is Abby and Logan's story. Crash Into You is my favourite out of all of them because of the characters and I'm so looking forward to seeing them again!

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

I don't know too much about this book, again, the price was my motivation in buying this book. As well as the tons of hype this book has gotten from YouTube. All l I know is that it's about a person that has the power to travel into different parallel worlds. And there are many parallel Londons they have to save. Books like this aren't normally a cup of tea, I normally stick to YA but I'm looking to branch out this summer.

The Manifesto On How To Be Interesting by Holly Bourne

This is a YA Contemporary about a girl called Bree who is the quintessential YA teen character: A bit of a loser, pining for someone she will probably never get etc. She's trying to find a way to become more interesting so she makes up a list to do just that. My friend absolutely adored it, and I absolutely love YA set in the UK it was what I grew up on so I'm sure I'll love it.

Let's Get Lost by Adi Alsaid

Another road trip book! This has been on my to buy list but it was always so expensive but it was only £1.99 so I grabbed it the first chance I got. It's hard to say what this book is about, but all I know is that there are 4 people who are complete strangers to each other but they all have this special girl called Leila in common. Then Leila leaves and I'm assuming that's why there is a road trip.

You by Caroline Kepnes

This is another adult fiction about a guy who sees a girl and basically becomes dangerously obsessed with a woman, he wriggles his way into her life and becomes her boyfriend, he will do whatever it takes to keep her - even murder. I've never really read anything in this Thriller genre but I've heard great reviews so I'm hoping to enjoy it no matter how disturbing it is.

May and June Ebook Wrap Up

So, I'm really hoping that I can really become more consistent with this blog since it's now summer. I need some inspiration, some ideas to make this blog more interesting. Because to be frank, I'm bored. And if I - the creator of said blog- am bored, you guys probably are. So I'll try and spruce this blog up a bit.  Nonetheless, I read four ebooks in May and June and here they are:

Never Never Part 2 by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher

This is a New Adult mystery about a couple who wake with no memory of themselves or the people around them. Due to legal reasons this book has been divided into 3 parts, which is kind of frustrating because the books leaves off on cliffhangers that just kill you. I won't say too much about this book because it's best you go into this blind, but I need part three to find out why the heck this is happening. I have some ideas, but I need confirmation dammit! I gave this 4 stars.

The Queen by Kiera Cass 0.4 (slight spoilers to The Selection series)

This is a prequel novella to The Selection series (which I absolutely adore!) during Queen Amberly and King Clarkson's Selection. I'm always welcome to any insight into the world of Illea but I just couldn't enjoy this novella. Why? Clarkson. If you've read all of the Selection you'll know his true character , reading this book it is obvious the man he is going to become and his parents don't excuse his shoddy behaviour. I felt like crying for Amberly because she has been in love with this guy since she was small and was unable to see what kind of man he is. It was like watching her walking into a lion's den thinking it was a palace where all her dreams come true. I resent the fact that people are not as sympathetic to her, because her behaviour around Clarkson was completely the same as most abuse victims and it sucks that victims never get the sympathy or compassion they deserve. However, I still I don't fully buy the fact that she was unaware about what was happening to Maxon. I also liked that we learned why Clarkson really hated America as much as he did. That foreshadowing to The One killed me. I also wish we saw more scenes between The Selected. I gave this 2.5 stars.

The Prince 0.5 by Kiera Cass 

This is the first few chapters of The Selection in Maxon's point of view who I honestly love. In The Selection he is portrayed as a literal prince who does no wrong, I was pleased to see a more realistic narrative of his character. I saw shades of his father in him, but he is a much more stronger person than his father will ever be. I disliked the fact that he was so frazzled by 'female tears', like everyone cries Maxon, calm down. So that micro-aggression was a bit annoying. At the start when we meet Daphne who is rude as hell, I get it you are heart broken but that doesn't give you the right to just tear into someone who you knows already suffers enough. I love how flustered and shy he really is, I hate his dad even more than I thought possible. I gave this a 3 stars.

The Guard 2.5 by Kiera Cass

This is Aspen's story during The Selection. I am not a fan of this man, although I understand him a teeny bit more after this novella. He literally threw America away over absolutely nothing and is now supposedly the only one that will never hurt her and will always protect her? Ugh! I hate how completely judges Maxon without knowing him, he's always moaning at America about how she has changed even though he is the one who begged/forced her do the stupid thing. She was perfectly okay with being a seven with him. I'm slightly concerned by the fact that he started dating her when she was 14 and he was 17, I think she was too young. Anyway, it was interesting getting to see the lives of the guards and the maids and I gave this one a 3 stars. Oh and the guy with the ring on his thumb :(

Those were all the ebooks I read this month, I really enjoyed them (though it may not have seemed like it) and I'll see you in my next post!

Book Porn Tuesday!

Hey guys! sorry for lack of posts this month it's still exam season and honestly I'm running out of inspiration on what to post on this blog. Anyway, this week's gorgeous over is...

The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkoski
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Date: Sometime in 2016

This is the final installment in The Winner's trilogy. It is centered around The General's daughter called Kestrel who one day on an outing decides to buy a slave called Arin. Yes, it's that kind of book. The series explores Kestrel's conflicting relationship with Arin and while I'd normally be against books depicting romantic relationships between a slaver and slave due to the power imbalance, for some strange reason, this one works. There are so many interesting themes interwoven in the story: Politics, Love and Justice to name but a few. Both preceding books end on a cliffhanger so while I do encourage you to read this series, I'd also recommend you save it for next year so you don' have to painfully wait for the finale.

Book Porn Tuesday

This week's gorgeous cover is...

What You Left Behind by Jessica Vardi
Genre: YA Contemporary
Release Date: August 4th 2015

I was scrolling through Goodreads looking for some new/not really known books to read and I came across this one. I haven't read it yet, so I'm not too sure what it's about (it was the cover that drew me in to be honest) but it's basically about a teenage boy who gets his girlfriend pregnant, incidentally she is also diagnosed with cancer, she decides to sacrifice her life in order to save the baby by refusing treatment. The story takes place I think after she dies and the father has to look after the baby. Usually I'm not into 'death' books because they're very depressing for me, but this sounds really interesting. Because, you always hear about maternal instincts, and being a mum, but it's very rare to really hear the emotional side of being a dad particularly in book form. Especially a teenage boy, also the fact that he has to cope with  his girlfriend's death is something I'm very much looking forward to reading and exploring in August

Book Porn Tuesday

I know I haven't been posting as frequently as usual, but exams have begun so I have literally no time to blog, record or read as many books as I would like to. I'm going to try and create posts in bulk so I can schedule them to come out so I don't have to worry about missing a deadline.

Anyway back to business.

Today's beautiful cover is:

The Darkest Minds! (click the link for its Goodreads page)

I literally just finished this trilogy and it was a-mazing! I really wasn't expecting it to be that good. I read the first book late last year and I finally got around to completing the series. The Darkest Minds centers around a girl called Ruby, who at 10 years old was taken away along with other children around her age to a concentration camp called Thurmond (there are many others). Now, at sixteen she has managed to break free and is on the run. I've honestly never been a fan of dystopians but this book has swayed me and I wholeheartedly encourage everyone to pick it up. It is filled with humour, amazing complex characters, deaths that will rip your heart out. And please for the love of God do not miss out on the novellas In Time and Sparks Rise, I prefer In Time, but they both give more information about the side characters who I promise you will adore.

Thank you for reading this post and I'll see you next time!

April Ebook Wrap Up

These are all the books I read on my kindle this month (click the picture for the goodreads page)

1. Simple Perfection by Abbi Glines (re-read)

This is the continuation of the Perfection duology in the Rosemary Beach series, it continues the story of Woods and Della. I genuinely can't remember how I felt about this book except that I gave it  a 3 stars.

2. Take a Chance and One More Chance by Abbi Glines (re-read)

This duology centers around  Harlow (Kiro's daughter) and Grant (Rush's former step-brother in the Rosemary beach series). Harlow was one of the most annoying, whiny, and frustrating characters I have ever had the displeasure in reading, and I have read all of Abbi Glines' books. I don't understand why I gave it a three stars- in fact I'm dropping it down to two. Grant's true character was revealed in the first one, what I thought was a kind man who  helped Blaire when she first arrived, was simply trying to get into her pants (like all the men in this sexed up town). And I know what people will say: "Boys will be Boys" , "Men will be Men" which funnily enough seems to be the recurring theme in both The Seabreeze and The Rosemary Beach series. These men do all sorts of atrocious things - treating women like sex objects, misogyny, hyper-sexualising practically every woman they see- yet they are perceived as these great guys and I can't fathom how or why. Not only that, but they are boring! What else do they do but drink, shag and work? lather rinse repeat, lather rinse repeat. How am I expected to fall in love with a character when the only redeemable thing about him is either his washboard abs or his eyelashes that make all of womankind jealous (as if all the women in the world nothing better to do than whine about the length of our eyelashes). Back to Harlow, her inner conflict between whether enjoying sex or not would make her a 'slut' or not just made me want to scream. How a woman feels ashamed for enjoying sex is beyond me, it is clearly the by-product of America's sex-education - or lack thereof. This book and all other Abbi Glines novels don't sit well with me because of the blatant misogyny that just seems to be accepted by everyone. More fool me because I continue to read and  re-read her novels, like it's crack.( Excuse the massive rant I just went on)

3. Breathe by Abbi Glines 

Funnily enough, I actually enjoyed this one. It was summery and romantic with a hint of sexiness. I loved it. I gave it a 3 stars. This book is about Sadie White who had to care for her pregnant mother while working as a maid. She incidentally is a maid for one of the biggest rock stars- Jax. They fall in love during the summer but Jax's life as rock star puts a heavy strain on their relationship

4. You Were Mine by Abbi Glines re-read

This was another re-read and it is also apart of the Rosemary beach series and it is about Tripp and Bethy. I really liked Bethy in the previous novels so I liked that we were finally getting a story about her. And I enjoyed this one, especially seeing what she was like when she was younger. The only thing that bugged me was as said previously, the misogyny. It wasn't as bad, but there were tiny micro-aggressions that really got on my nerves

Exhibit A: When Tripp asks Bethy to dance and she accepts, then Dean says "Smart girl" like what in god's name was that supposed  to mean? (This sounds like nothing when it's out of context but while reading I got the impression it was the fact that she was being obedient to a man that caused him to day such a thing)

Exhibit B: When the story flashes back to Tripp and Bethy's first time and Tripp says: "All the other girls I had been with were tense and dry" WHAT?! That literally means that they were not in a state of arousal and that is queue for you to either stop or get some lube you selfish prick. He acted like a women self-lubricating was some new thing invented by Bethy, NO! it is a necessity in order for a woman to enjoy sex. It's so funny how these men are supposedly experienced sex-gods yet they don't even know simple facts like this. 

Exhibit C: This is a trend in most New Adult novels so I don't want to single this book out (you know what ,I'm going to make a video about this because there is so much that needs to be said), but God forbid a woman wants to dress up, which throws their men into hysterics begging them to put some clothes because men and their sexual urges cannot be controlled. And this weird caveman analogy that Glines likes to use is freaking weird! " In that moment I wanted to beat my chest and growl like a caveman" or the "caveman in me growled". How is this attractive?! This of course is said after their partners does something really submissive. This Alpha male thing has taken a step way too far and it's borderline abusive. There is a huge difference in a person being dominant and  a person controlling every single move their partner makes.

5.While it Lasts by Abbi Glines re-read

*Sigh* This blog post is becoming repetitive. Blah, Blah, Blah,misogyny,Blah, Blah, Blah,annoying characters,Blah. Blah, Blah. I gave it a three stars though.

6.. When Your're Gone by none other than Abbi Glines

Why do I do this to myself? Better yet, why does Abbi Glines have duologies when they so easily could have been a stand alone? Why does the main character always have create problems for  her self? Why does the main character not attempt to resolve the problem by communicating? These are all questions I ask myself every time I read an Abbi Glines novel. Why can't I stop reading her books? What is so incredible about her novel that causes me to spend money purchasing the novels just so I can weep in frustration. *sigh* This book is about a girl called...I can't remember. Who has escaped the torment of her sexually abusive step-father and her good-for-nothing mother as well as trying do overcome a learning difficulty. She meets Mase (Harlow and Nan's brother) who instantly takes a liking to the freckle under her left buttock *sigh* I gave this three stars.

7. Fall With Me by J. Lynn 

I actually enjoyed this book (hurray!) It was great seeing familiar faces in the previous novels of this series. In the fourth installment of this series, the main character is Roxy, a nerdy bartender with a massive crush on the local policeman, Reece. On top of that her best friend since birth has been in an intensive care unit following a hate crime that occurred when they were teenagers. The perpetrator has been released and creepy things start happening to her 

I gave this one a 3.5 stars. I thought it was pretty predictable who was the stalker, but I love how the story was on forgiveness and letting things go. My only major gripe was the secret that Roxy kept from Reece was so minor I don't understand why she was so afraid to tell him.

8. Archer's Voice by Mia Sheridan 

My favourite romance novel of all time! 5 out of 5 stars hands down! This book is about a woman called Bree who decides to leave town, after a traumatic incident. She finds herself in a quaint town where she rents a home and begins to start a life there. Then she meets a man called Archer, who has been ostracized from the community, we soon learn that an accident left him unable to speak. I just love this book so much! I could read it over and over again and never get bored, I love how they spoke in sign language, it was so sweet!

9. In Time (1.5) and Sparks Rise (2.5) form The Drakes Minds Trilogy by Alexandra Bracken 

In Time was my favourite books this year and it was under 90 pages! I can't say too much about these two novellas as they may spoil things for you guys but I highly recommend that you don't skip these novels out and read them! I gave In Time a 5/5 and Sparks Rise a 4/5.

Thank you guys for reading this post, it was very rambly ad ranty and very cranky, it's nearly 2:00 am and it's exam season so please forgive me. I hope you enjoyed this, I'd love to hear your opinions on these books if you have read them. Until the next post!

Books and Music

Do you ever read a book with a particular song and every time you hear that song you feel nostalgic about that book? I have a couple of times and I wanted to show you guys my music to book pairings.

1. Double Cross by Malorie Blackman and Gravity Happens by Kate Voegele

The song in particular that makes me feel nostalgic about Double Cross is Enough For Always. It reminds me of the final scene of the novel where Tobey and Callie are sitting on the stairs contemplating their future together

       

2. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince and What Are You So Scared Of by Tonight Alive

               

This is probably the oddest pairing but for some reason any time I listen to To Die For it always reminds me of the love triangle between Lavender, Hermione and Ron- and for some odd reason, the school hallways.

3. Five Summers by Una Lamarche and 1989 by Taylor Swift 

                                   

 This one is different to the rest, because I didn't simutaeneously listen to this album and read the novel. It was after I had read the book, I had a dream about it and I Know Places and Wildest Dreams were playing in the background. It was more of the setting that resonated with.

This was definetly an unusual post, but I wanted to try something different and I wanted to combine my love for Books and Music in one post. I hope you enjoyed it anyway and I'lI see you in the next post