Book Shelf: The Trouble with Faking (The Trouble #3) by Rachel Morgan

After a stupid miscommunication, everyone in Andi’s new res thinks she’s secretly dating Damien, boyfriend of resident queen bee Charlotte. Since the rumour’s already out there and refuses to be squashed, Andi and Damien decide to keep up the facade in the hopes of snagging the attention of the people they really want to be with. Brilliant plan, right? Especially since Damien is the guy Andi’s always wanted. But now there’s Mike, the guy Andi’s pretending to be interested in for the sake of the fake relationship plan, and Noah, Damien’s annoying best friend—who is so not Andi’s type—and suddenly the plan isn’t looking so brilliant anymore.

More info on Goodreads......


Review:

The Trouble with Faking is the third instalment in Rachel Morgan’s Trouble series and is an extremely addictive, carefree and adorable romance that is quite easily my favourite in the series so far!

Andrea "Andi" Clark has been in love with her best friend, and childhood next door neighbour Damien for as long as she can remember. Starting the semester at the same university that Damien attends brings the two in close proximity to each other and when Damien suggests that they "pretend" to be dating in order to make the people they really like jealous, Andi decides to take the opportunity to try and convince Damien that she’s really the one for him. It seems like a dream come true, but as Andi begins to spend time with Damien’s cheeky best friend and gets to know the boy who’s always held her heart it quickly becomes clear that sometimes what you think you want isn’t what you need at all…..

Having enjoyed the first and second book’s immensely in this series, I was super excited to read Andi’s story. Andi is quirky and eccentric and a booklover, so I always knew I would like her, but I didn’t expect to enjoy her story as much as I did. The Trouble with Faking is my favourite novel in this beautifully paced and told series so far and won me over from the moment I began reading. Or if I’m honest, the moment I met Noah…..

Rachel Morgan manages to pack a lot of fun into The Trouble with Faking it. Andi has such a vibrant personality and she’s very sharp and this comes across wonderfully within the story. I hate to give away any spoilers, but it becomes clear (or at least it was to me) where Morgan is going with Andi’s relationship. It was so wonderful watching her slowly fall for the guy that she does and discover that happiness doesn’t always mean perfection.

There’s a fabulous connection between Andi and her love interest and I loved seeing how Morgan added some colour and diversity to the novel. The characters are fabulous, especially Noah who is seriously swoon-worthy and smile inducing. Honestly, he was just all round awesome and I would certainly go gaga for a guy like him.

Fun and so enjoyable, The Trouble with Faking it is another brilliant Trouble novel that does not disappoint. Rachel Morgan does it again and leaves me raring for the next instalment stat!

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by the author (Thank you Rachel!)
Format: Kindle ebook
Buy it: The Book Depository | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
My Recommendation: Fans of contemporary YA will love this series.
Cover: I'm actually really digging this shade of green on the cover--it's pretty.
Will I read sequel/continue with series: Yes.

Owl Post #88

Inspired by The Story Siren's In My Mailbox, Owl Post allows us bloggers to showcase the books we've bought, won or received throughout the week and is hosted by Brodie over at Eleusinian Mysteries. We all know that the Owl Post is the fastest way to send and receive mail and they certainly make me happy every time they drop a book off.  

It's that time again :) Check out what books I received last week!

  I Bought:

- A Tangle of Gold by Jaclyn Moriarty - My Sister Rosa by Justine Larbalestier On Saturday I went into Newtown and attended a high tea at the Better Read Than Dead bookshop to support the release of Jaclyn Moriarty's, A Tangle of Gold--the third and final novel in her Colours of Madeleine trilogy. Moriarty was questioned by author Justine Larbalestier, and both authors signed books afterwards. It was a great afternoon of tea, food, books and fun. I needed to buy a finished copy of A Tangle of Gold and I couldn't pass up the chance to get My Sister Rosa.     I Won:

- Captive Hope by Rachael Ritchey I was lucky enough to win a signed copy of Captive Hope, the second book in Rachael Ritchey's Twelve Realms series as part of a Goodreads Giveaway. This book sounds really interesting and although I'm not sure if I can read it without having read book one, I'm excited about reading it in the near future :)   And that's me this week! What did the owls bring YOU?  

 

Book Shelf: The Unidentified Redhead (Redhead #1) by Alice Clayton

When Grace Sheridan returns to Los Angeles to become a working actress, it’s a second shot at a life-long dream. With some help from her best-friend agent, will that dream become a reality—or at thirty-three, has Grace missed her chance at the big time? And when an unexpected sizzling romance with Jack Hamilton, the entertainment industry's newest “it” boy, threatens to shine an uncomfortable spotlight on her life, how will that affect her career…and his?

Funny, borderline neurotic Grace is perfect in her imperfections, and the sexual chemistry between her and charming yet blissfully unaware Jack is off the charts. With laugh-out-loud dialogue and a super-steamy romance that will get your heart racing, sneaking around in L.A. and dodging the paparazzi has never been so fun.

More info on Goodreads.....


Review:

The Unidentified Redhead is Alice Clayton’s first foray into the literacy world and is a fun and saucy read that shows Clayton has been spot on since her debut!

The Unidentified Redhead introduces readers to Grace Sheridan, a thirty-three year old aspiring actress who is on the precipice her acting career taking off. She’s fit, feeling better than ever, and ready to take on the world. Especially when she meets twenty-four year old Jack Hamilton, Hollywood’s hottest up and coming actor and a man who makes Grace weak in the knees by just one look. Age isn’t an issue when this crazy redhead and sexy Brit are together and soon what starts out as innocent sexual innuendos heads towards a romance that neither can deny is hotter than hell and downright frightening in how real and life changing it feels……

As a huge fan of Alice Clayton’s Wallbanger series, I was excited to go back to her debut series and see the novel that began her writing career. The Unidentified Redhead kicks off the Redhead series and I have to say I very much liked what I saw with this first novel. Though Wallbanger is still my preference, The Unidentified Redhead was still a fun and flirty read that feature’s Clayton’s trademark silly humour and sexy intimate moments.

Grace and Jack were a really adorable couple to follow. Grace is a strong and independent woman and Jack is the typical twenty-four year old guy—silly and sexually driven, but someone who also seemed like an old soul at times and who went neck and neck with Grace. One of the reasons these two seem to work so well is that Grace has a really silly side and is very cheeky. She’s quick to make a humorous joke and appreciated all the goofy aspects of Jack. There’s a balance to their relationship that comes across quite quickly and I thought Clayton did a great job of exploring the age gap between the two and how the difference in their ages was more an issue to the world around them than Grace and Jack themselves.

There’s a lot of physical moments between Grace and Jack and boy were they scorching. Foreplay with them is sexier than ever with our two lovers taking their time before they do the deed. I have to admit I appreciated the build-up and seeing them get to know each other. That being said, there was a lot of erotic moments between them with tongues, hands and other body parts coming into play in the lead up to the sexual consummation of this relationship.

With Jack an up and coming leading actor and Grace chasing her dream in show business, Alice Clayton ends The Unidentified Redhead at a crucial point in their lives and leaves the story open for their next chapter. I’m looking forward to seeing how these two deal with being apart and what will happen between them next!

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by Simon & Schuster (Thank you guys!)
Format: Paperback
Buy it: Bookworld | The Nile | The Book Depository | Amazon
My Recommendation: Perfect for lovers of chick-lit and NA.
Cover: I think it's simple but fitting.
Will I read sequel/continue with series: Yes.

Cover Trends: Water

If you're anything like me, you're a sucker for a pretty cover. Sure the saying don't judge a book by it's cover is true, but how often do we readers get swept away by an awesome cover? And there's some awesome ones out there--but do you notice that there are a few themes that often seem to reappear?

Over the coming weeks, and possibly months, I'm going to share some of the trends I've seen and my thoughts on them. This week I'm starting with.......

Water Covers:

 

There's something oh so beautiful about covers featuring couples or characters underwater. They're ethereal and stunning to behold. Whether the novel features an ocean/water based storyline themselves (mermaids, selkies, sirens etc) or are just rocking the water cover, books with the blue depths themselves are some of my faves!

What do you think about water covers?

Do you think they're as beautiful as I do?

And what are some of your faves?

Book Shelf: Broken Sky (Broken #1) by L.A. Weatherly

Welcome to a ‘perfect’ world.

Where war is illegal, where harmony rules.

And where your date of birth marks your destiny.

But nothing is perfect.

And in a world this broken, who can Amity trust?

From the bestselling author of the Angel trilogy comes Broken Sky – an exhilarating epic set in a daring and distorted echo of 1940s America and first in a new trilogy.

More info on Goodreads.....


Review:

Author of the bestselling Angel series L.A Weatherly is back with Broken Sky, a powerful and exciting novel set in an alternate 1940’s that features a strong heroine, harrowing danger and plenty of suspense!

Broken Sky introduces readers to an almost dystopian like alternate 1940’s world, where American as we know it is non-existent. Instead the world is separated into different states and nations that operate differently and are run by different leaders. It’s a world where war is a past occurrence and nations instead battle over government and economic issues through a series of flights where opposing pilots engage in one-on-one air strikes against each other until one plane goes down—usually with the pilot parachuting out—with the other side winning the fight and the rights over whatever conflicts they were battling for. Each nation and their conflicts are overseen by a neutral party called the World for Peace.

Heading into this novel I wasn’t really sure what to expect. The description of the novel doesn’t give much away, but Broken Sky quickly drew me in. L.A. Weatherly presents a very vivid and authentic alternate 1940’s world in Broken Sky and was reminiscent of the movie Pearl Harbour—without the air attacks and huge loss of life. I was really impressed with all the different details Weatherly included to bring Broken Skies to life; the slang, the dialogue, the clothes etc. The very way of life for the characters was so reminiscent of 1940’s life but with an alternate twist. I also commend her on allowing females to be strong flyers and fighters, something that wasn’t always true for this time.

Our heroine in this novel is Amity Vancour, a Peacefighter—a pilot that flies for the Western Seaboard. Amity is very strong and personable. She’s not naive and is a really fighter. Amity has a strong belief in what she believes to be right and she fights whole heartedly for this. She comes across as guarded to those who meet her, but as we follow her throughout the story, it’s obvious she cares deeply.

The Western Seaboard’s greatest threat in Broken Sky is the Central States, led by a man by the name of John Gunnerson whose belief in astrology and the power of star signs sees him rule with an iron fist. In the Central States, those with bad star signs are labelled Disordinant and sent to correction camps and with a majority of the population of the Central States living in fear. Weatherly includes a villain in Gunnerson, a man whose dictatorial methods are a threat to all the other nations around him. Gunnerson has big plans for expanding his state and doesn’t care what methods he uses including espionage, bribery and murder.

Though Broken Sky predominantly follows Amity, we also see a portion of the story follow Kay Peirce, a Central States astrologer whose choices and predictions have harrowing effects on Amity’s life and those of the Western Seaboard. Kay doesn’t believe in astrology, but her intelligence and ability to read people keep her alive under Gunnerson’s watchful eyes. It’s really interesting to see how Kay’s predictions effect Amity; they never meet and they don’t know each other, but their lives are inexplicably intertwined.

L.A. Weatherly packs the story with a great cast of minor characters including many of Amity’s Peacefighting comrades and her love interest Collie—the boy who has always owned her heart, but whose disappearance changed something in her. Amity’s mother and brother Hal are also great additions and I’m eager to see whether their roles grow in the coming novels.

With plenty of suspense and unexpected twists, Broken Sky isn’t always predictable and features an ending so unexpected you’ll be left gaping. Fast paced and fantastically detailed, Broken Sky by L.A Weartherly is a unique dystopian style novel well worth a read that leaves me aching for more!

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by Harper Collins Australia (Thank you Holly!)
Format: Paperback
Buy it: Bookworld | The Nile | The Book Depository | Amazon
My Recommendation: If you enjoy sci-fi and dystopian reads, Broken Sky will be perfect for you.
Cover: Simple, but fitting considering the time period the novel is set.
Will I read sequel/continue with series: After that ending? Hell to the yes!

Book Blitz: The Changelings by Elle Casey- Excerpt & Giveaway

Today the Book Blitz for The Changelings by Elle Casey stops by the blog thanks to Xpresso Book Tours. Currently FREE on most sites including Amazon, I've got a great excerpt to pique your interest and a tour wide giveaway to win 1 of 10 ebook copies of book two.

___________________________________

NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR, ELLE CASEY brings readers Book 1 in the YA Urban Fantasy WAR OF THE FAE Series.

Jayne Sparks, a potty-mouthed, rebellious seventeen-year-old and her best friend, shy and bookish Tony Green, have a pretty typical high school existence, until several seemingly unrelated incidents converge, causing a cascade of events that change their lives forever. Jayne and Tony, together with a group of runaway teens, are hijacked and sent into a forest, where nothing and no one are as they seem. Who will emerge triumphant? And what will they be when they do?

Content Warning: Mild violence and significant foul language within. Meant for older Young Adult readers (age 15+).

Add on Goodreads!

Get it for FREE:

Amazon | Google Play | Kobo | iTunes

 

From The Changelings......

I couldn’t take much more of the high school nonsense.  I felt like I wasn’t supposed to be there.  Where would I be if I weren’t there? ... I don’t know.  All I did know was I was in the middle of all that crap, going to class, taking tests - but I was on autopilot, going through the motions, waiting for life to start happening.  

Sitting in World History and bored out of my mind, I was looking at a girl one row over who was the polar opposite of me. She was staring attentively at the teacher, her pen poised above an already nearly full page of notes, eager to write down every nugget of educational wisdom he was throwing our way.  She loved high school, and she had big plans for moving on to college next year.  She had cheer practice after school and a boyfriend named Mike who played wide receiver on the football team.  Ugh.  

I owned a pen.  I probably had some paper somewhere in my backpack too.  That day, however, I was using my pen to draw symbols all over my right hand - temporary tattoos.  I write and eat with my left hand but do just about everything else with my right.   My own body was confused with what it was supposed to do.  

I was in the minority in that school.  It seemed like just about everyone else knew exactly what they were doing now and what they were going to be doing until the day they died.  Me?  I didn’t have a clue.  All I knew was this wasn’t it. 

Want more? Grab your copy of this FREE novel today!

 

Elle Casey, a former attorney and teacher, is a NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY bestselling American author who lives in Southern France with her husband, three kids, and a number of furry friends. She has written books in several genres and publishes an average of one full-length novel per month.

Visit Elle:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

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Waiting on Wednesday #126

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking The Spine where you can spotlight an upcoming release that you're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting on.....  

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
Releases on: May 3rd 2016
Add on Goodreads!

Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court--but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people.

 

Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms--and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future--and the future of a world cleaved in two.

 

With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas's masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights.

Thoughts:
I LOVED A Court of Thorns and Roses and I'm soooooo excited for this sequel. Sarah J. Maas is just an amazing writer. My only fear is a love triangle--I really don't want to a love triangle. Tamlin is the bomb and I don't wanna see Feyre even looking at another man!

What do you think of A Court of Mist and Fury? Do you love this series?

And what are YOU waiting on this week?