Where Am I? - The Reality, Behind Being a Blogger.

Some of you may or may not have noticed but I haven't been writing a lot of blog posts in the last wee while. If fact I think I said I was going to write a review for The Star Touched Queen weeks ago, I haven't had time to do that yet but I am aiming to do it before the end of the year.

 

So where have I been, you may ask?

 

 

Studying, and writing essays is currently taking up all my time, so sadly blogging has had to take a back seat for a few weeks, while I get these essays done. This post is a perfect example of my inability to find time to blog at the moment. I have been meaning to write this post for over a week and it is now 10:30pm and I am only just squeezing it in before I head off to bed (to read a 'couple' of chapters - which to be honest will probably be a few more than a few!)

 

I will most likely still be around on Twitter and Instagram, and I am aiming to be back blogging before Christmas because ... HOLIDAYS!!! I can't wait to be back only a few weeks to go, see you all then!

 

 

Wattpad Wrap-up #7

 I read these stories a while back now, during the time when I was solely reading Wattpad and hiding from my TBR. I (obviously) didn't share my thoughts on these book back then, as I thought the you might have been a bit fed up with my seemingly endless Wattpad wrap-ups. However, I haven't done one for a while so here are my thoughts on these two Wattpad stories, hope you enjoy!
 

My Marine Man by michelle_my_belle98

 

Find on Wattpad

 

Synopsis From Wattpad  

Zoe is an east-coast girl stuck three thousand miles away in California for graduate school: she's young, beautiful, and hardworking, but terribly shy and lonely.
Nathan is a US Marine recently home from deployment in Iraq: he's handsome, fun, and chivalrous, but a haunting past lurks beneath his surface.
When the two meet, it's obvious there's a special chemistry. But with Zoe trying to discover her place in life, and Nathan trying to get past his horrifying experiences, will their relationship ever work out?

 

Mini - Review

My favourite aspect of this story has to be the relationship of the two main characters have with their families. Both families are so different for the other but I love them both.

 

Zoe I think is quite a relatable character, I loved her realistic indecision about what she wanted to do next, knowing that she needs to decide but feeling the weight of the decision as she knows it will affect the rest of her life. 

 

As you would expect with this storyline there are some heart-breaking moments once Nate is sent off on tour. The only thing I would have changed about this book is, I would love to have read about a few more of Zoe and Nate's communications while he was on tour.

 

Overall I am giving this book 4 Stars, also if you have read this story ( I would to know your thoughts if you have) I can recommend Military Man.    

 

 

The Numbers on Her Wrist by -MidnightStories-

 

Find on Wattpad

 

Synopsis From Wattpad

Amelia Reyes has been raised within an orphanage her entire life, but she just recently broke free of their grasp. The men who raised her taught her the skills of a street fighter. They taught her to take pain. They taught her how to survive. They taught her to give no mercy. They showed her pain. They gave her the 564 that is engraved on her wrist.

But that 564 is a reminder.
A reminder of love, of mercy, of hope.
They took her innocence and her freedom, but they did not take the fire in her heart.

 

Mini - Review

The thing that attracted me to this book was that lovely cover, and I enjoyed Alpha's fighter by Paula which features a street fighter, and I loved her ability to kick-ass an ability that Amelia also has.

 

Amelia, is this wonderful mix of kick-ass street fighter shaped by her traumatic past, and a caring young woman who has a open heart to those in need. She is a bit of adrenalin junky but since her income is through fighting people 3 times her size I guess that isn't a bad thing. I love Sam, I hope we get to see more of his past in the other books in this series as it intrigues me, however I love how supportive and accepting of Amelia.

 

There is also enjoyed learning more about the 'bigger picture' and I look forward to know more about it the sequels. I think this is a  4 Star  story for me.

 

***

Have you read anything amazing on Wattpad recently?

Have you ever come across either of these two stories before, what are your thoughts?

UK Bookish Candle Sellers

Recently I have been eyeing up everyone's bookish candles. Despite the fact I love the idea of these book themed scented candles I don't own a single one! So the other week I decided I was going to just treat myself and get one. I however became to realize that so many of these wonderful candles I had been longingly staring at all came from the U.S, and that means only one thing for us here in the UK... huge shipping costs! So I narrowed my search to UK companies, and here are the ones I have found:

MerakiCandles

Find them on Etsy

William + Joseph

Find them on Etsy

Book + Nook

Find them on Etsy

 

Castle of Fables

Find them on Etsy

 

The Literacy Gift Company

Visit their website

***

Unfortunately, several of these candle makers are taking breaks in their production of candles, so my options are limited even further. I would love to know where you bought your bookish candles from, because I really need some help here!!

Any company you would recommend?
Or are you like me and only dream of actually getting around to buying one?

* all pictures and logo's are owned by the companies themselves.

Waiting on Wednesday #20 - The Valiant

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine, which spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating!

 

Release Date: 14th February 2016  

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Pre-order from: Amazon (UK) || Book Depository

 

Synopsis from Goodreads

 

The youngest daughter of a proud Celtic king, Fallon has always lived in the shadow of her older sister Sorcha's legendary reputation as a warrior. But when Fallon was a young child, the armies of Julius Caesar invaded the island of Britain and her beloved older sister was killed in battle.

On the eve of her seventeenth birthday, Fallon is excited to follow in her sister's footsteps and earn her rightful place in her father's royal war band. But she never gets the chance. Instead, Fallon is captured by a band of ruthless brigands who sell her to an exclusive training school for female gladiators—and its most influential patron is none other than Julius Caesar himself. In a cruel twist of fate, Fallon's worst enemy, the man who destroyed her family, might be her only hope of survival.

Now, Fallon must overcome vicious rivalries, chilling threats and the dangerous attention of Caesar himself to survive the deadly fights that take place both in and out of the arena—and claim her place in history among the Valiant.

 

Why I am Waiting

 

I love fantasy book which are based on historic time periods, and I have been fascinated by the Romans for years, their influence and Britain's ability to stand against them, is amazing. However, I have to say this book was sold to me at the point 'female gladiator's' were mentioned. I have been looking for a book with a female main character who is having to endure, the brutality and horrors of being a gladiator for years. The closest I have ever come is with the Wattpad story ' Gladiator of Rome '. I have never read any of  Lesley Livingston's other books, but I can not wait to dive into this one!

 

The Book Blogger Hop #5

The Book Blogger Hop was originally created by Jennifer from Crazy-For-Book and is now hosted by Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer

 

 

 

THIS WEEKS PROMPT 

 

When you settle in for the night with a good book, do you read until you can't stay awake or simply have a nightly page goal?

 

MY RESPONSE

 

 I don't ever have a page goal (at least non-study books anyway), I generally try and put a time limit on my nights reading instead. This often get ignored anyway so it turns into more until I can't keep my eyes open! Does anyone set themselves page goal, or do you set yourself another kind of goal?

October Reading Wrap-up

October, saw me come out for my reading slump. *celebrate!!!* There still isn't quite as many books as normal to talk about today, but certainly more than last month. I have decided that this month to do a *very* mini-review for each book rather than just giving the books a star rating. If you prefer this way of wrapping up my months books I would love to know. So let get started:

 

Fantasy  

Hope and Red (Empire of Storms #1) by Jon Skovrun

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4 Stars

Adult Fantasy. Two Kick-ass main characters. A great 'starter' book for introducing the world, it's power plays and bringing together our 'crew' for future books.

 

(To read more of my thoughts, read my full review)
 

Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass #6) by Sarah J. Maas

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4 Stars

I have mixed feeling about this book, this series is one of my favourite and I love all of Sarah J. Maas' work. However, I felt a bit disconnected with the story this time. I loved the first few hundred pages and the last hundred pages was explosive, and I couldn't put it down, however the middle part (a bit like ACOMAF) just dragged in my opinion.

 

The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi   

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3.75 Stars

I picked this book up because of the huge amount of hype surround this book, unfortunately I didn't love it as much as I was hoping. The first part was wonderful and magical but I didn't enjoy the second part, hence the mediocre final rating. 

 

(I shall hopefully find time to write a full review for this book later in the month. So if you interested in reading my full thoughts on it keep your eye out for that.)  

Contemporary Romance

Let It Be Me (Let It Be #1) by Barbara Speak

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4 Stars

This is a New Adult book which was a mix of Road to Glory and Bluegrass State of Mind but with a younger set of characters. *It was free so I thought I would give it a try* I really enjoyed this book, and it was a great country romance.

 

(To read more of my thoughts, read my full review) 

 

Let It Be Us (Let It Be #2) by Barbara Speak

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2.75 Stars

Disappointing. Although the first few chapters drew me in, the ending of this book brought my rating for this book down so much for me.

 

(To read more of my thoughts, read my full review)

 

Vendetta (Blood for Blood #1) by Catherine Doyle

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4 Star (re-read)

I wasn't as ensnared by the book so much as the first read as I knew the 'big secrets' which were going to be revealed in the second book. I felt as though I was just waiting for the reveals rather than just enjoying this book.

 

(See my original thoughts in my full review)

 

Inferno (Blood for Blood #2) by Catherine Doyle

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5 Stars (re-read)

This book was amazing the second time, the ending was just as heart-breaking as the first time I read it, even thought I knew what was coming.

 

(See my original thoughts in my full review)

 

Owned by the Mob by Ashley Hall

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3.5 Stars

This was a New Adult/ Adult romance, it was predictable and I would have liked it to be slightly longer. Although it was a nice quick trashy romance.

 

Urban Fantasy

 

Ash (Hive #1) by Jaymin Eve and Leia Stone

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4 Star (re-read)

 I love plots where women are thrown into an all male situation. It also kind of gives off the 'divergent' vibe but with vampires!

 

Anarchy (Hive #2) by Jaymin Eve and Leia Stone

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3.75 Stars

 

 This wasn't really what I was expecting, for the title I was expecting a bit more chaos and... well.. anarchy. Instead it felt it was just the main characters finding a load of enemies. I enjoyed the book, we still get to follows our great characters from the first book. I felt as though this one was really just setting the scene for book three.     

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Did you read any of the same books as me this month? I would love to heard your thoughts on these book too, let me know them in the comments below.

 



October Book Haul

I got some of my highly anticipated books this month. Some of them where great #booksfortradeuk this month and I can't wait to get into all of these, I have heard so much good things about these books. I have had my eye on these since they were released, and so I am so happy to have them on my shelves.

 

Anyone read any of this books yet? I would love to know what you thought of them.