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!

Sunday Round-Up #2

That's the end of another week. Can you believe it?

ON THE BLOG. 

Monday - Review - Goblin's Bride by Anastasia Rabiyah

Tuesday - Review - Wonderland! 'Alice in Wonderland' and 'The Wonderland Alphabet'

Wednesday - Review - Clarts and Calamities by Henry Brewis

Thursday - Review (well...mainly a rant - complete with lots of capital letters) - Something to Blog About by Shana Norris (A Rant)

Friday - Feature and Follow Friday #11

Saturday - Stacking the Shelves #6

 IN LIFE.

I am still hooked on The Avengers Movie. 

Oh my goodness guys! Les Miserables was AMAZING! I cannot remember the last time a film has affected me so much. It was beautiful and I was crying almost the whole way through it. Gorgeous film and stunning acting. 

WITH MYRA

No update in the life of Myra this week. 
-Sorry

~~~If you guys would like to check out my National Novel Writing Month novel you can find it here ---> Sink or Swim (NaNoWriMo 2012) my pen-name is SleepyScribbler there.~~~

Stacking the Shelves #6

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme that you can find over at Tynga's Reviews :)

I was weak! I admit it, I have no self control. But in my defence, how was I supposed to walk by the books that are the next two in a series I am reading when I had finished the one I had.

How? You answer me that.

Feature and Follow Friday #11

Feature and Follow Friday is a weekly Blog Hop that can be found over at Parajunkee’s View and Alison Can Read

Did this question stump any one else or was it just me?

After much thought and head scratching I have reached a decision.

Alvin the Treacherous

Alvin the Treacherous is a recurring villian in the 'How to Train Your Dragon' series by Cressida Cowell. I think there is something always a little bit difficult about coming up with baddies for kid books - you don't want them to be too evil, but then at the same time you don't want then to be so washed down that they are laughable. 

Alvin the Treacherous though is WICKED. He has no problems with trying to kill Hiccup and his friends and he would be more than thrilled if he succeeded. 

He is always different every time he appears in a book because of the previous 'Kill Hiccup' plan failing and him usually getting stuck in his own trap - it is going to be interesting to see what body  part he is missing after the last failure. :)

(As soon as I read this weeks question I starting thinking in general terms like (for example) in romance novels there are always some really evil people - because, hey, the hero and heroine don't deserve their HEA if they don't survive some nastiness. But then as soon as I tried to narrow it down to one my brain drew a blank)

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.

Sunday Round-Up #1

Hi guys.

I am going to try and get into the habit of doing a weekly round-up of the blog and bits and bobs! :) Here goes.

On the Blog. 

Monday - Review - Snow (Book #4 in Fairy Tale Flirts Series) by Lisa Scott

Tuesday - Review - How to Twist a Dragon's Tale (How to Train Your Dragon Bk #5) by Cressida Cowell

Wednesday - Review - Belle (Book #3 in Fairy Tale Flirts Series) by Lisa Scott

Thursday - Review - Masques (Sianim Bk #1) by Patricia Briggs

Friday - Feature and Follow Friday #10

Saturday -

 In Life.

I have become ADDICTED to the Avengers movie - which I have only just go to see (no I have not been living under a rock). It is AMAAAAAAAZING! 

That is all.

With Myra.

Update on my NaNoWriMo Story Sink or Swim. 

The first 5 chapters of Sink or Swim can be found on WattPad. 

In Chapter 1 Myra has been hospitalised after a freak shark attack. 

Chapters 2-5 - we get to experience the day that will change her life. 

If you guys would like to check it out you can find it here ---> Sink or Swim (NaNoWriMo 2012) my pen-name is SleepyScribbler there. 

Feature and Follow Friday #10

Feature and Follow Friday is a weekly Blog Hop that can be found over at Parajunkee’s View and Alison Can Read

Q: IF YOU COULD CHOOSE ONE SUPERNATURAL BEING/CREATURE TO REALLY EXISTS WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY? EX. FAE

Oooo evil, evil, evil question! ;)

.

.

.

Well, mermaids are always an interesting one. I remember when I was little I had a dream I was a mermaid...it was a cool dream. Of course I also dreamt that I fly around my bedroom Peter Pan style *crickets*

Moving on. 

So yeah, I'll go with mermaids because you don't know what they will be like. Would they be fluffy Disney mermaids who talk to seagulls and get babysat by crabs or are they the evil, siren type mermaid who will lure you to your watery grave.

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 :)  

How to Twist a Dragon's Tale (How to Train Your Dragon Bk #5) by Cressida Cowell

Someone has stolen the Fire-Stone. Now the volcano on Volcano Island has become active and the tremors are hatching the eggs of the Exterminator dragons Can Hiccup return the Fire-Stone to the Volcano, stop the Volcano from erupting, and save the Tribes from being wiped out by the terrible sword-claws of the Exterminators?
(Image and Description from Goodreads)

Want to know something funny about this series. I started out LOVING it. No, really, it was nearly overtaking the Dork Diaries series in my estimations...but (yip, you all saw that one coming didn't you) the last 2 books have been a bit of a drag. I think this one was a smidgen more enjoyable than I found book 4 (How to Cheat a Dragon's Curse) but I still didn't get dragged into the story as easily as I did with the previous 3 in the series. 

In this book we have Toothless and Hiccup once again coming to the rescue, but this time there is more of a back story and we get a little bit of history about his mum and dad. We meet a Viking Hero famous for being...well...a Viking Hero and Alvin the Treacherous everyone's favourite recurring villain returns with another dastardly pot to try and get Hiccup. 

There was definitely suspense in this book as Hiccup tries to beat the volcano. But he doesn't only have the coming explosion to worry about, he also has to face the danger of the hatching Exterminators (woohoo another flavour of dragon) swarming the sides of the volcano. 

Dun dun duuuuuuuun. 

All in all it isn't the best of the series that I have read but it better than the last. I really hope things pick up with the next one. 

Snow (Book #4 Fairy Tale Flirts!) by Lisa Scott

Shawna White wants nothing more than to land a role in a musical, but she’s running out of cash while she chases her dream. Her stepmother, Veronica Midas, suggests she take a nanny job for the rich man she’s trying to land, and Shawna finds herself in charge of seven kids. But Veronica didn't realize Shawna would be living there, enchanting Jeremy and his children. Now Veronica will do whatever it takes to win her man.
(Image and Description from Goodreads)

Snow - Shawna White - is a 23 year old unemployed actress who is loving with her step-mother. The story kicks off with Veronica (S.M) getting Shawna a nanny-ing position looking after the (wait for it) SEVEN  children of out Prince Charming character - Jeremy James - who lives at Grimm Towers a really high end apartment block. 

Veronica - who was hoping to get her claws into James - quickly realizes that her plan of having more time with James now that the children have a carer wasn't going to work when it is revealed that Shawna will be a live in nanny So not only does she have to re-think her plan but she is also going to be short on Shawna's rent. And so it begin...

This was a fun and quick read. It is a short story so there isn't an awful lot of time to get to know the characters. Knowing from the get go what the story as based on and who the characters were supposed to be was I think a little bit of a disadvantage as I already knew who I was supposed to like and not like. There was a moment though when I really felt sorry for Veronica when she realizes that she has basically turned into her mother - which is something that she had fought not to do. 

I really hope we see a story dedicated to Veronica in the future. 

Fun and short read!

This is the 4th book in the Fairy Tale Flirts! Short Story Series. 

Feature and Follow Friday #9

Feature and Follow Friday is a weekly Blog Hop that can be found over at Parajunkee’s View and Alison Can Read

Q: WHAT NEW YEARS BLOGGING OR WRITING RESOLUTION HAVE YOU PLACED ON YOURSELF?

Ummm..to actually do some. Lol. 

No seriously, this years resolutions is to actually try and keep the blog constant and to finish my NaNoWriMo story.  

Where the blog is concerned I am wanting to get things a little more structured rather than just throwing anything and everything out there is whatever order it comes out my head in. And this will actually requires some *shiver* planning on my part. Which I can totally do...right? Right? RIGHT!!! *melts into the floor*

Anyhoo, moving swiftly on.

After the blog the only other 'project' that I am hoping to get stuck into is my NaNoWriMo story (Which I epically failed this year but we won't go there). I have over 80,000 words worth of story that needs to be fine tuned so I am hoping to get that started this year. 

<---------Say hello to my main character Myra. :)

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Sherman Alexie tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Determined to take his future into his own hands, Junior leaves his troubled school on the rez to attend an all-white farm town high school where the only other Indian is the school mascot. Heartbreaking, funny, and beautifully written, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, which is based on the author's own experiences, coupled with poignant drawings that reflect the character's art, chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one Native American boy as he attempts to break away from the life he thought he was destined to live.

(Description from Goodreads)

I wish I could say loads of educated stuff about this book but unfortunately I can't - oh, I have loads of stuff floating around in my mind, it's just the articulation thing that I have an issue with.

I have never been on a reservation and other than how they are portrayed on TV (John Wayne all the way!) I have no idea what they were like or are like today. So I do not know if American readers have a bit more of an insight when it comes to that side of the story? (answers on a postcard...or in the comments would be just fine)

As it stands though I really enjoyed this books. I first heard about it over a YouTube channel Beauty Isn't Skin Deep (really good channel) and finally after 2 years I got around to reading it and I am glad to report that it wasn't a let down.

Albert (AKA Junior) was a wonderful down to earth narrator without sounding like an adult in child's clothing. He kept me glued to the story and made me want to find out more. *puts on big girl hat for a second* This was such a compelling read! *takes of big girl hat - phew that was stressful ;)*

The author didn't shy away from the use of bad language but at the same time it wasn't excessive. Being inside a fourteen year old boys head was definitely interesting - the fact that I couldn't get enough of this book when I usual avoid male narrators like the plague really shows what a pleasant surprise this book was. 

A heartbreaking (at times) and joyful read, full of a mood ring of emotions.

I would highly recommend this book.

Welcome to 2013

Welcome to the year 2013 my fellow Bookworms! I hope you all had a safe New Years. 

Before I get started I would just like to say a big thank you for all of the 'Get Well' messages and comments. They really meant a lot guys. :)

So we have all survived the Mayan Apocalypse - go figure ;)

Anyhoo, last year was an uber-meg-failure for me where the blog (and lots of other things) was concerned thanks to my rollercoaster health issues. I am going to try my best to avoid having the blog grind to a halt this year by doing a little better with the planning/scheduling and not taking on too much. So no outside reading challenges for me - at least at the beginning of the year - I do though have some pretty specials planned for over the next year. But I am not going to over stress about anything. If the plans happen then they happen and if not then they don't. No biggy. That is the plan for the year anyway.

But lets not jump the gun. It is only January after all and to kick everything off I am going to be talking about the books that I read last year but didn't get to talk about due to the evil blogging breaks of 2012.

Just bear with me while I get back into the swing of things and I will be back on track in no time at all.

Tata for now.

x