The Disgrace of Kitty Grey - 

Mary Hooper
Released: June, 2013
Publisher: Bloomsbury Australia

Synopsis: Kitty is living a happy, carefree life as a dairymaid in the countryside. The grand family she is employed by looks after her well, and she loves her trade, caring for the gentle cows and working in the cool, calm dairy. And then, of course, there is Will, the river man who she thinks is very fond of her, and indeed she is of him. Surely he will ask her to marry him soon? Then one day disaster strikes: Will disappears. Kitty is first worried and then furious. She fears that Will has only been leading her on all this time, and has now gone to London to make his fortune, forgetting about her completely. So when Kitty is asked to go to London to pick up a copy of Pride and Prejudice, the latest novel by the very fashionable Jane Austen, Kitty leaps at the chance to track down Will. But Kitty has no idea how vast London is, and how careful she must be. It is barely a moment before eagle-eyed pickpockets have spotted the country-born-and-bred Kitty and relieved her of her money and belongings. Dauntingly fast, she has lost her only means of returning home and must face the terrifying prospect of stealing in order to survive - and of being named a thief ...

What I thought: I was so very excited to read The Disgrace of Kitty Grey, for I absolutely love historical fiction - so I went in with very high expectations. Unfortunately, all this caused was serious disappointment. It's not often that I give books such low ratings, but I kept hoping as I read that maybe the book would redeem itself somehow. Kitty Grey is a milk maid, and she's happy with the life she's been given. She is in love with Will, the river ferry-man and believes they will be married. But after Will disappears, leaving his little sister in Kitty's care, she takes the opportunity to travel to London to look for him. From there, Kitty and Betsey enter a (almost ridiculous) chain of events, eventuating in gaol time and boarding a ship to Australia as a disgraced woman.

This novel certainly had it's good moments, but unfortunately I found that they were too few and far between. 

The Good: Kitty is a strong character, and that gives the story most of it's leverage.

The Bad: I was bored after the first 50 pages and it was a serious struggle to read the rest of the story.

Rating:

2 bookstacks

Breathe - 

Abbi Glines
Released: August, 2013
Publisher: Simon&Schuster Australia

Synopsis: Sadie White’s summer job is at the beach, but she won’t be working as a lifeguard. Since her mom is pregnant and refuses to work, Sadie will be taking over as a domestic servant for a wealthy family on a nearby island.

When the family arrives at their summer getaway, Sadie is surprised to learn that the owner of the house is Jax Stone, one of the hottest teen rockers in the world. If Sadie were normal—if she hadn’t spent her life raising her mother and taking care of the house—maybe she’d be excited about working for a rock star. But she’s not.

Even though Sadie isn’t impressed by Jax’s fame, he is drawn to her. Everything about Sadie fascinates Jax, but he fights his attraction: Relationships never work in his world, and as badly as he wants Sadie, he believes she deserves more. Yet as the summer stretches on, Jax’s passion leaves him breathless—and Sadie feels like the only source of oxygen.

Can their love overcome the disparity in their lifestyles? One breath at a time, they’re going to find out…

What I thought: Don't get me wrong, I love a good romantic story, even the unbelievable ones, like rockstars falling in love with their maids. What I didn't like, however, was the almost instantaneous love that Sadie began to feel for Jax - sure he's hot, he's a rock star, and he's famous, but Abbi Glines made Sadie out to be a stronger person than that. I was highly disappointed when Jax left Sadie and she had an absolute "Bella Cullen" moment and turned into one of those pathetic pitiful girls I hate. Sorry, but this one didn't catch my attention.

Because of Low - 

Abbi Glines
Released: June, 2013
Publisher: Simon&Schuster Australia

Synopsis: Set in the steamy coastal Alabama town of Sea Breeze, an interconnected group of older teens hook up, break up ...and much, much more. Marcus Hardy had hoped to enjoy a year away at college while he put the summer he'd rather forget behind him. But instead, he's jerked right back his home town of Sea Breeze due to a family crisis. The only bright spot to returning is the hot redhead who sleeps over at his place several times a week. There's just one thing though - she's sleeping in bed with his new roommate, Cage York. Willow "Low" Foster needs a place to live. Running to her best friend Cage's apartment every time her sister kicks her out isn't exactly a long term solution. But Cage has a new roommate and suddenly sleeping over at his apartment isn't such a bad thing. Not when she gets to see those sexy green eyes of Marcus's twinkle when he smiles at her like he wants her there. There's one problem though, Cage is under the disillusion that when he's through sowing his wild oats, he's going to marry Low - an assumption Marcus intends to change. But when his carefully laid plans come crashing down with a revelation he never expected, Marcus will have to choose between Low or his family. Because once the truth comes out ...there's no other choice.

What I thought: This was nice to see Marcus fall in love after having his heart broken by Sadie, but as a friend pointed out to me, the vibe Abbi Glines gives off is that Marcus and Sadie had a thing and that she had done something seriously wrong to him, when really it was only unrequited love. But what surprised me was this one was very heavy on the romance, as compared to (the version I read) of Breathe. Not what I expected at all.

While It Lasts - 

Abbi Glines
Released: June, 2013
Publisher: Simon&Schuster Australia

Synopsis: Set in the steamy coastal Alabama town of Sea Breeze, an interconnected group of older teens hook up, break up ...and much, much more. Cage York has a free ride to college for baseball - or he did, until he got in trouble for drink-driving. Now he has to give in to his coach's demands and spend his summer baling hay. No hot babes in bikinis waiting to meet a Southern boy to make her vacation complete. Just him and the damned cows. Oh and an uptight, snarky brunette with the biggest blue eyes he's ever seen. Eva Brooks planned out her life step by step when she was eight years old. Not once over the years had she lost sight of her goals. Josh Beasley, her next door neighbour, had been the centre of those goals. He'd been her first boyfriend at seven, her first kiss at ten, her first date at fifteen and her first tragedy at eighteen. The moment she'd received the phone call from Josh's mother saying he'd been killed along with four other soldiers just north of Baghdad, Eva's carefully planned life imploded in the worst way possible. Now she has to deal with the arrogant Cage York and his irritating smile. But as the summer bailing hay rolls by, Cage and Eva learn that what they want (and need) may be something they never saw coming

What I thought: Again, the romantic intensity was kicked up a couple of notches for Cage's novel. The bad play boy finds a girl to set him straight? Yep, that's not cliche at all. Sure, it was nice to see Cage had some feelings and real emotions under all that man-whore, but all the sexual tensions and innuendo's just ruined the plot line for me - I could barely see past the romance to the actual plot line. Again, no dice for this one.

Just For Now - 

Abbi Glines
Released: June, 2013
Publisher: Simon&Schuster Australia

Synopsis: The day Preston Drake figured out that wealthy women paid well for a set of tight abs and a pretty face his life turned around.

The run down rat-infested trailer he had shared with his alcoholic mother and three younger siblings was now only a place he visited to pay the bills and stock the pantry with food. 

He no longer worried about his family starving or living without electricity. The money he made entertaining rich older women more than covered his family’s needs and his own. He had it all figured out. Except…

There was this girl.

She was as innocent as he was tainted.

Amanda Hardy wished her knees didn’t get weak when Preston walked into a room. She hated the fact her heart raced when he flashed his smile in her direction. He had a different girl in his bed every night. He was the kind of boy a smart girl ran from. So, why was she coming up with ways to get close to him? Even when it was obvious he wanted to keep her at a distance.

Maybe her heart knew something the world didn’t. Maybe Preston Drake was more than just a pretty face

What I thought: I feel like in each new Sea Breeze novel, Abbi Glines was competing to make the sex scenes hotter than the last and the plot line lost a bit of it's focus. What I loved most about the books was the plot lines, and they all just got shrouded by sex. I loved seeing the new side of Preston, when he wasn't thinking about Amanda and all the "dirty things" he wanted to do with her. Maybe my problem was coming into these novels thinking they were young adult when clearing they are not. The New Adult romances just didn't catch my heart.

Revolution 19 - 

Gregg Rosenblum
Released: January 8, 2013
Publisher: HarperTeen

Synopsis: Twenty years ago, the robots designed to fight our wars abandoned the battlefields. Then they turned their weapons on us.

Only a few escaped the robot revolution of 2071. Kevin, Nick, and Cass are lucky —they live with their parents in a secret human community in the woods. Then their village is detected and wiped out. Hopeful that other survivors have been captured by bots, the teens risk everything to save the only people they have left in the world—by infiltrating a city controlled by their greatest enemies.

Revolution 19 is a cinematic thriller unlike anything else. With a dynamic cast of characters, this surefire blockbuster has everything teen readers want—action, drama, mystery, and romance. Written by debut novelist Gregg Rosenblum, this gripping story shouldn’t be missed.

What I thought: Wow. This book had so much potential, but unfortunately it just fell flat for me. The synopsis makes it sounds like it'll be a lot more of fighting against robots, living hidden in the wild and somehow getting into a city. While it is some-what like that, in reality it just wasn't as great as the synopsis made it out to be. The three kids spend a lot of time in said city, mostly trying to stay away from being detected by robots and looking for their parents. Even the ending wasn't fantastic. But in saying all that, I still persevered because I needed to know what was going to happen at the end. The characters are great and the story is well written too, so Gregg Rosenblum did a lot of things right. 

If you like a good Dystopian then you should give this a try, but if you're looking for human-robot fighting, like in say The Terminator, then this probably isn't for you.

The Good: I got attached the three kids and the friends they made! I cheered for them, wanting them to survive and for everything to be okay.

The Bad: It just wasn't what I expected and the disappointment hung heavy for me.

Rating:

3 bookstacks

Velveteen - 
Daniel Marks
Released: October 9, 2012
Publisher: Delacorte Books

Synopsis: Velveteen Monroe is dead. At 16, she was kidnapped and murdered by a madman named Bonesaw. But that’s not the problem.

The problem is she landed in purgatory. And while it’s not a fiery inferno, it’s certainly no heaven. It’s gray, ashen, and crumbling more and more by the day, and everyone has a job to do. Which doesn’t leave Velveteen much time to do anything about what’s really on her mind.

Bonesaw.

Velveteen aches to deliver the bloody punishment her killer deserves. And she’s figured out just how to do it. She’ll haunt him for the rest of his days. 

It’ll be brutal... and awesome.

But crossing the divide between the living and the dead has devastating consequences. Velveteen’s obsessive haunting cracks the foundations of purgatory and jeopardizes her very soul. A risk she’s willing to take—except fate has just given her reason to stick around: an unreasonably hot and completely off-limits coworker.

Velveteen can’t help herself when it comes to breaking rules... or getting revenge. And she just might be angry enough to take everyone down with her.

What it's about: Velveteen Monroe had a brutal death. She is going to get good old ghostly revenge on her killer. Right? Wrong. Well, mostly wrong.  It's about the Departurists and Purgatory.

What I thought: Gorgeous cover? Check. Intriguing synopsis? Check. So why oh why did this book fall so short? Firstly, this book is not about revenge, not really. It was confusing and long-winded with the characters being exciting as door-knobs. Don't get me wrong, I really wanted to love this book. But I seriously struggled to get through the entire book. Sure, the whole purgatory thing was interesting at first, but then it just became tiring.

I just want to point out that I have read many of the positive as well as negative reviews and I feel like the issues I had with this book were very similar to other negative reviews. I think this is one that you will either love or you will hate, so read it for yourself.

The good: The scenes that Bonesaw is actually in, are the most exciting part about this book.

The bad: Well, just about everything. Misleading synopsis, boring plot and insta-love. Woo.

Rating:

                                     

  2 Bookstacks

Buy links:

- Amazon - Barnes and Noble - The Book Depository -

SAfekeeping - 
Karen Hesse
Released: September 18, 2012
Publisher: Feiwel and friends

Synopsis: Radley just wants to get home to her parents in Vermont. While she was volunteering abroad, the American People's Party took power; the new president was assassinated; and the government cracked down on citizens. Travel restrictions are worse than ever, and when her plane finally lands in New Hampshire, Radley’s parents aren’t there.

Exhausted; her phone dead; her credit cards worthless: Radley starts walking.

What it's about: Radley returns home from volunteering in Haiti after she hears news of the political and economical destruction in America. Upon arrival, her parents are nowhere to be found and once she makes it home, they aren't there either. Radley decides the best thing is to make her way to Canada and from here we follow her journey.

What I thought: I firstly want to say how much I really really wanted to love this book. However, I did not. To be honest, I couldn't decipher much from the synopsis apart from the fact that there would be walking and a 'journey' of some sort. When I started reading, I was intrigued. But as the book went on and on, especially Radley's time hiding out in Canada, I felt bored. My attention kept shifting and I was easily distracted. Not a fantastic sign for a book. I got to the point when I didn't care for the characters or what happened at the end, and this did it for me. I need to connect with the story or at least the characters and this book did neither for me.

I can see how some people can love this book and I can also see how some people will dislike it. It is definitely a book that you have to read and judge for yourself.

the good: Hesse's style of writing is beautiful, even poetic at times.

the bad: I read this on my Kindle and the pictures were completely out of place, which made this overly confusing at times. If you're going to give this book a go, grab yourself a print copy.

Rating:

  2 bookstacks

buy links:

- Amazon - Barnes and Noble - The Book Depository -

Dark Kiss - Michelle Rowen

"I don't do dangerous.  Smart, über-careful, ordinary Samantha-that's me. But I just couldn't pass up a surprise kiss from my number-one unattainable crush. A kiss that did something to me...something strange. Now I feel hungry all the time, but not for food. It's like part of me is missing-and I don't know if I can get it back. Then there's Bishop. At first I thought he was just a street kid, but the secrets he's keeping are as intense as his unearthly blue eyes. If he's what I think he is, he may be the only one who can help me. But something terrifying is closing in, and the one chance Bishop and I have to stop it means losing everything I ever wanted and embracing the darkness inside me.... NIGHTWATCHERS When angels and demons must work together, something beyond evil is rising..."

I wanted to like this book. I really really did. It has an amazing cover. It has an intriguing synopsis. Plus I absolutely love Angel stories, above all other paranormal types. I have even heard Michelle Rowen is an amazing author. But unfortunately, even with all these aspects put together, I just couldn't like it enough.

Sam is ordinary girl, who has banned romance from her life. Until of course her hot neighbour, who she has been crushing on since forever, kisses her - and turns her into a soul sucking gray. Bishop is an Angel, who was sent to stop the "Source" - the maker of the gray's. Kraven, is the sarcastic smart-ass demon who is part of Bishop's team. Throw in a few cliches - Sam's parents are divorced, her mother works all the time and she lashes out by shop lifting, a bit of insta-love between Sam and Bishop - and there is your story.

The cliches I can get past. There are few stories that are truly original anymore, and if the author does it right, you can overlook the cliches. The annoying characters that I just can't connect with, however, I cannot get past. Samantha annoyed me so much, to the point that I really struggled to read the entire book. I mean, there is always a certain type of defiance in MC's, but this was absolutely ridiculous. I really just wanted to punch her in the face. Bishop was also pretty bad. He just screamed creepy. Kraven and his sarcastic nature, was the only part about the story I liked.

This will stop me from bothering to read the next book, however it will not stop me from giving any of Michelle Rowen's other novels a try.

If you like YA paranormal books, with a bit of romance thrown in, then this book just might be right up your alley. It has many 5-star reviews, so don't just take my word for it, try it for yourself!

Order yourself a copy now!

- Amazon - Barnes and Noble - Book Depository -

The Hunt - Andrew Fukuda

"Don’t Sweat.  Don’t Laugh.  Don’t draw attention to yourself.  And most of all, whatever you do, do not fall in love with one of them.
 
Gene is different from everyone else around him.  He can’t run with lightning speed, sunlight doesn’t hurt him and he doesn’t have an unquenchable lust for blood.  Gene is a human, and he knows the rules.  Keep the truth a secret.  It’s the only way to stay alive in a world of night—a world where humans are considered a delicacy and hunted for their blood.
 
When he’s chosen for a once in a lifetime opportunity to hunt the last remaining humans, Gene’s carefully constructed life begins to crumble around him.  He’s thrust into the path of a girl who makes him feel things he never thought possible—and into a ruthless pack of hunters whose suspicions about his true nature are growing. Now that Gene has finally found something worth fighting for, his need to survive is stronger than ever—but is it worth the cost of his humanity?" 

The Hunt - dubbed the next big thing for fans of Hunger Games. Perhaps it will be, it has had many a 5 star review. For me, however, it is not. After I finished reading, I went onto Goodreads and read some of the 5 star reviews, and some of the 2 star reviews. As it turns out, all the people who posted 2 and 3 star reviews had the exact same problems with the novel as I did.

Vampires dominating a human world. This is not a story about romance, this is a story about survival. But holy smokes, it is ridiculously unrealistic. Now that may sound silly, considering it is a novel about vampires but here is why.

Gene, the main character, has been hiding all his life in among the vampires. He can't sweat, he can't clear his throat, he can't get smelly, he can't even have hair on his body or the vampires will discover he is human. How on earth, would anyone be able to pull that off for 17 odd years of their life? I really think that isn't humanly possible.

Put that aside, I felt there were so many question left unanswered. Are these vampires dead or alive? They must have a heart-beat or they would have noticed Gene's straight away. They must age right? Do they reproduce? Or did I miss all these important points in my skimming of the seemingly boring parts?

Then there are the super weird bits - don't get me wrong, I love to seem how authors portray things differently, but this just seemed even too weird for me. Scratching your wrist instead of laughing? Yeah, maybe. Armpit/Elbow sex? That is just too weird for words. Plus the vampire drool A LOT. Like every other page. That's just gross.

But don't take my word for it. I seem to be part of the minority that just didn't enjoy it as much as I should have. Check it out for yourself, and then let me know your thoughts!

Grab yourself a copy of The Hunt now!

     -     Amazon     -     Barnes and Noble     -     The Book Depository     -

The Book of Blood and Shadow - Robin Wasserman

"It was like a nightmare, but there was no waking up. When the night began, Nora had two best friends and an embarrassingly storybook one true love. When it ended, she had nothing but blood on her hands and an echoing scream that stopped only when the tranquilizers pierced her veins and left her in the merciful dark. 

But the next morning, it was all still true: Chris was dead. His girlfriend Adriane, Nora’s best friend, was catatonic. And Max, Nora’s sweet, smart, soft-spoken Prince Charming, was gone. He was also—according to the police, according to her parents, according to everyone—a murderer.

Desperate to prove his innocence, Nora follows the trail of blood, no matter where it leads. It ultimately brings her to the ancient streets of Prague, where she is drawn into a dark web of secret societies and shadowy conspirators, all driven by a mad desire to possess something that might not even exist. For buried in a centuries-old manuscript is the secret to ultimate knowledge and communion with the divine; it is said that he who controls the Lumen Dei controls the world. Unbeknownst to her, Nora now holds the crucial key to unlocking its secrets. Her night of blood is just one piece in a puzzle that spans continents and centuries. Solving it may be the only way she can save her own life."

I wish I could say I loved this book. Believe me, I really wanted to. Let's start with the fact that it took me the space of 8 days to actually read the whole book. By that I meant, it took me 8 days to get through 55 odd pages. After that, I spent one day powering through.

The start was slow. I was bored from the beginning which was a bad indication. But after reading all the 5-star reviews, I just had to keep going.
I loved all the characters from the start, mostly Elizabeth - the dead girl from the letters. But as the story continued, I just wanted to shake everyone. WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THESE PEOPLE?!

I haven't read the Da Vinci Code, although this book has been compared to it many times. Religion, mystery and all that jazz? Yep, this book certainly has it. I love my history, but the way it was gilded was too much for me. There is plenty of betrayal, and a killer ending, but unfortunately it wasn't enough for me.

I wish I could write more for this review, but I really don't know what to say.

But don't take my word for it, try reading it for yourselves!

There You'll Find Me - Jenny B. Jones

"Grief brought Finley to Ireland. LOVE WILL LEAD HER HOME.

Finley Sinclair is not your typical eighteen-year-old. She's witty, tough, and driven. With an upcoming interview at the Manhattan music conservatory, Finley needs to compose her audition piece. But her creativity disappeared with the death of her older brother, Will.

She decides to study abroad in Ireland so she can follow Will's travel journal. It's the place he felt closest to God, and she's hopeful being there will help her make peace over losing him. So she agrees to an exchange program and boards the plane.

Beckett Rush, teen heartthrob and Hollywood bad boy, is flying to Ireland to finish filming his latest vampire movie. On the flight, he meets Finley. She's the one girl who seems immune to his charm. Undeterred, Beckett convinces her to be his assistant in exchange for his help as a tour guide.

Once in Ireland, Finley starts to break down. The loss of her brother and the pressure of school, her audition, and whatever it is that is happening between her and Beckett, leads her to a new and dangerous vice. When is God going to show up for her in this emerald paradise?

Then she experiences something that radically changes her perspective on life. Could it be God convincing her that everything she's been looking for has been with her all along?"

Sorry about the killer long blurb - I got it off Goodreads!

Ireland? Yes! Heart-throb actor as love interest? Yes! Mean and bossy main character? No. Major God tones? Probably not. The blurb of this book really did pull me in! The names are gorgeous, and setting is lovely too. But this book just didn't do it for me.

I am not religious, BUT I do not ever judge. I quite happily read books about Angels and Demons, and religion. This book seemed like Jenny B. Jones was trying to suck teenagers in and give them a lesson on God. I don't mean to be rude, and I apologise if I offend, but that is the way this book came across.

If your a fan of contemporary fiction, then give this one a go, you just might like it :)

Claire <3

The Merchant's Daughter - Melanie Dickerson

"An unthinkable danger. An unexpected choice. Annabel, once the daughter of a wealthy merchant, is trapped in indentured servitude to Lord Ranulf, a recluse who is rumored to be both terrifying and beastly. Her circumstances are made even worse by the proximity of Lord Ranulf's bailiff---a revolting man who has made unwelcome advances on Annabel in the past. Believing that life in a nunnery is the best way to escape the escalation of the bailiff's vile behavior and to preserve the faith that sustains her, Annabel is surprised to discover a sense of security and joy in her encounters with Lord Ranulf. As Annabel struggles to confront her feelings, she is involved in a situation that could place Ranulf in grave danger. Ranulf's future, and possibly his heart, may rest in her hands, and Annabel must decide whether to follow the plans she has cherished or the calling God has placed on her heart."

Let me start by saying I love fairy-tale retelling's. Let me also say that I am not religious, however I do not judge and I will quite happily read books with religious views or backgrounds. Lastly, I will say how disappointed I was by this book.

The Merchant's Daughter is a loosely based on Beauty and the Beast, which happens to be my favourite fairy-tale of all time. But even I couldn't love it based on that fact.  Annabel's family have put themselves in a "precarious" position in society, and now Annabel has to get them out. She is sent to serve Lord Ranulf, who she falls in love with. Obviously. Although this part of the story wasn't fantastic, I probably wouldn't have minded so much, if I wasn't constantly being slammed with religious views, and basically bashing on the Catholic church. Now as I said, I am not religious, but even for me this seemed very ridiculous.

If you love fairy-tale retelling's and don't mind religious views then I say give it a read. However, if you are religious or sensitive in that regard, I would probably give it a miss.

Claire <3

Nadia Hamilton - Dennis Mews

"When a teen on the run bumped into a party of young school children in a Welsh forest, things quickly got out of hand. Eventually, the trees themselves had to intervene."

Nadia Hamilton is a book that was up and down for me. The main two characters annoyed me from the start. Nadia is not happy about anything in her 11-year old life. Craig just seems to be a unruly child whose mother can't even control him.

While following them through the book, I just felt like a lot of the story was out of place. The some of the younger characters talked like adults, and you didn't really get to know them very well.

Readers of the younger audience should love this, especially with the magical parts, however there is some violence in this book that I wouldn't deem appropriate.

Overall, not too bad.

Claire <3