My favourite books of 2014!

2015 is only two days away! It's usually this time of year where I get excited about what's to come for the following year and I am ashamed to say I forget what I've accomplished in the past year.

2014 has been my best year in terms of reading. I've read twenty-one books in total. Normally, I only make it to twelve, fifteen at a push. So, I am pleased with myself that I acomplished what I set myself out to do for this year. My goal for 2014 was to read thirty books, according to Goodreads. I did get into a reading slump by the time October came around and I'm still trying to get out of it.

Soo, out of the twenty-one books I read, I chose ten of my favourite. They are in no particular order.

1. The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness

The most anticipated third book of the All Souls Trilogy finally arrived on my doormat. I was so excited for this book and it was worth the two year wait. The Book of Life is the final book and concludes the story of the missing manuscript, Ashmole 782. If you love reading books on witch's, Vampires and Daemons that live alongside humans, with drama, adventure, romance and a bit of history and fantasy thrown in then CHECK THIS TRILOGY OUT!!!

2. Step Back in Time by Ali McNamara

I love all of Ali McNamara's books so I couldn't miss Step Back In Time. I read this fun filled book in three days! and I loved it so much that when I forgot to bring it with me to work, I downloaded it onto my kindle to continuing reading it. That's how much I loved this book, it was like a comforting hug. 

3. The Crimson Ribbon by Katherine Clements

Katherine Clements debut novel was truly captivating. Another witchy tale, set in post British Cival War, where it was a bad time to be accused of being a witch. Another fantastic historical fiction. 

4. Landline by Rainbow Rowell

This was the first book I read by Rainbow Rowell and I loved it. I have to admit, it was a little strange reading a Christmassy novel in summer. But, who cares? It was so good and I wantto read more books by her. 

5. Divergent by Veronica Roth

I was a bit late getting on this train (see what I did there?) and I had no idea that there was going to be a film, until I was half way through the book, and I had three days to finish it because I wanted to see this film. I did it, and I took my finace to watch the film (he hadn't read the book) and even he loved it! A great story that took me away from reality at a stressful time.

6. Honor's Lark by Rachel L. Hamm

Another debut book I won from the Goodreads giveaway. Honor's Lark was a really good read and a fantastic debut from Rachel. I can not wait for the sequel.  

7. The Year I Met You by Cecelia Ahern

This book was a rollarcoster of emotions. I've been reading Ceccelia's books for ten years and she never fails her books. I love ALL of them and this tenth novel was superb. 

8. From Notting Hill with Four Weddings...Actually by Ali McNamara

Another Ali McNamara book in my list. I love all her books aswell and this book is the third out of the 'From Notting Hill' series. I love Scarlett, Sean and the gang. With my own wedding preparations going on, I can relate. This was a must read!

9. Angelfall by Susan Ee

I heard a lot about this book and I've read alot of Angel books over the past couple of years. So, I was a little hesitant to read this one. However, I took the plunge and brought this book. It is different from all the other Angel books out there. I really like this one and it's sequel. Looking forward to the third book. 

10. I'll Take New York by Miranda Dickinson 

I am still reading this fab book, and I wanted to add it to my 2014 best books. I love Miranda, I know I have said that alot in this blog. But, it's true I love most Authors and their books. They inspire me and Miranda does just that. I am loving her latest book. I haven't got a lot to say as I haven't finished it yet, I will post a review on this one soon. 

So there you have it. That is my favourites list of 2014! I hope 2015 brings more great reads and I will see you all in the new year! 

Book Review - Girl Online

 

Girl Online by Zoe Sugg

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary: 

Penny has a secret.

Under the alias GirlOnline, she blogs about school dramas, boys, her mad, whirlwind family - and the panic attacks she's suffered from lately. When things go from bad to worse, her family whisks her away to New York, where she meets the gorgeous, guitar-strumming Noah. Suddenly Penny is falling in love - and capturing every moment of it on her blog.

But Noah has a secret too. One that threatens to ruin Penny's cover - and her closest friendship - forever. 

My Thoughts...

I have to admit, as soon as Zoe Sugg announced she was to pen her first novel I was excited and as soon as it was available to pre-order, I did.

Now I know I am way too old for this book, as it is about a school girl who falls in love with a guy. However, the book deals with anxiety, sexual and online hate issues, and I believe no one can be too old to deal with those problems in life.

I particularly enjoyed this novel very much. It was filled with fun and fluff and made me feel really Christmassy. It was a real page turner with characters that felt real and a plot that takes you away from the real world. It was well written which made it an easy read for me, which I like in a book. Looking forward to the next book by Zoe

I would defiantly recommend this book

Book Review - Angel Fall and World After

AngelFall and World After by Susan Ee

Rating: 5 out of 5 for both books.

My thoughts...

AngelFall

It's been six weeks after the apocalypse, six weeks after the angels came to destroy the modern world. Street gangs rule the day, while fear and supersitions rules the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen year old sister Penyrn will do anything to get her back. And that includes teaming up with the enemy. 

I utterly adored Angefall. The whole apocalyptic earth and the idea that angels are the bad guys, with a bunch of other creepy creatures thrown in makes me excited. I wizzed through this book in just a few days. This book is action packed and I loved badass Penyrn, who all she cares about is rescuing her sister from the clutches of the angels. This girl has no fear, she knows how to fight, how to manipulate and how to be wary. Even if the angel you team up with, is gorgeous looking and has a demi-god body. I love a good romance, amongst the chaos. However, it's not really kind of a romance and I'm not going to say anything on that matter, you will have to simply read the book to understand the confusing relationship that builds between Raffe and Penryn. 

I also liked Penyrns mother, a crazed, mentally ill, sczophrenic woman. Who chants to the demons and is obssessed with her children. She really is crazy. 

All in all I absolutely loved Angelfall

I will give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

World After

Sequel to Angelfall. The surviors of the angelapocalypse begin to scrape back together, what is left of the modern world. Penyrn continues her search for her little sister, which leads her to the heart of the angel's secret plans, where she catches a glimpse of their motivations, and learns just how horrifying far the lengths the angels will go to.

As soon as I finished Angelfall, I started its sequel. Again, I fell in love with this book and I did not want it to end, so I took my time. We are taken deeper into what the angels are up to and it's terrifying. There's more chaos, more creepy creatures and more depth to this whole story. I can actually visulise the whole book as if it was a film in front of me and that is thanks to Susan Ee, her writing is so great and easy to follow. I was gripped from start to end. I also, secretly loved how short each chapter was. Which is very dangerous as you only tell your self 'Just a few more chapters and I will go to bed.' Luckily, I had self control and forced myself to put the book down. However, I took it everywhere I went, in hope that I will find time to read. Which I did. 

Just like the first book. I liked it alot and I give this 5 out of 5 stars. 

Now all I have to do is wait for next year, as the final book to this trilogy is released.

End of Days will be released May 12 2015. I cannot wait! 

NANOWRIMO14

The first week of NANOWRIMO 2014 has finished and there are three more weeks of Novemember left. Yikes. If you're anything like me and you have had a crazy week at work and all you feel like doing with your time off is slump round, then carry on reading.

It's that time of year (November) when you're supposed to write 50,000 words or more (basically write a novel) in 30 days. I've only managed to write 675 words this past week. Not much really when I've seen people tweet that they've reached the 10,000 word goal, they've set themselves. I think why am I not one of these amazingly organised persons. But then I think about my eight day week at work (84hrs) in a care home and shrug. Maybe I should really be writing my novel instead of this blog post. But I think, oh well. I'll manage. I have next weekend off and I have annual leave in the last week of Novemeber. I'll manage. Then I think about my engament ring. Which I noticed yesterday evening that the emerald stone from it has come out and is now lost, somewhere in Bedfordshire and groan with disapointment that all I want is for my ring to be fixed, or to buy a new one, right now.

You can safely say, motivation for me right now is nil. I haave none. And with only one hour until my next shift, all I want to do this afternoon is to write and watch youtube videos of Fleur Deforce and Zoella. 

As with reading. I'm in a big fat slump, a MASSIVE reading slump. It's a bit like writers block, but with reading. Readers Block? does that work? Hopefully I'll read a little on my break later on. But, I know I'll be on my phone looking at Instagram and Twitter. Oh well.

So, I will leave you this week with this.... 'I'm not lazy with my writing or reading this week, I'm just on my energy saving mode.'

Book Review - The year I met You

                                         

                                             

The Year I Met You By Cecelia Ahern

My Rating:  5 out of 5 stars

My thoughts....

Jasmine has been fired from the only thing she is good at, (her job) and put on gardening leave. Racked with insomina, she begins staring out of her bedroom window, where she finds the annoying antics of her neighbour, Matt. Whom she has a fond hatred for, andshe has every right to. However, Matt is also taking gardening leave, much to Jasmine's dislike. Nevertheless, not everything is as it seems and both Jasmine and Matt are forced to think again. 

Well, I have to say that, Cecelia Ahern has done it again, for the eleventh time. I really enjoyed this book. It was something I wasn't expecting and was refreshing. I loved the variety of characters in this book, which made the story have depth and become realistic. Cecelia writes about issues, some people have trouble acknowledging and that's why I loved this read. There are also great hidden twists and turns, that kept me guessing at what is going to happen. It defiantly wasn't predictable. 

However, when I first started reading the first chapter, I wasn't sure if I was going to get into it. The main reason was how the story was written. In first person. With hardly any dialogue to begin with. But, I gave it a chance and soon I got use to the style and was drawn in. 

My overview of this book is that It was a fantastic read. A story, I have never come across before. I can't even compare it to another book, it's so different and captivating. Blooming marvellous.

I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars.

Book Review - Landline

   

                                      

Landline by Rainbow Rowell

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

My  Thoughts...

What would you do, if you had a magic phone that was linked to the past?

With only a few days left before Christmas, Georgie Mccool was suppose to of gone on vacation with her family. However, being a workaholic, with a serious deadline looming in under seven days. Georgie decides not to go, leaving husband Neal and their two daughters to go alone.

Not surprisingly no one is happy about this, especially Neal. Therefore as the days begin to merge, and Georgie has trouble contacting her husband. She convinces herself that her marriage is in danger. Well, everyone else thinks so, so it must be true. Que. the magic phone that Georgie finds in her old childhood room, that she uses to contact her husband Neal, from the past.

This was my first Rainbow Rowell read and I loved it! It was a bit weird reading a story based around Christmas now. However, I got past it and enjoyed the tale. I loved Georgie. She's not your typical book heroine. Tall, skinny and flawless. She reminded me, of me. I have the same coloured hair and I wear glasses, to write and read. Also Georgie is portrayed as a real woman, with curves and stretch marks, which her husband loves. She was my favourite character. I also loved Noomi, who thinks she's a cat and her pug obsessed mum.

I can't think of anything bad to say about this book. The cover is gorgeous, the layout superb. The characters are likeable and detailed. Rainbow has done a fantastic job of getting you hooked, from start to finish.

I loved every minute of this book, one of my favourite reads this year. If you haven't read it, why are you here? Go and read it. Now! 😋

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

 

Book Review - The Taxidermist's Daughter

        

                                      

The Taxidermist's Daughter by Kate Mosse

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

My Thoughts...

Sussex, 1912. Constantia 'Connie' Gifford lives with her father in an old house out, in the marshes of Fishbourne. Once a well known Taxidermist, with his own museum of stuffed birds, which used to grace every parlour, are now out of fashion. Leaving Gifford a bitter old man. However, that was not the only reason why Gifford and his daughter shut up shop and moved to a quiet village on the coast. 

This was a dark and mysterious murder mystery. With each chapter focusing on certain aspects of each character, as we learn about the secret that Gifford has kept from his daughter. Kate's description and detail of each character was amazing and I could picture, quite clearly how each one looked and portrayed themselves. I loved the way Kate made you feel sorry for Gifford and how she made Connie an independent woman, taking charge of the family home, when her father disappears. 

The map at the beginning of the book is a nice touch and adds to the atmosphere of the story. Even though, I enjoyed the story. I did find it slow going in some places and I had to force myself to read, so I could get to the good bits and even then, it kept you on your toes. I particularly liked the gruesome parts, which made you check your shoulder every now and again. Kate Mosse made you feel part of the story.

Nevertheless, the story was excellent and intriguing. Gothic and ghostly. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy murder mysteries. Personally, this book wasn't for me.

I give this 3 out of 5 stars 🌟🌟🌟