ARC Review: Vendetta by Catherine Doyle

"A fast-paced, action-packed Contemporary with a huge twist. I loved it!"
 
Title: Vendetta
Author: Catherine Doyle
Genre: Contemporary/Thriller
Publisher: Chicken House
Published: January 1st 2015
Page Number: 384
Rating: 4/5

Summary:
 
When five brothers move into the abandoned mansion in her neighbourhood, Sophie Gracewell's life changes forever. Irresistibly drawn to bad boy Nicoli, Sophie finds herself falling into a criminal underworld governed by powerful families. As the boys' dark secrets begin to come to light, Sophie is confronted with stinging truths about her own family, too. She must choose between two warring dynasties - the one she was born into, and the one she is falling in love with. When she does, blood will spill and hearts will break.
 
Review:
 
When I read the premise of this book, I instantly knew that I had to have it. It's Young Adult, it's Contemporary, It's inspired by Romeo and Juliet - which I freaking love - and it included dark secrets and the Mafia. What more could a guy want?
 
Nothing.
 
At first I wasn't one hundred percent sure about what I was reading. The atmosphere was very dark and eerie and I felt like I was reading a YA Paranormal book, but after three or four chapters the story really took off. We were introduced to two hot smoking guys. Nic was charming with a dark edge, while Luca was a jerk. He was the type of character you love to hate, like Daemon Black from The Lux Series by Jennifer L Armentrout, only human.
 
Page after page after page, I was drawn into this non-stop action packed story that had me gasping from surprise, so many times that I simply couldn't count. Sophie is a character who you can fall in love with because she's so relatable. Her father is in prison and she doesn't have anyone who she's that close too, I think anyone who has lost someone can relate to her feelings of loneliness.
 
For a debut book, I was pleasantly surprised. It's heavily inspired by Romeo and Juliet and that comes across in the book so many times. I reminded me of watching the movie when I was in Primary school. I felt content and excited, like I couldn't sit still because it was so good. And I had the very same feeling while reading Vendetta.
 
If you love books that are fast paced and bring really good, relatable characters, or even if you like good books in general, then this is the one for you. And like a lot of other people, I'm dying to get my hands on a finished copy.
 
 
I received this book from the publishers for a honest review.
 

2015 Book and Blog Resolutions

2015 Book/Blog Resolutions
 

Book Resolutions

1. Read 40 books (I'm going to University in September, so reading will be scarce.)
2. Read the 5th, 6th and 7th books of the Harry Potter Series
3. Start and finish at least 5 series (Duologies/Trilogies)
4. Read at least 10 Fantasy books
5. Read 2 Classic books
6. Adventure more into New Adult Fiction
7. Read more debut authors
8. Re-read books you need to


Blog Resolutions

1. Finish up series reviews
2. Try and review at least 30 books read in 2015
3. Take part in more blog tours
4. Update the blog (Index reviews)
5. Upload more posts about depression
 
 
These are the 12 steps I plan to achieve in 2015. What are your goals? Let me know in the comments.

Most Anticipated Releases of 2015

2014 is nearly behind us and 2015 is coming a close, but despite there being so many great books published this year, 2015 looks to be an even better year for Young Adult books. Here are the 14 that I am most excited about!


Never, Never by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher - Publishes 11th January

I Was Here by Gayle Forman - Publishes 29th January

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard - Publishes February 10th

Mind Games by Teri Terry - Publishes March 5th

The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows - Publishes 10th March

Confess by Colleen Hoover - Publishes 10th March

The Girl at Midnight by Melissa Grey - Publishes April 28th


The Heir by Kiera Cass - Publishes 5th May

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Mass - Publishes 7th May

End of Days by Susan EE - Publishes 12th May

Nowhere But Here by Katie McGarry - Publishes 26th May

The Cage by Megan Sheperd - Publishes 26th May

Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare - Publishes September (No official release date yet)

November Nine by Colleen Hoover  - Publishes November 9th

 
 
Let me know some of the books you're most excited about for 2015

My 5 Most Disappointing Books of 2014

2014 was the year of extremely good books, but it was also the year for some terrible literature.




Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas - 3/5

I really liked the idea of this book, an Assassin who has to fight for the Prince to become the Kings Champion. However, I felt like this one was a little over-hyped for me. My goal for 2015 is to catch up with this series and read Crown of Midnight and Heir of Fire.


The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey - 3/5

This sequel really angered me. The 5th Wave was one of my favourite books of 2013 and then this one came along and ruined it all. Despite being so short compared to the first book, this one was dragged out and extremely boring. Plus all the new characters felt like bad, annoying versions of Cassie and Evan.


Legend by Marie Lu - 3/5

There is no doubt that Marie Lu can write, but what she fails to do is create great relationships that make sense. Day and June's relationship was so forced that I just could not enjoy the book. It was also a little predictable and will not be continuing on with the Trilogy.


We Were Liars by E. Lockhart - 2/5

Everyone was talking about how amazing this book was, but I have zero idea what they're on about. The writing style was awful, the characters were bland and in no way realistic. I also guessed the "twist" after reading 5 pages.


Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira - 1/5

I thought I was going to be reading a good book, but what I got was a book filled with boring characters, an unrealistic lesbian friends with benefits situation and just plain awful writing. Ooh, and the blurb has BIASED written all over it. I seriously would not recommend this book to anyone.
 
 
 
What were your most disappointing reads of 2014?

Review: My True Love Gave to Me edited by Stephanie Perkins

Title: My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories
Author: A Bunch of Various Authors
Genre: Christmas / Romance
Publisher: MacMillan's Children
Published: October 9th 2014
Page Number: 359
Rating: 3.75/5
 
Summary:
 
On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me ...This beautiful collection features twelve gorgeously romantic stories set during the festive period, by some of the most talented and exciting YA authors writing today. The stories are filled with the magic of first love and the magic of the holidays.
 
 
 
 
Review:
 
Midnights by Rainbow Rowell - 5/5
 
I absolutely loved this short story by Rainbow Rowell which follows a girl called Mags over the period of 3 New Years parties. Each year is different and the ending is super cute. Rainbow Rowell really captured my attention and wrote great, flawed characters.
 
“You’re a kaleidoscope. You change every time I look away.”
 
 
The Lady and the Fox by Kelly Link - 1/5

I just did not like this short story at all. The beginning was a little all over the place and the writing didn't do anything for me. Maybe having Rainbow Rowell start the collection was a really bad idea.


Angels in the Snow by Matt De La Pena - 5/5

I absolutely adored this short story. It was great with it following a guy named Shy because men do have slightly different thoughts to women. I also loved how it wasn't exactly a happy-ish ending. It was a mutual ending that fitted the story very well.

“The feeling it gave me was an odd combination of weightless self-pity and excitement. I understood my life was meaningless, and this knowledge freed me up to accomplish absolutely anything.”  


Polaris is where you'll find me by Jenny Han - 4/5

I was so surprised that I enjoyed this short story because it was about Elves. I don't have anything against Elves, but I didn't think it'd work, but it definitely did. The characters were great and very life like. The only negatives were the fact that Flynn could touch Natalie's cheek when she was standing up. Can Elves even reach that far? and the ending was so abrupt. But it was still super cute!

"When I think back on it, I realize it was the first time I ever got to introduce myself. I'd known everyone at the North Pole since I was a baby, and they all called me Natty, because that was what Santa called me. It was my first time being Natalie."


It's a Yuletide miracle, Charlie Brown by Stephanie Perkins - 4/5

I really did love this short story. Stephanie can create some of the best characters ever and she did with Marigold and North. I loved how witty and awkward and fresh they were. It was a little weird with the situation, but all I could while I read it was smile.

"Until tomorrow, Marigold Moon." And he kissed her one last time.


Your Temporary Santa by David Levithan - 0/5

I decided not to read this short story because the past two books I've read by David Levithan I've hated. Detested. That's not to say that you guys wouldn't like the story because it does sound interesting and it is about a gay couple.


Krampuslauf by Holly Black - 0/5

This short story by Holly Black didn't appeal to me at all. I wish it did, because I'm sure Holly Black has a great writing style, but when I think of Holly Black writing a book I think of Faeries and Vampires, not two humans falling in love.


What The Hell Have You Done, Sophie Roth by Gayle Forman - 3.5/5

I really enjoyed this cute story. It was warm, fuzzy and super cute. I love Gayle Forman's writing and the characters Sophie and Russell were perfect together. I got butterflies in my stomach. I did take over an hour to read this because I haven't read anything is about 2 weeks.


Beer Buckets and Baby Jesus by Myra McIntire - 4/5

AHHH! I loved this short story so much. I was expecting it to be a 2 or 3 star rating, but I absolutely fell in love with the characters and the story. Prankster and the priest's daughter as a pair? You'd never see it, but it was all about forgiving and family and it was the perfect read.


Welcome to Christmas, CA by Kiersten White - 3/5

I very much liked this story, but it was also a little generic and predictable. The girl felt like she "lost" her mother when she met Rick, but it turns out that they wanted better for her. I've read it over and over again, but I still enjoyed it.

“But people don't need to remember how it felt to be happy and safe in the past. They need to have hope that they can get there again in the future.”  


Star of Bethlehem by Ally Carter - 4/5

I really really enjoyed this short story. I've heard a lot of mixed feelings about Ally's writing style, but I liked it. The characters were great, the writing was great and the whole premise was great. It was just a cute, quick read.

“I sang because that is what I do when I am happy and when I'm sad. I sang because it is who I am when I am being the best possible version of me.”  


The Girl Who Woke the Dreamer by Laini Taylor - 3/5

This story was definitely a little different, but the writing was so unique, beautiful. I enjoyed the characters a lot and it ended up as a well done Christmas Day read (It's near 1am here on the 25th).

“She wanted to be free, and if she could never be free, at least she wanted to be brave - brave enough not to sell herself, no matter what the payment, or the cost of refusing.”  
 
 
 
 
If you could pick any of your favourite authors to appear in a book like this, who would you choose and why? (pick no more than eight)

Ps, MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

 
 
 

The 5 Best YA Book Cover Designs Of 2014

YA book cover design had a strong year in 2014 and here are some of the designs I saw and fell in love with!

 
Exquisite Captive by Heather Demetrios
 


Jacket Photography by Andre Schneider
Jacket Design by Michelle Taormina
Map Art by Jordan Saia


The Retribution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin


Cover Photography by Heather Landis


City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare


Cover and fold out Illustrations by Cliff Neilsen
Comic Strip by Cassandra Piedra and Cassandra Claire LLC


A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray


Jacket Art by Craig Shields
Design by Elizabeth Woods


Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch


Art by Jeff Huang
Design by Erin Fitzsimmons


What are some of your favourite YA covers of this year?

My Favourite Books of 2014

So I am pretty sure that 2014 was a great year for reading, especially for me. I had a 3 month reading slump from March - June and I still have managed to read around 116 books, which is just so insane. So, to celebrate coming to the end of 2014 I have decided to show you my top 10 books that I read in 2014.
 
 
10. The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness - 5/5
 
9. Insurgent by Veronica Roth - 5/5
 
8. The Host by Stephenie Meyer - 5/5
 
7. Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman - 5/5
 
6. The Queen of Zombie Hearts by Gena Showalter - 5/5
 
5. City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare - 5/5
 
4. The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin - 5/5
 
3. Where She Went by Gayle Forman - 5/5
 
2. Slammed by Colleen Hoover - 5/5
 
1. Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry - 5/5
 
 
Honorary Mentions
 
I Was Here by Gayle Forman - 5/5
 
This book comes out next month on the 29th and I'm so excited for you all to read it, because it was an outstanding novel.
 
Fire and Flood by Victoria Scott - 4/5
 
I loved how nostalgic this book was. It was written well and I'm so excited for the sequel, Salt and Stone.
 
Wonder by R J Palacio - 5/5
 
This is a book that every child should read because it details the important message of acceptance.
 
"Don't fit in when you were born to stand out"
 
 
What were some of your favourite books of 2014?