Monthly Archives: August 2015

Night Owls by Jenn Bennett

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By Jenn Bennett – Night Owls (UK & AU) The Anatomical Shape of a Heart (US).

Published: 13th August 2015.

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Thanks to Jenn Bennett, Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for giving me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis mk3

Feeling alive is always worth the risk.

Meeting Jack on the Owl—San Francisco’s night bus—turns Beatrix’s world upside down. Jack is charming, wildly attractive…and possibly one of San Francisco’s most notorious graffiti artists. Beatrix herself has an incredible artistic talent and is determined to become a medical illustrator. Across midnight buses, blog posts and through her artwork, Beatrix unravels the enigma that is Jack while the two of them fall passionately in love.

But Jack is hiding a piece of himself. On midnight rides and city rooftops, Beatrix begins to see who this enigmatic boy really is.

Will the secrets Jack stubbornly guards come back to haunt him? Or will Bex’s own complex family fall apart first?

My Thoughts mk3

AWWWWWWWWWW!!! Just give me a second as I sit here and hug my HB pencils.

We follow the likeable Bex as she struggles to do what she feels is right. We see her deify her mother for the first time in her life, for good reasons. We see her fall in love with a broken boy who needs her. Find herself. And confront her absent father.

Both Bex and Jack families, even through from extremely different social standings, have issues. We get to see them all work through these issues and come out the other side.

Things I loved: Both leads were Artsy. Good old teen angst. Divorce and Mental Illness’s were addressed. Jack’s Adorable law breaking. Sexy Classic Cars. Happy endings for all the main characters that didn’t feel over the top or super cheesy, just warm and fuzzy.

Things I didn’t: Nothing.

I laughed out loud with this book. At once stage I got antsy, had to put it down and go for a walk because the characters dramas was stressing me out – I just wanted them to be happy! I finished Night Owls and just sat on the lounge with a big smile on my face.

There is adorable first time teen love heavily sprinkled throughout the whole story – Perfection!! I’m putting this on my re-read when needing a pick me up shelf 🙂 Five Stars.5s

Author’s Links mk3

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Tumblr | Newsletter

Purchase Links:

Amazon | B&N | Booktopia | Amazon AU

Trouble is a Friend of Mine by Stephanie Tromly

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trouble

 

Trouble is a Friend of Mine by Stephanie Tromly

Published 6th August 2015

304 pages paperback

Thanks to the author, Hot Key Books and The Five Mile Press for giving me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis mk3“Of course I didn’t like Digby when I first met him. No one does.”

“Preparing to survive a typical day of being Digby’s friend wasn’t that different from preparing to survive the Apocalypse.”

The first time Philip Digby shows up on Zoe Webster’s doorstep, he’s rude and he treats her like a book he’s already read and knows the ending to.

But before she knows it, Zoe’s allowed Digby—annoying, brilliant, and somehow…attractive? Digby—to drag her into a series of hilarious, dangerous, and only vaguely legal schemes all related to the kidnapping of a local teenage girl. A kidnapping that might be connected to the tragic disappearance of his little sister eight years ago. When it comes to Digby, Zoe just can’t say no.

But is Digby a hero? Or is his manic quest an indication of a desperate attempt to repair his broken family and exorcize his own obsessive-compulsive tendencies? And does she really care anyway?

This is a contemporary debut with razor-sharp dialogue, ridiculously funny action, and a dynamic duo you won’t soon forget.

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After her parents get divorced, high school junior Zoe Webster moves with her mother from Brooklyn to upstate New York, determined to get back to the city and transfer to the elite private school her father insists on. But then she meets Philip Digby–the odd and brilliant and somehow attractive?–Digby, and soon finds herself in a series of hilarious and dangerous situations all centred on his search for the kidnapper of a local teenage girl who may know something about the tragic disappearance of his kid sister eight years ago. Before she knows it, Zoe has vandalized an office complex with fake snow, pretended to buy drugs alongside a handsome football star dressed like the Hulk, had a serious throw down with a possible religious cult, challenged her controlling father, and, oh yeah, saved her new hometown.
For fans of John Green and David Levithan, this is a crime novel where catching the crook isn’t the only hook, a romance where the leading man is decidedly unromantic, a friendship story where they aren’t even sure they like each other, and a debut you won’t soon forget.

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My Thoughts mk3My first thought upon finishing this book was “God, I hope they do a sequel! I want to know what Digby finds out off of Ezekiel about his sister.”

I think the synopsis above comprehensively lays the story out. If your not hooked by that hook, then I’m not sure what I can tell you. I’m giving this book Five Stars. I had a lot of fun reading it.

Hot Key Books labels this book as 50% Mystery, 30% Humour, 20% Friendship. There is a twisting and turning Who-Done-It-vibe the whole way though. Teenagers just trying to survive being teenagers. Heart warming moments. Multiple creepy bad guys. And tonnes of fun.

By the end of the second page I was hooked on the story and hooked on Digby “the local troublemaker”. Sixteen year old me would have been eating her heart out over Digby.

Right from the start Digby causes Zoe grief and gets her into trouble, and that trouble is addictive. The way Digby sasses every one rubs off on Zoe and it’s for the better as she finally stands up to her ass of a father.

While the kidnapping of the local teenage girl is solved. The mystery of Digby’s little sisters disappearance deepens and we are left with a Kiss and open ending to the book.

I loved Digby, Zoe, Henry and Felix. Especial Felix when he comes flying out of the Ambulance towards the end – Ok I’m just going stop, I wouldn’t want to give any of the surprises away.

I tweeted Mrs Tromly in regards to the unfinished business at the end of book and bless her she tweeted me back within minutes saying that YES, a sequel named Trouble Makes a Comeback will be out next year. I’m excited.

5sAuthor’s Links mk3

tromly

 

Stephanie Tromly was born in Manila, grew up in Hong Kong and now lives with her husband and son in Winnipeg. She is working on her PhD in English Literature.

Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Amazon AU

Twitter | Goodreads| Hot Key Books

The Cattle King by Ion L. Idriess

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The Cattle King by Ion L. Idriess. First published in 1936 (my edition re-published 2013).

Synopsis mk3

At the age of 13 Sidney Kidman ran away from home with only five shillings in his pocket. He went on to become a horse dealer, drover, cattle buyer and bush jockey and he also ran a coach business. Above all, Kidman created a mighty cattle empire of more than a hundred stations, fighting droughts, bushfires, floods and plagues of vermin to do so. His enterprise and courage won him a huge fortune and made him a legend.

My Thoughts mk3

I purchased this paperback on the 4th July at the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame at Longreach.

When we entered the museum we watched a documentary and Sir Sid Kidman was mentioned. I thought “wow he sounds like an interesting fella”. So when we got to the gift/sourvenieer shop and there was a book about him, I just had to buy it.

Once we got back to our camp that afternoon I immediately started reading it. The first few pages gives us a brief history of Angus and Robertson, then a brief history on the author, followed by the author’s note. I was buzzing by this point as I’d already found these first pages fascinating and I hadn’t even started to really read about Sir. Sid Kidman yet.

Kidman’s life was truly amazing. I read this while we were travelling through some of the places mentioned in the book, so that added an extra special kick to my experience. The Silver City aka Broken Hill was mentioned quite a lot and it gave me the extreme urge to go there, but alas it didn’t work out with the rest of our camping trip.

Some times when I read a YA dystopian or fantasy novel I get a bit “Oh yeah right, as if a 16 year old could do that”. But the thought struck me while reading this book, that if thirteen year old Kidman could do the things he did, than they probably aren’t that far-fetched. Go back 100 years or more and you were a child, than an adult – None of this teenager crap. You had a job at thirteen and where out working with the men. At Thirteen Sid had saved up a years’ worth of earrings and ran away from home.

Sid, a thirteen year old, in unfamiliar bush saved himself and a fellow drover from dehydration and starvation. He had a kind heart and a brilliant mind. The man was a genius. His brain was a sponge. He traveled all over the place listening to and learning from anyone who would talk to him, from anyone who would show him. At a time when Whiteman feared and hared the Blackman, Sid was leaning all they were willing to teach him about the land. Thirteen year old Sid was able to do things that a thirteen year old today couldn’t even contemplate.

So yes, Kidman’s life was fascinating. The book was a bit dry at times, a bit like a high school history textbook and I felt like I was going to choke on all the statistics. But still Kidman shined.

Kidman grew to own more Australian land then the British Empire at one point. He was growing his empire while the Kelly boys were raising hell. He put an enormous amount of his own resources into Australia’s WW2 efforts. The man was a true blue Australian legend and sadly one I don’t remember ever hearing about in school. I think his story is inspiring – Someone today’s little spoilt teenagers should aspire to be like.

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Purchase Links:

Amazon | B&N | Amazon AU | A&R (paperback)

Author’s Links

Tribute Website | Wikipedia | Goodreads

During his life time Idriess wrote a large number of Aussie themed books and I intend to somehow get my hands on a few of them.

**Cover Reveal** Once Humans by @Massim0Marin

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once humans

The last day has come and gone, but the saga continues in Once Human as Massimo Marino continues to explore the future of humanity. When you’re surrounded by peace and plenty, think of a malignant power lurking from the depth of the earth.

The rebirth of the race of man is closely watched, and the Selected, the transgenic humans created by the Moîrai, guide and care for the wellbeing of the remaining humans intheir various Communities around the planet.

Peace and security are shattered with acts of sabotage disrupting the fragile equilibrium of the growing society.

Lust for power has yet to be eliminated, and peace is more fragile than it seems when betrayal, fear, and conspiracy send the planet to the brink of self-destruction. Death and blind violence walk in the depths of the planet, from the coldest lands to the bottom of the oceans. Ancient aliens, a galactic struggle, the control of a unique resource, meld to dictate the fate of humankind.

Read Book One, Daimones, now!

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Your entry into an exciting Space Opera: the death and re-birth of the human race.

Nothing could have prepared them for the last day. Explore the future of humanity in Massimo Marino’s sci-fi debut, Daimones, an apocalyptic tale that feels like it could happen tomorrow. You may never sleep through a windstorm again.

Death swept away the lives of billions, but spared Dan Amenta and his family, leading them to an uncertain future. When merely surviving isn’t enough and the hunt for answers begins, memories from the past and troubling encounters lead Dan to the truth about the extermination of the human race. Distressing revelations will give new meaning to their very existence.

Early humans shaped the future and seeded a plan millions of years in the making. Now survivors must choose: Endure a future with no past or fade away into a past with no future?

Amazon.com – Amazon.co.uk – Barnes & Noble – iTunes – Goodreads

My Top Ten Auto-buy Authors

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Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature created by The Broke and the Bookish.

This week’s Top Ten Tuesday is Top Ten Of Your Auto-buy Authors.

 I’ve managed to read more books this year than ever before, but I could only come up with 6 authors. So far in my entire life I’ve read about 300 books. Some of you out there read that number in a year. I got into this game late, which is a mistake I will not let my son make. I’ve read over 100 of those 300 books this year! So yes I’m not all that “well read”, but I’m working on it furiously. I didn’t read much when I was younger, I didn’t do well in school, I didn’t play many video games, I just didn’t have the attention span for any of it. I couldn’t sit still. I’d get home from school, eat some food while watching some cartons, then I’d go to my room, turn my stereo up as loud as it would go and dance around my room until I was tired enough to sleep. You’ll still find me doing this on the weekends when I need to de-stress, my two year old son thinks it’s fantastic and joins in.

Ok so I got off topic there, but sometimes I feel more than a little unknowledgeable. But I guess we’ve all different in this community and we all bring something different to the table. Even though I can’t come up with the content for each weeks Top Ten every time, I still love reading all your Top Ten’s and finding new books to add to my ever growing TBR.

So without further ado here is my list.

Leigh Hutton(1) Leigh Hutton. I’d buy any of Leigh’s books regardless what it was about. I think Leigh is an awesome woman and have really enjoyed reading her Girl Power filled YA books.22031265

Rick Riordan

(2) Rick Riordan. Totally buy anything if it’s Percy Jackson related. I have actually got two of his adult books but haven’t got around to reading them yet.12127810
Lee Child

(3) Lee child. So far the only work I’ve come across of Child’s is his Jack Reacher series which I love. I’d be willing to give another series a go if Child ever runs out of Reacher content. The series is 24 books strong, but Reacher is getting on in years – so who knows.

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J.K. Rowling

(4) J.K. Rowling. Totally buy anything if it’s Harry Potter related. If she was to come up with another YA/MG world I would give it ago. I haven’t read any of her adult books, yet!22842001

Amanda Hocking

(5) Amanda Hocking. I have really enjoyed everything I’ve read by Amanda and If I haven’t read it, It is sitting on my self to be read.

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(6) LOCAL! I’m a proud Novocastrian (person from Newcastle). See we’re so special they have a name for us :-P. localsRecently I decided to start finding books by people from or living in Newie, Lake Mac, Hunter Valley and the central coast and buying their books. Obviously I’m only going to buy the ones that appeal to me, ones that I want to read.

These are the ones I’ve purchased so far. Trinity Doyle / Kaz Delaney / Lizzie Wilcock / Susan Whelan I have more on my list that I want to buy, but sadly I need to eat.

Killing Time by Ingrid Nickelsen

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Killing Time

(For Better or for Worse #2)

by Ingrid Nickelsen 

Published 26th April 2015 by Untold Press

I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review. Thank you Ingrid!

Synopsis mk3

Death is the ultimate heartbreak. Evangeline never expected it to break hers after she died. No one should have to choose between their husband and their first love, but it is that choice that shatters her spirit.

She makes her choice, choosing not to transition, and finds that death can be vengeful too.

The world of the dead is far more complex that she ever knew, and facing the consequences of her actions might be the hardest obstacle yet, Fighting to survive in a world she doesn’t understand, she seeks the help of the wanderers. Time is running out as winter grips the land and her companions help her search for Will. Perhaps, if she keeps her eyes open and believes in her love enough, she will make her way back to him before the Hunters find her first.

Unexpected reunions, impossible choices, and long-hidden secrets will fill her journey with joy and sadness. It is Hunting season and Evangeline will have to fight for those she loves while remembering that cheating death always has a price.

Told from a dual perspective, Killing Time brings the For Better or for Worse series to a heart-stopping continuation in every sense of the word.

My Thoughts mk3

I’m writing this review over a month after reading the book, as I’ve been on holidays, but I can remember exactly how I felt and what I said the moment I finished this book.

I felt super hyped up and I said “I can’t wait to read next one”.

Unlike the first book that was just told in Eve’s point of view, we get duel POV with the addition of Will. I really enjoyed being inside Will’s head.

We get a lot of drama early on with Eve forced to join a group of wanders after running off from her transition ceremony. Eve’s choice not to transition caused all sorts of trouble and we start to get a sense of how much when Brielle and Will are captured and thrown in prison by the Midnight Hunters.

There are a fair few twists and turns along the way with newly introduced characters and some previous ones popping back up. Some really big “Oh Snap” moments happen thanks to a certain big deal new character.

We get more magical visions, this time it seems that Eve and Will are transported to some sort of parallel world. While there some emotional bombs are dropped on us all for good measure.

Things get really interesting as we start learning about the Seekers and the Midnight Hunters; their powers and their plans for Will.

This book is definitely more in depth emotionally. We find out more about the characters back stories, making the whole story a more engaging and enjoyable read. I got goosebumps meeting the seekers and witnessing the twisted truth they tell Eve about her and Will’s connection.

The last 150 pages are an intense whirlwind. And that epilogue! Bring on the third and final book. I am expecting the final book to be an epic show down.5s

Author’s Links mk3Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads / Amazon / B&N

Ingrid NickelsenIngrid is a French girl, college student, and dreamer. She currently resides in Paris, where she spends most of her time going to museums and the movies.
Despite the romantic atmosphere in Montmartre, or even the fancy cafés in the Champs Elysées, she would easily trade it all for a nice walk in the woods with her schnauzer, Golden. She’s always craving adventures, and finds that books are the cheapest way to travel to far-away lands. She’s inwardly convinced that words have the power to heal the worst blisters on our hearts, or at least can make us forget about them for a little while. And sometimes, it’s just enough to face another crazy day.

Top Ten Authors I’ve Read The Most Books From

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Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature created by The Broke and the Bookish.

This week’s Top Ten Tuesday is: Top Ten Authors I’ve Read The Most Books From.

Rick Riordan

Thirteen books Read by Rick Riordan. All of them Percy Jackson related in some way :-).

John Marsden

Twelve books Read by John Marsden. Ten of those books related to Tomorrow When The War Begun (the original seven in the series and the spin off Ellie trilogy).

Amanda Hocking Eleven books Read by Amanda Hocking. Mainly her ten part graphic novel series. I’ve now completed my collection of her trilogies Trylle and Kanin Chronicles and am looking forward to reading them.

Lee Child

Ten books Read by Lee child. All Jack Reacher Novels. I’m looking forward to reading the other fourteen.

Robert Kirkman

Nine books Read by Robert Kirkman. I made it Nine books into the Walking dead. I enjoyed it. I think Kirkman is brilliant. But zombies really aren’t my thing.

J.K. Rowling

Eight books Read by J.K. Rowling. All Harry Potter related. Hands up who’d love a Young Padfoot or from Neville’s point of view spin off >ME<.

Stephenie Meyer

Seven books Read by Stephenie Meyer. You meanies can bag her out all you like, I LOVED The Host and I credit the Twilight Saga with getting me into reading again! So Bite Me!

C.S. Lewis

Seven books Read by C.S. Lewis. Narnia! Every cupboard or closet I open I still hope to find Narnia!

Katherine Applegate

Six-ish books read by Katherine Applegate. Animorphs, I know I read some as a kid, but I don’t know which ones. I’m in the process of reading the series from start to finish and am currently reading number Six.

Douglas Adams

Six books Read by Douglas Adams. Mainly the trilogy in five parts; The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy. So long and thanks for all the fish.

I’M BACK (Holiday book haul)

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So after 38 days away I’m back home. I’ve still got some more time off of work and am planing to do some work on the house, do up some sort of post/s about our Aussie Outback and Cape York 4WD family trip, as well as write reviews for the books I read while I was away.

I took a fair few books with me; 5 paper backs and my entire eBook collection – I managed to read 9. I hadn’t intended to buy any books while I was away, but I should have known better!! I’ve said it over and over in the last twelve months “I’m not buying any more books until I read the ones I have” HA! Yeah right I haven’t figured out how to manage that yet, they are always calling out for me to buy them. Damn needy things they are always crying out to be in my arms and once I’ve picked them up off of the shelf I’m a goner, I have to take them home.

ANYWAY so this is what I picked when I was trying not to:20150808_164131

Oops!! Two second hands and the rest brand new. But hey, I refrained from buying any eBooks 😛 and my eBook collection WAY out weights my paper backs. Yeah, that totally makes it ok.

The Cattle King and Meet Banjo Paterson were purchased from The Stockman’s Hall of Fame in Longreach – There is a story behind the Cattle King purchase but I’ll leave it for the review which I’ll post up soon.

The second hand Agatha Christie was picked up out of a book bin with a donation to the Royal Flying Doctor service at Adels Grove in Lawn Hill National Park. Reilly’s Ice Station was picked up at a book swap at the Lion’s Den Hotel, Rossville.

The Song of Achilles was purchased in Coffs Harbour, while I was looking for a present for my mum – Oops!

Crystal Kingdom, Percy Jackson and Pieces of Sky were picked up yesterday in Hamilton for National Bookshop Day – and yes I’m counting them in my holiday book haul as I’m still technically on holidays.

I’ll leave you now with funny cartoon while I try and write reviews on books I read at the start of July – oh dear.

Vacation Cartoon