Stacking The Shelves!

What is Stacking The Shelves all about?

Stacking The Shelves is hosted by Tynga all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

Picked up a few books this week and I stumbled across this meme! Such a good idea :)

Borrowed
From friends!

As I mentioned in my Holiday post I need to read the Artemis Fowl series asap- luckily my friend was happy to lend me the first two!
Once I unearth Seeing Redd and read it I'll have Archenemy on hand to finish off the series!

Library

My late reserve book which a friend had to pick up for me- Glow was so intriguing I'm excited for the sequel!
I love Paige Toon but I don't always love her books so I decided to borrow instead of buy this one.

Books for Tours

I've signed up for a couple of November blog tours due to Bloggiesta and received the books!
I'm so excited for Shallow- I loved Going Under.
Swell sounds a bit different which is always good!

Previewed

I'm on a Amazon ban (again!) because my TBR list is getting of control! So I've been previewing books to see if I want them :)

Measuring Up and Crash are sort of 'random finds- their previews were so intriguing definitely on the ebook wish list!
Breathe- I really need to read the first Sea Breeze book especially as I love the others so much!
Shallow- I was checking it out as I really enjoyed Going Under!

I've added quite a few books to my TBR this week!
Let me know if you love any of them!

Much Love!
Lettie
Xxx

Bloggiesta Progress!

This is hosted by Suey from It’s All About Books and Danielle at There’s a Book. It goes from September 28th to the 30th. Make sure to sign up here!

 

 

This is a start up/progress/plan post for Day 1 or more accurately two hours in! 

Progess!

I've cleaned up my draft posts from 25 to 16 so that I'm left with posts I genuinely intend to post soon!
This should be helpful for a few of the challenges I intend to take part in :)

 Challenges!

• Organisation and Scheduling- Creating a schedule for October is one of my goals so I'm so grateful for this challenge/post! I really want my blog to have a clearer schedule so people know what to expect and I can see what I need to work on. This will be my major project today
• Review Catch-Up- Love this challenge! I'm going for Let’s Split It level which works out as 4 reviews! Fingers crossed!

Goal Status!

• Create a blogging schedule for Oct.- See above!
• Learn more about blog design- One of my September goals hoping to find out more from mini challenges etc
• Write up all review notes made on holiday
• Clean up Goodreads shelves.
• Clean up draft posts!-See Above!
• Follow some new blogs!
• Write up 3 Top Ten Tuesday posts.- Picked out the themes and templated the posts. I've also picked out the top ten for each so the next step is pictures!
• Add ratings to all reviews posted before September!- Yay! A relatively quick task! I also cleaned up the review format on the first reviews I practised my current review style on!
• *Get more involved in blog tours etc.

I'm having so much fun already!
Let me know how you're doing!
Much Love!
Lettie
Xxx

Bloggiesta! 28th September to 30th September

This is hosted by Suey from It’s All About Books and Danielle at There’s a Book. It goes from September 28th to the 30th. Make sure to sign up here!

Bloggiesta is your chance to:

• spiff up your blog
• try something new on your blog, fix something, add something or delete something
• catch up on reviews, Google Reader, email, or anything else that's out of control
• work and party together with other bloggers
• learn new things from blogging experts
• join several mini challenges and win prizes
• have fun for three days blogging and connecting with your blogging friends!

I saw this challenge/event and thought it sounded like a great way to improve my blog, learn more about blogging and socialise with other bloggers!

Goals!

• Learn more about blog design- One of my September goals hoping to find out more from mini challenges etc
• Add ratings to all reviews posted before September
• Write up 3 Top Ten Tuesday posts
• Create a blogging schedule for Oct.
• Socialise and take part in mini challenges
• Write up all review notes made on holiday
• Clean up Goodreads shelves.
• Clean up draft posts!
• Follow some new blogs!

Are you taking part?
Let me know your goals!
Much Love!
Lettie
Xxx

Frozen by Mary Casanova

Sixteen-year-old Sadie Rose hasn't said a word in eleven years-ever since the day she was found lying in a snowbank during a howling storm. Like her voice, her memories of her mother and what happened that night were frozen.
Set during the roaring 1920s in the beautiful, wild area on Rainy Lake where Minnesota meets Canada, Frozen tells the remarkable story of Sadie Rose, whose mother died under strange circumstances the same night that Sadie Rose was found, unable to speak, in a snowbank. Sadie Rose doesn't know her last name and has only fleeting memories of her mother-and the conflicting knowledge that her mother had worked in a brothel. Taken in as a foster child by a corrupt senator, Sadie Rose spends every summer along the shores of Rainy Lake, where her silence is both a prison and a sanctuary.
One day, Sadie Rose stumbles on a half dozen faded, scandalous photographs-pictures, she realises, of her mother. They release a flood of puzzling memories, and these wisps of the past send her at last into the heart of her own life's great mystery: who was her mother, and how did she die? Why did her mother work in a brothel-did she have a choice? What really happened that night when a five-year-old girl was found shivering in a snowbank, her voice and identity abruptly shattered?
Sadie Rose's search for her personal truth is laid against a swirling historical drama-a time of prohibition and women winning the right to vote, political corruption, and a fevered fight over the area's wilderness between a charismatic, unyielding, powerful industrialist and a quiet man battling to save the wide, wild forests and waters of northernmost Minnesota.

I recieved this book courtesy of Netgalley after the blurb intrigued me! It was different from anything I've read before and I loved that!

What I loved:
Subtlety- I loved how mystery of Sadie Rose's past built and intertwined with her future. I loved all the added surprises and red herrings which kept me guessing and surprised!
Setting- I really enjoyed the setting of North Minnesota- it was different to anything I'd read before. The description was beautiful and realistic.
Characters- The characters portrayed such a range of small town society from politicians and businessmen to middle class families and immigrant servants to brothel owners. I loved the diversion and all the characters were so well written!
Romance- I liked that the romance aspect was in the background and slow burning. It was sweet and uncomplicated compared to the rest of the book. ,
Themes- This book had so many different interrelated themes mixed in. It explored mental health and treatment alongside small town politics and big businesses. I especially enjoyed learning about the early wilderness conservation idea and exploring how it was developed and viewed in the book.  
Epilogue- Perfect ending, it wrapped up all the loose ends but also left it open for interpretation on the future.

What I didn't love as much:
Justice- Despite all the revelations no one was ever truly punished. People seemed to have suspected or known about these revelations but accepted due to their position or they viewed the perpetrator as untouchable. It was realistic but I hate when criminals go unpunished!

This book surprised me with how much I loved it and how many layers it had!

Have you read Frozen?
Any similar books you'd recommend?
Much Love!
Lettie
Xxxx

Home from Holiday!

I'm back!!
I thought I'd post a quick Holiday Book related post! I'm keeping it short and sweet :)

Books Read!

I actually manged to read 9 and half books!
I think this was largely due to the amount of time me and my friend spent poolside reading and the amount I had predownloaded on my phone!
I've updated my Books page if you want to check out what I read prior to my round up!

Audiobooks Listened to!

My friend and her family love audiobooks and Artemis Fowl which was new to me as I had never listened to an audiobook or read an Artemis Fowl book so I was inducted into their family travel tradition!
We drove to and from the South of France from the South of England plus day trips which meant we finished the last two Artemis books as well as nine chapters of Artemis Fowl and The Time Paradox!
It was really odd to jump in to the end of a series but I am now going back and reading the rest!

What I wish I'd taken!
Insurgent by Veronica Roth- I loved Divergent and could have dove into Insurgent.. If I'd had it!
Spark by Amy Kathleen Ryan- I reserved this from my library in hopes it would arrrive in time... I recieved an email as soon as I left home saying I could pick it up Friday when I would be in France- how annoying!

Posts Uploaded!
Not as many as I'd hoped!
Reviews
Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan.
Sam Cruz's Infallible Guide To Getting Girls by Tellulah Darling.
Because of Low by Abbi Glines.
Matched by Ally Condie
Miscellaneaous Posts
Reviews! Overview of my approach to reviewing.

What have you been up to while I've been away?
Let me know!
Much Love!
Lettie
Xxxx

Top Ten Tuesday- Series I Haven't Finished

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by: The Broke and the Bookish.

This week's topic is Top Ten Series I Haven't Finished.

 

I'm back from holiday and already posted a cover reveal for Just For Now!

This theme is brilliant as I'm currently failing my Finishing the Series Reading Challenge 2012 so this will remind me what series I need to bump up my TBR list.

 

The ones I just need to pick up!

Books of Bayern

I loved Goose Girl and Enna Burning so I pounced on River Secrets! I just haven't got around to reading Forest Born even though it sat on my Uni book shelf for ages!

Tales of the Otori

I love the original trilogy (the middle three) but the other two I  keep bumping down the TBR list for no real reason.

 

Looking Glass Wars

I read the Looking Glass Wars in hardback ages ago but by the time Seeing Redd came out I just didn't pick it up. I reread Looking Glass Wars on holiday and promptly borrowed the next two from my friend!

 

The ones that I started at the wrong time!

 



Inheritance Cycle

I read and loved Eragon but with Univerity and work I just didn't have the time to devote to reading such a long series! I now feel like I need to reread Eragon before finishing the series but I do have the first three ready so no excuses!

 

The Books of Pellinor

 Loved The Gift but I just didn't have time for the whole series- will be picking it up soon!

 

Inkheart Trilogy

Same story different trilogy! Loved the first book but no time for series! Once again it's a case of needing to reread Inkheart and get back in to the series.

 
 
 The ones I feel are finished

The Shopaholic Series

I have loved the Shopaholic series and Sophie Kinsella so much for so long. I haven't read Mini Shopaholic because I kinda feel I'm done with Becky- Shopaholic and Baby was a happy realistic end!

 

Sisterhood of The Travelling Pants

I loved these when they first came out! I only recently realised there was a fifth one. I've heard it's bittersweet so I'm debating whether or not I should read it or leave it- I felt Forever in Blue ended almost perfectly!

Not quite ten but I limited it to series I genuinely want to finish or loved!

I think my issue with not finishing series is I either  lose momentum  when I have to wait for instalments or I just don't have the time to read them back to back.

 

Hopefully I will be able to finish at least two of those for my Challenge!

Let me know if you have any series you need to finish or if you have any opinions on the ones I need to finish!

 

Much Love!

Lettie

Xxx

Cover Reveal!! Just For Now by Abbi Glines

This summer I fell in love with Abbi Glines' Sea Breeze series so I'm super excited to be part of the cover reveal for the next instalment.....

The day Preston Drake figured out that wealthy women paid well for a set of tight abs and a pretty face his life turned around.
The run down rat-infested trailer he had shared with his alcoholic mother and three younger siblings was now only a place he visited to pay the bills and stock the pantry with food.
He no longer worried about his family starving or living without electricity. The money he made entertaining rich older women more than covered his family’s needs and his own. He had it all figured out. Except…
There was this girl.
She was as innocent as he was tainted.
Amanda Hardy wished her knees didn’t get weak when Preston walked into a room. She hated the fact her heart raced when he flashed his smile in her direction. He had a different girl in his bed every night. He was the kind of boy a smart girl ran from. So, why was she coming up with ways to get close to him? Even when it was obvious he wanted to keep her at a distance.
Maybe her heart knew something the world didn’t. Maybe Preston Drake was more than just a pretty face.

Trailer
If the beautiful cover and intriguing blurb doesn't make you desperate to buy it then check out the trailer!

Sea Breeze
 If you haven't been taken in by Sea Breeze already you have a month to devour the first three! I
The Sea Breeze books made my Favourite Blog Reads list and I gave Because of Low three and a half hearts! So they are definitely worth reading asap!

Just For Now is expected to be available on October 23rd

Let me know if you also are in love in this awesome book!
Much Love!
Lettie
xxxx

Cover Design: Mooney Designs
Book trailer created by: Hellion Works
Cover reveal organised by: AToMR Tours

Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan

16 years ago, Waverly and Kieran were the first children born in space. Now a perfect couple, they are the pride and joy of the whole spaceship. They represent the future. The ship is their entire world. They have never seen a stranger before. Old Earth is crumbling, and the crew is hoping to reach (and colonise) New Earth within fifty years. Along with their allies on the second spaceship - who set off a year before them and whom they have never met. One day, Kieran proposes to Waverly. That same morning, the 'allies' attack - and Kieran and Waverly are separated in the cruelest way possible. Will they ever see each other again?

This was my first sci-fi style dystopia and I really liked it! I actually picked up the gorgeous cover over a year ago but completely forgot about it until this summer!

What I loved:

• Kieran- He was highly likable and kind. Essentially he was a fundamentally a good guy if a little intense! I liked how he remained true to his convictions despite Seth's treatment.
• Setting- I really enjoyed the fact it was set in space on spaceships instead of a post-apocalyptic Earth for a chance. It allowed for a completely different environment and society.
• Comparisons- I couldn't help but make comparisons to colonial America. Jamestown which was more commercial and rough with more men seemed to correspond to Empyrean. New Horizon and New England were very clearly similar with the initial emphasis on family and the extreme religion. I liked the incorporation of colonial names such as Mathers, they gave a colonial feel to a sci fi setting.
• Waverly- She wasn't especially likable but she was brave, independent and very capable. I liked how she remained true to the Empyrean and had the good sense to question Anne.
• Dual Viewpoints- I always love this! It was especially useful as it allowed movement between New Horizon and Empyrean, Waverly and Kieran plus moved time along.

What I didn't love as much:

• Seth- Initially I liked him but after part 3 he went way down in my estimations. He had the choice to take charge or allow Kieran to, neither of which he did. When he did take charge but deception he really reminded me of his Dad and Anne Mathers with his use of brute force and fear. His treatment of Kieran although backed with logic was harsh and unnecessary. He's got a lot of work to do in Spark if I've ever going to be on his side!
• New Horizon- I get that Anne had a hold over them but they couldn't of all been that naive to think that girls recently ripped from their families would want to 'help' them. Disturbing bunch of people.
• Anne Mather- Insane cult leader! She was very creepy and disturbing. I think she was exaggerating the men of Empyrean- I'm sure they may have been  lecherous but a couple of the men on New Horizon seemed that way. New Horizon had  the exact same population due to fertility problems so the men didn't really have any 'new' women to fixate on. She was paranoid and a blatant liar. Even creepier she seemed to believe her own lies- how could she think what she did to Empyrean was justified, she clearly kidnapped innocent people for her own gain if it had been a rescue mission she wouldn't have been so selective. I really hope that she dies in one of the books, harsh I know!

I really enjoyed this book but it was highly disturbing at times- I think it's because the exploitation in this book is personal rather than violent as it usually is in dystopia! 

Have you read Glow?
What's your opinion on Kieran/Seth? Do you also eagerly anticipate Anne's death?

Much Love!
Lettie
Xxx

Because of Low by Abbi Glines

Marcus Hardy had hoped to enjoy a year away at college while he put the summer he’d rather forget behind him. But instead, he’s jerked right back to the coastal town of Sea Breeze, Alabama due to a family crisis. His dear ol' dad found himself a girlfriend only a few years older than Marcus. So now his sister needs help dealing with their mother who is mentally falling apart. The only bright spot to returning is the fascinating red head who sleeps over several times a week. The problem is she's sleeping in bed with his new roommate, Cage York.
Willow “Low” Foster needs a place to live. Running to Cage’s apartment every time her sister kicks her out isn’t exactly a long term solution. Juggling her courses at the local community college and a part time job doesn’t produce excess income. But Cage has a new roommate and suddenly sleeping over at her best friend’s apartment isn’t such a bad thing. Not when she gets to see those sexy green eyes of Marcus Hardy’s twinkle when he smiles at her like he wants her there.
Even though Cage seems a little territorial where Low is concerned, Marcus finds time to spend with Low without upsetting his roommate. Cage may use his small college baseball star persona to sleep with every hot female in his path but he’s still under the disillusion that when he’s through sowing his wild oats, he’s going to marry Low. Marcus intends to change that assumption for both Cage and Low. Until his carefully laid plans come crashing down with a revelation he never expected. He’ll have to choose between Low or his family. Because once the truth comes out.... there’s no other choice.

Stumbled on this one! It's apparently the second in a series (I didn't realise until after!) but it was fine to read as a stand alone.
I loved it, it was sweet and quick to read.

What I loved:

• Marcus and Low- I loved them as separate characters and they were so cute together! I really loved how they were both devoted to their families in their own way. Marcus was such a good guy in general and to Low, I liked how he carefully but determinedly moved her from Cage's room to his, which was necessary but complicated . Low was a really nice down to earth girl, she saw through Cage's womaniser persona but didn't encourage his delusions!
• Side Cast!- I always enjoy well formed side characters as books are more than main characters. Because of Low is the second in a series and there was links to the previous book which worked perfectly. Marcus and Low's friends were witty, varied and all around fun to read. The ones that caught my attention the most were Cage, Preston, Amanda and Larissa.  I unwittingly picked out the three of the main characters of the next two books- obviously they were written in so well on purpose. I also loved Larissa, Low's niece who is one of the best written children I've read in YA.
• Premise- I liked all the little elements of the plot. Cage and Low's relationship which was based primarily on two lonely neglected children. All the family drama. The careers/lives of all the characters. All of which fit perfectly into a simple yet perfect plot!
• Ending- I liked how it was slightly in the future so everyone had time to adjust and reconcile realistically for the happy ending! It was refreshing compared to the quick warp up of tensions and issues which usually happens.

What I didn't love as much:

• Tawny- Low's sister had next to no redeeming qualities or morals. I had her figured out straight away but I was hoping she could redeem herself or end up out in the cold!
• Jefferson- He was a more redeeming person than Tawny but he had an annoying superior manner which made it seem like he'd done nothing wrong....

The characters in this book were so well written and easy to relate to that they really made the book!

I jumped straight in While It Lasts which I loved even more, and I'm now eagerly awaiting the next Sea Breeze book!

Are you an Abbi Glines fan? Should I go back and read Breathe?

Much Love!
Lettie
xx 

Reviews!

'Not every book I read will be reviewed'

 
Just a little post on how I structure my reviews and their content!
 
Tone

• My reviews will always be relatively positive. Why? I am genuinely positive about everything in life, even things I don't like! If I can't find anything to like in a book I most likely won't finish it and it won't get reviewed.
• Despite this my reviews are balanced and will include books I didn't enjoy, just not books I couldn't finish or really disliked!

Layout

• I like to display the book cover and blurb of the edition I actually read..
• I always do a little introduction normally with how I came across the book and if I enjoyed it.
• I try to keep my reviews balanced by dividing the content into likes and dislikes.
• I sum up the book in the end and I now have a rating system!
• The use of a rating system is to differentiate between books.

Content

• I focus on the plot and characters more than the actual writing style.
• I always note down my likes and dislikes straight after I finish a book so it's all fresh in my mind.
• I might comment on the genre etc.
• I try my best not to include any spoilers!

How do you review?
Do you like my style?

Much Love
Lettie
Xxxx

Matched by Ally Condie

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate... until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

 

The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

I picked up this book over a year ago- didn't click with me and my workload at the time!

A year later I loved it! Took me awhile to get this review up!

 

What I loved:

• Society- I liked the set up, how controlling it was while the people were oblivious. I Obviously I wouldn't want to live with the Society but it was a good dystopia setting!
• Sorting- Sorting was such an intellectual version of courting which seemed both old fashioned and futuristic! I liked the idea that everyone had one perfect match and you didn't even have to search for them!
• Xander- I really liked him- he was a very layered character! He was highly competitive, loyal and law abiding . But he was also very perceptive and observant much more so than Cassia initially. I liked how he helped out Cassia and Ky irregardless of the situation. Good solid male character with value and flaws!
• Family- Cassia's family were so close it was touching! The sacrifices her father made for her Grandfather, the bravery and silent defiance of her grandfather and the familial loyalty of her mother. Even her brother was defiant in his own way. I think they showed how even the 'perfect' family could silently defy the Society.

What I didn't love as much:

• Romance- It might have been because I didn't connect with Ky but I just didn't feel much chemistry between Cassia and Ky. Not enough to warrant the risks they both took for one another. I'm hoping I'll get into in Crossed.
• Officials- They were like an army of stalkers so controlling but at the same time controlled themselves. It was very creepy- which I suppose dystopian society always is!
• Death- The way the Society 'took care' of old people at 80 was sinister. Especially as I have a lot of relatives over 80-  the idea of the goodbye banquet isn't too bad but the systematic killing? Sinister!

I loved the society but I didn't really connect with the passion- still a good read!
Crossed and Reached are on my Autumn TBR- I decided to read them together as I hear Crossed ends with a cliff hanger!
 

Did you enjoy Matched? Have you read Crossed?

Much Love!
Lettie
xxxx

Sam Cruz's Infallible Guide To Getting Girls by Tellulah Darling

Why the hell can’t chicks be more like guys?
That question plagues high school senior Sam Cruz. Sam is perfectly happy being a player. He just wishes girls wouldn’t change the game from sex to relationships. It makes him look like an asshole. But when Sam’s best friend, Ally Klinger, gets dumped, she begs him to transform her into someone who can screw around then screw off. No risk of heartbreak that way. It’s Sam’s chance to create the perfect female AND cheer up his best friend. Armed with Sam’s Three Step Guide to Backseat Success, Ally gets the game better than Sam thought she would and before long, Sam has his wish: the female version of himself. Too bad it’s driving him nuts. Told from Sam’s and Ally's alternating POVs, Sam Cruz’s Infallible Guide to Getting Girls is a fast-paced romantic comedy that follows these teens as they navigate the minefield of sex, love, and friendship.

NetGalley find! I loved how realistic it was although I imagined the characters slightly older unintentionally.
It was fast paced, witty and funny!

What I loved:

• Premise- A cleverly warped cliche! I loved that Sam and Ally took a very different route through the best friends cliche with a makeover designed for other guys followed by a much more realistic path with Friends with Benefits.
• Ally- I loved how she really grew with the book. She initially jumped from her extreme environmental persona into the over the top sexy persona but she realised that neither was truly her! I liked that she realised this by herself! She ended the book much more confident in herself.
• Sam- I liked how he was exactly who he said he was! He may have been a player but he never made promises or allusions he didn't intend to keep. I loved how he was so naive when it came to Ally and their changing relationship- it proved he wasn't just a heartless player after all.

What I didn't love as much:

• Jeremy- Such a tool! He actually reminded me of a high school version of .... from Easy with his
• Length- I would have loved more background on Sam' family and work life etc and more on Ally too! It could have been longer!

I really enjoyed this for what it was a quick fun read which wasn't as cliched as it seemed!

Any thoughts on Sam and Ally??
Let me know!
Much Love!
Lettie
Xxxx

Waterdancer Blog Tour!!

Welcome to Day 3 of the Waterdance blog tour!

Who?
Samantha Combs is a young adult/middle grade author living in Southern California. The author of six books, three are young adult paranormal romances, Spellbound, Everspell, and Ghostly, a middle grade horror novel, The Detention Demon, two adult horror collections, Teeth and Talons, and Way Past Midnight, and a new standalone YA paranormal, entitled Waterdancer, which you should look for in Sept. 2012. Samantha hopes to complete and release two other books currently in progress. 2012 looks amazing!
When she is not writing or reading voraciously, Samantha enjoys bloggers, the Food Network Channel, reality television and wandering around the aisles at Target. She recently conquered Facebook and is learning how to use Twitter. She is sure she can handle any situation if she has the right shoes and has a mad passion for totally inappropriate earrings. Samantha believes the movement toward technology is the most exciting thing to happen to publishing and can’t wait to see what the industry is going to do next. Anything that makes kids want to read can’t be a bad thing.

Waterdancer!

As if high school isn’t hard enough, try being Bailey Wasserman.  Try being the new girl in town, navigating a touchy relationship with your flighty mom’s rich new husband in a brand new town he’s just moved you to.  Add to that finding out that your father, a semi-pro surfer who’s just mysteriously re-entered your life after nearly fifteen years of silence, is half sea-creature and you’re about to inherit that particular gene on your sixteenth birthday which is only a few days away, all after you just met the cutest surfer boy you’ve ever seen in your life.
Bailey feels she and her mom have always met life’s challenges as a team of two, more like best friends than mother and daughter.  But her mom’s recent marriage has changed all that.  Having her little brother Landry is all Bailey can find good about that union.  The move to wealthy Del Mar from their humble beginnings has turned Bailey sour, until a chance meeting of surf hottie Jack West changes all that.  Then, when her father reenters her life, with his annoying Zen-surfer lingo and a talking turtle he claims is her spirit guardian, no less, he threatens the only relationship Bailey thinks is working in her world. She soon finds out that’s not all his arrival will do.  His presence and their shared family trait could ultimately force Bailey to make a decision that will alter the course of her own life and those she loves…..forever. 

What I loved:

• Surfing!- I loved how big a part surfing played in the plot and the general community! I think it's because I've never lived somewhere were surfing is the norm so I find it really interesting!
• Kumu- I loved his character! I thought it was an unique take as I'd never read a spirit guide before.I especially liked how he was introduced and how he fulfilled his role.
• Jack- Why didn't boys like this go to my school?? I loved how he took the initiative and was so straight forward. He was great with Landry, and a really good boyfriend. I would love for him to teach me how to surf!
• Landry- I think well written younger brothers are becoming a common character in YA. Landry was so well formed as a character I loved him! He was sweet- definitely the best thing about their union!

What I didn't love as much:

• Sharona- Bailey's mum.. I initially felt bad for her but as the book went on I realised she was pretty weak as a person and as a character. She kept Bailey from her father knowing their shared family trait, and moved her completely out of her comfort zone for Warren. Not cool! She did redeem herself but still not a favourite of mine!

It was short but sweet- I liked that it wrapped everything up neatly with a epilogue despite being a novella!

Find out more!
Samantha has 6 other books which I'm sure are just as good as Waterdancer!
SPELLBOUND  http://www.amazon.com/Spellbound-Samantha-Combs/dp/1463787936/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1336187025&sr=8-13
EVERSPELL  http://www.amazon.com/Everspell-Spellbound-ebook/dp/B006Z0LKLC/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1336187120&sr=1-1
GHOSTLY  http://www.amazon.com/Ghostly-ebook/dp/B005ONM5RE/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1336187148&sr=1-1
THE DETENTION DEMON  http://www.amazon.com/The-Detention-Demon-ebook/dp/B0077DTQHG/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1336187185&sr=1-1
TEETH AND TALONS  http://www.amazon.com/Teeth-Talons-Horror-Anthology-ebook/dp/B006X51I4S/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1336187215&sr=1-1
WAY PAST MIDNIGHT  http://www.amazon.com/Way-Past-Midnight-ebook/dp/B0088DXFP8/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1338755543&sr=1-1


More Blog Tour!
Check out Samantha's blog or twitter to follow the tour!
Blog: http://www.samanthacombswrites.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/samanthacombs1

Hope you enjoyed this!
Much Love!
Lettie
Xxx

p.s this should have gone live at 10am not pm!

Top Ten Tuesday- Autumn TBR

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by: The Broke and the Bookish.

This week's topic is: Top Ten Books On Your Autumn TBR List!

 

I love Autumn! I think it is my favourite season- it never disappoints. You don't expect glorious weather so you're happy with whatever you get! I normally pick up 'heavier' books in Autumn but seeing as my usual 'back to school' routine is over who knows what I'll actually end up reading!
The  books are a diverse collection I really want to read this Autumn!

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

I finally saw the trailer last week and realised I need to read this one soon as the film will be out before I know it!

Throne of Glass by S.J Maas

I missed out on reading this on Fictionpress years ago so I'm so excited to read it as a hard copy! I've seen nothing but positive reviews so far.

A Confusion of Princes by Garth Nix

 

I love Garth Nix, his books are always so imaginative and easy to read. I saw this one in the shop and brought it straight away!

Percy Jackson  and the Lightening Thief by Rick Riordan

This one has been on my TBR since Christmas when I got it as a present! Definitely need to get started soon.

Crossed and Reached by Ally Condie

I've resisted Crossed as I know it's got a cliff hanger ending! With Reached being published in November I'm going to read them back to back. :)

Slammed by Colleen Hoover

I've heard so much positive hype on this one and it's been compared to loads of books I love so hopefully I'll love it too!

Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff

 

I want to read this one so badly- the blurb really sold it to me and it seems to be living up to it!

Just for Now by Abbi Glines

Officially addicted to the Sea Breeze series! I really loved Marcus' character and what I've read of Preston makes me think this one will be even better than While It Lasts!

Daughter of the Flames by Zoe Marriott

 

This one has been sat on my bookshelf for ages- I out it down years ago and never picked it back up! I'm desperate to read her next book but I'm determined to read this one first plus it will count for my Those Books I Should Have Read 2012 Reading Challenge which I've been neglecting.


What are you planning on reading this Autumn?
Have you read any of my TBR?

Let me know!
Much Love
Lettie
Xxxx