Tag: Books


Feb
2018

Fiction Friday: Book Review- My True Love Gave to Me by Stephanie Perkins

categories: Books, Reviews

My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday StoriesMy True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories by Stephanie Perkins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

For some bizarre reason I have really been feeling for a YA contemporary read. Normally I don’t do YA contemporary. I am strictly a YA fantasy and adult contemporary fan (don’t ask me why but this is the way I have always been).
I picked this up to try and fill that craving and it definitely worked! This is a collection of twelve wonderful romances that can be read in one setting. Many of these authors are some of my favourites and it was great to see them write these bite-size stories. For me, personally, I hated that Real Life got in the way of me reading this book but I loved that I could read a story a day. It was like having Christmas in January (which is something I really needed). I also enjoyed the fact that these stories were all guaranteed a happy ending. The stories range from cute and sweet to magical and mystifying. This was a cute holiday read that I recommend to anyone who is looking for a good contemporary. I can’t wait to read the Summer anthology.

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Jan
2018

Waiting on Wednesday: Still Me (Me Before You #3) by Jojo Moyes

categories: Books

I loved the first two books in this series and I still mourn Will. Especially when I read the extract of “Still Me.” Lou is as entertaining as ever (but nothing- NOTHING- will ever make me forget Will).

 

Release Date: January 30th 2018 by Pamela Dorman Books

 

Official Synopsis by Goodreads.com: 

Louisa Clark arrives in New York ready to start a new life, confident that she can embrace this new adventure and keep her relationship with Ambulance Sam alive across several thousand miles. She is thrown into the world of the superrich Gopniks: Leonard and his much younger second wife, Agnes, and a never-ending array of household staff and hangers-on. Lou is determined to get the most out of the experience and throws herself into her job and New York life within this privileged world.

Before she knows what’s happening, Lou is mixing in New York high society, where she meets Joshua Ryan, a man who brings with him a whisper of her past. In Still Me, as Lou tries to keep the two sides of her world together, she finds herself carrying secrets–not all her own–that cause a catastrophic change in her circumstances. And when matters come to a head, she has to ask herself Who is Louisa Clark? And how do you reconcile a heart that lives in two places?


Jan
2018

Fiction Friday: Book Review- A Season of You (Cloud Bay, #2) by Emma Douglas

categories: Books, Reviews

A Season of You (Cloud Bay, #2)A Season of You by Emma Douglas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Will has been in love with Mina since the minute he saw her. However, Mina was married so Will kept his distance from her. Now she’s a widow whose husband was killed by a drunk driver while Will is the owner of a whiskey distillery. One day, Mina meets with an accident and Will saves her which puts them back on each other’s paths. But can Mina really move on from her loss especially considering Will’s career?
This was a really sweet Christmas read which I found incredibly enjoyable. Will and Mina have very clear chemistry and I loved watching their relationship unfold. There was no fluff. Their relationship was sweet and real- they both had issues which they worked through and I haven’t seen that in too many romance books. This is a well-written book with great characters. I can’t wait to read the sequel! This book is a must for anyone who enjoys Christmas or contemporary romance fiction.

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Jan
2018

Waiting on Wednesday: Everless by Sara Holland

categories: Books

Every so often there’s a book that is talked about non-stop in the book community. Booktubers, bookstagrammers and book bloggers all rave about the early copies while reader’s eagerly await the release of said book. Everless is one of these books for me. While the book is already released in some parts of the world (actually I feel like it’s released everywhere but here), it only comes out in February for South African bookworms. (Seriously I’m going to move overseas just for books).

Release date: January 4th 2018 by Orchard Books (first published January 2nd 2018)

Synopsis from Goodreads.com:

Time is a prison. She is the key. Packed with danger, temptation and desire – a perfect read for fans of The Red Queen.

In the land of Sempera, the rich control everything – even time. Ever since the age of alchemy and sorcery, hours, days and years have been extracted from blood and bound to iron coins. The rich live for centuries; the poor bleed themselves dry.

Jules and her father are behind on their rent and low on hours. To stop him from draining himself to clear their debts, Jules takes a job at Everless, the grand estate of the cruel Gerling family.

There, Jules encounters danger and temptation in the guise of the Gerling heir, Roan, who is soon to be married. But the web of secrets at Everless stretches beyond her desire, and the truths Jules must uncover will change her life for ever … and possibly the future of time itself.

‘Sara Holland is a fierce storyteller. An intoxicating blend of blood, secrets, and haunting mythology, Everless gives new and terrifying meaning to the phrase running out of time.’ Stephanie Garber, New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author of Caraval


Jan
2018

Fiction Friday: Book Review- Rebel Faerie (Creepy Hollow, #9) by Rachel Morgan

categories: Books, Reviews

Rebel Faerie (Creepy Hollow, #9)Rebel Faerie by Rachel Morgan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received an ebook copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Emerson teams up with Calla to help her parents and Dash. Problem is, no one knows where the Guild has taken the Griffin Rebels or what is happening to them. Meanwhile Emerson is struggling with having such immense power but not being able to save her loved ones.
“Rebel Faerie”was a really fast, action-packed read and I enjoyed it immensely. The darker side of the Guild is finally revealed to Creepy Hollow and this time the Guild isn’t bothering to cover their ways.
I loved seeing favourite characters from previous books in the series. I was more than a little heart-sore since “Rebel Faerie” is the last book in the Creepy Hollow series. We’re never going to see these characters again! This book was incredibly well-written and the character development was amazing. The series ended beautifully (why did it have to end though? I love this series!) and it was great seeing the characters finally get their happy endings. This is a great read for anyone who enjoys fantasy fiction.

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Jan
2018

Fiction Friday: Book Review- Confessions of a Shopaholic (Shopaholic #1) by Sophie Kinsella

categories: Books, Reviews

Confessions of a Shopaholic (Shopaholic, #1)Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Becky Bloomwood is a shopaholic who is seriously in debt. She can’t afford most of her lifestyle but that doesn’t stop her. Sure she tries to cut down on her spending or making more money but nothing seems to work for her.
The only reason why I read this book is to see how alike Becky and I am (in case you were interested- we’re pretty similar in our spending habits but as of this moment, I am debt-free). I enjoyed this book immensely. Becky is a very colourful character and her exploits were hilarious.
My only issue with this book is that there seemed to be very little plot. The first half of the book is about Becky’s debt while in the second half, she manages to find herself a guy. Luke and Becky’s relationship seemed almost like an after-thought and I saw no chemistry between them. This was a fun read that I recommend to anyone who enjoys chick-lit or wants a light, easy read.

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Jan
2018

Book Review: Alterations by Stephanie Scott

categories: Books, Reviews

AlterationsAlterations by Stephanie Scott
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received a digital copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Amelia is a quiet and reserved girl who has been in love with her mother’s employer’s son, Ethan for as long as she can remember. When her grandmother signs her up for a prestigious fashion internship in NYC, Amelia is reluctant to go. She doesn’t want to be away from home and she certainly doesn’t want to be away from Ethan. After all, this summer was going to be her chance to show him that they belonged together. However once Amelia gets to New York, she discovers a totally new world as well as a totally new side to herself. Returning back to Miami as a changed and more confident version of herself, Amelia catches the eye of Ethan while working with his brother, Liam.
This was a pretty long read but I enjoyed it immensely. I loved how focused and career-orientated Amelia was. She reminded me of myself back in high school and I really enjoyed seeing that. I loved watching Ethan go from a flat character who was just hot, rich and popular to an actual fleshed-out person. This was a fun, light-hearted read that I definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys YA.

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Dec
2017

7 Tips for Finding Books on a Budget

categories: Books

I am ridiculously skilled at finding cheap books. Is it because I’m a bookworm? Is it because I’m a shopaholic? I don’t know! However I am going to share some of my tips on finding great books on a budget:

  1. Shop around- Lots of bookstores have the same book but at totally different prices. If there’s a title you really want, check a few stores to compare prices before you buy.
  2. Shop the sales- Ah, bookstore sales. Few things make my heart race faster than a book sale. Well, maybe working out does. But there is nothing that can compare to the joy of being at a book sale and then finding the book you have wanted for ages. (Oh, hello there, Memory of Flora Banks for just R35)
  3. Check discounted bookstores- Guys, I don’t know how this works but I desperately need to know. Bookstores like Bargain Books and Readers Warehouse have some really cheap books in excellent condition. I don’t know how they do it but my wallet and my bookshelf are both very grateful.
  4. Shop secondhand- Lots of secondhand bookstores and book sales have books in great condition. My favourite source of secondhand books is the SPCA. They have books in pretty good condition at really great prices.
  5. Check the library- If you’ve been here long enough you know that I hate my local library (don’t ask, it gets me upset) but it is a great source for reading material. Atleast it is if your library is up to date and the librarians are not awful like my local library.
  6. Trade your books- Okay, so I don’t know if we do this in SA but sometimes people get together to trade their books so they can give away what they don’t want and get something that they do. This is a great way to maintain your shelves and your budget.
  7. Borrow from a friend- I listed this option last because I am not a lending person and I know a few bookworms who are the same. If you are lucky enough to have someone lend you a book, please take care of it. It is only decent manners to do so.

What are some of the ways that you manage to get books on a budget? I’d love to know below.


Nov
2017

Fiction Friday: Book Review- Spindle Fire by Lexa Hillyer 

categories: Books, Reviews

Spindle Fire (Spindle Fire #1)Spindle Fire by Lexa Hillyer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Spindle Fire is a retelling/unusual adaption of Sleeping Beauty. Now while any fairytale retelling hooks me, Spindle Fire had the added bonus of being wonderfully dark. This sleeping beauty cannot feel or speak while her sister (the king’s bastard) is unable to see.
When Princess Aurora and her sister Isabelle are separated, Aurora ends up accidentally pricking herself on a spindle and falling into a deep sleep. However this sleeping sickness soon moves to the rest of the kingdom and Isabelle might be the only one who can save them. This was an incredibly well-written, compelling read and I enjoyed it immensely. I found it difficult to put down. There’s countless fairytales, sibling rivalry, dark fae and lots of plot twists.
However this is the first of a series and leaves you with an awful cliffhanger. This is a series that you need to binge-read. This book has mystery, romance and intrigue. I cannot wait for the sequel. This was a great read for anyone who enjoys fantasy or fairytale retellings

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Nov
2017

Fiction Friday- Book Review: Without Merit by Colleen Hoover

categories: Books, Reviews

Without MeritWithout Merit by Colleen Hoover
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Why are you even reading this review? This a Colleen Hoover book. You don’t need to read reviews of Colleen Hoover books. They’re published with a seal of excellence. This book in particular is well-written and very moving. It has romance, some plot twists and some angst. Go get yourself a copy ASAP.
(I notice that you are still here reading this review. Fine then. I’ll share my thoughts on this book with you. But you really should get yourself a copy).
Merit is pretty much ignored by her entire oddball family. She is known as the troublemaker, the one who always seems to have issues with everyone else. What no one realizes is that the reason why Merit is so miserable is because she is forced to keep all of her family member’s secrets. Merit buries her feelings with an unusual hobby of buying trophies that once belonged to other people.
One day while looking for a trophy, Merit runs into the gorgeous Sagan. They share a passionate moment but Merit quickly discovers that Sagan is taken. When he reappears in her life, Merit becomes even more isolated.
This book was like a combination of the romance in “Hopeless” and the serious issues raised in “It Ends With Us” (which explains that cover that look so much like IEWU).
This book retains Colleen Hoover’s wit and beautiful romance but also tackles real-life issues which I appreciated. This was an amazing read that I recommend to anyone who know hows to read. Trust me, you’ll enjoy this book.
(Now PLEASE go and get yourself a damn copy already).

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