Covers So Lovely We'd Lick them #7

Morning All! Thursday shenanigans abound!

Covers So Lovely We'd Lick Them!

The new feature co-created and co-hosted by LadyViolet and Jess hearts books where we show off a book cover which we find so damn scrumptious that we'd actually be willing to lick it!

Every week we each pick a different cover so be sure to check both blogs!

I thought I'd be a bit sneaky this week and choose a book that's based on the same fairy tale as what Jess picked. 

Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George is also based off the story of the 12 Dancing Princesses and I really enjoyed it when I read it last year. It's got a gorgeous cover and I'm sure everyone knows by now about my PDS (Pretty Dress Syndrome) - what I wouldn't give to dance the night away in ^^ that gown *wistful sigh*

Jessica Day George has written another book that features one of the twelve sisters from PofMB called Princess of Glass which as you might guess from the title is based off the tale of Cinderella. That also has a fabulously delectable cover. Just lookit that! *drools*

This is currently out in hardback but the paperback is coming out on June 21st 2011 which is what I'm anxiously waiting for *fidgets*.

If you think these covers are scrum-diddly-umptuous then skip on over to Jess's Blog and feast your eyes on the cover she's licking this week!

LadyV

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Book Review - Going Too Far

Reviews! Reviews! Never-ending stream of reviews! I really think I need to start participating in more memes just to get some variety cos it feels like all I'm posting is reviews nowadays! Let me know what you think - more variety? or are we good for the time being?

Title: Going Too Far
Author: Jennifer Echols
Date: 27/1/2011 PM
Source: Bought
Description: HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO? All Meg has ever wanted is to get away. Away from high school. Away from her backwater town. Away from her parents who seem determined to keep her imprisoned in their dead-end lives. But one crazy evening involving a dare and forbidden railroad tracks, she goes way too far...and almost doesn't make it back. John made a choice to stay. To enforce the rules. To serve and protect. He has nothing but contempt for what he sees as childish rebellion, and he wants to teach Meg a lesson she won't soon forget. But Meg pushes him to the limit by questioning everything he learned at the police academy. And when he pushes back, demanding to know why she won't be tied down, they will drive each other to the edge -- and over.... (Description taken from Goodreads)

My Review

After reading Jennifer Echols' Forget You in April last year I was really looking forward to getting my hands on this book. I love the way that her characters and their relationships are never straightforward - there is always some little twist that we don't foresee at the beginning and the development of the romance I find to be more realistic than some other YA books. There is animosity at first and over the course of the book the chemistry between Meg and John gets vair interesting.

John After is not your average high school graduate, instead of leaving this small town to go to college he decides to stay and join the Police force and catch the teenagers he used to go to school with doing to dumb-ass stuff that drunk kids do on Saturday nights. For some reason he's out at the railway bridge on patrol the night that Meg and her not-really friends decide to take a drunken walk across the bridge and bring themselves within 5 minutes of being more tragic statistics. For a good chunk of the book you don't really understand John's obsession with the Bridge but by the time we *do* find out both him and Meg have pushed each other a bit too far - with rather unpleasant results.

Despite Meg's terrible attitude towards authority figures I was really intrigued by her strange phobia of being restrained. For ages I was puzzling over the defiant way she lived her life and what the heck might have created this blue-haired hellcat but of course Jennifer Echols pulls another amazing twist out the bag and the truth comes out in the most spectacular fashion. I won't quote the revealing line but I can promise you that it's the most memorable in the entire book.

Out of the contemporary YA books I've read I gotta say that Jennifer Echols' books are some of my favourites, the mixture of brilliantly complex characters, realistic romance and unpredictable plots make for intensely enjoyable reads. I cannot wait for her next book especially if there's gonna be another guy like Johnafter or Doug from Forget You.

My Rating: 4.5 out 5 Stars

If you like the sound of Going Too Far then check out my review of Forget You also by Jennifer Echols

LadyV

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It's Monday What are you Reading (29)

Morning all this post is being written at the ungodly hour that preceeds 4am so do forgive any incoherencies it's been a while since I stayed up this late but my excuse is at least reasonable to bookish people. I just finished a seriously freaking awesome book that was a brilliant mix of murder, mystery, a creepy house chock-full of ghosts and some marvellous main characters. It was the perfect book for my mood although I do wonder if I'm gonna sleep at all tonight :S Ah well I may as well finish this post while I'm still conscious.

It's Monday What are you Reading? Is a weekly bookish meme where we get together to share what books we've read in the past week, what books we're currently reading and what new books we're planning on reading in the coming week along with any reviews or interesting posts. It's hosted by Sheila @Book Journey

Books I read Last Week

Well I thought I hadn't read that much but I still racked up 5 books despite some of the crazyness.

Shatterglass by Tamora Pierce (Review coming soon)

The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney (Review Coming Soon)

Fallen Grace by Mary Hooper (Interesting Historical fiction but rather bland and predictable)

The Pain Merchants by Janice Hardy (Review Coming Soon)

Ghost of a Chance by Rhiannon Lassiter (Review coming Soon - literally finished it half an hour ago!)

Books I reviewed Last Week

Soulless by Gail Carriger

Other Words for Love by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal

 Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols 

I also have another review to write for the last of my January reads which I will try to get up on Tuesday.

Books I Plan to Read this week

Since the real world is currently a bit zany I'm in the mood for any book that is wholly unlike reality as I know it so methinks that carrying on with the Mistborn trilogy by Brandon Sanderson is a capital idea.

Also considering how I just finished one book by Rhiannon Lassiter and loved it I might try reading the other ER book I have by her although this is the third in a trilogy so things might be a bit confusing. But we'll see how things go.

As you can see my plans are kinda in flux right now and I don't know what else I have in store for the blog this week although I do desperately need to get caught up on reviews but I may finish up the discussion-esque post I've been sitting on for over a week now.

But you guys have a great Monday now while I pass the heck out X_X

LadyV

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In My Mailbox #38- vloggity vlog!

Hey hey you lovely, lovely peoples you! This here post be the rather small but mightily tipsy edition of In my mailbox. I do apologise for my vloggy demeanor but I thought I'd treat y'all and do a vlog this week since I may not have anything to show for the rest of the month. So on with the show!

In My Mailbox is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Kristi @The Story Siren and inspired by Alea @Pop Culture Junkie



Book Acquired this Week
Just the one - Ghost of a Chance by Rhiannon Lassiter which I won from the LibraryThing Early Reviewers scheme. I've already read a little bit and it seems like it'll be a hauntingly intriguing read :)

Also as a quick reminder my Blogaversary contest is running until the **16th of February** so if you fancy a chance at winning a copy of Last Sacrifice or Crescendo then please go Enter Here it is INTERNATIONAL!!


So there we go short but sweet :D
Do let me know what you got in your Mailboxes this week my dears
LadyV

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Book Review - Other Words For Love

I definitely need to improve at writing reviews as soon as I finish reading the book so I don't have this mad scramble a week later to remember my thoughts on it.
** Warning Review contains slightly prickly rant about political correctness & safe sex and the opinions are my own **

Title: Other Words for Love
Author: Lorraine Zago Rosenthal
Date: 27/1/2011 AM
Source: Bought
Description: When an unexpected inheritance enables Ari to transfer to an elite Manhattan prep school, she makes a wealthy new friend, Leigh. Leigh introduces Ari to the glamorous side of New York--and to her gorgeous cousin, Blake. Ari doesn't think she stands a chance, but amazingly, Blake asks her out. As their romance heats up, they find themselves involved in an intense, consuming relationship. Ari's family worries that she is losing touch with the important things in life, like family, hard work, and planning for the future. 
When misfortune befalls Blake's family, he pulls away, and Ari's world drains of color. As she struggles to get over the breakup, Ari must finally ask herself: were their feelings true love . . . or something else? (Description taken from Goodreads)

My Review

I read this last week on the urgent recommendation of my lovely friend Jess and it was unlike any YA contemporary book I've read previously not least because technically it's Near Historical fiction for me (what with being a 90's child and all). It really gives you a good look into the social mindset of the 1980's without emphasising some of the periods crazy aspects (i.e. the hairstyles and clothes).


When comparing the attitudes in Other Words with today's standards I made two very interesting observations. The first being that in the 1980's people used derogatory terms that would get your ass hit with a major lawsuit today, with almost ignorant abandon. My being brought up in a society almost obsessed with political correctness made me wince when Ari's sister used the word "fags". I know to some people that's not all that bad but to me it's just something that you really shouldn't say anymore.


My other observation was how bizarrely liberal everyone seemed to be about sex and contraception in the book (although I don't know if it was an 80's thing in general). Of course they had a lot of very good reasons to talk about it with all the fear around the appearance of AIDs and other STIs. But I just don't think people are as casual about contraception nowadays - "You gonna do him? Save your parents the cost of a wedding and get on the Pill" (not actual sentence from the book but you get the idea). Everything is so damn hush-hush these days and if teens don't know how to protect themselves when they get down & dirty well then... they end up on the next season of Teen Mom or Underage & Pregnant.


Gah Preachy Rant over.


Now back to the book - Ari is the one character I consistently liked throughout the book. Although she's kinda naive she is so caring and generous with her time that you have to side with her when all her family starts to give her shit. I'll admit that I absolutely hated her sister for the majority of the book and Ari's best friend Summer slipped into my bad books pretty quickly and I don't think she ever fully redeemed herself.


As love stories go this was a very bittersweet one. There wasn't a clear-cut happy ending, just a leaning in the direction of one. Ari grows so much and you really want her to be happy in her life, thank god that other people around finally realised that as well and stopped treating her like a complete doormat *mutters sulphurously* - Yea at times I really wanted to throttle her sister and on occasions her mother.


It was a very human story, flawed and brutally honest at times. You'd be tempted to ask Ari to tone down the over-sharing occasionally when she talks about her relationship with Blake but her voice is so quietly compelling that you carry on reading right through regardless.


A deceptively mild-looking yet hard-hitting debut novel gives you an intimate slant on the 80's perspective of love and family in simplistically beautiful writing.


My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars


I know that a lot of this review was given over to my views on some very non-book related issues so if people don't want to see this kind of thing in a book review then please let me know and in future I will vent my opinions in a separate discussion post but I'll leave this review as it is like an experiment and if people want to contribute their own views on the issues I mentioned in the 2nd and 3rd paragraphs then leave me a comment.


Your feedback is much appreciated
LadyV

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Covers So Lovely We'd Lick them #6

Ah ha! Surprise! I see I've caught you unawares with a sudden appearance of another scrumptious Cover! I know it's been a couple of weeks but since my lovely co-host is able to post this week it means I get to pick out a cover that I find to be such a treat for the eyes that I have to shout about it. Shall we begin?

Covers So Lovely We'd Lick Them!

The new feature co-created and co-hosted by LadyViolet and Jess hearts books where we show off a book cover which we find so damn scrumptious that we'd actually be willing to lick it!

Every week we each pick a different cover so be sure to check both blogs!

Die for Me by Amy Plum

This is the outrageously gorgeous UK cover for this supernatural debut novel. The US cover for this is pretty enough but *this* is sublime! The dress is fabulous just from the back so I'd kill to know what it looked like from the front. I love all the curly patterns around the title and the view across Paris makes me really eager to read it (cos books set in Paris are sooo in right now dahling).

It's gonna be released on May 5th 2011 and heck knows I'll be waiting for it anxiously!

So that's What I'm Licking this Week, go see what Jess is Licking over on her blog!

LadyV

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Book Review - Soulless

Ah heck I'm terribly behind again on reviews *sigh* better get cracking then...

Title: Soulless 
Author: Gail Carriger
Date: 25/1/2011 AM
Source: Bought
Description: Alexia Tarabotti is labouring under a great many social tribulations. First, she has no soul. Second, she's a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette. Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire - and then the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate. With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia responsible. Can she figure out what is actually happening to London's high society? Or will her soulless ability to negate supernatural powers prove useful or just plain embarrassing? Finally, who is the real enemy, and do they have treacle tart? SOULLESS is a comedy of manners set in Victorian London: full of werewolves, vampires, dirigibles, and tea-drinking. (Description taken from Amazon)


My Review
I'd been really stoked to read this series ever since I heard about it since it just sounded so damn funky with it's mixture of steampunk tech and paranormal creatures. Admittedly it was a bit slow-going at the beginning but I could attribute that to my being a little addled with wine at the time. 


Alexia Tarabotti is the delightfully eccentric spinster who happens to have no soul and no suitors to make life more tolerable. When she gets attacked by a vampire at a dreary party (no food to be seen - how scandalous!) she ends up in the middle of an investigation into strange disappearances and even stranger appearances of new vampires who simply have no notion of the correct behaviour towards preternaturals like Alexia.


I absolutely adored the writing style of this - with all the polite turns-of-phrase and etiquette rules Alexia had a fabulously humourous voice and was excellent at wielding the complimentary insults. Her dry wit and self-deprecation made her so likeable that I wanted to grab my parasol and go bonnet-bashing with her in the park.


As romantic interests go Lord Maccon is certainly a grower. At first he seems terribly brutish and unseemly but over the course of the book you find yourself softening your attitude to this burly Scottish werewolf (yes I *do* have a bias towards Scots I can't help but love their accents!) and you are charmed by him despite his slight outbursts of temper from time to time.


Overall this book was an vibrant adventuresome romp and I especially loved it's shift onto the saucy side towards the end. Such a fantastic world and some really cracking characters that I can't wait to read more about in the next few books!


My Rating: 4 Stars out of 5


Huzzah one review down only 5 more to go! I'll probably post another one tomorrow and I might try to do a non-review post later today cos I'm sure you're all getting absolutely sick to death of reviews but I can't help it if I read so darn much :P


LadyV

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