Sunday, October 23, 2011

[Cover Reveal] Until I Die by Amy Plum





How gorgeous! 

What do you think?

<3

Heart on a Chain by Cindy C Bennet



17-year-old Kate has lived her whole life in abject poverty, with an alcoholic father and drug-addicted mother, who severely abuses Kate. At school, her second-hand clothing marks her as a target. Her refusal to stand up for herself makes her the recipient of her classmates taunts and bullying. That is, until Henry returns. 

Henry Jamison moved away six years earlier, just as he and Kate had begun to develop feelings for one another. He returns to find the bright, funny, outgoing girl he had known now timidly hiding in corners, barely speaking to anyone around her, suspicious of even him. 

Kate can't figure out what game Henry is playing with her - for surely it is a game. What else would the gorgeous, popular boy from her past want with her? 

Kate finally decides to trust Henry's intentions, opening her heart to him. Just when it seems he might be genuine in his friendship, tragedy strikes, threatening everything Kate has worked so hard to gain. Can Henry help her to overcome this new devastation, or will it tear them apart forever?


So I finally read a e-book, it was all completely coincidental. You see I do have kindle books on my ipod but only ones I've won, been asked to review or been given. Last week some time I was at college in one of my free periods having finished all my work and not having a book to read in my bag (who knows why!) and so I picked up my ipod and remembered I had a kindle on it. I chose to read Heart on a Chain over the other e-books on my ipod because lets face it it's an enticing name for a girl isn't it? and well the covers pretty. 


I am so glad I got to read this, maybe a little mad at myself for letting it sit on my ipod for months going unread because it is that good. You may not of heard about this book and you know why that is, because there are tons of books out there who've never made it to mainstream but deserve to be there, they are just undiscovered! I encourage you to go out of the top selling corner of amazon or smashwords or whichever site or bookstore you use and pick up a couple books you've never heard of but like the sound of because I guarantee 9 times out of 10 you are going to love it just as much as one in the top twenty best selling. 


Heart on a Chain deals with a very delicate subject yet Cindy handled it perfectly and although it is fiction I think it stuck very true to reality. You'll find yourself tied up in Kate's world and all the emotions that come with it. I fell in love with one of the main characters Henry, who is a perfect gentleman, and Kate I really liked also; finding myself almost in tears for her at some points. However certain characters I disliked but I'm sure that's how we were suppose to see them. It is such a heartfelt book, but sometimes we need to step away from magical fantasy lands and read real stuff like this.


Within all of what Kate is going through love happens, and it is played out so subtly and beautifully you can actually see and feel them fall in love. No it's not a completely soppy love story, it's love being born and surviving in the midsts of disaster. My favourite kind of love, because it's real. 


I found myself glued to this book whenever I began to read it again, literally I'd be walking to the bus stop or something reading my ipod. It is not the kind of book you can predict the ending nor is it the kind you hope for something to happen and get disappointed. I am that sort of reader who does predict endings, yet Heart on a Chain left me with conflicting feelings I wasn't sure how I wanted it to end. Which makes the ending that much better to read. I could have died when I was intensely reading the last few chapters and my ipod died, luckily I was at home and ten minutes later I could resume reading. 


The way the whole book fitted together with all these complex pieces is amazing, I am just stunned and inspired. Heart on a Chain will both break your heart and restore your faith. It would make the perfect *eat ice-cream, cry your eyes out with your mum and mates* kind of movie. It deserves more than space on my ipod and soon will be taking up space on my bookshelf. 


I could talk about this book all day, but I've probably bored you enough with my babbling so all I have left to say is... Get it. Seriously, it's like $3.94 on smashwords (http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/37566) that's what barely £2 for us UK'ers. It's a must buy guys!




Check out Cindy's blog here: http://cindybennett.blogspot.com/

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Bout of books: Read-a-thon 24/10-30/10


Hi bloggers,
I've just finished my first half term at college. It's sooo much work, but it's fun. I do however really miss having the time to read and write like I used to. So this week while on my half term break I will be joining in the fun at BoutOfBooks and will be doing another read-a-thon! YAY. 
However saying this I wont be reading 24-7 like the last read-a-thon as it is my only 5 day break in like 7 weeks and I won't have another break for a couple months after. I would like to get some writing done too and I have my first driving lesson on Thursday!!! So scared. 
Here are my goals for the read-a-thon. 
Time Devoted to Reading
Whenever I'm free or at home or travelling I will be reading (not 24-7 all week I'm afraid).
My Goals
  • 3 books minimum.  Shooting for 5.  Ultimate goal: 8 books.
  • I managed 4+ahalf in the 3 day read-a-thon last time but that was in summer and I read constantly with little sleep haha. 
Books To Read
  • Forever by Maggie Steifvater
  • Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick 
  • Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma 
  • Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson
  • Wither by Lauren Destefano 
  • Paranormalacy by Kierstan White 
  • City of Bones by Cassie Clare
Updates
All updates will be in this post to make it simple for you guys + I will be using #insixwords and #boutofbooks on my twitter @MazzNixon.
10/24
Number of books I’ve read today: 1
Total number of books I’ve read: 1
Today #insixwords: Forbidden is amazing, indescribable, unforgettable.
Books: Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma 
10/25
Number of books I’ve read today: 1
Total number of books I’ve read: 2
Today #insixwords: Enchanting, kept me on my toes. 
Books: Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson 
10/26
Number of books I’ve read today: Half
Total number of books I’ve read: 2+ahalf
Today #insixwords: Started reading late, love the book.
Books: Paranormalacy by Kierstan White
10/27 (FIRST DRIVING LESSON DAY)
Number of books I’ve read today: the other half
Total number of books I’ve read: 3
Today #insixwords: LOVED the girl narrative so much.
Books: Paranormalacy by Kierstan White
10/28 (CITY SHOPPING DAY)
Number of books I’ve read today: 0
Total number of books I’ve read: 3
Today #insixwords: I took the day to shop
Books: 
10/29 (I thought it finished Friday?)
Number of books I’ve read today: (Doubt I'll finish cw in time to read another book)
Total number of books I’ve read:
Today #insixwords:
Books:
But at least I met my minimum! 
I also have a writing goal for this half term, I'm on around 200 something pages for book two in my YA series and I aim to get to 300 or to the finish it, wherever that may be on account of page numbers. 
Unfortunately did not find any time to write... but that's flexible. 
Have a fun half term!
WRAP UP:
So I only read 3 books and didn't get to write, but I had a great half term and the books I did read were beyond amazing, I was glad I read them at normal pace and not rushing because then the story doesn't settle in that much does it? 
Love to hear how you all did! Thanks for the read-a-thon BoutofBooks! 
<3

Thursday, October 06, 2011

OCTOBER

I can always count on October to be good to me.
I love October.
I love winter.
I love birthdays.
I love that it's getting closer to Christmas.
October has already been good to me.
So I got a Mac Book Pro today! Exciting?! Will update you when I actually try and work it tomorrow :)
anddd in 13 days I'm 17 yay!
I'm very excited to start to learn to drive, no more packed smelly late buses!

So sorry it's short but I must go... just wanted to check in...
Remember to sign up for SECRET SANTA... http://wordsontheshelf.blogspot.com/2011/09/secret-santa.html
anddd if you're part of RAK leave wishlists... I'm number 45 this month if you wanna check it out.

Love y'all.
Enjoy October

Sunday, October 02, 2011

In My Mailbox, two months worth

So I kind of suck at writing up In My Mailboxes, I did try to do a vlog, but seems I suck even more at that and so this is everything I have received since like the middle of the summer! One month ago I did go on a book ban though and have only bought two books since so be proud of me :) hehe!

This is everything! Covers half my double bed, I risked my life standing on a turning stool thing to take this photo:

That's 28 books!

Bought in the summer:

The whole set of Morganville Vampires!
The Mortal Instrument Series in Hardback!

The story sisters - Alice Hoffman

Weather warden book 2 (don't have book 1 lol)
Won:

Eden by Michelle Haley Signed

Won from Nikki at Wicked Awesome Books

Won from Fiercebook UK on facebook

No Use Crying by Zannah Kearns

Won from Mostly Reading YA

ARC of Ashes by Ilsa J Bick Signed!

Won from Alexandra

Won from Abigail at The Story Factory Writing Zone

Note from Katie

Keyring themed like her books from Katie!

Won swag from YA-Sisterhood

Signed bookmark by Kiki Hamilton

Won from Cassie

For Review:

Seven Point Eight by Marie Harbon

Signed by Marie
Grimspace by Ann Aguirre
 August RAK:

Iron Witch RAK from Helen
Recent buys:




Fury by Elizabeth Miles

Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan

A huge thank you to all the hosts/bloggers/publishers of the giveaways I won. (I've been pretty lucky, but you'll have to wait and see what else I've won recently) and even more thanks to the lovely Marie Harbon who sent me Seven Point Eight for review which I am so excited to start reading within the next few days as she also wants to do a interview to go with my review and a giveaway for you guys! So stay tuned! Another thank you to Ann for Grimspace! Also to Helen who sent me a RAK in August. I didn't receive any in September, it was a hectic month for me, flew by, seriously my mind still thinks it's the 6th of September. But it's my birthday month this month... EEEEK 17 in 17 days so hopefully I'll have lots to show you next month from what I buy with birthday money. That's it I think! Sorry it's taken so long but my life has been taken over by college haha!

Ohh don't forget you have one day left to enter the 100 followers giveaway and why not sign up for the SECRET SANTA BOOK EXCHANGE where you give a present and receive one too! FUN! I LOVE THIS TIME OF THE YEAR.

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday everyone.
Adios!
<3