Hey Guys,
Kylie here, Lisa asked me to quickly leave a message for you all. Her family decided to take a holiday for six weeks in China and the Chinese government has actually put a block on the blogger website. This is much to Lisa's dismay as she had insisted her family choose to holidays in Bali or even take a beautiful and relaxing cruise.
Due to this situation, Lisa has postponed the 2012 Debutante Event. On January 1st the very first post will go live and from then on things will be back to normal. Until then, things will be a little quite here at the Badass Bookie.
I am sure you all understand that this is something that couldn't be helped. Lisa will be back in no time at all, with many fabulous stories of her travels as well as the awesome event that is the 2012 Debutante Event.
If you have any questions or concerns, Lisa can be contacted on her email ( callmeghostgirl @ yahoo . com . au ). Unfortunately the Chinese Government have also blocked Twitter. She assures me she plans to shop A LOT to make up for her lack of Internet happiness hehe.
Thanks for your understanding guys,
Have a great holiday period and stay safe.
- Kylie (on behalf of Lisa the Badass Bookie)
Monday, November 28, 2011
Friday, November 25, 2011
Equinox by Lara Morgan Giveaway (Int'l)
- International - Ends 25/12 - MUST comment on Blog Tour Post ( HERE ) - Extra Entries * Comment on Genesis Review +1 ( Here ) * Comment on Equinox Review +1 ( HERE ) * Follow Badass Bookie +2 * Tweet Giveaway +2
Fill out THIS Form.
Badass Bookie xx
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Bloodlines
Review Time! Richelle Mead is the international bestselling author of The Vampire Academy series which is one of my all time favorites. Richelle recently published Bloodlines which is the first book in her spin off. Many of you have read it and I’m probably one of the last to pick it up but read my thoughts! Thanks to Penguin for the review copy!
Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Bloodlines explores all the friendship, romance, battles and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive - this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone's out for blood.
The Short Story? – Mead never fails to impress! Bloodlines are an excellent start to a new series that’s bound to sate your craving for fantastic YA fiction! Set in the same world as Vampire Academy, Bloodlines is perfect for VA fans and readers looking for an unputdownable page-turner! An excellent plot that’s filled with mystery, drama and action. This one is a killer of a read!
The Long Story? – Honestly, I was a little scared to read this. I read that Adrian was the love interest in this novel and I COMPLETELY freaked. I didn’t really like Last Sacrifice because Mead gave Adrian a horrible, horrible ending. He didn’t get the happy ending he deserved but I would have rather have him sad and broken-hearted than thrust upon the first single girl available. When I first heard about Bloodlines, I was like ‘Oh no, it’s going to be like Jacob and infant!’ luckily for me it wasn’t. The romance in Bloodlines isn’t so much of a priority, there is a bigger build up and while the attraction is there – it’s not Insta-Love. I loved this plot, very complex and detailed. Events overlap each other and every little thing has a secret meaning. Packed with mystery and action, definitely worth your money! Not to mention the cliff hanger ending!
As far as characterization go, I really like the characters. I worked hard not to like Sydney because in a way I felt like she was replacing Rose and I ADORE Rose but I couldn’t hate her! Despite her borderline OCD nature, she’s so compassionate and kind-hearted! Readers are given more insight into an Alchemist’s life and we get to understand why they’re so important. In Bloodlines, we also get to know Jill and Eddie a little better, they definitely play a bigger part in this novel. Last but not least, Adrian. It’s obvious that he’s still hung up over Rose and his got all this heartbreak and I just want to smack Rose because Adrian doesn’t deserve this heartbreak! He’s as charming as ever and I just love the guy, he deserves a shot at being happy!
In a nutshell, read it, read it, read it! I ‘m so glad that I’ve overcome my initial fear of the novel because this was absolutely beautiful! Exciting, dangerous and action-packed, this is an excellent start to a new series that will captivate many YA readers. Fantastic character development, an excellent plot and an attraction that cannot be denied. Bloodlines is the paranormal romance to read this summer!
Rating – 5/5
Badass Bookie xx
(Goodreads) When alchemist Sydney is ordered into hiding to protect the life of Moroi princess Jill Dragomir, the last place she expects to be sent is a human private school in Palm Springs, California. But at their new school, the drama is only just beginning.
Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Bloodlines explores all the friendship, romance, battles and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive - this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone's out for blood.
The Short Story? – Mead never fails to impress! Bloodlines are an excellent start to a new series that’s bound to sate your craving for fantastic YA fiction! Set in the same world as Vampire Academy, Bloodlines is perfect for VA fans and readers looking for an unputdownable page-turner! An excellent plot that’s filled with mystery, drama and action. This one is a killer of a read!
The Long Story? – Honestly, I was a little scared to read this. I read that Adrian was the love interest in this novel and I COMPLETELY freaked. I didn’t really like Last Sacrifice because Mead gave Adrian a horrible, horrible ending. He didn’t get the happy ending he deserved but I would have rather have him sad and broken-hearted than thrust upon the first single girl available. When I first heard about Bloodlines, I was like ‘Oh no, it’s going to be like Jacob and infant!’ luckily for me it wasn’t. The romance in Bloodlines isn’t so much of a priority, there is a bigger build up and while the attraction is there – it’s not Insta-Love. I loved this plot, very complex and detailed. Events overlap each other and every little thing has a secret meaning. Packed with mystery and action, definitely worth your money! Not to mention the cliff hanger ending!
As far as characterization go, I really like the characters. I worked hard not to like Sydney because in a way I felt like she was replacing Rose and I ADORE Rose but I couldn’t hate her! Despite her borderline OCD nature, she’s so compassionate and kind-hearted! Readers are given more insight into an Alchemist’s life and we get to understand why they’re so important. In Bloodlines, we also get to know Jill and Eddie a little better, they definitely play a bigger part in this novel. Last but not least, Adrian. It’s obvious that he’s still hung up over Rose and his got all this heartbreak and I just want to smack Rose because Adrian doesn’t deserve this heartbreak! He’s as charming as ever and I just love the guy, he deserves a shot at being happy!
In a nutshell, read it, read it, read it! I ‘m so glad that I’ve overcome my initial fear of the novel because this was absolutely beautiful! Exciting, dangerous and action-packed, this is an excellent start to a new series that will captivate many YA readers. Fantastic character development, an excellent plot and an attraction that cannot be denied. Bloodlines is the paranormal romance to read this summer!
Rating – 5/5
Badass Bookie xx
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Equinox by Lara Morgan Blog Tour
Interview with Lara Morgan
Quickies -
Skittles or M&Ms? M&Ms of course, particularly the peanut ones.Black or white? black because it’s slimming and I always spill sauce on white, seriously it’s embarrassing.
Coffee or Tea? Tea, tea tea tea.. I think I made my point.
Print copies or e-books? Print, it’s the smell isn’t it? ( Yes! The Smell of Books = Heaven *grabs a book and inhales deeply*
Dog-ear or Bookmark? Bookmark for sure, though I don’t judge those who dog-ear, just don’t bend it back!
Cats or Dogs? Dogs. I recently lost mine and miss him terribly. ( Awww, feel better <3)
Reading or Writing? Reading, because although I love to write it’s still really hard work and reading is all about the pleasure plus I’m inherently lazy and a champion procrastinator. I can convince myself that reading the gossip pages of the newspaper is ‘research’. Really it is!
Vampires or werewolves? Ooh hard one…. Vampires, no, werewolves, no…. can I have both?
Have you watched Vampire Diaries? Yes. *looks around to check for husband* I love that show.
Favourite Harry Potter Novel? I can never remember the names of them all. I think the fifth one, what’s it called? ( Order of the Pheonix - My favourite too!)
Book you most want to see turned into a Movie? Mine!! *cough* I mean, I’m really looking forward to Cassandra Clare’s City of Bones film coming out. Favourite day of the week? Sunday. I make a pot of tea and spread the weekend papers out all over the table and drool over exotic travel destinations. It’s also generally the one day of the week I never work. Usually.
Your perfect breakfast consists of – irish breakfast tea (obviously), fresh mango with lime juice, thick fluffy pancakes with maple syrup and bacon. Bacon goes really well with the syrup, trust me.
Five things that make a book "good" – characters with depth who make mistakes, pace, emotional honesty, action that reveals character as well as plot, male and female leads people can believe in, brevity
and...
Team Edward or Team Jacob? Jacob ( YAY!!!! Hoot Hoot!)
Getting to the Serious Stuff...
1) Describe The Rosie Black Chronicles in three words? Dystopian action romance.
2) How did you come up with the storyline for The Rosie Black Chronicles? As you can see from the world Rosie lives in, I’m greatly interested in how our future is going to be affected by climate change and our current social and political status so much of the story line was me thinking about how the place we live and the types of people we become can dictate what we do.
I believe the power of large corporations is on the increase and our personal freedom is decreasing so I wanted to explore what would happen to someone living in a world like that who was essentially powerless, how would they cope , what would they do if they became caught up in all that? It’s very much David against Goliath and the elements of what Rosie does to fight against this massive power came from there.
3) Why did you choose to write YA Dystopian? Mostly it’s because I love dystopian fiction. I’m also really terribly pessimistic about the human race and our ability to learn from our mistakes. We keep making the same ones over and over, and we’re not doing enough about climate change so I think a future which is tighter controlled and restrictive especially in terms of water is all too possible. I think it’s a result of being a teenager in the 80s with the Cold War and the threat of nuclear obliteration so there was a lot of worry for how our future might turn out, and none of it was too rosy. I was also haunted by George Orwell’s book, 1984, and obsessed with The Terminator films, so I’ve always harboured this fascination for a dark future coupled with an interest in space ships and other universes which was greatly inspired by Star Wars. The result of all that was The Rosie Black Chronicles.
4) Character you feel you can relate best to? Why? It has to be Rosie, because despite our age difference, she is my main girl and of course many elements of her come from my teenage self, though she is much braver than I ever was.
5) Is there a story behind the names of characters? Names are funny things, when I choose characters names it’s all about the feelings. Rosie Black was not a name I struggled to define, she popped up in my head, the same thing with Pip. I have images of the characters in my head and a book of names and if I’m having trouble I’ll flick through the book until one stands out for me. The only character whose name has a story, as such, is Essie who actually came from a short story I wrote years ago (never published) about this space ship pilot named Esmeralda Black – basically she’s the same person.
6) Ar you planning to write any other books outside the series? Yes, but I can’t reveal anything yet as nothing is concrete, all I can say is it will be different.
7) Who would play the characters in a movie adaption? Such a hard question because the minute you put an actor’s name to a character it can be hard not to visualise them when you’re reading the book. That said though I think Caitlin Stasey, who played Ellie in Tomorrow When The War Began, could make a good Rosie. I’m not sure about Pip, that is a really hard one! I’d be interested to see who readers think would be good.
Highlight of The Equinox Tour - Literacy Clutter - Marketing Books
- Lara Morgan's Blog - Blog Tour Summary
The Rosie Black Chronicles - HERE
I'll be hosting a giveaway for a copy of Equinox tomorrow! So come back tomorrow to enter to win your very own copy!
Badass Bookie xx
Monday, November 21, 2011
The Scorpio Races
Review Time! I’m a on plane this Sunday for a six week holiday so I’m trying to take down as many books and reviews before that as possible. Not to mention the fact that I have the 2011 Debutante Event in December! The Scorpio Races is the start of Maggie Stiefvater’s new series! Thank to Scholastic for the review copy!
(Goodreads) It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.
At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.
Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.
The Short Story? – The bestselling author of The Wolves of Mercy Falls is back with another winner. Absolutely brilliant character development, a unique plot and beautiful, just beautiful prose! The Scorpio Races is both exciting and dangerous seductive. Flirting with death, killer horses and a fierce heroine, The Scorpio Races are not to be missed!
The Long Story? – Stiefvater isn’t one of my favourite authors but she’s one of the authors I truly admire. She has the most beautiful prose, her writing just flows! Lyrical and enticing, reading her books are a little piece of heaven! I admit that The Scorpio Races was a little hard to get into at the start. I like my books fast-moving with high speed car chases and good vs. evil and this novel really was a change of pace for me. The start of the novel was really heavily based on setting the scene and developing the characters therefore the actual plot was insignificant. However the story really progresses as we read and it’s very powerful and enjoyable! A good investment for a YA novel!
I’ve already mentioned how fantastic the character development is but I don’t think I’ve emphasized the point enough. It’s truly some pretty impressive development. It’s a slow but thorough development. By the end of the novel, I feel a strong connection to both Puck and Sean. Puke (aka Kate) is my sort of heroine. She’s fierce, stubborn, strong and courageous. She’s likeable and very independent. Sean is one of those boys who don’t need words to communicate. I really him because he didn’t come across as an overly handsome boy but one with decency and consideration. The romance between the two is also very slow, it wasn’t until the very end when one of them made a move but the wait was worth it. Some of the best characterization I’ve read!
If you’re a fan of Stiefvater or just a fan of fantastic writing, The Scorpio Races is the way to go. A captivating plot with unique qualities and a great deal of depth. Some of the most amazing character development I have ever read. Stiefvater efficiently creates her characters, giving them realistic background and personalities. Dangerously seductive and deliciously deadly, The Scorpio Races is the novel to read before the end of this year!
Rating – 4.5/5
Badass Bookie xx
At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.
Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.
The Short Story? – The bestselling author of The Wolves of Mercy Falls is back with another winner. Absolutely brilliant character development, a unique plot and beautiful, just beautiful prose! The Scorpio Races is both exciting and dangerous seductive. Flirting with death, killer horses and a fierce heroine, The Scorpio Races are not to be missed!
The Long Story? – Stiefvater isn’t one of my favourite authors but she’s one of the authors I truly admire. She has the most beautiful prose, her writing just flows! Lyrical and enticing, reading her books are a little piece of heaven! I admit that The Scorpio Races was a little hard to get into at the start. I like my books fast-moving with high speed car chases and good vs. evil and this novel really was a change of pace for me. The start of the novel was really heavily based on setting the scene and developing the characters therefore the actual plot was insignificant. However the story really progresses as we read and it’s very powerful and enjoyable! A good investment for a YA novel!
I’ve already mentioned how fantastic the character development is but I don’t think I’ve emphasized the point enough. It’s truly some pretty impressive development. It’s a slow but thorough development. By the end of the novel, I feel a strong connection to both Puck and Sean. Puke (aka Kate) is my sort of heroine. She’s fierce, stubborn, strong and courageous. She’s likeable and very independent. Sean is one of those boys who don’t need words to communicate. I really him because he didn’t come across as an overly handsome boy but one with decency and consideration. The romance between the two is also very slow, it wasn’t until the very end when one of them made a move but the wait was worth it. Some of the best characterization I’ve read!
If you’re a fan of Stiefvater or just a fan of fantastic writing, The Scorpio Races is the way to go. A captivating plot with unique qualities and a great deal of depth. Some of the most amazing character development I have ever read. Stiefvater efficiently creates her characters, giving them realistic background and personalities. Dangerously seductive and deliciously deadly, The Scorpio Races is the novel to read before the end of this year!
Rating – 4.5/5
Badass Bookie xx
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Equinox ( Spoiler - Free!)
Review Time! I recently reviewed Genesis the first book in the Aussie Dystopian series - The Rosie Black Chronicles by Lara Morgan. today I'm reviewing the brilliant sequel, Equinox! I'm also part of the blog tour so look out for my stop next week! Thanks to Walker Books for the review copy!
(Goodreads) It’s Rosie’s seventeenth year and she’s starting her first year at Orbitcorp Academy, but it’s not going to be all parties and pilot training. Helios hasn’t forgotten her – and she certainly hasn’t forgotten them. Bent on revenge Rosie is still working in secret to try to take them down.
But a terrible miscalculation will send Rosie once more on the run, this time into the unknown lands of the north, Gondwana Nation, where word has it Helios is building something big.
There will be a new friend and a new boy – the handsome and wealthy Dalton Curtis – who will surprise Rosie with a secret she can’t begin to guess. And Pip will return, but how does he feel about Rosie, and where has he been?
Pursued again and on the run, Rosie might not have time to find out all the answers, but what she will learn is that a capacity for evil can be equalled by a capacity for good - and she will be forced to make a choice that will change her future forever.
(Goodreads) It’s Rosie’s seventeenth year and she’s starting her first year at Orbitcorp Academy, but it’s not going to be all parties and pilot training. Helios hasn’t forgotten her – and she certainly hasn’t forgotten them. Bent on revenge Rosie is still working in secret to try to take them down. But a terrible miscalculation will send Rosie once more on the run, this time into the unknown lands of the north, Gondwana Nation, where word has it Helios is building something big.
There will be a new friend and a new boy – the handsome and wealthy Dalton Curtis – who will surprise Rosie with a secret she can’t begin to guess. And Pip will return, but how does he feel about Rosie, and where has he been?
Pursued again and on the run, Rosie might not have time to find out all the answers, but what she will learn is that a capacity for evil can be equalled by a capacity for good - and she will be forced to make a choice that will change her future forever.
The Short Story? - Another heart pounding adventure! This is a brilliant sequel filled with action, saving the world and a great romance! Morgan has written a YA for everyone to enjoy! Dystopian like nothing you have ever read before! Beautifully written, fantastic character development and an adventure that just keeps getting better!
The Long Story? - I enjoyed this novel so much more than the first novel, Genesis. Two main reasons - a) The novel is shorter b) the romance definitely picked up! I have a feeling this is going to be one of those series that is just going to get better and better. Following the dystopian trend, social inequality and saving the world are huge elements of the novel. Fast-paced, great pace and filled with cat and mouse chases, if you like your novels jam-packed with no boring moments, this is the novel for you! I loved, loved, LOVED this novel! Beautifully written, a very well organised plot and very good setting, Morgan has written a structured YA novel that will definitely by a winner!
I am most thankful that the romance picked up! As a romance junkie I NEED my daily fix! A great love story, I'm smelling out a love triangle but I could be wrong. In any case, it would definitely make the novel even better! I've chosen my team and I'm sticking to THE man! That said, without the characters, the romance wouldn't be haven't been so good! Quite a lot of character development in this novel, I'm growing to really understand and like Rosie. She's not perfect and she makes silly mistakes but she's a teen and she's saving the world - cut her some slack! Pip is definitely one stunner of a badass! I'm still not really sure what he looks like but I love his sense of humour and his wit! Dalton, the new guy on the block as stolen my heart. He's nice, he's smexy and I'm totally Team Dalton! Great characterisation!
Authentically Australian and authentically YA, Morgan has written a destined bestseller! Follow Rosie on her adventures! Saving the world, evil geniuses, deliciously dystopian and an epic love story! Beautifully written, I can't wait to read the next book in the series after that KILLER ending! Do yourself a favour and pick up this fantastic YA novel!
Rating - 5/5
Badass Bookie xx
Friday, November 18, 2011
Tiger's Voyage (Spoiler Free!)
Review time! I’m trying to slip back into my reading routine after the stuff up because of exams and it’s hard! I just can’t seem to find the time (or heart) to read! Luckily I have wonderful books to ease me back into reading! Tiger’s Voyage is the third book in Colleen Houck’s New York Times Bestselling series! Thanks to Hachette for the review copy!
(Goodreads) In the third installment of the Tiger series, Kelsey Hayes pushes through the pain of lost love and strengthens her friendship with Kishan. Despite his strong feelings for her, Kishan has agreed to be her ally in helping her reunite with the man she still loves. Together, they seek to help Ren regain his memory and begin the search for the third magical gift—an object of power that will help break the curse that causes them to live part of their lives as tigers.
They board a luxury yacht and seek Durga's aid once again, who supplies them with her golden weapons. With Nilima, Mr. Kadam, Ren, and Kishan at her side, she soon learns that the task ahead will be even more difficult than the others. Confronting a dark magician, multiple dragons, and terrifying denizens of the deep seems easy when compared to facing the daunting task of stitching up her heart. Just when she thinks she's ready to set her feet on a new path, she is yanked back with a jolt to the one she's determined to leave behind.
The jarring tug-of-war that ensues for Kelsey's heart leaves her anxious and confused. Combined with the stress of almost being killed every other day, it would appear that saving the tigers is almost more than she can handle. Still, she presses on, knowing that a choice is looming on the horizon. One she cannot put off making for long.
The Short Story? – The saying ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’ has never rang truer than with this series! I’m not a big fan of the covers but I love the books! Houck does not disappoint with the third installment in this remarkable series. Another epic fantasy with a strong and addictive romance. Beautifully written, a complicated and thorough plot. This series is truly a hidden gem waiting to be read! Bravo!
The Long Story? – Did you know Tiger’s Curse sat on my shelf for ages before I picked it up and thought “this is fantastic – MUST READ MORE” That initial fascination and addiction to this fantastic series has not faded, if anything this books have gotten stronger and stronger as we progress! I absolutely loved Tiger’s Voyage. Again, I have to praise Houck on her excellent research skills. To set a novel in a foreign country and base it around mythology and culture is a hard feat and Houck has done a brilliant job. Very detailed plot, filled with information and interesting facts about India. Readers not only follow the characters on an epic adventure but they are learning something new with each turn of the page! This is as good as it gets with epic fantasy. If you are hesitating about this series, DON’T! The Tiger Saga is one of my favourite discoveries of 2011 and Tiger’s Voyage was spectacular. A fantastic page-turner.
It goes without saying that for me, a novel without romance is not a novel at. I think it’s safe to say that The Tiger Saga has perhaps one of the best romances in YA fiction. Filled with drama, tension, heartbreak and pain – it’s a brilliant romance. Experience love triangles like you never have before. Phenomenal romance! Without the characters, the romance wouldn’t have been so good. Kelsey is one of my favorite YA characters. She’s smart, stubborn, strong and filled with love and compassion. She’s very well developed and definitely likeable. I feel like I’ve grown closer to her as the series has progressed. I was very disappointed in Ren at the end of the second book, it wasn’t his fault but he caused so much heartbreak for Kelsey, it hurt ME to read it. He really redeemed himself in this novel but I’m completely torn between him and Kishan. Initially I was Team Kishan and then Team Ren and now I’m stuck in the middle. They both have their goods and bads, keen to see where the final installment leads. Overall great romance and great characters!
In a nutshell, no matter how you look at it, this series is a must read! If you have been keeping up with the Tigers, Tiger’s Voyage is fantastic! Houck has written a fantastic series, comfortable, exciting and adventurous. One of the greatest YA romances that I’ve ever read and an epic fantasy that will not disappoint. This series is a winner and it’s breathtakingly brilliant! I salute Houck for writing a stunner of a good read!
Rating – 5/5
Badass Bookie xx
They board a luxury yacht and seek Durga's aid once again, who supplies them with her golden weapons. With Nilima, Mr. Kadam, Ren, and Kishan at her side, she soon learns that the task ahead will be even more difficult than the others. Confronting a dark magician, multiple dragons, and terrifying denizens of the deep seems easy when compared to facing the daunting task of stitching up her heart. Just when she thinks she's ready to set her feet on a new path, she is yanked back with a jolt to the one she's determined to leave behind.
The jarring tug-of-war that ensues for Kelsey's heart leaves her anxious and confused. Combined with the stress of almost being killed every other day, it would appear that saving the tigers is almost more than she can handle. Still, she presses on, knowing that a choice is looming on the horizon. One she cannot put off making for long.
The Short Story? – The saying ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’ has never rang truer than with this series! I’m not a big fan of the covers but I love the books! Houck does not disappoint with the third installment in this remarkable series. Another epic fantasy with a strong and addictive romance. Beautifully written, a complicated and thorough plot. This series is truly a hidden gem waiting to be read! Bravo!
The Long Story? – Did you know Tiger’s Curse sat on my shelf for ages before I picked it up and thought “this is fantastic – MUST READ MORE” That initial fascination and addiction to this fantastic series has not faded, if anything this books have gotten stronger and stronger as we progress! I absolutely loved Tiger’s Voyage. Again, I have to praise Houck on her excellent research skills. To set a novel in a foreign country and base it around mythology and culture is a hard feat and Houck has done a brilliant job. Very detailed plot, filled with information and interesting facts about India. Readers not only follow the characters on an epic adventure but they are learning something new with each turn of the page! This is as good as it gets with epic fantasy. If you are hesitating about this series, DON’T! The Tiger Saga is one of my favourite discoveries of 2011 and Tiger’s Voyage was spectacular. A fantastic page-turner.
It goes without saying that for me, a novel without romance is not a novel at. I think it’s safe to say that The Tiger Saga has perhaps one of the best romances in YA fiction. Filled with drama, tension, heartbreak and pain – it’s a brilliant romance. Experience love triangles like you never have before. Phenomenal romance! Without the characters, the romance wouldn’t have been so good. Kelsey is one of my favorite YA characters. She’s smart, stubborn, strong and filled with love and compassion. She’s very well developed and definitely likeable. I feel like I’ve grown closer to her as the series has progressed. I was very disappointed in Ren at the end of the second book, it wasn’t his fault but he caused so much heartbreak for Kelsey, it hurt ME to read it. He really redeemed himself in this novel but I’m completely torn between him and Kishan. Initially I was Team Kishan and then Team Ren and now I’m stuck in the middle. They both have their goods and bads, keen to see where the final installment leads. Overall great romance and great characters!
In a nutshell, no matter how you look at it, this series is a must read! If you have been keeping up with the Tigers, Tiger’s Voyage is fantastic! Houck has written a fantastic series, comfortable, exciting and adventurous. One of the greatest YA romances that I’ve ever read and an epic fantasy that will not disappoint. This series is a winner and it’s breathtakingly brilliant! I salute Houck for writing a stunner of a good read!
Rating – 5/5
Badass Bookie xx
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Meet My Blogger Little Sib!
Today I would like to introduce you all to my blogger little sib! Hafsah, Ivy, Katie, and Kelsey has created a project called Big Sib/Little Sib! Big Sib/Little Sib is a program where they help pair novice bloggers with veteran book bloggers. They try to pair novices to veterans to help them get started in the book blogging community.
When I heard of this genius program, I immediately signed up to be a Mentor! Starting a blog is hard and I would love to make someone else's journey easier! Hence, I present you my little sib - Ariel who blogs @ The Librarian's Bookshelf!
Ariel is an aspiring librarian and you can read more about her HERE
ALSO visit her blog, it's SO pretty!
Badass Bookie xx
When I heard of this genius program, I immediately signed up to be a Mentor! Starting a blog is hard and I would love to make someone else's journey easier! Hence, I present you my little sib - Ariel who blogs @ The Librarian's Bookshelf!
Ariel is an aspiring librarian and you can read more about her HERE
ALSO visit her blog, it's SO pretty!
Badass Bookie xx
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
2012 Debutante Event - Spread the Word Giveaway! INT'L
IT'S THE EVENT WE HAVE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR...
THE 2012 DEBUTANTE EVENT!
It's back again this year! Badass Bookie is hosting the 2nd Annual Debutante Event! Featuring 12 of next years hottest YA Debutantes, we're going all out this year! THIS IS THE BIGGEST THING OF 2012 AFTER EDWARD AND BELLA'S WEDDING!
Save these Deets -
What? - 2012 Debutante Event
When? - 1st - 25th of December
Who? - Veronica Rossi ( Under the Never Sky)
Jill Hathaway ( Slide)
Leah Bobet ( Above)
Elisa Ludwig ( Pretty Crooked)
Megan Bostic ( Never Eighteen)
Robin Bridges ( The Gathering Storm)
Kristen Simmons ( Article 5)
Brodi Aston ( Everneath)
Jodi Meadows ( Incarnate)
Jessica Spotwood ( Born Wicked)
Robin Mellom ( Ditched: A Love Story)
Miranda Kenneally ( Catching Jordan)
Why? - So we can celebrate the debut of 12 of 2012's hottest YA debutantes! 25 days of insider scoops, guest posts, everything YA and giveaway galore! Don't forget that there are copies ( read multiple) of every debut up for grabs! It's the season of giving and the Debs are giving you the experience of a lifetime!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We want to make this year's event bigger and better than ever! Therefore we're kicking off the event with a giveaway!
YOU SPREAD THE WORD AND WE'LL GIVE
Prize Pack #1 - Jordan's Favourite Things ( International) - Two Winners
- A journal and pens, because Jordan writes poetry to express her feelings.
- Shea butter. Jordan's mom buys it for her, and while Jordan would never publicly admit this, she kind of likes Shea butter. Her best friend Sam Henry likes using it too. He doesn't care if anyone knows that. He's secure in his manhood.
- A soft T-shirt. Jordan loves casual clothes.
- Bubble gum.
- An iTunes gift certificate for $15. Jordan decompresses after practice by listening to classic 80s music.
Prize Pack #2 - The Never Eighteen Swag Pack ( International) - One Winner
- Bookmark, Sticker, Notebook, Pen, Tissues ( you might need it, it's a real tear jerker), temporary tattoo and Buttons!
Prize Pack #3 - The Gathering Storm Swag Pack ( International) - One Winner
- Bookmarks, Postcards, Pen and "Mystery Gift"
Prize Pack #4 - Mix 'n' Match Swag Packs ( International) - 5 Winners
That's a total of 9 WINNERS! SO FAR -
- But I will be adding more winners! I haven't received ALL the bookish goods from our generous Debutantes and I'll will be adding more prizes as we go along!
To enter, simply spread the word! Tweet it ( +1 Daily), Sidebar it ( +2), Grab a Button ( +3 - Must place it somewhere visible!) or Blog it (+10)! It would be great if you guys could write a post about the 2012 Debutante Event! Remember the MORE YOU SPREAD - THE MORE WE GIVE!
Buttons -
Sunday, November 13, 2011
In My Mailbox #37 - The Three Week Edition
Morning Lovlies! In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren. Basically we just share the bookish contents of our mailbox! It's a load of fun and a great way to find new books so go participate!
I'm too lazy to do IMM every week so I only participate every second week :) However because I had Exam Block I didn't do a IMM last week therefore this is a three week edition!
My Three Week Hurl -
I'm too lazy to do IMM every week so I only participate every second week :) However because I had Exam Block I didn't do a IMM last week therefore this is a three week edition!
My Three Week Hurl -
For Review -
Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa
ARC Touch of Power by Maria V. Synder
Smoulder ( aka The Space Between) by Brenna Yovanoff
Sending by Isobelle Carmody
Vampire Academy: Ultimate Guide by Michelle Rowen and Richelle Mead
Last Breath by Rachel Caine
Beautiful Chaos by Marget Stohls and Kami Gracia
ARC Cinder by Marissa Meyer
The Hunger Games ( Collector's Edition) by Suzanne Collins
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Tiger's Voyage by Colleen Houck
Never Have I Ever by Sara Shepard
Epic Fail by Claire LaZebnik
( Thanks to Harlequin Teen, Simon and Schuster, Penguin, Scholastic, Hachette and HarperCollins!)
For Swap -
Waiting for You by Suzane Colasanti
( Thanks to Adriana!)
Badass Bookie xx
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Drink Slay Love
Review Time! Drink Slay Love written by Sarah Beth Durst, the author of Enchanted Ivy. It's a little like a movie parody ( hence the title), it's basically mocking it's own genre and it's fantastic! Thanks to Allen and Unwin for the ARC!
(Goodreads) Pearl is a sixteen-year-old vampire... fond of blood, allergic to sunlight, and mostly evil... until the night a sparkly unicorn stabs her through the heart with his horn. Oops.
Her family thinks she was attacked by a vampire hunter (because, obviously, unicorns don't exist), and they're shocked she survived. They're even more shocked when Pearl discovers she can now withstand the sun. But they quickly find a way to make use of her new talent. The Vampire King of New England has chosen Pearl's family to host his feast. If Pearl enrolls in high school, she can make lots of human friends and lure them to the King's feast -- as the entrees.
The only problem? Pearl's starting to feel the twinges of a conscience. How can she serve up her new friends—especially the cute guy who makes her fangs ache—to be slaughtered? Then again, she's definitely dead if she lets down her family. What's a sunlight-loving vamp to do?
The Short Story? - Brilliant! A satirical take on vampire pop culture, Drink Slay Love is a entertaining novel filled with humour, excitement and action. Durst has written an phenomenal page-turner giving readers a brand new perspective of vampires. Witty, sarcastic and hilarious, Drink Slay Love is a refreshing paranormal like no other!
The Long Story? - What's not to love about this novel? From cover to cover it was brilliant. Vampires, unicorns, cute boys and a showdown at prom? Yes please! Highly entertaining, it surprises me that to no end that this satirical take on vampires is perhaps the most accurate. Durst has re-established the predator and prey element of vampire fiction that was somewhat lost somewhere in 2009 when Twilight took over. In this novel, vampires are cruel, heartless predators who view humans as food not lovers. Very original and different. Instead of the cliche Vampire/ Werewolf duo, Durst has introduced the Unicorns! An unputdownable YA that will leave you crying in laughter!
I love the characters in this novel. Pearl is a fantastic protagonist! A instant like for the vampire who got stabbed by a unicorn and developed a conscience. Pearl is witty, sarcastic and level-headed. She's smart and badass, if anyone gives the vampire vibe it's her. Evan is our love interest and he truly is brilliant. A boy with OCD and an urge to help save the world, he's sweet, funny and the keeper of a big, BIG secret! There were plenty of great characters in the book, loved all the vampires not because they were nice but because they are VAMPIRES, the way vampires should be. Bethany is another favourite, great best friend and very perky! Matt and Zake, hilarious duo and Tara? The nice A-list. Great cast, well developed and very, very funny!
Drink Slay Love is a must-read for all those readers out there who want to see vampires like they should be. A satirical take on our favourite mythical creature, Drink Slay Love is both witty and hilarious. A combination of humour and action, this novel brings out all the great aspects of YA fiction! Great character, fantastic plot, Drink Slay Love is a specatular YA that will sate your craving for words ( pun intended)! Bravo!
Rating - 5/5
Badass Bookie xx
Her family thinks she was attacked by a vampire hunter (because, obviously, unicorns don't exist), and they're shocked she survived. They're even more shocked when Pearl discovers she can now withstand the sun. But they quickly find a way to make use of her new talent. The Vampire King of New England has chosen Pearl's family to host his feast. If Pearl enrolls in high school, she can make lots of human friends and lure them to the King's feast -- as the entrees.
The only problem? Pearl's starting to feel the twinges of a conscience. How can she serve up her new friends—especially the cute guy who makes her fangs ache—to be slaughtered? Then again, she's definitely dead if she lets down her family. What's a sunlight-loving vamp to do?
The Short Story? - Brilliant! A satirical take on vampire pop culture, Drink Slay Love is a entertaining novel filled with humour, excitement and action. Durst has written an phenomenal page-turner giving readers a brand new perspective of vampires. Witty, sarcastic and hilarious, Drink Slay Love is a refreshing paranormal like no other!
The Long Story? - What's not to love about this novel? From cover to cover it was brilliant. Vampires, unicorns, cute boys and a showdown at prom? Yes please! Highly entertaining, it surprises me that to no end that this satirical take on vampires is perhaps the most accurate. Durst has re-established the predator and prey element of vampire fiction that was somewhat lost somewhere in 2009 when Twilight took over. In this novel, vampires are cruel, heartless predators who view humans as food not lovers. Very original and different. Instead of the cliche Vampire/ Werewolf duo, Durst has introduced the Unicorns! An unputdownable YA that will leave you crying in laughter!
I love the characters in this novel. Pearl is a fantastic protagonist! A instant like for the vampire who got stabbed by a unicorn and developed a conscience. Pearl is witty, sarcastic and level-headed. She's smart and badass, if anyone gives the vampire vibe it's her. Evan is our love interest and he truly is brilliant. A boy with OCD and an urge to help save the world, he's sweet, funny and the keeper of a big, BIG secret! There were plenty of great characters in the book, loved all the vampires not because they were nice but because they are VAMPIRES, the way vampires should be. Bethany is another favourite, great best friend and very perky! Matt and Zake, hilarious duo and Tara? The nice A-list. Great cast, well developed and very, very funny!
Drink Slay Love is a must-read for all those readers out there who want to see vampires like they should be. A satirical take on our favourite mythical creature, Drink Slay Love is both witty and hilarious. A combination of humour and action, this novel brings out all the great aspects of YA fiction! Great character, fantastic plot, Drink Slay Love is a specatular YA that will sate your craving for words ( pun intended)! Bravo!
Rating - 5/5
Badass Bookie xx
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Genesis
Review Time! I just finished my last exam two hours ago, nine exams in a week - my brain is fried. Worst of all - I haven't read since Sunday! Anyway, to celebrate finishing my exams I'm going to post a review for Genesis by Lara Morgan. It's an Aussie Dystopian/Sci-Fi and read on for my thoughts....
(Goodreads) Five hundred years into the future, the world is a different place. The Melt has sunk most of the coastal cities and Newperth is divided into the haves, the “Centrals”; the have-nots, the “Bankers”; and the fringe dwellers, the “Ferals”.
Rosie Black is a Banker. When Rosie finds an unusual box, she has no idea of the grave consequences of her discovery. A mysterious organisation wants it – and will kill to get it.
Forced to rely on two strangers, Rosie is on the run. But who can she trust? Pip, the too attractive Feral, or the secretive man he calls boss?
From Earth to Mars, Rosie must learn the secrets of the box – before it’s too late.
The Short Story? - If Across the Universe and All These Things I've Done had an offspring this would be it! It's the best of both worlds ( quite literally), set on Earth and in Mars, Genesis is thrilling YA Dystopian that's will leaving wondering what's next! Packed to the brim with action, Morgan has written a Dystopian that will keep you on the edge of your seat!
The Long Story? - I admit Genesis was a little hard to get into and I think partly it was because I was a little stressed about exams but also the length of the novel is a little discouraging. It's a pretty solid read ( 450 pages) and I like to stick to the 300s but once you do get the grasp of everything, it's quite a fantastic dystopian! It's pretty full-on, a very action-packed plot. There are a few life and death moments, a trip to mars, a little bit of saving the world, a little evil mastermind and a little bit of cat and mouse! It's definitely one that both boys and girls would find enjoyable. I'm little disappointed that romance was such a minor aspect of the novel because romance is so important to me and Genesis had so much potential for a great romance line. It just kept building up and yet not much happened! Keen to see where everything leads in the sequel!
Again with the characterisation, I found that it was one of those books that take time to grow on you. I wasn't really sure about Rosie for the first couple of chapters. It was really slow character development and I couldn't really connect with her! However when the cat and mouse chase starts, Rosie's inner heroine makes a show and that's when I took an instant liking of her! Pip was probably my favourite characters of the book, he wasn't a main but I felt he was the most developed. He had a unique personality, he had character and he had depth. He also had a sense of humour and I love that in a characters! Overall, a nice cast!
Although the book starts a little slowly, it's definitely one that I would recommend everyone to read! For lovers of dystopian, this is like nothing you have read before! A fantastic, action-packed YA. Morgan has written a spectacular novel that's both beautifully written and wonderfully organised. A clever plot, a nice cast of characters and a heroine that's saving the world, this is an Aussie must-read!
Rating - 4/5
Badass Bookie xx
Rosie Black is a Banker. When Rosie finds an unusual box, she has no idea of the grave consequences of her discovery. A mysterious organisation wants it – and will kill to get it.
Forced to rely on two strangers, Rosie is on the run. But who can she trust? Pip, the too attractive Feral, or the secretive man he calls boss?
From Earth to Mars, Rosie must learn the secrets of the box – before it’s too late.
The Short Story? - If Across the Universe and All These Things I've Done had an offspring this would be it! It's the best of both worlds ( quite literally), set on Earth and in Mars, Genesis is thrilling YA Dystopian that's will leaving wondering what's next! Packed to the brim with action, Morgan has written a Dystopian that will keep you on the edge of your seat!
The Long Story? - I admit Genesis was a little hard to get into and I think partly it was because I was a little stressed about exams but also the length of the novel is a little discouraging. It's a pretty solid read ( 450 pages) and I like to stick to the 300s but once you do get the grasp of everything, it's quite a fantastic dystopian! It's pretty full-on, a very action-packed plot. There are a few life and death moments, a trip to mars, a little bit of saving the world, a little evil mastermind and a little bit of cat and mouse! It's definitely one that both boys and girls would find enjoyable. I'm little disappointed that romance was such a minor aspect of the novel because romance is so important to me and Genesis had so much potential for a great romance line. It just kept building up and yet not much happened! Keen to see where everything leads in the sequel!
Again with the characterisation, I found that it was one of those books that take time to grow on you. I wasn't really sure about Rosie for the first couple of chapters. It was really slow character development and I couldn't really connect with her! However when the cat and mouse chase starts, Rosie's inner heroine makes a show and that's when I took an instant liking of her! Pip was probably my favourite characters of the book, he wasn't a main but I felt he was the most developed. He had a unique personality, he had character and he had depth. He also had a sense of humour and I love that in a characters! Overall, a nice cast!
Although the book starts a little slowly, it's definitely one that I would recommend everyone to read! For lovers of dystopian, this is like nothing you have read before! A fantastic, action-packed YA. Morgan has written a spectacular novel that's both beautifully written and wonderfully organised. A clever plot, a nice cast of characters and a heroine that's saving the world, this is an Aussie must-read!
Rating - 4/5
Badass Bookie xx
Monday, November 7, 2011
Emerald
Review Time! By the time you read this, I’ll be stressing my heart out trying to write an analytical essay on a poem. I’m in the midst of exam block so you won’t hear from me until Friday when the whole shebang is over! Emerald by Karen Wallace is a historical YA, I really don’t know much about it but thanks to Simon and Schuster for the review copy!
(Goodreads) Emerald St. John is in trouble. She has been condemned to marry a man she hates. Her enemies are conspiring to have her pet bear Molly torn apart in the baiting pits, and the man she loves is far away on the high seas. And she has stumbled into a web of spies with a plot to poison Queen Elizabeth I. To save herself and the kingdom, she must beat the spies at their own game - which means transforming herself from a country girl into a Court lady. Can she do it in time? Set against a detailed and vivid recreation of a great Elizabethan manor house, EMERALD will bring to life a world where the most sophisticated rules of etiquette went hand in with brutality and superstition.The Short Story? – One of those undiscovered treasures, just waiting to be read and enjoyed! Filled with evil noblemen, dirty little secrets and a scandalous plot to kill the queen, Emerald is fast-paced and adventurous. A strong heroine, a love story and a plot to be foiled, Emerald is a spectacular historical YA that’s bound to be a crowd pleaser!
The Long Story? – I haven’t read a historical YA in ages and I forgot how much I enjoyed them! I really enjoyed reading Emerald. It’s authentic, it’s adventurous and it’s got a love story, everything to make me a happy chappy. It’s a complicated plot where everything has secret meaning and everyone has secrets. Everything seems to be tangled together, nothing is as it’s supposed be but in the end everything is revealed and I think that was quite interesting. Very unpredictable which I liked. It’s a short novel so it’s quite a fast-read. I love Wallace’s prose, she writes good book, keen to read other pieces of her work. It’s comfortable, easy to understand so it’s suitable for readers of all ages. If you like historical YA, you’ll like this one! (Stunning cover too!)
Emerald is actually the name of the protagonist. I really liked her, Wallace has betrayed her as a little bit of a tomboy. She’s quite a country girl yet she has to turn into a lady so that she can catch the Queen’s eye. She has a rough background but fantastic personality. She’s compassionate, she’s brave, she’s level-headed, very well developed. Our handsome Viscount Sam is the love interest, he’s got an out-going personality so I approve :) Instant Love. Only found in YA and Historical Romance, if you want instant love you have to read Emerald. It’s quite an abrupt romance, they met once and then they fiancées but dating was different back then and Sam is yummy so who wouldn’t want to instant love?
One of my favourite historical YA fictions I have read up to date. Emerald is an engrossing novel about a heroine who plans to uncover the truth and save the queen, a romance that will make you swoon and plot filled with adventure and drama. Beautifully written, Wallace has written a novel for all to enjoy!
Rating – 5/5
Badass Bookie xx
Friday, November 4, 2011
Tempest Rising
Review time! Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs is a 2011 YA Debut. The US edition has a different cover which might be why you don’t recognize the cover but the content is the same. It seems like mermaids are trending in YA, could they be the next vampire o_O? Thanks go to Bloomsbury Australia for the review copy!
(Goodreads) Tempest Maguire wants nothing more than to surf the killer waves near her California home; continue her steady relationship with her boyfriend, Mark; and take care of her brothers and surfer dad. But Tempest is half mermaid, and as her seventeenth birthday approaches, she will have to decide whether to remain on land or give herself to the ocean like her mother. The pull of the water becomes as insistent as her attraction to Kai, a gorgeous surfer whose uncanny abilities hint at an otherworldly identity as well. And when Tempest does finally give in to the water's temptation and enters a fantastical underwater world, she finds that a larger destiny awaits her—and that the entire ocean's future hangs in the balance.
The Short Story? - A refreshing debut about the struggle between love, duty and family. Tracy Deebs has written an enjoyable YA that can be enjoyed by readers of all ages! A captivating plot, a complicated romance and a heroine that’s going to save the world (long live the fishies!). Loyalty, love, family, duty, loss and pain, Tempest Rising is a remarkable debut that is both original and beautiful.
The Long Story? – Tempest Rising had this light quality about it – which I like. The atmosphere created even when filled with drama and tension was light which made it easier to read. Maybe it’s just me but I can’t stand depressing books, I can only read them in small doses and while I love paranormal and fantasy I usually find it is quite melodramatic and DUN DUN DUN depressing. Deebs has come up with a clever plot, a mix of saving the world and fighting an internal battle to choose between family and love. A fantastic flow, a complex background and an addicting love story. It has the element of originality, I’m not really following the mermaid trend but it’s like nothing I’ve ever read before. Keen to see where Tempest and Kona’s romance takes them. Romance Junkie = Me.
I don’t always emphasize the importance of characterization but for me likeable characters are a must. Tempest is one of those characters that you just can’t help but love. From the first page I was hooked, she’s a well developed character, very complex and full of passion and personality for what she believes in and what she loves. Her background is quite interesting too, I don’t surf but living in surf central, it really grows on me and Tempest’s love for the ocean and surfing really made me like her more. However it was Kona who stole my heart (I pronounce it KO-NA but I think it’s meant to be pronounced like Connor). What a sexy beast! He’s funny, sweet and a total stud. Complete with the good looks only blessed to YA fictional boys, I’m crazy about this guy! A romance not to be missed and a cast that will grow on you!
Tempest Rising is a fantastic debut that’s both interesting and enjoyable. Suitable for readers of all ages, it’s comfortable and easy to read. A strong heroine, a passionate romance and a plot filled with drama and tension. A beautifully written novel, Deebs has made an excellent debut, I can’t wait to see what she has install for us next! Dive into this novel! (Pun intended) :)
Rating – 5/5
Badass Bookie xx
The Short Story? - A refreshing debut about the struggle between love, duty and family. Tracy Deebs has written an enjoyable YA that can be enjoyed by readers of all ages! A captivating plot, a complicated romance and a heroine that’s going to save the world (long live the fishies!). Loyalty, love, family, duty, loss and pain, Tempest Rising is a remarkable debut that is both original and beautiful.
The Long Story? – Tempest Rising had this light quality about it – which I like. The atmosphere created even when filled with drama and tension was light which made it easier to read. Maybe it’s just me but I can’t stand depressing books, I can only read them in small doses and while I love paranormal and fantasy I usually find it is quite melodramatic and DUN DUN DUN depressing. Deebs has come up with a clever plot, a mix of saving the world and fighting an internal battle to choose between family and love. A fantastic flow, a complex background and an addicting love story. It has the element of originality, I’m not really following the mermaid trend but it’s like nothing I’ve ever read before. Keen to see where Tempest and Kona’s romance takes them. Romance Junkie = Me.
I don’t always emphasize the importance of characterization but for me likeable characters are a must. Tempest is one of those characters that you just can’t help but love. From the first page I was hooked, she’s a well developed character, very complex and full of passion and personality for what she believes in and what she loves. Her background is quite interesting too, I don’t surf but living in surf central, it really grows on me and Tempest’s love for the ocean and surfing really made me like her more. However it was Kona who stole my heart (I pronounce it KO-NA but I think it’s meant to be pronounced like Connor). What a sexy beast! He’s funny, sweet and a total stud. Complete with the good looks only blessed to YA fictional boys, I’m crazy about this guy! A romance not to be missed and a cast that will grow on you!
Tempest Rising is a fantastic debut that’s both interesting and enjoyable. Suitable for readers of all ages, it’s comfortable and easy to read. A strong heroine, a passionate romance and a plot filled with drama and tension. A beautifully written novel, Deebs has made an excellent debut, I can’t wait to see what she has install for us next! Dive into this novel! (Pun intended) :)
Rating – 5/5
Badass Bookie xx
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Saving June
Review Time! Next week is exam block so I’m STILL going to be MIA for the whole of this week. However my reviews are starting to pile up again so I though I’ll attack a few before I go back to my rock. Saving June by Hannah Harrington is a 2011 YA Debut. Thanks a bunch to Harlequin Teen Australia for the review copy! :)
(Goodreads) Harper Scott’s older sister has always been the perfect one so when June takes her own life a week before her high school graduation, sixteen-year-old Harper is devastated. Everyone’s sorry, but no one can explain why.
When her divorcing parents decide to split her sister’s ashes into his-and-her urns, Harper takes matters into her own hands. She’ll steal the ashes and drive cross-country with her best friend, Laney, to the one place June always dreamed of going California.
Enter Jake Tolan. He’s a boy with a bad attitude, a classic-rock obsession and nothing in common with Harper’s sister. But Jake had a connection with June, and when he insists on joining them, Harper’s just desperate enough to let him. With his alternately charming and infuriating demeanour and his belief that music can see you through anything, he might be exactly what she needs.
Except June wasn’t the only one hiding something. Jake’s keeping a secret that has the power to turn Harper’s life upside down again.
The Short Story? – Moving, touching, amazing. One of my favourite contemporary YAs of the year. A tear-jerker that will captivate the hearts of readers. Beautifully written, a brilliant plot and a powerful emotional journey of life after grief. A bittersweet love story, a road trip to California and a secret that will change everything! Let’s all go on a road trip to save June!
The Long Story? – I’m anti-dark contemporary. I don’t like stories about grief, drugs, suicide or any other problems of the kind. I was a little iffy about this one but I’ve read some pretty spectacular reviews I had to give it a go. I’m so grateful that I gave Saving June a go because it was beautiful. This is contemporary at its finest. Harrington has written a phenomenal debut that will captivate the hearts of every one of you. Saving June is a road trip novel, one of the many YA trends but it an emotional journey as much as a physical one. Harper, Laney and Jake are on the path to healing after Harper’s sister June commits suicide. They decide to drive all the way to California to scatter June’s ashes in the pacific because it was June’s dream to live in California. A road trip full of tears and laughter, fantastic music, the unexpected, epic detours and a bittersweet love story. Saving June is on its way to being a modern day classic.
Harper, Laney and Jake are very likeable characters. More than that, you can relate to them because every one of them is flawed and they have their own issues to deal with. They examples of typical teenagers that have problems and face neglect, loneliness, grief and disappointment. Very, very beautiful characterization. Harper is my girl. She’s clearly hurting inside yet she holds it together. She’s sassy, funny and stubborn yet she’s got her heart in the right place. I honestly felt I could relate to her. Laney is the best friend I never have. She’s loyal, funny, a total drama queen yet she has her own problems as well. Lastly, I want a boyfriend like Jake. He’s your typical bad boy but he has this really sweet side as well. Nothing is ever boring when he’s in the picture. If I had to pick to go on a road trip with anyone, it would be Harper, Laney and Jake.
Saving June is a spectacular debut about love, loss and grief. Bittersweet, beautiful and incredibly moving. This is the captivating story about three teens on an epic road trip to California and the secrets, tears, laughter and detours that they share on the way. Go get yourself a copy (I mean it) and don’t read this book in public because YOU WILL CRY. I salute you, Harrington, a phenomenal debut that captivated my heart!
Rating – 6/5
Badass Bookie xx
When her divorcing parents decide to split her sister’s ashes into his-and-her urns, Harper takes matters into her own hands. She’ll steal the ashes and drive cross-country with her best friend, Laney, to the one place June always dreamed of going California.
Enter Jake Tolan. He’s a boy with a bad attitude, a classic-rock obsession and nothing in common with Harper’s sister. But Jake had a connection with June, and when he insists on joining them, Harper’s just desperate enough to let him. With his alternately charming and infuriating demeanour and his belief that music can see you through anything, he might be exactly what she needs.
Except June wasn’t the only one hiding something. Jake’s keeping a secret that has the power to turn Harper’s life upside down again.
The Short Story? – Moving, touching, amazing. One of my favourite contemporary YAs of the year. A tear-jerker that will captivate the hearts of readers. Beautifully written, a brilliant plot and a powerful emotional journey of life after grief. A bittersweet love story, a road trip to California and a secret that will change everything! Let’s all go on a road trip to save June!
The Long Story? – I’m anti-dark contemporary. I don’t like stories about grief, drugs, suicide or any other problems of the kind. I was a little iffy about this one but I’ve read some pretty spectacular reviews I had to give it a go. I’m so grateful that I gave Saving June a go because it was beautiful. This is contemporary at its finest. Harrington has written a phenomenal debut that will captivate the hearts of every one of you. Saving June is a road trip novel, one of the many YA trends but it an emotional journey as much as a physical one. Harper, Laney and Jake are on the path to healing after Harper’s sister June commits suicide. They decide to drive all the way to California to scatter June’s ashes in the pacific because it was June’s dream to live in California. A road trip full of tears and laughter, fantastic music, the unexpected, epic detours and a bittersweet love story. Saving June is on its way to being a modern day classic.
Harper, Laney and Jake are very likeable characters. More than that, you can relate to them because every one of them is flawed and they have their own issues to deal with. They examples of typical teenagers that have problems and face neglect, loneliness, grief and disappointment. Very, very beautiful characterization. Harper is my girl. She’s clearly hurting inside yet she holds it together. She’s sassy, funny and stubborn yet she’s got her heart in the right place. I honestly felt I could relate to her. Laney is the best friend I never have. She’s loyal, funny, a total drama queen yet she has her own problems as well. Lastly, I want a boyfriend like Jake. He’s your typical bad boy but he has this really sweet side as well. Nothing is ever boring when he’s in the picture. If I had to pick to go on a road trip with anyone, it would be Harper, Laney and Jake.
Saving June is a spectacular debut about love, loss and grief. Bittersweet, beautiful and incredibly moving. This is the captivating story about three teens on an epic road trip to California and the secrets, tears, laughter and detours that they share on the way. Go get yourself a copy (I mean it) and don’t read this book in public because YOU WILL CRY. I salute you, Harrington, a phenomenal debut that captivated my heart!
Rating – 6/5
Badass Bookie xx
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