Stupid Stupid Stupid

Ok, so I did a stupid thing *shifty eyes* it was by total accident, but still incredibly stupid. And what was this incredibly stupid thing you did, I hear you ask?

Well....I walked into my local library *guilty shrug*

I walked in with the cleanest intentions. I walked in to put in my requests list....but then there were people being served, and I got bored. Boredom is my downfall when I'm in a library. Because when I get bored, I start looking at books, and when I start looking at books I end up borrowing two or three that aren't on my requests list.

So I came home with a few of my requested books reserved for me, one of them brought home with me, and then three other books that are unaccountable for....I seriously think I have an addiction.
I came home with two of my guilty pleasure books 'Bride of Solway' and 'The Rake and the Rebel'. These are my guilty pleasure books because they are two of the large Mills and Boon family...there I said it. I'm addicted to romance novels from Mills and Boon, which have predictable plot lines, often very large plot holes and scandalous sexual content. Sue me.
The other two I came home with is 'Bed of Roses' Nora Roberts (one of the ones on my requests list) and 'The Last Song' Nicholas Sparks which I saw the film of, cried so much and absolutely loved it!

So my requests list now stands -

Bride Quartet - Nora Roberts - ORDERED
Stardust - Neil Gaiman - ORDERED
The Entire Collection of Jane Austen Novels - Jane Austen - ORDERED

STILL TO GET -
Ella Enchanted - Gail Carson Levine
Gone with the Wind - Margerat Mitchell
Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
Vanity Fair - William Tackeray
The Princess Bride - William Goldman
Jenna & Jonah's Fauxmance - Emily Franklin & Brendan Halpin
The Decoy Princess - Dawn Cook
Princess at Sea - Dawn Cook
The Catcher in the Rye - J.D Salinger

And my TBR pile is huge...

Night World Volume 2 - L.J Smith
Night World Volume 3 - L.J Smith
Gallagher Girls 1 - Ally Carter
Gallagher Girls 2 - Ally Carter
Matched - Allie Condie
Darkest Mercy - Melissa Marr
Shiver - Maggie Stiefvator
Linger - Maggie Stiefvator
Drama Girl - Carmen Reid
Rebel Girl - Carmen Reid
Sunshine Girl - Carmen Reid
To Marry a Prince - Sophie Page
Sisters Red - Jackson Pierce
Evercrossed - Elizabeth Chandler
Dark Touch - Fever - Amy Meredith

Argh. Ok so I'm a bad girl. Very addicted too...

JB xx

In My Mailbox #2

I know, it's late...and I'm sorry! But there was revision and my birthday and general busy-ness!

So last week I got a few books in the post and got some for my birthday, which I am very excited about!
And this Thursday..I plan on submitting my requests list for my library...quite excited about that too!

Ok so I BOUGHT this week

A Dark Touch Novel - Fever - Amy Meredith
Deepdene has been swept by a vicious tropical plague. Eve, Jess and Luke suspect their teacher, Mr Dokey, brought it back with him from his recent trip to Egypt. But something far more deadly has followed him home too...
As the plague tightens its grip and the town is shut off from the outside world, teenagers start to disappear...A demon is among them - and it xcan take the form of anyone it wants. It could be anybody. And now there's no way out of Deepdene...

Secrets at St Jude's - Drama Girl - Carmen Reid

St Jude's - stuffy, dreary and dull? So wrong! this term the dorm girls arein for some serious drama!

Gina can't wait for her friends and her Mom to visit. But she's about to find out that mixing two sets of best friends is trouble.
Niffy's brother wants to date Amy, but if tht happens Niffy's never going to talk to her again! Min wonders if she will ever have the nerve to kiss her first boyfriend. Meanwhile, Amy will do anything to look fabulous for the school play, but she may be going to far.

Can the girls sort their problems before something really dramatic happens?

Secrets at St Jude's - Rebel Girl - Carmen Reid

At St Jude's School for Girls, four friends are facing very different problems.
Can Gina still be happy with her boyfriend when there's such an exciting new guy on the scene?
How will Amy survive when her rich dad's money disappears?
What can tomboy Niffy do to make herself gorgeous?
and why is Min spending so much time in the study and missing all the fun?

Sounds like all the girls need to get in touch with their inner rebel this term!

Secrets at St Jude's - Sunshine Girl - Carmen Reid

It's time to inject some sunshine into St Jude's this term! But unfortunately for the Upper Fifths, hot holiday glamour is in short supply...

Gina's facing a break-up that might just break her. Any's Saturday job is definately not what she had in mind when she pictured a career in fashion. Niffy's preoccupation with The Neb's love-life is reaching unhealthy levels. And Min is literally bugging her dorm-mates to distraction. maybe a trip to the Sunshine State is just what the girls need?
Goodbye Scotland, hello LA!


YEY! excitement much to read all these lovely books!!

Then, I got four lovely books for my birthday!!

Shiver and Linger - Maggie Stiefvater

Darkest Mercy - Melissa Marr (to complete the series...yey!)

Jane Austen Stole My Boyfriend - Cora Harrison

My fabulous - and long suffering - boyfriend bought me this, because he caught me banging on about the first of this series, and is a reader of my blog...still not a follower though (I'll get there eventually!)

So smiles all round this week! YEY!

JB xx

My Book Boyfriend #2

My Book Boyfriend is a weekly Meme, hosted by Missie at The Unread Reader. I will be taking part in this Meme (hopefully) every Wednesday where I will lust over my literary crush, who I would love to be part of my life. If possible, I will include the lucky boy's stats and some quotes. I will definately be including a picture of how I imagine he looks like and reasons why I love him.

Today's lucky Book Boyfriend, is the one, the only Captain Thomas Williams! From the fabulous book 'I was Jane Austen's Best Friend' - Cora Harrison.

Stats:

• He is tall and imposing but quite young
• His smile is warm and his eyes are kind
• He is Captain of the Bonaventure
• He is an orphan
• Is muscley
• Wears a naval uniform
• He is big and strong
• He is very protective over his younger sister Elinor
• He has lovely brown eyes
• Very broad shoulders, and his uniform makes them look even bigger
• His voice is lovely, velvet-smooth like chocolate

This is how I imagine my lovely sailor. Except, his hair is longer, and curlier. And he is in a 1790's Navy Captain uniform. Yum!

I love him because:

1. He is GORGEOUS...but aren't they all?
2. He knows how to treat a lady right (see quotes below)
3. He is protective over the people that matter to him
4. His laugh is delectable...in my imagination *blush*
5. He knows what he wants, and has the authority to get it

He is a fabulous character, one that I fell for! Here are some quotes that made me swoon!

'Captain Thomas Williams, at your service, Miss Cooper' He bows again

He is very handsome, with jet black hair curling around his neck and very dark eyes.

When we had arrived back at the school, he escorted me up the steps, kissed my hand and then shut the door very quietly behind me

I looked up at Captain Williams with a smile, 'Will you be there?' He smiled back, 'Only uf you come' he said and his brown eyes were dancing

'This is my favourite dance' said Captain Williams when he heard the music. His lovely brown eyes smiled down at me as he took my hand.

When the dance was over he tucked my hand inside his, reminding me once more of the time we walked together in \Southampton, and escorted me over to Mrs Austen. 'You will permit me to call to see you at Steventon,' he said, lifting my hand to his lips. Even through my glove I felt the warmth of his mouth.

In a minute Captain Williams is bowing over my hand. He kisses it amd the kiss seems to last a long time. I feel his lips on my hand. The backs of my fingers feel hot. I know I am blushing, but I don't care.
'I've been thinking about you every day this week' he says. 'I wanted to come to see you again, but I had to go to Southampton (...)'

And then a voice from the trees beyond the coach, a voice filled with authority but as velvet-smooth as chocolate: 'Drop those pistols and put your hands up, my men. I've got you both covered' They look at each other and hesitate, but less then a second later a warning shot explodes - fired over their heads but near enough to be convincing.

I have no idea who that lovely gentlemen in the picture is, but he sure is scrummy and when I found him, he just screamed Captain Thomas Williams. So there you ago. Enjoy my lovelies

JB xx

I was Jane Austen's Best Friend

I was Jane Austen's Best Friend - Cora Harrison

'Jane says that if I am to be the heroine of this story, something will throw a hero in my way'
Meet Jenny Cooper: shy, pretty cousin of clever, sparky Jane Austen (who has lots of handsome brothers and a vivid imagination)

When Jenny goes to live with the Austens, she knows nothing of the world of beautiful dresses, dances, secrets, gossip and romance that Jane inhabits. But when Jenny falls hopelessly in love, who better Jane than to help her win the heart of this most eligible man?

OMNOM. I loved this book. It was deliciously refreshing to read after all the paranormal genre I have gobbled up recently.

It swept me back in time to the 1790's British society, fancy skirts, young love and dashing gentlemen as I became one of the gang in the Austen household (or so it felt like it!)

It was a delicious combination of historical fact and fiction that was based on the relationship of a teenage Jane Austen and her teenage cousin Jenny Cooper, and I fell in love with the blurb!

The characters are so amazingly realistic I honestly felt that I was stood right in the middle of the action, for the whole time! Yummy!

It is a fabulous book, and you should ALL read it.
And what a lucky girl I am...since it's my birthday tomorrow, and I know for a fact that my lovely, and long suffering, boyfriend has bought me the sequel...so I can chomp that down as soon as I rip the wrapping paper off and then be back to review the continued fabulousness for you!

I love the holidays!
JB xx

In My Mailbox #1

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren and inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie that encourages bloggers to share the books they received in their mail, bought, borrowed, or swapped.

Firstly, I have a new addition to my I WANT SO BAD, from the library pile!
As you can see, it is Jenna & Jonah's fauxmance - Emily Franklin & Brendan Halpin. I decided I wanted to give this a go when I read the review from my lovely friend at Love Reading X and her review on it can be seen here

Now, as I said, I have a huge TBR pile, which stops me using my school and local library for a while, (although I do still visit just so they don't forget what I look like) but this huge TBR pile does NOT stop me from being sucked into a black hole when I visit bookstores. I have an addiction, I'm sure of it.

Bought

To Marry a Prince - Sophie Page

Ever since Will and Kate announced their engagement, there has been a flurry of romance novels about normal girls marrying princes, and I'm a sucker for both those, so adding them together just means I'm sold. So I bought one, when I was browsing (naughtily...I shouldn't have browsed, it always leads to buying!!) and I can't wait to read it, it'll be a nice change from all the paranormal I seem to be devouring recently.

 

Evercrossed - Elizabeth Chandler
I read the Kissed by an Angel book in three days, and was gripping the pages. Chandler was such a great author! Had be guessing right up until the last moment who it was, and how they did it and what they were going to do next! So when I found she had another additional book to the Ivy and Tristan series, I grabbed it when I found it, marched to the till, payed and was out the shop before my bank balance could protest....I'm overtaken with guilt as I write this, because I just bought another three books off Amazon...but shhh, it's my birthday soon, I should get some pennies then!

Sisters Red - Jackson Pierce

I have wanted to read this since it came out, so when I found it, quite cheap in ASDA I made another snap decision...still feel guilty!! Hopefully it'll be so good, I won't regret buying it!!

I have ordered another three books from Amazon, the next three in the Secrets at St Jude's series, since I already have the first two...so I like a complete series, sue me! I hope they will be worth it as well, because I'm overcome with the guilt of buying them! ARGH I don't have enough time or space to have the books I want :'(

Ahh well, I'll deal.
Keep reading the reviews, and I promise to keep bringing them to you!
JB xx

My Impressive TBR pile!

I had a great Christmas, as you know, I was ill, but really got back into blogging during that period. I have a very guilty grandfather though, one who throws money at us during brithdays and Christmases. Because of this, I am STILL working my way through the huuugeeee box of books I recieved over this fabulous holiday!
And because I have been bogged down with books I had chosen, I have neglected my library recently (they miss me!) and I have built up an alarmingly large wishlist on Amazon :-/ bad times. But oh well. I am enjoying myself far to much! (and it's my birthday soon; and I hope to clear some of my Amazon wishlist...but that means I have even more of a TBR pile!)

Here are the books I have waiting on my shelf at home:

Gallagher Girls Series - Ally Carter
I have books one and two of this series, and I am itching to read them, and buy the next ones because it looks like a thrilling series that I would really enjoy...a female version of Alex Rider (who I ADORE btw)

Matched - Ally Condie
This looks AMAZING too, and I can't wait to read it, and get my hands on the sequel (Crossed) asap!

Night World Series - L. J Smith



I am uber excited to read this series, hopefully it'll be as good as her previous books, which I love!

I'm now onto the wonderful list I have compiled of books I will be getting from my fabulous library as soon as I have a spare moment! Most of them are classics, but I am feeling the need to widen my reading palete before I embark on A-Level English Literature!

Ella Enchanted - Gail Carson Levine
I have seen the film, with Anne Hathaway in it, but would quite like to read the book. I still have a thing for fairy tales, even at my age...sue me!

The Bride Quartet Series - Nora Roberts

I am a sucker for romance novels...and these ones just reel me in even further, because they are about people who actually work in the Wedding Industry (I want to work in this industry) falling in love and having their own wedding! YEY!

The Decoy Princess and Princess At Sea - Dawn Cook

These books just sound like a good read. A fake princess, who probably is trained to fight, and it's quite old...so that means any romance will be absolutely charming!!

Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
I have seen the film, (with Kiera Knightly....Colin Firth's dramatic version leaves me cold) and would love to see if I can understand it better if I read the book. I have also recently started the series 'I was Jane Austen's Best Friend' by Cora Harrison which just makes me want to gobble Jane Austen books up at a rate to fast to notice!

Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen.
Seen the film, LOVED IT and understood it...so I thought I'd read the book, just to say that I have!

Vanity Fair - William Thackeray
I haven't seen the film for this...but the book was recommended by a good friend of mine, so I thought I'd give it a try!

The Princess Bride - William Goldman

I watched the film, and LOVED IT! It probably isn't the best film around, at all. But I could not look away and thoroughly enjoyed it! It was funny, romantic, thrilling and a little bit unrealistic. A very good escapism film, so I thought I'd read where the magic started. Hopefully I will enjoy it just as much as the film!

Stardust - Neil Gaiman
Not only does his name make me chuckle immaturely to myself, but I've seen the film. It has become my 'ill film' which is a film I watch when I'm ill, and always makes me feel better...just in case you were thick and couldn't work it out :-P Hopefully I'll enjoy the book as much as the film

Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte

Apprantly one of the must read classics...and in my quest to broaden my reading history, I plan on reading this. I have absolutely no idea what it's about...but I managed to get through Wuthering Heights (which is by Charlotte's younger sister, Emily Bronte) and this is supposedly better so I will give it a go!

Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell
Apprantly another classic must read, and by the looks of the cover, a romantic one! Hopefully it'll hit the right spot and become a favourite romance novel, but we shall see!

That's my complete TBR pile at the moment, with three more additions which you can see in the next Meme I am posting straight after this, called In My Mailbox!

Yours In Literature
JB xx

After centuries of torment and pain, she has one chance to live and love again, what would you choose?

Infinite Days - Rebecca Maizel

For 500 years Lenah Beaudonte has been a vampire. 500 years of seduction, blood and destruction. But she is sickened by her dark powers – and longs to feel the sun on her skin, grass under her bare feet, and share the breath of a human kiss. She wants to be mortal again. But is she really capable of being human, after her long years of darkness? Waking up as a sixteen-year-old girl brings Lenah many things – the life she has missed, taste, touch, love. But a vampire soul is not easily shed. And her coven – the four vampires she led in decadence and thrilling destruction – want their queen back . . .


I adore this book. It is amazing.
Not only does it put a whole twist on paranormal and vampiredom, by turning it upside down and inside out but it just makes me enjoy simple human things. Recently, I have become a tad obsessed with paranormal romance, and I've read so many of them I can now predict what will happen with most of them in the first few pages, (thankfully my favourites are the ones that I can't do that!) and I have just forgotten generally that there are other books, classics that I haven't read yet, and chick lit that I want to suck up like a hoover. I cannot wait for my exams to be over, and my summer to truly begin. I can sleep all day, then go sit in the garden with a light and read all night! I literally do become a vampire in summer, no lie!

Anyway, back on to subject!

I liked this book because the story was different, the plot was interesting and it left me guessing what was going to happen, and the ending just left me completely shocked! How can there be a sequel after that kind of ending?!?!?! I'm glad there is a sequel but still!

The characters were easy to relate to, very VERY realistic and I enjoyed the depth they had and the way the worked together as a whole cast of people.

I honestly cannot wait for the sequel and whatever else RM will be writing, because I find her imagination fascinating!!

Keep reading!
JB xx

a fallen angel...a vampire princess...can their love be Eternal?

Eternal - Cynthia Leitich Smith

I am turning over a new leaf, after reading many fabulous blogs recently...I found my blog sucks a little! So I'm really ramming up the style and quality of the words I put down in this box...starting now! As you should have already seen...I did my first Meme, and thoroughly enjoyed it...so expect more to come, when I can find the time!!

Anyway onto the review.

CLASSIFIED ADS: WANTED Personal assistant to Her Royal Highness. Duties: Whatever is asked, without hesitation, including but not limited to secretarial / administrative, household, defence, blood donation, driving, companionship, prey disposal, and love slavery.
At last, Miranda is the life of the party: all she had to do was die. Elevated and adopted by none other than the reigning King of the Mantle of Dracul, Miranda goes from high school theatre wannabe to glamorous royal fiend overnight. Meanwhile, Zachary, her reckless and adoring guardian angel, demoted to human guise as the princess' personal assistant, must try to save his girl’s soul before all hell arrives, quite literally, on their castle doorstep. In alternating points of view, vampire Miranda and angel Zachary navigate a cut-throat eternal aristocracy as they play out a dangerous love story for the ages.

This is the third book I have read from CLS's collection. The first book I read, I borrowed from the school library and was a short story that I gobbled up...absolutely adored her writing and imagination. I found her other books, and was so intrigued and excited by the blurbs that I put them on my Christmas list, and lo behold! I recieved them. I was disappointed.

I read Tantalize first. What a load of rubbish! (I'm not going to go into that now...I chose not to review it because I don't enjoy doing bad reviews...in fact I do try to avoid them)
I have now found time to read and review Eternal, and was disappointed once again.

I wouldn't say it was a terrible story...I just feel that the blurb made it sound way more exciting then it was. It was an interesting read, had enjoyable parts and I finished it but it didn't fit together. The characters weren't developed either and I found them difficult to empathasize with. Similarly the romance between Zachary and Miranda was none existent! Yeah, she wanted him...and I knew he loved her but they never had any intimacy or couple like moments...nor were they given any time to fall in love and explore their relationship either!

It was a fustrating ending and I'm disappointed that I was sucked in by the blurb but then left cold by the story.

I'm not saying I didn't enjoy it, yes it was nice to see a female bitch of a vampire...but I feel like CLS tried to pull two sides of paranormal species together, and well, it didn't really work

Saying all this though, I am still very very very tempted to read Blessing, where she pulls the Tantalize crew and the Eternal characters together. But do I risk it and see if I enjoy the ending? Or do I just accept her writing technique and style isn't for me and I shouldn't try again?

If you have any ideas for my little dilemma or any comments to make, let me know!

For additional reviews see The Reading Room http://www.thereadingroom.com/

JB xx

My Book Boyfriend #1

My Book Boyfriend is hosted by Missie at The Unread Reader. My Book Boyfriend is a weekly Meme that we take part in every Wednesday where we discuss and gush about our literary crushes!! Quotes, pictures of what you imagine your crush to look like, and reasons for why you chose the character as your crush must be included.


This is my first Meme, EVER! So ya' know....be nice!
 
The fictional guy, getting the HONOUR of being my first book boyfriend...is a guy I have lusted over for a long time! Damon Salvatore, come on down!!!
Not only, is he a bad boy...but he is GORGEOUS!
 
He is one side of the vampire brother love triangle in The Vampire Diaries, isn't really a moral vampire, like his brother Stefan and wholly accepts the dark side of vampiredom! He is dark, sarcastically witty (it's hilarious), brutally honest and he doesn't really like the women he dates/uses as a blood bank. He keeps this close to his chest though, and would rather burn himself alive then admit he loves his brother, and his brother's girlfriend.
 
Reasons why I love him:

• This will sound superficial but OMNOMNOM, he is gorgeous...(in my head...and in the TV show)
• He is loyal to those he loves...and won't hesitate to die for them
• He respects women, even the ones he uses...and pretends not to care about
• He doesn't appreciate ANYONE finding out how romantic and super slushy he can be...even those he loves. Said people usually think they are unliked by the stand-offish, bullying manner he uses to protect his delicate heart
• He is absolutely hilarious and makes me laugh out loud!
• He has always been the victim...the loser in the vampire love triangle, and the loser in the new love triangle. He never gets the girl...because however much they say they want him...they always fall for the nice one. His story tugs on the heart strings and makes me want to smother him in kisses and shower him with love to heal with injured soul
• Did I mention that he was gorgeous? ;)

Damon is, and always will be, my ultimate bad boy...the one I wish were real! I feel as if I know him inside and out, even better then (if he was real) he would know himself.
And again...he's gorgeous, and strong, and muscley and generally just makes me want to snog his face off ALL the time!
The actor I would say is my Damon Salvatore, is indeed his TV actor Mr Ian Somehaulder!!

OMNOMNOM! I love you. I love you! Please marry me?
Jokes, he has probably had that from enough fans...but please, check him out in The Vampire Diaries, series on ITV2 and the books by L.J Smith. He may be portrayed as the bad guy...but dig a little deeper and find the sweet, delicate guy underneath the tough exterior!
JB xx
 

The Fallen 2 - Aerie and Reckoning

The Fallen 2 - Aerie and Reckoning - Thomas E Sniegoski
***SPOILER ALERT***
Destined for Heaven or Hell? The saga continues from THE FALLEN 1.


Aaron’s senior year has been anything but typical. Half-angel and half-human, he has been charged to reunite the Fallen with Heaven. But the leader of the Dark Powers is determined to destroy Aaron—and all hope of angelic reconciliation.
Struggling to harness the incredible force within him, Aaron trains for the ultimate battle. With the Dark Powers building in strength and numbers, their clash may come sooner than he expects. And everyone who’s ever mattered to Aaron is now in grave danger.
Aaron must protect the girl he loves and rescue the only family he’s ever known. Because if he can’t save them from the Dark Powers, how can he hope to save the Fallen?

I came back for you beautiful Aaron <3
I had to take a break from reading this series, and boy I missed it! As soon as I picked it up though I was sucked back into the fabulousness of this book!

Aaron is as scrummy as ever, fighting again to save the girl and new family he loves with new twists!

Vilma and Aaron are closer then ever, Caramel being his stupidly heroic self and the Fallen starting to believe the prophecy that Aaron represents, these two were filled with drama!

And with the unexpected appearance of Aaron's immortal father...will he be forgiven for his sins, or will Aaron only disappoint him?

Beautifully written and such a page turner, as I expected! Thoroughly enjoyed it...and Gabriel the dog continues to make me laugh out loud with his antics as he lightens up the dark book!

Loved it!

 "For additional reviews see The Reading Room http://www.thereadingroom.com/"

Keep reading!
JB xx