Monday 30 June 2014

What are YOU reading? #224




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





Read


The Babysitter's Club: Claudia and the Phantom Caller by Ann M Martin
Children's, 9 years +
10E/10E
(A spooky crime adventre from my childhood favourite babysitter characters!)





Mermaid, Inc. by Caroline Mickelson
Paranormal Romance
8/10E
(A mermaid becomes human to save the whales!)





The Unfinished Symphony of You and Me by Lucy Robinson
Romantic comedy, Romance, Fiction
9/10E
(A rough road about training to be an opera singer...)





Head Over Heart by Colette Victor
Children's, 9 years +
10E/10E
(Zeynab has to make a decision about whether she follows the Islamic practice of wearing the headscarf and not having a boyfriend...)





The Babysitters Club Super Special #1 Baby-sitters On Board! by Ann M. Martin
Children's, 9 years +
10E/10E





The Babysitters Club #3 The Truth About Stacey by Ann M. Martin
Children's, 9 years +
10E/10E





The Brave Kitten by Holly Webb
Children's, 7 years +
10E/10E
(Such a sweet tale about a kitten who goes through a rough patch when he is runover...)









Listened


Twilight by Stephanie Meyer
Young Adult
9/10E
(Kind of a reread....I find it even more hilarious than just reading it. I know it's not meant to be a comedy but I find it entertaining...)











Watched


Casualty
Medical drama, English
4/10E
(The episode was so uninteresting to me I debated stopping watching it. I won't for 3 reasons; it's one of a few shows I watch with my family, I have great fun sending comments by text to a friend who watches it, and the end of the episode was so not dull that I'm eager to see what the evil lady will do! Feels odd to love the antagonist...maybe that's the writer in me!)





Holby City
Medical drama, English
8/10E
(Significantly better than the show it spun off from, Casualty. I think I prefer hospital settings rather than outside a hospital in different places as how patients got hurt is revealed. Had missed last week's episode despite thinking I saw it. I love Jac soooo much! My friend had better be right in saying Jac will return. I'm not happy with her abandoning her baby Emma to Jonny, but I do see why she did it...)





My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic
REWATCH! - Anime, English
10E/10E
(Discovered there's an album of the show's music! Treated myself to the two upbeat songs by Pinkie Pie about smiling + being positive  and laughing at things that scare you.)





Aikatsu
Anime, Japanese
10E/10E
(WOW OH WOW!!! Reached the late 70th episode, the show continues getting better. Excited about rewatching it all and seeing the new to me episodes after Ramadan. Mizuki is back performing! She provides an interesting plot twist, cute clothes and a fun song. Sigh. I love this show! 1 and a bit days to try and cram in the remaining episodes that have been released.)










Craft, games and more
Here's a final picture of the blanket I gave my friend...



And now I've started a baby blanket for a family member. Another family member said they were knitting a blanket using self-patterning yarn. I thought a blanket was perfect so I'm doig a crochet one, with single colour yarn-I'd wanted self patterning but I didn't want to steal my family member's thunder.



Been gaming on the same 3 games this week! 



Amazingly for Ice Age Village by Gameloft
9/10E
I managed to win the best prizes on Scrat's piranha game-lots of money AND a cute new fox! Never ever win the animal so was chuffed to bits.





My Little Pony by Gameloft
...gets 10E/10E despite several glitches because it is so much fun.
One time the game wouldn't play on Kindle Fires, but was thankfully resolved in a day. Apparently the what can only be described as swarms of parasprites (flying bugs) that I barely get hecorrect crystals to nuke them is a technical bug. Gameloft do have a good customer service teaml especially considering the game is free.





I did give in and buy a small bundle of coins or gems on Littlest Pet Shop by Gameloft.
This 10E/10E is awesome.
I got extra houses for the pets and now saving like mad for my favourite one that I can get with coins, as the gems which is how you get most of the pets take forever to save. Games are ace! 






Sunday 29 June 2014

Maybe One Day by Melissa Kantor (Young Adult, 10E/10E, semi short 'n' sweet review)



March 2014, HarperCollins Children's Books, 405 pages, Paperback, Review copy

Content: moderate amount of strong language, a few strong teen romance scenes, some humour, lots of tissues needed
 
Summary from HarperCollins

Two best friends face the hardest future of all – a future without each other.

In the tradition of ‘The Fault in Our Stars’, critically acclaimed author Melissa Kantor masterfully captures the joy of friendship and the agony of loss.
Zoe and Olivia have always been best friends. And becoming professional ballerinas has always been their goal. But when they turn sixteen the unthinkable happens as Olivia is diagnosed with leukaemia.

Falling in love, coping with school and falling out with each other – everything is thrown into a whole new light.

Nayuleska's thoughts
I think most will realise from the blurb that Olivia does at the end. The last few chapters were a blur as I inevitably cried over the separation of the two best friends whose closeness is one I'd always wanted when I was younger, and now I'm having it I promise it is as good as it sounds on paper. It was a little odd that despite their closeness Zoe struggled with being comfortable in front of Olivia's parents, a frequent situation as Olivia's hard to read treatment continued. The emotions are hard hitting, made me whoop and giggle at some of the hilarious situations, sigh with annoyance when Zoe did/thought/said something stupid, and cried a lot at touching moments.

The one thing that both the friends love (Zoe tries to deny it for most of the book) ends up being a comfort to them. Through Olivia being ill Zoe spends times with girls she'd prefer to stay clear from, and despite her preconceptions realises they have their hearts in the right places, and aren't airheads. Their determination to stick by Zoe as well as Olivia made for tissue needing moments. 

This is a book about an amazing friendship that weathers the end of one life and the continuation of another. I'm definitely rereading this at some point because through Olivia's courage and Zoe's realisation of what she wants to do in life motivated me even more to keep chasing my own dreams. As much as we'd all love to live for decades, we all have a time limit on this life so put your all into it...and apparently don't drive in New York if you are 17

Find more on Melissa's website

Suggested read
Another touching read about a teen with serious health issues is The Fault In Our Stars by John Green (Young Adult, 9/10E) 

The Unfinished Symphony of You and Me by Lucy Robinson (Romantic comedy, Romance, Fiction, 9/10E)

June 2014, Penguin, 496 pages, Paperback, Review copy

Themes: music student, theatre life, opera, crazy friends, life going weird, family rift, feeling scared, having fun, findingyourself, nerves, ignoring the obvious, tough choices,
 
Content: strong language, adult content, drug use, drinking,

Summary from Penguin
Sally is a woman of many (hidden) talents.

She's been working as wardrobe mistress at the Royal Opera House, not telling a soul she's a damn good singer. But then, she's only able to sing if she's shut inside her wardrobe, where it's safe.

But she made a promise to her cousin Fiona that she would audition for Opera School and for complicated reasons, she can't get out of it - even though she'd rather claw her own eyes out than sing in public.

Sally has a lot to learn, but will she figure out that stage fright is about more than forgetting the words? And that perhaps her real problems lie very much closer to home?

Nayuleska's thoughts 
I loved Sally from the start because she respects her childhood teddy (me, I have plural and then some!) and had a curious habit of singing in a wardrobe. This habit turns out to be a pretty huge deal for the entire story, one that I found endearing and squee-d when I saw it ,mentioned. How Sally got to love opera singing yet hate performing in front of others was just as tissue worthy and impressive as how she then got past her fear, resolved most of her big issues that taunted her for years and then became a star opera singer.

Opera isn't a passion of mine, yet I loved diving into the world of Sally's passion from both when she was backstage as a wardrobe mistress (putting clothes on and off theatre cast not someone who sells wardrobes or anything like that) and on stage as an opera singer student was fun to read. Sally's voice is easy to read and rather funny. Ignoring the adult content which I managed to skim over I loved this book. It was clever how I discovered the truth about that fateful time in New York bit by bit-that was annoying but Sally's aversion to being an opera singer despite her clear talent kept me diverted with a fair amount of giggling. 

The huge plot twist changed my perspective of how Sally and those who knew her acted, and yet it was the day to day details which I loved reading the most. I loved her proximity to the ballet world. I enjoyed finding out her comfort foods for while she was abroad. I know I've said it once already but I loved her wardrobe singing issue. It was pretty random but sweet to watch her personal demons appear, fight back then get squished. I loved how eventually she made firm friendships to help fill the gaping hole in her heart of those friends she'd lost for various reasons. The emotional baggage from her childhood remained a big issue until the end of the story which is just the beginning of a new act in her life - the book is even divided into acts and scenes for chapters.

I know I'm going to reread this book, so go on, give it a chance! You don't have to like or know much about opera to understand Sally's turbulent life. 

Find out more on Lucy's website.

Suggested read 
Another light and crazy read is The Out Of Office Girl by Nicola Doherty (Fiction, 9/10E)

The Diamond Sisters by Michelle Madow (Young Adult, 8/10E)


March 2014, Mira Ink, 368 pages, Paperback, Review copy

Themes: from poor to rich girl, family ties, reputation, behaviour issues, having fun, innocence, protection, Las Vegas, luxurious lifestyle, expectations, shopping,
 
Content: Alcohol use and abuse (including underage), drugs mention, a little violence, moderate & frequent teen romance, grey moral areas, tissue needed

Summary from Michelle's website (Mira Ink website is being updated at the moment)
Three sisters. One billionaire father. What could go wrong?

Savannah. Courtney. Peyton.

The three sisters grew up not knowing their father and not quite catching a break. But it looks like their luck is about to change when they find out the secret identity of their long-lost dad—a billionaire Las Vegas hotel owner who wants them to come live in a gorgeous penthouse hotel suite. Suddenly the Strip's most exclusive clubs are all-access, and with an unlimited credit card each, it should be easier than ever to fit right in. But in a town full of secrets and illusion, fitting in is nothing compared to finding out the truth about their past.

Nayuleska's thoughts
Often stories like this one can head in a direction I'm not keen on-something crazy happens and the characters are taken away from their new life, but thankfully not for the Diamond sist3rs. Aside from both the frequent drinking and dating which felt a bit overboard, I loved this sisters based read. There is heaps of mystery surrounding their father, I liked to hate Peyton and ended up feeling a bit sorry for what she'd had to go through with her father, but she was boy crazy, inappropriate and spoiled a lot of events. I liked Courtney for being the good girl apart from at the end which shouldn't have happened and I didn't agree with it. I adore Savannah who throws herself into the rich lifestyle. I enjoyed watching all her treatments and how she genuinely enjoyed the treats their father gave them, plus the way she was the best behaved sister overall. 

I wasn't keen on the backstabbing, especially the Twitter-esque chat that appeared every now and then-the people on it are positively horrid! Personally I think Madison is their father's secret child, and Courtney isn't their true sister, but I'll have to wait for book 2 to see if I'm correct on my assumptions! 

Find out more on Michelle's website.

Suggested read
Another fun sisterly read that takes place in Las Vegas is Catch by Michelle Davidson-Argyle (Young Adult, 10E/10E) 
 

Louder Than Words by Laura Jarratt (Young Adult, 10E/10E, short 'n' sweet review)


 June 2014, Egmont, 416 pages, Paperback, Review copy

Summary from Egmont
Rafi hasn't spoken for eight years. It's up to her to tell her brother's story now that he can't speak either ...

Rafi idolises her seventeen-year-old brother, who is popular, generous and a borderline genius. Ever protective, Silas always includes her when he's with his friends, so Rafi gets to hear all sorts of things that younger sisters wouldn't normally be a part of. Like the time Silas hacks a gaming site to help out his friend Josie, who has been trashed by her ex.

With Josie, Rafi finds herself with a proper friend for the first time in her life. As they grow closer, she realises that she wants to find a way back into the world - she wants to learn to speak again. But Silas has found a new interest too - and it's taking him away from everything that was once important to him. Can Rafi find the words to save her brother?


Nayuleska's thoughts
I adore this book! It's nicely odd after I've recently read a non-fiction book about selective mutism and several books on characters who stop speaking that I read Rafi's story. I wasn't that fond of the chapters with her brother's thoughts but the rest of the story makes me forget those parts. Rafi is a sweetheart. It was fascinating watching her slowly get to grips with improving her mutism, how she blossoms under her new friend Josie's whirlwind approach to life. 

Josie is immensely fun to read about, especially given how she and Rafi met. Josie is exactly who and what Rafi needs, unlike Silas who gets in deep trouble due to his new friends. He does have a close relationship with Rafi which made me tear up on several occasions. I had a suspicion about Rafi's condition which pretty much was proved correct, unlike my thoughts on what had happened to make Silas go away which changed a few times as I read the book and was mostly a surprise when the end came. 

Find out more on Laura's website

Suggested read
For younger readers they can find out about not talking in The Mute Button by Ellie Irving (Children's, 9 years +, 10E/10E)

News!! 5th July Independent Book Sellers Week 2014 Bookshop Crawl!


Nayu: *grins* This sounds like my type of crawl, only I won't have energy to attend it. I do have enough energy to shout about it, so please do take part if you can! Here's the all important details which I've been allowed to copy and paste here ^o^ 

[Come} take part in an exciting event taking place during this year’s Independent Booksellers Week: The IBW Bookshop Crawl. Taking place on Saturday 5th July, it is aimed at bloggers, booktubers and vloggers across the UK. It’s great that you want to get involved - and have a stab at winning the fantastic prize.

The challenge is to visit as many independent bookshops as possible throughout the day and blog or post a video about the experience for the chance to win. Whether you are a bookshop lover, an avid reader, an advocate for the High Street, or, more simply, just enjoy a good challenge, this is a brilliant way to spend a sunny Saturday, get involved in IBW, and have a chat with your local bookseller. 


How the IBW Bookshop Crawl will work:

In order to qualify for the prize, the blog or video post must be posted by 11:59pm on Sunday 6th July. Once posted, the link to the video or blog post must be sent to cecilia.keating@midaspr.co.uk.

Independent booksellers across the country will be equipped with IBW Bookshop Crawl stickers, designed specifically to hand out to participants.  To find out which participating bookshops are near you, the Booksellers Association has the full list on their website here.

The competition will be judged on:

1)      The number of bookshops visited, detailed in the post and proved by video evidence or selfies with the stickers
2)      The quality of blog post submitted (giving all participants an equal chance of winning, regardless of how many bookshops are in your area)

The Prizes

This year’s fantastic prize includes the complete Adult and Children’s IBW Book Award shortlist (full list below), National Book Tokens worth £50, and a digital banner designed specifically for the winner.

On top of this, all those who take part will be sent a participants banner after the crawl. It will work on all social media platforms and we are happy to tailor it to a particular size and any youtube channel / blog requirements.

Please feel free to download the banner copied below to post on your blog / youtube channel, which has been specifically designed for all those who wish to participate. It is also available to download from http://independentbooksellersweek.org.uk/your-local-independent-bookseller/bookshop-crawl/

More information and updates about the crawl itself will be posted on http://indiebounduk.tumblr.com/, and the hashtag for the crawl will be #bookshopcrawl.


Nayu: Me again! I can't add this lovely book crawl button to my blog, but you can ^o^ Let me know if you take part! 

Saturday 28 June 2014

If I Forget You by Michelle Davidson Argyle (New Adult, 10E/10E)

May 2014, MDA Books, 238 pages, Ebook, Review copy

Themes: going to university, living away from home, living with family, finding your place in life, being forgetful, making mistakes, blasts from the past, doing what's right for you,
 
Content: some drinking, some mature romance plus rape (not entirely off the page),

Summary from MDA books
Avery Hollister is a little more than absentminded. She has trouble remembering faces, names, and dates without her piles of lists and Post-it notes. When she heads off to college it takes her a week to realize the guy she’s crushing on is, in fact, three different guys.

With a faulty memory and three men who have no idea she’s mixed them up, Avery doesn’t know how to fix the mess she’s made. But she knows she has to try, even if it means losing a love not even she could forget.

Nayuleska's thoughts
*happy sigh* I love this book as much as I love The Breakaway duo by Michelle - which is heaps! Aside from the rape and a few scenes, I thoroughly enjoyed Avery's life. There wasn't as much mature content as all the other New Adult books that I've read, which made it a pleasant read. I speak truthfully that although I've only just finished it, I had to peek back at the book to know Avery's name. I related so well to Avery because I have memory issues, only mine are a side effect of taking ketamine on prescription for pain relief. I empathised every time Avery forgot someone's name, when she forgot what she was meant to be doing, and how almost impossible it can be to explain to people it isn't a case of forgetting something that you might remember hazily later, it's full on forgetting like it never happened.

I loved the relationship Avery developed with her aunt. She didn't always treat Chloe as best as she should, but Chloe was there in a huge way when life for Avery hit rock bottom, which had me crying lots. Avery learns that going to uni/college can really change your relationship with those you love, something that many readers can relate to. I didn't always approve of what she did, but I wanted Avery to overcome her personal challenges, which took tragedies and unpleasantness to move on from them.

The romance side of the book was believable, the rape was dealt with in a way that it wasn't quite all at once or in the moment, although it was examined in moderate detail.
  
Find out more on Michelle's website.

Suggested read
For another fun read from Michelle check out Catch (Young Adult, 10E/10E) link to follow soon
 

Six Hours by Pete Johnson (Intended Age Teen/Young Adult, Reading Age 7 years +, Dyslexia Friendly, 8/10E)

May 2014, Barrington Stoke, 74 pages, Paperback, Review copy

Themes: exams, skiving, mobile phones, ice cream crazed dog, random gifts, nosebleed,
 
Content: Off the rails behaviour,

Summary from Barrington Stoke
Dominic has been studying for this history exam for weeks. So when he finds himself faking sick and following Lara, one of the coolest girls in school, off the grounds he wonders what’s happened to his common sense! But both of them just feel like they’ve had enough. They need a day to themselves – just six hours to cool off and chill out away from the pressures of teen life...

Nayuleska's thoughts
As someone who has never skipped class I thought this would be a good story to understand why teens do that. All Dominic and Lara do is runaway from their problems - Dominic does it literally! I thought it was good that Lara felt able to share her issues with Dominic, she needed someone to listen. But I still can't fathom doing what they did. I was partly pleased by the way Dominic's stepfather reacts, and surprised at how lenient his mother's reaction was. It's clearly an adventure for Dominic, although one whose repercussions won't be worth it, despite what Dominic feels at the end. I'm concerned about his future, but hopefully he will see sense. I liked the message that everyone needs time off sometimes, Lara and Dominic simply didn't go about it the best way. I liked Lara's hair in the illustrations because it is like Roxy's in the anime Winx.

Find out more on Pete's website.

Suggested read
A fun read from Pete is The Vampire Blog (Children's, 11 years +, 9/10E)

Friday 27 June 2014

White Chocolate Cherry by Graylin Rane (Paranormal Romance, 10E/10E)


The cover was too suggestive for NRC
 May 2014, Graylin Rane, 51 pages, ebook, Review copy

Themes: grief, family bonds, tragedy, accidents, gods, chocolate

Content: traffic accident scene, strong adult romance scene x1, tissues needed

Summary from Graylin's website
Julia is getting ready for work, her camerawoman and best friend Amy by her side, when a notice is left at her door. She’s been chosen to receive a sculpted chocolate man picked personally by Eros to fulfill her romantic and sexual needs. While other women would jump at the offer, Julia is torn.

It’s been three years since she lost her beloved Jorge after twenty-five years of wedded bliss. How would she explain a chocolate man to her six kids? Anteros is carved perfection, luscious, and gorgeous with a surprise for her. He loves books and discussing history, he backs away when she feels a loyalty pull to her lost husband, respects her devotion to family. Time and patience pay off as Julia slowly opens her home, her body, and her heart.

Nayuleska's thoughts
I know I'm starting this review biased because I know Graylin online and, despite the mature content, I love the themes explored in her books. However, this truly is her best book ever! There's so much love for Julia from her family. They all care for her happiness, which hadn't had a chance to shimmer since her husband died. I loved the close-knit friendship she has with her best friend Amy, who is sometimes inappropriate but pushes Julia when Julia won't push herself. She learn how much stronger she is since her husband died, something that others knew but it took a near tragedy for her to realise that.

I cried so much in this book, both for happy and sad reasons. I enjoy books that make me cry because they strike a chord with me somehow. I enjoyed how Julia was 50 rather than in her 30s, how she wanted to take things slow and get to know her new guy - that's sort of something every heroine in this series shares, they all have an issue to overcome that makes the end sweeter - but Julia wants to spend time with him and really know him before doing anything vaguely intimate. I think it's partly because of her age and life circumstance, and I respect her for making that choice. I'm eagerly awaiting the next in the series!

Find out more on Graylin's website.

Suggested read
Make sure you check out the others in the series including Irish Cream Dreams (Paranormal romance, 8/10E)
Again cover a bit too suggestive for NRC so this is meant to be an irish cream (non-alcoholic version!)

Amber by Julie Sykes (Young Adult, 10E/10E)

September 2013, Curious Fox, 304 pages, Paperback, Review copy   
 
Themes: telepathy, telekinesis, amnesia, regaining memories, feeling alone, feeling like an outsider, sense of belonging, summer school, being musical, having fun, feeling content

Content: lots of tension, some moderate to mild tension, some humour, happiness, tissues needed
  
Summary from Curious Fox
How do you live by the rules if you don’t know what they are? Amber has lost her memory and the only clues to her identity are a mobile phone in her pocket and a beautiful amber necklace around her neck. This intriguing and surprising novel for teenage girls will have readers gasping with disbelief as the truth about Amber is revealed ...

Nayulseka's thoughts
I love this book!!! I truly love it. I kept expecting the story to get darker and gritty, but it didn't, which is a huge deal as I like lighter reads. I adore Amber, I've always wanted a story about memory loss but most end up as gritty (yes gritty YA has been on my mind due to Jim from YAYeahYeah talking about it at the time I wrote the review).

Her confusion was loud and clear, as were her delights when she experienced something for the first time that she could remember. Her experience with music was such a joy to read, possibly because of an unknown fact about me that I was musical as a child and a teen, but stopped due to health reasons. She gets completely submerged in the music, just like I do now with anime, including the musical based Pretty Rhythm Rainbow Live where characters show their feelings through music.

I loved Amber's journey of finding out who she was, and who she wasn't. The kidnapping event was mega scary, and provided Amber with much food for thought about how she should use her abilities. I enjoyed her getting to grips with them because her delight is clear and I'd love to be able to move things with my mind like tidying my room. The friendships she makes are touching, and made her final decision at the end of the book both easier and harder. I could feel how torn she was over certain issues, which any reader can relate to complex issues that we experience in real life. Discovering who she is is just the beginning, I'm desperate for a sequel to explore her home town and all the new sights and experiences which is pretty much all I can say without including spoilers. And for more of a story to be heard about her amber necklace.

Find out more on Julie's website.

Suggested read
For another memory related read check out Forget You by Jennifer Echols (Young Adult, 9/10E)

Thursday 26 June 2014

Catch by Michelle Davidson Argyle (Young Adult, 10E/10E)


September 2013, MDA books, 94 pages, Ebook, Review copy

Themes: family holiday, Las Vagas, family history, being sisters, taking risks, disappointment, theft, loss, found things
 
Content: Minor teen romance, tension, happy ending

Summary from MDA Books
When eighteen-year-old Miranda chases a purse snatcher on the Las Vegas Strip, the last thing she expects is for the pursuit to turn into an extended game of hide-and-seek. All Miranda wants are the old black and white photographs buried at the bottom of her purse. They’re the only things she has left of the grandmother she never knew. But how much is she willing to put on the line to save them? And is it possible she’s falling in love with a thief? 

Nayuleska's thoughts
Squee! Michelle is a dear online friend, but I do review her books like any others. It's not my fault she writes one with a thief in and a spunky heroine who I rooted for even when she was being a complete moron. I mean, what kind of teen girl chases after a thief? Miranda does. I was having her sister's reaction, but I admired Miranda's spontaneity. Her view on life is similar to mine, and her empathy towards grandmother's photos kept her playing the odd games the thief makes her play. He was courteous and played them in public places, so slowly she got what she wanted...and a whole lot more! 

It was realistic how her mother reacts to the theft of her bag - I'm smiling because in the book the US term purse is used, whereas in the UK a purse is a female version of a wallet. Anyway, I'd love to see the look on both Miranda's parents and the thief's father's face when they learn the end of the book. Sigh. Maybe a sequel will happen...it eventually did for my favourite book of Michelle's, The Breakaway, so I'm not giving up hope yet!

You can find out more on Michelle's website.

Suggested read
If you like the sound of this then you have to read The Breakaway (Young Adult, 10E/10E) Somehow I don't yet have a review of it's sequel - will reread/listen to it later in the year ^o^