GIVEAWAY TIME! :) 250 Followers (INT)

Hello everyone! :) So.. I just noticed that I now have 250 followers and we all know what that means...??

GIVEAWAY TIME! :D

Thank you to all my followers, it really means a lot!  I really wanted to do an International Giveaway so everybody could enter :)

Here, have some cake! :D

This giveaway is going to be open for 1 week, from February 28th to the 6th March.

I'm going to be giving away 4 Kindle books to 1 lucky winner!! :D 

Rules:

- This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL!

- Winner must reply within 24 hours of winning or a new winner will be picked.

- Only 1 entry per person. Duplicates will be deleted.

- Winner will be picked by random.org.
- Contest will end on 6th March 2012 at 12pm GMT.
- You must be 13 or older.

~

Here are some of the goodies you could win.....

You can pick any 4, mix and match :)

All you need to do is fill in the form HERE!

Thanks for entering and GOOD LUCK! :)

Review: Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

                                           Nightshade (Nightshade #1) by Andrea Cremer

 Pages: 480  Publisher: Atom  Release Date: July 26th 2011  Source: Gift  Cover: 9/10

Goodreads:
She can control her pack, but not her heart ... 

'I wanted him to kiss me-wished he could smell the desire that I knew was pouring off me. You can't, Calla. This boy isn't the one for you.' 

Calla Tor has always known her destiny: graduation, marriage and then a life leading her pack. But when she defies her masters' laws to save a human boy, she must choose. Is one boy worth losing everything?


My Review:
'I wanted him to kiss me-wished he could smell the desire that I knew was pouring off me. You can't, Calla. This boy isn't the one for you.' 

I bought Nightshade on a bit of whim really. I was bought a Gift Card (woohoo!) and I was looking for a different book which wasn’t in the shop so I decided to get Nightshade instead as I’ve heard it was amazing. This turned out to be a very good decision! I mean come on, look at the teaser! How could you not want to read it? 

Nightshade left me hooked from the very beginning. There were countless twists and turns that I didn’t expect and I was guessing throughout. It’s quite a big book -480 pages but I finished this in a day, it was THAT good. The writing flowed effortlessly, it was so easy to read. 

Calla was easy to get along with, she was strong, determined, feisty, everything that’s good about a character. Yes, she has worries and doubts and that makes her more realistic. I actually liked Ren, but not as much as Shay. I liked Shay a lot better (I can‘t be the only one, can I?) even though Ren does sacrifice a lot for Calla which shows how much he does truly love her so I can see how they’d probably be a better match together. Ren is the more confident, cocky, gets-around guy whereas Shay is more caring, sensitive, exciting and brave. I enjoyed reading about all the characters, especially about uncovering the secrets of why certain characters acted in a certain way (Yes, I’m talking about Sabine). 

I really really enjoyed Nightshade and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series if they carry on as good as this! 

Overall 5 out of 5 stars.

Buy From: Amazon UK | US | TBD

Waiting of Wednesday (5)

Hey guys!  Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights an upcoming release we are greatly anticipating! :) 
Mine definitely has to be:

This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summers

It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self. To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up. As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually wantto live. But as the days crawl by, the motivations for survival change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life—and death—inside. When everything is gone, what do you hold on to?

~

It sounds amazing, don't you think? I read the first chapter and was even more hooked! I need it right now. You can read it HERE.
  

Teaser Tuesday (7)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! 

Just do the following:

                                                          

Grab your current read

Open to a random page

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

            ~

            Delirium by Lauren Oliver

"After the procedure I will be happy and safe forever. That's what everybody says, the scientists and my sister and Aunt Carol. I will have the procedure and then I'll be paired with a boy the evaluators choose for me. In a few years, we'll get married."

+

"No guy in his right mind would ever choose me when there are people like Hana in the world: it would be like settling for a stale cookie when what you really want is a big bowl of ice cream, whipped cream and cherries and chocolate sprinkles included."

~


I'm really enjoying this book so far! :) Not really sure if I like this cover though... I love the blue hardback cover and the US version!

Review: After Obsession by Carrie Jones & Steven E. Wedel

   

After Obsession by Carrie Jones and Steven E. Wedel

Pages: 305 Publisher: Bloomsbury Release Date: September 13th 2011 Source: Review Cover: 8/10

Goodreads:
Aimee and Alan have secrets. Both teens have unusual pasts and abilities they prefer to keep hidden. But when they meet each other, in a cold Maine town, they can't stop their secrets from spilling out. Strange things have been happening lately, and they both feel that something-or someone- is haunting them. They're wrong. Despite their unusual history and powers, it's neither Aimee nor Alan who is truly haunted. It's Alan's cousin Courtney who, in a desperate plea to find her missing father, has invited a demon into her life-and into her body. Only together can Aimee and Alan exorcise the ghost. And they have to move quickly, before it devours not just Courtney but everything around her.

My Review:

After Obsession started off a bit slow for me at first however it definitely sped up! The tension which develops throughout this story is enough to suffocate you! It has a very eerie feel to it which makes After Obsession a scary read! 

The main characters Aimee and Alan were easy to get along with, they were just like normal teenagers trying to take on the world J It definitely helps that the narrative is split into Aimee’s point of view and Alan’s point of view, as they each have different perspectives on situations. Their relationship progressed at a normal rate as well which I thought was good as it’s more realistic. Sometimes the whole ‘love at first sight’ thing can be so unrealistic. They were very sweet together and I thought they matched well.

The bad events start happening quite early such as with Blake -Aimee’s ex boyfriend and I enjoyed that as it keeps you hooked from the beginning. It was definitely creepy what happened to Courtney! I would not like that at all! It was like watching a scene from the Exorcist nearer the end where they have to strap her to the bed and she is thrashing around talking in a low, deep voice!! 

The plot was a bit predictable as I could guess what was going to happen nearer the end, but overall I enjoyed After Obsession and thought it was a really good read! 

3 out of 5 stars.

Book Boyfriend Battle

Hi everyone! :) I'm supporting Aiden from Half-Blood so if you like him over Seth, then go and vote now over at Read Me Bookmark Me Love Me and it's at the bottom of the debates! :)

Why You Should Vote For Aiden St. Delphi: Half Blood (Covenant #1)

Personality:

Aiden has an amazing personality! He is very caring, kind and protective. He is strong, loyal and a bit of a bad boy J He offered to teach Alex even when he didn’t have to which shows he likes to put in the effort. He’s also very smart and sarcastic and also very patient.

“Aiden was silent for so long, I thought he’d left the room, but then I felt his hand on my shoulder.”

“He actually laughed louder then. It was deep and rich. Nice.”

“You had this reputation for being so kickass. Even though you were still in school, everyone could tell you were going to be an awesome Sentinel.”

“If you’re able to talk while working out then you’re not working hard enough.”

“You’ve got to trust that I would care if you were hurt.”


Looks:

Aiden has the whole tall, dark, handsome thing going on, which is totally crush-worthy! You should definitely vote for Aiden, he has the whole package. What’s not to like?!
He has silvery grey coloured eyes, muscular jaw, tall and full lips.

“In front of me, he walked right through the flames, looking every bit like a daimon hunter should. The fire did not singe his pants nor dirty his shirt. Not a single dark hair was touched by the blaze. Those cool storm-cloud-coloured eyes fixed on me.”

“He wore the same style of workout pants I’d stolen from the supply closet, but where I wore a modest white shirt, he had on a tank. And boy, did he have arms to show off.”

“He brushed a lock of dark hair off his forehead and flashed that lopsided smile. ‘I remember you.’”

Talents:

He is super good at fighting, which means he’d be able to protect you if any of those daimons come after you.. J

“Aiden moved in with one swipe of his hand. I knocked his arm away, and then the other. It wasn’t his jabs or punches I had a problem with. It was his kicks -he spun around so fast.”

Special Attributes:

Being a pure makes Aiden special, he’s stronger than others and has some gifts.
“He muttered a compulsion, fast and low, too quick for me to make out the words.”

He enjoys reading J “Greek Fables and Legends.”


What makes your guy better than his competitor?

Aiden has the whole package!
He’s stong and caring, loyal and trustworthy.
He totally understands Alex and takes the time to listen to her feelings.
He wants to protect Alex and would do anything to do it.
He respects half-bloods and cares for his brother.
He’s also very very very hot ;) haha.

What are you watiting for? Go and show your support and vote for Aiden now and thank you if you do! :)

Review: The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

The Iron Knight (Iron Fey #4) by Julie Kagawa

Pages: 361  Publisher: MiraInk  Release Date: October 26th 2011  Source: Review Cover: 10/10 ;)

Goodreads:
Ash, former prince of the Winter Court, gave up everything. His title, his home, even his vow of loyalty. All for a girl… and all for nothing.

Unless he can earn a soul. 

To cold, emotionless faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought. 

Then Meghan Chase—a half human, half fey slip of a girl— smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive. 

With the (unwelcome) company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end— a quest to find a way to honor his solemn vow to stand by Meghan’s side. 

To survive in the Iron realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. At least, no one has ever passed to tell the tale. 

And then Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that turns reality upside down, challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.


My Review:
I can't believe that I only discovered Julie Kagawa last year! Her books are simply amazing in every way and The Iron Knight definitely lives up to this. I’ve heard that it initially wasn’t going to happen, so I’m so glad that Julie did write it! I love this series so much! Plus, I’m glad we finally got a cover with Ash on it ;) 

It was so great to see through Ash’s eyes and perspective, it certainly opened up a whole new view on everything! Plus, because I’m Team Ash - although I do like Puck as well - I loved going through the whole adventure with him. 

You meet some very exciting and new characters along the way - Wolf was introduced who was fun to read about and how the more stories are told about him the more powerful and immortalised he becomes. All the usual characters are there as well -Grimalkin, I really enjoy reading about Grim, he’s really been there to help all the characters and he’s mischievous! Puck was also there -yay! I really like Puck, he’s funny, I adore his sarcasm, it makes me laugh so much! Plus, I love how he is strong enough to still love Meghan even though he knows that she will always love Ash more. 

The plot was definitely not predictable in ANY way! I was guessing throughout the whole book, and believe me, there are some major shockers! It was heartbreaking to read in some parts -especially Ash’s dream about his human life! I’ll admit maybe I did shed a few tears or so… And it shows how amazing this book truly is! It shows how strong Ash is willing to go, in order to get a human soul to be able to be with Meghan and the extremes that are thrown at him from all angles. 

There are definitely some bromance moments between Ash and Puck and this was really cute! I really enjoyed how it had gone from them being complete enemies, to being friends (even if they didn’t want to admit it!) I could gush about this book all day, but seriously, it’s amazing and you should read it now if you haven’t already. The Iron series is one that will live with you after you close the last page. 

Overall 5 out of 5 stars!

Reading Challenge 2012: Dystopian

I'm in love with Dystopian books at the minute so this is the perfect reading challenge for me! :)
You can sign up too over at The Non Reluctant Reader  and pick what level you want to do.

I'm going to do the Hard Level, which is 15-20 books! :D

I've already read Matched and Legend so far so hopefully I'll get to my target :)

Join up too! :)

Review: Matched by Ally Condie

Matched (Matched #1) by Ally Condie

Pages: 366 Release Date: December 2nd 2010 Publisher: Penguin Source: Book Voucher

Goodreads:

On her seventeenth birthday, Cassia meets her match. The Society dictates that he is her perfect partner for life, except he's not.

In Cassia's society, Officials decide who people love.

How many children they have.

Where they work.

When they die.

But, as Cassia finds herself falling in love with another boy,

she is determined to make some choices of her own.

And that's when her whole world

begins to unravel...

My Review:

Matched is such a good book! I can’t believe it took me so long to discover it! I absolutely adored how the poem was used throughout, it made it seem really special and deliciously dangerous.

I enjoyed reading about Cassia, she was easy to get along with, rebellious, strong-minded, determined and definitely smart and I really liked her. Xander was also an interesting character as he was Cassia’s best friend and Match, at the start he seemed so perfect and I didn’t like that at all, but as the story progressed and his feelings and emotions were revealed, I began to like him a lot more! Then we have Ky, who knows things that Cassia doesn’t and really opens up her mind. I liked Ky a lot! I thought he was really suited to Cassia and I loved how their relationship developed! I have to mention Cassia’s grandfather! He was so sweet, I loved him! It was really well connected how Cassia’s grandmother’s compact was the spark of the rebellious spirit inside Cassia and how her grandfather truly had a history.

The setting was very well structured. It seemed so easy to imagine that that was the world we lived in, with the super fast air trains. I particularly enjoyed how the poem was used throughout as I said earlier. Do not go gentle. It was the perfect poem to choose that paired so well with Matched. As the reader, you could really feel how it was used to help create the tension and suspense and to match the character’s frustrations and desires. Also, the fact how everything was structured in Society from who you love, to when you die, to what job you will do was very intriguing to read about, how people believed that the Society was perfect and then nearer the end maybe not as perfect as you ever believed at all? This concoction makes Matched an intoxicating read! You can definitely feel the anxiety and tension build up between the characters. I thought the idea of the Hundred Songs, Hundred Pictures and Hundred Poems definitely added that little something extra into the mix and made the whole environment seem like a very scary world to live in!

Beware, Matched ends on a bit of a cliff hanger and now I’m dying to read Crossed! I need to know what happens! So, make sure you have the second book to hand as well J Matched was amazing! Get it now! :D I finished this book in a day it was that good!

5 out of 5 stars overall.

Review: Legend by Marie Lu

Legend (Legend #1) by Marie Lu

Pages: 368 Release Date: February 2nd 2012 Publisher: Penguin Source: Review

Goodreads:

he United States is gone, along with its flooded coasts. North America's two warring nations, the western Republic and the eastern Colonies, have reached a breaking point. In the midst of this broken continent and dark new world are two teenagers who will go down in history....

Born into the slums of Los Angeles, fifteen-year old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. A mysterious boy with no recorded image or fingerprints. A boy who should no longer exist. A boy who watches over his family until one evening, when the plague patrols mark his family's door with an X--the sign of plague infection. A death sentence for any family too poor to afford the antidote. Desperate, Day has no choice; he must steal it.

Born to an elite family in Los Angeles' wealthy Ruby sector, fifteen-year old June is the Republic's most promising prodigy. A superintelligent girl destined for great things in the country's highest military circles. Obedient, passionate, and committed to her country--until the day her brother Metias is murdered while on patrol during a break-in at the plague hospital.

Only one person could be responsible.

Day.

And now it's June's mission to hunt him down.

The truth they'll uncover will become legend.

My Review:

I definitely fell in love with Legend from the very first page. It’s one of the best books that I’ve read in a long long time! It is up there with the likes of Divergent in my opinion!

Day and June are such interesting characters to read about. I couldn’t get enough of them! June has the ‘perfect’ trial score and lives in the nicest areas, whilst Day is the criminal that nobody is able to catch. It was interesting how both their individual stories were brought together and I thought it was really clever.

June deals with a lot of real emotion throughout the story as it progresses, such as grievance, loss, love and friendship. Day was equally dealing with some of the same emotions and this made the characters feel a lot more real. Some of the scenes are seriously heartbreaking, so beware :) There were of course characters that I hated, but there’s always one. How they are revealed is especially good as it is not someone who you might suspect. I enjoyed reading about Tess! She seemed really lovely and everyone who you meet along the way all adds something interesting to the mix.

The narrative is split into Day and June’s different perspectives and I really enjoyed how it was set in different fonts to make their personalities jump out from the page. There were numerous amounts of twists and turns that made this book unputdownable! I was shocked one page, laughing the next, it was so good. I literally devoured this book! I enjoyed how the whole new world structure was portrayed, it was very believable and I think that’s very important when writing a dystopian novel.

I don’t think I can stress how good this book is, seriously. It’s just simply amazing! I think you should read it right now if you love dystopians, romance, suspense, action! This book has it all and will not disappoint!

5 out of 5 stars overall.