Geek Girl All That Glitters - Holly Smale

Title: Geek Girl: All That Glitters
Author: Holly Smale
Publication Date: 2015
Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers
Available Editions: Ebook, Paperback, Hardback.







Synopsis:
My name is Harriet Manners, and I am still a geek." The fourth book in the award-winning GEEK GIRL series. Harriet Manners has high hopes for the new school year: she's a Sixth Former now, and things are going to be different. But with Nat busy falling in love at college and Toby preoccupied with a Top Secret project, Harriet soon discovers that's not necessarily a good thing...

Review:
So here we are ONCE AGAIN, with another Geek Girl book. I've come to fall in love with Holly Smale and The Geek Girl Series and I cannot wait for more. It took me a while to finish the book as I had to a lot of school work to do and also babysitting but I got there in the end and thoroughly enjoyed it anyway. I managed to read the final half in one day even with my dad causing the loss of my page. TWICE. This review will be short due to it being spoiler free like I try to keep all of my reviews but I do hope it helps you decide to read the book or not easily.

This time we watch Harriet become a sixth former without her best friend Nat who is now in another college. Her fellow stalker Toby seems distant with her without reason leaving her no choice but to make new friends alone. But surely enough because its Harriet, the experience isn't smooth but she's gets by. She does meet a boy names Jasper who she has more in common with than she likes to think and her parents are still the couple that remain perfect like cheese and chalk

Like you can all see I didn't get into the Geek Girl series until earlier of this year in late March early April and its been a great experience so far and i really have fallen for Holly Smale, the way she had portrayed a long distance relationship in this book just got to me. This book gave me so many emotions, starting with pride and they shake up until the end where my heart is entirely broken and being put back together. This book really tied everything together and it did a wonderful job at it.

Harriet still remains to be herself, and no matter how hard she tries she cannot change who she is but since we last saw her, in New York she has matured a lot and we do get flash backs from time to time to fill in the picture of her journey throughout her Modelling journeys.

This book was rated a five star as I just found it to be an amazing book…have I said that already? And it’s just one of those books that will never ever be bad. With each book, it just gets better. The series started off strong and has continued to grow and become greater with each instalment. If you’re looking for a fun book made for all ages, please go run and buy yourself a copy or all of them, because I'm tempted to.


Holly if you're reading this, you have done an amazing job with creating these characters and books that we have come to love and I'm immensely proud of you for how far you have come and how far you are continuing to go. Stay awesome and please continue to break and fix my heart.

Thursday Thoughts - Let Me Tell You A Story

So this post wasn't actually my first idea, it took me 5 different topics to come to this one.

I'm not sure what day it was, or the exact time but I know it was past 8am, I was on my way to Sixth Form and I was having times where I couldn't remember if I had turned things off at home or if I had indeed locked the door. I grew upset and angry with myself for not being able to remember, no matter what my friend did to calm me and reassure me I simply couldn't calm down. Friends at sixth form knew I was having these lapses in memory but would pass it off or would make it something funny which didn't matter much.

I was on the way through a small set of shops by my sixth form where I would usually sit down for a few minutes so I wasn't too early. The benches I sit on are placed in a hexagon outside of a butchers and 3 other shops but I always chose the bench that faced out the door I came in leaving the door I had to go out of behind me.  After becoming very angry and frustrated with myself of not being able to remember, I sat there alone and broke into tears, I had 5 Seconds Of Summer playing in one earphone as the other one dangled so I could make sure I wasn't crying too loud to draw a lot of attention.

The benches were where people would walk past to take the quick route instead of walking around the whole building so that morning kids were walking through, some with parents, some by themselves or with friends. I would cover my face to cry as they walked past, some didn't look in my direction, some did and just tried to smile at me which I tried to do in return. One woman, accompanied with a few children maybe 2 walked past, the children were on their way to school and were a little in front of her, she glanced back at me and walked towards me.

"Are you okay?" she asked leaning over the bench to get level with me.
"Yes thanks." I tried to smile back at her
"Are you sure?" she replied as the children waited for her
"Yes thank you." I reply to her flashing her a smile
"If you're sure." she smiled back now, straightening herself up from leaning over to be level with me
"Thank you." I mutter and she smiles again and continues walking.

This woman was one of the 10 or so people walking through that building that morning who witnessed me crying, even though I told her I was okay and didn't tell her the truth, somehow it lifted a weight off of my shoulders because even though she had a responsibility of getting the children to school on time, she took a minute or two to ask a complete stranger if she was okay. My tears dried up a minute or so after she left, a weight off my shoulders I walked into sixth form and got on with my day never forgetting the single woman who took time to ask me.

I continue to walk that same path every day I attend sixth form, maybe in hope I'll see her again and we'll recognise each other and smile or just because I'm used to that path, or both. No one has ever heard this until now, I just wanted to share the story. One question can do a lot, even if you ask it to a stranger it helps.

Top Ten Tuesday - Halloween Freebie

As its a Halloween freebie I went for 10 of the most scariest books, no I haven't read most of the books but I've heard from others about how scary they actually are and well, its Halloween so why not share the spooks?

The Exorcist - William Peter Blatty
American Psycho - Bret Easton Ellis
Invisible Man - Ralph Ellison
Hell House - Richard Matheson
Blindness - Jose Saramago
The Trial - Franz Kafka
Lord Of The Flies - William Golding
Cock & Bull - Will Self
Disgrace - J.M. Coetzee
The Stranger - Albert Camus

       

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke And The Bookish

Memphis Hoodoo Murders - Kathryn Rogers

Title: Memphis Hoodoo Murders
Author: Kathryn Rogers
Publication Date: August 15th 2015
Publisher: Sartoris Literary Group
Available Editions: Paperbook, EBook


Book Synopsis:

People have been hunting down Addie Jackson's family her entire life. Now the people who have targeted her grandparents, Pop and Grandma, have their sights on her. The Memphis police have been unable to stop them because they have been bewitched to stay away by practitioners of a virulent strain of Memphis Hoodoo.

In her predictive dreams, Addie regularly sees future events which disturb her, but to her dismay, she has never been able to stop them from coming true. She often dreams of a dark character, who she is later shocked to discover is a devil from hoodoo legend known simply as the man.

Finally, knowing their deaths are imminent, Grandma makes a deal with the hoodoo devil to take care of Addie. After their murders, John, a family friend, steps in to help Addie, and she soon realises he knows more about her family's tainted past than she ever has. Addie begins receiving cryptic letters from her deceased grandmother, which reveal a shocking family history revolving around slavery, time travel and black magic.

If Addie can survive jail, her cousins abduction, threats from a menacing urban street gang named the Skullbangerz, corrupt law enforcement, and hoodooed attacks, maybe she can finally dream of a future where she will be safe and free.

Review:

I was contacted via email asking if I would like to review this book, of course I said yes and within two weeks I received a complimentary copy through the post. I was really excited to be getting this book and I'm not sure why. I guess it was down to the fact I wondered what it has in store for me.

Addie is 20 years old and living with her grandparents Pap and Grandma and she knows they have secrets and she wants to know them all but they're are reluctant to share them with her for now. Addie also has these dreams that predict the future, and its soon revealed why she has these dreams, but the contents of her dreams always come true with very creepy precision. Pap and Grandma are the sort of grandparents I'd love to have, well beside the hoodoo stuff, they're very wise and caring when it comes to Addie and they always protect her no matter the cost. John is much like her grandparents even though he hasn't know her before the day they meet, he has her do everything he says knowing its the only way to keep her safe but after an event leaves both of them in jail Addie finally meets the dark man in her Dream, The Man. Without spoiling it he is man I'd love to have in my life, caring and honest, and what I like, mysterious. Addie has a best friend called Keisha who is always there to support her and has done since they were young after saving Addie from kidnappers. The pair share and unbreakable bond as Keisha is the only person to know how weird Addie's grandparents really are but once they die the friendship begins to become strained due to a lack of communication and the relationship is tested.

I was excited to read this book, the mention of Hoodoo had me interested straight away, its always been something I loved to think about alongside voodoo. I was excited when I begun reading it, I was simply unable to put it down and even when I did I was itching to pick it up again. For some reason I loved the feel of the cover and maybe that was part of the reason I was barely able to put the book down.

My one point I have to say about this book is that towards the end it seemed to all come at once, throughout the book its all dragged out for a perfect time but in the last 43 pages or so everything just seemed to happen one after another, continuously and I was barely able to keep my head wrapped around it all but it all played out perfectly and I came to not really mind about it much as it all seemed to be necessarily rushed, it needed to be as fast paced as it was and it was thoroughly enjoyable.

I can honestly say I recommend this book to anyone and I mean anyone 16+ no matter what genre you're into because I'm mostly known for reading YA all of the time but this book really got me so maybe it will interest you, after all it does cast a spell on you. I have to rate this book a 4.7/5 just down to the fact of I'm recovering from a fast paced final 43 pages.

Thoroughly great read and I'm thankful for having the opportunity to read and review such a book. I really wish Kathryn success with this novel and any future work.

Thursday Thoughts - Lets Take A Look At Whats Coming.

So for all of you who are on my blog every time i post you know that i do 3 posts per week, a Top Ten Tuesday, a Thursday Thought and a review. This post is going to show you what is currently happening with me related to this blog.

1. I received a complimentary copy of Memphis Hoodoo Murders by Kathryn Rogers through the post after being contacted asking if I would like to review the book, host a giveaway etc. and I decided to go for a review as I felt it easier to do alongside all of my school work that I have to do outside of school. I hope you guys like the review when I post it and hopefully give the book a go yourself. The review should be the next post on the blog after this.
2. I am also looking to start doing interviews with authors, the lovely Peter Monn had suggested it and even offered to be my first interviewed author on this blog. If this plan goes ahead like I hope it does, look out for the interview as I cant believe it could happen.
3. I'm also part of the Kiss Kill Love Him Still Scavenger Hunt blog tour. All the dates for the tour are below alongside the tour banner and other pieces I've received for the blog tour. Please feel free to check out other blogs on the blog tour.

Kiss Kill Love Him Still

By Jamie Blair & Dawn Rae Miller

Release Date: November 10th 2015

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Synopsis:

Jackson Landis keeps secrets. Its how he got girls into bed, the grades he wanted, and a reputation for being the life of the party.

But now he's dead, and no one knows how or why. Especially not the four girls whose secrets her protected. Secrets so scandalous they could cause each girl to lose something valuable. Secrets so dark, someone may have killed for them.

The four girls - a campus drug dealer, an overweight bookworm, a closeted lesbian and a spoiled princess all have one thing in common - they're terrified the things Jackson knew may not of died with him. As Reggie, Haddie, Val and Livie try to piece together her own role in Jackson's death, each girl realises Jackson had some not-so-pretty skeletons of his own. Which makes a girl wonder, who really wanted Jackson Landis dead?

November 4th

 A Dream Within A Dream

Bookwyrming Thoughts

Rhea's Neon Journal

Curling Up With A Good Book

Little Library Muse

opinionated cupcakes

The Awkward Bookster

What Is That Book About

November 5th

Ink of Blood

Here's to Happy Endings

BookCrushin

Brittney's Book Nook

Up All Night Book Addict

Novel Ink

Adventures in Bookland

November 6th

Princessica of Books

kimberlyfaye reads

Resch Reads and Reviews

DanaSquare

fuonlyknew

A Book Addict's Bookshelves

Lita's Book Blog

deal sharing aunt

November 7th

Collector of book boyfriends

Crystal's Chaotic Confessions

Ishiee's Book Blog

Feed Your Fiction Addiction

Spiced Latte Reads

Bookworm for Kids

ChocolatePages

November 8th

Hopelessly Devoted Bibliophile

Penny Dreadful Book Reviews

alwaysjoart

nerdychampagne

The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club

Mama Reads Hazel Sleeps

A Books Eternal Glory

Tea, Books, Crannies and Nooks

November 9th

the bookdragon

Bittersweet Reads

Dark Novella

The Cover Contessa

Zili in the Sky

YA Book Madness

Evermore Books

November 10th

Her Book Thoughts!

Birds that love words

NightlyReading

The Phantom Paragrapher

Book Bite Reviews

The Hardcover Lover

The Page Starts Here

Book Starlets

November 11th

Excerpt Reveal & Book Reviews!

Here's to Happy Endings - Review

Hopelessly Devoted Bibliophile - Review

Mama Reads Hazel Sleeps - Review

Ink of Blood - Review

the bookdragon - Review

Her Book Thoughts! - Review

Ishiee's Book Blog - Review

Up All Night Book Addict - Review

Zili in the Sky - Review

Novel Ink - Review

November 12th

The Awkward Bookster - Review

Birds that love words - Review

Feed Your Fiction Addiction - Review

DanaSquare - Review

Adventures in Bookland - Review

nerdychampagne - Review

Book Starlets - Review

Book Bite Reviews - Review

Bittersweet Reads - Review

Resch Reads and Reviews - Review

Top Ten Tuesday - Wishes I Would Want Granted By The Book Genie.

1. Have A Comfy Reading Nook in my bedroom, where its lighted and looks cute and is comfy and really adorable.

2. Each year on my birthday receive £20 gift card to fund my book addiction and to stay up to date with either all of the new releases or just so I can experience the recommended books.

3. To have a bookcon, I know that sounds completely crazy as a wish but I would want to meet other fellow book review bloggers and publishers and other book readers etc. and just to expand my links with people.

4. To spend the day with Holly Smale because she seems really kind and considerate and just an all around awesome person.

5. For a new book to appear on my shelf every 3 months, but they would be the most unknown books that had been published in those 3 years so that I can bring awareness to the authors and the books.

6. I'd like the book genie to help me publish a book that I've written or have in writing as I've always wanted to publish my own book. I'm terrible at giving them title though.

7. To have a book written about me like just a book where a character is based around me etc.

8. To have 5 of my favourite book characters to come to life and are able to stay alive until they pass of natural causes.

9.  To get a book lovers soy candle every month so that they are the monthly recommendations and so that I can enjoy reading books even more with the different smells.

10. To change the fate of one character in a separate, new copy of one book of my choice. For example I could choose The Hunger Games and change the fate of Finnick etc but I can only change the fate in a reprint/ special edition.


Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted over on The Broke And The Bookish

Outspoken - Lora Richardson

Title: Outspoken
Author: Lora Richardson
Publication Date: August 16th/18th 2015
Publisher:  Createspace
Available Editions: EBook, Paperback





Book Synopsis
Penny Beck is a girl who says yes when she means no.  She keeps to herself, follows the rules, and does what she’s told.  After a disastrous experience with her boyfriend, she's determined to change from the spineless person she’s always been into the strong woman she wants to become.  All she needs is a little practice.

On a cross-country trip to check on her grandpa, she strives to become bolder and more outspoken with the strangers she meets.  Penny's plan is to practice saying and doing what she wants without worrying about what anyone else thinks.

Then she meets Archer, an introspective loner to whom she finds herself drawn.  She realizes she does care what he thinks, very much. Will Penny be able to stick to her plan, or will she revert back to her people-pleasing ways?

Review:

Lora emailed me earlier this month about possibly being interested in reading her book and featuring it here on my blog, of course I said yes and soon I received my EBook copy and got to reading. It took me around two days all together to read the whole book and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The main character Penny is used to saying yes to everything she's asked to do, yes here yes there but she travels across the country to finally say no. I felt a large connection with Penny as soon as I learned about her, she seemed like me quite a lot. Loving sleep, always saying yes when she meant no amongst other things. Unlike me however she makes friends a lot easier, like Gwen and Marissa and Archer amongst others. Gwen is full of energy and very much someone I'd love to have in my life but I never got sick of any of the characters they were all so important in Penny's journey especially her Grandad Cal and Archer.

Penny and Archer were great characters on their own, but they were even better together. I loved how slowly but surely the bond between them strengthened. Archer's story was extremely sad for me to read but his honesty and how he opened up to Penny was fascinating. He grandfather has a sad story to tell too, he lost his wife Ruby years ago but he is now suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Throughout the story I was really sad when it came to Cal, as I just didn't want him to forget Ruby, it just got me. Also Id love to know where he keeps his stash of chocolate.

Penny's job in the super market  where Archer and Marissa also work, where she delivers customer orders leads her to meet a range of weirdly wonderful people who all shape her experience as she find a new self.

The book of course comes to a satisfying end having taught me lessons and left me with a few questions. The book is incredibly well written and an awesome go at a coming of age/Y.A/Romance book.
I give it a 5/5 and I recommend it to everyone who has ever suffered from saying yes and doing everything you've meant to do, it will open your eyes and hopefully teach you some of the lessons it has taught me.
This book is also Lora's first YA novel and I wish her all the best with the success of it and of future works. This has been a great book to read and I hope you feel like Outspoken is an experience you need to have.

Thursday Thoughts - TV Series

So its October and for me that means the return of  two of my favourite TV series.

1: The Walking Dead Season 6. I've been with this show since its first ever episode and I've been a dedicated fan since and maybe this year I can attend Walker Stalker Con in London and possibly meet come of the cast.

2: American Horror Story: Hotel. Lady Gaga makes her appearance in the franchise and I'm looking forward to it. I managed to watch Murder House, Asylum, Coven and Freak Show within two months and I fell in love with it.

So those are my two favourite returning shows that I watch but I also know Supernatural is returning for its tenth season (October 7th) and that hopefully its going to be amazing.

I did recently begin to think about two other TV series that I had finished watching but had then been cancelled and they were Forever and The Following. I did become addicted to The Following and Kevin Bacon because I mean... I don't even know I just did. it was such a great franchise and I hope one day it can return alongside Forever. I loved how cute Forever actually was like all of the characters actually had emotions towards each other.

Recently a series started that is called Zoo. It is basically about animals that begin to fight back against the humans and its been really creative and great that I have to watch it.

Unfortunately unlike The Walking Dead, Fear The Walking Dead hasn't been on my TV a lot. This isn't because its bad because after the one episode I did watch it was great. its just that my TV wouldn't record them because it was on BT Freeview and we had sky so it wouldn't work. I'm really looking forward to finding another way to watch it.

ALSO Fear The Walking Dead is The Walking Dead spinoff and I also believe there will be a spinoff from Fear The Walking Dead called Flight 462. This will be an online web series like The Walking dead had a mini online series a while back on AMC that I couldn't access (yay for the UK) but I hope it will be good.

I also want Gotham to return, I just loved how it showed us Gotham and its way of working before Batman became Batman and shows you what he endures as a kid.

So what TV series' do you watch? Any of your favourites been cancelled? if so what were they called?

Top Ten Tuesday - Duo's I'd like to see/read

So this week was really hard for me considering I cant remember half of the books I've ever read, I mean all I can remember are those I've read this year and distinct authors from my childhood, I gave this list my best shot anyway.


1. J.K.Rowling and Dame Jacqueline Wilson

2. J.K.Rowling and John Green

3. John Green and Darren Shan

4. Darren Shan and John Becker

5. James Leck and John Becker

6. Roald Dalh and J.R.R. Tolkien

7. Holly Smale and Carrie Hope Fletcher

8. Veronica Roth and Suzanne Collins

The list above only contains 8 duos but I couldn't think of many more. The duos I've listed, to me would suit each other either because they have similar writing styles or I believe their ways of writing would boost the other in their writing or that it would just entertain me to think of them working side by side. I thought of writing my reasons for each of them but I would at least be repeating myself 5 times so I thought it quite pointless but if you have read any books by the authors above (i believe most of you have read books by most of them) you can tell what I mean with my reasons of similar writing styles etc.


Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke And The Bookish.

Geek Girl Picture Perfect - Holly Smale

 

Title: Geek Girl Picture Perfect
Author: Holly Smale
Publication Date: 2014
Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
Available Editions: Kindle Edition, Paperback, Hardcover, Audio Book.

Synopsis:

“My name is Harriet Manners, and I’ll always be a geek.”
It’s the hilarious third book in the bestselling award-winning GEEK GIRL series!
Harriet Manners knows more facts than most.
She knows that New York is the most populous city in the United States.
She knows that its official motto is ‘Ever Upward’.
She knows that one in thirty-eight people living in the US lives there.
But she knows nothing whatsoever about modelling in the Big Apple and how her family will cope with life stateside. Or ‘becoming a brand’ as the models in New York say. And even more importantly, what to do when the big romantic gestures aren’t coming your way from your boyfriend…
Does geek girl go too far this time?
The laugh out loud follow-up to award-winning debut GEEK GIRL and MODEL MISFIT will have you in stitches!

Review:
So were here again. Another Geek Girl book and another fabulous read at that. This series has given me so many moments of pure feeling I'm beginning to think I was numb before I read these books. Geek Girl Picture Perfect is the 3rd instalment of the Geek Girl series by the wonderful Holly Smale. I love how the books really connect to each other and to the readers, to me I'm pretty hooked on them, like without them I cant function. Luckily though I get by.

Harriet is 15 years old and a Model, she's excited to end one chapter of her life and open the door to an amazing future. She's close to beginning sixth form and to turning 16, and she truly cannot wait. Her future depends on her grades from her exams but there is never any doubt if you know how intelligent she really is. Suddenly her plans are all ruined, leaving her feeling well... Un Harriet like.
Nick is still the Australian curly haired god that I can imagine him being, he's so caring it hurts me, like it gets me right in the feels. It was great to see more of Fleur, for some reason I just really enjoyed having her around. Cal seemed to not click with me, like his character was great but I had a bad vibe as soon as he came into the story so I was always weary of him.

I have to admit I got through the book within a day and I enjoyed every moment. Its really great to be witnessing Harriet growing up and experiencing different things and going on journeys in life that most of us have been on.

I cant make this review too long without adding in any spoilers and well, I like to keep things spoiler free but this book is definitely getting a 5 out of 5 from me, it was thoroughly enjoyable and I recommend it to anyone who hasn't read it yet but had started the Geek Girl Series.

Thursday Thoughts - Pets

When it comes to having pets there are pros and cons. Maybe the lists for both could go on forever but pets no matter which type they are they're company for when you feel lonely, they can brighten your day and sometimes show affection to you. but besides these things they teach you how to be responsible and independent  and provide entertainment as each pet animal has their own little personality to get to know.
Having a pet allows you to feel a sense of achievement when you see that they are healthy and content and after everything you end up, unknowingly to you, you gain more knowledge about the animal and you can help others who you know who have the same pet and need a help in hand with taking care of them.

To every good thing there are somewhat bad things. Some pets need a lot of attention and training which requires patience and time, and vets bills can be very expensive but vets are crucial to help maintain the health of the pet. Unfortunately some pets can smell and so your house may have an odour, but do not worry, everyone knows you cannot keep a pet smell free.

Recently one of my fish that I have had for many years begun to show signs that she was dying but I did a 25% water changed and cleaned the filter and she improved but like me you can gain very attached to your pet and so when they die you become very distressed. I started out with 4 fish and when two died on separate occasions I was very distressed, lets not even talk about a rabbit I had to give away and she later died of old age and I cried for a long time.
Keeping slightly sad, depending on the pet, they may not live very long but each pet tends to have different life spans. If you want the best for your pets or just in general, they can be expensive to take care of but surely its all worth it in the end. Although I've seen this to be very rare, its worth knowing, when certain pets grow old or have something to protect some may turn and become aggressive

Top Ten Tuesday - Bookish Thinks I Want To Quit

Binge/Reckless Buying - Usually I'm really good at choosing which books to buy, but because my sixth form is located in a town with 3 stores that mainly sell books it becomes very hard to avoid them even more so when there is a sale sign in the window or I have a gift card. Even though I tend to have several un read books on my shelves ill just keep buying more. I once bought 4 books because they were 50p or less, I bought them because they were a bargain.

Putting reading before work - I'm only doing 3 days a week at sixth form studying media and I use Thursdays and Fridays to stay up to date on my work and expand and push myself with the work I do on those two days but at times I tend to begin reading a book as I take a break from my work and then end up spending more time reading the book rather than doing the sixth form work I first set out to do.

Binge/No Break Reading - Sometimes I find myself so deep into a book it becomes very hard for me to put it down. This usually leads to 4 hour reading sessions, stiff neck resulting in pain and very dry eyes and heavy eyelids with a very dry mouth leading to an unquenchable thirst. It mostly happens at 1am. If I'm lucky enough sometime sit happens during the day.

Getting Mad At Previous Book Owners - There comes a time or two where I cant afford to buy the books out of the shop brand new, so I buy them online second hand and for a cheaper price. The description says its in near perfect condition and so when it arrives I'm usually really happy but sometimes I receive the book/s and there will be a tear in the dust cover or one or more of the pages or small dog ears that drive me crazy. I go mad, I don't write a bad review I just internally curse at them for it. No biggy.

Unintentionally Annoying Authors - Once I've read a book an I tweet about it, tagging the author, I tend to go a little over board and send several tweets tagging the author and saying things about the book. I don't do it to annoy the author or to get their attention its just me tagging the author as I tweet to my followers about the story I've just experienced. It unintentional and possibly annoying. Sorry to any author I've annoyed.

I could only think of 5 bookish things I'd like to quit. Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke And The Bookish

The Before Now And After Then - Peter Monn

Title: The Before Now And After Then                                                                     

Author: Peter Monn
Publication Date: July 29th 2014
Publisher:Pen Name Publishing
Available Editions: EBook, Paperback

Netgalley Synopsis:

Danny Goldstein has always lived in the shadow of his identical, twin brother Sam. But when a hurricane of events forces him into the spotlight, he starts to realize that the only thing he’s truly afraid of is himself. With the help of his costume changing friend Cher, a famous gay uncle with a mysterious past of his own, two aging punk rocker parents and Rusty, the boy who will become his something to live for, Danny begins to realize that the music of the heart is truly the soundtrack for living.

Review:

So I was granted the right to read this book for review a long time ago, it was one of the first ever books I had the right to read for review and therefore a very special book to me. Even though I have shown the books cover at the top of this post, it has changed since I read it. It never felt like the right time to post a review up until now, where I'm much more open and willing to discuss things with my viewers/readers.

I wrote this review not long after I finished the book a long time ago so it is different to how I recently changed to doing my reviews but I just felt like keeping it the same as I had written it because it didn't feel right for me to change it for some reason.

Sam Goldstein is the more confident of the brothers; athletic, popular, and tremendously protective of his brother. Danny Goldstein is more than happy to live in his brothers shadow, sharing his friends and an unbreakable bond with his brother. Sam is always looking out for Danny, and plans a detailed scheme for Danny to finally come out to their parents.

In an instant, everything changes, Danny's life and world he has known and depended on is turned upside down. He finds himself in a new school, in a new house, and realizing that the reason he was always to happy to live in Sam's shadow is that he's not comfortable standing out or being noticed. He isn't sure who he is, and doesn't know if he's interested in finding out the answer. But what he does know is that he's tired of people telling him how he should feel, or what he should do, and he's tired of being sad and angry all the time.

When Danny finally meets Cher, a larger-than-life classmate who has always wanted a gay best friend, she starts to force him out of his shell, little by little, even if he's still not comfortable talking about himself or knowing how to be a good friend. And then he meets Rusty, a boy who appears fearless, who helps Danny discover who he is, and what his heart truly wants. All the while, Danny's journey is helped, and at times complicated, by his former punk rocker parents and his mother's lifelong best friend Alex, an author whose most famous book was a way for him to deal with the isolation he felt about being gay.

I have to admit the book completely blew me away, I wasn't worried about the book but I just kind of wasn't fully excited to read it but once I got into it I just couldn't stop. I connected with all of the characters, it was hard not to and  there were almost instantaneous bonds.

I have to give the book a 5 out of 5 it had me hooked and I found it very hard to let the book go, it was by far one of the best books I've read and I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read and review it.

Thursday Thoughts - Combating Spots and Blemishes

Most people begin the battle against spots and blemishes at the start of puberty. Spots are mostly caused by two things;

•  A build up of dead skin cells
• Excess oil

Spots on our face, neck, chest and back are common, this is because in these places we have a lot of glands in these places that produce our skins natural moisturiser, sebum.

There are several 'kinds' of spots.

• Blackheads
• Whiteheads

Black heads often occur in larger pores where air can circulate and react with the oil and/or the dead skin causing the top to darken in colour, therefore becoming black. Whiteheads are in smaller pores compared to the Blackheads, therefore air cannot get in and react with the oil or dead skin cells so the top remains white.

Even though most spots don't progress to this stage I feel like I must share. If pores remain blocked the build up of oil allows usual non harmful bacteria to multiply. Then the high level of bacteria sets your bodies immune system into attack mode causing inflammation. Sometimes inflamed red spots require a stronger treatment.

To avoid the appearance of spots and/or blemishes, set yourself a daily skincare regime of Cleanser, toner and moisturiser. Use these products morning and evening and use gentle products that wont strip or irritate your skin.

It is important that when you're choosing your cleansers etc. that you opt for oil free water based products as those that are oily will only add oil to your pores, resulting in further break outs. It is also important not to use any skincare products that contain alcohol as alcohol based products tend to be very drying even for oily skin. Some people may require oil control cleanser which helps loosen the binding of cells so that they don't clump together and block pores.

Salicylic acid has important antibacterial properties, so it can help prevent spots developing. But please do not assume that you need products made for oily skin just because you get spots.
If you have worries about you skin and its break outs, talk to a skin specialist before you jump in and begin buying products designed specifically for acne when there is a possibility you are not experiencing acne. It might simply be that your skin is prone to blocked pores and acne range products may be too harsh, therefore making things worse.'

Some people avoid moisturisers thinking that it would trigger spots. Even oily skin needs hydrating more so if you're using oil control products. Do not avoid moisturisers because you have oily skin, just choose one is light. This helps with keeping your pores unblocked.