Monday 29 April 2013

Bout of Books 7.0!

 
The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 13th and runs through Sunday, May 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. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 7.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team.
 
Cannot believe it's Bout of Books time again! This time it falls on the week I'll be house sitting at my Grandparents= perfect reading time :)
 
Goals
  • Finish up all my May review books. (I should have finished the majority by them but just in case!)
  • Catch up on books I keep putting off!
  • Read at least 3 'hard copies'
  • Take part in a twitter talk! Fingers crossed as the timing always goes against me!
  • Comment on at least 5 new blogs.
Bout of Books TBR!
The Last Hour by Charles Sheehan-Miles.
Just Remember to Breathe by Charles Sheehan-Miles.
Shallow Pond by Alissa Grosso.
The Academy: Game On by Monica Seles.
Wait for You by J. Lynn.
Bunheads by Sophie Flack.
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin.
The Truth About Faking by Leigh Talbert Moore.
None of The Regular Rules by Erin Downing.
Crossed by Ally Condie.
 
Are you taking part?
Much Love!
Lettie
Xxx

Saturday 27 April 2013

Stacking the Shelves: April

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!

Welcome to my monthly haul!
April was once again a great month- now I'm behind with reading them all!

Actual Shelf!
The Diviners by Libba Bray. I had a couple of WHSmiths vouchers so I decided to finally pick this one up!
Reckless by Cornelia Funke. This one caught my eye and I love Cornelia Funke!

Virtual Shelf!
 
A Beautiful Lie by Tara Sivec. Random buy- the cover caught my eye!
If You Stay by Courtney Cole. This one keeps popping up on people's blogs and Twitter so I took the chance when it was 77p!
Off Sides by Sawyer Bennett. I loved the blurb and the cover!
Forty Days by Stephanie Parent. Sounds like such a great plot!

Review Shelf!
NetGalley

The Elite by Kiera Cass.  I loved The Selection so I jumped at the chance to read this one a little early!
Wait for You by J. Lynn. Another one I keep seeing everywhere so I'm looking forward to reading it!
Hopeless by Colleen Hoover. I want to try this one even though I'm not a big fan of Colleen's other books.

Review Copys
All my May blog tours! Some are authors I love and some are new to me!
Nissa by Bethany Lopez.
Nantucket Blue by Leila Howland.
Off Limits by Sawyer Bennett.
Lost and Found by Nicole Williams.
Stripped by Brooklyn Skye.
The Last Hour by Charles Sheehan-Miles.

How are your shelves looking after April?
Much love!
Lettie
Xxxx

Monday 22 April 2013

Monday Round Up!

One of my favourite memes hosted by the lovely Shelia over at Book Journey!
 
I haven't done this meme in ages!
I started a new job and everything got a bit hectic :)
Last week I was mainly assembling Ikea furniture and catching up with old friends so it's still all systems go!
This week I'm travelling back to Uni for a massive meet up with my Uni friends which I'm so excited about!

Last Week's Posts!
 Mini Reviews: Liz Reinhardt Edition! 4 Hearts all around for Liz Reinhardt!
Friday Five~ Dystopia Characters New Friday post featuring five favourites- first topic is male dystopia characters!

Read!
Both courtesy of NetGalley!
Losing It was a fun read, not quite what I was expecting!
The Elite was amazing so glad I got my hands on a little early.


Reading!
These two are both touring my blog in early May so I want to make sure I'm all set!
I'm reading two at a time because Nissa is only on my tablet which I don't always have with me.

What's Next?
I can't decide! This is a mixture of blog tours, NetGalley and books I just want to read- let me know if you recommend any of them!

Upcoming Posts!
Reviews~ The Elite by Kiera Cass and Losing it by Cora Carmack.
Friday Five~ Should be posting one of either side characters or female characters!

How have you all been?
Much Love!
Lettie
Xxxx 

Friday 19 April 2013

Friday Five~ Dystopia Characters

End the week with a few favourites!
 
This is one of my new ideas! I always love hearing about other people's favourites whether it's books or TV so I thought I'd share some of mine!
I was initially just going to do Dystopia characters but I could not narrow it down to five so I've spilt it into three categories; male characters, female characters and side characters!
Most dystopias I read are led by girls or dual viewpoints with the female character being introduced first. However the male characters are usually well crafted, supportive and enlightened 'sidekicks' so picking five favourites was a challenge!
 
Xander~ Matched.
I named him as one of the things I loved most about Matched and if I'm honest I think I loved him more than Cassia! There was so much more to him than met the eye. He was perceptive, competitive, loyal but also observant enough to know who or what to be loyal to! Don't know if my opinion will change on reading Crossed and Reached but as it stands I find him to be a good solid male character with value and flaws!
 

Four~ Divergent.

What an intriguing character! It's hard to discuss him without spoiling Divergent! I loved that I was able to guess his secret and still be intrigued and surprised. I really respected how he isolated himself from the harsher approaches to Dauntless, and how he adhered to the basic princples at the heart of Dauntless. I liked how Four was withdrawn and low key but knew how to command respect and always seemed to be adhering to the basic principals of Dauntless. I'm really looking forward to reading more of him and Tris in Insurgent.

Perry~ Under The Never Sky.

Like Aria I wasn't Perry's biggest fan at the beginning of Under The Never Sky- he was quite rough and harsh. I did like how mysterious he seemed to Aria with his heightened senses and different values. I loved how he crafted Aria shoes as gesture of apology- I think that was my turning point in liking him. I really loved him and Aria together they fit so perfectly.  In Through The Even Night, I think Perry showed himself to be a true leader at heart despite his own doubts. He always put his people's best interests first regardless of how unpopular some of those choices were initially. I liked seeing a more vulnerable side to Perry when he felt isolated and was separated from Aria, it softened his harsh characteristics from Under The Never Sky. I cannot wait to see how he grows further Into The Still Blue.

Alex~ Delirium
 
I've only read Delirium but I loved Alex. He was such a layered and complex character yet initially he seemed so simple! The way he slowly introduced Lena to his life and the world she was unaware of was, showed how sensitive he was to her feelings and how important she was to him. I loved how fearless he was with his approach to life and I cannot wait to discover more about his life!

Maxon~The Selection.
I enjoyed Maxon's naivety and mystery in The Selection. Seeing him through America's eyes he seemed sheltered but serious. What I loved most about The Prince was getting such an insight into Maxon's views and opinions. I liked seeing that he too was confusion over the Selection and how he could pick a good wife and a good Queen. He was very considerate of the girls not toying with the ones he had little interest in and focussing on those he found most intriguing. His relationship with his father was clearly strained due to his father's strict controlling nature so it explained a lot about how they had interacted in The Selection. Maxon came across just as dedicated and considerate as he had been in The Selection but it was obvious that he was more independent than he or America realised! I hope he continues to grow as a character in The Elite.

Which male characters are your favourites?
Much Love!
Lettie
Xxx

Tuesday 16 April 2013

Mini Reviews: Liz Reinhardt Edition!

Mini reviews~ Sometimes I love a book but I just can't do a full review or I just back log reviews!
*This is a new feature so the format isn't fully tested! Please let me know what you think!* I try to keep them short and sweet!

I found Liz Reinhardt through her collaborations with Steph Campbell and NetGalley! I knew straight away she would be on my Mini Review list :) She even has a straight run of 4 Hearts!

Depths
Do you believe in love at first phone call? Cohen Rodriquez, Deo’s hilarious, über responsible best friend in LENGTHS got dumped by his long-time girl because he’s ‘not impulsive enough,’ and he's burned up. But maybe, just maybe, she’s more right than he wants to admit. So he starts to date. A lot. But no one really feels like the one. And the more girls he dates, the more Cohen’s convinced she isn’t really out there. Luckily he has Maren—the girl with the sexy voice who always cracks the best jokes. They’ve been talking daily for a year…on the phone. What started as all work soon blooms into friendship. Then she asks him. Do you want to meet? He's scared out of his mind to ruin the one easy, fun relationship he has going for him. But he takes the plunge, and things are just fine, totally easy and comfortable. Except that they both sense it's not strictly platonic...there is an undeniable attraction and absolute raw chemistry between them…and every time they're in the same room, that attraction gets deeper and harder to ignore. Maren could be the best thing that’s ever happened to Cohen… Or she could send his carefully compartmentalized life into a tailspin. Cohen has to decide if he’s ready to let go of his comfortable fantasy and embrace the one girl who might be able to change his luck in love.
 
I loved Lengths so much I could not wait for Depths!
What I loved:
Cohen- I loved him! He was so different from Deo, less wild but not boring, he was a genuinely nice guy. I felt so bad for him, questioning who he was and how he behaved all because his ex was so mean! I loved how gentlemanly he was on all those dates and with Maren. 
Bromance- I loved Deo and Cohen together! They really complemented each other as best friends, Deo slotted into Cohen's family and vice versa. I loved how Deo was so straight with Cohen, it was exactly what Cohen needed! I liked how Whit just slotted into the setup as well!
What I didn't love as much:
Jason- He was so disgusting and had absolutely no morals! He was important to the plot but I did not like him at all!
Maren's family- There was lots of discussion about Maren's family but I wanted to see more of them, especially her mother and sister. It was such an intriguing family drama!

I loved the characters, the plot and I can not wait to read more about the Rodriquez family in the next part of this series! 
 
Fall Guy
Fiery Evan Lennox is dreading community service, until she meets Winchester Youngblood.
Winch is mysterious and sexy as hell, and Evan soon finds herself falling for his bad boy charm.
But Winch has some dark secrets of his own and they threaten to destroy everything.
Should Evan follow her instincts and give into temptation . . . or will Winchester prove too hot to handle?











I was initially put off this series because I thought Youngblood was a paranormal reference but I decided to give it a chance when I saw it on NetGalley! It definitely isn't paranormal but I maybe should have read the Breanna Blixen books first as it's kind of a spin off.
What I loved:
Savannah- I love the idea of Savannah, it made for a beautiful setting!
Premise- I loved the community service angle, it was really unique to me and made for some very passionate and different interactions and situations. I also enjoyed how the story focussed on the together part of the relationship rather than the getting together part, it was interesting to see how they dealt with all the awkward issues in their way. I loved the Youngblood family, maybe not the older generation, but I liked how devoted to each other they seemed and how that negatively affected almost all of the children.
Characters- Evan and Winch were beautifully flawed, I liked how well they clicked together; their personalities and lives really complimented each other. Winch was such a decent guy just being misused by his family, the conflict in his life was so clear and intriguing to read that I couldn't stop until I knew how he was going to get away from it all. I loved the individual personalities of the Youngbloods, from Ithaca's fierce defiance to Benali's dutiful peace-making to Colt's passion for the wrong sport, I could really see how different they were and it made me impatient for the next instalment!
What I didn't love as much:
Writing style- Liz's writing style initially bothered me I can't put my finger on why. However once I adjusted to it I sped through both Fall Guy and Double Clutch.
Older Characters- The older generation seemed to be very contradictory. Evan's Grandma spoke of risking everything for love but didn't support Evan doing just that. The Youngblood parents were selfishly using their children for their own gain regardless of how that affected their health etc. I also found Remy very self destructive, he seemed like a likeable guy but he kept on wrecking his own life for no real reason knowing full well he wasn't just ruining his own life.
I loved the premise, the characters and I cannot wait to read the next book!
 
Double Clutch

Who to choose . . .?
Thrust back into school life after a year in Denmark, Brenna Blixen is soon making new friends and catching the eye of two boys with bad reputations. There's the dark and mysterious Saxon, and the gorgeous and sexy Jake.
They're both totally hot and totally into Brenna.
But Saxon and Jake have unresolved history and Brenna's caught in the middle.
It's time to make some tough choices, fast.










I also put off Double Clutch for awhile just because I dislike love triangles! NetGalley made me give it a go and I really enjoyed it!

What I loved:
Breanna- I loved how different she was from the usual female leads! She was so  upbeat and forthright, it was great to read. I loved how her different upbringing, from Denmark to before her mum for married really affected her personality for the better. I liked her relationship with her mother and how close they were, which made it awkward when she kept certain things from her! I really admired her straight forward approach to the guys, it made a chance from the usual back and forth!
Saxon and Jake- I am in love with both of these guys! I don't want to spoil anything so I will keep my love brief. I loved how layered both of them were, both had there negative parts and were completely different yet similar. I couldn't choose between them!
Side Cast- The side cast were brilliant! I loved her parents and the family dynamic they had especially when doing up Breanna's bedroom! They were such a stable unit! I loved how Kelsie happily picked her old friendship with Breanna back up like no time had past. I liked how creative she was and her own story which was interwoven with Breanna's. Devon grew on me, initially he annoyed me but I loved the inclusion of his backstory and how Breanna included him! I liked how Folly were such an uniting force throughout the story, giving Breanna a creative outlet, a link with Saxon, Kelsie a boyfriend and a big event for everyone to attend!
 What I didn't love as much:
Ending- I like clear endings! Double Clutch ended without much conclusion. It's obviously leading in to the next books which is a positive as I do want mere Breanna, Jake and Saxon!
Love Triangle- I was already wary of the love triangle angle from the blurb. I love Jake and Saxon equally and at least one will be heartbroken :(. Which is what I dislike most about love triangles!
I loved this one despite the love triangle! I loved the literacy references, the teen girl crafts, and of course the characters!

Are you a Liz Reinhardt fan??
Much Love!
Lettie
xxx

Monday 15 April 2013

Update!

Hi guys!

I've been in a bit of a blogging rut this month!
I started my new job (yay!) and I am DIYing my living room which takes up a lot of time and adjusting.
I also got a bit behind with my reviewing which always puts me off of blogging for some reason.
However this weekend I got back in my blogging groove and organised myself!
I've planned two reviews a week until the end of April at least plus some extra posts :)

Sorry I've been AWOL but I'm buckling down!

Much Love!
Lettie
xxx

Monday 8 April 2013

Cover Reveal! Lost and Found by Nicole Williams

There’s complicated. And there’s Rowen Sterling.
After numbing pain for the past five years with boys, alcohol, and all-around apathy, she finds herself on a Greyhound bus to nowhere Montana the summer after she graduates high school. Her mom agreed to front the bill to Rowen’s dream art school only if Rowen proves she can work hard and stay out of trouble at Willow Springs Ranch. Cooking breakfast at the crack of dawn for a couple dozen ranch hands and mucking out horse stalls are the last things in the world Rowen wants to spend her summer doing.
Until Jesse Walker saunters into her life wearing a pair of painted-on jeans, a cowboy hat, and a grin that makes something in her chest she’d thought was frozen go boom-boom. Jesse’s like no one else, and certainly nothing like her. He’s the bright and shiny to her dark and jaded. Rowen knows there’s no happily-ever-after for the golden boy and the rebel girl—happily-right-now is a stretch—so she tries to forget and ignore the boy who makes her feel things she’s not sure she’s ready to feel. But the more she pushes him away, the closer he seems to get. The more she convinces herself she doesn’t care, the harder she falls.
When her dark secrets refuse to stay locked behind the walls she’s kept up for years, Rowen realizes it’s not just everyone else she needs to be honest with. It’s herself.
 
Expected release date- 7th May!
Lost and Found is automatically on my TBR! I love the sound of the plot and the setting!
 
Are you a Nicole Wiliams' fan?
Much love!
Lettie
Xxxx

Saturday 6 April 2013

April TBR

Books I want to read in April including blog tours.


For Review
Nissa by Bethany Lopez.
Waiting on Forever by Ashley Wilcox.
After Math by Denise Grover Swank.
NetGalley
Dear Cassie by Lisa Burstein.
New Releases
The Elite by Kiera Cass.
Second Chance Boyfriend by Monica Murphy.
Pleasure
The Truth about Faking It by Leigh T. Moore.
Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver.
February Leftovers!
Vain by Fisher Amelie.  
Double Clutch by Liz Reinhardt.
The Disgrace of Kitty Grey by Mary Hooper.

I think I'm most looking forward to The Elite!
What are you reading this April?
Much Love!
Lettie
Xxx

Monday 1 April 2013

March: A Review

 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!
 
March! A month of jobs ending, opportunities and no biscuits!
March in numbers!
Total posts= 16
Books read= 12
Reviews Posted= 6* 

What I read in March!
 Wow! Good reading month!
 
What I reviewed!
I Choose You by Bethany Lopez. Blog Tour! 3* Hearts.
Once again not as many as I would like!

What I posted!
Stacking The Shelves: March- A month review of what books joined my shelves!
March TBR List - New monthly feature which I try to keep updated!
Volition by Lee Strauss: A teaser!
Bloggiesta- March 2013!
Bloggiesta Wrap Up See how I did!
Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally Read-a-Long My thoughts on the first half of Catching Jordan.
Teaser: The Edge of Always by J.A. Redmerski
Spring TBR List! See what books I hope to read this Spring!
Lettie Loves Films Film reviews!

Challenge Progress
Genre Variety Challenge- 4/12.
New Adult Challenge-17/20.
YA Contemporary Challenge- 1/10.
First Reads- 10/11.
TBR Pile- 3/11-20.
Dystopia- 3/15.
Good progress- Just need to get started on the British Books Challenge!

Did I achieve my goals?
Reviews- I will post at least 4 reviews.
Yay! 4 mini reviews and 2 normal ones! I think mini reviews may become a monthly thing :) 
Posts- Once again 16!
Yay! Finally achieved this goal :)
Comments- I keep falling behind with comment replies! 

 Not quite on top but getting better :)

What I hope to achieve in April!
  • Structure- I am going to make some of my sporadic posts 'monthly' posts. A TBR, mini reviews, Lettie Loves, Stacking the Shelves and a Friday favourites. I want to get them all posted in April to make my blog more consistently structured!
  • Posts- Keep up to 16 and post at least 4 reviews. 
How was your March?
Any aims for April?
Much Love!
Lettie
Xxx