Review: Twilight Audiobook

Twilight (Twilight #1) by Stephenie Meyer - read by Ilyana Kadushin

Published January 5th 2009 by Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd
Audio CD
Source: Library

"When Isabella Swan moves to the gloomy town of Forks and meets the mysterious, alluring Edward Cullen, her life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. With his porcelain skin, golden eyes, mesmerising voice, and supernatural gifts, Edward is both irresistible and impenetrable. Up until now, he has managed to keep his true identity hidden, but Bella is determined to uncover his dark secret. What Bella doesn't realise is the closer she gets to him, the more she is putting herself and those around her at risk. And it might be too late to turn back... Deeply seductive and extraordinarily suspenseful, Twilight will have readers riveted right until the very last page is turned."

- From Goodreads

 

N/A

I have read the Twilight series several times and I'm sure my readers know that I enjoy the series. But wow the audio book was just bad. For one the voices wasn't my own so I had a very different Bella and Edward in my head suddenly.

Now I know that their relationship isn't the best and that it is creepy at times. I know most twilight fans ignore all these facts and just enjoy the story. But this Audio Book made it impossible!

It makes Bella sound even more desperate and Edward even more depraved.

Please if you haven't read Twilight, don't listen to the audio book first, and if you haven't listened to the Audio Book yet, but have read the book, stay away if you want to stay in the twilight bubble :)

 

Review: Anna and the French Kiss

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Published December 2nd 2010 by Penguin Group (USA)
Paperback, 372 pages
Source: Won from Danya @ http://atapestryofwords.blogspot.com/

"Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris—until she meets Étienne St. Claire: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home.

As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near-misses end with the French kiss Anna—and readers—have long awaited?"

- From Goodreads

 

7/10

Anna and the French Kiss was a delight to read. It was an emotionally charged novel with a great set of characters, places and events.

It is a sweet story about true love and friendship, which you won’t be able to put down! The story will draw you in and make you feel part of it. The characters are easily relatable and they will make you smile.
St. Clair is well written, swoon worthy and not one of those “cookie cutter male leads” you find in so many YA novel’s these days.

I never really wanted to go to Paris before, maybe just to see the Louvre, but the Author made me fall in love with Paris and now I’m yearning to go!

Overall a must read and a book that will stay on my shelf forever!

http://www.stephanieperkins.com/

http://twitter.com/naturallysteph

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http://naturallysteph.tumblr.com/

http://www.facebook.com/stephanieperkinsbooks

“I mean, really. Who sends their kid to boarding school? It's so Hogwarts. Only mine doesn't have cute boy wizards or magic candy or flying lessons.”

“Girl scouts didn't teach me what to do with emotionally unstable drunk boys.” 

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins 
 

 

Review: The Next Door Boys

The Next Door Boys by Jolene B. Perry

Published October 4th 2011 by Cedar Fort, Inc. 
Paperback, 272 pages
Source: Netgalley

"With her body still recovering from last year's cancer treatments, Leigh Tressman is determined to be independent. Despite the interference from her overprotective brother, physical frustrations, and spiritual dilemmas— not to mention the ever expanding line of young men ready to fall in love with her— Leigh discovers what it actually means to stand on her own and learns that love can be found in unexpected but delightful places."

- From Goodreads

 

5/10

Just like the cover depicts, this is a sweet novel about first love and independence. Leigh is a young woman who recently defeated cancer. She and this novel is very religious (Mormon), not to a point that it distracts too much from the novel, but it definitely needs to be noted.

When I read the description of the book I had no idea that there was going to be a religious aspect to the novel, but it wasn't a bad surprise. I would just have liked to know. I do see that one of the categories is Christian by netgalley so it is partly my fault.

However this novel is pleasant and a enjoyable enough read. Leigh's character frustrated me sometimes, as well as the fact that everyone loves Leigh simply in my opinion because she is pretty.

I would have liked to know a bit more about the rest of the characters. But I guess that is why there is a sequel in the works!

So all in all an enjoyable read that could have been much more!

http://www.jolenesbeenwriting.blogspot.com/
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4944599.Jolene_B_Perry
http://twitter.com/#!/JoleneBPerry
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002038196677

“We only see what's close to us, but if we allow ourselves to simply feel, and not see, we can understand so much more.” 

Left to Love (The Next Door Boys - #2) by Jolene B. Perry 
 

 

Review: Fatal Embrace

Fatal Embrace by Aris Whittier
 

Published March 26th 2011 by Aris Whittier, via Smashwords
E-book 200 pages on my e-reader
Source: Received from the author for a honest review

"High-spirited horse trainer Jessica Stanson stumbles into the perfect job on one of the most elite ranches in Montana. Or at least it would be if her boss, ex-detective Michael Carven, stopped acting like he didn't want her there. Jessica has to prove herself to him on the ranch, and also try to penetrate his armor to get to the man inside. Michael Carven is a man who has left a difficult past behind him, and now works at his dream job raising horses under the Montana sky. But he knows that the past has a way of coming back to him, and soon enough, it does..."

- From Goodreads

 

6/10

This was definitely a well written, thoroughly entertaining read. You get mystery, romance and suspense all in one neat little package!

The story flowed effortlessly with great character development. Michael and Jessica have intense chemistry and you can't help but root for them! They started out not too fond of one another but slowly their relationship grew and so did their love for one another.

The mystery is also a big aspect of the story. You can't help but to try and solve the crime yourself and you get excited every time Michael discovers something new!

Aris Whittier is a author to watch and I have a feeling there will be many more great reads under her belt very soon.

Definitely a must read if you like a good mystery/romance!

For those who have read it:

Did you see that coming?

http://awhittier.blogspot.com/

None that I know off 
 

 

Guest Review: The Third Circle

The Third Circle (The Arcane Society #4) by Amanda Quick

As Reviewed by my Guest Reviewer Lauren

Published April 22nd 2008 by Putnam Adult
Hardcover, 352 pages

I have read and enjoyed some of the contemporary books in this series, written under one of Amanda Quick’s names. This book although not the 1st in the historical "portion" of the Arcane Society series could still be read without having any knowledge of the previous books. I thoroughly enjoyed it! It ticked all my criteria’s for a good light enjoyable read.
1) Romance
2) Paranormal
3) Historical
4) Murder Mystery.

This book is kind of like if a slightly less fantastical cast of Hero’s (yes like the TV show). We are sitting down to tea in Victorian England and then suddenly you throw in some romance. Sounds strange but it really works!

4/5 Stars

Review: Matched

Matched (Matched #1) by Ally Condie

Published November 30th 2010 by Dutton Juvenile

Hardcover, 366 pages
Source: Bought from Bookdepository

"Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow."

- From Goodreads

 

6/10

I think I went into this book expecting a little too much. At first it was going fine, then I found myself bored. The last 60 pages or so was really exciting though so it sort of made up for it.

I love the world Ally Condie created. The society, the officials, the rules.. its fascinating.

The romance felt a bit forced at times for me. Like the only plot...
I want to know more about the society, the background of it!

But as I said the ending made up for the boring bits in the beginning and middle.

Now for those who have read it:

I really liked Xander and felt really bad for him. But love triangles always leaves me a bit bitter. Do you think she should have stayed with Xander? Or maybe taken him with somehow?

The red pill scenario was really great, I love how everyone follows blindly but at the same times is happy with their lives.

http://www.allysoncondie.com/
@allycondie
http://matched-book.com/
http://matched-trilogy.livejournal.com/

"I came up on the screen, too, Cassia. But he was the one you chose to see."
 

"Our time together feels like a storm, like a wild wind and rain, like something too big to handle but too powerful to escape."

 

Crossed (Matched, #2) by Ally Condie

 

Guest Review: Pleasure of a Dark Prince

Pleasure of a Dark Prince (Immortals After Dark #9) by Kresley Cole

As Reviewed by my Guest Reviewer Lauren

Published February 16th 2010 by Pocket
(first published January 1st 2010)
Mass Market Paperback, 431 pages

I Love this series, and really enjoyed this book. Although I must admit it was not one of my favourites in the series. It lost momentum a little somewhere in the middle (only a very little), but the beginning and end more then made up for it. 

My main reason for writing a review at this point is to warn anyone who is about to pick up this book that it is a series and at this point if you haven’t read at least a few of the previous books you are going to be at a serious disadvantage. This is one of those series that you don't necessarily have to, but its well worth your while starting at the beginning and savouring each consecutive book. 

I have, and consequentially enjoyed every moment of it! 

4/5 Stars

Review: Blood Faerie

Blood Faerie (Caledonia Fae, Book #1) by India Drummond

Published June 1st 2011 by Trindlemoss Publishing

ebook, 203 pages
Source: From the Author for a honest review.
You can buy it here or here

"Sentenced to death, Eilidh ran—away from faerie lands, to the streets of Perth, Scotland. Just as she has grown accustomed to exile, local police discover a mutilated body outside the abandoned church where she lives. Recognising the murder as the work of one of her own kind, Eilidh must choose: flee, or learn to tap into the forbidden magic that cost her everything. "

- From Goodreads

 

9/10

When Ms Drummond contacted me about her new novel Blood Faerie, I had no idea what an astonishing world awaited me! Faeries, crime, mystery, romance, suspense, fantasy all rolled into one to make an outstanding novel.

I mentioned in my review of Ordinary Angels “my mind would drift, but that might just be because too many things were happening at once in the story.” but not in this novel. It was perfectly paced and the story flowed effortlessly.

Eilidh and Quinton are fascinating characters that are richly described! I kept having visions of the Eilidh looking something like this:

Although the cover really captures her essence.

Quinton Munro has a "strong" feel to him, like he will protect you no matter what. Together these characters tell a story than I can’t wait to continue!

I liked that Eilidh isn’t a stereotypical pretty fairy with wings. I also enjoyed the crime scene and druid scenario.

I love the little bits where the Fae are introduced to technology and their responses to it!

Will most certainly read the next one in the series!

Spoilers:

Pretty shocked that Soar died, I thought he would be in the next one and there might be a triangle. But I love being taken by surprise and I'm not too fond of triangles.

I hoped Beniss would stay alive so she could mentor Eilidh.

http://www.indiadrummond.com/
http://www.facebook.com/india.drummond.author
http://twitter.com/#!/indiadrummond

"His mum had loved her ornaments, as she called them, but when she died, his dad waited about a week before boxing them up and giving them to a charity shop. “I loved your mum, Quinton,” he’d said, “but I hate them fuckin’ porcelain cats.”

Azuri Fae by India Drummond