The Problem With Forever Blog Tour | Book Review

Hey guys, so today I'm taking part in the blog tour for Jennifer L Armentrout's recent release 'The Problem With Forever'. I was so excited when I got the chance to take part because I really enjoy Jennifer's books. In fact there's even a character who pops up in the popular 'Lux Saga' who shares the same surname as myself. Which was weird. Now today is the official last day for the tour so I am held to some pedestal, however, today's review will not be the same as everyone else's because sadly I've not read the full book. At the time I had a decent amount of hours at work that allowed me to stay up to read but that changed recently, and to the point where I'm working 11 hour shifts every day. It's stressful, but I'm enjoying it.

But you will get a review from me today, because I plan on reviewing the entire 109 pages that I've read of the book so far.



Title: The Problem With Forever
Author: Jennifer L Armentrout
Genre: YA Contemporary
Publisher: Mira Ink
Published: June 1st 2016
Page Number: 384
Rating: N/A

Summary:

When Mallory was a kid, she was bounced from one horrible foster home to another. At thirteen, a terrible accident got her removed from the group home where she was living to a hospital where she met the parents who would adopt her. But when she starts a new school and encounters an old friend from the foster system sparks start to fly

REVIEW

At the moment I am currently 109 pages into this frustrating, yet entirely unputdownable novel. Part of you is wondering why I'm calling it unpoutdownable if I'm finding it frustrating and the truth is I'm just one of those people who is nit picky. Certain things scream out to me where other people would barely notice it.

For now my thoughts on the book are basically not that great. The beginning of the book really captured my attention and I liked the protectiveness that came from Rider. However everything that came after that kind of fell flat for me. I'm not enjoying Mallory or Rider as main characters. Mallory's anxiety is realistic but the whole insta-love between them both isn't something I can get on board with. There's also slight picks that just irritate me. Rider being one of the main stars of the book although he's only been in 3 or 4 scenes. And then you have Mallory's annoyance with her parents when all they've done is brought her out of her shit life and given her something great. They're the reason she is where she is and so far she's not exactly acting grateful.

To be honest, I think I'm starting to fall out of love with YA all together. Maybe it's because while I'm 20, I feel like I'm even older. My emotions are changing and I'm just responding to more NA books instead because I relate a lot more. Hell, I don't know. All I do know is that so far I'm not impressed and I do want to read the book because I know what Jennifer L Armentrout can do. I'm interested in the storyline, I'm just not buying into these characters.

 

 

Buy the book (Wordery) | Buy the book (Book Depository)

Interview with Author, C J Skuse | Blog Tour

Hi guys,

So I know I've been MIA for a while but today I'm bringing you something so exciting, something I'm super happy I got to take part in. As part of the 'Monster' Blog Tour being run by Mira Ink and MaximumPop Books I got to interview the author of Monster, C J Skuse. I got introduced to C J when we both followed each other on Twitter and had a few conversations with each other through tweets.

So without further ado, lets get into the interview.



Question 1. What is Monster about?

Ostensibly, it's about six girls who become trapped at their remote boarding school during one snowy Christmas holiday and an horrific murderous beast is outside trying to get in and rip them all to pieces. It's also about a girl who needs to dig deep to find out how strong she truly is - and only facing off with such a monster can bring that out.


Question 2. What inspired you to write Monster?

A few things really - seeing a news article about the Beast of Bodmin Moor. A big desire to write a story set in a boarding school. I also really wanted to write something with an all female group at its helm, like Amazon women, fighting now only to remain civil to one another but also to survive against all the odds.


Question 3. Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Always keep your phone on you, don't fear the mad girl and find out where the key to the javelin cupboard is kept.


Question 4. Did you read as a child, if so who did you most look up to?

As a child I loved Roald Dahl, Beatrix Potter and Enid Blyton. I really looked up to Beatrix Potter because she did all her own illustrations too. I couldn't draw at all. I still draw the way I did when I was eight, with people having arms at right angles and the sky being a strip of blue half way up the page.


Question 5. What are some of your favourite current reads?

You can't go wrong with a bit of UKYA/UKMG. Anything by Keris Stainton, Cat Clarke, CJ Daughtry, Kevin Brooks, Keren David, Holly Bourne, Jo Nadin, Emma Haughton, Hilary Freeman, Anthony McGowan, Fiona Dunbar, Louise O'Neill, Melvin Burgess, Helen Grant, Non Pratt, Zoe Marriott or Lee Weatherly gets my vote.


Question 6. We know that Monster was recently released but are you working on anything new?

I've just completed 'The Deviants', that's the next one out this time next year. It's been described as The Famous Five meets We Were Liars and it's probably the most important book I've done so far. I'm plotting Book 6 now. That one is, well, interesting. Doesn't look like it's going to be YA this time either so I'm a bit scared and probably a lot out of my depth.


Question 7. Did you learn anything from writing your books, and what was it?

I have always written for one reason - to write the monsters out of my head. It's a catharsis for me and sometimes I need it like medicine. I wrote my first book to work out how I felt about losing someone. I wrote Rockoholic to compartmentalise my obsession with an unattainable life. I wrote Dead Romantic to give Death the middle finger and to work out what I wanted from love. I've learned something new with every book I have written. With Monster, I've learned to focus my anger on an objective, rather than just lashing out all the time.


Question 8. What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

Choose a story to tell which you are passionate about because sometimes it's only your own passion for it that keeps you going. Start as you mean to go on. Don't write for the market because the market will leave you behind. Ignore the haters but embrace the criticism. Find a decent literary agent who loves your work as much as you do at the earliest opportunity. Don't let life get in the way - JK Rowling is right when she says you need to be ruthless about protecting your writing time. And be prepared for a long wait. Nothing happens quickly in publishing unless you're very lucky and hit a trend (accidentally) at the right time.


Question 9.  What's your favourite thing about Halloween?

When it's over.


Question 10. Would you like to say anything to your readers?

Thank you for being insane enough to take a chance on my books and sane enough to enjoy them. I'm always trying to be better for you. And stop breaking my spines. I hate that. *inserts smiley face*




ABOUT THE STORY

At sixteen Nash thought that the fight to become Head Girl of the prestigious boarding school, Bathory would be the biggest battle she'd face. Until her brother's disappearance leads to Nash being trapped at the school over Christmas with Bathory's assorted Misfits. As a blizzard rages outside, strange things are afoot in the school's hallways, and legends of the mysterious Beast of Bathory - a big cat rumoured to room the moors outside the school - run wild. Yet when the girls' Matron goes missing it's clear that something altogether darker is to blame - and that they'll have to stick it out together if they hope to survive.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

C.J. SKUSE is the author of the Young Adult novels PRETTY BAD THINGS, ROCKOHOLIC and DEAD ROMANTIC (Chicken House) and MONSTER (Mira Ink). She was born in 1980 in Weston-super-Mare, England. She has First Class degrees in Creative Writing and Writing for Children and, aside from writing novels, works as a freelance children's fiction consultant and lectures in Writing for Children at Bath Spa University. C.J. is currently working on her second novel THE DEVIANTS for Mira Ink.
Follow her on Twitter @CeejaytheAuthor




MAKE SURE YOU CHECK OUT http://realitysabore.blogspot.co.uk/ TOMORROW FOR THE LAST DAY OF THE 'MONSTER' BLOG TOUR!

Q&A with Author Sophie Jackson

So today I am so happy to be interviewing Sophie Jackson, author of A Pound of Flesh (REVIEW HERE). I absolutely loved this book, so was super excited when I was invited to be a part of the A Pound of Flesh Blog Tour.

SYNOPSIS

For Kat Lane, teaching inmates at a New York prison is her way of upholding the legacy of her beloved father, murdered fifteen years ago. But when new student Wes Carter walks into her classroom, she's shaken by the strength of her attraction to him. Carter is as handsome as he is dangerous, as mysterious as he is quick-witted - and he ensures people keep their distance. Yet vibrant Kat bypasses his defences and challenges him to reveal the real man behind the intimidating reputation. As their emotional barriers crumble, their inescapable but forbidden feelings cannot be ignored. But will Kat's discovery of Carter's role on the night her father died force them apart...or bind their hearts for ever?

Question 1. What is A Pound of Flesh about?

 

A Pound of Flesh is about redemption, love, and not judging a book by its cover. Kat Lane witnessed the murder of her father when she was nine years old and, as a way of upholding a promise she made to him, becomes a teacher in a prison. There she meets Wes Carter, an arrogant inmate who challenges her in more ways than one.  The book follows their relationship as tutor and student and how they deal with prejudice, threats to said relationship and a dangerous history neither of them realise they had.

 

 

Question 2 -  A Pound of Flesh was originally a Twilight fan fiction, What made you want to write about Bella and Edward in different situations?

 

When I read the Twilight series I became obsessed with wanting to learn more about Edward and Bella; there could have been twenty books in the series and I would have felt the same – I just loved the characters so much.

 

Seeing Edward and Bella in different scenarios was exciting and different. It was so much fun reading about Edward as a human, as a fireman, or a dancer, etc. and falling in love with the relationship he formed with Bella all over again. I read a tonne of awesome fics and they all inspired me to have a go, too.

 

 

Question 3 - You posted your fan fictions online, what was it like getting good comments from online readers?

 

It was amazing. The fandom is an amazing place and I've made some wonderful lifelong friends. The reviews – for the most part – were honest, constructive and enthusiastic. The beauty of the way Fanfiction works is that the feedback is immediate. It only takes the time it takes for someone to read your chapter to receive a review and that’s invaluable to any writer. My readers’ opinions certainly helped shape my writing, my characters, and plots. I'll always be thankful to them for helping me grow as a writer.

 

 

Question 4 - Do you have any advice for people who would like to upload their work online (Onto Wattpad, Fanfiction.net, etc)

 

Do it! It’s an amazing experience. The feedback is instant, it’s easy to use, and you have an on tap readership who will be honest in what they think, which certainly prepares you for any reviews you may get if you choose to publish later down the line. It helps writers improve and gives a great insight into what people are reading, what turns them on and what they want more of. It’s a great resource that more writers should use.

 

 

Question 5 - Did you learn anything from writing your book/s and what was it?

 

Editing was probably the biggest learning curve for me. APoF was 500,000 words as a fic, and it was impossible to spilt cleanly, so I spent 18 months editing it down for publishing. I learned very quickly that I had to be ruthless. I've definitely learned how not to be precious about my work in that regard. I had to delete scenes that I loved because they slowed the whole story down and didn't add anything. It’s really helped me in writing the rest of the series. I’m more aware of pace and writing scenes for purpose not just as filler.

 

 

Question 6 - Carter is what I describe a hard-ass sweet heart. Who are some of your favourite fictional bad boys?

 

I have so many; I couldn't possible choose! I like a bad boy who is honest and straight talking, confident and a little bit dangerous. I like a bad boy who is naughty but loves with his whole heart. There are so many excellently written bad boy characters out there. It’s a really exciting time to be a writer and a reader!

 

 

Question 7 - What are you currently reading?

 

Nothing and it kills me. I'm too busy writing. The last book I read was Never Never Part Two by Colleen Hoover, which certainly has me intrigued. I’m looking forward to part three.

 

 

Question 8 - What authors inspired your works?

 

So many. There are numerous fanfic authors who inspired me to take the plunge into publishing by doing it themselves; it gave me the confidence to go for it, too. I love JoJo Moyes like it’s my job and John Green is a genius. I adore Colleen Hoover and read anything by J. R. Ward. All very different authors but all incredible.

 

 

Question 9 - New Adult is a fairly new genre, why should readers (who are hesitant) on starting it give it a shot?

 

NA fits beautifully between YA and more adult, more explicit works. It'’ a nice bridge between the two. I think people should give it a shot simply because the talent out there is amazing. The age range that NA covers is extremely broad, which ensures a reader could find something that’d appeal. 

 

 

Question 10 - If you were trapped on an island with only 1 object (or person) which would you choose:

 

. Your book A Pound of Flesh

 

. Edward Cullen (Or Robert Pattinson playing Edward Cullen, it's your pick) <------ DUH!!!!!

 

. A never ending laptop

 

 

Question 11 - Kiss, Marry, Kill?

 

. Edward Cullen - Kiss

 

. Wes Carter - Marry 

 

. Jacob Black - Kill 

 

 

Question 12 - Is there anything you'd like to say to your readers (both old and new)?

 

Thank you to everyone who's ever given APoF a chance; to those who’ve reviewed, messaged, tweeted, facebooked me, you’re all wonderful and you keep me going. I hope my old readers love the published version of APoF as much as the fic and, to my new readers, thanks for picking up my book; I hope you love it as much as I do.

 

 

Thank you so much Sophie for participating in my Q&A. And also thanks to the publishers, Headline Eternal who gave me this opportunity. I definitely recommend everyone buying a copy of A Pound of Flesh.

 

Buy the book (Waterstones) | Buy the book (Book Depository)

 

 

 

 

Want to check out the other blogs that took part in the blog tour?

 

 

#BookishWISHES with The Darkest Part of the Forest

To celebrate the upcoming release of The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black, we were asked to come up with some ideas for a tag called #BookishWISHES

‘IN THE DARKEST PART OF THE FOREST, BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR’

 

We were given examples of what we could do, but it all came down to what we wanted. Our bookish wishes. Some of the examples included :

 

. The book you wish you had written

. A book you wish an author would write

. An author you'd like to meet

 

Some people have two #bookishWISHES for this year, but I only have one. My wish is to hopefully write a Non-Fiction/Self-help book directed at teenagers based on Depression and Suicide. There are books out there, but none of them are directed at teenagers, for teenagers. I think it's important to get the message out there in a way that isn't so mumble jumble. I want it to be straight to the point, but also very simple.

 

FAIRY GOD MOTHER HAS.....ARRIVED!

 

I, the team at Indigo Publishers and Holly Black are passing on the magic to one of you readers. To be in with a chance of winning your very own copy of The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black [UK Only] all you have to do is tweet me @GayMonst3r with your #BookishWISHES and also tag @FierceFiction and then leave the link of the tweet in this blog posts comment section.

Good luck!

 

[Giveaway runs until 11th February 2015]

 

 

The Darkest Part of the Forest

 

 

 

Children can have a cruel, absolute sense of justice. Children can kill a monster and feel quite proud of themselves. A girl can look at her brother and believe they’re destined to be a knight and a bard who battle evil. She can believe she’s found the thing she’s been made for.

Hazel lives with her brother, Ben, in the strange town of Fairfold where humans and fae exist side by side. The faeries’ seemingly harmless magic attracts tourists, but Hazel knows how dangerous they can be, and she knows how to stop them. Or she did, once. At the centre of it all, there is a glass coffin in the woods. It rests right on the ground and in it sleeps a boy with horns on his head and ears as pointy as knives. Hazel and Ben were both in love with him as children. The boy has slept there for generations, never waking.

Until one day, he does… As the world turns upside down and a hero is needed to save them all, Hazel tries to remember her years spent pretending to be a knight. But swept up in new love, shifting loyalties, and the fresh sting of betrayal, will it be enough?

THE DARKEST PART OF THE FOREST by Holly Black will be published by Indigo on 5 February 2015 9781780621739/ Hardback at £10.99 and ebook at £5.99

 

 

 

About HOLLY BLACK:

Holly Black is the bestselling author of YA and children's books including being co-creator of The Spiderwick Chronicles, a NEW YORK TIMES No.1 bestselling phenomenon and hugely successful film. She has been a finalist for the MYTHOPOEIC AWARD, the EISNER AWARD and a recipient of the ANDRE NORTON AWARD and a NEWBERY HONOR. She currently lives in New England in a house with a secret door.

 

 

Blog Tour | Frozen Charlotte and Sleepless by Alex Bell and Lou Morgan

Red Stripes Publishing are bringing out a new YA Series that's going to be hot! So be quick to pick up a copy and let me know (And the Authors, Publishers) what you thought of them!

Title: Frozen Charlotte

Author: Alex Bell
Genre: YA Horror
Publisher: Red Stripe Publishing
Published: January 5th 2015
Page Number: 368
Rating: 3/5

Summary:

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 Lillias 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.

Review:

 

Frozen Charlotte is a book like no other. Literally. It's very rare to find YA Horror, but Alex Bell has delivered something that I think could contender with Queen of Teen Champion, James Dawson.

 

When the post man handed over this parcel and I ripped it open, I knew I had to start it there and then. I ran upstairs, turned off the lights and read, read, read. I couldn't put it down. I was introduced to the (if I say so myself) generic dark creepy house that's in any horror movie/book, but the truth was, that made me love it so much more. I felt like I was at the cinemas watching a premiere to a new movie.

 

The writing is brilliant, the pacing was non-stop and I swear I got chills down my arms on way too many occasions and my book now has tea spills from one specific scene that creeped me the hell out.

 

However, I must also say that I'm not someone who's scared. Maybe that's because I have a weird personality and have dreamed to see a live exorcist since I was six years old. Who knows. I just wished that Alex took some scenes that little bit further, creep everyone else the hell out and give them an experience to never forget.

 

 

About the Author

 

Alex Bell always wanted to be a writer, but embarked upon a Law Degree as a back-up plan, writing no fewer than six novels during her time at university. Now the published author of The Ninth Circle and Jasmyn, Alex happily dwells in an entirely make-believe world of blood, madness, murder and mayhem.

 

 

 

THE SECOND NOVEL IN THIS YA HORROR SERIES

 

Title: Sleepless

Author: Lou Morgan
Genre: YA Horror
Publisher: Red Stripes Publishing
Published: January 5th 2015
Page Number: 352
Rating: 3.5/5

Summary:

 

Young, rich and good-looking, Izzy and her friends lead seemingly perfect lives. But exams are looming – and at a school like Clerkenwell, failure is not an option. Luckily, Tigs has a solution. A small pill that will make revision a breeze and help them get the results they need. Desperate to succeed, the group begin taking the study drug.

It doesn’t take long before they realize there are far worse things than failing a few exams

 

 

About the Author

 

Lou Morgan is an award-nominated fantasy and horror author, whose short stories have appeared in several anthologies. Her first novel, Blood and Feathers – an adult urban fantasy – was shortlisted for the 2013 British Fantasy Awards in both the Best Newcomer and Best Fantasy Novel categories.

 

 

 

Check out the Trailer for this series!

 

http://youtu.be/ITntAVyx0ps

 

 

Blog Tour: Second Chance by Natasha Preston

Second Chance

 

By: Natasha Preston

Release Date: June 10, 2014

Genre: New Adult/Romance

Synopsis

 

Everyone deserves a second chance at happiness, and three years after Chloe Holland's boyfriend dies in a bomb attack in London, she's ready to move on. That is until the one person she can see her moving forward with is the worst person she could have ever imagined.

Logan Scott was the one Chloe turned to when Jace died, but she never imagined that becoming close to him would leave her with the biggest dilemma she could ever face. He makes her question everything. She makes him a better person. They push the limit of right and wrong.

Unfortunately, Chloe and Logan are perfect for each other.

About The Author

 

 

UK native Natasha Preston grew up in small villages and towns. She discovered her love of writing when she stumbled across an amateur writing site and uploaded her first story and hasn't looked back since. She enjoys writing NA romance, thrillers, gritty YA and the occasional serial killer.

Facebook | Twitter | Wattpad | Website

 

Excerpt 1

 

She looked up, eyes locking with mine, and stilled. She looked wild and panicked. Then she straightened her back, gave me a smile and stepped closer to the bar. What the fuck? I stopped on the other side and sat on a stool. Don't get ahead of yourself. I wanted so bad to believe that her avoidance of me was because she wanted more but I couldn't let myself run with it. That was a fall I didn't ever want to experience again. "Did you contract a highly contagious disease?" She frowned. "No…" "Murder someone?" "No." "Get amnesia?" "What're you doing, Logan?" "Just listing the only reasons I'll accept for you avoiding me." "Murder is a reason I can avoid you?" "Hey, if you've snapped I don't wanna be next." She rolled her eyes, fighting a smile. "Can I get you something, Scott?" "Yeah, Holland, you can get me you." Now there was a sentence with a double meaning. "What's going on?"

 

Excerpt 2

 

My body burst to life. Blood scorched in my veins. Longing pooled between my legs. I was going to kiss him. I wanted him. I was going to fucking kiss my dead boyfriend's brother and as his eyes rooted me to the spot I didn't even want to attempt to stop it. Logan lowered his head a fraction. This was it. I shouldn't want this. My body shouldn't be screaming for his lips on mine and hands all over my body. I knew it was wrong but it didn't feel wrong. It felt like coming home, like we should have been doing this all along. He didn't look torn, not at all. He was one hundred per cent in this. I wanted him even more. The rain came down harder, not enough to soak us but enough that we should probably move. We didn't. Logan's other hand pulled me closer, fingers slightly digging into the small of my back while his maddening fingers trailed down my neck.

 

Excerpt 3

 

Against everything my body was screaming for, I put my hands on his chest and pushed him away. My fingers gripped his shirt as I put some distance between us, not really wanting to let go. I wanted to cry. He could crush me in a second. Not even Jace could do that. He looked devastated as he let go of my arms. Fear gripped me by the throat. I wasn't just scared of how I felt about Logan; I was outright terrified. "I need… time. I don't know." Not time, that wouldn't help. I didn't know what I needed, but I definitely needed something. He stroked my cheek and my heart stuttered. "No more time." "Why are you doing this, Logan?" "Why?" His eyes lost their tenderness. "Seriously, why? How blind can you be? I fucking love you, Chloe!"

 

Buy Links

Amazon UK | Amazon US | B&N | iBooks

 

Review:

I sadly can only review 10 chapters of this book because my Kindle was being a pain and wouldn't accept the email address to receive an e-arc of Second chance. However, I read the 10 chapters sample off Wattpad.

I found the book to be very well written and detailed. You learn all about Chloe's life, how she came over the death of her boyfriend at such a young age. We also get to really know her from this and I feel like Natasha knew he characters very well. I connected with both Logan and Chloe, could even see the attraction between the pair. One of my favourite things about Natasha as an author is that she's one of them authors that everything she writes you enjoy. And what makes everything ten times better is that when she writes a male character you feel like a man has written it. It's spot on, which most authors struggle with. Overall, I loved what I read and I'm sure you guys are as well. It's completely recommended!

 Tour Host