Review: Die For Me by Amy Plum

Die For Me by Amy Plum
Release Date: May 11th 2011
Publisher: Atom
Cover Love: 10/10
Add to: Goodreads

Goodreads: In the City of Lights, two star-crossed lovers battle a fate that is destined to tear them apart again and again for eternity. When Kate Mercier's parents die in a tragic car accident, she leaves her life--and memories--behind to live with her grandparents in Paris. For Kate, the only way to survive her pain is escaping into the world of books and Parisian art. Until she meets Vincent. Mysterious, charming, and devastatingly handsome, Vincent threatens to melt the ice around Kate's guarded heart with just his smile. As she begins to fall in love with Vincent, Kate discovers that he's a revenant--an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save the lives of others. Vincent and those like him are bound in a centuries-old war against a group of evil revenants who exist only to murder and betray. Kate soon realizes that if she follows her heart, she may never be safe again.

My Review:

Die For Me was absolutely amazing! I cannot believe I hadn't picked it up sooner! It has such a unique and fresh idea that I loved and I can't wait to find out more about all of the characters.

I really enjoyed reading about Kate, she felt very real and was a well rounded character -she was jealous and had feelings that gave her more depth. I felt so sorry for her and Georgia -her sister, when hey have to move to Paris to live with their Grandparents, after a tragic event. Mamie sounds so glamorous! I’d love to have a Nan like her -sorry Nan! :) Georgia copes the only way she knows how, by partying and Kate is the complete opposite, preferring to stay in all of the time. I liked reading from Kate's perspective and she definitely develops as the story progresses. 

Then we meet Vincent. I LOVE Vincent! <3 Where can I get myself one please? :D I'm a official Vince-a-holic! He is so sweet and he truly cares about Kate. He also writes love letters *swoon*, what more could you wish for really?? His 'family' are interesting to read about too! Jules - who's hilarious and I love his flirtiness and can’t wait to read more about him, Ambrose, Charles and Charlotte. I was particularly interested in their back stories, as it made their characters become even more real and were very revealing in how they have affected their personalities now.

The action scenes were good and exciting, but Die For Me is not jam packed full of them like some other books, as it does focus more on the romance side of things. The romance was so sweet and cute! Everything was so romantic, from the descriptions of Paris -I want to go SO BAD! :) 

Revenants is such an interesting idea that I’ve never heard of before, and it was so fresh and new, I loved it! A Revenant is a person who has to sacrifice their life over and over again, which I thought was very sad. Plus, they have to sleep for three full days every month which is weird :) I enjoyed how they’re contrasted to the Numa (the baddies) too!

Overall, I loved Die For Me! If you haven’t read this yet, I would strongly recommend that you do and soon :) I cannot wait to read Until I Die (the second book) to discover more.

5 out of 5 stars.

Waiting on Wednesday (11)

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

Burn For Burn by Jenny Han + Siobhan Vivian
Release Date: September 18th 2012
Goodreads:
BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY... THEY GET EVEN. Lillia has never had any problems dealing with boys who like her. Not until this summer, when one went too far. No way will she let the same thing happen to her little sister. Kat is tired of the rumours, the insults, the cruel jokes. It all goes back to one person– her ex-best friend– and she's ready to make her pay. Four years ago, Mary left Jar Island because of a boy. But she's not the same girl anymore. And she's ready to prove it to him. Three very different girls who want the same thing: sweet, sweet revenge. And they won't stop until they each had a taste.

Taken by Erin Bowman
Release Date: April 16th 2013
Goodreads: 

There are no men in Claysoot. There are boys—but every one of them vanishes at midnight on his eighteenth birthday. The ground shakes, the wind howls, a blinding light descends...and he’s gone. They call it the Heist. Gray Weathersby’s eighteenth birthday is mere months away, and he’s prepared to meet his fate–until he finds a strange note from his mother and starts to question everything he’s been raised to accept: the Council leaders and their obvious secrets. The Heist itself. And what lies beyond the Wall that surrounds Claysoot–a structure that no one can cross and survive. Climbing the Wall is suicide, but what comes after the Heist could be worse. Should he sit back and wait to be taken–or risk everything on the hope of the other side?

Erasing Time by C.J.Hill
Release Date: August 28th 2012
Goodreads:
In this high-action and romantic futuristic adventure, there is no escape from the future for two contemporary girls pulled out of their own time.
When twins Sheridan and Taylor wake up 400 years in the future, they find a changed world: domed cities, no animals, and a language that’s so different, it barely sounds like English. And the worst news: They can’t go back home.
 The twenty-fifth-century government transported the girls to their city hoping to find a famous scientist to help perfect a devastating new weapon. The moblike Dakine fights against the government, and somehow Taylor and Sheridan find themselves in the middle. The only way to elude them all is to trust Echo, a guy with secrets of his own. The trio must put their faith in the unknown to make a harrowing escape into the wilds beyond the city. 

These are the books I'm waiting for this week, what about you? :)
 

Teaser Tuesday (11)

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!

~

[I haven't done this for ages, but I was SO excited about my current read, I thought I'd give you a taster! :)]

Darkness Before Dawn by J.A. London

Goodreads: This electrifying new trilogy blends the best of paranormal and dystopian storytelling in a world where the war is over. And the vampires won. Humans huddle in their walled cities, supplying blood in exchange for safety. But not even that is guaranteed. Dawn has lost her entire family and now reluctantly serves as the delegate to Lord Valentine, the most powerful vampire for miles. It isn’t until she meets Victor, Valentine’s son, that she realizes not all vampires are monsters....

"We had vampires in our midst and all we wanted to know was their opinions about us. We were so egocentric and oblivious, eager for entertainment. We're not so entertained now."

"Not all the monsters have fangs."

[I'm really enjoying this book at the moment, it's really good! I hope it stays like this!]

Review: The Selection by Kiera Cass

The Selection by Kiera Cass
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: June 7th 2012
Cover Love: 9/10
Source: Review
Add to: Goodreads

Goodreads: Thirty-five beautiful girls. Thirty-five beautiful rivals… It’s the chance of a lifetime and 17-year-old America Singer should feel lucky. She has been chosen for The Selection, a reality TV lottery in which the special few compete for gorgeous Prince Maxon's love. Swept up in a world of elaborate gowns, glittering jewels and decadent feasts, America is living a new and glamorous life. And the prince takes a special interest in her, much to the outrage of the others. Rivalry within The Selection is fierce and not all of the girls are prepared to play by the rules. But what they don’t know is that America has a secret – one which could throw the whole competition… and change her life forever.

My Review:

I absolutely adored The Selection. It's the tale of a young girl called America Singer who lives in a caste divided country and is chosen to take part in the Selection - a process where 35 girls compete for the chance to be married to Prince Maxon. I've heard it being described as Cinderella meets The Bachelor and this is very true!

America is a great character to read about, I felt like I got on really well with her. She was stubborn and not afraid to be herself -which I loved. She must have been the only girl in Illea who didn’t want to take part. She was very funny too and had me laughing most of the time. SPOILER ALERT*(highlight to read) Hooray! Finally someone who doesn’t completely crumble every time a guy breaks up with her! I know it’s very sad, but thank god she wasn’t like some girls who don’t know what to do with their lives and don’t know how they’ll ever be happy ever again! SPOILER ALERT FINISHED* :) I understand why some people don’t like her or she grated them as she was an amazing singer and could play six instruments -or something and had two guys chasing her, but underneath all of that she was a well rounded character.

I felt really sorry for Maxon, he seemed like such a nice guy too. It would be so embarrassing having to find a bride on national TV in front of the whole nation and his parents for the first time. There were certain moments that were just so awkward but in a kind of cute way and I think he’ll definitely grow on me. I liked how he wasn’t how everyone assumed he would be like. He had a sense of humour and seemed really lonely.

I will always be an Aspen fan <3 hehe. I really like him! He’s selfless and truly cares and adores America and this is obvious from the first moment we meet him. There are obviously moments when things go a bit awry but it all comes back together. He’s not in it for the majority of the book, but the bits he are in are wonderful. All the other characters all had their own little personalities too, Marlee sounded so sweet! Celeste, grr.. me and her would not get along. I can see some hair pulling between her and America in the future! :)

The plot is good, not the best as I could guess what was going to happen before it did, but it was still great. The ending is CRUEL! I was flipping the pages happily then BAM end of the story. I was like WHAT?! I need the next one so badly! So beware if you don’t like cliffhangers.

Overall, The Selection is a great story with characters that jump out of the page and will leave you gasping for more.

4 out of 5 stars.

*Thank you to HarperCollins for letting me read this in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Easy by Tammara Webber

Easy by Tammara Webber
Publisher: CreateSpace
Release Date: May 25th 2012
Cover Love: 8/10
Source: Bought
Add to: Goodreads

Goodreads: When Jacqueline follows her longtime boyfriend to the college of his choice, the last thing she expects is a breakup. After two weeks in shock, she wakes up to her new reality: she’s single, attending a state university instead of a music conservatory, ignored by her former circle of friends, stalked by her ex’s frat brother, and failing a class for the first time in her life. 

Her econ professor gives her an email address for Landon, the class tutor, who shows her that she’s still the same intelligent girl she’s always been. As Jacqueline becomes interested in more from her tutor than a better grade, his teasing responses make the feeling seem mutual. There’s just one problem—their only interactions are through email. Meanwhile, a guy in her econ class proves his worth the first night she meets him. Nothing like her popular ex or her brainy tutor, Lucas sits on the back row, sketching in a notebook and staring at her. At a downtown club, he disappears after several dances that leave her on fire. When he asks if he can sketch her, alone in her room, she agrees—hoping for more. 

My Review:
Easy is the perfect contemporary read! This is the first book I've read from Tammara Webber, but it will definitely not be the last. I have Between the Lines and can't wait to start it. The writing style just flows effortlessly, I finished this book very quickly and I'm sure you will too. This book is recommended for older teens as there is sexual content and swearing in it. 

The characters are very likeable and I got along with the protagonist, Jacqueline very well. She is just a normal girl who has her faults and behaves in a realistic way to getting dumped. It was very refreshing to see her develop over time and become her own person. 
Lucas is the main guy in Easy and I loved him! What we learn about him over time is so heartbreaking, I just want to give him a hug. Plus, he's so sexy! ;D There is a major twist involving him too! There is a lot of sexual tension between Lucas and Jacqueline and there are some steamy scenes!
Kennedy seemed like a bit of an idiot to be honest, although he does genuinely care for Jacqueline, he should have been honest with her in the start. 
Jacqueline's friends were very funny, particularly Erin. She just behaves exactly the way any girl does. All of the characters felt very realistic and I enjoyed reading about most of them. Buck is the guy I did not get along with -understandably, if you've read it you know what I'm talking about. Buck is horrible and slimy and creepy and you'll definitely not like him in Easy. 

Easy deals with very real and tough subjects in a mature way and I'm glad it's done this, as it does happen in real life and there is a moral at the end of the story to tell somebody and not to be afraid. The pace of Easy was very fast, I read it quickly because I just wanted to know more. 

Easy is amazing and you should definitely pick it up today. You'll fall in love with Lucas and laugh along with Jacqueline and Erin. A real page turner that's unputdownable. 

5 out of 5 stars.

Review: Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Release Date: October 13th 2009
Cover Love: 9/10
Source: Bought
Add to: Goodreads

Goodreads: For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her...until Patch comes along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment, but after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is far more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel. For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

My Review: Okay, so I've read Hush Hush before, but it was on a library copy and I wanted my own. It was only £1.99 on Amazon the other week so I decided to get it! I'd basically forgotten everything that had happened so decided to re-read it and it's even better the second time around! 

Nora is just an ordinary girl who I really enjoyed reading about. She's strong, witty, determined and I love that. Patch is another great character, he's sexy, sarcastic and flirty. I'd like my very own Patch please ;) I've heard there's Twilight comparisons, but the only one I can think of is the fact that they meet in Biology class. Vee is another great character - she's Nora's best friend and added her splash of humour into Hush Hush. 

The plot was exciting and moved at a very quick pace. There are some very steamy moments between Nora and Patch that will leave your heart racing! I love the banter between the two of them, it made me laugh so much.“You smell good, too,” said Patch. "It’s called a shower.” I was staring straight ahead. When he didn’t answer, I turned sideways. “Soap. Shampoo. Hot water.” Naked. I know the drill.” I feel like their relationship developed at a natural pace, it was obvious they liked each other. There are some shockers that you will not be expecting. Nora finds out that Patch is a fallen angel quite quickly and delves into his memories, she's very accepting of the fact he's an angel. 

Some of the characters have ulterior motives, which we discover as the book goes on and are very creepy! Jules for one, Elliot as well and Miss Greene all have an air of mystery about them and this all becomes clear once you've finished.

The ending leaves a lot open for Crescendo the second instalment and as soon as I'd finished Hush Hush I had to buy it immediately as I needed to know what happened ASAP. Get this book if you love flirty guys, mystery and tension. 

5 out of 5 stars.