'Once Upon a Readathon' DAY 2 update and challenge!

Complete and utter failure, day 2 doesn't warrant a post really :(

Books read today; I started to read 'Temptation' by Karen Ann Hopkins
Books completed so far; I have only completed 1 book so far during this read-a-thon and that was 'One Breath Away' by Heather Gudenkauf
Today's Progress; A shocking 16% (on Kindle) was read today :( How pathetic!!
Feelings/comments; Oh what a failure today was!!! I should have done a step by step update throughout the day so people could see what was going off.  It kicked off with hardly any sleep last night, very disturbed night as i was anxious about my hospital appt this morning.  The hospital appt went fine, thankfully, and wasn't as long as expected.  Happy reading i thought.  However, it didn't work out that way, i struggled with the book and was literally falling asleep on every page with my face landing on the Kindle- No lie!  I tried 'Proplus tablets' - didn't work, so i had an early lunch to perk me up and that worked for a while and i read about 10 pages.  I spent time with my daughter playing everything she could think of before i started getting a lot of abdominal pain (part of my medical condition) so i had a nap for 1.5hrs.  I read a little more when i was awake but the pain was still there.  After dinner i ended up in so much pain and so tired that reading was impossible, i could barely talk and move for the pain, so i had to take my Oramorph  and go to bed.  I have then slept  on and off for almost 3 hrs, and when awake i read on and off until midnight where i gave in.  Shockingly i had only read 16%.  It was such a bizarre day of reading in small chunks and tonight i did get a longer time to read, and made progress, but i am definitely struggling with this book.  I am contemplating not finishing it.  It is a book about forbidden love BUT it's he's Amish, she's not and they are teenagers *rolls eyes*, this is the 1st time i have read a book with Amish characters/family too.  I can't explain what is getting to me with it in-case i offend anyone. However, I am sick of reading the terms 'the outsiders' and 'the English' and what 'the English' are like!  Sorry for the moan.  I will keep going with it tomorrow and hope today was just a rubbish day all round.  My pain has settled though and i'm feeling a lot better, just wide awake and it is 2.15am so i will be tired tomorrow as have to be awake at 7am! Nite xx


DAILY CHALLENGE
This one is from Kindle Fever;

Once upon a time there was a bookish fight…

As the story teller, I now want you to tell me which two characters are fighting and WHY! If you want to, you’re also more than welcome to guess the outcome. ;)

.......................and fighting was Emerson Cole (From Hourglass/ Timepiece) and Doctor Who.  They had collided during time-travelling and had gotten into a fight because they had both ruined each other's intended destination and where now stuck in 'nowhere'.  Obviously they had to battle it out and come up with an answer to return to their original destinations.  Doctor Who is the KING of time-travel but Emerson (Em) would not have it!, she was like 'I have never even heard of you' and all she went on about was Michael this and Michael that, completely not listening! but not giving any ideas to help.  The Doctor was getting impatient and said "Right, Michael isn't here to help! What do you know?!?"' Her answer was "Not much", she relied on Michael, but when he was explaining time-travel, she was too busy drooling over his fit body.(READERS OF HOURGLASS WILL KNOW WHAT I AM ON ABOUT LOL!) The King of time-travel said "right-e-o, i need a new assistant and that can be you, i know the answer to this problem so let's get going". Em's response....."oh Doctor......(drool)...Michael Who??"

If 'Hourglass' or 'Timepiece' not read by Myra McEntire then people will not understand this. 

Review- Timepiece.....

 Timepiece: An Hourglass Novel by Myra McEntire.

Hardcover:336 pages
Publisher: Egmontusa (12 Jun 2012)

• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1606841459
• ISBN-13: 978-1606841457

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.  When i read this synopsis, i went and bought the 1st book; Hourglass.

Book Description.

A threat from the past could destroy the future. And the clock is ticking...

Kaleb Ballard's relentless flirting is interrupted when Jack Landers, the man who tried to murder his father, timeslips in and attacks before disappearing just as quickly. But Kaleb has never before been able to see time travelers, unlike many of his friends associated with the mysterious Hourglass organization. Are Kaleb's powers expanding, or is something very wrong?

Then the Hourglass is issued an ultimatum. Either they find Jack and the research he's stolen on the time gene, or time will be altered with devastating results. 

Now Kaleb, Emerson, Michael, and the other Hourglass recruits have no choice but to use their unusual powers to find Jack. But where do they even start? And when? And even if they succeed, it may not be enough...

The follow-up to Hourglass, Timepiece blends the paranormal, science fiction, mystery, and suspense genres into a nonstop thrill ride where every second counts.

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My Review.

Firstly, 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.  Has i said above, once i read the synopsis i knew i had to read this and therefore i had to go buy the 1st book to read prior to this.  The cover was the first thing that hooked me.  I am a person who is attracted to a book by it's cover, i know it's wrong but i do.  This cover is just intense, it is eerie, is she flying? Is she holding on and being pulled away? is she trying to get through the door?  I just love it!  I will be buying it in paperback to match my 'Hourglass' book as i'm hoping it is the same texture cover.  It is obviously of Em, but i wonder why it didn't have any of the other characters on, especially the one who is telling the story from their point of view.

To start off i have to say that i absolutely LOVED this book, i really did and i think that i actually preferred it slightly more than 'Hourglass', well up to the end anyways, but i will discuss that shortly.  It is difficult to discuss this book in too much detail without giving spoilers or mentioning what happened in the first book.  I apologise if i do but the 'blurb' of the book is above so i won't repeat all that.  This book continues on from 'Hourglass' it relates to what happened in the first book so you really do need to read it.  However, it is told from Kaleb's point of view (POV) this time rather than Emerson's (Em), at first i was a bit disgruntled that it wasn't from Em's but actually, it had to be this way to fit the story and it worked perfectly.  This way you get a different view of the characters and a thorough insight into Kaleb- who i have to add i feel in love with during this book!!!!

 Has stated in the blurb, they are looking for Jack and have a deadline in place.  The reasons are all explained and why it is so important.  It really built up the suspense and intrigue and in some places a thriller aspect where i genuinely felt scared for the charcters and i was like "oh quick quick" and got sense of relief when it was ok.  I got way too involved with this book.  The pacing throughtout most of the book was perfect, the way the story played out, the elements that were involved and little sideline stories all came into one.  However, and this is a big however, the ending and the last part was over in the blink of an eye!  I got to the last page and didn't believe it because it was over so quickly with all that led up to it.  It got to a point in the story where they arrive somewhere and literally less than 10 pages later, it was over and in such a simple way!  I will say that near the end, 2 characters are in the time travel 'situation' and people are slightly worried but then at the end, it's 'blink' oh we are back all is okay.  Yes all the ends were tied up BUT too quickly!! In a way that didn't fit the book and this upset me a bit as i felt cheated.  The situation of the end was great just not how it was delivered.

So,as said, Kaleb narrators the story and this fits perfectly for the storyline and you realise what a fantastically awesome guy he really is!  First line of the book cracked me up 

'Maybe getting drunk and dressing like a pirate for the masquerade was a bad idea'

 I mean what an opening line!  In the 1st book i was really unsure about him but now a total change of view.  You find out his inner thoughts, how honest, loyal and sincere he is.  He is caring, a risk-taker, strong, emotional, HOT! funny and intelligent.  His funny little comments in the narratoring made me smile but the constant reference to someone's body and butt and how curvy they are, argh!!! it drove me CRAZY! I know this is what a lot of males probably do but honestly it did grind on me a little.  There is romance in this book too, and it is awww, intense, and nothing like that of Em's and Michael's either! Through Kaleb you still find information out about the other characters and Em is still there so you get to know what is happening with her and they are all working together as a team.

The characters are pretty much the same but with less of Thomas and Dru (Em's brother and his wife),and Cat.  You get more of Lily (Em's best friend) in this book, she was only really touched upon in the 1st book but in this, she is more of a main character.  Her role is vital, her abilities are vital and she really adds to the story.  She is a great little character, similar to Kaleb really- honest,loyal, funny but she is a massive risk taker!  I really liked her character.  Em and Michael are still mentioned quite a bit but more about their exploding relationship really, you see that Em doesn't change and still does really stupid things! but that is how her character is.

There is going to be a 3rd book called, 'Infinityglass', this 'thing' is mentioned within this book and once read you know what it is and you need to know more, hence why we need the 3rd book!!  I hope the 3rd book does relate back to the 1st two books but i hope it is in a way that re-explains things slightly because luckily i read the books close together.  If not when reading this book i would have being like "umm what is this i can't remember" "umm what happened there i can't remember" and i would have had to re-read parts of the first book.

Overall, i truly loved this book, i would receommend these to everyone and i already have!  It is fantastic and they just hook you instantly.  I would have given this book a 5 out of 5 but because of the 500mph ending i had to lower it to a 4 ladybirds/ladybugs out of 5.  Roll on 2013 for the next book!!

Review-Hourglass

 Hourglass by Myra McEntire.

• Hardcover: 390 pages
• Publisher: Egmontusa (14 Jun 2011), Paperback May 2012.
• Language English
• ISBN-10: 1606841440
• ISBN-13: 978-1606841440.

This book review is LONG LONG over and i really do apologise.  I finished it well over a week ago.  If i would have done this earlier, i feel the content would have been of a higher quality, so again i apologise.

I read this book in paperback version, which i purchased myself!  I had received Timepiece (the sequel to this) for review, and loved the sound of it so i knew i had to get this version.  I could not get it anywhere; library, supermarkets, bookshops.  The only place was Amazon UK (I live in the UK) and it is the most i have ever paid for a single paperback EVER!  I could not get it on the kindle either, much to my disappoint.

Book Description.

One hour to rewrite the past . . . 

For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn't there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents' death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She's tried everything, but the visions keep coming back. So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson's willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.

Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he's around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?
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Review.

First, let me just talk about the cover.  I always mention covers and since i bought the paperback i need to talk about it.  I loved the actual texture and feel of the cover, it was bizarre, sort of like a waxy effect that left fingerprints and smudges on it and it was one of those 'soft' books where it just flops open and no breaking the spine---FAB!  No the cover is just odd, at first i was like, is she trying to walk through a door?, has she walked through a door backwards?, is she pregnant? I had NO clue, after a while of reading the book and looking at the cover i realised she is actually walking on the walls and what i thought was the door is actually the floor and i felt incredibly stupid!  I don't get how this cover relates to the story, may be in ways (no spoilers give) but then maybe the attraction element of the cover it due to how crazy it looks.

From how naive i am, i didn't realise from the blurb that story was about time travel! If you read the comments on the book from 'famous reviews'  then apparently it is mentioned but i never read those.  I never read a full review before reading a book, i don't want to be swayed with anything.  I am sleepy whilst typing this so I'm sorry for any typos or general rambling rubbish (like now).     I was hooked on this book within the first couple of chapters and i have to say my naivety thought she was seeing ghosts as such and i thought it was to do with the after-life.  When i finally released it was about time-travel, i was not disappointed in the slightest, i just felt slightly dumb for not releasing beforehand.  Has i was saying, i was completely hooked almost immediately and really didn't want to put it down.  For almost half the book i had no idea where this story was taking me but when the pieces clicked together it was like, wow!  I don't like to go through the whole book description again within the review as it is above and it is very easy to give away spoiler information so i try to be careful.  

The storyline is written really well, in a way to keep the reader interested constantly, dropping bits of information but not fully explaining, so it leaves questions and you wanting more.  I kept having so many questions throughout the book and i wish i would have jotted them down as i read because i am not sure they were fully answered.  One major thing which involved past,present,future and characters and is a theory in the book,, a principle (i won't name it but it begins with an Nov-you will know if read the book), which characters knew/learnt 1st, it really is like the age old question- which came 1st, the chicken or the egg?  If you have read the book you will know what i am on about (i hope haha), if you haven't read the book, you'll be skipping this thinking she is crazy.  But honest, read the book, because it will do this to your brain.  Praying this is all answered in 'Timepiece' .  That is the thing with novels which aren't stand alone ones, when there is going to be a series, questions can be answered later on, not within that novel and people forget that.

The concept of time travel can be complex and confusing, if someone would have said to me, "here read this time travel novel" i would not have because i thought it was sci-fi! This isn't a sci-fi book in my opinion.  We learn about time travel as the main character Emerson 'Em' learns about it, and therefore throughout the book we are spoon-fed information to ease us in and to be honest it's quite simple in this book.  So, while Em's head's explodes about it all, ours isn't.  The book has so many uncertainties because you just don't know exactly where it is heading, situations aren't predictable, the anticipation is in overload mode and the ending was a complete wow moment for me as it was a bit of a shocker!  It definitely makes you want to read 'Timepiece.'

There isn't too many characters to confuse the plot and each are explained and their purpose for being within the storyline.  There is Thomas and Dru (Em's brother and sister-in-law) they aren't explained too much, but they are there and serve a purpose and the other being Lily, she's Em's best friend, which we find out a 'secret' about but not much more is really touched upon in any depth at all regarding this 'secret'.  The other characters play a bit more of an important role.  The narrator of the book is Em, therefore in 1st person, which worked perfectly for learning new information, it was then told through her and we were told how she felt and what she thought.  I really felt like i was warming to Em, i felt sympathy for her, she had gone through so much in her young life (only 17 years old) but at times she really did grate on me.  This was probably her whiny attitude and the lusting after the other main character 'Michael'.  Now, yes she is a teenager, but the drooling, swooning and lusting she did was a bit more than enough.  There is only so many times you can hear how 'hot' someone is before it drives you crazy. All this and Michael's body and muscles!! seem to be mentioned almost every time Michael was, now I'm not sure if it's because teenagers can get a bit obsessive around the opposite sex and all that but argh it drove me crazy! There were some really inappropriate comments/thoughts in there given the situation she was in.  Now i would understand if it was just Michael, with him she has a 'connection' but when another male is on the scene who is 'hot', she's swooning after him and goes off with him. Tut Tut.  Also, this special connection with Michael- relating to electricity, really didn't work for me, i mean please.  A hundred times i heard that too and i get it.  Right sorry being a grump there! Love a bit of romance but this wasn't.  Michael, lovely guy, really BUT almost all the way through, i didn't know whether i could trust him, was he dodgy?, did he just want Em's ability to use it?  I just didn't know. I did begin to trust him though and Kaleb, i didn't know whether to trust him and i was just edgy really.  Maybe i was protective over Em.

I have to say that i really really did enjoy this book, i loved it all except the point i mentioned above and for me, that is why it lost a rating.  I was just hooked, i was blown away and i cannot wait to read the next book 'Timepiece' (released 12th June 2012) (i am already reading it but shhh it doesn't add to this review, but let's say it's gooooddddd!! shh).  I really do recommend this book so read read read, you have too.  From a debut author, wow, impressive.

This gets an impressive  4 out of 5 ladybugs/ ladybirds in my ratings system.

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