Royally Screwed - Emma Chase

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This one was part of my summer holiday reading list that I made and boy, am I glad it made it on the list. I loved this quick read with characters that draw you into the story and makes you want to find out what will happen next in their story. It is a little like The Prince and Me, but I am not complaining. Word of warning, once you pick it up you can’t put it down.

Nicholas Pembrook is the Crown Prince of Wessco, he is charming and always gets what he wants, woman fall at his feet. Then one night he meets the dark-haired beauty who doesn’t fall at his feet. Olivia is a struggling business owner, with a pie restaurant that specialises in pies.

Their story isn’t just the normal, boy meets girl, and they fall in love and live happily ever after. There are quite a few bumps along the road.

I adored all the characters, except for Olivia’s father, I really don’t like him. I loved that Olivia wasn’t just this ditsy girl that will bow down, she was spunky and gutsy.

Talking as fast as I can - Lauren Graham

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What a fast listen, the 4 hours flew by, and I am so glad I pre-ordered the audiobook, I am sure the experience wouldn’t have been the same if it wasn’t narrated by Lauren herself.

You get small glimpses into her life from the beginning, through her rise as an actress, to where she landed in Gilmore Girls, and everything from there. I really enjoyed all the little tales she had to share. I also respect her for not making this an expose piece where she just shares a lot of dirt about herself and cast members.  

Have to admit that I did skip the last couple of chapters as that is where she shares her experience and some spoilers about the new Gilmore Girls revival and I am still not done watching it, as I am savouring each episode. (Will update this review once I have listened to it)

Definitely would recommend this to any fans of the fast talking Lauren Graham, she will always be my Lorelei Gilmore.

Rebel - Joanne MacGregor

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What an ending to a great trilogy! This was the first time in a very long time that a series has sucked me in like this, especially a dystopian. When I heard of it, I thought it will be just another dystopian, how wrong was I? The premise sucked me in, and I read each book almost immediately when it came out.

You see how far Jinxy has come from the gamer who played the Game to keep her mind of the plague. All the characters who have grown on us are back and ready to fight. There are several twists and turns and just when you think you have figured everything out, there is a new curve ball thrown at you. This is what makes a great trilogy.

The last book is no different, it wraps up everything and you feel a sense of closure. Thank you Joanne for keeping the waiting period very short, I wouldn’t have survived a longer wait!

I would recommend this series in a heartbeat.

The Trouble with Falling – Rachel Morgan

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***I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***

The Trouble with Falling is the fourth book in ‘The Trouble Series’ and could most definitely be read as a standalone.

We get to know Sophie just before her sister’s wedding, we know that her previous relationship didn’t end on a great note and that Sophie has now distanced herself from everyone, only opening up to an artist, Lex, she has met on an online artist website. Throughout all the prep for the wedding, we meet Caleb, the best man for the wedding, and the two somehow hit it off, and Caleb is determined to pull Sophie out of her dark corner.

I enjoyed this book, Rachel really knows how to get you to love her characters and pull you into the story, I also love how she weaves all the previous stories into each other that should you not read these in order or not read all of them you won’t feel lost.

It is a feel-good, book that makes you smile like a Cheshire cat while reading.

Someday, Someday, Maybe - Lauren Graham

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Being a huge Gilmore Girls fan and recently discovering Parenthood, I was pleasantly surprised when I found out Lauren Graham wrote a book.

It follows Franny Banks, an aspiring actress whose self-set three-year deadline is fast approaching. Everything depends on the upcoming showcase where she will get exposure to agents who could help her make a name for herself. Together with her two-person fan club, Fanny overcomes obstacles along the way.

I found it very funny that Fanny complained about love triangles in movies but she never realised that she was in one, It was quite refreshing and I found myself drawn into the story. There were times I wanted to reach into the book and shake Franny, and tell her to wake up and smell the coffee, but that is part of the wonderful story.

The characters are lovable and very realistic. I felt that Graham wrote an amazing story with witty dialogue, definitely a page turner. The only complaint I have is that the ending was very sudden and it leaves you wanting for more.  

Grey Magic - JT Lawrence

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I am breathless, and it’s not just because of asthma.

What a gripping and engaging book. I don’t usually read books about witches (Harry Potter doesn’t count in this case) But after reading the short story in Lawrence’s Sticky Fingers, I craved more. Lucky for us, Lawrence  already started working on the full novel.

Raven is a hip, hexing-and-texting sorceress - or at least, she used to be. Now her ancient timber house is falling down around her, and the bank wants to repossess it. Nothing would make her cantankerous neighbour happier than seeing Raven and her messy menagerie out on the street. To add to her stress, the reckless Wicked Witches are causing mischief and it's her job to reign them in. Worst of all is that her magic seems to be fading.

We follow Raven, an eccentric modern-day witch, accused of murder, she must explore her past lives in order to keep her freedom and find her magic. Along the way to proving her innocence, Raven encounters some very interesting characters.

There aren't any of the characters that you feel shouldn’t be there, all play a crucial part in the story and Lawrence has a way to write characters. I loved Raven immediately she was witty, funny and her conversations with her inner voice were hilarious.

The last chapters had me holding my breath and needing my inhaler, which I found very ironic.

Was intense and beautifully written, would recommend in a heartbeat. 

Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children – Ransom Riggs

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A story that will creep you out if you aren’t used to reading books like this.

We follow Jacob Portman, a sixteen-year-old, who experienced a horrible trauma in the family. He goes on this quest to find the people from his grandfather’s stories. He journey’s to a remote island in Wales, where he stumbles across the crumbling ruins of what was Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. He discovers his grandfather was someone completely different.

The vintage photographs throughout the book are creepy and chilling and somehow does actually add to the story.

I enjoyed the story, it drew me in, and Riggs’ writing is engaging and has a way to take you along on the journey. I liked all the characters, my only problem was when it came to the love interest it was cringe-worthy.

When it comes to first books in a series, this was a good foundation and I can’t wait to get stuck into the rest of the series to find out what Jacob’s adventure has in store for us.