Wednesday 30 May 2012

Taking a few days siesta

 "What? The local garden fairy is on strike so I have to water all the plants? All 12,592 of them?"

I'll be back at the weekend. Looking after the house at the moment while family away (good thing only a few people know where I live - wouldn't want gate crashers to my anime fest tonight), so have a few more things to do & thus more tired.  I'd hoped to schedule up blog posts for Thurs & Fri, but that isn't happening. Will definitely be back on Saturday though with lots of reviews! Yay!

When Dreams Come True by Rebecca Emin (Children's, 9 years +)

28th May 2012,
162 pages, Paperback & eBook
Review copy

Themes: action of and reaction to new teen hormones, conflicting emotions, friendship difficulties, misunderstandings, getting to know people better, school life, first crush, school trip, some laughter and sorrow

Summary from Rebecca's website

Charlie is happiest when biking with Max and Toby, or watching films with Allie. But when Charlie reaches year nine (age 13), everything begins to change.

As her friends develop new interests, Charlie's dreams become more frequent and vivid, and a family crisis tears her away from her friends.

How will Charlie react when old family secrets are revealed? Will her life change completely when some of her dreams start to come true?
Nayuleska's thoughts

I can't give this book a rating, not because it's bad but because I helped out a little while it was in the editing stage so I'm too biased to give a fair rating. I enjoyed watching as friendships suffered and then finally adjusted to the arrival of hormones to Charlie & her friends. She starts to find out being a tom boy can be troublesome, and other people don't understand how close she is to her friends. The school trip was pretty awesome, especially the way Charlie matured during it (not before running into the sea & getting wet, thus bringing down the wrath of the bus driver).

You can find out more on Rebecca's website.

Suggested read

Check out the emotional trauma of bullying in Rebecca's other book, New Beginnings

Tuesday 29 May 2012

New Girl by Paige Harbison (Young Adult) (Blog tour)

Funky socks!

4th May 2012, Mira Ink
314 pages, Paperback
Review copy

Themes: boarding school, fitting (& not fitting) in, snobby girls, mean girls, cliques, deranged girls, first time away from home, finding out who you are, breaking the rules, death, a few paranormal parts, promiscious teens, lots of adult situations, drinking, drugs, abuse, rape

Summary from MiraInk

The Queen Bee’s missing. Will you be next?It’s hard fitting in as the new girl among the rich elite at Manderley Academy, especially when you’re assigned to the old room of the perfect, popular Becca – who’s disappeared. What really happened to Becca? And what other sinister secrets lurk in the school’s dark hallways?Learning to survive Manderley’s cut-throat social scene, you can’t help but follow in Becca’s footsteps, even falling for Max, the boy she left behind. Although sometimes it seems that Becca’s still out there, watching you take her place. Waiting to take it back…

Nayuleska's thoughts

This is a book where I hated most of the characters because of their loose morals and inappropriate behaviour. I liked the new girl who oddly only gets named at the end. She is given an extremely tough time, thanks to Becca's legacy. I was glad when others started warming to her, and saving her from the delusional, Becca obsessed Dana.

I do have a 'however'. I was having quite radical ideas about who Becca was. These were so strong that initially when I first finished it the story felt flat. Yet when I thought of it, taking into account what actually happened, it's a pretty good ending. There's so much mystery and expectation throughout the story that for it to end simply and neatly is a good surprise to the reader. My theories for this 8/10 book are after the reading suggestion.

You can find out more on Paige's website

Make sure you check out the other stops on the blog tour: yesterday it was reviewed by Much Loved Books and tomorrow it will be on The Book Mogul and Marjolein Book Blog

Suggested reading

Definitely check out Paige's other book, Here Lies Bridget


Nayuleska's plot thoughts

1) I thought Becca was Dana, as a dual personality thing - although I couldn't explain away the photos or why everyone played to Dana's lunacy
2) The new girl was Becca's ghost or spirit (not everything added up for that theory either!)

Monday 28 May 2012

What are YOU reading? #117

What are you reading on Monday? is a weekly meme hosted by Rachel at Home Girl's Book Blog where you post books completed last week and plans for upcoming books. Jump over to her blog and see who else is participating.









Books I've read this week



Drina Dances in Italy by Jean Estoril
Children's, 9 years +
(Reluctant to see her Italian relatives Drina makes new friends, matures, and has the most wonderful opportunity arise through others' misfortune...)
10/10








Dear Dylan by Siobhan Curham
Young Adult
(A heart wrenching & heart warming read involving a brave girl who chases her dreams despite having a psycho in her life...)
9/10








Tangerine and Kiwi Visit the Apple Orchard by Laila Heloua and Nathalie Lapierre
Children's, Picture book
(A delightful informative read about how apples are grown and harvested, including a yummy sounding apple recipe!)
10/10








Deep Water by Jo Cotterill
Children's, 10 years +
(An appropriate Olympic themed book which sees Pearl in choppy water outside the synchronised swimming pool...)
10/10










Keir by Pippa Jay
Science-fiction/Romance
(I adored the blend of species and technology as the fiesty Quin sets about helping the stranger who has no idea how powerful and influential he is and will be!)
10/10









Pop by Catherine Bruton
Children's, 11 years +
(Determination and motivation take Elfie, her old friend and a very important new one to dizzying heights in a music reality TV show!)
9/10










Drina Dances Again by Jean Estoril
Children's, 9 years +
(The ever modest Drina gains some brilliant opportunities through misfortune and her ballet talent...)
10/10










The End of My World by Emma Jackson
Non-fiction
(A horrific tale about child trafficking in England of 'normal' good girls; tissues are needed...)
10/10 








The Big Adventure of the Smalls by Helen Stephens
Children's, Picture book
(I adored the colourful detailed illustrations and the humour at the end which had me laughing away!)
10/10






Re-read




Katie and the Cupcake Cure by Coco Simon
Children's, 7 years +
(Cupcakes help soothe over lost friendships and form new ones...)
10/10







Currently re-reading






Mia in the Mix by Coco Simon
Children's, 7 years +
(Life from Mia's point of view, which is rather different to Katie's...)
10/10






Guinea Pigs Online by Jennifer Gray & Amanda Swift (Children's, 5 years +, 10E/10E)

 Don't they look cute?

April 2012, Quercus
184 pages, Paperback
Review copy

Themes: animals out and about, high class guinea pigs, streetwise (& not so streetwise) guinea pigs, crafty animals, trusting nature, bonds of friendship & family, useful IT skills, loonatic personalities, lots of peril and drama, lots of humour, a happy ending

Summary from Quercus
Fuzzy and Coco are guinea pigs who live with their kindly owners, Ben and Henrietta Bliss. Coco likes to spend her days pampering herself and listening to harp concertos. Fuzzy is much more down to earth - he is a passionate cook who wants nothing more than to learn to make delicious meals for Ben and Henrietta.

So when Fuzzy spots an ad run by glamorous local chef Scarlet Cleaver stating 'Guinea Pigs Wanted', he is enormously excited - what a chance to learn some cooking skills! Coco warns him that the ad is not what he thinks, but he won't listen; when she's not looking, he sneaks off to find the restaurant.


And so Coco has to get online to try track Fuzzy down. But when Micespace reveals that guinea pigs from all over town have been taken away in a van by Scarlet Cleaver herself, Coco must set off on a rescue mission to prevent Fuzzy from ending up as main course on The Meat Cleaver's menu!

 
Nayuleska's thoughts
Guinea pigs on a mission! I never knew just how many entertaining personalities there are for the small rodents. Life is tough if they venture outside of the hutch, especially for those with a classier upbringing (be it imagined or real), but the fun once new skills are learned, the joy of making new friends after harrowing events makes it all worth it. There's a flapjack recipe and a crossword at the end to work on. The delightful illustrations enhance the likeable and distinctive characters. I went aww and alternately laughed through this awesome read.

Suggested read
If you like animals who get up to lots of fun outside their cages, check out the escapades of one clever bunny, Stunt Bunny: Tour Troubles by Tamsyn Murray.

Sunday 27 May 2012

Eggs, Butter, Sugar and Disaster by Alicia L Wright, (Young Adult)


October 2011, Tannbourne
245 pages, Paperback
Review copy

Themes: Norse/Greek/Roman/Ancient mythology, life after death, trying to fit in, misunderstandings, misconceptions, learning as you go, hilarious sidekick, the impossible made possible (but usually with a catch), gratitude, generosity, mountains of humour, occasional strong language

Summary from Tannbourne
First take a generous helping of Seralina, whisk up into the Norse pantheon, add dwarves to taste and sprinkle with a dash of immortality.

Leave to mature for just the right amount of time.

Now settle back and enjoy a fun trip through several afterlives and see if Seralina can stop Ragnarok.


Nayuleska's thoughts

This light, extremely entertaining read was just what I needed. There is no major 'the world will end' themes. Sera gets some things wrong because she's a total newbie. She's also a total sweetheart, with similar views on life to me. She realises she's on her own and adapts to the challenges with enthusiasm. She proves why going a little out of the way to help someone can bring pleasant results, but these shouldn't be expected as part of helping someone out). 

The way she ends up as the Goddess of Puddings is funny, but she takes it seriously and does her best to put every effort inti every task she takes on. Some people take her for a ride, others play with her for fun. Some have grudges, And others enjoy her company. I love the cadtle she ends up with, especially the special items which remind me of anime weapons. This 10/10 read will make you smile on every page.

You can find out more on Alicia's Deviant Art pages. 

Suggested reading

For more fun among the gods try Lex Trent series by Alex Bell, starting with Lex Trent Versus the Gods.

Saturday 26 May 2012

Nayu's News #22

(You can't beat mornings in pyjamas - I vaguely hae a toy this colour, although it is Lumpy the elephant from Winnie-the-Pooh so looks a little different)

Summary of how I'm feeling a the moment
It's the weekend - yay! You know what that means? Reviews! 

How I became banished
This morning was quite funny. I can wake up pretty early some days, and I then can't get back to sleep. Family are going away on holiday, so were up at 4.30. I woke at 4.45am, went to say hi & got sent back to bed. 
 Amu from Shugo Chara relaxing in her room with her Chara Ran.

I explained I couldn't really sleep, and still got banished to go and rest. I love my family for how much they care for me. I was bemused at being sent to read. I had a bit of time on Twitter, wrote an email, and was then allowed to get up (considering my age (in my 20's) the banishment was quite hilarious). I know they have my best interests at heart as obviously being up early means I'll use up my energy earlier today. 

That's why after I'd had time to say goodbye properly, neaten my room and get up I settled to 2 hours of blogging. Now, I'm only scheduled up until Wednesday, but hopefully I can put Thursday & Friday's review up then so I'm not panicking. 

Day's plans
Here's how my day is looking 
  • 2 hours of blogging
  • 1 hour of editing - still to do, in 10-15 minute chunks
  • blank out 1 bag of jiffy bags - to do somewhere
  • clean out birds - prior to lunch 
1/4 items done isn't bad for 9.15 on a Saturday morning. I'm going to have a second breakfast of ice cream!

What? I'm in the holiday mode too, along with my cat who has vanished to go sleep somewhere. 
 I'd love a cat with this colouring. My cat is totally gorgeous tabby.

Day's plans continued
So it'll be writing next, inbetween reading a book. After that I can read until my birds need cleaning (12:15), then lunch & an afternoon full of reading - yay! Followed with an evening full of dvds. Ah, today is good! I made sure I posted a letter yesterday, so I didn't have to go out the house today (apart from to the garage to get my ice cream, but that's not really outside). As I'm out tomorrow, I wanted a day at home. 

Hope you enjoy the weekend & manage to squeeze in some fun among the must do priorities. 

An anime fairy - my wip is all about fairies!

Thursday 24 May 2012

Death Bed by Leigh Russell (crime)

24th May 2012, No Exit Press
384 Pages, Paperback
Review Copy
Crime Thriller (Lots of spoken of violence and a LOT of suspense)
Summary from No Exit Press

The bodies of two black girls are discovered in quick succession in North London. Concerned about a reaction from the local black community, the police are puzzled to learn that two teeth were extracted from both victims after they died. One of the girls worked in a massage parlour and suspicion falls on a client of hers, a known racist, but while the police flounder, the killer takes another girl home to his attic, where he keeps his victims chained up while he shows them his 'collection'. With the death toll mounting, Geraldine is running out of time as she hunts for the elusive killer the papers are calling 'The Dentist'.

Review by The Mole

It's great to see Geraldine Steel returning for her 4th published case. She has made her move to the London Met and is finding that she is not accepted by her new colleagues, who refer to her as "The County Mounty". Once again Leigh Russell gives us a psychologically damaged serial killer who can make your skin creep and you just know could be the quiet bloke in the library that you know. You may not look at people the same way again! I found this book to be very 'fidgety' if you know what I mean? Well, it gets so tense that you can't sit still while you read it and it gets tenser - so tense you have to put it down and then you immediately realise you can't leave it like that so you have to pick it up. I'm sure you've had books like that? I had enjoyed all three of Geraldine's previous stories and didn't really think they could get better. But they did! Truly a great crime thriller.

Book One - Cut Short
Book Two - Road Closed
Book Three - Dead End

Tuesday 22 May 2012

Nayu's News #21

 (I wish I had this many cats. Still, one is plenty)

This will be the shortest news post so far. Reviews will recommence from the weekend. I'm still super tired, and will need to rest tomorrow on my day off from work. I'm reading, so no fears there. I got the blood results back, and I'm not anemic. It could be a cold which is sort of beginning to appear. Either way, no blog posts until Sunday. No, wait, I lie. There will be one on Thursday by one of my reviewers, so hopefully that'll tide you over. Believe me, I'd loe to put a few posts up for the week, but I know myself and I wouldn't stop at one or two, I'd go schedule up the entire 10+ reviews in my inbox. That wouldn't be a good idea, so I'm just not starting them! Saves fighting the temptation.

Monday 21 May 2012

What are YOU reading? #116

What are you reading on Monday? is a weekly meme hosted by Rachel at Home Girl's Book Blog where you post books completed last week and plans for upcoming books. Jump over to her blog and see who else is participating.




Books I've read this week

Everybody Poos by Tara Gomi
Children's, Picture book, Non-fiction
(A funny small yet informative read on human and animal habits....check out my review!)
10/10









The Perfect Pet Shop by Vivian French & Selina Young
Children's, 5 years +
(THREE animal tales are told in a pet shop, including a cute & fluffy guinea pig!  My review....)
10/10










Boo Boo Baby and the Giraffe by Eileen Browne and Emily Bolam
Children's, Picture book
(Boo Boo finds a fun way to drop off to sleep with the friendly animals on his cot mobile.  My review...)
10/10











Foxy! by Jessica Souhami
Children's, Picture book
(Everyone learns that curiosity can have a high price to pay....my review....)
10/10













My Big Shouting Day by Rebecca Short
Children's, Picture book
(Tantrums are all the rage for Bella who finds out being nice is the wisest option.  My review...)
10/10












The Railway Rabbits: Wisher and the Noisy Crows by Georgie Adams & Anna Currey
Children's, 5 years +
(Lots of misunderstandings take place along with great wisdom in the bunnies' latest adventure...check out my review!)
10/10












Phoebe Alleyn and the Quantum Sorcerer by S P Brown
Children's, 11 years +
(Having the ability to move around the world in a strange tunnel is only one way the Alleyn triplets start a revealing journey filled with danger...)
6/10













Saving June by Hannah Harrington
Young Adult
(A journey is made whose end is different from the goal at the beginning...)
9/10












Eggs, Butter, Sugar and Disaster by Alicia L Write
Children's, 12 years +
(Being a goddess in the afterlife is a lot of hard work, as Sera finds out with very own familiar...)
10/10














Guinea Pigs Online by Jennifer Gray & Amanda Swift
Children's, 5 years
(You'll want to check how secure your cage doors are after reading the exploits of these guinea pigs!)
10/10














New Girl by Paige Harbison
Young Adult
(This is one story that will set you thinking hard about what's the REAL truth...)
8/10














When Dreams Come True by Rebecca Emin
Children's, 9 years +
(An awesome read about friendships changing due to hormones, as well as some mystery. No grade because I beta read it so am highly biased!)














Re-reading






Drina Dances in Italy by Jean Estoril
Children's, 9 years +







The Demon Trappers #1: Forsaken by Jana Oliver
 Young Adult



 
 
 
 

Magic Lost, Trouble Found by Lisa Shearin
Urban Fantasy

Sunday 20 May 2012

Nayu's News #20

(random anime girl taking a breather from life thinking Ah, what a week)

Post Summary

What a week! So much has happened: putrified cucumber, car stopping outside my house and not starting, lots of lovely books read, editing a fun wip, realisation I'll be editing another fun yet more serious wip, date with a vampire, attack of the sleepies and other 'stuff'. I think I'll do this in order. 
Car trouble

(random anime girl with a car thinking All set to go now! Got everything, including the kitchen sink)

I realise this was placed after the cucumber issue, but really it happened first. It was one of those days where things weren't exactly wrong, but they weren't exactly right. After running my usual Wednesday errands, I drove up to my house as normal. I park on the pavement, near our drive (which is on a hill, making it almost impossible (unless you are brave) to park there. Plus if we did park down it, no one would get anywhere! Wednesday is our day for bin collection, so there is always at least 1 bin in the space I park by the time I'm back from my errands. 

I went down to the end of the cul-de-sac, turned around and pulled up to my house. I stopped the engine, got out the car and moed the bins onto the driveway. I then got back in my car, put my key in the ignition & my foot on the break and....
 
(random surprised any girl thinking What's happened to the car?)

...nothing. It wouldn't start. It wouldn't even rev up. Other people might panic, but I've flooded the engine before so I knew I needed help. I did try to remember how the guy had fixed it the last time, but forgot. So I called the RAC who said they'd be with me in an hour. The last time that happened they'd been with me within 30 minutes of the call. 

My family came home while the car was still slightly out in the road. They tried and like me failed to get the car to start. They were able to roll it to a more convenient parking space. 

I get a call. I thought it was the RAC guy calling to say he was 10 mins away. It was the control people. They asked if I had an urgent appointment that day. I said no. I'm a motability customer, so they are really keen on making sure that I'm safe and not needing to go anywhere. They explained they were really busy at the moment, and would it be okay if someone came by 5pm? They had to give priority to motability customers who were stranded on roads, not safely at home. Of course I didn't mind so I waited. 

Family went back out for the afternoon. I decided to go try my car again, after a quick prayer that it would actually work. Hey, it worked! I then cancelled the RAC, phoned my family, and got on with the afternoon. The car has been working fine since, and hopefully it will continue to work for a good long time. 

(random anime girls going to the beach: I didn't go out, but felt their happiness matched mine when the car worked)

The putrified cucumber

(This could be one of the girls from the anime & manga Maria Watches Over Us thinking about where she's put stuff)

I'm a very forgetful person, as a lot of you know by reading this blog. Often it's me who forgets about a piece of fruit/veg in the fridge (my shelf is on the bottom) and thus usually the perpetrator for rotting food. Not this time. 
I'd come home from work on Thursday, had poured a drink and was preparing a snack (a scone with jam & Flora). I reached down to get the Flora tub, and felt water on the lid. Puzzled I pulled it out, and was horrified as a watery substance dribbled off it. I knew it wasn't any of my stuff (although I did double check). I then began looking upwards to the next shelf. I saw some meat, which I hoped wasn't leaking (gross!) but it wasn't the meat. There was a cucumber which looked fine, but as I pulled it out more water went down. The cucumber had purtified.

 An unhappy fridge

It turns out that family thought the cucumber was mine so had left it. From the front it was a perfect cucumber. We weren't to know a good 1/2 of it was rotting. It took 40 minutes of cleaning to get rid of the cucumber watery goo. I need to point out that it wasn't that bad, I'm just slow at cleaning (don't do it often as it's tiring), I need lots of breaks while doing it (as it's tiring), and I'm not fond of gross things. 

I did find the whole situation rather funny, and quite an entertaining start to the afternoon. The scone was well deserved! 

 Mmm, yummy!

Reading books

Anime girl thinking I love reading!

I know, I know. This is a book review, so reading books isn't a major reelation, right? Wrong. Lately I'm so tired I haven't been able to read as much as I liked. So this week I've been trying to read when I'm up for it, or even if I'm a little tired I'll read. Which has meant that this week I have read books! Reading makes me happy, and I had missed it. I adore anime, but there's nothing quite like reading a book. Or two. Or five. Or more than five. 

Editing progress & writerly realisations 


 Anime girl is thinking Yes! That plot part would work here, and if I just add this there...

This morning I had heaps of fun editing my fairy wip. I still had to do some formatting of documents before I could work on them. Since it was 'easy' editing I stuck Charmed on Netflix in the background. I like to have something on when doing easy edits. I haven't reached the series that I haven't seen yet, so I could easily pay only half attention to the episodes. I'm now on Chapter 1 edits. I call it easy edits because I've done the hard work of noting down everything that needs changing - now it's a case of putting the notes into practice. I'm hoping to make significant progress tomorrow morning. It took a while to make those editing notes, but it turns out that there aren't actually a lot of changes to be made in each chapter. There are 12 chapters in total (got to love children's books sometimes for their short length - which by no means makes it easier to edit). We'll see how far I do get. 

Writerly realisation - that was a wonderful one. For months, because I've had little let up from my chronic pain, I've been working on a lighter wip, one that isn't too dark, which doesn't spend a lot of time exploring deep emotinal stuff. That's how the fairy series was born. Quite a few of my novels for older children hae deep & meaningful plots. They aren't super happy. I haven't been up for working on them. However, on Thursday (or was it Friday?) I just knew I'd be going back and editing Inescapable Ties, the one with a Muslim protagonist who is awesome! I know I'd say that as I'm the author, but early readers have enjoyed Safiya's debut, so it's time to see if the wider world will like her too. What's not to like about a teen who ends up helping girls who have been trafficked, and trying to free herself from her dead brother's grasp? As you can see, IT deals with some tough issues. Muse now feels ready to dive back into it, so it'll be looked at as soon as my fairy wip is edited. 

My date with a vampire, attack of the sleepies & other stuff

 Akari from the anime Aria as she falls asleep while working.

Wednesday heralded my life essence being syphoned off by the vampire to the laboratory. I'm always tired - that's normal. But I've felt so absolutely exhausted lately I know something's not right. I'm hoping I've got anemia again. I know it's weird to want to be ill, but at least if I'm anemic they can do something. Iron tablets worked a treat the last (and first) time I had it. I'm a bit stuffed if it isn't iron. Hopefully I may know the results on Tuesday. I hope it's easy to fix because I miss not being able to read as much. I can't always watch Shugo Chara, which requires concentration (see here for the reason), it has to be Winx which I don't have to think about translating. However, it makes reading that much more special when I can do it. I've taken a break from craft as I have neither the energy to do it, nor the mental energy for concentrating. 

Yummy ice cream!

I think that's pretty much this week sorted. I've got a friend coming over in 30 minutes to eat cake and ice cream with me (4 types of ice cream, don't forget that!). Fun times ahead! I hope you've all got one fun thing happening this weekend. Take care, and check your cucumbers! 

All of that was written on Saturday. Today is Sunday, and I'm not feeling well so no reviews from me for a few days. I promise I'm resting up. I debated scheduling reviews, but I could do with spending the 2 hours resting. By resting I mean reading! 

I'm being good, I promise