How to Repair a Mechanical Heart by JC Lillis

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (21 Sept. 2012)

The summer after high school graduation, two cute and snarky boys hit the road in an RV. Their mission: follow the traveling fan convention for Castaway Planet, the cult sci-fi show they’re both obsessed with. (Excerpt from Publishers' Blurb)

I knew I was going to love this book because it was recommended by Dahlia Adler (@MissDahlWLama), founder of LGBTQ Reads. After racing through 'The Art of Being Normal' and 'Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe', Dahlia suggested this as a follow-up. I'm so glad she did because it was incredible!

This book gained a perfect balance between being very sincere about difficult issues such as identity and self-acceptance, at the same time as being light, romantic and hilarious! It's very accessible and at the same time gave me a lot to think about.

Another thing I really loved was how well it captured that feeling of being part of a fandom. Following a travelling fan convention is the ultimate in escapism and I loved the element of the boys chronicling their journey as part of a fan vlog. I ended up feeling quite sad that Castaway Planet isn't real - it sounds like a fandom I'd be part of!

The characters became some of my favourites that I've recently encountered. Brandon and Abel both came across as very realistic, different characters who complimented each other well. I really enjoyed their friendship and developing romance.

At this point I usually like to balance out my review by saying something I didn't like. For once, I genuinely can't think of anything! This book utterly captivated me and I can't wait to read more by JC Lillis.

5 Reasons to Read 'The Tenant of Wildfell Hall' by Anne Bronte

I put together this post for Pages Unbound as part of their Classics Event and it will also be appearing on their blog today! https://pagesunbound.wordpress.com/

There’s a lot of love out there for Charlotte and Emily Bronte and for good reason. I’ve read most of their books and they’re consistently brilliant. I’m not here to discuss the two best known Brontes. When I was at university, I first read ‘The Tenant of Wildfell Hall’ by Anne Bronte and it soon became one of my favourite classics. I hope by the end of this post that I can convince you to pick up a copy!

These are the reasons why I love ‘The Tenant of Wildfell Hall’:

The plot – A mysterious widow, Helen Graham, arrives at the rundown Wildfell Hall and attracts the attention of Gilbert Markham and the whole of their small community. This is not just another classic about a young girl who is swept away by a sulking scoundrel (although there are plenty in the book if you like that sort of thing).

The narrator – I loved the fact that this was from Gilbert’s point of view because you got to unravel the mystery of Mrs. Graham along with him! He’s a very endearing but flawed character quite different from the aforementioned rogues.

The format – The narrative unfolds as a sequence of letters and diary entries written by Gilbert and Helen, enabling the reader to piece the events together from the different character’s viewpoints.

Helen and Feminism – Obviously there wasn’t a lot of room to be a feminist at the time but Helen definitely tries! She encourages her young friend Ester not to marry for money and herself is determined to marry for love.

The setting – The Brontes lived in the beautiful Yorkshire village of Haworth (where you can still visit their Parsonage Home!) This book strongly evokes the wild and gorgeous landscape of the Yorkshire Moors.

A photo I took in Haworth August 2015

 

‘The Tenant of Wildfell Hall’ is a fabulous classic and Anne Bronte deserves to be as well-known as her sisters.

Review and Giveaway - Girl Hearts Girl Blog Tour

An inspiring, uplifting and sympathetic story about sexuality and self-acceptance, Lucy Sutcliffe's debut memoir is a personal and moving coming out story. In 2010, at seventeen, Lucy Sutcliffe began an online friendship with Kaelyn, from Michigan. They began a long distance relationship, finally meeting in 2011. Lucy's video montage of their first week spent together was the first in a series of vlogs documenting their long-distance relationship. Now, for the first time, Lucy's writing about the incredible personal journey she's been on. (Publishers' Blurb)

Author: Lucy Sutcliffe
Release Date: 24th June 2016
Publisher: Scholastic
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30743645-girl-hearts-girl
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Girl-Hearts-Lucy-Sutcliffe/dp/140715415X

I'm so pleased to take part in the blog tour for this fantastic book! I've never read a YA memoir before and this deals with issues that deserve so much more coverage.

The main thing I really liked was how candid this book was. It felt like Lucy Sutcliffe was being really open about her feelings and the events of her life. For that reason, I think this book will reach a lot of people going through uncertainty or difficulties related to their sexuality. I especially loved getting the female perspective, as a lot of YA seems to focus on boys' experiences in this area.

The development of Lucy and Kaelyn's relationship was my favourite part of this book. Their story was really sweet and optimistic. At the point that they met, this book well and truly sucked me in and it only took me a day to read.

Lucy Sutcliffe's conversational writing style suited the plot and subject matter really well and I thought she wrote with a really strong voice.

That being said, there were points that the book felt a little superficial and I didn't fully engage with it. I wanted a little more depth and introspection at times.

This a light, fun read just in time for Summer! It delves into subjects of identity and relationships that I'd really like to see more of in other books.




There is a tour-wide giveaway! 3 copies of Girl Hearts Girl for 3 lucky winners!

Participants must live in UK or IRL.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Songs about a Girl by Chris Russell Review

Publisher: Hodder Children's Books (28 July 2016)

Heartbreak, romance, fame and pop music - for anyone who's ever dreamed of saying 'I'm with the band'.
Charlie Bloom never wanted to be 'with the band'. She's happiest out of the spotlight, behind her camera, unseen and unnoticed. But when she's asked to take backstage photos for hot new boy band, Fire&Lights, she can't pass up the chance.
Catapulted into a world of paparazzi and backstage bickering, Charlie soon becomes caught between gorgeous but damaged frontman Gabriel West and his boy-next-door bandmate, Olly Samson. Then, as the boys' rivalry threatens to tear the band apart, Charlie stumbles upon a mindblowing secret, hidden in the lyrics of their songs ... (Publishers' Blurb)

I received this book for free from Netgalley after hearing really great things about it. This book came along exactly at the right time as it's light, romantic and absolutely perfect as a summer book. It only took me a day to read because I got completely hooked!

As a teenager (and sometimes now) I was a massive fan of boy bands and I loved the idea of a behind the scenes. This story was the ultimate in wish fulfilment, with Charlie stumbling into the world of 'Fire and Lights'.

The characters in this were fantastic! There were plenty of likeable boy band members to fall in love with and I found Charlie really easy to relate to. I felt that Charlie's best friend could have been developed further than her interest in Fire and Lights. 

The love story in this was really compelling (I must not be completely over YA romance) and I enjoyed trying to work out who Charlie was going to choose.

Another really interesting aspect of this book was the use of technology in positive ways (to promote the band and Charlie's photographs of them) but also how technology can be used in a cruel, damaging way. I'd like to see much more of this in YA as it unfortunately reflects reality!

Lyrics were woven into the narrative and I liked the plot line related to them. I also just discovered that these are real songs by the band the Lightyears that Chris Russell is a member of! How amazing is that? 

I'd highly recommend this as a book if you're in the mood to switch off from the world and indulge in a really fun read! Now excuse me while I go to listen to the Lightyears...







If you liked the sound of this, now try Love Song by Sophia Bennett.

Inherited by Freedom Matthews Book Review

Series: Curses of VIII Book 1

Publisher: Oftomes Publishing (12th July 2016)

The Wilted Rose, of faery-tale and folklore, is a pirate ship filled with unfortunate souls-each forbidden to love. One such soul is Valencia 'Lennie' Roux. Raised in a brothel and an heir to a curse; Lennie never expected to pique the interest of any man. Yet with the arrival of vivid-eyed Nathaniel, she is torn between wanting to know him better and fearing what that knowledge would mean.

With Nathaniel bringing the crew's total to six, the Wilted Rose sets off in search of the remaining two heirs. They hope that in reuniting, they will convince the faery Sorceress responsible for the curse, to end it. However lurking beneath the water is a long standing enemy of the Wilted Rose; who is determined to thwart their quest and bring down its leaders. Together the eight heirs fight for survival, friendship and love. (Publishers' Blurb)

I love books, movies, games and basically everything to do with pirates so I was really excited to get this in my Fairy Loot Crate! 

The premise of a crew seeking to undo a curse was great (if a little familiar from 'The Pirates of the Carribean'.) What made this different was that the curse prevented sufferers from expressing their love. Plenty of romantic tension of course ensues... This was a little predictable from the moment the handsome young love interest joined the crew but I really enjoyed it!

Another thing I loved was the characters. I enjoyed unravelling their back stories and watching relationships developing between them. I hope that in the sequels there will be chance to delve into the strengths of the different members of the crew.

The fantasy aspects of this were also really strong, with curses, faeries and sorceresses of the good and evil variety. The world building in this book was great and I think there's lots of potential for future development.

This was an action-filled, compelling book and I'm already looking forward to the sequel!

     

If you liked the sound of this, now try these:

The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig

Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton

Unnatural Souls by Linda Foster - sneak preview!

I'll be reviewing the novella 'Unnatural Souls' by Linda Foster on my blog in August but for now here's a plot summary and the beautiful cover to whet your appetite!


It's been almost a year since the night of the accident that should have killed Grace. Nearly a year since her brother, Ash, sold his soul to save her. She survived, but that wasn’t the end of their story.



Not even close. 



In the months since, Grace’s life has turned upside down. She can move objects with her mind, teleport in a blink of an eye, see dead people … and that's just the tip of the crazy train. 



And that would be fine, really … if she had any idea how to control it. 



Instead, she’s stuck in a body that does things she doesn’t understand. And now, the contract her brother made for her life is drawing to a close. Which means he’s running out of time before the demon comes to collect his soul. 



Unless Grace can find a way to save him.



When an angel named Michael shows up with answers and an offer to help her, she jumps at the chance—and agrees to help him with his own mission as the price. 



Then she finds out that Michael is working with another demon. That the deal she’s made … is no better than the one from which she’s trying to save Ash. And she’s faced with a choice: turn and walk away, or try to save her brother—by working with the very monsters who have nearly destroyed them both.



StoryTime Blog Tour - DEBBI by George Ebey

This is the second of my StoryTime blog tour posts and I'm so happy to have taken part! DEBBI is another fantastic novella that makes me desperate for the upcoming novel 'Helen of Mars'!

Here's a short bio of the author:

George Ebey has been creating alternate realities since a young age.  It all began when he started taking his once-vast collection of action figures on epic journeys though countless lands full of exotic wonders and hidden dangers. Today, his action figure collection is much smaller, though several still stand guard on his writing desk, ready to take up arms and march into the fray at a moment’s notice. 

George was born and raised in Ohio, where he still lives with his wife and an ornery cat named Ollie. When he’s not writing or playing with his action figures, he enjoys being outdoors, studying history, and searching for new and interesting places to explore. (Publishers' Bio)

   

A game to end all games. On the line: her family’s future. Will Helen’s creation be enough to win the day? Or will she lose, and take her family down with her?

Helen's father has signed up to send a robotic rover to Mars, risking their family's wealth and prospects. Helen enters a junior gaming competition for the chance to win a one year lease on a Mars rover, which would save her family from risking everything. She enters her newest robot, a rover called DEBBI into the simulated battle competition.

I knew this was going to be my kind of book and I'm so excited to read more about this world!

Tech is not my strong suit but I found the explanations of the robot technology and the competition accessible and fascinating. The concept of mining on Mars interested me because it feels like something our oversized corporations would want to do.

I'm really interested in the history of the 1849 gold rush to California and I love the idea of a sci-fi version of this! The novella alluded to lawlessness and people using their rovers to steal from others, which is a potentially exciting twist. My only issue with this is that with the humans steering the rovers from Earth, will this distance readers of 'Helen of Mars' from the action? 

The robot battling competition was really exciting and I loved the raised stakes of what Helen's family had to lose if she lost the competition. Within the robot battles, there was a friendship dynamic between Helen and her teammate that I really liked. My favourite parts of the battle were those from the robot's point of view, as this felt like quite a unique perspective to explore.

I really liked the premise and action of this novella and will definitely look out for Helen of Mars!

 

Check out my blog tomorrow for a cover reveal and teaser for Unnatural Soul by Linda Foster.

 

StoryTime Blog Tour - Let Me Fly Free by Mary Fan

It's so great to join the Storytime blog tour and celebrate this wonderful novella! As soon as I heard 'YA LGBTQ fantasy with unicorns', I was already sold.

First a little info about the author Mary Fan. 

Mary Fan is a hopeless dreamer, whose mind insists on spinning tales of “what if.” As a music major in college, she told those stories through compositions. Now she tells them through books—a habit she began as soon as she could pick up a pencil. Mary would like to think that there are many other novels in her bag, and hopes to prove that to the world as well.

Mary lives in New Jersey and has a B.A. from Princeton University. When she’s not scheming to create new worlds, she enjoys kickboxing, opera singing, and blogging about everything having to do with books. (Publishers' author bio)

So, what's the novella about? Elaia is a fire nymph who wants to break free from the agreement that keeps her and the rest of her kind out of the human world. When a murderous creature attacks her idyllic homeland, she is willing to risk punishment and her own life to stop it.

I'm not usually a big novella reader because I think it's hard to encapsulate a whole world in so few pages. This novella does an incredible job of establishing the world and conflict quickly, without it seeming rushed and confusing. This premise has so much scope for further exploration in the 'Fated Stars' series (which is coming out soon).

The mythology of this is really interesting too. A world of unicorns, fairies and nymphs could go wrong and cheesy really quickly but this one completely sucked me in! A lot of this is to do with Mary Fan's writing style, as Elaia's strong voice filtered the world through her perspective.

Elaia is a fantastic character and I hope the 'Fated Stars' series will give more opportunities to get to know her. I loved that she wanted to use her powers not just to 'save the day' but for her own enjoyment too. She's an ambiguous, imperfect and at times quite dark character who felt really fresh and original.

Last but not least, Elaia has a girlfriend! It's brilliant to see an F/F relationship in a fantasy setting - why doesn't this happen more often? Their relationship is portrayed as very real and flawed and I just loved it!

The only part of this that I'm less keen on is the use of adjectives because sometimes the descriptions are a little flowery for my taste.

A teaser for the novella 'Tell Me My Name' is included after 'Let Me Fly Free' and this too sounds like it's going to be a great read.

This was a fun, unique novella that makes me really want the rest of the series! 

Please check out my blog tomorrow for the next novella in the StoryTime Blog tour - DEBBI by George Ebey.





Paper and Fire by Rachel Caine Review

The world of the Great Library series is a particularly horrendous dystopia because people aren't allowed to own books! The Great Library controls the world's knowledge and rebelling against it has severe consequences (particularly the danger of being chased by disturbing automatons).

After the events of the last book, Jess Brightwell's only opportunity to work with the library was as part of its army. When a mission goes wrong, Jess and his team have to flee to London to escape the Library. The only problem with that is the army preparing to attack his home town.

I'm a huge Rachel Caine fan and the first book in the Great Library series (Ink and Bone) left me desperate for more! Paper and Fire is another brilliant title full of action, family dynamics, romance and books.

I loved how dark the world of this series is. It's so creative for the Library to be the ultimate power. This might sound brilliant in principle until it becomes clear that this is a repressive society where knowledge is locked away. I haven't read many YA books based on alternative histories and this is a unique, well executed idea.

Another strength of this series is the characters, as in all of Rachel Caine's books. There are so many from different cultures and backgrounds, yet each feels richly described as the hero of their own story.

I also really enjoy the pacing of the book. There's a perfect balance between humour and darkness; family and romance; action and quieter moments. The only times my attention wandered was where a few of the action scenes were on the long side.

This is another great book by Rachael Caine and I can't wait for the next title in this series! 'Paper and Fire' is out on 5th July so preorder it now if you haven't already!




If you liked the sound of this, now try these:

-Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
-The Sin Eater's Daughter by Melinda Salisbury

Saving Montgomery Sole Blog Tour - interview and US giveaway!

It's really exciting to take part in the blog tour for 'Saving Montgomery Sole' during Pride Month. As part of the tour, I have an interview with the fantastic author Mariko Tamaki and a giveaway of the book! (US only)

First, here's a little bit about the book from the publisher:

Montgomery Sole is a square peg in a small town, a girl with two mums forced to go to a school full of homophobes and people who don't even know what irony is. Her saving grace - her two best friends Thomas and Naoki. Monty's obsessed with paranormal mysteries like ESP, astrology, superpowers, and the healing powers of frozen yogurt, but when strange things actually start happening to Monty, she realizes that the greatest mystery of all is herself.

Now to the interview! Thanks so much Mariko for stopping by the blog.

What was your favourite book when you were the same age as your characters?

By sixteen I was heavy into Canadian Lit: Alice Munro, Margaret Laurence, Timothy Findley and Margaret Atwood. I think my favorite book was Stone Angel.

If the Eye of Know existed, what would you use it for?

Ah the Eye of Know is a complex thing! I wouldn't want to get anywhere near something that would give me any other sight or power beyond what I've got. Maybe I would borrow one to find my keys every once in a while.

Do you have any writing or editing rituals?

I've recently discovered the joys of the Pilot fountain pen, and writing my outlines with a really good pen on really good paper.

If you could meet any author living or dead, who would it be?

I'd love to meet Shakespeare, just run into him in line at the grocery store so I can turn to him and say, "So explain Romeo and Juliet to me."

What's your favourite book and movie?

Oh my gosh it changes so often. I would probably say my favorite book is this collection of non-fiction essays called The New Kings of Non-Fiction edited by Ira Glass. YA-wise I'm a huge fan of Sherman Alexie's The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Movie wise I love director Sophia Coppola, although I spend a lot of time rewatching XMen films.


You can find a list of all bloggers taking part in the blog tour here:

http://fiercereadsya.tumblr.com/post/145610863923/saving-montgomery-sole-blog-tour

Finally, here's the link to the Rafflecopter giveaway! Macmillan are generously giving away 5 copies of the book - open to the US only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Riders by Veronica Rossi - Review

Publisher: Tor Teen (16 Feb. 2016)

For eighteen-year-old Gideon Blake, nothing but death can keep him from achieving his goal of becoming a U.S. Army Ranger. As it turns out, it does.

Recovering from the accident that most definitely killed him, Gideon finds himself with strange new powers and a bizarre cuff he can't remove. His death has brought to life his real destiny. He has become War, one of the legendary four horsemen of the apocalypse.

Over the coming weeks, he and the other horsemen--Conquest, Famine, and Death--are brought together by a beautiful but frustratingly secretive girl to help save humanity from an ancient evil on the emergence. They fail.

Now--bound, bloodied, and drugged--Gideon is interrogated by the authorities about his role in a battle that has become an international incident. If he stands any chance of saving his friends and the girl he's fallen for--not to mention all of humankind--he needs to convince the skeptical government officials the world is in imminent danger. But will anyone believe him? (Publishers' Blurb)

'Under the Never Sky' is one of my favourite YA series of all time - a fantastically original dystopian with a beautiful love story. This meant I was super excited about Riders and I enjoyed it just as much as I hoped I would. 

The premise of a teen becoming one of the four horseman of the apocalypse was really unique and executed well. I enjoyed seeing Gideon and the other characters coming into their powers and thought the creatures they encountered were super creative. The big bads were also suitably scary and the plot conflict gathered speed and went off with a bang.

Another thing I loved was Gideon as a narrator. I love male narrators in YA and it's rarer than I'd like in this type of book. I also know very little about the mindset of wanting to go away to war and it was interesting to get inside Gideon's head. The love story involving him was sweet but not overpowering. It unfolded naturally from the story rather than being crowbarred in. 

The only aspect I was less keen on was that the structure of collecting the other chosen ones felt a little familiar, in a sort of cross between Percy Jackson and the Avengers. 

This is a really promising duology and I'm looking forward to the next book!

If you liked the sound of this, now try these:

-Under the Never Sky (also by Veronica Rossi)

-The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness

-Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief

You should also watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer (because it's relevant but also because I take any opportunity to recommend it.)

UKYA Book Blogger Awards Winners 2016!

Without further ado let us unveil the UKYA Book Blogger Awards winners:

Best Adult Blogger

Winner – Michelle - Tales Of Yesterday

2nd Place – Jim – YAYeahYeah

3rd Place – Sally - The Dark Dictator

Best Teen Blogger

Winner – Amber - The Mile Long Bookshelf

2nd Place – Lucy - Queen of Contemporary

3rd Place - Georgia Dalton - TeenBookHoots

Blogger Spirit Award

Winner – Michelle - Tales Of Yesterday

2nd Place – Viv - Serendipity Reviews

3rd Place - Lucy - Queen of Contemporary

Best Male Blogger

Winner – Jim – YAYeahYeah

2nd Place – George Lester

3rd Place - Andrew – The Pewter Wolf

Best Female Blogger

Winner – Grace - Almost Amazing Grace

2nd Place – Michelle - Tales Of Yesterday

3rd Place - Miriam - Hello I Am Miriam

Best Team / Co-op Blog

Winner – Serendipity Reviews

2nd Place – Bookish Brits

3rd Place - The Big Book Project

Marvellous Blogger Award

Winner – Grace - Almost Amazing Grace

2nd Place – Michelle - Tales Of Yesterday

3rd Place - Luna - Luna's Little Library

Best Overseas Blogger 

Winner – Cait - Paper Fury

2nd Place – Jamie - The Perpetual Page-Turner

3rd Place - Lili - Lili's Reflections

Best Booktuber

Winner – Lucy - Queen of Contemporary

2nd Place – George Lester

3rd Place - Stevie - SableCaught

Best on Social Media

Winner – Michelle - Tales Of Yesterday

2nd Place – Mariam - Hello I Am Mariam

3rd Place - Jim – YAYeahYeah

Best Oldtimer

Winner – Amber - The Mile Long Bookshelf

2nd Place – Viv - Serendipity Reviews

3rd Place - Lucy - Queen of Contemporary

Best Growing Blogger 

Winner – Michelle - Tales Of Yesterday

2nd Place – Virginie - Chouett Blog

3rd Place - Chloe - Writer-On-Wheels

Best Newcomer

Winner – Jo Clarke - Booklover Jo

2nd Place – Hannah Ha - Ninjas Reads Too

3rd Place - Cintia – Reflectionofthebooks

Best Blogger Feature

Winner – 6 Degrees - YAYeahYeah

2nd Place – Secret Serendipity Seven & Blogger Island Books - Serendipity Reviews

3rd Place - Looks on Books - Casey Ann / Dark Readers

The 2016 UKYA Book Blogger Awards in numbers:

Something like 30hrs+ were spent backstage putting the awards together.
More than 100 nominations were put forward…
28 UKYA Bloggers made the longlist
33 UKYA Bloggers were on the shortlist
Over 2600 votes were cast in 14 categories
There were 16 lovely helpers and 1 host
On the 30th May at 6pm (that’s tonight) there is 1 epic Book Lover / Awards Twitter Party and you are all invited!

See you at the Twitter celebrations tonight!

#bookloverparty #awardukyabbloggers

A big thank you to all the helpers:

Aditi @ A Thousand Words A Million Books
Amy McCaw @ YA Under My Skin
Andrew @ The Pewter Wolf
Annalise @ AnnaliseBooks
Aurelija @ myblinddatewithbooks
Chelley Toy @ Tales Of Yesterday
Chloe @ Writer-On-Wheels
Cintia @ Reflection of the Books
Emma @ Howling Reviews
Georgia Stencel @ The Books Bandit
Jesse @ thatjessebloke
Kaavya @ outlookonabook
Kaisha @ thewritinggarnet
Rachel Kennedy @ Ya-bberingBooklover
Rebecca @ Rebecca McCormick’s Authorial Blog
Virginie @ Chouett

I hope you enjoyed the 2016 UKYA Book Blogger Awards!