In My Mailbox...(11)

In My Mailbox is a meme that is hosted by The Story Siren every Sunday.

Borrowed from Library

Swimming Without A Net by MaryJanice Davidson - Review HERE

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

The Dead Girls' Dance by Rachel Caine

Fish Out of Water by MaryJanice Davidson

Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning

Kitty Takes A Holiday by Carrie Vaughn

Bought

The Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

For Review

Fingind Sky by Joss Stirling

Forbidden Pleasures by Jo Rees

Blog Hop...(9)

Blog Hop is a meme that is hosted by Crazy For Books each Friday until Monday.

This is my ninth hop and I must say I am seriously glad I have kept on hopping as I have found some great blogs.

This weeks's Blog question/topic is: Post a link to a favorite post or book review that you have written in the past three months.


Review: Eternal Kiss of Darkness by Jeaniene Frost


What's your favourite review/post? Leave a link and I will be sure you check it out =)

Happy hopping!! Have a great weekend folks!

Edit: Had to change my link to a review as I have just realised that the review I linked is older than 3 months.

Review: Blue Bloods by Melissa De La Cruz

My Rating: O, P, B

Published: 2006
Publisher: Hyperion

Author's WEbsite: melissa-delacruz.com

Purchase @ Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com

Schuyler Van Alen has never fit in at Duchesne, her prestigious New York City private school. She prefers baggy, vintage clothes to the Prada and pearls worn by her classmates. But when she turns fifteen, Schuyler’s life changes dramatically. The death of a popular schoolmate haunts her in unexpected ways. And strangest of all, Jack Force, the most popular boy in school, is showing sudden interest in her.

Once an outcast, Schuyler is thrust into Manhattan’s most exclusive social circle. Its members are the powerful, the wealthy, and – as Schuyler soon discovers – the unhuman. They are Blue Bloods, an ancient group of vampires, and for centuries they’ve been invincible. Now something is preying on this elite group, and Schuyler wants to find out the truth. But is she the most vulnerable of them all?

I was so excited about reading this book as I heard so many good things about it, but I wasn’t too overally impressed after reading. It kept my attention but I thought some of the things that went on in the book were a bit out there. I don’t want to give too much away and tell you what they are, but there isn’t many. Other than the small things that I didn’t like, there were tons of things that I did like.

I loved the intricate plot line regarding the death of these young and prestigious children that attend Duchesne. Their deaths are unexplained and the others in the school feel that they could be next if others are as young as they are, are dying (being murdered) all around them. This is where Schuyler and her friend Oliver’s investigative skills come in handy. They do not know who they killer is but they know what it is.

Along the way, Schuyler learns new and scary things about her life and what is in store for her future and that Oliver is not exactly as he seems. A few mysteries unravel during the course of this book and it does leave you with a cliffhanger, albeit not a terrible one. The cliffhanger along makes me want to read the next bookl just to find out what Schuyler uncovers.

Overall, I enjoyed the book but it didn’t exactly grab my attention. I am unsure whether I will read the second book or not but don’t let my opinion discourage you from trying the book/series. It could be the right kind of book/series for you, but it wasn’t entirely my cup of tea.

Disclaimer: I do not own this book, I borrowed it from my local library. I have not been paid to review this book and everything I have said is of my own honest opinion.

Blog Hop...(8)

Blog Hop is a meme that is hosted by Crazy For Books each Friday until Monday.

This is my eighth hop and I am still finding awesome blogs - I think you should go have a peruse at the list of bloggers. You will most definitely find a blog you like - it's hard not to.

Blog Hop Question: Do you judge a book by its cover?

If I have heard it's a great book and I want to read it, I won't care what the book cover is like.


If it's a book that I haven't seen before and it's sitting there on a shelf, then yes sometimes I do judge it by it's cover. The cover has to lure me in to get me to read the synopsis. I sometimes pick up books with covers that are not appealing to me to read the synopsis at least, but the majority of the time if the book cover doesn't have me wanting to pick up the book then I don't.


I know it's a real bad thing to do, but to me a book cover is meant to sum up the book without giving too much away e.g. Hush Hush the cover had boy on the front with wings so it was obvious the book was about angels which appeals to me so I picked it up (this isn't exactly how it happened for me with this book, but using it as an example).

EDIT: After reading some other responses to this question, I have realised I have left some things out.
1. A pretty cover will lure me in but I won't buy it solely based on the cover art, the synopsis has to be good also, otherwise there's no point buying it as I won't read it.
2. Attractive covers do get me to go over to the book, but once I am done looking at all the pretty covers I do go and look at other books that may not be as alluring but have a great synopsis.
3. If it's an author that I like and enjoy reading their work, then most of the time I won't bother to look at the cover other than to search for the title or the author's name to make sure I'm picking up the right book. Majority of the time I buy it because I like the author's writing and know I will enjoy it regardless of the cover art. But if it's just books I am perusing through to see what there is then yes, the attractive covers do lure me first but they aren't what I buy the book for.

Happy hopping!! Have a great weekend folks!

Review: Swimming Without A Net by MaryJanice Davidson

My Rating: VG, B, H

Published: 2008
Publisher: Piatkus

Author's Website: maryjanicedavidson.net

Purchase @ Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com


Half human and half reluctant mermaid, Fredrika Bimm finds herself investigating her watery roots in the latest instalment of her highly original and very funny romantic adventures.

After spending her entire life without seeing another mermaid or merman, there are suddenly undersea folk all over the place when Fred visits the Black Sea. But Fred is still torn between her reluctant attraction to Artur, arrogant high prince of the mer-people, and wealthy human Thomas. Will the trip finally help her make up her mind, and separate the men from the...erm fish?

Swimming Without A Net is the second novel in the Fred the Mermaid series by MaryJanice Davidson.

Fred is called upon to attend a meeting of the mer-people but what she isn’t told is why she has been invited and why no one has bothered to talk to her since she got there. Finally another mermaid, lets her in on the secret and this just causes Fred to be furious. In the end its Fred’s life experiences and advice that help the mer-people come to a decision about an on-going debate that has been hanging around for decades.

I absolutely loved this book. It’s such an easy and short read that you can read it in a day. Fred has me in stitches with her antics and her best friend Jonas is so witty. The way he deals with Fred is amusing. We get to see Artur and Thomas in this book again and they are still fighting for Fred’s affections. We finally see Fred leaning to one side over the other. But I wouldn’t let that fool me into thinking that’s who she will end up being with in the end.

I don’t know about you but I love anything written by MaryJanice Davidson. Her writing style is so comical that she has me laughing at every turn of the page. Fred’s wit and rudeness is just hilarious to read about and can’t wait to read the next instalment, Fish Out of Water. I think it’s definitely worth anyone’s time to sit down and read MaryJanice’s books. They will not disappoint.

Disclaimer: I do not own this book, I borrowed it from my local library. I have not been paid to review this book and everything I have said is of my own honest opinion.