Book Review - The Last Summer of Us by Maggie Harcourt

The Last Summer of Us is based on three friends from Wales who go on a road trip during the summer – the last summer all three of them would spend together.

I’m going to be honest and say that when I first seen this book, I wasn’t sure about it, I actually put it back down on the way to the till only to pick it back up again the next day with the decision to give it a go and that is not a decision I regret.

This book isn’t the typical type of book I would go for, I love all things supernatural and fantasy based, but this book – this book is so realistic it could be someone’s life right at this moment – the storyline is so well captured in what goes on in a young teen’s life and mind when everything around them seems to be changing. There’s love, sadness, happiness, lies, acceptance and also truth and the harsh reality of it. During some moments I even found myself wondering, how can this author capture something that is so relatable to such a large number of people so effortlessly. And I know I am being quite vague about the heart of the story line but that is because I want use all to read it, I urge use too, because this is a story that will stay with you – for all the right reasons.

Book Review - Flight (The Cresent Chronicles #1) by Alyssa Rose Ivy

Sometimes you just have to take flight.

A summer in New Orleans is exactly what Allie needs before starting college. Accepting her dad's invitation to work at his hotel offers an escape from her ex-boyfriend and the chance to spend the summer with her best friend. Meeting a guy is the last thing on her mind - until she sees Levi.

Unable to resist the infuriating yet alluring Levi, Allie finds herself at the center of a supernatural society and forced to decide between following the path she has always trusted or saving a city that might just save her. 

Ill be honest in syaing that I don't really know what drew me to this book, it definately wasn't the cover, I really don't like it... it was probably the fact the blurb mentioned a supernatural society, I have a thing for those and I was pleasently surprised to find that it wasn't the typical vampire/nephilium side of the supernatual spectrum - it was something completely different.

I really enjoyed this book - it was like nothing I've ever read before and that's always a good thing, I loved the characters and I loved the story line.
The plot was paced at a decent speed, it didn't go too fast, where you didn't even know what was happening, and it didn't go too slow, where you were praying for the chapter to end. I really enjoyed the story, a summer away to another city to work for your dad, then you meet a handsome, charming, alluring yet very annoying guy to end up getting caught in the middle of a supernatural power struggle - that's a lot to take in - but Alyssa made it exciting. She made it so that the entire story just flowed, you werent sitting there wondering what in the world is happening and that's one of the main things I loved.

I also loved the supernatural side of it, Pterons. I've never heard of them, but they are very important in this story, and are the main part of it - Levi, his friends, his family, are all Pterons and rule the supernatual society in New Orleans, which no one tells Allie - shocking - and in order to keep peace (so to speak) the heir to the thrown must find a mate, or else the society will be moved to the next city with an heir who has already chosen a mate - that bit was a bit confusing. But I'm sure you can guess where I'm going with this.

Overall I did really enjoy it, the budding romance, the supernatual, the danger and excitment - what more could you ask for in  a book?

Book Review - Teardrop by Lauren Kate

Never, Ever Cry …

As I loved the Fallen series by Lauren Kate, I knew I had to get this because if Fallen was any indication to Lauren Kate’s ability to write an awesome book – Teardrop had to be just as good if not better.

And it was just as good, if not better. This is the first book I’ve read which has been a retold version of the Atlantis Myth, obviously I wasn’t expecting it to be exactly the same, what’s the point in that? So I was pretty excited about seeing what she could do with it. Granted I don’t know all that much about Atlantis, but sure lol. 

The first thing that drew me in was the cover – I thought it was beautiful and it captured me immediately. I also loved the one line blurb, even though there is a description on the inside sleeve, but, like I said with Awaken, it just draws me in and make me so interested in finding out what it means and what’s going to happen.  

The overall plot of the story was really good. I honestly didn’t expect that to be the story which made it an even better read – she really made it interesting and added quite a bit of mystery to the story as well and along with the characters she created, it made it a really good read.

Eureka and Ander are the main characters – Eureka is kind of closed off – she doesn’t like to let people get too close to her after what happened with her mother, but she is also smart, funny and strong and will do what it takes to protect the ones she loves. Ander is mysterious, strong and really interesting. He doesn’t reveal too much of himself and that just makes you want to get to know him more or get him to talk more – which made the story quite fun in a way – a wee bit of mystery never done any harm. 

Overall I really enjoyed this book and I can’t wait to see what happens in Waterfall, the next instalment of the series :)

Book Review - Awaken (Abandon Trilogy #3) by Meg Cabot

A storm is coming.

I must say, I love when books have these one lines for blurbs - not only does it make me desperate to read the book - it adds a certain spice to a book, not knowing what's going to happen so you don't have the luxury of guessing or anticipating what way it will end. 

It does have the blurb on the inside of the cover though - but Im not going to tell you it.. *evil laugh*

This book for me was like a clock in the sense that - something big was happening and throughout each chapter it was counting down and the apprehension was growing - which I loved! It made me so interested in finding out what was going to happen.

The plot in this book, it based around the furies - they know John broke the rules, twice, but no one knows when or how they're going to strike - it was at a really good pace, it didn't drag but it wasn't over within the first three chapters. All of the characters are back also which is awesome - Pierce and John are working through their relationship which adds a bit of romance to the story, there is also some humour and some moments of anticipation which really keeps you intrigued and turing the pages.

I also loved the cover of the book. This is the first cover were you can see some resemblence as to what John looks like, obviously you have a picture in your head but it's always nice to have a picture to refer too, and a face to put name too.

I can't think of anything negative to say about this book.... Overall it was a really good read which I recommend :)

Book Review - See Me by Wendy Higgins

While most seventeen year old American girls would refuse to let their parents marry them off to a stranger, Robyn Mason dreams of the mysterious McKale in Ireland, wondering how he’ll look and imagining his cute Irish accent. Prearranged bindings are common for magical families like her own, however when she travels to the whimsical Emerald Isle she discovers there’s more to her betrothal and McKale’s clan than she could have imagined.

What starts as an obligatory pairing between Robyn and McKale morphs over time into something they both need. But one giant obstacle stands in the way of their budding romance: a seductive and deadly Fae princess accustomed to getting what she wanted – and what she wants is McKale as her plaything.

Love, desire and jealousies collide as Robyn and McKale’s clan must work together to outsmart the powerful faeries and preserve the only hope left for their people. 

I honestly didn’t expect this kind of story from Wendy Higgins – I thought she would’ve stayed more towards maybe the Nephilim/Vampire section of fiction – but I’m certainly glad she didn’t! Living in Ireland myself I was so excited when I first seen that Wendy had wanted to write this book and that it was based in Ireland.

I really enjoyed this book, there is something just so different about it compared to the other books I’ve read. It was just something that was incredibly simple to read, the story was fast paced and easy to follow and something that would be enjoyed by anyone. I loved how the was some good honest humour in the book. Most books now I've noticed always end up trying too hard with the humour and in the end, it isn't even funny, or else it's just really awkward - but not this book, I actually laughed out loud at a few parts which I loved.
  Even with the relationship aspect of it it’s really relatable to girls – which I think most girls will agree with. That awkward first meet when you don’t know what to say or how to address someone even though you totally fancy them… it’s hard.

Robyn and McKale have a hard time getting to know and understand each other and they rarely would get the time too – which does start their relationship off a little rocky. McKale is shy and awkward around Robyn which makes her feel as though he doesn’t even like or find her attractive (see what I mean girls? Lol) And on top of this there is the Fae Princess – who really annoyed me, I wanted to slap her – I will admit though that she was very smart in her plans to get McKale, but she was just a b****.

I honestly just really love this book, as I said before its fast paced, the story line is awesome and the characters are lovable – minus the Fae Princess – and that just makes it a whole lot more interesting and fun to read. I can’t think of a bad thing to say about this book, the only thing I would say I didn’t like was the cover – it didn’t really do it for me to be honest 

Book Review - Sweet Reckoning (The Sweet Trilogy #3) by Wendy Higgins

It's time.

Evil is running rampant, and sweet Anna Whitt is its target. Nobody know when or how the Dukes will strike, but Anna and her Nephilim allies will do anythin necessary to rid the earth of demons and their oppressive ways.

The stakes are higher than ever, and Anna is determined that the love she feels will be her strength, not a liability. But trying to protect the ones she loves while running for her life and battling demonic forced proves to be perilous - especially as faces are changing and trust is fleeting. When the Duke of Lust send Anna's great love, Kaiden Rowe, to work against her, Anna must decide how much she's prepared to risk.

In the most sensual and fast-paced installment yet. Sweet Reckoning brings all the beloved Neph together one last time to fight for their freedom. 

 

Overall I must say, I really loved this series, between Sweet Evil, Sweet Peril and Sweet Reckoning, tears were shed, the laughs were out loud, the nerves were jittering and the smiles were often - so it hurts me to say this but... I was a bit let down with Sweet Reckoning not because the story wasn't great because it was, it just didn't really draw me in - I found it quite slow paced throughout and towards the end when I was expecting the grand finale - it just kind of sizzled. 

 

All of the characters are back in Sweet Reckoning which I loved - especially Kai (dreamy) and there were even some new editions that we only heard glimpses of in the past books so that was really good.

There was quite a lot of drama happening throughout the book as well especially between the Neph and Anna bestfriend Jay - some of the drama I was not expecting! Like at all, I honestly think I stared at the pages with my mouth hanging open in complete shock! haha those moments I think were the best, when I thought I new what was going to happen but it completely turned on its head and had me thing, (wtf...) 

 

I also loved the part at the end of book when we meet them again 6 years later - I wasn't expecting that and I was really surprised about what I read - I'll admit I got a bit teary, mostly from shock and happiness just the closeness I felt with the characters, it was a great insight into the adults that they've become and I was just incredibly happy for them

 But I don't want to go into too much detail about the drama and what not because I don't want to spoil it for anyone - but overally I would give this book a 3/5 because of the slow pace and also the fact that the cover was changed from red to pink.. Red signified Kai and Anna, it was their "colour" so to speak so I'm just baffled, but yeah :)