If I Stay by Gayle Forman.

Sometimes you make choices in your life and sometimes choices make you.

Summary:

Life can change in an instant.

A cold February morning...
A snowy road...
And suddenly all of Mia's choices are gone.

Except one.

As alone as she'll ever be, Mia must make the most difficult choice of all.

One of the most beautiful and heartbreaking stories I've ever read.

From the very first page this book wrapped me into its world and wouldn't let me leave until it was over, despite the emotions, the pain, the tears. I read this book from beggining to end in what felt like mere seconds and yet I savoured every minute of it.

I connected with all of the characters from the first words they said and my lord, did it kill me. It's such a sad story, yet it's still beautiful and shows how you should never give up, that there's always going to be someone out there to help you, to care about you.

This is honestly one of the best books I've read in a long, long time and I can't believe it's taking me so long to read it. Since The Fault in our Stars I decided that I would begin to branch out and read genres that I usually wouldn't, and I've gone on to read historical fiction, romance, horror and, of course, have fallen in love with contemporary. 

Each tale is so realistic that it no longer feels like a story, it feels like it's real life, as if it's happening right in front of you and I feel that this book is a perfect representation of that.

I could write pages and pages about how good this book is, but all I really need to say is read it. You'll feel what I felt when I read this and you'll just know.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

5/5 stars

The Moment Collector by Jodi Lynn Anderson.

Summary:

"The yard of this house is a graveyard of moments and everything left behind is a clue. And I am here to dig."

There's a ghost haunting 208 Water Street. She doesn't know who she was, or why she's still here. She does know that she is drawn to Maggie, the new girl in town, and her friends - beautiful, carefree Pauline and Liam, the boy who loves her.

But the ghost isn't all that's lurking in Gill Creek... Someone is killing young girls all across the county. Can the ghost keep these three friends safe? Or does she have another purpose?

                                                     'IT'S DANGEROUS TO BE YOUNG.'

This.

Book.

Broke. 

Me.

  If you know me, you'll be aware that I'm rarely an emotional person, but oh my goodness, this book stuck a dagger in my heart and twisted. You have to prepare yourself for this one. It's a biter, I tell you.

  I've got to say though that there are a few mistakes here and there, but I also know from personal experience that they are clearly just typos and actually didn't affect my reading of the novel at all. Also, the beggining was a bit slow for me, but by the end I realised that it helped build the tension and, again, wasn't a major issue at all.

  The story line, although frustrating at times and makes me want to bash my head against the wall repeatedly in anger and despair, is actually brilliant and clever and I loved the unique point of view changes we get - switching from the protagonist, Maggie, to the mysterious ghost.

  I absolutely loved this book even though it made me cry. A lot. And I never cry. But yeah, just trying not to think about it. Deep breaths. 

  Jeez, this is gonna be a hard one to get over.

  Tragically beautiful.

 

***** 5/5 stars *****

  

5 Books I Love That No One Seems To Know About.

So, recently in my entrance to the world of books online - blogs, bookstagram, booktube, so on - I've begun to notice that a lot of the books that I love, even though best sellers, are unknown to the book-loving community, that I find not only strange, but kind of sad. 

  It's time.

      To stop.

           The madness.

...I really don't know guys, I'm just trying to be dramatic here...it's late okay, sleep deprivation is who I blame, if it were a person, which it is not...carrying on...

So I wanted to introduce you guys to a few of my favourite books that are pretty much invisible to all you online bookaholics out there.

1.

    The Demon Trappers by Jana Oliver.

  This series is honestly my all time favourite series. I'll spare you the dreary sob stories behind why this personally speaks to me, but I feel that I can really relate to the protagonist, Riley. 

  I fell in love with this book from the first page and haven't forgotten it since. Now if you know me, you'll be aware that I am NOT a re-reader - I don't understand how people have the time to re-read old books when there are so many new books out there dying to be opened! It's a mystery to me. But out of all of my books this series would be the first I would crack open to re-experience it all over again.

  Yet, it baffles me that, although it IS in fact a best seller, and, of course, holds that title for an extremely valid reason, nobody seems to know about it! Where is the TDT fandom? Can somebody please tell me because as a super fan of this series (possibly even the biggest fan, might I add), I need other people to fangirl about it with! It's not good for the soul to have to keep the feels all cooped up.

  Seriously, if you haven't got this series get it now.

  Like now.

  Are you going?

  Can I see that bum skooting to the bookshop?

  Good. You've just made your life ten gazillion times better.

2.

    The Morganville Vampires by Rachel Caine.

(I'm aware I'm missing fourteen in paperback, I have it on kindle I'm going to try and get the paperback version this weekend) 

  Again, this is another series which, although is a best seller, doesn't seem to have a presence in the online bookish world. Which is a shame because Myrnin's bunny slippers should be admired by the world.

  Although, this series seems to be on its way up with the new online series being released soon which actually looks super duper cool - I know that I'll definitely be watching it. I've wanted a film/TV program  to be made of this series for a long long long time now!

  [link to trailer : http://youtu.be/o0sf67L1wOk

  Episode one : http://youtu.be/fcoe2nCFYuQ ]

  This book is a vampire series in which the whole town is run by vampires, which in itself is pretty awesome (although kind of scary), it's again another dark romance (my guilty pleasure) and just oh my, just read it.

  Out of all the books in this post this one is a bit more well known than the others but I still feel there should be way more love for these books.

3. 

    The Weather Warden series by Rachel Caine.

 

              (I appologise for the mismatched covers!)

 This series is again, like The Morganville Vampires, by Rachel Caine, although this is a more mature book aimed for an older audience.

  These books always make me feel really intelligent afterwards because you learn quite a bit of technical information about the weather! Okay, okay, I know; ew, learning, right? Calm down guys! It's not educational, just interesting with of course it's fair share of steamy romance, epic fights and action that we all love.

  It's a really fast paced series and I fell in love from the first page. It has a unique idea expanded on expertly and I definitely moped more than a bit when it unfortunately had to end.

  Rachel Caine is brilliant at creating super long series - Morganville being 15 books long, and the Weather Wardens 9. Every single one of them is amazing.

  Get yourself these books and look out for Rachel Caine! She really is an excellent author.

4.

    The Dark Heart series by Lee Monroe.

  

  A long time ago (probably only 2 years but feels like 2 million) I fell in love. With the cover of this book! How absolutely beautiful is it!? Very much so...very much so...

  Anyway, moving on; love at first sight, blah de blee, blah de blaa. I've had an addiction for dark romances since very early teens so before I was birthed into fandoms and bookstagram, blogs and booktube, it was literally the only genre I would buy, so seeing a new one clad in a goddamn gorgeous cover (cannot and will not get over it), with the promise of WEREWOLVES, it got a mmmmhmm girl, I gotta buy that shnazzle from me.

  This is an absolutely outstanding series and the reason I still know that, years after reading it is because I remember it, even if bits and pieces are muddled and such like (I have a terrible memory, honestly, I'd put Dory to shame).

  If you have read this series you shall notice I am missing the final installment, yes, I have yet to buy it along with the frequently growing list of 'buy me's' calling to me in the back of my brain but currently I'm just trying to power through my to-be-read list because dear me, it's long.

  ALSO I APPOLOGISE FOR THE BROKEN SPINE...My mum borrows my books and defiles them.

  A moment of silence please.

  Any who, this is a great series, can't wait to get the last one and yeah, you should totally get them.

5.

   The Program by Suzanne Young.

  This is actually a very recent read for me (well, compared to the rest of the books mentioned in this post anyway), but it quickly shot itself up to number two on my fave series list. This book literally makes me squeel. Like, it makes me tingle...and a book that makes me tingle - well damn, the poo is about to get real!

  Again, this is a series and currently the first and second book is out, yet, alike to the dark heart series, I haven't had chance to buy it yet, but it is called The Treatment and I'm oogling the pretty cover that matches with this one and if I don't get the matching one...well, somebody's gonna die, that's all I'm saying...

  I love the concept - the main plot is based around how suicide has become an epidemic and it's kind of showing the reaction to that - the steps put in place to try and prevent it and the struggle that teens face in this, well I guess it is, dystopian world.

  I'm going to put a quick little note in about triggering - for me this book didnt actually trigger me and I really don't want to say 'trigger warning, don't read if you're sensitive to the topics' because I think this was a fabulously good book and I don't want any of you to miss out, but I also want you all to stay safe, stay clean and stay happy, but, this book doesn't really focus so much on the depression side of things, it's kind of the foundation to the story; but yeah, just throwing that out there!

  I loved this book from start to finish so...yeah, get your butts reading!

Briar Rose by Jana Oliver.

Summary:

For Briar Rose, life is anything but a fairy tale. She's stuck in a small town in deepest Georgia with parents who won't let her out of their sight, a bunch of small-minded, gossiping neighbours and an evil ex who's spreading nasty rumours about what she may or may not have done in the back of his car. She's tired of it all, so when, on her sixteenth birthday, her parents tell her that she is cursed and will go to sleep for a hundred years when the clock strikes midnight, she's actually kind of glad to leave it all behind. She says her goodbyes, lies down, and closes her eyes . . . And then she wakes up. Cold, alone and in the middle of the darkest, most twisted fairy tale she could ever have dreamed of. Now Briar must fight her way out of the story that has been created for her, but she can't do it alone. She never believed in handsome princes, but now she's met one her only chance is to put her life in his hands, or there will be no happy ever after and no waking up.

  So, if you follow my posts frequently or have even had a little insight into my favourite books, you will know that Jana Oliver, being the author of The Demon Trappers series, is in fact my all time favourite author. And although I didn't enjoy this book quite as much as The Demon Trappers, she still didn't fail me and this was definitely a great read in my opinion.

  I loved the creativity and the idea on the whole of this book - it was a definite twist to the tale of 'Sleeping Beauty' and I loved how different it was from the original tale.

  Although I did struggle with some sections of this book, overall it was a fairly nice read and, at times, easy to get through; it has only taken me so long due to the fact I've been mega super busy lately and I just haven't found myself with time to read, really.

  But on the whole this book was well written with a solid plot line and if you love YA (who doesn't) then I'd definitely recommend you pick this book up off the shelves at your next visit to waterstones.

  ****4/5 stars****

Afterworlds by Scott Westerfield.

Summary:

Darcy Patel has put college and everything else on hold to publish her teen novel, Afterworlds. Arriving in New York with no apartment or friends she wonders whether she's made the right decision until she falls in with a crowd of other seasoned and fledgling writers who take her under their wings… 

Told in alternating chapters is Darcy's novel, a suspenseful thriller about Lizzie, a teen who slips into the 'Afterworld' to survive a terrorist attack. But the Afterworld is a place between the living and the dead and as Lizzie drifts between our world and that of the Afterworld, she discovers that many unsolved - and terrifying - stories need to be reconciled. And when a new threat resurfaces, Lizzie learns her special gifts may not be enough to protect those she loves and cares about most.

  So, first off, I have to say that I preffered this book by a ton to Scott Westerfields previous work, Uglies. Although it didn't completely grab my attention at times, I never thought it was actually boring, like I did with Uglies. So, there's a plus.

  I was very excited to read this book, especially with the main protagonist being a young author herself, I thought that I would click and connect with her straight away - and I was correct. I loved the fact that there were two stories in this book - and part of a third (Pyromancer) - but, despite this, it still meant that it became quite a lengthy novel and I thought it was quite heavy - you know, like when you eat a slice of cake and it's so good but it's also really hard to finish? That's what this was like, and I guess, if I'd have been more relaxed whilst reading it, I might have had a different opinion; but I guess it's all a matter of taste.

  That being said though, I found no other faults in this book; it was written impeccably, the story flowed brilliantly with the plot clearly well thought out and, though complicated, understandable. I also loved how, rather than just one, we got two, and part of a third, if you count the start of 'Pyromancer' stories, and how, in Darcy's world, and in some cases Lizzies, Westerfield managed to keep it realistic. Oh yeah, he also chucked in a death god for purposes of YA hotness, which is always a bonus!

  So, overall, though this book didn't make it into my favourites, I still enjoyed it and would definitely reccomend it - just make sure you're ready for a long read before you start!

  I really do hope there's going to be a sequel to this book and if there is I'll be at the front of the line waiting to snatch it up.

****4/5 stars****

Cover release of Verboten.

  So, for many long weeks me and my cover designer have been working hard to create the perfect cover...a beauty upon any eye...and finally, we believe that we have achieved it...

  I have been waiting eagerly to show you all the long awaited new cover of Verboten and finally the time is here!

  I first released the gorgeous spine, remember?

  And then the back cover...

  And finally, the moment you've all been waiting for...the front........

Branded (A Sinners Series #1) by Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki.

Summary:

Fifty years ago the Commander came into power and murdered all who opposed him. In his warped mind, the seven deadly sins were the downfall of society. He created the Hole where sinners are branded according to their sins and might survive a few years. At best. 
Now LUST wraps around my neck like blue fingers strangling me. I’ve been accused of a crime I didn’t commit and now the Hole is my new home. 

Darkness. Death. Violence. Pain. 

Now every day is a fight for survival. But I won’t die. I won’t let them win.

The Hole can’t keep me. The Hole can’t break me. 
I am more than my brand. I’m a fighter. 
My name is Lexi Hamilton, and this is my story.

  So I had the privilege to recieve a copy of Branded to review as part of its blog tour and the best thing I can say to describe this book is simply that it's a definite up and coming best seller.

  I was actually surprised to find out that it wasn't already, this book has all the key elements to be a best seller, plus more! Originality, though, is a major bonus for this book.

  I loved the ideas weilded through this book in a sort of Hitler-ish dictatorship, which, although frightening is a completely plausible turn that the future could take. It was realistic, in the best way, some parts of the book made me uncomfortable; made me cringe, shiver and want to cry, sometimes even all at the same time. But that wasn't a bad thing. I felt involved in the story, even though many of the events featured fortunately hadn't had a personal link to me before; it felt like I was really living in the story.

  The romance was spot on as well - I have a thing against 'soppy' romance, although it usually depends on my mood - it felt like it was the real deal, and you felt as the characters did towards both of them; I fell in love with most of the characters in this book; the rest I despised, but for good reason!

  I've never seen nor read anything like this before even though it's a genre that I am distinctly familiar with, and that itself should deserve this book a number one rank.

  It's written beautifully aswell although, like with all books, there are one or two typos, it's very common and I personally know how easy it is to miss the little things, but the typos didn't at all affect the flow of the writing, so that was another plus.

  If I'm being honest, I really couldn't find a fault to this book, and sometimes I can be really picky but I honestly did love it - through and through.

  It actually made it into my favourite series, just behind Jana Oliver and The Demon Trappers, yet in front of The Hunger games, Divergent, The Mortal instruments and The Infernal Devices. And seen as all of the above are best sellers and all (except The Demon Trappers) have movie adaptions, it's not that hard to predict where Branded is headed.

 I will eagerly be awaiting on the sequel to this book and look forward to buying my very own physical copy because, just look at the cover!

  Truly a brilliant book.

  

  *****5/5 stars*****

Trial By Fire by Josephine Angelini

Summary:

Love burns. Worlds collide. Magic reigns.

This world is trying to kill Lily Proctor. Her life-threatening allergies keep her from enjoying many of the experiences that other teenagers take for granted...which is why she is determined to enjoy her first (and perhaps only) high-school party. But Lily's life never goes according to plan, and after a humiliating incident in front of half her graduating class Lily wishes she could just disappear.

Suddenly Lily is in a different Salem - one overrun with horrifying creatures and ruled by powerful women called Crucibles. Strongest and cruellest of all the Crucibles is Lillian . . . Lily's identical other self in this alternate universe. This new version of her world is terrifyingly sensual, and Lily is soon overwhelmed by new experiences.

Lily realizes that what makes her weak at home is exactly what makes her extraordinary in New Salem. It also puts her life in danger. Thrown into a world she doesn't understand, Lily is torn between responsibilities she can't hope to shoulder alone, and a love she never expected.

But how can Lily be the saviour of this world when she is literally her own worst enemy?

I was captivated by this book the second I saw the authors name - I'm a big fan of Josephine Angelini and adored Starcrossed and Dreamless (although I have yet to by the final edition of the trilogy!). So, you can probably imagine my excitement to being given a copy of the ARC to this book to read and review.

So, at the beggining it was literally like my life, although of course I'm not sick and don't have a crazy mother, although it sure feels like it sometimes...(I'm kidding). But yeah, I immediately felt a connection with Lily; the star of this particular book. It was actually quite creepy though because she has red hair; I have red hair; she had a close friend called Tristan; I have a close friend called Tristan...but yeah, you get the picture, it was kind of strange for me.

Immediately I was connected with the characters in the book and grew to love, and even hate some of them (for good reason of course), and that alone, to be able to do that so early on in a book, is quite a hard technique to wield; but of course, our girl Josephine did it with style.

Even uncorrected this book was brilliant; it flowed well, I wasn't confused even though there were a lot of concepts I was new to in this book and it never, ever lost my interest. 

There were times where I wanted to throw my iPad at the wall, and times where, yes, I did cry, and even times where I felt like my jaw was touching the floor - this book had it all.

It's been one great book after another lately and this book didn't fail in bringing it's A-game.

I loved this book from beggining to end and I'm actually so eager to read the next one, even though I know that I'll probably have to wait...and that will make me cry...oh, the first world problems I face...

No doubt about the rate for this book.

*****5/5 stars*****

Cover release for sequel to Verboten; Exoneration

So here's the cover! Hope you enjoy it as much as I do! Don't you worry about the wait, it'll be over before you know it, I'm scheduled to finish before the end of 2014 at the very most! :D