Prowl by Amber Garza

Prowl

by Amber Garza
20th January 2012
Createspace

Seventeen-year-old Mackenzie Smith is sent away to spend a boring summer at her grandma's. But then she meets Wesley. He tells her exactly what she wants to hear and has information about her past that no one else knows. It's almost like he can read her mind.

Only Wesley isn't who he seems.

By the time Mackenzie discovers his true identity it may be too late. She's in too deep and he won't let her go. Now Mackenzie must call on the strongest power of all in order to save her life.

I didn’t enjoy this book and the reason for that isn’t because it is based around religion, I have nothing against Christians or Christian literature. The reason I didn’t enjoy this book is simply because of the plot and the main character Mackenzie. I felt that throughout this book, I was on the edge of my seat waiting for something to happen… and nothing did until the last few pages.

This was only a short book but Garza made it feel never-ending by dragging out the plot, I was expecting a big surprise at the end but found that when the story came to its conclusion I had already guessed how it was going to end. I had also already guessed who Rhiannon really was and what her ‘hobbies’ were, I found that Garza made everything too obvious and this only made me more and more frustrated with the plot.

I also found the main character Kenzie annoying because of her relationship with the spirit/ghost Wesley, it was clearly obvious that he was not nice/good/honest and yet she couldn’t see that until the last couple of chapters. The themes in this book are very real for a lot of women out there and because Garza has brought them to life in this book in such a real way, I have a lot of respect for her and I understand that obviously Kenzie had to be depressed/gullible for the story to work and develop but she never developed any kind of backbone. Even her attempts to get rid of Wesley were half-hearted and weak. I don’t feel that she grew as a character in any way other than finding religion and even then it wasn’t a big deal – Which I feel it should have been because this book was a story of good and evil.

I hope the next in the series shows a different side to Kenzie but unfortunately it won’t be on the top of my to-read list.

Check out Amber Garza’s website here

Rating * *

Stephanie

Other Systems by Elizabeth Guizzetti

Other Systemsby Elizabeth Guizzetti

48 Fourteen

1st April 2012

Ten large ships race toward Earth, broadcasting in every language: "Brothers and sisters, we come in peace and in need. We have found our way home." The fear of a coming invasion begins the worldwide riots of 3062.

Yet, not all Earthlings fear attack. The newcomers, long lost descendants of Earth, speak of a paradise ninety-four light years away. Kipos is a land of plenty where there has never been hunger, murder, or war. However, they need more healthy young immigrants for the colony to thrive.

Many accept their offer to be tested. After assessment, Abby Boyd Lei is among the chosen. She leaves the protection of her family with dreams of higher education, a good job, and a kind-hearted spouse.

Will Kipos be everything she imagined? Abby is about to discover the cost of utopia

I am not a sci-fi fan. I’m not familiar with space stations, wormholes, deep space, or the solar system and aliens and the like do not appeal to me in any way but throw in a teenage girl, a bunch of heartache and a space crew looking for a planet to call their own and I was hooked. This book was nothing like I imagined it would be. It was a hundred times better. Guizzetti’s writing is really stunning and despite not understanding a lot of the terminology, it was an easy and enjoyable read. The way in which Guizzetti covered issues such as rape, suicide, homosexuality and abuse was breath-taking and I believe that this book required an impressive amount of research to complete and I have nothing but praise for her. Guizzetti created a completely new and believable world and her descriptions are beautiful, I could see every detail in my mind’s eye. I almost believe that Kipos is out there somewhere just waiting to be found.

Abby Boyd Lee was a character that completely blew my mind because despite all the suffering she endured and all of the heartache, she still came out on top as a strong independent woman and I have nothing but respect for her. Guizzetti wrote her beautifully and she was a believable and lovable character. In the beginning I couldn't help but be annoyed with how naive she was and how unrealistic her dreams for the future were but I realised that without her naivety the plot would have fallen apart. She dreamt of a better future for herself and made the ultimate sacrifice by leaving her family behind to travel through the stars. Unfortunately for her, not everything was quite as it seemed. She suffered trauma, loss and heartache before she found the space crew that would ultimately become her family. It took a long time for her to truly see herself as others saw her and be at peace with everything she went through.

Harden was one of my favourite characters and I couldn't help but love him, despite the fact that he barely shows any emotion besides anger and annoyance. He has suffered in different ways to Abby but like her, he came out on top. I believe this is why he forms such a sweet relationship with her. She looks to him as a father figure, always seeking his approval and in the beginning it seems that he wants nothing to do with her and despises her for even being allowed to become a part of his crew but in the end he treats her like a daughter, he protects her and tries to get her to reach her full potential. I love how this book became very much about him and Abby as opposed to being solely focused on Abby. The ending is sweet and emotional and shows a completely different side to Harden that I didn’t expect.

I really loved that this book was NOT a love story, there is romance and Abby has quite a few crushes (some that are really strange) but it isn’t solely based on two people falling in love and living happily ever after. Abby finds that although it was her dream to find a husband that loved her, she found something she never realised she needed. A family. Every character in this book is relevant and although they weren’t always at the centre of everything and some were only mentioned briefly, they were the elements that really made this book really come to life. I loved each and every one of them.

I can’t wait to read more of Guizzetti’s work and I really hope there will be a sequel to this amazing book.

Check out Elizabeth Guizzetti’s website here.

Rating * * * * *

- Stephanie

A Human Element by Donna Galanti

A Human Element 
By Donna Galanti
10th March 2010
Echelon Press Publishing

One by one, Laura Armstrong’s friends and adoptive family members are being murdered, and despite her unique healing powers, she can do nothing to stop it. The savage killer haunts her dreams, tormenting her with the promise that she is next.

Determined to find the killer, she follows her visions to the site of a crashed meteorite–her hometown. There, she meets Ben Fieldstone, who seeks answers about his parents’ death the night the meteorite struck. In a race to stop a mad man, they unravel a frightening secret that binds them together. But the killer’s desire to destroy Laura face-to-face leads to a showdown that puts Laura and Ben’s emotional relationship and Laura’s pure spirit to the test. With the killer closing in, Laura discovers her destiny is linked to his and she has two choices–redeem him or kill him.

I really enjoyed this book and struggled to put it down, this book is truly one of a kind and Galanti’s writing is stunning. I was so impressed with how Galanti covered issues such as rape, depression and death in such a real and gritty way, the events in this book haven’t been sugar-coated and I respect her immensely for this. It was refreshing to really get inside all of the character’s heads so thoroughly. I also loved being able to watch Laura and Ben grow from young children to adulthood, it was great to see how they changed and grew through the years

I loved that Galanti switched between both of the main characters in the book so easily and I never felt lost or confused about where I was in the story. In the beginning I really believed it was a story about Laura but as it progressed I realised that although she is the main character, she isn’t the only one with a story to tell. I found her character very likeable and as a young girl she is very sweet and innocent and although this is always at the heart of her character, she does change a lot towards the end of the book. She becomes stronger and learns to accept herself for exactly who and what she is and I believe this was point Galanti was trying to make with her character. That you can’t change who you are, you just have to believe in yourself.

I loved Ben, I found him to be a very believable character and I could relate to him in many ways despite not having anything in common with him, he is a brilliant example of how someone can turn their life around and I loved that everything about him was far from perfect and Galanti wasn’t afraid to write about his many flaws in excruciating detail. He is a seriously troubled character and I really didn’t think he would ever find his happy ending until practically the last page but in the end I was pleasantly surprised. 

My favourite character was Mr B. and I have a major soft spot for him, he begins the book as a grumpy, lonely old man (or at least that’s what he wants us to believe) but his character grows into a lovely open and honest person by the end of the story, I loved his and Laura’s relationship and especially their little thesaurus competitions, it may seem strange to some that an old man befriends an eleven year old girl but their relationship was sweet and enjoyable throughout the whole book, it really lightened the tone with all the drama going on.

X-10/ Charlie was the character that I really wanted to hate from start to finish but somehow couldn’t quite bring myself to feel anything but sorry for him. He is such a self-destructive character and his actions are nothing short of evil but I couldn’t help but see the lost little boy inside of him. His character surprised me the most in the end and I have to say Galanti developed him beautifully. He really is one of a kind.

I can’t wait to read more of Galanti’s work and she has quickly become one of my favourite author’s.

Check out Donna Galanti's website here

Rating * * * * *

- Stephanie

Teaser Tuesdays #3

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB of Should be Reading

I know it's late but here it is....

Virtue
by Amanda Hocking
30th May 2011
CreateSpace

"I'm going to take the gag from your mouth," Ira said bending down in front of her. "But if you scream, even once, I will knock all the teeth out of your face. Do you understand me?"



"What?" Lily asked, glaring up at him. "You expect me to thank you? I will spit on your grave before I thank you, and then and only then will I thank you for doing the world the service of leaving it."

- Stephanie

The World Revolves Around Books has 50 followers!!!!

I can't believe that 50 people actually bother to listen to anything I have to say but I am so happy you do. I will keep trying to make The World Revolves Around Books better and better!

I love you guys :)

- Stephanie

My Book Boyfriend #3 - Myrnin

My Book Boyfriend is a weekly meme hosted by Missie at the Unread Reader

This weeks book boyfriend is Myrnin from the Morganville Vampires Series by Rachel Caine

Stats

Nicknames: Count Crackula, Nutty McFang, Crazy McTeeth

Tall

Wavy shoulder length dark brown hair,

Crazy

Unpredictable,

Bi-polar

Old fashioned

Bad dress sense

Vampire

And then he kept on pacing, his white lab coat (a recent discovery of his, he thought it made him look more official) flaring around him. It was somewhat spoilt by the flopping bunny slippers, their fangs showing with every step.

"I would be useful, you know. I can scare people quite easily when I want to. It's a valuable skill. Frank can't do that."

"You've turned into quite a bossy little thing," Myrnin said. "I think I might like it."

"Follow me," Myrnin said. "And do stay together. And by the way, this is the last time I go anywhere with you people. You are all insane."

"Claire, I need you here immediately. Something's wrong with Bob." Myrnin, her mad scientist, blood-addicted boss, sounded actually shaken. "I can't get him to eat his insects, and I used his favourites. He just sits there."

"Its been very lonely here these past few days. I'd like your company, at least for a while."

The bunny slippers!!! Friggin' awesome!!

Quotes from Bite Club and Last Breath.

I fell in love with Myrnin from the beginning even when he was all crazy and ill and weird. I love how unpredictable he is and how adorable he is, even though he's supposed to be a big scary vampire. I love his and Claire's relationship and basically just everything about him.

He is played by British Actor Ben Barnes because he really is Myrnin, and something about the first image just reminded me so much of him, how dark and scary he really is.

- Stephanie

The Lost Children: The Rising of Managrail by Aron Joice

The Lost Children of Managrail: The Rising #1
by Aron Joice
6th May 2012
Managrail has been at peace for one hundred years, but things are about to change. After a near-fatal fall, Prince Simian and his sister, Lila, find themselves lost in an unknown land, forced to embark on a dangerous journey. Far away, another brother and sister return home, only to find their village of Dirth plundered and their family murdered. Two brother and sisters, different in every way, are brought together by tragedy. As the queen’s champion leads a search for the heirs, a colorful cast of allies joins them. Can the powers of the enchanted Light Bringers help them escape from ancient beasts that hunger for the taste of human flesh, and save their lands and people from the dark powers of an evil sorceress? Love-ambivalence-betrayal. Who will live and who is to be trusted?

I enjoyed this book but not as much as I wanted too. I can't fault Joice's writing, the descriptions of the characters and the scenery were so well written that I could picture myself in the city of Managrail and I could see the characters in my minds eye however I did have a few issues with the structure of the book. I often felt confused in regards as to where I was in the story, there weren't proper breaks within the chapters or paragraphs to signify the different points in the story. The characters are often not together but this isn't made obvious in the writing, everything blends together and I often found myself re reading parts to get my bearings.

The only real problem for me was the character development or more precisely the lack of it. I was really disappointed by the end of the book when I realised I still didn't have a clue who any of them were. For starters how old are all of the characters? I don't have a clue.

The worst aspect of the story is the love interests/relationships. Lila loves Medack. Medack loves Lila's mother, Raina (which again makes me ask, how old is he?) Bramon loves Cayda, Cayda loves Bramon. Simian loves Hafina and then Lila loves Locknair. All of the relationships are completely unrealistic and unbelievable. There is no evidence of growth in the relationships between any of these people which made them seem false. It took less than a chapter for these feelings to be realised in each of the characters and honestly that's ridiculous.

It seems that Joice has fallen into a style of writing that involves telling us all aspects of the story rather than showing us the story. We are told everything that happens and expected to believe it as true rather than being shown things and forming our own opinions of the events.

This is in no way a bad story, I really like the plot but the characters let the story down. I feel that they were overlooked so that the plot could be fast paced and reach the climax quickly.

Characters and character development are important to me and should be the key aspect in a story because if I can't connect with a character then I can't connect with a story.

I know I'll read the next in the series because I really did enjoy the plot and I really want to know what's in store for the children of Managrail, my only concern is that I'll be left feeling the same disappointment in regards to the characters.

Check out Aron Joice's blog here

Rating * * *

- Stephanie

It's Monday! What are you reading?

This is a weekly meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey

I know it's late but I've been without Internet access for two days!! Feels like a lifetime. Still reading Other Systems...feels like forever since I've read a book this long!!

Other Systems by Elizabeth Guizzetti

A Human Element by Donna Galanti

- Stephanie

The World Revolves Around Books Has Won an Award!!!

I am very happy to have been nominated for the Versatile Blogger award and I would like to thank Cynthia over at The Things You Can Read for the nomination, I am extremely pleased :)!!!!


There are a few rules one one must follow before accepting the award and they are as follows:

1. Nominate 15 fellow bloggers who are relatively new to blogging.
2. Let the nominated bloggers know that they have been nominated for this award.
3. Share 7 random facts about yourself.
4. Thank the blogger who has nominated you.
5. Add the Versatile Blogger Award picture to your post. 

7 Random Facts About Me:

I would love to actually finish writing my book one day
I really want to go travelling after I finish my degree
I love Disney Movies - My favourite is Aladdin
I have an insane amount of jewellry- that i hardly wear
I'm obsessed with buying things :)
I hardly sleep because I don't like to waste time :s
I hate winter!

15 Blogger Nominations:

Greetings from Middle Earth
Booksercise
Chronicles of a Book Addict
Belle Malory
The Fraser File
Untitled
The Shaky Shelf
A Book Paradise
Black Lilies Are Deadly
Cathrine Garnell's Blog
Kari's Crowded Bookshelf
Leopard Kitty Books
Sara Jayne's Eclectic Reading Blog
Shakira's Book Blog 'n' Stuff
The Adventures Within

I am very happy to be nominated for the Liebster Award and I would like to thank Ella over at Classy Me Books for the nomination. I'm so happy :)!!

Here are the guidelines:

1. Link back to the person who gave it to you…they deserve the love!
2. Post the award on your blog for all to see!
3. Give the award to 5 of your favorite bloggers … ideally with approximately 200 followers or less.
4. Leave a comment on your chosen {5} blogs to let them know that they have been given the Liebster award.

Blog Nominations:


Defiantly Deviant
Forever is Now
The Angel Chronicles
Books for YA!
Literary Love Affair

Now that you know about these amazing bloggers...Go check them out!! Enjoy :)

- Stephanie

Ghostly Encounter by Suzannah Daniels

Ghostly Encounter (Ghostly Series #1)

By Suzannah Daniels
8th July 2012

Ghostly Encounter (Ghostly Series - Book One), a young adult paranormal romance

Seventeen-year-old Mia Randall longs for someone to take her mind off her heartrending breakup with her first real boyfriend. When she meets Benjamin, he does exactly that.

There’s only one problem. He’s a ghost.

Private Benjamin Alexander Richards, a Confederate soldier, is captivated by Mia the moment he lays eyes on her. He declares that Mia is his soul mate, despite the fact that she was born nearly a century and a half after he died.

But that's not their only obstacle. A much more menacing ghost lurks nearby. One summer evening by the light of a full moon, a ghostly encounter entangles Mia's life with Benjamin's in a way that she never imagined.

I really loved this book and I managed to finish it in one sitting because I couldn’t make myself put it down even when it meant getting on five hours sleep. The way Daniels built her story always kept me on the brink of my seat in anticipation of what was going to come next. Daniels writing is

stunning and every chapter was beautifully written, the story was slow at first but I can’t say it bothered me because the writing was brilliant. 

This was my first ghost story so I wasn’t really sure what to expect but this book far surpassed my expectations, I loved that Daniels incorporated history into the story and I loved learning about the civil war and the conditions in which the soldiers lived. It was great to be thrown back to a time that is so unfamiliar to us now and it was great to see how easy it was for Mia to fit into Benjamin’s world.

I loved Mia’s character, I instantly liked her and formed a connection to her character. She starts the book feeling completely miserable because she’s still deeply in love with her ex-boyfriend; her first love, which almost any young girl can relate too and it was the little touches that made her situation believable; the fact that she still has his pictures, she wholeheartedly believes that it is her fault they broke up. It’s her insecurities that make her character believable and it was a welcome relief after reading about so many characters that claim to be insecure, when in fact their actions say otherwise.

Benjamin is a real southern gentleman and his character charmed me from the get go. Daniels wrote him beautifully and I found him believable, he was charming and polite as I expected

someone from the 19th century to be. He spent years searching for something that could change his fate and he had no idea he would find it in the 21st century, even so he understands that sometimes you can’t change your fate, you just have to cherish the time you have left.

At its base this is a love story and it is beautiful and haunting to say the least. It explores the concept of soul mates, the effects the war had on relationships and how love can surpass any amount of time. I loved that their relationship was completely innocent, this book wasn’t about a build-up to sex, it was simply about two people getting to know each other and falling in love.

I loved Mia and Benjamin’s relationship because it wasn’t thrown in my face from the onset. Their relationship developed naturally and it was great to see the relationship grow, as they tend to do in real life. I was nearly in tears at the ending because this story is truly heart-breaking and although I had some idea of what was going to happen, I wasn’t prepared for it. I only hope that the next in the series brings happier times. This is a love story that’s full of happiness, tinged with sadness and full of hope.

Check out Suzannah Daniels blog here

Rating *  *  *  *  *

- Stephanie

Olympics 2012- Team GB!!

I got the chance to go to the Olympics on Wednesday and I had an amazing time!

I went to see the Women's hockey.

Argentina VS USA. I supported USA and they won!!!

ARG: 0 USA: 1

 Germany VS Australia. I supported Australia and they won!!

GER: 1 AUS: 3

The atmosphere was incredible and it was my first time watching a hockey match. I couldn't believe how much I enjoyed it. I found myself screaming along with the rest of the fans and stamping my feet on the floor at every penalty corner. I was forced to participate in countless mexican waves but it was all good fun.

Tower Bridge with the Olympic Rings

 (My fear is that they are going to fall down :o)

This is Me :) Team GB!! (Yea i'm pretty goofy looking)

Me and my little brother in our excitement

 (more me than him)

Australia VS Germany

The police have guns!! This is not a normal occurence in the UK, our police never carry guns. I was so shocked that I had to get in a sneaky picture :)

The stadium changes colour at night!!!

I'm pretty sure it turned blue at some point but i wasn't around long enough to see it :(

I took a hundred pictures but these are my favourites :)

London is absolutely manic at the moment but I loved every minute I was there. I'm so glad i got the chance to go because I had an amazing time and it was great to be around so many people from different countries and backgrounds.

Team GB all the way!!

- Stephanie

Waiting On Wednesdays

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine

The book I'm waiting for this week is:

UK cover

US cover

Hidden: House of Night #10

by P.C. Cast & Kristen Cast

16th October 2012

St. Martin's Griffin

Neferet’s true nature has been revealed to the Vampyre High Council, so Zoey and the gang might finally get some help in defending themselves and their beloved school against a gathering evil that grows stronger every day. And they’ll need it, because Neferet’s not going down without a fight. Chaos reigns at the House of Night

I fell in love with this series from the very first book and I cannot wait for this book! Only a few months to go!

And aren't these covers gorgeous?!!

- Stephanie

Justice: Deck of Lies #1 by Jade Varden

Justice: Deck of Lies #1
By Jade Varden
23rd December 2011

A House of Cards...
When you build an entire life on a foundation of lies, it only takes one truth for the whole thing to come crashing down. I never invited the truth in. I never went searching for it. I never had any reason to suspect that the two people I loved most were dishonest with me every second of every day.

I made one bad decision, and in a single day my entire world changed. If I'm ever going to discover the truth about myself and my parents, I have to trace all the lies back to their source. I have to try to find the truth that they're hiding.

The more I discover about myself, and my past, the more I realize that lies really are better than the truth. But now that I know the lies are all around me, I can't stop until I've discovered them all. I'll pull each lie away, one by one, and examine it to see what's underneath…until this house of cards crumbles into dust at my feet.

I just hope I can survive the crash.

Initially I didn't think I would enjoy this book because at first it seemed to be another story of how a normal teenage girl, living a normal unprivileged life couldn't possibly fit in with the rich and powerful students at her new school and I couldn't help but despise the cliche but boy was I WRONG!

I really should take my own advice and not judge a book by its cover because this story was not even close to what I was expecting. Varden's writing is fast paced and leaves you wanting more, the secrets come thick and fast and where each secret is revealed and resolved a new one quickly rushes in to take its place.

At times the story was a little predictable but this in no way ruins it because it is great to see how Rain deals with everything thrown her way. I like Rain, I think she's genuine and easy to connect with. She's a typical teenage girl: awkward and shy at times but she's always herself no matter how much the people around her want her to change. Her situation is far from normal but she seems to take everything in her stride and it's endearing to say the least.

The interesting thing about this story is that there isn't a love triangle it's more of a love quartet. Revolving around Rain, River, Tom and Owen. This may make it seem like there's too many characters in play but Varden doesn't make things easy and the results are surprisingly unexpected.
River is an interesting character and although he seems like the typical bad boy/damaged kid in the beginning, he is far more than that. It's not surprising that he has more than a few secrets of his own. I really like him as a character and I really hope his his issues get resolved in the next book because I am dying to see more of him. His relationship with Rain is complicated and yet surprisingly easy at the same time, when they are together i can't help but smile. He distracts her with normalcy at a time in her life when everything is far from normal.

And Owen? I can't even begin to describe how i feel about his character, at first I really thought he was just a sweet, nice guy that was obviously with the wrong girl but now? Now I believe he's got deep dark secrets of his own that are just waiting to be spilled. I have a feeling they are going to be far worse than anything else we've covered in the book so far.

This book is a rollercoaster of emotion, full of so many twists and turns that it's hard to remember what's real. Everyone has secrets but these secrets are unlike anything Rain has ever come across.
I reccommend to anyone that wants a book that's shrouded in mystery, tainted with sadness and full of intrigue. Varden does not disappoint. I can't wait to read the next in the series The Tower: Deck of Lies #2

Check out Jade Vardens blog here

Rating *  *  *  *  *

- Stephanie

My Book Boyfriend #2

This weeks book boyfriend is Dank Walker from Existence by Abbi Glines

Stats

Dark Brown Hair

Piercing ice blue eyes

Sexy smirk
Toned Body
Tall

"She means nothing to me." Dank's voice sent tingles down my neck and across my chest. "I would never lie to you, Pagan."

"I need you. Never doubt my need for you. But right now is not the time to explore my need. You have a love-struck boy downstairs needing your assistance with his homework,"

"I want to rip his arms from his body so he can't touch you again."

"I would love to accompany you into the bathroom while you shower and if I were truly as wicked as you think I am, I would do just that."

"You want me to fly away? That's cute."

"You're the one thing I want the most in the world yet the one thing I cannot have. Because to have you would be completely impossible. You can't go where I walk."

I picked Dank as my book boyfriend this week because he's sexy and mysterious and it wasn't just Pagen that he had at hello...

Dank walker is played by American Actor Ian Somerhalder

- Stephanie

Teaser Tuesdays # 2

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should be Reading

Glamour (Rae Wilder #1)
By Penelope Fletcher
7th October 2010
Poison Princess

The teasers are:

"As dumb as stashing a vampire in a wardrobe?"

"My skin was on fire, my blood boiling. He broke away to trail kisses down my neck then was still, holding me. Both our chests heaved. I realised he was hot, hard and had his mouth at my throat"

- Stephanie