Review: Alex & Eliza by Melissa de la Cruz

September 4, 2017 Ali@abookishlife3 Comments

Alex and Eliza by Melissa de la Cruz

The story of the relationship between Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler is not one I know a lot about but I very much enjoyed this fictional account of their romance. It does seem to borrow quite a bit from Pride and Prejudice but, while it’s not the most original or most exciting read, it’s a very sweet period romance.

Synopsis

Their romance shaped a nation. The rest was history.

1777. Albany, New York.

As battle cries of the American Revolution echo in the distance, servants flutter about preparing for one of New York society’s biggest events: the Schuylers’ grand ball. Descended from two of the oldest and most distinguished bloodlines in New York, the Schuylers are proud to be one of their fledgling country’s founding families, and even prouder still of their three daughters—Angelica, with her razor-sharp wit; Peggy, with her dazzling looks; and Eliza, whose beauty and charm rival that of both her sisters, though she’d rather be aiding the colonists’ cause than dressing up for some silly ball.

Still, she can barely contain her excitement when she hears of the arrival of one Alexander Hamilton, a mysterious, rakish young colonel and General George Washington’s right-hand man. Though Alex has arrived as the bearer of bad news for the Schuylers, he can’t believe his luck—as an orphan, and a bastard one at that—to be in such esteemed company. And when Alex and Eliza meet that fateful night, so begins an epic love story that would forever change the course of American history.

My Review

OK, before I start this review I feel like I should really admit that I know next to nothing about American (or British or now I think about it pretty much any) history so I have pretty much no knowledge of Alexander Hamilton. I know there’s a musical which I’m assuming is about him and that loads of people seem to be raving about but I haven’t seen it. What I’m basically saying (in a pretty long winded way) is that I went into this book pretty much blind, with very little knowledge and next to no expectations. I’d seen quite a bit of buzz around it, recognized the author’s name and was just kinda tempted by a historical romance.

I suspect these facts were all to my favor however as a kinda sweet romance set in the eighteenth century is pretty much what I got. If you’re looking for a ground breaking and historically accurate story (or even just a version of the musical) I suspect you will be disappointed (although I’m basing this pretty much on other reviews).

For those like me who are completely clueless, the story is a fictional account of the romance between Alexander Hamilton, aide de camp (personal assistant) to General Washington, and Elizabeth Schuyler, daughter of a prominant General. To me it seemed kinda like Pride and Prejudice during the American revolution (stick with me and don’t throw things, I’m not saying it’s as good).

Elizabeth’s mother could certainly give Mrs Bennet a run for her money in the match making department. She’s absolutely determined to marry off her three eldest daughters as they’re a bit short on cash despite having a prominent name. She takes every opportunity to throw them in the path of any eligible man and is not above a bit of marriage arranging. Elizabeth (or Eliza), like her namesake, is the second oldest daughter, the favorite of her father and is determined to marry for love. She’s not as beautiful as her sisters ~~Jane~~ Angelica and Peggy but she’s more determined, practical and has a bit more common sense.

Unfortunately (or as you’re probably thinking, thank goodness) this is where the similarities to Pride and Prejudice end (well more or less). This does have a little of the social commentary, particularly around the role of women (to marry a wealthy man and have lots of babies), but it lacks a lot of the wit and humor (I know no one can compare to Austen but what the heck I’m comparing them).

It is quite a sweet romance but other than a couple of scandalous incidents, some ungentlemanly behavior and the occasional reference to historical events going on round about them that’s pretty much it.

Eliza wasn’t the most likeable of characters to me. Yes, she’s principled, intelligent and practical but she’s just a little too fanatical about the cause for me and I found myself rolling my eyes when she started preaching to those around her.

Hamilton thankfully makes up for things however and is a very swoon worthy hero (can I say that about a historical figure?). He’s a self made man, a charmer and a bit of a flirt so it was wonderful to see him become so flustered and tongue tied around Eliza (I should add that I have since been on Wikipedia and discovered where his flirting led but let’s not go there).

It didn’t feel like there was a huge amount of story (it’s mostly a ball, a few social occasions, riding around the countryside on horses and Eliza’s efforts to aid the war effort) and it’s not exactly an exciting read but I did enjoy it.

I don’t think there was anything particularly stand out about it and I suspect if you’re a big Hamilton fan you’ll be disappointed but if you like a bit of history and a period romance you’ll probably enjoy this.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy. As always all views are my own.

ARC Review: Genuine Fraud by E. Lockhart

September 3, 2017 Ali@abookishlife8 Comments

Genuine Fraud

Genuine Fraud by E. Lockhart

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A brilliant and cleverly plotted story makes this a truly addictive read. It’s packed full of mystery and questions making it frustrating as hell but impossible to put down.

The characters may not be the most likeable but they are definitely some of the most intriguing. You definitely need your wits about you if you want to figure out what’s real and what’s not.

Synopsis

The story of a young woman whose diabolical smarts are her ticket into a charmed life. But how many times can someone reinvent themselves? You be the judge.

Imogen is a runaway heiress, an orphan, a cook, and a cheat.
Jule is a fighter, a social chameleon, and an athlete.
An intense friendship. A disappearance. A murder, or maybe two.
A bad romance, or maybe three.
Blunt objects, disguises, blood, and chocolate. The American dream, superheroes, spies, and villains.
A girl who refuses to give people what they want from her.
A girl who refuses to be the person she once was.

My Review

Hmm how to review a book where you can’t really talk about the story, you can’t really talk about the characters and you definitely can’t talk about the ending, or should that be the beginning? I think this is going to be quite a short review.

This is a story that begins at the end, yep literally. The first chapter is number 18 and from there it goes back in time to chapter 1 the beginning. Our main character Jule is a bit of a mystery. As the story begins (or ends as it were) she seems to be on the run and pretending to be someone else. The big question is why but this is only the first of many questions.

This is a story that’s absolutely packed full of mystery and secrets and it raises far more questions than it ever answers. As you travel back in time the answers are gradually revealed but every discovery seems to raise a hundred more questions so that you have to read that little bit more. Needless to say I read the whole book from cover to cover in an afternoon and immediately wanted to go back to the beginning and read it again to try and figure out what I’d missed.

It’s a a very intricately and cleverly plotted story that’s full of detail and little hints and clues scattered throughout. The back to front format of the story works incredibly well as you’re always trying to guess how they got to a specific place or moment and why they behave or act in a certain way. You really have to pay very close attention or you’re sure to miss something.

Main character Jule is the definitive anti hero and a bit of an enigma. She’s not particularly likeable, how can you like someone who’s always pretending to be someone else, but she’s definitely intriguing. I did on occasion find myself feeling sorry for her but when you never know what’s real and what’s fake, you never really know if you’re just being played.

This is an absolutely brilliant book but it’s frustrating as hell which means I can’t say it was an enjoyable reading experience. It is however one I’d definitely recommend. Just set aside plenty of time because you won’t be able to put it down.

I received an advance copy of this book free from Readers First. This has in no way influenced my review.

ARC Review: The Border by Steve Schafer

September 2, 2017 Ali@abookishlife9 Comments

The Border by Steve Schafer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A very timely look at illegal immigration from the point of view of those who risk it all for a better life. It’s a fast paced and engaging read that’s both harrowing and heartbreaking at times but I’m so glad I read it.

It’s a brilliant debut and one I’d recommend even if it’s not your usual kind of read.

The Blurb

One moment changed their lives forever.

A band plays, glasses clink, and four teens sneak into the Mexican desert, the hum of celebration receding behind them.

Crack. Crack. Crack.

Not fireworks―gunshots. The music stops. And Pato, Arbo, Marcos, and Gladys are powerless as the lives they once knew are taken from them.

Then they are seen by the gunmen. They run. Except they have nowhere to go. The narcos responsible for their families’ murders have put out a reward for the teens’ capture. Staying in Mexico is certain death, but attempting to cross the border through an unforgiving desert may be as deadly as the secrets they are trying to escape…

My Review

This is not the kind of book I probably would have picked up on my own but when the publisher contacted me via NetGalley and offered me the chance to read it I thought why not. Despite a NetGalley shelf that’s starting to creak, I’m so glad I added this to it.

Illegal immigration seems to be a hot topic at the moment no matter where you live in the world so this book about four teens trying to cross the border into the US from Northern Mexico couldn’t be more relevant. It provides a truly fascinating insight into just how desperate many of those trying to find a new life are and challenges the view that many have that they’re all bad or dangerous people who have to be stopped.

The story is told from the point of view of 16 year old Pato who, after witnessing all of his family and most of his friends being killed by a local gang while at a party, has a price put on his head and is forced to go on the run with his best friend Arbo and Marcus and Gladys a brother and sister who also narrowly avoided being killed at the party. With Mexico no longer safe and no one they can turn to the only option open to them is to attempt to cross into America and make a new life for themselves.

Pato is an immensely likeable and surprisingly relateable character. I didn’t expect to have much in common with a 16 year old Mexican boy but there’s something about him that I could definitely empathize with. He seems to have had a relatively sheltered and comparatively privileged life so his life is truly turned upside down and he struggles to cope. The author does a truly wonderful job in making him a very real and completely believable character.

The other three that make up the group were also incredibly well defined. Arbo the best friend is the emotional and soft one who struggles the most, Marco is the tough guy and self imposed leader of the group and Gladys brings balance and a little bit of love to the group. It’s absolutely wonderful how the dynamic between the four changes and develops over the course of the story and I found myself really routing for them to make it despite the odds stacked against them.

The story itself is fast paced and pretty harrowing at times (although I do feel like the author held back a little for the YA audience). The group have more than a few close calls and with gangs chasing them, an inhospitable environment, limited resources and no one to rely on but themselves there’s a big question mark over who if any of them will make it across the desert alive.

Thankfully it’s not all death, violence and struggle however as the author also weaves in some moment of lightness and humor and also a little bit of romance. There’s a lot of struggle but there’s also a lot of hope and that’s what carries the group and the reader through (although I’m not telling you if they make it).

I did have a couple of niggles which I can’t mention due to spoilers but overall I’d say this was a worthwhile read and one I’d definitely recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC. As always all views are my own.

The Border is published on the 5th September.

WWW Wednesday: 30th August 2017

August 30, 2017August 29, 2017 Ali@abookishlife16 Comments

The WWW Wednesday meme is currently hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words and is a great way to do a weekly update on what you’ve been reading and what you have planned.

To take part all you have to do is answer the following three questions:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently Reading

I started The Border by Steve Schafer on Monday so I’m around a third of the way through and really enjoying it. This was one of those books where the publisher asked me via NetGalley whether I’d be interested in reading it and I thought why not. It’s about 4 teens in northern Mexico who after their whole families are killed have to go on the run to stay alive. With Mexico not being safe they decide their only option is to try and make the crossing into the states.

As far as my other reads go I’ve made absolutely zero progress with The Fireman by Joe Hill over the last week. It’s a big heavy book and I’ve been travelling a lot so I couldn’t really face carrying it around with me. I’m also still working my way through the audio book of Mockingjay, the final book of the Hunger Games.

Recently Finished

Charlotte Says (Red Eye)

Despite having a few more bookish events over the last week I still managed to squeeze in plenty of reading (I think I’ve avoided the slump I was heading for) and finished off three books. The first of these was YA horror Charlotte Says by Alex Bell which I’d received from NetGalley. I really loved this prequel to Frozen Charlotte and I think it may actually be the better book. I don’t know if I’d just gotten used to the author’s style but the writing seemed a lot better and while there were less scares (I knew what to expect from those creepy little dolls) I found it a lot more gripping and completely impossible to put down.

After last weeks Top Ten Tuesday post on my favorite reads during the 80’s and 90’s I started feeling very nostalgic and couldn’t resist a re read of Lightning by Dean Koontz. I was huge fan of Koontz when I was a teenager and Lightning was far and away my favorite. It’s one of those books I read over and over again but haven’t touched in over a decade so was a little worried it wouldn’t be as good as I remembered.

It was definitely a blast from the past and all of those emotions came flooding back as I was reading. It is a little bit dated now but I think it’s one of those books I will always go back to.

A Semi-Definitive List of Worst Nightmares In need of something completely different, the third and final book finished this week was A Semi Definitive List of Worst Nightmares by Krystal Sutherland. I received this from Readers First and despite some initial reservations I absolutely loved it. It’s about a girl Esther who suffers from anxiety and comes from family who all have phobias. Esther believes the family are cursed and that their phobias will kill them so with the help of sort of friend (sort of mugger) Jonah she decides to face her fears one at a time to try and break the curse.

I was initially worried this was taking mental illness too lightly or that it was going to be one of those love cures all type reads but thankfully it’s not. It is dealt with in a way that’s a little bit funny and ridiculous at times but also very real. As someone who has suffered from anxiety since my teens I could really relate to Esther and a lot of her feelings and reactions mirrored my own. The key message was definitely ask for help and don’t try to cope on your own. I’m hoping to have a review up later this week.

Reading Next

I seem to have a load of ARCs which are being published at the start of September that I haven’t as yet read so I really should prioritize them. I think I’ll therefore be reading one or two of the following:

The Dazzling Heights (The Thousandth Floor #2) The Break Alex and Eliza

Have you read any of the books on my list this week? Any others you’d recommend? As always please feel free to leave comments and links below.

Happy Wednesday Everyone!!!

Top Ten Hidden Gems in Fantasy, Romance, Horror, Sci Fi, Thriller….

August 29, 2017 Ali@abookishlife15 Comments

The theme for this weeks Top Ten Tuesday is Hidden Gem Books in X Genre, however as I read pretty much every genre I didn’t want to limit myself to just one (and it’s difficult to think of ten in any one genre) so I’m going to go for a mix and hope there’s something there for everyone.

Top Ten Tuesday is an original weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week they post a new Top Ten list. If you want to join in all they ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post and, if you want to, add your name to the Linky widget on that day’s posts (typically put up midnight EST on Tuesday) so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists!

Anyway, here’s my top ten hidden gems in fantasy, sci fi, chick lit, horror, thriller, mystery and…..

YA Fantasy – The Sunbolt Chronicles by Intisar Khanani

Sunbolt (The Sunbolt Chronicles, #1)

The winding streets and narrow alleys of Karolene hide many secrets, and Hitomi is one of them. Orphaned at a young age, Hitomi has learned to hide her magical aptitude and who her parents really were. Most of all, she must conceal her role in the Shadow League, an underground movement working to undermine the powerful and corrupt Arch Mage Wilhelm Blackflame.

When the League gets word that Blackflame intends to detain—and execute—a leading political family, Hitomi volunteers to help the family escape. But there are more secrets at play than Hitomi’s, and much worse fates than execution. When Hitomi finds herself captured along with her charges, it will take everything she can summon to escape with her life.

I have to confess I’ve only read the first book in this series and another short story by the author but it’s definitely one I want to read more of as the writing is wonderful. I’m slightly at a loss as to why this is not much more popular as I would say the writing is as good as some of the biggest YA fantasy reads at the moment.

YA Sci Fi – Proxy by Alex London

Proxy (Proxy, #1) Knox was born into one of the City’s wealthiest families. A Patron, he has everything a boy could possibly want—the latest tech, the coolest clothes, and a Proxy to take all his punishments. When Knox breaks a vase, Syd is beaten. When Knox plays a practical joke, Syd is forced to haul rocks. And when Knox crashes a car, killing one of his friends, Syd is branded and sentenced to death.

Syd is a Proxy. His life is not his own.

Then again, neither is Knox’s. Knox and Syd have more in common than either would guess. So when Knox and Syd realize that the only way to beat the system is to save each other, they flee. Yet Knox’s father is no ordinary Patron, and Syd is no ordinary Proxy. The ensuing cross-country chase will uncover a secret society of rebels, test both boys’ resolve, and shine a blinding light onto a world of those who owe and those who pay. Some debts, it turns out, cannot be repaid.

Not necessarily the most unique story but definitely worth reading for the writing and for having a main character who happens to be gay and not being all about romance (there’s practically none).

YA Thriller – The Deviants by C.J. Skuse

The Deviants When you set out for revenge, dig two graves

Growing up in the sleepy English seaside town of Brynston, the fearless five – Ella, Max, Corey, Fallon and Zane – were always inseparable. Living up to their nickname, they were the adventurous, rowdy kids who lived for ghost stories and exploring the nearby islands off the coast. But when Max’s beloved older sister Jessica is killed, the friendship seems to die with her.

Now years later, only Max and Ella are in touch; still best friends and a couple since they were thirteen. Their lives are so intertwined Max’s dad even sponsors Ella’s training for the Commonwealth Games. But Ella is hiding things. Like why she hates going to Max’s house for Sunday dinner, and flinches whenever his family are near. Or the real reason she’s afraid to take their relationship to the next level.

When underdog Corey is bullied, the fearless five are brought back together again, teaming up to wreak havoc and revenge on those who have wronged them. But when the secrets they are keeping can no longer be kept quiet, will their fearlessness be enough to save them from themselves?

I just checked on GoodReads and there are less than 200 ratings for this book. I honestly don’t understand how this can be possible as it really is a brilliant book. It’s a little slow in the beginning but worth sticking with it. I would actually recommend any C.J. Skuse book as every one I’ve read has been great.

Horror – The Beast of Barcroft by Bill Schweigart

Fans of Stephen King and Bentley Little will devour The Beast of Barcroft, Bill Schweigart’s brilliant new vision of dark suburban horror. Ben thought he had the neighbor from hell. He didn’t know how right he was. . . .

Ben McKelvie believes he’s moving up in the world when he and his fiancée buy a house in the cushy Washington, D.C., suburb of Barcroft. Instead, he’s moving down—way down—thanks to Madeleine Roux, the crazy neighbor whose vermin-infested property is a permanent eyesore and looming hazard to public health.

First, Ben’s fiancée leaves him; then, his dog dies, apparently killed by a predator drawn into Barcroft by Madeleine’s noxious menagerie. But the worst is yet to come for Ben, for he’s not dealing with any ordinary wild animal. This killer is something much, much worse. Something that couldn’t possibly exist—in this world.

Now, as a devilish creature stalks the locals, Ben resolves to take action. With some grudging assistance from a curator at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and the crackpot theories of a self-styled cryptozoologist, he discovers the sinister truth behind the attacks, but knowing the Beast of Barcroft and stopping it are two different animals.

I love a good creature feature and this is a great creature feature. Reminds me of the James Herbert books I read in my teens. It’s creepy, a little bit gory but not OTT and has some very funny banter in places.

Mystery/Thriller – Henry Bins Series by Nick Pirog

3 a.m. (Henry Bins #1) The average person is awake for sixteen hours a day.
Henry Bins is awake for one.
He wakes up each day at 3 a.m. then falls asleep at 4 a.m.
Life is simple.
Until he hears the woman scream.
And sees the man leave the house across the street.
But not just any man.
The President of the United States.

The books in this series are pretty short making them really quick reads but there’s a lot packed in. The premise is unlike anything I’ve ever read, there is a lot of humor and a cat called Lassie who steals every single scene.

Chick Lit / RomCom – Big Sexy Love by Kirsty Greenwood

Big Sexy Love Olive Brewster is a scaredy cat. She doesn’t do new or risky. She’s happy enough with her job at the local market, it’s cool that she has no boyfriend to fret over, she even likes that she still lives in her childhood home. No drama, no fuss, no problems. Everything is fine. Super duper fine.

Except … Olive’s best friend in the world, Birdie, is dying.

Birdie has one final wish. She wants to track down her first love, Chuck, and because she’s stuck in the hospital she needs Olive’s help to do it. But there’s a teeny problem: Chuck is somewhere in New York and Olive has never even left her home town, let alone roamed the crazy streets of Manhattan.

As if the big city isn’t scary enough, Olive has to contend with Seth, a cocky comedy TV writer who thinks she’s a joke; Anders, a bored socialite who’s taken a shine to her; and the fact that no matter how hard she tries to track down Chuck, he doesn’t seem to want to be found.

Can Olive learn to overcome her fears, abandon her old safe routine and fulfil her best friend’s last wish? It’s going to take extra bravery, one badass attitude and a whole lot of big sexy love to make this happen …

You had to know I was going to include this one, I don’t think I’ve stopped talking about it since I finished it a month or so ago. It’s hilariously funny, sweet and a tiny bit heartbreaking. If you love books like The Hating Game or pretty much anything by Sophie Kinsella you’re sure to love this.

YA Romance – If We Were a Movie by Kelly Oram

If We Were a Movie Music meets Movies in this sweet college romance from the bestselling author of Cinder & Ella.

NYU freshman Nate Anderson is a triplet who is desperate to escape his wild and crazy brothers. After they screw things up for him one too many times, Nate flees his housing situation and takes the first available room for rent as far from his brothers as he can get.

Enter his new roommate Jordan–a quirky LA girl who believes that everything in life has already been done in the movies. In this heartfelt tale of love, friendship and family, Nate learns how to deal with his new adult life using Hollywood films as a guide.

I think everyone has read the author’s more famous book Cinder and Ella (if not go read it) but this seems to be a lot less popular for some reason. I’ve loved everything Oram has written but I’d definitely rate this among my favorites. It’s cute, it’s funny and there’s lots of music and movie references.

YA Fantasy – Princess Ahira by K.M. Shea

Princess Ahira Once upon a time? Please! What a joke.

Princess Ahira is not your average damsel in distress. She hates being a princess and constantly tries to flee from her mother and her lectures. Pleasantly, her life is shattered on the eve of her sixteenth birthday when she is kidnapped by dragons.

Ahira is selected by a powerful dragon named Azmaveth to be his captive princess, and lives with him—cleaning his pigpen den—as they forge a strange sort of friendship. Living with Azmaveth brings more adventures than Ahira ever saw in her family’s castle. Not only do Azmaveth’s inventive spells seem to backfire on himself and those around him, but he lives in a land where fairytales are completely backwards.

There’s Snow White and her seven dwarf uncles who have fallen asleep, Hanzel and Gretal who have locked an old woman out of her cookie cottage, and a miniature unicorn who happens to have some pretty powerful magic.

In this upside down land Ahira also meets Kohath, Azmaveth’s egotistical steward who drags her on countless wild goose chases, and Aaron, a cowardly but intelligent wizard.

Unfortunately, Ahira isn’t visiting the dragons during a peaceful time. The valkyrie, mystical female warriors bent on dominion over magic, are marching against the dragons, and everything—from dragons to gnomes—are rallying together to fight back. What Ahira doesn’t know is that her emotions and romantic life will have a powerful impact on the looming war.

Again, I’d recommend pretty much any K.M. Shea book (her Timeless Fairytale series is brilliant) but this is probably my favorite book of hers. There’s a dragon, do I need to say anything else? Yeah ok, there’s also a feisty princess who doesn’t really want Prince Charming to come and rescue her, a really funny hate to love romance, loads of fairytale references and I’m pretty sure there’s a very vain unicorn.

Sci Fi/Romance – Spandex in the City by Jenny Colgan

Spandex and the City LOCAL GIRL SWEPT OFF HER FEET
Mild-mannered publicist Holly Phillips is unlucky in love. She’s embarrassed beyond belief when the handsome stranger she meets in a bar turns out to be ‘Ultimate Man’ – a superpowered hero whose rescue attempt finds her hoisted over his shoulder and flashing her knickers in the newspaper the next day.
But when Holly’s fifteen minutes of fame make her a target for something villainous, she only has one place to turn – and finds the man behind the mask holds a lot more charm than his crime-fighting alter-ego.
Can Holly find love, or is superdating just as complicated as the regular kind?

I don’t know why but for some reason Jenny T Colgan books tend not to do as well as the Jenny Colgan books. I suspect it’s because they’re sci fi which is not what her usual readers expect. Spandex and the City is brilliant and pokes fun (in a very nice way) at the whole superhero genre where let’s face it being the girlfriend kinda sucks.

Thriller/Mystery/NA – Stalking Sapphire by Mia Thompson

Stalking Sapphire (Stalking Sapphire, #1) Despite the illusion Sapphire Dubois presents to the rest of the world, she is not just your stereotypical 22-year old Beverly Hills heiress; she hunts serial killers. While her fellow heirs spend their nights with trending celebs and drugs at the hottest club, Sapphire secretly spends hers luring, capturing, and anonymously handing over So-Cal’s most wanted killers to the police — just your average Tuesday night.

What Sapphire doesn’t know is that one of her adversaries is watching her every move, aware of both her true identity and her unconventional hobby. Needless to say, he doesn’t approve. Used to being the one who redefines the definition of predator and prey, Sapphire’s world abruptly shatters when a gruesome ‘gift’ arrives for her at the Beverly Hills Country Club. With her involuntary crush, handsome Detective Aston Ridder, close on her tail, Sapphire now has to rethink her routine strategy and figure out how to capture a killer who already knows she’s coming.

Pretty sure I found this in the freebie charts on Amazon, read it and have been constantly on the lookout for the next in the series ever since. I just love the idea of a pampered heiress with a serial killer hunting alter ego. It’s like a gender switched Batman meets Silence of the Lambs.

So that’s my Top Ten Hidden Gems in a variety of genres. Have you read any of these or have I tempted you to give them a try? Are there any hidden gems you’d recommend (I have a feeling my TBR pile is going to double in size this week)?

As always feel free to leave comments and links to your Top Ten’s below.

Teaser Tuesday: 29th August 2017

August 29, 2017August 26, 2017 Ali@abookishlife15 Comments

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by The Purple Booker. If you want to join in grab your current read, flick to a random page, select two sentences (without spoilers) and share them in a blog post or in the comments of The Purple Booker.

This week my teaser comes from A Semi Definitive List of Worst Nightmares by Krystal Sutherland which I was lucky enough to win in a Readers First Giveaway. It’s quite a quirky story about a girl who suffers from anxiety about just about everything. There was so much about this book I could relate to and despite it’s general strangeness I found it a bit of an emotional read.

My Teaser

“How dare you,” she said sarcastically, panting as she came back to herself. “I am a special snowflake”.

“You really wanna let M Night Shyamalan do this to you? That’s like crying to a Nickelback Song. Have some self-respect.”

~ pg174 A Semi Definitive List of Worst Nightmares by Krystal Sutherland

Blurb

From the author of Our Chemical Hearts comes the hilarious, reality-bending tale of two outsiders facing their greatest fears about life and love one debilitating phobia at a time.

Ever since Esther Solar’s grandfather was cursed by Death, everyone in her family has been doomed to suffer one great fear in their lifetime. Esther’s father is agoraphobic and hasn’t left the basement in six years, her twin brother can’t be in the dark without a light on, and her mother is terrified of bad luck.

The Solars are consumed by their fears and, according to the legend of the curse, destined to die from them.

Esther doesn’t know what her great fear is yet (nor does she want to), a feat achieved by avoiding pretty much everything. Elevators, small spaces, and crowds are all off-limits. So are haircuts, spiders, dolls, mirrors and three dozen other phobias she keeps a record of in her semi-definitive list of worst nightmares.

Then Esther is pickpocketed by Jonah Smallwood, an old elementary school classmate. Along with her phone, money and a fruit roll-up she’d been saving, Jonah also steals her list of fears. Despite the theft, Esther and Jonah become friends, and he sets a challenge for them: in an effort to break the curse that has crippled her family, they will meet every Sunday of senior year to work their way through the list, facing one terrifying fear at a time, including one that Esther hadn’t counted on: love.

ARC Review: The Accident by S.D. Monaghan

August 27, 2017August 26, 2017 Ali@abookishlife2 Comments

The Accident by S.D. Monaghan

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

A gripping thriller with an brilliant hook in the beginning which instantly draws you into the story. I did feel like it dipped a little in the middle with one or two too many flashbacks which slowed down the pace of the story but there are plenty of twists, turns and cliffhangers to keep you reading till the very end.

The story follows married couple David and Tara who with a baby on the way and their dream home almost complete are about to start the next phase of their lives together. For some reason though Tara can’t resist one final fling with ex boyfriend Ryan before she settles down. When David stumbles upon them together he confronts Ryan, throwing a punch that results in a three storey fall for Ryan, setting in motion a series of events that could potentially destroy them both.

The story is told from the points of view of both David and Tara and this dual perspective makes for some really engaging reading. I wouldn’t necessarily say that I liked either character and at times their actions frustrated the hell out of me (yes I shouted at the book) but they were very believable and I found myself questioning how I would act in their situation.

There’s a really fast pace in the beginning of the book making it addictive reading but around a third of the way through it kind of loses it a bit as the story flits back in time to explain how David and Tara met and how their relationship developed. It is interesting to read and explains a lot about them but I felt like the tension which made it such a gripping read was lost. There are twists and turns and chapters end on cliffhangers to keep you reading but it bugged the hell out of me that these cliffhangers would be followed by a jump to another time or place.

I won’t say much about the story for fear of spoilers but while there were bits I guessed there were certainly a few twists I didn’t see coming and the ending, while possibly a little sudden, was for the most part satisfying (am I being suitably vague?).

Overall therefore, it’s a pretty good read and while it suffers from some pacing issues I’d still recommend to anyone who likes a good thriller. I will definitely be looking out for other books from this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC. As always all views are my own.

WWW Wednesday: 23rd August 2017

August 23, 2017August 22, 2017 Ali@abookishlife19 Comments

The WWW Wednesday meme is currently hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words and is a great way to do a weekly update on what you’ve been reading and what you have planned.

To take part all you have to do is answer the following three questions:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently Reading

I’m kind of juggling three books at the moment which is not going particularly well as I almost always focus on one and completely neglect at least one of the other two but the physical book I’m reading, The Fireman by Joe Hill, is such a big book I can’t face carting it around with me (my bag is heavy enough).

I started it on Friday last week and have only managed around 100 pages so far but what I’ve read has been really good. It takes the usual typical apocalypse type story and flips it around to ask the question what if you were one of the “bad guys”, the one who is infected with the horrible highly contagious disease that’s going to kill you? What would you do to stay alive, and what if you found out you were pregnant?

Charlotte Says (Red Eye) The ebook I’m making a lot more progress on is another horror, Charlotte Says by Alex Bell. I’ve just been in the mood for a good creepy horror story so when I spotted this on NetGalley I couldn’t resist requesting (I’m saying nothing about the number of books on my shelf). I only read the author’s previous book in the series during the week (more below) but thought I’d take a chance and I’m so glad I did as it’s just the creepy type of horror story I love.

The third book I have on the go is the audio of the final book in the Hunger Games trilogy, Mockingjay. I’ve been gradually working my way through the series this year and started on this last week. It’s been a long time since I read the books so it’s been great to listen to them. My memory of the films is fresher so I’ve been surprised by all of the little differences.

Recently Finished

The Accident

I had a bit of a busy weekend (Edinburgh Book Festival!!!) but did end up spending quite a lot of time on trains or hanging around stations so I managed to finish three books this week. The first of these was The Accident by S.D. Monaghan which I’d received from NetGalley. It’s a thriller about a man who catches his wife cheating on him and decides to confront the other man, leading to “The Accident”.

I haven’t had a chance to write a proper review but thought this was a really good thriller. It certainly starts incredibly well and really hooks you in (yep I shouted at the characters for doing silly things) but I did feel like it dipped in the middle with one or two too many flashbacks slowing the pace down. There are plenty of cliffhanger chapter endings which do keep you reading and it does pick up again towards the end so definitely an enjoyable read.

The second book finished this week was also a thriller but this time of the YA variety. Another NetGalley pick, The Treatment by C.L. Taylor is about a girl who receives a note from her brother that suggests the reform school he has been sent to is less about reform and more about brainwashing. When no one believes her she’s forced to take matters into her own hands and infiltrate the school to get to her brother.

I think this is Taylor’s first YA story and it’s a pretty good attempt. It’s definitely very readable and I finished the whole story in a few hours. I would have liked something a bit more invasion of the body snatchers and I do think some things were a little too convenient but it certainly kept me engrossed.

Frozen Charlotte

The third and final book finished this week was Frozen Charlotte by Alex Bell. It’s a very creepy YA horror story about a girl, Sophie, who goes to stay with distant relatives who live in an old schoolhouse on the Isle of Skye. There are some tiny little dolls that might be evil, characters with issues, strange noises and visions and just lots of general spookiness. I do think there were some issues with the writing (it’s lacking a little subtlety and depth) but it did creep me out which is probably the most important thing.

Reading Next

I have a few more book events coming up over the next week so may not have a lot of reading time but if I manage to finish my current reads I think I’m going to try and pick up either The Boy on the Bridge by M.R. Carey or ARC of Invictus by Ryan Graudin. There is a possibility I will be looking for something completely different so may end up picking up The Break by Marian Keyes or A Semi Definitive List of Worst Nightmares by Krystal Sutherland.

The Boy on the Bridge The Break Invictus A Semi-Definitive List of Worst Nightmares

Have you read any of the books on my list this week? Any others you’d recommend? As always please feel free to leave comments and links below.

Happy Wednesday Everyone!!!

My Top Ten Reads in the 80’s and 90’s

August 22, 2017 Ali@abookishlife12 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is an original weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week they post a new Top Ten list. All they ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post and, if you want to, add your name to the Linky widget on that day’s posts (typically put up midnight EST on Tuesday) so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists!

The theme for this weeks Top Ten is a back to school freebie which, given I haven’t actually been at school for around 20 years (yep I am that old), seemed like it might be a bit of a challenge. Originally I was thinking I could go for 10 books I read in school and would like to reread but I could only think of about three (Animal Farm, The Stranger and Sunset Song) so instead I’ve decided to go with the books I chose to read during my school years.

The Worst Witch Series by Jill Murphy

The Worst Witch (Worst Witch, #1) The Worst Witch Strikes Again (Worst Witch, #2) A Bad Spell for the Worst Witch (Worst Witch, #3)

I think I probably read this series about trainee witch Mildred Hubble who seems to get everything wrong when I was around middle grade age (although I’m not positive). It’s set in a school, has magic, adventure and friendships so what more could you possibly want.

Sweet Valley High Series by Francine Pascal

Double Love (Sweet Valley High, #1) Secrets (Sweet Valley High, #2) Playing with Fire (Sweet Valley High, #3)

Even when I first read this series about twins Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield I’m fairly certain I knew it was rubbish but there was just something about it I found weirdly addictive. Almost every story is the same, evil twin Jessica does something nasty to Elizabeth or gets herself in trouble (there’s usually a boy involved) and good twin Elizabeth has to rescue her or forgive her (there may be one where Elizabeth goes evil but I don’t remember).

Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene

The Secret of the Old Clock (Nancy Drew, #1) Password to Larkspur Lane (Nancy Drew, #10) The Clue in the Crumbling Wall (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories, #22)

I’ve just discovered that these were first published in 1930 which has kind of freaked me out but I promise I wasn’t reading them when the first came out (I’m not that old). I’ve also just discovered that Carolyn Keene was a pen name for a few different authors which I had no idea about but probably explains why there seem to be about 175 books in the series published over multiple decades 🙂

Anyway, I absolutely loved this series about a teenage girl who investigates mysteries. Definitely much better than those Hardy Boys. I have a sneaking suspicion if I re read them now I’d find them horribly sexist but at the time I loved the idea of a girl out finding clues and solving mysteries.

The Baby-Sitters Club by Ann M. Martin

Kristy's Great Idea (The Baby-Sitters Club, #1) Claudia and the Phantom Phone Calls (The Baby-sitters Club, #2) The Truth About Stacey (The Baby-Sitters Club, #3)

This series is about a group of friends who’re looking to make a bit of money so decide to set up a Baby-Sitters club. It’s mostly a story of their friendship and the various issues they face growing up but there’s the odd mystery thrown in to keep it interesting.

The Famous Five by Enid Blyton

Five on a Treasure Island (Famous Five, #1) Five Go Adventuring Again (Famous Five, #2) Five Go On A Strategy Away Day

These were pretty much the only books by Enid Blyton I actually read. I wasn’t a fan of the Secret Seven (there were too many of them to remember) but I really enjoyed this series about a group of four friends and their dog who go on adventures and solve mysteries. I suspect it’s another series that’s horribly dated and I would hate if I tried to pick it up now but I have been kind of tempted by the recent Enid Blyton for grown up books (one of which you may have noticed I snuck in above).

Point Horror by Various

The Lifeguard (Point Horror, #3) April Fools (Point Horror, #7) Blind Date (Point Horror, #1)

I’m pretty sure this collection of horror stories was what led to my more general love of the genre. I’d actually forgotten about this series until I started looking up books for this post but now that I’ve remembered I kind of want to read them again. I do remember that I absolutely loved The Lifeguard and I’m pretty sure I read it more than once.

Christopher Pike

Monster Chain Letter (Chain Letter #1) Remember Me (Remember Me #1)

I have to confess I can’t remember which Christopher Pike books I’ve actually read (I think the covers are throwing me off) but I do remember being a fan. At that point though I loved pretty much any spooky story.

The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice

Interview with the Vampire (The Vampire Chronicles, #1) The Vampire Lestat (The Vampire Chronicles, #2) The Queen of the Damned (The Vampire Chronicles, #3)

I pretty much loved all things Anne Rice when I was in my teens but I had a very definite soft spot for anything to do with the vampire Lestat. He was just such a brilliant character and so much more interesting than that boring Louis. Lestat at least seemed to quite like being a vampire and made the most of it rather than moaning all the time.

Dean Koontz

Watchers Lightning Hideaway

Another horror author I absolutely loved in the 90’s (although I suspect his books would be classed as thrillers or sci-fi these days). I think I read just about every Dean Koontz book I could get my hands on. Of all of them though my absolute favorite was Lightning. I mean it has time travel and one of my all time favorite love interests. It’s very Terminator-y with the whole I traveled through time to save you vibe (although I’m fairly certain there are no killer robots).

James Herbert

The Rats (Rats, #1) The Secret Of Crickley Hall Haunted (David Ash, #1)

Rats who begin preying on the human population, haunted houses, ghosts and various other monsters and things that go bump in the night, James Herbert was the absolute master of the horror story for me. I used to beg my parents to get them from the library for me.

So that’s it, my Top Ten authors/series from the 80’s and 90’s. I have to admit this post has brought back some fantastic memories and I’m kind of tempted to try and track some of these books down and re read them (probably not Sweet Valley High).

Do you remember or have you come across any of these?

Feel free to leave comments and links to your posts below.

Teaser Tuesday: 22nd August 2017

August 22, 2017August 21, 2017 Ali@abookishlife5 Comments

This week my teaser comes from Frozen Charlotte by Alex Bell, a rather creepy YA horror story about the dangers of spending the holidays with distant relatives (just kidding 😀 ). There’s a creepy old house near the edge of a cliff, strange noises, little dolls that may be evil and some very suspicious behavior from pretty much everyone. All the ingredients you need for the perfect scary story.

I should add my teaser isn’t part of the main story but a little bit of a song that’s used at the start of each chapter.

My Teaser

He took her hand in his,

Oh God! Twas cold and hard as stone,

He tore the mantle from her face,

Cold stars upon it shone.

~ 70% Frozen Charlotte by Alex Bell

Blurb

Frozen Charlotte

We’re waiting for you to come and play.

Dunvegan School for Girls has been closed for many years. Converted into a family home, the teachers and students are long gone. But they left something behind…

Sophie arrives at the old schoolhouse to spend the summer with her cousins. Brooding Cameron with his scarred hand, strange Lilias with a fear of bones and Piper, who seems just a bit too good to be true. And then there’s her other cousin. The girl with a room full of antique dolls. The girl that shouldn’t be there. The girl that died.