August Round Up!

Monthly Feature- rounds up all the books I've read, progress on challenges and reviews my blogging!
It is kind of an expansion (?) of my favourite memes hosted by the lovely Shelia over at Book Journey!

August in numbers!

Total posts= 14

Book read= 11

Reviews Posted= 4

Meme Posts= 5

Other Posts= 5

Total Posts- 13 (unlucky!)

What I read in August!

*Plus*
The Future of Us by Kahlen Aymes.
The Boy Who Sneaks In My Bedroom Window by Kirsty Moseley.

What I Reviewed!
Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
The Selection by Kiera Cass
Going Under by Georgia Cates

Weaker review month than July!
However this is because I stock piled reviews for my September holiday so the blog isn't abandoned while I'm gone!
I read two more books than July and I have reviewed over half of August's books all scheduled for Thursday onwards, not too bad!

What I Posted!
Discussion post- I'm really proud of this post- it took me awhile to write and post as it was my very first discussion post so I'm happy it's been well received! Just need to decided on the next subject!
Favourtie Books Post- Check out what books have been my favourite since starting this blog!
Update post- Technically a meme update but it evaluates which of the books I anticipated I'd read over summer and the result!

Did I achieve my blog goals?

Post at least one review and one book non meme post a week.
Didn't think this one through. Before August I had written very few non meme/review posts so I set the bar way to high for August! I am hoping to spend some time coming up with a good amount of ideas for these posts for October.
Make strong progress on my challenges.
Whoops! I kind of went on a YA contemporary spree- unfortunately I'm not taking part in a contemporary challenge!
Take part in more 'activities' like readthons and read alongs.
Yay- I did this one! I took part in the Summer Wrap-Up Readathon (4th August to 12th August) and Bout of Books (13th August to 19th August). I really enjoyed this goal and I hope that next time I can take part in the social aspect of readathons as well!
Beat my total monthly posts of 17!
I totally forgot to factor in the Olympics! All my friends and family caught Olympic fever so I neglected my blog- whoops. At least it's only every four years!

What I hope to achieve in September blog wise!

• To post 15 posts- This one is more achievable than last month as already have a lot of scheduled posts ready and I've factored in outside life! I am also hoping to post at least 8 reviews.
• To improve the standard of this blog- I have updated and posted a clear Review Policy. I am launching a ratings system today to help differentiate between reviews. I would love suggestions on how else to improve!
• To learn more about blog design. - I really want to change up my blog but my knowledge of blog design is so limited. If anyone has any tips or hints please let me know!!

I really enjoyed August as a blog month, I am disappointed I didn't achieve my goals but I have set more realistic ones for this month!
I will be posting my Autumn TBR list tomorrow so stop by to see what I plan on reading!  

How was your August? Did you succumb to Olympic fever too?
Much Love
Lettite
Xxx

Monday Round Up/Wrap Up

One of my favourite memes hosted by the lovely Shelia over at Book Journey! This week my Weekly Round Up has been hijacked (again!) as a Readathon wrap up! The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organised by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal .


Read!

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
Just as good as I'd hoped!
Going Under by Georgia Cates
Great read- cover was misleading but it was so easy to read and the characters were great :)
The Boy Who Sneaks In My Bedroom Window by Kirsty Moseley.
Started strong but really weakened- not a fan! I really wanted to like it!
While It Lasts by Abbi Glines.
This one was all over my twitter so I just had to read it! Replaced Beautiful Disaster at the last minute as my favourite book of the week!

Goals Met?

Prediction= 6 Result= 4. Total Page count- 1,356

Same as last week! But this week I seemed to have an impromptu YA contemporary week which I really enjoyed! I also read more pages than last week so slight improvement.
I did have to cover two extra days at work which is why I read ebooks- easier to read during lunch and breaks!
I learnt the pitfalls of being taken in by Kindle samplers and cheap ebooks!
I really enjoyed Bout of Books- Unfortunately I missed all the Twitter chats which I was looking forward to.
I will definitely be taking part again :)

Readathon posts!
Goals Post!
Update post.

Reviews Posted!
Better blogging week!
Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire- How quick was this one reviewed!
The Selection by Kiera Cass- Finally finished up this review.

Reading 

This one was just missed out on the Bout of Books! So far it's living up to my expectations!

To Be Read

 So excited for this one- hopefully it won't disappoint!

I really enjoyed the Bout of Books readathon- definitely going to be taking part in it again!

Let me know what you've been reading and loving!
Much Love!
Lettie
xxxx

Bout of Books Update!

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organised by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal .

Slow start as I had a lot of work this week but I've got this weekend to make it to six! Fingers crossed!

Progress So Far!

Beautiful Disaster courtesy of NetGallery! Already reviewed here
Going Under- Loved it!!


Started

I seem to be on a YA contemporary spree atm!
So far so good :)

Let me know how you've doing with the readathon!  
Much Love!
Lettie
xxx

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

Good Girl. Abby Abernathy doesn't drink or swear and she works hard. Abby believes she has created enough distance between her and the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college, her dreams of a new beginning are quickly challenged by the university's walking one-night stand. Bad Boy. Travis Maddox, handsome, built, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby needs - and wants - to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight club, and his days as the notorious college Lothario. A disaster waiting to happen...Intrigued by Abby's resistance to his charms, Travis tricks her into his life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain celibate for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis' apartment for the same amount of time. Or the start of something beautiful? Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match. Or that this is the start of an obsessive, intense relationship that will lead them both into unimaginable territory...

This one has been doing the blog rounds! I requested it on NetGalley and got lucky again!

It's been described as like Fifty Shades of Grey which put me off a little but it was nothing like it. It was fun easy to read and hot!

What I loved:

• The relationships- the bond between America and Abby, America may have been a bad conscience but she was such a good friend. I liked Shep's loyalty to Travis and their easy going relationship. I loved Shep and America they were so cute. Travis and Abby just simmered with passion!
• College Setting- I loved the fact it was set in a college and the characters were older- made a great change from all the high school settings :)
• Plot- I would never have guessed Abby's 'past' as it wasn't cliched which made a nice change. I loved how Travis's family was explored instead of just left in the background.
• Finch- loved this character! Quintessential gay best friend and so much more. I loved how he crawled under the toiler door to comfort Abby!
• Travis' evolution- Travis did change and evolve as a person throughout the book although realistically he could evolve a little bit more and I think he probably will! I loved how he seemed to changed because of Abby not for her, showing the positive effect their relationship had on Abby.
• Nickname- Travis randomly nicknamed Abby Pigeon which I found weird but it really grew on me! It ended up sounding cute.

 

What I didn't love as much:

• Abby- She got on my nerves at times. She was so blind to Travis' affections- which is something I find annoying in real life! I also found her a  inconsistent at times which bugged me!
• Violence- As Travis is in a fight club there was a lot of fighting and I have a thing about blood. It didn't bother me too much but every now and then I'd read a reference to blood and feel a bit queasy!
• Past- I want to know more about Abby's past and Travis' family. While reading I felt it could of been explored but now I see it would have made it so much longer!
• The Ending- not a fan! If you've read it I'm just not a fan of that style of ending, it felt a bit rushed to me. But I was happy that it was at least a positive ending- for awhile I thought it was going to turn tragic on me!

I really enjoyed this book, once I picked it up I could not put it down! The chemistry was so good I had to finish their story.
It left me wanting more and I was hoping for a Shep/America companion book however I will have to settle for Walking Disaster- Travis' point of view! Think I'll manage :)
If you want a quick engaging chemistry filled read, I would recommend Beautiful Disaster!

Let me know your opinion!
Much Love!
Lettie
xxx

Show Less

Bout of Books- 13th August to 19th August

Details

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organised by  Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal . It is a week long read-a-thon that begins Monday, August 13th and runs through Sunday, August 19th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. 

Aim

I'm aiming for six again as I shouldn't be going anywhere this week!
I think this is a more realistic goal especially as I've got work until Wednesday so limited reading time.

Books

As I proved last time these lists seem to curse the books on them!

So I'll just list a couple :)

1. Divergent by Veronica Roth
2. Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
3. Across the Universe by Beth Revis
4. Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Let me know if you're taking part and what you plan on reading!
Much Love!
Lettie
xxx

Weekly Round/Wrap Up



One of my favourite memes hosted by the lovely Shelia over at Book Journey! This week my Weekly Round Up has been hijacked as a Readathon wrap up! The Readathon was hosted by Jennifer at Some Like It Paranormal and Jude at In Between!

Side Note- Bad Blogging week! I was unexpectedly needed in the country due to personal reasons. I attempted to schedule some posts- as usual it didn't work!

Read!


*Plus* The Future of Us by Kahlen Aymes!

Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan.
Just as good as I'd hoped! Spark is firmly on my TBR list, hoping my local library will get a copy in!
Sam Cruz's Infallible Guide To Getting Girls by Tellulah Darling.
NetGallery request- realistic, funny and witty! Great quick read.
Because of Low by Abbi Glines.
Random Kindle book (downloaded the kindle app due to NetGallery!). Really loved it, very character driven which is always a winner when the characters are written well!
The Future of Us by Kahlen Aymes.
Free kindle download- easy enjoyable read, not my favourite of the week!

Goals Met?

Prediction= 6 Result= 4

I have to take responsibility for poor packing of reading material on my unexpected trip.
But I was already behind due to Olympic Fever!! I soaked up Team GB's massive success and the impressive London 2012 games so much I had little time for anything- whoops!
Once again the curse of the TBR list attacked!
I only manged to read one book of my list- I saved so many books  for this readathon and then got distracted.
I still enjoyed readathon and four  books isn't too bad!

Readathon posts!

Launch post complete with aims and list of books I didn't end up reading! Here
Update and challenge post here

What's next?
Book wise-

 
I'm tempted by the Bout of Books Readathon as I don't feel I really got the chance to get involved with this one- plus my TBR list has grown too much!

Reviews
I made review notes on my Readathon books so those reviews should be up soon!

Let me know what you've been reading!
Much Love
Lettie
xxx