Letterbox Love #33

Letterbox Love is a meme hosted by Lynsey of Narratively Speaking whereby book lovers can exhibit the books they received this week.

This week I am RESTRAINED. (sort of).      

Received for Review:

Time After Time by Tamara Ireland Stone

Lisa you are a star! Random House I ADORE YOU for sending a copy of this.  

Pawn by Aimee Carter

I know, I know, I shouldn’t be requesting any books. But this looks awesome, thanks Netgalley and Mira Ink.  

Unaccompanied Minor by Hollis Gillespie

Thanks Netgalley and Adams Media, this sounds exciting.

Bought:

Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan

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What did you receive this week? Have you read any of my books and do you think it should be at the top or the bottom of my to read pile?  I’d love to hear from you! 

Book Review: Time Between Us

Time Between UsTime Between Us

by Tamara Ireland Stone

Published: 4th July 2013 by Random House

Version: Paperback from publisher (review my own, honest opinion)

Rating: 4.5 sofas

Anna and Bennett were never supposed to meet: she lives in 1995 Chicago and he lives in 2012 San Francisco. But Bennett has the unique ability to travel through time and space, which brings him into Anna’s life, and with him a new world of adventure and possibility.

As their relationship deepens, the two face the reality that time may knock Bennett back to where he belongs, even as a devastating crisis throws everything they believe into question. Against a ticking clock, Anna and Bennett are forced to ask themselves how far they can push the bounds of fate, what consequences they can bear in order to stay together, and whether their love can stand the test of time.

Fresh, exciting, and deeply romantic, Time Between Us is a stunning, spellbinding debut from an extraordinary new voice in YA fiction.

As soon as I heard the comparison to The Time Traveller’s Wife, I knew I had to read this book. While they are quite different, I loved Time Between Us just as much. Bennett can travel in time, and can take things and people with him. When he stumbles into Anna in 1995 looking for his sister, he decides to stick around.

This book was as beautiful as its cover. It was romantic, cute and sad and I couldn’t put it down. Heartbreak was inevitable as they did not belong together; his timeline was 17 years ahead of hers. Not to mention the risk that he may ‘bounce back’ at any time. 

I like how it tampered with the idea of the butterfly effect, but I think in practice it didn’t all quite come together. Bennett was very willing to change things for his own benefit, but when it came to someone else he kicked up a massive fuss. Even though his entire presence in the book was wrong! But I have to forgive him, because he is adorable 😉

I thought that Anna too was a really strong character. When cute boy Bennett saunters into her life and offers her what shes dreamt about her whole life, she does take her time and think it over. She has her own personal strengths, and especially in the end I really rooted for her. 

The only thing I didn’t particularly like about the book was that it was over too soon! I felt it ended a bit abruptly, just as I was losing myself in the story. I’m hoping that the sequel will answer all my outstanding questions, and give me greater character development. 

One thing’s for sure, and that is I NEED the sequel, asap! It’s due for release at the end of October, and I can’t wait to find out what happens to Anna and Bennett.

This book is about love, connections and consequences. I adore the idea of toying with fate, and the butterfly effect that ripples afterwards. Strong characters and an enticingly romantic storyline makes for an AMAZING book. Roll on October! 4.5 sofas

Readathon: Bout of Books 8.0 Wrap-Up

bout of books 8

Bout of Books 8.0 was my first Bout of Books, and I’m so glad I took part. 

Book List

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Goals

I plan to read three books

While I didn’t manage to read all the books on my goal pile, I did finish two of them. I have started Diary of a Mall Girl and have also read Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone. 

I want to participate in at least one Twitter chat

I took part in the Twitter chat on Saturday.

Complete two challengers

I completed the Bookish Bucket list and the TBR list (both in my Update post)

Write two reviews

My review of Every Day is already up and a review of The Screaming Staircase is going up on Thursday!

Comment on as many Bout of Books posts as possible and make some new friends! 

While I did speak to some new people during the Twitter chat I’m not sure I made any friends as such. I have been trying to comment on blogs overall but haven’t really seen that many Bout of Books posts in my blogroll. 

Overall I count my Bout of Books progress as a success! I’d only read about 3 books in a month prior to the readathon, so to get through that many in a week makes me really happy. It has definitely put me in the mood to read again, which is a priceless reward.

Did you manage to meet all your goals? 

Readathon: Bout of Books 8.0 Update

bout of books 8

Bout of Books 8.0 started on Monday. I did a lot of reading on the first day, but not as much since. I’m also going to use this to record any challenges.  

Monday

Number of pages read: 373 (technically I started this Sunday night, but I’m going to count them all)

Books: Every Day by David Levithan

Challenges: Bookish Bucket List

bucketlist

Tuesday

Number of pages read: 110

Books: Diary of a Mall Girl by Luisa Plaja (60 pages)

Vivian Versus the Apocalypse by Katie Coyle (50 pages)

Challenges: None

Wednesday

Number of pages read: 62

Books: Vivian Versus the Apocalypse

Challenges: TBR List Challenge

tbrlist

Thursday

Number of pages read: 80

Books: Vivian Versus the Apocalypse

Challenges: None

Friday

Number of pages read: 96

Books: Vivian Versus the Apocalypse

Challenges: None

Saturday

Number of pages read: 86

Books: Time Between Us

Challenges: None

Sunday

Number of pages read:

Books: Time Between Us

Challenges:

Letterbox Love #27

Letterbox Love is a meme hosted by Lynsey of Narratively Speaking whereby book lovers can exhibit the books they received this week.

Happy weekend! I tried to be good, and then I discovered a website of half price books and it all went downhill from there….    

 Received for Review:

Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone

The Curse of the Gloamglozer by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell

The Winter Knights by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell

Clash of the Sky Galleons by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell

Thanks to Random House! Time Between Us is a duplicate copy but I’m sure it will find a home somewhere. The other three are the first in the Edge Chronicles, and the new covers are amazing!

Red Rock by Kate Kelly

Amber by Julie Sykes

Yet more amazing Curious Fox titles! Their catalogue just keeps getting more and more exciting. 

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Bought:

Maggot Moon by Sally Gardner

How I Lost You by Janet Gurtler

If He Had Been With Me by Laura Nowlin

Truly Madly Deadly by Hannah Jayne

Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt

Skinny by Donna Cooner

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What did you receive this week? Have you read any of my books and do you think it should be at the top or the bottom of my to read pile?  I’d love to hear from you! 

Letterbox Love #26

Letterbox Love is a meme hosted by Lynsey of Narratively Speaking whereby book lovers can exhibit the books they received this week.

Welcome to my book haul this week! I haven’t received any ebooks or books from the library, but I was bad and bought quite a few this week!   

 Received for Review:

Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone 

Thanks very much Random House! If this is anything like Time Traveller’s Wife I will adore it.

Another Way to Fall by Amanda Brooke

This looks really cute and sad and the cover is gorgeous! Many thanks Harper Collins 

Bought:

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Love, Aubrey by Suzanne LaFleur

Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy

Reached by Ally Condie

Wonder by RJ Palacio

The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M Danforth

Struts and Frets by Jon Skovron

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Won:

All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill

Breathe by Sarah Crossan

The Taming of the Tights by Louise Rennison

The Dead Girls Detective Agency by Suzy Cox

The Blood Keeper by Tessa Gratton

Thanks very much to Caroline from Big Book Little Book! 

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What did you receive this week? Have you read any of my books and do you think it should be at the top or the bottom of my to read pile?  I’d love to hear from you!