Cinderella is Evil by Jamie Campbell

History is told from one person’s perspective. Sometimes they don’t get it right.
Ugly Stepsister Anna has wrongly been accused of being mean and evil. Now it is time she got the opportunity to tell her side of the story.
With Cinderella so perfect and wonderful, it is no wonder Anna feels ugly in comparison. Dealing with bullies, a grumpy mother and the death of her step-father, Anna is at her wits end.
When the Prince’s ball approaches, Anna is told she must find a husband to save the family fortune. Attending with her sisters, the sulky Prince Charming only has eyes for Cinderella.
With the burden of being the only one to unite her step-sister with the Prince, will Anna act as cupid? Or will she protect Cinderella from the arrogant Charming?
A charming twist to the story of Cinderella, told completely from the point of view of the Ugly Step-Sister.

(Image and Description from Goodreads.com)

This was a short but very entertaining read with the feel of a fairy-tale to it…well, it is Cinderella so I suppose that  doesn’t come as a surprise now that I think about it.

Thumbs Up!

I really enjoyed this. Basically it is what if Cinderella enjoyed playing the martyr just so that she had a reason to hate her step-family, and what if the wicked step-mother was the way she was because the death of her husband (Cinderella’s father) broke her heart.

Anna was a lovely person and I wanted to hug her when she went out of her way to look out for Cinderella when she thought she had ran away from the prince the night of the ball because he had done something to her.

Thumbs Down!

This book was WAY to short. I would love it if one day the author decided to add two hundred more pages and turn it into a full length novel.

All in All!

An enjoyable and very quick read. 

Review - Holiday Heartbreak (Dork Diaries Book #6) by Rachel Renee Russell

It's the biggest dance of the year and Nikki Maxwell is hoping her crush, Brandon, wants to be her date. But time is running out. What if he doesn't want to go with her? Or worse - what if he ends up going with Mackenzie?!!

(Image and Description from Goodreads.com)

Why is Dork Diaries doing this to me? Why?

Thumbs Up!

The friendship between Zoey, Chloe and Nikki is just as strong as ever and Chloe and Zoey continue to be supportive and loving towards Nikki through all of her drama – on a wee side note I would love to have a book from their side of things (and it could touch on what they really think about Nikki and her pathological lying).

SPOILER – Mackenzie (evil-teen-villainess) ends up rooting through a dumpster.

Thumbs Down!

By the third time (it could have been the last too) she said ‘thingie’ I was ready to scream. By the first time (for this book) she once again fibbed to her ‘BFFs’ I was ready to drag her out of the book and yell at her. Because, yeah, telling porkies has totally worked well for her up to this point. Not. It stresses her out.

The majority of the girl/boy drama between Nikki and Brandon come mainly from a series of misunderstandings and Nikki not letting the poor guy finish a sentence.

All in All

I have loved the Dork Diaries books since I picked up the first one but the past two books have just been lacking that spark I loved so much in the previous books. Still enjoyable but I am becoming very irritated with them very easily and I don’t know if it is a change in me or a change in the books.

I don’t feel like Nikki is moving on at all as a character.

Has anyone else read these books? If you have I would love to know if it is me or the books. How have you found them?

Review - Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster

Jerusha Abbott grew up in an orphanage but was sent to college by a mysterious benefactor she calls Daddy-Long-Legs. In college she falls in love with a young man who wants to marry her, but she refuses because she is an orphan. Finally, after Jerusha--now Judy--graduates, she asks to meet her benefactor.

(Image and descriptions from Goodreads.com)

Really enjoyable! I tried to read this book when I was in secondary school and it just didn’t click. But after watching the film (with Fred Astaire ;)), the anime and listening to the musical – lovely musical by the way – I decided to give it another shot.

I loved it.

Thumbs Up!

The whole book was wonderful fun and just what I needed at the time. Judy is refreshingly honest about what she thinks of things and this may seem silly but what I loved most was Judy being ‘friends’ with someone she isn’t really all that fond of. I don’t know about you but I could definitely relate to that.

The book covers a four year span of Judy’s life through college all told in letters and I didn’t once get bored or want the writing to change.

Thumbs Down!

The only thing I would have loved to have seen was a chapter from Jarvis’ side of things – mainly to see what was going on in his head when he made certain decision and what he thought about Judy’s reaction to them.

All in All!

A lovely story that as 187 pages is not all that long. Definitely worth a read.

“The trouble with college is that you are expected to know such a lot of things you’ve never learned”

The Bad Beginning (Book #1 in A Series of Unfortunate Events) by Lemony Snicket

In this first book, readers are introduced to the unfortunate Baudelaire children -- 14-year-old Violet, 12-year-old Klaus, and their infant sister, Sunny -- when they learn they've just been orphaned by a terrible house fire.

The executor of the Baudelaire estate -- a phlegm-plagued banker named Mr. Poe - sends the children to live with a distant relative: a conniving and dastardly villain named Count Olaf, who has designs on the Baudelaire fortune. Count Olaf uses the children as slave labor, provides horrid accommodations for them, and makes them cook huge meals for him and his acting troupe, a bunch of odd-looking, renegade good-for-nothings. When the children are commandeered to appear in Count Olaf's new play, they grow suspicious and soon learn that the play is not the innocent performance it seems but rather a scheme cooked up by Olaf to help him gain control of the children's millions. 

(Image and Description from Goodreads.com)

Eeeeeeaaaa…yeah. I really don’t know where to go with this one. I was giving it a try to see if A Series of Unfortunate Events could take the place of The How to Train Your Dragons books once my self-control snaps and I read the last available book.

Yip. That won’t be happening.

Thumbs Up!

There was only one thing that I really liked about this book and it was the bond between the Baudelaire siblings. These were children who would do anything for each other.

Thumbs Down!

It was the adults in this book that irritated me beyond belief and seriously got up my nose. Mr Poe – the banker who was a FRIEND of the children’s parents and the executor of their will – failed epically at protecting the children and then when they did go to him with their problems he does one of the ‘How to Be a Stupid Adult 101’ things and goes and tells the baddie that they had talked to him. IDIOT man.

And then there is the judge who lives next door to Count Olaf. Let’s just say that she could be WAY more perceptive.

Oh, and one more strike against Mr Poe. Dude, Count Olaf is so unsubtle about wanting the Baudelaire fortune and he makes one ‘Violet can’t access it until she comes of age’ comment and then just lets it go over his head…Yip…

All in All!

Not my cup of tea at all – although I do have a friend who read all of them and loved them. I slogged through it but I think I will be finding another series to replace How to Train Your Dragon. I can see how children would enjoy this series and it is brilliant for introducing the meaning of new words but it just didn't click with me.

Any suggestions for another series would be greatly appreciated. I am thinking of giving The Spiderwick Chronicles a try. 

Review - Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

As a young man, Jacob Jankowski was tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. It was the early part of the Great Depression, and for Jacob the circus was both his salvation and a living hell. A veterinary student just shy of a degree, he was put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie. It was there that he met Marlena, the beautiful equestrian star married to August, the charismatic but twisted animal trainer. And he met Rosie, an untrainable elephant who was the great gray hope for this third-rate traveling show. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was ultimately their only hope for survival.

(Image and Description from Goodreads.com)

Thumbs Up!

I really enjoyed it (and this came as a huge surprise to me).

I have never read anything, fictional or otherwise, about circuses or depression era America (although I am a huge lover of films like ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’ etc and it has nothing to do with Charlton Heston…Ok, maybe a little) so it was a huge eye opener. There was definitely a dark side to the bright costumes and candyfloss and I don’t think I will ever look at Dumbo the same way again.

I loved the insight to the times as well as the flashes of Jacob’s life in the nursing home and his frustration and anger at his situation. This book did not just deal with the happily ever after and life of a young man in his prime but seventy years on too.

The whole book was like I had been given a backstage, nothing bared pass to the circus (well, the 1930s circus anyway) and I enjoyed every page of it.

Thumbs Down!

There were definitely some things that made me a bit squirmy.

There is animal abuse that we know is going on and a few times when we ‘see’ it happening.

Mental and emotional abuse is also touched on (but violence and abuse towards women always makes me uncomfortable in books even though it wasn't very much IN your face, I was aware something more was going on).

Final Thoughts!

I thoroughly enjoyed Water for Elephants. It caught me up and I was finished before I knew it. I am really glad I got around to reading it.

“She looks at her watch – a real one, with arms. Those digital ones came and went, thank God. When will people learn that just because you can make something it doesn’t mean you should?” 

A Hero's Guide to Deadly Dragons (How to Train Your Dragon Bk #6) by Cressida Cowell

It's Hiccup's birthday, but that's not going to keep him from getting into trouble. To save his dragon, Toothless, from being banished, Hiccup must sneak into the Meathead Public Library and steal the Viking's most sacred book. But the Vikings see books as a dangerous influence, and keep them locked up and under heavy guard. To save his friend, Hiccup must brave the Hairy Scary Librarian and his dreadful army of Meathead Warriors and face off against the formidable Driller-Dragons. Will he make it out and live to see his next birthday?

(Description from Goodreads)

Thumbs Up

In Hiccup’s world books are seen as ‘a highly dangerous civilising influence’ and because of this they are kept in the Meathead Public Library – a castle guarded by hundreds of men, driller dragons and, worse of all, the Hairy Scary Librarian who will actually kill you if he catches you. And thanks to Toothless destroying ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ by Professor Yobbish (that Gobber the Belch stole from the library) Camacazi , Hiccup and Fishlegs set themselves a mission – to get a replacement from the library.

I love how Camacazi, Fishlegs and Hiccup are all becoming closer to each other even though Camacazi’s mother is the chief of another tribe she is game for anything and jumps right in with Hiccup and Fishlegs when they are in need of help.

Thumbs Down

With this book there isn’t a great deal of pages dedicated to the story. There is about 200 pages of story and then a good chunk at the back of the book is made up of ‘Dragon Profiles’ and a ‘Dragonese Dictionary’ – fantastic fun for younger readers! (Ok, I admit I tried some dragon lingo out on my mum, she just looked at me funny,”

“You dear reader, I am sure cannot imagine what it is like to live in a world in which books are banned.
For surely, such things will never happen in the Future?Thank Thor that you live in a time and a place where people have the right to live and think and write and read their books in peace and there are no needs or Heroes anymore…And spare a thought for those who have not been so lucky. “

Dear Dork (Dork Diaries Bk #5) by Rachel Renee Russell

Nikki Maxwell develops a sudden interest in student journalism that may or may not (okay, definitely does) have to do with the fact that mean girl Mackenzie has started writing a gossip column. And there just might be some juicy info involving Nikki's crush, Brandon, that Nikki doesn't want Mackenzie reporting to the world. So Nikki joins the school newspaper staff--and ends up as an advice columnist! It's fun at first, answering other kids' letters. But when Miss Know-It-All's inbox is suddenly overflowing with pleas for guidance, Nikki feels in need of some help herself. Fortunately she has BFFs Chloe and Zoey on her side--and at her keyboard!

(Image and Description from Goodreads)

Umm…to say that I bought this book a few days after it came out – because I loooove the series – it has taken me almost 4 months to finish reading it. Yeah…

Thumbs Up

The artwork is just as amazing as ever. The pictures work as brilliantly as they always have at portraying what is going on in Nikki’s head.

Thumbs Down

Nikki’s immature attitude to thing started to grate.

A prime example of this is her lying to her father about where he is to pick her up from a party. Why? Because she doesn’t want anyone to see her being picked up in his works van – because he is an exterminator it has a giant bug on the top. So she writes down the wrong house number. This would have been fine but the house number doesn’t even exist on the street she is on. But she lets her dad keep thinking that it is HIS fault that he got the address all screwed up.

I could have slapped her!

And then there is the whole drama that was going on through the book where she thinks that she is going to be thrown out of school. Blah, blah, blah. Drama that (by the way) she brought on herself.

I just couldn’t bring myself to care enough about what was happening to her.

Final Thoughts

I just didn’t like this book as much as I have the others.

I was really disappointed in it, which made me kind-a sad as this is a series I have grabbed since the first book. I was loving the series so I don’t know what magic was missing from this one but I just didn’t care a fig abut Nikki. I didn’t care if she was expelled (actually I think she would have deserved to face some kind of consequences), it just didn’t interest me.

I am really hoping that the next book will do the trick when it comes out in the summer. 

Tentative Tourist: A Mayne Attraction Short Story by Ann Mauren

Grayson Gregory is finally being taken seriously by his father, the founder and CEO of Gregory Geologic Resources. Anticipating his first opportunity to lead a project management team on a survey for Iceland's Ministry of Natural Resources, he hopes to prove to his father and the executive staff that he's ready to assume greater leadership responsibilities within the international company that will someday be his.When world renowned geologist and longtime family friend Dr. Samuel Mayne comes out of retirement to consult on the project, Grayson is ecstatic. He is certain that the collaboration and Midas touch genius of his mentor, Dr. Mayne, will guarantee the success of his debut in the driver's seat. But the presence of Dr. Mayne's travelling companion results in a frustrating change of assignments for Grayson, who becomes tasked with the oversight of a Tentative Tourist.

(Image and Description from Goodreads)

Another wonderful teaser from Ann Mauren!

So far we have had a whole novel from the point of view of Ellery the heroine of the tale, a short story from Ash, one of the corners of the love triangle, and now we get a short story from the other corner, Grayson. 

It was brilliant to be reminded all over again why I enjoyed In The Spotlight (Bk #1) so much. Ann Mauren has a way of grabbing me and pulling me right into the story and making me not want to come back out of the world she has made. 

This is the first look into Grayson's mind we have been given and it was great to get a feel for the guy that has quite a large presence in the first book while getting to see the heroine through his eyes for the first time. I can't wait to read a full novel from his point of view. 

This has well and truly got me ready for In the Smoke. I can't wait to dive back into Ellery's world!

Courtney Crumrin and the Night Things (Courtney Crumrin #1)

Courtney's parents have dragged her out to a high-to-do suburb to live with her creepy Great Uncle Aloysius in his spooky old house. She's not only the new kid in school, but she also discovers strange things lurking under her bed.

Courtney was a practical girl and it began to occur to her that perhaps she was missing something about the world. Something important.
After all. What was more likely? That the world was filled with complete doofuses?
Or that there might be something wrong with her?

This was a wonderfully dark and atmospheric introduction to the series.

Courtney, when you get down to it isn't really a nice person and yet I couldn't help but fall in love with her and her dark way of seeing things (she kind of reminded me of Wednesday from The Addams Family).

The supporting characters are certainly colourful (literally - the art is gorgeous) from the humans to the various supernatural beings that litter the book. 

This graphic novel would appeal to those who like the Series of Unfortunate Events books or even The Spiderwick Chronicles (especially the movie) as there is definitely that darkness running through it - I mean, a kid gets eaten, that is the level of dark.  

Wonderful art work and main character who gripped me and made me want to follow her through the story!

*I received this book in e-book form from NetGalley*

The Searcher by F.M Parker

I read this book years ago and when I stumbled across it again I couldn't resist giving it a re-read.

Sam and his sister Sarah are left alone after their parents are killed in an Comanche attack and things go from bad to worse when Sarah is kidnapped and taken to Mexico to be sold. Sam's one aim becomes to rescue his sister.

I suppose you could call this a coming of age story. Sam goes from being a sixteen year old boy to a sixteen year old man from the beginning of the book to the end during his journey to rescue his sister.

The writing is a bit cheesy in some sections and I found myself thinking more than once 'who even talked like that?' but I am glad that I got to give it another read.

Sealed with a Kiss (Yours Truly, Lucy B. Parker #2) by Robin Palmer

Lucy B. Parker has finally settled into her new life in New York City, living with her new frister (friend + sister), superstar Laurel Moses. She's got a new BFF in Beatrice, and she's spending her summer vacation off in L.A. visiting Laurel on the set of her new movie and meeting teen heartthrobs left and right. Life is good, until Lucy develops a crush-and unlike previous crushes, this one is not on a character in a book or a movie, but on a real living breathing boy, Beatrice's brother Blair. Unfortunately for Lucy, nothing ever seems to go as she plans. Because although Lucy dreamed that Blair would be her first kiss, it seems like someone else might beat him to it!
(Image and Description from Goodreads)

This was brilliant at showing how far Lucy and Laurel's relationship has came since the beginning of the previous book - although I wouldn't go as far as so say 'fristers' as there are still quite a few kinks to be ironed out. 

Lucy and her mum have moved to the big city to be with Laurel and her father which means that Lucy is getting settled into a new school and making new friends and also trying to get settled in a new city. 

One of the highlight of this book was the supporting character of the doorman at the building where Lucy now lives. He was always there to tell her where to go and to listen to her when everyone else was too busy - he was a right proper sweetheart and I really hope he make some more appearances in future books.

Her mother, although still less gormless that other mothers tend to be in YA is still pretty rubbish but she still manages to 'get' that something is wrong with her daughter when she is upset - even if this does come along a little late in the game) so the bonus points stay in their shaky places for the time being. 

It was fun to watch Lucy in Laurel's world of stars and fame, getting to dress up and being given make-overs. She didn't fit in perfectly and did make some mistakes and put her foot in it a few times but that just made her all the more adorable and real. 

And then there is the matter of that kiss...

This is shaping up to be a fun series :)

Girl vs Superstar (Yours Truly, Lucy B. Parker #1) by Robin Palmer

When Lucy B. Parker gets friend-dumped right before school starts, she figures things can't get much worse. But then her mom announces that she's dating Laurel Moses's dad. THE Laurel Moses ? the TV-movie-music star whose face is on the cover of every magazine. Suddenly, Lucy's life is turned sideways! Up until now, her main goal has been to just get through the day without totally embarrassing herself. And now she's going to be the less-pretty, less-talented stepsister of the most famous girl in the world!

OR

Sixth grade is hard enough for Lucy B. Parker, but it gets so much worse when her mom announces that she's going to marry Laurel Moses's dad. Yes, that Laurel Moses--the TV-movie-music star who makes Hannah Montana look like some random kid from the sticks. Suddenly, Lucy's life is turned upside down and sideways. All Lucy wants to do is get through the day without totally embarrassing herself too much, but that's hard to do when you're the less-pretty, less-talented not-quite sister of a mega superstar. 

(Image and Descriptions from Goodreads)

So, around September last year I decided to broaden my reading horizons and read more YA...girly stuff (I think there might have been a pod next to my bed when I made this crazy choice). Why? Well, because I never read this stuff when I was in the age bracket so I thought I would give it my best shot now. 

**Crickets and tumble weed**

So I was pleasantly surprised by this book.  I mean, sure, there was plenty of OTT-ness on Lucy's part but not to the crazy extent that I have read in some books and her mother was one of the less STUPID, IDIOTIC parents that I have read so that got the book some major bonus points in books. 

Although while we are on the subject of mother what the heck is it with al these parents keeping their dating secret from their children and then just dumping the information on them. I understand that there are things that a parent would like to keep to themselves but come on, just suddenly pulling a several months old relationship out of no-where and planting it in-front of your child is not fair!

One of the things that I really enjoyed was watching Lucy's feelings towards Laurel change. It was so realistic and kind of funny how I could tell she was really not wanting to like this girl but was finding it more difficult to hate her the more she go to know her.

This is a good read (and part of a series, which is always a bonus) and I think it would appeal highly to young girls up to around 13 years old.

                                                                                                         

Light in the Dark by Donna Scholefield

It began with an unfortunate meeting, a forced abduction and six seeds from a pomegranate. What followed was a forced marriage, the growth of an innocent maiden into a powerful goddess and a passion which would eclipse even death itself. This is the story of Hades and Persephone, whom the Fates and the gods played games with, but who ultimately won the greatest prize either could have hoped for; freedom and love.
(Image from Goodreads - Description from Amzazon)

This is just going to be a quick mention of this book. 

The myth of Hades and Persephone is my all time favourite Greek myth, a few come close but no cigar.

This is not my most favourite of all the adaptations and tale that I have read so far but it is pretty good. (I read this as a eBook (I have no idea if it is available as a physical book or not) and the formatting was pretty wonky - and that did jar be from the narrative sometimes. I would be halfway through a paragraph and suddenly I would get the line that is supposed to be the footnote to the page (Author name, book title etc) it was pretty annoying) 

This re-telling of the story is a more true account of how the myth runs...if that makes sense since it is a myth. 

In other words, if you are looking for a happy, fluffy tale of love and devotion you ain't going to get it with this book. Don't get me wrong, the love that they feel for each other comes across beautifully but there are plenty of obstacles, mistakes and heartbreak for both Hades and Persephone to overcome. 

Wicked Jealous by Robin Palmer

Simone never saw herself as the “cute girl”—she was always the chunky, band tee wearing, France-obsessed smart girl. But now that Simone’s a few pounds lighter and sporting a new retro style, things have gotten, well, weird. Her crush Jason seems to actually know she exists. And when Simone’s soon-to-be step-monster Hillary stops ignoring her, Simone knows something is up. When Simone’s brother offers to let her move in with him and his six room-mates on the beach for the summer, Simone jumps at the chance. But living with seven very different college boys isn't exactly helping her land her very own happily ever after.
(Image and Description form Goodreads)

This is the first Robin Palmer book that I have read...well, listened too ;) 

Wicked Jealous is a modern take on Snow White and unlike many Snow White re-telling's that I have read the characterisation of Snow White didn't bug me! Go figure. 

Simone (Snow White) begins the story as an Ugly Duckling, she is overweight, binges regularly on her favourite junk food and is allergic to apples. And then everything changes when she signs up for a night class...only to end up attending a Zumba class. 

I loved this book. Simone was so relatable and a sweetheart - although she puts up with a heck of alot more than I would and I wanted her to explode so much but she never did. e.g. She comes home to find that he dad's girlfriend has redecorated her room and packed away all of her things and she holds it together remarkably well. 

Simone's father is, of course, an idiot. Need I say more. 

But the characters who really brought the book alive were Simon's best-friend, her brother and her brothers room-mates. They all care for Simone for who she is and not what she looks like. And they all have their own little quirks which made me love them even more. 

There is also the group of ladies from the Zumba class who take an immediate shine to Simone - she is the youngest member of the class by at least 20 years. 

I really don't want to say too much about this book and give too much away. 

This is a fun read with enough twists and deviations from the original tale to keep me plenty interested - and you guys all know I am hard to please :)

If you want something light and YA to read where you can route for the heroine all the way I would recommend this!

Something to Blog About by Shana Norris (A Rant)

Libby Fawcett decides to start a secret blog so that she can have an outlet to vent her feelings and frustrations. When Seth Jacobs (her crush since eighth grade) witnesses her tragic (and comic) run-in with a Bunsen burner in chemistry class, or when she finds out that her mother is dating the father of her arch-nemesis, Angel Rodriguez, she’s able to keep a level head and make it through school each day with each blog posting. But when her entries get posted all over for the whole world to see, will Libby be able to walk the halls—or face Seth—ever again?
(Image and Description from Goodreads)


Are you guys ready for a rant and some spoilers attached to those rants? Because, I am not going to lie to you, this is going to be the rant-iest rant in the history of ranting. (Ok, maybe not, but it will be pretty close)

Before I begin though there is one thing that I would like to say about just 'where' I am coming from with this. 

In my mind as soon as you have a child, that new life, that blank slate on the surface of the earth that is half you becomes your number one priority. Everything you do or say will have some bearing on that little bundle of joy through out its life. So how come whenever a love interest enters the seen all of this goes out of the window. 

Another quick thing - I am not against single parents finding love. 

So, lets begins. 

Dating the father of the girl who has bullied your child for years at school. Ok, so this in itself is not a bad thing in my books. But then (wait for it) expecting you child to sit all happy through a dinner with their tormentor across the table from them.

WHAT. THE. HELL!?

And then when your kid tries to explain why they feel/are acting how they are you pull the 'there must be a reason they (the bully) act like that'. I am getting palpitations just typing this. 

SERIOUSLY. 

Your daughter has just old you that they had toilet paper purposefully stuck to them so they were traipsing it through the halls at school without knowing and that is all you say?

YOU SUCK AS A PARENT!

 My personal favourite - 
Your daughter gets jumped at school - hair pulled, scratched etc, and all you have to say is 'Grounded' because they fought back against their attacker. 

WHAT!

So you expect your child to just lay there and get the snot beaten out of them. 

I hated the mother in this books beyond belief. I mean, at what age do adults forget what it is like to be tormented and bullied on a daily basis and pull the 'I'm sure when you get to them...' line. 

Gah! I am so angry as I type this. 

It isn't even like I am the age of the heroine and I am thinking "Maaaaaan that, like, totally isn't fair,". I am 22 and I think that this mother is lousy! And, from what I can recall, at no point does she tell her kid that she understand how she is feeling, or anything. 

And don't get me started on the dating for 7 months before telling you kid thing. 

Once again. GAH!

And another thing. 

Your daughter is spoken down to RIGHT IN FRONT you when you go to the guys house for a family dinner and you do nothing. What the hell kind of parent are you?

Seriously, I would love to read a book where THIS mother get bullied at work or something and see how the fizz she copes with it. Hah, perfect opportunity for the daughter to say "But wait mum, there must be a reason they are doing what they are doing. And I am dating there son so you are going to be seeing them a lot more often. Get over it" That would be lovely. 

And the moment that knocks all others out of the park. 

The mother telling the daughter that what goes on between her (daughter) and the bully (boyfriends daughter) has nothing to do with the mum or the boyfriend. (I want to turn the screen blue so much right now)

I am going to end it there but there are loads of things in this book that got up my nose. 

So yes, for the majority of this book I was wanting to kill this mum and she pretty much ruined the whole book for me. 

Ok, rant over. 

Clarts and Calamities by Henry Brewis

This is the humorous diary of a year in the life of a hill farmer, with frequent disasters and rare triumphs.(Image from Goodreads  - Description from Waterstones.com)

This book was just what the doctored ordered at the time when I was reading it - it proved to be a lovely diversion during the family holiday from hell *shiver*

The diary cover a year of a sheep farmer and is told with a humour that comes across as being natural and not forced. 

It is filled with passages that I couldn't resist giggling out loud too - which of course lead to me needing to read the out loud to my mum - who I was sharing a room with, which then had us both smiling - which believe me, was sorely needed. 

The only damper to the book was the mentions of abuse against the animals form the farmer. I don't think it was all that often but it does stick out in my mind a little. 

Wonderland! 'Alice in Wonderland' and 'The Wonderland Alphabet'

Alice in Wonderland by Raven Gregory, Robert Gill and Jason Embury

**Recieved in e-book form from Netgalley.com**

The one thing known is that her time spent in a world full of insanity left her a broken adult. However, her courageous will to survive is what ultimately saved humanity. Now the story of Alice's visit into Wonderland is fully revealed and the truth of the terror will be told in full From Raven Gregory, Ralph Tedesco, and Joe Brusha, the minds behind Grimm Fairy Tales and Return To Wonderland, comes the series that Zenescope fans have been waiting for Follow Zenescope back down the rabbit hole and discover a world of madness like you've never seen before
(Image and Description from Goodreads)

Dark, disturbing, bloody and NOT FOR CHILDREN!

That is all. 


The Wonderland Alphabet by  Alethea Kontis, Janet K. Lee and Lewis Carroll
**Recieved in e-book form from Netgalley.com**

As I only got to view this as a black and white e-book copy I didn't get the full experience with colour images but I think as a physical, full colour book this would be a fun addition to a child's library - even if they aren't already familiar with Alice's story. 

(Although some of the pictures where a little freaky - the Cheshire cat for one had a bit of a 'I will eat you or haunt your dreams forever' kind of vibe.)
 


**I recieved both of the above books in e-book form from Netgalley.com**

Goblin's Bride by Anastasia Rabiyah

Elgar left his home in the Grimfer Mountains to start a new life away from goblinkind. In the village of Fairbrook he finds a steady market for his wares, a fine burrow in the woods nearby, and something he never counted on: a bride. After meeting her, he wakes the next day with a peculiar fever that worsens day by day. He suffers taunting dreams and can't stop thinking of her. She's human; he's a goblin, but his condition can't be denied. He's found his mate. A bond between them can't work, or can it?

(Description and Image from Goodreads)

Umm...I am really stuck for something to say about this book. Girl meets goblin, goblin gets girl out of some unwanted marriages. Girl and goblin get together. Drama happens. And they all lived happily ever after. 

Really guys, I am pretty stumped with this one. 

The story had potential but the characters ruined it for me. Especially our heroine. She is different - of course she is - and so her father finds it to be a miracle when he gets someone to agree to marry her - then why the heck does she end up with another suitor as soon as the first is taken care off! Within pages of this book starting fiancée number one has been bashed on the head with a rock and has forgotten who she (Isabella) is and then fiancée number two is thrown into a gorge - and I won't spoil number 3. 

Isabella is SO whiny it is unbelievable. But not just that! When he first meets Elgar and she asks for his help to get out of a marriage that will be taking place that day he lobs a rock at the poor guy - killing him for all we know - and she shows no worry for him at all, that this guy could be dead because of her wanting out of marrying him. All that she cares about is that she just got what she wanted. As soon as that happened anything could have happened to her and I wouldn't have really cared. 

All in all this is an OK (as in 2 out of 5) read - despite the main characters not gelling with me. I have a soft spot for goblins so that did help me get through it.

Masques (Sianim Bk #1) by Patricia Briggs

After an upbringing of proper behavior and oppressive expectations, Aralorn fled her noble birthright for a life of adventure as a mercenary spy. 
Her latest mission involves spying on the increasingly powerful sorcerer Geoffrey ae'Magi. 
But in a war against an enemy armed with the powers of illusion, how do you know who the true enemy is-or where he will strike next?
(Image and Description from Goodreads)

I listened to this in audiobook form and I was piece-of-paperless for pretty much all of it so I didn't manage to scribble down random thoughts as I listened as I normally get to do - bear with me guys as I hash my way though this:)

Observation #1 - This version is a re-write from the original that was published in the early 90s, now, I haven't read the original - I think it would be pretty interesting to compare them - but there is an introduction from Patricia Briggs before the novel begins. 

I for one would not have noticed that this was her first novel if it had not been pointed out to me. Maybe if I had more experience with her novels (e.g. Mercedes Thompson Series and Alpha and Omega) it would have been glaringly obvious to me but as it stood. Nope. But then again the argument could be made that if I had read the un-re-written version I wouldn't have got past the first chapter *shrug* who knows. 

Observation #2 - I liked it! I did. It reminded me a little of the Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C. Wrede. I mean a little deeper and darker without the lightness but there was definitely something there that clicked. 

Observation #3 - I don't know if this is because it is part of a series but it seemed to just be getting started and then BANG end of story. I felt a little disappointed by this. Although there was all this drama going on I just couldn't get that sense of urgency I feel I should have had from it. The suspense (if you can call it that) just kind of plateaued out. 

Hmm... ok I am rethinking the first-book comment, maybe there are some tell tale signs this was a first novel after all...

Soooo all in all yes, I enjoyed this book but it was definitely lacking in places. :)

Belle (Book #3 Fairy Tale Flirts!) by Lisa Scott

Belle’s father is sidelined by a stroke, and she’s determined to save his job as a master carpenter for the mysterious Prince Maxim. Despite her training, completing work on the Prince’s library is harder than she imagined, with the elusive prince watching her every move from the shadows. Belle’s intrigued by the intelligent, kind man who won’t let himself be seen. Is Belle the one to help him move beyond his painful past?
(Image and Description from Goodreads)

Needless to say this instalment of Fairy Tale Flirts! is bases on Beauty and the Beast (my all time favourite fairytale EVER!) 

For Belle we are joining or heroine Belle Foster at Grimm Towers as she completes her father's commission in Prince Maxim's (hello Beast) apartment. 

I loved reading about a Belle who worked with her hands and didn't just sit around reading or mindlessly exploring all day long. She is there to do a job and she is determined to get it done. 

Our Beast character does an acceptable amount of wallowing but when needed he puts his on issues aside and steps up - which gave him plenty of Brownie points in my books. 

And then we have the supporting characters who are predominantly made up of the servants in Maxim's apartment. I loved how happy they were just to have Belle there with them. And having the line 'Please, be out guest' show up gave me a bit of a kick - I won't deny it. 

This is another short story so it is a quick read but full of cuteness. 

I enjoyed this story so much more than Snow (Book #4 in the series) , but this could be because I am biased :)