Blog Tour: The Nightmare Affair Review + Giveaway!

Hi everyone! I was luckily enough to land a spot in The Nightmare Affair blog tour hosted by Shane at Itching For Books! Today I have a review for you all and a giveaway for two signed copies. Check out the rest of the tour here.

 Jen's Review

The Nightmare Affair
by Mindee Arnett
Publisher: Tor Teen

Release Date: March 5, 2013 (US)

Pages: 367, Hardcover

Source: For review via Netgalley/Blog Tour

Rating: 3 Teacups

The Nightmare Affair caught my attention immediately after I read the synopsis for it. The concept of Nightmares, a murder mystery, and taking place at a boarding school completely drew me in. The Nightmare Affair was one of my most anticipated reads of 2013, and it was a bit of a letdown, but nonetheless a good read. This novel had its strong points, like the concept and plot, but things like characters and romance didn't work well for me.

First and foremost, I was not disappointed by the thing that drew me in in the first place: the concept. Arnett definitely intrigues the reader with a unique, never-before-seen idea of yes, witches, demons, and sirens, but also Nightmares. I'll let you to find out exactly what Nightmares are, but it was described very well and I loved how different it was apart from the usual paranormal we see today. It's fresh and a definitive plus side to the book. The way of explanation wasn't done the best; it was a bit in the form of info-dumping, but hidden in the way of a teacher explaining to the main character, Dusty. Not only was the idea of Nightmares fantastic, but the plot was paced pretty well. I always wanted to know more. I was constantly eager to find out who this killer was. The twist in the end was unexpected, unless I'm totally unobservant. Alas, these are the only things I enjoyed in The Nightmare Affair.

One of the prominent issues with my enjoyment for The Nightmare Affair was the lack in character depth. In other words, I had a really hard time connecting with Dusty, Selene, or Eli. They were all fun, entertaining, and exciting characters, but I never felt empathetic towards them on any emotional level. I had no feeling towards them. Surely, they are not memorable in any way. For me, they were just kind of there in the story, nothing more. Along with that, was the romance. The romance wasn’t believable or deep as well; it was a nice touch, but not really… necessary.

On a side note, The Nightmare Affair writes like it's meant for a younger YA crowd, which may also explain Dusty's slightly childish tone and character. She's a bit of a naïve character, but it didn't bother me much (it may for others!). Also, the conclusion of the story felt very similar to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (minor spoiler? Sorry!), and it wasn't all that satisfying. I'm curious to see if there will be a sequel, as it isn't settled very well. However, the ending didn't really leave me wanting more.

My final thoughts: The Nightmare Affair has its many flaws and many imperfections here and there, but thankfully, the original, fresh idea saved it's butt for sure. It's worth a try if you love a lighter mystery with a different paranormal concept that's never been done. If you can look past the plain characters and romance, give this one a go!

3 Teacups for The Nightmare Affair!

*Thanks to Netgalley, Publisher, Itching For Books, and author for providing the review copy!*

Check out the trailer for this book!

Giveaway!

Want to read this book? Enter the giveaway for TWO signed copies of the book! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy reading,
Jen xx

Tea Party Blogger Interview: Shirley from Shiirleyy's Bookshelf

I'm delighted to welcome Shirley from Shiirleyy's Bookshelf to the blog today for another tea party!  This girlie is full of awesome and guess what?  She lives in Aussie!!! I've never been there but it sounds like such a

Hiya Shirley! *Waves from the UK like a crazy Asian* Welcome to A Reading Daydreamer and thanks so much for agreeing to be here today!!!

HEY BEV!! *waves like an even crazier Asian* Awww...thank you so much for inviting me to be a part of your super amazing Valentine's event!!

What are your favourite parts of blogging?

There's so much I love about blogging! I get to share my love of books with all the book lovers around the world and I've met some incredibly awesome blogging friends as well :) I can rant on and on about how much I love a book or how much I dislike a book, and no one will think I'm strange. (Something that is impossible to do in real life since most of my friends despise books so much :S). I love getting the chance to chat with authors; especially authors of my favourite books ever! I used to think authors were quite intimidating; I mean, they're like celebrities...and chatting with them like good old friends is just unheard of. But authors are so sweet and they're like us book lovers as well :) I also have a better knowledge of old/new/upcoming books after I started blogging. The blogging community is super amazing!

Personally, reading also gives me the chance to ‘meet’ loads of guys – a very diverse range, at that – and blogging lets me gush about them and connect with other bloggers about particular swoon-worthy ones :P Anyway, do you feel boys in books are realistic or completely different to what they are like in real life?

OH YES! I love how I get to meet the hottest guys ever and also gush about them with other bloggers :) I remember I used to *attempt* to gush about certain book boyfriends to my friends in real life, and they would just stare at me like I was on drugs. Thank goodness for this fantastic blogging community! 

I think many boys in books are based on real people; whether it be the author's husband/boyfriend/partner, brother, friends...or...just real people in general. Except I'm going to do that annoying thing where you're given A and B as options, but I'm going to choose C. Why? Well..I think that a lot of the characters possess a combination of a variety of traits from different guys that authors find are admirable. The flaws will be eliminated and a 'perfect' guy will be created. In a way, these characters will be 'realistic' but too 'perfect' to be real. We all have our wild imaginations and I think a lot of boys from books are a reflection of the author's own idea of an ideal guy. I mean, a guy as talented and perfect as Edward Cullen simply doesn't exist in real life...and even Noah Shaw! He's freaking PERFECT. But I've never met someone like him. Ever. And I don't *think* guys like him exist. He's WAY too perfect! But then again, books are fiction; and I like to read about things that take me away to a different world, and that includes swoon-worthy boys who *may* not exist in real life.

I haven’t forgotten that you ‘married’ Noah Hutchins from Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry a few months ago… I’m not even sure if I’ve forgiven you for being so sneaky and not even inviting me to the wedding! ;) Noah definitely comes under the ‘Bad Boy’ category. So are you mainly attracted to bad boys in fiction?

*shrinks away* Well...we did get married in secret; I mean, if I'd invited you, then others would probably scream at me to invite them too...and then there would be this whole uproar at the wedding and all the girls would be protesting..and Echo would kill me, so...I just couldn't risk inviting anyone :S SORRY! But like I said a few months back, you're invited to our anniversay party :D

Hmm....in fiction, when it comes down to 'bad boy' vs. 'good boy', I would usually choose the 'bad boy'. (It's a different story in real life though!) Bad boys are always so dark, mysterious soalluring and personally, I find it so darn hard to resist them! Most of the bad boys I've read about are only 'bad' to hide things about themselves or life from everyone around them, and I think most girls just want to break down their barriers, and 'fix' them. It's a challenge for us girls and I suppose it also feels good to know something about someone that no one else is aware of. It makes us feel..*special* and loved :) And the good guys? Well...personally, I find them a little boring (don't kill me!). They're the straight A students in school, with a scholarship to some famous college; they're loved by everyone in the community and everything in their life is suppose to be 'perfect'. What's the thrill in that? So...at the end of the day, I'll always be attracted to the bad boys in fiction :)

Assuming you’ve moved on from Noah (could you really?), if you could spend Valentine’s Day with any fictional guy of your choice, who would you pick? Where would you go? What would you guys do? Spill all the details, my friend ;)

You kidding? I'd never cheat on Noah...or 'move on' from him either! You have got to get over your jealousy Bev dear :) hahaaa

*sigh*

But assuming I do move on from him (which I won't!) I'll probably want to spend Valentines with Ash. This mysterious and irresistible Ice Prince is my ex (haha) and I would probably go back to him. Hmm...to start off the day, Ash and I can have the time of our lives (or the time of my life at least) in the Nevernever, hiding from the deadly creatures and fighting the gremlins whilst trying to escape into the real world. Not very romantic I know, and there's probably no swoon-worthy times, but seriously, having a romantic dinner/going to the movies to see a romantic chick flick is so not Ash's style. But Ash *may* get injured and he'll have to take his shirt off and I'll have to dress his wounds...and...I'll get to see his sexy abs...and..and...drool a little too much. We'd arrive in the real world and in order for Ash to gain his strength, he would need glamour. We would decide to crash a high-class party at a 5 star hotel and after Ash regains his strength, we would dance...and dance...and dance the night away :) Oh, did I mention he would be clad in a white tuxedo? Freaking hot. Then, we'd somehow find our way to Paris (through the Nevernever), tour around Paris by ourselves and end up right before 12:00am at the Eiffel Tower. We'd make our way to the very top of the tower...and with the words "i love you" and a spine-tingling kiss, my life would be complete :)

I’m guessing, as a fellow teenage girl, you like romance to be done well in books. So what do you think about the New Adult genre? It’s definitely fired up in the romance department! Do you have any favourites?

I'm so glad you asked this questions Bev!! I've been dying to voice my thoughts about what I feel about the New Adult genre, but unfortunately, no one's been willing to be on the receiving end of my rambling. *cough*parents*cough*

ANYWAY, yes, I always want romance to be done well in books. Like well as in no insta-love, no 'oh-god-i-can't-live-without-pretty-boy' after a week of meeting him. The New Adult genre has certainly fired up in the romance department! There's lust and an abundance of hot and steamy scenes :) I believe I've fallen head-over-heels in love with every single NA book I've read since mid-2012!

While a lot of people may think the NA genre is unnecessary, and I do understand their thoughts but I personally love the NA genre. I guess it helps that I've recently graduated high school and I'll be entering Uni in a few months, so I'm able to relate to the main characters in these books (they're usually around 18-22) as well as the events that take place in college/during the characters' transitio from a teenager to an adult. I personally think NA books are a must-read; most of them are unputdownable!!

I have HEAPS of favourites! Some include:

- Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire(Yes..well...I personally loved it!)

- Slammed/Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover

- On Dublin Street by Samantha Young (this one's probably aimed at older NA readers...but it's still SO amazing!!)

- The Edge of Never by J.A Redmerski

- Back to You by Priscilla Glenn

- The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden by Jessica Sorensen (Look out for her 'The Secret of Ella and Micha' published by Hachette/Sphere in mid-2013!!)

Now would you be so kind as to show us your favourite, HOTTEST covers so we can swoon over them with you? (keep to YA and NA please!)

The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden ( I LOVE THIS COVER!!! This particular scene in the books is SO swoon-worthy

On Dublin Street (Yeah...everything about Jocelyn and Braden is droolworthy!)

The Dark Light (HOT GUY ALERT!!)

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (You see...I've always had this thng for underwater book covers, especially with one as hot as this!)

The Vincent Boys (UK edition)

Pushing the Limits (US edition) - Not exactly too swoonworthy, but I LOVE IT!

Dare to You - Oh gosh...I can't wait to read this!

Thank you so much for joining us today! Maybe I’ll send a British husband over to Aussie for you ;)

YAYYY! Send him over ASAP :) Or maybe I'll fly over there with the excuse of visiting relatives, but actually to find a British husband :) Oh and if you want an Aussie husband..tell me and I'll bring him over :) heheee x

***

Be sure to head over to Shirley's blog!

What are YOUR responses to the above questions?

Happy reading,

Beverley xxx

Don't forget to vote HERE for your favourite fictional crushes, couples and more!

Blog Tour: Flight Review + Giveaway!

Hi everyone! Today I'm happy to be taking part in the blog tour for Alyssa Rose Ivy's The Crescent Chronicles series. I have a review for the first book, Flight, and an awesome giveaway to share with you all. Thanks to AToMR Tours for letting me be a part of this tour! Check out the rest of the schedule here.

Jen's Review

Flight

by Alyssa Rose Ivy

Publisher: Self-pubbed

Release Date: August 15, 2012

Pages: 270, ebook

Source: For review from author/blog tour

Rating: 3 Teacups

Sometimes you just have to take flight.
A summer in New Orleans is exactly what Allie needs before starting college. Accepting her dad’s invitation to work at his hotel offers an escape from her ex-boyfriend and the chance to spend the summer with her best friend. Meeting a guy is the last thing on her mind—until she sees Levi.
Unable to resist the infuriating yet alluring Levi, Allie finds herself at the center of a supernatural society and forced to decide between following the path she has always trusted or saving a city that might just save her.

[summary from Goodreads]

First intrigued by the New Adult genre, Flight caught my attention from the start. I had read plenty of New Adult contemporaries, but none that were supernatural. I was curious to see how it would all play out. Sadly, Flight was a novel that nearly didn't work out for me at all. This story had poor character development and romance, but luckily, the supernatural creatures bumped it up a star for the last half of the story.

One of the major turnoffs in this novel was that it read like a straight-up contemporary for the first 30% of the book, and for me, that was way too long for it to get to the point of the story. I was pretty much thinking this: "Um, hello? I thought I was supposed to be reading a supernatural story..? I don't see anything supernatural at all… This is NOT what I signed up for." And when the supernatural elements were FINALLY introduced, there wasn't really a plot going on, necessarily, or problem/conflict, until the last quarter of the book. I guess what I'm trying to say is, the plot isn't very well organized.

The insta-love in this story seriously made me want to tear all of my hair out. Levi, the male protagonist, also known as a player, fell in love with Allie (our female protagonist) almost instantly. He fell in love with her mostly because of the physical attraction. Now, I usually take a deep breath and let a relationship like this form into something deeper and actually wait for the love to change into something real rather than something physical. I was waiting, waiting… ! Nothing of this sort happened. It remained a physical attraction the entire time, or at least, there was never a deep, believable romance between Levi and Allie. As for the characters themselves, they didn't really stand out at all, among all of the other characters I've read about in my history of reading.

As I mentioned above, the one thing that saved this book was the supernatural creature, Pterons. It's not TOO creative-- they're basically shape-shifters (not going to spoil what kind though). I enjoyed this concept, and it was interesting to read about. I found myself wanting to know what happened next and what exactly the history of the Pterons was. Flight was also a very quick read, which I didn't mind.

In all, I'm glad I tried out Flight, as I have finally fixed my curiosity for this book. While numerous parts of this book didn't work out for me, the supernatural element did, which I am eternally grateful for. I would recommend Flight to New Adult lovers who wouldn't mind some insta-love and for readers who just need a quick read to pass time.

3 Teacups for Flight!

*Thanks to the author and AToMR Tours for providing me with a review copy!*

Giveaway!!

Win a print copy of FLIGHT and FOCUS set – US/Canada Only and (10) eBooks of FOCUS – International. 

: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy reading,
Jen xx

Tea Party Blogger Interview: Hilda from Catch the Lune!

Next to join me for a tea party is Hilda from Catch the Lune!  Hilda is one of my best blogging buddies and she's the sweetest, kindest person ever!  Read on to find out what type of fictional guy makes her swoon, her ideal date and more...

HILDA!!!  Welcome to the tea party!  It’s so lovely to have you here today!

Hello, Bev and Jen!! I’m so glad to be here! Thanks for having me! It’s such an honor to be interviewed by you guys, especially since you both know that my secret dream is to live in this gorgeous blog forever! ♥ *wink wink* 

I’m just gonna go straight in and ask… what type of fictional boy makes you swoon?

Aww, that’s a hard question since I actually don’t have type! I always go for tall, dark, and dangerous type with devil-may-care smile on his face in Supernatural YA (hello there Adrian Ivashkov!), but I love boy-next-door or good guy type in Contemporary (I’m absolutely head over heels in love with Owen from Just Listen). As long as they love the heroines with all their hearts, I guess I have no problem falling for them. ;)

Me every time I meet a new book boyfriend:

If your favourite fictional guy whisked you off on a romantic date, where would you go and what would you do?

Um, since my favorite fictional guy is Finnick from The Hunger Games, it’d be nice to go to the beach where he can take his shirt off. Finnick can teach me how to catch some fishes and then we can light bonfire and spend the night cuddling in a blanket, preferably in a starry night. Yes, I’m a romantic. ♥

I HEREBY SHIP FINNICK AND I. Back off, sweethearts. ♥

Who is your most loved, adorably geeky guy?

Charlie from The Perks of Being a Wallflower! He is the most adorable, loveliest geeky guy ever. I just want to hug him and become his friend! I especially love that Charlie makes a mixtape for his friend’s Christmas present. The time and effort he puts into that kind of thing is very sweet. ♥

To Charlie:

What are your thoughts on love triangles? Can you give us some examples of which you loved or hated?

 Mmm… I’m not a fan of love triangle. Love triangle is a big no-no-no for me. I always feel sorry for the guy who is not chosen in the end. Plus, I think love triangles would almost always ruin the stories, sorry! >.< I guess the only love triangle I kind of like is Unearthly, because the love triangle doesn’t take the front seat. :)

Do you prefer sweet romances which make you go ‘Aww’ or hot, full-on romances which make you fan yourself from the heat?

 Wait… can’t I get both? Pretty please? ;)

Hehe, if I have to choose, I think I would pick adorable romance that make me go ‘AWWWWW SAWEEET I’m a jelly now marry me PLZ’ sand then I’d faint because of excessive cuteness. I particularly adore sweet romance with slow pacing because the story feels more realistic. :)

Me every time I read a particularly cute part in book:

Do you have any favourite YA couples?

 I love Adam and Mia from If I Stay! They are such meant-to-be couple. Tris and Tobias is the kind of cool couple that I truly admire. They are great individually, but they are indestructible together. ♥ I also really like Augustus and Hazel from The Fault in Our Stars. I wailed like a baby when I read that book hehe!

What are some of your favourite YA romance/contemporary books?  Are there any you’re anticipating in the coming months?

My favorite contemporaries are If I Stay, The Fault in Our Stars, Just Listen, and Easy! I haven’t got the time to read Gayle Forman’s new book, but I hope it would be as good as If I Stay! :)

To finish, can you share with us some of your favourite romantic covers? 

Meant To Be! Squeeeealll. What an adorable cover! Love the background as well! ♥

Eleanor and Park! The quiet simplicity, just lovely! :)

Ink! I really wish I could have a painting of this in my bedroom. ;)    

Thank you so much for joining us today – it’s been a pleasure to have you here, Hilds!  Sending lots of SHINee music your way, my fellow KPop fan :D

*dancing to Dazzling Girl* Thank you for letting me joining the fun! Sending lots of kisses and KPop beats to you as well! ♥ ;)

***

So now that you've learnt a bit more about Hilda and how freakin-adorbs she is, why don't you go check out her equally gorgeous blog?

What are YOUR responses to my questions for Hilda? Happy reading, Beverley xxx Don't forget to vote for your favourite fictional crushes and couples HERE!

Tea Party Blogger Interview: Vy from Vy's Blog!

Woohoo! I hope you guys are liking the interviews with these lovely bloggers, because I've got another one to share with y'all! Today I'm going to be interviewing Vy from Vy's Blog. Let's begin! 

1. Favorite couple of all time?

All time?! Hmm... this has to be one of the most difficult questions I've ever had to answer. I have to go with Mia and Adam from If I Stay & Where She Went.

2. What's your opinion on love triangles?

I absolutely LOVE a good love triangle. They can get extremely messy really quick though. All the stars to Cassandra Clare for those epic triangles. My favorite right now is Will, Jem, and Tessa from The Infernal Devices. CASSANDRA, WHY MUST YOU RIP MY HEART OUT?!

3. Any favorite subtle romances?

Yeah, I don't really do "subtle" romances because I'm more of the "hot and steamy" kind of person. hah! I'm kidding, seriously, I'M KIDDING. I recently read The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater and loved how subtle the romance was. The same goes to The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater.

4. Which type of boy do YOU usually swoon for?

This is so cliche, but I always end up swooning for those "bad-boys" as we so call label them. I love nice guys too, but these authors really know how to write up these "bad boys".

5. Are there any romance pet peeves you have?

INSTA-LOVE. That is all.

***

Vy, I totally GET YOU when you say Adam and Mia are your favorite couple of all time! Their romance is definitely something special. Yikes, should I admit that I STILL haven't read The Infernal Devices, and therefore the love triangle in the story...? HOT STEAM, YES. But I'm glad you're still able to find some good, subtle ones. Insta-love is a huge one! Thanks for the awesome responses, Vy!

Make sure you go check out Vy's blog!

What are your answers to these questions?

Happy reading and HAPPY Valentine's Day,

Jen xxx

Valentine's Tea Party Giveaway: Paperback Copy of Easy by Tammara Webber!

I hope you guys are enjoying the Valentine's Tea Party and that you've had fun reading the interviews we've lined up!  Today we have something a little different for you: a giveaway!  For a lovely, paperback copy of Easy by Tammara Webber!  I'm afraid this is UK only, sorry

Easy is a New York Times Bestseller - a must-read for everyone who loves Slammed by Colleen Hoover and the New Adult genre. Deeply romantic and utterly gripping, this is not to be missed.
Jacqueline seems to have a knack for making the wrong choices. She followed her boyfriend to his choice of university, disregarding her preference. Then he dumped her. She chose a minor she thought she could combine with her music studies, but she's falling behind. And then, leaving a party alone one night, she is attacked. If it wasn't for the timely intervention of a stranger, she would have been raped. Now she must make a choice - give up and give in, or toughen up and fight on. Only the support of the man who is tutoring her and the allure of the guy who saved her from the attack convince her that it's worth fighting on. Will Jacqueline now have to make a choice between them too? And can she make the right decision? It's not easy . . .

[summary taken from Goodreads]

This New Adult book took the blogosphere by a storm last year and I'm sure it will continue to grow a fan base  especially now that it's been picked up by a publisher!  I'm currently reading it (stupid exams are stopping me from finishing it!) and it's really good so far so I'd urge you to enter the giveaway!

 Terms & Conditions:

- Fill in the Rafflecopter below - please don't leave personal details in the comments section (for your own safety)
- The giveaway is UK only
- You must be 13 or older to enter
- Neither the publisher or I are responsible for books damaged/lost in the post
- The only mandatory requirement is that you are a follower via Google Friend Connect (GFC)
- Other entries are optional but completing them could give you a better chance of winning :)
- Giveaway ends on March 15th 2013
- I will email the winner who must reply within 48 hours, otherwise the prize will go to someone else.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

Happy reading and swooning,
Beverley xxx

REVIEW: A Song For Julia by Charles Sheehan-Miles

Name: A Song For Julia

Author: Charles Sheehan-Miles

Publisher: Cincinnatus Press (US)

Release Date: December 4, 2012

Pages: 320, Hardcover

Source: For review from author/AToMR Tours

Rating: 4 Teacups

Everyone should have something to rebel against.
Crank Wilson left his South Boston home at sixteen to start a punk band and burn out his rage at the world. Six years later, he’s still at odds with his father, a Boston cop, and doesn’t ever speak to his mother. The only relationship that really matters is with his younger brother, but watching out for Sean can be a full-time job. The one thing Crank wants in life is to be left the hell alone to write his music and drive his band to success.
Julia Thompson left a secret behind in Beijing that exploded into scandal in Washington, DC, threatening her father's career and dominating her family's life. Now, in her senior year at Harvard, she's haunted by a voice from her past and refuses to ever lose control of her emotions again, especially when it comes to a guy. 
When Julia and Crank meet at an anti-war protest in Washington in the fall of 2002, the connection between them is so powerful it threatens to tear everything apart.

[summary taken from Goodreads]

Jen's Review

A Song For Julia was a truly beautiful read. Dealing with situations like rape, mentally disabled characters, war, and a complicated romance, this story is packed with heartfelt emotions. The emotionally distressed tension in this story is surreal; the reader is in for an emotional ride.

One of the favorable qualities I loved about A Song for Julia was its characterization. We start off with a very broken, closed in character, Julia. As the story progresses and she meets people like Crank, the love interest, she slowly opens up and becomes a strong, brave woman that is highly admirable. Crank is also a prominent character who grows immensely. Starting out as a shallow one-night-stander, he changes and realizes the importance of love after spending time with Julia. Their romance starts off a bit as lust, but Sheehan-Miles definitely takes his time developing the real, genuine romance. The reader isn't able to help but empathize with their feelings and emotions. 

The plot was intricate and a bit slow paced, if not a little complicated. However, it is never confusing or frustrating. Sheehan-Miles is able to weave all of the plot lines together and it's truly wonderful to see it all come together. The beginning takes a little while to get into, but not long after, it picks up and never slows back down.

Even if the characters in A Song for Julia are in their late college years, it will still appeal to YA or NA fans alike. A moving and evocative story with well-developed characters and a complex plot, it will surely tear your heart out by the last page.

4 teacups for A Song For Julia!

*Much thanks to AToMR Tours and the author for providing me with a review copy!*