Sunday Post 6th March 2016

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer, it's a chance to post a recap on the past week, show the books we have received and share what we plan for the coming week. Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews and the aim is to show our newest books and to see what everyone else received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops or downloaded on to their e-reader. As always you can click on any of the pictures to be taken to the Goodreads page for that book if you're interested in finding out more about it.

Happy Mothers Day! Does anyone have anything planned? We're just having a film day with plenty of unhealthy food (and some presents for out Mum!!).

Last Week on the Blog:

• Top Ten Books to Read if You Are in the Mood For Revenge!
• Wednesday Catch-Up
• Top 5 Biggest Book Hangovers
• February Favourites and March TBR
• Friday Reads
• Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Movie Review

Books I Got This Week:

Life Stories by David Attenborough: I don't think I can properly convey how much I love this man! I basically watch every one of his programs and I am excited to read one of his books!

The Shadow Queen by C.J. Redwine: I have heard very, very mixed things about this one but I love retellings and revenge and this sounds like it could be my kind of thing!

Kindred Spirits by Rainbow Rowell: This was a short story which I think was released for World Book Day and I just had to snap it up. I love Rainbow Rowell's writing and this just appeals to me.

Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare: I got the new covers of these and I love them so much! Ann now has my old copies and we are thinking of doing a re-read together starting next month. Let us know if you'd be interested in joining in!

Reading Update:

I have had a couple of really slow months reading wise but I think this week I got back to normal and I flew through some books! I also enjoyed all of them which is exciting!

Kit by Marina Fiorato: 4 stars, This was basically an Irish Mulan tale. Kit was such a great character and no matter what she was doing, or who she was being, I constantly rooted for her. 

The Red Lily Crown by Elizabeth Loupas: 4 stars, I really enjoyed this story, particularly as so much of it was rooted in fact. It's clear that the author did a lot of research to write this and it felt very real and compelling.

Song of the Sea Maid by Rebecca Mascull: 3 stars, I understand why people like this so much but I never really got into it and I didn't feel any emotional connection to the characters. 

The Secrets of Drearcliff Grange School by Kim Newman: 4 stars, Really enjoyed this. It's like Enid Blyton wrote the X-Men. It was really interesting and mysterious and kinda creepy.

These Vicious Masks by Tarun Shanker and Kelly Zekas: 5 stars, I genuinely started this intending to read one chapter before bed and ended up reading it all the way through. Very exciting and funny, yet ever so slightly tragic! I am desperate for the next book! 

The Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman: 4.5 stars, I really enjoyed this and I am definitely very excited for the rest of the series. 

Next Week on the Blog:

• Cover Characteristics: Hands
• Top Ten Characters I Love But Others Seem to Dislike!
• Top 5 Books That Feature Time Travel
• Wednesday Catch-Up
• Friday Reads

You can also find us on Goodreads (Ann and Clare) to keep up with what we are reading

Sunday Post 14th February 2016

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer, it's a chance to post a recap on the past week, show the books we have received and share what we plan for the coming week. Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews and Showcase Sunday is hosted by Books, Biscuits and Tea and the aim is to show our newest books and to see what everyone else received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops or downloaded on to their e-reader. As always you can click on any of the pictures to be taken to the Goodreads page for that book if you're interested in finding out more about it.

Last Week on the Blog:

• Wednesday Catch-Up
• Clare Reviews: Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
• Cover Reveal: Princess of Tyrone by Katie Hamstead
• January Wrap Up & February TBR

Books We Got This Week:

Grace & Style The Art of Pretending You Have It by Grace Helbig: I really enjoyed her first book and all her videos, I've already had a quick flick through this and thought it was very funny!

Assassin's Heart by Sarah Ahiers: I love assassins, but please, please be more vengeance and less romance.

Revenge and the Wild by Michelle Modesto: The last two (and my first two) westerns were incredible so I have high hopes for this.

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys: I haven't read any Ruta Sepetys and I've always meant to, the synopsis of this intrigued me so I am excited to get reading.

Traveler by Arwen Elys Dayton: I actually haven't read the first book yet but I've heard there was a cliff-hanger of sorts so I kind of wanted to wait for this first!

Stars Above by Marissa Meyer: I was in love with the Lunar Chronicles and it had such a bittersweet ending in Winter so I can't wait to return to that world.

Alive by Scott Sigler: It's been a while since I read a great dystopian and I am hoping this could be it?

Wolf Winter by Cecilia Ekback: This sounds very interesting. The cover intrigues me and the plot sounds very compelling. I hope to read this soon.

Kit by Marina Fiorato: I love Marina Fiorato's books, she is an auto-buy author for me and I am very excited for her new book.
Song of the Sea Maid by Rebecca Mascull: I had heard some good things about this and the idea of a female scientist in this time period does intrigue me.
The Secrets of Drearcliff Grange School by Kim Newman: I had only read half the blurb by the time I had put this in my basket at the supermarket. I got to the bit that said it was about a school for the children of master criminals. I need know no more.
These Vicious Masks by Tarun Shanker: Jane Austen meets X-Men??! Yes! I am beyond excited for this.

Front Lines by Michael Grant: I have heard some great things about this. I got this along with The Secrets of Drearcliff Grange School as they were on offer and I am hoping to enjoy this.
Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard: Another one where I haven't read the first book (because of a rumoured cliff-hanger) but I am keen to get into this series.
Curio by Evangeline Denmark: I have heard mixed things about Curio but a steampunk western intrigues me so I definitely want to try it.
Princess of Thorns by Stacey Jay: Stacey Jay has written some great retellings and I have been meaning to read this one for a while.

Reading Update:

Clare:

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys: 4.5 stars, I actually have a review up for this here (my first review in a while). I really enjoyed this. I loved the characters and how complex and three dimensional they felt and I really loved the unique plot. This isn't something I think I've really seen in other books set during this period.
The Lady's Command by Stephanie Laurens: 2.5 stars, I have a review coming for this next week. I didn't enjoy this as much as I had hoped to but I will still be reading the sequel.
In a Dark Dark Wood by Ruth Ware: 3 stars, This was kind of a failed experiment. The book itself was fine, although not particularly compelling and the characters were less than sympathetic but I just couldn't cope with the anxiety of reading a thriller.
How Not to Disappear by Clare Furniss: 4 stars, Very compelling. The subject matter was difficult but well dealt with and I found it interesting to read. The characters were very strong, especially the two main characters and I really felt like I was drawn into the world. 

You can also find us on Goodreads (Ann and Clare) to keep up with what we are reading

Sunday Post 31st January 2016

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer, it's a chance to post a recap on the past week, show the books we have received and share what we plan for the coming week. Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews and Showcase Sunday is hosted by Books, Biscuits and Tea and the aim is to show our newest books and to see what everyone else received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops or downloaded on to their e-reader. As always you can click on any of the pictures to be taken to the Goodreads page for that book if you're interested in finding out more about it.

Books We Got This Week:

In a Dark Dark Wood by Ruth Ware: I am a sucker for any book with a character named Clare anyway, but the plot also sounds really intriguing!

Oscar and Lucinda by Peter Carey: This is one I've been meaning to read for ages so I had to grab it when I spotted it in a charity shop.

The Fire Sermon by Francesca Haig: I so nearly got this when it was first released but decided not to and I can't remember why, I still want to read it so I decided to get it.

Starborn by Lucy Hansom: This sounds like my kind of book, definitely. And I will probably be reading it soon.

How Not to Disappear by Clare Furniss: I definitely feel like reading more contemporary books at the moment so this sounded perfect.

Harry Potter Magical Creatures Colouring Book: I very much needed this and I am very much looking forward to colouring it in.

The Sleeping Prince by Melinda Salisbury: I was very excited to see this and the next book in Waterstones since they aren't actually released yet and I love when that happens. Can't wait to read this!
Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton: This is one of my most anticipated releases of 2016 so to get it a few days early was somewhat exciting!
We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson: This sounds so amazing and original and I just knew I had to read it!



Reading Update:

Ann:

I have not read any books his week.

Clare:

Crooked Heart by Lissa Evans: 3 stars, I enjoyed this but it took me a while to get through. I loved Noel and liked Vee but I didn't like Donald's perspective as much. It was definitely a unique and interesting read.
Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anne Blankman: 4.5 stars, A really amazing read, loved how twisted it was and the different perspective was very interesting.

Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke by Anne Blankman: 4 stars, I think I loved Prisoner of Night and Fog a little bit more but still an amazing read!

You can also find us on Goodreads (Ann and Clare) to keep up with what we are reading