January 2015

January 2015 Book Haul / Wrap Up / February TBR

January 2015 Book Haul 

I have no Book Haul because well......I didn't get any books O.o

January 2015 Wrap Up

Here's the recap for January!!!! :D

What Was Read:

• The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton
• The Elite by Kiera Cass
• More Than This by Patrick Ness

Project 10 Book:

I restarted the Project 10 Book at the start of this month and I'm currently on 3 books out of 10 :)

1. The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender
2. The Elite
3. More Than This
4. ?
5. ?
6. ?
7. ?
8. ?
9. ?
10. ?

Challenges Progress:

Level Challenge:

3/50 - The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender, The Elite, More Than This.

A-Z Challenge:

1/26 - More Than This

10 From The List Challenge:

1/10 - More Than This

February TBR:

I have actually not set out a TBR for February....I'm just going to go with the flow :)

Top Ten Tuesday #4

Top Ten Tuesday #4

Top Ten Books I'd Love To Read With My Book Club

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and The Bookish and consists of them picking a topic each week for us bloggers to list our Top Ten.

Here is my list which I'd love to read with my book club the YA Book Gang!!:(Sorry this post is late!!!)

1. Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes
I would love to read this book with my book club!! Since I got it for Christmas, it's just been waiting on my shelf, looking at me all solemn asking why are you not reading me???? 
I heard it was great and I'd love to read it with someone so we could discuss the book as we go along or even when we're finished but alas, I may or may not get to read it with my club..
Hopefully I do though, or if any of you guys reading this would like to buddy read it let me know :)

2. The Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas
Tuthis is another book that I got for Christmas along with Falling Kingdoms.I'm actually sure you all saw the post which was created after I received my Secret Santa gifts.
So ya, The Burning Sky, another book I've heard amazing things about and it was on my wishlist for so long and then I finally had it in my hands and now it's just sitting on my shelves pretty much like Falling Kingdoms.
Would anyone like to read it? *cough**cough*book club??? anyone??? 

3. Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys
I've been dying to read this book for ages especially since this authors other books ave been such a hit so ya I wanna read it. 
Does anyone else wanna read it???
Because I've constantly suggested this book for the Book Of The Month in my book club but it never gets voted for :'( So I've given up my losses for a little while before I try again :P
Maybe I'll have to do a whole Moderator's Choice book too O.o That shall be an idea!!!

4. Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick
I would love to read this book with my book club. I read this a few years ago when it was released and I loved it so much and I really, really want to read it again. And what better way to re-read it than with my book club. 

5. A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
Everyone has been raving about this book and about this series and about the tv show and everything. It's Game of Thrones this and Game of Thrones that and I want to jump on the band wagon!!
And I want to do this with my book club because it's such a top read that should be simple right??? 
Let's read this book club!!!

6. Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott
I've heard marvelous things about this book and I really really want to read it with my book club because of such the high reviews that I've seen. 
Even though this seems a bit like The Hunger Games from the synopsis I still want to read it and from what I heard it is nothing like the book mentioned above.

7. Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
Wicked Lovely has been out for years and the whole series is out and well I have a thing for faeries so...... you can guess where I'm going.
Because it is out so long hopefully it'll fit into a spot in the book club in between the new releases.

8. Talon by Julie Kagawa
Talon is a new release of 2014 or 2015 if you live in Ireland and well dragons!!!! Eeeeeehhhhhhh DRAGONS!!!
I've never read a book about dragons but I do love me some dragons and DRAGONS!!!
So yes, that is my enthusiasm and let's read it my book clubbers!!

9. Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson
Since You've Been Gone was such a popular book in 2014 and will probably such as popular in 2015, which is the year I will probably read it with my BOOK CLUB!!!!

10. Jackaby by William Ritter
This book sounds amazing!!! and I really want to read it with my book club :P

First Set of Pictures - Insects & Birds (24/1/15)

First Set of Pictures - Insects & Birds

I can't remember when I took these pictures, well actually I can remember a few and I'll post under the pictures some info about them :)

This picture was taken way back in 2008 when I was at the zoo for the very first time. 

I just loved the half blooming flowers and believe me this plant was twice the size of I was at that time and bees were just swarming all over it. 

It just make a perfect picture, in my opinion.

This butterfly was taken during the summer of 2014. I actually loved this butterfly so much because it kept coming back and you could literally only have a finger's length between us. I also had my little brother taking pictures of this little guy too. This little guy was taken in my backyard and I had to save him / her from my dogs on several occasions......

Here's the same butterfly again.

 And again!!!

Now onto the birds. I believe I took this photo during the Spring/Summer of 2013 out in my backyard.

I had to bait the birds as you may see :P

This is another little bird which I photographed in the beginning of Summer of 2014. 

I was so stressed and hadn't been out photographing for months and then just one day I went out to the bottom of my field and this little guy was looking down at me from above the trees. So I just had to take the picture!!

If any really loves any of these pictures and would like a copy or canvas made of one just contact me :)

Mash-Up

Mash-Up

After some consideration I've decided to add some of my photography work here on my blog (non which is book related as of yet!!!)

I was considering opening a new blog but then I want to keep everything in the one place so all I'm going to do is make a new tab and have the posts under there, if anyone would like to take a look :P You can find the tab over on the side under Photography (it's at the top!!!)

The name of the blog is still going to stay the same and it is still going to be mostly about books and YA books and everything book related just here or there I'll be posting up a post with some pictures or one picture or something of which I've taken myself!!

Also all the pictures which I put up are taken by myself and therefore under copyright.....

TBR Pile of Shame Tag!!!

TBR Pile of Shame Tag!!!

I was watching a Youtube video was was created by Whitty Novels and I just wanted to do the tag so badly that I decided what the heck let's start. Besides it's a good way of tracking my progess, ya, ya, we'll see if I'm completely as hopeless this time next year as I am this year :P 

Here is the video guys, if you want to go watch it :)

Here is my TBR Pile of Shame!!!!

1. Gates of Thread and Stone by Lori M. Lee
2. A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
3. A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin
4. A Storm of Swords I: Steel and Snow by George R. R. Martin
5. A Feast for Crows by George R. R. Martin
6. A Dance with Dragons II: After the Feast by George R. R. Martin
7. Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
8. Dark Heart Forever by Lee Monroe
9. The Cursed Ones by Nancy Holder & Debbie Vigue
10. Tithe by Holly Black
11. The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan
12. Dark Secrets by Elizabeth Chandler
13. The Poison Diaries by Maryrose Wood
14. Forsaken by Jana Oliver
15. The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
16. Long Reach by Peter Cocks
17. Dark Goddess by Sarwat Chadda
18. Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott
19. Slated by Teri Terry
20. What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang
21. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
22. Angel by L. A. Weatherly
23. Halo by Alexandra Adornetto
24. Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrik
25. Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick
26. Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick
27. Finale by Becca Fitzpatrick
28. Torment by Lauren Kate
29. Passion by Lauren Kate
30. Rapture by Lauren Kate
31. Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink
32. The Gates by John Connolly
33. Blood Red Road by Moira Young
34. Birthmarked by Caragh M. O' Brien
35. The Vampire Shrink by Linda Hilburn
36. Reckless by Cornelia Funke
37. Eden by Keary Taylor
38. Touch by Jus Accardo
39. The Dead of Winter by Chris Priestly
40. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
41. The Dead Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan
42. The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan
43. Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes
44. The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa
45. Darkness Before Dawn by J.A. London
46. The Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas
47. Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
48. Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor
49. The Forbidden Game by L.J. Smith
50. Dark Visions by L.J. Smith
51. Revived by Cat Patrick
52. The Poison Garden by Sarah Singleton
53. Kissed by an Angel by Elizabeth Chandler
54. Evercrossed by Elizabeth Chandler
55. Jonas by Eden Maguire
56. Arizona by Eden Maguire
57. Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
58. Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder
59. Fire Study by Maria V. Snyder
60. Evermore by Alyson Noel
61. Blue Moon by Alyson Noel
62. Shadowland by Alyson Noel
63. Dark Flame by Alyson Noel
64. Night Star by Alyson Noel
65. Everlasting by Alyson Noel
66. Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
67. Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr
68. Fragile Eternity by Melissa Marr
69. Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr
70. Darkest Mercy by Melissa Marr
71. The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
72. Rumours by Anna Godbersen
73. Envy by Anna Godbersen
74. Splendor by Anna Godbersen
75. Vampire Diaries Bk 1: The Awakening & Bk 2: The Struggle by L.J. Smith
76. Vampire Diaries BK 3: The Fury & BK 4: The Reunion by L.J. Smith
77. Vampire Diaries: The Reunion - Nightfall by L.J. Smith
78. Vampire Diaries: The Return - Shadow Souls by L.J. Smith
79. Vampire Diaries: The Return - Midnight by L.J. Smith
80. Stefan's Diaries Volume 1 by L.J. Smith
81. Stefan's Diaries Volume 2 by L.J. Smith
82. Stefan's Diaries Volume 3 by L. J. Smith
83. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
84. New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
85. Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer
86. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
87. The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer
88. Resist by Sarah Crossan
89. Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead
90. Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead
91. The Elites by Natasha Ngan
92. My Name Is Memory by Ann Brashares
93. Nocturne by Syrie James
94. Afterlight by Elle Jasper
95. Everdark by Elle Jasper
96. Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer
97. VIII by H.M. Castor
98. Marked by P.C Cast
99. Betrayed by P.C. Cast
100. Chosen by P.C. Cast
101. Untamed by P.C. Cast
102. Hunted by P.C. Cast
103. Tempted by P.C. Cast
104. Burned by P.C. Cast
105. Awakened by P.C. Cast
106. Destined by P,C. Cast
107. Hidden by P.C. Cast
108. Revealed by P.C. Cast
109. Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel
110. Swoon by Nina Malkin
111. Timeless by Alexandra Monir
112. Deadline by Mira Grant
113. Blackout by Mira Grant
114. Storm Glass by Maria V. Snyder
115. Sea Glass by Maria V. Snyder
116. Spy Glass by Maria V. Snyder
117. The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong
118. Crash Into Me by Albert Borris
119. Entangled by Cat Clarke
120. Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys
121. What I Saw And How I Lied by Judy Blundell
122. All The Things We Didn't Say by Sara Shepard
123. Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly
124. Allies & Assassin's by Justin Somper
125. Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick
126. Shadows by Ilsa J. Bick
127. Monsters by Ilsa J. Bick
128. The One by Kiera Cass
129. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
130. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

And that is it!!! 130 Books on my TBR....... Oh the shame :P For my 2015 resolution I plan to get it down to 80 so we'll see how that goes :P And next year we'll get to see what was crossed off and read and what was added, Yay!!!

So guys, I tag anyone else who wants to join in the fun of shaming themselves and their TBR's :)

Top Ten Tuesday #3

Top Ten Tuesday #3

Freebie!! - Top Ten Series I Need To Finish or Catch Up On!!

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and The Bookish and consists of them picking a topic each week for us bloggers to list our Top Ten.

I have a horrible habit of reading the first books or the first couple of books and then not going and finishing the series even though all the books are out!! I also take a long time to continue series as you will see below..... Here is my list:

1. Daughter of Smoke and Bone Trilogy by Laini Talyor
I read both Daughter of Smoke and Bone and Days of Blood and Starlight but haven't yet got around to Dreams of Gods and Monsters even though I really, really, really want to read the book.... I don't know what's stopping me, like it is sitting on my shelf just waiting there. I'm just going to blame all the other books from preventing me from reading this one.

2. The Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo
I have only read Shadow and Bone in this series and absolutely loved the book!! Both Siege and Storm and Ruin and Rising are both out and Ive seen them around plenty of times but I just never both them yet....So at least these ones are not their sitting on my shelves but I really must continue with it.

3. The Lunar Chronicles by Melissa Meyer
I have only read Cinder in this series and I am really ashamed to say that. I should have kept up to date with this series since I bought and read Cinder a while before Scarlet came out but alas, Scarlet and Cress are both out with Winter just around the corner and I have none of these books bought yet....Oh the shame...

4. Partials Sequence by Dan Wells
I read and loved Partials just last year and can't wait to get my hands on the rest of the series. My only problem in doing this is that my editions of the books seems to be unavailable but I have to do a more thorough search and I will find them...

5. Divergent Trilogy by Veronica Roth
This is another one of my shames..... Everyone has read the Divergent series!!! Ya, well I ain't one of them. I read the first book Divergent just last year and do you want to know the funny part of this. I had bought the book way before there was even talk about a movie and then I didn't read it until the movie was out on DVD. I still haven't seen the movie so.... but I have now read the first book and I have to yet purchase the second and third, along with the book of novellas - Four.

6. Ashes Trilogy by Ilsa J. Bick
Ashes is the only book I've read out this trilogy so far even though I have to reread this again!! I was so hooked on Ashes that I bought both Shadows and Monsters the day of their releases but have yet to this day still have to read them.

7. The Chemical Gardens by Lauren DeStefano
The first book, Wither, I bought when it first came out and now the editions have changed so that the books out now are not the tall paperbacks to suit my first edition so I'm in a rut with this own. Mismatched series or not??? That is the question....

8. Delirium by Lauren Oliver
I loved the first book and am just apprehensive getting Pandemonium and Requiem because of reviews that were floating around. A lot of my bookish friends didn't like these last two books and some have even advised me not to bother with them, but I think I may sometime in the future.

9. Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
I've read the first book and really liked it. I own the sequel but haven't read it yet and then there is a third book and plenty of spin offs to get to too...

10. Newsflesh Trilogy by Mira Grant
This I bought the boxset of this and I read the first book Feed last year and I loved it, seriously loved t!! But it was a very heavy, hang-over book and I needed time before I started the next so I plan on reading the next two books Deadline and Blackout this year especially with the new book Rewind coming out soon in 2016!!

Book Review - More Than This by Patrick Ness

More Than This

Author: Patrick Ness

Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Mystery.

Published: May 1 2014

Pages: 480 pages (Paperback Edition) (Walker Books Ltd)

Read: January 2015

Rating: 5 Stars

A boy drowns, desperate and alone in his final moments. He dies.

Then he wakes, naked and bruised and thirsty, but alive.

How can this be? And what is this strange deserted place?

As he struggles to understand what is happening, the boy dares to hope. Might this not be the end? Might there be more to this life, or perhaps this afterlife?

Book 3/60 - 2015 Goodreads Reading Challenge

This book was an impulse buy. I actually didn't even pick it out!! My six year old brother did when he was getting The Incomplete Book of Dragons as they were on the offer of buy one, get one half price, so why not?? So, I got this book late in 2014, maybe in August or September possibly, I can't really remember. Anyway I am really happy that I got this.

I've been dying to read this book for ages. I even planned to read it before 2014 ended but it wasn't the right time. January was the right time though.

I must admit, this is my first ever Patrick Ness read... I know, that's sad, but anyway I went into this book thinking it was a Contemporary / Realistic Fiction read. From the blurb, that's what it seems, but damn I got a lot lot more. I don't even think I can class this book as the above genres. Actually I can't. So for those of you, like me, who think this book is a Realistic Fiction / Contemporary, we're wrong, instead this book is a Science Fiction, Mystery, which is amazing!!!

I was taken on a complete emotional roller coaster with this book and I have to say I enjoyed every bit of it. The only downside to this book was where the hell was the rest of it. It just ends and I wanted so damn much more. I wanted to know more, but by God, it was still an amazing book. 

Every character was so well developed, so unique, that it was as if they were living, breathing people that I knew personally. I felt like I could pluck them straight from the page and have them just appear right in front of me. 

And the concept behind the story. Breathtaking. This made me think so much and I mean I was awake in the middle of the night thinking about the concept behind this book. I sat in my college classes thinking about this book when I should have been paying attention. Alas it did not affect my performance in college but still you get my point, this book and what this book meant was on my mind constantly.

I enjoyed this book so much and you can be sure that even though it was one of the first books I've read in 2015 it will be mentioned in my best books of 2015 at the end of 2015. Wow so many 2015 there.... Anyway a truly enjoyable, deep, make you think book that I am going to constantly recommend from this point forth starting with you guys.

And since I have Patrick Ness's Knife of Never Letting Go on my shelf you can be sure I will be reading it soon!!!


http://www.bookdepository.com/book/9781406350487/?a_aid=yabookaholic123 

The Infinite Cover Release

The Infinite Cover Release

Hey guys!!!! This post is all about celebrating the release of the cover for The Infinite by Lori M. Lee!!

The cover was released on Monday by Lori M. Lee and well what can I say.... IT IS AWESOME!!! I MEAN TOTALLY AWESOME!!! Like damn, the book cover just makes me so excited!!! I though the cover for A Gates of Thread and Stone was absolutely awesome but by God look at the cover for The Infinite.

As a recap here is the cover for A Gates of Thread and Stone:

And here is the brand new cover for The Infinite!!!!

It is absolute awesomness and to make thing better if you head over to Lori M. Lee's facebook page or website you can find wallpapers, twitter headers, facebook cover photos, the absolute lot!! (I now have it as my phone screensaver!! I just can't get enough and you can be sure this will be pre-ordered and in my hands on the day of release in hardback!!!)

The approximate release date for The Infinite by Lori M. Lee is March 10th 2015.

Top Ten Tuesday #2

Top Ten Tuesday #1

Top Ten 2014 Releases I Meant To Read But Didn't Get To

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and The Bookish and consists of them picking a topic each week for us bloggers to list our Top Ten.

Here's my list:

1. Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Talyor
I read both Daughter of Smoke and Bone and Days of Blood and Starlight last year and with the release of Dreams of Gods and Monsters last year I thought I'd get around to reading it but alas I didn't....But this book is on my January TBR so hopefully I'll get it read this month!!

2. Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott

I even bought this this book last year with all intentions of reading it in 2014, of course that didn't happen if it's on this list!!

3. Gates of Thread and Stone by Lori M. Lee

I'm actually starting this book today!!! So it's just a small bit late of 2014 :P

4. The One by Kiera Cass

I didn't read this book in 2014. I even just read The Elite only last week O.o

All the books listed below are ones that I do not have in my possession (yet!!)

5. Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

I've been wanting to read this book!!... And I don't say that much about Contemporaries, so yes I want to read this one though... maybe this year :)

6. A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray

Isn't this book just beautiful??? And the concept of it, amazing??? But now it is yet another 2014 release that I didn't read in 2014....

7. Talon by Julie Kagawa

When I saw this book I wanted it straight away but I never got it :( I haven't even seen it around here yet...

8. Jackaby by William Ritter

I even bought this book for my Secret Santa but haven't got or read it myself. Hopefully I'll get o read it soon though :P

9. The Vault Of Dreamers by Caragh M O' Brien

I wanted to read this book so bad!!! Like all the books mentioned here.... but ya, 2015 ya'll!!!

10. Mortal Danger by Ann Aguirre

This is another book I badly wanted to read when it came out in 2014 and I didn't get or read it...

And I have so many more which I could mention but it's only a Top 10 list ;P So guys, have any of you read these books, would you recommend them?? Are they on your list??

Top Ten Tuesday #1

Top Ten Tuesday #1

Top Ten Most Anticipated Debut Novels For 2015

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and The Bookish and consists of them picking a topic each week for us bloggers to list our Top Ten.

I don't think I'm going to be able to reach 10 because at the moment my list of 2015 releases is actually very small :P

Here's my list:

1. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir (April 2015)

Set in a terrifyingly brutal Rome-like world, An Ember in the Ashes is an epic fantasy debut about an orphan fighting for her family and a soldier fighting for his freedom. It’s a story that’s literally burning to be told.
LAIA is a Scholar living under the iron-fisted rule of the Martial Empire. When her brother is arrested for treason, Laia goes undercover as a slave at the empire’s greatest military academy in exchange for assistance from rebel Scholars who claim that they will help to save her brother from execution.
ELIAS is the academy’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias is considering deserting the military, but before he can, he’s ordered to participate in a ruthless contest to choose the next Martial emperor.
When Laia and Elias’s paths cross at the academy, they find that their destinies are more intertwined than either could have imagined and that their choices will change the future of the empire itself.

It had me at the word Rome!!! Damn it, I want this book now!!And I saw a twitter picture of all the published books last year and they looked so damn good, give me this book!!!.....

2. Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard (February 2015)

The poverty stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers.
To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from The Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change.
Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the centre of
those she hates the most. She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control.
But power is a dangerous game. And in this world divided by blood, who will win?

I think nearly everyone has this book on their wishlist and hopefully it will live up to the expectations!!

3. The Sin Eater's Daughter by Melinda Salisbury (February 2015)

Seventeen-year-old Twylla lives in the castle. But although she’s engaged to the prince, Twylla isn’t exactly a member of the court.
She’s the executioner.
As the Goddess embodied, Twylla instantly kills anyone she touches. Each month she’s taken to the prison and forced to lay her hands on those accused of treason. No one will ever love a girl with murder in her veins. Even the prince, whose royal blood supposedly makes him immune to Twylla’s fatal touch, avoids her company.
But then a new guard arrives, a boy whose easy smile belies his deadly swordsmanship. And unlike the others, he’s able to look past Twylla’s executioner robes and see the girl, not the Goddess. Yet Twylla’s been promised to the prince, and knows what happens to people who cross the queen.
However, a treasonous secret is the least of Twylla’s problems. The queen has a plan to destroy her enemies, a plan that requires a stomach-churning, unthinkable sacrifice. Will Twylla do what it takes to protect her kingdom? Or will she abandon her duty in favor of a doomed love?

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh awesome sounding book. I need it!! I need it now!!! NOW!!!

Ohhhh look!!! I only have 3 books on this list......

Book Review - The Elite by Kiera Cass

The Elite

(The Selection #2)

Author: Kiera Cass

Genres: Young Adult, Dystopia, Romance.

Published: April 23 2013

Pages: 323 pages (Paperback Edition) (HarperCollins)

Read: January 2015

Rating: 4 Stars

The Selection began with thirty-five girls. Now, with the group narrowed down to the Elite, the competition to win Prince Maxon's heart is fiercer than ever--and America is still struggling to decide where her own heart truly lies. Is it with Maxon, who could make her life a fairy tale? Or with her first love, Aspen, who she always thought was the one?

America is desperate for more time. But the rest of the Elite know exactly what they want--and America's chance to choose is about to slip away.

Book 2/60 - 2015 Goodreads Reading Challenge

I got The Elite for Christmas of 2014 and I was delighted because I had read The Selection in 2013 and loved it and I had also bought The One last year in 2014 but alas I didn't have The Elite so that was a definite for my Christmas List.

The sequel for The Selection was good. I enjoyed it. I didn't enjoy it as much as I did The Selection but I still did enjoy it hence the 4 Star rating. The Elite was a quick, easy read.

Just like The Selection had, The Elite contained that smile, it's so easy going atmosphere. Even with the troubles brewing there was never a moment when I felt tense or suspense or any keep you on your feelings. Which isn't a bad thing. This book, these books are a nice, refreshing, easy read where I don't get jarred or shocked or break down in hysterics. As I mentioned in 2013, The Selection was a book that had me smiling the whole way through, The Elite just the same.

The one thing that did bother me slightly was America's character. Sometimes I really just wanted to shake her. There was so much indecision on her part, so much confusion and I didn't think that it suited her or should have went on for as long as it did honestly, just make your god damn mind up America!! Maxon went through quite a transformation too in this book. Is this good or bad?? Hard to say at the minute... I need to see more.... 

The plot was the plot of The Selection - the competition and it's progression. I was shocked at some events and didn't see many of them coming, really didn't see some of them coming at all and I hope we get to see more beyond the competition in The One. I want to find out more on the country, the war, everything else that was sparked beyond the competition itself. Please let me get my answers!!! Or else just soothe my curiosity..

One thing for certain is that I will be delving myself into The One soon, not this month because I'm booked up but soon, definitely before The Heir comes out!! (which is proposed for May 5th)

http://www.bookdepository.com/book/9780062059970/?a_aid=yabookaholic123

Seven Deadly Sins Tag!!

Seven Deadly Sins Tag!! 

Thanks to Cindy at The Book Feels for tagging me for this :) Thank you so much!! :P What you do is simple - answer the questions :P

Greed: What is your most expensive book? What is your most inexpensive book?

My most expensive book is City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare. You know the way Cassandra Clare does those special editions of her books and well Amazon had that special edition and I bought it from there and the shipping actually cost more than the book so ya it cost me around 30 euro. But now that I think about it, I went to London for the City of Heavenly Fire Launch Party so you could actually say that book cost me over 100 euro!!! Ya Cassie, you're breaking me!!!

My least expensive book was Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder which only cost me a euro!! :D

Wrath: What is the author you have a love hate relationship with?

I don't know!! I usually don't have love hate relationships really, well I did once but that was with a guy and he turned into a complete jerk so let's not go there :P Ya, author wise I either love you or I don't. I don't necessarily hate authors, I'm just indifferent to the ones that I don't love....

Gluttony: What book have you devoured over and over again with no shame?

The book I've reread the most is What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell. I like read it four times already but I have a lot of books which I've read last year and the year before that I want to reread like The Book Thief, All Our Yesterdays, The Infernal Devices and so many more but my TBR is overflowing and so therefore rereading would not help that problem!!

Sloth: What book have you neglected due to laziness?

None....I am very active in my reading life :P I know there's books I've neglected because I've hated them but that's a different question...

Pride: What book do you talk about in order to sound like an intellectual reader?

Ha, say what???? Let's just go with Shakespeare. Othella, Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth, all forced to read. But I have to say, the story lines were good, it was some of the language I couldn't get around.... 

Lust: What attributes do you find in male or female characters?

Let's just name a few and then you can make up your minds :P William Herondale, James Carstairs, Magnus Bane, Choal, Dorian, Sam (all from Throne of Glass Series), Dimitri Belikov, and so on and so forth....

Envy: What book would you like to receive as a gift?

The new Harry Potter box set with the new sparkly covers!!!!! Because I know I will probably never end up buying it myself :(

To tag. To tag. To tag. I tag you!!

And also the following people:

A Day In Bookland

Craving Books

Booking Awesome

Book Review - The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton

The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender

Author: Leslye Walton

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Romance, Historical Fiction.

Published: October 2 2014

Pages: 320 pages (Paperback Edition) (Walker Books Ltd)

Read: January 2015

Rating: 5 Stars

Love makes us such fools...

Pain in love appears to be a Roux family birthright, and for Ava Lavender, a girl born with the wings of a bird, it is key to her inheritance.

Longing to fit in with her peers, Ava ventures away from home, ill-prepared for what awaits her in a world that does not know whether to view her as girl or angel. 

Ava's quest and her family's saga build to a devastating crescendo until, on the summer solstice, the skies open up, rain and feathers fill the air and Ava’s fate is revealed.

A mesmerizing, lyrical tale of longing, desire and the nature of love.

Book 1/60 - 2015 Goodreads Reading Challenge

I bought this book as my reward for reading 10 books in the Project 10 Book Challenge. Why I bought this book exactly is a mystery to me. I had just been on a ban for 3 months and I then had the privilege to buy 1 book and I bought this. 

First things first, the cover reeled me in. Who wouldn't it reel in. It's a magnificent cover, simplistic yet complex and the colouring just catches the eye. In person, this book is a hell of a lot more prettier and then the spine is just the prettiest I have ever seen and that is the truth. I then went on to read the blurb which held my interest and finally I cracked and brought this book up to the counter to purchase.

I do not regret it. My judgement was correct when picking up this book and that was that I would absolutely love it. This isn't a book from my usual genres, I actually have never even heard of the genre Magical Realism but this book was just so unique and perfect.

The story is told from Ava Lavender's point of view, even though we don't see her until more than halfway through the book. Instead we see her family line and the line that inevitable led to Ava Lavender and the continuous strange sorrows that just seemed to linger around her family. 

It was intense. It was strange. It was obsence. It was entralling. It kept me hanging on every word as I wanted to learn everything I could about the life and love of Ava Lavender. Honestly, I don't even know what to write for this review. This book is something special and I'm glad I read it and I will read it again and you can be sure that I will be looking out for more of Leslye Walton's books because her writing was just beautiful. All of it was beautiful and it was a great book to start the year off!!

And that is all I can say. Would I recommend this book?? Absolutely. Try it!! Just go pick it up and give it a shot because you won't be disappointed. There should be more hype over this book really, but then again that could make it crash and burn like hypes do most of the time.... 

http://www.bookdepository.com/book/9781406357738/?a_aid=yabookaholic123

Book Review - The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey

The Infinite Sea

(The Fifth Wave #2)

Author: Rick Yancey

Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Apocalyptic.

Published: September 16 2014

Pages: 300 pages (Paperback Edition) (Penguin UK)

Read: December 2014

Rating: 5 Stars

For Cassie Sullivan and the rest of Earth’s remaining human survivors, the situation was already desperate when the 5th Wave hit. It’s about to get worse.

No one yet knows the depths to which Earth’s conquerors—the Others—will sink in order to rid the Earth of the human infestation, nor have they guessed the heights to which the human spirit can reach. Characters introduced in Book One will come to the fore—and others will face the ultimate test.

Readers will watch in awe as the Others give their answer to Cassie’s defiance.

I've seen a lot of people who were disappointed with this sequel. I, for one, was not one of them. I have to admit that when I first saw this book I was shocked by how small it was compared to The 5th Wave. It is like a quarter smaller than that book and that along with the disappointed reviews had my heart on edge when I thought about reading the book.

Of course, I meant to get it when it came out back in September, but I ended up waiting till Christmas and on Christmas Day I sat down and read this with my buddy reading friend on Goodreads Rosie. We read the book in about three days and they were three busy days but I made sure that I got time to read The Infinite Sea. I even stayed up way into the night to read this book the constant nagging voice saying, 'just one more chapter' as my eyes drooped from lack of sleep.

I believe that 'The Infinite Sea' is an amazing sequel. It kept the story style of changing point of views like The 5th Wave had, but they were very different point of views compared to The 5th Wave. Cassie, the protagonist in the 5th Wave, doesn't get as much light in this book as she had in the previous one instead we have Ringer telling most of the story. I loved Cassie very much in The 5th Wave and I was excited at the thought that I would be reading from her point of view again in The Infinite Sea but even though she was a small section in the book, I appreciated the point of views we saw because from this we get a more developed character selection. I have a hell of a lot more respect for many more of the characters that I wouldn't have had in The 5th Wave and I am ecstatic with that. As a wrap up for character development - it was perfect.

The plot itself kept me hooked. There was always something happening. There was always tension and there was always the thought of who can be trusted as deep betrayals were revealed. This atmosphere was much the same as The 5th Wave and was the reason I loved both books so much. There is that constant standing of edge feeling as you flip the next page to find out what happens. You feel the absolute shock when an event happens that you never expected and the aspect that kept me on edge the most - the mini cliffhangers after each section. Because sometimes you don't find out what happens till 1, 2 or 3 other sections have passed. Definitely, a way to keep me hooked.

As I said above I did not suspect, did not see, did not even guess any of the events that unfolded in this book. Everything caught me unprepared and after this book, after the end, I cannot wait till the third book of this series is released this year. And I have to say that that book will be bought by me on the day of its release!!

So everyone, if you've read The 5th Wave and not The Infinite Sea, what's keeping you so long :P I know there are plenty of disheartening reviews out there but you should give it a shot, especially if you loved The 5th Wave. Rosie and I both couldn't get enough of the book, so I believe it depends on the person.
If you haven't read The 5th Wave, I suggest you should!! Any science fiction fan would love this book, even non science fiction fans. I had never read or even contemplated reading science fiction before I read The 5th Wave so that just says something.....

Most importantly Enjoy!!!

Below here are the links to both The 5th Wave and The Infinite Sea on The Book Depository. If you are thinking of buying this book please use my affiliate link :) Thank you :)
http://www.bookdepository.com/book/9780399162411/?a_aid=yabookaholic123
http://www.bookdepository.com/book/9780399162428/?a_aid=yabookaholic123