Published by Mira Ink, 10 May 2016, 368 pages,  £7.99

When they said for fans of Pretty Little Liars, I thought ok then. Bring it. And they were right. This was so exciting, and was just like reading or watching an addictive series. Its also recommended for those who love Gossip Girl, The Apprentice… I also think its for those who like How to Get Away with Murder. You know who you are. We of this kiln love witnessing pretty people getting stressed, their romances tangled, their world gradually getting drenched in fast-paced darkness.

Here’s a little taster:

The story centers around three ambition starved teens from different backgrounds: sarky Layla wants to be a serious journalist but is stuck writing a gossip blog, beautiful Aster wants to be an actress despite her parent’s control for marriage, and Thommy wants to be musician as well as take revenge on the father that abandoned him. All three would do whatever it takes to achieve their goals. These are total wannabe stereotypes. But if you’re going to go down that route go the whole way, and the author does.

Layla, Aster and Thommy are all drawn like moths to a  competition hosted by the strange and dangerous Ira, who is basically an LA night life mogul. They see it as a their means to an end and ruthlessly vet against each together to promote the best night-club and win. But Ira is not satisfied until someone gets Hollywood’s queen Madison Brooks through their doors. They suddenly resort to using whatever they have to get her attention. This is when we start to see the juicy sneaking, lying, and desperate acts; all complicated by some uncontrollable attractions. But once Madison finally adds to the equation, things get a little darker, and the three end up entangled in something bigger. We see another story driving the novel. When she mysteriously disappears, the spotlight falls on them, the thing they have always wished for. But they haven’t really earned it and are going to have to pay for it. So they now have to work together, even when there is no trust.

Bam! It’s all good stuff. There’s so much suspense, and the ending will make you thirsty for more. Thank you Cara from Mira for my review copy xx

Keep scrolling for author info…x

ADVANCE PRAISE FOR UNRIVALLED

“Not all of L.A.’s beautiful people lead beautiful lives. Alyson Noël shows us with the details of an observant insider what they’re really up to, late into the night. Like a good celebrity, Unrivalled is mysterious and compelling and so gorgeous you won’t be able to look away” Cecily von Ziegesar author of the Gossip Girl series 

“This glitzy, suspenseful, shamelessly addictive read offers an all-access pass to the glimmering world of Hollywood celebrity, where fame is a game, dark secrets are currency, and love doesn’t come without a high price.” Margaret Stohl, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Beautiful Creatures

“Unrivaled will have you hooked from the very first page. Everything from the glitzy setting to the suspenseful plot is pure gold.” Jamie McGuire, #1 New York Timesbestselling author of Beautiful Disaster

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Number OneNew York Times bestselling author Alyson Noël has won numerous awards and achieved international bestseller status for her wildly popular young adult series, The Immortals and The Soul Seekers, and her middle grade series, Riley Bloom. Alyson Noël is an established global phenomenon with books printed in 36 languages and sold in over 50 countries.  Now she is taking on the seductive world of L.A. nightlife in a new series using what she knows best: steamy romance and high-stakes Hollywood competition.

Alyson Noël is the bestselling author of twenty-three novels, including The Immortals, Riley Bloom, and Soul Seekers series. With millions of copies in print, her books have been translated in thirty-six languages and have made numerous international bestseller lists. Born and raised in Orange County, California, she’s lived in both Mykonos and Manhattan, and is now settled back in Southern California, where she’s working on her next book. You can visit her online atwww.alysonnoel.com 

 For more information please contact Eve Wersocki oneve.wersocki@midaspr.co.uk | 0207 361 7860

Published by Simon & Schuster, April 2014, 288 pages, £6.99

I wasn’t actually going to review these books. It’s unanimously loved on bookstagram, what would be the point- I mean look at it! It’s made for shelfies, the cover is practically a slicked out instagram post. So I thought, maybe it is over-hyped and its just a pretty face. But I loved every minute of reading it. It’s such a lovely book. And I’m not putting that lightly or sugar-coating my words. Jenny Han’s work is a gem. All I can think was- where was I when this was being published?

Han is a great story teller. It takes skill to keep a reader keen, when nothing really happens. I mean it has a proper plot, but its the sort of book where you don’t care about that much and you end up just living with the characters. Lara Jean lost her mother when she was young. She’s got a loving but slightly clueless dad, a life-sorted older sister Margot and a full-of-life little sister Kitty. She is living in a world filled with her delicious baking (I loved all the descriptions of food), studying, her party-hard friend Chris and being in love with Josh, Margot’s boyfriend. When Margot goes off to college, she finds it harder to let go of her feelings. A few years ago, she wrote venting love-letters to all the boys she was crushing on. One day these get accidentally posted- and all hell breaks loose. She has to pretend to date popular boy Peter Kravinsky, who is turn is trying to get his ex jealous. After a while, the game gets complicated and the difference between truth and lies is not so easy.

There’s nothing more delicious than some guys fighting over you. But this messed up web of lies and love triangles is not exactly unique to YA romance. So don’t expect anything different. But saying that, Han’s style of writing is original to me. Its so sweet, funny and punchy. It doesn’t have the edgy bite that a lot of YA has recently, which I feel turns kinda sour. But it still has an endearing honesty about it. It reminded me of the amazing Meg Cabot. Lara Jean’s stumbling through life will stick to me for a while. Is there such thing as ‘cute writing’? Because I don’t think I’ve come across something so adorable in words.

When To All the Boys… was finished I went straight back to Amazon and brought the sequel. It picks up just where we left off. I think, structurally, the first book is better. This book strays a little in the middle and I got a bit confused. One of Lara Jean’s old loves, John, enters back into the mix and throws everything up in the air. Han has a knack of making you fall in love with anybody. She made me fall in love with Josh, Peter and now what about John?

I felt like P.S... was more tense and kept me addicted with anxiousness towards the end. It had the ending I was hoping for though! And I feel like it could keep going. I want more Lara Jean.. There are some honest discussions about relationships, gender politics and sex. If you’re wondering whether it might be too young for you, I’m in my early twenties. I think anyone from 11-25 would enjoy this.

When work was getting me down, I used this book as a breather. Hanging out with the Song girls will get you back on your feet. It’s reading books like this that makes me want to become a better writer.

Thanks Jenny xx

Published by Simon & Schuster, Jan 2014, 672 pages, £4.99

Description: YA thriller, X-men stuff

Steam?: check out the bonus chapter.

I feel like I’m reading Sarah Alderson in reverse. I started off with the NA book Come Back to Me , which was her latest book at the time, kick starting my love affair. I just finished two books of the Lila series, her debut into YA. This is a two-book combo with an extra chapter, and sneak preview into another YA book, Fated. Alderson offers some of the best deals on Amazon for YA, I think. If you have never read her stuff before and NA isn’t your thang (although I can’t imagine why you poor soul), I think this is the best intro and a bargain with 2 books for 5 quid!

Alderson’s writing always makes me feel comfortable. I feel snug and happy, is all I can explain it. She does a good job of getting you straight down into her world. Its snappy, funny and straight to the point. After the first 2-3 chapters your in: Lila’s mum was recently killed,

 

she’s living awkwardly with her dad in London, while her brother stayed in America with his best friend Alex (who she has been in love with all her life), oh and she has special powers. She decides to throw caution to the wind and go visit her brother, who she hasn’t seen in 3 years and discovers this whole new life he’s been leading with Alex, and everything seems to lead back to her mum’s death. Strange people are hanging around, her feelings for Alex intensify, she’s trying to process the fact that she has telekinesis and the company her brother and Alex work for may or may not be dodgy.

It’s fast paced, mysterious and will keep you going. It’s got the X-men and Hereos (anybody remember that?) vibe. There’s a lot of interesting characters and some swoony romance (hence the x-tra chapter for us pervs). I do think there’s a fair amount of repetition- I get it Lila, you love Alex. And I think the romance might be too easy, I always prefer a little struggle in the relationship. But you know this is more suited for a teen audience. I’d say 11-16 is perfect (minus the x-tra chapter, although its not really that graphic- unless you read it and think it is and be wondering what the hell I’ve been reading… well check out the rest of my blog girl).

3 1/2 stars, good but not as good as the authors later work.

Published by SMP Romance, 3rd May, 304 pages, £4.46

This was alright. It is what it is really. A tale of sweet and sensual confusion. But the connection between Alex and Owen developed a bit too easily. I always like more a glitch or some frictional tension. What’s not to love about Alex? She’s amicable, easy going, fun and just overall lovely. And Owen is typical- an older handsome rogue. He’s lived a life of debauchery and is turning over the leaf for the right wom-an. Alex has set her sights on him from day 1. She’s small and cute but devises a bold plan to spend more time with him, something he can’t refuse, making him surprised and curious.

You’re thinking alright- alright, this is what I kinda signed up for. But the two instantly like each other from the beginning. What’s wrong with that? There’s always some sort of initial attraction. But it needs to be something a little less friendly and little more gutsy.

What’s more is the climax happens quite late, around 80% of the way through. I think the tension built was just too little, too slow.

What I actually liked most about this book, and what I found the most memorable, is Alex’s crazy-ass sister! Lavinia is loud, spoilt, selfish, spiteful and overall terrible to be around. She is super lazy and rages when she doesn’t get her way. I loved the way she got OTT evil and the moment she gets her comeuppance!! I was like yes biatch here’s a taste of life, suck on that. Ha ha. It was like watching a soap drama. I kinda wanted her to meet her match, to fall head over heels for someone and become undone. I think that would make a more interesting story.

Thanks to SMP for my review copy xxx

Published by Penguin Ireland, March 24 2016, 320 pages, £9.09

Quick description: contemporary thriller, family drama, mystery, relationships.

Plot: One hot August night, Rachel Power gets the call everyone fears. It’s the police. Her younger sister Evie’s had a car crash, she’s in a coma. Can Rachel fly to London right away? With Evie injured and comatose, Rachel is left to pick up the pieces of her sister’s life. But it’s hard fitting them together, especially when she really doesn’t like what she sees. Why was Evie driving when she doesn’t even own a licence? Who is the man living in her flat and claiming Evie is his girlfriend? How come she has never heard of him? The more mysteries Rachel uncovers the more she starts asking herself how well she ever really knew her sister. And then she begins to wonder if the crash was really the accident everybody says it is. Back in hospital, Evie, trapped inside an unresponsive body, is desperately trying to wake up. Because she’s got an urgent message for Rachel – a warning which could just save both their lives . . .

I think this book started off a little slow. There was a instant splurge of questions and no clear direction. I usually prefer thrillers that are fast paced pow-pow-pow. There are big chunks of repeated background story- which is all very well but when its a mystery, I felt there needed to be hints in the present. All of it really sums up the fact that things are messed up. But I mean it was enough to keep me intrigued. It got good when we get Evie’s POV, still conscious and piecing her memory back while in the coma. As she tries to remember everything, Rachel is stumbling in the dark, doing her own investigation, tracing footsteps and making calls. Things become clearer halfway through and the book begins a slow tense build-up to a popping climax around 70%. Their stories meet and everything gets quickly unraveled, including skeletons from their childhood.

It’s fair to say that I did get more interested halfway through. The pace is slow and pulsing and prepares you for an explosion. And the big reveal really was surprising, I would not have guessed that at all. So it did throw me a curve ball.

Overall the characters are well fleshed. I don’t have more to say about Rachel than the fact that she is a bold and caring sister. I think Evie is a more complex and elusive persona, especially as she tells her story while comatose. The book gets quite graphic at times, through language, drug references, violence and sex. Certain parts in the big reveal are quite dark- mainly involving psychological issues.

So give it a whirl if all the above is y’thing!

Thanks Penguin for my review copy xxx

Published by SMP, Feb 2016, 100 pages, £1.49

Quick description: Novella, regency romance, love despite amnesia.

Steam?: moderate

Plot: To escape a forced marriage to her loathsome, social-climbing cousin, Cecelia Harcourt banks on selling a romantic novel. But when she’s hit by a coach on the way home from meeting a potential publisher and loses her memory, the accident leads to an encounter with a fascinating man. . . who she’s convinced is the hero of her novel. Due to his brother’s influence, Lieutenant Adam Hunt finds himself honorably discharged from the army. Adam intends to make his way in the world without the help of a war-hero duke, brother or no. He finds his plans for independence sidetracked by a chance encounter with a lady whose memory has gone. She believes he’s a hero. Can Adam become the man he was meant to be and fill that lofty role?

As novellas go, this is not too bad. Its very tricky to do a short love story, especially a regency one. You don’t have many pages to build up tension, chemistry as well as slip in a mystery element. I thought this book was quite sweet. Its about love in curious circumstances. Its not the best of the £1 eBooks, but it will guarantee a good few hours of reading. Another blogger has described Bowman’s work as ‘light and fluffy’. This certainly describes this book. Both Cecelia and Adam are cute. The story, veering towards the silly side, is pretty funny when you think of it. It creates confusion, conflict and reunions. These are all structured pretty well, despite being condensed. I wanted to see how far Cecelia will go with her false memory and what would happen when she recovers.

I actually liked this better than the last Bowman romance I read, The Irresistible Rogue  which I found getting a bit too graphic. The Unforgettable Hero isn’t hot as lightning, but it has a moderate amount of swoon and steam.

Thanks SMP for my review copy xx

Published by Carina Press, January 2016, 234 pages, £2.25

Quick description: historical romance, titles and inheritances.

Steam?: Swoontastic

Plot: Victoria Carson never expected love. An American heiress and graduate of Lady Grantham’s finishing school, she’s been groomed since birth to marry an English title—the grander the better. So when the man chosen for her, the forbidding Earl of Dunnley, seems to hate her on sight, she understands that it can’t matter. Love can have no place in this arrangement. Andrew Hargrave has little use for his title and even less for his cold, disinterested parents. Determined to make his own way, he’s devoted to his life in Italy working as an archaeologist. Until the collapse of his family’s fortune drags him back to England to a marriage he never wanted and a woman he doesn’t care to know. Wild attraction is an unwanted complication for them both, though it forms the most fragile of bonds. Their marriage of convenience isn’t so intolerable after all—but it may not be enough when the deception that bound them is finally revealed.

This was pretty good! It was very enjoyable, light and will have you swooning heavily. I’m happy to be introduced to Weaver’s work and look forward to more in the Grantham Girls series.

Victoria has a calm dignity about her. She is kind and strong, despite growing up destined for a loveless marriage. When she meets the handsome and polite Andrew, things do not seem too bad. But learning that his family desperately need her money does put a downer on things. I like how the predicament is pretty air-tight. Andrew is blackmailed into marrying Victoria and has to leave his pleasant life in Italy. For Victoria, its either Andrew or a creepy old Lord. She has no choice thanks to her self-made and selfish American parents, who need an aristocratic title to survive in elite English society.

So they have an extremely awkward start to the relationship. More so, as they are immediately attracted to each other and can’t help but like one another. The fact that they are suspicious of each other’s true intentions means that neither of them can really be themselves. So they are kept curious and guessing each other, which is great fun for the reader. As always in a good romance, there is a streak of mystery and a big misunderstanding that keeps piling up. Whilst this is happening, Victoria grows admirably and becomes more independent and the love between her and Andrew becomes ever more complicated.

Great read! Thanks Carina for my review copy xx ❤

Published by Penguin, 25th Feb 2016, 400 pages, £9.99

Quick description: historical fiction, mystery romance, adventure, 1950s Indochina, war.

Steam?: moderate

Plot: 1952, French Indochina. Since her mother’s death, eighteen-year-old half-French, half-Vietnamese Nicole has been living in the shadow of her beautiful older sister, Sylvie. When Sylvie is handed control of the family silk business, Nicole is given an abandoned silk shop in the Vietnamese quarter of Hanoi. But the area is teeming with militant rebels who want to end French rule, by any means possible. For the first time, Nicole is awakened to the corruption of colonial rule – and her own family’s involvement shocks her to the core…

Tran, a notorious Vietnamese insurgent, seems to offer the perfect escape from her troubles, while Mark, a charming American trader, is the man she’s always dreamed of. But who can she trust in this world where no one is what they seem?

I became a fan of Dinah Jefferies after reading The Tea Planter’s Wife, so much drama, secrets, jealousy and heart-ache. I was so pleased to receive this latest release in my book-mail, neatly wrapped in ribbon and surprising me with a thank-you message from the author! Not too shabby..

I actually preferred this book to Tea Planter… The protagonist, Nicole, is younger, so it has a coming-of-age dimension. She’s also a little bit more gutsy and has a sweet joie de vivre about her, which I warmed up to immediately. This novel is also lighter. There is plenty of mystery , secrets and action-packed moments that will get you very addicted. But there is more joy and happiness that overpowers the sadness.

It might have been my crave to visit Vietnam which drew me into Dinah’s beautiful descriptions of daily life; the streets, the leaves, and the aroma of local food- the author paints it all so vividly. The plot is also a very fast-paced adventure. Nicole constantly meets somebody new, uncovers a new secret, discovers a new location.. She takes a journey, experiencing both the French and Vietminh way of life, and struggling to decide who to support. As the war efforts increase, the novel get ever more gripping as Nicole is drawn in to the middle of it.

Nicole’s relationship with her sister is an element that Dinah excels in; conveying the deepest and darkest side to human behavior. It really tugs against your emotions this one. This complicated sisterhood sits at the heart of the plot. The confusion, conflict and resolution begins and ends the novel. As Nicole finds a way to shape her own identity, this mirrors Vietminh’s enduring resistance and eventual take-over of the French.

The romance here has so many twists and turns. There are crushes, curiosities, doubts, passion, heart-break and tearful reunions. There are more sweet than heated moments and plenty of jealousy and back-stabbing to add to the juice.

To sum it up, this book is wonderful and spent a lot of time resting on my knee.

Thank you Penguin General for my review copy, and your fabulous interns xx

Published by Harper Collins, March 2016, 400 pages, £7.99

Quick description: YA dystopia.

Plot: Celestine North lives a perfect life. She’s a model daughter and sister, she’s well-liked by her classmates and teachers, and she’s dating the impossibly charming Art Crevan. But then Celestine encounters a situation in which she makes an instinctive decision. She breaks a rule and now faces life-changing repercussions. She could be imprisoned. She could be branded. She could be found FLAWED.

I was excited to get my hands on a copy of this, mainly because I am still crying inside after Where Rainbows End. This book got very addictive. Sure, its got loud echoes from Hunger Games and its sisters. I didn’t really find it annoying- or maybe I just haven’t read that many dystopias. Overall it was very thrilling. I love reading about young characters re-discovering the world around them, standing up to injustices, and finding their own voice. Celestine was breezing through life until she saw something that wasn’t right. She spends the rest of the book sticking to her belief and trying to decide between right and wrong.

The Flawed world is less violent than HG- its motive is about keeping society pure from bad judgement and its consequence. This soon spirals out of control. Those at the perfect top are abusing their power, and people start fighting in the street about morals. A revolution is brewing. Celestine gets caught between clashing power-heads as they clamber to use her as a mascot. She also gets caught between two guys, affectionate boyfriend and hulking loner. This all sounds very unoriginal and repetitive, but I think the novel has a clear message (and you can never have too many love triangles).

Its not just about pent-up teen angst- its about how people ignore cruelty unless it directly involves them.

Celestine watches as her neighbor gets dragged away mercilessly, and her sister and boyfriend in turn do the same to her. Once you are flawed, you are branded for life. You have a curfew, a diet, your own section on the bus (sounds horribly familiar?), and people treat you as scum because they feel you deserve it. Of course nobody wants to help you, because they will face the same fate. This attitude applies to bullying, racism, sexism, poverty and other prejudices. Novels like this help you see the daily acts that inspire dystopias. The constant paranoia to be perfect and blend in resonates at any age, but particularly adolescents; which is why its good to be reminded that mistakes make you better.

This novel is fast-paced with heap of ugly and compassionate personalities which will get you reeling and welling up with emotion. Let’s hope it keeps up the action because I can’t wait for the sequel.

Many thanks to Harper Collins for my review copy xx