Review: Five Feet Apart

Author: Rachel Lippincott.

Genre: Young Adult.

Rating: 🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫❤️

Can you love someone you can never touch?

Stella Grant likes to be in control—even though her totally out of control lungs have sent her in and out of the hospital most of her life. At this point, what Stella needs to control most is keeping herself away from anyone or anything that might pass along an infection and jeopardize the possibility of a lung transplant. Six feet apart. No exceptions.

The only thing Will Newman wants to be in control of is getting out of this hospital. He couldn’t care less about his treatments, or a fancy new clinical drug trial. Soon, he’ll turn eighteen and then he’ll be able to unplug all these machines and actually go see the world, not just its hospitals.

Will’s exactly what Stella needs to stay away from. If he so much as breathes on Stella she could lose her spot on the transplant list. Either one of them could die. The only way to stay alive is to stay apart. But suddenly six feet doesn’t feel like safety. It feels like punishment.

What if they could steal back just a little bit of the space their broken lungs have stolen from them? Would five feet apart really be so dangerous if it stops their hearts from breaking too?

The cover is gorgeous. I don't have a paperback, but I so want one. I'd be proud to display this book on my shelf!

Five Feet Apart was a beautiful story of love, loss and fighting for your life. 

Being a person with a chronic illness, I related to this book on so many levels. I related to Will and his wish to see the world instead of succumbing to his illness AND I related to Stella and her wish to keep living. 

I know my previous review on Goodreads said that it broke my heart, and it did. But not because it had a sad ending. No, it wasn't that at all. It broke my heart because it was too beautiful to be true, and I loved it for that. The ending was so hopeful, so... good. 

I cried, sure. I cried a lot, but not at the end. Because unlike ALL the books I've read with characters who have chronic illnesses, neither of them died in this one. The story ended with a hopeful epilogue, and that's what made me give that ❤️ (heart) in my rating. 

If I could, I'd make everyone read this book, but since I can't Imperio everyone, I am just going to have to request you nicely to please go read it 🤨

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Review: Till It Stops Beating

 

Author: Hannah R. Goodman.

Genre: Young Adult.

Rating: 🍫🍫🍫🍫 

Seventeen-year-old Maddie Hickman has always coped with anxiety by immersing herself into the latest self-help book. Then her grandmother is diagnosed with cancer, and she spirals so far downward that she almost risks losing everything she holds dear.

From applying to college to solving the mystery of why she detests jelly doughnuts to writing a novel for her senior project and reconnecting with an old flame (or two), the ever-mounting stress leads to an unexpected road trip where she is forced to listen to her wildly beating heart. It is only in the back of a convertible with pop music blasting, that she discovers what she needs in order to really live.

If your heart has ever hurt from beating widely, whether from anxiety or love, this book is the one to read.

The cover looks sweet and delicious, but it's not really interesting. 

Till It Stops Beating is a beautiful story with a somewhat unbelievable end. It was a quick and easy read; with some really funny moments to spice it up. 

Maddie's character was believable, but the romantic parts of her story seemed too good to be true. It had the kind of ending you'd expect in a fairy tale, not a young adult novel. All the same, it was a good ending, for a change.

All in all, Till It Stops Beating was honest, insightful and full of hope, love and jelly doughnuts!

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Review: Cold Fire

Author: James Hartley. 

Genre: Young Adult.

Rating: 🍫🍫🍫🍫

Set in the magical boarding school of St Francis', Cold Fire centres around a group of teenagers who become involved in the tale of Romeo and Juliet in this contemporary re-telling of the classic story. Meanwhile, four hundred years earlier, a young teacher from Stratford Upon Avon arrives at the school. His name is Will... From the author of The Invisible Hand comes the second book in the spellbinding Shakespeares Moon series.

Umm...do I need to say anything about this cover? I mean, darn it, it's gorgeous! I absolutely love it!

I've never read Shakespeare. I've heard all about Romeo and Juliet but I never really read their story. Those who've been reading my reviews for a while know that I can't stand classics. But what if a classic story is transformed into a much cooler, modern and young adult story? That would definitely interest me. And that is what Cold Fire is. 

After The Invisible Moon, the book one in the Shakespeare's Moon Series, that recreated the story of Macbeth, author James Hartley has recreated the one and only Romeo and Juliet in his second book, Cold Fire. 

I think Cold Fire was so much better than the first book in the term of context. The happenings were clearer here, and there was far less confusion than I'd faced while reading book one. 

Gillian and Romeo's story was beautiful, and I loved the fact that there were multiple storylines at work at the same time. 

I thoroughly enjoyed Cold Fire and I'm excited to see which Shakespeare novel will be the next one to be modernized by James Hartley. 

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Win 5 x Signed copies of Cold Fire with a special tactile pen (Open Internationally)

Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then I reserve the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time I will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

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Book Blitz: Skerryvore

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Mystery. 

Teenage twins Rose and Daniel aren’t allowed phones, computers, even a TV, thanks to their conspiracy-obsessed father. But when the people he always thought were after him actually turn up, the twins realise he wasn’t as paranoid as they’d always thought.

With their dad missing and their house burned to the ground, Rose and Daniel find themselves at the centre of a worldwide conspiracy that stretches back through the ages, involving some of the most powerful and mysterious organisations on the planet.

Why them? Why their dad? The answers to these questions and other, darker mysteries lie beyond the doors of an ancient house called Skerryvore.

These mysteries link the twins to a Dark Age king and queen, to a secret society that stands behind the City of London, and an energy source that links some of the world’s most ancient sites into a network that has the power – literally – to change the world.

Skerryvore is the first book in the Dark Net series.

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Daniel took a deep breath. It must be right. This must be the last piece in Mr Picketty’s jigsaw that led to the secret of Skerryvore – a sword in a stone. He couldn’t just be imagining this.

He had to have faith.

Daniel closed his eyes and went through the technique Mr Humblestone had taught them for being in the present. Close your eyes. Take a deep breath. Empty your mind of thoughts. Listen to the sounds around you. What can you hear? He could hear the sound of waves and gunfire echoing around the metallic roof of the chamber. What can you feel? The cold sea air against his face, the hard ground against the soles of his feet, the movement of his ribcage up and down and the beating of his heart inside it. What can you smell? The smell of the sea, the metal and oil of machinery. Now open your eyes. What can you see? He opened his eyes. He could see a sword standing in a stone with no thoughts attached to it, no hopes or fears.

Just a sword in a stone.

He reached out and wrapped his fingers around the cool leather of the hilt. He closed his eyes and pulled.

With a scraping of metal on stone the sword came free in his hand, so easily in fact that he stumbled backwards and fell to the floor dropping it with a harsh clattering noise that echoed around the chamber.

Then, slowly, another sound began to rise and overtake the first. It was a sound that came from all around, like some huge and rusty gate that hadn't been oiled in centuries. Looking up, Daniel saw that the roof of the observatory was moving, but not in the usual way. This time it was moving outwards and away from the building, like giant hands were peeling it back. The noise roared to a deafening crescendo and Daniel watched in horror as the two sides of the roof leant outwards, balanced precariously for what felt like an eternity, then toppled and fell to the rocks below like two giant petals dropping from a flower.

He was suddenly alone on a windy platform, above the sea, under the night sky.

And behind him something else was moving.

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I am a journalist and writer living in Dorset, England with my wife and rampaging toddler. I write about technology, innovation, green issues and political commentary for various publications including The Independent, The Guardian, Wired, Private Eye and International Business Times. Skerryvore is my first, and hopefully not last, novel!

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31st July And Why It's Such An Important Day For Me!

Hola Bookworms!

31st July is finally here! And there are so many reasons for me to celebrate this day!

• It's the birthday of the author who first introduced me to the magical world of books, J.K. Rowling!

• It's the birthday of the character who drew me deeper into the Fantasyland, Harry Potter!

• It's the day I got my baby girl, Harry-Chan! (Hence the name 😉)

And the latest...

• Today's the day my very first book releases! That's right, Scattered Constellations is out today!

Genre: Young Adult, Poetry, Fiction.
Blurb:

Words tumble out, with no pause:
From the pen, my anelace,
That I hold so graciously,
(In awe of its majesty, its power)
In my hand.

They form thoughts, hopes, and musings;
Reflect my soul, my entire being,
And spread across the page,
Like scattered constellations
Across the sky.

Scattered Constellations is a collection of 50 YA Free Verse poems.

You can read the book for free through Kindle Unlimited or buy an eBook copy on Amazon.

If you'd like a paperback instead, you can buy it here:

For residents of India.

For US, UK, and other countries.

If you do decide to read the book, I hope you enjoy it! Don't forget to leave a review on Goodreads and Amazon.

Also, if you'd like to stay updated about my coming books (Fantasy and YA anyone?) don't forget to subscribe to my Newsletter!


Keep reading, Keep writing!
Ankita.

Review: Lifeline

Author: Abbey Lee Nash.

Genre: Young Adult. 

Rating: 🍫🍫🍫🍫🍬

Blurb:

Popular high school senior Eli Ross has the perfect life. He’s captain of the lacrosse team at LionsHeart Academy, and he’s dating Savannah, the hottest, most popular girl at school. But that life comes crashing down when he overdoses at a party and is sent to LakeShore Recovery Center, an inpatient substance abuse treatment program where he’ll spend the next twenty-eight days.

It's there that Eli meets Libby, the sharp-edged artist, whose freshly tattooed scars mirror the emotional scars Eli tries his best to ignore. Eli soon learns that if he's to have any chance at a future, he'll first have to confront his past.

Cover Review: 

I saw this book's cover on Twitter first, and I was like, "I need this book!" And when the publisher agreed to send me a review copy, I was ecstatic! 

Book Review:

Lifeline was, quite simply, beautiful. 

The story reminded me of Ned Vizzini's It's Kind Of A Funny Story. A lot.

Eli, lacrosse captain and star student ends up in rehab because of a drug overdose. And that's where his life changes for the better. 

Lifeline was an easy read, and yet it was just as beautiful and intense. It was funny, but it was serious too. 

The characters were well crafted, so were their struggles. Though I wish the author had written more about Libby. Because though Eli's story has a nice ending, we don't get to see what happens to Libby. 

Overall though, Lifeline was a sweet, intense and beautiful read. 

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Order Lifeline now:

Amazon India. 

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Review: This Story Is A Lie

Author: Tom Pollock.

Genre: Young Adult, Thriller.

Rating: 🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫💖

Blurb:

A YA thriller described as The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time meets John le Carré, about a teen math prodigy with an extreme anxiety disorder who finds himself caught in a web of lies and conspiracies after an assassination attempt on his mother.

Seventeen-year-old Peter Blankman is a math genius who suffers from an extreme anxiety disorder, one that subjects him to intense panic attacks. He only manages to get through his daily life with the constant help of his scientist mom and his beloved twin sister, Bel. But when their mother is nearly assassinated in front of their eyes--during a major awards ceremony in her honor--Pete finds himself separated from Bel, alone, and on the run.

Dragged into a strange world where state and family secrets intertwine, Pete has to use his extraordinary analytical skills to find his missing sister, uncover the mystery of his mother's life's work, and track down the people who attacked her--all the while fighting to keep a grip on the fear response that threatens to overwhelm him. Weaving back and forth between his past and present, the novel is an extraodinary testimonial from a protagonist who is brilliant, broken, and trying to be brave.

Cover Review: 

The cover is abstract, screams YA, and I love it. I've noticed that I have very few orange books in my collection, so this cover is a welcome addition. 

Book Review:

This story is a lie. My advice to you: Do not ignore the title. 

This book was absolutely wow. I mean, granted, YA is my favourite genre, but still this book, being a YA thriller still read more like a YA psychological thriller. And it was wow. Did I already say that? I'm sorry. 

As you can see, this book has been a shock. I loved loved loved it. It had action, it had adventure, it was exciting, scary, intense—as in, nail-bitingly intense—all at the same time. 

The characters were superbly created, with with a million flaws and many good qualities too. 

All in all, it was a thriller, mind-boggling read, and I'd definitely recommend you to read it! 

My Chatter: 

Oh my God. This book was so intense, right from the very beginning. The way Peter described his panic attack had my heart beating louder. It was so real. 

It wasn't just intense, it was awesome, mind-boggling, and oh-so-good. It was out of this world. God. 

The ending was so weirdly awesome that I'm still in shock, wondering the actual fuck happened. I'm not sure whether I hated the ending or loved it. 

I mean, if I think as a writer, I'm like "Yeah, that's probably the best ending. Writing more would've ruined the climax."

But as a reader, all I can think is, "I NEED TO KNOW!" 

But whatever it may be, one thing's for sure. You must read this book! I loved it. 

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Pre-order This Story Is A Lie Now:

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Review: The Julian Chapter

Author: R.J. Palacio.

Genre: Young Adult, Novella.

Rating: 🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫

Blurb:

Over 1 million people have read Wonder and have fallen in love with Auggie Pullman, an ordinary boy with an extraordinary face. Now readers will have a chance to hear from the book's most controversial character—Julian.

From the very first day Auggie and Julian met in the pages of the #1 New York Times bestseller Wonder, it was clear they were never going to be friends, with Julian treating Auggie like he had the plague. And while Wonder told Auggie's story through six different viewpoints, Julian's perspective was never shared. Readers could only guess what he was thinking.

Until now. The Julian Chapter will finally reveal the bully's side of the story. Why is Julian so unkind to Auggie? And does he have a chance for redemption?

Cover Review:

Similar to the Wonder cover, this one is just as cute and collectable! 

Book Review:

I had planned on not writing reviews for the Wonder novellas because I just wanted to read them and enjoy them.

But The Julian Chapter forced me to write a review about it. And that's how awesome it was. I can't not write about it. I just have to.

I love how Julian goes through the journey from being an absolutely stupid kid to a boy who understands and owns up to his mistakes. 

The transformation of Julian from a bully to a normal kid is, well, inspiring. It's short, but so full of meaning. 

I'm glad the author decided to write it and gave Julian a chance to redeem himself.

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Buy The Julian Chapter now:

Amazon India.

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Review: Queens Of Geek

Author: Jen Wilde

Genre: YA, Romance, LGBTQ.

Rating: 🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫♥️

Blurb:

Charlie likes to stand out. She’s a vlogger and actress promoting her first movie at SupaCon, and this is her chance to show fans she’s over her public breakup with co-star Reese Ryan. When internet-famous cool-girl actress Alyssa Huntington arrives as a surprise guest, it seems Charlie’s long-time crush on her isn’t as one-sided as she thought.

Taylor likes to blend in. Her brain is wired differently, making her fear change. And there’s one thing in her life she knows will never change: her friendship with her best guy friend Jamie—no matter how much she may secretly want it to. But when she hears about a fan contest for her favorite fandom, she starts to rethink her rules on playing it safe.

Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde, chosen by readers like you for Macmillan's young adult imprint Swoon Reads, is an empowering novel for anyone who has ever felt that fandom is family.

Cover Review:

Pink hair. Do I need anything else?! I absolutely, most definitely love it. 

Book Review: 

Queens Of Geek was a beautiful, heart-touching story about us. 

Yes, you read that right. It was a story about us, the geeks, the bookworms, the fandom queens and kings. All of us. 

Queens Of Geek follows the three best friends, Taylor, Charlie and Jamie on their visit to the SupaCon. 

The story is not just another Young Adult book. It deals with topics ranging from bisexuality to social anxiety, standing up for yourself and for those you care about. 

Queens Of Geek was raw, beautiful and honest. 

My Chatter:

(A brand new section where I can finally fangirl, no professionalism included!)

Oh my God, you definitely need to read this book guys and girls! It's the most beautiful, real and heartwarming book I've read in a long time! 

The characters in this one run through crazy mazes, jump on trampolines that are disguised into bookish places, fawn over bookish goodies, cosplay and basically do everything we do or dream of doing one day. 

Taylor deals with social anxiety on a daily basis, and finds her solace in writing. She hates talking because her sentences and thoughts always get muddled up when she tries to talk, but she loves writing. Exactly. Like. Me. I could relate to her on every page. 

Charlie is bisexual. And open about it. But when a relationship with her co-star breaks her heart, she loses some of her confidence. And her caution, her pride, her need to be more than the hot star's girlfriend? It was all real. 

And Jamie. Jamie was the sweetest, perfect nerd. He was probably the most laid-back of the three. The calm, collected person. And yet he loses his cool to defend his friend when someone mocks Taylor.

A Fan Art I made inspired by this book!

All three of them, and all of the minor characters, they were all so real. And so many issues were brought into light by the author in such a sweet, simple read.

How people still mock people with social anxiety.

How some people still frown upon bisexuality.

How overcoming your fears isn't easy, but so worth it.

How the society's expectations sometimes turn you into a completely different person.

Queens Of Geek was beautiful.

It was real.

*Chatter hereby ends* 

Add To Goodreads.

Buy Queens Of Geek now:

Amazon India.

Amazon US.

Amazon UK.

You need to buy it! 

Excerpt & Giveaway: Splash

Author: M.E. Rhines.
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult.

Blurb:

Fawna is happy with the new life she has made for herself on land. She has her child and her youngest sister Pauline by her side—plus an amazing new human boyfriend named Randy. So when an old friend from Atargatis shows up, she immediately feels the weight of everything she stands to lose. But the news can’t be ignored – there’s been an attack on their kingdom; her aunt Myrtle is dead and her mother is missing. Angelique, their middle sister, is now ruling a kingdom to the north, leaving Fawna as the only royal left to help save Atargatis. Torn between responsibilities in two different worlds, the decision is made for her when the powerful sea witch who attacked the kingdom also takes Fawna’s son. Now she has no choice—to save her life on dry land, she’ll have to dive back into the ocean…

The final installment in the beloved Mermaid Royalty series, Splash is a heart-pounding fantasy romance that will have you feeling like you need to come up for air!

Excerpt:

”And if you’d acted before you did, defied your mother and refused her order to kill him, do you believe you could’ve won?”

“Honestly?  I don’t know.  It doesn’t matter.  For all we know we could’ve stopped it long before Gene.  Aunt Margaret just kept telling us to be patient, that the catalyst would show itself.  We rallied against my mother more because Pauline was in danger, not so much because of Eddie.  To me, that was the ultimate incentive to proceed. Seeing her in danger was the reason we stood so strong together.”

“Maybe your aunt knew a human wasn’t a strong enough reason to fight such an epic war.  I mean, you might’ve rallied behind Gene, but could you say the others in your resistance would?  With everything Gilcrest has told you, you’ve got magic in you, Fawna. You stood a chance against your mother.  Your aunt probably knew that.”

“You may be right, but it doesn’t matter.  I’ve committed some terrible atrocities.”

“Because you were scared!  You didn’t have a choice. I wasn’t even here and I can see that.”  He clanged his knuckles against the cast iron frame of the cauldron.

“You said you wanted to give this old heirloom a second chance, an opportunity to be used for good.  Why can’t you give yourself that chance? Cut yourself a break.”

A smile cracked on my lips, and I shook my head in exasperation.

“Why is it you always insist on seeing the good in me, even now when there’s none to be found?”

“There’s plenty of good in you, Fawna.  If there wasn’t, you wouldn’t be so ready to risk your soul to rescue the ones you love the most.”

“There’s no talking any sense into you, is there?”  I wrapped my arms around his torso, using his weight to anchor myself in place.

“Not a chance,” he grinned, planting a sweet kiss on my cheek.  “I’m not going anywhere. It’s like I said before, Queen, my heart is yours and only yours.  The sea is in my blood, always has been. Now I know why. I was meant for this life, down here with you and Sebastian.  Don’t take it away from me because of a past you can’t outrun.”

Add To Goodreads.

Buy Splash now:

Amazon India.

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Amazon UK.

About The Author:

M.E. Rhines a southwest Florida native currently living in North Port with her two beautiful children and a third, much larger child whom she affectionately calls husband.

She writes young adult paranormal romance to feed her belief that fairy tales are real and
nonsense is necessary.

You can visit her on most major social media sites:

Facebook.Twitter.

Website.

Goodreads.

She also writes adult romances under her edgier alter-ego, Mary Bernsen.

Giveaway:

Clean Teen Publishing Mystery Box (Intl winner would get eBook prizes) (Ends June 21st)

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