The Book Cake Tag

Saturday 28 March 2015



Emily @ Loony Literate graciously tagged me for this delicious post (because cake + books = amazing every time), and so I present to you 'The Book Cake Tag'! Enjoy :)

FLOUR

A book that was a little slow to start off but really picked up as it went along

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I wasn't really sure how this was going to turn out but then WOW. 

BUTTER

A book that had a rich, great plot

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Kate Forsyth's storytelling is beautiful, and this book was so wonderfully woven. 

EGGS

A book you thought was going to be bad but actually turned out quite enjoyable

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This isn't a book I would have normally chosen to read, but I planned to use it for school and actually found it really fascinating to explore how people lived in East Germany during the Cold War.

SUGAR

A sugary, sweet cube

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It's cute, and funny, and such a good read.

ICING

A book that covered every single element that you enjoy about a book (funny moments, action moments, sad moments etc.)

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I'm pretty predictable, but this really takes the cake (no pun intended but in this case it works).

SPRINKLES

A book series that you can kind of turn back to for a little pick me up when you're feeling down.

I haven't had much time to re-read lately, but I'd probably go with...

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THE CHERRY ON TOP

Your favourite book this year so far

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Ooh it's a close call, but I'd have to go with this anthology - It really amazed me and I loved the graphics too.

I tag:

Kristy @ Booknerd Reviews


Angel @ Angel Reads

Top Ten Tuesday: Nostalgic Reminiscing - Books from my Childhood

Tuesday 24 March 2015



Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by bloggers at The Broke and the BookishThis week I've  picked the top ten books from my childhood I'd love to revisit, or that I have fond memories of. 

So much nostalgia going on in this post.


1. The BFG by Roald Dahl



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Roald Dahl was one of my absolute favourite writers when I was younger, and this was one of his books which I kept going back to.

2. Danny, the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl


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Yep, another Roald Dahl novel (I could fill this list with just his books to be honest). I remember reading this as our class book back in fourth grade with one of the best teachers I had, Mrs. G. The whole class sitting outside while she read parts of the story and we followed with our own copies of the book still brings back fond memories.

3. Thora by Gillian Johnson



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I still have the three books in this series on my bookshelf. For some reason, the story of a half-mermaid girl and her adventures was so fascinating to me - I couldn't stop reading these!

4. Winging It by Annie Dalton


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Another book series I found really enjoyable - sort of supernatural/time travel/saving the world type of stories which kept me enthralled.

5. Phredde and the Zombie Librarian by Jackie French

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Yep, before I got into the historical fiction side of Jackie French's writing, I delved into her 'A Phaery named Phredde' series. This is just one of them, and I remember how interesting it was that each book had fruit suggestions on what to eat the stories with. Very cute and whimsical.  

6. A Waltz for Matilda by Jackie French


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Of course I had to put this on here! This book just has that special something that really resonated with me from the start. I still go back to it every couple of years, it's one of those special gems that I think will stay with me for a long time.

7. Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins

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It's funny that my sister borrowed this from the library the other day and I thought it looked familiar before I had that lightbulb moment where it clicked: 'Hey, I remember reading that!'. Really subtle, beautifully written MG contemporary. 

8. Hello, God by Moya Simons


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The first book I read about cancer and it was the first one that made me cry because of it. It was quite moving and makes you think and appreciate the life you have. 

9. Tanglewreck by Jeanette Winterson


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I remember going shopping with my grandparents and picking this out from Borders (when those stores were still around). I loved the time travel, twists and intrigue in this one. I also really enjoyed Time Riders by Alex Scarrow. 

10. Clarice Bean, Don't Look Now by Lauren Child


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I read this book at about the same time that I enjoyed watching Charlie and Lola on TV (if there's another thing to get nostalgic about, it's the shows I used to love as a kid). I got this from a school book fair (THE event of the year for young bookworms) and never looked back. *sigh* good times.

Basically, this list could go on for a while - there are so many more to talk about (plus the picture books which would take up a whole other post!) What are some favourites from your childhood? 

{Blog Tour} Wild Reckless by Ginger Scott - Review/Interview

Saturday 21 March 2015




Wild Reckless by Ginger Scott
Series: Harper Boys #1
Released: 17th March 2015
Genre: Very Mature YA Contemporary
Source: Author
Pages: 400
My Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Kensington Worth had a vision for her senior year. It involved her best friends, her posh private school in downtown Chicago and time alone with her piano until her audition was perfected, a guaranteed ticket into the best music programs in the world. Instead, a nightmare took over.

It didn’t happen all at once, but her life unraveled quickly—a tiny thread that evil somehow kept pulling until everything precious was taken from her. She was suddenly living miles away from her old life, trapped in an existence she didn’t choose—one determined to destroy her from the inside, leaving only hate and anger behind. It didn’t help that her neighbor, the one whose eyes held danger, was enjoying every second of her fall. Owen Harper was trouble, his heart wild and his past the kind that’s spoken about in whispers. And somehow, his path was always intertwined with Kensington’s, every interaction crushing her, ruining her hope for any future better than her now.

Sometimes, though, what everyone warns is trouble, is exactly what the heart needs. Owen Harper was consumed with darkness, and it held onto his soul for years. When Kensington looked at him, she saw a boy who’d gotten good at taking others down when they threatened his carefully balanced life. But the more she looked, the more she saw other things too—good things…things to admire. Things…to love.

Things that made her want to be reckless. And those things…they were the scariest of all.
Thank you to the author and Wordsworth Publicity for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review


I'm so afraid of everything, of what people say, of what Cal said, but I don't care because standing here in front of me, looking at me like he is, I know in my heart that Owen is good. Owen is good.


Wild Reckless definitely takes you on an emotional rollercoaster right there alongside its main characters Kensington and Owen. In this case it's not just their relationship which is complicated from the start, but there's a whole heap of family issues going on in the background for both of them as well. This is a story of how first impressions can be misleading, there's sometimes more to people than you think, and of course, following your heart. I really enjoyed Ginger Scott's latest release, and if you're looking for a stand-alone romance which really tugs at the heartstrings, then I'd definitely recommend trying this one.


From a distance, he's a shadow. I don't know about the wild theory. But Owen Harper is definitely dark.

These conflicting emotions between Owen and Kensi are there from the start. Told from Kensington's point of view, a girl moving to a new town with her family (for reasons which are later revealed), she didn't expect to be living across the road from a person who seems like such a jerk. At first Owen Harper seems like the sort of guy who's quintessentially the bad boy - he flirts a lot, is cocky and yet still really smart. However, as you could guess, there's more to him and this story than that. I've yet to come across a Ginger Scott novel where what  could turn into a cliche doesn't. That's what I loved about this book - it takes character 'tropes' in some ways, but looks into them in so much more depth and morphs them into a story that is so much deeper and more complex. Did I ship the pair at first? No - I thought Kensi had a lot more going for her with her intelligence and piano skills. BUT things have a way of working themselves out.


Love can definitely be transformative, and it certainly is in this book. Among all the background sub-plots which are also of great importance to the story, the dynamic between Kensi and Owen was achieved realistically. Though there were times when I questioned the strength and basis of their bond, overall I liked how they could both still be true to themselves. Neither of them are perfect or have perfect lives - as their families impact on them too. With Kensi it's her dad's expectations (and other big issues) and with Owen it's his youngest brother who's gone off the rails. There's something so realistic about a story like this - Ginger Scott has such insight into the lives of her characters and how each little piece of the puzzle has its place. 


Losing you, the thought that I could love you and lose you too - that scared me - so I figured what was the point if it was all going to just end up hurting me in the end. And then I realized how much it hurt to give you up.

This book has some WOW THAT WAS A TWIST, and 'awwww' moments - sometimes with both happening at the same time. There were some really shocking and emotionally charged events which unfolded which had such an impact on the characters. While we don't get to read about Owen's perspective directly (since this is in one POV), you can tell how through Kensi's narration how both of their lives converge and the teamwork they use to work through things together. 

I wanted him to know how much he loved working with his father, and how much he respected them all. He needed to know that there were people out there that saw past the wild - people who saw the good. 


Another aspect of the story which I liked was how this relationship wasn't a destructive one - it was one where neither character was necessarily impacted on in a negative way even though there were definitely some challenges. Kensi didn't stop playing the piano just because Owen came into the picture, and they both still tried to put the effort into their school work. Their friends, especially Kensi's, all gave good advice, and it just shows how being in a relationship with someone doesn't have to mean sacrificing who you are. Sure, compromises have to be made for the good, but when you find someone who loves you for who you are - that's what I think love is. And this is what Ginger Scott managed to deliver.




FINAL THOUGHTS

Wild Reckless is far from your typical 'bad boy' meets 'good girl' love story - Ginger Scott has taken the best elements of a love story with these themes and made it something altogether unique. As always, I can't wait to read what she writes next!




I noticed that in Wild Reckless there's a focus on first person POV from Kensington as opposed from alternating between the leads like you have done in your past works. What made you focus on her telling this story?
I am never completely sure going in how it's going to work. Usually, the story tells me. I have the idea and the character development and the basic plot points, but once I get that first section done - usually a prologue - it all falls into place organizationally. I've had a few books that were just one POV  (Waiting on the Sidelines is another example), and it just felt like this one worked that way, too. I wanted to build that tension and to have readers experience the mystery along with Kensi of not really knowing Owen's story until he wanted you to. By giving you a glimpse into his life and then letting Kensi take you through the rest, I got that. I hope readers enjoy the journey as much as I did writing it.
Owen is first introduced as a bit of a 'bad boy' (but his story definitely goes deeper than that). How important do you think it is to present a love interest who readers want to see a romance with the other character, without falling into the 'cliches'?

It's a very tough balance. The bad boy is a character for a reason - because they do exist - and we girls? We are attracted to them. Not always, but quite often. But I don't think they fit into nice little boxes - they need to be complex to really leap off of a page. Bad boy is just one ingredient, and when you sift through the character's layers, you usually find a lot of other things that make that bad boy exterior what it is. Owen...he has MANY layers. And as much as I think readers like to make selections based on those cliches, I think they also like to be surprised, and to fall in love with a character that maybe normally, in real life, they would stay away from. You have to go beyond the cliche for that to happen.

I really loved reading about Kensington's passion for music, and the fact that she plays the piano. This book seems to focus less on the sporty side to some extent, and more into the arts. What inspired Kensington's character quirks and talents?


I love music - all kinds. I was a band geek, and I wear that badge with pride. Like Kensi, I played the piano and the xylophone, though had nowhere near her talent. I think the music world and the sports world are very similar in some ways. There is a level of competitiveness to them, a drive to be better, to challenge yourself. But at the heart, you do it because of the way it makes you feel - the rush of making a great play is a lot like playing something great. When I was plotting Wild Reckless, I liked the idea that these characters crossed into each other's worlds a little - Kensi with her music and Owen with his basketball.

So far you've written a pretty impressive seven novels - how do you keep coming up with new ideas and such authentic characters to tell their stories, while also weaving in some very real issues?

Thank you so much! And yeah, seven is an amazing number. I can't wait until it's 14, or 20! I am constantly coming up with ideas, and I have notebooks filled with starts and bits and pieces. So far, I haven't run out of things to grab me and make me want to write into the wee hours. And as for weaving in reality, I think that's really the only way I know how to write. It's probably my journalism background, but I tend to write the beautiful and ugly things we really see and deal with in life. I've thought of writing something paranormal, and I think I may eventually. But eve then...it would have to feel so real that a reader won't be quite sure that it isn't.

There's always talk about where to draw the line between 'young adult', 'mature young adult' and 'new adult'. What helps you decide how to categorise your own works into these labels when you're explaining them?


I'm not sure if I really get those lines right. I go with my gut instinct. I've always been a fairly liberal reader - I don't think my parents would have ever not wanted me to read anything. But...that's me. So I try to be respectful of those lines others have, and I want to give them guidance. I think of my friends and nieces and even my own son and I think of how old I would want them to be to understand the themes of my stories. There may be better ways to decide, but this works for me.

Now what I really want to know - and I'm sure a lot of other Ginger Scott fans as well, is what sort of amazing novel we be expecting from you next?

I am in the middle of finishing book 3 in the Falling Series - Paige's story, THE GIRL I WAS BEFORE. I think Paige is going to surprise a lot of people. She's harsh and maybe a little bit of a "b" - with good reason. Confidence comes off that way sometimes. There's more to Paige than people give her credit for, and she is the strongest female character I think I've ever written. It has been amazing being in her head. After that...I can say that there is a notebook for Andrew - Owen's brother in Wild Reckless. I'd really love to dive into him, if readers want it of course ;-)

Ginger Scott is an Amazon-bestselling author of six young and new adult romances, including Waiting on the Sidelines, Going Long, Blindness, How We Deal With Gravity, This Is Falling and You and Everything After. A sucker for a good romance, Ginger’s other passion is sports, and she often blends the two in her stories. (She’s also a sucker for a hot quarterback, catcher, pitcher, point guard…the list goes on.) Ginger has been writing and editing for newspapers, magazines and blogs for more than 15 years. She has told the stories of Olympians, politicians, actors, scientists, cowboys, criminals and towns.

For more on her and her work, visit her website at http://www.littlemisswrite.com. When she's not writing, the odds are high that she's somewhere near a baseball diamond, either watching her son field pop flies like Bryce Harper or cheering on her favorite baseball team, the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Ginger lives in Arizona and is married to her college sweetheart whom she met at ASU (fork 'em, Devils).

Top Ten Tuesday: Books on my Autumn TBR

Tuesday 17 March 2015



Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by bloggers at The Broke and the BookishThis week I've  picked the top ten books on my Autumn TBR (though for you northern hemisphere peeps - you are lucky that it's spring!) 


1. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas


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This is an after-exams treat I'm saving!

2. We All Looked Up by Tommy Wallach


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This looks really promising, looking forward to getting to it..

3. The Girl at Midnight by Melissa Grey


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Awesome cover + amazing fantasy premise = an excited Eugenia.

4. The Haunting of Sunshine Girl by Paige McKenzie


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There's nothing like reading a scary story when the weather is colder and a storm is brewing.

5. The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker

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Though I did read it a few years ago when it first came out, I really do want to revisit this story since I loved it the first time round. Not sure how I feel about this new cover though - what do you prefer, the new paperback (left) or hardcover (right)?

6. The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly by Stephanie Oakes


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This sounds so intriguing and poetic - can't wait to read it!

7. The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski

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Another after-exam book to look forward to! I've been hearing good things about this already.

8. Year of Mistaken Discoveries by Eileen Cook


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I've got this contemporary to review and it sounds like a moving read. 

9. Night Film by Marisha Pessl


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ALL THE PRAISE is what I've heard about this from a few Aussie bloggers whose opinion I trust, so I think it'll finally be time to experience this book for myself!

10. My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick


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A cute romance to round things off is a great way to welcome Autumn (plus this has been sitting on my bookshelf for way too long).

What are some books on your Spring/Autumn TBR?

Genie's Weekly News (26)

Sunday 15 March 2015


Hi everyone and welcome to my weekly blog feature to recap the week with bookish news and what to expect coming up! So without further ado...

*Reading Right Now*

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Yep, still going - I've been having to read books for school in between but I am getting there I promise!

*Previous Posts*

*Recommendation of the Week*


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Look out for my review next week - Ginger Scott has done it again!

*From The Interwebs*


*Haul*


*Movie Reactions*



To take a break from study my mum and I went out for dinner and a movie quite spontaneously, but it was good to do something different. I have to say Kingsman was quite different from what I expected, and there were a few 'what just happened' moments, but it's a movie that can't really be taken too seriously. 

*Other News*

Since half-yearly's are imminent, I'll be taking a mini hiatus for a few weeks just so I can focus on that. There may be a few reviews here and there and other posts, but for the most part it's going to be pretty quiet around here. However, I should be back in full swing by 1st April when all my exams are over and it's holiday time!




On another note: Aussies don't forget to enter the giveaway for the entire three books of the 'Every' series! (click the image to go to the post)







Waiting on Wednesday: The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly

Wednesday 11 March 2015


Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where the participants tell their readers about an upcoming release they are waiting to read. This week I've picked The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly by Stephanie Oakes.

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With a harrowing poetic voice, this contemporary page-turner is perfect for fans of Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak, Julie Berry's All The Truth That's in Me, and the works of Ellen Hopkins. 

The Kevinian cult has taken everything from seventeen-year-old Minnow: twelve years of her life, her family, her ability to trust. And when she rebelled, they took away her hands, too. Now their Prophet has been murdered and their camp set aflame, and it's clear that Minnow knows something—but she's not talking. As she languishes in juvenile detention, she struggles to un-learn everything she has been taught to believe, adjusting to a life behind bars and recounting the events that led up to her incarceration.

But when an FBI detective approaches her about making a deal, Minnow sees she can have the freedom she always dreamed of—if she’s willing to part with the terrible secrets of her past.

The Sacred Lies of Minnow By is a hard-hitting and hopeful story about the dangers of blind faith—and the power of having faith in oneself.

I love novels with lyrical prose, and just the sound of this book is enough to captivate me - it's definitely unique!

Releasing 9th June 2015