Take Back The Skies - Lucy Saxon

It's 1am in the morning and I'm currently sat crying my eyes out. Why? Well Take Back The Skies by Lucy Saxon has just taken me on such an emotional roller coaster. 

Take Back The Skies tells the story of Catherine (Cat) Hunter who is the daughter of a very high powered government official. Her privileged position enabled her to avoid being part of the child collections which go on in the land. Cat absolutely hates the government and everything that they're doing in the land. The final straw comes when her father wants to arrange her marriage so she takes the opportunity and runs away from home. Cat stows away on a sky ship and with the help of her new friends discovers more about what's happening in the world than she ever thought.

Truthfully when I started reading I had no idea what the book was about, I didn't even bother reading the blurb before I bought it. I picked up this book last July at London's Film & Comic Con solely due to the fact author Lucy Saxon was dressed in cosplay (which I thought was great!) and it's just been on my to read pile of books since. Based on my rubbish reason for buying this book I had extremely low expectations but boy did it prove me wrong. I was scared, I felt physically sick at points and at times it had some just plain heart wrenching moments. Lucy Saxon is one seriously talented author for her age and I’m so glad that I picked up this book.

I quite enjoyed reading about all of the characters in the book, particularly Fox even if he was a little moody at times. All of the sky ships inhabitants were delightful to read about. My only gripe really is how long Cat got away with being a boy. She seemed to blush anytime she got anywhere near Fox so I don't know how she got away with it. I also disliked the potential of the love triangle although thankfully nothing particularly came from it. All the ships crewmates have really distant likable personalities and although they aren’t featured too much during a book you do enjoy the scenes that they are in.

Take Back The Skies is part of a series each telling a completely different story set in another country of the same world - book number two is currently out. I got so emotionally involved in this book I just don't know if I can handle reading book two straight away! I cannot remember the last time a book made me feel such strong emotions when reading it so if you're a fan of books such Victoria Aveyard’s Red Queen, you must make Take Back The Skies the next book you read.

Synopsis – 

Catherine Hunter is the daughter of a senior government official on the island of Anglya. She’s one of the privileged – she has luxurious clothes, plenty to eat, and is protected from the Collections which have ravaged families throughout the land. But Catherine longs to escape the confines of her life, before her dad can marry her off to a government brat and trap her forever.

So Catherine becomes Cat, pretends to be a kid escaping the Collections, and stows away on the skyship Stormdancer. As they leave Anglya behind and brave the storms that fill the skies around the islands of Tellus, Cat’s world becomes more turbulent than she could ever have imagined, and dangerous secrets unravel her old life once and for all...

Take Back The Skies by Lucy Saxon is out now. Click here to buy from Waterstones.

Happy New Year!

So somehow 2015 is over and it flew by quicker than I could say happy New Year. I very rarely do more personal blog posts as I was always so worried about if anyone I knew in real life found my blog or if anyone would even want to read a more personal post but then I realised what do I have to lose. With it being something that I would like to change when better to start than on New Year’s Day.

2015 wasn’t the greatest of years for me. My life has fallen into a repetitive rut of waking up, going to a mundane 9-5 job, getting home from work then falling straight asleep. I know this is going to be my life as an employee from now on but 2015 destroyed my spark a little. Maybe I’m just bored of my job, I don’t really know but it’s something I would like to figure out and address in the upcoming year. 

Yet despite feeling like this, I did manage to achieve some of my last year’s resolutions. I’ve managed to blog at least once a week – tick! I met McFly – tick! I can play the ukulele and by that I mean I can play a damn good rendition of Do You Want To Build A Snowman from Frozen – tick! I saw lots of musicals - tick! I wrote over 20,000 words of a book I’m writing – tick! So overall I didn’t do too badly in things I wanted to achieve.   

Some things haven’t changed at all and I'm sure they won't in the upcoming year. My love of McFly/McBusted/Busted (or whatever combination they want to come up with next) remains as strong as ever, the way that no matter what mood I’m in blasting Taylor Swift’s oldest albums as loud as I can get away with never fails to improve my mood, how I would much rather stay at home reading the latest book I’m obsessed with rather than go outside...

Travelling is something I didn’t get to do much of in 2015. I’ve got itchy feet and I’m desperately wanting to see more of the world, you'll often find my longingly watching travel videos on YouTube. My job isn't paid great so financially I'm somewhat restricted and I'm not so fond of visiting some areas due to the unrest in the world right now but I'm hoping to be able to see more places.

2016 is also the year I would like to start documenting more of the things I do. I have thousands of photographs and videos of me doing things as a child and I'd like to do that more now so in the future I can look back at now in the future. I got a fancy new camera for Christmas so hopefully I'll be snapping and filming away when I do something exciting. 

Blogging is something I hope to be able to keep up with. I'm so grateful that somehow authors and publishers are willing to provide advanced copies of books for me to read and review and I hope this continues this year. Thank you to anyone who has ever read even one of my blog posts, it's such a great feeling to see that people are viewing your blog.

So welcome 2016. I’m going into the year with a fresh new mindset and here’s hoping it’s a good year.

My Reckless Valentine - Olivia Dade

My Reckless Valentine is book number two in author Olivia Dade’s, Lovestruck Librarians series. Angie is a library manager and it’s safe to say that she has some alternative ideas about events that should run the library. The customers love Angie and her ideas but her boss isn’t a fan of her plans such as the Valentine’s Day competition to write the best sex scene. Angie loves her job but her boss has had enough of her x rated plans so give her a final warning. Then in a bizarre twist of fate she meets Grant who makes all her fantasies come true until it is discovered that he is in fact been hired to keep Angie in line at the library.

I've read both books on the series and although I loved book number one I think personally this one is my favourite so far. Everything happened in a night in book one which made it a cute quick read about New Year whereas this book focuses on day to day life over a period time. I love how Grant and Angie meet then the sheer horror over the fact they're new, very closely linked work colleagues that aren't allowed to date.

Angie is very headstrong and isn't afraid to do things how she wants to do them which is what I love about her. She runs the library fantastically even if it causes her trouble along the way. Grant on the other hand is Mr Spreadsheet and does everything by the book. On paper they're polar opposites but when you read they bring out the best in each other so you constantly want their relationship to find a way to be allowed to happen throughout the book.

The book is told mainly from Angie’s point of view but occasionally switches to chapters from Grant’s.  I didn’t think Grant’s point of view was entirely necessary to be included too but I loved reading Grant’s chapters and reading about what he was really thinking about Angie. Although there relationship happens extremely quickly, they still have some really sweet moments and it’s nice to read about how in love they are with each other. It is also view noting that although some references are made to the first book in the series, it is definitely readable as a standalone book perfectly fine. However, if you do enjoy this book, you really must read the first as I can assure you that you’ll love it.

I absolutely love the way the author writes and I adore this series of books. I cannot wait for the next in the series to be released. If you love books, you will love reading this book set in a library with the most relatable characters.

My Reckless Valentine - Olivia Dade is out 19th January. Click here to preorder the book.

Under The Spotlight - Kate Willoughby

Under The Spotlight by Kate Willoughby tells the story of actress Christine and hockey player Joe. Christine finds herself helping a sick child have the day of her dreams which is to meet star Barracudas player, Joe Rutherford. Out of the blue she contacts him in the hope that he agrees to grant the wish. Little does she know that he already saw her in theatre in Chicago and waited outside in the rain just to meet her after the show. The attraction between them is undeniable but as Joe is heading for retirement and Christine’s career is rocketing, can a relationship between the pair survive? 

I loved the story I just didn’t really like Christine. I thought at the beginning I would love reading about her but towards the end I personally feel she is very insensitive to Joe’s feelings which caused me to really not enjoy reading about her. However, if a film version of Under The Spotlight is ever made, I already know exactly who I want to play her which just goes to show how brilliantly she is described in the book. Joe however was a great character who I loved reading about throughout. He really cares for both CJ and Christine and although he’s getting old for the hockey world he is still incredibly passionate about the sport and despite me knowing nothing about hockey his enthusiasm made me interested. I especially loved his relationship with new player CJ who he takes under his wing.

The conflicts in the book about Christine’s acting career are an interesting one which I feel you will either love or not. Joe doesn’t like the fact that his girlfriend is going to do sex scenes and she takes this very badly. It’s interesting and made me ultimately think how I’d handle it. I shared Joe’s opinions on it which unfortunately made me dislike Christine as she just didn’t see his point of view at all. I was somewhat worried that a love triangle would take place in this novel but I am very thankful that it didn’t as I think it would’ve made the book so much less enjoyable to read.

 

Under The Spotlight is actually book number four in the series but I read it as a standalone, it really isn’t necessary to have read the others in the series. However, I now really want to read the others as the little you see of Joe’s teammates in this novel really makes you want to read more about them and their back stories. 

If you’ve read any of the other books in the series I’m pretty certain you will absolutely love this book too. If you love sport or not, this book is a great, must read romance novel.

 

Synopsis -

Stage actress Christine Caspary couldn't care less about hockey, but when she first sees Joe Rutherford playing in a Barracudas game her mind goes to all sorts of dirty places. By happy chance, her work with Grant A Wish gives her an opportunity to meet him in the flesh.

Right winger Joe Rutherford saw Christine perform when the team went to see Chicago and was so taken with her, he secretly saw the show a second time, alone. When the gorgeous actress with spectacular legs contacts him out of the blue asking for a favor, it's a no-brainer. 

Their chemistry is off the charts. Things heat up quickly and they can't keep their hands off each other. Soon they're hooking up whenever their busy schedules allow and having hot phone sex every night at midnight when they don't. But Joe's time in the hockey spotlight is fading, just as Christine's star begins to rise. When she gets her big break into a TV career, how will Joe take to being the arm candy for a change? 

Under The Spotlight - Kate Willoughby is out now. Click here to download the Kindle edition from Amazon

Now And Again - Jennifer Ellision

Em and Cole meet at university. From the second they lock eyes outside their college halls during a fire alarm, there has been undeniable chemistry between them. Nothing romantic ever happens between them but as soon as university ends, Em moves far away causing any opportunity for a relationship to happen to stop. Eventually she finds herself jobless and reluctantly moves back home and ends up helping to plan best friend Nikki's wedding. Everything she left behind is still at home when she moved back, including Cole. When Nikki ropes Cole into planning her wedding with Em, the two finally have to discuss their history.

Have you ever wondered that perhaps someone has been watching you for a few years to sit down and write a highly exaggerated book about you? Well this that book for me. I found myself constantly relating to Em. From her university days, to when she moved away for a while to when she has to reluctantly move back home, it was all just too relatable. For me, how easy it is to relate to the plot of Now And Again book is one of the reasons I absolutely loved reading. To be honest I'm sure a lot of people will get the same feeling as I did when reading as I think that so many people will be able to relate to the plot.

I absolutely adored reading about Em and Cole. From very early on I was just routing for them to start a romantic relationship. However, the actual romantic relationship is very little in this book, which isn't necessarily a bad thing! They have more chemistry and cute moments that a lot of books I've read when they're in a relationship from very early on. Best friend, Nikki I found very amusing and just helped to gel the entire book together. I can't pinpoint even just one character in Now And Again that wasn't a sheer delight to read about.

Now And Again is set both in present day then flashes back to Em's college days. I'm not the biggest fan of flashbacks in books but I feel that it enhanced this book. It really helped to get a feel of just how intense things were between Em and Cole when they were in college and why perhaps they feel and act the way they do now they are older. It also helped to explain why Em is so guarded and her walls are up against everyone.

If you can’t tell by now I absolutely loved every second I spent reading Now And Again. From the moment I looked at the cover, which is simply beautiful in its simplicity to the final turn of the page, it was just a great read. I can’t recommend any more than you pick up this book. I just hope that the author continues to write more books in this genre.

Synopsis – 

Unemployed. Broke. Maid of Honor.

All (unfortunately) words that describe Em Hayes.

Without any job leads in San Francisco, Em caves to her mother’s promise of free rent and returns home. Her best friend, Nikki, couldn’t be more thrilled. Em’s degree in Event Management is gathering dust, and what better way to put it to use than planning Nikki’s wedding?

There’s just one flaw in that plan: Cole Connors. The girls’ former roommate. And part of the reason Em hasn’t been back since college graduation.

Em’s never been able to forget Cole—or how close they were before she pushed him aside and ran for the hills. Cole’s never forgotten Em either— but in the past two years, she hasn’t given him much choice but to try.

And, according to Nikki, there’s no better pair to plan the wedding of her dreams.

Em’s usually good at squashing messy feelings, but being around Cole again brings them all rushing to the surface.

And this time, she’s not sure she wants to run. 


Now And Again - Jennifer Ellision is out now. Click here to buy the kindle edition from Amazon

Smart Girl - Rachel Hollis

Miko is an unbelievable designer, she’s won so many awards for it yet the thing she is lacking in her life is love like she reads in novels. Except she is in love with her friend Liam, except he doesn’t know that she’s head of heels in love with him. Then one day he discovers that she is a designer and asks for her help in her new project causing their lives to finally intertwine. Miko tries to get his attention by using the advice that she’s learnt from romance novels but is that ultimately going to be enough for her to get her happy ever after?

It's been a while since I read a book which made my stomach tie up so much with knots whilst I was reading. I was so involved with this book that I really didn't want anything bad to happen to Miko's love life or her work life. Smart Girl really manages to drag you into the story and you really start to want the best for Miko.

Liam was a utter twonk at times and you felt like going up to him and telling him to open his eyes and realise what a good thing he'd have with Miko if he committed. However, his reluctance to be exclusive, although frustrating to read made me keep turning the pages to see if he eventually would settle down. Miko on the other hand is clearly a hopeless romantic who tries tips from romance novels she reads to try get Liam's attention. She's hard working and just hopelessly in love with Liam even if he doesn't realise it. I think Miko is a fantastic female lead and although she makes mistakes at times you're constantly routing for her. The sub characters are also fantastic to read about, some books I’ve read they just seem to not add much to the story but in Smart Girl they add with the stories development.

Smart Girl is actually book number three in the series. I went into reading this book without actually knowing that it was part of a series and I don't believe it hindered my enjoyment of the book in the slightest. Each book in the series focuses on a different main character and I think that if you had read the other books you’ll love these characters in this book even more. Having read this now I'm extremely eager to pick up the first two books in the series to read more of the backstories of the sub characters.

Synopsis -

Brilliant designer Miko Jin is a hopeless romantic. She’s spent most of her life falling in love over and over again…with the men she finds in the pages of her favorite novels.

When Miko meets Liam Ashton, it’s love at first sight. At least, for her. Sure, the two of them are polar opposites, and yes, he seems to be dating someone new each week. But Miko knows what true love is and that you can’t rush it—after all, what she lacks in real-world experience, she makes up for in book smarts. With novels as her guide, and her best friends by her side, she knows she can get Liam to love her back. But just like any good romance novel, fate has a few plot twists in store.

Will Miko get her own happy ending? Will she find the strength to stand up for what she deserves even if it means breaking her own heart? 


Smart Girl - Rachel Hollis is released January 26th 2016. Preorder the kindle edition from Amazon by clicking here

Not Just Another Romance Novel - Lisa Suzanne

Piper loves to read romance novels and she often daydreams what it would be like to date one of the leading men in her novels. They just seem to be much better partners than anyone she’s met in real life. However, it dawns on her one day that perhaps she is spending too much time reading romance novels and not enough time concentrating on her masters psychology degree. She suddenly realises that while her friends have made a start on their thesis’, Piper’s been too busy with her head stuck in yet another romance novel. One day, Piper’s best friend Scott suggests that perhaps she should mix her reading with her thesis and research how a romance novel man creates unrealistic expectations for relationships. Of course she thinks this is a brilliant idea and begins finding men to date for case studies for her project. 

Not Just Another Romance Novel was actually a real surprise for me. I really wasn’t sure how the story would play out and I definitely wasn’t sure that I would be so keen on Piper. I thought perhaps her going on multiple dates with different men would make me dislike her especially when she starts to begin a somewhat series relationship with Dax but she is truly a likable character and completely relatable. Ok perhaps at times she went from 0-100 with her emotions real quick but overall I found her funny and just plain brilliant to read about. 

I absolutely loved the story too. I know I’ve read far too many romance novels for my own good and I’m sure a lot of the readers of this book will be the same. I think it’s only an advantage as you’re already well acquainted with the stereotypical men that appear in these books which Piper uses as her case studies. I’m sure everyone has fallen in the love with characters in books and you will particularly favour a certain type e.g the rockstar and I am sure your favourite is included in the book somewhere. Everything from the CEO to the bad guy to the athlete, even step brother! Even vampires are mentioned! I don’t think if this book was real life, Piper would ever have been allowed to undertake a project like this but regardless of this it was still a great storyline. I really loved the ending too, it really finished off well. Without revealing too much on how it ends it really proves that perhaps boys in books aren’t necessarily better. 

If like me you love your romance novels, this is the book for you! 

Synopsis – 

Is it really wrong to have more than one boyfriend? 

I brought a new one into my bed almost every night. 

From conference rooms to broom closets, I escaped reality with my leading men. Okay, so they were fictional book boyfriends. 

In reality I should have been concentrating on classes while I looked for a living, breathing man to help me achieve my romantic fantasies. It was a friend who suggested combining my passions for romance novels and psychology to generate my Master's thesis research topic: Does the modern day romance novel leading man create unrealistic expectations for a prolonged adult relationship? 

To find out, I’d run a social experiment. I’d be the constant. The variables would be my leading men. I’d date every stereotype in the books, from billionaires to bad boys, rock stars to bikers, dominants, athletes, and…my stepbrother? 

If my research was successful, I'd end up with a degree and maybe even my very own happy ending.