Happy Christmas

I would just like to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas, I hope that Father Christmas brought you lots of nice new books.

I'm Back

So I haven't posted much over the last 12 months even though I have been reading a lot due to COVID and but it's been because of 3 things 1) University is hard now I'm almost on my final year and 2) I've been in hospital with Kidney stones and I'm awaiting and operation and 3) I've mainly been re-reading my favourite books of the last 10 years of blogging and I have to say that most of these books are still just as good, if not better the second time round.
 
Now that I have finished college and I'm not volunteering due to being ill I plan on catching up on reviews over my Christmas break and lining up some author interviews. Below are some of the books I need to review and post, these will go live as soon as I can pull myself away from my books.
 
1) Shadowed Heart by Candace Wondrak
2) Point of Extinction series by Tara Ellis and Mike Kraus
3) Myths and Legends by Various Author's

4) Graveyard Guardian's by Jennifer Malone Wright

5) Various Cathy Glass books

 
Happy Reading and Keep Safe x

Blog Birthday

Today is the blogs 11th birthday to Annamarie's Book Reviews.

I hope you have enjoyed reading my reviews for the last 11 years as much as I have enjoyed writing them.

Saturday Review - The Good Girl by Alice La Rou

 

Title: The Good Girl
Author: Alice La Roux
Pages: 216
Release Date: April 5th 2021
Format: eBook
Buy it: Amazon
Add it: Goodreads

Synopsis: Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Nothing can describe the town of Silvercrest better.

This seemingly charming, sleepy town is ruled by The Society. An elite organization swimming in Old money that originates back to the founding families. But money cannot hide the stench of death and deceit which lingers amongst the sweet smelling hydrangeas that surround white picket fences.

Tristan Radcliffe might be my fiancé, but not through choice. Nothing in my life is a choice.

I am always a good girl, obeying my family as expected because I am Elena Montgomery, a child of The Society.

And this was the life we lived.

My Review: I loved this story in The Society anthology and I was really glad that it got extended.

The Society will do anything to protect their way of life, even if that means forcing Elena to marry Tristan. Elena is a perfect student who loves to dance and tries way too hard to please her father even when he doesn’t have her best interests at heart. Tristan on the other hand would rather smoke weed and paint.

Elena doesn’t want to marry Tristan she wants to go to college but her father is having none of it he won’t have her ruin his look as Mayor, the only person who sees the real Elena is Tristan.

Tristan spend the whole book pushing Elena trying to remove the strings put in place by her father, he wants her to be free and be herself but all Elena wants to do is please her father and be a good girl.

During this extended version we got to see more of the background characters throughout Elena and Tristan’s chapters and I LOVED Tabitha and how she looks out for Elena and Elena’s mother who helps Elena to finally be herself even if Elena thinks the mother-daughter time is a test.

Can Tristan win Elena round or will her father push her too far?

Currently Reading: Brink of Extinction by Tara Ellis and Mike Kraus
Read in 2021: 11/40

Review - In Conclusion, Don't Worry About It by Lauren Graham

Title: In Conclusion, Don't Worry About It
Author: Lauren Graham
Pages: 64
Release Date: 3rd April 2018
Format: Hardback
Buy it: Amazon
Add it: Goodreads

Synopsis: Advice for graduates and reflections on staying true to yourself from the beloved Gilmore Girl acctress and New York Times bestselling author of the memoir Talking as Fast as I Can and the novel Someday, Someday, Maybe.

"If you're not where youwant to be on this day - don't worry about it. Because the spotlight aspect of life? That's not the satisfying part."

In this expansion of her 2017 commencement speech at her hometome Langley High, Lauren Graham reflects in her hilarious, relatable voice, on growing up, pursuing your dreams, and living in the here-and-now. "Whatever path upi choose, whatever career you decide to go after, the important thing." She reminds us to be curious and compassionate, no matter where life takes you, "Whether you hope to be an actop or a politician ot a mathematician, I've learned that empathy and kindness are your most vauable tools." Grounding and inspiring, this is Graham's roadmap to a happy life; "Be a fan, not a theater critic."

My Review: This is a short and sweet book about the commencement speech that Ms Graham made at her old high school in 2017 that her dad signed her up for with some awesome advice. The things that she talks about are relatable and motivational.

She talks about life and how no matter what you go on to do after high school don't stress about what comes next as you never know where life will take you even if you think that you have it all figured out.

The message of the story is that if you don't know what you want to do with life after high school then that's fine you have time to decide later in life and it will all be okay, as long as you embrace the present and do not worry about the future.

I really loved the little doodles that she included in with the book.

Currently Reading: Something, Something, Maybe by Lauren Graham
Read in 2020: 5/40

Review - Addicted to Love by Alice La Roux

 

Title: Addicted to Love
Author: Alice La Roux
Series: 
Pages: 57
Release Date: 5th February 2021
Format: Kindle
Buy it: Amazon
Add it: Goodreads

Synopsis: Motherless and living with a father who would rather get high, than move off the couch and get a job, Tammy Reuben has always been trailer trash. And she's never been ashamed of that fact, until now.

Rich boy Luke Anderson is everything she hates. Privileged, arrogant and completely unaware of life on the other side of the tracks.

So when he strides into the record store she works in, why does he make her feel uncomfortable in her own skin?

And why does he make her feel like she has potential to be something more?

Put that Aqua Net away and slip into something a little more comfortable with one of twelve couples as they fall in love in Pine Grove.

My Review: I really enjoyed this story, I loved Luke as he took care of Tammy even though she was plenty capable to look after herself especially once she had gotten rid of the toxic people in her life and had gotten herself out from under her dads roof.

Tammy is really smart and is really good at turning something cheap into something cute and looking like it's not actually from a charity shop.

This book is really up there with my favourites by this author.

Currently Reading: Someday, Someday Maybe by Lauren Graham

Read in 2020: 5/40

Review - Gravity Happens by Lizzie James

 

Title: Gravity Happens
Author: Lizzie James
Pages: 167
Release Date: 16th December 2020
Format: Kindle
Buy it: Amazon
Add it: Goodreads

Synopsis: A friends-to-lovers Christmas stroy

Lauren

He was there, Through all the good times, and the bad, when my world collapsed and me family passed away, he was there. He picked me up and gave me a reason to keep going. He just never saw that the reason was him.

Thomas

My best friend started oulling away. The girl who has always been by my side was now too busy for me. Suddenly, the revolving door of my bedroom no longer held my attention, and I wasn't sure why.

Would Thomas finally wake up and see what he'd been missing all this time?

Find out if this crazy pair finally take a chance and allow their love story to unfold this Christmas.

My Review: Thomas and Lauren have been friends for years, his mum took her in after her parents died and Lauren has loved Thomas for a long time but he never noticed her as anything but a friend, he always seemed to have a girl and this annoyed Lauren to the point that she decided to move on and get on with her life.

Lauren starts to date in an attempt to move on and Thomas decides that he doesn't like it and even stops seeing girls himself and he starts to notice Lauren and finally starts getting the hints that his friends and family have been giving him about Lauren liking him.

Thomas didn't like the fact that Lauren was dating and he starts to make a move on her and Lauren pushes him away until eventually they both decide to give love a chance.

Overally I liked this book, I was a quick read and had plenty to keep you going.

Currently Reading: Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham
Read in 2020: 5/40

Read in 2020

So 2020 was a crap year for many reasons one being COVID-19 however because of COVID-19 I was able to surpass my goal of reading 35 books and I read 50. Most of my reads in 2020 were rereads due to not being able to go to the library and me not wanting to buy more books until I had read the ones I already own.

Heres what I read in 2020:

1. Flashpoint by Tara Ellis and Mike Kraus
2. Web of Lies by Elizabeth Knox et el
3. The Dark Kingdom Anthology by Krissy V et el
4. Lady and the Biker by Glenna Maynard
5. Blush For Me by M. K. Moore
6. Kickflip Summer by Danielle Jacks
7. Smoulder by Tara Ellis and Mike Kraus
8. Hide and Seek by AJ Everheart
9. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling
10. Grandad's Girl by Emma Louise
11. Can I Let You Go? by Cathy Glass
12. Fallout by Tara Ellis and Mike Kraus
13. Evermore by Alyson Noel
14. The Society by Michelle Brown
15. Decay by Tara Ellis and Mike Kraus
16. Empowerment by Alice La Roux
17. Girl on Point by Chloe Lukasiak
18. Convergence by Tara Ellis and Mike Kraus
19. Master by Alice La Roux
20. Mercy by Tara Ellis and Mike Kraus
21. Barren by Yolanda Olson
22. Matus by Jason Hes
23. Matatus by Ally Vance
24. Blue Moon by Alyson Noel
25. Inhuman Behavior by Faith Ryan
26. Shadowland by Alyson Noel
27. Pins and Needles by Ashleigh Giannoccaro
28. Coquette by A. A. Davies
29. Dark Flame by Alyson Noel
30. Night Star by Alyson Noel
31. Everlasting by Alyson Noel
32. Radiance by Alyson Noel
33. The Orphans by Martina McAtee
34. Shimmer by Alsyon Noel
35. Shade by Mere Joyce
36. The Friendship by Alison Croggon
37. Wicked Mourning by Heather Boyd
38. Haunted by Willow Cross
39. The Vampire Hunter's Daughter by Jennifer Malone Wright
40. The Dinosaur that Pooped Christmas by Tom Fletcher
41. The Dinosaur that Pooped a Pirate by Tom Fletcher
42. Dreamland by Alyson Noel
43. Elbow Grease: Get out and Play by John Cena
44. Elbow Grease: My Monster Truck Family by John Cena
45. 52 Reasons to Hate My Father by Jessica Brody
46. Heist Society by Ally Carter
47. Whisper by Alyson Noel
48. Double Crossed by Ally Carter
49. Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter
50. Perfect Scoundrels by Ally Carter

My goal for 2021 is 40, I know I can read more that that I proved it this year but I'm hopinglife goes back to being 'normal' again which means I will be going back to work as well as having college and university this year.

I hope you all get to do plenty of reading in 2021 and you all stay safe x

Happy New Year

I would just like to wish everyone a very happy New Year, I hope you all have a great 2021

Don’t forget to set yourself a reading challenge.

Have a great New Year love Annamarie