Enticed *Spoiler Free*

Review Time! This is the second book in the Violet Eden Chapters written by Jessica Shirvington who is an Australian Author! The first book is Embrace ( Review Here ) I'm having Jessica on the blog tomorrow for an interview AND we're giving away 10 sets of both Enticed and Embrace! TEN WINNERS! Thanks to Hachette for the review copy!

(Goodreads) Violet Eden is Grigori - part angel, part human. Her destiny is to protect humans from the vengeance of exiled angels.

Knowing who to trust is key but, when Grigori reinforcements arrive, it becomes clear everyone is hiding something. Even Lincoln. The only thing Violet does know: Phoenix's hold over her is more dangerous than ever.

The race to find the one thing that could tilt the balance of power brings them all to the sacred mountains of Jordan, where Violet's power will be pushed to the extreme. And the ultimate betrayal exposed.

The Short Story? - The plot keeps getting better and better! Picking up from where the story finished in Embrace, Enticed is a fantastic sequel to an exciting new series about our favourite mythical creatures! Angels ( and angel/human hybrids - Grigori!) !!! Action-packed, great characters and a refreshing new take on Angel Mythology. Get ready for Violet Eden, she's the next big thing!

The Long Story ? -  Quite frankly, I went thought this complete faze where I was obsessed with YA paranormal romance, I still adore PNR, it my genre of choice but I'm also reaching out to other genre now! The thing about The Violet Eden Chapters is that even though it's a PNR, it's quite normal. Violet has daddy issues, she still attends school, she's into art, she still takes exams and goes shopping even among all the chaos! I love how Jessica has combines essence of "human" even among all the action! Which brings me to my next point...

The action! I liked Embrace but I loved this one! Fast-paced, action packed and educational. Lots of research must have gone into this novel, mostly religious history but it's all so interesting! Jessica has weaved history with fiction, creating a whole new take on on "this" particular historical event! She's expanded on what was already fiction about "religion" and taken it to a whole new level. Apparently Lilith wasn't just the first vampire but the mother of the first angel/human hybrid! Twist and turns and a killer- ending! I don't think I can wait for the next one!

Jessica has also further developed the characters during Enticed. We see Violet growing up and becoming more mature. We see her question her actions and take care of the people she loves most. Lots of emotion developed with Lincoln ( main love interest ) as well. Jessica has also introduced new characters!!! Readers are introduced to a trio of Grigori from New York ( cute boys) and their mentors, the characters are the highlight of the novel for me!They make everything, so much more interesting!

I strongly encourage all you Aussie readers to pick up the Violet Eden Chapters and for all you international readers to keep an eye out for it! A heated love-triangle, action-packed storyline and a heroine you're sure to like, The Violet Eden Chapters are amazing! Looking for something unique? Pick Violet Eden!

Rating - 5/5

Badass Bookie xx

Breakfast with the Bookie - Bloggers : Where Are Your Manners? Revisiting Blogging Etiquette

Breakfast with the Bookie is a weekly feature hosted here at Badass Bookie. Every Wednesday morning (or afternoon depending on where you are) I post a discussion post for everyone to read along with morning up of coffee ;)

Today's Topic - Where Are Your Manners? Revisiting Blogging Etiquette.

I've actually already done a post about blogging etiquette but I think it's something we all need to revisit, you can read my first post - HERE. The blogging community is fairly friendly, we're all people who have come together to share a common interest - books, whether we are authors, publishers, agents or book bloggers.

We help each other when others are in need, giving advice, donating prizes, giving away books or just sharing the love of reading. Recently, I had my first blogoversary and being the poor, broke, unemployed teenager I am, I couldn't afford to giveaway lot, Lisa @ A Life Bound By Books kindly offered to donate a prize as well as CSN. This is the blogging spirit I'm talking about. We're happy to help each other out. We want to make others happy ( RAK is a wonderful feature where bloggers are happy just to give books radomly to make people happy).

Unfortunately among all that kindness I have noticed some nasty stuff going along as well. Mostly on Twitter and not towards me ( although I have frowned upon some rude comments made by a blogger about my blog) but still it saddens me to see this. Nasty names being called, rude comments, opinions that should be kept to oneself being stated. It's all pretty saddening. I'm a pretty laidback person, I'm an Aussie but even I know the difference between a joke and being rude.

I realise that different people have diffeent opinions about different things but really where are your manners? It's not up to you to decided how someone else should blog, when they post their giveaways, how they write their reviews. If you have nothing nice to say, don't say it at all. Calling someone a Bitch, Dyke, Loser etc. etc. isn't going to make your blog better or make you happier. Also it's not only bloggers who do this but authors too which really is a disappointment :/

Bottom line, remember your manners! If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it.Be polite, just because you don't meet someone in person doesn't mean you can be rude! You never know when you might need someone's help! Today's discussion - Your thoughts on Blogging Etiquette? When is it taken too far?

Badass Bookie xx

ARC of Forgotten by Cat Patrick Winner!

Thank-you to everyone who helped promote this giveaway and 'liked' The Forgotten Facebook Page! This is truly a beautiful book and if you don't win - bad luck ut you can always pre-order it HERE ( Hardcover) and HERE ( Paperback )!

The Winner of the ARC of Forgotten by Cat Patrick is ....

#223 Adrianga

Please check your twitter account within 48 hrs or I will need to choose a new winner!

Badass Bookie xx

The Espressologist

Review Time! I know everyone has probably already read this book but it's only just been released in Australia and so that makes me one of the last people to read this book with such a snazzy title :P Thanks to C. at Pan Macmillan for sending me a review copy!

( Goodreads) What’s your drink of choice? Is it a small pumpkin spice latte? Then you’re lots of fun and a bit sassy. Or a medium americano? You prefer simplicity in life. Or perhaps it’s a small decaf soy sugar-free hazelnut caffe latte? Some might call you a yuppie. Seventeen-year-old barista Jane Turner has this theory that you can tell a lot about a person by their regular coffee drink. She scribbles it all down in a notebook and calls it Espressology. So it’s not a totally crazy idea when Jane starts hooking up some of her friends based on their coffee orders. Like her best friend, Em, a medium hot chocolate, and Cam, a toffee nut latte. But when her boss, Derek, gets wind of Jane’s Espressology, he makes it an in-store holiday promotion, promising customers their perfect matches for the price of their favorite coffee. Things are going better than Derek could ever have hoped, so why is Jane so freaked out? Does it have anything to do with Em dating Cam? She’s the one who set them up! She should be happy for them, right?

The Short Story ? - Screw Internet Dating, the Espressologist is in! Matchmaking with coffee is the next big thing! A cute and funny read with comfortable writing and a fantastic plot, Kristina's debut is one novel not to be missed! Looking for something light and frothy to go with your morning cuppa coffee? Pick up the Espressologist!

The Long Story ? - If Jane is the Espressologist then that makes me the Bookologist right? Since I match books with people :) Lots of mixed review on this one, it's one of those books that you either love or hate. I really liked this book - it's right down my street, cute, light contemporary, but I do get where all these bad review are coming from, let me justify -

The novel was rather short, only about about 180 pages which is shorter than what YA books usually are. For some people that may seem like a short time to be able to develop characters and build a good plot, I assure you, it's a short read but it's definitely fantastic. I loved the characters and the plot was super cute ;) I loved every moment of it and quite frankly the one-sitting read was a bonus for me!

I have to praise Kristina on her knowledge of coffee, I never knew there was so many different types of coffee, I don't drink alot of it and what I do drink is limited to instant coffee :P Even better the concept of using coffee, a common love of 90% of the world's population for matchmaking is really clever! Loved the plot, Jane our Espressologist plays cupid but what about her own Prince Charming? Great start to the novel, cutest ending ever and lots of romance in between!

The writing was fantastic! Kristina has a very distinct and strong YA voice and reading the Espressologist was relaxing. The style of writing was comfortable and humorous. Each character had an individual voice and it almost felt as if Jane was the narrator instead of me!

Bottom line, The Espressologist is a novel not to be missed. Romantic, light, frothy and fun. The characters are great, the writing is refreshing and the plot is original and I going to have to use the word again - cute :)
Looking  for a quick one-sitting read? Want something that you will enjoy every minute? Worth your money? Cute, relaxing and perfect match for your cup of coffee? You're in for a treat with The Espressologist!

Rating - 5/5

Badass Bookie xx

In My Mailbox #26 + Blogoversary Winners!

Happy Easter Everyone! Hoping everyone is having a fantastic long weekend, I know I am! In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi over @ The Story Siren, one of the best blogs ever! She just reached One Million Visitors and is hosting a fabulous giveaway of Six ARCs, head over an enter now! I do IMM every second week ( usually)

In My Mailbox #26

For Review  -

Fall for Anything by Courtney Summers
The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson
The Espressologist by Kristina Springer
Monster High by Lisi Harrison

Bought -

Hardcover Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
Paperback The Amanda Project : #1 by Melissa Kantor

( Both for $2.40 each! With free shipping!)

R.A.K -

Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton
White Cat by Holly Black
Firespell by Chloe Neill

( Thanks to Shannon @ Stalking the Bookshelf, Lillie @ Read My Mind and Monique @ The Book Mystress)

Winners of Blogoversary -

Giveaway # 1 - Emily
Giveaway #2 - Chloe
Giveaway #3 - aveelachild@ ... ( I forgot the name, Sorry!!!)

Badass Bookie xx

Monster High

Review Time! Before I start reviewing, did you know they had Monster High Merchandise? Saw dolls and everything at Target the other day...I would like to thank Hachette for sending me a copy, you guys are amazing!!!

(Goodreads ) They prefer to call themselves RAD (Regular Attribute Dodgers), but some call them monsters. So far, the "monster" community has kept a low profile in Salem, but this year two new girls enroll at Master High School, and the town will never be the same. Created just fifteen days ago, Frankie Stein is psyched to trade her father's formaldehyde-smelling basement lab for parties and cheerleading. But with a student body totally freaked out by rumors of monsters who might be stalking the halls, Frankie finds that life in the "normi" world can be rough for a chic freak like her. She thinks she finds a friend in fellow new student Melody Carver--but can a normi be trusted with her big secret?

The Short Story ? - With a protagonist called Frankie Stein, you know you're in for one hell of a book! Loved it, it's wacky, SO cliched that it's awesome and who doesn't love Monster going to High school? Cute plot, fantastic characters and perfect for anyone looking for a fun read ( or if you're mentally twelve forever like me)!

The Long Story ? - I'm was going to say this one is more MG then YA but then there are parts that are too YA to be MG so it's confusing and hard to place an age on it. If I had to break it down - the writing is MG but the plot is YA. I'm not sure whether the writing style is Lisi's signature style since this is the first of her books that I have read but it's definitely original, funny, comfortable and a little childish ( hey, that sounds like me)

My favourite part of the whole novel would be the characters! This novel is actually told from alternating perspectives of two girls - one normie ( Melody Carver and one monster ( Frankie Stein). It's actually really clever how Lisi has entwined the lives of these two girls but I don't giving it away! The characters in this novel are so so so cute! They're all modern, teenager takes on classic monster, we have vampires , Cleopatra ( ???? I think she's a mummy), werewolves, fish creatures, Medusa and wait for it...Jekel and Hyde!!! I know right? AND he is the main love interest! The characters are truly fantastic, each have a personality that reflects on what we stereotype as that kind of monster!

The plot is predictable but I did mention that the book is meant to be cliched! At the start of the novel we're given a little background check about why the RADs ended up in hiding and Salem so we as readers are clued in! The story then picks up from there where new girls on the block Frankie and Melody stir up trouble, there's monsters, social hierarchy, prom and cheerleaders, it's the plot to every readers dream!

The book lacked a little in the romance department, which is one of the reasons why I think it's MGish, seriously it's like PG- 13 romance, which is not exactly a bad thing but I am a romance junkie so that's probably the only thing that would have made this book better! The writing is really comfortable and funny! The dialogue is witty and the language isn't too complex!

All in all, Monster High is the first book to a fantastic series! It's cute, it's cliched and it's GOT MONSTERS IN IT!!!! Witty writing, fantastic characters, a twist to our classic monsters! What could be better? Bookie recommends to anyone who loves the name Frankie Stein, is mentally twelve ( like her) or just want to read something cute, light and completely monstrous!

Rating - 4/5 ( the cover is really cute too!)

Badass Bookie xx

Defiance ( Spoiler -Free!)

Review Time! For those who haven't read the Strange Angels series yet, please please do! It's absolutely fanta-bulous! Defiance is the fourth book in the series but this is spoiler-free review so you can still you know read it *wink wink* Anyway...

(Goodreads) The heart-stopping fourth novel in New York Times bestselling author Lili St. Crow's Strange Angels series. 

Now that sixteen-year-old Dru's worst fears have come true and Sergej has kidnapped her best friend Graves, she'll have to go on a suicidal rescue mission to bring him back in one piece. That is, if she can put all of Christophe's training to good use, defeat her mother's traitor, Anna, once and for all, and manage to survive another day . . .



The Short Story ? - Fantastic addition to this action-packed, kick-ass series! Definitely my favourite book so far! My only complaint is that I have to wait to November for the next one! Heated romance, badass heroine and fast-paced story, step over Rose Hathaway, Dru's taking the spotlight!

The Long Story ? - I don't even know where to begin, all I want to do is gush about how good this book is! Defiance is a little shorter than the other books in the series, much to my disappointment, I want more, more, more but it definitely made up for it with how awesomely awesome it was! One of the best action novels I have read EVER, no exaggeration! Anyway, I can't keep gushing and have to actually review it so let's start with my favourite part of the novel ... the romance.

I'm one of those readers, who put no more love triangles on my reading resolution this year but I guess I'm going back on my word because let's face it, they make novels so much more interesting. Even if I get frustrated most of the time because the "chick" doesn't end up with the guy of MY dreams, the suspense is still pretty good. My favourite love triangle ever however would be the one between Graves, Dru and Christopher. It's so heated and passionate, I skip ahead just to read the romantic tidbit before back tracking! The romance in Defiance was ...perfection. Very little Graves and ALOT of Christoper ( who BTW is the ONLY you should be on!). Christopher and Dru definitely have chemistry and I hope to see them TOGETHER in the next book! I don't want to give anything away but the romance really is to die for!

Moving onto the plot! Lili St. Crow you are a genius, how do you come up with a plot that's so romantic yet so action-packed? I love my paranormals with adventure and Defiance gave it to me! Addictive and engrossing, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Defiance kept me on the edge of my seat and left my hear beating double time long after the final page! War between Vampires and Dhampirs? A World Where Women are boss? Hotties Galore and Backstabbing Friends? Explosions, Knives and Guns? Ladies and Gentlemen, there's action for all in Defiance!

I lied when I said my only complaint was the wait til November to the next ( and final) book but that's mainly it. My other complaint would be Dru! I love the girl, she's so badass she could be my twin, she's tough and confident but she's so gullible! I understand that a good character has to be believable meaning they have both strengths and weaknesses but some of the stuff that she believes, if only! However, I ca understand that it's her ignorance that keeps the series going, it's the catalyst to all the action and even if sometimes I want to shake Dru...the show must go on! Other than that the characterisation is fantastic, Christopher is perfect, beyond perfect and well Graves...he's alright but Christopher is better!

Bottom line, you don't know what you're missing if you haven't read the series! And if you haven't read Defiance already, well quickly go get yourself a copy! Think the first three was amazing? You're in for a ride with Defiance! Kick-ass action, passionate romance, the perfect guy, my badass twin and beautiful writing! Looking for a YA Paranormal? You found one!

Rating - 6/5 ( This is not a typo)

Badass Bookie xx