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 🌟🌟🌟   

Book Review - The Crimson Ribbon by Katherine Clements

The Crimson Ribbon by Katherine Clements

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

My Thoughts...

Well done Katherine Clements.

This book captivated me from the moment I turned the first page.
Set in mid-seventeenth century England, where the persecution of witches were rife and the horrors of the civil war plagued the country.
Ruth Flowers is forced to flee her household of Oliver Cromwell in Ely and flee to London. On the road she meets a former, troublesome soldier. However, when she reaches the city, it's the Poole household which changes her life forever.

I throughly enjoyed reading this book, couldn't put it down and even took it to work with me. The author has a way with words that brings you into the story, making you a part of its world.
At times you can kind of predict of what will happen along the way, only because of what history dictates and what we have learned. Though there are surprising corners in which you turn.

I fell in love with Ruth Flowers, as you join her on her journey and watch her grow and change. It was fascinating to see how she deals with constant issues and problems. Though at times, she annoyed me and I wanted to slap her around the face. Never the less, she was my favourite character and I wanted the best for her.

I would defiantly recommend this book to anyone, young and old. It is an insight into how the world was back in 1646 and how little peoples minds truly were.


I give this book a five stars

Foyles: Witching Hour Literacy Event

I've been so busy of late, with reading and working in my 'real' job that I just didn't have time to blog. However, on Monday 8th Septemember I was lucky enough to attend Foyles, Witching Hour literary Event in London. With authours: Deborah Harkness (All Souls Trilogy), Karen Maitland (The Vanishing Witch) and Katherine Clement (The Crimson Ribbon)

It wasn't what I was expecting. Then, again I didn't know what to expect. The event was held at Foyles book store in Charing cross road on the 6th floor (massive shop! with a cafe on the 5th floor) at 7pm. 

Now, I'm a huge fan of Deborah Harkness and her All Souls Trilogy and I'm also a memeber of the Facebook group AST discussion. So there were a good group of us attending. 

On arrival we were given a free glass of Prosecco before choosing where to sit. It wasn't as busy as I thought it might be. Maybe 50 people, mostly made up of women. The atmospehere was tense with excitment before the three writers appeared on stage. 

Cathy Rentzenbrink opened up the event and introduced the authors to the room.

The event lasted for one hour with a ten minute question time. The authors discussed their latest books and topics such as; How women were portraited and treated in the Medeival time period - 19th centuary, discussion on a few famous past witches and how magic and science are similar.

It was an interesting and pleasent event and afterwards we could buy their books and have them signed, takes pictures and what not. 

Took my own copy of Deborah Harkness Book Of Life (The final book in the All Souls Trilogy)

Book Review: Honor's Lark by Rachel L Hamm

Honor's Lark by Rachel L Hamm

My Rating: 5 out of 5!

My thoughts...

I won this book from Goodreads Giveaway. After scouring the giveaway section of Goodreads, I came upon this book and after a quick review of the summary, I thought it was something difeerent. When I found out that I won, I was happy and looked forward to reading it.

In a world where everyone is assigned a lifemate at birth by the Gods, thirty year-old Honor is still looking for hers. When her new boss, Sedric, points out that her mate probably died before they met, Honor embarks on a quest for closure. She needs to know who her mate was and what he was like so she can move on with her life. 

Can I just say, first of all, wow. I never thought I would become hooked to this book. A 253 page read, it was short, but amazing. I zoomed through this book with ernest, wanting to found out what happened next. I loved how unique the plot was and how intriguing the sub plots were. I also loved the different world Rachel created, where everyone had a lark (an incomplete design) somewhere on their body and it only completed when you found your mate. It was a world similar to our own and you could easily relate to. A genius idea! 

This book is easy to read and will have you hooked from the start. You will also fall in love with the characters. I hope there will be a sequel :)

My favourite book, so far this year!

From Notting Hill to New York... Actually Review

From Notting Hill To New York... Actually By Ali McNamara

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

My thoughts... 

I absolutely loved the first book 'From Notting Hill, with love actually.' And equally I adored this one, just the same. I whizzed through this book in four days! I just could not put it down.

We are delved into the wonderful, and exciting world of Scarlett who has now been living in Notting Hill for one year. However, things aren't as rosy as they once were with her and Sean, as they are now settled and living together. Scarlett is obsessed with the internet and tracking celebrities on Twitter, meanwhile her best friend, the fabulous and care free Oscar suggests they go and visit the Antiques Roadshow. With nothing to show, Scarlett manages to find a brooch at the bottom of her jewellery box. And the adventure begins...

Ali's writing is just so good, the way the story flowed, it was so easy to keep turning the pages and before you knew it, you have finished the book! As I was reading and laughing at the same time, I couldn't help but think, that I could see these books becoming a Richard Curtis film. They are just so light and fluffy and all that a Richard Curtis film is.

Well done Ali for creating a world I love so much. Now, I'm wanting to read the third one!

End of May Haul

I actually purchased these book last month and they didn't arrive until today. So, I was super excited when the doorbell went, so much so, that I whacked my elbow on the door frame, in a hurry to open it 😳 And this is what was inside it! City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare, Allegiant by Veronica Roth, Splintered by A.G Howard and AngelFall by Susan EE. 

I cannot wait to start reading these books, so excited. Where do I start?

Step Back In Time By Ali McNamara

Step Back In Time by Ali McNamara

My Rating: 5 out of 5

How many lifetimes would you travel to find a love that lasts for ever?

When single career girl Jo-Jo steps onto a zebra crossing and gets hit by a car, she awakes to find herself in 1964. 

Praise for Ali McNamara!

Ali McNamara has done it again! Another amazing novel, brilliantly written with loveable characters.

Like Jo-Jo, I too was forced to listen to the Beatles music throughout my childhood and succumb to my parents obsession. However, unlike Jo-Jo I loved the Beatles and even loved their films! So, when Ali announced this book last year. I was eager to purchase it. But, my life has been so busy I didn't have time to do anything. Until recently. 

This book has felt like it was written for me! So not only has Ali written a brilliant book, she also taught me a lesson. To give time for myself, friends, family and my husband to be Jon!

Thank you Ali! Jenny x

I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars!

Maleficent by Elizabeth Rudnick

 

Maleficent By Elizabeth Rudnick

My Rating: 5 out of 5

What I thought... 

An amazing book! Predictable, because we all know the tale of Sleeping Beauty. Yet, it was totally unpredictable. Well written, by Elizabeth Rudnick for Disney.

This Disney Sleeping Beauty 'retelling' is Maleficent's side of the story, hence the title of the book.

I picked this book up, because Sleeping Beauty is one of my favourite fairytales and the title intrigued me. I thought it would be just the same story, but told from Maleficent's point of view.

When I started to read this book, I disliked Maleficent, because she is a villain. However, I couldn't help but start to like her, then feel sorry for her. And by the end of the book, I didn't want her to die. Like we all know she does. 

How wrong was I?

*Spoilers alert*

'But I took that from her. I even took her chance of happiness in the moors away from her. And now she lies here, lifeless. And I have no one to blame but myself.'

In this book we are told how Maleficent was brought up in the 'Faerie world', the moors and how her parents fought for allegiance with the human world, resulting in their untimely deaths. Now, Maleficent was just a baby when this happened. The faeries and creatures of the moors bring Maleficent up, surrounded by love and happiness. Until one day Maleficent meets a boy and falls in love.

Fairytales always begin with love and how love can be deceived. This is exactly what happens to Maleficent when the boy, later steels her wings in order to become king. That's when we start to see the Maleficent we all know and kind of love, the evil faerie whose gift to the princess Aurora, is on her sixteenth birthday, to prick her finger on a spinning wheel and fall asleep forever. 

Now, if you don't know the disney tale, then the three good fairies, who have different names in this book, take baby Aurora to a cottage, deep in the forest where the princes will be brought up. 

However, Maleficent becomes obsessed in watching the child grow up (a little creepy), by watching her secretly. As Aurora grows, Maleficent becomes soft. Until only a few weeks before Aurora's sixteenth birthday, she meets Maleficent and is adamant that she is her fairy god mother, who has been watching over her, all her life. 

And to much Maleficent's disapproval Aurora, just won't stop going to the moors, at night to spend time with Maleficent.

Now, I don't want to give away too much of the story away, so I'll stop there. I would defiantly recommend this book, it has a great twist to the original Disney story. I was in awe by it and could not put it down.

Book revising

This is the first time, I have ever revised my own work. I think it is, because I'm taking it kind of seriously. I've always loved writing, especially stories. Fantasy ones, where anything can happen and you can take your readers on a real adventure. 

Revising your work is hard. You have to be your own critique and editor. Making hard decsions about your book, whether to remove a pointless character, snip a large chunk out, or add a huge part into it. 

It's difficult, well, nobody said it was easy.

I'm kind of lucky here, as I posted my book onto Wattpad and my readers have become my editor and critque, all rolled into one. And they have been extremely helpfull in pointing out errors (embarrassing ones too). I would suggest to young, new writers to use Wattpad, not only for the likes and reads. But to get use to people critiquing your work, good as well as bad. And it helps, a lot. 

It has been a year since my book, 'Faerie' was created. From one idea, to brancing out into a full blown story. A whole year has passed since I started planning 'Faerie', it took me three months to gather my ideas, create character profiles, research topics, and to write the first sentence. 

It wasn't until August 2013, that I sat down and began my first draft, and it wasn't until the September that I thought about posting the first five chapters onto Wattpad. I wanted to see if people liked it, I wanted feedback and people to take judgment on to it. 

With a first draft, you have to be reckless. Don't look back at your work (Or you'll be forever changing things and will never finish it). This is exactly what I did. It was hard not to look back as my readers began to comment, pointing out spelling and grammer mistakes. I took that one boared and jotted it down for later. 

I wrote the final chapter of the story on, April 2014. It took me nine months, to push this book out (yes, I see this as my baby). I'm pleased it took me that long, it meant I didn't rush to the finish line (I also have a full time job). However, if I was doing this proffessionally than I would need to do my first draft a lot quicker, but alas, I got there in the end. 

Now, I have to start back at the beginning, pull all of my idea books for 'Faerie.' and read my book, Something I haven't done. This is where you'll look at your origional ideas for the plot, characters and progession of your story and see if it has gone in the correct direction. Has your characters changed? Has the plot? Also, look out for spelling and grammer mistakes and any waffle you have accentidently put in.

Well, I betterget back to revising and making my first draft stronger than before.

If you are interested in reading my first draft you can here - http://www.wattpad.com/story/8219152-faerie-wattpadprize14

My book blurb:

Once Upon a Time the Beryl crystal maintained equilibrium in the mythical kingdom of Faerie, which resides alongside our own mortal world. When the crystal is stolen, the land of Faerie began to slowly perish.

When researcher Sophia Rose comes across an ancient crystal in Cambridge's Fitzwilliam Museum it represents an unwelcome intrusion of myth and magic into her carefully ordinary life. Though descended from the magical and mythical Fair Folk, she is determined to remain untouched by her family's legacy. She hides the crystal, but Sophia finds it impossible to hold the world of Faerie at bay any longer. 

  

The Ocean At The End Of The Lane - Book Review

The Ocean At The End Of The Lane by Neil Gaiman

The ocean at the end of the lane is like a new found fairytale. A fantasy for both young and old. It was dark, enchanting, and imaginative. Gaiman's way with words are powerful and mind blowing.
I loved how he wrote from a child's perceptive, as an adult looking back on his distorted childhood memory. And then questioning himself constantly whether it was real or not.

I've never read any of Neil Gaiman's books before. I have to admit, it took me 42 pages to get into the book, It was quite slow paced. However, once the story began moving, I was immediately sucked into the story. I really wish, the field of furry, snake like tails really existed and that I had a pond, that was an ocean. However, I do have a fairy circle down at the bottom of my garden.

For any one questioning themselves whether to read this or not, do it, you will not regret it.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars