Geek Girl Head Over Heels - Holly Smale

Synopsis:

My name is Harriet Manners, and I will always be a geek.”

The fifth book in the bestselling, award-winning GEEK GIRL series.

Harriet Manners knows almost every fact there is.

She knows duck-billed platypuses don’t have stomachs.
She knows that fourteen squirrels were once detained as spies.
She knows only one flag in the world features a building.

And for once, Harriet knows exactly how her life should go. She’s got it ALL planned out. So when love is in the air, Harriet is determined to Make Things Happen!
If only everyone else would stick to the script…

Has GEEK GIRL overstepped the mark, and is following the rules going to break hearts all over again?


Review:

How am I going to manage to get through writing this review without completely losing control of my emotions whilst trying to make sense? I don't even know but ill sort something out.

Where do I begin? well were back here again Geek Girl number 5, Head Over Heels. I got this copy before the release date after being chosen as part of a group of ten people who would review the book, this was thanks to Maximum Pop Books.

The day it arrived I managed to devour 11 chapters within maybe an hour? I'm not sure but then between there and the day I finished it, I actually met Holly at a Feminism in YA panel in Birmingham and had my copy signed and a photo taken of us together (which can be seen on the blogs twitter) She was actually really amazing and I internally freaked out.
But back to the review, I devoured the rest of the book in 5 hours which felt like a very short time in the moment.

So we meet Harriet again, and from the last book she's continuing to mature and now has a small group of friends called JINTH containing Jasper, India, Nat, Toby and Harriet of course. The five of them are the best of friends, and Harriet doesn't want anything to disrupt this, but obviously, something does. She gets a phone call out of the blue from Wilbur who has now started his own modelling agency and wants her to be the face of his company. Harriet is apprehensive, but when she realises just how much Wilbur needs her, she'll do anything, including roping baby Tabitha into modelling too.

Not only does team JINTH play a role throughout this book but also Rin, the lovely, adorable character from Model Misfit who became a friend of Harriet when they met in Tokyo. Although through the past books most of the 'drama' and most of the storyline were carried out in countries, notably Japan, Russia, Marrakesh and America, I was quite surprised that without spoiling in although Harriet does go to India, the majority of the book and the 'drama' was based in the lovely England. Pleasant surprise I say.

I don't want to spoil the book so I think this review is going to be less than normal, but Harriet takes on modelling once again and comes face to face with the truth of friendships. I truly adore this series, even more so now that before which I'm surprised is still possible, unfortunately the next book, number 6 is going to be the last which is incredibly heart breaking but number 5 left me out of control, silently crying as I flopped around squealing like a pig because it was a book I truly enjoyed and the ending was unexpected but very much welcomed and loved and I've now lost composure.

The book is a 5/5 and a must read if you've read any of the other books, you cant stop reading the series before you read this one, I swear. Holly you've done it again my dear, completely blew me away and done it so perfectly, Author Goal was definitely achieved.

Prompt #15

She pulls the knife from her chest, thin red blood pouring our from the wound, I expect to look to her face and find fear, but no. She's smiling.

"Oh darling was that supposed to hurt?" she taunts throwing the knife down to the kitchen floor.

"What the?" I question, my words caught in my throat, the fear I had expected in her now burning my chest.

"Cant kill whats already dead." she smiles covering the metre that I had gained between us in a second flat, the force of her body knocking me to the floor.

She pins me down, a laugh of pure evil filling her mouth, her wound pours blood onto my blue top, with her movements it spreads elsewhere but I cant move, her left hand grips tightly to my throat and I'm barely breathing, my senses dull and then fades into black.

Top Ten Tuesday - Top Ten Bookworm Delights

A list of 10 things only bookworms can experience and enjoy.

1. The Smell Of Books, its an indescribable smell but each book smells somehow glorious
2.  Uncomfortable reading positions, pain and discomfort but somehow its all worth it and somewhat loveable.
3. Cover Love, you know? that indescribable love for a cover to a book you've read or have just discovered.
4. That undeniable pull you feel when you walk past a book store, they just seem to draw you in.
5. Parts of the books films don't cover, they're like a little secret you get to know.
6. Preferring books to actual people, you tend to crush on fictional people too, but that is a whole new level.
7. Ending a book or a series and having to say goodbye to a world you've been inhabiting for the past however long and have a mini melt down, but somehow its glorious somewhere along the line right?
8. Buying like 3 more books even though you're pretty sure you have 12 unread books on your packed shelves.
9. Publishers re releasing a book you already have but with a new cover and you cant afford to buy it and survive but you cant survive without it.
10. A movie which perfectly mirrors the book instead of butchering the poor thing.

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

Gravedigger - Michael Israel Jarvis

Synopsis:

Dead or alive. Good or evil. Hero or fugitive.

Valo needs a specific solution to a grave problem. The human Claimfold and prigon Torzsi draw apart. War is promised in the West. Worst of all, the magi of Nagyevo are meddling with the dead.

Perin is an apprentice Gravedigger: uneducated, unwanted, unsure. He may be the answer Valo needs, if he doesn't get killed before he works out what's going on. But of course there's the chance that fate hasn't called him after all. The gods are nameless and silent and the best laid plans have a way of going badly wrong.
​
Enter the spade and sorcery world of Valo.

Gravedigger subverts the expectations of that oldest of foes in fantasy, the dead that walk, in a fast-paced adventure through a world of culture, intrigue, magic and blood.

Review:

Dane Cobain had contacted me in early March asking if I would like to read any of the four books he had told me about, I said I could read all four and review each of them, Gravedigger was one of those four.

I have to admit that with a name of Gravedigger, I wasn't sure what to expect, I have to admit that it wasn't something I had expected, and it was truly enjoyable. We take the view of Perin, an apprentice gravedigger who has no friends and what you can see as no future. And then a giant bull-man Kesairl the Prigon, and his dead friend Medrivar the undead king come seeking the services of Perin’s master, and shatter the narrow minded ways of the Graveyard. When unfortunate events occur within and after a year, Perin has no choice but to leave the graveyard behind and follow Kesairl across the land alongside Medrivar, but not in the form you think.

The story is well paced, I loved that all of the characters were individual in mind set and skills it just helped that they weren't clones of each other. I was surprised at the level of gore but it wasn't offensive, in fact it helped the book become greater.

"The book Gravedigger, is about living and dead people and then the living dead people. It has corrupt mages, secret societies and ale-drinking anarchists.
It’s also about brotherhood and resilience in the face of adversity. It questions the existence of fate and the motivations of the gods."

I couldn't sum it up any better, a nail biting, edge of the seat, intense, gory, fantasy with no dragons or pixies, a great amount of progression and amazingly written characters and story line. The ending truly blew my mind, I wasn't expecting it to happen how it happened but it unfolded perfectly and was a overall, I wasn't able to stop turning pages.

I can say that Jarvis has a talent when it comes to writing Fantasy and the immersion is effective due to his eye for detail.

The only thing I've got to say is that for me it felt like a very big lengthy read but it's faultless besides that. I love the artwork, it's an exact replica of the way I see both of the characters pictured. As for the recommendations having now read this book? Well any fantasy lover, anyone who wants to dip their toes into a twist of fantasy or the fantasy genre in general.

Overall a 5/5 from me, I definitely will me looking out for more of Michaels work.

The Mysterious Call

My eyes shoot open, the obnoxious ringing of my cell on my night stand awoke me and was already becoming annoying. I squint at the clock.
"Who would want to call me at midnight?" grumble reaching towards my table and slapping around several times before finally reaching the cell phone.

"Unknown Number, Great." I huff and answer the call, I place the phone to my ear and the caller stars immediately.

"There is a car waiting for you outside your house. Get inside, you don't want to ignore this." The voice deep and groggy. The call ends and as soon as it does my spouse beside me rolls over.

"Everything okay?" she asks, her eyes squinting to find me in the darkness.

"Yes, just sudden urge for the bathroom." I smile at her even though she probably cant see me.

The bathroom was at the end of our bed, I could easily grab clothes on my way there and wait until she's asleep to sneak out. The tone the man had spoke in had told me he was serious, something bad was going to happen if I didn't go, so I had one choice and it would save everyone trouble.

Clara rolls back over and I lean and kiss her cheek as she does so, her sleepy giggle then quickly turned into deep breathing, she had gone back to sleep just like that. I slowly climb out of the warmth of my bed, taking my phone with me I put on the jeans that lay at the bottom of my bed, close to falling to the floor. I shuffle them on one leg at a time and push my phone into my shoes by the bathroom door.

I brush my teeth in the dark and grab a random t shirt out of the open dresser as I pass by and our of the bedroom. I quickly steal another glance at Clara as she slept before slowly descending the stairs. I pull my jacket off the hook and open the door. The cold midnight wind was blowing and so I pull on the jacket on the door step and slowly and quietly close the door.

"I love you." I say, not like Clara could hear me but it was worth a shot.
True to his word, there was a small blacked out car at the end of my driveway and the driver got out as he saw me approach, looking left a right to see if anyone was around or looking.

"Its for the best." he grumbles when I get close enough to hear and he opens the back door and I climb in. He returns to his seat and pulls away from my house. I watch it disappear and I stay silent. The car cruises away and in my silence the driver finds his inquisitive side but doesn't ask any questions either. The truth is I didn't want to know what was about to happen, I just hoped it would be over quick.

Top Ten Tuesday - Ten Books That Will Make You Laugh (or at least chuckle)

Sorry, this weeks post wont contain any cover photos for the books as I had to quickly put this post together thinking of books I've heard about or have read a little of and found funny.

• Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns), by Mindy Kaling
• Bridget Jones’s Diary, by Helen Fielding
• Me Talk Pretty One Day, by David Sedaris
• I Feel Bad About My Neck, by Nora Ephron
• The Broke Diaries, by Angela Nissel
• Catch-22, by Joseph Heller
• The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams
• How to Be a Woman, by Caitlin Moran
• Good Omens, by Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman
• Side Effects, by Woody Allen

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

The Gemini Effect - Chuck Grossart

Synopsis:

A single raindrop opens a Pandora’s box when the spawn of perverse genetic research performed during World War II is unleashed on an unsuspecting modern world. By dawn, only a dead city remains, eerily quiet and still, except for mutant beasts that hide from the light, multiply, and await the shadows of night to continue their relentless advance.

Ordered to investigate the unfolding crisis, bio warfare specialist Carolyn Ridenour barely escapes the creatures’ nocturnal onslaught, saved in the nick of time by Colonel Garrett Hoffman, who lost hundreds of his troops to a swarm that neither bombs nor bullets can stop.
As Carolyn and Garrett race to stop the plague, a battered and broken government prepares to release the fury of America’s nuclear arsenal on its own soil and its own citizens.


Review:

I have to admit that I was sceptical, I thought it was going to be the typical infection outbreak story.    I WAS WRONG.

The story follows several people/ groups across America. I loved each character as they played their parts so well. The synopsis got me hooked after I was convinced of it being the typical story. As a debut novel, Chuck knocked the ball right out of the park.

The mix of science, war, military, politics and gore, I fell in love. I found the novel truly gripping and jam packed with action and near misses. I adored the beginning of the novel, and how the biochemical weapon was introduced to the story. You get the full back story to that day where everything then goes down hill after it was accidently left in a junk yard, mistakenly not incinerated like it was supposed to have been. It was a very interesting part of the book, it had be hooked even though I could sense it wasn't going to be a good thing that it was mistakenly left there. The epilogue was okay for me, I would preferred to it to have happened some other way, I guess I just wasn't expecting it to happen that way after the whole of the book.

Some people disliked the book, some liked it a little but I liked it a lot and I can find a reason to have disliked it no matter how hard I think about it. I liked the character development and the sudden surprises in the plot. It kept me gripped and had me asking what next? Which was great. I found myself rooting for some characters, despising others once their characters were in the spotlight, and terrified of the horde that was sweeping the nation. 

I loved how the scientists within the story were smart and stayed away from the notion of  "Let me poke it in the name of science." because in this book that would be very much an insane thing to do. I loved how Carolyn was very informed about Gemini and could inform everyone else on it and come up with ideas worth trying. Thankfully the military personnel were not the average meat heads that some people would expect them to be. They were very aware of their situation and were portrayed with the emotions and intelligence, it was a relief for them to be portrayed this way instead of being the usual transparent robots they are portrayed as in other books.

I was glad it was the same old story, being unique helped my interest peak. I give it a 4/5. I hope there end up being a second book just because I think it would be nice to see how it would all have continued if there were more pages.

I got this book for free on my Amazon Kindle 7 day free trial

Its Not About Me

Caught in a wild storm of emotions
How can I escape this thing? I cant see a way out
Are there even ways out of things like this?
Rarely, they say. Today was not a rare day it seemed.
Let me out, is all I can scream
I can't breathe, I cant take this,
Exits exist if you create them, someone whispers. It's my voice but I didn't say a word of it.

Top Ten Tuesday - Ten Books Every Animal Lover Should Read

Marley & Me - John Grogan

A Three Dog Life - Abigail Thomas

Life of Pi - Yann Martel

Animal Farm - George Orwell

Enslaved By Ducks - Bob Tarte

Fantastic Mr. Fox - Roald Dahl

A Street Cat Named Bob - James Bowen

The Golden Compass - Philip Pullman

The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time - Mark Haddon

The Story Of Edgar Sawtelle - David Wroblewski

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

Beautiful: A Girls Trip Through The Looking Glass - Marie D'Abreo

Synopsis:

It sucks to have big, frizzy hair and a decidedly average body... when you really want to have model good looks and a cool boyfriend. That's why Lily's on a mission to get beautified, or at least get a red-hot makeover. And the attention of her crush. Now if she could only stop that pesky unwanted visitor from messing with her plans!
Review:

As soon as I opened this book on my tablet I knew it was going to be great. Through quirky humour and the brilliant and creative use of art-wok, the readers get to watch Lily as she discovers what it is like to be beautiful.

It was an uplifting graphic novel with a reminder for us all about valuing ourselves. I loved how short it was and that it still had a huge impact. The illustrations fitted perfectly with the story, perfect representations of what it is like to want to be beautiful and how hard people cane try to be. The quotes throughout the pages were a great to read and take on board. They also helped break up the story line/ Illustrations which was quite nice.

Although names "A girls trip" I think its important to note that both boys and girls and those who do not assign to a particular gender do suffer with trying to be beautiful or attractive and they don't always feel that way.

The book gets a 4.8/5 from me, The topic was well approached and told, I wish it were longer because I liked it that much. A definite strong message is shown and I loved it. Marie is definitely someone I will be looking out for.

Remember you are beautiful just the way you are.

I got this book for free on my Amazon Kindle 7 day free trial



I Can Hear You

Three months ago, I was involved in a terrible car accident, a drunk driver had been behind the wheel of a fast traveling pick up truck driving the wrong way up the road which I happened to be traveling up. By the time I swerved my car out of his path, he had hit his brakes a lot slower than he could have and spun his wheel the wrong direction, following me onto the grassy bank before ploughing into my side of the car. I've been in a coma ever since, but unknown to anyone, I can hear everything they say.  Everything.

The beeping of the machines, the constant whoosh of the machines as they pump the oxygen into my lungs had become the background noise now, every day I would receive visitors. Today was my Parents, my partner Jason and my work colleague Sarah's turn.

I heard them quietly walk into the room not saying a single word, someone placing a glass vase on the side table where so many others had done the exact same over the months.

"You've got to wake up soon baby doll." Jason says, the anger towards the drink driver in his voice, the genuine need for me to pull through, barely showed.

"They're exploring the possibility of shutting down your machines, you've been under too long." my mother sobs from my left side as my dad holds my left hand offering a reassuring squeeze. It broke my heart to hear all of it, I wanted to pull through, I've been trying a long hell of a time to pull through and to make it out of this damn coma but nothing worked. Jason's hand was cold on my right hand, he was always cold, I wish I could tell him to warm up before touching anyone.

"You've got this, you can pull through this." Sarah urges me on

"Thanks Sarah, I'm trying." I sarcastically think to myself.

The room falls silent for what seems like a long 3 hours but it had only been 20 minutes, everyone had sat down around me, like a sacred shrine. Everyone had ran out of things to say now, but I had a lot to say, like how Sarah and Jason had the balls to sit around pretending to care when two and a half months ago, they stood alone in the room once my sister and brother had left for tea before speaking about what they would do to each other when they were behind closed door later on.

Then my mind begun to run wild, the anger burning in me, boiling my blood, I wanted to pull through just to rip them both apart. My chest begun to burn now, my throat filled with pipes I begun to choke. The machines begun going haywire, the visitors sprang to their feet calling for the nurses who ran in to aid me. I was coming around, my anger had awoken me. If I had known this two months ago, I'd of been awake by now.

Top Ten Tuesday - Ten Bookish People You Should Follow On Instagram

Here I'm going to list Bookish accounts from Instagram which I love and find amazing and I shall be keeping great authors of this list even though I was 100% tempted to do authors. The following 10 accounts were chosen randomly from the 57 accounts I follow on the blogs Instagram account at
@abookseternalglory

• @sapphire.reads - Her account is so aesthetically pleasing its great, also a coffee drinker
• @abookishloveaffair - Her account is love to the eyeballs and she drinks tea which is a +
• @britbookboy - Got to throw a fellow English book lover in there haven't I, great feed.
• @bethybee97 - She's a great friend and her blog and feed are amazing, worth checking out
• @bookstalkermerve - Nothing better than a Engineer book lover is there?
• @eve_reads - Book lover, amazing feed and plus Evelyn is a great name.
• @jazzycliffhanger - Such a colourful feed and great feed I cant help but look
• @fictiontea - Tea enthusiast, avid reader and a magical feed.
• @pure.reads - a great feed and a literature student what's not to like?
• @-_bookishneo_ - such creative photos making up a great feed.

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

Life And Other Near Death Experiences - Camille Pagan

Synopsis:

Libby Miller has always been an unwavering optimist—but when her husband drops a bomb on their marriage the same day a doctor delivers devastating news, she realizes her rose-coloured glasses have actually been blinding her.

With nothing left to lose, she abandons her life in Chicago for the clear waters and bright beaches of the Caribbean for what might be her last hurrah. Despite her new sunny locale, her plans go awry when she finds that she can’t quite outrun the past or bring herself to face an unknowable future.

Every day of tropical bliss may be an invitation to disaster, but with her twin brother on her trail and a new relationship on the horizon, Libby is determined to forget about fate. Will she risk it all to live—and love—a little longer?

From critically acclaimed author Camille Pagán comes a hilarious and hopeful story about a woman choosing between a “perfect” life and actually living.


Review:

I was hooked 20 pages in, even less than that if I have to be honest. It kicked off right away, the emotions and surprises came out of the woodwork instantly.

Libby is or point of view, she's middle ages and has a personal vow to herself to stay away from funerals and has done so until her mothers which she attended as a small child. I instantly fell in love with her as instantly as possible. She is a very truthful person, and maintains that part of her personality all the way through. I also loved how blunt she was with people about how she's feeling etc..

Curving the balls thrown her way, after finding out two critical pieces of information, A) Her Health B) Her husband isn't who she thought he was, Libby abandons Colorado and heads to the Caribbean in hopes she can forget Colorado and everything that happened there. Once set on the Caribbean and forgetting and living, she meets Sihloh. The pair grow close and you can probably guess what happens there.

The storyline is somewhat grim, though about a failing marriage and the big C, Libby and her eye opening journey have a sense of humour to it and a sense of hope. Libby's character and her twin Paul and all of the other characters within the story were well written and perfectly crafted, their behaviour and their reactions to were not far fetched. the characters were a great combination, unique and diverse.

I adored the great happenings throughout and my heart dropped at the bad times in the story. it was a well paced progression of storyline and I managed to finish it within a day. I fell in love within 20 pages even more so after 200. I'm pleased that there were no loose ends and had a well written ending.

A truly addictive read, a mix of humour and the harsh reality of cancer. 5/5 and I will definitely be looking into reading more of Camille's work.



I got this book for free on my Amazon Kindle 7 day free trial