My Book Boyfriend #4

My Book Boyfriend is hosted by the awesome blogger Missie at The Unread Reader.   What is My Book Boyfriend you might ask.  Well it is a weekly meme where we talk about a literary crush including stats, a picture of what you imagine he looks like and some quotes from him that make you swoon.  If you are interested in participating please check out Missie blog The Unread Reader.

Shane Collins from Morganville Vampires

Shane is funny, protective, snarky in a loveable way, loyal, gorgeous and one of those guys who doesn't realise how awesome he is.  He can be really sweet but he likes to hide that side.  Plus Shane can also cook a mean chilli!

 

Some of my favourite quotes:

"God, I needed you," he murmured. "I can't even tell you how many times I thought about this. The funny thing is, I don't need you any less now. I think I need you more."
Carpe Corpus by Rachel Caine

"Did you see my ninja move?
That was fast, right?"
"You are not a ninja, Shane."
"I've watched all the movies.  I just haven't gotten the certificate from the correspondence course yet."

Ghost Town by Rachel Caine

He leaned back, eyes half shut, and he was smiling. Shane didn't smile all that much, and it always left her breathless and tingling. There was a secrecy about it like he only ever smiled at her, and it just felt... perfect."Claire, you're being careful right?" He smoothed hair back from her face. "Seriously. You'd tell me if you got into trouble?"
No trouble," She lied, thinking about Monica's not-so veiled threats, and that glimpse of Shane's dad seated across from Oliver in the coffee shop."No trouble at all"
Good" He kissed her again, then moved down her jawline to her neck , and, wow neck nibbles took her breath away. She closed her eyes and buried her fingers in his warm hair, trying to tell him through every touch how much she liked this, like him, loved...
Her eyes came open, fast.
She did not just think about that.
And then, maddeningly, he let go and leaned back, lips damp. He licked them, watching her, and then gave her that slow crazy, sexy smile again.
Go to bed" he said " Before I decide to come with."
The Dead Girls Dance by Rachel Caine

Anyone else crushing on Shane?  Who is your book boyfriend?

Thanks again to Missie for hosting this meme!

Talk to Me Tuesday #4

Talk to Me Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by one of my favourite blog I Swim For Oceans where we will discuss anything (and everything) literary-related in an open forum of honesty.  If you are interesting in participating make sure to go I Swim For Oceans and link your post.

This weeks discussion is:

What makes a great novel for you?

So many things make a great novel for me.  Here is my list:

• Realistic characters that you get emotional invested in.    
• Unique, interesting and gripping plot.  A book that keeps me up all night wondering what is going to happen next.
• Writing that is effortless to read.  It should just flow so you feel like you are there with the characters rather than being told a story.
• Most importantly a book that when I finished I can't stop thinking about. I love books that get me thinking about the message in the story.  That get me wondering what I would have done in the main characters position.   Would I have chosen the same path.  Book that when you are finished you just want to talk to everyone about. 

 Some novels that I adore:

What makes a great novel for you?

Thanks again to Melissa for hosting this meme.

Matched by Ally Condie

Matched by Ally Condie
Publication date: 30th November, 2010

Goodreads description:  Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.  The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

My Review:

Favourite Quote: "Once you want something, everything changes. Now I want everything. More and more and more."

Matched is a book that I have been desperately waiting for and one that was surrounded by a lot of hype.  And I have to say after I finished reading it I feel a little disappointed.  Matched was good but it wasn't that great epic story I was expecting.

What I liked most about this book was the prose.  It was really beautiful. 

"So in the middle of all the noise, I point to the sky. I hope he understands what I mean, because I mean so many things: My heart will always fly his name. I won't go gentle. I'll find a way to soar like the angels in the stories and I will find him. And I know he understands as he looks straight at me, deep into my eyes. His lips move silently, and I know what he says: the words of a poem that only two people in the world know. Tears well up but I blink them away. Because if there is one moment in my life that I want to see clearly, this is it."

The concept was interesting and the world building is well thought out.  It really feels like this could be our future.   But the pace was just too slow for me and that was my biggest problem with Matched.  Basically, after a little while I got a tad bit bored.  There was too much details and not enough action.  I kept waiting for something exciting to happen and when it did the book ended.

Cassia, Ky and Xander they were certainly likeable and interesting but I never really got emotionally invested in them.   Also I felt the romance lacked a little spark and didn't really feel the connection between Cassia and Ky.  I couldn't understand how they could love each other already.  If Cassia had been in love with Xander I would have completely understood because of the years of the close friendship they had.

I am however looking forward to the next installment despite my problems with Matched.  I think it will have all the things that I felt the first book was missing.

Overall, not a bad start to this series.  It just lacked that little something special for me.

Overall Rating: 3/5
Writing: 4/5
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Romance: 3/5
Cover: 4/5

For More Info:  Ally Condie's website

For More Reviews: Inkcrush and Daisy Chain Book Reviews

In My Mail Box #14

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi at The Story Siren and inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.

BOUGHT:
Bloodfever, Faefever, Dreamfever all by Karen Marie Moning - It appears I have caught a 'Fever'.  This is an adult paranormal series.  I don't read many adult books but I am loving this series.  It is very addicting.
Inside Out by Maria V. Synder - YA dystopia.  I haven't read any of Synder books before but heard lots of good things about her writing.
The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney - YA paranormal and debut author of 2011.  This my bookclub read for February.

While I am here just wanted to let you know about a couple of great international giveaways that I have noticed going on:

• The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab (ARC copy) at her blog.
• Unearthly by Cynthia Hand (5 copies) at ALPHA Reader.

What did you get in your mailbox?

Fall For Anything by Courtney Summers

Fall For Anything by Courtney Summers
Publication date: 21st December, 2010.

Goodreads description: From the author of Cracked Up to Be and Some Girls Are comes a gripping story about one girl’s search for clues into the mysterious death of her father.  When Eddie Reeves’s father commits suicide her life is consumed by the nagging question of why? Why when he was a legendary photographer and a brilliant teacher? Why when he seemed to find inspiration in everything he saw? And, most important, why when he had a daughter who loved him more than anyone else in the world? When she meets Culler Evans, a former student of her father’s and a photographer himself, an instant and dangerous attraction begins. Culler seems to know more about her father than she does and could possibly hold the key to the mystery surrounding his death. But Eddie’s vulnerability has weakened her and Culler Evans is getting too close. Her need for the truth keeps her hanging on...but are some questions better left unanswered?

My Review:

Favourite Quote:  "Sometimes I feel hunted by my grief.  It circles me, stalks me.  It is always in my periphery.  Sometimes I can fake it out.  Sometimes I make myself go so still, it can't sense that I'm there anymore and it goes away.  I do that right now."

Fall For Anything made me cry, not just once but several times.  It was such a fiercely emotional read.  I don't think enjoy is the right word to describe how I feel but rather it was a book that affected me, that got under my skin, that I don't think I will forget.

Courtney Summers writing is powerful.  It is just full of emotion.  It deals with suicide in such an honest and real way.  I can say that as a person who has been closely affected by suicide I could relate to this story in so many ways especially looking for answers that will never come, being pushed away by those you love and then watching everyone fall apart.

Not only was it emotional but it was a gripping read.  I devoured it within a couple of hours.  There was no way I could go to sleep without answers like is Eddie and her Mum going to be okay? Is she going to find what she is looking for? What does Culler really want? Will she open up to Milo?  And I was surprised by some of the answers I got.

Eddie, my heart just ached for her.  I just wanted to hug her. Completely likeable and very realistic.  Milo, what a gorgeous and sweet guy.  I loved how he stood by Eddie even as she push him away.  I wanted to hug him too.  Really all the characters were so well written, so fully alive.  Summers has a remarkable way of capturing characters.

Overall, Fall For Anything was intense but great read.  Now, I need to get my hands on the rest of Summers books.

Overall Rating: 4/5
Writing: 5/5
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 5/5
Romance: 4/5
Cover: 4/5

Recommend for fans of :  Beautiful by Amy Reed, 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher

For More Info:  Courtney Summers' website

 For More Reviews: Not Enough Bookshelves and Holes in my brain

My Book Boyfriend #3



My Book Boyfriend is hosted by the awesome blogger Missie at The Unread Reader.   What is My Book Boyfriend you might ask.  Well it is a weekly meme where we talk about a literary crush including stats, a picture of what you imagine he looks like and some quotes from him that make you swoon.  If you are interested in participating please check out Missie blog The Unread Reader.

Jay Heaton from The Body Finder

Jay is the perfect boyfriend.  He is protective, understanding, super sweet, sexy, he will be your bestfriend as well as your boyfriend and he is gorgeous and doesn't even realise it.  He is one of the few literary crushes that I have who is a nice guy.  Normally I prefer the bad boys but Jay is irresistible.

He cringed as he bent down and looked at the angry red scrapes on both her knees.  He reached out to lightly brush away some of the dirt from them, but she knew that he was afraid of hurting her, so he barely touched them.  "We'd better get you back so we can clean them up."  He straightened, and then surprised her by picking her up as he started to carry her along the trail.

Instead, he reached out and grabbed her hand.  "If it's all right with you, I think I'll keep a hold of you anyway......."

"I just came to say good night," he said between hungry kisses.

"So say it."

He kissed her again, and then again but he never said good night........or good-bye."

Are you crushing on Jay too?  Who is one of your nice guy crushes?

Talk To Me Tuesday #3

Talk to Me Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by one of my favourite blog I Swim For Oceans where we will discuss anything (and everything) literary-related in an open forum of honesty.  If you are interesting in participating make sure to go I Swim For Oceans and link your post.

This weeks discussion is:  What genre do you read and why?

That is a hard question as I pretty much read all genres.  I think it comes down to being a well written story, full of believable characters together with an interesting plot.  But contemporary and paranormal would be my favourite two (and complete opposites).

My favourite thing about contemporary fiction is the characters.  They tend to be more realistic and my heart tends to get more invested in the story.  While paranormal is a good escape from reality.  I love all the action and adventure.  I find it generally has a faster moving plot making it unputdownable.

Some favourite paranormal titles:

Some favourite contemporary titles:

I struggle most with fantasy and sci-fi.  The world building tends to be heavy and I lose interest quickly.  There are certainly some books in those genres that I enjoy but overall I don't read a lot of them.  So if you have any suggestions that I must try let me know!

What genre do you prefer? What are some of your favourite paranormal and contemporary titles?

Thank you to Melissa at I Swim For Oceans for hosting this meme.