Thursday 21 June 2012

Review: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

Bookish Details:
Pages: 326 Hardcover
Publisher: Poppy/Little Brown
Release Date: 2nd January 2012
But It From: Amazon US - Amazon UK

Goodreads Summary:
"Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?" 

Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. Having missed her flight, she's stuck at JFK airport and late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon-to-be stepmother Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's sitting in her row. 


A long night on the plane passes in the blink of an eye, and Hadley and Oliver lose track of each other in the airport chaos upon arrival. Can fate intervene to bring them together once more? 


Quirks of timing play out in this romantic and cinematic novel about family connections, second chances, and first loves. Set over a twenty-four-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it. 

My Review:

I read so many books about demon hunters and dystopian worlds these days that I’ve completely forgotten about the type of book I first loved to read: Contemporary Romance. This book reminded me just how much I love to read a good love story that doesn’t fail to put a goofy grin on your face. 

First off – I love the title! It was the title that drew me to the book in the first place. It’s just awesome. 

I flew through this book in a day. I seriously couldn't put it down. Hadley and Oliver’s story is set over a short time period: 24 hours. But within that time we learn so much about the two characters live and after a few chapters I was in love with them both! 

The plot is simply adorable and pulls you in from the start. I loved the humour between Hadley and Oliver but I was kept hooked as to what was really going on in Oliver’s life at that point. 

The ending put a huge smile on my face and I know this is a story I won’t forget for long time. It made me want to miss a flight in hope of finding my very own Oliver! 

If you’re looking for a funny, romantic read then this is definitely for you! 

Royal Rating:

Friday 15 June 2012

Blog Tour: First Visions by Heather Topham Wood Inteview and Review

Hey everyone!

I'm pleased to present to you an Interview with Heather Topham Wood on her First Visions Blog Tour along with a review.


Reading Addiction Blog Tours


1. Hi Heather! Where did you get the inspiration for First Visions?
It was actually based off an old story I wrote as a teenager. Most of my stories were crap and had melodramatic plotlines like teen pregnancy scares or were cheesy horror stories about virgin blood drinking vampires. However, the one particular story involved a psychic who helped find a missing child and I just expanded from there. I had actually forgotten completely about the story and when I started re-reading my old writings, it really struck me how great it would be to turn it into a series. I haven’t read too many books about psychics and I thought it would be fun area to explore. 

2. Kate is a fabulous character! Did you relate to her at all when writing First Visions?
I tried to make Kate as real as possible. Yes, she definitely has her flaws and I hope readers see she does grow a lot over the course of the novel. We’ll continue to see her grow and mature in the next book as well. But I’m a pretty sarcastic person, so you’ll definitely hear my voice come through at times. 

3. What made you choose to write for the older YA audience?
When I was in college, I had such a hard time finding books for my age group. I either had to read books about characters younger than me in high school or books about characters with “real life” problems like careers, marriage and children. I think when you’re 21, you are in this phase where you’re not a child anymore, but you may be still very reliant on your parents. I hope there will be more books that focus on this age group because it’s such an interesting time in a person’s life. 

4. There’s some great humour in First Visions. Do you think it’s important to keep a certain level of humour in a story?
I love books that can be suspenseful and still make you laugh to alleviate some of the tension. I try to think about the books that I like when writing and most of my favorites have parts that have me belly laughing. I try to inject some much needed humor when things are getting too heavy. 

5. First Visions is the first book in the series, how is book two coming along?
It’s going really great! I have an outline and a good chunk of the first draft done. In this book, we continue Jared and Kate’s story, but will also be introduced to another psychic. Kate has always wanted more control over her visions and this new psychic offers to help her. There will also be another missing persons case she’ll become involved in. 

6. What are some of your favourite YA novels?
I have a ton, but I’ll try to narrow it down: Hunger Games trilogy, Delirium series by Lauren Oliver, The Goddess Test series by Aimee Carter, Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi and Fever by Lauren DeStefano. 

7. In your opinion, what is the most rewarding part of being an author.
You’re sharing these crazy little stories that occurred in your imagination with complete strangers and hoping to touch them in some way. I love to hear people’s opinions on my work and how they react to certain elements of the story. Plus, you get to work in your pajamas-that’s a big plus as well. 

Thanks for the awesome interview Heather!
 
Author Bio
Heather Topham Wood graduated from the College of New Jersey in 2005 and holds a bachelor’s degree in English. Working full-time as a freelance writer for publications such as
USA Today, Livestrong.com, Outlook by the Bay and Step in Style magazine, she writes fiction novels in her spare time. She resides in Trenton, New Jersey with her husband and two sons.
First Visions is the first novel in the Second Sight Series.
Follow Heather on Twitter and her blog to keep posted on her upcoming works:


Check out my review of First Visions below:

Bookish Details:
Series: Second Sight #1
Pages: 230
Publisher: CreateSpace
Release Date: 22nd April 2012
Source: Review Copy Provided by Reading Addiction Blog Tours*
Buy It From: Amazon - Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:
Two years ago, 21-year-old Kate Edwards became deathly ill and slipped into a coma. While unconscious, she crept into the mind of a missing boy and awoke with the knowledge of his location. Friends and family were skeptical and wary of her new ability to see into the minds of others. Their fears prompted Kate to keep her psychic powers a secret. Feeling alienated, she dropped out of college and spent most of her days holed up at her mother’s home.

Now another child has been abducted. Police detective Jared Corbett seeks out Kate for her help in solving the case. Reluctantly, Kate agrees and they must work together to bring 8-year-old Cori Preston home to her family. Although attracted to one another, Jared has a girlfriend with ties to the abduction case and Kate is sarcastic and guarded since her coma. With visions she can’t control and an uncontrollable attraction to the detective, she wonders if she can leave the past behind and finally stop hiding from the world. Otherwise, Cori may be lost forever.

My Review:

It’s not very often that I give a perfect rating to a first in a series but First Visions is definitely an exception. This story is unique and really keeps you hooked – I flew through it! 

I seriously adore Kate Edwards. She is everything I love about a character: charming, sweet, strong-headed and totally hilarious! The chemistry between her and Jared is totally brilliant and I anticipated every scene that contained the two of them. I just loved the sarcastic comments they threw at each other.

There are some serious LOL moments in this book. I won’t say much but there is one scene with a goose that had me doubled over! I love how there is plenty of humour amongst the serious plots. 

I adored everything about this book and I can’t wait to see what Heather has planned for Kate and Jared in the next instalment!

Royal Rating:












*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*

Wednesday 13 June 2012

Meg-A Readers Blog Hop: I Will Be Forever Grateful

Hey Everyone!

I'm proud to be part of the fabulous Meg-A Readers Blog Hop hosted by The Romance Bookie and Little Miss Drama Queen. My post is about how The Mediator Series completely changed my opinion of reading! Enjoy!




I Will Forever be Grateful

I hated reading. No, really, I did. The worst day of the week at school for me was the day that we had a library session. I actually detested having to pick out a book to read for the week. So how exactly did I end up a complete bookworm within a few years? The answer: The Mediator Series. 

Back in 2008 the only book series I’d ever actually enjoyed reading was Harry Potter. And believe me, even that was a shock for me to have actually read them in the first place. I could just never get into books.
It was by a complete accident that I ended up with a copy of the first Mediator book. I actually won it in a school raffle but because books didn’t interest me, it was just left untouched in my room.

About a week later I fell ill with the worst cold. Since I was stuck in the house with nothing to do, I picked up The Mediator. For the first time in my life, I actually couldn’t put a book down. Even my own mother was like: “Wait, are you reading?? By choice??” 

I completely fell in love with Suze and Jesse. Before I knew it I had ordered the rest of the series from Amazon and was at the end of book 6, crying like a baby. I just loved every aspect of the story and every character was fabulous! 

After I finished the series I then went on to read all of Meg’s other teen books. It was her books that made me passionate about reading – and now I’m a full time bookworm! 

The Mediator is, to this day, STILL the best series I have ever had the pleasure of reading. And trust me, since The Mediator, I have read a lot of book series.

Not only did The Mediator inspire me to read, it also inspired me to draw. I decided one day to draw a fan art of Jesse and Suze because they were just that awesome and since then have continued drawing fan art.

I'm not the only one who Meg has inspired to read with The Mediator Series. My younger sister was constantly asking me how I could read so much, she found it boring. So, I of course gave her my copy of The Mediator and needless to say she is now a huge Meg fan. Win!

It’s safe to say that The Mediator changed my whole opinion on books. Without Meg’s awesome writing, I would never have fallen in love with reading and I would never have started to draw fan art. This blog wouldn’t even exist! For that, I will be forever grateful!


Friday 1 June 2012

Blog Tour: My Merlin Awakening Guest Post, Review and Giveaway!

Hey There!


Tour brought to you by: Bewitching Book Tours  Full Tour Schedule HERE.

I'm extremely excited to be a part of the My Merlin Awakening Blog Tour! The My Merlin Series by Priya Ardis is such a fantastic series and i'm proud to present a guest post from the lady herself!



The Bard Merlin

I am a writer who listens to music while writing and so naturally making a soundtrack for My Merlin Awakening was one of the first things I did. But what does a soundtrack actually signify in the book? To me, it’s the ebb and flow of emotions the characters experience as they deal with what happens. More importantly it is the ebb and flow of emotions in their love story.

First, there is the music of the three main characters of the My Merlin Series:

Arriane (aka Ryan) is our nice girl protagonist. Ryan’s song - Alice by Avril Lavigne – Why? This beautiful moody piece perfectly fits Ryan’s struggle.

Matt (aka Merlin) is our superhero in a cape. Matt’s song - Superman (It’s Not Easy) by Five for Fighting –Why? In My Boyfriend Merlin, Merlin’s alter-ego is Matt. This is a huge struggle in the book for Merlin…does he want to be the “Most Powerful Wizard in the World” or does he want to be plain-old Matt?

Lastly, there is Vane, hero’s brother and generally, a pain in Ryan’s backside. Vane’s song - Vindicated by Dashboard Confessional – Why? Vane just knows he’s right. All. The. Time.

Now, the My Merlin Awakening soundtrack:

Theme music: Down by Jason Walker – If a song embodied the whole book, it would be this one. (You wouldn’t believe how many times I listened to this one.) I won’t tell you which character’s song this is… you’ll have to read the book to figure it out!

      1. Teeth by Lady Gaga: High school
            2. Running up the Hill by Placebo: Haunted House
3. Obsession by Sky Ferreira: Vane’s place
            4.  Keep Myself Awake by Black Lab: Matt’s lament
            5.   Dance in the Dark by Lady Gaga: Dance club in Athens
      6. Monster by Lady Gaga: Fight Club
      7. The Devil You Know (God is a Man) by Face to Face: On the yacht
      8. Keep Holding On by Avril Lavigne: Mermaid City; In the pit
      9. Lucky by Biff Naked: A rescue
     10. Down by Jason Walker: In the maze
          11. Hurt by Christina Aguilera: Poolside


For a complete compilation of these songs plus other songs of My Merlin, check out the iMix playlists in iTunes. My Boyfriend Merlin: (http://c.itunes.apple.com/us/imix/myboyfriendmerlin/id503587315). My Merlin Awakening: (https://c.itunes.apple.com/us/imix/my-merlin-awakening-book-2/id530932968 )
Want more Merlin? Watch the “If you can’t trust your boyfriend, who can you trust?” book trailer on youtube at http://youtu.be/EIrzLo1VowM

My Boyfriend Merlin, Book 1, is available through most major book retailers. My Merlin Awakening, Book 2, is now available in limited release at Barnes and Noble. It will be out in full release in mid-June 2012.  Ever My Merlin, Book 3, will be available in late 2012. Add it to-read on Goodreads (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13641732-ever-my-merlin)

Read Reviews and Excerpts at:
Author Website: http://www.priyaardis.com/



If you haven't broken the rules, have you really lived?

Excalibur has been pulled from the stone, but what does it mean? Arriane (aka Ryan) DuLac doesn’t really care. She's got bigger problems—as student president, she's got to put on the Prom. While the Wizard Council debates their next move, she leaves the craziness behind and heads home.

But she can’t hide forever. Sooner than she’d like Merlin (aka Matt) has her chasing mermaids on the trail of the Fisher King. The wounded King, defeated by Merlin’s brother, Vane, in the past holds the key to save the future.

On the journey, Ryan begins to realize the friends she thought she knew, she may not know at all. At a time of shifting alliances, she must decide whose side she’s on—the brother who struggles to do right or the brother who dares to break the rules? And Ryan must decide who she is—a regular or a champion?

One wrong decision and her family falls apart. One wrong decision and the world falls apart. No pressure.


My Review of My Merlin Awakening:

My Merlin Awakening in a word? AWESOME. 

Book 2 picks up a little while after the end of book 1. Ryan is back at school after Matt AKA Merlin took the rap for pulling the sword. But Ryan soon realises that she can’t hide away from things forever and once again ends up on an epic journey. 

The series develops so much in this book! I loved the Greek Mythology element that is added into the mix in this book. It adds to the overall epicness of the whole story. 

This book has a bit of everything, including the totally swoon-worthy love triangle. Vane and Matt are simply amazing characters! I also love Ryan’s strength. We see how her character has grown from the first book.

I adore Priya’s writing style. I love the humour that is kept throughout the story, it adds some fun to the serious plots. 

This series just keeps on getting better and I can wait to find out what is in store in the final book! If you haven’t started this series yet then you really, REALLY need to!

Royal Rating:












 About the Author:
I love stories of all kinds--but especially the gooey ones that make your nose leak and let your latte go cold. I started my first novel at sixteen, writing in notebooks on a long train ride in India during a hot summer vacation. My favorite Arthurian piece is the poem The Lady of Shalott by Lord Alfred Tennyson and a gorgeous song by Loreena McKennitt. A hopeless romantic, I’m a longtime member of the Romance Writer's of America.

Connect with Priya Ardis at:
Website: http://www.priyaardis.com/
Blog: http://merlinblogs.priyaardis.com/

GIVEAWAY!

Enter the rafflecopter to win! One winner will get a $25 Amazon or B&N gift card and a copy of My Merlin Awakening. Two additional winners will also get a copy of My Merlin Awakening.

Rafflecopter giveaway code:


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