Eleanor loves Park loves Eleanor

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Rating: 5 out of 5 hearts
325 pages
Released: April 2012
Buy it @ book depository

Two misfits.
One extraordinary love.

Eleanor... Red hair, wrong clothes. Standing behind him until he turns his head. Lying beside him until he wakes up. Making everyone else seem drabber and flatter and never good enough...Eleanor.

Park... He knows she'll love a song before he plays it for her. He laughs at her jokes before she ever gets to the punch line. There's a place on his chest, just below his throat, that makes her want to keep promises...Park.

Set over the course of one school year, this is the story of two star-crossed sixteen-year-olds—smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try.

Review

I love when a book finds it's way into my heart and won't come out. This is an amazing book and John Green's quote on the front cover of my copy says exactly how I felt too.

'Reminded me not just what it's like to be young and in love with a girl, but also what it's like to be young and in love with a book'

Obviously I change the 'in love with a girl' part to 'in love with a boy'. But otherwise it's spot on! I have been hearing so many wonderful things about this book and I LOVE when the book lives up to the hype. Everything about this book is unique - to the characters, the time period and the story.

Flashback to the 80's. I was born in the late 80's so I didn't experience it as a teenager, but it was still really cool to read a book set during a time that I remember.

Now onto Eleanor and Park, they were so fresh and real. All their moments together were so sweet and made my heart all a flutter. It reminded me of new love and all those little things that you do for the first time, it's all so exciting. 

Park's mum and dad were such an adorable couple. All the other characters had so many layers and Rainbow Rowell has superbly told their stories.

I didn't see what was coming in the end! What a turn of events, everything happened so fast that I was frantically reading through the last 30 pages. I'm about to give away a tiny spoiler so read at your own risk [I think the three words that Eleanor wrote on the postcard to Park were "I Miss you", what are your thoughts?]

Also, I liked the write up from Rainbow Rowell at the end of the book about the 'three words'. It made me love this book more (how that can be possible, I don't know!). She made me feel a bit better about the ending because to me, it felt like everything was left up in the air. She explained a few things, made me think that of course there's more to Eleanor and Park's story after the book finished, we just have to leave them to figure things out. She made me realise that characters do continue after the book is finished and their journey is just beginning, but we as readers aren't there to share it.

I have a copy of 'Fangirl' and I can not wait to read it, and inhale anything else Rainbow Rowell has written.

On the cover

This isn't the normal cover I'm used to seeing and I'm a little disappointed at myself when I bought it online. I didn't think to double check which copy/cover I was buying. I like the colours together, fonts and the overall design but I don't think it suits this story. The original cover with the backs of Eleanor and Parks heads with headphones connecting them fits them better. It signifies their connection and love of music better than the above cover.

What I'm reading next: Throne Of Glass by Sarah Maas

Stolen my heart and brain

Stolen: A Letter to My Captor by Lucy Christopher

Rating: 5 out of 5 hearts
301 pages
Released: May 2009
Buy it @ book depository

It happened like this. I was stolen from an airport. Taken from everything I knew, everything I was used to. Taken to sand and heat, dirt and danger. And he expected me to love him.

This is my story.

A letter from nowhere. 

Sixteen year old Gemma is kidnapped from Bangkok airport and taken to the Australian Outback. This wild and desolate landscape becomes almost a character in the book, so vividly is it described. Ty, her captor, is no stereotype. He is young, fit and completely gorgeous. This new life in the wilderness has been years in the planning. He loves only her, wants only her. Under the hot glare of the Australian sun, cut off from the world outside, can the force of his love make Gemma love him back? 

The story takes the form of a letter, written by Gemma to Ty, reflecting on those strange and disturbing months in the outback. Months when the lines between love and obsession, and love and dependency, blur until they don't exist - almost.

Review

How can I write a review when I feel as confused as the character. This isn't a simple kidnapping story, it has so many layers and feelings you won't know what to think when you finish.

Gemma took me along with her through her ordeal and I was completely stolen by this book. It stole my whole day and I didn't want to let it go.

The backdrop of the Australian outback was perfect in setting the feeling of isolation, the power of silence and showing us it's utter beauty and danger. 

You want to think of Ty as this wild psychopathic murderer but he shows compassion and charm, he blurs the image you hold in your head.

"And it's hard to hate someone once you understand them"

I wanted so badly for there to be a happy ending for Gemma and Ty, but because of the circumstances there was no way that could happen. Lucy Christopher chose the perfect way to end it, even though it left me feeling a little empty. 

This book is meant to be experienced, I think people need to experience this for themselves as it is hard to explain in words what to feel or what really happened. It shared the wearing down of two helpless souls, showing us how Stockholm Syndrome is something that happens over time, without the sufferer from even knowing. I feel like I have shared in Gemma's disorientation.

There are so many moments to remember, which I will be thinking about for a long time. It truly amazes me how an author can write so exquisitely and simply, to take me away and leave me feeling this way.

"You've kidnapped me, put my life in danger...but I loved you too. Or thought I did. None of it made sense"

On the cover

What can't be seen in this picture is the butterfly shimmers. I'm immediately drawn to this cover because of the butterfly. I love butterflies and with the black cover it helps make it pop! 

What I'm reading next: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

The Fox chases the O'Hare

The Heist (Fox and O'Hare #1) by Janet Evanovich & Lee Goldberg

Rating: 4 out of 5 hearts
372 pages
Released: June 2013
Buy it @ book depository

FBI Special Agent Kate O’Hare is known for her fierce dedication and discipline on the job, chasing down the world’s most wanted criminals and putting them behind bars. Her boss thinks she is tenacious and ambitious; her friends think she is tough, stubborn, and maybe even a bit obsessed. And while Kate has made quite a name for herself for the past five years the only name she’s cared about is Nicolas Fox—an international crook she wants in more ways than one.              

Audacious, handsome, and dangerously charming, Nicolas Fox is a natural con man, notorious for running elaborate scams on very high-profile people. At first he did it for the money. Now he does it for the thrill. He knows that the FBI has been hot on his trail—particularly Kate O’Hare, who has been watching his every move. For Nick, there’s no greater rush than being pursued by a beautiful woman . . . even one who aims to lock him up. But just when it seems that Nicolas Fox has been captured for good, he pulls off his greatest con of all: He convinces the FBI to offer him a job, working side by side with Special Agent Kate O’Hare.

Problem is, teaming up to stop a corrupt investment banker who’s hiding on a private island in Indonesia is going to test O’Hare’s patience and Fox’s skill. Not to mention the skills of their ragtag team made up of flamboyant actors, wanted wheelmen, and Kate’s dad. High-speed chases, pirates, and Toblerone bars are all in a day’s work . . . if O’Hare and Fox don’t kill each other first.

Review 

I'm a huge fan of the 'Stephanie Plum' series also written by Janet Evanovich, so I thought I'd give this new, co-authored series a go.

I've never read anything by Lee Goldberg but after reading this, I really like his style. To me, it felt like I was watching a movie. I could imagine everything so easily in my head and the plot was more suited to a movie or tv show formula than that of Evanovich's normal writing method that I'm used to. 

This was another book I listened to as an audio and it wasn't too bad. The voice actor was a man and I didn't particularly like how he performed Kate's voice, but I learned to live with it.

People who read crime novels all the time may find this a little predictable and maybe even boring, but for me I found it to be an easy read that was a lot of fun, and what I've come to expect from Evanovich. What I usually expect from her is hot romance and she doesn't disappoint with this series. The sexual tension between Nick and Kate was steamy, but I have a feeling once something does happen between them, then it could fizzle out quite quickly. Here's hoping the series doesn't drag on too long with this going on.

If you're looking for something similar to the 'Stephanie Plum' series with a different twist, then I highly recommend this series. A bit of fun and a whole lot of action rolled in to one pretty cool book!

On the cover

I'm not a huge fan of this cover, I think it's the green and yellow. It almost looks like a movie cover - I can see it now, two well known rom-com actors (male & female) with arms crossed and back to back staring over their shoulders at each other...

What I'm listening to next: Falling Fast by Sophie McKenzie

The Fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars. But in ourselves

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

Rating: 5 out of 5 hearts
318 pages
Released: January 2012
Buy it @ book depository

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten

Review

This is the second John Green book that I've read and I have a feeling that it may be a bad idea reading this before any of the others, How will they live up to this?

I'm sure a lot of people have read this by now so my review is going to be in a sea of millions, so I'm going to simply speak about my thoughts and how the book made me feel.

I started off thinking that I may not like this and I've hyped it up too much, but it wasn't long before Hazel and Gus took me along with them on their journey

I found myself connecting to all the characters in different ways, even the minor players had so much to add to the story. I loved how Hazel & Gus fell so quickly and deeply in love - I guess it would be hard knowing you were going to die and not having forever to be with someone and grow old together. I also loved the connection they had with each other, they fit so well together. You know when it's meant to be, when you have that someone that just "gets" you. You can laugh and be silly with one another, but it's also the way you can know how the other person is feeling without even talking. I have that with my special someone and John Green has been able to capture this. 

This is such a quote worthy book - there are so many that I would wear on a t-shirt or as a framed print because there's so much meaning and 'realness' to them. Below are some of my favourites. Now get out there and read this!

"As he read, I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly and then all at once"

"Some infinities are bigger than other infinities"

"You gave me forever within the numbered days, and I'm grateful"

"The world is not a wish granting factory"

"My thoughts are stars and I can't fathom the constellations"

"That's the things about pain, it demands to be felt"

On the cover

This cover is probably very well known by everyone since the movie release. I love this cover a lot! The colours, the font and the simplistic overall look. 

What I'm listening to next: Killing Floor by Lee Child

More from Patrick Ness please!

More than this by Patrick Ness

Rating: 4 out of 5 hearts
472 pages
Released: September 2013
Buy it @ book depository

A boy named Seth drowns, desperate and alone in his final moments, losing his life as the pounding sea claims him. But then he wakes. He is naked, thirsty, starving. But alive. How is that possible? He remembers dying, his bones breaking, his skull dashed upon the rocks. So how is he here? And where is this place? It looks like the suburban English town where he lived as a child, before an unthinkable tragedy happened and his family moved to America. But the neighborhood around his old house is overgrown, covered in dust, and completely abandoned. What’s going on? And why is it that whenever he closes his eyes, he falls prey to vivid, agonizing memories that seem more real than the world around him? Seth begins a search for answers, hoping that he might not be alone, that this might not be the hell he fears it to be, that there might be more than just this. . . 

Review

Patrick Ness has done it again! This book is like "A Monster Calls", it's hard to truly explain how you feel when you finish it. Anyone who reads this will get a different meaning or take something away from this. 

For me, what I take away from this is that we as humans live such short lives and we should try to make the most of what we have now. There is always more out there and never feel like 'is this all my life is going to be?'. If your life isn't what you want it to be, then go out there and do what you want and make it how you want it to be.

Seth was a refreshing character, I didn't particuarly like or hate him, but I can understand him. He was realistic and I liked that. I really loved Tomasz, always saving the day and giving us some comic relief in a world where there's nothing much except confusion and fear.

As with Ness' other books that I've read, there are always so many questions needing to be answered and lots of twists along the way too. This book is no different. There was action, suspense and mystery. I want MORE Patrick Ness please!

The next part of my review is a bit of a spoiler so read at your risk if you haven't read the book. Ness really made me think: How would I feel if all my life until now had ony been a sort of dream, not real and that I was living a life that meant nothing? If this isn't real then I would be happy with the descisions I've made. But, I don't think I'd like to live two different lives. I'm happy with the one I have now, I can see how for some people this would be a blessing to have a chance to live life a different way.

 

On the cover 

Something I have to mention about this cover is the feel. When holding this book in your hand and rubbing the cover it has a weird almost soft feel to it. Pick the hard cover up and have a feel. I love this cover! So simple but it draws my eye straight away. It's telling me could there be more than this? Open up this book to find out.

What I'm listening to next: How I Live Now Meg Rosoff

 

How to get inside a serial killers head

I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga

Rating: 4 out of 5 hearts
361 Pages
Released: April 2012
Buy it @ book depository

What if the world's worst serial killer...was your dad?

Jasper "Jazz" Dent is a likable teenager. A charmer, one might say.

But he's also the son of the world's most infamous serial killer, and for Dear Old Dad, Take Your Son to Work Day was year-round. Jazz has witnessed crime scenes the way cops wish they could—from the criminal's point of view.

And now bodies are piling up in Lobo's Nod.

In an effort to clear his name, Jazz joins the police in a hunt for a new serial killer. But Jazz has a secret—could he be more like his father than anyone knows?

Review

This book should come with a warning "Not for the faint hearted"! It was very disturbing at times. But don't think that I didn't like it, because I did!

Serial killer Billy Dent has taught his son, Jazz Dent, everything there is to know about how to kill people and get rid of their bodies - how to become the perfect serial killer just like him. Jazz doesn't want to like his dad though and tries hard to get him out of his head, which is hard when dead bodies start showing up in his local town. Jazz desperately wants to help the police in figuring out who the killer is. As the bodies pile up will they be able to find the killer before he/she moves on? You will have to read to find out.

Jazz is a hard character to like - he's a bit like Dexter (for any one who has ever watched that show like me). In the TV show you come to love Dexter because he has real feelings and is a good person even though he has evil tendencies and wants to kill people. Jazz is similar because he hunts down serial killers like Dexter except he doesn't kill them. Jazz is trying to fit into society after his father is convicted and thrown into jail. Before this Jazz had been there for all of "Dear Old Dad's" triple number kills, he didn't witness them all but he may well have because his father would give him a play by play how it happened. Poor kid!

The secondary characters were very easy to like. Jazz's best friend, Howie, is a hemophiliac (someone who's blood is thin and would bleed out quite quickly with a small cut). He has a quirky sense of humor and lightens, at times, a dark novel.

Then there's Connie, Jazz's level headed African-American girlfriend and lastly G. William, who is the typical round, older sheriff of the town. He already has a connection with Jazz because of their past, but they become closer as the book goes on.

There's a little twist at the end and I didn't guess who the killer was which as always is a good thing. I can not wait to read the rest of the books. Even though this is in the teen books, I think adults who love crime would love this series. I don't recommend this to younger teens, some sections are gruesome.

On the cover

This cover depicts the grisly things you can expect on the inside, blood splatter and all. This time you can definitely judge a book by it's cover.

What I'm reading next: The Reluctant Hallelujah by Gabrielle Williams 

 

Epic storytelling at it's best!

Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Daughter of Smoke & Bone #1) by Laini Taylor

Rating: 5 out of 5 hearts

418 pages

Released: September 2011

Buy it @ book depository

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real, she’s prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands", she speaks many languages - not all of them human - and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out.

When beautiful, haunted Akiva fixes fiery eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

 

Review

What can I say that hasn't already been said? This is so beautifully written, I read it in about 3 sittings which could've been less but unfortunately I had to sleep and work. Laini Taylor has given a whole different take on the old fashioned feud between good and evil - Angels & demons.

Karou was such an interesting character, how can you not love someone with blue hair and able to kick anyone's butt with her mad fighting skills. She is a girl with lots of secrets, but there are also a lot of secrets going on that she doesn't know about. There's a lot of mystery shrouding Karou's birth and where she comes from. It was written really well and kept me guessing until everything was revealed.

I LOVED the backdrop of Prague - I felt like I have travelled there by the amazing way Taylor described all the different places. Anyone who has been there before may feel like they are reliving some of their moments there (sadly I've never been).

There's a bit of a cliffhanger at the end, so I have already reserved the next book at the library, The third book comes out in April next year (2014) so I won't have to wait too long to finish the trilogy -  thankfully! I'm glad I finally got round to reading this because it has lived up to all my expectations, maybe even surpassed my expectations.

On the cover

This is the cover I'm most used to seeing on the Internet, which I think is so awesome!! But I haven't actually seen it in person. I always wondered why the mask is blue but after reading I know. There are two other covers floating around that I've actually seen which is the one above and another one that looks like it has a door on the cover. All of these covers mean something to the story but I like the one of the left the best.

What I'm reading next: The Perks of being a wallflower by Stephen Chboskyc

An author I'm never letting go of

The Knife of Never Letting Go (Chaos Walking #1) by Patrick Ness

Rating: 4 out of 5 hearts

478 pages

Released: May 2008

Buy it @ book depository

Prentisstown isn't like other towns. Everyone can hear everyone else's thoughts in an overwhelming, never-ending stream of Noise. Just a month away from the birthday that will make him a man, Todd and his dog, Manchee -- whose thoughts Todd can hear too, whether he wants to or not -- stumble upon an area of complete silence. They find that in a town where privacy is impossible, something terrible has been hidden -- a secret so awful that Todd and Manchee must run for their lives.

But how do you escape when your pursuers can hear your every thought?

Check out this book trailer - it's amazing!

Review

"The Noise is a man unfiltered, and without a filter, a man is just chaos walking.” 

I read and reviewed "A Monster Calls" which was also written by Patrick Ness and it was AMAZING! It was too hard to express it's awesomeness, this book is also pretty amazing. Ness has an incredible talent to writing a story.

The writing style was hard to get used to, but it didn't take long for me to fall deep into the story. It's difficult to get used to because there's deliberate grammar mistakes to give the reader the sense that the characters aren't well read or very clever. I feel that listening to this on Audio helped with getting used to the writing mainly because I didn't have to read the mistakes.

I loved the idea of the "Noise". Of being able to hear everyone's thoughts, even animals. It's so unique and I think Ness did a fantastic job of writing it in a way that was believable.

Todd and manchee are a perfect team. Then they meet up with Viola and the twosome becomes a threesome. Manchee reminded me of Dug, the dog from Up (the disney-pixar movie), mainly because he's a talking dog and because at one point in the story he spots a squirrel and yells "SQUIRREL" just like Dug in Up. Todd and Viola are two young kids I want to wrap up in my arms and keep them away from the bad men. But I wouldn't need to do that because they have so much strength and take care of themselves, It made you want to root for them.

This is a very long winded epic story about two kids and their dog who are walking, and at times running, away from the bad guys. But there's so much more in this book to enjoy. There's mystery, friendship, love and heartbreak. There are many twists and turns with lots getting revealed along the way, some things I had guessed but most was very eye-opening.

In a way this reminded me of World War two. There's an evil dictator who determines a certain group of people are bad and influences the rest of the people to take them to war. Even when the certain group have done nothing wrong. 

The book ended with a bit of a cliff hanger but not big enough for me to rip my hair out. I really look forward to reading the next book in the series.

On the cover

I don't particuarly like this cover but it's perfect for this book. The noise, the knife and the trees in the background. There is another cover I have seen which has the same red knife but the background is white, I prefer that cover.

What I'm listening to next: Ashes by Ilsa Bick

Picoult is a true storyteller

The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult

Rating: 5 out of 5 hearts

460 pages

Released: February 2013

Buy it @ book depository

Sage Singer befriends an old man who's particularly beloved in her community. Josef Weber is everyone's favorite retired teacher and Little League coach. They strike up a friendship at the bakery where Sage works. One day he asks Sage for a favor: to kill him. Shocked, Sage refuses…and then he confesses his darkest secret - he deserves to die, because he was a Nazi SS guard. Complicating the matter? Sage's grandmother is a Holocaust survivor.

What do you do when evil lives next door? Can someone who's committed a truly heinous act ever atone for it with subsequent good behavior? Should you offer forgiveness to someone if you aren't the party who was wronged? And most of all - if Sage even considers his request - is it murder, or justice?

Review

“My grandmother told me that her father used to ask her a riddle: What must you break apart in order to bring a family close together?

Bread, of course.”   

Jodi Picoult has won me over again with the beautifully written tale of sadness, war, love & forgiveness. To begin with I wasn't all that sure about this, but after getting through the first few chapters the tale truly began.

Picoult doesn't stray away from her normal tradition of writing from multiple characters points of view, which in my opinion gives the reader a greater understanding of each characters personalities. The main players are: Sage; the baker, Josef; the elderly ex-nazi, Minka; Sage's Jewish grandmother and Leo; the love interest. Even though Sage is the main character, her grandmother Minka really stole the show with her story. I think I loved this book so much because of Minka, her story was so moving and it felt like it was a true re-telling of someone's life during World war 2.

Something new that I haven't noticed Picoult do before this is write a book mainly from one person's point of view. Probably 50% of the book is Minka's story and weaved through that is a story within her story. I really liked that she did this, it was a really nice change.

I find that Picoult has a great way of telling romance from a male character's point of view. We are lucky enough to get that again in this with Leo, it helps ease some of the more tense parts of the story. Leo is more than just a love interest though but I won't tell you what that is because it may give too much away.

There must've been a great deal of research done to write this because of the amount of detail that is told not only during the World war 2 scenes, but also the process of making bread (as this is Sage's job it's spoken about quite a lot). There was also a pretty big twist which I had kind of guessed but it was still very well done.

If you are a fan of Jodi Picoult or even if you aren't, you MUST read this book! I look forward to see what she writes next.

On the cover

This isn't the normal cover, this is the audiobook cover. I actually like it, the colours and the dress the girl is wearing is really nice. The barbed wire fence is very poignant.

What I'm listening to next: The Knife of never letting go by Patrick Ness

I went along for the ride

Along for the ride by Sarah Dessen

Rating: 3 out of 5 hearts
424 pages
Released: January 2010
Buy it @ book depository

Ever since her parents began fighting, Auden has been unable to sleep at night. Now, spending a summer at a charming beach town with her father and his new family, she has to find new places to pass the time she spends awake. And so she meets Eli, a fellow insomniac who becomes her nighttime guide. Together, they embark on parallel quests: for Auden, to experience the carefree teenage life she has missed; for Eli, to come to terms with the death of a friend. In her trademark blockbuster-style, Sarah Dessen creates a powerful and irresistible story of two people learning how to connect. 

Review

"So I decided to relax into it, bumpy and crazy as it might be, and try for once to just go along for the ride"

This is my first Sarah Dessen book and I wasn't won over. I've been wanting to read one for quite some time now and felt like this was a good one to start with because I had been recommended it. Not to say I hated this book, it's just that I found myself thinking it was a little mediocre.

The story started off pretty boring and I believe this is because Auden was a boring person. Perfect student, always studying hard, never goes to parties and does things by the book. Because she has always tried hard to be perfect and make her mother proud she never got to experience normal teenage life. As the book progresses though, Auden changes, she and the story start to transform. She becomes friends with girls from her stepmother's clothes shop and Eli, the quiet and brooding guy, who teach her how have fun, ride a bike, become a store goer and maybe even fall in love. The transformation of Auden is one of the things I really enjoyed about this book but something (more like someone) I really fell for was Eli. I don't think I would've liked this as much if Eli wasn't in it. He is sweet and makes rice crispies from scratch! How can you not fall in love with that! There's also that mysteriousness about him, there's something about his past that is slowly revealed and makes him all the more dreamy for his reasons behind his mystery.

As I was reading I was thinking to myself that this would make a perfect summer movie - It's set in a town that's close to the beach, a girl who meets a boy, they go on nightly adventures together and of course there's a prom like party towards the end of the book. It would be the perfect Chick flick to cuddle up with, eat popcorn and maybe even need some tissues...

One minor character I want to mention is Auden's father. I hate him, he's selfish and so horrible. He deserves a bad father award...BOO to him! The book was enjoyable but I've only given it 3 stars because it was slightly predictable and long winded. I've read other reviews where people have enjoyed the slow unraveling of the characters, but for me I felt that over 400 pages was too much. I will probably try another Dessen book, I've got my eyes on Dreamland as I've heard interesting things about it.

On the cover

The cover above is ok, but I saw the same cover with a white background and it made the cover so much nicer. There are two other covers which feature a girl on a bike which would be better covers than this one because the book is called 'Along for the ride' and bikes are a main part of the story. To the left is one of the new covers which I LOVE! Blue is my favourite colour so I love this cover a lot!

What I'm reading next: Two & Twenty Dark tales by multiple authors

Will Finnikin reclaim his land?

Finnikin of the Rock (Lumatere Chronicles #1) by Melina Marchetta

Rating: 4 out of 5 hearts

416 pages

Released: September 2008

Buy it @ book depository

Finnikin of the Rock and his guardian, Sir Topher, have not been home to their beloved Lumatere for ten years. Not since the dark days when the royal family was murdered and the kingdom put under a terrible curse. But then Finnikin is summoned to meet Evanjalin, a young woman with an incredible claim: the heir to the throne of Lumatere, Prince Balthazar, is alive.

Evanjalin is determined to return home and she is the only one who can lead them to the heir. As they journey together, Finnikin is affected by her arrogance . . . and her hope. He begins to believe he will see his childhood friend, Prince Balthazar, again. And that their cursed people will be able to enter Lumatere and be reunited with those trapped inside. He even believes he will find his imprisoned father.

But Evanjalin is not what she seems. And the truth will test not only Finnikin's faith in her . . . but in himself.

Review

Finnikin of the Rock is brave, loyal and a true warrior. His beloved land of Lumatere is taken over by an imposter king and all who live outside the walls of his land are exiled and known as exiles.

I decided to finally give this book a go because I've always loved the front cover and I am drawn to a lovely front cover. Also, because a friend of mine finished the last one in this series last year and raved about it. So, as with other books I may find difficult to get into by reading I thought I'd give it a go on Audiobook seen as though it was sitting there on the shelf at the library.

This is one of those books that all fantasty lovers should read. It has such strong voices and characters along with a landscape filled with all sorts of sights and smells that seemed to jump off the page. Melina Marchetta worked her magic and took me by the hand into her marvelous world. I loved the idea of weaving different voices through out the book. Finnikin's voice was the main one but every now and again we hear from a few different characters points of view, which I thought was clever and helped with the pace of the story.

Something else I adored was the different languages used for each of the different places. As there weren't any different types of races of beings ie. dwarves or elves like in Lord of the rings, instead each place had their own native tongue. None of these languages were ever spoken (it was all in english) but I could still imagine what each of them may have sounded like.

There were a few moments of tingling feelings of romance, which were all the more exciting because the pacing was so slow and I believed that maybe nothing would ever happen - spoiler alert! - it did. Yay!
 

There's a twist towards the end, which I didn't see coming at all! We as readers were lead to believe something, along with Finnikin, and not once did I have any inkling of what was really the truth. I decided to give this only 4 stars instead of 5 because it took me a long while to get into the book and at times I found myself daydreaming, but mostly I loved this book and really recommend it. Looking forward to listening to number two and all other Melina Marchetta books I can get!

On the cover

This cover is so cool and I was always drawn to it. Blue is my favourite colour so I was drawn to it for that reason and I also like the flower and tree design.

What I'm listening on Audio to next: The Name of the star by Maureen Johnson

All the puzzle pieces fit together..

Pushing the Limits (Pushing the Limits #1) by Katie McGarry

Rating: 5 out of 5 hearts
392 pages
Released: July 2012
Buy it @ book depository

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.

Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

Review

“I gazed into her beautiful green eyes and her fear melted. A shy smile tugged at her lips and at my heart. F**k me and the rest of the world, I was in love.”

I have been wanting to read this for so long and once I started I couldn't stop! Another one of those books which is told from two points of view - Noah and Echo. Broken and troubled they meet through the school psychiatrist. Although they are completely different, they come together and help each other overcome their troubles through love, friendship and support.

Katie McGarry did a fantastic job of writing from a young guys point of view, She had some great insight into what guys think and what makes them tick. I liked the way that Noah was such a guy and instantly thinks that Echo is hot, but it's not until he gets to know her that his feelings change into something stronger.

The romance between Noah and Echo sure does sizzle. McGarry has a way of building the sexual tension to make it completely swoon-worthy and steamy! The chemistry between both of them was amazing and I really felt their relationship develop over time and from both of their points of view.

But this isn't just a romance fluff novel, underneath all of that is a story of family, trust and believing in yourself. Echo endured a horrific experience one night and can't remember what happened. Slowly Echo and us as readers have information revealed to us and then towards the end the puzzle pieces all fell into place.

I loved the musical inspirations at the end, in which the author told you some songs that she listened to to help her get in the zone and mind set of each of her characters. Surprisingly I knew quite a few of them and it helped me understand her thought patterns in creating the characters.

This book almost made me cry, which as I've mentioned in other reviews is a hard thing to do. I found myself falling for these characters and all their flaws. I love when a book has not only got the story right but also got the characters oh so right! I can not wait to read the other characters stories in the companion novels.

On the cover

The people on the front depict exactly what Noah and Echo look like. This scene looks like it's taken straight from the book with them up against the school lockers. Looking at it again takes me straight back into the book.

What I'm reading next: Along for the ride by Sarah Dessen