Saturday 30 July 2016

Worldwide - Jacqueline E Smith

Flashback to March and I downloaded a lot of books onto my kindle to read on my flight to America, amongst them were the first 2 books in Jacqueline E Smith's Boy Band series. Well I finished both of those books in the departure lounge before I'd even stepped foot onto the plane because I just couldn't put them down and when I came back all I could talk about to people were these incredible books I'd read rather than my holiday. So it's safe to say I was very excited by the release of the next book in the series, Worldwide.

Melissa's relationship with Sam has finally been revealed. Except not just to family and friends, to every single person in the world as Sam just happens to be a member of the worlds most popular band, The Kind Of September. The backlash she gets from dating Sam is exactly what she expected with every move herself and Sam make being documented to the world, top that off with the fact the band are falling to pieces around them, thanks to secrets everyone was hiding. Life on the road with a world famous boy band may not be as rosy as you imagine it to be!

Worldwide focusses on life in the band and more than previous books, which means you get to really get introduced to the other members of the band. They're focussed on a lot in previous books but I feel that Worldwide is the book where the attention is drifted somewhat off Sam and Melissa's relationship and more onto the band as a whole. The Kind Of September are full of varying personalities but they all work so well in the book. Personally I enjoyed reading about each member and discovering more about them as individuals as well as the dynamics between the band members.

Sam and Melissa's relationship in Worldwide is as adorable ever. Sam is pretty much the ultimate book boyfriend who you wished was real. The author is so clearly loves boybands as much as I do as she has perfectly captured every wonderful trait that you picture in your head that your favourite band member has. This certainly isn't a bad thing, as it has made Sam a delight to read about. Melissa is such a lovable character too. Even though her relationship is now out in the open she still remains a strong character and although she makes mistakes she truly does have everyone's bests interests at heart. Plus I may be a tad biased but she has a great name so that just makes her even better to read about!

I love the way in which the author writes. The story just flows so effortlessly. The characters and world they're apart of are all so realistic that you genuinely feel like you're living the life that's in the book whilst your reading. At times I genuinely had to remind myself that I wouldn't actually be going on tour with The Kind Of September - getting this sucked into a book isn't something that doesn't happen to me very often when reading books so its safe to say this book is incredible. My only complaint about the book is the ending, I can't believe the cliffhanger it leaves you on and that I now have to wait patiently for the next book to be released. However, on the flip side the ending means that hopefully another Boyband novel is going to be on it's way which makes me very happy.

For anyone whose ever loved a boyband you will absolutely adore these series of books and I cannot urge you enough to read the entire series. I feel like you shouldn't read any of the books in the series as standalones a so please start at the beginning and read your way through. I read a lot of books and books that you just wish would never end/want to keep reading over and over again are few and far between, this series of books definitely falls in that category. Please stop what you're doing right now and buy these books! Now as for me, I'm off to go start reading the Boyband books from the beginning once again as I just can't get enough of reading about Sam and Melissa.

Click here to buy Worldwide - Jacqueline E Smith from Amazon

Synopsis - 

Melissa Parker’s secret is out.

Now that the entire world knows she’s dating Sam Morneau, Mel suddenly finds herself and her relationship under the intense scrutiny of celebrity gossip bloggers, curious fans, and appropriately concerned family members.

But then, that’s nothing compared to the other secrets and scandals that plague The Kind of September. In the midst of their long-anticipated world tour, a toxic combination of infidelity and betrayal has left the band and its fan base angry, confused, and ultimately broken.

No one ever said that life with the world’s most popular boy band was easy, but in spite of everything she's seen, Mel is still willing to believe that it’s worth it.

Wednesday 27 July 2016

Songs About A Girl - Competition

A few weeks ago I read an advance copy of Songs About A Girl by Chris Russell. The book follows Charlie as she is invited to be the photographer for boyband Fire & Lights. If you love reading novels about boy bands you will love Songs About A Girl. Click here to read my review. 

To celebrate the release of Songs About A Girl which is out tomorrow, I am running an amazing giveaway right here on this blog! I am offering the chance for one lucky person (UK residents only I'm afraid) to win a signed copy of Songs About A Girl and a selection of the Miss Sporty makeup pictured above. What more could you want? A massive thank you to Hachette Children's Group and Miss Sporty, who are are very kindly providing the signed copy of Songs About A Girl and the selection of makeup. 

Want to know how to enter? Well it's simple! All you have to do is answer the follow simple question 

What is the name of the band in Songs About A Girl?

If you know the answer simply email your answer to -

thoughtsbeforebreakfast@gmail.com

One of the winning answers emailed in will be selected entirely at random to win the signed copy of the book and selection of makeup. 

The closing date for the competition is in a weeks time, 4th August. So hurry and get your entries in!

Remember if you don't win Songs About A Girl by Chris Russell is out now and I would highly recommend buying it as your next must read book.

Saturday 16 July 2016

On The Other Side - Carrie Hope Fletcher

If you read my review of Carrie Hope Fletcher's first book, All I Know Now, you'll know that I wasn't overly keen so my expectations weren't high for her first fiction novel, On The Other Side. Really I just don't think I was the target audience for All I Know Now, regardless I think Fletcher is an extremely talented individual and the synopsis for her new book sounded brilliant so I had to give it a read. Well, I've just finished On The Other Side and I am very impressed.  

On The Other Side tells the story of Evie Snow, who at the age of 82 has just died. Evie is stuck in limbo, she can't enter heaven as her soul is too heavy. The only way she can pass through is to go back to the living world and get rid of the things that are making her soul heavy. It is soon discovered that Evie has been keeping three big secrets to herself her entire life and it is these secrets that are weighing down her soul.

I loved the story and I just wished that I had thought of this idea myself! I find a lot of books that flick from past and present tend to involve a lot of page turning backwards to remind myself of what's happened but On The Other Side effortlessly flows. The book has a slight magical element too which the author somehow managed to write and weave into the story with it remaining believable in the real world. My particular favourite example of this is how the wall transports Evie back into the living world.  

It did take me a couple of chapters to get completely hooked to the story but once I did I just couldn't put the book down. From around 70% of the book onwards it truly was a book you couldn't put down as things started to weave together. On The Other Side is sickeningly romantic at times (which I love!) and provided some moments which genuinely made me cry - pretty much everything I want from a book! I did have a few issues with the plot but nothing I couldn't get over and it didn't stop my enjoyment of the book at all.

Aside from the fact the names of all the characters are wonderful, the characters are a delight to read about. I personally loved Evie Snow. Her vibrant personality just streams out of the pages and you can't help but love her. Having watched many of Fletcher's YouTube videos, I can certainly see connections between herself and Evie, I'm not sure whether this is intentional but it'll certainly make her loyal following happy to see the parallels. Vincent Winters is an interesting character. My only real complaint is that the book could have perhaps followed Vincent's story more as I felt certain parts of his story were rushed but at the end of the day this book is about Evie so his involvement in the story is probably just right. Jim the other leading male character in the book was also wonderful to read about, he's arguably the most thoughtful, caring and selfless man I've ever read about in a novel. A character in On The Other Side is gay. I won't reveal who to avoid spoilers but credit to the author (who has a younger fanbase) for including a gay character. The addition of them didn't feel forced and the character worked perfectly with the story.     

A special mention has to be given to the actual book cover, whoever designed it certain deserves a pay rise. Not only is it a stunning cover, every single part of it is entwined with important elements of the story. Not one thing that appears on the cover doesn't relate to the book and I absolutely love that. Also a special nod goes out to Fletcher's fans on the inside which I felt was also a lovely touch. 

I'd give this book at solid 4 out of 5 because I did enjoy the story and reading about the character, however for me its not a book I could read over and over again which is why I wouldn't give it 5 stars. I'm very excited to see what Carrie Hope Fletcher has up her sleeve for her next novel because On The Other Side was an impressive debut novel, I can only imagine that she'll only keep improving in future novels.

As an aside Carrie Hope Fletcher is doing a Waterstones book tour for this novel so if you're wanting to go meet her and get your book signed then visit the Waterstones website for more details by clicking here

Synopsis -

A love story like no other, this is the debut novel from Carrie Hope Fletcher, author of the Sunday Times No. 1 bestseller All I Know Now.

Evie Snow is eighty-two when she quietly passes away in her sleep, surrounded by her children and grandchildren. It's the way most people wish to leave the world but when Evie reaches the door of her own private heaven, she finds that she's become her twenty-seven-year-old self and the door won't open.

Evie's soul must be light enough to pass through so she needs to get rid of whatever is making her soul heavy. For Evie, this means unburdening herself of the three secrets that have weighed her down for over fifty years, so she must find a way to reveal them before it's too late. As Evie begins the journey of a lifetime, she learns more about life and love than she ever thought possible, and somehow , some way, she may also find her way back to her long lost love . . .

On the Other Side will transport you to a world that is impossible to forget. Powerful, magical and utterly romantic, this is a love story like no other from everyone's favourite 'big sister', Carrie Hope Fletcher.

Four Weddings And A Fiasco - Catherine Ferguson

Four Weddings And A Fiasco tells the story of Katy who is a wedding photographer. She's had a long grudge against her sister, she has terrible luck in her love life and mountains of debt are lining up at her door. All she wants to do is get her life on track and her business booming and to do that it means no distractions!

I liked Katy. She's a much stronger person than I would ever be. Considering how much things she has going on in her life she remains a very strong person. I also love how she has morals and is always putting her family first. I really enjoyed reading about her. In fact, I enjoyed reading of all the characters in the book, from her friends, to potential love interests to crazy brides to be. 

Four Weddings And A Fiasco was a quick enjoyable read. I think if you're going on holiday and are looking for an enjoyable light hearted book to read by the pool then this is exactly the book you should buy.

Synopsis -

The new novel from ebook bestseller, Catherine Ferguson. As fresh and bubbly as a pint of homemade lemonade on a hot day, this is the only book you need this summer.

Meet Katy Peacock. She has a fun-filled life as colourful as her name, and you can always rely on her to be the life and soul of any party. And it’s a good job too, given she spends her weekends photographing other people’s weddings.

Yet underneath it all, things aren’t so good. Her wedding photography business has fallen on tough times, and she’s had her heart broken more times than she cares to remember.

But she’ll get through it, she knows she will. She just needs to avoid best men, bad men, and ushers of any variety. Oh dear…

Tuesday 12 July 2016

When We Collided - Emery Lord

I didn't actually chose to read When We Collided myself, it was a part of the previous quarters Illumicrate book subscription box. I'd seen the cover being posted on social media but I had no clue what it was about and when it arrived I just steamed straight into reading it without even reading the blurb. Within the first couple of pages I was getting major John Green vibes which would've been fantastic for a lot of people, I don't actually like the stories that John Green writes and unfortunately I didn't enjoy When We Collided by Emery Lord either. 

When We Collided is told from two different perspectives Vivi and Jonah. Vivi has a few of her own personal demons and Jonah is experiencing an extremely hard time thanks to his family traumas. When the pair meet at an art class, the attraction between the pair is undeniable. Is love possible when both people have their own personal issues to address?

I read this book when I was ill. I physically struggled to move from bed so I basically spent the entire time I was awake reading this book. However, I feel like if I'd read this book on a normal day I would've found it an effort to read and perhaps I may not have even reached the end of the book.

I hated Vivi. I hate writing reviews about people with illnesses as I genuinely feel like I'm a bad person but Vivi is genuinely a horrible person. I am no stranger to mental issues, but not one person I know who struggles acts like Vivi. I found her just plain irritating, I can't even being to start to explain how much I disliked reading her. I admire Jonah for stepping up to help look after his family but he lets Vivi walk all over him. I simply just did not gel with either of the characters and frankly I didn't care about what happened to the pair.

I already know that some people will absolutely love this book. But for me, within a first couple of pages I knew I wasn't going to like it, a shame as the cover is so wonderful. Massive credit to the author for writing a young adult book focussing on mental issues but unfortunately it just wasn't for me.

Synopsis - 

Seventeen year-old Jonah Daniels has lived in Verona Cove, California, his whole life, and only one thing has ever changed: his father used to be alive, and now he is not. With a mother lost in a deep bout of depression, Jonah and his five siblings struggle to keep up their home and the restaurant their dad left behind. But at the start of summer, a second change rolls in: Vivi Alexander, the new girl in town. 

Vivi is in love with life. Charming and unfiltered, she refuses to be held down by the medicine she's told should make her feel better. After meeting Jonah, she slides into the Daniels' household seamlessly, winning over each sibling with her imagination and gameness. But it's not long before Vivi's zest for life begins to falter. Soon her adventurousness becomes all-out danger-seeking. 

Through each high and low, Vivi and Jonah's love is put to the test . . . but what happens when love simply isn't enough?

Friday 1 July 2016

Love To Hate You - Anna Premoli

They say not to judge a book by its cover but admittedly I wanted to read this book solely based on its cover, it instantly got my attention. Then what I read the synopsis I knew that Love To Hate You was a book that I just had to read and boy it did not disappoint!

Love To Hate You is about very independent tax lawyer Jennifer and her colleague Ian who is the most desirable bachelor with royal connections. Both met many years ago when they worked on a tax project together and Jennifer was given a promotion over Ian. Since then, the pair have violently clashed and now the company makes sure that the pair never work together again – they even have offices far apart as their arguments are so explosive! Then unfortunately one day Jennifer is running late to the office and somehow one of Jennifer’s clients, Lord Beverly demands that both Jennifer and Ian work on his project. Arguments begin in the offices that are so bad that the pairs boss demands that they work on the project outside work in neutral territory. Then one day the paparazzi photograph Jennifer and Ian on one of their work dinner outings and she is instantly labelled as his new girlfriend which leads to Ian begging Jennifer to pretend to be his girlfriend to keep away the many women that launch themselves at him. However, somewhere as their fake relationship progresses, the lines between what is fake and what is real start to blur.

I personally loved every second of reading this book. I read a lot of romance novels and somewhat surprisingly, I don’t think that I’ve read a book about a love/hate relationship before and it worked so well in this novel. You can absolutely see why Jenny and Ian fell out, they’re both passionate about their careers and when one gets a promotion its bound to cause tension. Although I find it a little ridiculous that they still carry it on to such extremes years after the event, it didn’t affect my enjoyment of the book.

Jenny and Ian are great lead characters, providing some absolute laugh out loud moments. One of my personal favourites being when vegetarian Jenny ends up being involved in a hunt. Although they come from very different families, Ian’s being a well to do, noble family who love to hunt and Jenny’s being strict vegetarians who despise nobility and helping the rich, they somehow work so well together other they’d both disagree with that statement! Being able to read Jenny’s thoughts was a great addition, she’s a very funny character. Ian was a great love interest. He was the perfect gentleman throughout, it’s no wonder everyone but Jenny falls madly in love with him!

My only slightly gripe about Love to Hate You is that I feel that the pacing was a little rushed towards the end, maybe that was just me not wanting the book to end though. If you’re a fan of love/hate relationships I really do think you’ll love this book. I’m certainly going to be keeping my eye out for future novels by Anna Premoli. 

Synopsis -

Jennifer and Ian have known each other for seven years. They are leaders of two different teams in the same London bank, and are constantly engaged in a running battle to be number one. 
Ian is a handsome, wealthy and sought-after bachelor; Jennifer is a feisty, independent lawyer. When they are thrown together to work on the same project, Ian makes Jenny an offer she can't refuse: to have free reign of their rich client if she pretends to be his girlfriend. 
Soon, it becomes more and more difficult to tell the difference between fiction and reality...