All posts tagged Friday finds

Love at first read

There are some books that you just fall in love with on the first read, ones that have you frantically turning the pages to find out what happens but also wishing you could slow your reading down so they won’t end. Books that thrill you and move you. I just finished one such book – Easy by Tammara Webber. I’ve fallen in love with it.

My blogging buddy Rebecca Berto recommended Easy, in fact she gushed about ti so much I thought I had to find out what the fuss was all about. And I’m so glad I did. Easy is in the new adult genre so it’s set at college in America and is about a girl called Jacqueline who just got dumped by her boyfriend and attacked by someone she thought she could trust. A gorgeous stranger saves her and they get swept up in a romance that sizzles on the page but also makes them question their long held views on trust, loyalty and guilt. Easy deals with some heavy issues like rape but in a sensitive way with the central relationship at the fore. There’s a strong positive message in the book but it’s not heavy -handed and blends in well with the love story. The characters are really strong and I completely fell for the love interest Lucas, wishing he would pop up in my life!

There were actually a few similarities in this book to the one I’m currently submitting to agents and I’d kill for anyone to love my book as much as I loved this one :) I’m sure there are faults, I’m sure it’s not for everyone but sometimes you have a gut reaction to a book that defies all rational thought. And I did to Easy. So I had to talk about it! Easy is self-published and the first one I’ve ever read – as I don’t have a Kindle they’re harder to get, Easy is available in paperback but I couldn’t tell – the writing and story gripped me from the first page. It deserves to be huge!

What was the last book you fell in love with?

Victoria

xoxo

17 Comments
by Victoria-writes on August 10, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Books, Friday Finds, Reviews
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Posted by Victoria-writes on August 10, 2012

http://victoria-writes.com/2012/08/10/love-at-first-read/

Getting back to YA

I’ve read a few adult books recently (Before I go to sleep, A discovery of witches, Miracle on Regent street) and much as I love reading, I felt young adult withdrawal kick in and I was desperate to pick up a YA book and leap in. The more I read (and write YA), the more it sucks me in and the more I’m addicted to it. I love the pacing, the way they catch me from the first page, the coming-of-age stories and what they explore like first love, social issues or supernatural powers – and wish I had some of my own :)

Here are my recent YA reads:

Fracture by Megan Miranda

This YA contemporary thriller is about a girl who falls through the ice crossing the lake. When she wakes up in hospital, she finds out she died for eleven minutes. Now she’s drawn to people who are dying but could she be causing the deaths herself? She meets a mysterious older boy who seems to have the same power, she’s drawn to him but is he as good for her as he claims to be? Add in a cute boy next door and a small town setting in depths of winter, Fracture is a creepy pacey page turner. The book promised to send chills down my spine and it delivered.

The Last Echo – Kim Derting

This is the third book in The Body Finder series about a teenage girl called Violet who is drawn to dead bodies and can sense the imprint of death on the people who killed them. In this book, she’s started to work for a team of teens with extraordinary abilities helping the FBI solve murders but when she gets too close to a case, a killer turns his attentions on her. I’ve a big fan of this series, all the books have been real page tuners and Violet’s powers are original and intriguing. There’s also a cute boy-next-door in this series too but in this book, Violet is drawn to one of her team and wonders if their connection could be romantic. Despite the love interest, this book is focused on the solving of murders and being hunted by a killer. It will keep you on the edge of your seat!

Next on my to-read list is Switched by Amanda Hocking. She was one of the first self published authors to sell a million copies and now has a publishing deal so I’m interested to check out the book behind the hype!

Do you ever get YA withdrawal?

Victoria

xoxo

12 Comments
by Victoria-writes on April 27, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Books, Friday Finds, Reviews
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Posted by Victoria-writes on April 27, 2012

http://victoria-writes.com/2012/04/27/getting-back-to-ya/

An old fashioned romance

I love a good old-fashioned romance. For someone who read and watches Jane Austen with envy, I am always on the look out for something that makes my romantic fantasies stand to attention. I’m a big fan of Hester Browne (her Little Lady agency series is a must read), if anyone can match Ms Austen’s romantic, humourous touch it’s her. Her books somehow sparkle.

I just finished Swept off her Feet, a contemporary romance that transports you to a stately home in the Scottish countryside. Evie the main character is a girl after my own heart - she is looking for her own Austen romance and gets stuck in daydreams about life and love in the past. She’s sent to the house to help value their antiques and meets moody heir Robert who hates the place and wish his parents would sell it. Add in a Scottish ball with traditional dancing and you have a funny, romantic treat.

The book contains all the ingredients I wish my own life contained but alas old-fashioned romance doesn’t knock at my door every day (or ever!) so I have to live it through books like this instead.

I might have to crack open my Pride and Prejudice box set this weekend!

Are you a fan of reading romances or are you far too cynical for all that?

Victoria

xoxo

 

24 Comments
by Victoria-writes on April 13, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Books, Friday Finds, Reviews
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Posted by Victoria-writes on April 13, 2012

http://victoria-writes.com/2012/04/13/an-old-fashioned-romance/

Pretty Little Liars & Somebody Else’s Life (Friday Finds)

 My latest TV obsession is Pretty Little Liars. It’s an American teen drama about a group of girls who are stalked by the mysterious ’A’ after the death of their Queen Bee. ‘A’ somehow knows all their secrets and they have a lot of secrets! This show is weirdly compelling with some real scares thrown in alongside the typical teen angst and the central mystery of who the stalker is will keep you hooked. It’s so bad, it’s good.

I recently finished ’Somebody else’s life’ by debut British YA author Katie Dale. It’s about a teenage girl called Rosie whose Mum Trudie tragically dies from Huntington’s disease. Rosie is terrified that she will inherit the genetic illness until her Mum’s best friend reveals she’s not Trudie’s real daughter after all. Rosie sets out to discover who her real parents are but her quest doesn’t go to plan.

I really enjoyed this book, so much so I finished it in a day as it’s a real page turner and I was desperate to find out how it ends. It’s an exciting mix of family drama, mystery, romance and heartbreak. It also poses a moral question about whether you would want to know if you had a genetic disease or not.

What did you discover this week?

Victoria

xoxo

18 Comments
by Victoria-writes on March 2, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Books, Friday Finds, Reviews, TV
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Posted by Victoria-writes on March 2, 2012

http://victoria-writes.com/2012/03/02/pretty-little-liars-somebody-elses-life-friday-finds/

A journal, new music, book tip and a poem (Friday Finds)

I brought this gorgeous journal from Amazon. Yes, it’s titled “Believe in Yourself” – pretty perfect, right? I do love stationery and this journal is the perfect place to write down thoughts, poems and quotes. Even though I won’t use it as a diary (hey, I have a blog for that), I’m excited to write something down in it. And I’m sure I’ll work out what soon :) It also has inspirational words throughout, which is very helpful right now! 

I am loving Lana Del Ray’s album Born to Die. After all the hype there’s been a bit of a backlash against Lana but her album is sultry, catchy and unique plus her voice is a real treat. Ignore the haters and prepare to enjoy. It’s on repeat on my iPod right now.

I just finished reading Supernaturally by Kiersten White. This book 2 in her Paranormalcy series so make sure you read the first book before hitting this one. Ms White has created a great voice with leading lady Evie and the book is full of humour and action and lots of supernatural creatures. Normally book 2 slumps a little but this one kept the spark and has set things up nicely for the third and final installment. I can’t wait to read it!

I found a snippet of this on a blog this week and I looked up the whole poem. I just love the words and how inspiring this is right now. In fact, it pretty much sums up my whole week – inspirational.

Nobody but you – Charles Bukowski

nobody can save you but
yourself.
you will be put again and again
into nearly impossible
situations.
they will attempt again and again
through subterfuge, guise and
force
to make you submit, quit and /or die quietly
inside.

nobody can save you but
yourself
and it will be easy enough to fail
so very easily
but don’t, don’t, don’t.
just watch them.
listen to them.
do you want to be like that?
a faceless, mindless, heartless
being?
do you want to experience
death before death?

nobody can save you but
yourself
and you’re worth saving.
it’s a war not easily won
but if anything is worth winning then
this is it.

think about it.
think about saving your self.
your spiritual self.
your gut self.
your singing magical self and
your beautiful self.
save it.
don’t join the dead-in-spirit.

maintain your self
with humor and grace
and finally
if necessary
wager your self as you struggle,
damn the odds, damn
the price.

only you can save your
self.

do it! do it!

then you’ll know exactly what
I am talking about.

What did you discover this week?

Victoria

xoxo

40 Comments
by Victoria-writes on February 10, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Books, Friday Finds, Music
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Posted by Victoria-writes on February 10, 2012

http://victoria-writes.com/2012/02/10/friday-finds-12/

Friday Finds

I haven’t posted a book recommendation for a while so here’s my Friday pick:

Blood Magic – Tessa Gratton

This paranormal YA book is about Silla, a girl who has tragically lost her parents and is struggling to deal with it. She gets sent a magic book that pulls her into a world of spells and danger. Plus there’s a new boy next door called Nicholas that captures her herat and has a secret magical past of his own.

I really enjoyed this book. It has action, romance and magic, a great combination plus it’s told from both Silla and Nick’s points of view, which is handled really well by the author. I even dropped her email to tell her how much I enjoyed it. It pulled me in and kept me there to the end. Well worth checking out if you’re a fan of romance and magic.

What are you reading this week?

Victoria

xoxo

 

 

 

 

 

25 Comments
by Victoria-writes on January 13, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by Victoria-writes on January 13, 2012

http://victoria-writes.com/2012/01/13/friday-finds-11/

Friday Finds

This week, I’ve been listening to Birdy’s album.

It’s a beautiful, relaxing collection of cover versions with a folky twist and Bridy’s voice is amazing especially considering she’s only 15. It’s very chilled so you need to be in a certain mood to enjoy it and as you know it’s been a reflective week for me so it’s been on my iPod while I commute to work.

Here’s my favourite song on there so far, Terrible Love:

I also watched Transformers: Dark of the moon this week. Sometimes my film taste edges into teenage boy territory and I loved the first two films for being fun action popcorn movies. The third outing is pretty much take three of the same although there’s a more definite ending and a change of girl. The bluray edition has amazing sound and picture quality, yes I am a geek :) so this got a thumbs up from me!

I’m currently reading Heist Society by Ally Carter. I love her spy school stories The Gallagher Girls and will let you know what I think about her new series, which is about a teenage thief.

I found a fab new nail vernish for Xmas from Barry M - red glitter, perfect for the festive season! But I’ve been on the lookout for a sparkly top to wear and I can’t find one so let me know if you spot a nice one in the shops or online!

Also on my buying plans this weekend, is the DVD of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, can’t wait to see this again!

Check out my blogroll too over on the right as I’ve added in some more favourites!

Any recommendations for me from your week?

Vix

xx

14 Comments
by Victoria-writes on December 2, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Beauty, Books, Fashion, Films, Friday Finds, Music, Shopping
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Posted by Victoria-writes on December 2, 2011

http://victoria-writes.com/2011/12/02/friday-finds-10/

Guide to winning the lottery

I just finished the funny “Lia’s guide to winning the lottery” by Keren David, a YA book about a teenage London girl who wins £8 million on the lottery.

Here’s what I learnt:
* Most women who win the lottery store the ticket in their bras for safe keeping
* If you go public with your win, a Facebook group slagging you off will follow
* If you are brought the ticket by a friend, make sure their mum never finds out or you’ll try to sue you
* The gorgeous guy at school you’ve had your eye on will suddenly find you attractive, and he might be a vampire
* Everyone will expect a lot of gifts
* You get a personal advisor and banker to help you manage your money and they will try to suck the fun out of your win
* Money can’t buy you new family and friends so you probably should buy them something nice
* Twilight isn’t real life so the gorgeous boy at school won’t turn out to be a vampire but you might just like him as a human

Who plays the lottery here? What would you do if you won?

Vix

xx

25 Comments
by Victoria-writes on November 18, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Books, Friday Finds, Fun, Reviews
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Posted by Victoria-writes on November 18, 2011

http://victoria-writes.com/2011/11/18/guide-to-winning-the-lottery/

Friday Finds

I’ve decided to keep this post when I have things to share. If anyone wants to add in their recommendations (and link to their blog), please email me the week you want to be included.

Here are this week’s finds from me:

Kelly Clarkson – Stronger

I’ve been a fan of Kelly Clarkson since her first album so it’s no great shock that I think her latest one is great but I actually think it’s her best tied with her second album Breakaway. Full of pop-rock songs, it’s fun and feisty and catchy and shows what a great singer and artist she is. My favourite songs are “What doesn’t kill you (stronger)”, “Einstein” and the gorgeous ballad “Standing in front of you”.

Lee Monroe – Dark Heart Rising

This is the sequel to Dark Heart Forever and is about a mortal British girl who falls in love with a wolf boy from an angel run universe called Nissulm. You do need to read the first book to really understand the story but both books are light and easy reads with a good balance between romance and action and both provided a couple of twists and turns that I didn’t seem coming. Probably meant for younger readers but I still enjoyed it.

Suckerpunch

I got this DVD on sale in HMV having heard mixed reviews. It really is a unique film and hard to describe. It’s basically about a group of girls who appear to be in a mental asylum and fall into fantasy sequences to win items that will help them escape from it. It’s hard to know what’s real and what’s not in the movie and I think I need to watch it again. It has great action and a brilliant soundtrack and some great feisty ladies kicking butt but I warn you it’s weird and not everyone will like it. I enjoyed it but I can’t fully say why :)

Anyone else read / seen / listened to these? What did you think?
Vix

xx

14 Comments
by Victoria-writes on November 4, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Books, Films, Friday Finds, Music
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Posted by Victoria-writes on November 4, 2011

http://victoria-writes.com/2011/11/04/friday-finds-9/

Friday Finds

Chalet Girl

This week, I watched Chalet Girl – a romantic comedy set in a ski resort starring Felicity Jones and Ed Westwick (see Gossip Girl). I actually really enjoyed this film, it’s light hearted and fun with some laugh out loud moments and a happy ending that will leave you all warm and fuzzy. This is definitely a film I will rewatch, especially around Christmas as all the snow made me feel all festive. A good girlie film!

Wild

This week I finished WILD by Aprilynne Pike – the third book in her series about a teenage faerie being caught in a love triangle between her human boyfriend and faerie bodyguard whilst trying to hide out from trolls. This series seems to target younger readers than my usual reads but it’s light hearted and easy to read. The love triangle is getting a bit drawn out but I think there’s only one book left so it should pick up for the next one and there was a good cliffhanger to wet our appetites for it.

Natalia Kills – Perfection

I listened to the debut album from Natalia Kills. Her style is similar to Lady Gaga with some solid funky dance songs and some tough girl lyrics. A fun album that deserves to be a success. I especially like the tracks “Wonderland” and “Free”.

Have you found anything fab this week?
Vix

xx

22 Comments
by Victoria-writes on October 14, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Books, Films, Friday Finds, Music
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Posted by Victoria-writes on October 14, 2011

http://victoria-writes.com/2011/10/14/friday-finds-7/

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