Book Review: Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsner

Not much to talk about.

A show runner and her assistant give the world something to talk about when they accidentally fuel a ridiculous rumour.

Hollywood powerhouse Jo is photographed making her assistant Emma laugh on the red carpet, and just like that, the tabloids declare them a couple. The so-called scandal couldn’t come at a worse time – threatening Emma’s promotion and Jo’s new movie.

As the gossip spreads, it starts to affect all areas of their lives. Paparazzi are following them outside the office, coworkers are treating them differently, and a ‘source’ is feeding information to the media. But their only comment is ‘no comment’

With the launch of Jo’s film project fast approaching, the two women begin to spend even more time together, getting along famously. Emma seems to have a sixth sense for knowing what Jo needs. And Jo, known for being aloof and outwardly cold, opens up to Emma in a way neither of them expects. They begin to realise the rumour might not be so off base after all . . . but is acting on the spark between them worth fanning the gossip flames?

After I requested this book, I started hearing bad things about it and sadly when I started reading it that was true. I found Emma annoying at the start, the way she freaked out about a dress she needed for a work event. I think the picture part was clumsily done especially when Jo's media persona is being an ice queen. This book is third-person but we have chapters that follow one character more than the other, which I think was a mistake. At least where and when we followed each character, there's no set pattern.
It does get better as it goes on. Emma gets less annoying and then annoying in the third act again due to an unnecessary trope.

I don't like power imbalance romances, but I'm a sucker for media about behind the scene talent and Queer things so I thought I would give it a chance and hope the imbalance isn't too much. There is a lot of justification to why their relationship is okay and involves the usual tropes around that. This book does involve a sapphic romance between a 27-year-old Bi Jewish Women, Emma and 41-year-old Chinese Lesbian, Jo. They the only out to the reader queer characters. They are both full adults when they met but it is established that Emma did admire Jo's work before she started working for her. This a slow burn romance mainly because both characters spend most of the book denying their feelings. So while I wonder their stance on Pop Culture references, I could get over it for the sack of Sapphic romance.

This book has a ton of tropes, they are obvious as soon as introduced. Honestly, if this wasn't a Queer romance I would probably have stopped reading (arc or not). One did feel very unnecessary and add nothing but did make me like Emma less and we were so near the end by that point. It's generally a trope I hate so doesn't help matters. All books have tropes in them. This one just needs to fine-tune its trope game.

The characters are alright. If you want sibling/sibling-like relationships where they pick on the protagonists until they admit their feelings then this is the book for you. They all very nice but that's about it. No one is that deep, you know this a romance book first so every character is they to serve that purpose in one way or not. A two-line introduction told me exactly what this character was gonna do and then he did it. My favourite character was a side-character and we don't learn much about the protagonists. Like what is Emma favourite film genre? Neither of them seem that passionate about film or each other. A lot of telling, not a lot of tension. It's odd that I would have been fine with them just being Gal Pals by the end. Sisters in arms against Hollywood's prejudices.
The book takes place over a year, so they are some plot points. The ending felt a bit rushed (though I was also reading it fast as possible because I wanted to finish it before I had to do something at a specific time). I guess the conclusion was fine, just lacking in satisfaction for me while I was reading it.

Overall, I give this book 3/5 stars for Matching Bracelet. This turn out not to be a book for me, the TV production element wasn't that engaging. It's what I consider a light read, with enough realism to care about the ending. I'm not sure who to recommend it to since most people don't seem to be clicking with it. A lot of is 3 stars. This a debut so improvement is possible and likely. I read it in a day so maybe it's perfect for a quick read.

Read: 16/06/2020 - 17/06/2020
Reviewed: 17/06/2020 - 18/06/2020
Medium: E-Arc
Published Date: 18/06/2020
Publisher: Piatkus
Source: NetGalley
CW: Sexual Harassment; Homophobic Parents;

Crossposted to Strangeness Books.

Book Review: Unconventional by Maggie Harcourt

Yes, let me to criticise a book about conventions when I have never been to one.

Lexi Angelo is a convention Kid - she got a slip-board and a walkie talkie to prove it.

Aidan Green is a messy-haired, annoying arrogant author and he's disrupting her perfect planning.

In a flurry of awkward encounters, lost schedules and late-night conversations, Lexi discovers that some things can't be planned...Things like falling in love.

Lexi's, our protagonist and narrator, life revolves around conventions. Helping to plan and run them, even when she should be doing school work. A big part of the book is actually about Lexi feelings towards conventions and what they mean to her.

Besides the obvious romance, we also have Lexi dealing with her dad deciding to get married to a woman he's never lived with.

Some of the novel I felt unrealistic, like the marriage being at a convention, maybe if it had been explained exactly why it had to happen then and there, besides the main events of the novel happening at conventions. There is generally a bit of disbelief when it comes to this book, but could technically happen, like a film actually being made straight away when the film rights are sold. There a lot of books that had the film rights sell before publication and were hits but are still not out years later. The fastest I've seen a book to film adaption would be the 'The Hate U Give' by Angie Thompson but that didn't have casting confirmed three months after it's release and the films rights were sold a month after the book did, and that was a contemporary novel with a very timely story to tell. I guess this meant to be Harry Potter level but stuff still takes time script writing, casting, location scouting, hiring a crew and if it going to need a lot special effects that has to be considered in the pre-production as well. Though, maybe the film is just going to be garbage fire because they rushed it. That does happen too. You do just have to accept that this book gets massive as soon as it published. It can happen, often doesn't. No one has really got HP or Twilight big over night which I think this fictional book is meant to be. I mean even pre-publishing buzz doesn't mean success. Okay, this was weird tangent, it just did take me out of the story a little.

There is a lot of characters in this book, probably due to the fact that it takes a lot of people to run a convention, including Lexi's best friends Samira, Nadiya and Bede. We don't get a lot of time with these characters, but it's still believable friendships and history behind these characters. Harcourt does a good job of suggesting this history from the start. The romance side is okay, it's kinda hate to love thing and the characters talk to each so it more than just surface nonsense.

Overall, I give this book 3/5 stars for Running Trays. It's fun and does a pretty good job of building this Conventional community. It's a fun book, so if don't think too much about publishing and how film work it's fine. That's just me.

Book Review: Bad Girls with Perfect Faces by Lynn Weingarten

I didn't buy any nail polish off this book.

No one is good enough for Xavier. Not according to Sasha, his best friend. There's nothing Sasha wouldn't do to protect Xavier from getting hurt, especially by his cheating ex Ivy, who's suddenly slithered back into the picture. Worried that Xavier is ready to forgive and forget, Sasha decides to do a little catfishing. She poses as a hot guy online, to prove cheaters never change.

But Sasha's plan goes wrong fast, and soon the lies lead down a path from which there's no return . . .

This is my second encounter with Weingarten. I really liked Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls and was excited to immurge myself into her writing. This does have similar to that book, but I didn't like this one as much. I mean I did really like Suicide Notes.

The plot is okay, there were some twists attempts, but I wasn't the right type of invested to care. Half way point kinda lost me. It works well in theory, but also seem like quite a standard affair. The plot is bit reliant on the characters being idiots.

This is another friendship bordering on romance. It works well and funly tragic. The characters do a lot of dancing around each other. This is more relationship based than plot, as everything that happens due the character's relationships have with each other.

Overall, I give this book 3/5 stars for locked accounts. I had high hopes for this book and sadly it didn't meet them. It was still a decent read, and if you're looking for a YA thriller, give it ago.

I recieved this book for review off NetGalley and Electric Monkey, it came out on the 11th January 2018.

Book Review: The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

There are weirder things to collect than Smurfs I guess.

Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman sit across from each other every day . . . and they hate each other. Not dislike. Not begrudgingly tolerate. HATE. Lucy can't understand Joshua's joyless, uptight approach to his job and refusal to smile. Joshua is clearly baffled by Lucy's overly bright clothes, quirkiness, and desire to be liked.

Now they're up for the same promotion and Lucy, usually a determined people-pleaser, has had enough: it's time to take him down. But as the tension between Lucy and Joshua reaches its boiling point, it's clear that the real battle has only just begun . .

This is a book I got for review ages ago and after months of hearing about how good it was, I have finally read it (it might take me years or months, but I intend to read everything I said I would review eventually).

This is a 'hate to love', filled with witty back and forth, which is something I love. Fun dialogue is my favourite thing. They're always at the same power level as well so it's fully enjoyable. I wish all romance focus books were like this one. If read my other reviews, I do paint a picture of me hating all romance. Not true, just a lot romances focus books give no reason for the characters to like each and they have no chemistry at all, which is the opposite in this book. 


The characters Lusy and Joshua are well round with filled out backgrounds and good motives. Also surrounded by interesting supporting cast. Their relationships is fun and I just really like them.

The ending was a bit disappointing for me. Not the way the story ends, just the execution. I wanted  an epilogue kinda of. I just wished the concussion was stronger. I realise we were near the ending and was like hur? There's not time for a proper resolution. I cared about the plot as well as the characters so I wish it was more satisfying.
 
Overall, I give this 4/5 stars for Strawberry Smurfs. This is a fun romance, with the background of the publishing industry. I've not said much in this review, but I think it better going in not knowing much. I recommended, it one of the best romances I've read and if you want a fun, light read book

I received this book off Netgalley and Piatkus for Review.

Book Review: My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

My next door neighbours are real animals. Or an empty field.

The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, numerous, messy, affectionate. And every day from her balcony perch, seventeen-year-old Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs the trellis to sit by her - and changes everything.

I'm not sure what I think of this book. Frankly, I just have a weird relationship with romance books. I like them for characterisation but the romance side is something I never buy into the way other people seem to.

There are lot of characters and the writer manages to keep them distinct. The relationships were okay. The contrast between the two families worked well.  The main character doesn't give much in personality to attach to, she okay.

The plot was okay, but I'm not really fond of the everything is perfect and then everything goes to shit hundred pages before the end format.

 Overall, I give this book 4/5 stars for ridiculous names. While this is a new release over in the UK, this book has been over hyped from the American side for me. It's a decent  A contemporary, I'm just not at all invested enough in the characters to buy into the hype. I think I would have less mixed feelings about it if I hadn't heard how good it was from various sources.

I got this book for Review off NetGalley and it was published by Electric Monkey this month.

Book Review: My True Love Gave to Me. Edited by Stephanie Perkins

I hate Romance, but love short stories.

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me . . . This beautiful collection features twelve gorgeously romantic stories set during the festive period, by some of the most talented and exciting YA authors writing today. The stories are filled with the magic of first love and the magic of the holidays.

This is an anthology of romance stories. I'm not big on the romance, but I like short stories. Most of the stories didn't fall in the tropes area, so this book certainly doesn't fall in the annoying area of YA Romances. There are illustrations at the start of each story that I liked and I also the font used in the corner is pretty looking. 

Midnight by Rainbow Rowell: This story tells the tale of several New Year almost Midnight; hence the title. This is a friend romance. It was nice I like the flash back to the couple's meeting and the grimace of their relationship every New Year after that till the start of the story. 4/5 stars for Chex Mix.

The Lady and the Fox by Kelly Link: This a magic story which raises questions and gives you no answers. This is instant love where the couple only say a few sentences to each other and then it's risk your life time. I liked their interactions, I just do not get the bit where the romance came in. There's more going on with the other love interest. It took me half way through the story to pin-point what time period we were in, so therefore timeless? Well, as long Skype and Tonys are a thing. I give this tale 3/5 stars for pine needles. I would have liked it better if the ending went a darker turn. 

Angels In The Snow by Matt de la Peña: Snowed in and staving at Christmas. This book features such fun as grief and college. Its told from a boy's point of view, which chaptery bits. I liked the style,  Takes place during the immediate days to Christmas and Christmas Day. 4/5 stars for muffins.

Polaris Is Where You’ll Find Me by Jenny Han: This was an interesting idea, though basically the film Santa Claus if you developed the idea and killed off Mrs Claus and the street hoodlum. Also add elves from the Lord of the Rings, because they be hot.  Okay, they really only share the concept of Santa adopting a kid and living at the North Pole with them. This was more the issue of growing up at the North Pole the only one of breed e.g. not an elf or Santa (I hate when people say magical beings ain't human when that's so not how genetics work. It's as dumb as racism because races ain't really a thing in biology, but one is obviously a more serious issue than the other). The ending was a little underwhelming, there was more there and this is one of the shorter stories (14 pages). 2/5 stars for Tall Elves.

It’s a Yuletide Miracle, Charlie Brown by Stephanie Perkins: A girl hears a voice in a parking lot then follows that voice to forest of Christmas tree. This story does not involve magic, despite me clearly giving a misleading description. This was favourite story so far. It was sweet and very real. The characters have witty banter with each other. 5/5 stars for Scattered boxes.

Your Temporary Santa by David Levithan: Levithan can always be grantee to bring the gay. I mean heteronormative makes everything so boring and this is the only one of these stories that isn't. A boy is convinced to pretended to be Santa for his boyfriend's 6 year old sister who flirts with teenagers for attention...why the word flirt? Charm has least disturbing connotations when referring to a child. 4/5 stars for disarranged stockings.

Krampuslauf by Holly Black: This was really a romance story, but I don't care. It has a nice friendships and magic. I also enjoyed the fake break-up. 3/5 for mysterious liquids.

What The Hell Have You Done, Sophie Roth? by Gayle Forman: WHY IS MICK JAGER CONSIDER SEXY? He wasn't that hot when he was young. This story takes place on the last night of Hanukkah, which by pure coincidence is when I read this story (though just as we were only 2 hours in and it was more the night of the 13th). I think this story also takes place on Christmas Eve (24th), due to clues in the book and that was when Hanukkah was last year. This is a story about two outsiders at university bonding over Ned Flanders. I like how the girl was swept up with all her mistakes. 4/5 stars for Glass candles.

Beer Buckets and Baby Jesus by Myra McEntire: Male protagonist blows up pigeons and burns down part of a church. Depressing issues that just overshadow by a romance I don't care about. Actually, just straight up depressing, with a sappy ending.  2/5 stars for prostitute angels.

Welcome To Christmas, CA by Kiersten White: This a sweet story about food and what is a home. It also feels like a balanced story. The main character, Maria has issues outside the romance that are dealt with, instead of just being characterisation. Also this story also involves non-romantic love which is surprisingly not explored enough.  5/5 stars for lawn chairs.
 
Star of Bethlehem by Ally Carter: That was basically terrible and highly farfetch. The more interesting story is the girl who goes to New York. I want to know what the hell happen in Iceland. There's potential, but most of the story is wanting to know why Linda is hiding. The rest is just corny mush. 1/5 for corruption. 

The Girl Who Woke The Dreamer by Laini Taylor: This is slightly different but also not at all. Its the only fantasy story in book, but fits fine in my opinion with the other magical story that are in here. The main character Neve is a terrible situation and magic comes to the rescue or something like that. 4/5 stars dead flowers.

Overall, I give this book four out of five stars for . I enjoyed the majority of these stories, there's only one or two that really let the book down. A lot these stories have weird underling issues that just didn't fit in with the stories they were telling. There's some decentish diversity (as in more than one of the main characters are clearly a minority in America). Even as someone who not all about the romances in books, the characters are complex in their brief glances. Would definitely recommend for this seasonal.

I got this book for review off NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Books. I also own it and used having to do a review on it to trick me into reading it now, instead of the Summer of 2017.

Book Review: The Moment Collector by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Bobbing along, Bobbing along on the wind, spying on people.

"The yard of this house is a graveyard of moments and everything left behind is a clue. And I am here to dig."

There's a ghost haunting 208 Water Street. She doesn't know who she was, or why she's still here. She does know that she is drawn to Maggie, the new girl in town, and her friends - beautiful, carefree Pauline and Liam, the boy who loves her.

But the ghost isn't all that's lurking in Gill Creek... Someone is killing young girls all across the county. Can the ghost keep these three friends safe? Or does she have another purpose?

This book is also know as The Vanishing Season, I have no idea how either name was came upon.

The writing was pretty. There is this thing about a nameless ghost spying on everyone. It's odd flaming devices that all brings to the book as no one is aware of the ghost within the story.

This is a novel about relationships. Everything else is just flaming. I like the exploration of the friendship dynamics, it does feature a love triangle but it's interesting in terms of a relationship study. It was bit frustrating sometimes the way the different angles behaved.

I found the ending disappointing, I think it was twisty for the sake of twisty. Also strangely happy considering everything that happens.

Overall, I gave the book 4 out of five stars for ice holes. This book was pretty to read and the character were interesting and real.

I got this book off NetGalley for Review and it is published by Orchard Books.

Book Review: Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls by Lynn Weingarten

 I totally didn't buy yellow nail varnish because of this book.

When June met Delia, she was a lifeline. Their intense friendship gave her a sense of belonging, of security, that she’d never had before. She felt braver, smarter, funnier, more attractive when Delia was around. But then something went wrong, and Delia and June haven’t spoken for a year when an announcement is made at their school that Delia is dead. 

June barely has time to mourn before Delia’s ex-boyfriend convinces her that Delia didn’t kill herself but was in fact murdered, and June is fast swept into a tangle of lies and deceit – and a conspiracy she can barely conceive of, never mind believe.

"Wow" was reaction to the the end of this novel and the book in general.

The book's main narrator and protagonist is June who is trying to figure out what really happened to her ex-best friend. June feels like a real person and the emotions are done really well.

This book is mostly in first-person with a dash of third-person during flashbacks which were used to give us glimpses of important moments in June & Delia's relationships which I think was the best way to show us them when they were still friends. 

This story does revolve around June and Delia's friendship so the characterization  is of course important and it is thankfully done well. Both girls feel like real people and I found myself questioning both of their actions. I just love how complex their relationship is with each other.

The plot of this book was good and kept you guessing. I went down a few wrong thought paths and for a rare change I never saw the solution coming but it worked and was almost perfect. The ending is ambiguous but it works well with the rest of the story.

Overall, I give this book 4/5 stars for maraschino cherries. This book was awesome book about friendship and how much you can really know someone.

I got this book for Review off NetGalley and it was published by Electric Monkey this month.

Book Review: Love Hurts, edited by Malorie Blackman

 I'm not angry, I'm just disappointed.

Malorie Blackman brings together the best teen writers of today in a stunningly romantic collection about love against the odds. Featuring short stories and extracts about modern star-crossed lovers from stars such as Gayle Forman, Markus Zusak and Patrick Ness, and with a brand-new story from Malorie Blackman herself, Love Hurts looks at every kind of relationship, from first kiss to final heartbreak.

This is a book of is mix of short stories and extracts from YA books which is just really disappointing. There is actually seven short stories, next to the 17 extracts. Of course, only 5 of those stories are original to this book. Extracts are weird because I feel like there probably major spoilers for the books they're from. I look at the ones that I had already read and would say yes, that was a spoiler and if I had wanted to read a part of this book then I would have brought that book. (To be clear I never brought this book, it a review copy like it says at the bottom). I have not read all this book, there are book extracts in here from books that I plan to read and would rather read the whole book the first time all together. I have read all the short stories, the extracts from books I've already read and books that I don't think I'll ever read.

Introduction by Malorie Blackman: Should I really review a introduction? I guess I could have did it in a jokey way, but no.

Humming Through my Fingers by Malorie Blackman: This is story in which a blind girl trolls a boy (to be clear I mean the internet definition and not the idiotic media's that thinks a troll is someone who sends people death threats). I like this story, it was good idea to start with the possible start of romance. 3/5 stars for ties.

Extract from More Than This by Patrick Ness: Did not read as I own and plan to read this book.

Extract from The Infinite Moment of Us by Lauren Myracle: Did not Read.

Extract from If I Stay by Gayle Forman: This extract was good choice, if we doing extracts. But this is such a short novel that works better as whole as most novels do.

Tumbling by Susie Day: This story shockingly involves tumblr. Also BBC Sherlock. It was cute story about two girls meeting for first time in the real life after being best friends online. I give this for 4/5 stars for profile picts. I will not be bribed with Sherlock fangirls.

Extract from Trouble by Non Pratt: Did not read as I own and plan to read this book.

Extract from Rani and Sukh by Bali Rai: Did not read.

Extract from You Against Me by Jenny Downham: Did Not Read.

Extract from 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson: Did not read as I own and plan to read this book.

Extract from Junk by Melvin Burgess: Did Not Read.

Extract from Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman: Did Not Read.

Gentlewoman by Laura Dockrill: I got a pretty good feel for this story within the first few sentences. This is about Transgirl about to start living as girl during high school. The relationships were family, romance and friendship. The relationships could have been better developed. But I enjoyed the style of this and the ending was good. 4/5 stars for shapeless clothing.

Extract from Heroic by Phil Earle: Did not Read.

Miss Lucy had a Steamboat by David Levithan:Whilst a short story, in a way this is also a extract because it was originally published in a collection short stories by him: How they met and other short stories. I like this story, I'll probably pick up the actual collection eventually since I like Levithan and didn't know about it's existence. This is gays in high school, a girl's lack of public relationship. That description sucks. 5/5 stars for childish innuendos.

Extract from I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak: Did not read

Extract from Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith: Did not read as I own and plan to read this book.

Extract from Echo Boy by Matt Haig: I actually have a review of this novel. The extract comes from a really random scene of the book, also I think it would spoiler the relationship dynamics/plot for you if you read this extract. I also it not very romantic or lovie. Echo Boy is probably meant to be a romance story but it's not what I would classify as such in the first place.

Extract from Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma: Did not read.

Endless Love: The Valentine of Daniel and Lucinda by Lauren Kate:Well, guys you never guess what but this isn't original story either. The best part is, I was instantly confused when I started reading it so I google it and what you know it was from book of short stories that's part of Fallen series. No one reads Novellas that are in middle of series except by mistake. I feel like I have to google every story to find out where it came from (I did it's just these two that have appeared in other books). This is basically the same as extract as the characters talk about things I have no idea about never having read the Fallen series which is why I won't be rating it as I feel it doesn't work as a short story by itself.

Extract from Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick: Hm...I get why this here, though I only skimmed read it as I didn't feel like reading any of the extracts this far into my journey into this book. It make sense but I still see the point of a scene from the middle of the book. I'm finding it hard to positive to be about this book as I'm reviewing each story/extract straight after I read them in the order in the books.

The Liar's Girl by Catherine Johnson: A historical story about love and revenge. 3/5 stars for smells.

The Unicorn by Juno Dawson: This feels like the most serious of the short story, but then is told from the POV of gay old man about his Youth in the Navy during war and when Homosexuality was crime in Britain. Fun Topic and not what I was expecting from a story titled "The Unicorn".  I also now have the song In the Navy stuck in my head. I should probably rewrite that opening sentence but I shan't. I give this 4/5 stars for tattoos.

Extract from Northern Lights by Philip Pullman: I once attempted to read this book, but it was so bloody boring so I quit, I mean there was murdering and sneaking going on so no I will never read this whole novel. So I glance at the extract and thought nah so I did not read this.

Extract from We Were Liars by E. Lockhart: This is one of the better extracts and some what works by itself. Except for the whole lie that you should go into that book knowing nothing about it.

Overall, I gave this book 3/5 stars for random scenes. Even if the short stories had all been brilliant five out of five stories, I still wouldn't been able to rate this book 5 stars because of the way this book is marketed is sort of wrong. It pissed me off to be frank and I didn't even pay anything for it. I mean I would never buy a book of extracts, which is what this is basically and not good ones. The short stories have been added to convince you to buy it. Except for Malorie Blackman, the authors specifically mentioned in this blurb don't actually attributable anything to the book. The worst part is that original stories are good, even with the suspicion that their aim was to throw in as much diversity as possible. I'm not saying it a bad thing especially since Malorie Blackman is all about trying to diverse YA books and an anthology about love should involve LGBT. However, I don't trust non-disabled writers writing about disability because I have been badly burned and live in a world where on a majority people think "The Curious Incident in the Nighttime" by Mark Hamot is a good book and that is a rant for another post. If this had been only short stories, with another standalone five more stories (or three depending on length) then I could get behind this book. But it's not, so it's added to the "what could have been" list in my head. I can only recommended this book if some of your favourite writers actually have a original short story in here or you want a taste of some of these writers and don't care about spoilers (and have cash to burn). Though, if you see this in your local library get it. The short stories are at least worth a read if not to own. The fact this still got 3/5 stars and not 1 after bouts of annoyance I kept getting as I got deeper into the book, is to their credit.

I got this off NetGalley and it published by Corgi Childrens.

Short Story: Will you be my Valentine?

Haló, Happy Valentine's Day. It's my third favourite bloody holiday. This was a week of special and terrible days with Friday the 13th being yesterday. I believe 13 to be lucky and Fridays are great. Though, my family had bad luck on Thursday the 12th. Except I went to see All Time Low and You Me At Six that day. All time low was great, You me at six was a bit anti-cinematic. My sister and I both agreed that All time low should have played last. Also SECC Hydro's disabled seating upstairs is bad as the atmosphere does not carry. Chanting felt weird.

In celebration of Valentine's Day, I bring you the only seasonal story I ever posted on Mibba. I also attempted to do a sequel to do this, due to it performing so well but I lost the first attempt and the second got a bit out of character and hand.

Original summary: Anna and her best friend Violet are both dateless and are feeling very anti-valentine's day. So they decided to escape it, in the woods but Violet wants to do more than just walking.

Written for Valentine's Day Contest! and won third prize. (I always won third, always or nothing).

Will you be my Valentine?

"Will you be my Valentine?"

"Of course I will!" The main character of a show, whose plot had died many a series ago, screamed before jumping into her soon to be ex's arms.

I sigh and turn off the wretched TV.

"Hey! I was watching that," My best friend shouted particularly in my ear. She was sitting close enough to me that our hips were touching but the couch was a big two seater.

"Were you really?" I said with my eyebrow raised.

"Well, no but I might of been. You should of asked first"

"I'm sorry that I presumed that your brain was still functioning," I got off the couch and stretched my body.

"So if you don't want to watch TV, what do you want to do, my Valentine?" I rolled my eyes. It was Valentine's day and me and Violet were both left dateless.

"I don't really care. Just no more lovey dovey stuff."

" Well, we can't go out since every where is full with the love up masses and there is nothing on TV but lovey dovey stuff."

"I suppose we could go for a walk up in to the woods." I said turning to the window. It was still light outside but would be dark soon.

"Sure, may as well." Violet said as she leaped up from the couch."I just take my bra off."

"Why?" I shouted out of shock.

"So it be easier for you to feel me up in the woods". Violet said as she wiggle her eyebrows.

"Just because I'm Bi doesn't mean I'll have you," I said throwing a pillow at her. "Come on". I said dragging her outside by the hand.

"Wait, I need a jacket."

"Don't worry I'll keep you warm." I smirked.

"As long as you keep me innocent." She said laughing. Violet had lost her 'innocence' a long time ago to her first love Richy. I had hated that guy. I couldn't quite point out why.

We walked deep in to the forest and fooling around the whole time. By the time we decided to turn back, Violet had her bra over her top and was wearing mine on her head and clam to be Wonder Bra Women. My throat was hoarse from the laughing and the cold. I was starting to shiver.

"You were right, we should of brought jackets," I said as I moved closer to Violet to steal her body heat.

"Wonder Bra Women has no need for any other clothing than her trusty bras." She said in a deepen voice.

"I hate to break it to you, Wonder Bra but you're wearing a lot more than a bra." I giggled.

"Well, we need to change that." She said as she started to undo her jeans.

"What are you doing?" I said as she wiggle out her jeans and thrown them on a near by rock and was now removing her top and had lost the bra on her head.

"Turning into Wonder Bra Women" She laughed. I stared as she now wasonly in her underwear ran towards a big deep pond of mud that we had only barley manage to avoid early.

"Please don't, Violet." I shouted

"I don't know any Violet" She said as she took off her pants and her bra as well. I gulped. This was going too far but Violet didn't care that I could see her every inch of her beautiful body. We may joke around about me fancying her but in all truth there had been times when my mind had wandered. It was wrong to think about your best friend in that way.

Violet was now rolling about in the mud, it was almost deep enough for her to swim in. I didn't know what to do. I suddenly felt too hot when I had been freezing a second ago. This was so surreal if I didn't know any better I said this was wet dream or something. But it wasn't, Violet was really playing in the mud naked with me watching.

"Come on, Anna. The mud nice warm." She said flirtatiously. I gulped again. I picked up her clothes and walked towards her.

"Violet, this land may be private but someone still might see you." Violet's family own over two acer of the woodland.

"No one going to see us. My parents won't be home till Tuesday and we're the only ones that come up here anyway,"

"I still don't know about this I said," The nerves were becoming clear in my voice.

"Anna, you can either take off your clothes and come in here yourself or I'll do it." Her tone of voice was serious and I know she would keep to her word. I put her clothes on a rock and started taking my own off. She watch me with wide eyes. Was that lust in them? No, it couldn't be. Violet was straight, she would of told me if she wasn't. I was soon naked as the day I was born. I slowly slipped in to the mud. It was cold but I didn't care.

Violet pull me against her, I could feel every move she made. God, my stomach was filling with butterflies.

"Anna, how long have you know me."

"All my life," and before that. Our mums had became friends when they met at the doctors, getting a scan.

"And have you ever wanted to be more...than friends," Violets normal confidence was gone. She was avoiding my eyes. She did like me, all the jokes had been her way of finding out if I liked her back. God, this had to be a dream. Well, if it was then I should I enjoy it.

"We are more than friends," I said leaning towards her. "We're best friends" I splash her with the mud.

"What the hell, Anna!"

"That for making get in this cold mud and this is for making me warm." I said as wrapped my arms around her and kiss her softly on the lips. Violet deepen the kiss and was soon overwhelming me with passion. I had to pull away and catch my breath. I ginned at her.

"You know this is some guy fantasy. Two hot girls making out, naked in mud, deep in the woods." Violet smirked.

"I'm so glad our first kiss was some guy's wet dream." I said sarcastically.

"And some girls," Violet laugh as she splashed me.

"Oh, you're pay for that." said as splashed her back, starting of a mud battle.

After we had finished, every inch of us was covered in mud. We looked like mud nymphs or something. We got out of the mud and started wipe it off with our hands.

"I've still got something to ask you?" Violet said as wiped the mud of my back.

"What?"

"Will you be my Valentine? Violet said almost seriously but the glint in her eyes betrayed her.

"Of Course I will," I screamed, leaping into Violets arms knocking her over, back into the mud. We laughed as we kissed. 

♠ ♠ ♠

Please do comment. I like them as much as Wonder Bra Women likes Super-Panties Girl.

Book Review: Captive by A.J. Grainger

Stockholm Syndrome anyone?

I open my eyes. The cell is flooded with sunlight; the window is a slice of pale blue. Dust particles dance in the sparkling light, pirouetting in a golden line from the window to the opposite wall of the cell, where they seem to converge into shapes. It is like looking into a kaleidoscope.

Dad isn't here. No one is, but me.
Robyn Knollys-Green is an A-list celebrity, famous for being the daughter of one of the world's most powerful men. But not even the paparazzi can find her now.

Robyn begins to realise that she is trapped in a complicated web of global corruption and deceit - and that the strange, melancholy boy who has been tasked with guarding her might not be an enemy after all . . .

I think I might have requested this purely on it's title and cover, because I have no memory of reading the summary before I started reading the book. You shouldn't do that, most times you'll end up with something you don't like much. In this case I ended up with a book I have no strong feelings over.

This is mainly a romance, it feels sort of forced and it was pretty obvious going off the way Robyn describe him when she first sees him.  My nickname for her has became Romeo, because she is as about rational as he was. I felt nothing for the characters, in fact the most promising ones for me are the ones we see the littlest of.

Also Animal activist that harm their fellow animals, suck as human beings and animals. I think that took something away from the plot for me as I sort shut them down as characters. Also I found the whole thing unlikely, or everyone in this book is idiot. I mean the whole reason she is kidnapped is a bad idea because there is a history of it never working especially since I think Britain has no negotiation with terrorist policy.

In terms of plot, I felt it was dragged out bit, like there was 50 pages that felt so unnecessary and  were attempt to keep the action going but it ruined the book more for me. There are flashbacks in this book which I liked. Except, I feel like Romeo's reaction to what's happening in the present should be different based on what revealed by the flashbacks. She only reacts with the flashbacks in mind after the reader has read the experience, it doesn't match up fully.

 It was interesting to see a YA book that involving politics and corruption without it being a Dystopia.

Overall, I gave this book 2 and half stars out of 5 for bird calls. Even though what I have to say about this book is mostly negative, I actually have no strong feels towards which is why I decided to rate it exactly in the middle. I guess this book is for people who like forbidden romances and ain't knowledgeable on how to get away with crimes.

I got this book for review off NetGalley and it was published by Simon and Schuster UK last month (29th Janaury 2015).

Book Review: Glimpse by Kendra Leighton

This is actually the second book inspired by Alfred Noyes’ The Highwayman and only read it with this book.

The highwayman came riding –
Riding – riding –
The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn-door

Liz just wants to be normal. Her life is anything but.

Seven years ago Liz lost her mother and ten years’ worth of memories. When she inherits the infamous Highwayman Inn, she hopes the move will be a fresh start. Then she meets Zachary. Zachary who haunts her by night and in dreams; who makes her question everything she is and wants to be; who seems scarcely real – yet makes her feel so alive.

 I like the plot of this book. It also takes the stance of that seeing ghost would actually be a pain in the arse. The way the ghost work is a interesting take with just a parts of them being visible and more of overwhelming feeling when they're present. I think that was probably my favourite part of the book.

The character were all quite distinct but the plot does relay too much on characters being basically insane. Liz's issues with her mother was good addition. The romance was alright, I'm never person to ask about this so it all I can think to say.

The plot is okay, there a few things that let it down. Liz is bit too clueless in the name of the plot and
 the ending is a bit dodgy in the moral sense. I can't say anything else about that without it being a major spoiler.

Overall, I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars for bowls of bones. The ghost are awesome but there was one rule I didn't get. Things were a bit slow and there was a few plotholes such as why did certain characters do the bidding of a certain character in the first place. It is worth a read if you're into ghost and sort of retelling of poems.

I got this off NetGalley for review. It published by Much-in-Little

Book Review: The Worst Girlfriend in the World by Sarra Manning

In the friendship type more than anything.  

My best friend was now my deadliest enemy, the one person I'd hate beyond all measure for the rest of my life . . .

Franny Barker's best friend, Alice, is the worst girlfriend in the world according to the many boys of Merrycliffe-on-Sea. She toys with them, then dumps them. But she'll never dump fashion-obsessed Franny. Nothing and no one can come between them.

Not even tousle-haired rock god, Louis Allen, who Franny's been crushing on hard. Until Alice, bored with immature boys and jealous of Franny's new college friends, sets her sights on Louis. Suddenly, best friends are bitter rivals.

Is winning Louis's heart worth more than their friendship? There's only one way for Franny to find out.

This is a book is more about friendship than romance, but of course there’s a romance. There is always a romance.  It nice romance, a slow develop romance.

Fanny is just a terrible name to give anyone; fictional or not. I didn’t care that much for the characters. I don’t why but with Manning books that fact that I don’t like the characters doesn’t really effect my enjoyment of them. It’s rather weird for a contemporary. There nothing about these characters that I particular dislike but there nothing I love either. There are dull cookie bunch. I did identify with Alice being jealous, so I guess there were relatable.

This books deals with a lot of themes, such as slut shaming, jealous and Mental illness. Fanny is generally resentful, of her mother and the rest of her immediate family because there don’t have to deal with her mother’s depression. She left alone to deal with her mother alone. I think it dealt with quite well.

Overall, I gave 4 out of 5 stars for messed up dummies. I enjoyed reading this book and that’s all that matters. I don’t know what I’m saying. It’s a fun, light read that has friendship as the main focus which is something I like.

Book Review: The Vintage Girl by Hester Browne

Reeling is a traumatic experience for every Scottish child.

When Evie Nicholson is asked to visit Kettlesheer Castle in Scotland to archive the family heirlooms, she jumps at the chance. Evie's passion for antiques means that, for her, the castle is a treasure trove of mysteries just waiting to be uncovered.

But in each heirloom lies a story, and in the course of her investigations Evie stumbles upon some long-buried family secrets. Add handsome, gloomy heir Robert McAndrew and a traditional candlelit gala to the mix, and Evie's heart is sent reeling with an enthusiasm that may just extend beyond the Kettlesheer silver...

To be honest I requested this book because it was meant to be set in Scotland, but sadly it turned out to be the bad side of Scotland. That’s right; once again its in the Borders. Besides having a bias against this part of my home country, there other issues about it being  set in Scotland.

For one thing a Full Scottish Breakfast is said to be Porridge, Black Pudding, Haggis and whatever the hell kippers are. I guess it could be have been in jest. But then there have a full English. Scots do not have full English. We have Full Scottish which is eggs, bacon, Tatty Scones, square sausages, normal sausages and sometimes Black Pudding and haggis. Sure, the big difference is the squareness of sausages and the tatty scones but tatty scones are the best thing in the world.

This is romance is bit er. Evie was rather annoying. I didn't really like her. None of the characters were that likable. Being obsessed with the past is bit old. It was enjoyable at parts and there were some nice scenes. I just think my issues with the settings overshadowed anything. There is some interesting family issues with both the main characters.

Overall, I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars for rooms of furniture. It was alright. I just don't think it was the right book for me. It more the sort of book if you know nothing about Scotland and just looking for a romance that features Castle-like-house and family scandals.