Chase (What Happens To Men When They Move To Manhattan) by Jill Knapp

I am honoured to be the first to reveal that the new title of Chase will be What Happens To Men When They Move To Manhattan! It will be released under this amazing and perfectly fitting new name by Harper Impulse on 24th July. 

Here is what the new cover will look like! 

The question that 23-year old Amalia Hastings wants the answer to is: What happens to men when they move to Manhattan? 

Life in the big city gives Amalia a ride she is not expecting. As she tries to find her way on the little island that never sleeps, she discovers she has a harder time navigating through life then she does the streets of Greenwich Village and finds herself truly lost in the complex world of men, graduate school, money, family, and friendship.

She thought she had everything she wanted – a new apartment in Manhattan, a first-rate education at NYU, a group of trusted friends and Nicholas, a boyfriend who she once believed was her soul-mate. But somehow, it isn’t enough.

Stumbling through her relationships, Amalia encounters Michael. An attractive classmate who quickly moves from being one of her close friends, to an inconsistent friend-with-benefits. After all, the only thing consistent about New York is its beauty.

After getting terribly lost searching for love in all the wrong places, Amalia finds herself torn between the possibility of a relationship, and an adventure she's been planning all along.

She eventually realizes that solely chasing love closes her off to all of the other good things life has to offer. Now she must decide – what is worth the chase?

I’m usually a bit hesitant when it comes to reading US YA novels as being from the UK I sometimes worry that I wouldn't be able to relate to the story, the culture or the places mentioned, and in turn not enjoy the book in the way that I should, but I did not have a problem relating to Amalia or New York at all. Although I've never been (but am desperate to go), the way Jill has written the story means that you don’t have to be familiar with America at all, the places she mentions are well known throughout the world, as is the music and everything else is a chance to learn as you are reading. This book reminded me a lot of Sex and The City as the lives of the characters in the book are similar to those in SATC.

I loved this book, it was such a quick and easy read with an incredible flowing story. I got completely sucked into the storyline and Amalia’s life, I loved that it is just centered around her love life, chasing things that she thinks she wants and in the end realising what she really does want and the things she needs to give up on. This book is so real and uses real life experiences that are very common.

I related to Amalia so much with the fact that she just wanted to fit in and be liked and lots of bad things just keep happening to her through no fault of her own. Her boyfriend whom she thought was ‘the one’ dumps her and then when she thinks she’s in love again he turns out to be a complete idiot. She learns a lot of life lessons throughout the book and just gets stronger and stronger as a woman and character. She is not afraid to admit her mistakes and I love the scenes in the book where she tells people exactly how she feels and what she thinks of them!

Another good thing about this book is that you really get to know her friends, which often doesn't happen, and each of their very different but great personalities, you felt as though they were as much main characters as Amalia was. I loved how different they all were but all came together for their friend when she needed them most. I think Cassandra would have to be my favourite though as she was much more eccentric than the others and buys the best Christmas gifts haha!

I don’t want to say too much about this book because it is amazing and I think everybody should get a copy when it is released in July! I know I am definitely going to get another copy!

The ending of the book was so unexpected and it leaves you completely unaware what is going to happen next, which leaves the perfect opening for book 2! I can’t wait to see what happens when Amalia returns in the next book, will she get back together with Nicholas? Will Michael turn out to be a nice guy after all?

Thank you to Jill for sending me a review copy of this wonderful book. This book gets a well deserved 5 out of 5 stars!

You're The One that I want by Giovanna Fletcher

Maddy, dressed in white, stands at the back of the church. At the end of the aisle is Rob – the man she’s about to marry. Next to Rob is Ben – best man and the best friend any two people ever had.And that’s the problem.

Because if it wasn’t Rob waiting for her at the altar, there’s a strong chance it would be Ben. Loyal and sensitive Ben has always kept his feelings to himself, but if he turned round and told Maddy she was making a mistake, would she listen? And would he be right?

Best friends since childhood, Maddy, Ben and Rob thought their bond was unbreakable. But love changes everything. Maddy has a choice to make but will she choose wisely? Her heart, and the hearts of the two best men she knows, depend on it…

After how much I loved Giovanna's debut novel Billy and Me I have been waiting all year for her next novel to be released, so when I got my hands on it I couldn't wait to start reading straight away.

I adored this book! After reading Billy and Me I wondered how Giovanna could possibly top it with her next novel, but she has. You're The One That I Want is so well written and flows so easily, it had me up late at night and I actually had to force myself to put it down as I was up early for work the next day. I just felt like I had to carry on reading to see if what I wanted to happen was going to happen.

After just a few pages I was completely taken out of the real world and into Maddy, Ben and Rob's, they are all incredible characters that you can relate to straight away. I loved that the book follows the characters lives from when they are 9 to 27 years old, this makes it so easy to get to know them inside out and watch them grow as children, teenagers and then adults. It is written from the perspective of Maddy and Ben, this helps us to see the emotion and feelings behind both characters and how much their friendship means to one another. although we don't get Rob's thought's this doesn't make him any less part of the novel as he is included in both Maddy and Ben's 'story's' in a way that we get to learn exactly who he is.

The storyline was simple but written so beautifully, I loved that nothing in this book was unrealistic, everything that happens is common when growing up, such as, friendship, love and heartbreak. I felt every single moment and every emotion with Maddy and Ben as if it was me that it was happening to. Every emotion that you could possibly feel you will whilst reading this book.

This is by far the best book I have read this year and I cannot wait to see what Giovanna brings us next, if her first two books are anything to go by she has a great career ahead of her! I recommend this book to anybody, it is chic-lit at it's finest and I almost cried turning the last page because it was over. I still can't decide if I'm Team Ben or Team Rob though!

My review of Giovanna's debut novel Billy and Me can be read here.

What Belongs To Her by Rachel Brimble

Since the moment a local crime boss claimed ownership of her family's fairground, Sasha Todd has dreamed of righting the wrong. Now it's time to act, and backing down from the man's estranged son is definitely not an option. After all, giving up her legacy to hot-blooded John Jordon means losing the chance to finally heal the wounds in her past.

Stopping John in his tracks—and resisting the sizzle between them—is Sasha's best defense. But there's more to him than she thought, which changes everything. With what matters most at stake, she'll have to risk a brand-new future with John, or walk away from the man whose heart belongs to her.

A copy of this book was sent to me for an honest review. This is the first Rachel Brimble book I have read and I was not disappointed. It was a completely different plot than most romance novels but it was so interesting, it is not just meeting and falling in love and there is no guy being a hero and rescuing the girl. I love that the relationship between Sasha and John isn't perfect, it makes the novel so much more real and helps you to really connect with the characters.

There was lots of suspense built up in this novel which made the plot different to other romance novels as it makes it more than just a love story. We see secrets emerge surrounding the fairground that belonged to Sasha’s family in the past.

I loved the characters and really felt like I could connect to them, Sasha is not the typical woman we find in romance novels. She is a heroine that is tough and preferred to fight for what she wants. Her being this way makes her so much more likeable as she is not just a girl falling for a guy, she does not want to like John, but there is a chemistry between them that she cannot escape.  I loved the way Rachel developed Sasha and John throughout the book, the changes in both of them worked really well. This book covered every emotion you could possibly feel and it was so so good!

I don’t really want too give much about this book away as it was so great and I think you should just read it without knowing much about it, that’s what I did and I loved it!  What makes this book so great is that you can actually picture yourself in the novel and as Sasha, it is just the way Rachel writes, she makes you feel so connected with the story that you feel like you are the story. 

I will definitely be looking out for more Rachel Brimble novels and I would recommend them to anybody that likes a good romance with a bit of a twist.

Bound By Love by Stephie Walls

When young college student and working phenom, Annie Teasman, shows up again at the distribution center to pitch a consulting proposal to management in hopes of sealing the deal, she never suspects when their eyes lock that the gorgeous, blue-eyed, ripped Gray Dearsley will change her life forever. 

Will the bright, funny, and unassuming coed from an upper class background be able to bind her heart to that of the cocky, carefree Southern playboy? As she tries to manage an impossible school load while working full-time, will her drug use jeopardize their relationship?

While Gray wrestles with his desire to lead a carefree and uncommitted lifestyle, Annie must grow up as she struggles to meet her goals and decide for herself what she needs from a relationship to be happy. Will she choose a relationship where she is bound by passionate love, or will she choose the gentle love and security of a man whose background more closely matches her own?

Set in a Southern town where the cultural divide is wide and the generation gap is even more pronounced, the book is contemporary in its approach to the issue of drugs at colleges where the demands on time for success-oriented students frequently surpass their physical capabilities.

Passionate, sensual, and erotic, Bound by Love explores some of life’s most difficult questions about love & happiness. This is not a fairytale romance; it’s the story of two people desperate to love each other through drugs, infidelity, and painful truths. Not all love is guaranteed a happy ending.

I was given a copy of this book by Stephie Walls in exchange for an honest review, and honestly, it was AMAZING. This is the first novel of this type that I have read and I can honestly say I was not disappointed! I always (wrongly) believed that there wasn’t a storyline to erotic novels and that it was just all about sex, which I think is why I haven’t read them in the past, but this one was romantic and really followed a deep story of love and relationships. It has completely changed my opinion in the best way!

I loved that Stephie uses real life situations and events in the novel, this makes it easy to fall in and out of love with the characters, well Gray anyway! The whole storyline is so believable and nothing is too far-fetched. The characters are not perfect and that makes them so much more real because nobody is perfect! Stephie pulls you in and makes you realise the pain, confusion and messy situations that sometimes come with love.

I think what makes this book so good is that it is written from the perspective of the two main characters Annie and Gray, this helps to build up a much better relationship with them, I loved that sometimes the same situations/ events were written from both characters point of view, this gave us an insight to their real thoughts and feelings and showed that most of the time they were completely different. I think if it hadn’t been like this and just written from Annie’s point of view, we may not have learnt about the real Gray and he probably would of seemed like a nice guy! The narrative switches from one character to the next with ease, it does not cause any sort of confusion and the dialog used for both characters is great and the way it is written shows you the different attitudes and personalities of Annie and Gray.

I loved the relevance of the title as Annie is definitely ‘Bound By Love’ and there is nothing she can do about it.

The book doesn’t end like most romantic novels but it completely makes sense and the way it is written and the way the plot evolves leaves you wishing you had the next book in front of you!

I am not going to give anything else about this book away because I read this without reading any reviews or thoughts on it and it made it so much better, so I don’t want to ruin it for anybody.

I cannot believe this is Stephie’s first novel, the way the book is so professional and intriguing you’d think she had been writing novels for years. I would definitely recommend this book to anybody, this book will capture your attention from the very beginning and makes you feel every emotion with the characters. I couldn’t put this book down and cannot wait for Stephie’s next book!

Rock My World by Julie Shackman

Ruby Cameron is an ambitious reporter for a local paper where she is fed scraps of news, and lives with a man whose “idea of living dangerously is to leave the heating on when we pop out to the shops”. But after catching her squeaky clean boyfriend in flagrante delicto she ups sticks and moves into her own small home, only to discover the ghostly presence of a cheeky rock star who becomes her confidant as the dynamics of her small town, and her feelings about her dashing new boss, begin to throw up more questions than she can answer. Will Ruby discover who she really is, and perhaps more importantly, who she wants to be?


Review

Thank you to Julie for sending me a review copy of Rock My World. As soon as I read the blurb for this book I had high hopes for it!

As soon as I started reading this book I got completely hooked, the whole concept of the story was so engaging I just couldn't put it down, I even had to stop myself from having sneaky reads of it in work! As soon as I stopped reading all I could think about was when I could read some more and what would be happening next. Even the cover was mesmerising, what I love is that it doesn't give anything about the novel away, so it makes you want to jump straight in.

I loved Ruby instantly, there was such a likable factor about her that just drew me in straight away and I felt a huge connection to her. I found myself willing her and Matt to get together through the whole book, if I was Ruby I don't think I could of held him at arms length for so long, ha!

Although I'm a 90's baby I love 80's rock music so all of the references to 80's rock bands are exactly my kind of thing, the songs that Julie mentions I knew so instantly started singing them to myself. I think even if I didn't know who the bands where it wouldn't of mattered because they don't make the story they are just an added bonus to see into the characters lives a little bit more and to bring them to life, but who hasn't heard of Bon Jovi and Fleetwood Mac?!

I don't want to give too much away but I'm still trying to pick my jaw up off the floor after the HUGE twist in the story! 

I loved that this novel was a romance but with a heavy involvement of rock music, which you don't often get from this type of book. I think this would mean that it would appeal to a much wider audience and I would recommend anybody to read it! I for one cannot wait to read Julie's second novel!

Author Interview with Julie Shackman

Could you please tell me a little bit about Rock My World?
Ruby Cameron is an ambitious reporter for a local paper where she is fed scraps of news, and lives with a man whose “idea of living dangerously is to leave the heating on when we pop out to the shops”. But after catching her squeaky clean boyfriend in flagrante delicto she ups sticks and moves into her own small home, only to discover the ghostly presence of a cheeky rock star who becomes her confidant as the dynamics of her small town, and her feelings about her dashing new boss, begin to throw up more questions than she can answer. Will Ruby discover who she really is, and perhaps more importantly, who she wants to be?

When did you first realise you wanted to be a writer?
I've always loved books from an early age and enjoyed creative writing at school. I don't think there wasn't ever a time I didn't want to be a writer!

How long does it take you to write a book?
"RMW" took around 6-8 months to write, but that included some editing and revisions.

What is your work schedule like when you're writing?
I usually try to get out of the house when I'm writing and go to a local coffee shop. There are too many distractions at home! I get our sons off to school and then head off to write. I try to do a good couple of hours there, before returning home to type it up and knock it into shape.

How was your journey to becoming a writer? Easy or difficult? How long did it take?
Like many writers, it has been a long journey! I had two childrens picture books published years ago but have always wanted to write rom-coms. I just kept going, read lots, wrote lots and tried to stay positive!

Where did you get the idea for your book and for the characters such as Ruby and Matt?
I love music, especially rock and have to have music playing when I'm writing. The idea for "RMW" just came to me whilst I was listening to some music and then the character ideas started to form.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?
I love reading; going for long walks and watching movies - especially rom-coms of course!

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your book?
How sad I was going to feel when I wrote the words The End! I did feel like I had achieved something but at the same time, I got very attached to my characters and it was like saying goodbye to close friends.

Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?
I have been very delighted and touched by the lovely comments I've received about "RMW". The over-riding comments are that it made them laugh, it made them cry and that they developed a huge crush on Matt!

Is there a certain type of scene that’s harder for you to write than others? For example, love or action?
I think sometimes the action scenes can be a bit tricky, as you want them to be realistic but not over the top either.

What book do you wish you could have written and why?
One of my favourite novels is "Who's Afraid of Mr Wolfe?" by the fab Hazel Osmond. Jack is a wonderful character - sexy, brooding and very Alpha-male. I would've loved to have written that one!

What do you think makes a good story?
I think as long as the author loves the story and loves their characters, it comes through and then the reader is swept along by it as well.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
I wanted to be an author/journalist.

What is your all time favourite book?
Again, it has to be "Who's Afraid of Mr Wolfe?" by Hazel Osmond - Hazel isn't on commission for this, honest! It is just a superb rom-com.

What writing advice do you have for aspiring authors?
Read lots; write lots and don't give up! Keep going! If you want to be an author badly enough, it will happen!

What are you working on at the moment?
I'm just editing my second novel (also a rom-com) and am starting research on my third (also a rom-com).

Three Steps Behind You by Amy Bird

Dan and Adam have always been close. In fact, they’ve been closer than Adam could ever guess. And if Dan’s going to get that close again, it will take time. It will take research. It may even take practice. Fortunately, Dan is a very patient person – and Adam trusts him. With his house key. With his secrets. With his wife…

But as Dan gets closer, someone is watching. Someone who will stop at nothing to uncover the truth… and seek revenge.

It’s only a matter of time before danger steps out of the shadows. Dan has his sight fixed on the future; perhaps he should have kept one eye on what lay behind?

I have recently started really enjoying thrillers so when Amy contacted me to ask if I wanted to review Three Steps Behind You I jumped at the chance. Let me tell you something though, this book is not just a normal thriller it is something much much more! It is like nothing I have ever read before, it has such a different story line and concept that it makes it unputdownable! It keeps you guessing all the way through, there are so many twists and turns but it makes the book so much more interesting! I will warn you though this book is not for the faint hearted!

The great thing about this book is that although you shouldn't like Dan you just can’t help it, this is purely because of the way Amy has written him, Dan is a strange stalker type character, who is in love with his best friend Adam, so it feels wrong to like him, but it isn't in a nice way that you do, it is because he is truly fascinating and you can’t wait to find out what he will do next.

The plot follows Dan and his strange, creepy, obsessional thoughts and actions, which he does because he strongly believes in method acting and applies that concept to writing his book. He creates an alter ego, Luke, to play out his thoughts and fantasies so that he can then incorporate them into his book. In a way I think Dan could be classed as slightly Schizophrenic just because of how easily he seems to change between himself and Luke, and it seems like it is uncontrollable. It is a great book to explain the thoughts and actions of somebody with an unstable mind.

I would definitely recommend this to anybody that likes a dark read. I absolutely loved this book, the whole concept and story was fascinating. There are creepy, fascinating and funny moments in this book, which are all written brilliantly by Amy. I finished it in 2 days because I just couldn't put it down! I am now definitely going to read her first novel ‘Yours Is Mine’.

Book Blogger 'Get To Know Me' Tag

Tell us five random facts about you. 

I'm not very good at things like this as I can never think of anything interesting about myself but here goes...

• I’m from Liverpool in England. It really isn't as bad as people think, we aren't all thieves, we don't have fights at the drop of a hat, we're actually really friendly people who all stick together in times of need. I went through a phase a few years ago of absolutely hating it but now I've realised what an amazing city it is full of history and culture. I grew up in a little village in Liverpool, 5 minutes away from the beach, which was lovely. 

• I am a huge animal lover and have been a vegetarian for 8 years. 
• I have never had an operation, broken a bone or even been in hospital overnight. 
• Audrey Hepburn is my idol! I love everything about her! 
• I have a strange obsession with Disney mugs or just mugs in general really, our cupboard is far too full with so many mugs but I can't bring myself to throw any out. 

When is your birthday?

The 20th of April. I love birthday's! Were I work we get a 'free' holiday when it's our birthday so that's great and I always get excited a few weeks before. This year my birthday was on Easter Sunday so as well as presents I got lots of chocolate! 

What is your favourite colour?

Purple! I love purple!

What is your favourite memory?

I have so many great memories of family holidays each summer when I was younger, but I would have to say that now my favourite memory is the day that my fiance proposed to me, that is something I will never forget and it will never fail to make me smile.

Describe a day in your life.

Well, on an average weekday I get up at aound 7am, get ready, feed myself, my rabbit and my fish and leave the house at about 8.15 to catch my bus to work (I have a full-time job working as a Health & Safety Assistant in a Law firm). It only takes me around 15 minutes to get into the city centre (when the traffic isn't too bad that is) so I will usually read a little bit of a book on my Kindle. My day is usually spend sitting behind a desk sending emails etc, but sometimes I will have to travel around the country to visit different offices. I have lunch consitsting of a sandwich, crisps and usually some chocolate at 1pm, I always make sure I leave the office to get a bit of fresh air at lunchtime. I go back in at 2pm and spend until 5pm working, I then walk to the bus stop and get the bus which usually comes at around 5.10pm, I am then home for around 5.40pm. My fiance sometimes has my dinner ready if he is awake (he works night shifts), if not I wake him up and we cook dinner together. We then spend the rest of the night relaxing watching TV until he has to go to work at 9.30pm. Once he has gone I will catch up on TV or reading then go to bed at around 10.30pm.

Name five of your favourite songs.

I can never choose a favourite song so 5 might be pushing it haha...

Flaws - Bastille

Shine A Light - McFly

Monkey Wrench - Foo Fighters

Go Gentle - Robbie Williams 

Amazed - Lonestar

If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?

I think I would have to say Pizza or Cheese (I love cheese!)

What is something you really dislike?

Spiders!

Summer or winter?

We hardly ever get a warm summer in Britain but when we do I love summer. But I think for this I would have to say winter, I love being all cosy and warm inside by the fire or outside wrapped up in jumpers and scarves. Also my favourite time of year is Christmas so I have to say winter.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where you would live and why?

I would have to say either Australia or the Lake District, because well who wouldn't want to live in Australia and I have been to the Lake District so many times in my life and it never gets boring, it is such a beautiful place.

Name five of your favourite films.

The Notebook, Dear John, Pearl Harbour, The Hunger Games and all of the Harry Potter films (they count as one, right?)

If you won the lottery what would you buy?

I get myself and my fiance a house somewhere that we would love to live (with a huge library for me of course), give my family all some money each. Pay for our wedding! Go on a Disneyland or Caribbean holiday. Then sort out everything that needs paying off etc, and put some money away for later in life.

Favourite day of the week?

Friday because it means it's my last day in work for the week and the start of the weekend!

What three things would you take to a desert island with you?

My fiance, my favourite book and some chocolate! 

Sweet or savoury?

Sweet! I have a huge sweet tooth!

Early bird or night owl?

Early bird, mainly because I can't usually stay up past 10.30! I need my sleep!

Name five of your favourite books. 

One Day - David Nicholls

The Fault In Our Stars - John Green

Looking for Alaska - John Green

Harry Potter - J.K. Rowling (all of them)

PS I Love You - Cecelia Ahern

Favourite drink?

Tea or Milk!

Favourite animal?

Dolphins, but also rabbits because they are so cute and fluffy, but mine is the best! 

See?!

Who do you tag next?

Anybody that is reading this and wants to have a go :)

Book Blogger TMI Tag

How old are you?

22.

What book are you reading?

I've only just finished a book but my next one will be Three Steps Behind You by Amy Bird.

What are you wearing?

Work clothes

OTP?

I always wonder about this and always go back to Emma and Dexter...

Blogger or WordPress?

Blogger. I tried to change to WordPress recently but just couldn't seem to get it to do what I wanted it to.

Going outside being active or staying in and reading a book?

Staying in and reading.

What is the last book you read?

The Warrior Queen by Lavinia Collins, I loved it! You can read my review here

What is the book you’re going to read next?

Three Steps Behind You by Amy Bird.

Ebooks – yes or no?

Yes. Although I like the feel of a paper book better, eBooks are so much more convenient and cheaper to buy when you have no money!

Where do you prefer to read?

On the couch or snuggled up in bed.

What do you do when someone tells you reading is boring?

Tell them that the reason why they probably think reading is boring is because they have never read a book that draws you in and speaks to you in a way that you couldn't imagine. Then I usually recommend a few books that do this.

Who is the last person you texted?

My Mum.

Who is your all-time favorite book character?

I think I will have to say Katniss Everdeen.

UKYA or USYA?

UKYA purely because I read more of it but USYA is also amazing.

What is your preferred drink whilst reading?

Tea or Milk.

If you hated reading, what would you be doing instead?
I’m really not sure, probably watching TV or films.

How many bookshelves / bookcases do you have?

I've recently moved into a house of my own so haven't got round to actually buying a bookshelf yet, although I really should because I have so many books piled up on one tiny shelf.

If you had the choice to meet all of your favorite book bloggers or all of your favorite authors, which would you pick? You can only pick one.

My favorite authors, because I would love to talk to them about their books and how they got the ideas, got published, what they are working on, etc.

Favorite author?

It's a toss up between David Nicholls and John Green

What is the number-one book on your wishlist?

I have about 50 books on my wishlist that I want to read all the same.

Do you prefer books with female or male protagonists?
I like both really but I do like to see female protagonists as you don't often find them and everybody writes them so differently.

Which is your favourite book-to-film adaption?
One Day.

What is the last song you listened to?

I honestly can't remember.

Which do you enjoy reading more - negative reviews or positive reviews?
If I really want to read a book I will read positive reviews but if I am trying to decide on whether to read it or not I will read both just to get different opinions.

Who are you going to tag?

Anybody who happens to be reading this, feel free to take part.

The Warrior Queen by Lavinia Collins

A sumptuous romance based around the life of Guinevere and Arthur's Court. 

Never before has the magical world of Queen Guinevere, King Arthur and Lancelot and the knights of the Round Table been so deeply explored than in this warming saga of passion, duty and infidelity. Drawing on a rich seam of historical sources Lavinia Collins has created a fictional masterpiece, and epic romance that will stand the test of time.

Review

When Lavinia asked me to review this book I was delighted, I love re-tellings but this one of a type that I have never read before and found it interesting as it is the retelling of King Arthur and The Knights of the Round Table. What I love about this book is that it hasn't been modernized like most re-tellings, it is just the same but from a different point of view.

The story is written from Queen Guinevere's point of view and brings old characters to life. It is interesting to see a story from this time from a woman's point of view as they were not equal's and their opinion didn't really matter, so it is nice to be able to see the events that unfold and the emotion that comes with them through Guinevere's eyes. It is a beautifully written novel which any fan of King Arthur and his court will love. I found the story so much more enjoyable than the original as it is told from a whole new and unique perspective.

I don't want to ruin the story for anybody that is unfamiliar with King Arthur, but he demands Guinevere as his wife after defeating her people, in a war which resulted in the deaths of her mother, brothers and the man she was supposed to marry. She unwillingly leaves her kingdom and elderly father behind and goes to Camelot to marry Arthur, who although she has never met him, she hates. At first being a Queen is a whole new experience for her and although she was a Princess in her kingdom she never had to act like one, but she eventually learns to enjoy her new role and even fall in love with Arthur.

I would definitely recommend this if you are looking for an old story made even better, or even if you are just looking for a quick fascinating read. This is the first in a 3 part series and I cannot wait to read the next two.

How Not to be Starstuck is an amazing book! I recommend to everybody! Here is my review.

“If you find a girl who reads, keep her close. When you find her up at 2 AM clutching a book to her chest and weeping, make her a cup of tea and hold her. You may lose her for a couple of hours but she will always come back to you. She’ll talk as if the characters in the book are real, because for a while, they always are.Date a girl who reads because you deserve it. You deserve a girl who can give you the most colorful life imaginable. If you can only give her monotony, and stale hours and half-baked proposals, then you’re better off alone. If you want the world and the worlds beyond it, date a girl who reads.” —Rosemarie Urquico

Book Tag - My Reading Habits

Do you have a certain place at home for reading?

I will usually read where ever I am sitting, but my favourite places are curled up on the sofa or snuggled up in bed.

Bookmark or random piece of paper?

Bookmarks! I used to have loads of book marks as a child and as I got older (mainly into my teens), I just didn't bother with them anymore so it was usually just a receipt, a train ticket, or anything I could get my hands on at the time of closing the book. However now I couldn't read a book without one, I only have two, one is a metal letter E and one is one that my sister bought me about 3 years ago, it has a lovely little verse on it so that is my favourite!

Can you just stop reading or do you have to stop after a chapter or certain number of pages?

I usually refuse to stop reading until I have reached the end of a chapter, even when I am almost at my stop on the bus I have to try, although I am probably going to regret that one day when I miss my stop!

Do you eat or drink while reading?

I don't eat meals or anything but I do love to eat a nice bit of chocolate or sit with a cup of milk or tea.

Do you watch TV or listen to music while reading?

I usually do have the TV on but I don't pay any attention to it, if I am really into a book I will just sit down without even thinking to switch the TV on. When I am on the bus to/from work I listen to music through my headphones as I like to block out everybody's conversations around me and just get stuck in.

One book at a time or several at once?

I have a really bad habit of starting a book and if I don't have time to read it much due to work or other things, then I see another book I will start reading that, but then I won't go back to the first one until I have finished.

Reading at home or everywhere?

I'd like to say everywhere but with work etc, it is hard so I mainly read at home and on the bus to/ from work.

Reading out loud or silently in your head?

I read in my head.

Do you ever read ahead or skip pages?

I have peeked at the back pages of a book a few times (I have no idea why), and I remember finding out something that I didn't expect, so now I never skip.

Breaking the spine or keeping it like new?

I love books to look like new but that is very hard when it is being carted around in my bag all day every day, so when I can I try to keep them looking nice but if they can't then hey who cares!

Do you write in your books?

No way!


Anybody that would like to do this book tag feel free.. I tag everyone!