Thursday 30 April 2015

Anticipated YA releases: May 2015



So May 2015 has A LOT  of new releases coming out that I am PRE-ORDER RELEASE DAY exceeded and I thought I'll share the top 5 books I'm looking forward to be getting my hands on (and reading DUH!).

Note: Click on the title for more info on the books


The final installment in the Pandora Jones series!

The ending of the second book turned the whole story 360 and made me want to know what in the world is happening in this world!

Its a great Aussie Apocalypse YA with a hint of supernatural elements. Expect fast pace action, friendships and a good air of mystery!

Fans of The Maze Runner Series and Divergent should give this series a go!

Check out :
Admission (Pandora Jones #1): (Review Here)
Deception (Pandora Jones #2) : (Review Here)



Okay I am very late on the Sarah J. Mass wagon and hopefully in May I can start get onto reading one of her books.

I just placed an order for Throne of Glass though I might start with this one as its said to be a retelling of beauty and beast.

Also I have been snooping trough some book bloggers book hauls and most of them who hauled this book got a masquerade mask! I'm looking forward to seeing if there any masquerade balls.










First off... can we just STOP AND DROOL AT THE PRETTY COVER!?!?

I love The Selection series though I had a bit of mix feelings when I first heard of The Heir coming out.The One was a great conclusion to the series but thinking back it did have some loose ends and some forshadow for the future of the series.

I wanted to read something that was not a selection book from Keira Cass but since this is both a fan and (I assume) publisher request, I guess an expansion of the series is called for. 

I'm looking forward to this as it takes place 20 years in the future from The One. Not gonna say anything else as SPOILERS!!!

If you have yet to read The Selection Series check it out as its 'The Hunger Games' meets 'The Bachelors' and yes its Reality TV addictive!




I only read one book by Jenny Han which was the previous book in this dualogy 'To all the boys I Loved Before' and adored it to pieces! It was one of my top books of 2014!

I'm looking forward to this as the last book left me with my heart in pieces and was half way trough putting it back together.

Can't wait to read more of Lara Jean, Peter and Kitty in this installment!

Check out this dualogy for a heartwarming yet complex emotional story about first loves and sisters.

Also Check out To All The Boys I Loved Before:
Goodreads (Click Here)
Book Review (Click Here)

Also check out my Top books of 2014 (Click Here)


Saving the best for last Extraordinary Means is my most anticipated book of the month!
Robyn Schneider's previous book The Beginning of Everything (or Severed Heads and Broken Hearts in the UK/AUS)  is one of my all time favorite books! Like top shelve favorite! Its a book that I shove down people's faces and tell them READ THE DANG BOOK!

So I happy danced when I heard that she was coming out with a new book this year and happy tapped danced while I did a back flips in the rain when I received an e-ARC from the publisher on Netgalley earlier this year! 

Yes I already read the book on my Kindle, the advance copy and I LOVE THIS BOOK TO DEATH AND NEED A GALLON OF STARBUCKS TO GET OVER THE END! 

I have a lovely hardcover pre-ordered from the bookdepository (along with PS I Still Love You)

A way to describe this book is if John Green's 'Looking For Alaska' and TFIOS had a kid, and the kid was a harry potter and doctor who fangirl who loves the Butter Beer secret Starbucks menu, Extraordinary Means will be that beautiful off spring! 

I'll put up a review of her previous book The Beginning of Everything in the next couple of weeks and a review of Extraordinary Means on the release date but just so you know though I did get an ARC of this I still went out and bought (with my own $$$) a copy of the book! 

Till then you can check out my thoughts on The Beginning of Everything on:

Top Books of 2014 (Click Here)
Top 10 Influential Books (Click Here)
Book Review (Click Here)

So that's my anticipated books for the month of May 2015. There might be more that I'm missing so let me know in the comments your anticipated books for the month that I should check out! 

Also Check out my list of anticipated book to movie adaptation of the year (Click here).

Till Next Time








Saturday 25 April 2015

Book Review: Every Move (Every #3) by Ellie Marney


Goodreads Description: 

The sequel to Every Breath and Every Word.

After the dramatic events of London, a road trip back to her old home in Five Mile sounds good (in theory) to Rachel Watts, with her brother Mike in the driving seat. 

But when Mike picks up his old buddy – the wildly unreliable Harris Derwent – things start to go south. Back in Melbourne, Rachel’s ‘partner in crime’, James Mycroft, clashes with Harris, and then a series of murders suggest that the mysterious Mr Wild – Mycroft’s own personal Moriarty – is hot on their tail. When tragedy strikes, Rachel and Mycroft realise they’ll have to recruit Harris and take matters into their own hands…




https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18516682-every-move

Title: Every Move (Every #3)
Author: Ellie Marney
Genre: Conteporary, Thriller, Mystery, Crime, Romance
Format: paperback
Pages: 340 pages
Publisher:  Allen & Unwin
Source: purchased from Dymocks








My heart is not the same after reading this book.. or series...





One heart attack after another, this book has my emotions flying all over the place! I need a moment as I lost count how many times I held my breath.

Its been about two months since the event of Every Move. Rachael and Mycroft both suffer the aftermath of being captured and tortured by Mr Wild's men. Long story short, they are both very mess up as Mycroft has not been eating and Rachael suffers PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) like being overly alert and jumpy with her surroundings and sleep deprived as she is afraid of the nightmares.

The plot drove me off the edge! I was in a crossroad between devouring the book as fast as possible and taking my time and enjoying this last installment! I love how it once again throw us instantly into the action, one WTF moment after the other! Its darker, more sinister and definitely more dangerous. I'm not kidding as A LOT OF THINGS KEEP HAPPENING! BOTH GOOD AND BAD! Also I enjoyed connecting the dots and was mind browned with how the clues all adds up! 

I sucked into the book from the prologue! Also I love how each Every book starts with a prologue and where Rachael compares life on the farm with what's currently going on with her life (also very random but I keep thinking of the show Dance Academy as each episode starts with the MC comparing her life in the country and where she is now.. yes I love that show... ALL THREE 
SEASONS!). 

The writing is one of my favorite things about this series! Its beautiful and witty yet a roller coaster or feels! Ellie Marney's writing rips your heart apart and slowly put them back together.

I love how we get see Rachael pick up from the events of 'Every Word' where she is not only trying to be stronger mentally but physically for the coming events. She's one of the most realistic characters I've read as we watch her fall and struggle and slowly raise and build back herself to be more confident and kick-ass than before. 

A way to sum up my though about Mycroft in this book is that some stuff he does I'm like 'stupid!! stupid!! why?! WHY?!' and then I'm like 'what?! that does not make sense! what the?! how?!' and then he explains all the mad scientist genius stuff in his head and I'm like :




James Mycroft you are both an IDIOT and a GENIUS. Its a good thing that he's tall, dark and sexy (especially when he goes on a tangent on science!). 





Also feels! lots of them! Mycroft finally has closure to his parents death and can properly grieves  which is something he has been holding back trough the whole series. I was brought to tears and feels when we got to know the truth about Mycroft's parents! Poor Guy! I want to give him a hug!

Watching both Rachael and Mycroft recover from their London ordeal was slow and steady as well as realistic. It humanizes them especially Rachael as we watch them both broken and slowly pick themselves back up. 

Also their relationship hits a bumpy road in this installment. They are trying to work out their relationship which has already been establish and grown from your 'just friends turn romance' in Every Breath to something more. I love their romance and its one of the best paced out romance in a series I've ever read. It took its time to build to a point where its believable and that you not only care for their characters but their ship! The best way to sum up their romance in this book is that its way past the 'sweet innocence' we saw in the first book but along the lines of passionate and deep. Grab your popcorn guys and get ready to swoon and giggle *hint *nudge *wink.

Like every book we not only see familiar characters but are introduced to new ones.

In this book we are introduced to Harris, Mike's best friend from Five Miles who comes back with them to the City as well as teaches Rachael self defense. I have a bit of a hit and a miss with him as he was messing with my ship but he manages to redeem himself in the end. 

As always I love the cast of side characters!

Rachael's brother Mike was awesome! Like I mentioned in the previous book reviews, I love the sibling elements and interaction which is one of the best that I've read.

I was happy to read more about Mai and Gus in this installment and how they help Rachael and Mycroft! If I could ask for another book about any characters I'll love a book about Mai and Gus as I adore them and won't mind reading a whole book of them!

I liked reading about Rachael and her Mum's relationship as after her spontaneous trip to London caused their relationship to be a bit rocky. Even so seeing how they resolve their relationship was a great side story of Rachael trying to win back her mum's trust. 


Like each installment, this book brings Rachael and Mycroft to a new location. Apart from Melbourne, we get to see Rachael's home town Five Miles. I like reading about the place and where Rachael grew up. Its bittersweet especially when Rachael talks about her now empty house and the memories.

Overall Every Move well wrapped up ending! This contemporary series with a crime, thriller and romance twist is one of the more unique and refreshing YA's not to mention have a special place in on my favorite shelve!

The Every series is an addictive, heart gripping, mind blowing and swoon worthy series that I devoured and seeing the series end is rather bitter sweet. I'm happy and satisfied with the ending of Rachael and Mycroft's adventure and hugged the book like I'm hugging an awesome friend when I was done with that last page with a huge smile on my face.


 
My current state after reading Every Move... I have no idea how to move on as I can't stop thinking about this book... yes I got a book hungover and just finished re reading this book!


Long story short READ THE EVERY SERIES!

 



Sunday 19 April 2015

RowLife: Update, Currently Reading, Reading Slump + More!


Heya! I'm BACK!!!

I've been M.I.A for a so long so this blog post to update what's been going on. 

Its been weeks since I last posted a review/post up. Lots of things has been happening which kinda leads me to being in a blogging slump. 

During my summer break, I was on an internship but also learning how to drive I managed to shoot out regular reviews and occasional fun post like Top 10 Bookish Boyfriends and Most Anticipated Movies.

Now that I’m back at Uni, things are busier with assignments and tests to study which leads me to not able to review

I have A LOT of books that I recently finished but just been having a hard time putting my thoughts out which leads me to a blogging block. Gah!

Anyways like I say Lots of stuff have also been happening. 

1) Passing my driving exams


Woo Hoo!! I got my licence *happy dance*! I passed my exams at the end of February. Fast and Furious in real life here I come!

Till then I need a car …

2) Back to reality aka Australia, Uni and studies

One more year of Uni and I’m graduating! I’ve A LOT of assignments this first half of the semester especially since I'm taking subjects that involves more reading and interactions with my group mates. For the first time I'm taking electives in Marketing and Management as in the past I used to stick to Finance (which is my minor) electives. It’s fascinating seeing a side of Business that involves more talking and interaction and less of a calculator.



Its kind of a struggle as I am a bit rusty in the 'writing an essay department' as in finance and accounting  is more on more of math and accounting problems or mid term exams.

Also NEVER leave the essay to the flipping last minute as I had three essay due the week before Easter and being the procrastinator I am I leaved all three essay to the last minute so no sleep but just me typing and rushing out all three essays! Yah I never learn *face palm*

3) Currently Reading


Like blogging I have been in a reading slump thanks to uni but also the last books I read Every Move by Ellie Marney and When You were here by Daisy Whitney gave me a very good book hangover! I rarely get book hangover but I could not stop thinking of the book or even the series so I ended up re reading Every Move.

No joke I now understand the real meaning behind this John Green qoute...


My though are stars I cannot fathom into this constellation is how my brain feels when I was trying to write my review  as its all over the place!

I needed to take a short break on reviewing to be up to date with Uni but also catch up on my thoughts on some of the books that I love cause I read so many books over the holidays my mind is all jumble up and have yet to process come of my recent reads.
Speaking of recent reads, I FINALLY HAVE TIME TO CATCH UP ON READING during my term break! I got some lovely shiny ARCs that I need to get on to reading and reviewing so hopefully I’ll be up by the next week.

The Pretty App by Katie Sise

I love the Boyfriend App (full review here) and was anticipating The Pretty App as we get the point of view of the ‘antagonist ’ in the last book Blake as our main character. Though I was not a big fan of her, she was still intriguing that I wanted to read about her and her history with Audrey. I’m currently halfway trough and gosh I like Blake more than I expected! Also it has a ‘The Selection’ reality TV feel to it which makes it enjoyable as there is lots of drama.
I love drama (shove popcorn into mouth).


I happy danced and skipped back to my dorm from  the post office the moment this was in my hands! I love the concept of it being ‘The Breakfast Club’ meets apocalypse. I read the first chapter of all four characters and so far so good. Gonna read the rest of it as soon as I am done with the Boyfriend app.
I bought this for my brother's birthday (and I forgot to hand it to him! gah!! I'm a terrible sister) as I wanted a 'guy lit' that he will enjoy but after reading the blurb at the back I kinda want to keep it for myself (of share it with him like the good sister I am) as I love the concept of the book. Its like An Abundance of Katherine took a trip to Korea for a League of Legend Tournament. Though I am not a big 'LOL' fan I live in a dorm where some of my friends are fans of the game that got me interested.

4) Every Move Book Launch

I read Every Breath over the holidays on e-book thanks to ibooks for releasing a bunch of  'first in a series' for free. I love the series and each book gets better and better as it progresses.


It was great meeting the author and getting my book signed but also I got to meet up with some of my awesome Aussie booklover friends! 

Every Breath Review (Click Here)

Every Word Review (Click Here)

Every Move Review (Coming soon)

5) Easter Break!!!



Mum and little bro just left a few days ago after visiting me for the break.


I love it whenever my family visits as it means spending time with the ones I love but also GOOD FOOD! haha sorry sucky dinning hall food. 

No joke if you follow me on Instagram (*cough* link on the side) you'll probably see some lovely food pics.

So yah that's some of the stuff that's been happening in my life. I'll get back to regular blogging in the next week after my mid-terms which ends on the 24th April so look out for my next blog post.

Till next time