REVIEW: Torn by David Massey

Name: Torn

Author: David Massey

Publisher: Chicken House

Release date: August 2nd 2012

Pages: 259

Source: For review from publisher

Rating: 3 stars

Afghanistan. In the heat and dust, young British army medic Elinor Nielson watches an Afghan girl walk into a hail of bullets. But when she runs to help, Ellie finds her gone. Who is she? And what's happened to her? What Ellie discovers makes her question everything she believes in, even her feelings for the American lieutenant who takes her side.

Beverley's Review

I must admit I wasn't entirely sure I'd enjoy this. It was actually a surprise from Chicken House so I didn't request it.  I usually shy away from books about war since I find them quite grim and deadly, and the topic just makes me really queasy.

However, I was pleasantly surprised by Torn.  It did have quite a grim tone throughout, with some lighter parts here and there.  I must applaud David Massey for recreating a very vivid picture of life in a war zone.  What I liked most about this book was the description and the image of war Massey presents us with.  Everything was so vivid and graphic that I could picture everything in my head.

We meet Elinor 'Ellie' Nielson on her first day as a war medic in Afghanistan and we're thrown into the action and turmoil alongside her and the rest of the patrol members.  I didn't warm to Ellie instantly but I quickly came to admire her for her fearlessness.  She has a great personality and is very kind-hearted, putting others before herself.

The book gets off to a fairly slow start and I was a little confused as to what the story was building up to.  The synopsis doesn't tell you much and I was left wondering if anything exciting was going to happen.  The plot did have potential but I don't think it was exploited as well as it could have been.  The build-up to the climax was a little flimsy so when the 'truth' was finally revealed, I reacted pretty neutrally.  Unfortunately, only the last third picked up the pace but the action and combat was definitely thrilling.

There was a subtle romance in the book between Ellie and the American lieutenant, Ben Jackson.  However, I wasn't convinced by their chemistry.  I know it would have been inappropriate for them to strike up a deeper romance but I would have liked it to appear earlier in the book.

Overall, Torn creates a very realistic picture of life in war and it was interesting to read about the lives - and the danger they are put in - of soldiers.  However, the plot was a little flimsy in places and some of the characters were difficult to connect with.  If you're someone who likes war stories, you may find you will probably enjoy this more than I did.

3 teacups for Torn

*Thanks to Chicken House for the (surprise ) review copy!*

REVIEW: Speechless by Hannah Harrington

Name: Speechless

Author: Hannah Harrington

Publisher: Harlequin TEEN

Release Date: August 28th, 2012 (US)

Pages: 288, Paperback

Source: For review via Netgalley

Rating: 4.5 Teacups

Everyone knows that Chelsea Knot can't keep a secret
Until now. Because the last secret she shared turned her into a social outcast—and nearly got someone killed.
Now Chelsea has taken a vow of silence—to learn to keep her mouth shut, and to stop hurting anyone else. And if she thinks keeping secrets is hard, not speaking up when she's ignored, ridiculed and even attacked is worse.
But there's strength in silence, and in the new friends who are, shockingly, coming her way—people she never noticed before; a boy she might even fall for. If only her new friends can forgive what she's done. If only she can forgive herself.

[summary taken from Goodreads]

Jen's Review

You know a book is good when there are Reader's Guide Questions for Discussion in the back of the book.

Just kidding. But seriously, Speechless was breathtakingly beautiful and definitely a special contemporary that I won't be forgetting anytime soon. If you enjoyed Hannah's debut novel, Saving June, you will for sure like Speechless as much or even more. For me, Hannah's sophomore novel rendered ME speechless and craving for more. Much more.

From the beginning, Speechless captured me from the start. Although Chelsea's character was extremely shallow at first, I could tell right away that the vow of silence was going to change her. So, I went along with it, and before I knew it, her character and inner personality was changing. I couldn't help but admire her progress after awhile and after that, I thoroughly loved Chelsea. But Chelsea isn't the only character I enjoyed. I loved Sam, Asha, and the whole crew at Rosie's just as if they were MY family. Asha is so quirky and NICE, I wish there was an Asha in my life. And Sam, oh Sam. He is not necessarily swoon-worthy, but so dorky and adorable it hurts.

Along with the totally endearing characters, there is the imperative lessons that every reader can learn from Speechless. I always love a good contemporary where they deal with issues that teenagers (or, people in general) need to be more aware of. In Speechless, there is mental and physical harassment, sexual orientation harassment, and more. I really appreciated the way Hannah created the characters who had to deal with the situation. And most importantly, for Chelsea, for constructing a character who can stand and speak up for others, and herself.

And of course, I HAVE to talk about Hannah Harrington's writing. It is so unique and raw. It was stunning in Saving June, but Hannah KILLS it with Speechless. Seriously y'all. It's amazing. Not only was it awe-inspiring, it's also more sarcastic and funny. I have more than 15 parts highlighted in my Kindle. No joke. SO MANY AWESOME QUOTES.

So just in case you guys haven't noticed, I LOVED this book. If you're looking for a serious contemporary that deals with serious issues, but has that light-hearted romance, Speechless is the one for you. Heck, read it, even if you're not looking for anything specific like that. Just go read it. This is another great masterpiece from Hannah Harrington! 

4.5 stars for Speechless!

                 *Thanks to Harlequin TEEN for providing me an eARC to review*

Showcase Sunday #4

Showcase Sunday is hosted by the lovely Vicky over at Books, Biscuits and Tea! It's a great way to share what you have received over the past week and to also gush over the wonderful books other bloggers have added to their bookshelves!

This is the first post Jen and I are writing together and we're super excited to show you the goodies we have received this week!

Jen's New Books:

   

For Review: 

Death and the Girl Next Door by Darynda Jones (eARC): I pretty much just saw this on Netgalley and thought the synopsis sounded great so I went ahead and requested it!

Beneath the Glitter by Elle & Blair Fowler (eARC): If you know me, you KNOW I'm a complete girly girl and my guilty pleasure is watching these two awesome beauty gurus on Youtube. Blair Fowler actually tweeted back at me when I mentioned her on Twitter! SQUEE. 

Dante's Girl by Courtney Cole (eARC): I've been seeing this one around the blogosphere and it just looked really cute! :)

The Shadow Society by Marie Rutkoski (eARC): SQUEEE. SO. EXCITED.

Crewel by Gennifer Albin (eARC): DOUBLE SQUEE. I actually *physically* jumped up and down and ran around my room SQUEEING. 

Eve & Adam by Michael Grant & Katherine Applegate (eARC): TRIPLE SQUEE. *dies*

*MUCH thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, MAC-FREAKING MILLAN (Macmillan), and Lakehouse Books for those lovelies!*

Bought:

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi: I got this one for an INSANELY cheap price. Sadly, I think the sale was only for a day, and I was lucky enough to snag a copy that day! I'm also pretty sure I'm the only blogger alive who hasn't read this one yet.. :O

Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey: I got this one for free on Amazon and it's still free until tomorrow! Go grab your e-copy! Can't wait to read this one.

Beverley's New Books:

For Review:

Torn by David Massey: This was a surprise from Chicken House! Not really a book I'd usually lean towards but it wasn't too bad for a book about war, I guess.  Review will be up soon :)

The Diviners by Libba Bray: This is set in the... 1920s, I think, which sounds totally awesome! Glamour and scandal and flapper dresses? Yes please!

Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs:  I can't wait to start this one.  I love books with Greek mythology weaved in and the protagonists in this sound totally kick-ass.  There are three sisters who have to join together and fight mythological beasts! I'm loving the sound of it :D

Stitch by Samantha Durante:  It's a self-pubbed book but it just sounded too thrilling to pass up, plus I've heard quite a lot of bloggers are enjoying it so I can't wait to devour it! The blog tour will also be stopping by some time in October so keep an eye out!

Snake Beach by Lisa Glass:  Another self-pubbed book but Luisa Plaja told the author I might enjoy it and Luisa has a knack for picking out books that end up LOVING so this is probably no exception. AND it's set in Cornwall, and I simply adore Cornwall <3 nbsp="nbsp" p="p">

Many thanks to Chicken House, Atom, Templar, Samantha Durante and Lisa Glass!

What goodies did you get this week? Don't forget to link us up :)

Happy reading,

Beverley and Jen

Introducing my New Co-Blogger!

Yes, I have found a co-blogger! *squeals with excitement* Those of you who regularly stop by will probably have read my post on co-blogging a month ago (thank you to all of those who commented and gave me tips and suggestions).  It's my first day back at school today and it's gonna be a pretty important year: it sort of defines/shapes my future and the path that I'll take (I'm being cheesy -.-)  As much as I love blogging, I can't deny that it is very time-consuming indeed and I don't want my grades or school work to suffer so the perfect solution was to look for a co-blogger to take some of the pressure off me.

I hadn't actually advertised that I was looking for one because I still had loads of reservations and worries but the night after that post on co-blogging went live, I got a DM on Twitter from a certain blogger who asked if she could join ARD.  I was both surprised and flattered: someone wanted to give up their blog to join mine?  We exchanged emails but I still wasn't entirely sure if co-blogging was what I wanted.  A few days and emails later, I just knew I couldn't turn down her offer! And the rest is history :D

We've been emailing each other everyday like crazy ever since and I feel like I've known her for months!  Obviously we have our love for reading and blogging in common, but we also both do ballet, we're the same age and we're both Chinese (Asians FTW!)  Plus we've been getting on really well so far - when we're not arguing over Tom Daley, of course ;)

'Put us out of our misery and tell us who she is!' I hear you say.

Okay guys, *drumroll* meet...

'Hey everyone! I'm SO incredibly excited to jump into this awesome blog and become a part of it. I think that this will be an amazing experience being able to work with Beverley and interacting with readers from the UK! I am very honored to be Beverley's new co-blogger, and I hope you all enjoy the exciting upcoming posts and reviews!

A little bit about me: I'm a highschool girl (in the US!) and a very passionate dancer and reader. I'm Chinese (like Beverley!!) and I have an obsession with Tom Daley after watching the Olympics. I love nail polish, glitter, and all things pink and girly. :)'

So now you've met Jen (former blogger at The Dancing Reader), I hope you'll all give her a warm welcome and treat her with the same kindness and friendliness you have shown me!

I adore her reviews: they're fresh and sweet and I can't wait for you to read them! I'm so happy to have found someone who I feel I can work with and I hope we both enjoy this experience and learn from each other.

And we'd also like to ask you this: what format would you like to see joint reviews in?  We're both very excited about the prospect of reviewing the same book together but we don't want to tire or bore you with two reviews put into one long post so we're looking for different ideas to keep you interested as well as hearing two opinions.  Suggestions will be greatly appreciated :)

That's it from me today.  I feel like a new chapter has opened; an important day of A Reading Daydreamer's 'history'.  It's the start of something exciting and I hope you will join us on our journey.  By working together, this blog will hopefully become bigger and better!  

Thank you all for your support,

Beverley x

P.S. We're also planning something exciting for next year, so watch this space!

Waiting on Wednesday #6

Waiting on Wednesday is a fabulous meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine!  It's a wonderful chance to share the books I'm eagerly anticipating and to find out what my fellow bloggers are looking forward to reading!

On the precipice of her sixteenth birthday, the last thing lone wolf Cat Crawford wants is an extravagant gala thrown by her bubbly stepmother and well-meaning father. So even though Cat knows the family’s trip to Florence, Italy, is a peace offering, she embraces the magical city and all it offers. But when her curiosity leads her to an unusual gypsy tent, she exits . . . right into Renaissance Firenze. Thrust into the sixteenth century armed with only a backpack full of contraband future items, Cat joins up with her ancestors, the sweet Alessandra and protective Cipriano, and soon falls for the gorgeous aspiring artist Lorenzo. But when the much-older Niccolo starts sniffing around, Cat realizes that an unwanted birthday party is nothing compared to an unwanted suitor full of creeptastic amore. Can she find her way back to modern times before her Italian adventure turns into an Italian forever?

I am filled with *need* for this book!  It sounds absolutely A-MAZING and will you just look at that cover?  It's so gorgeous and I adore it and I need a beautiful copy on my bookshelf!!! According to Amazon UK, it's released on the 27th of September which is only a few days after my sixteenth birthday!  I think this means that fate has already decided that I need to get my hands on this book!

What are you waiting on today?  Link me up!

Happy reading,
Beverley x

REVIEW: Deadly Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock

Name: Deadly Hemlock

Author: Kathleen Peacock

Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK

Release date: 5th July 2012

Pages: 416

Source: From publisher (for review)

Rating: 5 stars

Mackenzie and Amy were best friends. Until Amy was brutally murdered.

Since then, Mac’s life has been turned upside down. She is being haunted by Amy in her dreams, and an extremist group called the Trackers has come to Mac’s hometown of Hemlock to hunt down Amy’s killer: A white werewolf.

Lupine syndrome—also known as the werewolf virus—is on the rise across the country. Many of the infected try to hide their symptoms, but bloodlust is not easy to control.

Wanting desperately to put an end to her nightmares, Mac decides to investigate Amy’s murder herself. She discovers secrets lurking in the shadows of Hemlock, secrets about Amy’s boyfriend, Jason, her good pal Kyle, and especially her late best friend. Mac is thrown into a maelstrom of violence and betrayal that puts her life at risk.

Kathleen Peacock’s thrilling novel is the first in the Hemlock trilogy, a spellbinding urban fantasy series filled with provocative questions about prejudice, trust, lies, and love.

[summary taken from Goodreads]

My Review

I didn't expect myself to love this book as much as I did, I half-expected that it would be another flimsy 'werewolf' book.  I've shied away from paranormal fiction for a while, just because there were so many - too many - vampire and werewolf books being released after the increased popularity of The Twilight Saga.  But I thought it was about time to 'dip' back into the world of paranormal and I'm so glad I started off with Deadly Hemlock, which totally exceeded my expectations.

What I loved most about it was that it was far from your typical 'werewolf' book - it's so much more than a soppy love story and doesn't follow the path werewolf fiction usually follows.  It deals with grief, loss, friendship, family, love and trust - things which makes this book all the more beautiful and heart-breaking.

The storyline is pretty unique, I especially like the way Kathleen Peacock crafted the werewolf virus into the 'Lupine syndrome'.  I wasn't sure what I'd make of it at first but I can now say, I LOVED it! Kathleen Peacock writes so evocatively that you can't help but be enchanted by the words on the page. 

Match gorgeous prose with a cast of diverse characters and you have the perfect read!  We have Mac, who is so brave and so protective of her friends that you end up wishing you had a friend like her.  To me, her quest to find answers wasn't selfish at all.  It was more like she had a need to seek closure and put an end to the nightmares that haunted her.  There's Kyle who I ADORED!  He was so sweet and protective and selfless - qualities that made me fall completely head over heels for him.  I didn't exactly fall for Jason though. Yes, I understand he was distraught from his girlfriend's death but destroying yourself by getting drunk and stirring up fights and joining the Trackers - an anti-werewolf extremist group - isn't going to help, is it?  

Another aspect which I loved was how Kathleen Peacock created an entire new breed of 'crazy ex-girlfriend' - she took the concept and ran with it!  Her way of using not-so-original ideas and putting her twist on it was prominent throughout the book and only enhanced it's ability to captivate the reader.

I was panicking at the ending because loose ends weren't entirely tied together but then I found out that it's the first of a trilogy so I am absolutely relieved.  I'm already craving more of Kathleen Peacock's writing so I am definitely anticipating the next novel!  And wow, I couldn't believe it when the murderer was revealed - I had a total gasping, 'Ohmigosh' moment.  The twists will ultimately take you by surprise!

Overall, Deadly Hemlock is a special book you won't want to miss.  It is a completely different take on werewolf fiction and has much more depth than you would expect.  I was captivated from page one and the storyline flowed perfectly, mixed in with characters who each had their own flaws which only made them more real.  Read it or regret missing out on some seriously kick-ass werewolves!

5 teacups for Deadly Hemlock!

*Thanks to Simon and Schuster for the review copy*

Waiting on Wednesday #5

Waiting on Wednesday is a fabulous meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine!  It's a wonderful chance to share the books I'm eagerly anticipating and to find out what my fellow bloggers are looking forward to reading!

In This is What Happy Looks Like, Jennifer E. Smith's new YA novel, perfect strangers Graham Larkin and Ellie O'Neill meet—albeit virtually—when Graham accidentally sends Ellie an email about his pet pig, Wilbur. In the tradition of romantic movies like "You've Got Mail" and "Sleepless in Seattle," the two 17-year-olds strike up an email relationship, even though they live on opposite sides of the country and don't even know each other's first names. 

Through a series of funny and poignant messages, Graham and Ellie make a true connection, sharing intimate details about their lives, hopes and fears. But they don't tell each other everything; Graham doesn't know the major secret hidden in Ellie's family tree, and Ellie is innocently unaware that Graham is actually a world-famous teen actor living in Los Angeles.

When the location for the shoot of Graham's new film falls through, he sees an opportunity to take their relationship from online to in-person, managing to get the production relocated to picturesque Henley, Maine, where Ellie lives. But can a star as famous as Graham have a real relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does Ellie's mom want her to avoid the media's spotlight at all costs?

[summary taken from Goodreads]

Just look at that cover and just read the synopsis! This is What Happy Looks Like sounds so incredibly sweet and adorable and I want to read it now - I can't wait until 2013!!! I really enjoyed The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight (you can read my review HERE) so I'm sure Jennifer E. Smith will impress with this delightful serving!

What are you waiting on today? Link me up!

Happy reading,
Beverley

REVIEW: Dark Eyes by William Richter

Name: Dark Eyes

Author: William Richter

Publisher: Razorbill

Release date: August 2nd 2012

Pages: 383

Source: Publisher (for review)

Rating: 5 stars

Wally was adopted from a Russian orphanage as a child and grew up in a wealthy New York City family. At fifteen, her obsessive need to rebel led her to life on the streets.

Now the sixteen-year-old is beautiful and hardened, and she's just stumbled across the possibility of discovering who she really is. She'll stop at nothing to find her birth mother before Klesko - her darkeyed father - finds her. Because Klesko will stop at nothing to reclaim the fortune Wally's mother stole from him long ago. Even if that means murdering his own blood. But Wally's had her own killer training, and she's hungry for justice.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo for teens, this debut thriller introduces our next big series heroine!

[summary taken from Goodreads]

My Review

I wasn't entirely sure what I'd make of Dark Eyes to begin with as it's not the type of book that I'd usually go straight for.  The fact that it was written by a Hollywood screenwriter and the intriguing synopsis won me over and I'm glad I didn't turn down the chance to read it.

What I loved most about this book was Wally.  She's so tough and kick-ass and the way she doesn't go down without a fight left me with so much admiration for her.  We need more strong female protagonists like her!  Although I didn't agree with some of the decisions she made, you can't help but support her in the end.  I soon felt like I was 'part' of the crew and I fell for her friends, Tevin, Jake and Ella too.  I adored the way they stuck by each other through thick and thin and were like family to each other.

Another factor that I can't not mention is that it moved at such a thrilling pace, with twists and turns slapping me in the face along the way.  I have never read a book so dark and so gritty before which only made me love it more.  The plot completely engaged me and I was never left bored at all.  The action and the thrill that came with it was dealt with superbly by Richter, weaving in and out, casting doubts and leaving my heart racing.  There were many parts of the book that had me staying up past midnight, just as desperate as Wally to find answers.

Because of the rush of action and combat, I was surprised to find myself loving the book nonetheless despite the lack of romance.  It only featured lightly and disappeared as quickly as it had appeared, although I think a heavy emphasis on romance would have detracted from my enjoyment of the book.  Instead, it focussed on family love and the love formed between friendships which was just as enjoyable to read as a hot romance, surprisingly.

And the ending... oh my, the ending.  It took me completely by surprise as loose ends were tied together in a heart-stopping, edge-of-the-seat fashion.  The shock, the heartbreak, the confusion... just WOW.  You need to read it for yourself to experience the sheer horror as events unfold in the book.

Overall, Dark Eyes is a hauntingly thrilling rollercoaster of a read which will have your heart racing as quickly as the fast pace at which the book moves.  If you're looking for a book with endless action and  a generous supply of twists and turns, look no further.

5 teacups for Dark Eyes!

*Thank you to Penguin (Razorbill) for the review copy!*

270 Follower Giveaway Winners!

So glad to be home!  You may (or may not) have noticed my absence for the past few days: I was on my final DofE hike :( It was certainly very tiring and I'm very happy to be returning to the blogosphere!

Anyway, my 270 Followers Giveaway ended last week and I'd like to take this chance to thank all of those who entered and supported it!  I promised there would be two winners if I reached more than 500 GFC followers and I'm now at 561!  THANK YOU ALL SO SO MUCH!!! And I'd like to announce the winners here officially:

Sonia @ The Story Queen who has chosen Storm by Brigid Kemmerer

and

Zoe @ Bookhi who has picked Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson

I ordered the books before I left for my hike so they should be with you soon, girls!  I hope you enjoy them - I was really tempted to buy a copy of each for myself!

That's all from me today! I'm currently reading like a madwoman so that I can post a review soon!

Beverley x

REVIEW: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Name: The Hunger Games

Author: Suzanne Collins

Publisher: Scholastic

Release date: 31/12/08

Pages: 454

Source: Bought

Rating: 5 stars

Winning will make you famous.
Losing means certain death.

In a dark vision of the near future, twelve boys and twelve girls are forced to appear in a live TV show called the Hunger Games. There is only one rule: kill or be killed.

When sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen steps forward to take her sister's place in the games, she sees it as a death sentence. But Katniss has been close to death before. For her, survival is second nature. May the odds be ever in your favour

[summary taken from Goodreads]

Review

I can't explain why I took so long to get round to reading this book, I can only regret that I didn't pick it up earlier.  I'm probably one of the few who saw the movie first before being encouraged to read the book.  As soon as I got my hands on it, I just knew I had to forget everything and dive into its world.  But I'm not sorry that I abandoned my books for review in order to read this.

From the first page, I was launched into this strange, dark world.  It's quite slow to begin with as there is a lot of description and back story but it only adds to the vividness and reality of what their lives are like.  It certainly cleared up a lot of things that I was confused about when I watched the movie.  But from there, it's tense, action-packed and totally suspenseful.  Everything is so detailed, so vivid, you can't help but be fully immersed in the story.

The characters feel so 'real': they're clearly not perfect but their flaws make them human, like us.  Katniss is strong-willed and stubborn: a true fighter.  I felt myself admiring her the whole way through the book, she is definitely one of the most kick-ass female protagonists I've read about!  The way she distances herself only makes you desperate to 'see through' her and I'm glad she did end up revealing a lot of her true feelings.  Despite the tough exterior, she can be sensitive and caring as we can see how she dotes on Prim and takes on Rue, another tribute, as an ally.  I rooted for her until the very last page, her cheerleader willing her to overcome every obstacle.  Suzanne Collins has a way with words which makes you wholeheartedly warm to her characters.

And then there's Peeta.  Not the boy with the bread.  But the boy who melted my heart.  I fell for him almost immediately.  He's gentle and caring and terribly sweet and he made me squeal and cry and giggle.  I'm sure he's already stolen millions of hearts across the world but he can have mine too ;)  His thoughtfulness and wit only add to his adorable-ness and the way he pulls through even when things are tough is so so cute because you know he's doing it for Katniss.

Which brings me on to the romance.  Usually I want something hot, a spark.  I didn't get this in The Hunger Games but I adored it nonetheless.  The romance between Katniss and Peeta seemed quite tentative, flitting here and there.  Despite Katniss insisting that their love was just a pretence, I'm convinced she fell for him.  How can you resist him and his sweeter-than-candyfloss personality?  Peeta is one of those guys who make you wish that fictional boys existed <3 nbsp="nbsp">

The Hunger Games is a book you won't want to miss and it has already become a firm favourite of mine.  Let Katniss win your support, let Peeta melt your heart and let The Hunger Games become a permanent addition to your bookshelf.  

5 teacups for The Hunger Games!

Alfie the Sniffer Pup (August '12 Edition)

Alfie the Sniffer Pup is a monthly feature here on A Reading Daydreamer where I spotlight exciting upcoming releases and book-ish news which my pup, Alfie has kindly 'sniffed' out for me!  

Sorry for my lack of posts!  As you all know, the London Olympics is on and I've become addicted to watching the events... A few moths ago, I was all 'Meh, Olympics... Whatever' and now I'm practically shouting at the TV and cheering and acting like complete loony!  I've also been on the joy that is Twitter, mainly gushing about Tom Daley and the men's synchro diving and gymnastics ^_^  But without further ado, here are some August releases for you to look forward to...

[clicking on the cover will take you to Goodreads for more info]

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Mass

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Love at Second Sight by Cathy Hopkins

Debutantes by Cora Harrison

Torn by David Massey

Rift by Andrea Cremer

The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna

Erasing Time by C.J. Hill

Glitch by Heather Anastasiu

Wake by Amanda Hocking

Earth Girl by Janet Edwards

Foretold by Various Authors

Losing Lila by Sarah Alderson

Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Spark by Brigid Kemmerer 

August seems like another fab month filled with some amazing releases!  Pushing the Limits is one of the best books I've read this year and I hope you will all go out and get your hands on it - you won't regret it!  Throne of Glass has managed to receive plenty of glowing reviews so I'm hoping I won't be disappointed :)  Torn is in my TBR pile - a love story set against a war...  The covers of Rift and Earth Girl immediately caught my eye too.  Jennifer L. Armentrout and Brigid Kemmerer have taken the blogosphere by a storm and I'm eager to read their books to see what all the hype is about... and who can resist the guys on the cover of Spark?

Which titles are you anticipating this month?  Feel free to let me know in the comments!

Don't forget to enter my 270 Followers Giveaway which ends soon... Since I have managed to get 500+ GFC followers, there will now be TWO winners so what are you waiting for?!

And I hope you all enjoy the rest of the Olympics! *turns on TV*

Happy reading,

Beverley xxx