Amy and Roger's Epic Detour

Review Time! I wasn’t going to post a review today but my OCD makes looking at my growing Review Pile painful so here I am yet writing another review :P Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson was recently published in the UK and the AUS, thanks to Simon and Schuster for the review copy!

(Goodreads) Amy Curry thinks her life sucks. Her mom decides to move from California to Connecticut to start anew--just in time for Amy's senior year. Her dad recently died in a car accident. So Amy embarks on a road trip to escape from it all, driving cross-country from the home she's always known toward her new life. Joining Amy on the road trip is Roger, the son of Amy's mother's old friend. Amy hasn't seen him in years, and she is less than thrilled to be driving across the country with a guy she barely knows. So she's surprised to find that she is developing a crush on him. At the same time, she's coming to terms with her father's death and how to put her own life back together after the accident. Told in traditional narrative as well as scraps from the road--diner napkins, motel receipts, postcards--this is the story of one girl's journey to find herself


The Short Story? – An epic detour indeed! I bring you, the cheapest vacation ever! Not going anywhere these holidays? Why not join Amy and Roger on their cross country road trip? A bittersweet novel about dealing with grief and moving on, a funny and touching adventure and an extraordinary novel that was simply beautiful.

The Long Story? – I honestly didn’t know what to expect with this one. No, I lied, I expected an epic-worthy road trip with someone called Amy and another one called Roger. I got more than I bargained for! Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour was fantastic! Really what I expected to be a funny love story but this was better, it’s definitely one for the YA contemporary fanatics!

The plot was the highlight of the novel for me. Matson’s written an exciting adventure that doesn’t include vampires and sword fighting and start-crossed lovers. This is as exciting as a non-paranormal novel can get! It’s not just a road trip, it’s an epic detour :P The novel started out a little slowly and the first 50 or so pages is just for easing the reader into the novel but after you hit that 50 mark it’s an hectic adventure. Filled with laughter, tears, heartbreak and everything in between, the novel definitely has a nice flow to it and I could easily chug along the novel at a steady pace. Well-written and clearly a lot of research went into the novel. That or the fact that Matson is talking from experience. Brownie points for all the references to food, a unique taste for each state of the epic detour! This one is for the Sarah Dessen fans :)

Characterization wise, Matson’s developed some strong characters. Amy our protagonists was on as much of an emotional re-growth journey as much as a real journey. Between all the adventures, Matson’s weaved all these getting over grief scenes and I loved them. Amy was portrayed as a girl who shut herself away from the world, she was lonely, guilt-ridden and grief-stricken. Throughout the novel, she’s coaxed out of her shell by all the people she meets on her epic detour. Roger, her companion in crime was like a ray of sunshine, dealing with heartbreak of his own, he never stopped trying to be cheerful! I loved Roger, he was kind, funny and a total hottie! My favourite secondary characters included Lucien and Bronwyn, two of the nicest characters I’ve met, I’m planning a road trip for the three of us: P In a nutshell, characterization was another one of the strong points about Matson’s debut.

I loved Matson’s writing style, there is this fresh edge to it, it’s so “teen”. You know how you have those sugary sweet narrative voices and then those authentic narrative voices? This one was authentic for sure. It’s got a bittersweet edge to it, in fact, the whole book had a bittersweet edge to it. It was sad but funny, the best of both worlds, not to depressing but not perfect enough that it leaves you thinking ‘wait, is this set on Earth or so new and improved New Earth?’. It’s quite a long read, 350 pages and the text is tiny! Although, I’m not complaining because it was worth every word!

Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour is a bittersweet adventure about a girl dealing with guilt and grief and a boy dealing with heartbreak. It’s a novel about finding yourself and epic road trips. A bonus is that it’s an excellent guide to what to eat when you head to Kentucky, Louisville and a few more places that I can’t name on the top of my head! Beautiful, touching, funny and epic indeed! A cute read for everyone!

Rating – 5/5

Badass Bookie xx.

Passion

Review Time! I’ve been very slack this week! I had this awesome Breakfast with the Bookie idea but with two assignments due today, I spent my night finishing them off. Anyway, Passion is the third book in the Fallen series by Lauren Kate, it’s an international bestseller and big thank-you to Random House for sending it!

(Goodreads) Luce would die for Daniel.


And she has. Over and over again. Throughout time, Luce and Daniel have found each other, only to be painfully torn apart: Luce dead, Daniel left broken and alone. But perhaps it doesn’t need to be that way. . . .


Luce is certain that something—or someone—in a past life can help her in her present one. So she begins the most important journey of this lifetime . . . going back eternities to witness firsthand her romances with Daniel . . . and finally unlock the key to making their love last.


Cam and the legions of angels and Outcasts are desperate to catch Luce, but none are as frantic as Daniel. He chases Luce through their shared pasts, terrified of what might happen if she rewrites history.


Because their romance for the ages could go up in flames . . . forever

The Short Story? – Passion was a thrilling adventure filled with passionate (no pun intended) moments and delicious romance. Picking up from the cliff hanger ending of Torment, Passion is edgy, dangerous and enticing! Great plot, fantastic romance and another ending that’s leaving me craving for more!

The Long Story? – I didn’t like Fallen very much and I wasn’t planning on reading Torment but the reviews claimed that it was better so I gave this series a second chance. I’m glad I did because I loved Torment and Passion was brilliant. This is a great example of a series that suffers from the FBS (First Book Syndrome), it’s a series that gets better as the story progresses.

I really liked Passion it fitted into the bigger image of Luce and Daniel’s cursed love story yet, I can’t help but think of it as a bridge. It’s a linking book. Passion was the bridge from Torment to Rapture (the next installment), the events that occurred during this book I thought didn’t hold as much significance as the rest of the series. Passion was a collection of flashbacks from Luce and Daniel’s past lives and it was all very interesting, I didn’t know how many different variations of Luce and Daniel you can make. It’s very clever how Kate’s weaved these fictional characters into real events of history. Passion was also kind of a tell-all book, we finally find out why Luce and Daniel are cursed and readers get to see the depth of their love. It’s probably my favourite book in the series, it was more relaxed and I was able to enjoy it at a slower pace and being a romance junkie, this was kind of like bliss.

Characterization was great. It’s the third book in the series and if you’re reading this review, you know what the characters are like. However this is a spoiler-free review so I’ll start from the beginning, Luce our protagonist has definitely matured throughout the duration of this book. I used to think Luce was selfish, immature and I honestly couldn’t see the appeal in her. I liked her a little more in Torment, she grew a backbone but it was in this novel that I really started to connect to her. Daniel is still a pretty foreign character to me, even after spending three installments with him, I’m not quite sure what he’s like, I‘ve got the basics ( he’s in love with Luce, he’s a fallen angel) but his personality is still somewhat of a mystery, he doesn’t show much emotion besides love. Cam, is by far my favourite character, we get to see a new side of him that we’ve never seen before and he’s amazing. Believe me when I say just to see this new side of Cam is a good enough reason the read the book. The other characters played a fairly minor part in Passion. In all, Passion was little about character growth especially with Luce.

As a romance junkie it wouldn’t seem right if I didn’t talk a little about the romance right? The romance was superb as always. I think Passion really depicted the depth of Luce and Daniel’s cursed love story. I can finally understand the “hugeness” of their love for each other and how far they will go to be with each other. Lots of sizzling romance, passionate kisses and heartbreaking moments. It’s one for the romance suckers (like me)

If you haven’t read Fallen I would recommend you to do so and stick with it! I wasn’t the biggest fan of Fallen (okay, I (sorta) hated it) but it drastically gets better! Torment was great and Passion was even better. I can just tell Rapture is going to epic, so do yourself a favor and read this. Great romance, fantastic characters and brilliant plot, Passion is not to be missed!

Rating – 4.5/5

Badass Bookie xx

Only the Good Spy Young

Review Time! I’m a huge fan of Ally Carter, she writes fabulous novels for teenagers and alongside her Heist Society series, her Gallagher Girls series is one of my favorite series all time. They’re absolutely amazing! If you haven’t read them, you’re missing out :P Thanks to Hachette for the review copy!

(Goodreads) When Cammie Morgan enrolled at the Gallagher Academy, she knew she was preparing for the dangerous life of a spy. What she didn’t know was that the serious, real-life danger would start during her junior year of high school. But that’s exactly what happened two months ago when Cammie faced off against an ancient terrorist organization dead set on kidnapping her.


Now the danger follows her everywhere, and even Cammie “The Chameleon” can’t hide. When a terrifying encounter in London reveals that one of her most-trusted allies is actually a rogue double-agent, Cammie no longer knows if she can trust her classmates, her teachers—or even her own heart.

The Short Story? – Ally Carter never fails to impress! Only the Good Spy Young is the fourth book in her Gallagher Girls series and it’s by far my favorite. Action-packed, unpredictable and completely engrossing. Only the Good Spy Young is a combination of my two favorite things in literature, romance and action. One word – brilliant.

The Long Story? – Good God! Where do I even start with this novel? Honestly, I’m not even sure what to write about it ( which is why I haven’t written a review til now) because there is just so much I want to say. I don’t want to blabber on or bore you to tears but this is a seriously awesome series.

Carter’s plots are always, always unpredictable. You’ll never find a novel with a plot like hers, it’s not “recycled”. They’re clever, fast-paced and completely original which is one of the reason I love her novels. I mentioned before that I secretly think Carter was a spy herself and writing her life stories and Only the Good Spy Young only supports my argument. The events in this book are so clever and realistic that Carter being a spy is the only explanation. Heart-pounding, non-stop excitement that left me on the edge of my seat, no one can write an action novel better than Carter.

Some of my favorite characters are from this series. Cammie, our Gallagher girl is everything a good protagonist needs to be. Smart, funny and a risk-taker, Cammie is what every good novel should have, a protagonist who can think for themselves. Zach, is the man of my dreams ( one of them anyway), he really takes the ‘air of mystery’ quite seriously, it wasn’t til this book that we get to know a little more about him other than he’s HOT! ( Huge secrets to be revealed in this novel!) Some of my favorite supporting characters were born from this series, what I find amazing is that every character has that ‘cool, confident’ charm going. Maybe its part of being a spy but it’s totally awesome. Great characters that I’ve grown closer and closer to over the years!

I know I mention this every time I review Carter’s books but her romance is really spot-on! The romance is always one of the reasons it hard to wait for the next book to be released. Carter dishes the romance out in rationed portions, enough to keep reader hooked on but not enough to satisfy! It’s torture! It’s killing me not to know where Cammie and Zach end up but again the undeniable attraction is there and the sizzling chemistry between the two is what keeps the novel moving ( along with the other important things like stopping terrorists). Brilliant romance, Carter’s mastered the art of torture ;)

What else do I have to say? Two words – read it. The Gallagher Girls is a fantastic series that can be enjoyed by everyone, yes even you! Don’t look at it and think ‘ uhhh it’s not for me’ because this one is for everyone! Another master piece from Ally Carter, another novel that’s going to be re-read over and over again. Action-packed, exciting and sizzling with romantic tension. Only the Good Spy Young will not disappoint!

Rating – 5/5


Badass Bookie xx

In My Mailbox #31 - MASSIVE Three Week Edition

Hello Lovelies! It's In My Mailbox Time! This is a MASSIVE Three Week Edition because I didn't do one last week due to Debut of the Month! IMM is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren, where we show the bookish contents of our mailbox! I participate every second week ususally :)

Three Week Hurl -

Three Week Hurl

So You Can See All the Pretty Covers...

For Review -

- Haunting Violet by Alexander Harvey ( with awesome tote bag!)
- Lament by Maggie Stiefvatar
- Ballad by Maggie Stiefvatar
- Linger by Maggie Stiefvatar
- Forever by Maggie Stiefvatar
- ARC Clarity by Kim Harrington
- ARC Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan
- Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting
- Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer
- The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter ( finished copy)
- Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
- Bad Sisters by Rebecca Chance
- It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han
- Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter ( Not Pictured)

Gifted -

- The Starkin Crown by Kate Forsyth

( Thanks to Melissa @ Spellbound by Books )

Won -

- ARC Wintertown by Stephen Edmond
- The Naughty List by Suzanne Young
- The Last Song by Nicholas Spark
- Dear John by Nicholas Spark
- Shattered Soul Swag ( not pictured)

( Thanks to Lisa @ Turning Pages, Jess @ She's Known as Jess Blogspot, Nikki @ Nikki Katz and Mary Lindsey)

That's all for this week! :)

Badass Bookie xx

Enclave

Review Time! Enclave is a 2011 YA Debut written by Ann Aguirre. It's a post-apocalyptic/ dystopian novel and it was definitely one of my most anticipated reads of the year! Thanks to Ann Aguirre for sending me a signed copy!

(Goodreads) Welcome to the Apocalypse. In Deuce’s world, people earn the right to a name only if they survive their first fifteen years. By that point, each unnamed ‘brat’ has trained into one of three groups–Breeders, Builders, or Hunters, identifiable by the number of scars they bear on their arms. Deuce has wanted to be a Huntress for as long as she can remember.


As a Huntress, her purpose is clear—to brave the dangerous tunnels outside the enclave and bring back meat to feed the group while evading ferocious monsters known as Freaks. She’s worked toward this goal her whole life, and nothing’s going to stop her, not even a beautiful, brooding Hunter named Fade. When the mysterious boy becomes her partner, Deuce’s troubles are just beginning.

The Short Story? - For fans of The Hunger Games and Divergent, here comes the next big thing! Exciting, edgy and addictive, Enclave is your Friday Night Entertainment packed into a neat 260 pages novel! Fast-paced and original. Enclave is a remarkable debut that should be read by all!

The Long Story? - Enclave had me from the start. I like dystopian novels but it's the post-apocalyptic/ survival-based that's the cherry on top. From the moment I read the blurb, I just knew I had to read Enclave! It was everything I thought it would be and more! Fantastic, one of my favourite dystopian novels of the year!

With dystopian, every setting is different but when it comes to originality, I usually find it very lacking. They all pretty much sum up to the same thing, freedom to love, to think, to be who they are. In turn this air of depression falls over the whole novel. Enclave was different. Yes, there was the key element of longing for freedom and the unknown but there was more to the plot then that. There was a beginning, a crisis and then there was ending. It was a layered plot that was more than just ' I want freedom, oh hot boy, help me fight for freedom'. Exciting. edgy and a fantastic page-turner, I was hanging onto every word!

The characters were great! Deuce ( who's name is great) is one of the best characters I have encountered. Following in the footsteps of Katniss Everdeen, Deuce is a strong heroine who refuses to let gender get in her way of doing great things! She's someone I've grown to admire, her choices reflect on her kind nature and she's fearless. Fade is a great love interest, he's got the whole 'air of mystery' surrounding him and he's smexy ;P Plus the love romantic development only draws the reader further and further into the story! Stalker was the third part of a cleverly crafted love triangle. I can't wait to see where the romance leads the three of them in the next book!

Overall, Enclave was the perfect read for a night in! Quick, exciting and lots of sizzling romantic tension, what more can a girl ask for? A beautifully crafted post-apocalyptic world, a life or death situation and a novel about hardship, survival, freedom and love. Fantastic plot, great characters and well-written, Enclave is one not to be missed, for lovers of all things Dystopian! The next big thing after The Hunger Games, here comes Enclave!

Rating - 5/5

Badass Bookie xx

The Girl in the Steel Corset

Review Time! The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross is a 2011 YA debut, it’s steampunk and set in the 1800’s ( double *fist pump*) I would like to thank Harlequin Teen for sending me a review copy and Rachel @ Fiktshun for sending me a hardcover copy!

(Goodreads) In 1897 England, sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne has no one except the thing inside her.



When a young lord tries to take advantage of Finley, she fights back. And wins. But no normal Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full-grown man with one punch.


Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her that says she's special, says she's one of them. The orphaned duke takes her in from the gaslit streets against the wishes of his band of misfits. Emily, who has her own special abilities and an unrequited love for Sam, who is part robot; and Jasper, an American cowboy with a shadowy secret.


Griffin's investigating a criminal called The Machinist, the mastermind behind several recent crimes by automatons. Finley thinks she can help and finally be a part of something, finally fit in.


But The Machinist wants to tear Griff's little company of strays apart, and it isn't long before trust is tested on all sides. At least Finley knows whose side she's on, even if it seems no one believes her
 
The Short Story? – This book is so awesome that I have it in both paperback and hardback. Clockwork Angel meets The Luxe, it’s the best of both worlds! All the glam The Luxe and all the handsome young man and supernatural action of Clockwork Angel. Witty, exciting and swoon-worthily romantic. Un-put-downable, stunning debut, this is the ultimate page-turner.

The Long Story? – Why in the name of Books didn’t I read this one earlier? Why? Why? Why? I’m kicking for myself for leaving this one on my shelf for so long, I loved it. From the start to the end, it was fantastic! I can’t pin it on one thing that made me love it but there is something different about The Girl in the Steel Corset that makes it hard not to love.

One of the best plots I have read this year. It’s not really paranormal and yet there is this supernatural vibe going on. There is this logical explanation behind all the supernaturalnous of the whole novel that it’s somewhere between historical contempt and historical paranormal, closer to the latter. I’ve read many brilliant, brilliant books this year but The Girl in the Steel Corset was different, there was a purpose. It can be easily seen that a lot of planning went into the novel. All the threads that weaved throughout the novel were tied neatly together at the end except for the one that turned into the cliff-hanger ending. It wasn’t just a love story, it wasn’t one of those novels that were badly planned where the author went ‘Oh, I almost forgot to put a conflict in, let me just slotted in here’ It was neat and clever and brilliant. Non-stop action, romantic tension and badass characters.

As far as characterization goes, it’s like reading about superheroes, which I guess in a way they are. They’re crime-stoppers with super-human abilities (or intelligence …or both). Finley, our protagonist is my new best friend. Absolutely loved this girl, she was strong, clever, shy at times and brave. She was a badass heroine. Emily is too smart for me to describe but she’s completely adorable. Sam is Sam ( you’ll understand once you read the book) and my two gorgeous boys Griffin and Jack share my affection. Best love triangle I have ever read, I can’t even pick a side which how awesome the romance is. So much tension and so many *swoon* worthy moments :P

Cross’s writing is fantastic. Very strong narrative voice and it’s quite engrossing, I couldn’t put it down, it was addictive! Comfortable writing style and easy to read language, it’s a novel for all lovers of fiction. A great novel and a fantastic genre!

This book is made of awesome pretty much sums it all up. Do yourself a favor and pick up not only one but two copies of the book because you need a copy to read over and over again and another to stick on your shelf and admire :P Brilliant, original, witty and an absolute page-turner. The Girl in the Steel Corset is a stunner of a debut and I can’t wait to read the next book!

Rating – 6/5

Badass Bookie xx

It's Not Summer Without You

Review Time! It’s Not Summer Without You is the 2nd book in the Summer series written by Jenny Han. I absolutely adore this series and I was delighted to find that Penguin Australia was publishing the 2nd book! Again, thanks to Penguin for this review copy, I love you guys!

(Goodreads) Can summer be truly summer without Cousins Beach?



It used to be that Belly counted the days until summer, until she was back at Cousins Beach with Conrad and Jeremiah. But not this year. Not after Susannah got sick again and Conrad stopped caring. Everything that was right and good has fallen apart, leaving Belly wishing summer would never come.

But when Jeremiah calls saying Conrad has disappeared, Belly knows what she must do to make things right again. And it can only happen back at the beach house, the three of them together, the way things used to be. If this summer really and truly is the last summer, it should end the way it started--at Cousins Beach.

The Short Story? – Cute and bittersweet, It’s Not Summer Without You is sad, moving and funny. Bringing out all the emotions out of a reader, Han has written a beautiful novel about first love, first heartbreak and everything in between. Beautiful, breathtaking and brilliant, It’s Not Summer Without You is as good as it gets.

The Long Story? – I love this series. I really do. It’s also a tough cookie to review because I have so much to say about this book. I have all these thoughts buzzing around in my head that it’s hard to pick what’s important and what not :P I’ll like to start by saying, It’s Not Summer Without You is even better than The Summer I Turned Pretty.

The plot was amazing. I haven’t read any reviews on this novel because I didn’t want any spoilers but the main difference I picked out between the 1st novel and the 2nd novel is that, the plot’s a little more serious. The events that happen are a little more heartbreaking and it bought out so much emotion in me, I literally bawled my eyes out throughout the novel. I can’t think of a better word to describe the plot other than bittersweet. It was still refreshingly to read, very cute and enjoyable but it explored darker issues, for everything sweet there was a little bitter aftertaste and I think that was my favourite part of the novel. It wasn’t just another summer love story, there was purpose and meaning behind it, there’s more to it now than just a romance. Very original, very cute and yet deeply touching. The plot is one of a kind.

There was a great deal of character development in this novel. We got to understand the characters better and also watch them grow. Belly, is definitely a lot more mature in this novel, she’s grown up and her actions in this novel rally impressed me. She’s making better choices, she’s thinking about herself and she realizes it’s okay to have what you want. Jeremiah is still number 1 on my list, I was Team Jeremiah from the start and It’s Not Summer Without You only led me to love him more. Honestly, he’s like the best boyfriend material, he’s funny, sweet and he really cares about Belly. The world would be complete if they got together :) Conrad…is a jerk. He clearly has feelings for Belly but he’s too stubborn to admit it and I’m pretty bias about this but he doesn’t deserve Belly (who should totally be with Jeremiah). Overall, great cast of characters, I have someone to admire, someone to *swoon* over and someone to hate or well, dislike anyway :P

Another one of my favourite things about this novel is Han’s writing and structure. Han has a very unique writing style, every time I read her work, it completely brightens up my day, it’s so comfortable and relaxing and no pun intended but summer-y. It’s just writing at its best. Han’s book structure is also something very different. The book is written so it flips from the present to the past but it also interchanges between character perspectives. Like I said, very different and surprisingly not all that to follow. Han’s novels are very easy to read and can be enjoyed by readers of all abilities and age :)

If you haven’t read the series yet, you should head to your nearest bookstore and buy them because they’re brilliant. I was hanging onto every word, totally engrossed by the story that I missed dinner (true fact). It’s Not Summer Without You is contemporary at its best. Refreshing to read, cute, funny and yet deeply moving. Bittersweet, It’s Not Summer Without You is one for everyone to enjoy. I won’t be your friend if you don’t read it :P

Rating - 5/5

Badass Bookie xx

Faking 19

Review Time! Everyone's heard of Alyson Noel right? The bestselling author of the Immortal series? Well, before she wrote paranormal romance she wrote contemporary! She still does ( I think) but Faking 19 is her first novel! Thanks to Pan Macmillan for the review copy!

(Goodreads) On the surface, seventeen-year-old Alex has it made. She’s beautiful and smart, plus she’s best friends with M, the absolute most popular girl in school. Feeling bored with their fancy Orange County suburban town, Alex and M decide to check out L.A.’s glitzy nightlife scene.



Pretending to be nineteen, Alex and M meet Trevor and Connor, two rich older guys. At first Alex can’t believe her luck—she gets to hang out at hip Hollywood house parties and downtown L.A. clubs. These weekend trips into the city become the perfect distraction for Alex, who is secretly struggling with her failing senior-year grades, her absentee father, and her clueless mom.


But after the initial fun wears off for Alex, she is forced to re-evaluate her friendship with M, who is hiding some secrets beneath her perfect Burberry-clad exterior…

The Short Story? - I'm going to have to eat my own words again. You know how I don't like coming-to-age novels OR dark contemporaries? Well, Faking 19 was a little of both and I loved it. Absolutely loved it, I was expecting something along the lines of Gossip Girl and I get something better! Beautifully written, fantastic characters and a great message behind it all, Faking 19 a novel every teen should read!

The Long Story? - I really don't know where to start with this novel. I have to say it wasn't what I expected but it past my expectations. It's a novel with great messages behind it, it's little bit of a coming-to-age novel but not in the traditional sense, it's not embarrassing or gross or badly written. I would say that this one would appeal to Deb Caletti, Lauren Barnholdt and Susane Colasanti.

The plot was rather simple, there wasn't really any conflict or "action". There was no boy to stake claim ( not really) or any school to conquer yet it was typically YA contemporary. It wasn't fast-paced but it flowed nicely along. It's one of those novels that everyone can relate to. Faking 19 circulates the fact that since the divorce of Alex's parents, she's kind of slipped away. She's neglected and she doesn't care anymore, her grades are slipping and she's pretty much hit rock bottom. Faking 19 is more of a emotional journey or better described as a "finding yourself" kind of novel. I'm not normally a "finding yourself" reader but this novel really touched me, the problems Alex faces could be the problems of any teenage girl, it hits close to home ( not that close since I'm not neglected or anything) but it's a novel that has importance.

The characterisation was great. Alex, our protagonist, is someone I'd grown to admire. She's hit rock bottom, she's pretty much blown her chance at college but yet she manages to work her way around all her problems and deal with it. She hopes and sets herself goals, she pushes past her anger and grows to accept that not everything is going to be perfect, that people make mistakes. Alex was strong and willing to put faith into hope. She was realistic and someone I could connect to. M, Alex's best friend, wasn't someone I had grown to like but she was a necessarily character because she played the role of the better, prettier and smarter "cliched" best friend. The boys, Trevor and Connor were also a milestone that Alex had to over come, she had to realise that taking the easy way out isn't going to solve everything and she can't rely on others. Overall, it was a very neat cast, very well portrayed.

Alyson's writing style in Faking 19 is very different from her writing style in the Immortal series, honestly I couldn't tell they were written by the same author. I really liked how Faking 19 was wrote, it was so "teen", the narrative voice was angry and sarcastic. The language used is simple and easy to read. It's a really comfortable read, not difficult and not very long ( only about 200 pages), it's definitely a one-sitting-read.

Faking 19 is a novel about finding yourself and holding onto hope. It's novel with an important moral, no one's perfect and even when you make mistakes you can't give up, you just have to move on. It's a very inspirational read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Great characters, well-written and a novel everyone can connect to. Faking 19 is perfect for anyone whose ever been a teen. This is your story.

Rating - 4/5

Badass Bookie xx

Debut of the Month - All About Lost Voices + Giveaway

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Book Profile

Debut - Lost Voices ( Goodreads )

Author - Sarah Porter

Genre - Paranormal

Release Date - 4th July 2011

Avalible - The Book Depository/ The Nile

Fourteen-year-old Luce has had a tough life, but she reaches the depths of despair when she is assaulted and left on the cliffs outside of a grim, gray Alaskan fishing village. She expects to die when she tumbles into the icy waves below, but instead undergoes an astonishing transformation and becomes a mermaid. A tribe of mermaids finds Luce and welcomes her in—all of them, like her, lost girls who surrendered their humanity in the darkest moments of their lives. Luce is thrilled with her new life until she discovers the catch: the mermaids feel an uncontrollable desire to drown seafarers, using their enchanted voices to lure ships into the rocks. Luce possesses an extraordinary singing talent, which makes her important to the tribe—she may even have a shot at becoming their queen. However her struggle to retain her humanity puts her at odds with her new friends. Will Luce be pressured into committing mass murder?

The Insider's Scoop

Here’s some inside information about the characters in Lost Voices :

Catarina is still sixteen years old because mermaids are permanently stuck at the age they were when they stopped being human, but she was actually born in 1961. It does make me wonder: if a mermaid ever managed to change back into a human, would they count as their mermaid age, or as the age they would have been if they had kept on growing?


Some readers have noticed that Anais doesn’t really seem like the other mermaids, as if she was in a special category of her own. They’re right. She is different, and the reason she’s different is also the reason she’s so dangerous.


Luce was a big reader when she was human. Her favorite book at age ten was Bridge to Terabithia, and her favorite at thirteen was The Golden Compass. She has a special love for books with intense, imaginative girl characters. Reading is probably the one thing about being human that she misses the most.


Luce is my favorite character (of course) but there’s a new character named Nausicaa in the second book in the trilogy, Waking Storms, and I love her almost as much as Luce.


And that boy? His name is Dorian. He’s from Chicago. And he’ll be back. ( I love this line...it's so intriguing)

~Giveaway~

Alright Luvies! Sarah has kindly offered (1) ONE Signed Hardcover of Lost Voices to (1) US Reader ( I'm terribly sorry to all my international readers) Commenting is not required but it's GREATLY Appreciated. Especially since Sarah wrote these lovely posts while trying to meet a deadline. Also there is a Mermaid Sweepstake open HERE 

Rules of Entry ( Please read carefully) -

- US Only

- Commenting is not required but greatly appreciated

- Must be over 13

- Must Fill out this Form

- Ends 7/8

Badass Bookie xx

Tiger's Curse ( Don't Look at the Cover, It's Actually Brilliant)

Review Time! STOP! Don't roll over this review because believe it or not ( and you should believe it) this is actually one of my favourites books of the year! Took me completely by surprise and yes, the cover isn't exactly attractive but THIS ONE'S A KEEPER. Thanks to Hachette for sending me a review copy!

(Goodreads) Passion. Fate. Loyalty.



Would you risk it all to change your destiny?

The last thing 17-year old Kelsey Hayes thought she’d be doing this summer was trying to break a 300-year-old Indian curse. With a mysterious white tiger named Ren. Halfway around the world. But that’s exactly what happened. Face-to-face with dark forces, spellbinding magic, and mystical worlds where nothing is what it seems, Kelsey risks everything to piece together an ancient prophecy that could break the curse forever.

The Short Story? - Tiger's Curse is the poster child for ' Don't Judge the Book by it's Cover'. I'll eat my own words about never being wrong about a book because Tiger's Curse was Epic ( with a capital E). Captivating plot, dangerously exciting and one of the best romances I'm yet to read! Beautifully written, Houck you've proved me wrong, Tiger's Curse is a winner.

The Long Story? - I feel awful. I made the mistake of judging this book by the cover and I hope by reading this review, you guys won't make the same mistake. Let's face it, the cover is kind of ugly, with all the pretty covers out there, I wouldn't have given this novel a second glance at the bookshop but - and I'm utterly serious about this - Tiger's Curse is one of the best books I have ever read. I feel like gushing about how good it is.

The plot blew me away, right of my feet, gone with the wind. The right mix of action, adventure and romance, if metaphorically speaking books were cakes, Tiger's Curse would be the cake that's perfect, no matter how much you eat ( or in this case read) it, you'll never get sick of it. I have to give credit to Houck's originality and the amount of research that would have gone into this novel. Houck's written a brilliant novel, a combination of Indian mythology and culture mixed with aspects of fantasy, a hot love interest and a American protagonist, Tiger's Curse is right up there on my list of favourite book next to Vampire Academy and Mortal Instruments. Fast-paced, action-packed and well-written, Tiger's Curse is Indiana Jones with better romance for teens!

The characterisation was beyond perfect. Character's were very well developed and portrayed uniquely. Our protagonist, Kelsey was very likable. We clicked almost instantly, she's definitely one of my favourite heroine's of the year. She was shy and kind but also brave and stubborn, she was someone I grew to admire throughout the novel. Ren, our poor cursed Indian Prince is someone I fell in love with immediately. Not only is he extremely smexy but he's considerate, kind and brave, plus he's totally in love with Kelsey (awwww). Even more surprising than the fact that I can't pick out one flaw in our main characters is that I didn't dislike any of the minor characters, NOT ONE. A brilliant cast that's hard not to love.

I recently wrote a post about Marketed Romance in YA, I admitted that while I love any kind of romance it would be great if I could read something other than recycled romance lines once in while and wish granted, Tiger's Curse appeared. One of the best romances I have read, Kelsey and Ren definitely tops my favourites couples of the year ( sorry, Lucas and Helen). It's so easy to pick up the undeniable attraction between them yet they refuse to be together or more like Kelsey refuses to be with Ren ( for good reasons but still). It's frustrating yet so engrossing, this passionate romance between the two led me to turn faster and faster to see where this mutual attraction takes them.

Tiger's Curse is YA written at it's best. It's one for all the enjoy, whether you like to stick to your contemporary or you're a paranormal lover like me, Tiger's Curse is novel I would recommend everyone to read. Exciting, romantic, adventurous and captivating, Tiger's Curse is refreshingly original. I can't make you read it but do yourself a favour and pick a copy because this one's a keeper, this is going to be the novel that you'll go back to read again and again, it's the novel that you'll dream about, it's the novel that lingers long after the last page.

Rating - 6/5 ( Because it's out of this world :P)

Badass Bookie xx

Debut of the Month - All About Sarah Porter ( Lost Voices)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Debutante Profile

Name - Sarah Porer

Debut - Lost Voices

Genre - Paranormal

Website - HERE

Trailer - HERE

Mermaid Sweepstake - Here 

Sarah Porter is a writer, artist, and freelance writing teacher in the New York public schools. Her debut novel Lost Voices, the first in a trilogy, was recently published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two cats.

Dream Debutante Dress - My debutante dress was designed by Beatrix Potter in 1903. It's still totally in style, right?

Notes from a YA Debutante

I’m delighted to be a July Debutante here at Badass Bookie.

Some of the writers who are now publishing books about mermaids are actually mermaids themselves. So I should probably start off by explaining that I’m just plain human and not even an ex-mermaid. I am, however, an Official Mermaid Spokesperson. It’s a job that comes with certain perks: for one thing, the mermaids have never tried to kill me. (And if they ever change their minds about that, I have a good idea of how to defend myself.)

As I was doing research in San Francisco for the third volume of the trilogy, I got into a conversation with some old sailors at this beautiful but ramshackle boat club. I wanted to find out what kinds of sea creatures live in the bay, and especially which ones would be active at night. The sailors told me a lot of crazy stories: "There's a pod of whales out in the middle there, and at night they dance on their tails." And: "Out there somewhere there's a hole, oh, about two hundred feet deep, and it's completely full of sharks." Some of them claimed they had mermaid girlfriends, which I was strongly inclined to doubt. To be fair, they didn’t seem to believe that I was an Official Mermaid Spokesperson, either.

Another great thing about doing research for the trilogy is that it gives me an excuse to read a lot of books about the ocean, and about whales and squids and penguins. (Okay. There are no penguins in the trilogy. But reading about them does keep me mentally in the deep wild sea.) And I have learned that squids are mind-blowing animals. Some kinds have skin that can play complicated colored patterns, almost like video screens. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the squids for existing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Haha thanks Sarah for the great post! Mermaids are becoming quite a comeback in YA fiction isn't it? I do have my suspicions that you ARE actually a mermaid ( mermaids would never admit they're a mermaid right?) The first thing I going to do after I post this post is to Google Squids...you have me curious. My lovely readers please come back tomorrow for the second half of Sarah's feature, it's really interesting, I was reading it five minutes ago ( for the third time) and yes, she's giving away a copy of Lost Voices....

Badass Bookie xx

Debut of the Month - All About Falling for Hamlet + Giveaway

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Book Profile

Debut - Falling for Hamlet ( Goodreads )

Author - Michelle Ray

Genre - Contemporary/ Retelling

Release Date - 5th July 2011

Available - The Book Depository / The Nile

Meet Ophelia: a blonde, beautiful high-school senior and long-time girlfriend of Prince Hamlet of Denmark. Her life is dominated not only by her boyfriend's fame and his overbearing family, but also by the paparazzi who hound them wherever they go. As the devastatingly handsome Hamlet spirals into madness after the mysterious death of his father, the King, Ophelia rides out his crazy roller coaster life, and lives to tell about it. In live television interviews, of course.

Passion, romance, drama, humor, and tragedy intertwine in this compulsively readable debut novel, told by a strong-willed, modern-day Ophelia.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Insider's Scoop

Ophelia’s Favorites

Food: Is coffee a food?

Song: “Jar of Hearts” by Christina Perri
TV show: Mad Men
Movie:
-For title alone – Crazy, Stupid, Love
-For content – A Room with a View (because it’s romantic and takes place in Florence, my happiest time with Hamlet)
Subject: Art
Place to shop: Anywhere they don’t allow paparazzi
Sound: before the story begins -- Hamlet playing the guitar; by the end of the story – silence
Friend: Horatio
Outfit: flannel pajama bottoms and a t-shirt
Book: Smart Women, Foolish Choices
Color: black
Trait: forgiveness
Saying: To thine own self be true


Ophelia’s LEAST Favorites


Food: Skewered meat
Song: “I Can’t Help Falling in Love with You”
Place to shop: hardware stores
Sound: crying
Person: Claudius
Outfit: bridesmaid dress from Gertrude’s wedding
Color: peach  * which is why I changed the colour to purple instead of the usual peach!*
Trait: insanity
Saying: To be or not to be

~Giveaway~

Alrighty! Michelle has kindly offered (1) ONE ARC of Falling for Hamlet to one US reader ( sorry international peeps!) You don't have to leave a comment but it's always nice since Michelle put the effort into writing such a lovely post!

Rules ( Please Read Carefully) -

- US Only

- Not Required to leave a comment but it's always nice :)

- Must be over 13

- Must Fill out this FORM

- Ends 7/8

Badass Bookie xx

Debut of the Month - All About Michelle Ray

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Debutante Profile

Name - Michelle Ray

Debut - Falling for Hamlet

Genre - Contemporary/ Retelling?

Website - HERE

Facebook - HERE

Michelle Ray is a graduate of Tufts University where she majored in drama, and got her master’s in education at UCLA. She is now a sixth grade English teacher in Silver Spring, Maryland, where she lives with her family. Falling for Hamlet is her first novel. She spends a great deal of time trying to convince people that Shakespeare is not scary, both in her professional and personal life.

Dream Debutante Dress -

Notes from a YA Debutante

I went with the superhero outfit because I’m always trying to defend and protect people. My husband laughs when I freeze in a public place at the sound of a kid crying and check to make sure the child is okay. At school, I want to lift everyone to a higher understanding. And while I don’t leap over buildings, I’ve been known to run toward trouble. Though I’m short, I will try to stop teenagers from fighting at school (though I’ve been advised that this isn’t the safest thing to do). Finally, I chose a superhero outfit because many people can’t believe I can teach full time, be a mom, a wife, and a writer. I get it all done somehow. Maybe it’s my superhero ability to freeze time . . .

I try to defend my characters, too. Whenever people say something like, “Oh, Hamlet is such a jerk,” or “Ophelia made a dumb choice,” I stand up for them like friends. “You have to understand,” I begin. I’ve always been like this. I draw a lot from life, and while I’ve always been a rule follower, I’ve made some dumb choices. It’s part of being young. Life is so confusing and it’s impossible to be perfect all the time. Anyone who seems perfect is either really dull or hiding something.

I’m inspired by goodness. I’m inspired by dreams. I’m inspired by great art. I’m inspired by creative people. I’m inspired by theater. I’m inspired by my family. I’m inspired by my students. I’m inspired by Shakespeare. I’m inspired by bravery. I’m inspired by real life heroes who put their safety after others’.

If I could slap on a cape (and, according to the photo, startlingly high heels) and save world, I totally would. For now, I’ll teach and write . . . while wearing flip-flops and flats.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks so much for the great post! I'm learning to love Shakespeare, yes, he gives me headaches three out of every five days but he's wonderful :) Sadly, I haven't made my way to Hamlet yet, Romeo and Juliet is currently taking up all my time but I have to say I'm keen to check it out along with Falling for Hamlet! That steamy cover was the cherry on top. Love the sound of Falling for Hamlet! Okay, so guys come back tomorrow for the second half of Michelle's feature and a giveaway!

Badass Bookie xx

Illusions ( Spoiler-Free)

Review Time! School started this week and my review pile’s getting bigger! I’m getting the reading down but the reviews simply don’t want to be written! Anyway, I’m making myself write this review today as it’s been bothering not writing ;P Thanks so Harpercollins for the review copy!

(Goodreads) Laurel hasn't seen Tamani since she begged him to let her go last year. Though her heart still aches, Laurel is confident that David was the right choice.

 But just as life is returning to normal, Laurel discovers that a hidden enemy lies in wait. Once again, Laurel must turn to Tamani to protect and guide her, for the danger that now threatens Avalon is one that no faerie thought would ever be possible. And for the first time, Laurel cannot be sure that her side will prevail



The Short Story - The third installment in international bestselling series Wings, Illusions is definitely my favourite book of the series yet! Cliff hanger endings, romantic tension and characters that demand to be loved, Illusions is captivating, beautiful and exciting! Illusion is the definition for amazing.

The Long Story - Harper actually sent this one almost a month ago and I didn’t pick it up til last week. Wings is one of my favourite series in the world. The characterization is fantastic and the books are always breathtakingly beautiful. It’s a ten month wait til the next installment so I was trying to save it for a later date but I read it anyway ;P

Illusions did not fail to deliver a wonderfully exciting story. After reading Spells I was craving to read Illusions and even a week or so after finishing the novel I still can’t get over how brilliant it was. Exciting and engrossing, Illusions exceeded my expectations. There wasn’t a lot of action in this installment, it wasn’t very fast-paced but it flowed nicely and the plot of this novel was more based around introducing new characters, solving mysteries and revealing secrets. Lots of drama and tension, even without the troll fighting part, Illusions was fantastic, not a boring moment. Pike has left a lot of loose threads hanging in this novel, I can’t wait to read where things go from here. Original and beautiful, Illusions is definitely my favourite book of the series so far :)

The characterization never fails to leave my speechless, I can’t even describe how beautifully developed Pike’s characters are. Utterly, breathtakingly real characters. To be able to write a cast of characters that brings so much emotion out of a reader is quite a talent. Laurel has definitely matured since the last book, I don’t agree with all her choices, I do think she’s sometimes selfish and I hate that she rejects Tamani so much but she really redeemed herself in this novel. Her choices were wiser, more considerate and she’s become more likeable. I still don’t like David, he’s human and totally mucks up my version of a happy ending. I hope he gets eaten by trolls and leave Laurel and Tamani alone but without David the story probably won’t be as dramatic so I guess we’ll keep him alive :P Leaving my favorite character to last, Tamani is nothing if not amazing, sexy and the perfect boyfriend material. If I had to pick just one book boyfriend it would be Tamani, yes he’s a plant but he’s a sexy plant ;)

Lastly, Pike is an extremely talented writer. Her novels are always comfortable to read, captivating and beautiful, her writing technique is unique and her narrative voice is one of a kind. I can’t really describe it but her narrative voice is strong and powerful yet it rather gentle and quiet. Her books are all very easy to read and before you know it, it’s the last page. Pike also writes excellent romance, lot’s of tension and drama and my heart breaks every time she doesn’t put Tamani and Laurel together but she has my hanging of each word so I can’t help but purposely break my heart just to keep reading :P

Illusions is a novel not to be missed! Exciting, beautiful and original Illusions is definitely one of my favorite novels of the year :) If you haven’t read Wings, go to your nearest bookstore and pick up a copy, it’s a series worth every minute of your time. Captivating and amazing, I can’t wait to read more of Pike’s wonderful writing! This one’s not to be missed!

Rating - 5/5

Badass Bookie xx

Breakfast with the Bookie: Readers – Marketed Romance in YA – Love it or Hate it?

Breakfast with the Bookie is an irregular feature on the blog. It used to be on every Wednesday for then my creative juice ran out so now it’s on every Wednesday I have an idea :P It’s a discussion post you can read along with your morning cup of coffee!

This week’s topic: Readers – Marketed Romance in YA – Love it or Hate it?

Marketed Romance in YA, love it or hate it? The eternal love, the star-crossed lovers, the Romeo and Juliet effect, the love triangle what do all of them have in common? They are all clichéd love stories that appear in YA fiction. Its marketed romance, it been around forever and yet are you sick of it? Are you sick of novels coming with a guaranteed happy ending? Are you sick of love triangles? Are you looking for a change? Marketed Romance in YA fiction, Love it or Hate it?

The reason we have marketed romance in the first place is because it sells. The clichéd love triangles turn into international bestsellers, the clichéd star-crossed lovers leave readers craving for more and the clichéd handsome, popular boy falls in love with the not-so-pretty, socially awkward girl is a classic that’s never going to come with a loss. Marketed romance sells but are we getting sick of fiction, of happy endings?

As a romance junkie, I’m still kind of sitting on the fence about this one. I like Marketed Romance and yet at the same time, I’m getting sick of it. Keep the happy endings but come up with a different storyline. No more love triangles (although I love the drama that comes with it, just not the part where not everyone gets a happy ending), no more along-the-lines-of-Twilight romances, no more safety-net romance.

I love romance, it’s what makes a book a good book but sooner or later the Marketed Romance is going to get real old and real fast. I recently heard a reader refer to YA paranormal romance as recycled trash and while I love Paranormal Romance, I get where she is coming from. We’re getting the same romance, substitute the vampire for something and name each characters differently and there you have a brand new shiny book.

I guess what I’m trying to say is, keep the happy endings but try something new. Write a romance that’s going to be different. I wouldn’t mind reading the same old marketed romance but it would be nice to get something new into the YA genre :P What about you? Love it or Hate it? Or a you a fence-sitter like me?

Badass Bookie xx

Flawless

Review Time! My hiatus is over today! I’m back for another week of reviews and discussion posts and Debut of the Month which starts this Friday! Flawless by Lara Chapman is a 2011 YA Debut and a big thank-you goes to Bloomsbury for the review copy!

(Goodreads) Sarah Burke is just about perfect. She's got killer blue eyes, gorgeous blond hair, and impeccable grades. There's just one tiny-all right, enormous-flaw: her nose. But even that's not so bad. Sarah's got the best best friend and big goals for print journalism fame.



On the first day of senior year, Rock Conway walks into her journalism class and, well, rocks her world. Problem is, her best friend, Kristen, falls for him too. And when Rock and Kristen stand together, it's like Barbie and Ken come to life. So when Kristen begs Sarah to help her nab Rock, Sarah does the only thing a best friend can do-she agrees. For someone so smart, what was she thinking?

This hip retelling of Cyrano de Bergerac is filled with hilariously misguided matchmaking, sweet romance, and a gentle reminder that we should all embrace our flaws.


The Short Story? – A cute, funny, quirky read! Brilliant plot, great characters and the perfect read for a night in or a day at the beach! Fantastic re-telling of Cyrano de Bergera. Beautifully written and highly addictive, Flawless is a debut for all to enjoy!

The Long Story? – Besides paranormal romance, my favourite thing to read is cute, funny contemporary love stories with a guaranteed happy ending and they’re actually pretty hard books to find. We have plenty of contemporary love stories out there but are they all well-written? No, most of them are silly and embarrassing and you spend almost as much time putting it down as you do reading it. Luckily Flawless wasn’t one of those.

The plot was cute and funny and right down my alley. I’ve read a few reviews saying they didn’t like the plot, mentioning that it was too predictable. Flawless was predictable and the ending was pretty easy to guess but I really think the author wanted to include the clichés in plot, I do think it was all planned. I personally thought the plot was brilliant, for me it wasn’t about how predictable the ending was but more about how the author tends to write the rest of the book leading up to the ending and Chapman did it brilliantly. It was funny, it was cute and it was a “light” read, full of romance and girl drama. It’s a novel that every girl would love to read. Hot guys, friendship dramas and full of romance, Flawless is the ultimate read for girls!

The characterization was fantastic! Our protagonist Sarah was one of my favourite characters to meet this year. She was fun, smart, loyal and hard-working. She wants people to accept her for who she is and even when she knows life would be easier if she got a nose job (yes, her nose really sounds pretty big). She was easy to love and I would definitely want a friend like her. Rock, our love interest was absolutely amazing, it was love at first sight for me too! Smart, sexy and the biggest cutie ever, I can totally see why Sarah’s head over heels in love with him. I had some trouble with Kirsten, we didn’t really manage to bond til the very end. I found her selfish, inconsiderate and annoying most of the time, I kind of thought of her as the villain, even though she was the best friend but in the end it became obvious that she really was a good friend. Friendship is a really big factor in the novel and it’s something we all can relate to!

Another one of my favourite things about the novel was the writing. Chapman is a fantastic author, her narrative voice was funny and comfortable and it’s so “teen”. She has a great way of words and it’s so easy to read Flawless because the words just flow. I was hanging onto every word and craving for more even after the very last page. Brilliant new talent and I look forward to reading what she has install for us next!

Flawless is definitely a novel I would recommend everyone to check out sometime soon, it’s a really quick read and it’s so comfortable that it becomes highly addictive. Cute, funny and awfully romantic, it’s a novel everyone would love! Lovers of Anna and the French Kiss and The Lonely Hearts Club would love this! Brilliant, Flawless is a truly fantastic debut!

Rating – 5/5

Badass Bookie xx

Declare Your Love For Harlequin Teen Giveaway ( Int'l)

I seriously spoil you guys too much, another giveaway so soon? Thanks to the awesome people at Harlequin Teen Australia, we've teamed up to bring *drum roll*...a giveaway! I'm keeping this simple since I know you guys are just thinking "get to the giveaway part already" but please make sure you read the post or you will be disqualified for not following the rules :)

Harlequin Teen Australia recently launched a Facebook Page and we need you to spread the word about it! So YOU guys get to play the Angels who spread the good word to all the Shepards out there ( OMG a bible reference), tell everyone you know that - THEY CAN NOW DECLARE LOVE FOR HARLEQUIN TEEN by "liking" the Harlequin Teen Facebook Page. Ideally, this will be a place to access exclusive information, enter competitions and read awesome reviews ( my link is already up there so it must be pretty badass). This is also going to coincide with the Maria V Snyder tour that's coming up in August.

PS- I'm actually not meant to tell you guys this since it's like totally exclusive but the Harlequin Teen Facebook Page is where the cool people hang out these days so you know, you should definitely "like" the page.

~Giveaway~

Harlequin Teen Australia has kindly offered to donate ONE (1) Copy of Inside Out and ONE (1) Copy of Outside In by Maria V. Snyder AND Signed Poster and Bookmarks to ONE (1) Lucky Australian Winner! HOWEVER, they're also throwing in some more Bookmarks for me to give Internationally!!! AND for good measure, I'm throwing some buttons, bookmarks, key rings etc. from my own Swag Box ;)

Rules ( Please Read Carefully or You will be Disqualified) -

- Read the Post Above ( No kidding guys, I'm throwing a question :P)
- MUST "Like" Harlequin Teen Facebook Page ( No FB Account, you can still enter! Please read instructions in Form)
- Must fill out this FORM
- Open Internationally
- Ends 31st of July

That's it! Now go and spread the good word my angels about the Harlequin Teen Facebook Page!

Badass Bookie xx

I Am Number Four

Review Time! I Am Number four by Pittacus Lore is title that most of you know right? It was made into a movie starring Alex Pettyfer earlier this year? Anyway, a review copy from Penguin was sent to me around this time last year but I haven’t been able to review it til now :P Thanks so Penguin and sorry for the late review…

(Goodreads) Nine teenagers and their guardians are hiding on Earth. Protected by a charm that means they can only be killed in numerical order, three are already dead. John Smith is Number Four. And his mortal enemies are hunting him down. The only way to keep off-radar is to keep moving, never staying in one place for long.


Finally in the firing line, all he can do is adopt the guise of a student and pray his unusual gifts - his legacies - stay hidden long enough for him to settle into this new community. But others seem to sense his otherness and when small-town life sucks him into its intrigues, it's only a matter of time before his true nature is revealed. And that means there's no space for love, friendship or a future if it means protecting not only himself, but the other five. 

The Short Story? – A phenomenal piece of fiction that gives science fiction an entirely new meaning. Beautifully written, heart-pounding action and characters that were hard not to love. Great plot that left me wanting more, I can’t wait for The Power of Six! Exciting, gripping and fast-paced I Am Number Four is a novel not be missed!

The Long Story? – Quite truthfully, I wasn’t planning on reading this one. I’m not a big fan of aliens or science fiction in general unless of course it crosses with Dystopian. I’ve watched the movie and it was fantastic so I didn’t really see the point in reading the book but then it was just sitting there on my bookshelf, begging to be read so what was I supposed to do? I read it. And it was AWESOME.

The plot was really well planned out. After reading the novel, I realize that the movie cut out a lot of the detail and things were slotted in at different times, it almost felt like completely different storylines. An advantage of watching the movie before reading the book is that I could compare and add visual effects while I was reading. I liked the book better but the movie really emphasized on the action and that was pretty spectacular. It was exciting to read, wonderfully written, Lore (James Frey and Jobie Hughes, authors) had me eating up every word that was written. Fast-paced, edgy and it was easy to follow, the sequence of events flowed nicely. Lots of action, had me sitting at the edge of my seat, wiling myself to flick faster. It’s definitely a novel that can be enjoyed by both female and male readers.

The characterization was great. I really liked John, I could connect to him, it was easy to understand the frustration he has with always being on the run. All he wants is just a normal life which is not possible as the Mogadorian are chasing him it’s not possible. Some of his actions really made me want to jump between the pages and shake some sense into him. He was selfish at times and while I could understand why he did things, it still annoyed me when he put everyone in danger for his own selfish needs and wants. Luckily things worked out for themselves. Overall he was a great protagonists, I really liked him. Sarah our love interest was very kind hearted and she was easy to love and I developed a little bit of a soft spot for Henri and Sam was a great supporting character. Number Six is definitely still a mystery I hope to see more of her in the next novel! A great cast overall.

The romance for me was a little dry and too fake but it wasn’t very significant in terms of the novel so I’ll let that go. I Am Number Four isn’t a romance and I accept that it’s not every book that has a great romance :P Although I do wish it did. Great writing, easy flow, understandable, teens of all ages would be able to read it. A clearly male narrative voice, it’s so “guy” to read it. Different and original.

Bottom line is that if you aren’t picking up the book because you’ve seen the movie than you really should be, I liked the book better although the movie adaption was great too. There are lots of significant things that happened in the novel that wasn’t in the movie and you would probably get lost if you don’t read it. Brilliant, action-packed, heart pounding and it was awesome. I never thought I would like it so much but I did. Can’t wait for The Power of Six, I Am Number Four is a novel not to be missed. Refreshingly original, brilliant author and adventurous plot, I’m keen to see where the sequel takes us!

Rating - 4/5
 
Badass Bookie xx