Friday thoughts #12

I want a mug or poster with this on ;)

Waiting on Wednesday (WOW) #16

Pivot Point by Kasie West

This is my 16th Waiting on Wednesday (WoW), 

therefore my #WoW may not correlate with the linked post.

This meme is hosted by Jill @ Breaking the spine.

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Harper Teen (12 Feb 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062117378
• ISBN-13: 978-0062117373

Addison Coleman's life is one big "What if?" As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It's the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie's parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with–her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the "Norms," or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it's not.

In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school–but she never wanted to be a quarterback's girlfriend. When Addie's father is asked to consult on a murder in the compound, she's unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she's willing to live through...and who she can't live without.

"Wow, when i saw this cover, i was hooked, i am a cover whore as such (or least that is what i get called =P i like to think of myself as someone who appreciates a great cover!  This cover had me hooked quite a while ago now; after i read the synopsis it was straight onto my TBR list, but the release date is SO far away! I have read some fantastic reviews which cemented my need to read this book!  It just sounds like a perfect read to me- the seeing into the future, this paranormal aspect, the mystery and intrigue.  It also seems to be lined with emotion, possible love connections and from the reviews i have read, a definite page turner! I am so jealous that they have read it and i haven't yet.  That is only because i am so in love with this book already- i hope i don't read this and find it is a huge let-down due to my high expectations =/, i hate it when that happens."

What is everyone else looking forward too?

NEW RELEASE- The Star Child......

I wanted to do a blog post about this when I received the cover reveal but I didn't get around to doing the post.  But now it is RELEASE DAY, it definitely deserves a mention!

The Star Child by Stephanie Keyes.

An ancient prophecy. A stunning Star child.
The world is about to be cloaked in darkness.
Only one can stop the night.

Gorgeous Cover!

The world is about to be cloaked in darkness.                                                                      Only one can stop the night.

Kellen St. James has spent his entire life being overlooked as an unwanted, ordinary, slightly geeky kid. That is until a beautiful girl, one who has haunted his dreams for the past eleven years of his life, shows up spinning tales of a prophecy. Not just any old prophecy either, but one in which Kellen plays a key role.

Suddenly, Kellen finds himself on the run through a Celtic underworld of faeries and demons, angels and gods, not to mention a really ticked off pack of hellhounds, all in order to save the world from darkness. But will they make it in time?

There is a book trailer for this book, you have to watch this!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Stephanie Keyes.

Stephanie Keyes holds an undergraduate degree in Management Information Systems as well as a Master’s in Education. A seasoned, facilitator, Mrs. Keyes worked in Training and Development for an international telecommunications corporation for twelve years; spending the first eight years of her career as a Software Trainer and Technical Writer and the last four working in Human Resources and Employee Development. 

In May of 2012, Mrs.Keyes left the corporate world to focus on her family and her writing full-time. She also operates a freelance graphic and instructional design business, Sycamore Road Design.

Inkspell Publishing will release her first novel, The Star Child, on September 21, 2012. She is now currently at work on the second book in The Star Child Trilogy, The Fallen Stars.

Keyes lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, two children, and Riley the dog.

Contact Stephanie
Website: www.stephaniekeyes.com 
Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/page... 
Twitter: www.twitter.com/StephanieKeyes 

(Image and information from Goodreads)

A.W.O.L.........

This is where i am at present........absent from the blogging world!

*I am in a reading funk, have been for a while!! It is probably due to the fact that i have two books which i am 'trying' to read but i really don't care for them- i never want to pick them up and i only read for maybe 5-10mins when i do :(

*I haven't been on my blog much because i feel guilty for not reading, all the planned posts i had for September therefore have not been done, i still have a review to do of a book i finished reading the 1st week in August!  The fact i haven't done this means i feel more guilty!  Therefore i avoid going onto my blog.  

*Then with not reading, i think to my over ambitious TBR for September and i feel rubbish because i have read nothing and my wrap-up would be a joke!    It means that now i am avoiding even reading other people's blogs because i feel too guilty about the whole damn thing!

***I have had my dad extremely ill recently and he has only just got discharged from hospital today but he not completely back to full health, so my mind is constantly on him.***

I have found that i am doing other interests i enjoy too rather than just reading, blogging etc.   I do not know what to do.........help please............ i want to get back into all this but i don't know how :( I do not know where to start, my review books are stacking up and way overdue! My bought books are like a mountain- a lot waiting to be read.  I have more time on my hands now both kids are in full-time school, depending on how my health problems are day to day.

How do i get back into this? Blogging? Reading? Reviewing? Keeping up with others? and how do i reach a balance whereby i do not feel like my spare time is completely devoted to all this, and so that when i do another 'hobby' for example i do not feel guilty.  Has anyone felt like this or am i just crazy?

I will get back into this, fear not, just really struggling at the mo.

Please stick with me xx

Friday thoughts #11

How true is this? You can read a book

for a 2nd time & get a different experience too or

pick up things you missed the 1st time :)

Friday thoughts #10

Inside my head x

Waiting on Wednesday (WoW) #15

Uses For Boys by Erica Lorraine Schiedt

This is my 15th Waiting on Wednesday (WoW), 

therefore my #WoW may not correlate with the linked post.

This meme is hosted by Jill @ Breaking the spine.

Paperback: 240 pages

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (15 Jan 2013)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1250007119

ISBN-13: 978-1250007117

Anna remembers a time before boys, when she was little and everything made sense. When she and her mom were a family, just the two of them against the world. But now her mom is gone most of the time, chasing the next marriage, brining home the next stepfather. Anna is left on her own—until she discovers that she can make boys her family. From Desmond to Joey, Todd to Sam, Anna learns that if you give boys what they want, you can get what you need. But the price is high—the other kids make fun of her; the girls call her a slut. Anna's new friend, Toy, seems to have found a way around the loneliness, but Toy has her own secrets that even Anna can't know.

Then comes Sam. When Anna actually meets a boy who is more than just useful, whose family eats dinner together, laughs, and tells stories, the truth about love becomes clear. And she finally learns how it feels to have something to lose—and something to offer. Real, shocking, uplifting, and stunningly lyrical, Uses for Boys is a story of breaking down and growing up.

Currently my absolute favourite genre!  and this has the cutest cover, ever! I absolutely adore it, infact i wish i was a teenager again- that would mean rewind 10yrs lol, so that i could be kissing a boy while wrapped in fairy lights! hehe.  There is also another subject i like to read about in YA's - self-discovery and growing up.  It takes so much that it usually makes a really interesting read.  I think it will be a difficult story to read initially and i am not sure if i will relate to Anna but i still really want to read it.  The cover definitely swings it for me! 

Anyone else wanting to read this?

What is everyone else looking forward too?

Review- January First by Michael Schofield

January First; A Child's Descent into Madness and Her Father's Struggle to Save her by Michael Schofield.

Hardcover: 291 pages

Publisher: Crown Publishing Group (NY); 1 edition (7 Aug 2012)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0307719081

Firstly, kind thanks to the publishers, for granting me the permission to review this book via Netgalley, for no charge, for an honest review.  This book was read on my kindle.

A brilliant and harrowingly honest memoir, January First is the extraordinary story of a father's fight to save his child from an extremely severe case of mental illness in the face of overwhelming adversity.

At six years old, Michael Schofield's daughter, January, was diagnosed with one of the most severe cases of child-onset schizophrenia that doctors had ever seen. In January's case, she is hallucinating 95 percent of the time that she is awake. Potent psychiatric drugs that would level most adults barely faze her. January, "Jani" to her family, has literally hundreds of imaginary friends. They go by names like 400-the-Cat, 100 Degrees, and 24 Hours and live on an island called "Calalini," which she describes as existing "on the border of my world and your world." Some of these friends are good, and some of them, such as 400, are very bad. They tell her to jump off buildings, attack her brother, and scream at strangers.

In the middle of these never-ending delusions, hallucinations, and paroxysms of rage are Jani's parents, who have gone to the ends of the earth to keep both of their children alive and unharmed. They live in separate one-bedroom apartments in order to keep her little brother, Bohdi, safe from his big sister--and wage a daily war against a social system that has all but completely failed them. January First is the story of the daily struggles and challenges they face as they do everything they can to help their daughter while trying to keep their family together. It is the inspiring tale of their resolute determination and faith .

My Review.
This isn't going to be an actual review whereby i give a 'rating', i just think for a memoir, and this kind of memoir especially- it isn't appropriate.  Therefore, i am just going to discuss the book, i will try and include no spoilers.  Many thanks to the publishers for granting me access to review this book, for which it was kindly received via Netgalley. This was read on my Kindle and the review is of my honest opinion.

I was first intrigued by this book because of the cover with a child and the title, but then when i saw the subtitle it clicked!  I had seen a documentary on this little girl, called January a while before and i realised it had to be the same girl with a unique name and this severe mental illness.  I wanted so badly to read more, i was really interested in the documentary and i knew this would be deeper insight.  I am really glad that the little's girl portrait wasn't used on the front, that would not have felt right.  I am not going into the argument of whether it was 'right' for the parents to include her in a documentary or even if it is right to have a book written about her mental illness and their experiences as parents.  It is not appropriate to discuss here.  This book is from her dad's perspective and starts right at the beginning of her life, it includes so many significant events and thoughts he has, it is very detailed at times and the emotion is weaved throughout the book.  What is evident is how much they love their daughter and want the best for her (as any caring parent would).  I believe they made the decision to be in documentaries and to write this book, so that they can tell their story, to tell January's story and to raise awareness.  Awareness of a mental illness so rare in children!  Mental illness is still a taboo subject in my opinion, there are stigmas attached even in modern society and there is little understanding by the general public of how complex mental illnesses are and the effect it has, not just on the individual but also to family life.  This is even more difficult when it comes to children, since mental illness is rare or rarely diagnosed (or should that be misdiagnosed) .

I honestly loved reading this book, i was intrigued about January 'Jani', her story at so young, how the illness developed over the years, the illness itself and how the family managed. I was not disappointed, it was thorough and each of the 'situations' were well described and not drawn out, it kept the reader's interest.  I take my hat off to these parents, what amazing people! Strong, resilient, determined and the most loving of parents!  Throughout the book, i got angry a few times at healthcare professionals, regardless of this 'label' she has, she is a child first and foremost!  Maybe i felt so strong towards the book because i am a mum and because i have experienced mental illness both myself and in my extended family.  I just couldn't put this book down and i needed more and more information.  I don't usually read memoirs but i just had to read this book and i experienced so many emotions- frustration, anger, worry, love, happiness, smiles, sadness, tears- yes i cried, a few times! My heart, thoughts and prayers go out to the family, especially to Jani and to Michael (her dad), he never gave up hope! and he fought for her throughout, and he will continue to do so.  He remained strong and kept the family together. What a man! It is important to note how her mother is equal to this too, it is not just her father that is raising Jani.

Read it people! and recommend it! Please! Awareness really does need to be raised.
I was sad when this book finished because i wanted to know more, as in what is currently happening but since it is up to date almost that is impossible. You can read about January by going onto the internet and searching 'Schizophrenia January'- this would be useful if you do not know anything about her or her family.  I am not giving this book a 'star' rating, for the same reason that i said previous, it doesn't feel right, but i did love it, and would recommend it :)

If you have read it, what did you think?

Stacking the Shelves #19/20

This is a meme hosted by Tynga at Tynga Reviews and is to haul all the books we have got this week, whether bought physical or e-book, whether for review,from the library, won in a giveaway as a prize or even borrows from a friend. With this you can supply your link and then see what everyone else has bought.   This is the link for this weeks collection 'Stacking the Shelves 20'.  The meme starts on  a Saturday, but you can join all week.  So this is my haul;

This week; once again it covers two weeks, i have both bought books (silly purchases and bargains) and review books.  I did say i wouldn't do this again where i cover 2 weeks but last week i had no chance to do a post.  This week, the post is slightly later than normal but if i left it again and had 3 weeks to cover and that would have be crazy if i got loads more books.  I hope to do more reading now that my youngest child is in full-time school, fingers crossed.   This week,  I have not done much reading or blogging, well i have read 75% of a book in 2days and it isn't even a book i planned to read for my September TBR.  Hopefully, look forward to more activity on my blog soon.                         

Bought                       

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

Welcome to Rosie Hopkins Sweet Shop of Dreams by Jenny Colgan

So Much For That by Lionel Shriver

(I read his book-We Need to Talk about Kevin, well before the film- wish i was blogging then so i could have done a review as i had so much to say.  Anyways, i really wanted to try another of his books-it took me a while to get used to his writing style)

Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend by Matthew Green.

Easy by Tammara Webber

The Boyfriend Thief by Shana Norris

Sleeping with Paris by Juliette Sobanet

FOR REVIEW; e-arcs.



Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan.
Saturday Night Widows; The Adventures of Six Friends Re-making Their Lives by Becky Aikman
The Lost Son by Tamra Torero & Preston Norton


The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa
Lessons in French by Hilary Reyl
Yesterday's Sun by Amanda Brooke
                                           
Question; Do i need to read the Iron Fey series before reading 'The Lost Prince'? Thanks


What did everyone else get this week?

Friday thoughts #9

OH YES!! With the majority anyways hehe :)

I am sure other readers are the same, yes? x

Waiting on Wednesday (WoW) #14

Cursed by Jennifer L. Armentrout.

This is my 14th Waiting on Wednesday (WoW), 

therefore my #WoW may not correlate with the linked post.

This meme is hosted by Jill @ Breaking the spine.

Hardcover: 312 pages

Publisher: Spencer Hill Press (18 Sep 2012)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0983157278

ISBN-13: 978-0983157274

Dying sucks--and high school senior Ember McWilliams knows firsthand. After a fatal car accident, her gifted little sister brought her back. Now anything Ember touches dies. And that, well, really blows.

Ember operates on a no-touch policy with all living things--including boys. When Hayden Cromwell shows up, quoting Oscar Wilde and claiming her curse is a gift, she thinks he’s a crazed cutie. But when he tells her he can help control it, she’s more than interested. There’s just one catch: Ember has to trust Hayden's adopted father, a man she's sure has sinister reasons for collecting children whose abilities even weird her out. However, she’s willing to do anything to hold her sister's hand again. And hell, she'd also like to be able to kiss Hayden. Who wouldn't?

But when Ember learns the accident that turned her into a freak may not've been an accident at all, she’s not sure who to trust. Someone wanted her dead, and the closer she gets to the truth, the closer she is to losing not only her heart, but her life. For real this time.

I cannot wait to read this book and there is not long to go.  I think this sounds amazing! Anything like this just has me hooked, the mystery behind it, the bit of a romance, oh i'm so excited!  I have never read any of Jennifer Armentrout's books but i have heard great things about her.  I am going to get this for my birthday i think, which is soon :) I cannot believe i only heard about this book recently!!! I will be definitely doing a review on it too :) 

  What is everyone else looking forward too?

August Wrap-Up and September TBR..

Sorry this is later than normal but it is back to school time in the UK and i have been so busy sorting out my kids :)

So.......AUGUST! Which went on FOREVER!
It was a busy month and i took part in

The Wrap-up posts are linked below;

'Summer Wrap-up Readathon'

'Bout of Books Readathon.'

The 'Review Copy Clean-up' wrap-up will form part of my August Wrap-up, since the whole month was about reading review books, which i did.  I did make a goal post for the Clean-up, which basically was to read 8 books and update in the middle of the month, but sorry i forgot to update then as i was so busy with the readathons.

This was my August TBR list-

*Finish reading-Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry (not counting in numbers)~~> READ! (Review in progress)

*Between the lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer.(Not yet read!)
*Speechless by Hannah Harrington. ~~>READ (Review here)
*Over You by Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus. READING 40% DONE
*The Midwife of Hope River by Patricia Harman. READING 10% DONE!
*The Next Best Thing:A Novel. by Jennifer Weiner.(Not read yet!)
*January First: A Child's Descent into Madness and Her Father's Struggle to Save Her by Michael Schofield. ~~> READ (Review in progress)
*Confessions of a Angry Girl by Louise Rozett. ~~>READ (Review here)
*Thy Neighbor:A Novel by Norah Vincent.~~>READING 44% DONE!

So not so great but okay, 4 books finished, 3 in process-( i know 3 books at once lol), and 2 books not touched- from those 1 was a review book and the other is a book i bought.  I need a review free month but that isn't going to happen anytime soon! =)

Onto..........

September TBR!!

**Firstly**

TRY-to finish the 3 books i am reading currently!

** DEFINITE READS** 

Mockingbird (Miriam Black #2) by Chuck Wendig.

What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang

The Girl You Leftg Behind by Jojo Moyes.

**ADDITIONAL READS**

Now i would love to read another 4-5 books in addition to the 'definite reads' but we will see how that goes.

The other books that actually need to be read this month but i don't think i will manage are shown below. I am going to be reading by my 'mood' this month. 

Wow,what a lot of books!

Swipe by Evan Ambler

Sneak (Swipe #2) by Evan Ambler

Slammed by Colleen Hoover

Point of Retreat (Slammed#2) by Colleen Hoover

Low Pressure by Sandra Brown

Those We Love Most by Lee Woodruff

The Making of Us by Lisa Jewell

Love Anthony by Lisa Genova

How Lucky You Are by Kristyn Kusek Lewis

The Lovesick Cure by Pamela Morsi

From that pile, i would LOVE to read them ALL! however, i think 4-5 would be quite ambitious but the kids are back at school now so fingers crossed more reading for me :)

Also, another little mention is that  i have some books to read that are adult content! I have still not read the fifty shades of grey 'trilogy' and after all the hype of that, it seems that more and more adult content books are being published and some are even being re-published! I have a few to 'review' and these are; Bared to you, Diary of a Submissive, Destined to Play, and Lip Service.  I will read them i think, because i want to understand the hype, so i will have to read fifty shades 'trilogy'. I will not get to read these books during September but you never know what will happen.  I have not linked these or added photos on purpose :)