Friday 31 August 2012

Feature and Follow #12

Weekly Meme hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read.
This is a weekly meme where we answer questions and blog hop to find new blogs to follow. You follow me I will follow you back.

I know that I didn't post much this past week but that is because I had no Internet. I have gone to Spain for a week but I assumed there would be Internet in the place we are staying and therefore I assumed I would be blogging. The Internet wasn't working and only yesterday had it been fixed. I hope to have a lot more stuff up next week. 
Q: Best Cover? What is the best cover of a book that you’ve read and didn’t like?
I love the UK Sarah Dessen covers. I think they are eye catching and unique. The whole 'colour on black' thing also really works for me, and how the big picture is made out of all the little pictures. Lock and Key is one of the three Sarah Dessen novels I have read and the one that I found boring. It was a struggle to finish this one.

Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen


Becky

Wednesday 29 August 2012

Book Review: Hushed by Kelley York

Title: Hushed
Author: Kelley York
Publisher: Entangled
Pages: 229
Release Date: 30th November 2011
Read In: August 2012

Goodreads - Amazon.co.uk/.com - Book Depository
He’s saved her. He’s loved her. He’s killed for her.
Eighteen-year-old Archer couldn’t protect his best friend, Vivian, from what happened when they were kids, so he’s never stopped trying to protect her from everything else. It doesn’t matter that Vivian only uses him when hopping from one toxic relationship to another—Archer is always there, waiting to be noticed.
Then along comes Evan, the only person who’s ever cared about Archer without a single string attached. The harder he falls for Evan, the more Archer sees Vivian for the manipulative hot-mess she really is.
But Viv has her hooks in deep, and when she finds out about the murders Archer’s committed and his relationship with Evan, she threatens to turn him in if she doesn’t get what she wants… And what she wants is Evan’s death, and for Archer to forfeit his last chance at redemption.

This book came just at the right time. I have hit a bit of a bad luck steak, with the previous three books I have read not being ‘on par’, but this one exceeded my expectations.
 
‘Let Vivian go? Archer couldn’t begin to fathom how to do that. Sure she said she didn’t want to see him anymore, but he didn’t really think it would last. Eventually, she’d have enough of Mick or – more likely – Mickey would get bored and leave her, and she’d come crawling back for Archer to pick up the pieces. When she came to ask him for his help, how did he tell her no?’

The whole story was beautifully written and put together. The story flowed so smoothly and everything felt like it had a purpose. The story came to life in my imagination. Even though it was written in third person, it felt like I was reading in the first. We really get inside Archer’s head. The story is completely told from the point of view of Archer. You are able to connect with him. If you describe him on the surface; Archer is a serial killer with major attachment issues. But if you get to know him deeper; you understand his reasons, find out his motives, and discover his personality. You cannot help but fall for him. 

This is one of those books where is doesn’t feel like there is going to be a happy ending. It makes you want to grab every scene and soak it up. It didn’t feel like it was going to last. I have a love/hate relationship with these types of books. The dread that something terrible is about to happen to these characters which I have fallen for, and yet the love that I have for these characters means I want to keep reading. I couldn’t put this book down. 

The romance between Evan and Archer was almost perfect. From the original meeting to the end, it all worked. It didn’t feel too rushed or too slow. It was not too sappy or unbelievable. I loved all the scenes they were together. Even if they were not doing anything physical, you could still feel the connection between then. They didn’t even need to kiss to express love; just be with each other. They were adorable. It wasn’t until Evan came into the picture did you realise how much Archer needed him.

The book ended too quickly. Maybe that is just a personal preference. I wanted a bit more. Maybe not a whole new novel, it is not a book that requires a sequel, just some short stories or snippets. *Hint Kelley hint*. While I didn’t think lots of kissing was needed in the story, in fact it worked better without; I would have liked some more kissing scenes. I’m greedy. 

Hushed is deliciously depressing. I feel like a masochist for actually enjoying this type of story. If you need to read something to cheer yourself up, I would push this one back a few paces. If you are in the mood for a deep love story and watching a man come to huge revelations about his life, pick up Hushed.



 Becky

Saturday 25 August 2012

Stacking the Shelves #12

Meme Hosted by Tynga's Reviews

I have new books! It feels like ages since I got new books. I've missed the feeling you get when they arrive.

For Review
Eve and Adam by Michael Grant and Katherine Applegate
Goodreads
Thank you to Macmillian and Netgalley for the copy.

Bought


  •  Die for Me (Revenants #1) by Amy Plum *Goodreads*
  • Shade (Shade #1) by Jeri Smith-Ready *Goodreads*
  • Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally *Goodreads*

These are three books that I had been meaning to buy for ages. I have finally got round to it. I have heard really good things about all of these books and I am looking forward to reading them.


Becky

Friday 24 August 2012

Feature and Follow #11

Weekly Meme hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read.
This is a weekly meme where we answer questions and blog hop to find new blogs to follow. You follow me I will follow you back
Q: Worst cover? What is the worst cover of a book that you’ve read and loved?
I don't tend to judge a book by it's cover, well not consciously anyway. If the synopsis looks intriguing I will give it a go no matter the cover. If I had to pick a cover that I originally didn't like it would have to be Cinder by Marissa Meyer. It just looked weird in my opinion. It has grown on me now but when I first saw I didn't really like it.

Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyer
Becky